Fall Fashion!
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GAME OF THRONES’
Natalie Dormer Heroine Chic bostoncommon-magazine.com niche media holdings, llc
starn
From left to right: Maje jacket and dress, Longchamp bag Alice + Olivia blouse and skirt Tory Burch blouse, skirt and bag Sandro dress Maximilian fur jacket, Cynthia Rowley pant, Diane von Furstenberg bag Dylan Gray dress Gerard Darel coat Furs labeled to show country of origin of imported fur.
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No registration of the condominium residences at 50 Liberty at Fan Pier Boston has been made with any state or foreign jurisdiction where prior registration may be required by law, and no offer to sell condominium residences at 50 Liberty at Fan Pier Boston is made to any person in any state or foreign jurisdiction where prior registration may be required by law. At present, no residences at 50 Liberty at Fan Pier are being offered for sale. No plans or specifcations are available at this time and any current concepts for the residences at 50 Liberty and the Fan Pier development are subject to change. No broker cooperation is offered. Pricing when available will be subject to change. Many of the residences at 50 Liberty will have views of both the harbor and the city. Views to the harbor, the city or both are not available in all of the residences. The view illustration shown is for illustrative purposes only and is not representative of the view available in all of the homes at 50 Liberty. Image is for illustrative purposes only and does not accurately depict proposed future improvements. The Seller of the residences at 50 Liberty at Fan Pier is committed to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. We encourage and support an affrmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
FRONT RUNNER Alfred Fiandaca’s designs, seen at fashion shows like this one at the Copley Plaza Hotel in 1975, helped put Boston on the radar of the beau monde.
First Ladies
“When I look at this picture, I have so many emotions!” says Doris Yaffe, the former longtime publicist for Boston fashion designer Alfred Fiandaca. “This was one of our fashion shows at the Copley Plaza Hotel” (now the Fairmont Copley Plaza). It was 1975—the year Louise Fletcher starred in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the film that earned her an Oscar for best supporting actress, which she accepted in an ethereal ivory gown by Fiandaca. “We produced fashion shows in Boston at a time when there were not many fashion shows in the city,” says Yaffe, “and no fashion whatsoever.” Except, of course, the styles created by Fiandaca, the humble boy from East Boston who learned how to sew costumes for his toy puppets almost before he learned how to walk. In elementary school, he cut patterns alongside his father, a third-generation Italian tailor at the Harvard Coop (his mother was a seamstress). Fiandaca studied design at the Massachusetts
16 bostoncommon-magazine.com
College of Art and Design and went on to open his own studio on Maverick Street, attracting the upper echelon of society women with his eye for simple silhouettes and his feel for luxe fabrics. “Back then, the Boston Brahmins ruled the city,” says Yaffe. “Chauffeurs drove these ladies to Alfred’s studio in Eastie. It’s not like now, when girls can be stylish without having to spend a lot of money. Then, you had to be very wealthy to dress well.” Fiandaca’s vivid suits, bespoke coats, and taffeta gowns would ultimately catch the eyes of Hollywood leading ladies like Audrey Hepburn, Lauren Bacall, Julie Andrews—even Cher. More recently, before Fiandaca passed away in 2013, Ann Romney wore his signature electric-pink sheaths during husband Mitt’s 2012 presidential campaign. “Oh, he was a charmer,” Yaffe says. “I never knew anyone who did not adore Alfred.” BC
photography by Spencer grant/getty ImageS
WomensWear Designer Alfred fiAndAcA struck a pose for fashion in Boston that turneD heaDs in hollyWooD. by lisa pierpont
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contents
Fall 2015
96
Show some skin this fall in luxe leather apparel. Dress ($6,100), shirt ($2,800), and shoes ($2,050), Dior. Copley Place, 617-2664628; dior.com
16 // front runner 32 // from the
editor-in-Chief
34 // from the
publisher
36 // ... Without Whom
this issue Would not have been possible
38 // the list 73 // invited
style 43 // house of Karl Karl Lagerfeld and Chanel celebrate the latest Métiers d’art, a collection that pays homage to ateliers creating the highest levels of couture.
46 // Kendall
square Kismet
Fall’s accessories take their cues from Boston’s cutting-edge tech nucleus.
50 // a Well-heeled life Lincoln native Sarah Flint hits it sky-high with her designer shoe collection and celebrates at her cherished Boston spots.
52 // style spotlight
54 // beauty.biz Entrepreneurs deliver beautiful from your computer to your door.
56 // blue Crush Boston women swoon for watches in shades from slate to cerulean.
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photography by renÉ & radka
Jeweler Sidney Thomas comes to the Pru, while Anna Sui and Frye make merry bedfellows.
284 Newbury Street
•
TheFryeCompany.com
contents
Fall 2015
60
Pop art from activist nun Corita Kent is on view at the Harvard Art Museums.
people 67 // Most CongeniAl
The new restaurant Committee brings Greek meze to the Seaport.
culture 58 // Rebelling AlwAys Madonna continues her reign as the Queen of Pop with a blockbuster concert at Boston’s TD Garden.
59 // An enthRAlling little night The Huntington Theatre Company marshals a stellar team for Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music.
60 // PoP UP Warhol and Lichtenstein headline a snazzy new exhibit at the Rose Art Museum.
62 // boston heARts hUbweek Harvard, MIT, MGH, and The Boston Globe convene to create a fullon artistic and intellectual spectacle.
64 // CUltURe sPotlight Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella comes to the Boston Opera House, and Paul Theroux takes readers south of the Mason-Dixon Line.
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70 // woRk hARd, PlAy hARdeR
Dawn Oates has found her life’s work in helping disabled children have fun.
taste 81 // gReeCe is the woRd There’s yet another new neighbor in the Seaport, and this time it’s all about meze.
84 // oh, honey! Boston restaurants add some buzz to their menus and the sustainability movement with their own beehives.
86 // sPike the JUiCe This fall, apple farmers are polishing up their bounty for powerful hard cider.
88 // tAste sPotlight Barrymore Wines releases two perfect Pinots, and Deuxave celebrates fve years as the belle of the mall.
photography courtesy of the president and fellows of harvard college (Kent); by Morgan ione yeager (coMMittee)
81
Governor Charlie Baker takes over the State House, with lessons learned from a loss and a commitment to rule with kindness.
POIS MOI COLLECTION
Shops at Prudential Center 617.262.0935 Mall at Chestnut Hill 617.965.5300
contents
Fall 2015
features 90 // Queen of Thrones Smart. Beautiful. Fierce. The general consensus on both sides of the pond is that English charmer Natalie Dormer rules. By David Hochman Photography by Tony Duran
96 // showing skin Go beyond Boston’s Leather District this fall, with swinging silhouettes, clever pleats, and—of course—sexy jackets galore. Photography by René & Radka Styling by Martina Nilsson
104 // Luxe 2.0 The Luxury Education Foundation’s board members and leaders of our favorite iconic brands—Dior, Graff, Chanel, Hermès, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Lalique—talk about new strategies, core values, and how new talent is driving success.
90
Embroidered wool sweater, Giambattista Valli ($1,260). Serenella, 134 Newbury St., 617-262-5568; serenellaboston.com. Black diamond pear stone C earrings, Oscar de la Renta ($390). Neiman Marcus, Copley Place, 617-536-3660; neimanmarcus.com
24 bostoncommon-magazine.com
photography by tony duran
Game of Thrones star Natalie Dormer reigns supreme on the big and small screens this fall.
contents
Fall 2015
111
The new Millennium Tower caters to empty nesters with top-line amenities and a hip hub for community.
124 // DEsiGN spOTLiGHT
Ball and Buck’s American Field market comes to the Boston Design Center, and Simon Pearce is in the eye of the storm.
126 // DRiViNG mE CRAzy How do you optimize a Boston day? With a BMW M235i convertible.
128 // THE DELuxE ROAD TRip Enjoying fall foliage is better with the right itinerary.
partING Shot
126
It’s still warm enough to keep the top down on BMW’s sexy M235i convertible.
136 // fOLiAGE fAsHiON
haute property
When the leaves change in Boston, so does the dress code.
111 // A NEw LEAsE ON LifE With the kids gone, empty nesters are heading into Boston for a luxe life in the fast lane.
118 // HOw NOT TO sELL A HOusE Dos and don’ts for selling your $1 million property in the current market.
120 // GLAm mETAL Heavy metals like copper, bronze, and pewter add a powerful pop to interiors this season.
122 // HARbOR HOppiNG As New Englanders savor the last rays of summer sun, Doug Gray and Tim Barton give a personal tour of their favorite ports.
26 bostoncommon-magazine.com
ON THE COVER: Natalie Dormer
Photography by Tony Photography by Tony Duran/tonyduran.net Styling by Martina Nilsson at Opus Beauty Hair by Christian Marc at Forward Artists using Leonor Greyl Makeup by Matthew VanLeeuwen at The Wall Group using Clé de Peau Beauté Manicure by Sarah Chue for Dior Vernis First photo assistant: Justin Schwan Second photo assistant: Arthur Lang Video: Adriano Valentini Location by Sources Locations/ Embroidered silk dress, Erdem ($5,280). erdem.com. Bra ($275) and panties ($295), Dolce & Gabbana. 11 Newbury St., 857-2540669; dolcegabbana.com
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JOIN US ONLINE at bostoncommon-magazine.com We have the inside scoop on Boston’s best parties, pursuits, and more. pursuits
DAY TRIPS TO TAKE THIS SEASON Ease into fall by escaping to some of the area’s hottest destinations outside the city.
photos
Couldn’t attend? Browse the newest photos from Boston’s most exclusive parties.
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LISA PIERPONT Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor JENNIFER DEMERITT Art Director JUAN PARRA Photo Editor SETH OLENICK Associate Editor JESSICA BOWNE Senior Fashion Editor FAYE POWER Copy Editor DAVID FAIRHURST Research Editor LOIS BARRETT
GLEN KELLEY Publisher Account Director SHANNON PASTUSZAK Account Executive JANELLE DRISCOLL Director of Event Marketing AMY FISCHER Sales Assistant ELIZABETH MITCHELL
NICHE MEDIA HOLDINGS, LLC Senior Vice President and Editorial Director MANDI NORWOOD Vice President of Creative and Fashion ANN SONG Creative Director NICOLE A. WOLFSON NADBOY Executive Fashion Director SAMANTHA YANKS ART AND PHOTO
Senior Art Director FRYDA LIDOR Associate Art Director ALLISON FLEMING Senior Designer NATALI SUASNAVAS Designer AARON BELANDRES Photo Director LISA ROSENTHAL BADER Photo Editors MARIE BARBIER, JODIE LOVE, JENNIFER PAGAN, REBECCA SAHN Associate Photo Editor HALEY HAMBLIN Senior Staff Photographer JEFFREY CRAWFORD Senior Digital Imaging Specialist JEFFREY SPITERY Digital Imaging Specialist JEREMY DEVERATURDA Digital Imaging Assistant HTET SAN FASHION
Associate Fashion Editor CASEY TRUDEAU Assistant Fashion Editors CONNOR CHILDERS, LISA FERRANDINO Entertainment and Bookings Editor JULIET IZON COPY AND RESEARCH
Copy and Research Manager WENDIE PECHARSKY Copy Editor JULIA STEINER Research Editors LESLIE ALEXANDER, JAMES BUSS, JUDY DEYOUNG, KAREN MCCREE EDITORIAL OPERATIONS
Director of Editorial Operations DEBORAH L. MARTIN Director of Editorial Relations MATTHEW STEWART Executive Editorial Assistant CHRISTINA CLEMENTE Online Executive Editor CAITLIN ROHAN Online Editors ANNA BEN YEHUDA, TRICIA CARR Online Editorial Assistant CATHERINE PARK Senior Managing Editors DANINE ALATI, KAREN ROSE, JILL SIERACKI Managing Editors MURAT OZTASKIN, OUSSAMA ZAHR Shelter and Design Editor SUE HOSTETLER Timepiece Editor ROBERTA NAAS
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Account Directors SUSAN ABRAMS, MICHELE ADDISON, CLAIRE CARLIN, MICHELLE CHALA, KATHLEEN FLEMING, VICTORIA HENRY, KAREN LEVINE, MEREDITH MERRILL, NORMA MONTALVO, DEVON MOORE, JEFFREY NICHOLSON, MIA PIERRE-JACQUES, VALERIE ROBLES, JIM SMITH, JESSICA ZIVKOVITCH Account Executives SUSANA ARAGON, LAUREN BROGNA, VINCE DUROCHER, JAMIE FOX, JAMIE FOX, IRENA HALL, SAMANTHA HARRIS, SARAH HECKLER, CATHERINE KUCHAR, FENDY MESY, MARY RUEGG, JACKIE VAN METER Sales Support and Development EMMA BEHRINGER, ANA BLAGOJEVIC, LISSETTE COLLS, ERIN GLEASON, KRISTINE GUEVARRA, DARA HIRSH, EMERY HOLTON, REBECCA JAMES, KARA KEARNS, MICHELLE MASS, NICHOLE MAURER, RUE MCBRIDE, STEPHEN OSTROWSKI, MACKENZIE WAXMAN, ALEXANDRA WINTER MARKETING, PROMOTIONS, AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations LANA BERNSTEIN Senior Director of Brand Development ROBIN KEARSE Director of Brand Development JOANNA TUCKER Brand Development Managers KRISTIN BARNES, JIMMY KONTOMANOLIS Promotions Art Designers KAITLYN RICHERT, CARLY RUSSELL Event Marketing Directors HALEE HARCZYNSKI, LAURA MULLEN, KIMMY WILSON Event Marketing Managers KELSEY MARRUJO, CRISTINA PARRA, ASHLEY VEHSLAGE Event Marketing Coordinators BROOKE BIDDLE, BLAIR GOTTFRIED Event Marketing Assistant SHANA KAUFMAN ADVERTISING PRODUCTION
Director of Positioning and Planning SALLY LYON Positioning and Planning Manager TARA MCCRILLIS Director of Production PAUL HUNTSBERRY Production Manager BLUE UYEDA Production Artists MARISSA MAHERAS, DARA RICCI, ALISHA SMITH Director of Distribution Operations MATT HEMMERLING Distribution Relations Manager JENNIFER PALMER Fulfillment Manager DORIS HOLLIFIELD Traffic Supervisor ESTEE WRIGHT Traffic Coordinators JEANNE GLEESON, MALLORIE SOMMERS Manufacturing Coordinator KIMBERLY CHANG Circulation Research Specialist CHAD HARWOOD FINANCE
Controller DANIELLE BIXLER Senior Finance Directors AUDREY CADY, LISA VASSEUR-MODICA Director of Credit and Collections CHRISTOPHER BEST Senior Credit and Collections Analyst MYRNA ROSADO Financial Analyst NEIL SHAH Senior Billing Coordinator CHARLES CAGLE Senior Accountant LILY WU Junior Accountants KATHY SABAROVA, NATASHA WARREN Accounts Payable Coordinator NADINE DEODATT ADMINISTRATION, DIGITAL, AND OPERATIONS
Director of Operations MICHAEL CAPACE Director of Human Resources and Administration STEPHANIE MITCHELL Digital Producer ANTHONY PEARSON Facilities Coordinator ASHLEY GUILLAUME Chief Technology Officer JESSE TAYLOR Desktop Administrators ZACHARY CUMMO, EDGAR ROCHE
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
J.P. ANDERSON (Michigan Avenue), SPENCER BECK (Los Angeles Confidential), ANDREA BENNETT (Vegas), KATHY BLACKWELL (Austin Way), KRISTIN DETTERLINE (Philadelphia Style), CATHERINE SABINO (Gotham), JARED SHAPIRO (Ocean Drive), ELIZABETH E. THORP (Capitol File), DAMIEN WILLIAMSON (Executive Editor, Aspen Peak), SAMANTHA YANKS (Hamptons) PUBLISHERS
JOHN M. COLABELLI (Philadelphia Style), LOUIS F. DELONE (Austin Way), DAWN DUBOIS (Gotham), ALEXANDRA HALPERIN (Aspen Peak), DEBRA HALPERT (Hamptons), SUZY JACOBS (Capitol File), COURTLAND LANTAFF (Ocean Drive), ALISON MILLER (Los Angeles Confidential), DAN USLAN (Michigan Avenue), JOSEF VANN (Vegas)
Managing Partner JANE GALE Chairman and Director of Photography JEFF GALE Chief Operating Officer MARIA BLONDEAUX Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer JOHN P. KUSHNIR Chief Executive Officer KATHERINE NICHOLLS
Copyright 2015 by Niche Media Holdings, LLC. All rights reserved. Boston Common magazine is published six times per year. Reproduction without permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publisher and editors are not responsible for unsolicited material and it will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication subject to Boston Common magazine’s right to edit. Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, photographs, and drawings. To order a subscription, please call 866-891-3144. For customer service, please inquire at bostoncommon@pubservice.com. To distribute Boston Common at your business, please e-mail magazinerequest@nichemedia.net. Boston Common magazine is published by Niche Media Holdings, LLC, a division of Greengale Publishing, LLC. b oston com m on : 745 Boylston Street, Suite 401, Boston, MA 02116 T: 617-266-3390 F: 617-266-3722 niche m edia holdings: 711 Third Avenue, Suite 501, New York, NY 10017 T: 646-835-5200 F: 212-780-0003
30 BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM
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LETTER from the Editor-in-Chief
// this issue // LEFT: With Douglas Gray,
ON MY RADAR
1
HERE’S A BIG FAT SECRET FROM BOSTONIANS IN THE KNOW: September is the best month here. Summer crowds have vanished. Little squirts are in school. Beaches are empty. The air is dry, and the sun? She shines, shines, shines. Every day is a luxury. I say that not in a cornball way, and I’m not referring to opulence. It’s meant in the spirit of what true luxury is: that perfectly ripe, ruby apple; an afternoon drive with the top down; the crisp white shirt. Elegance, excellence, grace. A sense of rarity doesn’t hurt. We find out in this month’s “View from the Top” that our new governor, Charlie Baker, feels it every day when he walks into the State House, because he has an opportunity for change. Chef Geoff Lukas serves it up in the form of Greek meze at the latest Seaport restaurant, Committee. And the scions of luxury themselves—the chief executive officers of Chanel, Hermès, and Salvatore Ferragamo, among others—share their perspectives in a roundtable discussion of what enjoying, creating, and earning luxury means to them. For the Boston Common staff, it means sharing the wealth, if you will, with our cherished partners and readers. Early in the summer, I indulged in a food frenzy, thanks to some of Boston’s greatest chefs, at A Taste & A Toast, a reception for the Forsyth Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to oral health. Soon after, I hydrated very well at Voss’s Women Helping Women luncheon to benefit the Voss Foundation, which provides clean water to sub-Saharan Africa. Finally, on a fabulously balmy summer evening, time was well spent at a yachtside soirée for the Barton & Gray Mariners Club at the Battery Wharf Hotel. Luxury, all of it. Just like the month of September in Boston.
LISA PIERPONT Follow me on Facebook at facebook.com/boston-common and on bostoncommon-magazine.com.
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BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM
2
1. Crane Beach: Tops on my early-fall list is an escape to my favorite beach off-season. I hit it early in the morning to catch horseback riders cantering in the surf. I go alone and break out my old-school Polaroid in a vain effort to bottle up all of the sights and sounds. Crane Beach, Ipswich; thetrustees.org 2. True confession: My parents live half the year in Kennebunkport. I know I should stay with them, but since the Hidden Pond resort opened up, it’s complicated. Gorgeous private cottages, luxe pools, and chef Ken Oringer’s gourmet restaurant, Earth, are just some of the temptations. I’m going Labor Day weekend. (Mom and Dad, you’re invited.) hiddenpondmaine.com
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MONOTONOUSSARAH (CRANE BEACH); MICHAEL BLANCHARD (GRAY); CONOR DOHERTY (BAKER); COURTESY OF KENNEBUNKPORT RESORT COLLECTION (HIDDEN POND); HAIR BY LOUISE RUSK/MIZU; MAKEUP BY TAVI DE LA ROSA
a cofounder of Barton & Gray Mariners Club, at our soirée harborside at the Battery Wharf Hotel. BELOW: Governor Charlie Baker gets his groove on at our photo shoot.
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letter from the Publisher 1
3
With Jane Hertzmark Hudis, global brand president of Estée Lauder, at the Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s Hot Pink Party in Boston.
September iS my favorite time of year. I love how Boston is
buzzing again as everyone comes back from summer vacation. The patios in the Back Bay and along the waterfront are packed with happy diners, while that fun “back to school” excitement is in the air. Boston Common was thrilled to partner once again on the Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port race during a weekend that truly brought out New England’s best. We had a summer full of art opportunities, including a beautiful 60th-anniversary festival gala for the South Shore Art Center in Cohasset. We also sponsored the Take a Seat gala, presented by the New England chapter of the International Furnishings and Design Association at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline. Speaking of cars, I am eager for the annual Boston Cup car show on Boston Common; last year I had my eye on a vintage Porsche 356 Speedster, and I can’t wait to see what else they bring out this year. And we are excited to partner with our friends at Roche Bobois this month as they open a new location in Natick. I hope to see you out in town as we soak in these last brilliant rays of late-summer sunshine. And stay tuned for Boston Common’s Late Fall issue, celebrating our 10th anniversary and this wonderful city.
glen kelley Follow me on Facebook at facebook.com/boston-common and on bostoncommon-magazine.com.
