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or our October/November issue of The Boulevard, I’m very excited to feature a legendary comedian on our cover. Bill Maher keeps his audiences laughing for hours on end. While often criticized for his vocal political views, Bill has the heart of a true comic genius. Other well-known and respected performers are also featured in our autumn issue – Daniel Baldwin of the celebrated Baldwin family of actors; Lori Singer, who rose to Fame in the hit TV series of the same name; the multifaceted Jon Huertas; Transamerica’s Kevin Zegers; and Devin Ratray, who can currently be seen in Surrogates. Jon Clarke speaks with actress and now singer Juliette Lewis for an Out of the Box session. In this edition we offer a special extended travel section featuring such varied destinations as Half Moon Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica, old world Estonia, Borneo, New Zealand and back to our own Glacier National Park in Montana, USA. We’ve also sought out some of the best cruise lines in the world, as well as information on traveling by private jet. You never know when the opportunity might arise! We at The Boulevard would like to offer a warm welcome to fitness guru John Basedow, who is now blogging on The Boulevard website: www.boulevardli.com. With summer gone, the holidays will be here before we know it, so we’ve put together a little gift guide section to help you prepare. We’ve also included our regular features highlighting upcoming affairs, recent social events, fashion, dining, health and so much more.
Angela Susan Anton Publisher The Boulevard
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A M E R I CA NA M A N H A S S E T
Americana Manhasset is delighted to welcome Hirshleifers ETC to its collection of sixty fabulous shops. ETC offers an ever changing assortment of hand-selected personal and home luxury items of the moment, that are visual, sensual, whimsical & fun. Richly appointed with design elements that make it inviting, the space features hand-planed bleached walnut details, warm leather cabinetry and comfortable leather seating, all highlighted with a soft green accent color. State of the art sound and video systems enhance the sensory aspects of the space while a 12 foot digital graphic, strategically placed beyond a lacquered runway, boldly defines the mood of the moment. Like individual stories in a book, ETC is meant to be explored, its collections discovered.
HIRSHLEIFERS ETC FEATURES THESE GREAT BRANDS THE ROW
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L’AGENCE • KATY RODRIGUEZ • LUIS MORAIS • LIBERTINE TOMAS MAIER • R13 • GIORGIO BRATO • JOHNNY FARAH MONCLER
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Contact AMERICANA MANHASSET’s complimentary Personal Shopping Service at 800.818.6767 or americanamanhasset.com
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Long Island’s Film Window on the World! 423 Park Avenue, Huntington • 631-423-7611
www.CinemaArtsCentre.org
• Celebrating 36 Years in Huntington • Featuring the Finest in International and Independent Film, Revivals, Documentaries, Filmmakers and Stars In Person!
SHAKESPEARE’S ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL One Show Only! Friday, October 16 at 7:30pm RECORDED LIVE FROM THE NATIONAL THEATRE, LONDON!
HOME MOVIE DAY
Saturday, October 17 at Noon
A CELEBRATION OF AMATEUR FILMS AND FILMMAKING
The Classics
A CITY OF SADDNESS
Tuesday, October 20 at 7:30pm
Hou Hsiao-Hsien’s (Flight of theRed Balloon) landmark epic
Sunday, Oct. 25 at 1pm
HANDMADE NATION
FILM + CRAFT FAIR + BOOK SIGNING In Person: Filmmaker Faythe Levine
Halloween Events at the Cinema!
Tuesday, October 27 at 7:30pm NOSFERATU ANYTHING BUT SILENT - Live Music by BEN MODEL Friday, October 30 at 7:30pm FILM + DISCUSSION + BOOK SIGNING
DRACULA (1931)
In Person: Authors Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt
Saturday, October 31 at 11pm Summer Camp Cinema FRIGHTMARES + COSTUME CONTEST
THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES DR. PHIBES RISES AGAIN
TimesTalks: Conversations with Leading Authors Live Simulcasts from TheTimesCenter, NYC
JOHN IRVING STEPHEN KING
Wednesday, October 28 at 7pm Tuesday, November 10 at 7pm
TONY CURTIS WITH HIS CLASSIC FILM SOME LIKE IT HOT AN EVENING
WITH
Friday, November 6 at 5pm and 7:30pm
FILM + DISCUSSION + BOOK SIGNING + RECEPTION Visit www.CinemaArtsCentre.org to join our mailing list and see our full schedule of films and events
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Gift Guide
Apple iMac Since 1998 this has been one of the best-selling computers of all time. Still going strong, the “all in one” iMac is offered in two models: 20-inch and 24-inch screens with one- and threespeed configurations respectively. Prices range from $1,199 - $2,199 and they are available at www.apple.com, the Apple store and various other resellers.
Alienware They say that a PC is a PC is a PC (except for Mac). Well, that isn’t necessarily true. If you’re looking for a cool, high performance PC, check out Alienware’s lineup. The founders were big fans of the show The X-Files, and therefore created a line of futuristic, topsecret looking computers with names like Area-51, Hanger 18 and Aurora. Pictured is the Alienware M17x starting at $1,799 and available at www.alienware.com
Meade Telescopes A great gift for those who have always caught themselves gazing at the stars. A refracting telescope is best for catching a glimpse of the rings of Saturn or a storm on Jupiter. Before you know it, you will be out there for hours, and for your kids … they will be learning! Meade is one of the top-of-the-line companies out there and a good refracting telescope for starters will cost you about $300 and up. Check out www.meade.com.
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The Boulevard • October - November 2009
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Gift Guide iPod
Xbox 360
Another revolutionary product that has changed the way we listen to music and is still a great gift is the iPod. Since its 2001 debut, Apple has sold more than 220 million iPods. Today the iPod is available in a variety of sizes, flavors and technology, from the shuffle to the nano to the classic to the iPod touch, and will cost you $59, $149, $249 and $199 respectively. Available at www. apple.com or the Apple store.
Fun for all ages, the Xbox has become one of the leaders in gaming entertainment since its inception in 2001 and 360 intro in 2005. The market has really held steady among this, the Nintendo Wii and the Playstation. With thousands of games and accessories available, it’s hard to pick the right one. Most stores have demonstration games and accessories available, but if you’re still not sure, your kids know! $199 + depending on models. Official site: www.xbox.com.
Nikon D90 It’s not Nikon’s newest camera, but it is by far one of the nicest pro-sumer cameras they have come out with. A great upgrade for the point-and- shoot D40 and D80 users, the D90 creates D300 quality and an ISO capability of 6400. The first of the line to offer HD video recording, the 12.9 megapixal D90 also has one of the best user-friendly interfaces available. Approximately $800. Available at www.nikonusa.com.
Canon EOS 7D Canon has come out with the EOS 7D for those Canon lovers who want to step up. The new 7D has an 18-megapixel sensor with a 1.0 percent magnification that shows 100 percent of the frame vs. 95 percent in the viewfinder. The new shutter system captures a remarkable eight frames a second and captures HD video at 1080p. $1,699. Visit www.usa.canon.com.
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The Boulevard • October - November 2009
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Rock ‘n’ Roll Glamour
Gift Guide
By Ron Rizzo
Capturing his love for music and fashion, Ron Rizzo has debuted his woven leathers. These exciting bracelets combine brown or black leathers with semi-precious stones, diamonds and attached silver chain cuffs. This essential accessory adds the “needed edge” to any outfit this season. Ron continues his well-known technique of hand-braided silver and/or gold to give bracelets a new twist. The bangle collection continues to grow – perfect for stacking. You can never have enough bangles…. Added this fall are bold, oversized chain-link necklaces and bracelets with Ron Rizzo’s signature S-clasp to complete the look. The Marrakesh collection is extremely popular and continues to evolve with new designs and new color concepts. A stunning example is a citrine-centered flower necklace, surrounded by diamonds on a soft black background. The Ron Rizzo collections are composed of hand-crafted, signature pieces priced at $100 and up. The Ron Rizzo jewelry design boutique and manufacturing headquarters are at 62 Glen Cove Road in East Hills, NY. Call 516 484-0030 or visit www.ronrizzo.com.
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The Boulevard • October - November 2009
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Bloomingdale’s
Polo Ralph Lauren Pink Pony Water Bottle Created exclusively for Bloomingdale's to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The bottle, which features singlewall, stainless steel construction, a screw-top lid and a carabiner for portability, holds 24 ounces. Ten dollars from the sale of the bottle goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation to help fund clinical and translational research. $20
Creed Introduces Acqua Fiorentina for Women Acqua Fiorentina is handmade with flowers and fruits from the orchards and gardens around Florence. Acqua Fiorentina is visually pink like stained glass and also pink for health – a portion of proceeds from U.S. sales of the fragrance during October will support the National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund. $130 for one ounce. Available at Bloomingdale's Roosevelt Field. For information, call 516873-2849. Creed is the world's only privately held luxury fragrance dynasty. Founded in 1760 and passed from father to son for 249 years, Creed is based in PA.
Introducing Yoostar, New at Bloomingdale's Experience Yoostar, the revolutionary new entertainment system that lets you film yourself right into your favorite movie scenes and share your performances with friends and family online. Pick your scene from an extensive movie library. Plug the camera into your PC, set up the green screen, read your lines from the teleprompter and voila! Yoostar puts you in the starring role. When you've created your masterpiece, click to share your clip with friends and family online. Tons of fun! Yoostar is available for purchase in all stores. $169.95
www.boulevardli.com
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Gift Guide
Available at H. L. Gross
Tacori diamond initial disc pendants in yellow or white gold. Available with bright or brushed finish. $490
KC Designs 18K gold stackable pavé diamond bangle bracelets $1,775 each
“The Camiband has got you covered ... for any wardrobe malfunction you may be having.”
The Perfect Accessory This Holiday Season
J
ust as the name implies, the Camiband, also called the "ultimate fashion extender," is a stretch lace covering that can be worn three different ways, giving any woman’s wardrobe more versatility. The stretch lace band, made from a combination of nylon and Lycra, snugly fits over the hips, concealing any hip, back or stomach bulges. Unlike other cleavage covers, the Camiband has no strings, straps or sticky attachments and is ideal for a blouse or shirt that is too short or a neckline that is too low. It can be worn as a stylish bathing suit coverup as well or as a hip-layering accessory for that ’tween or teen looking to make a fashion statement.
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The Camiband is available in two stretch lace sizes that fit most – S/M (26) and M/L (8-12/14) and is available in six colors—Onyx, Blue Ink, Chocolate, Pink Passion, Cream and White. The cover-up is sold mainly on the Internet and in some specialty boutiques across the country. As a special holiday gift to The Boulevard readers, Camiband is offering one limited edition matching lace headband with any order (while supplies last; mention or use code BLVD). And through the month of December, they are offering three Camibands for $65 or five Camibands for $99.95 (regularly priced at $26.99 each). To order your Camiband in time for the holidays, visit www.camibands.com.
The Boulevard • October - November 2009
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Louis Vuitton Golf Bag This elegant and particularly sturdy golf bag can hold a full set of clubs. Its numerous pockets can hold clothing, umbrella, balls or towels. Size: 11.8" x 49.5" x 11.8" - Monogrammed canvas, natural cowhide trim - Holds a full set of clubs with six interior compartments, numerous inside pockets for clothing, umbrella, towels, balls, etc. - Large studs underneath base to protect the leather - Supple removable cover with wide opening zip - Highly resistant base with water-draining eyelet. $9,850. Available at www.louisvuitton.com.
Sunbuster
Tiffany Atlas Golf Tee The striking Atlas formation of Roman numerals is inspired by the historic Atlas clock that graces the entrance of Tiffany’s famed Fifth Avenue store and is the key design element in the Tiffany Atlas collection. Combined with grooved borders and matte and diamond-polished surfaces, the signature numerals highlight an array of sterling silver gifts, including the golf tee that brings graphic expression to a favorite sport, as well as celebrates Tiffany’s heritage as a premier silversmith. $115. Available at Tiffany & Co.
The sport enhancement eyewear. The Sunbuster is another great product and was voted in the top six sunglasses by Gold Digest. The Sunbusters block 100 percent of UAV/UVB rays, have high impact multi-layer polycarbonate, and have maximum shatterproof protection. The arms are specially designed to flex and conform to whoever is wearing them without pinching, while its special lens provides accuracy without distorting images. $100. Available through www.sunbuster.com.
The Gustbuster This is the only umbrella that you will ever need. This unique umbrella can withstand wind speeds up to 55 + mph and still keep you dry, $39.95. Available through www.gustbuster.com
Macallan Fine Oak Single Malt The Macallan fine oak single malt is triple-cask and matured in a unique, complex combination of exceptional oak casks. This triple cask combination produces an extraordinarily smooth, delicate, yet complex single malt, after maturing at the Macallan distillery for a minimum of 30 years. Approximately $2,300.
www.boulevardli.com
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Americana Manhasset
Lust List
Americana Manhasset is the place for the latest luxury fashions. This Page Clockwise: Fendi peek-a-boo bag with silk fringe in ruby red ($5,740); Fendi Plum and Bordeaux T-strap Mary Jane platforms ($800); Ferragamo Chiara bronze python bag ($2,150); Ferragamo Lida pump in prune ($790). Background : Frette Luxury Konya bedcover in silk, cotton and mohair ($4200).
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The Fall/Winter trends for 2009 include a touch of detailed artistry and a bit of rock ‘n’ roll fantasy. This Page Clockwise: Giuseppe Zanotti ankle booties with zippers ($925). The Shoe Box; Thomas Wylde boots with pony hair and skull detailing ($2200), Lulu Couture; Catherine Malandrino Wing clutch in silver and noir ($950); Catherine Malandrino ruffle clutch in silver ($650). All items available at the Americana Manhasset, go to www.americanamanhasset.com for more information. www.boulevardli.com
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The Oleg Cassini couture classic tuxedo is done in gold lamĂŠ pinstripes on rich white silk and wool, giving a striking leanline look. The turned-up notched collar is lined in winter white satin and worn open to reveal a gold bib tank under the jacket. She wears a top hat covered in white tulle to top it all off.
Top Hat & Tales The scoop-necked Cassini dress is done in a fabulous sheer white silk chiffon and gathered at the center of her narrowed waistline with a series of jettrimmed chiffon rosettes, tied in the back with a bow.
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The short and flirty party dress from the OC by Oleg Cassini collection is done in white chiffon over silk crepe for this marvelous ‘fun’ dress. The ruched top is caught with straps and self-tied in a bow around the narrow crystal beaded waistline. The fabulous skirt features streamers of white chiffon all stitched separately, for a whirl on the dance floor. She wears her tiny top hat at a jaunty angle.
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The Cassini cashmere twin set done in winter white is lavishly embroidered with bugle beads, pearls and crystals. Worn with a floor length, bias-cut skirt in tonal white silk charmeuse satin, it is a devastatingly casual, yet stunning, evening look.
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The Cassini tee top in shiny black hand-stitched sequins is worn over an extravagantly cut circle skirt in layers of jet black silk chiffon, a masterpiece of simplicity and timeless elegance.
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Crystal Cube Ice Bucket
Cutlery Rests
Sculpted Candlesticks
Crystal Eraser, Lucky Dice and Pencil
The Casa Cassini Crystal Collection heralds the gift-giving season with sparkling sculptured crystal collectibles. The collection is crafted of fine European crystal.
Crystal Rings Sculpted Vase
Prism Clock Crystal Cube Ice Bucket
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A love affair that never ends.
