RESIDENT MAGAZINE JANUARY 2017 ISSUE by Resident Magazine

NEW YORK • HAMPTONS • SOUTH FLORIDA

TOP 10 OSCAR WORTHY FILMS

BASED ON ACTUAL EVENTS

THE MOST EXTRAVAGANT HOTELS IN THE WORLD

LOS ANGELES

RED MY LIPS BEAUTY SPREAD

VIOLETT BEANE "FLASHES" US HER STREET STYLE

FEATURED DESTINATIONS:

PHILIPPINES, MILAN, SAN FRANCISCO, SOUTH FLORIDA, & MORE

KATE BECKINSALE THE HOLLYWOOD ENTERTAINMENT ISSUE

PHOTOGRAPHY: BARTOSZ POTOCKI

For an Authorized Jeweler in Your Area Call: 1.800.955.0970 or www.christopherdesigns.com The original Crisscut is a trademark used under license from Christopher Designs. Use of the Crisscut trademark is only allowed by authorized retailers.

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CONTENTS 10

Resident on the Digital Screen

Editor’s Note

Ian Mellencamp Cover Party

COVER

Kate Beckinsale

ICONS & INFLUENCERS 16 the king of apps

maestro ivan fischer

Sean acosta’s firm

BUZZ 22

public eye

the giving newlyweds

a new york winter’s eve

behind the velvet rope

BEAUTY & WELLNESS 30 must haves for 2017

red my lips

LUXE LIVING 70 63 east 82nd street

royce pinkwater

IMBIBE 74 shay & ivy

STYLE & FASHION 42 flash street style wtith violett beane

Standard deviation

4 | resident.com

Dining Out jan. 2017

miami’s best newcomers

where to dine and unwind in l.a.

LOS ANGELES IN THE WINTER L E T A T R A N S P L A N T E D N E W YO R K E R H E L P YO U F I N D T H E P E R F E C T H O M E TO R E N T O R B U Y I N L . A .

Melanie Goldberger MGoldberger@TheAgencyRE.com 424.400.5926

CONTENTS ESCAPES 70 mexican paradise

hotel envy

most extravagant hotels, suites, & villas around the world

destination: philippines

hotel principe de savoia

mandarin oriental, milan

san franciscoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hot spots

west hollywood stunner

scrub island resort

nickelodeon hotel & resort in Punta Cana

secluded luxury

URBANITE 96

From hamilton to grease live

comdey, tragedy, & even singing in the subway

100

de niro directed

102

top ten oscar worthy films

104

books du jour jan. 2017

106

the power of off (excerpt 1)

108

party pages jan. 2017

114

paw prints in the snow

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116

LAST LOOK

EMBRACE

YOUR

DREAM

OF MEXICO

The Mexican vacation of your dreams exists in your dreams alone. And with 12 distinctive resorts in Mexico’s most desired beach locations, we promise to bring each dream to life. Destinations like the adults-only, all-inclusive Live Aqua Cancún, designed for modern travelers seeking relaxed luxury, showcase our commitment to providing every guest with the Mexican vacation of their dreams – whatever that dream may be. lacoleccionresorts.com.

ACAPU LCO • CA NCUN • CHETUMA L • COZ U M E L • LOS CAB OS • PLAYA DE L CAR ME N • PU E RTO VA L L A RTA

PATRICIA LAwLeR NEW YORK • HAMPTONS • SOUTH FLORIDA

NEW YORK • HAMPTONS • SOUTH FLORIDA

LOS ANGELES

SPOTLIGHT ON

With GIL DEZER

A MASKED AFFAIR

BEAUTY IN BLOOM

actress Violett Beane & rising star Whitney Woerz

LOS ANGELES

NEW YORK • HAMPTONS • SOUTH FLORIDA

LOS ANGELES

Real Estate Developer

SPOTLIGHT ON

Face products that make your skin glow!

TORONTO

FIND YOUR GETAWAY San Juan, San Francisco, Shelter Island, Hudson Valley, and more!

With Philantrophist JEAN SHAFIROFF and Comedian Extraordinaire

STEVE GUTTENBERG DESIRED DESTINATIONS

BLANC & NOIR

Windstar Cruises, Mexico,

Nantucket, Montreal Anguilla, and more

Holiday Beauty

BEAUTY TOOLS & DEVICES

FEATURED DESTINATIONS

to pamper yourself

Iceland, Miami, Barbados, and more.

THE WANDERLUST ISSUE

MICHAELSHANNON SAMCHILDERS

THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE

NYLEDIMARCO

ENTERTAINMENT ISSUE

MATTHEW MORRISON

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Hillary Latos BEAUTY EDITOR Jennifer Pelaez CULTURE EDITOR Joe Alexander EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Connie O’Connor and Haiting Tan SOCIAL COLUMNIST Clara Morgan CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Norah Bradford ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Brad Balfour FEATURED CONTRIBUTORS Barry Bassis, Federic Collier, Nancy Colier, Ann Grenier, Carlos Lacayo, Lisa Loverro, Bennett Marcus, Jane Pontarelli, Courtney Travin, & George Wayne

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MADE WITH LOVE BY OUR ART DIRECTOR Enri John Angeles DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Andrew Werner PHOTOGRAPHY RETOUCHERS Andrew Werner SOCIAL PHOTOGRAPHER Patrick McMullan CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Steve Sands ONLINE CONTENT MANAGER Enri John Angeles & Kenny Williams

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER Michael Travin ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Melissa Kassis VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING & ACCOUNTS Chelsea Grant SALES AND MARKETING ASSOCIATE Greg Fronda SENIOR SALES MANAGER Scott Pauker ADVERTISING MANAGER Don Fetherman DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Tom Fahey

RESIDENT IS PUBLISHED TWELVE TIMES ANNUALLY. HAMPTONS RESIDENT IS PUBLISHED FOUR TIMES ANNUALLY BY METRO RESIDENT. COPYRIGHT 2016 BY RESIDENT MAGAZINE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRODUCTION OF ANY MATERIAL FROM THIS ISSUE EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER. UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS ARE WELCOME ON AN EXCLUSIVE BASIS, BUT MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A SELF-ADDRESSED STAMPED ENVELOPE. REASONABLE CARE IN HANDLING MANUSCRIPTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS WILL BE TAKEN, BUT RESIDENT MAGAZINE CANNOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR UNSOLICITED MATERIALS SUBMITTED. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.

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editor’s note

WELCOMING CHANGE IN 2017 A

s we put 2016 behind us, and what a year it has been, we have plenty to look forward to in 2017. We can finally put the election behind us which characterized 2016, and no matter what your political inclination is, one thing that is assured is that change is imminent. Even though January 1 marks the day to begin our New Year’s Resolutions assuring change in ourselves, the fact is that we are constantly changing a little bit everyday, sometimes for the better sometimes for the worst, but it is all about the journey.

While we are at the height of the awards season, we chose Hollywood and Entertainment as our theme. We spotlighted the talented actress Kate Beckinsale who is finally getting her much deserved attention in the spotlight with her pivotal role in Love & Friendship. Another film getting attention is Florence Foster Jenkins and we highlighted the man responsible for training Meryl Streep’s voice to perfection for this unique role. Proving that truth is stranger than fiction, we highlighted this year’s best films and Oscar contenders that were all based on true stories. For our fashion spread- we loved the quirky and irreverent style of Violett Beane, a rising star in her own right as we took to the streets of NYC as she sped through traffic as swift as her character Jessie Quick. With the polar vortex setting in the city in January we had travel and warmer climates on our mind. We scoured the globe to give you the best in luxury travel from around the world. From the exotic beauty of the islands in the Philippines to kid friendly Punta Cana and Scrub Island in the BVI, and we highlight Italy’s fashion epicenter Milan to the most extravagant bucket list over the top hotels where luxury has no bounds- there’s no time like the present to explore the world. For those who are hibernating in NYC there is no shortage of great restaurants at your doorstep to satiate the craving for comfort classics as well as ethnic flavors around town which we highlighted in our Dining Out section. Take in one of the spectacular new shows on Broadway and make a night out of it. If there is one resolution you should make and keep it should be to make 2017 your best year ever!

RESIDENT MAGAZINE

ASPIRATIONAL AND ATTAINABLE Hillary Latos Editor in Chief hillaryl@resident.com @NY_Resident

12 | resident.com

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RESIDENT EVENTS

IAN MELLENCAMP COVER PARTY Event location: Hotel Chantelle | 92 Ludlow Street, New York, NY 10002 | hotelchantelle.com | When: Saturday, December 17, 2016

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THIS EVENT

14 | resident.com

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ICONS INFLUENCERS &

THE KING OF APPS

By George Wayne

hey call being a Software Engineer--one of the indispensable jobs of the 21st Century. And if that is the case, then Thomas Abraham has taken it a step further by being one of the most indispensable Software Engineers in New York City today. His two-year-old boutique digital media brand HubSpire has quietly and quickly been the go-to shop by influential fashion insiders and tastemakers in need of App and E Commerce site developed platforms. HubSpire has wrapped up a year working on major platforms for the likes of the iconic Pier 59 Studios, and the uber-influential makeup artist Pat McGrath and a host of other well established brands including the MTA [Metropolitan Transit Authority]. George Wayne caught up with the CEO of HubSpire to talk tech and it’s growing role in American business today. GEORGE WAYNE - GW regards as you and your HubSpire boutique software engineering agency as one of the most buzzed about in New York City. Why is that? THOMAS ABRAHAM - Yes definitely, we have a strong team with deep skills and talent, we don’t take on a lot of projects but operate with a vested interest to make the ones we take on successful. I strive to give my best self to others, and people around me can sense that I love what I do. We are a company that invests in our teams and encourages continuous learning so our engineers are comfortable with new technology that excites and empowers them. GW - HubSpire has created some of the most successful Apps in New York City these days. From your LiveDish foodie App to doing the most

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amazing digital platform work for the iconic make-up artist Pat McGrath to App development projects with Hospitality Svengali John Meadow of the LDV Group and as well as other emerging projects with an assortment of the world’s top model agencies. HubSpire seems to be coming the software engineers that fashionable New Yorkers especially are turning to - to develop their App platform. TA - People like working with us, we haven’t advertised - my clientele is primarily through relationships and word of mouth. I’m fascinated with people who are motivated, who want more from life – and I have been blessed with some amazing friendships over the years. I’ve always been fascinated with technology and the potential it presented and as an entrepreneur I love that my clients trust me to work in their best interest and turn their vision into reality. GW - Talk a little about you Mr CEO of HubSpire. Where did you grow up? Where did you study? What would you consider that first BIG break? TA - I grew up in a small South Indian village within Kerala, migrated to Brooklyn, NYC when I was 9 and have been hustling ever since! I got my BS at the Temple University in Philadelphia and completed MS at Polytech NYU, while driving the bus for NYC Transit. I’m full of ideas, love to create and always knew in my heart that my personal path to success would be through entrepreneurship but I hadn’t the slightest clue on how to go about

icons & influencers

it. What I didn’t want was to wake up, commute to work, spend half my day at a desk and do that for the rest of my life. So one day I decided I was going to MAKE IT – excuses be damned. My first big break was developing an application for ABC Television over a decade ago and I haven’t looked back since. GW - What would you consider the HubSpire mantra? How is your boutique agency breaking new ground? TA - We are a team of exceptional engineers that love to solve problems, we action groundbreaking ideas, thrive on risks, roll the dice and get comfortable with failure but remain in a state of mind where nothing is impossible. We operate under enormous pressure but our values motivate, galvanize and energize our teams to achieve great results without violating one another’s need for dignity and respect. We help our clients take their great business ideas and architect an IT solution or a digital service that they can then capitalize on. GW - I remember having lunch with you recently and hearing you expound to some big-wigs at the iconic WME-IMG talent agency group that the idea of email will be dead within the decade. If that is so then why is that? And what will take place of e mailing? TA - Let me clarify: moving markets, customer engagement, streamline initiatives and change management cannot be driven through emails. In today’s digital economy, custom mobile apps, social media platforms and meaningful content that resonate with the client base allow organizations to define how they operate and market their brand. Empowered customers use social media and leverage mobility to connect with each other and share opinions or information about brands they subscribe to anytime and anywhere. It’s not just personal interactions that form social conversations. Content, analytics, training, research, listening, support are all coming together to have an impact on customer experience and employee collaboration. Forrester calls this opportunity social intelligence: using insights found in social media to inform business strategies. Social media is far more than a tool — it’s an extension of a brand. If stakeholders are in the social space, then they are talking about brands — so not engaging with them to influence their conversations will only cause a brand to be left behind.

GW - I also read somewhere in a highly influential financial magazine that two of the leading jobs to hold for the next 50 years are pastry chef and software engineer. Apparently those are the most two in-demand jobs as we speak. TA - Pastries are an indulgence I can’t afford but I would love to see that come true! Today the fastestgrowing job category is the “knowledge worker”. We know that the industrialized model of education, with its emphasis on the rote memorization of facts is no longer necessary. Facts are what Google does best. But creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and problem solving - that’s a different story. Studies have shown that games outperform textbooks in helping students learn fact-based subjects while improving visual coordination, cognitive speed, and manual dexterity. We are living our lives online at a pace never possible before, so career options at your disposal when you know to engineer software for technology platforms we operate within, is only going to grow exponentially going forward. GW - So you have certainly latched on to the right jobs at one of the right moments. And your HubSpire is without doubt growing buzz around town as one of the very best! GW is happy for you! Talk a bit about this amazing new collaboration with the New York City subway authorities. What is this hush-hush project that I hear HubSpire is working on with the MTA? TA - I am very excited to be a part of the project team there and wish I could elaborate but legal constraints prevent me. You should know more in time for sure. GW - And talk a bit about the App you created for HamptonsRentals.com? And the RoomRing platform you and your team created. TA - HamptonsRentals.com is the most visited website for folks looking for beachfront, waterfront and other exquisite getaway locations in the Hamptons. We are in the process of shifting the service options to the mobile platform and Room Ring was one of the most innovative ideas that we stood up the technology for and it basically is a trusted search model for rooms and roommates within your own social circles. GW - And GW can also only assume that you truly mean it when you say about HubSpire....’’we are where IT sparks innovation’’. For someone like this digital moron what do you mean by the term IT?

TA - I like the way Entrepreneur magazine defines it; as a term that encompasses all forms of technology used to create, store, exchange and utilize digital information in its various forms including business data, conversations, still images, motion pictures and multimedia presentations. GW - Who would you consider your dream client? TA - For me, it’s mostly about dream projects - it could be with a corp giant or a startup - the projects that excite me are the ones that are bleeding edge. I love working with people that think ahead of ever changing markets, leveraging technologies that make the once unimaginable now actually possible. Twist is an event based dating app that has won multiple competitions around college campuses and in silicon valley. The team is now competing to enter the first TV show geared around startups sponsored by Apple. We are also involved with Flashtag which is another exciting initiative to enable individuals to leverage their social circles to get opinions quickly on questions that they have … Livedish is another app which leverages a trusted model of food/restaurant reviews where you follow and influence social circles with a common taste profile. Another app that is in the works is LivingRoomChef where the sharing economy model enables you to host guests that care for meals you prepare and vice versa These projects have incredible potential to move and shift trends in their niche spaces and we are very proud to be a part of it! GW - What are you looking forward to in 2017? This witch doctor of pop culture will tell you that the future seems very bright for HubSpire. TA - Social and mobile technologies allow for an unprecedented potential to move markets. These technologies endow human interactions with the scale, speed and disruptive economics of the Internet. Brands that have adapted to this new playing field increase customer satisfaction while creating an ever-expanding platform for building amazing relationships, improving sales and creating longterm loyalty and influence. What it comes down to for me are the new experiences, the people, having the freedom to do what I love while making an impact and being energized every morning when I think about what’s coming that day.

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icons & influencers

MAESTRO IVAN FISCHER

The Budapest Festival Orchestra By Bennett Marcus

Lincoln Center’s Great Performers Series

hen Ivan Fischer co-founded the Budapest Festival Orchestra in 1983, the aim was to make the orchestra’s concerts into “significant events” in Hungary’s musical world, and to give Budapest a new symphony orchestra of international standing. Today, more than thirty years later, he is still the leader of this stellar ensemble that will appear on February 5th at David Geffen Hall as part of Lincoln Center’s Great Performers series.

The Best Orchestra In The World Over the years, the Hungarian-born Fischer has been a conductor at such prestigious institutions as the London Symphony Orchestra, D.C.’s National Symphony Orchestra, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, yet he has never wavered in his devotion to the Budapest Festival Orchestra, which in 2015 the New York Times said, “might be the best orchestra in the world.” “The secret is quality,” he says simply. “Whenever the orchestra was under danger, I told my musicians to play better.” He uses innovative methods, including having his musicians sing along with the music. “I discovered that if an instrumentalist practices singing and then sings regularly, he or she can express the music much better on the instrument,” Fischer

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explains. “After all, instruments are machines imitating the human voice, and singing is highly inspirational for all musicians.” So a few years ago, he decided to encourage the whole orchestra to sing.

Music-making Is Pleasure He does not find performing for huge crowds at the world’s top recital halls nerve wracking at all, which he feels enhances his concerts. “I feel relaxed all the time,” Fischer says. “Music-making is not work, but pleasure.” He pauses for a moment, then adds, “Actually if music is performed feeling like work, then something is too detached, too cold. Music is a human expression that needs to be personal and genuine.”

Early Years Born in 1951 to a musical family in Budapest, Fischer began his training at an early age. “I started to learn piano at the age of 5, but switched to the violin when I was 7,” he says. “However, I had difficulties holding the violin properly, so teachers suggested I switch to the cello. Later, it turned out to be a great advantage that I practiced three different instruments at such an early stage,” he says. “It is highly important that conductors play as many instruments as possible.” To that end, he stresses that the Budapest Festival Orchestra is adept at playing many different styles beautifully, including Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Mahler,

Bartok, and Stravinsky.

