VOLUME VI / ISSUE IV / APRIL 2022
T HE GAUN T L ET O F PO LO : T HE US PA G O L D C UP · A L HABTOOR POLO
TH E 2 02 2 OSCARS & VANI TY FA IR AFTER PA RT Y
ANGRY TEARS
BIG BOYS DON'T CRY & OTHER LIES WE LEARNED LIFE'S BETTER ON THE LAKE WHY REAL ESTATE IS TRENDING TO LUXE WATER-FRONT PROPERTIES
PARTY LIKE IT'S 2019?
THE MIXED EMOTIONS OF SPRING BREAK
THE JOY OF LIVING BY YOUR CORE VALUES
SLIP-N-SLIDE
RACING CLASSIC CARS ON I.C.E.
ST. MORITZ CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE
FIRST LOOK:
INSIDE PHILIPPE STARCK'S ST. TROPEZ HOT SPOT
VOLUME VI / ISSUE IV / APRIL 2022
Ambassador Claude-Alix Bertrand Publisher
Joshua Jakobitz Editor-in-Chief
William Smith
Katerina Morgan
Polo Photographer
Aubrey Chandler
Copy Editor & Philanthropy Contributor
Contributing Photographer
Claire Barrett
Contributing Photographer & Polo Contributor
Head of Photography
Eva Espresso
Contributing Photographer
Cezar Kusik
Wine Contributor
Raphael K. Dapaah
Sofya Khizhik
Michael J. Snell
Lifestyles Contributor
Joey Velez
Wellness Contributor
Brett Chody
Art Contributor
Trends Contributor
Jyoti Paintel
Justin "Goliath" Johnson
Brand Representatives
Polo Lifestyles is a publication of HT Polo Publishing Co. 995 Detroit Avenue, Suite A Concord, CA 94518
Spiritual Contributor
Michael J. Snell - The Hamptons Stanley Pierre-Etienne Caribbean Jessica Foret Wax - Santa Fe K & Co. Media - Los Angeles Justin Johnson - Atlanta Contributing Photographers Global Polo Entertainment Angus Fonda Candace Ferreira Alex Pacheco Matias Callejo
Wellness Contributor
Content Copyright © Polo Lifestyles 2021 All Rights Reserved. For information or to advertise Contact editor@htpolo.com Read online at www.pololifestyles.com Cover Photo of Team Pilot Courtesy of Global Polo Entertainment/Angus Fonda Photo on this page by Courtesy of Global Polo Entertainment/Angus Fonda
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INTERNATIONAL POLO CLUB U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship® The Gauntlet of Polo U.S. Open Polo Championship® GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB USPA North American Cup USPA National 20-Goal Legends of Polo Carlos Gracida Memorial The International Cup
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SCOREBOARDS & COCKTAILS
THE GAUNTLET OF POLO THE USPA GOLD CUP FINAL
Page 28 POLO LIFESTYLES EDITORS & CONTRIBUTORS
Ambassador Claude-Alix Bertrand Publisher Polo Lifestyles @haiti_polo_captain
Panthil Dwivedi
Wellness Contributor PanthilWrites.com @panthildwivedi
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Josh Jakobitz
Editor-in-Chief Polo Lifestyles @joshuajakobitz
Eva Espresso Photographer
Eva Espresso Photography
@eva.espresso
Claire Barrett
Head of Photography
Claire Barrett Photography
@clairebarrettphoto
Michael J. Snell
Lifestyles & Automobiles Contributor @agnello_1
Raphael K. Dapaah Art Contributor Dapaah Gallery @dapaahgallery
Aubrey Chandler Photographer Polo Lifestyles @aubreychandler
Jyoti Paintel
Spiritual Contributor Polo Lifestyles @jyotipaintel
Joey Velez
Cezar Kusik
Wine Contributor Polo Lifestyles @cezartastesearth
William Smith
Brett Chody
Trends Contributor Polo Lifestyles @brettchody
Justin Johnson
Wellness Columnist
Philanthropy Contributor
Wellness Contributor
@velezmentalhealth
@willismith_2000
@goliathcoaches
Velez Mental Performance May & Stanley Smith Charitable Trust
Goliath Coaches
WWW. PO LO L IFES T YLES .COM
St. Moritz I.C.E. races classic A burst of warmth for Spring-Summer, page 114 cars on thin ice, page 70
Wine and food festivals you can't miss, page 164
Luxury buyers seek lakefront properties, page 78
PHILIPPE STARCK'S
ST. TROPEZ HOT SPOT PAGE 86
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THE USPA GOLD CUP
T
WO YEARS AGO, WE ASSEMBLED OUR FIRST ISSUE OF POLO LIFESTYLES WITHOUT ANY POLO COVERAGE IN THE SCOREBOARDS AND COCKTAILS SECTION. THE UNITED STATES HAD BEEN IN LOCK-DOWN MODE FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS, OUR STAFF MEMBERS WERE WORKING REMOTELY AND WE WEREN’T SURE WHAT THE FUTURE HELD. BUT MY NEWSPAPER BACKGROUND PREVAILED: NO MATTER WHAT, THE NEWSPAPER MUST BE PRINTED.
In the first three months of the pandemic, we saw our readership double and then triple on first a monthly, then weekly basis. You wanted something to read, something to help escape, something to remind you that better times were ahead. This month, as I type this letter just before launching the April 2022 issue, the winter season is going alive and well in West Palm Beach. Plans are coming together for summer polo in France, the UK and Spain. The Oscars were back, in-person and no-mask-required – by now I don’t think anyone missed the, eh, headlines from Sunday night. Our coverage from the exclusive Vanity Fair After Party takes you inside, when the cameras have stopped rolling and celebrities can let loose. One of the more powerful columns this month was penned by Justin Johnson, a relatively new member of the Polo Lifestyles team. His story, “Angry Tears: Big Boys Don’t Cry,” is a must-read. His words recalled my third-grade teacher, Ms. Lange, who was a renowned “yeller.” I was a sensitive third-grader who probably had been really yelled at about twice in my life. Her screams brought many of us to tears in that classroom from hell. In addition to yelling, she didn’t want to see anyone crying in third grade, so she’d punish us with a time-out in the hallway. Her reasoning: Big boys (and girls) don’t cry. Oh, but we do. And it’s healthy as you-know-what, Ms. Lange. Johnson explores that topic and the psychology of angry tears in a relatable and knowledgeable way this month. St. Moritz’ winter season never ceases to amaze, and this month, we have coverage from our High Society contributor from I.C.E. – the Concours d’Elegance held on Lake St. Moritz. Picture classic cars slipping and sliding on ice; or if you need help picturing it, check out the photo selection in this month’s printed edition, or the expanded photo gallery online. Trends contributor Brett Chody went on her senior-year spring break in the midst of worldwide chaos and ongoing pandemic confusion. I asked her to write about her conflicted emotions, and she delivered an honest and introspective story that sums up her – and probably thousands of others’ – much-needed and highly anticipated spring break. As always, enjoy and see you at polo. Best, Josh Jakobitz josh@pololifestyles.com
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VOLUME VI / ISSUE IV / APRIL 2022
vistajets Vista Jets celebrated a 10th anniversary of a signature addition to their fleet of jets
nespresso A dusting of purple sugar tops off any latte, macchiato or cappucino perfectly from the masters of tabletop coffee
sanmontanoresorts
A beach-side cocktail may be just what the doctor ordered since winter just can't stay away page 24
afrodyssee Morning prayers and meditation as captured in the desert with a faithful companion waiting patiently
globalpolo The U.S. Open Women's Open Championships are streaming live on Global Polo TV
outmagazine "I got you," Lady Gaga told Liza Minnelli. "I know," Liza replied as they presented at the 2022 Oscars
allisonspeerpr An invitation to luncheon should always come with a table that looks this fabulous
lalique Lalique's spring-time blue are a welcome addition to any decor or Art de la Table
provenceluberonsothebys This car port is a perfect fit for someone's off-road toy in Provence, France
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Click and comment on our choices... Tag @pololifestyles. We will share noteworthy comments with you next month.
byfthczn_horsephoto Stop and look at your reflection what's changed in the last two years?
haiti_polo_captain Madeline Albright, Czech immigrant and former US Secretary of State, passed away
richhippie Prince Philip in 1983 - the prince did more for equestrian sports than any royal in modern Western history
ckctoronto Welcome to Toronto and the Canadian marketplace Mr. Christopher Korey
malonesouliers This backless heel just screams Easter and springtime...
