Quest Magazine February 2023

THE WEDDING ISSUE

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

DAVID PATRICK C O LUMBIA

DEPUTY EDITOR

ELIZABETH MEIGHER

ART DIRECTOR/

PRODUCTION MANAGER

TYKISCHA JACOBS

SENIOR EDITOR

BROOKE KELLY MURRAY

CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER

ROBERT BENDER

PHOTOGRAPHER-AT-LARGE

JULIE SKARRATT

SOCIETY EDITOR

HI LARY GEARY

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

HARRY BENSON

KATE GUBELMANN

TONY HALL

ALEX HITZ

ROBERT JANJIGIAN

KAREN KLOPP

JAMES MACGUIRE

HAVEN PELL

CHUCK PFEIFER

DAISY PRINCE

LIZ SMITH (R.I.P.)

TAKI THEODORACOPULOS

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

HARRY BENSON

CAPEHART PHOTOGRAPHY

BILLY FARRELL

MARY HILLIARD

CRISTINA MACAYA

CUTTY MCGILL

PATRICK MCMULLAN

NICK MELE

ANNIE WATT

Photo: Peter Simon

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WELCOME TO February - the one month inexplicably short-changed by the Romans, who transferred this squat accounting onto the Gregorian calendar. Hmmm ... February remains perplexing, and is still known in the UK as “Cabbage Month” (no comment necessary). At Quest, it’s predictably our annual Wedding Issue - overflowing with bounteous brides and their endless entourages, including our dazzling cover girl Lily Merrill who was married on the Côte d’Azur in a fabulous French château. Her wondrous maternal grandma, philanthropist Hillie Merrill Mahoney (who’s still a stunner!) was a colleague of mine from bygone days in the Time & Life Building. And don’t miss Janie Pierrepont’s candid and firsthand commentary on the trials and tribulations of becoming a new bride on pages 76 and 77. The woke faction’s non-nuptial pageantry to the contrary, Quest heartily salutes the institution of marriage - as evidenced and endorsed above in the vintage photos of this lucky publisher, as well as the processional of our renowned Editor-in-Chief, “DPC”.

As I gaze out from our Madison Avenue office windows, it’s lightly snowing today. Yet, my sea salty mind drifts to visions of harbors along the Eastern Seaboard where Barton & Gray’s craft are plying the warmer Southern waterways, with members from the toniest harbors onboard B&G’s fleet of impeccably shipshape Hinckley boats. And to this armada, they have recently added a raft of spanking new 48’ Daychaser yachts (spaciously designed by Barton & Gray’s gifted team) plus three 62’ cruising catamaran sailboats, which this season will operate out of The Bahamas - flying their ever present Blue & Gold striped yachting colors, which now cover their flowing jibs.

Quest’s fabled friend and lauded photographer, Harry Benson, is again being deservedly fêted, and this time by the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens in West Palm Beach. Beginning on page 82, fashion seer Robert Janjigian, Quest’s

prolific and much beloved contributor, shares a chat he recently had with Sir Harry about his new exhibit, which opens in mid-February. I’m told that several of Harry’s bestselling Quest magazine covers will be appropriately on display in the museum, for which we’re proudly flattered.

More soberly, I received a handful of handwritten and excoriating letters regarding my last month’s Pub Letter - the gist of them being my “unbalanced critique” of our Nation’s cancel culture and pervasive cloud of wokeness. I stand thoughtfully chastened ... slightly bent, but still unbowed, as moral vanity and phony altruism will never be part of Quest’s credo. Period. But I did receive a melodic note from a dear pal of seven decades, which ended with this encouraging and thoughtful stanza:

�� May your heart always be joyful ... May your song always be sung ... May you stay ... forever young �� ◆

Chris Meigher

ON THE COVER:

Kathleen Lilith Cushman

Merrill & Frédéric Marie Jean Châtillon on their wedding day at Château de la Napoule on the Côte d’Azur, France.

Photographed by Oliver Fly Photography.

Clockwise from left: Sheila O’Donnell and David Patrick Columbia on the steps of St. Thomas More Church, October 24, 1964; Grace Meigher and grateful pub on their wedding day; contributor Janie McGraw Pierrepont; Robert Janjigian interviewing Gabriel Gordon and Harry Benson; Barton & Gray’s new catamaran; Hillie Mahoney.

David Patrick Columbia NEW YORK SO CIAL DIARY

FEBRUARY 2023. Palm Beach. Taking myself back a few years (like 50!) wintertime. Back in the late 1960s, my wife and I decided to leave the snows of Manhattan and drive to Florida to visit a boarding school roommate, Kathy

Wakem , whose family lived in Palm Beach.

Kathy had remained there after graduating, and was one of the early birds who worked for her friend Lilly Pulitzer who had started her business only a few years before, first sell -

ing her garb in one of those stalls along Worth Avenue. By this time (of our trip) Lilly was established with her hugely popular floral print cotton shifts, with a polished cotton fabric designed by a couple of guys from Miami,

and Lilly had expanded from stall to shops in Newport, Rhode Island and elsewhere. By then the dresses were the “must have” whenever any fashionable woman came in contact with them.

Our voyage in my

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Charles and Ann Johnson

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Linda Gary and Michael Belisle

1961 Volkswagen Beetle ($1,200 retail)(!!!) was a two-day trip, staying a night in a motel along the highway in Virginia or North Carolina where there was snow and ice all along the way. I had never been to Palm Beach and had no sense of what it was like except that it was long before the famous resort for the very rich and fashionable in the world – at least in the newspapers.

In retrospect, when we arrived in mid-February, it was a very quiet little town along the ocean that looked to me like a somewhat abandoned village. I

remember there were still empty lots along Ocean Drive along with the stucco Mediterranean style mansions that were probably built in the early 1920s and 30s. Kathy’s family house on 142 Seabreeze Avenue was a white front porch, two-story clapboard house that looked like it was probably built in the 1920s or 30s.

I mention this because Sheila recently was in Palm Beach and sent me a photo of that

house today – still the same house, not larger or fancy, but freshly well painted and landscaped, which was probably a five or 10 thousand dollar house at the most when it was built in the 1920s or 30s. And it is now (in 2023) for sale for $9,000, 000!!

Looking back, I realize that Palm Beach in the late 1960s was more than a half century, almost a century old. The village that Mr. Flagler

built with the idea with the able assistance of the Bradley Brothers who introduced casino-style gambling to the “special” village that lured the rich and their associates in colder climes to what would become the Monte Carlo of North America.

That “special addition” brought the tycoons, high society from New York, Chicago, and the nobles and royals of Europe from the 1890s up through the 1920s. All illegal, of course, but dress requirement: black tie. By the time we got there, the Bradley brothers’ casino had long been gone and the

Lilly Pulitzer

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land on which it sat had been left to the city by the brothers to become Bradley Park that it is today.

I recall very little of our stay (a week or 10 days) the motor trip back north was blizzardous and harassing for these two young travelers. However, there was one “interesting” tour that Kathy gave us of her employer Lilly and husband Peter Pulitzer ’s new house. It was a beautiful two-story affair, impressive to approach. It happened that there was no one home at the time but

the house was unlocked with a screen door covering the entrance.

When we entered the spacious, square gallery covered with a Kelly-green carpet on which one of the family pups had recently left a large and solid dog dump perfectly in the middle. After a brief tour of the first floor (nice casual but elegant – a half century later), we were led up to the second floor of bed -

rooms.

Walking along the hallway, Kathy led us into a bedroom, which had, unknown to Kathy as she led us in , on the mahogany, fully-made up four poster a fully nude young woman lying face down and sleeping. Out like a light. Naturally, we realized we were not supposed to be there although the door was completely open when we entered. So we left. I

can still see her though in my memory mind’s eye, a soft and still contrast to the solid and polished mahogany.

We later learned the sleeping lady (blonde) was a famous American heiress, socialite Peggy Bedford , who later became the wife of Thomas Bancroft , grandson of William Woodward , then secondly to Prince Charles Auguste Armand d’Arenberg of the Holy Roman Empire , and thirdly to Emmanuel Jacques de Crussol, Duke d’Uzes , heir to the oldest dukedom in France (1565).

KITON'S FASHION SHOW AT THE ROYAL POINCIANA PLAZA IN PALM BEACH

DJ Cat Shell

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Antonio Paone

Peggy Bedford Bancroft

It was her fate that only 10 years later, she died in an early October morning automobile accident after attending a private ball outside of Paris. She was two days from her 45th birthday.

My second brief memory of our trip was a luncheon hosted by Betty Betz McMahon on the poolside terrace of her rambling mansion. Mrs. McMahon was well known in the 1940s and 50s America as a columnist, author, and cartoonist of books on manners for teenagers. She was then married to Canadian oilman Frank McMahon .

We were the youngest

of her guests (there were eight at the table), which in memory included an amusing and casually outspoken woman named Marge Dye , who was present with her husband at the time.

What made her notable was that she was the granddaughter of Marjorie Merriweather Post , famous to the world as the only child and heiress to the Postum Cereal Company (later renamed Gen -

eral Foods Corporation (Hellman’s Mayonnaise, Jell-O, Baker’s Chocolate, Maxwell House Coffee, etc.), which she inherited in 1914 when her father died, making her the richest woman in America. She had been married four times, to Edward

Bennett Close , Edward Francis Hutton , Joseph Davies , and lastly to Herbert May, whom she divorced in 1964. She was also the moth -

er of Dina Merrill . Her lifestyle was very grand with a famous yacht, multiple residences, including the grandest, Mar-a-Lago (126 rooms, 62,500 square feet), which is now the Mar-a-Lago Club, the main residence of former President Donald Trump who purchased the property in 1985.

During the luncheon, I learned that Marge Dye and her husband were in Palm Beach staying with her grandmother at Mar-a-Lago. She talked about Mrs. Post’s dinner party (for 60 guests) at her palatial residence.

We learned that grandmother was a strict host-

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ess. If an invited guest was not present when people were seated for dinner, the tardy’s place was removed and they were uninvited, which they no doubt would learn when finally arriving. After dinner, Mrs. Post’s guests moved to the chateau’s ballroom for Square Dancing. She loved Square Dancing.

All of this was fascinating to this young visitor from Manhattan. Making it even more interestingly timely, among Mrs. Post’s guests was Johnny Carson , the new host of The Tonight Show, having taken over from the retiring Jack Paar

My memories of that first visit to Palm Beach

were long ago and reduced to those brief incidents over the years by subsequent visits. Palm Beach today is fresh and vital and expanding so that West Palm Beach just over the bridge from the island itself has become a Greater Palm Beach, expanding the residential imprint of top flight apartment buildings and multi-million dollar private residences. It is a bustling community well on its way to becoming a tropical metropolis, still the most famous domestic resort

for the very rich from all over the world, with Mrs. Post’s winter haven still its grandest, most spectacular residence(s), thanks to the real estate foresight of our former President.

Life goes on, from palace to palace. Me, I’m reading the Prince Harry memoir. It’s real. He’s a compelling character/storyteller. The book was written “with” another man, a writer who did a similarly successful book for Andre Agassi , which was very well received.

