a r i d n i n a m le s y t o s s o d e l im e s s A VicBelli JUDGED A
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MAGAZINE
IN NEW YORK STATE 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018
WESTCHESTER & FAIRFIELD LIFE SEPTEMBER 2019 | WAGMAG.COM
SO AS B NIS EN deal D l R NE rea N SIG The RIEl E B D ’ A O nge Y BELless a AC A EG carf IZ ear L F N’S e s AN nd th M i U NE y beh A r IS R es o VE e st ELL lso ris R Th E a TYLghter EY GR r dau e N h A a T st TI AS ay’ SEB‘Runw T ’ SEAShow A E ir TAKe Cha h ‘T At
Fascinating fashions
LANCE Nyack, NY Had a partial knee replacement
Advanced robotic surgery in Bronxville got Lance up and running again. To find an orthopedist, call 914-750-4650 or visit nyp.org/lawrence-ortho
WITH COLUMBIA DOCTORS RIGHT WHERE YOU LIVE
CONTENTS SEPTEMBER 2019
16
Whose cap is it anyway?
18
Basso profundo
22
‘All about the bag’
26
Gucci 2.0
30
Vera, ever vibrant
34
Summing up
40
The fabric of life
44
Fashion forward
48
More than 50 shades
52
Susana’s Suzani
54
The faces behind the paintings
58
A reputation well built
60
Warrior angel
64
Seat yourself
68
COVER STORY
Alessandra Vicedomini – Alessandra the Great
THIS PAGE:
Izabela O’Brien. See story on page 60. Photograph by Bob Rozycki.
V A L U E Y O U R C O L L E C T I O N . Experts in 30 specialty collecting areas; offering auction and appraisal services. Consignments invited. 212.787.1113 | newyork@skinnerinc.com
E VERY OB J ECT HAS A STORY
worth telling, worth find ing. For buyers, consignors, and the passionately curious F I N D W O R T H AT S K I N N E R I N C .C O M
FEATURES HIGHLIGHTS
HOME & DESIGN 72 Sleek modernism in Greenwich 76 Second Empire, second look 78 That finishing touch 80 Eight is enough 84 A modern tarot 86 Fashion meets home design 88 Shining again
FASHION 90 Invest in your skin 92 Finding a higher purpose in retail 94 Buy Italian 96 Driving cool
64
TRAVEL
96
98 The divine Grand Hôtel-Dieu 102 Regal, radiant, unrivaled Stockholm 104 Design for dieting
FOOD & SPIRITS 118 Upscale, up the street 120 Raising Cain for healthy hospital eating 122 Whiskey’s (and whisky’s) moment
HEALTH & FITNESS 124 ‘Facing’ our path to beauty 126 Reading, writing and moving
PET CARE 128 The love bug 130 A perfect place
WHAT'S TRENDING
14 WAG spotlights the new and noteworthy
WHERE & WHEN
54
68
132 Upcoming events
WATCH
136 We’re out and about
WIT
144 Who influences your style?
ra i and styilen o esscedissoimm AlV i Bell JUDGED A
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MAGAZINE
IN NEW YORK STATE 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018
WESTCHESTER & FAIRFIELD LIFE SEPTEMBER 2019 | WAGMAG.COM
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SSO IS BA NN al R DE l de NE rea N SIG The RIE DE O’B el CY BELA ss ang IZA rle rf LEGA Fea sca N’S AN d the UM NE behin RA ry LIS rises VE e sto R EL also Th TYLEhter EY ug GR r da The sta STIAN ay’ nw SEBA AT ’ ‘Ru A SE Show air TAKE e Ch ‘Th At
Fascinating fashions
WAGMAG.COM
COVER: Alessandra Vicedomini. Photograph by Maurizio Montani. See story on page 68.
SEPTEMBER 2019
26
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On-Site Sales Gallery Open Daily To arrange your private appointment, please visit srresidencesrye.com or call +1 914 305 1882 Take advantage of opening pricing and property taxes starting at approximately $6,200 a year. 120 OLD POST ROAD, RYE, NY The St. Regis Residences, Rye are not owned, developed or sold by Marriott International, Inc. or its affiliates (“Marriott”). OPRA III, LLC uses the St. Regis marks under a license from Marriott, which has not confirmed the accuracy of any of the statements or representations made herein. All of the services, amenities, benefits and discounts made available to residential owners at The St. Regis Residences, Rye are as currently scheduled and are subject to change, replacement, modification or discontinuance. Fees may apply. The complete offering terms are in an Offering Plan available from Sponsor File No. CD18-0365. Additional details are available in the Offering Plan. All artist renderings are for illustrative purposes only and are subject to change without notification. PER LOCAL ZONING REGULATIONS, ONE RESIDENT PER CONDOMINIUM MUST BE AT LEAST 55 YEARS OF AGE, AND NO RESIDENT MAY BE UNDER THE AGE OF 18.
Financing by
Dee DelBello
Dan Viteri
PUBLISHER dee@westfairinc.com
GROUP ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/CREATIVE dviteri@westfairinc.com
EDITORIAL Bob Rozycki MANAGING EDITOR bobr@westfairinc.com
Georgette Gouveia EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ggouveia@westfairinc.com Mary Shustack SENIOR WRITER/EDITOR
ART Sebastián Flores ART DIRECTOR sflores@westfairinc.com
Kelsie Mania ART DIRECTOR kmania@westfairinc.com
PHOTOGRAPHY Anthony Carboni, Sebastián Flores, John Rizzo, Bob Rozycki
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jena A. Butterfield, Olivia D'Amelio, Gina Gouveia, Phil Hall, Debbi K. Kickham, Laura Joseph Mogil, Doug Paulding, Jennifer Pitman, Giovanni Roselli, Bob Rozycki, Gregg Shapiro, Barbara Barton Sloane, Jeremy Wayne, Cami Weinstein, Katie Banser-Whittle
PRINT/DIGITAL SALES Anne Jordan Duffy ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/SALES anne@westfairinc.com Lisa Cash, Barbara Hanlon, Marcia Pflug ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
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Sylvia Sikoutris CIRCULATION MANAGER sylvia@westfairinc.com Robin Costello ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER rcostello@westfairinc.com
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Some readers think WAG stands for “Westchester and Greenwich.” We certainly cover both. But mostly, a WAG is a wit and that’s how we think of ourselves, serving up piquant stories and photos to set your own tongues wagging.
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All news, comments, opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations in WAG are those of the authors and do not constitute opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations of the publication, its publisher and its editorial staff. No portion of WAG may be reproduced without permission.WAG is distributed at select locations, mailed directly and is available at $24 a year for home or office delivery. To subscribe, call 914-694-3600, ext. 3020. All advertising inquiries should be directed to Anne Jordan at 914694-3600, ext. 3032 or email anne@westfairinc.com. Advertisements are subject to review by the publisher and acceptance for WAG does not constitute an endorsement of the product or service. WAG (Issn: 1931-6364) is published monthly and is owned and published by Westfair Communications Inc. Dee DelBello, CEO, dee@westfairinc.com
WAGMAG.COM
SEPTEMBER 2019
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WAGGERS
T H E TA L E N T B E H I N D O U R PA G E S
JENA A. BUTTERFIELD
ROBIN COSTELLO
OLIVIA D'AMELIO
GINA GOUVEIA
PHIL HALL
DEBBI K. KICKHAM
DOUG PAULDING
JENNIFER PITMAN
JOHN RIZZO
GIOVANNI ROSELLI
GREGG SHAPIRO
MARY SHUSTACK
BARBARA BARTON SLOANE
JEREMY WAYNE
CAMI WEINSTEIN
COVER STORY: GEORGETTE GOUVEIA, PAGE 68
NEW WAGGER STEPHEN M. WARREN, M.D., (Page 120) is a boardcertified plastic surgeon who specializes in natural methods of facial rejuvenation and practices plastic and reconstructive surgery with a special interest in craniofacial surgery. Warren is a tenured associate professor of plastic surgery; associate professor of oral and maxillofacial pathology, radiology and medicine; past director of the Variety Center for Craniofacial Surgery; and past director of the Craniofacial Surgery Fellowship program at NYU Langone Medical Center. Warren trained in plastic surgery at Harvard Medical School, and completed his fellowship in craniofacial surgery at the Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery at NYU Medical Center. Warren is a diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is on the editorial boards of the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, Plastic Surgery International, OA Plastic Surgery, Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the Annals of Plastic Surgery. Warren is frequently asked to lecture nationally and internationally on aesthetic surgery, cleft and craniofacial surgery, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. For more, visit stephenwarrenmd.com. 10
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SEPTEMBER 2019
KATIE BANSER-WHITTLE
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SEPTEMBER 2019
EDITOR’S LETTER GEORGETTE GOUVEIA
WAG’s September “Fascinating Fashions” issue could well be served alfredo, Bolognese or fra diavolo, as it salutes in part Italy’s contributions to fashion and beauty. “Italy has always symbolized high-end luxury and fashion, along with dedication to workmanship and commitment to beauty and style,” observes Alessandra Vicedomini, whose vibrant personality (on display during our recent meeting at Mary Jane Denzer in White Plains) and second-generation fashion house, begun by papa Giuseppe, convey all the warmth and sensuality of Italian culture. But she is by no means the only exemplar. Gucci — which is having a big year with its sponsorship of The Met Costume Institute’s “Camp: Notes on Fashion” — has just opened a new store in The Westchester that builds on its reputation for luxurious excellence. The Italian Beauty Council, which represents such skincare and makeup lines as Skin & Co Roma and Ancorotti Cosmetics, is making vast inroads into the $89.5 billion American beauty market. And though handbag designer Tyler Ellis — another second-generation fashionista as the daughter of 1970s menswear designer Perry Ellis — is based stateside, her sumptuous handbags are created by a father-and-son atelier outside Florence. Not all of Italia is imported. Homegrown designer Dennis Basso had us in thrall (and in stitches) at the Bruce Museum’s annual “Art of Design” luncheon at Greenwich Country Club with his richly textured creations and musings about a life in the fashion biz. Fashion is, as Basso himself would note, more than a sensuous dress or sumptuous handbag. It’s part of the integrated whole of who you are, which includes where and how you live. And that’s why in addition to profiles of fashionistos like the legendary Pierre Cardin, subject of a retrospective at the Brooklyn Museum (Mary’s story) and recent “Project Runway” winner Sebastian Grey (Gregg’s interview), we look at the late, legendary Croton-on-Hudson textile designer Vera Neumann, Karen Tolchin of Current Home in Scarsdale and the clever chair exhibit at ArtsWestchester in White Plains (Mary again); while Jeremy considers The Armour-Stiner Octagon House in Irvington, now open for tours; Dave Prutting of Prutting & Co. Custom Builders;
The editor’s New York Yankees cap, a breast cancer awareness edition that exemplifies how the hat has transcended its original purpose. (See opening essay on page 16.)
and Michelin star chef Andrew Cain, now translating his culinary skills to Phelps Hospital. Meanwhile, Cami discusses the integration of fashion and home in her Wares column, subjects that also intersect in our new What’s Trending column, which opens the book. Design envelops and inspires, sometimes quite literally (Bob’s take on artist Amanda Browder’s Christo-like plans for ArtsWestchester’s Arts Exchange headquarters; Phil’s story on National Academy of Design paintings at the New Britain Museum of American Art). It comforts and consoles (Robin’s feature on the unusual Dog Chapel on Vermont’s Dog Mountain.) And it transcends its original meaning (as in the New York Yankees cap, universal symbol of America), taking flight. On Sept. 28, The Fearless Angel Project will hold its annual gala at Greenwich Country Club to support underserved families who have children with autism. Everyone will wear blue, silver and white to create a heavenly setting, founding director Izabela O’Brien says, in which to raise funds for what is often a less than heavenly challenge. The silver, blue and white represent a couture palette for compassion, a color scheme for action — a design for living. A 2018 Folio Women in Media Award Winner, Georgette Gouveia is the author of the “The Penalty for Holding” (reissued this month by JMS Books), a 2018 Lambda Literary Award finalist, and “Water Music” (Greenleaf Book Group). They’re part of her series of novels, “The Games Men Play,” also the name of the sports/culture blog she writes at thegamesmenplay.com. Readers may find her novel “Seamless Sky” and “Daimon: A Novel of Alexander the Great” on wattpad.com.
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WHAT'S TRENDING
WA G S P O T L I G H T S T H E N E W A N D N O T E W O R T H Y
SINGULAR STYLE Garments, sketches, mood boards and more will fill “The World of Anna Sui,” a retrospective of the iconic American fashion designer opening Sept. 12 at the Museum of Arts and Design in Manhattan. For more, visit madmuseum.org.
Glass Glitz Sugar Rimmers from Cork Pops is a collection of made-in-the-USA edible glitter sugars ($7 for 3-ounce tin) that add that extra sparkle to cocktail hour, with flavors ranging from Carousel Candy (cotton candy) to Sweet as Pie (pumpkin spice). For more, visit corkpops.com.
IN BLACK, WHITE – AND OATMEAL Marika Meyer Textiles has launched a new fabric line with the Black & White Capsule Collection, a deceptively simple spin on favorite designs recolored in white on a brand-new oatmeal linen or in striking black and white. For more, visit marikameyertextiles.com.
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SEPTEMBER 2019
ONE FOR ALL
SWEET TOUCH
The House of Creed’s Aventus Cologne offers a new unisex take on the classic fragrances Aventus for Him and Aventus for Her. “I was inspired to create a new legend – a fresher, modern complement to these two icons that would provide an olfactive experience entirely of its own,” says master perfumer Oliver Creed. Think less Napoleon and more Alexander the Great. For more, visit neimanmarcus.com.
BAR NONE
Global luxury lifestyle goddess Aerin Lauder has a host of sleek offerings for fall via AERIN Home that marry the traditional with the modern. We’re particularly loving this Classic Shagreen Bar Set in Cream, ($3,900). Products available at Current Home in Scarsdale and Hoagland’s of Greenwich. For more, visit AERIN.com.
Photographs, clockwise from top left: Photograph by and courtesy of Jerry Schatzberg; Courtesy Cork Pops; Courtesy Marika Meyer Textiles; Courtesy AERIN; and Courtesy Neiman Marcus. — Mary Shustack and Georgette Gouveia.
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WHOSE CAP IS IT ANYWAY? BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA
Around the world, it is perhaps the quintessential fashion symbol of America and New York, even if some in America and New York wouldn’t be caught dead wearing it. How ubiquitous is the New York Yankees cap? A few years ago, Sam Borden, global sports correspondent for ESPN, was in Pazardzhik, Bulgaria, a place so rural and remote, he wrote in a June 28 piece for the network’s website, that horse power meant horse-drawn carriages and the signs were only in Cyrillic. But there at the bus stop was a man in, yes, a Yankee cap. “Yankees?” Borden asked hopefully. Confusion. He pointed to the interlocking “NY” on the navy hat. “USA,” the man said with a grin. “I suddenly felt at home,” Borden wrote. Turns out he was just as at home in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia (his cab driver wore one); Reykjavik, Iceland, (guy at the gym counter); Kazakhstan (woman selling SIM cards); and Albania (soccer stadium security guard). As for London, where the Bronx Bombers recently routed the archrival Boston Red Sox in the first Major League Baseball games played there: Fuhgeddaboutit. The hats are everywhere. Indeed, so iconic is this cultural appropriation that the cap was one of the signature objects in “Items: Is Fashion Modern?,” a 2017-18 exhibit at The Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan featuring 111 pieces of clothing and accessories that have had a strong influence on 20th- and 21st century culture. There holding pride of place among the pearl necklace, Levi’s 501s, the Breton shirt and the LBD (little black dress) was the Yankees cap. But why this cap and not another? A baseball cap by any other name would still cover a bald spot. For one thing, you can’t argue with success. “Twenty-seven championships,” Mariano Rivera — legendary Yanks closer, newly inducted member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and longtime Westchester resident — reminded Christine Flammia, who wrote about the cap’s place in history for Esquire magazine in 2017. “That’s what made the hat so iconic. And the many players that wore that uniform, that wore that iconic hat. They made it happen.” 16
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Part of it, too, though is the classic design — that shock of white on navy (is there a crisper color combination?), the way the “Y” rests securely on the gate of the “N.” But what brought the cap a whole new audience, experts say, was its appropriation by Oscar-winning writer-director, fashionisto and New York sports fan par excellence Spike Lee. With the Yanks resurging in 1996 after wandering in the baseball desert through much of the ’80s and early ’90s, Lee called New Era, the company that makes MLB hats, and asked for a Yankees cap — in red, with the “NY” now in navy outlined in white. It was the moment when the Yanks, always the most staid and conservative of New York sports teams, got down, so to speak, and a cultural phenomenon was born. It’s delightfully fitting that the cap should be appropriated, because its logo is itself an early example of cultural appropriation. The interlocking “NY” was actually designed by Tiffany & Co. as an element in the Medal of Valor honoring John McDowell, a New York City Police Department officer shot in the line of duty in 1877. The original interlocking “NY” adopted by the Highlanders (the Yanks’ predecessors) in 1905 was a slightly different design, with the “N” and “Y” linking arms, as it were, side by side. That design was shelved and the Highlanders went back to their previous “N” and “Y” with a space between them. However, four years later, the team’s co-owner, former NYPD Police Chief Bill Devery, decided to bring back the interlocking letters, this time going with the Tiffany design. It has been in use ever since on Yankees caps of every color gracing the heads of everyone from LeBron James to Justin Bieber to Jay-Z. Last year Jennifer Lopez upped the fashion ante when she performed at New York’s “NBCUniversal Upfront Presentation” in a silvery oversize Yankees cap with backup dancers from her “World of Dance” series in the more traditional hats. (The Bronx-born Jenny from the Block loves the Yanks so much, she’s marrying one, former third basemen turned baseball analyst Alex Rodriguez.) The universality of the Yankees cap is innocuous, delicious even. What’s not to love? The world helps
Spike Lee, in his bespoke red New York Yankees cap, and Tonya Lewis Lee at the “A Star Is Born” screening during the 75th Venice Film Festival last year. He’s credited with taking the Yankee cap beyond baseball.
the team expand its brand, albeit unwittingly, while sporting a look that is both timeless and trending. It’s a win-win, unless, of course, you’re from Boston where images of New England Patriots star quarterback Tom Brady in New York City in a Yankees cap are, well, heartbreaking. Other cultural appropriations are even more controversial. Not everyone was thrilled with the sight of crosses and saintly imagery on the likes of Dolce & Gabbana and Versace at “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination,” last year’s Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute exhibit, even if the show located the sacred in the profane, the profane in the sacred. Yet you wouldn’t mistake an image of a cross for anything other than a symbol of Jesus, the
central figure in Western culture, even if it’s on a “Heavenly Bodies” T-shirt. There are, however, some designs that once appropriated can never return to their original meaning. An ancient spiritual symbol in the East, the swastika denoted good fortune in the West until the Nazis adopted it. Today in the West, it’s impossible to think of it as anything but a symbol of Nazism and antiSemitism, to such an extent that when it turns up as a small detail in a pre-1930s object on PBS’ “Antiques Roadshow,” the consternation of the appraiser and the owner is palpable. Such is the nature of design and the tides of men. Will the Yankees cap outlive the Yanks? It already has transcended them. We just wouldn’t wear one in Boston.
