Vol. 4 #9 | November 2018
BROADWAY’S KING KONG ROARS BACK TO LIFE WITH
CHRISTIANI PITTS FEAST ON THIS THANKSGIVING MENUS AROUND TOWN BIG APPLE CIRCUS A NEW SEASON OF FUN & THRILLS SKI EAST GET READY TO HIT THE SLOPES THE MAGIC BEGINS HOLIDAYS IN NYC
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Contents
15
FEATURES 12 15 46 53 58
From The Publisher Cover Feature: King Kong’s Christiani Pitts Through The Lens With Annie Watt The Annual Holiday Guide To NYC Tech Talk: Big Data Equals Good Health
24
STYLE 20 Beauty: 8 Products We’re Thankful For 22 It’s About Time: Fashion Watches For Him & Her 24 Life & Style
TRAVEL 27 30 32 34 38 40 42
Magnificent Montreal Carnival Horizon: Fun On The High Seas Miami’s Hotel Julia: A Work Of Art An Insider’s Guide To Los Angeles Ski East Fall In Love With Maine Cape Cod: Thanksgiving With The Pilgrims
27
REAL ESTATE & HOME DECOR 63 66 68 70
Around Town: The West Village The Preserve Club & Residences Your Home Office Home For The Holidays: Décor Ideas
6 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
66
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Contents
73
76
MONEY MATTERS
73 The Mercedes-Benz CLS 450
HEALTH & WELLNESS 75 Gratitude: The Key To Happiness 76 Dr. Dendy Engelman: The Secret To Anti-Aging
FOOD & DRINK 79 Feast On This: Giving Thanks 83 All About French Wines 86 Cooking With Chef Sébastien Giannini
79
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 88 90 92 94 96
On Stage On The Big Screen On The Small Screen Museums: Two Must-See Exhibits Gene Simmons Of KISS
88
NEW YORK, NY 98 100 102 104 107
Paws Down, Tails Up Big Apple Circus: Celebrate The Season Entrepreneur’s Corner: Carolina Hoffman My New York Story: Carole Wacey Time Out With... Frigga
8 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
104
SAVE UP TO 20%
*
*Offer valid on select seats and performances.
USE CODE: STYLE rockettes.com/style
*Offer not valid on previously purchased tickets and cannot be combined with any other offer. 8 ticket limit. Discount is calculated off the original box office price. Service charges apply to telephone and internet orders. All sales are final - no refunds or exchanges. Offer may be revoked or modified at any time without notice and subject to availability. Other restrictions may apply. Offer expires January 1, 2019. Accessible and companion seats are available via the Disabled Services Department at (888) 609-7599. Š 2018 MSG Sports and Entertainment Holdings, LLC. All rights reserved.
OUR CONTRIBUTORS BAILEY BECKETT Bailey is a jet-setting bon vivant who has written extensively for publications around the globe, and is often quoted as an expert on style, fashion and luxury. A Parisian native, he graduated from the Sorbonne before beginning his career as a lifestyle ambassador for the Ritz Paris. There, he friended top magazine editors, who encouraged him to parlay his experience into a journalism career. Before long he became a staple of the front row, a muse to Karl Lagerfeld, and a regular presence on the world’s social scene, including the Cannes and Venice film festivals, Paris Fashion week, the AmFAR gala at the Hotel du Cap and appearances on the TM Blue One yacht with designer Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti. MARIE-CLAIRE GLADSTONE Since joining Corcoran in early 2010, Marie-Claire has successfully negotiated and closed many impressive sales in condos and coops, throughout Manhattan’s prominent neighborhoods. Born in the Netherlands, MarieClaire’s passion for real estate began while working as an agent in the South of France, during which she founded her own PR and event planning firm, which focused on real estate and luxury lifestyle. Marie-Claire’s strong work ethic, education, and business acumen in sales and marketing makes her a highly skilled broker. Her natural sincerity and warmth, and ability to listen, allows her to connect with her customers and enables her to achieve their goal of either selling or acquiring their home. TINA & TJ MULQUEEN Tina Mulqueen is the CEO of Kindred PR, and the founder of media brands The Block Talk and Et al. Media. A regular contributor to Forbes and sought-after speaker on marketing for digital well-being, Mulqueen was named one of the top communications professionals by INC Magazine, and has been seen in such publications as Huffington Post, Elite Daily and TheStreet. T.J. Mulqueen (PMP, CCP) is a sustainability advocate and commissioning engineer for McKinstry Essention, an energy services company with a focus on responsible energy use. He’s written about energy initiatives for Huffington Post, and has been featured in Adweek for his commentary on building eco-conscious brands. When they’re not doing their day jobs, they’re traveling and writing about wine. 10 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
ISSN 2474-770X
Vol. 4 #9 | November 2018 President / Publisher BILL MASON Editor-in-Chief Patricia Canole
Art Director Eric Duncan
Entertainment Jenny Peters, Lori Zelenko
Style Gerrie Summers
Features Clint Brownfield, Ruth J. Katz
Special Projects Norah Bradford
Lifestyle Griffin Miller
Chief Photographer Annie Watt
Contributing Writers Natasha Bazika, Bailey Beckett, Eric Czepyha Isa Freeling, Lee Gabay, Marie-Claire Gladstone, Jenna Guarneri TJ Johnson, Dr. Peter Kalellis, Gretchen Kelly, Mark Laiosa Tina & TJ Mulqueen, Jeremy Murphy, Ellis Nassour Ted Owen, Darren Paltrowitz, Mark Pelligren, Anne Raso, Gerrie Summers Jeff & Stephanie Sylva, Carole Wacey, Laurie Bain Wilson, 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 John Miller - Director of Sales - Travel Michael Stulmaker - Director of Sales - Real Estate Eveland Hanna - Sales Manager 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 Credit: Nathan Johnson
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FROM THE PUBLISHER ovember to me is indeed the month that kick-starts the holiday season. In fact, forty years prior to the date I was born, a holiday tradition we all love began. The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade took place in 1924 with employees dressed up in fun clown costumes, floats were horse-drawn, and even bears, elephants, camels, and monkeys were borrowed from the Central Park Zoo to entertain spectators. Back then the parade route was six miles long—three times the length of today’s line of march. Some of you might know that Felix the Cat was the first ever giant balloon featured in the 1927 parade. I bet you didn’t know up until 1932, parade organizers never set up a plan to deflate these helium balloons, they simply released them flying off into the sky. These balloons would have a return address and whoever found them could return the balloon for a gift from Macy’s.
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Here are three other fun facts to impress family and friends around this year’s Thanksgiving celebration. First, the parade scenes in the 1947 holiday classic Miracle of 34th Street are actual shots of the 1946 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with actor, Edmund Gwenn as Santa Claus (he also played Santa in the film). Second, no matter how elaborate or large in size the floats are, these creations must be all be folded and packed into a 12 ft. x 8 ft. box to be transported from New Jersey through the Lincoln Tunnel and back again. Lastly, all first-time balloons cost a hefty $190,000. Wow! A pre-turkey day ritual for my family is not missing the inflation of all the parade balloons the evening before Thanksgiving. This incredible scene usually happens from 3 pm until 10 pm (enter at West 79th Street and Columbus Avenue). It’s an Instagram-worthy event. Be sure to tell SpongeBob I said, “Hello.” Just remember we live in the best city in the world which has so much to offer. During the holiday time, we are at our best. Don’t miss our must-read Annual Holiday Guide, with coverage on some of my favorites including The Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall and the ever so creative Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden. Also, check out our listing of locations for the best holiday window displays in the city and the events calendar of holiday tree lightings. So let’s all make sure to have a fun, memorable, healthy and safe holiday start this year. Lastly, Happy Anniversary to my wife for a wonderful 16 years and many more to come. I look forward to hearing from you with comments, suggestions and what you would like to see on the pages of New York Lifestyles and Pet Lifestyles magazines. Wishing our readers a Happy Thanksgiving. See you next month...
-Bill Mason
Publisher
12 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
Visit us at: newyorklifestylesmagazine.com
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FEATURES
CHRISTIANI PITTS T H E Q U E E N O F N E W YO R K TA M E S H E R K I N G
By Ellis Nassour
he 20-foot, 2,000-pound silverback is no match for Christiani Pitts, the beautiful young actress making a big leap to stardom playing the coveted female lead, Ann Darrow, in the Broadway mega-musical King Kong. Of her first leading role, she says, “It’s been an incredible journey after having been in only one Broadway show. I am unbelievably fortunate and blessed. It’s one of the most incredible gifts from God I’ve received. I’m overwhelmed with how happy and grateful I am. It’s the only way I can describe it!” Christiani was a virtual force of nature after she worked her way up in her first Broadway show from ensemble to co-star as Jane, the gal from the other side of the Italian-dominated neighborhood along Belmont Avenue in A Bronx Tale, the musical adaptation by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater of Chazz Palminteri’s solo play and film. Now, she’s standing tall as Ann Darrow. The role made famous onscreen by the never-forgotten Fay Wray in a huge cast of 50 actors and puppeteers. ©Joan Marcus
NOVEMBER 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 15
A MAGICAL JOURNEY
Along the road to the Broadway theatre, “something I couldn’t even imagine a mere few months ago, there’ve been rehearsals, rehearsals, rehearsals. I’ve never worked harder or learned more.” One fun sequence in the musical is when Christiani/Ann is asked to do the type of blood-curdling scream made famous and infamous by Wray in the 1933 film. It takes a while. Christiani, in her late-20s, has been garnering standing ovations not only for her performance and stunning vocals but also seemingly incredible powers. In a salute to the #MeToo movement, the gigantic, fierce beast (you don’t have to be in the theatre to hear the bombastic roar that literally shakes the walls!) is no match for this female who, in one of the show’s iconic moments, calms Kong into a peaceful sleep with a lilting lullaby. She’s onstage so much, she never makes it to her dressing room until intermission; and in Act Two, it’s non-stop. Still, Christiani describes what she’s doing as fun, especially working around the large ensemble of puppeteers. “They have a skill-set, unlike anything I’ve ever seen. They have to be hyper-focused for safety reasons, but they make it all look so easy.”
16 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
The role requires me to be all the things I’ve been working for since I was a child…The singing, acting, and athleticism is all I’ve ever wanted to do.
A MODERN-DAY ANN DARROW
“When we first saw Christiani,” says lead co-producer Carmen Pavlovic, “she blew us away. She embodies everything we aspired to in creating a female protagonist who is relevant in 2018. She is an Ann Darrow for our time—plucky, courageous and the master of her own destiny.” Christiani’s opening number in King Kong is the rousing “Queen of New York,” and it appears she may be on her way to becoming just that. The role of Ann Darrow has been much expanded to showcase Christiani’s strengths. For instance, when the shifty film producer, Carl Denham— played by Eric William Morris (Coram Boy, Mamma Mia!)—tries to tame the untamable in a film with a Skid Row budget and decides to introduce him to Broadway, Christiani/Ann stomps on his megalomaniacal ego to do battle royal. She attempts to stop him from the destructive path he’s on. She’s not there just to do a blood-curdling scream.
“It’s been an incredible journey after having been in only one Broadway show.”
©Matthew Murphy
“The role requires me to be all the things I’ve been working for since I was a child,” says Christiani. “The singing, acting, and athleticism is all I’ve ever wanted to do. It’s a role I’ve been preparing for since grammar school. Broadway is every actor’s dream and, oh my, I’ve been twice-blessed. It’s really insane. I’m still pinching myself to make sure it’s real.”
NOVEMBER 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 17
King Kong is an epic story, but also a really intimate one, about the limits of ambition and the cages we’re put in.
18 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
©Nathan Johnson
AN EPIC TALE
King Kong, the musical, is adapted by Jack Thorne, the Olivier- and Tonywinning playwright behind Harry Potter and The Cursed Child. Music is by Grammy-winner Marius de Vries (music director for La La Land and the upcoming Moulin Rouge) and Australia’s Eddie Perfect (the soon-to-be stage adaptation of Beetlejuice). Directing is Brit Drew McOnie (Olivierwinner for In the Heights), who’s also responsible for the show’s dizzying choreography. David Caddick (The Phantom of the Opera) is the music director. “King Kong is an epic story, but also a really intimate one, about the limits of ambition and the cages we’re put in,” states Thorne. “Thankfully, in Christiani and Eric, we’ve two remarkable talents who lead our incredible and multi-talented company.” The mammoth animatronic Kong, designed by Sonny Tildlers and Roger Kirk and movement-directed by Gavin Robins, is created by Global Creatures. The 90’ x 27’ LED screen, Broadway’s biggest, takes audiences on a realistic journey to the New York of the 1930s and on rolling seas to mysterious, uncharted, and aptly-named Skull Island. There are some powerful, memorable moments in King Kong for some audience members, as when the skyscraper ape decides to check out unsuspecting folks in the front rows. “No one’s expecting that,” laughs Christiani. “They quickly get so caught up in the show that they think he’s real.” Christiani is beginning to feel that way, too. “I thought the more time I spent with Kong, the less realistic he’d be, but it’s just the opposite. I see little nuances on his face that weren’t there before. Then, there’s the way he moves and the way he communicates with me. Kong feels like a living, breathing creature. It’s quite entrancing. King Kong is always portrayed as a menace, but he’s not a villain.”
SHOW BIZ IN HER DNA
The daughter of author and TV journalist and anchor Byron Pitts (ABC’s Nightline) and TV executive and journalist Lyne Johnson Pitts, relates, “It’s quite the show biz family. We’re like the Brady Bunch.” She has three older sisters, two older step-brothers, and a younger brother. For a while, she and an older sister had a singing group. “She lost the passion for it, but it only grew in me. By the time I decided I was going into theater, the family wasn’t exactly shocked. It was like, ‘Finally!’” She began singing at age eight in her church choir in Georgia and continued to sing when the family relocated to New Jersey. By age 11, she was making recordings and appearing in plays. Right out of high school, she was cast in a production of Tim Rice and Elton John’s Aida; then, in her sophomore year of college, she was cast in the musical as Aida’s servant Nehebka. She also began writing screenplays, which had to take a backseat when she began going the audition route in New York, and when cast in A Bronx Tale. “I love the creative process of writing, and it’s something I’ll focus on in a couple of months when things aren’t so hectic. We just opened, and now we’re already preparing for our cast album.” In 2014, in her junior year of college, Christiani says, “I had my first really awesome theater experience performing in Rent.” She lost a longtime friend and the Jonathan Larson musical “helped me heal. It was a turning point for me. Theater was my church, my therapy. Now, I’m not putting on shows in our living room. I’m on Broadway, singing, and acting and getting paid to do it. Life is wonderful, isn’t it!” • NOVEMBER 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 19
STYLE
8 PRODUCTS WE’RE THANKFUL FOR By Gerrie Summers
here are some beauty products that you discover and say, “Where have you been all my life?” That face primer, hand and foot mask, or even a pillow which keeps you wrinkle-free. Here some great beauty items to be thankful for—and will never let you down. TALIKA EMMA HARDIE COLORESCIENCE AGADIR Lipocils Platinum Who doesn’t want thick, lovely lashes? Harsh products and the march of time causes eyelashes to thin out. You’ll love Lipocils Platinum, a duo of day and night serums that adjust to the natural biological growth cycles of eyelashes. (And the magnetic stand is so handy.) Info: $119; talika.us.
Amazing Face Protect & Prime SPF30 This lightweight cream solves the dilemma of putting sunscreen on top of your perfectly applied foundation. Don’t you just hate that? But you need that protection! Amazing Face Protect & Prime SPF30 can be worn underneath your makeup and makes you look flawless with its light diffusing formula, evening out the complexion, blurring fine lines and pores. Info: $72; shop.emmahardie.com.
Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy SPF 35 Improve the appearance of the total eye area and treat dark circles, puffiness, fine lines and wrinkles with Total Eye, which contains mineral sunscreen to protect against UVA/UVB rays and the damage overexposure to sun does to delicate eye area. Info:$69; colorescience.com.
Argan Oil Spray Treatment Argan oil is rich in essential fatty acids and nourishing vitamin E, ingredients that protect, repair and restore dry and damaged hair and keeps it healthy. Agadir’s Argan Oil Spray is a leave-in treatment that contains 100 percent natural, certified organic argan oil. It’s perfect for treating split ends, preventing breakage, protecting hair against heat and chemical damage. If you have color-treated hair, it reduces fading. Plus, it contains sunscreen to protect your scalp. Info: $29.99; agadirint.com
EARTH THERAPEUTICS Anti-Aging Retinol Hand Mask & Soft Cool Intense Foot Mask Many of us torture our hands (texting/cleaning) and feet (heels). Thank them for at least 30 relaxing minutes with the Anti-Aging Retinol Mask combo pack. The glove hand mask is filled with moisturizing ingredients like shea butter and sunflower seed oil, plus retinol and is designed to be compatible with touch sensitive digital devices (but please, relax and put that phone down!) The sock foot mask is infused with argan oil, shea butter and cooling mint to sooth tired tootsies. Info: $9.99; earththerapeutics.com.
SPENCER BARNES LA HOLLYWOOD SILK SOLUTION Silk Pillowcase If you are side or stomach sleeper, you know how a pillow can cause creases on your face. You’ll be thankful for The Hollywood Silk Solution, a machine-washable pillowcase with high grade 100 percent silk on one side and quality cotton on the reverse. The long fiber mulberry silk reduces sleep wrinkles and is also safe for your hair. Info: $45; thehollywoodsilksolution.com.
20 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
Neck, Chin & Jawline Instant Sculpting Wand Hovering over the laptop and Smartphone is not only causing you pain, it can cause fine lines and wrinkles on your neck. The Instant Sculpting Wand dispenses product through an antimicrobial roller ball to glide across the neck to tighten and firm to give you an instant lift. It stimulates collagen and helps the skin retain moisture giving it a healthy and smooth look. Info:$89; spencerbarnesla.com
BAUSCH & LOMB Lumify Redness Reliever Eye Drops Your eye makeup game can be on with gorgeously applied eye shadow and eyeliner, but if your eyes are bloodshot, it’s going to ruin your look. I’m not one for putting drops in my eyes, but Lumify refreshes eyes to make them appear whiter and brighter in 60 seconds. Info: $25.99 (.25 fl. oz.); lumifydrops.com. •
STYLE
IT’S ABOUT TIME
FASHION WATCHES FOR HIM & HER By Harry Brad
ime is a valuable commodity, both in terms of how we spend it and how we track it. Make your minutes matter in a fashionable way with these stylish timepieces. RED CARPET READY
JETSETTER
Him A mainstay for men, James Bond’s Omega Sea master 300 Master Co-Axial “Spectre” Limited Edition. Of course, only 7,007 were made. Info: $7,500; omegawatches.com.
Him What could be more classic than the Rolex GMT-Master II Oyster. This watch comes with a second hour hand for keeping track of time when on the move. Catch me if you can. Info:$9,995; rolex.com.
Her What could be more of a statement than the Cartier Ballon Bleu de Cartier watch featuring 18k pink gold and diamonds. Info: $12.000; cartier.com.
22 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
Her The lady on the move requires an elegant watch which is robust yet refined. The Jaeger Le Coultre Reverso Classic Small was designed for polo players whom, until its creation would simply wear their watches backwards when playing. The Reverso as the name implies enables you to flip the watch face over to create a bracelet. Info: $5,150; jaeger-lecoultre.com.
TECH SAVVY
BUDGET-MINDED
SPORTS ENTHUSIAST
Unisex Make a statement with the Apple Watch 4 and switch between face sizes and straps from silicon for exercising to leather, metal and even fashionable styles with collaboration from French fashion house Hermes. Info: $429; apple.com.
For Him This retro-styled timepiece for men is the Casio Vintage Collection complete with digital dial. Welcome to the 1980s. Info: $33.95; casio.com.
For Him The Polar V800 keeps track of your ride, run or hike measuring speed, distance and route. The watch is compatible with H7 Heart Rate sensor as you train—even while swimming. Info: $429.99; polar.com.
Unisex The Samsung Galaxy Watch has the differentiation of being physically round versus the square design of the Apple Watch 4. The key attraction for this watch—like the Apple model—is the cell phone the wearer uses. The synchronization benefits will pull you to the ecosystem of the Galaxy or Apple depending on your cellphone, and should you have both cell phones one can only suggest two wrists. Info:$329.99; samsung.com.
For Her A glittering addition to any fashion-forward woman is the popular Swatch Pinksparkles which features Swarovski crystals circling the face dial Info: $75; swatch.com.