I had no specific impression of Harry as a person. I’d seen him on the street and know others who’d run into him on the street here in Manhattan and even had a brief conversation with him. The impression he made was always favorable. Friendly, down-to-earth; pleasant and on his way. Serious. This was all before he met Meghan and now had someone else in his life.

Having been engaged in “co-authoring” a book myself (for Debbie Reynolds’ Debbie: My Life in the late 80s), I was firstly curious to see what a non-writer (Prince Harry) would turn out. Would I get a

Spare by Prince Harry

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strong sense of the personality and the real thoughts of the person?

Working with Debbie, I interviewed her for about 100 hours over a period of about eight months, and recorded it all on tape. I then transcribed the tapes. When I sat down to “write” the book (Debbie did not “write” the book and actually never saw the work until it was finished and never changed a word), I pulled much of it word for word of hers so there was no sense of another writer involved. It was her language articulating her thoughts.

When she read the fi -

nal copy she was moved to tears at the end so authentically credible was it to her. I, on the other hand, had fashioned the entire story around her memories, employing “her words” almost entirely throughout the book so there would be no sense of a “writer” putting it together.

So this writer approached Harry’s memoir and his “writer’s” work with that in mind. I had no other specific information about the man other than the tabloids, which focus on tabloidal reporting that often has little if

any credibility to me because they are mainly “impressions” of people who have already got a particular prejudice in mind. I did see part of the Oprah Winfrey interview with him and Meghan.

My impression of him had been aside from my own analysis of his (public) personality that he was a nice guy who made a profound impression on others all over the world where he traveled as a very nice man who was a member of The Royal Family. I had met other members in passing at events and most were

brief and distant, as if they were mainly uninterested or disinterested in wherever they were but were expected to be present representing their family.

This is not surprising for their titles and otherwise there was not much sign of personality. I don’t attribute that to the individuals so much as their sense of responsibility to their “role” in public. Although those who actually knew/spent time in the company of members of the family, the personality descriptions varied as it does with any family.

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I’d also met individuals who were or had been members of the Royal Household staff who spoke of them in real terms. They loved the Queen and were really crazy about the Queen Mum. The least-impressive (nothing insulting) were, from what I could gather, were Prince Philip and his daughter Princess Anne as individuals who were not particularly warm and casual with others.

But, as we have seen over the past 10 or 15 years, Prince Harry’s image was that of being an important ambassador of his country and, indeed, his family. And he was. That interview

with Oprah apparently was the beginning of the public objection to what he and his wife were saying about his and their experience with the Royal family in general. After that, most of the headlines in the Post and the Daily Mail were quite negative about the man and his wife.

I tend to be dubious about tabloidal reports but the public loves them and often believes them entirely. Par for

the course. Bad, bad, and more bad.

Because of that, I haven’t followed the drama in the media about him and Meghan and the family. I’m always amazed when I hear others talking about him and his family as if they are in the room with them. Making judgments about Harry’s behavior (in a variety of ways). People talk about it as if they know the family because they live under the same roof. The en -

tire story is mainly an opportunity to think about something that’s relatable and stressful but controllable (and not your problem).

So I wondered what the book would be like with all that obstreperous backstory. The book, however, is a good read. Because I don’t know him and/or have never met him, he’s only a figure I’ve seen in still photographs. It’s an expressive smiling. He looks like a nice guy, whoever he is. The book has the same effect, and impression.

I hadn’t given a thought to the title; was really unaware of his royal stature, “Spare.” Of

Princess Anne

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course it makes perfect sense. Until his brother William (whom he refers to as Wills and/or Willy) became a father of a boy, Harry was the “Spare.” Spares are very important. Queen Elizabeth ’s father George VI was a “spare” for his brother David who briefly became King Edward VIII until he abdicated to marry Mrs. Simpson And their father George V had been a Spare to the heir of their father Edward VII when his first born heir died in his 20s. So it runs in the family.

But when you think about it, being sec -

ond-born in a royal family is like being not quite good enough, and not important in the eyes of the world. Families with brothers know the story. The author of this memoir, we soon learn, is his own man but he’s relatable. I’ve never given much thought to the realities of members of the Royal family in terms of identity and inner satisfaction. The whole point, it would seem, would be to consistently look

good to the world outside the palace. Look the part. The part of being a member of the Royal family, close member.

The problem, the challenge for Prince Harry, it would seem, is making a life for oneself that is self-satisfying. It’s the same for most of us. He’s a thinker and he is naturally challenged. It’s interesting, this trip he takes us on in his memoir. You see the Royal experience not through your imagination but

through his eyes, the real story. Right there at the very center. Where he’s not the center except in his own life, like the rest of us, He IS. It’s really a good book about a family and what it’s like and what it does to its members. Its issues are universal; as are all families; different and the same, good, bad, high, low, and fascinating because you can relate even when you can’t. Like families. And if you read the book, as I do in spurts of free time, you will be looking forward to it when you are away from it. When you finish you

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Estrellita Brodsky

Hoda Kotb with Joan and Shirley Steinberg

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Daisy and Hugh Chisholm Prince Seema Kosaraju

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will have a much clearer picture of what it is like to be a member of the British Royal Family, one of the very few such families left in a world where a little over a century ago, royal families had presided over much of the world for several centuries.

Royal family stories. The Queen’s sister Princess Margaret is another member of the family who was socially “controversial” depending on who you talked to who knew her. She was of a generation where the rules of the royal’s conduct in life deprived her of her love affair with a divorced married man. At the time

it was widely believed that Margaret wanted to marry Peter Townsend , a British Royal Air Force officer and equerry to Margaret’s father King George VI from 1944 to 1952 when he was assigned the same position to the new Queen, Elizabeth II, from 1952 to 1953.

Townsend had been married when Margaret first met him. A romance ensued, and it was widely believed that he and the princess would marry. However, he was now divorced from his first

wife. It was somehow a mark against his eligibility of marrying into the Royal family. Divorce was, in those days, a no-no. After all, her uncle gave up the throne to her father because her uncle married a divorced woman (Mrs. Simpson). The rule disallowed Margaret her desire because she was still in the royal line of succession.

Five years after her breakup with Townsend, she married Antony Armstrong-Jones , a photographer. She be -

came the first British royal to marry a non-aristocrat in 400 years. The wedding in 1960 was televised before an audience of 300 million, and among the groom’s gifts was he was given the title Earl of Snowden .

Whatever the issues, some claims were that Snowden soon had brief affairs with others, including some members of his own gender it was soon apparent that it wasn’t going well. A son and daughter were born of the marriage but within the first four years it was definitely over. They played along with the situation until 1978, long after their

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marital ties were over, when they divorced. This was the first royal to divorce since King Henry VIII in the 16th century. Margaret had at least a couple of other relationships, including to a landscape gardener Roddy Llewelyn who was 18 years her junior but none that came to marriage.

Looking at it historically, Margaret’s divorce opened a new door in terms of rules for the Royals, and was followed by the actual heir to the throne, Prince Charles divorced Princess Diana , and as the world knows he later married Camilla .

Princess Margaret stayed out of the public controversies over her potential stature, however, and lived alone. Among her pleasure was music. She was a very able

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pianist and she and several footmen from the Royal Household would go up to Windsor Great Lodge, the country residence of the Queen Mother, on weekends where Margaret would take her place at the piano and with the footmen accompanying they would sing the popular songs of the era (including a lot of show tunes) and entertain the Queen Mum.

In the late 90s, Margaret had a butler (a footman from the Royal Household) whom she liked. He’d left his post for several years and worked for three different prominent employers in Los Angeles in the 1980s, returning to London in the ’ 90s.

Back with the princess, there came a moment when she was

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away, and the butler/ footman visited a gay bar in London where he picked up a lorry driver whom he invited back to his lodgings at Kensington Palace where upon he was beaten up and robbed. The incident made headlines in the tabloids. Margaret’s response to the “potential scandal” was to support her butler to the end.

Royal Spares. To be or not to be, depending on the fates. When Margaret was born in 1930, she was officially 3rd Spare in the Royal Line. The Heir to her grandfather King George VI at the time was her uncle David, elder brother

of her father who was the First Spare in line to the heir. Secondly was her elder sister Margaret. It was not imagined at that time that any of the Spares would be the heir. That all changed when an American divorcee Wallis Simpson met Uncle David who six years later gave up the throne and left the princess’ father to become George VI.

Kings and Queens at their leisure. The first time I visited London

in 1980, an American friend of mine who was over there in the antiques business invited me to dinner one night with a couple of dealers who had both been members of the Royal Household staff.

Before long at the table, my host had the two men, both long retired from their royal jobs, talking about their experiences working for the Royals. Their memories and anecdotes were mainly about the individuals

they served. Queen Elizabeth was very much admired but the Queen Mother was held in high regard and great affection by all the staff.

The Queen Mum had a very comfortable, almost casual, or as casual a relationship as a queen can be with a servant (all of whom were “footmen”). Often when she returned in the evening to Clarence House, where she lived when her daughter became Queen in 1953, she would knock on a door of a footman and footmen, and invite them to join her for a nightcap.

Conversation was often plain and fun and

Wallis Simpson

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Section

Local expertise. Global connections.

Ritchey Howe was born in Southampton and has been a member of the community ever since. As a fourth generation Southampton native, she is excited to focus her work in the Hamptons and share her knowledge of real estate with others. Ritchey attended the Spence School in New York City, graduated from Phillips Academy (Andover) and cum laude from Harvard College. Prior to her career in real estate, Ritchey was an account supervisor at Young and Rubicam in NYC. She achieved full client satisfaction by understanding relationship building, value, trust and hard work – all transferable to real estate transactions.

In her seven years at Sotheby’s International Realty, Ritchey has been responsible for 28 sales totaling over $165 million. All were in in the town of Southampton and she is most proud that they ranged from $1.4 million to $24 million.

Located in West Palm Beach, the GW Showroom is a space dedicated to the art of design, highlighting the craftsmanship and artistic perspectives of influential designers, local and international artists, and influencers throughout the design community.

“We are extremely passionate about the curation of a space that celebrates the mastery and creative process of producing the elements and materials that contribute to the overall vision of interior design,” explains Gil Walsh.

This season, the GW Showroom has curated a series of upcoming events to celebrate the intersection of art and design; beginning with a show and book signing by Palm Beach mainstay, Chris Leidy on February 22nd. Finding inspiration in the underwater world, Leidy captures a vision, a flash in time, through his lens. His vibrant photographs captured during his exploration of the oceans of Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga have attracted the attention of collectors, enthusiasts, and environmentalists across the globe.

A portion of the proceeds from any works sold will benefit the Cox Science Center. To request an invitation and stay up to date on future events at the GW Showroom, visit gwifl.com.

Wednesday, February 22nd 2023

5505 South Dixie Hwy #3 West Palm Beach, FL 33405

the relationship was informal. One told the story of a time she’d sent a footman to get the jewels she would be wearing for whatever event she’d be attending that night. One night the footman she sent returned on the “lift” to the Queen Mum bedecked in her Royal jewels. Whereupon the Queen Mum seeing him remarked, “Give me those; those are for a real queen!!” Howls of laughter among the staff and their boss filled the room.

