The Purist Fall 2023 Issue

TRACY ANDERSON

FITNESS EMPIRE STATE OF MIND

Interviewed by Tracee Ellis Ross

AI AND THE FUTURE OF WELLNESS

HEALING EMOTIONAL TRIGGERS

IT’S SHOWTIME! YOUR GUIDE TO THE HAMPTONS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

PAUL SIMON CAMERON DIAZ

JENNIFER ESPOSITO MISTY COPELAND

MICHAEL MUNDY

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E DITOR ’S LETTER

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Back-to-school and fall should be synonymous with home cooking. After all, a home-cooked meal is a primary food. The act of preparing food, creating authentic nourishment in the comfort of your home, is a supreme act of selfcare. It’s emotionally nourishing and important to add love off the plate in the form of the healing power of vitamin “L” in MEAL. It’s about being open to experimentation, and getting comfortable in the kitchen is a great way to start feeding your soul. Through the primary food lens, you shape your environment, and it shapes you. Creating a healthy home environment that aligns with your body’s balance can be so rewarding for you and your family, because everything at home affects your physical health.

One way to start on a nourishing path is to eat and cook seasonally. When food is picked at the peak of the season in its most vital form, it is most nutritious; your internal environment will be in harmony with your external world. A diverse gut microbiome will create a healthier and happier body. The basic science of this helps regulate your immune system, where trace elements of your gut’s environment protect your body against disease. My favorite example of this is buying local honey, which has amazing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and reduces seasonal allergies. As someone who lives in a four-season climate, I have to rotate foods to support my body. Right now in fall, the energy of plants begins to gather inward, and it’s time to nourish ourselves with heartier foods like onions, garlic, ginger and squash. Winter will bring warming foods

because the body needs to warm up. Bone stock is a favorite that deeply nourishes the body. The bonus is losing weight and feeling energized. Ask yourself if you’re investing enough time in home cooking. Is it something you look forward to, or is it a chore? Are you cooking seasonal offerings?

Another action that yields bonuses is exercise. The most compelling reason for me to exercise every day is the proven fact that aerobic exercise helps memory and cognition by stimulating brain cell growth and the survival of existing brain cells. Many studies have concluded that exercise not only extends life expansion, but also decreases brain aging. Other benefits are improved mood and sleep and reduced anxiety, all of which can be attributed to brain health. Exercises that get your heart rate up are simply good for your brain. And, no one has motivated me more in the aerobic arena for the past 13-plus years than Tracy Anderson. I’m not alone. Anderson’s disciplined tribe is vast and confident—from her dedicated client Gwyneth Paltrow, who discovers most lasting things in the wellness world, to actress and entrepreneur Tracee Ellis Ross, a true member of the #TAmily, who discusses all things wellness with Anderson in this issue. Cheers to 25 years of the mind-altering gift you’ve given so many of us, Tracy. We celebrate you.

@cristinacuomo @thepurist

Clockwise from top left: with Hearty’s Dr. David Luu (featured on page 51) at our Purist health fair; with Tracee Ellis Ross, last winter’s cover star who interviews this issue’s cover star; with Tracy Anderson when I began her classes a decade ago, here with my bestie, Beatriz Rabassa; with my daughter Carolina and pal.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FEATURES

76 THE METHOD MASTER Fitness pioneer Tracy Anderson meets with Tracee Ellis Ross for a Purist -themed talk about what it takes to create an empire.

86 IN FULL BLOOM Misty Copeland ’s short film, Flower, explores the power of community and care.

88 THE BEST OF THE FEST Your guide to the 31st annual Hamptons International Film Festival

90 LIFE IN SONG

A cinematic reflection on folk-rock icon Paul Simon’s decadesspanning career

91 STANDING TALL Avenue of the Giants , a tale about multigenerational healing, makes its world premiere.

92 DIRECTING A HIT Jennifer Esposito’s directorial and screenwriting debut packs a punch.

COVER AND THIS PAGE: PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEX CAYLEY

STYLIST + MARKET EDITOR: JARED DEPRIEST GILBERT

FASHION ASSISTANT: COURTNEY BLACKWELL

HAIR: CHERILYN FARRIS

MAKEUP: SHELBY SMITH SKIN SPECIALIST + MAKEUP ARTIST: DOTTI

COVER: DENIM SHIRT WITH SMOCK-POINT PROCESSING, PRICE UPON REQUEST, DENIM BIKINI TOP WITH SMOCKPOINT PROCESSING WITH FABRIC FLOWER APPLICATION, PRICE UPON REQUEST, DENIM BIKINI SLIP WITH SMOCKPOINT PROCESSING, PRICE UPON REQUEST, ALL AT MSGM, SHOP-MSGM.COM; PUNTINO BRACELET BY KIM, $5,195, PUNTINO NECKLACE BY KIM, $17,875, AND IRON WALKER, $5,400, ALL BY WEMPE, WEMPE.COM

RIGHT: CARDIGAN, $3,200, BY MISSONI, MISSONI.COM; BIKINI TOP, CURACAO, $340, AND BIKINI BRIEF, DAÏQUIRI, $350, BOTH BY ERES, ERESPARIS.COM

Cover star Tracy Anderson

50 SKIN SAVIORS

Ways to repair and keep that summer glow going after the sunny season

51 FULL-BODY MAINTENANCE

Sag Harbor’s new health haven, Hearty

WEEKEND

54 MEDITERRANEAN MYSTIQUE

Meet Malta: the perfect destination for exploration and relaxation.

56 FIGHTING SPIRIT

Celebrity lawyer and author Aaron Richard Golub’s plucky memoir

58 ENCHANTED WEEKEND

Discover Nemacolin, a blissful self-care resort in southwestern Pennsylvania

Don’t miss Bradley Cooper’s Maestro, the closing night movie at the Hamptons International Film Festival.

60 PURE PICKS

Must-haves from Derek Lam’s creative director Kate Wallace

62 NEW GOLD STANDARD

Sustainable elegance, courtesy of Prada’s Eternal Gold jewelry

64 HARMONY HUES

A clothing and lifestyle brand inspired by Mother Nature

66 PURE PICKS

Jimmy Choo creative director Sandra Choi’ s seasonal faves

VIBRANT

68 HONORING BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Dr. Stacie Stephenson shares key lifestyle changes to optimize health.

FOOD IS MEDICINE

73 BETTER BITES

A taste of Brazil arrives in the Hamptons.

74 BOUNDLESS BOUNTY

A new community hub by East End Food

75 CACAO LOVE

A sacred plant supports multidimensional healing.

PLAY

109 AT A GLANCE

New York fall events calendar

110 PURE PUZZLE

A wellness brain game

112 NUMEROLOGY

A by-the-numbers look at actress Cameron Diaz

Anne-Marie Kavulla

Meet Pirtti, an ecofriendly, small-batch fashion and lifestyle line.

EDITORIAL

Founder + Editor Cristina Cuomo

Executive Editor Ray Rogers

Features Editor Jim Servin

Assistant Editor + Photo Editor Jenna Lebovits

Senior Wellness + Beauty Editor Amely Greeven

Beauty + Fitness Editor Beth Landman

Wellness Editor Fernanda Niven

Contributing Health Editors Dr. Jeffrey Morrison,The Morrison Center; Tapp Francke Ingolia, STANDwellness

Copy Editor Michèle Filon

Research Editor Jill Malter

Contributing Food Editor Peter Som

Special Project Editors Jenny Landey,TR Pescod

Contributing Fashion Editor Gretchen Gunlocke Fenton

Contributing Writers Dr. Samantha Boardman, Isaac Boots, Casey Brennan, Donna Bulseco

Candace Bushnell, Christina Chao, Alina Cho, Shannon Conklin, Camille Coy

Chris Cuomo, Dr. Gerry Curatola, Donna D’Cruz, Matt Diehl, Gabrielle Echevarrieta

Dimitri Ehrlich, Melissa Errico, Pamela Fiori, Marisa Fox, Steve Garbarino, Kara Goldin

Vivien Goldman, Dr Limor Goren, Erika Halweil, Kelly Hayes, Linda Hayes, Seth Herzog

Laura Hine, Nancy Kane, Matthew Kenney, Dr. Gail King, Carrie Leskowitz, Jody Levy

Dr. Frank Lipman, Dr Lea Lis, Michael Mailer, Ali Margo, Martha McGuinness

Myles Mellor, Kevin Menard,Vashti Moore, Roxanna Namavar, Anne Marie O’Connor

Dr. Eunice Park, Dr. David Perlmutter, Annelise Peterson, Kelly Posner Gerstenhaber

Dr. Christina Rahm, Dr Whitney Roban,Tracee Ellis Ross, Hal Rubenstein

Caroline Russo, Jim Shi, Brooke Shields, Biet Simkin, Dr. Stacie J. Stephenson

Dr. Carder Stout, Julia Szabo, Abby Tegnelia, Edwina Von Gal,Tess Weaver

Regina Weinreich, Ali Wentworth, Constance C.R. White, Christy Whitman

Julie Wilcox, Lee Woodruff, Sarah Wragge

DESIGN

Contributing Design Director Ben Margherita

Contributing Art Director Mikio Sakai

Contributing Designer Seton Rossini

Web Managers Tarin Keith, Aubrée Mercure

Contributing Photographers Melanie Acevedo, Camilla Akrans, Arnaldo Anaya-Lucca, Frederic Auerbach

Lachlan Bailey, David Bellemere, Justin Bettman, Cass Bird, Brian Bowen Smith

Alex Cayley, Bob and Dawn Davis, Gregg Delman, Mikey DeTemple

Sophie Elgort, Francine Fleischer, Marili Forestieri, Diana Frank, Morgan Maassen

Roberto Matteo Marchese, Mary Ellen Matthews, Peter McBride, Miller Mobley

David Molle, Ryan Moore, Nino Muñoz, Patrick O’Keefe, Matt Sayles, Peggy Sirota

Simon Upton, Cathrine White

ADVERTISING

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Chief Revenue Officer Andrea Greeven Douzet, andrea@thePURISTonline.com

Head of Partnerships Nicole Levy, nicole@thePURISTonline.com

Executive Sales Directors Tova Bonem, Michelle Johnson, Eden Williams, Rosalind Zukowski

Aspen Publisher Alexandra Halperin

Aspen Media Consultant Cheryl Foerster

MARKETING

Director of Marketing Ilene Frankel

Client Relations Director Jen Brown

OPERATIONS

Chief Financial Officer Caryn Whitman

Production Direction Digital Workflow Solutions

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CONTRI BUTOR

THE MAGNIFICENT TRACEE ELLIS ROSS

SACRED TOURISM: TRAVEL AS A FORCE FOR GOOD

THE HEALING POWER OF MUSIC

by Pamela Fiori

WINTERING IN ASPEN + PALM BEACH

Award-winning actress, wellness warrior, creator of Pattern Beauty hair care and executive producer Tracee Ellis Ross was the perfect choice to interview cover star Tracy Anderson—she’s been an enthusiast of the Tracy Anderson Method for the past 12 years, and a healthconscious individual for many more. “At 50, to feel as fit and in my body and have a sense of wholeness and wellness that I have, it’s hard-earned,” Ellis Ross told Purist when she appeared on our cover this past winter. “At 18, I woke up with flat abs. At 50, not so much. I work out really hard, and my working out is yes, because of vanity, but it’s also because when my body is strong, my heart and mind

can do the things that they want to do. I can live out my dreams and work a 15-hour day. My self-care philosophy is really around a space of wholeness and choosing compassion, curiosity and kindness over judgment and whatever the other matches would be to those words. I do practice meditation. It is not anything traditional; I don’t practice any religion, or Buddhism specifically, or anything like that. My spiritual practice is one that I have gathered through all the years of trying everything and I’ve taken on the things that work and feel the most comfortable for me. Sometimes it is as easy as me not thinking of 700 things at once while I do the dishes.”

Tracee Ellis Ross

MINDFUL

Enjoy the changing colors of autumn for contemplation and an instant mood boost.

John Mccann

TURN, TURN, TURN

Embrace inner change with the dawn of a new season.

“Inside of us, there’s a continual autumn. Our leaves fall and are blown out over the water.” —Rumi

Welcome to fall, a distinct change of season where Mother Nature sheds herself by letting go and preparing for the next chapter. It’s seemingly effortless, yet filled with its own unique struggles.

Autumn’s energy speaks of creative expression, introspection and harvesting. Notice the complex feelings that might ignite in you as the days shorten and the weather becomes cooler. This space is a wonderful time to reflect. According to author and Zen Buddhist Gary Thorp, autumn leaves falling on the ground remind us about the virtue of letting go and the cyclical power of Mother Nature. We can quietly sit and observe the ancient way the trees so wisely know when to share their leaves—a symbol of the past.

The actual, everyday “art of letting go” can feel easier said than done. Here are some steps that I incorporate as part of my active daily dose.

1 SELF-REFLECTION: Take time to identify the grievances you’re holding on to, and the emotions associated with them. Are you attached to the suffering, or to the story you have created around this hurt?

Breathe in: I expand my instincts.

Breathe out: I release my grievances.

2 ACKNOWLEDGE FEELINGS: Accept your emotions without judgment. It’s OK to feel hurt, anger or sadness.

Breathe in: I witness my emotions.

Breathe out: I release my judgment.

3 PRACTICE FORGIVENESS: Start with yourself. Become an active participant in dynamically crafting a path of ridding old hurts and creating new, more compassionate ways of embracing self-love. Begin the process of forgiving those whom you blame for causing your pain. This doesn’t mean condoning their actions, but releasing yourself from the burden of anger. It works.

Breathe in: I welcome forgiveness, starting with me.

Breathe out: I forgive and let go.

BY DONNA D’CRUZ

4 LETTING GO: Visualize releasing the negative emotions associated with the grievances, imagining them floating away. Bye bye, thanks for the potent lessons, I’m ready to release and move on

Breathe in: I expand.

Breathe out: I am free.

5 FOCUS ON THE PRESENT: Redirect your energy toward the present moment and your own well-being. Engage in activities that bring you joy and fulfillment. You release your angst entangled with the past when you get present. That’s the gift of presence.

Breathe in: I release the past.

Breathe out: I am present.

6 PRACTICE MINDFULNESS: Techniques like meditation and deep breathing can help you stay centered and prevent dwelling on the past. A meditation practice is not a practice to perfect, but rather to do every day to build spiritual muscles.

Breathe in: I breathe in positive energy.

Breathe out: I am positive.

7 SEEK CLOSURE: If appropriate, have open conversations with those involved to find closure and understanding. Knock, and the door opens.

8 PROFESSIONAL HELP: If the grievances are deeply impacting your mental health, consider seeking therapy or counseling for guidance and support.

“Autumn wins you best by this, its mute appeal to sympathy for its decay.” —Robert Browning

Remember that all processes take time, patience and dedication—it’s a journey. Celebrate small victories along the way, and be kind to yourself throughout it all.

Tune in for weekly Dip Into Bliss meditations every Thursday at 5PM with Cristina Cuomo and Donna D’Cruz on Instagram, @donnadcruz1 and @cristinacuomo; donnadcruz.com

GUIDED BY BIET

Spiritual teacher and bestselling author Biet Simkin answers Purist readers’ questions.

Dear Biet,

My husband wants to take a trial separation and date other people. We have three young kids, and I feel like he is having a midlife crisis. I told him yes, and now we are taking this year apart. However, it’s breaking my heart. What should I do? Am I crazy for trying to save the marriage and honoring his crazy request? He also says he wants me to take some time to work on myself. Could you illuminate what “work on myself” means?

Mara, San Francisco

Mara,

If you have already said yes to this yearlong trial separation, the wisest thing you can do is actually go work on yourself. Clean up your side of the street and evolve. Transformation is the only goal in any circumstance; regardless of whether you are in a happy marriage or a complicated separation, the aim remains the same: How can I own 100 percent of my experience on Earth and transform endlessly? In the end, you may find your partner is perfect for you and it was you who needed to shift the needle. Or you may find he is not right for you, and you have changed enough to move on and find a new life for yourself. Either way, when we transform there is possibility.

Love, Biet

Dear Biet,

I have a long-time addiction to hiring “sugar babies” while I have a hard time finding a real partner in life. I believe my dream is to have a wife and kids but I keep choosing this easy, paid-for solution. What can I do? Is there any way to stop this addiction, and actually get what I really want? I am so scared I never will.

Marc, Long Island

Marc, I get it. Loneliness can lead to decisions that aren’t in integrity with who we are. That said, there is also an element of addiction involved. I recommend trying a 12step recovery on sex addiction and also praying. In prayer I would ask “universe or God show me what you would have me do and enter into my sex life and my love life. I offer my love life to you.” I teach prayer in a unique way, in that I believe when we pray we ask to be guided to our soul’s right action. I don’t judge you for what you are doing.

I’m just hearing that it’s perhaps not what you want. It might be a case of the Universe trying to give you a Bentley and you being like, “No, I am cool with my Toyota.”

Love, Biet

Dear Biet.

I am a long-time listener to your music, and use it when doing your breath work and meditation. The use of music takes the breath work so much higher! Why is that? Do you make music to enhance the breath work?

Leslie, Los Angeles

Leslie,

That’s how I designed it I believe that we awaken through the emotional center. It is only in this way that the heart opens up. While sitting in meditation in silence may be the right way for many people, or the right way at certain times for all people, there are other ways to reach and find enlightenment. For me, the heart-opening breath work I designed, merged with my music, is a great pathway to awakening. I love that it’s working for you!

Love, Biet

Dear Biet,

I was reading the about the “law of shocks” in your book, and it feels spot on! Recently I had a huge business loss. My income has gone way down, and also my son is very sick and we don’t know what is wrong with him. It all feels like it’s coming down so hard out of nowhere. The law of shocks says this means I am meant to hear a message of some kind. What’s the message?

Bree, London

Bree,

Sounds like a bell is going off for sure. I don’t know what the message is for your current troubles, but I do believe the answer and the medicine is inside you! I recommend prayer and meditation, and if you can invest, I would recommend working with a spiritual teacher or guide who can help you decode the messages inside all this tragedy and difficulty. When these things occur, it is only our job to open them up like gift boxes and see what we are being asked to change or do or be

Love, Biet bietsimkin.com

Inset by Jacob Boll, Clay Banks

Biet Simkin

The Rev. Suzan Johnson Cook

LEAD WITH LOVE

Sag Harbor’s own the Rev. Suzan Johnson Cook, the founder of the Global Black Women’s Chamber of Commerce, makes space for healing for Black women with her Selah by the Sea retreats. INTERVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY CATHRINE WHITE

CATHRINE WHITE: You’re doing important work with your Selah by the Sea retreats. What inspired you to create these annual events?

SUZAN JOHNSON COOK: Selah by the Sea is a wellness retreat I’ve hosted for the past 21 years for women of color to holistically deal with intentional self-care and soul care. Selah is a word found in the Judeo Christian Psalms which means to pause, to reflect. At Selah by the Sea, we “pause on purpose and we pause with a purpose,” always by the water. It’s where serenity, sisterhood, selfcare and soul care all converge to help keep a woman strong. We deal with the mind, body, spirit and the soul of a woman. [Editor’s note: Cook founded W.O.W. Women on the Worldstage, which hosts Selah by the Sea. More information on the initiative and the retreat can be found at thewowfactor.live.]

CW: What do you feel has shifted in this industry since the pandemic?