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Profiles
I
saw a bumper sticker once that read, “If you aren’t outraged, you aren’t paying attention!” I don’t know what the driver was outraged about, but it didn’t matter - I understood. I understood the frustration, the angst, the disgust with the absurdities of our world. Left or right side of the aisle, we are boiling over these days. Intelligent discourse on how to best suit our nation’s health-care needs are now raucous circuses where people actually show up with guns. The president, once an office shown due respect regardless of ideology, is heckled while addressing Congress like it’s a high school pep rally. There is madness everywhere you look in politics and the media. And through the fog and amid the detention hall din, there is one wiseass standing in the back of the classroom fanning the flames: Bill Maher. Bill Maher will be in New York in November for the NY Comedy Festival. He has been a standup comedian for close to 30 years and still keeps a vigorous touring schedule in addition to his HBO talk show Real Time with Bill Maher. For 17 years on television, Bill has been a consistent agitator from the far left of everything we hold as normal, sacred and status quo. The social commentator analyzes how we behave as a people, the satirist points out our flaws, and the comedian just wants to make us laugh. Bill Maher is all three, and love him or hate him, he is a force to be reckoned with. Bill is angry at a lot of things – religion, politics (he holds both parties accountable despite his leftist ideals) and has quite a healthy contempt for the younger generation. So why did we want to talk to him? Because there are very few people I still appreciate for making me think, even when I don’t agree with them. Bill has been on television a long time, first with a show called Politically Incorrect. His star rose dramatically during the Bush presidency, an era where comedic social satirists like Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert began to form what I call the “holy trinity of uninvited thought leaders.” But Bush is gone now, and a war without an enemy is … over? I asked Bill what was the greatest threat facing America today. “Specifically, it’s environmental. I am sitting here in Los Angeles and I can smell smoke from the giant fires. They are becoming ever more commonplace than they used to be and they are 10 times bigger. 60 Minutes did a story on how big the fires in the West have gotten. One of the chief firefighters said that people in Washington debate whether global warming is happening; no one here that works with me thinks it’s a debate any more. So that is a specific threat,” said Bill. Bill is a guy that likes bold moves. His nature as a comedian is to shake things up, and shake them he does. His guests include some of the hardest-working journalists in the business today, explaining their experiences in a forum their employer media
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outlets simply can’t provide. It’s the news discussion and analysis that we all yearn for, and Maher tries to balance his panels so there are enough opinions to go around – when there aren’t, he will inject expertly metered provocation. A-list celebrities are regulars; the criteria are they should be smart and have something to say. Elected officials make regular appearances. But no one is really safe from Maher’s demand for honest, transparent accountability. No one gets a pass. So as we talked more about global warming, it’s no wonder that when I asked where the blame lay, he went for the jugular. “What stands in the way of solving the problem is our way of government. The stranglehold that corporations have on this country is the fundamental problem that we have; and quite frankly, the new president has been a disappointment in how he stood up to them. I thought he was going to come in and read the riot act and there was a new sheriff in town, and you see the way with how the health care debate is going down, it’s really business as usual. And I think he missed a tremendous opportunity in that first 100 days to come in and make a startling new change in our approach. He absolutely did not do that and now we are back to nibbling around the edges and letting the corporations make the rules.” On the day of our interview, Maher aired the episode where he sat with legendary journalist Bill Moyers. The interview wasn’t funny. It was a sober and difficult examination of the state of media in America. Moyers was lamenting the bygone error of superheroes – Edward R. Murrow, Walter Cronkite and Don Hewitt. Maher believes the media should be a teacher and tell the public what they can’t find out on their own. “They need to be the teacher and tell us what we need to know. But the media doesn’t want to be the teacher anymore. They want to be the kid. They want to be throwing spitballs in the back of the room. I was talking with Jay Leno about this on the show the night before and privately a few weeks before that, and we were chuckling that all these media guys want to be us. They want to be funny and they want to get laughs and be popular.” But Maher’s standup is where he finds his chi. Behind the brilliant, long-format interviews and scorching monologues he is still a guy making people laugh. Bill does dozens of gigs a year, partly to cultivate material but also because of the nourishment a theater full of thunderous laughter provides. Maher has stepped in as the successor to the original master of social attack comedy, George Carlin, who torched institutions and normalcy with such frothing, biting wit that an evening with Carlin felt like an assault. Maher is slightly cooler in temperature, with fewer sound effects, but has assumed the responsibility for calling us all out and keeping us honest. He cites his early influences as Johnny Carson and Robert Klein. I asked him if standup was in his soul, assum-
The Boulevard • October - November 2009
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ing he will admit to having one. He answered, “I love it. You love what you are good at. I have been doing it for almost 30 years. It’s the kind of thing where it takes a very long time before you are really good at it. The first 20 years I was in standup I don’t think I ever got a standing ovation, and probably the last seven or eight, I can’t remember when I didn’t get one. You do what you love; do what you are good at. It’s a purifying technique and it’s a way of distilling everything down to its essence, which I can’t really do on the show. On the show, you have time considerations and you have guests that are senators or congressmen and you need to be careful with language and so forth. In standup comedy I can take everything down to its essence and get laughs. There is something pure about going on for an hour-and-a-half or two hours and they are laughing all the way. At this point I would put my act up against anybody. Some people get more publicity, but if we had a laugh-off, I truly believe I would win it.” Much like Carlin, Maher is equally frustrated with religion. His 2008 film Religulous was a documentary-style series of interviews where Bill spoke with various people from many faiths, trying to see what made them tick. His premise was simple: agnostic antagonist gives zealots enough rope to hang themselves in interviews and look foolish. While I am enlightened enough to know that fundamentalism in any form can be a very dangerous element, there was something inherently uncomfortable about such a broad-brush indictment of religion, despite a lot of the roaringly funny dialogue. “The most annoying criticism of the movie was that we picked on extremists and we picked on the low-hanging fruit. No, we didn’t. This is what religion is. People want to imagine that there is some mythical person out there that can defend the nonsense that is religion and then appear like an intelligent human being. You can never square that circle. We did not pick on easy prey. We did not pick on extremists. Ninety percent of the people in that movie are just like every other religious person out there. They are just expressing what people believe,” he ranted. “I know religion is very comforting and I am a big, bad meany because I pointed out how harmful and ridiculous it is, but there are circles that simply can’t be squared with religion. I have a lot more respect for people who say, ‘You know what, I don’t care if it’s crazy, I just wanna believe.’” And that is precisely the rub. Sure, there are plenty of flaws with centuries of religion creating wars, impeding science, squashing human rights. The enlightened know that and they know that under it lies the real question – not whether religion is good or bad, but why? Why do we need religion at all? I would argue that there are still smart people who are well aware of both the flaws and the charade that is the naked emperor, yet these people still go to church and temple. They find hope and comfort there. They find familiarity. They find heritage. As tempting as it
“
What I do from start to finish is
survey what’s going on in this country and try to weave it together into sort of a state of the
union with
”
big laughs.
may be to make fun of it all, it’s sacred enough to deserve to be left alone. Yet Maher can serve it up and push the “I’m just a comedian” panic button at the last minute. In a sauna whose walls have just started to close in, Maher’s court jester badge is like an open porthole. Levity. The gift of grace that lets us digest the troubling and uncomfortable. Perhaps the most brilliant social commentator knows he can only bring us where we need to go with humor. But you have to be good at the trifecta of satire, commentary and comedy to really teach us something, and Maher has mastered all three. “There are times within the body of the show they should forget I am a comedian because I am not acting in that role. There are moments when I am an absolute comedian where I come out and do a monologue and I do new rules and stuff like that, which is all straight-out comedy. But we have very learned, interesting guests who are not there for the primary reason to make people laugh. Now, being a comedian for a long time I can’t help leavening the conversation with laughter, which helps. Sometimes my booking staff will say we want to book so-and-so this week and I will say but I already saw him on Chris Mathews or Larry King and they say, ‘Yeah. but it will be very different with you.’” And it will be. And it will make you laugh, but also make you think. And that, whether Maher believes in him or not, is God’s punchline.
Bill Maher will be performing in the New York area on the following dates: Nov. 6th - Wellmont Theater, Montclair, NJ Nov. 7th - Borgata Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, NJ Nov. 8th - Avery Fisher Hall, New York, NY Check out www.billmaher.com for more information. www.boulevardli.com
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A Devin By Tara E. Butler
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without A
Surrogate
ctor Devin Ratray may not be a household name, but for fans of the movies Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, his role of the big, bullying brother was truly unforgettable. Now, after a brief hiatus from his craft, Devin returns to the silver screen in the blockbuster hit Surrogates. After a few years of studying at NYU and the School of Visual Arts, this New York native has re-emerged. For many actors, a four- or five-year absence from the industry could be a career killer. So, was it a challenge for Devin? "It wasn't difficult for me," he said. "I feel more natural in an acting surrounding." However, he did admit it was a harder pitch for his agent. But eventually he landed the role as head of FBI surveillance in the Touchtone Film Surrogates starring Bruce Willis. Surrogates is a science fiction thriller about people living life through robotic surrogates. The robots are flawless images of themselves. But after years of a crime-free world, havoc strikes when a murder is committed. In the movie, Devin’s character does not have a surrogate and is one of the only good humans left. An “absolute fan” of the science fiction genre, Devin was thrilled with his first opportunity to work in a sci fi film. I asked what it was like working with Bruce Willis. "Bruce is the consummate actor; he knows exactly what he is going for and he sets the tone for the entire set," Devin said. "He is a great leading man.” Devin’s interest in acting is no surprise, as both his parents have a show biz background. His mother has appeared on the Broadway stage and currently coaches the boys who play Billy Elliot. His father has both screen and stage credits. When asked if he would be interested in pursuing a role on stage, his answer was immediate: “Very much so.” Devin is also the lead in two indie films that are making the film festival circuit, The 2 Bobs, which has won 25 awards and Courting Condi. It is in Courting Condi that Devin gets to show off his songwriting skills. The multifaceted actor also revealed that he plays five instruments: the harmonica, piano, drums, guitar and bass. He is proud to say that he is self-taught. Toward the end of our conversation, I learned that Devin is very familiar with my home, Long Island’s North Shore. While he was growing up, his parents rented a place in Bayville during the summer months. It was fun reminiscing about some of our mutual old stomping grounds, a number of which are long-gone, such as Rheinhart’s restaurant. Devin was amazed to hear what changes have occurred in Bayville over the last decade or so. Maybe it’s time for a revisit.
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Profiles
The New DanielBaldwin By Ruth Bashinsky
I
t is going to take more than ingesting a bull’s tongue, sleeping in bug-infested conditions and dealing with some unpredictable personalities (ask him about Janice Dickinson) to keep Daniel Baldwin away. Earlier this year, Daniel, 49, traveled to the Central American jungle to join the cast of the NBC reality show I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here, replacing The Hills actor Spencer Pratt, who left the show along with his wife Heidi Montag. Not everyone would be willing to leave their family and travel thousands of miles to rough it in the rainforest but Daniel saw it as an opportunity to help raise money for his mother’s charity, the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund, Inc. “I heard all the press and the accusations that Heidi and Spencer were tortured and I have to say I thought with the exception of sleep deprivation, bug bites and Janice Dickinson, it was pretty easy,” says Baldwin. “I was surprised how many people watched the program and how well it did and if I was able to explain to any young women about early mammography and breast cancer detection as a deterrent to the mortality of this disease, then certainly I accomplished more than I ever imagined.” The Boulevard magazine caught up with Daniel while he was enjoying an afternoon lunch date with his wife Joanne, a former British model and chef he met while he was in rehab, to talk about his experience in the jungle (yes it was a bull’s tongue he ate), growing up on Long Island, his upcoming projects, family life and his new sober lifestyle. If you talk with Daniel you’ll realize that the drama on reality television does not compare to his own life story. Over the last 17 years, the star has battled and beat a cocaine addiction, had an arrest that he describes as one big misunderstanding (all the charges were dropped) and guest-starred on a VH-1 reality show, Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, that he left after just a few episodes.
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“When I started cocaine, it grabbed me like nothing I ever tried before. It was the demise of many, many things in my life. Until I figured out what I needed to do and that I was done with doing coke and that I didn’t want to feel or live that way anymore, I continued on that path,” he says. “That is not part of my life anymore and the fact that I am sober now is why I am allowed to have a relationship with my wife.” These days Daniel gets his high from his wife, his busy career and his growing family. He is in a great place – personally and professionally. This year, he received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Julius Cap Krug in the HBO drama Grey Gardens. In August, he became a father again with the birth of his daughter Finley Rae Martineau Baldwin. Finley joins 19-month-old sister Avis Ann as well as siblings Atticus, 13, Alexandra, 18, and Kahlea, 25, from Daniel's previous relationships. His other baby is his new production company, Grilletto Entertainment, based in Portland, Oregon - that he formed with local business partners Terence McClelland and actor-producer Charles Wall (Road Reps is one of Wall’s films). In June, Daniel held a press conference announcing his new venture, that he plans on launching in early 2010. One of his goals, he says, is to help stimulate the economy. “I have always been a huge fan of the state of Oregon. It has all the natural resources you could possibly imagine – a beautiful coastline, a metropolitan city – and yet it is No. 2 in unemployment. I am going to stay here pre-production, production and post-production and then sell the film and keep the revenue in the state of Oregon.” Some of his production goals include the release of a horror/ thriller film that will take place in an old backwoods hotel. He also has planned a reality television show that he says will be the biggest thing to hit reality television in a long time. In fact, he says he already has a potential deal in place with VH1 and a couple of very large reality TV vendors.
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Profiles
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still gets asked when he and the rest of the Baldwin brothers are going to team up and make a movie together. Daniel’s response is always the same: ”Well, why don’t the four Baldwin brothers be in the same state for more than six days? Maybe you will get a golf outing out of it, but you are probably not going to have time to get a movie out of it.” Moving on to the next chapter in his life, Daniel is enthusiastic about what lies ahead. The American public has had a long, long run of thinking that they know the Baldwins and Daniel Baldwin … Stay tuned. It is about to get really, really good.”
© Photo Courtesy of HBO
Daniel, who has lived in California for the last 25 years, plans on relocating his family to Oregon over the next year, a change that he welcomes. “I always wanted to bring my children up in a state outside of California. I am looking forward to working and living in Portland, Oregon.” No matter where he lives, though, Daniel will always have some type of connection to Massapequa, Long Island, where he was raised along with his five siblings—Elizabeth (Beth), Alec, William (Billy), Stephen and Jane—by his school teacher dad Alex and homemaker mom Carol. “Growing up on Long Island was an amazing experience because of its proximity to NYC. You were 40 minutes from mountains, two seconds from the ocean. It used to be one of the best places to raise children.” Looking back, he has fond memories of the tight-knit community that was part of his childhood: a time before strip malls dominated and plots of land became occupied for commercial and residential use. “I think Massapequa is a great place, but Long Island has built itself up since I was there. Even Massapequa is full of strip malls. There is far less foliage now and fewer places to run around and have fun. I remember these great plots of land that don’t exist anymore because of the value of that land and the pressure economically for people to make money.” Although the Baldwin clan lives all over the country now – with the exception of Billy who recently moved near Daniel’s home in Montecito, California – Daniel says everyone tries to keep in touch. In fact, his sister Jane, who lives in upstate New York, came out to visit him and his family in April. It was the first time that she had been to California in 15 years. However, as famous as Daniel is from films including Oliver Stone’s Born on the Fourth of July, Mulholland Falls and Steve Buscemi’s directorial debut Trees Lounge among others, and television roles that include Homicide: Life on the Street, Cold Case and The Closer, he
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Profiles
LORISinger By Daniel Simone
A Charming Talent That Lights Up A Room
J
une of 2009 was nearly over, and on this day the sun opted to hide as it had for most of the month. The clouds dominated, and the morning darkened to a misty gray. This writer had an appointment to lunch with Lori Singer at a Manhattan restaurant, Le Pain Quotidien. The eatery bustled with patrons, but it seemed the incessant summer rains had dampened everyone’s spirits. Suddenly, Ms. Singer nimbly strolled into the bistro donning an ensemble of leisurely clothes and a jovial demeanor, brightening the ambiance as though sunshine had followed her in. What imported the unexpected liveliness was the actress’ cheerfulness that she conveys through a fixed smile, her energetic model-like figure, and ever-youthful face. “I’m so sorry for my lateness. My earlier meeting went on and on ... I try not to be late, but, you know, everything piles up all at once,” she charmingly apologized. Lori Singer exudes an agreeable demeanor that can relax even a most frantic personality. For that reason, she is the ideal subject for a talk show host or a journalist would relish to interviewing. A uniquely interesting but little-known fact about Singer’s entertainment origins is that she did not begin her career as a screen actor. Instead, at 13 years of age, she graced concert halls as a cello soloist. Her parents and one of her siblings are accomplished musicians, so they played as a family quartet at Lincoln Center Tully Hall. Ms. Singer’s father, Jacques, was a popular symphony conductor; her mother, Leslie, a concert
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pianist. Of the brothers, her twin brother Gregory is a violinist, which, all combined, explains the source and influence of her ardent musical expressions. Her other brother, Marc Singer, is also an actor, who, as of this writing, is a cast member of the play The Little Foxes at the Pasadena Playhouse. Then there’s a cousin, film director Bryan Singer. And lastly, she’s kin to the great Raymond Massey, whose name and face is familiar to the more contemporary generation as Dr. Gillespie from the ’60s TV show Dr. Kildare. With such bloodlines, it’s no surprise Lori Singer possesses the traits for the art of acting. In so far as her attractive face and perennial, model-type physique, well, nature took care of those features. Like a chameleon, Singer easily slips on polarizing roles directors assigned to her, a talent that segregrates her from the overcrowded community of most film and stage aspirants. One instantly associates her name with the 1984 screen production Footloose, a box office success. However, this gifted entertainer, besides her acclaimed cello performances, has either starred or played in a long list of films and television series. Moreover, Ms. Singer asserts her abilities as an extraordinary protagonist as she raises her character portrayal to those of the high-caliber actors with whom she has shared the lens of the camera. A feat that was not stroke of faith or a one-time achievement. That roster of silver screen titans includes Kevin Bacon, John Lithgow, Robert Wagner, Mickey Rourke, Don Johnson, Kris Kristofferson, Tom Hanks, Sean Penn and Debbie Allen.
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Profiles In the mid-’80s, Lori delighted millions of viewers with her persona in the television show Fame. She then immersed herself in a succession of cinema projects: The Man With One Red Shoe, Trouble in Mind, Heartbeat, Made in USA, Summer Heat, Warlock, Storm and Sorrow, Short Cuts, and myriad others. In 2005, alongside Robert Wagner, Ms. Singer completed a short film titled Little Victim, an award-winning endeavor. Deservingly, she has certainly earned the respect of peers, directors, award academies, friends, and, of course, fans. But despite a tenure in show business that spans over 28 years, Ms. Singer’s calendar is constantly committed. It may be an audition for an upcoming project or a musical engagement at Carnegie Hall; perhaps the reading and contemplation of a new screenplay, or maybe an afternoon of quality time with a family member. She also eagerly volunteers for charitable and humanitarian causes. A favored activity, one unrelated to music or drama but a pastime that keeps Ms. Singer physically active and fit, is baseball. Indeed, she is an avid player of the sport, a passion she acquired from her brothers while growing up. In fact, schedule permitting, she won’t pass on an opportunity to play in a friendly game. On one occasion, a benefit fundraising event, as the midafternoon August sun scorched the ball field, the batter, unlike a typical contender, was a tall, shapely woman sporting blond hair that flowed out of her baseball cap. She confidently strutted to the plate and assumed a near-perfect batting stance. On the first pitch, she swung with unexpected precision and her long line drive, aided by the mademoiselle’s extraordinarily fast base running, scored a double. The spectators cheered and applauded as the announcer’s enthusiastic voice echoed from the loudspeakers: “Incredible...incredible. This is her second double of the game. Great hit, Lori. Good going! That was Lori Singer, ladies and gentlemen. When it comes to softball, her team sure knows that it can count on Lori to do her part.” Her two doubles during that game drove in six runs. Yes, Lori Singer is predisposed to excel at whatever enterprise she decides to undertake, and does not forgive substandard achievements – not that any have ever blemished her artistic résumé. Our luncheon interview lasted just less than two hours; and if it were not for other obligations, Ms. Singer would’ve partaken in pleasant conversation until nightfall. Warmth, sincerity, charm and beauty … Lori Singer is one of a kind.
