Sophisticated Living St. Louis March/April 2025

{St. Louis' Finest}

Thank you for an incredible 2024! With over $45 million in sales and a ranking as Missouri’s #3 top-producing agent, I’m grateful for the trust of my clients, the support of my colleagues, and the vibrant St. Louis community I’m proud to serve. My commitment remains unwavering—delivering tailored, exceptional experiences and results-driven strategies for every client. Here’s to new moves in 2025!

Considering buying or selling in this year? Schedule a private, confidential consultation to explore how a strategic, discreet approach can maximize your success in the St. Louis luxury market.

x Julie

Yourself in The Best

It’s all in St. Louis. No need to shop for plumbing fixtures in Chicago, Los Angeles, or New York.

Walk into and you will be immediately inspired. Our ever-evolving selection of plumbing fixtures & fittings will heighten your senses and spark your creativity. We are St. Louis’ top choice for designers, builders, contractors, and their clients due to our talented showroom staff and best in class service. Visit immerse and allow our selection, environment, and experience to bring your next project to fruition. Immerse yourself in The Best.

St. Louis’ Finest Plumbing Showroom. Family Owned since 1937. Shop Local.

EAT | SHOP | EXPERIENCE

Spring break is right around the corner, and Colonial Marketplace is the first stop on your itinerary for everything you need. With over 20 unique boutiques, great food options, and best-in-class services, you can eat, shop, and experience – all in one place.

Blown Away

Nourishes dry scalp $5

The Woman’s Exchange

Classic Cherry Dress in Light Pink Pique with Mixed Gingham Cherries $175 and Vintage Cherry Suit in Cornflower Blue Pique with Mixed Gingham Cherries $165

IV Nutrition

Re-energize with our IV drip treatments. Hella Hydration Drip for less than $99 when you join membership club

Olive Ovation

12” Hand Painted Tunisian

Pottery Nigella Large Deep Bowl, Dinnerware $99

YLANG YLANG

Timeless heirloom worthy jewelry from Single Stone, exclusively at YLANG YLANG Price available upon request

Dominic Michael Salon

Elixir Ultime: The iconic hair oil, now in a refillable bottle $48

Splash

Kulani Kinis Halter Bralette Bikini Top $70

Minimal Full Coverage Bikini Bottom $70 Men’s Swim Trunks $86 - all by Moonflower

Byrd

Valentino Rockstud Wedges $425

Restaurateurs and Chefs with Shops

AO Market. Photo by Carmen Troesser

Cicely Carew, Wild Offerings, acrylic on yupo, 61 x 65 inches framed, 2023, photograph by Julia Featheringill

Karen

As I sit down to write this month’s letter, my heart is brimming with emotions I scarcely know how to articulate. This past January, I stepped into a new chapter of life—one that countless friends have assured me would be transformative. I became a grandfather. There’s something magical about holding a newborn in your arms, knowing they are an extension of your family’s story and a beacon of its future. In their tiny hands, you see boundless potential; in their eyes, a reflection of the generations that came before. The experience is at once humbling and exhilarating, and it has offered me a profound sense of gratitude.

I’ve always cherished the milestones of life—graduations, weddings, career accomplishments—but becoming a grandparent is a milestone of a different kind. It feels less about achievement and more about legacy, connection, and love. It’s about witnessing life’s beautiful, continuous cycle and embracing the joy of watching it unfold anew.

This new role also brings with it a gentle shift in perspective. As a parent, you often find yourself caught in the rush of raising children, striving to give them the best foundation. As a grandparent, the pace slows, and you’re reminded to savor the small, fleeting moments—a smile, a first laugh, the wonder of their discovery.

In the spirit of cherishing these moments, I’ve taken on a project close to my heart: writing a children’s book about her first year. Long before she turns one, I hope to capture the milestones, the joys, and the little stories that will someday remind her of just how deeply she’s been loved from the very beginning. It’s a gift to her, but also a gift to myself—a way of ensuring that none of this fleeting magic is lost to time.

Of course, I also find myself imagining the future—the adventures we’ll share and the lessons I’ll have the privilege of teaching her. I dream of the day I can teach her to sail, guiding her as the wind catches the sail for the first time and watching her eyes light up with wonder at the open water. I’ll teach her to fish, just as I did her dad and uncle, showing her the quiet patience it requires and the thrill of the catch. And we’ll undoubtedly spend hours at the ping pong table, where I’ll pass on the skills that have brought so much joy and not-so-friendly competition to our family over the years.

And one day, when she’s ready, I’ll take her on her first trip to Florence, Italy, a city so close to my heart, and share with her the art, the history, and the magic that shaped so much of who I am today.

These dreams fill my heart with hope and joy, and they remind me of the profound privilege of being part of her journey. In a way, this letter is a tribute to all grandparents who have walked this path before me. Your wisdom, kindness, and patience have set the bar high, and I hope to honor that legacy as I navigate this next chapter myself.

As always, thank you for being part of this journey, and for allowing me to share a glimpse of my life with you each issue. Here’s to celebrating life’s milestones, big and small—and to the many lessons our grandchildren teach us along the way.

Craig M. Kaminer, Publisher craig@slmag.net

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PERFECTLY IMPERFECT

Adam Woodruff’s naturalistic garden designs have made him internationally famous.

By Christy Marshall / Portrait by John Lore; Garden photography courtesy of Adam Woodruff

“The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit.”—Nelson Henderson

If you’re lucky, somewhere along your way you found people who added passion and a sense of direction into your life. A teacher. An especially wise relative. A stranger turned friend. A mentor. A patron.

Landscape designer Adam Woodruff found several.

As a teenager living in the farming community of Virden, Illinois, Woodruff started a lawn-mowing business, charging anywhere from $6 to $10 per lawn, gardening at $1.50 per hour. And, in Virden, houses were fronted by lawns—not gardens. That is everyone’s but Mrs. Mabel Crooks’.

“It wasn’t just a space,” he recalled. “It was a world unto itself, where order met something looser, wilder.”

She took the 13-year-old under her wing. He helped her maintain her garden; she educated him on how plants filled space and shaped their environment. Evergreen hedges created a framework

where plants intermingled freely, their textures and colors blending to create a natural rhythm. Turf was used sparingly, allowing the plants to take center stage.

“Working in Mrs. Crooks’ garden wasn’t just about tending plants—it was about paying attention,” he recalled.

Woodruff found his way to Eastern Illinois University and pursued botany. “One of the great things about the program was it was a field botany program,” he said. “We were out in nature-visiting prairies, bogs and wild areas, collecting plants, talking about ecology.” That hands-on experience cemented his love for plants and ecosystems.

After graduation, he moved to Springfield, Illinois, worked in marketing and bookkeeping and ran a small landscape business on the side. “My early projects were modest residential gardens— small, but they taught me how to see space,” Woodruff said. “These gardens became my classrooms, revealing how plants transform environments.” In 2004, Tom Marantz, chairman and CEO of Bank of Springfield, hired him to rework the bank’s landscape.

Shots of the gardens outside Girard, Illinois

“I designed 22,000 square feet of layered plantings—broad sweeps of perennials and annuals lining the main avenue, with secondary plantings adding rhythm and contrast,” Woodruff said. The project allowed him to work on landscape design full time and assignments from across the river started coming in. He was hired to install seasonal displays, such as the many planters in front of the Pierre Laclede building and The Plaza in Clayton, next to The Ritz. About the same time, he met his partner, Sean Muthian, a scientist working in biotech.

Woodruff admitted he struggled with the impermanence of seasonal planting—the cycle of replacement rather than evolution. In 2009, Woodruff heard landscape designer Roy Diblik speak about resilient plant communities or “gardens that function as ecosystems rather than as static compositions,” he recalled. “This resonated with my struggle to move beyond high-maintenance seasonal displays.”

Diblik encouraged Woodruff to explore the work of Dutch designer, Piet Oudolf, the mastermind behind the Lurie Garden in Chicago’s

Millennium Park (home to The Bean) and the High Line in New York. That fall, at Muthian’s urging, Woodruff flew to the Netherlands.

“Meeting Piet and seeing his garden changed everything,” Woodruff said. “It shifted how I thought about planting design. It wasn’t just a garden—it felt alive, where structure met spontaneity in a way that seemed natural, not forced. It felt like the plants had found their place over time, with just the right touch from the designer.”

His perspective shifted—gardens were more than pretty plants arranged for seasonal impact. Oudolf’s work captured the plants’ dormancy, rebirth and decay. “His plantings weren’t designed to peak, but to evolve,” Woodruff said.

Around the same time, George and Lorraine Hart commissioned Woodward to create a garden for their home near Girard, Illinois. While his work at the bank embraced bold, seasonal compositions, the Hart’s project pushed him to refine those ideas and create a landscape responsive to its environment and deeply rooted in place but without adding annuals for color.

Adam Woodruff

In 2011, Muthian’s career led them to Boston and ultimately to buying a home on Redstone Lane in Marblehead, Massachusetts. During that time, Woodruff managed projects in the Midwest, explored gardens across Europe, studied under influential designers and participated in international workshops.

As the years went by, Woodruff developed his own distinct style and his reputation continued to grow. His work started appearing in national magazines and key books on planting design.

Woodruff specializes in naturalistic planting design and he works closely with a team of landscape architects, horticulturists, soil scientists, arborists and “landscape stewards” to integrate the vision with technical precision.

“Weaving plants together to create an atmosphere that gives the impression of nature is a process,” he explained. “Planting designs are not simply installed and then the process is complete. These gardens are dynamic, living communities, intentionally fluid rather than precise. After installation, I evaluate the proportion and distribution of individual species throughout the seasons and from year to year. I intervene and make adjustments based on what feels right and natural at the time.” Adding that these gardens require skilled maintenance, he works locally with Wallflower Design.

The garden in Marblehead evolved into a living laboratory where, Woodruff said, art, ecology and personal reflection intersected. Designed in collaboration with landscape architect Matthew Cunningham, the garden integrated structured elements with loose plantings.

“Redstone Lane gave me the freedom to try things without worrying about client expectations,” Woodruff added. “I was inspired by Piet Oudolf’s bold designs, Roy Diblik’s ideas about how plants work together and the gardens I’d seen while traveling. I wanted it to feel immersive, with just enough structure to hold it together. It became a space where I could try new things, make changes as plants grew and learn directly from the garden.”

Framed by harbor views and neighboring trees, the garden was designed to be experienced from multiple perspectives—whether looking down from the upper floors, walking through the plantings or simply passing by. It features a meadow-inspired planting, influenced by wild landscapes but tailored for a residential context, creating a dynamic yet cohesive composition.

“Some plantings thrived, others faded, each revealing insights into adaptation and natural beauty,” he said. “Managing a garden isn’t about control; it’s about responding to the natural rhythms of growth and making thoughtful interventions that enhance its evolution.”

Last year, Woodruff and Muthian returned to St. Louis to be closer to family; the house in Massachusetts was sold. “Redstone Lane allowed me to refine my approach—balancing structure with a bit of wildness, selecting plants that thrive in diverse conditions and deepening my understanding of how gardens respond over time,” he said.

“It was a space where the ideas, inspirations and lessons from people like Mrs. Crooks, Roy Diblik, Piet Oudolf and others converged in living form.” sl

Shots of the gardens in Marblehead, Massachusetts

DARING. BOLD. CHIC.

RESTAURATEURS AND CHEFS WITH SHOPS

Industry projections show the gourmet and specialty markets industry will top $12.4 billion in the coming year. Local chefs and restaurateurs are cashing in.

By Kari Williams / Photography by Carmen Troesser

Many of the area’s high-end grocers and specialty markets aren’t new, but rather solo extensions of existing St. Louis restaurants, providing customers with specialty items and menu favorites.

Often right next door. The granddaddy of them all is Annie Gunn’s Smokehouse founded in 1937 (as the Smoke House

Market), just a wall away from the renowned restaurant, Annie Gunn’s. And the decade-old Truffles Butchery Market, an arm’s length away from Truffles. Side-by-side, the restaurants serve as foundations of sorts for specialty markets.

There are some new players on the scene.

Owner Ben Poremba at AO&CO Market & Café

AO&CO. MARKET & CAFÉ

Ben Poremba owns seven restaurants in the St. Louis area, but he says his background is in gourmet markets, starting first with Salume Beddu, opened in 2008, and then Winslow’s Home. Adding AO&Co. Market & Cafe to his portfolio wasn’t a stretch.

