PARK
JACKIE SIEGEL
FROM POP CULTURE TO PHILANTHROPY
“Our practice revolves around you: the patient.”
— DR. ARIEL OSTAD practice revolves around you: patient.”
— DR.
For over 25 years, Dr. Ariel Ostad, has been a trusted and leading world class surgeon in his field. He is Triple BoardCertified in Facial Cosmetic Surgery, Mohs Micrographic Skin Cancer Reconstructive Surgery, and Cosmetic Dermatology. He is known for his expertise in cosmetic skin rejuvenation, lasers, liposuction, body contouring, skin cancer surgery, and facial reconstruction. Dr. Ostad, founder of a boutique aesthetics practice located in Upper East Side of NYC, is distinguished by his artistry, “less is more” philosophy, facial anatomy expertise, advanced techniques, refined results, and impeccable approach to compassionate personalized care. He is passionate about having an impact on his patients and helping them look as good as they feel. Dr. Ostad aims to empower his patients by promoting healthy skin, wellness, anti-aging, and a positive mindset. Dr. Ostad yields international notoriety for his skill in Mohs Micrographic Surgery for Skin Cancer and Facial Reconstructive Surgery. He has co-authored a textbook entitled Practical Management of Skin Cancer, and he is a contributing associate editor for Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. Dr. Ostad received extensive medical training from NYU, Harvard, UCLA and is a fellow of American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, American Society of Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, and is on the medical council of the Skin Cancer Foundation. Dr. Ostad is an associate clinical professor at NYU School of Medicine where he teaches surgery to young doctors in training. He has received The President’s Volunteer Service Award from President Barack Obama in 2012. His hobbies include the arts, reading books, meditation, exercise, and studying longevity and lifespan. Dr. Ostad resides with his wife and three children in NYC.
25 years, Dr. Ariel Ostad, has trusted world surgeon in his is Triple BoardCertified in Facial Cosmetic Surgery, Mohs Skin Cancer Reconstructive Surgery, and Dermatology. He known for his expertise in skin lasers, liposuction, skin cancer surgery, and facial Dr. founder of a boutique aesthetics practice located in Upper East Side NYC, distinguished his artistry, “less more” facial anatomy advanced refined and impeccable approach to compassionate personalized care. He is passionate about having an on his patients and helping them look as they feel. Dr. Ostad aims to empower his promoting healthy skin, wellness, anti-aging, and Ostad international notoriety for his in Mohs Micrographic Surgery for Skin and Facial Reconstructive Surgery. He textbook of Skin and he contributing associate editor for Journal Drugs in Dermatology. Dr. Ostad received extensive from NYU, UCLA and is fellow American Academy Cosmetic Surgery, American Society of Surgery, American for Laser Medicine Surgery, and is on the medical council of Skin Foundation. Dr. Ostad is an associate professor School of where surgery to young doctors in training. has received President’s Volunteer Service Award from President in 2012. His hobbies the arts, reading meditation, and studying longevity and lifespan. Dr. Ostad resides with his three children in NYC.
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From the moment we’re born to birthdays, weddings, and happy news of all kinds, flowers mark so many of life’s major milestones. Whatever you’re celebrating this summer, allow Winston Flowers to make this occasion one your loved ones will never forget. Each of our extraordinary gifts, including luxe floral designs, gourmet gift boxes, and long-lasting potted plants, is created with one goal in mind: to take care of your precious moments as if they were our own.
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TEditor’s Letter
hings must be extra fun at PARK because the time has been flying! It’s hard to believe that the summer issue is upon us after a very busy and super stylish spring season. In this issue, we are excited to present you with an inside look into fashion’s biggest night of the year, the Met Gala, as well as our favorite travel destinations, visionary artists and exclusive fashion shoots.
Embodying all of the qualities of a PARK cover girl is famed composer, author, volunteer and poodle breeder, Karen LeFrak. There’s a good chance you’ve heard her music—many of LeFrak’s recorded pieces have been brought to life by the New York Philharmonic, the Shanghai Symphony, and the Mariinsky Ballet Orchestra. The wife of real estate developer Richard LeFrak, Karen gives us a rare glimpse into her life in front of and behind the piano. Always taking things to the next level, LeFrak also shares the many exciting projects she is currently involved with.
Our very own R. Couri Hay takes us behind the scenes of the Metropolitan Museum’s “Sleeping Beauties” exhibition, showcasing vintage gowns from design houses including Dior, Olivier Theyskens and Jonathan Anderson. He also rubbed shoulders on the red carpet with the stars and their Met Gala fashions representing “Eternal Enchantment.”
We invite you to get to know the real queen of New York City nightlife, Susanne Bartsch. Her latest book brings to
life a time in Manhattan when people traded art for rent, while her book signing brought out everyone from Paul Alexander to Stella Ellis.
You can also immerse yourself in a sultry black-andwhite photoshoot from acclaimed photographer Udo Spreitzenbarth, and we are especially proud to shine a spotlight on one artist you have seen within our pages in past issues—Haitian-American artist Guy Philoche, as well as the new fleet of Black artists taking over the New York art scene. You won’t want to miss these informative interviews with our own George Wayne.
Get ready to embark on a tasty tour of our favorite Italian restaurants with restaurateur Gianfranco Sorrentino. We sat down with the entrepreneur and philanthropist at his Leopard at des Artistes to discuss how he and his team are helping to ensure that the legacy of authentic Italian cuisine and culture lives on through his non-profit organization, Gruppo Italiano. Through established scholarships, educational offerings, trips and more, future generations will also get to experience the beating heart of Italy from afar.
If you want a little nip and/or tuck—or a bit more—this summer season, you might want to pay a visit to celeb plastic surgeon Dr. Greenberg. The author, host and world-renowned doctor offers personalized procedures for his clients from around the world who range from soccer moms to royalty.
Julie Sagoskin Editor-in-Chief
INTRODUCING THE NORMA IN WILD FLORIDA ALLIGATOR STRAIGHT FROM THE SWAMPS SINCE 2011 PART OF YOUR WARDROBE FOREVER
SFrom the Publisher
ummer is here and I’m so glad it is. I may be biased but I think this is our best issue yet! And what could be better as we are celebrating three years in print! We couldn’t have done it without the support of our amazingly talented writers, our hardworking and supremely talented art director, Paul Crawford, and our editor at large, the famed and indefatigable George Wayne. Thanks also has to be made to our editor in chief, Julie Sagoskin, whose editorial vision always shines through.
The magazine industry, especially for those of us who create regional publications like PARK, is not an easy one, so I am beyond grateful for the support of our advertisers. Thank you for taking a chance on us and for making us stronger! And thanks to our readers whose messages of support and suggestion always make for great reading! It means a lot.
Enjoy another great edition and we’ll see you in the fall!
Christopher A. Pape Publisher & Founder
MetGalaGlamour
BY R.COURI HAY
The Mermaid Bride
“‘SLEEPING
BEAUTIES’ WILL HEIGHTEN OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH THESE MASTERPIECES OF FASHION.”
Max Hollein, The Met’s Director
TThe Designers
HE EXHIBITION IS AN EXPLORATION OF FASHION’S evolution, blending historical garments with cuttingedge techniques and technological innovation. Showcasing 250 rare items from the Met’s permanent collection, garments on display span from 17th-century Elizabethan bodices to contemporary acquisitions by designers such as Phillip Lim and Stella McCartney. Every fashion legend of the 20th Century is on display, including Dior, Chanel, Schiaparelli, and Charles James, who was represented by his classic black Tulip and Siren dresses. Central to the exhibition is the “Sleeping Beauties,” which are historical garments that have been carefully preserved over the centuries and are shown laid flat in glass cases because they are too delicate to be hung on mannequins.
The Show
“Through an array of sensory experiences, including scented displays, video animation, light projection, soundscaping, and AI, visitors are immersed in the stories behind each garment. Max Hollein, The Met’s Director, said, “Sleeping Beauties will heighten our engagement with these masterpieces of fashion by evoking how they feel, move, sound, smell, and interact when being worn, ultimately offering a deeper appreciation of the integrity, beauty, and artistic brilliance of the works on display.”
TikTok is the exhibition’s lead sponsor, with this is support from Loewe and Condé Nast. This blockbuster runs until September 2, 2024.
“NATURE SERVES AS THE ULTIMATE METAPHOR FOR FASHION.”
Andrew Bolton, The Curator in Charge of the Costume Institute
The Stars
Nicole Kidman, stunning in a black and white silk and feather confection by Balmain, the brand responsible for the night’s best looks, provided the major movie star energy at this year’s Met Gala. Top male charisma came courtesy of Chris Hemsworth, who, along with Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya, Bad Bunny, and Vogue’s Anna Wintour, co-chaired the benefit, dubbed “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.” The iconic gala, also known as “The Party of The Year,” has raised over $223 million under Wintour’s wings. This year’s tickets clocked in at $75k each, making it the most expensive and exhilarating night on the town.
Best Dressed
This year’s theme was inspired by J.G. Ballard’s story “The Garden of Time.” Stand-outs on the cream and green carpet included singer Tyla, who wore a Balmain dress made of sand with an hourglass serving as her purse. Brava! Zendaya first appeared as a woodland creature in a custom Maison Margiela by John Galliano peacock frock and then reappeared for round two in a floral headdress and black gown from Galliano’s tenure at Givenchy in 1966. The evening drew a dazzling crowd of A-listers from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez to Tom Ford, who paid homage to humanity’s enduring fascination with the natural world and its influence on fashion, while also spotlighting sustainability and ethical production practices.
The Party
For the food, caterer Olivier Cheng created dishes that evoke the whimsy of a children’s storybook. The first course featured a spring vegetable salad with elderflower foam, raspberry vinaigrette, and olive crumble resembling soil, topped with butterfly-shaped croutons. Cheng drew inspiration from Aurora’s reawakening after a century of sleep, choosing early spring vegetables as a symbol of new growth after a long winter. The main course was a filet of beef adorned with tortellini rose, intended to resemble a culinary castle. For dessert, guests enjoyed a not-so-poison apple, a playful nod to Snow White. This event’s invitations and décor also embodied the theme. Event producer Raúl Àvila complemented decorated the tables with nearly black, Treacy-inspired burgundy roses, English ivy, candelabras, and lettuce plates.
Robe à la française, British, 1740s; Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1995
Photography ©
Nick Knight, 2024. Waistcoat, British, 1615-20; Rogers Fund, 1923
Photography ©
Nick Knight, 2024.
“Physalia” dress, Iris van Herpen (Dutch, born1984), spring/ summer 2020 haute couture; Anonymous gift, 2024. Photography © Nick Knight, 2024.
A Conversation with Andrew Bolton
THE CURATOR IN CHARGE OF THE MET’S COSTUME INSTITUTE
“More than any other form of artistic expression, fashion undergoes the most radical transformation of status upon entering the Met’s collection. Fashion is a living form that requires most of our senses for its fullest appreciation and greatest understanding. Unlike painting, which requires a witness sense of sight for its enjoyment, fashion elicits the senses of touch, smell, hearing, and sometimes even taste except sight, which is actually enhanced and amplified in the context of museums.”
Dress, Sarah Burton (British, born 1974) for Alexander McQueen (British, founded 1992), spring/summer 2011; Purchase, Friends of The Costume Institute Gifts, 2015 Photography © Nick Knight, 2024.
Dress, Alexander McQueen (British, 1969–2010), spring/ summer 2001; Gift of Alexander McQueen, 2014 Photography © Nick Knight, 2024.
“The exhibit uses garments from our collection by reactivating their sensory capacities and re-engaging our sensorial perceptions. It’s the first project of a new initiative to expand the study of costume beyond the and cultural, towards the sensorial and emotional.”
“The show itself unfolds as a series of case studies united by the theme of nature. Fashion is inspired by nature in the natural environment and is well represented in the Costume Institute’s collection, ranging from flowers and foliage, birds and insects, and fish and shells. These items constitute the three sections of the exhibition. Earth, air, and water. Nature like fashion depends on the widest sensory engagements versus maximum experiential impact.”
e’ve used AI to reawaken a wedding ensemble through a custom version of ChatGPT. You can have a conversation with the socialite who wore this gown, transforming two passive and silent objects into an active and valuable subject engaged
‘‘SLEEP IS AN ESSENTIAL SOLVE FOR THE GARMENT’S WELLBEING AND SURVIVAL.”
in a dynamic exchange, and we ourselves are transformed from passive spectators into active participants.”
“In many ways, nature serves as the ultimate metaphor for fashion. It’s rebirth, renewal, and simplicity, but also its transient ephemerality. These latter qualities are evident in the Sleeping Beauties. Several of the case studies garments are selfdestructing due to inherent weaknesses and the inevitable passage of time. The extreme fragility of these garments precludes them from being dressed on mannequins. So, in the exhibition, they are displayed flat in the glass case to prevent any further deterioration.”
“While conservation friendly such a display denies the view of the truest expression of these costumes, which required the dimensionality of a body to realize their intended appearances. So rather than being reawaken, these garments needed to be resurrected, which we achieved virtually through holograms. Because the process was both complex and time consuming, we decided to resuscitate only one sleeping beauty. An 1880s silk gown by Charles Frederick Worth. The dress was simulated 40 times over a six-month period to achieve the correct silhouette and materiality for the hologram.”
“Sleep is an essential solve for the garment’s wellbeing, and survival. But, as in life, it requires a suspension of senses that equivocates between life and death. The exhibition is a reminder that museum garments, despite being tested for an eternal slumber, do not forget their sensorial issues. Instead, these histories are embedded within the very fibers of their being and simply require reactivation through the mind and body and heart and soul of those willing to dream and imagine.”
metmuseum.org
Andrew Bolton
“Butterfly” ball gown, Charles James (American, born Great Britain, 1906–1978), 1955; Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009;Gift of Mrs. John de Menil, 1957 Photography by Anna-Marie Kellen
Ensemble, Francesco Risso (Italian, born 1982) for Marni (Italian, founded 1994), spring/summer 2024; Courtesy Marni. Photography © Nick Knight, 2024.
“May” ball gown, Christian Dior (French, 1905–1957) for House of Dior (French, founded 1946),spring/ summer 1953; Gift of Mrs. David Kluger,1960
Photography © Nick Knight, 2024.
Evening ensemble, Olivier Theyskens (Belgian, born 1977), fall/winter 2000–2001; Gift of Olivier Theyskens, 2024
Photography
“Tulipes Hollandaises” evening cloak, Charles Frederick Worth (French, born England, 1825–1895) for House of Worth (French, 1858–1956), 1889; Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of the Princess Viggo in accordance with the wishes of the Misses Hewitt,1931
Photography © Nick Knight, 2024.
summer
Coat, Jonathan Anderson (British, born 1984) for LOEWE (Spanish, founded 1846), spring/
2023 menswear; Courtesy LOEWE.
Photography © Nick Knight, 2024.
© Nick Knight, 2024.
PRODUCED BY R.COURI HAY MET
GALA
WhatStars THE said THE
Ariana Grande
(with Cynthia Erivo)
“The top is made completely of mother of pearl, which is also my birthstone.”
dress a sleeping beauty that has been brought back to life, and it’s my honor to be able to bring it back to life.”
Jennifer Lopez Met Gala.
I’m retiring after tonight.”
Nicki Minaj in Francesco Risso
Bad Bunny
Anna Wintour
“My favorite element of the exhibition is always the pleasure of seeing the visitors who come to the show and understand the magic of it.”
“I’m wearing a
Karlie Kloss
“I’m Spring. I’m crystal flowers in the Garden of Time.”
Kylie Jenner in Oscar de la Renta
Naomi Watts
“This dress used to be an old tablecloth bought from eBay for twenty euros.”
Cardi B
“The dress weighs more than me. It actually gives me a headache. It makes me nauseous.”
Kim Kardashian
“I look forward to seeing my sisters. We’re on a group chat before we get here, and no matter how many times we’ve been, we still get nervous.”
Gigi Hadid
“I feel like having this many friends to help me hold the dress is on theme.”
Lil Nas X
“I wanted to look like a beautiful blooming flower.”
Zendaya in Maison Margiela
Emily Ratajkowski in Versace
Tyla
“Balmain molded this dress by hand to fit me.”
Dua Lipa
“I’ll go out. I’ll dance. And then I’ll pass out tomorrow.”
Elle Fanning
“I played Sleeping Beauty in Maleficent and I wanted to pay homage to that character. So with the birds I thought it was like a princess getting dressed by her woodland creatures.”
Sabrina Carpenter in Oscar de la Renta
Lana Del Ray
“I wanted the dress to look like McQueen. So the shape of it was very important to me.”
Chris Hemsworth
“I wore flip flops to one of my first red carpets.”
Sarah Jessica
Parker
“Having access to the exhibit is the best privilege of all because every New Yorker is dying to see it.”
Kendall Jenner
“I’m the first human to wear this dress. It was originally shown on a mannequin.”
barnstormers
PHOTOGRAPHY: UDO SPREITZENBARTH
HAIR AND MU: PASCALE POMA
STYLING: SAMANTHA CATO
MODELS: GABRIELLE, GRACIE, ELISSA, MCKENNA @ CAR YN MODELS
Icons ofBritish Fashion
AT BLENHEIM PALACE
BY DELIA VON NEUSCHATZ
SPLENDOR IN THE PARK
THE BLOCKBUSTER EXHIBITION, Icons of British Fashion, currently on display at Blenheim Palace, is a feast for the eyes. It offers visual delights not just for fashion lovers, but for art, history and gardening buffs too. For the setting is as sumptuous as the wares on display. Indeed, with 187 rooms set on 2,000 acres of parkland, Blenheim is bigger than Buckingham Palace. Steeped in history, this stateliest of homes is also notable for being the birthplace of Winston Churchill.
by Sir Jon Vanbrugh,
Palace was built between 1705 and 1722. Its English Baroque style was influenced by the grandeur of French palaces at the time. Notably, it is the birthplace of Winston Churchill and his family’s ancestral home. Surrounded by over 2,000 acres of ‘Capability’ Brown parkand woodland and 150 acres of award-winning gardens, Blenheim also has the distinction of being the first non-royal residence in England to be granted the title of “palace”.
Icons of British Fashion at Blenheim Palace runs through June 30, 2024. (PHOTO BLENHEIM PALACE)
Designed
Blenheim
(PHOTO BLENHEIM PALACE)
The current collaboration with some of Britain’s most legendary fashion designers is the largest exhibition in the palace’s 300-year history. Participating designers include the late Dame Vivienne Westwood, Jean Muir, Terry de Havilland, Bruce Oldfield, Turnbull & Asser, Zandra Rhodes, Lulu Guinness, Barbour, Alice Temperley, Stella McCartney, John Galliano and Stephen Jones Millinery for Christian Dior. Arrayed in the palace’s grand State Rooms is a creative curation of clothing, accessories, drawings, photography and archival materials. “We are not a gallery or museum but a living, breathing home. Each designer was asked to respond to the environment and in some instances, they have been
inspired to design new creations as a result,” says Kate Ballenger, Head of Collections at Blenheim Palace Heritage Foundation and curator of the exhibition. “I believe visitors will be surprised by the talent and creative genius of the British fashion industry, along with the workmanship, quality and sheer magic that goes into creating each piece.”
The retrospective also celebrates Blenheim’s own icon of fashion, Sir Winston Churchill, as it coincides with the 150th anniversary of the statesman’s birth. “I have always seen Churchill as a fashion icon,” says Ms. Ballenger. “Both politically and sartorially, Winston Churchill was never someone to hide his light under a bushel, as he himself
Visitors to the exhibition are greeted by the designs of the provocative late Dame Vivienne Westwood. PHOTO: PETE SEAWARD
“Rock ‘n roll cobbler” Terry de Havilland designed the shoes worn in The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
PHOTO: PETE SEAWARD
Dame Zandra Rhodes has dressed the likes of Princess Diana and Freddie Mercury. Here, a few of her party dresses culled from an archive boasting more than 6,000 outfits are draped on vintage mannequins sporting hairstyles the “princess of punk” herself wore over her 50-year career. In the background, a large family portrait painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds, depicting the 4th Duke of Marlborough, his wife, Lady Caroline and six of their children, anchors the entrance. Fun fact: the highest paid member of the household at the time was Lady Caroline’s hairdresser, making twice as much as the butler.
PHOTO: PETE SEAWARD
The party continues in the next room with a dreamy banquet as the scene for Alice Temperley’s creations. Featured is a crystal filigree dress which was specifically designed for the exhibition. Ten artisans worked over the course of 30 days to apply tens of thousands of crystals and beads to the floor-length silk gown. The 18th-century Belgian tapestries lining the walls were commissioned by the 1st Duke of Marlborough to commemorate his military victories. Blenheim.
PHOTO: PETE SEAWARD
The exhibition turns its attention to the great outdoors with Barbour’s jackets.
PHOTO: PETE SEAWARD
once said, ‘We are all worms, but I do believe that I am a glowworm.’ He was very much a man of occasion and had a particular sense of style. From his immaculate pinstriped suits, bow ties and wonderful hats to his ‘invention’ of the siren suit with Turnbull & Asser, fashion was a projection of his larger-than-life personality and was used to evoke confidence.”
Churchill’s “siren suit” aside, Blenheim is no stranger to sartorial history, having hosted fashion shows, photo shoots and numerous designers over the years. The House of Dior memorably staged two shows there in the 1950s and returned again in 2016 to present its Cruise Collection. With Princess Margaret as the guest of honor,
both mid-century shows had been organized by Blenheim’s then-chatelaine, Mary Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, in aid of the Red Cross.
In November 1954, Monsieur Dior himself flew from Paris to England with 100 couture pieces, including “la robe Blenheim,” a pale pink satin evening gown, bringing glittering Parisian glamor to post-war Britain. That wintry afternoon, 1,600 paying guests, the cream of British society, raised over $200,000 in today’s money, in muchneeded funds for the humanitarian organization. And in 1958, a year after the couturier’s untimely death, the atelier revisited Blenheim, this time with monsieur’s brilliant young assistant, Yves Saint Laurent, at the helm.
The Long Library is home to over 10,000 books, and currently, also the creations of Stella McCartney. The designer’s sustainable fabrics incorporate materials like fungi mycelium and apple skins which are regeneratively grown, recycled, recyclable and biodegradable.
PHOTO: PETE SEAWARD
With Turnbull & Asser, Churchill designed a wartime “siren suit,” essentially a onesie which could be quickly slipped on during air raids. The large breast pockets accommodated the prime minister’s cigars. PHOTO: PETE SEAWARD
Several looks from Christian Dior’s autumn/winter collection shown at Blenheim Palace in 1954.
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
Princess Margaret, the Duchess of Marlborough and Christian Dior at Blenheim in 1954. At the invitation of the Duchess, the French couturier held the fashion show at Blenheim to raise vital funds for the Red Cross. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
To an audience crammed with diplomats from around the world, the 22-year-old wunderkind paraded 136 garments, including a reinterpretation of the Blenheim gown. Today, Christian Dior lives on at Blenheim through three striking gowns designed by John Galliano during his tenure at the label and via several hats created by milliner Stephen Jones.
The exhibition’s designs are set against the backdrop of priceless paintings, furniture, sculptures and tapestries. Blenheim Palace was a gift to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, from Queen Anne and a grateful nation in thanks for his military triumphs against the French and
Bavarian armies culminating in the Battle of Blenheim in 1704. It was designed in the English Baroque style by the famous English dramatist and architect Sir John Vanbrugh, who also conceived Castle Howard. At the end of the 19th century, the palace was saved from ruin by an infusion of cash, courtesy of the marriage between the 9th Duke of Marlborough and American railroad heiress, Consuelo Vanderbilt. A century later, Blenheim Palace was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, putting it on par with the likes of East Africa’s Serengeti, the Pyramids of Egypt and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Iconic fashion meets an iconic setting.
A model wearing one of Christian Dior’s autumn/winter 1954 dresses in front of Red Cross nurses in 1954. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
A dramatic couture gown by John Galliano for Christian Dior takes center stage in the opulent Saloon.
PHOTO: PETE SEAWARD
Princess Margaret with Yves Saint Laurent at Blenheim in 1958. The royal was once again the guest of honor for the Red Cross fundraiser featuring Dior’s autumn/winter collection of that year. Aged just 22, Yves Saint Laurent became head designer upon Christian Dior’s death the previous year.
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
Dylan &Son
Bringing Back the Craft of Making the Perfect Suit
BY CHRISTOPHER A. PAPE
Dylan and Son, an awardwinning custom tailor and design company based in Korea, is making waves in New York City. Having won a worldwide master tailor competition, the founder and owner of this handcrafted line, Scott Kim, has his sights on expanding rapidly beyond the boundaries of his native land. He is a friendly, outgoing and supremely talented craftsman who uses old-world techniques in making the best product possible.
I was honored to sit down with him and learn more about him and his craft.
How did you get into tailoring?
Where did you get your training?
About 13 years ago, I traveled to Japan and saw tailors who were working hard in a shabby alley and I was very inspired by their craftsmanship and this was the starting point for me to pursue my career in the industry. As soon as I came back from Japan, I started working as an assistant for the master tailor who has a long tradition in Korea.
After years, I started to learn more from the famous patternmaker and gained the skill-set
for making a coat. During the journey of learning, I found the hidden master who was famous in the industry and approached him to accept me as his assistant. He was known for not accepting any assistants, but he saw my passion and we were able to work together. Since I met him, I needed to learn everything over from start. He never taught me the method of making, but he taught me the logic behind it.
After several years learning from him, I visited the UK and Italy and compared their
‘‘DURING THE JOURNEY OF LEARNING, I FOUND THE HIDDEN MASTER... ...HE TAUGHT ME THE LOGIC BEHIND [THE METHOD]’’
perspectives. I still study a lot and continue to grow these days.
Korea has won the most tailoring competitions in the world, and consistently has the most master tailor participants for over 50 years and yet you won the prize at a very young age. How did you do it?
In 2015, I attended a junior competition for tailors and won a prize. The competition’s topic was pants, and it was for all tailors at
‘‘OUR HOUSE STYLE FOCUSES ON BALANCE WITHIN RESTRAINED LINES, AND IT HAS A VERY WELL-MADE SILHOUETTE’’
the entry level. In 2016, I attended a master tailor competition. In this competition, participants usually have at least 40 years of experience and when junior level participants join the competition, they usually cannot finish making the piece. I was able to complete the piece, but the result was merciless.
From this, I learned that I need to overcome this to build up my career and since then, I attended the competition and figured out the skills I needed to develop. After five years, in 2020, I won the 2nd prize in the master tailor competition.
I was the first person to win the prize in the competition at such a young age. In a conservative country like Korea, this was such a surprising event. I would like to take this time to tell those who want to develop their skills in the industry to join the competition and aim for the prize. The best skill you will ever acquire is through the competition.
Who are your customers? Where do they come from? What are they looking for?
I meet all the clients with a great taste globally. They are the business owners, in the legal profession, and have professional expertise in industries. They pick Dlyan & Son from many other tailoring brands. They have such an amazing discernment and they come to us and ask us for the most high-end label which is the Modelist label. The Modelist label is crafted by one man, whereby one master tailor creates the blueprint of the pattern, does the cutting and fitting and finishes off with hand sewing to make the finest artistic label.
Not only suits, but we also take orders for safari jackets, trench coats and casual robe coats and make everything by hand.