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Twenty-Seven Years Later By Jason Feinberg
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n 1982, while I was in elementary school, Mrs. Gafarian’s fourth grade class was selected to write a Kidsday feature for the Sunday Newsday. In keeping with tradition, four students were selected to interview a celebrity. Long before I had any idea that one day I would be editor-in-chief of a celebrity magazine, I was one of the four selected, along with three other classmates who, ironically enough, are all on my Facebook. Our celebrity was Lori Singer, who at the time was starring in the TV show Fame and who in real life had attended the High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts in New York City, on which the show was based. For some reason, I remember I was given the opportunity to ask the first of many pre-arranged questions that the students had come up with. Even stranger is that the first question I asked was not the first question on my list. “So why did you drop out of the High School for Music and Art?” I asked, to which Lori responded with a quick “Who told you that?!” Thank God everyone laughed at my bold question. Of course, I was not intending to embarrass Lori, I was simply asking a question that, as a 9-year-old, seemed appropriate and interesting. Needless to say, the question and answer never made it to print and everyone had a good laugh of it. Lori was wonderful. She spoke with us for well over an hour and she gave us an in-depth look at what it was like to be on TV and how Fame differed from the real school, how hard she practiced the cello every day and why she became an actress. I wrote to Lori a few times after the interview and always received responses and signed photographs. She went on to star in such films as Footloose opposite Kevin Bacon, The Man with One Red Shoe with Tom Hanks, and opposite Julian Sands in Warlock, as well as many others. She continues to play the cello. I still have the Kidsday article from Oct. 31, 1982 and 27 years later I was able to show it to Lori at the 61st annual Artist and Writers Softball Game in East Hampton. She told me that she actually remembered doing the interview and that it was a great experience. It’s funny how at the time I had no idea that my career would be what it is. I know that Mrs. Gafarian would be proud. Despite the fact that she passed away some years ago, I know it’s not too late to say thank you.
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By Ilena Ryan
KevinZegers Transition From Child Actor To Sophisticated Performer
10/5/09 1:40:31 PM
K
evin Zegers is sitting in the airport at LAX, waiting anxiously to fly to Canada. His family currently resides just outside of Toronto. “I can’t wait,” he says excitedly. “I’m bouncing out of my chair right now. I can’t wait to see my family.” As a seasoned actor at the age of 25, a break to go home is exactly what Zegers wants before figuring out his next project. A few months ago, he completed filming Frozen, a thriller about three people stuck in a chairlift, dealing with death. Before that was Fifty Dead Men Walking, where he played a self-described “sociopathic kind of fat Irish guy in the IRA.” In fact, Zegers’ résumé includes a vast amount of dramatic roles and he has come a long way from his role in the 1997 Disney film Air Bud. But like most stars who find childhood success, the journey toward becoming a mature actor is always an interesting, and sometimes difficult, one. Because he’s been acting since the age of six, Zegers says he doesn’t necessarily remember the moment he realized he wanted to act. “It just sort of happened,” he says. “I know that I liked it, which was probably that I just liked the attention, but I found a way to work from that time until I was 16, pretty steadily.” At that point, Zegers made the move to Los Angeles, which he says was good for him. But finding that balance between teenager and actor was challenging. “It all manifests itself in different ways. In some ways I’m overdeveloped as a businesslike, crafty guy, but perhaps I was sort of underdeveloped in that personality, college-age area, which is what happens to a lot of young actors when you see them making really bad mistakes,” he says. Zegers can relate to making mistakes as well. Living in L.A. as a teenager and having success in the industry, there was nobody there to tell him to stop and relax. “Instead of people telling me to take a vacation and see the world, I could stay in L.A. and do whatever, so I figured out my own path, something like the college years – me living in L.A., making mistakes, fortunately none too detrimental,” he adds with a laugh. He attributes avoiding detrimental mistakes to the way he was raised. “I was raised in a household where they said ‘If you’re going to be an idiot, be smart about it,’ and I’ve definitely done that,” he says. However, as most college students do upon graduation, Zegers realized it was time to get serious if he wanted a sustaining career. For him, it was the 2005 Academy Awardnominated film Transamerica. “Transamerica kicked me into a mode that this isn’t fun and games anymore, in spite of my own need to find myself. I had to do my job well or it would all go away very quickly. Everyone involved in that movie devoted
their life, passion and time to it, and I felt an obligation to do the same.” Being on a challenging set, as Zegers’ résumé dictates, is where he learns the most. He learns from actors and directors he works with, but a majority of his learning process comes from personal embarrassment and feeling overwhelmed. “Those are the moments I feel like I’m learning, when I feel like I’m in over my head,” he says. “That’s the purest sense of myself. There’s no ego involved, there’s just me showing up and doing everything in my power to make the film and the character work.” Zegers says the gritty roles he plays happen because of the contacts he makes. Working with certain directors led him to be cast in the projects he has done. But regardless, acting in such dark films allows Zegers to explore new aspects of his abilities, which many times come during his role preparation. “I find it hard to develop a character when I’m in my house with my dog and my girlfriend in my comfort zone; I need to be outside, uncomfortable, in a place where I can do soul searching. It usually involves me being alone and just standing in front of a mirror and figuring it out.” Zegers’ main goal as an actor is to surprise audiences with every project he does. He doesn’t want to be an actor whose roles become predictable. “I want it to be a startling difference,” he says. “I want people to say, ‘I didn’t even know that was him.’” While Zegers envisions himself one day as a chubby, bearded director, acting is what’s on the menu right now. When asked about his dream role, he jokes that he and High School Musical star Zac Efron could play brothers because of their resemblance. “Every 14-year-old girl comes up to me and wonders how Vanessa Hudgens is doing,” he laughs, adding that as long as he’s working with a great director and cast, he’ll take any role that comes his way. Though the lifestyle of an actor is glamorous to most, Zegers doesn’t seem fazed by it, which will allow him to sustain a career in the entertainment business. “This is just a job,” Zegers says. “I go to work and try to do the best I can, make a living and feel satisfied with what I’m doing. We’re not curing cancer here, you know … I take it all with a grain of salt. I love my job and I want to get better at it and I don’t think that’s anything different than someone reading this.”
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By Ilena Ryan
JonHuertas Representing the Military with Pride and Dedication
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ug. 29, 2009 marked a special graduation ceremony celebrating remarkable accomplishments by those recognized. Taking place in Berthoud, Colorado, the graduates are some of the most devoted and compassionate this program has seen, dedicated to helping those around them. “It was the first graduation for the program I’ve been to,” says actor Jon Huertas, who is currently on the ABC show Castle. “It’s so gratifying to see.” And who are these remarkable graduates? They’re service dogs from the charity organization Puppies Behind Bars from the program Dog Tags: Service Dogs for Those Who’ve Served Us. The dogs are raised by prison inmates with the intent to provide freedom, safety and mobility to veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). The program trains inmates to raise the dogs, who live in the prison with them during the training period. Huertas is an eight-year United States Air Force veteran (1987-1995) and feels strongly about this charity. “The inmates are being rehabilitated at the same time,” Huertas says. “Many have committed violent crimes, they didn’t grow up with love, or knowing how to give or accept love, so it teaches them how to give love to these dogs.” Huertas understands the need for such a program, explaining that he believes he, too, felt the effects of PTSD. “After seeing some of the conflicts and coming out of the service, I’m a little different as well. I wish there were more programs in place like this back then,” he says. A dog-lover himself, Huertas owns two Basenjis named Cairo and Isna. “They’re the opposite of service dogs,” he says, laughing, “I tell them to do something and they look at me like I’m crazy.” The actor’s focus on his time in the military is not only reflected by his charity involvement, but extends to his entire career. He’s committed to properly representing the military in the projects he does, such as the 2008 Emmy-nominated HBO miniseries Generation Kill, which was so realistic it even inspired those who were involved in the real-life story to say it was like watching memories, Huertas recalls. “The military culture is huge and I want to do it justice, and a lot of projects are done that don’t; they’re not real or accurate and it’s very discouraging,” he says. “You have to get it right, do research, talk to people, I just want to be respectful to anyone in the military, past and present. I’m one of the few actors who is former military; there aren’t a lot. If I have that opportunity, I’d like to take it.” In the military, Huertas always pursued acting while getting his education. “I was the only military guy wearing
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tights on stage,” he recalls, “but everyone supported me.” However, thinking about a permanent career, he considered law enforcement, or staying in the military for life. Acting was always his first love, but he thought it to be an unattainable option. One moment in particular inspired Huertas to muster up the will to pursue acting as a career. He remembers when actor Woody Harrelson’s band, Manly Moondog and the Three Kool Kats, came to Texas, where Huertas was stationed in 1992. He met Harrelson’s band manager and was taken backstage to the green room, where he met Harrelson and told him about how he dreamed of being an actor. “If a piece of crap like me can do it,” Harrelson said, “you can do it.” He signed a card with his band’s name on it: Cheers, Woody. Huertas has kept it in his wallet to this day as a good luck charm and source of motivation. Years later, when playing basketball for the NBA Entertainment League, Huertas ran into Harrelson and showed him the card. “He was blown away,” Huertas says, “but that’s how much it meant to me.” After taking Harrelson’s advice and completing his time in the Air Force, Huertas moved to Los Angeles, but knew nothing about the industry and how to get started. “I had to make mistakes, get ripped off by people, had to focus on what kind of actor I wanted to be. I had to really learn the craft,” he says. “It’s like the military – you don’t go into a combative situation unless you are the best-trained you can be, so I kind of treated it like that, as a situation I had to win and be the best I could be.” Huertas’ devotion to his craft has led him to his current role as Detective Esposito on Castle, now in its second season. Audiences are drawn, Huertas says, to the fact that the show “goes back to good old-fashioned storytelling, the oldest form of entertainment that we have. It isn’t about fancy gadgets to solve a crime; we tell the story backwards and the characters are going through their own situations, intertwined with the really weird crimes that have to be solved. People want to watch it.” Though Huertas is extremely busy on the set, this day is a much- welcomed day off. “I enjoy the time off,” he says, “I like to relax.” Huertas’ mother is in Los Angeles visiting him, and they’ve just spent the weekend in Vegas. His plans for the day are to take her to Hollywood, run some errands, and just enjoy not working, since he’ll be back on set the next day. But that’s okay for him. “I can only hope to be like George Burns,” he says “in my 90s and still acting.” He loves his work, and nothing will keep him from continuing to do so.
Photography By Jsquared Photography Wardrobe : Shane Cisneros Groomer: Joanna Pensinger
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Photo Gallery
61st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards – Arrivals Nokia Theatre LA Live, Los Angeles, CA September 20, 2009 Photos by David Crotty/PatrickMcMullan.com
Neil Patrick Harris
Olivia Wilde
Seth McFarlane
Blake Lively
Lindsay Price
Lisa Edelstein
Kyra Sedgwick
Rose Byrne
Kourtney & Kim Kardashian
Tracy Pollan & Michael J. Fox
Drew Barrymore
Jennifer Carpenter & Michael C. Hall
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Fashion Week:
Reem Acra, Diane Von Furstenberg and Zac Posen New York City, NY September 13, 2009
Photos By Patrick McMullan
Cindi Lieve and Emmanuelle Chriqui at the Reem Acra’s Spring 2010 Show.
Margherita Missoni at Zac Posen’s Spring/Summer 2010 Show.
Rachel Roy and Veronica Webb at the Rachel Roy Spring/Summer 2010 Show.
Keisha Whitaker and Philip Bloch at the Diane Von Furstenberg Spring/Summer 2010 Show.
Alina Cho and Patricia Field at Diane Von Furstenberg.
Rachel Zoe at Zac Posen’s Show.
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Around The Town
A Season of Stars…
Tilles Center Begins 29th Season Tilles Center for the Performing Arts promises its upcoming season will be one like no other, one that will bring an astounding lineup of luminaries from Broadway, Hollywood, television and international classical stages. Some highlights of this remarkable new season include the legendary comedian Bill Cosby; pop and stage icons Brian Stokes Mitchell, Linda Eder, Tom Wopat, Melissa Errico, Jessica Molaskey and the annual visit of the enchanting cabaret favorite, Andrea Marcovicci; renowned instrumentalists Itzhak Perlman and
Melissa Errico 12/4
Bad Boys 12/11
Tony, Emmy and Oscar award-winner Rita Moreno makes an appearance at Tilles Center, as do bluegrass virtuosos Béla Fleck & The Flecktones. Also watch for the mind-blowing psychedelics of The Pink Floyd Experience, the energy and joy of Yamato Drummers and the all new, all-star line up of the Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour. Top-notch family entertainment includes PBS’s Mr. Steve in SteveSongs, and New York City’s The Little Orchestra Society’s Babes in Toyland. Tom Wopat 10/17
Linda Eder 10/24
Lang Lang; the electrifying dance ensembles Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, Parsons Dance and Rasta Thomas’ Bad Boys of Dance; and world-class orchestras, among them the Boston Pop Esplanade Orchestra conducted by Keith Lockhart, Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg, China Philharmonic and the New York Philharmonic with its brand-new music director Alan Gilbert. The season offers such recent Broadway
Babes in Toyland 12/5
Boston Pops 12/6
Also on tap for young audiences: Stellaluna, Pigeon Party!, The Adventures of Harold and The Purple Crayon, and New York Theatre Ballet’s Carnival of the Animals and Sleeping Beauty.
Parsons Dance 11/21
Bela Fleck 11/22
winners as Avenue Q and Hairspray along with the timeless hit musicals Camelot and Cabaret, and the Gershwin operatic/jazz masterpiece Porgy and Bess.
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For more information, or to receive a season brochure, log on to tillescenter.org or call 516 299-3100. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts is located on the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University, 720 Northern Boulevard (Route 25A) in Brookville, New York.
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Nassau County Museum of Art Family Fine Arts & Music Workshop
present time, will take an interesting look at the work of Norman Rockwell, the leading artist/illustrator of his time.
On Sunday, Oct. 11, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., NCMA presents Family Fine Arts & Music Workshop with young musicians accompanying young artists at work.
Craft as Art From Saturday, Oct. 10 through Monday, Oct. 12, NCMA presents Craft as Art, a juried fair presenting the work of skilled artisans in functional and decorative pottery, leather, jewelry, glass, home furnishings, apparel, painting, sculpture and more.
Volunteer Fireman, Norman Rockwell 1931, oil on canvas Saturday Evening Post cover, March 28, 1931
The Twilight Pumpkin Spectacular
Marijike and Rick Benedict Hand-dyed shibori outfit.
2009 National Museum of American Illustration™ Newport RI
Norman Rockwell, American Imagist
At NCMA’s Twilight Pumpkin Spectacular, the museum’s grounds come alive with a dazzling display of illuminated jack-o’-lanterns, spooky music and scary stories. From Friday, Oct. 30 through Sunday, Nov. 1, evenings are designed to be enjoyed by children of all ages. Pumpkin carvers are needed from Oct. 22 – 29.
© 2009 National Museum of American Illustration™ Newport RI
Triple Self-Portrait, Norman Rockwell 1960, oil on canvas Saturday Evening Post cover, Feb. 13, 1960 ©
But Who Will Bell the Cats?
Famed storyteller Jonathan Kruk is one of the attractions at this Twilight Pumpkin Spectacular at Nassau County Museum of Art.
NCMA’s MiniArtMuseum for Children takes on the fascination of a dollhouse castle with an exhibition based on Cynthia von Buhler’s But Who Will Bell The Cats? through Jan. 3
Künstler Talks About Rockwell Sunday, Oct. 18, 4 p.m. In conjunction with Norman Rockwell: American Imagist, Nassau County Museum of Art presents a discussion by Mort Künstler of Oyster Bay Cove. Künstler, the leading artist/illustrator of the
“I paint life as I would like it to be,” said the illustrator Norman Rockwell. Rockwell created the images that defined America and Americans, notably through the 321 covers he created for The Saturday Evening Post from 1916 to 1963. Showing at NCMA through Jan. 3, 2010, Norman Rockwell: American Imagist includes approximately 300 Saturday Evening Post covers and 48 Rockwell paintings.
Rockwell For Our Times Sunday, Nov. 8, 4 p.m. Long a favorite lecturer with visitors to Nassau County Museum of Art, Charles A. Riley II, PhD is now NCMA’s curator at large. Dr. Riley will present Rockwell for Our Times, a fast-paced illustrated survey of Norman Rockwell’s work in a wide range of media, from magazine covers to major oils on canvas, reframed in the context of European painting as well as 20th-century American media. Call Nassau County Museum of Art at 516 484-9337 or visit nassaumuseum.com for information on all museum events, fees, hours and directions. Nassau County Museum of Art is located at One Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor. www.boulevardli.com
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10/5/09 12:12:55 PM
Around The Town
Tuning In With WLIW21 New York Public Television Premiering in October
New episodes Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.; encores Sundays at 1 p.m.
Healthy Minds Award-winning international designer Bill Stubbs returns for a new season of tips for affordable luxury, translating trade secrets into inspiration for any home design budget and demonstrating excellence in the every day.
Waking the Dead
New episodes Saturdays at 11 p.m. The popular performance series’ 35th season features Ben Harper, Kenny Chesney, Elvis Costello, Pearl Jam, Willie Nelson, Okkervil River and others.
Premiering in November (visit wliw.org for airdates)
Bill Cosby: The Mark Twain Prize 2009
New series Mondays at 9 p.m.