He likened the market and cafe, located at 1641 Tower Grove Ave., across the street from the original Olio and Elaia (now both located in the Delmar Maker District), to a one-stop shop of “unnecessary essentials”—including home goods, tabletop goods and cigars.

“It’s a great place to just spend an afternoon, come in and grab sandwich and coffee and then shop for soaps, candles and olive oil … There are so many different kinds of products and brands, including our own, different brands we’ve created,” Poremba said.

The “bread and butter” of AO&Co. Market & Cafe are the items they’ve created, like their egg salad, hummus, pitas and Jerusalem bagels. Many of the products at the market, he says, can’t be found anywhere else. The caviar, for example, is unique because the Hackelback Sturgeons used for the dish come from the Mississippi River.

“That’s the fun part for me about it all, creating new products … exposing new brands and trying to constantly keep it interesting and fresh,” Poremba said.

What’s most interesting, he says, is their wine procurement process. Each of the 30 to 40 wines on the shelf has a personal connection, whether through knowing or meeting the wine makers or visiting the winery.

“Every wine that we carry there has a story,” he said.

AO&Co’s cigar and wine room was recently redesigned to include seating, now doubling as a wine bar/tasting room.

According to Poremba, the market is a way for people to bring the restaurants home. When he opened his restaurants, Olio and Elaia, this concept was always on his mind.

“There was an element of a community neighborhood need in Tower Grove when we had all of our restaurants there,” Poremba said. “A place you can quickly go buy gifts, grab a cup of coffee in the morning … [or] on your way back home from work, buy a bottle of wine and maybe a cigar.”

But don’t discount the breakfast and lunch offerings.

“We have regulars that swear by the egg sandwich in the morning and we sell out very, very quickly,” he said.

THE ANNEX COFFEE AND FOODS

When John and Kelly Barr were building out the menu for their Webster Groves-based Frisco Barroom, they did so with a high-end market in mind.

“So this list of items that really didn’t fit a sit-down dinner menu was formed,” John said. “And then a couple of years later, the [COVID-19] pandemic hit, and we knew that we wanted to open a coffee shop and bakery that was for the street and for the area that was more eclectic and independent.”

The conditions of the early pandemic demanded the Barrs look for ways to keep staff employed. Enter the Annex Coffee and Foods, 8122 Big Bend Blvd.

“A market seemed a way to keep our business going not knowing how long the pandemic was going to last and how long the restrictions of dining out were going to last,” John said.

The Barrs pulled inspiration from some of their favorite places to visit, like big markets on the main floor of multi-story buildings

A slice of quiche from The Annex Coffee and Foods

and markets that serve residents who live in the same building. They also have been drawn to specialty food markets, such as those for Hispanic or Italian wares.

Several items and goods sold at the Frisco come from The Annex—such as charcuterie board items like sauces and beef jerky—and vice versa. The white fish dip, beef jerky and sauces can be purchased at the Annex, along with full loaves of bread and full dessert pies straight from the Frisco menu.

Plus, a family connection in Michigan allows them to see and bring in brands that aren’t typically available in Missouri including the Annex brand maple syrup, jellies, preserves, Great Lakes Chips and the Annex brand salsa.

About 30 of Annex’s products are branded in their own label, John says, bringing a bit of exclusivity to their shelves.

“We have found products which we consider to be quality,” John said. “We will then work with the vendor to have it labeled as our own branded product. It becomes unique.”

But what it really came down to was having a place for their favorite things.

“I guess sometimes there’s a selfish component to creativity,” John said. “If you’re really compassionate about it, it is true and honest versus doing something you think other people are going to like.”

BOX HILL GROCER

Box Hill Grocer has only been open since late 2024, but the concept had been brewing in Matt McGuire’s mind since childhood.

“I’ve wanted to do a grocer for a long time,” McGuire said. “My grandfather was in the grocery store business in Michigan and I inadvertently grew up spending every one of my summers there. He

owned the grocer in a small town. It was sort of the central hub for everybody.”

His concept, located at 7628 Wydown Ave., is a place where patrons of his other establishments—Louie (706 DeMun) and next-door neighbor Wright’s Tavern (7624 Wydown)—can pick up hummus or crab cakes to take home. The grocer also sells Miller’s Amish Country Poultry, which is used at both establishments.

“It’s sort of another way of feeding people,” he said. “[We’re] preparing food that’s ready to go for people to pick up. Certainly we have products like dried pasta and sauces … [but] really what I’m trying to lean into is the food that we make, the prepared food that people can take home.”

They also sell a “fair amount” of grocery store staples like eggs, milk and butter, but McGuire said they’re still “feeling it out.”

“A lot of stuff is going really well. Obviously, we’re trying to listen to the people, see what we’re missing.”

McGuire is working hard to add “really nicely handled specialty food products” like Rancho Meladuco dates and other items they think are “valuable and delicious” to the lineup.

“It’s kind of fun to be able to turn people on to that stuff,” he said.

Though he’s been in food service his entire life, McGuire says Box Hill Grocer is the first time he’s owned a grocery.

“I always had a desire to get involved in [the grocer business] in some way,” McGuire said. “So it’s been a long time coming. I’ve been chewing on this, waiting for the right location.” Ultimately, he would like to add an online element, where customers can place online orders to pick up in the market or, eventually, have shipped.

Box Hill Grocer on Wydown

PASTARIA DELI & WINE

Pastaria Deli & Wine—an offshoot of its anchor restaurant with the same forename—is Gerard Craft’s venture focusing on gourmet, higher-end provisions and “certainly more esoteric ingredients,” according to General Manager Eric Voss.

“We’re trying to tap into a number of things,” Voss said. “Both tap into what our clientele is looking for, while keeping with trends, but really making sure and focusing on not just what the product is but where it comes from.”

He says they make a point to look for items that “fit that model” for the deli and wine establishment at 7734-2 Forsyth Blvd., just inside the Centene Corp. building.

“[We’re looking for products that are] unique and different, made with a purpose,” Voss said. “Not just made to put something out there to jump on a trend per se.”

This gives them the opportunity to try out what Voss called “fun items” like the chocolate pralines they had over the holidays.

But the shop also sells items at the deli that were originally available at the restaurant next door, like the kale and chopped salads (and their corresponding dressings).

“Each has unique dressings, available at Pastaria seven nights a week,” he said.

The aim for the deli and wine venture was for it to be a “spot for natural and thoughtfully produced wine.” Behind sandwiches, Voss said wine is probably the shop’s biggest seller.

Among the labels they carry is Wonderwerk out of Los Angeles, which he says features fun collaborations and blended wines.

Since being involved with the gourmet market, what has stuck with him the most is not being afraid to try something that goes against the norm.

With the numbers still “trending positive,” Voss said they continue to add clientele as they’ve added unique gift baskets (that change year by year). Beginning with simple basket arrangements, they more recently journeyed into a tinned fish basket and a cozy hot cocoa basket featuring gourmet chocolates.

Though not wholly new, some people are still discovering Pastaria Deli & Wine.

“We’ve been here since 2021, [and we’ve had guests who’ve] said, ‘I eat at Pastaria once a month and had no idea you were here,’” Voss said. sl

Shots of products and patrons at Pastaria Deli & Wine

SPRINGING INTO ACTION

LIFE-CHANGING ORGANIZATIONAL SOLUTIONS BY SAINT LOUIS CLOSET CO.

Picture this: you wake up to birds chirping, the crisp spring air fills your room, and everything in your home is exactly where it belongs. The day begins with ease and clarity, and you’re ready to take on whatever comes your way. That is the power of an organized home, and Saint Louis Closet Co. can help make this your reality.

Every spring, as the days grow longer and the air feels fresher, we’re inspired to clean and refresh our spaces. Decluttering and organizing not only create a sense of calm but also set the tone for a more productive and enjoyable season. Whether it’s the mudroom, garage, pantry, or another area of your home, Saint Louis Closet Co. offers custom storage solutions tailored to your needs and lifestyle.

Mudrooms are one of the most hardworking spaces in a home, and spring is the perfect time to give it a refresh. With custom designs, you can transform your mudroom into a functional and stylish entryway. Imagine cubbies and hooks that keep coats, backpacks, and muddy boots neatly stored, or a built-in bench with storage underneath for added convenience. It’s a space designed to keep your family organized, no matter how busy life gets.

Spring is also the ideal time to tackle the garage. It’s easy for this space to become a catch-all for everything from tools to sports gear to seasonal decorations. Their custom garage systems feature adjustable shelves, custom cabinet doors, wall hooks and more. With a clean and organized garage, you’ll have room for both hobbies and practical needs, making it a true extension of your home.

The pantry is another area that benefits from a seasonal refresh. A well-organized pantry not only looks great but also makes meal prep and grocery shopping more efficient. Adjustable shelving and pull-out drawers tailored to your specific needs can help keep everything from bulk items to snacks perfectly in place. You’ll always know what you have on hand and be ready to whip up meals with ease.

The Saint Louis Closet Co., mission is to create storage solutions that make your life easier and your home more enjoyable. Their team of trained professionals works with you to design spaces that are as beautiful as they are functional. They are here to help you organize your home this spring and for years to come.

BRINGING BACK THE MAGIC

After a phenomenal debut season in 2023, St. Louis CITY SC struggled in 2024. The new gaffer, Olof Mellberg, is charged with reversing that tide.

By Craig Kaminer / Photos supplied St. Louis CITY SC

When St. Louis CITY SC announced Olof Mellberg as their new head coach, the news rippled across the soccer world like a thunderclap. As Mellberg takes the reins, fans and players alike are ready to witness the evolution of a club which stormed out of the gates in its first year, making it to the playoffs, but then last year, ending up 13 out of 15 in the final team rankings, just one slot ahead of their arch rival, Kansas City.

Born in Gullspång, Sweden, Mellberg’s early years were defined by athletic versatility. A talented tennis player, he transitioned to soccer in his teens and quickly made waves in Sweden’s top leagues. By the late 1990s, Mellberg had cemented himself as one of Europe’s most promising defenders.

His professional career took him to clubs like Racing Santander, Aston Villa and Juventus, where he became known for his leadership, tactical acumen and unyielding defensive skills. Mellberg captained Sweden’s national team for a decade, representing the national team in 117 international matches, earning multiple UEFA European Championships and FIFA World Cups.

Mellberg’s foray into coaching began shortly after his retirement in 2014. He comes to St. Louis with five years of experience as a head coach, primarily in Sweden and for a majority of that time at Brommapojkarna, a small but very highly respected team in Stockholm. During his four seasons there he consistently

demonstrated an ability to get the best out of his team, improve young players and deliver results above expectations.

“We’ve been thrilled to see his excitement for the MLS, his growing knowledge of our team and our players and his steadfast commitment to wanting to be here,” St. Louis CITY’s president and general manager, Diego Gigliani, said. “We are thrilled to have him and excited about our future together.”

To find the best possible coach, the team relied on data to uncover hidden gems around the world. Management went from a long list to a short list, interviewed candidates, traveled to meet them and ultimately landed on the person they believe is going to help St. Louis be successful on the pitch going forward.

“The moment that we said prior MLS experience was not a requirement, we were able to cast a much wider net by looking at a data set of 25,000 head coaches around the world. We were then able to start filtering by things like the experience level, the number of years, the ability to add value to their team, are they able to get better results than the quality of the team that they’ve been given, their win ratios, their ability to achieve milestones like winning a trophy or getting a promotion,” Gigliani said. Mellberg’s time at Brommapojkarna was particularly notable: In just two seasons, he led the club from the third tier of Swedish football to the Allsvenskan, Sweden’s top division.

Olof has a unique ability to inspire players. He demands a lot, but he gives even more. The result of his work ethic is contagious.

That ethos caught the attention of StL CITY SC’s leadership. With a roster brimming with potential but in need of a unifying vision, Mellberg’s disciplined, team-first approach is hopefully the perfect fit.

Mellberg’s arrival marks a turning point for the team, which ended last season with a record of 8 wins,13 losses,13 ties. In 2023, the final tally was 17 wins, 5 losses,12 tie games—and they made it to the playoffs. The club’s identity, still in its formative stages, is ripe for the new coach’s influence

“St. Louis has an incredible soccer culture,” Mellberg said during his introductory press conference. “The fans are passionate, the infrastructure is world-class and the potential is limitless. My goal is to build something enduring—a team that not only wins but plays in a way that makes the city proud.”