The days of the busy leisure of Queen Mary Mother of George VI , grandmother of Elizabeth and Margaret was very fond of

antiques and in her royal leisure often visited antique shops in London and thereabouts. If she saw an item that appealed to her, she would comment to proprietor or management how much it impressed her. That comment, without a word spoken otherwise, was the signal to the shop owner to generously offer to give the Queen whatever she liked. This wasn’t an offer so much as simply The Practice.

One of the men at dinner the night I met my American dealer friend, told the story of when after retiring from his job with the Royals and going into the antique business he opened his own shop.

Chris Leidy at the GW Showroom

AMERICAN HUMANE'S COCKTAIL PARTY IN WELLINGTON

Robin Ganzert and Kim Fennebresque Vivian and Stanley Picheny Shannon Falcone and Tim Gannon

Bridget Kearns, Rick Eyring and Melissa Burns

Therese Mercentes with Hunter and Susan Cushing

Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother

Live In Color

GW Interiors is a contemporary design firm that takes a colorful approach to classic design. Helmed by award-winning designer, Gil Walsh, we draw from an extensive knowledge of art, fashion, and culture, using only the highest quality resources to us to execute your vision. Because luxury is in the details.

THE COCONUTS NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY IN PALM BEACH

1. Alex and Nickie Fanjul 2. Callie Baker Holt and Matt Holt 3. Christine and Stephen Schwarzman 4. Mary and Kane Baker 5. Elizabeth Kuensell and Michael McCarty 6. Mark Gilbertson and Grace Meigher 7. Harold and Joanna Paull 8. Laddie Merck and Paget Stanco 9. Arvo Katajisto and Denise Hanley 10. The Coconuts 11. Pam and William Surtees with Chelsea and Robert Surtees

1. Earl Smith and Percy Steinhart

2. Lauren Layne Merck and George Merck

3. Peter and Ann Summers 4. Peter Summers and Talbott Maxey 5. Woody and Suzanne Johnson 6. Elyse Maschmeyer, Troy and Debbie Maschmeyer and Lila Walker 7. Anne Hamilton, Pam Slotkin and Inger Anderson

8. Lindsey and Blakely Page 9. Elizabeth Meigher, Julia Wetherell LeClair, Julia Amory and Sarah Wetenhall 10. Christina and Billy Benison 11. Colt Robinson with Binkie and Chris Orthwein

Among his items on display was a very tall porcelain jar more than five feet high.

One day not long after the opening, Queen Mary appeared to see the merchandise. Looking over the items in the inventory, when she came up on the jar, she mentioned that she had been invited to a wedding and was looking for a gift for the couple, and this “jar” was a perfect gift. He had no choice but to automatically send the jar to Queen Mary at her residence at Marlborough House.

A few months later, among the visitors to the shop was a young

couple who were looking around and fell into conversation with the owner. When he inquired how they happened to hear about his new business, they told him that they’d received a wedding gift from Queen Mary that came from the shop. Naturally, he knew exactly what the gift was, and asked how they liked it.

They replied that they liked it very much except the only problem with it was they were living in

a tiny flat and the vase in the living room took up a lot of space with its size and height. Understanding the couple’s decorating dilemma, the shop owner told them they could return it, if they wished, and pick out something in the shop that would be more practical for their flat.

The vase was returned and the couple selected something smaller that appealed to them. A few weeks later, Queen Mary again stopped by to see

what new inventory they’d acquired. When she saw the returned vase, she exclaimed to the owner: “Oh a pair!!”

Which meant only one thing: she wanted to give it to the couple for the collection. And so, out it went again to the same tiny flat, and nothing more was said or returned.

When Queen Mary died, in 1953, the dealer recounted, there was a line of lorries waiting at Marlborough House to pick up the “gifts” that Queen Mary had acquired for her own collection as well as potential gifts for friends and admirers. ◆

Marlborough House

MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK'S LUNCHEON

Whitney Donhauser

Sonia Seth, Lucida Bhavsar and Amy Butte

Marcia Mishaan and Maria Hummer-Tuttle

Ann Coley, Ellen Niven and Chesie Breen Elizabeth Belfer and Cornelia Ercklentz

Bunny Williams and Stellene Volandes

Stewart Manger and Cosby George

DINNER BENEFITING GLADES ACADEMY IN PALM BEACH

Alex and Nickie Fanjul

Cathie and Andres Fanjul

Pauline Pitt and Jerry Seay

Arriana and Dixon Boardman

Lourdes and Pepe Fanjul

Deborah Norville and Karl Wellner

Michele and Howard Kessler Tom and Caroline Dean

Emilia and Pepe Fanjul

Cynthia Boardman and Percy Steinhart

QUEST TOASTS REEF ROAD AT THE COLONY PALM BEACH

Webb Egerton and Robert Caravaggi

Katie Carpenter, Mish Tworkowski and Cindy Rinfret

Anthony Ziccardi, Deborah Goodrich Royce and Katherine Ziccardi

Lesly Smith and Mayor Danielle Moore

Alex Dewey, Katie Porter and Debbie Maine

Elizabeth Meigher and Ted Cooney

RJ and Jamie Heijmen

Cindy Bardes Galvin

Jack Lynch and Sabrina Forsythe Julia Amory and Eleanora Kennedy

Walter and Leslie Tomenson

PALM BEACH SYMPHONY'S RECEPTION AT FINDLAY GALLERIES IN PALM BEACH

Willard and Mary Demory

Maestro Gerard and Jody Schwarz

Sieglinde Wikstrom and David McClymont

Fred and Beth Lane

Marietta McNulty and Adolfo Zaralegui

Michael Farinaccio and Kimberly Strauss

Janet Pleasants and Mitchell Adelman Thomas D’Agostino and Danielle Rollins

John and Amy Collins

Carol and Thomas Bruce

BARTON & GRAY DEBUTS NEW BOAT IN PALM BEACH

Karen Glover and Jill Hinckley

Chris Deitz and Michael Costello

Abigail MacCallum, Ria Loukakis and Maddy Blake

Belle Bennett, Karen Russel and Anne Pervis

Somers Laffey and Charolette Jones

Suji and Arthur Martens

Nicole Justice, Heather Jones and Jennifer Borg

Chris Combe with Betsy and Michael Greene

Scott Warnike and Michael Burkart

ANN NORTON SCULPTURE GARDENS CELEBRATES FIGURATIVE MASTERS OF THE AMERICAS

David Miller and Jenny Garrigues

Sara and Tom Griffen Peggy Dean and Debbie Bricker

Jeffrey and Frances Fisher Luce Churchill with Gigi and Harry Benson

Jason Laskey and Susan LLoyd Hedy Fawcett and Pat McLaughlin

NEW YEAR'S EVE AT THE COLONY PALM BEACH

Sarah and Andrew Wetenhall

Lisl Ewing and Bruce Seigel

Blaine and Robert Caravaggi

Frank and Michele Rella

Lauren Day Roberts and Bob Roberts

Irene and Jim Palmer

DAVID PATRICK COLUMBIA

THE WINTER SHOW'S OPENING NIGHT PARTY IN NEW YORK

Margaret Kenworthy

Rebecca Moses and Freddie Leiba

Elton Ilirjani and Nadja Sayej

Diego and Hugo Portuondo

Thomas Knapp

Aliyah Dorsett

Jeff Stein with Alison and Thaddeus Gray

Giovanni Domenico Ferretti and Helen Allen

Lucinda Ballard and Linda McGarth Clara Courel

CELEBRATING A SMALL AFFAIR AT THE COLONY PALM BEACH

Robyn and Caroline Joseph

Cameron Silver and John Wattiker

Robert Janjigian and Amy Fine Collins

Flora Collins

Grace Meigher and Richard Johnson

Veronica Webb

Annette Allen, Eleanora Kennedy and Priscilla Rattazzi Alex Hamer, Patty Raynes and Rob Gray

Michele Heary, Michelle Jacqueline Larin Begin and Marco Chianese

COX SCIENCE CENTER'S GALA IN WEST PALM BEACH

Wendy and Howard Cox

Katharine Eyre, Laing Rogers and Kathleen Crampton

Lynn Connelly and Stephen Ross

Sophocles and Silvia Zoulas

Helen and Charles Schwab with Talbott Maxey

Tara and Christopher Vecellio

Sandy Rogers and Anne Flowers Lew Crampton with Lorna and Mayor Keith James

Nick and Caroline Rafferty Christine and Bob Stiller

JOIN THE CLUB

Alessandro

LAST MONTH I hit a hot new club here on the Bagel’s Upper East Side, Casa Cruz, owned by Juan Santa Cruz, who also happens to be a Speccie reader. Juan was sitting at the table next to mine with some pretty girls and a couple of young men that I knew when they were still in short pants.

Santo Domingo and the newly mar ried John Michael Radziwill, next to his very nice Polish wife, greeted me and were solicitous. The reason for their concern was that the first course had yet to arrive and the old boy was already gone. The problem was that my dining companions, Prince Pavlos

of Greece and Arki (Romeo) Busson, were late to arrive and only did so as I was finishing my third double vodka on the rocks on an empty stomach after a violent karate session.

Mind you, I was in the club’s roof garden on a balmy evening looking out at the housetops of Madison Avenue

Clockwise from left: Casa Cruz in New York; World Economic Forum 2022, Davos; Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece.

that I had mistaken for a trompe l’oeil, and complimenting the waiters for the art, until more sober opinions set me straight. The club is on six floors and is quite amazing, but it will soon have competition because Robin Birley has permission to open his nightclub exactly one block away from my humble abode. This is the way it should be: two very top clubs targeting the same clientele, the way the Stork and El Morocco used to back when New York still had a society to speak of. I will tell you more about Robin’s club when it opens next year— and if I’m still around, that is.

Once Pavlos and Arki arrived, the vodka kept flowing, and after din -

ple to fill them. By this I don’t mean Silicon Valley slobs and hedgies who are pretentious and pompous and give themselves airs, like so many of these barbarian nouveaux zillionaires we read about. The perfect example of a slob whom people took very seriously, especially among Wall Street types and the media, is Sam Bankman-Fried, the Ponzi-scheme wunderkind who recently sat on a dais with Tony Blair and Bill Clinton in suits while he was in filthy shorts and a T-shirt. Personally I am convinced that Bankman-Fried is a super Madoff, a much bigger con man and crook, and he was the second-biggest Democrat donor after Soros.

with during my drunken evening. John Michael Radziwill and Alessandro Santo Domingo were born very welloff, but you’d never know it by their attitude toward others. That’s because their parents, like mine, taught them early on how fortunate they were, and how to respect those who were not as lucky. It’s very simple, my dear Watsons: Everything starts at home, and if yours is in Silicon Valley, you’re bound to be in la merde, as they say in the land of cheese.

