{Chicago’s Finest} May/June 2018
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May/June 2018
{Chicago’s Finest} May/June 2018
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92 Mix-and-match prints, pastels that pop, and more lust-worthy fashion, art and interior design trends for summer round out this issue’s Sophisticated Source pages. Shown here: Cream multi Jillian dress, $525, by Rachel Zoe at VMR, 312.330.3778. vmrchicago.com
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on the cover: Chicagoan and Food Network star Jeff Mauro brings his larger-than-life personality to our cover—and talks comedic value, expansion plans for Pork & Mindy’s and all things sandwich (“Kitchen Confidential”). Portrait by Anthony Tahlier
THE FORCE AWAKENS Four Chicago women to know now become ambassadors for Nike’s new Force Is Female collection
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SECRET GARDENS Tiffany & Co. unveils Chief Artistic Officer Reed Krakoff’s premiere jewelry collection, Tiffany Paper Flowers
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SPACE TO GROW Space 519’s new flagship digs on East Chestnut Street give Chicago’s sartorialists and design devotees more to love
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MURAL, MURAL ON THE WALL Keith Haring’s iconic Chicago mural is resurrected at the Chicago Cultural Center as part of the City of Chicago’s Year of Creative Youth
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BACK TO THE FUTURE David Brown Automotive’s new Grand Tourer—the Speedback Silverstone Edition—harkens back to classic racers from the 1960s
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BRIDLE PARTY Equestrian-chic appointments for the entire home
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HORSEPOWER Our must-peruse books list goes under the hood (from muscle cars to million-dollar classics) and on horseback (think stable design and rare breeds)
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SEE-WORTHY Sipping, savoring and celeb-spotting at the annual South Beach Wine & Food Festival
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ALL GREEK TO ME From settées to sundresses, the Greek key print has a second coming
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REIGNING IN MAINE Sister properties The Danforth Inn and The Camden Inn take contemporary European elegance to the next level in Northeast Maine
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GOLD RUSH Bold baubles get the Midas touch
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GREENER GRAPES Bonterra Organic Vineyards ups the ante on organic and biodynamic wines
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THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER An essay on art and non-art—and social media’s role
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in telling the difference Beatnik restaurant in West Town serves up an international dinner party that’s a feast for the senses (“The Beat Goes On”). Shown here: Charred broccolini with sunflower hummus,
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FAMILY TIES The new Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe is the first four-door
pomegranate seeds, puffed rice and nuoc cham. Photo by Kailley Lindman
sports car to come out of Affalterbach
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BY GEORGE Beauty maven Bobbi Brown opens a design-minded boutique hotel in Montclair, New Jersey
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SOPHISTICATED SOURCE Eight pages of summer’s chicest fashion, art and interior design trends
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A FARMHOUSE FAIRY TALE Chicago interior designer Brynn Olson teams up with J. Jordan Homes and Moment Design to give a Flemish farmhouse in Hinsdale a modern makeover
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THE BEAT GOES ON Beatnik, the newest restaurant from Bonhomme Restaurant Group, harmonizes global flavors and lavish decor
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KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL Cover star Jeff Mauro continues his reign over Chicago’s sandwich scene
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CHICAGO CONNECTION Chicago’s Embarc provides community-driven, experience-based learning opportunities to low-income high school students
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CALENDAR SL’s not-to-miss list of events for giving back and good times
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SOPHISTICATED SOCIETY Chicago’s hottest parties, from philanthropy to fashion
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SOPHISTICATED WOMAN Harriet Seitler, executive vice president and chief marketing officer at OWN, puts it all out there for our new Q&A
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PUBLISHER Alison Victoria CREATIVE DIRECTOR Bridget Daley EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Elise Hofer Shaw DIRECTORS OF LUXURY BRANDS Mandy Laneve Brooke Baumann ——————————————— ART DIRECTOR Jason Yann CONTRIBUTORS Writers Hilary Boyajian Ruth Crnkovich Colin Dennis Chloe Geller Anita Heriot Andre James Amelia Jeffers Tina Kourasis Caylee Matthews Sally Meyer Taylor Morgan Alexandra Sabbag Lisa Shames Bridget Williams Photographers James Gustin for Fig Media Inez & Vinoodh Kailley Lindman Cynthia Lynn Photography Yuya Ohashi Maria Ponce Anthony Tahlier Photo Editing Stephen Luxem ADVERTISING SALES OFFICE 937.672.6448 ——————————————— SOPHISTICATED LIVING MEDIA Eric Williams - CEO Bridget Williams - President Sophisticated Living® is published by AVMM Media Group, LLC and is independently owned and operated. Sophisticated Living® is a registered trademark of Williams Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Sophisticated Living® is published six times a year. All images and editorial are the property of AVMM Media Group, LLC and cannot be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission. Annual subscription fees are $25.00; please add $5 for subscriptions outside the US. Address all subscription inquiries to the website slmag.net. Telephone 937.672.6448.
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From the Publisher
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Spring may not have shown up—snow in April? Really, Chicago?!—but summer is finally right around the corner. And we plan to make the most of it. I absolutely adore watching this city come back to life after a long thaw, seeing its inhabitants (both human and canine) return to the beaches, bleachers, parks and streets. You see, Chicagoans are loyal to the core. (We have to be to endure seven months of ice and snow.) One such diehard Chicagoan is this issue’s cover star, Jeff Mauro. The Food Network mainstay and Pork & Mindy’s proprietor sat down with contributing writer Lisa Shames to talk about his winning combination of cooking and comedy for four years and counting as the co-host of The Kitchen and expansion plans for his slow-smoked-meats restaurants (“Kitchen Confidential”). There are several parallels between his story and my own adventures in television at HGTV. And what I love most about Mauro is that despite his immense success, he has never forgotten his humble beginnings as an Italian-American kid growing up in Elmwood Park, Ill., and he’s always appreciative of his good fortune and all of the hard work it has taken to get to where he is today. Speaking of beginnings, this edition of SL Chicago marks the launch of our brand-new column called Sophisticated Woman. The brainchild of Editor-In-Chief Elise Hofer Shaw, this piece in each edition will feature one woman from Chicagoland whose life and achievements we find impressive and inspiring. The intimate interviews will provide a window into these dynamic women’s worlds while making sure that conversations about women in the workplace continue to be heard. Our very first Sophisticated Woman is none other than Harriet Seitler, the executive vice president and chief marketing officer at OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network. In addition to penning the line “Live Your Best Life” for Oprah, Seitler has helped impact millions of lives through Oprah’s Book Club, Angel Network and Christmas Kindness Tours— all while raising a family and running her home in Highland Park. She is indeed living her best life, and to say that we are inspired would be an understatement. I’m also excited about this issue’s feature on Beatnik restaurant, West Town’s hottest spot for global dishes, creative cocktails and boho-luxe decor (“The Beat Goes On”). The newest restaurant from Bonhomme Restaurant Group (the people behind Black Bull, Bordel, Fulton Market Kitchen, Celeste and Disco) is partner Daniel Alonso’s passion project. From the sunlit lounge to the galley bar and the candlelit dining room, he has appointed the space with pieces from his travels, including a stunning 100-year-old carved teak building façade from Bali. And chef Marcos Campos has outdone himself in creating a menu that’s equally impressive, boasting flavors from Italy, Spain, Greece, India, Mexico and Morocco. I hope you love the newest issue of Sophisticated Living Chicago as much as I do, and that it inspires you to make the most out of summer by exploring your big backyard, trying new things and living your best life.
Alison Victoria Owner & Publisher alison@slmag.net
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THE DAY-DATE 40 The international symbol of performance and success, reinterpreted with a modernized design and a new-generation mechanical movement. It doesn’t just tell time. It tells history.
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From the Editor-In-Chief
Portrait by Yuya Ohashi Hair and makeup by Drop By Gorgeous
As we head into summer, a time of growth and renewal, ironically I find myself wrapped in a warm and fuzzy sense of nostalgia. As someone who has called Chicago home for more than two decades, and who has lived in just about every neighborhood from Lincoln Park to Wicker Park, every corner holds a memory for me. And now that the temperatures are rising, and Chicago turns once again into a walking city, I’m flooded with happy thoughts of the past—my first day on the job as an editorial intern in a subterranean office in River North, buying my first condo in Sandburg Village in the Gold Coast, taking my wedding photos on the Kinzie Street Bridge, bringing my daughter home for the first time to our loft in the West Loop. One piece in this issue that gives me all the feels is Hilary Boyajian’s story on Space 519’s new flagship store on East Chestnut Street (“Space to Grow”). This morning I got a sneak peek of the boutique during our photo shoot with co-owners Lance Lawson and Jim Wetzel, and let me just say, it’s awesome. Back in 2004, I was 27 when the boys first opened Jake, a boutique for denim and then some, carrying labels like Serfontaine and Sass & Bide. I remember saving my money to make the pilgrimage up to their store on Southport Avenue to buy designer jeans because their selection was second to none. I still buy my Khaite and Tomas Maier jeans from Lance and Jim. Why? Their brands, styles and cuts aren’t just of the moment, they’re ahead of the trends. Except now I also shop their ready-to-wear from the likes of Rhié and Hayley Menzies, accessories by Marion Vidal and Lizzie Fortunato, home goods from Roost and Georg Jensen, personality-packed gifts and yummy apothecary goodies, too. I couldn’t be more proud of my friends’ exciting new chapter. This issue also boasts a piece on Keith Haring: The Chicago Mural that’s on exhibit now through Sept. 23 at the Chicago Cultural Center (“Mural, Mural on the Wall”). Over five days in 1989, May 15-19, which the City of Chicago had declared Keith Haring Week, the American pop culture artist worked with approximately 500 Chicago Public School students from 49 area high schools to paint the mural, which is on view starting this month as part of the City of Chicago’s Year of Creative Youth, a year-long citywide celebration of Chicago’s young artists and the mentors who inspire them. When I was in kindergarten, Haring came to Brookside, the grade school I attended in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., unfurled massive rolls of white paper, handed out a rainbow of markers and set us kiddos to work. At 5 years old, I had no idea I was in the presence of an artist and activist who would forever impact the LGBTQ community and the future of art, yet the memory is as vivid as what I ate for breakfast. Chicago is as much a part of my narrative as I am of its, which is why I feel a responsibility to tell the stories of our city’s bravest businessmen and women, tireless philanthropists, influencers and artists. Enjoy the new issue of Sophisticated Living Chicago, and the stories we love to share.
Elise Hofer Shaw Editor-In-Chief elise@slmag.net
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Contributors
“Space 519 has been a go-to shopping destination of mine since I discovered it a few years ago,” says writer Hilary Boyajian, who wrote this issue’s feature on the lifestyle boutique’s new flagship store on East Chestnut Street (“Space to Grow”). “I always look forward to visiting the shop as I view it as a gallery of sorts––inspiring with an air of creative intelligence that can only come from the kind of passion owners Lance and Jim have for fashion and interior design. And now with the addition of The Lunchroom restaurant and coffee café, the guys’ dream concept is complete—and I get to sip espresso while trying on my favorite dresses by MII and La DoubleJ.” “I was beyond thrilled when Editor-In-Chief Elise Hofer Shaw asked if I would pen our new column, Sophisticated Woman,” says Creative Director Bridget Daley, who interviewed Harriet Seitler for the first edition, running in this issue. “I have so much love for Chicago’s lady bosses. And as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network, Harriet was an obvious choice to kick this off. I have so many fond memories of working with her at The Oprah Winfrey Show. She is as smart as they come, commands any room and has a heart of gold. She is my definition of a female force.” “After more than 16 years leading Coach and producing ‘affordable luxury,’ it will be exciting to see what Reed Krakoff does with the freedom his role as chief artistic officer at Tiffany & Co. provides—and how his vision will continue to materialize into fine jewelry,” says contributing writer Tina Kourasis, who interviewed Krakoff on his first collection for the famed jewelry house, Paper Flowers (“Garden Secrets”). “The Tiffany brand is more than 180 years old. I’m intrigued to see how he interprets the brand for this day and age.” Kourasis is the owner of luxury women’s fashion boutique VMR on Oak Street. “I love how Brynn’s design philosophy is all about balance—new and old, inexpensive and luxurious, brass and chrome,” says first-time contributing writer Jessica Moazami about Brynn Olson, the Chicago interior designer she interviewed about a recent home project in Hinsdale for this issue (“A Farmhouse Fairy Tale”). “It’s what gives her work a contemporary and fresh feel. She also has a great eye for seeing the potential in overlooked vintage pieces and giving them new life.” Check out Moazami’s styling and writing work at jessicamoazami. com and follow her on Instagram @jessica_moazami. “I’ve never taken for granted the opportunities I’ve had to travel the world and all that I have gleaned from those experiences,” says contributing writer Alexandra Sabbag, who penned this issue’s piece on Embarc, a three-year program that provides community-driven, experienced-based learning opportunities to low-income high school students to inspire and prepare them for college (“Chicago Connection”). “But I was naive to the fact that a large part of Chicago’s young population does not have the means to even explore their own city and are existing within a four-block radius of their home. Embarc is turning our city into one big classroom. Today, our big backyard; tomorrow, hopefully, the world.”