Mellberg’s philosophy centers on strong defense—a hallmark of his playing days—combined with quick transitions and an emphasis on youth development. “I want to win football games,” he added. “And, I would like us to be a little bit more in control of the games. We’re a little bit too open at times. I would like us to be an attacking team, to try to play the ball forward, looking for fast attacks, but to be able to do so and still be in control of the game. You really need to be disciplined in the balance and moving the team to push up. If you have fast attacks and you want to put early crosses in, the whole team needs to be extremely fast in pushing up the lines so that you can continue to put pressure on the opponents,

for example. That’s the way of controlling the game without being a tired possession team because I don’t like that. I like us to still be vertical looking for the goal always.”

“You don’t win games without a solid foundation,” he added. “From there, we can build creativity and freedom in attack. It’s about balance.”

One of Mellberg’s strongest attributes is his commitment to nurturing young talent. StL CITY SC has already invested heavily in its academy and Mellberg’s track record suggests he’ll lean into that pipeline.

“The academy is the heart of this club,” he said. “If you look at my history, you’ll see that I’m passionate about giving young players opportunities. They bring energy and hunger, and they’re the future.”

Local stars like Miguel Perez and Myki Joyner could thrive under Mellberg’s guidance, while the club’s international scouting network ensures a steady stream of promising prospects from around the globe. Mellberg’s European connections also give StL CITY SC a strategic advantage in identifying and recruiting talent.

MLS presents unique challenges for any coach, let alone one transitioning from Europe. The league’s salary cap, travel demands and unpredictable style of play require adaptability. But Mellberg’s experience as a player and coach in various environments positions him well to succeed.

“The league is different, but football is football,” Mellberg said with a smile. “I’ve studied the nuances of MLS and spoken to people who know it inside out. I’m ready for the challenge.”

Players are already noticing the newly appointed gaffer’s impact. Preseason training sessions have been described as intense, with a focus on conditioning, positional awareness and team cohesion.

“I want to have nonstop players on my team” Mellberg said. “I think if you look at the highest level of football in the world, you see the teams are constantly switched on physically and mentally. They don’t take any breaks. It doesn’t mean you are sprinting around for 90 minutes. A lot of the time you are always switched on. That’s something all the top teams in the world have in common. Lowerlevel teams tend to need breaks. My goal for this preseason is to build nonstop players.”

“He’s incredibly detailed,” said midfielder Eduard Löwen. “Every drill has a purpose. You can tell he’s thought everything through.”

While tactics and player development are critical, Mellberg’s ability to connect with the St. Louis community may be equally important. Soccer runs deep in the city’s veins, and fans expect a coach who not only delivers results but understands their passion.

“I’ve already felt the energy of the fans,” Mellberg said. “This city lives and breathes soccer. My job is to give them a team they can believe in.”

From engaging with supporters at events to embracing the city’s rich soccer history, Mellberg is making a concerted effort to embed himself in St. Louis’s fabric.

“Prior to arriving in St. Louis, I didn’t know much about the city, to be honest,” he said. “I was here for a few days last month and got a really good impression of the city and the people here and obviously, from watching many games I can see the ambience on match day. It looks amazing and I think it’s unique in the MLS to have that support from the fans. Also, I get the feeling that they’re following the game. I think that’s not always the case in the MLS. You have a lot of cheering fans, but not all of them are proper football fans, but you really get the feeling that they’re following the game, supporting the way we play and obviously they’ve created a fantastic setup here for the match day experience and everything surrounding the game as well.” His authenticity and humility are winning over skeptics, and his track record suggests he’ll back up his words with action.

As Mellberg’s tenure begins, StL CITY SC faces a pivotal season.

“This is a long-term project,” Mellberg said. “We want to build something sustainable. Success doesn’t happen overnight, but with hard work and the right mindset, we can achieve great things.” sl

Sporting Director Lutz Pfannenstiel and Olof Mellberg

ROME AROUND THE WORLD

Orchestrated by global who's who in the worlds of architecture, culinary, and interior design, two recently opened luxury hotels demonstrate the staying power of the Eternal City.

Written by Bridget Cottrell (ROMEO

Under most circumstances, a bespoke tour that leads a group up a long flight of stairs, down a graffiti-lined alleyway, and to a windowless wooden door next to a loading dock in a non-descript manufacturing building would be head-scratching, but not in Rome. Noting our puzzled looks, Marilena Barberi, co-founder of Italy with Class (italywithclass.com) and Walks Inside Rome (walksinsiderome. com), promised us that a surprise awaited. "Rome is like lasagna," she said as we descended several flights of stairs that emptied us into the

Claire

1st century CE and the ruins of a Mithraic temple. "You can't really know Rome without going underground," remarked Barberi.

For millennia, Roman buildings destroyed by war, natural disasters, a desire to repurpose raw materials, or the whims of the powers that be have been blanketed by dirt, debris, and, eventually, new construction. A pair of recently opened hotels— ROMEO Roma and Casa Monti—have added another layer of deliciousness to the Eternal City's architectural casserole.

Photos courtesy of ROMEO Roma and Casa Monti

Roma) and

Williams (Casa Monti)

ROMEO Roma lobby photo by Chris Dalton

ROMEO Roma is situated within a historically significant 16th-century palazzo on Via di Ripetta, a stone's throw from the Piazza del Popolo. Constantly evolving, the building began as the home of a prosperous family, resplendent with museumquality art and thousands of books, before becoming a refuge for an exiled king and later the headquarters of the oldest Catholic Italian periodicals. When ROMEO Collection founder Alfredo Romeo acquired the building over a decade ago, it was being used for government offices.

Mr. Romeo, whose 85-key 5-star hotel in Naples is credited with being the catalyst in a neighborhood renewal project, brought the same visionary approach to his second hotel in Rome. He recruited the late Iraqi British architect Zaha Hadid (who designed the nearby MAXXI, the first national museum of contemporary art in Italy, and worked on the ROMEO Rome project for four years before she died in 2016) and acclaimed French chef and restaurateur Alain Ducasse to lend their creative star power to this seminal project.

No sooner had work commenced when ancient Roman walls were discovered in the garden. Once the hand-executed excavations were complete, 80 square meters were declared part of the city's architectural heritage. The subterranean site can now be enjoyed

above ground through the clear-bottomed garden pool, where pieces of contemporary sculpture are watched over by an ancient fresco at the rear of the oasis. Unearthed during the excavation, a bust of Livia Drusilla (59 BC–29 CE), a Roman empress and the wife of Augustus, is on display in the lobby.

Hadid is known for her signature futuristic style, which is characterized by curving façades, sharp angles, and severe materials such as concrete and steel. At ROMEO Roma, Mr. Romeo challenged the Hadid team to work outside their comfort zone and festoon the futurism with natural materials, namely sustainably harvested Macassar ebony, lava stone, and Nero Marquina and Carrara marbles. The latter two were acquired in quantities sufficient for book-matching exposed seams from floor to ceiling.

Stepping into ROMEO's lustrous wonderland is akin to feeling like Alice when she tumbled down the rabbit hole. The 74-key boutique hotel encompasses three buildings and is chockfull of pieces from Mr. Romeo's art collection, including the likes of Christian Leperino, Mario Schifano, Mimmo Paladino, and Francesco Clemente, all of which he says are a testament to his love of beauty in all forms. Fluidity, from the fountains in the lobby to undulating patterns on the floor in guestroom corridors, adds a sensuous aura and design continuity.

Roman ruins on view from beneath the garden pool.

Fitness Center

Il Ristorante Alain Ducasse

photo by Matteo Carassale

Guestroom corridor.

Photo by Chris Dalton.

My head was on a swivel in the reception area, where the walls behind the desks were armored with brassy scales; Alice's exclamation of "curiouser and curiouser" came to mind. I quickly surmised that nothing is above elevation in this dreamscape, from the bespoke Poltrona Frau furnishings to surfaces decorated with the care of a Renaissance artisan.

A billionaire's pod on the USS Enterprise is what instantly sprung to mind when I opened the door to my lustrous Deluxe room. Everything was high-tech and high-touch, from the controls on the jacuzzi tub behind the bed to the Starpool shower system, which turned the ordinary shower experience into an aquatic disco, complete with music and colorful lights. Interrupting a lacquered wood wall was an electric fireplace nestled into a form best described as a "burst blister" on a pizza

crust. Four rooms on the hotel’s “noble floor” retain their original historical frescoes, creating a fascinating interplay of ancient artworks with contemporary details, including one suite with a curved staircase fashioned of Corian with an integrated jacuzzi tub at the base.

The hotel's primary amenities are all located on the ground level, and except for Il Ristorante Alain Ducasse, are reserved exclusively for hotel guests, creating a sanctuary of calm and exclusivity in the bustling city. Savoring lunch at IL CORTILE, an all-day dining outpost, I was surrounded by a forest of lacquered ebony, sculpted into groin vaults and interspersed with gill-like slits recalling midcentury Italian painter Lucio Fontana's Buchi and Tagli artworks, which imbue the heavy solid surfaces with a feeling of etherealness.

Premier guestroom

Fresco Junior Suite Superior guestroom.

Photos by Chris Dalton

Experiencing the eight-course tasting menu at Il Ristorante Alain Ducasse is an absolute delight. Ducasse's involvement in his first Roman restaurant goes way beyond the menu; he designed everything from the table and chairs to the tableware, including Hermès plates, titanium tumblers, and wine glasses with impossibly delicate stems. Staff deliver each course with scripted synchronicity. And, while literal smoke and mirrors are involved, if the theatrics were stripped away, the merits of each dish would be just as memorable. Hotel guests are privy to an a la carte breakfast in the space, where the Ducasse influence is tasted in pain au chocolat and touched in crockery explicitly designed to prepare and present his eggs carbonara.

Encompassing nearly 4,000 square feet, LA SPA Sisley Paris offers treatments based on the Phyto-Aromatiques philosophy,

which combines plant extracts and natural essences for a sensory relaxation experience. After a long day of exploring, spending time in the hammam, sensorial shower, and the sinuous lounge chairs in the salt room was indulgent and restorative. Enveloped in sculpted ebony, the Technogym-equipped fitness center is a beautiful space to assuage any lingering guilt about over-indulging in la dolce vita.

"Architecture is inhabited sculpture," said the late modernist Romanian sculptor Constantine Brancusi. Sure to invoke conversations about its design merits, ROMEO Rome is a compelling work of art that reflects an owner willing to take risks to pursue the proverbial brass ring. Even Ducasse, who prefers to communicate in his native tongue, broke into English during a breakfast meeting to praise the artistry of an ebony cabinet in the dining room, switching back to French to underscore its magnifique-ness.

Bespoke tableware at Il Ristorante Alain Ducasse.

Photo by Giulia Venanzi

The eight-course tasting menu at Il Ristorante Alain Ducasse is also a feast for the eyes.

Il Ristorante Alain Ducasse photo by Chris Dalton

After descending from the Roman forum and weaving through the cobblestone streets of the Monti neighborhood in Rome's beating heart, you soon realize all roads lead to Casa Monti (casamontiroma.com), a boutique hotel that opened last summer. A vintage mustard-colored Fiat 500 sat perfectly framed in the arched doorway of the 5-star, 36-key hotel, whose facade, while seamlessly integrated into the surrounding ancient architecture, belies its la bohème interior.

Stepping inside, you plunge into French architect and interior designer Laura Gonzalez's world of color and patterns, inspired by the artisans and creatives tucked away on nearby Via Panisperna and Piazza della Madonna dei Monti. During a brief property overview and tour en route to our room, the concierge, struggling to find the best word in English to describe the interiors, asked, "What's the opposite of minimalist?" His endearing inquiry was honest and apt as Gonzalez’s maximalist vision is a cornucopian display of chromatic and eye-catching motifs co-mingled with Italian flair that creates a one-of-a-kind sense of place.

Inspired by the Italian concept of sprezzatura (the art of making something difficult look easy), Gonzalez has carefully curated four singular themes throughout the 26 rooms and 10 suites. Birds are

prominent subjects in the varied wallpaper; Gonzalez says birds filling the Roman skies caught her eye while conceptualizing her designs for Casa Monti. With tiles procured from the south of Italy and fabrics from the north (in the same place where Missoni also shops), Gonzalez ensures guests are consistently fully immersed in Italian craftmanship and its influence.