Exclusion, needless to say, is what makes an exclusive club, but those who are excluded nowadays are mostly nice, unglamorous, and unobtrusive people.

ner I struggled to go down a couple of floors to another great room full of—well, yes, women, including Siena Miller, who was friendly and not at all Hollywood. Disaster struck soon after. Balance is the first to go, and I knew I was in trouble when I attempted to take a few steps. My group had disappeared by then, a wise thing to do because no one wants to be debriefed for hours by some nosy cop as to where they were and what they were doing while the old boy expired in their midst.

I’m exaggerating, of course, because I don’t plan to meet with the man in the white suit anytime soon. What I want to do is return to the subject of clubs, and the lack of the right peo-

(With other people’s money.)

Even worse, Bankman-Fried was a big shot at Davos and a World Economic Forum partner. He pledged to give 1 billion smackers to the Democratic Party, so everyone loved him in the media. I’ll bet my bottom dollar—I’ve never dealt in crypto because of crooks like him—that he’s got lotsa moola stashed away in the Bahamas, while the billions that have disappeared will be forgotten because the crook was such a lefty.

I bring this filth up because there are so many of his kind around nowadays, the ones who worship wealth and act in a superior manner, the exact opposite of those young men I was

My unsolicited advice to both bosses of the new clubs is to bar celebrities, except serious actresses like la Miller, and anyone with an entourage. Billionaires need to be screened and given a handbook of old-fashioned manners on how to act in public spaces. Most sports stars should be excluded, even the great and gentlemanly Roger Federer because he might bring in Anna Wintour. Women who join by themselves should be the type one takes home to mother. They’re boring but safe. Tarts are great fun, but I’d exclude them simply because they tend to get into fights late at night and mess things up. u

For more Taki, visit takimag.com.

From left: Sienna Miller; Lauren Remington Platt, Sam Bankman-Fried and Gisele Bündchen at FTX and SALT’s Crypto Bahamas conference; Robin Birley.

LATOUR/SHUTTERSTOCK; MICHAEL LECKIE/THE TIMES

Fresh Finds QUEST

BY BROOKE KELLY MURRAY

is the month for love, whether you’re celebrating a special Valentine’s Day or planning for that big wedding. Luckily, if you need a last-minute gift for the upcoming holiday or a romantic surprise for the Aquarius in your life, we have you

For the love of a lifetime, a pink diamond makes a romantic statement. Harry Winston’s Fancy Intense Pink Diamond Micropave Ring is the ultimate expression of supreme beauty and grace. Price upon

The Large Heart Box in Blush Suede from Venus et Fleur features 36 Eternity Roses, a beautiful arrangement to show that special someone how far your love extends. Starting at $549 at venusetfleur.com.

Graff’s diamond (17.40 carats) and ruby (12.67 carats) earrings, set in white gold. Price upon request at graff.com.

The Reverso Tribute Small Seconds watch in stainless steel with a wine-red dial immediately attracts the eye. Engraving options available for a personal touch. $9,050 at Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Palm Beach boutique. More information at greenleafcrosby.com.

Embroidered with Richard Bernstein’s Jell Heart, these classic black velvet Heart slippers by Stubbs & Wootton are perfect for Valentine’s Day. $575 at stubbsandwootton.com.

Flamenco Bracelet in Romance with precious gemstones in pastel tones set in 18k gold. Price upon request at tamaracomolli.com.

A Small Affair by Flora Collins is a twisting novel of psychological suspense about a young woman whose life is torn apart when her wealthy ex-lover is found dead, along with his wife. $17 at amazon.com.

Asprey’s best-selling 1781 Pochette Handbag in Rose Bullskin. $2,900 at asprey.com.

J.McLaughlin’s Tyra Blazer in Gingham ($328), Wavesong Tee in Midi Cabana Gingham ($178), Ivy Pants in Gingham ($168), and Concetta Suede Loafers ($278). Visit jmclaughlin.com.

TAMARA COMOLLI’s MIKADO

Play cupid and celebrate the most romantic day of the year with this 25 piece box of mouthwatering chocolate from MarieBelle New York. $75 at mariebelle.com.

The chic pattern on these Black and White Lines Boxes is created when composite is painted and hand-cut, then overlaid on a Mango wood structure. Set of two for $480. Available at the Gil Walsh Interiors Showroom or by calling 561.932.0631.

Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, the first and most exclusive resort in the Dominican Republic, recently announced the unveiling of its new Premier Club and cutting-edge Spa & Wellness Centre coming this spring. Visit casadecampo.com.do.

Salvatore Ferragamo’s Heart Print Silk Tie in red is fit for a romantic occasion. $210 at ferragamo.com.

Waterproof to a depth of 11,000 metres (36,090 feet), with a unidirectional 60-minute rotatable bezel, the Deepsea Challenge features an intense black dial and large luminescent hour markers. $25,950 at rolex.com.

Showing up for your wedding day in a Rolls-Royce will truly make a memorable statement. Visit Rolls-Royce Palm Beach, a Braman Motorcars dealership.

Brunello Cucinelli’s Linen, Wool and Silk Diagonal Blazer ($2,895), Leisure Fit Trousers with Pleats ($1,200), and Jersey T-Shirt ($420). Visit shop.brunellocucinelli.com.

Wempe’s Electrify Pendant in 18k rose gold, 68 brilliant-cut diamonds 0.76 ct, length 45 cm. $5,655 at wempe.com.

Fresh Finds

The Colony Hotel x Petite Plume Luxe Pima Cotton Pink Stripe Pajama Set. $138 at petite-plume.com.

Charlotte Kellogg’s earrings hand-crafted by Columbian Artisans of finely woven Iraca Palm and finished with hand-hammered bronze and 24k gold plating. Visit charlottekellogg.com.

Ralph Lauren’s Calf-Suede Welington Crossbody Bag in Ballet Pink is a special extension of the brand’s Pink Pony collection, and 25% of the purchase price of this item is directed to an international network of cancer charities within the U.S. Proceeds benefit the Pink Pony Fund of the Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation. $1,350 at ralphlauren.com.

Pucker up! This Valentine’s Day, Dear Annabelle has cooked up a set of kissably cute notecards to send to all the loves in your life. Read My Lips Notecard Set comes with 10 cards. $80 at dearannabelle.com.

An 18k yellow gold Templar band ring by Elizabeth Gage with four wonderful oval faceted red spinels each on a rectangle plinth. $15,120 at elizabeth-gage.com.

Lilly Pulitzer’s Keane Cardigan is the season’s sweetest sweater. $188 at lillypulitzer.com.

INEZ’s Mia heels in Deep Red Suede feature a mid-heel slingback with a flattering V-shape topline and classic pointed toe. A discreetly elasticized back strap provides an effortless, held-on fit. $248 at inez.com.

TRENDING IN TRAVEL: THE MICRO-RETREAT

BY MICAELA ENGLISH

2023’S WELLNESS MOOD: THE MICRO-HEALING GETAWAY.

The micro-healing getaway. Think: A luxe, bite-sized, 1-2 day reset to kickstart your wellbeing and satiate your craving for both travel and health. From ritzy crystal-filled spas to peace and quiet on the Finger Lakes—our favorite micro-healing destinations that are a stone’s throw away from New York City.

Inns of Aurora, Aurora, NY

Storybook wellness? Yes, it’s a thing. Tuck away for a few days in the picturesque village of Aurora, New York and its charming Inns of Aurora. The Inn has five distinctly designed inns on the Finger Lakes (fans of Mackenzie-Childs must book the third floor of Rowland House, which is decked out in the brand’s signature check)—and opened its modern farm-inspired “spa campus” in the summer of 2021. Choose from an endless and expertly curated menu of options ranging from Reiki energy work to an immunity boosting body treatment focused on the lymphatic and respiratory system.

THE WELL At Mayflower Inn & Spa, Washington, CT

Forest craniosacral therapy, East-meets-West facials, garden-fresh tinctures and tonics, the options are endless at THE WELL’s destination at iconic Connecticut luxury hotel,

Above: Deeply rooted in the landscape of the Finger Lakes region, the Inns of Aurora spa in Aurora, NY offers a holistic approach to wellness. Opposite page, from top: the Relaxation Room at THE WELL at Mayflower Inn & Spa in Washington, CT; dining at Mayflower Inn & Spa; writer, storyteller, creator, and the director of copy and editorial at J.McLaughlin, Micaela English.

WELLNESS

Winvian Farms in Litchfield Hills, CT. Opposite page, clockwise from top left: Miraval’s Life in Balance Spa draws inspiration from its woodsy Berkshire surroundings in Lenox, MA; one of New England’s newest holistic wellness destination’s, THE WELL at Mayflower Inn in Washington, CT; a giant Buddha at Watermill’s Shou Sugi Ban House emits a sense of calm.

Mayflower Inn & Spa. The spa is self-care heaven—think cozy chaise lounges, calming crystals, and a chic minimalist palette that still feels warm, luxe, and comforting. Reset your body and mind at the idyllic country chic Inn and choose from THE WELL’s heavenly list of daily workshops, spa treatments (like lymphatic drainage massage), energy work, tea & tinctures classes, coaching sessions, and a healthy menu designed by Chef Cortney Burns.

Winvian, Litchfield Hills, CT

As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “In the woods is perpetual youth. In the woods we return to faith and reason.” Design-loving, self-care aficionados looking to reconnect with nature should look no further than Winvian in Litchfield Hills, Connecticut. The property’s one-of-a-kind cottages in the woods are ideal for full-on out-of-the box luxury including a tree house suspended 35 feet above the forest floor, and Maritime, an ode to Connecticut’s lighthouses. Winvian’s five-star cuisine, and 5,000 square foot farm-meets-urban oasis spa is wholly unique and designed for recharging and indulging. Rise and hike in the great outdoors and then spend an afternoon decompressing in the Spa with a wellness trilogy complete with a Biologique Recherche custom facial, body scrub, and aromatherapy massage. End with an imaginative farm to-table meal at Winvian’s beloved restaurant, and prepare to be wowed by executive chef Chris Eddy’s (a protegee of Alain Ducasse and Daniel Boulud) inventive menu serving up Hand-Rolled Cavatelli with Lamb Ragout and Crudo of Kampachi.

Miraval Berkshires, Lenox, MA

Cocoon yourself in wellness and fully unplug (it’s a rule, Miraval resorts have a cell-phone free policy) at holistic health mecca Miraval’s Berkshires location. Nestled amongst the rolling hills of Lenox, MA—design your own bespoke itinerary with endless options to choose from like heart-pumping boot camp fitness classes, nourishing meals at the property’s Harvest Moon restaurant, immersive sound bath journeys, and the latest wellness trend, cold-plunging. Relax with a beauty-enhancing herbal tea at the modern Life In Balance spa and indulge in a menu of endless self-care offerings like Ayurvedic warm oil massages, probiotic facials, and invigorating ginger body scrubs. At the end of your trip, you’ll feel refreshed, reset, and ready for your next chapter.