For Her Garmin’s Forerunner® 35 is an all-in-one device which monitors heart rate, counts steps, calories, and even reminds you when to move! The built-in GPS tracks how far, how fast and where you run. Best of all it automatically uploads your data to Garmin Connect where you can join challenges and meet goals. Info: $169.99; garmin.com. •
NOVEMBER 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 23
STYLE
LIFE & STYLE
THE (ALMOST BUT NOT QUITE) HOLIDAY EDITON By Griffin Miller
he days may be shorter than we’d prefer—suggesting that summer has the edge on seasons—but let’s not forget the dividends we accrue during long, shimmering winter nights, including carte blanche to cliché binge by “going all out,” “partying down,” “wining and dining,” “spreading good cheer” and “shopping till we drop”. So in the spirit of celebrating Life & Style, here “are a few of my favorite (new) things”. SHAKE IT UP, BABY FOUND IN TRANSLATION
LIFE
From the Kate Spade Melrose Avenue Barware collection: a cocktail shaker almost too gorgeous to use. Almost. The sleek quintessential form revamped into glass that’s been striped and topped in gold. Yes, it would make a dandy gift… but think for a moment how hard it would be to part with this indulgent little treasure. I couldn’t. In my mind’s eye, I’m already hosting a posh something or other and the shaker—flush with the perfect gin or vodka—awaits my bidding: to be stirred or shaken, that is the question. Sure, 007 had his preference, but he didn’t have this shaker. Info: katespade.com
Some people have the gift of global gab, picking up languages and communicating easily. I, on the other end of the language gap, am left to pantomime my way through international travel. Thankfully, Hammacher Schlemmer offers a Two Way Live Conversation Speaking Translator. Hand-held, it verbally translates what’s being said and “speaks” it to the other person. Without Internet access, 12 languages are available (including Chinese, Japanese and Russian); with the Internet, add another 21, while 19 more come with text translations. A Russianspeaking friend and I are smitten with the device… now on to my French neighbor. Info: hammacher.com
THE WRITE STUFF
PLAYBACK
HYDRATION INNOVATION
Writing a thank you or begging forgiveness on exquisite stationery—the very idea conjures images from Masterpiece on PBS: Charles Dickens scribbling away at his desk; Queen Victoria composing a note to Albert; anyone writing anything in Agatha Christie. Yet, how dare we break with slapdash email protocol? I say it’s time to rebel starting with Dempsey and Carroll’s Whispering Angel correspondence cards, melding the color of Château d’Esclans’ rosé wines with 10 cards and hand-lined envelopes; custom angel motif with “Whispering Angel” engraved at the top; name/monogram option. Sublime. Info:dempseyandcarroll.com
Suddenly, my family tree is adding newbies at an astonishing rate—two in one month with another en route. As a result, my radar is primed for baby gifts and Tiny Love boasts ingenious collection, including a couple of mobiles that blew me away. One—Meadow Days Soothe ‘n Groove Mobile— morphs from crib mobile for babies to a toddler-friendly portable music box (18 tunes/40 minutes of non-repeating music). Colorful buttons even let babies change music on their own. The Meadow Days line also has Sunny Stroll Arch that attaches to strollers for out-andabout interaction with toys, textures and sounds. Info: tinylove.com
Like many New Yorkers, I rarely leave home without a bottle of water, designer or otherwise. For runners, water bottles tend to be a more personal choice often dictated by shape, size and accessibility. Nathan Sports is expert at providing runners with practical gear, including hydration options. The company’s SpeedShot Plus Insulated Flask e.g., is grip-free, holds 12 ounces and features double wall insulation for keeping liquids cool. It also has reflective fabric for night visibility and an expandable zippered pocket for keys, snacks, cellphone, etc. Not a bad idea for errand-runners, dog walkers and street performers, either. Info: nathansports.com
24 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
STYLE
SAVVY COMBO The hassle of everyday life is no picnic, but add in holiday madness and let’s be frank: we can use all the help we can get to look absolutely swell with minimal angst. How about one tool that handles two issues? Bring it on. The Conture Kinetic Smooth Hair Remover & Skin Polisher removes unwanted hair (face, body, bikini area) even on sensitive skin (painless, precision rotary blades) and gently exfoliates skin while taking out surface oils (face and body) with a mild polishing head that adjusts to curves (it rotates 360 degrees). And a standing ovation for the end result: de-stressed, brighter skin... glow on! Info: conture.com
DIVINE DECADENCE “Apply to wet skin; lather and rinse”. Straightfor ward. Disclosing nothing about the experience itself. But if you peel back the tiny corner, all is revealed: the reason NaturaBrasil’s Cacau Creamy Body Wash is so addictive. As it happens, the fruit of the Cacauero tree is teeming with fat (without it cocoa butter would be skinny—no kidding). Yet once it becomes body wash, the finale is gorgeously subtle: light lather… unpretentious unisex scent… and the somewhat devilmay-care desire to luxuriate in steam and Cacau ad infinitum. But be forewarned: should you dare to share, you’ll be setting a very, very dangerous precedent. Info: naturabrasil.com
NAILED IT! Rarely does the opportunity come along to wear the runway… even if what your wearing happens to be the same nail creations worn by the models sporting Christian Sirano’s Spring/Summer 2019 Collection. And yet, the design that made such a splash— created by KISS Products, Inc. lead manicurist Gina Edwards—is doable with KISS’s imPRESS Press-On Manicure in Play It Loud black and KISS Nail Artist Paint in white. “I dubbed this nail the ‘twisted zebra,’ a modern take on the animal print trend,” said Edwards. Info: kissusa.com
THREE LITTLE WORDS
HAND DELIVERED
In the days and weeks following Breast Cancer Awareness Month there’s still much to be said about the need for courage and empowerment in all our lives. For cancer survivor Shelly Fisher, the way to go was to launch a jewelry line called One Tough Bitch, the title serving as a tangible reminder that we will—inevitably—end up facing more than we think we can handle… and it doesn’t hurt to wear our courage on our wrist or around our neck. And if you don’t feel comfortable showing the world the words, you can flip the pieces over to show only the symbol. (FYI, OTB has added jean jackets & accessories to its inventory!) Info: onetoughbitch.com
The art of transforming the ordinary into the unexpected. It may sound like a course taught at Hogwarts, but in the world of fashion the alchemy behind this skill is what separates ho-hum from cutting-edge. Echo Design, celebrating its 95th birthday this year, continues to master and remaster this art, a fact not lost on me as I set out to score the ideal pair of winter gloves. Ten minutes on the website and they found me: Classic Colorblock in Echo Black. Sheepskin leather with a wool lining, keeping it whimsical with pops of color peeking out from between the fingers. Best. Gloves. Ever. Info:echodesign.com •
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MAGNIFICENT MONTREAL MEMORABLE MEALS AND MERRY-MAKING By Ruth J. Katz
should have known from the moment I unfurled my napkin that my luncheon at Restaurant Europea in downtown Montreal was going to present culinary fireworks for my taste buds. The waiter presented me with a book to start—but I realized it was not reading material. I flipped up the cover and nestled inside were mignon, snail-shaped, cheese-infused rolls. Next came the three different types of butter to accompany the fancy breads that were later proffered. Arriving after that was a perfect lobster bisque cappuccino, brimming with delicate crème and shaved truffles. The finale of the gastronomic, five-course stage show arrived in the form of a tree-like metal armature, with blossoms of blush-pink cocoons made of light spun sugar—yes, cotton candy. Surrounding the tasty tree, were alabaster-white “rocks,” meringue cookies.
CULINARY MAGIC This was but one of the truly memorable meals I experienced in this bi-cultural commercial (and dare I say culinary) capital of Canada. I had chosen to take my trip during the city’s annual and much anticipated Montréal en Lumière Festival, a paean to food, festivities, concerts, and illuminated sculptures and artworks. The downtown area comes to life with staccato notes of neon and LED; the famed Place des Arts in the heart of town becomes the Quartier des Spectacles, the nexus for the event. Founded in 2000, the aim of Montréal en Lumière was to instill a touch of divine madness and culinary. Hence, one evening I sampled the cuisine at L’Auberge Saint-Gabriel, helmed by highly regarded Swedish-born chef Ola Claesson. For the festival, Swedish-Korean chef Claes Grännsjö of the acclaimed Restaurant Nook in Stockholm was invited to tag-team with Claesson, and the result was a menu with Scandinavian overtones, accented by Korean (seriously!) flavors.
Quartier des Spectacles
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SERVE IT UP IN STYLE Another culinary stop was the Dominion Square Tavern, a city institution since 1927, and a favorite watering hole (cocktails rock) with hearty fare and a convivial atmosphere. For a truly local experience, Brasserie T, located in a glass rectangle in the shadow of the Musée d’Art Contemporain de Montréal delivers pleasant, toothsome bistro food. Blumenthal Restaurant, also in the thick of the festival’s footprint, offers everything from short ribs to veggie burgers and is a perfect jumping off point to enjoy the festival. Lastly, one of my favorite foodie stops was right in my hotel, the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth, newly renovated and a comfy place to hang my hat. The lobby is home to the Marché Artisans, a high-class, beautifully merchandised, gourmet greengrocer/market as well as a home to several diverse dining spots, in an open-plan environment. Food was delicious, handsomely presented, and graciously served.
Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hote
A trip to Montreal means a quick jaunt to Le Plateau-Mont-Royal area, home to 90-year-old Schwartz’s Charcuterie Heraique, the north-of-the-border answer to our own Katz’s Deli. Although it was founded by Reuben Schwartz, a Romanian immigrant, today it is owned by songstress Celine Dion. Don’t leave the area without sampling Montreal bagels (yes, they are different from NYC bagels, sweeter and less dense), at the two dueling bagel-meisters of Montreal: St-Viateur Bagel and Fairmount Bagel.
Musée d’Art Contemporain de Montréal
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SIGHTS & SOUNDS Lest it sound like all I did was eat while there, I did manage to take in a heartbreakingly impressive Leonard Cohen (a native son) exhibit, A Crack in Everything, at the Musée d’Art Contemporain. I also ventured to the Montreal Holocaust Museum, where most of the objects, testimonies, and archives are from survivors who rebuilt their lives in Montreal after the war. With hundreds of concerts, shows, theatrical performances, and even circus presentations being staged, I sampled a celestial harp concert sponsored by the Musée des Beaux-Arts and then capped off my visit with the sound and light show Aura, at the NotreDame Basilica. This multi-sensory experience by the Moment Factory bathes the church’s interior architecture in cascading streams of undulating lights, mercurially dancing on the ceiling and walls, accompanied by heart-stopping music. A fitting flight of fancy as the culmination of my stay. For more information on Montreal and its cuisine, sights, and festivals, visit mtl.org. •
Notre-Dame Basilica
YEAR-ROUND FUN This metropolis of four million residents mushrooms with tourists—nearly nine million visitors come annually. Given that the city is a mere 40 miles over the US border or a two-hour plane ride from Gotham, it’s easily accessible for us. In addition to the Montreal en Lumière, there are even more festivals held throughout the year. • Jazz Festival is wildly popular when hundreds of events are mounted, guaranteed to satisfy any jazz aficionado. • International Balloon Festival of Saint-Jean-Richelieu stages a magical flight of 125 balloons, performances, and entertainment. • POP Montreal offers talks, workshops, performances, family activities, craft fairs, visual art, fashion shows, film screenings, and more—again, for the whole family. • The Botanical Garden hosts an enchanting event, Gardens of Light, in which fanciful and fantastical lanterns are lit at night, glowing in vibrant colors. • The Black & Blue, where visitors can boogie the night away. • The Carnaval des Couleurs celebrates musical diversity and is mounted to coincide with Canadian Thanksgiving. • The Mural Festival, which invites guests to paint the town red or any color they deem appropriate.
Jazz Festival
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CARNIVAL HORIZON FUN ON THE HIGH SEAS By Morgan Matlock
ou can still recall the 80s jingle: an exuberant Kathie Lee Gifford gliding around a Carnival cruise ship singing “In the morning, in the evening, ain’t we got fun.” Of course, much has changed since then. Kathie Lee is now a fixture in the morning on the Today Show, shoulder pads are definitely out, and cruising is now a way of life. But one thing still remains. Carnival has the fun, more than any other brand. And its new ship Carnival Horizon, which made its U.S. debut sailing out of New York’s Manhattan Terminal, continues the tradition. Every cruise brand has its niche. Some, like the ultra-luxury Seabourn, rivals even David Geffen’s yacht Rising Sun for opulence. Cunard, with its fleet of three “Queens,” makes an upscale demographic feel, well, royal. And Carnival Cruise Line is America’s Cruise Line. Its lively atmosphere thrives on all its ships, whether for a family reunion, bachelor or bachelorette party or girlfriend get-away. With 26 ships already sailing the high seas, Carnival welcomed its newest Horizon to the fleet earlier this year. It resembles more a floating city with nearly 4,000 passengers. For Winter season it was repositioned to Miami and includes everything—pools, bars, restaurants, nightclub/entertainment, casino, spa, IMAX theater and, a themed water park for kids.
ACTIVITIES The one common denominator cruise-goersshare a love for is sun and sport, and horizon has that in spades. Whether it’s tanning by the pool or lounging with a good book, there are hundreds of spaces for passengers to relax and unplug (although the cruise does offer Wi-Fi, which is surprisingly strong for a ship at sea). Lazy lounging has never had more options, including the lively Carnival Seaside Theater, a huge outdoor LED screen located on Lido Deck with a bevy of food and beverage options. There’s also a Serenity (adults only!) retreat, as well as a Lanai wrap-around promenade. For the adventurous adult, Carnival Horizon offers the SkyRide, rope courses, pools galore and a ClubHouse at SportSquare featuring minibowling, ping pong, video games, arcade basketball, mini-golf, and jogging, among other activities. And Christmas comes early for the kiddies in the form of Dr. Seuss WaterWorks, a themed water park sitting atop the ship, with a Cat in the Hat tube slide, PowerDrencher tipping bucket, and a SplashZone park. And that’s just on board. Once you dock at your destination, there are myriad excursions available (depending on the port) including scuba diving, skiing, skydiving, hiking and nearly every outdoor activity you can think of. 30 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
ENTERTAINMENT Passengers looking for some on-board sizzle also have access to Liquid Lounge, which features a dance club and on-stage entertainment in a space that holds 900. An IMAX Theater, seating 160 guests, plays all the latest movies on a screen that rivals any theater at home, while The Limelight Lounge includes cocktails and stand-up comedy performances. Passengers can channel their inner Baker Boy at the Piano Bar 88 though those wanting a more intimate, clubby ambiance have access to The Library Bar. The evening comes alive at the Havana Bar, a Latin-themed nightspot. Meanwhile, lounge lizards wanting to stay in the sun refusing to go indoors can quench their thirst at the Red Frog Rum Bar and the Blue Iguana Tequila Bar. Last but not least is the Winner’s Luck Casino, where guests can pull the slots and spin the wheel to their heart’s content.
FOOD Any good cruise offers its passengers options, and Carnival Horizon rivals any on the sea. Its Lido Marketplace is a supermarket of scrumptiousness. Pizzeria del Capitano can satisfy even the most hardened New Yorker, while Guy’s Burger Joint (created by celebrity chef Guy Fieri) offers ground sirloin with all the fixings. Those favoring Italian will get amore and then some at Cucina del Capitano, which offers delicious entrees (the penne is particularly delicious) and wine. Add to your options the Ji Ji Asian Kitchen, Java Blue Café, milkshakes at the Shake Spot, New England-inspired fare at the Seafood Shack and the fullservice Bonsai Sushi. Best of all is Fahrenheit 555, a Michelin star-quality steakhouse with the choicest cuts of meat and vintage wines that last all night.
SPA There’s nothing quite like a serene massage; add in an ocean view and the experience is tenfold. The Cloud 9 Spa features virtually everything from a Thalassotherapy Pool, Ginger Salt Body Scrubs, to Pro-Collagen Grooming Treatment with Shave. This plus Steam Chambers, Infrared Saunas and an indoor cycling studio will revive your body and soul. Clearly, Kathie Lee wasn’t wrong. Indeed, if your friends could see you now. For more information on the Carnival Cruise Line, visit carnival.com. • NOVEMBER 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 31
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MIAMI’S HOTEL JULIA A WORK OF ART By Gretchen Kelly
ne of my favorite classic films is Notorious with Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant. In the film, Bergman’s character, a woman of “loose morals” and louche friends (including the dapper Grant) lives in a South Beach bungalow, fronted by waving palms where she gives great parties and says things like, “the important drinking hasn’t begun yet.” There are stuffed marlins on the walls, rattan chairs on the porch and rum and cokes all around. Those days might be over in Miami, but the intimate boutique Hotel Julia calls them back. The Julia is in SOFI (South of Fifth) and bills itself as an “adults exclusive boutique hotel.” It’s on a quiet street (if Miami can ever be called “quiet”) about a block from the beach where you can find Julia-branded beach chairs and a special area to call your own.
THE GOLDEN ERA The Julia is named for Julia Tuttle, a shrewd businesswoman who came to Miami in the 1880s and invested in the real estate so she could sell it back when it became the hot destination. Known as the Mother of Miami to some, Tuttle died before the Art Deco era. Today, the hotel—a Golden Era treasure of the 1930s—features entire, original tile floor in the lobby (the part that reminds me most of the Bergman/Grant film). Designer, Steven Busto has created an intimate, personal space in the airy lobby and guestrooms, that blends out to the relaxing patio in front of the hotel where complimentary wine and cheese mixers are held every day as the heat of the city relaxes its grip and travelers get loose, relaxed, and in their white linen and backless dresses. Artwork is everywhere: Step back in time to grand old Miami as if you are entering into the private property of the proclaimed Miami founder. In the lobby, mysterious paint-dipped Tuttle family portrait gallery illustrates a surreal portrait of an imagined Grande Dame of Miami, to the collection of mid-century art in the feature staircase. The Julia Hotel incorporates the rich history of Miami in a modern and intriguing way. 32 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
The Julia - Patio
A PLACE TO ESCAPE The storytelling continues in the guestrooms with paper cutouts in the style of Matisse, by Canadian artist, Edward Bader, featuring faceless vacationers floating in serene pools of color. The five featured two-story Ibis rooms each have different installations in their twenty-foot tall ceilings. One room creates a swarm of Miami blue butterflies by Kiyoto paper artist Yumiko, and another features parasols dreamily floating away on an imagined Miami tropical breeze.
The Julia
The rooms are a place for you to escape and dream. A place for you to brainstorm and create. I had an atrium room on the ground floor which featured slatted window shade to keep the sun from heating the room, and a floating paper sculpture that looked like green seaweed. The Julia - Flagler King
The Cibo Wine Bar
WINE & DINE
The Big Pink
Venture out and get to know SOFI, once considered a bit quiet and too residential for tourists but that’s changing rapidly. Tons of great restaurants and good nightlife fringe the area, close enough to walk to and from The Julia. The Cibo Wine Bar, for instance, is a popular bistro with a beautiful rooftop bar and a flying “wine angel” hangs from a sling in the restaurant’s glass cellar flying up to the rafters to get you that bottle of Pinot Noir or Malbec. The Big Pink, is another area favorite, a retro-feel comfort food restaurant that’s great for breakfast or brunch and which is decorated in flamingo touches of Miami blush. They even have their version of a TV dinner featuring daily specials on a stainless steel tray and their cocktail list includes lots of entries with things like fresh ginger and pomegranate juice used to great effect with rums, gins, and vodkas. At night, my favorite thing to do was to emulate Ingrid Bergman and enjoy meeting new friends over a glass of wine. In the mornings, I made sure I was down to the lobby for a homey breakfast of assorted pastries, coffee—and the most delicious homemade bread served with graciousness and smiles. Although no Cary Grant ever showed up, it hardly mattered in such an elegant and easeful residence (however temporary). For more information on The Hotel Julia, visit thejuliahotel.com. • NOVEMBER 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 33
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AN INSIDER’S GUIDE WHERE TO STAY, DINE & PLAY By Anne Raso
art movie and entertainment capital, Los Angeles is a vast area where all types of lifestyles and cultures converge in a kaleidoscope of head-spinning contrasts. From cutting-edge architecture to fantastic food to warm sandy beaches, LA delivers. Beverly Hills and West Hollywood continue to be the happening places where dreams are made—even if it is just a dream getaway! Hotel rooms are much more spacious than in the Big Apple and driving is so scenic between the remarkable array of architecture that ranges from classic Spanish stucco cottages to grand Hollywood Regency-style mansions. And swaying palm trees makes it even more pleasant.
WHERE TO STAY The Chamberlain Take an everyday 1970 apartment building and turn it into an all-suite hotel where each of the 115 rooms boasts chic black-and-white décor, gas fireplaces, iHome docking stations, CD/DVD players, 42-inch HD televisions. plush bathrobes, Antica Farmacista toiletries, and rainfall showerheads. You’ll love the solitude of being on a West Hollywood side street that is only a few blocks from the everpopular Sunset Strip. Be sure to have a Mexican-American fusion breakfast down at Fitz on the garden level (which has some of the best omelets in town) and enjoy the rooftop pool with 360-degree views that has a bar scene that is chic but not overcrowded after dark. The four-star hotel lives up to its reputation of being an intimate hideaway in the heart of West Hollywood. Info: chamberlainwesthollywood.com.
Chamberlain Hotel
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Hotel Sofitel Los Angeles At Beverly Hills This modern four star 295-room hotel sits directly across from Beverly Hills’ best shopping— the Beverly Center (featuring Macy’s) and The Beverly Connection (featuring Off Fifth and Nordstrom Rack). It’s hard not to fall in love with a centrally located hotel with legendary French white glove treatment, extra-large standard rooms with high ceilings (despite the hotel being a new construction), Lanvin toiletries, free WiFi, and hand-held spray showers. The quiet pool on the ground level is a relaxing place to enjoy a fine drink (or two). A big plus for families is children (ages 11 and under) can stay free. Be sure to visit one of Beverly Hills’ best-kept secrets: Cattle & Claw restaurant offers diners a salad, half-pound lobster, five-ounce burger (loaded or plain), fries for $45. Their extra-large mojito served in a mason jar is one of freshest tasting you will ever have. Book a table in the outdoor garden with its hanging ferns and flowering plants for some great views of Beverly Boulevard and La Cienega—and some of the best people watching in LA. Info: sofitel-los-angeles.com. Beverly Wilshire, Beverly Hills (A Four Seasons Hotel) This legendary hotel—in part thanks to being featured in Pretty Woman and host to numerous Hollywood galas through the years—is the doyenne of luxury hotels. Built in 1928, it has remained true to its glamorous old-school roots even after becoming a member of the Four Seasons family in the 90s. It’s “classic Beverly Hills” and contemporary at the same time. Guests are afforded such luxuries as a pool modeled after the one in Sophia Loren’s villa in Italy featuring private cabanas, valet parking, complimentary rides in the hotel’s Rolls Royce/Mercedes within a 2.5-mile radius of the hotel, complimentary shoe shines, free Wi-Fi, a concierge who can probably work miracles in no time. Rodeo Drive shopping is directly across the street. Within the hotel is the Michelinstarred CUT, Wolfgang Puck’s light and airy steakhouse as well as the chandeliered The Blvd with it world-class modern American fare. Some of the staff at The Blvd have been “fixtures” for more than 40 years, which is indeed impressive. Needless to say the service is excellent. Info: beverlywilshire.com. Ocean Prime Restaurant
Beverly Wilshire Hotel Exterior
THE DINING SCENE Crustacean This legendary Vietnamese Seafood-fusion restaurant has been pleasing palates since 1997. An awesome aquarium, built into the floor, winds its way from the entrance and is filled with koi. Crustacean has dishes that you won’t find anywhere: Vegan Crab Cakes made entirely out of hearts of palm as well as Tuna Cigars topped with Caviar are served in an actual cigar box. Executive Chef Tony Nguyen and owner Helene An (simply known as “Mama”)—both escaped South Vietnam in 1975 can be seen greeting their guests. It’s not unusual to see celebrities including Will Smith dining on the signature Garlic Noodles (he has his topped with Tiger Prawns). Another must is the Himalayan Salt Block made with A-5 Wagyu Matsusaka cooked on a salt block. Also ask about the “secret menu” which consists of six unadvertised dishes. Any restaurant that offers star (and koi) watching, elegantly served fare in large portions and a family vibe is a real gem! Info: crustaceanbh.com. Ocean Prime Don’t let the name fool you! The Cameron Mitchellowned Ocean Prime is as well known for its vast selection of prime steaks as it is for its excellent seafood. There is a tremendous, airy, clubby atmosphere and there are booths that give you the opportunity to look out on Wilshire Boulevard for some glamorous BH people watching. There is a “wow factor” for every dish served here—portions are large, and both presentation and quality are top-notch. The staff seems to know each dish and can make recommendations based up your personal preferences. The most popular entrees are the bone-in filet and Chilean Sea Bass, and the butter and ten layer carrot cakes are perfect for three or more to share. The Beverly Hills location has a celeb or two in residence at any given time (which comes as no surprise). Chef Geoff Baumberger was transplanted to Ocean Prime BH from the New York location, and has noted that he has seen some of the same customers on both coasts—a testament to the excellent cuisine. Saturday brunch is available and includes Blood Orange Mimosas, Crab and Eggs, and Short Rib Surf & Turf made with Crispy Gouda Potato Cake, Lobster Claw, Poached Egg, and finished off with Hollandaise sauce. Info: oceanprimebh.com. NOVEMBER 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 35
Frankie’s Rooftop Bar at E.P. & L.P. ©Alen Lin
WHERE TO PLAY Enjoy a romp around the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades, which is free to the public (tickets need to be booked in advance). Both art and architecture tours are offered in this 1970s recreation of an ancient Roman villa spearheaded by J. Paul Getty himself (sadly, he did not live to see its completion in 1976). It has an incredible showcase of art. Splurge and take the Tea by the Sea Tour ($42), which not only has authentic English tea sandwiches and desserts, but gives you an elevated view of the Getty Villa and an exclusive 20-minute guided garden visit. You’ll discover herbs and fruits that were used by the ancient Romans for both culinary and medicinal purposes. Info: getty.edu. Santa Monica Downtown & 3rd Street Promenade Definitely off the beaten track is the 3rd Street Promenade with its multitude of stores and sushi eateries. However, every Wednesday and Sunday is the farmer’s market with its stalls of produce and other homemade goodies. Nearby is the very authentic English pub Ye Olde King’s Head where you can take part in a Classic Tea—and one of the best bargains in town ($25). Be sure to visit their quaint gift shop directly across the street for a unique collection of teas, teapots and British groceries. Info: yeoldekingshead.com. • Getty Villa
Gracias Madre This is a remarkable mediumpriced plant-based Mexican restaurant right in the heart of West Hollywood with the feeling of a large modern barn (there is a gorgeous outside patio area to boot). Chef Chandra Gilbert not only comes up with remarkable Mexican fusion dishes (all made with locally sourced organic produce) but also gets authentic recipes from real Mexican moms. Her three decades of experience shows in the deep and unique flavors of her food! The Butternut Squash Soft Tacos, Quinoa and Black-Eyed Pea Salad, and the Street (coated with lemon, chipotle aioli, and pumpkin seed parmesan) are signature dishes among the regulars. The lunchtime bowls are incredible lentil and quinoa-based often topped with various veggies, and healthy homemade sauces. Non-dairy desserts include a remarkable tart Key Lime Pie topped with a rich ground cashew cream that deliciously replaces classic whipped cream. There are an amazing 180 agave spirits at the bar and cute hipster mixologists who come up with some colorful drinks that include a lot of the aforementioned organic produce. Info: graciamadreweho.com. E.P. & L.P. This minimalist, copper tabletopped hipster foodie “hang” is actually two restaurants on the corner of North La Cienega and Melrose in the heart of West Hollywood. E.P is more about formal dining while L.P. is more about bar snacks. Both restaurants serve excellent Chinese/Thai/Vietnamese/ Fijian fare meshed with American classics. EP dinner favorites include Duck Salad and Thai Lime Curry and their runaway brunch “classic” is Thai Chicken & Waffles with spicy maple syrup. L.P.’s spicy soft shell crab bun is considered one of the best soft shell crab items in all of LA and has gotten massive media coverage. The rooftop bar Frankie’s has breathtaking views of the elegant houses dotting the Hollywood Hills along with fire lanterns/pits to give it a bit of a Tiki vibe. Drinks are unique and infused with Southeast Asian flavors. Info: eplosangeles.com.