Gonzalez also playfully indulges in a meta-touch, such as a stairwell adorned with Roman graphics resembling hieroglyphics, exaggerated graphic clay vases, and detailed mosaics and frescoes. One of my favorite details in our room was the Broadway-esque flair of the draped curtains hiding the television. It created a moment of drama every time we turned on the TV and clicked a button to pull away the curtains.

Relaxation, social interaction, and therapeutic modalities characterized ancient Roman baths, and the fifth-floor spa at Casa Monti operates in this spirit. Treatments by beauty pioneer Susanne Kaufmann adopt a holistic approach through a spa menu that emphasizes naturalness. After enjoying a signature body treatment, followed by a dip in the jacuzzi, and donning a plush robe to recline on a chaise lounge positioned to overlook the Eternal City while enjoying a facemask and freshly squeezed juice, I've never felt more ready for my cameo in a Dolce & Gabbana commercial.

Susanne Kauffman spa at Casa Monti.

Photo by Jerome Galland.

Casa Monti corridor photo by Jerome Galland

The first-floor bar and Casa Monti Ristorante are adored just as much by locals as hotel guests. After a meal of seasonal Roman flavors at the ristorante, the adjacent Casa Monti bar provided a logical and seamless transition for a digestivo. Amplified Amaro amare awaits at the rooftop bar, which boasts a view that even Caesar would envy.

One of Rome's oldest neighborhoods, Monti was once a residence for gladiators and is now the preferred haunt of artists and ragazzi fighi (cool kids). Just a few steps outside the hotel are intriguing bars, restaurants, and boutiques. The main artery for shopping and sightseeing is a few streets away, including the Colosseum, where we met with Isabella Calidonna of ArcheoRunning (archeorunning.com/en). With a PhD in Art History, a degree in Archeology, and a bonified love of exercise,

touring with Calidonna was a highlight of our trip. She covers nearly 17,000 kilometers annually as part of her private running and walking tours of the city.

As a history nerd and an ultimate Jeopardy fan, I was thrilled to ask limitless questions to someone without a script and with encyclopedic knowledge. I had no shame in asking, "How realistic is Russell Crowe's depiction of a gladiator?" to which Calidonna quipped back, "While Russell Crowe is a great actor, Roman gladiators were all short and fat, à la Danny DeVito since no one was tall at that time (except Germans) and an extra layer of fat was an extra layer of armor."

Returning to the hotel each evening, we navigated without maps by traversing streets where we could see the Colosseum at the end and, eventually, leading back to Casa Monti. sl

Isabella Calidonna of ArcheoRunning

Rooftop bar at Casa Monti.

Photo by Jerome Galland.

Compiled by Bridget Cottrell

ALL GREEK TO ME

Jewelry inspired by antiquity.

This page, clockwise from top left: Ancient Greeks wore gold jewelry to showcase their wealth and social hierarchy and as a protective shield against evil. Harriett necklace from Sarah Straussberg (sarahstraussberg.com). The earliest evidence of enameling in ancient Greece dates back to 1600 BC. Melissa Kaye Honey Hoop earrings. Available through Moyer Fine Jewelers in Indianapolis and melissakayejewelry.com. In Greek mythology, Eros and other mythological figures' use of a bow and arrow symbolized the power and unpredictability of love. Peruffo Jewelry Heart Chains earring. Available through Elleard Heffern Fine Jewelers in St. Louis and peruffojewelry.com. In Greek jewelry, hammered gold can symbolize eternity, infinity, and the interconnectedness of all things. LALAoUNIS Neolithic drop earrings (lalaounis.com). Greek jewelry often depicted caricatures of Greek gods and goddesses. Carina Hardy Three Graces pendant (carinahardy.com). The meander motif is a wave-like pattern in ancient Greek jewelry and design that symbolizes eternity and the undulating flow of human life through reproduction. Akaila Reid slim wavy bangle (akailareid.com). The Sappho signet ring from Common Era pays homage to the iconic ancient Greek lyric poet (commonera.com). Greek and Latin share a linguistic and cultural heritage. Pyrrha Love Conquers All band ring (pyrrha.com). The Greek Key motif dates back to around 700 BC. Anita Ko diamond Greek key bracelet (anitako.com). The Greek philosopher Aristotle favored emeralds, believing in their power to bring success in business, victory in trials, and improved eyesight. David Yurman Spiritual Beads with pavé emeralds. Available through Moyer Fine Jewelers and Reis-Nichols Jewelers in Indianapolis, Schiffman’s Jewelers in Lexington, Davis Jewelers in Louisville, Clarkson Jewelers in St. Louis, and davidyurman.com. The earliest written account of a unicorn was by the Greek historian Ctesias in his book Indika around 400 BCE. Silvia Furmanvich's Quintessence collection Alchemical Wedding earrings (silviafurmanovich.com). The Greek Mati (evil eye) is a significant symbol in Greek folklore. Having an eye on various artifacts (like charms or jewelry) is supposed to absorb this negative and evil energy. Modern Moghul Aankh charm (modernmoghul.com).Opposite page: To the ancient Greeks, the snake symbolized rejuvenation because it sheds its skin. Tabbah Reptilia necklace and earring (tabbah.com)

Compiled by Bridget Cottrell

TO THE MOON AND BACK

This page, clockwise from top left: Mission to Mars from Omega x Swatch (swatch.com). Elegance tiara from Louis Vuitton’s Awakened Minds High Jewelry Collection (louisvuitton.com).

Photo by Nathaniel Goldberg. LÖF The Erté Earrings (lofjewellery.com). Bondeye Jewelry Barri cuff links (bondeyejewelry.com). Maison H Jewels Galaxy Collection ring (maisonhjewels. com). Jacquie Aiche Galaxy inlay ring (jacquieaiche.com). Lionheart Jewelry Starry Night interchangeable charm (lionheartjewelry.com). Jane Win Jewelry Lucky pendant. Available through Lusso Boutique in St. Louis and janewin.com. Sorellina Le Stelle button earrings. Available through Reis-Nichols Jewelers in Indianapolis and sorellinanyc.com. Silvia Furnamovich's Quintessence Saturn earrings (silviafurmanovich.com). Temple St. Clair Eclipse earrings. Available through Moyer Fine Jewelers in Indianapolis, Ylang Ylang Jewelers in St. Louis and templestclair.com. Opposite page: Kwiat Starry Night ring. Available through Reis-Nichols Jewelers in Indianapolis and kwiat.com. Mellerio NUIT ÉTOILÉE high jewelry talisman medal (us.mellerio.fr). Monica Rich Kosann chain bracelet. Available through Richter & Phillips Jewelers in Cinncinati, Charles Mayer and Reis-Nichols Jewelers in Indianapolis, Schiffman’s Jewelers in Lexington, Simons Jewelers and Clarkson Jewelers in St. Louis and monicarichkosann.com. Davis Classics Crescent Moon ring. Available through Davis Jewelers in Louisville (davisjewelers.com). Julie Vos Luna Climber earrings. Available through Welling & Co. in Cincinnati, Charles Mayer & Co. in Indianapolis and julievos.com. Limited-edition 41mm BR-03 Astro from Bell & Ross. Available through Moyer Fine Jewelers in Indianapolis, Diamond Cellar in Nashville and bellross.com.

CLASSIC NEW ZEALAND WINE TRAIL

Unforgettable Wine and Food Experiences

Compiled by Claire Williams / Photos courtesy Classic New Zealand Wine Trail

The Classic New Zealand Wine Trail encompasses three principal wine regions: Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa, and Marlborough. Together, these regions account for over eighty percent of the country's wine production and provide wine enthusiasts access to 230 wineries and 120 cellar doors. This 240-mile, sign-posted self-guided journey is ideal for a five to ten-day trip and takes visitors along the East Coast of New Zealand, from Hawke's Bay in the North Island to Marlborough in the South Island. Along the route, you'll find 155 EV charging stations and myriad accommodation options to suit every traveler, from luxury lodges and boutique B&Bs to serviced apartments and historic cottages.

As an official Great Wine Capital of the World, Hawke's Bay is graced with a Mediterranean climate and scores farmer's markets sharing the bounty of the region's fertile farmland. The Te Matau-aMāui region is the country's leading producer of red wine, including full-bodied red blends, and syrah, cabernet, and merlot varieties.

In addition to more than 70 wineries, you can explore the highest concentration of Art Deco buildings in the world, which were constructed in Napier City after the devastating earthquake of 1931.

At the heart of the wine trail is Wellington (wellingtonnz.com), sandwiched between verdant rolling hills and a bustling harbor, where a vibrant culinary scene thrives alongside locally made craft beer. For wine lovers, many stylish wine bars and award-winning restaurants feature curated selections of local and international wines. Ascend nearly 400 feet above the city aboard the Wellington Cable Car (wellingtoncablecar.co.nz), which departs from Lambton Quay, the main shopping street. Don't miss the chance to visit Wētā Workshop (wetanz.com) for a behind-the-scenes look at the acclaimed film effects company responsible for productions such as The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Avatar, and King Kong, among others. Test your nerve by traversing a 230-foot-long suspension bridge at Mākara Peak Mountain Bike Park (makarapeak.bike).

The Wairarapa region, just over the hill from Wellington, is home to several boutique wine areas spread among five characterrich towns and arguably the most accessible Dark Sky Reserve in the world. Set against a spectacular backdrop of Wairarapa's rolling countryside, The Runholder (therunholder.co.nz) is the home of Te Kairanga, Martinborough Vineyard wines, and Lighthouse Gin. The picturesque spot is a convenient destination for great food, wine, and gin in Martinborough.

The thoughtfully preserved Victorian country village of Greytown, located in Wairarapa, is one of New Zealand's premier shopping destinations. It boasts a sophisticated combination of independent boutiques, galleries, stylish stores, restaurants, and cafés.

Marlborough is a foodie haven, accessible via the Interislander ferry (interislander.co.nz), often described as one of the most spectacular cruises in the world. Once there, you can fish and kayak the beautiful waterways of the Marlborough Sounds.

Known for producing some of the world's finest Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough is New Zealand's largest wine region, with 168 wineries. Pair your glass of "liquid sunshine" with freshly steamed Greenshell mussels, rated as one of the most sustainable seafood products in the world.

Consider taking the Coastal Pacific Train to extend your adventure after finishing the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail in Marlborough. Constructed over seven decades and renowned for being one of the most picturesque journeys on New Zealand railways, this scenic trip meanders along the Pacific Coast between Picton and Christchurch, offering breathtaking views that are hard to match by any other means of transport.

So, grab your friends or family and prepare for a adventure filled with outstanding wines, delicious food, and breathtaking views throughout the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail. Cheers! sl For more information visit classicwinetrail.co.nz

Tasting at the Hans Herzog Estate

There are ample opportunities for hiking along the New Zealand Wine Trail, including Castlepoint, a small beachside settlement on the Wairarapa coast of the Wellington Region.

Mākara Peak Mountain Bike Park in Wellington (makarapeak.bike).

by

GEORGIA (WINE) ON MY MIND

Château Elan Winery and Resort, in the rolling foothills of North Georgia, is a driveable destination with an "across the pond" ambiance.

By Tracy Cottrell / Photos courtesy of Château Elan Winery and Resort

By its very name, the Château Elan Winery and Resort (chateauelan. com) conjures images of sophisticated country sojourns and picturesque vineyards, all imbued with a welcoming, elegant ambiance. This Four Diamond resort and award-winning winery located in the foothills of Georgia, does not disappoint. Plan to arrive at dusk for a warm welcome to find the stately Château's silhouette glowing with twinkling lights, serving as a beacon for the cornucopia of delights offered. Travel weariness quickly falls away in anticipation of what is ahead. The stage is superbly set for a stay that can be uniquely tailored for each guest.

Stepping across the threshold and into the main reception area of the Inn at Château Elan, one of several buildings that house the resort, I was greeted by the excited hum of people on the move, all availing themselves of the wide variety of eateries, services, and activities throughout the winery and resort. Staff greet incoming guests, prepared with all pertinent details for their stay. With or without specific plans, I quickly discovered the Château staff are attuned to guests' interests and eager to confirm details or offer recommendations. They were also happy to provide directions and pointers if you already have an itinerary, as I did.

