Polo Lifestyles September 2023: What Ken't Ryan Gosling Do?

GSTAAD'S HUBLOT POLO OPEN

POLO ON AN AIR FIELD

VISIT BORDEAUX THIS FALL

WHY YOU CAN SKIP PARIS ALL TOGETHER

A MANHATTANITE'S GUIDE TO NYC DINING

JUST IN TIME FOR THE US OPEN

WHAT KEN'T HE DO?

HYBRIDS

STEAL THE SHOW AT PEBBLE BEACH

AGING IS A DISEASE YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SUFFER

GSTAAD HUBLOT POLO GOLD CUP DEAUVILLE COUPE D'OR PEBBLE BEACH & MONTEREY CAR WEEK

Ambassador Claude-Alix Bertrand Publisher

Joshua Jakobitz Editor-in-Chief

William Smith

Copy Editor & Philanthropy Contributor

Claire Barrett Head of Photography

Dana Romita Luxury Real Estate Contributor

Amritlal Singh Spirituality Contributor

Cezar Kusik Wine Contributor

Polo Photographers

Katerina Morgan

Justine Jacquemot

Irina Kazaridi

Helen Cruden

Eva Espresso

Nick Tininenko

Mark Beaumont

Michael J. Snell Lifestyles & Luxury Automobile Contributor

Joey Velez Wellness Contributor

Justin "Goliath" Johnson Wellness Contributor

Raphael K. Dapaah Art Contributor Brand Representatives

Michael J. Snell - NYC

Stanley Pierre-Etienne - Spain Justin Johnson - Atlanta

Contributing Photographers

Xavier Merchet-Thau

Aubrey Chandler

Eric Carré

Eva Espresso

Rob Miskowitch

Margarita Crotto

Polo Lifestyles is a publication of HT Polo Publishing Co. 995 Detroit Avenue, Suite A Concord, CA 94518

Cover photo of Ryan Gosling by Gregory Harris

Content Copyright © Polo Lifestyles 2023 All Rights Reserved.

For information or to advertise Contact marketing@pololifestyles.com Read online at www.pololifestyles.com

On Instagram & Facebook @pololifestyles

A proud partner of Issuu, The Impression and Mixam

US OPEN - NEW YORK CITY

SANTA BARBARA POLO & RACQUET CLUB

Farmers & Merchants Bank Silver Cup

LA HERRADURA POLO CLUB

Carlos Gracida International

HAWAII POLO CLUB

Hawaiian Islands Circuit Masters

FARMINGTON POLO CLUB

Northeastern Circuit Masters

LAS BRISAS POLO CLUB

Central Circuit General George S. Patton, Jr.

MARYLAND POLO CLUB

Eastern Circuit Women's Challenge

BARRIERE DEAUVILLE POLO

Open de France

Open de France Feminine

DEAUVILLE COUPE D'OR

POLO

Joey Velez Wellness Columnist Velez Mental Performance @velezmentalhealth

Eva Espresso Photographer Eva Espresso Photography @Eva.espresso

Amritlal Singh Spirituality Contributor Monarch Visionary @monarch_visionary

Cezar Kusik Wine Contributor Polo Lifestyles @cezartastesearth

Dana Romita Real Estate Contributor Douglas Elliman @danaromita

LIFESTYLES EDITORS & CONTRIBUTORS

William Smith Philanthropy Contributor May & Stanley Smith Charitable Trust @willismith_2000

Justin Johnson Wellness Contributor Goliath Coaches @goliathcoaches

Ambassador Claude-Alix Bertrand Publisher Polo Lifestyles @haiti_polo_captain

Josh Jakobitz Editor-in-Chief Polo Lifestyles @joshuajakobitz

Michael J. Snell Lifestyles & Automobiles Contributor @agnello_1

Eric Carré Photographer EC Photography @ti_carre

Claire Barrett Head of Photography Claire Barrett Photography @clairebarrettphoto

Raphael K. Dapaah Art Contributor Dapaah Gallery @dapaahgallery

Katerina Morgan Polo Photographer Horse Polo Art Gallery @horsepoloartgallery

RYAN GOSLING

IS THERE ANYTHING HE KEN'T DO?

HighSnobiety collaborates with Vilebrequin, page 116

Fashion houses take over beach resorts page 92

A Manhattanite's guide to NYC fine dining, age 80

Skip Paris and head to Bordeaux, page 68 PAGE 106

SUMMER IS OVER IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE AND WHAT A LONG, HOT SUMMER IT’S BEEN AS PARTS OF THE U.S. AND EUROPE SIZZLED UNDER SCORCHING SUNSHINE. HERE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, THE SMELL OF SMOKE IS EVER-SO FAINTLY IN THE AIR, REMINDING US OF EXTREMELY DRY CONDITIONS AND THE HIGH RISK OF FIRE.

Amid all this, polo is enjoying a glamorous European summer season from Sotogrande to Chantilly. Here on the West Coast, we attended the annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in Carmel-by-the-Sea even as storm clouds loomed overhead from the tropical storm that was battering Baja Mexico and southern California. As I wrote this letter to you at press time, all disasterrelated news coverage was focused on the Gulf Coast of Florida.

Ryan Gosling is turning up the heat this month on the cover of Polo Lifestyles. Fresh off his success in the summer blockbuster, “Barbie,” he’s possibly the mostrecognizable, male face in the world right now.

Shooting in him – in anything other than pink – was the goal for the cover. Based on internal reactions to the photos, I think we hit the mark.

Enjoy!

Josh Jakobitz Editor-in-Chief josh@pololifestyles.com

COUPE D'OR DEAUVILLE POLO CLUB

INNOVATION EXISTS PURELY TO SERVE YOUR COMFORT, SAFETY AND CONVENIENCE VIA MULTIPLE SENSES. A VIRTUAL VOICE ASSISTANT LISTENS TO SERVE YOU.

LIGHTING AND FRAGRANCE SUBTLY SOOTHE YOU.

Beyond first class is a class of one.

globalpolo

It's high polo season in the EU and there's non-stop action in Sotogrande, along with Chantilly and Deauville

champangetaittinger

Getting a little outrageous with pastaesque stemware for their fun summer champagne campaign

chopard

Tumbling pave diamonds make this timepiece stand out from other luxury watches

houses

A dreamy house in dark gray set against the picturesque Lake Cuomo

mercedesbenz

Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, The Quail and Monterey Car Week launched new luxury automobiles

rollsroyce porscheclub

Absolutely dreamy and limited in availability, Rolls-Royce presents an unforgettable luxury automobile

Don't mind me, I'll just be pitching hay out of the Porsche when she's done eating

vivianevalerius

Stunning in neon yellow and perfect in proportions

The US Open warmly welcomed the No. 1 player in the world to New York City

carlitosalcarazz

Click and comment on our choices... Tag @pololifestyles . We will share noteworthy comments with you next month.

Very much at home and safely tethered to a tree in

fsgeorgevparis

When in Paris, the Four Seasons is our go-to destination

moethennessy

nytimes

parth_polo_7

Taking a break as the sun sets on the polo practice fields

westindieshelicopters

photos

A perfect moment for horses and ponies in the mountains of Kazakhstan

whalebonemagazine

Surfs up! We have to wonder what the HOA has to say about these unusual home decorations

diormaison

An accident of private aircraft on the runway of the Gustavia, StBarthélemy airport

Beach and resort takeovers are one of the ways that fashion houses are diving into clients' wallets

The one year anniversary of the Moet bar at Harrods of London

Bob Barker, daytime television gameshow host and animal welfare advocate, died at age 99

the front yard

eqluxe

HUBLOT POLO GOLD CUP 2023

SWITZERLAND

HUBLOT POLO GOLD CUP 2023

SWITZERLAND

POLO IS A TEAM SPORT. WEARING THE COLORS OF GSTAAD, SÉBASTIEN LE PAGE AND HIS ARGENTINIAN ACCOMPLICES WERE THE CLEAR PROOF. ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON, AUGUST 20, THEY PERFECTLY MASTERED THEIR GAME ON THE VERY SPECIAL POLO FIELD OF THE SAANEN AIRPORT, AND THUS WON THE

HUBLOT POLO GOLD CUP FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR.

Indeed, Raul Laplacette’s teamplay proved unbeatable. Despite once again scoring 11 goals, it was also the fierce defense of the defending champions that made the difference. The Hublot players were never able to find a way through their opponents’ defensive wall. And if they did, Laplacette was there to calmly steal the ball from the impudent attacker.

Freeing up space, the men from Gstaad moved quietly forward and scored on the other side. The only solution for Martin Aguerre Jr. was to try his luck from far, far away. He succeeded twice and scored his other three goals from penalties. Five goals was all the team could score in the final match for the trophy.

SECOND TITLE IN TWO YEARS

The polo field at Saanen airport is now the backyard of Laplacette, most valuable player of the final and top scorer of the

tournament with 17 goals. “On this kind of field, you have to move forward with the ball, attack, attack, attack and keep attacking. As it is a smaller field than usual, you always must try and get close to the goal to have a chance of scoring,” he said. “In any case, that was our tactic. But it was also thanks to our organization that we were able to succeed: good players

HUBLOT POLO GOLD CUP 2023

GSTAAD, SWITZERLAND

and fast horses. These are essential to play good polo.”

Team captain Le Page said, “This second victory is all the more pleasing because it’s practically the same team as last year, which proves that the organization is working very well. It’s a real pleasure because we’ve been working on it all year round for several years. I’m both very

tired and very happy. I’m going to be able to savor this victory and drink some champagne now.”

The French captain also paid tribute to his star player, “Raul (Laplacette) is incredible, he controls the game so much that it seems like he’s doing nothing, when in fact he’s everywhere and scoring an incredible number of goals. I think he’s one

of the best players on the planet.”

The match for third place was much tighter, with Kielder Agro Group taking their first win of the tournament thanks to two fiery opening chukkers: 5-0, an advantage they maintained by battling hard right to the end: only one goal scored in the last two periods, while Gstaad Palace

scored five in their turn. Final score: 6-5.

HUBLOT POLO GOLD CUP 2023

SWITZERLAND

HUBLOT POLO GOLD CUP 2023

SWITZERLAND

HUBLOT POLO GOLD CUP 2023

73RD DEAUVILLE COUPE D'OR BARRIERE POLO CLUB 14 / 12 LOS DRAGONES ROUGES

THIS IS THE FIRST VICTORY IN A 16-GOAL TOURNAMENT FOR FRENCH CAPTAIN ISABELLE LARENAUDIE WHO HAS BEEN PLAYING AT THIS LEVEL FOR ONLY THE SECOND SEASON.

To get to this level, she put together a team made up of the Zavaleta family, which has remained the same since last year. Two brothers, Simon and Ramiro, who know each other by heart, led by a cousin, Juan Martin, a regular at the world’s top level, taking part in the Argentine Open, the highest-level tournament in the world.

It was a complicated game for Barrière, who led until the fourth chukker, sometimes by as much as 4 goals, “But I’ve always reminded my players that a game is long and everything can happen very quickly in this sport, and that’s what happened,” explained Juan Martin Zavaleta.

Simon Zavaleta finally gave his team the first lead at the very beginning of the fifth

(and last) chukker, before Barrière again fell behind, and it was on two penalties from Juan Martin that Barrière sealed its first victory in this major event. It was also the first victory for his cousin Simon (Ramiro had already won it) and Larenaudie.

“It’s phenomenal,” said, Larenaudie, the first woman to win the Coupe d’Or. “Winning with this family, with two Zavaletas who have never won it before, is huge. I still can’t believe it. It was a very tough match, but tonight, it’s a big party.”

The joy of Juan Martin Zavaleta, named most valuable player of the final (he scored 10 goals on Sunday), who has many other victories to his name, was no less happy. “It's incredible. Already, winning the Coupe d’Or is something you think about all the time. It›s one of the most beautiful tournaments to be played in France, and to win it as a family... there are no words to express the emotion it creates. It›s an important victory in one›s career, and now it›s done. Deauville is a tournament that will go down in the history of our sport,” he said.

TEAMS AND PROGRESS

Barrière Polo Team: Isabelle

Larenaudie (FRA, h0), Simon Zavaleta (ARG, h5, 2 goals), Juan Martin Zavaleta (ARG, h7, 10 goals) et Ramiro Zavaleta (ARG, h4, 1 goal)

Los Dragones Rouges: Sam

Sztarkman (FRA, h2), Jules Legoubin (FRA, h3), Baratolomé Bayugar (ARG, h4, 5 goals) et Bautista Bayugar (ARG, h8, 7 goals)

Progression Barrière Polo Team: 2/4 - 4/6 - 7/8 - 10/10 and 14/12

BPP (best horse of the final): Calidad played by Juan Martin Zavaleta  BPP AACCP Mejor polo argentino: Siempre Magica played by Bauti Bayugar

MVP (best player of the final): Juan Gris Zavaleta

Best amateur player of the final: Isabelle Larenaudie

Top scorer of the tournament: Juan Gris Zavaleta, 35 goals

DEAUVILLE COUPE D'OR

DEAUVILLE COUPE D'OR

DEAUVILLE COUPE D'OR

DEAUVILLE COUPE D'OR

DEAUVILLE COUPE D'OR

HIGH SOCIETY

PEBBLE BEACH & MONTEREY CAR WEEK

CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA

THE FUTURE OF LUXURY AUTOMOBILES REVEALED TO BE ELECTRIC

On Friday, August 18, just as the marine layer cast over Carmel-by-theSea began to recede like curtains being pulled back from a window, a mammoth crowd congregated at the edge of Quail Golf Course. Their eyes were set on a white stage where Lamborghini models sat adjacent to a veiled automobile.

At exactly 10:45 a.m., their patience paid off with a debut: The Lanzador EV, Lamborghini’s first fully electric con-

cept car. Phones immediately lifted in the air to immortalize the moment, and the camera flashing quickly followed. This past week was Pebble Beach & Monterey Car Week, an annual event where auction, racing, and pageantry find common ground. It is a congregation of the world’s top collectors, enthusiasts, dealers, and more. The Lanzador EV concept follows the brand’s signature hyper-streamlined shape and appears as the middle ground between its

supercar (think Aventador or Huracan) and SUV (Urus) cousins.