SEPTEMBER 2019
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asso profundo BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA
Dennis Basso is larger than life — Falstaffian of figure and wit, stentorian of voice and big and bold in his thinking about fashion and his career in design. Recently, he regaled attendees of the Bruce Museum’s sixth annual “Art of Design” luncheon at Greenwich Country Club with observations about both as he answered questions from moderator Stellene Volandes — editor in chief of Town & Country and author of “Jeweler: Masters and Mavericks of Modern Design” — and an admiring audience before a show of his latest fashions. Those fashions have always made unusual use of fur — as an accent, a texture, an additional color, if you will, in his palette — as he started his career in 1981 working for a fur company. To hear Basso tell it, the jack-of-all-trades job was like something out of a Mel Brooks comedy, with him transforming the company — and lobbying for more pay — while he and a partner earned thousands of dollars on the side in a wholesale operation, selling furs to women from Greenwich to Teaneck, New Jersey. Perhaps not surprisingly, Basso was fired from his company for siphoning off potential customers, but that, too, was kismet as it pushed him in 1983 to launch Dennis Basso — now a line of ready to wear, eveningwear, fur, bridal and accessories, made in his native New York City, that has become a byword in sophistication. “Glamour is so important,” he said, noting the wellheeled audience. “Whether you’re tailored or a girly girl, 18
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you need to create something of a look, a feeling, an image.” As the adored and adoring only child of a glamorous mother (and successful father), who enjoyed being surrounded by aunts and female cousins, Basso said he has always been interested in helping women achieve that glamour. That he does so with fur is not lost on his critics. “There are so many more pressing issues, like every child needs to go to bed full. We’re still trying to find that cure for cancer,” he said. “Not that (fur) isn’t an important issue.” But it’s one, he added, that needs to be better regulated, so that no fur from the Far East — which does not adhere to strict standards and endangered species lists — is admitted to the United States. “We’re not making grandma’s mink coat,” Basso added. “We’re using fur as fashion.” And jewelry as fashion. “Jewelry falls into another category of collecting, but it’s also the finished product,” he said, noting that an old fur coat is an old coat whereas no one says she doesn’t want her grandmother’s diamond earrings. “I’m a little bit of the school, ‘When in doubt, squeeze one more pinky ring on.’” And never leave the house, he advised, without earrings. You can find some of Basso’s jewelry, ready-to-wear
Fashions from Dennis Basso’s Fall Collection. Photographs courtesy Dennis Basso.
SEPTEMBER 2019
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and faux furs on QVC, the home shopping network that satisfied his love of show business — he studied speech and drama at Catholic University before going on to the Fashion Institute of Technology — beginning 26 years ago. There he befriended the late comedian and former Larchmont resident Joan Rivers — who never met a piece of jewelry, or criticism, she didn’t like. One day he mentioned he was thinking of getting his eyes done. “You know what?” she responded. “While you’re there about your eyes, ask them about your neck.” What QVC has taught him is that glamour is available to anyone. “We think of it as the red carpet and J. Lo or Elizabeth Taylor,” Basso said. “But we’ve taken glamour into 2019/20. …I think glamour means to me beautifully groomed and finished.” He applies that philosophy to home design and entertainment as well. “I only take a good cup. …We need to be using all our things.” Not that he’s a snob about it. “That HomeGoods is crazy. You go in there and leave with a cart with $100 worth of stuff.” For Basso, what matters is not the price but the aestheticism of the object. “There isn’t a designer who doesn’t love beautiful things,” he said, although designers express that beauty differently. “Beauty helps with some 20
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form of happiness.” As does preparation. Basso revealed — through information gleaned from a friend of a friend of a friend — that Queen Elizabeth II always has two outfits ready to go, including one for alternate weather. In dressing himself, Basso always thinks, WWVD — What would Valentino (his favorite designer) do? — and that size matters. “My dream is to wake up, put on a T-shirt, shorts and flip flops and go to the supermarket. That’s not happening. …It’s always better to wear something a little bit bigger than a little bit tighter. Everyone should be body positive. Whether you’re a 2 or a 22, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t look fabulous.” Unless you have a tattoo. “Don’t get me started,” he said, though he once got a temporary henna tattoo at the behest of young family members on a Key West cruise and nearly went apoplectic two months later at a party in the Hamptons when he realized it hadn’t yet worn off. Listening to Basso hold forth, moderator Volandes noted that the force and warmth of his personality was part of the key to his success. “If you’re going to be a brain surgeon,” he responded, “you have to be the best brain surgeon you can be. But it only works if you love what you’re doing.” For more, visit dennisbasso.com.
Dennis Basso with Carol Alt and other models at a show of his Fall collection.
Katonah Museum of Art 134 Jay Street, Katonah, NY 10536 914.232.9555 katonahmuseum.org
DE KOONING FINE KRASNER MITCHELL
FRANKENTHALER RYAN SCHNABEL
HARTIGAN KNOOP SEKULA STEUBING
SPARKLING AMAZONS: ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONIST WOMEN OF THE SHOW
Helen Frankenthaler (1928-2011), Seascape with Dunes, 1962, oil on canvas, 70 x 140 in. (177.8 x 355.6 cm), Grey Art Gallery, New York University Art Collection, Gift of the artist, 1963.2, ©2019, Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, Inc. / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
October 6, 2019 – January 26, 2020
llabout thebag’ BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA
Tyler Ellis never knew her father, Perry Ellis, the fashion designer who transformed men’s looks in the 1970s with a fresh approach to fabric and tailoring. She was just 18 months old when he died. But he lives for her in the memories of her mother — TV writer-producer Barbara Gallagher, one of the original producers of “Saturday Night Live” — and their family and friends. “One of the positives of having a father who was a public figure is that there are lots of books and biographies about him,” she says. “Friends come up to tell me stories.” From those stories, a picture emerges of a man who was “engaging but at the same time perfectionistic. I see a lot of him in me.” Certainly, she has inherited his attractiveness and charm. No sooner do we request an interview regarding a fall appearance at Mary Jane Denzer in White Plains with her sumptuous line of handbags, than she is on the phone, all California breeziness from her home in West Los Angeles. But Tyler has never been one to trade on her father’s name. Indeed, when she launched a limited collection of purses in New York City in 2011, she used her first and middle names, Tyler Alexandra. It wasn’t until she established her current brand six years later that she named it Tyler Ellis. Why handbags? “So I’ve always been an accessories person,” says Tyler, who serves as CEO and creative director of the company. “I travel a lot and I would always see women carrying the same bag.” 22
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Tyler realized that bag could be hers. But instead of a prominently featured designer label, her purses remain logo-less. “It’s all about the bag.” And how. A perusal of her website will have women who love purses that are rich in texture, pattern and color — which is to say every woman — salivating. The large Caroline tote in rose alligator ($14,815) is designed with a group of hidden and zippered pockets, a computer slot, a cross-body strap and the company’s signature pinecone zipper pull and feet, because for Tyler, God is always in the details. The large Jane saddlebag in glossy red ombré alligator ($12,630) has a rounded three-quarter front flap, a magnetic snap closure, a custom infinity bar and a detachable guitar strap. Out for an evening or at a wedding? The Kelly Box in light pink lizard ($3,010) should do it. The Kelly is a vertical box big enough for an iPhone 8+ with an interior mirror, a custom spear-lock closure and an optional crossbody chain. Or like Ciara, Felicity Jones and Kylie Jenner, you may opt for the Perry. Named for her father, this is a hard-framed clutch whose emerald shape echoes the cut of her engagement ring. These are just a few of the styles, colors and materials that make up the line. (Versatile day-to-night crushed velvet is a favorite.) All of the purses have two things in com-
This page and next: Purses from Tyler Ellis’ 2019 Fall Winter Vendome Collection. 23Doza. SEPTEMBER 2019 Photographs WAGMAG.COM by Adrian
Tyler Ellis, CEO and creative director of the eponymous purse company. Photograph by Phil Lopez. Photographs courtesy Tyler Ellis.
mon. One is the Thayer blue inner lining, a signature cobalt color that makes it easier to find your wallet, lipstick, phone and other contents. The other is Tyler’s commitment to craftsmanship. Her company sources its animal skins from Lineapelle, a leather fair in Milan, and works with Hermès Cuirs Précieux, the tannery division of Hermès International, which shows its skins there. (Tyler doesn’t use the skins of any animals on the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s endangered list. She also makes vegan bags and purses in clear, colored PVC, a kind of plastic.) In launching her current brand, Tyler moved production from Paris to a father-and-son atelier outside of Florence that is part of what she calls “the culture of Italian leather.” She will send them a sketch that they turn into a sample made from salpa, a bonded leather material “like a soft cardboard” that she can draw on. The Italian team translates her modifications into a leather version that is the final product “although sometimes we might have to go one more round.” If it’s a new style — like the Tiffany and the accordion-shaped Stella, both made of bombe alligator — she’ll road test it. The ultimate 24
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road test? A friend who Tyler says is hard on handbags. We suspect the friend’s name begins with a “B.” The letter has played a significant role in her life, she says. She was raised in Brentwood on Los Angeles’ west side and graduated from Boston University. There are other letters that have been, important, too, including “M” and “K,” for Michael Kors, with whom she interned. “I had a ‘Devil Wears Prada’ view of the fashion world,” she says. “Michael showed me it could be a family.” Tyler’s own is filled with more “B”s. Her husband’s name is Ben. And they are the pet parents of three — the Maltese Poodle Bella, the Cavalier Maltese Bailey and the Pomerian Poodle Bruni. “They are my babies,” she says, as are her bags. At Mary Jane Denzer, she will have a chance to show off some of her babies to clients, taking custom orders for those who want a bespoke purse. Tyler uses words like “spectacular” and “insane” to describe her creations. Clearly, she’s in love with them. “I am,” she says. “You have to be.” For more, visit tylerellis.com and mjdenzer.com.
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ucci2.0
BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA
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A troupe of eclectic bohemians are pictured among the ruins of the temples of the Selinunte Archaeological Park on Sicily’s southwestern coast for the Gucci Pre-Fall 2019 advertising campaign. On this site, dating from the 7th century B.C. when Selinunte was a Greek city, Gucci channels the spirit of the classical symposium, the after-banquet gathering where men would socialize to the accompaniment of music and dancing – listening to poetry recitals and indulging in philosophical discussions. The Temple of Hera, visible here, is just one of 12 temples that make up the site. The campaign is another example of how Gucci Creative Director Alessandro Michele blends the traditional with the contemporary, as in the new Gucci store in The Westchester. For more on the campaign, download the Gucci app. Art direction by Christopher Simmonds. Photography/direction by Glen Luchford. Hair by Paul Hanlon. Makeup by Thomas De Kluyver. Courtesy Gucci.
Gucci, the accessories brand, is moving up locally, so to speak. Once occupying first-floor real estate in The Westchester in White Plains, the store has relocated to the second floor in a more than 3,000-square-foot space that marries the modern to the traditional, the industrial to the romantic. For Gucci — a 98-year-old Florentine company that is now part of the Kering Group, a leader in luxe lifestyle and sport apparel and accessories — store design is all about the contrasts. Marble polychrome inlays, meet herringbone wood floors. Mechanical display units and varnished iron wall finishes say “hello” to sage green and steel-blue velvet chairs and fitting rooms as 28
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well as vintage oriental rugs. The store, which opened Aug. 14, uses this richly textured effect to give ample display to men’s and women’s shoes, handbags, luggage, small leather goods, jewelry, eyewear and a selection of men’s ready to wear. There’s a comforting mix of the familiar and the new in these offerings, which include Gucci’s shimmering way with a shawl and the classic GG canvas handbags and accessories, along with the new Zumi Collection of purses, which use exotic skins, and lots more jewelry. For more, visit Gucci.com.
era, ever vibrant
BY MARY SHUSTACK
It’s hard not to smile when visiting “Vera Paints a Scarf: The Art and Design of Vera Neumann.” Elissa Auther, curator of the exuberant exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Design in Manhattan, is doing just that when she begins to walk us through “Vera” on its opening day. “This is the first I’ve seen it all finished — how pretty,” she says, taking it all in just as enthusiastically as we are. The thoughtful exhibition offers up a fittingly vibrant celebration of Neumann (1907-93), the artist-turnedtextile designer, while also exploring her contributions to American design. “Overall, the exhibition focuses on Vera Neumann as an artist, a textile designer and a design entrepreneur,” says Auther, MAD’s Windgate Research and Collections curator. Neumann, in collaboration with her husband, George, would launch the company in the early 1940s, quickly taking off with Neumann’s signature work turned into textile patterns. From the start and throughout the company’s history, each design would be based on her drawings, paintings and collages, which then became home goods ranging from linens to plates to wallpaper and, eventually, clothing and accessories. “I do see her as an originator of what we see today as a lifestyle brand,” Auther says. “The cross-licensing, she was very successful at.” Indeed the Vera story is told through watercolors and placemats, cocktail napkins and vintage advertisements, 30
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videos and women’s fashions, magazine covers and, of course, scarves, her most beloved creation. “I grew up in a ‘Vera home,’” Auther says, noting her connection dates from childhood. “I have always been a fan. I’m happy to call myself a fan of Vera.” And Auther certainly isn’t the only one. The Vera scarves, first launched in 1947 and collectible to this day, became her signature product, thousands of designs all emblazoned with the recognizable logo of a “Vera” signature and a ladybug. AN ARTISTIC LIFE Neumann, who was born in Stamford and would go on to have longstanding personal and professional ties to Westchester County, began drawing and painting from nature at an early age, something that would be a lifetime practice. “So much of her work is inspired by nature, her direct observations,” Auther says. Neumann would graduate from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art with a fine arts Clockwise from top left: Vera Neumann, c. 1960s. Courtesy Museum of Arts and Design; Vera Neumann, “Occasional Stripes,” 1978. Watercolor on paper, 24 x 24 inches. Courtesy Susan Seid; Vera Neumann, Mexican Paisley, 1971. Watercolor on paper, 24 x 24 inches. Courtesy Susan Seid; and Vera Neumann, “Sundown,” 1970. Watercolor on paper, 36 x 36 inches. Courtesy Susan Seid.
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degree in painting in 1928, next enrolling in Manhattan’s Traphagen School of Design where she began to contemplate a design career that married the fine and commercial arts. It reflected, we learn, the Bauhaus philosophy of bringing together art, craft and industry. Auther notes that Neumann was “very comfortable with a business model that combined fine art with commercial art. She really believed fine art should be accessible to everyone.” The Vera success story began with tabletop designs. “She really saw the table as a canvas,” Auther says. But, she added, “She quickly outgrew the tabletop” category. Early big orders allowed her to really move ahead, leaving New York City for a move to Ossining that allowed, Auther says, Neumann to “put the studio and printing facility under one roof.” The company at that time, Printex, she says, “was like a major operation” that would eventually grow into Vera Industries. GALLERY STARS The exhibition delves into the many facets of the Vera story. Its centerpiece is a salon featuring Neumann’s paintings, which follow the East Asian sumi-e technique and from which all her textile designs draw. “I think she did inject not just bold color but
whimsy. You see that in something as simple as the painting with the strawberries,” Auther says, pointing out a specific design. Other sections explore her design work for the home. The 1970 Vera Neumann for Mikasa poppy plates are particularly striking, as is a section that brings the “Vera folds art napkins” campaign to life with completed examples ranging from rose petals to “fan-fare” to candlestick. “She was kind of a genius when it came to promotion,” Auther says. (“We spent a whole three days figuring out how to fold these napkins,” Auther says with a laugh of the lost art). The 1957 Jollytop, basically two scarves tied together in a vest-like design, began the Vera fashions that are represented here with a handful of dresses and blouses. “It’s hard to find,” Auther says of the Vera clothing. “I think it was very well-loved in its day.” No matter the item, the themes are vibrant. There are florals and sunsets, vegetables and travelinspired motifs such as Japanese dolls or kites. “She enjoyed travel but for her travel was a source for her designs,” Auther says. “She loved global craft,” Auther adds, pointing out the influence of handmade goods such as baskets or moccasins. For a bit of pop culture, there’s even a photograph by Bert Stern from his photo shoot with Marilyn Monroe, “The Last Sitting,” in which the
icon — a noted Vera fan — is seen in a Vera scarf (and not much else). Work traces the Vera production through the 1980s, rounded out by archival photographs and ephemera such as company marketing campaigns which used the “Vera paints” tagline to reinforce the artistic origins of the collections. Throughout her life, Neumann associated with Modern artists of her time such as Alexander Calder. Architect Marcel Breuer not only designed her Manhattan showroom but also her longtime Croton-on-Hudson home (The restoration of the 1953 Neumann House, completed by current owners Ken Sena and Joseph Mazzaferro, was recognized earlier this year by The Preservation League of New York with an Excellence in Historic Preservation Award. The owners have also loaned materials to the MAD exhibition). Perhaps the enduring legacy of Neumann just might be her unique vision, as exemplified by the signature Vera scarf. As Auther says, “She really did encourage you to think of these products as things you can wear — or think of them as works of art.” After touring “Vera Paints a Scarf,” it’s easy to do both. “Vera Paints a Scarf: The Art and Design of Vera Neumann” continues through Jan. 26 at the Museum of Arts and Design, 2 Columbus Circle in Manhattan. For more, visit madmuseum.org.