If overdue self-care sends you in search of luxurious pampering, guests can avail themselves of The Spa at Château Elan. The Spa's ambiance was relaxed and welcoming, with staff eager to ensure the services or fitness amenities you selected are

ideally suited. I was delighted to start my second day with an hour of indulgence via a bone-melting massage.

Following all spa services, guests are encouraged to get a favorite beverage and find a relaxing spot. Elegant, comfortable chaise lounge chairs are strategically placed at the Spa pool and surrounding manicured grounds to afford the best view. Whether you are catching up with your travel companion or enjoying excellent people-watching, you can rest undisturbed.

For those wanting a light meal, the Fleur de Lis restaurant offers healthy food, prepared for a gourmet palate. After my excellent massage, I stopped by and ordered a Brussels Sprouts Ceasar Salad and fresh fruit. The Fleur de Lis debunks the myth that healthful food isn't tasty. Diners leave with the virtuous satisfaction that often accompanies a well-prepared meal that delights the palate and is also good for your body.

Active guests can rent bikes, head out to the running trails, play tennis, golf on multiple courses totaling 45 holes, swim in the outdoor pool, or test themselves on the equipment in the state-of-the-art fitness center. The grounds themselves are a peaceful, open invitation to explore, get in some steps, and soak in the beauty of Mother Nature. My choice was a walk in the woods, lulled by gentle breezes and charmed by drifts of fallen leaves. With each step, I felt both my body and mind relax, leaving tension behind on the forest floor.

Photo

Michael Miller

Photo by Galina Juliana

As a deeply committed Tea Aficionado, I was eager to sample High Tea in the Atrium. While there are elements of the traditional British ritual, Château Elan adds a little dash and flair of its own. A tea cart is brought to each table with glass containers of the in-house teas. Our server, or perhaps more accurately, the Tea Sommelier, introduced each tea, describing the blend, the origins, the flavor profile, and the level of caffeine, encouraging us all to sniff each tea and enjoy the unique scents before making our selections.

Once we selected our teas, a pot was brewed for each guest. My choice was a personal favorite, Lapsang Souchong, which is hard to find and admittedly an acquired taste but an absolute

treat. Of course, you cannot have High Tea without tea cakes and sandwiches! At the Versailles, they are served on individual, tiered cake stands that are not only pretty but also perfectly display the selection of tasty two-bite delights.

If you are a wine devotee, tours and tastings are available daily, including a behind-the-scenes tour of the winery and production rooms (winery.chateauelan.com). To further deepen the winery experience, consider staying in the Villas at Château Elan or wine bungalows overlooking the vineyards. Château Elan also generously shares its expertise with guests through culinary classes, mixology demonstrations, and wine education classes.

Versailles Restaurant & Bar photo by Galina Juliana

Versailles Restaurant & Bar

Guestroom photo by Galina Juliana

The unquestioned highlight of my stay was the Inaugural Château Elan Culinary & Wine Classic. Held on a rainy Sunday afternoon in the Winery at Château Elan, the event, of course, showcased the Château Elan wines and excellent food in addition to wonderful, unique surprises. Many guests gravitated to the Typewriter Poets table where a pair of poets and their oldfashioned typewriters sat ready to create unique poems on the spot. It was hard to resist meandering from the Marc Restaurant to the wine-tasting bars across the lobby, alive with chatter as guests sampled wines, all accompanied by a virtuoso violinist. To enjoy a respite, many chose the Winery Pavillion, where a trio with a varied repertoire played to guests while sipping wine or a cup of coffee. Dancing was inevitable, and a space had been created for it. There was a communal painting set on an easel for those looking for more of the unexpected. All guests were encouraged to pick up a paintbrush, dabble in a wide selection of colors, and contribute to this piece of shared art.

Simone Bergese, Château Elan's Executive Winemaker, ensconced in a private library-like room, spent the afternoon describing the evolution of Château Elan wines. I was fascinated to learn that winemakers maintain a library of wines that are no longer in production and are not for sale. These wines serve as a point of reference for taste and composition, and a tasting of selected library wines was part of the presentation. His passion for his vocation was evident as he shared his vision for the Château Elan winery and the journey to the award-winning establishment that it is today.

Château Elan's first Annual Culinary & Wine Classic, imbued with the pleasure of seamlessly executed activities accompanied by the best food and wine, was, in fact, a microcosm of what the resort does daily. Château Elan Winery and Resort has mastered a blend of luxurious accommodations, a wide selection of varied activities, and sumptuous cuisine always nearby. Guests' prerogative and pleasure is to customize their stay to suit their every need and whim. Fill your cup, as they say at Château Elan. sl

Winemaker Simone Bergese

Louis' House of Bourbon photo by Galina Juliana

BROOCHING THE SUBJECT

Aaron Henry Southern Oak Acorn brooch. Available through Chesterfield Jewelers in St. Louis and aaronhenry.com. Sarah Straussberg one-off Mini Bella brooch (sarahstraussberg.com). Studio Renn Yellow Gilled pendant/brooch (studiorenn.com). Fred Leighton enamel guilloche brooch (fredleighton.com). Yoko London brooch with a golden South Sea pearl (yokolondon.com). Portugal Jewels Heart of Amália brooch (portugaljewels.com). Emerald lapel brooch. Available through Moyer Fine Jewelers in Indianapolis and

SPRING FLING

Blackbough Swim’s new Après Ski Collection is perfect for end-of-season ski parties.

Photos courtesy of Blackbough Swim

As the days gradually lengthen, we look forward to warmer days ahead, but not before partaking in a final schuss in slushy late-spring snow.

Blackbough Swim (blackboughswim.com) stylishly straddles the seasons with its latest Après Ski Collection, representing a fresh take on snow-inspired swimwear for the ultimate winter-into-spring getaways. Fashionable and planet-friendly, since 2021, one hundred percent of Blackbough's swimwear has been made using recycled nylon or polyester and delivered in biodegradable packaging.

Whether you're soaking in a hot tub after a long day on the slopes or partaking in end-of-season ski parties such as the Chamonix Unlimited Festival (March 26-30; unlimited-festival. com/en/unlimitedfestival), Closing Day Celebrations at Aspen Snowmass (TBD; aspensnowmass.com), the Snowbombing Festival at Mayrhofen, Austria (April 8-13; snowbombing.com), the Slush Cup in Banff, Canada (May 20; skibig3.com), Top of the Mountain Closing Concert in Ischgl, Austria (May 3; ischgl. com/en), Telluride's KOTO Spring Street Dance (April 4, telluride.com), Closing Day Party at Big Sky (April 27; bigskyresort.com/events), Rendezvous Music Festival at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (April 4-5; jacksonhole. com/rendezvous) Spring Back to Vail (April; vail.com/springback), the Park City Spring Wine Festival (April 3-5; parkcitywinefest.com), or just dreaming of a warm-weather escape, Blackbough's new styles offer a perfect blend of playful prints and cozy vibes. sl

MOTORING THROUGH THE CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW

A trio of highlights from the global tradeshow in Las Vegas this past January

Compiled by Matthew Cottrell

Following its exhibition at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Italdesign brought its Quintessenza concept to CES. The company bills the four-seater as combining the dynamic power of an Italian-styled 2+2 GT with the versatility of a pickup. Among the vehicle's unique features is the ability to rotate the rear seats 180 degrees. At CES, Quintessenza highlighted the latest generation of in-wheel motors from Elaphe, a leading company in zero-emission powertrains and propulsion systems, with three electric motors and a 150.0-kWh battery pack that combine for 777 horsepower.

Eco-friendliness extends to the interiors: Bcomp's linen fiber for the exterior and interior elements, Fili Pari's soft marble powder fabric for the dashboard and door panels, Stoll Italia's 3Dknit technology to reduce material waste, and Hero Flooring made with Nike Grind Rubber from recycled sports footwear.

A pioneer in solar mobility, Carlsbad, California-based and crowd-funded Aptera Motors unveiled Launch Edition, a solar electric vehicle equipped with 700 watts of integrated solar cells,

providing up to 40 miles of solar-powered driving per day and the ability to travel up to 400 miles on a single charge, meaning that most drivers can enjoy daily use without ever needing to plug in to charge.

The company partnered with Pininfarina, utilizing their state-ofthe-art wind tunnel in Turin, Italy, to refine its design to achieve one of the lowest drag coefficients of any production passenger vehicle. With only six key body components, Aptera's unique shape allows it to slip through the air using far less energy than other electric and hybrid vehicles today.

"We are proud to have played a role in validating Aptera's aerodynamic design," said Alessandro Aquili, Head of Wind Tunnel at Pininfarina. "Aptera's commitment to innovation mirrors our own, and we are excited to support their vision for a future where every journey is powered by the sun. We look forward to expanding our collaboration as Aptera's productionintent vehicle progresses toward production."

Launch Edition from Aptera is a solar electric vehicle equipped with 700 watts of integrated solar cells.

Among the Quintessenza concept’s unique features is the ability to rotate the rear seats 180 degrees.

ItalDesign bills the Quintessenza concept as combining the dynamic power of an Italian-styled 2+2 GT with the versatility of a pickup.

The BMW Group presented the first opportunity to experience the close-to-production version of the new BMW iDrive – complete with its centerpiece, BMW Panoramic Vision. The software underpinning it all is the latest BMW Operating System X, which acts as the intelligence hub behind the new display and operating concept. With its modern, style-shaping design, the holistic system will be introduced in all new BMW models from the end of 2025.

The Head-Up Display concept reflects visible information from A-pillar to A-pillar onto a black printed surface in the lower section of the windscreen. It is visible to all occupants, with the most important driving information projected directly into the driver's line of sight above the steering wheel. The driver can personalize the content in the central and right-hand areas of the BMW Panoramic Vision via the central display. The integration of the BMW Panoramic Vision creates a 3D effect for the driver and passengers.

On the central display with matrix backlight technology, the familiar, updated menu structure with QuickSelect ensures optimal operation of the functions and content by touch. Operation is effortless and convenient, as the free-cut-design display is located close to the steering wheel in an ergonomically ideal position. Selected content (widgets) can be carried over to the BMW Panoramic Vision with a swipe on the central display and arranged as desired.

The new multifunction steering wheel uses BMW's shy-tech approach, whereby the relevant buttons are illuminated to highlight

available functions. The steering wheel serves as the primary physical control, and its buttons provide active haptic feedback. The buttons have relief-like surface, making them easy to locate and enabling the driver to press them without taking their eyes off the road.

The expanded intelligence of BMW Operating System X makes it possible to combine the BMW Panoramic Vision, optional BMW 3D Head-Up Display, central display, and multifunction steering wheel to merge physical and digital experiences. For example, an incoming call initially brings up a graphic on the BMW Panoramic Vision. At the same time, a symbol on the relevant steering wheel button that was not previously visible is illuminated in green, indicating the option of taking the call by pressing the button or rejecting it with a swipe on the right-hand side of the steering wheel.

As with the current infotainment systems from BMW, the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant can – if the driver desires – make suggestions proactively based on user behavior. This intelligence expands further with BMW Operating System X. In relevant situations, the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant highlights driver assistance systems, which the driver rarely uses. As a kind of reminder, the system suggests activating Sport Mode on suitable routes if the driver has already activated Sport Mode independently beforehand. If the driver doesn't respond to or ignores these proactive suggestions several times, the system learns and refrains from making future suggestions. sl

BMW Panoramic Vision

TURBO-CHARGED SIBLING

Porsche adds a new Carrera S to the 911 lineup for the 2025 model year.

Compiled by Matthew Cottrell / Image courtesy of Porsche Cars North America

The 911 Carrera S, available in both Coupé and Cabriolet versions for the 2025 model year, bridges the gap between the 911 Carrera and the more performance-oriented 911 Carrera GTS T-Hybrid.

Under the hood, the iconic and upgraded 3.0-liter twinturbo boxer six-cylinder engine now outputs 473 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque, an increase of 30 horsepower compared to its predecessor while reducing emissions. To achieve this enhanced performance and efficiency, Porsche has fitted new turbochargers and optimized the charge-air cooling, among other improvements. Power is delivered to the rear wheels via an eight-speed Porsche dualclutch transmission (PDK). When equipped with the Sport Chrono Package, the Carrera S Coupe can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in as little as 3.1 seconds—0.2 seconds faster than the previous model— and reaches a top speed of 191 mph. From a performance standpoint, the improvements for this model include a Sport Exhaust with silver tailpipes and brakes sourced from the previous generation 911 Carrera GTS, measuring 408 mm on the front axle and 380 mm on the rear axle. The updated dampers feature optimized hydraulics enhancing responsiveness and improve ride quality compared to previous models.

