spring 2015
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Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute at Baptist Health South Florida has been advancing care in the community for over 25 years by pioneering treatments of heart and vascular conditions. Now with a $100 million expansion and integration of services at over 25 convenient locations, more of your loved ones can experience the most trusted cardiovascular care in the region from some of the nation’s most renowned physicians. Learn more at BaptistHealth.net/Heart
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“Experience the ultimate in top down exhilaration. The 2015 Aston Martin Vanquish Volante at THE COLLECTION.” - Dwyane Wade
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I N T E R N AT I O N A L YACHT COLLECTION
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South Florida OPULENCE
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Spring 2015
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ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THIS BROCHURE AND TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE.
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ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THIS BROCHURE AND TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE.
SOUTH FLORIDA
41
T o p F E AT U R E S
98
82 102
Meet Adrienne Arsht The remarkable woman behind the marquee name
129 From Cuba with Love Ava Roosevelt recalls her 2003 visit to Cuba on a personal quest
58 Ice Man The journey of a 16-year-old immigrant, David Rosenberg, who became a worldrenowned diamond mogul
118
64
Photojournalist Harry Benson Capturing the essence of Palm Beach People with social writer Hilary Geary Ross 22
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The Art of Wedding Couture The stunning Isabelle Armstrong Spring 2015 Wedding Gown Collection
Spring 2015
South Florida OPULENCE
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SOUTH FLORIDA
features
48 Kuro Reimagined Japanese Cuisine Coming to Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
35 Cirque De Soleil
51 Seagrape: Miami’s Culinary Darling
KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities
Michelle Bernstein Launches Her Latest Culinary Hot Spot at Thompson Hotel in Miami Beach
38 Chicago After 47 Years, Nothin’s Gonna Stop Us Now
52 Sprezzatura! Delicious Nonchalance at Chef Scott Conant’s Corsair at Turnberry
41 A Cocktail For Compassion The Celebrity Martini Glass Auction
44 No Average Joe
Comedy Warrior Joe Kashnow Brings His Unique Perspective to the Comedy World
54 Keepers of the Quaich An Inside Look at the Secret Knighthood of Scotch Whisky Connoisseurs
57 The Great London Beer Flood of 1814
72 Inside Slice on Modern Wedding Cakes
46 The Edible Inevitable Wit of Alton Brown
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74 Ethan K Handbags The Wizard of the Secret Garden
Miami, 10 NE 39th Street, Miami Design District, 305.573.4331 Los Angeles , Pacific Design Center, 8 6 87 Melrose Avenue, Suite G170, 310.35 8.0 9 01 New York, Decoration & Design Building, 979 Third Avenue, Suite 1424, 212.334.1271
SOUTH FLORIDA
features (continued) 77 Miami’s Fashion Prodigy The Fascinating Story of an Ambitious Young Entrepreneur
80 Feng Shui & the Garden Energetic and Renewing Art in the Landscape
114 Robert Procop Changing the World One Gem at a Time
117 Shrink Wrap New Non-invasive “Shrink Wrap” Technology to Reduce Under-eye Bags
124 Mr. Palm Beach Ava Roosevelt Sits Down with Rodney Dillard
82 Yurt Glamping Anyone?
126 St. Croix The Escape-To Island
86 Absolutely Auberge Fort Lauderdale’s Most Refined and Coveted New Beach Residences
132 Napoleon The Man Behind the Hat
94 World Beard & Moustache Championships
98 Hand Painted The Art of Renowned Italian Painter Guido Daniele and His Handimal Art
105 Car diac Medicine Pioneer Dr. Barry T. Katzen Leads the Innovative Expansion at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute
108 Ringling’s Pachyderm Pampering and Preservation
112 Oceans of Hope
South Florida OPULENCE
Gadgets
30
Calendar of Events
32-34
Women’s Beauty
76
Women’s Accessories Men’s Grooming
79
New Science of Making Memories
The Sailing Sclerosis Foundation
26
departments
Spring 2015
97 116
Real Estate
90, 93
Condo Law
136
Condo Insurance
138
Condo Living
140
Social Living
143-144
Editor’s Letter
Mystery, Motivation and Philanthropy of the Spring Equinox Since ancient times, humans have grown infatuated with the arrival of springtime. Officially called the vernal equinox, the first day of spring happens when the sun passes over the Earth’s equator. This year in Florida, it will happen precisely at 6:45 p.m. on March 20. Our ancestors took the first day of spring very seriously. Egyptians built the Sphinx to face the vernal equinox sunrise – a sort of clock hand to mark the Earth’s precession. In a Guatemalan jungle, the sun rises precisely up the middle of the Temple of the Grand Jaguar, forming a shadow over the smaller Temple of the Moon. At El Castillo Pyramid in Chichen Itza, on the spring equinox sunrise, railings cast a shadowy illusion of a serpent’s body slithering down the stairway to a base carved like a snake’s head. And in Ireland, at Cairn T mound, built 3,500 BC, the sun rises in line with an inner chamber that produces the shape of a cross. Clearly, archaeoastronomists were inspired by springtime. The date is prominent in Christianity, as Easter falls on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox. It’s significant for the Jewish faith who celebrate Passover. And, it’s the Persian New Year. In Fort Lauderdale, spring break started in a less than mysterious or religious way. Colgate University swim coach Sam Ingram brought his team to practice at the first Olympic size pool in Florida in 1936. Savvy city marketers in 1938 held the College Coaches’ Swim Forum here. By 1959, after the novel ‘Where the Boys Are’ glamourized spring college vacations, TIME magazine referred to Fort Lauderdale as the “Spring Break” destination. Now, springtime marks a special season of philanthropy in Florida. Balls and galas galore benefit the arts, children’s charities, medical research, veterans’ organizations, museums and other
HORIZON PUBLISHING Executive PUBLISHER & Owner Geoff Hammond, CEO Jayne Hammond, President Associate PUBLISHERS Mark Blackburn David Hammond EDITOR IN CHIEF Robin Jay editor@southfloridaopulence.com 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 director Erika Buchholz ebuchholz@southfloridaopulence.com 954-609-2447 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS John D. Adams Rachel Kessler Dr. David Applebaum Dale King Michael Bender, Esq Jill Patterson Scott Buser Andy Rand Jana Soeldner Danger Ava Roosevelt April Erhard Edwina Sandys James Espey Todd R. Sciore Julia Hebert Alex Starace Linda Hope Clifton N. Thuma Cara Jay Carleton Varney Steven Joseph Alex Villasuso Stephen Keeler Mary & Hugh Williamson
causes. This year, my family and team at South Florida Opulence supported the Celebrity Martini Glass Auction to benefit PAWS which provides service dogs to disabled veterans (see p. 41); the Hat's Off! Gala Benefit for the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation and Oceans of Hope (see p. 112); the Friends of the Uffizi Gallery Annual Brunch and a reception at the Wolfsonian Museum for FOUG President Contessa Maria Vittoria (see p.143); the International Red Cross Ball; The Rita Hayworth Luncheon to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association; and the Perlman Music Program fundraiser hosted by Kristy and Jim Clark. South Florida Opulence encourages you to find a philanthropy you’re passionate about and support it with your time, talents or treasure. You can find plenty of worthwhile causes in the events calendar at SouthFloridaOpulence.com. Consider these: The Night at the Museum benefiting the Bass Museum of Art, March 11; The 2015 American Cancer Society Annual Gala, April 11; The 13th Annual Galaxy Gala & Young Patrons Big Bang benefiting the Frost Museum of Science, April 18; The Arsht Center Gala, April 24 (see our interview with Ms. Arsht on p.102); Veritage Miami benefiting the United Way of Miami-Dade April 15-18; The Pineapple Saute & Sip Interactive Dinner benefiting the Baptist Health Breast Center, May 2. Wishing you and yours a joyous and philanthropic springtime! Robin Jay, Editor-in-Chief Editor’s photo credits: Special thanks to hair stylist Pierre Matta and cosmetic artist Elle Glass of the Frederic Fekkai Salon; photographer Silvia Pangaro; the Brazilian Court Hotel in Palm Beach; and the smile team at Valley Dental Arts.
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Photographers Greg Anderson Gigi Benson Harry Benson Douglas Lance Charlie McDonald Silvia Pangaro PROOFREADER Suzanne Shaw South Florida Opulence Magazine is published quarterly by Horizon Publishing LLC. Copyright © 2015. All rights reserved. Horizon Publishing LLC, 6700 North Andrews Avenue, Suite 400, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 – Vol. 5, No. 1 Spring 2015 (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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PACKING • CRATING • SHIPPING • MOVING • STORAGE • SECURITY For more information or to request a complimentary on-site estimate, call 954-766-9997 or visit RoboVault.com Spring 2015
South Florida OPULENCE
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gadgets GoPro HERO “GoPro or go home” is the rallying cry for thousands of video-happy sports enthusiasts who have made these rugged portable camcorders a market-defining phenomenon. The latest GoPro HERO4 Black captures 4K images at 30 frames per second and works better in low-light conditions. You say you did a full 720 on a black diamond run at Vail? Video or it didn’t happen. www.gopro.com. $500
optishot 2 golf simulator Now play golf with OptiShot players around the world. Go head-to-head on every hole or join up with a foursome. Compete, socialize, win. It's a lively way to get the ball rolling and improve your play. www.optishotgolf.com
The Motorized Monocycle The ingenious device is steered by leaning to one side or the other, and it can safely negotiate any dense surface such as pavement or grass. A fiberglass frame encloses the engine, drive train, and fuel tank, and provides a cushioned seat and convenient footrests for riders up to 6' 3" high when in a sitting position. The hand-holds have a finger throttle that provides progressive acceleration and a brake that provides confident stops for riders up to 275 lbs. (minimum weight of 110 lbs. suggested for proper counterbalance during acceleration and braking). www.hammacher.com $9,999.95
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ESPRESSO MACHINE FOR THE CAR The Handpresso Auto Machine uses both ESE pods and ground espresso coffee. Simple and easy to use, the Handpresso Auto fits into the cup holder. Just plug the espresso machine into the cigarette lighter, add water and your favorite coffee and get a creamy espresso in 2 minutes! www.handpresso.com. $200
The High-Definition Camera Drone This is the flying camera drone that captures high-definition pictures and video from up to 300’ away. Built-in gyro stabilization keeps the drone level, enabling its built-in HD camera to snap pictures at 1280 x 720 pixel resolution and record 720p HD video without undue shaking. The drone responds nimbly to its 2.4 GHz radio remote when issued commands to move forward, backward, up, down, or hover in-place. www.hammacher.com $295.95
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Up & Coming Events MARCH
march
20
11
Louis XIII Dinner Pairing
Jazz in the Gables
Coral Gables Museum
MARCH
23-4/5
The Miami Open presented by Itau Key Biscayne
Back by popular demand, Jazz in the Gables offers a break from the workweek with free lunchtime concerts on the Coral Gables Museum plaza located on Salzedo Street two blocks north of Miracle Mile. The concerts—which take place every Wednesday from January 14 through April 1—showcase a different talented jazz performer or ensemble each week. 285 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables, FL 33134. 305/910-3996
NYY Steak – Coconut Creek Enjoy the finest cognac and dry-aged steaks in the ultimate dinner pairing at NYY Steak at Seminole Coconut Creek. To purchase tickets in advance, go to www. seminolecoconutcreekcasino.com.
www.miamiopen.com For tickets 305.442.3367
march
march
through April
15
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The Deering Estate at Cutler, in collaboration with the Antique Automotive Club of America – South Florida Region
Seminole Hard Rock LiveHollywood
Vintage Auto Show
Lara Fabian
Show Start Time: 8:00PM. Doors Open Time: 7:00PM.
The 3rd annual Vintage Auto Show where car enthusiasts of all ages can enjoy a variety of vintage cars at the historic estate. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. www.deeringestate.org
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Through
4/6
PAMM Project Gallery: Nicole Cherubini
Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) Museum Exhibit Nicole Cherubini mines the history and formal possibilities of clay to create works that range from spare, tense minimalism to exuberant and brash decadence. 1103 Biscayne Blvd., Miami 33132 305/375-3000
April
5
6
Boca Raton Museum of Art
Kravis Center – Dreyfoos Concert Hall
Abstraction on Paper
The exhibition presents a variety of media by American and European artists from the 1920s thru the 1950s. Superb works by American Abstract Artists Balcomb Greene, Gertrude Greene, Blanchs Lazzell, George L.K. Morris and John Sennhauser will mix with the Abstract Expressionist style of Mary Abbott, William Baziotes, Franz Kline and Richard Pousette-Dart and other Modernists such as Alexander Calder and Wassily Kandinsky. 501 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, FL 33432. In Mizner Park. T: 561.392.2500. www.bocamuseum.org
Diana Krall
The five-time Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist and singer will now perform on Monday, April 6, 2015 at 8 p.m. Her original concert date of December 10 was canceled due to illness. Tickets on sale and can be purchased at the Kravis Center box office at 701 Okeechobee Blvd., online through the Kravis Center’s official website at kravis.org, or by phone at 561-832-7469 or 800-572-8471.
Up & Coming Events through May
April
10
Points of Departure
Miami City Ballet Adrienne Arsht Center
MCB celebrates choreographers who have taken ballet in new, unexpected directions – including a World Premiere by Justin Peck with original art design by celebrated visual artist Shepard Fairey, George Balanchine’s Raymonda Variations, and Jerome Robbins’ comedic masterpiece The Concert. 305.929.7010. boxoffice@miamicityballet.org
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Poetry in Clay: The Art of Ōtagaki Rengetsu
Morokami Museum
March
FEBRUARY-March
Broward Center For The performing arts
Adrienne Arsht Center FAMILY 3-SHOW PACKAGES
MOTOWN THE MUSICAL Feb. 24-March 8
Ōtagaki Rengetsu (February 10, 1791 – December 10, 1875) was a Japanese Buddhist nun and perhaps the most wellknown female artist and poet of 19th century Japan. Rengetsu collaborated with potters, lacquerware craftsmen, and a variety of other artists to create myriad objects. Poetry in Clay brings together paintings, ceramics, decorative fans, tea ceremony utensils and calligraphy pieces. 561-495-0233. morikami.org/museum
PIPPIN March 21-April 12
ZIFF BALLET OPERA HOUSE
WICKED MARCH 11- MARCH 29
Sister act April 14–19, 2015
April
22
JUNE
5
Celtic Woman
Adrienne Arsht Center – Ziff Ballet Opera House
Lisa Lampanelli Returns to Hard Rock Live With “Leaner Meaner Tour” Seminole Hard Rock LiveHollywood
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PHOTO COURTESY OF DAN DION
Global music sensation Celtic Woman brings its 10th Anniversary Celebration to the Arsht Center! The 10th Anniversary Tour features four gifted Irish women three angelic vocalists and a dazzling Celtic violinist - with a full band, plus the Anotas Choir, bagpipers and Irish dancers all under the direction of Emmy®nominated music producer David Downes. Don’t miss this one night only performance of Celtic Woman! 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33132. 305-949-6722. www.arshtcenter.org
Risqué comedian and equal opportunity offender Lisa Lampanelli will perform at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Friday, June 5, 2015 at 8 p.m. Tickets go on sale Friday, January 16 at 10 a.m. Fans will have access to presale tickets beginning Thursday, January 15 at 10 a.m.
2015
2015
Ladies Night
Legends Lounge Every Thursday beginning January 2015 live entertainment and champagne specials.
Wine Down Wednesdays
Sorrisi Every Wednesday beginning January 2015 wine specials and small bites at the Sorrisi Wine Bar.
Spring 2015
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KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities
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N
ow touring the United States, the Cirque du Soleil tale in which time comes to a complete stop, KURIOS - Cabinet of Curiosities transports the audience inside a fantasy world where everything is possible. In this realm set in the latter half of the 19th century, reality is quite relative indeed as our perception of it is utterly transformed. The name of the show refers to the humble and strange characters that inhabit the Seeker's Cabinet of Curiosities. In his larger-than-life curio cabinet, the Seeker is convinced that there exists a hidden, invisible world – a place where the craziest ideas and the grandest dreams lie waiting. A collection of other worldly characters suddenly steps into his makeshift mechanical world. When the outlandish, benevolent characters turn his world upside down with a touch of poetry and humor in an attempt to ignite the Seeker’s imagination, his curios jump to life one by one before his very eyes. What if by engaging our imagination and opening our minds we could unlock the door to a world of wonders?
THE CURIOUS ATTIRE OF A HYBRID WORLD More than a hundred costumes were created to dress the cast. A fitting tribute to the power of the human imagination, the costumes of KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities are the result of a visual exploration of the beginnings of science, of the discoveries and inventions that led to the industrial revolution of the 19th century – from the steam locomotive to electrical power to electromagnetic waves. They embody and celebrate the advancements of science, but in an imaginary, parallel
world. While the visual references may seem self-evident, the show’s curious yet familiar characters and costumes transport the audience to a time suspended somewhere between past and future, in an alternate reality, as if science had evolved without the internal combustion engine and as if the golden age of the steam engine had continued on, uninterrupted.
which include an armchair, a chandelier and other essentials of a Victorian home.
Meet the characters
Nico the Accordion Man – The perfect handyman, Nico is a little shy, a tad awkward, and extremely sensitive. His accordion costume allows him to bend way down or stand way up so he can be at eye level with everyone. His pants are folded like a piece of origami and are inspired by the darkrooms that were part of early cameras.
Mr. Microcosmos – The “bigger is better” ethos that drives the retro-futuristic aesthetic of the show is on the opposite side of the spectrum of the miniaturization that characterizes the electronic era. A case in point is the costume of Mr. Microcosmos. “He’s like a mechanical Obelix [from the cartoon characters Asterix & Obelix], but instead of holding a tiny dog in his arms, he lugs around a small lady in his belly wherever he goes, and he’s hardly aware of it,” says Guillotel.
Klara the Telegraph of the Invisible – Klara can receive alpha waves by turning on her heels and pointing her hoop skirt in various directions. Her skirt is inspired by Fritz Lang’s Metropolis and is shaped like early parabolic antennas. The print on her leotard evokes electrical circuits and connections. Klara has a language of her own and symbolizes our obsession with telecommunications during the golden age of the railroad when the telegraph and the gramophone were invented.
The leader of the group, this serious potbellied chap is the embodiment of technological progress; his world is sturdy and evokes the steam train, massive building structures, the Eiffel Tower and the Grand Palais. He is a microcosm, running on his own steam and traveling in his own self-contained, self-subsisting ecosystem.
The Kurios – Since there is so much work to be done before his dream becomes reality, the Seeker surrounds himself with a brigade of quirky robots he built from scraps and recycled parts. These imperfect, dysfunctional creatures have the distinct smell of metal, leather and the unbridled imagination of their creator.
Mini Lili – Antanina Satsura, the artist who plays Mini Lili (a painter, actress and poetess), is one-meter tall and weighs 18 kg. She lives inside Mr. Microcosmo’s overcoat and represents her host’s unconscious mind, his intuitive self, his fragile and poetic side. Through the door in Mr. Microcosmos’ belly, we can see the furnished interior of Mini Lili’s quarters,
KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities presents an alternate yet familiar past, in a place where wonders abound. Along with the Seeker, audiences discover that in order to glimpse the marvels that lie just below the surface, they must first learn to close their eyes. To learn when Kurios will visit South Florida, watch for the next issue of South Florida Opulence! Spring 2015
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After 47 Years, Nothin’s Gonna Stop Us Now By Stephen Joseph Keeler
South Florida Opulence received the opportunity to probe behind the scenes of one of the oldest continuously performing rock bands in the world – Chicago. In advance of Chicago’s upcoming performance at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach on April 23, I sat down with Jason Scheff, singer and bassist for the band since 1985.
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Chicago's lineup includes original band members Robert Lamm on keyboard, vocals, Lee Loughnane on trumpet, James Pankow on trombone and Walt Parazaider on woodwinds, as well as Jason Scheff on bass, vocals, Tris Imboden on drums, Keith Howland on guitar, Lou Pardini on keyboards, vocals, and Walfredo Reyes Jr. on percussion.
Meet Chicago’s Lead Vocalist
Jason Scheff
At the ripe age of just 23, Jason joined the band as a replacement for longtime vocalist Peter Ceterra. Chicago was already 17 years young and a longtime No.1 chartbusting band. We asked Jason what it was like and what’s kept the iconic group going successfully all these years. “I was a struggling artist belting out top-40 songs in clubs and was thrilled to audition for the job,” Jason said with humility. “When they picked me, I looked to keep the great music of Chicago rolling. “Chicago is structured as a team,” he said. “We’re all about group empowerment, that each of us has a shot. So you keep your ego in check. The band as a group is greater than any one individual, and the whole notion of one of us being ‘the guy’ is an illusion anyway.”
Front Row left to right: Tris Imboden (Drums), Jason Scheff (Bass/Vocals), Lee Loughnane (Founding Member-Trumpet/Vocals), James Pankow (Founding Member-Trombone/Vocals), Robert Lamm (Founding Member- Keyboard / Vocals), Back Row left to right: Walfredo Reyes Jr. (Percussion), Keith Howland (Guitar/Vocals), Walter Parazaider (Founding Member-Woodwinds), Lou Pardini (Keyboards/Vocals).