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ummingup BY JEREMY WAYNE
A master’s degree in economics and early training to be a bank manager may not have been the most obvious starting point for a career as a fashion designer, but then nothing about the rather glamorous Ania Zofia is formulaic or predictable. Born in communist Poland before the fall of the former Soviet Union, where work opportunities were to some degree limited and personal creativity was seen as something of a liability, the young Ania felt like a fish out of water. “I was always interested in beautiful things,” she says, and the financial route her friends took — she still has many friends in banking back in Poland — was not one that was ever going to appeal to her. She arrived in New York in 1980, she says, full of hope, energy and ambition to study jewelry design at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Then, to support herself, Ania began making extravagant leather “collages”’ Next, she borrowed $15, a paltry sum today but a fortune for a poor student, to buy scraps of silk, which she made into tops and kimonos, selling them in a store on the corner of Spring Street and West Broadway. When burglars smashed the storefront window and her entire collection was stolen, an insurance payout suddenly gave her a small amount of working capital. It was Ania’s first “lucky” break. Now, she started to put leather, suede and silk together to make one-off, 34
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original gowns. “A friend said to me, ‘Ania, why don’t you do a trade show?’ So I did. With my boyfriend — now husband, Robert Walker — we borrowed some money and we did the Pret show. He was so nervous, because all he could think of was how we were going to pay the money back.” She sold every piece at the show, got her money back in three says and took orders for $100,000. “I didn’t know how we would ever fill them. Suddenly, I had to take on staff. I had to say to people, ‘no, no’ I can’t take another order.’” It was at the same trade show that Ania met Robert Braché, co-owner of Mount Kisco’s famed Elephant’s Trunk, which had opened some 12 years earlier, and together they established a business relationship that has prospered for 35 years. Now established in New York, Ania soon took her sister, who was working as a mathematics teacher back in Poland, into the business. These days, the sisters, along with Ania’s niece, operate their business internationally, Ania designing in her studio in Montreal, the city she calls home, and her sister making up the pieces in Warsaw, Poland. If the arrangement
Ania Zofia Designs make splendid use of silk. Photographs by Kasia Cependa.
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sounds unorthodox, Ania insists it isn’t. “I talk to my sister every day and when I see the production through Skype or Facebook, I can spot even the smallest mistake,” she says. As for the designs themselves, nearly 40 years since Ania first came to New York, they are still unique. She does silk dresses, both ready-to-wear and made- to-order, along with jackets, tunics, stoles and scarves, but it is always the quality of the silk, coupled with the swirling, free-form designs, which make these pieces real stunners. “‘Artware,’ we call it,” says Rafael Braché, Robert’s brother and co-owner of the upscale salon. The printed silks are even more distinctive, freeform clouds, flowers and beautiful motifs turning the already gorgeous fabric into something precious and ethereal. Subtle beading often adds to the luxurious look. While Ania takes orders through her website, Elephant’s Trunk still carries the largest collection of her designs in the United States. And Ania’s guiding principles still hold true. Couture quality fashion is irresistible to today’s woman, she believes. “Beautiful to look at, pleasant to touch and sumptuous to wear, ” she says, neatly summing up what her designs are all about. For more, visit elephantstrunk.com and aniazofiacollection.fashion.
Designer Ania Zofia traded finance for fashion. Her silk pieces have been a staple of Elephant’s Trunk In Mount Kisco for 35 years. Photograph by Robert Walker.
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hefabric of life
BY BOB ROZYCKI
ArtsWestchester is taking public art to new heights — literally. In a collaboration with artist Amanda Browder, the top of the arts organization’s 9-story Arts Exchange headquarters in downtown White Plains will be sheathed in a colorful canopy that will cascade along its sides. Browder is a textile artist in Brooklyn who includes the local community in her large-scale public exhibitions, which have appeared across the nation. According to her mission statement, “The overarching goal is to involve individuals and groups in the mystery of creation. Volunteerism of local citizens and artists is a segue to creating familiarity in contemporary art as well as the individual nature of the neighborhood itself.” As for the ArtsWestchester installation, she said, “The playful artwork will be a colorful, quilt-like textile.” The artist will design and fabricate the artwork, working with ArtsWestchester to organize fabric drives, public sewing days and block parties throughout Westchester and Rockland counties. It’s as if Christo met The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. WAG had a lot of questions about this endeavor, so we sought out Janet Langsam, CEO of ArtsWestchester, for answers. 40
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Who came up with the idea of draping the ArtsWestchester building in fabric? “At ArtsWestchester, we are great fans of Christo and Jeanne-Claude, a married artistic couple who did monumental works of art situated in the environment and uniquely a commentary on the environment. I was deputy commissioner of Cultural Affairs in the ’70s when they approached the city administration to do ‘The Gates’ project in Central Park. It took many years for them to get the permission to make it happen. I admired their monumental vision and the way they positioned their artworks at iconic locations such as the Reichstag. What was so interesting to me was the way their work was about both the process and the product. “Years later, on a visit to the Pelham Art Center, I saw an installation by Amanda Browder that connected me back to the ideas of ‘The Gates,’ which the artists finally executed in 2005. Fast forward… in 2016, Amanda Browder was taking her colorful interventions to a new level in wrapping the Albright-Knox (Art Gallery) in Buffalo, New York. This project caught our attention… Could we do that here?” Why? “ArtsWestchester’s building is a nationally registered historic landmark. It is the first skyscraper in White Plains,
An example of Amanda Browder's work.
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built in 1928 and embellished with ornate detailing that signaled the opulence of the Roaring Twenties and the promise of suburban living. The building survived the Great Depression and subsequent waves of urban renewal. “Over 20 years ago, we acquired the building and transformed it into an incubator for the arts. Today, it is home to independent artists, small creative businesses, coworking space and our series of exhibitions, programs and performances. It’s a bustling and creative place. Recently, we’ve been looking at how we can communicate what’s happening inside our building to the streetscape outside. In 2018, in partnership with the city of White Plains, the WPBID and Kite Realty, we commissioned legendary street artist Wane One to paint a ‘welcome mat’ in the drop-off lane on Mamaroneck Avenue. At the same time, White Plains is undergoing its own transformation. The Metro-North station has been rehabbed and will soon include major public art. New mixed-use developments are coming into town. Inspired by the economic impact of projects like the Wynwood Walls, property owners and investors are keen to consider how public art may both distinguish their properties and help give White Plains a distinct identity as a cultural hub. “ArtsWestchester is leading the way.”
What is the timeline from start to placement on the building? “After a year of planning, sewing days will happen at ArtsWestchester and partner sites from October 2019 through April 2020. The piece will be installed over three to five days in May, and officially unveiled on May 14th with our annual ArtsBash Party. The piece will be on view for six to eight weeks depending on the weather. We will also open an exhibition in our gallery of the work of other contemporary textile artists. “We are excited to be working with Mount Vernonbased American Christmas. They are lending their incredible expertise as our project manager. As I’m sure you can imagine, a project like this has many moving parts — city permits, riggers, installation hardware, fireproofing. They are a wonderful partner.”
What led you to Amanda Browder? “Amanda’s works are unique. They are as monumental as Christo in aspiration but are fundamentally about and connected to the community. Everything you see in the finished works has been ‘crowd-sourced.’ The fabric is collected through community fabric drives. The sewing will be done by volunteers from all walks of life, from every corner of the county during public sewing days. The completed textile sculpture takes a form of a multistory quilt that is a portrait of every person who was part of the project. People will be able to look up at our 9 stories and point to a band of color and say: ‘I stitched that’ or ‘That piece of fabric came from my mother’s attic.’ It’s an incredibly powerful statement of how art can, excuse the pun, stitch communities together.” Have you determined how much fabric you will need? “A lot. There is no such thing as too much. ArtsWestchester’s building is 9 stories high, and the piece will cover portions of both visible facades. We invite members of the public to donate colorful, nonstretchy fabrics to the project. What we need — fabrics with patterns, cotton, rayon, velvet, nonstretchy materials that are opaque. Fabrics that we do not want are stretchy fabrics, transparent fabrics, as well as clothing.”
Who is funding this installation? “To date, ArtsWestchester has a $49,500 grant from The New York State Council on the Arts to fund this project. We are currently in the process of raising another $150,000 in private funds. Companies, foundations and individuals interested in supporting this major public art commission can contact me at ArtsWestchester.” If you’ve got fabric to donate or time to sew, visit amandabrowder.com and artwestchester.org.
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ashion forward BY MARY SHUSTACK
The back wall of an elevator that takes visitors to “Pierre Cardin: Future Fashion” features a quote from the legendary French designer. “My favorite garment is the one I invent for a life that does not yet exist, the world of tomorrow.” The words not only sum up Cardin’s pioneering Space Age fashions and futuristic designs but also set the tone for what’s to follow in the Brooklyn Museum exhibition rich in both objects and scope. After all, it’s Cardin’s signature forward vision that is at the heart of “Future Fashion,” an expansive show that’s as vibrant and dazzling as it is thoughtful and historic. It marks the first New York retrospective in some 40 years to focus on the innovative couturier and is filled with more than 170 objects from 1950 through today. These haute couture and ready-to-wear garments, accessories, photographs, films and other objects are drawn primarily from the Pierre Cardin archive. Curated by Matthew Yokobosky, senior curator of Fashion and Material Culture, Brooklyn Museum, the exhibition is a tour de force of Cardin’s seven-decade career. THE CARDIN STORY Cardin was born in Italy in 1922, moving with his family to central France as a toddler. He would go on to train as a tailor during his teenage years, eventually moving to Paris where he worked briefly at Maison Paquin and Elsa Schiaparelli before joining Christian Dior in 1947. In 1950, Cardin founded his own fashion house. He would go on to be the first couturier to launch a ready-to-wear collection 44
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(in 1958) and later would create a groundbreaking unisex line, among other achievements. Organized chronologically, “Future Fashion” surveys key elements of Cardin’s career, including signature looks (such as the 1960s “Cosmocorps” collection and its “target” dress), his work in trendsetting menswear and fashions created for film and theater. Hats, bags, jewelry and sunglasses are also featured, most dramatically in a wall devoted to hats that creates a striking moment. The exhibition also includes Cardin’s work beyond fashion, offering a look into his furniture, lighting and industrial design. “Pierre Cardin is a name that is know all over the world,” Yokobosky said during press preview remarks, noting that Cardin was “such a disruptor in his field.” Cardin became known for pushing boundaries in design as well as business as one of the first European designers to show in the Far East and also one who would license his name to products distributed around the globe. That latter effort, it turns out, provided a young Yokobosky an introduction to Cardin. When working on the Jean-Paul Gaultier exhibition (2013-2014) at the museum, Yokobosky says a video of Gaultier working at Pierre Cardin (where Gaultier began his career) sparked a memory. The segment, he says, took him “back to the 1970s, when I received a Pierre Cardin cologne and soap-on-a-rope for the holidays.”
Raquel Welch in a Pierre Cardin outfit featuring a miniskirt and necklace in blue vinyl, worn with a Plexiglas visor (1970). Courtesy of Iconic Images. © Terry O’Neill / Iconic Images.
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I FEEL SO POWERLESS. WE HAVE TO WATCH HER EVERY MINUTE. FAMILY AND FRIENDS STOPPED COMING AROUND. HE KEEPS SAYING: “THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH ME.” IT’S DESTROYING OUR FAMILY. I FEEL SO GUILTY WE HAVE TO MOVE HER INTO A HOME. IT’S SO HARD TO CARE FOR SOMEONE WHO’S MEAN TO YOU. HE HIDES THINGS ALL THE TIME. I’M GRIEVING THE LOSS OF SOMEONE WHO’S STILL ALIVE. WE DON’T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START.
LIVING WITH FTD IS HARD. LIVING WITHOUT HELP IS HARDER. THERE’S COMFORT IN FINDING OTHERS WHO UNDERSTAND. WE FINALLY FOUND A DOCTOR WHO GETS IT. I GOT SO MUCH ADVICE FROM OTHER CAREGIVERS. UNDERSTANDING MORE HELPS ME DEAL WITH HER SYMPTOMS. SEEING THAT OTHERS MADE IT THROUGH, I KNEW I COULD TOO. WE HONOR HIM BY ADVOCATING FOR A CURE. NOW I’M BETTER AT ASKING FOR HELP. NO MATTER HOW BAD IT GETS, WE KNOW WE’RE NOT ALONE. It can feel so isolating and confusing from the start: Just getting a diagnosis of FTD takes 3.6 years on average. But no family facing FTD should ever have to face it alone, and with your help, we’re working to make sure that no one does. The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) is dedicated to a world without FTD, and to providing help and support for those living with this disease today. Choose to bring hope to our families: www.theAFTD.org/learnmore
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Pierre Cardin developing his "Computer" coat, 1980. Photograph courtesy of Archives Pierre Cardin. © Archives Pierre Cardin.
A SINGULAR APPROACH Yes, the Cardin name graced numerous products from pens to perfumes — and prompted some to question the effect on the brand’s credibility — but the core has always been the fashions that reflected his bold approach and aesthetic. Geometric silhouettes interpreted in unconventional materials (plastics, Plexiglas and LED lighting) were among the designs often spotted on international stars from Brigitte Bardot to Alain Delon, Raquel Welch to Lauren Bacall and even style icon Jacqueline Kennedy. The enduring influence of the Space Race on Cardin — the exhibition was timed to open on the 50th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing — is also reflected throughout the show, sometimes quite playfully as in the cartoon clip from “The Jetsons,” with Jane Jetson showing off her “Pierre ‘Martin’ original gown.” Rounding it out are fashions created for film and theater plus clips from some of Cardin’s pivotal fashion shows held at, for example, the Great Wall of China (1979) and Red Square in Moscow (1991). Walking through the galleries, it’s easy to be captivated by something at nearly every turn, from a sleek black evening ensemble featuring a dress with “parabolic” shoulders and hat that creates a memorable silhouette to a statement-making geometric handbag in green leather. Catching the eye at another point is a case full of avant-garde shoe designs in a rainbow of colors and then, the sheer artistry of a selection of 1965 Vogue pages. These feature Norman Parkinson photographs of models in Pierre Cardin dresses with a backdrop of Gustav Klimt paintings then on display in London. Another highlight to be sure is an entire gallery that sparkles in reflection of Cardin’s fascination with the night sky, with several of the fashions perched overhead and all surrounded by evocative lighting and music. In a further nod to Cardin — and his ownership of the iconic restaurant Maxim’s of Paris — the Brooklyn Museum’s restaurant, The Norm, has been transformed into Maxim’s at The Norm for the run of the Cardin exhibition. Visitors can immerse themselves in both décor inspired by the Parisian dining destination and savor a special food-and-drink menu created as an ode to French cuisine in general and Maxim’s in particular. From fashions to food, visitors will no doubt find his or her favorites as they delve into the ever-growing Cardin legacy. Cardin is now 97 and, as Yokobosky shared, “still continues to design and remain curious about what’s next.” As are we. “Pierre Cardin: Future Fashion” continues through Jan. 5 at the Brooklyn Museum at 200 Eastern Parkway. Admission is by timed ticket, with advance purchase recommended. For more, visit brooklynmuseum.org.
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ore than 50 shades BY GREGG SHAPIRO
The road to Bravo’s “Project Runway” wasn't as glamorous as you might think for fan-favorite contestant and Season 17 champion Sebastian Grey. He gave up a career in Colombia and arrived in the United States where he worked as a housekeeper in a hotel. Some good things came out of that: He met his husband, Matthew. And he applied to compete on “Project Runway,” where his sewing skills, solid work ethic and talent landed him a spot in the final four and ultimately the opportunity to be crowned as the season’s winner. Now a Fort Lauderdale resident, Grey was kind enough to answer a few questions about fashion, “Project Runway” and life after winning. Sebastian, when did you first become interested in fashion? “I first became interested in fashion when I was probably 14. I was in a professional ballet school. I graduated as a professional ballet dancer. When I was in school, I was watching how they produced the outfits for the plays, how they communicated so many things with the outfits. I thought it was super-cool. Maybe this could be my new career. I was always going to the factory where they were producing the costumes and I was always helping them, especially with the tutus. (I was) learning how they kept everything in place. That was my first introduction to fashion and how to make clothes.” Were you a fan of “Project Runway” before you became one of the contestants? “I was not a crazy fan. I watched it a couple of times in Colombia with my mom. Sometimes she’d say, ‘You 48
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are going to be on there.’ I’d say, ‘Oh, Mom. That’s the United States. We live in Colombia. That’s never going to happen.’ And here I am.” Your mom is a big supporter of yours? “She always supported my career. My dad, too. They were always super supportive, even with (my) being gay. They were super-open with everything. It was never an issue for them.” What did it mean to you to have competed on “Project Runway”? “It was one of the craziest experiences. It’s amazing. I guess this year the platform evolved towards more real fashion. Because they had the CFDA, the Council of Fashion Designers of America and they were building real designers. This year, for me, they were more concerned with knowing more about the designer and being able to showcase that to the world.” You were there at just the right time. “I guess it was the right time.” What was your favorite challenge of the season? “It’s difficult (to choose). I learned something different from all of the challenges. Maybe the ‘Unconventional (Challenge)’ because it was in the woods and we were sleeping and eating there. It was fun.” What was your least favorite challenge? “Yes. My least favorite, the one I didn’t enjoy at all, was
Sebastian Grey “Project Runway” fashions. Photographs by Barbara Nitke. Courtesy Bravo Media.