According to Stephen Winkelmann, chairman and CEO of Lamborghini, the car is an important part of the brand’s strategy to add electric options to its future fleet and attract new customers, all while retaining the trademark driving experience its longtime fans have come to expect.

The Lanzador EV wasn’t the only unveiling to grab attention this

SOCIETY

year. Maserati showcased the GranTurismo Folgore, an electric version of its signature model. A lucky few (including Jeff Bezos) were able to see an example–this one coated in a matte gray that emphasized the vehicle’s organic curves–at the brand’s Car Week headquarters, a modernist home nestled within the hills of Pebble Beach.

“We want to keep the look of Maserati extremely pure, with amazing proportions, and amazing interaction of vol-

umes because that leads to longevity,” Klaus Busse, head of Design Maserati, said.

For the 75th anniversary of the GranTurismo, Maserati teamed up with Sotheby’s for a drive on the legendary Laguna Seca racetrack, where collectors of models from different eras took a lap together. Sotheby’s CEO Charles Stewart was among those who joined for the ride, as did Trevor Traina, former U.S. Ambassador to Austria. Other automotive highlights

included the MCXtrema, Maserati’s fastest track-only hypercar, Aston Martin’s DB12 Volante drop-top model, and the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport Golden Era car, which features handdrawn sketches on the body depicting icons from Bugatti’s history.

Complete coverage from Pebble Beach and Monterey Car Week will follow in the October 2023 issue of Polo Lifestyles.

PEBBLE BEACH & MONTEREY CAR WEEK

BY MICHAEL SNELL / PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY KAHN MEDIA

PEBBLE BEACH & MONTEREY CAR WEEK

BY MICHAEL SNELL / PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY KAHN MEDIA

PEBBLE BEACH & MONTEREY CAR WEEK

PEBBLE BEACH & MONTEREY CAR WEEK

U.S. POLO ASSN. & FIP EXTEND PARTNERSHIP

U.S. POLO ASSN. & FIP EXTEND GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP

USPA GLOBAL LICENSING INC. (USPAGL) HAS ANNOUNCED THAT U.S. POLO ASSN., THE OFFICIAL BRAND OF THE UNITED STATES POLO ASSOCIATION (USPA), HAS EXTENDED ITS GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FEDERATION OF INTERNATIONAL POLO (FIP) THROUGH 2026.

This extension marks a continued commitment to the global promotion of the sport of polo from the authentic, sport-inspired brand.

True to the heritage of the brand, U.S. Polo Assn. is proud to support polo around the world. FIP is the international federation representing the sport of polo, officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This strategic partnership between FIP and U.S. Polo Assn. represents the strong alliance that has thrived since the partnership’s inception in 2015, and means that the global, sport-inspired brand will continue to be the Official Apparel Partner for FIP’s top events.

In 2022, the shared vision of FIP, the USPA, and U.S. Polo Assn. culminated in the historic XII Federation of International Polo (FIP) World Polo Championship held at the USPA National Polo Center (NPC) –Wellington. The 2022 FIP tournament was only the second time in history the competition was held in the United States and was its first time being broadcast on ESPN to millions of households around the world.

As the Official Apparel Partner for FIP events, U.S. Polo Assn. will continue to support the sport’s leading events, including the FIP World Polo Championship, FIP European Polo Championship, FIP Ladies World Polo Championship, and FIP Ladies European Polo Championship. The brand will also continue to supply custom performance jerseys for all teams, alongside other essential apparel items such as hats and shirts, for players and officials to elevate the experience both on and off the field.

This partnership will also encompass support for the highly anticipated Ambassador Cups, set to take place this year in Brazil and Italy; the FIP Arena

Polo World Championship; as well as other international polo events, such as potential Olympic Exhibition Games.

“We’re looking forward to continuing our strategic relationship with FIP over the next four years,” said J. Michael Prince, President & CEO of USPAGL, the company that manages and oversees the U.S. Polo Assn. brand. “This meaningful partnership underscores our continued efforts to help grow the sport of polo around the world and aligns with our strategy as a brand to authentically connect with our global markets as we continue to execute our aggressive international growth strategies.”

“We are thrilled by this renewed partnership with U.S. Polo Assn. and their continued support of the sport of polo, which goes far beyond supplying jerseys and gear for our players,” said Piero Dillier Chairman of FIP. “With the support of U.S. Polo Assn., we are now able to reach so many new polo fans globally through ESPN. This is a dream come true for us, and we are excited to use this platform to help broaden interest, access, and exposure to polo around the world.”

BORDEAUX

STEALS THE SPOTLIGHT

BORDEAUX

ALL THE PERKS OF A PARISIAN ESCAPE

AFTER HUSTLING AROUND IN PARIS FOR A FEW DAYS, OVERSTUFFING MY ITINERARY WITH MUST-DO ACTIVITIES, I BOARDED A TWOHOUR TRAIN TO BORDEAUX. THE FRENCH CITY IS BEST KNOWN ME FOR ITS WINE: I IMAGINED LONG, LAZY DAYS AT BUCOLIC VINEYARDS IN THE FRENCH COUNTRYSIDE — SOMEWHAT AKIN TO A NAPA VALLEY GETAWAY.

As we approached the station in Bordeaux, I thought for a minute that our train may have doubled back to the capital. Instead of the grapevine-lined

rolling hills I had pictured, I found myself in an enthralling urban center, with grand limestone architecture and alluring sights reminiscent of Paris. But it was without all the challenges I had experienced there: sky-high prices, constant crowds, and logistical hurdles (one night in Paris, for example, I was rejected from five empty restaurants for not having a reservation).

Sitting on a slight curve of the Garonne River, the heart of Bordeaux, is the Port of the Moon — the historic city center that was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. Here, I found myself delighting over the Instagram idyllic Miroir d'Eau (or, water mirror) that reflects the Place de la Bourse and the stunning details of the Opéra National

BY RACHEL CHANG

de Bordeaux dating back to 1780.

Every dining experience had a unique spin, like the hyper-local eatery Les Récoltants tucked behind its farm-fresh grocery store, the Michelin-starred Le Prince Noir in a castle, or the thriving food hall Halles de Bacalan in the Bassins à Flots district.

During my three nights in the port city, I realized Bordeaux has all the elements visitors crave in a French getaway, but on a more intimate scale.

Case in point: staying at the luxury Villas Foch, a 28-key property in a 19th-century mansion sandwiched between the Place des Quinconces city square and Jardin Public. Striking the balance

between a cozy home and luxury hotel, the most spectacular part was that room rates here are significantly lower than in Paris (in fact, the average hotel rates in Bordeaux are $156 on weeknights and $148 on weekends, compared to $506 on weeknights and $466 on weekends in Paris).

But what was so rewarding was that the value didn’t come at an experiential or cultural cost. In fact, as the ninth biggest city (by population) in the country, Bordeaux is on the rise, actively improving every bit of its infrastructure. It’s no wonder that the city was named one of the European Capitals of Smart Tourism in 2022 by the EU’s European Commission, based on its innovation in sustainability, accessibility, digitaliza-

tion, cultural heritage, and creativity.

Of course, its famed fine wine permeates the city with nearly 7,000 winemakers in the area — but it does so in the most forward-thinking ways. While visiting the organic vineyard Château Paloumey in Ludon-Médoc, on its aptly named Nature and Future Tour, owner Pierre Cazeneuve explained to me how he’s been experimenting with new techniques to account for the inevitable temperature increases from climate change. That includes taking out rows of grapevines and replacing them with trees in hopes of providing shade while increasing water flow and blocking out winds. While time will tell whether the test will garner the desired effects, I walked away from the château with not

just a stronger appreciation for the craft of wine making, but also a deeper connection to environmental needs. And the best part is that it’s long been part of the family-run business› ethos since his mother Martine Cazeneuve first took it over in 1989.

Though she was one of the first women to own a winery then, female-run wineries are celebrated throughout the city. Perhaps nowhere is it showcased better than at Les Furies Douces, a relaxed wine bar in the trendy Chartrons neighborhood whose motto is “Women Do Wine.” Run by Audrey Bochahut, the eatery serves bottles from women-owned wineries, along with tapas, cheese, and charcuterie.

BORDEAUX

There’s also an entire museum, La Cité du Vin, dedicated to wine. This is a place begging to be judged by its cover — the eye-catching whimsical circular design of the building is meant to mimic wine swirling in a glass, which is just the first hint of the creativity of the exhibits inside. Divided into 18 modules in six universes, visitors can curate their visits based on their own interests, like gastronomy, wine making, history, or

environment. One moment you’re getting an oversized bird’s-eye view of the most stunning vineyards from above, and another you’re doing a deep dive into the six wine families or learning about wine tasting using all five senses. And, of course, admission comes with a tasting, which can only be one-upped by dining at the panoramic Restaurant Le 7 on the seventh floor with a choice of 500 wines.

Wine aside, Bordeaux also boasts other Paris-like experiences. While the capital city has an outpost of Culturespaces’ immersive light-projection Atelier de Lumières, the southwestern city oneupped it by a landslide with Bassins des Lumières. Located inside a former World War II submarine bunker, it’s the world’s largest digital art center. It is unlike anything else, with the images being projected in four water basins, re-

flecting off the walls and water, creating a seemingly infinite effect that envelopes visitors in its lights and colors.

Perhaps the most impressive site in Bordeaux is the Darwin Ecosystem — it›s one-part, multi-use space, one part entertainment complex, and one part social justice project. Above all else, every business and element here must have a commitment to responsible sustainable practices. The result

is a skatepark and graffiti art gallery mingling next to an organic sourdough bakery and Europe’s largest organic bistro dining hall, as well as co-working spaces and the only repairing-and-recycling location of the French sustainable shoe brand Veja.

In between filling my cup with all the elements I love in a French getaway, I also simply strolled the streets, as I would in Paris, following my instincts.

Here, I was led to bakeries overflowing with canelés, with crunchy caramelized crusts leading into soft custard centers; coffee shops roasting their beans onsite; and boutiques filled with handmade crafts, finding joy in every stumble-upon find. While nothing can ever be a true replacement for the City of Lights, a trip to Bordeaux can certainly scratch a traveler’s Parisian itch — at a slower pace of life and a more affordable price.

AGING IS A DISEASE WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SUFFER

RETHINKING WHAT GETTING OLDER MEANS TO COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS

AS AN ENTREPRENEUR AND CEO, I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED THE BEST HEALTH BENEFITS FOR MY ASSOCIATES. I WANT OUR FOLKS TO KNOW THAT WE CARE ABOUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO THEM, THEIR WELL-BEING.

So I was deeply intrigued when I learned that some companies are looking to take that approach to the next level and in doing so are starting to redefine what top-quality health care looks like.

On one level this is radical thinking: Not just focusing on sick benefits or well-being, but even treating aging as a disease that can be managed and even forestalled, with potentially dramatic consequences for how long people will live and work. On another level, however, I believe that this is the start of a shift with which every CEO will have to reckon.

I have long engaged in longevity care for myself. I got my first full-body MRI, suggested by my old friend Dean Ornish, back in the early 2000s. I started to regularly monitor an entire panel of hormones at a trailblazing clinic in Southern

California at about the same time. I went to Guadalajara, Mexico, to use stem cells to regrow damaged tissue that was limiting my ability to run and work out. So when I heard company leaders were thinking about this as a benefit for their associates, I was excited.

But let’s explore this evolution. The Covid-19 experience highlighted the salience of a holistic approach to overall employee well-being, including a greater and less stigmatized view of mental health. We cannot let the pandemic’s ebb minimize that revelation. Forwardlooking leaders will push further faster,

however, and get ahead of looming demographic realities which will force their hands anyway.

This is a natural, technology-driven progression. Our approach to health has already evolved, from sick care (addressing diseases when they occur) to health care (leaning into preventative medicine rather than waiting for sickness). Longevity care is the next step, though its logic doesn’t diminish the impending shift’s magnitude.

WHAT WILL IT LOOK LIKE?

No surprises. We will push the boundaries of preventative care with cutting-edge diagnostic tools, proactively ensuring ongoing wellness instead of reacting to infirmity and disease. There’s no reason in the 21st century’s third decade for cancer, heart disease, or Alzheimer’s to surprise anyone -- or for people to wait for the disease to develop before dealing with it. It will mean lengthening our health spans, or how long one can live without requiring care.

A LONGEVITY DASHBOARD.

Doctors will need to track your central longevity drivers in one easily understood spot. These can range from obvious data points such as blood pressure to things like hormone levels and other data collected during regular checkups. A McKinsey Health study last year identified 23 such drivers, only four of which fall into the traditional health care system. Your longevity dashboard will dig deeper, however, incorporating multi-omic data sets, which the National

Institute of Aging defines as those that “map the complex, multi-layered interplay of genetics, metabolism, proteins, and other variables.” Such analysis would not have been possible even a few decades ago because of the sheer volume of data, but doctors will use artificial intelligence tools to crunch the data.

A HOLISTIC APPROACH.

Longevity care won’t be an indulgence or add-on. You won’t have to buy longevity coverage as a supplement to your regular health insurance. It will be part of your base package. By investing in preventative care and cutting-edge testing upfront, providers and insurers will be able to save money in the long run by forestalling or managing diseases and disabilities before they become critical and hyper-expensive.

So health and longevity-focused companies such as Spartan, the race organizer, and Verijet, a company that arranges carbon-neutral private jet trips, have partnered with Fountain Health, a company that produces insurance plans emphasizing this ultra-preventative regime by leveraging cutting-edge medical technology and artificial intelligence, while still offering traditional coverage. It’s the first such offering I heard of.