SJC: Since the pandemic, people are longing more for community, being with other human beings, and especially other women. So many were in isolation. It feels good to not only take care of yourself, but to see that your sisters are also OK, to have a safe space where you feel the love and care and also give the love. In the African tradition there is an ancient African word, ubuntu, which can be translated as “I am because of who we all are.” We all want to be whole, and loved and cared for.

CW: What makes your retreats different from others—how do they stand apart?

SJC: Our retreats are for intentional rest, relaxation and recreation, and where your soul takes center stage. Recreation means “re-creation,” where you can get back some of what you poured out. So many African American women are caregivers for family, friends and community, and live under the pressures of racism, sexism and classism. There needs to be a “safe” place to play, reflect and not be “on.” Women from all over the world make their way to Selah by the Sea. One woman from Durban, South Africa, had a two-day journey because of flight delays, but she said “I had to get to my sisters; I had to get to Selah.”

CW: When it comes to mental health and Black women, where has there been a void, and how have you been able to tap into it with Selah?

SJC: The daily and lifelong stressors of racism and sexism take their toll. Since mental illness is an illness you cannot see, many were ashamed to talk about it. So in our retreats we bring health care professionals who know specifically the needs and unique care for Black women. While there, “the doctor is in,” and confidential private appointments can happen on the beach or in your suite during what we call “M.U.S.H.” time: That’s unprogrammed time to ”M,” have a massage, “U,” sit under an umbrella, “S,” sit with a sister, or ”H,” just hugs and be quiet. globalblackwomen.org, thewowfactor.live

HE A LT H

A University of Michigan study found that people’s attention spans improved by 20 percent after an hour in nature.

Guille Pozzi

ASK THE DR.

Why choline is so essential for your health—and how to get yours.

If you’re not familiar with choline, well, you’re not alone. In fact, choline wasn’t even recognized by American health authorities as “essential” until 1998, so it is, in its way, a relative newcomer. And, while our bodies do produce some small amounts of choline, we need to be mindful to consume a sufficient amount of this essential nutrient in our diets or else we’ll be in trouble. It turns out that choline plays a key role in many of the, yes, essential things that the human brain and body need to do, from thinking clearly to smoothly pumping blood to burning fat for energy. What’s more, a study this year from Arizona State University brain researchers found that low choline levels were associated with high levels of neural plaques and tangles, those key physical changes that typically accompany Alzheimer’s disease. It’s one more piece of evidence—and an important reminder—not to take choline for granted.

So, how to pay more attention to this very “essential” stuff? Here’s the skinny on what you need to know about

BY DR. FRANK LIPMAN

choline, where to get it and sensible ways to get your dose:

CHOLINE BY THE NUMBERS.

In the late ’90s, the Institute of Medicine came up with the first U.S. choline dietary guidelines. They recommended 425 mg a day for women, 550 mg for men. But like most such guidelines, it’s the minimum amount you’d need to fend off actual disease, in this case caused by fats accumulating in the liver. Though our bodies need fats, we also need choline to help the body extract stored fat in the liver and metabolize it as fuel. But plenty of more recent medical research suggests that those daily amounts are hardly the optimal amounts we need to keep us in the high-functioning pink of health. And only an estimated 90 percent of Americans even consume choline at the minimum recommended levels, so small wonder loads of people are likely falling short. What does a shortfall look like?

THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON CHOLINE.

Though it’s technically a derivative of the amino acid

Dairy, meat and wild-caught fish are abundant sources of choline. Vegans and vegetarians can opt for quinoa, cauliflower, broccoli and Brussels sprouts.

serine and sometimes called vitamin B4 though it’s not strictly a vitamin, you could call choline the Swiss Army knife of amino acids—it comes packed with a lot of functions. For instance, the body uses it to make a neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, that’s necessary for a range of brain jobs. For starters, it helps spark the nerve connections that allow muscles to contract. (One symptom of severe choline deficiency: muscle twitching.) Because acetylcholine plays an important role in cognitive function, some people consider choline a “nootropic,” a natural compound that enhances cognitive performance.

In one study, older adults who had poor memory function performed better on short- and long-term verbal memory tests after taking 1,000 mg of citicoline for three months. Very low levels can produce the opposite effect— brain fog and confusion, even erratic emotional swings. In one study of older adults, people with lower choline levels generally performed worse on cognitive tests than those with higher levels.

THE REST OF YOUR BODY LIKES ITS CHOLINE, TOO.

In short, choline covers the healthy function waterfront, supporting not only your brain health but also your nervous system, proper function of your liver and muscles, the conversion of fat into energy, and also cellular development and repair. It’s also thought to be helpful to help with taming high blood pressure and mood swings; supporting better memory and athletic performance; and possibly helping to protect the liver from alcohol damage.

THE HOMOCYSTEINE CONNECTION.

Choline also tamps down the production of another amino acid, homocysteine, which, in high levels, we know to be toxic to the brain. That may explain the Arizona State finding that lower levels of choline were associated with Alzheimer’s-like changes in the brains of those being studied. High homocysteine levels can do double damage, not only in the brain but also in the cardiovascular system, promoting the inflammation that increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. The research suggests that more choline in the diet likely reduces the risk of heart disease.

MAKE YOURS A CHOLINE-CONSCIOUS DIET.

The good news is that most of us don’t have to take a blood test to get a pretty good idea of where we fall on the choline spectrum. Common sense will do. High-protein foods, especially animal products, contain high amounts of choline and if you’re eating at least three or four servings of these foods a week, you should be fine: egg yolks, liver, dairy products, chicken, beef (preferably grass-fed) and wild-caught fish will nicely fit the bill. If you’re not into animal products, then some plant sources contain respectable amounts to cover your needs as well, so lean into Brussels sprouts, soy (make it non-GMO, fermented please), brassica

veggies like broccoli and cauliflower, as well as quinoa. SUPPLEMENTS FOR SOME—BUT NOT NECESSARILY ALL.

Severe choline deficiencies are rare, but certain groups are more likely to fall into the choline-challenged camp and need to be more conscious about getting enough of the essential nutrient in their food. That includes people on very-low-calorie diets, and/or postmenopausal women whose reduced estrogen levels make it tougher for the body to break down the nutrients they consume into choline they need. Vegans who can also inadvertently fall short would also be wise to load up on the better plant sources to get theirs.

If you fall into any of these camps, you might also consider consulting with an integrative health care practitioner to determine an appropriate supplement. When looking at choline supplementation, keep in mind that many B vitamin supplements may already contain choline, so read the label closely to mind your dose—as choline is very B-like, involved in so many physiological processes, including energy production, avoid overdoing it. A little goes a long way, and too much may trigger GI distress.

As most of my readers know, I’m hardly a fan of processed foods (to put it mildly), but many do contain the emulsifier lecithin, which the body turns into choline—but eating crap is no way to get your dose. A better, far healthier way to go is with the supplement phosphatidylcholine (PC), which the body uses to make the fatty membranes that protects brain cells and allows them to communicate with each other.

Those who are pregnant also have special choline needs, so prenatal vitamins may be prescribed to fill in the gaps. Some (but not all) prenatal vitamins will contain choline, so be sure to check for it. Choline is important because it can help protect the brain development of the fetus and potentially lower the risk of neural tube defects as well as other non-brain-related birth defects—but expectant people should work with their health care provider to tailor their prenatal vitamins to their particular needs.

Who should avoid supplementing their choline intake? Though there aren’t any known food or drug interactions with choline, in general, those with certain mental health conditions such as depression and bipolar disorder would be wise to steer clear of supplementation.

TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING.

It’s almost impossible to get too much choline from dietary sources. You can, however, overdo it on the supplements if you (vegans especially) choose to go that route. If you’re taking too much choline on the daily, you may notice a fishy body odor and excessive sweating. If that’s the case you’ve definitely gone too far—and you need to dial it way back!

drfranklipman.com

MEETING MENOPAUSE HEAD-ON

Support healthy hair growth during hormonal shifts with the physician-formulated Nutrafol Women’s Balance Hair Growth Nutraceutical supplement. BY

JULIA SZABO

Hair and skin wellness, notably during menopause, is a Nutrafol priority advocated by Glynis Ablon, M.D., F.A.A.D. Purist recently spoke with Dr. Ablon, a board-certified dermatologist with 27 years of experience in medical, surgical and aesthetic practice, and founder of Ablon Skin Institute & Research Center, an independent clinical research site specializing in dermatology clinical trials.

What are some of the primary physical changes that women experience as they go through perimenopause and menopause?

The body experiences a multitude of physical, as well as emotional, changes as it adapts to different levels of hormones. Some of these changes are more commonly known or associated with menopause, like hot flashes and overall dryness, which includes dry skin, dry scalp and vaginal dryness, but can also include everything from insomnia to irregular periods, night sweats, mood changes and weight gain.

Where do you see the most misunderstanding and lack of knowledge around menopause in your practice?

I have many patients who believe menopause starts at age 50, but that’s really not the case. Women can start to experience menopause symptoms as early as their mid-to-late 30s.

Of the many life changes that menopause brings to women, hair thinning can be one of the more challenging. How do you encourage your patients as they go through these changes?

I recommend speaking with a board-certified dermatologist who is a skin, hair and nails expert, or someone with experience in the menopause realm. And if you’re experiencing hair thinning, add a daily supplement to support healthy hair growth that is specifically tailored to the unique hormonal needs of a woman going through menopause. Nutrafol Women’s Balance Hair Growth Nutraceutical is physician-

formulated for women 45 and up, and targets root causes of thinning such as hormonal shifts, natural aging and metabolism changes. Ablon Skin Institute & Research Center partnered with Nutrafol to aid in its groundbreaking clinical study on Women’s Balance. The results came back with 100 percent of women having experienced visible hair growth within nine months of taking the supplement.

What are the key benefits of using a supplement like Nutrafol?

Visibly thicker hair, fuller scalp coverage and softer, shinier, stronger hair growth. Specific to menopause, Nutrafol Women’s Balance has other added benefits that help my patients, including improved feelings associated with hot flashes, sleep and mood.

I like Nutrafol Women’s Balance because it includes standardized vitamins, minerals and natural ingredients to address the root causes of menopause-induced hair thinning, such as the incorporation of maca, an organic root that eases the hormonal transition that triggers hair thinning and sleep disturbances during menopause.

Hair thinning is not a one-size-fits-all experience. How does Nutrafol partner its follicular nutrient formulas with each customer, on their individual menopause journey, and what is Nutrafol’s unique advantage in helping cope with the hair thinning that comes before, during and after menopause?

Not all supplements are created equal. It’s important to look for clinical testing and data to back up claims made by supplement brands. The same goes for each individual. Not every woman is the same, and therefore the supplement she takes should adhere to her current lifestyle or life stage. Women’s Balance addresses the primary root causes of thinning through menopause, but Nutrafol also offers multiple formulas for women, including support postpartum, Nutrafol Postpartum, and Women’s Vegan, optimized for those following a primarily plant-based diet. nutrafol.com

Inset courtesy of Nutrafol, Philipp Cordts

Nutrafol Women’s Balance targets hair thinning at the root.

All we do is all for you.

Our cardiac specialists provide life-saving diagnosis and treatment, so Mary can stay in the game.

Every cardiac intervention. Every second that counts. Every restored heartbeat. Every word of encouragement. Every ounce of life-saving expertise. We are Stony Brook Medicine. All we do is all for you.

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HEALING EMOTIONAL TRIGGERS

What is a psychological complex, and how can it be understood and addressed?

BY CARDER STOUT, PH.D.

Are you stuck in a psychological complex? You may have heard the term inferiority complex, and even used it before in conversation. Most of us know someone who fits into this category, usually someone who doesn’t feel as good as others. So, what do we really mean when we refer to this concept of a complex? The inferiority part is clear, but the term “complex” remains a mystery to most.

A psychological complex is a complicated set of emotions that we feel when encountering a certain situation. It is like having a minor version of PTSD. It stems from a negative belief that we have stored deep in our psyche that becomes activated when someone treats us

a certain way, or doesn’t give us the attention we think we deserve. As human beings, we are walking complexes. Each one of us has a multitude of them that trigger an emotional response every day.

Here is an example. You have noticed that your partner becomes angry when you are on your phone too much. His frustration comes in the form of a raised tone of voice and critical words. Sometimes, he becomes so enraged that he yells and stomps around the house like a child. In most cases, it is not the phone that has upset him, or your pattern of using it (although this is what he might believe). The reaction actually comes from your distraction from

In order to understand complexes, we must dig into the past.

engaging with him. When you are on your phone, you are not available to hear him. He feels like you are not listening, and this has touched an old psychological wound that remains unhealed.

When a complex is present, our response to something is disproportionate to the situation itself. If you use this as a formula for spotting them, you will become aware that they may be ruling your life. We have complexes about all sorts of things—abandonment issues, intimacy, low self-esteem, our physical appearance, being disrespected, not feeling loved, our intelligence, not feeling safe, being overlooked.

Yes, complexes are the cause of most of our negative responses to people, places and things. Unfortunately, most complexes remain hidden until they are let out of the cage. And when they are, they tend to roar like a lion.

So, what do we do with this new information? As a practicing depth psychologist, I am always interested in attempting to bring what is unconscious into consciousness. My aim is to shine a light on those elements, memories and emotional traumas that are driving thoughts and actions. These beliefs and feelings are what constitute emotional well-being and overall perspective on life. Most of us behave a certain way, and cannot pinpoint the origins of our behavior. This is definitely true with complexes. In order to understand them more fully, we must dig a little deeper into the realm of the past.

happening right now—it feels older and deeper. Let’s talk about what’s really going on.” If they are willing to open up, that is a good start as new awareness is always an entry point to emotional healing.

Here is an exercise that may help with discovering and attending to a complex:

Think about your angry outbursts. Are you getting frustrated and annoyed by the same type of interaction with frequency? Do you have a pattern of feeling deep emotion—sadness, shame, guilt or indignation— specifically around your exchanges with others?

Let’s focus on one of these emotional responses for now. Think about why you are so upset in this situation. Does it remind you of something that was unsettling from your past? At what age did you notice it first? Did someone bully you? Ignore you? Embarrass you? Hurt your feelings? Abandon you? When did this happen? How old were you?

Once you have determined an age range, find a photograph of yourself at that age. Print it out and put it in a frame. Place it somewhere that you can view it often. Familiarize yourself with that little child. Close your eyes and imagine them sitting next to you in the grass. Give them a hug and let them know that you are here for them and are now their protector. Tell them they are safe and no one will hurt them anymore. Whatever happened that was painful,

Let us consider the example of the man reacting to his partner’s cellphone usage. His reaction to not being heard is a psychological fissure that is probably many years old. Most of these cracks in our psyche occur when we are young and still forming an opinion of our value and selfworth. It is most likely that he grew up in a household where his parents were not available to listen, or even talked over him. The message this sends to children is that their voice doesn’t matter, and that they are not appreciated for their point of view. This is a painful realization that often trails into their adult lives as an unconscious belief that they are not intelligent or captivating. Any angry response to someone not listening to them is simply a defense mechanism that is meant to protect the psychological pain they are feeling.

So, if your partner is experiencing an overblown response to something specific, try to have compassion and use healthy communication such as, “It seems like you are getting triggered. I don’t think it is about what’s

affirm in them the belief that it will never happen again. If they feel insignificant, tell them how important they are. If they feel unloved, tell them how much you love them. If they feel sad, tell them that they deserve to be happy and make them laugh.

You will be amazed at how much this younger part of you is craving your affection. It is time to reparent yourself in a way that your own parents could not.

It is time for you to take back the reins and heal the old wounds that still trouble you. Continue to meet with your younger self each week in this imaginal space and you will begin to notice that your complexes are quieting down. You will be more aware of your reactions and begin to understand that you have been holding onto old beliefs that no longer serve you. Let them go and watch them float away like a bunch of red balloons into the sky. It is time for you to be present in your life. carderstout.com

“As human beings, we are walking complexes. Each one of us has a multitude of them that trigger an emotional response every day.”

THE FUTURE OF WELLNESS

BY JIM SERVIN

The gains of artificial intelligence, AI, in an already exploding arena (last year, the wellness market was valued at $4.4 trillion) have been accelerated by the superhuman capabilities of machines to absorb vast quantities of data and then to instantly strategize, solve, direct. At Dotmatics, a scientific research and development company based in Boston, there is an air of jubilation over the massive time-saving capabilities of AI Christian Olsen, Dotmatics’ associate vice president, industry principal, biology, sees a critical benefit of AI as freeing up scientists’ time for more impactful pursuits. “If you can automate tasks that are traditionally done by scientists, like collecting, analyzing and interpreting data, scientists are then able to focus on more interesting, more strategic work,” he says. “I can let my creativity, the art of the science, take place.”

Vaccine development, an AI project of keen interest at Dotmatics, focuses on the immune system. “AI will help us untangle the complexity of the immune systems so that vaccines can be developed more intelligently,” says Olsen. “One thing Operation Warp Speed [a government program to accelerate the COVID-19 vaccine] did was it showed us that it shouldn’t take so long to come up with a vaccine. That was under emergency conditions. But it did open the door a little bit to say, Why does it have to take

10 years? Why can’t it take less? AI is going to untangle the systems that those vaccines are meant to support and help. AI is a curious tool. It’s a puzzle-solving machine, where you’re able to piece together information and patterns. That’s a really sweet spot.”

In medicine, AI has made advances in remote patient monitoring, analysis of X-rays and endoscopy to improve esophageal cancer screening. Robotic prosthetics have been given an AI upgrade and have become more efficient. “Advanced algorithms can now analyze medical images with a level of detail that rivals or even surpasses human experts, leading to earlier or more accurate diagnoses,” says James F. Jordan, Distinguished Service Professor of Healthcare and Biotechnology Management at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College. “AIpowered wearables and apps offer real-time health monitoring and personalized recommendations, enabling a proactive approach to wellness. These technologies are especially beneficial for managing chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease.”

But AI, in its current form, still has critical limitations. “AI really only works when you have incredibly large datasets that are clean and structured,” Olsen says. “The more data you have, the better your AI predictions or analyses

In the mental health space, professionals advocate for using AI as a supplementary tool, rather than a primary treatment method.

Stephanie Greene

Artificial intelligence brings powerful developments to the health and well-being sector and a note of caution.

IT’S THE FUTURE. YOUR BEACH HOME CAN FLY WHEREVER YOU WANT.

BUT CAN IT LAND YOU THE PERFECT BUYER?

THAT STILL TAKES MASTERY. 150 YEARS AND COUNTING.

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4 BR | 4 BA | Deep Water Dock Heated Gunite Pool SagHarborWaterfront.com

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John P. Vitello

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2. Sag Harbor Village Mini-Compound $4.995M | 0.60± Acre | 3,300± sf

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Jane Babcook

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Mastery of the Craft. It's Timeless.

will be.” Notes Lydia Kostopoulos, PhD, who as a global adviser on strategy and emerging technology has been an adviser to government and industry leaders: “Just like algorithms used in other fields, AI doesn’t necessarily represent reality; instead they represent the data that has been used to create it.”

