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Mar/Apr 2018 five dollars
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{Lexington’s Finest}
Mar/Apr 2018
Mar/Apr 2018 five dollars
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on the cover: Keepers of the Castle Photo by Andrew Kung
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Preservation Pioneers
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The Greater Outdoors
40
Bibliotaph... Spring Gleaning
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Dream in Motion
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Of Note... Sofa So Good
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Strike up the Sand
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Runway Takeaways
from London and Paris
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Curating a Lifestyle: Once in a Lifetime
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Message on a Bottle
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Rolling in the Deep
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Keepers of the Castle
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Toasting History
52 Runway Takeaways from London and Paris Bethany Williams presentation at London Men’s Fashion Week. Photo by Fernanda Mosqueda
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Mar/Apr 2018
46 Sofa So Good
The modular Lune sofa, designed by Jaime Hayon for the Republic of Fritz Hansen (fritzhansen.com)
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Sophisticated Society
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Restaurateur’s Gala
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Opening Celebration: The Nude
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Opening Reception
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Pegasus Awards
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Celebrating a Milestone
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Bluegrass Sports Awards
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Heart Ball
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African American Ball
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EDITOR - IN - CHIEF Bridget Williams ______________________________________________ ASSOCIATE EDITOR Kay Matton ART DIRECTOR Jason Yann CONTRIBUTORS Writers Patti Bailey Dr. Matthew Bessen Victoria Chase Colin Dennis Scott Harper Andre James Amelia Jeffers Caylee Matthews Photographers Tony Bailey Brianna Cottrell Chad Henle Andrew Kung COPY EDITOR Jennifer Newton EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Claire Williams ADVERTISING SALES OFFICE 502.582.6563 ______________________________________________ CEO/PUBLISHER Eric Williams Sophisticated Living is published by Sophisticated Living, LLC, P.O. BOX 1229, Prospect, Kentucky 40059 USA. All Rights Reserved. Sophisticated Living is published six times a year. All images and editorial are the property of Sophisticated Living, LLC and cannot be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission. Annual subscription fees are $25.00; please add $5 for subscriptions outside the US. Single copies may be purchased for $5 at select fine retail outlets. Address all subscription inquiries to: Sophisticated Living, PO Box 1229, Prospect, KY 40059. To order back issues or reprints of 100 or more, call 502.582.6563.
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From the Editor-In-Chief Charlotte Zacharkiw, a Charleston-based photographer I met several years ago while covering the opening of a mega yacht harbor on the island of St. Kitts, is doing what many have dreamed about if time and resources permitted: taking six months off to travel the world with her family. I look forward to her daily Instagram posts documenting her family’s adventures (@charlottephoto), and while she is quite a talented photographer, what I appreciate most is her honesty regarding the less-than-glamorous moments that invariably occur when you are carting two young children across multiple time zones. In one particularly poignant post, Charlotte wrote about the impetus for her family’s journey, partially spurred on by her lingering self-doubt about being a “good enough” mother, a sentiment I can totally relate to. We are both at transition points in our lives: her children are just getting ready to enter elementary school, while my only child is preparing to head off to college. As a working single mother, I know that I am not alone in finding that my quest to be a perennial wonder woman at all things can sometimes reduce me to being a woman wondering if I am failing everyone. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing that brings me greater joy than being a mother, but it was never my intention that motherhood be the single thing that defines who I am. Building a career, first in the nonprofit sector and then co-founding and running a business, is one of the ways I have been able to carve out an identity separate from my role as a mom. As a consequence, I am aware that there were moments when my daughter was younger, particularly during deadline time, when I was late for carpool, said “hold on” one too many times, and breathed a sigh of relief when her obsession with watching Singing in the Rain, On the Town or Scooby Doo ad nauseam afforded me generous blocks of uninterrupted work time. Every so often, at the end of a particularly trying day, the tears that bubbled up from erroneously believing that I had somehow come up short as the “perfect” wife and mother were quickly dissipated by a little girl that looked forward to the silly songs I’d make up on the fly to send her off to dreamland and then again to wake her up the next morning. Through the benefit of hindsight, I have come to understand that in those moments when I was less-than-perfect (and there have been plenty), she absorbed what there is to be gained from hard work, learning from mistakes and failure, and the value of perseverance, tenacity, kindness and a positive attitude. Regardless of my successes or shortcomings on any given day, I could always find peace in the simple act of tucking her into bed each night and making certain she knew that I loved her unconditionally (messy room and all). A few weeks ago, I took my daughter to France for a short trip to cover several runway presentations as part of spring/summer couture week (see related story on page 52) and to visit the American University of Paris, one of several European schools she is considering to continue her education. I lingered a few steps behind as we walked along the cobblestone streets from one building to the next with the admissions representative. As I watched her holding her own and asking pertinent questions, I fought back a torrent of tears that threatened to belie the imperturbable façade I’d been working hard to maintain all morning. Unbeknownst to her, I snapped a few quick photos as they ambled along to help me remember the vignette, one filled will equal parts sadness and pride. No matter how painful the moment was for me then and will be when she finally departs for college, I know in my heart that she is doing exactly what I have spent the last 18 years preparing her for: striding with confidence as an independent young woman into the next phase of her life. After our three-day trip, I was ready to come home to the special people and pets anxiously awaiting my return, while my daughter, having been given a taste of what lies in store for her, was ready to stay and indulge in the moveable feast of a future that is now within her grasp. Rather than dismay over our divergent mindsets, I found comfort in the dichotomy, knowing each of us are exactly where we ought to be.
Bridget Williams Editor-In-Chief
bridget@slmag.net 20 slmag.net
SIMPLE · BEAUTIFUL · LIFE
W W W . S T O N E WA R E A N D C O . C O M
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PRESERVATION PIONEERS
Decades of restoration work by Tom Cheek and Fran Taylor have played an important role in the revitalization of a historic neighborhood near Rupp Arena.
Written by Bridget Williams / Photography by Andrew Kung
The bronze on the fireplace mantel in the foyer was purchased at the Blue Grass Trust’s Antiques & Garden Show. Displayed on the circular table are several books authored by the homeowner.
Lexington’s Woodward Heights neighborhood, sited between Maxwell and High Streets, came about in the late 19th century, following the subdivision of 30-acres surrounding Botherum, built by Major Madison C. Johnson in 1851 (see related story in Sophisticated Living’s Nov/Dec 2014 issue). Ranging in style and size from gracious Greek Revival homes to cozier bungalows, the majority of the residences were built for the city’s middle class. Though managing to remain largely intact, the neighborhood suffered the fate of many urban neighborhoods following World War II, as families headed for greener pastures promised by suburban living.
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Fran Taylor hand-painted the whimsical designs on the fireplace’s tiled entablature in the second floor study.
By the time architect and licensed interior designer Tom Cheek purchased the Ella F. Williamson house on West High Street in 1989 (100 years after it was built), the once stately home, like many others in the neighborhood, had fallen into a state of great disrepair. It was one of two “mirror-image” houses built by a pair of brothers who emigrated from Scotland in the 1860s and owned a lumber mill on Town Branch. Sadly, the other home was razed in the 1960s and replaced by a more contemporary structure now occupied by the Community Action Council. Cheek’s purchase coincided with the leading edge of the neighborhood’s revitalization; some would argue that Cheek, along with his wife Fran Taylor (the two married in 1993), are figureheads of the resurgence, as they now own six properties and are active proponents of historic preservation. With expansion plans in the 24 slmag.net
offing for the Lexington Convention Center, and momentum gathering for Town Branch Park, the once downtrodden neighborhood has now become highly desirable among those wanting a front-row-seat to witness Lexington’s urban renewal. Following a succession of 40 owners over the years, most recently a Baptist mission that operated out of the eclectic Victorian home for nearly two decades, Cheek and Taylor worked hard to uncover and undo the alterations that hid aspects of the home’s former glory. An acoustical drop ceiling was removed to restore the original 12-foot ceiling height; pocket doors were unsealed; and new window trim and crown molding were added to either replace what had been lost or enhance what was already there. Missing pieces of an ornate fireplace in the dining room were serendipitously found in a box in the basement.
Beautifully restored golden oak paneling is found in the foyer.