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the ‘Elton John Challenge.’ I struggled a lot.” How much do you think your strong sewing skills contributed to your success on “Project Runway”? “I think that’s very important, especially for ‘Project Runway.’ We had to be able to do everything. Having good sewing skills helped because you’d be able to finish everything quicker and, if something went wrong, you can change it faster.” And it will look better, it will look finished. “Yes, because they were judging you based on that. How it looks, how it’s finished, the design, the construction and the idea.” This season of “Project Runway” featured contestants with big personalities, such as Hester Sunshine and Kovid Kapoor. As someone who is quieter and more reserved, what do you think of the way everyone was represented? “I think you learn to behave yourself. Yes, I’m a little crazy sometimes, but when it comes to my work, I’m extremely focused.” That’s admirable, because sometimes the bigger personalities get more attention. “For me, it was not about the personality. It’s about your work. Let that speak for you and make the noise.” What did you think of Christian Siriano as the “Project Runway” mentor? “It was super-cool having him as a mentor. He always guided me in the right direction. He always had the right advice. And he was part of the show, so he knows exactly what the judges are looking for. He built a relationship with these people through all these years, so he already knew who they were in terms of their work aesthetics. Seeing him and how much success he’s having, (I thought), ‘That can be me! He was part Below, Sebastian Grey, recent winner of “Project Runway,” with model. Photograph by Karolina Wojtasik. Courtesy Bravo Media.
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of this.’ It was very inspiring and it made you want to keep going.” What do you think of Christian as a designer? “I think his work is really amazing, the way that he’s pushing the boundaries with gender equality and making fashion more inclusive for all kinds of shapes and genders”. He designed the piece for Billy Porter. “Yes, the tuxedo gown.” That’s wonderful! Since winning Season 17 of “Project Runway,” have any celebrities reached out to you about designing something for them, perhaps for the upcoming Emmy Awards in September? “A couple of celebrities, yes. I’m not allowed to say who because I don’t know if it’s going to happen or not. Right now, I’m doing so many things with the CFDA, organizing the new collection that I have to present. It’s a lot of work. I’m just trying to organize first what is going to be my company.
After I have all that organized, I’m going to be able to do collaborations with other people for red carpets and stuff like that.” Are there any celebrities for whom it would be a dream come true for you to design something for them? “Yes, I have a couple. One of them is the unique Lady Gaga, because she breaks barriers all the time. She’s not afraid to try something new and explore new things. Lady Gaga would be the ultimate goal. I would love to dress Shakira. She’s from Colombia, too. I love her style. It’s very fresh, street wear with that little glam that she always has. I’d love to dress her, too. Those are the two celebrities, so far, that I would dream to dress.” What do you hope happens next for you in terms of your design career? “I hope to start doing wholesale. To have my brand in different stores and be able to build the name of Sebastian Grey more.”
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SUSANA’S SUZANI BY OLIVIA D’AMELIO “Suzani,” which refers to embroidered hangings or fabric coverings, is the perfect choice for Suzani World Designs, an accessories and textiles business owned by Greenwich resident Susana Correa-Vial. We were introduced to her at her pop-up at Greenwich Polo Club and were immediately as impressed by her sunniness as by her vibrantly textured and colored wares. Recently, we had an opportunity to talk further with her about her business and its Central Asian inspirations:
How do customers access Suzani’s offerings? “I have a room where I have everything showing and people make appointments if they want to shop from my house. But it’s basically wholesale and most of the shopping is online. I hold occasional pop-ups at home but am trying to keep it online. It’s better to reorganize everything and I want to incorporate more artisans and look for people in India, Madagascar and Colombia.”
The word Suzani is a perfect fit for your business, isn’t it? “Yes, Suzani is actually a word that is used in all Central Asia to refer mostly to textiles. …I feel like life is a little like embroidery. Some things happen and you don’t understand why things come this way or that way. But if you see the back of the textile once everything is complete, you see the top of the embroidery and understand that everything had to come together for a reason. …Life in a way builds who you are, and why you are the way you are.”
What would you say your style is? “I have friends that say to me ‘Oh this is so hippie’ and I don’t find myself hippie at all. What I’d describe my own style as is more elusive with a lot of personality and different color combinations and definitely flowy.”
How did Suzani start? “I used to live in Turkey from 2007 to 2011, and then I had four children with another on the way, and I thought, well I don’t want to stay at home all the time, so I started going to the carpet shops. I found myself spending a huge amount of time there because I wanted to learn about the textiles and techniques and started bringing carpets to (my native) Chile. I got a few things I would find in the markets to complement the carpets. I wasn’t satisfied because I wanted to learn more. I wanted to know what was traditional and what wasn’t. After we left Turkey, I continued to go back there and looked for suppliers and people who could explain to me the handcraft. I had a lot of curiosity and found enjoyment of textiles and traditional weaving and ways.” Where else do you find your inspiration for your products? “I do a lot of research along with visiting different countries. I am always traveling to places like Chile, Mexico, Belgium, Morocco and Bolivia. I love it and go on a regular basis to choose what I want in my shop. I learn about things by doing a lot of reading and I go from there and say, oh, this is another way it could work and make it happen — even checking Etsy. Sometimes I spend a whole afternoon just going through it with one thing I have mind. I don’t browse without an aim. And I wait for inspiration to hit.”
What’s your favorite part of the job and being a business owner? “The artisans who craft the products and interacting with the people who buy the products. Building that bridge between the experience of creating and you, the buyer in search of originality and charm. I love meeting people. It’s the best part of the job. But I extremely enjoy the discovery of going to places and seeing a new technique or color or dye or new idea and realizing how much richer some of these other countries are. I find a huge sense of purpose and belonging in their traditions. …They are very rich in the things that they see that we don’t see in the West.” Any regrets? “Yes of course, doesn’t everybody? I think because I don’t have a formal training in fashion that’s a big regret of mine. I was a lawyer in my country and I feel like I should not have been afraid to do what I really wanted. Because when you get afraid you want people to like you and what you do so sometimes is you listen too much to what one person says and discourage yourself. You can’t focus on that or be afraid of not pleasing everybody, because you can’t.” What advice do you have for people who are looking to start a business like you did? “Don’t be afraid, go for it. If you are passionate about it, then do it. Live your life and put one foot in front of the other. Don’t try to focus on making it a success, Just go for it and let the rest come to you.” For more, visit suzaniworlddesigns.com.
Courtesy Suzani Designs.
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hefacesbehind thepaintings
BY PHIL HALL
We tend to know artists by their works, not their faces. But now a new touring exhibit of portraits of the artists and their masterworks is changing all that. “For America: Paintings From the National Academy of Design,” presented by the organization in collaboration with the American Federation of Artists, brings together portraits, self-portraits and other paintings by some of the most prominent 19th- and 20th-century American artists, members of the National Academy of Design. The sole New England stop in the “For America” tour will be the New Britain Museum of American Art (NBMAA), which has focused on the nation’s artistic heritage since its founding in 1903. “The National Academy of Design doesn’t have a museum, so these are not works that people can see all of the time,” says Cynthia Cormier, director of education at the NBMAA, where the exhibit will open next month. “They used to have a museum, but it is closed. So, this is going to be a real showstopper. “For anyone interested in the history of American art, this is the place to go,” she adds. “This exhibition goes back to the roots of how America was trying to define itself in the larger history of art.” For Cormier, the exhibition’s portraits mirror the museum’s celebration of its subject. The first gallery spaces are devoted to portraits created during the 54
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British colonial period and the early years of American independence. “We kind of forget how important portraiture was,” she says. “When you come to a museum like this, you start with portraiture, because that’s really all there was for a long time.” The roughly 100 paintings in the exhibition contain treasures by some of the most influential figures in American art history. Works by Winslow Homer, Thomas Eakins, John Singer Sargent, Cecilia Beaux and Andrew Wyeth are on display. Some people might be surprised to see artwork by Samuel F.B. Morse. While Morse is best remembered as the inventor of the telegraph and the code that carries his name, he was a prominent artist and among the academy’s founders. In “For America,” Morse is represented by a delicate self-portrait of his 18-year-old self from 1809. The watercolor on ivory work makes him look like the Jeffersonian Era equivalent of a pop idol. Hudson River School artists Asher B. Durand and Frederic Church are presented in portraits as strikingly handsome men. The Winslow Homer portrait by Oliver Ingraham Lay offers an owl-eyed man with a walrus mustache. It is easy to imagine this man creating
William Merritt Chase's "The Young Orphan" (or "An Idle Moment," or "Portrait") ( 1884), oil on canvas. National Academy of Design, New York. Courtesy American Federation of Arts. Reprinted with the permission of the New Britain Museum of American Art. 55 SEPTEMBER 2019 WAGMAG.COM
many of the hardy seascapes that made him a popular favorite. Eakins’ 1902 self-portrait is easily the most haunting. The artist’s mournful expression and haunting gaze amid a shadow-thick setting opens a portal into a deeply introspective soul. In sharp contrast, Beaux’s 1894 Impressionist self-portrait shows a bold and confident woman who is ready and eager to enter what was still a man’s world with her paintbrushes. The most recently done portrait on display is Peter Saul’s wonderfully over-the-top pop art self-examination from 2013. Arguably, the most mysterious work is also the face of the exhibition — Wyeth’s 1945 self-portrait, with the broad-shouldered, ruddy-faced artist pensively gazing at an unseen horizon while standing in a thick marsh as oversize predatory birds circle the sky behind him. Cormier notes Wyeth rarely did self-portraits but then again, she says, all of the “For America” work are relatively rare. Not every painting in the exhibit is a portrait, and Cormier is especially thrilled with the inclusion of “The Miraculous Haul of Fishes,” a 1913 masterpiece by the African-American artist Henry Ossawa Tanner. The elusive Albert Ryder, who created fewer than 200 paintings in his lifetime, 56
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is represented with his dramatic 1907 sea vision “Marine” while David Diao’s 2000 acrylic and silkscreen “Bruce and Me” contrasts the muscular power of Bruce Lee against a blank space that might represent Diao’s eponymous “Me.” One of Cormier’s goals with exhibit is to expand the museum’s visibility beyond central Connecticut. She acknowledges that her venue is mostly unknown to art lovers in Westchester and Fairfield counties. This show follows a recent Georgia O’Keeffe exhibition that attracted a larger- than-normal visitor turnout, and Cormier hopes artistic lightning will strike twice. “When you live in Fairfield County, you gravitate to New York City,” she says. “With the O’Keeffe (exhibit), we had people come up from New York. We’re hoping that now that the O’Keeffe show happened and you found your way here from Darien, you realize that we are easy to get to and there is not a lot of traffic. There is free parking and you can spend quite a bit of time here and eat here, so you might want to come back.” “For America: Paintings from the National Academy of Design” is at the New Britain Museum of American Art Oct. 16 through Jan. 26. The museum is at 56 Lexington St. For more, visit nbmaa.org or call 860-229-0257.
Andrew Wyeth's "Self-Portrait" (1945), egg tempera on gesso panel. National Academy of Design, New York. Photograph by Neighboring States. © 2018 Andrew Wyeth / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Courtesy American Federation of Arts .
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A REPUTATION WELL BUILT BY JEREMY WAYNE
Just down the street from the railroad tracks and St. John’s Catholic Cemetery on Camp Avenue stands a somewhat incongruous, low-built, single-story brick house, its front door framed by two spindly white columns, a large stencilled “P” set into the tympanum of the pediment above. I double-check my architectural lingo before I use it, because 75 Camp Ave. in Stamford is the home of Prutting & Co. Custom Builders, and I’ve
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a feeling that confusing my gables with my entablatures would not go down well. A carpenter by trade, Dave Prutting had a roofing and shingling business before going the whole nine yards, as it were, and branching out into full construction. Today, he heads up one of the most respected building firms in the Northeast. “Deborah, my wife, likes to remind people how she used to hold the ladder for me,” he says, a glancing note
of nostalgia creeping in. Some 45 years on, Prutting & Co.’s reputation is virtually without equal. They have built some of the most spectacular modern homes in New York and Connecticut and have restored countless historical ones, always delivering on time, always coming in on budget. In a market where horror stories are rife, Prutting’s reputation for exceptional craftsmanship and consistently
excellent performance is second to none. What’s more, Dave Prutting’s enthusiasm for quality building is infectious. The thought of building a house had never occurred to me before — after all, there are plenty of pretty ones out there already — but after chatting with Prutting for half an hour in his conference room, I’m totally bitten by the building bug. Better start saving up. When I ask what’s new in building, the question nearly always turns to technology, rather than pure design. The basement of a new-build these days, says Prutting, “looks like a submarine.” The firm is constantly investing in software — new products, state-of the-art (or beyond the art) systems, cutting-edge engineering. But while he prides himself in keeping up to date on the latest smart appliances, audio-visual aids and gadgetry — “whole-house
automation” as he calls it — there is, he concedes a case to be made for old-fashioned simplicity. “Take thermostats, for instance. Sometimes a client just wants an old-fashioned dial.” Design, of course, is the domain of the architect and while the disciplines of architect and custom builder could hardly be more different, nor could they be more interdependent. “If the architect draws it upside down, we’ll build it upside down,” Prutting says. And he has worked with some of the finest architects in the business — Toshiko Mori in New York, Kieran Timberlake in Philadelphia, Joeb Moore of Moore & Partners in Greenwich. Time and again, he emphasizes that his role is to make the architect look good. Prutting & Co. also supports the job for years after it’s been completed, teaching the new owners
A house in Pound Ridge by architect Kieran Timberlake. Photograph by Peter Aaron, Esto Photographics.
how to understand the new technologies, such as solar panels, geothermal heating and cooling and renewable energy. While sensitive to the environment and simultaneously designed to offer homeowners increasing comfort, they can be complex, even for millennials to fathom. Prutting’s greatest investment, though — and he is keen to make this very clear — is in smart people. He places great store by his architectural school graduates — six at present — who work alongside his builders, an entirely homogenous team of professionals. When Prutting takes me on a tour of his offices — a wonderful walkabout tracing our way between tables of gargantuan architectural plans and drawings, deliciously tactile building material samples, a library of architectural books and historic magazines, and a mood-board of visual curiosities — the easy relationship he has with his “super squad,” as he calls his team, is apparent, as is the high regard in which they hold him. But it’s Prutting & Co’s president, Jack Truman, who sits in on some of our conversation, and whom Prutting himself — still very much at the helm but slowly handing over the reins to a younger generation — has special praise for. “Incredible,” “amazing man,” “the best there is,” he murmurs at different points during our meeting. A mild-mannered man, with blue-green twinkly eyes, Prutting has something of the aging hippie about him — the chains lurking behind the neat blue-and-white check shirt, the sentences sprinkled with the word ‘dig,’ and I don’t mean in the archaeological sense, the enthusiasm. A current project, one about which Prutting himself is especially excited, is a waterfront home he is building close to company headquarters — a 15,000-square-foot traditional home with contemporary material in a spectacular setting on an isthmus in Darien. The owner is “high profile, but very quiet,” is all Prutting will say. Another of Prutting’s homes, in Katonah for perfumer Carlos Benaim, involved removing a historic façade some years back and reassembling it next to the new structure. If it can be done, Prutting & Co. will do it. I ask him if the building profession is a good one to go into. “For sure. Take me,” he says, “I was a wanderer. I wandered out to Cape Cod where there are only three occupations — fisherman, waiter or carpenter. My first boss told me, ‘If you train as a carpenter, you can work anywhere in the world.’” Prutting himself lives in another “spectacular” house in New Canaan, “a very cool town house,” he says, which was featured on the show “Extreme Homes.” When I get around to building that dream house of my own, Prutting & Co. will be the only way to go. Plus, I already have a name for it — “The House that Dave — and President Jack — Built.” For more, visit prutting.com. SEPTEMBER 2019
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arrior angel BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA PHOTOGRAPHS BY BOB ROZYCKI
The first time Izabela O’Brien heard the word “autism” applied to her oldest daughter, Alina, she dropped to her knees and wasn’t sure she’d get back up. Alina was diagnosed in 2007 with Pervasive Developmental Disorder — Not Otherwise Specified, or PDD-NOS on the spectrum. It’s the kind of general diagnosis that children under age 3 might receive when they don’t hit all their biomedical markers, O’Brien says. She knew, however, where she and her family were headed. Two years later, Alina was diagnosed as autistic. “I was overwhelmed,” O’Brien says. “It was a dark period in my life. …But my priest said, ‘Izabela, you are a warrior mother.’” So this warrior mom, sucker-punched by life, got up to fight not only for Alina but for children like her as well. O’Brien is the founding director of The Fearless Angel Project, a 5-year-old Greenwich-based nonprofit that offers scholarships to underserved families with autistic children for intensive therapy and treatments. To mark its fifth anniversary, Fearless Angel will hold a particularly stylish fundraising dinner Sept. 28 at Greenwich Country Club. Guests are requested to dress in blue, silver and/or white to help create a “heavenly atmosphere” for a night of performances, a live auction and special appearances. Since its inception, Fearless Angel has funded 40 scholarships. “For us, our unrelenting attitude to give Alina the best 60
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possible therapy has made all the difference,” O’Brien says. “We realize how fortunate we are to be able to afford this. Most families are not as fortunate.” Most insurance does not cover swim, music and equine therapies as well as more extensive blood testing for allergies and applied behavior analysis, which O’Brien calls the “gold standard” in helping autistic youngsters develop life skills. But Fearless Angel goes where others fear to tread. It provides scholarships for speech and music therapies as well as to Endeavor Therapeutic Horsemanship in Mount Kisco; the Center for Integrative Health in Wilton, where Dr. Nancy O’Hara cares for children with neurodevelopmental needs and chronic illnesses; and Stamford-based Swim Angelfish, which offers swimming therapy and lessons to children of all abilities, including those with special needs. (Autism greatly increases the risk of drowning.) Largely as a result of intensive therapy and the discovery of her sensitivity to gluten and dairy, Alina, now 14, is a verbal, functioning teenager who has earned two gold medals in 100- and 200-meter speed skating and a gold medal in the swimming freestyle relay, all at the Special Olympics. Her life, however, is no walk in the park. “She’s not
Izabela O’Brien of The Fearless Angel Project.