At this stage, data has to catch up with the complexity of the human race, says Jordan. “Current datasets often lack diversity in terms of age, ethnicity, and socioeconomic background, leading to biased algorithms that may not serve all populations equally well.” To illustrate, he offers the scenario of Stoccareddo, a village in northeastern Italy: “The residents have a diet high in saturated fats but exhibit low rates of heart disease, likely due to a genetic mutation. Current AI systems, lacking individual genetic data, would flag a Stoccareddo resident’s diet as a heart attack risk if they were to track their meals on an app like MyFitnessPal. This example highlights the limitations of AI in providing meaningful, individualized health recommendations.”

on sleep cycles and duration, and then program the pillow’s alarm to sound when needed. SleepScore is an app that uses AI to analyze sleep patterns and provides insights, tips and recommendations for improving slumber.

In the mental health arena, AI-enhanced treatment, known as “affective computing,” which detects and interprets human emotions, is projected to be a $37 billion industry by 2026. Still, AI relies upon data devoid of intangible, non-digitized qualities such as intuition, compassion, empathy and human presence, causing concern among health professionals. “While there are promising applications, such as AI-powered chatbots for immediate emotional support, these should not replace professional medical advice,” says Jordan. “I advocate a cautious approach, using AI as a supplementary tool rather than a primary treatment method. Unlike conditions like heart disease or cancer, where the objective metrics can be easily gathered, mental health conditions like depression are inherently subjective. What one person describes as depression might be considered moderate by

Wellness leaders are implementing AI into their public platforms. Deepak Chopra, for example, offers Digital Deepak—Interactive Well-Being Guide— a digital twin of himself who dispenses personalized wisdom and guidance, accessing all his articles, talks and books. Built and trained with the AI Foundation technology (available at the Apple App Store, or through Google Play), it gives personalized advice from Dr. Chopra, answers questions about well-being and meditation sessions 24/7.

Other AI-enhanced wellness tools include EEG headbands, which track relaxation and meditation feedback. Upright Go 2 is a wearable posture corrector with vibrational alerts and feedback. BackApp, an AIintegrated desk system, encourages active sitting and enhances posture. Noom blends human coaching with AI technology to offer nutritional guidance, weight loss programs and behavior change techniques. Freeletics, an AI-powered fitness app, delivers virtual coaching and adaptive workouts. In sleep technology, the ZEEQ smart pillow can “speak” to Alexa and other AI devices for data

another, making it difficult to establish universal metrics that AI can reliably interpret. Ethical considerations, particularly around data privacy and algorithmic bias, will need to be at the forefront as we navigate this new frontier.”

With AI’s incredible ability to problem-solve, it seems inevitable that it will find a way around this shortcoming in design. “There are ongoing efforts to develop ‘empathic AI’ that can recognize human emotions and respond accordingly,” says Jordan. In the process, could AI become sentient, and even spiritual? Could AI be thought of as organic creation? “Artificial intelligence is powered by math and statistics. If one subscribes to the idea that math and statistics is spiritual, then yes, otherwise it is simply a computer code that processes math and statistics,” says Kostopoulos, who advocates for a “hybrid AI-human wellness professional” of the future. “At times,” she continues, “math and statistics will have an engaging user interface that may have an avatar, and it may communicate in human language forms, but it never stops being math and statistics.”

“AI is going to untangle the systems that those vaccines are meant to support and help. AI is a curious tool. It’s a puzzle-solving machine, where you’re able to piece together information and patterns.”

855.272.5182

SPACE

“The house is conceived as a man-made dune, a glass dune, parallel to the sand dunes, in contemplation of the ocean,” says Barnes Coy architect Chris Coy of this recently completed home in Southampton. barnescoy.com

Tria Giovan

J. Oscar Molina

HONORING THE JOURNEY

Artist J. Oscar Molina’s moving migration series Children of the World presents a message of hope.

Sporting paint-splattered Sperrys on his feet and a protective terry robe over his clothes, J. Oscar Molina adds a bold stroke of cerulean to the composition on his easel, “Stages of Love,” at his industrial studio in Southampton. He favors this shade, he says, as it is “soft and powerful at the same time.”

The same can be said about the artist’s work—whether in the paintings on canvas of silhouettes under the night sky or in the elongated human form-like sculptures he creates for a long-running series called Children of the World In this body of work, Molina draws on his own experiences making the treacherous journey from El Salvador at age 16, crossing through Guatemala and Mexico into the United States as a refugee from a country torn by a civil war that

BY RAY ROGERS

left over 75,000 people dead. Yet while much of the 1989 expedition was fraught and frightening—he started out with an older brother, but the two got separated en route—what shines through in Molina’s work is a message of hope and interconnectedness.

“At night we would travel, and that’s when I would see the beautiful memories shown in my paintings and sculptures,” he recalls. “I’d see the little people in front of me and the group of people behind me, like a little line. And in that field, you could almost touch the stars, those big bright stars in the desert sky.” It was a small gap of time in the journey, but a memorable one. “All of us aiming for that particular moment to make that cross in search of a better future. There was no harm in our

minds—it was just about loving each other and making it to the other side.”

The small heads on the sculptures lean upward toward the night sky, but their faces are purposefully featureless. “When I started doing the sculptures, I couldn’t replicate the faces of people I saw. I just don’t remember them,” says Molina. “But I know they were there, and I know they had the same emotions as I did. So, I decided that if I cannot remember their faces, I can at least memorialize them and see them with my heart.”

An installation of sculptures from the series has been on view at LongHouse Reserve this summer, where, as LongHouse director Carrie Rebora Barratt says, “Oscar’s exquisitely moving pieces have moved the hearts and minds of visitors throughout the season, from their arrival on Cinco de Mayo to their migration around the garden.”

They’re also traveling throughout Long Island, and showing in several spots in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and onward to museums and galleries in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Quito, Ecuador; and Paris next year. Perhaps most meaningful to Molina: He’s bringing the work back

to his homeland, where he’s creating an installation in Ilopango Lake, San Salvador, and showing at the Salarrué National Exhibition Hall in San Salvador.

It’s an important body of work that is particularly resonant now in the U.S., when anti-immigrant rhetoric is yet again at fever pitch and immigrants are being used as political pawns by various members of the GOP.

“If you go behind the kitchen, there is one. In the landscaping field, there is one. We are everywhere. I put myself in there, because I was also an immigrant,” says Molina, who rose to being the CEO of the high-end building company he co-owns, MOE Masonry, before stepping down two years ago at age 50 to focus on his fine art career and launch his namesake gallery at 28c Jobs Lane in Southampton. “These compositions speak for those people that are behind the counters in every position in the workforce that are unknown to the laws of the United States or any country. Those are the people you might not think of, but they are the ones providing your vegetables on the table. My story is just one of millions of stories.”

oscarmolinagallery.com

Walter Sanchez

Children of the World, at LongHouse Reserve. Join Purist for a screening of a short film about Molina, and panel discussion after, on October 15 at 4PM at the Sag Harbor Cinema.

PURE PROPERTY

Harvest

A timeless historical East Hampton cottage dating back to the 1700s with legacies that include Abraham Baker, Frank Lovejoy and Jacqueline Bouvier has just been listed by Gary DePersia of Corcoran. South of the Highway, a landmark piece of land enables a smart buyer to create a private haven with existing approvals for two residences on the property—preserve the historic 1752 cottage and build another house. The converted barn once housed Bouvier’s ponies as well as the herd from the Riding Club of East Hampton. The 4-bedroom home has undergone a thorough restoration, with all the original architectural details maintained, including the wide-planked floors. The chef’s kitchen has a Violetta marble farm sink, Bertazzoni heritage gas oven and Sub-Zero refrigerator, while the library features an original fireplace. The primary bedroom suite includes the Riding Club wood locker doors that were carefully re-appropriated, original refurbished entry doors and exposed beams, all lending nostalgic charm. A pristine white pebble driveway, intimate courtyards and

BY NANCY KANE

207 and 208 Parrish Pond Court West, Southampton

From top: Courtesy of Compass, Courtesy of Media Hamptons

9 Cross Highway, East Hampton

a sea of lawn with room for a pool complete the picture. Located at 9 Cross Highway, East Hampton, and asking $4,595,000.

Located on Taylor Creek in Southampton’s Estate Section, a newly renovated, modern, elegant 5-bedroom estate at 344 Great Plains Road in Southampton Village, 120 feet of waterfront features a brand-new kitchen and bathrooms, modern lighting, millwork, stonework and appliances as well as an outdoor patio, new in-pool spa, and immaculate pool house. A dozen French doors open to outdoor decks and an enclosed sunroom, and a grand staircase accesses the primary bedroom suite with a fireplace that opens to its own deck. A pool, pool house and two 1-car garages are attached on either side, with a driveway and parking court to insure privacy. With Sotheby’s International Realty’s Harald and Bruce Grant.

Asking $16,995,000

Over at Compass, Christopher Stewart and Jessica Vertullo have listed property at 207 and 208 Parrish Pond Court West in Southampton, where two lots combine to 2.78 acres, with a spacious 6-bedroom, gambrel-style traditional home. A luxurious primary suite with private office and deck, living room with fireplace, eat-in gourmet kitchen, formal dining room and breakfast room are just some of the features. A sun-filled, double-height great room opening to the rear entertaining deck leads to a bluestone patio, heated gunite pool and tennis court. Additional amenities include an attached 3-car garage, laundry room, security and sound system. Asking $8,790,000.

In Southampton Village, the 1900s half-acre home at 65 Wooley Street, listed at $4,395,000 with Pat Garrity of Corcoran and on the market for the first time in over 50 years, was expanded to include a 24-by-40-foot artist’s studio, plus a writer’s studio attached by a breezeway. Owned by artist Paul Waldman and his wife, Diane Waldman, former deputy director of the Guggenheim Museum, the studio was constructed with pop artist Roy Lichtenstein, a one-time inhabitant of the property. Indeed, art has left its mark on this home, which has 3 bedrooms, a living room and a formal dining room, while carefully maintaining the original details. A shady arbor overlooks 135 feet of glorious English garden.

top: Brian Bailey/Media Hamptons for Corcoran; Richard Taverna, Courtesy of Sotheby’s International Realty

344 Great Plains Road, Southampton

65 Wooley Street, Southampton

G LOW

Create your own athome spa experience with this DIY salt scrub for radiant skin:

• In a large bowl, stir together 1 cup sea salt and 1/4 cup carrier oil until mixed.

• Add in essential oil(s) until desired scent is reached, along with any optional add-ins.

• Store in a sealed glass jar in a cool place until ready for use.

EDITOR’S PICKS

Purist founder Cristina Cuomo shares her selects for a chic, glowing season.

“Vegan never looked so sexy.” Black vegan leather Jaspre skirt, neverfullydressed.com

“Talk about cozy—this is it!” Cashmere shaker stitch cardigan, havenwellwithin.com

“NAD+ is the new ‘it’ ingredient.This cream is filled with antioxidant peptides and hydrating squalene.”

Active NAD+ Essential Cream, intuisse.com

“I love these handcrafted cuffs in 18k gold; they remind me of waves and the sand on the beach.” Various bracelets, jamieturner designs.com

“Choker or bracelet, this leather-gold-diamond combination is as cool as jewelry gets.” San Remo choker, zadehny.com

(Visit the new storefront at 1244 Madison Avenue between 89th and 90th streets in NYC.)

“An Italian-made leather wallet lasts a lifetime.” Bella double wallet, pisanietal.com

“This fall’s must-haves are rooted in sophisticated materials and ingredients.”

With Richard Branson and Carolyn Murphy, listening to Branson’s ocean-saving initiatives. virgin.com/virgin-unite

BY RAY

says Chopra. “However, we didn’t definitively comprehend the medical benefits until this year’s study. It showed reduced risks of the two most common types of skin cancers by 50 percent.”

SKIN SAVIOR FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH

Autumn heralds the start of “laser season,” notes Dr. Rishi Chopra, a Harvard-trained, boardcertified cosmetic dermatologist at UnionDerm, a practice with two locations in NYC and a new comprehensive outpost that launched this summer in Water Mill. Between fall and spring is the optimal time to reset the skin, correcting any damage from sun exposure over the summer— without the risk of additional harm from continued sun exposure when the skin needs to heal.

The good news for people interested in cosmetic Fraxel laser work: It also has the potential to help stave off skin cancer, according to a new study from Harvard Medical SchoolMassachusetts General Hospital on nonablative fractional lasers. “We’ve known for many years that Fraxel is a great cosmetic treatment for signs of aging caused by the sun such as sunspots, fine lines and wrinkles,”

Bonus: Because nonablative fractional lasers keep skin intact (rather than removing the top layers, as more aggressive ablative lasers do), there is a lot less downtime for recovery (signs of redness, puffiness and peeling should subside in three to five days, with full recovery within about a week). How does it work? Fraxel has two wavelengths—one that targets deeply, and one more superficially, says Chopra. “Our skin is composed mostly of water, and these light wavelengths specifically target the water at different depths to generate heat, build new collagen and resurface the skin. It can prevent and treat the signs of aging, and even acne scarring.”

What’s also unique about Fraxel is the potential for topical medication delivery. “The skin has a barrier, and lasers help temporarily disrupt that barrier,” he explains. “So when you apply medical-grade skin care, like topical TXA (tranexamic acid, to treat hyperpigmentation and melasma) or vitamin C, it will penetrate deeper after the procedure to more effectively and evenly target the conditions we’re trying to treat.” Not only will you look refreshed and glowing, “Fraxel will also actually improve the medical health of your skin,” says Chopra. Win-win. 728 Montauk Hwy., Water Mill; unionderm.com

The gift of natural radiance at JECT.

BY CRISTINA CUOMO

New York City—late to the wellness boom—has caught up quickly. From IVs to peptides, every block has wellness centers and injectable beauty or “botox bars” popping up. One of-the-moment topical treatment involves tiny, naturally occurring extracellular vesicles called exosomes that seem to help in achieving youthful and healthy-looking skin. At JECT, one of New York City’s top aesthetics bars, the medical-grade exosome treatment is the latest in revolutionary skin care advancements.

Exosomes’ bioactive molecules contain proteins, lipids and nucleic acids that transfer information between cells and harness their regenerative abilities. At JECT, exosomes are applied directly on the face after microneedling, which helps soften lines, reduce acne and scarring, and boost collagen production by stimulating the body’s natural healing process. This process of regenerating skin tissue promotes elastin and has been found to reduce wrinkles by tightening up the skin. JECT has locations in the West Village, Upper East Side, Bridgehampton and Rye Brook, New York (and Miami Beach coming soon). jectnyc.com

From left: Courtesy of UnionDerm, Kayla Varley

Not only can this cosmetic procedure turn back time, it may also help prevent some types of skin cancer.

ROGERS

UnionDerm offers a spectrum of skin tightening, resurfacing and contouring services.

Exosomes can help clarify, tone and tighten the skin.

GATHER AND GROW

Welcome to the Hearty Longevity Lounge in Sag Harbor. BY RAY ROGERS

“I call this our ‘haven of health,’” says David Luu, M.D., seated on an elegant armchair, upholstered with a cozy, fluffy, white covering, inside the Hearty Longevity Lounge in Sag Harbor. The space, which opened its doors this summer, offers members of his 2-year-old virtual Hearty club, and interested local community residents, a place to convene, learn and talk about all things wellness.

A pediatric heart surgeon by training, the French-born Luu spent much of the past decade doing humanitarian work in developing countries in Africa, before relocating to the States and creating Hearty, “the members club you need to live younger, longer,” as its tagline reads. “I realized it was exactly the same problem in America: The health care system was really reactive. Doctors didn’t have the time. Everything was super fragmented—a doctor for your brain, a doctor for your heart, a doctor for your cold. People were aging too fast in America. So, this idea came from the understanding that if you really want to change things, you have to bring health closer to the people. You have to give them time. You have to be with them, and you have to educate them.”

To that effect, all members get three telehealth visits, precision testing (nutrigenomics, advanced blood biomarkers and imaging), real-time data monitoring of biometrics via wearables, and more, with a centralized data hub on the Hearty app. “We do a 360 checkup—360 vision of your health—and then we look at every different

part and our physicians design a road map for the year,” says Luu, sporting an Oura ring on his right index finger and a glucometer patch on his upper left arm, two of the biohacking wearable tech monitors that come with a Hearty membership. “We look at nutrition, diet, sleep, stress management, exercise and community support.” Just as important perhaps, Hearty also encourages members to think about their sense of purpose in life. “Do you know that purpose and mission are the No. 1 and No. 2 factors for longevity, and then health improvement? Most people don’t realize that.”

The Longevity Lounge was a natural next step, offering a gathering spot to educate and build community, another important pillar of wellness. Walking into the serene space, a mix of calming neutrals with gold accents, designed with feng shui in mind by Luu’s wife, MoAna Luu, the fresh scent of Moroccan mint has an instantly relaxing effect. “We wanted it to feel like home—it doesn’t look like a clinic, and that’s on purpose,” he says. It’s the perfect setting for community health talks that keep members engaged and informed on topics such as social health, menopause and perimenopause, and andropause for men. A big hit this summer was a panel talk on “good orgasm.” Says Luu, “We host talks on topics that most of the time are stigmatized a little bit. But people want to know where they are in their journey, and what solutions they have.” 51 Division St., Sag Harbor; joinhearty.com

The serene Longevity Lounge

Dr. Luu with his wife, MoAna, and son

WE E K | E ND

Malta offers a variety of breathtaking wellness spas and self-care retreats to soothe the mind, body and spirit.

Courtesy of Malta Tourism Authority

MEDITERRANEAN MYSTIQUE

BY ABBY TEGNELIA

Luxurious spas, historical sites dating back to circa 4000 B.C. and a thriving Mediterranean food scene based upon centuries-old recipes make the exotic archipelago country of Malta—about two hours south from Sicily via ferry or less than one hour by plane—an exceptional self-care retreat for health-conscious travelers.

The InterContinental Malta’s spa, Carisma Spa & Wellness, employs its authentic Turkish hammam for cleansing rituals. The nearby Myoka Lotus Spa at the Malta Marriott Hotel & Spa creates harmony via a treatment menu that fuses traditions from the Mediterranean, Asian and Nordic regions. At the Hilton Hotel, St. Julian’s Malta’s Myoka 5 Senses Spa offers a peaceful haven and refuge. For a true Maltese retreat, head to the five-star Corinthia Palace’s Athenaeum Spa, where the use of materials such as walnut timber, marble and Maltese stone create a Mediterranean oasis. The Phoenicia Malta’s Deep Nature Spa features a Himalayan salt room; the brand-new Essensi Spa inside the Iniala

Harbour House is built into the hotel’s stone vaults for a stunning mix of old architecture and modern design. Finally, Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz’s Luxury Spa offers traditional Ayurvedic treatment rooms.

Once you’ve been massaged and relaxed your way to a limber and energized body, you’ll be ready for Malta’s unique fitness adventures. Try a yoga class, and then see the archaeological park at the Ggantija Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Get out onto the Mediterranean Sea on a stand-up paddleboard, or go diving. With mild temps and crystal-clear water, Malta is a genuine scuba hub.

After a day of activity, enjoy Malta’s traditional fare. Every meal is a learning opportunity, whether it’s trying your hand at cooking authentic Maltese recipes at the Diar il-Bniet restaurant, or heading to the nation’s rural area for a visit to the Tan-Nixxiegha Olive Grove. There, you’ll enjoy an abundant lunch made with seasonal local products. visitmalta.com

For a self-care retreat steeped in history, head to Malta, known for its splendid seaside spas and traditional Mediterranean cuisine.