Original pocket doors dividing the rooms were unsealed as part of the renovation. Tom added the dentil crown molding in the living and dining rooms to compliment the existing woodwork.
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Renovation of the kitchen was an eight-year ordeal. Salvaged glass was used in the upper cabinets.
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Displayed on the sideboard in the dining room are beakers and stirrup cups created by homeowner Fran Taylor’s company, Lexington Silver.
Stained glass windows on the left side of the house were designed to provide privacy from the mirror-image home that was once its neighbor. The movement and intensity of the sun brings the panes to life, basking the rooms in a colorful lightshow that varies from day-to-day. The light is particularly flattering in a home graced with an abundance of woodwork. Hearkening to the profession of its original owners, exquisite golden oak paneling is found in the foyer, which transitions to cherry in the living room and walnut in the combination dining and sitting room. The couple moved methodically and judiciously through the renovation of this home and their adjacent properties, as time and resources permitted. The kitchen took no less than eight years to complete, with Fran joking that her dowry included a refrigerator. 28 slmag.net
Doors in the upper cabinets incorporate pieces of salvaged glass, which imparts a touch of antiquity to the space and serves as a testament to the homeowners’ enduring attention to detail. Although Cheek and Taylor were thoughtful in restoring and preserving original architectural elements, when it came time for the interior design, they had little interest in recreating historically accurate Victorian-era rooms. “We didn’t want the house to feel like a museum,” explained Fran. “A house that has been lived in for any length of time evolves and is filled with pieces that tell a story.” In that vein, this house speaks volumes. There is an eclectic mix of antiques—from primitive to polished—combined with flourishes of Chinoiserie, contemporary art, whimsical fabrics and wallpaper, and a generous use of color.
The dining room is large enough to accommodate a table for ten along with a cozy seating area in front of the fireplace.
Original pocket doors dividing the rooms were unsealed as part of the renovation. Tom added the dentil crown molding in the living and dining rooms to compliment the existing woodwork.
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The centerpiece of the grandly proportioned guest suite is an intricately detailed canopy bed with fluted columns.
Grey/black walls in the master bedroom create a cocoon-like effect, and temper the sheen of the gilded bed crown and fabric.
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Animals are a recurring theme throughout the home, including the wallpaper in a full bathroom on the first floor.
Hanging to one side of the front door is a painting of the house by New Zealand artist Peter Williams, a friendly and familiar face at Keeneland, where Taylor served 15 years as the executive director of the Keeneland Foundation. She points out with glee that Williams even managed to work their beloved pets into the composition. Animals are a recurring theme, ranging in representation from a treasured dog rendered in needlepoint on an accent pillow in the living room, to more fanciful creatures cavorting across the wallpaper in the first-floor bathroom. Generous and gracious hosts who regularly open their home for civic and charitable events, the couple’s penchant for
hospitality is also reflected in Taylor’s latest endeavor, Lexington Silver. The company painstakingly produces reproductions of silver barrel beakers originally made by famed Lexington silversmith Asa Blanchard in the late 1700s and early 1800s, along with whimsical stirrup cups, jewelry, accessories and custom private label pieces. Surveying an artful arrangement of Lexington Silver pieces displayed on a sideboard in the dining room, two words come to mind: elegant and timeless. These adjectives are also apropos for describing the historic home Cheek and Taylor have lovingly restored. sl
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THE GREATER OUTDOORS Princess Cruises makes it easy to experience more of Alaska by land, sea, and air. Written by Patti Bailey / Photography by Tony Bailey The allure of Alaska is undeniable. It is a fascination rooted in tales—some tall, others true—relayed first by Russian explorers, and continuing with Spanish, British and American expeditioners, traders, whalers and prospectors who spoke about Eskimos and other indigenous people swaddled in furs, mushing dog teams, and hunting and scavenging in order to survive in harsh conditions that at times seemed hardly fit for man or beast. Accounts of this vast and rugged remoteness, combined later with illustrations and then photographic images of unimaginable and unblemished natural beauty, continue to fuel the fire of the imagination and make the destination a perennial bucket list trip. A little more than 700,000 people live in the largest US state (almost half of those in Anchorage), making Alaska’s vast expanses of achingly beautiful, untamed wilderness
seem unattainable, unless you are one of its native peoples, an adventurous outdoorsy type, or among the hearty souls populating its smattering of cities. As I don’t fit into any of the aforementioned categories but still longed to experience all that Alaska has to offer, I booked an 11-day Denali Explorer land and sea tour with Princess Cruises. In 1969 the Princess Italia brought 525 passengers to Alaska; in 2019, Royal Princess, the company’s largest ship ever deployed to the region, will deliver awe-inspiring moments to 3,500 guests. Thanks to a half-century of experience in providing cruise and cruisetour vacations, Princess has built a unique infrastructure in Alaska, encompassing five riverside lodges, rail service and stateof-the-art ships, which allow travelers to get to the heart of the great outdoors without sacrificing any creature comforts. slmag.net
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Princess’ award-winning on-board program, North to Alaska, includes unique Alaskan-inspired onboard enrichment, entertainment and food and beverage offerings, as well as exclusive Discovery Channel and Animal Planet recommended shore excursions that are part of the cruise line's Discovery at Sea partnership. Very popular is “Cook My Catch,” a unique culinary program allowing guests to return from select Princess fishing excursions and have the chef prepare their very own catch of the day. Our trip commenced in Anchorage, where we stayed our first night before heading by motor coach to the McKinley Princess Lodge, stopping along the way in the town of Talkeetna (population 772) for our first excursion, a Talkeetna River Float. While we were bundled in multiple layers, our guide seemed to take the 42-degree day as a heatwave, as he sported flip flops and shorts. Midway through the ride we were serenaded by a local man playing the banjo at the river’s edge, just one of many colorful characters we encountered throughout our vacation. Situated on 146 acres inside Denali State Park, the 460-room Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge is the only cruisetour hotel within sight of Mt. McKinley, North America’s highest peak. Denali is so big that it creates its own weather, meaning that its peak is shrouded by clouds onethird of the time. To alert guests when weather conditions are 34 slmag.net
ideal for viewing, the lodge sounds a “Mountain is Out” call. The property’s newly opened, one-of-a-kind 500-square-foot treehouse, constructed by Pete Nelson of Animal Planet’s show “Treehouse Masters” is the ideal spot to take in the view. Our visit fortuitously coincided with an ideal time to view the Northern Lights, and we quickly discovered that like the weather, the aurora can be unpredictable. Rather than stay awake all night staring up at the sky and waiting for the light show, we listened for the lodge’s Northern Lights alert before bundling up and heading outside to be transfixed by the otherworldly bands of green light. We continued our journey by motor coach for the two-hour drive to the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge. Along the way, we travelled through an amazing landscape of snow-capped mountain peaks, fast-flowing streams and trees with yellow foliage so vibrant they appeared to be alight. The 656-room lodge is located in Denali Village, just one mile from the entrance to the six-million-acre Denali National Park. When weather conditions cancelled our planned glacier landing flight, we substituted an exhilarating ATV tour of a dry glacier, which quickly abated any disappointment I’d been feeling over the aborted flight. Back at the lodge during a pre-dinner cocktail reception, a friendly riot nearly broke out when everyone scrambledto hold the evening’s honored guests: a pack of sled dog puppies.