If this sounds luxuriant, understand that demographics will soon compel it. Those 55 and up make up the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. workforce. The number of Americans aged 65 or older -- the traditional retirement age -- has increased by more than 15 million

people (38 percent) since 2010. And with roughly half of baby boomers still under 65, that number will grow. Seniors made up 17 percent of the population in 2020, a figure projected to reach 22 percent (nearly 81 million people) by 2040. In 2030, according to Census Bureau estimates, the U.S. will have more senior citizens than children, for the first time ever. The labor force participation rate for men 65 and over, which was under 20 percent as recently as 2005, has risen to around 23-24 percent in recent years. Between our chronically low national savings rate, an enduring labor shortage, and an understandable desire to remain engaged later in life, it’s not going to decline.

This revolution in how we treat aging is in turn, going to remake how we work. We’re re-framing how we think about career and life arcs. Eighty is becoming the new 65 -- and that figure will recede further in the future. Longevity care is a necessary start, but companies will have to adapt in other ways. Executives will have to rethink everything from career tracks to office layouts to accommodate this four-generation workforce.

The investor Michael Milken once told me that three things build loyalty in people: health, wealth, and children. Smart business leaders will keep that maxim in mind and reap the benefits as their most experienced workers stay engaged and on the job longer.

A MANHATTANITE'S GUIDE TO NEW YORK CITY'S DINING SCENE

IGREW UP IN MANHATTAN RESTAURANTS. BOTH OF MY PARENTS WORKED FULL TIME, ALL THE TIME, AND WOULD BRING ME TO THEIR BUSINESS DINNERS BEFORE I WAS FULLY VERBAL, WITH THE SOLEMN INSTRUCTION THAT I EAT WHAT EVERYONE EATS, OR RISK BEING RELEGATED TO “THE KIDS’ TABLE.” THERE NEVER WAS A KIDS’ TABLE, OF COURSE. LE CIRQUE HASN’T BUILT THAT YET.

This was where I learned to lemon my oysters and slurp up the brine, how to give a firm handshake or double kiss on the cheek, how always (always!) to say please and thank you so much and may I. Restaurants housed my happiest memories — celebra-

tions and milestones all shared across the city’s tables. Among our favorite spots that remain to this day: Omen Azen (Kyoto style), Tocqueville (where I, saucer-eyed, discovered the tasting menu), Japonica (sushi), Basta Pasta (Italian via Japan), Cafeteria (if a nightclub and a diner met), El Cantinero (Mexican, with a patio for fajitas alfresco), Cowgirl (née Cowgirl Hall of Fame, for Southwestern in the West Village) — the list goes on.

Now, I have my own spots, for my own memory-making. Low on hype and high on quality, they draw local crowds, some trendier than others, sure. Most have been around for a while, some are newer — yet old and solid in soul, already with a sense of staying power. The twist?

A Manhattan girl to my core, I can be found most nights across the pond — at a joint called Wei’s in East Williamsburg. Serving Shanghainese food until 2 a.m., under the warm light of red lanterns and

the soft pulse of disco music, Wei’s is the closest thing I have to church — crystal shrimp dumplings as communion. What is Manhattan if not a vibrant door to countless other worlds?

TXIKITO Innovative Basque flavors

This recently reopened Basque spot is helmed by one of the most gifted chef duos in New York: husband and wife team Alex Raij and Eder Montero. Located in Chelsea, the newly renovated space is a marble-accented, blondwood-paneled dream. The menu is an aria — singular, perfectly dialed, where Basque flavors are both honored and built upon. The octopus carpaccio is the best in town, lithe as petals. The olive oil-poached cod reflects Chef Raij’s fascination with pil pil, a traditional emulsion sauce. My favorite part of their beverage menu is the beautifully curated selection of vermouth and their gorgeously balanced cocktails. If you

BY SOPHIE MANCINI/SPECIAL TO POLO LIFESTYLES

TXIKITO

find yourself in Cobble Hill, in Brooklyn, be sure to check out my other all-time favorites — their sister restaurants, Saint Julivert for seafood and La Vara for southern Spanish cuisine. They’re next door to each other, on a lovely, leafy street.

PINCH CHINESE Cantonese with an award-winning wine list

My first meal back after traveling is always at Pinch. It’s Cantonese and known for its awarded wine list. I love getting a seat at one of the high tables near the floor-to-ceiling front windows for lunch. This food is hauntingly craveable — home to my favorite soup dumplings, with thin, delicate dough hugging savory pork explosions, and shiitake and truffle mushroom dumplings, equally high in craft and comfort. Other items not to miss: their house-special shrimp, all of their cold-eradicating soups, spicy mari-

nated cucumbers, dan dan noodles, and my love language, pea shoots — deep emerald, juicy, and laced with garlic.

CLAUD

An intimate Euro-inspired restaurant

and wine bar

I spent one of my most perfect New York nights at Claud, an experience shared by many. Opened by Momofuku Ko alumni, their newest concept has that special sauce — a buzzy, beautiful Frenchinspired spot made to last. Thoughtfully rooted in elegant bones, proper hospitality, and exquisite craft on the plate, this place already feels like a classic. My highlight dishes span bright razor clams with apple and horseradish to comforting red shrimps in olive oil and garlic. A few menu items have already become iconic in the restaurant scene: their mille-feuille, a heavenly pile of flaky pastry, cheese, and jammy tomatoes; chicken liver agnolotti, a creamy, nutty,

decadence; and their devil’s food cake for two — the best chocolate cake in the city. Try sitting at the gorgeous green-gray marble bar, if you can.

FISH CHEEKS

Flavorful Thai in a big, vibrant space

There are places you go with a group where the restaurant is just background — and then there are places where, after every bite, someone’s spewing expletives of pleasure like, “How is this always so [bleep]ing good. …” Fish Cheeks, a Thai staple on Manhattan’s swanky and beautiful Bond Street, is the latter kind of restaurant. It’s home to the best wings in the city: their Zabb Wings, fried with a dry seasoning of chili lime and makrut lime leaf — but they do bombastic flavors just as skillfully as their softer, simpler takes. There’s nothing on this menu I wouldn’t order. One item to call out because it looks humble on the page

CLAUD FISH CHEEKS

but comes to life in the mouth: their sautéed cabbage, with garlic and fish sauce. Simple but sexy.

COMMERCE INN A transportive American tavern

Owned by the quietly reigning queens of the West Village, Rita Sodi and Jody Williams, this is typically not the first spot people claim as their favorite within the couple’s portfolio. But it is mine. It defines that sum-of-the-parts spirit of a truly immersive restaurant, where everything — from the experience of walking down its street, to the feel of its menu — transports. Located on a historic street, the restaurant is a Shakerinspired early-American tavern, where items from pickled oysters to molasses and pork-belly cooked beans are imbued

COMMERCE INN

with the merry, honest spirit of a Louisa May Alcott novel.

CHO DANG GOL A

Koreatown institution

This K-town treasure specializes in tofu, made fresh daily, and stews, served bubbling in hot stoneware alongside bright bowls of banchan (the Korean side dishes served with your meal). All meals begin with a complimentary tofu starter — creamy, light, like ricotta in texture. Their pancakes — I recommend the seafood and the fish — provide a nice, starchy accompaniment to their soupier mains. Don’t miss their spicy kimchi tofu stew.

THE BAR AT ELEVEN MADISON PARK

Excellent cocktails and a laid-back take on the restaurant’s menu

There are few restaurants more iconic than Eleven Madison Park. From exquisitely innovative cuisine to paradigmatic standards of service, their full-dining experience is New York’s quintessential expression of fine dining. However, I recently discovered the pleasures of their more laid-back, but no less upscale, bar experience — an intimate room off to the side of their soaring main dining hall. Here, one can experience Chef Daniel Humm’s plant-based creations (the world’s first to gain three Michelin stars) in a shorter, more relaxed tasting menu, alongside the bar’s remarkable cocktail program, of course.

THE BAR AT ELEVEN MADISON PARK

Elevated Experiences

AT 30,000 FEET

A PEAK INSIDE THE WORLD OF PRIVATE JET CULINARY & SERVICE TRAINING

WHEN IT COMES TO SERVING IN-FLIGHT MEALS IN BUSINESS OR EVENT FIRST CLASS ON A LONG-HAUL COMMERCIAL FLIGHT, THERE’S NOT TOO MUCH PREPARATION FOR FLIGHT ATTENDANTS TO WORRY ABOUT: WARM TOWELS, HEATING UP SOME PROTEIN AND CARBS, ADDING A SELECTION OF COLD CHEESES AND DESSERTS TO A TRAY, AND LOADING THEM ONTO THE CART. KEEP THE DRINKS FLOWING AND THE DISTURBANCE TO A MINIMUM.

On a private jet, however, it›s a whole different game. Beyond being responsible for on-board safety, flight attendants

on private jets are also chefs, servers, and bartenders. (Not to mention housekeepers!) And when you’re flying high-profile clients around the world, you’re expected to provide an elevated experience in every way, including in the critical areas of dining and beverage services.

One company has ensured that their flight attendants are being trained by the best. Private aviation company Planet 9 sends its flight attendants to the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) campus in San Antonio, Texas, for a multi-day training designed to sharpen their prepping, cooking, plating, and serving skills. Eager to get a glimpse of their training, I joined the team to learn exactly what it’s like.

Four flight attendant trainees and I started with perhaps the most important lesson: food safety. We learned the basics

of food safety, with a few flying-specific details thrown in. Sushi, for example, is best avoided on a private jet menu. It takes some time for the fish to make it from the store to the aircraft — and it might not always be refrigerated at the proper temperature to prevent the fish from spoiling. There are few things worse than sushi whose freshness has been lost and discerning passengers of private aviation services would surely take notice.

Then we got to the fun part — cooking. When you book a private jet through Planet 9, you’re not limited to a set menu. Instead, you can tailor your culinary preferences with the team and even request specific dishes to fully customize your on-board dining experience. To that end, flight attendants need to be thoroughly versed in cooking pretty much everything. And they also need to figure out how to accomplish that within

the confines of a very tiny airplane galley with limited appliances.

The Planet 9 CIA program ran me and my fellow students through a variety of menu items, teaching us not only recipes — a smoked salmon avocado toast stole the show in the morning on the first day — but also tips and tricks for preparing them on board. While there’s plenty of space in the kitchen at CIA, the instructors taped off a small working space to mimic the galley in a private jet, and they limited our cookware and appliances to what’s found on the planes. Open flames are a no-go on aircraft for obvious reasons, so galleys are primarily limited to microwaves and ovens. (When dishes require stove-top cooking, they can be prepared on the ground, and reheated and plated in the air.)

Plating, in particular, is an art form and a must-deliver for luxe travelers. “Think of your plate as a canvas,” said

chef Uyten Pham before diving into a demonstration to teach us how to plate fruit. She asked us to give her a theme or color palette to work with — we chose yellow fruit – and thereafter carefully cut and placed the fruit elegantly and yes, artistically, on the plate.

But it’s not only about aesthetics. Practicality matters, too, as you want your guests to be able to easily consume anything placed in front of them. Think: peeling bananas or oranges in advance.

Pham and her colleague, chef Vincent Carvahlo, also challenged us to think about the full sensorial experience for guests beyond taste and vision. “I’m a huge fan when it comes to warm bread. It’s a huge weakness of mine,” said Pham. “Your aircraft is so small, there’s no way they’re not going to be able to smell that.” It’s a great way to whet a guest’s appetite.

At the end of the program, the trainees put their new skills to the test — they devised a multi-course menu, cooked it, and served it to “guests” — aka their fellow trainees. (At this point, I was observing the action.) Every aspect of the drill was studiously observed by Planet 9 staff, from the time it takes to serve each course, to the taste and presentation of the dishes, to how the wine was poured. In the end, a critique session refined their demonstrations, further ensuring that when the flight attendants are in the air, their service to Plant 9’s passengers is impeccable.

In observing the Planet 9 CIA training program, there’s one thing I learned for sure: my rudimentary cooking skills would never make the cut on a private jet. That’s just fine. I’ll take my seat as a passenger and graciously thank my flight attendants for all their artistry and refined service.

TRENDING

H

This summer, brands are taking the reins to a variety of these exclusive, ocean-side resorts. Suddenly, umbrellas bearing the logos of Gucci, Dior, and Valentino are springing up across the globe. This move might seem unexpected, but it’s smart. Through the beach clubs, brands are able to extend their marketing reach to customers who already seek luxury environments. Plus, through these takeovers brands get to showcase their talent at curating

OW CAN FASHION HOUSES EXUDE FUN, FORGE CREATIVE PARTNERSHIPS AND REACH A MORE GLOBAL CLIENTELE ALL AT ONCE? THE ANSWER: A BEACH CLUB TAKEOVER.experiences. In this Insight, we look deeper into what makes this trend so compelling (and valuable) for brands.

FIND A FITTING CITY

Off the coast of Italy lies the island of Capri. Mottled with bright stucco houses, limestone cliffs and an emerald-blue grotto, the island has been a resort since the Roman Republic. This summer, Dolce & Gabbana has partnered with the Grand Hotel Quisisana to craft a sumptuous experience for guests there. For this collab, DG decorated the hotel with its iconic Blu Mediterraneo pattern, a ceramic-like design that has also been featured in a partnership with Smeg. The colors— bright blue and pale white—echo those of the island’s rocky landscape.

Capri is not new terrain for the brand. This hotel partnership in fact builds on a link with the island that Dolce & Gabbana has quietly cultivated. Some of the brand’s famous Light Blue fragrance ads were, after all, filmed on the island. In those ads, Capri’s beauty speaks for itself and conjures up a summery escape. Dolce & Gabbana has even released a Resort collection named for Capri. This bright, beachy line takes inspiration from the resort lifestyle and features a distinct palette that can be traced back to ancient frescoes.

So the island has already proven itself to be a strong fit for Dolce & Gabbana’s brand image. If this trend continues next summer, brands should follow this house’s lead when seeking resorts to

partner with. They might look at locations that have already been featured in campaigns or lines.

Another apt pairing, Jacquemus has taken the luxury experience to the sunkissed shores of Saint-Tropez with its latest beach front pop-up. The exclusive Indie Beach, a private beach club in Saint-Tropez, now boasts the stylish touch of Jacquemus, offering guests a unique opportunity to bask under the vibrant yellow sun loungers that bear the brand’s iconic logo.