TRIP PLANNING Here are some websites to check out for planning your West Coast getaway: Los Angeles discoverlosangeles.com West Hollywood visitwesthollywood.com Santa Monica santamonica.com Beverly Hills lovebeverlyhills.com Jet Blue offers non-stop flights from JFK to LAX with low round-trip airfare. This favorite airline includes numerous cable channels at your seat, not to mention unlimited free snacks and in-flight WiFi. Jet Blue credit card holders receive individual snack boxes, sandwiches, and alcoholic drinks at half price and anyone with a Jet Blue account is eligible for LYFT discount. Info: jetblue.com. 36 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
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SKI EAST By Patricia Canole
nce the first flakes fall, it’s time to start thinking of a winter getaway—one where you can engage in outdoor activities ranging from skiing and snowboarding to sledding and ice skating. Naturally, there has to be some down time for spa-going and warming up by a crackling fire with a mug of hot chocolate. The Northeast has plenty of ski resorts at all price points— so there’s absolutely no reason not to go! VERMONT It’s the king of New England skiing, with more major ski resorts than any other Eastern state. There are a few ways to make the most of a ski getaway here. For starters, with so many resorts in such a small state, it’s very easy to ski more than one in a single trip. And nearby resorts offer interchangeable lift tickets. Also, to get the most bang for your buck, go where the skiing best suits your ability. Southern Vermont areas (Okemo) lean toward intermediate cruising terrain, while northern resorts (Stowe) tend to offer more to advanced and expert skiers. In the middle is Killington, the biggest of all, with plenty to interest skiers of every ability. For more information on Ski Vermont, visit skivermont.com.
KILLINGTON This sprawling property offers snow-packed trails that weave around the Green Mountains and promise the most thrilling downhill skiing this side of the Mississippi. Dubbed the “Beast of the East” it lives up to its name: It’s the biggest resort covering seven mountains and an excellent variety of terrain. Probably a good reason Killington attracts large numbers of devoted skiers who keep it as lively after hours as they do during the day. It also demonstrates that the beast is still a real beauty of a mountain. Beginners can trail off on Pico Peak and Rams Head Mountain, while speed demons rip down Killington Peak.
STAY & DINE The Summit Lodge & Resort just a few minutes’ drive from Killington (free shuttles provided), is one of the East Coast’s largest ski resorts. The 44 rooms are basic but comfy (family rooms sleep up to six) and amenities include a full buffet breakfast and heated pools. For late-night fun at the resort, head to O’Dwyer’s Public House for some excellent grub. After a morning of skiing, hit Peak Lodge at Killington Base Lodge, a casual eatery where you can refuel on soup and sandwiches. Après ski, join locals and visitors alike at nearby Lookout Tavern for reasonably priced fare—the chicken wings are a must! For more information on Killington, visit killington.com. 38 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
NEW YORK New York has its distinctive style. Rather than sleepy New England towns, you’ll find a lively crowd on—and off—the slopes. Reigning supreme here is Whiteface Mountain set in Adirondack State Park. The park is big and steep (if not more significant and more precipitous) as many mountains in Vermont or the rest of New England. Few East Coast resorts can match Whiteface’s big-mountain challenge, and none can match its tradition: After all, Lake Placid hosted the Winter Olympics twice—in 1932 and 1980. For more information on Ski New York State, visit iskiny.com.
LAKE PLACID In the town of Lake Placid, you’ll find the towering Whiteface Mountain which happens to have the highest vertical drop in the East. The terrain is weighted toward experts, however less experienced skiers have access to Runner Up and Silver, closer to the base. Families can also try out their skills at bobsledding in the town of Lake Placid. However, Whiteface will please all skiers looking for long trails and gorgeous views of the Adirondacks. After a run, head to where downhill champs were crowned!
STAY & DINE One of the most luxurious places to stay in the charming village of Lake Placid is Whiteface Lodge. The all-suite timber-and stone property feature outdoor heated pools and hot tubs, a pampering spa, a 56-seat movie theater and an ice skating rink. Whiteface Lodge’s Kanu is one of the finest restaurants in the Adirondacks. Here, Executive Sous Chef Matthew DeCicco serves modern American cuisine amid stone fireplaces and timbered beams. For more information on Lake Placid, visit lakeplacid.com.
PENNSYLVANIA It’s time to shift your thoughts of winter into high gear and plan your incredible Pennsylvania ski vacation to where else but the Poconos. With a history dating back to 1946 when the mountains welcomed the first commercial ski area in Pennsylvania and perfected the art of snowmaking, the Poconos have become a bona fide ski destination. Today, the Poconos have it all—beginner slopes to the double black diamonds and terrain parks to test your skills. Get out and experience the exhilaration when your skis start sliding down a Pocono slope. For more information on the Pocono Mountains, visit poconomountains.com.
CAMELBACK If you ski just one place in Pennsylvania, Camelback Mountain must be it. Most resorts along this gentle mountain range in Northeastern Pennsylvania describe runs as “great for beginners” or “family friendly.” Camelback is indeed that, but it also has trails that appeal to expert skiers. It can even make a high volume of snow and has two terrain parks and two half-pipes. For non-skiers, the sizeable snow-tubing park is a pleasing alternative.
STAY & DINE Of course, as we all know there are two types of people in this world: those who ski, and those who don’t. If you fall into the later camp and have never vacationed at a ski lodge, then you’ve been missing out. Camelback Mountain Resort affords non-ski activities including zip lining over snow-covered mountains and treetops. For kids, there’s always Aquatopia Indoor Water Park with fun rides and slides. And for those who just want to kick back and relax, there’s Serenity Spa. Then get your weekend après ski started: Friday through Sunday live bands play crowd-pleasing covers for the happy masses downing the macro-brews on tap. Dining options at the resort are blessed with a winning combination of great and varied cuisine, majestic views, al fresco dining, and authentic mountain side charm. From the recreated aqua-theme of Neptunes, the worldly inspirations of Hemisphere’s buffet, to the tucked away slope-side Trails End Pub & Grille, there’s a menu to please all palates. For more information on Camelback Mountain Resort, visit skicamelback.com. • NOVEMBER 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 39
TRAVEL
FALL IN LOVE WITH MAINE By Laurie Bain Wilson
he best time of year to visit Maine is now. No, YORK/YORK BEACH/CAPE NEDDICK seriously. The big chill has yet to come, the rates at the York has all the ingredients for an off-season visit. inns and resorts, like the leaves, have fallen, comfort Take classes at Stonewall Kitchen’s Cooking School, food season has begun in the restaurants—hugs of hearty a self-guided Cliff Walk tour, and snap gram-worthy stews and heartening cocktails. And, most importantly, pics of photogenic Nubble Lighthouse. the fireplaces are cranking in guestrooms and lounges. STAY So, now that we’ve made our argument for why you should visit in late fall and early winter, here’s where to eat, play and stay in the Pine Tree State. OGUNQUIT You must walk Marginal Way, a mile-and-a-quarter walking trail that snakes from Ogunquit Beach to Perkins Cove. This onceupon-a-time perfect little fishing cove is where you might expect to run into Jessica Fletcher. The ocean crashes on the cliffs, and yes, that is a whale offshore. STAY Colonial Inn An historic 1887 inn with a recent facelift, it’s the perfect place to walk to Marginal Yachtsman Hotel Way, the shops, and beach. It’s also affords guests a pretty porch to kick back; breakfast is KENNEBUNKPORT included. Info: thecolonialinn. This lovely Maine town is home to the Bush com. family compound, and Dock Square, the hub with shops and restaurants. Outdoor lovers Meadowmere Affordable and will appreciate the Rachel Carson National near Ogunquit Beach for seashell Wildlife Refuge for nature outings. But the finds, for wooly sweater walks most compelling reason to visit this time of and the Kittery outlets for holiday year is for the Kennebunkport Christmas shopping. Oh, and there’s a spa Prelude when the town is gift wrapped with too. Info: meadowmere.com. lights and decorations; begins late November. EAT Jonathan’s is loved for its longstanding farm-to-table concept— and has been for 40-plus years with many menu ingredients sourced from their farm. There’s also lobster, (baked stuffed, sautéed) and the chocolate mousse is award-winning. Info: jonathansogunquit.com. The Front Porch Piano Bar and Restaurant Do not leave town without a pop into this lively spot. There’s a restaurant downstairs, but you’ll want to head upstairs to singalong with the piano player and crowd. Hard to get into during the summer; another reason to visit in the offseason. Info: thefrontporch.com.
York Harbor Inn This lovely inn is comprised of six lodges, and guestrooms that feature fireplaces— as well as that requisite New England tavern and pub. Nice: Chef harvests the honey you’ll enjoy at breakfast. Info: yorkharborinn.com. Stage Neck Inn When moody Mother Nature checks into Maine, this hotel celebrates. It honors “the power of the ocean” with an assortment of allweather outerwear for guests who wish to walk the beach or explore outdoors for those cloudy days. There are also many fireplaces to warm up and a spa to soothe the soul. Info: stageneck.com. The Cliff House Just north of York Beach is this 226room Cape Neddick stunner with mouth-gaping views from its perch on Bald Head Cliff. Stunning new suites and a spa make this stay a relaxing experience. The Tiller Restaurant has dramatic ocean views, and Nubb’s Lobster Shack serves one of the best lobster rolls in Maine. Info: destinationhotels. com/cliff-house. EAT We’re guessing you’ll want a fireplace and lobster during your Maine visit—the Lobster Cove has both. Info: lobstercoverestaurant.com.
STAY The Yachtsman Hotel & Marina Club Visit Kennebunkport for the festive Prelude and stay in one of the hotel’s fun-loving, linked bungalows on the banks of the Kennebunk River. Note: The hotel is only open select weekends for the Prelude. Info: yachtsmanlodge.com. Captain Fairfield Inn This nine-room inn housed in an 1813 Federal mansion has stylish touches all over along with hipster amenities like complimentary iPads and pops of color. And that wood-burning fireplace will warm any heart. Info: captainfairfield.com. EAT Boathouse A pretty spot on the Kennebunk River, the nautical chic eatery features a Maine-inspired menu, including a Lobster Bar. Info: boathouseme.com.
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Cliff House
Portland
FREEPORT
PORTLAND
This shopping destination is unlike any other. There are more than 170 designer outlets, including the L.L. Bean flagship store—and natural coastal beauty minutes away. Also, Freeport is only 15 minutes from Portland—a perfect vacay would be a foodie stay in Portland and then a shopping overnight in Freeport.
Foodies flip for this tale of two cities—a progressive city with trending culinary scene and Old Port where you’ll get a feel for the old fishing town. Take the Maine Food for Thought culinary tour (mainefoodforthought.com)—you’ll visit six of the toughest-to-get-into restaurants in town and learn about Maine’s forward-thinking food system. For a taste of the craft brewery scene, tour the Allagash Brewing Company (allagash.com)
STAY Harraseekett Inn Those shops are a two-minute walk from this lovely inn. Get the amazing lobster stew in the open-kitchen Broad Arrow Tavern, then head out to the fire pit to meet friends you haven’t met yet. Book a room with a woodburning fireplace and Thos. Moser Cabinetmaker furniture. Info: harraseekett.com. EAT Jameson Tavern Restaurant Super popular spot that serves scallops, lobster, clams—basically a taste of Maine in the heart of town. Info: jamessontavern.com. Tuscan Brick Oven Bistro If you want the best pizza and chicken parm in town, this good-looking restaurant is where you go. Info: tuscanbrickovenbistro.com.
STAY The Press Hotel Breaking news: This boutique hotel is housed in the former Portland Press Herald building and features handsome guestrooms, a headline-grabbing restaurant and a front-page location within walking distance to everything. Info: thepresshotel.com. Portland Harbor Hotel A stylish spot in the middle of all the action (translation: some of the best restaurants in the country and home to one of them, BlueFin.) Nice: Comp bikes to explore. Info: portlandharborhotel.com. EAT Blyth & Burrows Sip a maritime-inspired cocktail and nibble on small lobster rolls, oysters on the half shell, and other tasty bits at this this award-winning restaurant. Info: blythandburrows.com. Duckfat Here’s one of the hottest sandwich spots in town, thanks to faves like local potato fries fried in duck fat. Info: duckfat.com. The Honey Paw Asia meets Maine and the result is dishes like Lobster Curry. Mainers and visitors adore it. Info: thehoneypaw.com.
ROCKLAND/ROCKPORT This is Maine’s mid-coast region and an art lover’s fantasy. Rockland is home to the Center for Maine Contemporary Art and The Farnsworth Art Museum. Rockland also hugs the Penobscot Bay and is the launching point for sailing and schooner trips (in the summer months).
The Press Hotel
STAY 250 Main A 26-room boutique hotel that overlooks Rockland Harbor with rooms that are minimalist, flaunting reclaimed materials and industrial décor. Info: 250mainhotel.com. Old Granite Inn An 1840’s Federal Colonial granite house, this eight-room inn has great bones and is steps from the museums and harbor; hearty breakfast included. Info: oldgraniteinn.com. Samoset Resort A year-round sprawling 178-room resort that dates to 1889 with heart-tugging views of Penobscot Bay. Info: samosetresort.com. EAT Enoteca Lounge Located in the Samoset Resort in Rockport is where, on a cool evening, you’ll sip a Cabernet fireside at the communal wine table and share the crab and lobster fondue. Info: samosetresort.com/dining/enoteca-lounge. For more information on Maine, go to visitmaine.com. • NOVEMBER 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 41
TRAVEL
CAPE COD
THANKSGIVING WITH THE PILGRIMS By Laurie Bain Wilson
o, the Pilgrims didn’t first land in Plymouth. They first debuted in Provincetown, aboard the Mayflower, in 1620. And there is no better place to celebrate Thanksgiving than on Cape Cod. It’s a special time of year on the Cape—some refer to it as the shoulder season, but locals call it barstool season, when they can reclaim their favorite seat at the bar again after the frenzied summer season. You’ll have the strands to yourself for moody beach walks, and the darling shops in pretty towns like Chatham are ideal for holiday shopping. The peninsula’s communities all distinguish themselves in some unique way. History buffs and those interested in that rock, might start with a detour to Plymouth to also see Plimoth Plantation Museum before they arrive at Cape Cod itself, then follow historic Route 6A from Sandwich (the Cape’s oldest town); houses lining this twisting road range from Colonial to Victorian in style. The tiny village of Woods Hole is the ferry point for Martha’s Vineyard and home to the world-renowned scientific community, and represents one of the hipper enclaves on the Cape, with laid-back restaurants and watering holes. Old money has claimed the coastline along the Nantucket Sound, from Falmouth to Hyannisport, but there’s no charge for gazing at these seaside estates. Route 28 east of Hyannis is where you’ll find pretty Harwich Port. Continue and you’re at Chatham, at the Cape’s “elbow,” with its quintessential New England seaside village flavor. Then, of course, there’s Provincetown at the tip of the Cape. It is, after all, the spot where the Pilgrims first set foot in the New World. The islands—Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard—are worlds unto themselves. They offer all the advantages of modern-day life (Nantucket’s restaurants, in particular, are world-class). Once you venture past the well-preserved whaling towns of Nantucket on Nantucket Island and Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard, you’ll discover scrub-oak forests and perfect strands, with only a few fellow escapists for company. In fall, the foliage casts a fiery glow across the marshlands and inland hills, and the cranberry bogs gleam with fruit. There’s no pleasure so great as walking off a lovely Thanksgiving dinner on a quiet beach on a chilly autumn afternoon. Gobble up these ideas for a memorable Thanksgiving on the Cape and Islands. 42 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
WHERE TO STAY Sea Street Inn This meticulously-kept modern luxury inn with three guestrooms and two suites, has raised the bar for Cape Cod hospitality. Expect an experience, not just a stay, thanks to owner Adrian D’Ambrosi. The WallStreet-investment-research-analyst-turnedculinary-chef (his pedigree includes working with Jean-Georges Vongerichten) will spoil you with a lobster roll upon check-in and a gourmet breakfast that he prepares daily in his designer open-kitchen. His wife, Xenia, is the brains behind the inn’s surprise elements of nature—a framed photo of a flower, for instance, presents a pop of color that is so striking, passersby who glimpse it through the window stop to take photos. The inn is a lovely walk to the beach, as well as to the Kennedy Compound. Perhaps one of the most compelling reasons to visit Cape Cod this Thanksgiving is to experience this inn. Info: seastreetinn.com.
Ocean Edge Resort
Provincetown Marina and Pilgrim Monument
Ocean Edge Resort and Spa A stunning mansion by the sea with 429 rooms, including townhouse accommodations, you’ll also find a fabulous spa, indoor swimming pools, and stirring sunsets over the bay. Thanksgiving brunch will be served in the Ocean Terrace. Did we mention those sunsets? Info: oceanedge.com. Chatham Bars Inn Stay at this historic 217room resort (it dates to 1914) and you can conveniently walk into the darling town of Chatham, as well as to the Chatham Fish Pier and beach. Book a spa suite or a cottage (with fireplace) or a room right in the inn. Nice: Cranberries, herbs and produce are locallysourced from the resort’s eight-acre farm. Info: chathambarsinn.com. Eben House A Provincetown gem, this 1776 sea captain’s house (Captain Eben Snow) is done up with 18th-century portraits hanging at every turn—but these portraits were commissioned by a local P-town artist who has painted playful portraits of the Snows. The rooms are darling— and daring with those portraits hanging on the wall—and don’t sleep in or you’ll miss worthgetting-up-for morning repast in the cozy breakfast room. Info: ebenhouse.com. Coonamessett Lark Hotels reimagined this popular and historic Cape inn earlier this summer and you’ll find Lark’s signature all over it—whimsical maritime décor with an appreciation for the inn’s storied past evident in spirited Eli’s Tavern. Info: the coonamessett.com. Cape Codder Resort Got kids? This Hyannis resort makes a splash with an indoor water park. There’s also a year-round outdoor heated pool— and a spa, too! Info: capecodderresort.com. Wequassett Resort and Golf Club You’ll give thanks for your stay at this upscale 120-rooms and suites resort (many with bay views) in Harwich. Bonus: Thanksgiving dinner is served at Twenty Atlantic restaurant here. Info: wequassettresort.com.
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Cape Cod Rail Trail
WINE & DINE The Lobster Trap An uber-popular year-round restaurant in Bourne with standout lobster rolls and feel-good scene. For an autumn meal, order the Macadamia and Cranberry Crusted Sea Scallops with Root Vegetable Risotto and Spinach. Info: lobstertrap.net. Chillingsworth in Brewster was a favorite of Julia Child. She adored the oysters served here in a restored late 1600’s house. For a more casual meal, hit Chill’s Bistro and Bar. Info: chillingsworth.com. Fanizzi’s You can’t get much more waterfront than this low-key beauty in Provincetown. Snag a window table, and you’ll have the ocean as the perfect side dish to accompany your Provincetown Fisherman’s Fried Platter. Info: fanizzisrestaurant.com. The Red Inn A beloved Provincetown restaurant (and inn), this waterfront spot will be serving dinner on Thanksgiving, so you can toast to the Pilgrims with a Cape Codder and dig into grilled lobster tails, Wellfleet Oysters, Seafood Cakes and other fish-and-seafood specials. Info: theredinn.com. Bayzo’s Pub This handsome pub in the Ocean Edge Resort is where you want to go to catch a football game and enjoy great pub fare like the Signature Bayzo’s Burger and Cape Cod Mussels. Info: oceanedge. com. Thoreau’s Channel Thoreau while seated in a clubby chair by the fireplace at this smart-looking pub in the Wequassett Resort—perfect for a transcendental convo (or sports) and sips. Info: wequassett.com. Chatham Squire In the heart of Chatham, you’re guaranteed a lively, in-crowd at the bar (there are tables and booths, too) and excellent fish sandwiches, chowder and brews, too. Info: thesquire.com. Stars Tucked inside the Chatham Bars Inn, feast on a splashy Thanksgiving buffet including smoked fish displays, caviar, roast turkey, slow roasted prime rib and more—and water views to swoon over. Info: chathambarsinn.com.