34 bostoncommon-magazine.com
// this issue //
on my radar 1. Fall means the start of football season, and I’m looking forward to seeing the New England Patriots take the feld again at Gillette Stadium after an incredible Super Bowl win last February. 2. The Newport International Polo Series is still in full swing in Rhode Island, and I enjoy taking in a few late-season matches. 3. It’s that wonderful transition time when the days are warm and sunny and the nights are cool but still comfortable outdoors. I can enjoy a day at the beach without the crowds and head back to the city for dinner at my favorite new spot, Serafna.
photography by Michael blanchard (hot pink party); Matthew J. lee/The BosTon GloBe via getty iMages (patriots); alfredo sosa/The ChrisTian sCienCe MoniTor via getty iMages (polo)
2
Karyn PolewaczyK writer Karyn Polewaczyk is a Boston-based lifestyle writer and creative strategist. Her work is regularly featured at Jezebel.com, Racked.com, and DailyWorth.com, where she covers everything from fashion and feminism to career advice and money matters. She has contributed to Boston.com, Refinery29.com, the magazines More and Elle, and Forbes.com’s site ForbesWoman. She is also a moving maven, having lived in 10 different neighborhoods during her decade in the city. In this issue: Polewaczyk explores Boston’s tech-minded beauty scene in “You, Even Better.” How does your own beauty routine transition in the fall? “I’m pretty makeup-light in the summer, but the darker days of fall—boo!—require a bit of amping up in order to make things pop. So wine and berry lip colors, an extra coat or several of mascara, and bronzer, because I’m a beach baby at heart and try to extend the glory days of summer for as long as vainly possible.” What sets Boston’s beauty scene apart from others? “Women here tend to be more outwardly reserved, but as Dunwello proves, we love to share secrets with our girlfriends. Perhaps we relish a good insider tip more than other cities whose inhabitants boast about their cosmetic procedures—I’m looking at you, LA—or maybe it’s part of that Puritan New England charm.”
36 bostoncommon-magazine.com
// Fall 2015
Patryce BaK photographer
Dominic Perri photographer
Scott Kearnan writer
When Patryce Bak isn’t taking photographs, you can find this nature-loving urbanite enjoying the great outdoors or cooking meticulously plated Mediterranean-inspired meals. She currently divides her time between Cambridge and Brooklyn, New York. In this issue: Bak photographed motherdaughter duo Dawn and Harper Oates on their quest to make playgrounds accessible to all children for “Spirit of Generosity.” What struck you most about the Oates family? “The immense amount of love and joy. I did not sense an ounce of self-pity from Dawn Oates or her vibrant daughter Harper. It was both humbling and inspiring to witness.” What did you take away from your time with them? “The importance of making your own destiny.”
Dominic Perri is a food photographer who splits his time between Massachusetts and New York City. He has been professionally photographing food for magazines and restaurants along the East Coast for almost 10 years. When he isn’t working, he can be found waxing rhapsodic about his grandmother’s meatballs and homemade ravioli, running half-marathons, or riding his lime-green bike. In this issue: Perri shot cider-based cocktails for “Cheers.” What is the best bite you’ve had recently in Boston? “I love cheeseburgers. If I could, I would eat one every day. My favorite in Boston has to be a bacon cheddar burger with tater tots from Wahlburgers.” What is the best part about capturing a bartender or chef at work? “It takes away the awkwardness of them trying to figure out what to do with their hands, and they’re always so passionate about what they do. It gives me the opportunity to capture them in raw form doing what they love.”
Scott Kearnan is a Bostonbased writer and editor focusing on lifestyle, the arts, and entertainment for outlets such as Zagat, Jaunted.com, The Improper Bostonian, and Boston magazine. In this issue: Kearnan writes about the Oates family’s quest to help disabled children in “Spirit of Generosity.” What did you take away from your time with the Oates family? “Dawn’s energy is electric. She doesn’t hide that her passion comes from a highly personal place, but instead lets it fuel her fire. The world needs more people like that.” What positive impact will Dawn Oates’s work have in Boston? “Her work reinforces the distinction between access and inclusion. It’s one thing to open doors for people; more important is to help them engage the room. And in social justice, that’s true across all lines—ability, gender, race, and more.”
photography by Megan pappadopoulos (polewaczyk); luis rubio (perri); kiki larouge photography (kearnan)
...without whom this issue would not have been possible
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the list Fall 2015
David Valcourt
Bradford Rice
Theodore R. Tye
Douglas Gray
Casey Capuano
Emily Catalano
Larry Rideout
Corey Stoll
Sarah McCarthy
Kelley Yelle
Kimberly Jurczak
Steven Young
Ronald Barriere
Claude Julien
Jamie Bruneau
Katie Greenberg Mayshak
Paul Feig
Kim Atkinson
Michael Carucci
Adam Scott
Josh Groban
Dante de Magistris
Kenny Dichter
R. Wayne Lopez
Agostino Lombardi
Johnny Depp
Kevin Bacon
Courtney Church
Allison O’Neil
Alexandra Hynes
Carolyn “CiCi” Van Tine
Peter Sarsgaard
Paul Grogan
John Moore
Maud Cabot
Jill Tate
Gregory Kane
Nicole Ledoux
Arienne M. Bistany
Maureen Toomey
Amy Schumer
Ted Dintersmith
Kathie Swift
Jesse Plemons
Jim Gauthier
Elizabeth Hazard
Ricardo H. Brasil
Wil Lockman
David Southworth
John B. Ravenal
Paul Sauceda
Patricia Berry
Mary Lewey
Karen Keane
Jennifer Driscoll
Paul McGann
Rory McIlroy
Larry Casillo
Susan Stacy
Benedict Cumberbatch
38 bostoncommon-magazine.com
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Style tastemaker
House of Karl
self-portrait by Karl lagerfeld
arl lagerfeld and Chanel Celebrate the latest Métiers d’art, a ColleCtion that pays hoMage to rarefied ateliers Creating the highest levels of Couture. by kari molvar
Fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld continues to seduce the world’s most stylish dressers with the Métiers d’art collection. above: A look from the collection.
In the world of fashion, there’s Karl Lagerfeld and everyone else. As the creative force behind the legendary house of Chanel, whose Boston-area flagship store anchors the first block of Newbury Street, the German designer, artist, and photographer works at a superhuman pace, turning out six collections a year for Chanel, as well as collections for Fendi and his namesake line, plus numerous collaborations. This means he spends countless hours designing the items that the stylish set will soon be coveting and obsessing over, like cropped blazers, flap messenger bags, and cap-toe chunky heels. Yet of all of Lagerfeld’s collections, perhaps the most dazzling is Chanel’s Métiers d’art. Presented once a year, it’s a celebration of the rich craftsmanship of the house’s seven ateliers, including the famed embroidery creator Lesage, the milliner Michel, and the feather maker Lemarie. The clothes are lavish, and so is the backdrop. Since the Métiers collection debuted in 2002, it has been unveiled in such memorable locations as a rodeo in Dallas, a castle in Scotland, and a barge in Shanghai. Last winter, the new Paris-Salzburg Métiers d’art collection was fêted at the Schloss Leopoldskron palace in Salzburg, Austria, a location that stimulated Lagerfeld’s imagination. Rumor has it that Coco Chanel found inspiration for the famous Chanel jacket in the uniform of a hotel lift operator in Salzburg. But as Lagerfeld charmingly points out, “Nobody continued on page 44
bostoncommon-magazine.com 43
Style tastemaker
far left and right:
Looks from the Métiers d’art collection. above: Chanel’s Boston boutique. left: The patent boot ($1,425).
can prove if she said this herself, but who cares? There was a connection, and that connection doesn’t need to be related to the truth to serve as my inspiration.” To present the more than 80 looks, models such as Stella Tennant and Kendall Jenner walked through a series of candlelit rooms where guests sat on elegant sofas and nibbled on confections. To close the show, Lagerfeld strolled by with model Cara Delevingne, who held a half-eaten pretzel in her hand. And the collection was devastatingly beautiful. Jackets played a starring role, each one more imaginative than the last. There was a long, colorful embroidered jacket with flared sleeves and hem, a floor-length
shearling coat, a breathtaking cape made almost entirely of feathers. Many pieces offered fresh takes on Tyrolean styles, like the beaded dirndl-inspired dress with a leather bodice, ruffled blouses with high collars and bibs, and knit leggings in Alpine colors of hunter green and dove gray. Even the accessories had a playful, sound of music joy to them: Headphones with coiled braids that cover the ears, felt bags embroidered with flowers, feathered hats, and black patent-leather clogs were among the standouts. Lagerfeld even made a convincing case for bringing back lederhosen. The style’s best ambassador: the designer’s 6-year-old godson Hudson, who wore a pair of jean lederhosen with
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kneesocks, an outfit that reminded Lagerfeld of how he dressed as a child. “But my lederhosen were made from leather,” he says. “There were no jeans around for that back then!” While the collection nods to the past, it never reads old-fashioned. “In a way, the clothes are timeless because Austrian people still wear these types of dresses,” Lagerfeld says, “but mine is a version of great luxury.” It’s a luxury that would be unimaginable, however, if not for the company’s ateliers. “The commitment Chanel has made to supporting its ateliers is crucial not just for Chanel but for the entire haute couture industry and ready-to-wear business,” says Barbara Cirkva, the
brand’s division president for fashion in the US. “The handcrafted skill that goes into these pieces can never be replicated. And you’d be hard-pressed to find a Chanel runway or Métiers collection that didn’t involve the ateliers on some level, whether it’s hand-woven braiding on a jacket or an embroidered camellia.” Many of these exquisite pieces will find their way into one of the Back Bay’s star attractions, the Chanel boutique. “Newbury Street is so chic and fashionable that we wanted to expand our presence there,” says Cirkva. The store is modeled after a “townhouse, in keeping with Boston’s architectural style,” she adds, with “luxurious fitting rooms and a very residential
feel in the ready-to-wear areas. You can come with a friend or your family and spend the day.” Knitwear is particularly popular in Boston, and not just because of the chilly winters. “Our clientele travels a lot,” Cirkva explains, “and knitwear very much fits into the easy, sophisticated lifestyle of the Boston woman.” As for the Paris-Salzburg collection, it’s easy to fall in love with every last ruffled blouse and hair bow, proving that Lagerfeld has done it again and seduced us all—himself included. “It’s very difficult for me to have favorite pieces,” he says. “I love the collection as a whole. If not, I would only show one dress!” 6 newbury st., 617-8590055; chanel.com BC
photography Courtesy of Chanel
“our clientele travels a lot, and knitwear very much fits into the easy, sophisticated lifestyle of the boston woman.” —barbara cirkva
STYLE Accessories
kendall square kismet
fall’s accessories take their cues from boston’s cutting-edge business nucleus. photography by jeff crawford styling by faye power
Cool Colors
Chrysler suede and specchio pump, Paul Andrew ($1,395). Saks Fifth Avenue, The Shops at Prudential Center, 617-262-8500; saks.com. Bal58 Spray shoulder bag, Balenciaga ($3,750). Neiman Marcus, Copley Place, 617-536-3660; balenciaga.com. Spiral pendant fumoso necklace, Pluma ($597). Neiman Marcus, see above; neimanmarcus.com
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PROP STYLING BY SERGIO ESTEVES
Bold combinations of black, blue, and silver create the perfect palette.
STYLE Accessories 1
2
RAINBOW WAVE
THROUGH A GLASS BRIGHTLY
Byte-size color-blocking updates an icon.
4
DOT MATRIX
HEAVY METAL
Geometric studs punch up basic black.
Hardware elements give clutches a hefty edge.
1. Mosaic embroidery handbag, Chanel ($9,000). 6 Newbury St., 617-859-0055; chanel.com. 2. Carnaby ankle boot, Nicholas Kirkwood ($1,195). Intermix, 186 Newbury St., 617-236-5172; nicholas kirkwood.com. 3. Viv pointed-toe oxford, Marc by Marc Jacobs ($548). 81 Newbury St., 617-425-0404; marcjacobs.com. 4. Studded Mini 3baguette, Fendi ($2,450). Neiman Marcus, Copley Place, 617-536-3660; fendi.com
48 bostoncommon-magazine.com
ProP Styling by Sergio eSteveS
3
Ombré shading offers a glimpse into the digital world.
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S P L A S H
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CL.1 Stretches to New Heights It’s progressive design language of hard and soft contours marks the beginning of a new era in
Dornbracht product design - dynamic, elegant, sporty. CL.1 caters to the senses with structured handles for a new textile experience and stimulates them further with forty streams of water droplets, which gently envelope the hands. Affiliated Spritzo Showrooms • Worcester, MA • Providence, RI • Saco, ME
STYLE Social Network
A Well-Heeled Life LincoLn native sarah flint hits it sky-high with her designer shoe coLLection and ceLebrates at her cherished boston spots. by jill radsken
hidden treasure:
“Fancy Flea Antiques has the most incredible estate jewelry. I have a filigree gold band from the ’40s that my sisters gave me. I wear it every day stacked with the diamond and sapphire band my parents bought me there.” 1841 Massachusetts Ave., Lexington, 781-8629650; fancyfleaantiques.com
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shopping secret weapon:
“I can’t go home without stopping in Concord Center. It is the cutest town center, with amazing antiques shops. I worked at French Lessons, which sells DVF and all the denim brands I love.” 8 Walden St., Concord, 978-369-6227; frenchlessons-boutique.com
staying current:
farm to sarah:
“South Bridge Boat House on Main Street in Concord is the best place to rent canoes. In high school we did it all the time, grabbing a picnic and canoeing down the Concord River. It’s really beautiful.” 496 Main St., Concord, 978-369-9438; southbridgeboathouse.com
“Everything sold at Wilson’s farmstand in Lexington is grown there. The produce is fresh, the plants are beautiful, and the apple cider doughnuts are not to be missed.” Wilson Farm, 10 Pleasant St., Lexington, 781-8623900; wilsonfarms.com
photography Courtesy of sarah flint (flint)
Sarah Flint isn’t tiptoeing around the fashion world. No, ma’am. Just two years after she launched it, the Lincoln native’s namesake footwear line has already high-stepped onto the prestigious shelves at Barneys New York and dozens of upscale shops across the country, including the Tess & Carlos boutiques in Cambridge, Weston, and Concord. At 26, Flint has assembled a dynamic team, including Vice President Vicky Donevan (formerly at the chic shoe brand Tabitha Simmons), renowned patternmaker Richard Siccardi, and board of advisors member Desiree Gruber, an executive producer of Project Runway. It also doesn’t hurt to have Blake Lively showing up at movie premieres wearing Sarah Flint and Instagramming her affection for the brand’s flats and sandals on a regular basis. Flint runs her company out of New York, but her soul (pun intended) remains in Boston. She graciously shared her favorite shopping and leisure haunts. BC
STYLE Spotlight White shirt ($80) and pull-on Army pants ($120).
feet first
STACKED Take ankle boots to the next level with a chunky heel.
baubles
RIGHT ON TIME Sidney Thomas opens a boutique in the Prudential Center this September. Boston’s beloved jeweler Sidney Thomas is getting a glittering overhaul this season, with a grand reopening in September, just in time for fall shopping. The new store will serve as the company’s retail prototype and feature pieces from around the globe— including exotic locales like Vicenza and Istanbul—exclusively for Boston shoppers. There will also be estate jewelry from Tiffany & Co. and Cartier, as well as watch lines such as Omega, Breitling, and TAG Heuer. In addition, customers can expect to see a new space dedicated solely to Rolex. The Shops at Prudential Center, 617-2620935; sidneythomas.com
SLEEK AND CHIC
Akris has two streamlined new bags for fall. The Anouk Envelope (PICTURED, TOP, $1,190) can be carried as a clutch or, with the addition of an adjustable strap, worn as a shoulder bag. The Folio (PICTURED, $2,990) can serve as either a clutch or a document holder. Both come in sophisticated neutral tones and vivid hues like candle yellow. 16 Newbury St., 617-536-6225; akris.ch
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Dior ($1,710). Copley Place, 617-266-4628; dior.com
Polar fleece wrap coat ($150) and pull-on riding pants ($99).
The Long and Short of It
CLUB MONACO COFOUNDER AVRA MYERS REINVENTS CASUAL LUXE WITH HER NEW LABEL, A RUBY. Jump-start your weekends this fall with chic yet easy-to-wear separates, like Moto leggings with vegan leather accents, from A Ruby, founded by Quincy-based Avra Myers. “I thought there was a need for a line of clothing that simplified great style,” says Myers, who is no stranger to womenswear: In her 30-year career, she has cofounded Club Monaco and had stints as copresident of Limited Stores and senior vice president of merchandising at J. Jill. “I wanted to find a way to design clothing with exceptional fit, high-quality fab-
rics, and the timeless style I love. So I created it.” A Ruby’s staples are produced especially for the fashionable woman-on-the-go: riding pants that transition from day to night, crisp white shirts for work or weekend, soft V-neck tunic sweaters, and the Breton-inspired three-quarter-sleeve T-shirt. In the Fall/ Winter 2015 collection, look for the diamond-themed fringed poncho, patch pants, the quilted wrap coat, and Myers’s favorite, the polar fleece cape. The line has a pop-up shop at Michelle Willey in the South End. aruby.net
FASHION FUSION Eclectic designer Anna Sui and legendary bootmaker Frye have blended their creative juices to produce nine new bag and shoe styles for Sui’s Nordic-inspired Fall 2015 collection. “The fun part was customizing their classic shape in an Anna Sui style,” says Sui. The looks combine Sui’s lively prints and her eccentricity with Frye’s tried-and-true leather staples, bringing chic functionality to the Boston customer. Case in point: the Parker moc tall boots (PICTURED, $1,398) and the versatile Anna cross-body handbag. Both will take you stylishly into the fall. 284 Newbury St., 617-2473793; thefryecompany.com
Gianvito Rossi ($1,065). Neiman Marcus, Copley Place, 617-5363660; neimanmarcus.com
Stuart Weitzman ($465). Copley Place, 617-266-8699; stuartweitzman.com
Tory Burch ($595). Copley Place, 617-867-9140; toryburch.com
Valentino Garavani ($1,495). 47 Newbury St., 617-578-0300; valentino.com
Living Well Most of living is about the basics - keeping the plates spinning. And then there’s that part called living life well. Those special things like a hand-knotted, hand-made rug from Dover Rug & Home — rugs from every corner of the world, in every price range with a life-time guarantee. Dover Rug & Home. Dedicated to helping you “Live Life Well.” 390 Stuart Street, Boston, MA 02116
Ph: 617.266.3600
721 Worcester Road, Natick, MA 01760
Ph: 508.651.3500
DoverRug.com
style you, even better Beauty at your Door In-the-know Bostonians clean up well by clicking.
manicube meeting, coffee break… manicure? roger that. manicube’s fleet of beauticians will come right to your office. established by Harvard Business school alumnae, the company works directly with human resources departments to offer on-site manicures and pedicures to the staffs of businesses. prices start at $12–$15 for a basic manicure. employees simply sign up for a time slot and pay online in advance. manicube.com
beautini like uber? then you’ll love Beautini,
Looking for a new hairstylist or other beauty professional? Let the A-listers at Dunwello offer a recommendation.
whose hairstylists and makeup artists make house calls to clients who want to “pretty up” for a wedding, gala, or the like. soft-launching in Boston this fall,
Boston entrepreneurs deliver Beautiful from your computer to your door. by karyn polewaczyk Let’s face it: Not all hairstylists are created equal. Nor are all manicurists, personal trainers, or eyebrow waxers. And there’s nothing worse than finding out after you’ve left the salon with a bob that calls for a hat—stat—that you could have picked a better beautician. This is why Matt Brand created Dunwello, a website that relies on the excellent taste of Boston’s VIP crowd—Laura Baldini of Mother Juice, Jenny Johnson of NECN, and philanthropist Ashley Bernon, among others—who share their favorite beauty stars with their “sisters.” “When you look at Yelp, you’re really looking for a business, not necessarily an individ-
54 bostoncommon-magazine.com
ual,” says Tonya Mezrich, Dunwello’s chief creative consultant. “With Dunwello, we allow service providers—hairstylists, manicurists, waxers, you name it—to market what they do best while helping clients navigate their service decisions.” Dunwello is currently available on the Web, and the company eventually plans to roll out an app. Anyone can write a recommendation or review, but Mezrich says it’s really the A-listers who are spearheading the site with their suggestions—and that Boston denizens sharing beauty tips doesn’t have to feel like a secret society. dunwello.com BC
college alum Brittany lo. the company delivers gorgeous with a personal touch, including perks like complimentary Bellinis, chocolates, and handwritten notes. beautinibyblo.com
beauty entourage founded 10 years ago in farmington, connecticut, by celebrity stylist ashley stone, Beauty entourage recently expanded to Boston. its services include makeup application and hairstyling, and the company plans to offer on-site hair extensions and an app in the near future. prices range from $55 for a blow-out to $85–$95 for formal styling. makeup applications are $85–$95. beautyentourage.com
photography by Seth olenick (Manicube); SoliS iMageS (portrait)
Beauty.biz
Beautini was founded by Babson
Photography by Eric Roth
Custom Home Building
2008 2010 2011 2012 2015
2007
617-876-8286 www.shconstruction.com
Renovations & Additions
Historic Renovations
Landscaping & Site Work
STYLE Time Honored
Blue Crush
Boston women are swooning for watches in shades from slate to cerulean. by roberta naas photography by jeff crawford
It’s not unusual for trending colors to show up on the straps of luxe timepieces. But today’s watchmakers are going a step further, accenting watches and adorning their dials with the season’s most coveted shades. From smoky, sophisticated slate to heavenly azure, this fall is feeling blue. For more watch features and expanded coverage, go to boston common-magazine.com/watches.