Young Audiences Back home in Hungary, the BFO has only grown in popularity. Where in the beginning the orchestra only played each concert program once, each now sells out three times. And they’ve had no trouble attracting young audiences, which he credits to their careful selection of music, and creativity in building new traditions. “What I learned from these experiences is that there are as many music lovers among the young as among the old,” Fischer says.

Theater and Music And yet at age 65, Fischer continues to learn all the time. He is currently attempting to master some Chinese musical instruments that he encountered while on tour. “I visited an instrument shop in Taiwan and bought beautiful Chinese folk instruments,” he tells us. “Of course I will never become an expert, but I want to learn these instruments well enough in order to compose songs in a Chinese text, to be accompanied by these instruments.” In addition to composing, Fischer also writes and directs operas, because, he says, he aims for “an organic unity between theater and music.” “Besides, I feel equally at home in both art forms,” he adds with a smile. Bfz.com

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icons & influencers

SEAN ACOSTA’S FIRM

Becomes One of the Largest on Long Island Region and Looks to Florida Exmapnsion in 2017 By Melissa Kassis

ean Acosta, who 27 years ago began buying small real-estate properties in Queens N.Y., has become something of a folk hero on Long Island: Acosta has saved homeowners hundreds millions of dollars through grievance processes. “Not everyone is eligible for a reduction,” said Acosta. The firm he started, P.T.R,C, Inc., (Property Tax Reduction Consultants), in Jericho, Long Island, uses highly-advanced software tools to determine who may be eligible and who may not. But, said Acosta, 92 percent of Nassau homeowners who come to his firm each year are eligible for reductions. Over 27 years, P.T.R.C., Inc., has helped some 230,000 homeowners for a total savings of hundreds of millions of dollars, a record unmatched by any other firm in the business. P.T.R.C., Inc., has 15 full-time employees. Many other firms work with only part-timers. Acosta said. The rules governing assessments and reductions are complex, and homeowners cannot rely on what their neighbor paid in property taxes as a basis for what they should pay. Instead, Acosta says, homeowners need a Comparable Market Analysis. This is why, he says, a professional is most necessary when apply for reductions. And talking about applying, the time is coming quickly. Nassau residents can begin applying for property tax reductions starting Jan. 2, 2017, through March 1, and Suffolk residents can apply up to May 16. “Don’t miss the deadline dates or you have to wait until next year,” Acosta said. “Right now, we are collecting applications” from those seeking reductions, Acosta said. Property taxes in Nassau and Suffolk have been soaring in recent years, making it difficult for anyone to continue living in the two-county region.

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That is one reason why Acosta and his firm are becoming increasingly-popular. Homeowners are finding taxes to be the prime reason for moving to less costly states, such as Florida and North Carolina. Businesses want such people to remain here, but without property tax reductions, that is sometimes not possible. Acosta has built his staff slowly and carefully, and is now considering expanding his business to Florida, possibly in 2017. “We are always looking for new opportunities and looking to areas of the state and the country where homeowners need assistance with property taxes,”

Acosta said. “We have found that Long Island is by far not the only place in the country to face these problems.” P.T.R.C., Inc., has become one of the busiest such firms on Long Island. Acosta, the company’s president, is hands-on dealing with homeowers and his staff. He enjoys helping those with tax issues, and has become one of the foremost experts in the region. “We are prepared for a very busy season.” Acosta said. “We have the staff to handle it and we continue to keep current on the issues and technology needed to help homeowners get reductions and remain on Long Island.”

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BUZZ

PUBLIC EYE

Photos by Steve Sands

ON-SET PICTURES FROM

THE DEFENDERS Krysten Ritter as JESSICA JONES & Charlie Cox as DAREDEVIL (Matt Murdoc)

Ashley Taylor Cooper and Ernesto Argüello (Credit - Oscar Castro)

BUZZ

THE GIVING NEWLYWEDS Philanthropic Couple, Ashley & Ernesto Argüello, Donated Wedding Registry to Charity

ounder and CEO of Education Model Towns, Ernesto Argüello, married fellow philanthropist Ashley Taylor Cooper at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York this past October 2016. The ceremony was followed by a 400 people celebration at the iconic Plaza Hotel in New York, which started with a Champagne Reception in the Palm Court, followed by Cocktails in the Terrace Room, and the Wedding Dinner & Reception took place in the lavish Grand Ballroom. The evening’s entertainment included the celebrated Carlos Estrella Band, as well as Aerialists, Gogo dancers, Mariachi, Samba dancers, Beat boxers, Cocktail coquettes and a musical performance by 10 year old Instagram star Vivian Hicks. Attendees coming from all over the world (France, Brazil, Spain, Colombia, Nicaragua, Peru, Honduras, Ecuador, Italy, Israel and England) included magazine moguls, business owners, music artists, government officials and fellow philanthropists. The majority of the wedding guests also attended the festive rehearsal dinner (brunch) which was a buyout of fine French bistro Bagatelle, where the focus was on getting all of the couple’s friends and family from all over the world to meet each other

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and break the ice leading up to the wedding. Said Ashley, “We wanted everyone to know most of the people at their tables and to feel comfortable and dance all night together!” Everything down to the flowers had been designed by the couple to reflect their personal taste. Beyoncé’s sought-after florist, Dieter van Beneden for Vert-de-Gris had custom made the decorations which adorned the Plaza Hotel, and the cake was provided by no other than celebrity cake-maker Sylvia Weinstock. Even the wedding invite was very unique: every guest received a briefcase with a video message personally inviting them to the couple’s Big Day. The video invite, which was filmed in Colombia, can be viewed at the couple’s website: romanceandthecity.com. After the wedding festivities, the couple took off on a worldwide honeymoon with stops in Iceland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, France and the Netherlands. The couple continued their European “honeymonth” with a 2 week California “buddymoon” to ski and enjoy Napa Valley with friends, for a total of a 6 week honeymoon.

This couple really live to give back; their wedding registry was strictly cash donations which will be used to build a new educational center for underprivileged children. Said Ashley, “We feel the best gift was finding each other! So, we decided to express our gratitude to God by asking our guests to not give us gifts but to make donations to build an educational training center for underprivileged children.” Donations are still accepted via Crowdrise. Ernesto’s Education Model Towns builds entire communities and education centers from the ground up in the most impoverished areas in Latin America, offering the locals a home and a safe community. Ernesto and his life-changing organization also donates schools, security, after school programs and sports development programs, nutritional programs and clean water, as well as promoting by entrepreneurship opportunities to the locals. Ashley and Ernesto, co-founders of Snap2Live, have also partnered with the United Nations as spokespeople for road safety, in order to help address the number one killer of youth in the world.

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BUZZ

Honoree David Matera and The OOH PITCH Team

Board of Directors Chair Gerry Cunningham

Board Member Paige Davis and Honoree David Matera

Tom Johnson, Roxann Taylor, Willie Geist

A NEW YORK WINTER’S EVE Volunteers of America-Greater New York’s 21st Annual Gala

ore than 350 philanthropic New Yorkers – members of the real estate, finance and corporate communities – joined together to celebrate Volunteers of America-Greater New York’s 21st annual gala, A New York Winter’s Eve. Co-chaired by Board Members Roxann Taylor and Tom Johnson, it was hosted by Willie Geist, Today Show and Morning Joe co-host. Guests enjoyed a delicious dinner prepared by Chef Todd English, an internationally acclaimed and recognized chef. Held in The Plaza Grand Ballroom, the event raised over $700,000 to benefit more than 90 life-changing social service programs that help tens of thousands or people and families in need in the Greater New York area every year. Tere Pettitt, President and CEO of Volunteers of America-Greater New York, said, “At Volunteers of America-Greater New York, we are devoted to

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helping our most vulnerable and at-risk neighbors by providing a lifeline of indispensable services. Because of the generosity of our friends and supporters, thousands of individuals and families in need are living safe, healthy, and productive lives in the community. This year, we were delighted to honor David Matera and OOH PITCH with the Spirit of the Founders Award for their passion and dedication to our mission.” New York-based boutique media agency OOH PITCH and its co-founder David Matera received the Spirit of the Founders Award for their invaluable support throughout the years and for their significant contributions to this year’s Operation Backpack®, Volunteers of America-Greater New York’s annual back-to-school campaign that outfits homeless children with brand new backpacks filled with grade-specific school supplies, as well as the Veteran’s campaign.

Volunteers of America-Greater New York is one of the oldest and most comprehensive social services charities, serving vulnerable New Yorkers for nearly 120 years. The services provided allow individuals and families to overcome obstacles in order to live safe, healthy and productive lives. Volunteers of America-Greater New York is committed to aiding the homeless, families escaping domestic violence, struggling veterans, preschoolers with developmental delays who also live in poverty, adults living with HIV/AIDS and other serious health issues, youth aging out of foster care, and so many others. For more information about Volunteers of America-Greater New York: www.voa-gny.org/ To view more event photos: www.voa-gny.org/winter-gala

BUZZ

BEHIND THE VELVETJANUARY ROPE 2017

By Joe Alexander | With Photographs by Patrick McMullan

HOLIDAY MOVIES Passengers Jennifer Lawrence stars in this outer space romance with Chris Pratt. Of their first sex scene, J-Law said, “It was going to be my first time kissing a married man, and guilt is the worst feeling in your stomach, and I knew it was my job, but I couldn’t tell my stomach that. You want to do it real, you want everything to be real, but then . . . That was the most vulnerable I’ve ever been.” Pratt said of the scene, “Jennifer wanted to have some wine first, so we did, and that was nice.” Of his nude scene he confessed, “We did many shots. I think the key is good lighting.” Allied & Star Wars Allied, the gripping World War II spy movie stars newly single Brad Pitt and the beautiful French actress Marion Cotillard. Brad confided after his recent birthday on December 18th, “I’m 54 now and whatever I get music-wise, I get from my kids and that’s it. I don’t think I’ll ever be hip again!” Marion revealed she helped Brad with his French, “I’m not a coach but he always wanted to know what I thought about his accent and I told him; sometimes I was very tough but I think he was expecting that.” …. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story features Diego Luna, Forest Whitaker, Donnie Yen and Felicity Jones, who said, “I always wanted to play a kick-ass girl.”

Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt @ Passengers

Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard @ Allied

Miss Sloane Jessica Chastain stars in this political thriller about Washington lobbyists. She said, “If I were Elizabeth Sloane, I wouldn’t be wearing makeup. But when I went to D.C. I realized that how these women present themselves is their battle cry. It’s their suit of armor. Less than 10% of lobbyists are women. It’s a boy’s club.” Nocturnal Animals Designer/Director Tom Ford’s stylish and riveting thriller stars Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal; “This film took me seven years to make; hopefully the next one will only take three.” Gyllenhaal said, “The thriller aspect of the film really shook me; it’s a page turner.” Napa Valley Film Festival Kurt Russell was honored at The 6th Annual Napa Valley Film Festival where Katie Holmes and Viggo Mortensen walked the red carpet. The world premiere of Pisco Punch: A Cocktail Comeback Story closed out the festival with a fun party sponsored by Ricardo Romero, the director of the LA Trade Commission of Peru. Embassyofperu.org/commercial-department

Diego Luna and Felicity Jones @ Rogue One

Jessica Chastain @ Miss Sloane

Anderson Cooper Honored Anderson Cooper was honored by the Hope for Depression Research Foundation which was founded by Audrey Gruss. He quipped, “I’m always suspicious of a young kid that tells me that they want to be a news anchor or a politician because I think you should be a real person before you become a fake one.” Hopefordepression.org Johnny Depp at Art Miami A man pretending to be Johnny Depp made the rounds at the opening of Art Miami. The doppelgänger had on a beige fedora with long shaggy hair, tattoos, dark shades and layers of silver rings, bracelets and beads. “Johnny” even had a fan club of beautiful young women following him around asking for selfies which he happily posed for. He got the gallerists all excited when he started looking at a million-dollar Flower Series of

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Jake Gyllenhaal, Amy Adams and Tom Ford @ Nocturnal Animals

Goldie Hawn and honoree Kurt Russell @ the Napa Valley Film Festival

BUZZ

paintings by Andy Warhol and Adrien Brody’s Rick James Fish. The real Bernie Taupin, who won a Golden Globe for Best Original Song in Brokeback Mountain, was spotted talking about his art with patrons at his booth. artmiamifair.com Perry J. Cohen Foundation Designer Tommy Hilfiger, who collects work by Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, and Basquiat has turned his attention to visual artist Al Baseer Holly, who has made his international debut at Art Miami at the Arcature Fin Art booth. Other fans of the painter include Jon Bon Jovi, Tommy Mottolla and Schoolboy Q. Proceeds from his work will benefit the Perry J. Cohen Memorial Foundation Scholarship at The University of Miami. Pjcf.org

Chuck Scarborough, Audrey Gruss and Anderson Cooper @ Hope for Depression Reasearch Foundation

Art Miami founders Pamela Cohen and Nick Korniloff and Adrien Brody @ Art New York

Robert Cenedella Controversial artist Robert Cenedella, whose new painting End of the World focuses on Donald Trump and the future of his presidency, is receiving Oscar buzz for his award-winning documentary Art Bastard. The film examines Cenendella’s place in the money-obsessed art and museum world. Film buffs and supporters of Cenendella, including actress Leesa Rowland, Cindy Guyer, Jane Scher, Dr. Christopher Calapai and Dr. Kenneth Mark toasted the artist at the Sanctuary Hotel. Rcenendellagallery.com The AD 100 Architectural Digest’s Editor Amy Astley hosted a glamorous dinner at the Delano Hotel in celebration of their partnership with the Art Production Fund to present their tenth annual Artist Towel Series being sold at the Delano’s gift shop. Guests included Martha Stewart, AD 100 designers Tony Ingrao and Randy Kemper, Amy Sacco, Colby Mugrabi, Kyle deWoody, and Yvonne Force Villareal. Architecturaldigest.com Lifeline New York Prince Charles’s cousin Prince Alexander of Serbia earned the sobriette “Prince Charming” as he lauded his wife Princess Katherine’s good works during a luncheon they hosted for Lifeline N. Y. to raise funds for pediatric cancer care. Guests included Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, Lady Lully Gibbons, Ambassador Nancy Brinker, Kerry Kennedy, Susan Gutfreund Ivana Trump, Lucia Hwong-Gordon, Tommy Tune, Board President David Hryck and Event Chair Cheri Kaufman who emceed the program at Le Cirque after giving a speech at the United Nations. Lifelineny.com

Robert Cenendella and Sibylle Eschapasse @ End of the World unveiling

Tony Ingrao, Amy Astley and Randy Kemper @ The Delano

Andrea Correale Beyoncé, Shaquille O’Neal, and Jennifer Lopez are just a few of the supporters of the Boys & Girls Club of America. Celebrity caterer Andrea Correale of Elegant Affairs, who has created parties for Mariah Carey and Tony Robbins, brought holiday cheer to more than 300 at-risk children and their families by creating a feast at the organization’s Glen Cove outpost on Long Island. Elegantaffairscaterers.com Arthur Aidala Attorney Arthur Aidala, whose little black book includes the numbers of Mayor Bill de Blasio, Fox’s Megan Kelly and Geraldo Rivera, as well as Laurence Taylor, Alan Dershowitz and Borough President Eric Adams, has filed formal paper work with the city to start an exploratory committee for a future political run for a city or state wide office. He will have a fundraiser to build a war chest at his pal Buzzy O’Keeffes new restaurant Liberty Warehouse in Brooklyn on January 9th. Aidalalaw.com

Jean Shafiroff, Kerry Kennedy and Cheri Kaufman @ Lifeline NY

Arthur Aidala and Megyn Kelly @ FOX News

The Chosen Few Glee and Frozen star Indina Menzel and Michael Herman had a reunion orchestrated by Harriette Rose Katz’s elite event collective The Chosen Few’s Hank Lane Music at a party at The Museum of Natural History for the Northwell Health Foundation. Other members of the organization include STARR Catering Group, Total Entertainment, Frank Alexander NYC, Natural Expressions NY, photographers Michael Jurick and Brian Dorsey. Hrkchosenfew.com

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BEAUTY & WELLNESS

Angelo David Paddle Brush, $65 angelodavid.com • Conture Kinetic Skin Toning Device, $249 Conture.com • Lumin

la Prairie New Line Interception Power Duo (launches January 23rd) $50 laprairie.com • T3 Whirl Convertible $185.00 Sephora.com • butter LONDO

MUST HAVE By Ann Lawlor

The House of Creed Silver Mountain Water Perfumed Oil $190 (75ml) creedboutique.com • Honest Beauty Honestly Luminizing Liquid Foundation $36 Hone

LAFCO House & Home Moonglow Apricot Home Fragrance Mist $40 lafco.com • Tria Positively Clear Blue Light Device $169 TriaBeauty.com • FOREO LUNA

BEAUTY & WELLNESS

ness Air Epic 2 Airbrush Machine, $399 LuminessAir.com • Laura Mercier Editorial Eye Palette Intense Clays, $48 LauraMercier.com •

ON + Pantone Greenery Nail Lacquer $10 butterlondon.com • NIUCOCO Renewing Hair Serum $50 niucoco.com • Still Standing Spray $35.99 stillstandingspray.com

ES FOR 2017

estBeauty.com, Ulta.com and select Ulta locations • Cartier L’Envol de Cartier, 3.3 oz. $132 Nordstrom.com • Titanium 3900 Healthy Dryer $209.00 Ulta.com or any Ulta Stores •

A go (pink) $99 foreo.com • Vita Liberata Self Tanning Anti Age Serum $45 sephora.com • Flashpatch Eye Gel $50 patchology.com • Tom Ford Shade + Illuminate $80 tomford.com

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RED MY LIPS Photographer: Andrew Werner | AndrewWernerPhotography.com MAKEUP ARTIST: J Guerra MODEL: Veronika Dash Dior ‘My Love’ Liptstick

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Giorgio Armani ‘Scarlatto’ Lipstick

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Kat Von D ‘Outlaw’ Lipstick

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YSL ‘Rouge Neon’ Lipstick

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Dramatic statement jewelry inspired by the glamour of Old Hollywood

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Marc Jacobs ‘Blow’ Lipstick

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STYLE & FASHION

VIOLE

Playing the role of superhero, Jesse Wells/ Jesse Quick, on the hit TV show The Flash, Violett Beane shows off some of her quick moves and cool street style in the streets of NYC.