Shou Sugi Ban House, Watermill, NY

Minimalist luxury enlightenment, this way. Get your inner and outer glow on at holistic health haven Shou Sugi Ban House in Watermill, NY. The property’s simple take on luxury is instantly calming with a modern aesthetic in minimalist hues like stone and biscuit, and endless elegant places to chill like the Healing Arts Barn, open-air Movement Pavilion, and ceremonial fire circle. Center your body and mind with Hatha yoga, hydrotherapy, and tea meditation, or choose from an array of spa services like the grounding and energizing Fire Within body treatment (including a full-body exfoliation of yuzu, honey, sea salt and kukui nut oil) and a healing massage of warm, organic sesame and pomegranate seed oils with bamboo, vetiver, cardamom, and mandarin. u

MIRAVAL BERKSHIRES; MAYFLOWER INN & SPA, AUBERGE RESORTS COLLECTION; FREDRIKA STJARNE FOR SHOU SUGI BAN HOUSE

THE BRIDE’S ULTIMATE JOURNEY TO SAYING “I DO”

BY JANIE MCGRAW PIERREPONT

THE MOMENT AFTER my now husband popped the question, I not only thanked my sister for begging me to paint my nails that day but was also thankful it was a complete surprise. I remember hearing my family singing “Here Comes the Bride” as they congratulated me. After soaking in the joy and excitement, questions started to pop up after breaking the news: “Do you know when? Possibly where?” I was the first in my family to be getting married and needed guidance on the complete wedding checklist to help make this day happen. I thought to myself, “Let the wedding planning begin!”

First things first – location. Securing a venue early is most important because then all of the planning can start to fall into place. The sooner you inquire to book, the better. Once we locked down the venue and had a date, I started to envision a dress for that day.

I began my wedding dress shopping in October of 2020 and was lucky to bring my mom with me to help make the decision. For me, the process was a lot of back and forth and took some time but I knew I wanted to channel a

Counterclockwise from above: Ned and Janie Pierrepont at the site of their engagement in Lake Placid, New York; Ned and Janie’s wedding Save the Date, photographed by Lucy Cuneo; dress shopping. Opposite page, from above: Janie’s bachelorette trip in Palm Beach; Ned and Janie at the altar at Mill Reef Club in Antigua, photographed by Lucy Cuneo.

timeless and sleek Carolyn Bessette-esque look. Pick a dress you feel your best in. I chose a dress that was simple yet classic so decided to go with an exaggerated two-tiered veil. Next was designing what my bridesmaids might wear. I liked the idea of having my bridesmaids pick their own silhouettes with one color scheme or fabric makes it easy on everyone and the bride!

Speaking of the bridal party, in order to properly celebrate the bride’s last couple of months before getting married, a bachelorette party must be thrown. People joke that this is meant to be the bride’s “last hurrah” or even her last bit of freedom. Traditionally, bachelorette parties were a one-night bash, while these days it has turned into a celebratory destination weekend. Bridal parties will travel all over, including popular bachelorette getaway spots like Nashville, Miami, Charleston, and Mexico. It’s definitely a great excuse to get everyone together for a girls weekend. My bachelorette party was full of late-night dinners and dancing, pink feathered boas, and tons of Champagne.

Another excuse for a party before the wedding is the bridal shower. Typically, the Maid of Honor hosts the shower with family and friends. At this celebratory daytime event, the bride is showered with gifts along with fun games to play about the bride and groom.

At this point, the wedding checklist should be almost complete and the wedding day is just around the corner. On the morning of my wedding, I felt pretty calm until we realized we should have started the hair and makeup earlier; I was 40 minutes late to the altar, but we still made it (to my husband’s relief). Of course, the wedding night is filled with traditions of the first dance, cutting of the cake, and the blissful exit of the bride and groom as they drive off into the night to escape and begin their travels to their honeymoon. The evening is a whirlwind of love and celebration but the best piece of advice I received before my wedding day was to take a step back and truly take it all in. It’s always nice to have a checklist but nothing needs to be perfect or followed in order. The most important part of the wedding journey is that you enjoy every second of it. ◆

LUXURY LIVING AT ALBA PALM BEACH

ALBA PALM BEACH is a collection of 55 new luxury residences in a 22-story tower, including two-and three-bedroom residences, plus a limited-collection of four unique two- and three-story townhomes with unobstructed water views.

The development is perfectly situated on 1.71-acres with direct Intracoastal frontage, and a private dock with boat slips reserved for residents only. The tower’s entire sixth floor is dedicated to amenities, including a sunrise pool overlooking the Intracoastal, a sunset pool for the warm afternoon daylight, and dedicated grill and lounge areas. The on-property fitness studio by Technogym includes cardio, resistance training, yoga, and Pilates. There will also be a state-of-the-art conference space with audio visual functionality, several private workspaces, a multi-sport simulator room and theater, and a private dining room with climate-controlled wine storage. The development offers a covered porte-co chère entry, valet parking, security, and on-site lobby attendant.

Every residence features graciously appointed layouts with oversized glass-framed terraces with summer kitchens to highlight the incredible panoramic views, and floor-to-ceiling hurricane impact windows and sliding doors. Additional highlights include Italian-designed kitchens by Italkraft, stainless steel appliances by SubZero® and Wolf®, and spa-like baths with designer fixtures and finishes. Wiring for highspeed data, media connectivity, and smart-home technology will all be standard.

Artist’s conceptual drawings. Renderings of Alba Palm Beach. From above: The porte-cochère; a living and dining area. Opposite page: The exterior of the tower, located at 4714 North Flagler Drive on the Intrcoastal Waterway in West Palm Beach.

The Sales Gallery & Showroom, located at 250 North Olive Avenue in downtown West Palm Beach, highlights the notable interior design finishes that Alba Palm Beach residents will enjoy. The showroom presents a living and dining area mirroring an actual residence, as well as the indoor-outdoor living concept, highlighted by the expansive terrace with outdoor kitchen and an expansive LED wall showcasing the spectacular views.

“We are thrilled to welcome our buyers, discerning prospective clientele, and real estate agents to the sales gallery,” says Kenneth Baboun, principal developer. “The project has appealed to buyers from all over South Florida, including Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, and Miami, as well as individuals from New York, Chicago, and California. The sales gallery is another great tool to bring to life the desirable lifestyle residents will have the opportunity to appreciate.”

The development’s sleek and modern design is by West Palm Beach-based Spina O’Rourke + Partners. A free-form ground level with design accents that blend into the landscape welcomes residents, who will enjoy access to an elevated amenity deck, with unobstructed sunrise, sunset, and water views. There are a limited number of residences per floor, with

private elevators and vestibules offering privacy and seclusion. Schmidt Nichols, an award-winning urban development firm specializing in site development and planning, and landscape architectural planning is the landscape architect for the development.

The building’s prime location at 4714 North Flagler Drive in West Palm Beach, on the West bank of the Intracoastal Waterway, is just minutes from beaches, Worth Avenue, Atlantic Ocean boating, as well as a host of upscale culinary spots, designer shopping, art galleries and museums, theatrical performances, and more. u

Alba Palm Beach’s Sales Gallery & Showroom is open Mondays through Saturdays at 10 a.m., and Sundays at noon. Prices start just under $3 million, with an anticipated delivery of 2025. For more information, call 561.944.3290 or email sales@albapalmbeach.com.

Artist’s conceptual drawings. Renderings of Alba Palm Beach. This spread, clockwise from bottom left: A bedroom with floor-toceiling windows and unobstructed views; oversized terrace featuring a summer kitchen and panoramic waters views; spa-like bathroom.

WILD ABOUT HARRY

BY ROBERT JANJIGIAN

CELEBRATED PHOTOJOURNALIST Harry Benson, who splits his time between horsey Wellington and Manhattan with his wife and manager Gigi, is known for his ability to capture a moment and an image in a manner like nobody else. “I photograph what I see,” says the mischievous 93-year-old Scotsman, who worked on Fleet Street before coming to New York in 1964. “And what I see should inform,” he adds.

Benson characterizes himself as a hard worker, though he considers his career in photography as the only thing he could possibly do, as he can’t imagine doing anything else.

“It was the most obvious way out,” he says. And he doesn’t consider himself a tortured artist, struggling to make an impact with his work. “The camera does what it lets you,” he explains. “It’s about putting the camera in interesting positions—not a lot of fancy angles.”

And above all, Benson has wanted to have a bit of fun along the way. If he had to do it all over again, in terms of his pictures, he would only try to do it better, he says most modestly and with a wink. “I’m not there for pretty pictures,” says Benson. “I want my subjects to work for it.” And while he has taken photographs of some of the most famous and accomplished people on earth, he believes it’s important not to be overawed or “handled” by them. “I do my best not to be manipulated, to keep a certain distance,” he says, adding, “and I’m not their friend.”

Benson strives to take a photo that he thinks people will find appealing, garner their attention. And that usually involves telling his subjects to do something, like jump or move around. His aim isn’t to hurt them or make them look bad, but to communicate something about the individual personality, or the tenor of the situation.

This month, Benson will begin his tenure as artist in residence at the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens in West Palm Beach. The honor will include an exhibition of select Benson works on view from February 15th through June 30th, as well as monthly artist talks through the spring, individual private tours and discussions, and a series of regular meetings with interested area students.

The exhibit will feature approximately 50 images, chosen by the photographer and Gabriel Gordon, creative director of JL Modern, the Palm Beach Gallery devoted to Benson’s work, founded with Worth Avenue dealers Jodi and Holden Luntz several years ago. “Harry is the greatest living photojournalist,” says Gordon, who was given a fairly free hand in curating the show. He decided that some of Benson’s grittier works, more straight news images, and a harder type of picture to sell in the gallery context, should be included in order for the viewers to get a more complete record of the photographer’s talent and output. The only picture Benson insisted be included was his portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Contributor Robert Janjigian, Gabriel Gordon of JL Modern, and photographer Harry Benson, photographed by Gigi Benson.

“Harry really liked her personally, and bestowed on him the CBE, which he is very proud of,” says Gordon. The Luntzes have sold Benson’s pictures since the late 1990s. “What makes Harry such a sensation is his unfailing eye, and his great sense of humor” says Jodi Luntz. “He’s been able to put himself in such amazing situations with amazing figures in history,” she continues, noting that the photographs in the show will be available to purchase, with some proceeds benefiting the sculpture gardens. The archival pigment prints range in price from $6,000 to about $50,000.

Energetic chairman of the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens board, Frances Fisher of Palm Beach, who has a personal connection to the founder via her Alabama roots, and has collected photography through the Luntz Gallery for several years, is thrilled to have Benson on hand as resident artist this season. “Harry’s work is admired universally, and he’s an icon in the history of photography. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate a great artist and bring his work to the attention of the local community.” ◆

A selection of Harry Benson’s photographs that will be on display at Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens in West Palm Beach beginning on February 15th, presented by Holden Luntz Gallery and JL Modern Gallery. From above: James Brown, 1979; Kate Moss backstage in Paris, 1993. Opposite page, from above: Francis Ford Coppola, Al Pacino, and Diane Keaton on the set of The Godfather, 1971; Jackie Kennedy Onassis in Canada, 1968.