Recharge in the sun and sea with a paddleboard excursion.

Malta is the perfect playground for the adventurous traveler.

Marvel at the art deco interiors of Falling Rock and the breathtaking elegance of The Chateau. Savor the elevated comforts of The Grand Lodge, The Homes, and The Estates. Whatever you love, there’s a unique accommodation waiting for you. With transformative, cutting-edge signature therapies and traditional, holistic practices to pure, unadulterated luxury spa treatments, you define what self-care and wellness mean to you at Nemacolin.

All experiences are exclusive to overnight guests and members.

FIGHTING SPIRIT

He’s been named a “ninja lawyer” by New York magazine. His clients have included Valentino, Donald Trump, Divine, Candy Darling and other denizens of Warhol’s Factory. He famously faced off against William Hurt in a landmark palimony case in the ’80s. He has been married to actress and jet-setter Marisa Berenson. In the 1990s, he was named one of “12 Guys You Should Know” by GQ. But Aaron Richard Golub, in his recently published memoir, Ruckus, shows that he never forgot where he came from— Worcester, Massachusetts, the birthplace of the commercial valentine in 1847 and the smiley face in 1963. Cultural confections notwithstanding, a pugnacious, often brutal spirit prevailed in the 1950s and 1960s, throughout Golub’s childhood in New England’s second-largest city.

“There were 10,000 Robert De Niros in Worcester,” writes Golub, son of a grocer who was ejected from four schools due to random acts of mayhem and mischief. Conflict was the order of every day, with classmates, neighbors and warring factions within the city; Golub found his tribe, a spirited gang known as the Crazy Eight, who “moved like a hand-knit sweater, each of us a loop,” Golub writes. Today, he mentions that the six remaining members of the Crazy Eight have planned a reunion this October in Las Vegas.

“When I look at all the things that

happened to me as a kid,” Golub says, “I’m amazed that I was able to withstand a lot of the opposition and adversity. For some reason, I kept going.” He’s a likable narrator, full of brash humor and endearing quirks: In high school, he forms both the Crazy Dance Club (“Therapeutic dance was my baby”) and The Spell Club, which involved freezing classmates

in place: “People played along because it was just plain insane,” he writes. His love of language is evident in his constant companion throughout adolescence, the vocabulary textbook Word Wealth “I always felt that, with all the wild things that happened, all the trouble that I got into, I could talk my way out of it,” Golub says. “That’s what I’ve done as a lawyer. When I became a lawyer, when I stepped into the courtroom for the first time, it was an atmosphere that made it so open and so easy for me to talk. Here is a room that is meant for argument, for expressing yourself. A courtroom is a forum for expression. It’s a theater.” Ingrained feistiness and inspired flair made Golub the star of the show. His literary dreams came to fruition in 2000 with the publication of a legal thriller, The Big Cut This year’s release of Ruckus fulfills a long-held goal. “I kept saying, I’ve got to memorialize what happened to me as a child,” says Golub, who still practices law, and currently represents artists George Condo and Brian Donnelly (an artist also known as KAWS). “Last December, I tried a case in the federal court. My adversary and I really went at each other,” recounts Golub. “He would walk across the courtroom bumping me, claiming I elbowed him. He and I almost had a fistfight in the courtroom. The judge had to separate us a few times. That was a little after my 80th birthday.”

In his new memoir, Ruckus, celebrity lawyer Aaron Richard Golub entertains with stories from the feisty background that gave him his winning swagger. BY JIM SERVIN

Aaron Richard Golub has a way with words: “I always felt that, with all the wild things that happened, I could talk my way out of it.”

M60

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ENCHANTED WEEKEND

Paradise awaits at the Nemacolin resort in southwestern Pennsylvania.

“The goal is to wow everyone who steps on the property,” says Maggie Hardy, owner and CEO of Nemacolin, a spectacular resort on more than 2,200 acres in Farmington, Pennsylvania, about six hours by car or a quick flight from New York City. At this sprawling Shangri-la, varied and inspired lodging—five accommodation types include 280 guest rooms, suites, town houses and private homes— fine dining, spa treatments and an abundance of activities stimulate, soothe and delight the senses.

Purchased in 1987 by Joseph A. Hardy III, founder and CEO of the 84 Lumber Company, the site of the Nemacolin Trails Hunting reserve and lodge was a gift to his daughter, Maggie (she wanted a place to fish; he granted that request and then some). The majestic compound, now owned and operated by Maggie (her father passed away this past January, at age 100), offers guests two golf courses, hiking, multiple on-site art galleries with works from the Hardy Family Art Collection, and gorgeous countryside.

Fallingwater, an architectural landmark house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, is nearby and open for touring. Activities abound, from cooking classes and white-water rafting to horseback trail rides and fishing. Explore Fort Necessity National Battlefield, a historic site commemorating the 1754 battle in the French and Indian War, just 10 minutes away. Nemacolin reflects the limitless creativity and imagination of its owner, who recently updated the property’s original structure, The Grand Lodge, which reopened this fall.

BY JIM SERVIN

“As the property evolved,” says Hardy, “we found it important to invest in an extensive transformation to create a contemporary revival of the original hotel space, preserving much of the original building.” The Grand Lodge features 56 suites complete with butler service, personalized amenities, a new farm-to-table restaurant and a cocktail lounge.

Wellness is a cornerstone of Nemacolin, thanks to its Woodlands Spa and Salon and its Holistic Healing Center. The Spa and Salon has 40 treatment rooms and a private fireside lodge. Offerings at the Holistic Healing Center include acupuncture, massage, saltwater float therapy, yoga, infrared light therapy, sound bathing and cryotherapy. “Our Holistic Healing Center packages are perfect for visitors who are looking for self-care and TLC,” says director of wellness Katlyn Hatcher. “Many of our guests from city environments are looking for ways to disconnect and calm the mind. The float therapy, sound healing and meditation services help develop this practice.” Hatcher recommends a Stress Relief Package, a personalized session designed to produce deep levels of healing at the molecular level while bringing the body, mind and spirit back into balance. It includes 50 minutes of personalized yoga and meditation, 90 minutes of vibrational sound and energy therapy, and 30 minutes of saltwater float therapy.

Nemacolin’s tagline is “Real Life Magic.” Its owner and CEO elaborates: “Enchantment lies within every element of Nemacolin,” says Hardy. “We love to take the ordinary and elevate it beyond anyone’s wildest dreams.” nemacolin.com

Courtesy of Nemacolin

From top: Relax and rejuvenate at the meditative Zen garden, serene lap pool and The Bleu Room, a whimsical, invitation-only cocktail parlor.

PURE PICKS

As creative director of Derek Lam 10 Crosby, Kate Wallace favors refined style and artful contrast. As the brand celebrates its return to retail with a new shop opened in East Hampton (20 Newtown Lane), she shares her fall fashion and lifestyle favorites.

“The wrap detail on the bodice of our Maizie dress is quintessential Derek Lam with a twist.” Maize mock neck sleeveless pleated dress in chocolate, $550, dereklam.com

“This 100 percent cotton dress is a subtle statementmaker with a floral print that mixes larger and smaller vines on an A-line silhouette.” Junia ruched sleeveless midi dress in navy multi, $695, dereklam.com

“I always look to culture for inspiration, and fall 2023 was heavily inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement at the beginning of the 20th century.This book was a great way to home in on that era’s dedication to craft. We applied those principles to the collection’s colors and prints. Plus, the book is a beautiful object in itself.”

The Impossible Collection of Design $1,050, assouline.com

“Our softly draped suit in this amazingly versatile mauve is such a great snapshot of our tailoring. The doublebreasted blazer has peak lapels and matching buttons, while the trousers are finished with front pleats that go right into the crease—a super-clean detail.” Sandra double-breasted slit blazer ($550) and Calypso pleated slit trouser in dusty mauve ($395), dereklam.com

“I love meeting friends for a cocktail at the Crosby Bar at the Crosby Street Hotel in Soho. Its St. Crosby cocktail is a favorite—Champagne with a splash of St-Germain.” 79 Crosby St., New York, firmdalehotels.com

a stunning, refined statement earring— and delicate. I love how the pearls nest the twist.They’re designed in London, and pair beautifully with all three of my favorite outfits from the collection.” Pearl and gold vermeil earrings, $505, us.completedworks.com

Courtesy of Derek Lam

“It really all comes down to craftsmanship and thoughtfully designed items with special attention to detail. It’s what I look for in everything, and a major principle Derek

Kate Wallace

NEW GOLD STANDARD

Sustainable elegance courtesy of Prada. BY JULIA SZABO

The Milanese marque recognized worldwide since 1913 by its triangular logo, Prada has always maintained one elegantly shod foot in the fashion arena and the other in the art world, showcasing contemporary artists at its Fondazione Prada and commissioning buildings as art by visionary architects. Now, with the launch of Eternal Gold—its first-ever fine jewelry collection—last fall, Prada marries conceptual art and architecture with thought-provoking results.

Everything historically precious about fine jewelry is on display in this collection: symbols of eternal love’s power in the form of snake bracelets, heart motifs, chain necklaces and ribbon chokers, with precious gems for punctuation. This being Prada, the symbolic classics of luxury adornment are reimagined with modern, impactful proportions and a timeless glamour, creating the wearable jewelry of the future, available today.

Prada Fine Jewelry

Eternal Gold made-to-order snake bracelet, price available upon request

Eternal Gold provides an opportunity for luxury consumers to ponder where jewelry comes from, and its impact on our shared home planet. The provenance of each item in the collection will be accessible by Prada’s clientele, allowing them to trace its history for themselves: Such transparency on origins, sourcing and production is rare indeed, and proof that Prada is as committed to doing the right thing as it is dedicated to the highest quality craftsmanship.

Conceived as a mark of luxury by Mario Prada, the house’s paterfamilias, now reborn in 100 percent certified recycled gold, the iconic Prada triangle is recognizable throughout this collection, reinvented with subtlety to convey sustainability and luxury in equal measure. The triangle appears as a clasp closure, as earrings and pendants, and as the head of a snake bracelet encircling the wrist with a fluid spiral motion. prada.com

Inaugural Gala

In the wake of mourning comes celebration of life. In the spirit of our family legacy join us for an evening filled with music, awards, tributes, remarks, performances, dinner, cocktails, musings and profound memories. 23

Tuesday Evening, October 24th, 2023

SONY Hall NYC

6:30pm: Cocktails & Silent Auction

7:30pm: Sit Down Dinner 10:00pm: After Party

For more information & tickets scan the QR code above or visit: www.belafontefamilyfoundation.org

HARMONY HUES

Meet Pirtti, a bold, colorful and sustainable one-woman show. BY JENNA

LEBOVITS

Inspired by her Finnish roots and egalitarian, craft-oriented culture, lifelong textile enthusiast Anne-Marie Kavulla founded Pirtti (meaning “cabin”), a vibrant community hub in the Hudson Valley for exploring and experimenting with sustainable fashion.

Pirtti is Kavulla’s smallbatch, handmade clothing brand and studio space: a place for people of all experience levels to gather and practice the art of creation, or “meditative making,” as the founder calls it. Kavulla’s mission is to spread the message of sustainable fashion in an accessible, approachable way, through group mending events, skillshare circles, at-home dye kits and natural-dye workshops. “There are wonderful natural dyes already in your kitchen,” she says. “Foods such as avocados, onions and pomegranates produce gorgeous green, yellow and pink hues.”

Kavulla sources the materials for her pieces in two ways: foraged or garden-grown. Her favorite natural-dye sources include found walnut husks, avocado pits and onion skins from her kitchen—she calls these “compost dyes.” They are beginner-friendly tools to get started with natural, slow fashion. A large part of her business centers around problem-solving global waste issues. “One of them, for me, is gift wrapping and ribbons. It’s all about these pretty packages and then come holiday morning

they’re in the trash bag,” says Kavulla. “So, last winter I held a ribbon-dying workshop and we made our own silk ribbons.”

The brand’s tagline, “a conversation with nature,” rings true throughout the artist’s process. “When I work with the natural materials, it’s the magic of the plant and what the plant and water quality are going to offer, and the soil quality they’re going to give me on that day,” says Kavulla. She creates a range of pieces for sale— bandannas, scarves, cloth napkins and her popular Muse top, made from hemp, cotton and natural rubber elastic, which is 100 percent backyard compostable.

Besides combating global waste and serving as an outlet for stress relief, textile skills, Kavulla believes, are essential for living responsibly in today’s world. “A lot has been lost that would have been taught generationally—by your grandmother or your mother— and these skills seem so antiquated and sort of like little hobbies,” she says. “I feel that it’s important to learn how to take care of your things. I come from a time when we witnessed a huge change; we went from inheriting your grandmother’s china to buying everything cheap at IKEA.” Still, the brand founder remains hopeful. “It’s not that we are in a doomed sort of situation. You always have a chance to stop and reflect and work with nature, not against her.” pirtti.com; @pirtti.studio

Pirtti founder Anne-Marie Kavulla

PURE PICKS

Sandra Choi, creative director of Jimmy Choo, shares her seasonal fashion and home go-tos.

“I love the new Diamond Crossbody; it’s the perfect day-to-night bag and fits everything I need. It’s also a showcase of our expert craftsmanship with distinct gold hardware—a signature of the collection.” Diamond crossbody bag in black/gold, $2,350, jimmychoo.com

“It’s affordable and works for everybody.The smell and texture make me feel like I’m not wearing anything. It’s all I need for my beauty routine.”

Charlotte’s Magic Cream, $65, charlottetilbury.com

“This candle reminds me of the countryside, the smell of green and foliage.” Botanical vine tomato candle, from $22, daylesford.com

“Great quality and functionality—I love this suitcase. It’s very considered and well designed.” Hard trolley suitcase, $187, muji.eu

“The Didi 45 in tartan is my go-to shoe for autumn, as it incorporates three trends in one: the kitten heel, the Mary Jane and the slingback.The sparkling tartan finish elevates any day-to-night look.” Didi 45 in black satin beaded tartan, $1,995, jimmychoo.com

“The Saeda is the height of refinement.This exquisite pump is a work of art—a piece of jewelry around your ankle.”

Saeda 100 in black/crystal, $1,125, jimmychoo.com

“These pieces are the perfect wardrobe for the season—something for all occasions.”

Sandra Choi

V I B R A N T

Health and recovery are greatly influenced by diet, exercise and mental well-being.

HONORING BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Dr.

Stacie Stephenson

, vice chair of Gateway for Cancer Research and bestselling author of Glow and Vibrant, shares vital lifestyle changes essential for optimal well-being.

Every October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I think more than usual about the many breast cancer patients I’ve known over the years—personally, professionally through my work as the former chair of functional medicine at Cancer Treatment Centers of America, and philanthropically via my role as vice chair of Gateway for Cancer Research. Cancer touches far too many lives, and breast cancer takes a particularly hefty toll. That’s why Gateway’s vision to shape a world in which cancer is no longer feared resonates with me.

One of the main objectives of my company, VibrantDoc, is to empower people to make a difference in their own health. This is primarily accomplished in the realm of lifestyle choices. Both of my books, Vibrant and Glow, center on arming people with knowledge, tools and resources to take control of their health. Vibrant includes foundational health information, because I believe strongly that you can’t get very far without first conquering the basics of good health. What you eat, how often you move and how well you connect with others forms the foundation of personal health. Glow is a 90-day plan for inserting more self-care into our daily lives by practicing brief, ritualized morning and evening inspirations, motivations and meditations. The result of these daily rituals is an inner glow.

So, what do breast cancer awareness and health empowerment have in common? As someone who built my practice around taking a functional and integrative medicine approach to health and healing, I have witnessed the powerful effects of making simple lifestyle changes. Improved health, increased energy, better mood and an overall enhanced quality of life are easier to achieve than most people realize. Over many years of private practice, medical consulting, and now as an author and public speaker, I’ve learned and taught others that we are far more powerful than we might think. No matter one’s current health status or potential disease diagnosis, the choices we make every day really do make a difference in terms of how we feel and function. Making intentional choices that foster health and wellness leads to vibrancy, despite whatever disease we might be facing.

Lifestyle medicine isn’t necessarily a cure, but it is a move toward health empowerment. In terms of breast cancer specifically, research shows that lifestyle choices matter, both in terms of how people feel, and even how well they heal. Health and recovery are greatly influenced by lifestyle, diet, environment and even our beliefs.

For example, a 2020 study of over 17,000 women published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment showed that menopausal women who had three to five unfavorable lifestyle factors (such as not exercising, drinking alcohol daily, smoking, having high blood pressure and having a body mass index above 25) were twice as likely to develop postmenopausal breast cancer. They were also nearly 3.5 years younger at the time of diagnosis. A 2023 study showed that breast cancer patients who most closely adhered to a lifestyle focused on cancer prevention were 37 percent less likely to experience breast cancer recurrence, and 58 percent less likely to pass away during the course of the study. The cancer prevention lifestyle studied included not smoking, regular physical activity, eating fruits and veggies, and avoiding sugar-sweetened beverages and processed meats.

And let’s not forget the power of the mind. A 2017 study published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment investigated the important link between breast cancer and a person’s social support network. It showed that those who felt isolated, lonely or unsupported did not fare as well in their cancer treatment and recovery as those who felt socially supported.

These are just a few findings from the vast field of research on what influences the incidence of cancer, cancer survival and cancer recovery. In my experience— and much research supports this—any chronic disease, whether it’s cancer, diabetes, an autoimmune issue or high blood pressure will be easier to manage and recover from when there’s a commitment to living a healthful lifestyle. What does that look like?

DIET

First and foremost, it comes down to the things over which you have the most control. For most of us, that’s what we

choose to eat. Only you can decide what you put on your plate. The most studied diet for overall health and disease prevention is the Mediterranean diet. Hallmarks include lots of vegetables, fiber, omega-3 fatty acids (like the kind found in fatty fish and flaxseeds), low-sugar fruits, nuts, and very few processed foods, as well as very little refined sugar, refined flour and saturated fat. I’ve also found that cutting portion sizes can make a difference. The hypercaloric diets that are so common today contribute to metabolic issues like diabetes and obesity.

Start improving your diet right now by cutting out (or cutting back on) sugar-sweetened beverages, fast food and packaged food, and doubling your vegetable and fiber intake. Drink water and green tea—their hydration and cancer-fighting antioxidants offer countless benefits.

EXERCISE

Daily exercise is critical for creating good health. Your organs and systems, not to mention your muscles and joints, work better with regular exercise. A not-soinsignificant added benefit is that it also improves mood and motivation, which can help on the journey to making meaningful lifestyle changes. You don’t need to go to the gym. Even a gentle daily walk can help get you moving in the right direction. You might also consider trying yoga or Pilates, bicycling or hiking. What matters is that you find something you enjoy that makes you feel good. You can always increase frequency and intensity along the way.

MENTAL HEALTH

Finally, address your mental health. If you feel depressed or anxious, seek help from friends, family or a professional counselor. Make a point to communicate with people who support you on a regular basis, and be sure to take time for yourself each day. Meditation, prayer, journaling, reading, listening to music and walking outdoors have incredible mood-boosting benefits. Whatever it is that fills your cup, make it a priority, because reducing the stress in your life will help you feel and heal better.

