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Miami Design District · 3650 North Miami Avenue Miami FL 33127 · Telephone 305-576-8181
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100 CARATS of
P U R E LU X U R Y e xclusi vely at P rovident Je welr y
In GIA’s history, very few polished diamonds of gem quality have surpassed the 100-carat mark. Already part of an elite group due to its size, the highly transparent nature of this diamond adds to its rarity. This pure diamond is classified as type IIa which scientifically means it is lacking measurable levels of impurities like nitrogen, thus giving this diamond its pure white color.
This diamond was fashioned into a classic old world cushion cut, with its smaller table and open culet. Its faceting bears resemblance to other world-renowned diamonds, such as the 45.52 carat Blue Hope Diamond and the 105 carat Koh-I-Nur.
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100.08 carat diamond, Cushion Cut, D color, VS1 Clarity. *Shown at actual size
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NOW OPEN
LUXURY FURNISHINGS • TURNKEY RESIDENCES • HOME STAGING
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coNTENTS Features 42
WELCOME HOME
A behind-the-scenes look
at the new renovations at Vanderbilt Mansion BY MICHELLE PAYER
48 FLAVORS OF FISHER
The cuisine at Fisher Island
Club’s City View restaurant excites with Mediterranean influences PHOTOGRAPHY BY FELIPE CUEVAS
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THE FUTURE OF ART
For artists and collectors
alike, NFTs are dominating the contemporary art conversation BY PAIGE BOWERS
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NATURAL BEAUTY
Easy, breezy island attire PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL FILONOW
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ELLNESS WITHIN W REACH
Fisher Island Club abounds
with everything members need to lead a healthy life BY ANGELA CARAWAY-CARLTON
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BETTER TO GIVE
Fisher Island Gives helps
those most impacted by the pandemic
On the cover: The renovated Drawing Room at Fisher Island Club’s Vanderbilt Mansion. Renovations by Adriana Hoyos.
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MICHAEL FILONOW
BY PAIGE BOWERS
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FISHER ISLAND | CLUB MAGAZINE 2022
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coNTENTS 24 WELCOME
33109 28 HOT TICKETS Must-attend cultural events
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DINING
Miami’s culinary delights
32 FAMILY FIRST Fisher Island Day School expands
34 ENVIRONMENT Sustainability programs
36 EDITOR’S PICKS Things we love
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84 SOCIAL STUDIES Havana nights, Labor Day luaus, and more celebratory events
92 IN CLOSING Catch a ferry ride to Fisher Island
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ISN’T IT TIME? TO AWAKEN A JOURNEY FILLED WITH WONDER. Add an award-winning Caribbean vacation to your list of things to be grateful for this season. There’s no better time to plan the tropical getaway you deserve where drinks, Wi-Fi, and tips are Always IncludedSM.* JOURNEY SAFE. JOURNEY WONDERFULLSM.
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Publisher Terry Duffy EDITORIAL Editorial Director Daphne Nikolopoulos Executive Editor Mary Murray Fashion Editor Katherine Lande DESIGN Creative Director Olga M. Gustine Art Directors Jorge Márquez, Diana Ramírez Digital Imaging Specialist Leonor Alvarez-Maza CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Paige Bowers, Angela Caraway-Carlton, Erica Corsano, Josie Gulliksen, Michelle Payer, Liza Grant Smith, Mark Spivak CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Felipe Cuevas, Michael Filonow ADVERTISING Publisher, Naples Kaleigh Grover Associate Publisher Deidre Wade Account Managers Kathleen Beuttel, Lourdes Linares, Melissa Zolin Schwartz, Dina Turner, Meegan Wyatt Advertising Services Coordinator Emily Hauser PRODUCTION Production Director Selene M. Ceballo Production Manager Kayla Earle Digital Pre-Press Specialist George Davis Digital Production Coordinator Brendan Everson Advertising Design Coordinators Anaely J. Perez Vargas, Jeffrey Rey OPERATIONS Chief Operating Officer Todd Schmidt Office Manager Andrea Berumen Marketing Manager Christopher Link Distribution Manager Judy Heflin Circulation Manager Marjorie Leiva Circulation Promotions Manager Marcos Alviar Circulation Assistant Elizabeth Gillespie Accounting Specialist Mary Beth Cook Accounts Receivable Specialist Ana Coronel
CEO and President Bernard Lackner Director of Sales and Marketing & Contributing Editor Millie Quiles Communications Manager Julie Dull Member Services and Events Manager Minerva Hernandez FIC Public Relations Sissy De Maria Koehne
In Memoriam Ronald J. Woods (1935-2013) HOUR MEDIA, LLC CEO Stefan Wanczyk President John Balardo PUBLISHERS OF: Palm Beach Illustrated • Naples Illustrated • Fort Lauderdale Illustrated • Orlando Illustrated • Palm Beach Charity Register • Naples Charity Register • Florida Design Florida Design Naples • Florida Design Miami • Florida Design Sourcebook • Palm Beach Relocation Guide • Southwest Florida Relocation Guide • Fifth Avenue South The Jewel of Palm Beach: The Mar-a-Lago Club • Traditions: The Breakers • Palm Beach 100 • Naples 100 • Art & Culture: Cultural Council for Palm Beach County Pinnacle: Jupiter Medical Center Foundation • Waypoints: Naples Yacht Club • Naples on the Gulf: Naples Chamber of Commerce • Advances: Tampa General Hospital Fisher Island Club Magazine • Jupiter • Stuart • Aventura • Vero Beach Magazine • Community Foundation of Collier County Community Report Published by Palm Beach Media Group North, P.O. Box 3344, Palm Beach, FL 33480, 561-659-0210 • Fax: 561-659-1736 ®Palm Beach Illustrated, Palm Beach Magazine, and Palm Beach Social Observer are registered trademarks, and ™Palm Beach Living is a trademark of Palm Beach Media Group North
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n a m a r B Miami
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Braman
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EXCELLENCE BEGINS HERE B R A M A N B E N T L E Y. N E T • 2 0 6 0 B I S C AY N E B LV D. M I A M I , F L 3 313 7 • ( 7 8 6) 5 7 7- 52 2 5
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WELCOME
THE CURTAIN RISES ON OUR NEW ISSUE
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elcome to the premier issue of the all-new Fisher Island Club Magazine. We are thrilled to be able to provide you, our members, with your very own magazine showcasing the unique way of life here on the island through breathtaking photos and captivating stories. The unmatched beauty of Fisher Island, from its beaches and green spaces to its historic mansion and fairways, is truly a treasure. The friendly faces of our members and staff make this splendor even more magical. We’ve sought to showcase the best of club life within these pages. Season at Fisher Island Club has accelerated like a Formula 1 race car. The club is bustling with an exciting combination of activities and events. We hosted our first ever haunted house, invited members for a “Welcome Back Wellness Week,” celebrated the return of club life with a Miami-themed extravaganza, and toasted the New Year with a black-tie, over-the-moon affair. The club has never looked better, thanks to the glorious new interior design at the mansion, renovations at the Vanderbilt Theatre, the opening of the new Cove Kids Club, the always dazzling City View restaurant, and more. Our debut issue is filled with ideas and inspiration. We will peek into the world of NFTs, as members and experts alike share insight into the latest craze in the art world. We will also get the ABCs on the exciting expansion of the Fisher Island Day School and take a deep dive into our wellness offerings, while our new chef Murat Gunay dishes on the City View restaurant and menu. Recycled tennis balls? Who knew? Learn more about the club’s sustainability efforts on page 34. While the island is no doubt as picturesque as a postcard, it’s the people who give it its heart and soul. Fisher Island is made up of generous individuals who have made a lifetime of giving back. We will spotlight a few members and their charities of choice in this issue. And don’t miss our social pages where you may spot yourself or a friend living the Fisher Island life. Cheers to our new magazine and a new season celebrating the many reasons why we love Fisher Island Club. There really is no better place to be.