yaeletvalerie Custom pillow covers from luxe atelier Yael et Valerie, based in Portau-Prince, Haiti
espnpolo Team PILOT clinched the title of The USPA Gold Cup and honored Corchito on the trophy stage
manhattanmotorcars
The Lotus SUV is the newest addition to Manhattan Motorcars luxe line up of sports vehicles
bakerhouse1650 "The Gilded Age" may be done for Season 1, but stop by the Baker House 1650 for the royal treatment page 25
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THE GAUNTLET OF POLO THE USPA GOLD CUP PILOT 11 / 10 PARK PLACE GOLDEN GOAL BY FACUNDO PIERES AT 6:48 MVP: FACUNDO PIERES BEST PLAYING PONY: OPEN AZARENKA ARGENTINE-BRED BPP: OPEN AZARENKA
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P H OTO G RA P H S C O U RT E SY GLO BAL P O LO E N T E RTAI N ME N T
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THE USPA GOLD CUP P H OTO G RA P H S C O URT E SY GLO BAL P O LO E N T E RTAI N ME N T
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A
N ELECTRIC AND EAGER CROWD OF SPECTATORS FILLED THE PRESTIGIOUS U.S. POLO ASSN. FIELD 1 AT INTERNATIONAL POLO CLUB PALM BEACH (IPC) IN WELLINGTON, FLORIDA, TO WITNESS THE THRILLING CONCLUSION OF THE USPA GOLD CUP® BETWEEN PILOT (CURTIS PILOT, MACKENZIE
WEISZ, MATIAS TORRES ZAVALETA, FACUNDO PIERES) AND PARK PLACE (JOSH HYDE, JUAN BRITOS, HILARIO ULLOA, CODY ELLIS*). Both entering the final undefeated in bracket play, Park Place’s only defeat in the 2022 GAUNTLET OF POLO® came at the hands of Pilot in their first of two matchups in the C.V. Whitney Cup®, where Park Place subsequently
turned the tables to knock Pilot out of finals contention. Moving on to raise the C.V. Whitney Cup® and make a run for the 2022 GAUNTLET OF POLO®, Pilot found themselves engaged once again with the herculean task of besting a championship caliber team in Park Place. The only team to successfully complete the monumental task of becoming GAUNTLET champions in 2019, Pilot came prepared with the horsepower, strategy and motivation page 31
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THE USPA GOLD CUP
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THE USPA GOLD CUP
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P H OTO G RA P H S C O U RT E SY GLO BAL P O LO E N T E RTAI N ME N T
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required to take on Park Place’s number one rated offense. Leading his team with sixty goals on the season entering the USPA Gold Cup® final, Pilot’s 10-goaler Pieres elevated his play as a leader and offensive powerhouse, accounting for all of Pilot’s offensive contributions in the final. Leading from the onset of play, Pieres’ ability to guide his team on both sides of the ball led to an incredible ten-goal effort through six chukkers of contested action. Unable to slow down the athletic efforts of Pieres, Park Place focused on strong team play and ball circulation, with the potent duo of Britos and leading GAUNTLET scorer Ulloa combining for nine goals to keep Park Place neck-in-neck with their challengers. Unable to settle the score in regulation, the offensive forces of the two teams combined for twenty goals, as both sides attempted in overtime to seize the title as their own. A successful hook on Britos from Zavaleta thwarted Park Place’s initial opportunity allowing Pieres to create space between the defenders and escort the ball across the line. Treating spectators to a riveting 11-10 victory, Pilot returned to the podium, simultaneously extinguishing Park Place’s dreams of capturing the 2022 GAUNTLET. page 35
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THE USPA GOLD CUP
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P H OTO G RA P H S C O U RTESY GLO BA L P O LO E N T E RTA I N ME N T & ALE X PAC H E C O
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THE USPA GOLD CUP
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P H OTO G RA P H S C O URT E SY GLO BAL P O LO E N T E RTAI N ME N T
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AL HABTOOR POLO DUBAI CHALLENGE CUP
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T
HE FOURTH TOURNAMENT OF THE DUBAI POLO GOLD CUP SERIES CONCLUDED WITH TWO EXCITING MATCHES ON THE GROUNDS OF AL HABTOOR POLO RESORT AND CLUB. Juan Jauretche and Pablo Urquiza exchanged goals at the start of the Subsidiary Final and ended the first chukker with two goals each for Hesketh and AM - Ankora Polo teams. The half goal advantage kept AM - Ankora at the lead by the end of the second chukker but Tomas Palacios Bacque had taken Hesketh ahead of its competition as he closed the fourth chukker with 3 goals from penalty. The goal difference was enough to secure the win for Hesketh Polo at 7 goals to 4.5. Lucas Monteverde Jr. had taken the lead early for the UAE Polo team and carved a significant goal advantage by halftime. Rashid Al Abbar placed Bangash Polo on the scoreboard with Federico von Potobsky closing the gap in scores during the penultimate chukker. The last chukker was a dash for the win with Bangash seemingly in line for the trophy as its patron, Haider Bangash saved a low penalty shot from Potobsky. However, Lukin snatched the victory for UAE Polo with a goal from range and the game ended at 7.5 goals to 7.
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY AL HABTOOR POLO CLUB
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AL HABTOOR POLO
T I M M Y D U T TA page 44
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PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY AL HABTOOR POLO CLUB
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AL HABTOOR POLO page 46
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PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY AL HABTOOR POLO CLUB
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AL HABTOOR POLO
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY AL HABTOOR POLO CLUB
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ARIANA DEBOSE TOOK HOME BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS page 54
2022 OSC C ARS
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FASHION, JOKES, HISTORIC WINS AND FLARING TEMPERS AT THE 2022 OSCARS
I
T WAS A NIGHT TO REMEMBER. THE FIRST LIVE, IN-PERSON OSCARS SINCE 2019. THE FIRST RECOGNITION OF AN OPENLY QUEER, BLACK WOMAN FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS. THE SLAP HEARD AROUND THE WORLD. AND A FILM RELEASED ONLY ON A STREAMING PLATFORM TOOK HOME TOP HONORS.
From Ariana DeBose's historic win to perhaps the highest and lowest points of Will Smith's career intersecting within the span of minutes, the Oscars, having been sidelined (#OscarsSoWhite trended on social media a few years back during the broadcast), were very suddenly relevant again. Here's a breakdown of the night's awards and recognitions. BEST PICTURE Winner | “CODA” “Belfast” “Don’t Look Up” “Drive My Car”
“Dune” “King Richard” “Licorice Pizza” “Nightmare Alley” “The Power of the Dog” “West Side Story” BEST DIRECTOR Winner | Jane Campion, “The Power of the Dog” Kenneth Branagh, “Belfast” Ryusuke Hamaguchi, “Drive My Car” Paul Thomas Anderson, “Licorice Pizza” Steven Spielberg, “West Side Story” BEST ACTOR Winner | Will Smith, “King Richard” Javier Bardem, “Being the Ricardos” Benedict Cumberbatch, “The Power of the Dog” Andrew Garfield, “Tick, Tick... Boom!” Denzel Washington, “The Tragedy of Macbeth” BEST ACTRESS Winner | Jessica Chastain, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” Olivia Colman, “The Lost Daughter” Penelope Cruz, “Parallel Mothers” Nicole Kidman, “Being the
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY THE ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURES
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" C O D A" T O O K H O M E " B E S T P I C T U R E " page 56
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Ricardos” Kristen Stewart, “Spencer” BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Winner | Troy Kotsur, “CODA” Ciaran Hinds, “Belfast” Jesse Plemons, “The Power of the Dog” J.K. Simmons, “Being the Ricardos” Kodi Smit-McPhee, “The Power of the Dog” BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Winner | Ariana DeBose, “West Side Story” Jessie Buckley, “The Lost Daughter” Judi Dench, “Belfast” Kirsten Dunst, “The Power of the Dog” Aunjanue Ellis, “King Richard” BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE Winner | “Drive My Car” “Flee” “The Hand of God” “Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom” “The Worst Person in the World” BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Winner | “Belfast” “Don’t Look Up” “King Richard” “Licorice Pizza” “The Worst Person in the World” BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY Winner | “CODA” Drive My Car” “Dune” “The Lost Daughter” “The Power of the Dog”
BEST ORIGINAL SONG Winner | “No Time to Die” from “No Time to Die” “Be Alive” from “King Richard” “Dos Oruguitas” from “Encanto” “Down to Joy” from “Belfast” “Somehow You Do” from “Four Good Days” BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Winner | “Dune” “Nightmare Alley” “The Power of the Dog” “The Tragedy of Macbeth” “West Side Story” BEST ANIMATED FEATURE Winner | “Encanto” “Flee” “Luca” “The Mitchells vs. The Machine” “Raya and the Last Dragon” BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE Winner | “Summer of Soul” “Ascension” Attica” “Flee” “Writing with Fire” BEST VISUAL EFFECTS Winner | “Dune” “Free Guy” “No Time to Die” “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” “Spider-Man: No Way Home” BEST COSTUME DESIGN Winner | “Cruella” “Cyrano” “Dune” “Nightmare Alley” “West Side Story”
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY THE ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURES
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2022 OSCARS RED CARPET FASHIONS
NICOLE KIDMAN
JASON MAMOA page 58
KIRSTEN DUNST
JAMIE DORNAN & ANDREW GARFIELD
PENELOPE CRUZ
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WILL SMITH & JA DA P I N K E T T- S M I T H
J E S S I C A C H A S TA I N
ASHTON KUTCHER & MILA KUNIS
SERENA & VENUS WILLIAMS
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY THE ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURES
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LU P I TA
NYONG'O
JESSICA BETTS & NIECY NASH page 60
Z E N DAYA
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2022 OSCARS RED CARPET FASHIONS
RACHEL ZEGLER
LADY GAGA
REGINA HALL PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY THE ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURES
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2022 OSCARS
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PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY THE ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURES
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IN-AND
THE 2022 VANITY FAIR AFTERPARTY C A S T M E M B E R S O F " E U P H O R I A" page 64
D - O U T C AT E R I N G
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KRISTEN STEWART & RAMI MALEK
W I L L S M I T H & LU P I TA N YO N G ' O P H OTO G R A P H S C O U R T E S Y VA N I T Y FA I R
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THE 2022 VANITY FAIR AFTERPARTY RIZ AHMED & AZIZ ANSARI
CHRISSY TEIGEN (MIDDLE) page 66
MJ RODRIGUEZ (RIGHT)
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T H E K A R DA S H I A N -J E N N E R S I S T E R S page 67
HIGH SOCIETY
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ELEGANCE ON I.C.E. IN ST. MORITZ
MICHAEL SNELL
@agnello_1 LUXURY CONTRIBUTOR
T
O THE TRUE AUTOMOTIVE ENTHUSIAST, THE CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE WHICH DIRECTLY TRANSLATES TO ‘COMPETITION OF ELEGANCE,’ INDICATES A SHOWING INCLUSIVE OF A WIDE RANGE IN CRAFTSMANSHIP, VINTAGE COACHWORK AND MECHANICAL TECHNICAL MERIT AS DESIGNED BY THE NOW-COLLECTIBLE MARQUEES. With many regional concours events taking place, there is just a small handful to be regarded as the most prestigious. To that end, we give you The I.C.E.: The International Concours d’Elegance in St. Moritz.