FLASH STREET STYLE WITH

ETT BEANE

Photos by Evan Guttman (EvanWasHerePhotography.com)

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STYLE & FASHION

STANDARD DEVIATION

Brooklyn’s Latest Streetwear Brand By Hillary Latos

y definition the standard deviation is the square root of the variance- measuring the extent of variance amongst a group. As part of the wave of new independent labels launching out of Brooklyn, the name Standard Deviation only seems befitting of a Bushwick based streetwear brand that embodies the spirit of this creative hotbed. Here Resident speaks to the Stephanie Park and Manuel Gonzales-Luna- the creative team behind the movement. What was your inspiration behind your first collection? As a streetwear-inspired brand, we get a lot of inspiration from where we live and work: Brooklyn, and more specifically in Bushwick, which has an abundance of fantastic street art from local artists. Bushwick Open Studios, for example, is a great annual event where we can roam around the

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neighborhood and check out not only local galleries and studios, but also all the art outdoors. In addition to loving the borough’s creative side, we enjoy Brooklyn’s easygoing and fun lifestyle, and we think our brand captures that as well. Tell us about your collaboration with Ian Mellencamp. The capsule collection with Ian Mellencamp dovetails with the release of his EP, Free AF. We developed a limited-edition T-shirt and crew-neck sweatshirt with what we think are pretty arresting black-and-white screen-printed graphics. The collaboration with him felt very natural and onbrand for us; he’s a fellow Brooklynite, and his music and onstage persona embody the kick-ass, edgy aesthetic we like to flirt with. We’re also very happy with the quality of the pieces; everything is made in the USA.

What is your design aesthetic? Fun, fresh, and live-in-able. We are a streetwearinspired brand in that we enjoy taking streetwear’s irreverent and edgy attitude and applying it to high-quality designs that any guy can wear in his everyday life. We pride ourselves on our commitment to attention to detail in every aspect of the design and construction of our garments, and we are adamant that everything is sourced ethically. We manufacture all of our merchandise in the USA. Based in Brooklyn Standard Deviation’s collection consists of denim, sweatshirts, baseball caps, t-shirts, and outerwear. standarddeviation.nyc

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THROUGH LOVE & FRIENDSHIP Actress Kate Beckinsale Garners Awards Talk By Brad Balfour (transcribed by Connie Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor)

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ho better makes for a magazine cover model than gorgeous British actress Kate Beckinsale.

Gracing the cover of a recent Shape Magazine and this magazine, this 43-year-old again will make her money on a genre film, the fifth in the Underworld saga franchise, Blood Wars — and garner her enduring audiences and fans. And she even has another genre thriller coming out, The Disappointments Room, this January on Blu-ray/DVD. But it’s the recent film-ication of a Regency era that has brought her the criticial praise she deserves. Though she’s done a slew of great films with a who’s who of directors, this London native has yet to be afforded recognition for her serious work. That is, until director Whit Stillman made Love & Friendship, a film in which Beckinsale plays the contradictory and complicated Lady Susan Vernon. While her character seems to be such a schemer, the married Beckinsale — to Len Weisman, original director of the Underworld Vampire vs Werewolf saga — is much more of a straight shooter in real life with an arch sense of humor. Any conversation with her is a breezy delight. Wickedly sly, this film provides the perfect vehicle for Beckinsale to do something that would appeal to audiences, especially women, whether they be fans of Jane Austen’s highly mannered 18th-century romantic social melodramas or not. Based on Austen’s short novel “Lady Susan,” (written in the late 1700s but published 50 years after the legendary author’s death), the movie details the recently widowed Lady Susan Vernon’s endlessly manipulative machinations to find herself a new husband, one for her daughter, and to continue her wildly licentious and scandalous affair with a married man. It first debuted at Sundance 2016, then came out in theaters mid-year; its enduring critical and commercial success has brought on multiple award nominations for Beckinsale — even placing her on an Oscar shortlist for best actress. Q: How did this part in Love & Friendship come about? KB: I was doing another movie in Bulgaria and was sent the script. Whit Stillman, the director of this film [is someone] I worked with years ago on The Last Days of Disco. He’s such an amazing person. I hadn’t heard from him in a long time

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but I knew he had done one or two more movies. It was probably 17 years ago that we worked together but he was very cool. Q: So how had the relationship changed since the first time you worked together? Did you notice changes between The Last Days of Disco and Love & Friendship? KB: I was expecting to notice more differences about all of us given the 200 years between movies and [that] we ended up in different parts of the world for each film. When I did The Last Days of Disco, I was very much a fish out of water. I had rarely spent any time in America at all. I had never done an American accent in a movie and, you know, it was very specific. I started following Whit around, listening to how he talked and tried to understand how I fit into their English. But it was different this time. I felt a lot more familiar with Jane Austen and British things, but that’s one of the things that’s wonderful about working with Whit — he’s so unbelievably intelligent, cultured, and brilliant that it was a huge treat. And, I still say, he is always obsessed with people’s backgrounds, though he says he’s not… But he is… Q: Did you get into the groove for Love & Friendship the way you did for the Last Days of Disco? KB: I didn’t have to be as mean as I was in The Last Days of Disco and I very much feel that the love and friendship in the title of this movie is very much about how relationships were in the film. It’s very important that at different points in the movie my character feels most herself when she’s actually being completely honest. Q: These characters are wonderful — she’s so funny and naughty! KB: Yeah, I like naughty women. Q: You play a seductress -- was that hard? KB: I think if I wanted to flex that muscle — and I could not say that I have, or will — [this is the part for it] but it’s always good to keep yourself toned. Q: What does love and friendship mean to you? KB: It’s what makes the world go round isn’t it? All my best girlfriends are from either elementary school or middle school so I’m genuinely texting people like 45 times a day...

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Q: Were there real challenges in getting that 18th century dialogue right -- dialogue which is amazing with the elaborate language from the period... Getting the dialogue and timing right must have been so much more difficult than doing a contemporary film. Were there special things you had to wrap your mind around? KB: Whit’s takes were very long. In terms of other movies, they’re much shorter. With Whit you weren’t sure at the beginning that he wanted to do them in bits. I kept saying to him, “Can I have a final draft of the script a few weeks before we start shooting because I want to make sure I show up like how you do when you’re doing a play and you know your lines first,” But he doesn’t really work like that so it was a bit of a mental challenge. The other thing that’s great about Whit is not only that he’s a brilliant writer but he’s very “in the moment.” So all of a sudden on a certain Tuesday he decides to put the speech like this he’ll decide he wants this part like this and this bit there so that it would make sitting in hair and makeup a little terrifying. You look like you’ve just been exhumed and you have these extra changes from Whit. So that was quite nerve-wracking because you’ll never be ahead of the game [with him]; I won’t get Alzheimer’s because my brain was constantly on the alert. Q: You did Emma in 1996 the performance you gave for the BBC production was great, but how did your relationships change with Austen’s heroines in doing this; did you approach Jane Austen differently for this film? KB: To be honest, I did a similar background research and all that before. I remember when I was doing the BBC one I was being sent to a dialect coach and was kind of taken aback like, “I’m English — why am I getting sent to a dialect coach…?” But it was really helpful because it irons out every kind of little modern nuance and the London thing that I had. So I did go back and see the same exact [coach]. It was a bit of a reunion actually... Q: You’ve done so many different kind of films, so many genres, but in the ’90s weren’t you were a bit worried about doing too many period films? People said, “Well she smells like crumpets…” KB: I think people like the combination, but because I’ve done so many period films before that I’d go into meetings with people and they’d say, ”She’s just very British, sort of fragile and dainty.” And I

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said, “Well, I have to do something that changes that.” And then the thing that I did that changed and it changed super hard so that people thought I couldn’t do this…

Q: Was the production of it all with the costumes — and that purple dress in particular — fun. Or did you find waking up everyday to get dressed up, that you had to be a little terrifying — and terrified.

at least]. Especially if we are going to talk this much as Lady Susan does. I mean I started to get dizzy at the end of the 5th or 6th take — just from all her talking.

Q: What was it like to shoot on location in Ireland?

KB: The idea of it is very fun. It was quite exciting. Before I got to Ireland and because [the film] had a very small budget I wasn’t expecting to have [many costumes]. But all of the costumes for Chloe and I were made from scratch. I was thinking we were going to be borrowing things from other movies and stuff, but we didn’t.

Makeup was very quick because Whit didn’t really want us having any makeup which was a bit frightening. It was a bit horrifying because it was [done] very early in the morning so you arrived to scare yourself. But the thing that took the longest time was not the wigs because styling those were quite quick, but the dressing which was quite protracted because you had to have help with the corset.

KB: I’ve never been to Dublin before and it was beautiful, amazing, and it was wonderful because obviously it was a period of procreates and the crew was very experienced in these movies and the experts. All that was great. It was quite interesting weather to be having lots of stories in the gardens. Like we said I think that was kind of a surprise but it was really changeable it would go from a semitornado to snow to hailing in about 20 minutes. I had quite a difficult hat so that that sort of stuff was aggravating — especially with me chasing after it. The other thing that was so wonderful and great [in Ireland] was that every person I came into contact with had a story about Bono, like a personal story about him. Clearly he is very busy making breakfast for people; it made me want to have a cup of tea [with him] and people in England are like, “Why hasn’t he got anything done since he’s with the people of Dublin [laughs].”

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Because our characters change clothes so much, you’d sort of have a Christmas present every other day and it was this completely crazy outfit — not a relaxing thing to wear and it was really cold in Dublin — so we all had thermal underwear on down to our knees. That was first level and then there’s the corset and the thing you put under the corset. Then the corset, then what goes over the corset the petty coat, and another winter coat, and the hat, gloves, scarves and by that point you can barely move. But just to get out of your trailer and down the three steps is quite a big thing to try and do but luckily there wasn’t much jumping off of buildings [in this film

Q: Were there any favorite moments or scenes that you shot and what would that be? KB: I couldn’t manage to go to dance rehearsals that other people were going to because I was always working. Whit was very nice but I nearly ruined that dance scene just from laughing — it was a very funny day. I did enjoy it I just wasn’t very well prepared for it. And there moments when actor Tom Bennett — who plays this very foppish character whose verbal stumblings [are hilarious] — was really terrific and charming.

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LUXE LIVING

63 EAST 82nd STREET

tunning and sophisticated, this exceptional townhouse at 63 East 82nd Street presents the ultimate in quality, elegance, innovation and style with remarkable scale and detail. The 20-foot wide, 6-story dream home boasts over 9,000 gross interior square feet in addition to a 1,360 gross square foot cellar that houses a temperaturecontrolled wine room, mechanicals, and organized storage rooms. Originally built at the turn-of-the-century, the grand house is fully renovated and every inch has been masterfully conceived with the finest finishes, innovative systems and luxurious amenities. Currently configured as a six-bedroom with six full bathrooms and three powder rooms, it can easily be converted to a seven or eight-bedroom home, making it perfect for large families or those who host many visitors. Modern design elements balance seamlessly with old-world charm and details including exceptionally high ceilings, a wide sweeping staircase, pristine, decorative moldings, beautifully finished oak wood floors, large pocket doors, and 9 wood-burning fireplaces. With utmost attention paid to comfort, the house contains a state-of-the-art multi-zone Crestron system that controls lighting, audio and shades throughout, Mitsubishi central air conditioning, and a security system. There’s even a new elevator servicing all floors. With two levels of expansive formal

rooms, a serene 35-foot landscaped garden, multiple butler kitchens and a dumbwaiter, the house can easily accommodate entertaining on a large-scale. Rare to townhouses, superb natural light floods each floor through oversized windows and several skylights at the peak. The garden and parlor floors feature floor-to-ceiling windows. Additional private outdoor areas include a Juliette balcony on the fifth floor and a large terrace with open city views on the top floor. A culinary masterpiece, the gourmet eat-in chef’s kitchen with an expansive waterfall marble island and breakfast bar is fully outfitted with top-of-the-line professional appliances including a Sub-Zero refrigerator, full-size Liebherr freezer, Viking double wall oven (including convection), two Viking dishwashers, as well as an iconic designed AGA cast iron stove with modern efficiencies: 4 gas burners, a boiling plate, simmering plate, and 4 ovens – baking, roasting, warming, and simmering. A marble floor, marble counter tops, and custom cabinetry complete the open space which also has an extension with an intimate dining area. But it’s the wood-burning fireplace and French doors opening onto the beautiful landscaped garden with custom irrigation system that make it the heart of the home. The exquisite master suite is fit for a king

with high ceilings, a 12-foot custom walk-in closet/dressing room, wood-burning fireplace, and garden views. You can escape to the spa in the luxurious en-suite marble bathroom with double-sink vanity, deep soaking tub, steam shower, and separate water closet. Located just across from the master bedroom is the formal library with built-in bookshelves and wood-burning fireplace. Perfectly positioned close to Central Park in the desirable “Gold Coast” area of the Upper East Side, the house is nestled on a peaceful, tree-lined brownstone/mansion block between Madison and Park Avenues. An extraordinary neighborhood filled with unique architecture, renowned cultural institutions like The Metropolitan Museum of Art, fine dining, charming cafes, and high-end boutique shopping on Madison Avenue. Asking Price: $23,750,000 Contact: Louise Phillips Forbes, lphillips@halstead.com | 212-381-3329 www.LouisePhillipsForbes.com www.halstead.com/sale/ny/manhattan/ upper-east-side/63-east-82nd-street/ townhouse/15426447

Luxe Living

GLOBAL PROPERTY EXPERT ROYCE PINKWATER By Elizabeth Streisand

Buff and Fluff

oyce Pinkwater doesn’t mess around. From issues as big as how to sell your New York City apartment for the highest price to as small as where to get the best French toast (it’s not where you think!); the French Roast downtown. “They literally have the best French toast anywhere.” This founder of Pinkwater Select has it all figured out. So it’s not surprising that her one-stop shop has become the go-to place to buy and sell real estate. Unlike others, her team includes brokerage, a development arm, and a design arm. In other words—she has everything clients could possibly need in order to improve a property they already own or to prep a property they’re looking to sell. Her unique division, cleverly coined “Buff and Fluff,” specializes in bringing spaces up to par with the type of aesthetic and finish that buyers expect today.

around for 25 years and is still going strong.” As for newer introductions to the scene, Pinkwater adores Jack’s Wife Freda and also has high hopes for Coque Rico, a transplant from Paris, where it is “packed all the time.” Pinkwater appreciates this newcomer’s emphasis on organic chicken. Speaking of surprises, she admits that New York always blows her mind, but says one thing never surprises her: how resilient the city is. “I think it’s one of the most resilient places in the entire world and one of the reasons for that is that there is a spirit here that just overcomes. What amazed me about New York is that, when 9/11 happened, six or seven months later, people were buying down there again. It was such a beautiful thing to see.

Downtown Hot Spots When it comes to favorite restaurants and hot spots downtown, Global Property Expert Royce Pinkwater has almost too many to name. “Bar Pitti is one of my staples,” she said, “and Il Cantinori. It’s one of those standards that has been

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14 East 11th Street Royce’s company, Pinkwater Select, has just added another stunning piece of real estate to its line-up. Nestled on a tree-lined block on 5th Avenue’s “Gold Coast,” 14 East 11th Street is a nearly 22-foot-wide, five-story townhouse with five bedrooms, an impressive 7,200 square feet of interior living space, and an additional 1,200 square feet of outdoor space. Inside, residents will enjoy a state-of-the-art marble kitchen, gorgeous hardwood floors, and thoughtful touches like a freestanding bathtub. The entire space is drenched in sunlight and captures the true spirit of New York City’s downtown.

Investing Money

Downtown Real Estate While Hudson Yards (in the 30s on the West Side) is considered “downtown” to some, Pinkwater absolutely adores the lay of the land below that as well. “Downtown is totally different than uptown,” she muses. “I think one of the most charming things about New York is that it’s comprised of so many different neighborhoods. You can walk a few blocks and feel like you’re in another country.” She loves downtown for its “humanscale” building heights. “It’s more neighborhoody. It’s more family-ish, dog-ish, cozy-ish.” Another favorite spot is Tribeca, which, she acknowledges, “has gone up and down really in the last decade or so.” Tribeca, she explains, has something that the Village does not: lofty open spaces with views. “You can’t beat those views,” she sighs. But there’s one more spot still that has captured her heart. “Grammercy Park is so charming and just feels like London. There’s something very intimate and lovely and Henry James-y there,” she says.

tie a room together in a surprising and memorable way. (Her team also has some properties on their roster that have allocated space for safe rooms.)

We have a great enthusiasm that comes through in all things — including real estate.” No doubt that’s partly what makes her job so rewarding.