Healthy Minds host Dr. Jeffrey Borenstein conducts an intimate interview with actor Patty Duke. Photo credit WLIW21
Sundays at 9:30 a.m.; encores Tuesdays at 11:30 p.m.
This stylish and contemporary thriller features a crack squad of police investigators who reopen unsolved murder cases, using new technology to re-examine evidence to lead to the killer. Trevor Eve and Sue Johnston star.
WLIW21’s award-winning series makes its national debut during National Mental Illness Awareness Week (Oct 4-10). Each episode humanizes a mental health condition through personal stories and interviews with experts. Celebrities Mike Wallace, Patty Duke and Jane Pauley discuss their experiences with mental illness. Topics include autism, OCD, PTSD, bipolar disorder and suicide prevention. Full episodes and resources at wliw.org/healthyminds.
Masterpiece Contemporary: Endgame
Moment of Luxury
Austin City Limits
Premieres Tuesday, Oct. 27, 9 p.m. A new film captures the drama, violence and pathos behind the real-life political negotiations that led to the end of apartheid in South Africa. Secret talks were held against a backdrop of terrorism, spying, blackmail and escalating unrest as a nation teetered on the brink of civil war. The cast includes William Hurt, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jonny Lee Miller and Clarke Peters.
Bill Stubb Photo by Eric Leibowitz
Comedians including Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock salute Bill Cosby, the 12th recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center. The program features clips of Cosby’s career highlights including his I Spy role and two comedy series bearing his name.
How the Beatles Rocked the Kremlin
Austin City Limits with Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel. Photo By Scott Newton/KLRU Austin
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Bill Cosby is honored and roasted by his peers. Photo by Erinn Cosby
Although the Beatles never performed in Russia, their music and style soaked into the lives of a generation of Russian kids. A new film presents the untold story of how Beatlemania punctured the Iron Curtain through personal stories from members of Russia’s Beatles generation, who talk about how the Fab Four changed their lives, gave them hope and helped to undermine the foundations of the Soviet system.
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Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation to Honor Outstanding Leaders On Sunday, Nov. 8 the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA), Long Island Chapter, will host its 21thAnnual Vision of Hope Fall Luncheon at the Crest Hollow Country Club, Woodbury, New York. This year’s awards will be given to four extraordinary individuals who have contributed enormously to the foundation and to the health and well-being of the Long Island community. Elaine Goldstein will receive the prestigious Vision of Hope Award. Elaine, who suffered from ulcerative colitis, and her husband Michael have an adult son, Jonathan, who also has IBD. The Goldsteins have assumed leadership roles in many of the chapter’s events, such as the Toast to Tomorrow and the Golf Outing. Honey and Mel Frimmer will be presented with the inaugural Judy Cook Memorial Excellence in Volunteerism Award. The Frimmers have been steadfast volunteers with the chapter for two decades. John Liberto, who served as 2009 Youth Ambassador, will be honored with the Shining Star Award. John was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at the age of 8 but has never let his disease get the better of him. More than 400 people are expected to attend the event, which will feature a commemorative journal, fabulous holiday boutiques, an extensive array of raffle prizes and a luxurious silent auction. For information about the CCFA luncheon, call 516-2225530 or visit http://longisland.ccfa.org.
Elaine Goldstein, Vision of Hope Award.
Fall Family Events at Flushing Town Hall October Saturday, Oct. 24, 11 a.m. Interactive Arts: Limon Dance Company An exciting on-your-feet family introduction to Limon's signature movement vocabulary, facilitated by one of the company's professional dancers. $4 adults, $2 children. Free for members with ticket to 2 p.m. show. Saturday, Oct. 24, 2 p.m. Limon Dance Company – The Moor's Pavane Limon's National Medal of Arts Awardwinning repertory company brings to life the legacy of dance innovation and the timeless passion of Jose Limon. The program will introduce the audience to the foundational elements of Limon’s distinctive choreography and specific means of storytelling in Pavane, which takes its inspiration from Shakespeare's Othello. Come experience why Jose Limon is one of America's “irreplaceable dance treasures.”
$12, $10 for members and students, $8 for children and $6 for member children. Saturday, Oct. 31, 2 p.m. Halloween - Remixed Before you trick or treat, stop by Flushing Town Hall in costume to celebrate the community traditions of the Day of the Dead, Halloween and All Saints Day with hands-on crafts and activities. Treats and giveaways included. The festive family fun is free.
November Sunday, Nov. 15, 2 p.m. Greg Kennedy, Innovative Juggler - Spherus Described as "A little bit wacky and a whole lot of wow!" by the Philadelphia City Paper and "A hero to the art form" by Juggler's World Magazine, Greg Kennedy is a two-time international juggling champion and a featured performer in Cirque du Soleil's newest touring production. Spherus includes Kennedy's biggest structural
creations and acrobatics of two dazzling aerialists who use trapezes, silks and spinning hoops. $12, $10 for members and students, $8 for children and $6 for member children. Sunday, Nov. 15, 3:15 p.m. Interactive Arts: Greg Kennedy, Innovative Juggler Following his show, Greg Kennedy reveals the creative techniques and scientific principles behind his amazing juggling sequences and handmade structures. $4 adults, $2 children. Free for members with ticket to 2 p.m. show. Flushing Council on Culture and the Arts is a member of New York City’s Cultural Institution Group and an affiliate member of the Smithsonian Institution. FCCA is located at 137-35 Northern Boulevard, Flushing, NY. For information visit www.flushingtownhall.org or call 718 463-7700, ext. 222.
www.boulevardli.com
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10/5/09 12:15:05 PM
Around The Town
Highlights of Autumn at Old Westbury Gardens Photo By Vince Kish Bat Walk Oct. 23, 5:30 p.m. Take a guided stroll through the grounds and discover these important citizens of the Gardens’ ecosystem.
Fall Dog Days
The East Lake Bridge at Old Westbury Gardens.
Oct. 24-25 Bring your leashed dog to the Gardens for some healthy exercise and the opportunity to meet fellow dog people.
Scarecrows in the Garden
Fall Dog Festival
Through Nov. 1 A wide variety of unique scarecrows, created by our visitors, will be on display in our very own Scarecrow Garden (Demonstration Garden Area).
Oct. 25, 1-4 p.m. The festival features games, vendors selling dog-related books, art and toys, demonstrations and exhibits by dog welfare groups. Costume contest and parade at 3 p.m.
Poetica Musica – Melodies of the Two Americas Nov. 7 Artists-in-residence perform the works of Delano, Villa-Lobos and Ginestra. Registration required. Guided tour of Westbury House, 6:45 p.m.; pre-concert tour, 7:30 p.m.; concert, 8 p.m. followed by a dessert reception.
Holiday Celebration Dec. 6-21 Tree lighting, concerts, teas and tours, children’s crafts, visits with Santa and more.
Old Westbury Gardens 71 Old Westbury Road Old Westbury 516-333-0048 www.oldwestburygardens.org
HorseAbility to Present Its Believe and Achieve Gala Mark your calendars for HorseAbility’s Believe and Achieve Gala to be held on Friday, Oct. 30. HorseAbility is the premier NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association) accredited center on Long Island. The event will celebrate the Pictured is Coryn Villanti riding White Diamond, volunteer Maeve McLoughlin, Dina Asaro, Lexi Braco and Kevin O’Connor.
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organization’s 17th year of offering a wide range of horse-related programs to children, teens, adults and families with special needs, promoting their physical, psychological, emotional, social and spiritual well-being. The gala will support HorseAbility’s goal to continue to serve its clients, maintain and expand the facility, and remain a leader in the field. This year HorseAbility is proud to acknowledge Dr. Christopher (Kit) Miller, Miller & Associates, North Salem; Shanette Barth Cohen, executive director, Hampton Classic Horse Show, Bridgehampton, NY; Dr. Jodi Knott, Knott Chiropractic, West Hills, NY; and the Ladas-Economou family, Christina Ladas Design & ARETE Group, Inc., Muttontown, NY as honorees. The kindness and generosity of the honorees have helped provide the organization the ability to keep its mission alive. HorseAbility is offering opportunities to help raise $1,700 to celebrate HorseAbility’s 17th anniversary. Donating goods and/or services for the gala raffle and/or auction is another way to cultivate interest in products and services you or your business offers. Advertising in the gala journal reaches an extended audience. Details on levels of sponsorship are available at www.HorseAbility. org or at 631-367-1646. Tickets are $150 per person; children are $75 and a table of 10 is $1,500. A table of 12 can be requested.
The Boulevard • October - November 2009
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10/5/09 12:19:33 PM
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Lifestyles
By Harry Rocker
Unstoppable The 2010
Subaru Outback
W
hether you start from the inside or outside, the new 2010 Subaru Outback is impressive. The Outback is entering its 15th production year and Subaru has proven this ride a success. What is nice about the Outback is that as it has evolved it has retained its original styling through subtle changes. What has always set it apart from others is its noticeable high ground clearance and notoriety for handling any type of weather condition, which is why it has graduated to a crossover SUV from a wagon. Part of its evolution is the interior. Combined with style, class, elegance and technology, the Outback is on a par with some of the finest luxury automobiles. The voice-activated navigation system is the interior’s centerpiece. Easy to use and easy to see, it will ensure you will never be lost, even when you are trying to be.
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In addition to its Bluetooth and iPod interface, the sound system boasts a whopping 440-watt Harmon/Kardon audio system that puts to shame some home entertainment systems. The most important and impressive aspect of the interior is its comfort. As the Outback is adorned with leather and fine appointments, it’s easy to forget that you are in an all-wheel drive vehicle that is yearning to head off road, thanks to its independent suspension system. The Outback is equipped with the Subaru Boxer engine. What sets this apart from others is that the pistons are laid flat, which provides a lower center of gravity. The pistons move in opposite directions: horizontally vs. vertically in an inline or Vtype engine and reduce engine vibration, which helps when accelerating by providing a smoother ride, thus retaining better control. This also provides a much better overall performance.
The Boulevard • October - November 2009
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A key factor in the performance is a symmetrical all-wheel drive system. Over the past 40 years, Subaru has revolutionized the all-wheel drive system to a class by itself. In conjunction with its Boxer engine, the engineers were able to distribute the power to the wheels in a way not easily achieved and not like any other all-wheel drive systems. The result is quicker response, managed power and better safety, an area that the Outback does not neglect. With features such as vehicle dynamic control, variable torque distribution, electronic brake distribution and advanced airbags, safety is no laughing matter for Subaru. The ring-shaped reinforcement and 40 percent high tensile steel frame protect the occupants in the most serious of accidents. This, coupled with the advanced front and side curtain airbags, makes it no wonder that the car received its 5-star NHTSA rating for front, side and rear impacts. Overall, this is a great car. It’s fun and exciting to drive. With plenty of cargo room, there is no excuse to miss that weekend getaway. For more information, check out www.subaru.com. www.boulevardli.com
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10/6/09 11:38:33 AM
Lifestyles
RENT Is Back
and Giving Back at the John W. Engeman Theater By Gerry Laytin • Photograph By John Gozelski
J
onathan Larson’s long-running Broadway musical RENT has returned to the New York stage, this time at Long Island’s only year-round professional theater, the John W. Engeman Theater in Northport. Playing to a packed house and a standing ovation, the story is a modern day rock adaptation of Puccini’s classic opera La Boheme. Set in New York City’s Lower East Side in the days before gentrification brought trendy boutiques and restaurants, RENT is a truly unforgettable tale of a group of starving, young artists who, despite poverty, illness and death, together learn about love and finding their way in the world. This latest production of RENT, which runs through Nov. 1, is directed by Alan Souza, whose regional credits stretch up and down the East Coast. His direction is strong, yet barely noticeable, as you are drawn willingly into the lives of the story’s seven main characters. Mark, a filmmaker and the show’s narrator, is played strongly by Stanley Bahorek, most recently seen on Broadway as Leaf Coneybear in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Mike Backes, who recently left his role in the original cast of Jersey Boys, Las Vegas, blends just the right amounts of anger and angst into the role of Roger, Mark’s musician roommate. Lakisha Anne Bowen is seductive and sympathetic as Mimi, the heroin-addicted S & M dancer who lives below Mark and Roger. Added to the mix are the powerful voices of Alan Mingo, Jr., reprising his Broadway performance as Tom Collins and Betsy Morgan as performance artist Maureen, who along with Mingo most recently appeared on Broadway in Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Reymundo Santiago, dead-on as drag queen musician Angel, keeps the audience in stitches as he plays his role with humor, dignity and grace. Joanne, the Harvard Law School graduate lover of Maureen (who also happens to be Mark’s ex-girlfriend…yes, it’s a bit complicated, just like life), was well-played by Brit West, who is still in her final semester at SUNY Purchase. A fine ensemble rounds out the cast. Karl Christian’s strong choreography and Mike Pettry’s excellent musical direction make this an unforgettable night of Broadway-quality theater right here on Long Island. This production of RENT is giving back to the AIDS
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community, as it seeks to raise $50,000 for LI AIDS Care and Thursday’s Child with a portion of the proceeds from all ticket sales going to the two charities. The timeless message of this seventh longest-running Broadway musical and its now-classic songs and lyrics is best expressed by this production’s director, Alan Souza. “The enduring spirit of hope in the midst of adversity has sealed this uncharacteristic musical as an enduring testament to the need for genuine connection in all of our lives.” RENT is a celebration of life. See it at the John W. Engeman Theater at 250 Main Street, Northport. For more information or to order tickets, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater. com.
Mike Backes, Tara Novie, La’Nette Wallace, Peter Kriss and Stanley Bahorek.
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Artists & Writers Softball Game Hamptons, NY, August 14 and 15, 2009 Photos by Tina Guiomar
Xante Cognac Bar
Victoria Duruh, Bill Collage and Debbie McEneaney
Sandra Harmon, Rhoda Grauer
Kevin Young
Alec Baldwin and Lori Singer take in some practice time before the softball game.
Juliet Papa, East Hampton Mayor Paul F. Rickenbach, Jr., Dan Rattiner
Vince Papale
www.boulevardli.com
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10/5/09 3:59:48 PM
Lifestyles
2nd Annual Bill Evans
Celebrity Golf Outing Monday, August 31, 2009 Middle Island Country Club, Middle Island, NY Photography by Jason Feinberg
Bill Evans taking a shot off the driveway. At the 2nd Annual Bill Evans Celebrity Golf Outing, 100% of the proceeds benefit Breast Cancer Help, Inc. and their Long Island Cancer Help and Wellness Center.
Above: Bill Evans, Frank Fraley and Justin Case. Above Right: Bill Evans takes a swing. Right: Bill on air, reporting the day’s forecast.
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The Boulevard • October - November 2009
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EVERY WOMAN MATTERS: A PARTNERSHIP FOR BETTER HEALTH During the month of October, visit local businesses taking part in our EVERY WOMAN MATTERS: A PARTNERSHIP FOR BETTER HEALTH Campaign and a portion of your purchase will benefit North Shore-LIJ’s new Katz Women’s Hospital and Women’s Health Institute. Participants include:
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For a complete list of participating businesses and qualifying purchases, visit: http://support.northshorelij.com/shop
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10/5/09 12:25:23 PM
Lifestyles
Southampton Hospital Hosts Its Centennial Celebration Photography By Tina Guiomar The Southampton Hospital Foundation held its 51st annual summer party, A Centennial Celebration, Saturday, Aug.1 and was chaired by Sheila O’Malley Fuchs with Christie Brinkley serving as honorary chair. The evening raised $1.3 million to benefit the hospital’s department of emergency medicine. Attendees enjoyed music, an elegant dinner and the ever-popular silent auction and raffle of fabulous and extravagant trips and prizes. Southampton Hospital President and CEO Robert S. Chaloner said, “This year’s event takes place during a year in which we are celebrating the hospital’s centennial. We are gratified by the community support Southampton Hospital has received throughout our first 100 years. We are looking forward to serving our East End communities well into the future.”
Debbie Bancroft, Michelle Paterson
Kay and Alex Donner
David Post, Katlean DeMonchy, Cassandra Seidenfeld Lyster, and Bob Lyster
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Christie Brinkley
Ellen Scarborough, Chuck Scarborough
Gillian Miniter, Sylvester Miniter
Jean Shafiroff, Sharon Bush
Joseph Fuchs, Sheila O’Malley Fuchs, Bob Chaloner
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10/5/09 12:30:12 PM
Lymphatic Research Foundation
Hosts 2009 Awards Gala
LRF executive director Jacqueline Reinhard welcomes honorary gala chair Angela Susan Anton.
The Lymphatic Research Foundation hosted a fundraising event at Oheka Castle that was a noteworthy social and financial success. A highlight of the evening was LRF’s Call to Action video followed by a talk by 14year-old McKenna Johnson of Tennessee who spoke movingly of her experience managing lymphatic disease, including extensive therapies and medications that make it impossible for her to join her teenage friends for many activities. She thanked the audience for supporting ‘people like me.’ Gala Honorees included Mel Dubin, chair and founder of Slant/Fin Corporation whose corporate headquarters house LRF’s administrative offices, saving the organization hundreds of thousands of dollars in operating expenses; Allan and Tina Neill of Alabama whose philanthropic leadership established the first-ever endowed academic professorship in Lymphatic Research and Medicine; and Roy Reichbach, corporate counsel for the New York Islanders and general counsel and a director of JumpTV, Inc., a leading Internet protocol television company which has generously supported LRF’s work. In addition, Dr. Stanley G. Rockson received LRF’s Pioneer Award for outstanding leadership in the field of lymphatic research and his years of service as chair of LRF’s Scientific/Medical Advisory Board and as Editor-inChief of Lymphatic Research and Biology. New York Islander Hockey Hall-ofFamer Mike Bossy added celebrity sparkle as the evening’s emcee and Chris Robbins of Robbins-Wolfe Eventeurs brought inspiring generosity to the live auction.