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Release of rehabilitated bald eagle at the opening of the wilderness treehouse
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Chef's Table experience aboard the Star Princess
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Skagway, Alaska
Princess Cruises’ Direct-To-The-Wilderness rail service comfortably transported us for the duration of the eight-hour trip from the Denali lodge to the cruise ship, which was docked in the coastal town of Whittier. Featuring some of the largest domed windows ever built for a rail car, we didn’t miss a second of the scenery along the 300-mile journey. A Princess Cruises representative took care of the check-in process for the ship along the way, which made the transition from shore to ship seamless. Our cabin aboard the Star Princess was outfitted with a bespoke mattress, developed in consultation with board-certified sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus, as part of the company’s premier sleep program, an initiative that optimizes staterooms for a sleepfriendly sensory experience. Eighty percent of all outside cabins on the ship boast a private balcony; the opportunity to watch a glacier calving from ours is a sight I won’t soon forget. From small bites in the Vine Room wine bar to a black-tie dinner at Sabitini’s Italian restaurant, the cuisine on board was outstanding, supported by the fact that the quality of the Princess dining experience
has been recognized by the prestigious Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, which has inducted all of the company's ships into the exclusive gastronomic society. Across the board, traditional European dishes are blended with contemporary cuisine with a focus on seasonal foods, flavorful sauces, herbs and lighter fare to please a wide variety of tastes. When we weren’t ogling glaciers as tall as a 24-story building in Glacier Bay, riding a train to White Pass Summit at the US/ Canadian border, exploring historic waterfront towns, and watching in amazement as bears nabbed salmon from the river during a high-speed boat cruise, we were taking advantage of onboard amenities. We enjoyed a dreamy massage in the Lotus Spa, blended our own Silverado wines with a sommelier, recapped each day’s adventures with new friends over cocktails in Crooner’s Martini Bar and relaxed in the library. Even with all of the ship’s outstanding amenities, Mother Nature remains the real star of the show; Princess Cruises is simply her publicity manager, making sure that everyone gets to experience her best performances. For more information visit princess.com. sl slmag.net
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Bibliotaph... Spring Gleaning
Compiled by Victoria Chase
Nationally recognized landscape designer Susan Morrison draws on her years of experience to show you how to take advantage of a small yard. Her tips are supplemented by photos of small gardens of varying designs found throughout the country. Susan Morrison - The Less Is More Garden: Big Ideas for Designing Your Small Yard - Hardcover, 256 pages, Timber Press (timberpress.com) A collection of images by photographer Claire Takacs of more than sixty of the world's most beautiful gardens, from iconic public spaces to contemplative private places. Claire Takacs Dreamscapes: Inspiration and Beauty in Gardens Near and Far - Hardcover, 304 pages, Hardie Grant Books (chroniclebooks.com) This photo series is photographer Kenji Toma’s homage to botanical illustrations found in flower encyclopedias of the 19th century. Before the advent of color photography, images were illustrated with the purpose of replicating the botanic subject as close to reality as possible. Toma is interested in doing the exact opposite with the photographic medium. The result is a highly contemporary and fascinating revival of the concept of the botanical encyclopedia. Kenji Toma - The Most Beautiful Flowers - Hardcover, 196 pages, Kehrer Verlag (kehrerverlag.com)
Avid gardener and author Gisela Keil partnered with commercial photographer JĂźrgen Becker to capture 365 photos of some of the world's most exquisite gardens. Each image is accompanied by planting tips and techniques and botanical facts. Gisela Keil - A Year in the Garden: 365 Inspirational Gardens and Garden Tips - Hardcover, 744 pages, Prestel Publishing (randomhouse.com)
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bib 'li' o 'taph, [bib-lee-uhtaf, -tahf ]: a person who caches or hoards books Using intriguing stories and stunning full-color illustrations, Loves Me, Loves Me Not, introduces readers to flowers that have been conveying message for centuries. Author Peter Loewer writes: "The language of flowers is a delightful idea. In the world of cell phones and mass communications, sending a simple bouquet that tells a tale of love and affection seems to be a great idea whose time has come again." Peter Loewer - Loves Me, Loves Me Not: The Hidden Language of Flowers - Hardcover, 112 pages, Skyhorse Publishing (skyhorsepublishing.com)
For most of her career, artist Rebecca Louise Law has created massive installations that recreate the fields of flowers that delighted her as a child. This book is the most comprehensive collection to date of Law's work, including the evolution of her craft and why she uses preserved flowers as a sculptural material. Rebecca Louise Law Life in Death - Hardcover, The University of Chicago Press (press.uchicago,edu) Antonio Bond, owner of Transplants Floral, an independent floral boutique in Austin, Texas, scours the American Southwest in search of trinkets, bones and other items of intrigue to work into his almost otherworldly floral designs. This book boasts 200 photographs of his most compelling creations, which are accompanied by commentary on the elements comprising each piece and the design process. Antonio Bond - Transplants: Eclectic Floral Design - Hardcover, 224 pages, Blue Star Press (bluestarpress.com) Between 1914 and 1950, Ellen Shipman (1869–1950) designed more than 600 gardens in the United States, from Long Island's Gold Coast to the state of Washington. Her secluded, lush formal gardens attracted a clientele that included Fords, Edisons, Astors, and du Ponts. This book outlines her major works, richly illustrated with plans and photographs. Judith B. Tankard - Ellen Shipman and the American Garden Hardcover, 320 pages, University of Georgia Press (ugapress.org) In this children's book, originally published in French, vibrant watercolors by Vincent Gravé are accompanied by lively text penned by landscape designer Gilles Clément intended to teach young readers not only what’s involved in planning a garden, but how plants, insects, and humans interact all year long to make the garden thrive. Gilles Clément - A Big Garden - Hardcover, 32 pages, Prestel Publishing (randomhouse.com)
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DREAM IN MOTION
The Dallara Stradale represents the culmination of racecar engineer Giampaolo Dallara’s exemplary career in motorsports. Written by Andre James
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Now counted among the world’s most venerable racecar engineers, Giampaolo Dallara began his automotive career at Ferrari soon after graduating from college in 1959. Before the age of 40, Dallara held positions at Maserati, Lamborghini (where he was one of the engineers of the original Miura), and De Tomaso (to design a Formula 1 car), before founding his eponymous engineering business in 1972 in his hometown of Parma, Italy. On any given weekend, some 300 Dallara cars race on circuits around the world and in different formulas. The company also provides consulting service for top-tier car brands, including Alfa Romeo, Audi, Bugatti, Ferrari, KTM, Lamborghini, Maserati and Porsche. Despite all of his accomplishments, one thing eluded Dallara: designing a road car that bore his name. That changed on November 16, 2017, his 81st birthday, with the unveiling of the Dallara Stradale, designed in partnership with Lowie Vermeersch, CEO and Creative Director of Granstudio, a Turin-based boutique design consultancy. “This project sums up everything we learned from racing and from collaborations with our clients, and I am convinced that those who will use this car will be able to try the pleasure of
driving for the sake of driving,” said Dallara. “They will get in the car to take a nice ride and to experience the pleasure of driving.” Twenty years in the making, and drawing on Dallara’s motorsports experience, the largely carbon fiber Dallara Stradale was developed using the company’s industry-leading wind tunnel and computer simulators. Weighing in at a mere 1885-pounds in its lightest configuration—a barchetta speedster sans windshield—the car is powered by a mid-mounted Ford EcoBoost 2.4-liter engine that boasts 400-hp. The 0-60mph sprint takes 3.25-seconds; top speed is 174mph. With a design dictated by maximizing aerodynamic efficiency, the exterior has several available configurations. There are no doors in the conventional sense, as driver and passenger enter by stepping over the body of the car. With the addition of a carbon-fiber and polycarbonate windshield, the car becomes a roadster; adding a T-frame makes it a targa; attaching a pair of top-hinged gullwing doors transforms the car into a coupe. Trackminded drivers can opt for a rear wing, which provides access to exceptional levels of downforce.