Millie Quiles
Director of Membership Sales & Marketing Contributing Editor, Fisher Island Club Magazine
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Think ahead and others will follow. To be at the forefront takes vision and sometimes guts. However, the reward is worth the risk. At Pacific National Bank, we believe in those always striving to break the mold. It’s part of your DNA to be a leader. We admire you for doing things differently. We’ve been doing it for years in our own industry, creating unique solutions to fit our clients’ distinct needs. Drop by and experience banking like you never have before.
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33109
WELCOME HOME
33109. The Fisher Island zip code is an island icon. Exclusive to Fisher Island, the zip code is not shared with any other part of Miami Beach. Within its numbers, it holds the history and heart of Fisher Island. It represents luxury, community, and family. 33109 is more than just numbers; it is home.
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33109 HOT TICKETS
SEASON OF ART & CULTURE Miami’s great cultural institutions and organizations deliver hits this year BY ERICA CORSANO
ALEXANDER IZILIAEV
Jewels
From Broadway to the big screen to our smartphones, stylish product placements are a dime a dozen nowadays. But perhaps one of the greatest examples of a fashion-culture crossover to ever occur is choreographer George Balanchine’s Jewels. Based on the ballet icon’s visit to French luxury jewelry house Van Cleef & Arpels, this exquisite production is broken up into three acts: Emeralds, Rubies, and Diamonds. The Miami City Ballet will dance this sparkling trio at the Adrienne Arsht Center April 1-3. Dance enthusiasts can also catch a performance at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach March 18-20 and the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale April 23-24. (miamicityballet.org)
Music is, and forever will be, a form of retreat. After a challenging year, maybe a ticket on an auditory train headed straight for Hollywood is just what the doctor ordered. On March 19, Miami’s beloved New World Symphony will transport audiences to the Golden State with “Music of the Silver Screen” at the New World Center. Conductor Richard Kaufman—who has conducted and supervised for film and television— will lead a program that includes selections from Ben-Hur, King Kong, Lawrence of Arabia, and The Wizard of Oz, among others. (nws.edu)
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WORLD RED EYE
“Music of the Silver Screen”
“TESORO”
Miami artist Pepe Mar makes his museum curatorial debut in “Tesoro: Pepe Mar’s Love Letter to the Frost,” an ongoing exhibition on display at the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum at Florida International University. Known for his grand-scale 3D collages, the Mexican-born artist—and FIU alum—went hunting for treasures among the Frost’s vast visual art collection to assemble his largest collage yet. The result is a beautiful explosion of color, artistic mediums, and cultures, arranged across three themed galleries on the academic museum’s third floor. (frost.fiu.edu)
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33109 HOT TICKETS
PINK MARTINI
“My Name is Maryan”
Born Pinkas Schindel, the late artist known as Maryan shed his birthname— the name under which he was persecuted by the Nazis—in an utterly brave and self-defining move. He knew that, in his work, he could create his own narrative and reclaim his life story. As one of the first artists to document his own experiences with the Shoah or Holocaust, Maryan’s post-expressionist works were often autobiographical. The always progressive Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami hosts a collection of his paintings, sculptures, drawings, and a film in “My Name is Maryan,” on display through March 20. Speaking to this magnificent opus is an array of complementary works by other American and global artists. (mocanomi.org)
COURTESY VENUS OVER MANHATTAN, NEW YORK
CHRIS HORNBECKER
Thirsty for a cocktail of melodies? Led by sultry vocal powerhouse China Forbes, Pink Martini incorporates several languages and types of music—old and new, pop and not—into their live performances. This small-but-mighty orchestra delivers an unforgettable musical experience, culling inspiration from global influences and crossing genres including classical and jazz. Catch them at the Adrienne Arsht Center May 6. (arshtcenter.org)
MATTHEW MURPHY
Broadway at the Adrienne Arsht Center Theater fans can delight in the fact that Broadway is back in Miami—in a major way. From a superstar prophet and the legend of a grand duchess of Russia, to a coming-of-age story of a teenager with social anxiety and a trip to the underworld to rescue a lover, this year the velvet curtain will reveal high entertainment in the form of four blockbuster musicals at the Adrienne Arsht Center. The lineup includes Dear Evan Hansen (February 15-20), Anastasia (March 22-27), Jesus Christ Superstar (May 31 to June 5), and Hadestown (December 6-11). (arshtcenter.org)
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33109 DINING
MIAMI’S CULINARY DELIGHTS The Magic City abounds with gastronomic influences and experiences sure to please any palate BY JOSIE GULLIKSEN
MILA
COURTESY OF MILA RESTAURANT
There’s a reason why MILA’s mantra is “joie de vivre”: This highenergy MediterrAsian eatery on Miami’s South Beach engages all the senses. From the boho-chic ambience and seductive Balearic tunes to the bold flavor fusion of Japanese and Mediterranean cuisines, MILA is as much experience as it is restaurant. The inspired dishes, many of which are prepared tableside in a culinary spectacle like no other, are based on ingredients unique to these cultures and blended artfully to create a new flavor language (hello, shiso guacamole!). Innovative cocktails further elevate the dining experience, as does the design. A minimalist blend of Cycladic and Japanese aesthetics with a sustainability twist, the space invites guests to linger—and celebrate life. (milarestaurant.com)
City View Restaurant on Fisher Island The name says it all. At City View Restaurant inside Vanderbilt Mansion, chef Murat Gunay pairs Mediterranean cuisine with stunning views of Miami’s skyline. Here, island residents can enjoy dishes that feature only the freshest ingredients, as well as specialty items from Turkey, Greece, and Spain. Mezzes, hummus, and baba ghanoush give way to imported dorado or branzino and seasonal local fish selections. For something more robust, opt for the tender lamb, available in a variety of preparations. (fisherislandclub.com/dining)
PHUC YEA
You’ll know you’ve arrived at this restaurant in the heart of the MiMo District when you spot the red Chinese lanterns on the patio. Co-owners Cesar Zapata and Ani Meinhold present a blend of Viet-Cajun cuisine with Colombian influences—all of which beautifully suit the cheerful environs. The Phuc Yea pho is a must-try, but so are the crispy imperial rolls with shrimp, pork, wood ear mushrooms, carrots, and jicama. The unique combination of international flavors along with the creative cocktail menu and the divine coconut croissant bread pudding make for an unforgettable experience. (phucyea.com)
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Café Avanti Since 1989, owner Luis Fuentes has been serving fine Italian fare in a New York–style bistro that has become an iconic neighborhood gem. Locals and celebrities alike love the sophisticated ambience, attentive staff, and stellar dishes like lasagna Bolognese and linguine con vongole. Fuentes is passionate about the food, and it shows. The freshest burrata is served alongside peppery arugula, while the rigatoni calabrese is a marriage of shiitake mushrooms and sausage. And no one can pass up tiramisu or a generous slice of carrot cake. (cafeavanti.com)
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Redfish by Chef Adrianne