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The Nike SF Air Force 1 mid ‘Force Is Female’ women’s shoe, $160, at the Nike Chicago store.
THE FORCE AWAKENS By Elise Hofer Shaw
Nike’s new Force Is Female collection of sneakers is wicked cool in its own right. But when we heard that the trendsetting sportswear brand had selected four kick-ass, inspirational Chicago women to rep the looks, the shoes’ street cred instantly doubled. For the kicks’ Chicago campaign, Nike vetted a host of powerhouse Chi-town women who work as hard as they play—pushing the boundaries of creativity and imagination in whatever they do—before selecting the final four: Casey Short, a Nike athlete who plays professional soccer for the Chicago Red Stars; Kristen Noel Crawley, style influencer and the founder of KNC Beauty; Elizabeth De La Piedra, photographer and social media rising star; and soulful sister Ravyn Lenae, a Chicago-born R&B singer and songwriter. Released in tandem with the 35th anniversary of the iconic Air Force 1 shoe, the collection’s three 2018 styles include a military-inspired mega high-top and a throwback mid-rise bootie (all specifically designed for females and only available in a Vintage Wine hue). And the cutting-edge campaign shines a light on a mix of women from Chicago who redefine what it means to be a force in the creative sphere while inspiring other women and girls. So the only question that remains is, “Will the Force be with you?” sl The 2018 Force Is Female collection ($77-$144) is available at Nike Chicago and at nike.com.
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Photographer and social media rising star Elizabeth De La Piedra, one of four Chicago female ambassadors for Nike’s new Force Is Female collection
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Garden Secrets
By Tina Kourasis / Portrait by Inez & Vinoodh
Just in time for summer garden parties, Tiffany & Co. unveils Chief Artistic Officer Reed Krakoff’s premier jewelry collection, Tiffany Paper Flowers. The collection, comprised of both high and fine jewelry, was inspired by the idea of flower petals— cut from paper and delicately pinned together—and reflects a perfect balance of refined femininity and industrial modernity.
“Paper Flowers is about stripping away all of the rules associated with fine jewelry,” says Krakoff. “Luxury shouldn’t always mean formality, so we used precious stones and the finest materials, but in a way that you can live with every day.” Here, Krakoff talks about his creative process, upholding the Tiffany tradition and the strength behind the beauty. sl
What does the collection say not only about Tiffany’s legacy, but also about the brand now and in the future? Tiffany has always embraced the beauty in nature, and rendered nature’s forms in different ways. We always strive for new interpretations, combining beauty with modernism, like in the Tiffany Paper Flowers collection where we deconstruct the petals and rivet them together again with a pin. We’re beginning a new chapter of creativity, with a reverence for the past, but at the same time bringing excitement and surprise so that people consider us in a new way.
What is your favorite piece in the collection? There are different pieces I like for different reasons. I love the collar necklace with the big pear-shaped diamond for its luxe but cool toughness. It takes wearing big diamonds out of the formal and allows you to wear them much more casually. I also love the large ring that has three flowers with a firefly nestled in the middle of them. It has a kind of romantic, magical feeling.
What do you want Tiffany Paper Flowers to be known for? I’d like people to think of modern beauty—combining real strength with a sensibility that’s both modern and feminine. What was it like seeing the actual pieces for the first time—not just on paper but the finished product? It was incredibly exciting to be able to see and touch the pieces. They have a dimension and scale to them in real life that isn’t necessarily captured in the sketches. What was it like designing your first jewelry collection for Tiffany? I’ve designed jewelry throughout my career, but I really felt the huge responsibility of creating for a world-leading company with historically great design. I wanted to design a fine jewelry collection that a person could wear every day and in all sorts of situations, both formally but also in a casual way. Can you describe how you approached the design process? What differences and similarities did you experience with designing jewelry versus home goods and accessories? It’s always the same process where you look at where a brand came from, and then re- contextualize and shape your designs in a way that is believable and new at the same time so that they’re viscerally desirable. It’s always important to connect designs with a narrative context, so that you’re not making something that’s just pretty, but something that has intrinsic meaning. How do you think Tiffany Paper Flowers ties in with existing Tiffany collections? It was top of mind while we were designing Paper Flowers that it should be a diamond, platinum and tanzanite collection that needed to be able to live with other collections. You could wear Paper Flowers with Tiffany Victoria as easily as you could with Tiffany HardWear. It’s just a different interpretation. I’ve always believed that luxury can be informal and effortless. 22 slmag.net
Why did you start with fine jewelry in this collection? I wanted to deliver a fresh dose of creativity to the core of Tiffany’s business— diamonds—and to make them cool and modern, but romantic at the same time. I wanted to make diamond jewelry more emotive, and to give these pieces a special sort of story. What was the most challenging part of creating this collection, as well as the most gratifying? The most gratifying part was getting to know the incredible design team here at Tiffany, to see who they were and how they worked. Most challenging was the time frame for the Paper Flowers collection, which was incredibly tight. We had to create a major collection with an important story to tell in a very short time. What is it about Tiffany craftsmanship that you find most interesting or special? Everything we do is in service of creating timeless jewelry, with a little irreverence and surprise, that is just perfectly crafted. What is the future of Tiffany Paper Flowers? Extension 2.0? We want to create pure but bigger collections in the next seasons—new flowers, new insects, different colors and metals. We’re working on new color concepts and also a sterling silver concept for Paper Flowers that’s a little more casual but has the same spirit as the original collection. I feel that even though Tiffany Paper Flowers started out as a fine jewelry collection, sterling silver has a place in it. Things don’t always have to be so linear and restrictive. I believe in mixing things up and creating beautiful things people want to live with and wear every day. Have you always been a fan of Tiffany? I grew up with Tiffany. I had a Tiffany keychain and at any special event with my family or other people I knew, Tiffany always seemed to be a part of it. Tiffany represented the best of everything; a place where you could find the perfect gift, and where people went when there was a special moment to celebrate. Also, I’ve collected Louis Comfort Tiffany lamps for a very long time. The Tiffany Paper Flowers collection is available at Tiffany & Co. Michigan Avenue, 312.944.7500, and other select Chicagoland Tiffany & Co. stores. tiffany.com
From top: Tiffany Paper Flowers pendant in platinum with diamonds, $8,000, necklace in platinum with diamonds and tanzanites, $11,500, bracelet in platinum with diamonds, $35,000, open earrings in platinum with diamonds, $4,200, drop earrings in platinum with diamonds and tanzanites, $5,600, and necklace in platinum with diamonds, $75,000. At right: Tiffany & Co.’s Chief Artistic Officer Reed Krakoff
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A SPACE TO GROW Space 519, Chicago’s insider boutique for carefully curated fashion and home goods, settles into its new flagship location in the Gold Coast. By Hilary Boyajian / Portrait by Anthony Tahlier Tucked away on the fifth floor of the 900 North Michigan Shops in the Gold Coast for the last eight years, Space 519 has always felt like a well-kept local secret. Sure, some in-the-know out-of-towners would make it a destination for effortlessly chic women’s fashion. And, OK, maybe a few tourists would stumble in from time to time as well. But, for the most part, Space 519—according to Chicago’s sartorial set, anyway—is an insiders’ spot. And now, since co-owners Lance Lawson and Jim Wetzel have moved the shop to a larger, street-level footprint on the lake side of the Mag Mile, along a quaint strip of East Chestnut Street in The Seneca building, the buzz has reached a fever pitch. Yet in true Lawson and Wetzel fashion (pun intended), Space 519 hasn’t lost an ounce of its unassuming charm, approachability (price points and otherwise) and somewhat under-the-radar cool status. And now there’s even more to love beyond its carefully curated fashion, accessories, apothecary and home goods selection at the new location thanks to the addition of The Lunchroom, an adjoining European-style coffee café and restaurant. “We have always been inspired by European concept stores like Colette in Paris and 10 Corso Como in Milan,” says Wetzel. “We love the idea of a store that contains a variety of items curated from one viewpoint across a broad range of categories––this is how Space 519 was originally born.” Lawson and Wetzel’s combined experience is impressive. Wetzel, a Chicago native, has more than 30 years of retail sales and merchandising expertise, running the gamut from Gap to Gucci. Lawson, originally from Denver, is an attorney by trade and a self-taught interior designer driven by raw passion. From 2004 to 2010, the pair conceptualized and ran Jake, a group of designer denim and women’s clothing boutiques across Chicago, and were lauded by Women’s Wear Daily as one of the nation’s most influential independent retailers. Nonetheless, trying financial times (and some sticky politics) during the recession
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Space 519 owners Lance Lawson (left) and Jim Wetzel
ultimately led to Jake’s downfall and the shuttering of its three locations. But with an onward-and-upward attitude, Lawson and Wetzel didn’t waste any time turning the tables. “We focused on the great parts of our past and learned from the difficult ones,” says Lawson. The duo launched Space 519 in May of 2010, excited to offer clients a wider assortment of the things they love: women’s fashion curated from around the globe (labels like Rhié, MII and Hayley Menzies, to name just a few), men’s and women’s accessories (think briefcases by Mismo and jewelry by Lizzie Fortunato), home goods from the likes of Roost and Blue Carreon that combine style and function, gifts like tongue-in-cheek paper goods by Appointed and coffee-table books from Taschen and Phaiden, and apothecary collections that reverse the clock while looking fabulous atop your vanity. After almost a decade, which included a two-year run for a sister store called Madison Hall at the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, the time had come to take Space 519 to the next level. The new 5,000-square-foot flagship store, located just one block off Michigan Avenue and two blocks from Oak Street, is flooded with natural light. Spearheaded by Lawson with input from Wetzel and Chicago’s Paul Schulman Design, the goal for the interior was to uphold the elegance of the building’s 1920s architecture— The Seneca was a luxury hotel before being converted into luxury residences in 2012—while spotlighting the gents’ modern design philosophy. “We love creating modern spaces in historic settings,” chimes the couple, who live in a prewar building on Lake Shore Drive overlooking Belmont Harbor. “We also love the neighborhood feel of Chestnut Street. It feels different over here—tree-lined and residential, much like the Upper East Side of Manhattan.” Avid travelers, Lawson and Wetzel spend 10 months out of the year combing the shops of Paris, London, New York and beyond for distinct pieces to add to their offerings. “We always enjoy pushing the boundaries a bit––especially in relation to what people outside
Short and Sassy dress in Galletti print, $550, by La DoubleJ
The Lunchroom’s seasonal outdoor café opens in June. Copenhagen Design large candlestick, $795, by Georg Jensen
of Chicago think about Midwesterners––by keeping it interesting, but also approachable,” says Wetzel. “So many local boutiques are filled with the usual suspects of both European designer and contemporary brands, but we never dumb it down.” The mostly white new space allows for the product to take centerstage. Wallpaper by Albert Hadley adds texture. Most of the furniture and art peppered throughout the shop is for sale—from reupholstered midcentury chairs to a giant leather horse sourced from a local flea market—with new pieces arriving weekly. The retail floor is a labyrinth of tabletop displays featuring coffee-table books on art, style, culinary pursuits and travel staggered between Space 519’s custom brushed-steel clothing racks. Vintage brass Mastercraft cabinets circa 1970 house handmade jewelry from Fortunato and Annie Costello Brown. Behind the cash wrap hangs a giant black-and-white aerial photograph of Chicago. Lawson found the print in 1988 at Salvage One and, fun fact, has hung it in every store the guys have owned at one time or another. Fashion favorites like Comey, Protagonist, Sea and Tomas Maier will still be available at the flagship store, with labels like Odeeh and La DoubleJ rounding out the new collections. “I’m in love with La DoubleJ’s heritage-based lifestyle collection,” says Wetzel, who heads up merchandising and vendor relations while Lawson appoints the store and manages marketing initiatives. “Doesn’t every hostess want to match her dress to her napkins and dessert plates? How fabulous is that?” Also coming into the mix will be Georg Jensen accessories and home decor including a handful of iconic designs available for less than $100. On the apothecary front, Wetzel is excited to introduce Joanna Vargas Skincare to the shelves. The celebrity facialist and early proponent of plant-based cosmetics will get top billing alongside skincare from Vintner’s Daughter and Goop as well as fragrances from MCMC Fragrances out of Brooklyn and Madrid’s Álvarez Gómez. And arriving this fall is Lawson and Wetzel’s capsule collection of cashmere sweaters, the pair’s first private label.