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always social,” O’Brien says. “She’s not always able to engage in reciprocal conversations. And she gets off topic.” A year ago, Alina had her first epileptic seizure, which she now takes medication to prevent. Such challenges, however, have made their family stronger, O’Brien says. While 80 percent of marriages involving special needs children end in divorce, she says Alina’s autism has brought her and her husband — Dan, president of a global manufacturing corporation based in Illinois — closer together. It’s also made their younger daughters — Yvette, 13, and Ireland, 11 — more compassionate. Even their friends are helping out with fundraising lemonade stands and birthday parties. As for the warrior mom, she has spread her angel wings as well. Born in Krakow and raised in Chicago with dual citizenship, O’Brien has been Mrs. Connecticut America twice (2015 and 17) and Mrs. Poland World 2018. The 43-year-old Mrs. America pageant, for married women ages 18 and up, has a new venture, Miss for America, for single, divorced and widowed women, O’Brien says. She herself is now the owner and director of the Mrs. Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Vermont pageants. And while there are swimsuit and evening gown competitions, 62
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these are not your grandma’s beauty contests. The contestant’s platform is important, and O’Brien has used Mrs. America and Mrs. World to create a global audience for autism awareness and Fearless Angel. And that, she says, translates into good news for autistic children in need. Or as O’Brien puts it: “We’re helping families in Westchester and Fairfield sleep a little better at night.” When she calls with the good news that Fearless Angel has awarded them a scholarship, the recipients are often speechless. “I cry every time I talk about it,” she says, her voice breaking but only for a moment. “You have to have hope. There may never be a cure. But I’m going to do everything in my power to give Alina the best possible life.” The “Dancing With the Angels” gala will be held from 6 to 11pm Sept. 28 at Greenwich Country Club. Izabela O’Brien’s co-chairwomen are Dianna Smith and Jennifer Seidel, also mothers with children on the autism spectrum. Single tickets are $395 and sponsorships are available. For more, email info@thefearlessangelproject.com or call 203-970-2552.
Izabela O’Brien, with photographs of her three daughters.
Discover IL FORNO Italian Kitchen & Bar Where Good Vibes meet Italian Inspired Cuisine!
Enjoy a Classic & Crafty Cocktail. Have your perfect experience! LUNCH AND DINNER Tuesday - Sunday 343 Route 202, Somers, NY 10589 (914) 277-7575 www.ilfornosomers.com
Private Events and Catering
Annual Support-A-Walk For Breast & Ovarian Cancer Sunday, October 6, 2019 FDR State Park Yorktown Heights, NY
Support Connection is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization. We do not receive funds from Relay for Life, Making Strides, Susan G. Komen, or any other national cancer organizations. To learn about the Walk and our free services, visit supportconnection.org
Be a part of a community that cares! Proceeds fund Support Connection’s free breast and ovarian cancer support services. Bring help and hope to people fighting breast and ovarian cancer. Contact us: 914-962-6402 or walk@supportconnection.org
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eat yourself BY MARY SHUSTACK
Sometimes a chair is much more than a chair. That’s one impression that “The Chair Show” will likely make when the inventive exhibition is unveiled Sept. 28 at ArtsWestchester in White Plains — but it’s also likely to be just one impression of many. It’s being billed as an exploration of “sculptural, conceptual, functional (and perhaps dysfunctional) forms of seating, as well as artwork inspired by chairs.” And what visitors to the show can expect ranges from a playful pair of repurposed chairs festooned in multicolor pennants by Amanda Browder to a contemporary painting, “Pool Chairs,” by Dyan Rosenberg, from an ominous steel/painted chair by B.A. D’Alessandro that features a saw (“At Your Own Risk”) to a chair seemingly disappearing right into the floor by Cheryl Wing-Zi Wong. Such diversity is no surprise. “There’s definitely pieces you would want in your home and probably a few you know definitely belong in an art museum,” says Kathleen Reckling with a laugh. Reckling, ArtsWestchester’s director of public programs, co-curated the show with Amy Kurlander, gallery curator. Advance materials share that the chair itself is “endlessly recast as luxurious or austere, regal or intimate, straightforward or ironic. Chairs give shape to the ways in which we rest and recreate ourselves in private, and inhabit or witness ‘seats of power’ in public. As support64
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ing players of day-to-day existence, focal points of ceremonies and as revered objects of spiritual and sacred spaces, chairs are invested with meanings and purposes as diverse as the human family.” The works were sourced from artists based throughout the metro region through an open call as well as curatorial outreach and more than 50 artists will be showing their work. In what will fill the two floors of ArtsWestchester’s gallery spaces, works large and small will feature an array of materials, including painted wood and flowing fabrics, hard metal angles and soft, overstuffed cushions — and much more. Sarah Haviland’s “What the Birds Were Saying” features a fanciful pair of steel recycled chairs with galvanized mesh and enamel, while Jude Ferencz’s “Copper Throne” is at once intricate and regal. An homage to repurposing, “The Be-Kind to the Bee-Bench” by Ann Ladd incorporates a wooden church pew, recycled boogie board, wire and acrylic paint for a design imbued with both whimsy and meaning. Whether an artist is showcasing the idea of working with repurposed materials, invoking memories through design — or simply questioning the idea of function, there is, ArtsWestchester CEO Janet T. Langsam notes, “another aspect of this show.”
Hanna Washburn’s “Lay All Your Love On Me” (2019). Courtesy ArtsWestchester. SEPTEMBER 2019
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“PRISM/LIVIN/ROOM Chairs” (2013) by Amanda Browder. Recycled fabric and found chairs. Photograph by David B. Smith.
“These chairs are all made by people. They’re not stamped out by a machine.” It’s a thought Reckling immediately reinforces: “The artist is present in these pieces.” In broadest terms, the show is also an example of the power of art to encourage people to look at things differently, Langsam says. “It’s fun. It’s something familiar. It’s something you see every day and you see it in a different light.” And, she adds, “The Chair Show” is expected to have a broad appeal, going beyond art enthusiasts or designers. “One of the things about a show like this that I love is it can be open to a lot of different people. It’s not precious. Everyone can have an idea about a chair.” And when talk turns to the exhibition as the focus of the October edition of ArtsWestchester’s “Gallery Nite Out,” Langsam has a simple question — “Can we play musical chairs?” That, of course, remains to be seen. An opening reception for “The Chair Show” will be held Sept. 28 at ArtsWestchester, at 31 Mamaroneck Ave. in White Plains. The exhibition will then run Oct. 1-19 in the gallery and will be the focus of the Oct. 10 “Gallery Nite Out” event. For more, visit artswestchester.org. 66
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Jim Fawcett, “A Spectrum of Chairs” (2015). Photograph by On Location, Poughkeepsie, New York.
Your Moments Made
MEMORABLE The perfect setting creates a breathtaking landscape from ceremony to send off. 914.948.0958 • cvrich.com
BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA
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Alessandra Vicedomini. Photograph by Maurizio Montani. Photographs courtesy Alessandra Vicedomini.
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“Georgette is the most beautiful of fabrics,” fashion designer Alessandra Vicedomini said of the light, matte crêpe named for the early-20th century French dressmaker Georgette de la Plante. With an introduction like that – and a name like ours – how could we not be instantly enchanted by her? But it’s more than that. Vicedomini has a quality — a warmth, a playfulness, a charisma — that invites you in and immediately puts you at ease. Indeed, it may be a quality particular to — or most noticeable in — Italian women. Think of Sophia Loren beguiling Cary Grant and his motherless children in the 1958 movie “Houseboat.” Or Gina Lollobrigida sparring wittily with hubby Humphrey Bogart in “Beat the Devil” (1953). Or Anita Ekberg frolicking in Rome’s Trevi Fountain with Marcello Mastroianni in “La Dolce Vita” (1960). OK, so Ekberg wasn’t Italian, but the film was. And anyway, you get the picture. Vicedomini’s sensuous sensitivity was on display as she engaged with clients during a May trunk show at Mary Jane Denzer in White Plains. And it is on display in her fall collection, centered as her designs are on knitwear. Indeed, it’s no wonder she loves Georgette (the fabric, not the journalist). Originally made from silk, the crêpe is today composed of twisted yarns. Knitted fabrics, Alessandra said, are both shapely and figure forgiving, which makes them trending. In Vicedomini’s skillful hands, knitwear also creates two illusions evinced in her fall collection. The first is the idea of cashmere as a kind of fur as seen in her signature vests — trimmed in hand-dyed, matching fur — a staple that she revisits every season. Pair one this year with her gray V-neck ribbed and patterned dress, black turtleneck outfit or sleeveless cream creation in undulating layers — all the quintessence of monochromatic elegance. The second illusion — one that is no surprise for a designer whose bikinis have been featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue — is one of nudity. Consider her gray and white patterned dress with half sleeves and what appears to be a plunging neckline. On closer inspection, however, you can see a jewel-neck collar that leads to a mesh décolletage. “Illusory tulle makes getting dressed desirable,” Vicedomini said, “because it is so clever that it makes every piece unique. Nudity becomes sophistication.” Her creations are at once sexy and demure — a winning combination for fashionistas. “Vicedomini is the ‘go to’ label for me year-round,” said Mariela Tandy, executive fashion and retail editor at Tatler UK. “From the beginning, they have got everything right…. Alessandra herself couldn’t be a more perfect ambassador and designer, ever immaculate and elegant. Any woman who knows her can see her personality run through every piece in the collection.” That quote appears in the sensuous coffee table book “Vice-
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Alessandra Vicedomini’s peekaboo knitwear, shown here with some accessories, is both provocative and elegant. Photographs by Zhanna Bianca (left), Maurizio Montani (middle) and Deborah Anderson (right).
domini: 1962-2012,” celebrating a half-century of the House of Vicedomini, which began with Alessandra’s father, Giuseppe. Briefly partnering with designer Lino Pellizzoni, the House of Vicedomini became known for the “tubino,” a straight dress in jersey or thick silk held together with a few simple stitches. Giuseppe set up shop in his native Milan, hired the model Orietta as house model and later married her. Daughter Alessandra was drawn to the business from a young age. “I always wanted to go to daddy’s office,” she says in the book, remembering herself as “a little girl running through the long corridors or playing secretary while typing on those old-fashioned typewriters. I would hide in the models’ (dressing room). I made it my private house. To me it looked so enormous and to see elegant retailers coming in to place orders, statuesque mannequins, glamour socialites popping in...” Academically inclined, Alessandra felt another pull that she describes in the book: “By virtue of a sense of justice that is still haunting me, I wanted to become one of those angry criminal lawyers, throwing murderers and psychopaths in jail. I soon understood that was not what fate would have led my adventurous life to.” Instead fate decreed that she begin modeling at age 14 while continuing her education, in part to help out her parents, who experienced a series of professional and personal misfortunes (the destruction of the family factory when a snow-laden roof collapsed; a car accident that severely injured her mother), in the 1980s. Alessandra modeled for Dolce & Gabbana, Jean Paul Gaultier, Valentino and Versace, all of whom would provide a training ground for the day in 2002 when she would take over the family fashion house, transitioning from her father’s structured tweeds to the more casual knits she had begun to design. In the meantime, there was a marriage, two sons, a divorce, a life in London, where she was acquainted with Kate Middleton (now Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge), a fashion favorite of hers, and a life in Geneva, where she maintains an atelier for a collection that includes accessories. There’s also an office and showroom in Milan. Between the fall collection, shown in Milan and Paris this month and in London, Madrid and New York in October; her teenage sons; her business and interviews — she was recently in Monaco for a magazine piece — her life is a whirlwind. But one constant remains — Italia. “Italy is the style reference worldwide, not only because of the designers and major brands who are still making fashion history,” she said, “but thanks to the infrastructures, the artisans, the craftsmanship, the know-how in making, the materials produced and the elegance and flair every single operator exudes.” And Vicedomini is doing her part to keep it that way. For more, visit vicedomini.ch.
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WAY
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WAY
This exceptional custom-built, LEEDcertified house — with a concrete-andsteel-framed exterior designed by architect Amanda Martocchio and built in 2016 by Hobbs Inc. — lets the outside in and the inside out. Inside, there’s a bright and airy flow with floor-to-ceiling triple-paned windows and an open-plan family room, dining room and kitchen, all with high ceilings. The gourmet kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances opens onto a deck with a grill. The 4,024-square-foot house on Dingletown Road also includes three bedrooms and three and ½ bathrooms. Outside, you’ll also find a heated pool with a spa, a terrace and the aforementioned deck bordered by a water feature on 2.08 acres. (The landscaping is by James Doyle.) All this modernism can be yours for $4,750,000. For more, call Joseph Barbieri at 203-9402025 or 203-618-3112
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HOME & DESIGN
SECOND EMPIRE, SECOND LOOK BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA
The Zalman Wakeman House in the Southport Historic District. Photographs by Kyle Norton.
The Gilded Age, which began in the 1870s, was noted for its conspicuous consumption, so readers of the March 1, 1871 edition of The Southport Chronicle would not have been surprised to learn that W.W. Wakeman, esquire, was about to build “a very handsome residence” on fashionable Rose Hill in what is now the Southport Historic District. “Although we have not seen the plans,” The Chronicle noted, “we know Mr. Wakeman well enough to be able to say that this will be one of the most attractive houses in this town.” And indeed, this Harbor Road house — which is on the market today for $2,895,000 — is a stunning example of Second Empire style. Named for the Second French Empire, as the reign of Napoleon III was known, the
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architectural style was characterized by an almost baroque richness that featured squared-off mansard roofs, soaring ceilings, commanding marble fireplaces, stained-glass windows and elaborately ornamented moldings and columns. Working with the Bridgeport architectural firm of Edward Richard Lambert and Rufus William Bunnell, Wakeman built the house for his relation, Sarah Ann Fowler Wakeman, widow of Zalmon Bradley Wakeman, a sea captain who owned a fleet of ships. Sarah Wakeman could not have lived there long, dying as she did in 1873. But her daughters, Mary and Frances, lived there for more than 30 years, until 1913. Over the years, the sisters made some changes to the place, adding two bay
windows, according to the May 21, 1885 edition of The Fairfield Advertiser. You wonder what the sisters would think of the seven-bedroom manse in its present-day iteration, which has preserved its architectural past (along with views of Southport Harbor, the Long Island Sound, Pequot Yacht Club and The Country Club of Fairfield) while updating the six and a half bathrooms and creating a sweeping, state-ofthe-art kitchen. No doubt The Southport Chronicle and the Fairfield Advertiser would’ve approved. For more, visit 418Harbor.com. And for more photographs of this Second Empire home, visit wagmag.com.