Key performance-focused standard features from the earlier model remain unchanged, including Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV+) and staggered 20/21-inch Carrera S wheels. Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) and PASM Sport Suspension, which lowers the ride height by 10 mm, are also available. An

optional rear-axle steering system improves agility at low speeds and enhances stability at high speeds.

The 2025 Carrera S models feature a significantly upgraded interior as standard. Compared to previous Carrera S models, the interior now includes more leather upholstery on various elements, such as the seats, headrests, upper dashboard, upper door panels, and, if equipped, the rear seats. As with other 911 Carrera Coupe models in the current generation, a two-seat interior is standard, with the option to include rear seats at no additional cost. For Cabriolet models, rear seats are standard, and there is no option to delete them. For those seeking enhanced luxury, a full leather interior covering additional surfaces such as the lower dashboard, glove box lid, rear side panels, and rear tunnel is available as an upgrade. An exclusive Manufaktur Leather Interior option offers up to 48 possible two-tone combinations for further customization.

The Carrera S benefits from an upgraded standard equipment package common to the entire model series, such as Matrix Design LED headlights, a cooled wireless smartphone charger, and a drive mode knob integrated into the heated steering wheel. Available options include a front axle lift system, innovative HD-Matrix Design LED headlights, and the Sport Chrono package with the Porsche Track Precision app—ideal for those who enjoy track days. sl The new 911 Carrera S is now available to order as a Coupe or Cabriolet with rear-wheel drive. Its MSRP is $146,400 and $159,600, respectively, excluding a $1,995

¡VIVA MÉXICO!

Grand Velas Riviera Maya provides an all-inclusive cultural immersion.

Written by Elliott Greene / Photos courtesy of Velas Resorts

For foodies, a meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant is typically an occasional indulgent treat. For guests of the all-inclusive Grand Velas Riviera Maya, it's just dinner. The resort's Cocina de Autor is one of just two restaurants included at an all-inclusive resort to be awarded a Michelin star (the other is at its sister property in Los Cabos). However, the cuisine isn't the only elevated experience at the sprawling 206-acre property near Playa del Carmen. Comprised of three distinct concepts, guests have access to the entirety of the exhaustive amenities: diverse restaurants encompassing everything from an Edith Piaf-inspired French restaurant gastronomique to an Asian fusion outpost, bars where you can simply sip and enjoy the view or take a more active approach with karaoke and dancing, and unique, immersive on-property programming.

The balconies of the oceanfront Grand Class and Ambassador buildings, whose stepped brutalist architecture recalls pyramidic

Mayan ruins, are festooned with trailing magenta Bougainvillea, a hallmark flower of the Velas Resorts properties throughout Mexico. Apart from the Presidential Suite, the 90 spacious suites in the Grand Class buildings are identical in layout, including an ocean-facing plunge pool integrated within a large, covered terrace. Each guest is assigned a personal concierge who is available via text.

The harmonious integration of the Zen building within the dense jungle environment, just a short shuttle ride away from the oceanfront, feels almost Balinese. Guests interested in further landscape immersion can book an ecological tour that encompasses a visit to a reforestation jungle area comprised of more than 15,000 transplanted trees, a visit to the shore to learn about coral reef restoration, tasting your way through the hotel's garden, and getting up close to the resort's cenotes, natural pools of fresh water important for biodiversity and Mayan cultural traditions.

Getting up close to the resort's cenotes is part of the on-property eco tour.

The Zen pool is nestled into a jungle setting.

As a Mexican-owned resort company, Grand Velas proudly offers experiences aimed at sharing contemporary and historical Mexican traditions. Far from standard (and often dull) all-inclusive fare, I was pleasantly surprised by the diversity of the cuisine. I sampled tacos sprinkled with crispy grasshoppers at Frida, sipped a cocktail inspired by Mayan astrology at Sky Bar, and relished every palatepleasing, beautifully plated course presented by Chef Nahum Velasco at Cocina de Autor. Outside of mealtime, participating in scheduled tasting experiences became my favorite way to experience the diversity of Mexican cuisine while learning about the historic traditions surrounding some of the country's Denomination of Origins.

"Nothing compares to a good mole," the chef said as we commenced our tasting of five distinctive moles, ranging in flavor from fruity to herbaceous, that were paired with a unique array of

Mexican spirits, which provided an in-depth education and fodder for making future cocktail conversation.

Mole Michoacan was paired with Charanda, a rum-like spirit derived from sugarcane that packed quite a punch. We learned that the cristalino tequila, served alongside pumpkin mole, is añejo tequila that has been filtered (often through charcoal), which strips away the color and woodier notes it would have picked up from its time in the barrel, leaving the complexity an añejo with the crisp, brighter notes of a Blanco. Like the rules surrounding what can be called Champagne, as we sipped Bacanora, an agave spirit native to Sonora, we learned it can't be labeled as mezcal because it doesn't meet the denomination of origin requirement. White Mole was mated to Sotol, a distilled spirit from the Chihuahuan desert. Guests who dine at Frida,

Mexican artist Frida Kahlo is the inspiration behind Frida, Grand Vela's tribute to Mexican cuisine.

A guided tasting of mezcal and artisanal chocolate is part of the resort’s weekly programming.

the resort's AAA Four Diamond modern Mexican restaurant, are given a freeze-dried mole and recipes created by chef Laura Isadora Ávalos Sierra as a take-home amenity.

Cacao was declared "the food of the gods" in Mayan and Aztec civilizations, and I concur that the guided tasting of mezcal and artisanal chocolate is heavenly, particularly the Mezcal Gin MG x Passion Fruit Infused White Chocolate.

Another sweet amenity that is also good for the planet is the new bee sanctuary, a decade in the making, devised to protect the local Maya Melipona bee. Guests benefit from the bee's labor in the form of a guided honey tasting, where they can discover what's behind each honey's unique viscosity and flavor. When one guest asked for another taste, our guide, Nicholas, joked, "It's an all-inclusive resort, so you can shower in it if you like."

Circular skylights, waterfalls spilling down two stories into stream-like pools, and stone walls covered in vegetation in the Forbes Five-Star SE Spa (a distinction held for three years running) made me feel like it was inside a futuristic biodome on another planet. Located in the Zen building (where there is also an expansive and superbly equipped gym), this 90,000 squarefoot Mayan-inspired temple of wellness, boasts 42 treatment rooms, referred to as "cabins" and a guided seven-station Water Ceremony. However, rather than being sacrificed at the end as would be the case in Mayan times, I was seamlessly guided through each station by an army of attendants, feeling cocooned in uniquely scented spaces that left me to my thoughts in fiveto-seven intervals that gradually became easier as I gave myself over to relaxation.

Following the water ritual, my wet swimsuit was collected outside my treatment room door during a blissful 80-minute Organic Kaab Honey Experience and returned dry when the treatment finished. Nearly as massive as the facility, the spa treatment menu incorporates Indigenous experiences as part of its Journey Though Ancient Mexico collection, which uses native plants and minerals materials, such as prickly pear, corn cobs, calabash gourds, aloe vera, Chaka bark, cocoa, coffee, and jade. To facilitate a vacation mindset at home, I picked up a few self-branded SE Spa products infused with the intoxicating and invigorating scent of lemongrass.

From sunrise to turndown, guests feel authentically immersed in Mexican culture. Even the eve of departure day is

an opportunity, with Grand Velas offering an alebrije turndown service. Alebrijes are attributed to Mexican artist Pedro Linares, who, after suffering from a high fever in 1936, experienced a vivid dream that transported him to a technicolor forest filled with creatures that proclaimed the word "alebrije." After his recovery, Linares began recreating the alebrijes in cardboard and papiermâché, an artisanal tradition championed by Grand Velas. One of eight bespoke alebrijes hand-painted by artists for the resort awaited on my pillow after dinner on my last evening. Now, in a place of prominence on my desk as a lovely souvenir, it's also an open invitation for an eventual return. sl

For more information visit rivieramaya.grandvelas.com

The mint-infused ice room is part of the guided Water Ceremony at the SE Spa.

A guided honey tasting highlights Grand Velas’ efforts to protect the Maya Melipona bee.

If

SITE SPECIFIC

This dramatic design was dictated by one key element: the lake surrounding it.

By

When Kevin Voges bought 62 acres outside Millstadt, Illinois, in 2021, it took him the proverbial “New York minute” to pick where his dream Modern Mountain house would go: the peninsula jutting straight into the lake.

“This house was all about designing for the land,” he said.

Dave Schaub was hired as the architect and he, in turn, brought on the interior designer Amy McCoy of McCoy Design Studio and G. Terbrock Luxury Homes as the builder with Gary Jokerst supervising. Just the architectural plans took seven months; the building took another three-and-a-half years. “It was the hardest house I’ve ever built,” Jokerst said.

As Kevin Voges envisioned, the 8,000 square-foot house and the landscape combine into a single entity with views of the lake on three-and-a-half sides of the house. His inspiration came from the Martis Camp Homes found in Lake Tahoe. As you drive up, you can see straight through from the front to the backyard, aka the lake. Nearly every room, including the master bath, looks out onto the water. The floor-to-ceiling 10-foot windows fronting the great room accordion into each other leaving the space open to the deck outside.

“It’s a seamless transition to the outside from the living room,” McCoy said. “So that’s really what it’s about.”

The lake, now known as Lake Lori Ann in honor of Voges’ late first wife, had its own history. Built in 1941, it was called the Millstadt

Swimming Lake. On Tuesdays and Thursdays in the summer, a bus would bring the locals from the town to swim in the lake.

The lake house is built of steel and concrete. Intentionally. Voges owns a steel company called The Material Works based in Red Bud. He explained that a large house is built with beams that weigh 35 pounds-per-foot; here some beams are as big as 150 pounds-per-foot.

Constructed by Terbrock, the iron work was erected by the members of the United Iron Workers. Middendorf & Reuss Construction, also a commercial subcontractor, framed the house in 10 months. The concrete is a mainstay of the Modern Mountain house designs that Voges saw and loved in Lake Tahoe. “I call it the boarded look,” Voges says, adding the board-formed concrete was commissioned for the house.

The choices of interiors from the colors to the materials chosen were drawn from the natural elements of the site. It’s seen in the use of cedar in the ceilings, the marble backsplash, the thick granite countertops, the live edge of the wooden table, the walnut floors, organic shapes and a color palette of soft muted colors.

“There’s a lot of materials that you would find in nature,” McCoy says. “There’s marble. That’s a 3-inch-thick granite top on the island. There’s a live-edge dining table. It’s all organic shapes ... The key was to use natural materials to bring the outside in.”

Christy Marshall / Interior Photos by Meghan Lorenz; Exterior Photos by Triple Reed Photography

swimming in a lake isn’t your preference, a pool awaits.

The view at night of the Voges’ Mountain Modern Lake House

As you drive up to the front of the house, the view flows straight through the house.

An open-floor plan, the great room lets the outside in.

The wall of windows envelope into each other leaving the space open to the patio outside. The chandelier with rock crystal was commissioned for the space.

The live-edge table in the kitchen was found on Etsy and was shipped from Canada. The cabinetry was designed by Carla Farris at Beck Allen Cabinetry.

The granite from Global Granite was a must-have for the designer, Amy McCoy. All the vanities are lit underneath.

The freestanding tub is located at the entrance to the bathroom.

Oversized, there is a side for him and a side for her. All the vanities are lit underneath

“I mean, everything you look at in here, it was Amy,” Kevin Voges says. “And then Stephenie [Kevin’s wife]. Amy and Stef worked together as a really great team.”

In the master bath, mirrors are suspended from the ceiling so not to distract from the view. The marble, from Global Granite, is shades of soft greens and gray.

Also a pilot, Voges’ office and music room (which he’s dubbed the “muffice”) pokes out into the lake like the wing of an aircraft.

Bedrooms for a son and daughter and an exercise area are on the lower level, along with an entertaining area. Vegetation is planted so that one can view the multi elevated layers of planters from the interior of the house.

