Sophisticated Living Chicago May/June 2015

{Chicago’s Finest}

May/June 2015

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NEC KER I SLAND British Virgin Islands

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K A SBA H T A MA D O T Morocco

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T HE LO D G E Switzerland

T HE R O O F GA R DE N S United Kingdom

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{Chicago’s Finest}

May/June 2015

May/June 2015 five dollars

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on the cover: A decadent dessert from the globally infuenced menu at Sepia: Corn sable with goat cheese cream, blueberry compote and caramel corn. Photo by Sean Henderson

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INTO THE BLUE

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SHOP AROUND

A turquoise Tifany & Co. necklace tops our lust list Chicago’s latest retail news, from new stores to big moves

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COMING UP ROSEN Artist Nancy Rosen makes her mark on Netfix’s new original series, Grace and Frankie

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SIP IT GOOD Soupology’s soups and broths give juicing some healthy competition

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GARDENS OF DELIGHT Landscape design books that peek into posh green spaces from Paris to the Hamptons

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GREEN WINE Master Sommelier Scott Harper vets sustainable, organic and biodynamic wines

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WANDERLUST FULFILLED

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THE BREEDER’S CUP COMES HOME

Nautical antiques hook travel-hungry collectors Lexington, Kentucky’s Keeneland Racecourse hosts the Cup for the frst time

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IT’S NOT WALLPAPER

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OUTSIDE INTERESTS

Our experts advise on curating a corporate art collection Cool and colorful design for the great outdoors

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SWISS WATCH Te Geneva International Motor Show unveils the future of motoring

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Shop Around

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With summer days on Lake Michigan looming, our minds are on shedding layers and stepping into sundresses and sandals. Mix maxi dress, $69.50, at Lou & Grey, 3442 N. Southport Ave., 773.935.5160, louandgrey.com

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PARADISE PERFECTED Laucala Island raises the bar on the beach vacation

SUMMER STAPLES Sunny shoes and accessories for a fashionable summer

BUTLER SERVICE AT THE RITZ-CARLTON RESIDENCES, CHICAGO

THE DIFFERENCE TheResidencesChicago.com 118 East Erie, Chicago, IL 60611

PRIVATE RESIDENCES. PRIVATE CLUB. PRIVATE STAFF. Priced from $892,000.00 To schedule a private appointment, please contact Jane Shawkey or Karen Strohl: 312.242.5980

©2015 Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Operated by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker, the Coldwell Banker Logo, Coldwell Banker Previews International and the Coldwell Banker Previews International logo are registered and unregistered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

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SMART DESIGN

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EVOLVE AND ADAPT

New Chicago biz Perry Clark Home fashions your abode Afraid of commitment? Revolving Collections Gallery lets you live with your art before you buy

May/June 2015

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ROOMS WITH A VIEW A $12.95 million Streeterville condo captures our attention

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THE ITALIAN JOB A three-lot home in Lincoln Park stuns with contemporary style

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SONG OF SPRING

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BABY TALK

Find inventive, American fare of the beaten path at Sepia Friends of Prentice celebrates more than 30 years of compassion for women’s health

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SOCIETY Sophisticated Living’s calendar of cool upcoming events

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Evolve and Adapt Isolation, photo by Chicago photographer Jonee Cocchia, one of several local artists who collaborate with Revolving Collections Gallery

Party pics from the season’s best fundraisers and fetes!

Make sure your values are catching on.

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Wells Fargo Private Bank provides products and services through Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and its various affiliates and subsidiaries. Brokerage services are available through Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC (member SIPC), a registered broker-dealer and separate non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. Insurance products are available through insurance subsidiaries of Wells Fargo & Company and underwritten by non-affiliated Insurance Companies. Not available in all states. ©  Wells Fargo Bank N.A. Member FDIC. NMLSR ID 

PUBLISHER Erica Conaty Goldman EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Elise Hofer Shaw ——————————————— ART DIRECTOR Jason Yann

Happenings at The Peninsula Opening of The Terrace, May 1 Mother’s Day Brunch, May 10 Father’s Day Brunch, June 22 Monthly Wine Dinner at Pierrot Gourmet

Byron Winery, May 21 Presqu’ile Winery, June 18

Membership at The Spa

CONTRIBUTORS Writers Diana Bitting Amalie Drury Victoria Chase Ruth Crnkovich Tate Gunnerson Scott Harper Anita Heriot Joel Hoglund Korey Huyler Andre James Amelia Jeffers Jeff Jeffers Sally Meyer Taylor Morgan Alexandra Sabbag Janis Von Kaenel Photographers Laura Brown Carasco Photography Sean Henderson Matt Kawa Doug McGoldrick Melissa Moseley Vika Petlakh Anthony Tahlier Bradley J. Taylor Editorial Assistant Madeline Miller ADVERTISING SALES OFFICE 312.550.9454 ——————————————— SOPHISTICATED LIVING MEDIA Eric Williams - CEO Bridget Williams - President Michele Beam - Vice President Greg Butrum - General Counsel

For more information, visit peninsula.com/chicago Follow us @thepeninsulachi

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THE TERRACE NOW OPEN DIM SUM | AL FRESCO DINING | SIGNATURE SUMMER COCKTAILS | PRIVATE PARTIES The Peninsula Chicago | 108 East Superior Street at North Michigan Avenue Inquiries +1 (312) 573 6695 or diningpch@peninsula.com | peninsula.com/chicago

From the Editor-In-Chief

Portrait by Vika Petlakh

I spy tulips...

For Chicagoans, the frst sign of cold weather relief is seeing the sprouting of tulips, often peeking through a late winter snowfall. It’s a clear sign of warmer days to come— although I refuse to plant a thing before Mother’s Day after one too many lessons learned.

Creativity, too, is perennial—and this issue is packed with some of Chicago’s most aartistic minds. Take for example Lincolnwood painter Nancy Rosen, who has teamed up with Netfix for its new original series Grace and Frankie starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, w Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston. Tomlin’s character, Frankie, is a freewheeling, eccentric M aartist whose studio was modeled after Rosen’s. Rosen was even commissioned to paint a portrait of the cast that was gifted to the stars. p Tis issue also catches up with Ukrainian Village artist Laura Rashid, the mastermind bbehind Revolving Collections Gallery. The business model? Residential and corporate cclients can rent art—paintings, sculpture, photography—and live with it before they buy.

“Galleries can be intimidating, and most people don’t know where to start,” says Rashid. “It’s “G oour goal to get local art into people’s homes, make it make sense fnancially and make it an eenjoyable experience.” Genius.

Speaking of artistic genius, this month I plan on getting a dinner date on the books aat Sepia for some of Executive Chef Andrew Zimmerman’s carefully curated, seasonal American fare. After reading contributing writer Joel Hoglund’s hunger-pangs-inducing A piece on the West Loop restaurant’s spring menu, I’m eager to try some of Zimmerman’s p new dishes—like the spring vegetable scafata with crispy poached egg and carrot jus—not to n mention one of Pastry Chef Cindy Schuman’s sinful desserts. m And in preparation for al fresco feasting, I need to get my cardio going. Tank goodness tthere’s a crop of new shops springing up across Chicagoland. From Rag & Bone’s new brick aand mortar store in the Gold Coast to Warby Parker’s permanent digs on Armitage and Lilly Pulitzer’s boutique in Oak Brook, I’ll be covering a lot of ground in the name of fashion.

I hope to see you soon, out and about this summer, trying new restaurants (or old favorites), shopping for sundresses and tiptoeing through the tulips.

Elise Hofer Shaw Editor-in-Chief elise@slmag.net

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Maker & Muse WoMEn AnD EARLy TWEnTIETH CEnTuRy ART JEWELRy

on view through January 3, 2016

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Photograph by John A. Faier, © The Richard H. Driehaus Museum

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Contributors

“Te idea of a person being able to have their own custom, rotating art gallery in their home is super cool,” says contributing writer Diana Bitting, who penned this issue’s piece on local biz Revolving Collections Gallery (“Evolve and Adapt”). “And the fact that co-owner Laura Rashid is a trained artist is an added bonus, allowing her to communicate with both the clients and the artists in a language that makes sense to both. Te end result is individually tailored installations that match the mood of each home—or whatever mood the homeowner is in that month!”

Before it was built, Amalie Drury lived a block away from the sleek Lincoln Park mansion she wrote about for this issue’s home feature (“The Italian Job”). “I used to walk past the construction site every day,” she says. “It’s amazing to see that this fabulous house has sprung up there.” Te home is full of high-tech features, but the one she’s most envious of, says Drury, is the radiant heat throughout. “Can you imagine a Chicago winter when your feet were never cold because your marble foors were always warm? Heaven.”

Nancy Rosen’s intimate portraits have captivated writer Tate Gunnerson since he first profled her on his blog in 2008. And now, with her intricate, colorful work being featured on the upcoming Netflix original show Grace and Frankie, debuting this month, he was excited about catching up with the Chicago artist (“Coming Up Rosen”). “It’s going to be such a thrill to see Nancy’s artwork on the screen,” says Gunnerson. “I have a feeling she is going to have a very productive year.”

First time contributing photographer Sean Henderson loved shooting Sepia so much for this issue’s restaurant feature, he shot it twice (“Song of Spring”). “I think April 1, 2015, should go down in history as the most epic April Fools’ Day prank ever played by a memory card on a photographer,” says Henderson, who lost a full day’s work due to a bum card. “Chef Zimmerman’s time is priceless, so to have him be such a sport about the whole thing was really Zim cool. We can all laugh about it now.” co “On of the best things about spring is the food,” says contributor Joel Hoglund, who wrote “One this issue’s restaurant feature on Sepia (“Song of Spring”). “Chef [Andrew] Zimmerman does thi amazing things with spring vegetables and bright, lighter meats and fsh that feel so welcome am after another long, heavy winter. Sepia is that rare fne-dining restaurant you want to eat at all aft the time, and with this lighter spring menu you could do that without feeling like a pig.”

A llongtime juicer, contributing writer Korey Huyler was thrilled to try the Soupology cleanse for this issue’s story on the Chicago-based business (“Sip It Good”). Although all of owner Alison Velazquez’s soups are tasty (think lemon asparagus mint and carrot coconut curry), Huyler soon found her favorites. “I love the jalapeño alkaline water to start my day, but my favorite soup is the butternut squash and coconut creation!”

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LINC THELEN ART + ARCHITECTURE + INTERIOR DESIGN lincthelen.com + lincthelenart.com + 312.593.5463

INTO THE BLUE

By Elise Hofer Shaw

We’ve been smitten with this bold bib necklace since it debuted on Cate Blanchett’s slender nape at the Academy Awards. And upon closer inspection, well, it’s absolutely divine. A statement piece from Tifany & Co.’s 2015 Blue Book collection entitled Te Art of the Sea—the jewelry house’s frst to be curated by Tiffany’s new Design Director Francesca Amfitheatrof—this cool collar is one of approximately 200 total pieces in the collection boasting rare and exquisite jewels in a spectrum of blues and greens (many of which are inspired by objects and sketches from the Tifany Archives). With aquamarine and diamonds swimming amongst spheres of turquoise, this necklace has all the hallmarks of a timeless treasure to be cherished for generations. sl Turquoise, aquamarine and diamond bib necklace in platinum from the 2015 Blue Book collection.

Price available upon request at Tifany & Co., 730 N. Michigan Ave., 312.944.7500, tifany.com. Other Chicagoland stores include Oakbrook Center, Old Orchard Center and Northbrook Court.

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SHOP AROUND Chicago’s retail rows are seeing a surge

Stripe tank, $29.50, sweater, $59.50, and chambray short, $49.50, all at Lou & Grey

of activity courtesy of new brand openings, store remodels and major moves.

By Elise Hofer Shaw

A rendering of the new La Perla boutique opening soon on Oak Street

Lou & Grey Textured fabrics and easy silhouettes is the winning combination behind Lou & Grey’s line of “lifewear,” a fusion of active and streetwear that’s as stylish as it is comfortable. Part of Ann Inc. (sister brands are Ann Taylor and Loft), the easy-breezy label opened its first Chicago store on Southport in mid-April. For spring, we’re loving Lou & Grey’s chambray shorts and tunic tees, not to mention its pieces from local artisans such as Hidden Folk (fragrances and body products), Steel Petal Press (stationery and home goods) and Mineralogy (jewelry). 3442 N. Southport Ave., 773.935.5160, louandgrey.com

Rag & Bone At the end of April, Rag & Bone launched its first brick and mortar Chicago location in the Gold Coast (where Goddess and Grocer used to stand at Rush and Delaware). Te 4,000-squarefoot space carries the brand’s men’s and women’s ready-to-wear collections, denim, footwear and accessories. (We love the label’s new leather Seldon slip-on sandal for strutting around the city this summer.) As for the interior design, wood and cement foors commingle with exposed brick, a cofered ceiling and cozy freplaces. 25 E. Delaware Place, rag-bone.com

Lilly Pulitzer It all started some 50 years ago in Palm Beach, Fla., with a simple shift dress—and a brand was born. Set to open in June, Oakbrook Center’s new Lilly Pulitzer boutique will bring its playful prints to preppy Chicagoans. Starting with the brand’s summer 2015 collection, the women’s resort wear oferings will include the classic Lilly shift, tunics, shorts, knit dresses, silk tops, maxis, totes, printed scarves and so much more. Tere will even be a Little Lillys section for the Lilliputian set! 100 Oakbrook Center, space 421, Oak Brook, lillypulitzer.com

Warby Parker After the success of a temporary Lincoln Park concept shop, eyeglasses emporium Warby Parker recently opened a permanent boutique on Armitage, the New York-based brand’s first store in the Midwest.