WHAT TO DO The Annual Lighting of the Pilgrim Monument This annual event in Provincetown is a favorite Thanksgiving weekend tradition with music and refreshments and a holiday season kickoff. The towering 252-foot monument is lighted with more than 3,000 landing lights that shine through January. This year, the lighting takes place on November 21st from 5 to 7 pm. Turkey Trot A Thanksgiving tradition in many towns across America is to run a morning Turkey Trot. The Cape is no exception. The towns of Chatham and Sandwich both host turkey trots. Cape Cod National Seashore Mother Nature blessed New England with the Cape Cod National Seashore, a stretch of 40 miles between Eastham and Provincetown. Bundle up and walk one of the many self-guided trails. Info: nps.gov/caco/index.htm. Biking Bring your bicycles—and bike the miles of picturesque cranberry bogs, marshes and forest. You can bike the Shining Sea Bikeway in Falmouth, a ten mile stretch that runs from Woods Hole to Falmouth. Or, the Cape Cod Rail Trail, a 22-mile trail from to South Dennis to Wellfleet. Cruise Route 6A Also known as Antiques Alley, this lanky necklace of road dangles through some of the Cape’s prettiest villages like, flanked with antiques shops. For more information on Cape Cod and its Islands visit capecodchamber.org. • 44 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
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CODA SUMMIT - THE INTERSECTION OF ART, TECHNOLOGY AND PLACE IN SANTA FE
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FEATURES
THE ANNUAL HOLIDAY GUIDE TO NEW YORK CITY By Natasha Bazika
was the month before Christmas, when all of New York immersed itself in its typical hustle and poise of seasonal magic. From Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, lighting the Tree at Rockefeller Center to watching snow blanket Central Park, it’s a spectacle that inspired classic films and is known from all around the world. The streets are lit with red and green twinkle lights, tinsel drapes from every corner of every crevice, and animated figures dance in holiday windows, wishing joy and happiness to passersby. It’s truly the most wonderful time of the year— let’s take a tour of a New York-style Holiday Season. MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE On Thursday, November 22nd the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, one of the most famous holiday events in the world, will march down Central Park West and 77th Street to Columbus Circle along Central Park South to Sixth Avenue. From there it will follow Sixth Avenue to 34th Street and along 34th Street to Herald Square. More than 8,000 people take part in the parade, including clowns, balloon handlers, and marching bands, while many more line the streets along the parade route to see it in person. Get ready for giant character balloons, floats, cheerleaders/dancers, marching bands, celebrities—and Santa Claus! Don’t Miss: One of the most anticipated events of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade occurs the night before. The Balloon Inflation allows you to get up close and personal to watch technicians inflating nearly 25 parade balloons from 3 to 10 pm. The excitement begins at the American Museum of National History (just off Central Park West between 77th and 81st Streets) where the entire family can see the balloons come to life. Info: macys.com/social/parade. NOVEMBER 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 53
RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR Radio City Music Hall is most famous as the home of the legendary Rockettes and their highstepping Christmas Spectacular which has been entertaining us since 1933. This year’s show— which runs from November 9, 2018 through January 1, 2019—won’t disappoint. You’ll see lots of favorites along with the Rockettes, as well as some special effects technology and updated choreography. Not to be overlooked is the return of the live animals in the “Living Nativity” and the Nutcracker scene. Info: rockettes.com.
HOLIDAY TREES The Tree at Rockefeller Center is hands down the iconic Christmas image and continues to attract visitors every holiday season. However, there are more trees to check out including the unique Origami Tree at the American Museum of Natural History and lots more. ROCKEFELLER CENTER CHRISTMAS TREE It’s the most celebrated of holiday trees and a classic destination for holiday visitors and residents alike. The 85th annual tree lighting will be November 28, 2018 and will continue to light the iconic skyline until January 7, 2019. Info: rockefellercenter.com/holidays. CENTRAL PARK HOLIDAY LIGHTING Watch thousands of lights animate Central Park at the 21st Annual Holiday Lighting on November 29, 2018. Bring the family to the Charles A. Dana Center to meet Santa, watch an ice carving demonstration, sing carols on the Plaza and indulge in hot cocoa and cookies. Info: centralpark.com/events. BRYANT PARK TREE LIGHTING SKATE-TACULAR This New York City Christmas tradition is for the whole family. Catch the fun December 4, 2018 when celebrity guests read an original Christmas tale to the crowd. World-class skaters bring the story to life as they whiz around on the ice under the stars in the Midtown cityscape. The finale is the best part—when the tree is lit and fireworks light up the sky. Info: bryantpark.org/programs. ORIGAMI CHRISTMAS TREE AT AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY For over 30 years the AMNH has celebrated the joyous with its 13-foot Origami Tree. The museum draws inspiration from its exhibits for the 1,000 folded-paper works, constructed by volunteers throughout the year. On display beginning November 20, 2018. Info: amnh.com. CHRISTMAS TREE AND NEAPOLITAN CRECHE AT THE MET FIFTH AVENUE The Met continues its holiday tradition with the presentation of its Christmas tree: a brightly lit, twenty-foot blue Norwegian Spruce featuring 18th-century Neapolitan angels and cherubs gracing its boughs. At the base of the tree are the crèche figures flanking the Nativity scene. On display beginning November 20, 2018. Info: metmuseum.org. LINCOLN SQUARE CHRISTMAS TREE On Monday, November 26, 2018, the Annual Winter’s Eve at Lincoln Square—New York’s largest holiday festival will begin with the tree lighting ceremony. The highly anticipated event promises a lively lineup of legendary performers, musicians, dancers, street entertainment and more to ring in the holiday season and light up the Upper West Side. Info: winterseve.com.
54 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN HOLIDAY TRAIN SHOW Model trains navigate crafted miniatures of New York City’s environment all made from seeds, bark, leaves, and twigs. The Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge are just a few of the 150 landmarks that form a fantastically rendered city landscape, serviced by a robust half-mile of the track, all nestled under the glass ceilings of the historic Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. This year the train show runs from November 17, 2018 to January 21, 2019 and showcases Manhattan’s skyscrapers with new replicas of the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, 30 Rockefeller Center and St. Bartholomew’s Church. Info: nybg.org/event.
NEW YORK CITY BALLET: THE NUTCRACKER The New York City Ballet’s production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker is at the heart of New York City’s holiday season. Whether a family tradition or a once-in-a-lifetime visit, your experience of this glittering classic ballet will stay with you forever. Young and young-at-heart will be transported to a magical place filled with adorable children, marching toy soldiers, mischievous mice, waltzing snowflakes, and some of the most breathtaking costumes ever seen. The most famous example is the massive Christmas tree that grows to 40 feet evoking audible gasps from the audience every time. This year performances will be held from November 23 through December 30, 2018 at the David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center. Info: nycballet.com.
HOLIDAY WINDOWS A visit to New York City during the holiday season wouldn’t be complete without a view of the city’s department store windows. Barneys New York If you’re shopping along Madison Avenue, Barneys windows are a must-see. Every year they show hip and stylish displays, accented with a dose of fun. Info: Madison Ave. at East 61st St. Bergdorf Goodman Holiday windows feature high-fashion and authentic antiques: each a work of art. Put this one on your list of must-dos. Info: Fifth Ave. at West 58th St. Bloomingdale’s The holiday window displays are playful and on display before Black Friday so holiday shoppers can enjoy them throughout the season. Info: Lexington Ave. at East 59th St. Lord & Taylor Every year this store features classic holiday window displays which are unveiled in late November. The colorful displays feature imagery and mechanical movements that make them both traditional and enjoyable for families. Note: 2018 will be the last year Lord & Taylor will be displaying their holiday windows. Because the department store is in the process of closing permanently, a limited number of window displays will be available for viewing. Info: Fifth Ave. at West 38th St. Macy’s Here windows depict animated scenes of New York. In years past, Miracle on 34th Street and a Charlie Brown Christmas have created a stir on 34th Street. Info: Broadway at West 34th St. Saks Fifth Avenue The holiday window displays feature funny animations. Conveniently located Saks Fifth Avenue’s windows are located across from the Rockefeller Center Promenade. Don’t miss: Saks also produces a beautiful Winter Palace Light Show on the facade of the building during evening hours. Info: Fifth Ave. at East 49th St.
NOVEMBER 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 55
DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! THE MUSICAL Head to the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden for this holiday classic from December 13 through December 30, 2018. Children of all ages are entertained with characters who depict the true meaning of Christmas. Info: msg.com/ hulu-theater-at-msg.
HOLIDAY SHOPPING From November through the end of December you’ll find the best that New York City has to offer—unique gift items including jewelry, clothing, home goods, arts, crafts, antiques, electronics, and so much more.
HOLIDAY SHOPS AT BRYANT PARK The Holiday Shops include more than 100 boutique-like kiosks offering lovely gift ideas from jewelry, decorative goods, local foods, and much more--for all ages. The Holiday Shops are housed in Bryant Park’s custom-designed kiosks. Closes January 2, 2019. Info: holidayshopsatbryantpark.com.
23 DAYS OF FLATIRON CHEER The Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership invites visitors to watch performances, participate in contests and free walking tours, giveaways and much more including an interactive installation in the North Public Plaza. The festivities begin December 1, 2018. Info: flatirondistrict.nyc. •
GRAND CENTRAL HOLIDAY FAIR Holiday Fair is the only one held indoors. This year, the Fair will fill Vanderbilt Hall with vendors offering an incredible array of holiday gifts. Clothing for adults and children, handbags, hand-crafted jewelry and accessories for men and women top the list. Closes December 24, 2018. Info: grandcentralterminal.com/event
UNION SQUARE HOLIDAY MARKET Over 100 merchants are on hand to bring you unique gifts. Hand-blown glass housewares; handmade leather goods; bags and accessories; and a good variety of handmade jewelry are just some of the items available. As in years past, there will also be nibbles and noshes throughout the market. Closes December 24, 2018. Info: urbanspacenyc.com/union-square-holiday-market
COLUMBUS CIRCLE HOLIDAY MARKET This market is considered by many as one of the most elegant places for holiday shopping. Conveniently located near the entrance to Central Park, at 59th Street, shoppers enjoy walking around discovering one-of-a-kind items including art and jewelry, from local designers. Closes December 24, 2018. Info: urbanspacenyc. com/columbus-circle-holiday-market 56 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
FEATURES
TECH TALK
BIG DATA EQUALS GOOD HEALTH By Will Read
f you are concerned about how to measure improvements in your health, seeking a motivation to get up and be active, or already keen on fitness and want to excel—then today’s technology is ready to assist. While some feel that technological devices are a waste, if properly utilized having something which works with you to potentially achieve better health is, well, a no-brainer. Here our selection of good ideas to motivate you into achieving your goals—although still expect to sweat it out at the gym! TIME FOR WEIGH-IN The humble weighing scale used to be a simple dial and a number. Today’s cream of the crop incorporate body analysis features to map out bone, muscle and water densities, heart rates, BMI numbers and even advise you of the weather conditions. Syncing data with an app on your cell phone or computer is the piece de resistance for developing trends and identifying when you are simply having a bad day.
WITHINGS Body + WiFi Composition Smart Scale High-accuracy weight and full body composition is just the beginning for the Body +WiFi Composiition Smart Scale. Get to know this scale which a scale that coaches, rewards, and records all data automatically. And with tools including trend screens and nutrition tracking, you can set goals—and achieve them. It tracks weight, fat mass, muscle mass, water hydration, and bone mass. Info: withings.com.
FITNESS TRACKERS Fitness trackers enable us to capture every step, every type of workout and get an idea as to the calories burned from the perspective of figuring out the interaction between exercise, calorific intake and health. Today, there are also a number of sleep tracking tools available to understand how the mysterious world of sleep affects us, as well as devices to monitor how we meditate.
FITBIT Charge 3 The Fitbit Charge 3 measures calorie burn, understands resting heart rate and more with 24/7 heart rate tracking with a battery life of up to 7 days. Choose from 15+ exercise modes (run, bike, swim, yoga, circuit training and more) set a goal, and get real-time stats during your workouts to see how you can keep getting better. Automatically record time spent in Light, Deep and REM sleep stages and see activity trends, health insights and personalized guidance in one place with Fitbit Today. Info: fitbit.com.
MUSE Brain Sensing Headband Designed to help you manage and reduce stress, the Muse Brain Sensing Headband gives real- time feedback on what’s happening in your brain and teaches you how to achieve peace and calm. The headband monitors your brain activity during meditation and transmits this information to your computer, smartphone via Bluetooth. Info: muse.com.
FITBIT Aria 2 WiFi Smart Scale An amazing device to measure weight, body fat percentage, lean mass and BMI. The Aria 2 WiFi Smart Scale conveniently syncs stats automatically to your Fitbit dashboard using WiFi encryption and tracks your progress with simple, easy-to-read graphs. Info: fitbit.com. 58 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
PHILIPS
DIET Healthy eating and maintaining a healthy body weight are a couple of the best things you can do to prevent and control health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer. Although it’s hard for some people to get all the proper vitamins and minerals you need, the elite juicer below will help put together a well-rounded healthy treat, while the nutrition scale will be there to keep you on track.
Avance Juicer Fiber is one of the most important nutrients in helping us prevent heart disease, diabetes, weight gain, some cancers, and also to improve digestive health. The Philips Avance Juicer has FiberBoost technology, which enables you to choose the texture of juice you prefer. Info: usa.philips.com.
SITU
Smart Nutrition Food Scale There’s nothing better than a home-cooked meal made from scratch, and now with the ingenious SITU Nutrition Scale you can stay on top of your calorie and nutrient intake. The super smart scale is linked to an iPad app via Bluetooth and sends accurate information about the amount of salt, sugar, protein, and fat that’s on your plate. By keeping a record of your nutritional intake, the app can help you learn more about nutrition. Info: amazon.com.
EXERCISE WITH DATA Yes, all your sports equipment is now potentially connected. Get feedback and analysis for improved sports performance or simply more accurate exercise data. Have fun!
ZEPP
Golf 2 Swing Analyzer Analyze your swing and capture data into your own highlights reel with the Zepp Golf 2 Swing Analyzer. Also available for Tennis, Baseball, and more. Info: zepp.com.
TANGRAM FACTORY Smart PURE Jump Rope Unleash you inner Rocky Balboa and get skipping and collecting data on your skills. The Tangram Factory Smart PURE Jump Rope LED version actually projects the number of rotations in front of your eyes. How cool is that! Info: tangramfactory.com.
ARCCOS 360 Golf Sensor System One of the frustrations with adopting golf as a hobby is the time invested—not to mention the cost. To help you along in your game, Arccos 360 Golf Sensor System provides instant feedback on your game with sensors that are easily inserted into the grip of each club. Compatible with iPhone and Smartphone. Info: arccosgolf.com.
LUMOS Smart Bicycle Helmet Cycling around New York, you need to be safe and be seen. Now it’s possible with the Lumos Smart Bicycle Helmet which features super bright LED lights positioned on the front and back to indicate to drivers and pedestrians your intentions. Info: lumoshelmet.co. • NOVEMBER 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 59
THE DISTINCTIVE LIFE Distinctive Collection by Better Homes and Gardens® RAND REALTY offers the service and market experience you expect from a brand whose legacy was built upon a passion for the home. Let us help you find or sell yours, visit: RANDREALTY.COM
LUXURY LIVING IN BEDFORD HILLS, NY
A spectacular Contemporary in the Bedford Hills estate area. Your own country club is on 4.30 acres of lushly landscaped property with specimen plantings. A gated entry leads to the main house. This property offers 7,800 square feet of fabulous entertaining and living space. The entry foyer leads you to a step-down living room with a two-sided fireplace and three exposures of light; the gourmet kitchen has every amenity including a pizza oven, sliders to patio, butler’s pantry and more. Formal dining room; family room has a huge wet bar and fireplace; media room, three powder rooms and a three-car garage complete the main level! The magnificent pool has a beautiful patio with a bar. The pool house has two bathrooms, kitchenette, living room/bedroom and a large deck overlooking a magnificent filled koi pond with fountain. The putting green and the newly resurfaced tennis court complete the property. Spectacular entertaining indoors and out. $2,250,000 MLS# 4837735 | New Rochelle, 914.575.112 Scott Cohen, Real Estate Associate Broker ©2018 Independently Owned and Operated by the Rand Family.
SUFFERN, NY The main house has three bedrooms; two and a half bathrooms; offices and workshops; one bath over garage; a cottage with one bedroom and one bath; and a detached, two-car garage. Interior features include eat-in kitchen, stainless steel appliances, fireplace, huge great room, and sliders that flow to the patio. Dining room with fireplace, radiant heat, hardwood floors, updated bathrooms, and laundry room. This is an assemblage of five separate lots (40.8.1-01,13, 16, 17 and 18). 4-5 lot residential subdivision behind this gated enclave will require a new subdivision map and approvals from Town. $2,150,000 MLS# 4825177 | New City, 845.634.1034 Rosalie Krantz, Real Estate Associate Broker
WEST NYACK, NY Bordering the fairway of Manhattan Woods Golf Course on approximately two beautiful acres, this Colonial home is situated on a cul-de-sac in a picturesque and gated estate development. This naturally lit, pristine home is meticulously maintained and custom-designed with marble tile and dark hardwood floors throughout. The grand two-story foyer is encompassed with 20-foot ceilings, featuring custom marble flooring and an elegantly curved staircase leading to the second floor. This house boasts class, elegance, and timeless updates. Ideally located 20 minutes from Manhattan with easy access to restaurants, schools, parks, and commuting arteries. Plenty of room for a pool and pool house. $2,089,000 MLS# 4827166 | Nyack, 845.358.7310 Chesiree Palladino, Real Estate Salesperson
MONSEY NY As you walk through this palatial home with its grand entryway, you’ll find an eat-in kitchen, washing area, and living room and dining room with high ceilings and beautiful window treatments. Upstairs are six comfortable bedrooms and three bathrooms. One more flight up is a state-of-the-art library and office overlooking the entryway. The den level offers a spacious and elegant master bedroom suite and spacious dressing areas and closets. Another hallway leads you to the elegant office with custom wood built-ins and its own outside entry, as well as entry to the roomy garages. Newly finished basement features two guest bedrooms, bathroom, and playroom. $1,999,999 MLS# 4838518 | New City, 845.634.1034 Elly Walden, Real Estate Associate Broker
OR ANGEBURG, NY This Victorian offers extraordinary living and exquisite architecture. Magnificent entryway. The great room is full of natural light and has a stone fireplace. Spacious and well-lit dining room. Large office with built-ins. Eat-in kitchen with new granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Upper level consists of a master bedroom suite with huge master bath. Three other spacious bedrooms and two other full baths. Finished basement with full bath. Other features include a wine cooler, heated pool, deck, and landscaped property. $1,500,000 MLS# 4839622 | Pearl River, 845.735.3020 Margaret “Peggy” Connolly, Real Estate Associate Broker ©2018 Independently Owned and Operated by the Rand Family.
PAWLING, NY The serene country estate makes for a perfect weekand retreat or year-round family compound on 87+ acres that offer total privacy is just minutes from the charming New England-style town of Pawling. Through rolling hills and wooded landscapes, the gated entry and gently winding drive brings you to this custom-built home with extraordinary views from every angle of flowering shrubs and towering trees. Nature lovers will appreciate the many trails that are perfect for hiking. Inside, you’ll find gleaming Cherrywood floors, vaulted ceilings, and walls of glass, all of which create an open feeling. Room for all with everyone afforded their own private spaces to relax, unwind, and enjoy, yet plenty of entertainment areas in which to gather. $1,500,000 MLS# 4822287 | Yorktown Heights, 914.245.4422 Janyce Selkin, Real Estate Associate Broker
ARDSLEY, NY This Colonial features a two-story entry, an eat-in kitchen with stone counters, farm sink, center island, breakfast/casual eating area that adjoins the great room, and doors that lead to a stone patio. Landscaped yard has an in-ground pool. Formal dining room and living room are wonderful for entertaining. The first floor also has a playroom, powder room, laundry room, and mudroom with entrance to a three-car garage. The second floor features a master bedroom suite and bath, double walk-in closets, and five additional bedrooms, one of which can be used as a den/office, and two additional full baths. Home is wired for surround sound system, central air, alarm system, central vacuum. $1,450,000 MLS# 4722964 | Dobbs Ferry, 914.693.2224 Concetta Gallo, Real Estate Salesperson
SCARSDALE, NY This masterpiece was designed and brought to life by the architect’s vision of sophistication. This five-bed, five-and-a-half-bath home boasts a fabulous layout where one can entertain in their spacious living room, surrounded by an eye-catching array of large windows and state-of-the-art fireplace. Impressive chef’s kitchen is equipped with a commercial-grade oven and hood, white cabinetry, and expansive walnut island topped with quartz countertops. Seek tranquility in the beautiful master bedroom suite with its open-light concept. Master bath features walk-in shower spa, drying area, and heated floors. $1,399,000 MLS# 4823244 | New Rochelle, 914.576.1112 Anne Wiesel, Real Estate Salesperson
NYACK, NY Unique Rivertown Colonial with impressive Hudson River views. This well-designed home is flooded with natural light. The traditional exterior invites you into an open floor plan where each room flows into the next. A spacious kitchen is perfect for family gatherings and entertaining friends. The quality workmanship is evident throughout with thick moldings, hardwood floors, 12-foot ceilings, top-tier appliances, mudroom, and closets, all of which are just some of the many upgrades. The master bedroom is complete with a sitting room, walk-in closets, spa bath, and panoramic views of the river. Other features include an office, sunroom, walkout basement with outside views, deck, fenced-in backyard, and three-car heated garage. $1,285,000 MLS# 4844858 | Nyack, 845.358.7310 Nancy Blaker Weber, Real Estate Associate Broker ©2018 Independently Owned and Operated by the Rand Family.