The house’s beginnings started out on a sad note after Voges’ late wife, Lori Ann, was diagnosed with incurable breast cancer in 1992.

“In early 2021 she asked, ‘What are you going to do if God takes me early?’” Voges recalled. “And I said, ‘I need an airstrip because I have a bush plane, a little house and a lake.’ She said, ‘Well, let’s find it.’ Then I said, ‘No, let’s not.’ We were going to Siteman Cancer Center three days a week.”

Lori Ann urged him to go ahead; that the project would be something to look forward to.

“I prayed against it,” Voges said. “I prayed that God would put detours in our way if it wasn’t His will. And it kept getting easier. So that was my answer from God.”

Regrettably, Lori Ann Voges never saw the house of her husband’s dreams. She died five months after they purchased the acreage. Then Kevin was, as he says, “swept off his feet” by his new wife (and an old Voges’ acquaintance), Stephenie. They got married in October of 2022. They sold their house in St. Louis in May 2023 and moved to Millstadt in July 2024. The combined family has five grown children. There is already a playroom furnished and awaiting future grandchildren.

Kevin Voges named the house and land Miles’s Meadows (milessmeadow.com), using Stephenie’s middle name, Miles.

This summer large swaths of the surrounding land will be awash in wildflowers, meadows planted last year. And those flowers will be seen clearly from inside the house.

It was designed specifically for that. sl

Kevin and Stephenie Voges wake up and fall asleep looking at the lake. The walnut floors are by Historic Floor Company.

Meet with Art at 21c St. Louis

With

THE ARTIST COLLECTOR

Robert Lococo has been dealing in art for decades

By Alexa Beattie / Portrait by John Lore

Immaculate in a peacock blue Tom Ford suit, famed fine art publisher Robert Lococo came to the Saint Louis Art Museum last month to talk about his recent gift to that institution. The suit (and similarly “peacock” alligator shoes) went extremely well with the very large, very red painting on the wall behind him. That painting—“CocaCola Girl 25”—is part of artist Alex Katz’s “Coca-Cola Girls” series which refers to an iconic period in that soda-pop company’s history when its advertising spoke to a certain ideal of American woman. It features two views of Katz’s muse, artist Nicole Wittenberg, and provides an excellent example of Katz’s pop-art, “billboard” style.

Lococo has worked as a fine art publisher for more than 30 years. Although based primarily in St. Louis, the reach of his company— Lococo Fine Art—spans the globe. His prints can be found in The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Museum of Modern Art in New

York City, Boston Museum of Fine Art, Maison des Écrivains in Paris, Albertina Museum in Vienna and Kochi Museum of Art in Kochi, Japan. He has printers in three states (Missouri, New York and Florida) and attributes his notoriety to the quality of work and to his team.

“Coca-Cola Girl 25,” painted in oil on linen canvas in 2019, had been in Lococo’s possession for the last seven years. He said he was delighted to offer it to the museum—and delighted that they accepted. Surprisingly, “The museum didn’t have a Katz painting.”

“He’s an important contemporary artist,” Lococo said. “It is to [the museum’s] advantage to have the painting. With me, no one gets to see it.” He added that the process took a while—all the meetings, all the necessary channels. But now everyone is very pleased he said. Indeed, in the museum’s modern wing, it not only fits right in, its blazing color practically steals the show.

Robert Lococo in front of Coca-Cola Girl 25 at Saint Louis Art Museum

Ann Craven and Robert Lococo

“It has a really good presence in the gallery,” said Simon Kelly, curator and head of department of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Saint Louis Art Museum. “Katz is interested in Matisse; the red definitely has a Matissian quality. And there’s a real gestural quality to the work—the hair in particular.”

Many of the artists Lococo has worked with over the years have become good friends. He flips nimbly through his mental Rolodex and casually drops artists’ names like pennies from a hole in a pocket: Ross Bleckner, Derrick Adams, David Salle, Katherine Bernhardt, Julian Schnabel, William Burroughs, Donald Baechler, Ugo Rondinone, Donald Sultan, Kenny Scharf and of course, Alex Katz. “I often travel with artists because we are friends. We laugh a lot. But are very serious when it comes to printing.”

Having such friendships can make the process easier. “If we know the artist and like their work, we say: ‘Oh, this is a

swell print. It looks like a money print to me.’” There are times when only a single print is made, but usually Lococo works in multiples—a series of 25 to 100 prints. Lococo Fine Art finances the project and distributes the prints to any of their 100 dealers across the world. A print’s value, he said, is established by what it fetches at auction in their market. And having the Lococo Fine Art name behind it behooves the value further. While “Coca-Cola Girl 25” has been valued at more than $1 million, a print edition of 60 may fetch between $10,000 to $40,000 each. “We have a huge following and reputation,” Lococo said.

“Coca-Cola Girl 25” can be found in the International Pop Art Gallery G254. She is impossible to miss. Red, yes, but also 6-feet by 12-feet. “A painting has to fit with those around it. It needs to be worthy of the quality of the surrounding work,” said Kelly. “We didn’t have a Katz painting so this was an important gift. We are so grateful.”

Robert Lococo and Deb KassDonald Sultan and Robert Lococo

Robert Lococo and Carlos Rolon

Robert Lococo and Kenny Scharf

Robert Lococo hanging out with Alex Katz

Katherine Bernhardt, Robert Lococo, Matt Mercer and Zeh Palito

Ada Katz and Robert Lococo

Lococo had no formal art education; his early working life was spent as an interior designer. “I designed homes and all the homes needed art on the walls.” A St. Louis native, he developed a knack for color and texture. He said when it came to print work, his decorating background “came in very handy.”

Lococo’s first print project was with William S. Burroughs in 1991 called “The Seven Deadly Sins.” Born and raised in St. Louis, Burroughs was the grandson of inventor William Seward Burroughs I, who founded the Burroughs Corporation, and a nephew of public relations manager Ivy Lee. Burroughs was a novelist, essayist, social critic, painter and spoken-word performer. A primary member of the Beat Generation, much of Burroughs’ work was semi-autobiographical, drawn from his experiences as an opiate addict, a condition which marked the last 40 years of his life.

Lococo has the air of a man with a good life. He seems tickled by his connections, his cohorts in the art world; delighted by all the adventures. One of those adventures was happening the next day—a trip to Paris for a showing of Katz’s “Venice paintings,” exhibited at Venice Biennale Arte 2024. Lococo was excited and said that one of his most cherished memories was a solo retrospective of Katz at the Guggenheim Museum in 2021. “It was a real event and jam-packed.”

Matt Mercer, Lococo’s artist liaison and sales manager, can attest to the friendship between Katz and Lococo. “Robert and Alex are best friends. Robert is always by his side,” he said. Even though Mercer reports an “extraordinary art collection” across all three of Lococo’s residences (Ladue, Manhattan and East Hampton), this storied publisher of beautiful things seemed uninterested to discuss it.

“I am a collector of artists,” he said, getting back to that enviable Rolodex again. sl

Kenny Scharf and Robert Lococo

Award-Winning Quality & Customer Experience

Fischer & Frichtel is a local, family owned company that builds stunning new homes and detached villas in master-planned communities and intimate enclaves throughout St. Louis and St. Charles counties. You can also build a Fischer & Frichtel home on your land! Simply choose a design from our collection and customize it with our wide range of options. We will guide you through the entire process: evaluation of the land, financing, architectural and municipal requirements, construction and closing. Call or visit our website, and tour our stunning display homes. You will love the Fischer & Frichtel experience.

TRAVELER SOPH I STICATED

Maiden Voyage: October 2025

Join me on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for readers of Sophisticated Living St. Louis.

Even if you have been to Florence before, this is a 7- night/ 8-day deep dive into the lives and lifestyles of the most in uential patrons of the arts in history.

Experience the best hotels, restaurants, gelato, private chefs, unique itineraries, guides, scholars, and shopping. Everything is curated by multi-generation Florentines.

With plenty of options, exibility, free-time, walking and exercise, this trip will exceed every expectation. Our professional photographers will take amazing photos for you to remember the best trip of your life.

Please contact me if you have questions or to reserve your spot.

Week 1: Oct 15-22

Week 3: Oct 29-Nov5

Week 2: Oct 22-29 Week 4: Nov 5- 12

5-star accommodations: €12,000 per week per person

4-star accommodations: €10,000 per week per person

Does not include airfare. Everything else is included.

Like a Local FLORENCE

Available At Lusso

Photo Credit White-Klump Photography

by Tony Montano

ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE

Celebrating its 25th year, the Shakespeare Festival unveils its 2025 season, including a joint venture with the Saint Louis Zoo

By Mary

If you’ve ever joyfully schlepped a blanket, a basket and a bestie for an evening of free, live theatre in Forest Park, then you know the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival.

If none of that rings a bell, you will be surprised to know that the Festival has welcomed upwards of 50,000 people to the park for its summer shows, making it the largest free outdoor Shakespeare Festival between either coast. This year the organization is celebrating its 25th Anniversary and, appropriately for a big one, is planning big things.

Crosby Kemper, then living in St. Louis and more recently the former director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, inspired and cajoled a diverse group of friends and local luminaries to make the dream of free Shakespeare come true, just as he had done in his hometown of Kansas City. Lana Pepper was the first managing director of the Festival, an indefatigable den mother of sorts, a Wendy to “the lost boys” who almost single handedly oversaw the nuts and bolts in those first days.

An early “Friendraiser” involved the production of Tom Stoppard’s “The Fifteen Minute Hamlet” in art benefactor Alison Ferring’s backyard in the Central West End. Board member, attorney and the man behind Schlafly Brewing, Tom Schlafly, stood in as a memorable ghost. The organizers wrangled and begged for publicity (and funds, too, since it did cost money to offer FREE Shakespeare). Giddy with dreams, adrenalin and motivation, they built a war chest to put on “Romeo and Juliet,” the first play in the park, directed by the late director P.J.

Paparelli. Kiku Obata of Kiku Obata & Company designed the Festival’s signature poster, as she would for many years to follow.

“On opening night of the first season of the Shakespeare Festival, the organizers and board of directors were hoping for an audience of a few hundred,” Pepper recalled. “But an army of St. Louisans came marching over the hill with their folding chairs in tow. They kept advancing until there were around 3,000 covering the hillside. It was as if St Louis had been waiting for Shakespeare in the park. At the time that the trumpets heralded the start of “Romeo and Juliet,” I was at the top of the hill openly crying in big gasping, happy sobs. Exhaustion and joy can do that.”

This was an era of firsts. As Schlafly observed, “Unlike a real ghost, I was not able to pass quietly through Alison’s screen door but literally crashed through. In some ways my performance portended the way the Shakespeare Festival so visibly and memorably burst on the scene in May of 2000.”

Year after year, the Festival has presented Shakespeare’s works reimagined in creative ways. That gasp of wonder and exhilaration Lana described still fuels the audience, starry-eyed under the stars. The founders’ early efforts set the stage for what would become not only an annual tradition in Shakespeare Glen, but also programming the original founders hadn’t imagined, beyond the realm of Forest Park. In 2012, the organization debuted Shakespeare in the Streets, a collaboration with local neighborhoods to create original productions, blending Shakespearean themes with that community’s unique stories.

Martin / Photos courtesy of the Shakespeare Festival

As You Like It

“The Festival is incredibly fortunate to have Tom Ridgely as its Producing Artistic Director,” said Stephanie Riven, the founding director of the Center of Creative Arts. “Since 2018, Tom has brought a wealth of experience as a Drama Desk-nominated director, collaborating with top-tier artists and institutions, from The Public Theater to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.”

In 2019, under Ridgely, the Festival launched the Confluence Writer’s Project, which while not anchored by Shakespeare’s original works, exemplifies the Bard’s passion for playwriting. That effort was followed by TourCo in 2021, an annual traveling production that takes the Festival out of Forest Park and into dozens of parks, parking lots, plazas and even basketball courts across Missouri and Illinois, bringing the Festival to areas that otherwise have no access to arts programming. The two-week summer run has expanded to year-round programming, accessed by thousands, and is a destination for locals and out-of-towners.

This year, to mark its 25th production in Shakespeare Glen, the Festival picked “Hamlet” (last staged for its 10th anniversary

in 2010). Renowned Shakespeare director Michael Sexton of New York will bring a modern take on the play beginning May 28.