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HOME & DESIGN
THAT FINISHING TOUCH
BY MARY SHUSTACK PHOTOGRAPH BY BOB ROZYCKI Perhaps you enjoy spending time in your living room but can’t help thinking it’s missing that decorative spark — or maybe your dining room, though functional, lacks a bit of flair. Situations such as these seem tailor-made for a service offered by Current Home. Karen Tolchin and Alyson Lane are the owners of the Scarsdale boutique, a destination for modern home accessories and distinctive hostess, housewarming and wedding gifts. To hear more about COMPLETE By Current Home, an in-home styling service, WAG is chatting with Tolchin on a recent morning, settling into the boutique’s sophisticated surroundings. Think design-driven vases and funky pillows, modern photography and unique tabletop goods. Customers can call on COMPLETE By Current Home, Tolchin says, to add a chic finish to any interior. “It’s not just people with new homes or new furniture,” Tolchin says. Sometimes it’s customers who “just want to freshen it up.” FROM THE START As Tolchin says, this expansion of the boutique’s offerings began to answer a specific need. “Our service, COMPLETE, started because people would say ‘Can you stop by?’” Tolchin says. They wanted the Current Home perspective on what would work in their own homes — and Tolchin says she and Lane were ready with answers. A strength of Current Home, Tolchin says, is that she and Lane relate to the lifestyle of their clients — since it often reflects theirs and their own families. “We have kids. We have a dog… We really understand the way people live.” With a second Current Home having opened in Manhattan earlier this year, the owners also, Tolchin added, have a renewed appreciation of the commuter life. A pointed approach is key, says Tolchin, as all at Current Home recognize that in this area, “people are edgy, sophisticated.” And, she adds, “People have lovely homes 78
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Karen Tolchin at Current Home in Scarsdale.
here. What’s important is we shop like we dress — high/low.” The owners, obsessed with design and sharing a love of beautiful things, are committed to helping discerning customers integrate elements both hip and timeless to give interiors that finishing touch. THE PROCESS COMPLETE By Current Home is not about taking a room apart and starting from scratch but rather understanding a client’s lifestyle and incorporating his or her existing furniture, color scheme and aesthetic. “We edit our merchandise,” Tolchin says. “It’s an edited collection.” Options from Current Home draw from both the selling floor and its reserves. It’s not about looking like every other home on the street but more about making a singular statement. “What we love about our shop is even if we carry a brand that’s everywhere, we pick the three things that aren’t everywhere.” A home visit indeed sounds like an elaborate trunk show. “We come fully loaded,” Tolchin says, though she stresses there is “no pressure to buy.” Among the selections might be a one-of-a-kind sculpture or a striking framed work of art, such as photography by Allyson Monson of Fairfield
County. It could also be a fur pillow, a dramatic mirror or even a backgammon set that encourages family time that creates memories. “You have to mix textures and different things to get a look, a layered look.” Tolchin says that’s often how Current Home’s expertise comes into play. For example, a sea of framed photographs can appear unfocused, so the suggestion would likely be to edit rather than remove. “They’re important. They tell your story. Let us mix them in with the new items.” Mixing elements creates a cohesive — and personal — look, Tolchin adds. “The personality, the feeling, the warmth comes from your accessories,” she says. “It tells the story of your family.” Tolchin says those at Current Home work as a team, with the owners joined by dedicated stylists — Christine Lebowitz in Scarsdale and Rolando Liwanag in Manhattan — who handle the in-home visits. And whether through working with customers in the boutiques, in their homes or at show houses or other special events, it all comes back to a core philosophy. As Tolchin reminds, “Your home should reflect your personality.” Current Home is at 1096 Wilmot Road in Scarsdale and at 1189 Lexington Ave. in Manhattan. For more, visit currenthomeny.com.
A Floral Workshop Series presented by: Westmoreland Sanctuary NATURE CENTER AND WILDLIFE PRESERVE
Into the Wild: Sustainable Flower Arranging Bring home a beautiful, sustainable arrangement created by YOU! Enjoy evenings of conservation discussion over wine, appetizers and floral design sessions at Westmoreland Sanctuary.
Thursday, September 26
FALL WREATHS – 7pm
Tuesday, November 5
FALL TABLESCAPES – 7pm
Thursday, December 3
HOLIDAY WREATHS & ARRANGEMENTS – 7pm Workshop Location: 260 Chestnut Ridge Rd. Mount Kisco, NY 10549
To register, please visit www.westmorelandsanctuary.org Special thanks to our sponsors:
HOME & DESIGN
EIGHT IS ENOUGH BY JEREMY WAYNE
Coffee, elopement and a friendly ghost all play their part in the story of the extraordinary Armour-Stiner Octagon House, a private home in Irvington which is now, for the first time, open for guided tours by appointment. Reached by a narrow path barely big enough for a car to pass, the house magnificently replicates Donato Bramate’s 16th-century Tempietto in Rome and is the only known, fully domed octagonal residence in the world. I’m two minutes late for the start of the tour and Kelly and Sara, our guides today, are standing on the step, along with six other visitors, waiting to greet me, any tardiness quickly forgiven. Kelly gives a brief introduction to the house and explains how in 19th-century America octagonal houses had become all the rage following the publication of a book, “The Octagon House, A Home for All,” by one Orson Squire Fowler, a phrenologist. She also invites us to take a moment to look at the garden, with its spectacular trees, including a glorious Japanese maple and a rare Kentucky coffee tree, and tells us we are welcome to visit the artist’s studio and small foxglove garden after the house tour is over. As we step inside, Sara takes over and introduces us, at least figuratively speaking, to Joseph Stiner, who had purchased an earlier iteration of the house in 1872, altering it and adding the dome to create the present structure. Stiner was a successful tea and coffee merchant, who at one time owned up to 60 tea and coffee houses in Manhattan and Brooklyn, an early precursor of Starbucks. He added many whimsical notes to the house he had bought, including tea chests that can still be seen in the second-floor kitchen. But it was another Joseph whom today’s visitors can thank for the opportunity to see this extraordinary house. Joseph Pell Lombardi, an architect specializing in conservation, restoration and historic preservation the world over, bought the house from the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1978 in what appears to have been a rare sale. The house was in so much need of restoration that you get the feeling the Trust just wanted to be rid of it. Lombardi set about restoring the house to its original appearance, with an almost pathological — I use the word advisedly — attention to detail, using microscopic chemical analysis to discover how the house might have looked 150 years ago. He could tell, for instance, where rugs had been placed on the floor from the discoloration in the wooden boards and had new rugs made up in colors and patterns of the period by traditional carpet-makers in Wilton, England. And while we’re talking about home decorating, move over Sherwin-Williams, because Sara tells us how Lombardi used another scientific technique, microscopic paint analysis, to determine which color paint had been used on the original walls, so that the restoration would be fully faithful to the original home. 80
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Aerial view of the ArmourStiner Octagon House. Courtesy the Armour-Stiner Octagon House.
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The octagon shape creates four triangular rooms on each floor, given over to a tea room, pantry, solarium and small library on the first floor. On the higher floors, these relatively small, irregular spaces are used as bathrooms, the original porcelain still intact and working. And if the joy of the house — apart from its immense whimsy and architectural flourishes — are its first-floor grand salon and dining room, with their original furniture (“cottage” furniture as Sara tells us, which was the IKEA of its day and highly prized) and exquisite china and glass, then the upper floors, with their more intimate rooms and bedrooms are no less thrilling. Because, above all, this is very much a family home, albeit a family living an extraordinary life in a 19th-century time capsule. Contemporary, framed family photos abound, interspersed between the curios and centuries-old bibelots. “Ignore the toaster and the coffee maker,” admonishes Kelly as we traipse as a group through the second-floor butler’s pantry, with its handsome copper sink and crammed with antique china and silverware, but frankly it’s impossible not to. It’s precisely the juxtaposition of old and new — beautiful old glass and porcelain besides a utilitarian Cuisinart toaster — that gives this remarkable house so much of its charm and character. One room I especially enjoy is the “ladies’ kitchen,” located on the first floor — not quite the scullery, yet not quite a morning room but somewhere ladies could carry out some of their household duties, checking bills and dabbling in light "hostessing" work. The concept of the lady’s kitchen, interestingly, came about through the works of Harriet
Beecher Stowe, who by predicting the end of slavery had inadvertently informed high-born women of the changing order, and alerted them to the fact that soon every woman might have to take care of her household by herself. A salutary moment, you might say. The Sony TV certainly looks magnificently out of place in the sitting room adjoining the master bedroom. And while the original bells for each room (used to summon staff) are still intact and working and the old telephones have been rewired to make and receive calls, there is something deliciously incongruous when a call comes in during our visit, with its importunate modern ringtone, to be picked up by a disembodied Optimum voice asking the caller to leave a message. The ghost of a young French girl whose parents had rented the house and who died tragically after running off with a local boy, is said to haunt a room on the third floor, making regular appearances. But she is, by all accounts, a friendly ghost, says Sara, and our small group looks relieved to hear it. The Egyptian Revival Room, opposite — the only remaining room of its kind in America — is one of the most spectacular in the house, with its original furniture, spinet, Egyptian frescoes and David Roberts watercolors. It’s a fitting finale to what has been a jaw-droppingly wonderful visit. The 45-minute tours are conducted in groups of no more than 20 people and take place Fridays through Mondays, with tickets bookable only in advance. For more, visit armourstiner.com.
ARTSWESTCHESTER, THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS & THE WHITE PLAINS BID
Joel Ross, September 13
WHITE PLAINS
SEPT. 11-15, 2019
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Enjoy a five-day celebration of free & affordable jazz in White Plains! FOR TICKETS & CONCERT INFO:
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SPORTIME WESTCHESTER TENNIS
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HOME & DESIGN
WARES
A MODERN TAROT BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA
Michelle Sakhai's "Inner Movement," at Madelyn Jordon Fine Art in Scarsdale.
If Michelle Sakhai’s artwork seems to have a New Age quality, that’s entirely by design. A New Yorker with Persian and Japanese roots, Sakhai is a primordial sound meditation instructor through The Chopra Center, as well as a certified reiki master. She teaches transformative art – which focuses on light and energy, using spontaneous strokes as a vehicle for healing and channeling peace – at Harlem Hospital. Her own art, which marries oil paints and metal leaf in Abstract Expressionist canvases, is the subject of a solo show opening Sept. 6 at Madelyn Jordon Fine Art in Scarsdale. “The Arcana Series: Interpretations of the Tarot” is a new series of paintings based on Major Arcana tarot cards that Sakhai says “represent the life lessons, karmic influences and the big archetypal themes of our life and soul’s journey to enlightenment. 84
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Their meanings are deep, complex and represent the structure of human consciousness. Tarot readings are a powerful form of divination that (can use these) cards to help you find answers to your most important questions." Sakhai created her own version of the cards, translating them with her vision of their meaning and imagery while honoring the interpretation of the original cards: "We live in a modern era and the cards could benefit from an updated rendition. My intention behind recreating them is to both connect us back to the source and the higher power, bringing healing to those who feel a connection with tarot." There’s a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 6. Madelyn Jordon Fine Art is at 37 Popham Road. For more, visit madelynjordonfineart.com.
DISCOVER THE FARMHOUSE TAVERN AMERICAN EATS & URBAN DRINKS
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HOME & DESIGN
WARES
FASHION MEETS HOME DESIGN BY CAMI WEINSTEIN
Fashion and design are intrinsically entwined, as both are functional yet fun, can contribute to our well-being and share a relationship that can be easily explored. Many people have an innate sense of style that is apparent not only in their fashion sense but in their home décor as well. Industry executives are well aware of this and capitalize on trends in both areas, looking for ways to cross over. Less easily defined are styles that transcend trends. I have worked with many clients over the years and the most satisfying are clients who have a unique way of looking at style and design. Often, we influence each other’s idea of home and living, but in the end the client’s
Beach on the half shell: Fashion and home décor intersect in a giant clamshell for grab-and-go beach stuff at the author’s Montauk home. Courtesy Cami Weinstein Designs.
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home looks exactly like her own personal style. I love that. Currently, there is the rage for style influencers. When their sense of style captures a large audience, then industries are quick to capitalize with their marketing savvy, creating design trends for both fashion and home. One example of crossover style is the boho look in both fashion and home décor. Beautifully designed pillows, bedding, lighting and more are bringing in that feeling of the exotic and fantastical. An example of a past trend was the southwestern fashion look and home style. For a while everywhere you looked in both fashion and home there were pieces of western clothing and jewelry, cowboy boots, southwestern rugs and warm desert colors. That style mostly remains regional now and if your home has desert colors painted throughout in the Northeast, then your home is dated. There are even more subtle ways of fashion and home décor intersecting. At our beach house in Montauk, I keep an oversized clam shell by the front door. It’s a handy, chic container for beach hats, flipflops and sun tan lotion. The beach hats, which are fashion items, have now become home décor when casually tossed in the shell. They make a charming statement about beach-style living. Although they were not an intentional design decision, they have nonetheless become a style statement. I can’t tell you how many guests love the giant clamshell filled with easily grabbed items for the beach. Another fashion item that easily crosses over to home décor is a shawl. I often leave one draped over a chair or at the end of the bed. A cool latesummer evening makes it easy to grab one and use it before returning it back to its place to become home décor once again. One of my favorite fashion-to-home décor tips is to take an old fur coat and make pillows or a throw out of it. Who doesn’t love the luxury of a fur and recycling it gives it a longer lifespan and a way to enjoy the “coat” a little longer. Adding a backing in a beautiful silk color gives it an extra boost. Color is the fastest way to keep up with both fashion and home décor. Color trends can easily update both your wardrobe and home. In summer we wear both lighter colors and fabrics and it’s a great way to freshen up your home, too. Outdated colors can make both your sense of fashion and home feel hopelessly stale. For example, if you are trying to sell your home, using colors that were trending 20 years ago can affect a prospective buyer adversely. Twenty years ago, warm colors were in and everyone wanted to nest in a cozy way. Today colors are cooler, grayer, neutral. I am starting to see the shift again back to color but the color mix is fresher — cinnamon, gold and gray or emerald green, black and white. Certain geographical areas have a color shift in both their fashion and home décor choices. It’s fun to look around and see the intersection of fashion and home décor and to create a few of your own. Enjoy the upcoming fall and the feeling of a cozy cool night wrapped in a warm sweater and blanket in the same hue before your fireplace. Both you and your home will feel current and stylish. For more, visit camidesigns.com.
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SHINING AGAIN BY KATIE BANSER-WHITTLE
Two hundred years ago the English poet and playwright Colley Cibber commented “One had as good be out of the world as out of fashion.” That’s a little extreme, but being fashionable is a feel-good thing. Jewelry is fashion. Like all fashions it expresses the time and place in which it was made. Jewelry can also be fun, fabulous, fanciful, fascinating: you get the picture. And unlike many other expressions of fashion, fine jewelry doesn’t wear out or lose its intrinsic value. Great-grandmother’s gold bangle bracelets, unlike her bustle, are highly wearable today. Periods of rapid change such as we are experiencing right now can be exhilarating. They can also create anxiety that makes us nostalgic for the past. One response is the renewed interest in antique and vintage jewelry. This is why pre-World War II jewelry, especially Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco pieces are increasingly soughtafter. Scarcity, as well as individuality of design and workmanship, gives older jewelry a distinctive personality lacking in more recent mass-market creations. As a bonus, the colored stones in antique and vintage jewelry are much less likely to have been artificially enhanced. The use of heat, radiation and chemical treatments to improve color and clarity became common after the 1950s. Strong natural color, especially in emeralds, sapphires and rubies so much in vogue today, considerably increases value. The unisex trend in society and fashion in general continues in jewelry, too. One crossover item is the watch chain. Instead of being draped across gentlemen’s waistcoats, paper clip and curb fob chains are winding around women’s necks and wrists. The trend for wearing multiple and longer chains is bringing these heirloom pieces back into the spotlight. Repurposing and recycling have become an important part of contemporary living. These ideas find their reflections in fashions in jewelry. Combine several vintage pins on a lapel or neckline, or place an antique brooch in an unexpected place, such as at the waistline or the back of the neck (a great look on the dance floor). Then there is the fashion for what might be termed the multiplier effect. A single pretty ring with a modest stone is, well, a single pretty ring. A stack of three or four or more is a fashion statement. 88
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Art Deco Platinum, Diamond, Emerald and Enamel Brooch, Charlton & Co. Sold at Skinner Inc. for $27,060.
The same can apply to earrings. As piercings multiply, they offer more scope for displaying beautiful ear wear. The bonus here? If you lose a treasured earring, you can still wear the orphaned item. Though “fashionisto” is less in vogue than fashionista, men are fashion-forward, too. The current event for men’s fashion in jewelry is undoubtedly the wristwatch, an accessory that’s both practical and eye-catching. The microsecond accuracy of a smartphone can never replace the casual elegance of an heirloom Nivada or Wakmann timepiece. The continuing trends in men’s watches are another proof that what’s old is new, or at least newly desirable. The quartz revolution started in the 1950s with the development of electronic movements that enabled massproduction of extremely accurate battery-powered quartz watches. Many Swiss watch companies failed to adapt and went out of business. Their finely crafted mechanical watches, especially their complex, highly accurate chronographs, are fashionable again today. Vintage “tool” or sport watches from the pre-quartz and pre-digital eras are favorites, especially when they still have their original dials and mechanical parts. At its best, jewelry is also art in a personal and portable form. Many famous figures whose work is usually associated with the fine arts also created notable jewelry. A painting by Picasso or Salvador Dali or a sculpture by Max Ernst or Alexander Calder is out of reach for most people. It is still possible, however, to find artful adornments created by these iconic figures, at a fraction of the price of their larger and better-known pieces. Fashion is always changing; that’s what makes it fashion. But fortunately, fashion in jewelry is self-renewing, too. What’s old eventually becomes what’s new, and now is the time when many of the liveliest and loveliest old fashions in jewelry are shining again. For more, contact Katie at kwhittle@skinnerinc.com or call 212-787-1114.
“Yonkers is the heart of Art & Culture.”
Nancy Mendez Yonkers Artist Muralist
What is Generation Yonkers? It’s the renaissance well underway in New York’s 4th largest city. Yonkers is a city on the rise. In addition to the nearly 3 billion dollars in new development, Yonkers is also adding trend‑setting restaurants, art galleries and culture to its ever‑growing list of attributes. Yonkers is attracting a whole new generation of innovation. Be part of it.
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INVEST IN YOUR SKIN FASHION
BY OLIVIA D’AMELIO
Photograph courtesy Kate Somervielle.