From Zenith, this Elite Ultra Thin Lady Moonphase watch ($8,100) features a stainless steel case that is just 8.65mm thick and houses the Elite automatic movement, consisting of 195 components. It has a power reserve of 50 hours and a sub-seconds dial at 9. Shreve, Crump & Low, 39 Newbury St., 617-267-9100; zenith-watches.com
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From Omega, the De Ville Ladymatic watch ($17,200) is crafted in stainless steel and features a blue mother-of-pearl sun-ray dial, diamond stars as markers, and a snow-set diamond bezel. This COSC-certified chronometer is powered by the Omega Co-Axial caliber 8520. Royal Jewelers, 58 Main St., Andover, 978-475-3330; omega watches.com Patek Philippe’s Ref. 4947G Ladies Annual Calendar with Moon Phases ($49,800) is manufactured in 18k white gold and features a sunburst dial and a blue-gray alligator strap. The watch is powered by a mechanical self-winding movement. Dorfman, 24 Newbury St., 617-5362022; patek.com
Indian horse silk pocket square, Hermès ($145). The Heritage on the Garden, 617-482-8707; hermes.com. Silk pocket square, Brunello Cucinelli ($165). Saks Fifth Avenue, The Shops at Prudential Center, 617-262-8500; saks.com. Big wallet ($875), small wallet ($540), and pin ($505), Prada. Saks Fifth Avenue, see above
Styling by terry lewiS
clockwise from left: The Breitling Transocean Chronograph ($8,380) features a 38mm stainless steel case with a diamond bezel. The self-winding Breitling 41 chronograph movement is accurate to one quarter of a second and water-resistant to 300 meters. Sidney Thomas, The Shops at Prudential Center, 617-262-0935; breitling.com
HIDE AND REVEAL
+MODO We don’t just look at kitchens, we live and feel them. The kitchen is now a platform for a journey of constant creation and discovery.
Poggenpohl Boston 135 Newbury Street Boston, MA 02116 Tel 617-236-5253 Fax 617-236-5528 info@boston.poggenpohl.com www.boston.poggenpohl.com
Culture Hottest ticket She has seen her share of adversity lately, but for her new tour, Madonna is again taking the bull by the horns—perhaps literally.
Rebelling AlwAys
Madonna continues her reign as the Queen of PoP with a blockbuster concert at boston’s tD garDen. “Bitch I’m Madonna.” Could there be three words that better nail the essence of Madonna? That proclamation comes six songs into her latest album, Rebel Heart. The one with the cover featuring the singer’s ever-more-porcelain face tightly wrapped in crisscrossing wire—as if Madonna could possibly be constrained. Now in the third decade of her career, she continues to romp with gleeful abandon. “I just wanna have fun tonight/Pull me under the flashing light/Let me blow up this house tonight,” Madonna insists in “Bitch I’m Madonna.” In the music video she released for the song in June, she bounds, climbs, and prowls her way through a parade of partiers high above New York City—the metropolis that nearly swallowed her in the early ’80s, before she climbed out of its maw and hit it big in the club scene and beyond with her self-titled (of course) debut album. In the video, she’s dressed like she did in those days, too: hot-pink jacket, leopard-print dress, and big shiny earrings. The cavalcade of cameos includes Nicki Minaj, Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry—in other words, the fully packaged pop princesses who can trace their lineage to the Queen of Pop. But heavy is the head that wears the crown. Madonna brings her Rebel Heart Tour to the TD Garden on September 26 for what’s likely to be a vintage show. Call
58 bostoncommon-magazine.com
photography by Samir huSSein/redfernS via getty imageS
by jared bowen
Madonna performs “Living for Love,” from her album Rebel Heart, at the 2015 Brit Awards.
An Enthralling Little Night
Esteemed director Peter DuBois marshals a stellar team for the Huntington Theatre Company’s romantic reverie. by jared bowen In the hands of the right performer and the right director, it’s devastating. Midway through the second act of Stephen Sondheim’s dreamy musical A Little Night Music, we fnd the glamorous Desiree Armfeldt alone and vulnerable. An actress with a fading career and a string of lost loves, she’s refecting on a spurned romantic overture and feeling foolish. “Isn’t it rich?/Isn’t it queer?” she sings. “Losing my timing this late in my career?” It’s time, she fnally
madonna may be vulnerable, but she’s also victorious. she continues to fill stadiums, and after the tumble viewed by millions, she got right back up and finished the song.
acknowledges, to “send in the clowns.” “People know ‘Send in the Clowns,’ but they don’t know what it’s about,” says Peter DuBois, artistic director of the Huntington Theatre Company, who helms its season-opening production of the show. “In the context of the musical, they get it big
photography by DaviD M. benett/getty iMages (MaDonna); aaron epstein (Dubois)
time.” DuBois calls the 1973 classic his favorite
her the mother of reinvention. The mother of the modern-day pop tart. Or just a mother of four. (For all of you old enough to remember playing “Holiday” over and over on cassette, take a deep breath: Madonna’s oldest is now in college.) rebel heart could well have been titled confessions with conviction. In one of her best-reviewed albums in ages, Madonna harks back to those early days with an airy, bouncy club beat. But she’s no ingénue now. In the song “Joan of Arc,” she admits she’s as insecure as the rest of us—wounded and vulnerable from years of sniping. And that’s genuinely surprising. After all, she’s the same
steely force who literally laid herself bare for an entire book called sex, who withstood criticism from the pope, and who’s been banned from MTV—more than once. Madonna rolls up to the Garden having endured a year of indignities. Hackers leaked much of rebel heart before it was finished, and those rough tracks were buried under an avalanche of criticism. During a performance at the Brit Awards, she took a nasty tumble, now immortalized on YouTube for the amusement of haters everywhere. And then there’s the rampant ageism: The Material Girl is now a woman in her mid-50s,
which, according to many an online arbiter of decorum, is reason enough for her to retire the short skirts in favor of compression stockings and bedpans. Madonna may be vulnerable, but she’s also victorious. She continues to fill massive stadiums. In a tribute to her ferocious fight for equality, this spring the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus devoted a portion of its concert to her body of work. And after the tumble viewed by millions, she got right back up and finished the song. Because, bitch, she’s Madonna. september 26 at 8 pm at td garden, 100 legends way. for tickets, call 800-745-3000 or visit tdgarden.com. BC
musical. Inspired by the Ingmar Bergman flm Smiles of a Summer Night, it examines the joys and tribulations of romance through the lives of several couples. “It’s one of the fnest combinations of book and music that there is,” he says. “I also just love how it pulses with emotion and sexuality in a way that doesn’t wink but that’s actually deeply felt.” Olivier Award–nominated actress Haydn Gwynne leads the cast as Desiree, while Boston theater doyenne Bobbie Steinbach plays her mother, the saucy, outspoken dowager Madame Armfeldt. And the sets, including the Armfeldt country estate, are courtesy of Tony and Emmy Award winner Derek McLane, one of Broadway’s most in-demand designers. It’s a team that should make A Little Night Music a night to remember. September 11–October 11. Boston University Theatre, 264 Huntington Ave., 617-2667900; huntingtontheatre.org
bostoncommon-magazine.com 59
CuLTure Art Full Forget It! Forget Me! by Roy Lichtenstein, 1962. below: Street Musicians at the Doorway of a House by Jacob Ochtervelt, 1665.
CLASS ACT The Museum of Fine Arts explores the multitiered society of the Dutch Baroque era.
PoP UP
Warhol and lichtenstein headline a snazzy neW exhibit at the Rose ARt MuseuM at brandeis University. by jared bowen While few would ever question the enduring significance of the Pop art in the Rose Art Museum’s new exhibit “LA/ MA,” the museum itself has not escaped such criticism. Despite the striking, finely honed collection of modern and contemporary works at the Brandeis University institution, just a few years ago, during the deepest throes of the economic downturn, the college’s then-president, Jehuda Reinharz, offered a proposal: The museum should be shuttered and much of its collection sold off for the financial betterment of the university. The art world (not to mention the courts) issued a thunderous condemnation, the plan was dropped, and Reinharz resigned a year later. And today the collection once considered dispensable is the very reason the Rose is flourishing. In 2012, after stints at the J. Paul Getty Museum and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Christopher Bedford took the reins of the Rose as its new director (and at 35, he was one of the youngest museum directors in the country). A native of Scotland whose family moved to England and later the United States, Bedford—who has a penchant for long-distance running and natty dressing—quickly recog-
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nized the power and potential of the museum’s permanent collection, which was begun by the Rose’s founding director, Sam Hunter, in 1961. Hunter snatched up works by names that would soon be venerated: Robert Rauschenberg, Roy Lichtenstein, Alex Katz, Ellsworth Kelly. “It’s been evident that Sam Hunter was bold, audacious, and visionary,” says Bedford. “That can be most clearly stated.” In “LA/MA,” a survey of Pop art from the ’60s, Bedford considers the work of the East Coast artists collected by Hunter and his colleagues, such as Lichtenstein, Robert Indiana, and Andy Warhol, versus that of their lesser-known West Coast counterparts, including Joe Goode and Judy Chicago. While their work was comparable, Los Angeles– based artists didn’t receive the same recognition simply because they weren’t in New York. “What we’re doing is to suggest that there was another discourse entirely taking place on the West Coast,” Bedford says. “And because of geography, we didn’t incorporate those artists early on.” But as the Rose itself has demonstrated, it’s never too late for a course correction. September 12–December 13. 415 South St., Waltham, 781-736-3434; brandeis.edu/rose BC
Today, class division is the subject of newspaper editorials and Sundaymorning talk shows. But in the 17th century, the Dutch social divide was captured in enduring images by the greatest painters of the era. “Class Distinctions: Dutch Painting in the Age of Rembrandt and Vermeer,” an exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, gathers a breathtaking array of masterworks from public and private collections across Europe and the United States. Rembrandt’s lush depiction of a lavishly ornamented member of the ruling class is juxtaposed with a portrait of a middle-class shipbuilder. Nobles surveying their vast domains contrast with a humble laborer sharpening his scythe at a grindstone or the wary denizens of an old men’s home. Organized by senior curator Ronni Baer, the show also offers an extremely rare opportunity to view several Vermeer masterpieces in Boston, including A Lady Writing and The Astronomer. MFA exhibits are always a class act, but this one takes it literally. October 11–January 18, 2016. 465 Huntington Ave., 617-267-9300; mfa.org
photography Courtesy of the museum of fine arts (Street MuSicianS); rose art museum, Brandeis university gevirtz-mnuChin purChase fund, © estate of roy LiChtenstein (Forget it! Forget Me!)
by jared bowen
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CULTURE Around Town
from left: Illuminus, one of the events that Boston Common
magazine is proud to support, will turn Lansdowne Street into a light and sound installation; a reception for HUBweek; the event’s lead organizers: MGH President Dr. Peter Slavin, MIT President L. Rafael Reif, Harvard University President Drew Faust, Boston Globe Owner John Henry, and Boston Globe Managing Director Linda Henry.
Harvard, MIT, Mass General, and the Boston GloBe convene To creaTe a full-on arTIsTIc and InTellecTual specTacle. by lisa pierpont
Austin is known for South by Southwest, Miami for Art Basel, and—if Linda Henry, managing director of The Boston Globe, has anything to say about it—Boston will soon be known for HUBweek (among many other things, of course), a weeklong series of unexpected events and experiences throughout the city from October 3 to 10. The Boston Globe, Massachusetts General Hospital, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard University have partnered to showcase the coolest medical, scientific, technological, and artistic breakthroughs in Greater Boston. The hope is that HUBweek will attract
visitors from near and far, who will experience everything from philosophical discussions in Fenway Park to flying machines to 3-D illuminated alleys. We spoke with Henry, a cofounder of HUBweek, about the grand vision. What is HUBweek’s mission? The future is literally being built here. [Boston is] where art, science, and technology collide. With HUBweek, we are coming together to tell the story of who we really are, to celebrate the meaningful innovation and culture of problem solving that this unique confluence of art,
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science, and technology creates here in Greater Boston. What are the core events? On Sunday, October 4, MGH is presenting a massive relaxation exercise with mind/ body medicine—a large destressing of the city. There will be events focused on healthcare delivery, cancer treatment, and brain mapping. Harvard is welcoming civic start-up entrepreneurs to showcase their ideas for new apps, Web platforms, and policies to improve the quality of democratic governance at #Tech4Democracy (those with the best ideas will receive $5,000). MIT has a comprehensive initiative called Solve that will gather
Don’t Miss
These events are among the “spokes” of HUBweek. CaUgHt tHinking: What’s the Right thing to Do?
What if we could live forever, make perfect kids, or program computers to think better than we do? Michael Sandel, a Harvard professor and host of the BBC series The Public Philosopher, leads an all-star panel discussion. Sunday, October 4, 3 pm iLLUMinUS
Join Boston Common magazine at this nighttime festival! The exterior of Fenway Park and the entirety of Lansdowne Street will be transformed into a vibrant urban canvas and an experiential environment of light and sound. Sunday, October 4, 6:30 pm kEnDaLL SQUaRE innOVatiOn CELEBRatiOn
The Kendall Square district is the home of groundbreaking research, inventions, and cross-disciplinary collaborations. Get a behindthe-scenes look at the action as HUBweek takes over Kendall Square with a diverse range of programming across innovative community spaces and institutions. Thursday, October 8, 4 pm LEt’S taLk aBOUt fOOD
Eat your heart out with Boston’s celebrity chefs, nutritionists, farmers, and fellow foodies. Saturday, October 3, 11 am
photography courtesy of huBweek
HUBweek: The Heart and Soul of Boston
extraordinary people to work together to solve some of the world’s greatest challenges. We’re also doing a fabulous storytelling event, music events, and a documentary film festival. Why is there a special focus on documentaries? We have an enormous documentary community here. Harvard was connected to almost every Oscar nomination for documentary this past year. We have WGBH-TV, which is the largest producer of public television nationally. The components are all here, making this region a cornerstone, nationally, for documentary film. To help promote this, we started free documentary film screenings every month. We also have a full page of documentary film coverage every Sunday in The Boston Globe. It will culminate during HUBweek’s film festival. How can people attend HUBweek? There are some ticketed events, and many are free and open to the public. We want everyone to celebrate the great work being done in Boston. We are a smart and creative city. hubweek.org BC
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CULTURE Spotlight
SOUTHERN CHARM
Pop & Circumstance two groundbreaking exhibits provide new perspectives on artists Corita ent and James mCneill Whistler. by morgan chamberlain
“Activist nun” may not be a common description in the art world, but Pop artist Corita Kent wore it well. In “Corita Kent and the Language of Pop,” the Harvard Art Museums (32 Quincy St., Cambridge, 617-495-9400; harvardartmuseums.org) present more than 150 prints by Kent (such as for eleanor, top) and her contemporaries, including Andy Warhol and Ed Ruscha. A Roman Catholic nun for 32 years (she died in 1986), Kent was often seen as an anomaly in the Pop Art movement, but the exhibition explores how integral her voice was to the art scene of the 1960s as she addressed social and religious issues in her work. For New Englanders, however, undoubtedly her most famous painting is Rainbow Swash, a fixture alongside Interstate 93 since 1971, adorning a gasoline storage tank near Boston Harbor. Opens September 3. In “Whistler and the World: The Lunder Collection of James McNeill Whistler,” see the 19th century through the eyes of this Lowell native, whose muted tones in paintings like Chelsea in Ice (above) set him apart from his peers. The exhibit, at the Colby College Museum of Art (5600 Mayflower Hill Dr., Waterville, ME, 207-859-5600; colby.edu), examines Whistler’s travels across Europe and his quest to elevate what he saw into works of exquisite beauty. Opens September 24. BC
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Travel writer Paul Theroux, a Medford native and Cape Cod resident, is best known for recounting his adventures in far-flung places like Patagonia and Siberia, but in his 10th travel book, Deep South: Four Seasons on Back Roads (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), he explores a territory closer to home. In a four-year trek, Theroux talks to the people and immerses himself in the culture (gun shows and rural churches, for starters) below the Mason-Dixon Line. He discovers a paradoxical region known for its incredible music and cuisine but also for the nation’s worst schools, housing, and unemployment. “What I found astonished [and] enlightened me,” says Theroux, “both the miseries and the splendors.” Brookline Booksmith, 279 Harvard St., Brookline, 617-5666660; paultheroux.com
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photography courtesy of president and fellows of harvard college (for eleanor); colby MuseuM (Chelsea In ICe)
open book
If THE SHOE fITS Cinderella is determined to attend the prince’s ball at the Boston Opera House this fall, and no whining stepsister, devious stepmother, or lack of appropriate attire is going to get in her way. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Tony Award– winning musical adaptation of the classic fairy tale offers charm, romance, and, surprisingly, lots of laughs. “Our heroine’s dreams come true not just because of a makeover,” says Massachusetts native Andy Huntington Jones, who plays the prince (below, with Paige Faure), “but because of her kindness. It’s an empowering message for everyone: Kindness can truly change the world.” September 29–October 11. 539 Washington St., 800-982-2787; broadwayinboston.com
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PeoPle View from the Top Governor Charlie Baker, seen in his State House office, learned from his parents how to disagree without being disagreeable— a tone he hopes to bring to Massachusetts government.
Most Congenial
Governor Charlie Ba er takes over the state house, with lessons learned from a loss and a commitment to rule with kindness.
photography by Conor Doherty
by brian wright o’connor
Sitting cross-legged on the grass, Governor Charlie Baker eyes a semicircle of fourth graders who are camping out overnight behind the protective granite walls of Fort Independence on Castle Island. A pigtailed blonde from the Condon Elementary School in South Boston tells the blue jeans–clad governor that she lives in Dorchester. “Which parish?” he asks, not missing a beat, as American flags snap in the breeze blowing off Boston Harbor. The answer—“St. Brendan’s!”—is less revealing than the question, which demonstrates the Republican governor’s schooling in Boston politics. In the shrinking precincts of white Dorchester, Roman Catholic parishes identify home turf as readily as street names or hills. In these highly continued on page 68
bostoncommon-magazine.com 67
PEOPLE View from the Top
Democratic neighborhoods, Baker did better than expected in last year’s election, helping him gain a slim margin of victory in a state where Republicans constitute less than 15 percent of voters and independents outstrip both parties. Baker’s attention to parochial detail—along with not just a willingness but an eagerness to tell cornball ghost stories and unwind his lanky 6-foot-6 frame from the grass with a backward roll so he can roast s’mores with his pint-size hosts (his wife, Lauren, at his side)—says a lot about the Bay State’s chief executive, the campaign he waged, and the kind of governor he wants to be: engaged, enthusiastic, empathetic. “I’m a big believer in public service,” says the state’s 72nd governor during an interview in his State House office. “I’ve spent probably half my professional career one way or another in public service, and I hope people come away from any engagement they have with me feeling pretty good about public servants and what it’s all about.” Baker’s infectious grip-and-grin style, punctuated by lots of highfives and exclamations of “Awesome!,” leaves little doubt that he takes to the job with all the fervor of a suburban dad volunteer. His eager plunge into the Twitterverse, full of selfies and attaboy exchanges, reflects the same can-do character. As a former cabinet secretary under Governor William Weld and former CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Baker knows that state government is teeming with challenges—whether improving public transit or balancing Massachusetts’s $38 billion budget without imposing new taxes. Like many Bay State Republicans before him, Baker, 58, won the office on a platform of managerial expertise and social liberalism as a pro-choice budget hawk who backs same-sex marriage. But the broader public got to know him as the calm eye in the center of the snowicanes that battered the state during his first months in office. While the MBTA ran off the rails and drivers either slid off the road or battened down the hatches at home, Baker delivered the storm-center equivalent of FDR’s fireside chats. His reassuring tone and presence, coupled with aggressive efforts to address the public transportation meltdown, helped boost his favorability level to an astounding 74 percent. “That was certainly a test, and I think we—and I would say ‘we’ because there were a lot of people who made a lot of decisions and did a lot of work—as an administration benefited from that,” says Baker, sitting beneath an oil portrait of former governor John Volpe. He ticks off a list of equipment brought into the state to help cities and towns with snow removal, adding that “I will be measured on whether or not we improve the reliability and dependability of the MBTA.” In political terms, Baker’s path to the corner office passed through his 2010 defeat to the popular incumbent, Governor Deval Patrick. After Patrick declined to run for a third term, Baker ran again, this
68 bostoncommon-magazine.com
photography by Conor Doherty (offiCe); DaviD L. ryan/The BosTon GloBe via getty images (famiLy)
top: Governor Baker in his office. bottom: Baker with daughter Caroline, wife Lauren, son Charlie, and former governor William Weld watching election results at the Seaport Boston Hotel.