Set on the most famous frozen lake of the Swiss Alps, the St. Moritzersee (St. Moritz Lake) played stage to over 50 incredible cars that captivated collectors and visitors from all over the world. The 2022 edition, back after a two-year pause, has also been listed as a Diamond Event by the Engadin St. Moritz Tourismus board, making it all the more exclusive. With the snow-capped peaks of the Upper Engadin providing the backdrop against the frozen lake turned open-air art gallery, entrants arrived and slowly pulled their most-prized autos onto the track. Unfamiliar to most, a fully snow-covered track is a magical opportunity and highly coveted piece of real estate to display and demonstrate some of the industry’s greats, or better yet - drive laps with them. Almost exclusively reserved for horse races and snow polo tournaments, Alpine lake ice tracks follow strict guidelines for weight allowance so PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY I.C.E.
as to not crack the ice. Carefully selected automobiles thrilled spectators as they slipped, slid and spun past each other as they performed far outside of their normal closed-course element. There is something about seeing a 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB (that subsequently took home the Jet Set on ICE Class Title for 2022) ski past you or a 1968 Lamborghini Miura (that took home the 2022 Stars on Wheels Class Title) doing snow laps. Enthusiasts standing track-side also enjoyed themselves in The I.C.E. Village, hosted by an extraordinary community of the event’s partners, notable brands and elitists from the automotive sector. With Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, IWC Schaffhausen and Maserati among some of the largest participants, Pagani Officina (with a surprise visit by Horacio Pagani) RM Sothebys, Persol, Pirelli and Moet Hennessy were propopage 71
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nents in creating the event’s atmosphere and hospitality that truly elevated the experience of guests as they perused shops and toasted champagne flutes in honor of their favorite cars. The judges, on the other hand, had their hands full to expertly assess the most representative models of the golden age of international motoring, taking each entrant and thoroughly describing and detailing the unique features of each
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extremely rare collector’s item. The very high level of the attending competing cars, some being among the most significant representatives within the history of world motorsport, made judging extremely difficult. The three additional winners for 2022 included the 1967 Morris Mini Cooper S ex Works in the Vintage Road Racing Class, 1953 Jaguar C Type in the Barchettas on the Lake Class, and 1939 Maserati 4CL in the Vintage Grand Prix Class.
Should you find yourself wanting to stand on quite possibly the most impressive stage ‘on top of the world’ possible, within the presence of an elite selection of curated classic and racing cars performing – then The I.C.E St. Moritz is where you can have that passion met, en plein air. MICHAEL SNELL LUXURY CONTRIBUTOR POLO LIFESTYLES 2022
WWW. PO LO L IFES T YLES .COM
I.C.E. ST. MORITZ
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY I.C.E.
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I.C.E. ST. MORITZ
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY I.C.E.
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THE GROWING
APPEAL
LAKE-FRONT HOMES
FOUR UP-AND-COMING DESTINATIONS FOR BUYERS WHO WANT WATER IN THEIR FRONT (OR BACK) YARD
P H O T O G R A P H S C O U R T E S Y S O T H E B Y S R E A L E S TAT E
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O
CEANFRONT PROPERTY IS ALWAYS IN DEMAND, BUT FOR MANY BUYERS, LAKE PROPERTIES ARE BECOMING AN INCREASINGLY POPULAR OPTION. One indicator of the interest: according to Sotheby’s International Realty, searches for lakefront properties globally on its site increased nearly 90 percent from January to September 2021, compared with the same period in 2020. Lake living has advantages, said Philip A. White Jr., Sotheby’s International’s president and chief executive. “Oceanfront properties can be more prone to flooding than lakefront homes, and insurance for flooding can be expensive,” he said. And oceanfront homes are pricier, he said. “An acre of ocean property versus an acre of (on a lake) can cost up to five times more.” page 80
Rick Moeser, the executive director of Christie’s International Real Estate, added that oceanfront properties were also more susceptible to saltwater damage. “Your furniture, roof and even landscaping quickly deteriorates,” he said. It’s much easier to have a dock on a lake than on the ocean, Moeser added, and owners can enjoy watersports right from their homes, including boating, paddle-boarding, kayaking and water-skiing. “You have so much entertainment in your own backyard,” Moeser said. “It’s like you’re always on vacation.” Here are four up-and-coming destinations to consider for lake homes.
LAKE MAGGIORE, ITALY About a 60-minute drive north of Milan, Lake Maggiore is the second largest lake in Italy. The region has an international community of home buyers who are be-
coming more diverse each year, according to Patrizia Canale, a real estate consultant with Barnes International Realty in Lake Como, which specializes in selling Lake Maggiore properties. Russians, Americans, Swiss and Germans are all part of the mix, she said. Buying a property in Lake Maggiore is appealing for several reasons. For starters, it is less crowded and more affordable than nearby Lake Como, Canale said, and easy to access. “Geneva, Milan and Turin are all close by and have international airports with flights from all over the world.” Also, diversions abound. The towns of Stresa, Verbania, Arona and Baveno have attractive downtowns with boutiques, restaurants and markets. Three islands reachable by public or private boat — Bella, Madre and Dei Pescatori — are popular attractions, along with golf courses, parks and gardens.
BY S H I VA N I VO R A S P E C I A L TO P O LO L I F E S T Y L E S
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LUXURY ON THE WATER
Lake Maggiore is an elegant area where properties include apartments, both in town and on the lake, small homes and lakefront villas with gardens and swimming pools. Prices start at $500,000. “You can get a two-bedroom apartment for that much, but we have villas that cost more than $5 million,” Canale said. Lake Maggiore has become so popular that Sotheby’s International Realty recently opened an office there, White said. “It’s a market that has been booming for us since the pandemic.”
LAKE GENEVA, FRANCE The crescent-shaped Lake Geneva spans Switzerland and France and is the largest lake in both countries. For home buyers, France is a better bet, said Olga Mikheeva, a real estate agent and property consultant with Star Leman Immobilier in Lake Geneva. P H O T O G R A P H S C O U R T E S Y S O T H E B Y S R E A L E S TAT E
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“Switzerland has a lot of restrictions with regards to foreigners buying property, and it’s also a lot more expensive than the French side,” she said. Residents can still experience Switzerland, however, as Geneva is a 45-minute drive and Lausanne is about 30 minutes by boat. Lake Geneva has clear blue waters and is known for its cleanliness. The backdrop of the Alps adds to its beauty. Évianles-Bains and Thonon-les-Bains are the largest towns, but the area is dotted with charming medieval villages such as Yvoire, known for its picturesque garden and historic buildings. Lake life here revolves around boating, paddleboarding, swimming and climbing. Come winter, skiing takes over, and there are runs for every level, Mikheeva said. Housing options include apartments, townhouses, single-family houses, mansions and even the odd castle. For $200,000 it is possible to buy a two-bedroom apartment near the lake with a
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balcony. Luxury villas, usually with water views, start at around $1.5 million, while lakefront properties start at $2 million. Low property taxes, compared with other countries, are a bonus.
NORTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN Referred to as the Gold Coast because of its scenic sunsets, the northern part of Lake Michigan stretches from Mackinac Island in the north to Traverse City in the south. Vacation home buyers gravitate to Harbor Springs, Petoskey, Bay Harbor and Charlevoix, said Jeff Wellman, the owner of North Harbor Christie’s International Real Estate in Petoskey. The coastline there is dotted with villages that have marinas, sand dunes and large pine trees. Unlike many other lakes, ocean-size waves are not uncommon, Wellman said. Islands that are reachable by boat are another characteristic of this part of Lake Michigan and include Beaver and North and South Fox Islands. Activities include fishing for lake trout
and salmon, wake boarding, yachting and sailing and diving. There are multiple shipwrecks that date back to Michigan’s lumber era from the late 19th to the early 20th centuries, Wellman said. In the winter, ice boating is popular. Other attractions include golf courses, wineries and breweries and high-quality restaurants. Lake Michigan might have its peak season in the summer, but it is lively in the fall and winter, too. “The fall colors are gorgeous, and in the winter, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling are lots of fun,” Wellman said. Most of the properties are single-family homes, although Bay Harbor and Charlevoix have some condominiums. Lakefront residences start at $1 million, Wellman said. Buyers used to be predominantly Midwesterners, but the region has diversified significantly in the last few years, he said. “We see Californians, Texans, Canadians and Europeans from a variety of countries,” he said.
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LUXURY ON THE WATER
THE LAKE DISTRICT, CHILE The Lake District in central Chile, about an hour’s flight from Santiago, has nine lakes, including the two largest: Villarrica and Llanquihue. Snowcapped volcanoes, including one named Villarrica, mountains, forests and rivers are all part of the landscape. White, of Sotheby’s International, said the region was a favorite getaway spot for Chileans but was being discovered by an international audience. “We’ve seen a significant increase
in demand for properties here from Europeans and Americans who are seeking more contact with nature and want a vacation property in a destination where their money goes a long way,” he said. Prices for a two-bedroom apartment start at $100,000, said Regina Pfeil, the owner of the Engel & Völkers franchise in Pucón, which is one of the Lake District’s main towns. Three-bedroom houses average $200,000, she said, while spacious lakefront homes cost upward of $500,000. It is also possible to buy
ranches that cover hundreds, and even thousands, of acres. Shopping and dining out are also inexpensive, compared with other countries, and Pucón is full of excellent restaurants and stores. Pursuits include boating, hiking, kayaking and mountain biking. In the winter, it is even possible to ski the Villarrica volcano. “Depending on the time of year, you can ski in the morning and boat on a lake in the afternoon,” White said.
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY HBOMAX
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LILY PHILIPPE STARCK'S NEW RESTAURANT IN ST-TROPEZ
OF THE VALLEY
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HE RESTAURANT LA BRIGANTINE, THE CANTINA PÉPÉ AND THE LUCIE BAR WELCOME AT ANY TIME FOR A LUNCH WITH FRIENDS, A ROMANTIC DINNER OR A DRINK IN THE SUN. ALSO DESIGNED BY PHILIPPE STARCK, THESE NEW ADDITIONS TO THE LILY OF THE VALLEY HOTEL ON THE FRENCH RIVIERA OPENED JUNE 29, 2021. In July 2019, the Lily of the Valley hotel opened its doors in La Croix-Valmer on the Mediterranean Sea to welcome guests to a place of elegance, offering refined services related to health and well-being such as weight loss and skin treatment, accompanied by a team of experts. The father and daughter duo behind this project once again had Philippe Starck, who designed the hotel, work on the new additions to, what is considered, the village square by the sea. La Brigantine restaurant, the Pépé cantina and the Lucie Bar opened on June 29, 2021; the new pool suites opened on July 5, 2021. La Brigantine exhibits elegant tables by the water and a wooden pergola overgrown with jasmine and wisteria. Inside, the terracotta walls associated with the raw furniture in beaten and hammered iron naturally contrast with the organic rattan and the colored fabrics of the seats offer an authentic and refined atmosphere. Under the culinary direction of Chef Vincent Maillard, guests enjoy Italian gastronomy-inspired cuisine page 87
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while appreciating the view of the Gigaro beach. Comfortably seated in the adjoining Lucie Bar, guests can curl up in the natural leather sofas with warm velvet cushions, for a drink or herbal tea under amber light from the pendant lights by Venetian artist Aristide Najean. The Italian-inspired Pépé cantina has charming huts that welcome guests at any time of the day for a light lunch in the shade of the canisses. The natural wood furniture in pastel colors is a fresh reminder of the deckchairs and umbrellas on the landscaped beach of Lily of the Valley. Open onto a large private garden with a swimming pool, the 8 pool suites of Lily of the Valley extend over 90 to 280m2. On 1 or 2 levels, these private villas offer an environment exceptional in the middle of Mediterranean nature. Elegant, intimate, spacious and comfortable, unique, they nestle below the hotel, a few meters from the fine sandy beaches.
