VOLUME V / ISSUE XI / NOVEMBER 2021
AR GE NTINA'S TRIPLE C ROW N · LOS AN GE LE S 20 21 VEUV E C L I C Q UOT PO LO C L AS S I C · M O S C OW PO LO C LUB
THE PSYCHEDELIC WORLD OF MICRODOSING THE BRIGHT COLORS OF PARIS FASHION WEEK
"I SUFFERED FROM MAN-BOOBS" A GUT-WRENCHINGLY HONEST FITNESS JOURNEY
ARGENTINA'S ULTIMATE POLO EVENT COMES ROARING BACK HOW THE SUPPLY CHAIN BROKE AND WHY IT'S NOT A QUICK-FIX
THE COURAGEOUS PATH OF SELFLESSNESS
VEUVE CLICQUOT'S CHAMPAGNE-SOAKED POLO CLASSIC THE MOST IMPORTANT PLAY IS THE ONE RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU
VOLUME V / ISSUE XI / NOVEMBER 2021
Ambassador Claude-Alix Bertrand Publisher
Joshua Jakobitz Editor-in-Chief
William Smith
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 Art Contributor
Jyoti Paintel
Sofya Khizhik
Michael J. Snell
Lifestyles Contributor
Joey Velez
Wellness Columnist
Brett Chody
Trends Contributor
Panthil Dwivedi
Spiritual Contributor
Wellness Contributor
Stanley Pierre-Etienne
Polo Lifestyles is a publication of HT Polo Publishing Co. 995 Detroit Avenue, Suite A Concord, CA 94518
Style Contributor
Anne-Isabelle Saint-Pierre Style Contributor
Brand Representatives Anne-Isabelle Saint-Pierre - Dubai Michael J. Snell - The Hamptons Stanley Pierre-Etienne Caribbean Jessica Foret Wax - Santa Fe K & Co. Media - Los Angeles Contributing Photographers Michael Neamonitakis Ugur Dursan Horan Yip Goliath Coaches
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Katerina Morgan
Contributing Photographer
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 Tomas Garcia del Rio switching ponies mid-air in Argentina while the clock continues to run Shot by Katerina Morgan The photo on this page was shot by Sofya and Dmitri Khizhik
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INANDA CLUB The Africa Polo Open MYOPIA POLO CLUB Chairman's Cup INTERNATIONAL POLO CLUB Iglehart Cup Joe Barry Memorial Ylvisaker Cup U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship® The Gauntlet of Polo C.V. Whitney Cup® USPA Gold Cup® 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 ARGENTINE SEASON Tortugas Country Club Open Hurlingham Club Open Argentine Polo Open Championship Women Argentine Polo Open The Triple Crown of Polo AUSTRALIA Polo in the City World Series AUCKLAND POLO CLUB BMW "The Polo" Open
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SCOREBOARDS & COCKTAILS
ARGENTINA TRIPLE CROWN EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS FROM BUENOS AIRES Page 26 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
Brett Chody
Cezar Kusik
Trends Contributor Polo Lifestyles @brettchody
Wine Contributor Polo Lifestyles @cezartastesearth
Sofya Khizhik
William Smith
Wellness Columnist
Philanthropy Contributor
@velezmentalhealth
@willismith_2000
Velez Mental Performance May & Stanley Smith Charitable Trust
Polo Contributor
SK Equine Photography
@s.k_equine_photography
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Art and Automobiles in NYC, page 136
Bright colors and hues dom- The resurgence - and value of Haitian art, page 98 inate runways, page 110
Handling business from 35,000 feet, page 62
VEUVE CLICQUOT
Los Angeles' Polo Classic returned to Will Rogers Park Page 40
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ARGENTINE HIGH-GOAL SEASON
N
ESTLED BETWEEN THE FASHION ISSUE AND OUR HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE IS THE NOVEMBER ISSUE. IT’S AUTUMN IN NORTH AMERICA; IT’S SPRING DOWN UNDER. THERE’S PLENTY OF POLO (HOW MANY TIMES CAN WE SAY, POLO’S BACK?). IT TAKES A STRATEGY AND A VISION TO ASSEMBLE A DYNAMIC PUBLICATION BETWEEN TWO BIG MONTHS LIKE OCTOBER AND DECEMBER. THIS YEAR, I ASKED OUR CONTRIBUTORS TO DIG DEEP. They obliged and this is one of the most personal issues we’ve ever published. Both Panthil Dwivedi and William Smith opened up about struggles with childhood obesity and overwhelming loss, respectively. I may have shed a tear reading both articles. Joey Velez hit me hard with his message about distractions (Guilty! I am so guilty of being easily distracted.). The mantras he’s included, plus his simply put headline, The Most Important Thing is What’s Right in Front of You, have helped me immensely already. New this month to Polo Lifestyles is Sofya Khizhik who traveled from Geneva to Moscow to visit and profile the man she calls “the best polo player in Russia,” Misha Rodzianko. The photos are superb and the setting is truly one where old money mixes seamlessly with the nouveau riche. Rodzianko recently made his national team’s first appearance at the Polo Rider Cup in France to much international acclaim. Veuve Clicquot hosted their champagne-soaked Polo Classic in Los Angeles after taking a Covid-hiatus last year. The outdoor event required either proof of vaccination or a recently negative test result for Covid. And after a year off, Los Angeles responded warmly to the event’s return, with a capacity crowd and sold-out Grande Dame tents. The U.S. Polo Assn. announced this week the return of the Gauntlet of Polo, their signature triple crown. Originally scheduled for a threeyear run, the Gauntlet will return to the International Polo Club for its fourth championship showdown. Rounding out the personal stories this month, I had a chance to sit down with Myriam Nader-Salomon to discuss one of my favorite topics: Haitian art. Her vision and work with the Port-au-Prince’s Centre d’Art, a cornerstone of the artistic community in Haiti for decades, to put Haitian art back in the eyes and minds of the art market will ensure that generations of Haitians can live dignified lives as artists pursuing their passions in their homeland. If you’re in New York City, make sure you grab a reservation at Restaurant X, which Michael J. Snell profiles for us this month. The prix-fixe, rotating-Michelin-star-guest-chefs concept looks and sounds like something you won’t want to miss out on. Best,
Josh Jakobitz josh@pololifestyles.com
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VOLUME V / ISSUE XI / NOVEMBER 2021
afrolegacy.house Polo VIP-ready in soft beige and tan suits for the Argentine, South African, New Zealand or Australian seasons
icon.global Exclusive properties like the Black Willow Ranch are what sets Icon Global apart in the luxury real estate field
thepoloparty
An aerial shot of the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Classic, dubbed the largest polo party in the world page 22
b.l.a.c.k.b.o.y.w.r.i.t.e.s. The season five premiere of HBO's Insecure was not only highly anticipated but critically received
johnlegend Date night out for mom and dad - do your parents dress like this when they hit the town?
theroyalfamily Her Majesty The Queen receives ambassadors via secure video chat rather than in person
brownhotevents Hosting highly curated, intimate gatherings with exuberant displays like these Marie Antoinette violinists
leigh.travel Thinking about traveling? The Leigh travel line is chic but also stands up to the wear and tear of traveling
tmp_motorsports Automobile photographer Tosh Monday posted his two-page spread from the October issue
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Click and comment on our choices... Tag @pololifestyles. We will share noteworthy comments with you next month.
drinkentourage It's nearly apres-ski season in Aspen and Entourage Rose is ready to receive you and your entourage
pbequineclinic Our ponies only deserve the best and the Palm Beach Equine Clinic provides that 24/7
urbancowgirl510 If you spend any time around Oakland, Calif., look out for the Urban Cowgirl and her loyal steed
earthshotprize The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge both donned upcycled evening wear for the EarthShot Prize gala
restaurantxli Long Island's newest prix-fixe, rotating-guest-chef concept opened to rave reviews
uspoloassn Ready for the change of seasons? U.S. Polo Assn. has the colors and cuts for fall
goliathcoaches Shooting @sfexceptionalism in Atlanta for the Fashion & Polo Classic
s.k._equine_photography
She photographed the Moscow Polo Club for this issue, but she's a fan of all equestrian activities
veuveclicquotusa Los Angeles' Will Rogers Park was the site of the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic, back after a year hiatus page 23
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TH E 2021 A BI ERTO DE A R GEN TI N A
OPEN D E TORT U GAS & O P E N DE H URL IN G H A M
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P H O T O G R A P H S B Y K AT E R I N A M O R G A N
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ARGENTINE HIGH-GOAL SEASON
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P H O T O G R A P H S B Y K AT E R I N A M O R G A N
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ARGENTINE HIGH-GOAL SEASON
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P H O T O G R A P H S B Y K AT E R I N A M O R G A N
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ARGENTINE HIGH-GOAL SEASON
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P H O T O G R A P H S B Y K AT E R I N A M O R G A N
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ARGENTINE HIGH-GOAL SEASON
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Above: Tomas Garcia del Rio (from the cover) captured mid-air switching polo ponies while the clock continues to run down at the Open de Hurlingham, part of the Argentine Triple Crown.
P H O T O G R A P H S B Y K AT E R I N A M O R G A N
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ARGENTINE HIGH-GOAL SEASON
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P H O T O G R A P H S B Y K AT E R I N A M O R G A N
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ARGENTINE HIGH-GOAL SEASON
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P H O T O G R A P H S B Y K AT E R I N A M O R G A N
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VEUVE C LICQU OT P O LO C L ASSIC - LOS ANG ELES 20 2 1
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VEUVE C L I C QU OT
T
HE VEUVE CLICQUOT POLO CLASSIC RETURNED TO LOS ANGELES AFTER A ONEYEAR COVID HIATUS. PROOF OF VACCINATION OR A NEGATIVE COVID TEST WAS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY FOR ALL ATTENDEES. Nacho Figueras and Delfina Blaquier headlined the highly anticipated polo match while stars like Keke Palmer, Kendrick Sampon, Duckie Thot, Gabrielle Union, Roze Traore, Griffin Matthews and Logan Browning filled the invite-only VIP Lounge.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY CLAIRE BARRETT
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VEU V E C L I C QU OT
PHOTOGRAPHS BY CLAIRE BARRETT
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PHOTOGRAPHS BY CLAIRE BARRETT
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2021 V EUV E C L I C QU OT POLO C L AS S I C
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PHOTOGRAPHS BY CLAIRE BARRETT
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ATLANTA FAS HION & P O LO CLAS S IC
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P H O T O G R A P H S B Y G O L I AT H
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T
HE 2021 ATLANTA FASHION & POLO CLASSIC COMMENCED ITS FOURTH ANNUAL CELEBRATION OCTOBER 10 AT BOUCKAERT FARM IN FAIRBURN, GA. Presented by the Miguel Wilson Collection and sponsored by Bentley Atlanta, this year’s event included a “Black Tie Experience,” “Polo & Pumps Day Party,” and “Cocktails and Cigars Under The Stars” events before the actual Atlanta Fashion & Polo Classic, making an exciting weekend with The Georgian Terrace Hotel serving as the host accommodations for all out-of-town guests, and one of the venues. “This was an amazing weekend, and so far our best Atlanta Fashion & Polo Classic yet,” said Miguel Wilson, founder of the Atlanta Fashion & Polo Classic. “Though we aim to make the best luxury and cultural experience, what truly makes this event special is the people. Every guest is treated like a VIP, and every vendor, sponsor, or model continues the experience, creating something dynamic and special for all in attendance to enjoy.” Ultra VIP ticket holders arrived at the location via helicopter and ushered to the venue in Bentleys provided by Bentley Atlanta.