I am currently traveling to various countries. They place many orders privately and I go to cities where VIP clients are present for trunk shows.
I’m curious about Dylan & Son’s inspiration and house cuts.
A suit is like well-built architecture. People go home and wear clothes. Good architecture is the place that people want to stay in, and a suit is also similar to a good architect.
When they wear a suit, it should give the most comfortable experience and a fine silhouette. When I make the bespoke suit, I tend to think about how well it is structured to the person’s body, like an architect.
Moreover, our house style focuses on balance within restrained lines, and it has a very well-made silhouette without being obsessed with a specific Italian or UK style.
Where is next in your career?
What we consider most important is customer service. It is our job to make a suit to satisfy a client’s needs.
Lastly, I am creating AI CAD using my experience technology, and data. This requires very precise logic and diverse experience. This will be a time of incredible development and change for our industry. And since this is something only I can do, I do it with a sense of duty. P
dylanandson.com instagram.com/dylanandsonkorea
BY GEORGE WAYNE
tBarsch Susanne
THEQUEENOF NEWYORKCITY NIGHTLIFE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY VALERIIA SIBERIA
USANNE BARTSCH STANDS
PEERLESS IN HER REIGN
overthezeitgeistofNewYorkCitynightlife.‘’Thisbook,’’shesays of her quasi-memoir-photo book—Bartschland: Tales of New York City Nightlife—is as much my story as it is of countless otherindividualswhohavebeenpartofit.’’‘’Sheisaniconicandlegendarywomanwhohasgivenus decadesanddecadesofthemostlegendarypartiesand unforgettable fashion moments,’’ says one who knowsofwhatshespeaks:the long-famousmuse andmodelofThierryMuglerandJoeyArias.
SHEIS THAT AGELESS AND FEARLESS AND FLAWLESS VISAGE— QUEEN OF THE NIGHT.
Susanne Bartsch was born and raised in Bern, Switzerland, and still speaks English in a guttural chop suey lingo that has served her well. She moved to Manhattan at the dawn of the 1980s and gave up her life in London and her shop in Chelsea Market, where she sold ‘40s Bakelite jewelery to the chic, rich Boho hippies of Carnaby Street. Back then, this was the style of swinging London. She moved to the other Chelsea, in New York City, for love, and never left.
And here she is, almost 23 years later, and still living in the iconic Chelsea Hotel, where she spent the entire early evening this past Spring commanding the attention of an entire gym of the hottest Muscle Marys for an epic photo shoot exclusive to PARK. The diva of the night looks not a day older than when she first arrived in Manhattan. Susanne Bartsch went on to demonstrate that night why she is that ageless and fearless and flawless visage—Queen of the Night. Two hours were spent vamping, camping and living for the cameras with a fabulous entourage of new talent. From the stunning discovery of the lithe and hunky Juan ‘’Lobo’’ Camillo Cruz pumping iron in couture leather shorts along with more new stars of Bartschland, Lola Von Fox and Jaycie O’Day—she held her own. After the shoot, she went on to host the opening night of Season 14 at her eponymous “On The Top” parties at the Boom Boom Room of the Standard Hotel.
Tireless: add that to the still-resonant accolades for Susanne Bartsch. And unflappable. A week after the PARK photo shoot we are gathered for the first signing of her new hardcover book at the ever-chic boutique bookstore of iconic American fashion designer Marc Jacobs. Let’s just say the scene on Bleecker Street that night was like a Downtown Demimonde version of Bonfire of the Vanities beyond Thunderdome, only in New York City. There is no need to meander further—let GW get to the heart of the matter with Susanne Bartsch.
GEORGE WAYNE: We have to begin with the ‘bloody’- fake blood PETA ambush at your Bookmarc book signing on Bleecker Street this Spring.
SUSANNE BARTSCH: I don’t want to talk about it.
GW: Yes, we must talk about it, Susanne! The scene unfolding at 6:15 pm on May 23, 2024, was like a Downtown version of Bonfire of the Vanities. It was so strange, so funny and such a ridiculous scene. GW was there watching you preen for the cameras, looking ageless, fearless and simply flawless in that sparkly gorgeous The Blonds catsuit in cerulean blue! Vamping it up with that foam green whiff of voluminous chiffon as the purrfect wrap—rapture.
Then you had the cross-dressing ‘’librarian’’, the Marc Jacobs Bookmarc manager, Benjaminbearded and prancing around in kitten heels and a lacy, frou-frou top and black culottes- LOL! Passing flutes of Veuve to those who bought your book. You were all so unflappable and oblivious to the huge commotion right outside the door, with PETA radicals screaming through bullhorns and throwing fake blood all over the pavement. ‘’Marc Jacobs has blood on his hands!’’ They were shrieking. Clearly, you must have heard the wailing. ‘’Shame On You--Susanne Bartsch’!
SB: It’s really stupid and has nothing to do with me. They have been doing these crazy demonstrations since the Christmas Toy Drive last season. There are so many real animal abusers, they should go take that stuff somewhere else. Marc did one show seasons ago with one fur hat for a capsule he did with Dior and Kim Jones. One hat! Twelve years ago! And that’s what they are still creating drama over. It’s just stupid and I don’t understand it.
GW: GW absolutely relished the moment and was thrilled he had the best perch to document the unforgettable book signing for Bartschland And so many iconic Downtown legends showed up for you, from Paul Alexander to Stella Ellis to Michael Musto, Christopher Makos and Freddie Leiba. There is never a dull moment in the life of Susanne Bartsch. That’s for sure. A week later, we sit in the lobby of the iconic Chelsea Hotel, where you have lived since 1981. You are, truly, ‘the last of the Mohicans’ as it were, the countless creatives who have lived and thrived from the Chelsea Hotel as their home. With new owners and total redevelopment here. You are truly the only holdout left!
‘‘BACK THEN, THE OWNER, TRADEWOULD
ART
FOR THATRENT. WAS THE HOTEL,CHELSEA THEN. AND THEN HE LEFT, AND I ISTAYED! FELL IN LOVE WITH NEW YORK.’’
SB: There are still a few of us left here, and I always remember sitting over there over the years (she points to the other side of the room) with Ty (Ty Bassett, her former lover, boy-toy) all through the mid-90s...
GW: Speaking of Ty—whatever happened to your gorgeous blonde boy-toy from that era of Susanne Bartsch?
SB: He passed away. He died from cancer a few years ago.
GW: Wow. What did I say about the last of the Mohicans? I had no idea. He was so young! He was your original boy toy—let’s be real here.
SB: Yes, he was. It’s funny, because the lover who first brought me here, who I lived with and introduced me to the Chelsea Hotel, was a much older guy...
GW: Yes- Patrick Hughes! You came to New York to visit him at the Chelsea Hotel you arrived on Valentine’s Day of 1981, where he was living, and never left!
SB: Yes, and I loved both of them. Patrick still has a painting hanging in the hotel. Back then, the owner, Stanley, would trade art for rent. That was the Chelsea Hotel, then. And then he left, and I stayed! I fell in love with New York.
GW: Ty Bassett was very important to the arc of Susanne Bartsch. This girl was born in Bern, Switzerland, and came to New York City from London, where she used to own a store.
SB: I came to New York City for the first time in 1977, and while here, I went to the opening of Studio 54. I hated it. I never liked my first impression and visit to New York City. But I remember seeing Divine in an OffBroadway play on that trip, and I got to go see Gilded Grape, which is still one of my favorite clubs ever. It was in Times Square, and all the trannies used to go there in the late ‘70s. But what freaked me out most on that first visit was the skyline and all the skyscrapers. I couldn’t believe it. Even today, when I travel and drive towards Manhattan, I see that skyline. It’s so intimidating, and it makes me so awestruck. That has never changed.
GW: I know the feeling. It’s always exhilarating when you leave town and come back home, and you’re on that road from JFK, and you see the sparkling city we live in and love so much. The book: Why now? One can’t really call it a memoir, but I guess it is the closest thing we will get to one from Susanne Bartsch. It’s a bit facile, you basically breeze through your life. The pictures are amazing, however.
SB: People have no attention span these days, so I
wanted to make it more about the images than anything else. I guess you could call this book my life in stills, in photos that captured a particular moment through the years. It’s a stroll through the decades.
GW: A quasi memoir, to say the very least, but a worthwhile document on the importance of the heritage and work of Susanne Bartsch and her invaluable contribution to the zeitgeist of the night! And you do give much homage to the creative geniuses that have been an invaluable part of the cabine...the entourage and team of Susanne Bartsch: From Mathu & Zaldy to Joey Arias to Amanda Lepore to many others. She is the Queen! And Bartschland is still ruling the night scene of New York City.
SB: People that inspired me, and so many are not included. The Abrams editors removed many pages and did not tell me. Mr. Pearl is not in there!
GW: Ooh, now that is not a good look! Mr. Pearlabsolute legend! All your fabulous couture corsets are compliments of Mr. Pearl.
SB: I feel terrible.
GW: The photos are amazing; my favorites are those from your runway wedding to David Barton. He is wearing nothing but a white bikini thong— his tuxedo! Those images are everything—even the wedding party. Your look, too!
SB: We were doing a show called “Inspiration at the Manhattan Center” for all the behind-the-scenes people like Danilo and Todd Oldham to be part of this and speak, and then I just thought, why not just get married? I was pregnant with his child, and we wanted to make it right and legal. It was amazing. Playboy sponsored it, too!
We came out at the end and got married. Even Ivana was at the wedding. It’s in a documentary from 2017 on Netflix, Susanne Bartsch On Top
GW: The house of Bartsch & Barton is still on top! His new gym, where we staged the EPIC cover photo shoot of you By David Barton, is incredible. And RuPaul wrote the Foreword—great get! Come to think of it, Susanne Bartsch was certainly integral to elevating the early career of Ru. The days of you having RuPaul be the ‘’Mistress’’ Of Ceremonies at the epic Susanne Bartsch parties in the 1990s at the Copa; the days when Club Kids took the entire month to plan the look for the party held every last Thursday at the famous
Copacabana. The halcyon Days, the Golden Age of New York City nightlife. Much of which you orchestrated. You were the first to help Ru hone his chops as a host and charm a rowdy crowd. He owes you much, too - RuPaul Charles.
SB: I first hired Ru for gigs at Savage and then when we took over Copa. By 1992, Ru was the superstar Mistress of Ceremonies. A total natural. A born superstar. We all knew it.
GW: So true! Doing that Thursday night show host was where Ru joined his chops for enchanting an audience, but he was doing that with Lady Bunny way back in the days of 40 Watt Club in Athens, Georgia, where GW, the baby boy, was fresh off the boat from Jamaica and a foreign journalism student at the University of Georgia, and where I first met Ru and Lady Bunny! And Michael Stipe and Marc Klein! 1981 in Athens, Georgia, the coolest college campus in America. The heart of the American counterculture during the 1980s was Athens, Georgia! It just happened that was when I chose to go abroad from Jamaica to journalism school! I never knew Athens, at the time, was the nexus of cool Americana. But your life has been the supreme performance, Susanne Bartsch.
SB: I do it for the people and my friends. I still live for the reaction from an audience.
GW: I have this incredible idea and vision of Bartschland, Lady Bunny, World of Wonder and RuPaul coming together to stage a once-in-a-lifetime Wigstock-like day of pride, live music and celebration and having Gov Kathy Hochul there. And stage this in collaboration with the Soloviev Foundation and their “Field of Light”. Help make it happen for the Spring of 2025!
SB: I love it: let’s do it! P
spotlight
A MAVERICK BROOKLYN GALLERIST AND THE NEW FLEET OF BLACK ARTISTS TAKING OVER NEW YORK
BY GEORGE WAYNE
PHOTOGRAPHY
gGALLERIST TANYA WEDDEMIRE AND THE ARTISTS
she represents—including famed Haitian-American Guy Stanley Philoche, who’s known for his provocative pop art and commitment to the artist community through his charity and mentorship—are making waves. Tanya’s promotion of Black artists is at the forefront of her business and has paid dividends. We are honored to feature them in the summer issue!
Enjoy this informative conversation between George Wayne, our editor-at-large, Tanya and Guy.
GEORGE WAYNE: Inform us of your heritage and your early interest in the arts, plus your experience leading up to this notion of the ‘visionary Brooklyn gallerist.’ Do you deserve the accolade?
TANYA WEDDEMIRE: I was born in Jamaica and came to the United States at age 11 and fell in love with art while working for the amazing designer Mary McFadden.
I then decided to go back to college, Philadelphia University, where I studied art as a minor and design as a major, along with corporate branding. After leaving college I worked in the interior design field for major brands such as Natuzzi Italia, Ethan Allen and
Pottery Barn, where I fell in love with interior design as well.
After working in the corporate sector for quite some time, something within me said it was time for me to start my own business. Visiting art fairs just before the pandemic, I saw that there was a need for representation and a need for sharing artist narratives, especially around Black and brown artists, and that’s what led to the inception of the Tanya Weddemire Gallery.
GW: It must be a brave New World : “Industry City’’ is a Brooklyn neighborhood GW has never heard of. But then again, what do I know? Where is this cool Brooklyn nabe where the Tanya Weddemire Gallery is located?
INTRODUCTION BY CHRISTOPHER A. PAPE
TANYA WEDDEMIRE
GUYSTANLEY PHILOCHE
“Tanya is an engaging soul; she has a keen sense of visual language and how it should be digested in a landscape of great work. She is committed to your vision and helps you showcase it and share it with the world in providing a great feeling for the shows and venues we have done. She has the right pulse; the gallery is great, the energy is infectious, curation is top notch and the work is being seen and collectors are responding strongly.”
Gregory Saint Amand
TW: Industry City is between Sunset Park and Prospect Park, a city within a city really, and I’m happy to own space and be able to bring new traffic to this wonderful hub.
There are about 700+ companies within this campus and it’s a great melting pot that infuses art with with shopping and dining. I believed that it would be something unique, something different. I have one of three galleries in Industry City and because it is now a Mecca for a plethora of things I felt like this was the brave thing to do. We have been really successful in building a clientele.
GW: Colorful, vibrant, post-millennial portraiture seems to be a particular milieu to the visual narrative of your gallery.
TW: The works that we show are super colorful in composition and also colorful in story. It is very important for us to share that regardless of where we have been or how we may have gone through life‘s journey that there is still a beautiful story to be told. So showcasing colorful portraiture as a staple, or you can call it a recipe for success with our mission, is on spot.
GW: In particular, the standout work of Guy Stanley Philoche. Discuss the intent of the artists you choose to represent.
TW: The thesis behind each artist I’ve chosen to
represent first starts with the person themselves, the beautiful character behind the canvas relatability to cross pollinate within the artist work and the artist themselves. For example, Guy Stanley Philoche’s beautiful series titled “Give Us Our Flowers” is about something that many of us Black and brown people haven’t received. So to really own and pioneer this series has brought him a lot of success.
When you look at Gregory Saint Amand, whose “Playtime” series is phenomenal, you will see that he takes you back to the nostalgia of his childhood days in Haiti. Many of us his kids from a Caribbean background spent our holidays summers in our native country, and that’s where we draw from our culture.
Serron Green, with his “Invisible” series, talks about Black identity and how it is so important for us to be seen rather to be invisible because we have led to so much of today’s cultural vibrancy. And then, my newest signed artist, Moses Salihou, who is from Cameroon, brings a dynamic mixture of portraiture and abstraction with oil on canvas, utilizing this beautiful, scraping heavy brush technique.
GW: Do you consider yourself the postmillennial art dealer as a disruptor? If so? How?
TW: I consider myself to be an art dealer, gallerist,
“For me, Tanya’s tenacity is by far one of her biggest assets. Her energy, effort and work ethic is unmatched. It’s one of the main reasons that I chose to work with her.
Her passion for the arts, better yet, the artist, is something that cannot be overlooked. She, and her entire staff are definitely among the best experiences that I’ve had working with a gallery owner or curator.”
Serron Green
Black woman, curator, mom and sister with a whole new perspective on what gallery culture and art buying process should look like, by making representation matter.
It is important that in this journey we illustrate that art is for everyone to acquire, and for everyone to share in the education of it and the nostalgia of it all with emotions.
I sometimes consider myself a disruptor in a really good way because I am thinking outside the box and bringing in my many years of experience from a retail design art background to really create this customercentric program around buying art.
GW: Which artist in your cabinet would you consider the next art-world phenom? And, why?
TW: So all the artists that I represent should definitely be a part of the new art world phenomenon for several reasons. Because I know who they are, I see their passion for their work and also the story and the magnitude of the work that they bring that is solid and high quality. But if I was to pick one person out of the group, I would definitely say Guy Stanley Philoche. He is the more seasoned artist on my team and he has a phenomenal body of work from his early days of entering New York City, believing in himself and really driving it
all the way to the top. He has created a name along with a story around his works. He also sets an example for many other artists to follow.
GW:Plans for ‘The New Season’ - September 2024 - include what for The Tanya Weddemire Gallery?
TW: September 2024 will be very busy for the TWG. At the beginning of the month we will be participating in Art on Paper, which takes place at Pier 36 in Manhattan. Guy Stanley Philoche, Gregory Saint Amand and Serron Green will all be in that show. And then in the second half of September, TWG will also participate in the Affordable Art Fair for the second time. Works by Moses Salihou and Candice Tavares, plus three Ethiopian artists, will be there.
GW: You’re a gal born in Mo-Bay, Jamaica, so tell us how that early youth shaped your ambition for the arts.
TW: The girl from Montego Bay has shaped me to be the person who never stops believing in yourself and to keep going. I was blessed with two grandmothers who were fighters. I spent a lot of time with Joyce Binns, my grandmother, and called her the Jill of all trades. I would watch her plant her garden and work in her
SERRON GREEN
“Tanya is a breath of fresh air in the gallery industry. She recognizes the potential in all of her team members and provides a nurturing environment for them. She engages with the community with sincerity and compassion. I am incredibly inspired by Tanya and grateful to be a part of her team. ”
Briana Thompson - Gallery Intern at Tanya Weddemire Gallery
chicken farm and she was also a seamstress. She had nine kids. My aunts and my uncle and I would watch how hard they would drive, so that was a great platform for me to see what it is to have determination and to know that you can overcome anything. My grandmother Ivyline Fleming is also an activist in Montreal and she has fought for many years for immigrants to have equal work and equal pay along with fair housing. I’ve just been blessed to see my family do really great things and I’m sure that is where my energy, and that burst of ambition comes from.
GW: Tell us about your working philosophy.
TW: The Tanya Weddemire Gallery is a vital resource for and representation of the arts:
A beacon of light to a pathway of Cultural Caretaking and diversity beyond the confines of our environment. Our mission is to deepen the value and importance of art in our community by exploring various bodies of work with thoughtful, steady and careful curation.
GW: In sum, expound on your gallery philosophy and narrative and what the blueprint for the Tanya Weddemire Gallery will be in Q1 come 2025.
TW: The blueprint for the gallery is very simple: gal-
lery culture, artist development, and being customercentric with our clients.
We want to make art accessible to every single person. We want to formulate payment plans so that those people will also be able to purchase that art. We want to be able to foster great relationships with artists. We want to also make sure that every investment counts, every single moment that we spend with an artist, whether it’s an attack or cross-pollinating with another brand, that the value is seen, and that the recognition for the work is understood.
In retrospect for Q1, 2025 I do see us going back to the West Coast and working in the L.A. market and then looking forward to working in the Chicago market as well. In addition to that there will be some solo shows for each of the artists on my roster of artist representation; and we will continue to ensure that we normalize the art-buying process. We want everyone to see that it’s everyday people that are making these purchases, and that that can be you, too, so that is one of our biggest philosophies: that art is for everyone and not just one particular group or sector or demographic of people. P
tanyaweddemiregallery.org
GUYSTANLEY PHILOCHE
GW: What inspires you to paint?
Guy Stanley Philoche: Life serves as the driving force behind my artistic journey, with each phase inspiring a unique expression on canvas. The current series, “Give Us Our Flowers,” emerged from the profound impact of losing a close friend. In contrast, earlier works like “Untitled” explore the vibrant juxtaposition of colors drawn from the dynamic imagery of New York City. The “No Comment” series was a response to the silencing of accomplished women in their professional and personal lives. Life, with its many contrasting layers, resembles an onion that must be peeled back to reveal its core.
GW: You’re very connected to the artist community, especially to artists who aren’t yet as successful as you commercially, can you explain how you help them and your motivation for doing so?
GSP:I have a deep appreciation for emerging artists, as I was once in their position, benefiting from the guidance of great mentors who motivated me. Now, I strive to give back in my own way. I conduct talks and welcome artists to visit my studio. Recently, I was honored with an honorary doctorate and had the privilege of delivering the commencement speech to the class of 2024 at Paier College of Art, where I completed my undergraduate studies. Sitting on that stage, looking into their faces, and reminiscing about my own time in their place was an extremely humbling and surreal experience.
GW: Tell us about your latest series. What was your inspiration for that?
GSP:My latest series pays tribute to those who have come before us and, importantly, to those who are still with us. Traditionally, we reserve our expressions of gratitude and appreciation—the giving of flowers—for those who have passed. This series challenges that norm by celebrating and honoring individuals while they are still here to witness it.
The inspiration for this series is deeply personal. A year ago, I lost a close friend who passed away young. As I stood among mourners, I was struck by the repeated sentiment of regret: so many wished they had expressed
their love and appreciation while he was still alive. Struggling to process my own sorrow, I turned to painting, my natural outlet, and just like that, the series was born.
This body of work is a heartfelt expression of gratitude to those often underappreciated—mothers, children, families and others. Each piece is adorned with flowers, symbolizing the recognition and appreciation we should extend to those around us every day. The series serves as a reminder to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions and presence of our loved ones while they are still here to receive it.
GW: You’re a Haitian-American, can you tell us how that influences your work?
GSP: My influences are from every day, my roots are ingrained in my everyday life. I think often of my family while painting and where I came from, especially with the current series, “Give Us Our Flowers,” as I try to celebrate all those still with us today.
GW: What’s next for you?
GSP:Next up is the Hamptons Fine Art Fair in July. I’m constantly contemplating new series, though it’s not something that can be forced. Inspiration strikes from various sources—conversations, articles and everyday life. The shape of a tree, the act of people-watching, and the myriad details of daily existence all serve as catalysts. Art, after all, is omnipresent, found in the everyday objects and mediums surrounding us.
GW: Who are your collectors?
GSP:My collectors are both individuals new to my work and repeat longtime collectors, corporations and fellow artisans who possess a discerning eye and a profound appreciation for art. They are not just passive admirers of what’s visually presented on the canvas but engage deeply with the layers of meaning behind each piece. These collectors see beyond the surface, interpreting the subtleties and complexities embedded in the artwork. They value the thought process, emotions and narratives that drive each creation, making them true connoisseurs of the art world. P
philochestudios.com
Meet the Rest ofTANYA’S TEAM
Moses Salihou -A CAMEROONIAN ARTIST BASED IN TORONTO.
He explores the ideas of belonging and existence by creating work that blends elements of portraiture and abstraction. Salihou’s thick application of paint creates a textural intensity that mirrors our own internal complexities. Central to Salihou’s work is his belief that human beings are composites of various identities, experiences, beliefs, and emotions. Salihou’s gestural application leaves the defining features on the faces of his portraits only loosely representational. The portraits become composites of various people rather than fixed and stable identities, allowing the observer to be a participant rather than just a viewer. These rich surface effects provide Salihou’s work with a sense of dynamism that captures the fluidity and movement he ascribes to the concepts of identity and personhood.
Salihou has exhibited across the United States and Canada. His work is also in private collections globally, including Europe, New Zealand, Africa, Asia, Canada, and the US.
Tatianna Mack - ART LIAISON AT TANYA WEDDEMIRE GALLERY
“Working with Tanya has been truly a joy. Tanya’s deep commitment to her community and the well-being of those around her is evident in everything she does. She not only seeks personal success but also actively fosters an environment where everyone can thrive. Her unwavering support and dedication have made it a privilege to work under her leadership, and I am continually motivated by her example.”
Daijia Canton - CREATIVE COORDINATOR AT TANYA WEDDEMIRE GALLERY
“Working with Tanya is a constant reminder of your exceptional abilities and the significant value you bring to any environment. I aspire to emulate her leadership style, which seamlessly integrates strength and compassion. Tanya possesses the unique ability to cultivate environments that acknowledge and nurture your skills in a way that makes you feel supported and empowered.” P
Gala 2024 Manhattan School of Music
BY W.A. MULLER
MSM Students perform
Overture
Delle
Donne from Nine
Manhattan School of Music hosted its 2024 Gala at the iconic Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Plaza.The gala honored two-time Tony Awardwinner Brian Stokes Mitchell and longtime Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization President Ted Chapin. A celebration of the school’s prestigious Musical Theatre Program, the evening was hosted by MSM alumnus, Broadway mainstay and Tony Award-winner Shuler Hensley, and featured performances by current students of the MSM Musical Theatre Program as well as solo performances by Alysia Velez, MSM alumna and star of the acclaimed 2022 Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods All performers were either MSM alumni or current students, and the evening featured musical direction by David Loud, legendary Broadway Musical Director and MD of the MSM Musical Theatre Program. Pianist and MSM artistic staff member Shane Schag accompanied the performances, which were overseen by Liza Gennaro, MSM’s Dean of Musical Theatre.
Brian Stokes
Skyler Hensley, Shuler Hensley, Zoe Chapin
Ann Ziff, Dominique Laffont
Adrienne Vittadini, Marco Pecori, Margot Patron
Some of the notable attendees included: honorees Ted Chapin (former President of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization) and Brian Stokes Mitchell (two-time Tony Award winner and Broadway legend); the evening’s Host, Shuler Hensley (Tony Award-winner and Broadway mainstay); Alysia Velez (recent graduate of MSM’s Musical Theatre Program and Rapunzel in the acclaimed 2022 Broadway revival of Into the Woods); Ann Ziff (Chairman of the Metropolitan Opera Board of Directors); Dominique Laffont (Advisory Director, The Metropolitan Opera; namesake of the Met Opera’s Laffont
Competition); Adrienne Vittadini (fashion designer); Jack Viertel (theatrical producer and author); Scott Dunn (Associate Conductor, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and MSM trustee); Anne-Marie McDermott (internationally acclaimed classical pianist); Noreen Buckfire (philanthropist and MSM International Advisory Board Member); James Roe (President and Executive Director, The Orchestra of St. Luke’s); Chloe Flower (pianist and composer); Linda Oh (Grammy Awardwinning jazz bassist and composer); Joe DiPietro (Tony Award-winning playwright
and lyricist of Memphis; I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change); David Loud (legendary Broadway Musical Director; Musical Director, MSM Musical Theatre Program); and Liza Gennaro (choreographer; MSM Dean of Musical Theatre).
Founded as a community music school by Janet Daniels Schenck in 1918, today MSM is recognized for its more than 1,000 superbly talented undergraduate and graduate students who come from over 50 countries and nearly all 50 states; its innovative curricula and world-renowned artist-teacher faculty that includes musicians from the New York Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera
Shuler Hensley, David Loud, Brian Stokes Mitchell, James Gandre
Ann Ziff, James Gandre
Brian Stokes Mitchell, Lorraine Gallard, James Gandre, Ted Chapin
Boris Thomas, Magda Gutierrez
Orchestra and the top ranks of the jazz and Broadway communities; and a distinguished community of accomplished, award-winning alumni working at the highest levels of the musical, educational, cultural and professional worlds.