“i hope people come away from any engagement with me feeling pretty good about public servants.”
photography by pat greenhouse/The BosTon GloBe via getty images (swearing in. Deval patrick); glenn leblanc/getty images (state house)
—governor charlie baker
time defeating Attorney General Martha Coakley by 1.9 percent. Unleashing his inner Rotarian, Baker ran as a more genial, personable candidate the second time around—from awkwardly dancing to “My Girl” at a Roxbury barbecue to dialing back the fiscal hectoring that had grated on many voters’ ears four years earlier. But in fact the stage had been set much earlier. The son of a businessman who served under Volpe during his stint as secretary of transportation in the Nixon and Ford administrations, Baker grew up listening to his conservative Republican father and liberal Democratic mother debate around the dinner table in a fashion that shaped his consensus-building approach to governance. “My parents were very good at disagreeing without being disagreeable,” he says. “They’ve been happily married for almost 60 years. And they don’t really agree on much of anything when it comes to politics. With them, it was always a conversation, and I would hope that most of the folks around here would say it’s a conversation—that we can disagree without being disagreeable.” Raised in Needham, where he attended public schools and starred in schoolboy sports, Baker
went to Harvard (and played on its basketball team) and then Northwestern, where he earned an MBA and met his future wife. Back in Massachusetts, Baker eventually settled in Swampscott, the old North Shore fishing village turned high-end suburb, where he and Lauren raised their three kids while he worked in the administrations of Weld and Governor Paul Cellucci before leaving to guide Harvard Pilgrim through a stressful period of receivership and recovery. “I like to sweat the details,” he says. Along the way, Baker ran for and won a seat on the five-member Swampscott Board of Selectmen when the town was facing fiscal challenges. His decision to seek the office was opposed by Virginia Buckingham, a close friend who served as Weld’s and Cellucci’s chief of staff. “I read him the riot act,” she says. “He was taking a risk in running for a town office, because if he lost, he would tarnish the brand. [But] he stopped me cold. He said to me, ‘My town’s in trouble and I want to help.’ It was really a lesson for me: There are things more important than political opportunities down the road. That is who Charlie is.” bc
INSIGHT favorite local historical site:
“You’re sitting in it. The State House. Massachusetts has zillions of awesome historical sites, and one of the great things about running for offce is getting to visit them.” most-admired democrat: “One
thing I loved about [late Boston mayor] Tom Menino is that he earned the title ‘urban
mechanic.’ I think sweating the details is a good thing. He was a customer of mine at Harvard Pilgrim, and he would call me about the smallest things and make sure we would fx them.” most-admired republican:
“Besides Abraham Lincoln, probably Bill Weld. He taught me about public service and public life.”
clockwise from top:
Baker being sworn in in January; Baker and the outgoing governor, Deval Patrick, watch as their wives, Lauren Baker and Diane Patrick, embrace; the State House.
bostoncommon-magazine.com 69
PEOPLE Spirit of Generosity
Dawn Oates at home with her daughter Harper, who inspired her to establish The Play Brigade.
Work Hard, Play Harder Dawn Oates found her life’s work in helping disabled children have fun. by scott kearnan PhotograPhy by Patryce bak
“Every person has a need for fun,” says Dawn Oates, founder of the yearold nonprofit group The Play Brigade, sitting in her cozy office building tucked behind her Brookline home. Oates is a dynamo who rifles through paperwork with the speed of a Vegas card dealer, so it’s no surprise that, once upon a time, she was a PR powerhouse for marquee names like Goodwin Procter. (She eventually launched her own agency, and was even a contestant on NBC’s The Apprentice.) But Oates felt that her work lacked purpose. Then her daughter Harper was born, less than two years after Oates gave birth to healthy twins. Harper has incomplete quadriplegia: Her legs are paralyzed, as are portions of her arms and hands. Oates and her husband, Justin, found their world shattered. She quickly realized that her greatest task lay ahead: ensuring that her daughter, and other children and adults with disabilities, had a life worth living. Harper can’t walk, she can’t feed herself—but she can smile, laugh, and know joy. Oates wondered,
70 bostoncommon-magazine.com
Would she ever experience playgrounds or birthday parties, family hikes or school field trips? Harper works hard every day, and her mother’s purpose became to help her play. Thus was born The Play Brigade, which builds inclusive common spaces and resource networks that allow people of all physical abilities to play together. “To have our child be born with limitations was heartbreaking, but I’m not angry,” Oates says. “If a gift came from this, it’s that every day I dig into work that I feel passionate about and that helps other people.” She started with playgrounds. Harper’s local Brookline playground already had a special “bucket swing” for children with disabilities, but Oates wanted more. The Play Brigade is fighting to get all parks to provide swings, slides, and other equipment designed to accommodate kids of all abilities. She joined the Design Review Committee of the town’s Parks and Open Space Division, offering advice on how inclusive design can be integrated into public spaces
Charity register
below: Oates running the Boston Marathon with a team from The Play Brigade. right: Oates and Harper at their local playground.
Opportunities to give.
Dana-Farber CanCer InstItute
What: An Evening with Champions, now in its 45th year of presenting performances by world-class fgure skaters, benefts the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Run entirely by Harvard University students, the event has raised more than $2.7 million and hopes to collect $60,000 this year to support adult and pediatric cancer care and research. In the past, the show has featured fve-time world champion and nine-time US champion Michelle Kwan and Olympic gold medalist Yuna Kim. aneveningwithchampions.org When: September 18 and 19, 7 pm Where: Bright-Landry Hockey Arena, 79 N. Harvard St.
boston ChIlDren’s hospItal
“inclusion isn’t just curb cuts. it has to do with engaging a person in a space in a way that’s fulfilling.”
photography courtesy of the boston marathon (marathon)
—dawn oates
at the earliest stages of planning. Now The Play Brigade is campaigning to raise $1 million for inclusive playground design in Greater Boston. It recently donated $45,000 to Boston’s Parks & Recreation Department, allowing the city to purchase additional equipment for an accessible picnic grove in Franklin Park—with specially designed swings, game tables, and other playground amenities that are suitable for kids of all physical abilities. The word “inclusion” is important to Oates, who believes that compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act is not enough. “Inclusion isn’t just curb cuts and wheelchair-accessible bathroom stalls,” she says. “It has to do with engaging a person in a space in a way that’s fulfilling. You might have access to the party, but just because you’re in the room doesn’t mean you can participate.” Oates’s endeavor is largely self-funded, supported by a network of volunteers (she has one salaried employee) who raise funds through road races and other special events. (On November 4, she’ll boogie on behalf of The Play Brigade at Dancing with the Brookline Stars, an annual fundraiser for various nonprofits, where she hints that her choice of dance partner will “spotlight inclusion.”) Oates’s passion and initiative caught the attention of the insurance giant John Hancock, which has sponsored a series of planning summits where The Play Brigade, in partnership with orga-
nizations such as the National Inclusion Project, brings together city reps, community stakeholders, and disability activists, like Boston Marathon legend Dick Hoyt and former Boston University hockey player Travis Roy. Among the summits’ accomplishments is the Boston Compact for Community Inclusion, an agreement by organizations in a variety of disciplines to perform a self-assessment of their inclusion practices. Oates also drew the notice of Mark Perrone, CEO of the Grand Prix of Boston, who hammered out the high-profile multiyear deal to bring IndyCar, the prestigious auto-racing league behind the Indianapolis 500, to the Hub starting in 2016. Now IndyCar Boston is in discussions with The Play Brigade to create a competitive, professionally managed five-kilometer running race in which athletes of all abilities would compete side by side. Its track? The local IndyCar racetrack, of course. It’s an opportunity that thrills Oates, as it would demonstrate for people all over the world that “Boston is a leader” in inclusion, she says, and give the issue a “national platform.” High-performance auto racing is an apt metaphor for the speed with which Oates’s nonprofit has roared into action. But “I don’t consider what I do work,” she says. “Every single day, I have an exciting opportunity to make positive change in the world—and for my family.” playbrigade.com BC
What: Join Milagros para Niños and host John Quiñones for a night of dinner and dancing to beneft Boston Children’s Hospital. The gala, chaired this year by Carolina Alarco and Monica Neuman, celebrates the Latino community, its culture, and its compassionate leaders in raising money for a number of BCH programs that help Latino children and their families, among others. Over the past fve years, the gala has raised more than $2.7 million. giving.childrenshospital.org When: September 18, 6 pm Where: Westin Waterfront Hotel, 425 Summer St.
esplanaDe assoCIatIon
What: Sip seasonal cocktails, enjoy a live auction and a farm-to-table dinner, and dance under the stars on the Charles River Esplanade at the blacktie Moondance Gala. Last year’s event raised more than $950,000 to fund the restoration of the Hatch Shell. This year’s committee, cochaired by Cynthia Croatti, Allison Hirsch, and Sandra Steele, hopes to surpass that fgure to help protect the park’s natural environment and to continue community programs such as Healthy Fit and Fun. esplanadeassociation.org When: September 26, 6:30 pm Where: Charles River Esplanade, Fiedler Field
roDman rIDe For KIDs
What: Celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Rodman Ride for Kids by cheering on participants in 25-, 50-, and 100-mile bike rides to support at-risk children in the United States. Started by Don Rodman, the event raises funds for nearly 50 affliated youth-focused social-service charities in Greater Boston, such as the Boston Police Athletic League, Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester, and The Red Sox Foundation. rodmanforkids.org When: September 26, various starting times Where: 10 Lincoln Road, Foxboro
bostoncommon-magazine.com 71
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INVITED
Best Buddies
the patriots’ tom brady leads a scoring drive for best buddies international. It was a sIght to behold when more than 2,500 people participated in the 16th annual Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port, a running, walking, and cycling fundraiser from Boston to Hyannis Port on May 29 and 30. The event raised more than $5 million for Best Buddies International. Tom Brady, New England Patriots
photography courtesy of best buddies international
continued on page 74
Tom Brady
bostoncommon-magazine.com  73
INVITED Katie Meade and Tom Brady
Nia Sanchez, Chandler Jones, and K. Lee Graham
Julian Edelman Polikensi Manxhari, Governor Charlie Barker, and Sophie Baird MIchael Chiklis and Lauren Potter
quarterback and Best Buddies Global Ambassador, served as honorary cochair and led the topfundraising Team Tom Brady to the finish line. The weekend’s festivities kicked off on May 29 with the Tom Brady Football Challenge and the Guy Fieri Celebrity Chef Tailgate at Harvard Stadium, before segueing into Saturday’s events with Dane Cook, Michael Chiklis, and Lauren Potter.
Participants hit the road to raise money for Best Buddies International.
Liz Kelleher Sells and Kelley Doyle
Jane Hudis, Elizabeth Hurley, and Amy Robach
John and Madeleine Capino Sharon Shane
HOT PINK PARTY The venue was transformed into a gorgeous pink setting.
Myra Biblowit and Megan Hilty
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BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM
THE BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION
held its 10th annual Boston Hot Pink Party at the Seaport World Trade Center, raising more than $1.2 million. It was a starstudded affair honoring Elizabeth Hurley for her commitment to breast cancer awareness, Amy Robach and Andrew Shue for their national humanitarian efforts, and local BCRF-funded breast cancer researchers. Tommy Hilfiger, the event’s honorary cochair, opened the festivities, and Megan Hilty belted out tunes to end the dinner on a high note.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL BLANCHARD
Peter and Carolyn Lynch with Dee Ocleppo Hilfiger and Tommy Hilfiger
Eric and Patty Allen
Marie Muniz, Noelle Barbosa, and Kinda Touna
Bobby Ernst
SUMMER IN THE CITY BOSTON COMMON KICKED OFF the season with its annual Summer in the City party at the restaurant Dante. Château d’Esclans poured the popular Whispering Angel, as well as the newest addition to its rosé portfolio, Rock Angel. Guests also enjoyed Grey Goose Le Melon cocktails and a game of cornhole. The biggest attractions were the oversize game of Jenga, part of the summer game series presented by FBN Construction, and the fun snapshots in the RE/MAX Collection photo booth. Attendees were treated to hors d’oeuvres from Dante as they enjoyed the stunning sunset views over the Charles River.
Shuli Aronson and Justin Minda
Dante de Magistris
Patricia Raposo and Michael Chin
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL BLANCHARD
Kier McDonough, Anja Kola, Connie Brown, and Caesar Belbel
Jess Alario, Kelly Early, and Elle Beaulieu
Laura Godine
Sarah Daigle building the oversize Jenga tower.
Kristen Caldon and Lisa Richov
BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM
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INVITED
Tim Barton, Holly Finigan, and Courtney Owens
SUNSET ON ÕSCONSET THE FOURTH OF JULY weekend got off to a spirited start at
Boston Common’s 10th annual Nantucket Summer Lawn Party at The Summer House Beachside Bistro. Guests sipped Elit Stolichnaya signature drinks—Garden Gimlet and Elit Watermelon—and played a game of cornhole, courtesy of FBN Construction. The Summer House treated the crowd to delicious hors d’oeuvres, and guests enjoyed local wines and beers provided by Cisco Brewers. Notable attendees included designer Kiel James Patrick and girlfriend Sarah Vickers (along with their entourage of friends), Douglas Elliman Real Estate’s Michael Lorber, and Harry Dubin from The Real Housewives of New York City.
Shauna and Steve Brook
Elizabeth Trainor and Jessica Spratt
Danielle Nevins and Dominick Doyle
PHOTOGRAPHY BY TERRY POMMETT
Bob Ernst and Sylvia Dandrata
Josh Weis and Michael Tarshi
Brian Walshe
Arthur Winn and Steph Cummings Michael Carucci and Danielle D’Ambrosio
Wil Lockman, Kendra Boccelli, and Doug Gray
ON A LARK PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL BLANCHARD
GUESTS ENJOYED A RAVISHING SUNSET and a gentle
breeze when Boston Common partnered with Barton & Gray Mariners Club for an intimate gathering at the Battery Wharf Hotel. B&G’s vice president of marketing, Douglas Gray, and his team provided Boston Harbor yacht cruises on the Lark throughout the evening. The culinary team at the Battery Wharf Hotel treated the crowd to mouthwatering hors d’oeuvres, including lobster rolls, lamb skewers with tomato jam, Mexican shrimp ceviche, and assorted mini gelato cones. Simon Pearce provided the glassware and centerpieces for the celebration, and the guests were served specialty cocktails by Glenfiddich and Reyka Vodka.
Offce of the State Treasurer and Receiver General Unclaimed Property Division
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my name on the list was a “ Seeing huge surprise. It was so exciting to fnd out that I had money waiting for me from a bill I’d overpaid eight years ago! I called the ofce, and the staf helped me fle a claim in under ten minutes. Now, I’m reunited with my cash and plan to treat my husband to a fun night out!
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Call us at 1-888-344-MASS(6277) or 617-367-0400 Visit: fndmassmoney.com
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PREP YOUR INFO. WE’LL NEED… Your name, as it appears on the list Current address, plus any prior addresses Social Security Number
Discovered some of it belongs to you? Here are your next steps. STEP
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STILL HAVE QUESTIONS? Let’s clear things up What is Unclaimed Property? Unclaimed Property is any fnancial asset (not including land or real estate) that has gone without customer-generated activity for an extended period of time.
Is this going to cost me money? No, this is a public service provided for FREE by the Ofce of the State Treasurer. There is no time limit to fle a claim, and all funds earn interest until claimed.
Examples include: » Savings and checking accounts » Unpaid wages or commissions » Uncashed insurance proceeds » Stocks, underlying shares or uncashed dividends » Customer deposits or overpayments » Certifcates of deposit » Credit balances and refunds » Money orders » Life insurance policies » Uncashed beneft checks » Accounts payable checks
Why does the state have my money in the frst place? Property becomes unclaimed when the asset holder is unable to contact the asset owner for three years (or ffteen years for traveler’s checks). The law requires business entities and others to review and turn over all unclaimed assets in their possession to the State on an annual basis. So... What’s the catch? Believe it or not, there isn’t one! Returning unclaimed property is a FREE service that every state provides. Helping you recover lost assets is our only goal. For us, money in your pocket is a job well done.
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taste so Many Dinners (so Little time)
Greece Is the Word There’s yeT anoTher new neighbor in The seaporT, and This Time iT’s all abouT meze. by annie copps photography by Morgan ione yeager The Seaport restaurant scene continues to burst at the seams, and the latest addition to its melting pot of global cuisines is Committee, a sleek, modern space with a sharp eye on the culinary traditions of Greece and North Africa. And it serves its dishes meze-style. The southern Mediterranean tradition of meze can be hard to describe. Some call it tapas, but meze (pronounced MEZ-uh or MEZ-ay, depending on where in the Mediterranean you’re from) isn’t just about small plates. Committee owner George Aboujaoude and general manager Demetri Tsolakis, of Lebanese and Greek descent, respectively, “wanted traditional food, and this is the best way to serve it,” says chef Geoff Lukas. “The way you eat over there is very social and communal. You construct a meal in a certain order. It’s more of a narrative of hot and cold, different flavors, different textures.” continued on page 82
Sympetherio, a bean dish from the Greek island of Crete, and taramosalata, a creamy dip made from fish roe and potatoes.
bostoncommon-magazine.com 81
taste so Many Dinners (so Little time) from left:
Owner George Aboujaoude, chef Geoff Lukas, and general manager Demetri Tsolakis. right: Grilled haloumi cheese served with oven-puckered grapes.
BAR LIFE Take a seat at the bar and experience the social Committee. A solo seat at Committee’s big bar doesn’t have to be lonely. Located in the center of the dining room, this is a very social place. The cocktails break away from the Mediterranean theme a bit (owner George Aboujaoude and general manager Demetri Tsolakis both have history with the local nightlife scene) with well-crafted old fashioneds, made all the better with blood orange syrup and hints of grapefruit. A take on the Moscow mule is created with chili-infused vodka and a touch of
“the way you eat over there is very social. it’s more of a narrative of hot and cold, different flavors and textures.” —geoff lukas On Lukas’s menu, which he crafted with consulting chef Diane Kochilas (a highly regarded author and expert on Greek foodways and a resident of Athens), there are a dozen or so meze, cold or hot. No entrées. “Think of this as an adventure,” says Lukas. “Diane knows Greece, and that’s the anchor of the menu. She has such a deep and broad understanding of Greek cuisine. I deliberately focused on and studied the foods I’m into and the countries I’ve traveled to, like Tunisia, Iran, and Israel—countries that have a connection geographically or historically with Greece.” In addition to his extensive travels, Lukas also spent time in the local kitchens of Sofra Bakery and Oleana with chefs Ana Sortun and Maura Kirkpatrick—and clearly their knowledge of North African and Mediterranean cuisines and their use of spices and other flavors rubbed off. The vegetable-focused menu may be traditional in technique and ingredients, but it’s also contemporary, with bright, fresh executions of dishes that have joined the North American culinary repertoire. Cold meze (or arhi), a good place to begin, include familiar plates like tzatziki, baba ghanoush, hummus, and stuffed grape leaves. At Committee they are, in order, thick and luxurious, made with imported Greek yogurt and braised seasonal greens; gracefully smoky (from the charred eggplant) and light as a feather (courtesy of whipped tahini);
82 bostoncommon-magazine.com
full of texture from the mashed (not puréed) chickpeas; and a rich blend of vaguely sweet and salty rice and pine nuts. There are also sympetherio, a bean dish from the Greek island of Crete, and taramosalata, a creamy dip made from fish roe and bread (Lukas substitutes potatoes). Olive oil reigns in his kitchen: It’s in just about everything, and Lukas is devoted to Chafic Maalouf’s Lebanese brand, Olive Harvest (available at Formaggio Kitchen and Sevan Bakery). Examples of warm meze (or pioteros) are wild greens nimbly wrapped in ethereal phyllo dough (paper-thin sheets of pastry, made in-house) that fairly float off the plate; lamejun, an Armenian flatbread topped with ground lamb, charred tomato, and nigella seeds; and grilled haloumi cheese served with oven-puckered grapes and just a bit of ouzo for another balanced hit of sweet and salty. But perhaps earning the greatest affection are the zucchini chips. Likely a riff on chips and dip, the thin rounds of light, crispy zucchini paired with onionlaced labneh (thickened yogurt) are impossible to resist. “This is healthy food,” says Lukas. “It always has been.” The Mediterranean diet has long been a focus of study for nutritionists and public-health experts, in large part due to its reliance on olive oil, vegetables, legumes, and grains, but also for its social aspects: This is food that’s meant to be shared. 50 northern ave., 617-737-5051; committeeboston.com BC
cardamom. (And the bartenders’ showmanship is as fawless as their mixology.) The thoughtful wine list, meanwhile, pays homage to the homeland with selections from Greece and Lebanon, as well as Italy and France.
The Akos Crosz Chocolate cocktail.
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TASTE Dine Around
shows diners a live feed of the hives. 510 Atlantic Ave., 617-747-1000; intercontinentalboston.com TAJ BOSTON
Oh, Honey!