REAL ESTATE & YOUR HOME
AROUND TOWN THE WEST VILLAGE By Marie-Claire Gladstone
t’s a step back in time when you visit the West Village; its charm rests in its 19th-century townhousesand cobblestone streets. In fact, not much has changed since this tiny enclave was the center of some of history’s social and countercultural movements. Located within Greenwich Village, the West Village is bordered on the west by Hudson River, Seventh Avenue to the east, West 14th Street on the north and Christopher Street to the south. History is everywhere you turn. And it’s fun to get lost on its streets, which are outside Manhattan’s grid system. Historically it’s known as an important landmark on the map of American culture. Known as “Little Bohemia” in 1916, the West Village welcomed the avant-garde and alternative culture. It thrived into the 20th century when small presses, art galleries, and experimental theater flourished.
160 Leroy West Village ©Corcoran
It was also here that the first racially integrated nightclub prospered. Café Society opened in 1938 at 1 Sheridan Square where such icons as Pearl Bailey, Count Basie, Nat King Cole, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Ella Fitzgerald were headline acts. Today, the West Village is a quiet residential, with a multitude of small restaurants, shops. The West Village draws fashionable crowds to its designer boutiques and trendy restaurants. Strolling the streets or dining at one of the neighbor eateries you might see other locals including Matthew Broderick and wife Sarah Jessica Parker, Hugh Jackman and family, Karlie Kloss, and Daniel Radcliff to name a few. NOVEMBER 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 63
WHAT TO SEE & DO Enjoy jazz at Village Vanguard, or have drink at the Stonewall Inn Bar, site of the 1969 riots that launched the gay rights movement. The historically arty area also has piano bars, cabarets and theaters. Despite its wealthy demographic and a profusion of restaurants and boutiques, the West Village continues to preserve a lowkey feel and picturesque charm. The area’s bohemian population may have dwindled years ago, but a few old landmarks remain, like the White Horse Tavern, a favorite of writers past like Norman Mailer and Dylan Thomas. The annual Halloween Parade (which just celebrated its 44th year) was created by puppeteer and mask maker Ralph Lee. It’s the world’s largest Halloween parade and America’s only major nighttime parade, attracting more than sixty thousand participants and two million spectators. The West Village one of the most charming New York neighborhoods, with gorgeous tree-lined streets where you’ll find cozy bistros and upscale restaurants and iconic gastropubs. Here, some of our favorites.
Village Vanguard jazz club
A PLACE TO STAY Residential property sale prices in the West Village neighborhood are some of the most expensive in the United States, typically exceeding $2,300 per square foot. But it doesn’t seem to deter: The luxury market is booming with sleek residential towers designed by American architect Richard Meier on the Hudson River at Perry and Charles Street, and 150 Charles Street. One of my favorite new developments is the very attractive 12-story, 49-unit apartment building at 160 Leroy Street—directly across from Pier 40. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron, (the Olympic “Bird’s Nest” Stadium in Beijing, 40 Bond Street and 56 Leonard) the team included Ian Schrager (co-founder of Studio 54). All residences feature floor-to-ceiling windows, soaring ceilings, open floor plans, chef ’s kitchens, and prewiring for smart home technology. Building amenities include doorman, concierge, fitness center, pool and spa, lounge, garden, courtyard, bike room, and on-site parking.
Buvette for its charm and small plates and thoughtful wine list. Info: For more information on the West Village and other parts of Manhattan, contact Marie-Claire ilovebuvette.com. Gladstone at the Corcoran Group; mgladstone@corcoran.com; 917-664-8157. • Sushi Nakazawa The biggest draw is, of course, the sushi—each piece stands out in its own unique way. Info: sushinakazawa.com. Sant Ambroeus Located on the quiet West 4th and Perry. Sant Ambroeus is an intimate place where guest experience the perfect Milanese cuisine. A fine selection of wines also tops the menu. Info: santambroeus.com. Perry Street This Jean-George outpost offers diners sophisticated dishes like the popular Poached Lobster and Rice Cake Crusted Tuna. Snag a table that overlooks the Hudson River. Info: perrystreetrestaurant.com.
Buvette
Sushi Nakazawa
Mary’s Fish Camp It’s a fish lover’s heaven where diners enjoy favorites like Fried Oysters and Clams with Fish Camp Tartar Sauce and Canadian Steamers with Drawn Butter and Lemon. Info: marysfishcamp.com Left Bank Expect to find homey dishes with a nod to French, Italian, and New American cuisines. Butternut Squash Gnocchi with Pulled Chicken, Swiss Chard and Onion is an autumn favorite. Info: leftbanknewyork.com. 64 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
Luxurious Real Estate in Boca Raton, FL
Offered at $1,675,000
Elegant and charm filled this exquisite home with breathtaking intracoastal or Ocean views from every room. Relax in total privacy in this spectacular luxury condo with 3 bedrooms and 3.5 baths. Magnificent features include volume ceilings,double door entry, marble floors in the foyer, family room, beautiful custom closet design, security system and more. Hurricane impact windows, This exquisite home is perfect for family entertaining intimate gatherings and parties. Totally Turn Key.
Offered at $1,150,000
Beautiful bright fresh waterfront estate home on quiet cul-de-sac! Recently updated with new lighting and new paint throughout. The large inviting kitchen features new white quartz counters, white cabinets and backsplash with stainless steel appliances. There is a formal dining room with french doors leading to a private garden area, Marble floors throughout living areas & wood flooring in bedrooms and up the staircase. Large master suite and second bedroom suite on the first floor plus a huge bonus room that can be used as an office, media room or playroom. There are 3 bedrooms upstairs and a small loft. Enjoy casual Florida living and entertaining with a built-in barbecue grill. Large open lanai with beautiful free form pool & tropical landscaping overlooking the amazing lake views.
Shelley Poss, REALTORÂŽ Luxury Partners Realty 16950 Jog Road Suite 102 Delray Beach, FL 33446
O: 561-819-5600 C: 561-703-5603 shelleyposs@gmail.com www.shelleyposs.com
50 years of Family Traditions
Outer Banks Vacation Rentals & Real Estate Sales joelambjr.com • 800-552-6257
REAL ESTATE & YOUR HOME
THE PRESERVE CLUB & RESIDENCES CELEBRATES NEW RANGE & LODGE By AP Connolly
he Preserve Club & Residences in Richmond, Rhode Island, the Northeast’s finest four-season sporting club and community, has garnered a national reputation as “3,500 acres of adventure, exclusivity, and serenity.” On the strength of that accomplishment, I couldn’t resist the chance to experience Preserve Chairman Paul Mihailides’ latest triumphs, The Sporting Shoppe and The Range at The Preserve, at their recent two-day Grand Opening Event. To say I was not disappointed would be an understatement. Located in an impressive new 50,000 square foot lodge, the stunning, twostory Sporting Shoppe has been created in the tradition of history’s legendary expedition outfitters. Step inside, become immersed in an artistically conceived, panoramic display of some of the world’s most coveted bespoke long guns, and realize that indeed you’ve entered the “everything outdoor superstore.”
SO MUCH MORE! Sporting enthusiasts will find the most extensive inventory and lowest prices on guns and ammo, plus kayaks, canoes, fishing gear, crossbows, gentleman’s and utility knives, and the best brands for hiking, camping, and hunting equipment and supplies. On display are all-season sporting clothing and even formalwear and cigars. Also available is the Sporting Shoppe Outfitting Program that provides direct access to the best hunting and fishing guides from across the globe. In the same building as The Sporting Shoppe is The Range, America’s longest indoor range with 150-yard lanes! The universal reaction I witnessed at the grand opening, to the first view down a lane the length of a football field-and-a-half, is gape-mouthed astonishment—followed almost immediately by a widening smile and the irresistible urge to meet the challenge. All shooting bays boast soundproofing- and reverberation-suppressing technology, and are adorned with custom wood paneling. The shooting bays are also equipped with a mounted target programming touch screen designed by Meggitt wireless target retrieval systems. 66 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
The Range
THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE Shooting enthusiasts can also challenge themselves with 3D Archery, and Golf Simulation and Firearms Training Simulation (FATS®) rooms. There are no caliber restrictions. Also, handsomely appointed Ram and Fox Den members’ lounges, a reach-in humidor, lockers and gun-safes, a stunning two-story stone focal wall, and full heat and air-conditioning systems further ensure that luxury and adventure can magnificently co-exist. The Range at The Preserve is genuinely the ultimate shooting experience. Both days saw endless lines of sporting enthusiasts taking advantage of massive Grand Opening specials. Many won spectacular prizes, including hunting gear valued thousands of dollars. One lucky customer won the coveted, one-year Range Marksman Membership! And more than a few Grand Opening attendees signed up for classes at The Preserve Academy that offers firearm safety courses taught by certified professional instructors for all skill levels. The Sporting Shoppe is open to the public seven days a week. Multiple levels of Range memberships are available at the current limited time introductory membership pricing, with higher level memberships providing access to many of The Preserve’s amenities including sporting clays, tennis, pool and cabana, and Members’ Lodge dining.
The Sporting Shoppe
A SPORTING PARADISE Located 2.5 hours from NYC, 1 hour from Boston, and just one mile off Interstate 95 at Exit 3A, The Preserve Club and Residences has already drawn scores of New Yorkers to its indelibly beautiful and exciting experiences. Hemingway famously called Paris “a moveable feast.” I submit that The Preserve is a natural feast served with elegance, absorbed for a lifetime. Additional adventures found at The Preserve across its 3,500 acres include quintessential upland hunting, zip lining, rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking, championship golf, stocked fishing ponds, world-class sporting clays, ATVs, snowmobiling, equestrian experiences and more. Private residences are available for purchase for those seeking a wilderness dream home complete with full concierge service. Homes include Signature Residences, Townhomes on The Green, and the Hilltop Lodge Condominiums, offering one-level and multi-level living. Options include private in-home elevators. 19-Station Sporting Clays Course
For more information on The Preserve Club and Residences and to schedule a private tour call 401-539-4653 or visit ThePreserveRI.com. • NOVEMBER 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 67
REAL ESTATE & YOUR HOME
YOUR HOME OFFICE By Mark Pelligren
orking from home is not all that different from toiling away in the office. You still have your deadlines, conduct meetings via conference calls or Skype and, unfortunately, endure all of the aches and pains associated with sitting at a desk all day. Yes, desk jobs are pretty much the unhealthiest jobs that you can have aside from being a fast-food product taster. The sedentary lifestyle is not good for anyone. Your body is meant to be active. And because you are deskbound a good amount of the day, doesn’t mean you can’t be healthy.
THE BASICS There are several steps you can take to make your home office a healthier one. Incorporate regular breaks in your workday routine. Stretch, give your eyes a break from that screen and, if possible, take a walk. If you can be disciplined about this, you may be able to avoid some of the common problems associated with a sedentary life.
ERGONOMIC CHAIRS
Believe it or not, your chair is a big part of the problem. Most office chairs don’t conform to the body which often leads to aches and pains in your back and your joints. An ergonomic office chair is designed to work with your body—not against it. This type of office chair will alleviate the discomforts you may be suffering—and have you feeling much better in no time. An Ergonomic office chair, like those listed on the Gadget Review, is a must for back pain! Info: gadgetreview.com.
STANDING DESKS
Another recommendation is to consider purchasing a standing desk. Never heard of them? Standing desks are exactly that: When you are in this position it’s means better body circulation, increased calories burned, and even working those muscles. The simple act of standing keeps everything in your body aligned—definitely a much healthier option! Another benefit of standing desks is the eye level and monitor are in synch. No more neck pain! Arms and wrists will also be in the proper position thus avoiding nerve damage. Standing workstations are very popular right now as people are starting to see the benefits both at home and in the workplace. Most styles are adjustable so that you can easily convert between sitting and standing positions. Consider the popular Varidesk (varidesk.com). There you have it. These three factors are the trifecta when it comes to converting your home office into a healthier place to work. Take regular breaks, have the proper seating that is actually designed for your body and invest in a standing workstation. Consider this: When you think about the cost of health care these days, this investment in an ergonomic chair and standing workstation is a small one compared to what medical bills could be down the road. Mark Pelligren has been fascinated with gadgets for his entire adult life, with a passion for keeping up with the latest in robotics, gadgets, games and more. He eats, breaths and lives technology, then reports to you. • 68 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
“Pines Lake” Wayne, NJ
I Proudly Suppor Friends of Laurelwood A
This Lakefront Beauty has stunning views of Pines Lake from huge windows throughout. The 2 story foyer is a lovely intro to the beautiful Great Room with a wall of windows to frame the stunning views and gorgeous sunsets. The flow to the kitchen and the dining room make this easy entertaining space. The doors from the kitchen and the great room access the screened in porch that overlooks the lake and yard. The second floor Master suite has an incredible view. The spacious room with a tray ceiling has his and hers shared walk in closet, a spa bath PLUS a private deck. There are 3 additional spacious bedrooms on the second floor, one features an ensuite bath, and another has a private deck. 2nd floor laundry. The grade level game room with a wet bar has access to the rear patio, lakefront and hot tub. 2nd Laundry hook up. There is a 5th bedroom and full bath, that is an ideal guest suite. 3 car garage with 1 tandem bay allows for 4 cars. Waterfront dock with electric. COME SEE! Offered at $1,399,000
I Proudly Support the “Lynn Carole Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum International Presid Top 1% World Carole “Lynn” CallBrescia Direct: 201.8 International President’s Premier www.lynnbresc Top 1% Worldwide
II Proudly Support Proudly Support the the Friends of of Laurelwood Arboretum Friends Laurelwood Arboretum
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Call today and come see!
Carole “Lynn” Brescia
Carole “Lynn” Brescia
International President’s Premier Top 1% Worldwide International President’s Premier Call Direct: 201.848.3202 www.lynnbrescia.com Top 1% Worldwide
More photos at lynnbrescia.com
Call Direct: 201.848.3202 www.lynnbrescia.com
Hartford Lounge Collection in walnut
Timeless designs from traditional to modern. Visit our Manhattan showroom to view more. THOSMOSER.COM/N Y · 212.753.7005
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REAL ESTATE & YOUR HOME
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
MAKE IT FESTIVE WITH TIPS FROM LARRY SCOTT By Elizabeth Darwen
ong before he was lauded as the Master of the Extraordinary, Lawrence Scott Gottesman was overseeing his catering business and subsequently a very successful Long Island restaurant, Larry And The Redhead. It wasn’t long before word spread of his incredible celebrations and the start of Lawrence Scott Events. “I always wanted to be different and not follow the crowd. My idea was to be the original—not the franchise that follows the original,” he explained. And so with the realization of Lawrence Scott Events, Larry compiled a long list of loyal A-listers who have continued to return to him year after year for his expertise and personable approach. Michael Bolton, Judge Judy, Howard Stern, Vera Wang are just a few of the headliners on the list that runs the gamut from entertainment to philanthropic.
ORIGINAL CONCEPTS Part of what sets Scott’s style apart is his innate understanding of his guests and making everyone feel included. To him it is all about the mix —the high and the low, the formal and the relaxed—that comes together to make a truly standout celebration. “The challenge is staying current. I like to set the trends and lead and not worry about what others may think,” he explained. “We achieve that by being different. And as they say, timing is everything.” Perfect timing coupled with exacting choreography are what Larry’s signature moments are all about; it gives the party life and smiles and unforgettable memories! Larry Scott, through his event planning expertise and longstanding dedication to the community, has also devoted himself to charitable causes for many years. He supports more than 30 not-for-profit endeavors annually, including the Global Lyme Alliance for the past four consecutive years. As well he’s produced and supported the Feinstein Institute Summer Concert featuring Fergie, the Southampton Hospital Annual Summer Gala. Other charitable causes close to Larry’s heart are Make-A-Wish®, Live Out loud, Forward Face, City of Hope, and MS, to name a few as well as producing a glittering array of private soirées. Larry Scott
MAKE IT EASY Like you, Larry will be busy this holiday season executing some exciting festive parties for his clients. We asked him what is most important to keep in mind when planning an enjoyable and relaxing seasonal gathering. Here’s what he had to say: • Always make sure food is in abundance. Nobody wants to run out of food. All those leftovers can be enjoyed during the next few days or put in the freezer. • Serve either family-style down the center of the table or set up a buffet. This way guests have choices and there is something even for the most discerning dinner guest. • Sit the children together at the end of the table. • If not using staff to help serve the food, make a self-serve bar on the kitchen island. • Most important: Enjoy your party. Follow these simple suggestions so that you connect with guests—and not running from table to kitchen. Larry Scott has always believed that “more is more” and nowhere is this approach better showcased than in his awe-inspiring displays and gourmet food offerings. There are as many varieties to the delicious dishes and drinks served as there are themes which also add to the visual impact and playful possibilities! For more information on Lawrence Scott Events, visit lawrencescottevents.com. •
70 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
LUXURIOUS NAVIGABLE WATERFRONT
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MONEY MATTERS
THE MERCEDES-BENZ CLS 450 By Jenny Peters
here’s a bit of a futuristic feel to the all-new 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS 450 coupe, and that’s just what the famed German car manufacturer was going for with this sexy redesign. From its upgraded sporty exterior to the raring-to-go 3.0-liter 6 cylinder turbocharged engine with EQ Boost under the hood, there’s much to love about this four-door, five-seater coupe. That EQ Boost is the company’s proprietary 48-volt electric startergenerator system that gives the engine fuel-saving acceleration and adds 21 hp to the engine’s already powerful 362 hp. The CLS 450 is also packed with ways to help with the driving, ranging from the incredibly useful blind-spot indicator on the side mirrors to a variety of automatic EPassists for those that aren’t quite sure how to actually drive a car. Happily, if you are adept at driving and love to control your destiny, you can turn off the various assists: Active Steering Assist, which takes over and keeps the CLS within the lanes; Active Emergency Stop Assist, which is just what it sounds like; AN INCREDIBLE COUPE and Active Speed Limit Assist, which Once everything is adjusted to your particular tastes, the coupe is a delight to drive, starting keeps the car driving at the speed limit with sliding into the gorgeously appointed interior, complete with fine leather seats and and changes speeds as the limits change. trim, a large infotainment screen that’s easy to manipulate, a terrific sound system and ultra conveniences across the dashboard. Choose your favorite color (there are 64) and then see if We’re much more hands-on drivers than you can figure out when and why that light show kicks in. that—and consider controlling the car most of the fun of hitting the road— Once out on the road, be it in crowded city traffic or on a remote mountain road, the 2019 so most of those went into the “off ” Mercedes CLS 450 coupe handles with ease, is fast off the mark, quick to stop, astonishingly mode while testing the CLS 450 coupe. quiet in the cabin and boasts incredible LED headlamps that illuminate even the darkest twists But there’s a lot to be said for some of and turns. It’s a big animal, with plenty of power, technical advancements, trunk space and the other “Pre-Safe” safety systems, interior room for everything from ski equipment to beach chairs and much more. including Plus, a sensor that activates safety measures when a rear collision The vehicle is expected to begin with a base price of about $80,000 when the first ones release is detected and Impulse Side, which to dealers by the end of 2018. activates the front seats’ side bolsters to protect people from side crash impact. For more information on Mercedes-Benz, visit mbusa.com or your local dealership. • NOVEMBER 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 73
GRATITUDE THE KEY TO HAPPINESS By Dr. Peter M. Kalellis
f you want to be happy learn to be grateful over the small things in life. If you do not want to be satisfied, then it is easy: never say thank you for anything. A better way is to start each day with few words: Thank you God for another day.
By
PETER M. KALELLIS LIVING IN DIFFICULT RELATIONSHIPS
Practical advice for spouses or those in a committed relationship that clarifies the potential within each person to make their marriage or relationship better. 978-0-8091-4764-9 $16.95 PB
Recently, a client, we will call Ted, came to see me. His issue was depressive feelings and unhappiness. In his early thirties, he seemed to have it all: a good job, a lovely wife, and a beautiful home. “Doc, I have everything I need in my life, but I’m unhappy.” “What is missing?” I asked. “I don’t know,” he said. “In my work as a therapist, ‘I don’t know’ means that you do know.” “No, I don’t,” he said. “Ted, you may lack gratitude,” I said. “Gratitude for what?” he asked rather annoyed. “I worked very hard to attain whatever I have. Nobody has given me anything.” “What about the things that you take for granted?” I asked. He paused, and after a brief silence he said, “What things?” In today’s fast-paced world, Ted, like most seem to lack the time for thankfulness. Work, family, soccer practice for their kids, medical appointments, social events, and countless other obligations are their main priorities. They seem to have no time to thank God. One wonders why we have so many unhappy people in a country that enjoys plentiful food, shelter, and many other blessings. I looked at him and said, “Ted, you are alive and healthy. Aren’t these givens worthy of some gratitude?” Our realization of what is most important in life goes hand in hand with gratitude. It is a blessing. Reality points out that both abundance and lack of thereof exist simultaneously in our lives. It is always our conscious choice to choose better health, family, friends, work, and the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us happiness.
LITTLE THINGS
In a basement tavern amid smoke and lively conversation, three men were seen washing down the poisons of life. As they huddled together, a middle-aged George shouted, “No matter how hard I try, I cannot recall a bright day!” For ten years, George’s father has been a bedridden paralytic. His pal Mike’s wife is dying slowly of cancer. And the third Matt shared his story of a son unjustly imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. They kept asking, “Who is to blame for this fate? God? Or the beer and wine that we’ve been consuming nearly every night?” So here they were seemingly doomed and undecided and waiting for a miracle. Obviously, these three characters did not want to make some new choices and pursue healthier changes in their life. Self-pity and lack of motivation shucked their energy, leaving them in a state of despair. They were anguished by their condition and waiting for something or somebody to come along and change their circumstances so that their lives, as they imagine them, might begin. What they really needed was a super-dose of gratitude for what they already had in their life. If you want to be happy, start your day by being grateful for the little thing in life. Make it a daily habit--you’ll be happy you did. •
PATHS TO INNER PEACE Living with Less Stress
Outlines the various causes of stress and how, through our relationship with God, we can discover the call and value of simplicity. 978-0-8091-5357-2 $18.95 PB
LETTING GO OF BAGGAGE A Journey through Life’s Challenges
Recounts the personal journey of this popular author, which he uses as a backdrop to outline the numerous lessons he has learned throughout the course of his life. 978-0-8091-4494-5 $16.95 PB
FINDING GOD’S PRESENCE IN OUR LIFE Faith, Prayer, and Action
Invites us to meet God in person and to sense his presence. It offers the opportunity to look into our hearts and to verify our intimacy with Jesus Christ. 978-0-8091-4976-6 $16.95 PB
Available at bookstores or from Paulist Press
1-800-218-1903 • fax 1-800-836-3161 www.paulistpress.com
HEALTH & WELLNESS
DR. DENDY ENGELMAN THE SECRET TO ANTI-AGING By Bailey Beckett
ne of New York’s top skin pros, Dr. Dendy Engelman is on the front lines of erasing lines, as well as wrinkles, sunspots—and even fat. The doctor, who sees patients at MDCS: Medical Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery in Manhattan, is a board-certified and nationallyacclaimed dermatologic surgeon well versed in the latest techniques and technologies and known nationally for her expertise in neurotoxins, injectable fillers, and chemical peels. She may not walk on water, but she can certainly teach you how to hydrate. “I don’t want anyone to look ‘done’ but the best versions of themselves,” says Engelman. Whether fillers, laser treatments or even skin cancer screening, the dermatologist doesn’t discriminate when offering sage yet relatable prognoses. It’s that warm, knowing bedside manner that has helped her fill the waiting room with young and old, from every demographic.