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10/5/09 12:31:17 PM
Lifestyles
Sayville Rotary Club’s Annual Beefsteak Dinner Photos by Tina Guiomar The Annual Sayville Rotary Beefsteak Dinner raised more than $20,000 this year. The money helps to fund support of local, national and international charities. The party was held at the Maritime Museum in West Sayville.
Vinny Leuzzi and Chestene Coverdale, past president.
Vera Esposito
Chris Bodkin, Islip town councilman
Jim Fallon and guest
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Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy
Jaime Rosica, treasurer
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EST. 2002
MATRIMONIAL & DIVORCE LAW LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK • 2009
Elena Karabatos
Schlissel Ostrow Karabatos, PLLC Garden City
(516) 877-8000 www.soklaw.com Inducted 2004
Elliot Samuelson Samuelson, Hause & Samuelson, LLP Garden City
(516) 294-6666 matrimonial-attorneys.com Inducted 2003
Kieth Rieger
Stephen Gassman Gassman, Baiamonte,
Betts & Tannenbaum Garden City
(516) 228-9181 www.nydivlaw.com
Inducted 2003
John DiMascio
Law Offices of John P. DiMascio & Associates Garden City
(516) 747-4343 www.jpdlawyers.com
Inducted 2004
Florence Fass
Barrocas & Rieger
Fass & Greenberg, LLP
(516) 222-1350 barrocasrieger.com
(516) 742-8111 www.fglaw.net
Garden City Inducted 2004
Steven Eisman
Abrams, Fensterman,
Fensterman, Eisman, Greenberg, Formato & Einiger Lake Success
(516) 328-2300 www.AbramsLaw.com Inducted 2007
Michael Ostrow Schlissel Ostrow Karabatos, PLLC Garden City
(516) 877-8000 www.soklaw.com
Garden City Inducted 2003
Stephen Schlissel Schlissel Ostrow Karabatos, PLLC Garden City
(516) 877-8000 www.soklaw.com
Inducted 2003
Vincent Stempel
Law Office of Vincent F. Stempel, Esq Garden City
(516) 742-8620
Inducted 2003
Inducted 2003
Read Complete Ten Leaders Profiles at www.TenLeaders.org The Ten Leaders of Matrimonial & Divorce Law of Long Island was created in first quarter 2003, with reviews through 2009, based on surveys that include interviews and peer referrals. Attorneys listed here are referred by at least three of their unaffiliated peers. Ten Leaders is administered by The Ten Leaders Cooperative, Reston, VA, and Fort Lee, NJ. This announcement complies with NYSBA Attorney Advertising Guidelines, which affirm that prior legal results achieved by an individual attorney do not guarantee a similar outcome in the future. The Ten Leaders Cooperative does not receive any referral fees from its members or their clients. Profiled attorneys underwrite the distribution of these lists and announcements. To read Ten Leaders profiles in the law, medicine and finance visit www.tenleaders.org. Copyright 2009-2010 The Ten Leaders Cooperative.
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10/5/09 12:36:36 PM
Lifestyles
Lung Cancer Research Foundation
Hosts Strides for Life Race
Race winners Steve Feldman of Team Pop’s Pals, Kingsley Carson and Brendan Blaney. Photo by Alex Vehave
On Sunday, Aug. 23, the Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) hosted the fourth annual Strides for Life three-mile fun run/ walk around Lake Agawam in Southampton. A record 1,000-plus people turned out to raise funds for critical lung cancer research. First-time race participant and 26-year-old lung cancer survivor Joey Smith cut the ribbon to start the race alongside the event’s honorary chair, supermodel and advocate Christy Turlington Burns. Rosanna Scotto of Fox 5 News returned once again as emcee to kick off the race and cheer participants on. Following the race, more than 70 children participated in a 50-yard dash. As the most successful Strides for Life to date, the race generated more than $350,000 for The Lung Cancer Research Foundation, bringing the total amount raised since inception to nearly $1.7 million that will fund innovative research for the deadly disease.
St. Francis
Hosts Successful Golf Classic St. Francis Hospital’s 35th Annual Golf Classic was a success with more than 270 golfers playing at three of Long Island’s most prestigious clubs: The Creek, Meadow Brook Club and Nassau Country Club. The golf classic has become a tradition among the friends of St. Francis, both old and new. The day began with brunch and a shotgun start and ended with dinner and awards ceremony under a tent on the beach with a view of the beautiful sunset.
Event Chairman, Bert McCooey and St. Francis Hospital President, Alan Guerci, M.D.
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Peter O’Neill, St. Francis Hospital Board Chairman Dan Denihan, Frank Wright & Peter Murray hit the links at Annual Golf Classic
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Lifestyles
Gulotta Honored at American Kidney Fund’s New York Golf Classic On Aug. 3, the American Kidney Fund held its 4th Annual New York Golf Classic at the Hamlet Golf and Country Club in Commack. The event raised more than $103,000 and more than 100 golfers participated. The Honorable Thomas S. Gulotta was honored at the event, which was co-chaired by Frank D. Pelliccione of Flushing Savings Bank, and Joseph D. Simon of Cullen and Dykman LLP. “We are pleased with the success of this year’s New York Golf Classic and want to thank our friends and supporters in the Northeast,” said LaVarne A. Burton, president and CEO of the American Kidney Fund. “It was a privilege to recognize the Honorable Thomas S. Gulotta for his service to the American Kidney Fund and to dozens of other organizations.” The classic included brunch, an 18-hole tournament, cocktail reception, buffet dinner, awards presentation and live auction. All proceeds of the New York Golf Classic will be used to support the local programs of the American Kidney Fund. In 2008, the American Kidney Fund provided over $1.6 million in treatment-related financial assistance to kidney patients in New York State.
Vice-Chair John Pittoni, Honorable Thomas S. Gulotta, Co-Chair Frank Pelliccione and President & CEO New Artist NY LLC, William Enrico.
Director of Development Molloy College, Catherine Muscente, Honorable Thomas S. Gulotta, Vice-Chair Irene Villacci and Co-Chair Frank Pelliccione.
FREE Players Perform at Independence Long Island
The FREE Players, a nationally acclaimed theater group comprised of individuals with disabilities, was the lead entertainment at the Independence Long Island celebration marking the 19th anniversary of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) legislation designed to prevent discrimination and enable individuals with disabilities to fully participate in all aspects of society. A coalition of eight not-for profit agencies that serve individuals with disabilities joined forces to celebrate on Saturday, Aug. 1 at Clubhouse of Suffolk in Ronkonkoma. Hundreds of people gathered at the celebration that included live music, kids’ activities, raffles and refreshments along with the special theatrical performance by the FREE Players. The FREE Players performed song and dance routines including “Thriller” by Michael Jackson, excerpts from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, “Bless My Soul” from Godspell, “Cell Block Tango” from Chicago and Bob Fosse’s “Bye Bye Blackbird.”
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Lifestyles
nuBest Hosts Shop for the Cure Trunk Show The Shop for the Cure Trunk Show at nuBest salon and spa was a great success. Featuring an assortment of handbags from online boutique stefaniBags.com, the event, held on Sept. 14, raised money for the Manhasset Women’s Coalition Against Breast Cancer. Guests selected from various bags by popular
Monica & John Prestia
contemporary designers like Kooba and Botkier while sipping wine and snacking on hors d’oeuvres provided by Morton’s of Great Neck. A raffle was held and two lucky winners received a one-of-a-kind nuBest nuTote and a chic opera clutch donated by stefaniBags.com. All in all, it was a tote-ally enjoyable evening!
Sonika Nanda, Claudia Mara-Garbus, Pheona Galbraich, Marie Pelligrino, Roxanne Fitzig, Dorthy Vans-Forte, Donna Mazzei and Debra Arenare.
Kate Spade Fashion Show at Bloomingdales On Wednesday, Sept. 16, from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m., Tim Gunn, chief creative officer for Liz Claibourne, Inc. and co-host of Project Runway, hosted a fashion show to debut the Kate Spade New York fall fashion collection at Bloomingdale’s Roosevelt Field. This season, Kate Spade New York’s apparel collection was comprised of “favorite things” – a perfect cocktail dress, a chic cardigan and a fabulous coat – just to name a few. The collection encourages women to “take a chance” and break away from the ordinary, whether by wearing a bright color or a bold graphic print. Tim spoke about style and answered questions from the audience. Afterward, with a purchase of $150 from the kate spade apparel, handbags, jewelry or shoe collection, customers had the opportunity to meet Tim and have a professional photograph taken with him. Customers also received kate spade earrings with any $150 regular price kate spade purchase.
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JCC Scores With Golf & Tennis Outing Sid Jacobson JCC’s 24th Annual Golf & Tennis Outing took place on Monday, July 27 at Old Westbury Golf & Country Club. The event benefited the JCC’s social service programs and thanks to the great number of tennis players and a sold-out golf roster, the outing raised $329,000. Honorees Les and Shirley Stier were recognized for their contributions to the community while Geri Fessler received the Tikkun Olam Award, presented by EarlyBirdCapital. In addition to sports, the event offered dinner and a live auction, which included the sale of 10 scholarships supporting major social service programs at the JCC, including Camp Kehilla, after-school respite for children with autism and other developmental disabilities, and programs for adults with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, strokes and dementia.
JCC President of the Board Eric Donnenfeld, New York State Assemblyman Charles Lavine, Nassau County Legislator Wayne Wink
James Krantz and Les Stier
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Wine & Dine
Vine Speak NewYorkState Of Wine By Heather Muhleman
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his year, traveling has been slightly out of reach for some; but as everyone knows, vacations are necessary to ease the mind and please the soul. With work and money stresses, we all need vacations more than ever. Why not make this year’s vacation a little different and combine it with your love of wine? By 2010, the U.S. will be the largest wine market in the world. Every state in the nation has wineries and vineyards open to visitors. Luckily, New Yorkers live in a state with very distinct winemaking regions and with a mix of almost every grape planted, everyone can find something they like. Long Island’s North Fork is gaining ground as one of the top regions in the state and country. While it’s the newest, Long Island has progressed by leaps and bounds with 60 vineyards and over 30 wineries. Producing a variety of wines from Merlot to Viogner, this region has something for everyone. Wineries of note are Lenz, Wolffer and Bedell (www. liwines.com). As mentioned in a previous Vine Speak, the Hudson Valley is the oldest winegrowing region in the country with classic European grapes, hybrids and fruit wines. Autumn is exceptionally beautiful here with the changing of the leaves and many harvest-
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focused events on the Hudson. Wineries of note are Brotherhood, Millbrook and Benmarl (www.hudsonvalleywinecountry.org). The most well-known region is the Finger Lakes, which is about five hours north of New York City. Specializing in European whites and ice wines, these lakes are sure to please. There are loads of activities at more than 100 wineries this fall, with a lower tasting fee than other regions. Wineries of note are Wagner, Swedish Hill and Dr. Frank’s (www.fingerlakeswinecountry.org). The Lake Erie region spans three states including western New York. Known as the Chautauqua region, the wines from this area include all tastes, from fruity American wines to classic European styles. About two hours north of Lake Erie lies another Great Lake region in New York – Niagara on Lake Ontario. Ice wines and late harvest sweet wines rule in this area and there is a pretty nice waterfall there that you might have heard of. Wineries of note are Merritt Estate and Woodbury in Lake Erie and Fielding Estate Winery in Ontario (www.chautauquawinetrail. org and www.niagarawinetrail.org). With numerous choices for winery vacations, now is the time to explore your state’s intriguing wine offerings. Cheers to safe travels and great wines.
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Somewhere Beyond Elegant! The world-renowned Hamlet Golf and Country Club is the perfect place for your holiday party. World-class cuisine and impeccable service await you in a private country club setting. Your needs aren’t just attended to, they’re anticipated. Just one affair at a time is hosted. To arrange a tour, call 631.499.5200 or visit www.hamletgolfandcountryclub.com.
One Clubhouse Drive, Commack, New York
AS EXTRAORDINARY AS THE EVENT ITSELF. A higher level of attention awaits you at the Hamlet Willow Creek Golf and Country Club. Superior cuisine and incredible service are effortlessly combined in a secluded (some people say romantic) environment graced with soothing water views. Quite simply, extraordinary. One affair at a time is hosted. Call 631.474.9200 to arrange a tour or visit www.hamletwillowcreek.com.
One Clubhouse Drive, Mt. Sinai, New York
BEAUTIFUL! EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK. With its panoramic North Shore Views, the Hamlet Wind Watch will surely take your breath away. So will the unrivaled service, understated elegance and sensational cuisine – all at surprising affordable prices. Only one affair at a time is hosted. To arrange a tour, call 631.232.9850 or visit www.hamletwindwatch.com.
1715 Vanderbilt Motor Parkway, Hauppauge, New York
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HOLID-90014 • Bleed: 8.25 x 10.75, Trim 8 x 10.5, Safety Type 1/4 inch in from the trim size • EGC Group 516.935.4944
Wine & Dine
H
aving lived on the North Shore of Long Island for over 25 years, I was quite familiar with Rothmann's Steakhouse and its reputation for fine food and a celebrity following. Rothmann's first opened its doors in 1907 in East Norwich under the stewardship of Charles and Franziska Rothmann. They offered their guests and clientele a charming old-world atmosphere and delicious comfort food. Rothmann's drew a diverse group of patrons including local politicians, traveling celebrities and Gold Coast socialites. Renowned singer and songwriter Burt Bacharach was the owner for a brief time during the '70s, during which Rothmann's continued its fine reputation for food and ambiance. On a recent early summer night, I visited Rothmann's and found a beautifully redecorated and refreshed restaurant offering warm earth tones, dark wood and ivory linens. The restaurant pays tribute to its illustrious history with historic framed photos on the walls of the four main rooms of the restaurant: the saloon, pine room, library and main dining room. There are also three private dining rooms which can accommodate parties from 15240 guests. Executive Chef Roy Bruce has created a contemporary American menu with a depth and breadth not typical of most steakhouses. Although Rothmann's is famous for its array of mouthwatering steaks and chops, I was pleasantly surprised to find outstanding seafood selections on the menu including Seared Sesame Tuna, Miso Glazed Chilean Sea Bass, Crispy Tuna, Ginger Crusted Salmon and my favorite, Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes, all with a Rothmann's touch. On this evening we were treated to a beautifully prepared special tasting menu with accompanying fine wines. Our menu began with a Georgia House Salad accompanied by Brut
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A LONG ISLAND CLASSIC By Barry Kay Champagne, Nicolas Feuillate, France NV. Next up was a Lobster Cocktail made with plump pink and white lobster meat and accompanied by a special cocktail sauce and served with Albarino Martin Codax, Rais Baixas, Spain 2006. Braised Kobe Short Rib with Baked Potato was a truly unique dining experience, as the meat was cooked to perfection and virtually slid off the bone. I was first introduced to genuine Kobe beef in Kyoto, Japan, and had never again experienced a similar taste sensation in any steak or beef dish until this evening. Kobe beef cows are raised from birth like bovine royalty and nurtured throughout their lives with massages and special feed to make their meat indescribably delicious. The price of this type of beef is commensurate with its status and rarity. The Kobe was complemented by Cotes du Rhone, Domaine de L'Almadine, Rhone Valley, France 2004. We next tried the 35-Day Dry Aged Reserve Sirloin with Creamed Spinach. It was a magnificently aged marbled steak, among the finest steaks America has to offer and a pleasant contrast to the elegant Kobe. It was set off by a beautiful Cabernet Sauvignon, Silver Oak, Alexander Valley, California 2003. For dessert we were offered a Chocolate Creation, which turned out to be a chocoholic's dream, a delicious rich dark chocolate plate topped with homemade whipped cream. Our fine wine finale – Bracheto D'Acqui, Rosa Regale, Castello Banfi, Italy 2005. Dining at Rothmann's provided an exceptional evening of fine food and elegance that will long be remembered. The wait staff, maitre d' and sommelier were knowledgeable about the items on the menu and friendly and gracious in their hospitality. Rothmann's Steakhouse is located at 6319 Northern Boulevard, East Norwich, NY. For information or reservations, call 516-922-2500.
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collected my luggage from the airport carousel and the royal treatment began. I was standing (sitting, actually) in the concierge office of the Half Moon Resort at the airport. It would be another five days before I had to lift my luggage, or a finger for that matter. In 10 minutes we were heading through massive iron gates surrounded by a white wall with an elegant colonial-style building just beyond. The security guard opened the gate, smiled and waved us on to the 470-acres that is the Half Moon Resort. As I entered the open grand foyer, I was immediately distracted by the ocean view at the other end. After a quick check-in with the concierge, we were taken via six-passenger golf cart to our villa ... yes, villa. Half Moon Resort is not your typical resort. It by far exceeds any standard in luxury travel destinations. Located in Rose Hill, Montego Bay, Half Moon blends the dream vacation with the
preservation of traditional Caribbean culture, providing an unsurpassed concierge service that respects guests’ privacy and provides for virtually anything that you require to make your stay unique. It’s a service that has routinely attracted the royal family to the resort. I walked up the pathway to the villa and opened an iron gate to a full-size swimming pool enclosed by a stone and lattice wall and surrounded by coral stone that overlooked the ocean. “…and this is your private pool,” I heard our bellhop say. I could have just stayed at the pool all week and been happy but there was
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so much more to see and do. We walked through French doors into the dining area, which was followed by a spacious living room complete with wet bar, flat screen TV and Internet access. The master suite was tucked away at the far end of the villa and adorned with a large mirror that reflected the ocean view. While the resort has a beautiful oceanside pathway that leads to the main building, I couldn’t resist using my personal golf cart and bicycle to explore the property and all it had to offer. We stopped at the Seagrape Terrace for a light lunch. The Seagrape, named after the seagrape tree found throughout the resort, overlooks Sunset Beach and offers a wide variety of delicious delicacies and casual dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The hotel even offer a beachside Jamaican barbecue. Our Boulevard staff was given a private tour of some of the other villas. With full living rooms, master suites and ocean-view terraces, every inch of Half Moon is truly a tropical paradise. The royal four-, five-, six- and seven-bedroom villas were mansions, to say the least. In addition to a private swimming pool and million dollar ocean view, each villa comes with a butler, housekeeper and 24-hour live-in personal chef. It is no wonder that the royal family has stayed here on several occasions. We then drove along a road that hugged a long, white, sandy beach over to the Dolphin Lagoon. After a brief orientation by the resort’s dolphin trainers, guests become part of the dolphins’ habitat with the opportunity to interact with these amazing mammals for the next 30 minutes in Half Moon’s natural lagoon. It is an unforgettable experience. It was back to the villa for a quick dip in the pool, a cocktail and then off to dinner at The Sugar Mill Restaurant. The maitre d’, Solomon Gardner, greeted us. His name sounded very familiar and there was a reason why. In my information about Half Moon, there was a story tucked away that read more like a bio titled Keeper of the Mill. The story was about Mr. Gardner, or Mr. G as his friends call him, who has been the maitre d’ for more than 30 years. He is warm and friendly and most likely will remember your name and what you ordered on your last visit. The Sugar Mill offers contemporary Caribbean fusion cuisine with al fresco dining, as well as a first-class wine cellar. Open for dinner only, reservations required. Most resorts in the Caribbean offer up some of the finest cuisine; however, an Italian restaurant in Jamaica seemed a little out of place and I wondered if they were able to pull it off. As you step into Il Giardino you are whisked away from the Caribbean and into the Mediterranean; it is like being in Tuscany. Il Giardino provided a dining experience that is commensurate to some of the finest Italian restaurants found in New York City and; as in most Italian restaurants, I was stuffed halfway through the meal but still managed to fit in dessert! A nice, long walk along the
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Travel
beach with a fine cigar from the onsite cigar shop was a perfect way to end the night. After dinner, I stopped at the beach bar to listen to some live music at the Seagrape terrace. As I made my way back to the villa, I stopped and stared at the swimming pool. The temperature was still in the low 90s and my pool was open! So there I was, drink in hand, gazing at a vast array of stars while lounging out in the pool at 1:00 a.m. with an orchestra of tree frogs and crickets performing at maximum decibels. The next morning after breakfast, I opted not to wait the obligatory 30 minutes and jumped right into the ocean. Like the pool, it was a lukewarm tub – the kind of perfect temperature that doesn’t require a towel to dry off when you get out. Half Moon supplied the snorkel, mask and fins (as well as many other water sport activities) and I was off hovering above beautiful and vast coral cities bustling with life while being followed by the sea’s curious inhabitants. If the beach isn’t your style, check out the resort’s premier golf experience. Located across from the main property, Half
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Moon boasts an award-winning golf course perfect for the novice and challenging enough for the semi-pro. After a day of playing the back nine surrounded by swaying palms and towering hillsides, head over to the 19th hole restaurant to brag about the hole-in-one you almost shot. On the way back, stop off at the stables where you will be greeted by Friday (the stable dog) who wants nothing but attention and a pat on his head. He will escort and introduce you to all the horses. You can also book some time for horseback riding along the beach. From luxury and catered concierge service to private relaxation and fun in the sun, Half Moon has it all and will provide you with a memorable and unique vacation experience that will have you believing that you are royalty … and feeling alright. For more photos and videos go to www.boulevardli.com and for more information on Half Moon Resort go to www.halfmoon.com.
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By Tina Guiomar
FernTree Spa An Oasis within An Oasis
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consider myself quite the connoisseur of spa treatments. There are key aspects to a spa that can raise it to the highest standards – the variety and quality of amenities, the staff ’s experience and hospitality, and the overall atmosphere the spa exudes. The Fern Tree Spa at Half Moon exceeds expectations in all degrees. The Fern Tree is a 68,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor sanctuary that draws into its treatments local healing traditions and native herbs, fruits and botanicals. The spa includes numerous amenities, including a relaxation lounge, yoga pavilion, meditation garden, hydrotherapy swimming pools and cascading waterfalls that mimic the famous Dunn’s River Falls. For those ready to experience optimal mental and physical health benefits from their vacation, there is the Spa Elder. Stella Gray, the chief Spa Elder, has more than 35 years experience; she can create the idealistic spa treatment for each individual she consults. The paradise of Half Moon was a great experience and on our third day of basking in the sun, bike riding and swimming, I still needed even more pampering. Usually I end up enjoying a massage on my own, but happily, at Fern Tree my significant other and I were in for the very special and romantic treat of a couple’s massage in one of the two spa beach cabanas. The couple’s massage began with our enthusiastic therapists
greeting us in the main spa lobby and gathering information from us to see what areas of our bodies needed alleviation from pain. As we walked out of the main building in our lush robes and slippers, I could see the beautiful Caribbean Ocean across the way. With the warm Caribbean air and a grand view of the turquoise blue, swaying waves breaking against our private beach cabana, I knew this would be the best day of our trip. The two cabanas stretch out onto the water and are supplied with all the necessary equipment – two soft massage tables overlooking the ocean, a gorgeous, clear day of never-ending sea waves and four experienced hands. Add to that the one you love and it’s perfection. I couldn’t have asked for a better or more romantic experience. The massage lasted an hour, but it felt much longer than that and was very gratifying. The sounds of the ocean, the warm breeze and the wonderful smells of the sea air mixing with the native botanical oils were intoxicating. Our therapists soothed our ailments, both body and soul. Half Moon Resort is a paradise filled with anything and everything the heart desires. The Fern Tree Spa takes the advantages of being at a royal resort and brings the guest to a higher state of nirvana. An oasis within an oasis, the Fern Tree Spa serves up the royal treatment par excellence.
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An Escape Worth Remembering at the
BRAZILIAN COURT HOTEL
Lounge Pool
Canopy Entrance
Restaurant Bogart Suite
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he Brazilian Court Hotel, fully open for the first time in six years after a $35 million investment in perfection, invites couples to enjoy a romantic vacation “Worth Remembering” at this boutique hotel where the social registry of Palm Beach escapes. The Worth Remembering package allows lovebirds to discover the history of Palm Beach while making memories along the way. An icon of Palm Beach society designed by famed Rosario Candela and Maurice Fatio, the Brazilian Court features the award-winning Café Boulud and Frederic Fekkai Salon & Spa, as well as the Author Breakfast Series hosted by Parker Ladd and exclusive Jewelry Luncheons. Fringing Worth Avenue, the Brazilian Court boasts a storied past since 1926 as a favorite of such socialites, celebrities, Palm Beach power players and media moguls as Cary Grant, Greta Garbo, Amelia Hearst and Marjorie Merriweather Post. The hotel now features custom-designed suites with mahogany crown molding and Provence-style wood shutters, stone flooring imported from the Cortone region of France and Ultra Air Jet baths with customized hydro-thermo massage menus. Private terraces featured in most rooms open up to guests’ very own
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secret garden, offering the perfect respite as the day wanes on the golden shoreline of Palm Beach. A historic tour ushers couples back in time to the Gilded Age of Palm Beach with an insiders look at the Henry Flager Museum and the island’s secluded estate section where three streets were deemed the world’s most beautiful by Town & Country. During a day of exploring, couples can relax over a picnic lunch, indulging in signature French fare from renowned Chef Daniel Boulud. The Frederic Fekkai Salon and Spa at the Brazilian Court offers his and hers cuts and colors along with hot rock massages and indulgent European facials. Whether enjoying the designer staples of Worth Avenue, romantic al fresco dining in the courtyard or relaxing at the pool in plush chaises lined in crisp white linen, the only interruptions are the whispering of lush foliage and palms trees in the soft Florida breeze. To enjoy a romantic escape that is Worth Remembering, contact the Brazilian Court at 561 655-7740 or visit www.thebraziliancourt.com.
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Experience a First-Class Vacation With MSC Cruises and Be Treated Like Family
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ounded by owner and chairman Gianluigi Aponte, MSC Cruises has established its position as a leading player in the cruise industry, growing in only a few years to a global giant with 42 offices worldwide. The distinctive European style and ambiance of the line’s ships have become the company’s hallmark. MSC Cruises is proud to call itself the most modern cruise fleet in the world. At a recent event, the MSC Splendida was traditionally christened by Italian icon and godmother of the MSC Cruises fleet, Sophia Loren, and world famous tenor José Carreras, who performed a special concert. The current fleet of 10 ships will increase to 11 with the delivery of MSC Magnifica in 2010. Whether in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, or northern Europe, MSC Cruises’ diverse itineraries offer some of the most popular ports of call, as well as many not-so-often visited destinations. In Europe alone, guests can visit the hidden treasures of eastern Mediterranean sites, historic landmarks of the western Mediterranean and the richness of northern Europe. With the economic situation on so many minds, MSC Cruises’ Kids Sail Free offer puts a family cruise within everyone’s reach. Kids age 17 and under sail free when sharing a stateroom with two full fare-paying adults. One of the most exciting events in the history of MSC Cruises is the newest class of ships, the Fantasia Class. The largest ships built for a European ship owner, MSC Fantasia and MSC Splendida each feature the MSC Yacht Club, offering an exclusive six-star
experience for discriminating vacationers. The luxurious private facilities allow guests to enjoy the comfort and convenience of a personal butler, 24-hour concierge service, private pool and bar, exclusive retail services and complimentary beverages. The MSC Yacht Club also features private elevator access to the wellness and spa treatment center, Aurea Spa. Designed and furnished to the highest standards, the suites boast marble bathrooms, the finest Egyptian cotton sheets and a choice of Dorelan pillows. They also include sophisticated climate control, Samsung interactive TV, Wi-Fi Internet access and Nintendo Wii consoles. The MSC Poesia will set sail from Fort Lauderdale for the 2009-10 Caribbean season, offering a variety of itinerary lengths and destinations to guests seeking a European experience in the Caribbean. The 2010-11 season will be highlighted by the arrival of MSC Magnifica a mere six months after her christening. In addition to the Musica Class features of her sister ships MSC Orchestra and MSC Poesia, MSC Magnifica features a magrodome (retractable roof ) for magnificent views. Itineraries can be combined, making them ideal for those who want a longer, roundtrip experience or even a 16-night cruise from New York City to Fort Lauderdale. When she arrives in Fort Lauderdale, MSC Magnifica will join MSC Lirica for the 201011 Caribbean season. The future looks bright for MSC Cruises and guests. For more information about MSC Cruises, visit www.MSCCRuisesUSA.com or a local travel professional. www.boulevardli.com
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Travel
Schlössle Hotel in Estonia
Old World Beauty With Modern Amenities
By Thorsten Buehrmann
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e landed in Tallinn, Estonia, on the Baltic Sea just below Finland at 7:30 p.m. and were surprised by the bright, blue-skied daylight at this late hour. Ah, yes, we remembered, the sun sets later in the northern hemispheres. Since Tallinn is located only about 40 miles south of Helsinki across the Gulf of Finland, we had chosen that route to visit Estonia’s capital city. A welcome sign guided us toward the gracious staff. A Bentley Arnage was parked at the airport entrance and our luggage was handled quickly and carefully. Light canapés and fruit were presented along with flutes of champagne. Our driver drove through the fascinating, one-of-a-kind, historic city to the hotel. We arrived at Old Tallinn’s Schlössle Hotel and stepped out onto lovely cobblestone streets, setting the tone for our stay in a place noted since 1363 as a wealthy townhouse. We entered the dazzling medieval hall of a small, fairytale hotel. General Manager Kay Peter Bischoff and his staff welcomed us and we were invited to share champagne at the cozy but massive fireplace. We were taken to our accommodations; I stayed in Suite 31 where Prince Charles has slept under wood beams that were hand-hewn sometime in the 1300s. This splendid and romantic suite not only has all the new-day amenities, but a spaciousness
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that is rather hard to find in Middle Ages buildings. The bath facilities were accordingly roomy with a large Jacuzzi and bath and spa amenities. Guests may choose from a Medieval Bath Menu and even employ the services of a bath butler, adding a Middle Ages dimension to their bath experience. We had reservations for a seven-course degustation menu prepared by a young, dynamic chef. The cuisine and the unique setting of the restaurant were perfection. After a royal night’s sleep in luxurious linens, my wakeup call came in to the minute. Room service arrived five minutes later; the coffee was hot and strong, just the way I like it. After a quick shower, I met my colleagues for breakfast. A mini-buffet was nicely arranged and for anything else that our hearts might desire, we were referred to the menu. The service was impromptu, yet professional. A driver arrived at the main entrance with a new Audi A for a five-minute ride to the harbor. All that followed we can highly recommend for any team-building experience or for a completely different kind of date. We boarded a rustic-looking boat at the pier and arrived an hour-and-a-half later on Naissaar (Ladies Island). Supposedly, only five people live on this island yearround and/or at all.
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Next we boarded a small, old train that brought us to a hidden place in the woods, with a fireplace already burning and the aroma of grilled salmon in the air. Under a radiant blue sky we sat at an open fire enjoying white wine, shrimp and freshly grilled salmon. We then had the opportunity to man a railroad handcar, a first-time experience for every member of our team. A handcar (also known as a pump trolley, pump car, jigger or Kalamazoo) is a railroad car powered by its passengers and we were the passengers. Handcars are nowadays used at vintage railroad events, but here in the middle of the woods on Naissaar, it was part of a way of life. Our jigger brought us to an old, abandoned church in the woods where we saw the island from the perspective of a time long gone. It was a neat experience until we returned to the harbor. The boat was gone! “Well, what are we going to do now?” We looked at each other more or less speechless until Kay asked something like, “What the heck, why don’t we take the helicopter?” From insecurity, to surprise, and finally relief, emotions were written all over all our faces. We boarded the chopper that had been hidden from view and took off. From the air, we circled our fire pit and the old church and discovered the many little hidden white sandy beaches of Naissaar. Back at the landing field, we were welcomed with a nicely chilled glass of Moët, and we all toasted to one of
the most surreal and surprising excursions this Seven Star team had the pleasure of experiencing to date. After a wonderfully executed dinner at the Stenhus restaurant, we skipped the nightcaps and went right to bed. The next morning we had a quick breakfast and were off on a guided walking tour to discover Tallinn. The Schlössle Hotel is at the center of the city’s medieval old town and steps away from the historic Town Hall Square and shopping streets. One can easily walk to the palace of feudal lords and barons dating back to the Danish King Waldemar II, the Czars and then some. Our guide, Eduard Kohlof, had us follow quaint, narrow, cobblestone streets and showed us some of the most historic and cultural landmarks, as well as interesting places we might otherwise have missed, such as a 600-year-old marzipan factory and a 14th-century toilet that still works. At the Schlössle Hotel, we experienced a highly dedicated management that guides a coordinated team with grace and eloquence. GM Bischoff learned the hospitality trade from the bottom up and is a true professional. Definitely hands-on, he gets the job done. Mr. Bischoff joined the Schlössle Group last fall and once again, Director Bernard Loew has selected the right person for the position. For more information on Seven Stars and Stripes go to www.sevenstarsandstripes.com www.boulevardli.com
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Travel
PRIVATE JETS in the New Economy
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fter an initial downturn sparked by the negative perception of GM executives traveling to D.C. coupled with the weak economy, private jet travel is on the rise again. Video conferencing and other modern technology cannot replace face-to face contact, so corporate executives and entrepreneurs must still travel to establish new business relationships, solidify or repair existing ones, visit far-flung operations, evaluate companies for investment or acquisition, or to ship essential parts or supplies that cannot wait for a scheduled airline. Business travelers are confronted with commercial airlines that are increasingly unable to serve their needs with slower lines at checkin and security taking an ever-growing bite out of their time. Packed planes, indifferent service and non-existent legroom make it difficult to conduct business, eroding customers’ efficiency even further. Traveling via private jet has many advantages, including traveling on your own schedule, thereby maximizing use of your time. The jet leaves when you want to leave and from the airport that is most convenient for you, greatly increasing productivity. This can mean the difference between a one-day business trip and multiple days to travel to the same location or locations. The new economy has forced everyone to become more cost conscious and private jet users are no different. Customers are spending money more wisely, asking more questions and becoming more educated. Savvy clients are getting more from their travel dollar. Getting the most value from your investment in private jet travel is not only about dollars spent, it’s ensuring you are flying safely with properly trained crews and expertly maintained airplanes. Here are some questions you should consider before booking your next private jet flight: What makes most sense: charter, jet cards or other programs? For most trips, chartering a private jet is the least expensive option. Like renting a car, a charter allows you to select which type of airplane you’d prefer to fly in and pay for. You are not tying up
large sums of money on jet cards for trips that you might not be taking. And jet cards, or pre-paying for large blocks of charter, can tie up money while offering few tangible benefits in return. Also, prepaying for large blocks of flight time can be risky business. Ensure your money is with reputable people and fully refundable at any time. What are the qualifications of the crew? Find out how often the pilots train, where they train and how much experience they have flying. Also ask if both the pilot and co-pilot are type-rated in the aircraft, meaning both have received the same level of training and are equally qualified to fly the specific airplane you’re in. What are the operator’s maintenance capabilities? Maintenance is essential to the safety of an aircraft. So find out what the operator’s maintenance capabilities are. For example, does the operator run a factory service center for jets? Also, ask how much of the maintenance is performed in-house and how much is farmed out to others. Has the operator been vetted by a safety auditor? Wyvern, ARG/US, Air Charter Safety Foundation and IS-BAO are among the most respected third-party safety auditors. Learn the significance of each and ask your operator if they’ve been approved – or denied approval – in an audit. Are there any private jet bargains? When traveling somewhere for an extended period, you can often save money buying what the industry calls “empty legs,” or booking the return leg of another traveler’s trip. If you have the flexibility of travel dates and destinations, there are opportunities to fly these empty legs for less money, but there are some downsides. Finally, take the time to visit your private jet operator. Ask to see the facilities and meet with the staff and senior management to assess the level of professionalism. By visiting first, you’re likely to receive better service and you can be comfortable with the private jet experience knowing you’ve put yourself in the hands of true professionals to look after your safety, comfort and your travel investment. For more answers to your private jet questions, email davidr@excelaire.com.
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Travel
ADVENTURESin the Wild
© Photo courtesy of Huka Lodge
By Sara Duncan Widness
Huka Lodge Activities - A helicopter tour to White Island volcano.
A Vanishing Spectacle
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ilmmaker Ken Burns’ six-part PBS documentary, The National Parks: America's Best Idea, launched this fall. In a recent interview Burns said, “You know, Thomas Jefferson didn't think you could be an American without an authentic relationship to nature. And these parks are the last vestiges of a primitive, primeval America.” One active travel company, Austin-Lehman Adventures (ALA), is jumping up and down for joy. Burns said exactly what ALA tells folks who book their trips into this country’s national parks. On a sober side, however, Sierra Magazine’s September/ October 2009 issue explored Glacier National Park with an eye to its possible meltdown. It noted that the park had 150 glaciers when it was founded in 1910. Now there are only 25. Some believe the park’s glaciers may become extinct by 2030 if global warming works its wrath.
ALA isn’t waiting around. They’ve scheduled three August 2010 departures into Glacier National Park, which, incidentally, will celebrate 100 years of awing the public that year. ALA has engaged naturalists and scientists who can explore with guests what appears may be a massive natural disaster in the making.
© Photo by Dennis Coello
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Montana National Park © Photo by Dennis Coello
Night walks and passage over an aerial catwalk reveal such national treasures as Sumatran rhinoceroses and clouded leopards. A four-day safari might begin with a visit to the Kota Kinabalu region, through Sabah’s lush rainforests and its ethno-botanical garden. Boating and snorkeling follow at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park and a beachside overnight at the ShangriLa Tanjung Aru Resort. Days two through four should include the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary and Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, which protects the highest concentration of orangutans in Malaysia. It is also home to endangered proboscis monkeys,
However the seriousness of this scrutiny is laced with plenty of fresh air, biking, hiking and river rafting, plus the comfort of luxurious inns and meals. Glacier National Park, or Shining Mountains as Native Americans referenced the region, preserves over a million acres of old growth forests, alpine lakes, rugged mountains, glacial valleys and sweeping wildflower meadows. The region also offers views of predators that were here when the Europeans first arrived: grizzly and black bear, mountain lion, wolf and wolverine. Over a six-day adventure that begins and ends in Whitefish, MT, ALA guests hike backcountry trails for a jaw-dropping view of granite cliffs and jagged ice fields. They step into the set of The River Wild while rafting the unspoiled waters of the Flathead and accomplish 35 mile-a-day bike rides. The per-person double rate is $2,498 ($680 single supplement). Departures for 2010 are Aug. 1, 8 and 15. ALA was recognized in August 2009 by Travel + Leisure as the No. 1 Tour Operator in the World. For more details call 800 575-1540 or visit www. austinlehman.com.
A Chorus of Wildlife Awake to the chorus of rainforest wildlife where monkeys howl on white sand shores. According to Charles Darwin, the island of Borneo is “one great, wild, untidy, luxuriant hothouse made by nature for herself.” Borneo’s natural wonders extend to the pygmy Asian elephant, the Malaysian tiger and Asia’s only great ape, the orangutan. In geographical terms, it is the third largest island in the world. Although Borneo remains truly “where the wild things are,” accommodations for guests of Asia TransPacific Journeys are distinctly rainforest chic, a well-developed infrastructure featuring stilted rooms linked by canopy walkways together with worldclass eco-lodge bungalows and private deluxe chalets tucked into the jungle. This is a photo and sound safari experience par excellence with an explosion of sound and color as 270 species of birds and more than 70 species of frogs flash feathers and play their tunes.
© Photos courtesy of Asia TransPacific Journeys
long-tailed macaques, leaf monkeys and gibbons. Recommended accommodations include the Borneo Rainforest Lodge in the Danum Valley and the Sukau Rainforest Lodge, designated by National Geographic Adventure as one of the world’s top 50 ecolodges. The per-person daily land rate starts at $300. This includes accommodations, most meals, entrance fees, transfers and a private local guide. For more details call 800 642-2742 or visit www.asiatranspacific.com. National Geographic Traveler magazine selected Buddhist Asia and Asia TransPacific Journeys’ itinerary as one of 50 Best New Trips for 2009. Two recently published books feature Asia TransPacific Journeys’ itineraries. These are Patricia Shultz’s 1000 Places To See Before You Die, and Chris Santella’s Once in a Lifetime Trips: The World’s 50 Most Extraordinary and Memorable Travel Experiences.
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© Photos courtesy of Huka Lodge
Alan Pye Cottage at the Huka Lodge.
Cedars, Stones and Bricks Heritage materials of assorted cedars, stones and bricks created the 1920s-themed Alan Pye Cottage, an English arts and crafts residence that guests traveling to New Zealand can now enjoy. It is sited overlooking the rushing waters of the Waikato River at the most private end of 17 privileged acres known as Huka Lodge, considered internationally as the finest property in New Zealand. The Cottage boasts two large bedrooms, each with fireplace, en suite bathroom and generous dressing room. An open-plan living room features a large brick fireplace, decadently comfortable furniture and a well-equipped kitchen set up for a personal chef. The natural exterior beauty is incorporated into interior earth tones, richly hued. It has a private infinity pool and outdoor pavilion with a stunning stone fireplace. The rate includes butler and private chef staffing, as well as a private wine cellar that guests are invited to discover. Guests may choose to dine in, at the main lodge or at over a dozen select indoor and al fresco dining hideaways that are so completely private a couple can easily imagine these 17 acres are exclusive to them alone. Menus that guests can arrange themselves transport the excitement of Pacific Ocean-influenced fresh ingredients to the table, along with an exemplary wine list that includes, of course,
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ample choices from New Zealand’s vineyards. Golfers have a choice of many courses, a favorite being Wairakei International Golf Course just five minutes away. There is also a new Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course at Kinloch nearby. Fly fishing excursions on streams and local lakes are easily arranged. With the recent strength in the U.S. dollar, it has never been a better time for the U.S. traveler to visit New Zealand. Depending on the season, nightly rates for the Alan Pye Cottage range from NZD $3,060 to $7,640 for two guests to NZD $4,595 to $8,075 for four guests. Rate includes pre-dinner drinks, a five-course dinner and full country breakfast. Huka Lodge recently earned accolades in numerous publications including the coveted gold list in Conde Nast Traveler. Huka Lodge is one of three intimate, elegant and sensual properties of The Huka Retreats collection whose properties also include Grande Provence Wine Estate in Franschhoek, South Africa (winning awards for its Grande Provence label) and Dolphin Island, a private island retreat in Fiji. From Auckland, Huka Lodge on the North Island is an easy and scenic three-and-a-half hour drive or a 45-minute scheduled domestic flight direct to Tupo Airport. There is also a helipad on the grounds. For additional information on Huka Lodge, visit www.thehukaretreats.com or call + 64 7 378 5791.
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By Barry Kay
The Yachts of the Seabourn
Living the High Life on the High Seas
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ver the years I have sailed with many cruise lines and experienced a diverse range of accommodations, service and people. After 15 years of ocean voyages, I can definitively say that family vacations on board a major cruise line have been some of the most memorable my family ever experienced. Cruises offer excitement, affordability and glamour along with an opportunity to make lasting friendships. The cruise lines of today dispel the notion that cruises are all about eating and "vegging out."Â Cruise ships offer state-ofthe-art gyms, swimming pools, rock climbing, yoga, simulated golf, skeet shooting, bridge lessons, tennis, movies, gambling and shows. Sitting in your cabin is a definite "no-no." In truth, seven-to-10-day cruises are like adult camps with no set schedule ... it is all about choice. At one time, cruise ship dining consisted of two formal seatings for dinner. Today, to attract more clients and a younger demographic, open seating and casual dining is the norm. The cuisine varies with each cruise line, ranging from generic to haute cuisine. One cruise line that has always been considered among the finest is the Yachts of Seabourn because of the elegance, intimacy, service, food and high demographic clientele. The Yachts of Seabourn has consistently received honors for excellence and in 2009 was awarded World's Best Small Ship Cruise Line by the readers of Travel & Leisure magazine. Seabourn
also won the 2005/2006 Best Small Ship Line award and in 2007 was honored by the magazine as the World's Best Value. The Yachts of Seabourn is unique because its smaller size permits each ship to travel to the world's most exotic ports unavailable to larger ships. Each ship carries a maximum of 208 fortunate guests. All Seabourn suites/cabins are equipped with luxurious amenities such as flat-screen televisions, DVD players and Bose Wave sound systems. The ship offers iPods and computers on loan, a casino, library, boutiques, a beauty salon, swimming pools, whirlpools, Wi-Fi access in suites and public rooms and cell phone service at sea. Relaxation and pampering are easy to find on board the ships of Seabourn in their extraordinary spas. The spas offer two decks with seven treatment rooms and more than 11,400 square feet of space to help relax and center oneself on vacation. Seabourn cruise itineraries feature visits to some of the most exciting ports of call throughout the world including Europe, North America, the Caribbean, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and South and Central America. Cruises vary in length from seven days to a 108-day world cruise on the new Seabourn Odyssey departing January 2010 and visiting 42 ports from Fort Lauderdale to Athens. For the past 21 years, Seabourn cruises have raised the bar for excellence by combining discovery, adventure and one-toone service by skilled and enthusiastic professionals.
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Health
IVF and More… A Better Chance for Having a Healthy Baby After 40 By Barbara Capozzi, DO Photo by Jason Feinberg
Gannascoli Family : Joe, Lola, Diana, Viviana Gannascoli, with Dr. Braveman
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t 44, Diana Gannascoli, wife of Joe Gannascoli (Vito Spatafore on TV’s Sopranos) is a new mom, owing thanks for her beautiful bundle of joy to four very special men – her husband, her infertility specialist, her perinatologist and her obstetrician. The team of highly specialized, innovative and caring physicians helped Diana first to get pregnant (with her husband’s sperm), then to keep the pregnancy to full term and finally to deliver a healthy 6pound baby. In Diana’s words, “Dr. Braverman is the one who got me there and Dr. Kofinas is the one who kept me there.” On June 15, Viviana (6 pounds, 19 1/2 inches) was born at South Nassau Community Hospital, making Diana and Joe elated first-time parents at ages 44 and 50 respectively. Getting pregnant in the fourth decade is increasingly more common in 2009, thanks to artificial insemination and/or in vitro fertilization (IVF). Good news of becoming pregnant is often followed by devastating news of a miscarriage and some women repeatedly experience the short-lived thrill of being pregnant and the recurring disappointment of miscarriage after miscarriage or even the premature birth of a baby born with less than optimal health. After several inseminations and two IVFs, Diana conceived at IVF No. 3. With the help of Drs. Braverman and Kofinas, Diana and many other women have had a much greater chance of fulfilling their dream of giving birth to a healthy, full-term baby well into their fourth decade.
Dr. Braverman Women in their 40s are less likely to conceive due to increasing age, but this is not the sole reason for not conceiving. “The most important thing to realize is that people generally give up
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on these older patients,” says Dr. Braverman. Some infertility centers are either concerned about their statistics and won’t accept these patients, or may even advise patients to consider donor eggs. “The great theme is that as older women, they are treated for infertility and they either don’t conceive or they conceive but then miscarry early and attribute it to their age and don’t look for a secondary factor.” He states that it’s about “giving these women their best chance.” This means that other issues need to be checked and treated early on, so that when they finally do make a normal embryo, they can decrease the likelihood of losing it. Dr. Braverman says that the most common reasons underlying why they don’t get pregnant are familial autoimmune disorders, blood clotting disorder or diet. The first two are diagnosed with a simple blood test. The difficulty lies in interpretation and treatment. Fortunately for Diana, this is part of Dr. Braverman’s specialty. In his experience, “If it’s not a familial immune disorder, it’s the diet of the 21st century. An imbalance between omega-3 fatty acids, which are generally found in fish, and omega-9 fatty acids, which are in meats, tilts the immune system against conception. The ratio should be 1:1, but in America it’s 9:1. The solution is to modify the diet through nutrition or supplementation. Once these changes are implemented, pregnancy occurs spontaneously.” For Diana, treatment involved a “crash course.” Intravenous intralipids (fat emulsion given into a vein) was started prior to her third IVF and given once a month after the IVF for the following two months. After conception and implantation, Dr. Braverman states that “as the quarterback, I pass to Dr. Kofinas to take it to the end zone.” Continuity and close care are extremely important as problems seen at the end of the pregnancy are usually due to a problem at the beginning.
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Dr. Kofinas “Pregnancy is a continuum, from conception to the end,” says Dr. Kofinas, who specializes in high-risk pregnancy and maternal fetal medicine. His focus in providing care to the unborn baby requires close monitoring of the support unit - the placenta. He aims to prevent pre-term delivery by monitoring and helping the placenta to develop normally. Half of his patients are 40 years old and initially see him at five to six weeks’ gestation (three weeks after conception) and then every two weeks for the duration of the pregnancy. The placenta provides blood flow from mom to the baby and a compromise in the flow can harm the baby. Visits include specific monitoring for the baby’s growth, the development of the placenta, fetal blood flow, maternal blood flow to the placenta and endovaginal sonogram to assess the length of the cervix. Dr. Kofinas estimates that since 2001 he has helped 12,000 patients. He emphasizes that “through IVF, women conceive, but failure of implantation at eight or 10 weeks, or premature birth (less than 37 weeks) may occur.” The consequence of premature birth is not only costly, but most importantly, it leads to a physically less healthy newborn and later in life, a less healthy adult. Dr. Kofinas’ goal is to keep the pregnancy to full term. “The placenta gives the future of the baby in the ninth month.’’ Therefore, early assessment of the placenta is crucial. He explains that the placenta is analogous to “a plug in a wall for energy” and that if the placenta is damaged, the baby can no longer get what it needs for postnatal life. Serving as the foundation, the placenta needs to be strong or the baby will be small and immature. As a consequence of inadequate nutrition in utero, the baby will be at increased risk for cardiovascular and other diseases through its life. Between weeks 20 and 34, blood flow must expand to maximal capacity. With the expected expansion in blood flow, there is a higher chance that the baby will realize genetic capacity and develop normally. He says that every pregnancy and every baby is unique. Diana was a multiple level problem case. Through testing by Dr. Braverman, she was found to have an immune problem that was treated with steroids, and a clotting disorder that was treated with a blood thinner. Dr. Braverman says that activation of natural killer cells (which we all have) allows the embryo to grow just enough. In cases such as Diana’s, they are too aggressive and don’t allow the embryo to grow. Factors such as diet, endometriosis and a genetic mismatch between couples all stimulate natural killer cells and failed IVF or recurrent miscarriages occur. The treatment is steroids in the right balance to allow the embryo to grow unharmed. As pregnancy continues, the battle still tries to take place, and Dr. Kofinas’ role comes into play. His expertise in assessing the placenta is essential for these women and
for the short- and long-term well-being of the baby. Dr. Kofinas emphasizes that clotting disorders, although not completely understood, are related to either early miscarriage or early delivery and a premature baby with problems. Remarkably, Diana calls her pregnancy an “uncomplicated one [with] no bleeding, no early dilation and no need for bed rest.” From a medical standpoint, her doctors were able to control her clotting disorder and her autoimmune problem, and closely watch the placental development. The only scare she had was at 16 weeks when she was told that she had an elevated AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) blood test. The baby had a one-in-five chance of Down syndrome. Diana went from elation to tears. She was frightened, and Joe was out of town. Following the advice of her husband and her well-trusted doctors, Diana had an amniocentesis in Dr. Kofinas’ office that same day. She now feared having a miscarriage or hearing a positive result. Dr. Braverman wanted Diana to enjoy her pregnancy, not wonder about the possibility of an abnormal baby, and also to be able to prepare herself emotionally if she had a positive result. He explained that one in five translated to an 80 percent chance of a normal baby and only 20 percent chance of an abnormal baby. Diana says that waiting for results was the “worst three days of my life.” She was mentally paralyzed and unable to think. On day three when the phone rang, Dr. Kofinas got straight to the point, “Good news!” Everything was fine, but she felt “an emotional hangover for a week.” She recalls thinking that she had waited so long for this baby. At 39 weeks, Viviana was delivered by Caesarian section. She is now 12 pounds, 5 ounces and 23 and 1/2 inches. Diana says, “I never thought I would be one of those women to undergo IVF.” She truly believes the intralipids are the reason for her successful implantation and she praises the “king of getting you pregnant, Dr. Braverman, and king of keeping you pregnant, Dr. Kofinas.”
For further information: Jeffrey Braverman, MD; immunologic and reproductive medical service; director of reproductive medical services, Wykoff Hospital (affiliate of Columbia Presbyterian) with offices in Woodside and Bayside. www.birms.com or www.doctormyatt.com. Alexander D. Kofinas, MD; director and founder, Kofinas Perinatal, New York Methodist Hospital with offices in Garden City, LI, and Park Slope, Brooklyn.www. kofinasperinatal.org or www.doctormyatt.com.