One of my favorite things to talk about is skincare. A good skincare routine is vital. I can’t go a morning or night without thoroughly applying my favorite facial products. To me, it’s especially important that I stick to my regimen, because it’s super easy for the skin to get dehydrated. When used correctly and continuously, skincare products can do their job of making you always feel and look your best. While we all wish the well-known Kate Somerville — LA’s skincare goddess to the stars — could personally demonstrate her best skincare routines on us, we know that’s not really practical. So, we took advantage of Nordstrom’s anniversary sale this summer to get our hands on her highly recommended products. We figured we’d give you some tips on the next best thing to an appointment with Somerville — facials at home. We begin with ExfoliKate — a perfect weekly treat for your skin. It’s an intense exfoliating treatment designed to reveal a glowing, fresh-from-the-clinic complexion. It’s formulated with natural exfoliants to deep clean clogged pores without overdrying the skin. I’ve tried my fair share of exfoliants, but within the first use of this one, it was like my skin was new again. It removes entire layer of dead skin cells revealing a fresh new layer. Pores are less visible and it leaves the skin looking brighter. (Not to mention it smells like yummy pumpkin pie.) Regular exfoliating is important for your skin. It can help prevent and treat acne and inflamed pores and removes the barrier of those dead skin cells, bacteria and dirt. By exfoliating, you are allowing moisturizing products to do their job more effectively. For best results, make sure to use it once or twice a week, morning 90
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or night, whichever you prefer. Next up is the ExfoliKate Cleanser, a daily foaming wash designed to reveal softer, smoother skin while clearing away oil, makeup and any impurities. The cleanser maximizes the benefits of the exfoliator to help maintain a glowing complexion between uses. While cleansing your skin every night to remove makeup and impurities is essential, a morning cleanse is also beneficial as it removes any toxins your skin might emit overnight. Cleansing in the morning also prepares the skin for your makeup application for the day. This cleanser is gentle enough to use every day, twice a day, but I guarantee you won’t need too much, as the tiniest bit goes the longest way. Last but not least is the DermalQuench Liquid Lift, an advanced wrinkle treatment. As we get older, so does our skin. It gets thinner, drier and less elastic causing visible wrinkles and lines on the skin. We can help prevent this by taking advantage of scientific breakthroughs in anti-aging technology that produce both immediate and long-term results. These results help achieve a more youthful looking surface. Ever wonder how those Hollywood stars always look young and vibrant? The answer is anti-wrinkle cream. The DermalQuench is a product that delivers quick results, I have smile lines, and within a few days of using this product, they’ve disappeared. I’m sure you are all aware how much good skincare can cost, but in the long run it’s worth every penny. Our skin is the largest organ of the body. Keeping it healthy and hydrated helps protect us from harmful elements. Give your skin what it needs. For more, visit katesommerville.com and Nordstrom.com.
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Provocative posts on power thegamesmenplay.com
FASHION
WEAR
FINDING A HIGHER PURPOSE IN RETAIL Altar’d State — which is set to open in The Westchester in White Plains Sept. 5 — is a group of 119 stores, founded in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 2009, that offer boho fashions for the younger crowd while also making a philanthropic mark. Recently, a company representative responded to a few questions from us: What does Altar’d State offer? “Altar’d State offers a place of respite and a distinctive shopping experience with the latest fashion finds, the most sought-after accessories, charming home décor and gifts in over 100 boutiques throughout the Midwest, South, MidAtlantic, West and Northeast regions.” But it also has a mission beyond retail, correct? “Altar’d State seeks to inspire through action 92
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and supports a mission of standing out for good in the world. From day one, Altar’d State has pioneered connecting retail with goodwill through efforts ranging from donations in local communities, offering a generous volunteer program for employees and funding childfocused, global initiatives that support social development efforts in underserved areas in Peru. Altar’d State is a globally minded company that is dedicated to creating not only a unique retail environment that is inspiring and uplifting, but also giving back to the world around us through philanthropic efforts of every kind.” How did it all start? “The first store came about when Aaron Walters and Brian Mason met while working for a large clothing chain in Knoxville, Tennessee.
The interior of an Altar’d State store in Lone Tree, Colorado. One opens in White Plains this month. Courtesy Altar’d State/Synergy Group.
The two worked to successfully reawaken a struggling division and formed a strong partnership along the way. A downturned economy in 2008 began to cause concern in the retail industry. In January of 2009, the two learned their employer would be filing for bankruptcy and began talking about ways they could continue working together. They explored many options and eventually went their separate ways. Spring of 2009 sent Aaron and Brian to Bentonville, Arkansas, to develop the strategy for their new vision. In a small coffee shop, they sat down and wrote a business plan for a company with a mission of giving back by offering a shopping experience like no other. Altar’d State was born.” For more visit, altardstate.com — Olivia D’Amelio
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BUY ITALIAN FASHION
BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA
Lord, senior partnerships manager of Ipsy, the world’s largest beauty subscription service — echoed Berchi’s remarks, adding the key roles that innovation (Guarino), passion (Ginsberg) and storytelling (Lord) have played. Indeed, the word “storytelling” kept cropping up, as exemplified by Skin & Co Roma’s line of light but luscious skincare products containing truffle oil extracted from those rare mushrooms, foraged in Italy’s Umbrian region by company founder Gabriel Balestra and his family. With its “farm-to-face” narrative, “Skin & Co has been a fantastic brand for us,” said Lord. But she cautioned against thinking that the beauty biz is only about storytelling. “Marketing only goes so far,” she said. “You can’t fake quality.” While Italy has quality in spades, the panelists noted that its progress in the U.S. has been uneven. Known for a superb gift for color that predates the Renaissance, Italy has soared with cosmetics while struggling to make inroads with its worthy skincare lines. The small business model that has been the backbone of Italian cosmetics success has been a challenge in its skincare companies competing with the bigger players, SiFarma’s Berchi said. South Korea would seem to have the opposite problem. K-Beauty, as its healthoriented, pigment-less skincare products are collectively known, has exploded on the American scene in recent years. Its millennially minded cosmetics have made less of a splash. Millennials aren’t necessarily brand loyal, Lord noted. The panel foresees up-and-down progress for K-Beauty as skincare-infused cosmetics grow in popularity, and steadier growth for I-Beauty. Surely, I-Beauty is counting on the notion that everyone will want to be — and thus buy — Italian. For more, visit beautymadeinItaly.com.
“Mascara is like pasta,” said Fabio Berchi, CEO of SiFarma. Just as no two pastas are alike in Italy, no two mascaras are alike, whether it’s Ancorotti Cosmetics’ classic black mascara or Eva Garden’s edgy Colour Vibes collection. Berchi was speaking at “Italian Beauty 360: From Concept to Consumer,” a recent panel discussion of industry experts held at the Italian Trade Commission in Manhattan. The event, moderated by Liz Ritter, executive editor of NewBeauty, was hosted by the Italian Beauty Council and “Beauty Made in Italy” — a program launched by the Italian government and Cosmetica Italia that is designed to promote the excellence and availability of the Italian brands and products to the $89.5 billion U.S. beauty market, the largest in the world. Although Italy has only a small slice of that American pie, $1 billion, the slice is growing as the nation is moving up from sixth beauty supplier to the United States to fifth. And that is great news for Italian women, who make up 65% of the beauty industry’s labor force in both manufacturing jobs and executive positions. It is a noteworthy statistic, Berchi said, in a country with an otherwise traditional view of the division of labor between the sexes. The panel discussion explored the reasons for Italy’s success in the U.S., beginning with a sensuous, “La Dolce Vita”-style video tribute to Italian culture, set to “Be Italian” from the musical “Nine.” As with Italian food, fashion and cars, said Berchi, Cosmetica Italia’s board member in charge of internationalization, Italian beauty products are made with superior ingredients, style and craftsmanship, controlled by a family-owned, small business model. The other panelists — Ian Ginsberg, president of C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries and Bigelow Trading; Mary Ann Guarino, U.S. vice president of Ancorotti Cosmetics; and Alyson
Photograph by Luis Ruiz. Courtesy the Italian Beauty Council. 94
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WEAR
DRIVING COOL FASHION
BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA
A large part of a cool car is cool shades. Think Steve McQueen chasing bad guys in a Mustang — and tortoise-framed Persol 714 sunglasses, with customized blue-tinted lenses — in “Bullitt.” Or Tom Selleck tooling about Hawaii in a Ferrari — and Vuarnet “Tom” aviator sunglasses — in “Magnum, P.I.” Perhaps with such images in mind, McLaren Automotive — creator of luxe sports cars and supercars — recently debuted the McLaren Vision Collection, designed to be as sleek and high performance as the autos themselves. McLaren worked with French optical specialist L’Amy Group to create sun and prescription glasses in various styles, colors and finishes within each price range — core (beginning at $323, plus lenses); premium (from $1,104); and bespoke (starting at $2,008). “Designers from McLaren Automotive and the L’Amy Group combined their expertise to create unique products that set new standards for elite eyewear,” McLaren Automotive CEO Mike
Courtesy McLaren Vision Collection. 96
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Flewitt said in a statement. “Using industry-first technologies such as 3D-printed titanium frames and Leica sun lenses, the McLaren Vision Collection epitomizes the design innovation and pioneering technical excellence that is at the core of the McLaren brand’s DNA.” While colors and styles — which include McLaren’s signature orange and a “floating” design in which the lenses are hung within the frame at two contact points only for maximum vision and comfort — may vary from category to category, the five types of lenses are available across all price points. The driving lenses feature precise graduated tinting to improve contrasts and show the road ahead in sharp relief. The golfing lenses focus on maximum contrast, while the outdoor lenses have a polarizing filter and mirror finish. The urban lenses have a neutral gradient tint designed for all lighting conditions while the Yachting lenses feature a mirror finish to reduce solar rays and polarization to remove reflections from the water. Clearly, it’s a collection that McQueen and Selleck might envy. For more, visit edwardbeiner.com/locations. The McLaren Vision Collection will be available at more locations later in the year.
WANDERS
THE DIVINE GRAND HÔTEL-DIEU BY JEREMY WAYNE
TRAVEL
“When good Americans die,” as Oscar Wilde famously quipped, “they go to Paris.” The very good ones, he might have added go to Lyon, France’s second city and gastronomic epicenter. Some 300 miles south of Paris and 200 miles north of Marseille, Lyon enjoys a superb position, even by European standards. This city is close to everywhere — Geneva is up the road and the Alps are virtually on your doorstep; Milan is over the hills and Paris — if you really must — is a mere two hours away by high-speed train. But the real joy of Lyon is the city itself, gloriously situated at the confluence of two rivers, namely the mighty Rhône and the gentler Saône. Founded by the Romans, Lyon has long been known as the banking center of France, its coffers swelled by Italian merchants in the 14th century. (The city still has an air of Italianate refinement.) Later, during the Renaissance, Lyon’s development was driven by the silk trade, which still flourishes today. Lyon further consolidated its wealth during the Industrial Revolution. In the heart of town, the Grand Hôtel-Dieu had been a travelers’ refuge from the 12th century and a fully-fledged hospital since the 15th, until it finally closed its doors in 2010. Now, after four years under the knife itself, Hôtel-Dieu has morphed from a hospital (one of the most important and revered in France) into a luxury shopping mall, food court and hotel, all discreetly hidden behind an exquisite 18th-century façade, which at 1,181 feet is the length of almost four football fields. Back in July, as the mercury hit 104 degrees on what would turn out to be the hottest day since records began, I arrived at the Grand Hôtel-Dieu in an Uber and a muck sweat. Right in the center of the building, under its emblematic 100-foot-high dome, sits the entrance to the InterContinental Lyon Hôtel-Dieu, the newest, most talked-about hotel in Lyon — well, possibly ever. From a location standpoint, it is, of course, a peach, its rooms and duplex suites either looking out over the Rhône, which flows in front of the hotel, or overlooking the immaculately restored courtyards and cloisters at the rear. The significance of the original building cannot be overstated. One in three Lyonnais over the age of 10 was born here, so that nearly everyone in the city has, to this day, a special connection with the place. In developing the site — at 43,056 square feet, one of the largest private renovation projects ever undertaken in Europe — the architects and designers had to be aware of this. Thus, the design of the InterContinental itself makes a deep and gracious bow to history, its limestone columns left intact in the
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InterContinental Lyon Hôtel-Dieu, reception area. Photographs by Eric Cuvillier.
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InterContinental Lyon Hôtel-Dieu, exterior view at night.
guest-room corridors, its vast silk drapes in the rooms and public spaces an homage to the city’s silk industry. I love how the bluegreen tinge of the fabric reflects the many glancing colors of the Rhône itself. The hotel, it goes without saying perhaps, is the last word in comfort, with its army of receptionists and wait-staff, polished in all senses, with wonderfully plush mattresses and pillows in the guestrooms, bathrooms with vast soaking tubs and shower cabinets so large you could hold a cocktail party for 12 and still find room for a small jazz trio. Without a doubt, all of these features make the 144-room InterContinental a truly delightful place to stay. But as a former religious hospital for the poor, the cloisters still intact and a palpable air of almost spiritual contemplation about the place, the planners were also keen that nothing too showy or splashy crept into the decoration. Lyon’s great church on the hill, the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fouvières is, after all, visible from the rear-facing rooms, a siren-call to piety, while below you in the courtyards, stone panels sunk into the walls record donations made by private individuals to the hospital. Hôtel-Dieu, for all its newfound gloss, is still a place of reflection and community spirit. There is food, of course, because France’s greatest food city is never too humble to begrudge its stomach. Indeed, in a city where good food is honored with an almost religious reverence, where 4,000 quality restaurants compete to keep standards high and ensure that the consumer is always the winner, the InterContinental was always going to have to come up with a great restaurant if it was to look its peers in the eye. 100
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In its restaurant, Epona, it has done just that — a long room, spick and span, with the palest taupe upholstery, almost utilitarian in its simplicity. It’s a backdrop for Chef Mathieu Charrois’ “taste and flavors of yesteryear.” While the obvious choice of appetizer might be his take on quenelle de brochet — here called “k’nell,” the classic Lyonnais dish of creamed pike with a rich crayfish sauce, Charrois’ talent is to my mind as apparent in a dish called Belle de Lyon — mini toasts of St. Marcellin cheese, paddling in a wondrous gazpacho, topped with a “granita” of frozen red Rhône wine. Ooh la bloomin’ la! You won’t go far wrong either in his rendition of omble chevalier, Arctic char with Lyonnais potatoes and a moreish sorrel sauce, or a magnificent volaille jaune, cornfed chicken with tomatoes and confit garlic. Food awaits you too in Les Halles. This is not the great market of Paris, but its modernist Lyon namesake, two floors of the restored Hôtel-Dieu, given over to the best fruit and vegetables, boucherie, fish and prepared foods, all dreamily presented for your delectation. (Tables and chairs allow you to eat anything you like on the spot.) A gastronomy museum, opening on the site in the fall, will not only celebrate the culinary delights of this great city but will also play host to visiting country cuisines on six-month rotations. (Japan will be the first country to participate.) Of course, there are myriad other diversions in this glorious city, and food in any case must be taken in moderation. (“Everything in moderation, even moderation,” as Wilde also remarked.) What is certain, however, is that for any serious Francophile, Lyon — and the spectacular Hôtel-Dieu — are not to be missed. For more, visit www.lyon.intercontinental.com.
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WANDERS
REGAL, RADIANT, UNRIVALED STOCKHOLM
TRAVEL
BY BARBARA BARTON SLOANE
Welcome to one of the world’s most creative and exciting urban scenes. You are within walking distance to eight centuries of unique cultural experience and you are surrounded by 24,000 islands and islets. Where in the world are you? You’re in Stockholm, Sweden, of course, a most popular tourist destination. The Northern European kingdom of Sweden is on the Scandinavian Peninsula between Finland and Norway, while the Oresund Fixed Links connect Sweden with Denmark. My recent visit to Stockholm, Sweden’s capital, built on 14 islands, treated me to a unique blend of old world charm, modernity, creativity and vitality. From Gamla Stan — Old Town, Northern Europe’s largest and best-preserved medieval city, dating from the 13th century — to its throbbing modern metropolis with famed design centers, vibrant shopping districts and modern architecture, Stockholm offers the visitor the best of both worlds. Old Town has held onto its medieval-city character with narrow lanes, cobbled streets and piquant market squares. I sat in a quaint café and was captivated by its evocative charm. Deciding it would be fun to start my Swedish visit in a most regal fashion, I made my way to the Royal Palace. With 608 rooms, this is one of Europe’s largest palaces and is used today as offices for King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. 102
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Walking through the Royal Palace’s majestic halls, I had a sensation both grand and solemn that was amplified by a room that contained the horse (stuffed, of course) that Gustav II Adolf (1594-1632) road into the Battle of Lützen and the costume that Gustav III Adolf wore to the fatal masked ball at the Royal Opera House, where he was shot on March 16, 1792 in an assassination plot. (He would die of a resulting infection 13 days later.) Leaving this rather melancholy room, I entered the Treasury, which displayed some of the past monarchy’s most important symbols still worn at royal weddings, baptisms and funerals. I was told that the changing of the guard was an event not to be missed. This ceremony takes place every day at noon and is replete with pomp and circumstance, color and grandeur. I was lucky to find a guide who escorted me through the Hovstallet (royal stable), not far from the palace, where I got an up close and personal look at the king’s horses, magnificent coaches and handsome uniforms. To carry a royal visit to its logical conclusion, be aware that a number of palaces near Stockholm offer overnight accommodations. You can spend a night at both Södertuna Slott and Sundbyholms Slott, each beautifully situated near the water. Södertuna Slott was constructed in the 18th century and is located 43 miles south of Stockholm, while Sundbyholms Slott
Stockholm at dusk. Photograph Courtesy Sweden Tourism.
is west of Stockholm and can be reached by car in about an hour and a half. Both palaces retain much of their former glory but have been brought into the 21st century with the addition of modern conveniences. I visited City Hall, widely considered to be one of the most beautiful city halls in the world. Here I found a living symbol of this city, a building buzzing with activities. The famous Blue Hall, where the Nobel Banquet is held each December, was a highlight of my tour. Knowing that I’d never experience this banquet firsthand, I went for the next best thing — dinner at Stadshuskällaren, a restaurant in the basement of City Hall, where I had the chance to sample food enjoyed by Nobel Prize winners. The chefs here are the very ones who prepare the banquet and I couldn’t resist asking for “whatever the prize winners have.” Out came a mountain grouse breast baked in black trumpet mushrooms with caramelized apples served with Calvados sauce and potato cake and, for dessert, a fig and cherry compote. While wandering around the alleys of Old Town, I stumbled upon Stockholm Cathedral. My lucky day: A classical music concert was just beginning. Dusk filtered in through leaded glass windows and shimmered off the golden angels on the high brick ceiling. Before returning to my hotel, I was attracted to a patio bar, Babylon, where I was surrounded by chattering clusters of fashion plates and artist types. Wrapping myself in one of the restaurant’s green fleece blankets to ward off the evening’s chill, I enjoyed a late bite of potatoes and roding, a local fish. From my barstool, I watched skateboarders dip and sail around in an adjacent park, and I reveled in a priceless travel high — the giddy feeling of
having discovered the coolest place in town. It was also incredibly cool to be surrounded — everywhere — by contemporary, innovative Swedish design featuring beautiful everyday things that are at once environmentally friendly and embody a broad range of sustainable materials, conceptual ideas and functionality. Think IKEA and even H&M, both of which we would be loathe to do without, not to mention my favorite, the languorous Pernilla chair designed by Bruno Mathsson. Both The Ruohsska Museum in Gothenburg and the IKEA Museum in Ämhult tell the Swedish history of functional design and are well worth a visit. One day I visited Royal Djurgården, known as Animal Island because it was once the royal hunting ground. On this island is Skansen Open-Air Museum and one of the most-visited places in the city, containing more than 150 historic buildings that have been dismantled and reassembled here. The area houses more than 70 varieties of animals, and I enjoyed watching three bear cubs, a Scandinavian moose and some frisky reindeer. Nearby is the Vasa Museum, featuring the warship Vasa, which sank in Stockholm 15 minutes after it was launched on its maiden voyage in 1628. It was raised in 1961 and meticulously reconstructed for display. While Stockholm is a thoroughly walkable city, its many islands invite you to explore it by boat. There’s an “Under the Bridges of Stockholm” tour, a “Royal Canal” tour, a “Historical Canal” tour and many many more. I took the Royal Canal tour and, as I gently glided through the water, I felt somewhat royal myself. It’s a classic — and classy — way to see Stockholm, whose islands, bridges, squares and buildings have no rival. For more, contact visitsweden.com.