SUN & AGING “I have a lot of young girls who will come in under the guise of ‘I need my body checked’ and then they want to review their skin care regimen and what products they should be using,” says Engelman. “At that age, they think they want Botox or their lips done, but what I also want to do is help to preserve a very natural aesthetic, and that’s where I like to live and feel comfortable. Quite honestly, when you’re 22, you don’t need a lot of injectables.” Engelman often uses consultations to not only talk cosmetic treatments but also to perform full body screenings, identifying moles and other skin issues. Unbelievably, in her self-deprecating manner Engelman says proper skin maintenance will “keep me away from patients a lot longer. I talk a lot about skin care practices and different anti-aging products that can be used to help preserve their appearances.” Interestingly, Engelman notes it’s the older patients who shy away from the treatments they could use most. “Forty-year-olds are very tentative about injections,” she says, “and 20-year-olds are all about it.” One topic the dermatologist is emphatic about is protecting yourself from the sun. “You have to have a good daily sunscreen. If we never have the wrinkles, we never have to Botox it away,” she says. Engelman recommends products with an SPF of 30 or higher. “Just like you brush your teeth, you put on your sunscreen.” Whether it’s a cream or a physical blocker, like titanium dioxide, will depend on who wears it, but sunscreen protection is one of the most important rituals you can do to preserve your skin. Of course, there is a myriad of other products claiming the same. One stroll through a department store can confuse the best of us. “It is so overwhelming,” Engelman acknowledges. “You have ladies at the counter who are telling you this potion in this next best thing. It’s a facelift in a jar. I wish I could help guide people where to go and what to invest in,” she says laughing.
Dr. Dendy Engelman
76 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
“But some of the products are good. There are definitely heroes in every brand that have passed the test of time and work,” she says. Engelman recommends products with a hyaluronic acid. “It’s a sugar that we all have in the dermis in between the collagen muscles. The hyaluronic molecule holds one thousand times its molecular weight in water. So, whether we’re applying it to the surface or injecting it into the skin (Juvéderm, Restylane), it really helps to enhance the quality. I always like to tell patients that you don’t need to be a movie star to have beauty,” she says.
BUYER BEWARE With the insurgence of new laser treatments promising 20-year-old skin, sun tans, hair-free bodies, and even well-defined abs, it’s never been more important for consumers to be cognizant of the do’s and don’ts in treating your skin. A big no-no? Having someone who’s not an MD using lasers on your face (and any other part of your body). “You have to respect the power of the laser, not only the benefits but the potential downside with burning and scarring,” Engelman says. “Even some dermatologists don’t have the training or background that goes into firing these into the skin. That’s why I did a fellowship, to understand the science behind these powerful machines.” Day spas and beauty salons that boast of new laser treatments are likely to be using the lowest wattage possible to prevent damage. However, because of that lack of power, they are often ineffective. “Patients spend boatloads of money, and they don’t get anything,” Engelman says. “You caused no harm, but you’ve done no good.” For more information on Dr. Dendy Engelman and MDCS: Medical Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery visit MDCSNY.com. •
EMSCULPT Abs Without The Gym Looking ahead, it’s those electronic treatments that Engelman is most excited about. “This is the next level,” she enthusiastically told us. Does the thought of doing 20,000 crunches without, well, crunching sound too good to be true? Meet the new Emsculpt, the latest in nonsurgical fat reduction treatments dominated by lasers and electromagnetic energy. The Emsculpt, in particular, implodes fat cells (19 percent loss after four treatments) and builds muscles. In other words, lose the fat, get the abs. It sounds too good to be true, no? You’d think, but there’s a method, and success, to this madness. The Emsculpt, which was approved by the FDA in March, causes 20,000 muscle contractions in just 30 minutes—in other words, doing that many sit ups simply by laying on your back and letting a machine do the work. Engelman is an early proponent of the treatment and offers four session packages in her practice. The process, though, is not without discomfort. Two highly charged paddles rest on your torso for half an hour, contracting and tightening your muscles through three cycles, one more extreme than the next. It’s akin to, well, doing a high intense work out. Patients can see changes typically after the four sessions (which range from $750 to $1500) but the real results appear in four months. In the meantime, stay away from the calories. The Emsculpt has many wonderful advantages but a rewind button isn’t one of them. -Bailey Beckett
NOVEMBER 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 77
FOOD & DRINK
FEAST ON THIS
GATHER ONE AND ALL AND GIVE THANKS By Peter Elston
f a reservation feels like the best thing you could make for Thanksgiving dinner, you’re not alone. Whether visiting for the holidays or simply enjoying the Thanksgiving Day with family and friends, New York City offers plenty of options to whet your appetite—from prime-aged steaks and Italian hospitality to Provencal charm and, of course, roast turkey. Here, some select picks for an enjoyable Thanksgiving dinner as well as some holiday guidance from some culinary experts. T-BAR STEAK & LOUNGE A classically-chic Upper East Side eatery, T-Bar Steak and Lounge offers outstanding cuisine in a casual yet elegant space. Under the watchful eye of restaurateur Tony Fortuna and Executive Chef Ben Zwicker, T-Bar is a new spin on the upscale steakhouse. The menu features a wide range of dishes, ranging from well-cooked renditions of classics, to refined and inventive plates, providing the ultimate dining experience.
Chef Ben Zwicker
Thanksgiving Menu T-Bar will serve its robust prix-fixe Thanksgiving menu with appetizers including Pumpkin Soup along with Amish Roasted Turkey with Sage Gravy, Stuffing, and Sweet Potatoes. A Chef ’s Celebration A San Francisco native has worked in the kitchen of the Four Seasons Hotel as well as notable restaurants in NYC. Before too long, Ben Zwicker found himself at T-Bar as executive chef. One of his favorite side dishes is cranberry sauce and told us, “I make it a few weeks ahead to ensure the flavors have time to marry.” Info: tbarnyc.com.
T-Bar Steak & Lounge
NOVEMBER 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 79
GREENWICH STEAKHOUSE
Greenwich Steakhouse interior
The legendary Chef Victor Chavez along with Benny Gocaj brings you a dining experience unlike anything you’ve experienced. Greenwich Steakhouse offers a uniquely upscale New York City experience in an exquisitely designed three story West Village townhouse. In 2016, after an impressive 38-year long career with Smith & Wollensky, Victor Chavez retired. Less than a year into his retirement, Chavez couldn’t escape the dream of opening his own restaurant. He decided to make his comeback, but this time in a totally different intimate, downtown setting—something he had always wanted to do. Thanksgiving Menu Greenwich Steakhouse will be serving a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixings along with signature menu selections including Filet Mignon, and Strip Steak. Be sure to toast the holiday with a cocktail or wine from an extensive bar menu. A Chef ’s Celebration Throughout his career culinary icon Chef Victor Chavez has always had an affinity for making that prefect steak. Whether it’s for Thanksgiving or any other special occasion, he makes this celebration extra special with his personal favorite— Cajun Ribeye made with a perfect blend of black, cayenne, and white peppers; paprika; garlic powder chili powder; dried basil; ground cumin; and thyme. Info: greenwichsteakhouse.com.
Chef Victor Chavez
DEMARCHELIER RESTAURANT Authentic French Bistro Demarchelier, owned by artist Eric Demarchelier, is a little bit of France in New York City. Every meal that leaves its kitchen aims to capture the soul of authentic bistro fare. His loyal following not only enjoys the excellent cuisine but also a glimpse into the French-born artist paintings adorning the restaurant’s walls. Eric’s artistic style encompasses figurative, geometric abstraction and abstract expressionism as well as landscape and portrait. He began painting in the 1990s and to the delight of diners, rotates the art exhibited on a yearly basis. Thanksgiving Menu: The restaurant will be serving their regular menu and prix-fixe specials which will include Roasted Turkey Breast served with Stuffing and Cranberry Sauce with a side of Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli and Baby Carrots. Be sure to leave room for the delectable Pecan Tart. A Chef ’s Celebration Chef Marc Tagournet spent several years as executive chef at the Nikko Hotel in Taichung, before coming to New York to run Trois Marches with his brother Pierre. Now well-established at Demarchelier where he serves the finest French fare, Tagournet confessed that turkey is not one of my favorite dishes. I love to celebrate special occasions and often serve Duck a l’Orange. It’s the season for duck and makes a perfect Fall dish.” Info: demarchelierrestaurant.com. Chef Marc Tagournet
80 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
Demarchelier Interior
RUSSIAN SAMOVAR This Theater District favorite boasts a 19thcentury feel, complete with picturesque green and red shades and Russian folk prints. Ballet Legend Mikhail Baryshnikov and Nobel Prize winner for poetry Joseph Brodsky are former partners, and Cyndi Lauper and Liza Minnelli have been known to stop by and offer the odd performance. The legendary location, formerly known as Jilly’s Saloon, also used to be frequented by Frank Sinatra and The Rat Pack. The elegant establishment is famous for its 26 flavored vodkas prepared in-house, alongside its many Russian delicacies. Now owned by Roman Kaplan and managed by his daughter Vlada Von Shats and her two sons Michael and Nicholas, Russian Samovar offers some of the finest Russian cuisine in New York.
Russian Samovar Interior
Thanksgiving Menu This Thanksgiving Russian Samovar will be serving its traditional Russian fare including Shashlik Karski (Rack of Lamb) marinated in Georgian spices, Beef Stroganoff, Veal Pojarksi (Ground Veal and Breast of Chicken Cutlets), Chicken Kiev, and Pelmeni (Veal, Beef, and Chicken Dumplings). Of course, you’ll find turkey, duck, and goose on the menu too.
Chef Linda Ragauskas
A Chef’s Celebration Born in Estonia, Executive Chef Linda Ragauskas moved to the U.S. some 25 years ago. Her long stint as executive chef at this iconic restaurant has earned her the status of one of the city’s notable chefs specializing in Russian cuisine. One of her favorite seasonal meals that takes her back to her childhood in Estonia is Roasted Goose prepared with apples, prunes, and cabbage. Info: russiansamovar.com.
LA PULPERIA
Chef Carlos Barroz
The restaurant is the creation of Victor Medina and Carlos Barroz, who also serves as the Executive Chef. Named after the general stores found throughout South America, La Pulperia offers Barroz’s simple yet refined cuisine from the countries of Latin America with contemporary culinary influences from Spain and Italy. The restaurant draws inspiration from the authentic pulperias of South America, with handcrafted floor tiles from Mexico, reclaimed wood from Brazil on the ceiling and walls, and abundant shelving displaying top shelf liquor, fresh produce, and wine. Thanksgiving Menu All three of its restaurants will serving a special Thanksgiving menu with a Latin twist. On the menu Roasted Pumpkin Empanadas with Butternut Squash, Lemon-Lime Roasted Turkey Breast with Creamy Brussels Sprouts. Finish off with Pumpkin Tres Leches Cake with Berries.
La Pulperia Hells Kitchen
A Chef ’s Celebration For Chef Carlos Barroz it’s what comes after Thanksgiving that makes the difference. “My personal favorite is to use the leftover turkey and to make chipotle turkey chili or turkey stew.” Info: lapulperianyc.com. •
NOVEMBER 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 81
The Most Refreshingly Civilized Places To MeetTM
stablished in 1990, Lexington Bar and Books was the third of the growing Bar and Books family, located on New York City´s Upper East Side, adjacent to the city´s most exclusive shopping avenues, Madison Avenue, and the expensive residential Park Avenue.
The decor is sophisticated and in keeping with its neighbors , allowing them to feel at home away from their homes. The whimsical features and characteristics are featured in all five locations and are consistent here.
Lexington Bar and Books caters primarily to Upper East Side residents, their friends, and visiting guests. The dress code is strictly enforced; casual yet stylish proper attire is requested.
Lexington Bar and Books has a private salon that hosts a big screen TV and which can be used for private events of up to 50 guests.
Lexington Bar and Books Open daily: 5pm - 4am 1020 Lexington Avenue (212) 717-3902 @ 73rd Street, New York 10021 www.barandbooks.cz/lexington/
FOOD & DRINK
ALL ABOUT FRENCH WINES HOW TO NAVIGATE A LIST By Tina & T.J. Mulqueen
tep into any restaurant touting a respectable wine list, and you’ll be met with a list of wines that seem to blur together into oblivion before you nervously settle on that good old dependable California Cabernet. Before we got serious about wine, we found these wine lists daunting, particularly from regions with hard-to-pronounce selections, like France. So, if like us, you find yourself pointing at your French wine selection on the restaurant wine list without much basis for its selection apart from its price point, this article is for you.
Bordeaux
We recently went to France to navigate our way through the wine list in person (because somebody had to do it!). Here’s all you need to know.
CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE Most wine lists at high-rated restaurants will have at least one bottle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape (CDP). The good news is, you can’t go wrong with a selection from this region, and that’s by design. There are strict rules in place for the cultivation and treatment of grapes to ensure the quality of the wine, regardless of the house from which you drink. These wines are wonderful aged, and will present with licorice, light acids, and a truffle or woody, rustic flavor. These bottles generally have high price points due to the strict adherence to quality, and also the history that accompanies this region. Châteauneuf-du-Pape is literally translated as “new castle of the Pope”; it’s where the Pope built his summer home when the Papacy had shifted from Rome to Avignon in the 14th century (the reason for the move is replete with conflict and scandals including “antipopes” but let’s leave that for another day - suffice it to say, even though the history of CDP is rather tumultuous, they eventually left us with incredible wine). I would argue that any CDP on your wine list is going to dazzle your senses and make you feel like you’re tasting what a Pope might select. NOVEMBER 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 83
VACQUEYRAS AND GIGONDAS
Just north of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, these wine regions have their own signature and style much like their southern neighbor. Vacqueyras (vock-ehr-ahs) may not have the street cred of Châteauneuf-du-Pape or Gigondas with “only” four hundred years of wine production but there is something to be said for this new kid on the block. These wines taste similarly to their neighbor, Gigondas, with spice and red berry overtones but with a lower price point. Gigondas can be considered the mature brother to Vacqueyras. With that maturity comes big, bold red wines that you’ve undoubtedly seen grace the menus of many discerning restaurants. Any of the wines from this region will please your palate, with a bouquet of flavors that can range from blackberry or blackcurrant to white pepper and licorice. It’s what you might come to expect from a wine region that has been producing since Roman times (or so says our friend Marie who drove us around the region and spoke “Google translate” English). Balthazar New York
CÔTES DU RHÔNE From the same region as the higher-priced and more famed designations of the Rhône Valley, Côtes du Rhône wines share characteristics with these more renowned territories and can be quite good for a much lower price point. (In fact, Châteauneuf du Pape, Gigondas and Vacqueyras are all technically Côtes du Rhône wines, but their high-level “Crus” distinction allows them to be named for their respective villages, dropping “Côtes du Rhône” from the label.) Often, “by the glass” French selections on a restaurant wine list will be from Côtes du Rhône, but not all of these wines are created equal. The Côtes du Rhône distinction has specific designations within it, depending on the level of care put into the wine-making process. Simply put, the plain “Côtes du Rhône” designation has the least stringent rules, followed by Côtes du Rhône Villages. If the label names a particular village, that’s a sign that it’s elevated in the hierarchy.
BORDEAUX One of the most recognizable wine regions in the world, Bordeaux produces millions of cases of wine a year and distributes worldwide. This is the wine region where people often talk about “Left Bank” and “Right Bank.” The left and right banks are formed by the Gironde estuary at the meeting of the rivers Garonne and Dordogne just downstream of central Bordeaux. At its most basic (and I’m taking liberties here) Left Bank is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, and the Right Bank is dominated by Merlot. That’s not to say that Bordeaux doesn’t produce fantastic white wine, but the lion’s share which is north of 90% is red and holds primacy over the production. Library Hotel NY
BURGUNDY
For the taste, trust your palate. If you like Cabs, go for Left Bank wines, if you like Merlots, go for the Right Bank. With bright red fruit, medium body and a long finish, you can’t go wrong with these wines.
Located in east-central France, Burgundy is renowned for its use of Pinot noir and Chardonnay. Like the Côtes du Rhône distinctions, Burgundies have their own spectrum of designations that are meant to convey quality. At the top of the hierarchy are “Grand Cru” vineyards, followed by “Premier Cru,” then village appellations and, finally, regional appellations. Unlike Côtes du Rhône, however, the designations for Burgundy are more heavily based on the terroir, or the soil/climate combination, of the particular appellations. For those that gravitate toward like lighter-bodied, dry red wines, Burgundy reds are a great choice. The familiar earthy notes of American Pinots reveal themselves in these wines but do not drown out the signature of Burgundy wines which is purely French. Floral aromas along with scents of truffles and rose petals give way to flavors of raspberries and cherries, but only lightly so. These are not the meaty wines you’ll experience farther South. Burgundy is a softer expression of French wine and a crowd favorite. While these regions are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to French wines, they’re some of the most common you’ll find on a French wine list. While there’s plenty of knowledge here, don’t get too wrapped up in the details and go where your palate takes you. Enjoy navigating your own way through the regions of France. • 84 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
FOOD & DRINK
CHEF SÉBASTIEN GIANNINI
A DASH OF COTE D’AZUR IN THE NATION’S CAPITAL By Bailey Beckett
he French are passionate, no more so than in haute cuisine. There’s no laissez-faire in this regard, and no one exemplifies it more than Sébastien Giannini, the relatively-new Executive Chef at The St. Regis Washington, D.C. Just shy of a year in the nation’s capital (he started in January), Giannini has upended the city’s deeply-traditional dining scene with exacting standards, a Michelin-star temperament, and a mischievous streak, garnished with a twinkle in the eye. As nation’s capital awakes out of its culinary coma with the invasion of Daniel Boulud and the like, Giannini has made The St. Regis Washington, D.C. competitive for the first time, which even Alain Ducasse couldn’t do. His Mediterranean-influenced French cuisine is the soul of the hotel’s newly christened restaurant Alhambra, and he’s opening up his kitchen to New York Lifestyles to show how the voila is done.
WORKING WITH THE GREATS But first, a few bites more about the chef. A culinary bon vivant since he was a kid, Giannini learned his craft early at the knife of the world’s most renowned chefs, including Ducasse, Frank Cerutti, Philippe Joannès and Guy Gedda. Working beside Michelinstar maestros, Giannini, a native of the South of France, earned his first starring role as Executive Chef at Le Méridien Nice, during which he was a finalist of the prestigious Bocuse d’Or Culinary Competition. He then went aboard, first to the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth in Montreal before joining the W Hotel, during which he served as Official Coach of Team Canada in the 2015 International Final of the Bocuse d’Or in Lyon, France. 86 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
It was the ultimate preparation for his biggest stage, err kitchen, yet: the venerated St. Regis, which has given him carte blanche over the menu, restaurant, and staff. In doing so, Giannini has raised not only the quality of its cuisine, but curated the finest ingredients locally, a completely counter-intuitive notion for a chef of his prestige. The reason, he explains, is the weather. Washington D.C. shares the same climate as the South of France, giving him access to the fresh and finest tomatoes, capers, olives and other delicacies that dot his cuisine. It’s allowed him to be adventurous yet contemporary, delivering Washington denizens favorite dishes but with a little more surprise and delight than they’re used to. Seeing Giannini prepare even the simplest of ingredients is akin to watching a kid open presents Christmas morning. His eyes dance with possibility as he dices tomatoes and peppers fresh basil. He shared some of his favorite recipes with New York Lifestyles for preparing yourself.
PIERRETTE’S CAPONATA
8 Tentacles of octopus (frozen) Cold water 1/2 tbsp. black pepper 1 Thyme twig 1 Clove garlic (chopped) 1 Cork (optional) 1 Cup Italian pine nuts (toasted) 2 Tbsp. fresh basil (thinly chopped) 1/4 Cup of extra virgin olive oil 1 Cup Taggiascha olives (pits removed and diced) 3 Tbsp. of capers (diced) 1 Heirloom tomato cut into 4 pieces 1 Tbsp. Fleur de Sel 1 Orange for zest Preparation: In a large pan enough to hold the tentacles of octopus, add enough cold water to cover them. Then, combine black pepper, thyme, garlic, and cork (if you have an bottle of wine open during cooking preparation add the cork to the mixture). Cook slowly and bring to a boil. Cook for a total of two hours on medium heat. After cooking remove cork (if used) and discard. Take each octopus tentacle and cut into medallions. Prepare the Caponata: In an inox bowel mix together pine nuts, fresh basil, olive oil, black olives (diced), and capers. Make a brunoise with tomato, a few splashes of olive oil, and a pinch of salt. Mix together and be sure to keep at room temperature. Plate the caponata in a circular and top with octopus medallions. Finish with olive oil, fleur de sel. Garnish with orange zest.
BABA WITH SYRUP Dry baba (savarin base), found in specialty markets. Prepare according to directions. 2 Cups water 1 Cup sugar 1/3 Cup dark rum (or alcohol of your choice) 1 Orange for zest 1 Cinnamon stick Whipped cream Syrup preparation: In a pan with medium heat, stir together water and sugar and orange zest to boil for five minutes into a syrup consistency. Remove the syrup from the heat and mix in the rum (or another alcohol choice). Place the baba into the syrup mixture. Be sure each baba absorbs the liquid mixture. Plate each baba and top with whipped cream. For more information on Chef Sébastien Giannini and the Alhambra Restaurant, visit alhambradc.com. • NOVEMBER 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 87
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
ON STAGE
BROADWAY TURNS BACK TIME By Lori Zelenko
pinning the 1970s as an era when women came into their own, and moral upheaval was rampant, two new Broadway shows take on the era and stay remarkably relevant. The Cher Show, more than simply a jukebox musical (sadly not starring Cher) shows us what it took for the woman Variety calls “the ultimate celebrity survivor” to become the Goddess of Pop (FYI: her latest album Dancing Queen outsold Taylor Swift’s 2017 album Reputation and came in second to Justin Timberlake). The savage drama, NETWORK, a play based on the iconic 1976 film of a TV network cannibalizing itself. Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) is “the mad prophet of the airwaves,” shouting “I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take anymore!” (The movie starred Peter Finch as the demented anchor and Faye Dunaway as the ruthless, ratings-hungry VP driving the insanity.) Both shows promise edge-of-your-seat entertainment, what will these two dynamite characters so different yet so driven do next?