And when speaking about the impact of lifestyle choices on outcomes for breast cancer patients, none of what we know to be true would be possible without dedicated researchers who conceive of, design and carry out the clinical research that aims to make a difference in the lives of cancer patients. That’s why I’m so supportive of Gateway for Cancer Research. This amazing organization prides itself on putting patients first in every sense. This means that in addition to funding groundbreaking clinical trials that investigate the safety and efficacy of novel cancer treatments, Gateway also funds research centered on making people feel better during and after treatment.

There’s a clear connection between integrative, lifestyle medicine practices and improved overall health outcomes for breast cancer patients. That’s why I am immensely proud of the research Gateway funds to investigate the benefits of integrative therapies for breast cancer patients. Some of the clinical trials funded by Gateway have explored the impact of therapies like acupuncture, exercise and diet, select dietary supplements and prayer for patients who are undergoing treatment for breast cancer. The results of these studies demonstrate that our lifestyle choices make a truly meaningful difference—even in the face of cancer.

In my books, Vibrant: A Groundbreaking Program to Get Energized, Own Your Health, and Glow and Glow: 90 Days to Create Your Vibrant Life from Within, I encourage readers to embrace what I call the Vibrant Triad of food, movement and connection. These three pillars of personal health and healing can have a direct and positive impact on almost any disease. Because making sweeping changes can be difficult, I encourage people to start slowly. Within Vibrant is a 30-day program for introducing new habits gradually, at a realistic pace.

Building on the benefits of the Vibrant Triad, Glow is more about the self-care aspect of health and healing. It focuses on the importance of taking time every morning and evening to slow down, regroup, reflect on the day, and commit to living with more intention and awareness. Together, these books support realistic and achievable lifestyle changes that anyone can make to begin transforming their outlook, health and healing.

One of the features people seem to like most about Glow is the weekly mantras. These short affirmations that you can repeat to yourself whenever you need them serve as a reminder about the importance of mental health, and they offer incredible motivation to face whatever life may throw your way. Here are a few that I wrote with cancer patients and caregivers in mind:

I marvel at the miracle that is life.

I participate fully and mindfully each day with reverence and gratitude.

I give support and encouragement to all those around me, and I willingly receive it in return.

I use my intuition to determine what is healthy for my mind, body and spirit.

Whatever your health situation, I hope you’ll join me this month in supporting breast cancer research. It is only through philanthropic support that organizations like Gateway and the researchers they fund can find new and meaningful ways to deliver hope and healing to those facing this insidious disease.

drstaciestephenson.com, gatewaycr.org

Bob & Dawn Davis Photography & Design

FOOD IS MEDICINE

Pumpkins are fun—and beneficial to your health. High levels of vitamin C, antioxidants and fiber help prevent heart disease.

Annie Spratt

BETTER BITES

A satisfying, small-batch operation brings strong Brazilian flavor out East.

BY JENNA LEBOVITS

In 1999, Rio de Janeiro native Ludmilla “Milla” Benevides moved from Brazil to the United States to pursue a career in bossa nova music, carrying a taste of her roots with her. When the singer was 7 years old, her father was transferred to the São Paulo countryside to work in a water plant. Benevides says that as early as she can remember there was always pão de queijo as part of the meal, which now serves as her brand’s inspiration: homemade, naturally gluten-free pão de queijo, or cheese bread, as she calls it. Milla’s Puffs—Benevides’ line of frozen cheesy delights—is produced with six locally sourced, non-GMO ingredients and tapioca flour imported from Brazil.

Growing up in a family that valued the importance of cooking and eating high-quality food together is the guiding force for her business. Throughout her time on and offstage, the singer recalls bringing flavorful snacks— Brazilian delicatessen gluten-free cheese puffs—to rehearsals and events for all to enjoy. Benevides now crafts her bite-size morsels with a heritage recipe that she has developed over the past five years. The at-home process is simple and convenient: Heat the oven to 400 degrees,

place the cocktail-size bites on a baking sheet and in 17 minutes, they are ready to enjoy. Larger dinner roll-size buns bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown. For an elevated experience, she recommends stuffing them with your favorite cold cut or vegetable. “It becomes like a little luxe sandwich, and it’s lighter than a regular bagel,” says Benevides. “You don’t feel like you’re eating a lot, and it’s a perfect cocktail size for any occasion, event or party.”

What began as an homage to her roots and community quickly evolved into a large-scale business operation. Today, Milla’s Puffs are available for sale at local farmers markets and a range of specialty shops such as Provisions in Water Mill and Sag Harbor, Serene Green in Sag Harbor, Nurel’s in Hampton Bays, Eastport General Store, Iavarone Brothers in Wantagh, IGA in Southold and more. While Milla’s Puffs has seen quick success online and in the Hamptons, the brand’s founder remains humble and excited for what the future holds, and plans to expand her offerings. “There is nothing better than sharing our culture in a country that gave me the opportunity to express my passion for music and food.” millaspuffs.com

Milla’s Puffs founder and CEO Ludmilla Benevides

BOUNDLESS BOUNTY

BY RAY ROGERS

“We turn local produce into products, and share the bounty with everyone,” says Kate Fullam, executive director of East End Food, a nonprofit founded in 2010 to focus on helping local farmers and food providers thrive, and ensuring all members of all East End communities have access to healthy, locally grown and sourced nourishment. This year, East End Food is in the midst of building a new food hub with its own commercial kitchen to further “streamline connections between farmers, producers and the community,” notes Fullam. If the remaining funding can be secured—a capital campaign has raised $1.3 million and aims for another $1.7 million before the year’s end—East End Food will move from its aging Southampton kitchen into the new Riverhead facility by June 2024.

Supporting East End Food is a delicious endeavor, whether purchasing items from its in-person farmers market (139 Main Road in Riverhead, Saturdays from 9AM to 2PM) or virtual one online at shop.eastendfood.org with delivery across eastern Long Island. Shoppers can enjoy perishables such as the creamy herb dip—a revelation on toasted sourdough—and pantry items including pickled green tomatoes (made with Balsam Farms veggies) and wholegrain mustard (utilizing white wine from Macari Vineyards and apple cider from The Milk Pail). All items are crafted by a licensed food production team led by Executive Chef Jay Lippin, featuring local provisions that extend the shelf life of local produce all year round. Proceeds support East End Food’s mission, including addressing food insecurity.

“A lot of people living here don’t have the funds to buy healthy foods, so they end up buying highly processed foods,” says Lippin. “East End Food preserves the harvest with minimal processing to improve access to good food.”

Last year alone, the organization collected a staggering 33,289 pounds of produce, diverting 4,665 pounds of kitchen food waste from landfills; served locally grown food to 9,619 students via 15 schools in its farm-to-schools program, and 2,925 meals to the Boys & Girls Club of Shinnecock Nation; and provided fresh, minimally processed local food to seven food pantries throughout the East End. With the new food hub, the group expects to reach thousands more people in need.

Stock up on fresh, vibrant veggies at East End Food’s farmers market.

At a late-August food hub fundraiser at the home of Garrard Beeney and Evan Mason in Sagaponack, guests enjoyed a three-course meal prepared by The 1770 House Executive Chef Michael Rozzi, a third-generation East Ender and staunch supporter of all things local food. Rozzi pointed out that “everything you’re eating tonight has been sourced within miles of this property”—from the chilled soup highlighting Balsam Farms’ famous sweet corn, to a shortcake featuring The Milk Pail peaches, prepared by Rozzi’s wife, pastry chef Holly Dove-Rozzi.

Guests left with gift bags filled with tasty treats that directly speak to East End Food’s “Grow Craft, Eat Local” motto: East End Food’s house-made steak sauce and savory pickle relish, cradled in a dish towel that reads: “Let’s all come to the table.” eastendfood.org

Heather Barnes

East End Food’s new hub will bring local provisions to even more members of the community.

CACAO LOVE

An age-old superfood bolsters connection and self-care.

BY JENNA LEBOVITS

According to ancient Toltec myth, a feathered serpent god named Quetzalcoatl offered humans the gift of cacao, or the “drink of the gods,” and it is him we have to thank for this beneficial brew. Many Indigenous communities—the Maya, Olmec and Toltec—believed that the cacao plant is not simply a fruit to eat, but rather something that carries a spirit.

Today, cacao is a staple in the pantries of wellness warriors and health-conscious cafes. You might’ve heard of cacao nibs (the brown crunchy bits atop smoothie bowls) but many consumers opt to craft a warm and comforting beverage.

The plant—which is absorbed into the body in about 20 minutes—affects the body’s mental, physical, emotional and spiritual channels. On the emotional plane, cacao is believed to support feelings of warmth, love and unity. “In our modern society, we forgot about the aspect of connection, of intimacy,” says Florencia Fridman, cacao educator and co-founder of Cacao Laboratory, who has been hosting cacao ceremonies (communal gatherings centered around eating or drinking cacao for reflection or celebration), across the world for over seven years.

On a physical level, cacao elicits biochemical responses that support positive mental health and overall well-being. The supercharged drink is chock-full of antioxidants and

feel-good chemicals such as magnesium, tryptophan, phenylethylamine (PEA) and theobromine. The potent plant improves blood flow to the extremities, as well as the scalp and the brain, supporting hair health and cognition.

Many cacao devotees praise its ability to “open the heart,” and on a physiological level, the plant is proven to work wonders on the cardiovascular system, thanks to theobromine, a bitter alkaloid. Studies have shown that cacao modulates blood pressure and cholesterol— which is key in reducing the risk of heart disease—and dilates the blood vessels and stimulates blood flow. PEA, the compound released when we fall in love, floods the bloodstream, along with magnesium and tryptophan, which relax the mind and body. “Cacao can actually help build serotonin instead of blocking the inhibitors, which is what SSRIs or antidepressants do,” says Fridman.

Cacao, to Fridman and many others, is a tool that brings sacredness to the mundane—a natural substance that can support physical, emotional and energetic healing. “It’s beautiful to see how much cacao is waking up, not just in the traditions where it’s been protected for so many generations,” says Fridman, “but globally, in bringing us back to connect to unconditional love, harmony, gratitude and reverence for life.” cacaolaboratory.com

Cacao modulates blood pressure and builds serotonin.

—TRACY ANDERSON

F E AT U R E S

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Photography by Alex Ca yley

“My journey was so truthful, and the way that I learned was so hungry for that truth.”

Anderson and her daughter, Penelope, 11

JOIN US FOR THESE SPECIAL EVENTS!

A CONVERSATION WITH...

A Conversation with Songwriter, Musician & Philanthropist

PAUL SIMON

6-time Grammy Award® winner, twice inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Fame, recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors. and was presented the Library of Congress’ inaugural Gershwin Prize for Popular Song,

ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING AWARD

A Conversation with Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker

TODD HAYNES

irector of MAY DECEMBER, playing at HIFF this year, as well critically acclaimed and award-winning films VELVET GOLDMINE, FAR FROM HEAVEN, NOT THERE and CAROL.

OCTOBER 9 East Hampton

SPONSORED BY SPONSORED BY

THE MUSIC OF PAUL SIMON director Alex Gibney will screen on Friday, October 6.

AUDIENCE AWARDS SPONSORED BY

The Purist celebrates exceptional filmmaking as sponsor of HIFF's 2023 Audience Awards, chosen by festival goers. Look for the QR code to vote for your favorite film!

O CTOBER 5-12 / 2023

Tickets and information at hamptonsfilmfest.org

MAY DECEMBER starring Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore will screen on October 8 and 9.

@HamptonsFilm

The Method

Tracy Anderson, fitness pioneer and creator of the Tracy Anderson Method, has been a leader in shaping physiques and transforming torsos for 25 years. Actress, beauty mogul and executive producer Tracee Ellis Ross, a devotee of the Method for over a decade, gets together with her fitness mentor for a Purist-themed talk about building a $100 million fitness empire.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEX CAYLEY

Anderson is the creator of MYMODE, a green, multifunctional fitness apparatus.

Method Master

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TRACEE ELLIS ROSS: I love an excuse to talk, because we never get a chance to talk. It’s kind of amazing that I get to experience Tracy Anderson on a weekly basis. We text every once in a while, but we don’t have conversations. This will be fun for me, because I have questions. Let me start by laying the groundwork of my relationship with you. I have been doing the Tracy Anderson Method for about 12 years.

TRACY ANDERSON: Oh, my god.

TER: I do New York and LA. I have done online during the pandemic. I have done it at home. I have done all the different versions, and I am still very involved in what the Method teaches. I want to quickly share why I find it so extraordinary. For me, there’s a connection that I get to my body that I’ve always trusted and always known. My body has been for me my safest place and my home, and so I really listen to my body. There’s a beautiful evolution that happens with the Method, where you discover new things about yourself during your working out. I always feel long and strong. I also always feel sexy and beautiful, which makes it fun. The music adds a whole other dimension, because it’s my version of going to a club. That’s my little spiel; that’s the stuff Tracy knows that I always text her about.

TA: There was a moment during the pandemic when you texted me. It meant so much, because it made me feel like I was hitting that very full feeling from childhood. You above anyone else can capture this so truthfully in social media, because of the fine-tuned relationship that you have with yourself. I would see you in a pool somewhere and think, she’s got that full feeling of life. The most beautiful parts. Thank you for walking through this love language of mine for so many years.

TER: It is my pleasure, and thank you. It’s been really fun. So, you started as a dancer. How did your early life influence who we know you as today?

TA: The dancer part is pretty irrelevant in most ways. All of the structure that dance taught me serves only about 10 percent of what it is that I actually do today. My mother was a dancer. She is kind of a wild woman in so many wonderful ways. When I was young, she would put on many different kinds of music and she would say, Just dance. No, that’s ballet. I want you to just dance. No, that’s jazz. She would edit until she could find my own sort of unstructured soul language of movement. That served me more than all of the years of different disciplines of art and dance, all of which I love. I came to college in New York City from Indiana on a dance scholarship. I had never been to New York City. I had $20 and a place to sleep. I gained 40 pounds at dance school. This system told me, It’s such a shame. You’re talented, but you can’t

fit in here, because you don’t look the right way anymore. I didn’t do any of the things that so many impressionable or just driven young people can fall into. I never had an eating disorder. I didn’t do drugs or anything like that. I leaned into the humor I had, and became the funny girl in school. I made friends that way, and I just also had this rebellious attitude, like: How dare you tell me that I can’t do this. If this system is telling me that I can’t dance anymore, then there’s so much wrong with it. There was just this fight inside of me that felt like this is so unnatural, unfortunate and unfair.

I took that with me, and met my son’s father [Eric Anderson] when I was 17 He played pro basketball for the New York Knicks, and he loved me the way that I was. Then I met an extraordinary doctor who had done a huge body of work of research on the spine for pro athletes. [He was treating] Eric, who had a bad back. As I was talking to him and learning from him, the truth became clear that if we would only move our bodies, we could save them from so many things. But who’s going to come up with that language of movement? That was my moment of realizing what I was going to do with my life. I dove into extensive study on the body, our nature, where we go wrong, where we have the opportunity to go right. If it is possible to help the spine, can we help the whole body?

In my early 20s, I did a five-year study on 150 women. I was just so driven that the study and all that fire in me was what made this whole engine start and take off.

TER: What’s your favorite part of what you do?

TA: Using my imagination and creative freedom, this thing that’s in all of us, but it’s so unnurtured. I realized it was necessary for me to dial in to that to serve the people who wanted to come to me for movement help. That I love the most, because it leads me to the place where I can see you in motion feeling regenerative with your body. It’s not disruptive of your relationship with your thoughts or movement to be able to explore in this dynamic way. We might be serving up a stream of choreography of movement that has a purpose, but you know from doing it for so long that I’m always serving up a new conversation with that language. Unless you want to stop and talk to the trainer in the session, you can really be in your own exploration. You know how to do these things.

TER: Yes, and for people who don’t know, with most of the programs that are prescribed, you do them about 10 times. My experience is that I refrain from saying I can’t do it until the third session. In the first one sometimes I’m like, There’s no way. That doesn’t even make sense. By the second one, I’m like huh, interesting. By the third one, I’ve got it. My body figured it out. By the 10th time I do it, I feel so strong. I agree, I can check in with a

“Creating balance is necessary for us to continually regenerate,” says Anderson.

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The Method strengthens smaller muscle groups to create definition and tone.

“I dove into extensive study on the body, our nature—where we go wrong, where we have the opportunity to go right.”

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STYLIST + MARKET EDITOR: JARED DEPRIEST GILBERT FASHION ASSISTANT: COURTNEY BLACKWELL HAIR: CHERILYN FARRIS

MAKEUP: SHELBY SMITH SKIN SPECIALIST + MAKEUP ARTIST: DOTTI

Starting on November 3, Anderson is bringing her Method to The Colony in Palm Beach. Catch one of the 90-minute workouts each week, led by a top TA trainer.

trainer, but often it’s about finding the evolution of my own body inside what I’m doing. I feel like that’s my version of doing what you just said.

TA: Right. It’s like a total waking up by that third day, and that’s so important. That’s how it’s meant to be.

TER: The Method is 25 years old. What do you attribute its longevity to? What’s the secret sauce? Is it that you’ve stayed so imaginative and interested in what you do?

TA: Yeah, I love how wise we’re getting in our years. My journey was so truthful, and the way that I learned was so hungry for that truth. I’ve never deviated from my original question in my first study which was: Can I take

environment. When I started to dig into some of the places that these very big fitness brands are making things, I absolutely didn’t want to be a part of it. I thought with whatever voice I have, I will show that we don’t have to make things in this way. It is unnatural for us to be harming the thing that we need the most to stay healthy, which is our environment.

TER: I’m going to do a lightning round with some fun questions. What’s your favorite crappy thing to eat?

TA: Oh, Cocomels.

TER: What is that? That sounds fantastic.

TA: They’re like coconut caramels covered in dark

any woman from any genetic background and turn them into their most balanced self? Can I create a constant stream of conversation that creates balance where there is imbalance in the body? Creating balance is necessary for us to continually regenerate. Plenty of people told me that what I wanted to do was impossible. In fact, the first person said, “You’re never going to be able to come up with that much content.”

TER: They have not met Tracy.

TA: I never have ever said I know it all, I’m done learning, this is my thing, take it or leave it. I’m not afraid to selfcorrect, because that just means that we all do better. The truthful nature of the work is why it continues to work.

TER: Tell me about the eco-conscious MYMODE. Why is protecting the planet with sustainable versions of what we do to be whole and well important to you?

TA: I wanted to create something in-home for a new journey of choreography, and get a little bit more detailed. I’ve loved seeing the way the world becomes obsessed with the way people are editing themselves, or getting surgery to look a certain way. If people only really realized how powerful it is to own their own structure, how muscles are so mutable. and we can do so much with them. Then when it came time to produce MYMODE, I sat down with a team of engineers. I started to ask questions, and I was so taken aback by how the conversation was going. It was almost as if I got swallowed in some unnatural wave that didn’t feel good. The more research I did, the more I realized that while we know that fast fashion is bad for the environment, we don’t realize that the fitness industry hides behind the electronics industry and is just as bad, if not 10 times worse for the

chocolate. This is crappy for me today, because I don’t eat crappy anymore.

TER: That’s fine, yes. We’re very similar.

TA: Yeah, and let’s be honest. Wine, I guess.

TER: What brings you joy?

TA: Love, life, my children. Just the close life that I feel in the people who are closest to me in the world and that love. That inner force that people try and explain so much that they explain it away. I like to make sure that I feel that inner force. I think Rumi calls it soul fury.