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Giampaolo Dallara
“Designing the Dallara Stradale was really like transforming the dream of Giampaolo Dallara to make his own road car into a sculpture,” said Vermeersch, who was named to Automobile Magazine’s 2010 list of the “World’s 25 Most Influential Car Designers”. “It was a dream that was rooted in the timeless beauty of his Miura and fueled by a long career full of passion for the race. So, we avoided to impose a preconceived and fixed idea of the styling, but we allowed its shape to stylistically evolve during the process in a continuous interaction with Dallara's engineers, guided by a clear sense of harmony and proportions. Only in this way we could find a shape that is an absolute synthesis between performance and aesthetics.” The engine, which drives the rear wheels via a six-speed gearbox (either traditional manual or automated manual using a paddleshift system), is mounted transversely, meaning that the engine's crankshaft axis is perpendicular to the long axis of the vehicle. Supercar engineer Loris Bicocchi, who has worked for Bugatti, Pagani and Koenigsegg, was tapped to lead the chassis-development program. “For some time now, Mr. Dallara has been telling me, ‘Loris, when we find the time to make our road car, I would like you to test it for us.’ I penciled this in since then,” said Bicocchi. The combination of weight, vehicle dynamics and aerodynamics, along with customized Pirelli tires, allow drivers to reach lateral
accelerations beyond 2G under normal conditions of use. Excellent control is enabled by Bosch ESP stability control systems. Bicocchi added that the car is “Fast but safe; stability, traction and braking controls seldom intervene. It is amazing because it lets you drive and does not give you anxiety; it has a great performance both on the mountain roads and on track. It has a brilliant engine, and its light weight allows for an authentic supercar performance.” The interior, stripped down to the basics and awash in carbon fiber, is laid out to maximize physical contact between the driver and the vehicle. Dashboard instrumentation is driver-centric and supplied via a motorsports-style display screen. When mounting the windscreen, a special control panel cover is provided with integrated additional commands for the windscreen wipers. Though street legal, extended trips may prove impractical as storage is limited to a pair of bins accessed by removing the backseat supports that are large enough to accommodate a race helmet, as well as a small compartment behind the engine. The base price for the Dallara Stradale is approximately $182,500; add an additional $37,000 for the windshield, roof, and doors. All of the vehicles produced for the debut were spoken for at the time of the unveiling this past November, and the company says it will limit production over the next five years to 600 cars (dallara.it). sl
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Of Note... Sofa So Good
Compiled by Colin Dennis
Clockwise from top left: Monterey sofa from Badgley Mischka Home (badgleymischka.com), Culpepper upholstered outdoor sofa from Century Furniture (centuryfurniture.com), Drake sofa from Kindel Furniture (kindelfurniture.com), Greta sofa in Mango Pewter from Studio A Home (studioa-home.com), Belt sofa by Moroso (chaplins.co.uk).
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Clockwise from top left: Trevisan sofa from Oficina Inglesa (oficinainglesa.com), Albert sofa by Albert Sack for Hickory Chair (hickorychair.com), Vamp sofa from Koket (bykoket. com), BRIXX by Lorenza Bozzoli is DEDON's first fully upholstered outdoor collection (dedon.us), Boutique Botero sofa by Marcel Wanders for Moooi (moooi.com), Hector sofa from Armani Casa (armanicasa.com), Fingerprint Ribbon sofa from bunakara (bunakara.com).
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STRIKE UP THE SAND Opened during the Jazz Age, The Don CeSar hotel reigns as the crown jewel of Florida’s Gulf Coast. Written by Caylee Matthews
Any person, place or thing approaching the century mark has undoubtedly experienced its fair share of trials and triumphs. Such is the case for Florida’s “Pink Palace,” The Don CeSar hotel, which commands a covetable stretch of powdery sand on St. Pete Beach. Opened during the height of the Roaring 20s, developer Thomas Rowe spent $1.25-million (300% over his original budget) on the 220-room property. Designed by Indianapolis architect Henry Dupont, the striking exterior represents a combination of Mediterranean and Moorish styles borrowed from developments in Palm Beach, Coral Gables and Boca Raton. The façade’s pink pigmentation defines the structure from any other for miles around, and creates a dramatic feeling of arrival as the hotel comes into view at the crest of the causeway bridge; it also happens to be the perfect complement to frequent cotton candy-colored sunsets. The Don CeSar quickly became a playground for high society, attracting the likes of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Al Capone. It weathered the Great Depression largely in part due to a three-year deal made with Yankees owner Jacob Rupert to house the team there during spring training. 48 slmag.net
Following the unexpected death of Rowe, who didn’t have a will, the property was left to his estranged wife. Not as passionate about the hotel as her late husband, she allowed it to gradually fall into a state of disrepair. The hotel was sold to the Army during World War II for $450,000 and converted into a military hospital, then an Air Force convalescent center, and finally a Veterans Administration Regional Office (which vacated the property in 1967). After sitting empty for two years, the dilapidated and graffiticovered hotel was scheduled to be torn town, but outcry from local residents stopped the wrecking ball. A succession of new owners and a string of ongoing improvements and additions have allowed the property, a founding member of the National Trust Historic Hotels of America to rise, like the proverbial phoenix, and reclaim its status as the crown jewel of Florida’s Gulf Coast. It has been awarded Four Diamonds from AAA every year since 1980. Today, the independently owned resort hotel boasts 277 guest rooms (36 of which are suites), six restaurants and lounges, two heated pools, ample event space, a spa and fitness center, Camp CeSar Kids Camp, the Shoppes of The Don and access to beach rentals and water sports. There’s certainly enough going on that it would be easy to spend a long weekend entirely on property.
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Bayside King Suite
Maritana Grill The Sea Porch
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The Rowe Bar
With treatments inspired by the oceans of the world, the 11,000-square-foot Spa Oceana features 16 treatment rooms and a rooftop relaxing terrace that overlooks the Gulf of Mexico. During my signature Hamsa Healing Ritual, I felt like an ear of corn as warm melted shea butter was poured over me prior to a balancing massage, which was preceded by a sound healing ceremony with Tibetan singing bowls. Relaxing continues poolside, where scheduled treats—from chilled towels to smoothie shots—are delivered throughout the day. Complimentary half-day kids camp is ideal for parents looking to squeeze in a little “me” time. A wide, white sand beach that stretches for miles in either direction is just steps away (complimentary nonmotorized watersports are available from 8-10am each day). The pinnacle of on-property dining is the award-winning Maritana Grille. Request a seat by the saltwater aquarium and you may find yourself dining eye to eye with a five-foot eel. The menu is comprised of locally sourced coastal cuisine and complemented by an extensive wine list. The Big Reveal, Maritana’s signature dessert, is a spectacle not to be missed. Casual, alfresco dining is offered at Sea Porch and The Beachcomber Bar & Grill. Beginning with Cuban Bread French toast at breakfast through Low Country Shrimp &
Grits at dinner, the Sea Porch serves up comfort food catering to all appetites. The Kronut Burger at The Beachcomber is a worthwhile indulgence. Both The Rowe Bar and Lobby Bar offer signature seasonal craft cocktails and local beers. The latter offers live music nightly in addition to Prime Time Bar Bites and Early Bird and Late-Night Craving menus. A favorite among young and old is Uncle Andy’s Ice Cream Parlor, which serves locally made small-batch Working Cow ice cream. Should you wish to venture outside the comfortable confines of the resort, there are a number of touristy towns nearby that seem to have changed little since I first visited the area some 30 years ago (an observation that elicited satisfied smiles from locals). While exploring a quiet residential neighborhood near The Don CeSar, we discovered Grace Restaurant in Pass-a-Grille Beach, a charming place that has a list of signature cocktails all named after local dogs, and an ambitious, upscale menu. A host of greater Tampa Bay area attractions are within a 30-minute drive, including The Dali Museum, premier shopping and dining at Sundial in downtown St. Pete, Tampa Bay Rays baseball at Tropicana Field and access to championship golf courses. Room rates at The Don CeSar start at $279/night. For more information visit doncesar.com. sl
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Runway Takeaways from London and Paris
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3.Paradis AW 18 Entitled “EACH ONE TEACH ONE," the fabrics, finishes, shapes and details in the collection are heavily influenced by the 1968 youth counterculture and revolutionary ideas of the past and present. Collection photography by Fabien Montique parallels a series of corner photography taken by Irving Penn in 1968.
Astrid Andersen Ready-to-Wear and Bespoke AW 2018 Buffalo-era London was the inspiration for both the RTW and bespoke collections, a mash-up between the decadent and the rave. Fabrics in the RTW collection include colorful silk jacquard, custom printed silks, tweeds, tartans, glitter organza and puffer fabrications. Saga Furs provided inspiration and technical support for the bespoke collection.
Christopher Raeburn AW 18 Entitled “Immerse,” the collection draws inspiration from the beauty and fragility of the oceans, with a focus on responsible design and sourcing. Royal Air Force helicopter winchman coveralls, parachutes, and Russian and Danish naval blankets are among the pieces reworked into contemporary fashion items. Raeburn partnered with both cold water surf brand Finisterre to create functional outerwear, knitwear and tees, along with explorer footwear brand Palladium to devise a range of innovative footwear that embraces Raeburn’s sustainable design manifesto.