THE CHER SHOW Neil Simon Theatre Nothing could upstage Cher. And the new musical makes sure we know that. Not that we’d ever believe there could be anybody more spectacularly sequined, remarkably voiced and absolutely, fabulously talented than this renegade Superstar who has held the spotlight for going on six decades now. It’s not merely her music that’s kept her in the public eye and made her an icon worshipped by so many; it’s the way she’s crashed through boundaries. She’s defied tradition, and broken records surprised even the tabloids with her rock star-strewn love life and against all odds, earned a fan base because she encouraged one and all to be themselves. Yes, it’s pretty much a given you’ll walk out of the theater humming at least one of her greatest hits: “If I Could Turn Back Time,” “I Got You Babe” “Half Breed,” “Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves” “The Beat Goes On,” and “Believe (in Life After Love)” and more. It takes three actresses to play Cher: as a kid (Micaela Diamond), the glam pop star (Teal Wicks) and the ever-youthful Cher (Broadway pro Stephanie J. Block, the lead performer). And though they don’t appear in chronological order, they do connect, sharing, chatting, questioning, reasoning, asking why expectations of women change with age, alternating lead and backup and always watching out for one another. This triangle of talent plays the sarcastic, deadpan, subversive, over the top and under radar Cher. Though there are detractors who may wish to dismiss Cher in a haze of sequins, you could say it’s like questioning Serena Williams’ skill based on her fashion choices recently. Cher’s not only won an Oscar but taken home a Grammy, an Emmy and three Golden Globes too. Cher has out-glammed, out-lasted, out-spoken anyone who ever could have challenged her reign over the world of dance-pop. How? Certainly perseverance and without a doubt extraordinary talent, but in the show, it’s her mom (Emily Skinner) who is her support system. Cher survives her marriage to Sonny (the marvelous Jarrod Spector) who’s charming but controlling as together they weather the storm of fame and fortune. And the other loves, Greg Allman and Rob Camilletti, well, she outlasts them too. But the star that shines brightest though is Bob Mackie’s costumes; they’ve got the same razzle-dazzle they had when he created them for her decades ago or maybe more because they’re “designed” right before our eyes. Written by Rick Elice (Jersey Boys) and directed by Jason Moore (Avenue Q, Pitch Perfect) and produced by Flody Suarez (Rise) and Jeffrey Seller (Rent, Hamilton) and Cher herself, the show is something more substantial than a string of hits with a break for cocktails. “Believe,” as Cher’s hit encourages us, that the power to keep forging ahead as Cher has done for so many decades is within us all. 88 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
NETWORK Cort Theatre Fake News. That’s today’s mantra when it comes to announcements that don’t align with a dictated point of view. NETWORK now a Broadway show based on the 1976 Academy Award-winning film, essentially pioneered the concept of extreme, manipulated “news” (aka fake) with Paddy Chayefsky as screenwriter. Directed by Ivo Van Hove (Tony and Olivier Award winner), the National Theatre Production was a hit in London starring Bryan Cranston (Emmy winner, Breaking Bad). Lee Hall (Tony Award winner, Billy Elliott) updates the original scathing spin on the media, unhesitatingly showing us the world of broadcast news as phenomenally unscrupulous. As relevant now as it was forty years ago, NETWORK is prophetic. Avant-garde staging by Tony and Olivier nominee Jan Versweyveld (A View From the Bridge, The Damned) and Tal Yarden, the video designer, turns the play into a reality show that would surely kill Survivor or Real Housewives in the ratings. Mesmerizing in its appalling disregard for anything but audience share and futuristic as a multi-media maelstrom, NETWORK on Broadway expresses the frenetic madness engulfing us all as technology augments reality in every facet of our lives. The dramatic tale of failing news anchor Howard Beale (Peter Finch in the film, Bryan Cranston on Broadway) becoming a modern-day messiah is not without laughs; since Shakespeare, writers have capitalized on the value of comic relief. Beale rages like a modern day Hamlet in what Cranston personally calls a “post-truth era.” Facing tragedy with rage and pathos, Beale’s rants, are to quote Shakespeare, “a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” Bryan Cranston in Network at the National Theatre. Image by Jan Versweyveld.
The American public becomes fixated on Beale’s madness as does the network watching Howard Beale’s star rise until his revelations become too candid for comfort. Gloriously admitting that he is “mad as hell,” Beale belligerently struts and frets his last hours on the TV screen. Tony Goldwyn (Scandal) is Max Schumacher, the network executive who watches Beale wander through a landscape where opinion trumps fact. William Holden played Schumacher in the movie, a once honorable, ethical newscaster who becomes entangled with ratings-wolf Diana Christiansen (Oscarwinning role for Faye Dunaway in the film) played on Broadway by Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black). Sacrificing his integrity for sex, Schumacher loses more than his values as he realizes there’s only emptiness in the cold pursuit of numerical gain. Broadway’s NETWORK is disruptive however though we may be chagrined to admit it, the tumult that sends one’s moral compass spinning is apocalyptically entertaining. • NOVEMBER 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 89
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
ON THE BIG SCREEN By Jenny Peters
THE OSCAR WATCH BEGINS AT ETERNITY’S GATE Rated: PG-13 Four times may be a charm for Willem Dafoe, who stars in this emotional biopic about Vincent Van Gogh’s tortured life. Dafoe’s performance in At Eternity’s Gate has already garnered him the prestigious Volpi Cup for best actor at the Venice Film Festival and it may well finally win him the Academy Award in the same category. The veteran, award-winning actor has been nominated for best supporting actor three times over the past 30 years but never taken home that ultimate prize. Helmed by artist-turned-film-director Julian Schnabel (who also has an Oscar nomination for best director), the movie is an intense look at the last years of life of one of the world’s legendary painters. BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY Rated: PG-13 You’ll be cheering by the end of this wonderful film that follows the lives of singer Freddie Mercury and the rest of the band members of Queen (Brian May, John Deacon and Roger Taylor), the rock band that ruled the airwaves in the 1970s and 1980s. With a brilliant performance by Rami Malek in the lead role of Freddie Mercury and a fast-paced, fascinating look at Queen’s rise to superstardom, Bohemian Rhapsody is sure to garner plenty of attention when the Academy Award nominations are announced on January 22, 2019. Don’t miss this movie, especially if you love rock and roll. FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD Rated: PG-13 This second installment of J. K. Rowling’s five-film set of prequels to her Harry Potter sagas is led by Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne, who again plays “magizoologist” Newt Scamander in this magical fantasy. Oscar nominees Jude Law (who plays a young Albus Dumbledore) and Johnny Depp (as the very evil, very blond Grindelwald) join him in the Wizarding World that Dowling has so masterfully created. The first installment won the Academy Award for best costume design; we’re predicting that Colleen Atwood, who returns with her gorgeous 1920s clothing and has four wins and twelve nominations, will be on the Oscar short list once again. THE FAVOURITE Rated: R The Favourite took the Venice Film Festival by storm, as filmgoers loved this tale of intrigue among the women who ruled Britain for a few short years in the early 1700s. Olivia Coleman (The Night Manager) stars as Queen Anne, with Oscar winners Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone vying in her court to be her favorite confident and advisor. This sumptuous production is sure to grab Academy voters’ attention, not only for the expert acting, but also for the script, cinematography, costumes and more. 90 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
THE FRONT RUNNER Rated: R In yet another true-to-life tale that’s likely to garner Oscar nominations for star Hugh Jackman (he was nominated once before, for Les Miserables) and writer-director Jason Reitman (who has four nominations), The Front Runner takes us back to when politician Gary Hart was the Democratic man of the hour heading into the 1988 U. S. presidential election. The handsome married candidate looked like he was on the way to the White House, until the news broke that he was in the midst of a hot and heavy extramarital affair. Sara Paxton, Vera Farmiga and Oscar-winner J. K. Simmons co-star in this compelling political drama. GREEN BOOK Rated: PG-13 Oscar winner Mahershala Ali and Oscar nominee Viggo Mortensen star in this buddy road movie with a big twist. Directorwriter Peter Farrelly (There’s Something About Mary) taps a real-life story from the early 1960s, following a black pianist and his white driver on a journey through the segregated South, as they move from gig to gig in this comedic, yet telling, drama. The “green book” of the title is the real book that African-Americans used during that era to know the places across the South where they could safely stay. IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK Rated: R Barry Jenkins, the writer-director of Moonlight, the 2017 Best Picture Academy Award winner, returns to the big screen with this adaptation of novelist James Baldwin’s If Beale Street Could Talk. Stephan James (Race) and newcomer KiKi Layne play star-crossed lovers in Harlem of the 1970s, whose lives are upended when he is unjustly arrested and imprisoned. As the couple tries to negotiate the racially charged justice system with the help of his mother (Regina King), they are confronted with the harsh reality that the color of their skin may be enough to cause the truth to be ignored. WIDOWS Rated: R An all-star cast joins Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave) and writer Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl) in this crime thriller that’s filled with desperate women (the Widows in the title) and terrible men. Academy Award winner (and three-time nominee) Viola Davis leads the four widows (Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki and Cynthia Erivo round out the group) whose criminal husbands have died, leaving them to pick up the pieces. Watch for those bad men played by Academy favorites including Robert Duvall, Liam Neeson and Colin Farrell, too, in this modern battle of the sexes. • NOVEMBER 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 91
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
ON THE SMALL SCREEN By Jenny Peters
COMEDIC GEMS THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS Netflix As Netflix expands its entertainment supremacy, you’ll notice something happening with their original movies, like this new comedic Western from Joel and Ethan Coen. It begins streaming on the subscription service the same day it hits selected movie theaters, making it eligible for Academy Award consideration. So will you go to the movies or watch this wry, quirky film at home on your TV? Regardless, you’ll find familiar faces from the Coen’s other works, like Tim Blake Nelson in the title role, as well as James Franco, Liam Neeson, and Zoe Kazan. THE KOMINSKY METHOD Netflix CBS powerhouse writer-producer Chuck Lorre (The Big Bang Theory, Mom, Two and a Half Men) comes to Netflix with this gettingold-in-Hollywood series starring Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin. The two play actor and agent, whose careers are in the waning stages (especially in Tinseltown terms). So they join forces to create an acting school, teaching a parade of young, good-looking wannabees how to navigate the Hollywood scene. With that winning combo of funny people, how can The Kominsky Method be anything but another hit for Lorre and company? SALLY4EVER HBO Comedic writer and actor Julia Davis has been making Brits howl with laughter for years with her outrageous brand of humor. Now HBO is bringing her to America in this seven-episode series. Davis not only wrote every episode, but she also produces, directs and stars in this crazy romantic tale that mixes up gender, sexuality and basic lunacy in every installment. Catherine Shepherd and Alex Macqueen costar in this madness that’s bound to make even the most love-jaded viewer laugh out loud.
DRAMATIC THRILLERS ESCAPE AT DANNEMORA Showtime A strong entry into the “truth is stranger than fiction” TV mini-series category is this exploration of the real-life prison escape that happened in upstate New York in 2015. Benicio Del Toro and Paul Dano portray the Dannemora Prison convicts who escape with the help of a female prison worker, a married woman (Patricia Arquette) who has been having sex with both men. Seriously, you cannot make this stuff up, and under the skilled direction of Ben Stiller, Escape at Dannemora is a riveting thriller that will keep you wondering what happens next, especially if you don’t remember the real incident. 92 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
HOMECOMING Amazon Prime Julia Roberts comes to the small screen in her first TV series with Homecoming, a strange tale of a woman’s memories of a job she once had. Working at Homecoming, a facility designed to help American soldiers transition back into civilian life, took its toll on her. Now years later, the government wants to know why, and as the truth unfolds in this 10-episode psychological thriller, disturbing facts emerge. Bobby Cannavale and Stephan James co-star in this series from Sam Esmail, the creator of Mr. Robot. THE LITTLE DRUMMER GIRL AMC John Le Carré’s bestselling spy novel from 1983 holds up in this new miniseries from the producers of The Night Manager, the award-winning series based on another Le Carré novel. This time, there’s a woman driving the story, as Florence Pugh plays Charlie, a British actress who is leading a double life as a spy for the Israeli government. With Alexander Skarsgard and Michael Shannon along for this action-packed adventure filled with twists and turns, The Little Drummer Girl has a plot created 35 years ago that rings completely true in today’s political world. MY BRILLIANT FRIEND HBO Based on the bestselling novel by Elena Ferrante, My Brilliant Friend follows the lives of two Italian girls living in Naples in the 1950s. As the two grow and change, their city, country and the whole world are all transforming as well. This eight-episode series follows their lives from coming of age to approaching the end. Told in Italian with English subtitles, the series is filmed in and around Naples, sweeping viewers into a time and place that has a vibrant life of its own beyond the girls’ compelling stories. OUTLAW KING Netflix Another Netflix original film that hits theaters and the streaming site on the same day, Outlaw King stars Chris Pine as the Scottish king Robert the Bruce in a dramatic story set during a key part of his fascinating life. Written and directed by Scotsman David Mackenzie, who helmed best picture Oscar nominee Hell or High Water, the movie set in the 14th century is full of action, adventure, and huge battle scenes, so it’s not for the faint of heart. Florence Pugh and Aaron Taylor-Johnson co-star in this sweeping epic of Scotland’s fight for freedom from English rule. • NOVEMBER 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 93
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
TWO MUST-SEE EXHIBITS ANDY WARHOL & HARRY POTTER By Clint Brownfield
ike many of us, Andy Warhol was drawn to New York City—moving here from his native Pittsburgh in 1949—his name then was Andy Warhola. But unlike most of us who came to the city—he would change the art world forever. Even I knew who he was, and I was raised on a small farm in Missouri. None of us would ever look at a Campbell’s soup can in quite the same way again. ANDY WARHOL From A To B And Back Again The Whitney Museum of American Art November 12, 2018-March 31, 2019 A major retrospective of his work has not taken place since 1989, two years after his death. The exhibition this fall at The Whitney will be the largest in terms of its scope of ideas and range of Warhol’s works to ever be mounted anywhere in the world. More than 350 works of art, many assembled for the first time, this landmark show unites all aspects, media and periods of Warhol’s fortyyear career. Following its premiere at The Whitney, the exhibition will travel to two other major American art museums, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Art Institute of Chicago.
Courtesy of the Whitney Museum of American Art
While Warhol’s Pop images of the 1960s (enter the soup can) are recognizable worldwide, what remains far less known is the work he produced in the 1970s and 80s. This exhibition shows his career as a continuum, demonstrating that he didn’t slow down after surviving the assassination attempt that nearly took his life in 1968. He would enter into a period of intense experimentation, continuing to use the techniques he had developed early on and expanded upon his previous work. Taking the 1950s and his experience as a commercial illustrator as foundational, and including numerous masterpieces from the 1960s, this show tracks and reappraises the later work of the 1970s and 80s through to Warhol’s untimely death in 1987. Warhol would live to influence many artists who came to prominence in the 1980s, most notably Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring—the show will include a selection of his collaborations with these artists.
Courtesy of the Whitney Museum of American Art
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This exhibition will be the largest devoted to a single artist in the Whitney’s new building downtown. And, needless to say, this will be one of the most popular art exhibitions ever to be held in New York City. Info: whitney.org.
HARRY POTTER A History Of Magic New-York Historical Society Through January 27, 2019 Meanwhile, over at the august New-York Historical Society on Central Park West at 77th St., there is a truly magical show, which is the American debut of the British Library’s most successful exhibition. It marks the 20th anniversary of J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, published by Scholastic right here in NYC. Time does fly when it comes to Harry Potter and the cast of characters that surround him through his many trials and tribulations. The New York exhibition also features a number of items not included in the original show at the British Library—making it more ‘local’ in its scope. The show explores the traditions of folklore and magic at the heart of the Harry Potter stories and showcases a new selection of objects that are on view to the public for the very first time. The show features centuries-old treasures, including rare books, manuscripts and magical objects from the collections of the British Library, the New-York Historical Society and other museums, as well as original material from publisher Scholastic and J.K. Rowling’s own archives. Visitors to the show may take a special audio tour featuring the voice of actress Natalie Dormer—available to ticket holders as a free audible download—providing in-depth content on the objects on view.
Courtesy of the New-York Historical Society Courtesy Courtesy of of the the New-York New-York Historical Historical Society Society
Courtesy of the NewYork Historical Society
All sorts of activities will surround the exhibition for Harry Potter fans of all ages throughout the run of the show including trivia nights, art workshops, creative writing classes, social meetups and more. Programs include an onstage conversation with illustrators Mary GrandPré and Brian Selznick—whose work is on view at the exhibit, and a special evening with actor Jim Dale, known for his narration of all seven Harry Potter U.S. audiobooks. The exhibition is organized around the subjects studied at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and includes Potions and Alchemy, Herbology, Divination, Charms, Astronomy, Defense Against the Dark Arts and the Care of Magical Creatures. Also on display for the first time in the U.S. are Rowling’s handwritten first drafts of The Philosopher’s Stone and Deathly Hallows. The Society’s holiday model train exhibition will feature only one Choo Choo this year zooming around overhead: The Hogwarts Express. And, guess what? A large gift shop magically appears after exiting the exhibit. Very convenient for holiday giving. Info: nyhistory.org. • NOVEMBER 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 95
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
GENE SIMMONS OF KISS
ROCK ICON, BOOK AUTHOR, ENTREPRENEUR By Darren Paltrowitz
ene Simmons is unstoppable. Most notably he is a musician and co-founder of the rock ‘n’ roll’s legendary KISS, which has earned more gold records than any other band. As an on-screen performer, he has not only starred in movies, but was a star of the popular reality series Gene Simmons Family Jewels and produced 167 episodes. Simmons has also found tremendous success as an entrepreneur within many industries, including runs as a book and magazine publisher, artist manager, television and film producer, and record label executive. 2018 has been far from a slow year for the New York native. Not only has Simmons announced the End Of The Road worldwide tour with KISS, but has also seen Simmons release a new book, 27: The Legend And Mythology Of The 27 Club (powerHouse Books) where he focuses on some of music’s legendary figures and their lives. Simmons captures their extraordinary lives, not their sensationalized deaths. He also launched Money Bag Sodas (in cooperation with the Niagara Falls-based Rock Steady Sodas Inc.), continues to expand his growing Rock & Brews restaurant chain, and has become “chief evangelist officer” of Invictus MD, a Vancouver-based cannabis company. I had the pleasure of meeting up with Gene Simmons at New York City’s Loews Regency Hotel for an exclusive interview. Simmons is not only honest and insightful, but the legendary singer and bassist is also very amusing. He manages to be animated and hands-on, demonstrating things on his iPhone and inviting other people dining at the hotel’s Regency Bar & Grill to try one of his sodas. I found it very interesting that you collaborated with your son Nick 27. You two famously worked together on your reality show. Had you worked on anything else before? Nick is wonderful, self-sufficient and absolutely gracious—and it was an easy collaboration. I had been writing this book in my mind for nearly three years. Originally, it was going to be the next book project after On Power: My Journey Through the Corridors of Power and How You Can Get More Power. However, that publisher decided not to do it. That’s when I teamed up with powerHouse Books and relaunched Simmons Books. From Janis Joplin to Amy Winehouse, some of the music world’s creative souls have been taken away at the age of 27. Why do you think this particular age is significant? The real answer is nobody knows. We’ll continue to wonder why. You hurt yourself, drugs, some commit suicide, some are in the wrong place at the wrong time. What I hope this leads to is the kind of realization that one in five people in America have or will suffer from depression. It could be your child, a loved one, a family member or even your next door neighbor. Maybe the first thing we should do is reach out and have a conversation. Just learn to listen, and for those who don’t have anybody to talk to, don’t go to the darkness. Call the Suicide Prevention Center, just talk to people. It saves lives. The last time I saw you, you were working on a new magazine, iMOGU, about moguls. Is that something we’ll be seeing soon? It is, but I have to prioritize. We have the cannabis company, and the restaurant chain, and the sodas, and a printing company, and the Gene Simmons Band on the side. And then, of course, KISS. There’s just so much going on. iMOGU will come—eventually. For more information on Gene Simmons and his many projects—including the annual KISS Kruise, in partnership with Sixthman Cruises and hosted on the Norwegian Cruises Line’s Norwegian Jade—visit genesimmons.com. • 96 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
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PAWS DOWN, TAILS UP ESSENTIALS TO KEEP YOUR PET SAFE & SECURE By Lori Zelenko
he Holidays are upon us. Family obligations pulling you in frazzling directions? Or thinking it’s time for a quick getaway to somewhere not too far and not too exotic? Contemplating a jaunt to a place that’s fun not just for you but for your four-legged best friend too would be the perfect getaway? Or maybe it’s a staycation that’s calling your name. Wherever you go, whatever you decide to do, we’ve got the travel tips that will make getting there and being there with your pet so much more enjoyable. From the safest pet carriers to how to make the most of a road trip, options abound. We even asked a pet travel pro, Amy Burkert (author of The Ultimate Pet Friendly Road Trip), to contribute a tip or two. Read on to learn the best way to travel with your pet not only stylishly but safely.
LIFE TOGETHER MADE BETTER
HITTING THE ROAD Imagine having a personal guide to nearly 50 of the most pet-friendly destinations you can get to by car? Or in part by plane. Who knows one might be near those relatives you need to visit over the Holidays. Amy Burkert, the founder of Go Pet Friendly and author of The Ultimate Pet Friendly Road Trip takes you away with “a pet lover’s bucket list,” 200 breathtaking photos with endless practical tips and advice help you plan a trip that’s sure to be an unforgettable experience for you and your pet. Info: book. gopetfriendly.com.
Travel pro Amy Burket’s The Ultimate Pet Friendly Road Trip guides you to some 49 destinations. This fun book should be on every pet lover’s bucket list.
Diggs Revol is the collapsible crate that is safe, practical, and attractive. It’s an innovation that’s sleek and necessary.
Life together designed better, that’s the motto of Diggs Revol the revolutionary ergonomic crate that’s strong and sturdy but great looking and uber-safe (best for pets under 30 lbs.). We love the way it folds up into a practical, rollable, flat, suitcasesized unit. Great to keep open in the back of the car to stow your pet safely when you hit the road for a trip that’s short or long. And equally terrific to have on hand when bringing a four-legged guest, an extra pet “home” definitely comes in handy. So get prepared and get going to somewhere you’ve always dreamed of visiting with your fur buddy. Info: dig.pet.