The school is dedicated to the personal, artistic and intellectual development of aspiring musicians, from its Precollege students through those pursuing doctoral studies. Offering classical, jazz, and musical theatre training, MSM grants a range of
undergraduate and graduate degrees. True to MSM’s origins as a music school for children, the Precollege program continues to offer superior music instruction to 475 young musicians between the ages of 5 and 18. The School also serves some 2,000 New York City schoolchildren through its Arts-inEducation Program, and another 2,000 students through its critically acclaimed and pioneering Distance Learning Program. P
msmnyc.edu/giving/msm-annual-gala-2024
The school is dedicated to the personal, artistic and intellectual development of aspiring musicians, from its Precollege students through those pursuing doctoral studies.
Alysia Velez
David Loud, Pedro Porro
Noemi Neidorff
Mike Sepso, Chloe Flower
Adofo
Telling Untold Stories
through Every Image
BY JULIE SAGOSKIN
Photography CHARLES
PHOTOGRAPHER AND FILMMAKER
Charles William Adofo gives others a glimpse of life as he sees it through his own unique artistic lens.
Born in the bustling city of Accra, Ghana, Adofo recalls how he became inspired by the beauty of the sights and people around him. “I discovered the power of storytelling through the lens and developed a passion of capturing people’s lives through portraiture,” he said.
His talents have since taken him across the world as he has worked on collaborations with brands including Sony BMG, The French Deal Paris, ESPN, Republic Records and more. “I find comfort in capturing moments of
human experience, he said.
At the heart of his passion is always the people he photographs. It is what he describes as those raw and authentic moments that he’s able to capture on camera that he believes not only transcend language, but also “speak to the soul.”
“While I’ve worked with global brands and prominent people, I find the most joy in shooting portraits.”
Adofo explained how, for him, portraiture is about connecting with another person’s soul and then using his photographic skills to show that connection to the world.
“It’s about the play of light and shadow, the frozen poetry of motion
and the raw beauty of the human spirit,” he said.
Whoever his subject is, his goal is to allow viewers to see things through their eyes. He explained how this is true whether “it’s the hands of an elder or a whisper of nature.”
He also describes his work as a “journey into the heart of humanity,” something he achieves by telling an untold story with each and every image.
In addition to exhibiting his work throughout Ghana, Adofo also works as a freelance creative by collaborating with studios in Manhattan and Long Island City. P
Cwstudioaglobal.com
Hamptons Fine Art Fair
World-class Expo in Southampton
BY BENNETT MARCUS
The Hamptons Fine Art Fair returns to the Elks Fairgrounds July 11-14, and promises to be bigger and better than ever, with a record 140 select galleries welcoming more than 10,000 guests over the four days. In fact, the Fine Art Fair is not only the top show on the East End – it’s one of the finest art fairs in the world, attracting collectors and exhibitors from around the globe.
Galleries and artists hail from 20 different countries, including Colombia, South Africa, the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, Germany, Sweden, Albania, Argentina, Canada and Spain.
Top-tier art fair
“Think about it,” said the fair’s founder Rick Friedman “They’re coming to a little town like Southampton, a little regional show, from 20 different countries. There’s never been such an international breadth like this.” On display will be over 600 significant artists, both emerging and blue chip masters like Warhol, Basquiat, Joan Mitchell, Alex Katz and Ed Ruscha. Prices are for every budget, starting at $5,000 to what Friedman calls the “sweet spot” for paintings, $20-30,000, and others selling for hundreds of thousands and into the millions.
One of the fair’s new featured artists is Libby Klein, whose work is influenced by her Jewish heritage. Klein will show her paintings of Jerusalem and The Western Wall. She will also exhibit several of her signature family trees, including one of Britian’s royal family – depicting the lineage of Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles III, Prince William and Princes Kate, and their children, George, Charlotte, and Louis. libbykleinart.com
Last year, the art fair generated $10 million in art transactions over four days, which Friedman noted is a lot for a small regional
Family Tree by Libby Klein
show. “I like to say it’s a regional show that buys like a national show.”
Sophisticated
Hamptons collectors
It’s not simply the area’s wealth that makes the fair so attractive to international galleries. It’s a very sophisticated, educated, art savvy market. “We have a mindset here of openness, eager to discover new artists, internationally-focused, big thinking,” Friedman explained. That’s not the case in most other cities, said Friedman who has run art expos in many places including Houston, San Francisco, Palm Springs, Silicon Valley and Philadelphia. “In the Hamptons, our 10,000 guests are really prime candidates to buy and explore arts from all over the world.”
Highlights: Jewelry, Game of Thrones props, Nelson Mandela works
Highlights this year will include rare jewelry, wearable art and a 32-carat diamond from world-renowned jeweler Yvel. Hertiage Auctions, a sponsor, will display collectibles in many categories, from illustrations to sports to coins, plus a very exciting new category: movie props. They just got the rights from HBO to deal in Game of Thrones items. “They’ll be selling the costumes, the crowns, the thrones from that production,” Friedman said. “And that’s going to be with much fanfare.”
One gallery is bringing artworks created by Nelson Mandela when he was in prison. London’s Omer Tiroche Gallery will display post-war art by the likes of de Kooning, Basquiat and more. “He’s never been in the Hamptons and we’re very pleased to show him.”
Splatter-art performance
Distinguished New York gallery Gary Snyder Fine Art opened a venue in Bozeman, Montana, and discovered an artist there, Ben Miller, whom they’ve dubbed the new Jackson Pollack because he flings the paint from 8 feet away onto canvas or plexiglass by
fly casts used in fishing. He crosses the U.S., focusing on endangered waterways, and will do a live performance at the fair, on a large mural that will be auctioned off to benefit the South Fork Natural History Museum & Nature Center (SoFo.)
Hamptons Artists Hall of Fame
The Hall of Fame honoring six Hamptons artists initiated last year is back. The concept is to amplify the careers of artists, many of whom are deceased, that may have been somewhat overlooked. “Many of these are artists that have been passed over in the ‘50s, ‘60, ‘70s. We’re basically re-exploring their many accomplishments in what we call the
major rediscovery.” One, Amy Zerner, one of America’s great tapestry artists, is still alive. She’s also a prolific author whose 50 books have sold 3 million copies. “Amy is quite distinguished, and not really a household name,” said Friedman.
Spotlight Artists
Another category, “spotlight artists,” focuses on artists from around the world exhibiting at the fair, highlighting their work and their different backgrounds. Amaranth Ehrenhalt, an abstract expressionist painter in the ‘50s, is one. “She did extraordinary work, and again, is under the radar. I think people will say, ‘Oh, my God,’ when they see her works.”
VIP opening benefits
The VIP opening on July 11 will have both an afternoon and an evening session to accommodate all who wish to attend and alleviate traffic problems from everyone arriving at the same time. VIP tickets are $200; the afternoon will benefit Guild Hall in East Hampton, and the evening portion will benefit the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill. “We’re excited to be able to donate money to those two important institutions,” Friedman said. Day passes cost $50.
White party; young collectors
On Friday evening is a young collectors party for those age 40 and under. On Saturday evening is a White party at which everyone is encouraged to wear white. “Come as a blank canvas, if you will. It’s summer fun here at the Hamptons.”
The 17-acre property will have two pavillions, the de Kooning and the Pollack, totalling 70,000 square-feet, with parking for 500 cars. A sculpture park will feature 12 pieces by prominent artists. There will be food trucks on-site, and two bars. “We want people to come for lunch or dinner and stay and enjoy the show.” P
hamptonsfineartfair.com
Rick Friedman (PHOTO PMC)
Andy Warhol (OMER TIROCHE GALLERY)
Karen LeFRAK
COMPOSER, AUTHOR, VOLUNTEER & POODLE BREEDER
BY R.COURI HAY
PHOTO BY DANNY SIT
KAREN LEFRAK HAS FILLED MANY roles throughout her life, wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, author and poodle breeder. She is also an accomplished composer with 13 studio recordings so far, a catalogue of 300+works and a performance history that spans worldwide by such orchestras as the New York Philharmonic, the Shanghai Symphony and the Mariinsky Ballet Orchestra.
LeFrak, who is married to New York real estate developer Richard LeFrak, has embraced each facet with exceptional passion and vigor, and she spoke to us about her very fulfilling life with warmth, humor and a “pinch-me” sense of gratitude.
Fairytale Romance
Even the story of her marriage is like a fairytale romance; she first met her husband Richard when she was 15 and he was 17, at a party attended by both of their families. “His father took me by the hand and said to Richard, ‘I‘ve known this little girl since she was born. Ask her to dance,’” Karen said. “And Richard asked me to dance, and I looked up at him - he was six foot three and I was five foot two – and I thought, oh my God, he is just amazing, with a great big shock of blond hair and the bluest eyes. I had a mad crush on him.”
They dated on-and-off for seven years, and he proposed on Valentine’s Day of her senior year in college. “We got engaged and 54 years later, here we are.” They have two sons, five grandchildren and two poodles, and split their time between Manhattan, Southampton and Miami.
Thriving Music Career
Ms. LeFrak is a natural-born musician who began playing the piano by ear at age three, and in the sixth grade wrote her first song, which was performed at her Merrick, Long Island school. “It was called I’ll Sing, and when I played it for the music teacher she had the whole school sing it at an assembly.’” LeFrak’s father sat in the front row, beaming. “I’ll sing for pleasure. I’ll sing with delight, I’ll sing with my heart, I’ll sing with all my might,” LeFrak recalled the lyrics, laughing, “They sounded like a Hallmark greeting card.”
In high school she joined the choir, and her talent took her far. “I learned the rudiments of harmony because we were singing in four-parts: soprano, alto, tenor, bass,” she explained. “If you have a good ear, you can apply that to the instruments in the orchestra’s woodwinds, brass, and strings sections.” She excelled in music theory classes. “I could always count on my music grade to bring up my whole average.”
Life took her in different directions, and she only became serious about a music career as an adult, once her children were grown, but it was always alive in her. LeFrak even taught music at her children’s nursery school. “I didn’t want to leave them alone at the school, so the director of the school found a job for me.
“I was sorry I didn’t major in music at Mt. Holyoke College where I earned my BA degree cum laude so around 1986, I returned to school to pursue a master’s
degree in musicology from Hunter College.” Her awardwinning thesis which won the Dean’s Award in Arts and Humanities surveyed the commissioning activity of the New York Philharmonic from 1842 – 1986. “I was inspired to study piano seriously after hearing a friend perform the 4 Chopin Ballades at a house concert. I was so taken by her performance that I couldn’t get out of my chair. I arranged for lessons and practiced several hours a day. After a while, when my piano coach went to the hospital, instead of playing my repertoire, I composed my first solo piano miniature. My teacher was impressed and encouraged me to continue!” I felt I could never play or interpret what I heard as well as I wanted so I made a conscious decision to give up playing and only compose instead. It was my goal to have my grandchildren (whom I didn’t even have yet), know that their grandmother was a composer.” I wrote a lullaby for each when born. Polly’s lullaby later became the Whale’s Theme in Sleepover at the Museum
From piano, she went on to study composition and with the help of notation software, and two very able professional musicians, a conductor and scholar, taught herself to arrange music for multiple instruments. There followed solo, chamber and orchestral compositions which were performed by ballet companies and chamber groups and orchestras basically by word of mouth.
Composing Everyday
L eFrak continues to compose the piano miniatures every day and describes them as having lyric melodies with interesting harmonic structures that say the most with the fewest notes. “Where does the inspiration come from to make 300 individual paintings?” She replied when asked about creating that number of compositions “For the most part, the one word that drives the origin of my works is – emotion.” Even as a child, when LeFrak improvised, her mother told her she could always tell how she felt by her music.
Brimming With New Projects
And she’s been busier than ever in recent years, with the pandemic providing much time for reflection, creativity and inspiration leading to recording and releasing the thirteen studio albums since 2021. “They include such titles as Interlude, Tomorrow, Gratitude, Clarity, Continuum, Awakening, and more. The latest releases have titles such as Penumbra, Gemstones, Verdure and Echo and there are 40 solo piano pieces being recorded as I type.”
Superstar violinist Joshua Bell praised her first album project, I nterlude , saying, “Karen LeFrak is a true RENAISSANCE woman. One can find much-needed peace and comfort in this beautiful collection of piano miniatures.” Music industry powerhouse David Foster also weighed in on her debut album, saying, “Karen LeFrak’s melodies are haunting, memorable and simply complex. Melody is king and Ms. LeFrak does not disappoint to even a nano second!!!”
This fall LeFrak released a holiday album, Chris tmas Cookies, consisting of chamber music. Her music has been included in hundreds of curated playlists and has been streamed close to 37 million times through Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora and other streaming sites.
“ONE CAN FIND MUCHNEEDED PEACE AND COMFORT IN THIS BEAUTIFUL COLLECTION OF PIANO MINIATURES.” - Violinist Joshua Bell
Karen & Joshua Bell (PHOTO GETTY)
Katharine McPhee, Karen LeFrak & David Foster (PHOTO PMC)
Venues: Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, White House & ABT
L eFrak’s works have been commissioned and performed across the United States, Europe, Russia, and Asia including David Geffen Hall and the Koch Theatre at Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, Moscow’s Kremlin for the 250th anniversary of the Bolshoi Ballet School, Symphony Space in New York, National Sawdust in Brooklyn, Bethel Woods Arts Center, Festival Napa Valley, and the White House – where her musical works Acceptance and the New Yorker Trio were honored at an International Women’s Day Luncheon.
“MELODY IS KING, AND MS.
LEFRAK DOES NOT DISAPPOINT TO EVEN A NANO SECOND!!!”
- David Foster
Miami Concerto shines at U.S. Capitol
A hig hlight this year was the premiere of Miami Concerto for guitar and orchestra by the Miami Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maestro Eduardo Marturet with the GRAMMY-winning guitarist Sharon Isbin as soloist. Its first movement was performed at the National Symphony Orchestra’s annual Labor Day concert on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, also with Isbin and conducted by Maestro Enrico LopezYañez. It is scheduled to be performed at the Aspen Music Festival the summer of 2025, as well as the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra that same summer. A recording is in the works of a chamber orchestral version of this piece which will be conducted by Enrico Lopez-Yañez with Sharon as soloist and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s.
“Cover” assignment – Beyonce & Rihanna LeFrak was floored to be among those asked to submit music for a new television series Queen Charlotte, a spinoff of Bridgerton. “They gave me the assignment of taking a Beyonce and Rihanna piece, and develop classical versions of them,” she said. “I had such fun doing that!” In the end, her composition did not make the cut, but the experience proved useful – one of the instruments she chose was the celesta, a piano-like instrument with a delicate, bell-like tone similar to a glockenspiel. When it came to doing her Christmas album, she featured it. “In the Sugar Plum Fairy in
the Nutcracker, it’s the very high, crystally, tinkly instrument which immediately says joy. So the celesta made the piano and chamber pieces on my album sparkle.”
Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary
LeFrak is excited about a new commission she’d just gotten, as part of the National Symphony Orchestra’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. The orchestra has begun commissioning composers around the country, and they’ll present the works throughout that year.”
She’s already hard at work on it and will give it to the master orchestrator Bill Ross to lend his magic.
Children’s Books
At the same time she launched her career as a composer, Karen LeFrak made her debut as an author of children’s books to much acclaim. Her first two volumes, Jake the Philharmonic Dog and Jake the Ballet Dog, introduced young people to the worlds of music and dance. The idea for this canine character came from LeFrak’s work with the New York Philharmonic, where the principal stagehand did actually have a mixed-breed terrier named Jake, a well-loved presence backstage, serving as mascot, greeter and stressreliever.
As an author, LeFrak has been invited to speak and read at schools, museums, bookstores, and concert halls throughout the country, including the Natural History Museum of Los
Karen & Richard LeFrak
BY HARRY BENSON (2009)
Karen & Maestro Eduardo Marturet
Woody Allen & Karen (PHOTO CHRIS LEE)
Gary Ginstling, Karen LeFrak & Justin Ellis
Karen & Conductor Case Scaglione
Karen’s Senior Superlative
Karen with NY Philharmonic Brass Section
Harrison LeFrak, Karen LeFrak, Richard LeFrak & Jamie LeFrak (PHOTO PMC)
Karen & Sharon Isbin
Karen & Richard’s 25th Anniversary
Jaime Hickey, Calvin Royal, Karen LeFrak & April Giangeruso (PHOTO PMC)
Cheerleading
Karen LeFrak
Angeles County, Miami’s Frost Museum of Science, and New York City’s famed public library, among many others.
In her third book, Best in Show, LeFrak shared her passion for raising and breeding standard poodles. Her more recent book, Sleepover at the Museum, published in 2019, was named a 2020 International Literacy Association CBC Children’s Choice title. She decided to write a musical composition to Sleepover, and that has now been played all over the world. After its premiere in Miami, it was performed in Shanghai, Beijing, Washington DC, California, Omaha, Montana, Singapore, Nashville, New York with a ballet version in Chicago and Guatemala and is expected to have future bookings in Winston Salem and Anchorage so far. Can you just imagine how inspired the venues get performing this work. “I’ve witnessed conductors and orchestra members on stage in pajamas!”
want this dog around a hotel “with nobody loving it.”
“We found that the hospitality manager actually wanted a poodle. So, I interviewed him, and I decided he could be “dog-worthy” because I’m very strict about who’s going to love my dogs,” LeFrak said. “So I found an available female, a four-month-old puppy from Chicago who was shipped over to the hospitality director who is now going to be the proud owner of this puppy who you could just eat up with a spoon, she’s so cute.” They named her Josephine Wyld Card Fontainebleau but call her “Fifi” for short.
While LeFrak has successfully published four books, she’s written a total of seven – the others did not make it into print. She had the unpublished books illustrated and bound and gave them to her grandchildren. “One of them was about their dog and themselves, and another was about a dog who went to the hospital to bring comfort to medically fragile children and adults. LeFrak started the pet therapy program at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York and brought her own dogs there. She brought her dogs to NYU Hospital and to the piers to comfort victims and families of the 911 tragedy. Of this she says, “It was one of the most rewarding volunteer jobs I have ever had.”
Fifi at the Fontainebleau
LeFrak’s next children’s book, Fifi at the Fontainebleau has a marvelous backstory. Her husband Richard was a minor investor in the new Fontainebleau Las Vegas. At the Vegas property, the owners wanted to pay homage to the classic Fontainebleau Miami Beach, which once had an ultra-private, opulent spot known as the Poodle Room frequented by Frank Sinatra and his Brat Pack pals. So they’ve installed, in the Las Vegas hotel, a members-only Poodle Room on the top floor, with sweeping views of the city, including the Sphere.
Karen, a poodle breeder, got a call from Jeff Soffer, the hotel’s owner, saying he needed a poodle. “I said, ‘You what?’” LeFrak laughed. “He said, ‘I need a poodle. We have to have a live mascot for this place because it will broaden the appeal for families and even gamblers who want a little chuckle or want to see it a little more ‘humanized.’”
Dog lover LeFrak insisted she’d have to interview the person who would be going to own the pooch, because she would not
“We flew out for the opening of the hotel, and I fell in love with Fifi, who commands the attention of everyone who stops, pets her and takes pictures with her. And she’s really fulfilling the idea that Jeff and the staff had for a mascot of this enormous, casino and resort. And I said, ‘Move over Eloise at the Plaza Here’s Fifi at the Fontainebleau.’”
“I’VE WITNESSED CONDUCTORS AND ORCHESTRA
The book’s first draft, crafted along with the expertise of Karen’s former publishing editor, Emily Easton, is already done, with a wonderful illustrator in mind. We envision plush toys and possibly other “Fifi” merchandise that hotel guests can take home as mementos.”
Passion for Poodles
MEMBERS ON STAGE IN
PAJAMAS!”
As LeFrak’s kids got older, she decided she wanted a dog, even though her husband and sons weren’t crazy about the idea.
She’d had a poodle as a child, so the breed already resonated with her, and once a veterinarian friend introduced her to a big white standard poodle, she was hooked. “I saw a woman walking down the street with two white standards. I got out of my chair at a restaurant and ran down the street following her and said, ‘Where did you get them? I need them.’”
The woman’s breeder in Massachusetts had a waiting list, but someone had backed out and he offered LeFrak the poodle which she accepted. “Little did I know that Richard
“Sleepover at the Museum” by Karen LeFrak
called him the next day and said, ‘I don’t think she should have a dog because she’s in graduate school.’” She was determined. “So I challenged Richard. I took Jamie, my youngest son, who didn’t think we were really going to get a dog, and the vet who was instrumental in telling me I wanted a white standard poodle, and we brought home this dog named Ruffle. Well, Ruffle became the love of everybody’s life.”
When Ruffle was 10, Richard encouraged her to get another dog just in case anything would happen to Ruffle. Her breeder only had a female who was destined to be a show dog. The more he said she couldn’t have her, the more she persisted and eventually became the proud owner of Ale Kai Diamonds and Pearls who brought Karen into the world of dog shows. “I was introduced to people who felt about dogs the way I did. It was wonderful to be with like-minded people, like people who go on golf outings or tennis outings or whatever. It’s a way to connect with another world.”
“I WAS INTRODUCED TO PEOPLE WHO FELT ABOUT DOGS THE WAY I DID. IT WAS WONDERFUL’
She knew nothing about breeding poodles, but she learned quickly, and produced many champions, including the legendary Ch. Ale Kai Mikimoto on Fifth, who was the top-winning poodle in America, earning 88 Best in Shows and multiple Westminster group awards. One winner of 50 Best in Show awards called “Ru,” was recently retired to breed and hopefully produce another prize champion.
Volunteering: The Phil, MSK & Central Park
LeFrak is a member of the President’s Council of the Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering. She previously served on the New York State Council on the Arts and as President of the Women’s Committee of the Central Park Conservancy and of the Volunteer Council of the New York Philharmonic. She is on the board and a member of the executive committees of the New York Philharmonic and the Kennedy Center where she serves as chair of the artistic committee. Her husband has been generous to several institutions including the American Museum of Natural History, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Amherst College, the Prostate Cancer Foundation, the Kennedy Center and Prospect Park. He graciously donated the lobby of the Philharmonic’s new David Geffen Hall, which Karen calls the most beautiful gift
imaginable. “People use it daily as a place to hang out,” she said. “And there’s a great projection wall that features the concert. It’s phenomenal”
Renaissance Woman: A capacity for can-do-it-all
As LeFrak says when she was designated one of the top 10 women who light up the art scene over 50 a few years ago,” At my age today, I have more fun with my work. I’m very conscious of doing a good job, but I have more confidence that I’ll achieve my goals. And I have no time for things that are toxic – I seek out experiences and people who bring positive energy. Life is too short to invest in anything that doesn’t create joy.”
Whether a wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, author, poodle breeder or composer, Karen LeFrak seems to be able to juggle AND do it all. An inspiration to women, she is admired, head-strong, and always marches on with a captivating smile. “But I can’t cook,” she says. P
karenlefrak.com
Karen at The National Dog Show
Southampton Arts Center’s SummerFest
Gala
If there is one Park Avenue couple to put on your radar, it’s Jamee and Peter Gregory. As philanthropists, this star couple support the arts and mental health awareness at the heart of their giving. And now, this summer, their enduring support for culture and community will be celebrated at the Southampton Arts Center (SAC), marking a significant milestone at the 11th Annual SummerFest Gala on August 17. The prestigious event is not just a summer soiree; it’s an acknowledgment of those who have ardently championed the arts. This year, the SAC honors Jamee and Peter Gregory with the Champion of the Arts Award, recognizing their unwavering dedication. The gala, co-chaired by notable figures such as Audrey and Martin Gruss, Karen and Richard LeFrak, alongside others, promises an evening of elegance, purpose, and celebration. Esteemed co-hosts join in solidarity for this cause, underscoring the communal spirit that drives SAC’s mission forward.
With proceeds from this grand affair channeling into SAC’s vibrant tapestry of offerings—including four world-class exhibitions and over 150 programs annually. The center serves as a cultural hub where roughly 45,000 visitors a year get to experience film, music, dance, theater, among other artistic expressions on their premises; SAC plays a pivotal role in fostering community connections and bolstering local businesses. It’s a testament to how art can serve as both mirror and catalyst for society’s evolution.
“THE KEY IS BASICALLY A SENSE OF HUMOR, AND A LOT OF LUCK,”
&
GREGORY JAMEE PETER
Their Journey in Philanthropy
BY NADJA SAYEJ
A Beacon of Hope & Artistic Vision
Jamee Gregory, a Vassar graduate, majored in French and Art History. She is known for her tailored, colorful style on the red carpet, and has chaired major galas like the MSK Spring Ball, where she previously served as President of The Society of MSK. She was a contributing editor at Architectural Digest and Elle Decor, worked at Viking Press, Mademoiselle, Town & Country and was Director of Special Events at Sotheby’s. She is the author of two interior design books published with Rizzoli: New York Parties: Private Views, and New York Apartments: Private Views
Meanwhile, Peter Gregory was a Financial Advisor and Senior Portfolio Manager at Morgan Stanley in New York City. Born and raised in New York, he attended the Choate School, and went on to earn a BSFS in International Affairs from the Georgetown University Walsh School of Foreign Services, followed by an MBA from Columbia School of Business Administration. While he started his financial services career
as a security analyst, he previously worked for Citigroup Asset Management and Smith Barney, and has over 40 years of experience in managing assets for private clients and institutions.
Jamee and Peter Gregory’s philanthropic narrative extends beyond their support for the arts. Their commitment to spreading mental health awareness has been equally transformative. Previously honored with the 2022 HOPE Community Award at the Hope for Depression Luncheon, their dedication has left a mark on the landscape of mental health advocacy. They’ve supported the HDRF since its inception in 2006, and the duo has a deep-rooted belief in advancing research and understanding around depression. In fact, Jamee served as Grand Marshal for the Race of Hope in Southampton 2020—a symbolic gesture underscoring her commitment to mental health causes.
Giving Back to Society
Their story is more than just about individual accolades or moments of
Rand with Feast of Friends
(PHOTO BO ROBERTS)
Jamee & Peter (PHOTO PMC)
recognition; it embodies a broader narrative about leveraging resources and influence for greater good—a reminder that true wealth lies not just in what one possesses but also in what one gives back to society.
In essence, Jamee and Peter Gregory exemplify how collective action grounded in empathy can transcend boundaries—transforming lives through art appreciation while tackling critical issues like mental health head-on. As they prepare to receive yet another accolade honoring their tireless work at Southampton Arts Center come August 17, their story will leave a mark on this influential art center.
The couple have been married for over 50 years. The key to their successful marriage, says Peter Gregory, is patience. “He says patience and I say the key is that we don’t agree on anything,” said Jamee Gregory. “We’re always trying to convince the other of something.”
“The key is basically a sense of humor, and a lot of luck,” said Peter Gregory. “And I think in the Beginning your instinct is always right. And that keeps sustaining you in what you feel for your partner.”
The duo walks for four miles a day together, be it in New York City or the Hamptons or somewhere on their travels. “That’s a great thing we always do to start the day,” said Jamee Gregory.
“And I think that we really are different people and we’re always pulling each other in different directions,” says Jamee Gregory. “I do think it’s fun. It’s like yin and yang— we get along pretty perfectly.” P
southamptonartscenter.org
Jamee & Peter (PHOTO PMC)
Simone Levinson, a long-time Southampton resident, is not an art collector, and is quick to make the distinction. Rather she considers herself to be a custodian of the arts, having the rare privilege to take care of some of the finest works in the world by artists such as Rashid Johnson, Cecily Brown, Louise Bourgeois, Kasama Lan, and Helen Frankenthaler.
For Simone, art transcends language, giving the viewer the ability to approach difficult situations or concepts with a new sense of clarity, and has been a crucial anchor throughout her life. Growing up, she was surrounded by artists. Her mother and grandmother were painters, with the latter even having a private ceramic studio. She was also a child actress, starring in over fifty advertisements and numerous appearances in television, film, and stage – most notably a co-starring role in “Little Darlings” -- in addition to studying at the School of American Ballet. “Whether it was writing or ballet, art was a way for me to express, to connect, to vent. For me, art was everywhere. Art was my oxygen,” she said.
Co-Founder and Co-Chair of Southampton Arts Center
Now, she is able to share her deepseated love for creative expression with her community through The Southampton Art Center (SAC). The founding of the SAC began in 2011, when Simone learned the Parrish Art Museum was planning to move to
SIMONE LEVINSON
Custodian of the Arts
BY LEXI WOLF
“I LOVE PUTTING THE SPOTLIGHT ON THESE UNSUNG HEROES AND TELLING THEIR STORIES, BECAUSE, HOPEFULLY, THEY CAN INSPIRE OTHER PEOPLE TO BE THEIR BEST SELVES.”
Watermill, and saw an opportunity to create something new and unexpected. “I was thinking about what would add value to the community and animate this 15,000 square landmark,” she said. “One thing we did not have was a multidisciplinary art center– where we could showcase a variety of artistic modalities.”
Although Simone originally passed the seedling of the idea to then mayor of Southampton Mark Epley for him to execute, she and her fellow cofounder, J. Whitney Stevens, opened the groundbreaking institution in 2013. Eleven years later, the Center has grown and become a beloved institution in the community, offering a plethora of programs and exhibits, including visual arts, live entertainment, film screenings, lectures, children’s workshops and more.
The center sprawls over three acres of land, which Simone believes has certain magical properties. “The land brings out the best in people from all generations and walks of life. It essentially becomes a playground for people to create memories with their families, with their friends and to learn and do something new,” she said.
SummerFest 2024
SAC signature fundraising event, SummerFest, has quickly become a highlight of the season. With last
year’s event bringing in special guests Ariana Debose and Jessica Vosk, one would think Simone would solely be looking forward to another star studded performance. However, she is most excited to spotlight philanthropists Peter and Jamee Gregory, who are the honorees of the evening.
“There’s a phrase: character is who you are when no one’s looking, and Peter and Jamee exemplify that saying. They have been pillars in the Southampton community for decades, and I’m so excited to applaud them for everyone to see,” she said. “I love putting the spotlight on these unsung heroes and telling their stories, because, hopefully, they can inspire other people to be their best selves.” In addition to Simone and her husband, real estate developer David Levinson, Audrey and Martin Gruss, composer Karen and Richard LeFrak, and Hilary Geary and Wilbur Ross will serve as co-chairs for the gala.
SummerFest is in celebration of all of those in the community who help make SAC special.
“It’s been a pleasure and a privilege to have served all this time in the capacity of a founding chair. SAC was built by and for the community,” Simone said. The event will also be highlighting the best the East End has to offer, serving food from restaurants such as Amalfi, Bamboo, Clamman, Saaz, Shippys, and El Verano.
Rand with Feast of Friends
(PHOTO BO ROBERTS)
Simone & David Levinson (PHOTO PMC)
Highlighting Female Art Patrons
Last year, SAC’s exhibition “Change Agents” was spearheaded by Simone. The show spotlighted female art patrons and their underappreciated contributions to the art world. The idea spawned when she realized the most important art museums of the 20th century, The Whitney, The Guggenheim and MoMA, were all founded by exemplary women, Gertrude Whitney, Peggy Guggenheim, and Abigail Rockefellers respectively. “No one has ever really connected these dots before, especially in a way to recognize the impact of the great, pioneering female collectors,” Simone said. This year’s exhibition, titled “Couples Squared” was guest curated by Phyllis Tuchman. The show, which focuses on couples, including husbands and wives and partners, who inspire one another’s work, will be on view from July 27th through September 14th.
Moonlights as a Curator
In addition to her work at the Southampton Arts Center, Simone also curates art for her husband’s properties. Simone’s method to curating is holistic and thoughtful, approaching each project with a meditative mindset and carefully considering the purpose and impact of each artwork within the specific environment. “In a way, art is like a portal,” she said. “It’s an exchange of an idea; offering a different way of seeing something, and can elevate any environment.” One of her most recent projects includes Four Twenty Five, a Jean-Georges Restaurant located at 425 Park Avenue. P
southamptonartscenter.org
Simone Levinson (PHOTO PMC)
Growing up in Short Hills, New Jersey, Kimberly Paige Bluhm lived a storied life before she was a devoted philanthropist – from debuting alongside Cornelia Guest, the daughter of C.Z and Winston Frederick Churchill Guest at the Infirmary Ball to fulfilling her lifelong aspiration of becoming an actress.
Eventually her show business dreams came true when she landed a role as a recurring extra on All My Children, alongside Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos. However, the realities of the industry led her to pursue other avenues, such as working for celebrity photographer Steven Meisel, the artist behind Madonna’s iconic Sex book, which she had a hand in creating. “I used to go to Madonna’s apartment at the end of the day to show her the photos and assist with the shoots,” she said. “I remember for one shoot, she was wearing a trench coat with nothing underneath it. It was on the side of the highway, and all of a sudden, she would drop the trench coat and he’d start snapping photos. It was very, very risqué. I am much more conservative, but it was very interesting to be involved with it firsthand.”
Globe Trotting
Kimberly has spent much of her adult life abroad, living in London, where her son Liam was born, and Budapest. Her time in Hungary was her first foray into the world of philanthropy. “I worked for the State Department through my husband at the time and traveled all around the country to raise money and give out grants – mostly to orphanages and misplaced children. The
KIMBERLY BLUHM PAIGE
Leading with Kindness
BY LEXI WOLF
“SOME OF THE CHILDREN ARE HOMELESS, COME FROM BROKEN HOMES, OR ARE CHALLENGED FINANCIALLY IN THEIR LIVES. I’VE MET WITH THE STUDENTS AND THEY’RE PASSION AND TALENT BLEW ME AWAY.”
grants allowed for these orphanages to create nutritional programs and supplied updated books, computers and other educational necessities,” she explained.
A Perfect Romance
Now, Kimberly splits her time between Chicago, Aspen, Palm Beach and Miami, and has become a pillar in every community. In Aspen, she served on the board of Jazz Aspen, a nonprofit organization that benefits children in the Roaring Fork Valley. “We raise money to supply instruments and education to help young students, so they can express themselves through music. This organization is so important because music programs are the first to go when there are budget cuts,” she said. Jazz Aspen also hosts an annual musical festival on Labor Day, performers have included Stevie Nicks, Kieth Urban, and Billy Idol. In addition, Kimberly is on the National Council of the Aspen Art Museum.
The idyllic mountainside town is where she met the love of her life, real estate and casino tycoon Neil Bluhm, on a blind date. “We were actually fixed up,” she said. “A mutual friend of ours gave Neil my phone number and we met a few months after that,
Neil & Kimberly Paige Bluhm
and I instantly felt like I had known him forever. This is the best chapter of my life. I am married to a man I love dearly who I admire and have so much respect for. I feel very, very fortunate and blessed to have him in my life. He’s an incredible man.”
Neil shares Kimberly’s passion of giving back to the community. Among his endeavors includes The Justice Council of the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern, where he founded the Bluhm Legal Clinic, which is widely recognized as one of the most comprehensive and effective programs in the country. Neil was also instrumental in the creation of the cardiovascular program at Northwestern Hospital, which is aptly named the Bluhm Heart Hospital.
Giving Back: The Dreyfoos School of the Arts & Miami Dade Impact Collective
Kimberly continues to give back to the community through notable organizations in both Palm Beach and Miami. One in particular is the Miami Dade Impact Collective, a group composed of dynamic and compassionate women dedicated to addressing the needs of the underserved populations in the community. “Our mission is to expand and initiate crucial programs and services to those in need in the Miami community,” Kimberly stated. To date, the collective has raised 3.6 million dollars.
In West Palm Beach, Kimberly is devoted to the Dreyfoos School of the Arts, a public
high school that centers on student’s creative pursuits. “They’re singers, they’re musicians, they write poetry, they’re actors. They all have a talent,” she explained. “Some of the children are homeless, come from broken homes, or are challenged financially in their lives. I’ve met with the students and they’re passion and talent blew me away. It’s an incredible, incredible place.”
Kimberly’s ethos in life is to lead with kindness. “There’s so much hatred and so much toxicity in the world, and it is quite frankly, frightening.” she said. “I make a conscious effort every day to be grateful for my life, but also to remind myself to be kind and to everyone no matter who they are. I just think you have to lead by example.”P
Kimberly Paige Bluhm (PHOTO ANNIE WATT)
Mercedes de Guardiola
New Age Philanthropist
BY LEXI WOLF
Inaddition to being an author and working in innovation consulting, Mercedes de Guardiola loves supporting nonprofits. Whether it’s through volunteering, fundraising or simply talking, she is determined to leave the world a little bit better than the way she found it.
Memorial Sloan Kettering
Mercedes has a deep personal connection to Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) as her mother has been a member of the Society Board for more than 35 years and volunteer at MSK. Mercedes has been a member of the Children’s Committee for five years, focusing on supporting pediatric cancer patients through hands-on involvement, event planning, providing holiday gifts and fulfilling wishes for children undergoing treatment. “There’s no easy way to be a kid with cancer,” she explained. “To see a child go into treatment every day and live in the pediatric wing for a good part of their childhood is heartbreaking. We’re there to make the kids’ days a bit brighter, and, personally, it’s just so special to see their joy.” Mercedes believes any volunteer effort can make a lasting impact on the children, whether it’s responding to their wish lists, donating Halloween candy or picking out outfits for their prom.
Additionally, Mercedes is on the Associates Committee, which is an avenue for the younger generation to support MSK’s mission. This committee’s primary goal is fundraising to support critical cancer initiatives, such as transplants and cellular therapy research. “Our part, no matter how small, supports the success of these initiatives, and MSK’s research is going to dictate what the future of cancer care will look like,” she said.
Frick Collection
During her time at Dartmouth, Mercedes dual majored in history and art history. She continues to explore her passion through her involvement with the Frick Collection, located on 70th Street and Fifth Avenue. “We have amazing behind-the-scenes tours with the curators and visiting artists. It’s truly spectacular what they’ve done with the program.” As a member of the Frick’s Young Fellows Steering Committee, Mercedes is dedicated to making art accessible to the public through their educational programs, which aim to open the museum to students in New York City and around the world. Through the program, she directly supports this cause through fundraising events such as their Young Fellows Ball, which is considered one of the top social events of the year. Recently, the Frick went through an extensive renovation, implementing state-of-the-art
spaces for education, research and conservation. “It’s a beautifully designed renovation,” she said. “It stays true to the building and the original spirit of when it was formed, and I’m thrilled to support it.”
Hope for Depression Research Foundation
With the growing mental health crisis in our country, Mercedes enjoys supporting walks for Hope for Depression Research Foundation (HDRF), a nonprofit research organization that raises critical funds for cutting edge depression treatments. Founded by Audrey Gruss, their supporters include the likes of Brooke Shields, Anderson Cooper and Dakota Johnson. HDRF hosts galas, luncheons, seminars and their ever-popular Race of Hope in the Hamptons, New York and Palm Beach, Florida. “I’ve been going to the Race of Hope in Southampton since it was founded, and it’s incredible to see how successful it’s become,” Mercedes said. “We need more research on the science behind depression, so it’s great to see so much support for their cause and be able to raise more funds.”
Save Venice
Save Venice, a philanthropic organization dedicated to restoring cultural sites in Venice, is another cause close to Mercedes’s heart. As an art lover, she emphasizes the
Frick Young Fellows Ball (MATTEO PRANDONI/BFA)
importance of conservation efforts for such a multicultural city, which she considers one of the world’s treasures. “Save Venice’s conservation projects are not just focused on paintings, it’s also about saving places of cultural importance. In the last few years, they have also homed in on the work of female artists in Venice who have often been ignored throughout history. Being able to bring forward this forgotten history is so extraordinary to see firsthand,” she said. As a member of the Young Friends of Save Venice Steering Committee, Mercedes works on bringing the younger generation into the organization through lectures with leading conservationists and fundraising events, such as their annual Un Ballo in Maschera at The Plaza.
The New York Junior League
Mercedes has been a longtime volunteer of the New York Junior League (NYJL), a women-led volunteer non-profit that partners with community-based organizations to serve the city’s women, children, and families. “It’s our women who step up and ask, how can I help the community? We do everything from serving at food banks to helping out seniors in nursing homes. I love being a part of it.” Mercedes previously chaired their Playground Improvement Project, which brings in 600-800 volunteers for its annual large-scale park restoration projects in partnership with NYC Parks, as well as oversaw the NYJL’s large-scale restoration and ondemand volunteer programs as part of Management Council. P
mercedesdeguardiola.com
Joanne de Guardiola & Mercedes de Guardiola at HDRF’s Race of Hope (PHOTO PMC)
Mercedes & Alex Rose (PHOTO BFA)
Joelle El Sawalhi & Mercedes at The Society Of MSK’s Winter Lunch (PHOTO PMC)
Mercedes with the New York Junior League
HISTORIAN MERCEDES DE GUARDIOLA
SHOCKING REVELATIONS ON EUGENICS IN AMERICA
BY BENNETT MARCUS
In New York City, philanthropist Mercedes de Guardiola lends her time and energy to worthy causes including the New York Junior League, Memorial Sloan Kettering, the Frick Collection, and Save Venice. An innovation consultant, de Guardiola is also a historian specializing in the history of eugenics, the pseudo-scientific field of selective human breeding.
Her research in the subject has helped shed light on a little-known and shocking fact: That state-sanctioned eugenics was commonly practiced in America beginning in the 20th century. Yes, what you’re thinking is correct: Eugenics is the theory of racial improvement and planned breeding that was the foundation of Nazi Germany. “The term eugenics itself is not really well known in America, but eugenics was a foundational part of public policy well across the 20th century and one that impacted so many people,” de Guardiola explained.
“THEY WENT AFTER PEOPLE ON THE BASIS OF RACE, ETHNICITY AND RELIGION, LARGELY BASED AROUND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS. MENTAL AND PHYSICAL ABILITY WAS ALSO AN IMPORTANT FACTOR.”
Shocking new book
Her new book, “Vermont for the Vermonters”: The History of Eugenics in the Green Mountain State, focuses on the practice in that state. It was one of many states that adopted eugenics as the basis for public policies such as family separation, institutionalization, and sterilization that targeted the most vulnerable and led to widespread intergenerational damage.
The topic was suggested to de Guardiola by her professor at Dartmouth, and she later turned it into her honors thesis. “There was some public awareness that there had been a eugenics program in Vermont; that’s not always the case in many states,” she said. “There’s so much research that needs to be done on this field of history. I was intrigued by all the questions that there were left to answer about it.”
“To eugenicists, it wasn’t just about the color of your
skin, it’s about where you came from, your socioeconomic status. It really brought to light that eugenicists thought of this ‘superior’ race as a social construct.” Targeted groups included Native Americans as well as French Canadians, Irish and Italian immigrants that today we think of as white, and certain religions. “They went after people on the basis of race, ethnicity and religion, largely based around socioeconomic status. Mental and physical ability was also an important factor.”
Part of how we see eugenics today is that eugenics was intended to be intergenerational, she said. “We didn’t have the killing programs that Nazi Germany did, but there was absolutely a deliberate intention for American eugenics to destroy or completely remove certain bloodlines over time. It was meant to destroy particular families over time.” And in the shorter term, such practices were intended to “poison the well,” causing deeply traumatic intergenerational harm.
7-year project
Completing the project was challenging, and from beginning her work Dartmouth to later having a full-time job, de Guardiola wrote at night and on weekends over seven years from start to finish. Finding the motivation to dig into a particularly a difficult subject one like this wasn’t easy.
“History doesn’t exist in a vacuum. My goal was for readers to take away an understanding of what eugenics meant for everyday people being institutionalized or sterilized — I’m hoping that they can understand the scope of this policy with the human toll it took.”
Next book in mind
Research, writing and studying history is a passion, and de Guardiola hopes to continue her work.
“There’s still so much that hasn’t been said about eugenics across America, so I’m continuing to dive into it and hope to have another book in the coming years.”
“Vermont for the Vermonters” is available to purchase on Amazon and from the Vermont Historical Society website. P
ASerial
ENTREPRENEUR
Bradford Rand’s Event Empire
BY LEXI WOLF
From relying on food stamps during his childhood to purchasing an apartment on Park Ave and a Ferrari before his thirtieth birthday, Bradford Rand is a prime example of the American Dream. Rand, and his various companies, have produced over 2,500 events since 1993, ranging from cyber security summits to charity events to fashion shows, and he has no plan of stopping anytime soon.
The Entrepreneurial Spirit
The intention behind Rand’s first business venture, TECHXPO, was to earn enough money to move to Los Angeles and pursue a career in music or acting. However, once he realized the extent of his success, and the possibility of expanding on it, he decided to stay put, making a name for himself through
Rand with Feast of Friends
(PHOTO BO ROBERTS)
a chain of acclaimed expos, conferences and job fairs, but perhaps his favorite event in his vast resume was a fashion industry career fair as that is where he met his wife, Melissa. But in 2000, Rand was on the brink of losing everything he created due to the dot-com crash, accumulating over $300,000 in debt. However, after the events of 9/11, he developed his next great plan. “New York was still smoldering,” he said. “But then I came up with the idea to produce job fairs for the defense industry, as we had just gone to war with Iraq. I said a prayer to God the day before we started, and I ended up making $300,000 after the first show and paid off all my debts.” During this time he was also featured on CNN as a Maverick of the Mourning
Persevering
Rand then went on to produce his Go Green Expo, capitalizing on the momentum from Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth.” This event would go on to be the largest eco-friendly trade show in the country, landing Rand on programs such as the “Today Show,” speaking upon the importance of sustainability practices. He also founded Cyber Security Summit, an exclusive conference series connecting C-Level and Senior Executives with cutting-edge technology providers and renowned security experts. He sold this company in 2022 to Cyber Risk Alliance –along with TECHXPO – for a considerable sum if his most recent purchase, a 2005 Ferrari F430, which he plans to give to his son one day, is to say anything.
Rand Luxury and Hamptons Concours
Having always had an affinity for the finer things in life, Rand founded the aptly named Rand Luxury, which produces a series of consumer charity events showcasing everything from private jet companies to fine wines. Although their current catalog of luxury goods shown is extensive, it could be
said the idea originated from his love of cars. “We started to produce launch events for brands like Lamborghini, Bentley and RollsRoyce. We also produced a launch with Bugatti, where Jay Leno was the guest of honor, and the Monticello Motor Club with Jerry Seinfeld.”
He brings his passion for cars to the East End with Rand Luxury’s annual Hamptons Concours. Taking place at the Fishel Estate in Bridgehampton, the event features nearly a hundred million dollars worth of McLarens, Aston Martins, Bentleys, Ferraris and Porsches. As a bonus, many of the exhibits are up for sale, giving attendees the option to drive off in their very own sports car. As for beverages, guests can expect their tumblers to be filled with Glenrothes scotch and their flutes with Telmont Champagne. Sponsors
for the event also include Morgan Stanley. There is also a competitive edge to the show. “We bring in a series of car collectors who know everything about cars, even more than me,” he said. “We judge both Ferraris and Porsches separately, each with its own set of awards. There’s a prize for the top three or four Porsches and another for the top three or four Ferraris.”
Although the displays would be reason enough to draw a crowd, there is also a sectioned pen filled with dogs and puppies available for adoption from the Southampton Animal Shelter, their primary charity for this year’s iteration. “We have one of the most prestigious car shows in the region, but we’re also raising money. I love cars, but I also love giving back.” Previous years have benefitted organizations such as the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
A Family and Music Man
As if his plate wasn’t already full with his multiple business ventures, Rand is also a father to two sets of twins, which he accredits to French white wine. When asked how he’s able to balance it all, he said, “I sleep very little. Only four or five hours a night.” So whether it’s taking his son for a joyride and a round of golf or chartering a helicopter to get his girls to a Taylor Swift concert, he proves business is important, but family is everything.
Even with the parental and entrepreneurial demands, he also finds the time to fulfill his original dream of being a rock star. His tribute band, Feast of Friends, features Rand as the lead vocalist, with acclaimed musicians such as Ty Dennis and Forrest Penner of The Doors and Leo Kremer of Third Eye Blind. Their next show will take place on October 22nd at The Cutting Room in NYC and will be paying homage to The Doors. P
randluxury.com
The Hamptons Concours (PHOTO RAND LUXURY)
Georgina Bloomberg & Bradford Rand (PHOTO ROB RICH/SOCIETY ALLURE)
Alex
Reznik
The Brilliant Visionary Behind New York City’s Largest Indoor Playground
BY GEORGE WAYNE
lex Reznik, a committed ‘Gay Dad,’ as he calls himself, has just created the ultimate playground fantasyland dedicated to his three young sons and, in fact, to every kid in New York City. His dream creation, the CompletePlayground, has already become a beacon in the bubbling FiDi neighborhood near Wall Street. Alex is all business the minute we sit to speak after a tour of the absolute fantasyland of a multistory indoor playground complex at 30 Broad Street, right in the heart of Manhattan’s hottest, thriving new neighborhood: the buzzy corridors off Wall Street.
Gym classes, enrichment programs and the largest indoor playground in all of Manhattan are, at 40,000 square feet, a magically transformed space three years in the making.
With summer at full throttle and day camps and after-school programs keeping Complete Playground humming this season.
GEORGE WAYNE: You became famous in New York City as the legendary Mossad-trained fitness trainer with a raft of celebrity clients and the owner of some of the topflight gyms in NYC with your Complete Body franchise. So, discuss the evolution of your focus from gyms to this new 21st-century indoor playground complex for kids.
ALEX REZNICK: I started CompleteBody as my biggest project over 20 years ago. At this point, we are the only independent Gym Chain in Manhattan. However, two years ago, I decided to establish something Different—CompletePlayground: The first and only Indoor Playground in Manhattan, the biggest indoor space in the City. The reason for opening this is very simple: I travelled a lot with my husband and kids worldwide and realized New York is the only place with no indoor playgrounds in the city. I was looking for a perfect place for a couple of years. We ended up
at 30 Broad Street, an ideal space with high ceilings that’s close to the Battery Park with many nearby schools and easily accessible from any spot in the city and New Jersey Area. I knew exactly what I wanted to do because I travel and see a lot of playgrounds, but making it happen took much more effort than I expected. Another thing that was important for me to implement is inclusivity, as I have three sons, Lucas, Milan and Nicolas. Lucas was diagnosed with a sensory disorder at the age of two, and I needed an welcoming place for my whole family.
GW: It’s nice to see your long-time friend and supporter, CNN legend Anderson Cooper, taking over CompletePlayground recently to host his first son’s birthday party. Other celebrity clients have also been early adopters of CompletePlayground.
AR: We opened just recently, and we already have a lot of friends whose support matters a lot to us. Anderson Cooper, Andy Cohen and Narciso Rodriguez among them. It was our pleasure to share all the special dates with them and others. Another celebrity who decided to celebrate with CompletePlayground was Tamron Hall, and our Playground was featured in her TV show. But the biggest award for us is to see their kids happy and feel like we created another special memory for each family, no matter how famous their parents are. We are grateful to feel support from everyone.
GW: What is the age range for the demographic you are courting with your CompletePlayground?
AR: We are perfect for kids from 1 to 12 years old. All of our activities aim to develop different important skills for kids of all needs and abilities. As the biggest indoor playground and the first and only Inclusive Center in NYC, we have a lot of sensory play, movement and interaction-based areas. So all of our visitors, whether it’s family time, school or camp trips, can try everything from sensory games to gymnastics and from learning programs to martial arts classes. All of our games are interactive and sensory-friendly.
GW: Are you also considering aligning the brand with the Special Olympics? After all, you offer unique programs and inclusive activities at CompletePlayground for kids on the spectrum.
AR: Of course. Nowadays, every third child is neurodiverse, so supporting inclusivity is one of the first things about our mission as CompletePlayground. We are currently in touch with the Special Olympics. We already offer occupational and sensory therapy programs for different ages and are working on bringing more to the space as we work with the best therapists in the area. We also have opened the first Sensory room in NYC, we have Sensory Gym and offer special classes for kids with sensory needs and let them have role models like neurotypical kids get to play in inclusive space. We do not plan to stop as we get a lot of grateful feedback for providing such a unique space in NYC. I have seen how it helped my son Milas, who used to be nonverbal, and I see how it helps kids now. When he was five, inclusivity was the only thing that helped him start talking and he became more independent in only a couple of months.
GW: You are the most amazing Gay Dad to three wonderful young sons. They must be so proud and happy that their dad created this simply astounding nirvana of a playground for any growing kid in this city. Well done, Alex Reznik.
AR: Thank you so much. It is heartwarming to get such reviews and meet people with the same values and goals. Hopefully, we will keep growing with their support, but we need all the help we can get. A CompletePlayground is being planned for the next new Manhattan neighborhood along the East River, Freedom Plaza, being created by the Soloviev Group and BIG architects, is one that has our intense focus as it’s not only the CompletePlayground but the CompleteBody gym franchise of mine as well. P
gofundme.com/f/complete-playground
Power Play The of
aGetting Into the Ivy League Requires (Some) Fun and Games
BY W.A. MULLER
s the admissions landscape at top colleges becomes increasingly competitive, students are experiencing greater amounts of pressure early in their high school careers to compete against their peers for spots at prestigious schools. Amidst classes, extracurriculars, social engagements, and college planning, many students and families have adopted an “all work, no play” mindset. But play is essential for students’ wellbeing—and their college prospects.
Admissions officers at Ivy League and other top colleges are looking for students who find genuine enjoyment in their core interests—such passion naturally shines through in their application materials. “Authentic passion is the one thing that cannot be manufactured,” says Christopher Rim, Founder and CEO of Command Education, a boutique college consulting firm. “Often, students prioritize what they assume admissions committees want them to do at the expense of the activities they truly enjoy—and admissions officers can spot this performative resume-building from a mile away.”
topic of research, a small business, or a volunteer initiative—but while students’ interests may come naturally, turning their interests into a stellar hook requires dedication, intentionality, and often some expert guidance.
“AUTHENTIC PASSION IS THE ONE THING THAT CANNOT BE MANUFACTURED.”
The process of discovering a core passion and thereby building a standout admissions profile often starts with play—by diving into activities that they find fun and invigorating, students can discover what truly motivates them. A fun pastime can transform into a
Carolyn M. discovered the value of such guidance during her daughter’s sophomore year at Ransom Everglades School in Miami. “My daughter Elena was burnt out before she even started her second year of high school,” says Carolyn. “Between piano lessons, swim practice, health club, volunteering, and studying, she was steadily losing her interest in everything. Activities that used to excite her started feeling like chores.”
Seeking to help Elena reach her dreams of attending a top school while reviving her passions, Carolyn enlisted the help of Command Education. Senior Mentor Sam Casale emphasized to Carolyn and Elena that
when it comes to extracurricular involvements, it is important to prioritize quality over quantity. During the spring of her sophomore year, Sam worked with Elena to determine which activities were igniting her passion, curiosity, and imagination, whittling her list of commitments down to those that mattered most to her. In the process, Elena shared her love of educational podcasts and Youtube videos—and Sam encouraged her to explore the ways in which she could use these platforms to benefit her community.
“Often, the college application X factor— the element that makes a student stand out from thousands of other applicants—is found in an activity that a student assumes is a useless hobby or non-academic play,” says Sam. “What a student chooses to do with the time they have to themselves communicates the most about what they truly care about. We help them investigate that
passion further so that they can use it to make a difference in their communities and eventually articulate it to admissions committees compellingly.”
With Sam’s guidance, Elena combined her passion for health and nutrition with her love of digital media, developing her own educational podcast for those who wish to implement healthier habits. Sam helped her craft professional and polished emails to potential guests, ranging from her Anatomy and Physiology teacher to the CEO of a local health food startup company. Sam encouraged her to intentionally pursue rigorous coursework that corresponded to her interests, so she enriched her knowledge of the field by taking classes such as Advanced Cell and Molecular Biology and AP Psychology.
Through the process, Elena’s interest in podcasting developed from a fun hobby into an acceptance letter from her dream school—
she is now a student at Johns Hopkins University, where she is pursuing a B.A. in Public Health Studies. She is not the only student to receive an acceptance letter to their dream school with the support of a Command Education Senior Mentor. Over the last five years, 94% of students who worked with the firm were accepted into one of their top three schools, including prestigious institutions such as: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, Dartmouth, Cornell, Emory, Georgetown, UPenn, UC Berkeley, UCLA—and more.
“I would have never thought that the hours Elena spent watching YouTube could turn into such an impressive initiative,” says Carolyn. “I saw the light come back into her eyes when she started working with Sam—I couldn’t be more proud to see her thrive at Hopkins!” P
commandeducation.com
Jackie SIEGEL THE COMPASSION OF
FROM POP CULTURE TO PHILANTHROPY
BY W.A.MULLER
Jackie is in Satin Aliyah deep
ertain public figures will forever be in the modern zeitgeist. The iconic Jackie Siegel is certainly one of them. Known predominantly for The Queen of Versailles documentary and several television series about her life, Siegel is a household name. Her reign in pop culture is legendary, yet to visit with her is to gain a deeper understanding of how she became so incredibly well-known.
Siegel warmly embraces fame. Her grace and sensibilities are what make her unique. While others may just be thrilled to be in the limelight, Siegel has used her eminence for more than just jewels and fancy cars. She’s built a dynasty of philanthropy that outshines all the riches in the world.
JACKIE IS WEARING
Christopher Designs ring featuring L’Amour Crisscut classic diamonds, 14.72cttw GVS and Crisscut Round Diamonds 0.76cttw EVS in platinum.”
Basic info of ring: total weight of diamonds: 15.50cctw
Metal: Platinum
Price: $550k
Color Grade: F Clarity: Vs
IT WAS THIS DEVASTATING TRAGEDY THAT SHOOK UP SIEGEL AND HER FAMILY UNIT.
Siegel’s public persona is documented and spread throughout television and online worldwide. When her award-winning documentary feature, The Queen of Versailles, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2012, it launched her global status. To this day, the film continues to be one of the most popular movies on Netflix and was even featured on Vogue’s 66 Best Documentaries of All Time.
She earned the “Queen” moniker when a decade ago she and husband, David Siegel, began an extravagant project to build the largest private residence in the United States, named Versailles. The ambitious construction ground to a halt as the 2008 recession dented their fortune. The rise and fall of their grand ambitions were captured in the critically acclaimed 2012 film based on their plans for the 90,000-square-
foot behemoth near Orlando, Florida.
This intriguing fixture continued to make bold and memorable headlines with mainstream media across pages of Us Weekly , People and more. She has additionally appeared on hit television shows like Bravo’s “Flipping Out,” “Below Deck Mediterranean,” “Watch What Happens Live” with Andy Cohen, and ABC’s “Nightline & The Doctors.”
And now her life is being turned into a Broadway musical with some of the heaviest hitters in the industry: Celebrated Oscar-winning songwriter Stephen Schwartz and Tony and Emmy Award winner Kristin Chenoweth come together this July for previews in Boston with the “Wicked” actress taking over the leading role. With a book by Lindsey Ferrentino and direction by Tony Award-winner
Satin pointelle stripe blouse with a button back interest
Michael Arden, “The Queen of Versailles” is a new musical exploring the true cost of fame, fortune and family. The brilliant storyline follows her real-life tale, from computer engineer to Mrs. Florida to billionaires.
Embodying the American dream and living in a lavish lifestyle is so attractive that the world has been captivated by her for years. On paper, it’s all golden glory. But the media darling is much more than meets the eye. Her history has also been filled with trials and tribulations. In 2015, her daughter, Victoria Siegel, died from a drug overdose at just 18 years old. She was one of 129 Americans who lost their lives to a drug overdose that same day. Since then, a staggering number of families across the United States have lost a loved one to overdose. In fact, nearly 300 people die from a drug overdose every single day in this country.
It was this devastating tragedy that shook up Siegel and her family unit. Rather than letting grief swallow her she decided to forge a path of enlightenment. Knowing that she never wanted another family to suffer, she was empowered to launch Victoria’s Voice Foundation. Helping save lives by supporting the mission to advance initiatives, achieve policy changes, amplify education, assure critical resources and applaud like-minded organizations addressing drug abuse became her mission.
She and husband, David, have pledged to save other families and individuals from having to suffer across
America. They bring active awareness to the opioid overdose crisis and focus on ways to educate and reform. Through programs and forums, they have shifted minds and hearts such as with the organization’s Victory Academy for Drug Education and Prevention. It’s a diverse and versatile collection of education and prevention programming to meet the needs of communities and at-risk populations nationwide. Live speaking engagements and educational video series have impacted hundreds of thousands of people from students, parents and educators to more marginalized communities in prisons and juvenile diversion programs.
As a trailblazing philanthropist, Siegel continues to spread her wings even further on a global scale. Her newest business venture is leading a successful product line that has a give-back component. Queen of Versailles Coffee was founded with the mission of being the world’s first ultra-premium coffee brand, offering a master reserve selection of green, singleorigin, high-altitude coffee beans from the volcanic soil of the Acatenango region in Guatemala. Alongside business partner Michael Glovaski, the two have created a premium beverage in the market that is both in high demand and focuses on giving portions of profits to various charitable foundations around the world, including Victoria’s Voice.
Siegel’s demanding schedule is driven by her
Lush Mohair Fenton oversized sweater in Oatmeal
LUXURY BRANDS ARE SYNONYMOUS WITH SIEGEL’S STATURE. THE TIMELESS ESSENTIALS OF BOTH HER LINES ENHANCE THE AIR OF CONFIDENCE AND ELEGANCE
dedication and passionate ethos. The dynasty built on compassionate giving is always elevating the community, with her regal nature felt in her presence and apparent in her daily rituals of giving that are matched with self-care.
A majestic figure in the courts of her networking circle, she frequently finds herself out and about promoting her foundation and businesses. It is the former beauty queen’s honor to always entertain and educate, and luckily for those around her she does it with epic style. Wearing such fashionable selections as wardrobe selects from the Grey/Ven summer collection and jewels from Christopher Designs fit for her royal nature perfectly.
Luxury brands are synonymous with Siegel’s stature. The timeless essentials of both her lines enhance the air of confidence and sumptuous elegance expected from a such modern pop icon. Grey/Ven is a brand that is proud to share its passion for sustainability and quality of care in its fabrics. With knits and cashmere from Italy, the best vegan leather from Japan and pieces crafted in the U.S., Grey/Ven has been able to curate the best offerings from around the world all in one place. Christopher Designs is equally worldly and sophisticated. New York’s legendary master jewler Christopher Slowinski combines his classic jewelry training with modern technology to create exclusive designs that include the patented Crisscut stones which are elegantly showcased on popular rings.
It all seems so effortless for a queen who naturally recognizes the powerful message of presence. Charismatic and forever charming, Siegel always finds a reason to smile every single day. Despite the
ups and downs in her kingdom, she will forever be the queen of the castle, full of dignity and pride in what she does to accomplish being a good human.
If the world had more people like Siegel, it would easily be a better place. For now, though, her reign will continue to be a shining example of how to give back to the world in the most beautiful way. P
QVCoffee.com greyven.com
Greenberg
Dr
Photography by Neil Tandy
BY CHRISTOPHER A. PAPE
Greenberg Stephen T.
BEING THE LEADING PLASTIC SURGEON
in New York is no easy feat. It requires a dedication to craft that far exceeds the required level of training and knowledge to be certified or to even have a successful practice. That is why it is remarkable that Dr. Stephen T. Greenberg has become just that—New York’s top plastic surgeon. With his masterful touch and thoughtfulness for all of his patients, he has risen to the top of his profession across Manhattan, the North Shore of Long Island and the Hamptons. We are honored to have spoken with him and feature him in our summer issue.
Within plastic surgery and dermatology, what are the core procedures you focus on?
Being on the forefront of cosmetic plastic surgery for over 30 years, I am honored to provide beautiful and natural looking results to thousands of men and women. I have built my reputation by employing the most sophisticated techniques with the latest technology. My extensive experience enables me to exceed patient expectations in face, breast and body procedures. I specialize in rapid recovery breast augmentations, breast reductions and breast lifts. Oftentimes, I combine breast procedures with tummy tuck, liposuction, cellulite reduction, fat transfer, injectables and skin rejuvenation procedures to ensure that patients are renewed from head to toe. My vision of merging dermatology with plastic surgery and med spa services stems from my passion to provide the most comprehensive patient care coupled with an exceptional patient experience under one roof. My dermatology division provides comprehensive care to adults, teens and children for every skin concern from acne and psoriasis to cancer screenings and Mohs surgery.
What is the philosophy of your work? When I look at a patient, will I know that he/she is a Dr. Greenberg patient? Why?
When a patient is walking tall, smiling and has a sparkle in their eye, people notice how refreshed they are, but they will not detect that my patient had work done. My philosophy is a natural outcome, where patients look and feel 10 years younger but do not have a completely different appearance.
Being a plastic surgeon is like being an artist, how do you achieve such remarkable results?
Over the years I have enjoyed treating thousands of women and men with a personal and individualized approach. I am part surgeon and part artist, and I appreciate the opportunity to play an important role in the lives of my patients. It’s not magic, it’s experience, talent and skill that can give you a magical result.
How do you differentiate yourself from other doctors? What makes you the best?
I take great pride in my doctor-patient relation-
“After 30 years in practice, I still receive great satisfaction from helping my patients reach their aesthetic goals. Once they are happy with how they look, their entire demeanor changes. It is amazing how important these improvements can be to a patient’s state of mind.”
ships and see this connection as key to providing the best patient experience. After 30 years in practice, I still receive great satisfaction from helping my patients reach their aesthetic goals. Once they are happy with how they look, their entire demeanor changes. It is amazing how important these improvements can be to a patient’s state of mind. My modern approach to face and body procedures ensures that my patients have reduced downtime coupled with minimal pain and bruising. I provide my patients with customizable programs that specifically match their anatomy. My miniand micro-mini facelifts provide remarkable results, and a very quick recovery. Combining surgical procedures with amazing new technologies provides more dramatic results.
What are the trends in plastic surgery? Which trends do you agree with and what others do you think patients should stay away from?
There is no time for downtime in today’s fast-paced lifestyles. Patients simply cannot stay home for weeks and need to be available to everyone in their lives from their family to work and personal endeavors. This is what prompted me to create my Rapid Recovery Systems in breast, body and facial procedures. Zero downtime is in high demand for skin rejuvenation as well, technology such as Morpheus8 and CoolPeel are two modalities that I offer in my med spas to tighten and resurface skin without any downtime.
Has the Ozempic boom brought businessespecially Clints looking for skin removal surgery?
Many people who have achieved great weight loss are left with heavy loose folds of skin appearing on the
abdomen, thighs, breast, face, buttocks or arms. The reason that this occurs is that the skin has lost elasticity as a result of being stretched for a lengthy period of time and the skin cannot shrink back to its previous size and shape. Whether the patient had a surgical procedure, used semaglutide, or achieved this accom-
plishment after months of diet and exercise, many parts of the body will not recover on their own. In these cases, excess skin can limit mobility, cause hygiene and medical problems and can result in rashes that could lead to infection.
Fortunately, many surgical Body Contouring procedures can significantly improve the body appearance and reduce this excess skin. Most people in this situation have put a tremendous amount of effort to achieve
their goal weight and with the addition of cosmetic surgery will be able to achieve the best result. My Massive Weight Loss Makeover has been in place for over a decade and has helped hundreds of patients complete their weight loss journey by providing them with a slimmer and more toned appearance.
What drives you to be the best?
I wanted to be a plastic surgeon since I was very young. People are my motivation and helping them provides me with tremendous satisfaction. This is the driving force of everything that I do. I meet patients from around the corner to across the globe that share how their lives have changed for the better since their procedures. Knowing that my patients are living their best lives through looking and feeling their best is a gift to myself that only I can provide.
Are you involved with any charities?
I have continuously supported a variety of charities in the New York area and on Long Island. Children’s charities are very special to me, as I believe in mentorship and contribute to programs that support childhood education. My practice continually supports charitable events throughout the year. Along with my wife, I and and my staff take great pride in the relationships that we have fostered with the nonprofits in our community.P
g reenbergcosmeticsurgery.com
De Beers Jewellers
THE GOLD STANDARD IN FINE JEWELRY
BY JULIE SAGOSKIN
Since their inception, De Beers Jewellers has been the gold - and diamond - star name in fine jewelry. And it’s not just about their looks either - while the brand is known for their exquisite designs and craftsmanship, De Beers Jewellers also pride themselves on their sourcing and sustainability initiatives.
The famed jewelry house was especially able to shine a light on what lies at the heart of their
philosophy and practices during a recent event at Unveiling the Extraordinary, a journey into the art of creation, which was revealed at their latest High Jewelry event in Shanghai.
The brand was able to give a glittering glimpse into their creation process which incorporates everything from ethical sourcing to cutting and polishing one-of-a-kind stones, and turning them into works of art.
“As the leader in diamond jewelry, we are in the unique and privileged position to guide the entire journey of our jewelry from the moment a rough diamond is unearthed, to the moment a future heirloom is unwrapped,” said De Beers Jewelers, CEO Céline Assimon.
“We are the most selective of all the jewelry houses, which is evident when you see, touch, and wear our jewelry. It is an honor to pull back the curtain and share this incredible journey with our clients and friends,” she added.
Unveiling the Extraordinary, which is divided into six chapters, offers insight into the distinguished jewelry brand’s unparalleled standards and expertise which guides their steps while creating each and everyunique and precious piece of jewelry. Through these images and stories, they are able to share their distinguished legacy and also set the stage for their future.
Each and every exquisite stone from De Beers Jewellers is ethically and sustainably sourced. They are, after all, the only jewelry house with a direct connection to the source.
The brand is continuously committed to promoting strengthened economies and communities in its four producing countries of Botswana, Canada, Namibia, and South Africa.
In order to abide by their quest for perfection, every diamond is chosen by eye, never a certificate. The house’s experts seek more subtle qualities through the entire spectrum of white diamonds, which goes beyond the four Cs and extends to D through Z. To transform rough rocks into shimmering diamonds, they use generations-old skills and cutting-edge technology, prioritizing quality and brilliance over size.
Perhaps there is nothing that demonstrates De Beers Jewellers’ dedication more than their perfection of the round brilliant diamonds through the De Beers Iris, their own unique technology that illuminates a diamond’s symmetry, proportions, and light reflection.
Those familiar with the brand will already be well aware of how many of their creations pay homage to the beauty and transcendence of the natural world. The elegant yet contemporary creations move with fluidity and come to life when worn. Some of their most classic collections include Enchanted Lotus and Portraits of Nature.
Their craftsmanship ensures that each piece will be passed down as heirlooms throughout the generations. A crown jewel throughout all of their collections is the DB classic ring. An 11.65 carat fancy intense yellow cushion-cut diamond started life as a much larger rough diamond found in Namibia. They used their skills to make this one of the jewelry world’s most acclaimed pieces and use that same attention to detail in all of their pieces. P
debeers.com
Nick Dr. Mavrostomos
Practice Makes Perfect
BY DELIA VON NEUSCHATZ
there’s a reason that professional athletes, musicians, reality TV stars, actors and actresses seek out award-winning cosmetic dentist Dr. Nick Mavrostomos. Only 30 years old, the hot, young “smile doctor” has amassed an A-list following on account of his beautiful, natural-looking results. But his work is not just about creating a more pleasing dentition. Patients are apt to leave his chair, located at the tony Apa Aesthetic, looking and feeling uplifted in more ways than one. The gregarious doctor reveals how passion, purpose and personality have led to his success.
Can you describe what you do?
I’m a cosmetic dentist. My main focus is smile makeovers. People assume it’s just veneers, and although we do a lot of veneers I treat patients comprehensively. I look at it as
rehabilitating a patient’s mouth with an aesthetic final result. Whether it’s veneers, crowns, fillings, implants, inlays or onlays, we treat the whole mouth.
What is your overarching philosophy when it comes to your work?
My goal is to make people feel and look like the best version of themselves. It’s not about reinventing yourself. The teeth shouldn’t be the first thing you notice. They should complement you.
And the other part of my philosophy, just as important as the final result, is the experience of the patient. I like to spend a lot of time with my patients, getting to know them and informing them every step of the way, making sure they feel like they’re part of the process. I understand that people are trusting me with their face. I don’t take that responsibility lightly and I really try to give my patients a lot of individualized attention. Even after I’m done, I like to stay in touch,
PHOTOS BY HENRY LOU
checking in with them. I want to make people look good and feel good too.
How does a good set of veneers impact someone’s appearance?
When I’m designing a smile, I take a look at someone’s entire face; I’m not even looking at their teeth. The teeth are actually the last thing I look at. I’m evaluating a patient’s facial aging and what other work they’ve had done. I’m looking at the proportionality, structure and shape of their face, their skin tone, their eyes—all those things are huge factors when it comes to improving their smile. I think about what I can do to enhance their whole face with their teeth. The results can be pretty profound.
How often do veneers need to be replaced?
We tell patients 15-20 years. A big factor between 15 and 20 is how well a patient takes care of their teeth. Things like flossing, get-
ting regular check-ups and cleanings are still just as important as when you didn’t have veneers.
What do you charge for veneers?
My fees range between $3,000 and $3,500 per tooth, depending on the case.
What made you go into aesthetic dentistry?
I was introduced to the profession by my dad, who’s a dentist. I saw him do some cosmetic dentistry and it excited me. The truth is I always felt like I would be good at it. I don’t know why, but I always had confidence in my eyes and my hands as a kid, whether it was with art or with sports.
Also, I got my own teeth done in high school. I was born missing some of my adult teeth, so I experienced first-hand the impact that cosmetic dentistry can have. It allowed me to be myself. And being on the other end of it, being in the chair, definitely helped me
‘‘ I UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE ARE TRUSTING ME WITH THEIR FACE.
I DON’T TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY LIGHTLY AND I REALLY TRY TO GIVE MY PATIENTS A LOT OF INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION. EVEN AFTER I’M DONE, I LIKE TO STAY IN TOUCH, CHECKING IN WITH THEM. I WANT TO MAKE PEOPLE LOOK GOOD AND FEEL GOOD TOO.’’
appreciate the work I’m doing now.
You seem like a pretty upbeat person. What do you attribute that to?
I have purpose which ties into my work. I wake up every day with a purpose and a passion, something that I am excited to do and grow in and learn and get better at. That fuels me even though I have a career that’s difficult. It’s a hard profession; I’m not going to lie. There are days that are defeating. You’re dealing with a lot of tough people, tough personalities and high expectations, but it’s also the most rewarding profession in my opinion. To really create something, to physically make something with your hands, place it on someone’s face and see how they change—how they view themselves and their lives afterwards—it’s really fulfilling. So that’s my philosophy on life: you have to have a purpose, then you can find happiness.P
apaaesthetic.com
Roseyard Aesthetics
BEAUTY IN BLOOM
BY DELIA VON NEUSCHATZ
Walk into Roseyard Aesthetics and you’d be forgiven for thinking you stepped into a Parisian retreat— one frequented by those in-the-know, effortlessly beautiful French filles. That’s because, inspired by the luxurious Carita spa in Paris, Francophile owner Elena Feinstein has brought over some cutting edge products and procedures from Europe. And she didn’t stop there. The FIT and NYU business school graduate has also added some of the most effective technologies and protocols to be found this side of the Atlantic. The result is a comprehensive, head-to-toe selection of efficacious treatments ranging from hair restoration to facials, lasers, injectables, body contouring, hair removal, IV therapy and even intimate bleaching. “At Roseyard Aesthetics, we offer a wide range of services tailored to help individuals achieve their aesthetic goals and enhance their natural beauty,” says Elena.
How did you become interested in skincare and what inspired you to open a medspa?
When I turned 40, I felt like I needed extra help with my appearance. Regular facials weren’t doing much for me anymore. As I started looking into injectables and lasers, I became very confused because there are so many options and providers.
You need to be very sure that you’re getting the best service, the best professionals and the best products. But, in a lot of medspas, you don’t really know about the products offered, nor the providers’ level of expertise.
So, I came up with the idea of having a high-end medspa with guaranteed trained and experienced professionals in a spa-like environment. Our team is made up of a select group of European-trained aestheticians, expert injectors and an eyelash specialist who regularly participate in educational programs and attend industry events.
Also, most of the medspas are more like medical rooms. I wanted to combine the luxury of the spa environment with medspa treatments.
What are some of your favorite treatments for the face?
I know the owners of some large aesthetic clinics in Europe and before even starting to get clear plans about what I wanted to do, I consulted with them, asking questions like “If you only have one room and you have to buy just one laser machine, what would it be?”
That’s how I came to choose the Sciton BBL (broad band light) platform. It’s the most advanced and versatile laser technology in cosmetic medicine. I am in love with its Moxi BBL, a resurfacing laser that dramatically improved my skin tone and texture. It’s the best laser treatment for sundamaged skin, correcting uneven pigmenta-
tion and brightening the complexion.
The HydraFacial is my preferred facial treatment when I need an instant boost in my skin’s appearance. It delivers quick results, helping skin immediately appear more youthful, vibrant and even-toned.
And taking the HydraFacial experience to an entirely new level is the integration of Codage products. Codage is a French skincare line formulated by craftsmen in their own labs. Its high-quality ingredients work in synergy with the HydraFacial technology to give you double the benefits, setting our treatment apart from other providers. I wanted to bring something new to New York, but not just any French thing. We really researched the ingredients and I think we made a good choice. We are the first spa in New York to offer this range and we are doing very well with their products. I use them myself. I substituted all the products I was using before with Codage and I’m very happy about it.
For the body, one therapy that stood out to me is Endosphères. Can you describe the treatment and does it work on cellulite?
With its groundbreaking Microvibration system, Endosphères is a multifaceted treatment designed to sculpt, tone and reduce puffiness. You can’t get rid of cellulite completely, but this system does improve its appearance, delivering smoother skin. It’s like having a deep tissue, anti-cellulite massage.
What’s next for Roseyard?
Of course, I want to grow. I am really inspired by the Carita spa in Paris. It’s several floors and super-luxurious. It feels like a private club but at the same time, it’s open to everyone. That’s how I see Roseyard in the future—maybe move to a townhouse and offer additional services including manicures, a hair salon, everything—a one-stop for all your beauty needs.
I also took insight from my recent meeting
at Codage in Paris on account of its bespoke serums. I’d love to have something like that at Roseyard where we customize skincare products for our clients.
What is your guiding principle when it comes to beauty and beauty treatments?
My philosophy of beauty and beauty treatments is very simple. When you’re happy with what you see in the mirror, when you’re comfortable in your own skin, you glow. Radiating happiness and positive energy makes you sexy, appealing and youthful, and attracts positive, happy energy towards you.
We all want to enhance our personal appearance and it’s perfectly acceptable to seek the best possible professional help to accomplish that. I have so much information about medical aesthetics and I would love to share this with other people to improve their self-confidence.P
roseyardaesthetics.com
Dr. Kenneth Mark
Cosmetic Dermatologist
BY LEXI WOLF
Kenneth Mark, a world-renowned cosmetic dermatologist, prides himself in both his outstanding work and the relationships he builds with each of his patients. Although he manages four practices, located in East Hampton and Southampton, NYC, and Aspen, Dr. Mark makes sure he embeds himself in each community, relying on patient recommendations to acquire new clients and remaining the sole physician at each location. “Most other practices operate like factories,” he said. “But we try to provide a real VIP boutique experience for our patients. When they call, we want them to know us, and for us to know them. We’re striving to provide the best patient care experience and the most exceptional cosmetic results.” This personalized aspect is also what drew Dr. Mark to dermatology in the first place. “When I was in medical school, I liked that I could treat multiple generations. In my practice, I have treated the grandparents, the parents, the kids, and the grandkids. I love the continuity of care aspect,” he said.
Aleksandra & Dr Kenneth Mark
(PHOTO PMC)
Master of His Craft
After three years of training in Dermatology at NYU, Dr. Mark completed a two-year fellowship with a cosmetic dermatology surgeon and a plastic surgeon, to sub-specialize in cosmetic procedures, plastic reconstruction, and minimally invasive Mohs micrographic skin cancer surgery. During his education, he witnessed unprecedented advancements in the realm of dermatology, such as the development of lasers, Botox, and hyaluronic acid fillers, leading him to gain unparalleled experience in the art of injectables. “All of what’s being done in dermatology today was brand new when I was coming out of my residency. So, the timing was excellent,” he said.
His Method
Dr. Mark is famous for his layering technique, which involves strategically layering various fillers over time and at different depths of the skin. This methodical approach not only minimizes the amount of filler required but also maximizes the longev-
ity and efficacy of the results. “I don’t want to do the maximum amount for my patients. I want to do the optimal amount, and I’m certainly not in a rush to get it done in one visit. It is always a work of art in progress. It’s all about consistency. We’re layering and topping off, like a good bartender,” he quipped. Although anyone can study this craft, full mastery involves an innate sense of facial aesthetics. “Some of it is having a good eye. I am attracted to beauty, so I know what cheekbones and jawlines and lips should look like,” he explained.
New Procedures: Volux, Skinvive & Emsculpt NEO
Allergan, the maker of Botox and Juvederm fillers, chose Dr. Mark to be part of their faculty to train other doctors, which he has been doing for the past five years. He is also in the top 1% of Allergan’s accounts in the country. “Allergan is the number one company for a reason. They’re not just sitting back and resting on their laurels,” he said. “Constantly learning and seeing these new
products hit the market and how they can make people look and feel better is one of the best things about my career.”