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Runway Takeaways from London and Paris
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Ziad Nakad Couture SS 18 Demeter, goddess of the harvest, served as the inspiration for the collection. Nakad is a master of precise silk embroidery and sublimated tulles. Intricate representations of wheat stalks are sprinkled throughout the collection in tribute to the goddess and as a symbol of accomplishment and peace.
Maria Aristidou Couture SS 18 A specialist in couture knitwear, Aristidou conjured a colorful fantasy world for her spring/summer daywear and eveningwear collection. Flower patterns in silk viscose and metallic yarns in elaborate embroideries decorate her luxurious knit fabric creations.
Rani Zakhem Couture SS 18 This was Rani Zakhem’s first couture fashion show in Paris. The concept of fire in various forms weaves throughout the sumptuous collection, which Zakhem says is dedicated to a “volcanic woman”. Geometric forms and draped silhouettes call to mind the disco era and designs by Halston. Other looks pay homage to the likes of Jean-Louis Scherrer, Yves Saint Laurent and Madame Grès.
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Runway Takeaways from London and Paris
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Kent & Curwen Under creative director Daniel Kern, the brand staged a presentation of their largest collection to date in January at their new London store in Covent Garden. Campaign images by British photographer and filmmaker Perry Ogden feature young London sportsmen and creatives. Founded in 1926, David Beckham became a majority owner of the brand in 2015.
What We Wear AW 18 For their third season, What We Wear tapped into the mindset of the modern-day, minimalistic man that comfortably sits under the radar, camouflaged with khaki, grey, navy, and black against hints of neon orange and reflective strips that are carefully positioned for when the wearer needs to be seen. Footwear to accompany the collection was created in collaboration with Amsterdam-based brand Filling Pieces.
Wood Wood AW 18 Entitled “Before and After,” the collection fuses the contemporary streetwear of Wood Wood with elements of Americana. Classic American wardrobe staples are updated in look and feel, while the transition from childhood to adulthood works as the thematic framework for the collection. Main materials include corduroy, raw denim, army twill, heavy wool, delicate silk and mélange knit, alongside more technical garments incorporating Primaloft insulation.
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Curating a Lifestyle: Once in a Lifetime In the world of art and antiques, jaded professionals are prone to mock words like “unique” and “important,” all the while using them when necessary to influence potential buyers to take note of a particular object. The truth is, to borrow a bit from Mark Twain, there are no new discoveries, only recycled works that we try to package up into the coveted “fresh-to-market” treasure the collecting audience so desperately wants to find. But, every once in a blue moon, a work of art or material culture is found that is so astounding an oversight, the entire world joins the art industry in breathless wonder. Such was the case when the venerable Christie’s auction company announced the fall sale of a portrait, known as Salvator Mundi (Latin for ‘Savior of the World’) by one of the most famous (and possibly the most talented) individuals to have ever lived, Leonardo da Vinci. Known as the ultimate Renaissance man, Leonardo was an accomplished painter, certainly - but also a brilliant scientist, mathematician, astronomer, cartographer and writer. He invented and envisioned concepts and contraptions that would not be developed for hundreds of years after his death. Of his roughly 15 or so works that still exist, two are recognized worldwide and parodied often: the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. Based on style and the time period in which he lived and worked, Leonardo’s paintings would be described, considered and sold as “Old Masters,” the term that refers to works by European artists prior to 1800. In the auction world, as with most other industries, marketers rely on the old adage “fish where the fish are biting,” grouping similar styles of art, antiques and collectibles into auctions that appeal to a certain genre of collectors–presuming that when you appeal to a category loved by this defined group, you have a better chance of achieving the highest price for each item. However, Christie’s announced that Salvator Mundi would be included in its fall Post-War and Contemporary Art auction in New York, and set among works by modern masters like Mark Rothko, Andy Warhol, and Alexander Calder. A studied, romantic depiction of Christ holding a translucent, rock crystal orb in one hand while giving a benediction with the other, Leonardo’s painting stood in stark contrast to the whimsical colors and abstract forms of nearly every other work in the highpowered evening sale. As a few in the art world pondered why such a significant, in fact unique, painting would be sold out of context, most recognized that Christie’s wasn’t really selling an oil on wood panel by the world’s most famous painter. They were selling a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity, and they chose an audience known for staggering wealth and egos to match.
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Written by Amelia Jeffers
You see, of the fewer than 20 known paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, Salvator Mundi is the only work to have been owned by a private collector and available for purchase. And, Contemporary Art buyers are known to love owning something that no one else can touch–literally and figuratively. As the sale date approached, Christie’s took the painting on the tour of a lifetime, exhibiting it in salerooms across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and culminating in a weeks-long preview at the company’s headquarters in New York City’s Rockefeller Center. So popular was the exhibit that patrons waited for hours to have just a few moments standing in front of the masterpiece. Christie’s even made a video to document viewers’ reactions, mounting a camera at the base of the painting and editing emotional moments of awe and wonder against a backdrop of powerful music. As my teenage son might say, the opportunity was “well-played” by Christie’s. As the art world rumbled and grumbled about the authenticity and condition of the painting, the people who mattered (potential bidders) frothed at the mouth, and estimates and guesstimates as to a final selling price were debated like Super Bowl odds in Vegas. Who would pay millions for a painting that no one can even guarantee was painted by Leonardo? Though the painting had been documented as a commissioned work during his lifetime, multiple copies had been created over the years by students and followers of Leonardo. Records tracing the original work leave gaps of decades through the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries; and, remarkably, when this example came to auction in the 1950s, it was sold for about $50 as a very damaged version by one of Leonardo’s lesser pupils. In 2005, the painting came to auction again, this time at a small auction company in New Orleans. A handful of dealers who specialize in Old Masters put together a partnership and bought the painting for less than $10,000, gambling that underneath an absurd amount of overpainting lay a treasure like no other. Investing in a quality restoration and respected authentication, the team managed to have the painting displayed at the National Gallery of Art as an original Leonardo, and successfully parlayed their investment into a $10M sale to a Swiss dealer in 2013. Each time the painting changed hands, the sales price grew exponentially, until Christie’s hammer fell on an historic night in November for $400,000,000 plus fees to the buyer, which brought the final price to a record-setting, earth-shattering $453M. For more information about the Salvator Mundi, or to view the moving video “The World is Watching” by Christie’s, visit https://tinyurl.com/LeoAtChristies. sl Amelia Jeffers is an nationally-known auctioneer and appraiser who has worked in the fine art, antiques and bespoke collectibles market for over 20 years.
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), Salvator Mundi, painted circa 1500 Image copyright and courtesy of Christie’s
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Château Margaux 2015 case and bottle Photo by G. de Bauchene
MESSAGE ON A BOTTLE For the first time in its history, Château Margaux has created a special bottle design to commemorate an exceptional vintage and its iconic vigneron Written by Chloe Geller For more than five centuries, the innovations, talents and shared passion among the succession of families at the helm of Château Margaux have melded to create wines of great distinction. From the end of the 16th century, Château Margaux has been part of the rising elite of the “Premiers Crus” as it was, in fact, well before being sanctioned by the official classification of 1855. Among the most notable bastions of the brand was André Mentzelopoulos, who became its owner in 1977. Today his daughter Corrine and her own daughter Alexandra carry on his legacy, supported by General Manager Philippe Bascaules. Since its founding, the vineyards that comprise 650-acre estate have occupied the same plots at the heart of the Margaux appellation. Over generations, continued experimentation, observation and adaptation to the terroir have enriched the 60 slmag.net
savoir-faire to the point that it has become an integral part of the terroir itself. Awareness of heritage and an openness to modernity (including the construction of new cellars designed by Lord Norman Foster in 2015) allows Château Margaux to create wines that are both softer and more concentrated; they are easier to drink young but have not, however, lost any of their extraordinary aging potential. Technological innovations have also extended to the bottling process, with Château Margaux implementing a number of measures designed to guard against counterfeiting and to enable better means of tracking. A laser marking system extends the tracking of wines beyond the bottling stage, while a bubble-code security system fixed to the cap of all bottles from 2011 onward permits ease of authentication.