Pinkwater Select If you wonder just what people are looking for these days, you’re in good company—and that’s why Pinkwater Select has become such a huge success. Pinkwater reports that, while neutrals and clean lines remain perennial favorites, the current uncertainties in both the political and social climate have people hunting for “cozier” spaces. Pinkwater’s team achieves that feeling by masterfully incorporating layers, sprinkling in pops of rich color, and adding one-of-a-kind finds that can

One of the most important benefits Pinkwater brings to clients is the ability to avoid common mistakes people make when trying to sell their property. Two of the most common are investing money in the wrong places and failing to price the property properly. And, contrary to popular belief, the “right” price isn’t always the highest price you might be able to get for a space. Recently, Pinkwater convinced a client to price an apartment very aggressively-below market value, in fact. But she had a plan. By pricing the place where she did, Pinkwater effectively created a bidding war, which drove the price higher than it likely would have been had they aimed dead center on the target. “It was a risky strategy, but an effective one,” she reports. Clearly, this is a woman with a vision, which is why it’s interesting to hear whose vision she admires. “The Related Companies are creating a whole new New York at Hudson Yards and are doing so much more than anyone else. I really credit them with having the vision and the billions of dollars required to transform New York,” she explains. “I would say no one has done anything like that. No one. This is above and beyond.” Pinkwaterselect.com | (212) 390-0600

IMBIBE

SHAY & IVY

Midtown’s American Newcomer By Haiting Tan

eaturing a progressive American cuisine, Shay and Ivy is owned by two young and talented restaurant entrepreneurs. Already establishing Atwood Kitchen and Bar Room, Evan Rosenberg and Daniel Rieger, opened this chic and trendy restaurant in midtown Manhattan. Helmed by executive chef Brad Warner, the restaurant features an extended menu of cocktails, fresh-pressed juices and a premiere coffee program. To satisfy the palettes of upscale New Yorkers, Shay and Ivy serves brunch. Their menu includes traditional American comfort foods such as a classic omelet or stuffed French toast. If you’re looking for something more substantial, don’t hesitate to try the ginger skirt steak salad. Made with baby arugula topped with black radish, clementine, enoki mushroom, roasted beets and doused in ginger miso vinaigrette, salad has never been so delicious. A signature item on the menu, guests can sample the Shay and Ivy burger starring a juicy grass-fed beef patty topped with aged white cheddar with a side of thrice-cooked fries.

A casual dining ambience, Shay and Ivy is the ideal for busy New Yorkers located in the Flatiron neighborhood. Indulge in the raw bar that offers fresh east and west coast oysters and citrus poached chill shrimp with serrano chili cocktail and charred lemon. Their fall specialties include a modern interpretation of Asian fusion dishes. The spice rubbed yellowfin tuna is paired with uni rice wine vinaigrette, topped with a sea bean edamame puree. Or try the confit duck spring roll wrapped with pickled mango, red cabbage and ginger ponzu. If there’s room for dessert, the Meyer lemon cheesecake is a must try. With an almond biscotti crust topped with preserved blackberries, it will leave you craving for more. Taking a twist on traditional dishes, it’s Shay and Ivy embody the spirit of contemporary American cuisine in a convivial atmosphere that provides a perfect respite from the bustling New York pace. 39 W 24 St | 646 666 8635 | Shayandivyny.com

DINE & IMBIBE

DINING OUT

By Hillary Latos

If one of your resolutions is to eat healthier and spend more quality time with friends and family here are some of our favorite places to dine around the city. Whether it’s operatic classic French, authentic Greek fare, multi cultural Italian, or elevated comfort fare there are plenty of options to keep you cozy throughout the Polar Vortex.

PAPILLON BISTRO & BAR 22 East 54 St NYC 212.754/9006 Papillonbistro.com Located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan on 54th Street is the sprawling 11,000-squarefoot two-story rustic and elegant French restaurant Papillon Bistro & Bar. Dating back to the turn of the century, this historic townhouse features a vintage Belle Epoque décor replete with a 70-foot-long, wood-paneled bar on the ground floor and an elegant upstairs dining area filled with eclectic antiquities and furniture and photos and relics from its past lives and reincarnations. The Provencal-inspired eatery serving French bistro classics such as moules marniere or seared scallops, is just steps from Central Park, the Museum of Modern Art and the famous 5th Avenue shops which is a perfect located for those enjoying midtown’s many attractions. Stop by on Saturday evening for Leopoldo Mucci’s famous Caffe Taci held upstairs for a lively evening that extends into the wee hours. Tenors, sopranos and baritones from the Metropolitan Opera House and other Broadway actors stop by to perform their perfected arias from some of the most famous operas in the world for an unforgettable night out.

AMERICAN CUT 109 East 56 St, NYC 212.388.5277 americancutsteakhouse.com For a great cut of steak, head to American Cut’s latest location in Midtown, right inside the Lombardy Hotel, where you’ll be transported to a glamorous yet comfortable scene with lush leather chairs and vintage New York photographs lining the walls. The sexy, dim ambiance is just as salivating as the decadent dishes, from tender filet cuts to the seafood tower featuring poached lobster, tuna tartare, hiramasa tartare, shrimp cocktail, raw oysters and Alaskan king crab. The serious steak lover will be blown away by the Tomahawk Ribeye Chop or flaming Porterhouse Steak, which can feed as many people in your party you want! Don’t forget to pair your dishes with sides such as the mint glazed carrot, beef fat fries and even latkes. For a private dining experience, you can rent your own room surrounded by bottles of wine, a few of which might even go just perfectly with each course. Forget about your holiday diet! The crackerjack ice cream which includes popcorn ice cream, plus the pecan bourbon pie, topped with chocolate turtles and brown butter ice cream, will be too irresistible to pass up. – By Julie Sagoskin

CAFE AMERICANO 964 Lexington Ave, NYC 646.870.9007 cafeamericano.com A local favorite on the Upper East Side is Café Americano that serves delicious elevated seasonal American fare with healthy locally sourced ingredients. Some of the favorites on the menu include the grass fed cheeseburger with crispy shallots and onion jam, burrata with figs and almond, scallop carpaccio, lobster rolls, grilled lamb chops with sautéed onion and wilted kale, and a superfood macro bowl with quinoa, kale, avocado, sweet potatoes, and chickpeas. The charming atmosphere evokes the quaint European feel of a bistro in the West Village that transforms itself from a daytime café to a cocktail lounge at night created by warm ambient lighting, lacquered navy walls, cozy banquettes and a long convivial bar. Owned by restaurateur siblings Tom & Anthony Martignetti from Brinkley’s Broome Street, the East Pole, Eastfield’s and Pizza Beach, they bring their signature touch of combining an inviting environment with delicious fare that have earned them their loyal following.

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DINE & IMBIBE

MASSONI 11 East 31 St NYC, 212.951.1141 massoninyc.com Even when he’s not competing on Top Chef, Dale Talde shows his talent for improvisation in the kitchen when left to his own devices with random ingredients. For example, Massoni just opened at the Arlo Hotel this past November armed with a plethora of Halloween candy left over he came up with Snickers Cannolis which has become a go to staple on his menu. Massoni is the latest project in Manhattan between hit makers- Dale Talde, David Massoni & John Bush who have created comfort “In-authentic Italian” fare which features classic Italian dishes with multi cultural flavors and ingredients- reflecting the irreverent personalities of the three owners. As they let their pizza dough rise for 48 hours, the light and crispy pan pizzas are amongst the best in NYC. Topped with ingredients such as pepperoni, pickled peppers and honey, or mushroom, mascarpone and smoked mozzarella, there has never been pizza so craveworthy. Other highlights from the menu are the delicious pastas such as squid ink papardelle with crab vodka sauce, an octopus puttanesca sauce and malfadi with uni, serrano and smoked onion dashi. For mains- the Orata has an Asian flair and is perfectly tender and flaky and drizzled with a hot olive oil soy with capers and ginger. Of course, save room for the decadent desserts.

KORALI ESTIATORIO 1662 Third Ave, NYC 646.964.5470 koralinyc.com Helmed by prominent chef Peter Tsaglis, Korali offers authentic and modern Greek cuisine inspired by his travel across Greece and his love of their seafood specialties. For their hearty brunch menu, Korali features traditional dishes such as classic eggs Benedict and smoked salmon Benedict, but its zucchini spinach pancakes and French toast are the standouts. Zucchini noodles served with feta cheese and Mediterranean spices are doused in tomato basil sauce, that’s not only delicious but healthy. Topped with caramelized apples, Godiva hazelnut chocolate and caramel sauce, the French toast is bound to give you a sugar rush. On their lunch menu, guests can find more traditional Greek dishes. Start off with Keftedes, Greek meatballs in tomato sauce, or cheese Saganaki paired with roasted tomato compote. While the menu features braised lamb and grilled lamb kebab, Tsaglis’ speciality lies in seafood. Patrons can try the Thalasino Youvvetsi to sample seafood such as shrimps, mussels and calamari or the Solomos, a grilled Scottish salmon paired with leek rice casserole. No matter if you’re stuffed, you have to leave room for the restaurant’s greek honey yogurt mixed with honey, nuts and dried fruits, because at least it’s a healthy dessert. -Haiting Tan

e’S BAR 511 Amsterdam Avenue. NYC

e-barnyc.com

While there is no shortage of dive bars on the Upper West Side, e’s Bar stands out from the rest. While it’s reminiscent of your favorite brick walled college bar it’s filled with grown ups and decadently delicious food. There are plenty of board and fun games that encourage lively banter amongst its loyal following of patrons that pack this friendly joint from after work through the weekends. Test your trivia skills every Tuesday night from 7-10 pm or work off a hangover during their Sunday Jam featuring a live DJ playing rock and roll from 1-7 pm every first Sunday of the month. Their elevated bar bites and comfort food satiate those decadent cravings on cold winter nights. Customer favorites include chips and freshly made guacamole, fish tacos, buffalo chicken bites, e’s burger with cheese and special sauce, creamy mac & cheese, maple drizzled Brussels sprout with bacon, and crispy sharp NY cheddar balls. Whether choosing from their extensive selection of IPAs or cocktailing on specialty drinks like the Peach Mule, Strawberry Bourbon Sour, e’s margarita, Violet Collins or sipping on their hot mulled red wine- there are plenty of options to keep you warm during a polar vortex.

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DINE & IMBIBE

MIAMI’S BEST NEWCOMERS By Hillary Latos

AS THE TEMPERATURE DROPS IN THE NORTHEAST, THE SCENE IN MIAMI SIZZLES EVEN MORE

Adding to the roster of South Beach’s hotspots is famed restaurateur Arjun Waney’s latest LatAsian fusion restaurant, DOA, which is Japanese for The Door. As Waney explains, it is the entrance to incredible food, drinks, fantastic service in an electric ambiance that is open until 5 am. As the exotic flavors of Latin America and Asia overlap this new concept brings the best of both cultures to the culinary table with a vibrant menu that showcases Nikkei, Chifa, and Peruvian dishes. Signature dishes include ceviches, glazed lamb chops, scallop tartare, dim sum, hot pots, and charcoal robata grilled meats. At rising star in his own right, at only 24 Chef Carlos Estarita has cooked for some of the most famous kitchens in the world and trained under celebrity chef James Berckemeyer in Lima, Peru and brings an exotic flair to the kitchen. To keep the libations flowing, Global Beverage Director James Shearer has created a bespoke cocktail menu that complements the Latin and Asian inspired dishes. Drinks such as The Nikkei Spritz, Lychee Martini, and Apple & Shiso Mojito as well as a selection of mezcals, pisco, and Asian spirits are part of the eclectic and vibrant beverage program. The centerpiece of the warm and inviting 5,200 square foot dining room is the open kitchen that showcases the culinary talents of the chef’s team while engaging diners. DOA is a the perfect embodiment of South Beach’s rich cultural melting pot that takes guests on an unforgettable culinary journey.

Nobu is synonymous worldwide for its fine Japanese cuisine, and expanding on the Nobu experience is the newly minted Nobu Hotel in the iconic Eden Roc hotel that takes the same aesthetic from the renowned restaurant and expanded it into a lifestyle brand with zen like perfection. Nestled off the main lobby is Nobu restaurant which like all of its outposts has a loyal A-list and celebrity following. The atmosphere evokes the relaxed Miami Beach vibe with an airy and serene atmosphere to enjoy master chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s signature dishes. During lunch there is a pre fixed 3 course menu that serves his most popular dishes such as his crispy rock shrimp, yellowtail with jalapeno, black miso cod, and housemade mochi that can be enjoyed indoors or alfresco with gorgeous outdoor vistas.

DOA Miami Beach 2000 Collins Ave, Miami Beach 305-587-2000 doacantina.com

Nobu Hotel Eden Roc 4525 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach 305 531 0000 nobuedenroc.com

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DINE & IMBIBE

A GUIDE TO

LA’S NEWEST EATERIES

By Melissa Curtin of lalascoop.com

os Angeles, one of America’s most diverse big cities, brings with it an ethnically rich food scene from culinary selections and combinations that can’t be found anywhere else in our country. But this season’s list focuses on California seasonal fare with restaurants bringing European flair mainly due in part to their chefs. From grabbing a quick sandwich or healthy salad, or taking the time to enjoy quality conversation and good company over a lingering meal, influences from France, Italy, and the Mediterranean are prevalent in this southern California city. Of course, the avocado toast or avocado tartine can be found with every imaginable variation in just about every restaurant in Los Angeles.

GOLDIES LA IN WEST HOLLYWOOD

This hip outdoor open air restaurant with their patio and vertical garden is our go-to meeting spot on W. 3rd Street because they offer the freshest seasonal California menu options. Their brunch list includes salmon tartine, baked eggs with buratta and grilled corn, brioche French toast, avocado toast with smoked chili flakes and lemon, and fried brussel sprouts and eggs. Plus, enjoy a fresh squeezed juice concoction. Come for their happy hour times with half off all drinks and make sure to order the Smoke on the Water, the Japanese Cocktail, or the Wildflower. goldiesla.com

TERRINE IN WEST HOLLYWOOD

Dine at night in the romantic outdoor terrace or come solo for brunch at the bar at this award winning French brasserie by Chef Kris Morningstar on Beverly Blvd. Start with their Charcuterie Plate with chicken liver, pork liver terrine, spiced head cheese, house sausage, and more. Some of our favorites dishes include the French Onion Soup, the Mussels in a white wine sauce, and the Escargot with chopped parsley. Go rich and decadent for brunch with the Croque Monsier, the Terrine de Foie Gras, or the Pain Perdu, a vanilla-battered French toast with sea salt, caramel frosting, and maple. Dinner series occur regularly, like the pork lovers series where you could dine on suckling pig, porchetta, confit shoulder, and pig head ragu. terrinela.com

INK SACK IN WEST HOLLYWOOD

Thanks to Chef Michael Voltaggio, Ink Sack makes sandwiches better than a deli and delis are highly lacking in LA. The heavenly bread always seems to have that perfect crunch, but sandwiches are presented in new ways with ingredients you may not have thought to put together. The cold fried chicken with ranch cheese, lettuce, pickles, and hot sauce is one of the most popular sandwiches, but our favorite is the New Deli, beef pastrami with curry mustard and pickles. The basic Cheddar melt with Cheddar, Swiss, and Manchego is also to die-for. Craving breakfast? Breakfast is a lovely goodness of egg, Cheddar, potato chips, and mayo. Other worthy sack sandwich bites include the Frenchy, the banh mi, and the Spanish godfather. Sandwiches are sold at an affordable price and are small enough you can try two. Now Ink Sack’s small joint on Melrose Avenue has expanded to the LAX airport as well as to Hollywood as Sack Sandwiches Sunset. mvink.com/menu

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DINE & IMBIBE

FIG AND OLIVE IN WEST HOLLYWOOD

This sexy space on Melrose Place screams date night with their romantic lighting and airy sleek space. Known for their Mediterranean fare with extra virgin olive oils paired with each dish, we recommend the 3 C’s for your most memorable bites, Crab, Crostini, Croquettes. Crab Salad, Crostini Bites of your choice, and Croquettes, that is Mushroom Croquettes are the perfect sharing before a main course. For the month of October guests can sample their Mediterranean diet with a prix fixe menu and sip happy hour cocktails for Pink Thursdays with proceeds benefitting National Breast Cancer Foundation in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. figandolive.com

RAY’S AND STARK BAR AT LACMA AT WILSHIRE CORRIDOR

Art lovers, Angelenos, or tourists will adore the innovative art-centric foodie experience at Ray’s and Stark Bar. Sitting on the modern outdoor patio as the sunset hues glow through the modern architectural design of LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art), savor the memories with a wood fired pizza like the Bianca with truffle oil cheese, or homemade pasta with Sicilian pesto. The new Executive Chef Fernando Darin has upped the foodie game. This is one of the only restaurants in LA to come with a water sommelier and a water menu. Sample a H2O bubbly that satisfies your taste buds. Need a cocktail? Don’t miss the Bee’s Knees, the Painkiller, or the Rose Wishes and Lavender Dreams. patinagroup.com/rays-and-stark-bar

BUTCHER’S DAUGHTER IN VENICE

Right on Abbott Kinney, this venue with mostly vegan fare will make you feel blissful just walking in with its white rustic light-spewing ambiance. Sit in the middle communal table at the vegetable “butcher” raw bar or the espresso bar area. This venue is the place to start your day with some LA staples: a juice flight, a breakfast burrito, and avocado toast with an egg on top. A bit pricey, but the people watching is entertaining. Their market area even sells yoga mats, surfboards, beauty products, wine, pressed juice, and other household items. thebutchersdaughter.com

SCOPA ITALIAN ROOTS IN VENICE

This roomy brick-walled gastropub in Venice becomes a social venue where diners meet friends, find a date, or dine solo. Although it can become packed and loud and a bit “sceney,” the Italian specialty dishes, pastas, and hot and cold antipasti make the experience worthwhile. This place is best for small plates. Wines and meat dishes can be very expensive. Memorable ‘Hot Antipastis’ worth sharing include the Meat Ball Hero with burrata, basil, and arugula, Crispy Squash Blossoms, Rice Ball, and Eggplant Parmesan. Save room for after dinner treats like cannolis, Chocolate Affogato, Italian cookies, and Pavlova. Make a reservation way in advance or sidle up to their bar. Brunch is also a lesser known option. scopaitalianroots.com

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ooking for a place where mom and dad can soak up some high-end luxury while the kids are being entertained in state-of-the-art Mayan activities? Welcome to Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancun Resort and Spa (coralbeachcancunresort. com). Sitting on the banks of a beautiful white-sand beach, the property has 602 all-suite ocean front accommodations, each with a private terrace facing the turquoise waters of the Caribbean and lagoon-like pool. For those seasoned travelers with discerning taste, stay at the Grand Club level, the top two floors of the property, which provides lavish services and above-and-beyond amenities—like private culinary dining experiences--both pool and beachside, as well as a dedicated lounge and a 24-hour concierge service. For mom and dad, be sure to relax at the 40,000 square foot Coral Beach Gem Spa, which offers creative treatments inspired by gemstone therapy. For the ultimate in relaxation, try the 90-minute 10step Hydrotherapy Ritual. It will not only leave you completely relaxed, but your sore muscles will thank you. While the parents are relaxing in the spa, send the kids to the brand new, $2 million, 50,000 square foot state-of-the-art Coral KidZ Club. It’s considered one of the top children’s programs in Latin America. The high-tech club has more than 40 indoor and outdoor activities—enough to keep even the highest-energy child entertained for hours. Outdoor zones feature a Mayan themed playground, Explorer Ship that includes a “Sprayground,” as well as a rock climbing wall, basketball court and traditional Mexican sidewalk games. Indoor activities include a kids cooking class, taught by the executive chef of the resort, as well as Xbox and Wii play-systems and Mayan games that teach the kids about the culture through interactive play. When your appetite kicks in, be sure to dine at Le Basilic, one of only a few restaurants in Mexico to hold the AAA Five Diamond distinction, it serves up a French-Mediterranean menu, utilizing local, fresh products. For traditional Mexican food, try Joya where a 10-piece Mariachi band creates an authentic experience. For great views, try Isla Contoy which offers a yummy seafood dinner beachside. Vina del Mar, which overlooks the water, offers the most stunning views. So whether you’re looking for great food, top-notch entertainment for your kids, or a spa that will blow you away, Fiesta Americana fits the bill. grandfiestamericana.com

Boasting one of the top kids clubs in Latin America, Grand Fiesta resort offers a plethora of experiences for everyone in the family.