On February 23rd, the

1

RACE OF HOPE

The Hope for Depression Research Foundation will hold a dinner at Le Bilboquet at 6 p.m. to kick off its annual Race of Hope in Palm Beach. By invitation. For more information, visit hopefordepression.org.

2

HOSPICE EVENING

The Palm Beach Island Hospice Foundation will host its annual Hospice Evening at The Breakers. For more information, call 561.832.8585.

4

ART GALA

The Norton Museum of Art will hold its annual gala in West Palm Beach. For more information, visit norton.org.

HOUSTON BALL

The Houston Ballet will host its annual ball. The dazzling black-tie event at the Margaret Alkek Williams Center for Dance is a city renowned event offering a three-course seated dinner, luxury silent auction, topnotch entertainment, and a dance floor. For more information, visit houstonballet.org.

6

will

9

PALM BEACH OPERA

The Palm Beach Opera will hold its gala, “An Evening with Piotr Bezcala,” at The Breakers. For more information, call 561.835.7563.

HOT PINK LUNCHEON

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) will host its annual Palm Beach Hot Pink Luncheon and Symposium at

The Breakers. BCRF is a nonprofit organization committed to achieving prevention and a cure for breast cancer. It provides critical funding for cancer research worldwide to fuel advances in tumor biology, genetics, prevention, treatment, metastasis. For more information, call 646.497.2617.

16

FRESH AIR FUND

The Fresh Air Fund will hold a cocktail reception at The Royal Poinciana Plaza in support of the organization. Tickets are available for $100 each. The Fresh Air Fund is a notfor-profit youth development organization that provides free, life-changing summer experiences in the outdoors to children from New York City’s undeserved communities. For more information, visit freshair.org.

DAR LUNCHEON

On March 3rd, the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach will hold its annual Dinner Dance at Bradley Park. For more information, visit palmbeachpreservation.org.

Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) will host its Palm Beach Chapter Luncheon with the Hon. Beverly Yeager as the guest speaker. The event will take place at Club Colette at 11:30 a.m. For more information, call 540.295.0902.

New York Botanical Garden

host its annual Orchid Dinner at The Plaza Hotel. For more information, visit nybg.org.

On February 20th,

17

AMERICANS IN PARIS

The Society of the Four Arts will hold its “Americans in Paris” dinner dance. By invitation. For more information, visit fourarts.org.

18

DISCO IN THE DESERT

The Society of the Four Arts Contemporaries will hold its “Disco in the Desert” gala. By invitation. For more information, visit fourarts.org.

RESTORE AND PROTECT

The Everglades Foundation will host its annual gala at The Breakers Palm Beach. For a quarter of a century, The Everglades Foundation’s commitment to restore and protect

The Everglades has been driven by science. Founded in 1993 by two outdoor enthusiasts the late George Barley and Paul Tudor Jones II The Everglades Foundation works tirelessly to bring people together and provide a powerful voice for Everglades restoration at the state and national levels. For more information, visit evergladesfoundation.org.

20

A STANDING OVATION Palm Beach Symphony will hold its annual “Standing Ovation” gala at The Breakers at 7 p.m. For more information, call 561.568.0265.

23

HEART BALL

American Heart Association will

host its annual Heart Ball at The Breakers. For more information, visit heart.org.

ORCHID DINNER

New York Botanical Garden will hold its annual Orchid Dinner at The Plaza Hotel. Known for its wondrous and inventive orchid centerpieces, The Orchid Dinner celebrates

the Garden’s highly acclaimed The Orchid Show . Guests are invited to enjoy cocktails and a sale of exceptional and rare orchids carefully selected by NYBG’s curators followed by an elegant dinner and dancing. For more information, visit nybg.org.

24

WINTER BALL

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County will hold its annual Winter Ball at The Breakers. For more information, visit bgcpbc.org.

MARCH 2

HELP & HOPE

Cancer Alliance of Help & Hope will host its “Shop the Day Away Luncheon” at The Breakers Palm Beach at 10:30 a.m. For more information, call 561.748.7227.

3

PRESERVE PALM BEACH

The Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach W ill hold its annual Dinner Dance at Bradley Park. The event has added excitement as we recall the glamor of the 1920s with design impresario Ken Fulk and welcome a new Golden Age of Palm Beach. For more information, visit palmbeachpreservation.org.

On February 4th, the Norton Museum of Art will hold its annual gala in West Palm Beach. For more information, visit norton.org.

Palm Beach Symphony will hold its annual “Standing Ovation” gala at The Breakers at 7 p.m. For more information, call 561.568.0265.

Hannah Grace Bibb & Matthew Simon Nash Kibble

June 28, 2022 j Galway, Ireland j PhotoGraPhed by

Ivana PatarcIc

Hannah and Matthew were married before their families in the historic chapel at the world-famous Ashford Castle, with a larger ceremony held for 200 guests in the majestic castle gardens later that day. The bride donned a custom gown from White on Daniel Island in Charleston, and carried a bouquet of flowers and foliage designed by Mark Grehan of The Garden. The groom and ushers all sported uniform hunter green velvet slippers from Stubbs & Wootton. Later on, a reception and afterparty were held in Ashford Castle’s George V dining room, named after the Prince of Wales, who subsequently became George V of England after visiting the iconic Castle in 1905. The four-day celebration included shooting, falconry, archery, golf, and horseback riding on the castle grounds. On the day of the nuptials, guests were serenaded by Broadway’s Phantom of the Opera singer Ciaran Sheehan, and enjoyed cake by Fern Cakery, entertainment by traditional Celtic drummers, Irish dancers, and DJ Timo Weiland, topped off with a breathtaking fireworks show—a surprise organized by the groom for his new bride.

Quest Weddings

BY BROOKE KELLY MURRAY & ELIZABETH MEIGHER

Callie and Matt were married in a lakeside ceremony before 300 guests at Southwood, their new home in Palm Beach. The bride walked alone down the aisle—her late father, Anthony Kane Baker, was with her in spirit. She wore a custom gown by Elizabeth Kennedy and carried a mix of white orchids and roses, with pale pink peonies. She later slipped into a shorter dress by Oscar de la Renta for dancing. Callie’s sister, Asia Baker Stokes, was the matron of honor. Alexandra Oelsner Hall was her only bridesmaid. Matt’s brother, Christopher Holt, was the best man. Dachschund Prudence also partook in the ceremony. Following the service, guests were welcomed to a reception and fireworks on the croquet lawn, followed by a tented dinner and dancing created by Van Wyck and Van Wyck. The couple cut a Red Velvet and Caramel Carrot cake and shared their first dance to “The Whole of the Moon” by the Waterboys. The weekend kicked off with dinner at a private club followed by an after-party at The Chesterfield’s Leopard Lounge.

After the festivities, the newlyweds visited Paris and Cape Town before departing on safari through Singita in

Presbyterian Church. The bride donned a custom gown by Laura Vassar of Brock Collection and antique diamond vine earrings given to her by her late grandmother, which she bought in Paris in the 1940s. She carried a bouquet of white peonies, roses, and green buds. Her father, Daniel C. Baker, walked her down the aisle. After the ceremony, a reception and afterparty took place in the backyard of Lily’s family summer home in Southampton. Guests enjoyed dinner, cake by Carissa’s The Bakery in East Hampton, and dancing. The couple shared their first dance to “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green. After the weekend, the newlyweds departed for their mini-moon in California, where they traveled to Napa Valley and Big Sur over five days.

Samantha Cerny & Kent Anderson

M ay 4, 2022 j H arbour I sland , T He b a H a M as j P HoTogra PHed by

T yler P arker of k Ilo C onTenT

Samantha and Kent were married in an intimate ceremony on the beach at Pink Sands Resort. The bride donned a breezy silk dress by Grace Loves Lace as she walked barefoot down the aisle with her father, Russ Cerny, and stepfather, Jason Reed by her side. Along with her bridesmaids, she also wore a custom pearl anklet. She carried a petite bouquet of precious dried botanicals and flowers wrapped with a locket-sized photo of Kent’s late father, Harry Loy Anderson, Jr., serving as a reminder that he was there in spirit. The service was followed by a dinner at the resort’s Blue Bar restaurant. After enjoying cake, a local Junkanoo band guided guests down to a private bonfire for dancing. Everyone engaged in a Anderson-style conga line in honor of Kent’s father, who once loved the carefree dance. After the wedding, the newlyweds remained on Harbour Island to celebrate with their families for an additional week. They embarked on a two-week sailing trip around the British Virgin Islands over the summer for their honeymoon. The wedding festivities were planned by Pink Sands wedding planner, Julia Vago, over just four months.

Catherine and Carter were married before 270 guests at St. James Episcopal Church. Reverend Dr. Mark S. Anschutz, who married the bride’s parents, officiated the service. Catherine donned a gown by Mark Ingram and her father, Porter Farrar Fleming, walked her down the aisle. She carried a bouquet of white stephanotis tied by white silk ribbons onto a family prayer book that was carried by her mother in 1993, her grandmother in 1964, and her great-grandmother in 1936 at their weddings. After the ceremony, a reception was held at the University Club with dinner, dancing to music by Kevin Osborne and his band, and a four-tier vanilla cake with layers of chocolate fudge. The couple shared their first dance to “Amazed” by Lonestar. The newlyweds will travel for their honeymoon this summer.

Molly Kendall Underhill & Alec Wolff Côté

S eptember 17, 2022 j N a Ntucket , m a SS achu SettS j p hotographed by J acqui c ole p hotography

Molly and Alec were married before 175 guests at the Unitarian Universalist Church. The bride donned a custom Amsale gown, a handmade tulipembroidered lace veil from Lyons, France, shoes by Manolo Blahnik, and a family heirloom ring. She carried a bouquet of roses, ranunculi, chrysanthemums greens, and berries by Soiree Floral. Her father, Robert S. Underhill, walked her down the aisle. After the service, a reception and afterparty were held at Great Harbor Yacht Club with dinner, dancing to music by Soul System Orchestras of Brooklyn, and a five-tier cake by Wildflour Cakes, shipped from New Hampshire. The couple shared their first dance to “L-O-V-E” by Nat King Cole. The weekend-long celebration, including two welcome parties, a rehearsal dinner, and Sunday brunch, was planned by Maggie Stewart Events. For their honeymoon, the newlyweds spent the first two weeks of December on a private island off the coast of Belize, ending with a few days in Tulum. They also plan to travel to Europe this fall.

Elizabeth Carter Sednaoui & Augustus Torrey Thompson

S eptember 10, 2022 j b edford , N ew Y ork j p hotographed bY r hoNda S mith p hotographY

Elizabeth and Gus were married before 105 guests at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church. The bride’s father, Kent Sednaoui, walked her down the aisle. She carried a bouquet of ranunculi, freesias, tulips, scabiose, blue tweedia, astilbes, and eucalypti, and wore her grandmother’s diamond and aquamarine earrings. Her sister, Eleanor Sednaoui, was the maid of honor. The groom’s best friend, Francis Goelet, was the best man. Following the service, guests were welcomed to a tented reception (planned by Brett Cameron of La Maison Fete) for cocktails and dinner at a family friend’s house, where a vanilla cake with buttercream frosting was served. Jell-O shots were passed around with desert—a family tradition at weddings. After dinner guests moved into a nearby “party barn” for post dinner dancing and entertainment. The couple enjoyed their first dance to “Safe” by Bay Ledges, followed by a joint father/daughter, mother/son dance to “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley, all beneath a full moon. After the festivities, the newlyweds traveled to Bermuda’s Coral Beach Club for their honeymoon.