New cellar at night Photo by Mathieu Anglada
Corinne Mentzelopoulos and her daughter Alexandra Petit-Mentzelopoulos
North facade of the Château Margaux Photo by Francois Pointe
Vats in the new cellar Photo by Mathieu Anglada
Wines produced at Château Margaux include Pavillon Blanc du Château Margaux, produced from 100-percent Sauvignon grapes; Margaux du Château Margaux, a limitedproduction wine only available in a select few restaurants in France, the UK, Japan and the US; Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux, which is ready to drink a little earlier, while still having an excellent ageing potential; and Château Margaux Grand Vin, which has been recognized since the 16th century as one of the greatest wines in the world. For the first time in its history, and for this year only, Château Margaux has created a special bottle for its Grand Vin 2015. This wine marks a momentous occasion for the winery, as it was the last to be produced under the supervision of Paul Pontallier, who joined the estate in 1983, and assumed its
general management from 1989 until his untimely passing in March 2016. In place of the usual labels found on standard bottles, magnums, imperials and balthazars, all presentations of Château Margaux Grand Vin 2015 are decorated with a custom screenprinted design affixed to the glass. The bottle design pays tribute to Pontallier while reflecting the winery’s storied cellars and grounds, which are superimposed in grey and gold. The 2015 vintage was the last supervised by Pontallier and Corinne Mentzelopoulos believes the bottle design for this very great vintage is a fitting tribute to a legendary winemaker, who is widely credited with significantly modernizing and improving winemaking at the estate. Available now, the Grand Vin 2015 Vintage retails for $1,200. For more information visit chateau-margaux.com. sl
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A professional diving instrument, the BR 03-92 from Bell & Ross is water-resistant to 300 meters and driven by a Swiss selfwinding mechanical movement within its square steel case ($3,700; bellross.com).
ROLLING IN THE DEEP Watches to dive for Compiled by Colin Dennis For a present-day watch to be officially certified as a "dive watch," it must meet strict guidelines from the International Organization for Standardization. Among the required criteria is water resistance to a minimum of 100 meters; a watch face that is legible in total darkness (in addition to a glowing second hand to indicate that the watch is working, even in blackout conditions); and, magnetic, shock, and chemical resistance. We’ve selected a few of our favorites, all of which are equally suited to blue jeans as the deep blue sea. 62 slmag.net
Clockwise from top left: Ferdinand A. Porsche designed the original Aquatimer Ocean 2000 for IWC Schaffhausen in 1982. Limited to 350 pieces, the Aquatimer Automatic 2000 Edition “35 Years Ocean 2000” (Ref. IW329101) is the thinnest deep-sea diver’s watch in IWC’s collection. Despite the minimal case height, it functions reliably on dives of up to 2,000 meters ($6,999; iwc. com). In 2018, Audemars Piguet is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Royal Oak Offshore. Shown is the Royal Oak Offshore Diver in Day Into Night Purple, one of four new colors available for 2018. Waterresistant to 300m, the purple dial has a “Méga Tapisserie” pattern, white gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating. Purple rubber strap with stainless steel pin buckle ($19,900; audemarspiguet.com). In 1892, Edouard Heuer filed the first patent for a watertight case in the history of watchmaking. Since that time, the Aquaracer (a collection created in 2003) has continued to evolve, becoming a sports watch beloved by men and women in equal measure. This Aquaracer Lady comes in steel with a blue mother-of-pearl dial and diamond bezel. It is water-resistant to 300 meters ($3,350; tagheuer.com). First launched in 1953, the Zodiac Sea Wolf was one of the first serious diver watches manufactured and marketed to the general population. This heritage style was relaunched in 2014 with the Super Sea Wolf. This model features a stainless-steel case and uni-directional mineral crystal topring, glossy blue dial and C3 SuperLuminova hands and indexes ($1,195; zodiacwatches.com). Bremont was founded in 2002 by Nick and Giles English with a mission of crafting pilot's watches of exceptional quality. The S500 Supermarine is the brand's first dive watch, water-resistant to 500 meters ($5,095; bremont.com). For 2018, Jaeger-LeCoultre released a full range of watches inspired by the Memovox Polaris E859, the 1968 diver’s alarm that is now 50 years old. The Polaris Date resembles the vintage alarm, but is a time-only watch with a date display at three o’clock like the original Polaris. The 42mm solid casebook features an engraving of a diver ($7,750; jaeger-lecoultre.com).
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Clockwise from top left: The Calibre de Cartier Diver watch is water-resistant to 300 meters. Set within a 42mm steel case, the partly snailed blue dial has Super-LumiNova indicators. The blue rubber strap closes with a steel buckle ($7,900; cartier.com). Oris launched the Oris Clipperton Limited Edition in December, 2017. A percentage of funds raised by sales of the 2,000 pieces produced will go towards the protection of the world's oceans.Boasting the same roster of high-performance functions the Oris Aquis is renowned for, the 43.5mm stainless steel case is water-resistant to 300 meters and the case back is embossed with an outline of Clipperton Island and its coordinates ($2,227; oris.ch). Baume & Mercier Clifton Club 10339 is a 42mm automatic watch with a black dial and rubber strap ($2,250; baume-et-mercier.com). Hamilton's iconic submersible Khaki Navy Frogman watch was created for the US naval “frogmen” teams and featured in the 1951 movie The Frogmen, marking the brand’s very first on-screen appearance. Relaunched in 2016, the 42mm stainless steel model shown is water-resistant to 1,000m and ISO 6424 certified, the true seal of divers' watches ($1,095; hamiltonwatch.com). The Breitling Superocean II 42 with Volcano Black dial and black rubber strap is water-resistant to 500m. The rubbermolded fluted unidirectional rotating bezel displays easily discernable large numerals, a countdown of the last 15 dive-time minutes and a triangle with a luminescent marker at 12 o’clock. ($3,400; breitling.com). A reissue of a diving watch from 1960, the lines of the original the Longines Legend Diver watch are repeated, including the domed crystal, reminiscent of the technical limitations of the time. Water-resistant to 300m, the 42-mm stainless steel box houses an L633 automatic mechanical movement and sports an engraving of a diver on its case back ($1,795; longines.com).
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Voted Best Fundraiser in Best of Lex Reader’s Poll. Join us for a celebration of the Living Arts & Science Center’s 50 years. This fun evening features a one-of-a-kind original art auction, Lee Carroll’s Soul Jazz Trio, dinner by Dupree Catering, unlimited spirits, art and science-filled surprises, Lexington’s best auctions, complimentary valet, sparkly attire. Saturday, April 28th 7-11pm Ticket Information at LASCLEX.org All proceeds benefit the Living Arts & Science Center
362 North Martin Luther King Blvd. | Lexington, KY | (859) 252-5222 More about the Living Arts & Sceince Center at LASCLEX.org
Keepers of the
Castle
An exciting new chapter for a Kentucky landmark Written by Bridget Williams / Photography by Andrew Kung
Warm Brussels Sprouts Salad
A fascination with storybook castles is not exclusively the domain of little girls. Proof positive is the cadre of professional adult men who collaborated to acquire Castle Post, the medieval-inspired castle on the hill that continues to fascinate passersby on Versailles Road in Woodford County since construction began in 1969. This past July, with the literal keys to the castle in hand, the new owners immediately set about transforming the property into their interpretation of a modern manor, and The Kentucky Castle was reborn.
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Presidential Terrace Suite
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Their first order of business was elevating the interiors out of the Middle Ages and into the present day. Under the direction of Ryan Dawson, one of the property’s five owners, overtly thematic elements were swept away in favor of more ethereal elegance. In November, just four months after taking over, Architectiral Digest recognized The Kentucky Castle as the Commonwealth’s most beautiful hotel as part of an article titled “The Most Beautiful Hotel in Every State in America”. Two of the other partners— Danny Bramer and Matthew Dawson—are physicians, and they have made developing a comprehensive property-to-plate experience a priority. According to Matthew Dawson, a food labeled “organic” by the USDA may still be grown or processed with the aid of synthetic substances. “It’s not enough to know where your food comes from, you need to know what you eat eats, and get to know a farmer and their philosophy,” he added. There are approximately 55 acres surrounding the castle, which eventually will be home to a working farm able to help supply the on-site Castle Farms restaurant. At present, construction is complete on a chicken coop; several beehives are in place and awaiting arrival of their tenants; lavender plants and grape vines are planned for the castle’s “front yard” (which will provide a four-senses experience for guests in the turret rooms); and in March, a mycologist from Oregon State University will visit the property to help lay the groundwork for cultivating French black truffles. “It really speaks to the level of quality ingredients we want to be able to provide to the restaurant,” said Matthew Dawson.