MEXICAN PARADISE for Parents & Kids By Judy Koutsky

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HOTEL ENVY By Lisa Loverro

SLEEP WITH THE FISHES

The New Year brings new goals and plenty of new “bucket list” ideas. Here’s a roundup of some extraordinary hotel experiences you’ll want to add to that bucket and give you plenty of bragging rights at your next cocktail party.

The Manta Resort, Tanzania themantaresort.com Located on Pemba Island, a remote island off the east coast of Africa, sits the Manta Resort. Accommodations here include one underwater room, anchored just off the Tanzanian coast. The landing deck at this unusual accommodation is located sea level for some spectacular sun worshipping and star gazing, but head downstairs to the bedroom and you’ll be surrounded by panes of glass with an almost 360 degree viewing of the magical underwater world. Underwater spotlights attract squid and other unusual creatures of the night, which might have you sleeping with one eye open.

Atlantis The Palm, Dubai atlantisthepalm.com Atlantis, The Palm’s underwater accommodations are unique and exotic to say the least, and it’s located in the equally exotic emirate of Dubai. Adjacent to a huge aquarium, it’s intimate and romantic, with a touch of adventure. Just don’t be surprised if you wake up face-to-face some of the Persian Gulf’s more unusual sea creatures.

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Take to the treetops and have a rainforest experience like no other! Inkaterra’s Canopy Tree House offers complete seclusion in the Peruvian South Eastern Amazon. With just one room here, the Tree House is built on a private platform and adjoining the famous Canopy Walkway at 90 feet above the lush jungle below. From the remarkable vantage point high in the canopy, you’ll be able to view wild animal species that are not usually visible from the ground. Event better, the jungle sounds will lull you to sleep at night after a relaxing cocktail at the Canopy Bar. And if you get a bit freaked out by some of the jungle sounds, fret not. Your walkie-talkie will easily summon your Canopy Butler for some wine to calm the nerves.

Located directly behind Buckingham Palace book a room in the hotel’s Royal Suite, where Kate Middleton spent the night before her Royal wedding to Prince William. Stretching the entire length of the hotel’s top floor and overlooking the Goring Gardens, this two-bedroom, threebathroom suite also includes a drawing room and dining room complete with a grand piano. The suite is filled with a collection of British antiques including books, clocks and Georgian decanters and glassware. The shower in the master bedroom is large enough to hold six and showcases an original painting of Queen Victoria, protected by safety glass. The suite might be a bit over the top but think of the bragging rights to claim having slept in the same bed where the future Queen spent her last evening as a single woman.

Laucala Island, Fiji laucala.com Laucala, a private island of Fiji is comprised of just 25 villas, with epic diving, rainforest walks and golf. The best part of this paradise island is their spa comprised of individual bungalows; all having private relaxation rooms and outdoor soaking tubs with complete privacy. Treatments begin in a relaxation lounge fitted with day beds and an open fireplace, followed by a footbath incorporating a hibiscus, honey and sugar-crystal polish and a gentle massage. Signature experiences range from Fijian hot-and-cold stone therapy to body scrubs using volcanic soil from the island and mineral crystal therapy. The island itself might seem like a long journey, but it’s worth every bit of jet lag.

FIT FOR A QUEEN SPACATAION

Goring Hotel, London thegoring.com

GET HIGH

Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica Canopy Tree House, Peru inkaterra.com

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THE MOST EXTRA SUITES & VILLAS AR The St. Regis Villa at the St. Regis Mauritius Resort

Royal Suite at the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel

The Presidential Suite at The Raj Palace

Le Morne, Mauritius

London, United Kingdom

Jaipur, India

$9,200USD – $21,500 USD per night

£7,500 approx. $10,700 USD per night

$20,772.50 USD per night

With 470 ft. of direct and private access to the beach, the 17,857 sq. foot private villa with four bedroom suites, three plunge pools and a private chef available 24/7 – the St. Regis Villa is the ultimate family/group getaway. The dedicated service team of the Villa Manager, St. Regis Butlers, private chef, and housekeeping assure that all your needs are met. When/if you ever get bored of the white sand beach, head over to the heated infinity pool with jet streams, and maintain your physique at the private gym and steam room.

The three bedroom 2,668 sq. ft. Royal Suite was the original hotel’s Venetian Ballroom. No expense spared to create a lavish living and dining area that can host seated dinners for up to twenty-two guests. The suite includes a Chambers butler service to attend to reservations to event coordination. Guests can enjoy the Chambers club, which offers complimentary breakfast, afternoon tea & evening canapés and a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Airport transfers are easy as Eurostar Valets are on call to fast-track guests travel.

Truly fit for a queen or king, the suite is a 16,000 sq. ft. four-floor apartment. The first floor features a large luxurious lounge with a bar. The second floor was a sleeping chamber for The Thakur Sahib (King or Maharajah) adorned with Gold leafed painted walls and matching, gold and silver furniture. The third floor has library, bar and dining area. Enjoy a panoramic view of the city from the fourth floor while you use the swimming pool or Jacuzzi. The winner of the Best suite in Asia 2011 - 2015 by “World Travel awards, the highlight of the Suite is a private museum displaying the Old Throne and Bolsters of The Thakur Sahib.

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AVAGANT HOTES, ROUND THE WORLD Ritz-Carlton Suite at the Ritz-Carlton

Underwater Suites at Atlantis, The Palm

Laucala Island, Fiji, South Pacific USD $45,000 per night for 3 couples

Hong Kong

The Palm Island, Dubai

HKD $139,000 approx. USD$ 17,919.30 per night

USD $5,444 - $10,000 per night

With 484 meters above the ground, the Ritz-Carlton Suite offers a panoramic view of Victoria Harbor and Hong Kong Skyline. Imagine catching the nightlights while enjoying the whirlpool with Acqua di Parma bath amenities. Although a fully equipped pantry is at your disposable, guests of the suite have all access to The Ritz-Carlton Club that includes six complimentary food and beverage presentations daily, a library and a meeting room. No need to worry about navigating the city, a personal butler and chauffeured Rolls Royce limousine is available 24hour throughout your stay.

Two, three-story aquatic themed Underwater Suites offer breathtaking views of the Ambassador Lagoon and its 65,000 marine inhabitants. The aptly-named Neptune Underwater Suite and Poseidon Underwater Suite features a sweeping staircase from the foyer to the large living and dining area that overlooks the Ambassador Lagoon. The floor to ceiling windows from both the master bedroom and the en suite bathroom, ensure an amazing view of the swimming marine animals nearby. You’ll never be hungry thanks to the 24/7 private butler service and Imperial Club access with complimentary breakfasts, all day snacks, afternoon tea, pre dinner cocktails and canapés.

The Hilltop Villa

The all-inclusive resort is located in North East Fiji nearby the large island Vanua Levu. A “resort within a resort,” the main villa features a master bedroom, lounge, dining room, library, outdoor pavilions and lap pool, and two one-bedroom guest villas feature one separate pool and private kitchen area. A private chef, a chauffeur and nanny are at your disposable. Yet when adventure calls there are several activities on the island. The sustainable organic farms and gardens provide for resort restaurants as well as flowers and spices for the spa ensures that guests leave with a genuine insight into Fijian culture.

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DESTINATION:

PHILIPPINES

IMBIBE

THE UNSPOILED ISLANDS By Jennifer Pelaez & Hillary Latos

Palawan

ith more than 7000 islands, the Philippines is not only one of the world’s largest archipelago nations, but also a destination that is culturally diverse and incredibly rich in biodiversity. From its emerald rice fields, lush forests, teeming mega-cities, smoldering volcanoes, and pristine beaches and azure waters, it’s an explorer’s dream. Situated in Southeast Asia in the Western Pacific Ocean, the Philippines offers a myriad of idyllic islands to discover that suit every taste, from its impressive UNESCO World Heritage Sites and natural wonders, to sprawling islands like Luzon and Mindanao, to the smaller less inhabited islands like Coahagan Island. Although Boracay has become one of the most popular tourist destinations with its endless beaches of powdery-white sand, long happy hours, abundance of luxury hotels and vibrant party life, the less familiar islands like Palawan and Cebu, offer a more relaxed and equally beautiful setting with plenty of attractions, history, and an awe-inspiring natural grandness that will leave you wanting to

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explore more of this diverse country.

PALAWAN

About an hour and a half from the capital of Manila, a short plane ride to Puerto Princesa, on the stunning island of Palawan makes the ideal first

Palawan

stop in the Philippines. The Palawan archipelago gets props for its sheer beauty - it’s no wonder this hidden piece of paradise was recently awarded ‘The Best Island In The World’ in the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards. Centrally located Puerto Princesa is the culinary capital and prima-

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ry gateway to nearby rural and oceanfront tranquility. Spend a few days exploring the top attractions and enjoy snorkeling and island hopping in nearby Honda Bay. A stay at the Princesa Garden Island Resort and Spa is the perfect location from which to relax and take in the tropical air and amazing sunsets while also enjoying the resort’s luxury amenities like their waterfront bungalows and impressive sand bar, where you can lounge and sunbathe while listening to the sounds of the ocean. Next, drive to the other side of Palawan to Sabang

Puerto Princesa Underground River

CEBU

Another island to explore is the island province of Cebu, which not only boasts incredible surrounding islets but also houses the country’s oldest city, Cebu City, which was once the first capital of the Philippines. Here, you can appreciate the Philippine’s rich history combining Asian, European, and American influences, most evident from the widespread spoken English, to the unique Span-

Beach where you can explore one of the “New 7 Wonders of Nature” and a UNESCO site, the Puerto Princesa Underground River, which is a subterranean thrill with over five miles of navigable river underneath a tunnel surrounded by stalactites and stalagmites. It is the world’s longest subterranean river which can be explored with a guide on a paddle-powered outrigger while exploring the expansive caves filled with bats and interesting formations. A convenient nearby hotel, nestled between towering mountain ranges and the clear blue waters of the West Philippines Sea is the Sheridan Beach Resort & Spa. This tranquil

and first-rate property set right on Sabang Beach, boasts fabulous views and an ideal setting to become one with nature in one of the country’s most protected areas. Be sure to allow enough time to fully explore the island since each part offers a completely different experience, and all worth discovering. From the world class beach resorts of El Nido in the north, to the mangroves and natural wonders on the western coast, Palawan is a true gem worth visiting.

Sinulog Festival - Sto. Nino Basilica

ish-Filipino colonial architecture and centuries-old stone churches. A tour of Cebu City can be organized by highly informative tour guides at Rajah Tours, that can customize an itinerary based upon your preferences. History buffs must visit Magellan’s Cross, as well as the historical site of the Lapu Lapu Shrine where a majestic statue of the great Datu Lapu Lapu was erected to honor the native leader who killed Magellan. Also, Fort San Pedro, and just a short walk away, the oldest

Roman Catholic Church - Santo Nino Church must not be missed. After all the sightseeing and walking, a drive back to the calm part of Cebu in Mactan is a perfect end to your day. One of the luxury hotels offering a haven of relaxation with their deluxe accommodations, impressive pool, and chic sea view loungers is the Crimson Mactan. With excellent dining options and stunning views, along with their full service spa, complete with jacuzzi and outdoor pool, you will

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Crown Towers Lobby

think twice about leaving your resort.

MANILA

If you happen to have a layover in Manila, take a tour of the historic capital of the Philippines or try your luck at the luxurious City of Dreams conveniently located only 10 minutes from the airport thanks to the new superhighway that was just completed in December. At the heart of this casino megaplex is the glamorous Nobu Manila- a zen oasis in the bustling capital. If you are staying in Manila the serene rooms evoke a contemporary Japanese dĂŠcor designed by David Rockwell with sumptuous furnishings. Dine in style at Nobu and experience Chef Morimotoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s world renowned Japanese cuisine open only for dinner with a

Crown Towers Exterior

breathtaking setting overlooking Manila Bay. For six star living, stay at the uber luxurious adjacent Crown Hotel with accommodations ranging from spacious suites to a two story duplex townhouse. Dine at the divine Crystal Dragon restaurant that serves delectable haute Cantonese cuisine in a striking contemporary setting that will delight the senses. This January, Manila will be in the international spotlight as the host of the 65th Miss Universe pageant when Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach returns home to the Philippines to crown the next gorgeous successor.

of interest, rest assured that no matter where you go in the Philippines, you will be surrounded by a plethora of amazing landscapes and opportunities for adventure, but what makes this destination even more appealing is the welcoming, warm and relentlessly upbeat locals that aim to please and make your stay an unforgettable one. philippinetourismusa.com princesagardenisland.com sheridanbeachresort.com crimsonhotel.com rajahtours.com.ph cityofdreams.com

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HOTEL PRINCIPE DI SAVOIA The Grand Dame of Milan By Jennifer Pelaez

n industrial powerhouse and internationally accepted arbiter of taste in fashion and design, Milan is not only Italy’s business and commercial center, but a bustling and vibrant metropolis replete with cultural attractions and a history that are often overlooked. Brimming with world-class restaurants, beautiful boutique hotels, with stunning lake and mountain scenery, Milan is the ideal destination that fuses its notable past with modern sophistication. Here, the fivestar Hotel Principe Di Savoia, a member of the Leading Hotels of the World, exemplifies this extraordinary coalescence where chic elegance meets timeless tradition. Opened in 1927, this historic hotel flaunts an imposing neoclassical façade with an updated Art Deco style evidenced throughout the property.

Part of the luxurious Dorchester Collection, Hotel Principe boasts all the luxe amenities one would expect, along with sumptuous accommodations and a lobby and interior befitting the worldliest travellers. It is no wonder it continues to attract its

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share of aristocracy and corporate bigwigs, as well as celebrities and renowned artists alike. Upon arrival, you are welcomed through a theatrical doorway into a paneled lobby that carefully balances Old World style and contemporary simplicity with green and pink marble tile floors, paneled walls, and velvet banquettes, adorned with fine oil paintings that line the walls. The interior decor is similarly as pleasing in the 301 rooms and suites, decorated in 19th-century Lombard style utilizing a warm color palette, lavish silks and satins, and rich, polished wood furnishings that create an inviting and comforting atmosphere. The palatial rooms and suites feature hi-tech amenities like LCD televisions and en suite marble bathrooms with complimentary Acqua di Parma toiletries. The Principe suites feature hand-painted frescoes and traditional Italian furniture, while the four Imperial Suites showcase large living areas and bathrooms with steam rooms, chromotherapy systems and massaging showers. Perfectly situated in the Piazza della Repubblica, the Hotel Principe Di Savoia is a five-minute walk from Stazione Centrale, and is also within walking distance to the artistic district of Brera, home to bars and restaurants, and near the renowned

Quadrilatero d’Oro, Milan’s exclusive shopping district. After all the exploration and sightseeing, be sure to return to Hotel Principe for a drink at the Principe Bar, one of the city’s hot spots for a business meeting or after-work cocktail. Reserve a table at the award-winning in-house Acanto Restaurant which features a spectacular dining room with large windows overlooking an

impressive landscaped Italian garden. The restaurant which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, is lit up by splendid Murano chandeliers and accented in soft silk curtains and modern wooden furnishings that add an elegant touch to this spacious and elegant room. The fare is classical Italian with a strong presence of local Lombardy culinary traditions that strike a perfect balance between traditional and inventive modern dishes. Only the finest and most fresh ingredients are sourced, allowing you to savor this blend of flavors in one of the most coveted and spectacular restaurants, in the heart of the grand metropolis of Milan. Dorchestercollection.com | Lhw.com

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MANDARIN ORIENTAL MILAN

Luxury in the Heart of Milan By Haiting Tan

n the heart of Milan’s renowned fashion district lies the sublime five star Mandarin Oriental Milan. Just steps away from this urban sanctuary are the city’s most iconic attractions which include the breathtaking Teatro alla Scala opera house, Duomo, and internationally recognized luxury boutiques that solidify Milan’s standing as the design and fashion capital of Italy. Running adjacent to one another, the luxury stores along Via Montenapoleone and Via della Spiga are every shopaholic’s sanctuary. For business travelers, the hotel is also within walking distance to Milan’s financial district. Other famous cultural highlights include the Santa Maria delle Grazie, which houses Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” just a brisk walk away.