Schuyler Hamilton Giordano & Ernest William Rosen

S eptember 10, 2022 j e a St H ampton , n ew Y ork

im w illoug HbY

Schuyler and Ernest were married before 260 guests at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. The bride donned a gown by Carolina Herrera and her maternal grandmother’s bracelet while her father, JC Giordano, walked her down the aisle. After the ceremony, a reception was held at a private club nearby with dinner, dancing, and cake by Crissy’s Cakes. The couple shared their first dance to “Beast of Burden” by The Rolling Stones. Later on, guests were invited to an afterparty on the beach with music by local band Rubix Kube. The newlyweds traveled to South Africa for their honeymoon over New Year’s Eve.

Lily and Frédéric were married before 150 guests at Eglise Saint-Jacques le Majeur in Mougins. The bride donned a gown by Lihi Hod and her mother’s 30-yearold wedding headband as her brother, Taylor Merrill, walked her down the aisle. She carried a bouquet of sweet peas, lilies of the valley, white carnations, and green bells. After the ceremony, guests were shuttled to the nearby Château de la Napoule in Mandelieu-la-Napoule outside of Cannes for a reception with dinner, dancing, a giant Tarte Tropézienne for dessert, and a late-night afterparty. Keeping with French tradition, the couple entered the reception to the tune of “Le Temps est Bon” by Bon Entendeur as guests enthusiastically waved their napkins one of the most memorable moments of the weekend. The events were planned by White Eden Weddings. After the festivities, the newlyweds enjoyed a minimoon in Provence and Saint Paul de Vence, and will also travel to Argentina in March.

SETTING SAIL WITH BARTON & GRAY

Barton & Gray Mariners Club offers unforgettable experiences on the water.

FOR THE PAST 16+ YEARS, Barton & Gray Mariners Club has offered members access to a fleet of luxury day-boats. The club originally launched with one Hinckley Picnic Boat in Nantucket and Palm Beach, and has since grown to include Hinckley Talarias, vintage Boston Whalers, and most recently its own custom designed B&G Daychaser 48’ . For most members, getting out on the water regularly for 3 to 5 hours for water sports or cocktails was perfectly splendid, but several clamored for more. Specifically, members wanted to spend a few days exploring aboard a vessel that offers the same elegance and adventure they were accustomed to. “We aim to outfit the very best experiences on the water, and overnight cruising is one of the greatest adventures one can have,” explains Doug Gray, CMO and Co-Founder of Barton & Gray. “Overnight cruises were inevitable for us. We now host members for three- to -seven-night cruises throughout the Atlantic.” CEO and Co-Founder Tim Barton adds, “After some analysis of members’ interest and the economics of the charter space, we found that 60’ to 70’ Sailing Catamarans are the perfect yachts for our needs.”

The Barton & Gray Crew spent eight months retrofitting the Lagoon 62’ Sailing Catamaran, setting sail aboard Andromeda in December 2022. Each charter is uniquely curated for members by the dedicated Barton & Gray Concierge

Clockwise from top left: CEO & Co-Founder Tim Barton with Ria Loukakis and Richard True; cruising by The Inn at Castle Hill, Newport, Rhode Island; an excursion through Hope Town, The Bahamas; Barton & Gray yachts can be found in the most sought-after harbors and islands, including Florida & the Tropics, where members can swim in the blue waters and engage in sunset cruises, occasionally accompanied by dolphins and manatees.

Team, including routes through the Caribbean, New England, and Maine. Additionally, members can take advantage of club amenities while cruising, and can coordinate outings alongside exciting club events like the Newport Folk Festival, Nantucket Race Week, or The Bucket Race.

This winter, the club is hosting members in The Abaco Islands in The Bahamas, featuring secluded anchorages with great snorkeling and visits to rum bars such as Green Turtle, Hopetown, Baker’s Bay, and more. For Summer 2023, Andromeda will be in Long Island and Nantucket Sound visiting all the top spots: The Hamptons, New York City, Nantucket, Newport, Martha’s Vineyard, Block Island,

and Cape Cod, among others. After that, the Catamaran will be sailing north to Mount Desert Island, Maine for late summer cruising in one of the most desirable sailing destinations in the world. In Winter 2024, the club will be in the British Virgin Islands, St. Barths, Anguilla, and the stunning waters surrounding them.

For all Barton & Gray members and as a new Membership Level within the club without annual dues, multi-day Adventure Cruising is now available. u

For more information, visit bartonandgray.com, email info@bartonandgray.com, or call 617.728.3555.

Clockwise from top left: The club’s newly retrofitted Lagoon 62’ Sailing Catamaran, Andromeda ; club experiences include catered dinners on board; a Barton & Gray Beach

Lobster Boil in Naples, Florida. Opposite page, counterclockwise from above: Barton & Gray’s fleet includes a large selection of Hinckley yachts; Betsy and Michael Greene; the Catamaran crew (Captain Devan Snyder, Captain Davis Alford, and Cruising Program Manager Alex Van Haaren); Christina Combe and Cameron Given.

Honeymoon Hideaways

BY BROOKE KELLY MURRAY

A roundup of the best romantic retreats for 2023.

Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, Antibes

+33 4 93 61 39 01 • oetkercollection.com

Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc was built as a grand hotel in 1870 by Le Figaro’s founder, Auguste De Villemessant, to attract those looking for a romantic escape on the French Riviera. For the past 150 years, the hotel—now part of Oetker Collection— has maintained its popularity as an elegant summer destination for couples and families to soak up the sun and fragrant Mediterranean air in the South of France. The hotel features 111 stately guestrooms and spacious suites equipped with terraces that overlook the gardens. Guests can enjoy the property’s country club facilities and amenities, including beautifully maintained clay tennis courts, spa treatments by La Prairie, and its world-famous saltwater infinity pool. Dining options include Eden-Roc Grill for lunch and dinner, Eden-Roc Restaurant for lunch, and Louroc Restaurant for dinner.

Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, La Romana

855.559.0806 • casadecampo.com.do

Casa de Campo’s gated 7,000-acre compound in La Romana, Dominican Republic truly offers something for every type of traveler. Start the day with an outstanding breakfast buffet at Lago, then explore all that the resort has to offer in your personal golf cart, including the world-renowned Teeth of the Dog course, tennis courts, equestrian rings, championship polo rings, shooting center, and the replica 16th-century village Altos de Chavón. Those looking to relax will also find white sand beaches, swimming pools, and a spa on the property. And you certainly will not run out of dining options. The wide range of gourmet stops for lunch and dinner within the complex includes the romantic candlelit Italian restaurant La Piazzetta; Minitas Beach Club restaurant overlooking the Caribbean Sea; the Mexican Chilango Taqueria; La Casita on the Marina, among others. There’s never a dull moment when visiting Casa de Campo—this sprawling resort will keep you busy every second of your cherished honeymoon.

Villa d’Este, Lake Como

+39 031 3481 • villadeste.com

Overlooking one of the most romantic lakes in the world, Villa d’Este was originally built as a residence of the aristocracy and opened as a hotel in 1873. The property is surrounded by a wonderful 10-hectare private park. The rooms and suites overlook either the lake or the park and are divided into two buildings: the Cardinal Building and the Queen’s Pavilion. Those overlooking the lake have windows and terraces that provide exceptional views of the marina and boats as they quietly return to shore each evening. For ultimate privacy, guests have the option to rent one of the property’s 19th-century villas. The magical destination also offers an elegant dining experience at Veranda, a Sporting Club with a spectacular pool that floats over the lake, tennis and squash courts, a fitness center, and an 18-hole golf course surrounded by chestnut, birch, and pine woods.

Canaves Oia Suites, Santorini

+30 22860 71453 • canaves.com

Situated by the emerald Aegean Sea with dramatic views of Santorini, Canaves Oia Suites welcomes guests to a world of elegance. The hotel offers a collection of freshly renovated suites, each with spacious living areas and private plunge pools. Tailored for newlyweds seeking seclusion above infinity views of the Caldera, the Honeymoon Suite features an open air dining area for candlelit dinners under the stars. The property is also home to Petra Restaurant serving Greek cuisine, and Panorama Balcony for a private dining experience perched high above the blue sea with majestic views.

Ocean House, Watch Hill

855.678.0364 • oceanhouseri.com

The last of the grand Victorian-era hotels in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, Ocean House is a step back in time to an era of refined elegance, paying homage to New England’s golden age. Perched high on the bluffs with its iconic yellow facade overlooking the Atlantic, the hotel has maintained the character and charm of its storied past but has been completely updated with modern amenities. Accommodations range from guest rooms to suites, and the property features restaurants that serve local cuisine, and the five-star Oh! Spa. The private beach, where guests can enjoy paddle boarding, fishing, and sunset lobster boils, makes Ocean House ideal for summer getaways.

The Colony Palm Beach

561.655.5430 • thecolonypalmbeach.com

Ideally situated steps from both Worth Avenue and the beach, the pink-hued Colony Hotel attracts visitors to the island with its welcoming staff and vibrant colors that define the hotel’s playful and energetic vibe. The lobby, coined The Living Room, evokes a homey feel, with breathtaking bespoke wallpaper designed by de Gournay. This fall, the hotel reopened after a major redesign for its 75th anniversary, featuring new guest rooms and suites by Kemble Interiors and furnishings by Society Social. Couples staying at the hotel can enjoy paradise by the pool, dinner at Swifty’s (one of the hottest reservations on the island), complimentary beach cruisers, and the best shopping and restaurants just a few steps away. The hotel also has a number of exciting new developments for the season, including pop-ups from Asprey, Dr. Barbara Sturm, Dolce & Gabbana, Tracy Anderson, and Isaac Boots.

Four Seasons Resort Lanai

808.565.2000 • fourseasons.com

On the southeastern coast of the pristine island of Lanai, the Four Seasons Resort Lanai is the perfect destination for peace and relaxation. Spend your days lounging by the lagoon-style pools, strolling the botanical gardens, reconnecting body and spirit at Hawanawana Spa, and savouring Japanese cuisine at cliff-side Nobu Lanai. From the rugged uplands to the aquatic sanctuary of Hulopoe Bay, the resort also offers endless adventures nearby, including hikes on the upland trails, snorkeling or sailing through the blue waters, and horseback riding through the hills surrounding Koele.