Space 519 earrings (designed exclusively for the store opening), $195, by Lizzie Fortunato Botanical Serum, $185, by Vintner’s Daughter
But don’t forget about The Lunchroom. “We’ve traveled all over Europe and North America searching out many of the world’s best lunch cafés to gather inspiration for our first-ever food component,” says Lawson. “The Lunchroom represents the final piece in our long-held dream of bringing a fully integrated European-style concept store and restaurant to Chicago.” The 40-seat restaurant (with a seasonal outdoor café opening in June) is appointed with Marcel Breuer cane chairs, moss-green leather banquettes and marble-topped tables, and will serve lunch and weekend brunch with coffee counter and café service available all day during store hours. “We went to California on a food tour and came back with our menu. It’s fresh and vegetableforward, but not at all fussy or formal,” adds Lawson. “At the end of the day, people want to order the food they crave for lunch––the perfect club, a tuna melt or a crisp, inventive salad.” In addition to its full menu and frothy hot beverages courtesy of a La Marzocco espresso machine and Metric Coffee Co. coffee, The Lunchroom will feature artisanal pastries, cold-pressed juices, Sicilian-style pizza on Fridays and a cocktail menu that includes craft beers and frosé. Mark your calendars for May 19 when Space 519 will host an exclusive trunk show with Sea designer Sean Monahan. (And subscribe to Space 519’s weekly newsletter at space519. com for upcoming book signings, salon-style discussions, chef demonstrations and other fun events.) “We focus on what is new and hard to find while staying mindful of our prices,” says Lawson of what he believes to be Space 519’s staying power. “We love giving our clients reverse sticker shock. Plus, many things we buy for ourselves often end up in the store––that’s the greatest endorsement, we think. But above all, we lead with our hearts. We never, ever take our customers for granted. They are all VIPs to us.” sl Space 519, 200 E. Chestnut St., 312.751.1519, space519.com
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Kent Drake Photography
EVENT SPACE JUST OFF MICHIGAN AVENUE Private Events | Weddings | Galas | Corporate Receptions | Holiday Parties 247 East Ontario Street | 312.255.0288 | chez-chicago.com
IN PURSUIT OF
M AG I C 1131 W. Armitage Ave. | Chicago, IL 60614 | fredmandesigngroup.com CH ICAGO | HARBOR CO UNT RY
Artist Keith Haring working with Chicago Public School students to paint the 1989 mural
MURAL, MURAL ON THE WALL By Taylor Morgan / Photography by Irving Zucker
Over five days in 1989, May 15-19, which the City of Chicago had declared Keith Haring Week, the now iconic American artist worked with approximately 500 Chicago Public School students from 49 area high schools to paint a monumental mural in his energetic, graffiti-like style. The 488-foot-long mural, made up of 122 4-by-8-foot Masonite panels—boasting a rainbow of Haring’s trademark radiant babies, flying saucers and deified dogs—stretched along the edge of Grant Park at Michigan Avenue between Randolph and Madison Streets. The project was planned and managed with great dedication by Irving Zucker, then a teacher at William H. Wells Community Academy in West Town, after meeting Haring at a dinner party in New York. The pop artist expressed interest in a project with kids in Chicago, and thus the planning began in 1987 for an innovative arts-in-education program to be developed by the Chicago Public Schools Bureau of Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art of Chicago (MCA)—the mural was one beautiful result. Nearly three decades later, Keith Haring: The Chicago Mural has been resurrected and is on view now through Sept. 23 at the Chicago Cultural Center as part of the City of Chicago’s Year of Creative Youth, a year-long citywide celebration of Chicago’s young artists and the mentors who inspire them. The free-admission exhibition will feature 36 original panels from the ’80s mural that remains a reflection of Haring’s incisive draftsmanship and the symbolic characters he used to break down the barriers between high and low art. sl Keith Haring: The Chicago Mural is on view now through Sept. 23 at the Chicago Cultural Center in the Sidney R. Yates Gallery, 4th Floor North. 78 E. Washington St., cityofchicago.org
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BACK TO THE FUTURE
David Brown Automotive drew inspiration from the 1960s for its newest 21st century Grand Tourer. Written by Andre James Among the belles of the ball at the Geneva International Motor Show this past March was the latest creation from David Brown Automotive: the Speedback Silverstone Edition. The unveiling of the Grand Tourer, whose design takes cues from both the dawn of the jet age and classic racers from the 1960s, was timed with the one-year anniversary of David Brown Automotive’s relocation of its headquarters and coachbuilding facility to the historic Silverstone racing venue in the UK. British businessman David Brown founded his eponymous automotive company in Coventry in 2013, announcing its first model—Speedback GT—in March 2014. Three years later,
the company relocated to a new 18,000-square-foot facility in Silverstone, which is home to the British Grand Prix. Since then, each new release has followed a similar modus operandi: taking classic, timeless and elegant looks that hearken to prior decades and reimagining them with state-of-the-art engineering, production methods and performance and safety features. “Ever since David Brown Automotive relocated to Silverstone, we have wanted to mark the significance of the circuit’s aeronautical and motorsport heritage,” said Brown. “Speedback Silverstone Edition addresses our ambition on every level, as a visually stunning Grand Tourer and the most performance-focused model we have ever made.” slmag.net
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Approximately 8,000 painstaking man hours go into the build of each vehicle, and great care is taken to use predominantly British-sourced premium materials. The streamlined handcrafted aluminum body of the Speedback Silverstone Edition is defined by extended side skirts, a front spoiler and enhanced rear diffuser. Larger side vents, distinguished by limited edition Silverstone details, give a nod to the performance-enhanced powertrain inside. Jet-inspired exhaust tips are akin to exclamation points as they compound the race-tuned engine notes. Adding to the car’s classic racer profile are forged 20-inch ‘Afterburner’ alloy wheels, a bespoke signature pattern grill fitted with twin LED auxiliary driving lamps, dark ceramic LED technical headlamps and clear lens taillights. Representing the most performance-oriented car produced by David Brown Automotive to date, the Grand Tourer’s 5.0liter twin-scroll supercharged V8 engine delivers 601hp, capable of propelling the car from 0-60mph in 4.2-seconds and on to a limited top speed of 155mph. The powertrain is mated to a six-speed ZF automatic transmission, with drive delivered through the rear wheels for assured sports handling. An upgraded
suspension system, a fully automated Dynamic Stability Control system, performance brakes and active rear differential enhance the dynamic driving experience without sacrificing comfort or aesthetic refinement. An abundance of ‘Antique’ and ‘Ebony’ leather inside the cockpit is bound by contrasting tan stitching and mated with Kvadrat ‘Remix’ premium fabric to add a touch of aeronautical emphasis. Other high-end finishes include scorched ‘Ebony Macassar’ wood veneer on the dashboard and a leather and Alcantara steering wheel. The two-seater configuration allows for rear luggage stowage in place of rear seats. Heated and adjustable sports seats are embroidered with a Silverstone Circuit outline. Aeronautical-inspired speedometer and tachometer dials near a fully integrated infotainment system represent one of many instances where past and present meld in perfect harmony. Production of the Speedback Silverstone Edition will be limited to 10 built-to-order cars, priced from £620,000.00 GBP (approximately $870,000). For more information, visit davidbrownautomotive.com. sl
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Of Note... Bridle Party
Compiled by Colin Dennis
Clockwise from top left: Horse head handle glass Pimms jug from At Home in the Country ($175; athomeinthecountry.co.uk), Artisani horse head wall hanging ($275; artisani.com), Horse 3 ceramic vase from VG New Trend (price upon request; vgnewtrend.it), Cheval cocktail table from Jonathan Adler ($1,099; jonathanadler.com), Life-size Moooi horse lamp by Front (price upon request; moooi.com).
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Clockwise from top left: Sophie Allport horse napkins ($20/4; sophiealport.com), Polo helmet wine cooler from Annabel James ($150; annabeljames.co.uk), Handcrafted wine glass by Frare Lavorazioni Artistiche ($560; artemest.com), Dartagnan stool with saddle leather seat from Haymann Editions (price upon request; haymanneditions.com), Peterhof hand-painted miniature rocking horse (peterhofparis.com), Oly Studio Kedan stool (price upon request; olystudio.com), Equestrian cushion cover by Hanbel & Monpas (hanbel.com), Horse and rider invitation set from Chase and Wonder ($25/10; chaseandwonder.com)
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Bibliotaph... Horsepower
Compiled by Victoria Chase The ultimate off-roader, the Land Rover Defender is recognized around the globe as an icon of British engineering. Landy fans and petrol-heads alike will enjoy this highly illustrated collection of classic and limited edition models, beginning with its first iteration as a utility vehicle in 1948 and onward to 21st century special editions. Mike Gould - Defender: Land Rover's Legendary Off-Roader - hardcover, 160 pages, Aurum Press (quartoknows.com)
The icons of muscle car art—including Camaro and Chevelle SS, the Hemi and 440-6 ’Cuda, Challenger, Roadrunner, Super Bee, GTX, Super Bird, Daytona Charger, Super Cobra Jet and Boss Mustang, Talladega Torino, Buick GSX and W30 Oldsmobile 442, and AMX Javelin—are all included in this lavishly illustrated volume. Each example is described in a detailed essay followed by a gallery of portraits and special gatefold presentations that capture the art of the muscle car at its finest. David Newhardt (author), Peter Harholdt (photographer) The Art of the Muscle Car - hardcover, 240 pages, Motorbooks (quartoknows.com)
Beauty, performance, racing success, exclusivity and Italian flair combine to make Ferrari one of the world's most iconic carmakers. This book offers Ferrari owners and fans an engaging and comprehensive history of Maranello's extensive sports car range, highlighted by gorgeous photography and fascinating images from Ferrari's historic archive. Dennis Adler - Ferrari: 70 Years - hardcover, 320 pages, Motorbooks (quartoknows.com)
All of the cars featured in this elegant book attained auction prices in excess of $1,000,000, making them the most desired (and expensive) cars in the world. Photographed by Simon Clay, vibrant images are accompanied by informative text that gives the reader the specs, history and other fascinating details of these dream vehicles. Martin Derrick (author), Simon Clay (photographer) - Million Dollar Classics: The World's Most Expensive Dream Cars hardcover, 192 pages, Chartwell Books (quartoknows.com)
Automotive writer and photographer Dennis Adler details the early career of Ferdinand Porsche, supported by stunning images of the first Gmünd coupe, the 356, and the timeless 911, among others, to relay the full story of the iconic German sports car. Dennis Adler - Porsche: The Classic Era - hardcover, 304 pages, Motorbooks (quartoknow.com)
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bib 'li' o 'taph, [bib-lee-uhtaf, -tahf ]: a person who caches or hoards books For photographer Mary McCartney's largest work to date, she chose to focus her camera singularly on the extraordinary beauty of a white stallion, Alejandro, captured in the bucolic countryside of Sussex, where she grew up. Mary McCartney - The White Horse - hardcover, 200 pages, Rizzoli (rizzoliusa.com)
Taking each of the four key sporting attributes—athleticism, speed, agility and endurance— veteran journalist Nicola Swinney explores how these essential characteristics inform performance across a diverse range of equestrian pursuits. Using examples from dressage, polo, snow sports, reigning and others, she demonstrates how the horse and rider work as one to achieve sporting success. Nicole Jane Swinney - The Sporting Horse: In Pursuit of Equine Excellence - hardcover, 224 pages, White Lion Publishing (quartoknows.com)
The first known book of its kind, image-driven chapters are dedicated to equestrian architecture that incorporates scientific principles and sound design to promote the health and safety of horses. John Blackburn, Beth Herman - Health Stables by Design: A Common Sense Approach to the Health and Safety of Horses - hardcover, 160 pages, Images Publishing Group (imagespublishing.com)
Elwin Hartley Edwards, who edited Riding magazine for 18 years and is the author of more than 30 books on horses and horsemanship, compiled this comprehensive photographic guide to more than 150 horse and pony breeds and types from around the world. Elwin Hartley Edwards - The Horse Encyclopedia - hardcover, 360 pages, DK Press (penguinrandomhouse.com)
Compiled from photographs taken by Anouk Masson Krantz over a span of 10 years, this book provides a visually stunning record of both the landscape and the wild horses of Cumberland Island. Anouk Masson Krantz - Wild Horses of Cumberland Island - hardcover, 240 pages, Images Publishing (imagespublishing.com)
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SEEWORTHY
Sip and savor in the sand at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival Written by Bridget Williams / Photography by World Red Eye Based on my recent experience at the five-day spectacle that comprises the annual South Beach Wine & Food Festival, getting a beach-ready body will take on an entirely different meaning should I return to Miami for the 2019 rendition. After sipping, snacking and savoring my way through everything from tater tots to truffles, there was still so much left on the table, both literally and figuratively, that I’ve resolved to “train” for next year’s event so that I won’t miss a bite! Founded 17 years ago by Florida native Lee Brian Schrager, who is also Senior Vice President of Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility for Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, the festival has continued to grow and attract some of the world’s greatest celebrity chefs and winemakers. United under the theme of EAT-DRINKEDUCATE, in 2018 there were nearly 100 different events staged all over South Beach and beyond, drawing an estimated 70,000 visitors, along with 350 participating chefs, wine makers and food professionals from around the world. Dog lovers, day drinkers, late-night snackers, vegetarians, carnivores, fitness enthusiasts, fashionistas and everyone in between could find at least one event that spoke to their palate. 40 slmag.net
For our inaugural visit, we went big, primarily participating in marquee events held under massive oceanfront tents erected directly in the South Beach sand. We kicked off the weekend with a tasty tour of Italy via the Italian Bites on the Beach event, hosted by celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis. After stuffing ourselves silly at tasting stations presented by 30 local and national chefs, and imbibing a few Aperol Spritz, we attempted to burn as many calories as possible by dancing to a live performance by multi-platinum and Grammy nominated group Smash Mouth. The following afternoon, we made our way to another massive tented village a little further down the beach to partake of the Goya Foods’ Grand Tasting Village featuring MasterCard Grand Tasting Tents & KitchenAid Culinary Demonstrations. There was a dizzying array of offerings: pours from more than 80 of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits suppliers along with bites from more than 50 restaurants from across South Florida. Popular local DJs provided an upbeat background for the revelers.
Christina Dampman & Gabrielle Pearson at Wine Spectator's Best of the Best event
Guy Fieri and Festival founder Lee Brian Schrager at Heineken Light Burger Bash
Belvedere Vodka at the Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village
Walshy Fire at BACARD� presents Walshy Fire’s Rum & Bass Beach Party
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Wine Spectator's Best of the Best at Fontainebleau Miami Beach
Entrance to the Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village
Laura Padrino at Wine Spectator Trade Day
Fashion designer Zac Posen and chef Giada De Laurentiis at Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village
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Gourmet bites at the Best of the Best event
Later that evening, our ambitious itinerary included taking in both the Wine Spectator’s Best of the Best event at Fontainebleau Miami Beach, followed by a nightcap back at the beach for the raucous Heineken Light Burger Bash, presented by Schweid & Sons. We were handed a Riedel wine glass as we walked into the Best of the Best event, which was a dream come true for both gourmands and oenophiles. Sampling stations offered decadent dishes created by 60 of the nation’s top-rated chefs, while a selection of 100 wines rated 90 points or higher on Wine Spectator's scale were being poured by the proprietors and winemakers themselves. At the Burger Bash, chef and judge Guy Fieri fired up the crowd and boasted of how he sampled each of the 45 burgers created by participating chefs vying for the title of best burger on the beach. Having already overindulged at the Best of the Best event, I still managed to try quite a few of the burgers, but fell far short of Fieri’s impressive feat.
Perfectly encapsulating the spirit of South Beach, we capped off our weekend of glorious gluttony on Saturday night at the beachfront Walshy Fire’s Rum & Bass Beach Party, presented by BACARDI. A second annual event, rum-centric drinks were accompanied by bites from 25 South Florida chefs. JamaicanAmerican DJ Walshy Fire and special guest DJ Irie kept the dance floor packed and the energy level soaring late into the night. Throughout the weekend, I found myself marveling at just how smoothly each of these massively scaled events were staged. This was due in no small part to the involvement of the exceedingly friendly and hardworking students from Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management (which is the beneficiary of the festival’s proceeds). To date, the festival has raised more than $26 million for the School. The 2019 South Beach Wine & Food Festival is scheduled for February 20-24. For more information and reservations, visit sobewff.org. sl slmag.net
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Of Note... All Greek to Me
Compiled by Colin Dennis
Clockwise from top left: Greek Key Biedermeier walnut upholstered settee from Jonathan Charles Fine Furniture (price upon request; jonathancharles.com), Orion chair upholstered in microfiber velvet from Haute Home Furnishings ($1,815; hautehousehome.com), Hudson 42" pedestal table from Hickory Chair (price upon request; hickorychair.com), Lexi bench from Jessica Charles (price upon request; jessicacharles.com), Pimlico chair from Taylor King with Hercules Citrine upholstery (price upon request; taylorking.com), L'Objet combines chinoiserie and Greek key motifs in Limoges porcelain for its Cinnabar candle ($145; l-objet.com), Labrazel Greek Key soap dispenser in natural shell ($340; labrazel.com), Hygeia bust from Audenza ($117; audenza.com)
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Clockwise from top left: Greek Key table lamp in antique gold from Ethan Allen ($399; ethanallen.com), Laskaris S/S 2018 Couture Collection, Mint Greek Key chest from Bradburn Home (price upon request; bradburnhome.com), Key planter from Haddonstone ($138; haddonstone.com), Worlds Away Fulton vanity with bronze base and Carrara top ($2,315; worlds-away.com).
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REIGNING IN MAINE
Sister properties The Danforth and The Camden Inn are tops for a town and country experience in the northeast. Written by Caylee Matthews Although it was useless against the torrential downpour that had persisted nonstop since I arrived in Portland, Maine, the tiki umbrella that crowned my colorful cocktail was enough to keep my spirits from getting soggy. Surveying the exotic environs while taking a moment to inhale the aroma of charred spices that still lingered in the air from the crafting of my libation, I found it hard to believe that this lounge, open to guests of The Danforth Inn (danforthinn.com), was located inside a circa 1823 Victorian mansion. Dutch innkeepers Raymond Brunyanzski and Oscar Verest, who also manage sister property Camden Harbour Inn (camdenharbourinn.com) in Camden, Maine, have gone to great lengths to imbue both inns with contemporary European elegance, odes to their home country and lively design flourishes that allow them to operate in a league of their own in both cities. The duo’s yin and yang business relationship—Verest has two decades of business management experience in sales, finance, and management positions in the Netherlands, while the convivial Brunyanzski hails from one of the most well-known entertainment families in the Netherlands and has experience in leading high-end tours and consulting for some of the best hotels in the world—ensures that their properties’ palpable joie de vivre is balanced with a keen attention to detail.
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The Danforth Inn
Camden Harbour Inn
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Fresh catch at the Harbor Fish Market in Portland
Located in the heart of Portland’s historic West End neighborhood, the intimate Danforth Inn has but nine well-appointed guest rooms, all of which boast a fireplace. Redesigned in 2017, each spacious room and suite is uniquely designed, incorporating modern art, pops of bright colors, touches of chinoiserie, and an overarching commitment to the preservation of the building’s historic architecture (including a lower level billiards room that has the distinction of being Portland’s first speakeasy during Prohibition). As Portland’s only luxury boutique property, the Danforth Inn offers amenities one would expect to find in a much larger property, including a complimentary breakfast with a changing personalized menu in addition to an abbreviated buffet. An easily walkable city with a population of just under 67,000 residents, the Danforth’s ideal location makes it easy to explore the best of Portland. Some of my favorites included Vena’s Fizz House (versfizzhouse.com), which serves a wide variety of botanical-infused fizzes, vegan treats, creative fondues and simple sweets; the Salt Cellar (salt-cellar.com), home to a 500pound Himalayan salt lamp (the largest in North America); handmade donuts from HiFi (hifidonuts.com); Eventide Oyster Co. (eventideoysterco. com), a James Beard winner; small plates and crafty cocktails from Central Provisions (central-provisions.com); nautical-inspired totes and accessories fashioned from torn sails at Sea Bags (seabags.com); The Victoria Mansion (victoriamansion.org), a National Historic Landmark and one of America's finest and most complete houses of the mid-19th century; and, the shops and eateries of Old Port (portlandmaine.com).
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Nautical totes at Sea Bags
Lobby lounge at The Camden Harbour Inn
The lounge at The Danforth Inn
Promenade Suite at The Danforth Inn
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Steamed Lobster Bun from Natalie's Restaurant
Lobster shack near the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland
Living room of the Royal Dutch Suite at The Camden Harbour Inn
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More restrained than its bigger city sister 80 miles south, there is a discernible sense of calm that pervades the Camden Harbour Inn, which was originally constructed in 1874. Feeling more homelike than hotel, the property was also designed in classic European fashion within a larger quintessential New England framework. The 20 lavish and uniquely outfitted guest rooms and six luxury suites all include a fireplace, and six of the rooms boast a private balcony. The Inn’s hillside placement permits all accommodations to have a view of Mt. Battie and the 5,700-acre Camden Hills State Park or the Camden Harbor. Original artworks from the owners’ private collections adorn the walls throughout the property. A destination in its own right, the AAA Four Diamond Natalie’s Restaurant celebrates the bounty of Maine using contemporary techniques and global influences. Guests of the Inn are treated to a signature gourmet champagne breakfast each morning. During dinner, Brunyanzski’s family ties to show business play out well in the kitchen theatre, where he serves as conductor in conjunction with Executive Co-Chefs Chris Long and Shelby Stevens. “Dining is the process of coming together and enjoying one another, and I enjoy assembling and working with a team of creative people to make the experience the centerpiece of the evening,” explained Brunyanski. Lobster lovers will want to add their Homard Grand Cru (Grand Lobster Menu) to their bucket list; the multi-course lobster feast was a delight for all of the senses that I won’t soon forget. Under the direction of mixologist Alexa Doyer, Natalie’s cocktails are as highly venerated as the food; the wine list features an impressive selection of more than 200 carefully selected bottles. With just 5,000 year-round residents, the population of Camden nearly triples during the summer months. Located on Penobscot Bay, there is much to explore in the immediate area of this charming small town, including the 19th century homes that comprise the High Street Historic District, the landscaped amphitheater of the Camden Public Library, the restored Camden Opera House, and ample hiking trails in Camden Hills State Park. Local restaurants of note include tiny Thai restaurant Long Grain (longgraincamden. com) and Francine Bistro (francinebistro.com), whose constantly changing menu celebrates the best of what’s local. Further afoot is the exquisite tasting room of Cellar Door Winery in Lincolnville (mainewine.com) and the town of Rockland, Maine, whose worldfamous Farnsworth Art Museum contains an impressive collection of paintings by Andrew Wyeth and other well-known New England artists (farnsworthmuseum.org). While the rain in Maine persisted for all five days of my town and country tour of the state, the superb staff at both properties helped me find plenty to do. As I warmed myself in front of the fire each evening following my daily excursions, I may have been drenched, but I was by no means defeated. sl
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Clockwise from top left: 3ternity ring from Julien Riad Sahyoun in 18K yellow gold ($3,600; jsay.com), 18K gold-plated sterling silver Honeycomb Lace ring from Pandora ($180; pandora.net), Cirari 18k yellow gold fashion ring with diamonds ($4,850; cirari.com), 2 Hoops ring by Anil Arjandas in 18K rose gold with brown diamonds ($1,178; anilarjandas.com), Konstantino 18K gold and pearl diamond ring ($4,750; konstantino.com), Whirl 18K yellow gold and diamond ring from Carelle ($3,950; carelle.com).
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Clockwise from top left: John Hardy Modern Chain small J hoop earrings in 18K yellow gold ($2,400; johnhardy.com), 3 Birds necklace from Jacquie Aiche in 14K rose gold with diamonds ($2,875; jacquieaiche.com), Gumuchian "B" stud earrings ($315; gumuchian.com), Les Georgettes Arcade customizable medium cuff with rose gold finish (from $119; lesgeoregettes.com), Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust 31 in 18K yellow gold with malachite dial (price upon request; rolex.com), Leibish 18K yellow gold fancy light yellow cushion diamond tennis bracelet (price upon request; leibish.com), Impressions bangle from Alessa Jewelry in 18K rose gold with diamonds ($2,995; alesaa.jewelry.com).
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Clockwise from top left: Courage lion ring in 18K yellow gold from Monica Rich Kosann ($4,200; monicarichkosann.com), Fairy cuff from Tamara Comolli in 18K rose gold ($1,980; tamaracomolli. com), Sydney Evan 14K yellow-gold Daisy Drop earrings with pavĂŠ diamond ($2,860; sydneyevan.com), Perfect necklace from By Stolie in 18K yellow gold with diamonds ($1,500; bystolie.com), Anthony Lent Brickface cufflinks in 18K yellow gold with diamond eyes ($5,750; anthonylent.com), Konstantino 18K gold lacework stone bracelet ($36,000; konstantino.com), Rose gold mini disc shaker multi waif ring from Jacquie Aiche ($2,915; jacquieaiche.com). Breguet Reine de Naples 35mm ladies watch in 18K rose gold with diamonds ($43,000; breguet.com).
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Clockwise from top left: Sydney Evan 14K yellow gold and pavĂŠ diamond rectangle bangle ($4,380; sydneyevan.com), Chopard Happy Sport watch in 18K rose gold (price upon request; chopard.com), PICCHIOTTI rose and white gold Xpandable bracelet with round diamonds ($19,600; picchiotti.it), X&O bangles from Assael in 18K yellow gold with pearls (price upon request; assael.com), Constellation earrings from Adam Foster Jewelry (price upon request; fosterjewelry.com), Sydney Evan 14K yellow-gold and diamond tennis racquet necklace with 14K gold ball chain ($1,190; sydneyevan.com).
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GREENER GRAPES Bonterra’s organic and biodynamic wines are just as good in the glass as they are for the earth. Written by Chloe Geller From its inception more than three decades ago, the team at Bonterra Organic Vineyards (bonterra.com) has been grounded in the belief that better wines are made from farms teeming with biodiversity and healthy soils. Their portfolio of varietal wines, crafted by winemaker Jeff Cichocki and stewarded by founding winemaker Bob Blue, are exclusively made from 100% certified organic vineyards, with Bonterra’s own nearly 1,000 acres of organic vineyards in Mendocino County, California forming the backbone of the collection. Upping the ante on organic, at the top end of Bonterra’s portfolio is a trio of single-vineyard wines produced from the estate’s Demeter-certified biodynamic vineyards: The McNab, The Butler and The Roost wines. Biodynamic farming, a method put forth by Austrian philosopher Rudolph Steiner in the 1920s, predates the creation of organic farming by two decades. Bonterra’s biodynamic wines are only crafted in exceptional vintages, serving as a testament to the potential of winegrowing that seeks to draw out the ultimate expression of a vineyard site. With its adherence to the lunar calendar and a composting practice that involves, among other steps, filling cows’ horns with herbs, minerals and manure, burying them en masse in the soil during cooler months before being digging them up and spreading the biologic material over the fields months later, Cichocki admits that to the uninitiated, the processes can seem a little “fringe”. “There is a spiritual as well as a practical and scientific way to approach biodynamic farming, and we choose to focus on the latter because the practice results in healthy vines that grow in a balanced way and make our vineyards stronger overall,” he explained. He added that the procedures hearken to self-sufficient family farming methods that were lost or eschewed in the era of 56 slmag.net
industrial farming. “It’s up to us as biodynamic farmers to give back to the soil,” Cichocki said. In the garden at the Biodynamic McNab Ranch, there are approximately 100 different plants, including four types of lavender. Walking through the vineyards, you will spy plantings of native flowers interspersed with the grapes to attract beneficial bugs, cover crops like legumes that are tilled back into the soil to increase nitrogen, 3,000 sheep allowed to graze each winter, and chickens and songbirds that are welcomed to eat pests. There is a distinct sense of place here: warm and dry summers, the benefits of cooling breezes wafting from the Pacific Ocean 25 miles away, and mountains to block the fog, and the resulting threat of mildew and mold that comes with it. Fittingly, the affable Cichocki, who joined Bonterra in 2007, came into his career as a winemaker organically, transitioning from environmental planning to winemaking starting from the ground up. “I jumped in as a cellar rat, doing things like sanitizing tanks, and learned the craft from an apprenticeship standpoint,” he said. His resume includes Mill Creek Winery in Healdsburg, Matanzas Creek Winery in Bennett Valley, Cakebread Cellars in Napa Valley and B.R. Cohn in Sonoma Valley. “It’s exciting to craft wines that are delicious, while knowing that the way we’re making them is something I can feel good about,” said Cichocki. Always striving to make wine in general and Bonterra’s wines specifically more approachable to a wider audience, Cichocki remarked that the company’s organic and biodynamic practices would be inconsequential if the resulting wines didn’t appeal to consumers. “We know people won’t come back just because we’re organic; we need to be able to compete with the rest of the world.” sl
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Curating a Lifestyle: The Eye of the Beholder
Written by Amelia Jeffers
This handpainted sign in Brooklyn was purchased for $200 by art and antiques dealers, Steven S. Powers of New York and Robert Young of London. Photo courtesy stevenspowers.com.
One brisk morning in March, my friend Steven Powers dismounted his bike, ready to start the day in his Brooklyn studio, when he realized he had forgotten his keys. Resolving to make the best of a rough start to the day, he embraced the unexpected ride and took a different route home. A few minutes into the trip, Steve was stopped in his tracks by a crude sign made from a flattened refrigerator box and painted with large, bright yellow letters. Maybe it was the length of the message, or the boldness of the font (definitely marked by emotion); but certainly his art dealer eye and intuition moved Steve to post a photo of the scene to his Instagram account with several hashtags and choice words for the crime referenced by the sign. Within minutes, the post had garnered the eyes and attention of others in the art and antiques trade. What was created out of exasperation by a woman whose bike had been stolen from that very location was becoming a powerful visual image online that moved dozens of people to stop in their tracks, just as Powers had earlier in the day. Comments on the Instagram post circled around the possibility of buying the sign for the cost of her bike, so that she
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could buy a new one and get to work the following Monday. Robert Young, an antiques dealer in London, offered to split the cost with Steve. With a bit of disbelief regarding the way the morning had unfolded, Steve climbed the steps of the brownstone and wondered how he would determine which apartment belonged to the signmaker. He smiled as he reached the buzzers and saw that one of the three names had been painted on. Ringing the bell, Steve invited the owner down for a discussion he knew she would find remarkable. The story of the #karmacycle (hashtag added by the owner of the bike) went viral, with thousands of interactions on social media and news outlets like The Washington Post and The Today Show covering the story in detail. Intrigued by the image and whirlwind of attention it had commanded, I called Steve to discuss his plans to keep, sell, or discard it. He quickly dispelled any thought that the sign was purchased only as an act of charity. Pointing out that it had grabbed his attention, and then the attention of many others, Steve engaged me in a conversation related to the artistic merits of such a sign - reminding me that Aarne Anton, an iconic dealer
This primitive doll was carved in the19th century from a bedpost and enhanced with leather, cloth, and paint. It sold for over $11,000 at auction. Photo courtesy Garth's Auctions, Delaware, Ohio.
in American folk art, was known for buying signs from homeless individuals. In fact, folk art is defined as a work or object made by someone with no formal artistic training; sometimes without an intention of creating art for consumption, but merely as an expression of emotion or creativity. Revisiting the post, I contemplated the artistic merit of the sign: bold color and contrast, a great use of space, and the juxtaposition of raw expression delivered with rudimentary materials against a backdrop of a refined wrought iron fence and window grates adorning the old brownstone residence. It certainly has the components of a work of art, in the eyes of the right person who might appreciate it. This concept stuck with me as I visited The Broad Museum in Los Angeles a few weeks ago. Strolling among works by such legends as Lichtenstein, Koons, and Warhol, it is difficult to justify that a polished steel sculpture made to look like a balloon dog has more artistic merit than Steve’s #karmacycle sign. I mean, in whose eyes? By whose judgement? A few years ago, when I worked in the auction industry, our firm sold a small wooden doll that someone in the 19th Century
Ohio or Indiana wilderness had carved from a bedpost. The primitive figure hardly seemed functional as a plaything, let alone worthy of preservation by the generations of family members who had kept it safe from many an evening fire. However, in it I see pure emotion as I imagine it being carved by the loving hands of a father struggling to make a home for his family in an unknown, untamed countryside. Determined to provide something of joy and indulgence to his little girl, he repurposed bits and pieces of their meager existence: the bedpost for the body, a scrap of leather for the arms, a swatch of fabric for the kerchief, and a dab of paint for the eyes and mouth. Clearly others shared my view, because when the doll came up for auction, two bidders spiritedly competed to over $11,000 before one relented. Though hedging on the #karmacycle sign soaring to that kind of price, Steve assures me that whatever the outcome, his goal is to pay it forward. Who knows? In the eyes of the right two bidders, we also could behold a remarkable statement about just what makes art. sl Amelia Jeffers is an nationally-known auctioneer and appraiser who has worked in the fine art, antiques and bespoke collectibles market for over 20 years.
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FAMILY TIES The new Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe extends the AMG model family. Written by Andre James The new four-door Mercedes-AMG sports car celebrated its world premiere at the Geneva International Motor Show this past March. Developed autonomously by Mercedes-AMG for those looking for a vehicle for day-to-day use, but who are unwilling to go without unparalleled performance, the new coupe is the first four-door sports car to come out of Affalterbach, and draws directly on the legendary SLS and AMG GT models. "The new AMG GT 4-Door Coupe blends the impressive racetrack dynamism of our two-door sports car with maximum suitability for everyday use. It has a unique way of embodying our brand core, "Driving Performance" and with its systematic configuration it will attract new customers for Mercedes-AMG," commented Tobias Moers, CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH. Clearly recognizable as a member of the AMG GT family, the new AMG GT 4-Door Coupe follows the design philosophy of Sensual Purity. It takes the striking proportions with convex surfaces and a muscular body and develops them to exciting effect for a four-door variant of an AMG GT Coupe. Even with the
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additional seats in the rear, the characteristic lines of the AMG GT models are not compromised. The tailored upper contours and broad shoulders point to the athletic, sporty orientation of the car, which is additionally emphasized by very pronounced rear wheel arches. The rear view picks up on familiar features of the AMG GT design idiom: extremely slim LED tail lamps define the hallmark trunk line, and the rear spoiler, extendable in several stages, not only underscores the family affiliation but it is also an important element of the active aerodynamics. "The new AMG GT 4-Door Coupe is the ultimate fourdoor sports car and the ideal ambassador for Performance Luxury," said Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer, Daimler AG. "It embodies a symbiosis of emotion and intelligence with breathtaking proportions and a puristic, surface-oriented design with sensuous shapes. It is both hot and cool at the same time." Powerful, up-to-date in-line 6-cylinder and V8 engines with outputs ranging from 429hp to 630hp allow completely new driving experiences and combine impressive performance with
modern efficiency. With a top speed of up to 195 mph, the Coupe ensures superior performance in any situation. All AMG GT 4-Door Coupe models are equipped with the AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive. Depending on the engine there are up to six drive programs to choose from in the AMG GT 4-Door Coupe: "Slippery," "Comfort," "Sport," "Sport+," "RACE" and "Individual." These levels are selectable via the DYNAMIC SELECT paddle in the center console and stored with the new drive program attribute AMG DYNAMICS, which can be adjusted to match the AMG GT 4-Door Coupe's handling characteristics to different demands and driving conditions. Sleek and technologically advanced, a highlight of the cabin accoutrements includes innovative controls that can be intuitively operated and configured as required. Using the left-hand Touch Control Button on the steering wheel, preferred information can be projected onto the left- or right-hand side of the instrument, such as the classic speedometer and tachometer, information on navigation or assistance systems and on to detailed engine data.
Especially sporty drivers can also fade in a g-force display or the current output and torque values. Two high-resolution displays, each measuring 12.3-inches, dominate the Widescreen Cockpit, and three different styles are available for these all-digital displays: "Classic," "Sport" and the new "Supersport.� Inspired by the two-door Mercedes-AMG GT, the center console of the new 4-door model represents a further special feature: color display buttons, integrated into the distinctive and tailor-made trim element. This integral display can adjust the transmission, suspension, ESP, exhaust system, start/stop function and rear spoiler position. These display buttons use colored and intuitive symbols to show various functions, and are easy to operate with just a small tap of the finger. The blend of high individualization and sports car technology, placing yet more focus on the requirements of discerning customers, is also clear from the wealth of available equipment packages and individual options. Sales release of the first four-door AMG GT is scheduled for early 2019. sl
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Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker
BY GEORGE
Makeup entrepreneur Bobbi Brown puts a fresh face on a landmark New Jersey property to transform it into a luxury boutique hotel. Written by Caylee Matthews Bobbi Brown’s eponymous makeup line is a household name, but for her latest endeavor she chose a makeover of a different kind: working with her husband, attorney and real estate developer Steven Plofker to metamorphose the once forgotten Georgian Inn into The George, a design-minded, boutique hotel located in the heart of Montclair, New Jersey (just 12 miles west of New York City). The couple are longtime residents of the quaint town, which Brown has referred to as “the Brooklyn of New Jersey,” putting down roots the day after returning from their honeymoon and raising their three sons there. Built in 1902 as a private residence by Charles Van Vleck, mostly notably known as the architect for the Rockefeller family,
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the property was converted to The Georgian Inn, a residential hotel for short-term stays, in the 1940s. During this period, the Montclair branch of the French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF) relocated its New Jersey headquarters to the Queen Anne carriage house located at the rear of the Inn. The historic building was granted landmark status in 2008, but years of less-than-attentive upkeep caused it to fall into a state of disrepair. After Brown and Plofker acquired the property in 2012, they embarked on full-scale renovation that was mindful of preserving the building’s handsome original architectural details.
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Inspired by their shared love of travel and indie hotels around the world, Brown and Plofker designed each of the 32 guestrooms to have a bespoke look and feel that is distinctly different from one room to the next. Design-minded with a sophisticated style that is both worldly and chic, public and private spaces deftly incorporate design elements that encompass traditional, modern, masculine and industrial influences. Guests can expect uncompromising comfort and luxe touches in each space, combined with top-notch amenities from The George’s best-in-class partners. These include Casper (mattresses and pillows), Flaneur (duvet covers), SMEG (mini
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in-room retro refrigerators) Dyson (hair dryers), Nespresso and EO Products (bath amenities), among others. A serial entrepreneur, Brown serves as creative director of The George; touches indicative of her personal tastes and her affinity for the local community are palpable throughout. For example, recurring British motifs speak to Brown’s self-professed Anglophilia. Brown partnered with One Kings Lane to decorate the public spaces on the first floor, taking a modern approach when utilizing classic pieces. Brown remarked that the vision for the project was to create a hotel that is “welcoming, comfortable, interesting, and ever-evolving.” For more information, visit thegeorgemontclair.com. sl
SOPHISTICATED SOURCE Bold colors, sharp lines and funk-tastic prints converge across summer’s hottest fashion, art and interior design trends. by Elise Hofer Shaw
“Collage Head 3” ink and charcoal on paper (28” x 38”), $6,400, by artist Sylvia Schuster at Studio 6F, 773.904.7068.
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Cosmopolitan Tribe handmade necklace, $895, by JbugJules at Marcus, 312.255.1721.
Cabata small calf Paris Loubitag tote in Nude, $1,450, at Christian Louboutin, 312.337.8200. Constellation polished waterjet mosaic Blacklite tile, $170 per square foot, at Artistic Tile in LuxeHome at theMART, 312.670.0612.
Dangling Ivy clip-on drop earrings, $148, by Lele Sadoughi at Neiman Marcus Michigan Avenue, 312.642.5900.
Sonora armchair with natural oak legs, $3,495, by Kelly Wearstler at kellywearstler.com.
Lipstick and scarf print silk dress, $2,374, by Dries Van Noten at Nordstrom stores.
Pointy toe pump, $750, by Fendi at Nordstrom stores.
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Lilies wallpaper (available in four pastel colors), price upon request, by Francesca Greco for Devon&Devon at Devon&Devon in LuxeHome at theMART, 312.676.3755.
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Madeline beaded statement earrings, $225, by Mignonne Gavigan at Neiman Marcus Michigan Avenue, 312.642.5900.
“Love Letter” acrylic and pastel on canvas (40” x 40”), $3,000, by artist Anne Abueva at Studio 6F, 773.904.7068.
Paloma’s Sugar Stacks ring in 18K rose gold with a rose quartz, $1,500, and ring in 18K gold with a blue topaz, $715, both at Tiffany & Co., 312.944.7500.
Monochromatic acetate sunglasses, $400, by Céline at Neiman Marcus Michigan Avenue, 312.642.5900.
Le Vernis Long Wear Nail Colour, $28, by Chanel at Neiman Marcus Michigan Avenue, 312.642.5900.
Sunny appliqué shirtdress, $2,950, by Zimmermann at VMR, 312.649.6673.
Thea worn velvet chair in Dusty Blush, $699, at West Elm, 312.867.1770.
Puzzle color-block calfskin leather bag, $2,990, by Loewe at Nordstrom stores.
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Olanna dress (can also be worn as a top/jacket), $645, and Kate 2 wide-leg pants, $435, both at M2057 by Maria Pinto, 888.868.2057. Photo by Yuya Ohashi
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Long-sleeve button-front sheer organza blouse with lace trim, $2,255, by Ermanno Scervino at Neiman Marcus Michigan Avenue, 312.642.5900.
Perforated metal necklace, $49, at COS Chicago and cosstores.com.
Nudo rings (shown here in rose and white gold with amethyst, London blue topaz, blue topaz, Madeira quartz, white diamonds and prasiolite), $2,350-$13,450, at Pomellato, 312.649.9720. Crossbody bag with pouch, $945, by Heron Preston x Off-White at Barneys New York, 312.587.1700.
49mm optical glasses, $415, by Tom Ford at Nordstrom stores.
Season 6 clear PVC pump, $650, by Yeezy at VMR, 312.649.6673.
Ready-to-wear look from the Dior spring/summer 2018 collection, prices upon request, at Dior, 312.651.4415.
Bell coffee table Copper Edition with handblown glass base in violet, $7,980, by Sebastian Herkner at Luminaire, 312.664.9582.
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Perch light floor lamp in brass with white bird-shaped shade, $1,808, by Moooi at Lightology, 312.944.1000.
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Neroli Portofino bath soap, $38, by Tom Ford at Neiman Marcus Michigan Avenue, 312.642.5900.
Taos flat-weave wool-blend rug, $69-$799, at Room&Board, 312.222.0970.
“Floating Whites” mixed media and high gloss resin on canvas (60” x 48”), $6,000, by artist Sally Ko at Daniel Kinkade Fine Art, 312.802.2754.
Wire-brushed white oak (available in four colors and two formats: 31.5” x 31.5” parquet and 7.5” plank), price upon request, at Divine Flooring in LuxeHome at theMART, 844.634.8463.
Cotton coat with darts, $290, slimfit cotton shirt, $89, tailored cotton trousers with darts, $125, and slimsole lace-up sneakers, $125, all at COS Chicago and cosstores.com.
Canfield Sport 45mm watch with natural leather strap, cool gray dial and gunmetal case with matte black top ring insert, $1,000, at Shinola Chicago stores.
Chinese 19th century limestone guardian lions, $26,000, at The Golden Triangle, 312.755.1266.
Arena low sneaker, $595, by Balenciaga at Nordstrom stores.
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Compass Real Estate is a licensed real estate broker with a principal office in New York, NY and abides by all applicable Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only, is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, and changes without notice. All measurements and square footage are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the ralm of real estate brokerage.
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Architect Patrick Fortelka of Moment Design and builder Julie Laux of J. Jordan Homes found a harmonious mix of materials for the home’s exterior.
A FARMHOUSE FAIRY TALE In Hinsdale, Chicago interior designer Brynn Olson appoints a truly timeless farmhouse alongside the dream team of builder Julie Laux and architect Patrick Fortelka. By Jessica Moazami / Photography by Cynthia Lynn “When I saw the house, I knew it was something really special,” says interior designer Brynn Olson of the Belgian-style farmhouse she recently redecorated. Olson, who runs Brynn Olson Design Group, the firm she launched in 2012, out of her chic new showroom in Chicago’s River West neighborhood, has worked her design magic on hundreds of homes over the last decade. But this one, in Hinsdale, provided a particularly beautiful blank canvas, starting with the dramatic cathedral-style entryway and continuing through a series of living and dining spaces rich with high ceilings and clean lines. “The direction was very clear from the architecture—the foundation was really clean and crisp,” Olson says. For her, that meant the opportunity to bring in modern art and accents while still respecting the history of the property, and “pulling in these antiques and vintage items I’ve been eyeing for what feels like a lifetime,” she says.
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A view from the foyer looking out the front door illustrates how important “bringing the outside in� was to architect Patrick Fortelka of Moment Design and builder Julie Laux of J. Jordan Homes.
The raw brass handrail on the iron staircase crafted by J. Jordan Homes inspired the color palette for the living room. Decor includes a painting by Francine Turk, chair from Redefined Decor, sofa from Jayson Home, tufted chaise from Restoration Hardware and vintage 1960s dresser
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O’Brien Harris designed the modern kitchen featuring Buster + Punch hardware, Gaggenau appliances and Circa Lighting light fixtures. Neutral details in the dining room— white vertical paneling and hemp wallpaper on the ceiling—serve as a backdrop for statement-making pieces including artwork by Francine Turk, a midcentury buffet and a sculptural brass chandelier from Arteriors.
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For the powder room, interior designer Brynn Olson wanted the space to “feel collected.” She selected a weathered mirror from Restoration Hardware and a vintage brass-and-nickel swan bench to complement the floating wood slab counter sourced by J. Jordan Homes.
Olson didn’t tackle the project alone. The designer, a Nate Berkus alum who has been recognized as one of Domaine’s Young Interior Designers to Watch and as a Wayfair Tastemaker, worked in tandem with two other Chicago powerhouses: builder Julie Laux of J. Jordan Homes and architect Patrick Fortelka of Moment Design. In fact, Olson joined the project after Laux approached her. “I wanted to put together a talented team and give them the freedom to do their best work,” says Laux. From an architectural standpoint, that began with installing larger windows, a significant project that took careful consideration. “We wanted to take a little more of a risk with bigger panes of glass, while still keeping the home recognizable as a traditional piece of architecture,” Fortelka says. The decision paid off: Bedrooms, living spaces and a kitchen concept brought to life by O’Brien Harris boasting Gaggenau appliances and shiny gold Buster + Punch hardware are now drenched in natural sunlight. The foyer is perhaps the most dramatic room in the house. A mix of textures including wood, metal and floor-to-ceiling glass panes was installed to bring the outside in, a detail that was important to Fortelka and Laux. A curving wood glass-top pedestal table that Olson sourced from Antiques on Old Plank Road, a store known for its vintage European pieces, is both beautiful and functional, giving homeowners a place to put mail or keys. Antiques on Old Plank Road also provided one of Olson’s favorite pieces in the entire house: a 1970s lotus sculpture coffee table in the great room. “I’ve always had my eye on this coffee table, and it naturally lent itself to this space,” says Olson. “Its personality is light and airy like the rest of the place, but also unique—a conversation piece that anchors the room.”
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The approach to the master bedroom was to create an elegant hiatus while maintaining an incredible cozy factor, says Olson. Features include a wallcovering by Phillip Jeffries, rug from Stark, custom headboard by BODG using wool gabardine from Fishman’s Fabrics, lighting from Circa Lighting, nightstands from Restoration Hardware, mirrors from Jamie Young and Sferra bed linens from Chicago Luxury Beds.
“We love to make guest bedrooms feel luxe like a hotel but with a personal touch that blends seamlessly with the rest of home,” says Olson. The Sferra hotel bedding comes from Chicago Luxury Beds, the nesting tables from Noir, lighting from Circa Lighting and the rug from Pottery Barn.
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Marble-clad everything in the master bathroom lends a timeless feel to the modern Parsons style Olson was going for. Customcreated iron and glass doors are by J. Jordan Homes.
J. Jordan Homes imagined this cozy built-in bunk bed in finishes similar to the rest of the home so it feels relevant as the years pass. The Sferra bedding is from Chicago Luxury Beds and lumbar pillows are by John Robshaw.
Olson balanced the home’s more decorative pieces with minimalist ones, like the clean-lined Baker chairs in the dining room, reupholstered in classic gray wool with a black mohair stripe. In that room, contemporary art by Chicago’s own Francine Turk hangs above a midcentury buffet sporting two alabaster lamps from Circa Lighting. A distressed farmhouse table from Restoration Hardware contrasts wonderfully with the dining room’s statement piece, a starkly modern sculptural brass chandelier from Arteriors. Turk’s artwork is a recurring feature around the newly designed home, including a moody hot-pink-and-charcoal piece from the artist’s Matador series, which hangs as the focal point in one of the sitting rooms, and a large black canvas scrawled with gold writing in one of the bedrooms, a piece that feels perfectly in place below the room’s soaring ceilings. An antique French console, again from Antiques on Old Plank Road, grounds the artwork without being too heavy. The home’s tip-top floor delivers a touch of whimsy for little ones—a cozy lofted reading nook that doubles as a sleepover space. The windowsill bench is outfitted with a twin Hästens mattress (in the brand’s traditional blue-and-white gingham) from Chicago Luxury Beds, an inviting Sferra throw and plenty of custom-designed pillows in white, blue and gold. The ultimate validation came when the house sold even before it hit the market. The first couple that viewed it snapped it up, professing their love for the open floor plan and clean, modern decor and how, according to the owner, “Brynn was able to highlight the architectural details without overpowering them.” And, more importantly, what made this house a home for the new owners? The answer is clear: “Simply put, we could envision ourselves enjoying the space with family and close friends.” sl
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I M AG I N E T H E P O S S I B I L I T I E S .
exquisite cuisine ² impeccable service ² extraordinary creativity ² since 1967 424 north wood street | chicago, illinois 60622 | 312.829.3663 | georgejewell.com
The indoor-outdoor garden courtyard is inspired by the courtyards of Spain’s Andalusia region and the tropical lushness of Bali.
THE BEAT GOES ON West Town’s Beatnik takes diners on a global jaunt with progressive plates and a boho-luxe interior. No passport required. By Lisa Shames / Photography by Kailley Lindman It’s late afternoon on a Monday and even though Beatnik is closed, Daniel Alonso, partner/designer/founder of the West Town restaurant, is there working. “It’s gardening day,” he says, motioning to the 400 or so plants inside the 6,000-square-foot space on Chicago Avenue. In addition to some watering, Alonso will inevitably fluff some of the 300 pillows and perhaps tend to one of the many waxencrusted candelabras scattered about Beatnik, which opened last September. “In this business, there’s a level of marrying military precision with throwing a fabulous dinner party,” says Alonso of his self-confessed obsession with the restaurant’s aesthetics. And the lavishly decorated Beatnik, a long ways away from the building’s former self as a discount clothing store, has fabulous to spare. Drawing inspiration from the soul-searching, world-traveling Beat Generation of the 1950s and ’60s—and named after the groovy hipsters that set fire to that literary movement—the idea 84 slmag.net
of Beatnik had been stirring in Alonso’s head for the better part of a decade before he formally began conceptualizing the project in 2016. “Most of my ideas are formed through nostalgia,” he says, “either from reading or traveling or a combination of both.” What that means visually at Beatnik, the newest restaurant from Bonhomme Restaurant Group (Black Bull, Bordel, Fulton Market Kitchen, Celeste, Disco), is a bohemian mix of one-of-akind furniture, accessories and antiques from all over the world. In the lounge, inspired by the inner courtyards of Spain’s Andalusia region, you’ll find colorful tiles and plenty of those aforementioned plants. Overhead, there’s a huge skylight. (Brunch-goers, bring sunglasses.) The main bar skews more Mediterranean-farmhouse chic with stucco walls, blue fabriccovered banquettes and art deco tiles. Here, Chicago street lamps from the ’70s are cleverly hung upside down from the ceiling and provide a soft glow.
The Mediterranean cuisine at Beatnik combines small “mezze” plates with large format “feast” options to create the feeling of an international dinner party.
Fattoush salad with Persian cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, baby kale, parsley, Kalamata olives, radishes and fried pita bread
The 45 oz. bone-in ribeye is topped with za’tar and black garlic chimichurri and served with shishito peppers and green bean salad.
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The main dining room at Beatnik boasts large tables, comfortable daybeds and an abundance of pillows.
The main dining room gives off Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern vibes. That’s where you’ll find an enormous 100-year-old carved teak façade from Bali, gently faded rugs and pillow-topped wood daybeds. Alonso’s biggest get, though, is the 15 massive crystal chandeliers rescued from the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles before it was demolished. Their arrival via three semitrucks definitely got the neighborhood talking. So how do you best complement all of this wall-to-wall fabulousness via a menu? (In case you’ve forgotten—and it’s easy to do—this is a restaurant after all.) If you’re chef Marcos Campos, who also heads up the kitchen at Black Bull, you take a similar globe-trotting approach. Flavors and ingredients from Italy, Spain, Greece, India, Mexico and Morocco, among others, are not only found separately in the dishes at Beatnik but also often mixed together on the same plate. “I wanted to create an international dinner party,” says Campos, who, like any good host, can often be found dropping off dishes at tables when he’s not working in the beautiful open kitchen. 86 slmag.net
The menu is divided into two sections: Mezze, a selection of small plates, and The Feast, which features a half-dozen family-style dishes, including roasted Lebanese-style lamb, Maine lobster and the totally baller 45-ounce aged bone-in rib eye, all served with a smattering of sides. But before ordering, you’ll need a cocktail. It’s that that kind of place. As if the DJ booth you passed on your way in and the global music thumping through the space—a little Manu Chao here, some Bob Marley there and some Jamiroquai thrown in for good measure—didn’t already tip you off. The dozen drinks not surprisingly include some exotic ingredients, including in the refreshing Kenny’s Redemption Sour, a pisco-based libation with kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass and aquafaba, the liquid leftover from canned chickpeas that’s subbed in for egg whites. It’s a vegan cocktail, in case you were wondering. And as much as I didn’t want to like the Freezin’ My Nuts Off, the rye whiskey and amontillado sherry slushie with lots of ginger won me over in the end, name notwithstanding.
The roasted Lebanese lamb is served with pistachio tzatziki, pickled vegetables, a garbanzo bean salad and roti bread.
The Cat’s Vodka Soda is a riff on the traditional vodka soda that’s made with preserved lemon cordial, soda, brut and sun-dried lime dust.
Using the “swizzle” technique, the Cava Cobbler includes elderflower, bergamot, bitters and brut.
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Roasted butternut squash with jalepeĂąo and cilantro yogurt and topped with pepitas
The MĂĄmĂš Vida cocktail is made with mezcal, chipotle, Szechuan, honey and lemon before being garnished with sal de gusano and a Sichuan button.
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Orange blossom cheesecake with candied pistachios, shredded phyllo dough, honey syrup, blackberries and dried apricots by Pastry Chef Becca Zuckerman
Of the 18 mezze, I found myself gravitating toward the vegetable-focused ones. Pan-fried logs of halloumi cheese get a little sweet-heat from the tomato-and-quince jam that’s drizzled on top. I like what some time spent in the smoky embers of the wood-burning grill does for the ingredients in the baba ghanoush. Charred broccolini paired with sunflower hummus and topped with puffed rice announces its arrival even before the server sets it down on the table. Fish sauce has a way of doing that. And I’m sure I had more than my fair share of the fried baby eggplant. Its chewy skin is a lovely contrast to its creamy interior. But perhaps my favorite of the non-meat apps is the potatoes three ways. Marcos found inspiration for the dish from his childhood love of sour cream and chive potato chips. Roasted, confit and fried potatoes are finished with confit leek labneh and smoked trout roe, which adds a fun, salty pop of flavor. Be sure to order the rabbit arepa, too. Following Marcos’ mantra of using the entire animal—he grew up working in his
family’s butcher shop in Valencia, Spain—the rabbit livers are sautéed with garlic and sherry and combined with sour cream to make an umami-rich crema. The masa cakes include a bit of cheese in the mix, while the pile of lightly dressed greens on top helps balance the richness of it all. From The Feast section, I quite liked the grilled whole fish—branzino, on my visit—served with green harissa, mango chutney and pickled red onions. And those aromatic fresh herbs aren’t just for show; a bite of them helps reset the taste buds for the next mouthful. Did you save room for dessert? If so, get the terrific warm apple cake with a calvados butter sauce or the stunning chocolate halva torte with hazelnut gelato. Or, perhaps, another round of cocktails or a glass of amaro is in order. The party at Beatnik, it seems, is always just getting started... sl Beatnik, 1604 W. Chicago Ave., 312.929.4945, beatnikchicago.com
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KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL From pork bellies to belly laughs, Chicagoan Jeff Mauro continues to expand on his brand of comfort food served with a smile. By Lisa Shames / Portrait by Anthony Tahlier Loosely defined as two slices of bread with something in between, sandwiches can be many things to many people. They’re one of the few dishes routinely welcomed at breakfast, lunch and dinner. And while their chameleon-like abilities are something to celebrate, it’s rare that a sandwich is described as dramatically life-changing. Unless, that is, you’re Jeff Mauro. After winning Season 7 of Food Network Star with his Italian-inspired sandwich—a perfectly made eggplant parmesan on brioche with mozzarella and ricotta, to be exact—Mauro went on to host five seasons of his own TV show, Sandwich King, an American tour of all things sandwiches. In 2014, he took on the role of co-host on The Kitchen, currently in its 16th season, where Mauro and a cast of Food Network all-stars share simple dinner recipes and family meal tips. Mauro is also the executive chef and partner of Pork & Mindy’s (porkandmindys.com), a chainlet of fast-casual restaurants specializing in slow-smoked meats sourced from Midwestern family farms that are made into—you guessed it—sandwiches. And then there’s his line of finger-lickin’good barbecue sauces and the just-released Pig Candy, candied bacon dusted in brown sugar and slow-smoked to perfection, that’s now available as a grab-and-go snack at Mariano’s stores (and yes, it’s as delicious as it sounds). But way before Mauro transformed himself into the Sandwich King, he was just a kid from a big Italian-American 92 slmag.net
family growing up in Elmwood Park, Ill. One day his mom got tired of listening to him complain about the school lunches she made and told him he was on his own. “I was always very particular about what I ate,” he says of his side of the story. Once Mauro figured out that sandwiches travel best when all the elements are packaged separately in their own little zip-top bags, he’d assemble his lunches ingredient by ingredient at the school table. While his fanatical approach to sandwich construction led to some teasing from his schoolmates—“It wasn’t good for my popularity with the ladies,” he deadpans—odds are Mauro was in on the joke, too. In fact, it’s not only his talent for making tasty sandwiches that has earned him a slew of fans and an Emmy nomination, but his ability to have a heck of good time while doing it. Performing, you see, is also a lifelong passion for Mauro, who, as a kid, dabbled in theater and took youth classes at The Second City. After graduating from Bradley University in Peoria, where he studied radio and television, he opened a deli with his cousin in Westmont, Ill., called Prime Time Deli & Catering. Not long after, he was cast in Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding. “I ran the deli during the day and at night I would suit up and perform,” says Mauro, who eventually played every male role in the improv-style Chicago show, including the lead of Tony. He learned a valuable
“Nobody dislikes a sandwich,” says Mauro. From hand-pulled pork shoulder to slowsmoked cauliflower, creative (and tasty!) sandwiches, salads and sides fill out the menu at Pork & Mindy’s.
lesson along the way. “It taught me how to work any possible room in any condition,” he says. Properly bit by the acting bug, Mauro and his then-fiancée and now wife, Sarah, moved to Los Angeles. For four years, he hustled at a variety of jobs, while doing standup and sketch comedy. It almost happened a few times, but ultimately he got fed up with the constant rejections and came to a big realization. “I’m never going to be the funniest standup and I’m never going to be the best chef,” he says. “But I can be the funniest chef on the planet.” He promptly enrolled in Le Cordon Bleu to hone his culinary chops. After returning to Chicago, Mauro got a job as a private chef for a large mortgage company, where he would work his “accessible neighborhood guy” type of humor on the 400 or so employees who would eat there. “My soul needed to be back in Chicago,” he says of his decision to return home. “Deep down, I knew that if I made it in L.A., it wouldn’t feel right.” Every year like clockwork, he’d go through the application process for Food Network Star. On his fourth try in 2011—his last he swore to his wife and then 2-year-old son, Lorenzo— he got the call he’d been waiting for. Twenty-four hours after auditioning in New York City and returning home to Chicago, he was back on a plane. Then, for two and a half months, he
and his 14 castmates competed for the big prize with little connection to the outside world minus a weekly, videotaped 10-minute phone call. “It was so hard and bizarre,” he says, “and I had a tremendous amount of homesickness.” In the end, it was all worth it. For the airing of the final episode, the organizer of Festa Italiana, an annual Chicago street festival on Taylor Street, threw a big party for Mauro and his family and friends. “It was such a magnificent moment, and I was with my people,” says Mauro of when the public finally learned he had won. This self-confessed “class clown” hasn’t wasted a moment since. He routinely watches The Kitchen to find ways to improve and learn. “I do everything but draw on the screen and point out flaws,” he says. Mauro’s also in the process of opening more Pork & Mindy’s beyond the four he and his partner, Kevin Corsello, currently have, including one at Wrigley Field. (Upcoming Pork & Mindy’s locations include Irving Park and Old Town in Chicago; Lisle, Ill., and Denver, Colo.) And to think, it all started with a sandwich. “Nobody dislikes a sandwich,” says Mauro of his obsession/passion. “They’re represented in every culture and country in the world. Sandwiches are universally loved, and that’s what we all strive to be, whether it’s a humble sandwich or a human being.” sl slmag.net
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DIS OVER CHICAGO’S OFFICIAL ARCHITECTURE RIVER CRUISE
Unrivaled and unforgettable, our world-class, docent-led river cruises reveal the beauty and majesty of Chicago’s architecture like no other cruise can. Cruising daily from Chicago’s Riverwalk. This summer a new icon opens on the river. The Chicago Architecture Center at 111 E. Wacker Drive, above the CAF River Cruise dock.
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CHICAGO CONNECTION
Embarc turns Chicago into one big classroom—and gives experience-based learning opportunities to low-income high school students. By Alexandra Sabbag / Photography by Christina Noël
Imagine it: You’re standing in front of 30 Chicago high school students, a roomful of young adults ages 16 to 18 who represent the hopes and dreams of the third largest city in the country. You hold up a strawberry taken from your lunch bag only to learn that two out of every three students can’t identify the object in your hand. Then you ask them if anyone can name the large body of water that forms the eastern border of the city. Crickets. Next you hold up a picture of the Cloud Gate at Millennium Park and ask if anyone has ever seen it. Only a few hands raise. Chicagoan Imran Khan doesn’t have to imagine the above scenario. He lived it 10 years ago when he was a teacher at Harper High School in West Englewood. While most of us may take for granted a bountiful produce section at our local grocery store and access to Lake Michigan any time we want it, Khan, the son of Indian parents who immigrated to the U.S. from New Delhi in 1977, is hyper-aware of luxuries big and small. “When my parents stepped off the plane in Chicago, they opened up the white pages at the airport to find a place to live—a place to find jobs and start a family,” says Khan. “I’m a product of the American Dream and the opportunities it afforded my family.” The problem today, however, is that the American Dream is failing urban Americans—something Khan instantly recognized that day in his classroom. “If one generation does not have access to opportunities and a higher education, it is statistically unlikely that their children will either,” says Khan. That is why, in 2009, he founded Embarc—a three-year program that provides communitydriven, experience-based learning opportunities to low-income high school students to prepare them for college and career success (embarcchicago.org)—to break the cycle. According to the Metropolitan Planning Council, Chicago is one of the most segregated cities in the United States. “The greatest 96 slmag.net
Embarc CEO and Co-Founder Imran Khan
challenge we face as a society and as a city is isolation,” Khan explains. “Because isolation is so prevalent on Chicago’s West and South sides, it means that huge parts of our society are unable to empathize and understand each other, leaving the most vulnerable—the ones that need the most support—to suffer the greatest consequences.” The consequences that can result from growing up in, and for the most part being isolated within, a low-income community— many Chicago kids never travel outside a four-block radius from their home—include fewer job opportunities, economic hardships and fewer relationships with people outside of one’s immediate neighborhood. As for Chicago residents as a whole, the cycle of isolation equates to $4.4 billion in annual regional income lost according to “The Cost of Segregation,” a 2017 study by Urban Wire. Embarc, which Khan considers more of a social movement than a straight-up charitable organization, is confronting the issue of isolation head on by facilitating experiences—or journeys, as Embarc calls them—for students to see what exists outside of their immediate neighborhoods. Sometimes these experiences are as straightforward as a field trip to Chicago’s most celebrated cultural institutions like the Museum of Contemporary Art or The Field Museum, and architectural landmarks like the Willis Tower or Tribune Tower. Embarc’s very first outing in 2010 was a trip to Whole Foods on North Avenue. Students toured the grocery store, shadowed various employment positions and were given a gift card to pick out produce of their choice to try. And Embarc knows the value of job immersion, too, partnering with Chicago corporations like Groupon, Byline Bank and Leo Burnett to give its students exposure to positive and productive work environments while building relationships with local professionals across a wide range of industries. Partnerships with Chicago Public Schools are a key part of the Embarc equation as well. Currently serving 800 students for
Embarc students exploring the Chicago Fire soccer stadium in Bridgeview during a private tour
Embarc students on a journey to BitSpace in Lincoln Square
the remainder of the 2017-18 school year, Embarc is partnered with 18 CPS high schools located in neighborhoods like Austin, North Lawndale and Rogers Park. The program’s curriculum is embedded into the CPS course catalogue, and while it’s free to schools, the school selection process is highly specified: Embarc targets communities where its program will have the biggest impact in terms of graduation rate, college enrollment rate, and state achievement and exam standards. So how do students qualify? Each must be nominated by teachers and meet the following credentials: Student candidates must have a GPA between 1.8 and 3.0 and have a class attendance exceeding 60 percent. Embarc also looks for students who have hidden potential in need of nurturing, lack experiences outside of their neighborhoods, are in need of a sense of community and have demonstrated Embarc’s core values, including leadership, drive, courage, collaboration and curiosity. “Your experiences are what you become,” says Embarc board member and founder of Chicago Ideas Week, Jessica Malkin. “Through the transformative power of these journeys, we awaken students to the possibilities of their potential by dissolving the borders of the city both physically and in their minds.” And it’s working: Embarc boasts a 97 percent high school graduation rate, 100 percent college acceptance and 93 percent college enrollment. (CPS reported a 77.5 percent graduation rate in 2017.) Today, Embarc offers its students more than 10,000 in- and outof-school experiences each year that build transformative connections while crossing socioeconomic, ethnic and other cultural barriers— and teaching its students valuable lessons about compassion, friendship, persistence and hard work. “There are some powerful systems in place that prevent students from succeeding—violence, segregation, institutionalized racism, poverty, and underfunded
Embarc students on a journey to Green Street Smoked Meats in the West Loop where they learned about careers in the culinary field
Uplift Community High School Junior and Embarc ambassador Jessica Trinh with her teacher, Sara Holic
schools and programs,” says Khan. “These not only create real and visible barriers, but they work to impede the growth of youth psychologically as well.” One of Embarc’s longstanding programs, The Leadership Academy, a partnership with New Trier High School in Winnetka, Ill., takes a one-on-one peer approach to breaking down barriers by connecting students from the North Side with students from the South Side. Sixty sophomore students—30 from New Trier High School in Winnetka, Ill., and 30 from the Embarc program—are paired up one-on-one and begin to communicate via email and video chats to get to know one another better. Then they plan out their own journeys to take together, like a trip to Grant Park or a team-building outing to Brooklyn Boulders in the West Loop. At the conclusion of the program, all 60 students take an overnight trip to Covenant Harbor in Lake Geneva, Wisc. “It is merely lip service to tell the youth they can change their destinies without empowering them with the skills and practice to actually do it,” says Khan. “Embarc gives young people the opportunity to steer programming, mentor each other, and take on projects that improve the city and themselves.” Embarc is a concept for scale, and the model could be adopted in schools across the country, something Khan is currently exploring. “Embarc is the Trojan Horse that creates dramatic academic improvements through shared experiences and understanding,” says Khan. “By supplying students with myriad positive models of success, journeying out of their neighborhoods to directly engage with the cultural and commercial worlds in our city, we can lay out the practical steps necessary for students to move towards their dreams.” sl Embarc’s Unbelievably Amazing & Terribly Entertaining Blowout! Variety Spectacular fundraising event takes place May 17 at Moonlight Studios. Tickets start at $100 at embarcchicago.org.
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SOPHISTICATED SOCIETY May 6 10 11 17 17 18-20 19 19 26-27
32nd Annual Spring Brunch and Fashion Show benefitting Chicago House, chicagohouse.org Chicago Child Care Society’s Spring Dream Builders Luncheon, cccsociety.org/dreambuilders Let It Shine gala benefitting The People’s Music School, peoplesmusicschool.org Opening Night Benefit for the second annual Chicago Antiques + Art + Design Show at theMART hosted by Northwestern’s Woman’s Board, wbnorthwestern.org/event Unbelievably Amazing & Terribly Entertaining BLOWOUT! Variety Spectacular benefitting Embarc, embarcchicago.org Second annual Chicago Antiques + Art + Design Show at theMART, chicagoantiquesartdesign.com Goodman Theatre’s Ruby Night spring fundraising gala, goodmantheatre.org/gala2018 57th Annual GI Research Foundation Ball, Laugh-a-Ball! A FUNdraiser, with entertainment by comedian Jim Gaffigan, giresearchfoundation.org Randolph Street Market, randolphstreetmarket.com
HELEN FRANKENTHALER PRINTS: THE ROMANCE OF A NEW MEDIUM April 20 through September 3, 2018, at The Art Institute of Chicago The Art Institute of Chicago presents an exhibition devoted to the prints of Helen Frankenthaler (1928-2011), one of the most significant figures in the development of American abstraction. The exhibition highlights 50 works on paper drawn from the museum’s rich holdings of Frankenthaler’s prints, including never-before-exhibited proofs, along with rare and important loans from the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation that illustrate the artist’s creative process and experimentation in printmaking. artic.edu
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Physical Festival Chicago at Stage 773, physicalfestival.com Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Summer Series, hubbardstreetdance.com Randolph Street Market, randolphstreetmarket.com Allendale Shelter Club Fundraiser at Tempel Farms, allendaleshelterclub.org
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Photos by Barry Brecheisen for Barneys New York
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BARNEYS NEW YORK x UNICEF LUNCHEON
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The Barneys New York Foundation along with Martha Metz, Susie Silich and Tina Trott, were pleased to host a private luncheon and conversation at Fred’s in celebration of UNICEF USA. Moderated by Barneys Creative Ambassador at Large Simon Doonan, the panel focusing on International Women’s Day featured designer Lisa Perry, shoe designer Nicolò Beretta of Giannico, jeweler Ana Khouri and Sterling McDavid of the Starling Project. Caryl Stern, CEO of UNICEF, gave remarks on the vital work UNICEF does to help women around the world. Following the panel, guests joined the designers for a shopping event in support of UNICEF. –Elise Hofer Shaw
1) Nicolo Beretta, Lisa Perry, Ana Khouri and Sterling McDavid with Simon Doonan at Fred’s restaurant 2) Nicole Paprosky, shoe designer Nicolo Beretta and Tali Kogan 3) Designer Lisa Perry and Richard Perry 4) Catherine D’Orio and Susie Silich 5) Following lunch, guests joined the designers for a shopping event in support of UNICEF. 6) Sterling McDavid of the Starling Project with Sarah DeBlasio 7) Tina Trott and Martha Metz
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Photos by Thomas Yurik Designs
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FASHION WEEK TAKES THE GOLD COAST
Thompson Chicago and its sartorially savvy Oak Street Council neighbors hosted Fashion Week Takes the Gold Coast, a fashion show and reception spotlighting spring fashion, accessory and beauty trends from Alice + Olivia, Ted Baker, La Perla, St. John, Dimitra’s Bridal Couture, Shinola, Morgenthal Frederics, Razny Jewelers, Barneys New York and Charles Ifergan. Guests sampled drinks and bites from Nico Osteria while some of Chicago’s top social influencers showcased spring’s chicest looks on Thompson’s runway. All proceeds benefit Chicago’s Glass Slipper Project, the nationally recognized charitable organization that helps young women who may not otherwise be able to attend prom do so in style. –EHS
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1) Natalia Podvalny and Janet Mandell 2) Julia Daoud wearing Alice + Olivia 3) Nakia Hall and Fabia Talhame 4) Helen Berkun wearing Ted Baker 5) Andrea Levofs and Ceta Walters 6) Yamila Montanez and Ian Brady 7) Caitlin Campbell wearing St. John 8) Farheen Ebrahim wearing a look from Dimitra’s Bridal
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ANIMAL MAGNETISM
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Nearly 600 animal lovers—many accompanied by their canine companions—enjoyed a chic night on the town at the 12th Annual Animal Magnetism event at Morgan Manufacturing to support PAWS Chicago. Both human and canine guests enjoyed an evening of dinner, dancing and mingling—and some pampering in the Dog Spa. The event was emceed by FOX 32’s Jake Hamilton and Brittney Payton. This year’s co-chairs were Paige Krueger, Stephanie Mariduena, Nikki Mazza, Mitchell Staloch and Alison Victoria. Nearly $190,000 was raised to help fund critical lifesaving programs for animals who would otherwise be at risk. –Sally Meyer
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1) Alison Victoria 2) Animal Magnetism co-chairs Paige Krueger, Nikki Mazza, Stephanie Mariduena, Mitchell Staloch and Alison Victoria 3) Paige Krueger 4) Event emcees Brittney Payton and Jake Hamilton 5) David Drury and Marco Ramirez 6) Animal Welfare Award recipient Anita Mauro 7) Alexis Fasseas, PAWS volunteer John Deegan and Melissa Canning 8) Julie and Travis Morrissey
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COCKTAIL RECEPTION WITH JOSEPH ALTUZARRA
Hosted by Neiman Marcus Michigan Avenue and Janet Mandell of Fashionaholic, the cocktail reception at the Mag Mile store drew more than 75 guests to meet designer Joseph Altuzarra and christen the new shop on the second floor that he personally designed. Fans of the brand enjoyed light bites and drinks by Paramount Catering, including a lemon cucumber spritzer with prosecco, vodka and mint. Later, guests mingled with Altuzarra and tried on pieces from his spring/summer 2018 collection while roaming models showcased the looks and a few highlights from pre-fall and fall. –EHS
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1) Models wearing Altuzarra 2) Wendy Krimins and Debbi Griffith 3) Kaitlin Madden and Joseph Altuzarra 4) Kevin Gorsch and Morocco B. Assouline 5) Stephanie Vanhazebroeck and Andrea Levoff 6) Janet Mandell and Madison Levy 7) Ashley Hudson and Anna Roufos 8) Natalya Podvalny and Tali Kogan
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CELEBRATE OUR CITY GALA
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Chicago Architecture Foundation hosted its 2018 Gala, Celebrate Our City, at Revel Fulton Market to laud the new Chicago Architecture Center that will open this summer at 111 E. Wacker Drive. The festive evening included a virtual tour led by CAF President & CEO Lynn J. Osmond, the presentation of the Legacy Award to Philip Enquist (FAIA, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill), dinner, a decadent dessert reception and jazz music courtesy of Arlen Music Productions. Among the campaign donations that evening was a $250,000 gift announced by Curt Bailey, President of Related Midwest, a development company that also received CAF’s annual Corporate Award at the gala. CAF’s gift and legacy to Chicago, the center will celebrate the city’s architectural magnificence, its design luminaries and their awe-inspiring creations with new interactive exhibitions, impactful programming, education initiatives and civic engagement. –Taylor Morgan
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1) Cindy and Theodore Yi 2) Karen B. Case, President, US Commercial Real Estate, CIBC, presenting the Legacy Award 3) The Celebrate Our City 2018 gala program 4) Julie Jacobson, James D. Parsons and Gabrielle Lyon 5) Legacy Award honoree Philip Enquist, Farouk Eusuulura and Anne Marie St. Germain 6) CAF President and CEO Lynn Osmond and master of Ceremonies for the evening Geoffrey Baer of WTTW 7) Will and Sharon Johns with Nila Leiserowitz 8) Charles Beck, Marcy Twete and Lynne Considine Nieman
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SOPHISTICATED WOMAN
HARRIET SEITLER Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network Parent Advisory Board member, Understood, understood.org Advisor, ClassDojo, classdojo.com Board member, Beautiful Noise
By Bridget Daley / Portrait by James Gustin for Fig Media When you look back on your career so far, what are the moments that you are most proud of? I’ve had a magical career, starting as a marketing coordinator in the earliest days of MTV. I was part of the launch of the MTV Video Music Awards and helped in the development of key MTV franchises like the MTV Movie Awards and Rock the Vote. Next I did a stint at ESPN and built the first SportsCenter campaign with Wieden & Kennedy. And then I went to work for The Oprah Winfrey Show. Talk about a dream job for a marketing exec who wants to touch people’s hearts! I’ve had the remarkable great fortune to work for Oprah Winfrey for more than 23 years and, in lots of ways, every day has been a career highlight. Writing the line “Live Your Best Life” for Oprah is a career achievement I will always be proud of. More importantly, we were able to impact millions of lives with Oprah’s Book Club and Oprah’s Angel Network. Oprah’s Christmas Kindness Tours, where we distributed 50,000 backpacks filled with books, toys, clothes and shoes to children in rural South Africa, was perhaps the most humbling and powerful career experience ever for me. What is your favorite quote or motto? Maya Angelou: ‘People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’ Who is your mentor or muse? Hard for it to be anyone other than Oprah Winfrey! Name your No. 1 life-changing, aha moment… Sadly, we lost my husband very suddenly a few years ago. My kids and I learned the hard way just how strong and resilient we could be. And we learned an amazing lesson that it is a great gift to others to let them help you. We all find it hard, sometimes, to ask for help or to be needy. But allowing someone to step up and help when you are in need not only helps yourself, it’s an opportunity to deepen and strengthen a relationship with someone else. 112 slmag.net
What sets your soul on fire? A great movie like The Godfather, creative television series (there are too many to even begin a list), Kosta Browne pinot noir, and sunsets over the Andes in Mendoza overlooking the vineyards and the mountains. What is your biggest mistake or regret? Spending too much time second-guessing myself instead of fully trusting myself and being my own biggest cheerleader. What is your biggest challenge (professional or personal) that you work on every day? Making sure that I stop to recognize everything I have to be grateful for… and taking the time to absorb that. Give us one word that best describes how you live your life… Generously. Use three adjectives to describe the sophisticate woman you aim to be… Openhearted, intelligent and authentic. sl .