In addition to the label’s full line of fashion-forward frames, there’s an on-site optometrist for eye exams, a photo booth and plenty of books available for purchase. Check out the limited-edition Topper in Striped Olive sunglasses available exclusively in Chicago. Bonus: For every frame sold at Warby Parker, a pair is donated to someone in need. 851 W. Armitage Ave., 773.341.1890, warbyparker.com

La Perla After 15 years on the Mag Mile, La Perla is making a move to Oak Street early this fall. The new location, nestled between Prada and David Yurman, is 1,600 square feet and will house all of the Italian lingerie label’s collections, from babydolls to bikinis.

Early interior design plans promise an ultra-feminine range of color shades, and we’re told Portuguese marble floors will be peppered with silk tub armchairs. Need another size? Ring the “service” bell from the ftting rooms for the sales staf. Now that’s sexy. 34 E. Oak St., 312.494.0400, laperla.com sl

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Chicago artist Nancy Rosen was commissioned to paint Grace and Frankie co-stars Martin Sheen, Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Sam Waterston.

Coming Up Rosen

Te producers of the upcoming Netfix original series Grace and Frankie look to local artist Nancy Rosen for inspiration.

By Tate Gunnerson Te bright, white storefront studio in West Rogers Park where Nancy Rosen has created art for nearly two decades is cluttered on a good day (she told me that she tidied up before my arrival, and I take her at her word). Interspersed among the trays of oil bars, China markers and other tools of the trade, there are stacks of art—literally thousands of pieces depicting exaggerated fgures, mostly women. “My sisters,” Rosen exclaims, gesturing to one of many large-scale pieces that cover the walls. Although Rosen works only with one model at a time, she often groups figures from several different sittings into a single piece. “The composition starts telling little stories,” explains the artist, who is wearing worn jeans and a black top, her auburn locks spilling casually over her shoulders. “Tere’s an intimacy in my work, and that’s what I’m continually attracted to.”

So were the producers of the upcoming Netflix original series Grace and Frankie. Debuting in May, the comedy reteams 9 to 5 co-stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as rivals who form a reluctant friendship when their respective husbands (Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston) reveal that they are having an afair.

“Here are these women in their 70s who don’t like each other 28 slmag.net

Lily Tomlin plays Frankie in the new Netfix original series.

Photo by Melissa Moseley for Netfix

but end up in a beach house together,” Rosen explains. “Lily plays a hippie-dippie artist, and the producers wanted to use my work as hers.”

They also borrowed dozens of pieces from Rosen to use as props and commissioned her to create several new ones, including a portrait of the four leads, which was later printed on a beach towel that was presented as a gift to the cast and crew. Te artist also worked with the set designers to capture the feeling of an actual art studio for Tomlin’s character, Frankie. “I took a tape gun and wrapped up about 60 pounds of my old crap—brushes, buckets, anything that would be in an authentic studio, and sent it to them,” she explains. Te materials, which have since been returned, remain boxed up, ready to be shipped back to Hollywood if the series is renewed for a second season.

About that prospect, Rosen is optimistic. “I’ve seen some of the episodes, and it’s hysterical,” she explains.

Rosen even had an opportunity to tour the set at Paramount Studios late in the show’s production. “Everybody was so sweet,” Rosen explains, gazing at a photo of her and Tomlin on her iPhone. “I’ve had the time of my life.” sl

SIP IT GOOD

Chicagoan Alison Velazquez stirs up the wellness world with her detoxifying—and tasty!

—soups and broths.

By Korey Huyler Photography by Bradley J. Taylor Juice cleanses, gluten-free food, eliminating dairy. Health-obsessed Chicagoans have tried all the hottest diet tricks. Now there is another trend ready to be discovered: soup cleanses.

Soupology, a new Chicago-based business from local wellness pro Alison Velazquez, offers a tasty and smart soup-cleanse program that pairs favored alkaline waters with innovative soup blends to detoxify and fush out your body. Primarily vegetable based and consumed warm, the soups are hearty, low in sugar and come in tons of tasty favors—Lemon Asparagus Mint, anyone?— and all are vegan and gluten-free.

“I’ve been a big juice cleanse person for years,” explains Velazquez, a former marketing professional who, in 2008, left her nine-to-fve to explore her passion for health and wellness.

First she gained her Pilates certification, then a degree from Kendall College’s culinary arts program, specializing in wellness and spa cooking. “However, once the weather turns cold, it’s very hard for me to do juice cleanses; I just get too cold. In

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the winter, I love soup and sometimes I’d make big batches of vegetable soup and eat it all day long. I kept hoping someone would come out with a soup cleanse until fnally I just thought to myself, ‘I’ll just do it!’”

Her six-items-per-day cleanse includes one flavored alkaline water, four soup blends and one nut milk. Te current one-day plan looks like this: pineapple jalapeño alkaline water, vegetable lemon broth, butternut coconut curry soup, ancho chile and black bean soup, spicy greens detox soup and pumpkin spice cashew milk. Delicious, right?

Currently Soupology is being ofered as a one-day package ($70), or for three days ($200) or five ($325). There’s delivery Sunday evenings in Chicago, and now also nationwide thanks in part to a spike in popularity after a spot on Te Today Show.

“Te neat thing about working with soups is that not only are you getting the health benefts of the vegetables, but also the spices that add their own unique benefits,” says Velazquez. “The cleanse is around 1,200 calories per day, and we have a big variety in favors, which is also nice when people are doing a longer cleanse. Our soups are seasonal, so the menu often changes.”

In addition, Velazquez just introduced Bone Broth soup, which is available through her site for delivery as a stand-alone product. (It’s made from the bones and marrow of grass-fed beef and range-free chicken.) Velazquez says that the mineralrich bone broth is the next big health trend because it helps digestion, prevents cellulite, and strengthens hair and nails.

It’s also virtually sugar free. “When I started reading about the trend I got really excited,” explains Velazquez. “Growing up, we used to start a lot of our meals with caldo, which is broth in Spanish. So the trend spoke to me, and I decided I wanted to be a part of it and make it available to people here in Chicago with my own twist.” alisonvelazquez.com sl

Uniquely Designed NATUR A L LY B E AUT I F UL S E M I P R E C I O U S

J E W E L RY

• C USTO M DESIGNS AVAILA BLE • P E N N Y L O V E D E S I G N S . C O M

Bibliotaph: Gardens of Delight

Written by Victoria Chase

Eminent New York landscape designer Edmund Hollander, best known for his work in the Hamptons, reveals how plants can add sensuality, texture, structure, and color to any garden. Edmund Hollander & Anne Raver (writers), Charles Mayer (principal photographer) - Te Good Garden: Te Landscape Architecture of Edmund Hollander Design Hardcover, 320 pages, Te Monacelli Press (monacellipress.com).

Credited for being at the forefront of the New Perennial movement and for his work on the High Line in New York City and the Lurie Garden at Millennium Park in Chicago, this book ofers an intimate look at how Hummelo, the personal garden of renowned Dutch garden and landscape designer Piet Oudolf has evolved over the course of three decades in the industry. Noel Kingsbury - Oudolf: Hummelo Hardcover, 400 pages, Te Monacelli Press (monacellipress.com).

Inspired by the pioneering naturalist Gilbert White, who viewed natural history as the common study of cultural and natural communities, historic landscape consultant and garden conservator Mark Laird unearths forgotten historical data to reveal the complex visual cultures of early modern gardening. Mark Laird - A Natural History of English Gardening - Cloth, 464 pages, Yale University Press (yalepress.yale.edu).

Ofering a peek behind the facade of Parisian homes and into their private urban oases, this beautifully photographed tome highlights eclectic garden designs ranging in size from postage stamp to palatial. Alexandra D'Arnoux & Bruno de Laubadere (writers), Gilles de Chabaneix (photographer) - Private Gardens of Paris Hardcover, 192 pages, Flammarion (rizzolausa.com).

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Green Wine

Wine barrels at Nikolaihof Winery.

Photo courtesy of Nikolaihof Wachau.

Written by Scott Harper, Master Sommelier

Familie Saahs.

Photo courtesy of Nikolaihof Wachau.

I remember trying an organic wine more than 20 years ago. I said to myself, “Does that make a wine not listed as organic inorganic?”

How can the earth’s most natural alcoholic beverage be inorganic, when, after all, grapes crushed with the natural yeast on their skin is what makes wine? Trying organic wine and assessing its quality was even more confusing because it simply wasn’t that good.

Now two decades later, organic wine presents a totally diferent experience as it relates to quality and protecting the environment.

Tere are several types of “green” wine, or wine made through eco-friendly agriculture, including sustainable, organic and biodynamic. Tese three methods of farming grapes are diferent but share two things in common: taking care of the environment and making quality wine. The following paragraphs provide a brief primer on this trio of methods as it relates to vineyards.

Sustainable Conventional farming follows a predictable system. It is either time to spray pesticide to prevent a potential problem or mitigate an existing one. Conventional farming has negatives in that it can be harmful to the soil and the environment. Sustainable farming is about using what works best by considering what the vineyard really needs and what is the best way to treat the situation with the environment in mind, not simply resorting to spraying chemicals.

Te French phrase lutte raisonée ("reasonable prevention") makes the most sense. Sustainable farming includes taking care of your employees; being socially responsible; recycling; having animal habitats (like installing owl boxes rather than poisons for rodent control); conserving soil, water and energy; and using alternative energy sources, including solar power.

Organic Organic may be the easiest to explain. Organic farming prohibits the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, as well as chemical-based fertilizers, on or around vineyards. Te vineyard

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Nachtbild Kapelle Gross.

Photo courtesy of Nikolaihof Wachau.

owners use natural methods to take care of their vineyards, such as cover crops and compost for fertilizer, and they use approved natural substances to fght vine problems and benefcial insects and birds to control pests. Genetically engineered crops are forbidden.

Labeling terms include “made with organic grapes" or "made with organically grown grapes,” and wines labeled with these terms allow low levels of sulftes to be added – less than 100 parts per million – in the completed wine. Wines labeled “organic” may not add sulftes. All wines contain sulftes, as it is a naturally occurring byproduct of fermentation and harmless unless you are hyper-allergic to them.

When looking at most non-organic vineyards, you will often see nothing between its rows of vines – a complete monoculture – whereas with organic vineyards one might fnd yellow mustard, birds, insects, hawks and sheep grazing between rows, among other things.

Biodynamic Biodynamic farming is a little bit harder to understand, but it is essentially organic taken up a few notches. It follows the philosophy of 1920s Austrian scientist-philosopher Rudolf Stein. Biodynamic manages the farm as a comprehensive ecosystem; it is holistic, selfsustaining and self-regulating. Biodynamic farming utilizes renewable natural methods to reinvigorate the soil and attempts to not deplete the earth’s resources. Planting animal horns filled with herbs and other compost in the vineyard and planning vineyard work according to phases of the moon have left some thinking biodynamic practices are viticulture voodoo, but these practices have been proven to help and improve the vineyard and certainly do no harm.

So “green” wine is better for the environment, but does this growing category make better wine? When you talk to most winemakers they will say that wine is made in the vineyard, which speaks to how important the quality and purity of the grapes used to make wine are. You can make great wine from great grapes, but you cannot make great wine from mediocre grapes.

Wind machine at Honig.

Photo by Devin Cruz Photography.

It is generally accepted that vines are more balanced and are able to fght issues better because they are healthy and produce more consistent harvests when they are farmed “green.” Longterm costs are similar to conventional farming, despite initial conversion costs being higher. Some wineries may make the change in order make better wine, take care of the environment and/or provide a point of differentiation from a marketing standpoint with organic or biodynamic certifcations, but many wineries do not even list that they produce their wine “green.”

Whatever the reason a chosen winemaker chooses to produce “green” wine, they are certainly leaders in a move toward greater sustainability, and we are all the benefactors of it.

WHITE GREEN WINES Grüner Veltliner Nikolaihof “Hefeabzug” 2012 (Wachau, Austria) Nikolaihof is one of the oldest wine estates in Austria, dating back to Roman times. Today the Saahs family operates the vineyard in accordance with the regulations of the Demeter Association, one of the strictest control systems of organic agriculture. This Grüner Veltliner is straw/pale yellow, dry and medium-bodied and very crisp with Myer lemon, green apple, white grapefruit and a slight herbaceous tone with copious minerals. It is a refreshingly, delicious wine that goes well with oysters, cheeses and veal and is certifed biodynamic, as listed on the back label.

Vernaccia Di San Gimignano “Simone Santini” “Tenuta Le Calcinaie” 2013 (Tuscany, Italy) In 1987, Simone Santini planted 15 acres of organically farmed vernaccia, an ancient white grape variety, at Le Calcinaie, his Tuscan estate near the famous town of San Gimignano. He has since doubled his acres, and the winery is certified organic

by ICEA, the Italian Institute for Ethical and Environmental Certifcation. Tis wine is pale yellow with green highlights. Te

Honig Winery.

Photo by Devin Cruz Photography.

Honig Cabernet vineyard.

Photo by Devin Cruz Photography.

wine is dry, crisp and very linear. Tere are favors of citrus, apples and almonds, all in a compact medium-body that is quite tasty. Try it with roasted chicken and Milanese dishes. Made with organic grapes as listed on the label.

RED GREEN WINES Les Baux De Provence Mas de Gourgonnier 2011 (Provence, France) Operated by Nicolas Cartier and his sons, the Mas de Gourgonnier employs biological farming methods, and grapes are harvested by hand. Tis wine is medium-purple with a nice smell of leather, earth, black currants, black cherries and Herbs de Provence. Te wine is dry, with medium tannins and a full body. Try with grilled meats or short ribs. Made with organic grapes as listed on the front label.