And as a crowd-pleasing bookend to that first production of “Romeo and Juliet,” the Festival will follow up “Hamlet” with a completely new program and partner–the Saint Louis Zoo. Six nights a week beginning July 8, the Festival will produce “Romeo & Zooliet,” featuring life-size animal puppetry by Michael Curry Design, the designers of Broadway’s “The Lion King” and “Frozen.”

The Shakespeare Festival’s commitment to radically accessible free theater is made possible through the support of hundreds of Festival members and supporters throughout the year. Lead support of the 2025 Season comes from Edward Jones, the Regional Arts Commission’s ARPA for the Arts, the Whitaker Foundation, PNC ArtsAlive, Switch, Missouri Arts Council, Pershing Charitable Trust and The Hearst Foundations.

As founder Crosby Kemper said: “In these times there is very little that is universal but every summer in the park there is the universal poet-playwright of the world, William Shakespeare!” sl

The Tempest

SOPHISTICATED CELEBRATIONS

March

1 A Night of Hope and Healing, Lydiashouse.org

7 Arianna String Quartet: Visionaries, umsl.edu

7 Irish Party, stpatrickcenter.org

14 Trivia Night, Friends of Kids with Cancer, friendsofkids.com 19-23 Saint Louis Art Museum’s Art in Bloom, slam.org 19-April 13 “Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood,” repstl.org 25-April 6 “Kimberly Akimbo,” fabulousfox.com

April

3 HavenHouse St. Louis HopeFest, havenhousestl.org

5 Minds in Bloom Spring Soirée, miriamstl.org

11 Contemporary Art Museum’s Dada Ball & Bash: Ripple Effect, camstl.org

12 CID OUT LOUD! cid@cid.edu

19 John Burroughs School’s Pot Pourri annual garage sale, jburroughs.org

21 Saint Louis Visionary Awards, vizawards.org

25 Hope Happens 19th Annual Evening of Hope, hopehappens.org

25 COCAcabana, cocastl.org

26 Bites at the Big Top, Foster Adoptive Care Coalition, foster-adopt.org

26 Marian Magic 2025, marianmiddleschool.org

26 Spring Fling at Longmeadow Rescue Ranch, longmeadowrescueranch.org

29 Children’s Hospital Table Tops Spring Event, bjc.org

THE REP’S HOLIDAY BENEFIT

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis held its second annual Holiday Benefit on December 10, 2024, at the Loretto-Hilton Center. The event featured celebrity guest and star of Guardians of the Galaxy actor Sean Gunn. Over 400 attendees enjoyed an intimate conversation with Gunn, a live performance from jazz legend Denise Thimes and a lively auction. The evening raised over $300,000 to support The Rep’s artistic and education programming, continuing its legacy of bringing vibrant, transformative theatre to the St. Louis community.

1) Suzan Kelsey Brooks, Sean Gunn, Pat Schutte, Ken Schutte 2) Mel Pashea, David Frey, Sean Gunn, Megan Pritchard, Caleb Smith 3) Charmian Aaron, Sean Gunn, Janelle Turner

4) Ann Scott, Sean Gunn 5) Sean Gunn, Kate Berstrom 6) Stephanie Kirkland, Sean Gunn, David Kirkland 7) Ted Wight, Sean Gunn, Susie Nall 8) Denise Thimes

9) Rep execs Danny Williams, Kate Bergstrom 10) Bailey Pashia, Sean Gunn, Stephanie Boyd 11) The 2024 Rep Holiday Gala

Photos by Birdeye

A CHRISTMAS STORY FOR DOGS

Stray Rescue of St. Louis held its annual Hope for the Holidays Gala on December 6, 2024, at the Chase Park Plaza Hotel. The sold-out gala, presented by Randy Morgan of Guild Mortgage, raised over $650,000 under the theme “A Christmas Story-Rewriting their Future”. The night dazzled as 700 guests paid tribute to the real stars of the evening-the warrior dogs. The Stray Rescue of St. Louis Gala is a one-of-a-kind event dedicated to sharing the stories of the underdogs who cross their path each year, inviting the community to celebrate, remember and honor the often broken and defeated animals who overcome every hardship against them to finally know love.

1) Jesse Siefert, Chief of Police for Washington University Police Department Angela Coonce, Tanya Rodman, Greg Casem with WashU Comfort Dogs and Stray Rescue alums: Bear, Archie and Brookie. 2) Heather Schaefer, Julia Gabbert, Nicole Judd, Warrior Dog Burton 3) The evening’s centerpiece by Ice Cuisine Ice Sculptures 4) Bengie Molina, Courtney Litchenberg 5) Eric Lawrence, Tracy Knutson, Robb Fair 6) Alex Herring, Stray Rescue Employee Rosie Arney with Warrior Dogs Morticia and Hex 7) Julie Scerine and Nancy Crawford-Scerine holding Alvin Chipmunk 8) Stray Rescue of St. Louis CEO Cassady Caldwell, Trey Morris 9) Anne-Marie Denny, Warrior Dog Ramone 10) Aimee Dearsley, Loren Terveer, Julia Gabbert, Randy Morgan, Debi Morgan

Photos by Donna Lochmann

KATHERINE BERNHARDT AND SAINT LOUIS FASHION FUND LAUNCH “THE SUPERS”

The Saint Louis Fashion Fund and the art world collided at a kick-off party hosted by Annie Brahler and Charles Smith in their historic home on Lindell Blvd. The couple owns the design firm, Euro Trash, Inc. The event capped off the SLFF’s 10th Anniversary and celebrated St. Louisbased artist Katherine Bernhardt. The Saint Louis Fashion Fund “The Supers” collaboration—a box of T-shirts featuring Bernhardt’s artwork of supermodels Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and Gisele Bundchen. Cocktails were flowing while guests heard from SLFF Board Chair Susan Sherman and Katherine Bernhardt before dashing to purchase their signed and numbered “art boxes.” A limited number of KB x SLFF “The Supers” boxes are available at Cool Stuff Period on Manchester Blvd. or please visit the www.saintlouisfashionfund.org. All proceeds benefit SLFF.

1) Ted Wight, Jay Perez, Annie Brahler, Charles Smith, Katherine Bernhardt, Cheree Berry, Susan Sherman (seated). 2) Katherine’s son, Khalid’s Jdia-Bernhardt, Katherine Bernhardt 3) Ron Vinton, Katherine Bernhardt, Bill Donius 4) Keil Sherman 5) Saint Louis Fashion Fund Board Members Jessica Tavares, Becky Domyan, Cheree Berry, Caressa Davis, Dwight Carter, Susan Sherman 6) Chloe Peche, Ava Bentley, Susan Sherman, Jay Perez, Annie Brahle, Charles Smith, Katherine Bernhardt, Cheree Berry, Mia Krieger 7) The Supers all boxed up 8) Ryan Falk, Cheree Berry, Charlie Houska (in back of Cheree), Katherine Bernhardt, Ted Wight, Susan Sherman, Jay Perez, Annie Brahler, Charles Smith 9) Gathered to celebrate the SLFF x Katherine Bernhardt collaboration

Photography by Suzy Gorman

NELLY’S BLACK AND WHITE BALL 2024

Nelly pulled out all the stops for his party with a purpose, raising money for Make-A-Wish and the granting of a Harris-Stowe State University college scholarship, as well as celebrating his hometown St. Louis. The singer has been a longtime supporter of Make-A-Wish, and during the event he granted a wish live on stage to 14-year-old Max DelRosario who wished for a brandnew home theater system. Nelly also surprised Harris-Stowe State University sophomore Teanna Hoye with a four-year full ride scholarship covering tuition, books and student fees, as well as a new laptop. St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones presented a key to the city to Nelly and to each of the St. Lunatics (Murphy Lee, Kyjuan, City Spud, Slo’Down). In response, Nelly teased something special for his hometown: A festival in partnership with Metro Boomin in St. Louis in 2025. Held December 15 at the Four Seasons, the headliner was Ne-Yo. He was joined by attending musical guests, who took over the stage for a group jam session. Guests were treated to multiple mini concert sets from Nelly with Ashanti, Nelly with Jermaine Dupri and Nelly with the St. Lunatics (City, Murphy Lee, Kyjuan and Slo’Down). Nelly also performed with Metro Boomin, Bow Wow, Blanco Brown and Polow Da Don. A video was played showing what an incredible year it has been for the superstar, including his 50th birthday, his marriage to Ashanti and birth of their first son together, the launch of the new Apple Bottoms and the announcement of his upcoming world tour, Where the Party At Tour.

1) Super Bowl champion Orlando Pace, World Series champion Jim Edmonds, Nelly, Stanley Cup champion Jordan Bennington—a St. Louis all-sports champions moment at the Black at White Ball.

2) Nelly, Murphy Lee, Mayor Tishaura Jones, City, Kyjuan, Slo’Down. Nelly and the St. Lunatics were each presented with

to

city. 3) Orlando Pace, Carla Pace 4) Gianna Pettus, Masyn Winn

5) 14-year-old Make-A-Wish recipient Max DelRosario, Nelly 6) Richard Fortus 7) Sydney Thomas 8) Nelly, Metro Boomin 9) Harris-Stowe State University sophomore Teanna Hoye, Nelly

10) Cris Prosperi-Binnington, Jordan Binnington 11) Jermaine Dupri, Blaco Brown 12) Black and White Ball emcees, Mike Claiborne, Diamond Palmer, Mikala McGhee

Photos by Jon Gitchoff

PHOTO CREDIT: ALISE O'BRIEN

THE FLEUR DE LIS

The 66th Annual Fleur de Lis Charity Ball was held on Saturday, December 28, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency Saint Louis at The Arch. Kathy Graveman was this year’s ball chairman; Mimi Fonseca is the President of the Fleur de Lis organization. As is its tradition, the proceeds from the 2024 Fleur de Lis Charity Ball, at which 17 young women were presented to The Most Reverend Mark S. Rivituso, Bishop of Saint Louis, benefitted SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. To date, the Fleur de Lis has (fleurdelisstl.org) has exceeded a total of $3 million in donations to SSM Cardinal Glennon. Last year, the hospital provided millions of dollars in free care to children from St. Louis and the surrounding bi-state area.

1) Mary Ciapciak, Kathy Graveman, Bishop of Saint Louis The Most Reverend Mark S. Rivituso, Mimi Fonseca, Beth Schmitt 2) Ava McGowan dancing with her father, Timothy McGowan

3) Bishop Rivituso with William Newbold 4) The escorts arrive 5) Back row L-R: Marisela Garcia, Mattea Schwartz, Katherine Rohde; Front row Heidi Kraemer, Alexandra Todorovich, Madelyn Mall

6) Fathers dancing with their daughters 7) The 2024 Fleur de Lis honorees: Marisela Garcia, Isabella Poindexter, Kathryn Schwaneke, Madelyn Mall, Caroline Novak, Lilly Hoehn, Gillian McDaniel, Ava McGowan, Rosa Forget, Lily Novak, Heidi Kraemer, Mattea Schwartz, Claire Garton, Ava Demko, Alexandra Todorovich, Katherine Rohde, Isabella Espana 8) The Bishop, the debutantes and their dads

Photos by Robert George

DANCING WITH THE ST. LOUIS STARS

For the 17th year, local community leaders took to the stage and danced under the lights at The 2025 Independence Center Fundraiser, held January 25 at The Ritz-Carlton. For the first time, local entrants were paired with professional dancers. The St. Louis stars vying for the 2025 trophy included: Jennifer Bardot, Lauren DeSantis, Claire Flanagan, Sean Freeman, Sekhar Prabhakar, Mary Carr Sigurdson and Kristin Tucker. By the end of the evening, the event had raised more than $555,000. The nonprofit Independence Center is committed to restoring the lives of adults with severe and persistent mental illness. Since its inception, Dancing with the St. Louis Stars has raised more than $7 million to fund comprehensive services and resources which help members manage their symptoms, find purpose and belonging, and live more independently.

1) Barry Sandweiss 2) Ron Daugherty 3) Mark Bulanda, Kelly Bulanda, Trish Holmes 4) Dan Guirl, Lisa Guirl 5) Bill Drumm, Angie Drumm 6) Tim Nowak 7) The dancers on stage 8) Julian Carr, Eileen Carr, Mary Sigurson 9) Damon Arnold 10) Rose Brennan, Jim Brennan