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Health
Skin Deep
By Deborah S. Sarnoff, M.D.
Erasing Lines Around the Mouth:
Easy as One, Two, Three
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2. A Bit of Botox®
f you give a woman a mirror and ask what bothers her most, nine times out of 10 she’ll point to the lines around her mouth. Wrinkles around the lips and mouth area occur as a result of years of facial activity and the aging process, which causes the breakdown of collagen. In general, a woman’s skin is thinner than a man’s – men have larger hair follicles and, in some instances, beards and moustaches that protect their skin. Fair-skinned women are especially susceptible to photoaging. Smokers – whose daily habit of pursing their lips around cigarettes – often experience more lines around the mouth, not to mention that cigarette smoke and nicotine also cause aging of the skin. Even a surgical facelift cannot get rid of these pesky lines around the mouth. So what’s a woman to do? Here’s a three-step treatment plan I find to be particularly effective:
1. The Quick Filler Fix The use of injectable fillers for restoring fullness to the skin has increased exponentially. There are many different types of fillers available. For spackling the etched lines on the skin above the lips, it is best to use a filler that is not too thick in consistency. Fillers such as Juvéderm®, Restylane® and Evolence® work well and provide immediate, short-term results. However, buyer beware: Using too much filler or the wrong type of filler can result in a distorted, artificial look, a reason any type of filler should be administered by an experienced, board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon. Fillers can also be used to augment the size of your lips.
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Botox® is FDA-approved for the temporary treatment of moderate to severe frown lines between the brows. Doctors also use Botox® off-label (a common and legal practice) for other types of cosmetic procedures. For example, small amounts of Botox® can temporarily weaken the muscle around the mouth, which, like loosening a purse string, produces a gentler, more relaxed appearance. When Botox® is used with fillers, it can actually make improvement in wrinkles last longer. Again, it is extremely important to make sure that a qualified professional administers the Botox® – too much Botox® can make it difficult to sip through a straw and can even affect the way you speak. Botox®and fillers “jumpstart” the rejuvenation process, but the key to long-lasting improvement is to add a third component to the mix.
3. A Little Laser Resurfacing Fractional resurfacing is a cosmetic treatment that uses a laser to remove wrinkles, reduce acne scarring and improve dark pigmentation. A CO2-based fractional laser – such as the SmartXide DOT®, SmartSkin™, or the Affirm CO2® – offers longterm results with minimal downtime. These lasers deliver light energy in a stippled fashion, ablating miniscule areas without damaging the surrounding skin. The bridges of skin that remain untouched by the laser are the key to rapid healing. This type of treatment stimulates your skin to produce its own fresh collagen and over time, rejuvenated skin is born. In most instances, the results are long-lasting so often Botox® and fillers won’t be needed anymore. Botox®, fillers and laser resurfacing work synergistically to give you just the right “one-two-three” punch that will put a smile on your face the next time you look in the mirror. Deborah S. Sarnoff, M.D., with offices in Manhattan and Greenvale, Long Island, is a pioneer in state-of-the-art cosmetic dermatology, lasers and Mohs surgery for the treatment of skin cancer. A clinical professor of dermatology at NYU Medical Center and in private practice with her husband, board-certified plastic surgeon Robert H. Gotkin, M.D., Dr. Sarnoff has demonstrated her procedures on The Today Show, 20/20, Good Morning America, Dateline, The View and The Doctors TV show. Dr. Sarnoff is co-author of Beauty and the Beam and Instant Beauty: Getting Gorgeous on Your Lunch Break. For additional information, call 516-484-9000 or visit www.cosmetiqueMD.com
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Fitness Corner
For Your Life RIDE By Pam Polestino
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lthough it has been around for many years, the phenomenon known as indoor cycling has recently garnered tremendous interest. As it is getting colder outside, take your ride indoors! Whether you are a novice or an advanced rider, you will receive many benefits. The indoor ride is non-impact cardio training that burns body fat. On average, 500 calories are burned in 30 minutes – unlike any other non-impact exercise. The energy of working with a group, listening to inspiring music and the expertise of a coach all contribute to making the workout productive and fun. There is a noncompetitive element and such a wide variety of age groups and fitness abilities in the studio. Bringing your road inside allows for controlled conditions, environments and levels. There are great friendships made in the cycling studio and it can be a fun activity for you and your spouse to do together. For anyone who does not ride a road bike, or fears other cyclists causing interference and possible injury or the realistic danger of cars, the indoor ride is perfect! As a matter of fact, you do not even have to know how to ride a bike to start indoor cycling. The indoor ride is hard in intensity but not hard to get started, even as a beginner. Indoor cycling is a great way to get
your heart pumping. A well-known cycling instructor, Kristen Gagne of Equinox Fitness, is a master cyclist for Schwinn. I asked her to share with me the benefits of using the new Schwinn bikes launching this fall at Equinox. Kristen told me that these bikes will allow participants to challenge themselves even more than ever. The new bikes provide the following display of information: RPM (pedal speed), wattage (the measure of the rider's physical workload), and the rider's heart rate, calories burned and total distance. The bike will also feature a USB port so the riders can record their own workout and then download it to their own computer at home to track their progress. Kristen prefers the Schwinn indoor cycling program to other trends in indoor cycling. The primary difference, she said, is that the Schwinn method of training is based on authentic cycling principles used by real athletes when they train. For example, Lance Armstrong does not use hand weights when he trains on the bike. However, indoor cycling is not a program that should be performed on a daily basis. Indoor rides are complemented by training your upper body with weights to complete your full body workouts. At any age, at any skill level and in virtually any physical condition, you can truly ride for your life. Call Fitness Professional at 646.261.3350 www.boulevardli.com
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Health
Health Watch Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum
Home is Where the Heart Is
THE HOME GYM
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or many of us, our home is our sanctuary. This is the place where we can close doors and wind down, relax and enjoy the simple things in life- cooking, lounging, watching TV, bubble baths or talking on the phone. The home is a special place and for the most part, it’s the place we are allowed to go to call the shots. What it feels like and looks like is not only representative of who we are, but can also reflect a lifestyle that we choose to have. On a recent visit with a patient, we were discussing the im-
portance of exercise in maintaining optimum health, and how exercise is probably the best medicine we have, as it can decrease blood pressure and heart rate, reduce the risk of diabetes, aid in weight loss, as well as elevate mood, decrease stress and prevent osteoporosis. It should be an integral part of everyone’s life, no matter where and how they can get it. This knowledge has led to some people putting gym equipment in their homes. At least, this is how my patient described it. The purpose is to use the equipment to exercise. She described to me her treadmill, stationary bike and weight bench, with dumbbells ranging from 2 to 25 pounds. She talked of her home gym with pride. When surveyed, it is shocking how many people actually do have some form of exercise equipment in their homes, whether it be a treadmill or simple exercise balls or weights. What also is shocking is that the elliptical trainer in the bedroom often doubles as a coat hanger, or the 5-pound dumbbells sit on the bookshelf doubling as bookends. That our exercise equipment tends to be used less for its purpose and more as an adjunct to ease daily living is the ultimate insult to our bodies, which crave the exercise that these devices are designed to provide. In fact, when I explained to my patient that a stress test was similar to exercising on the treadmill she had in her home, she panicked because she actually never used the equipment. Anyone can buy gym equipment and put it in the house; but remember, your home is your sanctuary. It is the place to rejuvenate and replenish. You can use your home to help nurture your heart by helping you to exercise. Use the couch as a platform to do tricep dips, the sink as a balance for deep knee bends while brushing your teeth, the staircase to do climbing squats, or the baby’s crib as a place to hold onto during sit-ups. Look around your house. Your home is what you make of it. Either find a new place to hang your clothes or pick up a broom and start sweeping. While you’re at it, check your pulse. It happens to be great exercise. Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum is the director of Woman and Heart Disease at the Heart and Vascular Institute at Lenox Hill Hospital, New York.
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Cosmetic Surgery Today By Stephen T. Greenberg, MD, FACS
The PerfectPackage
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ore often than not, patients schedule multiple procedures to achieve the perfect look. For that reason, I have developed a series of packages that combine both surgical and non-surgical cosmetic enhancement procedures designed to ensure a very positive result. I continue to see a tremendous growth in popularity of the Mommy Make-Over package, a surgical package designed to target the areas of the body most affected by childbirth. The Mommy Make-Over package includes the right combination of tummy tuck, liposuction, breast lift or implants that will transform the post-pregnancy look from “new mom” to “hot mom.” The input I have received from new mothers concerned about the physical changes that resulted from pregnancy has encouraged me to specifically address their needs and concerns. More and more women are having children later in life and their bodies do not bounce back the way they did when they were younger, or after their first pregnancy. Although diet and exercise are essential, areas such as the
lower abdomen where the skin has been stretched may never return to “normal.” A tummy tuck tightens the abdominal muscle from the ribcage to the pubic bone and tightens the skin of both the lower and upper abdomen. The effects on breasts are no less dramatic. During pregnancy, breasts grow, and breastfeeding can cause them to stretch. Breasts typically decrease in size after childbirth, causing a mild droopiness. This can be improved with breast implants, a breast lift or a combination of both. Lastly, the SmartLipo MPX laser melts away excess fat quickly, efficiently and with little pain. Although liposuction can be used for the reduction of fat in the abdomen, it is also very effective on areas such as the hips, thighs and knees. A combination of these procedures will produce the perfect post-pregnancy tune-up you’ve been looking for. For a variety of reasons, many adults find themselves faced with the challenges of embarking on a new path in life. Concerns about age often occur when seeking a new job or career where there might be competition with younger applicants. Although the concerns associated with appearance or advancing age can be frightening, there are options available that can make significant improvements to your appearance and consequently, your state of mind. Getting yourself into tip-top shape physically can certainly help to prepare you for the challenges that might lie ahead. The Starting Over package is everything you need to put your fears to rest. By customizing a combination of the most effective procedures for the face and body, looking and feeling better is easier than ever. Whether you choose SmartlLipo MPX, breast augmentation, breast reduction or a mini-facelift or eyelift, alone or in combination, these procedures are an effective way to achieve a fresher, younger-looking you. Dr. Stephen Greenberg is a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in cosmetic surgery. He is director of New York’s Premier Center for Plastic Surgery with offices in Woodbury and Manhattan. For a complimentary consultation, call (516) 364-4200. If you have a question for Dr. Greenberg, email him at docstg@aol.com or listen to his radio show on Saturday nights at 10 p.m. on WKJY (98.3 FM). Visit www.GreenbergCosmeticSurgery.com.
www.boulevardli.com
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Music
Juliette Lewis Natural Born Actress and Musician
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ou’re always skeptical when you hear of yet another Hollywood actor releasing his or her own CD. Why? Well, generally, most of them are just really bad, right? So when I first received the Juliette and The Licks (a band fronted by actor Juliette Lewis) CD in the mail a few years back, being a guy, of course all I could think of was her scene in Cape Fear where she put Robert De Niro’s thumb in her mouth. I loaded it into the CD player more out of curiosity than anything else. Maybe I could play it for a colleague and we could both laugh at how bad it was. So I put it on and surprisingly, what I heard was good, solid garage rock, not unlike Joan Jett. And this was her first CD from 2005 – Like a Bolt of Lightning. Four years go by, years that were devoted to just music and no films, and she releases a couple more CDs, the songs get better, she starts touring with big bands (Foo Fighters, Muse, Chris Cornell and this year The Pretenders) and playing at all the important festivals around the world. In 2009, we find this Oscar- and Emmy-nominated actor with three films coming out and a new album, the just-released Terra Incognita (sans previous band The Licks), produced by The Mars Volta’s Omar Rodriguez-Lopez.
making a really wild-sounding record and physically, by touring around the world in places I’ve never been, which I’ve been doing for the past few years.
Jonathan Clarke – Why the name Terra Incognita? Juliette Lewis – I guess it means unknown territory in Latin and that’s where I really wanted to go and be – both musically, in 94
JC – So it’s now Juliette Lewis with a new band?
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the tunes had to be playing in your head the whole time you were growing up, right?
JL – I always used music to get into character for my movie roles. For Natural Born Killers I was listening to a lot of Hendrix. Like “Voodoo Child Slight Return.” The chaos, danger and despair in that song is really amazing. Music is so visceral; you can hear two chords and some drumming and you instantly feel something. I’ve always listened to music that suited my many moods. For Cape Fear, I was listening to all the torch singers like Billie Holiday, Anita O’Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, because of all the heartbreak in the songs they sang. Plus I had this teenager role where my character was filled with longing. JL – A new band with a new sound. Juliette and The Licks had built a good reputation as a solid, garage-y type of rock band for five years. It took a lot of courage for this to be just me now, just using my name. I always wanted to have a band name like Juliette and The Licks, or, you know, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Patti Smith Group, Iggy and The Stooges, who all influenced me a lot. You know, really strong front people. My whole motto now is to be loud and proud. I am proud of what I have done here now musically and in film using just my name. I am all about owning it. So now I can do what I want. My next record could be Afro rhythms; who knows? So with this new album, I wanted to go a bit stranger with the guitars. What I was doing before was pretty much straight up, old school rock ’n’ roll. And now, at times, the guitars are a bit more psychedelic and radical. The groove this time is more in your hips than banging your head.
JC – I just have to list some of your movies for our readers. Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase… JL – Love it. You can see it every year around the holidays! JC – The Wonder Years TV show, My Name Is Earl, movies like Cape Fear, Husbands and Wives, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Romeo Is Bleeding, Kalifornia, Natural Born Killers, Strange Days, Basketball Diaries, From Dusk Til Dawn and Old School, to name just a few. So you have this relatively new career in music, but
JC – So you have not put the film career completely on the side though? JL – I took four years off from movies so I could totally focus on music. I was going for broke. Two of those four years I was on the road, too. Just recently, though, I did a handful of movies because I had a break in the music cycle. So coming out in October I have a film with Drew Barrymore (Drew’s directorial debut) called Whip It where I play a roller derby girl named Iron Maven. Ellen Page stars in it and I am sort of her nemesis. It’s a really fun movie, sort of a coming-of-age film with Ellen’s character. I also did a comedy with Jennifer Aniston. And also a really heart-wrenching, dramatic, smaller type of film with Mark Ruffalo directing and starring that will come out next year. JC – So the new album again, Terra Incognita – translation, unknown territory in Latin – but it seems like you are getting to know this territory pretty well. JL – It’s a sonic landscape filled with pixies in a bowl and danger.
JC – That sounds like a record review. JL – That’s from my mind. The album cover is me holding a bull on a leash and that vision came to me out of a guitar riff. Kind of like taming a bull; you can’t do it. www.boulevardli.com
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Music
The Newest Creation
From the Queen of New York Rock The cast of CHIX6, Lourds Lane, composer at the center in striped tie.
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ourds Lane, a staple of the rock scene in New York for more than 12 years and front woman for the nationally acclaimed band called LOURDS, is taking the city by storm with her new musical CHIX 6. Long one of the biggest independent artists in the nation, Lourds is arguably the face of New York City music. But her band has been off the road this last year as she composed, recorded and cast an epic rock opera that is so exciting, so original and so energetic, musical theater may never be the same. Lourds, a classically trained violin prodigy who played Carnegie Hall at age 6, has put together an all-star female cast for the new show aptly named CHIX 6. The women were handpicked from her favorite bands she’s toured with over the years. This next sentence is for the men reading this article: These women are really hot and they rock incredibly hard! Now where was I? Oh, yeah … the story centers on the character of Katie, a gifted comic artist, who is in her darkest hour. Her emotionally abusive boyfriend has dumped her again. But secretly, Katie has become a cult figure from having created a popular, girl-power comic strip that has been published anonymously for years. The breakup has left her feeling powerless. Her creative spark has nearly been extinguished. Enter CHIX 6 – a tribe of six extreme rock ‘n’ roll super heroines. They awaken Katie to her self-worth with a potent mixture of musical magic. We follow Katie's journey from self-effacing girl to strong and self-respecting woman as one by one, the CHIX 6 teach Katie how to love herself. “It is my dream to create an inspiring platform of expression for young, unsung female rockers throughout the world. I would love young girls to look at this cool, female rock musical and aspire to be one of the characters ... to pick up a microphone and
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By Tim Sullivan Photo by Wayne Herrschaft
sing … or want to play an electric guitar, electric violin, or even drums. I would love CHIX 6 to bring more female musicians into the world,” said Lourds. CHIX 6 has the crowd participation furor of a Rocky Horror meets the gorgeous visual spectacle of a Cirque du Soleil meets the cutting-edge, youth-driven theater of RENT all packaged like a stadium rock show. It will undoubtedly blow your mind. CHIX 6 is a group of gorgeous, diverse and talented ladies rocking out like you've never seen before. Girls will want to be them; guys will want to … well, you get the idea. If you go to this show and you don’t feel something move, check your pulse. “As I write my own story honestly, with all my nerve endings exposed on the outside of my skin, I am typically not writing from an empowered place. I write to heal myself, to make myself feel stronger, to learn how to love myself, just like Katie. And page by page, as I write my story, as Katie gets stronger, I get stronger. The CHIX 6 are not just parts of me, but super heroines that I aspire to be as well. The CHIX 6 are me at my best,” Lourds acknowledged. The accompanying album, CHIX 6, is a concept record like The Who’s Tommy or Pink Floyd’s The Wall. It’s an uplifting, 21song musical journey where you will hear Lourds’ entire heart ... every single beat, every single note ... and the album, just like her heart, is big and beautiful. “My hope is that the music/soundtrack will stand on its own as a classic and timeless album. The most important thing for me is the music and for the album to stand on its own as a great album, and I believe I've accomplished just that,” said Lourds. CHIX 6 will be open off-Broadway in the spring. For more on CHIX 6 including preview dates, or to purchase the album, visit http://www.chix6.com.
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