BOSTON RESTAURANTS ADD SOME BUZZ TO THEIR MENUS AND THE SUSTAINABILITY MOVEMENT WITH THEIR OWN BEEHIVES. BY JESSICA BOWNE
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! Nah. It’s just Noah Wilson-Rich, PhD, founder and chief scientific officer of t he South End–based Best Bees Company, buzzing around the city’s luxury hotels—the Taj, the InterContinental, and Fairmont Copley Plaza, to name a few. Wilson-Rich and his staff build beehives by hand (and custom-paint them, too), then install them for clients. “Beehives are more productive and healthier at these urban hotels than outside the city,” he says. (No one is sure why, but he lists fewer pesticides, city heat, and the quality of
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urban flowers as possible explanations.) “This isn’t just a fad. The bees are actually doing better with these hotels. This is a sustainability mission for these brands.” This fall, Wilson-Rich and his hoteliers are harvesting a dark honey (it’s lighter in the spring) produced from the wildflowers, false chamomile, and Japanese bamboo that the bees have snacked on. Here are a few Boston hotels that are drizzling their dishes and cocktails with homegrown honey. INTERCONTINENTAL
The InterContinental’s
BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM
dedication to honey starts with the name of its restaurant Miel Brasserie Provençal (“miel” is the French word for honey) and continues with its menu and its rooftop hives. The honey is harvested by Wilson-Rich and Executive Chef Didier Montarou, who infuses honey into the acacia honey sautéed shrimp salad, the charcuterie board, and the house-made honey-roasted granola parfait. “Honey is a natural product that is easy to cook well and easy to pair food and wine with,” says Montarou. Miel even has a closed-circuit television that
A grande dame of Newbury Street, the Taj started producing honey with just two hives and now has six in its rooftop garden, managed by Best Bees. In 2014 they produced 36 jars of honey, which were poured into cocktails and dishes at The Café, like the Bees Knees martini and the honey ricotta cheesecake. “Our chefs as well as our bartenders really enjoy coming up with new recipes utilizing the honey from our rooftop hives in desserts and specialty cocktails,” says Thomas Santaniello, the hotel’s director of food and beverage. “Having our own supply of fresh, natural honey provides a unique experience for our team as well as for our guests.” 15 Arlington St., 617-536-5700; tajhotels.com FAIRMONT COPLEY PLAZA
When you’re sitting snug in a leather booth at Fairmont Copley Plaza’s Oak Long Bar + Kitchen, it probably
doesn’t occur to you that there are three beehives nearby. The honey is used in the specialty butter (served with hearth-baked bread) and a honey-soaked cocktail. “Oak Long Bar + Kitchen is committed to be as sustainable as possible,” says Executive Chef Paul Scheffler. “We shop local, use local vendors, and grow our own herbs on our roof, so keeping bees made a lot of sense to our operation. Plus, with the continued decline in bee population, our team in the restaurant and hotel wanted to try to help make a difference.” 138 St. James Ave., 617-267-5300; fairmont.com SEAPORT HOTEL & WORLD TRADE CENTER
Call them ocean-loving bees. The harborside Seaport Hotel has six hives, managed by Best Bees, containing more than 1 million bees. The honey is harvested a few times each year and used in dishes at the hotel’s Tamo Bistro and Bar, like the spicy bourbon-glazed chicken wings and the steak tips with honey vinaigrette. 1 Seaport Lane, 617-385-4000; seaportboston.com BC
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF INTERCONTINENTAL BOSTON (SHRIMP); BY MONGIONE (HONEY)
Fresh honey is a boon to local diners—not to mention local bees. RIGHT: The acacia honey sautéed shrimp salad at the InterContinental.
New Showroom Opening soon in Boston’s Seaport District You’ve never taken a test drive like this.
0o to 450o faster than ever! Would you ever consider investing in an automobile without a test drive? purchase high-performance appliances without frst testing them? T of a Wolf gas broiler. Experience the Wolf Convection Steam Oven cooking a dozen eggs in the carton, rejuvenating leftovers and taking a meal from freezer to table in 30 minutes. Witness the power of Wolf induction cooking. You can see and use more models of e in New England. Y Sub-Zero and Wolf her else after this test drive. Incomparable.
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TASTE Cheers!
BOURBON HARD
CIDER FIZZ
COURTESY OF OAK LONG BAR
+ KITCHEN AT THE
FAIRMONT COPLEY PLAZA.
1 ½ ounces bourbon 1 ounce pure maple syrup 2 dashes Angostura bitters Your favorite hard cider Place several ice cubes in a beer glass. Add bourbon, maple syrup, and bitters. Stir. Fill the glass with hard cider. Garnish with a cinnamon stick or lemon wheel.
Spike the Juice THIS FALL, APPLE FARMERS ARE POLISHING UP THEIR BOUNTY FOR POWERFUL HARD CIDER. BY VICTORIA ABBOTT RICCARDI
over the past several years has been edging more toward hard cider.” Downeast packages its cloudy Original Blend, filtered Unoriginal Blend, and Cranberry Blend in cans, like beer, and also offers seasonal flavors, such as fall’s Pumpkin Blend. Salem’s Far From the Tree takes a similar craft-beer approach to its hard cider, using local pressed apple juice and maple syrup to create its Roots (plain, dry), Rind (with orange rind and coriander), and seasonal blends, like Sprig (with hops and mint), all sold in beer bottles. Lookout Farm Hard Cider in South Natick also uses beer bottles for its Farmhouse Blend. Yet hard cider’s all-natural, gluten-free, low-alcohol (less than 7 percent) character has hooked the health set, along with wine and cocktail drinkers—a market that Somerville’s Bantam Modern American Cider serves with its elegantly labeled varieties, like the honey-kissed Wunderkind and the piquant Rojo (with cherry juice and pepper). “Hard cider is technically a wine, and we have to have a wine license to make it,” says Dana Masterpolo, a co-owner of Bantam. Yet the company recently put its Persian spiced cider, The Americain, in cans. “Hard cider used to sell well in the fall, but now we’re selling it constantly year-round,” says Michael Crookes, assistant manager at Marty’s Fine Wines in Newton, carrying more than 50 globally sourced hard ciders, including those from New Hampshire’s Farnum Hill Ciders, which are sold in bottles with Champagne-style corks. “People are seeing more options and better-quality hard cider and realizing it’s versatile enough to sip alone or pair with almost anything, from pork to mac ’n’ cheese.” BC
CIDER HOUSE RULES New England’s top spots for tours, pours, and seasonal specials. THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY
Later this fall, The Boston Beer Company, which makes Angry Orchard hard cider, will open a cidery for research and development in Walden, New York. Tastings will be offered to the public. Check the website for updates on the Walden cidery and upcoming events. angryorchard.com BANTAM MODERN AMERICAN CIDER
Growler (jug bottle) fills and tastings of unique hard ciders, Thursday–Saturday. Tours on Saturdays only; call for hours. 40 Merriam St., Somerville, 617-299-8600; bantamcider.com DOWNEAST CIDER HOUSE
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BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM
Growler fills, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Tours and pours, Saturdays and Sundays; call for hours. 200 Terminal St., Charlestown, 857-301-8881; downeastcider.com FAR FROM THE TREE
Growler and bottle fills and tastes of more than five hard ciders not available in bottles, Wednesday–Sunday; call for hours. 108 Jackson St., Salem, 617-877-0865; farfromthetreecider.com FARNUM HILL CIDERS
Tastings every day; call for hours. 98 Poverty Lane, Lebanon, NH, 603-448-1511; povertylaneorchards.com
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DOMINIC PERRI
Apple juice is back. In a big, ripe way. And we don’t mean that sweet stuff with fake fruit flavors. We’re talking fresh-pressed apple juice fermented with yeast to create a smooth, complex sparkler. In other words, the hard stuff. The hard cider market has grown more than fivefold in the past three years, say industry experts, and that’s just among major commercial producers, like The Boston Beer Company (Angry Orchard) and Anheuser-Busch InBev ( Johnny Appleseed). Also sprouting like mushrooms throughout New England and beyond are dozens of boutique brands. “I think of hard cider as an offshoot of craft beer,” says Ross Brockman, a cofounder of Boston’s Downeast Cider House, explaining the new allure of this colonial American pour. “Craft beer has unusual flavors, like fruit, and
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taste spotlight
Perfect Pinots
a new chapter
IT’S All GrEEk To US James Beard Award–winning chef Michael Schlow is saying arrivederci to Via Matta after 13 years and opening Doretta Taverna and Raw Bar in the same location. The menu, with dishes like grilled octopus (pictured) and slow-roasted lamb shoulder, is inspired by the Greek heritage of Schlow’s wife. The renovated space was designed by Michael Nadeau and Andrea Morton and features a larger patio. Opa! 79 Park Plaza, 617-422-0008; dorettataverna.com
now open
TASTE TEST Making dinner just got a whole lot easier. At the newly opened Pantry, you can buy healthy, preportioned kits that come with all the ingredients you’ll need and easy-tofollow recipes. Pantry offers some 20 globally inspired dishes, like Provençal tomato soup with white fish, pasta with mushrooms (pictured), and sweet potato flautas with a radish and jicama salad. 1622 Beacon St., 617-487-5209; pantrystores.com
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SANTÉ!
ThE BEllE of ThE MAll Sometimes a leap of faith is all you need. For the team behind Deuxave, which this fall celebrates fve wildly successful years, that meant not being dissuaded by the city’s late great mayor. “When we announced opening on that side of Mass Ave., we were cautioned by many as being on the ‘wrong side of the street,’ even by Mayor Menino,” says co-owner Brian Piccini. “Now some of the most expensive condo construction projects are west of us.” Alongside executive chef and co-owner Chris Coombs, chef de cuisine Adrienne Wright continues to serve the contemporary French dishes—including ninehour French onion soup and Long Island duck breast (pictured)— that have been on the menu since opening day. Sit on the patio and enjoy dinner paired with one of Deuxave’s more than 500 wines, expertly chosen by sommelier Jason Irving. 371 Commonwealth Ave., 627-517-5915; deuxave.com
photography courtesy of Barrymore By camel road (Barrymore); By andy ryan (deuxave); michael schlow (doretta); Katherine hysmith (pantry)
a variety of situations and foods,” says Barrymore, whose 2013 vintage has notes of lemon drop, Asian pear, and honeydew melon, along with the unique “wet stone” minerality characteristic of grapes grown in the rocky vineyards of California’s Monterey region, where Carmel Road is located. According to Kris Kato, the winemaker who worked with Barrymore, “This wine highlights the lively fruit flavors and bright acidity that only this area can offer.” While the taste of the wine was paramount, Barrymore was also looking to partner with a vineyard that was committed to sustainable farming. “It’s a huge benefit,” she says, “especially with what’s happening in Los Angeles with the water conservancy programs.” New this season is a Pinot Noir, which was inspired by Barrymore’s love of Beaujolais, among other wines. “It’s floBarrymore Wines are the ideal way to ral and fruit-forward without being too acidic or sweet,” she says. And what’s add a little drama to your fall. next for the company? “We’re working Actress Drew Barrymore has entered the wine busi- on our third varietal as we speak, which should be ness. She launched Barrymore Wines in 2010, and out next spring,” the actress says. “We’re prolific recently she partnered with Carmel Road Winery little rabbits over there.” Shaw’s Supermarket, 53 to release a new Pinot Grigio. “It’s been a perennial Huntington Ave., 617-262-4688; carmelroad.com/ favorite because it’s vibrant and complements such barrymore-wines BC
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queen of thrones SMART. BEAUTIFUL. FIERCE. THE GENERAL CONSENSUS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE POND IS THAT ENGLISH CHARMER NATALIE DORMER RULES. by DAVID HOCHMAN photography by TONY DURAN
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atalie Dormer is on a pool terrace overlooking Los Angeles, doing what can only be described as the happy dance. In an entertainment world where things so often go wrong, everything appears to be going exactly right for Dormer, and you sense her good fortune as she casually pirouettes and pliés—she was a ballerina before becoming an actor—for a photographer’s camera on this sparklingblue day in Beverly Hills. But then she stops, cocks her hip, and scrunches her lips into a mischievous little pucker that edges up on one side. Dormer has very large, bright blue eyes that somehow loom larger in that instant. The English actress is so well known for this facial flourish that there is a highly trafficked Tumblr page called “Natalie Dormer’s Smirk.” For the record, she is okay with that. “I have a lopsided smile; what can I say?” she says when I ask about it later. “And if that message filters down to some girl looking in the mirror who feels she’s not completely symmetrical, then I am glad to have helped in some small, albeit ridiculous, way.” At the moment, Dormer is not smirking so much as suppressing laughter or perhaps a primal scream. It has been an intense week, and it’s about to get crazier. She just arrived via London, where she lives, from Serbia, where she filmed her first honest-to-goodness lead role, in a supernatural horror film called The Forest. Tomorrow she heads to San Diego for the restorative Zen retreat that is Comic-Con. Over three frantic days there, she will promote her films The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, which opens November 20, and Patient Zero, an upcoming thriller about a global pandemic, as well as the sixth season of HBO’s Game of Thrones, in which Dormer stars as
Margaery Tyrell, Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Press panels, parties, hoards of furry, green-haired cosplayers—“The trick will be remembering which Natalie Dormer I need to be and when,” she says as her grin starts to curl again. “I’m trying to remain sane and not go totally schizophrenic.” Madness might be justifiable. At 33, Dormer somehow finds herself in two of the biggest pop-culture sensations of our time. Hunger Games and Game of Thrones attract so much frenzied analysis and commentary that they are bona fide international events. Game of Thrones, which this year received a whopping 24 Emmy nominations—more than any other show—will again air in more than 170 countries when it returns next year (last year in Boston, special screenings at Imax theaters were sold out within minutes of being announced). Her three Hunger Games films alone have grossed over a billion dollars worldwide. Dormer, who first appeared in Mockingjay Part 1, was the number-one choice to play Cressida, the propagandafilm director whose scalp ripples with vine tattoos. “Natalie had to shave part of her head for the role, and she wore the look with absolute fierceness,” says Hunger Games producer Nina Jacobson. “She gives you everything as an actor, and yet on screen you still can’t quite pinpoint what she’s thinking. The more you watch her, the more you want to know. I suspect it’s why audiences are so drawn to her.” One casualty has been Dormer’s anonymity. “Recognition can be a many-times-a-day occurrence,” she says, kicking back on a pool chaise. She’s wearing black stretch pants and a gray T-shirt under a black jacket glittering with zippers. “I get oil paintings from fans, computer-generated art from fans, fans approaching me in the toilet, fans approaching me in the sauna. It’s a Champagne problem, but I can’t really go anywhere without a ‘Wait. Aren’t you…?’”
opposite page: Gown, Chanel ($6,550). 6 Newbury St., 617-859-0055; chanel.com. beauté: Leonor Greyl Baume Bois de Rose ($49), Éclat Naturel Nourishing and Protective Styling Cream ($46), and Serum de Soie Sublimateur ($46). leonorgreyl-usa.com. Clé de Peau Radiant Fluid Foundation in O10 ($125), Luminizing Face Enhancer ($95), Eye Color Quad in 313 ($55), and Extra Rich Lipstick in 101 ($40). Saks Fifth Avenue, The Shops at Prudential Center, 617-262-8500; saks.com. Dior Dior Vernis in Trianon ($27). Saks Fifth Avenue, see above
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Coat, Dries Van Noten ($2,535). Barneys New York, Copley Place, 617-385-3300; barneys.com opposite page: Patterned dress, Marc Jacobs ($3,900). Saks Fifth Avenue, The Shops at Prudential Center, 617-2628500; saks.com
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ormer grew up in Reading, England, where a thriving Hollywood career seemed about as probable as an invite for a play date with Prince William. “I didn’t know any actors and had no idea how to get into the profession, so I kept really quiet about it,” she says. Her father worked as a computer programmer and her mother was a housewife, but it was her grandmother who inspired Dormer, the eldest of three, to perform. “She would take me to see Shakespeare’s tragedies in the ruins of the Reading Abbey, knocked down by Henry VIII and Cromwell, and my eyes totally opened up to the possibilities.” A straight-A student who speaks multiple languages, Dormer was accepted to Cambridge University but chose instead to enroll in drama school in London. Just months after she graduated, director Lasse Hallström cast her as a bumbling virgin opposite Heath Ledger in Casanova. Dormer’s role was written as a bit part, but Hallström gave her more screen time when he saw she had real potential. David Goyer, the screenwriter behind Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy and the writer and a producer of The Forest, says, “When you meet Natalie, what distinguishes her is this sense that ‘Here’s someone who’s going to be a star.’ It’s partly her ambition—she has clearly decided she’s going to be a big success—but it’s also her rare combination of razor-sharp wit, unusual intelligence, and unique, timeless looks.” That mix made her a natural to play Anne Boleyn in the 2007 Showtime series The Tudors. By the time another costume project, Game of Thrones, came along, Dormer might as well have stitched herself permanently into a corset. “You say that,” she says a touch defensively when asked about the period roles, “but I’ve actually only done three corset dramas in 10 years. Kate Winslet’s spent more time in a corset than I have. Helena Bonham-Carter has spent more time in a corset than I have. What Americans tend to forget is that I can carry a semiautomatic weapon and run around in jeans and T-shirts, too.” That’s true. Her performance as Sherlock Holmes’s only love, Irene Adler, on the CBS series Elementary showed that Dormer could be powerful and sexy without ruffles. But it’s the character of Margaery Tyrell on Thrones that is her greatest creation. Here, too, the role was not conceived as a major one—Margaery is a marginal figure in the original fantasy novels—but Dormer turns her into a politically savvy woman in charge and dominates whatever scene she’s in. Last season found Margaery in what might have been the most uncomfortable sex scene ever broadcast on television that did not actually show any sex. The boy king, Tommen Baratheon, played by Dean Charles Chapman, made Margaery his queen—with all the carnal clutching and gasping such a royal union involves on a show like Thrones. Fans were agog. Chapman is 17 but playing 12, an age gap that set off a Twitter storm even though the hook-up was mostly implied (viewers saw the couple waking up in bed without their clothes, and there was a brief kiss). Dormer finds the fuss a little irritating. “After what we’ve done on this show—the rape, the incest, the child murdering—it baffles me that two people in a reasonably good, reasonably affectionate rela-
tionship is what gets the wide eyes and the questions.” As for questions about Dormer’s own relationship, let’s just say it might be easier to extract answers from Ser Pounce, the Game of Thrones cat. Her partner of four years is filmmaker Anthony Byrne. He directed Hozier’s latest music video, which features Dormer. Byrne is across the pool today, tapping on his phone as she talks, but Dormer doesn’t say much about him. “I couldn’t possibly comment” is all she says when asked about recent reports that the couple was spotted shopping for a ring or about the double date that the paparazzi caught them on in Serbia last June with Lady Gaga and her fiancé (and Dormer’s costar in The Forest), Taylor Kinney. Dormer treasures her privacy, which is partly why she stays off social media. “I’ve been busy enough playing four different roles in the last four years,” she says, “and I don’t have energy to put out some perfect image of Natalie Dormer that’s not the real me anyway.” To stay grounded, she spends as much time as possible with friends she’s had since childhood. “Most of my closest pals have nothing to do with the industry. They watched me struggle financially. They know my sob stories and the roles I missed out on and the nights when I never thought I’d work again.” She is also devoted to philanthropy. Last year Dormer ran the London Marathon to raise money for Barnardo’s, the largest children’s charity in the United Kingdom. “She put us all to shame by somehow managing to train in the middle of Hunger Games,” Nina Jacobson says with a laugh. If Dormer’s schedule allows, she’ll run the New York Marathon this November in support of Team for Kids, the New York Road Runners’ charity. She also appeared in a campaign on behalf of Plan UK, which works to eliminate forced underage marriage and female genital mutilation around the world. Whether future roles will involve bodices and bustles remains unclear. Margaery did not appear in the Game of Thrones finale last season, leaving fans to wonder if she might become yet another victim of brutality in Westeros and Essos. But Dormer will be okay no matter what happens. She says she’d love to do a comedy (“I’m a huge fan of Veep”) or a naturalistic drama, and being a Bond girl might be cool, too. Dormer looks out at LA, her eyes glimmering, as that confident, cryptic facial expression returns. “My five-year—no, 10-year—hell, my 55-year take is that I’m going to keep doing this as long as I can keep doing this,” she says. “You look at my countrywomen, like Judi Dench and Vanessa Redgrave and Diana Rigg—they’re gonna drop [dead] doing what they love to do. That’s where I’m heading.” Corset or not, she says, “Someone’s going to have to carry me out.” BC
“You look at my countrywomen, like judi dench and vanessa redgrave and diana rigg – they’re gonna drop [dead] doing what they love to do. ThaT’s where i’m heading.” —Natalie Dormer
Embroidered silk dress, Erdem ($5,280). erdem.com. Bra ($275) and panties ($295), Dolce & Gabbana. 11 Newbury St., 857-254-0669; dolcegabbana.com Photography by Tony Duran/tonyduran.net Styling by Martina Nilsson at Opus Beauty Hair by Christian Marc at Forward Artists using Leonor Greyl Makeup by Matthew VanLeeuwen at The Wall Group using Clé de Peau Beauté Manicure by Sarah Chue for Dior Vernis First photo assistant: Justin Schwan; second photo assistant: Arthur Lang Video: Adriano Valentini Location by Sources Locations/ Nancy Rigoli, 323-493-8844
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Showing Skin
go beyond boston’s leather district this fall, with swinging silhouettes, clever pleats, and—of course—sexy jackets galore. photography by rené & radka
styling by martina nilsson
opposite page, on erika (left):
Dress ($2,995) and top ($465), Jason Wu. Neiman Marcus, Copley Place, 617-536-3660; neimanmarcus.com. on ashley (right): Vest, Iro ($1,200). Intermix, 186 Newbury St., 617-236-5172; intermixonline.com. Top, Dior ($2,800). Copley Place, 617-266-4628; dior.com. Skirt, Marc Jacobs ($5,800). Saks Fifth Avenue, The Shops at Prudential Center, 617-262-8500; saks.com this page, left: Top, Escada ($4,295). The Heritage on The Garden, 617-437-1200; escada.com. right: Jacket ($22,000) and dress ($2,400), Bottega Veneta. The Heritage on The Garden, 617-9600880; bottegaveneta.com. Flat boots, Michael Kors ($265). Copley Place, 617-236-5700; michaelkors.com
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opposite page: Overcoat ($1,690) and wedge brogues ($795), Sportmax. Max Mara, 69 Newbury St., 617-267-9775; maxmara.com. Shirt (price on request) and skirt (price on request), Salvatore Ferragamo. Copley Place, 617-859-4924; ferragamo.com. Pants, Vince ($1,250). 71 Newbury St., 617-279-0659; vince.com this page: Coat, Dior ($8,800). Copley Place, 617-266-4628; dior.com. Top, Hermès ($1,525). The Heritage on The Garden, 617-482-8707; hermes.com. Pants, Edun ($1,695). Neiman Marcus, Copley Place, 617-5363660; neimanmarcus.com. Belt, Salvatore Ferragamo (price on request). see above
opposite page: Coat, Louis Vuitton (price on request). Copley Place, 617-4376519; louisvuitton.com this page, left: Coat, Christopher Kane (price on request). Saks Fifth Avenue, The Shops at Prudential Center, 617-262-8500; saks.com. Skirt, Brooks Brothers ($498). 46 Newbury St., 617-267-2600; brooksbrothers.com. Shoes, Lie Sangbong (price on request). liesangbong.com this page, right: on ashley (left): Jacket ($2,890) and dress ($1,490), Miu Miu. Saks Fifth Avenue, The Shops at Prudential Center, 617-262-8500; saks.com. Sweater, Fendi ($750). Neiman Marcus, see above; neimanmarcus.com. Knee-highs, Wolford ($29). Saks Fifth Avenue, see above. Heels, Ralph Lauren ($850). 93 Newbury St., 617-424-1124; ralphlauren.com. on erika (right): Dress, Miu Miu ($1,490). see above. Top, Hermès ($1,525). The Heritage on the Garden, 617-482-8707; hermes.com. Knee-high lace-ups, Porsche Design (price on request). Copley Place, 617-424-1400; porsche-design.com
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opposite page : Dress ($6,100), shirt ($2,800), and shoes ($2,050), Dior. Copley Place, 617-266-4628; dior.com this page:
Jacket, Sportmax ($1,690). Max Mara, 69 Newbury St., 617-267-9775; maxmara.com. Leather top, Fendi ($1,550). Neiman Marcus, Copley Place, 617-536-3660; fendi.com. Sweater, Edun ($795). Neiman Marcus, see above; neimanmarcus.com. Pants, Bally ($4,195). Neiman Marcus, see above; bally.com. Shoes, Dior ($2,050). Copley Place, 617-2664628; dior.com. beautĂŠ:
Marc Jacobs Beauty Highliner Gel Crayon in Blacquer ($25), Style Eye-Con No. 7 in The Vamp ($59), #Instamarc Light-Filtering Contour Powder ($49), and New Nudes Sheer Lip Gel in Have We Met? ($30). 8410 Melrose Ave., LA, 323-866-3562; marcjacobsbeauty.com. Bumble and bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil ($39) and Shine On Finishing Spray ($15). Rust Salon, 646 N. Fuller Ave., LA, 323-9337878; bumbleandbumble.com Styling by Martina Nilsson at Opus Beauty Hair by Laurent Mole at Forward Artists using Bumble and bumble Makeup by Samuel Paul at Forward Artists using Marc Jacobs Beauty Models: Leah at LA Models, Erika at Next Model Management, and Ashley Louise at Next Model Management
Luxe .