Building on the success of recent popup boutique openings in Como and Portofino, Simon Porte Jacquemus continues to expand his creative vision. The sun-kissed seaside town of Saint-

Tropez provides the perfect backdrop for Jacquemus’ elegant pop-up boutique, showcasing its exclusive Été capsule collection. The capsule was regionally inspired and shows how brands can make smart use of local motifs.

Jaquemus’ first-ever branded beach exudes a nostalgic 1970s charm with its beach furniture adorned in citrus-striped awnings, parasols, and cushions, all designed in the brand’s signature patterns and hues. The beach’s breezy atmosphere is further enhanced by decorative surfboards that add a touch of coastal chic to the experience.

Fashion enthusiasts and beach goers can revel in the allure of Jacquemus x Indie Beach throughout the summer until

October 2023, creating an unforgettable luxury beach experience in the heart of Saint-Tropez.

FIND A RESONANT RESORT

Yet locating a seaside city that fits with the brand’s aesthetic is only half the work. The resort itself must also be a good fit. It seems, at first, like it would require a lot of difficult calculus to determine potential partners that culturally jive. After all, hotels and fashion houses serve wildly different needs.

But fashion houses have long been designing event spaces, from runways to retail stores. So they have already practiced incorporating aesthetic choices that reflect brand DNA in physical spaces. (House museums like the Gucci

Garden or Fondazione Prada are another example of this.) In choosing resorts, houses may have built on their experiments to find a place that truly resonates.

They might also look at the clientele of the resorts, to ensure that they are targeting the right demographic. But, as we’ve said, the visitors of these resorts are already seeking out luxury experiences. In a way, the clientele has already been curated. So, when Missoni redesigned the One&Only Reethi Rah resort, known for its luxurious offerings, the house could be confident it was appealing to the right, sought-after client base.

Dior, too, has found a resonant partner to pair up with. Throughout the summer, the captivating models of the Dioriviera capsule were unveiled in a series of ephemeral boutiques around the

world. As a vibrant tribute to Christian Dior’s passion for the Mediterranean art of living, Dior inaugurated an unprecedented pop-up store at Shellona Beach, Saint-Tropez, from June 1 to September 20, 2023. The results are a seamless blend of style and place.

In this exceptional setting, creations are presented in a sunny universe enhanced by the purity and naturalness of colors and materials. From the beach to the restaurant, the summer atmosphere is punctuated by the collection’s emblems, including the toile de Jouy reinvented this season in a palette of soft shades, from pink to gray. Named Toile de Jouy Sauvage, it illuminates deckchairs, sunloungers, cushions and parasols. Here and there, the animals inhabiting this essential motif are transformed into life-size works, entirely

sculpted in sand.

We can again look to Dolce & Gabbana for an example of an apt house-hotel pairing. At the Casa Amor beach club, in the French riviera, D&G decked the place out with its Carretto Siciliano print. The Casa Amor, with its laid-back attitude, blends well with D&G’s sunny but luxurious image.

USE LOCATION TO YOUR ADVANTAGE

Many of the takeovers are happening in Italy and France, close to where houses are headquartered. But some are expanding to more distant shores. Louis Vuitton, for example, has decorated the Huangcuo Beach in the Chinese island of Xiamen. To complement this takeover,

LV released a By the Pool collection, a resort line featuring Barbiecore-pink monograms and even a fan.

This move builds on LV’s presence in China. With 62 retail stores on the mainland, the house is serious about cementing its presence there. A beach takeover in one of the nation’s top tourist destinations is a sign that the house wants to

remain a key player in this flush market. After all, the nation’s fashion industry generated US $336.8 billion in 2023. By bringing the European takeover trend to China, LV is showing itself to be forward thinking.

Valentino, in a similar move, partnered with SĀN beach in Dubai. It appears as though the Italian-based house is gearing up to tap into the United Arab

Emirates’ robust luxury consumer base. Like in China, the appetite for high-end fashion is strong in the Middle Eastern country. Valentino is making in-roads here by showcasing their knack for luxury experience-making.

CONCLUSION

These beach takeovers did so much for brands at once. Houses got to show off

their resort lines to an exclusive, international clientele, for sure. But they also proved that their aesthetic philosophies can translate to more than just products to be worn. Sipping a mojito on a beach chair designed by Gucci fuses the house’s image with unabashed pleasure. By now, some of the umbrellas and resort wear may be packed up. But the indelible memories will always remain.

LATE RISER?

WAKE UP WITH THESE NINE TIPS

BACKED UP BY SCIENCE

Not everyone is born a morning person, but it’s never too late to make the switch.

GENERALLY, THERE ARE TWO MAIN REASONS IT’S HARD TO WAKE UP IN THE MORNING. EITHER YOU’RE AN EARLY RISER, BUT SOMETHING HAS GONE WACKY WITH YOUR SLEEP, SO YOU DON’T FEEL RESTED IN THE MORNING. OR YOU’RE JUST NOT AN EARLY RISER AND YOU’LL HAVE TO SHIFT YOUR SLEEP CHRONOTYPE FROM AN EVENING TYPE TO MORNING.

If you fall into the first group, good news: Yes, you can turn yourself into a

morning person by identifying what’s wrong with your sleep and fixing it.

If you fall into the latter group, good and bad news: You can become an early riser, but because you’ll essentially be overriding your biology, this change will take planning, self-discipline and consistency. You can do it, especially by implementing these nine tips into your routine.

HERE’S WHY YOU STRUGGLE TO WAKE UP IN THE MORNING

One major contributor to tough mornings is nighttime wakefulness, said Barton Scott, a nutritionist and founder of Upgraded Formulas, a supplement company focused on improving sleep.

“Nighttime wakefulness is ultimately, as a concept, being out of harmony with your normal circadian rhythm,” Scott said. “This can be termed chrono-misalignment, and this lack of harmony leads to issues getting to bed, falling asleep earlier than expected, [and] unexpectedly napping.”

You may experience conscious wakefulness, where you know that you aren’t sleeping well, or you may experience fragmented sleep, which involves many brief awakenings each night that you’re unaware of or don’t remember.

Consider these situations to decipher whether you might’ve spent the night tossing and turning, even without know-

ing that your sleep was interrupted:

• You took a nap longer than 20 minutes the day before

• You took a nap after 3 p.m. the day before

• You consumed caffeine in the afternoon

• You ate your last meal within two hours of bedtime

• Your last meal was very heavy

• You drank alcohol within a few hours of bedtime

• You were looking at screens all the way up until bedtime

• The temperature in your bedroom isn’t right

Another contributor, perhaps the biggest one, is that some people simply aren’t

morning people, said Terry Cralle, registered nurse and certified clinical sleep educator. Everyone has a unique chronotype that regulate their sleep cycle.

“Night owls often struggle against a society that is geared to early risers,” Cralle said. “Obviously, this can result in sleep deprivation and all of its consequences if their working hours are not in alignment with their body clock.”

RYAN GOSLING

AS HE VENTURED BACK INTO THE SPOTLIGHT TO PLAY KEN IN THE SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER  BARBIE , RYAN GOSLING TALKED CANDIDLY ABOUT WHY HE STEPPED AWAY FROM HOLLYWOOD, WHY HE’S THINKING ABOUT MOVIE-MAKING DIFFERENTLY NOW, AND WHY HE’S PRIORITIZING THE OFF-SCREEN ROLES HE PLAYS IN REAL LIFE.

RYAN GOSLING SUBSCRIBES TO WHAT HE CALLS AN ESCAPE-ROOM STYLE OF BEING AN ACTOR. THIS IS A LITTLE THEORETICAL, BECAUSE HE’S NEVER ACTUALLY BEEN TO AN ESCAPE ROOM, AND HE’S NOT TOTALLY SURE WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE OF THEM. “Maybe I should do one,” he says, “to see if this really works.” But the general idea is: You’re thrown into a particular set of circumstances and you’ve got to find your way out. Maybe you show up on set one day and it’s raining when it’s

not supposed to be raining, Gosling says, “or this person doesn’t want to say any of that dialogue, or the neighbor’s got a leaf blower and they’re not turning it off.” What do you do next?

Over time, Gosling has discovered that this approach might apply to more than just acting. Maybe, for instance, you’re a kid growing up in a town you don’t want to be in and you’re trying to locate an exit. Maybe you’re looking for something you can’t put into words and you make movies to try to pin down whatever it is you’re looking for. Maybe you’re a person who never envisioned raising a family and then you meet the person who changes, in some radical way, how you see yourself and your future. Life comes

at you, in all its unanticipated and startling particulars; the thing that makes you an artist is the way you respond.

And being open to the unexpected has served Gosling well. When he was young, his first real breakthrough came in a movie, 2001’s The Believer, about a Jewish kid from New York who becomes a neo-Nazi. Gosling was none of these things, a fact that the director, Henry Bean, turned out to like—“The fact that I wasn’t really right for it was exactly why he thought I was right for it,” Gosling says. A few years later, when Gosling was auditioning for The Notebook, he says, the director, Nick Cassavetes, “straight up told me: ‘The fact that you have no natural leading man qualities is

why I want you to be my leading man.’ ” Gosling got the part; he’s been a leading man ever since.

In his youth, Gosling treated acting a little bit like therapy, or an opportunity “to teach myself about myself.” He was in search of experiences—films that could capture a mood, or a feeling. Sometimes what he was doing barely looked like acting at all. “Even though I think Ryan has watched a lot of movies, the way he acts is as if he hasn’t watched that many mov-

ies,” Emily Blunt, who first got to know Gosling on the set of David Leitch’s forthcoming movie The Fall Guy, says.

For 2010’s Blue Valentine, Gosling lived for a time with his costar, Michelle Williams, in the house where they shot the film, playing the part of parents with the young actor who played their daughter. For 2011’s Drive, he and the film’s director, Nicolas Winding Refn, spent days driving across Los Angeles, listening to music, whittling away dialogue from their script until the

film was purely about the unnameable sensation the two of them shared in the car. “I was trying to find a place to put all these things that were happening to me,” Gosling says. “And these films became ways to do that, like time capsules.”

For Only God Forgives, Refn’s next film, Gosling spent months in Thailand before shooting began, training in Muay Thai camps, learning to fight.

“And I don’t think I did Muay Thai once in that film,” Gosling says. Refn changed

plans. Gosling was okay with it. “I didn’t do the film to do Muay Thai,” he says.

And then something interesting happened, or maybe—in the manner of life—a few things happened, and the way Gosling worked began to change. In 2014, he and his partner, Eva Mendes, with whom he starred in The Place Beyond the Pines, had their first kid, and then in 2016, their second, both daughters. Gosling started to act in fewer independent movies and more studio films, like La La Land and Blade Runner 2049. These were movies, as Gosling describes them to me, “for an audience.” And then, for four years, he didn’t appear in anything at all.

Gosling’s explanation for his absence from Hollywood is straightforward: He and Mendes had recently had their second kid, “and I wanted to spend as much time as I could with them.” Gosling is not one of those people who pictured himself as a parent—the moment he first imagined himself as a father, he says, was the moment immediately before he became one: “Eva said she was pregnant.” But, he adds, “I would never want to go back, you know? I’m glad I didn’t have control over my destiny in that way, because it was so much better than I ever had dreamed for myself.”

When Gosling finally came back to work, it was for last year’s The Gray Man, an action spectacle directed by the Russo brothers for Netflix, and then this year’s Barbie, directed by Greta Gerwig. He says the time away solidified certain changes in his attitude toward his job. “I treat it more like work now, and not like it’s, you know, therapy,” he says. “It’s a job, and I think in a way that allows me to be better at it because there’s less interference.”

Perhaps not coincidentally, the projects he’s gravitating toward now, which include another giant action film, The Fall Guy— which Leitch describes as “a love letter to big movies,” and which Gosling just finished shooting in Australia—seem to have larger and more crowd-pleasing aspirations. “I’ve always wanted to do it,” Gosling says. “I just never really had the opportu-

nity like this, or it never kind of worked itself out this way. It took me a long time to get into sort of bigger, more commercial films. I had to kind of take the back entrance.”

When Gosling was younger, making independent movies, it was often with the unspoken expectation that not many people would see them. “So you kinda make the

movie for yourselves,” he says. Somebody had once given him the advice: Your job is just to feel it. “Doesn’t matter if anyone else does, you know?” Gosling says. “But I think, having done a lot of that, I realize that I kind of feel like my job is for other people to feel it. And it’s cool if I do, but that’s really not the point. The point is that other people do.”

FASHION & STYLE

HIGHSNOBIETY & VILEBREQIN COLLABORATION

THE END OF AN ERA FOR HIGH HEELS?

HERMES' CHEVAL DE LEGENDE TIMEPIECE

A BEACHY COLLABORATION

HIGHSNOBIETY & VILEBREQUIN

IN AN EXCITING DEVELOPMENT, HIGHSNOBIETY, THE INFLUENTIAL BRAND AND CULTURAL PIONEER THAT HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF SHAPING YOUTH CULTURE SINCE 2005, ANNOUNCED A NEW COLLABORATION WITH VILEBREQUIN, THE ESTEEMED FRENCH LUXURY LABEL RENOWNED FOR ITS EXQUISITE SWIMWEAR AND READY-TO-WEAR FASHION FOR BOTH MEN AND WOMEN. With its origins dating back to 1971, Vilebrequin still captures the essence of the vibrant St. Tropez scene that inspired its creation and has cemented

its position as a leader in the swimwear arena due to its unwavering commitment to high-quality craftsmanship and sustainability. In this dynamic partnership, Highsnobiety and Vilebrequin join forces to re-imagine the iconic style of the French Riviera for the modern era.

The forthcoming capsule collection showcases an array of compelling offerings, including swim shorts paired with coordinating tops, stylish t-shirts, cozy hoodies, and an assortment of accessories ranging from towels and tote bags to caps and bucket hats. By seamlessly merging the distinctive design sensibilities of both brands, this collaboration creates a collection that skillfully bridges the gap between past and present.