Jason digs deeper for us. “I’ve always kept in my head a great line about the band that Robert Lamm (one of the original group members) said, “Chicago is an ongoing experiment,” Lamm said. “Group members can leave, but the band survives – and the fact that we survived the loss of great artists like Peter Ceterra and are still going strong, is testimony to the truth of Robert’s description. He always wrote songs to include all parts of the band, the brass, the strings, everybody. “Joining Chicago means joining the sound,“ Jason explained. “The iconic vibe of this
band is part of my life; now it’s heartfelt. I’ve written a ton of songs over the last decade, and for our latest album, Chicago 36, the founding members took NOW, a song I co-wrote, as the title track. That was a huge honor for me.” Jason’s love and talent for music is quite literally in his blood, from both his parents. “I get my creative side from my father.” That would be Jerry Scheff, a well-known session bassist who performed often with Elvis Presley. “I remember telling my classmates when I was a kid and went to see my Dad. Yes, Elvis was the King for them, but for me, all I could see on the TV screen was my Dad.” And the business side? “That’s all from my mother. My mother is a very beautiful singer and piano player,” Scheff said. “I joined her band when I was 14, got into the musicians’ union, and went on the road with her. When you find your muse, you don’t need to have people telling you to create, you just do it. And then, you’ve got to work even harder to share what you’ve created – you’ve got to put yourself out there, sweating on the stage. I did my first tour in 1976 with my Mom, and there I learned to show up, to be a professional. And, I loved it. “
Passing on the Legacy “Hey, I’m a grandfather now!” Scheff said with joy. “I’ve got a responsibility to pass on to the coming generations all that I value. It’s not about trying to sell records, but to participate and continue in the expression, the experiment, that is Chicago. We want to make music that, like the great classics, will still be around and enjoyed 200 years from now.“ And for that, Jason - and all the past, present and future members of Chicago we are all eternally grateful.
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A Cocktail for
BY JOHN D. AdAMS
Any talented mixologist will tell you that the secret to making the perfect cocktail is an ideal combination of inspiration, perseverance, and focus. Philanthropist and founder of the wildly successful Celebrity Martini Glass Auction (CMGA), Brenda Melton, has shaken and stirred her ingredients to hone a heady concoction that delivers quite a punch. In February, her fund-raising event raised more than $500,000 in support of veterans’ organizations PAWS Assistance Dogs and the Collier County Honor Flight. (Continued on next page)
PHOTO COURTESY OF charlie mcdonald
Yanni
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Brenda Melton’s event is a unique blend of ingredients, and we
Melton decided to do it all again. “This time, 30 women came to
are proud to share the recipe:
dinner bearing martini glasses designed by jewelers and artist
Inspiration
friends. They were unbelievable! They all worked so hard! And
It started with “Sex and the City.” Really. Back in 2008, show superfan Brenda Melton decided to celebrate the zeitgeist TV
I thought, I can’t let these go to waste. That’s what sparked the idea that maybe this could be a fun way to do a fundraiser.”
Perseverance
a gala night out. She hired a limo to shepherd her girlfriends to
Melton spent the next year trying to get celebrities like Manolo
the movie’s premiere, then to dinner and Cosmos. “My friends
Blahnik and Sarah Jessica Parker to consider signing martini
said, ‘You’re arranging all of this. What can we do?’” Melton
glasses specifically designed with each personality in mind.
remembers. “I said: ‘Design and bring a martini glass. Put it in a
It took a lot of calls and letters. But Melton is not one to give
bag so no one can see it until we get to dinner, and the person
up so easily. In time, Blahnik came through, signing his glass,
with the best decorated martini glass will get a prize’… When
appropriately, in red nail polish. “I probably drove the peo-
the time came, nine women unveiled the ugliest glasses you’ve
ple who work with Sarah Jessica Parker crazy,” admits Melton.
ever seen! But one friend had her son, an artist in New York,
“I must have written seven letters and made innumerable
design her glass. It put all of ours to shame. It was amazing! We
phone calls.” The actress finally heard about the idea, and
wouldn’t even drink out of it.”
happily signed hers, as well.
Naples’ newspapers grabbed hold of the unique story and
In Naples, it seems that almost everyone either knows a
when the next “Sex and the City” film premiered two years later,
celebrity or has a friend who knows someone of note. So
PHOTO COURTESY OF charlie mcdonald
show’s big-screen debut by inviting 10 close female friends to
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Dan Aykroyd
Spring 2015
Kiss
Melton continues to network and fervently works to gain
The compassionate cocktail
access to personalities whose signatures would reap even
After diligently working to develop just the right balance,
greater donations.
Melton’s unflagging hard work and effervescence has seen her
Focus
unique blend soar. Celebrities and artists now work together to
Melton’s fundraising efforts were originally focused on the fledg-
create unique glasses that one would only dare to drink from.
ling Naples Film Festival. As such, she was able to procure even
The auction annually features more than 25 martini glasses,
more celebrity-signed martini glasses, including: Jeff Bridges,
signed and designed by celebrities and heroes. Last year, the
John Travolta, and a host of sports figures. Donations that first
CMGA raised a head-spinning $300,000 for PAWS and Honor
year garnered $21,000! And as the annual event, now officially
Flight. And this year’s event, held in February, featured a heady
called the Celebrity Martini Glass Auction, grew, so did the list of
roster of new glasses signed by: Jennifer Lawrence, Clint East-
participants and the donations.
wood, Derek Jeter, Dan Aykroyd, Annette Bening, Larry Bird,
Then, Melton decided to change her focus. “The Film Festival
John Goodman, Elizabeth and Bob Dole, and many others.
is doing great, and they really didn’t need our funds anymore.
It’s all been a dizzying cocktail for Melton, but it is one she hap-
I had always wanted to work with veterans. My father was a
pily imbibes. “I will continue to work for causes that really need
21-year Air Force vet, and there were two organizations that I
assistance. I will go where I’m needed and work with projects
strongly believe in that could truly benefit from additional fund-
that truly resonate within my heart.” We raise our glasses to you!
ing.” PAWS Assistance Dogs works to pair wounded veterans
Cheers!
with highly trained assistance dogs. And Collier County Honor
Learn more about the Celebrity Martini Glass Auction by visiting
Flight, which annually foots the bill to fly WWII veterans together
their website at: www.naplescmga.com.
for a day at the Washington, D.C. memorial in their honor.
Larry Bird Jennifer Lawrence
Danica Patrick
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laugh at. That’s the kind of guy he is. And that’s the kind of act, albeit with much more talent, that Kashnow is doing.
A Comedy Warrior Check out Joe Kashnow’s first stand-up attempt on YouTube. You’ll notice a few things. First: He’s nervous. Second: He slowly builds a story, relating how he was in the award-winning documentary film Comedy Warriors: Healing Through Humor.Third: Joe isn’t nervous anymore. The mildly interested crowd has stopped talking and whisper, “Wait, what did he just say?”“Did he just say that going to war for him was really ‘the bomb’?” “Um, is he missing his right leg?” Fourth: He builds off of the “shock humor” by gracefully inserting accounts of an Army amputee (him) high on Ketamine (literally a horse tranquilizer used for chronic pain), feeling suddenly free. Well, maybe a little too free when you find yourself hobbling down the corridors of Walter Reed Army Medical Center loudly proclaiming yourself the real LORD VOLDEMORT! It’s the classic humor-through-pathos formula brought up to date by incorporating a story that has become the new normal for many Americans: A wounded soldier comes home to a grateful but ill-prepared nation. Literal years are spent awaiting surgeries and treatments. Grim stuff that Kashnow resolves to joke about. “The comedy gives me an outlet to talk about things I’m dealing with that are kind of socially acceptable. I think that’s what comedy does for anybody,” says Kashnow. “Let’s face it, if you’re going out on a Tuesday to some random comedy club to get people to pay attention to you, you’re probably not the most socially adjusted to begin with.”
PAWS and the future
No Average
Joe t Comedy Warrior Joe Kashnow brings his unique perspective to the comedy world By John D. Adams
he thing is, Joe Kashnow is just another comedian trying to make a living. But he has a leg up on the competition. Actually, he’s got a leg up by being a leg short. Yes, this is a crude attempt at a joke about an Army veteran whose leg was blown apart in Iraq in 2003. And yes, I think it is exactly the kind of joke Joe Kashnow would be the first to groan, then
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Last year, Kashnow was honored by the Naples, Floridabased organization, the Celebrity Martini Glass Auction (CMGA). The CMGA (featured in this issue) was able to cut through some of the military red tape and bring the comedian a new partner, his PAWS service dog, Chico. “I couldn’t image how much and how quickly Chico has helped me to negotiate pain, either by activity or just distracting me from my pain. He is an incredible part of my life and I’m so happy to have him.” Joe’s audiences love Chico, too. On February 8, a year after he first met Chico, Joe and his four-pawed pal performed for the sold-out 2015 Celebrity Martini Glass Auction. For now, Kashnow must put his rising career on hold. He lives in pain 24-hours a day. He’s been waiting for 2 years to have the desperately needed surgeries, which may relieve the agony. Kashnow touts his involvement with Operation Mend, a UCLA-based program providing wounded veterans with critical care issues. “They have been fantastic. I’ve already met with the surgeon who gave me a realistic idea of what I can expect after the surgery. It is possible that I will be pain free… I would continue with the VA…” He pauses for a beat. (Uh, oh, what’s coming?): “I’d just worry they’d take off my other leg by mistake! Ha! Ha! Ha!” Visit Joe Kashnow at www.joekashnow.com or www.comedywarriors.com
Boca Raton — Fort Lauderdale — Miami
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The Edible Inevitable Wit of Alton Brown By Robin Jay
I
t’s daybreak on the set of Cutthroat Kitchen. The trailer door of the star’s dressing room swings open. Quirky culinary show host Alton Brown steps out, pausing to double check that his morning ritual is complete: his wireless microphone is secured properly to his sock, his Converse sneakers are double knotted, his round spectacles match his pocket square, and his signature bowtie – one of a collection of nearly 200 he inherited from an art school professor – is perpendicular to his collar. He adjusts his watch (an essential tool for timing dueling chefs in his latest nerve-racking TV cooking competition), grabs his must-have cup of coffee, and then saunters off with a kick in his step. Once inside the studio, Alton stops by the set’s food pantry to sneak a cherry tomato for breakfast. ‘It’s not allowed, but who’s going to stop me?!’ And then, with a leap, he lands at the bottom of the sound-stage stairwell to announce his surprise entrance, “Good morning chefs!”
The Cooking Show Pioneer Alton Brown is not your typical cooking show host. The son of a media executive who owned a Georgia-based newspaper and radio station, Alton grew up an avid Boy Scout who dreamed of following in the steps of Jacques Cousteau. The eclectic young man loved riding motorcycles, strumming guitar, flying airplanes, eating sardines and his grandmother’s biscuits, and collecting cookbooks – some 2,000 volumes.
the New England Culinary Institute. “I only got into science when I realized it was the key to better cooking,” Alton told South Florida Opulence.
Step Aside Julia Child In 1998, the pilot for Alton’s first cooking show – Good Eats – aired in Chicago. “My idea was to combine Julia Child, Mr. Wizard, and Monty Python,” Alton said. And indeed he did. Good Eats became an iconic blend of food science, pop culture, skit humor, innovative cooking, and the occasional burping puppet. His innovative series lasted 13 consecutive seasons on Food Network and earned him a Peabody award for broadcast excellence. “Comedy is a tough thing to examine, so I try not to think about it,” Alton said. “But I do believe that laughing brains are more absorbent, so it’s easier to teach people who are being entertained.”
Since Good Eats, you’ve seen this culinary comedian as the TV commentator of Iron Chef America; Feasting on Asphalt (Alton tours the country by motorcycle uncovering tidbits of road-food history); and Cutthroat Kitchen.
Taking it Live Now, bringing his screen antics to stage, the renowned foodist is enchanting audiences in Alton Brown Live! The Edible Inevitable Tour that runs through April 2015 across the country. “We have combined science, music, food, and a few other things no one in his right mind would allow me to do on TV (ponchos are provided),” said Brown, who delighted fans with his performance at the Kravis Center in Palm Beach in February. To locate times, dates and cities for Brown’s future tour stops, go to www.altonbrowntour.com.
“I only got into science when I realized it was the key to better cooking.” —Alton Brown
As a child, Alton says he enjoyed hanging out in his mom’s kitchen, but his true passion for food started in college. “Girls who said ‘no’ to dates sometimes said ‘yes’ if I offered to cook for them,” he said with a laugh. Then, after a stint as a music video cinematographer, Alton noticed a genre in TV he felt was lacking substance – American cooking shows. He aimed to start his own novel cooking program and enrolled in Spring 2015
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KURO A Beautiful Simplicity By John D. Adams
At the Seminole Hard Rock’s new restaurant, Kuro, Executive Chef Alex Becker reimagines Japanese cuisine while remaining true to its origins
Kuro is the New Black “Naming a restaurant is officially harder than naming a child,” laughs Becker. Kuro, which means black in Japanese, seems to fit the restaurant’s personality. “It’s symbiotic of so many things. We wanted that kind of punk rock, or rock and roll vibe to tie into the Hard Rock, yet we wanted it to be chic and sophisticated, too.” And let’s face it, it’s just a cool sounding name. It’s easy on the ears, easy to pronounce, and it expresses the kind of bold approach to Japanese gastronomy that Becker is excited to share. “It’s approachable but on an elevated level. It really represented exactly what we were looking for and what we are all about.”
make it a new style of Japanese cuisine… One of my favorite dishes is the Maitake mushrooms. Served as a tempura, we add dry herbs and pair them with sauces to develop a more aromatic dish, really elevating it so that the patron will actually say ‘Wow!’ We bring a lot to the mushroom without taking anything away. We are very focused and fundamentally Japanese.” Chef Becker will also be bringing in a variety of Japanese beef and fish, along with seasonal ingredients from Japan that most people just can’t get their hands on in the United States. This advantage will allow Becker to create seasonal delicacies alongside his set menu, something he has longed to do. “It’s exciting for us and for the guests.”
Elevated Authenticity By combining fresh local ingredients with imported Japanese products, Becker and his expert team have established an amazing menu with an array of hot kitchen dishes, a nice tempura selection, and beautiful sushi. “We are developing a lot of flavors by honoring traditional Japanese style and giving it our own personal touch to
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PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL PISSARI
There is a wonderful little restaurant in Japan where Executive Chef Alex Becker and his wife often visit during their many “educational” culinary trips. “It looks like somebody’s house,” enthuses Becker. “Clay pots are dug into the tabletops…The way they look at food is so simple but it is so amazing. They have a Daikon radish that is one of the best things you’ve ever tasted; and I’m pretty sure it came right out of the ground that afternoon.” It is this kind of enthusiasm and reverence for traditional Japanese fare that makes Becker the ideal person to develop his brilliant “new style” of Japanese cuisine at Kuro, the newest culinary innovation now opening at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood.
Executive Chef Alex Becker
Kuro at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino at: One Seminole Way, Hollywood, Florida For reservations, call: 954-327-7625. PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL PISSARI
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Taste some of the most exclusive wines produced in the US. More than 700 hand-selected wines from the AFWC Competition will be poured throughout dinner by our Wine Angels. Meet the AFWC Winemakers of the Year from • Chappellet • Maldonado • Michael David • Sol Rouge • Winery SF • Howell Mountain Vineyards • Castello di Amorosa • von Strasser
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The 8th ANNUAL AFWC CHARITY WINE GALA Friday, April 24, 2015- 6:30PM to 11:00PM Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, FL Limited Tickets Available at: www.AmericanFineWineCompetition.Org under “Buy Tickets” or call 561.504.0206 email- Shari@AFWCandGala.com $300/person on FB- American Fine Wine Competition
Miami’s Culinary Darling
Michelle Bernstein Launches Seagrape
By Robin Jay
S
“What inspired me about Seagrape is the talent we put together to create an incredible gastronomic experience. I feel this is the strongest team I’ve ever worked with and I feel like I’ve inspired them as much as they’ve inspired me,” Chef Bernstein said.
The Personal Side The daughter of an Argentine-Jewish mother and a father with Italian-Jewish roots, the former ballerina and honors graduate from Johnson & Wales University puts a little bit of her proud heritage into most everything she does on the culinary front. “My background and my cultural influences can be found in everything I do innately,” Bernstein said. “I feel that the combination of Jewish and Latin influences and flavors organically come from my soul, through my hands and into my cooking and recipes whether I like it or not. My love for dill, gelatinous chicken stock and smoked salmon obviously comes from my eastern European Jewish side and the fact that I start every important seafood sauce with a sofrito and my love for lime and fresh chilies must be my Latin side.”
Supporting the Local Community Working with five different local produce farmers and two different animal farmers to source incredible dishes on the Seagrape menu, the maestro of fine fare is about as genuine as they come. “I’m exactly the same person that I am in front of camera: honest, no filter, friendly, disciplined and I love to cook for everyone,” said Bernstein. “I still haven’t gotten to the point where I realized that I want to be a chef when I grow up; it just kind of happened organically. I was 7 the first time I cooked something on my own, and the feeling of instant gratification is incomparable. When you can create something and in a matter of 20 minutes have people enjoy it, there is nothing more gratifying.” What’s a must-try for the first visit to Seagrape? Bernstein is quick to offer her recommendation: “The snapper with crispy paella rice and the squash blossom with creamy grits for sure!” Seagrape is located at 4041 Collins Avenue in Miami Beach. For reservations, call 786-605-4045.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL PISSARI
Described as a Floridian brasserie, Bernstein’s latest restaurant and its botanical name have roots along the coasts of South Florida and the Caribbean – precisely what motivated this curly-haired Miaminative’s latest success story.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL PISSARI
outh Florida residents have practically watched Michelle Bernstein grow up with a Midas touch in the culinary world, first as a James Beard powerhouse, then an epicurean TV show celebrity, and a gourmet cookware designer, all the while enchanting us with one ‘wow’ after ‘wow’ in dining venues: Azul, Michelle Bernstein’s, MB Terrace, SRA. Martinez, Crumb on Parchment, Michy’s – and now, Seagrape at the Thompson Hotel in Miami Beach.
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Left: Hen Egg with dill yogurt, aleppo butter, charred tomatoes Right: Roasted Clams with chorizo, fingerling potatoes, smoked paprika oil
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Sprezzatura! Delicious Nonchalance at Chef Scott Conant’s Corsair By ROBIN JAY
phere is rustic yet sleek – largely inspired by the simple, beautiful farmhouses of the Mediterranean and America, and the elegance of the resort.” The auburn-bearded chef steps away for a moment to taste a broth bubbling on the stove for a dish he’s preparing with mussels. “Forgetaboutit!” he says, indicating the taste is spot-on.
Chef Scott Conant
Main image: Short rib of beef “Lasagna” with freshly shaved black truffle.
Award-winning celebrity chef Scott Conant is making headlines again. This time with an extra special twist at his latest culinary venture, Corsair, in Aventura’s Turnberry Isle Miami. Conant describes his newest restaurant as having ‘sprezzatura,’ an Italian expression meaning understated sophistication – makes perfect sense given his Italian heritage, previous Italian restaurants and Italian cookbooks. But the surprise here is that the menu at Corsair isn’t Italian, it’s what he passionately refers to as “Farmhouse Mediterranean.” “My wife, Meltem, is from Bodrum, Turkey – the influence for the Corsair menu,” he said with a schoolboy grin. “The overall atmos-
“Corsair offers a seasonal menu rooted in the farmhouse cooking of America and the Mediterranean. Dishes will change seasonally to reflect the harvest of local farmers and purveyors while putting the quality and simplicity of their ingredients center stage. Overall, the experience at Corsair reflects the age of discovery and Florida’s rich history of exploration.” Signature dishes include porcini braised veal, grilled octopus, balsamic lacquered duck, roasted clams with chorizo, hen egg with dill yogurt and short rib of beef “Lasagna” with shaved black truffle. “I can’t think of a more perfect partner or setting for Corsair than Turnberry Isle Miami,” Conant added. “We’ve collaborated with Meyer Davis Studio, whose design accentuates the restaurant’s open, inviting space, al fresco dining and stunning views of the golf course.” To reserve a table at Corsair, please call 786-279-6800.
Left: Porcini Braised Veal with fregola, baby turnips, crispy parmesan Right: Grilled Octopus with stewed seafood, fregola, squid ink
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KEEPERS OF THE QUAICH An inside look at the secret knighthood of Scotch Whisky connoisseurs By James Espey
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he liquor trade is a most enjoyable industry and I have been blessed to help brands launch and thrive over the past 45 years – such as Malibu Rum, Baileys Irish Cream, Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Chivas Regal, and my current baby, “The Last Drop” – seekers of the world’s rarest spirits. However, the brand that gives me the greatest pride is the “Keepers of the Quaich.” The word Quaich is a traditional Scottish drinking vessel. In the early days, the Scottish Highlands had no pottery to speak of. These vessels were originally made of wood and not until the 17th century did they start to be manufactured in silver. The creation of the Keepers of the Quaich was, therefore, to honour those around the world who have made a great contribution to the industry by working, writing or speaking on its behalf.
The Exclusive Niche Founded by the leading Scotch Whisky distillers, Keepers of the Quaich is an exclusive and international society that is seen as a genuine badge of honour – almost like a Scotch Whisky knighthood. I recently read an obituary in a leading UK newspaper and under the picture of the deceased were the words “17th Keeper of the Quaich.” The number of business cards I receive with the title, “Keeper of the Quaich,” or better still, “Master of the Quaich,” is quite surprising. Once you are inducted into the society, you become a full Keeper with all the rights associated with that honour.
Blair Castle is where the Keepers of the Quaich induct new members each year in celebration of the rich history of Scotch Whisky.
distinguished French Burgundy Society. What an amazing weekend we had in Dijon and at the induction banquet in Beaune.