The spectacular views at Matheson Hammock are an outdoor enthusiast’s dream, and they also happen to be the setting for Redfish by Chef Adrianne. A household name in Miami’s culinary scene, Adrianne Calvo has crafted a seafood-centric menu dotted with innovative classics. Hearty yet refreshing appetizers range from beer-battered tiger shrimp and a Positano-style cooked seafood tower to ceviche with mango, coconut, and jalapeño, and littleneck clams with fried garlic and a sofrito broth. Go traditional with entrées like Maine lobster or whole crispy snapper. Landlubbers can choose from buttermilk-brined chicken, CAB skirt steak, or a monster-sized 50-ounce tomahawk ribeye. (redfishmiami.com)
COTE MIAMI A recent addition to the swanky Miami Design District, Cote is a Korean-style steak house. The James Beard Award–nominated wine list boasts more than 1,200 options, meaning there is plenty to sample while dining on caviar, high-end appetizers, and a vast selection of choice cuts of meat. Patrons can also opt for the omakase experience known as the Butcher’s Feast, complete with some of the chef’s favorite cuts and traditional Korean accompaniments such as egg souffle and pickled veggies. (cotemiami.com)
LPM Restaurant & Bar
Cruise along Brickell Bay Drive—soaking in the views along the way—to arrive at LPM Restaurant & Bar on the street level of the Brickell House Condo. This is French dining at its best. The European setting, complete with a cocktail bar adorned with an angel sculpture and an ornate gold mirror, matches the gorgeous culinary offerings. Cauliflower gets the star treatment as a salad with almond and caraway dressing, while the roasted baby chicken marinated in lemon is a standout among the entrée selections. Finish the meal with an authentic crème brûlée to be transported to the streets of Paris. (lpmrestaurants.com)
LEKU
Located inside the Rubell Museum in Miami’s Allapattah neighborhood, Leku pays homage to Spain’s Basque country, with colorful dishes that rival the artworks on display. Settle in to the open-air space and start your meal with either the rich beet tartare with olive oil and caviar, or the gambas al ajillo (Key West pink shrimp in garlic sauce). Savor a hearty wild mushroom rice before moving on to grilled delicacies and the burnt cheesecake, a Spanish specialty. Try a variety of these dishes and more with the Leku Experience 11-course rotating tasting menu. (lekumiami.com)
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33109 FAMILY FIRST
READING, WRITING, EXPANSION, AND PLAY Fisher Island Day School adds two buildings, while the new The Cove engages kids with an ever-changing repertoire of events BY MICHELLE PAYER
s
unlight pours through 22 windowpanes set high in the Jana and Brian Neff Gymnasium, one of two new buildings that have doubled Fisher Island Day School’s size to 20,000 square feet. On one side, kids practice drills, while on the other, a brisk game of volleyball is underway. The gym’s wall hides a recessed stage for scaleddown musical performances including Annie Jr., Moulin Jr., and Matilda Jr. “We’ve always been a great school, but with this expansion, we’ve taken a great leap forward to add things we were lacking,” says former Head of School Michael Bell. “The biggest is undoubtedly the gym. We are using it every day for PE and games, for large school meetings. If it’s raining for lunch, we can bring in tables and chairs. It’s a game changer.” Fisher Island Day School serves 168 students from 2 years of age through eighth grade, and a robust
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sports program is very important to them, explains Bell. “We added volleyball, basketball, and lacrosse and will add sailing because when you’re applying to high school, they’re looking for kids with good grades and high test scores, but also kids who have competed in sports. It teaches them a lot about discipline, grit, defeat, and teamwork.” The two-story Al-Rashid Building is adjacent to the gym and was designed in a Mediterranean style that blends seamlessly with its Fisher Island surroundings. The new building houses classrooms, an art and music studio, a courtyard dining area, and a full commercial kitchen that serves kids lunch and two snacks daily. The additional space helps the school maintain its current cap of 15 students per classroom and a teacher-to-student ratio of one to six. The curriculum includes Spanish and Mandarin Chinese instruction beginning at age 2, as well as
a large selection of electives such as visual art, SAT preparation, and speech and debate. A short distance from the school, The Cove Kids Club opened June 4, 2021. Fronting the Fisher Island Club Marina, The Cove was created and is managed by cruise ship veteran Kate Schultz, who describes the facility as a space where kids can be kids. “Whether we have an interactive theme party, scavenger hunts, or juggling, it’s a place entirely dedicated to kids that never existed on Fisher Island,” she says. From Thursday through Sunday, sessions at The Cove revolve around a theme, from “Welcome to the Jungle” to “Ninja Warriors” and “Superhero.” Schultz and her team design fitness challenges, puzzle games, relay races, and age-appropriate adventures for kids 4-12, in addition to once-amonth “Late Nights” and “Teen Nights” and 20 outdoor special events every month.
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_Chapman_KeyBiscayne_Ad_01_a.pdf
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11:57 AM
a person who donates time, money, experience, skills or talent to help create a better community
As a national model for homelessness, Chapman Partnership addresses the most basic human rights and needs to restore the dignity and respect of men, women, and children experiencing homelessness. Since 1995, we have transformed the lives of more than 125,000 individuals. We look to our community's philanthropists to support a more equitable society, and healthy, vibrant Miami-Dade County. Your philanthropic contributions create a ripple of transformation throughout our community in these areas: HOUSING FAMILY RESOURCES
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1/27/22 4:45 PM
33109 ENVIRONMENT
GOING GREEN Fisher Island is implementing sustainability practices community-wide BY JOSIE GULLIKSEN
Emily Chene and her daughters participate in a beach cleanup.
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ho knew you could recycle tennis balls? According to the Recycle Balls nonprofit organization, roughly 125 million tennis balls end up in American landfills every year. Not only that but each ball takes around 400 years to decompose. Recycle Balls has found a solution, by turning tennis balls into “green gold” that is used to construct tennis courts, among other purposes. Here on Fisher Island, more than 3,000 tennis balls have been recycled across 17 courts, earning the community a Green Ball Award from Recycle Balls. This is just one example of the eco-friendly efforts Fisher Island employees and community members have taken, all with the goal of securing a greener tomorrow. When Fisher Island began pursuing sustainability initiatives in earnest in 2019, it became necessary to establish a “Green Team” to keep them running smoothly. It was then that Millie Quiles, Fisher Island’s director of sales and marketing, decided to take the reins. “When in discussions with our general manager at the time, they asked who wanted to head up the sustainability effort, and I immediately said I was interested and offered to be the chairperson,” says Quiles. “I started in September 2019, and Charlotte Prescott, our spa and fitness director, became the committee co-chairperson.” Recruiting a co-chair was an absolute necessity, and Prescott was the ideal fit “since she had already begun sustainability efforts within the spa,” notes Quiles. Because the sustainability efforts spread island-wide, the Fisher Island Club (FIC) Green Team consists of people from various sectors, such as the restaurants, marina, beauty salon, fitness center, waste management, transportation, and the Fisher Island Community Association. “The team includes a group of five people from several different areas,” explains Quiles. “Because they had already been recycling a lot of the
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33109 ENVIRONMENT
Fisher Island Club members take part in beach cleanups within the community (right). FIC also recycles tennis balls as part of the Recycle Balls initiative (below).