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LILY OF THE VALLEY
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ARGENTINA
TO HOST WOMEN'S OPEN
IN A P RIL, TH E F I R S T WO M E N ’S P O LO WO RLD CH AMPIONS H I P W I L L BE P LAYE D IN B U E N O S A IRE S
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W
OMEN’S POLO TEAMS FROM ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, THE UNITED STATES, IRELAND, ITALY AND THE UNITED KINGDOM, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WILL DECIDE WHO PLAYS THE BEST POLO IN THE WORLD.
A milestone in polo will be marked this April 9, 2022, when the first women’s world championship will begin under the tutelage of the International Polo Federation. The tournament will take place from April 9-16 on Argentinian polo fields and will feature six teams: Argentina, Brazil, Ireland, Italy, United Kingdom and the United States. Two groups of three teams will play against each other, then the first from each zone will face a semifinal with the second from the other to play in the final. Delfín Uranga, president of the Asociación de Argentina de Polo (AAP), explained the event. “During the week
of the women›s polo world championship, the idea is that the Argentinian field of Palermo will be a place for women. Many women who pioneered their sports or activities, such as Gabriela Sabatini, Luciana Aymar and Paula Pareto, will be invited to the tournament. The gastronomic (experience) will be led by (chef) Narda Lepes and will feature bartender Inés De Los Santos.” On the level of female Argentine polo players, Uranga commented, “Argentine polo is growing (quickly). There are other nations, such as the United Kingdom or the United States, that are older in terms of what is women’s polo; we (in Argentina) are newer, but we are growing a lot.” “There are good tournaments, and many more girls are… participating in the sport. Unlike men’s polo, women’s polo is still played in a more amateur way, it’s not so many clubs (yet), but girls who get together to play. Teams are assembled according to the level of the participants.”
The players have two different handicaps: the global handicap where they compete with men and a separate handicap that is only for women. Team Argentina: Paulina Vasquetto 1, Agustina Imaz 4, Azucena Uranga 5 and Fatima Balzano 6. Total: 16 Team United States: Audry Persano 5, Erica Gandomcar-Sachs 5, Lilian Laqurica 3 and Jenna Davis 3. Total: 16 Team United Kingdom: Fran Towsend 1, Milly Hughes 3, Heloise Wilson Smith 6 and Emma Tomlinson 6. Total: 16 Team Ireland: Caroline Keeling 1, Siobhan Herbst 4, April Kent 4 and Inés Lalor 7. Total: 15 Team Brazil: Eduarda Vilela Rosa Engler 3, Ana Claudia Marinho 3, Alice Hopp Meireles 3 and Lucia Junqueira Du Plessis 3. Total: 12 Team Italy: Ginevra Camila Visconti 1, Alice Coria 3, Maria Vittoria Marchiorello 3 and Camila Rossi 5. Total: 12
P H O T O S C O U R T E S Y M AT I A S C A L L E J O / A A P
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EARNING
AUTOMOTIVE RESPECT
MICHAEL SNELL @agnello_1
LUXURY CONTRIBUTOR
I
N ITS 27TH YEAR, THE AMELIA ISLAND CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE PULLED OUT ALL THE STOPS FOR THE HIGHLY ATTENDED EVENT HOSTED AT THE RITZ-CARLTON
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AND GOLF CLUB OF AMELIA ISLAND. WHEN THE NUMBER OF ENTRANTS REACHED THE 220 MARK, THE PLANNING COMMITTEE KNEW IT WOULD BE A TRUE DISPLAY OF MAGNIFICENT CLASSIC CARS AND FINE COLLECTIBLE AUTOMOBILES.
With the celebration for all things automotive taking place over a three-day program schedule, this year’s itinerary included car themed-events, points of entertainment, luxury shopping, auctions, seminars, new vehicle driving experiences provided by manufacturers, a Cars & Coffee event and culminating in the finale: the grand Concours d’Elegance.
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THE AMELIA
CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE
In relation to other automotive concours events, Amelia Island is unique as it boosts a collection of vehicles more specific to the tropical, sporty climate. To commemorate the event’s start, Porsche hosted its Annual Porsche Winemaker’s Dinner: ‘A Celebration of Dreamers’ at the Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island, which also paired nicely with the Porsche Driving Experiences throughout the weekend. Additional manufactures also held driving experiences, new vehicle reveals, and delivery presentations. NASCAR was represented by a seminar series, hosted by Hall of Fame Crew Chief Ray Evernham, that featured a panel of former NASCAR greats speaking about racing through the decades as NASCAR became one of the biggest forms of motorsport.
RM Sotheby’s also returned to the RitzCarlton,Amelia Island this year for the company’s 23rd annual sale as the official auction house. It has been recorded as a single-day, live auction success for 2022 with sales totaling $46,636,640 USD and an incredible 89 percent of all lots offered finding new homes. Two of the most notable sales included the 1934 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Convertible Victoria by Dietrich, selling for an astounding $4,130,000 USD and the 1930 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan by Murphy which shattered its high estimate by over a million dollars: selling for $3,525,000 USD. This auction had the audience on the edge of their seats! This year, a new program, the Concours d’Lemons Car Show, showcased a col-
lection of almost-drivable, would-havenever-been stylish methods of transport; hence the name Lemons. Nevertheless, a fun addition to The Amelia that entertained both children and those amused by quirky design. The main show takes place on the grassy lawns of The Golf Club of Amelia Island. Here is where you will find 200 of the top cars on display, judged and presented with the coveted “Best of Show” at the end of the event. In 2022, the celebrated vehicle classes were within their anniversary year at the show: Ferrari (75th Anniversary), the Lincoln (100th Anniversary), the 24 Hours of Daytona (60th Anniversary), the 12 Hours of Sebring (70th Anniversary). Also within the page 99
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specialty car class, highlights included the “Pre-War Custom Coachwork” class, models from coachbuilder ‘Waterhouse,’ Duesenberg and the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. Taking home titles were a 1934 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe and a 2017 Cadillac DPi-V.R, crowned this year’s Best in Show winners. The event, which was produced by Hagerty, has received a large amount of page 100
notable respect for their critical judging guidelines. “Congratulations to this year’s ‘Best in Show’ winners and to all of the collectors who shared their cars at The Amelia,” said McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty. “These incredible cars and their owners make The Amelia what it is: one of the most eagerly anticipated events on the automotive calendar every year.
This was Hagerty’s first time operating the show, and we are enormously grateful for the hard work and support of our amazing sponsors, our volunteers who come back year after year and the entire car community.” MICHAEL SNELL LUXURY CONTRIBUTION POLO LIFESTYLES 2022
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THE AMELIA
CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE
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FASHION & STYLE
FALL'S LINE UP OF BEST HANDBAGS JACQUEMUS' BRIGHT BURST OF SPRING SUMMER'S HOTTEST TRENDS
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FENDI page 106
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DIFFICULT-TO-WEAR MEETS
PRET-A-PORTER
BALMAIN
H
ANDBAGS CONTINUE TO BE THE MOST PROMINENT DRIVING FACTOR IN LUXURY FASHION SALES, OFTEN OFFERING A SAFE HARBOR OF POSITIVE RETURNS EVEN AS CREATIVE DIRECTORS EXPLORE PERHAPS DIFFICULT-TO-WEAR VISIONS FOR READY-TO-WEAR.
Nonetheless, Fall 2022’s top designers found innovative ways to bring this most important of all accessories into line with cohesive looks from head-to-toe, delivering both the covetable and the quirky. BOTTEGA VENETA
DIOR PHOTOS COURTESY THE IMPRESSION
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CHANEL
CHLOE
DOLCE & GABBANA
STYLE
HERMES page 108
JIL SANDER
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GIORGIO ARMANI
GIVENCHY
GUCCI
MIU-MIU
MOSCHINO
OFF-WHITE
PHOTOS COURTESY THE IMPRESSION
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STYLE PRADA
TODS page 110
VALENTINO PHOTOS COURTESY THE IMPRESSION
LOUIS VUITTON
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MICHAEL KORS
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JACQUEMUS' BRIGHT BURST OF SPRING
THE S PR I N G 2 0 2 2 C O LL E C T IO N SH OW IN H AWA II
STYLE
I
N VERY JACQUEMUS FASHION, THE HOUSE STAGED A SURPRISE OFF-CALENDAR SHOW FROM HAWAII’S ISLAND OF OAHU IN CELEBRATION OF ITS “LE SPLASH” SPRING 2022 COLLECTION.
With the collection available the moment the show streamed, it represents a somewhat unconventional shift in thinking of how to approach the fashion calendar – and it felt like just the bright burst of spring that we needed. “The islands of Hawaii, with their awe-inspiring landscapes, diverse climates, and untold biodiversity, stood out as the perfect complement to the exuberant ‘Le Splash’ collection,” said Simon Porte Jacquemus, Jacquemus creative director.
The designer brought his signature playfully subversive, pop sensibility to a range of sunny, location- appropriate pieces: relaxed linen suiting, boardshorts, scuba-gear-inspired details, and of course swimwear. Playing as always with extreme combinations of volume and especially cut, he married oversized blazers with tiny bikinis, crop tops with hybrid baggy cargo pants. The designer’s signature penchant for cutouts and lots of straps was on display as well, thoughtfully deployed through the theme of utilitarian playfulness – a sense of sunshiny optimism that was of course augmented by the color scheme of aqua, lime, bright pink, and mango. Remixed versions of island apparel codes included snorkel mouthpieces that functioned as handbag handles, oversized gathering bags that functioned PHOTOS COURTESY THE IMPRESSION
as tops, and bags in disguise as pool floaties. The entire production crew and cast was composed of Hawaiian locals. Thoughtfully responding to the very real critique that a European fashion brand staging a show in Hawaii seems somewhat colonialist, the show took important steps to honor the culture of land they were on and its people and include them as a focal point of the show. Without these steps, the collection might have felt hollow, cheap, and appropriative. Instead, it felt like a genuine celebration of community and of sunshine, things that everyone loves and in doing so is brought together – something we need now more than ever.