The accompanying campaign draws in-

STYLE

spiration from the storied heritage of the French Riviera, skillfully infusing it with contemporary elements. The campaign pays homage to its origins while maintaining a firm foothold in the current fashion landscape—a true embodiment of Highsnobiety’s interpretation of the iconic 1970s St. Tropez aesthetic.

Fashion enthusiasts can eagerly anticipate the release of the Highsnobiety x Vilebrequin capsule collection, which is set to launch in two phases on the Highsnobiety Shop. The first phase launched last month, followed by the second release on September 13, 2023. This collaboration promises to be a noteworthy fusion of creativity, craftsmanship, and style, bringing together two influential brands to offer a fresh perspective on timeless fashion.

A BEACHY COLLABORATION

HIGHSNOBIETY X VILEBREQUIN

STYLE

IS

THIS

THE END OF AN ERA FOR HIGH HEELS?

IN THE EVER-SHIFTING FASHION SPHERE, WHERE TRENDS WAX AND WANE WITH THE CHANGING SEASONS, ONE PARTICULAR CHANGE HAS CAUGHT THE EYE OF EXPERTS OF LATE: A GRADUAL DECLINE IN POPULARITY OF HIGH HEELS. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SPOTTED A TEETERING STILETTO?

Once synonymous with elegance and sophistication, the towering symbols of “femininity” have been making a quiet exit from the limelight, replaced by a new wave of comfort-driven options.

Could the pandemic hold the masterstroke that led to high heels’ demise? The altered course of our lives undoubtedly played a role in the downturn of the striking style.

Before the world stood still, high heels reigned supreme. These marvels of design not only elevated one’s stature but also evoked a sense of elegance that transcended mere clothing. High heels were billed as not just footwear but a gateway to confidence, allure, and a dash of untamed glamor.

“High heels alter body posture and create a distinctive walking style which can affect the way individuals carry themselves, promoting a more upright posture and enhancing

perceived attractiveness and admiration from others,” Dr Carolyn Mair, cognitive psychologist and fashion business consultant, author of The Psychology of Fashion told CNN over email. ”This can contribute to feelings of confidence and a sense of being noticed and appreciated as feminine, glamorous, or professional.”

NEW PRIORITIES FOR A NEW WAY OF LIFE

Yet, when the pandemic tightened hit, high heels receded from their prominent perch. Interest took a noticeable dip: sales of high heels dropped by 65% year-over-year during the second quarter of 2020, according to data from market research firm NPD Group. The culprit? A seismic shift in priorities induced by a new way of living. The siren song of comfort and practicality drowned out high heels’ allure.

A surge in remote work blurred boundaries between business and leisurewear; grand events shrank in number, replaced

by the ascendancy of the athleisure trend.

“As a result of the pandemic, many of us prioritized wellbeing, comfort and practicality,” Mair told CNN. “The reduced opportunities to socialize and attend formal or dressy occasions and the widespread adoption of remote work led to the shift towards more casual attire.”

The question remains though. Did the pandemic really cause such a monumental change in high heels’ popularity or is the decline part of a larger trend?

“As society moves towards more egalitarian ideals, there is a rejection of rigidly defined femininity that associates high heels with the primary marker of femininity,” Mair told CNN. “This shift encourages us to embrace individuality, a broader range of expressions, and reject footwear that may limit mobility and comfort.”

Enter: The new vanguard of footwear —

STYLE

a fusion of style and comfort that didn’t compromise on either. The ubiquitous presence of sneakers, loafers, and blockheeled shoes has reshaped the landscape of women’s footwear choices.

REFLECTING A NEW MODERNITY

This is reflected in the rise in popularity of various “it” styles in recent years. Designer collaborations with Valentino, Proenza Schouler, and Rick Owens breathed new life into Birkenstock’s classic Arizona sandal — the style became a go-to for comfort over the pandemic, with searches increasing by 225% during the second quarter of 2020 according to Lyst. In 2023, searches for “chunky sneakers” and “black ballet flats” have increased by 70% and 71% respectively according to fashion industry analyst Madé Lapuerta of Data, But Make It Fashion.

Post-pandemic then, the appetite for high heels had not fully rebounded.

Despite the gradual return to normalcy, and search interest increasing by 177% compared to 2020 in the third quarter of 2021 (according to global fashion shopping platform Lyst), searches for the style generally remained notably lower than pre-pandemic levels, drive instead leaned towards the comfort of lower heels and block heels.

“The popularity of heels remained robust during and after the lockdown period with heels remaining one of the strongest categories,” a spokesperson for Christian Louboutin told CNN over email. “The pandemic did however prompt an appetite for a large range of heeled styles reflecting the change in lifestyle and trends, these included platforms, low and block heels.”

Elsewhere, sales of flats and sneakers are flying. Adidas’ Gazelle sports shoe has

increased 143% in popularity so far in 2023, and four in 10 of The Lyst Index’s most popular products for Q2 2023 (and 100% of the footwear products) were flat shoes — Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 sneakers, New Balance Aime Leon Dore sneakers, Alaïa fishnet flats and The Row City Flip Flops.

The flat theme was ever-present on the Fall/Winter 2023 catwalks, too; pointed ballet pumps reigned at Prada and Balmain, Miu Miu and Loewe took loafers to the next level, and Burberry and Valentino streamlined sleek boots for the cooler months.

As we bid a temporary adieu to high heels, questions linger about their future trajectory. Will they stage a triumphant return, reaffirming their position as the epitome of allure?

“High heels are likely to remain a pop-

ular choice for special occasions such as parties and weddings,” says Mair.

However, she adds, “the evolving societal perception of beauty and femininity has encouraged a broader acceptance of diverse body types, prioritized comfort and practicality, promoted self-expression and individuality, and challenged traditional gender norms.”

Without a doubt the pandemic rewrote the rules of fashion, ushering in an era where comfort seamlessly intertwines with elegance, but only time will illuminate the future path of high heels. For now, the style is no longer seen as an essential marker of femininity.

As Greta Gerwig’s Barbie put it upon discovering her feet had become flat rather than artificially arched: “I would never wear heels if my feet were shaped like this.”

HERMES WOWED AT 'WATCHES & WONDERS'

THIS YEAR AT ‘WATCHES & WONDERS’ (THE ANNUAL TIMEPIECE TRADE FAIR BASED IN GENEVA) THE PARISIAN POWERHOUSE UNVEILED ITS 2023 LAUNCHES, GIVING US PLENTY TO TALK ABOUT.

Going with the title ‘The Finesse of Time’, Hermès questioned the idea of whether you can really capture time. Can you tame it? Can you control it? These abstract themes, paired with the Maison’s dedication to heritage and craftsmanship, resulted in a sizable compilation of timepieces - the atelier has been busy, to say the least. Hermès Horologer’s creative director, Philippe Delhotal, shares further insight on what we can expect from the new novelties.

Rishna Shah: What does a client look for when they come to Hermès to purchase a timepiece? What buying trends have

you noticed?

Philippe Delhotal: Hermès creates everyday objects that are highly qualitative and durable. The Maison is not driven by fashion - we follow our own path. When customers come into our stores, they look for an emotion, a genuine story and singularity. They come to find something they won’t find anywhere else. Hermès ‘Exceptional Pieces’ carry the patrimony and values of the Maison. Our clients are looking for well-crafted, quality objects that are made to last generations and as a collector’s items. These objects are created in very limited quantities due to their difficulties and the time needed to bring them to life.

RS: What watch from the ‘Exceptional Pieces’ series was the most technically challenging to create?

PD: ‘Exceptional Pieces’ always imply challenges. We are talking about human crafts and hands creating something

beautiful from scratch. For 2023, one of our most challenging timepieces is the ‘Slim d’Hermès Cheval de Légende’. This watch represents an equestrian symbol inspired by the eponymous scarf created in 2010 by artist Benoit-Pierre Emery, featuring a celestial gallop, in gold dots, on silk.

We decided to transpose this motif onto a watch dial, with a studded horse coming to life. It has been created in two different versions, both limited and numbered to 24 pieces. To create this, the artisan carves tiny cavities onto a gold surface that is enameled and polished by hand. Then, one by one, they place 1678 rose gold or blue enamel beads in the cavities, before firing them in an oven to set them in enamel. As you probably know, enamel is very delicate — a few seconds too many or too few could compromise the outcome. Thanks to the expertise, patience and passion of our craftsmen, we can succeed in creating such precise dials.

ARIZONA'S

BEST-KEPT SECRET

CASTLE HOT SPRINGS

DISCOVERING ARIZONA'S CASTLE HOT SPRINGS

AN ALL-INCLUSIVE LUXURY RESORT IN ARIZONA WITH NATURAL HOT SPRINGS AND A SLOT-CANYON HIKE

CASTLE HOT SPRINGS IS JUST AN HOUR NORTH OF PHOENIX, BUT IT FEELS LIKE ANOTHER WORLD. AND IT’S WHERE ONE TRAVEL WRITER FOUND THE BEST MASSAGE OF HER LIFE.

The journey to Castle Hot Springs in Arizona has never been easy. It was first braved by Indigenous Americans who came to soak in the healing water, and later, by travelers who came by stagecoach, train, and bus to experience the hot-spring-turned-wellness-resort.

Centuries have passed — and Phoenix may be a mere hour to the south — but the last seven-miles of the journey to Castle Hot Springs remains unpaved and riddled with potholes. The journey

is arguably akin to an initiation; the road is rough, but the reward is sweet. The reward is so sweet, in fact, that T+L readers voted Castle Hot Springs one of the 500 best hotels in the world in the newly released T+L 500.

On the day of my arrival to Castle Hot Springs, rain fell steadily and newly formed creeks crossed the typically dry dirt road. My friend and I charged through several water crossings, which were getting deeper by the minute, in her SUV. But the journey was forgotten once we entered the property, which is an oasis in the truest sense of the word.

The resort is set in the Sonoran Desert, but the spring water that flows from the surrounding Bradshaw Mountains provides neon-green lawns, thriving citrus trees, and that previously men-

tioned garden that helps feed hotel guests. The water is filtered and piped in for showers and drinking water, and it can be enjoyed in the three luxurious soaking pools (the hottest of which is 104 degrees Fahrenheit).

And while the hot spring pools are easily the resort’s biggest draw, the accommodations are nothing short of spectacular. Each guest is given the gift of space and privacy. My friend and I stayed in the Spring Bungalows, a series of modern, freestanding homes with private spring-fed tubs and indoor-outdoor fireplaces. Nearby, the Sky View Cabins are situated for stargazing and outfitted with telescopes and outdoor tubs. Large groups can stay in the historic hillside cottage, which has housed Roosevelts, Rockefellers, and Vanderbilts.

BY EVIE CARRICK / SPECIAL TO POLO LIFESTYLES

Castle Hot Springs has three, tiered soaking pools set in the canyon above the resort.

Meals at the all-inclusive resort feature ingredients plucked straight from the resort’s garden, like fresh basil on the wood-fired pizza.

The resort offers several on-site activities, including archery, paddleboard yoga, wine tastings, farm tours, and a via ferrata climbing course.

CASTLE HOT SPRINGS

Everyone meets in the main house for meals, which are included in the nightly rate. Dinner is a standout, with a set soup, salad, and palate cleanser followed by a selection of entrees and the night’s dessert. The wine flows and the cocktails have garden-fresh garnishes, like orange and mint.

When you’re not eating or soaking, Castle Hot Springs has a robust activity list that includes everything from archery and paddleboard yoga to wine tastings and farm tours. The more adventurous can brave the two on-site via ferratas or hike up the slot canyon on the new Crater Canyon tour. Those looking for solitude will find it on the hiking trails that crisscross the mountains surrounding Castle Hot Springs.

But no trip to Castle Hot Springs is complete without a visit to the spa. At its core, the property is a wellness escape, designed to help travelers unplug and enjoy nature. Their spa lives up to the hype, especially if you happen to snag a treatment with Ryan Tucker, who gave me the best massage of my life. It seems she is not an anomaly; I heard another guest refer to a therapist as “Jesus” after a particularly life-changing Watsu treatment.

When it came time to go home, the spring rains had obliterated the road we had driven in on and turned it into a raging river. Helicopters transported staff in and out and heavy machinery was brought in to smooth out what remained of the road. Most guests took a helicopter back to Phoenix, but since we

had driven our own car to the resort, we waited anxiously to see if the road had become passable.

In the end, we joined a convoy of vehicles in a gripping journey down the road-turned-river. It was an adventure — a stressful one — but I couldn’t help thinking about the Indigenous Americans who made this journey on horseback or the early resort guests who braved a five-hour stagecoach ride for just a few days at this otherworldly oasis.

It’s a risk-reward that remains today — at least during a flood. But like those who came to the springs before me, I can attest that the waters of Castle Hot Springs are well worth the journey it takes to get there.

CASTLE HOT SPRINGS

VERNISSAGE

PATRON'S PLACE BY RAPHAEL K. DAPAAH

VERNISSAGE · POLO LIFESTYLES EXCLUSIVE DIVE INTO ART & ARTISTS

AFRICA SUPERNOVA

THE COLLECTION OF CARLA & PIETER SCHULTING

RAPHAEL K. DAPAAH ART CONTRIBUTOR  @dapaahgallery

ESTEEMED AND RESPECTED COLLEC-

TORS OF OVER THIRTY YEARS, IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS, THE SCHULTINGS HAVE ASSEMBLED AN EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF 170 ARTWORKS BY

154 ARTISTS FROM ACROSS 33 AFRICAN COUNTRIES AND THE AFRICAN DIASPORA.

Their debut institutional exhibition, Africa Supernova, presents a large cross-section of their extensive collection, showing how diverse, complex and promising the artistic development of contemporary African art is. Regions like South Africa, West and Central Africa (Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Cameroon), East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia) and North Africa are strong-

ly represented, with a special focus on young artists, most of whom are in their early twenties and thirties.