Monastrell Tarima 2012 (Alicante, Spain) With an opaque purple color, this wine is big and rich with ripe fruit of strawberries, blackberries and blueberries. Te favors of espresso, spice and licorice are found in this forward wine that is delicious with ovenroasted ribeye. Made with organic grapes as listed on the front label.

Cabernet Sauvignon Honig 2012 (Napa Valley, California) Te Honig Vineyard and Winery employs sustainable farming methods such as planting cover crops to nourish the soil; installing owl boxes for rodent control; mechanical tilling in lieu of spraying herbicides; using “snifer dogs” to detect vine mealybug; powering their operations with solar energy; and drip irrigation. Tis Cabernet Sauvignon is dark purple with favors of blackberry, cherry, plum, allspice, vanilla and oak, all in a fullbodied frame with well-integrated tannins. Drinks well now but will improve with a few years of additional aging. Sustainably farmed as listed on the back label.. sl A Certifed Wine Educator, Harper is one of 140 professionals in North America and 220 worldwide who have earned the title Master Sommelier.

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Curating a Lifestyle: Wanderlust Fulflled

Written by Amelia and Jef Jefers

From left to right: Sailor's Valentines, assembled from shells and stones by seamen for loved ones left at home, are very collectible this 19th Century example made in the Caribbean sold for $1,880 at Garth's. A 19th Century marine compass and mount by American makers sold for $460.

Tis monumental ship's clock by the Chelsea Clock Company in Boston fetched a whopping $18,800 at Garth's in 2011.

Few images so capture the spirit of wanderlust, that insatiable passion for travel and adventure, than a ship on the open sea. From the moment the frst oceanic explorers conquered the waves and set sail for new, exotic lands, humanity’s fascination with ships and the wondrous expeditions they represent was set. For some, a daily reminder of the endless possibilities of voyages taken, and those yet to come, surfaces in the form of nautical antiques.

A popular subject for artists, paintings of water, ships and harbors generally appeal to a wide audience and command very good prices at auction and in galleries. Grand 19th Century oils on canvas ofer historic touches to traditional decor, while naive, folksy paintings from the same period blend well with a more modern aesthetic. In virtually every medium, across nearly every genre, artists have attempted to visually convey the appeal of open water and the spirit of those who roam it. Infusing your collection with a bit of maritime whimsy need not be limited to art, however.

A most distinctive and interesting collecting category, nautical antiques take many forms. Of particular note in the market today are architectural and mechanical salvage items.

From ship’s lanterns and portholes to gauges and binnacles, elements reclaimed from shipping vessels are often of a large scale and sophisticated, sleek form that commands a space.

Te rarest items are not always the most valuable. For example, portholes of various shapes are found at auction and antique shops - but lack a functional application unless remodeling is in your future. Values hover in the low hundreds. Higher prices are commanded for items that can be installed into a room without hassle, but still remain surprisingly affordable. An impressive standalone binnacle sold at Garth’s a few years ago for just $500.

Ship’s clocks and lanterns are incredibly collectible and infnitely useable, appealing to a big audience of buyers. Prices range from $1,500 to $20,000 for choice clocks in wonderful condition, while lanterns are often found for $100 - $500.

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More inconspicuous choices for collectors include items made or used by sailors. Scrimshaw, the carved and engraved keepsakes made from bone or ivory, can be very valuable; but, fakes abound, so buyers should beware and only buy from trusted companies. Sailor’s valentines are a bit more uncommon: constructed from shells, stones and simple wood frames, the sweet and sentimental gifts are a wonderfully charming collectible. Depending upon the intricacy of design, prices hover in the $1500 - $3500 range. Mechanical instruments are vital to success on the sea, and sextants, as one example, are a fascinating category. As interesting as they are attractive, sextants were a key development in oceanic exploration. Garth’s has sold simple models for just over $100, while more complex versions can exceed $1,000.

Just a few year’s ago, we were visiting with an antique dealer / friend at the preview party of a high-end antique show in New York City. As we perused his booth, he hurriedly completed the tag on a sailor’s valentine. When we inquired about his sudden excitement, he replied that a well-known American lifestyle maven was just a few booths away, and whispers about her fascination with valentines had made the way to him. She bought every example of the category at the show that day, and set into motion a market shift that is at the crux of supply and demand valuation. Te market for nautical collectibles remains hot today, with no signs of cooling anytime soon.

Wanderlust is one of many reasons to embrace nautical antiques and fne art. One of our favorite quotes is “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” In our family, ships, anchors and seascapes are gentle reminders of living life with fortitude and tenacity. Whether you fnd inspiration, motivation or relaxation maritime collectibles surely have a place in every abode. sl Amelia & Jef Jefers are co-owners of two fne art, antique and bespoke collectibles companies: Garth's of Delaware, Ohio and Selkirk of St. Louis, Missouri.

Tis 19th Century painting of the British ship Te Annie Sherewood

by William Mitchell, painted in 1869, sold for $3,173 at Garth's.

Te sextant, when combined with a ship's clock, was instrumental in the exploration of the open seas. Tis beautiful English model sold for $875.

So beloved was the acclaimed opera singer, Jenny Lind, that many late 19th Century ship's fgure heads were styled in her image. Tis sweet example sold for $1100 at Garth's.

Architectural elements such as these portholes (sold, $150) are a whimsical way to add a nautical fair to interior design.

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Goldencents with Rafael Bejarano aboard wins the $1 Million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile for trainer Leandro Mora and owner W.C. Racing during the 2014 Breeders' Cup World Toroughbred Championships. Photo by Ben Van Hook.

Te Breeders’ Cup Comes Home Lexington’s Keeneland Racecourse to host the prestigious event for the frst time in its 32-year history.

Written by Bridget Williams More than 30 years after the late respected horseman John Gaines of Lexington, Kentucky, organized a group of regional horse farm owners to pool funds and stage a national championship horserace, the Breeders' Cup World Championships will make its debut on the hallowed grounds of Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington on October 30 and 31, 2015. Serving as the unofcial end of the thoroughbred racing season, this culmination is marked by 13 championship races, including the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic. “Approximately 70 percent of the horses that will be competing were born and raised within a 50-mile radius of Keeneland, making this homecoming incredibly exciting for fans and owners,” remarked Bill Tomason, president/CEO of Keeneland.

Whereas the Kentucky Derby is said to be “Te Most Exciting Two Minutes In Sports,” with 20 horses in the running, the Breeders’ Cup encompasses an entire weekend of top-tier racing, attracting 150 of the best horses in the world who qualifed to compete by either winning a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race or earning enough

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points in major races during the year. Will Farish of Lexington’s Lane’s End Farm and chairman of the Executive Committee of the Breeders’ Cup described each race as the equivalent of an all-star game. “Te atmosphere is so dynamic that it’s just incredible,” added Vince Gabbert, vice president of Keeneland.

Situated amongst the verdant, rolling hills that defne the heart of Kentucky’s horse country, Keeneland, a National Historic Landmark opened in 1936, is still guided by its founding mission to reinvest profits back into the track, the industry and the community at large through its charitable foundation.

As horse racing’s most prestigious and infuential gathering on a global scale, the Breeders' Cup World Championships attracts racing's elite – the best horses, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys – along with legions of fans who also enjoy a full complement of luxury lifestyle and hospitality events. “Racing has always been a lifestyle experience, but as time has gone on we’ve upped the game in terms of the fan experience,” said Fravel.

Untapable with Rosie Napravnik aboard wins the $2 Million Breeders' Cup Longines Distaf for trainer Steven M. Asmussen and owner Winchell Toroughbreds during the 2014 Breeders' Cup World Toroughbred Championships. Photo by Gary Mook.

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Hootenanny with Lanfrnaco Dettori aboard wins the $1,000,000 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf for trainer Welsey A. Ward and owner Derrik Smith, Michael Tabor & Mrs. John Magnier during the 2014 Breeders' Cup World Toroughbred Championships. Photo by Christy Radecic.

Bobby Flay watching the races at the 2014 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park. Photo by Matt Sayles/AP Images.

Chef Masaharu Morimoto at the 2014 Breeders' Cup World Championships. Photo by Matt Sayles/AP Images.

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Photo by Matt Sayles/AP Images.

Main Sequence with John Velazquez aboard wins the $3 Million Breeders' Cup Longines Turf for trainer H. Graham Motion and owner Flaxman Holdings, LTD during the 2014 Breeders' Cup World Toroughbred Championships. Photo by Gary Mook.

Once Keeneland was selected as a host site, a committee comprised of both local leaders and international figures began planning a weeklong festival to engage the entire community in the excitement. KentuckyOne Health is serving as the title sponsor of the Breeders’ Cup Festival, which will take place at venues around Lexington beginning October 25. “Visitors will be able to experience all that’s great about Lexington and the Bluegrass, including its friendly people, who take great pride in the region’s history and legacy of horse breeding and racing,” said Tomason.

Taste of the World, a signature Breeders’ Cup event, will be hosted at WinStar Farm. Heavily attended by owners and trainers, celebrity chef and thoroughbred owner Bobby Flay was instrumental in founding the foodie-focused event fve years ago.

“Before we go to war on the racetrack, I thought it would be good to break bread the night before,” explained Flay, adding, “Tere’s so much fantastic Southern flavor in Lexington that we will thread all through the event, but other cuisines will be represented as well to reinforce Breeders’ Cup as an international event.”

With significantly less permanent seating capacity than past host sites such as Santa Anita, Belmont and Churchill Downs, the 2015 Breeders’ Cup will be the first in its 32-year history to implement an admissions cap. To accommodate the anticipated crowds, the organization has invested $5 million on temporary infrastructure, including VIP chalets in the stretch, a bourbon lounge with a 3,000-person capacity and a luxury

chalet over the paddock area that can accommodate 600 guests.

Tese enhancements are in addition to Keeneland’s rigorous and on-going schedule of improvements.

Keeneland is the world’s largest thoroughbred auction house, and coinciding with the Breeders’ Cup will be Keeneland’s fall sale, also signifcant on a global scale as no less than 77 horses sold at Keeneland have won 83 Breeders’ Cup races. “Combining the stock sale with the world championships in a community that is all about the horse represents all of the ingredients necessary to make a truly unique experience,” said Tomason.

As of press time, tickets sales were proceeding at a blistering pace, with trackside areas, including general admission, sold out for Saturday, October 31, and less than 3,000 trackside tickets remaining for Friday, October 30. Premium tickets and packages with unique food and beverage options and either seating or access to various locales around the track including trackside and saddling paddock luxury chalets, the Entertainment Center and Keene Barn, the Bourbon Lounge, the Sales Pavilion and The Toroughbred Club were available in very limited quantity.

When asked if there’s a chance the event will return to Lexington at a future date, Fravel replied enthusiastically by saying, “If ticket sales to date are any indication, we’ll defnitely be back in Kentucky.”

For more information on group sales and premium tickets, call 859.514.9428 or email groupsales@breederscup.com. sl slmag.net

41

It’s Not Wallpaper

Written by Ruth Crnkovich and Anita Heriot

Many companies purchase art for decorative purposes or for investment. A corporate collection can vary from museumquality fne art to posters. While nationally there are over 1,000 corporations with known art collections, it is unlikely that many of these could achieve the high prices the Lehman collection realized at the 2009 auction at Freeman Brothers in Philadelphia. For example, a Roy Lichtenstein print, titled “I Love Liberty,” fetched $49,000 at auction and was likely purchased at auction earlier by Lehman Brothers at a considerably lower price.

To what extent is the sale of the Lehman collection a window into the corporate art world? Most corporations do not realize the actual value of their collection until they need to sell. While the insurance values, which are based on retail gallery prices, refect high prices for the artwork, only the fair market value – auction price – reflects its place as an asset. In fact, many corporate art collections have very little value at auction.

Many art consultants, who claim vast years of experience in the art world, purchase fne art that has little to no long-term value. Te principle reason why an art consultant would favor such purchases is that they are able to achieve a much greater fnancial gain from selling the work of living artists, taking as much as 50 percent commission from the artist’s sale price.

Also, living artists provide a ready inventory of pieces to choose from. While there is no doubt that many of the artists have talent, the problem is that if the inventory of a corporate art collection is primarily comprised of living artists who have not actively sold at auction, the collection cannot be considered to have any real value as a corporate asset.

Additionally, the consultant may also get incentives from certain art dealers for placing works by artists they represent in signifcant corporate collections. While inventory markup is common practice for interior decorators, is it ethical for art consultants?

Understanding how art is valued is of utmost importance regardless of who is buying and for whom. Let’s consider how art is valued and when it’s deemed an asset. Art Appraising 101 teaches that there are four diferent values for art at any given time. Te retail value is the price paid for an artwork and is important for

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insurance purposes in the event the art is damaged, stolen or lost.

Appraisers are retained to update retail appraisals for insurance purposes. Retail value appraisals refect the highest price in the most immediate market for like, kind and quality in the event of a loss. Te appraisals are meant to cover the cost of buying a similar work of art and any other fees associated with replacing it such as framing, shipping and installation. Retail values do not refect the real value of the art if it were to be sold. For insurance, the Lichtenstein “I Love Liberty” would be valued at $50,000.

However, the true value of the asset is the fair market value.

Tis refects the price that would be paid for a similar item in the open market. Traditionally, auctions are the best source for information regarding fair market values because those prices are publicly published. Te fair market value refects the price that is “paid by a willing buyer to a willing seller,” both having equal knowledge of the facts and neither being required to act. It behooves the corporation to know the fair market value of the art in their collection to understand if they have an asset or simply an attractive picture. Every piece of art in a corporate collection should have two valuations; the retail value for insurance purposes and a fair market value for asset management. Te fair market value for Lichtenstein’s “I Love Liberty” as of February 2010 is $25,000.