20 The Luxury Education Foundation’s board members and leaders of our favorite iconic brands—Dior, Graff, Chanel, Hermès, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Lalique—talk about new strategies, core values, and how new talent is driving success. moderated by Hitha Herzog illustrations by Jessica May Underwood photography by Tanya Malott
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Boston Common recently sat down with the CEOs and presidents of top luxury brands to get their read on the new luxury economy, how millennials will impact this vital sector, and what’s hot in luxury across the US. The gathering dovetailed with the 10th anniversary of the Luxury Education Foundation (LEF), a public, not-for-proft organization that focuses on educational programs for design and business students at both the undergraduate (Parsons School of Design) and graduate (Columbia Business School) levels. The programs, studying the creation and marketing of luxury goods, also allow students to learn about this highly competitive area of retailing by interacting with senior executives of iconic frms. In turn, these frms beneft by gaining fresh perspectives on their brands from a new generation of talent.
that. Today, when you have Raf Simons designing, he’s very involved in the art world, so he collaborates with artists to create fabric for dresses. It modernizes and keeps it going in a very contemporary way. The 2008 fnancial crisis impacted all market sectors. How did your consumer change during the last fve to seven years? RC: I would say nothing changed for Hermès. We found that even during the crisis, customers were willing to invest in certain items. The 2008 holiday season was a very interesting time because we saw very loyal clients still wanting to purchase those investment pieces. VO: We learned that we are not recession-proof. Customers weren’t shopping at the same level. But here’s the thing: For brands like ours—true luxury brands—you don’t start manipulating or changing your approach. So we took a little bit of a hit in 2008, but I think we rebounded very quickly because we didn’t change our formula.
Tell us about your relationship to the Luxury Education Foundation and how your involvement has benefted your brand. Robert Chavez: It’s really great to get a new perspective from students. Sometimes when we’ve presented projects and they come back with their observations, we think, Wow, we never looked at it that way. This fall we’ll ask them to focus on the traditional Hermès scarf and come up with new ideas to market and wear it, and to present the scarf digitally in unique and innovative ways.
Maz Zouhairi: It was similar with us. In 2010, things turned around, and 2011 and 2012 were better years. I would say that the recession did remind us that we have to be relevant, exciting, and fresh to today’s world and time. Luxury is a dream, not a necessity.
Vincent Ottomanelli: We learn what the students’ perceptions of our brand are from the outside looking in, so we beneft from learning how we can communicate to different generations. Barbara Cirkva: What’s so interesting with LEF is how the program has expanded. Obviously, we’re famous for the Master Class [in which luxury-brand executives work on case studies involving current business situations], and now, over the last several years, we have added fve or six different programs. Just 10 days ago, we hosted 25 students from Columbia Business School at Chanel. They spent the day with us so that, from their standpoint, they can understand what happens every day in the world of luxury. What was so rewarding for us on the Chanel side was having the opportunity to interact with the students and learn what was important to them. The maker culture has taken root strongly with millennials in this country. Are American students interested in developing craftsmanship skills? Or do you fnd that more likely to happen in Europe? RC: When you visit the ateliers in France, you’ll be surprised at how youthful many of the new craftspeople are. There’s been this surge in interest of people wanting to do something with their hands, whether it’s making jewelry, working with silk, or stitching leather. With LEF, we’re always looking for new programs to offer students, just like the craftsmanship program we launched this year, the 10th program in our 10th year. Pamela Baxter: Students need to be exposed to luxury from the very beginning. You can’t separate craftsmanship from the brand, because it goes back to the beginning of the brand. If you take the Dior brand, it goes back to Christian creating and designing for the brand, and you want students to understand
Moderator HiTHA HERZOG Retail Analyst and Contributor, Fox Business Network Panelists HEnRi BARGuiRdjiAn USA CEO and President, Graf PAMELA BAXTER CEO and President, LVMH Perfumes and Cosmetics North America BARBARA CiRkVA Division President of Fashion, Chanel ROBERT CHAVEZ CEO and President, Hermès VinCEnT OTTOMAnELLi President and Regional Director, Salvatore Ferragamo MAZ ZOuHAiRi CEO and President, Lalique North America
Millennials, the so-called frst generation of “digital natives,” are projected to be the biggest generation of spenders since the boomers. However, millennials are dealing with economic issues that boomers didn’t have to—a long-term slow-growth economy, which is postponing their arrival at certain levels of affuence. They have more debt and less spending power than other generations did at equivalent ages. How are you marketing to them versus how you market to boomers or their successors, Gen X? PB: If you look at brands like Chanel and Dior, we’re seeing new, young couture clients every day. There is always going to be that customer where there’s no price ceiling—they want something that’s exclusive to them. RC: We’re not seeing as many millennials as we’d like to. And those we do see are at an entry price point. So it’s their
“Communicating with social media makes our lives easier because you get instant reaction.” —henri barguirdjian, usa ceo and president, graff Graff necklace
HIGHER LEARNING How the Luxury Education Foundation nourishes emerging talent and tomorrow’s leaders.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the Luxury Education Foundation was Chanel clutch
established to help students acquire the specialized skills
first scarf, first tie, first watch. Regardless of age, there is one consistency: People are genuinely interested in quality and craftsmanship. They want something that is very well made, that’s going to last a long time. But, for example, in the case of ties, a younger customer wants a thinner tie—same quality, just thinner.
needed to succeed in luxury
BC: I think it’s less a generational issue than a lifestyle issue. There are certain badges of honor you want to acquire at different stages in your life. For some individuals, it might be 10 days at an Aman resort. For other people, it’s going to be a Chanel haute couture dress or handbag, or something from Dior or Lalique. But it’s much more individual than it was in the boomer years, where there was more consistency to “what’s your first badge, what’s your second badge?” Today it’s based more on personality and lifestyle.
of Design have taken courses
MZ: It’s also about having collaborations that are relevant to a younger audience. All brands are searching for ways to be relevant to the millennials.
retail. Since LEF’s founding, more than 500 students from the Columbia Business School and Parsons School focusing on the creation and marketing of luxury goods; about half have gone on to work in the sector. The number of executives and brands involved—among them Cadillac, Chanel, Cartier, Dior, Hermès, and Louis Vuitton—has grown significantly over the last decade,
In terms of being more relevant, I recently visited a Graff store in Vegas and found Beats by Dre headphones with Graff diamonds on them! Henri Barguirdjian: The idea of doing something with Beats by Dre was a cool way to show that we’re not old and stodgy; we can also be hip—so there you go. It was a fun collaboration. VO: It’s interesting what you did with the Beats product. The heritage of our brands is about product. I don’t think it’s necessarily generational; it’s about the quality and the craftsmanship that each of our brands represents. We have been around for over 100 years and everything we do has to be product-focused, and then secondly, it’s how can we communicate that to stimulate [interest from] different generations?
like the global goods market itself (worth more than $950 billion in 2014). LEF offers 10 classes, such as Corporate Classroom, in
MZ: It depends on the audience. Some of the younger consumers are attracted by celebrities, and that’s their way into a luxury brand like Graff or Lalique. Our classic luxury consumer varies also. There are those who want the limited, one-of-a-kind product, and there are those who want something not limited but with the same levels of craftsmanship and effort behind the design. HB: Our customers want pieces that are understated but with gems of extreme rarity and quality. Nothing ostentatious—I hate to use the word “bling.” What is the consumer buying in the luxury category? What are the hottest items to have this year? BC: We’re seeing growth in ready-to-wear and, more specifically, in knitwear. Additionally, shoes continue to be an area of growth for the brand, and the newest US Chanel boutiques feature dedicated shoe salons, which showcase the breadth of the shoe collection. RC: Our single best category this year is the home area. We’re finding an exorbitant interest and increase in our home business—decorative items, accessories, furniture. It seems that people really want this Hermès lifestyle in their homes. HB: There is such scarce supply to demand, and our customers are looking for pieces with great rarity and value. This year our Butterfly line [in which gems for jewelry and timepieces are crafted with butterfly shapes] has done extremely well. MZ: We’re investing significantly in the Lalique Art Division. Collaborations with the Yves Klein Foundation, Anish Kapoor, Zaha Hadid, Rembrandt Bugatti, Elton John, and Damien Hirst have helped drive interest from a younger customer.
which students spend the day at the headquarters of luxury brands for a glimpse of day-to-day operations, and the new Luxury Craftsmanship Workshop, established this year, in
What do you think are the priorities for luxury customers today? Have buying patterns changed? Lifestyles are more casual. Everything is global. RC: People want to make a subtler statement. Society has become a bit over the top in terms of celebrity status. I’m just fascinated by this. It’s like, how much less can you
wear to a black-tie affair today? And it’s getting crazier and crazier. So, you know, it’s reaching a tipping point with people starting to think, Wow, where does this all end? I think the real big change with millennials is the concept of less is more. They don’t want lots of anything; they just want a few very good things. And fortunately for us, it plays into who we are. If you’re just going to have one, let me have the best one that I can.
which design students participate in a two-week program with master artisans CONTINUED ON PAGE 108
What does the luxury customer want today and how are you addressing these wants? HB: I think that there are two things happening. Number one, new consumers have educated themselves very quickly, and their knowledge of our world and our product is very impressive. If anything, the whole new way of communicating with social media makes our lives easier because you get instant Hermès scarf
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Moderator Hitha Herzog greets Maz Zouhairi as (from left) Barbara Cirkva, Vincent Ottomanelli, and Pamela Baxter look on. top right: Baxter. bottom right: Robert Chavez
“We rebounded very quickly because we didn’t change our formula.” —vincent ottomanelli, president and regional director , salvatore ferragamo
Ferragamo heel Henri Barguirdjian. left: Barbara Cirkva
from LEF brands. But it’s the students in the Master Class—who each work on a design and marketing case study prepared by a luxury firm—who may see their efforts make it to the marketplace. This year, for instance, participants involved in a Lalique case study repurposed the iconic Mossi vase design for a shot glass. Other groups created My Travel Games—a game reaction, whether you’re doing something right or wrong. Usually you hear much more about the wrong than the right, but it doesn’t matter. It’s information that is thrown out there by the thousands, which before, you had no way of knowing. It becomes an important element of how we respond to our clients. BC: When we survey customers after a shopping experience in our stores, one thing that’s always consistent, and I’m always amazed that it doesn’t change, is how they’re hungry for more of the story. When you say, “What would have made your experience better?,” it’s always that they want to know more of the story. The story of the brand, or Coco Chanel, or that handbag....
What are your thoughts about the Boston market? How is it growing for you? BC: We’ve been in Boston a very long time. We moved from a tiny jewel box of a store to one just across the street, and the reaction… you would have thought that people had never seen a piece of Chanel before. When they walked into this new building and this incredibly beautiful and large store, they thought everything was totally different. It was just such a breath of fresh air. By coincidence, the Gardner Museum was having an exhibition by one of the artists that we commissioned to do artwork in our store, so there was this incredible connection that made a very loyal market even more loyal.
carrier for Loro Piana’s gift collection—or responded to Van Cleef & Arpels’s challenge to produce jewelry pieces with a spring theme. Ketty Pucci-Sisti Maisonrouge, president of LEF, notes that the Master
How has corporate sustainability factored into the marketing of your brand? HB: It’s part of our DNA and part of what we do. The jewelry industry in particular has been, should we say, targeted more than others. It forced the industry in general and then the individual companies to send out the message that this isn’t the way we do things. PB: Younger generations, and particularly the millennials, are very interested in sustainable practices and ask a lot of questions about where you’re sourcing materials or how you’re producing. All our companies that have been around for 50 to 100 years need to have responsibility, cred-
Class “allows students to experience why a true collaboration between design
Today brands are global, but how do you market to your customers differently from city to city? How does the product mix differ from store to store? PB: I think it’s a matter of lifestyle, so yes, we do merchandise the stores very differently. For example, in Miami, they like a lot more color. VO: Believe it or not, we sell more shearling coats in South Beach than we do in New York City. So you have to be ready for surprises like that in every market. BC: We all just have one brand collection, so we don’t create specific things for other markets, but we might tailor our assortments for them. But I have to say, if there’s something that’s really hot and key on the runway, it’s hot everywhere, everybody wants it. So if it’s very heavyweight and you’re in California, you still have to have it. HB: Jewelry moves much more slowly than fashion; we don’t have six collections a year. The trends in jewelry go from decade to decade. When you acquire a piece of high jewelry, there has to be a perennial aspect to it, that it’s going to work for years and eventually become a family heirloom. Having said that, yes, you sell much more conservative, understated jewelry in Chicago. The Beats by Dre items are fun in Vegas. You’ll sell more colorful jewelry in Florida than you do in other places. MZ: In Miami, where there’s a more Latin influence, there
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and business is the basis for success in the luxury industry.” Some of the results are so spot-on, they’re picked up by the firms. One LEF team transferred Hermès’s Balcon du Guadalquivir porcelain pattern to an enamel bracelet ( BELOW). Today it is an Hermès best seller. —Suzanne Charlé
FROM LEFT:
Barguirdjian, Cirkva, Ottomanelli, Baxter, and Zouhairi.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNA DEMIDOVA (HERMÈS)
Dior handbag
are other aspects that depend on lifestyle. The Latin culture is much more about weddings.
“All brands are searching for ways to be relevant to the millennials.” —maz zouhairi, ceo and president, lalique north america
Grade-a ShopperS Boston’s global student population excels not just at studying but at buying. by scott van voorhis Boston has always Been well-served By the luxury retail market. Chanel boasts a multilevel flagship store at the head of Newbury Street, Dolce & Gabbana recently opened a lavish shop, and the Hermès boutique just underwent a massive renovation and expansion. While well-heeled, born-and-bred Bostonians are surely loyal customers, also fueling the demand is a seemingly unlikely demographic: college students. These new scholars of luxury are not pizza-loving fraternity brothers but sophisticated (albeit underage) consumers born to some of the wealthiest families around the globe, from Saudi Arabia to China. “It’s the one percent of the one percent—that very wealthy component has been the driving
Lalique vase
force,” says Joe Baglio, a longtime luxury real estate broker, who recently sold a multimilliondollar listing at the Clarendon to an international student. “Everyone is under 30, healthy, and
ibility, and follow-through on these topics, because they’re going to get more and more important as the customer gets younger and younger. BC: Another aspect of sustainability is an approach we started taking 10 years ago of buying small artisan [businesses] where the craft itself was in danger of becoming extinct. I think many of you have done the same thing. Mr. Lagerfeld creates the Métiers d’art collection once a year—that only uses those fve to six specialist houses. When we think about sustainability long-term—and for all of us, the story of our brand is so much tied to what is unique and special—giving these people a lifeline, if you will, to continue their craft is what it’s about as well. BC
well-dressed, and they’re mostly from other parts of the world.” By some estimates, international students and their parents are among the leading buyers of luxury goods and services in Boston, constituting anywhere from 30 percent to more than 50 percent of customers at the growing number of luxury retail establishments in the Back Bay and beyond, industry experts say. Chinese students and tourists have emerged as the ultimate luxury power shoppers on the local scene. A 2012 survey by China Luxury Advisors found that nearly a third of Chinese students in Boston and New York are on an almost continual shopping spree, picking up luxury goods every quarter to take home with them. Their parents and Chinese tourists are heating up the cash registers at Neiman Marcus, Anne Fontaine, and other luxury retail stores during their stays here, with the Chinese spending an average of $2,039 each trip, compared with $459 for tourists from the UK. Of course, the luxury boutiques along Newbury Street and at
“It’s the one percent of the one percent—that very wealthy component has been the driving force.” —joe baglio
The Heritage on the Garden and the Copley Place mall are also attracting well-to-do students and tourists from other parts of Asia as well as South America and the Middle East. Saudi students often have an especially large spending allowance, with the government paying for certain degree programs and providing a monthly stipend, even before mom and dad contribute, according to Baglio, who owns Back Bay Residential. Parents of Saudi and Kuwaiti students are particular fans of Anne Fontaine, where floor-length skirts in the Les Precieuses collection can run from $695 to $1,100, says Amanda Blynn, the general manager. “Their eye is drawn to the more refined, luxurious, one-of-a-kind pieces.” Motivated in part by thriving sales due to these affluent foreign students, Boston’s luxury retailers are investing in expansion. This summer, Hermès nearly tripled its space (and added a second floor) when it opened fancier digs at The Heritage on the Garden. Anne Fontaine’s Boston store, which moved into a new space in The Heritage last year, is consistently one of the company’s top four performers nationally, notes Blynn. Tiffany & Co. has relocated to the Taj Hotel, and Neiman Marcus is preparing to add another 15,000 square feet of retail space. Meanwhile, Ronald Druker, the longtime Boston developer who built The Heritage, is planning to develop a boutique office and retail building nearby at 350 Boylston that should attract more top-shelf brands to Boston. Interest from retailers has been so strong that Druker decided to add a second floor of shopping to the project. “There are so many luxury retailers who want to expand in the city but can’t find the space,” he says. “The upscale luxury retail market is really quite hot in Boston.”
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LUXURY BEYOND THE CITY
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Haute ProPerty
A New Lease on Life
With the kids gone, empty nesters are heading into Boston for a luxe life in the fast lane. by scott van voorhis
The new face of downtown Boston’s sizzling luxury condo market isn’t necessarily a Beijing businessman or a Saudi prince. It could be empty nesters like Iris and Ken Sokol. With their twin sons, now 23, out of college, the Sokols are moving into a $1.4 million condo at the highdesign Piedmont Park Square building in Bay Village after years in relatively rural Sherborn. “I think women hit a wall in their mid50s when their kids are gone,” says Iris. “You just look at your life and you say, Okay, we have to shake it up.” She adds, “Being in the city, to be with young people, keeps you young.” Empty nesters are cashing in on an epic rise in home prices in some of Boston’s most expensive suburbs, then launching new lives at the many posh new residential addresses that are remaking Boston. Roughly 17 percent of all the units at the W Boston have been sold to empty nesters, while at the new Millennium Tower, that number is closer to a quarter—which is not atypical for downtown Boston luxury condo towers, according to brokers. Here is a look at three top condo buildings in Boston, one established and two under construction, that are attracting empty nesters.... photography by peter Vanderwarker
continued on page 112
The W Boston is one of several new luxury condo buildings offering a fastpaced life in the city to empty nesters who want to enjoy their new freedom.