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AT LAN TA FAS HIO N & P O LO C L AS S IC P H O T O G R A P H S B Y G O L I AT H
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AT L A NTA FAS H I O N & P O LO CLAS S I C
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P H O T O G R A P H S B Y G O L I AT H
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AT L A NTA FAS H I O N & P O LO CLAS S I C
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P H O T O G R A P H S B Y G O L I AT H
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TECHNOLOGY
O F COURSE, C EL L P HO N ES WO RK ON PRI VATE JETS - HER E' S HOW H A N D LI N G BU S INESS AT 35 , 0 0 0 FE E T
I
N THE SEASON THREE PREMIERE OF HBO’S SUCCESSION, SOME OF THE MORE GRIPPING MOMENTS PLAYED OUT AS MEMBERS OF THE ROY FAMILY— AND KEY PLAYERS IN THEIR BUSINESS—SPOKE TO EACH OTHER BY CELL PHONE FROM THEIR SEPARATE PRIVATE JETS ABOUT WHO WOULD ASSUME CONTROL OF THE FAMILY-OWNED MEDIA COMPANY WAYSTAR ROYCO.
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The scenes were convincingly played by actors Sarah Snook, Matthew Macfadyen, Kieran Culkin, J. SmithCameron and Brian Cox, but even as the suspense mounted, a nagging question popped into the mind of some viewers: They are flying miles above cell phone towers, so how do calls work at 35,000 feet – and are they even legal?
Sven Bilén, an engineering professor at Penn State, has written about aviation and communication and Doug Gollan, a longtime industry expert and founder of Private Jet Card Comparisons, explain how those calls went through.
We’ve all struggled to receive emails and messages even after having paid for in-flight WiFi service aboard a commercial flight. But in the world of private aviation, uninterrupted mobiles calls offer undeniable proof that the rich are different.
Bilén: I think what you need to know is that there are two ways that you can talk on your cell phone. One is when your phone accesses your cellular network via a cell tower. The other is through something called Voice Over WiFi. Because most cellular towers aim signals
Is it possible to speak via cell phones while flying in a private jet?
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at the ground, accessing a cell network would be difficult at altitude. But planes can connect to WiFi data lines through satellite links. Therefore, any call on the show would likely have been made through Voice Over WiFi—especially if the plane were flying over the ocean or far from cell towers.
obvious reason it would be really annoying to be sitting on a plane with a bunch of people talking on the plane. On a private plane, provided it is a newer model outfitted with the latest communication equipment, a Voice Over WiFi call would not violate the cellular rules.
Is it legal?
Do moguls spend all their time on the phone when they’re in their jets?
Bilén: It depends. According to the FAA, using a cellular network on either a commercial or private plane is illegal. There are some technical reasons why they regulate it. And phone calls aren’t allowed on commercial flights for the
Gollan: For folks like the ones portrayed in the show, you know, time is money. Phones are an essential part of doing business. So, if it’s a matter of firing a division president, you know, they can do it on the flight to L.A.
Is there a special etiquette to using your cell aboard a private jet? Gollan: Yes, definitely. When you get on a jet, you should ask the person we call the lead passenger—either the owner or the person who chartered the jet, “Where would you like me to sit?” And then, “Do you mind if I make a call?” One reason is that sometimes there are extra charges to use WiFi services. And the other is because, you know, if I was sitting at your dining room table, I wouldn’t pick up the phone and start talking. Adapted for use with permission from T&C page 63
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PHOTOGRAPHS BY UGUR DURSAN
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LON G ISLA ND'S
RESTAURANT X
STACKS THE KITCHEN WITH MICHELIN-STAR CHEFS
I
T GOES FAR BEYOND THE STANDARD EXPERIENCE FOR MOST WHEN CHOOSING WHERE TO DINE OUT, OR WHAT CUISINE TO INDULGE IN. APART FROM MAKING THE CONSCIOUS DECISION TO PUT A HOLD ON YOUR RECENTLY STARTED ORGANIC, COLD-PRESSED JUICE CLEANSE OR DIET HIGH-FIBERED PROTEIN INFUSED WHATEVER… WE UNDERSTAND THAT TASTE HAS MANY DIMENSIONS, AND THOSE WHO ENJOY AND INTERPRET FOOD AS A MULTINOTE SCORE WITH LAYERS WAITING TO BE DISCOVERED, SPEAK THAT LANGUAGE.
Restaurant X has set themselves apart as a unique fine-dining experience, one that has long been anticipated in our opinion. They bring us a concept by a world-class culinary team that assembled, scripted and refined a tasting menu – a novel platform that includes an overall theme or cuisine style, rotating guest chef, and will be switched…every two weeks. We all know restaurants that have menu items featured longer than the last fresh coat of paint on the walls, but this new take on the anything-but-standard experience has hit Long Island’s Gold Coast (just outside NYC) and is making people wonder – why haven’t we thought of this?! Restaurant X is a reservation-only experience, featuring a prix-fixe, multi-course tasting concept, where this hand-selected guest chef will create both
savory and sweet tasting options over their highlighted period in the kitchen. The guests will enjoy what the team calls ‘the highest echelon of service’ as they have proudly hand-picked their staff from the best establishments in and around NYC. Of course, don’t be surprised when you see the tasting menu come alongside with a suggested wine pairing or an artfully crafted cocktail, as we know eating by taste is only second to eating with our eyes. We’re told that guests who opt to dine more frequently will experience the ever-changing menus, which will be created and developed by the minds of those guest chefs, perhaps one of your favorite restaurateurs or on iconic TV personality, the X team has not disclosed any names of their up and coming guests but has confirmed several of them have their own Michelin stars. page 67
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Lead by an executive team of Gabriel Moroianu, Buck Canon, Calvin Lau and Juan De La Cruz, they have taken their combined experience within the restaurant industry and expanded it to make this collective of refinement that embodies their ideal dining institution. Utilizing all resources to artfully craft the dining space, carefully selecting each finish, flatware and color serve as the canvas and platform for the tasting menus and experiences created here, the level of ingenuity should excite each guest of X. To maintain the highest level of standards, Executive Chef Tomo Kobayashi and Chef de Cuisine Cesar Aguilar lead the culinary team, both of whom will execute the tastings alongside the selected guest chefs. These two unique styles of culinary artistry have developed the initial tasting menus, and to no surprise, already have rave reviews…why do you think this article is, “Restaurant X Stacks the Kitchen with Michelin-Star Chefs”?
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Upon witnessing Chef Kobayashi plate each course with a pair of silver chopsticks, we knew that the details here were going to be unmatched. The first tasting menus included mouth-watering selections such as Yellow Fin Tuna Tartare with spiced avocado mousse, Snake River Farms Wagyu with truffled kabocha squash, a Rohan Duckling with a mango foie gras dumpling, Pulpitos with a smoked potato purée and black garlic-olive emulation and a stunning flan with hand-made sugar dome. The team also mentioned that they will document each tasting menu, from inspiration through creation with each chef on what they call ‘Chef X,’ a Weband social-based video series taking you through the minds an inner workings of the X kitchen. If that all wasn’t enough, as one of the most important missions of Restaurant X and their team has always been to set out and to inspire others, not only through food, but with a greater sense
PHOTOGRAPHS BY UGUR DURSAN & HORAN YIP
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of generosity. Restaurant X has pledged to donate all profits from every dining experience to St. Mary’s Hospital for Children, which provides long-term and rehabilitative care to critically ill and injured children. This charitable partnership was brought forward by
Robert Heicklen, the liaison between St Mary’s and Restaurant X. This is part of the ongoing mission that Restaurant X and its team hopes that they can do their part to help better the lives of thousands of pediatric patients per day.
While not only has the X team set out to make an impactful statement with their food selection, they have also chosen to highlight that the measure between a dining providership and thoughtful notion can be made, and tastefully enjoyed. Cheers to providing experience with a positive purpose.
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HOW THE
SUPPLY CHAIN
BROKE
AND WHY IT ISN'T A QUICK FIX
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GLOBAL SHORTAGES FIXING A BROKEN SUPPLY-CHAIN SYSTEM
C
OMPUTER CHIPS. EXERCISE EQUIPMENT. BREAKFAST CEREAL. BY NOW, YOU’VE PROBABLY HEARD: THE WORLD HAS RUN SHORT OF A GREAT MANY PRODUCTS.
In an era in which we’ve become accustomed to clicking and waiting for whatever we desire to arrive at our doors, we have experienced the shock of not being able to buy toilet paper, having to wait months for curtains and needing to compromise on the color of our new cars.
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Of far greater importance, we have suffered a pandemic without adequate protective gear. Doctors cannot obtain needed medicines. In Alaska, people are struggling to find enough winter coats. Airplanes are delayed while crews wait for food deliveries. The pandemic has disrupted nearly every aspect of the global supply chain — that’s the usually invisible pathway of manufacturing, transportation and logistics that gets goods from where they are manufactured, mined or grown to where they are going. At the end of the chain is another company or a consumer who has paid for the finished
product. Scarcity has caused the prices of many things to go higher. WHEN DID THIS START? The disruptions go back to early last year, to the beginning stages of the pandemic. Factories in parts of the world where a lot of the globe’s manufacturing capacity sits — places like China, South Korea and Taiwan as well as Southeast Asian nations like Vietnam and European industrial giants like Germany — were hit hard by the spread of coronavirus cases. Many factories shut down or were forced to reduce production because workers were sick
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or in lockdown. In response, shipping companies cut their schedules in anticipation of a drop in demand for moving goods around the world. That proved to be a terrible mistake. Demand for some things — restaurant
meals, trips to vacation destinations, spa services — indeed cratered. But Americans, in particular, took the money they used to spend on such experiences and redirected it to goods for their homes, which were suddenly
doubling as offices and classrooms. They put office chairs and new printers in their bedrooms, while adding gym equipment and video game consoles to their basements. They bought paint and lumber for projects that added space page 75
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FIXING A BROKEN SUPPLY-CHAIN SYSTEM or made their existing confines more comfortable. They added mixers and blenders to their kitchens, as parents became short-order cooks for coopedup children. The timing and quantity of consumer purchases swamped the system. Factories whose production tends to be fairly predictable ramped up to satisfy a surge of orders. WHY COULDN’T FACTORIES JUST PRODUCE MORE? Many did, but this produced its own troubles. Factories generally need to bring in components to make the things they export. For example, a computer assembled in China may require a chip made in Taiwan or Malaysia, a flat-panel display from South Korea and dozens of other electronics drawn from around the world, requiring specialized chemicals from other parts of China or Europe. The steep surge in demand clogged the system for transporting goods to the factories that needed them. At the same time, finished products — many of them made in China — piled up in warehouses and at ports throughout Asia because of a profound shortage of shipping containers, the standard-size steel boxes that carry goods on enormous vessels. WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THE GIANT CONTAINER SHIPS? In simplest terms, they got stuck in the wrong places. In the first phase of the pandemic, as China shipped huge volumes of protective gear like masks and hospital gowns all over the world, containers were unloaded in places that generally do not send much product back to China — regions like West Africa and South Asia. In those places, empty containers piled up just as Chinese factories were producing a mighty surge of other goods destined for wealthy markets in North America and Europe. Because containers were scarce and demand for shipping intense, the cost page 76
of moving cargo skyrocketed. Before the pandemic, sending a container from Shanghai to Los Angeles cost perhaps $2,000. By early 2021, the same journey was fetching as much as $25,000. And many containers were getting bumped off ships and forced to wait, adding to delays throughout the supply chain. Even huge companies like Target and Home Depot had to wait for weeks and even months to get their finished factory wares onto ships. Meanwhile, at ports in North America and Europe, where containers were arriving, the heavy influx of ships overwhelmed the availability of docks. At ports like Los Angeles and Oakland, Calif., dozens of ships were forced to anchor out in the ocean for days before they could load and unload. At the same time, truck drivers and dockworkers were stuck in quarantine, reducing the availability of people to unload goods and further slowing the process. This situation was worsened by the shutdown of the Suez Canal after a giant container ship got stuck there, and then by the closings of major ports in China in response to new Covid-19 cases. Many companies responded to initial shortages by ordering extra items, adding to the strains on the ports and filling up warehouses. With warehouses full, containers — suddenly serving as storage areas — piled up at ports. The result was the mother of all traffic jams. WHAT EXACTLY IS IN SHORT SUPPLY? Just about anything that is produced or manufactured — from chemicals to electronics to running shoes. Shortages beget more shortages. A paint manufacturer that needs 27 chemicals to make its products may be able to buy all but one, but that one — perhaps stuck on a container ship off Southern California — may be enough to halt production.
WHY ARE NEW CARS HARD TO FIND? Cars use computer chips — lots of them — and the shortages of chips have made it more difficult to produce vehicles. In turn, that has made it harder and more expensive to buy cars. WHY ARE SOME FOOD PANTRIES RUNNING SHORT OF GOODS ? The global supply chain shortages have affected aid groups and nonprofits by making it more difficult for them to acquire excess inventory from profit-making companies that are themselves dealing with supply chain issues. IS THIS REALLY ALL THE PANDEMIC’S FAULT? The pandemic has certainly made supply and demand extremely volatile, shifting faster than the supply chain can adjust. But that came on top of decades of very lean inventories kept by companies to limit their costs. A dollar that a car company spends to warehouse computer chips as a hedge against supply chain troubles is a dollar that it cannot use on something else, including bonuses for executives or dividends for shareholders. Monopolistic tendencies also help explain shortages. Beef is scarce and prices are high, but this is largely because meat packers have consolidated and eliminated capacity to bolster prices and profitability. These sorts of choke points exist throughout the supply chain. WHEN WILL THE SHORTAGES END? No one really knows, but there are good reasons to suspect that this will be with us well into 2022 and maybe longer. Shortages and delays are likely to affect this year’s Christmas and holiday shopping season by making it much harder to find key goods. A lot of companies ordered earlier, which is exacerbating the shortages, sending more surges of goods toward ports and warehouses.
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INSIDE THE PSYCHEDELIC WORLD
OF MICRODOSING BRETT CHODY Trends contributor @brettchody
W
HAT’S YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO RELAX? MAYBE IT’S MEDITATION, A LONG WALK, OR A PHONE CALL TO YOUR BEST FRIEND. OR MAYBE IT’S BAKING COOKIES, DOING LAUNDRY, OR SIMPLY TAKING A NAP. page 78
All are great options that work, but an unconventional approach to reducing stress and anxiety is on the rise: microdosing. What even is that? you’re probably asking. Quite frankly, it’s new to me too.
Many people who partake in microdosing absolutely swear by it– some even going as far as saying it has changed their lives. But before we can delve into that, we must first ask ourselves how we even got here?
Microdosing is the practice of consuming very low, sub-hallucinogenic doses of a psychedelic substance, such as lysergic acid diethylamine, or mushrooms containing psilocybin.
American society has evolved dramatically over the past decade or so. We are making major strides toward gender inclusivity with noting our pronouns on social media platforms, the Black Lives Matter movement prompted educational dialogue on systemic racism and caused an uptick in diversity, education and inclusion initiatives across the country, and controversial topics such as climate change are more relevant than ever.
In colloquial terms, it’s taking small amounts of LSD (or Shrooms) to either alleviate depression and anxiety or increase perception and creativity.
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Another major change has been the shift in dialogue surrounding substances in America. In 1989, a whopping 81 percent of Americans said marijuana should be illegal and only 16 percent thought it should be legal, according to the Pew Research Center. By 2016, only 37 percent still believed weed should be illegal while the majority of Americans (57 percent) supported legalization. Marijuana is now fully legal in 18 states and the stigma around its use has been dismantled in the majority of the country as millions of people are benefiting from it. Weed can help with chronic pain, it can reduce anxiety, stimulate appetite and improve healthy weight gain in cancer and AIDS patients, as well as relax tight muscles for people who suffer from Multiple Sclerosis. This massive change in American opinion about marijuana provoked conversations surrounding other drugs as well, such as the LSD and mushrooms needed to microdose. In the 2020
election, Oregon became the first state to legalize mushrooms for mental health purposes and also proposed to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of some hard drugs such as LSD. On the other side of the country, voters in Washington, D.C., voted to decriminalize the use of mushrooms and other psychedelic substances. As more Americans open their minds to experimenting with psychedelic drugs, many people who partake in the unique experiences are coming forward with their stories on how it helps them in both their personal and professional lives. Social media star Christina Najjar, better known as Tinx, has hinted at taking mushrooms on her Instagram stories to help her anxiety and creativity by using the mushroom emoji. Before his death, Apple founder Steve Jobs said that LSD was one of the most profound experiences of his life. Well-known investor and author of the book “The Four Day
Work Week,” Tim Ferriss, discusses his beneficial experiences with microdosing often on his podcast. During an interview before a live audience at CodeCon 2021 in September, Elon Musk was asked, “What role do think psychedelics may have in addressing some of the more destructive tendencies of humanity?” “I think generally people should be open to psychedelics,” Musk said. “A lot of people making laws are from a different era. As a new generation gets into political power, I think we will see greater receptivity to the benefits of psychedelics.” Even though there’s a lack of scientific research that proves the effectiveness of microdosing, it’s clear that the mind-boggling trend is rising in popularity and not going away anytime soon. Now that you know this, maybe you’ll soon discover your new favorite way to relax. page 79
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THE MOSCOW
POLO CLUB page 83
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THE MOSCOW
POLO CLUB APPR OAC HING 2 0 YEARS OF E Q U E S T R IA N PASS ION
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N RUSSIA, POLO COULDN’T EXACTLY BE CONSIDERED WIDELY POPULAR. AFTER A NEARLY 100-YEAR ABSENCE DURING THE COMMUNIST PARTY’S DOMINANCE, THE MOSCOW POLO CLUB REOPENED AND RE-INTRODUCED THE SPORT OF POLO TO RUSSIA IN 2003.
The Moscow Polo Club, by far the country’s most-popular locality for passionate polo people in the capital, is in no way inferior to the best venues in the world. This Russian polo oasis is one of an exclusive handful of clubs in the world that also hosts a snow polo season.
Under the leadership of its owner and president, Alexis Rodzianko, the Moscow Polo Club is making an incredible contribution to the resurgent development of polo in Russia. His son, Misha Rodzianko, is one of the top polo players in Russia and also manages the club’s affairs as its director. Polo Lifestyles’ Geneva-based contributor, Sofya Khizhik, spoke to Misha after one of the season’s main events and to discover more about polo in Russia. SK: “Polo Lifestyles” readers aren’t very familiar with Russian polo at the moment. In Russia, there have been no polo clubs for a very long time, and it is particularly curious how did you establish this polo club?
MR: Well, we were one of the first members of the Moscow Polo Club. Moreover, creating this first Moscow Polo Club wasn’t our idea, even more than that, we had very little to do with horses. For us everything started with my younger sibling. The year before the Polo Club appeared in Moscow, my sister fell in love with horses and started begging our dad for riding lessons. Of course, he couldn’t resist and he started driving her to those lessons. Later, the trainers there managed to persuade him to get on a horse, too. They attempted to draw me into it, too, but at 13-years-old, hockey seemed to be way more interesting, more adrenaline-filled. I thought back then that horses weren’t really my thing.
IN T E RV IE W BY SO F YA KHIZHIK / PHOTO S BY SO FYA & DMITRY KHIZHIK.
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Then a year later, an acquaintance of my father from the financial world received a request for sponsorship from the Moscow Polo Club. At that time, my Dad was chairman of the board at Deutschebank, which was already sponsoring a team in Argentina. And polo fit in with them, so they became official sponsors for the newborn Moscow Polo Club. As the main sponsor’s family, we were invited to the club and I remember this day particularly well. We came there right after church and I was still wearing church clothes, in sum - an outfit that had nothing to do with horses. Nevertheless, I found myself on a horse and they gave me a stick. I fell off that horse about seven times during that day.
This time, the sport seemed more attractive to me, due to the team sport excitement. Together with Argentine riders, I took the horses for a ride after school and I found a strong desire to learn and make progress. SK: I admire how, with age, it slowly but surely turned into a professional hobby. At the very beginning of the Polo Club process, what is the most important: finding like-minded people or sponsors? What is your opinion about this? MR: Finding like-minded people and confident and adequate sponsors are both key. Both are important, both are primordial. A few years after its creation, the Polo Club was overtaken by
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the first crisis. The very enthusiastic founder quarreled with money. My dad received an offer to buy out the club, as at that time, almost half of the polo club members were from our family: me, my brother, my younger sister and, of course, my father. We were our own team. During the two years after my dad bought the club out, we became more engaged in polo. Most of the players at that time were expats, who already had an experience playing abroad before Russia. Talk about like-minded people, people who are as passionate with this sport. They are, of course, one of the key elements, without which there can be no development.
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But the sponsor and patron are mandatory characters for the stability of any Polo Club. Two years after we took over the lead, the Polo Club endured another crisis in 2005, which unfortunately wasn’t the last. We went through various situations, the government attempted to sue us under a pretext that we were enriching ourselves at the expense of the state. It was quite a challenging time here in Tseleevo, but the club was always saved by the fact that my father treated this matter with love, passion and understanding. Even when there were only me, my father and two grooms continuing the trainings, we never delayed payments for hay, rent and the main necessities. In my opinion, today, after a significant number of challenging moments, we finally reached a level of flourishing. There are more and more people getting involved into this royal sport in Russia. There’s more interest in playing, in horse commerce, in importing horses with potential. SK: You are breeding your own horses, but also buying horses abroad. What are the main traits and characteristics you are paying attention to when choosing a next polo pony star for yourself or for the members of your team? MR: When choosing horses, all the requirements depend on the person who will be working with this horse. But in sum, the most important in any horse is a good temperament, smooth head and safety. Because horses that are not adequate, even if they are super athletes, will only cause problems, not only on the field but also in everyday life. We have already crossed paths with such horses and it is much easier without them. SK: I can agree with that, too much “blood” in horse’s temperament can sometimes be a hard issue to handle, especially in a team sport when all the horses are turning on each other. MR: When talking about our own breeding, it’s now a new thing in our club, but I’ve become much more sepage 88
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rious about in the past five years. Now people are starting to wait for my foals until they’re born. Genetics are very important. Most of our foaling mares take their origins from Argentina. They are ex-athletes who stopped playing due to multiple reasons, such as long-term healing injuries for example. Nowadays, Moscow Polo Club is home to over 70 polo ponies. There we can find a range of excellent horses imported from Argentina, Europe and USA. We use this fine imported stock
to be the first polo horse breeding organization in Russia. Russian horse breeds, such as the Akhal-Teke’s of Turkmenistan and Karachaevsky horses, trained at the club, have already proven themselves as high level polo ponies. SK: The pandemic that has turned the world upside down since 2019. How was the polo club’s life affected? MR: In 2019, we played an exclusive Russian Championship on 12 goals. I invited my friend Nacho Badiola who
came to Moscow together with Sapo Caset. It was unforgettable and inspiring to see players of this magnitude here, among our club members. Right after the pandemic crashed a lot of plans and made it unrealistic to invite international polo masters. Due to this we’ve been mainly playing inside-competitions with each other. In a certain way it has been an enriching experience. I have given a lot of classes myself and I think that for a lot of riders it is easier to receive information in their native language. SK: Ironically during the last two years of the pandemic the number of polo players at Moscow Polo Club has significantly increased! MR: I truly believe we will see a large number of new Russian professional players and teams on the competition field soon! SK: During the pandemic how did you work to progress within the team, as after all, progress is achieved through competitiveness and new acquaintances. MR: There is always something to work on in your self-organization. We have a lot of horses, some of which I must work myself. Thanks to this I gained a good physical shape and developed more bond with my horses. We had to give more riding lessons and do more unusual work with polo ponies. Instead of 15 minutes intense work routinely, for example, I started to take some of the most difficult horses on walks for an hour. Riding during this pandemic forced us to bring more variety to our trainings. Since I started giving more lessons, I noticed that when you teach a lot, you start to spot more mistakes that you yourself make, and think more about how we ride, compared to when you’re just competing. Through this, my technique also improved and established some goals to achieve to make my body more in shape
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Misha Rodzianko plays in the rain at Moscow Polo Club
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for the game. The pandemic gave us a moment to pay more attention to small things and corrections that need to be made. SK: When the sanitary situation improved in Europe, Moscow Polo Club had an opportunity to participate in the inaugural POLO RIDER CUP hosted by Chantilly Polo Club in France. The Russian team made their international level debuts with a lineup comprising two Russians and two Frenchmen at 1012 goals handicap. MR: This year, with difficulty, we managed to “escape” to Chantilly, which was a very fulfilling experience for us and our patron. Despite the fact that he has been playing polo for a long time, this was the first time that he has presented a team on the international stage. We weren’t the strongest team, nevertheless through this tournament we have learned our mistakes and aspects to improve, plus we finally met up with the level we need to prepare for. SK: You had an experience to visit different international and European Polo Clubs. Which polo club took a special place in your heart? MR: Well, there are many clubs that I appreciate, each is special in its own way. Chantilly’s location still remains one of my favorites. I really enjoy its format and scale, and the infrastructure that welcomes so many polo athletes. The one I would highlight with no doubt, is Campo Argentino de Polo, the one in Palermo, definitely the Polo Cathedral. I also look up to International Polo Club in Wellington, Fla., and the Guards Polo Club in England. Grandiose-scale clubs are impressive but the small ones are inspiring as well. For example, there is a private Argentinian club, La Picasso, which aims at the highest sport level possible. There are four of the most beautiful fields, a small cozy club house, and the owner lives on the property. Everything there is as it should be: breeding, training and professionals of a good level in a home-like atmosphere. That’s where I’m aiming. At the same time, I understand that there’s a neces-
sity in Russian Polo sport for a club that resembles more to Chantilly.
character that are primordial to succeed in polo?
SK: In your case, the equestrian sport is a family affair, and for many, working with family can be difficult. How do you manage to work comfortably and to juggle between family relationships, business and sports all united in one?
MR: In my opinion the first and most important is a realistic understanding of the risk. Because a person who does not take risks at all, his life will be boring, and a person who understands how to take risks correctly, can definitely find his way in polo. Because this is a particularly dangerous sport, even though everyone makes efforts for safety. But still if you want to get the first to the ball you have to take risks sometimes.
MR: Of course, you meet difficulties when working within the family, but at the same time, it seems to me that the support and understanding that you can get from your family – can be found nowhere else. Especially in our history here, where we did everything from scratch. We had no neighbor here to ask for advice or borrow some piece of equipment. None of this would exist if we wouldn’t have worked together with our family. This year, my wife took on her shoulders everything concerning the event and tournament organization. When she took over the guest part management, she made my life much easier. Despite the duties with children, I think that she really enjoys her new role. SK: When did your father pass the direction of the club to you?
For the second important point I would say that people getting involved with polo should have a lot of free time that they will be ready to completely dedicate to this sport. People give their best in different ways: someone distributes the work very well and can easily organize their time, whereas others always end up being late for half hour, then an hour and then never come. Polo requires proper time management. Believe me, this subject is also tied with respect to the sport as well as to the other players.
MR: In 2013 I graduated from University, I thought I would leave Russia and head to Wellington in America. We discussed with my dad who told me that if I leave, he will be alone with this stable, and it would be better to sell it out and try reorganizing in the USA. At that moment the Polo Club had already existed with us for many years and by that time and we had invested a lot of money and effort into it, and somehow I did not want to see it all fall apart. So, I decided that I would try to do something about it on my own and now it’s already the 13th year since I have been running the club.
I would say respect as a third necessary trait. Also, the balance is important: effort balance. Something aiming to give our best we aim to go faster and hit stronger, but if you look at the best players’ technique, the objective is to achieve the maximum with minimal effort or both you and your horses. It’s not about force, it is about smoothness and technique. During the first 10 years of my career, my main issue was that I was always trying to do everything as fast as I could and as strong as possible. Now I realize that strength and speed aren’t always your best tools, they make you very predictable.
Of course, in the beginning my dad was guiding me a little bit which indeed was needed due to my inexperience in both management and work there. Now my father comes to play, like one of the club members.
The last character trait to highlight would be the ability to work in team. In polo, the winner doesn’t have to be the best, but you need to be better at playing as a team than the competitor team members. No matter what level professional you meet, one player can never drag down the whole team. That’s
SK: As a professional polo player, what do you think are the five main traits of P H OTOS BY SO FYA & DMITRY KHIZHIK.
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why the ability to control your emotions in the relationships of other members of the club, is critical. It is very important for the captain to understand the strengths and weaknesses, what can be expected from the player and how to motivate him up so that he shows the maximum result. Because if you shout and denigrate your players, they will only play worse. Sometimes when the game is right on the line and you need to get together as a team to score this last goal in the last 30 seconds– this is done at the expense of positive energy, and not at the expense of self-control loss. SK: On the opposite, what are the character traits that you have to eradicate in order to reach this professional level in this game? MR: Fear is the worst enemy. Fear is often irrational and leads to pinching. When you are all crisped and pinched it is impossible to feel your horse, nor see the game and other players. The most offensive thing is that usually people who experience this, earned this fear because someone stupidly put them on a page 92
horse of an unsuitable level, or didn’t explain well enough how to act in various situations. This leads riders to lose the ability to relax and enjoy the process of the training or the game.
with a one-kilometer exercise track. We have always strove to meet the highest international standards and today our playing fields are among the top fields in Europe.
SK: Absolutely, it is very difficult to gain back confidence in ourselves and believe that this time will not be all bad. It is much easier to teach correctly from the beginning than to retrain and relearn. Unfortunately, this is a very common situation all around the equestrian world and disciplines. What distinguishes your polo club from others? What is your particularity?
The building process is worth a whole story, because in Russia construction never goes right as planned. We had to reassemble our underground aeration system several times. But it definitely wasn’t in vain! Now it’s been 11 years since we built the actual fields and with the appropriate care and sanding, they are providing us with an incredible training platform. This high quality supports our mission to develop the sport of polo, train new players and expand on the breeding and training of polo horses in Russia.
MR: Above all I think that our Polo Club is unique and presents a real oasis for riders as well as horses. We have world-class fields. I can proudly say that we have one of the best fields in the world. Moscow Polo Club is situated on a 32-hectare property, which boasts two impeccably kept regulation-size polo fields designed by Alejandro Battro, one practice field and an outdoor arena P H OTO S BY SO FYA & DMITRY KHIZHIK.
Polo really is a sport that can be enjoyed by anyone, as the speed, skill and courage that players demonstrate on the field makes for the most exciting leisure pursuit in the world. I sincerely hope that polo will become a popular sport in Russia, not only among players but also for spectators!
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HAITIAN ART
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BERNARD SÉJOURNÉ
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THE RESURGENCE OF
HAITIAN ART
P O RT-AU -PR I N C E ' S C E N T R E D'A RT RE M A IN S A BE ACON OF H OPE FO R TO DAY' S F L E D G LIN G A RTISTS
“G
OOD ART ALWAYS SELLS – NO MATTER WHERE IT’S FROM,” SAYS ART DEALER AND CURATOR MYRIAM NADERSALOMON FROM HER HOME IN NEW YORK. A NATIVE OF PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI, NADER-SALOMON’S FAMILY HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE HAITIAN ART SCENE FOR GENERATIONS, BEGINNING WITH HER FATHER,
GEORGES NADER SR., WHO ESTABLISHED A FINE COLLECTION OF HAITIAN ART – FROM PRIMITIVE TO MODERNISTS AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. Through the end of the year, NaderSalomon is curating a virtual exhibition of 88 paintings that represent nearly ever facet of Haitian art. A portion of the sales from the exhibit will benefit Haiti’s Centre d’Art, operational in Haiti since 1944 and integral in the refining of
A TRADITIONAL VAUDOU FLAG
young, up-and-coming artists from all over the island. “So many young artists in Haiti right now are so talented and deserving of a chance,” said Nader-Salomon. “I just spoke to the director of the Centre d’Art who was telling me a story about one of his students who commutes every day from Petit-Goave to Port-au-Prince.” The story isn’t just inspirational; it’s harrowing. The commute from PetitGoave to the capital on public transportation takes hours and passes through the gang-controlled neighborhood of
PRÉFÈTE DUFFAUT
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HAITIAN ART
CHARLES JEAN-PIERRE
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EDOUARD DUVAL CARRIE
PROSPER PIERRE-LOUIS
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CÈLESTIN FAUSTIN
PHILIPPE DODARD
MICHÈLE MANUEL
JEAN-ELIE RIGAUD JOSEPH
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FRANTZ ZÉPHIRIN
FRANTZ ZÉPHIRIN
Martissant. It’s for this reason and many others that Salomon feels compelled to use Haitian art as an avenue to talk about her homeland. “I do what I have to do… I feel it’s my duty,” she said. “My father taught me to ‘Help where you can.’” The virtual exhibit isn’t just filled with Haitian masters like Bernard Séjourné, Célestin Faustin, Michèle Manuel and Luckner Lazard. Artists like Frantz Zephirin, who regularly pops up on the social scene in Port-au-Prince, whose complex vaudou-inspired creations are painted up and over the edge of the frame are among the hallowed curation. There has been a significant and unfortunate brain drain in Haiti in the artist’s community, said Nader-Salomon, referencing even today’s headlines about Haitian immigrants walking from South America to the Texas-Mexico border in search of a better life. “One of the reasons for the Centre d’Art exhibition is to demonstrate to youth in Haiti that they have a chance, through the Centre d’Art, to pursue a career in their homeland,” she said. The Centre d’Art, for generations, has provided a space of respect and dignity for young, budding artists. Not included in the virtual exhibit, but surely the most wellknown of all Haitian painters, Jean-Michel Basquiat represents the significant talent of artists from the Haitian diaspora, that page 102
JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT
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JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT'S $110 MILLION SALE
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JEAN-CLAUDE GAROUTE AKA TIGA
is to say, Haitians and people of Haitian descent living outside of Haiti with varying degrees of attachment and familiarity with the country. Basquiat’s genius and success in the 1980s art scene in and around New York set a precedent for supply and demand of Haitian art, which had been in decline. “The diaspora community of artists is incredibly important to Haitian art, and it’s also unique, different,” said Nader-Salomon. “With every piece of art that sells in the diaspora, we know that culturally, the proceeds from that sale make its way back to Haiti, affecting the lives of family and extended family there.” In 2010, the earthquake that made over 1 million people homeless in and around Port-au-Prince also destroyed an untold number of pieces of art. The Wall Street Journal reported that same year that the Nader family collection alone lost 10,000 pieces of Haitian art during the earthquake. Experts in restoration from UNESCO, Yale and Harvard rushed into Haiti, eager to save and restore what could be saved. Today, emerging artists from all Haitian backgrounds continue to track down Salomon in New York. “(Young artists) find me,” she said. “And for page 104
me, it’s really the-more-the-merrier. There are 1.9 million active art buyers right now in the world. We’re marketing (Haitian art) directly to them to enlarge the market. We’re putting Haitian art back on the international map like it was in the 1950s. The art has not changed – and good art always sells.” JOSH JAKOBITZ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF POLO LIFESTYLES 2021
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PHILIPPE DODARD IN HIS STUDIO
GEORGES LIAUTAUD page 105
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FASHION & STYLE
THE BRIGHT COLORS OF PARIS BALMAIN'S SS2022 COLLECTION ON TREND: SHIMMERING
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HOT FR OM T HE PA R IS FAS H IO N W EEK RU N WAYS
THE BRIGHT COLORS OF PARIS R
EFLECTING A RENEWED DESIRE FOR ADVENTURE AND JOY, BOLD AND BRIGHT COLORS WERE TRENDING ACROSS THE RUNWAYS OF SPRING 2022.
While we may have expected a post-pandemic landscape to be swathed in neutral colors and cocooning, relaxed shapes, leading designers instead took the season in a more optimistic, adventurous direction, sharing collections characterized by an appeal to youthfulness and bold, bright colors. Standouts include tangerine, electric blue, daffodil, and magenta. Courrèges and, more surprisingly, Dior both looked to the bright simplicity of 60’s space-age and mod looks. Shang Xia proved that focused minimalism does not at all preclude a whimsical burst of brightness and color. Loewe matched sculptural and impressionistic silhouettes with an almost cartoonishly (in a good way) fun use of color. Valentino‘s Pierpaolo Piccioli proved himself once again to be the modern master of solid color with an expansive and chromatic collection that looked good under any light.
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VALENTINO
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PAUL SMITH
STYLE
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ALEXANDRE VAUTHIER
DIOR
LOEWE
MOSSI
VALENTIN YUDASHKIN
VALENTINO
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VICTORIA TOMAS
STYLE
ANDREW GN
CHLOE page 113
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ELIE SAAB page 114
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SCHIAPARELLI
MARINE SERRE
STYLE
VALENTINO page 115
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BALMAIN SPRING 2022 page 116
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PARIS FASHION WEEK
STYLE
PHOTOS COURTESY THE IMPRESSION
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BALMAIN · SPRING '22
STYLE
T
EN YEARS AGO, ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2011, A 25-YEAR-OLD NOBODY NAMED OLIVIER ROUSTEING TOOK HIS FIRST BOW FOR BALMAIN. BACK THEN THERE WERE MANY “WHO HAD A HARD TIME IMAGINING SOMEONE WHO LOOKED LIKE [HIM] COULD LEAD A PARISIAN COUTURE HOUSE.” SO SAID BEYONCÉ IN HER (PRERECORDED) OPENING MESSAGE FOR ROUSTEING’S 10TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW IN PARIS. SHE WAS RIGHT, AND HOW WRONG THEY WERE.
For his first few years, Rousteing was repeatedly dismissed as Fantasy Island or vulgar or trashy, and in retrospect the unconscious subtext is both clear and damning. This rightly vexed him. He worked twice as hard. But when in 2016 or so, five years in, Rousteing— the first Black person to lead a historic French house—matured within himself enough to view these “haters”’ barbs not as wounds but as badges of honor and scars of the right fight (bring it on!), and he gained a superpower. He understood that this furious noise was the angrily squeaking hinges of a door never before opened until he had pushed it. So he kept pushing. This year in Paris, there was noise again. But this time it was 6,000 people—real PHOTOS COURTESY THE IMPRESSION
people, not fashion people—screaming as Rousteing took his bow at the end of this show. They screamed almost as loudly when Beyoncé started speaking, and almost as loudly again when Naomi Campbell walked in the first of a 12-orso-look archive-based capsule we saw at the end, derived from Rousteing’s favorite and most effective pieces from his past decade at the label. Fascinatingly they also screamed with extra gusto at the collection (intoxicatingly Saulted by Michel Gaubert). It was celebratory when Precious Lee and Alva Claire—two models whose bodies are greater than conventional fashion’s spurious sample-size limitations—walked the runway. As the comments under newspaper fashion stories demonstrate, page 119
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real people recoil at fashion’s super-skinny fetish, and rightly so. Or as Rousteing said: “I’m glad you heard them scream too. I think that this shows that the fashion industry is sometimes too late to understand that this is the new world. And that it is beautiful to show reality and difference, and leave the standard that we have been brought up to understand is fashion.”
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The show had such an enormous audience because it was presented as the heart of a two-day Balmain-run music festival—Doja Cat was on immediately after the clothes, before Franz Ferdinand finished the evening. With respect to the other houses in Paris trying bombastically to flex their bombast, this democratic display of openness was pretty hard to top. The collection we saw was
ready-to-wear for women and men, a prelude to that special archival section, opened by Campbell and closed by Carla Bruni, before Rousteing’s raucous bow. The collection was celebratory, but, as ever with Rousteing, also honest. Things I reacted to most were the sensuality of the backless tailoring in menswear,
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the sludgily comfy appeal of his Instafriendly slides, the square link chain details that were the metaphorical point of connection across the collection, and the framing of the female body that—unlike some collections we have seen this hormonal season—felt more celebratory than salacious.
The final few dresses of the ready-towear section reflected another recent Rousteing truth: During lockdown he was badly burned, spent a month in hospital in recovery, and has been processing an alteration to his skin pigmentation as a result. After storing this knowledge privately for some time, he threw it into his process this evening, thereby owning
it through disowning it via its expression in craft. “Fresh, audacious, empowering,” is how Beyoncé described Rousteing in her preamble. She was right again.
STYLE
PHOTOS COURTESY THE IMPRESSION
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FASHION'S SS22 TREND
SHIMMER
PARIS FASHION WEEK: LOEWE SS22
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HILE THE PAST THREE SEASONS MAY HAVE SEEN A PANDEMIC-INDUCED SHIFT TO COZY NEUTRALS AND CALMING MATTES, THIS SEASON’S RETURN TO LIFE – AND TO IN-PERSON SHOWS – WAS APPROPRIATELY ACCOMPANIED WITH A BURST OF LIGHT. WE ARE ONCE AGAIN READY TO SEE AND BE SEEN, AND TODAY’S TOP DESIGNERS ARE HERE TO LIGHT THE WAY. FROM LUSTROUS SILKS AND SUBTLE METALLICS TO ALL-OVER SEQUINS AND GLAMMED-OUT RHINESTONE EXCESS, THE RUNWAYS OF SPRING 2022 WERE AWASH IN A SPECTRUM OF SHIMMER AND SHINE.
Alexander McQueen used shimmering embroidery to suggest raindrops and ice in a collection that embodied shifting skies and clouds. Anrealage shared a presentation and collection that melded the real and the virtual, with pieces that radiated the entrancing shimmer of a computer screen. For as wide-scoped as it was, Balmain‘s blockbuster show featured highly intricate embroidery and knit work made up of countless shimmering elements. Giorgio Armani, Simone Rocha, and many more combined shimmering textures with sheer fabrics for looks that were ethereal, light, and dazzling.
STYLE
PHOTOS COURTESY THE IMPRESSION
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BRANDON MAXWELL
CHANEL
CHRISTOPHER KANE
DAVID KOMA
BALMAIN
THE BLONDS
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STYLE
SCHIAPARELLI PHOTOS COURTESY THE IMPRESSION
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ALEXANDER MCQUEEN
CAROLINA HERRERA
DIOR
DOLCE & GABBANA
DSQUARED
ERDEM
LANVIN
CHRISTAN COWAN
FENDI X VERSACE
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MISSONI
VALENTINO
STYLE TOM FORD
LOUIS VUITTON
MICHAEL KORS
KHAITE
FENDI X VERSACE
BALENCIAGA
PHOTOS COURTESY THE IMPRESSION
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{PRIVATE VIEWING}
ART & AUTOMOBILES
HIGH SOCIETY X VERNISSAGE
VOLUME V / ISSUE XI / NOVEMBER 2021
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VERNISSAGE
ART & AUTOMOBILES CONNECTING YOUTHFUL TALENT WITH CAR ENTHUSIASTS
MICHAEL J. SNELL Lifestyles & Automotive Contributor @agnello_1
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HILE NEW YORK CITY HAS COME BACK TO LIFE, ITS ART SCENE HAS ALSO CONTINUED TO BLOSSOM WITH A NEED FOR CULTURAL AND PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT. FIRST CITY PROJECT, WHICH IS A GLEN COVE, N.Y., BASED ORGANIZATION ORIGINALLY LAUNCHED
IN 2017 FOCUSES ITSELF AS A CATALYST FOR CULTURAL ENERGY. Curating select, one-off events and series to showcase the work of artists helps for the continued success and promotion of their work in a public way. This mission, which speaks into the minds and hearts of many, is a great way to reinvest and cultivate the talents of our youth and celebrate art. While the First City Project continues to further invigorate the community through exposure, they broaden their approach to keep the message alive, utilizing collaborative partnerships and unique forums to strengthen their mission. Their recent partnership with IM AG ES BY MIC HA E L N E A MO N ITA KIS:
RXR Realty and Martino Auto Concepts has led them to host this unique indoor-outdoor installation called Art & Automobiles where patrons took a self-guided tour through the 10,000 square foot space, discovering something new at every turn. Taking place in the downtown area of Village Square located in Glen Cove, this combination of exotic and unique cars and works of art highlighted new artistic mediums which encourages the ever-growing spirit of creativity that thrives alongside the neighborhood’s traditional values. Visitors of the installation enjoyed colorful exotics from Manhattan Motorcars, Lamborghini of Manhattan, Ferrari of Long Island, Ryan Friedman Motorcars, Ferrari Club page 137
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A RT & AU TOM OB ILES
of America Empire State Region, Rally Point East and Race the North. Intertwined among the displays were pop-ups from select artists with a myriad of inspired automotive art, including “Art Hoods,” paintings that truly utilize the front hoods from vehicles as the canvas by various artists. In addition, Dean Adams - motorsports oil painter, multi-medium artist Sebastian Ferreira, and sculptures and artifacts created by Restoration Oak, Tristan Roland and Yasue Maetake were highlighted. page 138
Soojin Kim, who is a managing partner and VP of First City Project Collective, Inc. said, “Organizing an event like this truly allows me the freedom to do what I love and focus on several of my favorite passions – art and cars – while knowing that I’ve done my best to make a difference for the community.” Joe LaPadula, owner of Martino Auto Concepts and founder of First City Project has been actively involved in charity work for over a decade, including one of the nation’s largest one-day Toys for Tots drive and Gold
Coast Concours benefiting the Diabetes Research Institute. Together, the team has future proposed projects that are aimed to include live art events, mural design, youth programs, art themed boutiques, pop-ups and artisanal food events all which will help neighborhood identity, strengthen economic development and tourism while educating youth and enriching the spirit and pride of Glen Cove. MICHAEL J. SNELL LUXURY & AUTOMOBILE CONTRIBUTOR POLO LIFESTYLES 2021
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IM AG ES BY MIC HA E L N E A MO N ITA KIS:
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IM AG ES BY MIC HA E L N E A MO N ITA KIS:
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PHILANTHROPIST IN FOCUS WHO RESC U E D W H OM ?
H OW GI V I N G TO YO U R LO CAL AN I M AL SH E LT E R T R A N S FO R M S L I V E S WILLIAM SMITH Philanthropy contributor @willismith_2000
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S I BEGAN PONDERING THE SUBJECT FOR THIS MONTH’S PHILANTHROPY COLUMN, I KEPT COMING BACK TO ONE THAT, SO TO SPEAK, IS VERY CLOSE TO HOME. IN FACT, NOT JUST CLOSE TO HOME, BUT IN MY HOME. IN MY FAMILY. This past January, I lost my beloved dog, Maddie. We had discussed getting a small non-shedding dog, but when I saw Maddie at the dog rescue in Virginia, it was certain I wasn’t leaving that day without that large, shedding dog. She was beautiful. Brown with the bluest eyes you’d ever seen. She was a bit cranky, especially so as she aged. But she was the best and loyally, lovingly by my side 10 years to the day that I had to page 144
say goodbye. We hiked. We fished. We traveled. We lived. We loved. And I held her as she left.
WILLIAM AND MADDIE
She had battled cancer for the past year of her life. With extraordinary and coordinated care between her primary doc and her oncologist, she did so valiantly and was happy and fully herself until just a few days before her death. Yes, she was the best. I own up-front that I am an “adopt, don’t shop” adherent – for me, a companion dog needn’t be a purebred anything. I imply no judgment against those for whom that certain breeder or
canine pedigree is held in the highest esteem. Zero. But for me, I’ve both been involved in philanthropy long enough to see the wonder of organizations devoted to saving animals and my own personal life experience taught me that though I saved Maddie that day, she saved me for a decade. And she was a husky mix. Yes, a mutt. Maddie was at a rural shelter, Rappahannock Animal Welfare League, about an hour and a half outside Washington, D.C. and close to my weekend home in the Shenandoah Valley. I found her online (petfinder.com) and decided to go for a visit to meet her. In addition to meeting Maddie that day, I became a long-time supporter of that local rescue. They brought me great personal joy and happiness, and I also know they’ve done the same for thousands of others. Further, these rescue organizations cannot do their work solely on the basis of the minimal adoption fees that are commonplace with most of them. They only exist because of additional supports from donors. Another dictum I’ve acquired over the years is, that when possible, give locally.
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It’s not to say that national or international organizations don’t have a place on the bigger picture issues - they do - but people ultimately live locally, in communities, and there are so many options to support the welfare of animals in the communities where we live.
MASON
A simple Internet search will typically yield plenty of local rescue and pet adoption options. You can also use Petfinder.com, which is a bit like a matchmaking service between the pet parent and potential pet. Even in the smallest of locales, there are typically several animal rescue organizations that can be considered for either those looking to adopt or those seeking to support such organizations as a volunteer or with monetary support. The variety of rescues out there is also voluminous. If you love a specific breed, but buying from a breeder is not your inclination, there are breed-specific rescues. I once was interested in Maine Coon cats and sure enough, there are specific rescues for them. And Labradors. And exotic birds. And so many others. But even your local general shelter can have a large variety of adoptable pets. A few years ago, I adopted a rescue parakeet for my dad from the Santa Fe Animal Shelter. The coronavirus pandemic has also significantly impacted animal welfare organizations. Donors, especially foundation and corporate donors, flocked to giving to basic human needs over the past year and half - and it was needed. For their part, animal shelters first experienced a boon when the pandemic set in. After all, if you are going to be home for who-knows-how-long, why not enjoy the companionship of a new pet to help ease the isolation and help while away the hours. However, as the pandemic drags into a second year, many animal shelters find they are beyond capacity. Individuals whose incomes have been decimated or who have lost their homes by the economic fallout of the virus find they can no longer care for their pets.
Whether you seek to find a new addition to your family or want to financially support organizations recusing animals, there is no better time than the present. For my part, in late summer and as part of my own healing in losing Maddie, I began volunteering at a small local shelter, Dew Paws Rescue, that needed help walking their rescue dogs until they found their forever homes. Within two days, I had taken to a sweet pit bull mix named Mason. The kennel environment is a challenge for many dogs and this was true of Mason. He was bonkers. But I noticed after walking him away from the kennel that he calmed down and was smart and curious. I was convinced: Mason needed a foster home and an environment away from the kennel if he was ever going to be successfully adopted. And so, I soon became a foster dad.
We are now a month in and, well, meet Mason Smith, the newest member of the pack. He’s helped me heal and like Maddie, reminds me that the act of rescuing is a two-way proposition. And finally, I retain the firm recognition that without the amazing work of animal rescue organizations, my life would be less than it is and that these two amazing creatures that so enrich my life daily, may not even have survived were it not for the good works of these organizations. As a moral society, we, moving in it as moral actors, have a duty toward our fellow creatures. As Pope Francis has so powerfully stated it, “Our indifference or cruelty toward fellow creatures of this world sooner or later affects the treatment we mete out to other human beings.” page 145
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MANSION OF THE MONTH
HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA VIRGINIA (WASHINGTON, D.C. METRO)
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MANSION OF THE MONTH
HISTORIC RIVER VIEW ESTATE HITS THE MARKET 7979 E BOULEVARD DRIVE ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA, U.S.A.
PRICE: $60,000,000 | BEDROOMS: 7 | BATHROOMS: 7 FULL / 6 PARTIAL INTERIOR: 16,000 SQ FT. ON 16.5 ACRE(S)
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NCE IN MULTIPLE GENERATIONS DOES A WATERFRONT ESTATE LIKE RIVER VIEW BECOME AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE. SITUATED ON 16.5 ACRES OF GEORGE WASHINGTON’S ORIGINAL MOUNT VERNON ESTATE, A VISIT TO RIVER VIEW REMINDS US OF WHY WASHINGTON BOLDLY PROCLAIMED, “I HAD RATHER BE ON MY FARM THAN EMPEROR OF THE WORLD.”
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This one-of-a-kind property, and its sublime aspects, uniquely had the power to calm the mind of America’s founding father. Now, fully reconstituted, rebuilt and modernized, it is likely that President Washington would approve of this 21st-century version of River View. Enter the estate via an impressive long stone-lined driveway and approach the newly built American Federal style residence masterfully designed with river views and natural light throughout. Terraces with water views are accessed by nearly every room in the house and invite quiet moments for fresh
air, contemplation, private dinners or birdwatching. It is equally perfect for hosting hundreds of guests for special events. Designed by architect Jim Rill and constructed by West Wing Builders, special amenities include a large home gym with radius windows overlooking the Potomac, with adjacent spa area that includes an indoor resistance pool, spa, steam room and sauna. The gaming room has a full bar, pool table, 2 TVs, hand-crafted stone walls and views of the river. The 15-seat movie theater allows for comfortable and safe screenings of the latest films. A large
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wood paneled reception room leads to a circular room with exceptional views of both the river and the gardens. The estate includes 400 feet of water frontage, a three-bedroom, three-bath 2,600 square foot guest house, a fully reconstituted carriage house with four car spaces and a studio apartment, a waterfront dock and reproduction of English colonial boxwood and rose gardens (inspired by old blueprints found on the property). Existing tree groves have been improved to create your own private and lovely wooded areas. Throughout the 16.5 acres you will find that the all-new infrastructure is as impressive as is the beauty. The entire property is fully integrated page 152
with forward-thinking technology that integrates every aspect of the estate. Eco-sustainability has been considered in every aspect: Geothermal heating, extensive state-of-the-art well water management, 150 KW full-property back-up generators, security systems, utilities, information, entertainment systems are all controlled by a central bank of computers. This is not your typical ‘Smart House’; it is a ‘Brilliant House’. Superior geotechnical stabilization was completed along the shoreline and under the house foundation location. One hundred and forty auger cast piles were installed along the water edge of the property to
prevent future erosion. Fifteen caissons, each 42’ wide and dug 40 feet deep, were installed under the main house foundation; extraordinary infrastructure by any standards. This significant waterfront property is located just 10 miles from the nation’s Capitol via the tree-lined George Washington Memorial Parkway, and is easily accessible to the region’s three airports that service both private and commercial aviation. It offers an unrivaled natural sanctuary, yet is just minutes from the dining, cultural and educational offerings of Old Town Alexandria, Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C.
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ZORRO RANCH STANLEY, NEW MEXICO 87056 USA
PRICE $27,500,000 BEDROOMS 6 / BATHROOMS 7 FULL / 2 PARTIAL INTERIOR 33,339 SQ FT. / EXTERIOR 7.59 ACRES ZORRO RANCH The Zorro Ranch includes the grand three story, four-bedroom main house, nearby caretaker’s residence and multiple other residences throughout the property, including one separately and privately page 156
located residence and the four residences at Ranch Central, located near the ranch entry area, the Lodge and Log Cabin, both located in their own private area. The ranch includes a grass air strip and hanger. Other amenities include the
stables, fire house and yurt. Approximately 35 minutes from Santa Fe, providing inspiring views in all directions. Listed by Neil Lyon and Matt Desmond
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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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THE ANCIENT TRADITION OF
GEORGIAN WINE
BY CEZAR KUSIK
SOMMELIER & WINE WRITER page 162
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In SearchWine Georgian of Solace
THE ANCIENT TRADITIONS OF GEORGIAN WINE
CEZAR KUSIK Wine Contributor @cezartastesearth
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ECENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIGS IN THE SHULAVERIS GORA AREA, ABOUT 30 MILES SOUTH OF THE GEORGIAN CAPITAL TBILISI, UNEARTHED EVIDENCE OF PRIMITIVE WINE MAKING PRACTICES DATING BACK 8,000 YEARS AGO, THUS ESTABLISHING THE REGION AS THE OLDEST KNOWN-TOpage 164
US VITICULTURAL SITE. 6,000 BC! THAT’S ENOUGH TIME FOR WINE MAKING TO ESTABLISH ITSELF AS AN INSEPARABLE COMPONENT OF GEORGIA’S NATIONAL IDENTITY. A BIT OF HISTORY Located on the geographic and cultural border of Asia and Europe, where the religious influences of Christianity, Judaism and Islam have overlapped throughout history, turned Georgia into a cultural mishmash filled with political and social instability and diversity. Over the centuries, the nation has been subjugated to Persian, Ottoman and Soviet occupations. Despite this uncertain reality, wine mak-
ing has always had a steadfast presence in the country’s existence. After the Red Army invasion in 1921, Georgia was annexed and incorporated into the Soviet Union, becoming the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic. As part of the Soviet regime, Georgia was the main source of wine production for the entire country. Sadly, but as was the case with many nations under the Soviet Union’s control, the focus was on mass production with little or no regard for quality nor the preservation of Georgia’s wine making heritage. WINE Georgia has optimal conditions for vine cultivation. It’s fertile valleys are protect-
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ed by the slopes of the Transcaucasian Mountains and further combined with moderate weather conditions of warm, sunny summers and mild, frost-free winters make it a viticultural paradise. Natural mountain springs supply abundance of mineral-rich water and the proximity of the Black Sea adds an additional moderating effect. Georgia’s wine culture is deeply rooted in its rich, ancient tradition and is an intrinsic part of the nation’s everyday life. Indigenous is the word which comes to mind when one hears about Georgian wine. The grapes, the vineyards, farming and wine making practices, even the taste of the wines, all have unique components to them. They all have a breath of antiquity in them. WINE REGIONS The whole country produces wine. Even in big cities people commonly make
wine in their homes or the basements of apartment complexes. Grapes are grown nearly anywhere that nature allows. There are designated wine regions with particular grape varietals naturally belonging to their specific micro-zones scattered across the land. The most important in quantitative (approximately 70 percent of Georgian grapes are grown here), qualitative and historic terms in Georgia is Kakheti, divided into the two micro-regions of Kvareli and Telavi. Then comes Imereti, Kartli, Svaneti, Adjara, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, and Abkhazia. Each region has not only their best-acclimated grapes but also specific styles of wine it specializes in. A typical Georgian wine label displays the name of the sourced region, district, or village from whence the wine comes, along with the name of the winery and often grape(s) variety. It is common for Georgian wines to be made from a
blend of two or more grape varieties, but wines made from a single variety also exist and are not difficult to obtain. GRAPES The number of grape varieties grown in Georgia is roughly estimated at around 400 to 500, with only about 40 registered for commercial wine making. These are some of the most prevalent: OJALESHI (RED) Ojaleshi is grown on the mountain slopes above the banks of the Tskhenistskali River, particularly in the Samegrelo region of Western Georgia. It is a dark-skinned grape and also one of the most-reputable Georgia has to offer. It is made into dry, off-dry, and semisweet styles. SAPERAVI (RED) Saperavi is an acidic, late-ripening, teinturier (richly colored) red variety.
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The Ultimate Wine Experience
It produces intense, dark, red wines suitable for extended aging – up to 50 years. It can provide high alcohol levels and is used widely for mixing with other lesser types. Saperavi is one of the essential grapes used in Georgian red wines. MTSVANE (WHITE) Mtsvane, or green in English, is one of the essential, white grapes in Georgian wine making. It produces crisp wines with ripe citrus and tropical fruit flavors. It is often mixed with Rkatsiteli to add an aromatic, fruity balance to Rkatsiteli’s austere structure. USAKHELAURI (RED) Usakhelauri translates into English as “without name” or “nameless,” most likely implying a beyond-words sentiment, an unparalleled quality of its wines, rather than anonymous. The grape, characterized by very low yields and susceptibility to fungal disease, is a rare and expensive purchase. Grown on the mountain slopes of Lechkhumi, it produces wines with strawberry, raspberry notes spiced with floral bouquet. RKATSITELI (WHITE) It is the most-planted white grape in Georgia. Pale-skinned, its name literally translates to “red stem” referring to the page 166
reddish color of its stalk during the harvest time. It exhibits strong resistance to cold weather conditions. It retains acidity well even during hot summers. Lastly, its balance between sugar and acid makes it versatile for the production of still, sparkling, sweet and fortified wines as well as brandies. Typical Rkatsiteli offers crisp structure with flavors of green apple, quince, fennel, and stone minerality. ALEXANDREULI (RED) Alexandreuli is one of the oldest, indigenous Georgian grapes usually made into late-harvest, semi-sweet wines exhibiting flavors of dark cherry and pomegranate. CHINURI (WHITE) This is a high-acid, disease-resistant grape. Chinuri, or Chinebuli, translates into English as “excellent” is mainly farmed in the Kartli region. It reaches full maturity in late October and is used in sparkling wines by mixing Goruli Mtsvane and Aligote. There is also a plethora of wine styles covering every possible category, still, sparkling, dessert, “orange” etc, with all different levels of dryness and sweetness, which fully listing here would only
take away from the intended, focused brevity of this article. THE TRADITION OF QVEVRI AND OTHER IDIOSYNCRASIES OF GEORGIAN WINE Qvevri wine making is an ancient method of vinification specific to Georgia. Qvevri is an egg-shaped, earthenware vessel used for fermentation, maturation and storage. Pressed grape juice with skins and pits is placed in these containers, which are typically buried in the ground, with only the rim above the surface, for temperature control purposes. The modern qvevri can differ dramatically in size from 100 to 3,500 liters, with the sweet spot being at around 1,000 to 1,200 liters. There is a certain primal mystique and magic behind qvevri -- buried in the ground, filled with grape juice, slowly heaving with fermentation, giving birth to wine. In 2013, UNESCO added this ancient tradition of Georgian wine making method to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists. Another distinctive tradition in Georgian wines is white Kakhetian wine (also known as orange or amber wine). These wines are extensively macerated for several months with the skins, seeds
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and stems of grapes in buried qvevris. With the high popularity of orange wines, “Kakhetian method” is an extremely common Georgian wine making tradition. Some grape growers in Georgia still practice maglari, the practice of planting grape vines that will grow up the trunks of fruit trees, creating a scenario where the grapes hang down along the fruits as they ripen. Also of unique Georgian derivation is Piala (a few varied spellings can be found) which are small, shallow, bowlshaped ceramic cups used for drinking wine in Georgia and other countries of Central Asia. THE FUTURE OF GEORGIAN WINES After Georgia’s reclamation of its independence in 1991, Russia remained the
main consumer of its wines, responsible for about 80 percent of Georgia’s wine export. In 2006, the Russian government issued an embargo on Georgian and Moldovan (neighboring country) wines based on accusations of poor sanitation and falsification. The ban was a massive blow to the wine industry and the economy in general. The incident resulted in Georgia turning its attention to other foreign markets. From that point onward, Georgia’s wine export has been growing exponentially. In 2018, Georgia exported 86.2 million bottles of wine to 53 countries. Its export to the US increased by 30 percent in 2020 compared to 2019 and reached the all-time highest dollar value of $3.93 million. The rise in number of wineries has been explosive: in 2006 there were roughly 80 registered wineries, by 2018, that number reached 960. There is an issue of consistency in
quality of Georgian wines, and it mainly stems from the lack of implementation and observance of viticultural regulations. But the qualitative expectations of foreign markets combined with international competition are uncompromising. To stay in the game and succeed the quality needs to improve and even out. Some wineries have realized that and have made the necessary adjustments setting the example. Chateau Mukhrani Winery and Iago’s Winey stand out. For those in the U.S., a few noteworthy and available wines include Pheasant’s Tears Rkatsiteli Kakheti region, Orgo Kisi Kakheti region, Tsinandali Teliani Valley, Shalauri Cellars Mtsvane Georgian Republic, Kabistoni, Didgori Khvanchkara Racha, Republic of Georgia. CEZAR KUSIK WINE CONTRIBUTOR POLO LIFESTYLES 2021 page 167
VOLUME V / ISSUE XI / NOVEMBER 2021
ALIGN WITH YO SPIRITUALITY · FAITH · QUESTIONS · GROWTH · FOCUS
THE COURAGEOUS PATH OF SELFLESSNESS A TWO-PART SERIES ON SERVICE
“Will our story shine like a Light, or end in the dark? Give it all or nothing!” - TINA TURNER -’WE DON’T NEED ANOTHER HERO’ JYOTI PAINTEL Spiritual contributor @pololifestyles
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CAN’T DENY THAT WE ARE NOW LIVING IN DIFFICULT TIMES, AND OUR HUMANITY IS BEING TESTED. I TRY TO AVOID SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME ON NEWS SITES THOUGH BECAUSE BASED ON WHAT IS BEING REPORTED ITS EASY TO GET DISHEARTENED WITH THE WORLD. How can we remain filled with light in dark times? To work tirelessly to make the lives of others better. “Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.” - Luke 6:30 page 170
In most religions and spiritual faiths, charity and selfless service have been the foundational building blocks that guide people how to live their lives in accordance with religious doctrines. For example, this is the case with doctrines set forth in major holy books such as the Bible, the Koran, the Talmud, and the Bhagvad Gita. While the act of service to mankind is often a universal thread that links all religions in their practice, one does not need religious or spiritual doctrines in order to acquire this noble virtue - it is actually inherent in our very DNA to show compassion for others. Even animals possess an inclination for altruistic behavior. In his seminal work, ‘The Origin of Species’, Charles Darwin noted that neither survival nor competition were the predominant behaviors he had observed in animals, but rather it was compassion. WHY BEGIN A LIFE OF SERVICE? Walking the path of righteousness, es-
pecially in a world filled with selfish acts seems difficult, so why should we do it? Because selflessness teaches us about who we are, and it shapes us into the highest and best version of our ‘self ’. The trials of life can overwhelm many of us and especially so during the holidays when we have a stronger tendency to focus on what might be missing, such as a relationship or financial success. These feelings can pollute our mind with unhealthy beliefs about ourselves and can contribute to depression during this time of year. One of the best things about immersing ourselves in the pursuit of kindness and charity, is that in doing so we can take the critical lens off our own lives. It’s hard to feel down in the dumps about yourself when you are doing good for someone other than yourself. The healing power of every little act cannot be overstated because we are also learning to put our egos aside. The good vibrations that this behavior automatically releases out into the uni-
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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 make your life better, find a way to honor them, even if it is a small gesture. Don’t be worried that you might not get a response - you will - every one of us likes to be acknowledged for who we are as people, not what we can do for someone else.
Pooh: "I don’t feel very much like Pooh today." Piglet: "I’ll bring you tea and honey until you do." Winnie The Pooh, 1926
verse are contagious. Energy, vibrations, and karma are rather esoteric ideas, but there are also tangible, visible results of our acts of sincere generosity. It can be visibly seen through a smile of someone you have just given an uplifting compliment to, or the look of relief on the face of someone you have helped without them having to ask you first, it can be the delight in surprising your partner with their most favorite food, or the sheer gratitude on your child’s face when you spontaneously shower them with hours of your uninterrupted, cellphone free attention. Being more selfless somehow also makes us more human too- it helps us identify fully with the person we really are inside (not what social media or
Often, the best way for us to help others is to show up for them, and I don’t mean just sending a text or a chat on social media, I mean physically showing up, and if that’s not possible then do a video call.
others need ask us to be) - creating an everlasting positive self-image. Nothing can take away the goodness we spread in this world, for it has been recorded for eternity to witness. ONE ACT AT A TIME How can we be of service to others? Just. Show. Up. Start helping with your own circle or friends and family first, then help those just outside of your circle the people you see every day in your community who put themselves on the front line to serve you: teachers, fire and policemen, the clerks at grocery stores, the barista who makes your coffee, or the person who works at the shipping store, etc. Talk to them - ask how they are doing and build bonds with the people that
Be persistent - often when people most urgently need our help is when they are the least willing to ask. Do you know someone who has been going through a difficult situation? Dedicate your time and attention in a way that you have never done before. Just like Piglet, sometimes just patiently waiting out a difficult storm with someone until they feel better one cup of honey and tea at a time is all we need to do. THE NEW WORLD ORDER: LOVE AND COMPASSION It is not only humans that need our help, our Earth and all of its inhabitants are in dire need of our action. If we apply this new way of thinking toward nature, we can change our negative impact on the environment and the way we use the limited natural resources of this planet. The need to change our selfish behavior extends to what we will leave for the generations after us. How can you find ways to conserve more and waste less? page 171
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MOLD YOUR MIND THE MOST IMPORTANT PLAY
IS THE ONE
RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU JOEY VELEZ MA, MBA @velezmentalperformance Healthy Lifestyles Contributor
N
OD YOUR HEAD IF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN DISTRACTED. NOW, NOD YOUR HEAD IF YOU HAVE EVER DAYDREAMED. MY GUESS IS YOU NODDED YOUR HEAD TO AT LEAST ONE OF THOSE TWO STATEMENTS. IT HAPPENS, AND USUALLY WE THINK NOTHING OF IT, BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF THOSE DISTRACTIONS OR DAYDREAMS TAKE PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME? FOR INSTANCE, DURING A MEETING WITH YOUR BOSS OR HAVING AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION WITH YOUR PARTNER.
To perform at a high level, or to even function at an optimal level, requires your attention to shift between the enpage 174
vironment and the self, between tactics and execution of the task. Failing to do so may cause you to miss important information and can increase stress levels when your awareness returns. What you pay attention to, and when, has a drastic impact on your ability to perform. HOW OUR FOCUS FAILS When the stakes are high, or when you feel tested, the stress levels in your body begin to rise. When you are unable to properly manage your stress levels, then your performance will suffer. In terms of your attention, this increase in stress results in the inability to shift one’s attention to what matters most. This inability to shift attention comes in a variety of forms: information overload, over analysis, and excessive pondering.
With “information overload”, this is where you are trying to process everything around you all at once. For example, you sit down to start work and you see 15 emails that insist upon a reply, your phone is ringing with a call from your boss, texts from colleagues are asking about specific aspects of a project in which you have a hand you have another colleague next to you asking for your expense report and you just happened to spill your coffee everywhere. Your mind is trying to place its attention
on each aspect to help you decide where to start, but you end up doing nothing. With “over analysis”, you are constantly second-guessing yourself and your decisions. For example, constantly asking yourself, “Are these numbers correct? Did I forget to add something? Did I close the garage door?” While double checking your work is valuable, but checking a third, fourth or fifth time has now led you to being late to a meeting or missing a deadline because you could not trust yourself that you did it correctly. Your attention was not able to move on to the next thing. I t was not sure where to go, so you get stuck looking at the same information over and over again. With “excessive pondering”, you cannot let go of a specific distraction, mistake or thought. Let’s say that you gave a below average presentation to board members last week and today you have another shot at pitching your idea. Instead of focusing on what you need to do differently, you think about all the things that went wrong last week and how the situation may repeat itself. If you are unable to manage your stress during your performance, your attention will be impacted, which will lead to a less than optimal performance.
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PERSONAL EXPERIENCE When I play basketball, my job is to shoot. I admire professionals like Steph Curry, Reggie Miller and Ray Allen because they are some of the greatest shooters in the NBA that we have ever seen. To them, being successful is shooting at a 45 percent success rate, but for non-professionals like myself, a 33 percent success rate is pretty good. However, that means that I fail 67 percent of the time, so there are a lot of opportunities for my attention to focus work on those failures. Growing up, that is just what I did. My attention went toward the misses. I excessively pondered why I missed, how I missed, and if I was going to miss again. My attention was focused on missing, making it most likely to miss again. Not only was I most likely to miss my next shot, but it would take my attention away from everything else that was going on during the game. Because I was stuck thinking about missing, I was unaware of what my opponent was doing, what plays we were running, or even
playing defense, so my overall performance suffered because I could not get out of my own way. When I was able to shift focus, change happened. I was able to direct my attention toward the next play regardless of what happened the previous play. What I noticed was that not only did my overall performance increase, but my confidence taking that next shot increased as well. I was able to move on from my “failures” and keep my attention on the present moment, which also made me enjoy what I was doing that much more. This highlights the importance of being able to shift your attention not only in times of perceived failure, but in times of success as well because the most important play is the one in front of you. BE WHERE YOUR FEET ARE A few strategies that can help you bring your attention to the here and now include compartmentalization, attentional reminders, and creating a mantra. To compartmentalize means to separate
your life into different categories. For example, create “file folders” in your mind for your family and for work. Your family folder might contain memories, conversations or important dates. Your work folder my contain deadlines, responsibilities and ideas for new projects. Creating folders in your mind allows you to think about family when you are with family, similarly allows you to think about work when you are at work, and all so that you can maximize your time and attention when you are in that specific environment. It is common for our minds to drift into focus on things irrelevant to the task in front of us, but we can redirect our attention to what matters most. Let’s say you have a presentation in two hours, but you find yourself thinking about a conversation you and your partner had earlier that morning that did not go so well. While this conversation was significant and will need to be addressed, it does not provide any benefit for your presentation. File that conversation away and pull out your mental folder that has what you need for your presentation. page 175
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This way you can perform at a high level for your presentation, then once it is complete, you can open up your family folder and start to think about how to handle that prior conversation. Along with creating mental folders, an effective strategy to add is to create your own mantra or phrase that will guide your attention to where needs to be. For example, when I play basketball and I notice myself placing too much of an emphasis on my misses, I tell myself “Next shot” or “Next one’s in.” This directs my attention toward what I need to do to be successful for the next shot as opposed to thinking about all
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the reasons why I missed the last one. This mantra or phrase can be instructional, or it can be more motivational. For example, telling yourself “Let’s do it!” or “You got this!” One thing to keep in mind is that everybody is different. Your mantra or phrase does not have to be positive, it could be more on the harsh side, as long as it is productive in guiding your attention to the task at hand and not lowering your confidence. At the end of the day, find what works best for you. And practice is your friend in this endeavor. FINAL THOUGHTS There are many things in this world
that are competing for our attention. Actually, literally everything is competing for your attention. Unfortunately, our mind cannot be in two places at once. Research tells us that trying to do so drastically lowers performance. Your ability to place your attention on the right things at the right time will ultimately lend itself to higher, more consistent performance. You can direct your attention to where it needs to be. If you notice yourself distracted, or focusing on the wrong things, keep calm and redirect your attention to get you back on track. JOEY VELEZ WELLNESS CONTRIBUTOR POLO LIFESTYLES 2021
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HEALTH IS WEALTH A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO GETTING RID OF
MALE GYNECOMASTIA AKA 'MAN-BOOBS' FROM AN EXPERT WHO DID IT my personal relationships. This took an enormous toll on my confidence.
clinical and medical history and some require medical attention.
It was unbearable to see my reflection in the mirror and hear people making fun of my condition. I became determined to get rid of my man-boobs and through massive lifestyle changes, I eventually found myself transforming into something I – and others – could appreciate rather than barely tolerate.
Above and beyond the clinical reasons men can suffer from male gynecomastia are our lifestyle choices: lack of physical activity and obesity are some of the key proponents of this condition. Cheesy food, hamburgers, soda, chocolate, beers, fizzy drinks, fries, pizza and smoking will stack layers of fat not only around the tummy, but even around the chest.
I lived in fear of how certain kinds of clothes accentuated them, so I found myself always wearing a big shirt to cover them. I rarely went shirtless in public.
As the title suggests, man-boobs or male gynecomastia is a problem that affects men of any age and race. There are multiple clinical, biomolecular reasons for this problem, some of which may require medical help like the hormonal balancing between estrogen and testosterone, medication-induced male breasts, aging, menopause-triggered gynecomastia and disease-induced gynecomastia.
I endured bullying from friends and constantly stressed that I’d end up alone if and when things became intimate in
Trust me when I say this, having a couple of kilos more around the belly, thighs, arms, face or bum is not as embarrassing as having those extra kilos around the chest for any guy. Obesity and lack of physical activity are gripping our generation, putting us at high risk for diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, blood pressure, anxiety and stress. But in my experience, the ultimate confidence crusher for men is man-boobs.
I’m a scientist and nutritionist; not a doctor, so let me tell you right now: these issues need deep digging into the
So for anyone suffering from the anguish of having man-boobs and
PANTHIL DWIVEDI Wellness contributor @panthildwivedi
G
ROWING UP CLINICALLY OBESE, I DEVELOPED MALE GYNECOMASTIA (MANBOOBS IN POP CULTURE). I SPENT YEARS TRYING TO CAMOUFLAGE THIS PARTICULAR PART OF MY BODY TO THE POINT THAT IT WAS A DEFINING ISSUE OF MY LIFE.
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FROM THIS TO THIS
The author, Panthil Dwivedi, before and after he made a lifestyle choice to hit the gym to tackle his male gynecomastia, a.k.a. man-boobs. In addition to consuming healthier foods, his fitness routine ultimately restored his confidence and self-worth about his body image.
finds themselves in desperate need of a physical solution to their problems, here are some tips I adapted in my life to get completely rid of my man-boobs.
Dumbbell or Kettlebell Push ups: 15 reps
BEGINNER’S WORKOUT
Flat dumbbell fly: 15 reps
Exercising daily is very important for anyone who wants to tone their chest area. Regular cardio, with a mix and match of strength exercises, some circuits, and chest-o-blast workouts can be helpful. This is my six-day routine that helped me not only lose overall body weight, but even tone down my manboobs. Follow this workout for six to eight weeks before jumping to a more intense intermediate workout. CHEST–O–BLAST WORKOUT FOR BEGINNERS This is a circuit routine, with each compound set comprising all five exercises, and seven such compound sets need to be performed with no rest in between two exercises, and only one to three minutes rest between two compound sets. High reps and manageable weights should be used as we need to tone down pecs and not beef the pecs up. STRENGTH TRAINING Skipping or spot running: 100 reps Regular push ups: 15 reps
Flat dumbbell press: 15 reps
CARDIO PLAN MONDAY High-intensity Cardio 45 minutes & Back/Biceps TUESDAY Cardio 30 minutes and Chest–O–Blast workout for man-boobs WEDNESDAY High-intensity cardio 45 minutes and legs THURSDAY Cardio 30 minutes and Shoulders/ Triceps FRIDAY Cardio 30 minutes & Chest-O-Blast workout SATURDAY Intense circuit training and high-intensity cardio 45 minutes. Circuit training and individual body part exercises can be chosen as per the individual’s fitness level and needs.
DIET DON’T consume soda, fizzy drinks, beer, liquor, chocolate, cakes, muffins, fries, burgers, cheese, pizzas, high calorie, high sugar or high-fats food. DO consume lean protein supplement with fewer carbs and fats per serving, fruits, veggies, nuts, lentils, brown bread, brown rice, eggs, fish, chicken and yogurt page 181