While admittedly not a comprehensive overview of African art, but rather a wide ranging anthology, the presentation provides a strong insight into an emerging art scene that has gained an increasingly prominent place in the international art firmament in recent years. Together, alongside Carla and Pieter Schulting, we are witnesses to the blossoming of a group of artists who

are taking the art world by storm in the wake of a number of - now - big names. The primary focus of their collection is on painters, along with a number of sculptors and a growing affinity for photography.

What is African art?

Pieter Schulting: What is African art? There is actually no such thing, because it is so diverse. An artist from Morocco can make a very different work than an artist from South Africa. It’s a huge continent, of course, and we also want to show that there are these huge differences. I myself, since we started collecting African art, have also gained a different perspective on the continent.

Discovering the artworks and meeting people from many different African countries has been very educational and inspiring.

What inspired the title of the show?

Carla Schulting: The title, Africa Supernova, reflects on how in recent years the art of the African continent has taken the global art world by storm, much like an explosion. We are only just beginning to discover what the African continent has in store for us. The title was invented by the Nigerian curator, Azu Nwagbogu, who will be curating the Benin pavilion for next year’s Venice Biennale. This title sums up very well that our collection cannot easily be cate-

gorized; it is so varied and diverse. We only show works that we love, and that have touched our hearts. It is an explosion of creativity, and that is exactly what we want to show.

Pieter Schulting: We want this exhibition to provide an overview of the young artists who are now putting Africa on the global art map. We think that when you look back in twenty years, this period will be a part of art history.

Africa Supernova; the contemporary African art collection of Carla & Pieter Schulting is on display at Kunsthal KAdE in Amersfoort in the Netherlands from September 24 2023 through January 7 2024

VERNISSAGE · POLO LIFESTYLES EXCLUSIVE DIVE INTO ART & ARTISTS

NYC'S LUXURY MARKET STILL SIMMERING WITH CASH BUYERS

THE STATE OF THE CITY

DANA ROMITA  REAL ESTATE CONTRIBUTOR  @danaromita

THE LONG, HOT SUMMER IS OVER FOR NEW YORKERS AND THE MANHATTAN LUXURY REAL ESTATE MARKET AS WELL. AND THAT’S GOT EVERYONE ASKING… NOW, WHAT? WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE MARKET? MORE SPECIFICALLY, PEOPLE ARE ASKING

ME, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE MARKET? IS ANYTHING HAPPENING? IS NOW A GOOD TIME TO BUY?

Right at this moment, we’re experiencing what’s best been described as a “neutral market.” A neutral market meaning that, overall, it isn’t leaning strongly in favor of either buyers or sellers -- unsatisfying as both a conclusion and as a response to the above questions. So, let me preface any further discussion by looking big picture: the New York City luxury market remains resilient

and is still tops worldwide. But for the purposes of the here and now, Spencer Elliot from Forbes aptly summarizes the New York City market as “discerning but liquid.”

I was boots on the ground all summer long, entrenched in the day-to-day of our city’s luxury real estate market, as one of the few who did not embark for Italy, Greece or Croatia. Based on my real-time experience, Spencer Elliot is correct: The decreasing inventory supply and diminished listing discounts seemingly indicate a seller’s market. However – and this is key -- buyers with

cash in hand are discriminating, savvy and willing to wait out the negotiations. For perspective, consider July presented a slower market, with Hamptons rentals feeling the sting from the European travel rush more acutely than elsewhere; even so, this July realized just over a 4% increase in contracts signed versus last July.

Surprisingly, the higher mortgage rates -- 30-year fixed mortgages hit 7% in August – proved less damaging to the New York City market than anticipated. Kenny Lee at Street Easy succinctly notes, the “current market is simmering with buyers with higher budgets competing for declining new listing inventory.” The resiliency of the area’s luxury buyer may lead to price increases on desirable, move-in ready listings in the fall. We expect that the New York

City luxury market will be vibrant and active as the cash buyers chase after limited flow of exceptional new development inventory for a multitude of demographics.

Liquidity and steady demand should be an indicator of good things to come for the NYC luxury market. New development condos experienced a 24% increase in YTD deal volume compared to the average January–July, as well as a 15% increase in YTD total dollar volume compared to the average January–July. July demand for $4M+ luxury residences at a total of 37 contracts, though down from June, remained above the historical 30-deal benchmark. 50 West 66th Street reported a contract on a unit priced at $23M, and the Mandarin Oriental Residences reported a deal on a unit asking $22M, both great success

stories. “With the fall sales season now in sight,” said Kael Goodman, co-founder and CEO of Marketproof, Inc., “we forecast that demand for new dev will accelerate in coming months after what has been a strong summer.”

There is opportunity in the market if you are looking to purchase your piece of Manhattan. Factors mentioned above, coupled with a slowdown in citywide new development implies that the moment is now to purchase a luxury property either as a residence or purely for investment purposes, particularly before we see tighter listing discounts or possibly increased pricing.

Now on to the sexier side of real estate – cool new development projects that have people clamoring for a view from all corners of the globe. Four of the

hottest new development projects to check out this fall include One High Line, which rises majestically above the High Line and offers exceptional condominium residences developed by Witkoff & Access Industries; 50 West 66th Street on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, with Snøhetta leading the design; The Keller at 150 Barrow captures the essence of downtown living and features numerous indoor and outdoor amenities; and 125 Greenwich, designed by world-renowned architect Rafael Viñoly, boasts 273 residences with spectacular views, an indulgent amenity package

boasting an infinity pool, yoga studios and private dining room.

Though downtown seems to be the epicenter of trendy new development projects, the Upper East Side more than holds its own, commanding impressive prices per square foot. All twenty-one units at Manor 82 (333 East 82nd Street) are sold, while nine new contracts were signed at 180 East 88th Street and with both The Harper (310 East 86th Street) and 1289 Lexington Avenue following close behind in sales. Gracie Green (427 East 90th Street) blew past the half-sold

mark between January and July. Buyers are infatuated with well-executed, wellpriced new development all over town – and if they feel the well-priced aspect is not present, they are happy to wait out the developers. People buying now are doing so more out of want, than they are of need.

At least for the meantime, supply is decreasing, demand is remaining strong, and buyers are willing to pay a premium for a turnkey, fully renovated or brandnew apartment. If something sells within 30-60 days now, it is because it’s in

excellent condition and needs no work. Buyers are proving to be less emotional in this market, as well as more discerning and thoughtful. They are taking longer to consider their purchases and options.

I am experiencing this firsthand and when I share my observations with fellow brokers, they wholeheartedly agree! I’ve been saying that transactions seem to be taking longer to get done than usual, requiring multiple visits back to the same listings, and lengthier contract review periods. Brokers are investing

more time in each client and deal. Back in the day, an offer would be made after two or three showings; not so the last few months. The positives of that: buyers more confident in their purchases and a growing relationship and better rapport between clients and brokers that will surely pay dividends in the future.

And then there’s the latest twist: AI – artificial intelligence. You’re reading about it online and hearing about it on the news, on podcasts, from your friends. AI is everywhere, and the luxury real estate industry is not immune. AI should

ultimately give brokers the luxury of spending additional time cultivating personal relationships with their clients and giving them more personal attention. AI technology will be used for data mining and sharing, highly specialized searches, detailed comparative markets analysis, real-time listing updates, and other time-consuming data gathering activities that keep luxury brokers from spending their valuable time doing what they do best – guiding, advising, and representing their valued clients in this endlessly fascinating world of luxury Manhattan real estate.

MANSION OF THE MONTH

VILLEFRANCHE-SUR-MER

THE COTE D'AZUR

55,000,0000 EUROS

BETWEEN NICE & MONACO

VILLEFRANCHE-SUR-MER

AN EXCEPTIONAL ADDRESS BETWEEN NICE AND MONACO

A splendid Belle Epoque property for sale, located on the largest private plot of Villefranche-sur-Mer (16500 m²) - an exceptional property between Nice and Monaco. This castle offers many advantages, including beautiful terraces with stunning sea views.

Its location is ideal, with proximity to the sea, the port and the immediate old town. The property covers an area of 545 square meters living space, on three levels and consists of a dining room, a double living room, six bedrooms (including four master suites), a kitchen

THIS HISTORIC RESIDENCE, KNOWN AS LA RÊVE D’AZUR, ONCE BELONGED TO THE VOISIN BROTHERS, FAMOUS PIONEERS OF FRENCH AVIATION.

and four bathrooms.

All the living rooms have magnificent views of the sea. The property also includes a caretaker’s house and a veranda housing a gym. The moldings, as well as the beautiful heights under ceiling, bring character to the whole.

For moments of relaxation, you can enjoy the huge, wooded park, leading by a majestic staircase to the pool as well as a magnificent roof terrace with summer dining room. This prestigious residence has marble floors and walls of the highest quality, as well as heated wooden floors in the upper-level rooms.

A reversible air conditioning system is installed throughout the property. Built in 1911, this Belle Époque villa was completely renovated in 2016 by the Italian architect Alberto Mariotti, renowned for his know-how.

MANSION OF THE MONTH

VILLEFRANCHE-SUR-MER, PROVENCE-ALPES-COTE D'AZUR

PRICE 55,000,000 EUROS BEDROOMS 6

BATHROOMS 4 FULL

INTERIOR 8,611 SQ FT.

EXTERIOR 4.08 ACRES

The sunlit South of France casts a brilliant glow on the region’s abundance. The area known as Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur covers a slice of France with near fairy-tale riches. Within a short drive, one can travel from an Alpine peak, pass lavender fields, vineyards and medieval villages and end up on the glorious Mediterranean coast.

NANTES

PAYS DE LA LOIRE

44000 FRANCE

PRICE $29,967,206 USD

BEDROOMS 8 / BATHROOMS 2 FULL INTERIOR 10,7639 SQ FT. / EXTERIOR 317.29 ACRES

NANTES, PAYS DE LA LOIRE, 44000 FRANCE

HUS STUD FARM

This exceptional estate comprises not only a historic chateau but also one of France’s biggest equestrian facilities with

the capacity to house approximately 400 horses. The castle has been restored and offers 1000 sq. meters of perfectly renovated living space including an indoor pool, a steam room and a gym. The spacious grounds comprise 128 hectares including private access to the River

Erdre, a 30-meter mooring, extensive equestrian training facilities including show jumping and dressage with 200 hectares extra rental. Restored outbuildings, helicopter pad and only 35 kilometers from the international airport. The sale includes 300 horses.

CASTILLO CARIBE CARIBBEAN LUXURY IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

PRICE UPON REQUEST

NOW 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.

In Search of Solace Portuguese Vinho Verde

THE ULTIMATE SUMMER WINE VINHO VERDE

WILLIAM SMITH @willismith_2000 COPY EDITOR & CONTRIBUTOR

HIS SUMMER HAS BEEN A SCORCHER FOR MANY OF US IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE. AS HAS BEEN REPORTED WIDELY, JULY 2023 WAS THE HOTTEST MONTH ON RECORD SINCE RECORD-KEEPING BEGAN IN THE 1800S.

That kind of heat has everyone seeking refuge in various ways and this oenophile is no different. It’s what led me to think about a particular wine that seems most fitting and fantastically refreshing to quench the thirst from a painfully hot summer. My go to: Portugal’s Vinho Verde.

When most people think of Vinho Verde (the second “e” of Verde is silent), they think of a wonderfully bursting and mineral white with some slight effervescence to it. I did, too. That was, until I had the good fortune of attending a Master Class on Vinho Verde held earlier this summer by DO Vinho Verde, the wine commission for the region, at San Francisco’s famed One Market restaurant. Nearly unknown to most, the variety of wines available from the region is vast and many, even age-worthy. Still, that will have to be the subject of another, future column, as the torridness of our summer weather has me pulled back to my original point of departure.

I think the first time I saw a Vinho Verde was on a local grocery store shelf in Washington, D.C. a decade or so ago. The rather regal looking label of the Casal Garcia bottling jumped from the

Tnondescript shelf and defied the meager price, which, while I cannot remember exactly what that price was then, current retail at a large national seller is $8.99. It’s a veritable steal for a wine that has garnered a 90 rating from James Suckling and that its producer touts as the “#1 Vinho Verde in the World.” It was then and is now, a quintessentially straight-forward expression of a Vinho Verde and serves as an excellent starting point for the truly uninitiated. But there is so much more…

Portugal abounds with incredible price-to-quality ratio wines and undeservedly remains an under-appreciated producer of world-class wines, with port perhaps being the exception. That may seem odd given neighboring Spain is universally regarded in the upper echelons of wine-producing nations and their shared heritage on the Iberian Peninsula has a history of wine making perhaps as far back as 4,000 BCE and in Portugal proper, to at least 2,000 BCE. The Roman era of occupation of the Peninsula saw wine production come into its own and was even consolidated in the area of present-day Portugal.

The production of port has historically led the Portuguese reputation for wine. Its export and reputation even led to the first effort in the country to regulate its production in order to ensure consistently high quality. In the modern era, it wasn’t until the ascendancy of Portugal into the European Economic Community (predecessor to the European Union) in 1986 that capital of both the intellectual and monetary types newly invigorated the country’s ancient wine making traditions.

Vinho Verde was recognized as a wine making region in 1908 and became an official DOC (Denominação de Origem Controlada) in 1984, one of 31 such regions in the country. Forty-five of the nation’s over 250 native grape varieties can be found here. There are two com-

peting – and perhaps both equally true – explanations for how the name “Vinho Verde” or “Green Wine” came into use. The first, that the maritime climate of the area creates a resplendently verdant environment. And the second, that the wine itself is young, as in “green.”

So misconception number one dispelled – the wine is not “green” in hue. A second misconception worth noting is that although we currently think of Vinho Verde as synonymous with the stereotypical crisp and fizzy white, it was not always so. Prior to the 1990s, red varietal plantings outnumbered white varietals twice over. There are still some incredible reds to be found from Vinho Verde, but the whites dominate the annual production.

The most common white varietals include: Alvarinho (Albarino), Avesso, Azal, Arinto, Loureiro and Trajadura. These varietals thrive in the very northern region of the country and along the Atlantic coastline. Temperatures are mild and rainfall plentiful. The soils are, as our instructor shared in the masterclass, “granite, granite, granite” and this profile makes its way into every drop produced.

During my research, I happened upon a couple whose search for Vinho Verde bottlings in America became a quest and

In Search of Solace Portuguese Vinho Verde

then a passion during the COVID lockdowns. Leigh Hill and Justin Scott are the gents behind The Vinho (previously known as The Green Wine) and they fell hard for Vinho Verde in Portugal while waiting out a possible return to the U.S. As they described it, “It would be the perfect SoCal wine,” for the steamy summers back home.

What they discovered; however, was the options back in the U.S. for their new love were slim. “The Vinho Verdes that you do find in the U.S. are mass-produced, which is perfectly fine, but most people’s idea of Vinho Verdes comes from these wines and they are actually not very representative of the region,” Leigh shared with me. “It was important to us to find the real wine-makers of the Vinho Verde and find the producers that could tell us the true history of the region and it’s wines – so all of our wines are true Vinho Verdes, made artisanally, from small family-run producers, that are low-intervention and have sustainable-farming practices – but maybe more importantly, they all have a story to tell and are made with love,” Leigh continued.

In November of last year, their first wines shipped to customers, and they

have been on a roll ever since. Last month, they even changed their name from The Green Wine to The Vinho to reflect their increasing focus on importing artisanal Portuguese wines beyond those solely from Vinho Verde into the U.S.

Now onto the wines. I worked with Justin and Leigh to select a great variety of Vinho Verdes from several producers to test out. Not being one to horde the bounty, I invited a few friends– all involved in wine professionally – to come to a tasting on a warm and ideal summer evening to more deeply understand and appreciate the wine for which the region is so well-known.

Nearly all the wines we tasted were young wines meant to be consumed now. Most also shared the tell-tale effervesce of a young Vinho Verde and were variously derived from the native varietals of the region. All were praiseworthy, but a few particularly so.

Casa Santa Eulalia is in the sub-region of Basto, one of 9 subregions in the Vinho Verde DOC. While the land has been in the hands of the same family since the 17th century and viticulture has been part of that history, it wasn’t until 1997 that the family-run operation began wine making under their own label.

Their 2021 Plainas “Branco” is to the humble Vinho Verde what Baccarat is to crystal – an elevation of the form that is a glory to behold. This is a more serious Vinho Verde derived from Azal and Arinto grapes with bosc pears and white flowers (think honeysuckle) on the nose and green melon, green apple, and mango on the palette. A luscious mouthfeel with a slight and pleasant tanginess. My companions and I agreed – this is the perfect wine for tapas such as melon wrapped in a well-cured and salty prosciutto or halloumi set atop some savory herbed flat bread.

We also tasted the 2021 Plainas Rosé, made from one of the region’s native red grape varietals, Espadeiro. Ripening cherries and summer strawberries on the nose and palate, it was also wonderfully embracing the salinity of the terroir.

I was quite enamored with the 2021 Casa Santa Eulalia White, a blend of Alvarhino and Trajadura. For those who love Albarino, this will feel like familiar territory with a Vinho Verde bent. This is elegant, even in its youth. No effervescence and bone dry, ripening stonefruits on the nose and refreshing green apple, likely contributed from the Trajadura, on the palette. Bring on some citrusy ceviche of shellfish and mild white fish.

The universal favorite of the evening was

the 2021 Phulia “Sensation,” a blend of Loureiro, Trajadura, and Arinto. Feline characteristics on the nose (which readers know I love from a previous column in Polo Lifestyles on Sauvignon Blancs), this blend we are told, is only made in optimal years and 2021 was just such a year. Fruit forward on the palette, my friend Kristina, who has curated a stellar Wine Spectator Award-winning wine list at The Compound in Santa Fe, repeatedly remarked that it was reminiscent of the magic art of a simple fruit cocktail. This wine would be sublime poolside on a hot summer day, perhaps with that perfect fruit cocktail salad.

Finally, another of my guests for the tasting operates the independent wine

store La Casa Sena Wine Shop in Santa Fe, where, during his brief tenure to date, the store has been transformed and its inventory creatively refreshed. Among that inventory and to round out the evening, Benjamin brought the 2022 Dócil Vinho Verde from the Niepoort family whose reputation began in Portugal’s Douro region but since 2012, the family has expanded into other parts of Portugal, including Vinho Verde.

This is a widely available wine and 100 percent Loureiro. Loureiro is my favorite varietal from Vinho Verde. It is fruity and floral at the same time and as evidence that I am not the only fan, it is the most widely planted white varietal in the region. The Dócil bottling strikes

the perfect balance between floral and fruit and a crisp and subtle minerality. Enjoy alongside some wood fire-grilled langoustines with a citrus corn salad. While Vinho Verde has much variety to offer as a leading wine region of the world, the creation of a truly unique white wine reflecting both the terroir and wine making traditions of the place, is, in a word, perfection. And as we bid goodbye to the final gasps of a long, hot summer, you would do well to grab a bottle of Vinho Verde and see what you’ve been missing. And then pledge to make it part of how you prepare for Summer 2024.

As always, Salud!

CONNECT WITH ANCESTRAL LINEAGE ON

ALIGN WITH YOUR THE PATH TO EVOLVING YOUR DIVINE SENSES

The deathless death is rewarded to those who selflessly master the bio-rhythm of the universal flow, fueling the mythic fire through the yogic breath to recondition the mind in service of the spiritual heart’s eternal glow

– Amritlal Singh, Monarch Visionary

With the traditional therapists unable to spiritually see; psychic, spiritual mediums are being called to reveal themselves, publicly.

NSTRUMENTS OF DIVINE DESIGN, AS THE ASCENDING COSMIC RAYS OF THE HOLY SUN INSPIRE US TO ASCEND OUR CONSCIOUSNESS IN ATTUNEMENT WITH THE UNIVERSAL LAW OF ONE, SCIENTIFICALLY KNOWN AS QUANTUM CONSCIOUSNESS, THOSE WHO REMAIN UNHEALED ARE SUFFERING SEVERE EMOTIONAL IMBALANCES AND PARASITIC, DEMONIC INFESTATIONS.

IAs the resounding light of the cosmic AUM shakes our minds free from the current fear-based regime that herds humanity through the emotional trauma stored within reptilian-brain limbic system, the synchronicity of resonance frequency required for humanity to realize liberty, shall only be reached as we embody unity by serving those in need. Love is the power through which we override the mind-control mechanisms that create disharmony and disease within our hearts, mind and bodies.

Magnetized by the Kundalini Shakti, a.k.a. the Rainbow Serpent Power or Christ Divine Feminine Energy, to restore our higher divine senses, the New World Order calls for awakening

empaths to creatively partner in creation of global economies that serve heart-coherent harmonies.

To the power of love, we surrender, creating a new currency value system that fuels the evolution of our collective consciousness as the foundation our incentive-based system. Warriors of the Earth, we live in the moment charged by the pranic force of our spiritual DNA light body crystallization. The Flower of Life is our collective harmonic, energetic imprint, as ascending spiritually is the reward as we incarnate upon Earth now to end this holy cosmic war.

In Polo Lifestyles – Beat the Heat, I contributed how the healing of childhood abuse within the child protective care institution guided me upon the Path of the Bodhicitta. Answering the collective yearning for peaceful social restructuring, I invoked our soul’s

YOUR PURPOSE

IN SYNC WITH YOUR VIBE

ancestral memory of the Vedic pursuit of God-realization, Samādhi, illustrating the ancient megalithic and pyramidal technologies and spiritual planetary forces available to support our collective spiritual ascension.

“Not me, I am not like the rest.”

Despite years of research, healing, and sevā (Sanskrit for selfless service), my remaining denial regarding the extent and severity of my own abuse anchored and left me vulnerable to spiritual attacks and, unable to natural ascend with the solar flare cosmic activations.

Blessed karmically by the opportunity granted by Polo Lifestyles magazine to transmute the shame of my pain with the loving intention to open-heartedly welcome those beginning to sense the unraveling of their own paradigm, has allowed me to fully accept my own inner child, the Christ within us all, and confront the extreme severities of my own abuse with love. Embodying the fire of Christ as I confront my demons in the astral planes, I am realizing the power of an awakening mystic’s bleeding heart to shift the Earth planes.

PAIN DRIVES THE EVOLUTION OF OUR SPIRITUAL SENSES

Imagine, as a child, the emerging sensuality of each first experience: to breathe the fresh crispness of mother’s air; to nurse the succulent nutrient dense milk of mother’s ample breast; to exalt in joy of as mother’s moist Earth charges your grounded feet as your leap forth to the sky’s warmth.

Surrendering to the drive of life’s revelations, blinded by Sun’s holy magnificence, it is the awe and wonder of life that expands the heart’s potential to receive the endless blessing of divinity.

As empaths, Greek for those ‘lit by passion,’ it is the spiritual evolution of our electric senses that illuminates the generational path of life’s ever-unfolding expression, propelling a soul’s commitment to suffer through our universal existence.

mensional Earth. The art of rebirth is the realization of the pain’s purpose in exciting transformation.

Forged in the ancestral fire of the Mythos, upon an eternal pilgrimage into the mystery of the Universe, an immortal muse of life’s bliss, every yogi discovers that true abundance is awarded to those who can inspire the Vedic pursuit of liberation of the senses.

What are we living for, if not to experience the prophesied collective break through? Spiritual evolution is the prize rewarded to those who fully embrace the mystery of life, lifting the veil, as we pierce our inner seals to experience the Heavenly Universal Kingdoms, as the Planetary Logos is revealed.

PURIFICATION OF STAR SYSTEM BLOOD LINEAGES

To rise from the depths of sadness with realized eyes filtered by life’s greatest tragedies, self-mastered in hope, we behold the brilliance that a new dawn bestows.

Rejuvenated, restored, resurrected by the holy fire that rises within, we are washed in forgiveness of the lineages of our father’s and mother’s original sins.

To realize the gift of the divine senses, as a sovereign authority of one’s own soul, driven by hope as we rise above the psychological enslavements of the three-di-

“’Cleanliness is next to Godliness,’ but baptism of the body, unless followed by baptism of the mind, becomes practically meaningless. If we bathe and thus purify our bodies, we will find that our mind will temporarily become purified, but unless we change our soul’s wickedness by calmness, and meditation, and constant spiritual vigilance, we will remain the same old devils with bad habits in spite of the temporary purifying effect of the water on our bodies.”

There is an infectious pain that begins to manifest its will throughout our flesh,

Paramahansa Yogananda, “The Second Coming of Christ: The Resurrection of the Christ Within You”

CONNECT WITH ANCESTRAL LINEAGE ON

THE PATH TO EVOLVING YOUR DIVINE SENSES

for as feelings that engender a sense of spiritual separation within ourselves create porous holes within our auric emanation, our divine shields are lowered for demonic cords to take hold, driving shadow daggers into our own heart’s core.

It is the awakened soul that enlightens the eyes to illuminate the way through the twisted labyrinth of the indoctrinated mind that anchors our precious days in meaningless pursuits, with no longterm view as to where we are destined to flow. As our trauma-based actions create beliefs and perceptions that tear us further from our own soul’s worth, we carelessly reap destruction upon our own Planetary Mother Earth, our heavenly abode, fertile Queen to the Star System’s seeds, a Universal Beacon of Hope.

Determined to drain the spiritual light from this very Earth, these intergalactic, spiritual tunnels are bound to be dissolved and sealed by the rising of the Planetary Rainbow Serpent Power that drives our corrective action forward to heal the Earth, intuitively, purified by the embodied frequency of our Holy Universal Truth. United in our spiritual heart’s mission uphold our divine honor, our collective resonant force dissolves the mind of separation to purify the star system blood lineage, unleashing the highest potential of our genetic resonance.

To be free, we must work to cleanse ourselves. Inspired to live nobly, we realize our highest form, embodied by our “I AM” divinity. We unify as we purify.

LEVERAGING THE ANCIENT VEDIC STRUCTURES TO ACTIVATE OUR BIRTHRIGHT

In August 2023, charged with hope to serve the impetus for spiritual reform and to experience for myself the channelings broadcasted forth, I was guided by Spirit upon a heritage pilgrimage to my great-grandfather’s motherland, Mexico, to trace the initiation and activation of this ancient blessing.

As due diligence into my research on the Vedic resonant pyramid technologies utilized by our highly evolved ancestors for accelerating spiritual ascension, I personally experienced the transformative kundalini liberating power of these ancient sites that have served the greatest generals and leaders in their ritualistic rites.

From the birthplace of Poza de Quetzalcoatl, the mystic fountain where the great rainbow feathered serpent deity birthed his wings, to the El Tepozteco Pyramid, overlooking the mystical town of Tepoztlán, to the ancient Holy city of Teotihuacan, Aztec for “Abode Where Man Becomes God,” my travels spurred within me the thirst for self-knowing that propelled me through my blockages and into higher dimensional awareness.

What initiated as an adventurous exhibition revealed within me an unexpectedly powerful spiritual transformation that catapulted me into the spiritual realms where I gained tremendous wisdom on the dormant energetic force laden within the Earth’s surface, whose realization through our heightened self-awareness

presents a supernatural potential for an awakening humanity.

MAY TRUTH BE OUR MORNING STAR

What is there to live for, if not to express the excitement of one’s realized potential? As I accept myself, without ridicule, as a Vedic missionary, guided by Lords Krishna and Jesus Christ and my growing council of spiritual masters, who expand the celestial star realms as I serve on Earth as a spiritual guide, the ascending resonance of my genetic expression can finally shed the Annunaki frequency locks upon my inherited Spiritual DNA.

In “Slave Species of the Gods - The Secret History of the Anunnaki & Their Mission on Earth,” Michael Tellinger details the hybridization and genetic enslavement of humanity, by these winged alien invaders from planet Niribu more than 200,000 years ago, to control our mental and physical capabilities, inactivating their advanced DNA, as they arrived to deplete Mother Earth of her planetary resources.

Through embodied devotion to the Kundalini Shakti, Rainbow Serpent Energy, the alchemized rage of my ancestors who rise through me has liberated my organ and glandular system of stored emotional toxicity to initiate celestial transformation, allowing for enhanced spiritual powers as I bridge my etheric roots into the realms of spiritual purgatory for souls to rise through my roots to pass through gates of Heaven from the depths of Hell. The Earth is a spirit for Ascended to earn their lessons, as we unfold our etheric wings through the energetic potential unlocks within

our very DNA.

An ancient beings, whose very presence is cellular healing with the resonance of streaming kundalini energy, I awaken the hidden depths of my soul as I serve the brilliance of tomorrow, our future generations of mystics and prophets, who look to us now to stand tall with divine honor– our rainbow crystal children, child warriors, who need us most of all.

Are you prepared to receive the blessing of your embodied faith by invoking the fire that transforms your fate? One with the undying mythos, purified in the healing fires, immortal in your true essence, you rise through the calling to serve a higher power that ignites the senses as we remember the ancient practices of Vedic yogic and Tantric systems.

TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THE KUNDALINI

“It is the imaginative faculties of our blossoming minds that determine the universally empowering forces that drive the evolutionary cycles of our lives. Through the ascension of our senses, the bio-electricity of our organ system activates higher, dormant expression. Reenvisioned as the mythos of our ancestral kin, we unchain ourselves from the

anchors of self-perception that contain the soul within. The light body is realized as we remember our origins from beyond the skies, serving the Earth as we harmonize the power of our unified mind.”

World-renown Shaman, Alberto Villoldo, Ph.D.., who popularized the term “Homo Luminous” shares the story of the Mesoamerican deity Quetzalcoatl, the rainbow feathered serpent god. Heavenly Lord of the Dawn to the Aztec and Hopi, who serves as a guardian of the springs of life and immortality, associated with Venus, the morning star, the Lord returns in every new era to deliver renewal and wisdom.

Synonymous with the Kundalini Shakti energy, the Hindu Vedic Serpent Power restores proper function to the human body’s bio-electric, pranic system, which facilitates man’s natural ascension to this God-Realized Self and development of supernatural abilities. The electrical cosmic force that is awakened within the individual magnetizes the body for health, activates cellular wisdom and the natural toxicity elimination system, while restoring the connection to the divine source for the spiritual aspirant to serve as a conduit of healing frequencies to the Earth and mankind.

Guardian of the tree of wisdom, the serpent energy, which represents the Divine Feminine, is also depicted by the ancient Greeks as the Caduceus of Hermes, representing medicine, healing and herbal knowledge. This mystical power serves the body’s natural immune and defense system by purifying blockages to the flow of divine cosmic spiritual energy to the vital organ system, which are the fruits we harvest within whose luminous health determines the resonant vibrancy of our reality and our lifespan.

The birthing myth of Quetzalcoatl reflects a beautiful hidden reality that within each of us lies dormant enormous potential energy that supports us in overcoming our fears as we realize the expression of our true selves.

The invoking of the Kundalini Shakti Serpent energy serves for a powerful shedding of toxic conditioning that supports the liberation of one’s inner divinity and a reconditioning of life’s habitual rituals to serve the electricity of rebirth, regeneration and restoration.

UNIVERSAL HARMONY ACROSS THE NATURAL KINGDOMS

“The sun and the air are God’s free gifts to all, we say; but are they so? In yonder city’s dingy alleys the sun shines not, and the air is foul. Oh, man, how dost thou forget and obstruct thy brother man, and say, “Give us this day our daily bread,” when he has none! Oh, would that men would leave the city, its splendor and its tumult and its gold, and return to wood and field and simple, honest living! Then would their children grow stately as noble trees, and their thoughts sweet and pure as wayside flowers.” Helen Keller “The Story of My Life”

Humanity is at the precipice of a momentous shift in collective awareness and spiritual values, as the impetus for Universal Dharma is intuitively guiding us through the mystical process of spiritual enlightenment. Avalanching in love, as we find and support one another, we are growing powerfully unstoppable.

Healing ourselves and our families as our star origins guide us as one galactic force.

The ascending collective heart frequency is distorting the slave-master regime, forcing those who remain enchained to surrender their toxic ways. By raising the vibration in areas that need it the most, we create supportive energetics for those who choose to face their ghosts, closing inter-dimensional portals by healing neighborhoods and communities as we unite in sacred communion uniting our beliefs through our embodied divine birthrights.

There is a dormant ancient power rippling through humanity’s spiritual DNA at escalating speeds, reconnecting us with the true power of the Universal Cosmic Frequency designed to inspire the spiritual ascension of consciousness across all sentient life forms, equally. Economically, a source of true abundance that can only be attained by those

whose enlightened awareness has been trained spiritually by serving the divine kundalini, purified in body, mind and spirit, to serve selflessly.

As emerging consciousness industries rise to meet the spiritual demands of Mother Earth to alchemize our planetary trauma as fertilizer into our spiritual power, legions shall rise to serve the spiritual wealth divide, with the clear awareness that to deny our divine birthright for Ascension is to die.

THE INFINITE POTENTIAL OF THE NEW WORLD ORDER

In a lecture to Harvard Divinity School, spiritual revolutionary and candidate for the 2024 presidential campaign, Marianne Williamson, delivered a vision of a government that “is meant to serve as a brokering agent, between the protection of individual liberty, on one hand, and the concern for the common good, on the other.”

As a voice of truth, sparking an avalanche of awakenings, Williamson’s life mission reminds the people of our power to re-imagine our state of existence and our ability to invoke our calling to serve the flow of peace as we transform the energetics of our legislation to serve our highest collective co-existence.

With a plan to heal the hopelessness of underrepresented demographics, Williamson is fully aware of the transformative power of love to not only heal, but to reverse our sails as we veer toward the edge of our own civilization. “If you are looking at the world, today, and not grieving, then you’re not looking. But the reason spirituality matters is because spirituality gives you a context for rejoicing in the infinite possibilities… when you are centered in rejoicing of possibility, because, in whatever way you say it, God is great, and whatever way you say it, there is no order of difficulty in miracles, then you, not only have the endurance and the patience, because a

revolution, and that’s what we need now, is a spiritual and political revolution … is a very serious business.”

According to Reuters’ estimate on the cost of the global mental health epidemic by 2030, there is a $16 trillion dollar opportunity to inspire to humanity through the gloriously transformative process of pursuing Samādhi.

In “Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order,” Ray Dalio writes, “Evolution is the biggest and only permanent force in the Universe, yet we struggle to notice it.” Furthermore, “Human productivity is the most important force in causing the world’s total power, wealth, and living to rise over time.”

How can we victoriously inspire liberation for those who still suffer, clinging to the global death-based economy and collapsing shadow financial system? How can we close the demonic vortices within our cities? How many more children must unnecessarily suffer before we reform our education and social systems?

Having amassed over $62 million in contracts over the past five years, in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Sausalito, Calif., as well as Austin, Tx., social enterprise Urban Alchemy leverages a spiritually transformative approach to engage directly with extreme poverty meets homelessness, mental illness and addiction. Inspiring an uprising of self-empowerment within the heart of darkness of troubled communities, the non-profit resurrects guardians amongst those who once suffered from their own sense of helplessness, now guarding the streets as an emblem of the potential possible to achieve.

The UNICEF Transforming Children’s Worlds Together is re-imagining and realizing innovation-driven global change with and for children. How can we support transformational, global change for children? How can we innovatively restore the natural harmonic forces of the Earth’s ecosystem and natural kingdoms? How can we employ the masses of healers and awakening mystics, scientists and engineers to serve our children’s

highest fulfillment? How can we ensure that every child is able to experience the realization of the gift that flows within them?

Shall we rise unified, resurrected in hope, as we free the ancient life force from our carbon-cosmic blueprint, facilitating the purification of Mother Earth and the realization of our collective divine mind? Will we unite in honor of the Christed light lit in the eyes of every child?

At the start-up I have co-founded, Your Energy Spa (“YES”), in Silicon Valley, we have been guided by Universal forces to leverage cutting-edge healing technologies in accordance with Ancient Vedic wisdom to serve the liberation of the rainbow serpent kundalini force to serve the regeneration of the nervous system, purification of the organ and hormonal system, and activation of the higher mental faculties to support humanity’s ascension process.

May we unite together to serve our mission, as we remember the power of our

MOLD YOUR MIND

WRITE A NEW CHAPTER TIPS FOR SMOOTH(ER) LIFE TRANSITIONS

COACH JOEY VELEZ MENTAL WELLNESS CONTRIBUTOR @velezmentalperformance

LIFE CAN BE AN INTERESTING JOUR -

NEY. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, LIFE IS FILLED WITH ROADBLOCKS, CHALLENGES, THE UNEXPECTED, AND JOYOUS EXPERIENCES, ALL OF WHICH CAN BE DEEMED AS UNAVOIDABLE.

Another aspect of life that is often overlooked, and is also unavoidable, is life transitions. Whether you are transitioning from one occupation to another, one relationship-status to another, one city to another. When individuals experience major transitions, there are aspects of change that individuals must rise to the occasion and cope with.

These transitions often place unique social, psychological, and physicals demands on the individual. So, if you are not careful, these life transitions can be detrimental to not only your physical state, but your mental state as well. However, anticipating and effective plan-

ning for these transitions can help make things go a little more smoothly.

MY TRANSITIONS

When I reflect back on my life, there have been plenty of transitions that I have had to face, some of which worked out better than the others. One of my first major transitions was finishing my graduate program. Up until that point in graduate school, once the quarter ended, I knew I had a month to relax before the next quarter started. However, in my last quarter, it hit me that once the quarter ended, there was no more school and it was on to the real world. My major concern was not knowing what was going to happen next, so this fear of the unknown came over me that caused a lot of anxiety and a lot of sleepiness nights.

Another major transition was when I decided to move to Georgia from California for work. This was my first time being more than four miles away from my family, and the closest person to me that I knew was more than 2,000 miles away. Doubt started to creep in, the fear of the unknown made its way back around into my mind, and the sense of loss came over me because I would not have my support system in close proximity. While I felt like this was something I had to do because it was a

professional opportunity directly related to my graduate degree, and it paid well to boot, there was still a dissonant sense that I may be making the wrong decision.

As I write this column, I am in the mist of another major life transition as I am due to move from Georgia to Texas for work. This transition is very comparable from when I moved to Georgia, however, the difference now is that I am wondering if I am making this move for the right reasons. I passed up an opportunity in another location that I was interested in, and I am leaving a location that I really enjoy.

While I may have experienced (and am currently experiencing) many counterproductive emotions about these life transitions – thoughts that could have halted my actual follow through —what they all have in common are similar components that allowed me to stretch and accomplish the transitions with a sense of certitude.

For starters, I am typically an impatient person, so I have a tendency to react impulsively. However, I was able to slow down and do the necessary research to make sure I was comfortable with these moves. I also rock reminded myself of why I wanted to make these moves in the

THE POWER OF UNLOCKING YOUR MIND

first place. While I did not want to leave my family and my close friends, I wanted to develop as a person, and as a professional, and I knew these moves would provide that opportunity. I also wanted to challenge myself because I have gotten so comfortable being complacent and going through the motions at home.

While all these transitions seemed to have worked out for me so far, that is not always the case. Not all transitions are going to work in our favor, but we can prepare ourselves to make them as smooth and easy as possible. It just takes a little bit of work, patience, and important self-reminders.

WHAT CAN YOU DO

To set yourself up for success while transitioning, the first thing you can do is slow down. When you make quick decisions and are reactive, sometimes we miss critical information. Being able to slow down and assess the totality of information allows you to make a more well-informed decision.

One way to also help you slow down and gather more information is by consulting others. With this recent transition of mine, I’ve run a lot of my thoughts and concerns by my family members. They were able to act as a sounding board and provided me with guidance and feedback, which was very helpful.

So, find someone in your life that you trust to give you honest feedback, help you work through your decisions, and not just tell you what you want to hear.

THOUGHTS MATTER

The second thing you can do is identify skills, characteristics, and strengths that can help you remain confident during these transitions. For example, when I was moving to Georgia to work with soldiers, I told myself “I have never worked with soldiers before, what if they will not like me?” However, I reminded myself that I am an easy-going, fun person, so I can leverage those traits to help build rapport with the Soldiers. You may have never experienced this situation before, you may be new to the environment, but that does not mean that you do not already possess qualities that can help you acclimate to those situations. Developing a list of your skills, strengths, and personality traits can give you a bank of information to pull from when you begin to experience self-doubt with your transition.

Finally, grounding yourself as to why you are making this transition and how it will benefit you is another way to help ease these transitions. What helped make my transitions less stressful were two things: I believe life is about experiences and personal growth, and second, that I want to make an impact with as many people as I can. My two recent transitions, moving to Georgia and moving to Texas, both provided me opportunities to accomplish these dual goals. While at times they were scary and stressful, I knew that I would have the opportunity to change the lives of others and also learn about myself in the process. You can start by asking yourself a series of questions: What do you value?

Why do you wake up every morning and do what you do? What drives you when making difficult decisions? Reminding yourself of your values can enhance motivation, effort, and can also lead to more creative strategy implementation, which all together can be extremely beneficial when making major life transitions.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Life transitions can be scary. They can be risky because you do not know what the outcome will be, which can cause a lot of anxiety. However, being scared and experiencing anxiety in this situation shows that you care and underscores that this decision is a meaningful one to you. The emotions you experience during this time are normal, despite how disruptive they may feel. Will Smith once said, and I am paraphrasing, that “the greatest moments in life are often those times on the other side of fear.”

While you may never feel fully prepared to undertake momentous life transitions, you can set yourself up to make them as smooth as possible, while also learning much about yourself in the process. Be fearless. Do your research, consult with others, remind yourself of your values, take advantage of the productive tension of stress that can lead to great thanks… and then, face those transitions head on.