Marketable cash value is best described as the “net proceeds” after the sale of the art. It takes into consideration what the fair market value would be: the cost of sales, i.e. auction premiums, shipping costs, photography costs and any other fees associated with the selling of the art. Te current marketable cash value for Lichtenstein’s “I Love Liberty” is $17,000, a diference of $8,000.

No corporation wants to think about what happens to the value of their property in a liquidation sale. Te art world shudders at the thought of liquidating corporate art collections.

Liquidation values refect the price that a work of art would sell for in the event of a forced sale. Liquidation values are based on the result of too much art to sell and too little time in which to sell it. Wise purchasing practices ensure that art will actually retain value.

What Every Corporation Should Know About the Role of the Art Consultant Art advisors and consultants frequently purchase artwork as an agent on behalf of the corporation. Te purchasing of art for a corporation is shaped by several factors: • • • •

Te interior ofce space.

Te products produced by the corporation.

Te geographical location of the corporation.

Te particular taste and interest of infuential executives in the corporation.

• Te connections the art consultant has with particular “working artists.”

• Te desire to purchase art as an asset or investment for the company.

Too frequently art consultants don’t consider art as an asset of the company, more often favoring the work of local, living artists.

ROY LICHTENSTEIN, "I LOVE LIBERTY", 1982.

Color screenprint on Arches 88 wove paper. Photo courtesy of Freeman's Auctioneers.

What happens when corporate art consultants behave more like decorators than advisors selling only art that has no real value? Consider contemporary artist Debbie Smith who sells her original abstract watercolors online, at local art fairs and through her local art consultant Betty, who has a decorating business.

Debbie paints abstract forms in soothing pastel colors. She has enlisted the help of an excellent framer to make her work stand out. She sells her own paintings at art fairs for $1000-$2000 (unframed). Consultant Betty can sell the same paintings to her corporate clients for $5000 each and keep 50 percent of the proft for herself. Betty can usually sell at least four works to each of her corporate clients. Te retail value for insurance purposes is $20,000 for the four paintings.

Fast-forward 10 years. One of the corporations has a new CEO who wants to give the company a new polished look. He plans to sell some of the old art and use those funds to buy new works. Arrangements are made to sell the art at auction, but because there is no active auction record of sales for the artist, the auction house puts a value of $100-$200 each for the watercolors. Only one painting sells and sells for $80. Te other three watercolors did not sell. Te fair market value for

the one painting is $80. The marketable cash value is $64.

Unfortunately this circumstance is not an anomaly for the corporation who decides to sell their art inventory at auction.

As long as the bulk of the collection is made up of living artists who have not sold at auction, the depreciation in value for the artwork will be substantial.

Tere are concrete ways corporations can avoid catastrophic depreciation of their collection. Every corporation with an existing collection should have a fair market appraisal of their pieces. Tis will provide them with a clear understanding of the current value of the work in the auction market. Additionally, the corporation should clearly articulate the overall goals of the art collection to their art consultant. While it is assumed that the art consultant industry has ethical standards for their profession, at this time there is no license necessary to practice.

Unlike ofce furniture or wallpaper, fne art is a marketable asset and should be purchased with that goal in mind. Insist that your art consultant purchase works that show your company invests wisely. sl Ruth Crnkovich is a Fine Art Appraiser at President of CRN Fine Art Services. Anita Heriot is Vice President and Head of the Appraisal Department at Samuel T. Freeman & Company.

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Of Note...Outside Interests

Compiled by Bridget Williams

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1) Rufno, the classic Italian winery and govino, the innovative “go anywhere� wine glass maker have collaborated with Milan art design school POLI.design to design a resort-ready set of screen printed futes ideal for summer outdoor entertaining. Te limited edition Al Fresco Flutes will be available for sale online beginning in June ($20/ 4; Rufno.com). 2) Vondom PEACOCK self-watering planter designed by Eero Aarnio (price upon request; vondom.com). 3) Wirkkala Bottles by Tapio Wirkkala were originally in production between 1959 and 1968 and are now available in a series numbered from 1 to 2015. Te bottles will bear an engraving to mark the centenary and they will only be available in 2015 (price upon request; ittala.com). 4) Union LED steel outdoor foor lamp from the Te Urban Tree of Light Collection by Beau et Bien (price upon request; beauetbien.fr). 5) Decorative bowl individually cast in black concrete with a smooth outer texture with natural voids ($250 & $325; alicetacheny.com). 6) Aegean napkin rings and Mod Dot napkins (both $18:each; jonathanadler. com). 7) MacKenzie Childs Flower Market outdoor butterfy chair ($2,995) and Flower Market square ottoman ($750; mackenzie-childs.com).

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8) Using wood pellets instead of charcoal or gas, at the push of a button, the Rec Tec grill will automatically light and heat to the temperature you have selected, removing the variable of temperature fuctuation that plagues backyard enthusiasts and pit masters alike. Te pellets contain the perfect amount of moisture, which provides humidity in the cooking chamber and prevents foods from drying out ($998; rectecgrills.com).9) Fair Winds 100% polypropylene outdoor rug from Company C ($60-$795; companyc.com). 10) MĂŠridienne from the Komfy collection by Sifas (priced upon request; sifas.com). 11) Te sinuous lines of the Tommy Bahama Home Tres Chic chaise lounge are achieved through the blending of natural teak with brushed stainless steel ($3,000; lexington.com/tommy-bahama). 12) Te series of seven vases in fve colors that comprise Ruutu by Erwan & Ronan Bouroullec represent Iittala's frst collaboration with the Bouroullec brothers. Meaning 'diamond' in Finnish, Ruutu is meant to be grouped together in clusters to show of the play of light and color with the glass. A beautiful way to display your summer arrangements. (from $95; iittala.com).

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Of Note...Outside Interests

Compiled by Bridget Williams

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1) Superarchimoon Outdoor foor lamp by Philippe Starck for FLOS Lighting($14,950; usa.fos.com). 2) Iittala Aino Aalto clear pitcher ($135; aalto.com). 3) Tyler outdoor armchair

by OutrĂŠ ($2,705; shop.itstheniche.com). 4) Designed by Paul Loebach, the copper x3 Watering Can by Kontextur is designed with three bends in the handle that allow for carrying on top when full and from the side when pouring ($145; lumens.com). 5) Te Adan planter from Vondom features a multicolor light system available with energy saving lamps and/or LED technology with remote control (price upon request; vondom.com). 6) Santorini outdoor sofa with cushions in Sundial Spa from Arhaus ($2,300; arhaus.com).

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7) Inspired by the lanterns found on fshing boats, the Santorini collection of outdoor customizable lamps from Marset allows you to create multiple compositions (price upon request; marset. com). 8) Both the FLUX Lounge Chair and FLUX Ring Drink Table from Link Outdoor are constructed of powder coated aluminum and shown in a Bronze Patina fnish. Also available in Bone White, Gunmetal, Silver and Steel (to the trade; linkoutdoor.com). 9) Bronze Chinese lanterns by Erin Sullivan Objects beautifully depict the Chinese character symbolizing "longevity".

Available in three sizes (price upon request; esobjects.com). 10) Te indoor/outdoor FollowMe LED lamp from Marset is inspired in form and function by a traditional oil lantern ($245; marset. com/usa). 11) Fifty armchair and ottoman by Dรถgg & Arnved Design Studio for Ligne Roset ( $1,525 & $530; ligne-roset-usa.com).

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Swiss Watch

Te future of motoring on display in Geneva Written by Andre James

Aston Martin Vulcan

Nearly 700,000 motoring enthusiasts streamed through the doors of the 85th edition of the Geneva International Motor Show to get a first glimpse of what’s new and next in the automotive world. All exhibition halls were completely full and a special display presented by Swiss watch manufacturer TAG Heuer highlighted its involvement in motor sports; the watchmaker has been a sponsoring partner of McLaren for three decades. Bastions of high performance motoring – Aston Martin, Ferrari and McLaren – to name a few, debuted models that nudged the bar even higher, while other respected marques such as BMW, Lexus and Rolls Royce pushed the envelope with technological and accoutrement advances.

Te new Alfa Romeo 4C Spider made its European debut alongside the latest Alfa Romeo 4C Coupé. Te Coupé enjoys a number of signifcant changes for 2015, including more standard features and a wider range of options, but it was the Spider that dominated the limelight.

Built around an ultra-lightweight carbon fber monocoque, minimal structural enhancements were required to transform Coupé into Spider. New performance features that debuted on the 4C Spider include the optional Akrapovič titanium exhaust 48 slmag.net

system, which is mounted centrally, finished with carbon fiber bezels and offers switchable modes that can be selected depending on the driving environment and driver inclination.

Powered by the same, all-aluminum, 240hp, 258lb.-ft., 1750 TBi engine as the Coupé, performance is on par with the hardtop model, with a top speed of 160 mph and a 0-to-60 mph time of less than 4.5 seconds.

The global unveiling of the Aston Martin DBX Concept signaled a key change in the brand’s thinking, as CEO Dr. Andy Palmer stated that he has challenged his team to re-evaluate and expand the high luxury GT sector in the years ahead. “Te Geneva show this year marks the frst public signs of a revolution at Aston Martin – a revolution we’re calling ‘Second Century,’” said Palmer.

Limited to just 24 examples worldwide, Aston Martin’s new Vulcan, a track-only supercar, will allow its lucky owners the opportunity to precisely tailor their track day experiences through a graduating scale of detailed power and dynamic performance adjustments. Prior to taking delivery of their cars, owners will be ofered the opportunity to take part in an extensive program of intensive track driver training with experienced racers including Le Mans winner Darren Turner.

Bentley EXP 10 Speed 6 Concept

Styled entirely in-house by the Aston Martin design team led by Chief Creative Ofcer Marek Reichman, and with a design language hinting at the next generation of Aston Martin sports cars, this supercar is powered by the most potent iteration yet of the company’s naturally-aspirated, 7.0-litre, 800-plus bhp V12 engine.

Bentley highlighted the future of the brand and its continued dual commitment to luxury and performance with the introduction of the EXP 10 Speed 6 concept, a British interpretation of a high performance two-seater sports car.

“Tis is not just a new sports car concept – but the potential of Bentley sports cars – a bold vision for a brand with a bold future,” commented Wolfgang Durheimer, chairman and chief executive of Bentley Motors.

To mark the 10th anniversary of the BMW 1 Series, a revised version of the popular model was revealed with a sportier design both inside and out and from bonnet to the trunk along with technological upgrades and improved fuel efciency. Class defining characteristics such as rear-wheel drive and a 50:50 weight distribution remain unchanged.

Te new BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer was introduced as the world’s frst premium Multi-Purpose Vehicle – the frst premium

seven-seater with four-wheel drive in the compact segment. Safety and connectivity features of note include Head-Up Display, Adaptive Cruise Control, Park Assistant and Trafc Jam Assistant.

Forty years on from the launch of Ferrari’s iconic frst-ever mid-rear-engined V8 Berlinetta, the 308 GTB, the Ferrari 488 GTB opens a new chapter in automotive history with a plethora of patented features that draw extensively on the company’s experience in both Formula One and endurance racing. Te 488 in the car’s moniker indicates the engine’s unitary displacement, while the GTB stands for Gran Turismo Berlinetta, a reference to its deep roots in Ferrari history.

Power is delivered by a new 3902 cc turbo engine coupled to a seven-gear F1 dual-clutch gearbox featuring Variable Boost Management that optimally distributes torque (a maximum 760 Nm in seventh gear). Patented solutions and innovative features include a blown rear spoiler and a 458 GT-derived aerodynamic underbody with vortex generators.

Te Ferrari 488 GTB debuted in a new Rosso Corsa Met livery with black and red technical fabric cabin trim, and in a Grigio Ferro Met livery with black and beige Tradizione leather interior trim. slmag.net

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Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale Centennial Edition

McLaren 675LT

911 GT3 RS

Ford GT

Ford Motor Company powered into the 2015 Geneva Motor Show with its most technologically advanced performance model range ever, including the European premiere of the all-new Ford GT supercar, which uses an aerodynamic carbon fber body and fuel-efcient twin-turbocharged V6 EcoBoost engine to deliver one of the best power-to-weight ratios of any production car.

“The Ford performance vehicle line-up on show in Geneva stretches from a compact hatch to a supercar, and with 12 models to come through 2020, this promises to be a vintage era for driving enthusiasts,” said Jim Farley, Ford Motor Company executive vice president and president Europe, Middle East and Africa.

2014 marked the 25th anniversary of the very frst Lexus, the LS400 saloon. To celebrate this milestone, Lexus challenged ED2, its European design studio, to create a concept of an ultracompact urban 2+2 model. Debuting at Geneva, the LF-SA Concept is a driver-focused vehicle, refecting Lexus’ vision for a future world where technology and virtual experiences are expected to hold more sway and where real driving experience could become the ultimate luxury.

Te 2+2 cabin layout gives clear priority to the driver, with a fixed driver’s seat, and adjustable steering wheel and pedals, 50 slmag.net

which brings the vehicle to the driver rather than vice-versa. Te infotainment system includes a hologram-style digital display incorporated in the instrument binnacle and a wide-angle head-up display.

After a year of commercial success and recent centennial celebrations, Maserati’s stand portrayed 2015 as a year of consolidation before the launch of its new models. Te brand announced a strengthening of the all-Italian partnership with Ermenegildo Zegna maison of Trivero, with the production launch of a new interior version available as an option beginning in autumn.

The Ermenegildo Zegna interior combines Poltrona Frau Leather with 100 percent natural fber Zegna Mulberry Silk inserts on the seats, door panels, roof lining, sunshades and ceiling light fixture. Available in three color variants for the interiors of the Quattroporte and Ghibli saloons, this exclusive outft will be the most exquisite of all Maserati customizations.