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Owners Ryan Dawson, Danny Bramer and Matthew Dawson
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Blackhawk Farms KY Proud Filet Mignon
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The cocktail menu is updated regularly to reflect the seasons, with berry-forward creations available during warmer months.
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Mushroom Torte
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Castle Farms Executive Chef Jason Walls with his wife Tiffany and their daughter Ava
In the interim, Castle Farms executive chef Jason Walls, a soft-spoken native of Wilmore, who also operates a small farm in Frankfort, works with local producers to procure the best of what’s local. “Jason is absolutely incredible with fresh ingredients,” said Bramer, who added that Walls earned the job after making a spot-on and on-the-spot dinner for the owners at Matthew’s home using the random ingredients contained in his weekly CSA box. The menu changes seasonally, and Walls, whose wife is a vegan, is conscious of including vegetarian options, and can also accommodate special requests with advance notice. “We want everyone who walks through the door to be treated like the family we like,” Dawson said with a laugh. Complimenting Walls’ outstanding cuisine is a thoughtful wine, spirits and cocktail program, developed in part with Jim Knittel, a certified Executive Bourbon Steward through the Stave & Thief Society, who serves as the Bourbon Steward-in-Residence for The Kentucky Castle. The cocktail menu will also rotate with the seasons. At the height of summer for instance, cocktails will become more berry-forward and incorporate native Kentucky spirits and ingredients whenever possible.
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Chambord Extra Royale Cocktail
In addition to hosting nearly 25-30 events per month of varying size, the Kentucky Castle offers a comprehensive on-going calendar of special events, including murder mystery dinners, daddy/daughter princess dances, bourbon dinners, and a Bourbon University (led by Knittel). Like good knights in shining armor, the owners have developed a Kentucky Castle Fairytale program, following a request from Baily Ford (who has an aggressive form of cancer she has been battling since the age of four), to have her 10th birthday party at the castle. Making Baily’s dream of being a princess for a day come true has inspired a larger philanthropic effort to give back to the local community, as well as provide once-in-a-lifetime experiences to other deserving individuals. Although they are less than a year into their reign as the owners of one of Kentucky’s most famous landmarks, the changes made by the partners are both palpable and positive. With momentum continuing to build, there is little doubt that having fun storming the castle will become another feather in Central Kentucky’s illustrious cap. sl Castle Farms restaurant, located inside The Kentucky Castle (230 Pisgah Pike in Versailles), is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday by reservation only. For more information or reservations, visit thekentuckycastle.com or call 859.256.0322.
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The gardens at Oxmoor were designed in 1911 by noted female landscape architect Marian Coffin. Photo by Shirley Harmon.
TOASTING HISTORY An inaugural two-day Derby week event combines Southern fare and flair with West Coast wine to benefit the Oxmoor Estate Written by Bridget Williams Now penned in by retail and commercial development, a subdivision and an expressway, few understand the significance of the Oxmoor Estate and its owners, five generations of the Bullitt family. An inaugural and unique two-day Derby week event aims to change that. Proceeds from A Toast to Oxmoor, scheduled for May 1st and 2nd, will be designated to help preserve and restore the Estate, which was granted nonprofit status in 2017 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The events are the creation of local author Michelle Mandro, with support from a steering committee that includes event planner Danielle McKenzie, Laura Rice, Debra Locker and Shirley Harmon, Director of the Oxmoor Estate. “A Toast to Oxmoor Estate and the Garden Luncheon at Oxmoor Estate combine our passions as epicureans and lovers of all things Southern to create events that don’t currently exist in Louisville,” explains Mandro, who is a Louisville native. Capped at 200 guests, the invitation-only Toast to Oxmoor Estate and VIP reception will be held on the evening of May 1, 76 slmag.net
and feature a celebrity chef and West Coast winery owners and winemakers, including Kelleen Sullivan of Sullivan Vineyards, Suzanne Phifer Pavitt of Phifer Pavitt Wines and Sara Fowler of Peju Province Winery and Liana Estates. Those interested in being added to the event’s wait list can email toastoxmoor@gmail.com. Mandro hinted that the evening will end with a surprise that’s not to be missed. Heather French Henry will host the open-to-the-public Garden Luncheon at Oxmoor Estate the following day, May 2. Farmer and chef Josh Moore of Volare is creating the menu for the farm-totable lunch. Guests at each table will be joined by a winery owner or winemaker who will share their wines. Award-winning landscape designer and native Kentuckian Jon Carloftis will attend the luncheon with his mother Lucille and provide a 30-minute guided tour of the gardens (weather permitting). For more information or tickets email toastoxmoor@gmail.com or call 502.640.4138. Guests at the both events will be privy to an insider’s view of the home and gardens, which have a fascinating history. The
Kelleen Sullivan of Sullivan Vineyards Photo courtesy of Wine Country Women, LLC.
Sara Fowler of Peju Province Winery and Liana Estates. Photo courtesy of Sara Fowler.
Suzanne Phifer Pavitt of Phifer Pavitt Wines. Photo courtesy of Wine Country Women, LLC.
original house at Oxmoor was completed by Alexanders Scott Bullitt in 1791, a year before Kentucky was granted statehood. Alexanders helped author Kentucky’s first constitution in 1792, served as speaker of the senate, and as the Commonwealth’s first lieutenant governor when the office was created in 1800. After his death in 1816, his youngest son William Christian Bullitt inherited the property. A working hemp plantation, William and his wife Mildred built a Federal-style brick central addition in 1829, along with all of the outbuildings that are still on-site today. In the fall of 1862, with the Civil War raging, the Bullitts closed Oxmoor and moved to the safety of the city. After William’s death in 1877, the farm was divided between his six surviving children. In 1908, one of William’s grandsons, William Marshall Bullitt, successfully purchased the land that had been divided between family members and reassembled the property. In 1912, he was appointed Solicitor General by President Taft,
and during his time in Washington he met his future wife Nora Iasigi. The couple began a building spree, expanding the house to its present-day configuration. They called upon New York architect F. Burrall Hoffman and noted female landscape architect, Marian Coffin, who is most famous for designing the gardens at Winterthur, the DuPont family home in Wilmington, DE. Marshall Bullitt passed away in 1957. After his wife Nora died in 1976, the estate was passed to their son Thomas W. Bullitt, who lived there with his second wife Kay Stammers Bullitt, a two-time Wimbledon doubles champ. A few months before his death in 1991, Thomas placed a preservation easement on the 79-acres surrounding the house, and his widow Kay continued to reside at Oxmoor until her death in 2005. The house is still used occasionally by family and by the local historical society for lectures and events. A limited number of sponsorship opportunities are available. Those interested should contact Michelle Mandro at michelle@ winecountrywomen.com or 707.260.4848. sl slmag.net
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SOPHISTICATED SOCIETY
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USA Cares American Proud Dinner, 5:30pm, The Signature Club of Lansdowne; usacares.org BGT Antiques and Garden Show Gala Preview Party, 6pm, Alltech Arena; bgtantiquesandgardenshow.org The Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation’s 32nd Antiques and Garden Show, Alltech Arena; bgtantiquesandgardenshow.org Tails & Ales, 7pm, Griffin Gate Marriott; lexingtonhumanesociety.org The Perfect 10 miler & 10k for Surgery on Sunday, 9am, Mt. Brilliant Farm; surgeryonsunday.org The LexArts Hop, 5pm Curator Tour, 6:30pm, UK Art Museum; finearts.uky.edu/art-museum Big Blue Fling, 7pm, Malone’s Prime Events; ctkschool.net/events 28th annual Paul Frazier Memorial Combined Tests and Dressage Show, KY Horse Park; ckrh.org
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Keeneland Spring Meet; keeneland.com Walk MS, 9am, KY Horse Park; FundraisingSupport@nmss.org Pony Up for the Nest, Noon, Keeneland’s Phoenix Room; thenestlexington.org Reforest the Bluegrass, 9am, Veterans’ Park; lexingtonky.gov/reforest-bluegrass An INSPIRED Evening, 7pm, UK Art Museum; ksprengnether@uky.edu Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, KY Horse Park; kentuckythreedayevent.com Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Bluegrass Day at the Races; rmhclexington.com H’Artful of Fun Golden Gala, 7pm, Living Arts & Science Gala; lasclex.org *The event will commemorate the LASC’s 50th year of service to Lexington. The evening will include dinner by Dupree Catering, open bar, bourbon tasting, live, silent and original art auctions, music by Lee Carroll’s Soul Jazz Trio and surprise artful experiences throughout the evening. The LASC serves 45,000 children and adults each year by providing creative and unique opportunities for exploration and education in the arts and science.