The Eureka Moment During that event, it occurred to me that Scotch Whisky, a 500-year-old industry, did little to celebrate its great history and that we should create a genuine, prestigious society to honour those who have made a serious contribution. In 1986, I joined United Distillers, the leading Scotch Whisky company as Deputy
Accordingly, in 1983 he asked me if I would like to become a Chevalier du Tastevin – a
The working name was the “Order of the Malt,” but subsequently it was deemed more appropriate to make it truly Scottish, hence “Keepers of the Quaich.” Every aspect of the Keepers conforms to the wonderful majesty and ceremony and tradition that is uniquely British/Scottish. The Keepers has its own coat of arms approved by the Lord Lyon, King of Arms. The Society motto, also bestowed by the Lord Lyon himself, is ‘Uisgebeatha Gu Brath,’ which is Gaelic for ‘Water of Life Forever.’ ‘Uisge’ is Gaelic for ‘water’ and the origin of the word ‘Whisky.’
So where did it all begin? In October 1982, I became the Chief Executive of IDV UK Limited, half of what is today Diageo – the world’s largest producer of spirits. Grand Metropolitan, our parent company, directly controlled a burgundy house – Geisweiler Limited – and Stanley Grinstead, the Grand Met Chairman was anxious that we should promote Geisweiler wines through the 500 Peter Dominic stores we controlled.
Managing Director, which gave me a platform to create our own society. I arranged meetings with the chief executives of the leading companies. The fundamental point we agreed on was that rank hath no privilege and to be a Keeper, no matter what your wealth or title in business, you have to have clearly made a substantial contribution to Scotch Whisky before being invited to join this illustrious society.
In 2013, Keepers of the Quaich founder James Espey was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) for services to the Scotch Whisky industry. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth personally pinned the OBE onto his lapel.
The Keepers of the Quaich also has its own tartan (a crisscrossed band of colours) developed by Kinloch Anderson – which are also kilt makers to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Based on a design of the 1700s, it is woven from pure wool and the colours represent the main constituents of Scotch Whisky – blue for water, gold for barley and brown for peat. Spring 2015
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There is a management committee formed by representatives from each of the founding companies and, of course, the Keepers has its own society patrons – the nobility of Scotland, such as the the Earl of Erroll, the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine KT, the Duke of Argyll, the Duke of Atholl and many others.
How Do You become a keeper? Membership is by invitation only, with existing Keepers putting up nominees for management committee approval. Members represent the interests of Scotch Whisky around the world and are leaders in the companies that market Scotch or writers who publicize the “water of life.” When you are accepted for membership, you are invited to Blair Castle, in Perthshire, Scotland, the spiritual home of the society. It is a magnificent historical castle and has its own private army (the only legal private army in Europe) granted by Queen Victoria after a visit in the 19th century. Today the Atholl Highlanders are purely ceremonial with a magnificent pipe band featured strongly before and during the banquet itself. On arrival, new Keepers are offered a wee dram before being introduced to the Grand Master and the Chairman of the Society. Keepers are seated in a magnificent old room at the top of the castle before being called forward to be appointed a Keeper. The Chairman of the Society invites you to place your hand on the Grand Quaich measuring 24” across and made of sterling silver and carrying the Quaich hallmark. In my time as Chairman, I was often surprised by how nervous extremely wealthy and successful inductees were as they placed their hands on the Quaich and participated in the induction. A brief citation is read and after, when you agree “to honour the aims and objectives of the Keepers,” you receive the Keepers badge to wear on your lapel at formal functions.
The Banquet All Keepers and guests are invited to an elaborate banquet in the Grand Hall, adorned with weaponry used by the Duke of Atholl’s army. Other than the top table, all sit at round tables without any pecking order formality. It is an egalitarian gathering
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of people who love Whisky and are proud to be associated. The evening is directed by the Fear- An -Tighe (Master of the House) who is always a wellknown Scottish personality. He also conducts the ceremonial address to the haggis, following which the Grand Master proposes the loyal toast to Her Majesty the Queen. Among the guest speakers in my time were Ronald Reagan, whom I met in New York at a Forbes lunch and invited him to be a speaker. What a gracious and wonderful man who made a magnificent speech and kept the assembled company in awe. Other speakers in my time were F W de Klerk, the former president of South Africa, Prince Charles and Princess Anne.
How many Keepers Today? There are 2,374 Keepers worldwide from 86 countries. The society is flourishing with a long list of people who would like to become Keepers. In its 26-year history, never more than 100 are inducted in any year at
Blair Castle. There are international chapters that meet to celebrate Scotch Whisky, but unlike other societies, e.g., wine and brandy, the Keepers community is tightly controlled in accordance with a mission to promote the values and image of Scotch Whisky as the world’s finest and most prestigious spirit. In 2013, I was humbled to be awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) for services to the Scotch Whisky industry, and no doubt creating the Keepers was part of that. My family joined me at the ceremony in Buckingham Palace in November of that year when Her Majesty personally pinned my OBE onto my lapel. We adjourned shortly thereafter to the Goring Hotel, where Kate Middleton (now Duchess of Cambridge) spent her last night as a spinster, for a magnificent lunch celebrated with fine Scotch Whisky. Cheers – or as they say in Scotland – sláinte!
LAST DROP: 120 YEARS IN A BOTTLE The founders of The Last Drop Distillers Limited are true spirits pioneers. Between them, they have created some of the world’s most loved spirits brands: Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Chivas Regal 18 Year Old, The Classic Malts, Malibu and Baileys Irish Cream. They are passionate about the liquor industry heritage, particularly Scotch Whisky. Thus, seven years ago, instead of retiring, they created one last unique brand: The Last Drop. As self-proclaimed “rare spirits hunters,” The Last Drop Distillers team scour the highlands and lowlands of Scotland, as well as farther afield, to seek exceptionally rare and delicious old casks. Consistently award-winning, each release is unique, and truly limited. Meticulously bottled and packaged by hand, The Last Drop is a true expression of luxury for the very few. For those fortunate to lay their hands on a bottle, the experience is truly extraordinary. The Whisky Advocate has awarded
The Last Drop 50 Year Old, “Blended Whisky of The Year” (2014), and in anticipation of its launch in March 2015, Jim Murray of The Whisky Bible has just voted The Last Drop 48 Year Old, “Scotch Whisky of The Year” (2015). Only 592 bottles are available worldwide. For details, including stockists, visit lastdropdistillers.com. Sláinte mhaith!
The Great London Beer Flood of 1814 By Alex Villasuso
i
magine this: A tidal wave of freshly brewed porter rushing toward you, chasing you down the street like a tsunami. Sounds like the plot of a low-budget B movie, right? For several unfortunate people back on October 17, 1814, the unthinkable became reality in what is now known in history books as the London Beer Flood.
The Fateful Tale
Back in the day, the Horse Shoe Brewery was the spot from which the tragedy spouted. Located at the intersection of Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Street, conditions in and around the Horse Shoe Brewery combined to be the makings of a perfect (albeit beer) storm: nearly 8,000 barrels of beer in a 22-feet-tall vat atop of the brewery, a cracked vat support hoop, and an overcrowded slum. The Horse Shoe Brewery was owned by Meux Brewery Co., a large brewery established in London in 1764. Owned by Sir Henry Meux, the brewery had been actively acquiring smaller breweries recognized for producing good beer. Horse Shoe was known for its porter…and lots of it. Shortly before that disastrous day, Horse Shoe had several massive vats of beer fermenting on its roof, the largest of which became the villain in this story. If the weight of that much beer – 300,000 gallons (1,224,000 liters) to be exact – was not enough of a concern, add on 29 iron rings that held the vats in place, with each ring weighing in at 500 pounds, and you’ll understand the gravity of the situation. It was one of those iron rings that was the culprit that set the streets of St. Giles slum awash in porter. Record notes that a Horse Shoe employee, Mr. George Crick, had noticed a small crack in one of the vat support hoops. The storehouse clerk reported it to his supervisor; however, the issue was ignored by the vat builder. He wrongly
believed the other 28 rings would adequately support the mammoth vats of beer and, as the saying goes, hindsight is 20/20.
And Then the Unthinkable Happened On October 17, 1814, at about 6 p.m., the cracked hoop snapped and caused the porter vat to burst. All of that fermenting porter came gushing out of the 22-foot-tall vat, causing a chain reaction in the surrounding vats. The result: a 15-foot tall tidal wave of beer whipping through the crowded Rookery, as that area was also referred. The rushing wave of Horse Shoe Brewery’s beer was so powerful that it completely washed away two houses, flooding many others and leaving an unknown number of people – due to the overcrowded slum – to perish in the aftermath. What would later be known as the London Beer Flood of 1814 claimed the lives of nine unsuspecting women and children. The Meux Brewery Company was taken to court over the accident, but the judge ruled that, although devastating, the flood was an ‘Act of God’ and the deaths were simply by ‘casualty.’
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Ice Man By Steven Joseph
The journey of a 16-year-old immigrant who became a world-renowned diamond mogul
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“Every diamond has a story. If a stone doesn’t speak to me, I’m simply not interested.” – David Rosenberg
"The Peacock" 65ct+ Fancy Vivid Yellow Orange Diamond Necklace
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wice a year in Geneva, Switzerland, the world’s most affluent investors flock to auction houses to put ‘real estate in their pockets.’ Not the sort with chimneys and stainless steel appliances, but rather dazzling haute joaillerie in the form of important white and rare fancy colored diamonds – the portable investments as secure as gold and far less volatile than currency.
In 2014, for example, the largest vivid orange diamond in the world brought $35.5 million at Christie’s, while a flawless vivid blue bauble sold for nearly $24 million. Is it any wonder Barclay’s Wealth Insight Survey reports 70 percent of high-net-worth respondents are investing in rare colored diamonds? No one man understands this more than David Rosenberg, president of Rosenberg Diamonds & Co. in Boca Raton. It is he whom jewelers and investors alike in
the United States trust when they can’t make it to Geneva. It is a position of honor and integrity that he doesn’t take for granted – an American dream that wasn’t handed to him on a silver platter. South Florida Opulence sat down with Rosenberg for a look into his world…one that he built himself, from the ground up…
Meet David Rosenberg As I awaited the start of our interview, a tall dapper man, dressed in a coral linen jacket, white pressed collared shirt, designer jeans and a paisley pocket square that matched his socks, entered the showroom. I was certain the 40-something gent must be coming to escort me to meet Mr. Rosenberg. Imagine my surprise when I learned HE was David Rosenberg. He smiled, shook my hand and invited me to have a seat in his office.
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Moments later, I was holding 7.5 million dollars in my hand, and I was speechless. I was staring into the center of a fancy color diamond ring; its sheer awesomeness and brilliance defied explanation. In the center was a blue diamond, the hue comparable to the crystal-clear ocean waters of the Caribbean. It is ringed by a dozen smaller pink diamonds, each equally flawless, creating the abstract image of a flower and petals. The piece was truly greater than the sum of its parts.
with pictures of his lovely wife Jamie, and the walls decorated with
Rosenberg’s principal location is in downtown Boca Raton, but he also does private diamond viewings upon request around the U.S. in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, as well as internationally in such cities as Antwerp or his birthplace, Tel Aviv. While the outer showroom is a testament to how far he has come, replete with exquisite yet tasteful furniture and crystal chandeliers to accent the meticulously kept and artfully displayed wares, his personal office reflects the true portrait of a hard-working family man
for myself.� He says his parents left Israel, where his family had been
the artwork of his son, a bottle of Windex near his desk so he can keep the glass surface clean at all times.
How He Got His Start Rosenberg came to the United States with his parents at the age of 16, the oldest of four siblings, and settled in Ft. Lauderdale. Both of his parents worked, and as Rosenberg describes it, they were “comfortable. Anything I needed, I had, but anything I wanted I had to buy for seven generations. Growing up in Israel taught Rosenberg to fend for himself, and his parents instilled upon him the importance of work-ethic, ingenuity and, most importantly, integrity. After graduating high school, Rosenberg fell into the family business, a restaurant owned by his uncle, while also trying to find a foothold in sales in the personal fitness industry. He quickly
68ct+ Multi Color, Multi Shape Diamond Bracelet
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learned, however, that the restaurant business is 24-7, and that lifestyle didn’t appeal to him. A friend of his was having minor success selling jewelry and Rosenberg decided to bet on himself. He told the friend, “Don’t pay me anything. Just print me business cards,” but he rapidly learned that the major players were not interested in the readymade pieces he was selling. Eventually, in a sit-down with an important buyer, Rosenberg had an idea. Rather than try to sell the countlessly rejected items in his existing catalogue, he asked the buyer to describe to him what she REALLY wanted. Knowing that if he could have the pieces manufactured he already had a willing buyer, Rosenberg took his design to production on a loan with 90 days credit, deciding to double-down on himself. With confidence and charisma he recalls, “I paid everyone back in just seven days. Suddenly I became the man everyone wanted to work with.” Rosenberg has no formal training. He is self-taught, a literal diamond in the rough. At the age of 33, he was elected president of the
The Maharaja Pendant
5ct+ Radiant Fancy Pink Diamond Ring, GIA certified
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“Diamonds are one of god’s gifts to mankind.” – David Rosenberg
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Southeastern United States Diamond Bourse (like a stock exchange for commodities), the youngest in history, and it is an office that he holds to this day. But it was not an easy path to walk. At first, he was denied membership to the bourse due to lack of experience. It was not until he discovered the niche industry of fancy colored diamonds that he earned the respect and admiration of his peers.
A Closer Look To hear Rosenberg describe diamonds is like hearing a child describe the toy he wants for Christmas. “Diamonds are one of God’s gifts to mankind,” he says, pointing out that diamonds come in a variety of rare colors, including pink, red, blue, yellow and orange. They “put an earto-ear smile on women. They make everyone happy. They give off a sense of power, and they are a symbol of love and strength.” They are truly his passion. He is often asked what he would do if he won the lottery. “I always say the same thing, ‘I would just buy more stones for my inventory. Oh, and I would be able to give even more to charity.’” Amidst the Judaica that punctuates the shelves of his office sits an ornate silver box with a coinslot in the top that I recognized during our interview as a “tzedekah” (the Hebrew word for charity box). Rosenberg is active in a myriad of charities, giving mainly to special needs children and the elderly, those who cannot fend for themselves. While none have a personal tie for him, he seeks to strengthen the community around him. The generosity was a trait inherited from his parents. “If we were walking down the street and there was a beggar looking for money, they always opened their wallets.” Rosenberg describes his father as “my closest friend. My first phone call of the day, and many more times throughout the day” and despite his death eight years prior to lung cancer, he is a constant guiding light in his life and business. His father often quoted the Zionist Theodore Herzl who said, “If you can dream it, it is not a fantasy.” In fact, on opposite sides of his desk calendar he has inserted two gold Israeli coins with Herzl’s image as an ever-present reminder of this motto. At one point five years prior, Rosenberg had interactions with three different prominent billionaires all in the same day. And at the time, he was staying at the very same hotel where Herzl held his first Zionist conference.“It was not coincidence,”
he says, “I knew that my father was watching me and smiling.” Today, when he isn’t running his signature marketing campaign for his line (“tastefully nude” exotic models sporting large jewels against a swirling dark blue background), Rosenberg splits his time between buying and designing pieces and advising his clients on diamonds as an investment. He sees diamonds as an unburstable bubble. He tells people to steer away from rough, unpolished stones, and to seek out rare colors and diamonds above 5-7 carats in weight. “Diamonds are portable and they increase in value. Yes, they are a long-term investment, but there is only a finite number and there is always a demand.” He believes the 4 c’s (cut, clarity, color and carat) are a good foundation, but he buys based on his own model, the 3 p’s: product, people and presentation. “Every diamond has a story. If a stone doesn’t speak to me, I’m simply not interested.” As the interview wraps and we shake hands again, I notice that despite his meticulously selected attire, Rosenberg does not wear a watch. When I ask him about it he says, “I had a fantastic watch collection. Then three years ago I stopped wearing them. I decided, the next watch I wear is going to be a Rosenberg.” To see some of the breathtaking important white and rare natural fancy colored diamonds for yourself, or for more information on a showcase Rosenberg will be attending around the country, visit www.rosenbergdiamonds.com or 233 N. Federal Highway in Boca Raton. The jewelry is truly timeless, because after all, diamonds are forever.
Top to bottom: 4ct+ Cushion Fancy Intense Pink Diamond Ring, GIA certified 15ct+ Radiant F VS2 Diamond Ring, GIA certified 2ct+ Radiant Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond Ring, GIA certified 10ct+ G/VVS2 Emerald Cut Diamond Ring, GIA certified 25ct+ Fancy Intense Yellow Diamond Ring, GIA certified
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A new Luxury wedding gown design house has emerged, sweeping blushing brides off their feet with their intricately designed, yet wistfully carefree masterpieces. Isabelle Armstrong, based in New York City, focuses design aesthetic on extraordinary fabrics and unique draping techniques to create opulent designs in timeless silhouettes. Each gown is made with precise attention to detail with the highest quality of fabrics and materials, placing the Isabelle Armstrong Collection on the highest tier of wedding gown designers.
Wedding CoUture The Art of
By April Erhard
ARIANA
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The Isabelle Armstrong Spring 2015 wedding gown collection was inspired by a painting of the La Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona, Spain. The textured spires from the grand Cathedral influenced the fabric creation, with the beautiful historic-city sky at sunset inspiring the splashes of peaches and rose tones in some of the dresses from this collection. The Ariana gown (left) epitomizes the mantra of Isabelle Armstrong, giving the bride who chooses her splendor, passion and, above all, grace. The bodice of the gown is a delicate mixture of French Chantilly lace and re-embroidered lace over crepe back satin. The trumpet of the gown integrates cascading lace into folds of  silk organza.
ANDREA
Fabric choices, like the delicate lace used in the Andrea gown (right) are the highest quality, as the founders of Isabelle Armstrong have scoured the globe to find exceptional quality of textiles and materials, foraging the lace houses of France and sought-after silk houses of Italy.
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mari
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Isabelle Armstrong saw a need for extraordinary customer service in the luxury bridal industry and decided to focus on meeting the needs and  exceeding the expectations of their brides. The luxury design house  leaves women with no shortage of options. Dresses run from glamorous and traditional, such as Mari shown here, to chic and modern, aspiring to make every woman feel beautiful.
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“At Isabelle Armstrong, we have developed a unique formula and team of world-class designers, illustrators and seamstresses to bring unique master works of art to life, such as in our youthfully exquisite Lacie (right),” said Tara Nattini, President of Isabelle Armstrong. “We spared no expense and left no stone unturned in our efforts to bring a fresh, new look to the haute couture bridal gown industry. And we’re just getting warmed up.” Already, Isabelle Armstrong glimmers exuberantly in the spotlight. The intricately designed, yet wistfully carefree masterpieces bestow a radiant glow upon the women who wear them in those auspicious moments that they will remember for a lifetime.
LACIE
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The Alma gown (right) incorporates the sunset sky above the La Sagrada Familia with distinctive ombre airbrushing. The gown is a dream of draped silk tulle ombre skirt with reembroidered hand painted French lace bodice. Isabelle Armstong’s gowns are available at Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Exquisite Bride and Casa di Novia. All customizations are considered and brought to the designers for possible incorporation into the gown’s design. The collection can also be viewed at www.isabellearmstrongny.com.
ALMA
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Inside Slice on Modern Wedding Cakes
By Cara Jay
The very first British recipe designated specifically to celebrate a wedding was published in The Accomplished Cook in England in 1685. Surprisingly, the recipe wasn’t for cake. Rather, it was for ‘Brides Pye’ – a round, ornately crusted dish covering a spiced filling of oysters, pine kernels and other unusual ingredients. The first matrimonial cake seems to have its roots in Rome, where it was tradition for a barley cake filled with dried fruits, nuts and sometimes a ring (to identify the next person to be married) to be crumbled over the bride’s head as a token of good luck.
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marital happiness. During the Victorian era, the use of flowers created a romantic language for lovers’ correspondence in which flowers replaced words. So, for couples who want to give to their wedding cakes special meaning, it is very important to research each flower’s denotation and integrate those that reflect your special relationship into the wedding cake décor. And as an architect, I love the beauty of nature and the
• Orchids: Love, Luxury, Beauty and Strength • Orange Blossom: Fertility • Pansy: Loving Thoughts • Queen Anne’s Lace: Delicate Femininity • Red Rose: Passionate Love • White Rose: Purity • Tuberose: Pleasure • Purple Tulip: Royalty • Stephanotis: Good Luck and Marital Bliss • Wisteria: Steadfast “For me, there is always an amazing story around the wedding cake. It is really a love story,” said Montoya. “I really respect the choices of the bride and groom. As a baker, I just feel honored when they pick me to bake for them.”
The tradition of white icing on the cake was first introduced in 1840 at the wedding of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and it wasn’t until 1882 at the wedding of Prince Leopold that unveiled a multitiered, all-cake confection, stacked like hat boxes and decorated with doves, bells, horseshoes – and flowers. Today, the ‘slice’ on wedding cakes is that pretty much anything goes. No one knows this better than architect-turned-couturecake designer Carolina Montoya of Unique Designer’s Cake in Miami. Guests at the annual Opulence Mega Yacht Gala on Fisher Island are dazzled each year when Montoya’s signature event cake is unveiled as a representation of the spring edition of South Florida Opulence magazine. I sat down with our favorite pastry chef to get the dish on current wedding-cake trends. No surprise that one historic feature still remains as popular as ever – flowers. “A trend of 2015 wedding cakes – especially here in tropical Florida – is an emphasis on flowers. Flowers have amazing meanings, symbolizing new life, beauty and love,” said Montoya. “One flower that carries a significant meaning for brides today are magnolias. Magnolias symbolize love of nature. I also love to design stephanotis, which signifies
Unique Designer’s Cake is located at 69 Northwest 9th Street in Miami. To consult with Carolina Montoya, call 786-351-4276 or schedule an appointment online at www.designerscake.com.
amount of detail put into floral sugar creations. Intricacy is very intricate to give them the perfect realist look!” Consider the meaning behind these flowers:
• Aster: Contentment • Azalea: Abundance • Baby’s Breath: Festivity • Camellia: Graciousness • Daisy: Innocence • Gardenia: Joy • Geranium: Comfort • Gladiolus: Strength of Character • Hibiscus: Delicate Beauty • Hyacinth: Sincerity • Hydrangea: Perseverance • Iris: Inspiration • Ivy: Fidelity • Jasmine: Grace and Elegance • Lilac: First Love • Calla Lily: Regal • Casablanca Lily: Celebration • Day Lily: Enthusiasm • Magnolia: Dignity, Love of Nature
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Ethan K The Wizard of the Secret Garden
By Robin Jay
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t may sound like a fairytale, but the story of Ethan K is every bit true. In just three years, this remarkable 28-year-old young man, hailing from four generations of exotic skin tanning heritage, has launched a haute couture line of handbags that’s taking the fashion world by storm. Combining his knowledge of exotic leathers, particularly crocodile and alligator, with his whimsical style inspired by memories of his childhood storybooks – like Rapunzel by Hans Christian Andersen – Ethan infuses colors of Asian fruits and spices from his native Singapore to create his latest bespoke collection: The Wizard of the Secret Garden.