The signature décor of the Mandarin Oriental embodies an east meets west aesthetic, providing guests with the best of both worlds. Designed by acclaimed designer Antonio Citterio, rooms have a chic contemporary Italian decor enhanced by Asian-inspired touches, leaving rooms as stylish as Milan’s reputation. While there are plenty of world class restaurants planted all over the city, the hotel offers a range of fine dining and al fresco restaurants. Helmed by critically acclaimed chef Antonio Guida, Seta is a fine dining restaurant with al fresco seating for patrons to enjoy the city’s magnificent view. Looking to spend the night in, guests can enjoy a cocktail by the bar or a light aperitivo with friends. Tired from taking the streets of Milan by storm, guests are encouraged to relax their minds and energize their bodies at the hotel’s spa. Housing six private treatment rooms including two couple suites and a room dedicated to Thai massage therapy, the spa is 900 square meters of blissful heaven. Enticing a romantic aura with the help of powerful aromas of jasmine, thyme and orange, guests will take a dip in the vitality tub before enjoying a soothing exfoliation and body massage. The Italian romance package is priced

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at EUR 450. For a more traditional choice, guests can enjoy a four hand body massage. Surrounded by elegant aromas, guests are treated to a facial treatment and can retreat to the spa’s private suite for a light snack post-treatment. As Milan is best enjoyed by foot to truly absorb yourself into the rich architecture, fashionable boutiques, and chic eateries- the Mandarin Oriental is an exquisite oasis from which to explore this dynamic city that celebrates la dolce vita. Mandarinoriental.com

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SAN FRANCISCO’S HOT SPOTS By Elena Murzello

STAY

Hotel Zetta San Francisco (Westfield San Francisco Centre, 55 5th St) www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/en/zetta

Hotel Zetta San Francisco

The hotel is steps away from the busy BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) and the Powell Street Cable Car, yet maintains an intimate boutique feel with its chic décor. For the comfort of home, each room is furnished with a recycled handcrafted Persian rug and an Illy espresso coffee machine. The oversized bathroom with walk in shower and Neil George amenities is a plus. The cosmopolitan S&R Lounge is the perfect spot to meet friends and on the second floor, the Playroom is complete with a giant 30 ft. Plinko game wall. The hotel is conveniently located to shopping at Union Square and beautifully renovated SFMOMA.

EAT

ATwater Tavern (295 Terry A Francois Blvd.) www.atwatertavern.com

ATwater Tavern

Opened in May 2016, ATwater Tavern is close to the AT&T Park and the new Warriors arena at Pier 50. It boasts a beautiful outdoor patio overlooking Mission Bay and has a second level great for private events. The main floor hosts the wrap around Chef’s table, where you can watch all the succulent seafood prepared and indulge in the buck a shuck happy hour. The local king crab leg is an excellent start to any meal. Americano Restaurant (Hotel Vitale, 8 Mission St.) www.jdvhotels.com/restaurants/hotel-vitale/americano-restaurant-bar/

Americano Restaurant

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With views of the Bay Bridge and the Ferry building, the Americano Restaurant & Bar is not your average hotel restaurant with basic décor and mundane menu. Housed in Joie de vire’s Hotel Vitale, the restaurant has a large outdoor patio that can facilitate any function or networking event. The menu features flavorful Italian plates great for sharing like the heritage pork & beef meatballs al Forno and the grilled octopus salad. I’m definitely a fan of the wood fired pizza fungi.

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SPA

Loews Regency San Francisco (222 Sansom St) www.loewshotels.com/regency-san-francisco/ services-amenities/spa Escape the frenzy of city life at this five star sanctuary nestled in the heart of San Francisco. This tranquil zen oasis reflects a soothing Asian décor that immediately soothes the senses with ambient music, warm lighting and relaxing herbal aromas. The spacious suites feature individual rainforest showers with city scape views. Massages use ancient Eastern methodologies combined with Western therapeutic techniques to relieve tension rejuvenate the mind. For an enhanced experience to penetrate sore and release sore muscles opt for the signature Hot Stones to incorporate into any massage.

Loews Regency Spa

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, SFMOMA (151 3rd St.) www.sfmoma.org After a massive 10-story, 235,000 square feet expansion, the new SFMOMA opened its doors to the public in May 2016. The living wall by Habitat Horticulture creates an inspired outdoor retreat. Art enthusiasts can explore the 19 inaugural exhibitions, including a curated selection of 260 postwar and contemporary works from the Donald and Doris Fisher Collection, among many other artworks, using a unique audio guide created in partnership with Detour. The Detour system is smart – it knows where you are and can help you navigate through the entire museum. With a group? No problem – you can sync the iOS app up to four phones (soon to be offered on Android). The tours are not standard either – they highlight special interests such as architecture. Thankfully, unlike most audio guides with predictable narrators, SFMOMA’s audio excerpts are narrated by interesting voices in a friendly conversational manner.

Helen and Charles Schwab Hall featuring Sol Lewitt’s Wall Drawing 895: Loopy Doopy (white and blue) (1999) at SFMOMA; photo: © Henrik Kam, courtesy SFMOMA.

SPiN SF (690 Folsom St #100) www.sanfrancisco.wearespin.com The SF spot of Susan Sarandon’s cool, swanky ping pong social club opened its doors in early May. Chef Mike Betancourt’s concoctions of delicious food are served amongst the 19 ping pong tables and art installations from noted artists like Shepard Fairey and Stikki Peaches. With two bars, a large private room and a late night close it really doesn’t matter how you fair at ping pong because it’s all about the socializing and having fun.

David Bowie artwork at SPiN SF

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WEST HOLLYWOOD STUNNER The Grafton on Sunset By Chelsey Travin and Michael Raffa

he Grafton on Sunset is a modern, newly renovated boutique hotel located in the heart of West Hollywood on the Sunset strip in Los Angeles, California. West Hollywood provides great access to all Los Angeles has to offer including great restaurants, nightlife, shopping, hiking, and the many tourist attractions. The hotel features a valet service to make renting a car hassle-free. On the other hand, if you’re not renting a car the hotel is located in a convenient spot to hail a taxi or call an uber (which is very inexpensive)! Upon entering the hotel, the staff of the Grafton on Sunset were extremely welcoming and helpful after a long day of traveling. The lobby features a zebra print couch and colorful walls, which gives the guests a real “Hollywood feel” from the moment you walk through the door. The lobby also includes a guitar shaped cocktail bar called Bar 20 with has great cocktails and California wine.

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Occasionally there is a live band which adds to the edgy vibe of the hotel. On the lowest level, the hotel boasts the largest outdoor pool on the strip (saltwater and heated) that is surrounded by very comfortable lounge chairs with food and drink service. This unique offering made for a perfect and relaxing day in the city where the sun is always shining. The Grafton on Sunset has 108 rooms with suites that have convenient access to the pool. The rooms are rock star themed to fit the Sunset Blvd theme featuring a large, life-size portrait of a concert on the wall. In addition, the rooms are large and clean with an HD TV, work desk, safe for valuable belongings, eco-friendly toiletries, daily room service, and even complimentary Wi-Fi throughout your stay.

Other amenities and services in the hotel include a gym with various equipment, a business center, 24/7 concierge service to help guide you with activities and recommendations. In addition, the hotel also is home to the world renowned restaurant, Oliver’s Prime Steakhouse. Overall, our stay at the Grafton on Sunset was excellent and we fully recommend it for a business trip, romantic weekend getaway, or a family trip as the hotel as so much to offer for everyone. We loved relaxing by the pool and having a drink at Bar 20. The central location allowed us to move around the city at ease from clubbing in West Hollywood to shopping in Santa Monica and everywhere in between. Next time you go to Los Angeles, Grafton on Sunset will be waiting for you. graftononsunset.com

inter WINTER wonderland onderland B

ook a room on the adults-only concierge level and soak away your cold-weather blues. We’re open 52 weeks a year—and so is our Victoria’s Restaurant. 2 Olive Avenue & the Boardwalk Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 Call (800) 33 BEACH or (302) 227-7169, or visit www.boardwalkplaza.com.

Book a room on the adults-only concierge level and soak away your cold-weather blues. We’re open 52 weeks a year—and so is our Victoria’s Restaurant.

WINTER wonderland

Book a room on the

adults-only concierge level and soak away your cold-weather blues. We’re open 52 weeks a year—and so is our Victoria’s Restaurant. 2 Olive Avenue & the Boardwalk ASK ABOUTorOUR COZY WINTER WEEKEND Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 GETAWAY PACKAGES Call (800) 33 BEACH (302) 227-7169, or visitRehoboth Beach, DE 19971 | 800.33 BEACH • 302.227.7169 • boardwalkplaza.com 2 Olive Avenue & the Boardwalk, www.boardwalkplaza.com.

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Spending Island Time on

SCRUB ISLAND RESORT

By Courtney Travin

nce you take out your passport, get ready to be on island time in the beautiful British Virgin Islands. The charming and intimate Scrub Island is situated just off the coast of Tortola and is home to Scrub Island Resort, the only a five star resort on the island that boasts infinity pools, incredible restaurants, private beaches and a spa that looks out onto the vast ocean and a private marina. From the mainland, Scrub Island Resort picks you up at a private dock with their own private vessel where you will be greeted with a freshly made island cocktail.

and beach – and is the perfect spot for a late lunch or snack while sunning out by the pool. Once you’ve showered off and have gotten dressed up for the night – Caravela is the ideal spot for a romantic evening with an expansive wine and cocktail list. Dabble in the succulent filet mignon for dinner. In the morning Caravela serves a bountiful breakfast buffet with the best the Caribbean has to offer and an exclusive island blend coffee to fuel the day’s activities. At the casual Tierra! Tierra! enjoy local BVI fare such as the crispy Coconut Shrimp- a perfect afternoon snack.

The luxurious accommodations are designed as private beach villas with high wooden ceilings, marble bathrooms, and fully stocked kitchens! Admire the majestic crystal blue waters of the Caribbean from your expansive private balcony.

To enhance your fun in the sun, visit one of the many bars on the resort for an exotic Caribbean elixir. Take the waterslide which brings you right to the swim up pool bar where you can meet their award winning mixologist, Casper who keeps the action going at the swim up bar at the lower level pool. He offers guests a personal experience with every drink he makes and infuses freshly grown herbs from his personal rooftop garden in his island concoctions.

Treat yourself at the Ixora Spa that’s tucked away at one of the highest points on the island. Before or after your treatment, be sure to take a dip into their private infinity pool offering the best view on the entire island. Scrub Island Resort is home to two delicious restaurants, Tierra! Tierra! and Caravela Restaurant and Bar. Tierra! Tierra! looks out over the pools

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Take advantage of the many water sports available at your disposal such as their world class diving and snorkeling, kayaking, and sailing. While you’re exploring – we recommend heading over

to Marina Cay Island and visit Prussel’s Restaurant where you can sip on their famous painkiller drinks or heavenly chicken sandwich while your feet are in the sand! With plenty of options for adventure or relaxation, Scrub Island Resort is the ideal spot for quite the romantic getaway. From the time you step off the boat to zipping up your suitcase to return home, the staff treats you like family with non-stop smiles and handshakes. Your wish is their command and their number one priority is making sure you love everything about your trip. You’re a short plane ride away from paradise – so do what we did – just go! ScrubIsland.com

SUNDAY TIMES CALLS MOUNT CINNAMON ONE OF THE 21 HOTTEST CARIBBEAN HIDEAWAYS INSPIRING MAJESTIC VISTAS ATOP GRAND ANSE BEACH

Mount Cinnamon Resort & Beach Club is located at the southern tip of Grenada, just 15 minutes from Maurice Bishop International Airport. Where Grenadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legendary powder white sand meets crystal turquoise waters, this understated luxury boutique retreat welcomes couples, families and groups. The 21 suites and villas all have airy sitting rooms with kitchens and breakfast bars, stunning outdoor living spaces surrounded by tropical gardens and breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea. Resort amenities include the popular Savvyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Restaurant, with stunning panoramic views of the dramatic mountainous shoreline, the poolside cocktail bar, the exclusive beach club, the indulgent and rejuvenating Cinnamon Spa, a wide range of water sports and activities all of which is provided with exceptionally friendly service on this magical West Indian Island.

For more info, specials/packages, and to check availability, book your next trip to Grenada, the Spice of the Caribbean Visit www.mountcinnamongrenadahotel.com or call us 1-866-720-2616

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A FAMILY ADVENTURE IN PUNTA CANA

Nickelodeon Hotel & Resort Punta Cana By Haiting Tan

nder the beaming sun, sink your toes into the golden sands of Uvero Alto beach as your kids splash around in the pool at the Nickelodeon Hotel in Punta Cana. Combining family friendly fun with top notch dining, chic architecture and out of this world amenities, the resort offers an un-forgettable getaway for young Nickelodeon fans and their families. The stunning beachfront resort features 208 suites where guests can choose from seven differ-ent styles ranging from an intimate pad suites to a swim up suite to a Spongebob Squarepants inspired pineapple suite. The worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first and only pineapple villa is inspired by Bikini Bottom allowing guests to immerse into the world of the beloved cartoon character. The two bedroom and three bath suite includes a loft-style living room and features an outdoor and indoor dining area suitable for pizza parties. Stepping into the pool super villa, you are greeted with a grand water fountain. The 1300 square feet suite features an Aguas del Amor outdoor shower and freestand-

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ing tub to immerse yourself into the tropical ambience. All suites are equipped with a private patio and balcony to admire the gorgeous view any time of the day and a private butler catered to fulfill your every need.

Located at the heart of the resort is Nickelodeon Place where children can entertain themselves all day and get up close and personal with their favorite characters as adults enjoy down time at Vassa Spa. The 14000 square feet spa is equipped

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the calming breeze and the crashing waves as they melt into a luscious massage. With the kids occupied, parents can enjoy a romantic moonlight couples massage.

with a herbal steam room, dry sauna, chro-mo therapy showers, bubble beds and whirlpool. While offering traditional massages, the spa of-fers the sacred stone treatment inherited from the Mayan culture which makes use of heated stones to relieve muscle pain, tension and accumulated fatigue. The spa also offers facial treat-ments which promises to renew, repair and replenish the skin. Guests have the option of enjoy-ing their pampering session outdoors where they can appreciate

Resonating the theme of a family friendly hotel, the pool has a swim up bar and deck for adults to enjoy a cocktail while keeping an eye on their kids. In between dips, escape to Fresco which serves daily ceviche creations made with fresh seafood. For dinner, guests can venture over to the beach to Zest, a Mediterranean restaurant or Sugar Cane located at Gourmet Village where adults can enjoy their signature beverage, rum station, while kids marvel at the open-plan kitch-en. For a family friendly environment coupled with world class amenities, the Nickelodeon Hotel Punta Cana promises lots of laughs, fun and memories. Nickresortpuntacana.com

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• Exquisite, Unique & Modern Lake View Home • 4 BR, 4.5 BA + Den, Upstairs Bonus Room, 5,342 S.F. • Vanishing Edge Lap Pool, Gourmet Kitchen • Expansive Lanai w/SW Exposure Over Lake & Golf Course • $2,350,000 MLS 216071271 Linda Ramsey 239.405.3054

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• 3 BR, 3 Full BA, 2 Half BA + Den, 3,557 S.F. • Custom Built Home w/Every Luxury Detail • Fantastic View of 10th Hole & Lake • Pool w/Waterfall, Spa & 2 Lanais • $1,699,000 MLS 216062218 Connie Lummis, The Lummis Team 239.289.3543

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• 3 Bedroom, 3 Bathroom, Gulf Front Home • Designed by Award Winning Island Architect • Epitome of Elegance & Simple Luxury • Private Pool & Gorgeous Views of the Gulf • $4,495,000 MLS 216023496 Cindy Sitton 239.810.4772

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• 5 BR Home Ideal for Entertaining/Large Family • Great Room Floor Plan w/Rooftop Sundeck • Pool, Spa, Garage & More • Excellent Home at the Right Price • $2,075,000 MLS 215010443 Vicki Panico & Fred Newman 239.980.0088

BONITA SPRINGS

• Turnkey Courtyard Home • 3 BR, 3 BA, Shows Like a Model • All the Amenities Pelican Landing has to Offer • Join Pelican’s Nest 36-Holes of Golf • $1,250,000 MLS 216068791 Larry Bell 239.919.4404

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855.213.3311 Florida: Bonita Springs/Estero, Cape Coral, Captiva Island, Fort Myers, Naples/Marco Island, Ocala and Sanibel Island North Carolina: Cashiers/ Lake Glenville, Highlands, Sapphire Valley/Lake Toxaway

• New Construction • Minutes to Beach • All the Bells & Whistles • 4 BR, 4 BA – 2,651 S.F. Living Area • $984,000 MLS 216070217 Katie Brady Rigsby 239.770.6061

• Professionally Furnished, Brand New • 3-Car Garage, Walking Distance to Clubhouse • Extended Lanai w/Private Preserve, Outdoor Shower • All Impact Windows, Surround Sound, New TV’s • $845,990 MLS 216067663 Patti Fortune 239.272.8494