TAKE PAWS: TRAVEL PRO’S PICKS We asked Amy Burkert for a few tips on her favorite pet travel musts. A true pet travel pro, she’s spent more than eight years exploring America’s highways and byways with her husband and their two dogs. • Among her favorites are Sleepypod. Their harnesses and carriers are not only beautifully constructed, but they’re crash-tested and will keep pets safe on the road. What’s unique about Sleepypod is that it is actually three products in one: an everyday pet bed (great for travel as it’s familiar, so less anxiety for your pet), a stylish carrier, and a safe car seat. Note that the top of their round colorful travel case (perfect for cats and small dogs) unzips so the base is a bed perfect for sleeping once you’ve arrived at your destination. They also introduced their fantastic Go Bag this year, and their Yummy Bowls are super for traveling in the car. Info: sleepypod.com. • Taking a break to stretch your legs? And let your four-legged best friend get some fresh air as well? Amy recommends the Freedom No Pull Harness from 2 Hounds Design. But there is an entire rainbow of color combinations not just for the harness but for their collars and leashes too making your dog surely the snazziest on the road. Info: 2houndsdesign.com.
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Sleepypod is three products in one: everyday bed, travel carrier and car seat. Eases travel anxiety with familiarity, perfect for cats or small dogs.
STROLLING AROUND TOWN
2 Hounds Design Freedom No Pull Harness is available in a rainbow of colors. A road-trip must according to pet travel pro Amy Burkert founder of Go Friendly Pet.
For the pet that’s portable enough to tote around town with ease or take on a weekend adventure, there is The Django Carry Bag in waxed canvas and leather. Your pup is safe and secure in this one with an interior bag to harness tether not to mention a soft and sturdy footpad. But for people like me who are always scrambling for a phone or lost keys, you’ve got to love their four exterior and interior zip pockets great for essentials (poop bags, sunglasses, etc.). Plus Django’s Carry Bag comes in three practical but fashionable colors: Olive Green, Navy Blue and Black. No dog left behind with this color scheme. Info: djangobrand.com.
PRADA-STYLE CHIC
The Django Carry Bag is practical and fashionable in waxed canvas and leather. Perfect for weekend adventures or just a city stroll with your fur buddy.
City or country, when your pet runs out of steam it’s great to have a backup that’s portable and practical, we love the City Gypsy Wristlet Pet Carrier not just because it comfortably and safely holds Fido or Fifi but because it folds into a compact wristlet bag that fits easily inside your tote or suitcase. Its Prada-like style makes it a fashion-forward choice with pockets to hold your necessities and your pampered pet’s must haves. We’re impressed that something so chic is completely eco-friendly from fabric to packaging. Plus, City Dog Co. also donates 10 percent of their proceeds to local organizations focused on animal welfare and rights. Info: citydogco.com/products/ city-gypsy-pet-wristlet-carrier.
CRASH TESTED—PET APPROVED WITH A WOOF AND A PURR Peace of mind while you are driving does not come with an unrestrained pet. Much as we love our furry friends and want them by our side at all times, keeping them safe and secure in a comfortable pet carrier is a must. Gen7Pets is on a mission to make every car ride a safe one, after all their Commuter Pet Carrier has the highest crash test rating from the Center for Pet Safety; it also features a seat-belt latch to hold the carrier in place (among a host of other safety features. Gen7’s Commuter carrier is also a good choice for air travel, its sturdy frame really does keep your pet feeling safe and secure. Info: gen7pets.com.
As Amy Burkert, sums it up, “Vacations are good…but vacations with pets are better.” No matter where you are going or even if it’s a staycation, let us know how you’re planning for a safe, happy, and healthy time together with your pet. We’ll send you a travel gift to enjoy! Follow us on Instagram to enter to win: @petlifestylesmag. •
City Gypsy Wristlet Bag is as eco-friendly as it is chic with extra pockets for essentials. Zips closed to fit in your bag or suitcase, zips open to carry your pet.
The new Gen 7 Commuter pet carrier has a five-star safety rating. Sturdy and exceptionally safe for car or plane travel. Securely straps in with a seat belt.
NOVEMBER 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 99
NEW YORK, NY
Duo Fusion ©Juliana Crawford
BIG APPLE CIRCUS
CELEBRATE THE SEASON WITH TRADITION, THRILLS & WONDER By Ellis Nassour
hat better way to ring in the holidays than with New York’s home-grown Big Apple Circus, presenting a whimsical marriage of traditional theater and classic circus under its colorful Big Top in Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park? The 41st Edition, running through January 27, 2019, presents up-close family entertainment and thrills from celebrated acts—many seen for the first time, in its intimate, climate-controlled one-ring tent, with no seat more than 50 feet away. Stephanie Monseu breaks through the canvas ceiling as Big Apple’s first ring mistress. Perennial favorite Jenny Vidbel, one of the reasons to never miss the Big Apple Circus, returns to captivate audiences with her majestic stallions, white dwarf horses, and delight with a wild and wooly set of rescued dogs. Also returning are two super spectacular acts: the Flying Tunizianis, performing on double wide trapezes, led by Ammed Tuniziani, who last season thrilled with heart-stopping quadruple somersaults; and Desire in Flight, recipient of the Golden Clown Award at this year’s Monte Carlo Circus Festival for their dual aerial silk traps act. 100 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
PLENTY OF THRILLS
The Flying Tunizianis ©Maike Schulz
The lineup also features Duo Fusion, acrobatic husband and wife team Virginia Tuells and Ihosvanys Perez offering a twist (she does the heavy lifting!); Emil Faltyn, balancing on a free-standing ladder; trampoline antics from Andréanne Quintal; and award-winning, gravitydefying juggler Victor Moiseev. And amid the sawdust, cotton candy, hot dogs slathered with mustard and relish, and beverages, there’ll be red hot music from Rob Slowik’s little big band. Outside the ring, there’ll be plenty of sizzle as well. Audiences enter into the new Hall of Wonder with photo op-worthy fun activities and tasty locallysourced culinary bites. The over-21 set can enjoy cocktails from three-time American Bartender of the Year winner Pamela Wiznitzer.
Spicy Circus ©Juliana Crawford
SPECIAL NEEDS & MORE Big Apple Circus continues its community outreach programs. Circus of the Senses performances, a much-lauded special event since introduced in 1997 by theater executive Anne Tramon, is December 7th. CircusSense, developed by Tramon, Carl Anthony Tramon, and Lisa Lewis, showcases enhanced experiences for audiences with autism, visual and auditory challenges. The performance features ASL interpretation, live audio description, pre- and postshow touch tour experiences, and a Braille program. On December 6th, look for the Dinner in the Dark show where audience members will wear blindfolds, with descriptive audio headsets, and replicate what special needs participants experience. In addition, BAC’s Circus for All initiative offers $10 tickets to 11 performances to underprivileged children and underserved schools. The circus also provides students with a study guide from the acts they witness firsthand. Directing the 41st BAC edition is Mark Lonergan, artistic director of physical theater company Parallel Exit; with choreography by Grady McLeod Bowman. Costumes are by Amy Clark (Wicked, Little Mermaid, Chaplin); with scenery by Emmy-nominated Anita La Scala (Sochi Winter Olympics, opening ceremony) and Rob Bissinger (Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark). Duo Fusion ©Patrick Ecclesine
Tickets for the Big Apple Circus are $29 - $195, available at the Damrosch Park box office and ticketmaster.com. Group discounts are available. For morning, afternoon, and evening show times, visit bigapplecircus.com. • NOVEMBER 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 101
NEW YORK, NY
ENTREPRENEUR’S CORNER CAROLINE HOFMANN By Jenna Guarneri
he NYC start-up scene is having a moment with many calling it the fastest-growing tech hub on the planet. Meet Caroline Hofmann, COO and co-founder of Republic, who is at the helm of one of the most impactful start-ups in the city. Being on the founding team of a start-up is an exciting yet very challenging endeavor, and no amount of schooling or professional experience can prepare you for it, but Hofmann is up for the task. After managing multiple teams at McKinsey & Company, she joined Republic, giving up the stability of her job at a long-established company to build something from the ground up. It was a risky move, but she embraced it with enthusiasm.
©Paul Morejón
Born and raised in Germany, Hofmann lived and studied in France, Spain and the UK, focusing on international relations and economics, before earning an MBA at Harvard. She started her career in the world of management consulting at McKinsey & Company, mostly focusing on healthcare clients before leaving the consulting world behind in 2017 to join Republic. Republic’s mission is simple: It wants to democratize start-up investing by allowing anyone, regardless of wealth, to invest as little as $10 in start-ups. Up until recently, only accredited investors (broadly speaking the top 5 percent) could invest in start-ups. Republic changes that and makes start-up investing a lot more approachable and fun. By doing so, Republic is also opening up the opportunity for lots of companies to fundraise and has helped traditionally underserved founders, women, and minorities. Companies that have raised on Republic have tackled business and societal problems such as developing a drug for brain cancer, ending food insecurity, providing easier access to kid’s classes and finding leaks in pipelines. New York Lifestyles recently met with Caroline Hofmann to learn a little more about this new way of investing.
I also strongly believe that life is too short to do something professionally that you’re not 100 percent satisfied with.
What inspired you to make New York City home? I came for a very simple reason: seizing the opportunity to live in New York once in my life. After my MBA, it was relatively easy. I could work at McKinsey in New York and had a work permit. I was planning to stay a year and then move back to London. However, life dealt me different cards. I met my husband on my very first work day in NYC, so I stayed. I feed off the energy of New York. People seem to have boundless energy and do things 24/7 and are always up for trying something new—whether it’s the latest restaurant or workout trend. New York is also really diverse and open, and I love that. Before joining Republic, you were the associate principal for McKinsey & Company. Tell us a little about that time. I had a fantastic time at McKinsey. I have met mentors, friends (and even my husband) there and worked on a really broad set of business problems for Fortune 50 companies. In my last few years at McKinsey, I was mostly advising pharmaceutical and medical device clients in the US. It was definitely interesting, but what I always liked most was working with my project teams, the daily camaraderie and friendships you build working long hours together. Having graduated from Harvard Business School, was the start-up world something that became a natural transition for you? I don’t think that earning an MBA can prepare you for start-ups—the only way to acclimate is to dive in and get your hands dirty. What the MBA does teach though, is some lessons in entrepreneurship and I learned to value and respect people who build companies from scratch. The start-up landscape in NY a few years ago was quite different from what it is today; there was a lot less activity. However, over the years, while working at McKinsey I saw a lot more start-ups come to life and grow, some run by my classmates. That’s obviously an inspiring example. Start-ups always require you give 150 percent and work long hours, but they’re more laid back culturally, meaning they’re less hierarchical than traditional companies. Everyone kind of gets to have a say in the way the company grows—we’re all stakeholders. Sometimes this can make things a bit tricky to navigate, but on the whole, it can fuel creativity, innovation, and rapid growth and scaling. It’s especially fulfilling to build something from the ground up, which is just something you don’t experience when working for an established company.
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How is your role at Republic different from when you were at the consulting firm? Many skills I gained at McKinsey are really valuable: Being able to structure and break down any problem, managing teams, prioritization, and communication skills. Operating a business is messy at times, and requires on-the-fly decisions and being a little bit creative at times. I am writing blog posts, hiring, overseeing finance, doing business development, organizing company retreats. There’s never a dull moment. Lastly, Republic is in the middle of the start-up ecosystem. I feel incredibly lucky to meet with fascinating founders who are developing breakthrough technologies, and that will help make our world a better place. It’s a big transition—and risk—to go with a start-up. What led you to take that risk? It was a big step, but I’ve always believed in stretching yourself and stepping outside your comfort zone. I also strongly believe that life is too short to do something professionally that you’re not 100 percent satisfied with. Though it was certainly a risk to join Republic, I had a lot of faith in our CEO Kendrick Nguyen. He has a wealth of experience as a securities attorney, and he served as general counsel for AngelList. So, I was joining a project with someone who had an impressive track record and experience working at a reputable organization. Most importantly, I believed in his vision, what he was building with Republic. I haven’t looked back. Tell us a little more about Republic. At the highest level, Republic seeks to democratize start-up investing and fundraising. We want to make it easy for everyone to invest in start-ups, as easy as it is to buy stocks. Since we launched the company, we’ve helped over 60 start-ups raise capital, and over 10,000 people have made investments with us. Last year, we launched Republic Crypto, which is focused on bringing high-quality blockchain projects to investors. We are working on a bunch of projects around the ecosystem of fundraising and investing that can be a value-add. Why has equity crowdfunding become a go-to for start-up companies looking to raise capital? More and more start-ups realize that what we provide is a lot more than helping them raise up to $1 million. The whole process of running a campaign creates engaged users and customers and is a unique opportunity for a start-up to transform their followers, users, and customers into investors. Investors typically become brand ambassadors on their own volition. Who wouldn’t want to say, “Hey you should check out this start-up—I’m an investor. Our most successful founders do exactly that and see real success. How has diversity played a role for Republic both internally and with the companies you work with? We always have our eye on start-ups founded by underserved founders, given one of our central missions is to help them gain access to capital. One of the reasons for this is women, and people of color receive incredibly low amounts of venture capital funding, around 3 percent for women and 1 percent for women of color, even though diverse teams have proven to perform well. To call out these troubling trends and put an end to them, we created The Diversity Report, which includes the statistics on the bias against women and people of color with VC funding, along with data revealing diverse teams perform better. How do you continue to challenge yourself in other areas of your life? Start-up life is crazy. I wish I could pretend I am this wonder woman who wakes up rested, works out and drinks a green smoothie every morning. The reality is that I work a lot, I have two young kids, and I try to keep things on track on all fronts. My personal goals are about health and happiness—finding time to work out regularly (I am trying the Mirror right now and love it a few days in, and I swim, which is my form of meditation) and spending quality time with my children. My aspirational goal is to get back to play the piano regularly. Tell us what are your favorite things to do in New York City? • I love going to the Farmers Market next to the Natural History Museum on Sunday mornings. We always run into friends there, and we usually buy some fresh produce and cook during the day. • I love early morning runs. I do a lot less of them now that I have two young kids, unfortunately. It’s a great way to clear your mind. When I lived in the West Village, I’d hit the High Line at 7 am right when it opened, and you could sometimes see professional photo shoots happening right there. Now, these morning jogs are usually just quick runs around Central Park. • I don’t think I’ll ever get bored of looking at Manhattan when driving over one of the bridges. Every time I do, I feel lucky that I get to live here. For more information on Republic, visit republic.co. • NOVEMBER 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 103
NEW YORK, NY
Carole Wacey (center) with WCC members, staff and supporters at the 2018 Women’s March in New York City.
MY NEW YORK STORY By Carole Wacey
ctivism is in my DNA, passed down to me from my independent, feminist mother. I was born in the U.K., and my family immigrated to the New York City area in the late 1960s. Soon after we moved, my father passed away unexpectedly, and my mother was left to raise four children on her own. Though heartbroken, my mom channeled her grief into action. She was determined to show her children—particularly me, her daughter—the importance of staying strong, having perseverance, and fighting for one’s rights and beliefs. She was politically active, made her voice heard and demonstrated why it’s important to get involved and create change. I now know that she was modeling and encouraging us to be civically engaged. As a young girl, I accompanied my mother on advocacy bus trips to Washington, D.C. to fight for the Equal Rights Amendment and Social Security. I can still remember the feeling of being swept up in a swarm of citizens who, despite their differences and challenges, had come together to fight for a common cause. Even as a young child, I understood the importance of showing up and standing up for my beliefs—even when life is hard in other ways.
BECOMING A LEADER My early experiences with activism led me to dedicate my career to helping others through public policy, education, and advocacy. The strong female role models in my life showed me I could be and do anything, and encouraged me to run for student leadership positions in school and to work on political campaigns. After graduating from American University and receiving my J.D. from Vermont Law School, I delved into policy in Washington. I spent four years as the U.S. Department of Education Liaison to the President’s Council on Sustainable Development and received a one-year appointment to The White House to lead the creation of the first national education policy for sustainable development. I also served as a Political Appointee in the Clinton Administration, and against all advice, fought to be hired at a higher grade—what today would be called leaning in. I held a number of leadership roles as Deputy Director of the Office of Education Technology and Senior Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of Education, providing guidance on the development and implementation of national educational technology policy. 104 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
Carole Wacey with her twin boys, Justin and Jack.
INNOVATING IN EDUCATION Following my time in D.C., I returned to New York City to make a more profound impact in education and became Director of the Markle Foundation’s Interactive Media for Children program. After that, I served for a decade as Executive Director at MOUSE, a national nonprofit that empowers underserved youth to learn, lead, and create with technology. I vastly broadened the organization to more than 150 Title I schools across New York City, expanded to five new states, and established global partnerships with more than 20 countries. Most recently, I served as Vice President of Education at WNET, leading a team to produce educational television, online educational media for teachers, and community engagement, bringing free educational content to PBS audiences throughout New York City and nationally.
Carole Wacey (center) with NYC Public Advocate Tish James, New York City Council Member Helen Rosenthal, and WCC staff members Anita Mathew and Padma Seemangal.
I firmly believe in empowering underserved New York women to become change-makers in their community… TURNING CHALLENGES INTO CHANGE I joined Women’s City Club of New York as President and Chief Executive Officer in November 2017. From the outset, I have focused on evolving WCC to be inclusive, impactful, relevant, and innovative. At WCC, we are working with other community organizations and developing strategic relationships with likeminded partners to take the century-old organization in a bold new direction. I firmly believe in empowering underserved New York women to become change-makers in their community through civic engagement, events, and education initiatives. I am proud to be leading an organization for women, especially as the #MeToo movement has empowered so many survivors to share their stories and energized people to advocate for equality. When I experienced my #MeToo moment in 1992, an assault on New Jersey Transit while interning at the United Nations and pursuing my J.D. at Vermont Law School, I pressed charges with the Manhattan District Attorney. This was not a common response at the time, but my support system and mentors gave me the confidence to take action and hold my assaulter accountable. I am gratified that women are gradually getting more of a platform to share their views and stories. At WCC, we are working to elevate the voices of women to create change in New York City. As a mother to young twin boys, I hope to set an example for them as a strong woman, just like my mom did for me. For more information on Women’s City Club of New York and Carole Wacey, visit wccnyc.org. •
Carole Wacey with her husband George and their twin boys, Justin and Jack.
I am gratified that women are gradually getting more of a platform to share their views and stories.
Carole Wacey (center) with NYC Council Member Laurie Cumbo, WCC staff member Anita Mathew, Former U.S. Representative Elizabeth Holtzman, NYC Council Member Helen Rosenthal, and WCC Board Member Amy Schwartz.
NOVEMBER 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 105
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TIME OUT WITH… FRIGGA By Bailey Beckett
he’s been compared to Bjork, Fiona Apple and Joanna Newsom all at once, but her voice is truly unique. Frigga, a London based artist who previously called Brooklyn her home, combines pop and alternative with a Nordic twist, infusing her new single “Flower Flower” with a propulsive tempo, hypnotic arrangements and atmospheric ambiance. The song and video, which can be seen on YouTube (Frigga: Flower Flower/Official) were recorded in Frigga’s Brooklyn home studio with the video directed by her sister Sophie Siem. Anticipating her new album, Holy, coming out in March, the artist sat down with New York Lifestyles to discuss the new twist in her burgeoning career. Q: How would you describe your first single, “Flower Flower.” Frigga: It’s a sexy song that is uplifting and celebratory. I like to think of it as devotional song to a beloved … pure, sensual and glorious. It’s command from the flower to flower but also an abundance to the flower, and also the correspondence with being in the flow and flowering. I want the listener to savor, relish and delight in life: allow it to flow through you and dance in synch with its rhythm. No pushing, forcing or racing to the destination. Enjoy the process, make love with each breath and the sensuality of pure and being alive. Q: What do you wish people take away from this song? Frigga: Hope … inspiration … feeling uplifted. To never give up on your dreams. Q: You’ve re-birthed yourself as Frigga for this album. Why change from your real name Sasha? Frigga: It’s a very new beginning and essence. Frigga is a “Norse Goddess” so this new name pays homage to my Norwegian heritage, and to the goddess. By taking this eponym, I am committing to stepping into my Goddess-hood with the hope that others will do the same. Q: You lived in Brooklyn for several years with your family. What did you like best about your time in New York? Frigga: Giving birth to my son. NOVEMBER 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 107
Q: Why did you move to NY? Frigga: I first moved into a little apartment on the Lower East Side shortly after I finished my PhD in Boston; I was attracted by the mess and the chaos and the creativity. It was a wild and wonderful time. I wanted to explore, to have an adventure, to be free of everything that was holding me back, to initiate a new life. Q: What were your favorite things to do in New York? Frigga: I loved travelling by Ferry up and down from Brooklyn to 34th street. A great joy for me in NY was constantly discovering new creations on every street corner - high vibrational exercise classes, sound baths, vegan cafes, nontoxic beauty salons and music exhibitions. Q: What influence did it have on your song/ album? Frigga: It coincided with a move from writing classical music to rediscovering my love of song and embracing my inner, adventurous alt-pop. Q: How hard was it to leave and go back to your native London? Frigga: I was devastated and sure I would miss so much about it; As it happens I haven’t looked back but NY always holds as a home for me. Q: How does NY differ from London? Frigga: New York is dynamic and fast paced and there is a go-getter attitude there - yes it can be hard at times - but if you truly believe in your dream and are prepared to stick it out, anything is possible. London is more like suburbia in comparison; I find the life I have in London cozy and peaceful in a way while the vitality and buzz of New York always reside within me here too. Q: What is your inspiration when you perform and write? Frigga: My vision for a healed world. There is such mess around us, and I’m not OK with letting it be or accepting it. We have to change the world by changing ourselves. So, my songs start with my experience – fear, anger, challenges. By entering deep into my darkness and transmitting it through song and sound, I hope that it can be mirrored in the macrocosm. I wish my songs will inspire people to hope, feel supported in their desire to make a difference and remember that we really can with every action, thought and word. I really believe that together we can manifest a world that is harmonious and loving and respectful. Q: What first inspired you to go into music? Frigga: I remember wanting to be a doctor and a baker, but really one of the first memories I have of “wanting to be something when I grew up” was of being a songwriter. I went about it in earnest from the age of 11. My first song was a setting of Maya Angelou’s “A Caged Bird Sings.” My younger brother, Charlie, started playing the violin when he was a 2-year-old. So, I was curious and followed suit exploring music, specifically the piano, from the age of five and loved the way music made me feel. Nothing was as nourishing or as transcendent for me as spending hours creating sound at the piano. It was a life saver for me as an introverted and supersensitive teenager. • 108 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | NOVEMBER 2018
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Saddle River, NJ
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