Borgo Santandrea, Amalfi Coast

+39 089 831148 • borgosantandrea.it

Overlooking the enchanting, centuries-old fishing village of Conca dei Marini, Borgo Santandrea is a serene haven situated in the heart of the Amalfi Coast. The hotel opened in April 2022, following an extensive and meticulous four-year renovation. With only 29 rooms and 16 suites—some with individual pools—its owners imagined Borgo Santandrea as a private Italian residence by the sea. Guests can access a private, pebbly beach by a series of walkways and staircases through fragrant terraced Mediterranean gardens. In addition to its Beach Club with private jetty and Pizzeria, the property features a fitness center, wellness area, three restaurants, two bars, and a salt water swimming pool with views.

Belmond Cap Juluca, Anguilla

264.497.6666

• belmond.com

Known as an island hideaway, Belmond Cap Juluca is the ultimate barefoot luxury escape. The only view from the property is powdery white sand and 50 shades of blue in Maundays Bay against the mountains of neighboring St. Martin. Designed in Rottet Studio, the most sought-after accommodations are the suites and villas, each with its own private pool. The property features three restaurants, including Pimms, one of the most romantic restaurants on the island, utilizing dishes made from the best local ingredients in an open-air waterside setting. There’s also the poolside Uchu option, serving an extensive Peruvian cocktail menu with live music on select nights. Experiences include snorkeling, diving, kayak ing, wind surfing, sunset sails, and tennis.

a Ritz-Carlton

This new resort is an oasis set along the dramatic coastline of San José del Cabo, Mexico, in the coastal haven of Puerto Los Cabos. The property unfolds over a vast and beautiful 20-acre land scape, offering panoramic views of the Sea of Cortez. Accomodations include 115 expansive guest rooms and suites, many of which have an individual pool and terrace, along the rolling slopes of the land. All guests enjoy the genuine care of a Tosoani, or private attendant. The property features its renowned, one-of-a-kind, 30,000-squarefoot Spa Alkemia, four restaurants, and experiences like golf, fishing, and whale watching.

Nayara Bocas Del Toro, Panama

844.865.2002 • bocasbali.com

The newest member of Nayara Resorts, Nayara Bocas del Toro is an adults-only proper ty, offering an extraordinary Balinese inspired over-the-water getaway. Accommodations include villas resting on stilts over the Caribbean Sea. The property features the world’s first Aerial Beach, where you can step from the expansive boardwalk directly onto Kupu-Kupu beach, or step down the pool-like stairway leading to the eternally warm crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean for an afternoon swim. The resort offers two restaurants, and outstanding snorkeling with breathtaking sea life.

The Charlotte Inn, Martha’s Vineyard

508.627.4751 • thecharlotteinn.com

For couples who want to stay close by, The Charlotte Inn offers old-world ambiance, where tranquility and gracious hospitality meet Edwardian elegance. Tucked away on quiet South Summer Street in Edgartown village, the inn is exquisitely decorated with fine art, English antiques, luxurious linens, and fresh flowers – a romantic reflection of a bygone era. Accommodations include 17 guest rooms and two spacious suites with working fireplaces. Honeymooners can relax in the sophisticated sitting rooms and private gardens, reminiscent of an English manor house, or enjoy French fine dining at The Terrace restaurant. The inn is also conveniently situated minutes from village shops, restaurants, and Edgartown harbor.

Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives

+960 6640304 • gili-lankanfushi.com

Set on a private island located 20 minutes from Malé by speedboat, this sustainable resort is made of 45 recently refurbished overwater villas, including the largest of its kind in the world. The property also features its Meera Spa with ancient healing practices from all over the world, and an on-site organic garden that supplies fresh ingredients to the resort’s three restaurants. Activities for couples include surf lessons, marine biologist-led snorkeling trips, cooking classes, tennis, and excursions on the water.

andBeyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge, Tanzania

619.598.1199 • andbeyond.com

Due to its far-flung location in the remote western ranches of the Serengeti National Park, with very few lodges in this pristine section of the park, andBeyond’s luxury 10-suite lodge allows for an intimate and exclusive safari experience. Twice-daily game drives from the lodge often encounter large lion prides and clans of hyena, big herds of resident plains game as well as the special black-and-white colobus monkeys, found nowhere else in the Serengeti. The property features a swimming pool with a view of the seasonal hippo pods below, in-room African wellness treatments, an interactive kitchen where guests work alongside chefs to plan their menus for the day, and a fitness center.

The Maybourne Beverly Hills

310.860.7800 • maybournebeverlyhills.com

The legendary Maybourne Hotel Group’s first U.S. outpost is located in the heart of Beverly Hills, just a couple blocks from Rodeo Drive at the site of the former Montage Hotel. The hotel offers the brand’s impeccable white glove service and luxury accommodations with designs evoking the Southern California lifestyle. In addition to its rooftop pool and spa, the hotel is home to a number of culinary experiences, including the Maybourne Bar off the lobby, its charming Terrace restaurant with al fresco dining, and an intimate, reservations-only Cigar and Whiskey Bar with a humidor that houses more than 1,000 cigars from the Caribbean and Central America just one of three places in Beverly Hills where smoking is permitted.

The Resort at Paws Up, Montana

877.580.6343 • pawsup.com

Perfect for adventurous couples, Paws Up is a luxury mountain resort situated on a sprawling, 37,000-acre, working cattle ranch in western Montana, where guests can stay in large private homes or glamp in sophisticated, safari-style tents surrounded by natural beauty. The property has two restaurants serving rustic ranch cuisine, or guests can enjoy a lavish barbecue and hang out while dinner sizzles nearby. The wide range of activities includes fly-fishing, shooting, hiking, river and lake activities, ATV tours, and more.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train, Europe

800.237.1236 • belmond.com

For couples planning a multi-stop trip throughout Europe, the Venice Simplon-Ori entExpress Train is the perfect way to get around. From London to Venice, Paris to Verona, guests can enjoy the scenery while gliding through some of the continent’s most beautiful cities, or relax in their assigned cabin or suite, each restored to full 1920s grandeur. Perfect for honeymooners, the new Grand Suite comes equipped with a private en-suite bathroom and shower, double beds that can convert into twin beds, as well as a living area from which to enjoy the delights of private dining experiences, 24-hour cabin service, and free-flowing Champagne. The dining car serves extravagant cuisine around the clock accompanied by live entertainment well into the night. This year, the train will debut eight additional suites and a new route from Paris to the French Alps.

Hôtel Barrière Le Carl Gustaf, St. Barths

+33(0)1 73 600 111 • hotelsbarriere.com

Hôtel Barrière Le Carl Gustaf St. Barth is located on the hill overlooking Gustavia and features 21 luxurious rooms, suites, and bungalows that all face the ocean. It is the only hotel on St. Barths boasting panoramic views of the port of the island’s capital. While on property, guests can experience delectable French cuisine at the renowned Fouquet’s restaurant or spend the day at Spa Diane Barrière in a Zen-inspired setting. Le Carl Gustaf also offers aqua biking, with the bikes installed in the private plunge pools, a fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment, and electric bikes to explore the beautiful island, all perfect for couples seeking a wellness getaway. Guests can also book a Catamaran daytrip for snorkeling, or spend the day at the hotel’s beach club, Shellona. The resort is situated steps away from the best shops and restaurants on the island.

La Réserve Paris

+33 1 58 36 60 60 • lareserve-paris.com

As a private, yet urban mansion, La Réserve Paris is located on a quiet street parallel to the Champs-Elysées in the heart of Paris, and is the epitome of 19th century Parisian elegance. Designed by Jacques Garcia, the hotel is filled with elegant spaces, featuring charming details like marble fireplaces and ceilings in traditional décor. Newlyweds can enjoy a dinner prepared by a two Michelinstarred chef, a spa with hammam and Nescens treatments, or a room with a view of the Eiffel Tower. ◆

THE YOUNG & THE GUEST LIST YGL

BY BROOKE KELLY MURRAY

Nicky Hilton, Alex Assouline, and Johanna Ortiz.

ASSOULINE TOASTS CARTAGENA GRACE IN NEW YORK

TO CELEBRATE THE launch of its latest tome, Assouline hosted a cocktail party at the new Casa Cruz club on the Upper East Side. Cartagena Grace was inspired by the joy of the Colombian city, its seductive architecture, and the endless sunsets of the Caribbean coast. The authors, Johanna Ortiz and Lauren Santo Domingo , were present for the book signing.

Clockwise from top left: Lou Houllier and Maria Puig; Dasha Zhukova and Karlie Kloss; Timo Weiland and Jen Blaber; Lauren Santo Domingo.

YGL

THE ASPEN ART Museum’s annual winter benefit returned this year as The Downhill Disco. The 70s-themed event, presented by Prada, was attended by over 300 guests and featured a caviar bar, passed hors d’oeuvres, dessert stations, and music by DJ Pamela Tick. The evening raised funds for the museum and its educational programs.

ASPEN ART MUSEUM’S DOWNHILL DISCO

Macey Petty and Whitney Wilson

Pamela Tick

Alexander Hankin and Lathan Hall

The Downhill Disco

Natalie Thomas and Adam Stamp

ON JANUARY 17TH, the Cinema Society hosted a screening of Maybe I Do at the Crosby Street Hotel with Fifth Season and Vertical. The romantic comedy stars Richard Gere , Susan Sarandon , and Emma Roberts , who were present that evening. Following the premiere, guests were invited to an afterparty with passed hors d’oeuvres and an open bar. u

CINEMA SOCIETY’S PREMIERE OF MAYBE I DO IN NEW YORK

William Abadie and Gamze Ates Candace Bushnell and Nicole Miller

Christian Siriano and Kyle Smith

Susan Sarandon, Emma Roberts and Richard Gere

Andrew Feldman, Tara Westwood, and Paolo Mastropietro

VOWS IN THE POLITICAL SPOTLIGHT

BY BROOKE KELLY MURRAY

2022 MARKED a huge year for weddings. An estimated 2.6 million took place, up from 2.2 million pre-COVID in 2019 the most since 1984. We not only saw a record-breaking number of nuptials, but also weddings held by two political figures: President Joe Biden and former President Donald J. Trump— and they took place just one week apart. Trump’s daughter Tiffany wed billionaire Michael Boulos in a sparkling Elie Saab gown at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach on November 12th. Trump walked her down the aisle. Biden’s eldest granddaughter Naomi married fellow attorney Peter Neal in a delicate lace Ralph Lauren dress on the South Lawn in Washington, D.C. on November 19th—only the 19th wedding ever held at the White House. Her parents, Hunter Biden and Kathleen Buhle,

walked her down the aisle. No matter which end of the political spectrum you sit on, everyone going through the wedding planning process is bonded by the same long held traditions. Despite political differences, these presidents—former and present—will both proudly look back on and cherish these special memories for years to come. ◆

Clockwise from left: Naomi Biden’s wedding to Peter Neal on the South Lawn at the White House; Naomi Biden and Peter Neal; President Joe Biden (left) and First Lady Jill Biden (right) with the newlyweds (center); Donald Trump, Jr., Eric Trump, Tiffany Trump, former President Donald J. Trump, Barron Trump, and Ivanka Trump at Tiffany’s wedding at Mar-a-Lago; Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos.