Sophisticated Living St. Louis Nov/Dec 2023

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Nov/Dec 2023

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(314) 576-5888 mitchellwall.com @mitchellwalldesign

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17037 Baxter Road Chesterfield, Missouri 63005 636-537-5590 www.chesterfieldjewelers.com

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Nov/Dec 2023

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15 Celebration of Life Photo by Carmen Troesser

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Nov/Dec 2023

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on the cover:

Photographer Michael Eastman in front of his own photograph, “Red Window, Portland, 2011.”

Portrait by Suzy Gorman

15

Celebration of Life

25

Art on the Line

33

French Connection

38

Electric Shocks

40

Hoop! (There It Is)

42

La Dolce Ricci

46

Child’s Play

48

Starry-Eyed Surprise

52

A Primer on Swiss Wine

54

A Walk in the Park (City)

58

The Gift of Time

60

BMW’s Neue View

62

Gather Round the Table

65

Art on the Line

72

To the Pond, the Channel, and the Irish Sea

80

Speeding to Success

85

Sophisticated Celebrations

86

Kicking off the 30th Saint Louis Art Fair

88

STAGES

90

Hip Hop and Contemporary Art

92

A Pajama Party at 21c

94

The Great Gatsby Gala

96

Glennon Gallop

98

The Feast for Change Gala

100

Urban Sprouts

In celebration of Kit Heffern’s 50th anniversary at Elleard Heffern, the local Saint Louis fine jewelry company is honoring some of the city’s most dynamic women.

K E L LY H U M M E R T

Actress, director and producer living in Clayton Married to A-list producing husband and MD, Amit Dhawan Working on “unconventional hybrid of Shakespeare, a rock concert, dance piece, and Cirque du Soleil act” Passionate about Siteman Cancer Center, the Saint Louis Art Museum, the NAACP and the Grassroots Law Project Styles with Elleard Heffern

g e t t o k n o w m o r e e x t r a o r d i n a r y w o m e n a t w w w. h e f f e r n . c o m

St. Louis’s oldest locally owned jewelers, located in the heart of Clayton at Carondolet and Hanley 101 South Hanley, Lobby Suite 110 · Clayton, MO 63105 · www.heffern.com · 314.863.8820

HATRED IS A DISEASE. IF THEY HATE ME, THEY WILL HATE YOU TOO.

PUBLISHER Craig Kaminer craig@slmag.net EDITOR IN CHIEF Christy Marshall EditorSTL@slmag.net DIGITAL CONTENT EDITOR Grayling Holmes DigitalSTL@slmag.net ADVERTISING Cortney Vaughn Cortney@slmag.net

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STAND UP T0 JEWISH HATE

Rachel Sokolich Rachel@slmag.net Karen Palmer Bland Karen.palmer.bland@gmail.com ______________________________________________ CONTRIBUTORS Writers Alexa Beattie Joan Lerch Austin Woods Design Stephanie Grateke Photography Suzy Gorman Carmen Troesser Mark Schwigen ________________________________________________ SOPHISTICATED LIVING MEDIA Eric Williams Bridget Williams Greg Butrum Jason Yann

Learn more at

StandUpToJewishHate.org

Sophisticated Living® is published by High Net Worth Media, 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 High Net Worth Media, LLC and cannot be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission.

Annual subscription fees are $25.00; please add $5 for subscriptions outside the US. Single copies may be purchased for $5 at select fine retail outlets. Telephone 314-82-SLMAG.

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From the Publisher I have been fortunate to have certain experiences in my life that were truly game-changing. Growing up in the Bronx, I was lucky to be admitted to Horace Mann which was, and still is, one of the most respected prep schools in New York. While at Horace Mann, I was fortunate to meet many exceptional kids and families, and have a great art history teacher, Don Yates, who helped me see things in art that many people don’t. I was invited to attend camp in New Hampshire at Camp Moosilauke where I learned to sail – among other things – which has become my true lifelong passion.

I attended the University of Michigan as a pre-med student but discovered that I liked art history and architecture more than I liked sick people, and as a result, met and befriended the director of the University of Michigan Museum of Art, Evan Maurer, who went on to become the CEO of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. During this time, I worked with many great artists, collectors and gallerists who changed the way I viewed the world, and I even returned to Ann Arbor after graduation to work with Evan on an exhibition and book in partnership with the Smithsonian. I recently saw Evan in Santa Monica while visiting my mom a couple of towns over, and after 40 years, I was reminded that time is both a friend and a foe as he is battling multiple diseases which will surely take his life.

During my time in Ann Arbor, I produced legendary jazz concerts including Miles Davis, Oscar Peterson and Dizzy Gillespie, with buddies from high school and today I am still very involved in the jazz scene in St. Louis with Jazz St. Louis. I also took Latin and Italian to fulfill my language requirement, and that with my love of art history, beckoned me to spend my senior year studying in Florence, Italy where I met my future wife, Debbie. While I thought I would become a restoration architect (in Italy), I fell in love, which ultimately brought me to St. Louis with a stop in New York where I was one of the publicists in North America for the Italian government.

Like you, I have always wondered how one great thing in my life led to another, but I suppose my luck was the residue of hard work, good timing, and passion. For those who know me well, you know that I have had my share of failures, health challenges, and disappointments, but when I look back on my life, I am very grateful for each and every opportunity and the people who invested so much time and belief in me.

From my camp experience sailing, I always dreamed of having a sailboat and sailing long distances.

And I have. Twelve thousand miles in fact, up and down the East Coast from Maine to Key West, from Tampa Bay to Cuba, and from West Palm Beach to the Exumas before heading back to our home port of Newport, RI with many adventures and hot spots along the way. I learned to captain a 52-foot sailboat, named Va Bene (Italian for “all is well”), received numerous Coast Guard certifications, and can now fix virtually anything on board. I had no desire to become a mechanic, but I became one as my on-the-job training to keep the adventure going. And it did. It lasted from 2016-2020 when we returned back to St. Louis to attend to our many other responsibilities.

While some people never get the chance to pursue their bucket list, I have and will continue to. This isn’t because I am independently wealthy — far from it –— but it is a priority to really live. As I write this publisher’s letter, for a magazine which focuses on the art of living, I am on the verge of spending a month in Italy where I first met Debbie in 1985, and where we celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary and our 60th birthdays. We will be joined by our children and their loves, three of our au pairs who will journey from Denmark and Sweden (and who helped us raise our kids), and many of our friends.

As someone who lives with coronary artery disease and diabetes, has had two heart attacks, six stents, and four-way bypass surgery, I am acutely aware that I won’t be around forever. In fact, that’s why I try to live to the max. At my funeral, no one will say I was the richest guy, but they will be hard-pressed to find someone who has lived more.

Follow me, through the pages of the magazine as I write features in the coming issues about returning to Italy. Or follow me on your own journey. See the world, make it your oyster, and never look back.

“We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the life that is waiting for us.”

-Joseph Campbell Enjoy your family at Thanksgiving, celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or whatever you celebrate, and get ready for a new year, filled with opportunities and challenges, joy and disappointment — but you know that already. Remember to just live a little. Or a lot.

Craig M. Kaminer, Publisher craig@slmag.net

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Michael Eastman | Green Room, Havana, 1999/2022 C-print 7 7 x 60 in.

C elebrat ing th ir t y ye a r s of re pre se nt ing the wor k of Mic hael E astma n .

665 S. Skinker Blvd.

St. Louis, MO 63105 i n f o @ s h e a r b u r n g a l l e r y. c o m s h e a r b u r n g a l l e r y. c o m 3 1 4 . 3 6 7. 8 0 2 0

Chef Lou Rook, Liam Sehnert, Jane Sehnert, Thom Sehnert

CELEBRATION OF LIFE The most consistently great restaurant in St. Louis just got better

By Craig Kaminer / Photos by Carmen Troesser Annie Gunn’s has done what most restaurants can only dream of.

They’ve flourished through a pandemic, a flood and competition from every corner of the city. Thom and Jane Sehnert started in a small, 1,400 square foot building with 10 tables in Chesterfield Valley long before there were multi-million homes, shopping centers, and entertainment venues on both sides of Highway 64/40.

Annie Gunn’s has the feel of an upscale lodge, which is not surprising since Sehnert spent five years managing a fishing lodge on a remote lake in Canada.The restaurant, named after Sehnert’s great-grandmother, shows patrons what can be done with food coming out of the Smoke House. Jane’s parents, Frank and Claire Wiegand, bought it in 1952, and Thom and Jane took over the location in 1980. The business already was a landmark. The store was built in 1937 by Andy Kroeger. He opened it as the Chesterfield Mercantile with a filling station, a tavern and a store.

Over the following 43 years, Annie Gunn’s and The Smoke House have remained one of the area’s great restaurants, and gourmet grocers. With a loyal team ranging from Chef Lou Rook who has been with Annie’s Gunn’s for more than 30 years, managers including Ryan Krissinger, Judy Scheer, Kelly Robbins

and Mike Veninga to back-of-house employees many of whom have worked there for 25 years or more, Annie Gunn’s and The Smoke House Market are where you want to work if you’re in the culinary or hospitality business. Glenn Bardgett, who is perhaps the most knowledgeable and experienced wine expert in the Midwest, has overseen and curated the two-time James Beard National Semi Finalist wine program which has won the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence 17 consecutive years. And Thom’s sister, Therese Ravens, has been the catering manager for 35 years. All this translates to customer satisfaction and respect that few in the business enjoy.

If you have never met Thom or Jane, their son Liam, or Chef Lou, you’re missing the best part of Annie Gunn’s. The sign over the door that reads “Grateful & Thankful” truly translates to the 134 people who have left great establishments to join this extraordinary team. Everyone wants to be here and they take immense pride in what they do from the host stand to the wait staff, the bartenders, the kitchen, The Smoke House butchers, fishmongers, and sandwich makers. Not surprisingly, this passion starts at the top with Thom and Jane who quickly point out that “No one works for us, they work with us.” slmag.net

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The Smoke House

If you ever get a chance to sit down with Thom, he’ll tell you many tales of hunting the backroads throughout the Midwest – and the world for that matter – for the best of everything. From his weeklong ventures with Jane and Liam where they traveled country roads when Liam was just a kid to find the best eggs, the best cheese, fresh chickens, and just about anything they could find within hundreds of miles, plus Ireland, England, Italy and lesserknown culinary hotspots in Europe. When they found it, they would quickly place an order for everything the purveyor would sell them. The customers wanted it and Thom and Jane subconsciously wanted to corner the market on quality … almost at any price.

Liam affectionately recalls, “Most kids went on vacation with their parents. I went to cheese shops.”

When discussing the menu, the entire staff can say where everything is sourced and it’s clear that the menu is curated with only the finest that can be found. Virtually every other purveyor who sells the best knows Thom and Lou…well.

When I asked Thom how he can charge New York prices in Chesterfield Valley, he answered simply: “Here’s what our standards are. We would rather explain our prices than apologize for lesser quality.

The way I see it, service plus quality equals price.” Based on the lines out the door or the hard-to-get reservations, it’s clear his clientele agrees.

In addition to the quality, Annie Gunn’s is among the most consistent restaurants I have ever eaten at in the world. The fish is 16 slmag.net

flown in fresh daily and is perfectly fileted. The shrimp and scallops are large, sweet, and burst with flavor. The thick-cut filets of Bigeye tuna, swordfish, salmon, and sea bass are all sushi grade. While it may be a little pricey for a Tuesday night dinner, once you have it in the restaurant or take it home from The Smoke House, you will be hard-pressed to go anywhere else.

Don’t forget the apple pie with Clementine’s cinnamon ice cream, the legendary bread pudding, the maple-glazed smoked shrimp and barbeque sauce, the largest selection of Waygu beef in St. Louis, or Lou’s cookbook Rook Cooks: Simplicity at its Finest. You won’t be disappointed.

I consider myself one of Thom’s and Lou’s biggest fans and devotees. And my adult kids choose to go there every time they are back in St. Louis. We ask for a “snug” which is a little private room just big enough for four to six people. The snugs are always in high demand but we feel awfully special when we get one. After dining at Annie Gunn’s for 30 or so years, we know the menu like the back of our hands. I have particular favorites like the tuna, lamb chops or strip steaks, but everything ordered comes out perfectly.

The seasonal vegetables with asparagus and butternut squash, accompanied by the homemade whipped potatoes, have been a staple for years. I wouldn’t change a thing. They’re that good. But Annie Gunn’s does not need to be fancy or terribly expensive. They have great burgers, wings, and sandwiches. (My favorite is the BLT).

Annie Gunn’s apple pie à la mode

Chef Lou Rook at the stove with Ed Rickert (in the green baseball cap) and Josue Mendoza (in the white baseball cap)

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The meat case at the Smoke House

As you may expect, the Sehnerts have been encouraged to open additional locations (including the former Busch’s Grove) over the years, but they never have. They have always preferred to make Annie’s (as Thom calls it) and The Smoke House his celebration of life, living close by, raising honeybees, working every day, and teaching Liam to take over the business in time. So when I saw the expansion of the dining room taking place with its homage to the red farmhouses that once dotted the valley, I reached out to Thom to see if he would meet with Sophisticated Living St. Louis. Annie Gunn’s was first featured a decade ago in the July/Aug 2013 issue of the magazine, so it seemed like a good time to revisit this legendary establishment on the dawn of a new era with the expansion and the addition of Liam, who graduated from the University of Michigan and recently earned an MBA from Washington University.

Thom explains, “Our favorite word is yes, but we found ourselves saying no a lot…to everything from corporate events to weddings and bar mitzvahs.” After a lot of reflection, they finally decided to expand the building, the kitchen, the seating, the wine storage, and the place 18 slmag.net

for a team to build the more than 6,000 gift baskets they sell each year.

In true Sehnert fashion, they started drawing out what they would need and created a design out of their imaginations that matched the function of how Annie Gunn’s operates. The Sehnerts have the good fortune of being a very close friend of Bob Brinkmann of Brinkmann Construction. Bob agreed to help build Thom’s dream expansion, despite the fact that the company doesn’t handle jobs this small.

Regulars will be thrilled to learn the addition adds 75-plus seats in private dining rooms, larger open spaces for events or larger tables, an outdoor terrace with seating for 50, and 40-plus additional parking places.

On a behind-the-scenes walking tour with Thom, I was struck by the thoughtfulness of each change to the facility. The two wine storage units in the new addition make it faster to serve wine to customers without having to locate the right bottle in the cellar as before. The new kitchen is Chef Lou’s dream and will add the capability to serve guests in the front rooms while also cooking and serving a full wedding in the rear space.

Night falls on the newly expanded Annie Gunn’s

The red barn motif on the exterior of the building pays homage to the farmers who worked in the Chesterfield Valley long before Annie Gunn’s and the shopping that exists now. The tables and chairs have all been crafted out of Missouri walnut by local artisans and Old Hickory Furniture from Shelbyville, Indiana.

Even the rear patio which is often in the sun was designed so that it’s fully shaded by 4:00 p.m. The additional seating and parking are welcome additions for anyone who longs for a reservation.

Thom, Jane, Lou, and now Liam are truly humble but for anyone in the know, they are legends in the food business. They know the best and the best know them. They are all hands-on, ready to work the front or back-of-house on a moment’s notice … and it shows. Thom explains, “We are mission-driven and we can only accomplish what we have by being here every day. We are very blessed to build a business that is our celebration of life.”

Spend an afternoon or evening at Annie Gunn’s and it’s like an episode of “Cheers” where everybody literally knows everybody’s name. Everyone has a story about Thom or Lou and vice versa. Thom

remembers my kids, their names, and even my in-laws who always loved the experience, but never spent as much time there as we did.

There are few people like Thom, Jane, Lou and Liam. Few have invested so much of themselves to make something truly exceptional. With the expanded Annie Gunn’s and the next generation Sehnert on board (not to mention a Wolverine alum), the next 40 years seem to be in great hands.

St. Louis has some great restaurateurs and restaurants – especially in the last 10 years – but Annie Gunn’s is still at the top of the list. Even the Great Flood of 1993 was not powerful enough to dampen its trajectory. Make a reservation for lunch or dinner. Host an event there. Don’t miss one of Glenn’s legendary wine dinners. Most of all, return the love that has been invested by the tag team of Sehnerts and Rook, and make memories that will never be forgotten.

Says Thom, “We hope our foods inspire a return to the precious food memories and traditions which bring us all a little closer to our children, our family and our friends.” sl slmag.net

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A true Thanksgiving feast with all the fixings, straight from Annie Gunn’s.

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Michael Eastman in his office at the old Globe Democrat building, sitting in front of his photograph “Red Window, Portland, 2011

ART ON THE LINE With a gentle assist from Ansel Adams, Michael Eastman has become a nationally renowned photographer.

By Alexa Beattie / Portrait by Suzy Gorman / Photos by Michael Eastman

One of the first things St. Louis photographer Michael Eastman says is this: “I’m not an artist.” He is sitting at an impossibly long, gorgeously weathered wooden dining table in his house in University City. We are here to talk about a half-century of work, a storied career of putting his observations to “albumen.”

“But I am A.D.D.” He looks woebegone when he says this; a little ashamed. We’re beginning with his early life, how he jumped — like a lad in a schoolyard — from thing to thing, not really touching the ground in any surefooted way.

He grew up in Clayton, graduated from Clayton High School, bounced first to the University of Wisconsin, and then to a short-term teaching position at an inner city elementary school in Washington D.C. Meanwhile, he listened to Miles Davis, played a bit of guitar. He was, he declares, a hippy doing hippy things. And then, a little later, he became a salesperson. He owned a couple of shops — a boutique called The Lower Half on Brentwood and an upscale leather store in Richmond Heights.

“It was boring,” he says.

It took some time, in other words, for Michael Eastman to find his jam. But then, like one of the horses in his beautiful book (Horses), he was “off to the races.”

Of course, Eastman’s equine subjects are not racehorses, but inhabit the wide-open plains and pleats of land between hills and mountain ranges. In the going-down sun (which is when he prefers to take the pictures), their bodies are bronze, their manes are molten gold. And their eyes — “those eyes” — can’t help but stir the soul.

Eastman calls them portraits.

“Standing before these magnificent creatures, it was as if someone was looking back.” He flips, lovelorn, through the pages of the book.

“Animals are wonderful,” he says, “but horses are truly mythical.”

Eastman took his very first photograph (a portrait of a “pretty young woman”) on a friend’s camera in 1972.

“It was an average picture of a pretty girl, but because she was pretty, so was the picture,” he says. He developed the photograph himself and was thrilled to finally have something he’d made “out in the world.” slmag.net

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Isabella’s Two Chairs by Michael Eastman

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Horse #014 by Michael Eastman

He became a little obsessed, stealing to bed each night with Ansel Adams’ book on the Zone System – unlikely reading matter for a young man.

“I was a monk,” he says. “But I still couldn’t get it right.”

Lucky for Eastman, that was then. There were things called “operators.” He picked up the phone and asked for Adams’ number.

(Why not? Why wouldn’t you go directly to the source?)

Adams, in Carmel, California, took the call and — over the span of about three minutes — gave him a few tips.

Referring to that brazen show of pluck, Eastman says, “I never felt I was less because of what others had achieved, but just that we were on the same road and they were simply further along it.”

From 1972 until 2000, Eastman made his living in commercial photography (family portraits, etc.). His first piece of “real art” was hung in an informal gallery space at Washington U. in 1972. It was an egg study (the play of light and shadow around it) and it was listed at $40.

“One woman thought that amount was absurd,” Eastman says.

“She laughed her way out of the gallery.” But back then, he explains, it was a lot of money for something which wasn’t considered art.”

Eastman’s Horses was published in 2003 but he has six books to his name. Among them, The Forgotten Forest (on Forest Park) and Vanishing America: The End of Main Street Diners, Drive-Ins, Donut Shops, and Other Everyday Monuments.

Horse #40, Santa Fe by Michael Eastman

“I love decay – old signage and surfaces that tell stories.” In that regard, he adds, St. Louis makes for a very good subject. He says he does a lot of work around Gravois and Chouteau avenues, and MLK Drive.

While every object in Eastman’s home is a work of art, the thing which stands out most (propped superfluously against the wall) is a 4-by-5-foot photograph called Isabella’s Two Chairs. Taken in Havana in 2000, it’s at once melancholy and joyous. Melancholy because the two chairs are old and so are the tumbledown walls around them; but joyous because there’s romance to the outsized crystal chandelier, and coquetry in the laundry line behind it — two ropes pegged with bright dresses and pretty pillowcases, drying (one could easily imagine) in a cone of sunshine coming down through a hole in the Vitrolite roof.

“It’s my favorite.”

Nowadays, the pricing for Eastman’s art looks a little different: Of four original 6- by-8-foot prints of Isabella’s Two Chairs, three were sold at galleries in New York and Paris, but one remains — in the William Shearburn Gallery on Skinker Boulevard. And yes, that’s right: The “tag” reads $48,000.

Over time, like lichen over stone, Eastman’s notoriety has spread; his art is now sold across the globe and has been hung in the hallowed halls of (among others) The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Art Institute of Chicago. He is nonchalant. Or perhaps just humble. One of his photographs recently appeared in a photo spread in Veranda magazine; he didn’t even know it. slmag.net

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Twig #1 by Michael Eastman

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Black and White in Color, 1986 by Michael Eastman

Eastman says he is proud to be a part of the St. Louis art community, which he readily describes as healthy, ever-evolving.

“The scene has changed a great deal since the ’70s of course,” he says. “But all for the better. We have first class galleries, a knowledgeable collector base; and our artists are as talented, committed and accomplished as any I have met.”

One of those artists, although master of a different medium, was novelist/essayist/short storyist and Wash. U. professor William Gass who lived directly across the street from Eastman. In such close proximity, in that leafy pocket between Clayton and Skinker, those two prolific men clearly were drinking the same water.

Four of Eastman’s books include essays by Gass. They were good friends until Gass’ death in 2017.

A tour of Eastman’s home, naturally ends in the basement, the “brains of the thing.” There’s an Inkjet printer down here the size of a sofa, banks of computers, and two ‘Mid-Mod’ Danish chairs which (were it not for Cuba, and “Isabella”) could seem out of place. But we know better. Inspiration often springs from the same source.

But there are also tiny things.

“It’s a new project,” Eastman says. He’s going over to some shelves. It’s hard to tell, at first, what exactly he’s heading for besides a menagerie of stick insects. And yes, they are sticks, picked off U. City sidewalks and the mossy paths of Forest Park, and nipped into animal or human shapes by a pair of small pliers

(or his teeth). Some have been bronzed; some silvered. Others are left just as they came: Nature untouched.

Eastman wonders about this latest interest which, considering the profusion of these sublimely organic sculptures, could also be seen as a fixation.

“I think I’m saying something about the environment.” He looks forlorn again. “About preciousness.”

The Shearburn Gallery already has two 36-inch sticks in bronze.

But, like Dreyfuss in Close Encounters, Eastman is already thinking bigger.

“I’m working on an eight-footer.”

So Eastman’s initial claim to not being “an artist” was absurd from the outset. For if turning the heart over (which his art does again and again) isn’t a hallmark of artistry, then what is?

“I just meant that when I started, I wasn’t that special,” he explains. “Photography was humble and real and honest. It wasn’t an institution, and there were no experts.” Eastman took Adams’ tips to his dark room, but still he was stumped.

“I did what he told me, but it didn’t work.”

So, without a second thought, Eastman called him back.

“I’m not quite getting it,” the “understudy” said. “I might need a little more.”

It was an even shorter conversation than the first: “Well, St. Louis,” Adams said, poised to nip the cord. “I don’t know what else to tell you.” sl slmag.net

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View from a table for two at Brasserie Fouquet.

FRENCH CONNECTION

Perched high above Gustavia Bay, Hôtel Barrière Le Carl Gustaf sits at the pinnacle of luxury on the French island of St. Barth.

Written by Bridget Williams

Location, location, location, as they say in real estate, is everything.

The same could be said for the proliferation of luxury resorts on the chic tropical island paradise of St. Barth, where one in particular—Hôtel Barrière Le Carl Gustaf—stands alone. Its high hilltop location on the aptly named Sunset Hill provides sweeping views of Gustavia Harbor, Shell Beach, and Fort Karl, offering a simultaneous feeling of being away from it all but close to everything while enjoying the upscale service and amenities indicative of the family-run Hôtel Barrière Group.

The result of a five-year build on challenging terrain, Le Carl Gustaf is executed as a series of standalone buildings that terrace

down the hillside. While densely packed onto the site, each of the 21 northwest-facing bungalows, most endowed with a private plunge pool and all crowned with a red metal roof, indicative of the architecture in the capital city of Gustavia, are enveloped by dense tropical landscaping that affords an incredible feeling of privacy.

Guests are welcomed into the open-air lobby, which is also home to an outpost of the legendary Parisian restaurant Brasserie Fouquet as well as Spa Diane Barrière, named in honor of the hotel heiress who died in 2001 from injuries sustained in a plane crash. The spa's petite size belies the broad range of available face and body treatments. slmag.net

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The bungalows and villa of Hôtel Barrière Le Carl Gustaf terrace the hillside just behind the church steeple in Gustavia.

Our Deluxe Suite boasted a pair of vaulted-ceiling rooms, each opening to a partially covered deck with a plunge pool. I had good intentions to use the available Hydrorider water cycle on our terrace but opted instead to use it to dry our swimsuits and let our steep walks to and from Gustavia suffice as my daily workout.

Inside the bungalow, the décor is understated and elegant beach chic, with a primarily white and sand-colored palette punctuated by pops of color on the headboard and the wallcovering at the back of his and her closets flanking the entry to the spacious bathroom. In the living area, a recipe booklet for making in-room cocktails rested next to etched copper barware, and vintage black and white photographs of the area lent a homey feel.

Perched even higher on the hillside, the Villa Diane is a 4,300-square-foot, five-bedroom, five-bath stunner with the most 34 slmag.net

exquisite sunset views and elevated amenities, including a private butler. Yachties and AvGeeks can be amply occupied for hours watching the ongoing sea and sky parade.

Years ago, I loved visiting Shell Beach (the only beach in Gustavia) and having lunch at DoBrazil, a happy hippy-chic place whose slightly rough-around-the-edges aura stood in stark contrast to the gleaming mega yachts anchored just offshore. After Hurricane Irma decimated the island in 2017, the restaurant was reimagined

by Hôtel Barrière as Shellona, just a short walk downhill from Le Carl Gustaf. After a few trips to the elevated day dining experience, packed with beautiful people, I was nearly ready to believe that the dark flecks in the sand at Shell Beach were actually bits of truffle that had wafted from the oceanfront restaurant, whose delectable menu is heavily laden with the fragrant fungus.

Looking down at Shell Beach from Ft. Karl, built in the late 18th century when Sweden controlled the island. A short, steep trail to the hillside ruins is located near Le Carl Gustaf and is an ideal spot for watching the sunset.

Living and dining area at Villa Diane.

A top-floor suite at Villa Diane.

Sea view terrace of a two-bedroom deluxe bungalow suite.

View from a deluxe suite terrace.bungalow suite.

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The bar at Fouquet’s.

The reception area at Spa Diane Barrière.

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Infinity views from the infinity pool at Villa Diane.

Lunch at Shellona

Dinner at Le Fouquet’s is a delight. The intimate open-air space offers views of Gustavia, whose lights twinkled like stars from our elevated perch. We began with a unique cocktail spritzed with edible perfume concocted by the head bartender using herbs grown at Hotel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes. We sipped while savoring classic steak tartar, a French classic prepared tableside and extra spicy to our liking. While there are parallels with the original Fouquet's menu, there is a distinct sense of place unique to this outpost courtesy of touches of Jamaican and Indian spices delicately sprinkled throughout.

View of Gustavia Bay from the bottom of a staircase at Le Carl Gustaf.

Edible perfume spritzed on a cocktail at Fouquet’s.

Although I’ve been lucky enough to visit the island on multiple occasions, this was my first time staying in Gustavia. I enjoyed walking to the beach, shopping, and dining without renting a car and navigating the increasingly congested winding roads. And, while it was easy enough to nearly roll down the hill for dinner at Bagatelle or scrumptious pizza at L'Isoletta, the steep ascent back to our room made me choose my footwear accordingly and wish I wasn't quite so stubborn when it comes to always eschewing the offer of a ride. sl For more information visit www.hotelsbarriere.com/en/saint-barth/le-carl-gustaf.html

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ELECTRIC SHOCKS Automobili Pininfarina aims to be the world's most desirable and sustainable luxury electric carmaker.

Written by Andre James / Photos courtesy Automobili Pininfarina

Deeply rooted in the Italian car design firm and coachbuilder Pininfarina SpA, founded in 1930 and acquired by Mahindra Group in 2015, Automobili Pininfarina is combining its in-house expertise with some of the world's leading automotive design and engineering suppliers to support aggressive performance targets and a future portfolio of pure-electric vehicles.

While the Pininfarina name has long been revered via its association with rock-star clientele, including Ferrari, Maserati, and Alfa Romeo, this past August, Automobili Pininfarina ushered in an exciting new chapter in its history at Monterey Car Week by introducing the world's first pure-electric, open-top hyper barchetta the B95. In the motoring world, barchetta refers to an open-topped car without a removable or foldable top for weather protection.

Priced from €4.4m and limited to just ten examples handcrafted in Cambiano by a team of artisans, deliveries of the world's first pure-electric hyper barchetta will coincide with the 95th anniversary of legendary design house Pininfarina SpA in 2025. The simplicity of the B95's flowing open-topped bodywork contrasts with exquisite technical details to provide a dramatic interpretation of a classic racer underpinned by pure-electric performance.

The same state-of-the-art powertrain that delivers breath-taking performance in the Battista hyper GT powers the B95, but with a unique tune for such a bespoke vehicle. Accelerating from 0-60mph in less than 2 seconds, B95 has a top speed of more than 186 mph.

The B95 features a high-capacity 120 kWh lithium-ion battery generating peak power of 1400 kW (1900 PS). The liquid-cooled, T-shaped battery pack is protected within a strong and lightweight carbon fiber housing and charges with DC fast chargers up to 38 slmag.net

270kW for a 20-80% top-up in as little as 25 minutes. Five driving modes are available to tailor driving dynamics, which activate via a tactile, sporty rotary selector next to the steering wheel.

At The Bridge VII, an annual invitation-only event held in the Hamptons this past September, the B95 was presented alongside the Battista Edizione Nino Farina, a tribute to the fearless spirit of the first-ever F1 World Champion, Nino Farina – nephew of company founder Battista 'Pinin' Farina.

The unique exterior design of the Battista Edizione Nino Farina is finished in bespoke Rosso Nino. This deep, rich red hue pays homage to the vehicles Nino Farina drove throughout his racing career and is complemented by a special livery on the lower body, finished in Bianco Sestriere and Iconica Blu. Interior details specific to this Battista Edizione include a black anodized chassis plate with a bespoke 'Nino Farina' dedication and passenger door plates unique to each vehicle that celebrates a different milestone from Nino Farina's life.

The Battista's unique launch control technology contributes to Formula One car-beating acceleration, with 0-60mph achieved in 1.79 seconds. A car as fast as Battista demands strong stopping power, and official tests confirm that Battista is one of the fastest-braking EVs in the world.

"B95 delivers the power of Battista and yet creates a new dimension of driving experience, redefining the very joy of driving. It is the first of a new kind, an object of desire that introduces the thrill of exceptional, electrified performance in stunning open-top form," said Paolo Dellachà, Chief Executive Officer, of Automobili Pininfarina. sl

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H OOP! (THERE IT IS) Compiled by Bridget Williams

This page, clockwise from top left: Michael Bondanza. Available through Elleard B. Heffern in St. Louis and michaelbondanza.com. Marco Bicego Jaipur Collection ($5,140). Available through Diamond Cellar in Columbus, Reis-Nchols Jewelers in Indianapolis, Davis Jewelers in Louisville, and us.marcobicego. com. Mastoloni ($1,355). Available through Richter & Phillips Co. in Cincinnati, Moyer Fine Jewelers in Indianapolis, Genesis Diamonds in Nashville, & Chesterfield Jewelers in St. Louis, and mastoloni.com.

Luvente ($2,530). Available through Richter & Phillips Co. in Cincinnati and luvente.com. DY Mercer™ multi hoops ($1,750). Available through Diamond Cellar in Columbus and Nashville, Moyer Fine Jewelers and Reis-Nichols Jewelers in Indianapolis, Davis Jewelers in Louisville, and davidyurman.com.

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This page, top row: Dru Jewelry ($1,895). Available through VanderZon Jewelers in Indianapolis and drujewelry.com. Rainbow hoops from Albarre Jewelry in St. Louis (albarre.com). Melissa Kaye ($13,850). Available through Moyer Fine Jewelers in Indianapolis and melissakayejewelry.com. Lower rows, left-right: Harvey Owen (from $600; harveyowen.com). Jemma Wynne ($8,400; jemmawynne.com). Ananya (ananya.com). Rush Jewelry Design ($1,500; rushjewelrydesign.com). Akaila Reid ($3,560; akailareid.com). Alice Pierre ($1,960; alicepierre.com). Anita Ko ($6,525; anitako.com). Cece Jewellery ($17,286; cecejewellery.com). Mason & Brooks ($6,250; masonandbrooks.com). Deborah Pagani ($3,129; deborahpagani.com). Mindi Mond ($21,000; mindimondny.com). Boochier ($9,360; boochier.com)

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LA DOLCE RICCI Life is sweet as an owner of Palazzo Ricci in Abruzzo.

Written by Claire Williams The recent TikTok craze prompting people to ask the men in their lives to reveal how much they think about the Roman Empire has undoubtedly placed the Eternal City top of mind for many.

Between the ruins of Rome and the picturesque hillside towns of the Amalfi Coast spamming your Instagram, it's easy to overlook that other regions of the country are equally endowed with history and beauty. One is Abruzzo, located in southern Italy, next to the Adriatic Sea. It's known as the "green lung" of Italy and dubbed "the greenest region in Europe" as almost half of its territory is designated as either a national park or nature reserve, with dramatic mountain ranges and medieval villages spread throughout, with locals and tourists able to ski, hike, and visit the beach. The area is also not saturated with tourists, so instead of Italian knickknacks on every corner and overcrowded museums, you're able to travel throughout the region and discover like a true local, and follow the saying "when in Rome…" (or in this case "when in Abruzzo...").

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Within Abruzzo, the hill town of Casoli, situated on the foothill of Majella Mountain, is crowned by Palazzo Ricci. The historic palace is prominently cited to provide expansive views of the village, the Apennine Mountains, and the Adriatic Sea. On a recent visit to Casoli, we were escorted by two of Palazzo Ricci's Italian ambassadors, Yulia, who could be a young Sophia Loren's doppelgänger, and Giorgio, who looks like he stepped out of a Dolce and Gabbana ad campaign.

Both made us feel like extras in a movie as we strode the cobblestone streets alongside them, listening to their stories about the city.

Baron Ricci started compiling the first stones of the Palazzo Ricci in 1522. By 1799, the palatial estate allowed the noble Ricci family to entertain the era's dignitaries, royalty, famous artists, and celebrated writers within its walls. During World War II, the 38,000-square-foot Palazzo housed German and British regional commanders. After the war, the Ricci's returned and briefly used the property as their summer home.

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Visiting Italy, it's easy to fall under its spell and wonder what it would be like to live there. That's just what happened to one of the founders of Palazzo Ricci, Mike Brosnan and his wife, who stumbled upon the weather-battered ruins of the Palazzo during a trip to Tuscany in 2018. Along with friends and investors, hospitality and development veteran Ron Wade, and British interior designer power couple Bimbi Bellhouse and Spencer Power, the group is restoring Palazzo Ricci to rival its 18th-century grandeur with contemporary creature comforts. When complete, the Palazzo will contain 14 luxury residences and a host of five-star amenities, such as an owners' lounge, massage room, a rooftop observation deck, and a state-of-theart fitness center, to name a few.

The careful restoration of the Palazzo has preserved the good bones and quirks inherent to the historic structure. They've refurbished the tiled roof and stained-glass windows, recreated floor tiles to match the original, and uncovered a mural belonging to a small chapel once hidden behind a wall.

Upon entering, guests are welcomed into the owner's lounge, consisting of a library, wine cellar, art gallery, card and game room, 44 slmag.net

and a Roman bath, fully showcasing the Italian experience. Each of the Palazzo's three floors has four residences ranging from one to three bedrooms, from 628 square feet to 1494 square feet.

The top floor is a 2,400+-square-foot penthouse with three en suite bedrooms and a private terrace overlooking the mountains.

There's also a cottage residence, a separate two-level dwelling on the Palazzo grounds with a study and leisure space on the ground level, three bedrooms, and a walk-out balcony overlooking the palace gardens on the second floor. Each residence is treated as a standalone home, with individual design schemes suited to each interior and unique layout. The hand-picked eclectic furnishings, ranging from period antiques to Mid-Century pieces, will all remain true to the roots of the 18th-century Palazzo.

Outside, the palace grounds will rival Italy's most prestigious villas, with 10,000 square feet of reclaimed formal gardens, a luxury swimming pool and spa, a fitness center, and outdoor living and dining areas.

Owners can purchase an equity share in a residence, which provides a minimum of five-and-a-half weeks of use per year, with

the option to reduce or add on the number of weeks at the property and its amenities. The Palazzo Ricci Club allows guests to have an Italian home away from home with the amenities of a luxury hotel.

Owners enjoy their residence without the commitment of buying a vacant second home for extended periods.

If you can pull yourself away from the charms and amenities of the Palazzo and the village at its feet, Rome and Naples are just a two-to-three-hour drive from Casoli, and the Adriatic Sea is just a 30-minute drive. What was once a railway going up and down the coast is now a flat walking and bike path next to the sea. Structures known as trabocchi, once used as piers by fishermen, line the beach and serve as restaurants offering the catch of the day.

Abruzzo boasts three signature wines: the white Trebbiano, the Cerasuolo rosé, and the red Montepulciano. The small organic vineyards at Azienda Tilli (aziendatilli.it/en/) made an impression, particularly when accompanied by a dinner as bold and rich as the wines. The winery's chef, a local just barely out of high school, further proves that this region is full of hidden gems.

At every meal throughout our tour of the many villages surrounding Casoli, one of our favorites was an Abruzzo specialty known as Pallotte Cacio e Uova, which are basically oven-baked cheese balls that really need no further explanation.

Locals are ecstatic to speak with visitors and share their culture in an area somewhat untouched by the tourism craze that has nearly overrun Italy. A day trip in Lanciano brought us to the Bottega Buon Gusto, where our brief sampling of local products turned into an aperitif tasting of delicacies from the region, led by an enthusiastic owner eager to share his love of the area.

The Palazzo Ricci Club allows owners to live like locals while being pampered like luxury guests in a region that truly can offer something for everyone. Five centuries after the first stones were laid for the foundation of the Palazzo Ricci, its legacy lives on for another generation to partake in the beauty and culture just as all those luminaries did centuries ago.

There are five classes of fractional co-ownership at Palazzo Ricci, beginning at approximately $100,000. For more information, visit palazzoricci.club. sl slmag.net

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CHILD'S PLAY Fine jewelry fashioned with a youthful perspective.

Compiled by Bridget Williams

Emily P. Wheeler x Super Smalls Lucky Streak necklace ($34 for child’s version at supersmalls. com; $9,800 adult version at emilypwheeler.com).

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This page, top row: Onirikka Leap necklace (onirikka.com). Gigi Clozeau Cat Classic Gigi bracelet ($415; gigiclozeau.com). Bondeye Jewelry enamel heart with rolo chain ($475; bondeyejewelry.com). Marie Lichtenberg Candy Cane stick pendant ($7,520; marielichtenberg.com). VAN Stack Robot (from $4,950; vanrobot.com). Sig Ward horseshoe ring ($2,480; sigwardjewelry.com). Yvonne Leon rainbow earrings ($1,985; yvonneleon.com). Aaron Basha Prince & Princess cufflinks ($9,600). Available through Richter & Phillips in Cincinnati, Reis-Nichols Jewelers in Indianapolis, and aaronbasha.com. Picchiotti “reversible’ Earrings ($26,400). Available through Moyer Fine Jewelers in Indianapolis, Elleard Heffern Fine Jewelers in St. Louis, and picchiotti.it/en. EF Collection stud earrings ($375; efcollection.com). Eden Presley flower drop earrings ($2,800; edenpresley.com). Jacquie Aiche Twiggy anklet (jacquieaiche.com). Emily P. Wheeler heart bracelet ($8,900; emilypwheeler.com). Stephen Webster men’s Gossip ring. Available through Diamond Cellar in Columbus and Nashville, and stephenwebster.com. Nadine Aysoy ombre ear cuff ($2,060; nadineaysoy.com). Janne Blake starfish charm (jennablake.com).

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The Charleston Place Hotel

STARRY-EYED SURPRISE

The newest owner of a Charleston icon aims to make it the city's first five-star hotel.

Written by Bridget Williams There's comfort in consistency. The Charleston Place is the "OG" of the Charleston tourism machine. When it originally opened in 1986, the three-acre, 433-room property, situated in the heart of Charleston's historic district, catalyzed revving up the tourism engine, whose current full-throttle operation is evidenced by Explore Charleston's $24 million budget and countless multipage ads in national glossy magazines. The result is the Holy City enjoying a decade-long stretch as the No. 1 city in the United States, as voted by readers of Travel + Leisure.

After being acquired in late 2021 for $350 million by local philanthropist and businessman Ben Navarro/Beemok Hospitality Collection (BHC), The Charleston Place shed its Belmond flag and reemerged several months later as a locally owned and independently managed hotel (for the first time in its history). Today, the crown jewel of Charleston succeeds without gimmicks or schtick, leaning instead on its recently refreshed and classically appointed public spaces and guest rooms matched with thoughtful amenities, elevated food and beverage offerings, and impeccable service.

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BHC plans $150 million worth of upgrades and renovations to preserve The Charleston Place's treasured identity while aiming for a five-star designation. Navarro is going for the gold with an all-star team comprised of luxury interior design firm Pierre-Yves Rochon, credited with the renovation of the Four Seasons George V in Paris and the Waldorf Astoria in New York and Beverly Hills; Atlantabased architect Cooper Carry, whose projects include The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island; New York landscape firm Rees Roberts & Partners; and Charleston interior designer Cortney Bishop Design.

With an arrival that coincided with an extended torrential downpour, I had plenty of time to explore the property's indoor amenities. My spacious room projected a feeling of tranquility with two-tone taupe and grey walls accented with wainscotting and wallto-wall carpeting designed to mimic an Oriental rug. An ornate tieback mirrored the elegance of the multi-layered window drapery, which, when opened, revealed a glimpse of several of the more than 400 church steeples that punctuate the city's skyline. Antique mirrors accentuate the wardrobe, and an expanse of crisp white marble defines the elegant and spacious bathroom.

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The Charleston Place's expansive lobby serves as the city's living room, particularly during the holidays, when fidgety children dressed in their Sunday best are lined up for photographs on the split staircase. It's a behemoth property, but it's a sumptuous sprawl with wings holding boutiques and a breakfast-to-after-dinner array of dining opportunities that aren't mere hotel restaurants but gastronomic destinations in their own right.

At the pinnacle of dining options is the Charleston Grill, where, under the direction of Chef de Cuisine Suzy Castelloe, seasonally-inspired and beautifully presented dishes match the understated elegance of environs outfitted with gilt bamboo fivearm chandeliers, champagne-colored walls with mirrored arched alcoves, contemporary art, and a moody dark painted bar. Long back-to-back camel-colored velvet banquettes line the center of the dining room, which overlooks a brick courtyard shared with the Palmetto Grill. Open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday, live jazz complements the elevated experience.

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Unable to decide what to order, I asked my waiter, Drew, if three courses were too many. He replied, "I eat for sport," and encouraged me to follow his lead for an evening of perfectly paced culinary theatre. An asparagus mousse amuse-bouche complemented the Grill's derivative of a Paper Plane cocktail with vibrant blood orange notes. My tuna crudo, topped with delicate micro greens and colorful edible flowers, presented a balanced blend of sweetness and heat. Savory strawberry gazpacho represented summer in a bowl. Colorado lamb with traditional pea purée and tableside jus was among the most memorable main courses I'd enjoyed in some time. By the time the third course arrived, I was already plotting the next day's out-and-back walk over the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge as penance for my totally worth-it overindulgence. When it came time for dessert, I initially ordered the classic carrot cake with cream cheese ice cream just for the frosting, but I dove deeper to savor the pronounced ginger overtones in the moist cake.

Indoor and outdoor terraces are found on the hotel’s spa level.

Standard guest room.

At the Palmetto Cafe, open for breakfast, brunch, and lunch, the blue/green walls with petite table lights in the same hue, louvered shutters on the angled ceiling, and a plethora of tropical plants and greenery lend the feeling of dining in an Orangerie. Here, patrons can indulge in Lowcountry classics interspersed with French-inspired dishes.

The dark wood-paneled walls of the Thoroughbred Club contrast the adjacent lobby's polished marble floors and white walls. It was my first stop upon arriving, and, as I was famished, I didn't think twice about indulging in both the steak tartar and house-made truffled potato chips as I observed the ebb and flow of activity in the lobby. Gastropub fare is on offer at Meeting at Market, open daily for lunch and dinner.

I always log miles and miles during my visits to Charleston, so I scheduled a massage at The Charleston Place Spa, where treatments employ holistic, therapeutic practices and products to alleviate and rejuvenate. Part of a larger complex that includes an indoor lap pool with indoor and outdoor lounge areas and a large fitness facility,

The Thoroughbred Club

The spa level at The Charleston Place includes a lap pool with a retractable roof.

the spa offers nine treatment rooms and leading-edge treatments, including Intraceuticals' range of performance-driven skincare.

Already steeped in history, Charleston's charm is even more pronounced during the holiday season, and Charleston Place transforms into a true holiday wonderland with extensive holiday decor covering the hotel top to bottom, including 139 trees (more than the Biltmore and the White House) and a custom-built 41-foot tree in Market Street Circle; nightly snowfall in the Market Street Circle, offering guests and the community to enjoy a White Christmas in the South; and mini-performances of The Nutcracker ballet in the lobby.

Under BHC’s leadership, patrons of The Charleston Place can expect continued excellence in consistency and calculated change.

In a statement released after the opening, Casey Lavin, President BHC, said, "We believe that hospitality is a transformative art and that The Charleston Place has the ability - and responsibility - to inspire and nurture our guests, team members, and partners.” sl For more information, visit charlestonplace.com.

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Sitting in the middle of a vineyard in the canton of Vaud, is the impressive Aigle Castle, a fortress built by the Savoy in the 12th century. Photo by Andreas Gerth, courtesy of Switzerland Tourism.

A PRIMER ON SWISS WINE Written by Claire Williams

Swiss wines have quietly gained a reputation as an insider's gem within the global wine community. Despite Switzerland producing more than 26 million gallons annually, only two percent of that leaves the country. Within Switzerland's six distinctive wine-growing regions is an astonishing array of unique terroirs and an impressive roster of over 250 grape varieties under cultivation. This captivating tapestry comes to life when strolling through the picturesque vineyards or indulging in a wine tasting within the cozy confines of a local winegrower's cellar.

Wine with Passion: Malans & Grisons The area around Bad Ragaz in Malans has been making wine for over a millennia. The historic center of Bündner Herrschaft is the Bothmar Castle, and the surrounding lush green vineyards make it one of Switzerland's most beautiful wine regions. Forty-five varieties of grapes grow in the Herrschaft, which is the warmest wine-growing region in German-speaking Switzerland. While more than 50 different wines are produced here, seventy-eight percent of production is Blauburgunder, a German synonym for Pinot Noir. The region's vineyard-hiking trail offers access to many vineyards and wine cellars, regionally called Torkel, meaning "wine-press," where visitors can learn about the vintners, 52 slmag.net

the climate, and the warm and dry, gusty Föhn winds responsible for producing vintages that consistently favorable values on the German Öchsle scale, which measures the density of grape must (the freshly crushed fruit juice that contains the skins, seeds, and stems of the grapes), and indicates the sugar content and grape ripeness used in wine production.

House of Wine: Rhine Valley, St. Gallen Notable for its award-winning architecture and distinctive roofline, the Haus des Weins, (house of wine) opened in October 2018 in the center of Berneck, a winemaking village approximately 30 minutes by car from the city of St. Gallen. At present, 20 winemakers from the Rhine Valley, Sarganserland/Walensee, and Lake Zurich regions utilize the house to present approximately 100 wines for tasting and purchase alongside other regional products and handicrafts. (hausdesweins-sg.ch) TukTuk and Wine: Vineyards in Geneva Welo allows you to experience Geneva's vineyards and culture with an electric TukTuk journey. En route, passionate local vintners treat you to their finest wines while sharing the stories and insights behind their craft. (www.welo.swiss)

A group of cyclists in the vineyards of Oberflachs. Photo by Andre Meier, courtesy of Switzerland Tourism.

Vufflens Castle in the wine-growing area of La Cote on the shores of Lake Geneva. Photo by Christof Sonderegger, courtesy of Switzerland Tourism.

Salgesch is best known for its vineyards, its wine and the proximity to the Pfynwald nature reserve. Photo by Roland Gerth, courtesy of Switzerland Tourism.

Bike & Wine: Mendrisiotto, Ticino With cycling paths that wind through vineyards and villages, a favorable climate and outstanding wines, the Mendrisiotto, the region of Ticino with the most vineyards, is a paradise for active wine enthusiasts. Available April through October, the 3.5-hour tour begins at the Fumagalli Winery and travels through what is frequently referred to as the "Tuscany of Switzerland," stopping at several vineyards for tastings. (mendrisiottoterroir.ch/t-en) Behind Closed Doors: Carnotzet of the Hôtel de Ville, Lausanne Signing on to this tour opens doors usually closed to the public, the carnotzet (a word from the French regional dialect that designates a small hiding place where bottles of wine are stored)of the Hôtel de Ville, for a tasting of the wines of the Les Domaines de la Ville de Lausanne. To enhance your experience, conclude by visiting a secret location for a delicious wine tasting narrated by a passionate local connoisseur. (lausanne-tourisme.ch/en/offer/lausanne-and-its-wines) Dynamic Wine Traditions: Lake Zürich Visitors can indulge in Zürich's wines at vineyards, wine bars, and the Expovina wine fair, staged each fall on 12 boats moored at the pier

Hiking in Chamoson in the Valais region of western Switzerland. Photo by Christian Meixner, courtesy of Switzerland Tourism.

Autumn panorama near Ligerz on Lake Biel in Switzerland’s Jura & Three-Lakes area. Photo by Jan Geerk, courtesy of Switzerland Tourism.

The Siegenthaler family harvesting grapes in Rivaz in Lavaux, part of the UNESCO World Heritage, Canton Vaud. Photo

by Stephan Engler, courtesy of Switzerland Tourism.

at Bürkliplatz on Lake Zürich. However, one of the most surprising examples of Zurich's wine aspiration is the Wellentänzer, or "wave dancer" wine. This unique wine, produced by hand harvested Johanniter grapes, undergoes a unique aging process where half the wine matures conventionally, and the other spends 70 days floating in a specially constructed sealed buoy that drifts in the lake, creating a twin comparison that serves as a reference when subsequently comparing the two wines. This innovative method harnesses the lake's natural energy, contributing to the wine's distinct character and symbolizing Zürich's creative winemaking approach. In Zürich, you can taste Wellentänzer at Restaurant Igniv (igniv.com/english) and Restaurant Blaue Ente (en.muehle-tiefenbrunnen.ch/blaue-ente).

Swiss Wines in the Big Apple: Lavaux Wine Bar If a trip to Switzerland isn't in the offering, but NYC is, head to the Lavaux Wine Bar, a rustic-chalet-inspired spot founded by a Swiss trio of two winemakers and a cheesemonger hailing from the Lavaux in the heart of Switzerland's French-speaking region.

They are passionate about and devoted to sharing their love of Switzerland's culinary and wine traditions with New Yorkers! (thelavauxwinebar.com) sl slmag.net

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A WALK IN THE PARK (CITY) Pendry Park City makes it easy to enjoy the Wasatch Mountains year-round.

Written by Bridget Williams

It used to be that ski towns seemed like ghost towns in the summer months, with empty lifts languishing above verdant hillsides abloom with wildflowers. As someone who took to skiing in their 40s and seems to get less capable and confident with every lesson, the mountains have always been more of a warm weather destination for me. And while I am sure that the locals aren't entirely happy about the rest of us discovering the benefits of the slopes sans snow, summer's longer days, sunny skies, and plenty of lodging, dining, and activity options deliver capacious opportunities for communing with nature.

Opened in February 2022 and located in the center of Canyons Village, an easy 35-minute drive from the Salt Lake City Airport and less than ten minutes to the heart of historic Park City, Pendry Park City provides direct access (ski-in/ski-out in winter) to the resort's 7,300 acres of varied terrain. Founded in 2014 by Alan Fuerstman and his son Michael, Pendry is the younger sibling of Montage and the first Pendry outpost to operate as a destination resort. The resort’s 53 guest rooms are spread out in two towers with ample indoor/outdoor gathering areas at the mountain's base.

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The soaring lobby, dominated by a massive stone and steel two-sided gas fireplace, is a hub of activity day and night, as Aprés Pendry, a European-inspired lobby lounge, transitions from breakfast to a chic remote work site and through to the nightcap crowd. An important aspect of Pendry’s brand identity is being artforward, emphasizing unique lighting and architectural elements.

A majority of the accommodations at Pendry, ranging in size from a studio to four bedrooms, are privately owned. The super cute bunkroom in our sprawling two-bedroom, 2.5-bath corner unit (with the ability to link to adjacent rooms) almost made me wish we were traveling with young children. A muted color palette with a mix of natural materials, including stone, leather, and wood, and a smattering of contemporary art in geometric motifs defined the mountain-contemporary interior. Unique design touches included leather strap details on the tweed-meets-boucle upholstered sofa in the living room and a dining table for ten with leather bench seating.

The fully-equipped kitchen, with an eight-burner gas range and a full-size Bertazoni refrigerator, sat unused due to the plethora of outstanding dining options on the property and beyond.

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Bunk room in a twobedroom unit at Pendry.

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View from a hiking trail on a mountain above Pendry.

KITA, the resort's signature dining experience, was conceived as a welcome change from the plethora of American steakhouses that predominate the area. "There's nothing like digging into a hot bowl of aprés ramen," said Beth Rossi, Director of PR and Marketing. KITA offers a menu of the finest A-5 Kato, Miyazaki, and renowned Kagawa Wagyu beef, as well as the aforementioned house-made ramen; daily chef 's-special robatayaki; and an extensive menu of Japanese seafood sourced from sustainable Japanese fisheries and flown-in nightly.

Dos Olas is a solid Mexican restaurant serving seriously good tacos and margaritas in a lively environment. The aptly named Pool House, located atop building two and adjacent to the only rooftop pool and bar in the area, offers a naughty and nice menu where you can get a mammoth serving of truffle parmesan fries to accompany your fresh poke bowl.

The spa level of building two includes a sprawling and well-equipped gym, a mainstay of mountain towns catering to the active, outdoorsy set. My blissful one-hour facial was an expertly choreographed pas de deux that seamlessly pivoted from

restorative to restful. The pumpkin enzyme peel, which smelled good enough to eat, left me with a baby-faced pink glow.

A subsidiary of Pendry, the onsite Compass Sports offers equipment rentals and the latest accessories for every season, including ski, snowboarding, hiking, and mountain biking gear.

Want to take a helicopter to Escalante National Monument for a private guided tour? They can happily arrange that and almost any outdoor expedition you can dream up.

Guests can avail themselves of ample hiking and biking trails when the mountains aren't covered in snow. Ride the Red Pine Gondola to access an easy alpine lake hike, or take the 6.1-mile out-and-back trek to Fantasy Ridge, where a safety rope helps hikers navigate a shark fin ridge (don't look down if you're afraid of heights). The trail tops out at Desolation Peak, the second highest in Park City at 9,990 feet.

Pendry offers a complimentary shuttle to Park City for venturing outside Canyons Village. Alternatively, you can reserve an SUV from their in-house suite of Cadillacs. No matter the season, there's never a shortage of things to do. sl For more information and special offers at Pendry Park City, visit pendry.com/park-city/offers.

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THE GIFT OF TIME Compiled by Bridget Williams

Top row, left to right: Tag Heuer Monaco Night Driver ($9,550). Available through Diamond Cellar in Columbus and Nashville, Moyer Fine Jewelers and Reis-Nichols Jewelers in Indianapolis, Davis Jewelers in Louisville, Kings Jewelers in Nashville, Clarkson Jewelers in St. Louis, and tagheuer.com. Arnold & Son DSTB 42 Red Gold (from CHF 42,600; arnoldandson.com). Le Régulateur Louis Erard x Konstantin Chaykin Dusk to Dawn ($5,000; louiserard.com). Tudor Pelagos FXD Chrono "Alinghi Red Bull Racing Edition" ($5,995). Available through Richter & Phillips Jewelers in Cincinnati, Diamond Cellar in Columbus & Nashville, Reis-Nichols Jewelers in Indianapolis, Davis Jewelers in Louisville, King Jewelers in Nashville, Clarkson Jewelers and Simons Jewelers in St. Louis, and tudorwatch.com. Middle row, left to right: Bell & Ross 41mm BR03 Golden Heritage ($3,900). Available through Diamond Cellar in Columbus, Moyer Fine Jewelers in Indianapolis, King Jewelers in Nashville, and bellross.com. Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Deep Black “ETNZ” Edition ($13,300). Available through Richter & Phillips Jewelers in Cincinnati, Moyer Fine Jewelers in Indianapolis, Genesis Diamonds in Nashville and omegawatches.com. The Angelus Chronodate Titanium Storm Blue (angelus-wwatches.com). Longines Hydroconquest GMT ($2,775). Available through Davis Jewelers in Louisville, Kings Jewelers in Nashville, and longines.com. Kross Studio "House of the Dragon" Balerion Central Floating Tourbillon (CHF 108,000; store.kross-studio.ch). Bottom row, left to right: Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 40mm ($19,500). Available through Richter & Phillips Jewelers in Cincinnati, Diamond Cellar in Columbus & Nashville, Reis-Nichols Jewelers in Indianapolis, Davis Jewelers in Louisville, Simons Jewelers and Clarkson Jewelers in St. Louis and rolex.com. The 101 Bangle by JaegerLeCoultre ($351,000). Inquire through Reis-Nichols Jewelers in Indianapolis, Kings Jewelers in Nashville, and at jaeger-lecoultre.com.

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Breitling Navitimer 32 (from $4,600). Available through Richter & Phillips Co. in Cincinnati, Moyer Fine Jewelers & Reis-Nichols Jewelers in Indianapolis, Geneis Diamonds in Nashville. breitling.com. Image courtesy of Breitling.

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BMW’S NEUE VIEW With its latest design concept, the BMW Vision Neue Klasse, the company is showcasing what the next generation of its vehicles will look like.

Written by Andre James Unveiled to the public for the first time at the IAA Mobility 2023 International Show in Munich this past September, BMW says its Vision Neue Klasse embodies a clear design language, with expansive surfaces and just a few distinctive lines, that have been pared down to the essentials. “The BMW Vision Neue Klasse combines our ability to innovate in the core areas of electrification, digitalization, and circularity,” says Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG. “In this way, we are always able to stay two steps ahead of the future: The Neue Klasse is already bringing the mobility of the next decade to the roads in 2025 – and leading BMW into a new era.”

The minimalist monolithic approach accentuates signature and subtly reinterpreted features like the BMW kidney grille, steeply forward-slanting “shark nose” front end, and the Hofmeister kink of the side window graphic. Distinctive wheel arches frame 21-inch aerodynamic wheels that pay tribute to the classic cross-spoke design inspired by motorsports. Paintwork in “Joyous bright,” a subtle yellow hue, underscores the cars

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approachable, future-oriented personality and contrasts the black side skirts and bumpers.

A lighting effect with precise three-dimensional animation initiates intuitive interaction between the car and the driver as soon as they approach the car. E Ink elements in the lower portion of the side windows also feature in the exterior welcome scenario, directing attention to the sensor area that activates automatic door opening. Innovative technology similarly defines the design of the rear lights, with 3D-printed elements that extend over several levels and are controlled in a targeted manner to create a unique impression of depth.

In addition to highly efficient electric motors, major advances in the new BMW eDrive technology include newly developed round battery cells, with more than 20% higher energy density than the prismatic cells used previously. The sixth generation of BMW eDrive technology will improve the charging speed and boost range for Neue Klasse models by up to 30%, and increase overall vehicle efficiency by up to twenty-five percent.

Inside the next generation of BMW iDrive guarantees a unique digital user experience that merges real and virtual worlds.

Analogue operating controls have been reduced to a minimum.

With BMW Panoramic Vision, which will be available for the first time in the Neue Klasse, information is projected at the ideal height into the driver’s line of sight and, for the first time, across the entire width of the windscreen, allowing both the driver and passenger to interact with the information displayed.

A coordinated choreography between the ambient lighting and graphic elements of the Central Display and BMW Panoramic Vision enriches the user experience – which can also be customized using My Modes. In My Mode ‘Sport’, specific displays are set against a yellow background to support dynamic driving. The new BMW iDrive is based on a highly integrated software architecture that consolidates driving experience and infotainment data with data from the vehicle’s electronics and electrical system and the BMW cloud.

Bright cord fabrics create a comfortable atmosphere inside the cabin. The light-colored instrument panel supports the

steering wheel, which is flattened at the top and bottom, as well as the Central Display with Matrix-Backlight in the outline of a parallelogram. The front seats are attached to the floor by a single bracket, freeing up additional legroom in the rear compartment, where passengers can enjoy the spaciousness created by having two individual seats. The design of the interior, which is completely free of decorative chrome or leather, helps optimize the carbon footprint of the production process.

“30% more range, 30% faster charging, 25% more efficiency – the Neue Klasse represents a major technological leap that will take EfficientDynamics to new heights. The same applies to its design – which could not be any more futuristic,” says Frank Weber, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Development. “With the Neue Klasse, we have embarked on the biggest investment in the company’s history. We are not just writing the next chapter of BMW; we’re writing a whole new book. That’s why the Neue Klasse will certainly impact all model generations.” sl

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GATHER ROUND THE TABLE

Gear up for the Holiday season with pieces perfect for getting or gifting.

Compiled by Lionel Haff

Top row, left to right: Francesca waxed linen placemat ($64/pair; rebeccaudall.com). Mahatsara hand-woven telephone wire Open V platter (mahatsara.com/en/). Jenni Kayne x Staub oval gratin ($395; jennikayne.com). Bodman Blades' Weru Burl and Damascus Steel Pizza Wheel from ABASK ($1,070; abask.com). Chehoma Tooth pic owl (chehoma.com). Middle row, left to right: Annabel James resting stag wine cooler/punch bowl ($237; annabeljames.co.uk). Riedel Mosel Magnum decanter ($99; riedel.com). Vista Alegre Pharos tea set ($750; neimanmarcus. com). Carving set from Sabre Paris (us.sabre-paris.com). Chehoma green hobnail pitcher ($136; chehoma.com). Manual pepper mill from Peugeot ($89.95; us.peugeot-saveurs.com). Bottom row, left to right: Drag icon Ginger Minj spills the tea, bringing her signature humor and sass to a tongue-in-cheek memoir/cookbook. Entertain like royalty with Emily Timberlake's recipes for Bridgerton-style food and drink in the first official cookbook from the hugely popular Shondaland series on Netflix. Author Bryson Taylor shares 75 recipes inspired by the cult-classic holiday movie Home Alone. Skip the bar—and the alcohol—with Derick Santiago's 75 alcohol-free recipes for classic drinks, new flavor concoctions, and twists on old favorites.

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Lucas Castex' No 7 Oiled Walnut Serving Platter from ABASK ($1,475; abask.com)

Nickey Kehoe stoneware mixing bowls ($225; nickeykehoe.com)

Juliska Country Estate Winter Frolic & Stewart Tartan dinnerware and Berry & Thread flatware (juliska.com).

Kay Bojesen walnut Menageri corkscrew ($55) and bottle opener ($55; us.rosendahl.com)

Veronica Bear x Juliska Jardins Du Monde party plate, Bohemian Vine dinner plate, bamboo flatware, straw loop placemat, Bohemian Vine party plate, Jardins Du Monde planters (juliska.com)

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For after-dinner entertainment, Beringer Vineyards x Cynthia Rowley Wild & Refined Playing Card Deck ($35; beringer.com)

Dewar’s limited edition Double Double 37-Year-Old Scotch Whisky is crafted by five-time Master Blender of the Year Stephanie Macleod. Dewar’s Scotch Whisky has partnered with luxury French crystal manufacturer, Baccarat, to release a limited-edition set of Double Double 37 and cut crystal glassware as the ideal accoutrement to enjoy the ultra-premium liquid in style ($1,799; Dewars.com).

Orin Swift 2021 Papillon ($90) is a blend of all five Bordeaux-style varietals (orinswift.com).

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Mackmyra Svensk Whisky is Sweden's first 20-year-old singlemalt, aged underground in the Bodås mine for twenty years in ex-bourbon casks ($852; mackmyra.com).

From the street, the house gently disguises the dramatic slope in the rear. Designed by architect Susan Bower, the downspouts in the short walls work as fountains. A young neighbor down the street calls the home “the magazine house.”

THE HOUSE IN THE HILL After these homeowners bought this property, they discovered the surprisingly steep slope.

By Christy Marshall / Photography by Carmen Troesser

After years of living in St. Albans, the children were grown and gone. She (they prefer not to be named) was ready to move closer to the action, and he was ready to have the house of his dreams. After working with Kim Taylor West of K. Taylor Design Group LLC for more than a decade, they enlisted her help in finding the perfect spot.

They landed on a lane in Town & Country that abuts Queeny Park.

“I said I wanted a 4,000-square-foot ranch,” the homeowner says, adding that if the house needed help, Kim would handle it. However, her husband was ready to tear down and build from the ground up.

“He didn’t want anything where you don’t know what’s behind the walls,” she says. They were ready to put in a bid on one house, which had struck them as extremely well built. But then the house next door to it came on the market so they bought it in March 2020 (in the throes of the pandemic), leveled it, and hired the neighbor’s contractors, Huffton Construction.

A month later, they called architect Susan Bower, founder of Bower Leet Design. “If you’re interested in a modern style, she’s the go-to in St. Louis,” the homeowner says.The husband had a file full of pictures of house styles he liked, which he describes as “a mixture of modern and mid-century.” He sent them over and the plans began.

“They didn’t have to say anything,” Susan says, adding that she had “the picture book.”

“We had concepts for the interior and concepts for the exterior and those were based on their ideas,” Kim adds.

But it was shape of the lot that presented the greatest challenge. The homeowners knew they wanted to be able to walk out of the main living area straight into the back yard but they didn’t realize that from the highest point in the back to the lowest point in the front, it slopes down a staggering 28 feet.

“When it’s the front of the house, how do you make that look right?” Susan asks. “How does it work? And fortunately, [the homeowners] had lived in a house that had an entry from the lower level.”

He explains: “I grew up in South America. I was born there, and one house we lived in in Chile was modern from the ’70s or late ’60s. It had different levels, different sorts of hidden areas, living areas, and gardens mixed in with the rooms.”

“To do the front we needed to come in closer to the street at the lower level,” Susan says. “And then we had to make the main living level up so that it was easier to walk out to the back of the site. Once we all got our heads wrapped around that, everything fell into place. slmag.net

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Susan Bower points out that it isn’t often that “you get to do an arched vault for a living room.” In this house there are two. Designer Kim Taylor West points out the addition of the Douglas fir adds a warmth and softness; “Sometimes modern homes can be a little too stark. I think adding the wood really made a big difference.”

“We were able to mediate the slope with the grading so that the lower level is 11 feet below the main level, and the garage is 2 feet down from the main level,” she explains. “The main level of the house can access the lovely back yard and park at the higher grade.”

The driveway sweeps up around the house so it ends at the garage with four steps up to the door into the laundry room and kitchen.

The plan left room for a ramp if the steps were no longer negotiable.

“We definitely kept universal design in mind so they can be here in their late 90s and on,” Kim says, adding that designer Anna Motz, helped with the interiors. All the rooms and bathrooms (including a kitchenette) on the first (street) level are all accessible and an elevator negates the necessity of using the steps.

The planning took close to a year. “Even though we knew the style, the specifics took a while to come up with,” the husband says. “Then we wanted to add this or add that. Susan had to make adjustments and she built a [physical] model.”

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“She had it terraced to the elevation,” the wife adds. “Then you could see how high the back was so it helped make sense to me why it had to be that way.”

Huffton Construction broke ground in the spring of 2021 and completed it in 2023. The house ended up around 7,000 square feet.

“Everything was crazy because of the supply chain,” Susan says. “Getting the steel was difficult. There were all sorts of bumps along the way. I will never get over the architectural review board.”

“The civil engineering took quite a long time,” Kim says.

“The permits took a long time. And then getting all the quotes to know the budget and everything took longer than it normally would, just because everyone was trying to work with all the suppliers and find out what was available and what manufacturers had what right now.”

The homeowners had specific requests: A metal roof. Stucco.

Stone. Wood under the eaves.

The cabinetry in the office, created by Beck Allen, has garnered a national award. Adam Walters of Espion created the desk.

The homeowner says the view from the kitchen is one of her favorite elements of the house. “If I’m in the kitchen cooking, I can see out the front and I can see out the back,” she says. “I know indoor/outdoor is kind of a cliché, but the way the windows are, it feels and it lives very indoor/outdoor.”

Adam Walters, a local artisan who owns Espion Furniture Co., created the dining room table and chairs.

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The homeowners both picked the bedroom as a favorite room. “It feels like a hotel but not,” she says, while her husband adds, “I love how nice the bedroom is. There are so many windows. I love rainstorms and I love seeing them.”

This four-seasons room is constantly in use.

“This is what I wanted,” the wife says. “I wanted a backyard that was cozy and we could walk right out into it.”

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Shot at dusk, the house glistens.

Poynter Landscaping did the design and plantings.

Once the house was completed, the homeowners reported that the workers who had built it all came back through and “the number one thing they were impressed by is (what the wife calls) the ‘Grill Majal’.”

“I grew up in Texas and wood under the eaves is a thing in Texas,” the homeowner says. “And Susan made the eaves big so you could get some shadowing.”

From the front two-story entry, there is a glass-paneled stairway to the main floor. The open room has a double-island kitchen which opens up to the living and dining room areas. The ceilings are made out of the same Douglas fir as is used in the adjoining four-seasons room. “So, everything just flows really nicely and calmly,” Kim says. “It just gives it a more modern feel.”

The primary feature of the main living area is the wall of windows. “People say indoor, outdoor, but this just feels it,” the homeowner says. “You don’t have to open the doors and go outdoors. You just feel it.”

The cabinets throughout the house were designed by Serena Williams of Beck/Allen Cabinetry. In the kitchen, one island is used as beverage center. Facing either end are custom cabinets—one for cocktails, one for coffee. “And it works out really, really well,” Kim says. “They can entertain a lot. It’s got a nice versatility.”

The dining room table and chairs were custom built by Adam Walters, a local artisan who founded Espion Furniture Co. In the corner of the very large room is a limestone fireplace.

Down the hall is the homeowner’s office. The cabinetry, again

by Beck/Allen, recently won a national award. At the end of the hall is the primary bedroom, a favorite of both the homeowners. Flanked by windows, the room has the ambiance of a high-end treehouse.

On the street level are another three bedrooms, for when those grown children or relatives come to stay, and a center area with kitchenette and mid-century design billiards table. Off to one side is a reading nook for the homeowner, which she expects to transform into a play area once grandchildren arrive.

The desired mix of modern and mid-century exudes serenity throughout the house. The dominant feature is the view outside into the lush woods of Queeny Park.

“It’s a relaxing house,” the homeowner says. “I’ve had a few friends use the word ‘cozy.’” sl slmag.net

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In celebration of Kit Heffern’s 50th anniversary at Elleard Heffern, the local Saint Louis fine jewelry company is honoring some of the city’s most dynamic women.

S A L LY H A R R I S O N

Highly regarded graphic designer Married to Bob Harrison, Chairman of Daniel and Henry Risk Management Involved with Girls On the Run from its early years Loves visiting City Academy on Buddy Days and seeing the school’s success first hand Now working on Eccentrics, an “aging backwards” program she is bringing to Saint Louis Styles with Elleard Heffern

g e t t o k n o w m o r e e x t r a o r d i n a r y w o m e n a t w w w. h e f f e r n . c o m

St. Louis’s oldest locally owned jewelers, located in the heart of Clayton at Carondolet and Hanley 101 South Hanley, Lobby Suite 110 · Clayton, MO 63105 · www.heffern.com · 314.863.8820

THE CHEAPEST TICKET TO BARCELONA Join us on a journey that brings the bounty of Spanish artisanal products and time-honored food traditions to your table with a dining experience perfectly balanced between sophistication and relaxed, all complemented by an exceptional array of wines sourced exclusively from the Iberian Peninsula.

7610 W YDOWN BOULE VARD, CL AY TON, MO 63105 OPEN DAILY 4 – 9:30 PM

FOOD OF LOVE FOR THE LOVE OF FOOD

Tara Hall overlooking Balscadden Bay

TO THE POND, THE CHANNEL, AND THE IRISH SEA

By Joan Lerch

Eighteen days, eight flights, one overnight train, one helicopter, a private boat, and more than a dozen taxis in three countries. Was it intrepid, exhilarating, chaotic or crazy?

Yes. The adventure began with a wedding invitation in 2021. The bride was my friend Jo and the venue was St. Saviour’s church in Guernsey, Channel Islands — without question my favorite place on the planet. Long before the The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society book and the film that followed, I fell in love with this magical island. The 4,000-plus mile trip could be daunting.

But a wedding? And a reception at the 5-star Old Government House Hotel? I would swim if necessary!

Alas, Covid cancelled the trip.

So, rewind and regroup. With the itinerary already in place, Jo and her husband, Mark, invited me to stay with them this summer, luring me with the promise of my own en suite accommodations in their 300-year-old granite farmhouse in St. Saviours, on the west side of the island. Their secluded property (accessed only by the narrowest of lanes) backs up to Auberge Du Val, a superb restaurant where 72 slmag.net

everything is farm-fresh and delicious. (Our walk to Auberge took us past the restaurant garden where much of the menu originates.)

Oh, and did I mention Guernsey butter? The cherished cows live just down the cobblestone road.

The highlight of my stay was a trip to nearby Sark on my friends’ marvelous boat, Coup de Foudre — translation “love at first sight.” It’s a quick 20 minutes from St. Peter Port harbor and the weather was simply sublime.

Nestled just 30 miles or so off the coast of France, Sark, like Guernsey, has its own set of laws, its own parliament, and a population of about 500. It is separated by a narrow sound from the private island of Brecqhou, owned by British billionaire Sir Frederick Barclay.

I had read of the mock-Gothic castle built by Barclay and his late twin brother, David, but I had never seen the hidden property when exploring Sark on foot. Our day trip gave us the perfect vantage point just off the coast, while we indulged in a lazy, oh-so-French lunch of pâté, cheeses, and of course, generous pourings of wine — on this trip, a Chateau Musar Gaston Hochar 2015. The castle, even from our distant perspective, was every bit as impressive as I imagined.

Dawn at the open-air theatre The Minack

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View of Howth Harbor

Dublin’s canal boats

Leaving Guernsey is always difficult, but I had a “first-ever” experience ahead — an overnight trip from London’s Paddington Station on the Riviera Night Sleeper to Penzance, Cornwall.

The train departed at 11:45 p.m., which meant an opportunity to explore Paddington without the usual bustle and noise. The sleeping quarters were cozy but comfortable and the rhythmic rumbling of the train ensured a deep slumber.

My Penzance home was Warwick House, overlooking the promenade and close to everything. Owned and run by the husband-and-wife team of Alison and Garrin Webb, the Regency period guest house offered the warmest of welcomes and served an award-winning breakfast. It’s an ideal base from which to explore the magnificent St. Michael’s Mount, the Minack Theatre, and the picturesque villages of St. Ives, Mousehole, St. Just-in-Penwith, and of course, Land’s End. St. Michael’s Mount, my original inspiration for visiting Cornwall, is home to an ancient castle that is still the home of the St. Aubyn family. (Because the castle can only be accessed on foot during low tide, I booked a boat ticket in advance, just in case.)

The crooning of swooping seagulls was the dreamy soundtrack to this dream-worthy isle. After a short exploration of the small village below, I set off to explore the castle — a rugged climb fueled by determination and the previously mentioned hearty breakfast.

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Howth Castle, owned by the St. Lawrence family since 1177

To step through the massive doors of the castle is to be instantly transported through time. The Smoking Room, the Gun Batteries, the Library — every space is rich with centuries of history. A small medieval church dedicated to St. Michael, originally built in 1135, is still used for Sunday services. Views from the terraces to the walled gardens below are dizzying and dramatic.

After spending a glorious hour or two wandering through the castle, I headed back to the village for lunch, which, of course, included Cornish ice cream. Almost lulled to sleep by sunshine on the expansive lawn, I made certain to set my phone to alert me at 2:15, when the tide would be low enough to walk back to the mainland. It was wet, slippery fun, but I still managed to video my toes splashing through the shallow seawater.

The other must-do in Cornwall is a performance at The Minack, the breathtaking open-air theatre carved into cliffs overlooking the Atlantic. It is the work of the visionary artist Rowena Cade, who built the theatre herself, beginning in 1929. Rowena and her gardener, Billy Rawlings, cut huge boulders by hand, maneuvering them into place onto the slippery slopes, where, she once explained, “a careless step would have meant a ninety-foot fall into the churning sea.” She worked on the theatre until her death in 1983, just short of her 90th birthday.

Getting to the Minack involved yet another steep climb from Porthcurno, where I met other gasping visitors. Taking my place

Ariel House, Dublin

on the concrete seating, I was delighted to share my perspective with a massive, sweet boxer named Caesar. (He watched the stage intently, until he curled up for a nap.) I’ve seen “Evita” in different venues through the years, and always loved it. But “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,” accompanied by the gentle splashing of the ocean, is an experience I will never forget.

Of all the coastal villages I visited, Mousehole was my favorite.

Pronounced “mow-zel,” it is charming and not overly touristy. (St. Ives, on the other hand, was so absurdly crowded that I left after less than an hour. I would later hear this sentiment expressed by English tourists who had the same opinion.)

Next stop, Dublin, for a quick two-day visit. Now more than two weeks into this odyssey, I was cranky and ready to go home, until I arrived at the absolutely superb Ariel House. Set in the leafy residential suburb of Ballsbridge, this luxury hotel is truly deserving of the description. When I was escorted into the beautiful suite, complete with bay window, dressing table, and — of course! — an elegant canopy bed, all weariness instantly dissolved. The staff was marvelous, the breakfast equally so.

Dublin, like most large, international cities, is alive and buzzing with people and noise. While some travelers love this frantic energy, I was more enchanted with the seaside town of Howth, about 20 minutes away by train, eminently walkable and uncrowded.

Heading up yet another rocky cliff path a few steps from the harbor, I passed a magnificent property that is on my next-time wish list. Tara Hall is a fabulous Regency building overlooking Balscadden Bay, and was featured in the film “Love, Rosie” starring Lily Collins. (By chance, I stumbled on to another film site just down the road, where Howth Castle, home of the St. Lawrence family since 1177, had security guards, movie trailers, and “crew parking” signs everywhere.)

After returning to town (I think I logged about 25,000 steps a day on this trip), I had a lunch of prawns, fresh from swimming in the Irish sea but now swimming in butter that I happily mopped up with homemade bread.

Eighteen days after leaving home, I climbed into a taxi at 3:00 a.m. for a British Air flight home. The BA business-class seats were comfy, and the delightful Belgian Air flight attendants, sensing my exhaustion, kept me awash in champagne. But for the most superb trans-Atlantic flight experience, I still prefer the American Airlines Flagship routes. Maybe it’s the down comforter and the lay-flat seats. Maybe it’s the free-flowing Bailey’s Irish Cream, private shower rooms, and great food in the Flagship Lounge.

Lots of miles, lots of pictures, and fabulous memories. Now that I am recovered, I can’t wait to go back. sl slmag.net

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THE MOST RECOMMENDED MOVING COMPANY IN ST. LOUIS BY SOPHISTICATED LIVING READERS

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As more and more homeowners are trying to make their homes more productive and organized, the need for smart and stylish home offices is on the rise. Home offices are not just limited to working professionals but also to those who are running a business from home, mothers who need a quiet space to work, students who need to complete their homework, and anyone who needs a space to work or study peacefully.

Home Offices: A home office is an essential workspace that needs to be functional, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing.

Customizable home office solutions, including desks, cabinets, and bookshelves can be a game-changer for every home. Designs are created to maximize storage space and provide perfect desk height for your comfort. With quality materials, beautiful finishes, and durable construction, a Saint Louis Closet Co. home office will help you stay comfortable and organized while working from home.

Homework Centers: If you have kids, a homework center can be an excellent addition to your home office. Homework centers can be designed to keep everything organized and easily accessible.

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Crafting Desks: If you love crafting, then having a crafting desk in your home is a must. With pull-out tray shelves, adjustable shelves, and storage cabinets, crafting desks provide the perfect space to unleash your creativity and store your crafting supplies.

Mudrooms & Drop Zones: A designated mudroom or drop zone is an essential element of any home office. With hooks, shelves, and storage cabinets, mudrooms and drop zone solutions provide plenty of space to store coats, bags, and other accessories.

Bookshelves & Adjustable Shelves: Bookshelves and adjustable shelves are essential components of any home office. Saint Louis Closet Co. offers a range of bookshelves and adjustable shelves designed to suit your space and needs. With adjustable shelves and a range of different finishes, shelves provide ample space for your books, files, and other essentials while adding a touch of style and sophistication to your home office.

Saint Louis Closet Co. has a range of customizable home office solutions to suit your needs. With durable construction, quality materials, and beautiful finishes, Saint Louis Closet Co. home office solutions are designed to keep you organized, comfortable, and productive while working from home. Try out these five home office ideas and enjoy optimal workspace productivity and comfort.

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Spike Kohlbecker in the car getting ready to race.

SPEEDING TO SUCCESS At 20, Spike Kohlbecker is inching closer and closer to greatness, one lap at a time.

By Austin Woods / Photography by Mark Schwigen Men have been racing since the dawn of time. On foot. On horseback.

In chariots. And, of course, in cars. Really, really fast cars.

Meet Spike Kohlbecker. He likes fast cars. He likes burning rubber, scorching across asphalt, and feeling the G-force jolt through his veins as he reaches speeds up to 175 mph.

He’s also 20 years old, and a sophomore at Boise State University. At first glance, his dorm room looks like any other.

Then you notice the jet-black race car simulator in the corner. At his young age, the Kirkwood native has competed in hundreds of auto races across the world, with hundreds of local, regional, and national wins under his belt. At 16 years old, he became the first U.S. driver to score wins in both the Canadian and U.K. Formula Ford National Series championship events.

Kohlbecker started young— at four years old—when his grandfather, Jerroy Frank, an avid car racing enthusiast, gave him a go-kart for Christmas. The Kohlbeckers’ driveway became Spike’s personal race track, where he would drive endless laps on a track drawn in chalk by his dad. A year later he began competing in go-kart races throughout the Midwest.

“Being a perfectionist at a young age, and trying to do my best at something I knew I could do well in was really important to me,” Kohlbecker says. “It was just a place where I really could focus.”

By age 14, he transitioned from go-karts to formula cars and started racing internationally. In 2015, he and his mom, Amy, moved to New Zealand for the New Zealand Formula Ford Championship. After returning to the U.S., he continued to race formula cars before making his sports car debut this year with Toyota Gazoo Racing’s GR Cup series, a racing series held by Toyota’s motorsport division. The GR Cup is a single-make series, meaning all drivers go head-to-head in the same car — in this case, the Toyota GR86, which tops out at 135 mph.

As a sophomore at BSU, he balances his college experience — studying for exams, building friendships — with the practice routine required by his racing career.

“There have been times where I’ve missed hanging out with friends, or I’ve missed a family reunion, or a grandparent’s birthday,” he says. “You have to deal with it and if you want to keep racing, you have to make those sacrifices.”

But it’s all worth it for Kohlbecker when he’s on the race track. That’s not to suggest it isn’t hard work. Considerable strength is required when reaching the speeds that he does, and the conditions in the race car can be just as taxing as those on a football field or tennis court. It’s not an easy sport — but Kohlbecker doesn’t like to do things the easy way. slmag.net

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After the race, Spike celebrates on the podium.

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Spike in his car on the track.

“When you’re out in the car, it’s hot, you’re sweating, and you feel like you’re not going to make it to the end of the race,” he says.

“Well, it doesn’t matter… I give it the best I can every single lap.”

On the surface, racing seems like a highly individualistic sport. We tend to think of it as single racers competing against one another without the involvement of teams. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Success in the racing world is never earned alone. It’s not enough to say Kohlbecker has a team behind him — it’s more like an entire community made up of sponsors, mentors, and fans, along with his family and friends.

“It starts with my family, and it just branches out into a big tree,” Kohlbecker says. “I would really consider that my family as well.”

The cost of the sport is staggering. Even the GR Cup series, one of Toyota’s more affordable racing series, costs $250,000$300,000 for a full season. This includes $125,000 for the GR Cup car, and $15,000-$35,000 per event for equipment and transportation. This means Kohlbecker needs all the help he can in order to continue racing.

During his first few years in the racing world, support was largely provided by his family, with his dad, Todd, acting as his “primary mechanic.” But as his interest in the sport grew, it quickly became apparent that the Kohlbeckers would have to seek professional help to make sure he could keep racing. “(Spike) approached us around that point and said, ‘Dad, we’ve got to make some changes here. You need to set down the

wrenches and we need to take this to the next level,’” Todd says.

“It was that point where we started digging a little deeper into our wallets and talking to people about supporting Spike as a driver and a representative of sponsors and supporters.”

Kohlbecker still works hard to forge relationships and find supporters. Recently, he was approached by engine manufacturer Briggs & Stratton to serve as a brand ambassador for the Performance Racing Industry trade show in Indianapolis this December.