landscaping, including trees and shrubberies, and sending it to local nurseries for recycling—they were never dumped—residents were encouraged about the initiatives.” Camila Quaresma-Sharp is a Fisher Island resident who is very involved in the island’s sustainability efforts. A lifelong environmentalist, Quaresma-Sharp relocated to the island nine years ago. “Since I moved to the island, I always wanted to know what Fisher Island Club as well as the association were doing in regards to sustainability,” says Quaresma-Sharp. She points to specific areas including recycling, composting, community gardens, stormwater systems, landscaping (native plants, fertilizer schedules), pesticide choices, and changes to single-use plastic alternatives. The first effort centered on energy efficiency and conservation, inclusive of a Frequency Drive Project that will keep air-conditioning units from running continuously throughout the night. Fisher Island is also complying with Plastic Free Miami Beach initiatives, to include eliminating plastic straws, stirrers, and cups and adopting more biodegradable/plant-based alternatives. Island officials are working toward eliminating all singleuse plastics and water bottles. “We hired a contracted sustainability manager, and her job is to conduct a comparative analysis of other islands like us and ensure we’re on the right path in our sustainability efforts,” explains Quiles. “Recycling is one of our pillars, so elimination of single-use plastics to align with all other oceanside communities is our goal. Ultimately, we want to ensure we’re doing as much as we can.” The island’s 16-room hotel has instituted a towel and linen reuse program, in addition to partnering with the Clean the World foundation to recycle half-used bottles of shampoo, body wash, and soaps and donate them to countries in need. The Fisher Island Club also earned a Three Palms designation from the Florida Green Lodging Association, and the island’s marina has been designated as a “clean and resilient” marina by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. “Additionally, we have initiated several beach cleanups resulting in 611 pounds of trash
collected,” Quiles says. “We also held an Eco Fair on the island in April in honor of Earth Day. We even have an aviary where we rescue and rehabilitate injured birds.”
Additional island sustainability efforts include: • A new water filtration system with state-of-theart purification technology. New units have been installed in the fitness center, locker rooms, and break rooms. They are touchless, sensor-operated, and put the water through a reverse-osmosis carbon filtration process via LED ultraviolet light, which removes 99 percent of the bacteria and increases the electrolyte content. • New spa uniforms made from 100 percent recycled water bottles. • Partnering with a skin care company that offsets its carbon footprint and funds a wind farm in the Philippines. The products themselves are from certified B corporations that use clean ingredients and recycled packaging, and make the products in facilities that also practice sustainability. • Using packaging that is recyclable and, in some cases, going boxless or ensuring packaging is compostable. • Offering a line of athletic apparel called Tasc that is made from bamboo, which is hypoallergenic and has natural sun protection. “We’re trying to lead the charge and walk the
walk,” says Prescott. “It’s nice that there are all these options out there today. We ensure that any brands we partner with have these same sustainable practices. This way the impact is even greater, and we can have a cohesive message throughout.”
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33109 EDITOR’S PICKS
THINGS WE LOVE Indulge and delight in these luxe offerings and experiences available locally BY LIZA GRANT SMITH
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3. Jet-Set Lifestyle Designed by private aviation executives, Unity Jets gives its clients more flight hours for their money than other jet card or fractional ownership program, as well as an all-inclusive structure with no membership fees or commitment to pre-paid hours. Unity pairs this value-driven philosophy with expert travel planning and a flexibility in choice of aircraft size. Unity Jets, Miami (unityjets.com) 4. Top-Down Approach Sleekness personified, the Bentley Continental GT V8 convertible (price upon request) is designed with a streamlined body and exquisite attention to detail that makes it equally
stylish with the roof open or closed. Four Bentley driving modes allow you to adjust chassis and drivetrain settings to suit the road beneath you, while a wealth of innovative technology enhances the unparalleled ride. Braman Bentley, Miami (bramanbentley.net) 5. Arm Candy Part of Graff’s Tribal Collection—inspired by the folk story of a girl who threw the embers of a fire into the desert night sky to create the stars—this stunning bracelet (price upon request) features 33.64 carats of yellow and white diamonds set in gold and white gold. Graff, Bal Harbour (graff.com)
6. Artistic Journey René Lalique designed this captivating vase ($18,000) in 1929 as a nod to the Languedoc region in the South of France. With this verdant land as its muse, the vase features cactus leaf overlays in a satin-finished crystal. Lalique, Bal Harbour (lalique.com) 7. Swing Into Action The perfect pick for intermediate to advanced players looking to dominate with controllable power and comfort, the Yonex Ezone 98 ($228) boasts the company’s isometric design that increases the sweet spot by 7 percent. In addition, the vibration-dampening mesh and super cushion grip help to protect your wrist, forearm, and elbow
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against shock-induced injuries. Fisher Island’s Racquet Club, Fisher Island (fisherislandclub.com/tennis/pickleball) 8. Face Value Give your visage some well-deserved pampering with Spa Internazionale’s Lift and Sculpt treatment for intensive skin regeneration ($340 for 80 minutes, $460 for 110 minutes). Biologique Recherche products and sculpting massage techniques join forces to tone, tighten, and reshape facial contours. Spa Internazionale, Fisher Island (fisherislandclub.com/spa) 9. Cooler Heads Prevail Stitch’s limited-edition Birdie Bag ($318) allows you to embrace a “one bag fits
all” mentality. Thanks to its patented removeable inserts, it can transform from a cooler bag ideal for a golf outing, to a stylish carry-on or sophisticated work bag with room for all your business essentials. The Links at Fisher Island Golf Shop, Fisher Island (fisherislandclub.com/golf) 10. Seas The Day Luxuriate in the bespoke holiday of a lifetime aboard Fabulous Character, a 139-foot superyacht. A private chef and crew will see to your every need while you and your loved ones escape the daily grind and enjoy the crystalline turquoise waters and pristine beaches of the Bahamas and Caribbean Sea. Camper & Nicholsons (camperandnicholsons.com)
IN THE KNOW
The Bal Harbour Shops ACCESS Membership and Rewards program allows you to earn rewards for shopping and dining at Bal Harbour Shops, including monthly benefits from the stores and restaurants. In honor of the launch of Fisher Island magazine, residents and members who join ACCESS will receive a special gift. Simply download the Bal Harbour Shops app, tap the user icon, enter “Fisher Island” as the referral code, and visit the ACCESS suite for your gift. For more information, email Stephanie at access@balharbourshops.com
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WELCOME HOME A reimagined Vanderbilt Mansion recalls the home’s haute past with an infusion of global-chic style BY MICHELLE PAYER
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n 1927, when William K. Vanderbilt II acquired 7 acres on Fisher Island in exchange for $1 and Eagle, his 265-foot yacht, he couldn’t possibly have imagined the splendor that would come to occupy that stretch of land. After he discreetly married his second wife, Rosamund, in Paris that same year, the newlyweds began work on a grand mansion. They teamed up with Swiss-born architect Maurice Fatio—a favorite of other well-to-do families including the Rockefellers and Huttons—and unveiled their Mediterranean-style winter residence in 1936, ushering in an era of glamorous entertaining and luxurious relaxation. When it came time to renovate the Vanderbilt Mansion, interior designer Adriana Hoyos sought to maintain its charm and grandeur, while also elevating specific spaces for Fisher Island members to enjoy in a more modern way. Hoyos uncovered and studied images from three of the Vanderbilts’ stateside mansions, focusing on the dreamy sophistication and sporty joie de vivre they brought to each home. A deep historical dive into how the Vanderbilts lived laid the foundation for the refreshed Fisher Island design aesthetic.