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STYLE
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PHOTOS COURTESY THE IMPRESSION
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STYLE
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STYLE
A S P E C I A L 12- PA G E S E C T I O N O N
SUMMER'S HOTTEST FASHION TRENDS ADVERTORIAL CONTENT FROM THE IMPRESSION
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SUMMER'S HOTTEST FASHION TRENDS
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ADVERTORIAL CONTENT FROM THE IMPRESSION
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STYLE
ADVERTORIAL CONTENT FROM THE IMPRESSION
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SUMMER'S HOTTEST FASHION TRENDS
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ADVERTORIAL CONTENT FROM THE IMPRESSION
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STYLE
ADVERTORIAL CONTENT FROM THE IMPRESSION
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SUMMER'S HOTTEST FASHION TRENDS
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ADVERTORIAL CONTENT FROM THE IMPRESSION
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STYLE
ADVERTORIAL CONTENT FROM THE IMPRESSION
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SUMMER'S HOTTEST FASHION TRENDS
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ADVERTORIAL CONTENT FROM THE IMPRESSION
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SUMMER'S HOTTEST FASHION TRENDS
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STYLE
ADVERTORIAL CONTENT FROM THE IMPRESSION
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SUMMER'S HOTTEST FASHION TRENDS
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NE W YOR K FAS H IO N W EEK RECA P
STYLE
ADVERTORIAL CONTENT FROM THE IMPRESSION
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TRENDING:
SPRING BREAK page 136
PARTY
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LIKE IT'S 2019?
BRETT CHODY
@brettchody TRENDS CONTRIBUTOR
S
PRING BREAK THIS YEAR SERVED AS A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD FOR MANY AMERICANS. ON ONE HAND, RUSSIA’S UNPRECEDENTED INVASION OF UKRAINE CAST A DARK SHADOW OVER MANY VACATION PLANS. ON THE OTHER, THE LOOSENING OF COVID-19 MASK- AND TRAVEL-RESTRICTIONS GAVE PEOPLE SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE AND A REASON TO GET OUT OF TOWN AGAIN.
D
ue to the pandemic, many students haven’t enjoyed a true spring break since 2019. The novel Coronavirus shut most of the United States down just before many schools’ spring breaks were set to begin in 2020, squashing travel plans and sending college students back to their hometowns unaware of just how serious the virus was. Going on spring break this year provided a sense of normalcy and relief for many college students, who have spent the majority of their university years under COVID restrictions. This year’s break saw many college stu-
dents traveling to international destinations like Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and across the pond to London and Paris. Other students decided to stay domestic by traveling to different beach-side cities in Florida. No matter the spring break destination, many students were thrilled just to be able to travel again. “It felt really nice to travel with my friends again for spring break this year,” Julia Mervis, a senior at the University of Southern California, explained. “USC didn’t have a spring break last year because they didn’t want students traveling unnecessarily, so this year’s break felt like a breath of fresh air.” Not only were students happy to go on spring break with their friends, many also believed it served as a positive for their emotional well-being. “I think that remote learning and COVID in general really took a toll on many students’ mental health since we were so isolated,” a junior at Northwestern University said. “Just having that break in school to travel somewhere different or warm is the boost of serotonin many college students like myself need at this time of the year.” However, the increasingly tense crisis in Ukraine put a damper on many vacations. While some students chose not to discuss the awful situation to keep conversations light, others couldn’t help but think about the people of Ukraine and the repercussions Russia’s invasion will continue to have on the world. “Me and my friends individually kept up with the news of happenings in Ukraine
while we were on break, but no one really talked about it out loud,” a junior at Harvard University said. “I think it’s one of those things where you want to be aware of what’s happening in the world and not look tone deaf, but you also want to enjoy spring break with your friends because you only get so many in your lifetime.” Students who chose to travel to Europe had less of a privilege to tune out news about the war. Many ventured to European hot spots to visit friends who were traveling abroad or finally return to the Continent after not being able to because of the pandemic. Jess Riley, a senior at Boston University, told Insider Higher Ed that while she was thrilled to be back in Europe after two and a half years, she couldn’t help but think about the situation in Ukraine. “I can’t even describe how amazing it feels to be back [in Europe],” Riley said. “Although the people of Ukraine are really on my mind, given that I’m much closer physically to where the war is happening, I feel incredibly lucky and grateful to be here.” While the war in Ukraine continues, American spring breaks have come to an end. And as summer travel nears on the horizon, the same questions remain: will COVID’s omnipresence continue to dwindle? And will Ukraine always be a topic of conversation while on holiday? Only time will tell. page 137
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PHIL ANTHROPY IN FOCUS
GIVING IT ALL AWAY THE WEALTHIEST AMERICANS GAVE AWAY MORE THAN $33.4 BILLION IN 2021
WILLIAM SMITH @willismith_2000 COPY EDITOR & CONTRIBUTOR
T
HE DATA IS IN AND 2021 WAS YET ANOTHER STELLAR YEAR FOR PHILANTHROPY FROM THE WEALTHIEST IN THE UNITED STATES. AMERICA’S RICHEST GAVE AWAY MORE THAN $33.4 BILLION LAST YEAR. The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s annual Philanthropy 50 ranks those whose giving in 2021 was made publicly available either by the individuals themselves or other data, such as a Securities and Exchange Commission filing, which landed Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, on the list for the very first time. Musk’s arrival on the list was a thundering one – coming in at the number-two spot for giving away more than $5.7 billion USD in 2021. Musk is one of 15 on the Chronicle’s 2021 list who has
signed The Giving Pledge, described as “A promise by the world’s wealthiest individuals and families to dedicate the majority of their wealth to charitable causes.” The extend of Musk’s charitable giving has been mostly unknown prior to 2021 and the recipients of his largess last year were not named, though some have issued announcements of their own. Forbes, whose 2021 list of America’s wealthiest Americans also has Musk at the number-two spot, reported his net worth at $190.5 billion in 2021. Many familiar names round out the top five on the list. At the top, Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates reported gifts of $15 billion, Michael Bloomberg, at the third spot, gave away $1.66 billion, and Mark Zuckerberg and wife Priscilla Chan came in at number five having donated $1.049 billion. Perhaps less of a household name, and making the list for the only the second time, hedgefund guru William Ackman and wife Neri Oxman came in at the fourth-place ranking with $1.2 billion in gifts. Two other well-known names made the top 10. Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey made that list for a second year in a row,
coming in at the seventh-place ranking with gifts totaling nearly $765 million. Jeff Bezos went from the top spot in 2020 to the tenth in 2021 with donations of nearly $511 million. In 2020, Bezos gave a whopping $10 billion donation to establish the Bezos Earth Fund. Forbes reported that Bezos’ 2021 net worth topped $200 billion, making him the richest person in the United States. I was scratching my head when reviewing 2021’s list as the most-talked-about philanthropist as of late is MacKenzie Scott; her name does not appear on Philanthropy 50. It turns out that Scott and her representatives decided not to share their giving information, which is not a surprise given how low-key Scott is with her giving and the news of donations usually only coming from the non-profit beneficiaries themselves. Warren Buffet was also absent from the list in 2021. Yet, the Chronicle of Philanthropy estimates that Buffet likely have away more than $4 billion in stock, including $3.2 billion to the Gates Foundation where Buffet has found great affinity in realizing his philanthropic goals. page 141
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{PRIVATE VIEWING}
OLUWOLE OMOFEMI page 143
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A S E R I E S B Y R A P H A E L K . D A PA A H I N T R O D U C I N G T H E - N E X T- B I G A R T I S T S T O T H E W O R L D O F A R T C O L L E C T O R S A N D C U R AT O R S
VERNISSAGE
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RISE TO STARDOM OLUWOLE OMOFEMI RAPHAEL DAPAAH @dapaahgallery ART CONTRIBUTOR
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020 WILL FOREVER BE ETCHED IN HISTORY AS ONE OF THE MOST LIFE CHANGING YEARS IN MODERN TIMES. Between enduring a global health pandemic and the restrictions, disruption and turmoil that came with it, to witnessing a huge uptake in socio-political activism, civil rights campaigns, and revolutionary sentiments spearheaded by the Black Lives Matter movement, the turn of the new decade has been nothing short of seismic. In the midst of all of this chaos and uncertainty, with the art industry reeling from the hard blows of the pandemic forcing the closure of galleries, and the cancellation and postponement of major art fairs; all artists were faced with an existential dilemma; fight or flight? To the credit of most artists, and indeed, the art industry at large, and contrary to earlier predictions and expectations of a slump in the market reminiscent of the Wall Street crash a century prior, not only did many artists survive through the pandemic and experience greater productivity and depth in their work, but they also thrived. With the industry pivoting to embrace the ‘new normal’ of virtual and online exhibitions, and with the lower barriers of entry and increased accessibility to artists by virtue of social media, a surge
in the rise of new collectors, artists and industry players, reached a fever pitch, creating an unprecedented demand for contemporary art. The wake of this growing demand and access to contemporary art, took place against the backdrop of a heightened political climate; marked by the murder of George Floyd in the United States, the rise of right-wing nationalism globally, and a growing cultural renaissance and spirit of self-determination amongst the African diaspora. Enter: Oluwole Omofemi. Today, as Oluwole Omofemi begins his debut solo exhibition with Out of Africa Gallery, to describe him as a generational artist would be considered not only a matter of fact, but also an understatement. Much like the post-World War II abstract expressionism artists, such as Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock and Barnett Newman, Omofemi’s rise to contemporary art stardom is rooted in the turbulent and revolutionary socio-political environment of the past, as well as in the times in which he now lives, and works.