McLaren’s 675LT made its global debut as the lightest, most powerful and fastest model in the McLaren Super Series, and also the most exclusive: production will be strictly limited to just 500 examples worldwide. At its core is the lightweight carbon

Alfa Romeo 4C Spider and Coupe

fiber MonoCell chassis, shared with each model in the Super Series, but in this case both the chassis setup and powertrain are bespoke, with a third of overall parts and components modifed.

Porsche’s new 911 GT3 RS was shown equipped with the maximum degree of motorsport technology currently possible in a street-legal 911, but with supreme suitability for everyday driving. Te engine, a 4.0-liter six-cylinder with 500 hp, has the largest displacement and most power of any naturally aspirated power unit with direct fuel injection in the 911 family, capable of accelerating the car from 0-to-62 mph in 3.3 seconds and on to 124 mph in 10.9 seconds.

For the frst time, the roof panel is made of magnesium; carbon fber is used for the engine and luggage compartment lids, and other lightweight components are made of alternative materials. Te 911 GT3 RS features the widest tires of any 911 model as standard. Te interior design of the 911 GT3 RS with Alcantara elements is based on the current 911 GT3, with the exception of the sports seats, which are based on the carbon fber “bucket” seats of the 918 Spyder.

With the unveiling of Serenity, Rolls-Royce set a new standard in authentic, bespoke luxury motoring. Delivering authentic modern luxury, Serenity reintroduces the fnest of textiles – hand-

woven and hand-painted silk – to create the most opulent interior of any luxury car. “The rear compartment of a Phantom is the most tranquil, beautiful place to be, a place where time and the outside world simply slip past,” said Cherica Haye, a member of the Bespoke Design department. “Tis tranquility made us think of the Oriental tradition where emperors would take to their private gardens to refect in solitude under the blossom trees. We felt it was the perfect representation of tranquility and serenity for a beautiful modern interior from Rolls-Royce.” Te blossom motif on the silk used extensively in the interior is recreated in motherof-pearl marquetry on the rear door cappings, which is laser-cut and hand-applied, petal-by-petal into the wood.

At the closing of the 11-day show, its President, Maurice Turrettini, conveyed his satisfaction: “Once again the Geneva International Motor Show has enhanced its image as an outstanding international showroom that brings together not only the largest automobile manufacturers but also provides a stage for smaller constructors, designers, suppliers and preparation specialists.”

Te 86th edition of the Geneva International Motor Show will take place from March 3-13, 2016. sl slmag.net

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Paradise Perfected From island idler to active adventurer, Laucala Island raises the bar for a luxury lifestyle experience Written by Bridget Williams

Laucala’s fshing grounds are the largest protected fshing area within Fiji.

Laucala Island ruined me. The experience was so unparalleled that throughout the entirety of my stay I was often left pondering the fact that while I felt fully awake, I most certainly must be dreaming. A veritable tropical fantasyland full of architectural, gastronomic, cultural, natural and recreational delights, it will forever be the high water mark by which all of my future travels will invariably be judged.

On a map of the world, Laucala appears as a nearly indiscernible spec nearby the small spec that represents Fiji. Tis is not the kind of place someone comes across by happenstance, but if I were to ever get stranded on a three-hour tour, I’d want it to be here. Volcanic in origin, and ringed by a reef that teems with marine life and keeps the waves nearly as gentle as a kitten lapping up a dish of milk, approximately half of this South Pacifc archipelago, a little more than six miles in length and encompassing 3,500 acres, is comprised of unmolested rainforest not unlike what Dutch sailor Abel Tasman would have encountered when he explored these waters in the 17th century.

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Disembarking in Nadi following a 15-hour fight, I was thrilled to see a Laucala representative who whisked us through customs so that within 20 minutes we were aboard the resort’s own King Air B 200 for the scenic 55-minute fight to paradise. Fijian employees in traditional attire were waiting to serenade us after touching down on the island’s private airstrip, and though weary with jet lag and the extreme time difference, the music, the fresh coconut water, the pervading smell of lemongrass and the call of tropical birds invigorated us enough to power through the afternoon.

The resort is positioned on the north end of the island.

Billionaire owner Dietrich Mateschitz, co-founder of the Red Bull energy drink company, purchased the island in 2003 from the Forbes family and spared no expense in its development (the late Malcolm Forbes was so enamored with the place that he chose it as his fnal resting spot). A mind-boggling array of infrastructure, which includes bottling the island’s own artisanal water that bubbles forth from underground aquifers, allows the operation to be 85 percent self-sufcient.

Surrounded by opulent green hills, the spacious living areas of the Peninsula Villa are connected by wooden bridges that ofer spectacular views from every angle.

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Plateau Villa with private pool.

Booking into one of Laucala’s 25 one-, two- and threebedroom villas places you among rarefied company: just 500-600 guests are welcomed to the island each year.

Approximately 300 staf are present on the island at any given time, regardless of whether there is one guest or the maximum capacity of 80. It’s the perfect opportunity to pretend to be queen for a day (preferably more).

Each villa features its own pool, lush tropical garden, and spacious indoor and outdoor areas, along with all food and beverage services, chauffeur, nanny, housekeeping, Tao service, laundry and dry cleaning, and both welcome and farewell gifts. Guests are also offered watersports activities (including a DeepFlight Super Falcon submarine – the only resort in the world to boast of such an amenity), boating/sailing, golf, tennis, horseback riding, 54 slmag.net

hiking, biking, surfng, fshing and diving as part of their stay. “For someone who is actively minded this place is exceptional, but we can also more than adequately cater to those who want to unplug and do nothing,” explained General Manager Andrew Tomson.

Driving along the cobblestone paths (all meticulously laid by hand) from the landing strip to our oceanfront villa, I marveled at the Seuss-like architecture, which employs natural materials and modern sensibilities with traditional Fijian building techniques; a cultural center, one of the few traditional villages left in Fiji designed to preserve and showcase local traditions, culture and architecture to guests; and, the most amazing resort pool I’ve ever seen, punctuated by a striking glass cube lap pool that appears to float atop the 60,000-square-foot lagoon-style pool, which is separated from the South Pacifc by a thin stretch of powdery beach.

A striking glass cube lap pool appears to foat atop the 60,000-square-foot lagoon-style pool. Photo by Bridget Williams.

Allow me to be clear: this is no garden-variety all-inclusive resort, and Mateschitz aims to make it one of the top three destinations in the world. Take the food and beverage program for instance. Tere are fve restaurants (ranging from a toes-in-the-sand experience to a gastronomic tour de force one would expect to fnd in a major metro area hotspot), all overseen by afable Executive Chef Anthony Healy, a Brisbane native (the “real” Australia in his words), who has an extensive fne dining background. Having worked on other islands, he was in search of a more land-locked assignment when Laucala came calling with a scenario typically not available to chefs on an island of this size: a plethora of fresh produce and meat. “Tat sealed the deal,” he said.

Healy ofers tours of the 240-acre farm and garden, during which the excitement for his craft and its raw ingredients is

certainly palpable. “I love the challenge of trying not to use ingredients if they’re not grown here,” he said. A promised land for foodies from plow to plate, the range of available raw ingredients is staggering: nearly 100 different types of fruits, vegetables, citrus trees and orchids are currently cultivated. While walking around, Healy points out local lemons that certainly won’t win beauty contests but whose intensity of flavor is far superior to their more attractive grocery store counterparts. Tere are 60-80 vanilla plants; wild bananas; Southeast Asian plants such as mangosteen, noni fruit and lychee; and of course lots and lots of coconuts, which are opened and pressed by hand to yield 60-100 liters of milk each week that is used for cooking and in products for the on-site spa. “When in doubt, add coconut milk and cook,” joked Healy.

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Lounge and private pool of the Peninsula Villa.

Situated on Nawi Mountain, Plateau Villas ofer an open air foor plan.

Bathroom in the Plantation Villa.

An expansive greenhouse ensures that flowers are always blooming inside and out when a villa is occupied; the orchid room is a truly beautiful sight to behold. Te island’s cattle are a cross breed of Limousin and Hereford. Four head of Wagyu were recently acquired at a cost of $114k to begin a small-scale breeding operation. Chickens, pigs, “Fiji Fantastic” sheep, turkey, quail and duck are also humanely raised on site, and the bounty of the ocean is all around (succulent lobsters are sourced from the nearby reef break that surrounds the island).

An homage to the island’s bounty, the exquisitely plated multicourse extravaganzas Healy offers each evening at the Plantation House are a feast for all of the senses. Chef Healy said that the menu is conceived “spontaneously” each day, so that if you chose to have dinner at that restaurant daily, the experience would be unique each time. Healy calls upon his training in French cooking techniques and “tweaks” them ever so slightly in deference of the tropical climes 56 slmag.net

to keep each course “fresh and light.” “I never get bored because I’m always experimenting,” said Healy, who often consults with the local kitchen staf on the best way to approach unfamiliar ingredients.

Awaking with the emerging rays of a glorious sunrise, I padded into the adjacent living pavilion to pour myself a glass of freshly squeezed juice from the assortment available in my stocked refrigerator while a pot of cofee brewed (there were also six diferent kinds of wine, rum, gin, vodka and mixers for those who always contend that it’s happy hour somewhere). Properly caffeinated, I proceeded past the pool deck, where plethora of tropical vegetation was in full-fower, and on to a duo of chaise lounges near the water’s edge. The beach had already been groomed; fresh towels and plush pillows were waiting on each of the lounges – mind you, this is six o’clock in the morning.

Fresh from a solid night’s rest, I walked back to the villa to survey the dreamy surroundings. An open-air loggia separated the

Te two-bedroom Overwater Villa appears to foat above the emerald-green lagoon. A large private pool is carved directly into the rocks of the shore.

Te 18-hole championship golf course was designed

by David McLay Kidd to be minimally disruptive of the natural environment. Photo by Bridget Williams

Te Beach Bar. Photo by Bridget Williams.

bedroom and bathroom from the living area. Tough the overall feeling is quite contemporary, local materials – Sago Palm leaves, Mangrove wood and stems of the fern tree – and traditional building techniques pay homage to Fijian heritage. My favorite room was the bath, a sprawling octagonal-shaped room with stone walls and foor, a soaring vaulted ceiling with a whimsical chandelier, a deep chiseled stone bathtub and toiletries made on-site and presented in small glass vessels. Even more divine was the second stone tub oriented to face the ocean and located in a covered outdoor pavilion just of of the master bath; combined with the nearby platform daybed, the duo provided the ideal elements for an idyll afternoon.

Other lodging options in addition to the one-, two- and three-bedroom Plantation, Seagrass and Plateau villas include the exclusive luxury afforded by the one-bedroom Peninsula “Udu” villa, which is perched atop a rock overlooking the ocean

with a pair of infnity clif-edge pools and a staircase down to a beach only accessible by villa guests; the two-bedroom overwater “Wai” villa that boasts a saltwater pool directly carved out of the volcanic rock; and the hilltop “Delana” estate, a three-bedroom house situated on the highest point of the resort with 360° panoramic views.

After a breakfast of local fruit and eggs, I made my way to the golf course to see if I could run the paths. My past experience at other resorts has largely been that such a request is frowned upon, but not only was I welcomed to explore, I was asked if I’d like someone to meet me at the halfway point with refreshments!

Though Mateschitz is not a golfer, he understands that such an amenity is key to a world class resort, and his main request of Scottish designer David McLay Kidd was to cut down as few trees as possible when building the 18-hole championship course. Not encountering another soul throughout the duration of my run, I slmag.net

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Sunset cruises are available on Laucala's classic sailing yacht, the Rere Ahi.

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All of the horses used for the equestrian program were rescued throughout the Fijian Islands.

Te Spa is located in the quiet Plateau area of the resort.

Laucala maintains a feet of watercraft for pleasure and sport cruises.

have to say the experience certainly ranked as one of my all-time favorites. Te course follows a spectacular route, up and around natural rock formations, alongside the ocean and into the old plantation and more forested areas.

Te range of available activities is extensive; too many even for a type-A person like me to tackle in a week. With the exception of diving and fishing excursions further afield, everything is complementary, including trips on “Amanda,” a Dragon Class sailing boat built in 1965, jet skiing, water skiing and paddle boarding. All guests are entitled to their choice of one 90-minute treatment in the spa from the comprehensive treatment menu of massages, facials, manicure/pedicure, body scrubs and body wraps.

Set within the quiet Plateau area of the resort and surrounded by dense tropical vegetation, the area is the epitome of a relaxing oasis.

A spa kitchen uses locally grown herbs and flowers to whip up various oils and lotions used in treatments.

The sheltered, serene environment staffed by locals whose hearts are as big as their smiles also provides children with endless opportunities to create their own unique memories and experiences,

Lunch at the Beach Bar sourced from the island's own farm. Photo by Bridget Williams.

from all of the aforementioned activities to handicraft classes at the cultural center to cooking classes with Chef Healy, horseback riding and nature hikes.

Having enjoyed degustation dinners in the Plantation house and Thai-inspired cuisine at the Seagrass Lounge throughout our stay, and following our evening ritual of saluting the sunset with a creative cocktail at the Rock Lounge, to celebrate our last night on the island in grand fashion we arranged for a beach barbeque to be prepared on the terrace outside our villa. A bounteous feast from land and sea, we didn’t think the night could get any better until a troupe of performers arrived to entertain us with traditional Fijian melodies while we sprawled out by the bonfre set up on the beach and admired the thousands of stars sparkling like diamonds against the jet black sky. I couldn’t help but ponder that the dreamy setting gave the notion of counting my lucky stars a whole new meaning.