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The Snooker Club is nestled on the upper level of the Vanderbilt Mansion, in the same space that was once Mr. Vanderbilt’s bedroom suite. The royal blue walls and gold ceiling create an intimate, jewel box–like atmosphere, complete with a black drum chandelier with hanging gold crystals. Lush fabrics beckon guests to settle in with a cocktail in hand as they enjoy live music and entertainment.
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“I knew it would be challenging,” Hoyos says of the historically significant project. “Even as a seasoned designer with 30 years of international experience, it required all my self-confidence and strength as a designer to take the Vanderbilt story and make it happen.” As Hoyos toured the limestone and marble mansion, she became inspired to return it to its glory days. “I wanted the mansion to be inviting, welcoming, friendly, and comfortable—not intimidating—exactly like the Vanderbilt homes I saw in photos,” she notes. “From all my research, I could see they were lovely people. They worked very hard for their fortune. They weren’t stuffy. They loved boats and sailing, and their DNA was firmly in the mansion. I endeavored to imagine Mrs. Vanderbilt and her taste level through the woodwork, the original paneling, the detail, and how much attention they paid to the core interior design and ensure that was present in my conceptual interior design.” Marrying Vanderbilt history with twenty-firstcentury sensibilities required a close collaboration with Fisher Island’s interior design renovation committee, who wanted the opulent Snooker Club and the natural-light-filled Drawing Room to be utilized to their full potential. The collective committee voices—from New York, Russia, London, Boston, and Florida—melded with Hoyos’ Latin American roots to create a Paris jazz club vibe in the Snooker Club and a welcoming living room setting in the Drawing Room. Everyone agreed that maintenance and repair work needed to be tackled first, before overhauling the Drawing Room’s cream-colored environs, lackluster lighting, blank walls, and haphazard furniture arrangements. “I wanted that room to be sophisticated yet relaxed, which is why I used the woven wicker chairs to achieve that feeling of comfortable luxury,” Hoyos says. “The colors are inspired by the island, by the Floridian colors.” The room’s original paneling springs to life with fresh white paint. The ceiling is covered in a motherof-pearl-finished wallpaper from Orlean Miami. The Vanderbilts came back home in the form of framed photos. Aerin Lauder sconces flank the images, while Lauder’s Liscia large chandelier captures the natural light and anchors the mix of colors in the space. Romo fabrics pair with Holly Hunt pillows to marry
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style and durability in furniture that is meant to be utilized throughout the day. In these warm environs, Fisher Island Club members and hotel guests can gather for morning coffee, afternoon tea, and evening cocktails. “The Drawing Room needed to be welcoming and friendly, for members to be greeted by the comfort of the space,” says Hoyos. “It’s sad to see spaces that are wasted because they’re so highly decorated you’re afraid of sitting. This isn’t a museum. This is a place for people to live in and enjoy.”
An original marble and ironwork staircase leads up to the swanky Snooker Club, where live music mixes with colors as rich as a glass of Château Lafite Rothschild. The inspiration for this space was a French speakeasy bar. “You feel transported when you walk into the room,” the designer says. The dramatic royal blue walls are the first surprise. “I took the risk of painting it blue,” Hoyos says of her decision. “The committee is well-traveled in Europe and around the globe. They knew the places in Paris I was
Vibrant blue and red-orange hues inspired by Florida pop within the Drawing Room. Woven wicker chairs contrast plush seating areas, which are centered around glass- and marble-topped coffee tables. Mirrors increase the depth of the space, while a chandelier and sconces by Aerin Lauder enhance the beautiful natural light.
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describing and wanted to replicate that atmosphere on Fisher Island.” The blue walls are punctuated with a gold ceiling and InnovationsUSA geometric wallcoverings, using wood veneer stained in blue and brass inlays to create a mosaic effect. Textured pillows complement the gold marbled Grafito Club Chairs from the Adriana Hoyos Collection. A sapphire blue couch, which Hoyos designed and had made locally by Grafton Furniture Company, centers the
room underneath a dramatic, black-shaded drum chandelier with hanging gold crystals that beg to be plucked and worn as earrings. The entire project took nine months from concept to completion, and the outcome has members and hotel guests buzzing. Now, nearly 100 years after the ultimate leisure power trade of the early twentieth century and more than 85 years after Mr. and Mrs. William K. and Rosamund Vanderbilt II opened the
doors to their Fisher Island retreat, their photos are hanging on its walls once again. Their stately mansion—a piece of South Florida history—has been refreshed into a haven of comfortable, contemporary glamour for a new generation of members. In the swirl of colors and crystals, one can almost see Mrs. Rosamund Vanderbilt perched on a chair with a glass of Champagne, head tilted back in laughter, enjoying the company of her new acquaintances.
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FLAVORS OF FISHER Meet the culinary team behind Fisher Island Club’s City View restaurant and visually savor their picture-perfect palate pleasers PHOTOGRAPHY BY FELIPE CUEVAS
Greek yogurt with thyme, honey, walnuts, and berries
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Grilled lamb chops with beet puree, roasted baby carrots, and baby zucchini
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Almond baklava with vanilla ice cream, roasted almonds, lemon zest, and strawberries
Fresh Focus When Chef Josh Becker visited Fisher Island for the first time, he was struck by how friendly and welcoming everyone was. “Both the staff and the residents were waving and saying hello,” recalls Becker, who now serves as Fisher Island Club’s director of culinary operations. “It seemed like such a happy place.” He was also impressed by the club’s vision for the future. “Fisher Island is committed to becoming the world’s premier private club. For someone like me, who likes to keep the creative process going nonstop, it was an exciting opportunity.” In his new role, Becker supervises a culinary team of nearly 100 and oversees menus and execution at the club’s seven dining venues. One of his goals is to convert all operations to a 100 percent scratch cooking format, with everything made fresh on the island every day. Rather than changing menus seasonally, he aims to innovate new dishes on a constant basis. His primary focus is on elevating the existing offerings to a higher level of quality and service. A former senior corporate manager for culinary operations at Celebrity Cruises, Becker is comfortable with dining operations of all sizes. “Hospitality never really changes, whether you’re at sea or on land,” he notes. “Ultimately, it’s about making people happy and exceeding their expectations.” —Mark Spivak
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Greek salad with vine-ripened tomatoes, baby cucumbers, red and green bell peppers, red onion, feta, and black olives dressed in Greek olive oil and finished with sea salt
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Grilled Spanish octopus with Santorini fava bean puree, dill and herb salad with shaved red onion and tomatoes, and grilled lemon
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Welcome Murat Gunay
Mediterranean-style baked branzino with fingerling potatoes, black olives, baby heirloom tomatoes, capers, mini sweet peppers, basil, red-vein sorrel, and grilled lemon
With more than 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry, chef Murat Gunay is bringing his love of Mediterranean cuisine to City View Restaurant, located inside Fisher Island’s Vanderbilt Mansion. A native of Istanbul, Turkey, Gunay previously served as executive chef of Babylon Mediterranean Kitchen & Bar on Miami Beach. He also brought his expertise to Estiatorio Milos, Meze Aegean Bistro, and Aura Restaurant.
At City View, he will lead the culinary team in developing and elevating the restaurant’s dining options. “I know the Fisher Island residents love eating clean, healthy food, and my goal is to create dishes using only the best products available,” says Gunay. “I plan to use the highest quality imported ingredients from Turkey, Greece, and Spain to create my Mediterranean-inspired menu.” Diners can expect mezzes including fresh pita and hummus, authentic halloumi cheese with vine-ripened tomatoes, and traditional Santorini bean salad made with fava beans and olive oil from Greece. “The menu will feature a plethora of Mediterranean specialties from the best countries,” notes Gunay. “I know the residents will love my salads. My wife always says she can never replicate my salads.” When it comes to the entrées, seasonal fish will be the star of the seafood selections. While Mediterranean fish such as dorado, branzino, and anchovies will be mainstays, “I also plan to include plenty of local fish because it is something I know diners love,” says Gunay. Lamb, another Mediterranean favorite, will also be a constant. Patrons will have the option of lamb chops, rack of lamb, and the chef’s famous lamb shank, which he braises in the oven for three to four hours. In addition to chef Gunay’s arrival, City View has recently undergone a renovation. Situated under a high awning, the outdoor seating provides a stellar oceanfront view, while the updated interior floors exude elegance. —Josie Gulliksen
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THE FUTURE OF W ART NFTs represent a new frontier, both for artists and collectors BY PAIGE BOWERS
hen an auctioneer closed bidding on digital artist Beeple’s Everydays: The First 5000 Days in March 2021, it was a watershed moment for Christie’s. The 254-year-old auction house had not only sold a digital artwork called an NFT—or non-fungible token—for the very first time, but it had done so for a jaw-dropping $69.3 million, making its creator the third most valuable living artist after Jeff Koons and David Hockney. “It was the moment when everything shifted in the market,” says Lydia Fenet, global managing director of strategic partnerships and lead benefit auctioneer for Christie’s. “Prior to this moment, I promise you that if you had polled anybody in this company about NFTs, there would have been very few people who could tell you about them.”
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Left: One of the first NFTs to garner a massive bid when put to auction in March 2021 was Beeple’s Everydays: The First 5000 Days. Below: Social media posts can be minted as NFTs too. An NFT of the first-ever tweet, by Twitter cocreator Jack Dorsey, sold for $2.9 million.
What a difference a big sale makes. NFTs are now a hot collectible, in part because they are authenticated with blockchain, a sophisticated database of transactions that is impossible to alter. For the collector, that blockchain means guaranteed provenance and confirmation of ownership. While others can screenshot and otherwise copy these digital works, none of them will have proof of owning the original. That proof is what gives each piece its value, and it’s why the market for NFTs has become worth a staggering $10.7 billion worldwide, according to DappRadar, a site devoted to programs or apps that exist on the blockchain. Whether it’s a complicated piece of digital artwork like Everydays or a sports highlight, viral photo, or meme, experts believe NFTs could reinvigorate an art market that has declined 22 percent during the global pandemic. “Everyone wants to know about NFTs right now,” says Suzi Cordish, an avid collector who is active on Fisher Island’s art committee. “In terms of authenticity,
it is fantastic. You are buying an original and that should feel great to many collectors, given all the stories about the finest galleries being duped by reproductions. NFTs give you a way to feel confident about your purchase.” At press time, Cordish was heading to New York for art auctions, which she said now begin with an NFT sale, undoubtedly a sign of the times. “[These auctions have] become enjoyable for those who understand the technology of this, rather than the artistic aspects,” she notes. “Artists are innovators, and the future is in technology. What we’re seeing with these NFTs is an outgrowth of that.” Some of these big-ticket sales can be confounding. Twitter founder Jack Dorsey sold an NFT of his first tweet—“just setting up my twttr”—for $2.9 million a little more than a week after Beeple made waves at Christie’s. Around the same time, The New York Times turned its “Buy this Column on the Blockchain” article
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New York Times journalist Kevin Roose sold an NFT of a column he wrote for 350 Ether, or $560,000, netting $500,000 in cryptocurrency after the auction platform took its cut.
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into an NFT that sold for more than $500,000. The following month, a one-by-one gray pixel by the artist Pak sold at Sotheby’s for $1.35 million. Now the short-form video app TikTok is entering the market with NFT clips by some of its top creators, including rap superstar Lil Nas X. Who knows where all of this will lead? Cynics point to the tulip craze of the seventeenth century, when mad speculators drove up the price of the coveted bulbs only to have the market collapse. According to a Reuters report, an image of a cartoon ape that originally sold for the cryptoequivalent of $61,329, sold two weeks later for $124,205. A digital abstract initially purchased for $1,366 sold for $3.3 million two months later. Stories like this are legion, and yet there are plenty of people who believe NFTs are here to stay. With more than half of art fairs canceled during the COVID shutdown, a recent UBS study found people have turned away from traditional means of investing and making money within the art world. Although there are a growing number of NFT creators, Fenet says auction houses like Christie’s are doing their due diligence to ensure they’re creating a solid market for these collectors. “We like to say we’re trying to be strategic about the NFTs we’re putting into sales,” she says. “We look at the provenance and whether the artist has a community before we put it up for sale. We look at whether these pieces represent the zeitgeist in some
way. We are not going to auction NFTs for NFTs’ sake. We are trying to create a market that will be a collecting market, so we want to be sure we’re making the right decisions about what we choose.” For collectors like Cordish, who gravitate toward pieces that are more tangible, NFTs represent a whole new world where the language spoken is not so easily understood. “It’s probably going to take me a while to wrap my head around it,” Cordish says. “I understand the appeal but figuring out where I fit in is going to be a process. Personally, I love that someone is thinking like these artists are and wants to find a way to articulate the world that is fresh and new.” Currently, Cordish is drawn to “up, happy stuff because I think I need it right now.” Pieces like Everything is Going to be Alright by Martin Creed and Yes to All by Sylvie Fleury are literal lights in her collection, which focuses on contemporary works and emerging artists. Yes, there are plenty of up-and-comers in the NFT space, but she is still figuring out how to enjoy digital art and deciding whether she will invest in it in the future. Admittedly, she is curious about this innovation and thinks there are various ways to support it. “Definitely you should be looking at and experiencing the art that is considered an NFT and seeing if it speaks to you,” she says. “What is this NFT talking about? Where is the head of the artist who is doing this?”
From top: Fisher Island resident Suzi Cordish has a collection that includes Martin Creed’s Everything is Going to be Alright; Sotheby’s auctioned The Pixel by Pak for $1.35 million in April 2021.
For those who have entered the market, it has opened them up to a whole new way of seeing and investing in art from creators they might not have otherwise experienced. Fenet says of this phenomenon: “So far it has been an amazing ride, and we are battle ready.”
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NATURAL BEAUTY Step out and stand out in chic island styles PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL FILONOW FASHION EDITOR: KATHERINE LANDE
Embellished caftan, Oscar de la Renta, Bal Harbour Shops, Miami, oscardelarenta.com
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Floral printed top with belt, floral printed pants, Valentino, Miami Design District, Bal Harbour Shops, valentino.com; Bon Bon crystal embellished handbag, Jimmy Choo, Aventura Mall, Village of Merrick Park, jimmychoo.com.
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Embellished shift dress, Dior, Miami Design District, dior.com; chain necklace, Versace, Miami Design District, versace.com; earrings, rings, Wish Fine Jewelry, Key Biscayne, Miami, wishfinejewelry.com.
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White silk mini dress, Fendi, Miami Design District, fendi.com FISHER ISLAND | CLUB MAGAZINE 2022
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Silk crepe dress, flower brooch, Chanel, Miami Design District, chanel. com; J’Adior slingback ballerina flats, Dior, Miami Design District, dior.com.
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Postcard shell dress, Zimmermann, Bal Harbour Shops, zimmermann.com
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Black leather mini shorts, black leather bomber jacket, sunglasses, Versace, Miami Design District, versace. com; earclips, Chanel, Miami Design District, chanel.com; earring, rings, Wish Fine Jewelry, Key Biscayne, Miami, wishfinejewelry.com.
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Flap pocket vinyl dress, Flags high boots, Louis Vuitton, Miami Design District, louisvuitton.com; chain necklace, Versace, Miami Design District, versace.com.
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Top, briefs, bodysuit, Dior, Miami Design District, dior.com; earring, rings, Wish Fine Jewelry, Key Biscayne, Miami, wishfinejewelry.com.
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Puff-sleeve eyelet cropped blouse, gathered-hem eyelet skirt, earrings, Carolina Herrera, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bal Harbour Shops, Miami, carolinaherrera.com; Valentino Garavani ankle-strap one stud shoes, Valentino, Miami Design District, valentino.com. Model: Jenny Lopez, Next Model Management, Miami Hair and makeup: Heather Blaine, Creative Management, Miami Photography assistant: Troy Robertson Fashion assistant: Roxy Rooney
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The Fisher Island Club Spa Internazionale boasts a full menu of treatments, in addition to salon offerings such as hair, nail, and waxing services.
WELLNESS WITHIN
REACH From fitness-fueled amenities and indulgent self-care to around-the-clock medical access and healthful cuisine, we present the ultimate guide to living your best life on Fisher Island BY ANGELA CARAWAY-CARLTON
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urrounded by aquamarine waters and dotted with palm trees evocative of an island paradise, with endless salty air to breathe and an abundance of vitamin D from the year-round sunshine, Fisher Island is a natural oasis of well-being. But tack on recreation from golf to tennis, mindful cuisine worthy of a Blue Zone, and bliss-inducing spa days, and living a healthy lifestyle that most only dream of is something Fisher Island residents, members, and guests can easily perfect.
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“Our residents and members are passionate about wellness,” says Charlotte Prescott, director of spa and fitness at Fisher Island Club. “They’re an inspiring group who are very committed to their health and are curious students who are always ready to learn. I’m excited to see how Fisher Island is evolving for all different ages.” With a priority on advanced medicine, the latest in fitness, and using good food as medicine, as well as a focus on self-care and socializing, every aspect of superior wellness is achievable on Fisher Island.
Fitness First At Spa Internazionale, a sprawling full-service spa and wellness center, the weekly fitness schedule is packed with more than 50 classes suitable for
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all levels. While the roster includes fan favorites like Zumba, Barre, and indoor cycling, there’s also a new emphasis on classes that address the mind, body, and spirit such as tai chi, qigong, cardio kung fu, and Gyrokinesis, which targets the entire body by coordinating the breath and mental focus with rhythmic movements meant to increase range of motion and open up energy pathways. Since the pandemic, many classes shifted to the outdoors, allowing for expanded programming with more classes per hour. Residents can now start their day with morning yoga in the spa courtyard or re-energize with boot camp set against an inspiring backdrop. “We had to get creative during the pandemic,” says Prescott. “The result was that many of our
residents loved the outdoor programming. So, instead of being confined to the studio, some of those classes will be here to stay.” For those who relish competitive sports, Fisher Island boasts a seaside golf course, 17 tennis courts with four types of surfaces, and four courts for pickleball, which has recently emerged as one of the most popular activities on the island. This paddleball sport intermingles elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. “Pickleball not only offers a social aspect, but it’s an easier learning curve than tennis, so all levels can compete,” says Paulo Barros, director of the Racquet Club. “We’ve seen 10-year-olds playing with 80-year-olds, and it’s been a lot of fun for everyone.” Barros notes that with a new and younger
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Our residents and members are passionate about wellness. They’re an inspiring group who are very committed to their health and are curious students who are always ready to learn.” —Charlotte Prescott
crowd on the island, the Racquet Club has ramped up to 40-plus events a year that consist of weekly clinics along with social and competitive opportunities. “We’re trying to add as much as we can, so there’s more interaction between members.”
Physical Therapy Healing and recovery are another element of overall wellness, and Fisher Island Club has a partnership with USA Sports Therapy, to include an in-house physical therapist at the spa. While the therapist can assist in hands-on rehabilitation from injuries or surgery, this role goes much further. Athletes on the island can get help with enhancing their performance or recovery while training; others can see the therapist for protocols to prevent future injuries or bone breaks.
Haven for Heavenly Treatments Daily self-care rituals can consist of retreating to the spa to recharge in the eucalyptus steam room and Himalayan salt sauna, or bouncing between the cold plunge pool and bubbling Jacuzzi. “The contrast of the hot and cold offers health benefits such as flushing out toxins and boosting the immune system,” says Prescott. Spa-goers can indulge in a Himalayan salt massage involving warm salt stones that soothe tight muscles while offering the medicinal benefits of salt. Additional options include a massage with a CBD addon for pain relief, or energy treatments like Reiki. “While residents enjoy pampering, they’re also looking for real-deal therapeutic treatments,” says Prescott, who also points out the spa’s commitment to advanced skin care.
After participating in one of more than 50 fitness classes hosted at the spa and wellness center, unwind in the pool or with a relaxing massage. Fisher Island Club also offers physical therapy as part of a partnership with USA Sports Therapy.
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The spa recently established a partnership with luxury skin care brand Babor, whose German-made products are used in medical-grade HydraFacials to boost skin’s moisture. For the lifting and sculpting facial, the spa harnesses the powers of French line Biologique Recherche. Spa Internazionale is one of the few places in South Florida to carry this coveted line. In addition to the club’s commitment to spa and fitness, Prescott notes that there is a stand-out nutritional component too. “We have amazing food and beverage that allows residents to eat locally sourced and organic cuisine. I feel like Fisher Island has an opportunity to be a Blue Zone area if the members embraced and committed to everything at their disposal,” says Prescott, referring to regions where a higher-thannormal number of people live much longer than the global average.
Medical Support Part of that live-longer equation is having access to around-the-clock health care. On Fisher Island, residents are afforded the opportunity to see or chat with a physician whenever they desire at the UHealth Medical Clinic, a branch of the University of Miami Health System. Tucked above Fisher Island Market, the
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clinic is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the small but mighty team of doctors and nurse practitioners are on call 24-7 for telemedicine or in-home visits. “We get a lot done in a small place and can do almost everything offered at a primary care office,” says Dr. Elizabeth Greig, an internist who earned her degree at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and now spearheads the clinic. “We’re able to give our undivided attention to patients and spend as much time as we need with them, giving them the chance to ask all of their questions.” Greig adds that she often runs into her patients in the market—where they’ll sometimes pull her aside to ask questions—and most patients have her personal cell phone number. “The residents of Fisher Island are health optimizers,” says Greig. “Half or more of my patients in their 70s or older are not on any medications, which is amazing. The residents’ health and longevity are like nothing I’ve seen collectively in my career. This is a dream job from a doctor’s perspective.” Along with a pediatrician, one of the newest clinic team members is a dermatologist. This addition offers residents continuity in skin exams,
Fisher Island Club members and hotel guests can work out in the fully equipped fitness center (above left) or take a soak in a private in-ground Jacuzzi (above), a feature of the club’s Courtyard Villas.