TER: I love that term. That’s beautiful. Are you a bath or a shower person?

TA: Shower. I don’t have time for a bath.

TER: That’s so funny. I swear if I have a 5AM call time I will take a bath at 4:30AM so I have a gentle start to my day.

TA: You’re so cool.

TER: It’s ridiculous. I look for hotel rooms that have bathtubs, because they help me with everything. If you had to choose one fruit to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?

TA: Blueberries, because they’re so good for you, and I want to stay mentally healthy.

TER: I would say white peaches. Bar or liquid soap?

TA: Liquid soap.

TER: What inspires you?

TA: Great writers like poet Mary Oliver, or Rumi for instance. I study a lot of great writers.

TER: This is my final question. What is the most surprising and exciting thing in all your years that you have discovered about the body?

TA: Oh, wow. That your health can handle the hard truth, but it can’t handle lies.

“What brings me joy? Love, life, my children. That inner force that people try to explain so much that they explain it away. I like to make sure that I feel that inner force. I think Rumi calls it soul fury.”

IN FULL BLOOM

BY CRISTINA CUOMO

Misty Copeland, the first African American female principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre, is the star and co-producer of Flower, a 28-minute film that employs contemporary dance and turf dance, a style that originated in Oakland, California, to tell a story about housing insecurity, gentrification and the power of art. Directed by Lauren Finerman, the mostly silent short explores the relationship between a young dancer, played by Copeland, and her mother (Christina Johnson). The daughter must prioritize the care of her ailing mother over pursuing her dreams, while dealing with rising rents and unsettling socioeconomic shifts within the neighborhood. Flower is the first project of Life in Motion Productions, a production company founded by Copeland and lifelong friend Leyla Fayyaz. Purist speaks with the creative collaborators.

PURIST: You describe this work as “art activism.” What does that mean to you, and what inspired you to make this film?

Misty Copeland: Creating a movement and making a difference through art sparks social change. We were inspired to make Flower to show what the future of ballet can look like, telling stories that reflect our communities and bring awareness to issues those communities are experiencing.

Leyla Fayyaz: To me as a producer, “art activism” is using art for the greater good, to inspire and move our societies forward. For so long, people have been going to the ballet and seeing classical ballets with storylines that are no longer relevant. It’s almost become a high society rite of passage. But imagine if we take this experience and make it more impactful, more relevant and empowering—and most importantly, more accessible. How can we use the incredible talents of these artists to tell stories that will inspire progress with their gifts?

PURIST: What was the process like filming Flower?

Dance and social drama ignite Flower, an impactful short film about creativity and intergenerational equity.

Misty Copeland and Babatunji Johnson share a tender moment in Flower

MC: Beautiful and challenging. Doing anything during the pandemic took twice as much effort and money, but the beauty came from pushing through the adversity. The highlight for me was spending months in Oakland and really immersing ourselves in the community— listening, feeling, seeing, smelling the town before making our film.

LF: We had so many challenges along the way. The first and most significant was the global pandemic. The world shut down one week after we had gone to Oakland to shoot the concept trailer that we were then going to use to fundraise for the film. We pushed through that, and still managed to raise our budget, but then faced another huge challenge of losing our director and their entire production services team three weeks before filming. We had to scramble to find a new team.

It ended up working for the better when we gained our director, the amazing Lauren Finerman, who saved the production and dove in head first with so much love and passion. From her years of experience in dance and circus filmmaking, she knew how to use film to tell a movement-based story. Seeing us overcome those challenges, and many more, made the process incredibly empowering.

PURIST: The film had its world premiere at this year’s Tribeca Festival, and you’ve been screening it at community organizations and other festivals across the country. What has been the response to the film so far, and what do you want audiences to take away?

MC: The response has been overwhelmingly positive. People have connected in a way they didn’t know they would to a film with no dialogue. You’re really forced to watch and feel without distraction. I hope audiences will leave with a different perspective on what it looks like to live in a community, and be a person experiencing housing insecurities, to have more empathy, and know that there’s no one face to the issue, but also to find an appreciation for this form of storytelling.

LF: Hearing from people how much they were moved by a film without dialogue proved to us that there are so many ways to tell a story on film, so many uses for how dance and movement can be incorporated into future projects to evoke emotion, inspire, and bring joy and hope to people’s lives. I hope the film helps expose more people to dance and gets more people to embrace this form of creative expression, especially when dealing with important, relatable issues affecting our communities.

Flower’s star and co-producer, Misty Copeland

BEST FEST of the

Celebrating 31 years of movie magic on the East End, this year’s Hamptons International Film Festival brings a full roster of thought-provoking films from October 5 to 12. Read all about it on the following pages, and look to hamptonsfilmfest.org for more film titles from the World Cinema and Short Films categories, as well as screening schedules.

The photo used in the 2023 poster is “Pebbles at Manhattan Beach,” 1978.

@ Susan Meiselas / Magnum Photos.

LIFE IN SONG

Director Alex Gibney chronicles the inspired career of music legend

Paul Simon in a marathon documentary making its New York debut at the Hamptons International Film Festival.

“Your process is similar to mine,” says Paul Simon early on in Alex Gibney’s epic-length documentary, In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon. “You gather a lot, and ask: Where is the story here?” The legendary songwriter reached out to the Oscar-winning filmmaker for a career overview “after he saw my film on Sinatra [Sinatra: All or Nothing at All, 2015],” recounts Gibney. As that idea percolated, “Simon invited me to his recording studio in Wimberley, Texas, to film the creation of a contemporary album, Seven Psalms, which came to him in a dream.” At 81, and in spite of having lost hearing in one ear, “Paul Simon is still curious,” marvels Gibney. “Great artists make sense of the world. Here is a questing intuitive mind in action, looking for the key that unlocks the magic of making music.”

Audiences will recognize the film’s title from the Simon and Garfunkel hit, “The Sound Of Silence,” a leitmotif that goes far to explain the meditative dream state of the new album and this 3 ½-hour immersion into an astonishing life. Simon was raised in Queens, New York City, where he met Art Garfunkel in sixth grade at age 11. Their collaboration is the first stage, their friendship and breakup unfolding, from learning harmony by listening to The Everly Brothers, and Simon’s early influences Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, and especially The Cleftones.

Much of the film’s narration comes from archival footage: interviews with Dick Cavett and David Letterman. Simon talks about composing the soundtrack for Mike Nichols’ The Graduate That “Mrs. Robinson” was originally “Mrs. Roosevelt” is well known, but how did Joe DiMaggio get in there? Simon explains his spontaneous method, a stream of consciousness that is freeing. (Mel Brooks— whose wife, Anne Bancroft, portrayed Mrs. Robinson— quipped, “You have no idea how miserable that song made us.”) When Garfunkel went on to act in Catch-22 and Carnal Knowledge with Nichols, his acting career strained the friendship, as did perhaps Simon’s mother

BY REGINA WEINREICH

saying, “You have a nice voice. But Arthur has a fine voice.”

Simon opened up his vault to Gibney, who then set about a tough selection process: “The film begins to speak to you. Paul’s home in Montauk is included briefly, his work on The Capeman not at all.” Following the story’s arc, “I found stuff I never expected to find,” says Gibney. “I was not able to interview Art, but found deeper emotional stuff about him.” Included is footage of the two sitting on a bed singing “The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy),” set against the end of their relationship.

The Graceland sequence follows Simon tracking a sound he liked to Johannesburg in 1985. Rarely seen video footage of his call-and-response with local musicians leads to further explorations of African drums. As the film frames it, Graceland elevates to a mythic, spiritual, hopeful space, an American Dream.

We learn about his British girlfriend who inspired “Kathy’s Song,” his whirlwind marriage to Carrie Fisher, and his friendship with Lorne Michaels. In a sweet sequence, we see footage of his wife, Edie Brickell, as she forgets the lyrics to “What I Am” while performing on Saturday Night Live Having had a crush on Simon’s face from an album cover, she suddenly finds herself looking straight into his eyes, and loses it. They met that night. Gibney says she is “foundational to who Simon is now. He lights up whenever she walks into a room.”

She comes into Seven Psalms, their voices braided in. Wynton Marsalis arrives, a trusted friend, giving Simon notes on the new album. “Leave the struggle in there,” he tells a straining Simon.

When asked how significant it is to screen In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon, at HIFF (this year’s Centerpiece presentation on October 6), Gibney says, “Very. It’s coming to one of Paul’s homes. He’s coming home.”

Beat scholar Regina Weinreich’s Paul Bowles: The Complete Outsider screened at the first HIFF in 1993.

The folk-rock icon is a two-time inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

STANDING TALL

BY MARISA FOX

There are many roads to recovery, but for Herbert Heller (portrayed by Stephen Lang as an adult, and Luke David Blumm as a youth), the central character in Avenue of the Giants, which is premiering at the 31st annual Hamptons International Film Festival, there was only one way to heal from the Holocaust trauma he buried—opening up to a suicidal teenager (Elsie Fisher).

The film’s premise may seem fraught, but it’s based on the epic, true story of the Czechoslovakiaborn Heller, who survived Terezin (Theresienstadt) and Auschwitz, escaped a death march, and went into hiding in his hometown of Prague until liberation, before immigrating to America, starting a family and becoming a beloved fixture in Marin County, California, for his toy store. Heller kept his Holocaust past a secret from his own family until he was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Only then did he share testimony and start grappling with his unhealed wounds— in his case, a literal scar, the result of his attempt to burn off his Auschwitz number by using cleaning acid.

“The idea of a secret kept for 60 years isn’t rare for people who have experienced such massive trauma,” says writer-director Finn Taylor, who grew up in a home haunted by the

ghosts of World War II. His father served in the Battle of the Bulge, and his mother survived the war in occupied Norway, losing much of her family.

“My birthday is July 4,” Taylor continues. “My dad would wake up screaming [triggered by the fireworks]. Half of his platoon died; there was shelling and bombing everywhere.” In addition, his uncle, Telford Taylor, was the chief counsel for 12 trials of the Nuremberg war crimes trials, indicting 200 Nazi war criminals. (Filmmaking was a family affair: Taylor’s granddaughter wrote the film’s poignant musical score).

“I knew it was going to be a huge legacy to pass on, so I wanted to see it happen,” Taylor says, adding that he wasn’t the first director approached by producer Jeanine Thomas. His script, which he spent five years researching and writing, beautifully straddles the complex balance between both lead characters’ private demons and builds a bridge between the two.

“You can’t equate the Holocaust with anything else,” he says, “but the pain, the way young people

feel that no one understands them, is something I can relate to.” His semiautobiographical directorial debut Dream with the Fishes (1997) revolves around the intimate friendship that develops between a suicidal young adult and a terminally ill older man.

“When I was 19, I tried to kill myself,” he says, speaking from his home near the majestic redwood forest where pivotal scenes were shot and from whence the film’s title is derived, a reference to the seeming immortality of these titan trees that have persisted despite untold obstacles. Like the film’s other protagonist, Abbey, an amalgam of the various high school students whom the real Heller helped by forging open dialogue, Taylor found healing through his intergenerational relationship and through the process of directing this film.

“I have more faith in the interconnectivity of humanity,” he says. “The film is ultimately about the healing power of sharing long-held secrets.”

For screening times and locations, see schedule on the following pages and hamptonsfilmfest.org for updates. Marisa Fox is writing, producing and directing My Underground Mother, a documentary about her mother’s secret Holocaust past.

In Avenue of the Giants, writer-director Finn Taylor tells the story of a Holocaust survivor’s quest to heal war wounds through an intergenerational friendship.

Actor Luke David Blumm, who plays the younger version of Herbert Heller

DIRECTING A HIT

Newly minted auteur and screenwriter Jennifer Esposito scores critical acclaim with her female-centric mafia film, Fresh Kills

It is rare for an actor turned director to make a first film that makes history. Jennifer Esposito’s directorial and screenwriting debut, Fresh Kills, is the first serious “mob movie” to be scripted and directed by an American woman, in which females absolutely dominate, both on- and offscreen. Mention of the word “godmother”—by the lovely Annabella Sciorra—packs the same feminist punch that “patriarchy” does in Barbie

The high caliber of the dialogue and cast make it hard to believe that the auteur of Fresh Kills never even made a short film before—but this is Esposito’s maiden voyage behind the camera, and she’s looking forward to many more. “I finally found where I belong,” says Esposito, who has worked with some of the industry’s best, including Spike Lee and Paul Haggis. “This isn’t the end, it’s just the beginning: I know I’m supposed to be making films.” Audiences and critics agree, along with Esposito’s new powerhouse talent agency, William Morris Endeavor.

Females are pillars of strength in Esposito’s story of a young woman growing up in the 1980s on New York City’s Staten Island, where she detects a whiff of close-to-home crime even more putrid than the boroughwide stench of landfill (for decades, Fresh Kills was, notoriously, the dumping ground for all New York City trash). From an early age, Rose Larusso (Emily Bader) suspects that her father is not, as she suggests to her sister Connie, an honest man. We watch as Rose matures into an independent young woman who questions the traditional

BY JULIA SZABO

roles of wife and mother prescribed for her.

“I grew up seeing women like this,” says Esposito, who also plays Rose’s mother, Francine.

“I realized it was much less about who their families were, but how, as women, they were put in a box they didn’t choose. Yes, we’re in the mafia movie genre, but that’s not what this is about. It’s about someone who went against everything she knew. Not an easy thing to do, whether breaking the cycle of poverty or alcoholism or abuse.”

Esposito is proud to take her place among Hollywood’s growing sorority of feminist actor-directors. Like a latterday Ida Lupino, who overcame polio, Esposito battled celiac disease and won. The cast of her film also radiates well-being, as if spoon-fed the same delicious, antiinflammatory diet Esposito advocates in Jennifer’s Way, her bestselling lifestyle book.

“I wish I could say that we had all the healthy foods I wanted,” Esposito recalls of the tightly budgeted, 22-day, onlocation shoot, so she took extra care to nurture her cast emotionally. “My actors, especially my young women, had to reach down deep, otherwise this wouldn’t work. They needed to show up, and they really did that. I’m finding audiences, male and female, are walking out of Fresh Kills and it’s hitting them, changing them,” says Esposito. “This is the beauty of art. It starts the conversation.”

Fresh Kills screens at the Hamptons International Film Festival. See listings on the following pages for time and location.

Top: Getty

Images/Erik Tanner

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Director and screenwriter Jennifer Esposito

NYAD

A remarkable true story of tenacity, friendship and the triumph of the human spirit, NYAD recounts a riveting chapter in the life of world-class athlete Diana Nyad. At the age of 60, three decades after giving up marathon swimming in exchange for a prominent career as a sports journalist, Diana (four-time Academy Award nominee Annette Bening) becomes obsessed with completing an epic swim that always eluded her: the 110-mile trek from Cuba to Florida, often referred to as the “Mount Everest” of swims. Determined to become the first person to finish the swim without a shark cage, Diana goes on a thrilling, four-year journey with her best friend and coach Bonnie Stoll (two-time Academy Award winner Jodie Foster) and a ragtag but dedicated sailing team.

Academy Award-winning directors and HIFF alums Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin (THE RESCUE, FREE SOLO) make their narrative feature debut with this visceral, heartfelt testament to the importance of determination at any age. A Netflix release.

10/5 7PM EAST HAMPTON - EHMS

10/6 8:45PM SAG HARBOR - SHC2

DIRECTORS

Jimmy Chin

Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi

SCREENWRITER

Julia Cox

PRODUCERS

Andrew Lazar

Teddy Schwarzman

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

Bill Johnson

Jim Seibel

Michael Heimler

Vanessa Humphrey

Julia Cox

D. Scott Lumpkin

CAST

Annette Bening

Jodie Foster

Rhys Ifans

Ethan Jones Romero

Luke Cosgrove

Jeena Yi

Eric T. Miller

SPONSORED BY

EAST COAST PREMIERE, NARRATIVE FEATURE, USA, 2023, 121 MINUTES, ENGLISH

NARRATIVE FEATURE, USA, 2023, 127 MINUTES, ENGLISH

MAESTRO

In his sophomore directorial effort, Academy Award nominee Bradley Cooper takes up the complicated life of legendary conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein (Cooper), digging beyond his musical brilliance to tenderly chronicle his lifelong relationship with Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein (Academy Award nominee Carey Mulligan).

This towering, fearless love story is punctuated by a score of Bernstein’s own music, soulful imagery from Academy Awardnominated cinematographer Matthew Libatique, and never-better performances from Cooper, Mulligan and an all-star supporting cast, including Maya Hawke, Sarah Silverman and Matt Bomer.

A love letter to the passions that define us, MAESTRO is a layered, epic portrayal of family, creativity and emotion. A Netflix release.

DIRECTOR

Bradley Cooper

SCREENWRITERS

Bradley Cooper

Josh Singer

PRODUCERS

Martin Scorsese

Bradley Cooper

Steven Spielberg

Fred Berner

Amy Durning

Kristie Macosko Krieger

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

Carla Raij

Josh Singer

Bobby Wilhelm

CAST

Carey Mulligan

Bradley Cooper

Matt Bomer

Maya Hawke

Sarah Silverman

Josh Hamilton

Scott Ellis

Gideon Glick

Sam Nivola

Alexa Swinton

Miriam Shor

Weston Middleton

Tracey Landon

WITH SUPPORT FROM 10/12 7:45PM EAST HAMPTON - UA1 10/12 8:15PM EAST HAMPTON - UA2

IN RESTLESS DREAMS: THE MUSIC OF PAUL SIMON

This definitive portrait of Paul Simon follows the Grammy Award-winning musical artist inside the studio as he makes his new album SevenPsalms, while also looking back on his unparalleled seven-decade career. Six-time HIFF alum and Academy Award winner Alex Gibney (TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE, CITIZEN K, CRAZY, NOT INSANE) returns with a comprehensive exploration of Simon’s undeniable influence on the history of American music and his countless musical peaks, from SoundsofSilenceto Graceland, providing an inner glimpse of his vibrant creative process.

Nostalgic and surprising, IN RESTLESS DREAMS: THE MUSIC OF PAUL SIMON captures the essence of an American icon while taking audiences on an epic musical journey.

10/6 5:15PM EAST HAMPTON - EHMS

DIRECTOR

Alex Gibney

PRODUCERS

Alex Gibney

Erin Edeiken, Svetlana Zill

David Rahtz

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

Jeff Kramer

Stacey Offman

Richard Perello

Kristen Vaurio

Zhang Xin

William Horberg

Bob Xu

Joey Marra

Nick Shumaker

Jessica Grimshaw

David Levine

SPONSORED BY

A LITTLE PRAYER

10/7 2PM SAG HARBOR - SHC1

ALL OF US STRANGERS

10/6 8:30PM

SPOTLIGHT FILMS

NEW YORK PREMIERE, NARRATIVE FEATURE, USA, 2023, 89 MINUTES, ENGLISH

In A LITTLE PRAYER, an extraordinary ensemble cast brings empathy and witty charm to a deeply personal tale of complex family dynamics. In a small Southern town in North Carolina, Bill (Academy Award nominee David Strathairn) begins to suspect his son is having an affair. He is caught between an urge to protect his daughter-in-law Tammy (Jane Levy) and his fatherly duty to his son David (Will Pullen), a veteran struggling with PTSD. Writer and director Angus MacLachlan explores a variety of pressing issues in today’s changing modern South, including the limits of patriarchal influence and a woman’s right to choose. A Sony Pictures Classics Release.

DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER: Angus MacLachlan

PRODUCERS: Angus MacLachlan, Lauren Vilchik, Max A. Butler

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Ramin Bahrani

CAST: David Strathairn, Jane Levy, Dascha Polanco, Will Pullen, Anna Camp, Celia Weston

NARRATIVE FEATURE, UK, 2023, 105 MINUTES, ENGLISH

On a lonely night in contemporary London, Adam (Emmy nominee Andrew Scott) has a chance encounter with mysterious neighbor Harry (Academy Award nominee Paul Mescal). As a relationship develops between them, Adam finds himself drawn back to the suburban town where he grew up, and to the childhood home where his parents (Claire Foy, TheCrown, and Jamie Bell) appear to be living, looking exactly as they did on the day they died 30 years earlier. Director Andrew Haigh (45 YEARS, WEEKEND) returns to HIFF with this stirring, quietly metaphysical story of love and loss, based on the novel Strangersby Taichi Yamada. A Searchlight Pictures release.

DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER: Andrew Haigh

PRODUCERS: Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, Sarah Harvey

CAST: Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Jamie Bell, Claire Foy

AMERICAN FICTION

10/7 2:15PM EAST HAMPTON - UA2 10/8 2PM SAG HARBOR - SHC1

EAST COAST PREMIERE, NARRATIVE FEATURE, USA, 2023,

117 MINUTES, ENGLISH

Tony and Emmy Award winner Jeffrey Wright stars in this biting comedy as Thelonius “Monk” Ellison, an underappreciated author fed up with the state of Black literature in America. When he uses a pen name to write an outlandish “Black” book of his own, he is propelled into the hypocritical madness he claims to disdain. Acclaimed writer Cord Jefferson (Watchmen,Succession) makes his feature directorial debut with this warm, whip-smart satire featuring an all-star cast, including Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae, Leslie Uggams and Sterling K. Brown. Based on Percival Everett’s award-winning novel Erasure, AMERICAN FICTION playfully grapples with our culture’s obsession with reducing people to outrageous stereotypes. A United Artists Release.

DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER: Cord Jefferson

PRODUCERS: Ben LeClair, Nikos Karamigios, Cord Jefferson, Jermaine Johnson

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Rian Johnson, Ram Bergman, Percival Everett

CAST: Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, John Ortiz, Erika Alexander, Leslie Uggams, Adam Brody, Issa Rae, Sterling K. Brown

SPOTLIGHT FILMS

WORLD PREMIERE, NARRATIVE FEATURE, USA, 2023, 102 MINUTES, ENGLISH

Herbert Heller (Stephen Lang, AVATAR) carries a traumatic secret: Now the beloved owner of a toy store in Northern California, Herbert is a Holocaust survivor. The Nazis forced him into the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp at age 12, but he managed to escape and kept the secret from everyone—including his own children—for 60 years. When Herbert is diagnosed with a terminal illness, he befriends Abbey (Elsie Fisher, EIGHTH GRADE), an isolated teenager whose own struggles inspire him to open up. Based on a true story, AVENUE OF THE GIANTS is a tender depiction of an intergenerational friendship that offers the unlikely pair a path toward healing.

DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER: Finn Taylor

PRODUCERS: Jeanine Thomas, George Rush

AVENUE OF THE GIANTS

10/6 5PM EAST HAMPTON - UA1

10/7 11AM SAG HARBOR - SHC1

DREAM SCENARIO

10/7 8:45PM EAST HAMPTON - UA2

EILEEN

10/8 2:15PM EAST HAMPTON - EHMS

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Noah Lang, Debi Memmolo, Greg Taxin

CAST: Stephen Lang, Elsie Fisher, Luke David Blumm, Leah Pipes, Ben Geurens, Ursula Parker, Slavko Sobin, Stella Stocker, Oskar Hes, Robin Weigert

NEW YORK PREMIERE, NARRATIVE FEATURE, USA, 2023, 101 MINUTES, ENGLISH

Paul Matthews (Nicolas Cage) is an evolutionary biology professor with keen insight into wild animal behavior, but little understanding of how to navigate the world of his fellow humans. His uneventful life turns upside down one night when millions of strangers around the world see him in their dreams. As his nighttime appearances take a nightmarish turn, he is thrust into a singular type of stardom that even those who crave the limelight would be hard-pressed to navigate. Kristoffer Borgli’s surreal and hilarious satire of influencer culture and modern stardom boasts a stellar cast and is sure to be one of the most provocative films at this year’s festival. An A24 release.

DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER: Kristoffer Borgli

PRODUCERS: Lars Knudsen, Ari Aster, Tyler Campellone, Jacob Jaffke, Nicolas Cage

CAST: Nicolas Cage, Julianne Nicholson, Michael Cera, Tim Meadows, Dylan Gelula, Dylan Baker

NARRATIVE FEATURE, USA, 2023, 91 MINUTES, ENGLISH

Based on the book of the same name by literary powerhouse Ottessa Moshfegh, EILEEN follows a peculiar young woman whose dreary life stretches on toward unending misery. In frigid 1960s Boston, Eileen (Thomasin McKenzie) shuffles between her father’s dingy, emotionally haunted home and the prison where she works alongside colleagues who have ostracized her. When an intoxicating woman (Academy Award winner Anne Hathaway) joins the prison staff, Eileen is taken. Just when the possibility of a salvational friendship (or maybe more) takes hold and forms a singular glimmer in Eileen’s darkness, her newfound confidant entangles her in a shocking crime that alters all. A Neon release.

DIRECTOR: William Oldroyd

SCREENWRITERS: Luke Goebel, Ottessa Moshfegh

PRODUCERS: Stefanie Azpiazu, Anthony Bregman, Peter Cron, Luke Goebel, Ottessa Moshfegh, William Oldroyd

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Farhana Bhula, Ollie Madden, Julia Oh, Gregory Zuk, Jamin O’Brien

CAST: Anne Hathaway, Thomasin McKenzie, Shea Whigham

EX-HUSBANDS

10/7 4:45PM SAG HARBOR - SHC1

10/8 11:45AM EAST HAMPTON - UA2

FINGERNAILS

10/7 6:15PM EAST HAMPTON - UA1

10/9 2:30PM EAST HAMPTON - EHMS

FRESH KILLS

10/7 5PM EAST HAMPTON - EHMS

10/10 5PM EAST HAMPTON - UA1

SPOTLIGHT FILMS

NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE, NARRATIVE FEATURE, USA, 2023, 98 MINUTES, ENGLISH

Griffin Dunne (THE DISCOVERERS, HIFF 2012) stars as Peter Pearce, a New Yorker reeling from his parents’ recent divorce and his own wife (Rosanna Arquette, reuniting with her AFTER HOURS co-star) leaving him after 35 years. When he crashes his son Nick’s (James Norton) bachelor party in Tulum, Mexico, Peter soon realizes he’s not the only Pearce man in crisis. Set against the spectacular backdrop of the Yucatán, writer/director Noah Pritzker (QUITTERS) has crafted a witty and deeply human drama about divorce, heartache, fathers and sons, and getting away from it all.

DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER: Noah Pritzker

PRODUCERS: Bruce Cohen, Alexandra Byer, Nicolás Celis

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Griffin Dunne

CAST: Griffin Dunne, James Norton, Miles Heizer, Rosanna Arquette, Eisa Davis, Richard Benjamin

EAST COAST PREMIERE, NARRATIVE FEATURE, USA, 2023, 114 MINUTES, ENGLISH

Anna (Jessie Buckley, WOMEN TALKING, HIFF 2022) and Ryan (Jeremy Allen White, TheBear) have found true love—a fact that can now be verified using a controversial new technology. When Anna meets charming Amir (Riz Ahmed, SOUND OF METAL) at her job at the love-testing institute, she begins to question whether she should in fact trust her true feelings over the decision of a mysterious machine. Shot on 35mm film, FINGERNAILS is Greek director Christos Nikou’s (APPLES) Englishlanguage debut, an off-kilter and surreal thriller brought to life by Emmy Award-winning cinematographer Marcell Rév’s (Euphoria) striking and colorful visual palette. An Apple release.

DIRECTOR: Christos Nikou

SCREENWRITERS: Christos Nikou, Sam Steiner, Stavros Raptis

PRODUCERS: Christos Nikou, Coco Francini

CAST: Jessie Buckley, Riz Ahmed, Jeremy Allen White, Luke Wilson

NARRATIVE

FEATURE, USA, 2023, 119 MINUTES, ENGLISH

In her debut as a writer-director, actress Jennifer Esposito (BlueBloods, SUMMER OF SAM, CRASH) brings late-1980s Staten Island to vivid life through the lens of Rose Larusso (Emily Bader), an inquisitive young girl who discovers her father (Domenick Lombardozzi) is an emerging mafia kingpin. Rose’s growing desire to break free from the path set before her soon threatens her existence and alienates her from her closest allies: her mother (Esposito) and sister (Odessa A’zion). Smart, thrilling and nuanced, FRESH KILLS turns the classic mob movie inside out, shining a light on the stories of the women operating within mafia life and the fear, violence and rage that dictate who they become. This film also screens as part of Views From Long Island.

DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER: Jennifer Esposito

PRODUCERS: Leslie Owen, Jennifer Esposito, Samantha Sprecher, Christine Crokos

CAST: Emily Bader, Odessa A’zion, Jennifer Esposito, Domenick Lombardozzi, Annabella Sciorra, Nicholas Cirillo

SPOTLIGHT FILMS

EAST COAST PREMIERE, NARRATIVE FEATURE, USA, 2023, 133 MINUTES, ENGLISH

Academy Award-winning director Alexander Payne (ELECTION, SIDEWAYS) returns to HIFF with the story of a curmudgeonly instructor (Academy Award nominee Paul Giamatti) at a 1970s New England prep school, who is forced to remain on campus during Christmas break with the handful of students with nowhere to go. Gradually, he forms an unlikely bond with brainy troublemaker Angus (newcomer Dominic Sessa) and the school’s head cook Mary (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), who is grieving her son’s recent death. Brought to life through instantly memorable performances, playfully stylized cinematography and a nostalgic soundtrack, THE HOLDOVERS immerses audiences in a bygone era in this charming holiday story of friendship amongst misanthropes and outcasts.

DIRECTOR: Alexander Payne

THE HOLDOVERS

10/7 8:15PM EAST HAMPTON - EHMS

10/8 8:15PM SAG HARBOR - SHC1

I’LL BE RIGHT THERE

SCREENWRITER: David Hemingson

PRODUCERS: Mark Johnson, Bill Block, David Hemingson

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Andrew Golov, Thom Zadra, Chris Stinson

CAST: Paul Giamatti, Da’vine Joy Randolph, Dominic Sessa

WORLD PREMIERE, NARRATIVE FEATURE, USA, 2023, 97 MINUTES, ENGLISH

Emmy Award winner Edie Falco (TheSopranos,NurseJackie) delivers an affecting performance as Wanda, a woman who barely has time for herself, not that she would know what to do with it anyway. Her very pregnant daughter (Kayli Carter, HIFF 2018 Breakthrough Artist) wants a wedding, which her ex-husband (Emmy Award winner Bradley Whitford) is flaking on paying for. Her mother (Jeannie Berlin) thinks she’s dying. Her son (Charlie Tahan, Ozark) is going into either rehab or the army. And her boyfriend (Michael Rapaport) doesn’t excite her, but does her new girlfriend (Sepideh Moafi)? I’LL BE RIGHT THERE is a heartfelt comedy about a family falling apart and one mother’s role in bringing it all together.

DIRECTOR: Brendan Walsh

SCREENWRITER: Jim Beggarly

PRODUCERS: Bradley Ross, Peter Block, Cory Neal, Ross Meyerson, Julie Tucker, Brendan Walsh

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Edie Falco, Jesse Eisenberg

CAST: Edie Falco, Jeannie Berlin, Bradley Whitford, Kayli Carter, Charlie Tahan, Michael Rapaport, Sepideh Moafi

NARRATIVE FEATURE, USA, 2023, 117 MINUTES, ENGLISH

Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, Gracie (Julianne Moore) and Joe (23 years her junior) brace themselves for their twins’ high school graduation. When actress Elizabeth (Natalie Portman) comes to spend time with the family to better understand Gracie—whom she will be playing in a film—family dynamics begin to unravel. Joe (Charles Melton) gradually confronts the reality of what happened in his youth, and as the two women study each other, their similarities and differences begin to ebb and flow. Academy Awardnominated director Todd Haynes crafts an exploration of truth, storytelling and the challenges of fully understanding another person. A Netflix release.

DIRECTOR: Todd Haynes

SCREENWRITER: Samy Burch

PRODUCERS: Natalie Portman, Sophie Mas, Pamela Koffler, Christine Vachon, Grant S. Johnson, Tyler W. Konney, Jessica Elbaum, Will Ferrell

MAY DECEMBER

10/8 5PM EAST HAMPTON - EHMS

10/9 8PM EAST HAMPTON - UA2

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Madeleine K. Rudin, Thomas K. Richards, Lee Broda, Jeff Rice, Jonathan Montepare, Samy Burch, Alex Brown, Thorsten Schumacher, Claire Taylor

CAST: Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, Charles Melton

SPOTLIGHT FILMS

U.S. PREMIERE, NARRATIVE FEATURE, USA, 2023, 100 MINUTES, ENGLISH

Two sisters. Polar opposites. One mission: to pay off their mother’s gambling debts and save their beloved pug, Mr. Linguini. Directed by Academy Award winner Jessica Yu, QUIZ LADY tells the madcap tale of talented, game show-obsessed Anne (Awkwafina, THE FAREWELL) and her train-wreck of a sister Jenny (Sandra Oh, Grey’sAnatomy,KillingEve), who set out on a wild, cross-country journey to get the cash the only way they know how: by turning Anne into a bona-fide game show champion. With an all-star cast rounded out by Will Ferrell, Jason Schwartzman and Holland Taylor, QUIZ LADY is a heartwarming comedy that portrays the dysfunction of sisterly dynamics as puzzle pieces coming together. A 20th Century Studios release on Hulu.

DIRECTOR: Jessica Yu

SCREENWRITER: Jen D’Angelo

QUIZ LADY

RUSTIN

THE ZONE OF INTEREST

10/10 8:15PM EAST HAMPTON - UA1

PRODUCERS: Will Ferrell, Jessica Elbaum, Maggie Haskins, Itay Reiss, Jen D’Angelo, Awkwafina, Sandra Oh

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Alex Brown, Erika Hampson

CAST: Awkwafina, Sandra Oh, Jason Schwartzman, Holland Taylor, Tony Hale, Will Ferrell

EAST COAST PREMIERE, NARRATIVE FEATURE, USA, 2023, 106 MINUTES, ENGLISH

The architect of 1963’s momentous March on Washington, Bayard Rustin (Emmy Award winner Colman Domingo, Euphoria) was one of our country’s greatest unsung activists and organizers. He challenged authority, and never apologized for who he was, what he believed, or who he loved. He made history, and in turn, he was forgotten. Directed by DGA Award and five-time Tony Award winner George C. Wolfe, RUSTIN shines a long overdue spotlight on the extraordinary man who, alongside other civil rights giants, dared to imagine a different world, and inspired a movement in a march toward freedom. A Netflix release.

DIRECTOR: George C. Wolfe

SCREENWRITERS: Julian Breece, Dustin Lance Black

PRODUCERS: George C. Wolfe, Bruce Cohen, Tonia Davis

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Barack and Michelle Obama, Mark R. Wright, Alex G. Scott, David Permut, Daniel Sladek, Chris Taaffe

CAST: Colman Domingo, Chris Rock, Glynn Turman, Aml Ameen, Gus Halper, CCH Pounder, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Johnny Ramey, Michael Potts, Jeffrey Wright, Audra McDonald

NARRATIVE FEATURE, USA/UK/POLAND, 2023, 106 MINUTES, GERMAN/POLISH

Based on a novel of the same name by the late Martin Amis, THE ZONE OF INTEREST is the latest feature from English director Jonathan Glazer (UNDER THE SKIN). This Cannes Grand Prix-winning film centers on the domestic lives of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel) and his wife Hedwig (Sandra Hüller, 2006 HIFF Rising Star), as they strive to build a dream life for their family, whose home is mere yards away from the setting of the worst atrocities of recent history. Shot in and around the historic site of Auschwitz and anchored by Mica Levi’s haunting score, THE ZONE OF INTEREST is an unforgettable meditation on the banality of evil. An A24 release.

DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER: Jonathan Glazer

PRODUCERS: Jim Wilson, Ewa Puszczyńska

CAST: Christian Friedel, Sandra Hüller, Johann Karthaus, Luis Noah Witte, Nele Ahrensmeier, Lilli Falk

VIEWS FROM LONG ISLAND

VIEWS FROM LONG ISLAND SHORTS PROGRAM

DOCUMENTARY SHORT, USA, 2023, 27 MINUTES, ENGLISH

DIRECTORS: Sam Hamilton, Julian Alvarez

In showcasing David Hempstead Sr.’s journey from slavery to freedom on Long Island’s East End, this insightful short also follows the Plain Sight Project, uncovering legacies of people of color in the region.

FORGOTTEN FOUNDERS: DAVID HEMPSTEAD, SENIOR

EAST COAST PREMIERE, NARRATIVE SHORT, USA, 2023, 22 MINUTES, ENGLISH

DIRECTOR: Sam Roebling

Simon is unexpectedly summoned to his grandmother’s house to meet her new boyfriend, Merv (Hal Linden, BarneyMiller), who upends Simon’s understanding of love, loss and Chinese takeout.

THE PEDESTRIAN

DOCUMENTARY SHORT, USA, 2022, 19 MINUTES, ENGLISH

DIRECTORS: Nora DeLigter, Claire Read

A pedestrian sets off on a nine-day walk from Brooklyn to Montauk.

20,000 SPECIES OF BEES

10/6 5:15PM EAST HAMPTON - UA3

10/9 1:45PM EAST HAMPTON - UA5

NARRATIVE COMPETITION

NEW YORK PREMIERE, NARRATIVE FEATURE, SPAIN, 2023, 129 MINUTES, SPANISH/BASQUE/FRENCH

In this heartwarming story of gender identity and self-discovery, 8-yearold Aitor (Sofía Otero), nicknamed Coco, favors long hair and feminine clothes, aggravating tensions between Coco’s mother Ane (Patricia López) and family members who disapprove of this behavior in a young boy. Coco’s only solace is with Aunt Lourdes (Ane Gabarain), who empowers Coco’s identity by sharing the family’s beekeeping tradition, which has been passed down through generations of women. First-time director Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren delivers a visually enrapturing story set in the sleepy Basque countryside, driven by the moving, nuanced Otero, the youngest-ever winner of the Berlinale Silver Bear for Best Lead Performance. A Film Movement release.

DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER: Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren

PRODUCERS: Lara Izagirre Garizurieta, Valérie Delpierre

CAST: Sofía Otero, Patricia López Arnaiz, Ane Gabarain, Itziar Lazkano, Martxelo Rubio

NARRATIVE FEATURE, USA, 2023, 87 MINUTES, ENGLISH

In this Cannes breakout hit, writer/director/actor Joanna Arnow stars as Ann, a morose New Yorker in her 30s who feels stuck in all areas of her life. To her dismay, the years have gone by quickly in her long-term casual BDSM relationship, low-level corporate job and quarrelsome Jewish family. As she becomes increasingly alienated, she begins to wrestle more deeply with her sense of self and her relationships. This self-deprecating auto-fictional comedy challenges audiences to question their definition of intimacy through frank and funny depictions of sex, relationships and the banality of the passing of time. Containsscenesfeaturingmaturesexual situations.A Magnolia Pictures Release.

DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER: Joanna Arnow

PRODUCERS: Graham Swon, Pierce Varous

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Sean Baker, Robbie Mirels, Adam Mirels

CAST: Scott Cohen, Babak Tafti, Joanna Arnow, Michael Cyril Creighton, Alysia Reiner, Barbara Weiserbs

RED ROOMS

U.S. PREMIERE, NARRATIVE FEATURE, CANADA, 2023, 118 MINUTES, FRENCH

Fashion model Kelly-Anne (Juliette Gariépy) spends every night sleeping outside the courthouse to secure a seat at the high-profile trial of Ludovic Chevalier (Maxwell McCabe-Lokos). He is accused not only of committing gruesome crimes involving three young girls, but also broadcasting the heinous acts via “red rooms,” live-streamed videos only accessible on the dark web. As the trial unfolds, Kelly-Anne’s morbid fascination with the killer encroaches on the rest of her life, and she begins her own online search for the missing pieces to the case. Artfully suspenseful, director Pascal Plante’s latest feature exposes the underbelly of the internet through an unflinching critique of our society’s fascination with violent crime. A Utopia release.

DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER: Pascal Plante

PRODUCER: Dominique Dussault

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Tim Ringuette

CAST: Juliette Gariépy, Laurie Babin, Elisabeth Locas, Maxwell McCabe-Lokos

NARRATIVE COMPETITION

EAST COAST PREMIERE, NARRATIVE FEATURE, AUSTRALIA, 2023, 117 MINUTES, ENGLISH/FARSI

The brilliant Zar Amir Ebrahimi (2022 Best Actress Award winner at Cannes for HOLY SPIDER) stars as Shayda, an Iranian woman living in Australia who flees her husband Hossein (Osamah Sami) and finds refuge in a women’s shelter, with her frightened 6-year-old daughter Mona (Selina Zahednia) in tow. When a judge grants Hossein visitation rights, Shayda fears that he might attempt to take Mona back to Iran. Winner of the Sundance Audience Award, director Noora Niasari’s powerful debut feature—based on her own childhood—is a beautifully crafted portrayal of courage and compassion that captures the radiant soul of a woman who boldly reclaims her human rights. A Sony Pictures Classics release. Australia’sAcademyAwardsubmissionforBestInternationalFeature.

DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER: Noora Niasari

PRODUCERS: Vincent Sheehan, Noora Niasari

SHAYDA

10/8 11:15AM EAST HAMPTON - UA3 10/12 5PM EAST HAMPTON - UA2

TIGER STRIPES

10/7 2PM EAST HAMPTON - UA3

10/9 8:30PM EAST HAMPTON - UA1

JURY

ARIANNA BOCCO

With over 30 years of experience, Arianna Bocco is considered one of the most seasoned and powerful content strategy and distribution leaders in the independent film industry. Most recently, Bocco served as the President of IFC Films, leading the acquisition of over 600 films and developing longlasting relationships with renowned, award-winning filmmakers. Prior to IFC Films, Bocco worked in independent feature packaging at the Gersh Agency in New York City and at Miramax Films as Senior Vice President of Acquisitions. Bocco is a member of the executive board of AMPAS and of BAFTA, previously having served as Chair of the NY Board of BAFTA.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Cate Blanchett, Andrew Upton, Coco Francini, Caitlin Gold, Lindsay Lanzillotta, Lois Scott

CAST: Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Osamah Sami, Leah Purcell, Jillian Nguyen, Mojean Aria, Rina Mousavi, Selina Zahednia

NEW YORK PREMIERE, NARRATIVE FEATURE, MALAYSIA/TAIWAN/ SINGAPORE/FRANCE/GERMANY/THE NETHERLANDS/INDONESIA/ QATAR, 2023, 95 MINUTES, MALAY

When rebellious and carefree 12-year-old Zaffan (Zafreen Zairizal) becomes the first of her friends to experience puberty, she discovers a terrifying secret about her body. Undergoing horrifying, surreal physical changes, she quickly becomes ostracized from her former friends and her rural Muslim Malaysian community. To fight back, Zaffan must embrace the body she fears, revealing the entirety of her wrath, rage and beauty. Winner of the Critics Week Grand Jury Prize at Cannes, first-time director Amanda Nell Eu plays in the space of myths and folktales to tell a personal, empowering story dissecting the horrors and triumphs of coming of age in a woman’s body. A Dark Star Pictures release.

DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER: Amanda Nell Eu

PRODUCERS: Foo Fei Ling, Patrick Mao Huang, Fran Borgia, Juliette Lepoutre, Pierre Menahem, Jonas Wyedemann, Ellen Havenith, Yulia Evina Bhara

CAST: Zafreen Zairizal, Deena Ezral, Piqa, Shaheizy Sam, Jun Lojong, Khairunazwan Rodzy, Fatimah Abu Bakar

DAVID KOEPP

David Koepp has written or co-written the screenplays for more than 30 films, including CARLITO’S WAY, JURASSIC PARK, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE, PANIC ROOM, SPIDER-MAN, WAR OF THE WORLDS, INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL, ANGELS & DEMONS and KIMI. Other written works include the novels ColdStorageand Aurora, published by HarperCollins, and the story “Yard Work,” an Audible Original. As a director, his work includes the films STIR OF ECHOES, SECRET WINDOW, GHOST TOWN, PREMIUM RUSH and YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT.

MATT SINGER

Matt Singer is the editor and film critic of screencrush.com, and the current chair of the New York Film Critics Circle. He has been a frequent contributor to the TV series CBSSaturday Morningand EbertPresentsAttheMovies, and his writing has also appeared in print and online at TheVillageVoice,TheDissolveand Indiewire He is the author of three books; his latest, OpposableThumbs:HowSiskel& EbertChangedMoviesForever, goes on sale on October 24.

ANGEL APPLICANT

10/7 2:30PM SAG HARBOR - SHC2

10/8 11AM EAST HAMPTON - UA4

DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION

EAST COAST PREMIERE, DOCUMENTARY FEATURE, USA, 2023, 74 MINUTES, ENGLISH

In 1933, as German modern artists were increasingly persecuted by the rising Nazi Party, painter Paul Klee escaped to Switzerland, where a mysterious disease wreaked havoc on his body and profoundly changed his artwork. After being diagnosed with the same rare and life-threatening disease, now known as systemic scleroderma, artist and aspiring director Ken August Meyer begins working on ANGEL APPLICANT, which becomes an unforgettable, yearslong undertaking. In this SXSW award-winning documentary, Meyer takes audiences on a humorous and affecting journey through Klee’s colorful and expressive work, while at the same time gaining powerful insights as he faces his own mortality.

DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER: Ken August Meyer

PRODUCERS: Ken August Meyer, Jason Roark

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Bill Davenport, Patty Brebner, Susan Hoffman

ORLANDO, MY POLITICAL BIOGRAPHY

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE, FRANCE, 2023, 98 MINUTES, FRENCH

The gender fluidity of the eponymous hero/heroine of Virginia Woolf’s Orlando:ABiographyhas inspired readers for almost a century. Taking Woolf’s novel as his starting point, academic virtuoso turned filmmaker Paul B. Preciado mixes personal essay, historical analysis and social manifesto. In his brilliant Berlinale prize-winning directorial debut, Preciado casts a diverse cross-section of more than twenty trans and non-binary individuals in the role of Orlando. Weaving scenes from Woolf’s narrative with the cast’s own stories of identity and transition, the documentary interrogates the relevance of Orlando in the continuing struggle against anti-trans ideologies and the fight for global trans rights. A Sideshow/Janus Films release.

DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER: Paul B. Preciado

PRODUCERS: Les Films du Poisson, Yaël Fogiel, Laetitia Gonzalez

SMOKE SAUNA SISTERHOOD

NEW YORK PREMIERE, DOCUMENTARY FEATURE, ESTONIA/FRANCE/ ICELAND, 2023, 89 MINUTES, ESTONIAN/SETO/VÕRO

In the Vana-Võromaa region of south Estonia, a multigenerational group of women embark on a smoke sauna tradition known as “savvusanna kombõ,” coming together in protective darkness to share secrets and wash off the shame that has accumulated in their bodies. SMOKE SAUNA SISTERHOOD is a deeply moving, breathtaking journey of trauma, healing, transformation and community that explores what it is to be human within a female body. Winner of the Directing Award at Sundance, filmmaker Anna Hints uses enrapturing, intimate cinematography and an authentic cultural voice to capture the bodies and spirits of women with stunning emotional veracity and deep empathy. A Greenwich Entertainment release.

DIRECTOR: Anna Hints

PRODUCER: Marianne Ostrat

DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION

WORLD PREMIERE, DOCUMENTARY FEATURE, US/UK, 2023, 102 MINUTES, ENGLISH

TELL THEM YOU LOVE ME explores the extraordinary story of university professor Anna Stubblefield who becomes embroiled in a controversial affair with Derrick Johnson, a nonverbal man with cerebral palsy. After Anna says she unlocked Derrick’s mind from his body by teaching him to communicate using a keyboard, a relationship develops between them, leading to a criminal trial that challenges our perceptions of disability and the nature of consent. Through exclusive footage and devastating interviews with those on both sides of the case, Nick August-Perna’s documentary weaves a riveting and endlessly nuanced story about communication, race and sex. A Kino Lorber release.

DIRECTOR: Nick August-Perna

PRODUCERS: Tamara Rosenberg, Andrea DeBrito

TELL THEM YOU LOVE ME

10/7 2:45PM EAST HAMPTON - UA4

10/8 2:30PM SAG HARBOR - SHC2

THIS WORLD IS NOT MY OWN

10/7 8:15PM SAG HARBOR - SHC2 10/11 5PM EAST HAMPTON - UA1

JURY

CARYN COLEMAN

Caryn Coleman is a film programmer based in New York and the founder of The Future of Film is Female, a nonprofit that amplifies the work of all women and nonbinary filmmakers through its Short Film Fund and exhibition programming. As guest curator at the Museum of Modern Art for the ongoing The FOFIF series (TheFutureofFilmisFemale:Part 4just screened this past June), Caryn also co-curated Horror:MessagingtheMonstrousin 2022. Previously, Caryn was the Director of Programming at Nitehawk Cinema, where she founded the Nitehawk Shorts Festival in 2013. She is a fighter for gender equality in the film industry, a lover of horror films, a short-film advocate and an independent film supporter.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Arron Fellows, Louis Theroux

EAST COAST PREMIERE, DOCUMENTARY FEATURE, USA, 2023, 97 MINUTES, ENGLISH

Directors Petter Ringbom and Marquise Stillwell vividly bring to life the dynamic story of Nellie Mae Rowe, the daughter of a former slave who made brilliant art in obscurity for her entire life, until she met wealthy gallerist Judith Alexander. By mixing traditional documentary techniques with animations and scripted scenes featuring Uzo Aduba (OrangeIsthe NewBlack), Ringbom and Stillwell immerse the viewer in Rowe’s visual world, an imaginative oasis filled with vibrant drawings, dolls, handmade sculptures and collected objects. Through innovative storytelling and stunning imagery, THIS WORLD IS NOT MY OWN celebrates Rowe’s work while tracing the personal and political events that shaped her life as an outsider artist.

DIRECTORS: Petter Ringbom, Marquise Stillwell

SCREENWRITERS: Ruchi Mital, Petter Ringbom

PRODUCER: Ruchi Mital

MARIE THERESE GUIRGIS

As Head of Documentary at Play/Action Pictures, Marie Therese Guirgis’s recent producing and EP credits include 2022 Academy Award-winner SUMMER OF SOUL by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson; MLK/FBI and THE LEAGUE, both by Sam Pollard; TOTALLY UNDER CONTROL by Alex Gibney, Ophelia Harutyunyan and Suzanne Hillinger; and THE BRINK by Alison Klayman. Other documentary producing credits include AUTHOR: THE JT LEROY STORY by Jeff Feuerzeig, ON HER SHOULDERS by Alexandria Bombach and CocaineCowboys: The KingsofMiamiby Billy Corben. Guirgis also produced the narrative features KEEP THE LIGHTS ON by Ira Sachs and THE LONELIEST PLANET by Julia Loktev.

CARLOS SANDOVAL

Carlos Sandoval is an Emmy-nominated and Sundance award-winning filmmaker. His films— FARMINGVILLE (POV), A CLASS APART (American Experience) and THE STATE OF ARIZONA

(Independent Lens)—have been informed by his legal training, as well as by his experience on refugee and immigration policy, including as a member of the U.S. delegation to the United Nations. Carlos is currently on faculty at the Columbia School of Journalism, serves on several film boards and writes a monthly column recently named “Best in New York” by the New York Newspaper Association.

PLAY

Pickleball is beneficial to the mind and body— it improves balance, flexibility and hand-eye coordination, while elevating mood and mental health.

AT A GLANCE

OCTOBER 6-8

Field + Supply Fall MRKT

At this artistic and cultural affair, guests can enjoy handcrafted goods from more than 200 vendors, local eats, live music and more. Tickets from $20. Hutton Brickyards Retreat & Spa, 200 North St., Kingston, New York; fieldandsupply.com

OCTOBER 7

Stroll to the Sea Dog Walk ARF Hamptons hosts its 30th annual community celebration, which unites animal lovers in support of the ARF Adoption Center, and features contests, giveaways and auctions at historic Mulford Farm. Adult registration from $55. Mulford Farm, 10 James Lane, East Hampton; arfhamptons.org

OCTOBER 15

Lewis Black: Off the Rails

The Grammy Award-winning “King of Rant,” Lewis Black showcases his trademark comedic style at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, shining a light on life’s absurdities. Tickets from $176. Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, 76 Main St., Westhampton Beach; whbpac.org

OCTOBER 19-29

Wildlife Conservation Film Festival

The 13th annual festival features a 10-day lineup of films and events to educate and inspire individuals on the topics of preservation and biodiversity. $15 advance/$20 at the door. Cinema Village Theater, 22 E. 12th Street and University Place, New York City; wcff.org

OCTOBER 31

New York City’s Village Halloween

Parade

The NYC-based not-for-profit Village Halloween Parade Inc. hosts its 50th annual celebration. This year’s theme is Upside/Down: Inside/OUT!—an homage to the positive and negative changes that have ensued across the nation in the past few years. Attendance is free. Viewing on both sides of Sixth Avenue between King and West 15th streets in Manhattan; halloween-nyc.com

NOVEMBER 5

NYC Marathon

Each fall, the Big Apple is the home of the largest marathon in the world—a

five-borough race with more than 50,000 participants. Although it’s too late to register to run in this year’s race, it’s free to stand on the sidelines. Starting line is at Fort Wadsworth, near the Verrazzano–Narrows Bridge, on Staten Island; nyrr.org

NOVEMBER 9

Happy Houseplants

Learn how to keep your plants looking their best year-round with tips for maintenance, care and disease diagnosis. Class is online via Zoom; free to register, call 631.324.0222 ext. 3 East Hampton Library, 159 Main St., East Hampton; easthamptonlibrary.org

This fall, spirited seasonal events await in the Hamptons and beyond. BY JENNA LEBOVITS

Support the Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, October 19-29.

PURE PUZZLE

Test your wellness wisdom.

BY MYLES MELLOR

Myles Mellor is one of the top crossword writers in the world, published in over 1,000 magazines, newspapers and web outlets, supplying themed crosswords, cryptograms, diagramless crosswords, word search, sudokus, anagrams and word games. themecrosswords.com. Buy Mellor’s crossword books at ilovecrosswords.com

Fully Renovated Piece of History

East Hampton. A timeless historical East Hampton South cottage dating back to the 1700s carries with it legacies over 2 centuries, including those of Abraham Baker, Frank Lovejoy and Jacqueline Bouvier. Nestled south of the highway, a unique opportunity awaits as this venerable landmark unveils itself to perceptive buyers seeking a distinctive residence on an ideal canvas to create their own private haven with existing approvals granted by East Hampton permitting two residences on the property. This extraordinary offering affords the possibility of crafting a substantial second dwelling while preserving the historic 1752 landmark cottage as a guest house. Impeccably revived, the barn, once home to Jacqueline Bouvier’s ponies and The Riding Club of East Hampton, stands as a testament to history, now residing less than a mile away from the enchanting Two Mile Hollow Ocean Beach. This 4-bedroom, 4-bathroom treasure has undergone a thorough restoration, where the essence of the original architectural details including the wide planked floors were meticulously preserved, stained, and reinstalled. A bespoke chef’s kitchen boasts a custom fabricated Violetta marble farm sink, a Bertazzoni heritage gas oven and dishwasher, a Subzero refrigerator, and aged brass Ionian taps and a pot filler from deVOL UK. The main level plays host to a library featuring an original fireplace, a dining area, and an additional living/family room, graced by a grand fireplace. Completing this level are two ensuite bedrooms and two inviting outdoor patios. Ascend to the upper level, where the primary bedroom suite takes center stage, accompanied by yet another ensuite bedroom. Authenticity reigns supreme including the Riding Club wood locker doors that were carefully re-appropriated, original refurbished entry doors and exposed beams lending a nostalgic charm. Thoughtful design consideration and honor for the nearly 300 year old history has a fluid conversation with aesthetic modern living. The newly envisioned landscape includes a pristine white pebble driveway, intimate courtyards and a sea of verdant lawn with ample room for a sizable heated Gunite pool and cabana. Enhancements abound, including central air conditioning, a new boiler, new roofing, new cedar siding, new zinc gutters and comprehensive electrical and plumbing upgrades. The allure is further enhanced by proximity to East Hampton and Amagansett villages with their chic boutiques and swanky restaurants. Make your appointments to tour this exceptional offering today.

WEB# 88328

NUMEROLOGY

A by-the-numbers look at award-winning actress, author and organic wine maker Cameron Diaz.

After taking a hiatus from acting, founding Avaline wine and marrying singer Benji Madden, Diaz was 47 when she welcomed daughter Raddix, now 3, into the world.

Diaz’s The Longevity Book mentions five pillars of graceful aging: good sleep, good nutrition, good physical activity, healthy ways to relieve stress and finding connection in life.

While working as a model in California with Elite Model Management, Diaz auditioned for a part in the comedy film The Mask (1994), and was cast at age 21 as the female lead, despite having no formal acting experience, alongside co-star Jim Carrey.

She authored The Body Book, a No 1 New York Times bestseller, and The Longevity Book both body-positive reads aimed to inspire women of all ages to love and better understand their bodies and themselves.

The former model stands 5 feet, 9 inches tall, and began to model at age 17 in 1989, traveling to Paris, Morocco, Mexico, Australia and Japan.

5,000,000,000 Combined, Diaz’s films have brought in over $5 billion worldwide. She is best known for her roles in My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997), There’s Something About Mary (1998), Being John Malkovich (1999), and Charlie’s Angels (2000).

“The responsibility to be healthy is in your hands—no one else is going to do it for you.”