Rates at Laucala Island begin at $4,200/night for a onebedroom villa for two persons, all-inclusive. For more information or reservations visit laucala.com. sl slmag.net

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Summer Staples Shoes & Accessories for Fun in the Sun Compiled by Bridget Williams

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Kotur Espey print satin clutch ($495; koturltd.com).

Paul Andrew Neapoli platform sandal ($695; paulandrew.com).

MOFE Rhapsodic shoulder bag ($375; mofeinc.com).

So Pretty Cara Kotter aqua chalcedony Glee stud earrings ($121; sopretty.ca).

Wlid Wild Wedge from Charlotte Olympia ($1,295; us.charlotteolympia.com).

Silke Debler Belamie Modern Stripe bag (price upon request; silkedebler.com).

Adornia Wynwood cuf ($840; adornia.com). slmag.net

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Dillon sunglasses from Garrett Leight California Optical ($375; garrettleight.com).

Lorenza Gandaglia crocheted bag (price upon request; lorenzagandaglia.com).

Rupert Sanderson 'Cara' sandals ($875; rupertsanderson.com).

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Jill Milan stripped Wianno tote ($250; jillmilan.com).

Leather Boombox tote from Yarnz ($255; yarnz.com).

Swims penny loafer in Regatta/Orange ($159; swims.com).

Clara Kasavina 'Sophia Puf' clutch (price upon request; clarakasavina.com).

Zaino bpackpack from TL-180 ($500; tl-180.com).

Rolex Datejust Pearlmaster 39 (price upon request; rolex.com).

Oliver Peoples Sir O'Malley sunglasses ($510; oliverpeoples.com).

Marla Aaron Jewelry lapiz strand with rose gold and silver regular lock (price upon request; marlaaaron.com).

Deepa Gurnani belt ($250; deepagurnanii.com).

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Lee Savage 'Broken Space' clutch (price upon request; leesavage.us.com).

Hampton acetate optical unisex frame with Hampton folding sunglass clip ($285 & $105; garrettleight.com).

Huckleberry LTD Can tab pin in rose gold ($950; huckleberryltd.com).

Rebecca Minkof Everywhere Tote ($295; rebeccaminkof.com).

Esarsi AVA sandal (esarsi.com).

Alex Soldier sun cufs (price upon request; alexsoldier.com).

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Sotheby's International Realty and the Sotheby's International Realty logo are registered (or unregistered) service marks used with permission. Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.

Soap Stones by Pelle

SMART DESIGN

With a well-edited mix of home decor culled from artisans from the Midwest to the Amalf Coast, Chicago’s Perry Clark Home positions itself as an industry contender.

By Elise Hofer Shaw Christine Clark gives new meaning to the phrase “a meeting of the minds.” She’s one of those rare breeds who, by hard work and blessed genetics, is business-savvy and has a keen eye for design—basically both sides of her brain are constantly fring on all cylinders.

After more than 10 successful years exercising the left side in digital media (including a stint as the SVP of North America for Mode Media, a leading women’s lifestyle media network) and two kids, it was time for a change—but not before a little market research, natch. “Home goods is a $33 billion industry, but let’s be honest, most of it is mass produced and the quality isn’t there,” says Clark, who considers appointing her lovely little Georgian home in La Grange Park’s Harding Woods a passion project.

Noticing a niche, she assembled her core team—cofounder and COO Nikki Onorato and Chief Digital Ofcer Lori Kimpton (Perry Clark Home is 99 percent female owned and operated)— and bankrolled the whole thing herself.

Thus Perry Clark Home (perryclarkhome.com) was born, an online market for globally sourced home goods and accoutrements for discerning customers who know the diference between wine glasses that are made on an assembly line in China and crystal stemware that’s handblown by artisans in Austria.

And unlike other big-name home furnishing sites, you get 66 slmag.net

the Perry Clark promise: You will not be charged for standard shipping. You will not buy an item and then see it on sale. And you will not receive promotional emails.

Further separating Perry Clark Home from the pack is its personal spin on quality control. “We sift through the masses and curate homeware treasures from enduring brands we trust to artisans we love,” says Clark. “We literally live with the products in our homes. Everyone vets the merchandise before we put it on the site. If it’s not good enough for our homes, it’s not good enough for our clients.” From Vietri dinner sets ($156 for a fourpiece set) and Dubost Laguiole fatware ($299 for a 20-piece set) to Turkish-T bath towels ($50 each), Park Hill candles ($24 each) and the ladies’ favorite cofee table books ($25-$55), the mix— organized into the easy-to-navigate categories of Accoutrements, Art, Bath, Furnishings, Kitchen and Tableware—is well-edited, internationally infuenced and just the thing for sprucing up your abode or stocking up on hostess gifts.

But Perry Clark Home isn’t just for tony trimmings. Perry Clark Custom, the brand’s beautiful reclaimed wood series of tables, mirrors and more, introduces significant furniture to the offerings, all made exclusively for Perry Clark Home

by Chicago’s State Street Salvage. Check out the handmade reclaimed pecan wood dining table ($2,900). The planks are pulled from the walls and foors of 75-year-old box cars before being cured, sanded and forged onto a steel base. And anticipate capsule collections curated by guest designers. Currently, interior designer (and husband of Nate Berkus) Jeremiah Brent’s spring/summer picks for posh home decor will be available under the site’s Farm-To-Table section. For Mother’s Day, PCH is introducing a special Dear Mom section that will give the discerning gift giver inspired ideas for Mom. ...continued

MARSHALLERB.COM

Reclaimed dining table by State Street Salvage

Oatmeal bath towels by Turkish-T

Blue dinner set by Vietri

Jug by Botanical Gardens

continued... And much like her business model, Clark likes to wrap up her goods with a neat little bow—a satiny, double-sided tan ribbon, that is, wrapped around Perry Clark’s signature pewter boxes (complimentary with every purchase). And she’s found a way to give back, too. “We were introduced to Girls Inc. [an organization that inspires all girls to be strong, smart and bold, providing them with the right tools and support to succeed] and decided to do a cool collaboration with them. For the three weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day, we donated 100 percent of the profts from our sales of Pelle Soap Stones soaps to the charity. It’s just a tiny example, and we want to do more.”

But, true to fashion, Clark isn’t satisfed. “Te brand is in its infancy. Right now we are focused on breadth and depth, and building relationships with new artisans and investors,” says Clark, whose friend Sheri Salata, president of the Oprah Winfrey Network, is on the advisory board. “Our goal is to grow without losing the intimate feel that is important to us. We’re adding categories, sub-categories and products within each, however, we will never be all things to all people. We have an intentional aesthetic and we will be fercely protective of it.” Case in point: Her vision for future fagship stores. “Just like our site, our stores will be intimate. You have a glass of wine or a cup of cofee and you look at furniture, then you head over to the Art section and sit down and read a book.” Sounds lovely. sl 68 slmag.net

Washed linen totes by Roost

Revolving Collections Gallery’s Laura Rashid

All Flocked Up by photographer Jonee Cocchia

Evolve and Adapt Revolving Collections Gallery gives commitment-phobes time to build a relationship with their art.

By Diana Bitting Portrait by Doug McGoldrick Think of it as speed dating for the art industry: A new service ofered by Revolving Collections Gallery allows residential clients to try local works in their home before they commit to buy. It’s a passion project for locally trained fine artist and company co-founder Laura Rashid, a Columbia College alum. “I genuinely want people to enjoy the process of picking art, and sometimes it’s hard without help,” she says. “Galleries can be intimidating, and most people don’t know where to start. It’s our goal to get local art into people’s homes, make it make sense fnancially and make it an enjoyable experience.”

First, Rashid requires a complimentar y, in-person consultation with the homeowners to find out what the motivation is for the collection. Should the art blend in? Make a statement? Create an emotional reaction? Ten, the Ukrainian Village resident measures the space, selects works based on the in-depth, in-home conversations and schedules her installation 70 slmag.net

crew. As the name indicates, the initial collection can then “revolve,” with fresh pieces put in place once a month by the company’s white-glove delivery service (leasing rates start at $100/ month). Or, clients can purchase individual works as they fall in love with them—those remain permanent fxtures while the others continue to be rotated out.

Although Rashid has had experience in the commercial art realm for many years, the residential sector is somewhat new. She began by working with hotels, law frms and fnancial companies to curate their art collections, and found that many balked at the big budgets required and the responsibility of dealing with resale if they moved and the paintings didn’t ft in the new space. It was a brilliant solution to a problem that so many businesses face— and homeowners as well, it turns out. Just don’t think it’s another e-commerce website like Zatista or Lofty. A professional, personal approach is Revolving Collections Gallery’s niche. ...continued

Photo by Max Herman

Seiche by artist Justus Gillette Roe III

Rise Within (36x24 inches), mixed media on canvas by Sarah Raskey

Widely Displaced, mixed media on canvas (2015) by Tracee Badway Connections and Refections (24x32 inches), mixed media on canvas

by Sarah Raskey

continued... “From the beginning, I didn’t want clients to have to sift through a bunch of thumbnails,” says Rashid. “We wanted the process to be more personal. Buying art through a website is super tricky; it’s not like if you buy a dress online, you can return it. You have to experience the art in person. You have to see the texture, the scale. And I have to see your personal space and get to know you in order to spec the right pieces. Even things like fnding out your favorite restaurant can reveal a lot to me.”

The business is obviously built on relationships—a trusting, hands-on approach with clients, and a nurturing, respectful partnership with area artists. “Te artists love it,” says Rashid. “It’s not just sitting on a gallery’s wall, waiting to be bought. Tey know they 72 slmag.net

Paused by photographer Jonee Cocchia

are getting exposure as the piece moves around; other people will see it in the house, and it may lead to a potential sale. Tey have control over what works are available to me; it’s at their discretion. And I’ve worked with several artists on personal commissions.”

Te proverbial cherry on top of this sundae is the fexibility.

After all, many people’s preferred aesthetics evolve as they enter diferent stages in their lives. An industrial loft in an up-andcoming neighborhood for a 20-something professional could turn into a sleek, Italian modern high-rise condo in their 30s and later a historic limestone single-family home as they settle down. Tis way, their art collection can evolve right along with them. rcgart.com sl

A saltwater aquarium livens up the living room.

Natural light pours into the lake-facing kitchen.

A foating staircase leads to the penthouse’s upstairs entertaining space.

One of three en-suite bedrooms

Rooms With a View Steal a peek inside Streeterville’s hottest property.

By Taylor Morgan Photography by Matt Kawa It was love at first sight when we were granted access to the penthouse at 415 E. North Water Street—and we’re not the only ones. Two episodes of Fox’s hit show Empire have been shot in the 9,300-square-foot, two-foor condo overlooking Lake Michigan, not to mention scenes from the sci-fi blockbuster Jupiter Ascending starring Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis.

It’s easy to adore. Located on the 38th foor of the Riverview Condominiums in Streeterville, the new-to-the-market unit is sheer opulence from start to fnish. Te frst lust-worthy feature?

Te views spied through wraparound, foor-to-ceiling windows that frame the dramatic downtown skyline and the lakefront. Te kitchen, the heart of the home, faces south-east, so when you’re entertaining—pulling wine glasses from your myrtle burl wood 74 slmag.net

cabinets and putting out a spread atop your marine quartzite countertops—the city is your beautiful backdrop.

Climb the foating central staircase to the penthouse’s pièce de résistance: an ultimate recreation space for entertaining that includes a 500-gallon marble hot tub, a wet bar with wine fridge and a 67-squarefoot wraparound terrace with stunning lake, river and city views. And with three en-suite bedrooms, your guests won’t ever want to leave.

Want more? The home also boasts three 500-gallon saltwater aquariums, a 1,400-square-foot basketball court, a black racquetball court (designed after the one in the 1997 Michael Douglas movie Te Game) and a spacious steam room. Talk about living the high life. sl $12.95 million. For more information, contact Phil Skowron and Eugene Fu with @properties at 312.506.0416

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Te Italian Job Family life gets a contemporary twist in Lincoln Park courtesy of its owner’s unwavering vision—and ample Italian fxtures and furniture.

By Amalie Drury Photography by Anthony Tahlier 76 slmag.net

Floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room bring the outside in. Sofa and chairs by Matteo Grassi, stainless bench by B&B Italia

Te four-story, seven bedroom, all-white and gray house that takes up three lots on a quiet block in Lincoln Park doesn’t try to hide its newness behind a limestone façade or rows of ornate arches and columns. It’s an Italian Carrara marble and Pietra Serena stone structure that wouldn’t have been possible in an earlier time, and it’s mostly the brainchild of its owner, Natalie.

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Te 16-foot custom walnut dining room table seats 14 people.

For years, Natalie and her husband and four young children had tried to make condo living work in nearby Old Town. But the kids needed more space, and Natalie spent 10 years driving around the city looking for the right location for a single-family home. She fnally found it in a spot close to favorite hangouts Oz Park and the Lincoln Park Zoo, and after being raised in the southwest suburbs by a father who was in the construction business and a creative, artistic mother, she knew she wanted to build.

The owner’s uber-contemporary aesthetic also was shaped by her childhood, but in a diferent way. “Te house I grew up in looked like a ski chalet. There was wood everywhere. I wanted to step away from that,” she says. While designing and building the house, her search for white marble, sleek furniture and uncluttered, pane-less windows often led to Italian manufacturers. “I’m drawn to the quality and the clean lines,” she says.

Dramatic chain-link chandeliers by Vistosi Murano make a statement in the 78 slmag.net

Te kitchen seats 14 people comfortably. Appliances by Gaggenau, chairs by Poliform

entryway and several other rooms (“When I like something I repeat it over and over,” she says) and the bathrooms boast Antonio Lupi with fxtures by Dornbracht. In a rare concession to color, the frst-foor powder room is tiled in a bright blue paisley pattern by Sicis.