Photography by Chad Henle
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RESTAURATEUR’S GALA
Presented by the Kentucky Restaurant Association at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, the annual Restaurateur’s Gala celebrates the stars of the Commonwealth’s restaurant industry.
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1) Shannon Haste, Jeff Vaughn, Jeff Wosete, Jennifer Laster, Jacob Milner 2) Dan O'Connell, Chef Josh & Lindsay Moore, David Allen 3) Michelle Wolff, Amy Landrum, Bernie Kalin 4) Tracy, Farlow, & Cory Drew 5) Katie Long, Raymond Thomas 6) Jeanna & Chef John Varanese 7) Gary Dean, Mary Stebbins 8) Bobby & Angelia Pyner, Andy Bennett, Colleen Hickman 9) Gabby Jackson, Cami Query
Photos by Brianna Cottrell/NightMind Photography
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OPENING CELEBRATION: THE NUDE
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Held at The Loudon House, the opening reception for the Lexington Art League’s annual exhibition, The Nude, featured performance artists from Sora Contemporary Circus in ensembles created by artist Maui Crane, artistic hors d’oeuvres from Sweet LiLu’s and music by Ellie Herring.
1) Alex Brooks, Colin Doherty 2) Serena Taylor, Maui Crane, Myah Winbush, Sam Cooper 3) Jacklyn & Cliff Kaye 4) Honey & Bill Elder 5) Keisha Snipp, Maui Crane, Erica Sardar 6) Christine Huskisson, Ashlyn Swihart, Celeste Lewis 7) Julia & Wes Meek, Patrick Smith 8) Performer Allison Evans 9) Arturo A. Sandoval, William Hagan, Philip Cole, Jonathan Coleman
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Photos by Brianna Cottrell / NightMind Photography
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OPENING RECEPTION
The Art Museum at the University of Kentucky hosted an opening reception for a survey of paintings, drawings and sculpture by provocative Kentucky-born artist Edward Melcarth (1914-1973). The “Points of View” exhibition is on display until April 8th.
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1) Sonny Stanley, William Goodman, Beverly Youmans 2) Miriam Kienle, Karyn Hinkle 3) Elsbeth Johnson, Julie Logan, Janie Welker 4) Francisco Andrade, Ashlie Stevens 5) Andrea Fisher, Ruth Adams, Emily Goodman 6) Ernesto Scorsone, Robert Morgan, Dan Matherly
Photos by Brianna Cottrell / Night Mind Photography
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PEGASUS AWARDS
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The United States Equestrian Foundation’s Pegasus Awards honors some of the great men and women of equestrian sport. Show jumper McLain Ward was named Equestrian of the Year title and his number one mount, HH Azur, owned by Double H Farm and François Math, was honored as International Horse of the Year. Cuba, owned by John and Stephanie Ingram, LLC, earned 2017 National Horse of the Year. Trainer Joe Dotoli was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
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1) Steven Morrissey, Danielle Miranda 2) Tina & Bill Justice 3) Cynthia Richardson, Sonya & Chris Bickford 4) Becky & Dale Pitcock 5) Robert Crawford, Gail Aumiller 6) Lissa Hines, Rebecca Goss 7) Lexie Stovel, Gemma Stobbs 8) Ashley Swift, Kathleen Landwehr
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Photos by Brianna Cottrell / NightMind Photography
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CELEBRATING A MILESTONE
Jon Carloftis and Dale Fisher hosted a festive celebration at Botherum, their historic home and gardens, in honor of Jon’s mother Lucille, who turned 90 years young on Valentine’s Day. Both laughter and fires were roaring; jazz artist Jessie Laine Powell captivated guests with her timeless voice; and, a good time was had by all.
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1) Jessie & Art Powell 2) Ryan Russell, Julia Ruano 3) Alex Conlon, Seth Leeds 4) Karine & Matthew Maynard 5) D.B. & Alicia Kazee 6) Marianne & David Barnes, Anne & Jacob Hardy 7) Libby Sautter, Mark King, Justin Sautter 8) Joshua Jessen, Jessie Laine Powell 9) Betsy Carloftis, Andre Pater
Photos by Brianna Cottrell / NightMind Photography
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CELEBRATING A MILESTONE
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1) Krista Wood, Jon Carloftis, Kandace DeBolt 2) Kim Morris, Michael Potapov, Zeff Maloney 3) Alicia Kazee, Eddie Gran, Jen Mueller, Dottie Maloney 4) Hunter & Jennifer Bates, David Ingordo, Rebecca & Stuart Mercer 5) Tamtam Nguyendon, Mark King, Kandace DeBolt 6) Jessie Powell serenading the guests, accompanied by Joshua Jensen on the piano. 7) Isabel Ladd, Betsy Carloftis, Dottie Maloney 8) Madeline Diane, Meredith Lane Ferguson, Anne Sabatino Hardy 9) Blake Ferguson, Meredith Lane Ferguson
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BLUEGRASS SPORTS AWARDS
Presented by Alltech, the 7th annual Bluegrass Sports Awards honored John Rooney, Jerry Tipton, Stewart Perry, the Kentucky High School Athletic Association and the Lexington Center Corporation during a ceremony held at the Lexington Center. Proceeds from the event benefit the Bluegrass Sports Commission and its efforts to grow the economic impact of sports throughout the Commonwealth.
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1) Andy Montgomery, Tony Lucido, Sterling Baxter 2) Presley Merida, Thomas Woefel 3) Morgan Whitney, Phillip Richardson 4) Kerri Stein, Sheila Kenny 5) Rita & Roland Williams 6) Zach Meadows, Ashleigh VanHoose, Tyler VanHoose, Brad Hicks 7) Cassie & Justin Carter, Shannon & Kim Delk 8) Bailey Babcock, Catherine Clifton 9) Mollie Ann Trollinger, Camile Turner
Photos by Patty Abrams/EyeWitness Photography
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HEART BALL
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The annual Central Kentucky Heart Ball brings together community members, medical professionals and corporate leaders to both celebrate and support the lifesaving work of the American Heart Association. This year marked the 30th anniversary of the event, which honored Linda Ball for her more than 15 years of service to the organization.
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1) Eva Schubert, Kaleigh Bull 2) Ron Dietz, Teresa Daniel 3) Katie Pilant, Taryn Latsko 4) Danielle Pope, Megan Hillenmeyer, John & Trish Collier 5) Barry Howard, Michelle Landers 6) Field Broadbent, Kelly Ball 7) Gine & Reggie Smith 8) Jim & Suzanne Elliott 9) Abby & David Friebert
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Photos By Brianna Cottrell / NightMind Photography
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AFRICAN AMERICAN BALL
Crystal Wilkson, a Kentucky writer, educator and co-owner of The Wild Fig Books & Coffee was the guest of honor at the 25th annual African American Ball. Presented by The African American Forum, Inc., a nonprofit arts and cultural organization, proceeds from the event will allow the organization to continue to develop programs that support and highlight the artistic, cultural and educational achievements of African Americans.
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1) Tyrone, Annette, and Anthony Daniels 2) Crystal Wilkinson, Ronald Davis 3) Adarrell and Tawanda Owsley, Takara and Michael Jones 4) Pat Givens, Janice Mullins, Kem Smith 5) Nakia & Ron Walker 6) Jay & Susan Prentice, Judy & Mark Taylor 7) Curtis & Vernessa Carter 8) Melody Hall, Sharloh Jackson 9) Janet Lucas, Gloria Weathers
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