by his neighbors and community as a promising artist from his early childhood, Omofemi would later use the proceeds he would gain from hawking beer, as part of the everyday grind of living in Ibadan, to buy sketchbooks and art materials to facilitate and incubate his passion. However, it wasn’t the hustle and bustle of life in the vibrant Ibadan metropolis, nor the early signs of his natural gift for creativity and art that would inform what would later make Omofemi one of the most serious and influential artists of his generation. That great honor and tribute is owed to his grandfather, of whom Omofemi was deeply fond of, and influenced by. It was his grandfather’s wisdom and guidance that impressed upon the young artist the importance of the preservation of culture, heritage and ancient customs, and instilled in the artist an appreciation for self-love, pride, and determination, which today he captures
When speaking to the peers of Omofemi, artists from his native Nigeria, who he has come up with, or those he now mentors, they all speak with a great deal of pride, and adulation for him, describing him as a torch bearer and a vessel of hope for them. Born in 1988, and hailing from the inner streets of South Ibadan, Nigeria, Omofemi’s humble beginnings and steep ascent to the pinnacle of the contemporary African art scene is nothing short of inspirational. Readily identified page 145
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and translates on his canvas through his endearing and masterful portraits. Indeed, Omofemi’s work has always elevated his subjects, most of whom are either friends and relatives of his, or strangers he encounters. Pride, self-esteem, authenticity, and heritage, are all key, recurring motifs that weave together the entirety of his oeuvre, often manifested in his honorific, striking portraits of independent black women, crowned either with halo-esque afros, cornrow braids, or completely bald, ‘sakora’ hairstyles, indigenous to, and ubiquitous amongst his fellow compatriots, and dating back a millennia. Inspired in part by the lyrics of Grammy award winner, Alicia Key’s, iconic single, ‘A Woman’s Worth’, the singer muses that... ‘A real man, knows a real woman when he sees her... and a real man just can’t deny a woman’s worth’. To this end, ‘A Woman’s Worth’ the solo exhibition is by all intents and purposes an extension of Omofemi’s ongoing narration, musings and reflections on what it is to be a woman of note, self-respect and integrity, through the lens of a black man, striving to not only uplift his fellow sisters, but also to hold his fellow black brothers to account to
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encourage and promote that they do the same. Additionally, in Omofemi’s own words, his aim and inspiration behind this new series, was to capture the very ‘essence’ of his subjects; who they are, and what they represent outside of their roles, experiences, obligations and accomplishments. Many of his sitters are wives, mothers, sisters, with various occupations, and varying degrees of success and achievements, but beyond the tangible, and their readily accessible characteristics, the artist’s boldest attempt in this series is to strive to capture the transcendent nature of his subjects, to allow the viewer to truly connect with, see and understand them for who they are. Why Oluwole Omofemi, and why now? This is the question that often springs up when contemplating the rise of the artist, the insatiable demand for his portraits, and the increasing prices that his work now commands, both on the private and secondary market. For ardent followers of modern and contemporary African art, the answer is quite simple, and straight forward. In an industry in which figurative portraiture has dominated and become the modus operandi for most artists across the African dias-
pora, few artists are able to cut through the noise, and have their work stand out, enchant and inspire audiences quite like Omofemi has. Coupled by the socio-political themes that his work unpacks, his modern, yet old master sensibility, style and medium of choice, and the undeniable quality, beauty and boldness of his portraits, the artist has increasingly established himself as a master amongst a field of apprentices, and quite frankly, a cut above the rest. Alongside his artistic forebears, contemporaries and compatriots, chiefly, modern contemporary African art, ‘Godfather’, Professor Ben Enwonwu, Njideka Akunyili Crosby and Toyin Ojih Odutola, Omofemi is playing a leading role in not only centering the gaze on Nigeria and its growing presence and reputation as a hub of artistic and creative talent, but more widely on the African continent, and it’s increasingly significant contribution to the canon of Art history. I suspect in a few years the art world will be discussing Omofemi’s participation at the Venice Biennale, and first of many future major museum solo exhibitions, until then, his star is firmly on the rise, and one to follow closely.
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Omofemi’s honorific pieces will be on show at the ‘A Woman’s Worth’ solo exhibition between April 9th to May 22nd 2022 Out of Africa Gallery, Carrer Nou 1 - 08870 Sitges, Barcelona - Spain www.outofafricagallery.com RAPHAEL K. DAPAAH ART CONTRIBUTOR POLO LIFESTYLES 2022
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MANSION OF THE MONTH
RED BARN ASPEN RANCH COLORADO
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MANSION OF THE MONTH
SADDLE UP
THIS COLORADO ESTATE IS AN EQUESTRIAN PARADISE $17,000,000 PRIVATE RIDING TRAILS & RIDING ARENA INCLUDING A 41-STALL BARN
T
HE 38-ACRE PROPERTY COMES WITH A MAIN RESIDENCE, PRIVATE RIDING TRAILS, A RIDING ARENA, 41-STALL BARN AND MORE. The well-known Colorado equestrian estate called the Red Barn was first built in 1994 and has been updated and restored over the years. Now, it is back on the market for $17 million and ideal for those with a passion for horses and page 152
the outdoors. In fact, it’s currently got more pampering perks for the animals than any humans who might move in. The estate sprawls over 37.7 acres and has spectacular views of Mount Sopris and over the Roaring Fork Valley. It’s located in the town of Carbondale, known for its adventure activities, and is just 35 minutes from Aspen. Despite the property’s size, don’t expect the main residence to be the heart of the grounds. The residence features a
sleek, yet traditional alpine design and has three bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms over its 3,400 square feet of interior space. The home has a true sense of place with vaulted pine-beamed ceilings, a wood-burning fireplace and rustic decor. It welcomes the outdoors in with floor-to-ceiling windows and doors that are perfect to open on a warm, sunny day. But while the residence is quite charming, the property leaves most of the
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luxurious amenities for the horses. The exceptional equestrian facilities include a barn with 41 beautiful stalls for the horses; a heated, 80,000-square-foot indoor and outdoor arena; four horse bathing stables; six tack rooms; and a heated vet stall. The arena also has several plush lounges, including an indoor viewing area with large windows, as well as clean, manicured space to store saddles and other accessories. The barn is crafted with the highest-quality materials, result-
ing in a very polished, sleek look. The estate also has tree-lined riding trails, flanked by soaring pine and Aspen trees, for endless exploration of the grounds. Thanks to the property’s size, there is also room for additional structures, whether the future buyer wants to add on to the main residence or build another structure entirely. Thanks to the property’s proximity to Aspen, fabulous restaurants, shop-
ping and galleries are nearby. There is also easy access to 5,527 acres of skiable terrain at Snowmass Village, Buttermilk, Aspen Highlands and Aspen Mountain (Ajax), plus biking and hiking trails and rivers apt for fishing, rafting, kayaking and more. And for those serious about equestrian competitions or polo, the property is near the Aspen Polo Club, which is a USPA Member Club with tournament events. page 153
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MANSION OF THE MONTH
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RED BARN ASPEN RANCH
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NANTES PAYS DE LA LOIRE 44000 FRANCE
PRICE $29,967,206 USD BEDROOMS 8 / BATHROOMS 2 FULL INTERIOR 10,7639 SQ FT. / EXTERIOR 317.29 ACRES NANTES, PAYS DE LA LOIRE, 44000 FRANCE HUS STUD FARM This exceptional estate comprises not only a historic chateau but also one of France’s biggest equestrian facilities with page 158
the capacity to house approximately 400 horses. The castle has been restored and offers 1000 sq. meters of perfectly renovated living space including an indoor pool, a steam room and a gym. The spacious grounds comprise 128 hectares including private access to the River
Erdre, a 30-meter mooring, extensive equestrian training facilities including show jumping and dressage with 200 hectares extra rental. Restored outbuildings, helicopter pad and only 35 kilometers from the international airport. The sale includes 300 horses.
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CASTILLO CARIBE CARIBBEAN LUXURY IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS PRICE UPON REQUEST
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OW YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL: LIFESTYLE, LUXURY, LOCATION AND LIMITED TAX LIABILITY. WITHOUT DOUBT CASTILLO CARIBE IS ONE OF THE FINEST BEACH-FRONT ESTATE HOMES IN THE WORLD OFFERING EVERY LUXURY FOR MODERN DAY LIFE WITH ALL THE LIFESTYLE OPTIONS ONE WOULD EXPECT FROM THE CAYMAN ISLANDS AND THE CARIBBEAN.
Although the Cayman Islands enjoy year-round sunshine and a temperate climate, this benefit is eclipsed in most people’s eyes by the Islands’ offshore status. The Cayman Islands are well known as a financial center on the world’s stage and provide the highest quality of lifestyle available in a tax
neutral environment, making it very appealing to people of high net worth to seek residency here - a position that is actively encouraged by the local government and, as a British Overseas Territory, is a very stable option. There are a number of destinations in the world that are able to offer offshore status to a greater or lesser degree, but the Cayman Islands have no local taxes whatsoever: no property tax, no income tax, no capital gains tax and no inheritance tax. Castillo Caribe offers a rare opportunity to combine this with privacy, security, luxury and lifestyle all on a pristine white sandy beach overlooking the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean Sea. The space afforded here is too limited to provide adequate description of all the properties features and amenities, please request a detailed package by emailing: heather.carrigan@sothebysrealty.com.
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In Search Can' t-MissofWine Solace Festivals
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SANTA FE WINE & CHILE FIESTA
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SUMMER WINE
CAN'T-MISS EVENTS
Editor's Note: Wine Contributor, Cezar Kusik, remains fully engaged in the opening of a new restaurant and will be returning post-opening. This month, William Smith is taking over the wine responsibilities. WILLIAM SMITH
@willismith_2000 COPY EDITOR & CONTRIBUTOR
S
PRING HAS SPRUNG AND WITH IT, MY MIND DRIFTS TO WARMER DAYS OF SIPPING A ROSÉ WITH FRIENDS OR POPPING OPEN A JAMMY, FRUIT-PACKED RED TO ACCOMPANY A BARBECUE. Equally appealing and enticing, my mind also gravitates toward the myriad of festivals held each year that celebrate wine.
Wine festivals, typically paired with food, have become quite the rage from coast to coast in the United States and indeed, across the globe. The pandemic led to the cancellation of many of these events over the past two years, but with things looking better (at the moment) on that front, organizers and attendees are eager to see a return.
bring together, in one place, a variety of wines that create a unique experience of yes, adventure.
In fact, as I was penning this column, I received a first “heads up” e-mail from the Vail Wine Classic in Colorado, taking place in mid-August. It is one of two wine-focused events in the resort town in 2022. The Rockies in late summer and thousands of wines to try? Yes please.
A few years ago – pre-pandemic – my adventurous spirit was rewarded at a wine festival where I encountered a Zinfandel like no other. Cline Family Cellars, well-known in Sonoma County, was at the festival and pouring the Zinfandels they had perfected. I knew well what I would be tasting, or so I thought. There, I encountered their Big Break Vineyard Zinfandel, grown on one of their original plots in Oakley, Calif., where the family wine-making venture actually began in the 1880s.
I’m an adventurous oenophile. I think it’s the requisite disposition for truly taking in a wine festival of any sort. The multitude of wines to be sampled mean you must be a bit open-minded, even if you naturally and blissfully gravitate back to the profiles you know have both your heart and taste buds. Wine festivals
Bodacious from the moment it hits the nose, this isn’t your typical California Zin. Almost all of Cline’s Zinfandels come from Contra Costa County, but the Big Break Vineyard parcel is adjacent to a eucalyptus grove which yields an entirely unique, minty and intoxicating flavor profile to this bottling. I was
INTERNATIONAL PINOT NOIR FESTIVAL
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Can't-Miss Wine Festivals
THE ALSACE WINE FAIR
smitten from the first sip and proceeded to hunt for and buy up the two remaining bottles of the 2013 vintage available in my city. It was unique. Not commercially available. And minus a trip to Cline’s tasting room, I may never have experienced that delicious elixir were it not for the wine festival. So, let us raise a glass for a pour of something new and unknown and celebrate the season of wine festivals. Here is a roundup of some top-notch wine festivals in the coming months. Aspen, Colo.
FOOD & WINE Classic
classic.foodandwine.com June 17-19
Now in its 39th year, the event is already sold out, perhaps indicative of how eager people are to experience living again, but you can be added to the wait list and tickets typically open up. Nearly 60 seminars featuring talent like Tyler Florence, Paola Velez and Shota Nakajima, as well as the world’s best page 166
FOOD & WINE CLASSIC - ASPEN
winemakers, will entertain guests over three days. The event is being held at reduced capacity due to ongoing concerns about COVID-19. If you’re lucky enough, you might even score a luxe room at Auberge’s Hotel Jerome, THE hotel for enjoying all Aspen has to offer.
McMinnville, Ore.
International Pinot Noir Celebration www.ipnc.org July 29-31
Few would argue that Pinot Noir has found a unique expression in Oregon’s
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EXPO CHIANTI CLASSICO
Willamette Valley, but this event is for Pinot Noir lovers of every stripe and appellation. Guests can add to their knowledge through the Grand Seminar or the University of Pinot, the latter offering eight different sessions for learning and tasting. Some 60 wineries are featured for the 2022 event and more than 60 chefs from throughout the Pacific Northwest will be preparing and pairing foods to complement the wines. Not to be missed is the traditional Salmon Bake held on the Saturday of the Celebration. Colmar, France
The Alsace Wine Fair foire-colmar.com/fr July 22-31
Attracting more than 300,000 visitors each year, this is a true festival, incorporating wine, food and music in the must-attend event held since 1948. One can imagine the exuberance of that first festival in the emergence from World War II. That energy and celebration of joie de vivre continues to this day in celebrating all things French – especially the wines of Alsace – over 10 days and with more than 350 vendors. An astounding 1,500 samples of Alsatian wines are offered, and one can also witness and celebrate the annual election of the Queen of Alsace Wines.
INTERNATIONAL PINOT NOIR FESTIVAL
Greve, Chianti, Italy
Expo Chianti Classico
expochianticlassico.com September 8-11
I’m hardly alone in the belief that nothing seems to complement the quintessential Italian meal as a bottle of Chianti. From the simplest iteration of an everyday table wine to the most exquisite Riserva, Chianti is as unique as this annual gathering in the historic square of Greve. The idea of sampling hundreds of wines grown in the immediate vicinity where Etruscans were cultivating grapes for wine 3,000 years ago seems like the wine experience of a lifetime. La dolce vita indeed. Santa Fe, N.M.
Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta santafewineandchile.org September 21-25
I’ll own my bias having traveled from the east coast to attend this festival for many years – until, that is, I ended up calling Santa Fe home. And it is here that I encountered that sublime Cline Zinfandel. After many years in the backdrop of Santa Fe’s historic opera house on the outskirts of town, last year the event moved to downtown Santa Fe and didn’t miss a beat. It also meant nearly everything is in walking distance. During the Grand Tasting, nearly
100 wineries pour alongside the many gastronomical talents that have made Santa Fe a destination for foodies. The real treat for me are the dozens of wine dinners held during the Fiesta when the city’s major restaurants pair up with a winemaker and offer truly incredible experiences. New York City
NYC Wine & Food Festival
corporate.nycwineandfoodfestival.com
October 13-16
This annual festival is an off-the-charts journey for attendees, featuring 500 chefs and over 80 different events. Last year, attendees had the chance to learn sushi rolling with Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto and take Master Classes with talents like Rick Bayliss and Rocco DiSpirito. The Grand Tasting features hundreds of wineries from around the world, as well as culinary demonstrations and bites between tastings. Finally, there are hundreds of smaller wine festivals held in communities far and wide across the globe every year. A quick Internet search will likely turn up some close-to-home options where it is also more likely that you’ll also be supporting the local wine industry. Salud! WILLIAM SMITH COPY EDITOR & PHILANTHROPY CONTRIBUTOR POLO LIFESTYLES 2022 page 167
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ALIGN WITH YO SPIRITUALITY · FAITH · QUESTIONS · GROWTH · FOCUS
LIFE IS AS UNPREDICTABLE AS THE RAGING RIVER This is spiritual contributor Jyoti Paintel's last column in Polo Lifestyles. Being part of Jyoti's spiritual journey over the last three years has been inspiring and joyful. You can stay connected to her on Instagram @jyotipaintel.
JYOTI PAINTEL @jyotipaintel
M
SPIRITUALITY CONTRIBUTOR
Y LIFE HAS CHANGED IN WAYS I COULD NEITHER PREDICT NOR EVER DESIRE. OFTEN, I’VE SEEN MY LIFE IN THE CONTEXT OF SOMEONE TAKING A JOURNEY DOWN RIVER, FACED WITH THE INNUMERABLE, UNCONTROLLABLE AND UNPREDICTABLE ELEMENTS OF LIFE.
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They come as people, places, and inanimate objects interacting and interplaying as characters in my journey.
cepting myself, from loving myself and from creating the life that I had always wanted.
A few short months ago, the tragic suicide of one my oldest friends stunned me out of the numbing and blinding stupor in which I had been submerged for a very long time. The realization of how mental illness had plagued and ultimately devastated my friend’s life tore me apart. My own life was already a disaster, and the news uprooted any false seeds of illusion I had planted about my own situation.
As I allowed the curtains of my own fragile Heart and soul to be drawn back after my friend’s death, I examined her life and, of course, saw my life, too. In my search for where things went wrong, I exposed a sad, little girl inside who has been searching her whole life for a family and a home: a place of Love. The same sad, little girl, I saw looking back at me in the mirror every day as a grown woman. I realized how deeply disappointed I was in my own life, and no amount of positive talking to build myself up kept these troubling feelings from revisiting me at twilight: dawn and dusk were when I was always my most vulnerable, my most alone, it seemed.
In accepting my friend’s truth, I could no longer deny my own: I was not living an authentic, happy life; not even close. I was depressed, out of alignment physically, living with chronic pain, spiritually I felt depleted and professionally, my career was totally stalled. Worse yet, I was going through what appeared to be a cycle of unhealthy and unfulfilling relationships that left me feeling like a failure. Like many, I was also using various crutches along the way to distract myself. The truth was, I desperately wanted to change my life, but fear was keeping me from truly ac-
I needed to see why I had made every decision that had led to where and who I was, because if I didn’t go back to where I made the wrong turn, then I wouldn’t be able to figure out where I was standing today. First, I needed to find a road map leading backward - the place where my life’s river sprang forth in order to retrace
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OUR PURPOSE IN SY N C W IT H YO UR V IB E
R E N E WA L · C O M M U N I T Y · S U P P O RT · E X P LO R AT I O N · E N E R G Y
the steps that would take me back to my extremely painful, lonely, and lost childhood, a time I secretly tried my best to just forget. Where and who was I? Was I willing to accept the things I did wrong and see where the correct path actually was? Was I also willing to see moments when I was Jyoti: a Divine Light to those around me when I chose right, when my soul and character shone brightly from within? No one hue of our past is painted in one color on the canvas; rather, there is light and shadow. I had created and acted every part, every character and designed every background and stage set to my life story, but was I just acting or was I being authentic? Was I willing to see when I was just pretending to be happy, but sad inside, like I was taught as a little girl when my emotions were constantly invalidated. Was I playing a part in a comedy-tragedy I didn’t even belong in? Why had I chosen to hide the real Jyoti? THE MYRIAD PATHS TO RECOVERY There are many paths or methods to heal from trauma - you just need to make the decision to be fully committed to healing, health and happiness. It is a promise to the hurt, confused, little child inside who needs the tenderness and complete familiarity of the adult self it has become: the one who will never let you down. Find your own unique way to gently heal, seal and allow wounds to turn into faint scars that no longer cause
suffering - only reminders of the battles won, not lost.
painful memories and wading through the turbulent waters of my childhood.
My own path to healing and recovery is work in progress, a life-long solo journey that started with listening to an excellent audiobook that helped women like me move past childhood traumas of being emotionally neglected and abused. I cried as I listened to the account of other women who as children were judged, envied and neglected by their mothers. I also sat with my rage as I listened to the catastrophic affect this awful mother-daughter dynamic created: lifelong feelings of deep unworthiness and low self-esteem.
My additional therapeutic tools include my practice of yoga, prayer, mediation, sound healing and daily immersion in nature, art therapy. I am always learning new ways to bring a sense of comfort, serenity, and bliss to my life.
My recovery has consisted of many therapies, such as animal therapy. Spending time with my dog, who is my best and least judgmental friend is my way to return to the source of Love. She is loyal and loving - a companion who is a joy for me. If you are lucky enough to have a pet, try to see if you can have them present while you heal - they have an astute sense of perception of the healing process and possess uncanny intuition. They will know exactly when you need support, and they are always happy to both give and receive your unconditional love, in fact they live for it. In addition, I use audio recordings from spiritual books, religious excepts and video lectures from spiritual teachers to begin the process. Prayer, ritual and mantras are also an essential part of my healing process and provide a constant source of serenity when processing
ON BECOMING ME My recovery has also led me to make big changes in my life and not everyone around me has been comfortable with the new Jyoti, and that is just fine with me. As part of the individuation process, I have learned to let go of the desire to please others and now give myself the of honor of placing what is right for me above all else. In doing so, some relationships have been altered or ended, and while the change was definitely uncomfortable for everyone involved, a new sense of self-esteem and self-confidence has emerged. While others might not understand or accept why I need to change, I know exactly why I am doing what I do, because today I live with awareness and intention. As I prepare to embark on an internship to spend a month living in the jungle of Costa Rica studying and working handson in a botanical garden and learning about psychological and physical healing properties of medicinal plants, I have decided to finish my time and tenure as spiritual contributor for Polo Lifestyles. Much love and many thanks to both Polo Lifestyles and readers of this column over the years. page 171
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MOLD YOUR MIND W H AT
D O
Y O U
VA L U E ?
FINDING JOY AND
LIVING BY YOUR VALUES JOEY VELEZ
@joeyavelez88 HEALTHY LIFESTYLES CONTRIBUTOR
H
AVE YOU EVER BEEN SO FRUSTRATED BY SOMETHING, BUT YOU WERE NOT EXACTLY CERTAIN WHY YOU WERE SO UPSET? WHY YOU CONNECT WITH SOME PEOPLE, BUT NOT OTHERS? Or why you are motivated in some aspects of your life, but not in others? Often times, what makes us tick is aligned with who we are at our core. The things that drive us, motivate us, inspire us, were both all developed at an early age and were also developed over time based on life-experiences. So why do you behave the way you do? Well, your actions are most likely related to your core values.
WHAT ARE CORE VALUES? Your core values are a set of fundamental beliefs that inform you on how to conduct your life. In other words, your core values are what you aspire to be and drive your day-to-day behavior. Your core values show up in both your perpage 174
sonal and professional life. Core values show up in your personal life through how you raise your children, the people you choose to interact with, and the choices you make. Core values show up in your professional life through your decision-making, your problem-solving, and where you choose to allocate your resources. Core values are developed as early as childhood. We tend to mimic the views and behaviors of our parents, siblings, and relatives because that is the only information we have to go off of. As we get older, we begin to experience life: different people, different views, different lifestyles, and personal adversities. How we respond to life experiences are influenced by core values, but may also adjust over time due to these same experiences. We begin to see that there are other ways of thinking than our own and we may develop new core values that we did not know existed, all based on our progression through life. One reason why core values are so interesting is because there is no “one-size-fits-all” model. They influence how we behave, but they can also change with new information and for each individually differently.
ME AND MY VALUES One of my core values is that actions speak louder than words. The most notable way this value impacts my life is by how I respond to individuals who do not
act on their words: they say one thing, yet do another. Many people, myself included, rightly get frustrated with individuals who say they will do something then do not, and that experience leads me to either minimize communication with them or I lose trust in them. For me, if I say I am going to do something, then I am going to do it. If for some reason I cannot, then I communicate that. What it ultimately boils down to is respect. If you say you are going to do something, then I expect you to do it. Another core value of mine is punctuality. I joke around that I have “time anxiety”, but I may not be too far off. I believe that if you are exactly on time, then you are late. Playing basketball growing up, if practice started at 7 pm, that meant you were on the baseline ready to go by 7 pm. I would show up 30 minutes before to get ready, get stretched out, so when it was time to go it was time to go. This value shows up in my professional life because I am consistently 20-30 minutes early to the office or any training I have that day. I view being late as disrespectful and unprofessional, and I also do not like to be rushed. So I am going to make sure that I show up early. I also value accountability. More specifically, I believe you should take responsibility for your actions. If you make a mistake, own it. If extra work needs to be done, do not wait for others to charge,
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hold yourself accountable by taking that initiative. Another branch off the accountability tree is doing what is right. For example, our boss allows us to telework the last two hours of the day. It is very easy to go down the route of “I got off work two hours early!” even though you are still being paid for those two hours. I hold myself accountable and make sure I work those last two hours because it is the right thing to do. It all starts by holding yourself accountable.
WHAT DO YOU VALUE? One strategy to identify your own core values is by thinking about the important decisions you have had to make in your life. Ask yourself a few questions: “Why was this an important decision in my life?” “Why did I make the decision that I did?” “Who did this decision impact?”
Whether you ask yourself one of these questions or all of them, they may help you discover what core values were “behind the scenes” that influenced your decision. Another strategy to identify your core values is to reflect on a different set of questions: “What is important to me?” “What character traits do I possess and/ or value in others?” The last time you were extremely frustrated, “why was that?” The last time you were extremely proud or felt accomplished, “Why was that?” This series of questions gets at the same intent as the prior questions: to reflect and gain a deeper understanding of what makes you tick. By reflecting on what guided your behaviors in those moments, why you experienced the emotions that you did, or what is important to you, can open up pathways to
the discovery of what lies in your core values.
FINAL THOUGHTS Living through your values can impact your internal motivation in strong ways. It can help you be more productive,achieve your goals, and help you live a more authentic life. However, conflict may also rear its ugly head if you become overly rigid in your values and expect others to mirror them in every respect. Every individual is unique, which means we all have different things that we value. Having differing values can be a learning experience and help you connect with others if you take more of a learning mindset, and perhaps assimilating them as you see fit Discover your values, live through your values, understand the values of others, and take the time to understand the world around you.
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LIFE COACHING AND EXPERT
WELLNESS EXERCISES
THE ANGRY CRY BECAUSE "BIG BOYS DON'T CRY" JUSTIN "GOLIATH" JOHNSON @goliathcoaches WELLNESS CONTRIBUTOR
“G
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AWAY FROM ME!” I YELLED, TEARS STREAMING DOWN MY FACE. LOOKING UP, I PUSHED SOMEONE TO THE GROUND IN A FIT OF RAGE, REALIZING ONLY HAS THE BODY FELL IN SLOW MOTION THAT I HAD PUSHED A GIRL. It was the 8th grade lunch break and we were all on the basketball court. I attended a few different elementary schools, but I spent all of my middle school years at one school. Between elementary and middle school, we moved to a new, much more diverse area. It was my first time attending a school where more than one or two other black students were in my class. page 178
In addition to the cultural adjustment, at nearly 6-feet tall, I was also noticeably bigger than almost everyone else at an age when you’d really like to fit in. My continued growth spurts resulted in general lack of coordination. Athletics were difficult as a child, but at least I could dance; if I couldn’t do anything else, I could dance my a** off. Somehow, I became entangled in a oneon-one basketball game with a fellow 8th grader on this particular day. I had gotten pretty good at telling jokes, but my desire to fit in got me into a pickle and I found myself competing with someone clearly better than me. I took a shot and must have looked extremely goofy. On top of that, I was already losing. The goofy mistake was the icing on the cake and our fellow classmates ensured I knew how extremely goofy I looked. I heard every voice individually: calling me a name, making fun of me, laughing and mocking me. My anger built to a level and I started to boil over, losing the ability to control my emotions. I lost the game and a crowd surrounded me, increasing the mockery and jokes when they saw me
become emotional. I lost it and pushed the closest body to me. Unbeknownst to me, I pushed a girl; not just any girl, but Kenya. Kenya was always nice to me, and like me, Kenya was a subject of teasing and mockery quite often. So not only did I do the only thing my parents told me never to do, but I did it to someone who was like me. As soon as she fell, I realized what I did and reached to help her up. I never had the opportunity for repentance; another kid stepped between her and I and put up his hands to fight. One look at his jeering, smug face and my emotional rage returned. I raised my left arm to swing, but a kid grabbed that arm from behind me. I raised my right, and another kid grabbed that arm. A third kid grabbed me by the waist and pulled me against the basketball pole, holding me while I yelled and screamed like an animal. I wanted to hurt someone because I was hurt. I was enraged, with no way of coping with the trauma of experiencing continued rejection.
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"I WANTED TO HURT SOMEONE BECAUSE I WAS HURT. I WAS ENRAGED, WITH NO WAY OF COPING WITH THE TRAUMA OF CONTINUED REJECTION." The relationship between anger and crying is an extremely close one. I like to call them siblings. Crying is the older sibling, having been through enough to understand how to release the emotion. The younger sibling, anger, wants things to go its way and hasn’t gained the maturity of releasing that pent-up energy through an expression that doesn’t serve ego. What is actually happening when you get angry? Energetically, where you place your attention is where you place your energy, and your ego has no desire to feel weak. Your ego is there to serve itself; not the whole. Your ego is the part of you that says, “I don’t need help, I achieved this all by myself.” Your ego doesn’t like crying, especially in masculine energies. When you cry, you release energy, and anger desires to build energy to use as a weapon. Has anyone ever told you, “I didn’t mean to say that, I was just mad.”? Through anger, we use our ego to protect our
true self, which is the vulnerable part of you – usually the child version of who you have become. These traumas stack up on each other until the adult version no longer understands how to access the vulnerability of the now-hidden child. When we are born, all we do is cry. We cry for everything because that’s all we have. It is literally our only tool of expression. Let me repeat myself: tool of expression. Once we start to grow, we forget that crying is an emotional tool. As an adult you would not be very pleasurable to be around if you cried about everything like a baby, but hyperbolics aside, we cannot ignore the fact that crying remains an emotional tool. Anger increases blood pressure and elevates your heart rate. Anger releases adrenaline and tightens muscles. Crying allows your muscles to loosen up and emotional tears contain manganese, which is a mood-regulating element. Crying is the balance you need to calm the body down from the stress spike that
anger creates. Now you can understand how an angry-cry can be beneficial. We need its balance. When we overuse a reactive tool like anger and don’t balance it out with something like crying, we tend to act more erratically. Anger is a reaction in which crying is a response. Don’t get me wrong, crying can also be a reaction but it’s a mood-regulating reaction. It is much healthier for you to cry than to use ego-empowering anger and risk taking that anger on someone or something else. We need to remember to humanize each other. We are not robots; we are extremely complex organisms that have been given tools to regulate our humanity. The next time you find yourself in a fit of rage, stop and just give yourself a good ol’ snot-nosed, lip-quivering cry. I know that sounds weak or funny, but trust me, your body will appreciate it and there is nothing you can do that is more human. page 179
VOLUME VI / ISSUE IV / APRIL 2022
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