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something that is imperative in sun-drenched Florida where skin cancers run rampant. “Everyone should see a dermatologist yearly, and if patients need more comprehensive care, we can link them with specialists and surgeons at the university,” explains Greig. While the island hasn’t been immune to
COVID-19, Greig says the main priority is protecting everyone—from employees to residents—by offering regular testing, vaccine clinics, and in-home care to patients who’ve contracted the virus, with the ultimate goal of keeping them out of the hospital. “More than ever, we’ve seen the health
of the island be in the hands of the community,” says Greig. “It has to do with caring for your neighbors and community, and everyone doing the right thing. There’s been amazing cooperation from the leadership to the people who live here. I think it’s a model for everyone to adopt.”
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Local philanthropists seek to help those impacted by the pandemic BY PAIGE BOWERS
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t the beginning of the COVID outbreak, a group of likeminded Fisher Island residents got together to brainstorm ways they could help less fortunate residents in the greater Miami area. “We are all friends who feel the same way about giving and giving back,” says Pennie Abramson, co-founder of Fisher Island Gives, the philanthropy initiative that resulted from this meeting. “Everyone has their own philanthropies and their nonprofits they support, but during the COVID outbreak we all felt the need to do something. Outside of our community we saw there was a food shortage with people out of work and their children out of school. We wanted to do something productive. But we weren’t going to pick a bunch of little nonprofits. We wanted to quietly make a big impact that could help a lot of people.”
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Abramson explains that the group focused their energies on Feeding South Florida, a Pembroke Park–based food bank, and Lotus House, a shelter for homeless women and youth in Miami. Both organizations faced unprecedented demand for their services, and those on Fisher Island wanted to help without fanfare. According to Michael Rabinowitz, another founding member of Fisher Island Gives, the group called as many of the island’s residents as it could; in return, they received $1.5 million in donations. For Feeding South Florida, which saw a 600 percent increase in demand during the pandemic, the $1 million was a blessing. It was able to support its Feeding Futures School Pantry Program in Miami-Dade Schools, purchase two new refrigerated tractor trailers, and continue drive-through food distributions to more than 1,000 households a week within Miami Beach. For Lotus House, the $500,000 was literally “lifesaving” as it went toward its mission of providing shelter for women and children fleeing domestic violence, which spiked during the COVID lockdown. “We all feel we’ve been very fortunate in our lives and that giving back is part of being a good citizen,” Abramson says. “We got great support from the majority of people on the island without us holding events and auctions to raise money. We used to have a 501(c)(3) on the island that supported kids’ needs within a 5-mile radius of the island. With Fisher Island Gives, we wanted to expand our reach because people really needed the food, comfort, and shelter.” Aside from fundraising, Rabinowitz says Fisher Island Gives rounded up clothing and household essentials from the island’s residents to donate to Lotus House as well. “We were able to meet the people and see the difference it made,” he says, adding that he expects another similar project to take place soon. For author and philanthropist Lexie
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Potamkin, “coming together is where our world needs to be,” she says. “We should all be helping our neighbors, collaborating, and coming together. I love that our island is philanthropic, that there are so many likeminded people coming together to do good.” Potamkin and her husband, Robert, focus most of their philanthropic energies on education. Most notably, they were behind the Fisher Island Day School. “We both feel education is so important,” she says. “It’s our ticket to understanding each other and the world around us, and to healing on so many levels—intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally.” Potamkin is also an avid supporter of the Drepung Loseling Monastery in Tibet because she admires their outlook on life and focus on kindness and compassion. Potamkin even brought the monks to Fisher Island a few years ago; they created mandalas with the day school children and shared their wisdom with them, which she felt was an important formative moment. Rabinowitz also donates outside of Fisher Island Gives and says he’s learned a lot about fundraising from the family foundation he runs with his wife and children. He’s always looking for different child-centered programs he can help. Among his causes are Sunrise Day Camp, which serves children with cancer, and The City College of New York, where he is an alumnus. Rabinowitz hopes that he and others behind Fisher Island Gives can create some sort of matching program that will prompt more widespread participation. Abramson says the core group will soon meet to decide what it wants to tackle next. “When we all get back together, we will have to see what the world’s situation is and determine what we need to do from there,” she says.
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IN CLOSING SOCIAL STUDIES
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Season Opener 1. Mr. and Mrs. Anthony, Mr. and Mrs. Goldenfarb 2. Mr. and Mrs. Liemer
3. Felipe Murcia, F&B Director 4. Mr. and Mrs Deli 5. Peggy Smith and Pennie Abramson 6. Murray Eisen and Carol Ellis 7. Performers
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IN CLOSING SOCIAL STUDIES
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Havana Night 1. The Larsen family 2. The Espino family 3. Mr. Duer and Mrs. Goldsmith 4. AbaunzaEscasena family, Mr. Land and friends 5. Mr. Holtz, Mr. and Mrs. Feldenkreis
6. Mrs. Canero, Maria Meza DiCarlo
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IN CLOSING SOCIAL STUDIES
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Labor Day Luau 1. Rhonda Mitchell and Robert Vecchio 2. Martin family and friends 3. Musician 4. Jeff Peck and Mom 5. Performer
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IN CLOSING SOCIAL STUDIES
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The Cove Grand Opening 1. The new space awaits young visitors 2. Children enjoying the opening
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IN CLOSING SOCIAL STUDIES
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Beach Clean-Up 1. Liemer and Sasson families 2. Amy Derick 3. Sasson family
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IN CLOSING SOCIAL STUDIES
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Haunted Mansion 1. Emily Chene 2. Yuliia Faist 3. FI Employees 4. Abaunza-Escasena family 5. Sarah Feil-Lewin and family 6. Segall family
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IN CLOSING SOCIAL STUDIES
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Brazilian Night 1. Mariutto family 2. Laura Castillo and friends 3. Silvia Miranda, Linda Levy 4. Lynne Ross and friends
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IN CLOSING SOCIAL STUDIES
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4th of July Barbecue 1. Segall family 2. Neff family 3. Gonchar Family 4. Fernando Pou and Victoria Mayer 5. The delicious buffet 6. Mrs. Zorian and Mr. Hagelgans
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IN CLOSING
MEET THE FLEET
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or those looking to get onto the island, the Fisher Island ferry service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The fleet includes six ferries: Flamingo, Heron, Eagle II, Pelican II, Osprey, and Seahawk. The Eagle II is the first of a second generation of ferries. It measures 150 feet long and can hold 30 vehicles. In addition, it boasts an exclusive residents’ lounge on the second level, as well as a pedestrian walkway that enables all passengers to stretch their legs and take in the glorious views.
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HAUTE JOAILLERIE
Miami: Bal Harbour Shops 1-800-CHOPARD www.chopard.com/us
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