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haute property At Your Service Condos with a side of luxury hotel amenities. “The profle of the empty nester is more complex than it used to be fve or 10 years ago,” says David Crowley, director of sales and marketing at Raveis Marketing Group. “When it comes to the ultraluxury, high-end buyer, they want luxury and hotel-type services, such as 24-hour room service.” Empty nesters seeking an upscale condo with hotelThe W Boston offers sweeping views of the Charles River and the South End.
style services in Boston now have several choices. Over on the waterfront, there’s Rowes Wharf (10 Rowes Wharf, 617-
Cindy and Paul Kraemer were looking for the full city experience after selling their home in Sudbury in 2013. It was a big change. Cindy, who runs an event-planning business, and Paul, a consultant, had spent decades living in Sudbury and raising two children there. But they found their dream condo in a two-bedroom unit on the 17th f loor of the W Boston, with views of the Charles River, the State House, and the South End. The W’s location, in the heart of Boston’s Theater District, can’t be beat, Cindy says. The development boom that is transforming Boston keeps adding new amenities and attractions to the area, with a Roche Bros. and a Whole Foods Market having recently opened nearby. “We wanted to be in the city and take advantage of all the things taking place in the city,” she explains. “We overlook the Wang Theatre and the Wilbur. You can call over to see if you can get some lastminute tickets, and you’re in.” The high-rise has attracted many empty nesters since it opened in 2010, with 15 to 17 percent of the units occupied by older couples with college-age or adult children, notes Dinny Herron, senior vice president of Otis & Ahearn, a sales, marketing, and research firm. Maybe the biggest challenge so far for the Kraemers has been adjusting to considerably less living space. The couple went from 5,600 square feet and five bedrooms in Sudbury to less than 2,000 square feet at the W Boston. The space can get tight at times—especially when they’re both working from home. Fortunately, the W has a number of common areas that provide a comfortable space where residents can work and make phone calls.
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The couple also worked with designer Eric Roseff (17 Saxton St., 617-282-9725; ericroseffdesigns.com) to maximize their new space, using furniture to divide it into different areas. The guest bedroom can also be closed off into a private suite, handy when the Kraemers’ college-age son is in town. Says Cindy, “We made it so someone can watch a game in one area and someone can read in another, and they’re not on top of each other.” 110 Stuart St., 617-669-4414; wbostoncondominiums.com
330-7730; bhh.com), where condo residents can tap the services of the Boston Harbor Hotel. The Four Seasons (200 Boylston St., 617-338-4400; fourseasons.com/boston) has been offering hotel services to its condo residents since
a hub for community
the late 1980s, while the new
The 60-story Millennium Tower, currently taking shape in Downtown Crossing, may be best known for its $37.5 million penthouse, the most expensive condo ever listed on the Boston market. But Millennium Partners—which has a long track record of successful condo projects in Boston, starting with The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton Towers in the Theater District—makes a sales pitch that goes beyond the typical emphasis on great views and posh living. The approach is proving attractive to empty nesters, who have bought approximately 25 percent of the building’s units. Like its other projects, Millennium’s newest tower offers a complete lifestyle for its buyers, with a range of features that are especially attractive to empty nesters, says Richard Baumert, a partner at Millennium Partners. At the core of the 442-unit tower, slated to open in August 2016, will be a social hub that should prove a powerful lure to those seeking to start new lives in the city. The planned 23,000-square-foot clubhouse is the largest that Millennium Partners has ever built, featuring everything from a private restaurant to a Pilates studio and a spa. continued on page 114
60-story Four Seasons Tower taking shape over at the Christian Science Plaza plans to offer a similar servicerich package. In midtown, the W Boston Hotel Residences has a sizable contingent of empty nesters in its 123 condos, all of which enjoy the full range of hotel services provided by the W. Perks of living in the hotel/condo tower include room service whenever you want it, a 24/7 concierge, valet parking, and a doorman.
photography by Derek Szabo
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haute property Join the Club
For empty nesters, a new lifestyle. It’s more than just great views drawing people to Boston’s luxurious new condo towers. Developers are also providing all the trappings of a richer urban lifestyle for empty nesters leaving the suburbs. Heritage on the Garden (300 Boylston St.) has become a magnet for empty nesters, offering a strong sense of community among residents of the 87-unit building, says Ron Druker, who developed it in the late 1980s. He notes that the building’s extensive library and afternoon teas are big draws. The library can be used for meetings and events as well.
a high-tech oasis
a private dining room.
While some empty nesters are f locking to Boston’s new luxury towers, others, like Iris and Ken Sokol, are seeking continued on page 116
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Social space is also a major feature of the 60-story Millennium Tower. Key to the building’s sales plan is the 23,000-square-foot, two-level clubhouse. The clubhouse will feature two levels combining a social gathering place, a fne-dining venue, and a workout/recreation/ play area for residents of the tower’s multimillion-dollar condos. The lower level will have places to relax and work out, with a junior Olympicsize pool, a spa, and a billiards room, among other attractions. There will also be a library with a freplace, a parlor, and a screening room, not to mention a lounge and
PhotograPhy courtesy of MillenniuM towers
top: A living room at Millennium Tower. Millennium Partners also developed the Residences at The Ritz-Carlton Towers and brings a similar level of luxury to this project. below: A well-appointed bathroom in the same building.
Celebrity chef Michael Mina will be heading the clubhouse’s restaurant, reserved exclusively for residents of the tower’s multimillion-dollar condos. (Mina will also bring to the tower his restaurant Pabu, which will be open to everyone.) Condo residents will also get a chance to learn directly from Mina, a James Beard Award– winning chef, who will offer cooking classes. And if they want a little help before they try his recipes in their own kitchen, the chef and his staff will get the work started in the restaurant. “You can order the ingredients or have the dish partially prepared so you only dirty two pots,” says Baumert. “These [empty nesters] love the idea of having exposure to great food in their home. This is a total wow for them.” A series of social events aimed at connecting residents and helping them make new friends is also in the works. At its various luxury properties, Millennium offers chats, wine and food tastings, and other gatherings in a series called La Vie (The Life). The events will also include monthly talks by residents about interesting experiences they’ve had or subjects in which they’re experts—in the style of the popular TED Talks. “This is total freedom,” Baumert says. “It’s fun to live in a building that’s more than just a home. It gets you into the city and all its energy.” 1 Franklin St., 617-542-1555; millennium towerboston.com
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Haute property top and below:
Living rooms in two different apartments at Piedmont Park Square, which offers a peaceful alternative to the bustling downtown scene.
ibutler
High-tech amenities for savvy empty nesters who love their smartphones. Big condo towers are not for everyone. Some empty nesters prefer boutique projects away from the hustle and bustle of downtown. And while smaller condo buildings may not have large staffs, some stand out for their innovative use of technology. A new luxe boutique condo building planned for 10 Farnsworth in Fort Point Channel will feature smart-home technology, allowing residents to remotely control a range of functions, from temperature to music. To guard access, the building will also employ facial and thumbprint recognition. Located in the quiet alcove of Bay Village, the eight-unit
“we didn’t understand how great the location is. bay village is a hidden gem.” —iris sokol
Piedmont Park Square doesn’t have a 24-hour concierge, but it’s wired with the electronic equivalent. Expecting a UPS delivery while you’re at work? Just hop on your mobile phone, access
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paring to move in. (The eight-unit building features a mix of single-floor and rowhouse-style condos, ranging in price from $1.2 million to nearly $2.8 million.) “We didn’t understand how great the location is,” says Iris. “Bay Village is a hidden gem.” But the Sokols were also taken by the design of the Piedmont’s condos; theirs is a throughunit extending clear across the building, with windows on both ends. While they anticipate that their biggest adjustment will be the reduced living space, the couple expects that the condo’s design and layout will ease the transition—especially the large living and dining area. Fortunately, it’s big enough to fit their 73-inch-long dining room table, essential for the many family members and friends they entertain for the holidays, Iris says. “We came from a house that was 4,000 square feet, and now we’re going to under 1,400,” she adds. “I think we’ll be fine.” 17 Piedmont st., 857-362-1777; piedmontparksquare.com BC
the front door and lobby camera with a handy app, and buzz in the deliveryman. If you’re fnicky about the temperature, Nest thermostats make it possible to set different temperatures for different rooms from your smartphone. Even the underground parking garage has a high-tech twist: Cars are parked on a turntable, and with the press of a button, your car spins around to where you’re standing.
photography Courtesy of studio Luz
smaller properties with loads of charm. Iris launched her corporate fitness company in the 1980s, with Ken joining as CEO in 2002, and sold it in 2010. They had been poking around the downtown condo market for years before getting serious in 2014, selling their house of 30 years in Sherborn for more than $1 million. While Ken was okay with some of the high-rise units they saw, Iris felt that the towers were too much in the thick of things, with too much street noise. The couple kept looking and, with the help of real estate agent Neda Vander Stoep (coldwell banker residential, 137 newbury st., 617-413-0888; nedavanderstoep.com), discovered what they believe is the perfect fit: a two-bedroom, two-bath condo in Piedmont Park Square, a new boutique building in Bay Village. Right off the bat, the neighborhood was a big draw, an oasis apart from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the city. The Sokols settled on a 1,340-square-foot flat and are now pre-
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HAUTE PROPERTY Brokers’ Roundtable
How Not to Sell a House
Dos anD Don’ts for selling Your $1 Million ProPertY in the current Market. by alexandra hall
Since last spring, the local media has been ablaze with stories about the extremely high demand in Massachusetts right now for homes priced at $1 million and up. And that demand is expected to last at least through the end of fall. Yet some sellers (and even some brokers) are making major missteps—the kind that leave them wishing they’d done just the opposite of what they decided to do. So in the interest of promoting smarter decisions, we’ve rounded up five top area realtors and tapped their expertise. Here’s their advice on what not to do when selling your home. BC
from left:
One of Myra George’s homes; Ashley Desmond; a penthouse listed by Ricardo Rodriguez; a rooftop deck with a view of the Boston skyline; Michelle Walsh.
myRA geoRge Benoit mizner simon
Ashley DesmonD hammond Residential
RicARDo RoDRiguez coldwell Banker
michelle WAlsh JT Fleming & company
DeAnnA PAlmin ller Williams
DON’T: “...assume that buyers will see past clutter, mess, and unfinished projects. Even in this market, where people are eager to buy, most of them still get easily distracted the minute they walk through the door by an odd paint color, odor, or too much clutter. So have an agent come in early on to talk about what needs to be done, and don’t be offended by their suggestions. A seasoned broker can offer tips and trusted resources to get things in the right shape very quickly.” 54 Central St., Wellesley, 781-237-8181; benoitmiznersimon.com
DON’T: “...use a broker who relies primarily on open houses. They never show the property in the best light, because you’ve got 30 people all crammed into a place and it just doesn’t look good. A truly good broker knows their job is to represent the seller and the property in the most polished way possible, so many will only do individual appointments with potential buyers, which has the added bonus of filtering out those who aren’t serious.” 826 Boylston St., 617-7314644; ashleydesmond. myhammondagent.com
DO: “...be flexible and creative during negotiations. Recently I saw a seller refuse to grant the buyer a ‘use and occupancy’ on a vacant unit, and the buyer walked away. The next deal was $100,000 less and closed a month later than the original. So she lost on the price and had to incur an additional carrying cost. Inversely, another buyer was selected from higher offers because he agreed to offer the sellers a rent-back option so they could stay put while closing on and moving to their new place.” 137 Newbury St., 617-2664430; coldwellbanker.com
DON’T: “...be afraid to use deadlines to get the price you want. One couple wanted to list their home for $1.1 million. I suggested $995,000. We listed at that price on a Wednesday and asked for all offers by 7 pm on Saturday. The deadline helped buyers understand they’d be competing against others, so they gave their best numbers. By 7 pm, I had seven offers, all of them over asking, and one for $1.1 million. Not only did they get their price, but the offer had no contingencies and closed in 30 days.” 316 Weston Road, Ste. A, Wellesley, 617-7847800; wellesleysbroker.com
DO: “...decide what to do with all of your fixtures and appliances before selling. Do you want to take them with you or are they part of the price you’re asking for the home? Communicate that to your realtor and have them disclose it to buyers during showings. Negotiating these items after getting offers makes it messy and wastes your valuable time on the market. I’ve seen plenty of deals not come together because the parties disagreed on who should be getting the window treatments.” 607 Boylston St., 5th Fl., 617-542-0012; kw.com
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EMINENT DOMAIN Trends
“Bring warmth and modernity to a room with this organically inspired mixed-metal frame.” Wolfers Lighting, 103 N. Beacon St., 617-254-0700; hubbardtonforge.com
“I love this sleek cabinet that combines wood and lacquer in a matte pewter frame.” Montage, 75 Arlington St., 617-4519400; minotti.com
“Piet Boon, known for its passion for rich and natural materials, offers this patina bronze table. This piece would bring life to any interior, no matter how minimalist it may be.” Showroom Boston, 240 Stuart St., 617-482-4805; pietboon.com
GLAM METAL
HEAVY METALS LIKE COPPER, BRONZE, AND PEWTER ADD A POWERFUL POP TO INTERIORS THIS SEASON. BY JESSICA BOWNE
“For a glamorous pop, I love these metallic zebra pillows.” Patch, 46 Waltham St., 617-426-0592; patchnyc.com
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“In this collection of Biedermeier candlesticks with oxidized bronze finish, elements of classic European design get updated and reconfigured into something timeless.” E.R. Butler & Co., 38 Charles St., 617-722-0230; tedmuehling.com
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAN CUTRONA (REID)
The glimmer of the 1970s is back in style for home décor this fall thanks to mixed metals. Lexington-based interior designer Rachel Reid has been at the top of Boston’s home scene for 20 years and continues to put together timeless interiors that reflect her sleek aesthetic and her penchant for power pieces with strong lines. “I believe in environments that are modern, thoughtfully appointed, and comfortable,” Reid says. “Good design keeps the client’s lifestyle and needs as the focal point of every project.” Reid is using mixed metals in all their forms in her projects this season (which recently included a private estate in Brookline and new construction in Newton), whether that means a Piet Boon table or a light fixture that doubles as a work of art. She shared with us her favorite on-trend pieces to make your home shine. BC
PHOTO CREDIT: KENT EARLE
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HAUTE PROPERTY Guided Tour
The early weeks of fall mean warm temperatures and warmer waters. A staggering $3 billion infiltrates New England during leaf-peeping season, while the aquatically minded head out to explore the region’s swankiest seaside ports and towns. Few know those waters better than Tim Barton and Doug Gray, the cofounders of the Barton & Gray Mariners Club (bartonandgray.com). The club offers members access to a f leet of Hinckley luxury yachts, plus B&G crews in 14 harbors (nine of them in the Northeast). “We outfit the very best experiences you can have on the water,” Gray says. “The best yachts, the best captains in the best harbors, coves, beaches, and islands.” Just show up at the dock, Barton adds, “and we take care of the rest—all of it.” We asked the pair to guide us through three of their favorite New England harbors: Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, and Newport. The WhiTe elephanT in nanTuc eT
Harbor Hopping
AS NEW ENGLANDERS SAVOR THE LAST RAYS OF SummER SuN, DOuG GRaY AND TiM BaRTOn GIVE A PERSONAL TOuR OF THE REGION’S OuTSTANDING FOOD, PEOPLE, AND VIEWS. by lisa pierpont The White Elephant on Nantucket is perfect for visitors who want to be in town.
Doug Gray: Sit on a beach, any beach—it’s always great. For restaurants, Oran Mor Bistro (2 S. Beach St., 508-228-8655; oranmorbistro.com) is one of my favorites. I once ate fiddlehead ferns there that rivaled any other meal ever—fiddleheads! On the other end of the spectrum, run the Hinckley over to Madaket and have some spicy tacos and drinks at Millie’s (326 Madaket Road, 508-2288435; milliesnantucket.com). It’s Nantucket the way Nantucket used to be. Tim Barton: I love American Seasons (80 Centre St., 508-228-7111; americanseasons.com), and you can’t beat a burger to go from Lola Burger (1 Sparks Ave., 508-228-9491; lolaburger.com).
“There are a few differenT ways To do nanTuckeT— hyperwealThy, TrusTafarian, healThy-happy, drunken sailor.” — doug gray
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photography courtesy of the White elephant (White elephant); by oliver grier gray (barton and gray)
50 Easton St., 508-228-2500; whiteelephanthotel.com
A view of the cove from the Castle Hill Inn in Newport. right: Atlantic Fish & ChopHouse on Martha’s Vineyard has waterside seating and a wide selection of beer.
(31 Dunes Road, 508-3101733; winnetu.com) when the family wants a real getaway. TB: For me, it’s the Harbor View Hotel (131 N. Water St., 508-627-7000; harborview.com), right in Edgartown. CasTle hill inn, newporT
photography courtesy of castle hill inn (castle hill); by george KasotaKis (atlantic)
590 Ocean Dr., 888-4661355; castlehillinn.com
DG: There are a few different ways to do Nantucket— hyperwealthy, trustafarian, healthy-happy, drunken sailor, and so on. When you pull all those characters into a small island and the goal is fun, it’s entertaining. Very entertaining. TB: For what to wear, pull out the clothes that you bought last year on the island. That’s the only place you will ever be able to wear them! DG: Great places to stay are the White Elephant if you like to be in town, The Wauwinet (120 Wauwinet Road, 508-228-0145; wauwinet.com) if you only like to stay on the beach. TB: I like the White
Elephant Village Residences & Inn (19 N. Water St., 508-228-1500; whiteelephantvillage.com). The pool is fantastic and only offered to guests at the Village. The BoaThouse, MarTha’s Vineyard
16 Field Club Lane, 508-6273535; boathousemv.com DG: The Vineyard is big, with lots of personality and options. “Island eclectic” is the vibe. It’s a bit more gritty than the Cape and Nantucket. Farmers, hippies, and beach bums seem to hold sway on the style. TB: People are here to
disappear and relax, not see and be seen. DG: I like to eat in Menemsha, and not because I’ve watched Jaws over 230,000 times. I just like to eat fish right next to the boats that pulled them in. And the wind and salt air coming off of Buzzards Bay are really great. TB: I love the Atlantic Fish & ChopHouse (2 Main St., 508-627-7001; atlantic mv.com); the beer selection is top-notch. There is a great Mexican restaurant in Oak Bluffs, Sharky’s Cantina (31 Circuit Ave., 508-6937501; sharkyscantina.com). DG: I usually stay at the Winnetu Oceaside Resort
DG: They have put something in the water in Newport that makes people lose their mind a little. Everything gets tuned up a notch in Newport. I might start wearing a helmet and pads when I go there. TB: Newport is a huge party town—get ready. Boating gives you even more options to bar hop, cocktail cruise, and bar hop again. The nice thing about Rhode Island is that if you get tired of the party scene in Newport, it’s a quick hop over to Jamestown for a more relaxed beachy vibe. DG: Castle Hill, Castle Hill, and Castle Hill are my favorite three restaurants. Tea in the tea room, dinner in the dining room (offseason—go in the winter, it’s cool), and a three-hour lunch on the terrace is just long
enough. It’s a great place to stay, too. TB: Agreed. I also really love the Clarke Cooke House (26 Bannister’s Wharf, 401-849-2900; bannisters newport.com). It’s a bit of a tourist destination at times, but with a great location at the center of Newport. The seafood is a can’t-miss. DG: Newport has the whole nautical-sporty-chic style nailed. Yes, waterproof vests under a sport coat are perfectly acceptable at a dinner party. Visors and sundresses—check, all good. TB: Dress in offshore-sailing gear or walk around half-naked. There is really not a whole lot in between. DG: Snorkeling at Mackerel Cove is a blast. Circle Aquidneck Island and have lunch halfway round at the Boat House (227 Schooner Dr., Tiverton, RI, 401-6246300; boathousetiverton.com) for great chowder and fish. TB: Visit the International Tennis Hall of Fame (194 Bellevue Ave., Newport, RI, 401-849-3990; tennis fame.com). Or check out Jamestown for shopping and dining. Head up to Narragansett Bay for endless boating opportunities. BC
bostoncommon-magazine.com 123
HAUTE PROPERTY Spotlight
BetWeen the lines Hudson celebrates emerging female artists during its second annual Hudson Discovers event on September 24, which honors painter, entrepreneur, and pattern maker Pauline Curtiss. The Massachusetts native has garnered a loyal following with her eye-catching tabletop pieces, many of which draw inspiration from outdoor urban art. Hudson will sell an exclusive, limited-edition collection of Curtiss’s plates, serving bowls, and platters with hand-drawn black-ink patterns (including the fretwork plate, above, $30). Scoop up the embroidery bowl before it sells out. 5–7 pm. 12 Union Park St., 617-292-0900; hudsonboston.com
browse
Red, White, and Cool
Light Fantastique
simon pearce releases elegant new glassware for fall. By GaBrielle Van Tassel Three new hand-blown hurricane lamps from Simon Pearce will add an elegant glow to your tablescape. Mix and match the sizes (fit for a two-by-three, three-by-three, or three-by-six pillar candle) along the spine of a table or embrace late summer by scattering them in small groupings on a patio or in the backyard. For those getting a head start on holiday shopping, this year’s charity ornament, the Chelsea Optic Drop, is also available. Twenty percent of the proceeds from its sale will benefit the foundation LoveYourBrain, started by the Pearce family after their youngest son, Kevin, suffered a traumatic head injury while snowboarding in 2009. 103 Newbury St., 617-450-8388; simonpearce.com BC
// in store //
See what America’s top artisans have to offer at the Boston Design Center on September 12 and 13. At Ball and Buck’s two-day American Field market, between 10 am and 6 pm, you can browse booths of handcrafted goods from brands such as Brothers Artisan Oil, Fulton & Roark, Randolph, and Yuki Kawae. The Design Center continues to heat up the fall with its annual capstone event, the Boston Design Market, on October 7 and 8, where speakers and special guests will participate in panel discussions, product launches, and workshops. 1 Design Center Place, 617-449-5501; bostondesign.com
26 AND COUNTING
Design gurus Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams continue their 26 years of home décor dominance with the opening of their new 9,000-squarefoot Signature Store in Burlington. For this fall, we have our eye on the Jere chandelier, the
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Hunter sofa in a calming spruce hue, and the stainless steel Vega cocktail table (left, $1,496). Bring your pooch and pick a bed for her that matches your own. Dog tested, owner approved. 22 Third Ave., Burlington; mgbwhome.com
photography by Eric roth (bDc); paul SilvErStonE (platE); courtESy of Simon pEarcE (hurricanE lamp); courtESy mitchEll golD + bob WilliamS (vEga tablE)
The Simon Pearce Mill in Quechee, Vermont. inset: Hurricane lamp.
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The BMW M235i convertible; the onboard navigation system features an 8.8-inch display and self-updating maps; even with the top down, the car maintains its fluid lines.
Driving Me Crazy
Some days I just need to drive. You know those days when someone, say, in the office, maybe a boss or something, is yanking you around left, right, and center? Beyond strong drink and the warmth of a woman, I find the only cure is a full tank of gas, a playlist packed with jams, and a road leading nowhere. Only when my vehicle starts devouring the dotted lines on the highway like an epic game of PacMan is my blood pressure reduced to a simmer. For this therapeutic treatment, the right kind of car makes all the difference. Sputter down 93 in a jalopy with a jackedup alignment and you may just end up pointing it over the side of the Zakim Bridge. Yes, the proper car is crucial. My prescription? The new 2015 BMW M235i convertible. It’s better than two aspirin and a stiff martini chaser. Rolling back its convertible top wipes away the trials of the day, but it’s what’s under the hood that’s the real attitude adjuster. BMW has kitted out the M235i with a 320horsepower, 3.0-liter in-line six-cylinder TwinPower Turbo
126 bostoncommon-magazine.com
by robert cocuzzo
engine. Unlike its M-Class compadres, this convertible doesn’t clear its throat before it talks. Cars these days have forgotten how to make their presence known, but not this one. No, hitting the gas sounds vaguely reminiscent of a fork being stuffed into a garbage disposal—but in a good way. With my demons sufficiently exorcised by the engine, I can enjoy the amenities this vehicle offers. I have to admit that after test-driving my fair share of these luxury cars, the technology on the dash has lost its luster. Fancy knobs to control the radio, voice-activated seat warmers, satellite this and that—it’s all fine and good, but what moves my needle are the intangibles. How do I feel in this car? Is it intimidating? Confusing? Wimpy? Precious? Clumsy? This BMW is quietly confident inside and out. It knows how to roar, but it’s not about to go pounding its chest. Of all the James Bonds, I’d give this one to Daniel Craig. But not my boss. Herb Chambers BMW of Boston, 1168 Commonwealth Ave., 617-731-1700; herbchambersbmwofboston.com BC
photography courtesy of BMW usa
How do you optimize a Boston day? witH a BMW M235i convertiBle.
Your Nantucket escape is just an hour away.
Ferry service from Hyannis to Nantucket • Snack bar with beverages Comfortable seating • Free Wi-Fi • Parking and free shuttle service
More trips. More ferries. Lowest fares. Book online at SteamshipAuthority.com • 508.495.FAST (3278) Ferry service from Woods Hole to Martha’s Vineyard is also available.
HAUTE PROPERTY Out of Town
The Deluxe Road Trip Enjoying fall foliagE in high sEason is much bEttEr with thE right itinErary. by annie copps
The Royal Miles: RouTe 100, VeRMonT
Running 200 or so miles north to south through Vermont to the Massachusetts border, Route 100 is the crown prince of scenic drives in New England. All the quintessential charm and beauty of autumn can be found here, from mountainsides covered in a patchwork quilt of trees that seem on fire with their red and gold leaves, to cows grazing in fields with whitewashed barns, to covered bridges, antiques shops, and general stores. Much of this winding road is unspoiled by development, especially its northern points, but when it does pass through towns or villages, they tend to be filled with historic buildings, art galleries, craft shops, bookstores, cafés, and inns. Plan on a minimum of three hours for this trip. First, take a detour up Route 108 to the well-known ski-resort village of Stowe for an off-season gondola ride up Vermont’s highest peak. The Stowe Mountain Resort
(5781 Mountain Road, Stowe, VT, 802-253-3000; stowe.com) offers dining at the Cliff House or Solstice restaurants. Heading back to Route 100, visit the Ben & Jerry’s headquarters (1281 Waterbury-Stowe Road, Waterbury, VT, 866-2586877; benjerry.com) for a tour and watch your Cherry Garcia being churned. For a more substantial meal, the restaurant Hen of the Wood
resorts provide high ground for stunning views. For a good meal, make an eastward turn onto Route 4 to Quechee and the Simon Pearce restaurant (1760 Quechee Main St., Quechee, VT, 802-295-1470). Perched over the Ottauquechee River in a former mill, it also features a shop selling the acclaimed Simon Pearce pottery and glassware. Finally, the pinnacle of Route 100 is
“get there early or late and you’ll avoid foliage lovers who won’t ever go faster than 30 mph—and i can’t blame them.”
—mel allen
(92 Stowe St., Waterbury, VT, 802-244-7300; henofthe wood.com), built in a converted grist mill, is a destination all its own, a never-ending ode to local and seasonal fare. From there, head to Waitsfield, home to the Mad River Glen and Sugarbush ski areas, where many artists have set up shop. Artisans’ Gallery (20 Bridge St., Waitsfield, VT, 802-4966256; vtartisansgallery.com), representing more than 150 artists, is a sensory smash. Further south, the Killington and Okemo ski
128 bostoncommon-magazine.com
Weston—the whole village is on the National Register of Historic Places. Check out the Vermont Country Store (657 Main St., Weston, VT, 802-824-3184) for woolen socks, Lanz of Salzburg nighties, forgotten brands of candy (like Reed’s and Merri-Mints) and cologne (Royall and Charlie), and much more, as well as the Weston Playhouse (12 Park St., Weston, VT, 802-824-5288; westonplayhouse.org), the state’s oldest professional theater.
Concord’s Old North Bridge.
The Vermont Country Store in Weston stocks candy, knickknacks, and more.
A view from New Hampshire’s Kancamagus Scenic Byway.
photography by Christian Delbert (olD north briDge); appaloosa (Vermont Country store); Jon bilous (KanCamagus)
Why visitors from all over the world descend upon New England every fall can be summed up in three words: red, yellow, orange. These are the starring colors of nature’s electric light show. Behind the scenery, though, is a world of elegant dining, artisanal crafts, and superior lodging, which requires a most discerning map.
Less MiLeage, PLenty of Leaves: ancaMagus HigHway, new HaMPsHire
photography by Jon bilous (Kancamagus); t photography / shutterstocK.com (mass moca)
The 34-mile Kancamagus Scenic Byway stretches east to west from Conway to Lincoln—smack in the middle of the White Mountains of New Hampshire. It’s impressive any time of the year but comes to life in the fall with striking mountain vistas and acres of forest. “When I drive the Kanc in fall, I make sure I’m there for early light or late,” says Mel Allen, editor of Yankee magazine, a man who knows a thing or two about the seasons in these parts. “Plus you’ll avoid maybe a few hundred fellow foliage lovers who won’t ever go faster than 30 miles per hour—and I can’t blame them.” Be sure to bring your camera and a tripod—this bit of asphalt is all about the scenic views. Start in North Conway, about 10 minutes north of Route 112 on Route 302. Fuel up on buttermilk pancakes or huevos rancheros at the Stairway Café (2649 White Mountain Hwy., North Conway, NH, 603-3565200; stairwaycafe.com). Once on the highway, pull off whenever the mood strikes. There is an interesting tableau of nature every five miles or so, including the Albany Swift River Lower Falls, the Rocky Gorge, Champney Falls, Mount Chocorua (about a three-and-a-half-mile hike for the really excellent views), Sabbaday Falls, Sugar Hill, and the Wangan Grounds. That should bring you just about to Lincoln. If you’ve had your fill of nature for this round, head a few miles south on Route 3 and relax with a juicy burger (or Buffalo frog’s legs) and a cold one at the Woodstock Inn (135
Leaving Boston doesn’t mean leaving culture behind, thanks to places like Mass MoCA.
Main St., North Woodstock, NH, 603-7453951; woodstockinnnh.com). If you still have some juice, take in Franconia Notch, a bit north on Route 3, for a bird’s-eye view. foLiage warrior: route 2, MoHaw traiL, MassacHusetts
If you started on Route 2 in Cambridge and only made it to Concord, you’d still find plenty to do and see, whether Revolutionary War sites, boutiques, or farmstands. If you plan to head farther west, pick up a wedge of cheddar and a loaf of bread at the Concord Cheese Shop (29 Walden St., 978-369-5778; concordcheeseshop.com) and keep driving— Route 2 goes all the way to North Adams, in the far northwestern corner of Massachusetts. The Connecticut River runs alongside the road for most of the journey, and its crossings include some impressive bridges and waterfalls. The Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls, a former trolley bridge turned community garden, is an especially lovely one. Lunch at the West End Pub (16 State St., 413-625-6216; westendpubinfo.com) provides the best view, and the fish-and-chips make for good eating. Or, depending on where you are in your day, dig into that cheese from Concord, pick up coffee and handmade truffles from Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters (1207
The Albany Covered Bridge, one of the sights along the Kancamagus Scenic Byway in the White Mountain National Forest.
Mohawk Trail, 413-625-0116; shelburnefalls coffee.com), and grab a bench by the river. Toward the end of the road, you’ll be rewarded with world-class art museums. In Williamstown, home of Williams College, a skip down South Street reveals the Clark Art Institute (225 South St., 413-458-2303; clarkart.edu), known for a collection that extends from the French impressionists to local artisans. In North Adams, at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (1040 Mass MoCA Way, 413-664-4481; mass moca.org), things are decidedly modern. BC
After Hours Where to stay if your road trip calls for an overnight. ROUTE 100, VERMONT
Stowe Mountain Inn: A multifaceted resort offering a world-class spa, luxe rooms, and freplace after freplace. 5781 Mountain Road, Stowe, VT, 802253-3000; stowe.com The Pitcher Inn: This Relais & Châteaux property amazes guests with its well-appointed rooms as well as its award-winning food and wine program. 275 Main St., Warren, VT, 802-496-6350; pitcherinn.com KANCAMAGUS HIGHWAY, NEW HAMPSHIRE
Woodstock Inn: The burgers are just the beginning at this quaint New England inn, with white birch furniture and paisley-covered walls. 135 Main St., North Woodstock, NH, 603-745-3951; woodstockinnnh.com ROUTE 2, MASSACHUSETTS
The Porches Inn: Restore yourself at the Porches Inn, across from Mass MoCA, where the rooms are distinctly retro chic. 87 Marshall St., North Adams, 413-662-2111; porches.com
bostoncommon-magazine.com 129
INVITED
BLACK AND WHITE BALL BID CARDS WERE HELD
HIGH when deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum presented its Black and White in the Park Gala, cochaired by Joyce Linde and Dan Mathieu. This year the event honored distinguished Boston gallerist Barbara Krakow, who’s been instrumental in deCordova’s evolution and growth. The gala raised a record-breaking $530,000 to support deCordova’s exhibitions and educational programming.
Libby Maynard, Toni O’Connor, and Trintje Gnazzo
Joel Ellzey
John Ravenal, Joyce Linde, and Dan Mathieu
The Hive Airstream trailer with indoor bar.
Marc and Charlotte Zawel
Tareef Kawaf and Rand Darwish
Karen Cangello, Gianna Cangello, Susan Farrington, Ann Rose, and Meg Belsito
Carol Francolini and Helen Tsingos Sorboni Banerjee and Rebecca van Bergen
WOMEN HELPING WOMEN THE CROWD WAS HAPPY—and hydrated—at the Voss Foundation’s fifth
annual Women Helping Women Boston Luncheon at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House in the Seaport District. The event raised awareness and funds for projects that bring clean water and sanitation to women and their communities in sub-Saharan Africa. Fox 25 Boston morning news anchor Sorboni Banerjee served as mistress of ceremonies for the event, which honored Rebecca van Bergen, founder and executive director of Nest, for her commitment to working with artisans around the world so they can develop their own small businesses. Maureen Reilly and Jasmine Lee
130 BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MELISSA OSTROW (DECORDOVA); BRENDAN PIKE (VOSS)
Guests shopped a bazaar of handmade items to benefit the organization.
Joanne Chang preps miniature fruit pies for guests.
Linda Ergas, David Brown, Salvatore DeGeorge, Dot Joyce, and Matt Wilder
Ralph Fuccillo and Joanne Jaxtimer
The fresh juice “shots” from Mother Juice.
A TASTE AND A TOAST NO ONE LEFT HUNGRY when the
Forsyth Institute hosted its second annual A Taste & A Toast, featuring small bites from 15 top restaurants. The event raised more than $150,000 to support the institute in its mission to improve oral and overall health. The Icon in Oral Health Award was given to Dr. Bob Soparkar in honor of his
30-year commitment to children’s oral health worldwide, and Don Rodman presented chef Andy Husbands with the Smile Award for Community Service. The evening also featured a musical toast sung by the Park School Inspirational Freedom Choir and personalized artwork provided by the Art Resource Collaborative for Kids. Ellen Fitzgerald and Laura Baldini
TEE TIME
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL BLANCHARD (FORSYTH); JOHN MCMAHON (TEE TIME)
EVERYONE WAS IN TOP FORM to raise funds for kidney
Dan Kennedy, Mark Baughman, Steve Hoffman, Shane O’Neil, Mike Hughes, and Peter Bonasia Joe Antonelli Mike LaPierre and Jess Trelegan
Mike and Chris Cotter
disease awareness, research, and treatment at the National Kidney Foundation Golf Classic, sponsored locally by Putnam Investments, at Boston Golf Club in Hingham. Under the leadership of event chair Alex Wayman and the golf committee, the event raised $100,000 to support NKF’s programs. Sponsors included South Shore BMW Gallery Group, The RE/ MAX Collection, Grey Goose Vodka, Sentient Jet, Michelob Ultra, and HM Insurance Group. In addition to qualifying to play at Pebble Beach, golfers vied for prizes provided by IAA One Car One Difference, Tiffany & Co., Ping, Greg Norman, and Golf Digest.
Tom McDonough
BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM
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INVITED
Francesca and Pat Purcell Kristin Scanlon and Peter Gori Nelly Carreno and Jessie Glod
Dennis and Rebecca Seidenberg Kristin Phelan, Alejandro Alvarez, and Jessica Ryan
GET INKED
THE SOUTH END literally glowed when
Ink Block, the area’s newest luxury residential building, hosted an invitation-only party to celebrate its opening in the former home of the Boston Herald. Partygoers sipped
custom cocktails by Ki Bar, which were paired with delicious bites provided by Stephi’s in Southie. DJ Opyn Mynd spun music throughout the evening, with a special performance by violinist Rhett Price. Rhett Price
Ed Owen and Elvie Mahoney
Laurie Gorelick
TAKE A SEAT THERE WASN’T AN EMPTY SEAT in the house when the International Furnishings
Eric Haydel and Rosemary Porto
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BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM
and Design Association kicked off its annual design exhibition, Take a Seat, in Boston. Take a Seat features upcycled and newly designed chairs crafted by furnishing and design professionals using unique fabrics and recycled materials. Guests enjoyed a private viewing of the chairs, presented on stylish rugs by Dover Rug & Home and paired with antique motorcycles and period apparel from the Larz Anderson Auto Museum’s “Beauty and the Beast” exhibit. The event raised more than $16,000 for the Women’s Institute for Housing and Economic Development, an award-winning affordable-housing development organization.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DREA CATALANO (INKED): ELAINE FREDRICK (TAKE A SEAT)
Custom chairs were displayed on Dover rugs.
Chris Elliot, Karen Gill, Judy Ghanem, and Edwina Drummond Boose
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Embracing the autumnal transformation has never been easier with Dover Rug & Home’s timeless and trendy collection of rugs and floor coverings. Create comfort around the fireplace with one of our wool rugs—adding warmth to your space with all the convenience of a naturally stain repellant fiber.
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390 Stuart Street, Boston | 617.266.3600 721 Worcester Road, Natick | 508.651.3500 Doverrug.com
Call 617-267-2100 or visit Bostoncar.com
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
NOT TO BE MISSED EVENTS • HAPPENINGS • PROMOTIONS
ROYAL JEWELERS When their dad founded Royal Jewelers in 1948, he focused on the customer experience and watched the business grow. His mantra, “the people who shop at Royal are more valuable than the jewelry we sell.” Royal Jewelers offers the largest selection of designer jewelry, diamonds and Swiss watch brands. RoyalJewelers.com 58 Main St. Andover, MA 978.475.3330
CHÂTEAU D’ESCLANS “GARRUS” ROSÉ Located just north of St-Tropez in the heart of Provence, Château D’Esclans produces some of the most talked about and trendy rosés consistently outscoring other producers in all major wine reviews. Hand crafted by Sacha Lichine and Patrick Léon (former winemaker for Château Mouton-Rothschild, Opus One, and Viña Almaviva), the single vineyard “Garrus” rosé is the most exclusive rosé in the world.
GILDA’S BOUTIQUE Suburban Boston’s retail answer to your own personal stylist! Come To Gilda’s, tucked into Newton Centre, we have been dressing woman, with our funky mix of fashion: small designers interpreting our point of view, from Urban Zen’s feminine chic ‘lifestyle’ pieces, to Greg Lauren’s cutting edge looks to enhance your existing wardrobe!
Visit esclans.com
101 Union St., Newton gildasboutique.com 617.964.7199
PRIMIGI
MERCEDES-BENZ AT HERB CHAMBERS
MR. SID
PRIMIGI and all that glitters-style Addison will be the perfect accessory to a girl’s wardrobe! Primigi-Europe’s top-selling footwear brand for children has styles for all occasions in luxe materials and trend details.Shop for durable back to school, holiday and Gore-Tex winter styles for boys and girls at primigiusa.com.
The Mercedes-Benz at Herb Chambers mobile app makes your Mercedes-Benz experience more enjoyable than ever! Schedule your next service appointment, browse inventory and even make a payment. Plus, it’s free! Search Mercedes-Benz at Herb Chambers in the app store of your favorite mobile device.
The Alden 979 is a fresh version of the long wing blucher. Alden has had the shell version in the line for a long time, but at Mr. Sid we find the burnished tan to be a very different and fresh version that will patina beautifully with years of love. Perfect with your favorite pair of denim!
Visit HerbChambersMercedesBenz.com to learn more.
1211 Centre Street | Newton, MA 02459 MrSid.com
PARTING SHOT Fall 2015
Foliage Fashion
When the leaves change in Boston, so does the dress code.
hasn’t: Fall fashion is about personal renewal. We’ve worn thin those flip-flops and cut-off T-shirts that defined rooftop barbecues and beach days all summer long. Fall is about reclaiming the cool air of sophistication that wafts off the bricks of Beacon Hill and Harvard Square come September. It’s a time to try those tortoise-frame glasses again and see how long you can go before one of your buddies tells you that you look like a jerk. Of all the fashion seasons, fall is ours to flaunt. The weather in October is such that we can comfortably mix and match the carefree colors of the Cape with the tough textiles of New Hampshire. A true New England look for the autumnal gentleman might consist of leather Frye boots, cognac J. Crew cords, one of L.L. Bean’s signature flannel shirts, and, to top it off, a relaxed-wash military-style khaki coat. And for his date, how about a matching J. Crew gingham shirt with a chunky white Ralph Lauren sweater on top of skinny Madewell jeans and Hunter wellies? Now of course, at the heart of being fashionable, it’s not so much what you’re wearing but how you’re wearing it. If you spotted Gisele strutting down Newbury Street in a pair of jellies, a Patriots jersey, and sweatpants that someone’s dad had worn while painting the kitchen, she would still look damn good. And not just because she’s a knockout. But because she wears it all with confidence. Thankfully, in Boston, when it comes to confidence, we wear it well. BC
IllustratIon by DanIel o’leary
As a kid, the only joy I ever found in returning to school each fall was when my mom would take me back-to-school shopping. I loved picking out new binders, grabbing a handful of pencils and Magic Markers, and selecting that wicked-cool lunch box that really made a statement: Herein lies the PB&J and string cheese of the Fonzarelli himself. But most of all, I loved picking out my back-to-school clothes. After my younger brother and I grew out of having to wear matching outfits—which lasted literally till I was in the sixth grade and made us, two blue-eyed blond towheads, look like members of the Hitler Youth—buying new duds for the first day of school was an occasion on a par with show-and-tell. Mom would bring me down to the bigger-than-life mall, and we’d find an outfit that looked plucked from the set of Dead Poets Society. This usually consisted of a sweater, corduroys, a pair of bucks, and maybe a peacoat, if there was a sale. “This sweater is going to change my life,” I would think. “I’m going to be discovered on the street and written into the cast of Boy Meets World and then finally Topanga will be mine!” So no matter how hot it was, 90 degrees with 100 percent humidity, I would wear that outfit on the first day of school even if it killed me—which it very nearly did, as I would sweat through each class like it was an interrogation. While the styles have certainly changed since my childhood, the motivation behind choosing one’s fall clothes
by robert cocuzzo
136 bostoncommon-magazine.com
THIS FALL
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