His favorite of their new innovations is Volux, the first and only FDA-approved Hyaluronic Acid filler made solely for jawline definition. As well as Skinvive, which increases hydration to improve skin smoothness and provide a lasting glow for up to 6 months. Dr. Mark believes these recent advancements have already created a paradigm shift in the field of cosmetic dermatology. “It’s not just about lips and lines anymore,” he said. “It’s about thinking like an artist and lifting and sculpting the face. Twenty years ago, everyone who hit 50 was getting a facelift, but now, with tactful injections, those facelifts can be pushed off until 60 or 70.” Dr. Mark also offers Emsculpt NEO, the most cutting-edge treatment in body contouring today – one half-hour session is the equivalent of 24,000 abdominal crunches.
Finding Balance
Dr. Mark has a passion for extreme skiing. He first fell in love with the sport during his childhood, visiting resorts such as Jiminy Peak in Massachusetts and Mount Snow in Vermont. However, his favorite skiing locale is Aspen, where he has a condo and opened his practice. “Traditionally, the Hamptons practice quiets down in the winter, and that gave me the opportunity to do a lot of skiing. I just love the people, the town, the nature, the beauty of Aspen, the food, the wine, everything,” he explained. Dr. Mark’s passion for skiing extends to his family as well. His son, who is only four years old, has already become an accomplished skier. “He took to skiing like a fish to water. He’s already been skiing the top of Aspen Mountain,” he said. “So I spend hours and hours skiing with him in the winter, which is phenomenal, and, luckily, my wife is extremely supportive, loving and a great mother, so it has all just worked.” P
kennethmarkmd.com
Gianfranco &Paula
Sorrentino
FAMED RESTAURATEURS KEEPING THE LEGACY OF ITALIAN FOOD ALIVE— AND TASTIER THAN EVER
BY JULIE SAGOSKIN
PHOTOGRAPHED BY UDO SPREITZENBARTH
GGIANFRANCO SORRENTINO, CO-FOUNDER ALONG WITH his wife, Paula Bolla-Sorrentino and their chef partner, Vito Gnazzo, of the famed restaurant group that is responsible for New York’s most authentic Italian cuisine, doesn’t just serve up gourmet food, he also gives back. Known for his restaurants which are now iconic institutions, including Il Gattopardo and The Leopard at des Artistes, the Naples-born Sorrentino wants to ensure that his legacy lives on—in the freshest way possible.
As the president and chairman of Gruppo Italiano, a non-profit organization, Sorrentino and his team strive to promote the Italian culinary culture, from its products to its producers.
“I’m passionate about this because the Italian people aren’t immigrating to America as much as they used to,” said Sorrentino.
The group is also committed to educating future generations by awarding scholarships for students to attend the Culinary Institute of America and study food at NYU. Their restaurants, Il Gattopardo and The Leopard also run the “Beyond The Dish” project, in which a portion of the proceeds are donated to philanthropic causes based on education, research and equality, such as The Italian Welfare League, Weill Cornell, PF das Ruas, NYU, among others.
“I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THE ITALIAN PEOPLE AREN’T IMMIGRATING TO AMERICA AS MUCH AS THEY USED TO.”
Left: Paula and Ginfranco Sorrentino at The Leopard at des Artistes.
Below: The Leopard entrance on West 67th Street.
“It’s time to give back to the community,” he said. “The problem we have right now is we desperately need people who understand Italian food. We want to bring Italian people here but we also want to cultivate students. The kids who go to the culinary schools learn about different cuisines but they don’t learn enough about one particular cuisine. When they come to train in our restaurants, our chef will tell them to forget what they’ve learned in school, and then teach them what they really need to know about Italian cuisine. The quality of ingredients, the techniques, the simplicity of authentic Italian cookery.”
In an effort to keep the art of Italian cooking alive and thriving—and, most importantly, tasty—Sorrentino offers internships in his restaurants and organizes winery, cheesemaking and pasta tours. He and his team also host webinars to pass their knowledge down to other restaurateurs.
“We teach them about the simplicity and quality of Italian products and cuisine because if we don’t, it’s going to be disappearing,” he said.
According to Sorrentino, that includes understanding the seasonality of products. His own menus change two to three times a year. “Real Italian cuisine should have just a couple of ingredients. It should be simplistic.” And nothing goes on the menu if he doesn’t approve it. The entrepreneur also knows that people are at the hear t of each and every one of his restaurants.
“To keep the authenticity, we always have the right people on board. These people can teach others what Italian food really is,” he said.
To ensure the utmost quality in all of his restaurants, Sorrentino works with over one hundred vendors, each specializing in various types of products. While he admitted that other cuisines are overtaking Italian restaurants in popularity, he believes that Italian establishments are becoming more sophisticated in terms of service and food.
Since the time he embarked on a career in the restaurant business, his philosophy continues to remain focused on one thing: the customer. “Hospitality is not how you serve the customer, but how you make them feel welcome. We share our passion, and, of course, good food and service in a nice environment is a must.”
Sorrentino has been in the food industry for the past few decades and has also served the stars. Some of his biggest fans include Steve Martin, Stanley Tucci, Kevin Bacon, Jimmy Fallon and Paul McCartney, who has been a customer for 30 years.
He shared how the biggest challenge for Italian restaurants has been bringing in the right products. “It was always about immigrants using local products and then people started coming over and bringing new ideas.”
The biggest transformation he noticed in the Italian food scene was when he first came to the US in 1984.
After working around Europe, he got a job alongside Mickey Mouse at Epcot in Disney World. He then opened up Bice restaurants in Chicago, LA and New York. He eventually ran the operations at Sette MoMA, the former restaurant situated in the Museum of Modern Art. He certainly won’t forget his first catering party which took place there for the King of Spain. Since then, he hasn’t strayed too far, with his Il Gattopardo located just across the street.
Each of his current spots showcases Italian food in a different setting. While Il Gattopardo is a more modern masterpiece that is often referred to as “the best kept secret in New York,” The Leopard at des Artistes holds the most history.
Located in the former Cafe de Artistes space, The Leopard at de Artistes is a feast for the eyes as well as the senses. The walls still feature a series of original murals completed from 1900 to 1920 titled Fantasy Scenes with Naked Beauties by Howard Chandler Christy. He recalled how a client once brought his mother in to celebrate her 102nd birthday and explained that she wanted to sit underneath the mural because she was the lady lying in the grass.
It seems that the secret sauce to Sorrentino’s success is him, and, of course, his wife, Paula, who runs the daily operations. “Every year we have done better than the year before except for the year of Covid,” he said.
He’s also here to set the record straight on the fact that dry pasta is not necessarily inferior to fresh pasta.
“It’s a matter of the type of flour you use. We use different ancient grains without hormones or cholesterol. The choice of pasta is dependent on the sauce.
He also wants to impart another piece of wisdom, especially to younger people.
“ We must to teach the new generation to give more importance for food and the quality of ingredients, then to trendy gadgets, iphones and clothes, that will not contribute to our health.” P
theleopardnyc.com
“TO KEEP THE AUTHENTICITY, WE ALWAYS HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE ON BOARD. THESE PEOPLE CAN TEACH OTHERS WHAT ITALIAN FOOD REALLY IS.”
Top Photo : One of the delightful 1920s murals in The Leopard main dining room
Above: Chef Partner Vito Gnazzo and Executive Chef Vincenzo Adamo
Left: The Sorrentinos with The Leopard General Manager Tiziano Maiela and Chef Vincenzo Adamo.
A Modern Approach to Cantonese Cuisine
BY RYANN REYNOLDS
Welcome to YAO, where Cantonese cuisine gets a modern makeover and your taste buds embark on a flavorful adventure. Tucked away in the heart of the Financial District, YAO offers an unparalleled modern Cantonese dining experience that delights even the most discerning palates; and the decor rivals the elegance of the Met on a first date and you’re in for a truly sumptuous meal.
At Yao, step into a realm where sophistication meets culinary mastery, offering both à la carte options and tantalizing tasting menus starting at $138 per person. Embark on a dining odyssey complemented by a meticulously curated wine list, promising to enhance your adventure. Whether you choose
to revel in the vibrant ambiance of the spacious dining hall or opt for the intimacy of one of three private dining rooms, every experience at YAO is one worth savoring.
Co-founder Thomas Tang, steeped in a lifelong commitment to hospitality, joined forces with the visionary Chef Kenny Leung in 2015 to establish August Gatherings, igniting a culinary phenomenon that continues to captivate gastronomes. Chef Kenny’s culinary journey began at a tender age, rooted in classical Cantonese training. He now features international inspirations, crafting dishes that transcend time with their tantalizing innovation.
Picture yourself greeted by a steaming bowl of Wensi Tofu Soup at YAO—an illusion of vermicelli noodles adrift in a flavorful bone broth. Yet, upon closer inspection, those
“noodles” unveil themselves as meticulously sliced tofu, resembling pasta—a culinary gem originating from 18th-century Jiangsu, rarely found in the bustling metropolis of New York City. Each bowl is an epitome of Chef Kenny’s mastery, demanding around 10,000 knife strokes and yielding a silky, noodle-like texture that envelops each spoonful in a velvety embrace.
If you opt for the tasting menu, the Wensi Tofu Soup receives regal treatment with the addition of Alaskan king crab, infusing the savory broth with a whisper of oceanic sweetness—an exquisite prelude to the culinary voyage ahead.
For those exploring the à la carte offerings, prehap begin your gastronomic journey with a delicate portion of Marinated Jellyfish with Sesame or savor the succulent Grilled Berkshire Pork, a visual delight with its tender, cloud-like texture—a testimony to Chef Kenny’s culinary finesse. Then, do not miss the
signature Traditional Chinese Salt-Baked Free-Range Chicken, both tender and flavorful, accompanied by a generous heap of scallions enhancing its savory allure. Let the Angus short ribs steal the spotlight with their tender succulence bathed in a rich, dark sauce that marries sweetness with savory sophistication. Prepare to be pleasantly surprised by the Assorted Organic Mushrooms in a Hot Stone Pot, a vegetarian delight defying expectations with its tantalizing blend of flavors and textures. Served piping hot, the rice and five-mushroom medley continue to cook, infusing the dish with a delightful crispiness that contrasts harmoniously with the tender rice—a testament to YAO’s dedication to innovation.
Explore the menu a bit further with the Fresh Whole Sea Perch with Bones, an adventurous treasure hunt amidst a sea of flavors, or succumb to the fiery allure of Mapo Tofu with Lobster, where silky tofu meets crunchy lobster
in a delectably spicy union. Experience the comforting flavors of the Beef Brisket with Turnip in Clear Broth, which may taste like reminiscing on cozy Friday evenings with loved ones.
For a verdant dream come true, indulge in Snow Pea Leaves with Chanterelle, a vibrant fusion of crisp leaves and earthy mushrooms. Indulge your palate with the tantalizing allure of Snow Pea Leaves accompanied by Chanterelle mushrooms. For the vegetable enthusiasts among us, this dish beckons with its enticing aroma and vibrant presentation. Imagine a grandiose bowl brimming with tender, cooked greens, delicately nestled in a cloud-like, whitish broth. Atop this verdant canvas, golden-brown Chanterelle mushrooms bestow their earthy richness, elevating the dish to new heights of culinary excellence. The secret behind this masterpiece is the broth, reminiscent of
congee, it exudes a comforting essence akin to a starchy porridge crafted from meticulously powdered rice. This ingenious technique ensures a velvety, homogeneous texture that gracefully envelops each snow pea leaf. As you savor every spoonful, relish in the symphony of flavors and textures— the sticky, starchy liquid seamlessly binding the elements together, transforming humble greens into a sublime and satisfying culinary delight.
Next, the Fusilli with Wild Octopus and Bone Marrow may seem like an unexpected delight on a Cantonese restaurant’s menu. However, this dish, renowned from Chef Leung’s tenure at August Gatherings, showcases his skill in crafting unconventional culinary marriages. The brilliance lies in his adeptness at seamlessly substituting ingredients with similar ones from diverse global cuisines. Lastly, revel in the classic charm of Stir-Fried String Bean with Minced Pork and Kale Borecole, each dish a testament to YAO’s
“THE BRILLIANCE LIES IN HIS ADEPTNESS AT SEAMLESSLY SUBSTITUTING INGREDIENTS WITH SIMILAR ONES FROM DIVERSE GLOBAL CUISINES.’’
dedication to excellence.
Save room for dessert as YAO unveils a tantalizing array of delights. From the luscious Pumpkin Cake to the classic Sesame Ball with Red Bean Paste, each offering promises a sensory delight. Conclude your culinary sojourn with the Portuguese Egg Custard Tart, a crowning glory, and a fitting end to a gastronomic voyage.
Don’t let any doubts about “elevated” Chinese cuisine hold you back from experienc-
ing YAO. While this style of cooking sometimes prioritizes presentation over taste, YAO proves that it’s possible to achieve both. Its gorgeously modern dining experience doesn’t compromise on flavor. The ambiance alone is enchanting, creating the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable meal. Tucked away inconspicuously on the second floor of a Courtyard by Marriott hotel, YAO offers a charming view of the lively street below. The dining room itself is bright and elegantly adorned, blending traditional Chinese elements with a contemporary flair. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday or hosting a special gathering with friends, YAO’s several private rooms and large round tables make it the ideal venue. Its aesthetic allure leaves a lasting impression, ensuring it remains a top choice for future dining experiences. Be sure to make reservations in advance through Resy for a care-free dining experience.P
yaonyc.com
Restaurant Yuu
BLENDING TRADITIONAL JAPANESE ‘‘OMOTENASHI” AND HIGH-QUALITY FRENCH CUISINE
BY RYANN REYNOLDS
Located in the heart of Brooklyn, Restaurant Yuu stands as a space of culinary innovation guided by a Japanese mastermind. With a keen eye for innovation, Restaurant Yuu redefines French cuisine by seamlessly blending traditional Japanese “Omotenashi” hospitality with a relentless pursuit of excellence in French gastronomy. This fusion creates a culinary haven where guests are treated to an unparalleled dining experience, with the integration of these two worlds seamless and harmonious.
Behind the scenes, a passionate team of young chefs meticulously crafts each dish that emerges from Restaurant Yuu’s bustling kitchen. With their own unique flair and unwavering dedication, they collectively create food that transcend boundaries and excite the senses. Led by a culinary luminary, Restaurant Yuu boldly channels the essence of French cuisine, infusing timeless classics with a modern twist that captivates diners and elevates the dining experience.
As guests step into the intimate 18-seat dining space tucked away in Brooklyn’s bustling landscape, they are greeted with a sense of anticipation. The curtains draw back, revealing the busy kitchen within, setting the stage for an extraordinary dining odyssey that defies the norms of the NYC culinary scene. The atmosphere is electric as diners eagerly anticipate the delights that await them.
Under the spotlight stands Chef Yuu Shimano, a virtuoso of flavors whose prowess seamlessly marries the refined traditions of French cuisine with the dynamic essence of his Japanese heritage. It’s a mesmerizing display of artistry that captivates the senses and leaves a
lasting impression on all who experience it.
In this gastronomic symphony, each dish emerges as a masterpiece, meticulously crafted to showcase the finest ingredients and flavors. From the ethereal essence of smoked surf clam with celeriac to the opulent indulgence of abalone risotto dusted with nori powder, every bite is a harmonious fusion of artistry and taste. Witnessing the meticulous craftsmanship behind each dish adds an immersive layer to the dining experience, allowing diners to appreciate the skill and passion that goes into every creation.
The spacious and attractive counter seating ensures a comfortable distance between diners, allowing them to revel in the culinary spectacle with comfort. It’s an intimate yet communal dining experience that fosters a sense of connection and camaraderie among guests, enhancing the overall dining experience. The menu effortlessly blends elements of traditional kaiseki and French tasting, creating a captivating symphony of flavors that tantalize the palate and leave diners craving more. Standout dishes like the Canard, lovingly referred to as the “duck pie,” exemplify the chef’s innovative approach, reminiscent of a decadent pâté en croûte. Equally enchanting is the smoked and charred surf clam salad, elevated by luxurious accents of caviar, celeriac and fava beans.
An example of the culinary journey you may experience at Restaurant Yuu would begin with a luxurious consommé, followed by the burst of
ikura and the wrapped mussel. Indulge in foie gras mousse spiked with whiskey, followed by the striped mackerel and the modern twist of pissaladière. Delight in the mingling flavors of oyster and Wagyu tartare, though the Arctic char may lack seasoning. Enjoy the creamy embrace of abalone risotto and the simple yet flavorful langoustine. The exceptional house made bread awaits. Choose between monkfish or halibut, and feast on red meat perfection with both veal and squab. Reach the climax with canard, a masterpiece of dry-aged duck breast, before cleansing the palate with pear and yuzu. Conclude with a sweet indulgence of matcha and strawberry dessert, accompanied by petit fours and a gift bag of financiers as a sweet farewell.
Service at Restaurant Yuu is nothing short of exceptional, with attentive staff poised to cater to every need, from pulling out chairs to offering insightful recommendations. As the final course concludes, guests are invited to retreat to a cozy lounge area behind the counter, where they can unwind with mignardises, sip on house-blend tea, and capture memories with Polaroid snapshots. It’s a fitting finale to an extraordinary dining sojourn, leaving guests with cherished memories of a truly unforgettable experience.
The expansive yet intimate dining space at Restaurant Yuu exudes an industrial-chic charm, meticulously curated by a team of silent but vigilant caretakers who ensure that every moment is an experience to cherish. Welcome to the stage where Chef Shimano’s culinary opus unfolds, leaving you enraptured with each delectable note. P
yuunewyork.com
PorterHouse
BAR & GRILL
BY RYANN REYNOLDS
What could make a day in NYC’s most beloved park even more magical? How about escaping to a culinary haven with stunning views of Central Park? Let the idea of a mouthwatering steak marinate for just a moment and then head over to the Porter House Bar and Grill, one of Manhattan’s most extraordinary dining experiences. Located on the fourth floor of the iconic Time Warner Center, this celebrated steakhouse by Chef Michael Lomonaco masterfully combines the best of American
cuisine with breathtaking views of Central Park and Columbus Circle.
Porter House’s menu is a masterful execution of seasonally inspired American classics. Chef Lomonaco’s dedication to contemporary American cuisine shines through in every dish, delighting the palate with prime steaks, fresh seafood, pastas, roasted chicken and duck. Each dish bursts with the bold, vibrant flavors for which Lomonaco and his team are renowned. Complementing the exquisite food is an award-winning wine list featuring over 550
labels and a premium cocktail program that elevates the art of the classic cocktail.
Start your meal with the must-try roasted bone marrow, prepared with silky and delicate flavors balanced by a bright, herby side salad. Another kitchen favorite is the jumbo lump crab cake, packed with delicious flavor and served with a tasty horseradish mustard sauce. For something lighter, try the Hamachi Crudo, which is perfectly prepared and light yet flavorful. For the main course, savor a charred New York Strip (medium-rare, of course) with frites and sautéed field mushrooms. Enjoy each flavorful bite that showcases great textures, balance and seasoning. Don’t overlook the other delightful surprises on the menu, such as the sweet and slightly crisp corn drenched in a rich, creamy sauce. And also, don’t forget to save room for dessert as it is equally impressive. The South Carolina coconut
cake is a must-try, boasting layers of fluffy goodness topped with smooth, not-too-sweet icing and a generous heap of shaved coconut for a satisfying crunch, or a brownie sundae with whipped mousse, chocolate ice cream and cherry topping. Pair it with the best coffee in NYC to close out your perfect dining experience.
The top-notch servers at Porter House are known for their friendly and knowledgeable demeanor, offering great advice for navigating the menu. The rest of the service team strikes the perfect balance between engaging conversation and allowing guests to enjoy their meal. For over 20 years, Porter House has been a favorite among locals and visitors alike, thanks to its blend of amazing food, impeccable service and stunning Central Park views. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply enjoying a night out, Porter House offers an
atmosphere that is both calm and discreet— ideal for a romantic date or a business dinner. It’s not uncommon to spot a famous face or two dining nearby. The spacious Porter House Bar is a lively meeting place, known for innovative bespoke cocktails and an award-winning wine list that includes
“DELIGHTING THE PALATE WITH PRIME STEAKS, FRESH SEAFOOD, PASTAS, ROASTED CHICKEN AND DUCK. EACH DISH BURSTS WITH THE BOLD, VIBRANT FLAVORS FOR WHICH CHEF LOMONACO AND HIS TEAM ARE RENOWNED.’’
sought-after vintages available by the glass. Now open Tuesday through Saturday, from 2pm to 4:30pm, Porter House’s new Happy Hour menu features breathtaking views of Central Park and the best Espresso Martini in town. It’s the perfect spot to unwind after a busy day or to kick off a memorable evening. Porter House is known to exceed all expectations. The dimly lit ambience is relaxing, with beautiful decor and tables overlooking Columbus Circle and Central Park—a great date spot! If you’re on the fence between Porter House and another restaurant, choose Porter House—you won’t regret it. This culinary escape is a must-visit for anyone looking to experience the best of New York City’s dining scene. Book your table today and indulge in a dining experience you’ll remember forever.P
porterhousenyc.com
Accidental Vintner: Frank Schilling
BY BENNETT MARCUS
hen life serves you lousy champagne, make your own bubbly is Frank Schilling’s philosophy. When sampling sparkling wines to serve at his Cayman Islands restaurant, Mykonos, Schilling simply wasn’t satisfied with anything on the market. So he made his own. The sparkling rosé, called Aphrodise, is made from the Xinomavro grape grown in northern Greece and Macedonia.
A noble, popular wine grape in that region of the world, Xinomavro is rarely used in sparkling wines; Aphrodise is the first bubbly version to be produced on a large scale. Characterized by very small bubbles, they’ve found that people who normally don’t like rosé or champagne do enjoy Aphrodise. “It’s imminently drinkable,” says Schilling. “You can literally guzzle it and you feel great as you’re drinking, and you feel pretty darn good after.”
A serial entrepreneur, Schilling has hardly had what you’d describe as a linear career path. After making a fortune in domain names early in the Internet age, he became a restaurateur on a whim, and now, he’s a vintner. “I always say we’re the Forrest Gump of the champagne business because we’re literally bumbling into everything we do,” he said, laughing.
Grand C ayman’s Seven Mile Beach While building out his restaurant Mykonos, a
large 320-seat venue on Grand Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach, during the height of the pandemic, Schilling realized that it would be a struggle to find a single source to supply the quantity of sparkling wine required for all those mimosas at brunch. When they finally did find a source, it was expensive and of poor quality.
They began tasting different varietals and stumbled onto the dark red Xinomavro grape and found that some vintners had started experimenting with a blonder version perfect for sparkling wine. They tweaked it – it was a bit too sweet – and came up with what is now Aphrodise.
Ibiza & Las Vegas
Most important: people liked it. “We started to share it and people were like, ‘This is so good,’” Schilling said. “And that’s how we kind of bumbled into the business.” He sent 90 bottles to friends for a birthday party in Ibiza; the recipients insisted they’d never use more than 10 bottles. “These grown men in their 40s and 50s started drinking this stuff, and in a day and a half it was all gone, and we knew we had a winner. It’s an absolutely true story.”
Next, Schilling debuted the wine at a wedding-industry trade show in Las Vegas, to introduce the product. People lined up, 100 deep, all day long for samples. A well-known wedding planner with a booth nearby invited the Aphrodise team to work with them, and they’ve now signed a partnership deal. “So we’re kind of these serendipitous, sort of accidental champagne curators,” Schilling says. After more than 20 years in the domain-name game, Schilling hungered for a change of focus. “I have a creative instinct and I’d always wanted to create a consumer product. I didn’t really think I’d ever get into the liquor business.”
Mykonos
“YOU CAN LITERALLY GUZZLE IT AND FEEL GREAT AS YOU’RE DRINKING, AND YOU FEEL PRETTY DARN GOOD AFTER.”
He also never expected to own a restaurant. On his daily walks during the Covid lockdown, a vacant building on a prominent corner drew his attention. He thought it was perfect for a restaurant – in fact, a dining spot already in the works there had been scuttled by the pandemic, and the building was available, so Schilling bought it along with some neighboring properties and cobbled it into a “giant glass box” along the main drag.
He named it Mykonos because of his experiences there, at places at are convivial and celebratory, but are enjoyed by local families as well as tourists. “I wanted to create a venue that was a destination and a gathering place. And we did, we built something very residential, truly beautiful.” Finishes are sophisticated, and the space can accommodate a large crowd, which is not that common in the Cayman Islands.
120-acre Malibu property
Schilling has started many different businesses over the years. “I’ve tried lots of things. Not everything worked, but many things did,” he said. Among his many business interests is a 120-acre parcel of land in Malibu that he intends to sell via auction.
“I bought it years and years ago and I’m not doing anything with it,” Schilling explained. It’s along the stretch of Pacific Coast Highway over Encinal Bluffs. “It’s beautiful land, but out of all the projects that I want to do, building the ‘Iron Man’ house in California is not one of them anymore. I’m kind of East Coast-centric now.” P drinkaphrodise.com
Gabi Petrylaite & Frank Schilling
Almyra
FEEL AND TASTE THE FLAVORS OF MODERN GREEK CULTURE AND CUISINE IN PHILADELPHIA
BY LAUREN BENS PHOTOS BY GAB BONGHI
You won’t need to travel to Greece this summer to get the flavors - or ambiance - of the Greek Islands - you’ll just need to visit the Philadelphia restaurant Almyra. The Mediterranean-inspired establishment is yet another notch in the city’s fine dining belt.
L ocated just steps from the Rittenhouse Square area, the newest member of the acclaimed Estia Group offers authentic tastes of the Aegean, from fresh fish to an innovative take on spanakopita.
From the moment you enter the openconcept space with a happening bar scene, you will feel worlds away from city life. The airy atmosphere is ideal for whisking you away for a girls’ night, date, or larger occasion. They also
offer a private banquet room for intimate dinner parties. The hot spot, named after the Greek Goddess of the sea breeze, is also home to a nightly happy hour experience.
Get your mouthwatering Mediterranean vacation started with some authentic spreads and mezze. Some standouts include the beet spread mixed with pistachio and feta, edamame hummus, spicy feta, and smoked eggplant composed of peppers, za’atar, and balsamic. Indulge in raw delicacies including crispy potato and caviar, seared tuna with olive and ponzu, and crispy rice made with tuna and avocado.
C ontinue on your culinary journey with their bifteki, or beef-filled dumplings with feta and lemon-mint yogurt, or their own Almyra chips made of zucchini and eggplant. Other sharing plates include a traditional saganaki, a shrimp kadaifi in shredded phyllo, and an arrangement of perfectly prepared spanakopita. We also recommend trying the chicken kofta kebabs with za’atar and apricot, or chimichurri seasoned filet mignon kebab.
Known for their seafood selections, the Lavraki, or European seabass prepared with ladolemeno, capers, and horto, will melt in your mouth. Cooked in a sherry-truffle vinaigrette, the Chilean sea bass is another fresh fish option. Additional signatures include the lobster pasta, lamb chops, and braised short rib.
Pair each course with a selection of Greek or other international wines and beers - just make sure not to miss out on their cocktails. Cheers to your indulgent experience with the pathos, made of vodka, passion fruit, honey, and lemon. Vodka, mastiha, elderflower, and butterfly pea tea make for the perfect refreshing beverage - just ask for the petalouda. P
almyrarestaurant.com
¡Qué rico! A delicious new Mexican spot has planted roots in the heart of New York City’s NoHo district and it’s a place that consistently exceeds expectations. Casa Bond has made its mark in the neighborhood by showcasing beloved hyper-regional Mexican dishes with recipes originating from the mountains of Quintana Roo to the Pacific Mexican Coast. Inspired by the vibrant lifestyle of Tulum’s coastal community, playfully named the Tuluminati — there’s a recognizable vibe of youthful exuberance, artistic flair and Bohemian chic. Casa Bond embodies the essence of fun-loving culinary art. This popular eatery is known for offering top-notch dining experiences that resonate with those who appreciate celebrating life with style, flair and exquisite food.
Casa Bond’s well developed bar program radiates a sophisticated charm that screams ‘instagrammable!’ yet also lives up to the hype and needs to be experienced firsthand. For the espresso martini aficionados, the well-crafted and expertly balanced Mezcal Espresso Martini must not be missed. You’ll also find a wide
Casa Bond
NEW YORK’S BEST NEW MEXICAN
BY RYANN REYNOLDS
variety of tequilas to sip on, along with a unique wine list from the impressive walk-in wine cellar. If you’re looking for the perfect glass of wine to pair with your meal, Casa Bond’s dedicated sommelier is available to help you select just the thing.
Casa Bond’s gastronomic options are an invitation to a tasty fiesta. Each dish is a masterpiece of flavor and presentation, flaunting a blend of tradition and innovation.
A popular fan favorite off the menu is the Lobster Ceviche—a visually stunning twist on a classic. While it may not look like your typical ceviche, the flavors are vibrant and bursting with
freshness. Some might find the lobster’s texture different, but the taste is undeniably delightful. Another popular dish is the Caviar Guacamole—an easy stroke of culinary genius and upscale curiosity. The ingredients of this dish marry together harmoniously and are perfectly complemented by an artful presentation that delivers on a delightful sensory experience. If you’re a taco enthusiast, Casa Bond’s Steak and Shrimp Tacos are also a hit. For non-beef eaters, alternative options are available. Consider adding the stew for an extraordinary flavor explosion. Saving the best for last, the Tres Leches dessert is a genuine showstopper. The chef’s expertise shines through in its unique, gravity-defying presentation—a sweet finale that will leave you awestruck.
At Casa Bond, every dish is crafted with passion and precision, promising an unforgettable dining experience. Prepare to indulge in flavors that are as delightful as they are inventive. So, take heed and treat yourself to a taste of Mexico’s finest in the heart of NYC— it’s an invitation you won’t regret accepting.P
casabondnoho.com
Sabai Thai
A FAVORITE NEIGHBORHOOD JAUNT
BY RYANN REYNOLDS
Call Uber, it’s time to experience the joy of Sabai Thai. In Thai, the word “sabai” translates to “happy” in English, and that’s precisely the feeling this Midtown culinary escape aims to evoke for guests. The staff at Sabai Thai takes pride in delivering happiness through authentic Thai cuisine and warm hospitality within a laid-back and inviting atmosphere. Sabai presents a contemporary take on classic Thai flavors, seamlessly blending upscale dining with the timeless warmth of traditional Thai hospitality and gastronomy. Thai cuisine can be divided into four distinct regions: North, Central, Northeast and West. Each boasts its own array of specialties, highlighting the intricate, complex and rich flavors that define the culinary landscape of Thailand.
Nestled within a space of high ceilings and dark, muted tones, Sabai offers an intimate
setting perfect for exploration. Since opening in 2018, Sabai has become a premier destination for a curated Thai experience that leaves a lasting impression on taste buds. Kick off your meal with the popular mango sticky rice cocktail. This inventive drink blends the sweet essence of mango with Thai rum and Brazilian cachaca, rounded off with creamy coconut. Each sip can feel like a mini vacation to a tropical paradise. The bar program at Sabai features cocktails that excel not only in visual artistry but also in phenomenal taste, with each drink presenting a stunning blend of colors that perfectly complements its flavors.
For appetizers, the fan favorites are the crispy garlic shrimp and the all-around Sabai sampler. The mouthwatering crispy garlic shrimp is batter-fried and topped with crispy garlic flakes and scallions, and the Sabai sampler is a diverse taste of the staff favorite’s apps, which includes Thai money bags, poh pia tod, calamari, curry puff and chicken satay.
For a main, most guests favor the Sabai curries. There are three options of homemade curries; the green curry, Gang Kiew Waan, the red curry, Gang Daang, and the panang Gang Panang curry. Sabai also offers popular Thai noodles dishes like Pad Thai, Pad See Ew and Pad Khi Mao, a.k.a. drunken noodles. Yum! Sabi Thai also offer vegan options for meatless lovers. The Pak Duck tamarind features crispy mock duck and steamed mixed vegetables, tamarind sauce and crispy fried onions. There’s also the popular Eggplant Basil which is a delicious symphony of sautéed eggplants in Thai basil sauce with mixed peppers, thai chili and onions.
If you’re seeking culinary happiness through the flavorful tastes of Thailand in the heart of NYC, Sabai Thai awaits you. P
sabaithai.nyc
TRiverpark
URBAN RIVERSIDE OASIS
BY DELIA VON NEUSCHATZ
ucked away in a tranquil corner of Manhattan is a hidden culinary gem. Do people go to Riverpark for the top-notch New American cuisine or scenic East River views? As it turns out, it’s both. And the lauded service makes them feel pretty special too.
The elegant space, enhanced by floor-toceiling windows offering panoramic water views, offers elevated yet relaxed dining in the Kips Bay neighborhood. Inspired by local flavors and sustainable ingredients, the seafood-forward menu draws rave reviews. “The culinary journey at Riverpark was exceptional,” says one online appraisal. “Each dish was a masterpiece, showcasing the chef’s creativity and expertise. The menu featured a diverse range of flavors, from delicate seafood to savory meat dishes, all prepared with the finest ingredients. The attention to detail was evident in every bite, leaving me wanting more.”
Nor does the service leave anything to be desired. “We mentioned briefly to our wonderful server, Jerome, that we were celebrating my mother’s birthday,” reveals a recent guest. “Guess what? He brought the Almond Cake out with a candle and a chocolate that says “Happy Birthday” on top! And not only that, he brought it out while singing Happy Birthday! It made my mother so
happy. The cake was as amazing as the special celebration.”
With a variety of spaces, Riverpark offers backdrops for all sorts of occasions. In addition to the restaurant, there’s a private dining room with space for a plated dinner accommodating up to 150 people and celebrations up to 375. And if you’re just in the mood for after-work drinks during summer months, The Terrace Bar is an ideal riverfront outdoor spot from which to wind down the day. Needless to say, the locale positions Riverpark perfectly for watching Fourth of July fireworks.
“The restaurant’s location along the East River provides a unique and picturesque setting,” exults a diner. “I enjoyed breathtaking views of the water while indulging in a delicious meal, creating a truly captivating atmosphere.” With reviews like these, it’s no wonder that Riverpark received the Best of Award of Excellence Award from Wine Spectator Magazine in 2022 and 2023 and was named one of Manhattan’s Best Waterfront Restaurants by Gotham Magazine in 2023. So, next time you’re in the neighborhood, and even if you’re not, take the opportunity to spoil yourself at Riverpark while you watch the world sail by.P
riverparknyc.com
Take Care
YOUR FAVORITE NEW ALL-DAY DINING DESTINATION OF FLAVORS
BY BETTY TAYLOR
The newest restaurant concept from IGC Hospitality has arrived in the form of a fresh, health-minded space in the Shelburne Sonesta Hotel in Murray Hill.
Take Care is a refreshing outpost of American fare in a casual, feel-good setting. Promising to “take care” of customers all day with their breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, the bistro’s focus is prominently on serving consistent and seasonal plates.
Spearheaded by Chef Chris D’Amrosio, former executive chef of Juniper, the menu highlights cafe cooking as can be seen with his version of a chopped salad, house burger and fresh fish selections. The crispy artichokes and wild mushroom flatbread are some other must-try appetizers. Grilled prime bavette steak served
with bone marrow gravy, fries and Dorade prepared Mediterranean style, with pine nuts and Kalamata olives, are also part of the eclectic offerings.
Diners will also find a variety of vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan items. Breakfast options at this all-day spot include a French omelette and Turkish eggs made with mint yogurt and Aleppo pepper.
A curated cocktail list highlights the smoky yet fruity “We’re Jammin’,” made with Ilegal mezcal, strawberry salt, lemon, aperol and macerated strawberry, and the equally refreshing “Cool Cool Cool.” Take Care has truly perfected the ultimate drink of summer with this concoction of Mamma Mia limoncello, cucumbers, bubbles and mint. The restaurant also takes its coffee drinks and desserts seriously. Across all of the group’s establishments you’ll find its signature skillet with caramel ice cream. P
takecare.nyc
Lives Up thetoFiveDiamond Hype Sandals Dunn’s River
BY GEORGE WAYNE
Ten major airlines from twenty American cities fly into Sangster’s International in Montego Bay, Jamaica, the Caribbean’s #1 rated airport. But only one has direct access to the coolest, tiniest new international airport you have never heard of in the Jamaican town of Boscobel, in St. Mary Parish. The Sir Ian Fleming International Airport is now officially chicer than the iconic Gustaf III Airport in St. Barthelemy in the French West Indies.
Why? It’s the only one in the world named after the most dashing and debonaire British novelist in modern history—that’s why; and it’s tiny and cute and nestled in one of the most beautiful parts of the most beautiful island in all the British West Indies. Just ask James Bond.
‘‘It’s tiny and cute and nestled in one of the most beautiful parts of the most beautiful island in all the British West Indies. Just ask James Bond.’’
So when the arbiter gets to be part of travel aviation history as one of the first to fly American Airlines FT #4-007 on one of their Brazilian-made Embraer 175 jets into “the Ochie Airport,” as it will come to be known, one jumps at the opportunity. This means that you can now travel from Miami to Ocho Rios, Jamaica, in a little over an hour and in another thirty minutes be sipping pina coladas in your uber-chic suite at the revamped new flagship for the Sandals Resort International brand—its stellar year-old Sandals Dunn’s River—with commanding ocean views and private butler to boot.
“Innovation and Commitment,” says the maverick visionary and Executive Chairman and CEO of the leading SRI brand—that, and sustainability, we hope—the new mantra for the Sandals of the next generation. Re-introducing the only hotel in the West Indies with original designs from the famed Morris Lapidus, which is located in GW’s most favorite of all Jamaican towns, Ocho Rios, is one experience this arbiter was not about to pass up.
‘‘An unforgettable homecoming to a boy who loved nothing more as a fifteen-year-old than a reprieve from boarding school with a family weekend in Ocho Rios.’’
Suffice it to say that Sandals Dunn’s River on Mammee Bay in St. Ann Parish is just as advertised and guarantees a worryfree and exceptional Jamaican vacation. There’s no denying that Sandals has now set a new standard and cemented its role as the regional beacon of luxury and hospitality in the Caribbean. And with brand new, buzzy Sandals resorts new to the market in exotic other locales like Curacao, St. Vincent and The
Grenadines, the visionary Executive Chairman has been on a roll. Adam Stewart is now one of the world’s Top Five Hospitality Moguls. After all, he already sits on the Executive Committee of the World Travel Tourism Council. More than ever, his properties have made significant statements about luxury and innovation in resort hospitality in the 21st century.
His exceptional display of deft management skills in this space—and in such a short time—makes it all the more impressive.
Fresh, innovative and modern touches shine throughout the new wing of the Tufa Terrace One Bedroom Skypool Butler Suites, where GW stayed for seven days.
Memories are made of these with stellar views of the azure Caribbean Sea.
It was a setting destined to bring an unforgettable homecoming to a boy who loved nothing more as a fifteen-year-old than a reprieve from boarding school with a f amily weekend in Ocho Rios. Ochie has never been cooler since the revamped Arawak Hotel, a.k.a. the new Sandals Duns River. With the divine all-inclusive policy—the incredible culinary flair and all the champagne I desired to quaff included—GW was
‘‘Where else could one spend every noon for an entire week sitting by the onproperty jerk chicken shack with the most delicious organic jerk offerings and the sea breeze wafting.’’
quite content, to say the very least. Exceptional dining options abound across Sandals Dunn’s River’s e xquisitely landscaped flora and fauna. And there is no proper ty anywhere in Ocho Rios as steeped in James Bond lore and intrigue as this one.
Iconic architect Morris Lapidus conceptualized the original development of the property in the golden age of early air travel, circa 1957, when the hotel opened as The Arawak Hotel (it was named after one
of the island’s indigenous tribes). It was glamorous and jet-set-star-studded from day one. On arrival at the property, the first sight is of that legendary banyan tree with the adorable new yurt-like cottages with swim-up pools and a singing staff welcoming the arbiter to this thoughtfully transformed 260-room Caribbean resort. “It was an extraordinary project to under take,” the dynamic Executive Chairman will tell you. And a poignant and significant achievement for the brand; for this is the property and region where the grand patriarch of Sandals, the late Butch Stewart, grew up with his fondest memories. He would be very proud of how his heir has already managed to drive the SRI narrative of modern sophistication and Caribbean luxury to never-before-seen heights.
Where else could one spend every noon for an
entire week sitting by the on-property jerk chicken shack with the most delicious organic jerk offerings and the sea breeze wafting and thinking? “Wow! GW is just a pace away from these beaches along Mammee Bay, where two legendary James Bond films were made: Dr. No and the classic Live And Let Die It’s just here where Sean Connery’s undeniable sexual swagger lit up the first reels of Dr. No in 1962. Right around these parts, they purred with delight when the same brisk breeze off the Caribbean Sea swept Ursula Andress’ hair as she debuted that iconic swimsuit—designed by my father’s cousin, Tessa Prendergast! Indeed. Near here, the first natural wonder of Jamaica is the graceful Dunn’s River Falls, where Honey Ryder slithered into the hirsute pectoral bosom of Sean Connery as the first incarnation of James Bond. Ocho Rios has so much exciting history
‘‘The rivers meander through lush tropical foliage to rushing waterfalls near this gleaming, revised flagship Sandals Resorts International. ’’
dating from 1657, when it could have gone either way. Had the English not defeated the Spanish for possession of Jamaica right along this stretch of coast that year, there would have never been a James Bond movie
shot here. To think, too, one could have the hotel concierge arrange a visit half an hour away to Goldeneye to see the study and very same Royal typewriter that Ian Fleming used to write Casino Royale and all the subsequent eleven Bond novels. Talk about a rich cul-
tural connection; well, this is the thread to the fabulous Sandals Dunn’s River.
The top trend for tastemakers in luxury hospitality today is authenticity and sustainability.
The hotel here delivers that aspect with the local staff of fantastic aestheticians of the highly recommended Red Lane Spa of the Sandals Dunn’s River. If you want to meet the most glorious local souls, spend your days at the pricy spa but also make sure to participate in the Sandals Foundation organized visitor tours to the local elementary schools in the hills above the hotel. This outstanding initiative is one to nurture and cherish even more, and for GW, reading nursery rhymes to underprivileged five-year-old kids at 9 a.m. on Thursday was the highlight of his visit to Jamaica.
The well-trained staff look great in uniforms
designed by yet another icon, designer Stan Herman, who is, yes, one of the founders of New York Fashion Week. Such details inform why Forbes Travel calls Sandals Dunn’s River one of their World Travel Awards’ Best Luxury Resorts of 2023. Undoubtedly, you need to find yourself on Jamaica’s north coast, from the rivers meander through lush tropical foliage to rushing waterfalls near this gleaming, revised flagship Sandals Resorts International. And, don’t forget the coolest, tiniest International Airport—Sir Ian Fleming—will get you there in style, and in no time. P
sandals.com
The Marmara Park Avenue
A Stylish and Sophisticated Stay on Park
BY RYANN REYNOLDS
Picture this: you’re strolling down the bustling streets of New York City, and amidst the urban symphony, you spot it—The Marmara Park Avenue. It’s not just a hotel; it’s an urban oasis, a haven amidst the chaos, calling out to travelers with its sleek and sophisticated allure.
You can practically feel the energy pulsating from its core, drawing you in with promises of contemporary charm and undeniable style. This hotel isn’t just about accommodations; it’s an immersion into the very essence of city living. Step inside, and you’re greeted by a modern yet inviting ambiance that whispers comfort and luxury. Upon entering the lobby of The Marmara Park Avenue hotel, the stark, modern design immediately
will capture your attention. Contemporary artwork adorning the walls and the suspended sculpted birds separating the lounge from the bar area add to the fresh impression. Despite the modernity of the space, a warm atmosphere prevails, aided by the presence of a tall fireplace and comfortable seating. The attentive staff, from the check-in attendant to the concierge, contribute to the welcoming environment.
The rooms, oh the rooms! They’re generously proportioned, blending comfort with convenience and wrapping you in a warm embrace. You feel like you’ve found your home-away-from-home in the heart of the concrete jungle. Rooms at this hotel exemplify meticulous attention to detail, resembling a chic New York City apartment with hardwood floors, high ceilings and ample natural light. Noteworthy features include a corner office nook with a view of the Empire State Building, as well as an iPad Air and wet bar in every room. Be sure to score one of the rooms with a beautiful private terrace as the secluded outdoor space will doubtless enhance your stay. The simplicity of the rooms acts as the ultimate sophistication—and serve as a sanctuary amidst the chaos of city life.
One of the standout features of this hotel is
its well-known exceptional service, which feels like an embrace from the city itself. Celebrated for its genuine warmth and unwavering professionalism, stepping into this urban sanctuary is like entering the comforting home of a friend. Add to that its impeccable cleanliness and coveted location, and you have a hidden gem that beckons to adventurers seeking the quintessential New York experience.
The hotel’s wellness center offers a haven from the city’s hustle and bustle featuring a Hammam, a traditional ancient Turkish experience, catering to guests seeking both exercise and relaxation. The hotel also offers spa services for the days you may need a deeper retreat from the busy NYC street.
Situated in an ideal location, The Marmara Park Avenue provides convenient access to popular tourist attractions, shopping districts and dining establishments. There are limited on- site eating options, but the concierge is happy to recommend highly rated nearby dining options.
As for the onsite dining, prepare your taste buds for an unforgettable journey at The Marmara Park Avenue. With two exceptional dining venues, this hotel promises to elevate
your culinary experience to new heights. Take the elevator all the way up to the Balcón, a rooftop bar, where you can sip on expertly crafted cocktails while taking in breathtaking city views. It’s the perfect setting for intimate conversations and lively gatherings. And when you venture downstairs to Tuti, the elegantly appointed lounge and bar, you’ll discover a haven of sophistication and comfort. More than just a restaurant, Tuti invites you to indulge in a menu of artfully crafted dishes that promise to tantalize even the most discerning palate. Whether you’re seeking a romantic dinner for two or a vibrant social event, Balcón and Tuti Restaurant Bar Lounge offer experiences tailored to suit every taste and preference. Get ready to embark on a gastronomic adventure that transcends the ordinary at The Marmara Park Avenue. Tuti Restaurant Bar Lounge for onsite breakfast lunch and dinner. Its dishes boast bold, vibrant flavors perfectly complemented by their handcrafted cocktails. Tuti Bar and Lounge is as sophisticated as it is delicious. So come, immerse yourself in the magic of The Marmara Park Avenue, and let the rhythm of New York City sweep you off your feet. P
marmaranyc.com
dreamA Harbor
48 Hours at Baron’s Cove in Sag Harbor
BY CHRISTOPHER A. PAPE
The crisp Long Island air carries the tang of salt and the hope of endless summers as you arrive at Baron’s Cove in Sag Harbor. Just steps from the village’s charming Main Street and overlooking the serene Mill Pond, the inn feels like a secret hideaway of coastal bliss.
Stepping inside, you are welcomed by a masterpiece of sea-inspired décor. Nautical flags flutter playfully, sunlight bounces off polished brass nautical instruments, and woven ship lanterns cast a warm glow over plush sofas and armchairs. The scent of
wood-burning fireplaces mingles with the sweet aroma of blooming hydrangeas, murmuring promises of cozy evenings and long, lazy days.
Oceanfront rooms are a sanctuary of nautical chic. Whitewashed walls adorned with vibrant seascapes, a comfy king-size bed draped in crisp linens, and a balcony overlooking the shimmering Mill Pond beckon to lose oneself in the rhythm of the sea. With a cup of fresh-brewed coffee in hand, watch sailboats gracefully glide across the water, their colorful canvas catching the morning sun. The gentle lap of waves and the cry of gulls are the soundtrack to a perfect Hamptons
moment.
Days at Baron’s Cove are filled with curated delights. Spend mornings exploring the charming boutiques and art galleries of Sag Harbor, finding treasures tucked away in quaint corners. Later, rent a bicycle (complimentary from the inn!) and cruise through the quiet countryside, savoring the scent of a beachside paradise and take in the vibrant hues of summer sunshine.
Lunch is a leisurely affair at Baron’s Cove’s own restaurant, The Restaurant at Baron’s Cove. Here, the team weaves magic with fresh, local ingredients, transforming each dish into a play of flavors. Savor juicy Montauk tuna crudo
drizzled with citrus oil and sprinkled with briny capers, followed by the melt-in-yourmouth ricotta gnocchi, its pillowy softness bathed in a vibrant tomato sauce. Each bite is a celebration of coastal bounty, the perfect fuel for an afternoon of carefree exploration.
The afternoons at Baron’s Cove are for pampering. Sink into a plush chaise lounge by the saltwater pool, the gentle warmth of the sun and the cool make for an enticing nap. A friendly server delivers a refreshing cocktail, and the world melts away into a haze of sunshine and blissful serenity.
As the sun dips below the horizon, the mood at Baron’s Cove shifts. Live music fills the air,
emanating from the confines of the inn’s lounge. Linger over a glass of bubbly, captivated by the soulful sounds of a local jazz band and the animated conversations buzzing around. The warmth of the fireplace and the soft glow of lanterns create an intimate ambiance, the perfect setting for connection and laughter. 48 hours at Baron’s Cove are but a fleeting dream, yet they leave an indelible mark. Leave with a heart brimming with joy, a tan kissed by the Hamptons sun, and a memory of pleasures had. P
caperesorts.com/barons-cove
OTroutbeck
n a 250-acre Hudson Valley estate, just two hours from New York City, sits Troutbeck, a legacy of hospitality. Dating to 1765, the inn has hosted many literary and political luminaries over the years, make that centuries! Mark Twain, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Ernest Hemingway, W.E.B. Du Bois, Thurgood Marshall and Theodore Roosevelt have all found respite, inspiration and community in the bucolic setting. But the storied guesthouse is not one to rest on its laurels. Today, it offers modern luxury while staying true to its pastoral and convivial past.
months and in winter time, retreat indoors for fireside cocktails. Refreshments can also be had in an elegant barn, a popular wedding location complete with a softly-lit bar reclaimed from a New York pub. “Everyone looks good in this bar,” says the venue’s description.
Outside, guests can stroll through a centuryold walled garden and take advantage of two tennis courts and a heated mid-century outdoor swimming pool that would look at home in a Slim Aarons photograph. There are complimentary bicycles and, along a babbling brook, visitors can seek refuge in numerous private hammock spots, many with firepits.
A native wildflower meadow surrounds The Barns, a wellness studio that is the latest addition to Troutbeck. Clad in timber reclaimed from the decommissioned Tappan Zee Bridge, which once spanned the Hudson River, the Barns proffers daily movement classes including yoga and Pilates. On offer are also acupuncture and massage sessions. An infrared and traditional sauna along with Technogym equipment round out the menu of amenities. Further afield, there is no shortage of cultural and physical pursuits. Hiking, fishing, skiing and horseback riding are just a few available outdoor activities while galleries, museums, music venues and historic tours provide enlightenment.
BY DELIA VON NEUCHATZ
Three distinct properties—Manor House, Benton House and Garden House—can accommodate up to 86 guests across 37 individually designed rooms and suites. The current incarnation dates to 2017 when the acclaimed firm Champalimaud Design conducted an extensive renovation resulting in well-appointed, unpretentious indulgence. Comfort is king as guests step on heated bathrooms floors and swaddle themselves in Frette linens while being offered services like breakfast in bed. The food is second to none at a farm-to-table restaurant which offers a fresh take on New American cuisine. There, guests and locals alike mingle for al fresco dining on the patio during summer
But, for all there is to see and do in and around Troutbeck, perhaps the estate’s most notable feature, particularly in this age of fractured discourse, is the continued history of bringing together interesting people, according to its award-winning designer, Alexandra Champalimaud. As such, public spaces were configured to be especially inviting. “We designed it to feel like a personal home,” reveals Champalimaud in an interview for Vogue. The fireplaces, for example, are fitted with padded fenders. “It’s something you don’t often see in the States, but you see all the time in the great country estates in England. It’s basically an upholstered seat so you can sit directly next to the fire. And there isn’t a Friday or Saturday night that goes by where a group of us doesn’t end up sitting by the fire with a nightcap.” Oh, so very civilized, indeed. P
troutbeck.com
gwsays
Welcome to #gwsays, a fresh and exclusive post-millennial rag from inimitable gossipeuse
George Wayne. The people, places and things #gwsays you need to know is GW’s original and pedigreed take on the Culture of the Day. So welcome to #gwsays, Darlinkas!
next R.O.M.E. male supermodel. And, of course, idyllic al fresco dining and the $100 Lobster Cobb salads at Navy Beach or the Saltbox.
BY GEORGE WAYNE
ou know, August was just a thought during my presummer thought process.
Back then, yours truly thought that ‘’the too-cool-forschool” Summer ‘24 decisive to be honing and finessing was ‘’The art of being Montauket,’’ discovering and imbibing the vibe of playing the Montauk local-yokel all summer. That was the narrative GDubs had in mind. You know- taking the Airbnb on Star Island Road or the suite for ten days at the Montauk Sands Hotel on Edgemere Street for August. And embrace ‘being Montauket’! Shopping at the chic boutique at the Montauk Yacht Club, sailing, whale watching, and modelscouting surfer dudes on Ditch Plains Beach for the
But that was all GW fantasy! I can’t even afford a weekend at the local motel in Jamaica, Queens, much less the Montauk Airbnb on Star Island Road! And that was before the arbiter finally— after 30 years of being a ‘’native New Yorker’’— discovered and realized this: The ‘’too-cool-for-school” vibe this Summer of 2024 is not even about Montauk, but instead Shelter Island! Montauk, like the rest of the ‘’Shamptons’’ is already overrun with New York ‘’Cityots.’’ Shelter Island, surprisingly, is still that undiscovered gem out there on the East End. “Wow!” Is all GW had to say sitting for the first time on the portico of ‘’The Prid’’ (how GW now refers to the iconic Pridwin Hotel), since 1927 reeks WASP-aho- old-money. But everyone is so genuinely nice and welcoming, and The Prid is so historic, and so exclusive, and the view from that portico looking out on one unforgettable scene will be indelible to your memory once you visit. Then there’s
also the legendary hotel magnate Andre Balazs’ 26-year-old Sunset Beach Hotel down the street.
The Queenious to all this, is this! GW MEMO to the astute, on-a-budget New Yorker who does not summer-home anywhere or travel to exotic locales at the drop of a hat: If you want the coolest and most unforgettable reprieve this summer out on the East End, here’s the drill. Shelter Island is easy to get to from Penn Station. Take the LIRR to the last stop on the Main Line and then The Greenport Ferry, which you can traverse right there in the North Ferry Terminal. And, go mid-week! Book a Wednesday night at ‘’The Prid’’ for their fabulous mid-week Bar-B-Que, where you are guaranteed to eat with your eyes the minute you alight at the posh but understated hotel. I also want to get to know Chef Todd Ruiz. Spend the Thursday night down the street at Balazs’ iconic Sunset Beach Hotel and flirt with the hunky bartender there, Charlie. LOL! So the indelible memories personally began already this summer on Shelter Island, kids. It’s accessible, and yet still intimidatingly exclusive, as
ever! On the next visit to Shelter Island, GW must imbibe the Stefan (Stacey) Soloviev-owned and equally chic Chequit. And from there, a must-visit to the GW/BFF impresario ‘’Johnny’’ Meadow, of LDV Hospitality, and his genius jejune for the iconic Maidstone Hotel. And not to mention Southampton hotelier/pioneer in Zac Erdem at 75 Main. So yes, Darlinkas, there will be more astute reportage from the frontlines this summer.
I also kept thinking, while mesmerized by the incredible view from that
vast portico/verandah, about the Adirondacks vibe of ‘The Prid’. GW was deep in contemplative thought and thinking… surely some cool chick in residence here this season will pull from her raffia Prada beach bag the hardcover Summer ‘24 read every cool chick will want this summer. Once
Upon A Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy from authorElizabeth Beller. Yes, it’s that time of year again when we get misty-eyed for the tragic and untimely July 16, 1999 plane-crash-death of John
GEORGE WAYNE:
Carolyn BessetteKennedy (CBK) seems somewhat of a muse-in memorium for this portraitist Mark Tennant. Talk about your quasi-obsession with the memory of JFK Jr.’s late wife. After all, you have created four huge oil on canvas renderings inspired by CBK. First and foremost, let’s dive into this intrigue.
John Kennedy and CBK. She’d be happy to learn that her memory has never been more poppin’ than in the current culture du jour. The abovementioned best-selling unauthorized memoir is but one example. Earlier this spring, the famous portrait artist Mark Tennant had the prescient sense for the zeitgeist to render four paintings in homage to Carolyn BessetteKennedy. Hence, #gwsays wanted to probe more deeply into the mind of the legendary contemporary portraitist Mark Tennant.
MARK TENNANT: It began when Sunita Kumar Nair, in London, invited me to participate in her new project, A Life in Fashion. She sent me some shots that she thought were possible paintings, and I began to collage them together. She wanted to see what I could do with the wedding dress. But I was always interested in her influence, which I became aware of when I moved to TriBeCa in August 1999, shortly after the crash. Many women in the area reminded me of her. So I started researching myself and found numerous photos of Carolyn that could become paintings.
Sunita not only liked them but was excited to use them, which made me happy, but I now take them more for myself than the book.
GW: Your solo show earlier this Spring at the seminal Georges Berges Gallery was Beyond Thunderdome amazing! Why did you call the show ‘Memento Mori’? Was this further homage to the memory of the tragic ‘90s original style influencer Carolyn Bessette Kennedy?
MT: Thank you. George Berges suggested the title, and as I looked further into this, I saw it as more my motivation than as the description of the works.
Perhaps all of the things that come out of the studio are tinged with that concept, although unconsciously.
CBK and JFK became my actors.
It is essential to make as much art as possible. It is frightening to think that there is nothing to paint.
To solve this problem, I want to paint things that are unpaintable.
gwsays
GW: GW met CBK only once before her demise. It was circa 1995, and the reigning thenNYC It Girl and then reigning ‘Ice Queen’ of the zeitgeist showed up one night at Cafe Tabac with her bestie, fashion designer Gordon Henderson. John John Kennedy was a close acquaintance, but he and GW were much friendlier when he was dating the Hollywood actress Daryl Hannah. I knew very well, however, that his marriage to CBK was doomed months after the consummation. So yes, to this arbiter, their tragic end was not a surprise. That marriage was a nightmare, and he lost his life living to regret it.
GW: Another intriguing provocation here: so who came first? Was it the 20th-century legend in Eric Fischl? Or, did Mark
Tennant develop a similar work style before your more acclaimed contemporary? The arbiter will be quite blunt! Mark Tennant’s art is very similar to Eric Fischl’s in the same vein. Yea, or Nay?
MT: Nay. Probably more of a coincidence, though I am flattered to be mentioned with him. I discovered Fischl also in August of 1999. I cannot say that I was particularly intrigued. BAD BOY came to my attention a couple of years later then, in Mary Boone’s show in 2001.
GW: Mark Tennant’s painterly signature, his brushstrokes, are more dynamic and display far more flourish and drama than Eric Fischl’s work ever could. #gwsays…
ou can well imagine how excited GW was as he strolled by Serendipity, hoping to sight the ghost of Andy Warhol slurping on a banana split on my way to see one of the most in-demand bespoke men’s couturier/tailors in the world. His name is Max Girombelli, whose design studio is mere paces away from that iconic ice cream shop on 60th Street. Measuring up with Duca Sartoria for the only new suit GW will need for the next two years is always a treat! Getting an appointment lately is almost impossible because when Duca Sartoria is not in the Upper East Side atelier across from Bloomingdales, he’s on the road with his billionaire clients in Dubai and Palm Beach. So what makes Duca Sartoria the luxe of artisanal menswear in the 21st Century? Let GW tell you...
GW: Max Girombelli, give a brief history of your provenance and arrival in New York City.
MG: Max Girombelli is from an Italian family with deep roots in the fashion industry.
I have an uncle who discovered Gianni Versace and a father and brother who worked for years with Valentino. The Girombelli family is from Ancona, so we were very involved in the Italian fashion industry for
many years. When we sold our company, I decided to return to the roots of fashion and create my brand, Duca Sartoria. I moved to New York City in 1999.
GW: Maxy Duca Sartoria’ as GW dubs him—is a man of style and substance. You are a total Jamophile. I love it because you truly love Jamaica and always visit.
MG: Yeah, Mon! (He mimics a Jamaican patois
accent). I love everything about Jamaica, including its amazing people. I even have a fisherman’s boat that I own and lease to the local fishermen in Negril.
GW: What makes Duca Satoria superior to all others made to measure?
MG: Everyone seems to be doing made-tomeasure these days, but none offer the truly personal attention to the most minute details and preparation like Duca Sartoria.
I am Duca Sartoria, and outstanding personal service is paramount. I have worked with and continue working with
high-profile celebrity clients and men who understand the ideal of wearing bespoke clothing. We choose the fabric and then we choose the personal details and touches. Six weeks later, the suit is tailored and created in Italy and ready for its new owner.
GW: Talk about some of the genius details, many not visible to the naked eye, of a Duca Sartoria creation but are nonetheless signatures to the brand pedigree.
MG: Such details range from the choice of fabric. Duca Sartoria has a unique relationship
with Loro Piana and its luxe array of fabrics. So, we start with the best fabrics from the get-go. Other fabulous personalized details include the fabric lining, a trend we first started at Duca Sartoria. The buttons and the designs of the buttonholes and the lapels, and even, for instance, creating a groom’s wedding suit where details of the wedding, such as latitude and longitude locations, become part of the final hidden details of the suit. In other words, no other NYC bespoke tailor can match Duca Sartoria. We will make that suit so unique and special that it
almost becomes a work of art.
GW: Will mine be three-button or fourbutton? Will it be an open vent or a closed one? What about the perfect fabric to create a Summer 2024 suit for the stylish man on the go? How about that chic Loro Piana fabric in Royal Blue? You betcha! And make sure to add “the kissing button” to the GW new Summer Duca Sartoria suit!
MG: Ah! The kissing button is every button the Italian likes to kiss! (Laughs out loud in a profound Italian fit of
laughter). The kissing buttons are when the buttons on the sleeves are so close to each other that they look like they are kissing (Laughs uproariously again).
The fitting was a breeze and more of a social occasion than anything else. It felt very Esquire magazine chic—the entire vibe at the couturier’s atelier, a quaint brownstone that opens to an alfresco patio on 60th Street across from the venerable Bloomingdales Department store on the Upper East Side.
Duca Sartoria is way more prime-time than Brunello Cucinelli#gwsays - Nuff said! P
The Sunny Season
Diane Krugar, Stephen Baldwin, Libby Klein, Brooke Shields, Peter Thomas Roth, Julia Haart and Arthur Aidala
NYC Ballet Diamond nniversary ruger, Coco Rocha, ballerina and choreographer Melanie Hamrick, who is also the
ouri
BY R.COURI HAY
Mick Jagger, and Lucia Hwong Gordon were among the guests at NYC Ballet’s (NYCB) 75th Anniversary Gala. The night kicked off with a festive reception courtesy of Ruinart Champagne, a personal favorite of mine. In celebration of its Diamond Anniversary, the evening served as a tribute to the company’s legacy and spotlighted its co-founder George Balanchine with his classic “Rubies,” a work that epitomizes the energy and athleticism that are hallmarks of the company. The program also featured two world premieres – one by NYCB Resident Choreographer Justin Peck, marking
CCompany, and another by acclaimed contemporary choreographer Amy Hall Garner, her debut work with h NYCB. The gala was a memorable journey through the past, present, and future of ballet. Maria-Cristina Anzola and Lynn Good were the benefit’s chairs. nycballet.com
Jean Shafiroff
Southampton Animal Shelter
Hailey Bieber’s father Stephen Baldwin, Eugenia and Janna Bullock, artist Libby Klein, Peter Thomas Roth, plastic surgeon Lyle Leipziger, divorce lawyer Daniel Stock, and the Women’s Jewelry Association’s Monica Elias were at a kickoff for the Southampton Animal Shelter’s Summer Benefits at Jean and Martin Shafiroff’s home. The animal shelter will also be spotlighted at Bradford Rand’s Rand Luxury’s Hampton Concours, the largest classic car show on the East Coast. The show will be held in Bridgehampton on August 10th luxury.com southamptonanimalshelter.com
school was founded by artists, including Andy Warhol, in 1982. The evening showcased 100 emerging artists from the academy and generated funds to support new scholarships –over 500k was raised. The night’s honoree was Neil Jenney, a maverick of twentieth-century American art known for his seminal ‘Bad Paintings’ of the 1960s. David Kratz, the organization president greeted the guests including, Ted Smith, Jana Bullock, Kamie Lightburn, and Mark Gilbertson. Attendees were able to tour the students’ on-site studios and discover new works. I bought two edgy and eccenporcelain hangers by Korbyn Carleton. Chairs included Helen King, Annina Nosei, Annie Plumb, and Monica & Rick Segal. This always phenomenal Art Happening was made possible by the enlightened support of Van Cleef & Arpels, who bedecked the entire building with painted florals that reflected their Bloom
Tribeca Ball
New York Academy of Art Liev Schreiber, Brooke Shields, and Naomi Watts were among the creatives at the New York Academy of Art’s Tribeca Ball. The
PHOTO CONTRIBUTIONS BY PATRICK MCMULLAN
& Jean Shafiroff
Photo: PMC
Caroline Blank & Diane Kruger
Photo: PMC
Brooke Shields & Grier Henchy
Photo: Getty
Foundation MAG Gala
C andace Bushnell introduced honoree and skincare mogul Peter Thomas Roth at The Luisa Díaz Foundation’s 10th Annual MAG Gala at the Plaza Hotel. The organization supports victims of domestic violence and human trafficking, and spotlighted non-profits Safe
Passage
Julia Haart, Roth’s 101-yearold mother
Carole Roth, and his sons Brendan and Ryan led the applause. Peter’s former wife Noreen Donovan served as a co-chair for the event. Luisadiaz foundation.org
Mark Schonwetter Education Foundation “The Good Wife” star
Julianna Margulies marked Jewish Heritage Month by saying, “We desperately feel that money should never be an issue when it comes to educating students about Holocaust.” Survivor Mark Schonwetter and his daughter Ann, who were the keynote speakers at the 36th Annual Teen Symposium on the Holocaust, share this philosophy with the
working with students to educate them about the past to create a better tomorrow,” said the ninety-year-old who escaped the Germans from Poland. He also announced that his Mark Schonwetter Education Foundation will be an official charity partner of the NYC Marathon. His organization has funded over 400 grants to provide learning materials, including books and field trips, to and Madonna are among the stars who have all posted their support of mshefoundation.
.S Rau in Aspen
Kevin Costner, Kurt Russel, Goldie Hawn, and socialite Kimberly Paige have all been invited to check out store that’s just opened in Aspen. These longtime residents and Rocky Mountain regulars such as Mariah Carey, Katy Perry, and all the Kardashians, will be able to find masterworks by Picasso and Renoir as well as three abstract paintings by Frank Sinatra, which are priced
Cooper’s CNN show commenting on Donald Trump’s hush money case conviction, unwinds by playing in his band Rapid Pulse. Aidala was just in Ireland where he caught Bruce Springsconcert and danced to the Boss’s hits alongBrad Pitt, Nick Jonas, and Paul Rudd. Back in NYC, Aidala went to see The Rolling Stones, where he said Mick opened the show by saying, “I heard there was a storm coming; as in Stormy Daniels.” The crowd roared as Jagger segued into “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction.” Aidala also repre-
from $124K to $168K. Also on view is a $58K desk clock owned by basketball Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio, who was briefly married to Marilyn Monroe, as well as vintage pieces from Cartier and Harry Winston that the blonde bombshell, who sang “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” would have liked. rauantiques.com
Arthur Aidala Hotshot attorney Arthur Aidala, who can be seen regularly on Anderson
Peter Thomas Roth & Monica
Photo: PMC
Daniel Stock
Photo: PMC
MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING’S ANNUAL BALL
The Story
Under the leadership of MSK President Muffie Potter Aston this year’s Spring Ball raked in a record breaking two million dollars for The Society of Memorial Sloan Kettering. Scarlett Johansson kicked the live donations into high gear by raising her paddle to give 50k, setting off an explosion of generosity that ultimately raised over 600K. Among the gilded set rocking the dance floor were Gillan Hearst, Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos, Ashley and Jeffrey McDermott, Marcella and Gregg Hymowitz, Gillian and Sylvester Miniter, Claudia Overstrom, Alexandra Lind Rose, Stacey Bronfman, Mercedes de Guardiola, Jean and Beau Bohm, Coco and Arie Kopelman, Somers Farkas, Caroline Hirsch and Andrew Fox, Eugenia and Janna Bullock, Yaz and Valentin Hernández, Meghan and Adam Klopp, and Carol Mack. Muffie, who wanted to make sure I understood the serious side of the night told me, “This year’s Initiative is Artificial Intelligence and Noninvasive Technologies for Oncologic Dermatology.” On a lighter note, the plaza ballroom never looked better -- bathed in a flattering floral canopy by lighting wizard Bentley Meeker. Brava Muffie!
Janna Bullock & R. Couri Hay
Rebecca Hessel Cohen & Marcella Hymowitz
Scarlett Johansson
Simone Levinson & Valentin & Yaz Hernandez
HAT LUNCHEON CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY
The Story
The Women’s Committee President Jenny Price and the Conservancy’s CEO Betsy Smith welcomed over 1,350 guests, including Michael Bloomberg, Stephanie March, Gillian Hearst, Jamee Gregory, Deborah Norville, Gillian and Sylvester Miniter, Marcella Hymowitz, Muffie Potter Aston, designer B Michael, Fe Fendi, Palmer’s Stefano Tonchi, Somers Farkas, Christine Schwarzman, Doubles’ Wendy Carduner, Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos, Town & Country’s Stellene Volandes and others of that ilk and stripe. All were wearing impressive and mostly chic chapeaux to an elegant pavilion in the Conservatory Garden. This iconic and perennial event raised a record $4.6 million to preserve and enhance Central Park for all New Yorkers and visitors. During the cocktail hour, guests admired the Park’s tulips, lilac bushes, and blooming wisteria while taking private tours of the recently restored English and French Gardens. With generous support from Harry Winston, JPMorgan, and St. John, this year’s luncheon was a reminder of why the Frederick Law Olmsted Awards Luncheon is always a highlight of the Spring season. The Women’s Committee has raised a staggering $215 million since its inception in 1983. Brava ladies! centralparknyc.org
Michael Bloomberg, Betsy Smith & Laurie Grauer
Lesser & Lizzie
Asher
Muffie Potter Aston, Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos
Adrien Gardner
Neda Navab & Jenny Price
Stephanie March (PHOTO BFA)
TASTE OF SUMMER
The
Story
The Central Park Conservancy’s annual Taste of Summer benefit featured irresistible food stations from over forty of the city’s top chefs and restaurants around the spectacular fountain at Bethesda Terrace. Among those dishing out their very best were Pastis, Buddakan, The Clocktower, Electric Lemon, Tavern on the Green, El Vez and Upland. Chefs on duty ranged from Preston Clark of Lure Fishbar to Chef Julian Medina of Soledad & Amare. Among the night’s co-chairs were Gillian & Sylvester Miniter, Susan Magrino & James Dunning, Sally & Bob Miller, and Elyse & Michael Newhouse. Summer-inspired florals and cool decor from Raiola/Co. set the evening’s 60s-themed tone. DJ Bailey kept the dance floor jumping. The festive evening, generously presented by Macquarie, raised over $1.3 million to support the Conservancy’s ongoing work to maintain the Park as a respite from the pace and pressure of city life for all New Yorkers and visitors. In the mix were Conservancy Chairman Tom Kempner & Kitty Patterson Kempner, Gillian Hearst, Margo & Jimmy Nederlander, Tracy Pollan, and Speaker Corey Johnson centralparknyc.org
Baily Kempner & Melanie McLennan
DJ Bailey
Hee Jung Moon, Michelle Trulaske & Kristen Swenson
Michael & Elyse Newhouse, Susan Magrino, Sally & Bob Miller
Norman Selby, Melissa Vail, Sylvester & Gillian Miniter, Betsy Smith, Laurie & Jay Mandelbaum, Kristy & Jonathan Korngold
Lauren Kim, Simone Goer, Amanda Baron, Cami Raucci & Joyce Kwok
Esme Fox & Tracy Pollan
YOUTH AMERICA GRAND PRIX at Lincoln Center
The Story
Karen LeFrak, a pillar of Hampton’s society, composed the music for Maria Konrad’s world premiere ballet, which featured Alonzo King LINES Ballet’s Adji Cissoko and English National Ballet’s Vsevolod Maievskyi with costumes designed by B Michael, at Youth America Grand Prix’s 25th Anniversary Gala at Lincoln Center. Among those leading the applause were designer Dennis Basso, who made his ballet debut by designing a costume for Crystal Huang, a rising star to watch. Ballerina Misty Copeland is also a prominent supporter of the organization, which has the largest ballet scholarship program in the world and is responsible for the thirty percent increase in dancers of diverse backgrounds in over 80 ballet companies around the globe, including NYC Ballet and ABT. The benefit’s chairs included Mick Jagger’s girlfriend Melanie Hamrick, Chelsea Clinton, Carolina Herrera designer Wes Gordon, Indré Rockefeller, and Kamie Lightburn, who hosted a fun kickoff party for patrons in Palm Beach. The night’s Creative Chair was Marcella Hymowitz. Over three hundred dancers from six continents, ages nine to nineteen, were on stage performing in the show dubbed “The Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow.”’ Dancers from the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and the Princess Grace schools were included. yagp.org
Crystal Huang wearing Dennis Basso
Carolina Herrera & Karen LeFrak
R. Couri Hay & Janna Bullock
Lizzie Asher & Cynthia Rowley
Candace Bushnell & Sophie Sumner
Marcella & Gregg Hymowitz
Kamie Lightburn
Event
“WONDERLAND: CURIOUS NATURE”
THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN
The Story
I never miss the New York Botanical Garden’s annual Conservancy Gala because of the unmatched beauty of the gardens and festive art installations. This summer’s stunning exhibition, titled “Wonderland: Curious Nature,” is a whimsical botanical experience inspired by the story of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and its sequels, “Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There.” The garden-wide exhibition, which runs through October 27th, features a magnificent flower show, fantastical tea parties, and exciting night experiences for the curious and adventurous at heart. N’est ce pas? In the mix, admiring the last of the peonies and the gorgeous florals that made up the season’s most imaginative step & repeat, were this year’s Honorees, William and Fleur Rueckert. Chairs included Deborah and Charles Royce, Sasha and Edward Bass, Sharon and Bill Jacob, and Gillian and Sylvester Miniter. Vibrant flowers filled the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, transporting guests to the era of Alice in 19th-century England. Attendees meandered through the celestial topiary garden with Shrumen Lumen, kinetic mushroom sculptures that change size and colors randomly by FoldHaus Art Collective. The innovative display previously dazzled audiences at the Burning Man Festival. Who else would tell you these things? Other notables under the big top included Muffie Potter Aston and Dr Sherrill Aston, Jennifer Creel, Ashley McDermott, Dennis Basso, Sophie Sumner, Peter Som, Eliza Reed Bolen, and Oscar de la Renta designers Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia. The fashion house also served as a sponsor and displayed amusing dresses made of ferns and orchids. Other support came from De Beers, The Bancorp, BartleX, Tree Experts, and Hearst. Their help furthers the Garden’s preeminent botanical research, horticulture, and children’s education programs.
Jennifer Creel, Marcia Mishaan, Muffie Potter Aston, Ashley McDermott & Hilary Dick
PHOTOS: BFA
Shrumen Lumen by FoldHaus
Jessel Taank
Sharon Jacob
Sophie Sumner
The
Event
WHITNEY GALA
The Story
Wes Gordon, Neil Bluhm and Kimberly Paige Bluhm, Nancy and Steve Crown, Susan and John Hess, Daniel Neidich, and Anne-Cecilie and Rob Speyer were among the Co-Chairs of this year’s Whitney Gala, which honored Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Brooke Garber Neidich, both longtime Trustees of the Museum. Among those leading the applause were Ashley Olsen, Emily Ratajkowski, Kristin Chenoweth, Claire Danes, Vanessa Williams, Seth Myers, and author A.M. Homes to name but a few. Before dinner, dozens of artists, including KAWS, Cindy Sherman, Cristina BanBan, Fred Wilson, Salman Toor, Ian Cheng, Derek Fordjour, Jeffrey Gibson, Terry Winters, Camille Henrot, Rashid Johnson, Jennifer Packer, and Laurie Simmons, explored Harold Cohen: AARON, an exhibition exploring the foundational stages of AI in artmaking. The evening raised over $5.2 million to support the Museum’s mission of presenting groundbreaking exhibitions and award-winning education
Neil & Kimberly
Paige Bluhm
Seth Meyers & Alexi Ashe
Stephanie March & Dan Benton
Kristin Chenoweth
Vanessa Williams
Paul Arnhold, Claire Danes & Wes Gordon
Sasha Bikoff & Ashley Olsen
Emily Ratajkowski
Andrea Glimcher, Judy Gordon Cox, Muffie Potter Aston, Eleanora Kennedy & Jennifer Creel
THE EUROPEAN FINE ART FOUNDATION
The Society of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
The Story
Tory Burch, Martha Stewart, Vera Wang, Mark Ronson & Grace Gummer, and Jamee and Peter Gregory led the perfumed pack to The Opening Night of The European Fine Art Foundation (TEFAF) at the Park Avenue Armory. The stellar night, which raised over 480K, benefited The Society of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), whose popular president is the everglamorous Muffie Potter Aston. 91 distinguished galleries from around the world presented the highest quality modern and contemporary art, jewelry, antiquities, and designs. The event’s co-chairs included Jennifer Creel, Holly Peterson, Leslie Coleman, Andrea Glimcher, and Eleanora Kennedy. Also in the mix, perusing the extraordinary booths and the breathtaking floral arrangements colorfully festooned the space, were Renee Rockefeller, Claudia Overstrom, Polina Proshkina, Meghan Klopp, Eva Lorenzetti, and famed plastic surgeon Dr. Sherril Aston. Ruinart, everyone’s favorite champagne, fueled the festivities. MSK’s mission is to fund and drive landmark innovations in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care to its patients. Prada was the returning sponsor of this year’s fun fete. mskcc.org
Mark Ronson & Grace Gummer
Geoffrey Bradfield & William Featherby
Martha Stewart
Tory Burch
Meghan Klopp
Vera Wang
Mercedes de Guardiola
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CaringKind
Raises $1.4 Million in Support of Alzheimer’s and Related Dementia Care at the 28th Annual
Forget-Me-Not Gala
BY GEORGE WAYNE
CaringKind, the trusted partner in Alzheimer’s and related dementia caregiving for over 45 years, hosted their 28th annual Forget-Me-Not Gala on Monday, June 3rd, 2024, at Cipriani 42nd Street. The non-profit organization raised an astounding $1.4 million in support of individuals, families, and caregivers affected by Alzheimer›s and related dementia.
-award winning journalist and entertainment reporter for G ood Day and FOX NY, Ryan Kristafer, served as the Master of Ceremonies. The gala kicked off with a cocktail reception 30pm, followed by dinner, an inspirational award ceremony, a live auction, and an exclusive afterparty concluded the evening’s festivities. Prominent honorees and attendees were dazzled by musical performances from international violinist Sarah Charness, Marissa Ghavami’s rendition of ‹Over the Rainbow›, New York’s longest performing choir group Musica and a celebrity DJ performance provided by Timo Weiland.
A constellation of stars attended in support of the honorees and C aringKind, including: Fashion titan Thom Browne; Fashion Designer C ynthia Rowley; Fashion icon Fern Mallis; Brunello Cucinelli North America CEO Massimo Caronna; Founder of Barbara Guggenheim Associates Barbara Guggenheim; Philanthropist C onsuelo Vanderbilt; Titan of Venture, Alan atricof; Milken Institute Future of Diane Ty; The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation CEO, Mark Roithmayr; Medscape Founder, Peter Frishauf; seasoned reporter and political commentator, Molly Jong-Fast, and more. The live auction was hosted by The
Tonight Show, starring Jimmy Fallon’s comedian, Seth Herzog, while International Auctioneer and Fundraiser Jacqueline TowersPerkins led the Paddle Raise. This annual fundraising gala is C aringKind’s effort to support the myriad of programs offered to those struggling with Alzheimer’s and related dementia.
CaringKind’s mission is to create, deliver, and promote comprehensive and compassionate care and support services for individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s and related dementia, and to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research. To achieve their mission, CaringKind offers programs for individuals with dementia, their families, and professional caregivers. The non-profit is committed to generating public awareness, collaborating with research centers, and informing public policy through advocacy.
CaringKind is the leading expert on Alzheimer’s and related dementia caregiving. With over 45 years of experience, CaringKind works directly with community partners to develop the information, tools, and training to support individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s and related dementia. CaringKind is dedicated to being your trusted partner in the journey through Alzheimer’s and related dementia care, providing guidance, support, and comprehensive services to every person, at every stage of the disease. From the moment of diagnosis to end-of-life care, their mission is to ensure that everyone, regardless of their background or the challenges they face, receive the trusted support they need, ensuring no one walks this path alone.
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