He also never shies away from boasting his local pride, with a “#STLMade” sticker and the logos of several St. Louisbased sponsors adorning his car and gear. One of his most valuable local supporters is the Central Institute for Human Performance (CIHP), a Kirkwood-based company that offers customized training programs and sports psychology resources.

Dr. Clayton Skaggs, the founder and CEO of CIHP, met Kohlbecker around 2020.

A major lesson that Skaggs tries to impart on Kohlbecker is to be “responsive” as opposed to “reactive.” In other words, to be poised and to maintain composure in the face of adversity.

“To be responsive is to act without a reactive emotion that’s only going to confound the performance or effort you’re trying to put forth,” Skaggs says.

These lessons frequently come into play on the track. This past August, Kohlbecker competed on the Road America track for the Toyota GR Cup Series — a high-pressure race, with many of his sponsors in the stands and TV cameras following his car at every turn. slmag.net

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Spike autographing the back of a young fan’s t-shirt.

Running in second place, the race was looking good for Kohlbecker. He edged closer and closer to triumph until the halfway point, when his clutch abruptly failed. Luckily, CIHP prepares him for moments like this. Instead of cursing and throwing his helmet to the ground in frustration, Kohlbecker chose to approach the situation as an opportunity to learn.

“It was a learning experience,” he says. “It teaches you composure, and helps you learn about the car.”

With all the networking and face-to-face interaction it requires, racing is running a business. It’s a passion, but it’s also a full-time job.

This is true for everyone involved. Amy and Todd still spend many nights communicating, organizing, and helping their son prepare for races.

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“Spike has continuously chosen to do hard things,” Todd says.

“As a parent, you sort of keep a pulse on that. ‘Are you still in a good place? Do you want to do something different?’ And no, he wants to continue to challenge himself.”

It’s not just that Spike Kohlbecker has to race against others — he’s also racing against himself every day, always trying to improve physically and mentally, and learning to adapt to new challenges. From balancing racing with college, to following a strenuous training schedule and constantly searching for sponsors, Kohlbecker’s chosen path is never short on adversity. But that’s precisely why he loves it so much. “[It’s about] being the best person I can be,” he says. “You have to give your best all the time, or else somebody else will do it. And you’ll lose.” sl

SOPHISTICATED CELEBRATIONS

Presented by

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Friends of Kids with Cancer Fashion Show & Boutique, Ritz-Carlton, friendsofkids.com City Academy 25th Anniversary Party, cityacademystl.org The Big Muddy Dance Company’s “The Big Muddy Ball:An Evening for Movers and Sharkers,” thebigmuddydanceco.org STAGES Annual Applause Gala, StagesStLouis.org/events Unique Boutique, John Burroughs School, jbsuniqueboutique.com The 36th Annual Budweiser Guns ‘N Hoses, backstoppers.org

December

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Stray Rescue Hope for the Holidays Gala and Auction, strayrescue.org St. Louis Symphony Gospel Christmas, Stifel Theatre, slso.org Cardinal Glennon Annual Christmas House Tour, Glennon.org Fleur de Lis Ball, fleurdelisstl.org St. Louis Golf Classic fundraiser for Autism Speaks, Whitmoor Country Club, autismspeaks.org St. Louis Symphony New Year’s Eve Celebration, Stifel Theatre, slso.org

For more Celebrations and party pics, go to sophisticatedstlouis.com slmag.net

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KICKING OFF THE 30TH SAINT LOUIS ART FAIR

Celebrating Saint Louis Art Fair’s 30th anniversary kickoff party at Carrollton Bank, guests were treated to a fabulous sneak peek of the nationally acclaimed fine art show and the reveal of the 2023 anniversary poster. The fair, which was held on the streets of downtown Clayton on the second weekend of September, featured original art, live music, dance, and spoken-word performances, culinary samplings from premier restaurants, hands-on activities for children, “Meet the Artist” tours and more.

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1) Saint Louis Art Fair VP Suzanne Dalton and Brian Kearins 2) Saint Louis Art Fair Chair Stacy Engles Wipfler, Julie Tristan, Becky Domyan, Susan Sherman, Joan Berkman 3) Dr. Paul Buse, Clayton Aldermen Susan Buse (Ward 2), Bridget McAndrew (Ward 3), Robin and Alderman Gary Feder (Ward 3) 4) Saint Louis Art Fair Founders Susan and Ben Uchitelle, with Executive Director Sarah Umlauf 5) Ed Pribyl and Tanya Kirouac, artist of 2023 Commemorative Poster 6) Tom Hough, president of Carrollton Bank, welcomes the guests 7) Eddie Davis, Robin Davis, Ronnie Barrett 8) Saint Louis Art Fair Guest Relations Director Alexis Moore and Acie L. Moore

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 Download St.  Louis’ annual cocktail party and Cheers! Is STAGES cabaret fundraiser, raising money to support the company’s artistic and educational programs. This year comedienne Erin Maguire hosted a “masked singer” style contest, featuring live performances by former STAGES cast members in various disguises, wearing mascot heads. A panel of guest judges, chosen by raffle and with the audience’s help, tried to guess the identity of the singers. By the end of the evening, the organization had raised over $65,000. This year’s event was underwritten by Lynne and Jim Turley.

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1) Michael Adkins, Myles Hesse, Brett Murray 2) Barry Draper, Christian Wargo, Alicia Orr, Brandon Hudson 3) STAGES Board Member and Event Underwriter Lynne Turley (in blue) poses with the performers, Board Members & VIP Guests onstage for a post-show champagne toast. 4) Kirkwood City Council Member Liz Gibbons, Kirkwood Chief Administrative Officer Russ Hawes, Meg Hawes, Kirkwood Mayor Tim Griffin 5) Tom Sakiyama, Michelle Simmons, Brad Simmons

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HIP HOP AND CONTEMPORARY ART

The Saint Louis Art Museum hosted a community block party followed by a VIP celebration on August 19 in honor of the opening of “The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century.” Local visual and Hip Hop artists came together to toast the exhibition, which honors the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop and the impact the cultural movement has had on visual contemporary art and culture. The multimedia, multidisciplinary exhibition is on view until January 1, 2024.

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1) Vic Richey, Suzy Besnia 2) Hannah Klemm, Andréa Purnell, Min Jung Kim, Asma Naeem, and Gamynne Guillot 3) Matt Mercer, Gina Grafos, Larry Morris 4) Ken Kranzberg, Nancy Kranzberg chatting with other SLAM patrons 5) Devin Jones, Devonte Easby, Jessica Page 6) Dr. Ingrid Taylor 7) Carol Burkholder, Mark Burkholder 8) Antoinette Carroll, Nicholas Carroll 9) Dancing the night away at the SLAM Block Party 10) BAC Members enjoy an exhibition preview for “The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century.”

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A PAJAMA PARTY AT 21C

21c Museum Hotel St. Louis hosted a grand opening pajama party on August 24 to celebrate the hotel’s debut.

Located in the 95-year-old, 10-story Renaissance Revivalstyle YMCA building downtown, guests slipped into their comfiest sleepwear and enjoyed a night filled with dancing, art, a performance by the Gentlemen of Vision, and endless fun. Some guests spent the night, riding the elevator home to their guest rooms.

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1) Steve Wilson, Laura Lee Brown 2) The Gentlemen of Vision 3) Travis White, Jacque Riley, Heather Pigott 4) Delia Miller, Vanessa Miller, Lauren Bonaventura 5) Ben Schafer, David Allen Burns, Serkan Ozkaya, Austin Young, Alexandra Moquay, David Moquay 6) Michael Ryan, Iberia Melgar, Shelley Meszoly, Lisa Acosta 7) Shevare Perry, Briana Smith 8) Angie Villa, JP Roberts, Donna Daniels 9) Naretha Hopson, Tom Carnahan 10) Judi Little, Terry Little 11) Katherine Bernhardt, Ellen Soule 12) Maxi Glamour, Mona Sabau

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THE GREAT GATSBY GALA

Decked out in flapper finery, 225 supporters of the St. Louis County Library Federation flocked to The Reverie STL for the library’s annual fundraiser. The event included a VIP cocktail hour, along with live jazz

by Harvey Lockhart and the Collective, a flapper dance demonstration by U Can Dance Studio and South Side Dance Club, a live auction, and raffles. By the end of the evening, more than $230,000 had been raised that will be used to provide community-focused programming and resources like social workers, healthy food initiatives, teen internship opportunities, and literacy tools for all ages throughout SLCL’s 20 branches.

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1) Andrew Wolf, Rachel Wolf 2) Gail Holmes, Lori Jones, Bailey Jones, Susan Smith, Jackie Hamilton 3) Brian Clinton, Megan Clinton 4) Deborah Patterson, Lynn Beckwirth, Maxine Birdstone 5) Lou Ann Wilcox 6) Jackie Hamilton, Ken Kranzberg, Nancy Kranzberg, Kristen Sorth 7) Joann Sandifer 8) Kevin Green, Paula Knight 9) Jennifer Phillips, John Phillips10) Lois Pitman, Nicole Fodson, Jackie Hamilton, Beveraly Present, Andrea Hoosman 11) Jennifer Davies, Brian Davies

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GLENNON GALLOP

The 2023 Glennon Gallop, presented by the T. Danis Charitable Trust, returned to August Busch Polo Club in Defiance, Missouri for an unforgettable day of fun and fundraising! Now in its 11th year, the Glennon Gallop has become one of St. Louis’ most unique and sought-after events. The funds raised there ensure that all of the needs of the families at The Danis Pediatric Center at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital are met.

Those requirements range from high-quality care in a comfortable space to assistance with basic needs, such as food and diapers.

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1) Jeff Tegethoff, Brad Wiley, Stephanie Wiley, Ann Schneider, Anna Tegethoff, Todd Scheider 2) Julie Holland, Nancy Mooney, Gina Ryan, Dolores Hunkler, Katie Ryan, Laura Baylis 3) Dr. Lyndon Gross and Heather Ewald 4) Senator Brian Williams, Anna Tegethoff, Dr. Hossain Marandi 5) Winning Team, Crown Squared 6) Mark Stallion, Flora Stallion, Chris Pronger, Galen Bingham, Monique Bingham 7) Victoria Samuels, Lilly Smith, Alicia Vega, Katie Collier 8) Mary Peter and Dr. John Peter 9) Peggy and Pat Sly 10) Ron Kruszewski and Amanda Perkins 11) Ann Bukhshtaber, Matt Bukhshtaber 12) Deann Glueck, Bill Glueck, Molly Sansone, Ginny Orthwein

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THE FEAST FOR CHANGE GALA Operation Food Search held its annual gala on September 9 at the Palladium. More than 300 people came to the farm-to-fork event. During the cocktail hour, a pop-up market featured Kakao chocolates and Amazing Grace honey. By the end of the evening, the organization had raised $180,000.

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1) Andrew Glantz and Halsey Uerling 2) Vander Corliss, Caitlin Chambers, Wendy Chambers, Kim Corliss 3) Densie Phelabaum Evans, Craig Evans 4) Michael Boltzman, Amy Boltzman, Lisa Fister, Mark Fister 5) Erin Brooks, Josh Udelhofen 6) JoAnn Mattingly, Doug Mattingly7) Feast for Change Menu 8) Mike Furguson, Lisa Hanly 9) Mike Sorth, Kristen Sorth

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Photos by Eric Remrod Moye

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URBAN SPROUTS

Guests found themselves in the Heart of the Lou as they were shuttled to LouFusz Plaza at CITYPARK in Downtown St. Louis for Urban Sprouts’ Gala En Blanc.

Guests were met with a bit of nostalgia as homage was paid to old school neighborhood classics such as Velvet Freeze, Skate King, and Fairground Park. All attendees wore white, and the event supported the Urban Sprouts Child Development Center in University City. Quote from Ellicia Lanier, Executive Director / Founder, Urban Sprouts Child Development Center: “At Urban Sprouts, we believe the heart of STL isn’t a central location. The heart of the Lou is the spirit of generosity and justice that fuels change, growth, and joy. Our donors’ extraordinary generosity powers more than our excellent early ed center, ensuring families in need are ready for kindergarten and beyond.”

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1) ​Ellicia Lanier, Andrea Purnell, Vanessa Cooksey 2) David Dwight, Ellicia Lanier, Joey Saunders 3) The crowd at CityPark 4) ​Mike Claiborne, Andre Nelson, Herschell Randall 5) Mayor Tishaura O. Jones 6) Sheila Burkett, Steven Burkett, Naretha Hopson 7) Stephen Westbrooks, Erica Westbrooks 8) Tim Williams, Linda Mumford, Miguel Garcia

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