“I remember as a child, my father would piggy back me to the tannery, then at the back of the family home. I watched my grandfather grading the skins and the artisans coloring and finishing them. Exotic skin is in my DNA,” Ethan said. “Interestingly, my father, Mr. CT Koh, started having an interest in color when he was playing kites with his siblings. He ran to the family tannery, mixed the color dyes and started painting on kites. That was where it all started; some of my bags bear kite motifs reminiscent of our family story.”
All in the Family Ethan continues to source his precious crocodile leathers from the family’s tannery in Singapore. “Since a young age, passion, diligence, attention to detail, especially our Asian values of trust and respect, have been ingrained in me and our business culture. You can see it in the progress we have achieved over generations, from my great grandfather being an immigrant from China to Malaysia then to Singapore, and through his hardship starting the tannery by chance when he met a British artisan at a train station during his adventures.” And, following in his ancestors’ footsteps, Ethan has enjoyed quite an adventure himself. “One of my favorite encounters is when I bumped into Saks Fifth Avenue President Marigay McKee, who was then Chief Merchant at Harrods, on a flight to Marrakech. We started talking about a bag her mother gave her. She wished someone could make it for her in crocodile, and so I did months later and she was ecstatic! I told her that the bag, with the octagonal clasp in semiprecious stone, would bring prosperity and positivity to her life. I guess my stars really did align, as she later launched my line of handbags when she became the president of Saks Fifth Avenue.
“Another fond encounter was when I was at a press interview at a restaurant speaking about how I hoped Pearl Lam, one of Asia’s biggest art collectors, would be one of my muses someday. When I looked up, she was sitting at the other end of the restaurant. It felt like Kismet.”
Redefining Luxury The young designer says he started Ethan K because he felt luxury was becoming too mass market. He travels the world to select the best artisans from Singapore to Italy to France. During the summers, when he was in Central Saint Martins London School of the Arts, he would travel to Tuscany in Italy and work with artisans from Prada and other design houses to learn the craft. “I view my pieces like art and make fewer than a thousand pieces a year currently whilst still growing organically. At Ethan K, luxury is about exclusivity and with a soul – we are close to our customers and feel that it is most important in today’s world. Our clasps are handcrafted in Tuscany. I personally work with the artisans who hand carve the semiprecious stones, too.” Ethan attributes his inspiration and attention to detail to his mother. “She is an incredibly classy lady. She values style and substance over hype,” he said. “She always knew that from a young age, I was very artistically inclined. She would buy me ribbons and I would make them into flowers. I was very interested in baking and loved to decorate the icing on cakes with the Asian fruits and spices I was surrounded by at the family’s gardens. I started the Ethan K with a small loan of $4,000 from my father. I designed a few bags for my mother and her friends, which they enjoyed wearing. I loved bags and it became a business, not the other way around.”
Environmentally Conscious Ethan says the crocodile and alligator trade he deals with is a sustainable program. “In the past, there was a misconception of them being endangered, but it was found that it was due to the destruction of natural habitat that led to the decrease in species. At present, the farmers utilize a percentage for meat and also skin for leather goods. They are priced high due to the rarity and helping the farmers to keep the species alive. “I love seeing a design go from a sketch to reality. As a creator, it touches my heart to see the satisfaction on the client’s face when she receives a bespoke creation.” You can find Ethan K handbags at Saks Fifth Avenue.
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women’s beauty French stylist Frederic Fekkai visits his Palm Beach salon to unveil the new Soleil Collection: “Though certain types of hair are more susceptible to sun damage (like colortreated or very dry hair), every person should shield hair from the damaging rays with a product containing UV shields. Women don’t realize that in general, hair tends to dry out in sunexposed climates, so it’s important to use products that protect and add moisture back to strands. I also recommend using a leave-in conditioner to protect hair from dry, split ends and help restore manageability.”
Save the Bees Palette Inspiration for this eye shadow collection is the colorful and fragrant world of bees. The Palette features honey, a glistening golden highlighter for both eyes and cheek, and nectar blush, a flattering warm coral pink. 5 percent of proceeds are donated to The Xerces Society to help protect bees. Available at Frederic Fekkai Salon, Palm Beach, or at www.Chantecaille.com. $83.
Fekkai Soleil Collection Inspired by St. Barths summer chic hair, the Fekkai Soleil Collection protects, strengthens and nourishes sun-exposed hair. “The three-step regimen is infused with rich sunflower seed oil for the most haute hair under the sun,” said French stylist extraordinaire, Frederic Fekkai, at his Palm Beach-based salon in January. The collection includes Pre-Sun Hair Mist, After-Sun Crème, Wave Spray and Hair Fragrance Mist. Available at Frederic Fekkai at the Brazilian Court Hotel in Palm Beach or at www.Fekkai.com. Per item, $20.
Ossential Lash-Enhancing Serum Ossential Lash Enhancing Serum, created by Zein Obagi, MD, founder of Zo Skin Health, can visibly improve eyelash length and volume. A clinical study shows four out of five participants noticed longer, thicker lashes after just four weeks. The new peptide serum will not cause a change in eye color, making it safer for everyday use and unique from other lash serums on the market. www. Zoskinhealth.com. $65.
Hydra Chic Lipstick by Chantecaille A full-impact lip color that stays hydrating and luminous for six hours, the Hydra Chic Lipstick’s slim style case offers ultimate application control. Available at the Frederic Fekkai Salon, Palm Beach, or at www. Chantecaille.com. $35.
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Perfective Ceuticals Divine Age Guardian Creme with Growth Factor This anti-aging cream’s proprietary complex of Epidermal Growth Factor, Matrixyl, Omega 3-6-9 and Ginseng Extract helps erase the appearance of wrinkles and correct imperfections by stimulating cellular regeneration, microcirculation and youth proteins. Time-released hydrators, anti-oxidants and skin brighteners make skin feel hydrated, lifted and toned. www.perfectiveceuticals.com $120
Miami’s Fashion Prodigy By Linda Hope
Photography courtesy of Allana Wesley White Photography
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riel Swedroe and Robert Swedroe are kindred spirits. Their special connection is more than just granddaughter and grandfather – their mutual passion for art exemplifies their strong bond.
An architect by day and artist by night, Mr. Swedroe’s formation of colorful collages has earned him critical acclaim, sold out exhibits and spots in national advertisements. His granddaughter Ariel is an 11-year-old wunderkind. The ambitious young entrepreneur has taken her love of fashion and uniquely combined it with her grandfather’s renowned 3-D collage design to develop a seriously stunning clothing line. This is no child's play. Ariel creates her own material by photographing, scanning and laser printing Robert’s designs onto her fabrics. “My inspiration is my grandfather and his work,” Ariel said with a smile. “His collages are so beautiful; working with him is amazing. It’s a great combination and I’m making my dream come to life.”
The Epiphany Back when Ariel was just 8, she enrolled in Design Lab Miami, an independent fashion and sewing program founded by Angie Cohen. Soon after, Ariel met fashion designer Stella McCartney at her grandfather’s house. The meeting propelled Ariel’s vision to pursue fashion design as a career. Under the auspices of Cohen, her mentor, she was tasked with designing a fashion collection all her own. Clever Ariel, captivated with the vibrancy of her grandfather’s artwork, downloaded a selection of his iconic designs from his computer. She printed them onto silky fabric and then set out to sketch chic cutting-edge fashion ensembles for both women and young girls.
A Future in Fashion Today, Ariel’s dream is transforming into reality. She recently previewed her clothing line at a Miami fashion show. Grandpa Swedroe sat proudly in the front row as he watched his famous designs modeled on clothing his granddaughter created. “It’s difficult to put into words how I felt. It was very exhilarating and an important, memorable night,” he said. And then, another milestone. The Swedroes last December attended an Art Basel VIP event at the Perez Art Museum Miami. Ariel, with her fashion models and her grandfather, strolled the gallery, wowing guests. Only days later, she was recognized in a local store and asked for her picture and autograph. “It was the first time and really cool,” Ariel said. Grandpa Swedroe agrees. “As busy as I am with architecture and my art I still find time to promote Ariel's fashion project.” She is proof that creativity has no age restriction. Her unpretentious humility coupled with her astute business savvy makes her even more exceptional. How will she know when she’s made it big? “I love Jennifer Lawrence, and in the future, I dream that she will wear my dresses. When she does, I’ll be speechless,” Ariel said.
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It may not take long. The young lady’s fascinating story went viral on social media. As a result, she is working on production of her latest collection. You can view them at www.SwedroebyAriel.
women’s accessories Dolce & Gabbana
Micro Miss Sicily Textured-Leather Satchel. Simple yet sophisticated, this top-handle Miss Sicily is cut from rich textured leather in a clean, structured silhouette. Top handle, 2½” drop. Removable, adjustable shoulder strap, 19”26” drop. Snap flap closure. Fully lined, 5½”W X 4”H X 3”D. Leather. Made in Italy. Saks Fifth Avenue, Dadeland. $995
CREED Jardin d’ Amalfi Part of Creed’s The Royales Exclusives Collection, Jardin d’ Amalfi is a fragrance inspired by Italy’s Amalfi coast flowers. Presented in a handblown glass bottle by centuries-old Parisian glassmaker Pochet. Available at select Saks Fifth Avenue stores and www.Creedboutique.com. 250ml, 8.4oz flacon, $675
Fendi
Edged Zig-Zag Optyl Cat’s-Eye Sunglasses. Geometric embellishments give these lightweight frames a cat’s-eye silhouette, while zig-zag arms add a playful attitude. 100% UV protection. Case and cleaning cloth included. Optyl. Made in Italy. Saks Fifth Avenue, Dadeland. $495
Stuart Weitzman Fringed Suede Sandals
A tier of swinging fringe adds a fashion-forward dose of glamour to these sumptuous suede sandals. Self-covered heel, 4” (100mm), Suede upper, Fringe at ankle strap, Adjustable ankle strap, Leather lining and sole, padded insole. Made in Spain. Saks Fifth Avenue, Dadeland. $455
Kiss by Vhernier This stunning 18kt rose-gold ring is handcrafted by Italian fine jeweler, Vhernier, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a new boutique in the Miami Design District. Vhernier is located at Palm Court, 140 NE 39th Street, Suite 137, Miami. $5,500 Spring 2015
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S m a l l
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By Mary and Hugh Williamson
panning the centuries, the Ancient Eastern science, art and philosophy of Feng Shui and its more contemporary interpretation comprise an extensive topic. It could take a lifetime of study to master the concepts. But simply put, Feng Shui principles include the belief that all animate beings, as well as seemingly inanimate objects, have a “physical life force” within.
for humanity. The needle always points to magnetic north unless overwhelmed by a stronger energy field. The second example is a traffic light’s left-turn arrow, activated by the vehicle-created electromagnetic field, that we did not even recognize until fairly recently. Invisible forces such as these affect us all and, in Feng Shui, collectively are known as Qi, or Chi.
This may seem a bit mystical, but consider two everyday examples of invisible forces that theoretically connect humanity and the environment. First, contemplate the compass and what its discovery has done
Feng Shui also engenders the concept of Yin and Yang. Yin represents energy flowing calmly and restfully, and Yang represents the rapid flow of that energy. Ancient Eastern philosophy espouses a balance between the two, creating harmony within
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THE YANG IS TOO MUCH WITH US
each of us. Feng Shui and good garden design incorporate the home and the garden or balcony as one entity and gives us the opportunity to create Yin spaces in our heavily Yang-oriented world. Reflect for a moment what we seek for our “recharging” – non-Yang places, including weekend retreats, second homes, resort vacations, or a boat on the open water. These are all Yin spaces that provide serenity, although they are far from lifeless. They are dramatic, but tranquil. They all move us closer to nature and its elements.
MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU We cannot always be on vacation, weekending in the country or sailing the ocean blue, but we can create Yin space in our
and physically. Hardscapes such as statuary, seating, planters, as well as fountains and lighting, can be personalized additions to the soft and comforting Yin result. Where space is at a premium, plants in pots can be particularly effective and consistent with the philosophy.
GET “YIN-IFIED” Feng Shui and good garden design principles are inseparable, and both are interpretations and observations of the natural world. The Ancient Eastern teachings can be translated to today’s life realities to block any “potential harmful energy.” It is not always practical to study the old manuscripts dealing with the “physiognomy.”
Photo courtesy Al Whitley Photography
domiciles through the use of gardens, large or small, and their impact on our interior spaces. Doors and windows link the outside environment with the interior of the home. The garden outside should be designed to create small and diverse spaces, providing interest, channeling positive energy and engaging all the senses of sight, sound, smell, and touch. Channeling positive psychic energy calls to mind a Steven Spielberg film or two, where harnessed positive energy was the ultimate achievement. Rocks represent strength, water represents energy, trees and plants are placed to create kinetic energy through their relationship and the changing perspective as we move through the garden, both visually
Mary and Hugh Williamson Simplified, it’s all about a welcoming environment. Many of the things to be mitigated while employing the Feng Shui attitude are not often prominent in our South Florida environment, and that makes getting started a lot easier! Those unwanted elements include industrial sites, pollution, and distracting noise. So South Florida is the perfect place to study the art. The Feng Shui rules are fun to research and easy to apply in order to create a Yin space in your Yang world for your personal satisfaction and renewal. Spring 2015
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Yurt
Glamping Anyone? By Jana Soeldner Danger
Camping just isn’t what it used to be. At least, it doesn’t have to be. Now there’s “glamping,” or glamorous camping, for those who want to experience the outdoors comfortably or even luxuriously, without the inconveniences of pitching a tent, unrolling a sleeping bag, suffering hot nights or freezing cold ones, cooking over a fire and slapping mosquitoes. Glamping is, in fact, a global trend that has caught on over the past several years. Some glampers stay in cabins or travel in RVs, but one of the more unusual and creative accommodations is a ‘yurt.’
A Modern Take On An Ancient Structure A modern yurt is an adaptation of an ancient shelter developed 3,000 years ago by Mongolian nomads. The round structure has a wood frame, radial rafters and a clear dome through which sun and stars are visible.
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“A yurt is not a house, and it’s not a tent,” said Alan Bair, president of Cottage Grove, Oregon-based Pacific Yurts. “It’s something in between. And it’s something unique.” Resorts, parks, ski areas and campgrounds worldwide offer yurt accommodations. But the circular shelters are not used just for comfortable camping. They also serve as studios for artists and writers, private retreats, guest houses, home offices, spas and second homes. And as evidence of the growing Tiny House movement, some people even use them as primary residences.
A Long Love for Yurts Bair has had what he describes as a lifelong love affair with yurts. His father, an educator and ranger at Yellowstone National Park, raised him to enjoy spending time outdoors, and after graduating from the University of California in the 1970s, Bair moved to Oregon and took a job planting trees. He built his first yurt with simple poles and canvas to serve as a shelter that he could pack up and move from job site to job site. Later, he and his wife bought a piece of property. They couldn’t afford to build a house, so he added a deck to the circular shelter. “My son was born in the yurt,” he said. “I saw how well it worked for a young family starting out.” Bair finds the shape intriguing. “We live most of our lives in boxes and cubicles,” he said. “The round shape is relaxing. When you go into a yurt, the space seems to expand, and the architectural elements lead your eye to the clear dome at the top and the sky beyond.” The concept turned into a business gradually after Bair received requests to replicate his circular shelter for others. “We started building yurts in an old dairy barn that was an incubator for several small businesses,” he said. “For me, it was a labor of love.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF TREEBONES.com
Modern, Mobile Construction Modern yurts, however, are constructed much differently than the ones in those early days. The lattice walls are made with high quality, kiln-dried lumber. Two layers of durable, low-maintenance acrylic coated polyester fabric with reflective insulation sandwiched between cover the frames. Fasteners are hardened steel, and seams are electronically welded. Today, yurts can be well insulated, have heating, cooling and electrical systems, indoor plumbing, thermal pane windows and stylish French doors. “You can have one with all the modern conveniences, or you can have one that’s more Spartan,” Bair says. “They’re designed to be as strong as a house, but you can put them into a pickup and take them anywhere.” PHOTO COURTESY OF TREEBONES.com
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Sleep in a Human Nest Royal Eco Yurt at www.lanzaroteretreats.com Pacific Yurts are available in six sizes, ranging from 12 to 30 feet in diameter, with areas of 115 to 706 square feet. Prices for the basic kit range from $4,800 to more than $10,000. Construction is simple enough so a do-it-yourselfer should be able to put the pieces together.
Get in touch with your inner bird by falling asleep nestled in a human-sized nest. For $150 a night (and a two-night minimum), you can cradle yourself in an extreme ‘eco-sleep’ woven-wood nest, designed by Big Sur Artist Jayson Fann, at Treebones Resort. The nest has a wood ladder and full-size futon mattress. But, if you melt in rain, be sure to bring a tent. www.treebonesresort.com.
The Tiny House Movement With all their amenities, yurts provide an easy way to join the Tiny House Movement, a trend toward living in primary residences less than 1,000 square feet, and often as small as100 to 400 square feet. The movement is receiving growing media attention, and even has an HGTV program devoted to it.
Why a Trend in Tiny Houses? People often choose to become small house owners because of environmental concerns or because they prefer not to spend a large portion of their incomes on a place to live. “It’s a way to live life in a less complicated, simpler way,” Bair says. “It’s about having more time and more freedom.”
While living full time in a yurt isn’t for everyone, the structures also offer a myriad of options for vacation adventures. At one mountain resort, guests take a sleigh ride into the countryside, and after stopping at a yurt, they enjoy a gourmet dinner served by tuxedoed waiters. In a tropical destination, a suspension bridge leads to a tree house yurt 60 feet above the ground. “I’ve been doing this for 38 years, and it’s the many different uses that people find for them that keeps it exciting and fresh for me,” Bair says. “I never thought I’d enjoy a business so much.”
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PHOTOs COURTESY OF TREEBONES.com
One northern Minnesota couple, for example, has lived in a yurt in the frigid northland since the spring of 2013. Recently featured on Minnesota Public Radio, both have master’s degrees and jobs. What they don’t have: a large mortgage.
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Auberge
Fort Lauderdale’s Most Refined and Coveted New Beach Residences BY John D. Adams
W
ith its ideal location, situated between the bustling streets of Miami and the artistic enclaves of Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale is ripe for a resurgence of residential interest. Developers have taken notice. Within the next three years, Ft. Lauderdale will boast one of the few on-the-sand luxury residences. “We have assembled a world-class team to create an unmatched residence that embraces the sophisticated, yet casual, lifestyle that embodies Fort Lauderdale,” said Jorge Pérez, Founder, Chairman and CEO of The Related Group, Florida’s premier multifamily developer best known for its visionary mixed-use urban centers and luxury high-rise developments, including Apogee, Murano Grande and Icon South Beach, which helped define a leading, new neighborhood on South Beach. “We are excited to bring the high standards of luxury that characterize The Related Group’s and Fortune International Group’s projects to what has become the next transformative emerging market in South Florida.” 86
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Left to right: Andy Mitchell, The Fairwinds Group; Jorge M. Pérez, The Related Group; Edgardo Defortuna, Fortune International Group; Mark Harmon, Auberge Resorts. Edgardo Defortuna, Founder and CEO of Fortune International Group, which helped define the South Florida skyline as the developer of some of its most luxurious residential buildings, agrees. “With its unparalleled level of design, services and amenities, Auberge Beach Residences and Spa will be a game-changer for luxury living in Fort Lauderdale,” he said.
Community spirit Andy Mitchell, President and CEO of The Fairwinds Group and a third-generation owner and operator of Ireland’s Inn Beach Resort, has also championed the project since 2002. Auberge Beach Residences and Spa will be developed on this iconic site. Mitchell and the other developers have taken careful and fervent steps to work with
With its unparalleled level of design, services and amenities, Auberge Beach Residences and Spa will be a game-changer for luxury living in Fort Lauderdale.
Fort Lauderdale officials and community leaders to gain insight into the evolving needs of current and future residents. “We don’t build for ourselves, we build for our customers,” said Defortuna. “Listening to what potential buyers want is the key. We’ve created something very special to target customers who want a place for their primary residence or vacation home, not necessarily for an investment. It used to be about big, flashy buildings to ‘show off,’ but today, it is more about single perfection. People like attention to detail, but they want large spaces and excellent white-glove services, so that’s what we will deliver.”