To avoid too-long stretches of flat surfaces throughout the home’s first foor, the owner opted for undulating textural patterns along the marble and wood walls to create interesting plays of light and give a sense of depth. Te dining room holds a striking, raw-edge walnut table that can seat up to 16 in sculptural white leather Cassina chairs. In the kitchen, gleaming white cabinets

by Bof open with the tap of a knee or a hip (with four kids, being handsfree is a big bonus), and there’s an understated-looking indoor pizza oven that turns out perfectly bubbly pies on family nights spent catching up around a high, allglass table, or during parties when the owner brings in the pizza chef from her favorite Italian restaurant, Piccolo Sogno.

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Te family’s Teddy Bear puppy, Rocco, in the master bedroom

A Sicis tile mosaic adds color to the main foor powder room. Bath fxtures

by Antonio Lupi Custom cantilevered white oak treads and suspended handblown glass add drama to the central stairwell.

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Sicis iridescent tile in the master shower

Te wine cellar is fnished with reclaimed wine barrel wood and white textured marble.

Te main foor study acts as a multipurpose space for the owners and their four children. Cristalplant table by B&B Italia, chairs by Cappellini

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Tree outdoor spaces on the top foor make entertaining easy. Sofas by Ligne Roset, rug by Paul Smith

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Te family enjoys views of their private courtyard from within. Sofa by Flexform, doors by Tre-PiĂš

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To maximize entertaining space, the kitchen opens up onto the home’s north courtyard.

Italian craftsmen were fown to Chicago to install windows that require pieces of glass larger than those found on most Michigan Avenue flagship storefronts. Te result of all those unobstructed sightlines is the sense that you’re truly among the evergreen trees that grow just outside, whether they’re draped in winter snow or summer light. slmag.net

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In the den, white oak and Carrara marble is staggered in both depth and size to give the walls texture.

Te home is a product of the 21st century in many ways. Te basement houses a theater room with handsome leather recliners arranged on two levels and a large screen for watching movies. One of its most remarkable features is a geothermal heating and cooling system that uses 32 hidden pits in the yard to bring energy up from 200 feet below the ground and distribute it around the house. Te control room for the system, also located in the basement, is a marvel of organization and engineering, with neat copper pipes snaking along the ceiling and panels for regulating the temperature in diferent parts of the house. Te home automation system that controls temperature, lights, media and security was installed by Crestron. “It’s wonderful because I don’t feel like I’m wasting energy if I have the air conditioning on in one zone and the heat in another,” Natalie says, “which you sometimes have to do because so much sun pours in on the fourth foor [where a second living room and a large deck overlook an expansive skyline view].”

Admitting she’s one of those people who feels perpetually chilled, she went to great lengths to give her modern dream house a feeling of warmth— both visual and physical. From the fre pit and heat lamps for cozy entertaining outside to the radiant heat that emanates from the foors throughout the home, the family can almost forget they’re living in the city that loves to break winter weather records. “All of our walkways and sidewalks have a snowmelt system,” she says. “It’s amazing. We never have to shovel again.” sl 86 slmag.net

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Te dining room at Sepia

SONG OF SPRING Welcome the season with chef Andrew Zimmerman’s elegant, globally infuenced American cuisine at Sepia.

By Joel Hoglund Photography by Sean Henderson I usually like to get right down to business. When I walk into a restaurant hungry, I’m anxious to eat. But crossing the threshold into Sepia has a way of slowing a person down.

Maybe it’s because it’s built into the bones of a print shop from the 1890s, or decorated throughout with echoes from the past—dark, handcrafted millwork, custom art nouveau tile, blown-up old photos of our fun-loving forebears. Or maybe it’s that the amber-hued bar and lounge at the entrance of the space is so disarmingly beautiful, inherently possessed of the kind of vintage “speakeasy” vibe that so many new restaurants go to great lengths to engineer, that a pre-dinner cocktail in its warm embrace is something one simply can’t pass up.

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So my date and I begin here, bellied up to the backlit bar like bon vivants from a bygone era. It’s the frst evening that truly feels like spring, and reading aloud mixologist Griffin Elliott’s new seasonal cocktail menu feels like reading that long slog of a winter its last rites. I opt for the Birds & the Bees, a Kappa pisco cocktail with pineapple syrup, lime and grenache that couldn’t feel more like the season if a hummingbird came perched on the glass. Te Queen’s Park Swizzle, too, with its Brugal white rum, lime, fresh mint and bitters layered in a faceted glass that makes it look like a grown-up Bomb Pop, is a sign that it’s safe at last to shake of the heavy layers of winter.

Tyme-infused plums with ginger tofee lemon cake, raspberries and vanilla

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Burrata with tomatoes, pickled green tomatoes, plums, nasturtium and fennel seed crackers

Now fully surrendered to Sepia’s sumptuous atmosphere, it’s time to eat. Te dining room continues the old-world ambience but with more contemporary flair—tall mirrors, shadowthrowing Moooi shades wrapped around dripping crystal chandeliers, bottles from Wine Director Arthur Hon’s 300label list climbing up the exposed brick walls on custom wood racks. Traditional with modern twists—the perfect backdrop for Executive Chef Andrew Zimmerman’s food.

Wry, modest and approachable, Zimmerman is not exactly the archetypal fne-dining chef. “My approach to cooking is very simple: Make things that taste good,” says Zimmerman. “Tis means you start with the best seasonal produce you can get, responsibly sourced meat and fsh, and see where it takes you.”

Te East Coast native took kitchen jobs as low down the totem pole as dishwasher to support what he’d hoped would be a career 90 slmag.net

as a musician before realizing he was actually, ahem, a rock star in the kitchen. “Tere are still things I miss about music,” he says, “but I think we’re all better of if I’m in front of a stove.”

After graduating frst in his class at the French Culinary Institute in New York, in 2003 he moved to Chicago, where his wife, clothing designer Lindsey Boland, has family (they now live with their two kids in Bucktown). Gigs as executive chef at MOD, opening chef at del toro and chef de cuisine at NoMI led to an ofer in 2009 from Sepia owner Emmanuel Nony to take over the hot spot he’d opened a couple years earlier. Five years of Michelin stars and four straight James Beard Award nominations (for Best Chef: Great Lakes) later, Zimmerman keeps his classic-in-the-making restaurant feeling as fresh as ever with a constantly evolving menu that changes with the seasons.

Chef Andrew Zimmerman

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Table 70 at Sepia gives guests a sense of privacy while still being able to view the main dining room.

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Halibut with English peas, little gem, razor clams, semolina gnocchi and jowl bacon

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Beef tartare on multigrain toast with egg yolk, horseradish and onion rings

Like the cocktails up front (and, well, the second round we ordered at the table), plate after plate coming out of Zimmerman’s kitchen screams spring. Or, rather, whispers it. Bright, clean favors with subtle accents abound. As with the pristine fuke crudo, whose lightness gets a lift from hints of espelette and lemon oil and a nice texture from bits of crunchy jicama. The fava bean scafata, which arrives as a nest of welcome spring-green vegetables cradling a poached egg that’s gently breaded in panko, shows the chef ’s reverence for unadulterated, farm-fresh product, and makes me feel like I’m eating healthy without sacrifcing favor. So does the velvety burrata, which comes studded with pickled green tomatoes and ribbons of sweet plum. “I always want to embrace the lighter, more vivid favors of spring and summer produce,” says Zimmerman. “I 94 slmag.net

look forward to it because the Chicago winter seems so long that by the spring we are all desperate for those green, vibrant vegetables.”

Even the aromatic foie gras royale, a creamy mousse topped with sour cherry gelée, hazelnuts and a green herb salad, feels light as air, spreading like silk onto buttery soft brioche.

Prepared like a smørbrød, Scandinavia’s popular open-faced sandwiches, the beef tartare aims to convert anyone who’s never been a big fan of raw meat. Te thin slice of house-made toast that the succulent, bright red steak is mounded atop, as well as the tapioca sprinkled over it, has been coated with roast beef fat. Add subtle doses of mustard and horseradish, and what Zimmerman calls “the world’s tiniest, cutest onion rings,” and the tender tartare tastes more like a miniature roast beef dinner.

Fluke crudo with avocado, jicama, espelette pepper and lemon oil

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Foie gras royale with sour cherry gelĂŠe, hazelnuts and toasted brioche

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English pea agnolotti with peanut dukkah and garlic conserva

My only complaint about the fufy agnolotti, stufed with English peas and mascarpone and wrapped in delicate housemade pasta, is that I can’t conceivably have access to it every day for the rest of my life. It’s topped with a peanut dukkah, a mixture of ground nuts, herbs and spices that originated in Egypt. Te crackling condiment lends an unexpected hint of exotic Eastern spice and a little roughness to the gossamer butter- and oilpoached pasta pillows. Dukkah—as fun to say as it is to eat, chef jokes—reappears topping a poached halibut, folding delightful

texture into each bite but never overwhelming the taste of the immaculate white fsh. Tis entree makes the perfect poster child for Zimmerman’s knack with balancing favors—and beautiful plating. Ringing the generous wedge of fsh are spring peas and lettuces, razor clams, a single semolina gnocchi that merits its own spot on the menu, and shards of jowl bacon that add just the right smokey depth to another airy dish. A pool of herb jus in the center is poured tableside. It’s almost too pretty to disturb, like stumbling on a ceremonial fower circle on a hidden beach. slmag.net

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Spring vegetable scafata with crispy poached egg and carrot jus

Inventive combinations continue with the hearty, but still far from heavy, Berkshire pork—a lean, juicy roasted loin paired with sweet manila clams and a substantial hunk of luscious pork cheek braised in the clams’ steaming liquid. And they don’t stop when Pastry Chef Cindy Schuman’s desserts arrive. We devoured the moist cornmeal sable cookie layered with goat cheese cream and blueberry compote, and ended on a delightfully refreshing thyme-infused plum sculpted into an unfolding flower and paired with ginger toffee lemon cake, raspberries and vanilla citrus cream.

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In the end, Sepia feels not unlike a song one could listen to over and over and hear something new each time. “With both disciplines, cooking and music, you start with raw ingredients— vegetables, cow parts or spices, or notes, tempo or chords—that are by themselves OK, but not nearly as satisfying as when they are arranged in a coherent way,” says Zimmerman. “Composed dishes have harmony and balance, and a meal should have tempo.

One could make a strong argument that food and music are on the short list of things we as humans absolutely need to thrive.” sl Sepia, 123 N. Jeferson St., 312.441.1920, sepiachicago.com

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Triplets born at Prentice Women’s Hospital

BABY TALK Friends of Prentice celebrates 30 years of support for women’s health— and starts a new chapter.

By Alexandra Sabbag Photography by Laura Brown Prentice Women’s Hospital is repeatedly the frst choice in obstetrics for Chicago families, boasting top docs and a $500 million new hospital that offers private rooms and lake views. True, Prentice brings about 12,500 babies into the world each year, a conversation point for sure, but the hospital serves women in a multitude of capacities that begin far before and continue well beyond a woman’s childbearing years—the full arc of a woman’s life.

Over the course of nearly 30 years, Friends of Prentice, one of the hospital’s volunteer fundraising boards, has raised approximately $20 million for the Streeterville hospital, or rather the research spanning maternal-fetal medicine to late-stage OB/ GYN issues—and now women’s mental health. Simply put, the board’s focus is much broader than infants.

“While our funding categories can fuctuate year to year, we remain steadfast in our mission of promoting superior health care to women over their entire life,” says Friends of Prentice’s new Board President Julie Vander Weele. “The Prentice Grants Committee follows a strategic process and carefully reviews grant requests annually. Te introduction of women’s mental health is a testament to the progressive nature of the board and shows the 100 slmag.net

community that, while infants are part of many grants that we fund, women’s overall health is at the center of our mission.”

Motivated by staggering statistics—according to an ongoing study by psychiatrist Katherine Wisner, director of Northwestern’s Asher Center for the Study and Treatment of Depressive Disorders, one in seven women experience significant signs of depression following childbirth—Friends of Prentice is currently investing in two clinical research studies dealing with perinatal depression.

“There are more than 12 million women in America facing clinical depression,” says Dr. Wisner. “It is critically important that we encourage the conversation and eliminate the stigma surrounding women’s mental health. People are still not comfortable talking about it and as a result the vast majority of women, specifcally those sufering from postpartum depression, are not identifed and not treated.”

Tis May is National Mental Health Awareness month, not to mention Mother’s Day, and establishments across the city are aligning to support Friends of Prentice, from beneft brunches hosted by local restaurants to workouts where proceeds go to the organization (for a full list of participating businesses, visit friendsofprentice.org). And on Sept. 25, Friends of Prentice will host its annual fundraising gala at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago. “With a new location and fall date, guests can still expect the spirit of fun that has always been associated with our event, but with a fresh twist,” says Vander Weele.