By the time we reached the green, I knew this place was special. What will be your fondest memory of a golf escape to Florida? The challenging holes. The stunning surroundings. And perhaps most impressive of allâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the luxury and privacy of your own condo or golf community home close to the course and spacious enough for your whole group. With amenities and appointments that rival those of a five-star resort. Plan your golf getaway today. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll make it unforgettable. #RoyalShellStyle 800.656.9111 | RoyalShell.com To discover #RoyalShellStyle, visit RoyalShell.com

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SECLUDED LUXURY

Round Hill Hotel and Villas By Don Fetherman

ound Hill Hotel and Villas is situated on a lush 110-acre peninsula just west of Montego Bay, Jamaica. Boasting a guest list of world leaders, cultural icons and Hollywood A-listers, this classic resort continues to attract a jet-set from around the world who enjoy timeless glamour and understated luxury along with pristine natural beaches and the inimitable Caribbean waters. Accommodations include 36 Ralph Lauren-designed oceanfront guest rooms, 93 luxurious villa rooms and suites or a selection of 27 private 2 - 6 bedroom Villas – most with private pools. The Pineapple House oceanfront guestrooms

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evoke a feeling of tropical beach living and feature white stone floors, romantic four poster mahogany bamboo beds and sumptuous upholstered furniture with splashes of pink and blue. Each of the 27 villas is beautifully decorated by their individual owner, reflecting good taste, understated elegance with a relaxed, casual flare. Influenced by Ralph Lauren’s philosophy of letting nature be the primary focus; interiors are stylish, yet quite comfortable. Each villa boasts a laid-back, plantation-style residential ambience, featuring wicker, mahogany or bamboo furniture, four poster beds, oversized sofas with slip covers, wooden or tiled floors. Bedrooms and living rooms convey a delightful Caribbean vibe with gentle trade winds passing through. All villas are nestled into the private and lush hillside, facing west to take advantage of the dramatic sunsets over the crescent beach with expansive coastal views out to sea. Under the helm of Chef Martin Maginley, the open-air terrace dining and The Grill at Round Hill offer modern Caribbean cuisine-inspired menus showcasing the freshest ingredients sourced from the resort’s newly-expanded organic garden to create dishes such as the classic Oxtail Ravioli with Caribbean Lobster Ragout and Ap-

pleton Rum Cream Sauce. The resort practices a “farm to table” philosophy, sourcing most ingredients from local farms as well as the resort’s own hillside organic garden. The resort also offers award-winning family programs, a double infinity edge pool, tennis courts, and an Elemis spa located in a beautifully-restored 18th century plantation house. Guests are also invited to try everything from snorkeling, kayaking, windsurfing and boating to sport fishing, scuba diving and water skiing. For more information, please visit roundhill.com or call 1-800-972-2159.

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URBANITE

By Brad Balfour | Photo credit: Michael Sherer

ne of the truly unconventional stories told through a film this year is that of millionaire socialite Florence Foster Jenkins (Meryl Streep) whose love of music led her to be both a benefactor to many and a performer as well. She owed thanks to her remarkable — and decidedly outre — relationship with husband St. Calir Bayfield (Hugh Grant), who afforded her opportunities to perform and record the music she loved despite her incredibly wretched vocalizations. In Stephen Frears’ biopic “Florence Foster Jenkins,” Streep celebrates this strange story, but in order to play the role without shredding her gifted voice, the legendary star turned to an equally masterful vocal coach for help. Opera coach Arthur Levy made it possible for her to sound like Jenkins. In fact, a large part of Levy’s mission was to make sure Streep could mimic Jenkins’ sound without any permanent damage, but she also had to maintain her standards as well. That’s because Jenkins not only tried singing privately but she also held a famous bought-and-paid-for live Carnegie Hall concert of her performing classic songs and operatic pieces with her screeching soprano. Previous to the concert, Jenkins made several 78 rpm recordings that became camp classics and are in print as various CDs to this day. Since her associates couldn’t entirely control who attended her concert, she received scathing notices, had a heart attack right after, and died five days later at 76-years-old. When I was invited to interview Levy — an acclaimed faculty member at the Mannes College of Music — in anticipation of the DVD/Blu Ray debut of the Golden Globe-nominated “Florence Foster Jenkins” (released mid-December), I was offered a chance to get a vocal lesson in lieu of an interview. Realizing Levy needn’t be tortured further by a journalist’s agonizingly off-keyed soundings, I chose to apply my better skills and conduct this conversation. A member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, the exuberant Levy is a vocal consultant and master class teacher at the Glimmerglass Opera and the Roundabout Theatre. Having coached dignitaries from theater stages to Hollywood such

as actors Oliver Platt, Lauren Graham (“Gilmore Girls”), Lea Michelle (“Glee”), to MET tenor Yonghoon Lee, he has been deemed the expert on great singing. So, he most certainly could take on the challenge of training someone to do it horrifically. Says Levy, “All that singing — whether by a great singer or a mediocre one — is playing with the same mental instrument. Even if the instrument goes astray, but the person actually does know how to sing, then you basically come from a base of knowing how to sing and then, in this case, of finding the flaws that were unconscious in Florence Foster Jenkins.” Applying that to Streep, Levy explained, “Meryl got her voice up and running at its best so that she knew how to support even a note that was bad that anybody else might do without training.” To that he added, “I just think that when people are committed to singing and have an idea of how they want to sound[,] somehow something comes out and in this specific case, because Meryl is a good musician and had training up until her early 20s/late teens, she wasn’t singing in that upper octave that Florence approximated in her way. So a lot of these off-key singing was built off of how to sing well.” So how did he handle the torture of listening to it? There’s an irony to it all, he acknowledged, “When not being right is right then you train somebody to do it incorrectly so subconsciously knowing that they know how to do it correctly. Does that make sense?” In fact, he does owns Jenkins’ music on CD, “I had ended up buying the record [before this project came up] because her commitment is so important in that kind of belief in an art form. It’s so important that people that are less [than engaged should support others who are].” This is how he understood the Jenkins phenomenon. “It’s like the idiosyncrasy of Florence Foster Jenkins was built on her musical imagination — of how she truly desired how to sing.”

To that he adds an example: “Like in the part of the movie, The Lily Pons scene where you should have Pons’ beautiful voice in your head — that’s what Florence aspired to, she’s probably imagining or hoping that she would sound like young prime Lily Pons.” Nonetheless, she didn’t — much to everyone’s embarrassing dismay. Did Levy have to get into Jenkins’ psychology as well to understand how she would make her sounds? Yes, and in doing so he could then train others to make her sounds. “In this particular case. There are people who are what [you could call] beyond OCD. They have a narcissism or were brought up to think that everything they did was perfect so I assume that if they sing badly it’s much better than they think it is. “But in the case of Florence, it’s really partially physical ailments that distorted her perception of herself. But I don’t think it was a selfish or narcissism because really she put herself out there as a singer much later in her life so she didn’t although she had fine musical training it’s not like she was a laughing stock from her late 20s as a singer up until her death. “I think in her head she knew what good singing sounded like. There are people that have terrific voices but they either don’t love music as much as they think a musician should or they don’t think they’re less of an opinion how they think it should go.” Would she have been the same phenomenon today? Levy considered this. “In this day and age, I think social media is a good thing but also it dispenses opinion very fast so a lot of musicians are subject to half-baked opinions and if they’re very vulnerable or read too much they can start doubting a brilliant intuition.” So there’s a lesson to be learned through the peculiar popularity of Jenkins. “That can actually [be bad] in a case of someone who is very talented that can actually bring a talented person down in their career because they’re trying to please so many people and yet they forgot what their voice truly was.”

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L-R: In Transit artwork, The Front Page artwork, (top) Andrew Burnap and June Gable among the cast of This Day Forward, & (bottom) Rachel Brosnahan, Daniel Craig, Finn Wittrock, David Oyelowo and the cast of Othello at New York Theatre Workshop (Photo by Chad Batka)

COMEDY, TRAGEDY, & EVEN SINGING IN THE SUBWAY The Front Page, Othello, In Transit, and This Day Forward By Barry Bassis

en Hecht and Charles MacArthur were familiar with the newspaper business and politics and brilliantly lampooned both in their 1928 comedy “The Front Page.” Filmed a number of times, the play is now back on Broadway with a top-notch cast, directed by Jack O’Brien. Set in the grimy press room in the Chicago Criminal Courts Building, the reporters are waiting for the execution of Earl Williams (John Magaro), an alleged Communist convicted of killing a black policeman. The newspaper men are Endicott (Lewis J. Stadlen), Schwartz (David Pittu), Murphy (Christopher McDonald), McCue (Dylan Baker), Wilson (Joey Slotnick), Kruger (Clarke Thorell), the effete Bensinger (Jefferson Mays) and star reporter Hildy Johnson (John Slattery), who plans to leave his paper and marry Peggy (Halley Feiffer). The dumb sheriff is played by John Goodman, Micah Stock is a police officer, Sherie Rene Scott is a streetwalker sympathetic to Williams, Holland Taylor is Peggy’s mother, Dann Florek is the dishonest mayor and Robert Morse is a courier from the Governor’s office. Best of all is Nathan Lane as Walter Burns, Hildy’s strongwilled and unethical editor. When Lane appears in Act II, the comedy shifts into high gear. The Front Page is at the Broadhurst Theater until January 29th.

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It’s James Bond against Dr. Martin Luther King at New York Theater Workshop. Well, not exactly. David Oyelowo (who played Dr. King in “Selma”) is Shakespeare’s Othello and Daniel Craig (best known as 007) is Iago in a production directed by Sam Gold. The setting has been moved to modern army barracks with soldiers on mattresses playing guitars. Othello is every bit the warrior but is also the lover of Desdemona (the affecting Rachel Brosnahan).

Angela), an actress trying to get a big break (Margo Seibert); a woman (Erin Mackey) trying to get over her rejection by her boyfriend; and the former Wall Street hot-shot (James Snyder) fired for sending an inappropriate e-mail.

Oyelowo is credible in all his moods, but the scene stealer here is Craig’s Iago. He seems to garner an unusual number of laughs but at the same time comes across as more sinister. Finn Wittrock is fine as Cassio, Othello’s subordinate, who Iago passes off as Desdemona’s lover. The audience is seated in bleachers on both sides of the stage and feels as if it is a part of the action.

Nicky Silver has had a long relationship with the Vineyard Theater and his latest comedy, “This Day Forward,” directed by Mark Brokaw, had a brief run.

“In Transit” (at Circle in the Square) is billed as Broadway’s first a cappella musical. No one will miss musical instruments because of the savvy arrangements by Deke Sharon and the engaging cast, especially body percussionist Chesney Snow as Boxman. The show takes place in the New York subway system, where all the riders seem to be twenty-somethings working out their occupational or romantic problems. There is a gay couple (Justin Guarini and Telly Leung), hiding their relationship from an evangelical mother (Moya

The mini-dramas are rather hackneyed but the score is pleasant and well sung and director-choreographer Kathleen Marshall makes it into a smooth entertainment.

The first act takes place in 1958, on the wedding night of Irene (Holley Fain) and Martin (Michael Crane). A series of events occur that suggest an annulment would be the best solution but they stay together. In the second act, in 2004, Martin is dead and Crane returns as the gay son of the ill-fated couple. Fain is their daughter and the elderly mother is played by June Gable. (Gable had been an Eastern European hotel maid in the first act). Andrew Burnap is amusing as the bellboy in the first act and Martin’s lover in the second. The play begins promisingly as a farce but, despite an able cast, runs out of steam in the second half.

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DE NIRO DIRECTED A Bronx Tale Takes to Broadway By Kristen Oliveri

he iconic film A Bronx Tale in nothing short of a classic. Every self-respecting ItalianAmerican has it in their top five favorite movies of all time, while many can be found mindlessly quoting it on a regular basis. Thanks in part to the film’s star Robert De Niro alongside Tommy Mottola, the Dodgers, TribecaProductions, and Evamere Entertainment, the beloved film has now become a Broadway production reality. Currently this film came to life in early December, opening at the Longacre Theatre, showcasing the new book by Academy Award nominee Chazz Palminteri, music by Oscar, Grammy, and Tony Award winner Alan Menken, and lyrics by Grammy Award winner and Oscar and Tony Award nominee Glenn Slater. The scene is set in the Bronx in the 1960s, a time where New York City was changing, racism was in full force, and the mafia was alive and well. The show begins by meeting the central character, Calogero, as both a young boy and a teenager on the verge of adulthood. The audience views this chain of events from Calogero’s eyes, from his humble beginnings adoring baseball and his father, to his fateful meeting with mafia don, Sonny, played by Broadway heavyweight Nick Cordero. While the score and lyrics weren’t as eloquent or as clever as I had hoped for, the production had its shining moments nonetheless. The young Calogero, played by Hudson Loverro, had a few scenestealing moments when he took to the stage for his beginning number. Not to be outdone was Cordero’s epic scene where he teaches the teenage Calogero how to tell if a girl is worth dating. Cordero shines during that number, playing a strongheaded tough guy with a sensitive side, who surprisingly doles out poignant relationship advice. For fans of the film, the Broadway adaptation is not to be missed. This production contains all the right elements of music, dance and a touching coming-of-age plotline that demonstrates to all of us that as humans we can forge bonds with all types of people and, if we allow them to come into our hearts, they can teach us something we never would have expected.

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TRUE STORY Top Ten Oscar Worthy FIlms Based on Actual Events

Movies are a great way to relax and get away from real life. Sometimes good movies are based on a true story where real life is more compelling. They don’t need any over the top action sequences and ridiculous comedy to get over. Here are the tops films based on true events this year that are sure to get an Oscar nod.

By Clara Morgan

Vinny “The Pazmanian Devil” Pazienza (Miles Teller), a local Providence boxer, shoots to stardom after winning two world title fights. After a near-fatal car accident leaves him with a broken neck, he is told he may never walk again. Against all odds and doctor’s orders, renowned trainer Kevin Rooney (Aaron Eckhart) agrees to help Vinny return to the ring just a year after the accident for what could be the last fight of his life. What To Watch Out For: Oscar Nomination for Best Script

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In the 1940s, New York socialite Florence Foster Jenkins (Meryl Streep) dreams of becoming a great opera singer. Unfortunately, her ambition far exceeds her talent. The voice Florence hears in her head is beautiful, but to everyone else it is quite lousy. Her husband St. Clair goes to extreme lengths to make sure his wife never finds out how awful she truly is. When Florence announces her plans for a concert at Carnegie Hall, St. Clair soon realizes that he’s facing his greatest challenge yet. What To Watch Out For: Oscar Nomination for Best Actress, Meryl Streep

The true story of Pfc. Desmond T. Doss (Andrew Garfield), who won the Congressional Medal of Honor despite refusing to bear arms during WWII on religious grounds. Doss was drafted and ostracized by fellow soldiers for his pacifist stance but went on to earn respect and adoration for his bravery, selflessness and compassion after he risked his life -- without firing a shot -- to save 75 men in the Battle of Okinawa. What To Watch Out For: Oscar Nomination for Best Director, Mel Gibson

A grieving Jacqueline Kennedy (Natalie Portman) examines her husband’s (John Carroll Lynch) legacy as the nation mourns his death. What To Watch Out For: Oscar Nomination for Best Actress, Natalie Portman

Five year old Saroo gets lost on a train which takes him thousands of miles across India, away from home and family. Saroo must learn to survive alone in Kolkata, before ultimately being adopted by an Australian couple. Twenty-five years later, armed with only a handful of memories, his unwavering determination, and a revolutionary technology known as Google Earth, he sets out to find his lost family and finally return to his first home. What To Watch Out For: Oscar Nomination for Best Movie; Best Supporting Actress, Nicole Kidman; Best Supporting Actor, Sunny Pawar

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Interracial couple Richard and Mildred Loving fell in love and were married in 1958. They grew up in Central Point, a small town in Virginia that was more integrated than surrounding areas in the American South. Yet it was the state of Virginia, where they were making their home and starting a family, that first jailed and then banished them. What To Watch Out For: Oscar Nomination for Best film

Living in the slum of Katwe in Kampala, Uganda, is a constant struggle for 10-year-old Phiona (Madina Nalwanga) and her family. Her world changes one day when she meets Robert Katende (David Oyelowo), a missionary who teaches children how to play chess. Phiona becomes fascinated with the game and soon becomes a top player under Katende’s guidance. What To Watch Out For: Oscar Nomination for Best Film

Disillusioned with the intelligence community, top contractor Edward Snowden (Joseph GordonLevitt) leaves his job at the National Security Agency. He now knows that a virtual mountain of data is being assembled to track all forms of digital communication -- not just from foreign governments and terrorist groups, but from ordinary Americans. When Snowden decides to leak this classified information, he becomes a traitor to some, a hero to others and a fugitive from the law. What To Watch Out For: Oscar Nomination for Best Film; Best Director, Oliver Stone

On Jan. 15, 2009, Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger (Tom Hanks) tries to make an emergency landing in New York’s Hudson River after US Airways Flight 1549 strikes a flock of geese. Miraculously, all of the 155 passengers and crew survive the harrowing ordeal, and Sullenberger becomes a national hero in the eyes of the public and the media. Despite the accolades, the famed pilot now faces an investigation that threatens to destroy his career and reputation.

