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THE NEXT BIG THING
J. SKYLER FERNANDES Dynamic physicist, technology futurist and Simon Venture Group Founding Manager ranked as a PowerList 100 VC
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MECHANICAL ROMANTICISM
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DOCTOR WATSON, I PRESUME?
IBM Watson’s supercomputer ushers in an era of cognitive health
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Opulence Winter 2016/17
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130 28 THE PHILANTHROPY OF SOCIALITE JEAN SHAFIROFF
50 LEGENDS OF HARD APPLE CIDER
32 ZZ TOP RETURNS TO ROCK HARDER THAN EVER
52 FOOD FOR THOUGHT
An exclusive interview with icon rocker Billy Gibbons
The photography of Barry Seidman
36 TEA FORTé – The exclusive tea of the James Beard House
56 OREGON BEER CYCLING TRAIL
40 COLICcHIO THE CRAFTSMAN MAKES A MIAMI DEBUT Don’t miss the Celebrity Chef’s latest eatery Beachcraft in Miami Beach at the 1 Hotel
62 2 016 WORLD SERIES WINNING
44 SECRETS OF SCOTCH CRAFTSMANSHIP
OPULENCE REIMAGINED AT 35,000 FEET
An exclusive with the master distiller of Delmore single malt Scotch Whisky made since 1839
FIRST BASEMAN ANTHONY RIZZO
81
48 CHEERS TO YOU ERNEST HEMINGWAY! Papa Pilar Rum was made in homage to the rum-loving fisherman and author by his remaining family members in Key West
84 SEIZE THE MOMENT IN THE EVER-CHANGING MALDIVES
94 BENTLEY LUXURY GOLF
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118 features (continued)
130 PIRATE STYLE ADVENTURES IN PUERTO RICO
96 ROMANCE OF THE SEAS
132 ICONIC BILTMORE
Star Clipper Ships replicate the grand age of sailing
CELEBRATES 90 YEARS
102 FINLAND’S WINTER
134 STRIKE WHILE
WONDERLAND RESORT
Birmingham THE IRON CITY is hot
108 EXPERIENCE ICELAND LIKE A LOCAL & WITH A LOCAL Icelandair Buddy Program matches travelers for personalized layover adventures
112 ARCTIC CIRCLE LUXURY RAIL TRAIL
136 LIFE IN THE QUIET ZONE — TWO WORLDS COLLIDE
140 IF I LIVE TO BE 100 144 LAST OF THE DOOLITTLE RAIDERS
118 ACT ONE: SCENE ONE: LET THE PLAY BEGIN Foyers and entry halls prologue to good design by Perla Lichi ASID
148 WE LIVE IN THE PAST HERE IN RATHKEALE, IRELAND
122 TAGG BOWMAN, MODERN DAY JOSH BASKIN A behind-scenes-look at a real toy executive
125 8 REASONS TO JOURNEY TO SHANGHAI DISNEYLAND
128 LADY PIRATES Anne Bonny & Mary Read: Fierce and famous female pirates
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Opulence Winter 2016/17
departments Editor’s Letter Gadgets Broadway Across America Social Living Gala Guide PhilanthropyJean Shafiroff, Patty & Jay Baker National Dining Guide Dishing With The James Beard Foundation President Real Estate Women’s/Men’s Grooming Art Of Landscape Condo Law
20 22 24 25 26 28, 30 34 38 76 101 150 154
CAUGHT UP IN THE MOMENT KURO – NEW ST YLE JAPANESE ICONIC ENTERTAINMENT ENDLESS SURPRISES SEMINOLEHARDROCKHOLLYWOOD.COM
editor’s letter
Even In A Hi-Tech World, The Simplest Things Are Still Priceless What a mind-boggling concept. In the last half century, technology has increased exponentially — meaning that with each new discovery, the acceleration rate of even more new discoveries compounds increasingly faster and faster. Pondering that pace can make your head spin. Think about it. In the year 1023, the Chinese printed the first paper money. It took 200 more years before eyeglasses were invented. And another two centuries after that before Gutenberg invented the printing press. Back then, giant leaps to new concepts took time. But in 1989, when English scientist Tim-BernersLee invented the World Wide Web, access to information exploded. Since 2000, the .com bubble burst and technology was off to the races. In 2001, the Apple iPod made music personalized and portable. In 2004, Facebook skyrocketed the worldwide spread of social media. In 2007, the iPhone touch screen debuted. In 2008, scientists discovered how to extract images directly from the brain. Facial computer generated imagery and 3D scanners came to market. In 2010, the iPad debuted, scientists trapped antimatter and mobile phones could translate speech. In 2013, human stem cells could be cloned and the first gene therapy took place. In 2015, surgeons implanted the first selfregulating artificial heart, personal biometric scanners allowed for online banking, and 11 million people were driving electric cars. Now it won’t be long before they’re using cars that drive themselves. In 2016, researchers in the UK are taking DNA from three people to create a baby to prevent rare diseases, 3D printers can print out everything from shoes, toys, food and organs; and artificial intelligence is no longer something of sci-fi movies (just ask Simon Venture Group’s founding manager and physicist J. Skyler Fernandes on page 68). IBM’s Webster is an artificial intelligence computer that receives so much incoming data it can learn and think on its own. Five years ago, Webster was smart enough to win a game of TVs Jeopardy! against two human competitors. Today, Webster is so advanced it now helps oncologists come up with incredible solutions for patients with previously treatment-resistant cancer. In 2017, futurists say tooth regeneration will revolutionize dental care; robotics will do more complex surgeries, and surgeons say the first head transplant will take place. In 2018, they say an immunization to prevent obesity and a vaccine to prevent cancer could come to market. And in 2019 it’s said bionic high-resolution eyes will be available. In this issue of Opulence, we take a look at advance technologies in transportation, retail shopping and artificial intelligence to improve healthcare. On the flip side, we’ll tell you about a town where many technologies — like cell phones, WiFi and even microwaves are forbidden (see page 136.) This rapid pace of technology proves both exciting and overwhelming at times. It’s important not to let it take over the value of face-to-face communication and camaraderie that comes from the simple things in life. This year, we saw an election that caused more stress and division like never before. But something else happened this fall that, to me, was a reminder of how a basic American pastime could rally people of all ages, creed and color to join together positively in support of each other: through good old-fashioned American Baseball. After a 108-year drought, the Chicago Cubs made it to the World Series, breaking the “curse of the goat” for good. The series brought old friends, families, neighbors and even strangers together over a simple shared love for an underdog team. When Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo, (a young man from Parkland, Florida, who overcame cancer at 18 to pursue his dream), caught the last out to make the Cubs World Series Champions, the joy on his face had fans cheering nationwide (see page 62). At the celebration parade in Chicago a few days later, more than 5 million people turned out in solidarity and support to cheer on their Cubbies — it was the 7th largest public gathering ever in the world in recorded history! And all it took was the game of baseball, which is pretty much played the same way, with the same tools, as it was a century ago. Opulence is pleased to honor Anthony Rizzo and the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation at the next Opulence Home Run For The Cure Gala in support of cancer patients and their families. Won’t you join us? (See page 26 for details.) 20
Opulence Winter 2016/17
HORIZON PUBLISHING Executive PUBLISHER & Owner Geoff Hammond, CEO Jayne Hammond, President Associate PUBLISHER David Hammond EDITOR IN CHIEF Robin Jay editor@southfloridaopulence.com SENIOR CREATIVE ART DIRECTOR Adriana Naylor artdirector@southfloridaopulence.com 954-331-3912 PR AND MARKETING MANAGER Chantal Forster marketingmanager@southfloridaopulence.com 954-331-3390 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT Michael Jay michaeljay@southfloridaopulence.com 954-593-5060 Contributing Writers: John D. Adams Stephanie Bonilla Jana Soeldner Danger Michael L. Hyman Cara Jay Ryan Jay Steven Joseph Dale King & Julia Hebert Perla Lichi, ASID Kristen Mager Julie Marozzi
Jill Patterson Ava Roosevelt Todd R. Sciore John Sevigny Alex Starace Suzanne Stewart Susan Ungaro Carleton Varney Kelly Villasuso Mary & Hugh Williamson
Photographers Ryan Bowlby Mike Campau Simon Leuthi Joan Marcus Charlie McDonald Paul Mobley Silvia Pangaro PROOFREADER Suzanne Shaw General Counsel Barry Weiss bweiss@csiinternational.com International Opulence Magazine is published quarterly by Horizon Publishing LLC. Copyright © 2016. All rights reserved. Horizon Publishing LLC, 6700 North Andrews Avenue, Suite 400, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 – Vol. 6, No. 4, Winter 2016/2017 (ISSN # 2157-5274) Subscription Rates: $40 per year, $10 per issue. For subscription inquiries or change of address, contact the subscription department, (954) 308-4300 Ext. 4312, Fax: (954) 331-6028. Horizon Publishing, LLC, its affiliates and contributing writers have exercised due care in compiling the information contained herein, but with the possibility of human or mechanical error, cannot assume liability for the accuracy of this data. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in part or in full in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording and any information storage and retrieval system without first obtaining permission from the publisher.
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Shelby Cobra Ride-On For Children
Featuring both forward and reverse gears, plus realistic sound effects, this will be all any child needs to cruise sidewalks in style. www.brookstone.com. $272
Swiss Engineered Quad Calibrated Turntable
This turntable sports a magnetically suspended aluminum platter nestled within a special wooden cylinder for a stable, silent base unaffected by environmental vibration. www.hammacher.com. $94,000
Authentic Water Blasting Fire Rescue Game
This is the same two-player game found at theme parks that challenges players to quench “fires” by aiming streams of water at a series of “burning” windows. www.hammacher.com. $10,000
Special Edition BB-8 App-Enabled Droid with Force Band
Straight from the sands of Jakku, this Star Wars droid can be guided from your smartphone, tablet or voice. www.hammacher.com. $199
22
OPULENCE
Winter 2016/17
Broadway 2016/17 Season
Miami Adrienne Arsht Center, March 3-5, 2017
San Jose, CA
New York
Chicago
San Jose Center, Jan. 6-8, 2017
West Palm Beach
Miami
Kravis Center, March 2, 2017
Adrienne Arsht Center Dec. 27, 2016-Jan. 01, 2017
New York City The Palace Theatre ongoing
Astor Place Theatre, Ongoing
Oriental Theatre Dec. 4-31, 2017
Chicago
Miami
Briar Street Theater, through Dec. 24, 2016
Adrienne Arsht Center, Feb. 14-19, 2017
Miami,
New York
Adrienne Arsht Center, January 1, 2017
Steven Sondheim Theatre ongoing
Schenectady NY Proctors May 9-14, 2017
San Jose, CA Center for the Performing Arts June 6-11, 2017
Washington, DC Eisenhower Theater July 11-Aug. 6, 2017
West Palm Beach Kravis Center Feb. 1-5, 2017
Bakersfield, CA Rabobank Arena Theater May 18, 2017
Elmira, NY Clemens Center Feb. 21-22, 2017
Fort Lauderdale Broward Center Jan. 10-22, 2017
Peoria, IL Peoria Civic Center Jan.18-19, 2017
West Palm Beach Chicago The Oriental Theater Dec. 6-24, 2016
New York City Ethel Barrymore Theatre ongoing
San Francisco The Golden Gate, June 27 - July 23, 2017
Kravis Center Jan. 3, 2017- Jan. 8, 2017
Chicago Private Bank Theatre Sept. 27 2016-March 19, 2017
Schenectady, NY Proctors Nov. 8 2016-Nov. 13, 2016
Thousand Oaks, CA
Fort Lauderdale
Kavli Theatre Feb. 2, 2017-Feb. 5, 2017
Broward Center June 13, 2017
San Francisco SHN Jan. 18-Feb. 12, 2017
West Palm Beach Kravis Center Nov. 15-20, 2016
New York Richard Rodgers Theatre ongoing
San Francisco SHN Orpheum Theatre starting March 17, 2017
Washington, DC Kennedy Center Mid-June to Mid-September 2018
Washington DC Kennedy Center October 5-23, 2016
Fort Lauderdale Broward Center April 25-May 7, 2017
Chicago Oriental Theatre June 14-July 9, 2017
Binghamton NY, Forum Theater April 18-19, 2017
Modesto, CA Gallo Center Jan. 24-25, 2017
Fort Lauderdale Broward Center Feb. 22-March 5, 2017
New York City Lunt-Fontanne Theatre ongoing
San Diego
Adrienne Arsht Center May 9-14, 2017
Miami
Washington, DC
Adrienne Arsht Center April 4-9, 2017
Broward Center May 19-21, 2017
Baltimore, MD Hippodrome Jan. 13-15, 2017
San Diego Civic Theatre Jan. 10-15, 2017
Fort Lauderdale
Washington, DC National Theatre June 24-25, 2017
CHICAGO Cadillac Palace Theatre 12/14/16 - 1/8/17 Kravis Center 3/23/17 - 4/1/17
OPULENCE Fall Opulence Winter 2016 2016/17
Fort Lauderdale
Kennedy Center July 11-16, 2017
WEST PALM BEACH
24
San Diego Civic Theatre Jan. 31-Feb. 5, 2017
Miami
Civic Theatre May 9-14 2017
Broward Center March 21-April 2, 2017
New York City St. James Theatre ongoing
Baptist Health Foundation’s The Grand Gala
Lourdes Jofre-Collett, Karel Foti, Leonard Bell Trish & Dan
Kalman, M.D & Bill Banchs ilio Estefan Gloria & Em
Singer-songw riter & music ian
Matt Goss
Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida and InterContinental® Miami VIP Kick-off
Suzanne Dia z (mother of Wish child), St (W ish child) & Lu ephanie Diaz & an m air iz Diaz (father Ch la Ga k lni Ma f ee of Wish child ar Sh st, Ho la ® Ga ish ll ) -W Hi -A rt ke be Ro CEO of Ma urn President and Norman Wedderb Southern Florida
A Final Encore: South Florida’s Beloved Face of Theater Charlie Cinnamon Since 1953, iconic publicist Charlie Cinnamon has had his finger on the pulse of Theater in South Florida. Every editor involved with Broadway or theater here knew and loved Charlie, including yours truly. When we launched Opulence in 2010, Charlie took my writers and me (and my family) under his wing, introducing us to the “Hollywood” scene of Miami. He made us feel special – like he did with everyone. One of his most famous publicity acts was in 1963 when he created a Parisian arts festival setting at the Coconut Grove Playhouse to promote the French musical “Irma La Douce.” It was so well received that it turned into what is now the world-renowned annual Coconut Grove Arts Festival. At 95, Charlie publicized his beloved theater even this year. He passed away Nov. 3. Adieu my friend Charlie. We will miss you!
Opulence International Realty Presents The Dos and Don’ts of Art Basel with Felipe Grimberg
Jill Patterson &
Felipe Grimbe rg
on’ts e Dos and D Guests of Th of Art Basel
Winter 2016/17
Opulence
25
2017 GALA GUIDE: PARTY FOR A CAUSE!
BEVERLY HILLS IMAGINE GALA April 22, 2017 Location:
Beverly Hilton, 9876 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA
Cause & Beneficiary:
JDRF, Improving Lives, Curing Type 1 Diabetes Event: Gala patrons will gather for cocktails, a multi-course dinner, silent and live auctions and live entertainment. The Imagine Gala has raised over $20 million for type 1 diabetes research.
For Tickets: www.jdrf.org/la/events/imagine-gala
Chicago
NOIR an Evening of Mystery and Mayhem in Chicago February 25, 2017
Location: Union League Club of Chicago, 65 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL Cause & Beneficiary: For the Love of Chocolate Foundation awards scholarships to students in full-time programs at non-profit colleges, promoting commitment in pastry arts education for individuals looking to change careers. Event: A film Noir spectacle. Dance, music, theatre, gourmet feast, raising money for scholarships. For Tickets: www.ftloc.org
Miami
2017 PAWPURRAZZI January 20, 2017 Location: Jungle Island, 1111 Parrot
Jungle Trail, Miami, FL
Cause & Beneficiary: Humane Society of Greater Miami
Event: This “Sparkling Affair” will benefit homeless animals as more than 500 of Miami’s most influential philanthropists and their doggies come together to help raise much needed funds to support more than 400 homeless and abandoned animals cared for by the Humane Society. For Tickets: www.humanesocietymiami.org/mc-events/pawpurrazzi-2 or call 305-749-1815
PALM BEACH
PALM BEACH WINE AUCTION January 12, 2017 Location: The Mar-a-Lago Club,
1100 South Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach, FL Cause & Beneficiary: Fundraiser for the arts-education program at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts Event: The Dinner and Live Auction features a five-course dinner prepared by an all-star lineup of local and national chefs, paired with specially selected wines from all over the world. Alumni of the Kravis Center’s programs will perform. For Tickets: palmbeachwineauction.org
THE DIAMOND CENTENNIAL INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS BALL
New York
CHICAGO
30th ANNUAL CHICAGO RITA HAYWORTH GALA May 13, 2017
Location:The Hilton Chicago, 720 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL Cause & Beneficiary: Alzheimer’s Association Event: Princess Yasmin Aga Khan began the Gala in honor of her mother, actress Rita Hayworth, who died as a result of Alzheimer’s disease. Over $69 million has been raised through the Chicago, Palm Beach and New York Rita Hayworth Galas. For Tickets: www.alz.org/galas/ Chicago/faqs.asp#tickets
THE HOPE GALA March 11, 2017
LOS ANGELES
MIDNIGHT IN PARIS: NYE 2017 CHARITY GALA PARTY TO CURE PARKINSON’S DISEASE December 31, 2017
Location: L’Entrepot (The Warehouse), 21045 Superior Street, Los Angeles, CA Cause & Beneficiary: Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research Event: Dinner and dancing gala by Jeri Yvonne Movement Disorders Neurology Inc. and Team Fox For Tickets: Call 818-324-5460 or email: drjyw@jywneuro.com
Location: Gotham Hall, 1356 Broadway, NY, NY 10018 Cause & Beneficiary: Childhood cancer patients and their families in need of financial aid, medical assistance, and emotional support at the Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. Event: Gala founded by the New York City Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association with support from the Northern New Jersey Chapter. For Tickets: www.nychopegala.com
Home Run For The Cure YACHT GALA
February 4. 2017 Location: The Mar-a-Lago Club, 1100 South Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach, FL
Cause & Beneficiary: The Red Cross is the readiness-response agency that feeds, houses and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; promotes humanitarian aid; supplies 40 percent of the nation’s blood; supports military members and their families; and teaches critical medical skills. Event: This season’s white-tie formal will celebrate the 60th International Red Cross Ball, as well as the American Red Cross South Florida Region’s 100th year of service. For Tickets: www.redcross.org/local/ florida/south-florida/local-chapters/palmbeach-martin-county
To Benefit The Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation
January 21, 2017 For event details, please contact: Chantal Forster marketingmanager@southfloridaopulence.com 26
OPULENCE
Winter 2016/17
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Philanthropy
BY AVA ROOSEVELT
JEAN SHAFIROFF: HOW TO MAKE A LIFE BY WHAT YOU GIVE
2005, and as a member of the board of directors from 2001 to 2004. In 2010, she joined the board of Couture Council, which supports the museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology. In 2012, she joined the board of the French Heritage Society, as well as the board of the New York Women’s Foundation after having hosted the foundation’s annual luncheon fundraiser the previous four years. Jean is widley recognized for her leadership in raising contributions for the Southampton Hospital totaling $5.4 million. She chaired the hospital’s annual summer gala fundraiser for the years 2010–2011 and 2013, as well as the Bicentennial Gala of the NY Mission Society, the Solar One Gala, and the New York City American Cancer Society Gala three times.
Photo courtesy of BFA
In October 2014, Jean was elected to the Board of Directors of the NYC Mission Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping families in New York City’s impoverished neighborhoods. She is also an honorary board member of the Southampton Animal Shelter.
Jean Shafiroff at the 2016 El Museo Gala at The Plaza Hotel in New York. El Museo del Barrio celebrates artists from Latin America.
S
eldom does philanthropy come packaged as beautifully as Jean Shafiroff. Her grace and style in which she effortlessly sponsors countless charity events is reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Don’t mistake her good looks and extraordinary poise as the only reason for her rise in the exclusive circles of the American philanthropists, and for her coveted title of one of the 100 Most Powerful New Yorkers. Jean received a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons, and an MBA from Columbia Business School. She worked as a physical therapist 28
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at St. Luke’s Hospital in New York City and later in the public finance sector and in private partnerships on Wall Street, including a post in the corporate finance department of investment bank L.F. Rothschild, Unterberg, Towbin. Jean is married to Martin D. Shafiroff and has two adult daughters. Jean’s charitable body of works is as impressive as her haute-couture wardrobe. She has served as a trustee of the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services (JBFCS) since 1992, and as a board member of the Youth Counseling League from 1998 to 2009. She has served as co-chair and a board member of Southampton Bath & Tennis Club Charitable Foundation since
Each year Jean co-chairs or chairs half a dozen charity galas and events. In 2016 she was honored by the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association. Jean sat down with me at Opulence to discuss her career as a benefactor for humanity. Ava: Your charitable interests are diverse. What inspired you initially to become one of the few who attempt to make the measurable difference in the lives of the many? Jean: We live in a world with enormous disparities in lifestyles and wealth. While traveling to countries such as Cambodia, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Argentina and Nicaragua, I saw tremendous poverty. We have great poverty in the United States as well. It is hard to ignore the needs of the underserved without doing something to try to help. I could never turn my back on their struggle. Ava: Your book, Successful Philanthropy: How to Make a Life By What You Give, is a well-researched tutorial on how to become a philanthropist, inspire others and join the ranks of Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Michael Bloomberg, Edsel Ford and John D. Rockefeller. What motivated you to write your book?
Jean: About four years ago, I was approached by Hatherleigh Press to write a book on the art of giving. I did a little research and could not find anything on the market like the book I was planning to write, so I verbally agreed to the project. There was just one problem—I did not have the time to write the book because of my involvement with Southampton Hospital and several other charities. Eventually my time freed up and I submitted an outline to Hatherleigh Press, which immediately liked it. The book was an enormous amount of work, but I am very glad to have written it. It has been very well received and is now ranked 5 stars on Amazon.com. Ava: Legend has it you have been the muse of the iconic New York Times fashion and society photographer Bill Cunningham, whose passing you lovingly acknowledged at the Heart Ball in Southampton this summer. Tell us about your relationship with him. What was it like to be his inspiration?
Ava: “Philanthropy should begin at a young age,” you wrote in your book. I understand you just came back from Nicaragua where you traveled with your daughter. What was the purpose of this trip? How do you envision your daughter’s role in this or any other charitable interest you might have or would like to share? Jean: In the past 12 months, we have taken a number of trips to Nicaragua and Costa Rica to meet with and support different animal rescue groups. My daughter, Elizabeth Shafiroff, and her friend, Lindsey Spielfogal, are in the process of starting a charity called Global Strays. This charity will help animal rescue groups in developing countries by giving them grants to further their work in education on the proper care of the animals. Since my family has a great love of animals, we enjoy working on this project together. Both of my two daughters are very interested in philanthropy. Right now my older daughter, Jacqueline, has a very demanding work schedule, so her time is very limited. However, both girls want to do all they can to be of help to society. I try to encourage this interest in any way that I can. Ava: You are a woman of many accomplishments. What do you consider your greatest? Jean: Bringing up two responsible daughters has been one of my greatest accomplishments for sure. Jacqueline and Elizabeth
Patrick McMullan photo – Owen Hoffmann/PatrickMcMullan.com
Jean: Bill Cunningham was a true gentleman and I will always have great admiration and respect for him and would like to believe it was mutual. I especially remember him for his kindness and for his vast knowledge about the fashion world. He understood the importance of philanthropy and made a great effort to acknowledge those
of us involved in the charity world. Mr. Cunningham was a very private person. He loved his work and seemed to work all the time. He photographed what he loved and what he thought was new and different.
Bill Cunningham, fashion photographer New York Times, shoots the Michael Kors Spring 2015 collection during Fashion Week in New York. (Richard Drew/The Associated Press) mean the world to me. It is wonderful to see them develop into socially responsible adults with an interest in philanthropy. I have great respect for all the mothers of the world and believe we should pay more tribute to women and working mothers. The role women play in molding future generations should receive highest recognition. Women should be treated as the equal to men. I hope to see equality between the sexes as we move forward. Ava: How do you balance your life with your work, your family and friends? Jean: Balancing my life is not always easy. My family has always been my top priority. Friends matter a great deal to me, as well. I do not always have enough time to see friends on a regular basis because my volunteer work and writing takes a lot of my time. The only way I can accomplish all that I want to do is by working on a continual basis. It is rare that I have the time to go out to the movies or stay home and watch television. However, I consider myself very lucky. Good fortune is a gift, and with that gift comes the important responsibility to use our resources to better society.
Ava Roosevelt and Jean Shafiroff Ava Roosevelt is the author of The Racing Heart. She is also a Palm Beach philanthropist and wife of the late William Donner Roosevelt, grandson of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation’s 6th Annual Unconditional Love Gala. (l-r:) Jean Shafiroff, Elmo, Beth Ostrosky Stern, Jonathan McCann.
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Philanthropy
By John D. Adams
From Broadway’s Hamilton to Naples’ Fine Art, Philanthropists Patty and Jay Baker Love Living Their Legacy
Patty and Jay Baker with Lin-Manuel Miranda
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ifelong Naples residents Jay and Patty Baker seem to make a positive difference wherever they go. Jay, a retired president of Kohl’s department stores and Patty, a longtime support of the arts in a variety of remarkable ways, are arguably busier now in their retirement than they were while working. The philanthropist couple have impacted lives across the U.S. thanks to their unprecedented level of giving. According to “The Chronicle of Philanthropy” the couple have, to date, given upward of $65 million dollars to museums, health centers, business schools, technology centers and theatre programs. And they show no signs of stopping anytime soon.
Lasting passions What compels some people to share their good fortune with others? Interestingly, both Jay and Patty were brought up in families where giving back to the community was encouraged. “Even though our families were what you would consider lower middle class, both of us had parents who instilled in us the importance of giving back to the community,” explained Jay. “We were fortunate to have great success in business. When I retired I remember laughing because I still had a lot of energy but didn’t necessarily want to continue working every day or open another Kohl’s. So we came to the conclusion that since we had been so blessed and lucky
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Patty had been particularly drawn to the Arts from a very young age. “I’m creative but I never had a particular talent for creating art myself. I remember in 10th grade we were studying for a world history exam and I just couldn’t keep anything in mind. I was stuck at home during a blizzard and started reading more about history and I really got into it and ended up getting an ‘A’ on the exam. That started my interest in history. And when I started studying art in college, I found the history dovetailed so beautifully. I studied the renaissance and Italian artists and then I started studying Japanese art and New York artists, then impressionists, and it just continued to grow from there.” “My interest in art really began through Patty,” added Jay. “She studied Art History and theatre and had been involved for many years as a docent in Milwaukee. With Patty, I got a much greater appreciation for art and artists. When we travel, she points out things to me. Now, I chair the Baker Museum. It’s amazing how things work out.” Jay elaborated further. “When we arrived in Naples, we got involved with the Naples Players. And the person to see was Myra Daniels. She mentioned that she wanted to build a museum and asked if we had an interest in it. We gave a gallery, which is still there. It has a stunning Chihuly ceiling. Later they wanted to raise substantial money to endow the museum. We both looked at it and decided this was something we wanted to become more involved with, so that’s how the name changed to the Baker Museum.”
Scene from Hamilton performed at its original venue, The Public Theater in New York.
PHOTO BY JOAN MARCUS
PHOTO BY SIMON LEUTHI
we really wanted to spend our time giving back and we wanted to do it at a time when we could still see where that was going.”
Broadway bound In New York, the couple have a long history of lending financial backing to a variety of Broadway and off-Broadway productions. And this past year has seen a surprising boon. “Hamilton,” Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical biography about the first U.S. treasury secretary, won 11 Tonys and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The Bakers were thrilled to have been investors in the show. “It’s really been insane,” enthused Patty. “We knew it was good and revolutionary. The casting and the book were all very different for the theater. It was so high energy and just such great work that we wanted to be involved.” Jay wasn’t so sure. At first. “I hadn’t seen it while it was playing at The Public Theatre [where Patty holds a seat on the Board], but it had won all of the off-Broadway awards. But I’m thinking to myself, hip-hop and Alexander Hamilton? How can this be that good? Well it wasn’t good. It was incredibly good! You can see it a hundred times, it’s such an incredible show. I think it surprised everybody that it has become such a phenomenon. It has changed theatre and the people who see it.”
Passion, not profit For the Bakers, their need to give back lies not in a profit margin, but a passion to get involved with their communities. And while many fortunate people leave endowments and financial gifts through their wills, the Bakers followed a different path.
“We call it living our legacy,” said Patty. “Because we have a say in what happens with the money, we get to see the lives it affects, we get to interact with the students who are recipients of our scholarships, and in the arts we get to see what it is doing, what changes it is making. We encourage everybody else to give what they can while they’re alive so that they can enjoy it and see what happens. It’s really the most rewarding time in our lives.”
Supporting CMGA Thanks to their Broadway and celebrity connections, Jay and Patty Baker have been longtime supporters of Naples’ Celebrity Martini Glass Auction. This year they asked their “Hamilton” star Lin-Manuel Miranda to sign a beautiful new glass, which he was happy to do. “We have been involved from the beginning. We have brought glasses in every year and we own a lot of glasses!” laughed the couple. CMGA founder and President Brenda Melton elaborated further. The CMGA’s theme for 2017 is ‘Love Is…’ I came up with the theme after meeting Corporal Tim Donley and his wife Kelly at last year’s CMGA. Corporal Donley is a veteran and double amputee. He was injured in Afghanistan. He met his wife Kelly a few years ago when she came to visit her brother [Tim’s roommate] at Walter Reed Hospital. The two became friends, then fell in love. Tim is a singer and has sung with Walter Rogers, Sheryl Crow and many others. He will be our Guest Speaker at the March 26th 2017 CMGA. For tickets, go to www.naplescmga.org.
Photo By Charlie McDonald; Glass designed by Marjorie Pesek
“I love Broadway, and while watching the Tony’s the night of the Orlando shootings, I heard Lin-Manuel Miranda’s speech as he was tearing up. He said: ‘Love is, love is, love is, Love’. I was so moved I knew what the 2017 CMGA theme had to be.”
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ZZ TOP–
Still Rocking Hard
An exclusive one-on-one interview with iconic rocker Billy Gibbons By Robin Jay
ZZ Top, aka “That Little Ol’ Band From Texas,” lays undisputed claim to being the longest running major rock band with its original personnel lineup intact. The Texas trio, Billy F. Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. At a recent ZZ Top performance at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Opulence Magazine sat down with ZZ Top’s legendary drummer Billy Gibbons. OPULENCE: Billy, you grew up in the Houston area with a father who was an orchestra conductor and a concert pianist. What was your father’s reaction when he learned your career path in music was so vastly different than his – and how did it come to be that he sent you to New York to study with Tito Puente?
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BILLY: My dad was a professional musician, so that in itself cleared the path for me in terms of pursing music quite obsessively from a very, very young age. He never stood in my way or counseled me to “get a real job” because his “real job” was music. He brought me to a B.B. King session when I was 7 or 8 years old and that was a huge eye opener as far as my focus on guitar was concerned. As a kid, I would bang on whatever was handy — trash cans, pots and
pans, etc. and that kind of drove my parents a little batty so my father decided to enlist the aid of a professional and that was Tito Puente. Off to New York I was shipped and my percussive proclivities were brought into some semblance of order. He taught me that putting the rhythm frontside was critical to moving backsides. Like riding a bicycle, this idea stayed with me even though in rock and blues, the rhythm is out back. When I decided to do a Latin-flavored Afro-Cuban inspired solo project (Perfectamundo), it all came flooding back. OPULENCE: When you were 13, what memories do you have about the moment you received your first electric guitar? BILLY: I suspect it started with that lust to be rockin’ and rollin,’ so the move for a plug-in axe was automatic. And, on Christmas morning just after my 13th birthday, it was there under the tree. A Gibson Melody Maker – that was the gateway to what’s still happening to this day. Before the sun set, I managed to get behind the intro to “What’d I Say” and the Jimmy Reed turnaround which remains a part of the conceptual repertoire to this day. OPULENCE: How did you get connected and become friends with Jimi Hendrix?! Tell us some compelling memories you have about him. What went through your mind when Jimi went on “The Tonight Show” saying that you’d be the next hottest guitarist? BILLY: Our pre-ZZ band, The Moving Sidewalks, shared bills with quite few high profile touring acts, including the Doors, the Jeff Beck Group (featuring a shy singer named Rod Stewart) and, of course, the Jimi Hendrix Experience. He was wild on stage but shy and reticent off. Of course I was impressed with his performance but I was equally touched by his warmth and giving nature. He was very kind to me and showed me some techniques (transposed for me being right handed... he was a lefty) and approaches that are still in the “guitarsenal” to this day. The fact that our admiration was mutual is still a source of pride, so we do our best to work one of his songs into our set just about every night as a kind of ongoing tribute to the man who took the electric guitar to places its inventors would never have imagined. OPULENCE: They say ZZ Top is the longest running iconic rock band with original band members. What do you attribute to
this longevity – what’s the secret to creating your band that has been cool and relevant for generations? BILLY: It’s been a good time for all this while, so we’ve never really had cause to stop the party train. Because three is an odd number (some say very odd), there ain’t no ties when we make a group decision ’cause the biggest possible faction would only be two. We give each other lots of space, both personal and musical, so when we are on stage, on tour or in the studio, there’s a sense of occasion and really something to look forward to. As far as our appeal to successive generations is concerned, we think that it’s a thing that’s passed down from one to another. ZZ Top for quite a few is something of a family affair. A very loud family affair. OPULENCE: Tell us about your “founding father” Muddy Waters and how you turned a piece of scrap timber from his share cropping shed into the famous guitar. How did it contribute to the brand of ZZ Top? BILLY: We had unbound admiration for the late, great McKinley Morganfield a/k/a Muddy Waters and were privileged to share concert bills with him over the years. His music was transformative in a way that might not be totally reckoned with for a few more centuries — like Bach or Mozart. After he was gone, we had occasion to tour Stovall’s Plantation in Clarksdale down in the Mississippi Delta and came upon the shotgun shack in which he grew up. A huge windstorm had dislodged some massive cedar timbers from the roof of the house, which had been abandoned for some time. We asked if we could take one of those fallen roof beams with us as a talisman of sorts and then it dawned on us that we could turn that plank into an electric guitar that would be both a tribute and physical embodiment of what he meant to so many. The result was the “Muddywood” guitar which went on tour and served as a fund raising focus for the Delta Blues Museum, which is still a thriving institution in Clarksdale. OPULENCE: You’ve said that “Tone, Taste and Tenacity” are important virtues of ZZ Top. Please elaborate on what you mean by that specifically – and how the name ZZ Top was created. BILLY: Tone is both the actual sound you hear and our effect… how we present ourselves and our music and the specifics of the audio
output. Taste is reflected in the choices we make... the repertoire, the thought given to our overall presentation both in public and else wise. Tenacity is just that. We’ve been doing this a long, long time, so we’re sort of “baked in” to the fabric of people’s lives... and the other way around. The name springs to mind because “AA Bottom” just seemed too jejune. OPULENCE: You’ve been noted as being ‘part scientist, part prankster’ – what does that mean exactly and how does it relate to the success of ZZ Top being named to the Rock Hall of Fame and your being named among the top 100 greatest guitarists in history? BILLY: I guess the science part is our proclivity to experiment to see if an unexpected result might come to the fore. That releases to our songwriting and production, as well as just keeping an open mind to whatever possibilities might present themselves. Our idea to include electronics in a blues-based music was met with puzzlement at first but the success of “Eliminator” bore testimony to the worth of having undertaken the exercise. The “prankster” part relates to our neverending efforts to have a good time wherever we are. It’s not as if we play practical (or impractical) jokes, but we do try to maintain a sense of mirth along the lines of the surrealists back in the last century. OPULENCE: You made wearing a beard cool long before today’s mainstream trend in men’s facial hair being in high style. What influenced your band beards...and what can you tell us about life with a long beard that most people wouldn’t think of? BILLY: There was no specific influence that made the chin whiskers that Dusty and I sport come to be. We had taken a lengthy break and, quite independently, both of us had neglected to shave for all that while. Chalk it up to sloth or indifference, but neither of us took razor to cheek for many months. When we finally met up in person after all that while, we were both surprised that the other had a beard. It was not planned at all, but the result of a serendipitous happenstance. Frank Beard, on the other hand, didn’t grow one because that’s his last name so, really, no need to gild the lily. Surrealism in action!
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DINING
GUIDE CHICAGO BRINDILLE
534 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654, 312.595.1616 • brindille-chicago.com James Beard Nod: Best New Restaurant Semi-Finalist 2014 United States of America The food and style reflects Carrie Nahabedian’s love of France. Think foie gras, squab and lamb saddle dishes in a refined, sexy ambience with fine china and French linens. Pastry Chef Craig Harzewski’s desserts incorporate farmer’s market components with unique presentations.
NEW YORK
MOMOFUKU NOODLE BAR
171 First Ave., New York, NY 10003, (212) 777-7773 • noodlebar-ny.momofuku.com James Beard Nod: Outstanding Restaurant Nominee 2015 and 2016 Noodle Bar serves ramen and a roster of seasonal dishes. The fried chicken and the caviar for 4-8 people requires an advance online reservation. Otherwise, Noodle Bar is a walk-in only restaurant. Momofuku’s pork buns originated here.
WASHINGTON, D.C. MINTWOOD PLACE
1813 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC 20009, (202) 234-6732 • mintwoodplace.com James Beard Nod: Best New Restaurant Semi-Finalist 2013 United States of America Modern farmhouse style and a French-influenced American menu, plus wood-burning oven & sidewalk seats.
SAN FRANCISCO THE SLANTED DOOR
One Ferry Building #3, San Francisco, CA 94111, 415-861-8032 • www.slanteddoor.com James Beard Nod: Outstanding Restaurant Nominee 2008 Outstanding Wine Service Semi-Finalist 2008 Outstanding Restaurant Semi-Finalist 2011; Nominee 2013; Winner 2014 Executive Chef Charles Phan travels to the original source region of his ingredients, studies the traditional flavors and techniques, and then re-creates the original using contemporary methods and local ingredients.
Louie Bossi
FORT LAUDERDALE LOUIE BOSSI’S RISORANTI, BAR, PIZZERIA
1032 E Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, (954) 356-6699 • www.louiebossi.com One to watch… Editor predicts potential future James Beard look for this one! Homemade the old-world way is the name of the game at this Italian stunner. With Neapolitan house-baked pies, freshmade pastas daily, in-house dried salumi for killer charcuterie platters, hearth-baked breads, dry-aged steaks and wood hearth cooked pizzas, and divine from-scratch desserts (don’t miss the tiramisu!), Louie Bossi is Fort Lauderdale’s hot spot. Growing up in an Italian household in New York, he remembers the aromas of roasted garlic and fresh meatballs sizzling from his family’s kitchen. Raised by a single mother juggling three jobs, Bossi taught himself to cook at the age of 8, working his way up to cook at a pizzeria where he developed a love for the art of pizza making. Bossi relocated to Florida in 2000 and eventually earned the coveted Executive Chef position at Big City Tavern. Bossi is certified from Chef Brian Polcyn in the ancient art and technique of charcuterie, and is a certified Master Pizza Maker from The Scuola Italiana Pizzaoili in San Francisco.
MIAMI
THE PALME d’Or
1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33134, (877) 624-2830 • www.biltmorehotel.com James Beard Nod: Outstanding Wine Service Semi-Finalist 2008 and 2009, Outstanding Service Semi-Finalist 2009 Guests take part in a truly authentic fine dining French culinary experience prepared by Michelin starred and James Beard “Rising Star” nominee Chef Gregory Pugin. Using fresh, local and sustainable ingredients, Pugin gives each guest the feeling of being transported to France for an evening. 34
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Bossi’s Rapini E ‘Nduja pizza (fior di latte, rapini, stracciatella, spicy spreadable salami) is the 2016 2nd place World Pizza Championship winner
HAND-PLUCKED CURATED TEAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR LEGENDARY JAMES BEARD A look at why tea connoisseurs say Tea Forté nurtures America’s culinary heritage By Robin Jay
I’ll never forget Mother’s Day 2007. We were weekending on Brickell Key in Miami. My children woke up early and walked next door to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel to buy me a special gift. You would have thought by their excited anticipation they had wrapped up a bar of gold. And in a way, they had. Inside the artfully designed box were a dozen delicate tea bags. Not just any old flat tea bags, but rather beautiful leaf-topped pyramidshaped silken infusers toting whole leaf herbal teas inside. Each tea bag came wrapped in a tiny triangular gold-foil-lined box. That morning, as a family, we enjoyed the most delicious cups of tea we had ever tasted. A true treasure of a memory.
Beard Approved This year, Opulence proudly became a member of the James Beard Foundation, an organization that celebrates the late chef who pioneered and elevated the American style of cooking, putting it on the global culinary map. The mission of the James Beard Foundation is to nurture and honor America’s diverse culinary heritage through programs that educate and inspire. How pleased I was to learn that Tea Forté serves as the Exclusive House Purveyor of fine tea at the James Beard House in New York.
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As they say at the James Beard Foundation: food matters. It is an integral part of our everyday lives – in economics, politics, entertainment, culture, fashion, family, passion...and nourishment. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity year after year to partner with the ultimate culinary organization synonymous with bringing extraordinary dining experiences to the table,” said Tea Forté CEO Michael Gebrael. “For our bespoke tea offerings to be selected as the perfect accompaniment to promote the culinary arts at the celebrated James Beard Foundation and James Beard House, is a source of great pride.”
Created in America Tea Forté is an American tea company based in Concord, Massachusetts, founded in 2003. Today, it is recognized around the world as the exceptional tea experience for its variety and unparalleled quality of handcrafted teas, design-driven accessories, exquisite packaging and luxuriant approach. We share with you here a few of the Opulence team’s favorite gift selections of the season. For more information about the intriguing history of tea, visit www.teaforte.com.
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dishing with the James Beard Foundation President
Making Mealtime Memories and enjoyed many (many!) delicious meals with family and friends, old and new. Often, these dinners have been prepared by some of the finest, most talented chefs from around the country and around the world.
Susan Ungaro One of my favorite things about the holidays and the beginning of a New Year is the many opportunities to come together around the table with family and friends. Cooking some longtime favorites and trying out new recipes makes sharing a delicious meal a very special way to show the people we love our gratitude. During my ten years working at the James Beard Foundation, I have sat at many tables
As you might guess, many of those memories were made at the James Beard House in New York City, and many were made at James Beard Award–winning restaurants around the country. Some of our favorites to visit when we travel around the country are the restaurants that have received our James Beard America’s Classic Award. These awards are given to restaurants that are locally owned and are beloved in their regions for quality food that reflects the character of its community. Many of these restaurants are informal and moderately priced, which make them even more accessible for visitors to a city or town—they’re the places you can stop in for breakfast, a snack, or an impromptu dinner with your family and friends.
By Susan Ungaro
This holiday season, many of us at the James Beard Foundation staff are giving our foodloving family and friends copies of our newest cookbook, James Beard’s All-American Eats: Recipes and Stories from Our Best-Loved Local Restaurants, and making dishes from it for our various holiday feasts, large and small. I often hear our staff talking about their favorite dishes they’ve made from it—like these delicious blueberry-walnut pancakes from Al’s Breakfast in Minneapolis, which make for a comforting morning after a night of holiday entertaining! As you sit by the fire with a mug of hot cocoa this winter, you’ll want to curl up with a cookbook like this. I’ll bet you’ll read it from cover to cover, poring over the profiles, photos, and information about great restaurants throughout the nation. Maybe you’ll even plan a food lover’s tour and visit some of these classic American restaurants in 2017!
BLUEBERRY–WALNUT PANCAKES
Al’s Breakfast, Minneapolis, MN The secret to these fluffy, ever-popular pancakes from JBF America’s Classics award winner Al’s Breakfast? A generous pour of buttermilk and a drizzle of melted butter in the batter. These are a great addition to your Sunday morning routine, and better yet, making them at home means you don’t have to stand out in the cold waiting in line at Al’s (it has only 14 seats)!
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Ingredients 2 cups buttermilk 1 large egg, beaten 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus extra for cooking and serving
Method In a medium bowl, combine the buttermilk and beaten egg. In a separate large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt. Add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture and stir to combine. Stir in the melted butter. Allow the mixture to sit for at least 15 minutes, or overnight in the refrigerator.
1/2 cup frozen blueberries 1/3 cup chopped walnuts Maple syrup
Get your copy of James Beard’s All-American Eats: Recipes and Stories from Our Best-Loved Local Restaurants (Rizzoli, 2016) at jamesbeard.org/cookbook or wherever fine books are sold.
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Heat 1 tablespoon of the butter over medium heat in a heavy skillet or griddle. When the butter is sizzling, pour about 1/4 cup of the batter per pancake onto the skillet, leaving space between the pancakes. (Depending on the size of your griddle, it’ll take 3 or 4 batches to make all the pancakes. Be sure to add more butter to the griddle between each batch.) Turn the heat to low and immediately place 5 or 6 frozen blueberries and 3 or 4 walnut pieces on each pancake. Cook until lightly brown, turning once with a spatula, about 4 minutes per side. Repeat with the remaining batter. Serve topped with a pat of butter and a drizzle of maple syrup.
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COLICCHIO THE CRAFTSMAN MAKES A MIAMI DEBUT Up close and personal with celebrity Top Chef Tom Colicchio By Dale King, Julia Hebert and Robin Jay
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hef extraordinaire Tom Colicchio has spent three-plus decades creating delicious dishes for faithful foodies at dining spots along America’s East Coast and in France. He’s frequently seen on food-related TV shows, including his own, Bravo’s “Top Chef,” where he’s served as a judge since 2006. His reputation for purveying tempting delicacies, from wasabi pizza to beluga caviar and everything in between, certainly precedes him. But perhaps his funkiest epicurean involvement occurred in a 2011 episode of “The
Simpsons.” In a dream, Marge Simpson is a contestant on “Master Chef: Extreme Snack Edition.” Voicing his own animated character, Colicchio judges her concoction of a peanut butter cracker a winner, especially given “the added touch of a slice of apple.”
Honing His Craft In real life, Colicchio caters both to foodies and wordies. One might call him “crafty” for inserting the word “craft” into the names of many of his dining spots: Craft, in New York and L.A.; Craftsteak in the MGM Grand, Las Vegas; Beachcraft in Miami and ‘wichcraft,’ a sandwich shop at various sites.
“Craft” is less a stylistic name, more an “ingredient-driven cuisine,” said the multitalented chef. “What I started focusing on were simple ingredients; the idea that when peas are first in season and they’re fresh shucked and sweet as sugar, I want a bowl of that. I don’t want a few scattered around a pasta dish, I want a bowl of those peas. That became the idea for Craft.” His wife, filmmaker Lori Silverbush, came up with “’wichcraft” as the name for a sandwich place. Colicchio opened his first in New York, around the corner from the award-winning Craft location.
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Tom Colicchio is one of the most recognized names in culinary TV and award-winning dining. But, at home, the Top Chef likes to keep it low-key. “One day my son came home from school and asked, ‘Dad, are you famous?’ I shook my head…no, son, only to you.” “Beachcraft in Miami,” said Colicchio, “is a little different. Design-wise, it’s much lighter than anything we’ve done. You can tell the pedigree if you look at some of our other restaurants, but it’s definitely lighter.” Calling it “a bit of a mash-up,” he explained: “For the last couple of years, spending some time in Mexico and in Asia, it’s kind of hard not to have bits and pieces of these experiences creep into your creative process.” “We did another restaurant at the Mirage in Las Vegas called Heritage Steak, one where cooking is done over wood. There’s no gas at all, it’s all wood, so there’s a good flavor of
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smoke. The food is also a little spicier than anything I’ve done before,” Colicchio said.
Colicchio’s Domestic Side A family man with a wife, three children and a vast vegetable garden at home, Colicchio’s name is practically a household word, as are his gourmet skills that have won him eight James Beard Awards since 2000: Best Chef in New York for Gramercy Tavern; Outstanding Service in New York at Gramercy; for his book, “Think Like a Chef”; Best Restaurant, for Craft; award for Who’s Who in Food and Beverage in America; Best New Restaurant; Best Special or Documentary and Best TV Program,
the last in 2011. But Colicchio likes to keep it low-key at home. “One day my son came home from school and asked,’ Dad, are you famous?’ I shook my head…no, son, only to you,” he said with a smile. Colicchio developed a love of cooking early and jumped into the culinary trade in his late teens. He remembers “kind of messing around” in the kitchen of his Elizabeth, N.J. home at age 13, “making pancakes and things like that. I just had an interest in food; it was something that fascinated me.” He found it difficult to follow recipes until his father “brought home the book, ‘La
Technique,’ from Jacques Pepin. The whole premise was to teach technique and methods as opposed to recipes that I had struggled with. It was a road map for me.” The cook-in-the-making worked at several eateries “before I landed a job at The Quilted Giraffe” in New York. He quickly moved up to sous chef there, then left for France. “It was almost like going to graduate school.” He recalls working with influential chef Michael Bras in Laguiole during the second of two overseas journeys.
A Mover & A Shaker Still a 20-something, Colicchio was on the move again. He came back to the U.S. to work at Mondrian for four years until it closed. “Then, I opened Gramercy Tavern with partner Danny Meyer. We visited Italy together and figured if we can travel together and get along, we can probably open a restaurant together.” They sketched out a plan “on the back of a napkin.” The top chef has sandwiched restaurant ownership with producing TV shows and writing three cookbooks. He just opened the luxury Fowler & Wells restaurant in a restored 19th century building next to the Beekman Hotel in New York. Throughout his career, he has endeavored to deliver great dining experiences. “That’s where it gets difficult; that’s what the average person doesn’t see. You have to create a culture in the restaurant that is focused on excellence. “If you go to our offices in New York, you’ll see a big red sign that says, ‘Make people happy.’ That’s what our restaurants are all about. We do that in many different ways. One is with great food.”
TIP: When
visiting
Miami
Beach,
brunch Colicchio style at Beachcraft. With wicked-good smoked meats, charcuterie, fresh fish and bottomless cocktails served with an ocean view, it simply doesn’t get any better than that. Winter 2016/17
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Secrets of Scotch Craftsmanship
An exclusive interview with Richard Paterson, Master Distiller at The Dalmore — one of the world’s most exclusive single malt Scotch Whisky makers in production since 1839. By Steven Joseph
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G
eorge Bernard Shaw once said, “Whisky is liquid sunshine.” Tucked away in the Scottish Highlands, nestled in the banks of the Cromarty Firth, The Dalmore whisky distillery has been producing single malt Scotch whisky for almost 180 years. The company’s longevity is a testament to the principles set forth in its founding in 1839: uncompromising quality, game-changing ingenuity, and a steadfast belief in their product. But a lot of their recent success can be attributed to their Master Distiller Richard Paterson, an industry stalwart for half a century. Richard is a 3rd-generation Master Distiller, who first tasted whisky at the tender age of 8. Despite his father and grandfather’s occupations, however, it was not always ‘Whisky or Bust’ for him as a career path. Paterson recalls, “I was actually wanting to get into the hotel business. I was working at a big hotel in the heart of the Highlands when my father phoned me and said, ‘Well, if you want to learn the proper way (to make a living) you’ve got an interview at the distillery in Glasgow on Monday.’” Richard took over at The Dalmore in 1972, but the legendary distillery already had a history as rich as the spirit they produced, as steeped in tradition as the casks in their cellars. After its creation by Sir Alexander Matheson, himself an international entrepreneur and Scottish railway magnate, the distillery was managed by three generations of the Mackenzie family, beginning with brothers Andrew and Charles in 1863. The Mackenzie family shared Matheson’s vision to create a unique and luxurious single malt whisky, and brought with them their clan’s iconic crest, a 12-pointed stag, which still
Third-generation Master Distiller Richard Paterson (nicknamed a “walking whiskipedia”) celebrates 50 years at the helm at The Dalmore Scotch distillery in Glascow, Scotland. Mackenzie family had created pioneering industry standards in the hundred-plus years since they took over the distillery, which gave Paterson an incredibly distinct foundation upon which to build. “Our stills are more bulbous than other distilleries, and they’ve got ‘water jackets’ that increase the reflux during the distillation process. It gives our new spirit an incredible amount of complexity and backbone. I need that strength, that weight in the spirit,” says Paterson. But Mackenzie’s contributions didn’t just stop with the still design.
Death of a Stag or Alexander III of Scotland Rescued from the Fury of a Stag by the Intrepidity of Colin Fitzgerald, 1786. adorns Dalmore’s bottles to this day. You see, the Mathesons are a part of the Mackenzie clan – the same clan in which, many generations earlier in 1263, clan chief Colin of Kintail saved Scotland’s King Alexander. III from a charging stag. The grateful king granted the Mackenzie clan right to use the stag symbol on their family crest and, eventually, to the label of their Dalmore Scotch. Today, rare bottles of Dalmore have fetched at auction a royal sum, ranking among the top 10 most expensive whiskies in the world. Three generations of Mackenzie leadership and innovation set the stage for the transition to Paterson’s creativity and craftsmanship. The
Andrew Mackenzie also helped usher in the idea of aging whisky beyond the norm at the time, which was 5 or 6 years. Mackenzie started to store the whisky for 12, 15, and even 30 years at a time, and he sought out the Gonzalez Byass sherry casks to mature the whisky in. This proprietary relationship still exists over 100 years later. “These Methusalem sherry butts (casks) are what really mold the character of the whisky. The sherry is aged for a minimum of 30 years, and it matches perfectly with the richness of Dalmore,” Richard gushes. The Dalmore boasts satisfying notes of coffee, orange, chocolate, vanilla and spice, which are only made possible by their incredible dedication, care and skill. Since becoming Master Distiller at The Dalmore, Paterson has seen an explosion in the interest in his art. “New York held the first ‘Whisky Fest’ 19 years ago, and now they’re in every major city all over the world.” Paterson believes the rise in craft whisky drinkers can be attributed to the amount of information desired by the imbibers. Winter 2016/17
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“Whisky is liquid sunshine.” – George Bernard Shaw
“We used to say, ‘This is Dalmore whisky, aged in sherry,’ end of story. But now the consumer is demanding so much more. They want to know what makes it special.” Dalmore currently has two very distinct collections, the Principal and the Constellation. The Principal Collection is comprised of a 12-, 15-, 18-, and 25-year-old whisky, as well as a Cigar Malt Reserve, and its crowned jewel, the King Alexander III. The Constellation Collection is for the true connoisseur, containing 21 vintage spirits ranging from 1964 to 1992. “It took us about 15 years to create. Every vintage is distinct and individual. They have their own 46
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color and their own flavor depending on the woods they were finished in,” Paterson says. When it comes time to enjoy any of The Dalmore’s offerings, Paterson shudders at the thought of knocking it back in a shot, or even worse, mixing it with anything. “What I’d like you to do is take a generous mouthful, hold it in the middle of your mouth, on top of your tongue. Then put it underneath your tongue for a little while, then back on top. Take a deep breath and then finally swallow. You’ve got to keep it in your mouth for 20-30 seconds and use your entire palate.” And Paterson would know, he’s been drinking it since he was 8!
PHOTO BY GREIG DAVIDSON
Deep-seeded Scotch whisky distilling traditions have been passed down since the opening of The Dalmore distillery, founded in Glascow 138 years ago.
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CHEERS TO YOU, ERNEST In homage to Hemingway’s love for the sea, his boat Pilar, and Key West, comes a rum that would please even The Old Man And The Sea By Kristen Mager
“It’s time for a rum that rekindles the wanderlust in us all. A rum inspired by possibly the world’s greatest adventurer.” — Ernest Hemingway Rum and rebellion have been a free-spirited duo since the pirate era of the 17th century. Famed American writer Ernest Hemingway also lived for adventure. Today, the Hemingway Rum Company is bringing rum and Papa’s spirit alive on the label that’s raising the bar. It’s called Papa’s Pilar. Named after Hemingway’s prized fishing boat, Papa’s Pilar is a marriage of rums from the Caribbean, Central America, and Florida. Barreled and blended with precise care, both blonde and dark blends live up to Papa’s legacy. Look for them on the top shelf where fine rums are served—and soon in Papa’s Pilar Rum Distillery & Experience Center in Key West. The new distillery, opening in early 2017, will feature a trading post-style store and a big tasting bar. “In Key West, you have to stand out to visitors yet fit in with locals,” said Carl Grooms, the cellar master who will run the facility. “We’re working with the Hemingway family to make sure everything we do is accurate.
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We’re restoring an old 1878 tobacco warehouse a block off of the famous Duval Street.”
Living up to a legacy “Rum’s been a passion of mine for years,” said Grooms, who traveled the Caribbean to mentor from the world’s best rum makers. The former Naval Officer who shares Hemingway’s “Never a SpectatorTM” mindset, has a bold resume and built a following on social media. Eventually, his rum passion led him to co-found the International Rum Council and co-author the book, “Rum & Contemporary Cuisine.”
When he partnered with the Hemingway Rum Company, Grooms loaded a van with 300 bottles of rum he’d collected over the years and headed to the southernmost point in the U.S. Today, when crafting Papa’s Pilar, Grooms and his team scour the islands to find old rums that aren’t commercially available. “We look for 20-plus-year-old rums that are sitting in warehouses getting yummy and happy and looking for a good home,” he said. “They’re beautiful in and of themselves and then we blend them up to produce our dark and blonde varieties that are always consistent as far as nose and color.” Both rums are deliciously designed to be sipped as is. But they also make a nice base for old-fashioned libations like a Manhattan.
The sister blends Aged three to five years, the Blonde is the lighter of the two with vibrant vanilla undertones and a touch of coconut. It’s historically accurate to reflect the white rum of the 1920s, when Hemingway lived in Key West. “Back then, rum makers didn’t have the technology or scientific care to filter rum with clarity,” said Grooms. “When you filter the color away, you remove the flavor.”
The art is in the barrel and how you blend it. We take our rum through two layers of bourbon and a unique Solera process.” This involves aging the rums in Bourbon and Port Wine barrels, blending them, and finally finishing them in Spanish Sherry casks. Grooms says the difference is that Papa’s Pilar is barreled in three types of wood: American white oak, Hungarian oak, and French limousine oak.
With so many rums on the market, what makes Papa’s Pilar stand out on the shelf?
The bottle is unique, too, resembling the aluminum canteens U.S. infantrymen carried in the 20th century. It symbolizes Hemingway’s service as an ambulance driver during World War I and his exposure to the Normandy landings in World War II. If you turn the bottle around, you’ll even catch a glimpse of Hemingway’s signature.
“There’s a science and art to rum making,” said Grooms. “The science is in the distilling.
To learn more, make a “rum” for papaspilar. com.
On the other end of the spectrum is Papa’s Pilar Dark. Based on 20-plus-year-old rum, this caramel-y sister variety is a great alternative to traditional bourbon or whiskey.
The Papa’s Pilar Difference
Shaken, Not Stirred, Papa’s Pilar Style The Hemingway
Old Cuban
1.5 oz Papa’s Pilar Blonde Rum .5 oz Fresh Grapefruit juice .75 oz Fresh Lime juice 1 tsp Maraschino liqueur 1 tsp Sugar
2 oz Papa’s Pilar Dark Rum .75 oz Fresh Lime juice .75 oz Simple syrup 2 dashes bitters 6-8 Mint leaves gently muddled
Combine all ingredients & shake; strain Coupe glass
Shake and fine strain Top with 2 oz champagne Coupe glass
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Hard Apple Cider The sweet History of
f
By Alex Starace
or most Americans, cider conjures childhood images of apple-picking outings wrapped up with a warm, comforting drink at the farmhouse before heading home. But for centuries, ‘cider’ meant something quite different. While still made from apples, it was a fizzy alcoholic drink, popular in Normandy and Brittany as early as the Dark Ages. With the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, the cultivation of orchards for cider was introduced to the English. In fact, what we now refer to as ‘hard cider’ has remained consistently popular in Great Britain for nearly a millennium.
Early American settlers shared this taste. Upon arrival in New England, the founders of Massachusetts quickly realized the only native type of apple was the crab apple, unsuitable for either eating or drinking. So, they requested apple seeds from England to plant orchards of their own. These seeds produced an acidic, tough apple, unlike those found in today’s grocery store – but perfectly cultivated for cider-making. By the mid-eighteenth century, each resident of Massachusetts was drinking an estimated 35-40 gallons of hard cider a year!
Presidential Cider Makers Both Thomas Jefferson and George Washington produced hard cider from their own specialized orchards, while John Adams, America’s second president, reportedly drank a tankard of hard cider each morning with his breakfast. He claimed it settled his stomach. And, in the mid1800s, hard cider played a role in presidential politics. In the race of 1840, Whig nominee William Henry Harrison was known as the “Hard Cider Candidate.” A conservative, Harrison used cider to associate himself with rural, hardworking Protestants, who, as direct descents of the English, often had small cider-orchards on their farms, carrying on the traditions of their homeland. Harrison handed out hard cider at rallies and actively promoted himself as a rural candidate who lived in a log cabin, delighting his supporters. And, needless to say, it worked: He won. However, this was perhaps the high point of hard cider in the United States. An influx of immigrants in the 1840s and 1850s from Germany and Eastern Europe preferred beer. And beer was more practical. In the Midwest, barley was easy to grow and produced yields quickly, even in the first year it was planted. In comparison, an apple orchard wouldn’t produce fruit until at least five years after the seeds had been laid. For a country that was expanding rapidly westward and had a mobile population, the time and care required to produce fruit-bearing trees simply wasn’t worth it. By the Great Depression, cider ceased to be readily available in most areas of the United States. Breweries could transition to making soft drinks, or other products during the alcohol ban, but makers of hard cider couldn’t easily change their product. Their apples were not of the sweeter variety that people preferred for eating, and the fermentation process was so simple (crush apples and allow the resulting juice to ferment in casks) that it didn’t translate to other types of production. Most cider makers went out of business or tore up their orchards to grow another fruit.
The Hard Cider Renaissance And so, while hard cider in England remained popular in the 1900s, it wasn’t until the twenty-first century that the United States experienced a cider renaissance. Americans’ current (and growing) taste for hard cider represents the best of two recent trends: the desire for locally grown food and the rising popularity of craft alcohol. It may seem like a new trend, but cider has been involved in the conquest of England, the founding of the colonies and the winning of a presidential race. So, the next (or first) time you raise a glass of the crisp auburn spirit, give a toast to its long and rich history. 50
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Food
for Thought By John D. AdAms
Barry Seidman’s photographic series – you’ll never view produce the same way again 52
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W
hen we last spoke with photographer Barry Seidman, he was toying with some new ideas. He had just released his latest book of still-life photography: “New Eyes.” At the time he remarked: “I don’t take pictures. I make them. Do I need to create another photograph of a flower or a vegetable? Yes. Because I have my own eyes; I can see them in a different way.” We didn’t know it at the time, but Seidman was on the precipice of creating his most striking work to date. And it all began with his wife’s vegetables.
Feast for the Eyes “Let me take you on a journey,” begins Barry Seidman. “My wife is my inspiration and my encouragement. It all started with her.” Mary Ann Kurasz Seidman is known around Palm Beach for her dinner parties and culinary flair. She is, says Barry, an excellent cook who is never afraid to experiment in the kitchen. Thus, he spends many days accompanying his wife to the farmers markets dotted throughout the Palm Beach area. “She would be shopping for her palette,” says Seidman. “Peppers, tomatoes, radishes, all the best stuff. She’d be shopping with her taste buds, and I started looking with my eyes.” It didn’t take long for this longtime commercial photographer to spy the mysterious beauty that many fruits and vegetable hold. Not immediately evident to the layperson, Seidman studied the voluptuous shapes, pure colors, and beautiful textures of the produce. “I’d see something unusual in the market and I’d get a vision in my head of how I might photograph it to show it in a
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“Let me take you on a journey”. “My wife is my inspiration and my encouragement. It all started with her.” — Barry Seidman
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completely different context. That’s how I work. I get a visual then go out and execute it. I’d bring it back to the studio, shoot it, print it out, pin it on the wall. And then I’ll scrutinize it.” He would study and choreograph his finds, creating relationships between his subjects that are sensuous, sexy and voluptuous - bringing them to life. The next week, he would be back in the market, seeking out the next funny little character trait in the harvest. After a time, the local vendors began saving their more unusual specimens, anxious to show Seidman what they had found. Many of those made their way back to his studio.
Food porn? Some of Seidman’s subjects seem to be caught in flagrante delicto. And many observers cheerfully call his work “food porn.” Was that an eggplant or the sensuous backside of a naked person? Should we feel guilty for catching those Daikon radishes in a compromising position? Often Seidman seems to delight in the suggestion of something much more provocative than ordinary vegetables. “People have asked me why I shoot things like this. Are you a vegetable photographer? I don’t know how to answer it. Never ask an artist what they’re thinking. I’m a visual guy. I see it. I don’t necessarily intellectualize it. I shoot things, not people. Things don’t have an attitude. I don’t need hair and makeup. I don’t need approval. I shoot things. I’m just a ‘thing’ photographer.” Oh, but to accomplish this latest body of work, to express humor, sensuality, passion, and love to items many would simply see as their next meal? Seidman is so much more. See more of Barry Seidman’s work at www.barryseidman.com
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Oregon Beercycling from pint A to pint B By Steven Joseph
S
ome things just go together. A natural fit. Peanut butter and jelly. Hammers and nails. Craft beer and… bicycle tours? For Beercycling founder Evan Cohan, it made perfect sense. “Beercycling started for me out of necessity. I was working in a cubicle at an IT job, and I had a ton of neck and back soreness. I wanted to do something different. Beer and bicycle touring happened to be my two favorite things to do at the time, and so I just created my own escape from the day-to-day.”
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Beercycling is an Oregon-based company that takes a very nontraditional approach to the brewery tours for craft beer enthusiasts. Cohan had gone on a trip to Belgium with some friends where they rented bikes and toured the country, marveling at the bicyclefriendly infrastructure and how many breweries there were in the area. Cohan recalled, “It just became more and more this dream I wanted to do. And then one day I realized there wasn’t anything preventing me from doing it. So I just dove in headfirst...for six years
now, we’ve been doing tours there (Belgium) every summer.” The first tour was just five people, all clients and friends, and was the “Flanders 10 Day Adventure,” which is still offered today, albeit with some modifications. Since then, the company has expanded and now offers three Flanders-based tours of varying lengths, two Italian tours, a Dutch tour (whose scenic routes include multiple tulip farms), an Ardennes tour (the most difficult, cycling-wise) and for the first time ever, a stateside tour, “The Oregon Beerway.” After all of the success in Europe, Cohan believed it was finally time to offer an American-based tour, and felt there was no better place than his current hometown of Portland, Oregon. “Portland is the beer Mecca of the world,” Evan says. “This tour (The Oregon Beerway) is the tour I’ve been doing myself in my free time. It was a slower season in Europe this year and I just took it as a signal that maybe it was time to do something closer to home.” The Oregon Beerway is a five-day tour that visits at least eight breweries (see sidebar for descriptions) and offers cyclists 20-30 miles of cycling a day along the Columbia River. Despite the amount of cycling involved in his tours, Cohan’s aim was to create a unique experience for craft beer enthusiasts, as opposed to a beer-based adventure for avid cyclists. “It’s a comfortable tour. We’re staying in hotels, we have a support vehicle, this is just ‘active beer tourism.’ But we’re cycling every day, we give people a chance to earn their beer.” Cohan has created a warm and inviting environment on his tours that has garnered a niche following. “That’s my favorite thing about this – the type of riders we’ve attracted, and the friendships that we’ve formed, both with the cyclists and the breweries we attend. We’ve had one guy go on five tours already. We had a couple get married that met on one of our tours.” Cohan also stresses the safety of the tours, despite any misgivings people may have about cycling while under the influence. “A lot
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of our brewery stops are later in the day. Most times the brewery is within walking distance of the hotel. And sometimes the brewery IS the hotel.” As the business continues rolling, Cohan is open to expanding to other locations in order to tour year-round. “Beercycling is weather dependent, so right now we’re only working April through September/October. But I’d love to offer a tour in South America or New Zealand…I get hundreds of resumes from people who want to lead tours in their city.” Cohan says selecting the right location for a tour starts with the beer, then fine-tuning to a specific region and the breweries in between. “Then it’s all about the logistics, determining the best bike paths, finding hotels close
[
to the breweries. I want there to be something interesting every day.” Perhaps a South Florida Beerway tour isn’t that far away. The Tri-County area already features local stalwarts Funky Buddha Brewery in Ft. Lauderdale and the Due South Brewery in Boynton Beach, with new potential stops popping up every day. “People are able to educate themselves more today than ever before, so they’re able to learn about these masters of their craft,” said Cohan. “My favorite brewery is the De Dolle Brouwers’ in Flanders, Belgium. It’s just a husband and wife, and they don’t want to be Miller or Coors if it means sacrificing the quality of their art.” For more information on the tours, or to see pictures and itineraries, be sure to check out Beercycling’s website, www.beercycling.com, “Getting You from Pint A to Pint B!”
[
Beercycling is an Oregon-based company that takes a very non-traditional approach to the brewery tours for craft beer enthusiasts.
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Getting to Know Brew: The Breweries on the Oregon Tour Base Camp Brewing – Amazing outdoor adventurethemed brewery. They make remarkable lagers but are famous for their S’mores Stout served with a marshmallow toasted on the rim on the glass! Hair of the Dog – A small brewery with a worldwide cult following. One of the older breweries in town specializing in stronger barrel-aged beers and vintage releases. Most of their beers are only available at the brewery. Burnside Brewing – Burnside makes great IPAs, and always has an interesting new seasonal beer to try. A very well-rounded brewery. Zoiglhaus – Newer brewery in Portland making primarily German style lagers, along with Northwest staples like IPAs. The brewery is large and spacious but also very warm and inviting and reminiscent of a German bier hall. Edgefield – It’s a brewery! (and a winery, distillery, cidery!) The largest of a chain of breweries, Edgefield is Disneyland for adults – with a golf course, a movie theatre, and a hotel on-site. It’s an iconic Oregon destination. Thunder Island Brewing – The brewery resides in the prettiest location of the tour, nestled right against the banks of the Columbia River. Another newer brewery featuring a solid range of beers and not just IPAs. There’s always something interesting on tap. Double Mountain – The pride and joy of Hood River. Double Mountain has been consistently making world-class IPAs, sours, and Belgian-style beers for 10 years. They also make a world-class pizza! pFriem – (pronounced ‘Free-um’) Another brewery located right on the banks of the Columbia River. pFriem is a familyrun brewery specializing in Belgian styles and inspired by some of the same breweries Beercycling visits in Europe.
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An exclusive interview with Anthony Rizzo about his heroic story of family and faith that motivated him to overcome tragedy and achieve what no man has done in 108 years: Make the last out to win the World Series for the Chicago Cubs By Cara Jay
There must be some kind of spectacular karma in the water flowing in Parkland, Florida, that creates baseball heroes. Pinch me, am I dreaming? It seems like just yesterday, in the fall of 2006, when I was driving on Pine Island Road, windows down, belting out Taylor Swift songs along with a couple of happy-go-lucky guys from the headlining Stoneman Douglas Eagles baseball team – Joey Hage and – yes – Anthony Rizzo. These rugged senior-year athletes – both of whom would go on to play professional baseball – sang their hearts out and knew every single word of the girly songs. Fast-forward to November 2016. When you drive down that same stretch of road 62
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in Parkland, you’ll see a sign congratulating the high school team for winning another national baseball championship – AND you’ll gasp at the larger-than-life banner that reads: Parkland, Home of World Series Champion and Chicago Cubs First Baseman Anthony Rizzo! It couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. But then again, it didn’t ‘just happen.’ Anthony Rizzo earned every moment of his success – and spent plenty of the proverbial blood, sweat and tears doing it with the support of his family, friends and faith.
Once Upon A Time You see, like in a fairytale, Anthony was drafted right out of high school at the
CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 2: Anthony Rizzo #44 of the Chicago Cubs celebrates after catching the final out to defeat the Cleveland Indians in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB)
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age of 17 to play in the minor leagues of the Boston Red Sox organization. His family, friends, coaches, teammates and fellow Parklanders couldn’t have been more excited about this humblehero’s bright future. But like in every fairytale, there comes tragedy. In the spring of 2008, Laurie and John Rizzo drove up to Greenville, South Carolina, to see their son play Single A baseball. Anthony’s batting average was astounding and kept the attention of then Boston Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein. Anthony made his parents proud with hit after hit. But inside, Anthony knew something was wrong. In just a matter of days, the young athlete had gained 15 pounds of water weight in his legs. He remained silent, not wanting to complain when his batting performance was lightning good. On April 27, Laurie and John got the call every parent dreads: Anthony was seriously ill. Epstein promised to get his upcoming star the best care available. Anthony flew to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston where he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Anthony’s baseball career came to a screeching halt. Epstein called on Red Sox Pitcher Jon Lester, who had had overcome the same cancer, to meet with Anthony. The two bonded like brothers – and after six months of chemo – on September 2, 2008, Miami oncologist Izidore Lossos told Anthony the cancer was in remission. And on November 18, Dr. Lossos delivered the best news yet, “Anthony, you will lead a normal life.” The fairytale continued. Epstein traded Rizzo to the San Diego Padres, but told the budding star that some day he’d call him back. In 2012, the call came. Epstein, now president of baseball operations for the Chicago Cubs, told Rizzo he was bringing him to the Windy City. Renowned Coach Joe Maddon came on board in November 2014, and a month later, with some reciprocal encouragement from Anthony, Jon Lester came to play for Chicago, too. The dynamic dream team took shape. They set their sights on what most Americans thought impossible: For the Chicago Cubs to win the World Series, something the organization hadn’t achieved since 1908. To do it, they’d have to end the legendary “Curse of the Billy Goat.”
In 1945, William Sianis, owner of the Billy Goat Tavern in Chicago, brought his pet goat Murphy to Wrigley Field during the 4th game of the World Series. When he was expelled, he declared what became the legendary ‘curse of the goat’, “Them Cubs ain’t gonna win no more!”
Murphy’s Law What’s the curse? In 1945, William Sianis, owner of the Billy Goat Tavern in Chicago, brought his pet goat Murphy to Wrigley Field during the 4th game of the World Series. When fans complained, Cubs security told Sianis to leave. Allegedly, the angry Sianis insisted, “Them Cubs, they ain’t gonna win no more!” He reportedly followed up with a telegram to the club’s owner saying as much. With the long drought of winless playoff seasons that followed, Chicagoans grew to believe the curse might be true. But fans’
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“I remember when I was younger watching baseball, and all sports, and just seeing guys play. If they’re setting the wrong example and not doing the right thing, then it’s affecting generations.” — Anthony Rizzo
Frank Chance would be proud! More than a century ago, the first baseman who won the World Series in 1907 and 1908 with the Chicago Cubs was Frank Chance. Chance couldn’t have fathomed a 108 year winning drought would follow, but no doubt he’d be proud of his 2016 World Series successor Anthony Rizzo. MAIN PHOTO BY RICHARD BARNHILL ©2014 Winter 2016/17
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ing his advice because he had been through the same cancer before. It was the coolest thing at the moment because, you know, Jon Lester’s talking to me, giving me advice. It was so inspirational for me. He helped me out in just a huge way that he has no idea about. I have somewhat of an idea how cool it is when I talk to kids now about it. CJ: What do you remember about the day you found out you were in remission?
Chicago Cubs 1908 World Series Winners love for the Cubbies never dwindled. And neither did Rizzo’s. He told teammates he dreamed of catching the ball to make the last out to win the Cubs the National League pennant. And on October 22, 2016, he did. Superstitious or not, it’s hard not to notice the timing coincidence: The historic achievement happened on the very anniversary of Billy Sianis’ death.
ager. I think it started hitting me my junior and senior year in high school when scouts started talking to me. And when I got drafted and saw the other competition, I was like, ‘man I can make it to the big leagues?’
Was the curse broken? Rizzo said yes. He dreamed even bigger of catching the ball to make the last out to win the World Series against the Cleveland Indians. On November 2, 2016 – having previously been down by 3 games in the Series – the Cubs rallied and made it to game 7. Leading by 1 in the bottom of the 10th inning and with two outs, Cleveland Indian Jose Ramirez came up to bat. The hit silenced the crowd for a split second, but the Cub’s Kris Bryant dove to snatch the ball near third base and rocketpropelled it to Rizzo at first. Rizzo caught the ball, beating Ramirez to the bag – and as the late great Chicago baseball announcer Harry Caray would have exclaimed: “H-O-L-Y COW! CUBS WIN, CUBS WIN, CUBS WIN!”
Rizzo: I was playing well, but at night my legs were swelling up. I was tired and couldn’t understand why. It was my first time playing so many games, so I just though it was from that. And two or three weeks later, I started getting tests, and about a month later we found out what it was.
As a die-hard fan of the Chicago Cubs (my parents grew up in Chicago), I couldn’t have been more excited to talk again with my high school pal Anthony Rizzo and tell him firsthand how proud I am – along with the rest of the world – of his against-all-odds historic success.
CJ: Were you alone when you got the diagnosis?
Cara Jay: Anthony, back in high school, did you ever think you would get to where you are today? Anthony Rizzo: I always say, ‘yeah I thought I could do it,’ but so did every other teen66
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CJ: Being drafted right out of high school to the Boston Red Sox, you were so young. What were the circumstances when you found out you were sick?
CJ: Were you terrified? Did you think your career was over? Rizzo: I thought it was just a kidney infection because those were the symptoms. I thought I was going to get a couple of antibiotics and I’d be good. But when they were doing a kidney biopsy, I remember the doctor stopped and pulled the nurse over and I was thinking ‘this probably can’t be good.’
Rizzo: My parents were up there with me; they insisted. I was like, ‘what are you guys coming up for?’ But they came up, and once the doctor came in, it was like the whole world stopped. CJ: When did Jon Lester come into the picture and how did he help you? Rizzo: He was in the major leagues with the Red Sox and I was in the minors. He was lend-
Rizzo: When I found out I was in remission, it was awesome, it was like ‘We did it!’ And then it was nerve-racking because at every single test after that, I was thinking: did it come back, is it there? Did it [the chemotherapy] work? As time went on, I stopped thinking about it less and less, and now I rarely ever think about it. CJ: What was your reaction when you got the call about going to play for the Chicago Cubs? Rizzo: I got traded from Boston to the Padres for a year in 2011 and then early the next year, in January 2012, Theo called and said, “Hey, we’re going to make a trade for you. We’re excited to have you back in our organization. I was pumped about going to the Chicago Cubs. Wrigley Field, Chicago, it’s just historic! CJ: How is playing for the Cubs different than playing for the other teams? Rizzo: It’s the history and the tradition and everything that’s happened over the years and what we’ve been building over the past five years. Obviously, we’ve won the World Series. It’s totally a new era of Cubs baseball that no one alive has ever seen. It’s exciting to be a part of it. CJ: What’s the inside of the Cubs clubhouse like? Rizzo: It’s awesome; we’re all a family. I’ve been on teams where you have some friends, but a lot of them are just teammates. The joke in baseball is when the season’s over, you can pick your friends, but in season you’ve got 24 other guys and so you’ve got to make it work. But with the Cubs, we’re all friends. We all text and we all have relationships outside of baseball. CJ: In the last game of the World Series, when the Cleveland Indians tied the score and you went into extra innings, how did you and your teammates come through that?
“Now that we’ve won the World Series, it’s totally a new era of Cubs baseball that no one alive has ever seen. It’s exciting to be a part of it!” – Anthony Rizzo
Rizzo: It definitely helps being friends with everyone. When you’re friends, you’re going to talk and tell them stuff they don’t want to hear sometimes. We all can talk to each other in a certain way to get the best out of each other. When we were down, we just kept saying we were the better team and we should just keep going and keep playing and it’ll all work out. CJ: What was it like to break the infamous ‘curse of the goat’? Talk to me about that moment you caught the last ball to make the last out and win the 2016 World Series. Rizzo: It hasn’t really sunk in yet – what we achieved, the magnitude of what we did, because obviously we hadn’t won the World Series for 108 years. In the clubhouse, we knew if we were actually the guys to win the World Series for the Cubs, it would be insane – and it was nothing short of insane! The parade, all the parties, the whole city of Chicago blew up [in a good way!] for about two months and still is blowing up. CJ: Do you have any favorite plays that stick out for you in the Series? Rizzo: Hitting the home run off Clayton Kershaw. There are so many things we did as a team; when we look back at it, it will be even more insane than it is now. We’re kind of in shock that we did it. I caught the ball, put it in
my pocket, and then ran and hugged Kris Bryant and said, “We did it!”We are world champs! CJ: Where’s that game-winning ball now? Rizzo: I gave it to the owner, Mr. Ricketts. It wasn’t hard to give up because I don’t care much about all that memorabilia. It’s for the city of Chicago and the whole history of the Cubs and for the fans. CJ: Anthony, what’s it like to be an American hero, not just for Parkland, but for the City of Chicago and baseball fans? Rizzo: I don’t really look at it like that. I look at it as [an opportunity to set a] positive example. I remember when I was younger watching baseball, and all sports, and just seeing guys play. If they’re setting the wrong example and not doing the right thing, then it’s affecting generations. It’s crazy, but in July and August, the dog days of summer, and when we’re tired and dragging, there’s a kid who’s coming to the game that probably got the ticket as a birthday gift or Christmas present and has been excited to come to the baseball game for weeks, months, days. And if you don’t go out there and give it your all, you kind of let him down. So I try to go out there and give it my all every game. CJ: What’s left on your bucket list after you won the World Series? Rizzo: Travel, I want to go everywhere, win another World Series in 2017. [If Cub’s history repeats itself, like in 1907 and 1908, they indeed could win back-to-back.] CJ: What do you love most about Chicago? Rizzo: The food for sure. The people are just awesome there; they love sports and are just down-toearth people.
Anthony Rizzo celebrates winning the World Series with his father John.
CJ: What’s your favorite Chicago pizza? Do you like Lou Malnati’s? What about Chicago hot dogs? Italian beef? Rizzo: I like Giordano’s the best. At Lou’s, I just have to have it a certain way. Have you ever had their Caesar salad dressing? It’s the best dressing – I dip my pizza in it. Portillo’s dogs, I love them all the way, …no ketchup, of course. I’m a fan of food in general. CJ: Tell me about The Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation? Rizzo: Sometimes, the kids don’t even know who I am, just a person wearing a Cubs jersey who plays on real TV, so they get excited about that. Today, I’m cancer free. The day I learned I was in remission, I knew I wanted to be a role model and help cancer patients and their families. In 2016, The Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation has donated $1 million to support families battling cancer. We have pledged more than $750,000 to the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami and we have 2 patient rooms at the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. In baseball season, I invite children to come for batting practice at Wrigley Field and hang out in the dugout. I send letters and videos and talk on the phone with kids to lift their spirits. I appreciate all the love and support and thank everyone for stepping up to the plate to fight cancer. CJ: What’s the best part of being Anthony Rizzo today? Rizzo: That I get to work at Wrigley Field, for sure! Editor’s note: In 2015, Anthony was awarded The Heart & Hustle Award, which is given out annually by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association to a current player who not only excels on the field, but also “best embodies the values, spirits and traditions of baseball.”
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THE NEXT
BIG
THING
By John D. Adams and Robin Jay
J. Skyler Fernandes Dynamic physicist, technology futurist and Simon Venture Group Founder ranked as PowerList 100 VC
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“In today’s e-commerce world, physical retail still represents about 80-90 percent of all sales, and it continues to be a much more profitable business model than e-commerce. The revenue of Simon Property Group
PHOTO BY: RYANBOWLBYPHOTO.COM
(i.e., Simon Malls) is more than Amazon.com and Apple.com combined.”
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PHOTO BY: RYANBOWLBYPHOTO.COM
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tep aside innovation disciples of Steve Jobs or Elon Musk. The futurist to follow is J. Skyler Fernandes – a man who has almost singlehandedly aggregated the most innovative entrepreneurial inventors and integrated them into retail ecosystems that bridge the divide between online and brick-and-mortar storefronts. Fernandes, the founding managing director of Simon Venture Group (SVG), is far from your typical venture capitalist. He was introduced to physics at a young age by his musician father, who shared and encouraged his interest. His business acumen was inherited from his grandfather, a Portuguese immigrant who created the “grocery store” concept and went on to develop the highly successful Fernandes grocery chain, a grocery real estate company, and was the guiding force in instituting the grocery bar code system. Fernandes studied physics and foreign policy at Harvard while in high school, and then graduated early from NYU, summa cum
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laude. His unique background in science, mathematics and international business relations has led to a culmination point working with the largest retail property group in the world. In short, he is a renaissance man for the 21st century. This is his story.
Spokes on a Wheel At first glance, you may not think that a physicist and tech wiz would be an ideal fit in the world of big finance and venture capitalism. Considering Fernandes’ impressive achievements in all he does, one must acknowledge that for him, a man with a degree in economics and foreign policy, his previous experiences have acted as spokes on a wheel. To wit, each constituent part works to reinforce the whole. His amalgam of strengths afford him greater breadth of application and dynamic capacity. “In middle school and high school, I just became immersed in the quantum physics space,” reflected Fernandes. “I really wanted to get into the world of commercializing quantum physics, of understanding how quantum computers work, and how, in the
future, you could use quantum computers for encryption in sending sensitive data, whether in the financial industry or government … [I began to question] if you can use quantum computing to model things such as how a galaxy forms, [then perhaps] you can use a quantum computer to model future drug discovery that would solve cancer, or very complex financial modeling for hedge funds.” His college internship with Standard Bank in New York led to a fortuitous encounter with Euvin Naidoo, (one of Forbes’ 10 most powerful and influential men in Africa, and now the first South African Partner and Director in Boston Consulting Groups’ Johannesburg office). Both were often the last to leave the offices at night. One evening Naidoo approached Fernandes. “Euvin said, ‘Who are you? You’re always here at the end. What do you do?’ And so we got to know each other. I shared with him my passion for physics, my passion for business. He became a mentor of mine. We started talking about the commercialization of quantum computing… So I started learning about the start-up world,
Formulae for success
the venture capital world and I was very interested in immerging markets and big growth opportunities.”
After more experiences: building his own Angel Fund, One Match Ventures; giving a TEDx Talk called “Innovating the Funding of Innovation”; creating “The Best Startup Investor Pitch Deck”; and becoming a partner at Centripetal Capital Partners; Fernandes was approached by Simon Property Group, the global leader in retail estate ownership, management and development.
“Part of the agenda was understanding that Africa has a ~ 900 million population, and now 1.2 billion, which is kind of a frontier market that is developing rapidly. I established the Missing Middle Initiative which was launched at the World Economic Forum, focusing on creating a new breed of venture funds.”
Those experiences allowed Fernandes to pursue greater investment banking roles with Suisse Credit Group, a multinational financial services holding company headquartered in Zürich. He was also part of the team that lead historic deal representing Barclays, the British multinational banking giant, acquiring Lehman Brothers during the financial crisis.
Fernandes recalled, “Simon was thinking about launching a venture group and asked if I would like to launch it for them. And I said, ‘Maybe, it all depends on what type of venture group you’d like?’” They weren’t sure, but remarked that they were looking for a smart person with a good brand that could help determine the right type of venture structure and strategy. After doing his due diligence, Fernandes was intrigued and agreed to come on board. “We ended up creating a venture group that is largely focused on investing in the industry of retail. I’d say about two thirds of our investments are focused on helping retailers do their job better both online and offline, as well as rising new brands. And probably about a third of our investments are really targeted for things that Simon can use to improve the in-store experience within its properties. So those end up being more Internet of Things (IoT), smart cities, and smart
PHOTO BY: RYANBOWLBYPHOTO.COM / MIKE CAMPAU
Naidoo eventually proposed that Fernandes join him in launching the South African Chamber of Commerce in America (SACCA). Together they created a variety of global initiatives, like the African Entrepreneurship Platform, which helps identify Trans-Atlantic African entrepreneurs to trade technology between Africa and the U.S. During that period, he also worked with Stephen Hawking’s AIMS (African Institute of Mathematics and Science) Initiative and the Next Einstein Program.
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building technology. It’s really more about making sure that we can continue to play a very meaningful role in helping retailers do their job better and improve the overall shopping experience.” Perhaps most surprisingly to Fernandes, and to us, was the knowledge that in today’s e-commerce world, physical retail still represents about 80-90 percent of all sales, and it continues to be a much more profitable business model than e-commerce. “Everything comes in cycles, but I think e-commerce has played itself out. At least, pure play e-commerce is dead. The best way you can get to profitability is by having an omni-channel strategy, which includes physical retail.”
The Advent of A.I. As Fernandes elaborates on the benefits of enhanced e-commerce, the conversation turns to Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) and programs like IBM’s Watson. “Perhaps the easiest way to understand A.I. is to break it down into all of its verticals: You have machine learning, which is probably the most simple and straightforward. You give it a lot of data and it learns and builds upon that.” What about some people’s fears that A.I. could become a danger to humankind? “That’s critical to what Elon Musk and a lot of people in tech are working towards… How do we create A.I. to be safe and not to be concerned that sometime in the future we’re being led by an A.I. dictator? There
“
The way I live my life is relatively analytical. I created an Excel model for how to pick my wife.
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are two leading theories: The first is Distributed A.I., where no one person has complete control over how it works.” The second? “If we can incorporate our cerebral cortex, our brain, into A.I., in essence working side by side, we can achieve more alignment in the speed of communication and connect our brains to a computer essentially becoming part of that A.I., which will ensure our future existence from being taken over by a pure A.I. dictator.”
The Human Factor Putting aside nightmare scenarios, Fernandes returns to the benefits he has gained from combining numbers, technology and human experience. “The way I live my life is relatively analytical. I created an Excel model for how to pick my wife… I came up with all the criteria that seemed to be important to me and I ranked each criteria and I gave them weight. I had about 30-40 characteristics… Love was important, for sure, but you need more than just love if you really want to make it last a lifetime.” Today, Fernandes is married and has a 2-month-old son, Summit. “We have a foundation built on not just love. We are best friends. A lot of people have asked for that Excel model and we have it online so you can download and customize it for yourself … I love her so much and want to support her in any vision she wants to realize. She wanted the same thing. She also wanted someone who wouldn’t make fun of her being a vegetarian. “The first books I’ve read to Summit are Quantum Physics for Babies and Quantum Entanglement for Babies, which are real books! I’m constantly having adult conversations with him … I just want to give him every tool possible to have a successful, happy life.” In the end, it seems no matter how analytic, we all strive toward the same goals.
The Next Big Thing: The Game of Entrepreneurship You know you have a match made in heaven when you and your wife can collaborate on creating a board game used by the world’s top entrepreneurs. Then again, J. Skyler Fernandes did find the perfect wife using a self-created algorithm! The Next Big Thing is a board game where players take on the role of startup founders, bootstrapping using their initial cash savings and superpower skills (i.e., programming) to create a minimal viable product, gain initial traction, and then raise multiple rounds of capital from investors, increasing the value of their company and founder’s equity. The winner is the player who exits (“cashes out”) with the most money by creating the company with the largest valuation while still maintaining the most founder’s ownership and generating the most positive impact on the world. www.nextbigthingboardgame.com
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Doctor Watson, I Presume IBM’s Watson supercomputer ushers in an era of cognitive health By John D. Adams
Five years ago tech engineers at IBM premiered its supercomputer Watson in what could have been a very public humiliation. Without help from human handlers, Watson landed a spot as a contestant on“Jeopardy!.”Could an artificial intelligence (A.I.) have the finesse to navigate a variety of unknown variables and answer questions on its own in the allotted time? It could. And it did. Watson won. Today, Watson has grown exponentially and could now become a game-changer for medical research and development.
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U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) oncologists Michael Kelley (left) and Neil Spector review Watson data for a Genomics genetic analysis report. The VA and IBM launched a public-private partnership to help doctors expand and scale access to precision medicine over the next two years for 10,000 American veterans with cancer. (Photo Credit: Martha Hoelzer)
In the clouds In 2015, IBM announced the establishment of a Watson Health Cloud, which would provide a secure, open platform for physicians, researchers, insurers, and companies focused on health and wellness solutions. Watson analyzes high volumes of data, understands complex questions posed in natural language, and proposes evidencebased answers. It continuously learns, gaining in value and knowledge over time from previous interactions. And Watson can also mask individual identities and allow this information to be shared and combined with a dynamic and constantly growing view of clinical, research and social health data. “With the ability to draw insights from massive volumes of integrated structured and unstructured data sources, cognitive computing could transform how clinicians diagnose, treat and monitor patients,” said Anne Le Grand, vice president of Imaging for Watson Health.
IBM Watson global headquarters
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“Watson Health builds collaborative relationships with leaders across the healthcare ecosystem,” added Michael Rhodin, senior vice president of IBM Watson.
“The groundbreaking applications of Watson’s cognitive computing capabilities by medical clients and partners clearly demonstrated the potential to fundamentally change the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery worldwide. We’re excited to broaden access to world-class technology and to work with our partners to transform health and wellness for millions of people.”
Beyond the clouds As Watson continues to develop, doctors and scientists in cancer and diabetes research are seeing how an A.I. can obliterate the time and energy humans now spend to simply keep up to date on health care developments. But as with its “Jeopardy!” dry run, Watson must first win over a skeptical audience. John Kelly, senior vice president of Solutions Portfolio and Research for IBM remarks: “Watson has spent the last couple of years in healthcare doing amazing things. Helping pharmaceutical companies and universities find new drugs. Advising doctors on what they might do in terms of treatments, now there is an explosion of devices that is also generating data.”
Watson A.I. combed through 25 million+ clinical papers for a tumor board meeting of cancer cases not responding to treatment.
Watson A.I. found new treatment options for 30 percent of cancer patients that doctors hadn’t found.
Watson is the first commercially available cognitive computing capability, representing a new era in computing. Watson analyzes high volumes of data and processes information more like a human than a computer—by understanding natural language, generating hypotheses based on evidence, and learning as it goes.
Mike Rhodin, senior vice president of Watson Group for IBM continues: “Those devices are going to capture enormous amounts of data about us as human beings. They have capabilities that are going to fuel a data explosion. A data explosion that is going to explode in the next generation of health and healthcare. What if we are able to connect that information directly back to your doctor? Over the last two years we have really focused in on new health care solutions around Watson.”
Research on an unprecedented level In an interview with “60 Minutes” correspondent Charlie Rose, Dr. Ned Sharpless, head of the University of North Carolina’s Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, described his experience with the A.I. “I didn’t know much about Watson,” remarked Dr. Sharpless. “I had watched it play ‘Jeopardy!.’ But I was very skeptical. Oh, this is what we need, a ‘Jeopardy’playing computer. Cancer is a tough business. There’s a lot of false Prophets, a lot of false promises… I just didn’t really understand what it would do.” What Watson’s A.I. technology did was essentially what every doctor in Sharpless’s team does in their weekly molecular tumor board meetings. They come up with possible treatment options for cancer patients who have already failed standard therapies. They try to do this by sorting through all of the latest
through around 25 million papers while also scanning the Web for clinical trials opening in centers around the globe. “All of a sudden we had this complete list that was sort of everything one would need to know,” marveled Dr. Sharpless.
Five years ago, Watson A.I. was a contestant on “Jeopardy!” – and won. Since then, Watson’s intelligence has grown exponentially.
research and trial data around the world, but it is nearly impossible to keep up. “We have around 8,000 new research papers published every day,” said Dr. Sharpless. “We would be recommending therapies on research that was often 12 to 24 months out of date.” After spending a week teaching Watson about medical terminology and information, the next week the A.I. combed
In June, Watson Health announced a long-term collaboration to bring together Watson and the American Diabetes Association’s vast repository of clinical and research data. The goal of the collaboration is to develop Watson-powered solutions that enable the diabetes community to optimize clinical, research and lifestyle decisions, and address important issues that influence health outcomes. As part of their commitment to the diabetes community, the organizations also announced a challenge to app developers to propose cognitive innovations that may transform how diabetes is prevented and managed. Kelly concluded with Charlie Rose: “Fast-forward from [Jeopardy!], five years later, we’re in cancer now… It’s only at a few percent of its potential. I think this is a multi-decade journey that we’re on and we’re only a few years into it.” To learn more about Watson, visit: ibm.com/watson/health
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In this day of advanced technology where every property listing now appears on multiple internet websites accessible to everyone, it begs the question...
Why Use a Realtor? BY JILL PATTERSON,
BROKER OPulence International realty
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Buyers are more well informed than ever and it is common practice for buyers to search properties and give a short list of what they would like to view so their realtors can make appointments. Sellers now have increasing access to discount brokerage services that can list properties on the MLS with just a small fee, cutting out the realtor and their commission entirely. We sat down with two busy and successful agents at Opulence International Realty to see what they have to say on the topic.
OIR: With technology so advanced and the MLS in the hands of the buyer, why use a realtor? A real estate professional’s worth is in their knowledge of the market. In the luxury market, my clients hire me for my marketing exposure and social media expertise. The challenge related to listing and/or finding a buyer for an ultra luxury property is that the real estate professional must have the ability to market to the one percent of the world’s wealthiest people, which is a challenge for most agents. To stay abreast with market trends through technology and social media I built Rose-Tech, which includes over 80,000 followers through social media outlets. This is a great tool to obtain new clients, sell my listings, and create market awareness. OIR: How do you protect the confidentiality of your clients and their luxury property purchase? Discretion is a must and has a lifetime guarantee with me.
OIR: Any advice for buyers right now? Do your research and select an active agent. Choose the agent that knows the market, has contacts and the ability to get your property sold at the desired price within the desired time. OIR: Advice for sellers? The first step is to find a reputable real estate professional who is familiar with your particular area, one who will make selling your home a priority. Then, properly price your property. This will ensure your real estate advisor maximizes their expertise, experience, and resources by marketing your property to the broadest number of potential buyers. Pamela Diaz de Leon has been licensed since 2000 and brings a wealth of experience to the table. Brought up in Chicago and Mexico, Pamela played for the Mexican Women’s Basketball Team, was recognized with the NCAA most valuable player award. In Chicago, she served as cultural attaché to the King of Spain. Her love for the arts led her to a job as the Logistics Director for the Chicago Latin Film Festival, the largest Latin film festival in the country with over 30,000 attendees. ▲
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Tomi Rose , Founder and Senior Vice President of Opulence Sports and Entertainment Division (OSE) is a savvy, millennial real estate professional who gained global recognition for her success in her industry on and off camera. Rose’s down to earth, approachable personality coupled with her interpersonal skills make her your most valuable player when negotiating on behalf of her clients. Her list of contacts is deep and she will leverage all of her alliances to find a buyer for your home or find you exactly the home or investment you are looking for. There are over 40,000 real estate agents in Miami-Dade County and only a tiny percentage of those realtors have the ability to reach the top tier demographic she can reach. The most accomplished Sports and Entertainment realtor in the country, Rose has closed over $60 million in South Florida real estate, within the past few years of her 14 year career.
OIR: With technology so advanced and the MLS in the hands of the buyer, why use a realtor? Clients have unique needs and I am a concierge for the purpose of buying and selling a home. Even though I use all the technology available to sell homes, we are in an era of too much data and not enough smiles and handshakes. I am out and about previewing properties all day long, long before I bring any of those properties to the attention of my clients. A buyer can’t see 1,000 properties. This is what I do all day long. The internet does not accurately display properties and give you the full story about the context of that investment. I can guide you to make wise investments in acquisitions with prime locations and healthy property management. If it is new construction, I look at the track record of the
developer and construction company. Ultimately, my job is to accomplish the goal by solving challenges that may arise during the negotiation and closing. OIR: What about the mechanics of closing the sale? A buyer may see a listing on the internet and want to go directly to the seller to save on commission, but why should they use a realtor? It’s not just one step. Closing a transaction is many steps and if you miss any of those steps it can cost you far more than the sales commission. It’s about putting a great team together. There are so many people involved in a transaction, …inspectors, mortgage brokers, title agents, you need someone to seamlessly coordinate and manage it. At the end of the day, it’s about communication, and that human factor the internet will never replace. OIR: Can you give me an example? In my last transaction, I saw the market but it took getting my seller to see it. He had had the property listed with another realtor for over a year with no offers. In three months, I got it sold. When you tell the story with just the facts, without any exaggerations, you build trust. You need to be there every step of the way to usher the sale. OIR: Advice to buyers? Don’t believe what you see in pictures. Do as much research as you can on the internet, then find an experienced realtor who communicates well with you. OIR: Advice to sellers? Be realistic. Ask your realtor for an analytic scope of the market. And take into consideration the ongoing trends, that, for example, there is going to be a lot more inventory soon, especially in Brickell. OIR: What was your highlight of 2016? Selling a home to one of, if not, the most, well-known female athlete on the planet.
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EXTREME
TRANSPORTATION
INNOVATION COMPILED BY ROBIN JAY
“Mark my word, a combination airplane and motorcar is coming. You may smile, but it will come.” – Henry Ford, 1940
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t the Future Transport Summit 2016 in Australia, Apple Co-founder Steve Wozniak said, “Human versus technology is something that I’ve thought about all my life... Because if the human is more important than the technology, you put the effort in to make the technology work in human ways. Make it understandable, make it intuitive. But if the technology is more important, you put every feature technology can do and force the human to change how they live their life.” The transportation summit brought together thought leaders, IT specialists, innovators, entrepreneurs, futurists, transport leaders and academics. “Together, we can revolutionize the way we approach the transport challenge as we kick off a transformative 12-month program to identify how we can bring technology into the centre of what we do,” said Andrew Constance, Minister for Transport and Infrastructure of the New South Wales government. Later in 2016, Constance said the organization will release a detailed Future Transport Technology Roadmap. In the meantime, Opulence did some research of our own on futuristic transportation. It seems concepts once thought of as nonsensical science fiction have now reached an actual drawing board.
Autonomous Driving with the Mercedes-Benz F 015 A Luxury in Motion self-driving research car, the Mercedes-Benz F 015 is an innovative perspective into the future of mobility – anticipated for consumer street driving in 2030. “The car is growing beyond its role as a mere means of transport and will ultimately become a mobile living space,” emphasized Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. With a spacious lounge character inside, the F 015 research vehicle will offer a continuous exchange of information between vehicle, passengers and the outside world. Six displays will make the interior a digital living space – a perfect symbiosis of the virtual and the real world. www.mercedes-benz.com
AeroMobil The AeroMobil manufacturer reports this flying car transforms in seconds from an automobile to an airplane. As a car, it’s said to fit into any standard parking space, uses regular gasoline, and can be driven in road traffic just like any other car. As a plane it can use any airport in the world, but can also take off and land using a grass strip or paved surface just a few hundred meters long. Makers say they’ve finalized the current prototype AeroMobil 3.0 and have flight tested it in real flight conditions since October 2014. www.aeromobil.com
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Cyclotron Bike A revolutionary spokeless smart cycle, the Cyclotron Bike is the world’s first hubless bike with an electronic gear box and ultra lightweight space-grade carbon fiber composite frame. It is packed with sensors and powered with an iPhone or Android App. An automatic, self-charging light sensor switches lights on/off according to the current daylight. The Cyclo-App signals when the battery is low, and when sensors encounter signs of an emergency or accident, it autonomously sends an emergency notification to send help. One advantage of hubless wheels is the usable space where you can add different Utility Slot Modules – such as a basket to carry groceries. The Cyclotron is expected ready for shipping in July 2017. www.indiegogo.com
EHANG 184 Autonomous Aerial Vehicle At the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show, Chinese firm Ehang unveiled a prototype video of the 184 AAV, said to be the safest, smartest
and eco-friendly low altitude autonomous aerial vehicle providing medium-to-short distance communication and transportation solutions. No word on when the autonomous aerial vehicle will be ready for market. www.ehang.com
Modobag: World’s First Rideable, Motorized Smart Luggage Modobag gets riders to their destination up to 3x faster than walking and features top speeds of 8mph, a dual wheel braking
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system, quick release foot pedals, extendable towing handle and high performance steering column. The touch control dashboard has LED backlighting and dual USB charging ports for cellphones and portable electronic devices. www.modobag.com Never has the future of transportation offered more futuristic solutions. Stay tuned to upcoming issues of Opulence as innovators unveil even more transportation innovations.
Taking Up Residence at 35,000 Feet
Opulence Reimagined By Kelly Villasuso
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s is beauty, opulence is in the eye of the beholder. That which is lavish and luxuriant to one may simply be a starting point to another — particularly in the luxury travel and tourism industry, where the preferences of discerning guests are as different as day and night ‌ as different as button mushrooms and black truffles. Winter 2016/17
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Left : A Savoy-trained Butler provides personalized service Right: The Residence two-person bedroom with plush Pratessi bedding
So how is it possible that one commercial airline is providing a sumptuous experience that has discriminating luxury travelers — from royalty and celebrity A-listers, to million-milers and bucket-listers — queueing up to be indulged? How is it possible they are delivering the highest level of personalized luxury, comfort, and seamless five-start hospitality at 35,000 feet? Because anything is possible if one just imagines … or reimagines. Etihad Airlines has reimagined inflight opulence with an unprecedented threeroom suite – The Residence – that includes a Butler and Inflight Chef for whiteglove hospitality.
A Suite Spot in the Sky Just over two years ago, Etihad set out to form a new conception of luxury air travel — to bring the individuality and exclusivity of five-star hotels and restaurants to the sky. Although their true intention was to reimagine what air travel should look like, in the end it seems they have reimagined opulence, too. Per Senior Vice President of Etihad Airways, Shane O’Hare, “With the introduction of The Residence, the only commercially available, three-room suite in the sky, guests can experience the type of luxury and privacy one would traditionally only find on board a private jet.” When touring The Residence, this author found a lavish Poltrana Frau leather-clad living room, a bedroom with a double bed swathed 82
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in decadent Pratessi bedding, and a separate en suite shower teeming with Aqua de Parma amenities — all of which leave one wanting to take up residence in The Residence.
Bespoke from Reservation to Realization The moment a ticket is booked in The Residence, a bespoke experience begins. Annie Davis, President of Palm Beach Travel, the world’s only American Express Travel Insider for Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and agency of record for Etihad shared, “As a business owner in the travel industry with a background in the airlines and inflight service, I know firsthand the importance of ensuring every aspect of the affluent traveler’s experience is flawless. When booking my clients in The Residence, I know the service from start to finish will be incomparable.”
Etihad contacts guests in advance of the flight to discern their preferences on cuisine and service to not only meet, but to exceed their expectations while traveling in The Residence. From a chauffeur-driven limousine to and from the airport, to Lifestyle Concierge services and private check-in at the airport, the Etihad team strives to ensure every part of the experience is luxurious, flawless and discreet. The Residence guest’s every need is met by a private, Savoy-trained Butler and an Inflight Chef. The Butler’s primary role is to deliver a highly tailored experience in advance of and throughout the duration of the flight, ensuring a superior travel experience. “Because the inflight dining experience is important to guests in The Residence, Etihad has invested in delivering unparalleled
culinary choice,” stated O’Hare. “Experts from the finest dining establishments, including Michelin-star restaurants, serve in key roles onboard providing new ways to bring the finest dining experience to our guests in the air.” Whether it is as simple as homemade macaroni and cheese or a grilled Wagyu Kobe steak, or as intricate as a Thanksgiving meal complete with turkey and truffle sauce, potatoes and pecan pie, The Residence’s dedicated Inflight Chef will deliver.
Flying Nannies If a guest in The Residence is traveling with a child, the Butler is highly trained to assist in addressing their needs. However, it is good to note that you do not need to travel in The Residence to have a helping hand. For families flying with children in First, Business, and Economy classes, the Etihad Flying Nannies – trained at England’s renowned Norland College – serve children their custom-prepared meals and engage them in activities to occupy the youthful passengers. Nannies guide children though fun, age-appropriate tasks, like craft projects, origami, puzzles and quizzes.
Etihad invested years in developing the finest bespoke amenities and refined services for this extraordinary inflight Residence experience. Even for the most well-heeled world travelers, when it comes to traveling in utmost style, service and with the comforts of home, there is simply nothing else like it.
The Residence three-room suite includes a Butler and Inflight Chef for unprecedented inflight hospitality.
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The Shifting Shades of the Atolls
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he coral islands of the Republic of Maldives are in a constant state of change … every second of every minute of every hour of every day of every year. Their very topography alters with each shift from the northeast monsoon to the southwest monsoon; their existence secured by the willingness of Mother Nature and the sand barges charged with anchoring them in place. As the world’s lowest country with an average ground-level elevation no more than the height of a child (standing 4 feet 11 inches above sea level), the shores of its more than 1,200 atolls are being redrawn endlessly by rising seas and changing water temperatures. However, the 26 atolls of Asia’s smallest nation — and the world’s most geographically dispersed at 35,000 square miles — ushers in each day majestically, entrancing countless with its beckoning, opalescent sands and its crystal-clear waters that unveil the full spectrum of azure with each ebb and flow and proudly display its breathtaking inhabitants without one ever needing to break its surface. Reverence for the Maldives archipelago, located atop a vast submarine mountain range in the Indian Ocean (the Chagos-MaldivesLaccadive Ridge), is growing … rapidly — as can be seen in Conde Nast Traveller’s Readers’ Travel Awards 2016. The Maldives secured both the #1 spot for the most spectacular island destination in the world and the #2 spot in The World’s Top 100 overall. As popularity spikes and sands continue to shift, now is the time to seize your moment in the Maldivian sun. The places at which you can lay your head in the Maldivian atolls are numerous and as varied as the ocean in which they reside. So, I offer several magnificent Maldivian options to provide you with timeless greetings and endless memories.
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PER AQUUM Niyama … Nature’s Playground ♦W hat Is it? A twin-island paradise designed to soothe your soul, in dulge your spirit of adventure, or a bit of both. Play Island offers high-energy activities, such as jet skiing, scuba diving, and sailing, while Chill Island offers just that … a chance to find serenity in the privacy of your own ultraluxurious accommodations.
♦W here Is It? PER AQUUM Niyama
is in the southwestern atoll of Dhaalu, which is approximately a 45-minute picturesque ride away from Malé, Maldives via seaplane or, quicker yet, private jet.
♦W here to Lay Your Head? You will find 134 gorgeous studios, suites, and pavilions on the beach and over the water. Opulence reigns in The Crescent, which consists of five over-water villas (booked as one), a private chef, two dedicated Thakurus (butlers), and a housekeeper.
♦ Things Not to Miss • Dine in their treehouse, Nest, or at Edge, their fine dining restaurant set out in the ocean and only accessible by boat. Tips: Go out early to Edge to catch the sunset; request an outside table for dinner under the stars.
• Dance at a glow party at Subsix, Niyama’s underwater nightclub. Tip: Wear something white.
Seize Your Moment in the Ever-Changing Maldives By Kelly Villasuso
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• Indulge in an oxygen-based facial that will have your skin looking as bright as the Maldivian night stars. Tip: Expect to fall asleep.
♦ Parting Thoughts You will not want to
leave the cocoon of PER AQUUM Niyama; the accommodations and service are that good.
Anantara Naladhu … Beautiful Island ♦ What Is It? A n uber-exclusive hideaway designed to make you feel as if you have come home to your own private island where, should you choose, you need never step foot outside once you are ensconced there.
♦ Where Is It? N aladhu is in the South Malé Atoll in Velighandu Huraa, a 35-minute luxury speedboat ride away from where you fly into Malé, Maldives.
♦ Where to Lay Your Head? W ith only 20 villas and houses on Naladhu, the pickings are deliberately and delightfully slim, each ap-
pointed with colonial furnishings and the finest of amenities. You will want for nothing … but if you do, your House Master will attend to it in the swiftest of fashion.
♦ Things Not to Miss • Arrange for one of Naladhu’s signature intimate dining affairs in advance. Tip: The lagoon-side dining on Naladhu’s ocean breaker’s private deck provides a stunning backdrop to a bespoke meal. • Venture out on Naladhu’s luxury yacht, Nirvana, for sunset or a half- or full-day excursion. Tip: Indulge in a romantic gourmet picnic on a sand bar of your choosing. • Schedule in-room spa services. Tip: An open-air massage followed by a spa lunch on your deck is sublime.
♦ Parting Thoughts L eaving Naladhu may leave you feeling socially awkward. That is because you likely will not have interacted with anyone other than your House Master for days. Reentry may be rough.
PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi … Dream Island ♦ What Is It? T he first overwater luxury resort in the Maldives that still shines as bright as the day is long and offers cuisine on par with some of the very finest James Beard awarded restaurants in the United States.
♦ Where Is It? P ER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi is in the North Malé Atoll, a 35-minute luxury speedboat journey across the pristine waters of the Indian Ocean.
♦ Where to Lay Your Head? T here are 44 postcard-perfect overwater bungalows and beach pavilions, the most sumptuous of which is the three-bedroom, ultra-modern CUBE. This two-story sanctuary in the sand is just shy of 5,000 square feet and comes complete with indoor and outdoor living and dining spaces, a game room, oceanfront gardens and swimming pool, and a 24-hour, on-call Thakuru.
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♦ Things Not to Miss • Request dinner or wine tasting in Vinum, Dream Island’s underground wine cave that boasts 6,000 bottles of wine. Tip: Bring a pashmina as it is a bit chilly. • Experience life in an aquarium with spa services in their underwater spa, Lime Spa. Tip: Try to keep your eyes open. The massage tables come equipped with mirrors below the face cradle to help you see the sea life all around you. • Float in the sea water pool. Tip: Bring a waterproof camera to capture some of the most stunning views on the island.
♦ Parting Thoughts Attachment can be a problem. The staff at PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi make you feel like family from the moment you arrive at the jetty until the moment you depart. These kind, welcoming people make it very hard to say goodbye.
Anantara Veli … Romance Island ♦ What Is It? A deluxe, couples-only resort with overwater and ocean pool bungalows designed to provide undisturbed tranquility and romance.
♦ Where Is It? Anantara Veli is also in the South Malé Atoll in Velighandu Huraa across the lagoon from Naladhu and a 35-minute luxury speedboat ride away from Malé.
♦ Where to Lay Your Head? Fifty-seven overwater bungalows and an additional 10 overwater pool bungalows are at your disposal. Narrow your choice by whether you prefer a sunrise or a sunset view, which are both quite the spectacle in the Maldives.
♦ Things Not to Miss • Make wellness a part of your journey. Tip: The Sundari Spa was named the #1 spa in the Maldives due to the Ayurvedic wellness program un-
Getting There Skytrax five-star rated Etihad Airways provides direct flights from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates to the Republic of Maldives. Plan to stay a few days in Abu Dhabi to experience this incredible city. A great place to lay your head is Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa. Conveniently located between the airport and Abu Dhabi City, Eastern Mangroves offers luxurious accommodations and an opportunity to ease into the new time zone. Tip: Schedule their Signature Hammam. Not only is the facility drop-dead gorgeous, the six-step ritual will leave you feeling relaxed and ready to take on the next leg of your journey.
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der the direction of Dr. Avinash R. Tiwari. Tip: You will be served a specially blended juice suitable for your Ayurvedic Dosha each morning at breakfast and receive a wellness plan via email to continue once you return home. • Take time to learn how to cook Thai food at Spice Spoons, Veli’s cooking school. Tip: Come hungry because you eat what you make … and it is delicious.
♦ Parting Thoughts Have your iPhone handy to add in the friends you make during your stay at Veli to your contacts. Happy couples make good friends.
CIRCUS MAXIMUS FOR LIVING MAXIMUS The world’s finest residences will feature three-stories of seriously audacious playgrounds for recreation-to-the-max By Dale King and Julia Hebert
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ules Trump knows one thing for sure: If you’re going to compete for the recession-proof, top-end luxury real estate market, you have to go ginormous or go home. Like when the ancient Roman Empire created Circus Maximus for chariot racing and mass entertainment, Trump is bringing his modern vision of Circus Maximus to Sunny Isles, Florida, in the form of three stories and 45,000 square feet of recreational bliss for residents choosing to living in what he calls the world’s finest residences – The Estates of Acqualina. The highly anticipated $1.5 billion, 50-story twin condo tower complex is scheduled for completion in 2019.
Play Hard The residential property will feature an impressive Villa Acqualina and Circus Maximus, which will be outfitted with an ice skating rink, four-lane bowling alley, movie theater, Formula One racing simulator, golf simulator, kid’s arcade, billiard room, and Wall Street trader’s club room that will ensure no desires are overlooked.
This property’s magnificence also includes beautifully landscaped gardens featuring multiple infinity pools, a FlowRider® for surfers, a basketball court, a romantic beachfront restaurant and bar, and 560 feet of Atlantic oceanfront on a 5.6 acre site with all the benefits of Acqualina resort’s five-star lifestyle. “We want The Estates at Acqualina to encompass a multi-generational effect for families within a dynamic recreational space,” said Jules, the Trump Group co-chairman. “It’s almost like a theme park in your living room.” Circus Maximus is just one dynamic of the amenity-laden Villa Acqualina, which
“It’s almost like a theme park in your living room.”
will also house a spa, fitness center, and a world-class restaurant.
Mega Night Life The centerpiece of Villa Acqualina’s private entertainment level will be a two-story speakeasy outfitted with tiered seating and dance platforms spiraling down to the main DJ booth. Video walls will illuminate the venue with visual stimulation while guests sip craft cocktails. Lively music will rock the place through the night. A 30-foot-long bar formed from rare onyx highlights a wine room for dining; a cigar room and a 5,000-square-foot lounge with unobstructed ocean view. “We’ve really gone overboard on amenities,” said Jules Trump. “This will be a place that people will never want to leave. This will be true heaven.” Villa Acqualina will be located between the two residential towers, 777 Via Acqualina and 888 Via Acqualina, adjacent to Acqualina Resort & Spa.
– Jules Trump
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Cosmic Conspiracy “Cosmic Conspiracy is about the things that we can’t control; like something larger than life is forcing us to take a certain path in life,” said lyan De Jesus. “Some call it fate, while others would say our destiny is written in the stars. The characters are actually constellations that can be found in the sky during the time when I was painting this piece.”
MECHANICAL ROMANTICISM Philippines native and self-taught artist lyan De Jesus thoughtfully blends steampunk complications with a touch of romance
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By Robin Jay
reathtaking, isn’t it? Stories in Opulence often initiate with a random glimpse of captivating imagery, a thrilling search to locate the source, and the spellbinding anticipation of uncovering a fabulous story. This is exactly what happened recently when someone sent me a recipe (most who know me would laugh at the pointlessness of sending me a recipe, but I digress, it did have a silver lining). 90
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Next to the intended post, I noticed something fascinating – a brilliantly colorful and complicated painting by lyan De Jesus titled, “The Girl With A Telescope” (shown on the cover of this magazine). I traced backward, link after link, and arrived at a blind email template that appeared to originate in the Philippines. Crossing my fingers that lyan would speak English, I sent a request for an interview. In the morning a reply waited in my inbox. Not only did lyan speak English, she spoke eloquent English, and agreed to tell me her story.
Lionheart “Lionheart is about being brave enough to face what’s ahead of you, which is why the subject appears to be unlocking herself from the chains (the past). It was also inspired by King Richard I of England, the original Lionheart. I was fascinated by how brave he was and how he won all those battles at an early age.” – lyan De Jesus
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Lite “Lite is inspired by a song by a local band with the same title as the painting,” lyan said. “The song was about meeting someone who brings color to your life. When I was painting this, I thought I already had that person. We were separated by seas. It didn’t work out, unfortunately, but this song still gives me hope.”
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“I wasn’t a professional painter when I painted The Girl With A Telescope,” lyan told Opulence. “The temporary title was ‘seek’ because I was still figuring stuff about myself and what I was supposed to do with my skill, whether or not I should be a professional painter or stay as a graphic designer. I was barely an adult and I was overwhelmed by the unknown future. The mechanical elements on this piece represent the passing time and the complicated process of growing up. The telescope represents my frustration to dig deeper into whatever is ahead of me. This piece opened up a door for me in the art scene. I left my job as a graphic designer shortly after I finished this piece.” lyan, now a 29-year-old, resides in Quezon City, Metro Manila, but was born in Bulacan. “It’s a semi-rural province surrounded by trees and rice fields, which I thought of as my ‘playground’ when I was a kid. It’s where I first taught myself to paint. “You can say that my interest in drawing/painting is innate, but it took me years of practice. I was an art school reject. I tried to apply for an art degree after I quit my architecture studies, but I was not accepted. That’s why I learned on my own. From 2008-10, I locked myself inside my room for about a year (only going out of the house once or twice a month) when I was still learning how to paint. My first medium was colored pencils, then I tried watercolors, then acrylics, and then I ended up falling in love with oils. “
The Innerworkings lyan’s style is loosely based on the steampunk genre, but over time she transitioned to a new style without completely removing mechanical elements. “Mechanical Romanticism is the term I use to describe my style. The mechanical elements symbolize function and interconnection in nature. I never used a ruler/compass in any of my paintings, even for those circles,” she explained. “There is something about machines that gives me the impression that it will last forever. Like, if I incorporate it with my works, whatever is the story behind that piece will not be lost even after centuries.” The young artist says some people describe her paintings as “postapocalyptic” because “the setting is much different from the world we are living in, yet the subject is still human.” “The world in my paintings may be purely imaginary, but it is also something that is not that far from reality. You might say I am a frustrated storyteller. I love to write stories, but I’m not that good with words, which is why I try to tell stories through my art. There are stories hidden behind those intricate details. “I really appreciate it when people take their time to look at my paintings carefully, like they are decoding the stories behind it. Whenever I see someone look at my art for more than a few seconds, I feel like all those sleepless nights I spent working on those details are worth it.” Vinyl on Vinyl Gallery handles lyan De Jesus artwork transactions. For more information, contact info@vinylonvinylgallery.com.
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GOLFING
u
By Julia Marozzi
niting the worlds of luxury and performance with the finest in sports and leisure, Bentley is delighted to present its launch collection of handcrafted, state-of-the-art, bespoke golf equipment. The exceptional quality and attention to detail found within every Bentley model is now available in Bentley Golf, a collection that encompasses golf clubs, bags, luggage and accessories. Developed in partnership with Professional Golf Europe, market leaders in the global golf industry, Bentley Golf offers the finest in cutting-edge manufacturing processes and expert hand-forging. The collection features irons hand-forged in Ichikawa, Japan, a town with a historical heritage of forging which goes back to the period of Samurai sword production. This forging technique produces the most stunning feel, consistency and performance, and lends itself perfectly to golf club production of the highest
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quality. Japanese forging, fused with modern day CNC Milling techniques, delivers the ultimate performance for aficionados. Detailing from Bentley models feature across the collection. Design influences from the rear arch haunch line of the Continental GT to the subtle curves of the Mulsanne’s front wing can all be found in the range. Bentley’s famous fine detailing, such as its distinctive knurling, can be found on the club end caps, and luxurious diamond quilting is a hidden delight within the bags and luggage. Stepping from your car onto the course will now feel like a seamless transition. From the golf clubs to tour bags, flight covers, shoe bags and stunning sterling silver ball markers and other accessories, you’ll experience Bentley luxury from the moment you step onto the course. For more information, visit www.bentleygolf.com.
LUXURY
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ROMANCE ON THE SEA Star Clipper ships replicate the grand age of sailing
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By Jana Soeldner Danger
ajestic notes from the Columbus theme rolled across the deck as the sails rose, luffed momentarily, then filled grandly as the captain turned the ship to catch the wind. Not two sails, or even three, but more than 20, flying from a replica of a classic clipper ship, carrying us back to the romance of the grand age of sail. Swedish yachtsman Mikael Krafft built the first Star Clipper in 1989 to fulfill a lifelong dream of re-creating true sailing clipper ships, 96
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those swift, majestic vessels that opened up international commerce in the 19th century, and have them once again roam the oceans of the world. Today, three Star Clippers sail in the eastern and western Mediterranean, the Far East and the Caribbean, with a fourth set to debut in late 2017. For passengers, the experience was a marriage of a traditional cruise and a voyage on a private yacht. Cabins were small yet very comfortable, with double beds, ample storage and en suite baths. Common areas gleamed with mahogany and polished brass, and
the paraphernalia of winches and lines on deck reminded us we were on a true sailing vessel.
at meals, including dinner, encouraged passengers to strike up new relationships.
Departing from Civitavecchia, Italy, we raised anchor after dark on a sea the deep purple of a grape Popsicle, under a sky heavy with stars. We were headed for exotic destinations on the French and Italian rivieras: Corsica, Monaco, Portofino, Livorno and Portoferraio, yet for many of those aboard, the ship itself was the real draw of the cruise. Our 360-foot vessel carried 36,000 square feet of canvas, and passengers were allowed to help sail if they wished. Open seating
After a full day and night at sea, we arrived at Bonifacio on Corsica, homeland of Napoleon. The port was a picture postcard, with an upper and lower village painted in tropical pastels set against a backdrop of cliffs and hills. Sidewalk cafes offering seafood, pastries, wines and bitter espresso were plentiful; boutiques sold the island’s own olive oil and honey.
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Boarding the ship again, several of us took turns climbing about halfway up the 226-foot mast to the crow’s nest. Securely garbed in safety vests, we clung to a ladder made of stiffened ropes that looked exactly like a prop from a pirate movie, but on this ship was a necessary piece of equipment.
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After sailing through the night, we woke to a flat sea the color of a blue Crayola dusted with glitter, and a sky like the shell of a robin’s egg. On the upper deck, passengers watched the approach of the craggy French coastline while soulful music drifted on the wind: The pianist who played evenings in the lounge had brought an accordion topside, and was squeezing it gently
while a gray-haired male passenger danced by himself to the tunes. Glamorous Monte Carlo awaited us: international playground for the jet set, with its huge luxury hotels, skyscrapers and beautifully kept parks and gardens, as well as narrow, winding streets filled with expensive sports cars, chic, tiny boutiques offering
the latest fashions, and dozens of sidewalk cafes where people sat relaxing in the afternoon sun, sipping wine or coffee. The next day, we stopped at the picture-perfect village of Portofino, a honeycomb of brightly colored homes and shops. In ancient times, the Romans built defense fortifications here, and over the centuries, the original structures
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were enlarged into the existing castle, which was used in the French and Spanish wars. Today it is surrounded by beautiful, fragrant gardens, and the long climb to the top of ancient stone steps offered a fabulous view of the bay, filled with luxurious private yachts After docking at Livorno, we took a bus to Florence. The city dates back to the first century, and during the Middle Ages, it became a world economic and art center. The cathedral, with its pink and green marble walls that took 150 years to build because plague intervened, and Holy Cross Church, where both Michelangelo and Galileo are buried, are tributes to humankind’s eternal quest for spirituality. Our last stop was Portoferraio, a resort destination with a port filled with private yachts, as well as large cruise ships. The island’s beautiful beaches, some rocky, others of fine sugar sand, held scores of sunbathers stretched on lounge chairs, and chattering in a variety of languages. In town, the streets were busy with tourists, shopping in the boutiques and cooling off with gelatos. Our Clipper adventure came to an end the next day, back at Civitavecchia where it began. Our vision of cruising, however, had changed forever: It would always include the sight of white sails filled with soft Mediterranean winds. 100
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GROOMING INDULGENCES FOR WOMEN, MEN & CHILDREN
For HIM MOLTON BROWN MINI SHOWER GELS CLIVE CHRISTIAN CLASSIC PERFUMES FOR HIM
An introduction to the three classic Clive Christian perfumes: No 1, 0.34 oz; 1872, 0.34 oz; X, 0.34 oz. Available at Saks Fifth Avenue. $310
An indulgent gift set, featuring 12 of Molton Brown’s favorite bath and shower gels from London. Available at Saks Fifth Avenue. $50
CREED FOR KIDS
“I had such an affinity for story time with my own children,” explained Olivier Creed, sixth generation master perfumer for The House of Creed. “Those memories inspired Creed for Kids.” Notes include plum, apple, rose, lemon and grapefruit. Available at creedboutique.com, Neiman Marcus and select Saks Fifth Avenue stores. 3.3 oz. $235
For HER FRESH SUGAR LIP SHOWCASE
Flaunt endless lip looks with this Sugar extravaganza. Available at Nordstrom. $77
For HER SUBLIME VANILLE
Part of Les Royales Exclusives Collection by Creed, Sublime Vanille is a universal soft oriental, nearly-gourmand scent. Available at creedboutique.com, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and select Saks Fifth Avenue stores. 2.5 oz. $545
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H
ad Jussi Eiramo’s car not run out of gas while he was returning from a fishing trip to Utsjoki, Finland, in summer 1973, he might never have discovered a wilderness wonderland 155 miles north of the Arctic Circle. When the car sputtered to a halt, the fisherman found himself at the edge of a vast, beautiful and pristine woodland where he felt very much at home. He returned to that special place time and again, to camp, to build a chalet and, eventually to construct a café for passing tourists. In time, Eiramo built 31 cabins out of deadwood logs – the sturdy timber of trees that thrive in severe cold.
Today, what Eiramo started has blossomed into an immense, year-round village called Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. It stands on property peppered with evergreens, snow-covered igloo-style visitor abodes and glass igloos perfect for viewing the Aurora Borealis (“Northern Lights”) that set the sky ablaze some 200 nights of the year. Cabins of all sizes, including the enormous Celebration House, with two dining rooms and space for 250 guests, dot the landscape. Known as Lapland, this spread of countryside blanketed with snow from late fall to early spring is an immense geographical area in far northern Scandinavia. It covers four countries – Finland, Russia, Norway and Sweden – and transits hundreds of fells (lakes) and forests where 10 percent of the population is employed in the field of reindeer herding. At Kakslauttanen, glass igloos combine the warmth of log cabins with 360-degree views through a dome of glass panels. All feature a private sauna, fireplace, kitchenette and a bedroom with glass roof. Restaurant Aurora, with a panoramic window view from the bar, is the resort’s latest on-site eating spot. With three private dining rooms, it can accommodate 500 guests for Lappish and Asian delicacies. While every season has its charm in Kakslauttanen – a snowball’s throw from Saariselka, Finland – winter is a frozen delight. Tourists trek the grounds in snowshoes and on sleds, bound up in heavy parkas and coats to protect against temperatures that often dip to -20 degrees Fahrenheit. The more curious of visitors can go to town and see the Sami – the indigenous folks, known as Lapps or Laplanders. Some wear colorful cultural garb; others, regular clothing. The Sami language is split into 10 distinct tongues, which are not mutually intelligible.
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Finland’s Winter Wonderland
By Dale King and Julia Hebert
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Notable Samis include The Blacksheep, a punk rock group; singer Joni Mitchell, actor Mikkel Gaup and actress Renee Zellweger, whose mother is part Sami. Locals have names for various parts of the year. “Kaamos� is the mystical period between December and January when the sun does not rise at all. Lying below the horizon, it paints the skyscape a deep twilight blue. The terrain is light each day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the bright, white snow adding to the glow. Kaamos is a time of phenomenal Arctic lighting, when the sky is blue in the north and red in the south.
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Around 2 p.m. each day is the so-called “blue moment,” when everything, including the sky and the snow, turns blue for 15 minutes. This unique pigmentation occurs only in the Arctic. Summer in Kakslauttanen has special activities, as well. This area is known as the “Land of the Midnight Sun” because Old Sol never sets for a month during June and July. The big orange ball just sort of sits on the horizon through the night and early morning. But the winter season takes advantage of the region’s far-north location and frigid environment. Visitors can go on various “safaris” which are nothing like those in Africa. A “Husky Safari” places riders at the helm and on the deck of a sled pulled by six of the sleek northland dogs. Horseback riding brings its share of devotees, and rides in a one-reindeer open sleigh are not out of the ordinary. Snowmobiling across the tundra-like snow fields is de rigueur, and a “snow tank” pulls hearty folks in a glass-topped conveyance.
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Santa Claus is always in town, at Santa’s Celebration House – the largest log building in Finland. In fact, the gent with the long beard will meet with kids in the winter, and it’s not unheard of to see him visit weddings during the summer. Couples can arrange to tie the knot during any season at Kakslauttanen. In summer, temperate temperatures encourage outdoor services, with walks along streams and through pastures. In winter, an ice chapel is available for the “I do’s.” Saariselka is also a popular spot for winter “white weddings.” Arrangements can be made to use St. Olaf’s Chapel or Tieva Chapel, not far from Kakslauttanen. Top photo: Salmon is a popular dish at the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort’s restaurants. Korsu “The Underground Restaurant” provides a warm, welcoming fireplace and elegant décor.
Peppered with evergreens, snow-covered igloo-style visitor abodes and glass igloos perfect for viewing the Aurora Borealis (“Northern Lights”) that set the sky ablaze some 200 nights of the year. Winter activities at the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort include horseback riding and reindeers pulling sleds.
The “snow tank” pulls passengers in a glass-topped conveyance for either a two- or three-hour ride around the grounds of the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort.
Snowmobile Safaris at the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort will have visitors’ adrenaline pumping. Those riding for two hours get a coffee break; those on the machines for four hours can enjoy lunch in front of a campfire.
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Experience
Iceland
Like – And With – A Local By Jana Soeldner Danger
The Icelandair Buddy Program pairs travelers with local airline-employee residents for personalized layover adventures
H
iking a glacier. Backpacking. Exploring caves. Scuba diving. These are just a few of the adventures travelers have experienced with Icelandair’s unique Buddy program, which pairs passengers with airline employees who share their interests. The buddies not only make the arrangements, but also accompany the passengers on the excursions, all at no charge. Exploring a new country can be intimidating. Sure, there are guide books and group tours, but suppose a traveler wants a more intimate look at a destination and a more personal experience? The Buddy program, which started last year, offers the solution. Since the 1960s, Icelandair has offered passengers the opportunity to do a stopover in Iceland for up to seven nights at no extra ticketing charge. The Buddy program is designed to enhance the stopover by letting people from other countries experience Iceland like a local. Take, for example, Dianne Schifini of Long Island, NY and Tina Flintoff of Enumclaw, WA. When the two friends decided to take a transatlantic cruise from Copenhagen to New York together, they began researching airlines to find connections
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Travelers enjoy whale watching with the Icelandair layover Buddy Guides. that would bring both of them to their first destination attapproximately the same time, even though they live on opposite sides of the country. “I’d never heard of Icelandair,” Schifini said. “But a friend told me it was a great airline.” A friend also told her Iceland was a great place to visit, and that she should think about doing a stopover. As she did more research, she discovered the Buddy program and told Tina about it. “It sounded too good to be true,” Tina recalled. “I said, ‘are you sure it isn’t a scam? Who does something like that?’”
en path,” Tina said. “The program caters not to touristy things, but to creating a real Iceland experience.” The ladies’ adventure began with a visit to a spectacular waterfall. “Then we went glacial hiking,” Dianne said. To climb the slippery glacier, they wore helmets and crampons for safety. “It was like climbing up a mountain, except you’re walking on ice,” Dianne said. “And because of all the volcanic ash, the ice looks black.” Next came whisking across an Icelandic
beach in an all-terrain vehicle. “It was all black sand, and it was barren for miles,” Dianne said. “It wasn’t like anything we’d see in the U.S.”
A Global Trend Not surprisingly, the program originated as a way to encourage people to visit Iceland and take advantage of the stopover experience. “We did research into travel trends, and the results showed that people want to experience their destinations like locals do,” said Jon Skafti Kristjansson, a brand manager for
Well, Icelandair does. Eventually, the two women were paired with flight attendant Unnur Eir Arnardottir, and before the trip, the Americans corresponded with their Icelandic buddy via email. “We described ourselves to her and told her what activities we like,” Dianne said. “She gave us some possibilities to choose from. She arranged for us to be picked up, and then met us at our airbnb.” While there are Buddy activities as mild as joining a knitting group or visiting the town coffee shop, Dianne and Tina craved adventure. “We wanted to take advantage of what Iceland has to offer, and to get off the beatGuests can request almost any experience with the Buddy program – even arranging weddings or baby showers during layovers. Winter 2016/17
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Icelandair. “To help our passengers get the most out of their stopover trips in Iceland, we decided to offer them a free local host with local knowledge.”
after all, she had never met them except through email. But so far, the adventures have all turned out well, and her guests seem to have fun, she said.
Traveling with a buddy has many advantages over simply doing research on the Internet or in books, said Josh Popsie, a marketing research specialist with Icelandair. “When people come to Iceland, they don’t always know how to spend their time. Travel sites might give you the top 10 things to see and do, but there’s much more to getting to know a place,” he said. “The Buddy program helps them do the things they really love.”
Dianne and Tina gave rave reviews. “We felt like we were living the Iceland Dream,” Tina said.
Besides helping to create unique experiences, a buddy can provide information and knowledge travelers might otherwise not get. “Unnur could answer every question we had,” Dianne said. “While we were doing something active, we were also getting an in-depth feel for it.” “It allows you to make a deeper connection with the place you’re visiting,” Tina said.
Enthusiastic Employees Employees, who are not paid extra for their services, have been enthusiastic. “When we first launched the program, we didn’t expect such a great response from them,” Popsie said. “But they all wanted to participate. They have amazing hobbies that involve really cool adventures, and they wanted to share them.” That was the case for Unnur. “I joined the Buddy program because I’m quite familiar with my country and I travel a lot — hiking, backpacking, cross-country skiing and driving, and I wanted to share my passion,” she said. Unnur has already had adventures with visitors from the U.S., Europe and New Zealand. “We have explored caves and canyons, hiked up a natural hot river, seen geothermal mud pots right by our feet, and gone scuba diving between two tectonic plates that divide Europe and America,” she said. She’s also taken guests to visit Thingvellir national park, a UNESCO heritage site, and, of course, shared her knowledge of some of the area’s best restaurants that offer traditional Icelandic dishes. Occasionally, Unnur worried that her itineraries might not please her guests because, 110
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“It was an absolutely fabulous, once-in-alifetime trip,” Dianne said. Last year, the program focused on six different categories: nature, health, culture, adventure, lifestyle and food. This year, the focus will include celebrating important occasions like milestone birthdays, a perfect proposal, weddings, honeymoons and anniversaries. Buddies will make arrangements for parties or other events passengers request. It’s a good match — Icelandair is celebrating its own milestone: 2017 marks the airline’s 80th anniversary. The ultimate goal of the Buddy program is to make people think about Iceland as a leisure travel destination — one to which they will want to return. “When people come to Iceland once, they come back,” Kristjansson said. “We want to showcase Iceland and make their first trip the best it can be.”
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Arctic Circle Luxury RailTrail
By Jana SoelDner Danger
Hauntingly beautiful shades of emerald and jade dance across the firmament, as if a celestial artist were painting the midnight sky with light. Travelers catch their breath at the spectacular sight of the aurora borealis, as the legendary northern lights conjure visions of enchantment and mystery. A group of adventurers will spend 12 frosty winter days in search of this natural wonder caused by the sun’s magnetic activity. But the hunt is just one part of an unforgettable experience that lies ahead as the travelers venture far above the Arctic Circle aboard the Golden Eagle, a luxurious private train, for a journey through Russia. And because they’re traveling by rail, they’ll have no worries about security checks or baggage weight. Want to come along?
Seeing St. Petersburg The adventure begins at historic St. Petersburg, Russia’s second largest city and its cultural capital. Known for art, lavish architecture and rich history, as well as traditions that have inspired literature, music and visual art, St. Petersburg is an unforgettable destination. Don’t miss the UNESCO World Heritage Site, comprised of the Historic Center and related groups of monuments. The Hermitage, founded in the 18th century by Catherine the Great, and one of the largest art museums in the world, offers works by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael and Rembrandt, as well as Impressionists Gauguin, Matisse and Van Gogh, and modern art by Picasso.
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State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg
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Then move on to Peterhof, an imperial palace inspired by France’s Versailles and built by Peter the Great. Peter’s daughter, the Empress Elizabeth, expanded the palace and the surrounding park, which features a romantic system of fountains. Other spots to see are Catherine’s Palace, the famed Amber Room, St. Isaac’s Cathedral and the cosmopolitan Nevsky Prospekt.
All Aboard After three exciting days exploring St. Petersburg, climb aboard the train for a sumptuous dinner of caviar and a ride through a winter wonderland that will carry you across the Arctic Circle. The train approaches the station at Kirkenes, a charming small town in the far northeastern part of Norway, where it slows to a stop.
When it’s time to bid Kirkenes goodbye, board the train again and settle in as the whistle blows and the engine picks up speed. Next stop: Murmansk, the largest city in the Arctic. An important port during World War II, it was bombed heavily by Hitler’s army, and although most of the city burned to the ground, the people refused to accept defeat. After the war, Murmansk received the title of Hero City for its resistance to the Germans, and commemorating that noble Russian defense is the Alyosha, a 30-meter statue of a soldier overlooking the city. During the Cold War, Murmansk became a port for Soviet ice breakers, and you’ll be able to tour the Lenin, the first one in the world to run on nuclear power. Now
The Snow Hotel in Kirkenes
Visit the breathtaking Snow Hotel, where igloo-like guestrooms built of sparkling snow and decorated with ice sculptures glow with soft blue light. Or take a dogsled pulled by a team of huskies on a run across the frozen lake and tundra. Keep an eye out for reindeer!
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Red Square and Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow
a museum ship, it serves as a showcase for today’s Russian nuclear fleet. Other places to visit include the Arctic Research Institute Exposition, the Northern Navy Museum, the Regional Arts Museum, the Regional History Museum, and the Shipping History Museum. And be sure to enjoy a dinner of king crab, considered to be an invasive – but delicious – species brought by the Soviets to the Murmansk strait during the 1950s.
On to Petrozavodsk All aboard for Petrozavodsk! Although archaeological discoveries suggest people lived here as long as 7000 years ago, and there were a number of active lakeside villages during the Middle Ages, the main settlement dates back to 1703. Prince Aleksandr Danilovich Menshikov founded it as Petrovskaya Slovoda at the request of Peter the Great, who needed a new iron foundry, and it was incorporated as a town and renamed Petrozavodsk during the reign of Catherine.
White glove meal service on the Golden Eagle Arctic Circle rail tour
Lavish bedroom on the Golden Eagle Train
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from centuries past. Take time to view the fenced Kizhi Pogost, which contains two historical wooden churches and a bell tower.
The Golden Ring Climb aboard again as the train begins to chug toward Vladimir and Suzdal, two of the communities that make up a circle of ancient towns, some of which date back to the 12th century, known as Russia’s Golden Ring. They offer beautiful countryside views, ancient architecture that includes churches, fortresses and monasteries, and a peek at provincial, traditional Russian life not as westernized as larger cities. For almost 200 years, Vladimir was the capital of ancient Russia, and it boasts three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Golden Gates, and the Assumption and St. Demetrius cathedrals. It is also home to several museums and art galleries, including the Vladimir Regional History Museum, one of the oldest in Russia.
Typical lattice decor in Suzdal, Russia The town is known for its Neoclassical architecture, including Round Square, built originally in 1775 and later reconstructed twice; and the 19th century Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Visit the city’s museum, founded in 1871, and stroll an area along the Gulf of Petrozavodsk lined with postmodern sculptures. One well-known landmark is Lenin Square, where a large, Soviet-era statue of the Russian leader stands sentry. If weather permits, board a hovercraft and skim over to Kizhi Island’s UNESCOlisted open-air museum, which features tools, dishes, furniture and utensils
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In Suzdal, visit the city’s very own Kremlin, predecessor to the Moscow Kremlin. It was built by Prince Yury Dolgoruky, who founded an outpost that eventually became Moscow. Among the city’s historic ecclesiastical buildings are the Nativity of the Virgin Cathedral, its dramatic blue domes flecked with gold, and the Wooden Church of S. Nicholas. Take time to walk the frozen Kamenka River and watch the horse-drawn sleighs — or take a sleigh ride yourself.
Moscow Your final stop: Moscow, much feared during the Cold War and now one of the fastestgrowing tourist destinations on the planet. It is the world’s most populated inland city, yet more than half of its area is covered with greenery, including a large urban forest. The heart of the city is Red Square. The Kremlin, once a medieval fortress, is now the home of Russia’s president, and his official residence, the Grand Kremlin Palace, dates to the 16th century. At the Kremlin Museum Complex, you’ll see a collection of clothing worn by Russian royals, several churches and the Patriarch Palace. Visit the Lenin Mausoleum, where you can walk past the embalmed body of the
A ballerina dances in Red Square Russian leader, and St. Basil’s Cathedral, built in the mid 16th century. Moscow is home to several notable museums, including the Tretyakov Gallery, which houses a collection of Russian art, and the Pushkin, where you can view Impressionist and Postimpressionist paintings, along with works by some of the Old Masters. In the Garden of Fallen Monuments, you’ll see statues of leaders like Dzherzinksy, Stalin and Brezhnev, placed there after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
and admire its conical wooden tower. Christ the Savior Cathedral, the tallest Orthodox church in the world, was destroyed by Stalin in 1931, but finally rebuilt shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union. Now your visit is at an end. But memories of the dancing aurora borealis, a spectacular show performed by nature, and the breathtaking architecture and art that tell unforgettable stories about human history, will stay with you long after you return home.
Stop by the Church of the Ascension, built to commemorate the birth of Ivan the Terrible,
A stamp printed in Russia shows a painting “Capricious Girl” by Watteau with the same inscription, from series “Foreign Paintings in Hermitage, Leningrad”, circa 1972
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Act One. Scene One. Let the Play Begin Foyers and Entry Halls: Prologue to Good Design by Perla Lichi, ASID
The design of a home could be compared to writing a great stage play! There is first the prologue and setting the scene or location. Once the setting has been established then a good play writer introduces the characters and carefully crafts the sequence of scenes so the story unfolds in a harmonious way. In home design, the overall goal is to tell “the design story” in complete balance and harmony. Think of each area as a different scene of the play, where we are always working to create rooms that flow visually from one to the other. The foyer or entrance hall is the prologue. To “tell the design story correctly,” it is essential that the details and furnishings in the entryway reflect the overall design of the entire home.
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In other words, if the residence is designed in a modern style, the scope and tone of the entryway should communicate this genre. When the goal is Art Nouveau, the entryway should showcase one of the client’s most magnificent pieces of Art Nouveau artwork and the design should introduce Art Nouveau motifs that will be repeated throughout the main living areas. In a residential setting, the entryway serves as a passageway and like all good design should not be cluttered. In general, an easy flow of traffic is essential.
Like the lobby of a grand hotel, this regal foyer has all the decorative bells and whistles. Inset: Between the columns, an upholstered tete-a-tete provides a resting place and leads the eye to a majestic dual stairway. Photos by Craig Denis
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If the residence is designed in a modern style, the scope and tone of the entryway should communicate this genre. Barry Grossman Photos
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Above and right: A hand-carved, silver-leafed table is centered over a unique custom floor medallion. Hand-carved interior moldings and detailing frames the entrance to this secondary foyer. Photos by Craig Denis
Furnishings that we often use in an entry include a console or narrow table, a mirror and accessories. Mirrors add sparkle, create the illusion of more space, and can be framed in a style that suit any décor. Choose accessories wisely. Personalize the space with family photos, a portrait or a personal collection that says something about you.
tion from bright outdoors to the darker interior. Illumination needs to be at a lower level at night to aid eyes in focusing, but strong enough to enable visitors to see and be seen. The entrance is an ideal place to try a dramatic lighting effect such as an accented art object. A magnificent chandelier, in scale and proportion, enhances any foyer. And dimmers on hall lighting enable you to set any mood.
Many people also like to introduce some type of seating in the foyer – a bench or a chair. No matter what pieces are selected, everything should be proportionate to the space and should never get in the way of traffic through the door.
If the area is spacious enough, then a round or oval entry table, in appropriate scale, adds a magnificent design statement. Beautifully detailed foyer tables with ornate hand carving or intricate marquetry (decorative wood inlay) are often seen in the lobbies of grand hotels and public buildings. Those whose residences can accommodate such grandeur should take full advantage of this opportunity. Foyers and entryways set the stage for the home and should showcase the most magnificent pieces of all! Follow these guidelines and your foyer and entryway will certainly earn a “standing ovation.”
The floor is the first place you look when entering a room. In the entryway we often suggest adding a special design touch such as a medallion or crest or a motif that fits with the selected theme. Lighting is also an important consideration! In the lobby or entrance area, day lighting should be bright enough to allow a reasonable transi-
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Tagg Bowman
The Modern Day Josh Baskin
A behind-the-scenes look at a real toy executive By Stephanie Bonilla
If you ever watched the movie Big — or even if you haven’t — you’ll remember the infamous scene where Tom Hanks dances on a giant novelty piano in one of New York’s most popular landmarks, F.A.O. Schwarz. This movie, which catapulted Tom Hanks from being a funny actor to an Oscarworthy movie star, quickly became a classic because it lived out a common childhood fantasy: getting paid to play with toys.
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That nostalgic dream is still very alive in many of us, getting tucked away under our pillow every morning, as we get ready to sit behind our desks at our traditional 9-5s. But for some, like Anker Play Products’ VicePresident of Sales Tagg Bowman, their occupation consists of job functions that will turn your inner child green with envy. In the 1988 movie, Big, a wish turns 12-year-old Josh Baskin into a 30-year-old man (Tom Hanks) who lands a job at MacMillan Toy Company.
Dream Vocation: Toy Tester For Bowman, whose dream job as a child consisted of playing with animals, a conventional career path was never an option. Though his daydream didn’t necessarily pan out exactly as he envisioned, he compromised by taking a job that still allowed him to play with animals—just plastic ones. “I accidentally fell into the toy industry after taking a job at a local animal figure manufacturer,” said Bowman. “I was fresh out of college and needed something to put on my
resume.” Never expecting to make a career out of it, Bowman quickly climbed up the sales ladder, becoming one of the top sales executives in the company. His rapid success opened his mind — and many doors — to pursue a career in the toy industry. After moving on from his initial job as sales associate, Bowman pursued other opportunities with bigger job titles and more sizable responsibilities — all while staying local to Miami and true to his love of play. Several years later, he is still embracing his inner child full on. But his favorite part of his job isn’t the fact that he occasionally gets to turn his office into a playground. Rather, he enjoys the product development aspect most. “It’s exciting to meet with large retailers and brainstorm concepts, then go back with a prototype months later that I know I’ll eventually see sitting on their shelves. Working on something and seeing it through from inception, knowing all the meetings, phone calls and prototypes it took to make that one toy, then seeing the joy on kids’ faces when they play with it
makes everything worth it. It’s the full circle aspect that I love the most.”
Not All Child’s Play But the job of this VP of Sales isn’t all fun and games. Many of his days consist of extensive travel and crucial presentations to large, influential retailers such as Wal-Mart, Target and Toys “R” Us. On days when he isn’t traveling, he is busy managing accounts, preparing quotes for clients and organizing and shipping out samples. He also works with the product development team on making sure his clients’ visions become reality. During his time off, Bowman often visits toy stores, floating through the aisles to ensure he stays current with what’s out on the market. Sometimes, he even stops to play with toys. “Playing and trying out the toys that are out on the market has always been an integral part of my success. It allows me to feel the tangible benefits of a toy, triggers ideas on how an existing product can be enhanced and it takes me back to being 13 years old which helps me remember what I wanted out of a toy then,” said Bowman. “The funny part is that when I was a kid, my favorite
PHOTO BY SILVIA PANGARO
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“
Playing and trying out the toys that are out on the market has always been an integral part of my success. — Tagg Bowman
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toys were the most basic ones: a soccer ball and football. My inner child still drifts toward them as I walk down toy aisles. But now my job is to help create and sell toys that compete with iPads and video games.” Some of Anker Play Products’ most popular items include their construction blocks, science kits and their DIY craft kits, such as their “make your own wall clock.” Their mission —
which is engraved into their products and culture — is to reinvigorate the imagination and creativity of children worldwide.
Always A Child At Heart All in all, the reality of getting paid to play with toys is accompanied by hard work and commitment. It isn’t always playtime for Bowman. And though his story highlights that not everything that glitters is a fun nail art set, it stands as proof that we never have to truly grow up.
8
Reasons to Journey to Shanghai Disneyland
Known as “New York on steroids,” Shanghai, China, is immense and modern, a vastly populated city that exudes Chinese history and culture while taking a cue from the West. Its roots trace back to a time when Mainland China was philosophically closer to Mao than Mickey Mouse. But the community of more than 24 million that stretches from the Yangtze River to the East China Sea has grown and matured enough to accomodate both. Shanghai now boasts a Disney amusement park of its own. And if the home city is figuratively fueled by steroids, then Shanghai Disneyland must certainly run on Red Bull. Opened
By Dale King and Julia Hebert
on in June 2016, the Disney-themed showplace, built on nearly 1,000 acres of formerly mucky marshland, has already counted several million visitors to its culturally specific attractions, many unseen at other parks in Disneydom. Potential travelers who’d like to catch a Broadway-style, Mandarin-language version of The Lion King or travel on a ship through a stalactite-strewn pirate lair, will have to bypass the Disney parks in Orlando and Anaheim for a trip halfway ‘round the world to Shanghai Disneyland. Mickey, Minnie and Goofy-ites have already found the journey worthwhile. Winter 2016/17
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The Quest to Build in Asia Shanghai Disneyland cost $5.5 billion and took five years to build. Walt Disney Company Chairman/CEO Bob Iger said it surpassed original estimates because of changes and expansions made late in the construction phase. (And, more than 1,200 graves had to be relocated to make way for the new park.) Iger calls the park “authentically Disney, distinctly Chinese.” He explained: “We wanted to act like we were respectful, invited guests in China. One way was to infuse this place with features of the familiar, with elements of Chinese culture. Not only can Chinese visitors relate to it, but they can be proud of it and can have a sense of ownership.”
Chinese. The other is a boat ride, ‘Voyage to the Crystal Grotto,’ passing islands and traversing caverns under the castle.
Features of the new Shanghai Disneyland that make it unique include: 1) Of the six Disney parks, Shanghai’s edition is second in size only to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, which spans 25,000 acres. 2) Main Street USA, featured at the other five Disney parks, is not in Shanghai. Instead, an entertainment district called “Disneytown” provides shopping and dining venues, including retailers specific to China.
If Shanghai is like New York on Steroids, Shanghai Disneyland must certainly run on Red Bull.
The resort’s two onsite hostelries, the Art Nouveau-inspired Shanghai Disneyland Hotel and Pixar-themed Toy Story Hotel, are just a water taxi ride away from the park gates. Slippers and tea kettles with loose-leaf tea are among the hotels’ in-room amenities, and guests are welcomed to play Chinese board games and practice calligraphy during their stay. The Enchanted Storybook Castle houses a restaurant and two attractions. One, the walk-through ‘Once Upon a Time Adventure,’ follows the story of Snow White and the ‘Magic Mirror,’ which speaks
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3) Star Wars is not located just in a galaxy far, far away, but right at Shanghai Disneyland. Luke, Leia, Kylo Ren and all of their Sith and Jedi buddies are available for meetand-greets. Visitors can also view film props and memorabilia.
4) Shanghai Disneyland was built around a gold and blue castle – the biggest ever constructed at a Disney park, one resplendent with balustrades, pennants, golden spires and a Renaissance-style grand entrance. The crown jewel of the Walt-ish monarchy, “The Enchanted Storybook Castle” is the only royal residence that celebrates each princess regaled in the celluloid frames of Disney lore.
5) Treasure Cove and the super-tech Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure attraction, only in Shanghai, where riders in a strange ship can view a skeleton transform into a robotic Jack Sparrow. The boat takes a computer-animated trip across the ocean floor. The background is heavy with black lights and skeletons in pirate garb. 6) A Tron-themed roller coaster races up and down on arched rails. The adventure places riders on fancy motorcycles with lighted wheels that zip through blue-black tunnels and under curving canopies at warp-like speeds. 7) Nearby, you can get a magical makeover at a place called the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. 8) Guests can purchase a beverage in a Rapunzel-themed souvenir goblet or soft drink in a standard cup. Roast duck pizzas are shaped like Mickey Mouse. Shanghai is a popular tourist destination renowned for its historical landmarks, such as The Bund, City God Temple, Yu Garden, the extensive Lujiazui skyline, skyscrapers and major museums. CEO Iger envisions Shanghai Disney becoming a tourist landmark of its own. On opening day, he shared with the anticipatory crowd a greeting like the one Walt Disney delivered when Disneyland was inaugurated in 1955: “To all who come to this happy place, welcome.”
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Lady
PIRATES Anne Bonny & Mary Read: Fierce And Famous Female Pirates By Todd R. Sciore
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op culture has dramatically romanticized the life of a pirate and for immediate proof you don’t need to look any further than the blockbuster Pirates Of The Caribbean films with their affable protagonist Captain Jack Sparrow. Professional sports franchises have also adopted the swashbuckler aesthetic with teams such as the Pittsburgh Pirates, Oakland Raiders and South Florida’s own Tampa Bay Buccaneers all donning pirate inspired logos. In reality, the pirate’s life was not always a rum soaked freefor-all of endless treasure hunts and debauchery. While a marauding band of pirates may have lived life on their own terms, their life expectancy wasn’t very long. If wounded, early 18th century medicine was still primitive and if convicted, the use of capital punishment was more prevalent.
According to author and historian David Cordingly’s Under The Black Flag- The Romance And The Reality Of Life Among The Pirates, two of history’s more popular pirates were not only women but were tough customers “armed with pistols and cutlasses and shouted and swore at everyone in sight”. Coincidentally, both were affiliated with Captain John “Calico Jack” Rackham who was noted as “a small-time pirate” when compared to Edward “Blackbeard” Teach or Bartholomew “Black Bart” Roberts and that, Rackham’s primary claim to fame was “his association with female pirates Mary Read and Anne Bonny, whose lives were considerably more adventurous and interesting than his own”.
Anne Bonny Born near County Cork, Ireland, Anne Bonny was the illegitimate daughter of a lawyer named William Cormac and his maid/mistress Mary Brennan. While there are varying accounts of Anne’s childhood, some say that in order to avoid scandal, she was often dressed up as a boy with occasional attempts to pass her off as her father’s law clerk or the son of a deceased relative. They subsequently immigrated to America settling in South Carolina where her father tried reviving his law career but eventually found success as a merchant and purchased a plantation. Rebellious from the start, Anne was naturally attracted to the bad boy type and, against
“Two of history’s more popular pirates were not only women but were tough customers “armed with pistols and cutlasses and shouted and swore at everyone in sight.” – Historian David Cordingly her father’s wishes, she ran off to Nassau in the Bahamas with a minor league pirate named James Bonny who eyed her father’s fortune as his potential treasure chest. Disinherited by her father and disenchanted with James after he turned informant in exchange for a King’s pardon, the fiery redhead met a more dashing pirate in the form of Calico Jack. Bonny once again dressed as a male and became one of the crew.
Mary Read Mary Read was born in Plymouth, England circa 1690 and she too began life as an illegitimate child. She also spent the better part of her youth impersonating a boy (a deceased half-brother named “Mark”) in order for her mother to obtain financial assistance from an otherwise coldhearted mother-in-law who favored male children. The ruse worked; however, Mary continued the bizarre charade well after the woman had passed away. Eventually she married and lived life as a woman; however, after the untimely death of her husband she reclaimed her supposed male alter ego of “Mark Read” and took to the high seas. As fate would have it, Read would also cross paths with Calico Jack as “after further adventures, she found herself on the ship commanded by Rackham”. She also joined his crew and became a fierce fighter.
In a bit of O’Henryesque irony, legend has it that Anne found herself attracted to the new pirate named Mark and secretly revealed to “him” that she was really a woman. In what was probably an awkward moment for both, Mark was then forced to reveal that he was really a woman too and “to avoid any further misunderstandings, Calico Jack was let into the secret”. The two ladies became fast friends and rose to a mythical fame having been the only two women known to be tried, convicted and sentenced to hanging for piracy during the eighteenth century. Fortunately for Bonny and Read, they cunningly held a trump card up their sleeves to delay their sentence: Both revealed that they were pregnant and in accordance with English common law, they were both reprieved only adding to their cult figure status. For those of you looking to channel your inner pirate, the long running and popular Gasparilla Pirate Fest will take place on January 27-28, 2017 in Tampa. Proceeds from some events benefit the Gasparilla Community Fund and The Humane Society of Tampa Bay. Sources: Under The Black Flag- The Romance And The Reality Of Life Among The Piratesby: David Cordingly, 1995, A Harvest Book (Harcourt Brace & Company). www.gasparillapiratefest.com womenwhokill.wordpress.com/featured/ anne-bonny-mary-read-caribbean-hellcats www.wikipedia.com
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Adventure
Exploration
in Fajardo, Puerto Rico By Ryan Jay
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or a bit of action-packed horseback riding, canoeing, snorkeling, windsurfing and jet skiing, explore the 100-acre private Palomino Island – the mysterious isle where the antics of Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow were filmed in the movie Pirates of the Caribbean. The crystal blue water of Palomino Island is mesmerizing. As you paddleboard or canoe, you may gaze upon manta rays and sea turtles peacefully gliding alongside you in this Caribbean wonderland.
By The Light Of The Moon Post sunset, the adventures continue by moonlight. Visitors enjoy a nighttime kayaking excursion through the naturally plankton-glowing waters of the nearby Bioluminescent Bay. You’ll feel as if you’re gliding in a science-fiction thriller through vivid green florescence. When it’s time to relax, unwind and enjoy a fine meal, pamper yourself at El Conquistador A Waldorf Astoria Resort, one of the Caribbean’s 130
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Founded by Juan Ponce de Leon in 1508, San Juan hosts a culturally rich history and a vividly stunning landscape to explore. The ancient tropical destination offers thrill-seeking adventurers plenty to discover – such as an invigorating hike through the El Yunque Rainforest, the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System. Guides lead you on a journey through lush fauna dotted with exotic singing birds, vibrant and fragrant flora, slithering and stalking wild life and breathtaking waterfalls perfect for a romantic endeavor.
most complete destination resorts, spread over 500 acres in the quaint fishing village of Fajardo, Puerto Rico. The Resort overlooks the converging waters of the turquoise Caribbean Sea stretching to the east, and the sapphire blue Atlantic Ocean, which extends to the north. Accommodations delight in stunning full ocean view and spacious garden rooms. The 26,000 sq. ft. Waldorf Astoria Spa features 25 treatment rooms; movement studio with a variety of classes; state-of-the-art fitness center featuring comprehensive fitness assessments and personal trainers; a dedicated children’s spa program – Ki’ Spa; treatments incorporating products indigenous to the surrounding rainforest and ocean; juice bar; and tea room with panoramic views.
An Aquatic Oasis While you enjoy the spa’s amenities, the children and dad can head out for some more aquatic fun at the Coqui Water Park. There they can slide
Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) in Pirates of the Caribbean on Palomino Island
down mind-blowing vertical drops and high-speed flumes overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. This state-of-the-art aquatic playground is an amazing 2.4-acre destination themed after the nearby El Yunque rainforest. It sits along the Caribbean Sea and overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. Among the astounding features is the iconic Torre de Yocahu, a tower from which three high-speed water slides flow, including El Gigante Dormido (The Sleeping Giant) with an intense 40-foot drop. An 8,000-square-foot “lazy river” is filled with 180,000 gallons of water that push riders sitting leisurely in inner tubes around the park. An 8,500-square-foot infinity-edge pool, a rope-bridge, and speed, tube, body and kids’ slides are other highlights.
And when you’re finished adventuring for the day, you’re sure to be famished. Opulence highly recommends the Chops Steakhouse, the signature restaurant at El Conquistador Resort. “To start, try the BBQ Shrimp wrapped in smoked bacon and the Blue Crab Cake with hints of dry mustard and sweet red pepper,” suggested Jay. “For entrée, go for the New York strip accompanied with peppercorn, chimichurri, mushroom or béarnaise sauce. Or try the seafood pasta pappardell served with lobster, shrimp and mussels in a tomato cream sauce. Do finish with the 24-layer chocolate ganache sponge cake.”
Recharge – More Adventure Awaits
Land Ahoy
When you’re ready to lay your head down for some slumber to recharge for tomorrow’s adventures, dream of a visit to downtown San Juan, where the vibrant structures and cobbled streets will guide you down a path ripe for historic exploration.
When you’re ready to be landlubbers, enjoy a challenging round of golf on the luscious Arthur Hills designed golf course. Gain new skills in a lesson with a PGA instructor.
El Conquistador A Waldorf Astoria Resort is located at 1000 El Conquistador Avenue, Fajardo, PR 00738. For information, call +1 787-863-1000 or visit www.elconresort.com. Winter 2016/17
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The
Biltmore Hotel By Kelly Villasuso
A Gem of Historical Proportions
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hroughout history, gemstones have served diverse roles in the lore and legends of human culture, assigning these precious minerals with symbolic medicinal and spiritual significance and frequently associating them with milestones in life. For instance, a diamond is believed to symbolize strength and endurance, an emerald is believed to symbolize renewal, while a double sapphire is believed to symbolize wisdom. Each of these gems has been used by different cultures over time to celebrate attaining the milestone of 90 years due to the symbolic significance of each. Fittingly, The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida, is celebrating its 90th birthday in 2016 and is truly a gem of historical proportions, deserving of diamonds, emeralds, and double sapphires. This iconic hotel has achieved this milestone with demonstrated strength and endurance and is gliding into its future with a sense of renewal while treasuring its past with wisdom. Joining an elite group celebrating 90 years in 2016, including Boca Raton Resort & Club (as featured in the summer edition of Opulence, Celebrating 90 Years of Coveted Opulence) and The Brazilian Court in Palm Beach (as featured in the fall edition, Turning the Big 9-0 in 2016: The Brazilian Court Palm Beach Still Keeps Good Company), The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables still shines bright like the diamond it is. The centerpiece of famed developer George Merrick’s vision for the majestic suburb of Coral Gables, The Biltmore Hotel opened in January 1926 showcasing a unique blend of myriad styles from the Old World, including Italian, Spanish, and Moorish elements. Its bold grandeur quickly made it the most fashionable resort in the country, a spot it has held off and on throughout its remarkable and enduring 90-year history.
From hotel to hospital to medical school and back, The Biltmore has played a significant role in South Florida’s history, as well as that of our country. With each transformation, it served its role graciously. Careful attention was paid to restoring the craftsmanship and artistry throughout when returning The Biltmore to its hotel roots in 1987, an effort that continues thoughtfully and continuously to this day to ensure that the guests of tomorrow will experience the glamour of yesteryear (alongside the modern conveniences of today) for times to come. According to Philippe Parodi, Vice President of Marketing & Sales, “[The Biltmore Hotel has] a team of employees who are dedicated to preserving our historical monument while working hand-inhand with the Historical Society of Coral Gables and The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation to follow the guidelines and standards to preserve our historic building.” This National Historic Landmark has embraced its age with style over the course of 2016, particularly with its special 90th Anniversary ninecourse tasting menu at the famed Palme D’Or. From the sea urchin and foie gras terrine, to the Spanish octopus, the Kobe Beef Oxtail, and the roasted duck, the exquisite experience created by Chef Gregory Pugin was sublime. Although this magnificent menu is only available in 2016, you do not have to wait until this heavenly hotel marks its centennial — the food is always something to celebrate at the Palme D’Or. Happy birthday to The Biltmore Hotel Miami-Coral Gables. You are a true gem! The Biltmore Miami-Coral Gables 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables, Florida 33134 www.biltmorehotel.com
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Strike Now Y’All, the Iron City Is Hot By Kelly Villasuso
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f you gauge the evolution of a city’s cool factor by the evolution of its nickname, then Birmingham, Alabama, surely is the coolest city around. From the earliest esteemed monikers of Iron City and Magic City, to its current-day calling cards — Bham and ‘Ham — you could easily surmise that the South’s best kept secret is hashtag-worthy of #goodtimes #food #lifestyle #luxurytravel (for starters). In other words, (minus the trending hashtag-ese), the ‘Ham is smokin’ and really garnering love, so strike while the Iron City is hot. You will find a progressive city that honors its rich, nation-rocking roots; an active, engaged constituency that feverishly supports its Bham Barrons, its artisan brewers, its motorsports, and its enviable farmers’ market; and a culinary community married to its downhome cooking while also mad for its JamesBeard-honored wizards of gastronomy.
Birmingham’s Rich, Nation-Rocking Roots The Vulcan Park & Museum, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Kelly Ingram Park, and the 16th Street Baptist Church are must-see landmarks to properly honor
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Tony, Country Living Smack Dab in BHAM:
Grand Bohemian Mountain Brook If you consider yourself a bon vivant (or you are working hard to be one), you are sure to feel at home in the Grand Bohemian Mountain Brook in Mountain Brook Village. This tony, 100-room boutique hotel will envelope you in its luxurious setting amidst rolling hills and treelined streets… smack dab in Birmingham. Its upscale offerings include a sculpture garden and well-curated art gallery, the luxurious Poseidon Spa, upscale dining at Habitat Feed & Social, wine blending classes, and a cooking school, all of which will provide you with the requisites for truly living life well.
Wine Blending by Kessler:
Simplifying Complex Chemistry, Delivering Uncomplicated Pleasure During the Wine Blending by Kessler course, Sommelier and Instructor Demián Camacho takes you on a sensory journey through different grape regions and vineyards, and opens your mind and your palate to different varietals and various aging techniques. Employing what you learn about the wines — and utilizing a host of gadgets straight out of high school chemistry class — you will then create your own custom wine blend complete with a personalized label. The Grand Bohemian Mountain Brook will even keep your recipe on file so that you are able to re-create it on future visits to the hotel. Cheers to that!
Rooftop terrace at the Grand Bohemian Mountain Brook
Birmingham’s (and our nation’s) rocky past and to truly appreciate its rebirth. Vulcan Park & Museum sits atop Red Mountain and is home to the Iron City’s beloved Vulcan, the Roman god of the forge and one of the most significant works of civic art in the United States. The park and the interactive museum pay tribute to Birmingham’s deep industrial roots while offering an unmatched view of the downtown. The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Kelly Ingram Park, and the 16th Street Baptist Church serve as immersive (and essential) lessons on the past while encouraging positive new ways forward.
you are hankerin’ for in ‘Ham, you will not only find it delicious, you will find it served with a large spoonful of Southern hospitality and charm. Be sure to try such standouts as Birmingham’s 2016 James Beard Awards’ Outstanding Restaurant, Highlands Bar and Grill, Hot and Hot Fish Club, El Barrio, Habitat Feed & Social, Saw’s Juke Joint, and Bottega. No matter where you eat, just make it to Bham quick, before it Wine blending setup at the Grand Bohemian Mountain Brook is too cool to get a seat, y’all.
Magic City’s Hottest Happenings The Magic City has a lot up its sleeve when it comes to adventure. If leisurely activities are what you crave… Presto! Stroll the city’s beautiful Botanical Gardens, wander the Birmingham Zoo, take in a tour and a brew (or two) with some good people at Good People Brewing Company, or explore the Pepper Place Market, Birmingham’s weekly farmers’ market. If you are more of an adrenaline junky, Poof! The Magic City materializes exciting sporting events like a Birmingham Barrons or a Blitz game and exhilarating opportunities at the Barber Motorsports Park, including races, the Vintage Motorsport Museum, and the Porsche Sport Driving School
Kessler Cooking School’s Recipe for Success —
A Heaping of Good Food with a Dash of Great Storytelling “Food Network” groupies take heed, entering the Cooking School at the Grand Bohemian Mountain Brook will make you feel like you walked onto the set of one of your favorite shows. Not only is the kitchen chock-full of state-of-the art appliances and gadgets, it also comes complete with its very own charismatic host, Chef Clifton Holt. His storytelling prowess is disarming to those nervous about wielding a knife and totally engaging to pretty much everyone else. The school’s courses range from those focused on a single ingredient, such as making pasta or learning to make seafood, to those with menus centered around nationalities, including Italian, Mexican, French, and Spanish, as well as Southern cuisine. Whichever course you choose, you are sure to enjoy an interactive, entertaining evening with Chef Holt at the helm.
Yes, Ma’am, Thank You ‘Ham: Serving Up the Love Birmingham is home to a masterful blend of amazing chefs — many of whom are homegrown — serving regional traditions and embracing everything local. Whatever Winter 2016/17
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LIFE IN THE QUIET ZONE: Where two
Worlds collide A look at life in Green Bank, West Virginia, where cell phones, WiFi — and even microwaves are forbidden. By Suzanne Stewart
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t first glance, Green Bank, West Virginia, has the appearance of a typical small town – a gas station/grocery store/res-
taurant, a library, a school, several churches, farms and neatly kept yards around quaint one- and twostory homes. On closer inspection, there is one thing that sets Green Bank apart from all other small towns – the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. While it seems like a typical astronomy observatory, the NRAO have given residents of Green Bank a certain kind of lifestyle. A lifestyle free of cell phones and wireless connectivity.
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The Reason? The NRAO is home to an array of radio telescopes, including the largest, fully steerable radio telescope in the world – the Green Bank Telescope. The GBT is one-of-a-kind and is the world’s premiere single-dish radio telescope. It operates at meter to millimeter wavelengths. Due to the sensitivity of the telescopes, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on November 19, 1958, established the National Radio Quiet Zone. The NRQZ is approximately 13,000 square miles and encompasses areas in West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland.
In the center of the Quiet Zone is Green Bank, where restrictions are increased. The 10-mile area in and around the NRAO cannot have cellphone towers, wireless routers and, depending on the model or condition of the item, microwaves, garage door openers or electric blankets, as they can cause interference, which affects the telescopes. Despite the restrictions, residents of Green Bank live full and happy lives. I should know, I’ve lived here my whole life – minus four years away for college and five years away for a job.
WiFi and cellphone use is forbidden in Green Bank to avoid interference with the world’s largest radio telescope.
When I was in high school, I couldn’t wait to leave and move to a big city. That feeling didn’t last long. Unlike the teenage me, the adult me longed for my small town. My home. There are people who don’t understand why someone would choose a small town, especially one without cell service, but there are so many things about Green Bank that make up for a less connected life. It isn’t a bad thing that everyone knows who you are. When you drive down the road, everyone waves, whether they know you or not. High school reunions happen every day. While we might not be connected by airwaves, we are, nevertheless, connected to each other. Even the teens – the ones who use technology the most – don’t seem to mind. They find ways to stay connected despite the restrictions.
Teen Life in The Quiet Zone When she was 13-years-old, Courtney Coetzee and her family moved to Green Bank from Maryland. She was prepared for the change because the family had vacationed here prior to the move, but teens will be teens. Coetzee has a cell phone and computer, and keeps connected to her friends. More often than not, though, she gets together with friends and spends time face-to-face. “[Living in the Quiet Zone] allows you to not depend so much on talking to people through the phone, but to get out and actually experience things, and talk to people in person,” Coetzee said. Now 17, Coetzee is preparing to go away to school to prepare for a career in hospitality and culinary arts. As she leaves the Quiet Zone, she is certain her use of technology will increase. “To be honest, [my cell phone] will probably end up getting used more,” she said. “I know when I actually get out to where we do have reception, I’m on it a lot more. Plus with me being away, I’ll probably use it all the time to talk to mom.”
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How do Green Bank Businesses Operate with No Connectivity? Residents of all ages have adjusted well to life without cell phones, but with the use of technology increasing, businesses in Green Bank have had a harder time keeping up with competitors. Jacob and Malinda Meck operate several businesses from their office in Green Bank – Jacob Meck Construction, Allegheny Disposal, The Outhouse, LLC and Jen Trucking. With a large workforce that travels throughout West Virginia, as well as surrounding states, the Mecks have a need for connectivity. Yet, they have a hard time staying connected to crews and employees when they are working in Pocahontas County. “That’s probably our biggest obstacle, a lack of communication,” Jacob said. “We lose a little bit of efficiency from a work standpoint. I don’t know that it’s the end of the world, but even 10 years ago, it wasn’t a big deal. Now, however, as we compete with companies that have connectivity, they may be able to do things a little bit more efficiently than we do.” The Meck’s fleet of trucks have CB radios, which help them keep in contact for the most part, but it isn’t the same as having a cell phone. To make up for connectivity issues, Jacob has purchased Celcom, a service that uses satellite connections for communication. “They provide the cellular based equipment, but they also have a satellite option,” Jacob said. “Let’s say, for instance, I have a guy on [Rt.] 66 – if he’s got that Celcom equipment in his truck, he can actually communicate by satellite. When he gets into Elkins or even Huttonsville, that system automatically switches over to cell service.” Being a business in the Quiet Zone may require the owners to make adjustments, some of which can be costly, but they, too, chose to stay in Green Bank because it’s home.
“As far as staying or leaving – that’s never even entered my mind,” Jacob said. “I always tell people if I wanted to leave, I would have left a long time ago.” Jacob added he is perfectly content with not having cell service, but he does wish the [wired] Internet speed was better – a service that is not affected by the Quiet Zone.
The Media Buzz With the help of media and stories from visitors, Green Bank has become internationally known as “The town without cell phones.” The buzz about the town has attracted visitors of all kinds. Green Bank has even become a safe haven for individuals who suffer from electromagnetic hypersensitivity, or EHS. Individuals with EHS suffer an allergic reaction to electromagnetic fields, which are emitted by cell towers and wireless routers, as well as other electronic devices. Due to the restrictions put forth by the Quiet Zone, EHS sufferers feel safer in Green Bank. Many move to the town from larger populated areas or areas where new cell towers have been erected. My neighbor moved to Green Bank last year from her home out west. She lived in a rural town, where her home was surrounded by farms, but once a cell tower was installed by her home, she immediately felt “something.” She would get strong headaches and muscle aches, and she developed welts on her arms and legs. After visiting one doctor after the other who could not tell her what was wrong, she happened upon an article about EHS and Green Bank in Popular Science. She finally felt as if she knew what was wrong. She purchased an EMF [electromagnetic field] detector and found that the readings in her house were off the chart. A typical EMF reading in a household is between 0.1 and 2.0 mG [milligauss]. Inside my neighbor’s former home, the reading was more than 700 mG. After conducting further research about Green Bank, she and her husband decided
to move here. Despite being near homes that use wireless routers, she feels exponentially better here than she did out west. Her welts are gone, leaving only faint scars, and her headaches and muscle aches have all but disappeared. While EHS is not recognized as a disease by the World Heath Organization or the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals who believe they suffer from the disorder often feel they have found sanctuary in Green Bank.
In Keeping with Tradition Most people would think we are limited or missing out on life because we don’t have cell phones, but to me, people who are constantly connected to their cell phones are the ones missing out. Instead of watching videos of people experiencing things, I’m doing them. I feel blessed to live in a town where the older generations are handing down their knowledge to the younger ones. There are fourth- and fifth-generation farmers learning their trade from their grandparents and parents. Along with knowing their way around technology, children and young adults also know their way around old-time music, whether they play it on a fiddle, guitar or banjo. A plethora of artists here continue the art and crafts that have been part of the Appalachian culture for centuries. Quilters, basket weavers, knitters, crocheters, potters and lace makers keep our history alive with their creations. If we had constant connectivity, I feel those traditions might be lost. There might be a few of us who would keep them going, but for the most part, everyone would be too distracted by their devices. Life in Green Bank is definitely not limited by the Quiet Zone. It is limitless. Suzanne Stewart is a reporter and page designer at The Pocahontas Times newspaper in Marlinton, West Virginia. It is the oldest business in Pocahontas County, as it began publishing in 1883.
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Wonderfully
100
“Audrey James from Las Vegas was a very strong, caring woman. Even at her age, still volunteering. She reminded me of the importance of helping others – and how it has served her well in her long life. She lived by herself, was completely self-sufficient. She seemed much younger than her age. I love this image of her,” Mobley said. 140
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NORMAN LEAR ON NEARING 100 When I was in first grade, I found that I could turn my eyelids inside out. There was another kid in my class who was a bit of a bully, but he stopped harassing me and protected me from other harassers when my trick made him giggle… At six years of age, I discovered the power of laughter. Now, at 94, I look back with a smile at such memories. Thirty-four years ago, at 60, I expressed it…this way: “I’m very interested to see what kind of old man I’ll be. I don’t want to rush it, but I approach that period with considerable interest.”
perhaps my eighties. The big surprise to me is that the dodderer has yet to arrive, and that today I still don’t feel old. I continue to look down at my arm as I peck away at my computer and wonder what my father’s hand is doing hanging out of my sleeve. Maybe the fact that I’ve been thinking about longevity as far back as I can remember has something to do with it. — Norman Lear, age 94, began his television writing career in 1950. He is best known for producing the Emmy award–winning All in the Family, as well as Sanford and Son and The Jeffersons.
…At 40, I thought I’d be an old man when I reached my seventies. But by the time I reached 60, I figured I wouldn’t dodder until
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“I photographed Henry Miller at the airport near his house,” Mobley said. “Obviously, he loved to fly. He showed up with his old bomber jacket and leather hat. It’s moments like these that can turn a good picture into a special picture. After we finished shooting, he showed me around the airport and joyfully talked about all the artifacts he collected over the years. A true pilot at heart!”
I
BY ROBIN JAY
f a picture is worth 1,000 words, then portraits of centenarians are priceless and photographer Paul Mobley is the world’s most valuable storyteller without even having to utter a word.
Mobley’s latest published book of portraits, “If I Live To Be 100,” celebrates Americans in all 50 of our United States who have celebrated their 100th birthday. The compelling pub serves as an encore to his 2008 award-winner, American Farmer: Portraits from the Heartland. “My American Farmer book was an accident. A glorious accident,” Paul told Opulence. “I decided to take an entire summer off and not take any pictures. I needed a break. I have a small cabin in Northern Michigan that
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I go to in the summer for peace and refuge. That summer, I walked into a coffee shop and saw four farmers. I looked across the room and saw those faces and HAD to photograph them. I approached the guys and asked if I could come over and take their pictures. They laughed and one said, ‘Why would you want to take a picture of an ugly old guy like me? I haven’t taken a bath in a week!’ Well, the rest is history, Before that, I had never set foot on a farm in my life. “The Ah-Ha moment for me,” Mobley continued, “was the ‘basic human kindness’ of these gentle and honest people. I was treated like family at every farm I visited. I’m a better person because of that entire experience. Meeting all the great and active 100-year-olds (on the farm) was the prime reason for doing my latest book. Just fascinated by those people.”
PLAN B For most of Mobley’s photography books, he would fly all over the country, rent cars and deal with the typical chaos associated with the logistical hassle of planes, trains and automobiles-for-hire. So, for “If I Live To Be 100,” the portraiteur came up with a different plan. “I thought it would be a more personal and pleasurable experience to drive the entire journey, in a cool motor home. Airstream was very helpful in providing me with an Interstate van,” Mobley explained. “I then decided to take my wife and the dog. It was a perfect trip, great fun, and the ultimate way to make this book. Experiencing each city and town helped me understand and fully experience my subjects’ lives and how they lived. Not to mention, finding a bunch of great new places in our country.” Mobley peppers his heartfelt collection of portraits with personal stories and quotes of wisdom that come only from the gift of longevity. These special 100-somethings offer eyewitness accounts of a century subjugated with wars of the world, cultural revolutions, space exploration and a technological transformation. “These remarkable people remind us that love, loss, hope, and grief are essential ingredients in a full life and that humor can get us through the worst of times,” Mobley said. One of the funnyman featured in the book is Emmy-award-winning television producer Norman Lear. He loved the portraits so much that he agreed to write the forward. “Norman leads a very active life: He works every day and practices yoga. Yes, he’s very funny but also very kind and articulate. It was a pleasure spending time with him. I remember him telling me he’s ‘dancing thru his nineties’ on his way to 100 years old. He told me a good ‘belly laugh’ can add up to a minute to one’s life! Keep the humor he said!” Cheers and hats-off to the more than 70,000 centenarians who reside in our fair country – and congratulations to all of you on lives well lived.
“The image of Irving Olson (left) and I is very special for me,” Mobley said. “The fact that he’s a photographer and dressed up for the shoot was memorable. I remember one of my subjects said the key to long life was to ‘get a dog.’ When I rescued Jessie, my Shar-Pei, it certainly added years to my life. He’s a special animal and has brought us all lots of joy. Having him on the trip made it even better. He’s got more hotel points than most of my friends. This image really summarizes the joy I had doing the entire project.”
Paul Mobley traveled the U.S. to photograph some of the most interesting centenarians you’ll ever meet. Winter 2016/17
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U.S. Air Force Retired Lt. Col. Richard E. Cole, Co-Pilot to Jimmy Doolittle during the Doolittle Raid, stands in front of a refurbished U.S. Navy B-25 Mitchell displayed at an airshow in Burnet, Texas. Lt. Col. Cole was honored by the community and guests as the only remaining military service member alive from the April 18, 1942 Doolittle Raid. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Vernon Young Jr.)
BY STEVEN JOSEPH December 7th, 1941 was famously described by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt as, “A day which would live in infamy.” On that day, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, inciting the President to declare war and deeply wounding the American psyche in the process. But on April 18th, 1942, America struck back with a bomb raid of its own, making heroes out of 80 American soldiers. The “Doolittle Raiders,” so named because they were led by Lieutenant James Doolittle, were all volunteers, with no knowledge of their mission when they signed up. “Doolittle said, ‘I need men for a dangerous mission. If you ever want to back out, there won’t be any consequences but I can’t tell you what it is, and you won’t
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be able to tell your wives or your family,’ ” recalls Dick Cole, 101, and the last surviving Doolittle Raider. “For every one of us it was the first combat we had ever seen. Even Doolittle, who served in World War I, hadn’t seen combat yet.” The Raiders trained at the Eglin Air Force base in northern Florida, where as fate would have it, Cole got to fly with his hero. “Doolittle was already very well-known to me, I had a scrapbook on his accomplishments. I called him a man of all seasons, very personable and inspiring. He was a great leader. We would have followed him anywhere.” One morning Cole’s pilot became
OF THE
sick and Doolittle filled in for the remainder of the mission. “He was the pilot, we were just the baggage,” Cole says with a chuckle. From Eglin the Raiders went on to Alameda Air Force Base in California, and then eventually to the USS Hornet, a brand-new air craft carrier. “The bombers took up half of the flight deck, the Navy planes were below, and there were extra crew because of our mission. So the Hornet’s normal crew were less than enthused with us at first. But once
Lt. Gen. James H. Doolittle (center), commander of the Army Air Forces Eighth Air Force, is surrounded by a group of U.S. flyers. (This picture was taken before his promotion to lieutenant general.) The general took part in the first raid on Tokyo on April 18,1942, when a squadron of B-25 bombers, not designed for carrier operations, took off from the USS Hornet in the North Pacific Ocean to bomb military installations in Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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Retired Lt. Col. Dick Cole salutes the gravesite of his fellow Doolittle Raider brother, retired Master Sgt. Edwin Horton, April 18, 2013 in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. David Salanitri)
the PA announced ‘This mission is bound for Tokyo’ everything changed,” according to Cole. The mission began with less-than-auspicious beginnings, however, as a Japanese fishing vessel forced the Raiders to take off much earlier than anticipated. “Our plan was originally to take off 500 miles from shore, but we ended up having to depart between 650-700 miles away. I was on my way to breakfast at the time the PA made their announcement and ended up being the first one there.” The Raiders flew in under the radar of the Japanese defenses who were unprepared for such a long-distance attack. Upon reaching their destination, the 16 planes
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Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the Doolittle Raiders – a group of 80 U.S. airmen who flew a mission into Japan on April 18, 1942 – for their extraordinary service during World War II.
Goblets for Doolittle Raiders. The ceremony honors all who participated in the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo during WW II. The upright goblets represent aircrew who have survived to this day. During the ceremony the name of every person was read and a Doolittle Raider responds to indicate the spirit of those who passed are present. The collection of goblets, each with an aircrew name engraved both right side up and upside down. The set of goblets is now maintained by the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lance Cheung) dropped incendiary bombs, bringing the war to Japan for the first time. “When we reached Tokyo I thought, ‘Well, so far so good’ and luckily it continued that way.” The bombing had the dual impact of boosting American morale and debunking the Japanese position that they were untouchable. Due to the increased distance they were forced to fly, all 16 planes had to ditch over Chinese or Russian soil. “Doolittle thought the mission was a failure because he lost all of the planes,” says Cole. The Raiders were all given compasses and told to head west away from Japan when they parachuted from the planes. On the day after the raid, Cole was picked up by a Chinese infantryman, both exclaiming, “Boy am I glad to see you.” For his efforts, Doolittle was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Of the 80 men who took off from the USS Hornet that fateful morning, 62 survived the war, and began a tradition of reuniting every year in cities across the country
Of the 80 men who took off from the USS Hornet that fateful morning, 62 survived the war, and began a tradition of reuniting every year in cities across the country.
to toast to their successful mission, and to their fallen comrades. One of the cities in which they met donated a cabinet of 80 silver goblets, each engraved with the name of a Raider. In the center was a bottle of 1896 (the year of Doolittle’s birth) cognac. At every reunion, surviving members would turn upside down the goblets of any airmen that had died that year, with the plan being for the last two surviving raiders to open the bottle and share one last drink with their brethren in arms. In 2006, down to only four remaining Raiders, an agreement was made to have one final reunion and share the cognac. Cole recounts the only reasonable thing to do was make the same toast Doolittle made at the first reunion, “I propose a toast to the people we lost on the raid, and those that have passed away since.” When questioned about the secret to his longevity, Cole replies, “Keep moving,” a fitting response for a man who once flew 650 miles for 30 seconds of glory.
Winter 2016/17
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We Live in the Past Here
By Carleton Varney
In 1903, the home became part living space for the family and part pub for those folks amongst the once-upon-a-time landscape of Ireland who enjoyed folk music, literature, poetry, and happy times. 148
Opulence Winter 2016/17
n these complicated days of now, I have many friends who prefer living in the past and truly manage to do just that! It is very possible indeed to live in a world where cell phones are nonexistent, where the typewriter with carbon paper still exists, and where hoovers are replaced with brooms and where television flat screens do not clutter the walls of every room in the house. Why should every child in the family not have his or her own? I have friends in many countries around the world who continue to live a lifestyle reminiscent of their parents, grandparents, and greatgrandparents that they enjoy and on which they thrive. Ann and Gerald Fennell live in Rathkeale, Ireland, in a home on the River Deel that goes back some 400 years. A home filled with old, old, old world charm that I find enchanting in its look and in its way of life! Ann and Gerald, a couple in their senior years, enjoy their garden, simplicity, and their music and art. Ann, born in Killaloe, Ireland, and Gerald, a gentleman from Cork, have traveled extensively around the world. Ann was a flight attendant for Ansett Airways, a company that services Australia, and also worked for De Beers (a diamond dealer), while Gerald served in the Irish Army Medical Corp in Australia. Later he was a quality controller for industrial firms. Together they embrace a family tradition of strong work ethics. A family who once fought for freedom in the Irish Army, appropriately enough in a military sense. The Rathkeale Home in which the Fennell family lives was built as part of a British barracks where cannon portholes can still be seen in the garden walls.
The Rathkeale Home History In 1903, the home became part living space for the family and part pub for those folks amongst the once-upon-a-time landscape of Ireland who enjoyed folk music, literature, poetry, and happy times. In 1945, it was Elizabeth Fennell, Gerald’s grandmother, who served wine and brew to those enjoying the River Deel landscape and who called this Rathkeale home and pub An Seabhac, Gaelic for ‘The Hawk.’ For Gerald’s father, Morris, who fought in the Spanish Civil War, home on the River Deel was his life. Now his son and daughterin-law continue on the spirit of Irish music, pub food, and spirit for
16 years. The Bishop of Ireland stopped in for a lunch and many a joyous wedding party was held here. In fact, 40 people could be seated at the wine bar. Musicians playing the guitar and the Irish bouzouki were an every day and every night event. The home no longer serves the gentry, but it continues to be occupied by the Fennell family as it has done for generations. A landmark property in artistry, the stonewalled home continues to be a loving home of yesterday and of Irish living.
The Charming Life of the Fennells The Fennells continue to live in the past while accepting the inevitable, that time marches on. Ann now is the keeper of an antique shop in the village of Glin on the River Shannon, traveling each day from the family homestead to her shop. Gerald keeps guard over the family fortress, albeit on the market, looking for another family that loves the sounds of the rippling waters of the Deel River. Ann’s love of textiles, antiques, and all things beautiful are on view in the home as are Gerald’s many sculptures. One sculpture by Gerald is titled “Casualties,” where a young boy is reading a newspaper that lists the names of the men killed in the first World War. While the Irish book club no longer meets in An Seabhac, the spirit of the Fennell family continues on. Son Jack earned a doctorate in literature at the University of Limerick and has written a book of Irish science fiction. Family talents continue. While visiting An Seabhac, one is taken by the creative works of the Fennell family. Stained glass windows and tapestry hangings by Ann, collections of blue and white porcelain in the family heirloom pine Irish dresser. Sculptures by Gerald, antique glass bottles on the bar, collections of basketry, and of course paintings and lithographies by Irish artists from the 1920s to the present. When visiting Ireland perhaps in the forthcoming Carnegie Museum’s tour of the country next July, you must visit Rathkeale and visit my friends. For information on the Carnegie Museum tour, call Barbara Tucker at the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, 412-578-2618. Winter 2016/17
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Presidential Art in the Landscape – and Beyond
T
hroughout history, many nations’ leaders have affected our culture: art, architecture, fashion and even landscape trends. We are always drawn to those in power, and the populace tends to embrace glamorous aspects of their lives and personal styles. Nowhere has it ever been more evident than in the care and direction given to the White House, the gardens and grounds. Newly-elected President Donald J. Trump has said that he will leave the White House as it is. However, history tells us that every president leaves the mark of tenure in office, and it is expected that this new administration will, as well. This incredible White House evolution, as well as the impact of our American leaders upon culture is an interesting study.
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Our Beginnings Looking at the American Executive Mansion landscape evolution, we can begin with George Washington. Although he never lived in the White House, The Father of Our Country had the foresight to purchase the land now known as the South Lawn from a tobacco farmer, and the land now known as the North Lawn from a local as well. It was genius, as so much of what he did now is recognized to be. Presidential Residence’s first occupant, John Adams ordered the planting of the first White House garden, based on prescient Thomas Jefferson’s vision, but omitting Washington’s dreamed-of botanical garden.
property with an impressive fan of groves trees and flower gardens. Little of what he designed remains, including his arc of triumph and accompanying willow trees. His successors, however, helped to continue his dream of trees and flowers as a part of the experience.
And Changes
President Hayes further continued the concept and used the grounds to plant commemorative trees to honor anniversaries and visitors. There are now almost 40 trees that serve to mark important happenings in our nation’s capital. The tradition of Presidents planting trees at the White House continued; George W. Bush planted a Cut Leaf Silver Maple in 2001. George H. W. Bush planted a Little Leaf Linden, assisted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1991.
When our third president Thomas Jefferson took up residence, he redesigned the
The Colonial Garden of Theodore Roosevelt’s First Lady Edith and other
edents, it is difficult to imagine a President Trump, surveying the 18 acres surrounding the White House, and with the history of evolution would feel constrained to make changes. Combined with the Ellipse, the “President’s Park” encompasses over 52 acres, with 13 staff members likely expecting change. Not exactly a blank canvas, but the possibilities certainly provoke thought from imaginative folks. Melania Trump, with her elegant demeanor and particular style, may have some ideas for this treasure.
And Onward! 1860 The south grounds, showing the first greenhouse, built on the west terrace in 1857. Historical Society of Washington, D.C. whims of First Families have come and gone. Some remain, such as the Rose Garden. The Rose Garden, originally conceived by the first wife of Woodrow Wilson replaced the Colonial Garden, and has itself been reimagined numerous times. Redesigned in the Kennedy administration years, it still serves as a well-recognized venue for our nation’s ceremonies.
A Little More (Modern) History Dwight Eisenhower certainly impacted the grounds of the Executive Residence, with his putting green that was installed in 1954, outside the Oval Office. His successor, JFK, embarrassed, it was said, about the green let it grow out. It has since been reimagined! President Clinton had the 1,500-square-foot green relocated to be even closer to the Oval Office. Presidents Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Bushes 41 and 43 and Reagan have also been said to enjoy the feature! President Obama and Vice President Biden also appear in pictures taking a break from the West Wing.
Obama administration has tended toward practical additions. Along with contemporary ceramic lamps, popular art and the relaxed furniture in the Oval Office, which replaced the traditional period pieces favored by most of his predecessors, we have seen the introduction of First Lady Michelle Obama’s White House Kitchen Garden. This was conceived to encourage healthy eating by our youth. It is possible that this garden was inspired by Eleanor Roosevelt’s down-to-earth Victory Garden, which was incentive for our wartime families to participate in our self-protection. Clearly a pattern of replacement and careful additions over these two centuries can be documented. Presidents’ interests, favorite sports and sensibilities have directed the evolution of the grounds. With such prec-
Therefore, it is likely that the Trump Administration, with the ubiquitous personal use of and appreciation for traditional Classical and European art forms returns us to an “Age of Elegance” in the People’s House. And this may very well extend to the landscape and other design trends. Who knows what will happen, and what “fashion” may emerge? Maybe a re-creation of Thomas Jefferson’s arc of triumph? Given the Trump brand, we can likely expect glitz, glamour and a celebratory style in our great National Symbol. For more information, see the White House Historical Association for many fascinating narratives. Mary and Hugh Williamson live in Bluffton, SC, where interior designer Mary’s interior traditional style is in agreement with landscape architect Hugh’s formal walks, arboretum, trellises and courtyards.
Successors to the Kennedy’s “Camelot” magic may not have made such an impact on our culture. More mundane design solutions seem to have been favored from some. President Carter’s administrative style was a practical one. The more formal Reagans restored tradition, and both Bush administrations extended it. With what seems to be an attempt to be culturally and economically sensitive, the
White House Kitchen Garden
Winter 2016/17
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CONDO LAW
By Michael L. Hyman
Condo Association Election Basics at Start of Season Michael L. Hyman
M
any condominium as-
lists every candidate who submitted their
satisfactorily completed an educational cur-
sociations
South
names to run for board membership. Any
riculum administered by a division-approved
Florida are now gear-
information sheets submitted by the candi-
condominium education provider (such as
ing up for their annual meetings and board
dates and the return envelopes that allow
our law firm which regularly conducts board
member elections. Here are some helpful
for owners to print and sign their names
member certification seminars).
basics to keep in mind:
and unit numbers must also be included.
At least 60 days prior to the meeting and
At least 20 percent of the eligible voters
tremely challenging and contentious for asso-
election, the association must mail, deliver
must cast a ballot in order for the associa-
ciations, and it is imperative to consult closely
or electronically transmit a first notice to all
tion to proceed to open the envelopes and
with highly qualified and experienced legal
unit owners alerting them of the date, time
count votes.
counsel in order to help ensure that they ad-
in
and location of the meeting. Those who wish to be considered for board membership must then give the association written notice of their intent to run at least 40 days prior to the scheduled date of the election, and they may also submit information sheets about themselves.
Within 90 days after the election, new directors must certify in writing that they have read the association’s declaration of condominium, articles of incorporation, bylaws and current written policies; they will work to uphold these documents and policies to the best of their ability; and they will
A second notice together with an agenda
faithfully discharge their fiduciary responsi-
for the meeting must then be mailed, de-
bilities to the association’s members. Other-
livered or electronically transmitted to all
wise, they must submit a certificate of having
of the members together with a ballot that
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Winter 2016/17
Elections can sometimes prove to be ex-
here to all of the statutory mandates. Michael L. Hyman is a partner with the South Florida law firm Siegfried, Rivera, Hyman, Lerner, De La Torre, Mars & Sobel, P.A. who has focused on community association law since 1970. The firm represents more than 800 associations and maintains offices in MiamiDade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. (305) 442-3334, www.srhl-law.com, www. FloridaHOALawyerBlog.com.
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Information deemed reliable but is not warranted. This offering is subject to errors, omissions, changes or withdrawal without notice. Not intended to solicit currently listed properties. Equal Housing Opportunity.
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( 78 6 ) 2 2 9 -194 9 Information deemed reliable but is not warranted. This offering is subject to errors, omissions, changes or withdrawal without notice. Not intended to solicit currently listed properties. Equal Housing Opportunity.
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THE
CLOSING
OPULENCE TOP PRODUCERS Q3 Ana Cruz, Ana Braga &Pamela Diaz-De-Leon
IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE we are already in the holiday season and 2016 is coming to a close. This was a year full of surprises, from the victorious Cubs to our new president-elect, the days’ events kept us on the edge of our seat. With all the commotion, the market slowed down with buyers and sellers sitting on the sidelines taking a “wait and see” attitude. In the third quarter, the number of sales fell 15% year over year in Miami Dade County. Surprisingly, the slowing of sales did not stop the prices from eking upwards, about 9% year over year. Overall, there may be some nice buys for locals and savvy buyers in the coming months as sellers begin to reduce prices and the market recovers from the boom of the last few years. We want to thank our Top Producers for the last quarter, Ana Cruz, Ana Braga and Pamela Diaz de Leon. On November 10th, Opulence International Realty hosted “The Dos and Don’ts of Art Basel” with fine art dealer, Felipe Grimberg of Felipe Grimberg Fine Arts as the first of its event series. Friends and clients gathered to hear the sage advice of a seasoned collector and dealer. For details, log onto OIRFL.com. Wishing you the best for the holidays and this winter season! A R T S H OW
Felipe Grimberg, Me and Eduardo Ojada
JILL PATTERSON, Broker Opulence International Realt y
Information deemed reliable but is not warranted. This offering is subject to errors, omissions, changes or withdrawal without notice. Not intended to solicit currently listed properties. Equal Housing Opportunity. 2016© Opulence International Realty.
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