And the future of its patient funding looks bright. “We are proud of the funding that Friends of Prentice has provided toward improving patient outcomes,” adds Vander Weele. “Our goal is to increase the investments that can be made in these important research initiatives.” sl

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The School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s The Walk fashion show, saicfashion.org The Alzheimer’s Association Chicago’s Rita Hayworth Gala, alz.org/galas/chicago Have Dreams’ Night of Dreams Gala, havedreams.org Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s Steppenwolf Gala, steppenwolf.org The Chicago Academy for the Arts’ A Taste for the Arts Gala, harristheaterchicago.org The Gold Coast Neighbors Association’s Toast to the Coast, goldcoastneighbors.org Bright Promises’ seventh annual Salon Soiree, brightpromises.org Goodman Gala, goodmantheatre.org The Lincoln Park Conservancy’s The Glass House Gala, lincolnparkconservancy.org Service Club Spring Luncheon, serviceclubofchicago.org Champions for Children Luncheon, childrenshomeandaid.org Lycée Français de Chicago’s Golf Outing, lyceechicago.org

June 1 5 8 11 13 15 15 15 19 19 20 25 29

Hubbard Street Dance Spotlight Ball, hubbardstreetdance.com The Trust for Public Land’s Above The Rails gala celebrating the grand opening of The 606, the606.org/events/atr Cradle Classic Golf Tournament, cradlefoundation.org The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago’s Art in Motion, ric.org DIFFA/Chicago’s The Imagine Ball, diffachicago.org The Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Corporate Night fundraiser, cso.org/corporate Playing for the Cure Golf Outing, lynnsage.org Chicago Shakespeare Theater Gala, chicagoshakes.com The Art Institute of Chicago’s Evening Associates Board’s Night Heist, Charles Ray: Sculpture, 1997-2014, eveningassociates.com Chicago Botanic Garden’s Summer Dinner Dance, chicagobotanic.org Metamorphosis Shedd Aquarium Gala, sheddaquarium.org Chefs and the City for Heartland Health Outreach, heartlandalliance.org Midtown Educational Foundation’s Golf for the Kids, midtown-metro.org/golf

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DARKROOM AT THE MOCP

Darkroom, the Museum of Contemporary Photography’s annual benefit auction, drew more than 420 guests to Streeterville’s private Casino Club. In addition to bidding on 45 photographs and experiences (for example a spring “photography trip” to Los Angeles), partygoers enjoyed Moët & Chandon Champagne and Angel’s Envy cocktails, posed for Smilebooth photos and gathered to celebrate Chicago artist Barbara Crane, who received the MoCP’s Silver Camera Award for her contributions to the medium of photography. Te event, co-chaired by Whitley Bouma Herbert and Susu Block, raised more than $175,000 for MoCP exhibitions, education programs and community engagement. –Elise Hofer Shaw

Barbara Crane and John Miller

Natasha Egan and Claire Koeneman

Claude-Aline and Sandro Miller with Carrie Lannon

Karen Irvine and Jeanette Jordano

Belle and Peter Fitzpatrick

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Photography by Jef Schear

Dick and Susan Kiphart with Dr. Kwang-Wu Kim

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VMR, Oak Street’s go-to boutique for luxe labels as well as designer vintage and resale clothing and accessories, hosted a spring preview for its most stylish shoppers. At the private event, entitled Fresh First Look, everything from jewelry to makeup was on display: Chicago’s 84Rockwell debuted its fringe, leather and suede Gabby hip bag, while Ash + Ames showcased its beautiful collection of celeb-approved baubles. And when they weren’t roaming around oohing and ahhing over VMR’s latest collections (think Antonio Berardi and Belstaf), Arch treated attendees to spring-inspired makeup and eyebrow services. –EHS

Photography by Carasco Photography

Tina Kourasis, Trisha Ashworth, Mark Gill, Betsy Branca and Bridget McDermott

Sharon Gomez, Eileen McCann, Liz Stark, Danielle Cherian and Nadia Jelinek

Diana Tran, Lindsey Handrinos and Crystal Moriarty

Kristen Amato and Megan Williams

Alicia Rosa

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Alexis Alexander and Kristin Shew

Leigh Nicholson

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TUESDAY TOAST AT LE COLONIAL

Mango and lychee martinis were flowing at Le Colonial’s new monthly guest bartending series, Tuesday Toast. Man-about-town and Glossed & Found Creative Director D. Graham Kostic hopped behind the upstairs bar to serve libations to more than 75 thirsty guests who came out to sip for a cause (20 percent of proceeds were donated to Project Onward, a nonproft studio and gallery for professional artists with mental and developmental disabilities). Complimentary hors d’oeuvres were circulated—spring rolls, tuna tartare and more—and many guests settled into the lounge for more of the restaurant’s French-Vietnamese fare. –Sally Meyer

Photography by Hoang Pham

Carolyn Pelissero, Jen Hansen, Jenn Leith, Anne Owen and Samantha Berngard

Blair Culwell and Jenn Lake

Shawn Gaines, JC Steinbrunner and Amalie Drury

Diana Hand, Erin Madden and Elizabeth Elliott

Jenn Leith and Amanda Puck

Joe and Caitlin Choinski

Wes McDowell and Jon Mulcrone

D. Graham Kostic

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Find more photos at facebook.com/sophisticatedliving

LUXURY THROUGH THE DECADES!

Luxury Garage Sale, Chicago’s high-end consignment store for new and preowned womenswear and accessories, along with the Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum brought together 70 sartorialistas for a night of fashion and fun. Hosted by Annie Barlow, Samantha Berngard, Brielle Buchberg, Toni Canada and Lindsay Segal, the evening featured a fashion show spanning four decades of designs presented by Costume Council President Nena Ivon. Plus, 10 percent of proceeds from the event were donated to the Costume Council. –EHS

Photography by Hallie Duesenberg

Brielle Buchberg, Bethany Crocker, Stuart Mesires and Alicia Waters

Michael Anderson and Tara-Jeanne Kosloski

Jennifer Long and Jena Gambaccini

Jennifer Winters and Brigid Brennan

Kristen Doerr, Stephanie Wild, Leslie North and Annette Findling

Loreta Corsetti, Toni Canada, Dusty Stemer and Nora Schneider

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Elle Bruno and Samantha Berngard

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CELESTIAL BALL LAUNCH AT GRAFF Te Women’s Board of the Adler Planetarium celebrated the launch of the 2015 Celestial Ball, entitled Over the Moon, at Graf Chicago. Elisa Primavera-Bailey, president of the Women’s Board; Meg Sauer, chair of the Celestial Ball; and Eve Rogers, director of Graf Chicago, hosted approximately 80 guests for an evening of cocktails and fne jewels. Fun fact: Guests learned that it may “rain” diamonds on Jupiter and Saturn. Formed from droplets of carbon that are squeezed as they fall through the atmosphere, these diamonds are roughly 1cm in size, similar to many of the diamonds found at Graf. –EHS

Photography by Jef Schear

A display of glittering diamonds at Graf

Laura Glick

Cynthia Ballew and Lydia Ryan

Meg Sauer, Eve Rodgers and Elisa Primavera-Bailey

Pam Pohl, Bethany Crocker and Christine Nappo

Paul and Teri Montes

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Jessica Moazami

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Lindsay Everest and Sally Brown Tilman

LYCÉE FRANCAIS GALA

La Magie de la Côte d’Azur, the Lycée Français de Chicago’s 2015 gala, was a fabulous night to remember. More than 500 guests attended the school’s beneft at the Four Seasons Hotel, where they enjoyed cuisine inspired by the South of France, as well as live and silent auctions. Te momentous soirée marked the 20th anniversary of the founding of LFC, and all proceeds from the evening beneft the Lycée, a pre-K through grade 12 French International School ofering academic programs that culminate in the French or International Baccalaureate degrees. –SM

Photography by Noah Davies

Suzette Bulley, Lisa Bailey and Christiane Ladd

Magda Jakubowska and Fernando Assens

French Ambassador Gérard Araud and Christine Floreani with Ted and Lori Souder

Isabelle and Jean-Luis Goujon

Denise and Keith Olsen

Elizabeth and Christophe Ridet

Andrew and Eileen Kirkwood

Sharon Langshur and Susan Lyons

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CASINO ROYALE

III Gentlemen—a Chicago-based nonprofit that strives to inspire men to live passionate lives based on integrity, character, chivalry and philanthropy—kicked of its spring fundraising eforts with a Casino Royale-themed beneft at Untitled. Looking dapper in their finest 007 garb, partygoers sipped Double Cross Vodka martinis, checked out new Aston Martins parked on the premises and tried their hands at blackjack, roulette and craps. With silent auction donations from the Blackhawks, Te Ritz-Carlton, Lettuce Entertain You and more, the event raised $5,000 for Camp Kids Are Kids, an organization that gives children with cancer an opportunity to be a kid by attending a fun and safe fve-day summer camp. –SM

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Photography by Rich Gallagher

Leigh Lofus

Amy Kirshner and Terri Boremaster

Andy and Elizabeth Boyle

Dennis Culloton, Tracy Denrek and Nick Roy

Robert and Michelle Suastegui

Mike Schuette, Marian Lee, Chelsea Gates and Marco Foster

Robyn Nell, Amber Jones, Niki Dallianis and Maria Titova

Samantha Schimmel and Anthony Hernandez

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IMERMAN ANGELS’ BLUE AND WHITE PARTY Imerman Angels, the world’s largest one-on-one cancer support community, kicked of a new year of connecting patients—and anyone touched by cancer— with “Mentor Angels” (cancer survivors) at its annual spring Blue and White Party at John Barleycorn in River North. Supporters, volunteers, survivors and caregivers walked the “blue carpet” before mingling with some of Imerman Angels’ key players, including founder Jonny Imerman. Rafes, bites courtesy of Union Sushi and Protein Bar, and music by DJ Kip Winter and DJ Nicest Narcissist kept the party in high gear. –Janis Von Kaenel

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Photography by Marco Morelli

Erika Patching and Michelle Haidet

Trevor Stapleton, Ani Shekerjian, Sylvia Huml and Christie Phillips

Chris Dalton, Ann Caron and Jamie Fox

Josie Chiavetta and David Vargas

Hector Nuñez and Brittany Johnson

Jit Surti, Ajay Pattani, Nicole Chelian and Mary Smendzuik

Matthew and Karen Focht

Michelle Gallardo, Jonny Imerman, Jill DeMarlo and Steve Baker

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BEAR TIE BALL

More than 650 philanthropic-minded individuals turned out for the 22nd annual Bear Tie Ball held at Union Station, themed “Latin Nights.” Guests enjoyed a cocktail hour while bidding on an impressive silent auction and a selection of framed artwork by patients. After the evening’s emcee, retired Chicago Bear and Emmy-nominated host of Inside the Bears Anthony “Spice” Adams, led the live auction, revelers were entertained by Cuatro, the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance’s band, and the Island Touch Dancers. More than $760,000 was raised for Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation. –EHS

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Photography by Mila Samokhina

Kathleen Casey and Gregory Kosinski

Russ and Tracy Scurto, Jr. with Joseph and Nancy Tripoli

Nina Mariano and Paul Iacono

Chuck and Candace Jordan

Jason and Heidi Houchen

Michael O’Meara, Margaret O’Connor, Donna Rotunno and Bob Kruse

Joaquin Brieva and Jennifer Sutton Brieva

Gary and Sandy Fencik

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CHICAGO AUTO SHOW’S FIRST LOOK

McCormick Place attracted nearly 9,500 black-tie-clad guests to this year’s Chicago Auto Show First Look for Charity Gala. Ticketholders elected to have their proceeds either equally beneft all 18 participating charities—Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, Special Olympics Illinois and The Cradle Foundation, to name just a few—or be devoted to one charity of their choosing. In addition to previewing the latest models, including the 2015 Rolls-Royce Wraith, two lucky attendees went home with a new car: a Ford Explorer or a Ford Fusion. Te event raised more than $2.5 million for the charities’ causes. –JVK

Photography by Kendall Karmanian

Jean Norris and Vince Norton

Jason Hammer with Lindsay and Patrick McFarlane

Chris Madden and Zora Senat

T.J. Michaelson, Samantha Johnson, Suzanne O’Reilly and Reilly Michaelson

Richard and Colin Wickstrom

Bob and Stephanie Shanahan

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Greg Luzinski and Roberta Sukeviciute

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Jack and Shawn Aiello

Hope

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HOLLYWOOD ON STATE ACADEMY AWARDS PARTY

More than 300 cinephiles came out to Hollywood on State, Chicago’s longest-running award show viewing party, hosted by the Gene Siskel Film Center. In true Oscar fashion, guests walked the red carpet before indulging in nosh by Pure Kitchen Catering and sweets from Sugar Bliss Cake Boutique, Eli’s Cheesecake and Jewell Events Catering. Local flmmakers Bob Hercules, Seth McClellan, Daniel Nearing, Jennifer Reeder and Frank Ross were honored for their eforts in furthering the Chicago flm industry while the evening raised more than $50,000 to beneft the GSFC. –Madeline Miller

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Photography by Robert Carl

Richard and Ellen Sandor

Jean de St. Aubin and Karen Jordan

Bob Hercules, Seth McClellan and Daniel Nearing

Yuyao Wang and Weichen Hu

Joshua Yates, Lauren Smith and Shawn Davis

Marc and Maureen Schulman

Whitney Maracich, Paige Braddy, Gemma Urquiza and Crystal Farbo

Carly Emer, Rande McMillan and Wendy Herst

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TICKLED PINK

Photography by Maggie Rice

More than 1,200 guests gathered at Morgan Manufacturing to celebrate Tickled Pink’s 10th anniversary. Revelers enjoyed chef stations from more than 10 of Chicago’s top restaurants (think Moto, Te Purple Pig, Sunda and more) and chef tastings courtesy of County Barbeque, Kaiser Tiger, Henry’s Swing Club, Glazed and Infused, Reverie and Yum Cha. Live music by the Chicago Players and latenight bites by Paramount Events rounded out the fun. Upwards of $66,000 was raised for Bright Pink, the only nonproft organization focusing on prevention and early detection of breast and ovarian cancer. –JVK

Tickled Pink decor by Erin McDonald of Platinum Events

Chicago frefghters volunteered to sell rafe tickets.

Kye Martin, Anthony Ponce and Alicia Roman

Sami Pascale, Sava Preradovic, Kelly O’Linn and Maddy Haugh

Jodi Fyfe and Lindsay Avner

Jennifer Worman and Janet Mandell

Emcee Val Warner

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Kay Yasin and Marcus Riley

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