Loosely based on a true story, a prospector (Matthew McConaughey) draws the attention of the FBI and the Indonesian military after finding an enormous amount of gold in the jungles of Indonesia in 1993. What To Watch Out For: Oscar Nomination for Best Actor, Matthew McConaughey

What To Watch Out For: Oscar Nomination for Best film; Best Actor, Tom Hanks

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BOOKS du JOUR JANUARY 2017 By Frederic Colier | General@bookcasetv.com

Even though truckloads of books see the light year after year, with each new year the same question remains. On which note to start the year, especially when it begins with the most controversial presidential inauguration ever? On a spirit of celebration? On a serious or mournful note? Is it possible to be chirpy when the anxious making uncertainty of the months ahead already corrupt our present? Some claims that knowing nothing is better. But as a critic, I only find solace in the better understanding of circumstances. Below you will find a selection of books that reflects the concerns of the day.

(Penguin Press, pp 341, $28.00)

(Harper, pp 272, $ 27.99)

(Saint Martin Press, pp 320, $25.99)

(Yale University Press, pp 304, $28.00)

(Prometheus Books, pp 340, $25.00)

This book has a lot of merit. Though I do not subscribe with all the solutions, the author clearly chisels a new template for a productive global political environment. Something, which he calls World Order 2.0. Haass’s grasp of the international scene is pragmatic and solidly anchored in experience. One can sense that years in the administration have made him the de-facto expert in foreign policy and international relations. But what makes the book so engaging is its outline. Before offering his conceptualization and solution for the future of American relations, Haass gives a world tour of the current international climate, exposing the traditional triumvirate of power, Russia, China and US, and complementing it with the new disrupters and rule-breakers, the likes of ISIS and North Korea.

A book that could not be more timely. The “Hillbilly Elegy,” is a memoir about poor white folks in a Rust Bell town, Middletown, in southern Ohio. Timely because, these are the angry folks who elected Trump on the promise that he will bring jobs back to them. Income inequality, class warfare, high unemployment, addictions, and family disintegration, constitute the tapestry of everyday life. One can only speculate had the Democrats got their hands on this treasure trove of insights of small town America two months earlier . . . Though well-documented and researched, “Hillbilly Elegy” is not simply a book of sociology. It is also written from the inside, by one of “theirs.”

Here is a book that I expect will make a lot of buzz when it launches in mid January. “Rise” is a memoir of a long and incredible journey of its author, Cara Brookins, a single mother of four, who . . . Before I proceed and tell you what the book is about, I would like to explain why this memoir touches the nerve of a nation more than others of late, such as “Eat, Pray, Love” or “Wild.” These bestsellers have a similar thematic: a lost or troubled soul goes into the world in search of meaning and restoration of a sense of personal fulfillment. “Rise” comes free from the geographical journey. In fact, the story pretty much circles very close to where the author’s life crumbled, Little Rock, AK.

Do religions still hold value in our lives in an age of globalization. There is indeed a paradox in the reactionary violent stance with religion given that both globalization and religions aim for universals. This simplistic vision leaves aside a profound gap, that religions impact us internally whereas the leveling force of globalization shapes us externally. Needless to say that materialism and morals do not mix well. A case well documented in “Flourishing,” where Volf first notices that our world is increasingly torn by religious conflicts, often stemming from the threat that globalization brings in its wake.

Although the title of Das’s book is enough to make anyone go back to bed, the book is not only an eye-opener but also a great clarifier. Written with a clear prose and concrete examples, Das performs an excellent demystification of the concept of perpetual growth. Think of a car running an empty but which still aims to reach the moon. This is where the global economy stands, on a verge of catastrophe. Heavily indebted, plagued with poor policies, modern economies seem out of the touch with reality. Something clearly visible at the moment with a red-hot stock market giving the impression that there is not trouble with our national economy. This delusive aspect echoes the mindset of the pre-2008 Great Recession. Das challenges the deep-seated assumptions that led us spiraling into the global monetary crisis, the “easy money” approach, and he forecasts instead years of stagnation as a direct result.

What becomes valuable in Haass’s incisive analysis is his understanding of the breaking down of post-WWII models of foreign policies seen as completely unfit to confront the new issues of terrorism, climate change, cyber war and the potential threat of nuclear weapons. The book’s merit lies here. Haass is not afraid to mention the US’s past mistakes in foreign policy and often its failure not to act. As you can imagine the task the new leadership has to face is staggering. But what comes through is that if the US wants to reinforce its ties with other sovereign nations, it must do so with a radical change of its understanding in an ever changing world. Haass’s strength rests in his ability to pave the first steps.

This is where the author, J.D Vance, grew up, in a multi-generational family originating from the Appalachia, and journeyed from, to study at the Yale Law School. The book draws with moving descriptions the portrait of a culture in crisis where lives are torn apart by cycles of economic depression of Vance’s own family. He excels at describing how the “hillbillies,” lost faith “in any hope of upwards mobility.” The way he talks about his own mother’s struggle with drugs, finding forgiveness in himself, showing a lack of judgment to offer understanding is truly heartbreaking. At the core, the book questions the myth of the American Dream where promises are broken, and the prospect of a good life is blunted by the bleak lack of horizons.

There is a reason for this absence of pilgrimage. “Rise” is about a house. The incredible endeavor of its author to build her own house with her children. Knowing the symbolic importance of the role of owning a house in the American psyche, Brookins offers a tremendous journey of resilience and recovery in the face of adversity, in this occurrence, three failed marriages with nefarious partners. It will be hard for the readers not sympathize with Brookins’s predicament. Her kids are solid, insightful, naturally tuned in to their dire circumstances and their mother’s dilemma. Though, Brookins’s writing flies off the page with exalting verve, which at times does not give us time to absorb what is happening, her story is deeply compelling. For those who believe that only a trip to India or a marathon jaunt along the Compostela trail can unlock their life issues, they should be reminded that a home is also where one builds or rebuilds it.

Volf, a professor of theology at Yale, is an advocate for bridging the gulf separating the two opposite worlds. What is at stake here is life quality itself and the meaning of being human. The book’s premise becomes how to find an appropriate balance. In other words, how to live well in a world demanding more and more endless adjustments, which conflict with our disposition, values, and morals. Volf’s solution is spirituality, and though he does not hide that his approach is Christian in nature, his argument is both inviting and needed. In a world increasingly devoid of relevant meanings, God can be the gift and the bridge to connect with others.

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The best part of the book is where Das makes an important argument about the political responsibility of ourAleaders, whoMdisplay a L vast array of denial and paralysis, while still promoting short-term policies that only overwhelm the system. At that point, he asks what is the big picture going forward for Western countries and the meaning of their democracy, when GDP ratios top the 100%, and policies call for the increase of national debts, L A M while diminishing supply of raw-products, disappearance of jobs, take their toll and exacerbate the population? What to do when developing countries’ debts prevent them from ever becoming solvent and impact our polity? These are just a few of the challenges that Das brings to the table of fundamentals that perhaps endless growth may not be the solution to our wellbeing. The buzzword these days is “degrowth.”

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nancy Colier is a psychotherapist, interfaith minister, author, and veteran meditator. She is the author of Inviting a Monkey to Tea: Befriending Your Mind and Discovering Lasting Contentment (Hohm Press, 2012). She lives in New York City. For more, visit nancycolier.com

BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION Author: Nancy Colier Publisher: Sounds True, 2016 ISBN: 1622037952, 9781622037957 Length: 256 pages

QR code for The Power of Off Title: The Power of Off: The Mindful Way to Stay Sane in a Virtual World

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EXCERPT #1 The Power of Off: The Mindful Way to Stay Sane in a Virtual World

he most important thing is to find out what is the most important thing,” said Zen monk Shunryu Suzuki Roshi. Every day, when I wake up, I try to remember to ask myself: What is the most important thing? What is my heart’s longing? What parts of myself do I want to nourish and grow? What do I want to offer? In essence, What really matters? As a psychotherapist, interfaith minister, and spiritual counselor, many of those I meet with these days describe feeling “twired,” both tired and wired, overwhelmed and consumed by the distractions and chronic multitasking that personal technology creates. Whether we’re tinkering on social media, Googling old acquaintances, looking up facts on Wikipedia, or updating and learning new software, we are spending far too much of our time doing things that don’t really matter to us. At this moment in history, as a result of the new opportunities and demands that technology creates, we have forgotten not only what is most important but also that we need to ask ourselves that question. Why do so many people describe the feeling of being disconnected from what really matters, from what makes us feel nourished as human beings? And, most importantly, how do we remember to ask, What really matters? I observe more and more of my clients, as well as friends, family, and others, becoming dependent on their devices in order to feel complete, calm, and basically okay. Many people now need their devices and the ongoing infusion of entertainment, information, and communication that technology provides to keep themselves from feeling bored and agitated, which are now considered the normal sensations for a life that is “turned off.” What we expect from the present moment has changed: we are now accustomed to ongoing stimulation and feel anxious and lacking without it. There is a continual sense that we should be doing something, which then causes us to grab our smartphones to seek some relief from that anxiety. And while most people now check their smartphones 180 times per day, or every five to six minutes, not enough of us consider our behavior around technology to be a real problem. I recently watched a woman almost run down by

a taxi because she was so focused on her smartphone she didn’t notice she was standing in the middle of the street. Two men pulled her out of harm’s way at the last moment. When she made it to the other side of the street, she got right back to her device, as if nothing had just happened. She was not fazed by the event, at least not enough to interrupt her flow of texting or even to thank the two men who saved her life. Technology is a powerful tool for communication, and yet the way we are using it and the authority we are awarding it are also making it into a powerful impediment to our sense of presence and awareness. We are succumbing to our more primitive tendencies toward unconsciousness, going under a kind of technological anesthesia, which renders us unaware of where we actually are physically and with whom we are sharing company. Technology is dazzling us into a form of entertaining sleep, and too many of us are not yet making conscious choices about whether we agree with what is happening and in fact want to disappear from our lives. With the assistance of technology, we now have the ability to know, do, watch, and learn almost anything. But by indulging that ability, we have created a state in which every nook and cranny of our internal and external space is filled with stuff to do, think about, watch, listen to, know, and learn. Our internal hard drives are jammed beyond capacity with thoughts, information, and new tasks. People report a great longing for space, room to breathe, time with themselves, or, as we now call it, “bandwidth” — and yet such peace, quiet, and downtime are harder and harder to find or create. Our lives are filled with more possibilities than ever before to connect, consume, and discover — all good things — but in the face of these possibilities, we are also feeling less connected, less centered, and less satisfied. The digital age is an age of both too much and not enough. How do we stay in touch with what is most important to us when we’re buried under hundreds of emails and texts and technological tasks each day? How do we stay in the present moment in a society that beckons us with relentless — and enticing — distractions? How do we maintain connection in our relationships when conversations are interrupted dozens of times and so many people are busy staring into their personal screens? Where

do we find the silence and focus we need when there is almost nowhere left to escape from the chimes, bells, and vibrations that constantly invade our private spaces, when every activity is part of a larger multitasking operation? With what skills can we stay empowered and calm when we must continually figure out how to keep our technology running smoothly just so we can participate in the world? And, most importantly, how do we stay grounded and connected to our deeper wisdom at this time in history, on this wild digital ride that the human race has embarked upon? How do we live peacefully with the excitement and madness and do it all without going mad ourselves? Humans and technology are now in an intimate relationship — sharing a bed, literally. Technology, because of its ease and mobility, accompanies us everywhere, like a limb, in a way that it never could before. Our smartphones come with us into the bedroom (90 percent of eighteen- to twentynine-year-olds sleep with their smartphones), onto the toilet, into the shower, to meals, weddings, funerals . . . everywhere we go, they go. The fact that we never have to be without our devices means that we never are without them, and we increasingly mistrust that we can be okay without them. Since we are now attached, we need to figure out a way to make this relationship a healthy one. Now more than ever, we need to cultivate mindfulness in our lives so that we can be guided by our own wisdom and intelligence and not be dragged around by the bright lights of technology, tossing virtual paper into virtual wastebaskets and popping virtual bubble wrap. We need the wisdom of mindfulness to put us back into our lives, so that we’re not lost somewhere else while our life is happening. After all, we are not virtual. We need more than a jack and a charger to stay connected to life. At this time in history, we need to start using technology in a way that promotes true well-being, to live from our wisdom rather than our impulses, to take responsibility for own consciousness at a time when our society is undergoing an epidemic of unconsciousness, to nurture depth even as shallowness threatens to become the norm. In fact, we can choose to reclaim control of our lives, to find our way back to here, not the concept of the present moment, but the direct experience of it. If we choose the path of consciousness, we will indeed remember the “most important thing.”

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URBANITE

NEW YORK SOCIETY SCENE

By Clara Morgan

Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF), along with founder Mike Milken, hosted an Intimate Dinner at DANIEL on New York’s Upper East Side. A highlight of the evening was special musical performances by Bernadette Peters and Matthew Morrison ©PatrickMcMullan.com

Tom Lee, Mike Milken, Larry Leeds (L) • Ted Virtue, Dani Virtue, Debra Black, Leon Black (R)

Jerry Jones, Gene Jones (L) • Frederick Anderson, Bonnie Pfeifer Evans (R)

Bernadette Peters, Matthew Morrison (L) • David Koch, Julia Koch (R)

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URBANITE

NEW YORK SOCIAL SCENE

By Clara Morgan

The New York Junior League (NYJL) hosted a Leadership Council Event at Astor House on Manhattan’s Upper East Side featuring keynote speaker Jean Shafiroff ©Patrick McMullan

Kristen Kocis, Jeri Powell, Jean Shafiroff, Betsy Timberman • Leonor Wignall, Cecily Millen, Laura Binski, Victoria Laria (R) The New York Botanical Garden held it’s annual Winter Wonderland Ball, Bronx NY L: ©Steve Sands; R: ©BFA

Jean Shafiroff, Tinsley Mortimer (L) • Anne Hathaway (R) Philanthropist and author, Jean Shafiroff, hosted a Holiday Luncheon Party at Michael’s Restaurant, NYC ©Patrick McMullan

Jean Shafiroff, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (L) • Victor de Souza (R)

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URBANITE

NEW YORK PARTY SCENE

By Clara Morgan

Celebrity jeweler Margo Manhattan held a special moving event as she closes her boutique and moves to The Home Shopping Network, NYC ©Lisa Zari, Zari@capturedcolor

Sara Johnson Kaplan, Margo Manhattan (L) • Melina Bruhn, Luciana Pampalone (R) LEFT: The Pierre Frey Showroom at the iconic Decoration & Design Building, held a book signing with David Netto for his much-anticipated book on François Catroux, NYC ©LMG RIGHT: Jeff Koons and Jean Paul Agon Honored at French Institute Alliance Francaise Trophee des Arts Gala at The Plaza Hotel, NYC ©Patrick McMullan

David Netto (L) • Clo Cohen, Charles S. Cohen (R) Lauren Day & Bob Roberts held a Holiday Soiree at their private residence, NYC ©Patrick McMullan

Lauren Day Roberts, Brooke Milstein (L) • Bob Roberts, Chazz Palminteri, Michael Trokel (R)

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URBANITE

PAW PRINTS IN THE SNOW By Jane Pontarelli

howling in pain and would not budge. What’s a girl to do. He was too big for her to carry. A good Samaritan carried him halfway home. She coaxed him to walk the rest of the way and sadly he limped home in pain. She washed his poor paws to get the terrible salt off. She called the Veterinarian and got some ointment for the paws.

ecessity is the mother of most inventions. I introduce to you , my dear readers, to a mother who loves her fur babies. Karyn Pek, founder and owner of Poochieboots Woof. When growing up most of us in the cold area of the country, could open their back doors and let the dogs out. In New York City, our fur babies don’t have that luxury. We look at those sad furry faces at 6AM in the morning when we want to turn over in our warm beds, or have a cup of coffee, but those sad eyes and crossed paws, give us the look of “I gotta Go” and Now. In the warm months that’s great, but in January, February, March and even April, it can be dangerous to our fur babies, and even deadly. Enter snow, that beautiful white pretty stuff that cover our streets and parks. As pretty as it is, it must be plowed, moved and worst of all salted. Enter our heroine, a successful decorator and self proclaimed fashionista, but more important, the lover of her fur baby Riley. During one of the snowiest months January, on a hurried walk to Central Park where Riley loved to go and play in that beautiful soft snow, Riley stopped dead in his tracks, and was pitifully holding up his paws and

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This was only going to happen again. So she set out to find boots to keep Riley’s Paws protected from the elements and salted sidewalks. Being paw protected was the way to go or so she thought. Enter the internet and the hunt for paw protectors. After buying several brands of boots for furry paws, frustration set in. Nothing seemed to work. At every price point nothing seemed to be made well enough, and Riley was not happy.

you park your Poochieboots by the door with the rest of the families. As you know by now, that I like to feature people who make a difference in one way or another. Poochieboots is a one woman startup, working very hard to get it off the ground, and make a difference and make life better. Karyn Pek from Poochieboots, donates from the sale of every set to animal shelters and rescue organizations. And she has “adoptme” straps to shelter events. In Auguat of this year Karyn pitched Poochiboots to a team of executives at HSN. Karyn is confident that after The Good Housekeeping Institute tests her product she will receive the much sought after Good Housekeeping Seal. This is part of the building on HSN’s existing American Dream initiative. We hope Karyn will be able to pitch poochie boots to 25 million households. Karyn Pek (516) 724-0963 | poochieboots.com IG@poochieboots

One would figure with a city full of dogs there had to be something out there that Riley could wear, that would protect his paws in the dangerous salty sidewalks. It was indeed frustrating the boots were poorly made and several brands later Kayrn decided to make her own. Our fur babies constantly inspire us to be better people, and bring out the creativity in us. Karyn being a successful interior designer and ones own personal love of shoes, gave her the “Red Soles” idea. Bring it on. The invention of Poochieboots with detachable and interchangeable straps. One set of boots with endless fashion options. A one year business on the march to saving fur babies feet. The boots are fleece lined and more of a snow boot. I have convinced Karyn, to make a light version for rain, and lighter to keep paws clean. The mean streets of Manhattan are dirty, so

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