Design with intent The developers truly see Auberge as a full-time family development, not a rental property. And the project’s designs reflect that. “People are moving away from big homes in Ft. Lauderdale and want to live in the comfort and convenience of a condominium on the beach,” says Carlos Rosso, President of Condo Division at The Related Group. “Ft. Lauderdale has its own identity. Our community is ideal for buyers seeking true luxury oceanfront living. It is a
great place to live. And if they want to visit Miami, it’s right down the street.” Auberge’s 171 residences will range in size between 1,500 and 5,000 square feet. All units will have sweeping ocean views. Two terraced towers are planned. The 22-story South Tower will feature 114 units. The 17-story North Tower will offer a gracefully curved façade of expansive cascading terraces and 57 larger residences, some with private pools. Meyer Davis, an award-winning New York-based interior design firm, is designing interior spaces to reflect a relaxed, yet elegant, beach-chic vibe. To create the elevated urban beach escape, they will blend rich textures with organic materials that initiate a dialogue with the natural environs. In addition to the Auberge Spa and restaurant, amenities will include a Club room, fitness center, wine tasting salon, cigar lounge, and children’s playroom.
An Art Collection with the Pérez touch The real star of the show is Auberge’s unparalleled beach locale. And the design will accentuate that feature through beachfront public spaces, including an
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indoor-outdoor lounge and restaurant, swimming pools and gardens, all located at ground level to seamlessly connect the lifestyle to the beach and community. Jorge Pérez, a renowned art collector and patron of Miami’s Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), has committed to installing a world-class contemporary art collection throughout the common spaces and grounds, including a $2M+ sculpture by Fernando Botero. With all of his years of experience developing grand residences, Defortuna has not lost sight of his primary goal. “I get great pleasure when buyers come to me saying they have had the best time with their
families in one of our properties. That’s why we strive to make design, details and management exceptional.” Overseeing every aspect of the lifestyle will be Auberge Resorts Collection, the preeminent luxury hotel operator acclaimed for its timeless resorts that embrace intimate, understated elegance. The Residences will join Auberge’s portfolio of award-winning properties such as Auberge du Soleil and Calistoga Ranch in Napa Valley, Calif.; Esperanza Resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Hotel Jerome in Aspen, Colo., and Malliouhana Hotel & Spa, Anguilla, BWI. For sales inquiries, email Auberge at: Sales@ aubergebeach.com Spring 2015
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Unparalleled Developer Solutions for the
Luxury Residential Market By Jill Patterson
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t
he South Florida market is teeming with luxury residential development opportunities. Savvy developers seeking to expand their market share, or scout their premiere South Florida real estate project, look to the Developer Solutions Division at Opulence International Realty for fully integrated, customized, turnkey service.
“We guide developers from inception to maintenance,” said Jack Paget, Director of Developer Solutions at Opulence International Realty. “Whether for preconstruction or standing inventory projects, our state-of-the-art program is completely tailored to the unique goals of each developer. We are an invaluable one-stop resource for everything from real estate marketing (both domestic and international), sales and administrative solutions to market analysis, building concept and design, pricing strategy, budget development, sales center design, database management – even public relations, media exposure and advertising.”
Meet the Maverick Behind The Team Jack Paget is no rookie to the game. He brings more than 30 years of successful, elite-level real estate experience to the Opulence International Realty team. Jack has been involved in all disciplines of commercial and residential real estate in South Florida. His extensive career began on Key Biscayne when Key Colony was the number one project in South Florida. He was part of the first South Florida sales team to deploy into the Latin American markets and bring buyers up from Caracas and Bogota. He was hugely successful in the luxury condo world when, in the late ’80s, he made the transition to the commercial real estate market and worked for 11 years specializing in industrial properties, assuming a senior leadership role for an industrial fund valued at $500 million. Transitioning back to residential sales, Jack was a major player at International Sales Group for 10 years. Paget brings a deep wealth of market expertise, an extensive network of global connections, strategic alliances and a track record of success.
“Developers are going
What particularly sets Opulence International Realty apart is its personal touch on all levels. “Developers are going to get our A team. We are going to be responsive to them. We will come up with tremendous strategies with a big network of brokers and buyers. Our company is a very unique niche in the marketplace. As a collective group, we are somewhat new on the block, but the people here are not new; we have years of combined experience and expertise. Developers get a tremendous group who take them to where they need to go in terms of accelerating sales and putting a development package together from start to finish.”
to get our A team. We are going to be responsive to them. We will come up with tremendous strategies with a big network of brokers and buyers. Our company is a very unique niche in the marketplace.” — Jack Paget
A Closer Look at Developer Solutions With an unparalleled depth of experience in South Florida development, Paget and his team offer assistance on all facets of the development process. “If a Developer has the desire to come in, find a piece of property and wishes to utilize that property to its highest and best use, in terms of a luxury condominium project, they can look to us to get involved from the get-go. We walk them through the whole process, answering questions, such as what pre-vetted contractors should be used, what type of units should be built where, what price per square foot, what architect, what general contractor, what kind of floor plan design,” said Paget. Employing an impressive database of local, domestic and international contacts, Paget and the Developer Solutions team handle the entire sales process. In addition, Paget can offer invaluable assistance on the debt and equity side of a project, putting together joint ventures and providing a business model for Developer clients.
“When your core values are integrity, professionalism, collaboration, and building lasting relationships, performance and results naturally follow,” Jack said. Behind Jack Paget’s drive and determination is a true athlete’s mindset. In college, he played football and baseball, and has established close working relationships with many professional athletes. His competitiveness and passion to succeed has transcended from the athletic field to the field of luxury real estate and marketing.
Since he was recruited by Opulence International Realty, he has been vetting Developers who pass the test for him. “You want to do well and be immediately responsive with whatever you take on. We are relationship based. We are walking this path together for a 2-3 year time frame,“ he said. Paget is keenly aware of the changing landscape in South Florida, having weathered more than one downturn. Watching the rapidity of the market comeback, as increasingly exorbitant prices are being paid for land, he knows you have to be very strategic in order to maximize profits. “You want to land on your feet with market changes and new vistas. The current mantra for developers and development projects is, ‘He who gets in the ground first wins.’ You have to be highly attuned and keyed in to the rapidly changing nuances to this red-hot South Florida market. All the components have to come together with perfect timing – including strategic decisions on location, purchase price of the land, construction costs, choosing an expert sales force – in order to bring a project to a successful sell out and final completion,” Paget said. Spring 2015
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On the Cutting Edge of Market Trends The question on everyone’s mind is what the market is going to do. Paget feels that it will continue to grow strongly. In the development sector, every day there is more and more competition coming to South Florida, but even as land prices skyrocket, buyers are continuing to come. He advises, “You have to know your competition. You have to know your buyers and brokers. You have to be sure you have top people, a top-flight organization and be able to make adjustments when necessary to your initial game plan. This is a monumental market with sophisticated, well-informed buyers. You have to be able to answer every question when that buyer comes through the door.” South Florida is unlike any other market. The cross section of buyers is from around the world, both domestic and international. Paget experienced firsthand the worldwide desire for the South Florida market when marketing an EB-5 visa mixed use project which sold out primarily to Chinese buyers. “The United States of America is still where people want to be, for many reasons, including the safety of their money and our education system.” Because the current financing deposit structure for condo preconstruction in most cases requires 50 percent cash down payment, we now have a solid ‘go-to-closing’ buyer, which has assisted developers in the funding of their projects.
Corporate Horsepower Opulence International Realty offers an elegant, innovative and intelligent platform to launch any project. The firm is one of several companies owned by CSI International – the largest female minority owned company in Florida. Its sister companies include CSI Management, which manages some of the most luxurious condominium buildings in South Florida, including Fisher Island, the Continuum (North Tower) and Murano at Portofino. CSI is also sister to Horizon Publishing, creator of the award-winning South Florida Opulence magazine.
“When your core values are integrity, professionalism, collaboration, and building lasting relationships, performance and results naturally follow.” — Jack Paget
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“Being under the corporate umbrella, CSI International gives us a tremendous advantage in terms of stability,” Paget said. “People recognize that we are here to stay, and we have a long background on a large-scale basis in 15 states for 25 years. When I mention the name Opulence, people ask, ‘is that the same as the magazine?’ Just by cross-pollination, you get the unique opportunity to work with the residents of the condominiums within our property management base both domestically and international as a tremendous advantage. This is something that makes us very attractive to developers. It adds horsepower.” In terms of technology, Opulence International Realty is the first brokerage in South Florida offering live video chat on its website. With approximately 70 percent of Latin buyers using a handheld device to begin their search for real estate, Opulence can be first to make impactful contact. When South Florida developers in the upscale market want comprehensive solutions and a seamless strategic implementation team, Developer Solutions at Opulence International Realty is the answer. For details, go to www.Opulenceinternationalrealty.com or call Jack Paget at 954-560-8265.
By Jill Patterson
real estate
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE OPULENCE MARKET REPORT:
The Real State of Real Estate THE MARKET
LUXURY CONDO APPRECI ATI ON RATES
Miami isn’t shy. She makes an entrance. Her market trends are no exception. It was nearly eight years ago that the Miami market took its historic dive from record-breaking heights. But no less dramatic has been its bouncy recovery, surpassing the nation’s averages. New banking regulations and 50 percent deposit structures for new projects are safeguarding greater market sustainability for the future, but these safeguards don’t seem to be slowing her down. Miami is back at it, breaking sales records, most noticeably in the luxury market.
Resales The Opulence Market Report examines properties over $500,000 in the most sought after areas of Miami. The resale market saw steady growth in 2014. Below is a table showing statistics for resales in 2014. M AR KE T AT A GLA N C E : 2 01 4 STATS AREA
MEDIAN $/SQ FT
% CHANGE**
CO N D OS Miami Beach
$655
9%
South of Fifth
$888
6%
Aventura
$343
4%
Sunny Isles
$640
13%
Fisher Island
$1,179
39%
Downtown
$512
10%
Miami Beach
$498
21%
N.E. Corridor*
$327
6%
Coconut Grove
$401
13%
Coral Gables
$349
7%
Pinecrest
$283
13%
Key Biscayne
$820
7%
HOUSES
**vs 2013 year-end
*East of Biscayne Blvd
INVESTMENT Where are the buys? For the most part, Miami’s investors don’t make their money through rental income, but through appreciation. The following graph reveals the rates of appreciation in some of our top buildings from 2013-2014. Keep in mind that none of these numbers accounts for the leverage of a mortgage.
2013-2014
43%
CONTINUUM 1
43%
13%
CONTINUUM 2
APOGEE
6% 17%
MURANO PORTOFINO
24%
ICON SOUTH BEACH
39%
FISHER ISLAND
17%
SETAI W SOUTH BEACH
4% 17%
MARQUIS
PARAMOUNT BAY
12% 33%
ST. REGIS BAL HARBOUR JADE OCEAN
20%
*2013-2014 comparison: appreciations calculated using average sold price per square foot. Source: SEF Regional MLS
PRECONSTRUCTION There are currently 162 new residential projects in Miami-Dade County completed, under construction or in preconstruction sales. New deposit structures demand buyers ante up a hefty 50 percent in cash up front. For most projects, that limits developers to the wealthy and uber-wealthy buyer. Developers have gone to great lengths to lure that type of buyer, from hiring, literally, the world’s finest architects and designers to mounting art installations to partnering with high-end restaurants and private clubs to give their project cache. It’s working. The Penthouse at Faena House is rumored to be under contract for a record-breaking $60M.
ranked Miami No. 1 for the most entrepreneurs creating start-ups, in front of Los Angeles and Houston. In May 2014, The Wall Street Journal headlines cried out, “Would you believe it? Miami has a real tech scene now.” The art fever is expanding out of Wynwood north into Little Haiti and south into the Arts & Entertainment District, Little Havana and Downtown. The Miami restaurant world is ablaze with more restaurants opening in 2015 than the last 4 years combined, according to John Kunkel of 50 Eggs (a full interview with Kunkel appears in our Market Report). Miami’s average daily room rate for hotels has increased 9 percent and cruise passengers have increased 27 percent since 2013. Miami is back on her feet. You might say she has survived her adolescence and is moving into her expansive, formative years. The Opulence International Realty 2015 Market Report is hot off the press. You can download your copy at www.opulenceinternationalrealty.com. In it, you will find an overview of the market, interviews with interesting residents, and information on the most exciting new developments in our Magic City. Download the full version at www.oirfl.com/reports Sources: Miami Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Cranespotters, SEF Regional MLS.
BOOMTOWN It is safe to say Miami has finally shed her “Scarface” image, once and for all, and has become the fresh “it” place to be. It is an incredible time to be here, with the city dramatically taking shape before our eyes. Billions are pouring into her urban core, but real estate developers are not the only forces charting her future. The Knight Foundation is putting millions into cultural and entrepreneurial endeavors. “The goal is to make Miami a place where ideas are built,” said Matt Haggman, the Foundation’s Miami Program Director. The Kaufman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity, published in 2013,
Jill Patterson is a Sales Associate at Opulence International Realty. 305.203.9985 or visit Opulenceinternationalrealty.com
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WORLD BEARD & In a facial-hair faceoff, 300 gentlemen from the world over flocked to parade their handlebars, goatees, fu manchus, mutton chops and other whiskered styles for a chance at being crowned winner of the World Beard and Moustache Championships in Portland, Oregon last October. Madison Rowley, pictured below on page 97, took home top honors. His prize? An all-expensepaid trip to the 2015 World Championships in Loegang, Austria.
MouSTACHE CHAMPIONS BY robin jay
P
hotographer Greg Anderson was on hand to snap portraits of the contestants. He sat down with South Florida Opulence to talk about the interesting men behind these fascinating beards and moustaches.
“When I first started taking portraits at the national competition in 2013 in New Orleans, I was new to the bearding world. What I discovered is that the old stereotype of bearded men being unkept or vagrants just isn’t true. Beardsmen come from all walks of life – from plumbers and accountants,
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to cowboys, doctors, rock stars, bikers and lawyers,” Anderson said. “And while they all have their unique backgrounds, and may be young or old, they all have a common bond. It’s like a brotherhood of sorts; a subculture. Many of the men see each other biannually at the World Championships – it’s like a reunion to them. They may not speak the same language, or share the same economic status, but it doesn’t matter, they are having a great time together.” Many of the men take a serious amount of time and hairspray to style their facial masterpieces. Whether they’re donning a Dali moustache – a narrow, long and pointy moustache
Madison Rowley (shown above) is the winner of the 2014 World Beard and Moustache Championships.
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named after artist Salvador Dali – a toothbrush moustache like the ones worn by Charlie Chaplin and Oliver Hardy, or a horseshoe ‘stache like Hulk Hogan’s, the contestants Anderson photographs all have great stories. “The competition attracts a lot of interesting characters. Take Madison Rowley, the 2014 winner, for example. It was his first time competing and he won. From his look in the photo, you’d think he might be able to rough you up in a dark alley, but really he’s the nicest guy around – an actor and cinematographer in his mid 20s who’s actually a little shy. The competition gave him a platform to literally let his hair down and enjoy being amongst fellow bearded comrades,” Anderson explained. “Once I noticed that a guy in line to get his picture taken was frantically working his Rubik’s cube. I asked him, ‘What’s your story?’ He said, ‘I just wanted to solve it before it was my turn. Would you like to see me pound a nail in my nose with it?’ And then he did!” Another contestant was an invasive species expert who flew helicopters to shoot paintballs at infected trees. But he said that the most dangerous thing in his life wasn’t his job, it was his pointy long moustache that poked him in the eye. He wore an eye patch. To check out the hundreds of bearded portraits Anderson has photographed, search up his Facebook page or go to www. gregandersonphoto.com. And, if you sport a moustache or beard and would like to show off your stuff, the 2015 World Beard and Moustache Championships in Loegang, Austria is on October 3.
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men’s grooming
Cashmere boomerang printed scarf, 70x180. billionairecouture.com. $140
Penhaligon’s Nickel Shaving Set Stand This sophisticated and stylish shaving set is timeless in design and purpose. The elegant nickel-plated set is handassembled and finished to the highest quality in Sheffield and comprises a classic shaving brush made from ethically sourced badger hair, and a streamlined razor with a Gillette Mach 3 blade. Made in the UK. Saks Fifth Avenue, Dadeland. $170
3.1 Phillip Lim Sunset Mirror Resin Sunglasses Brighten your monochromatic look with this vibrant eyewear crafted in lightweight resin for a comfortable fit and feel. Resin. 100% UV protection. Imported. Saks Fifth Avenue, Dadeland. $280
VÉTIVER Carven An intensely masculine, subtly woody, addictive perfume built around the virile sensuality of the Vetiver. “Everything I love is green. Nature, trees, the sea…” said Madame Carven. She had dreamed of this fragrance, in a salute to the legendary panache of her husband Philippe Mallet. Eau de Toilette spray 3.3 ounces. Available at Saks Fifth Avenue. $102
HERMÈS Eau de mandarine ambrée Hand & Body Cleansing Gel. A universal everyday balm suitable for the face and body. It moisturizes and protects the skin, providing an immediate sensation of comfort. Reinventing its classic connections with citrus fruits and freshness, 10 oz. Made in France. Saks Fifth Avenue, Dadeland. $58
Embossed suede travel pouch with crocodile and leather band. billionairecouture.com. $1,950
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hand
By Rachel Kessler
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ressed in all black with the exception of a bright orange and turquoise Tibetan necklace around his neck, renowned painter Guido Daniele spoke to South Florida Opulence at his recent show at The Top of The Rock in New York City. It was the first time the Milan-based artist exhibited his eclectic artwork in the United States, and he was thrilled. With sunlight streaming through windows mid-day, and with the Manhattan skyline all around, Guido speaks passionately and openly about his work and his cause.
Special Cause, Special Canvas A trained sculptor from the Brera School of the Arts in Milan, a world-class museum that houses works of great masters like Raffaello, Rubens and Caravaggio, Guido Daniele has made a unique name for himself painting exquisitely detailed, whimsical and realistic animal masterpieces. What’s different about his art, compared to his famous contemporaries, however, is that he uses a unique canvas: the human hand. In 1990, the hyper-realistic illustrator developed a body painting technique. His first human model? The hand of his very own son. And to this day, most of Guido’s hand models are one of his children. As a painter, his medium brings unusual challenges. “I have to make sure knuckles aren’t jutting out or clumsy
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“Most artists want to talk about what’s on their mind, their message and their expression,” he explained. “I want to talk about the planet. This is our home. We aren’t respecting our home and we need to do that for all of our survival.” looking and that hair doesn’t get in the way of my art,” he mused. “When not using my children’s hands, I look for a well-proportioned, hairless, unshaky hand on which to create.” Years after his first creation, Guido was hired to create an international advertising campaign for AT&T. He painted the world’s city and country landmarks – from The Great Wall of China to Rilato Bridge in Venice – on the hands and arms of models. The campaign catapulted him into the global spotlight, attracting more commercial campaigns and rocketing success. Now, he not only creates art on human hands for ad campaigns, but also for fashion events, auctions and art exhibitions. In 2007, the Animal Planet television networks honored him as Hero of the Year.
A Closer Look at “Handimals” Guido’s New York exhibition features 24 images of intricately painted animals – or Handimals, as he fervently refers to them. He dedicated the show to his close friend, famed primatologist and conservationist Jane Goodall and her institute, which is focused on pioneering research on chimpanzees. Guido supports her personal campaign to bring attention to animal and environmental preservation. “You’ve got to hand it to the animals,” said Guido. “Without the animals, we die. This is not just about the animals surviving, but that animals are necessary for our survival, as well. The frogs, the bees, the animals, the ocean, the air – these all need to be protected. “Most artists want to talk about what’s on their mind, their message and their expression,” he explained. “I want to talk about the planet. This 100
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is our home. We aren’t respecting our home and we need to do that for all of our survival. Using my art and the Handimals, it is my goal to spread awareness about the chickens, the bees, the domestic animals, the wild animals. My goal is to speak about animals becoming near extinct – the elephant, the tiger and others. It’s impossible to make another tiger once they’re all gone. From domestic animals, which people give as gifts and then abandon, it is not right. We have a problem with the bees, the pollution. We need to show respect for animals and our home.” Guido said he doesn’t have a favorite animal or a favorite image. “They are all different. You can’t choose. It’s like choosing a favorite child.” The elephant, he finds, is the easiest to paint and one of the first animals he ever painted on a hand. The swan, duck and penguin are all painted on his daughter’s hands. “I painted the flamingo for my pleasure. The parrot I did in London because it was something new. “ Each painting takes about 4-5 hours to create. What’s ahead for the artist? “The puffin and chameleon,” Guido said. “And the animal I really want to do is the peacock. The peacock is very, very difficult. Of course, first I have to find the right hand…” To see more of Guido Daniele’s Handimal Art, go to www.guidodaniele.com. For more information about the Jane Goodall Institute, visit www. janegoodall.org.
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Meet Adrienne Arsht – The Remarkable Woman Behind the Marquee Name By Jana Soeldner Danger
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PHOTO COURTESY OF MANNY FERNANDEZ
iami fans of Broadway, opera and all things “live theater” know her name well. Adrienne Arsht, the $30 million namesake on Miami’s renowned performing arts center, she is widely known as a champion of the arts. A major donation from her helped transform the Lincoln Center’s facilities and public spaces, and another to the Kennedy Center established a musical theater fund that also carries her name. But how many of you know the face behind the name – the remarkable woman who is an American pioneer and role model for all women nationwide? South Florida Opulence thought you might like to meet the real Adrienne Arsht; she graciously agreed to an exclusive interview.
Her MultiTiered Career Adrienne’s interest in the arts has been lifelong. “The arts are a universal language that endures,” she said. “They define a culture. They’re a reason to wake up in the morning.” Yet she is much more than a patron of the arts and a philanthropist. She is a pioneer who made educational and professional choices that forged pathways and helped shape the way women live and work today. Among other things, Adrienne has been a lawyer, the owner of a title company, and a bank chairman, beginning her career in an era when most women stayed at home caring for husbands and children. During high school, she decided to accelerate her education by skipping her senior year, and entered Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts without a high school diploma. After graduation, her
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Adrienne Arsht at the 2014 Arsht Center Gala next goal was a law degree. “I always knew I wanted to go to law school. But not necessarily to practice law. I felt that to be taken seriously, to have a place at the table, I needed to have a law degree.” She caught a bus to take the law school admissions test. When she arrived, she discovered she was the only woman sitting for it, and that the men around her had been studying diligently for months. She, however, had not. “I had no idea what the test was going to be,” she recalled. She passed nonetheless, and was one of a handful of women in her class at Villanova Law School, where male students refused to include them in their study groups. “But eventually, some of them did let me in.”
Woman of Influence: Her Mother It is not surprising that Adrienne set her sights on a law degree. She had, after all, a most unusual role model. Her mother, a lawyer in an era when the profession was virtually unheard of for women, was the fifth woman admitted to the Delaware bar and the first ever female judge to take the bench in that state., and Adrienne was the eleventh woman 25 years later. After practicing law for a few years, Adrienne went to work for Trans World Airlines, where she was the first woman in the company’s property, cargo and government relations departments. “At that time, the only areas they allowed women to work in were as stewardesses and the law department,” she said. “I’d always been interested in global travel, and the matters I handled in the legal department were of a global nature.” She moved to Washington, D.C. after meeting her husband and started a title company. Then in 1996, she came to Miami to run a “very small” community bank owned by her family, and once again found herself in a field dominated entirely by men. Yet, over the next decade, she grew the bank from four locations to 14, with more than $1.4 billion in assets.
Good Character Her mother and her father, also a lawyer, were strong forces in shaping Adrienne’s values. She endowed an ethics and leadership center named for her mother at Goucher College, her mother’s alma mater, and made a large commitment to ethics programs at the University of Miami, in part because ethics were fundamental to the way her parents thought and acted. “The first question they would ask about something is, ‘Is it ethical? If not, don’t go down that path.’” She realizes, however, that ethics can be complex and multisided, and many questions, such as medical issues, require careful, critical thought. “The answers are not always easy.”
Her mother carried a small copy of the U.S. Constitution with her, and today, Adrienne also carries one, which she sometimes gives away. “My evening bag always needs to be able to hold both my phone and my Constitution,” she said. When something doesn’t work out, she isn’t afraid to start over and try again. “My grandmother taught me to sew on a treadle machine,” she remembered. “She always said you can’t be a good sewer if you’re not also a good ripper. If there’s a better way to do something, rip it out and do it right. Don’t let anything sloppy slip by.” Her grandmother had another saying she tries to live by: A galloping horse won’t notice. In other words, don’t worry about small imperfections in yourself, because most people are busy with their own concerns, and inconsequential flaws just don’t matter.
Not Without Challenges Adrienne's life has not been without difficulties. Her family was not wealthy while she was growing up, and they lived in a conservative community where Jewish families like hers were not allowed to buy property in some of the better neighborhoods. Her father was excluded from a prestigious law club because of his heritage. A brilliant sister, apprehended in Russia by the KGB during the Cold War while working as a translator and accused of being a spy, never recovered from the experience and later took her own life. But Adrienne does realize how lucky she is. And while she looks forward to the future, she doesn’t plan extensively for it. Her personal stationery carries a picture of a bird jumping off a cliff with the caption, “Jump, and develop your wings on the way down.” Taking life as it comes, however, doesn’t mean making those jumps thoughtlessly. “You need to prepare for jumping. And whatever you’re doing, do the best you can. I was always taught that my purpose in life is to leave the world a better place.” Editor’s Note: South Florida Opulence salutes Ms. Arsht for her exemplary career, noble character and courage to make a positive difference.
Three Spring Galas Supported by Ms. Adrienne Arsht: Adrienne Arsht, a major benefactor for the Lincoln Center in Manhattan, the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC and, of course, the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami, noted that entertainment at each of the facilities’ spring 2015 galas will be a bit different this year. The Kennedy Center will feature a swing artist, the Arsht Center will have an American pop singer, and
Arsht Center Gala, Miami April 24, 2015 The Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House is transformed into an intimate dining and performance space, with limited table and sponsorships for $50,000 and $25,000, and individual tickets for $2,500. To RSVP, call (786) 468-2020.
the focus at the Lincoln Center will be on country music. “I was struck by the changes, because they usually do traditional classic music,” she said, adding with a smile, “All of a sudden they seem to be going rogue.” Offering a variety of entertainment can broaden audiences and attract new guests, she said.
Kennedy Center Spring Gala, Washington DC • May 3, 2015 One of Washington DC’s premier benefits, the Gala begins with a River Terrace reception, dinner on the Center’s Roof Terrace, a Concert Hall performance and dancing at the ‘Til Midnight Party. www.kennedy-center.org
Lincoln Center’s Annual Spring Gala, New York City • May 11, 2015 Honoring the Hearst Corporation, Frank A. Bennack, Jr., and Steven R. Swartz, the Gala celebrates completion of the Bravo Lincoln Center Campaign. Contact Anissa Graham at 212-875-5432.
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Cardiac Medicine Pioneer Leads the Innovative Expansion at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute By Stephen Joseph Keeler
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ow can you tell that South Florida in general, and Miami in particular, is now considered a worldclass metropolitan area, with global recognition as a most-desired destination? When first-tier thought leaders and institutions look to enhance their presence here or establish one. And the latest evidence of South Florida’s powerful trajectory is the $100 million expansion of the Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute led by Miami born and bred Barry T. Katzen, M.D., founder and Chief Medical Executive of the Institute. South Florida Opulence spoke with this busy physician to garner his insider’s view of the significance of this event.
Barry T. Katzen, M.D.
“We at the Institute are thrilled,” said Dr. Katzen. “Miami has matured as a metropolitan area, with world-class education, events, sports and healthcare. Now, we are taking healthcare to the next level. Baptist Health has grown into a high-quality healthcare delivery system. We are bringing what we’ve learned and developed over the past 25 years to make a superlative facility with a unique pattern of care for the entire region.”
Curbing the Country’s Leading Killer Heart disease and related cardiovascular diseases are the number-one killers in the nation, and what, with an aging population, promises to be an even greater threat to even more people. But not if Dr. Katzen and his colleagues can help it. “We’re taking a platform and building it to a national level. It’s patient-centered care with hightouch, high-tech focus,” he explains. “What we’re doing is expanding a hospital within a hospital, renovating 40,000 square feet and adding 40,000 additional square feet to service the entire region.” What’s especially unique about the Institute is the approach of using multidisciplinary teams of doctors. “More often than not, you’ve historically had specialists taking care of the same patient, but working in silos,” according to Dr. Katzen. “You’d have doctors treating brain aneurysms in silos apart from those treating heart aneurysms. By bringing expertise from multiple areas, we pioneered new minimally invasive treatments. We’ve broken down
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the silos to leverage best-in-class standards and practices, which is essential for improving outcomes. We’re looking to change the way medicine is delivered, finding new ways of seeing inside the body, of learning how environments change and are changing.”
What’s New The Institute is focusing on new programs, such as a National Center of Aneurysm Therapy and a Center for Structural Heart Therapy. “These are sneaky diseases we are fighting, ones that provide with no prior indication of risk until big catastrophic surprises. So we’re designing facilities for procedures that don’t yet exist. And, we’re big into ‘big data.’ Analyzing data helps you understand need and trends; what’s really going on in the background, and helps indicate patterns of risk which guide us to make earlier and more accurate interventions.” This focus will allow the Institute to design databases and methodologies for long-term outcomes, not just one event in the hospital. Dr. Katzen explains further. “Looking at data helps to bring up standard of care, and improves patient satisfaction. That is highest on the list. Bring all this infrastructure, learnings and knowledge to each patient, one patient at a time. We then try to get feedback from our patients, whose input is vital to quality outcomes. Many for example want to be first in leveraging new technologies for themselves, like a new mobile application for hypertension.”
Empowering Patients “Our whole focus is on enabling patients and their caregivers. Well-informed patients are the key to successful outcomes; most patients want knowledge, they want to be engaged in their care, and this is the key to better outcomes.” The team aspect of patients with their providers plays a large component in improving both patient satisfaction and outcomes, he says. “70-75 percent of information on the web is unfiltered; so we’ll be there to guide patients about what information is most relevant for their particular condition, with patient portals, digital and mobile health applications, social networking, and good old face-to-face encounters across the community.” Dr. Katzen gives us a look into the future roadmaps of care. “Changing the way patients are treated can include things like getting an aneurysm treated the same day; replacing aortic valves same day as an outpatient, procedures that offer patients alternatives to open heart surgery. We may want to use robotics to insert catheters, and for more precise placement of stents, and install pacemakers the size of big pills into the heart, with no more cables. New devices to treat the hardening of the arteries, more clinical trials, more research. It’s a big list,” he exclaims with the joy of a healer.
“ Look, if a pill could replace me as your doctor, I’d say go for the pill. Whatever is best for the patient, we need to discover and deliver.” – Barry T. Katzen, MD
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The Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute will be available everywhere in the Baptist service area, starting with the Baptist Hospital facility, and then out to all five hospitals and 25 outpatient facilities. Everyone will have access to subspecialties, such as wellness and nutrition. Dr. Katzen looks to standardize protocols with the right expertise for uniform care delivery across the system, bringing innovation and expertise to all South Florida. “The same care that drew the wife of Sir Richard Branson, husband of Celine Dion, and former Vice President Dick Cheney is available to everyone.” And nobody is prouder of what this means for the area than this Miami native himself. “I always looked at things differently, and saw, for example, that the catheter was not just a diagnostic tool, but could serve as a treatment vehicle. So I pioneered using catheters to do things like break blood clots, opening and closing arteries, and delivering drugs. Anything that can lead to more minimally invasive treatments is important to explore. Look, if a pill could replace me as your doctor, I’d say go for the pill. Whatever is best for the patient, we need to discover and deliver.” Get ready, South Florida. You’re just about to get healthier.
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Ringling’s Pachyderm Pampering and Preservation By Dale King and Julia Hebert
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ircus elephants – particularly those who spend their performing years with Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey’s “Greatest Show on Earth” – don’t pay FICA or collect Social Security, but they have a pretty cool retirement plan. Once they complete their days of entertaining vast crowds who oooh and aaah at the presence of precocious pachyderms, they can do what many humans do: Leave the working world and retire to Florida.
Just outside Orlando is a 200-acre preserve called the Center for Elephant Conservation where some 30 massive Asian land mammals enjoy the $5 million facility built in 1995 by Feld Entertainment, owner for nearly 50 years of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Dennis Schmitt, D.V.M., Ph.D., Chair of Veterinary Services and Director of Research Bailey franchise. “It provides plenty of food, water, shade, places to Considered the leading North American expert in elephant reproductive physiology and
veterinary management, Dr. Schmitt leads the veterinary services for the three traveling Ringling Bros. circus units and oversees research at the Center for Elephant Conservation.
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“The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus is the first and foremost proponent of animal welfare. I educate people about what we do versus what some people say we do. The elephants are comfortable around our people. They trust our staff and that is a huge benefit.” – Stephen Payne, VP of corporate communications
sleep and areas to groom for the immense former circus actors,” said Stephen Payne, vice-president of corporate communications. Chairman and CEO Kenneth Feld, whose father acquired the circus from John Ringling North in 1967, said the Center was created “to ensure people will be able to experience the glory and wonder of Asian elephants for generations to come.” Payne emphasizes the sheer fascination of seeing an elephant up close. “It’s so much better than watching one on TV or seeing a picture in a book. Our 10 million annual circus visitors are only a trunk’s length away from the towering creatures. Elephants are rated the No. 1 reason why people go to the circus,” Payne said.
A Closer Look at the Elephant Conservation Center At the Conservation Center, more than a dozen staff members dedicate their lives to making sure Asian elephants are here to stay. There are fewer than 35,000 of the endangered animals left in the world. The largest and only sustainable herd of Asians is at the center outside Orlando. “We have enough genetic diversity to continue birthing babies,” said Payne.
An aerial view of the Ringling Center for Elephant Conservation in Orlando.
Since the center opened, 26 elephant tykes have been born on Florida soil, including one youngster who arrived in January 2009, on the eve of President Barack Obama’s first inauguration. That foundling, now “a vibrant, adolescent male” – is named Barack. Other newborns have taken such monikers as Piper (the youngest at just about 2½ years of age), Nate, Mike and, of course, P.T., in honor of the man who created the circus a century and a half ago, P.T. Barnum.
The Science Side The playful, sometimes mischievous, elephants may not be privy to it, but the Conservation Center is actually a research facility, as well as a retirement center. While they spend a lot of time exploring the tree-lined acreage that stretches across a grassy plain, they must occasionally report for examinations. That’s usually when the researchers move in. Dennis Schmitt, DVM, Ph.D., chairman of veterinary services and director of research, led the team that worked on the first birth of an elephant by artificial insemination in 1999. Wendy Kiso, Ph.D., research and conservation scientist, is largely responsible for deSpring 2015
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vising methods of elephant sperm storage through freezing. She had worked to save endangered Asian elephants and tigers before creating a genome bank.
Photo Courtesy John Pendygraft St. Petersburg Times
Former circus performers have joined the staff. Janice Aria, MS, director of animal stewardship, along with her husband and brother, were partners in a bear act and dog act for some 20 years before moving on to the Conservation Center. There, she is responsible for designing and implementing a standardized curriculum of best practices for animal husbandry and training. “We do considerable work in Sri Lanka,” said Payne. “In this Southeast Asia island nation that’s about the size of West Virginia, the number of elephants and humans is about equal, resulting in considerable ‘humanelephant conflict’ (HEC). That’s why Ringling Brothers is working with the Sri Lankan Department of Wildlife Conservation to come up with solutions. By partnering with two major Sri Lankan universities, we’ve shared our veterinary and elephant husbandry experience with them. “The center has also helped diagnose and treat an especially nasty strain of elephant herpes,” Payne said. “Barack actually contracted it twice, but was treated and cured. Sadly, it attacks juvenile elephants. We have been
The Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation has been experiencing a baby boom - 26 new calves since the 1990s! working with the Smithsonian Institute. We have had a lot of luck controlling it in baby elephants. Because we started Barack’s treatment so early, we probably saved his life. Janice Aria, Director of Animal Stewardship, has nearly 40 years of experience in animal handling and animal behavior. She teaches training methods to animal handlers and is involved in the care of the largest herd of Asian elephants in the Western Hemisphere.
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“The circus is the first and foremost proponent of animal welfare. I educate people about what we do versus what
some people say we do. The elephants are comfortable around our people. They trust our staff and that is a huge benefit.” “Working with elephants on a daily basis is such a high-caliber thrill,” said Janice Aria. “There is also that daily sense of wonder that comes from looking at one of the most magnificent creatures on Earth.”
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Life Reinvigorated with
ceans of Hope
By Jana Soeldner Danger
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ife is not about what you can’t do, or what you might not be able to do tomorrow. It’s about everything you can do today, and discovering what it is. Dr. Mikkel Anthonisen drives that philosophy home to multiple sclerosis patients in a unique way. He’s the founder of the Sailing Sclerosis Foundation, an organization that offers individuals with MS the opportunity to be part of an around-the-world voyage aboard a 67-foot sailboat. It is the first-ever circumnavigation of the world by a crew made up almost entirely of patients with MS, a debilitating disease that strikes young adults in the prime of their lives. The illness is unpredictable, and effects can range from minor to almost complete disability. Inspiration for the project came to Anthonisen, a medical doctor, psychotherapist and avid sailor, when he was confronted by a patient who had dreamed all his life about sailing around the
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world. “He had spent 10 years building his own boat,” Anthonisen recalls. “The diagnosis shattered his dreams, and it was unbearable to see him like that. I told him he had to go sailing again.” To help make that happen, Anthonisen started a small sailing program in Denmark for MS patients. People began to realize their MS didn’t mean they had to stop doing something they loved. “It’s just a matter of doing it a bit differently,” he said. When the idea for a round-the-world voyage came to him, he found a sponsor in Biogen Idec and discovered an appropriate vessel in Spain: a steel-hulled yacht built in 1996 for the BT Global Challenge. He rechristened it Oceans of Hope. A JOURNEY OF EMPOWERMENT The yacht left Copenhagen last June, crossed the Atlantic to Boston and is visiting 20 ports around the world. There is a permanent crew of three, and when the boat is out of helicopter range, a doctor is on board. MS patients stay for two to four weeks and participate in sailing the boat, planning supplies, cooking meals and cleaning. In December, the boat docked in Fort Lauderdale before setting sail for the Panama Canal, the Galapagos, French Polynesia, New Zealand, South Africa, and back to Europe.“It’s a test of personal courage,” says Jules Kuperberg, co-executive director of the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. “The project raises awareness and gets people out of their comfort zones.” Patients often feel depression when they are diagnosed, Anthonisen says. “They feel disconnected from life. Sailing helps them recapture the identities that MS took away so they can say, ‘I can still do remarkable things.’ It’s a journey of empowerment.”
Vermonter Christina Lamb had been an avid sailor, but stopped after her diagnosis. A month aboard Oceans of Hope showed her what she was still capable of. “I needed to prove that MS wasn’t going to define me,” she said. HOW TO JOIN THE CREW To qualify, an individual must speak English and have some sailing experience. But not all that much. Anthonisen mostly wants to be sure he or she can handle living with other people in cramped quarters aboard a vessel at sea. “I tell them to go out for an afternoon and see what it’s like,” he said. Everyone is, literally, in the same boat. “When the nearest land is days away and waves are rising, everyone feels vulnerable, whether they have MS or not,” Anthonisen says.“MS becomes something they deal with, but it’s not in charge anymore.” Londoner Nicola Kaufman’s illness forced her to retire from her office job at the age of 38. “I lost confidence,” she says. “I was wondering what the future would hold for me.” Kaufman joined the Oceans of Hope crew in Portsmouth. One of her most vivid memories was on night watch. “The boat was heeling over on its side. It was challenging, but also quite wonderful. I discovered I can still work together with others and achieve great things.” The voyage teaches an important truth for everyone, Anthonisen says. “We’re all vulnerable. You never know what tomorrow will bring, and it takes courage and strength to live your life today.”
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philanthropy
Changing the World One Gem at a Time By robin jay Giving back to help children in need is the personal mission of Beverly Hills’ Exceptional Jeweler Robert Procop and his leading ladies of the Silver Screen.
Robert Procop ring in white gold, from the Legacy Brooke collection, set with a 17.00ct sugarloaf peridot and diamonds Actress Brooke Shields and Robert Procop have teamed up to create a jewelry line, Legacy Brooke, to benefit families at The House of Ruth.
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hen South Florida Opulence was offered a private interview with jeweler-to-thestars Robert Procop at Saks Fifth Avenue Dadeland, my heart skipped a beat. It’s not every day you get the honor of meeting such a man of achievement. Procop was the CEO of the Crown jeweler of the United Kingdom (Asprey & Garrard) who successfully turned around the most historic jewelry company in London, saving it from financial ruin; the man whose first presidential jewelry commission came from Ronald Reagan; the man who handcrafted the engagement ring of actress Angelina Jolie on request from Brad Pitt; or, perhaps most importantly, the man whose 30-year personal mission has been to support causes benefiting underprivileged children. Toward this philanthropic effort, Robert designed the fanciful jewelry line for the blockbuster film Maleficent, donating 114
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proceeds of the line to Jolie’s charity Education Partnership for Children of Conflict. And, for The House of Ruth – an L.A. organization that provides a loving, safe home environment for families impacted by domestic violence, Robert has purchased two homes for the cause to date. Recently he partnered with actress Brooke Shields to create a line of jewelry called Legacy Brooke to further benefit The House of Ruth. With such an impressive list of worldly accomplishments, I wondered what Robert, an A-lister himself, would be like in person during our interview. Would he be arrogant and aloof?
interview with an icebreaker… “Robert?” “Yes?” “Hamburgers or pizza?” He paused, puzzled as to why I’d ask about food preferences – especially at 9 a.m. – when we were at Saks Fifth Avenue to talk about jewelry. Then, seeing the grin on my face, he laughed out loud – and then we all did. “Burgers for sure!” he said with a smile from ear to ear. From then on, we chatted like old friends catching up.
A Nice Surprise
Strong Values, Character and Work Ethic
Not in the slightest! When Robert entered the room, he was dressed in a suit with a white shirt, no tie. He offered a smile and warm handshake. He was kind and soft-spoken, seemed a bit shy and maybe a little nervous. I thought I’d start the
I was touched at Robert’s humble nature. How does he stay so well grounded when every venture he touches turns into gold? After speaking at length, the answer became clear: It was his solid family upbringing (“my family was always
together”) that gave him an ingrained sense of strong moral character, integrity, humility, encouragement, confidence and entrepreneurship. Robert knew the path he wanted to take in life from a very early age. “My Dad was an engineer and inventor,” Robert recalled. “He would say to me, ‘always work for yourself and sacrifice money to have independence – and follow your passion.’ ” At 16, Robert took a job at a pawnshop. Being used to seeing things up close under a microscope at his father’s company, he quickly became consumed with the internal beauty of diamonds sold at the store. With a precocious business sense, he also picked up on the intrinsic value of precious gems as investments. He began buying and selling diamonds as a teenager. He was so successful at it that he earned and saved enough money not only to put himself through college, but also to open a jewelry store on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills the year prior to graduating. Robert’s drive and pursuit of excellence in everything he does, while earning his own way, never seeking the spotlight, were easily apparent to those who met him. Word about the fine jeweler spread fast – to dignitaries, heads of state and, of course, celebrities, who commissioned his jewelry designs. To-
This cuff was inspired by its royal connotations and the latticework of the Louis XIV period (Brooke is a distant cousin of Louis XIV). Robert Procop cuff in white gold, from the Legacy Brooke collection, with blue topaz and diamonds. day, he travels the world, touring mines and honorable gem sources to find the most brilliant, valuable stones possible and then overseeing them processed, cut and polished at his firm’s location in Geneva. All the while, holding very near to his vest, a relentless desire to help others.
The Letter Robert’s voice cracked with emotion when he told me about a letter he received re-
cently from a young lady in her 20s. It was a very special thank-you letter. In it, the young woman wrote that when she was a child, she lived with her mother at The House of Ruth. But it wasn’t until her 25th birthday when her mother confided in her a small secret – the reason they lived at The House of Ruth was because they had been homeless. All those years, the young girl had no idea. She had felt no shame, just genuine love. Recently, she graduated from college and had landed a fine job in her field. She attributes her success to the love, support and strong sense of family she received at The House of Ruth, and for that she would be ever grateful to Robert for his support. “That,” he said with a tear in his eye, “is what makes life and hard work worthwhile.”
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science
BY JOHN D. Adams
New Science of Making Memories How neuroscientist Steve Ramirez and his MIT team made a memory “Everything that I have ever loved has one thing in common…” enthuses neuroscientist Steve Ramirez. “Shakespeare, music, medicine, biochemistry… they are all produced by a brain.” In 2014, Ramirez, just 26 years old, and his MIT colleague Xu Liu, were awarded the prestigious Smithsonian Ingenuity Award, for capturing lightening – and human memory – in a bottle. Ramirez and his MIT colleagues have all come to the school’s Memory Research Laboratories because they have courage and, frankly, the funding, to ask and answer one of neuroscience’s greatest questions: Can we, without the use of outdated mood and psychotropic medications, create a false memory or impression in our brains? In short, can we make memories? Their extraordinary answer: Yes.
How to make a memory “The human brain is a miracle. A most resilient organ. A storage unit for everything you’ve ever known. Or seen. Or felt. It’s all still in there. Whether or not you’re conscious of that,” stated Dr. Walter Bishop on the cult TV show ‘Fringe.’ The stuff of science fiction? Not anymore. In just two short years, Ramirez, Liu and the Memory Lab team had built an infrastructure to support their theory that an artificial negative or positive memory could be laser-fired into the brain. Genetically altered mouse neurons, based around the memory centers of the hippocampus portion of the brain, will now react to a laser shot of light. This light is fired while a real negative or positive stimulus is happening in real-time to the mouse. This laser imbeds that memory into the brain, thus creating a memory. “And now we were ready for the literally million-dollar experiment,” said Ramirez. The mice were now neurologically “plugged in” to the laser and placed in three completely unique environments. In the first environment, a mild shock was induced, the laser fired, the mouse now theoretically retains that “negative impression.” The mouse was then placed in the second environment. As it sniffed around to investigate, the laser fired again, igniting that “shock memory.” It refused to move. It had recalled a false memory and physically reacted to it. Ramirez and the team were astounded. Third environment? Same results. The first attempt at their “million dollar experiment” had worked.
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Enabling the disabled mind “The million-dollar experiment had been our first attempt, and when it actually worked, the floodgates really opened up,” said Ramirez. Subsequent experiments began to reveal, on a somewhat profound level, how memory works. The amount of experiments that could now be possible will define multiple careers. Ramirez’s latest groundbreaking work begins to ask how we can wean ourselves off of the current “drug psychiatry” that has really been the only treatment option for a host of psychiatric disorders. “How can we reverse some of the symptoms associated with PTSD?” asked Ramirez. “How deeply does Alzheimer’s Disease gobble up memories? We are literally working on the next paper we are submitting. [The paper] focuses on reactivating positive memories in the context of psychiatric disorders. Our concept is that there are other areas that hold the contents of memories. Can we go in surgically and modulate those? Can we suppress the emotion content of PTSD? “It’s fun as hell,” laughs Ramirez. His enthusiasm overflows with passion for the minds who created literature, poetry, music, art, science… “I can’t emphasize enough how amazing it is to work on things that frankly, even to me, still sound like the stuff of science fiction. It is hard not to be fully in love with it.” Watch Steve and Xu present their findings in typical, comedic way at TED. http://tedxboston.org/speaker/ramirez
Shrink Wrap New Technology Provides Non-Invasive “Shrink Wrap” to Reduce the Appearance of Under-eye Bags By David J. Applebaum, MD, FACS
to precisely apply the two layers. Patients can see right before their eyes the skinshrinking process that makes them look up to five to 10 years younger. And then they can apply it in the comfort of their own homes – daily if they wish.
David Applebaum, MD, FACS
t’s authentically a “Eureka” moment for women and men looking for a non-invasive way to reduce the appearance of puffy eye bags and wrinkles. At a national conference of the American Academy of Dermatologists, a revolutionary new under-eye contouring system called Neotensil was unveiled. The technology, developed by scientists at MIT, is a proprietary cross-linking polymer treatment – an invisible film that safely shrinks and smooths the fatty, puffy skin beneath the eye for up to 16 hours. I call it “Spanx” for the eyes. It’s quite remarkable. Until the recent market launch of Neotensil, my patients wanting to diminish the sagging, loose fatty pads in the under-eye area had only invasive or semi-invasive treatment options like surgery or injectable fillers. Now they have the option of this new topical application – a reshaping base film and then an activating layer to stimulate the formation of Neotensil over the course of one hour. It requires no needles, heat or light beams – just in-office training on how
In a study of 600 patients who tried Neotensil, 99 percent demonstrated a major visible improvement in overall appearance in three hours following application to the under-eye area. Two staff members from South Florida Opulence, Editor Robin Jay and Art Director Adriana Naylor, visited my office to learn how to apply Neotensil and see for themselves whether they thought results were effective. “I was hopeful but skeptical,” said Jay. “Photos I had seen online looked great – but were they just Photoshopped? I’ve had puffy under-eyes for years and couldn’t imagine something topical could really magically erase them. To my great surprise, Neotensil really worked. I went from looking sleepy to refreshed and more youthful in about half an hour.” Naylor experienced a similar result. “I thought my results were striking. I felt I looked 10 years younger,” she said. “I will use it again. For women interested in trying Neotensil, it’s critical to have a professional train you on how to apply it to make
sure you understand how to make your results look natural.” The Neotensil kit contains 50 applications. For an appointment to consult with Dr. Applebaum, call 561-347-7777. His office is located at 1599 Northwest 9th Avenue, Boca Raton.
BEFORE
After
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photojournalist
HARRY BENSON Captures the essenCe of palm beach people with social writer Hilary Geary Ross BY ROBIN JAY PHOtO COURTESY OF GIGI BENSON 118
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If it’s true that 90 percent of information sent to the brain is visual and that we process visuals 60,000 times faster than text, then legendary Scottish photojournalist Harry Benson’s portfolio is the ultimate history book, and he the most effective history professor. You won’t find him physically in a classroom, but you’ve no doubt learned a thing or two about people and humanity from Benson’s historic snapshots taken over the decades – in iconic magazines like Life, Vanity Fair, Vogue and People. Or perhaps in one of his many coffee-table photo books about people – like the one most recently published along with prominent social scene writer Hilary Geary Ross: Palm Beach People. I first met Harry and his wife Gigi a few years ago at the Palm Beach home of my friend Edwina Sandys, artist extraordinaire and granddaughter of Winston Churchill. (No wonder why there were so many guests from historic families in attendance.) His quaint, soft-spoken Glasgow accent charmed everyone in the room. Later, at a gallery event that featured a selection of Harry’s renowned photographs – I learned just how spectacular his career is. Recently, I sat down with Harry to chat about it. “In 1964, the London Daily Express asked me to cover a new up-and-coming English band…The Beatles,” he said. “First, I went with the group to Paris, where they were told they were #1 in America, thanks to their song I Want to Hold Your Hand. And so, they decided we would go to New York City (my first time in the United States) where The Beatles would appear on the Ed Sullivan Show, and then in Miami. “Most people don’t know this, but The Beatles thought they would be popular for no more than 15 months,” Harry said. “Paul and John thought maybe they’d go on to do something on Broadway or play classic guitar. Ringo wanted to be a hair stylist. All I know is that I was coming along with them. It was a big news story because the music was fantastic and people were changing – Beatlemania was taking off. People of all walks wanted to be part of them. The men who were The Beatles never got carried away with themselves. I was 34 at the time – a newsbeat photojournalist – and had done hundreds of historic stories. I went with them and basically never came back [to Scotland].” Today, Harry and Gigi spend summers in New York and winters in Palm Beach. In those cities, Harry Benson is practically a household name. And once you see his work, you’ll realize you probably have known him for years,
Academy Award-winning actor Christopher Plummer and his wife Elaine. “Whenever we hit Palm Beach, my brain, what’s left of it, takes an instant sabbatical, much aided by my long suffering wife Elaine, a wonderful chef, which keeps me in a permanent state of blissful euphoria.”
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too, through his unforgettable photography of people and memorable events. Benson’s photojournalism has chronicled historic events, like the Civil Rights Movement, the assassination of Bobby Kennedy, war stories, activities of every American president since Dwight Eisenhower, the portrait for Queen Elizabeth II, and about every celebrity worth photographing, including Michael Jackson in his home, Elizabeth Taylor, Kate Moss, and countless others. His work has been exhibited in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, The Smithsonian Institution, and on more than 100 covers of People magazine. What sparked Benson’s initial interest in capturing the essence of people through photography? “Listening to interesting people, like Winston Churchill’s speeches during the War, made me realize early on that life is about people and what they do and see – it’s historic. I think the drama in life comes from people,” he told me. Getting Harry to talk about himself isn’t easy. “I’m basically shy,” he said. “It’s not about me…it’s about the people I photograph. I don’t like when people see a photo and say, ‘Oh, that’s a Harry Benson… ’ Big deal! If it were so obvious, then I’d be taking the same photo every time. The world changes, everything changes. I’m rarely at a photo shoot for more than five or 10 minutes and, afterwards, I might not remember their names. I’m there for serious business – to take their picture – not to be invited to dinner. I find speed isn’t everything – it’s the ONLY thing. You start to lose people after awhile. I want my photos to be spontaneous and fun. Even if they are sitting down, I don’t want to turn them into statues. You know?”
Kristy and Jim Clark, founder of Netscape, at Il Palmetto, their Addison Mizner showplace, in 2013. And that’s why he partnered with well-known socialite columnist Hilary Geary Ross to produce Palm Beach People. “We worked together on a previous book about New York people, and it made sense to do Palm Beach next since we both have homes here. I wanted it to be a happy book and I wanted to see sunshine and smiles. The people here are happy – and why shouldn’t they be? It’s a happy place. I wanted to record this absolutely most unique place in the world. There’s no other city like it. It’s like a time capsule of a very special era – it hasn’t changed and the people haven’t changed,” said Harry, who first photographed Palm Beach in 1968, some shots of which are in the book. “I absolutely couldn’t have done it without Hilary. She knows everyone: the who’s-who and the what’s-what, and the history of Palm Beach. It was an obvious thing to do. She made what could have been very difficult so much fun.”
New York City’s former mayor and presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani and his wife Judith, just after a round of golf at The Breakers golf club, 2012.
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Academy Award-winning actor Tommy Lee Jones with his wife Dawn playing polo on their vast ranch, San Saba.
“It is Harry’s quiet confidence, good humor, impeccable manners and relaxed demeanor that disarms his subject and thus presents images of the lives and personalities that inhabit this tropical paradise,” said Hilary, who describes Palm Beach as a fairytale setting and a glorious, glamorous backdrop for Harry’s portraits. Harry says the photo book is like a history book on people. “In France, before there was photography, there was a book written about who the people were who lived there; it was the only way to know what the people were like. Palm Beach People is sort of like that, but with photos. Theoretically, if a tidal wave were to one day swallow up Palm Beach, this book might be the only thing they have to show who the people were. It’s a grim analogy, but true.” Jessica Springsteen, equestrian daughter of Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa at Wellington, 2012.
I asked Harry if moving to Palm Beach changed him, compared to his lifestyle in New York. “Moving here did change me,” he laughed. “John Loring [Harry’s close friend and design director emeritus of Tiffany and Co.] told me ‘don’t wear socks.’ After I moved here, the owner of Stubbs & Wooten gave me a pair of the famous slippers everyone in Palm Beach wears. My wife Gigi loves them !”
“It is Harry’s quiet confidence, good humor, impeccable manners and relaxed demeanor that disarms his subject and thus presents images of the lives and personalities that inhabit this tropical paradise.” – Hilary Geary Ross Spring 2015
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What’s particularly noteworthy about Palm Beach People is that the portraits are taken at each family’s home. “I let the families pick where they wanted to be photographed on their property,” Harry said. “They know their homes far better than I do. They might say, ‘I like my garden…or I like this corner of the house.’ Fine. I want people to be who they are, not what I think they should be, so I don’t go in barking orders. I just want them to show me they are nice people. After all, how could they not be, living in this happy place, Palm Beach. There are a lot of characters here and most people are happy to be in it…no one wants to pass this way unnoticed – and why should they? It’s a great place to be seen.”
Iris Apfel, fashion icon and jewelry designer, always turned out with great style, poses in her Palm Beach apartment, 2014.
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Palm Beach People is available at www.amazon.com. You can see more of Harry’s life-catching photographs at www.harrybenson.com.
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Mr. Palm Beach By AVA ROOSEVELT
you have to be like-minded, well-liked, well-mannered and a friend. Having begun at Ta-boo, the party moved to The Colony, The Breakers Beach Club, then to The Gulf Club and more recently to the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum Pavilion. Guests are greeted by a receiving line of 25 dashing Coconuts sporting white dinner jackets, red carnation boutonnieres, black ties and Stubbs & Wooten velvet slippers in a setting oozing with elegance resembling the‘old world.’ The gentlemen hosts, some with household names such as Wilbur Ross, David Koch, Christopher Meigher, Michael McCarty and Alexander Fanjul, handpick friends to celebrate New Year’s Eve. At midnight, thanks to David Koch’s generosity, skies explode with a discharge of fireworks worthy of Monte Carlo. To me, being there is more about celebrating long-lasting friendships and remembering those who are gone, like long-time Chairman the late Bob Liedy and many who became woven into a tapestry of life in Palm Beach. Luckily, like a good stock or a membership in a prestigious private club, invitations to become a Coconut are passed to the young generation of well-born Palm Beachers like Kane Baker, Jack Grace, Piper Quinn and Jon Ylvisaker. The grand life promises to go on! My friendship with Rodney dates back to our real estate years in New York and in Palm Beach where Rodney is still active. The decades have passed swiftly, yet I have never heard him say a derogatory word about anyone, not even once. Trust me, a tall order where too often character assassination is a pastime during countless cocktail receptions and balls. Ava: How do you manage to always stay positive and find it in your heart to be so kind while avoiding the pitfalls of party chatter? Rodney: It keeps me alive. Ava: What advice on how to handle gossip would you give a young person debuting on a social scene? Rodney: Stay positive, never complain or criticize.
Rodney Dillard (center) and friends at Coconuts, New Year's Eve, 2014
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odney Dillard isn’t a movie star or a billionaire. He doesn’t live in a mansion or drive a Rolls-Royce. Yet I am proud to call him my wealthiest friend. His eyes spell trust and fairness, his heart is filled with goodwill. I haven’t known anyone in Palm Beach who is more universally loved. At a recent luncheon at the Bath and Tennis Club, Rodney’s presence provoked a queue of friends, eager to greet him. Being the Chairman of the Coconuts, the New Year’s Eve fête for three consecutive years, didn’t hurt his celebrity status either. Ava: Rodney, please tell us one of your fondest memories of the early Coconuts. Rodney: When I first went to the Coconuts, it was a small party, very elegant at Ta-boo. Reminiscent of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Great Gatsby era, this private party initiated by a small group of friends 78 years ago, grew into a Palm Beach tradition with 25 Coconuts. It has become the most coveted invitation of the season with the tightest and uberprestigious guest list on the island. To be there,
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Ava: Palm Beach has been your home for years. What prompted you to move here? Rodney: When I went to Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, I had several friends who lived in Palm Beach and Hobe Sound. I was often invited to visit and fell in love with the architectural splendor of Palm Beach. I moved here in 1962 and never ceased to admire the beauty of my surroundings, the generosity of my friends and the quality of life here. Ava: What are your favorite spots? Rodney: The Bath and Tennis Club and my home at El Dorado Way. Michael McCarty’s and Buccan are my preferred restaurants. Ava: As one of the wealthiest towns per capita in the nation, Palm Beach draws both envy and awe. Its deep-pocketed residents are well-known for their charitable giving. Which charity do you personally support? Rodney: Community Foundation of Palm Beach, Animal Rescue, Boys and Girls Club of Palm Beach and The Everglades Foundation. Ava: If you could, is there anything you would change about Palm Beach and why? Rodney: Not a thing! Chris Twardy and Ava Roosevelt at Coconuts 2014
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Painter Kate Knapp captures the essence of St. Croix Top left: Gallows Bay Marina (18"x24"); Lower left: Botanical Garden Orchids (24"x24"); Upper right: Christiansted Alleyway (18" x24")
st.croix:
the escape-to island
By Carleton Varney
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n today’s world of what I’ll call “mixed emotions,” there are getaway places – where there are few greedy landlords, doorbells ringing, and television shows programmed with mundane commercials. Hurray for the peace and serenity of St. Croix in the sandy shores of the Caribbean! Once a property ruled by the Danish kings Christian and Frederick, St. Croix is now an independent American territory where elected officials govern. I have been a Cruzan – so to speak – for some 30 years and have designed and decorated for a number of properties on the island that I love – including Villa Madelene on the east end, Buccaneer Hotel at Shoys, Gentle Winds condominium resort on the north shore, as well as villas for private owners.
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I’ve been through hurricanes on St. Croix
What To See in St. Croix
including Hugo in 1989 – and through not-
ART AT TOP HAT GALLERY - 52 Company Street in Christiansted. Tel. 340-692-2787, www.artattophat.com. Operated by Hanne Rasmussen, a Danish lady who, with her husband Bent, once served from her Top Hat Restaurant the best “Frikadeller” Danish Meatballs. Hanne has a stable of special exhibits by local and international artists, including one-of-a-kind jewelry and locally made pottery. Kate Knapp’s vivid watercolors and tropical oils are staples at the gallery. See also Claudia de Ledebur’s: Caribbean Scenes; Preston Doane: Island images; Troy Roberts Portraits.
so-happy moments, such as the Fountain Valley shootings. And despite all the acts, by man and some of God, I have always enjoyed the friendship of the Cruzan people – for they are jovial, warm, sincere and God abiding. Today, while the sugarcane plantations are not operating as they once did in Danish time, and the refinery Hess is now closed, the island has become one where art and artisans now live, work and display their creative joys. Of all the islands in the Caribbean, I would not hesitate in saying that St. Croix has some of the best, young and older talents in America. When visiting St. Croix and its two cities, Christiansted and Frederiksted, here is what’s not to be missed…
THE ST. CROIX HOOK BRACELET - SONYA ltd. - 1 Company Street, Christiansted. Tel. 877-766-9284, www. sonyaltd.com.
More St. Croix scenes by painter Kate Knapp Left: Looking Up The Coconut (20" x20"); Right: Pelican Cove (18"x24") St. Croix is the island to visit for jewelry. The St. Croix Hook Bracelet, so popular today, as it was in its original Cartier Design, has been re-imaged by Sonya Hough in gold and in silver for children and adults. The bracelets can be traded-in at Sonya’s Shop as the child grows from size to size. ESTATE WHIM MUSEUM 52 Estate Whim, Frederiksted. Tel. 340-7720598. www.stcroixlandmarks.com. At the only 18th century Sugar Plantation Museum in the Virgin Islands, one can see and feel the life of the early plantation owners who awaited boats from Europe and the United States for their produce and necessities.
Carleton Varney is the Design Icon Honoree of 2015 in the Las Vegas market.
BOARDWALK In Christiansted, a walk on the boardwalk is essential and a tour of the old fort is an adventure. Christiansted is a town with bright golden mustard buildings with white trim and green shutters. The Governors House in downtown Christiansted is a gleaming, colorful architectural beauty of a building. ARMSTRONGS HANDMADE ICE CREAM 78 – B, Whim, Frederiksted. Tel. 340-772-1919. www.uncommoncaribbean.com. This historic shop has been in business since 1900, using local fruits of St. Croix. Try my favorite flavor: rum raisin. CRUZAN RUM DISTILLERY 3A Frederiksted. Tel. 340-692-2280, www.cruzan.com. Enjoy a taste of the light as well as the dark - there are lots of flavored rums to taste. Try my favorites, coconut or pineapple. SPRAT HALL PLANTATION 29 Sprat Hall, Frederiksted. If you rent a car, ride by this antique plantation built by a young French nobleman in 1650 for his bride. All the beams and lumber were transported by Island – way back when. The plantation, the oldest great house on the island, is family operated and owned by Joyce Hurd. Enjoy your getaway in St. Croix! Be sure to tell them Carleton sent you.
FOR THE SPICE OF LIFE
RESTAURANTS THAT ARE ISLAND FAVORITES DUGGANS REEF This wharf style restaurant, under roof in the open air, is owned by Frank Duggan and assisted by his two children. A great family atmosphere with steaks, chops, famous whiskey lobster and peanut butter pie. A must for an on-the-water evening. Super cocktails. 5452 Teaque, East End. Tel: 340-773-9800, www. duggansreef.com
SAVANT A family bistro with an antique island flavor in the décor – a tad Tennessee Williams-style. Excellent pastas, lobster and island taste, with spices to add just the right zest. Owned by Tom Miller, the local farm-to-table menu offers Blackstrap Rum and root beer Danish baby-back ribs. Hospital Street, Christiansted. Tel: 340-713-8666 www.savantstx.com
KENDRICKS AT THE BUCCANEER The Kendricks, Jane and David, have been island restaurateurs for many years and are famous for dishes like chicken with apples, and desserts that are the island rage – from coconut to pineapple specialties. 5007 Estate Shoys, Christiansted. Tel: 340-712-2100, www.thebuccaneer.com
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From Cuba, with love By Ava Roosevelt
I often wonder how much has changed in Cuba since 2002 when my late husband, William D. Roosevelt, and I traveled to Havana under the auspices of a Washington, D.C. think-tank to seek an alternative treatment for Bill’s recurring prostate cancer. We were told Fidel Castro was afflicted with the same disease, but even to this day in this secretive nation, it is still not clear what ails the Communist dictator. To get to Cuba, we flew our plane to Nassau, Bahamas, and boarded a government-operated Cubana de Aviacion flight to
Jose’ Marti Airport in Havana. Neither the bumpy flight nor a sip of the strongest coffee compared to the jolt of adrenaline I felt stepping on the ground in this forbidden land. Cuba has been caught in a time warp dating back to the 1950s. The cars, the buildings and people all suggest a simpler, less sophisticated time. I was strongly advised to travel light, carry lots of dollar bills, bring a first aid kit, and be careful what we say.
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Our transportation was provided by a government driver named Raul who pretended not to speak English. My heart skipped when I discovered a shoeboxsize recording device on the car seat. On the way to the Parque Central Hotel, scenes of deprivation and poverty shook my soul, filling me with profound sadness. Yet, in spite of their circumstances, people seemed to be happy. These impoverished scenes altered my perception of life. While Bill busied himself with meetings, I decided to see as much of this curious country as I could. I was fascinated by this tiny speck of human existence closed to the world for nearly half a century. Frustrated with my poor Spanish, Raul finally turned off the recorder and opened up. It turned out he was an American-educated engineer who spoke English well. He told me he was in pain. His face was swollen and he ingested tablets that weren’t helping. I offered him a $10 antibiotic pill from my portable pharmacy. “I can’t step inside your hotel, Señora. It’s against the law.” “I’ll give it to you later. Meanwhile, let’s go to the Havana Yacht Club.” “I am a member there,” Raul volunteered. I used my best acting abilities to hide my utter astonishment. “Can you join us for lunch?” “Si, Señora, with pleasure. I am allowed to bring guests.” When we stepped inside the yacht club, I heard the echoes of grand soirées held there during the reign of Fulgencio Batista. My Cuban-American friends had told me stories of better days on the island, but their tales didn’t do justice to the utter beauty of the club and beach. The 20-inch grilled lobster tail was the best I ever had, but watching Raul’s eyes fill with joy while ordering topped the visit. I suspected he had not eaten much for days.
Quest for a Cancer Cure for Bill The Medical and Surgical Research Center (CIMEQ) was next on our list to visit in Havana. Bill and I were eager to learn if the center’s cancer research could provide an effective treatment for him. Alas, CIMEQ’s program was in its infancy. The doctors and staff, nearly all educated in the U.S., were fluent in English and shared insights into Cuba’s sophisticated hepatitis vaccination program. These and other vaccinations are available to all Cubans. As part of a program sharing Fidel Castro’s communist political doctrine, 15 million individuals worldwide have been given access to lifesaving research and medications. Each day, Bill reminded me to bring an ample amount of $1 bills with us. Toilet paper and other necessities were not available in public restrooms in 2002. While visiting Palacio Municipal, I was handed a sheet of paper in exchange for what I thought was a dollar. The attendant burst into tears and dropped on her knees begging me not to take back what turned out to be $20. I will never forget her eyes turning from desperation to gratitude when I handed her another $20. “Stop it, Señora. It’s dangerous to show wealth in Havana,” Raul whisked me to our car as children followed us begging.
Hemingway’s Hideaway Cuba is known as a place of respite for Ernest Hemingway whose presence there dates back to spring 1939. Hemingway crossed to Cuba in his boat to live in the Hotel Ambos Mundos in Havana. Soon after “Finca Vigia,” a 15 acres “Lookout Farm,” became his winter residence until 1940. Hemingway’s two favorite watering holes in Havana, La Floridita 130
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Local woman works at her cigar making craft
and La Bodeguita del Medio, are visited by thousands of tourists each year. In La Floridita, on a small plaque next to his photograph with Fidel Castro, hangs Hemingway’s signed quote: “My mojito in the Bodeguita del Medio and my daiquiri in the Floridita.” Yet Hemingway’s lasting footprint and his love of the sea might be most discernible at Puerto Marina Hemingway. Run by the governmental Cubanacán, it is Cuba’s largest marina with an official capacity of up to 400 vessels. In reality, there are closer to 100 usable slips, but the proximity to Florida, inexpensive dockage rates and great seafood prove sufficient to entice a steady stream of visitors. Cuba and its people gave birth to the Tropicana Club, a world renowned cabaret in Havana. It was launched in 1939 at Villa Mina, a suburban estate with plush tropical gardens in Havana’s Marianao neighborhood. Tropicana’s magnificent barefooted young dancers and singers sporting whimsical costumes of unimaginable splendor, stole my heart. I went twice to see the same show. The Latin sounds of the Buena Vista Social Club, a members club in Havana, reverberate throughout the city. In the stark contrast to the scarcity surrounding most neighborhoods, it brings immeasurable joy to all gathered on the streets, day and night. The club closed in the 1940s. It was revived in the 1990s by a Cuban musician Juan de Marcos González and American guitarist Ry Cooder with traditional Cuban musicians, some of whom were veterans who had performed at the club during the height of its popularity.
Montecristo. The smell of unlit cigar tobacco hanging on the walls pulled me closer inside a small hut, one of many along the road. In the main rolling room of the fabrica, there were mixed-age workers, each making cigars by hand. It’s an unrushed, antique method, one that has not changed for hundreds of years. A box of 12 cigars was mine for $12. Next day, on the way to the airport, I placed the cigars in the pocket of Bill’s raincoat hoping to smuggle the forbidden fruit of my excursion and prayed for the best. Minutes before boarding our flight, Raul, accompanied by his wife and three children, stepped closer to me and extended his hand. “We came to say goodbye, Señora Roosevelt. Thank you for the antibiotics. I am pain free for the first time in months.” My acting skills failed me this time. I burst into tears. “I thank you Raul, for reminding me to be grateful. I’ll never forget Cuba and your people.”
Cigar Country I refused to leave Cuba without visiting a lush country site, a beautiful fertile valley, Pinar der Rio, known to produce the best cigars in the world: Winston Churchill’s favorite Cohiba and Spring 2015
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Napoleon: The Man Behind the Hat By Jana Soeldner Danger
Most people know Napoleon Bonaparte was a remarkable military leader. His campaigns are, in fact, still studied and admired. Fewer, however, understand how he shaped history and changed the world. This summer marks the 200th anniversary of Waterloo, the battle where Napoleon finally met his match. In June, thousands of history buffs will gather there to re-create the battle that involved four armies and 200,000 soldiers. Why is Napoleon worthy of so much attention today? He was an intelligent, complex man who believed in the worth of the individual and equality under the law. He banned torture and slavery, yet had no compunctions about summarily executing his adversaries. Once the most powerful man in Europe, he died in lonely exile, his body ravaged by cancer.
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Andrew Roberts, a native of London and current resident of Manhattan, has written Napoleon: A Life, the first comprehensive, one-volume biography of the military powerhouse, tracing his life from birth to death and using 33,000 letters to delve into the character and personality of a historical figure who was both triumphant and tragic.
Napoleon Nostalgia Roberts has been fascinated by Napoleon since he was a child. “He was both a statesman and a political figure, and one of the great soldiers in history. But he was also a reformer,” he says. “He completely changed the face of French education, administration and law. He also changed the face of Paris and was responsible for some of the city’s greatest architectural features.” Napoleon grew up in an age when feudalism reigned, and nearly all people remained in the social class to which they were born. “He introduced the concept of meritocracy,” Roberts says. “Before Napoleon, a member of the working class would never have risen to a position of importance in the French army. Your position in life depended on who your grandparents and parents were. But he appointed people because of their military and administrative abilities.” Napoleon was born in Corsica in 1769. He studied for five years at a military academy in Paris, but while he was there, his father died of stomach cancer.
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Although Napoleon was just 15, he had to take over as head of the family and help support his brothers and sisters.
Antoinette,” Roberts says. “Her lover got tired of paying her debts, so he pushed Napoleon and Josephine together.
The bloody French Revolution broke out in 1789 and ravaged the country. Ten years afterward, Napoleon returned to France from a campaign in Egypt and managed to overthrow the corrupt government that was then in power. “He thought he could do better, and he was right,” Roberts says.
“It wasn’t a Romeo and Juliet story,” Roberts continues. “She was unfaithful shortly after their marriage.” When Napoleon discovered her betrayal, he got his revenge. “He embarked on 22 love affairs with various mistresses,” Roberts says. Later, however, the two reconciled—for a while.
He established a new constitution and initially became the country’s First Consul, and then its emperor. “He kept the best parts of the French Revolution — religious tolerance and equality under the law, and he abolished feudalism,” Roberts says. “But he was also ruthless.” An example: He had 3,000 enemy soldiers shot and bayoneted — after they had already surrendered.
Napoleon divorced Josephine in 1810 and later married an Austrian duchess. They had one son, who died of tuberculosis at the age of 21.
The Waterloo Exile
After his defeat at Waterloo, Napoleon was exiled to St. Helena. Although he had a country house and 26 servants to run it, it truly Napoleon ruled from 1804 to Napoleon Bonaparte, after the work in the Library of Congress, was imprisonment, Rob1814, when he lost a military Washington, D.C. Napoleon in his study by Paul Delaroche erts says. “He hated it. The campaign in Russia. He went island was eight miles by eight miles, and he couldn’t leave it. He into exile in April of that year on the island of Elba. “But he escaped in late February of 1815 and landed on the south coast of France had been master of Europe for years, and he knew he would never on the first of March,” Roberts says. “He managed to recapture his escape—that he was going to die on the island.” crown within three weeks without a shot being fired.”
How? “By showing his hat,” Roberts says. “He was instantly recognized by his hat.” Perhaps then, it’s no wonder that one of his two cornered bicornes recently fetched $2.4 million at auction.
The Real Story of Napoleon and Josephine The love affair of Napoleon and Josephine was not the romantic saga that many people think, Roberts says. Josephine’s first husband had been guillotined during the revolution, and she herself spent time in prison. After her release, she began an affair with the prime minister and ran up large debts. “She was as extravagant as Marie
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And so he did. But contrary to some legends, he was not poisoned, Roberts says. Like his father, he succumbed to cancer. Although he died a prisoner abandoned by friends, his legacy is profound. “He was a builder, a creator, and one of the great enlightened autocrats,” Roberts says. “He was a calculated risk taker and very shrewd. And he is responsible for many underlying facets of politics and society in civilized democratic countries that still follow his practices.”
Napoleon A Life By Andrew Roberts
Prince Albert Puts Historic NapoleOn Artifacts on the Auction Block As evidence of the continued interest in one of the most celebrated military figures of all time, a recent auction of Napoleon memorabilia earned almost $12.5 million. One of his signature two-cornered hats, a 19-inch-long, silk-lined beaver fur chapeau known as a bicorne, drew a whopping $2.4 million. The hat style was common among military men of the time, but Napoleon wore his a little differently: He put it on his head sideways so he was always easy to recognize. In fact, recognition of the signature hat is said to have been a deciding factor in the retaking of his crown in 1815, according to Napoleon biographer Andrew Roberts. Prince Albert of Monaco put the relics up for auction to raise money for refurbishing the palace. Private collectors and museum representatives bid on nearly 1,000 other items, including a kitchen knife which a German student planned to use to assassinate Napoleon. The plot was uncovered in time, however, and the student was caught and executed. Also on the block were a lock of Napoleon’s hair, which sold for nearly $50,000; an embroidered purse that belonged to his first wife, Josephine; and white satin slippers worn by his son at his baptism. With the 200th anniversary of Waterloo approaching, experts expect the value of Napoleonic relics to continue to rise.
Napoleon Bonaparte’s felt bicorne hat sold for $2.4 million at auction recently in Fontainebleau, France.
Silver seal with crowned eagle. Inscribed along the edge: ‘Vive Louis Napoleon President A Vie.’
Late 18th century portable equinoctial sun dial in gilt and silvered brass.
Sword of Tsar Alexander II (1818-81) presented after his assassination to Princess Yurievsky, his second wife.
Pair of Napoleon III’s razors in a green morocco case.
Double seal to the glory of Napoleon III and Eugenie with gold-mounted bloodjasper handle.
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condo law
By Michael S. Bender, Esq., Kaye Bender Rembaum, P.L.
NAVIGATING ASSISTANCE ANIMAL REQUESTS
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oard members frequently encounter issues regarding whether an individual has the right to have an “assistance animal” reside in the Community that would otherwise violate a pet restriction in the governing documents. Failing to properly respond to an assistance animal request could expose the Association to a potential claim of discrimination under Federal, State, and Local Fair Housing laws. These laws protect against housing discrimination and require the Association to approve an assistance animal in the community as a “reasonable accommodation” to the pet restrictions. The issue becomes difficult to evaluate when the disability is not readily known, or the need for the animal is not readily apparent. The Board may request reliable medical documentation concerning the nature of the disability and the disability-related need for the animal. Specialized training or “certification” of the assistance animal is not necessary. Breed, size, and weight limitations may not be applied to an assistance animal. Boards cannot require individuals to pay a monetary deposit for an assistance animal, nor request access to disability medical records. Boards may only determine whether the person seeking the assistance animal has a disability (a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a “major life activity,” such as sleeping, breathing, walking), and whether the person has a disability-related need for the animal. The Board may request that necessary information come from a qualified medical professional, such as a physician, psychiatrist,
or other mental health professional familiar with the disability. Evaluate every request on a case-by-case basis. If the individual submits Michael Bender sufficient information from a qualified medical provider to establish the disability, and that the animal in question will provide disability-related assistance or emotional support, the Board should approve the reasonable accommodation and must exercise caution to protect medical information confidentiality. To avoid unintended law violations, Boards should consider adopting formal evaluation procedures. A written discrimination policy can include assistance animal registration forms, a reasonable accommodation application package, and rules governing the conduct of assistance animals. Such policy can streamline the request process, since the failure to respond could be considered the equivalent of a “constructive” denial. If a dispute arises, showing a record of the formal procedures being implemented will help demonstrate that the request received proper consideration. If a Board is unsure whether the individual has submitted sufficient information to support the request, it is not advisable to immediately deny (or approve) the request. Promptly contact legal counsel experienced in this area to evaluate the information, provide a timely response, and assist in development of a comprehensive discrimination policy.
What is it about your community’s risk management program that keeps you up at night? • Does the D&O policy we purchased fully protect the board? • Will our Disaster Preparedness/ Recovery Plan be effective when we need it? • Is our Insurance Program in compliance with our bylaws? • With all these recent natural disasters, how do we effectively budget for next year?
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• If we have a claim will it be adjusted and paid correctly?
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insurance
By Scott Buser
Condo Insurance misunderstood
C
ondo unit owners often find themselves in a state of confusion when it pertains to property insurance coverage for their unit. Many mistakenly look to the Association’s insurance policy for coverage, but are often told that coverage has been denied due to the master policy’s limitations. According to Florida Statute Chapter 718, the Condo Association is required by law to purchase several insurance policies to protect the Condo Association’s interests. The statute requires the Association to purchase a property insurance policy to adequately cover the Condo building to its Full Replacement Cost. The required property policy is to insure the envelope of the building, its interior infrastructure, drywall throughout the building (including inside the units) and the Condo Association’s common elements, including pool, gym, and party room. The Condo Association’s property policy does NOT provide coverage for any personal property, fixtures, floor and wall coverings, appliances, cabinetries, and most everything contained within the confines of the unit. These items are the sole responsibility of the unit owner to insure. Unit owners protect their interests and possessions through their own homeowner’s insurance policy called an HO-6. In addition to covering the unit owner’s tangible possessions within the unit,
the HO-6 policy also contains a personal liability limit. Personal liability is coverage for the unit owner when a 3rd party is accusing negligence or bringing legal action against that homeowner. A claim scenario I see frequently is water damage to a fellow unit owner caused by the policyholder negligently leaving a bathtub/sink running which overflows and eventually intrudes that 3rd party’s unit causing damage to their personal property or belongings. There are other crucial coverages included within the HO-6, including loss assessment reimbursement, displacement or loss of use coverage, and medical payments coverage. As a unit owner, the HO-6 policy is a necessity and a vehicle of protection that every homeowner should consider. For assistance navigating through this world of insurance, please contact me at sbuser@bbftlaud.com. Scott Buser is a Senior Vice President at Brown & Brown Insurance and has been an Insurance Agent in South Florida for over 14 years specializing in Condominium Insurance. Brown & Brown is one of the world’s 10 largest insurance intermediaries and is publically traded on the NYSE under BRO.
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Contact our South Florida Relationship Manager: Rebecca R. Prieto, V.P. 786-953-1221 rprieto@bpop.com
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SOUTHEAST FLORIDA CHAPTER
condo living
What’s Your Association’s Variance (Tool)? By Andrew Rand, Director of Association Accounting at CSI Management Services Budget and year-end closing time is over and we are several months into the new fiscal year. Boards and Managers can start reviewing the yearto-date variance monthly to monitor the Association’s operating income and expense. Variance is the difference between a budgeted amount and the actual amount received or incurred. How can the Association develop an additional tool for controlling and planning revenues and costs as the year progresses? Remember, budgets are just estimates. A useful analytical tool for use in conjunction with your budget comparison income statement is a Variance Analysis Detail Report, which can be developed by the Manager and/or Treasurer with the Association accountant and then included in the Treasurer’s or Manager’s monthly report.
Developing your Variance Tool Using the Association’s most recent monthly financial, start with the budget comparison income statement and export it to an Excel schedule. Once in Excel format, save it with a name that is descriptive, such as “VarianceToolMarch2015.” Next, set up the working schedule. Set the page orientation to landscape to make room for the detail of the variances to be analyzed. Off to the right of each line item that is over or under budget, set up underlines to add descriptions that will explain details.
Using your Variance Analysis tool In understanding the “why” of a particular line item that has a certain variance, review a general ledger that is printed from the beginning
of the fiscal year through the most recently completed financial used to analyze the variances. The year-to-date general ledger, available from your accountant, shows detail of transactions for a particular account. Focus on detailing out each of those line items that have variances that need explaining. Items equal or close to budget may not need more than a quick review for reasonableness. According to Condominium Accountant Luis Lavandeira, CPA, “Focus on actual versus budget and the contracts in place, then focus on remaining life versus funds available and priority of projects and, finally, focus on cash flows projection to estimate the balance needed to complete.” Once these steps are completed, the accounts with variances that need detailing or researched and followed up will be obvious. Remember, this tool is analytical. It has been created to list the accounts and the reasons they are over or under budget. The notes should address particular items that need to be researched and followed up with. Now that you have gone through all of the trouble to set up this tool, don’t forget to use it every month! For industry-related education events sponsored by the Community Associations Institute SE Florida Chapter, please scan the QR code at right for our Calendar of Events or visit our website at www.cai-seflorida.org
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It’s Different Here With the new Optimal Wellness Program, The Spa at Turnberry Isle Miami is pushing beyond the traditional definition of the spa. Created in partnership with two leading South Florida experts, Dr. Ellen Lebow and Dr. Michael Braun, this revolutionary program empowers guests to take charge of their own health. The takeaway? A prevention-based plan wholly suited to their unique situation and the peace of mind that comes with taking charge of their health. both day and overnight packages are available.
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annual golf • uffizi gallery • arts
Social Living CSI & SFO 4th Annual Golf Classic benefiting the FBI Citizens Alumni Academy
Mark King, Charles Smith, Dewars models & John Juelich Golf Classic beneficiary FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association representatives & Mark Blackburn
Scott Buser & Steve Mason
happy birthday al capone
Private Reception with Contessa Maria Vittoria Colonna Rimbotti, President of the Friends of Uffizi Gallery
Robin Jay, Contessa Maria Vittoria, Lisa Marie Brown, Francine Rosenswaig
Mickey Wolfson founder of the Wolfsonian Museum, Mary Jo Zingale, the Contessa, Curators from the Wolfsonian
Kathryn and Dan Mikesell with the Contessa (center)
Deidre Capone at her book signing at NYY Steak Seminole Casino Coconut Creek
McLaren 650S Test Drive presented by The Collection, CSI Management & south florida opulence
Residents of The Pinnacle Condominium Sunny Isles Beach
Residents of The Pinnacle Condominium Sunny Isles Beach test driving the McClaren 650S
Michael & Robin Jay, Deidre Capone & Bob Griswold
An Evening of Fine Arts Presented by Park Avenue Pianos, Kathyrn Mikesell, Privileged Lifestyles & The Florida Grand Opera
Publisher Mark Blackburn and family Joshua Tomey and fiancé Jessica Oxios enjoying the event Deimante Geobyte Pre-party, hosted at the Blackburn residence
Publisher Geoff Hammond and Guillermo Rodriguez
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Angel Paws Charity Fundraiser for Humane Society
PAWS President Ingrid Poulin, Event Chair Susan HSBC Chairman of the Board Gerry Weber, Smith and WPLG Local 10’s Jacey Birch Christy Gumberg and Luann Alorro
The models loved cuddling with the shelter puppies
A Partnership of Hope Fisher Island Event hosted by Mark & Shari Coe
Guest, Victoria Shorten, Jason Randolph, Gen Muniz & Mark Coe
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Guests participate in the event
South Beach food and wine festival overview Amstel Light Burger Bash — Wine Spectator’s Best of the Best Seminole Hard Rock & Casino’s Meatopia
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