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DESIGN FOR DIETING BY DEBBI K. KICKHAM
TRAVEL
Are you exactly in the state of health you want to be? Hardly anyone is. Furthermore, if you have a closet filled with investment-quality couture clothing, you also want to stay the same size, so you fit into all those Chanels and Pradas. If you need some inspiration, consider a stay at Canyon Ranch, a world-class, luxury destination spa in the Berkshires. It can provide you with everything you need to take your diet — and your exercise — to the next level. OVERHAUL YOUR EXERCISE ROUTINE Not being one to stay in the status quo regarding my workout — and having visited Canyon Ranch in Lenox, Massachusetts, before with my mother and sister for this publication — I did something smart recently: I visited Canyon Ranch’s in-house exercise physiologist for an assessment of my routine. It is one of the best things I have ever done for my well-being. It was worth every penny in that $165 as Canyon Ranch has a huge team of wellness experts to help you get on track and up your A-game. The last time I was at Canyon Ranch two years ago, Rich Butler, the exercise physiologist, told me that if I actually Yoga at Canyon Ranch. Courtesy Canyon Ranch.
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wanted to lose weight, I should eat about 1,000 calories a day, do an extra day of aerobics on the treadmill, add more hills and lift weights for more repetitions. Well, I did just that and lost about seven pounds. On this trip, he advised that, because of my sciatica, I should opt for the elliptical machine instead and add a rowing machine to the mix for my arms. I came away with another strategic game plan on how to continue to stay a size four at age 63. His formulas work. I did my normal workout at Canyon Ranch and also took some of the excellent fitness classes, simply to show my body who’s boss. Another asset at Canyon Ranch is the Bod Pod. With a simple eightminute test, the Bod Pod device accurately measures your body fat percentage and lean body mass. Just wear a tight-fitting bathing suit. For women, tights and sports bra are acceptable. You’ll discover what you’re made of — lean muscle mass and fat — and you can set your new fitness goals accordingly. Brilliant! TRY IT, YOU’LL DIET It is pure joy to travel and visit a destination where you don’t have to worry about every calorie. At Canyon Ranch, executive chef Dan Hardy and his team have kicked out all the calories, made smart substitutions and, best of all, listed all the fat, protein, salt, sugar and more on the menus. That means you can make extremely wise food choices. You’ll still have a delicious meal — and you will probably lose pounds. “Every recipe is nutritionally analyzed,” Hardy says. “The process makes the menu development take longer, but that’s what makes Canyon Ranch what it is. Everything is GMO-free, and we use as many organic ingredients as we can.” Indeed, one of my most-favorite-ever foods on the menu is the Southwest burger, containing 352 calories, 14 grams of protein and 9 grams of fat. In a word, it is scrumptious — and it’s on the lunch menu every day. The vegan burger is made with corn, oyster mushrooms, roasted bell peppers, oats used as a binder, a Southwest spice blend and onions. It is served on a potato roll with avocado (yum!) and with a housemade pickle relish. Another delight for your appetite is the chocolate-hazelnut chia pudding, which Hardy says “is a guest favorite.” Containing no eggs and only a small amount of sugar, it has what he calls “a silky mouthfeel.” “We want to provide good, tasty food and plant-forward cuisine,” he says, adding that the resort uses only organic coconut oil or extra-virgin olive oil (no nut oils); honey or maple syrup instead of white sugar, and that “We order specialty products for guests all the time.” Those items might include kosher chicken, 2% lactate, special cereals or honey from a favorite flower. The resort also features a special department to handle all of your culinary requests. In other words, you can eat petite at Canyon Ranch and love every bite. Oh, and here’s something else. There’s actually a delicious item on the daily menu that you can purchase if you love a good hot fudge sundae. Canyon Ranch serves yummy soft-serve that’s topped with a “fudge” made by Wax Orchards. I have thrilled to this little treat for more than 25 years now and it is low-calorie and vegan — and available for purchase. Happy dieting. For more, visit canyonranch.com/lenox and waxorchards.com.
WAG COUNTRY'S PRIVATE & BOARDING SCHOOLS
TOP PRIVATE SCHOOL OPEN-HOUSE DATES NOT TO MISS!
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TOP PRIVATE SCHOOL OPEN-HOUSE DATES NOT TO MISS ARCHBISHOP STEPINAC HIGH SCHOOL
950 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY 10605 914-946-4800 // stepinac.org Top administrator: Fr. Thomas Collins OPEN HOUSE DATES: Oct. 2, 6 and 7 p.m. Oct. 27, 1 and 2 p.m.
One of the highlights of Stepinac’s new school year will be the new active learning centers that were designed to take the school’s pioneering personalized blended learning program to the next level. Modeled after Columbia University’s classroom, the new state-of-the-art learning environment will continue Stepinac’s mission to prepare students for post-secondary success in a globally competitive world. The two non-traditional, 21st century learning spaces significantly heighten interactivity between the student and instructor and between students themselves when they collaborate in problem-solving assignments. The new technology will also allow real-time access to subject matter experts and lecturers located around the world, brought live into the classroom via a state-of-the-art video conferencing capability.
THE BI-CULTURAL SCHOOL 2186 High Ridge Road, Stamford, Connecticut 06903 203-329-2186 // bcds.org Top administrator: Jacqueline Herman
BRUNSWICK SCHOOL
100 Maher Ave., Greenwich, Connecticut 06830 203-625-5800 // brunswickschool.org Top administrator: Thomas Philip, headmaster OPEN HOUSE DATES: Nov. 3, 1 to 3 p.m.
Brunswick School has been defined and distinguished for nearly 120 years by its commitment to “Courage, Honor, Truth.” The school offers rigorous academics, including an advanced science-research and computer-science program, more than 30 advanced-placement courses and a permanent off-campus wilderness education and applied-classroom learning program in Randolph, Vermont. It also offers comprehensive arts, drama and music — and a language program that includes instruction in Arabic, French, Spanish, Mandarin, Italian, Latin and Greek.
THE CHAPEL SCHOOL
172 White Plains Road, Bronxville, New York 10708 914-337-3202 // thechapelschool.org Top administrator: Michael Schultz OPEN HOUSE DATES: Preschool (2s, 3s and 4s): Oct. 8, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Lower school and middle school (Grades K-8): Oct. 20, 1 to 2:30 p.m.
In its 73rd year, The Chapel School continues to offer academic excellence and expanding extracurricular programs, including service learning, music with Concordia Conservatory faculty; National Junior Honor Society, Select Choir, Band, Dramas and Musicals, Golf, Basketball, Cross Country and Track. CHRISTIAN HERITAGE SCHOOL 575 White Plains Road, Trumbull, Connecticut 06611 203-261-6230 // kingsmen.org Top administrator: Brian Modarelli
SPARKING PASSIONS Broadcast the news. Study abroad. Program computers. Design your own blueprint. We inspire young women to be thoughtful global leaders.
FALL OPEN HOUSES
ADMISSION TOUR DAYS
Upper School—Thursday, October 17 at 6:00 p.m. K–12—Saturday, November 2 at 9:00 a.m. Barat Center—Friday, November 15 at 9:30 a.m.
October 9, November 13, December 11, January 15 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
SHGREENWICH.ORG
1 10695CSH_WAGMag_7-75x4-75_FINAL.indd WAGMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2019
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Is your child struggling in school? We can help. Winston Preparatory School
57 West Rocks Road | Norwalk, CT 06851 | 203-229-0465 W. 17th St. | New York City, NY 10011 | 212-496-8400 Route 10 East | Whippany, NJ 07981 | 973.500.6480 30 Deforest Road | Dix Hills, NY 11746 | 631-779-2400
education for the individual
The Winston Preparatory School does not discriminate against applicants and students on the basis of race, color, or national or ethnic origin. The Winston Preparatory School is not associated with the Half Hollow Hills Central School District.
www.winstonprep.edu | facebook.com/winstonprepschool
— DISCOVER THE —
IONA PREP DIFFERENCE
Ĥ Iona Prep’s Class of 2019 earned more than $20 million in merit scholarships, with an average award in excess of $60,000--more than $120 million has been amassed by the last five graduating classes! Ĥ To ensure college success, Iona Prep provides a two-tiered college counseling approach where students are assigned a college counselor in their junior and senior years, serving as an additional support to the student’s regular school counselor. Ĥ More than 72% of Iona Prep’s 2019 graduating seniors earned merit-based academic scholarships to the colleges of their choice.
#IAMIONAPREP BEGIN YOUR COLLEGE PREPARATORY JOURNEY THIS FALL Contact Admissions@IonaPrep.org or visit IonaPrep.org Iona Preparatory Upper School 255 Wilmot Road New Rochelle, NY 10804 (914) 600-6154
Iona Preparatory Lower School 173 Stratton Road New Rochelle, NY 10804 (914) 633-7744
@IonaPrep in/IonaPrep IonaPreparatory +IonaPreparatorySchool
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TOP PRIVATE SCHOOL OPEN-HOUSE DATES NOT TO MISS CUSHING ACADEMY
39 School Street, Ashburnham MA 01430 978-827-7000 // cushing.org Top Administrator: Dr. Randy Bertin, head of school OPEN HOUSE DATES: Oct. 14, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 11, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 7, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Founded in 1865, Cushing Academy is a coeducational college preparatory boarding school for students in grades 9-PG, located just 60 miles northwest of Boston. For over 150 years, Cushing Academy has transformed scholars, athletes, artists, and individuals who are endlessly curious and actively engaged in discovering new talents and interests. Our innovative curriculum prepares students for college and life by emphasizing essential skills such as collaboration, communication, and global awareness. Our teachers are committed to the success of every student in the classrooms, on the stage, on the field, in the studios, and in all aspects of their Cushing experience.
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DARROW SCHOOL 110 Darrow Road, New Lebanon, New York 12125 518-794-6000 // darrowschool.org Top administrator: Simon Holzapfel
THE GREENWICH COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL 401 Old Church Road, Greenwich, Connecticut 06830 203-865-5600 // gcds.net Top administrator: Adam Rohdie
FORDHAM PREPARATORY SCHOOL 441 E. Fordham Road, Bronx, New York 10458 718-367-7500 // fordhamprep.org Top administrator: Christopher Devron
THE GREENWICH SPANISH SCHOOL The O’Connor Center 6 Riverside Ave., Riverside, Connecticut 06878 203-698-1500 // greenwichspanish.org Top administrator: Rosario Brooks, director
FRENCH-AMERICAN SCHOOL OF NEW YORK Pre-school 85 Palmer Ave., Scarsdale, New York 10583 914-250-0521 Elementary School 111 Larchmont Ave., Larchmont, New York 10538 914-250-0469 Middle and High School 145 New St., Mamaroneck, New York 10543 914-250-0451 fasny.org Top administrator: Joël Peinado GREENWICH ACADEMY 200 N. Maple Ave. Greenwich, Connecticut 06830 203-625-8900 // greenwichacademy.org Top administrator: Molly H. King
THE GUNNERY 22 Kirby Road, Washington, Connecticut 06793 860-868-7334 // gunnery.org Top administrator: Peter W. E. Becker HACKLEY SCHOOL 293 Benedict Ave., Tarrytown, New York 10591 914-366-2600 // hackleyschool.org Top administrator: Michael C. Wirtz THE HARVEY SCHOOL 260 Jay St., Katonah, New York 10536 914-232-3161 // harveyschool.org Top administrator: Bill Knauer
SCHOLARSHIP | SERVICE | SPIRIT
OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2019 FROM 12PM-4PM
500 West Hartsdale Avenue, Hartsdale, New York I 914.761.3300 I www.mariaregina.org
Boarding and Day for Boys - Grades 7-12 / Postgraduate
OPEN HOUSE OCTOBER14, 2019 R E G I S T E R AT
w w w. t r i n i t y p a w l i n g . o r g / o p e n h o u s e or call 845-855-4825
We prepare our students to enter college and the world as confident, well-rounded young men who are in charge of their learning, eager for discovery, capable of innovation, and ready for leadership. This educational experience could make all the difference in your son’s future. Learn more about the benefits of a Trinity-Pawling education at www.trinitypawling.org
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TOP PRIVATE SCHOOL OPEN-HOUSE DATES NOT TO MISS IONA PREPARATORY SCHOOL
Lower School, grades PK-4 to 8 173 Stratton Road, New Rochelle, New York 10804 914-633-7744 Upper School, grades 9-12 255 Wilmot Road, New Rochelle, New York 10804 914-632-0714 // ionaprep.org Top administrator: Brother Thomas Leto OPEN HOUSE DATES: Oct. 20, 12 to 3 p.m. Oct. 24, 6 to 8 p.m.
Westchester’s only all-boys, K-12 Catholic school has been preparing young men for success for more than 100 years. Rigorous academics with three levels of study, a personalized and comprehensive school counseling and college advisement program, unique Christian service and leadership opportunities locally, nationally and internationally championship athletics, and an array of activities provide students with the foundation for success in college and in life. Come for a visit and see the Iona Prep Difference for yourself.
KIMBALL UNION ACADEMY 64 Main St. Meriden, New Hampshire 603-469-2100. // www.kua.org OPEN HOUSE DATES: Sept. 28, 9:30 a.m. to Noon Nov. 9, 9:30 a.m. to Noon
Serving grades nine through 12 and post-graduate, Kimball Union draws on its rich 200-year history to deliver a 21st-century curriculum that challenges students and prepares them for success in college and life in a friendly, holistic environment on its 1,300-acre campus in Meriden. Signature programs, including visual and performing arts, athletics, STEM, global and art scholar programs and 20 advanced placement courses provide students with opportunities to expand their learning beyond the classroom with innovative learning for inquiring minds,
KING SCHOOL
1450 Newfield Ave., Stamford, Connecticut 06905 203-322-2496 // kingschoolct.org Top administrator: Karen E. Eshoo, Ph.D. OPEN HOUSE DATES: Grades 6-11: Oct. 6, 1 to 4 p.m. PreK-grade 5: Nov. 3, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
At King School, we seek more than achievement for our students. Our goal is to open minds and spark courageous thinking. Every day, our students discover and forge their unique paths to excellence, as we teach, guide and cheer them on. Because when we set better standards for both the experience and outcomes of education, students cultivate the insights and heart to own their future. MAPLEBROOK SCHOOL 5142 Route 22, Amenia, New York 12501 845-373-8191 // maplebrookschool.org Top administrator: Donna Konkolics
Open minds. Courageous thinking.
Dare to ask more of education. Register for Open House Oct 6: Grades 6-11 | Nov 3: PreK-Grade 5 kingschoolct.org/openhouse
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Exciting Changes Happening at Soundview Prep! • Flexible Support Center – Helping Soundview Prep students with organizational skills, writing, note taking, homework and test preparation.
Exciting Changes Happening at Soundview Prep!
• Flexible Support Center – Helping Soundview Prep
• Music Production Recording Courses students withand organizational skills, writing, note taking, homework and test preparation. • Senior Internship Program
• Music Production and Recording Courses
• STEAM Design Studio
• Senior Internship Program
• Science• Research Program STEAM Design Studio
• Expanded AP Course Offerings • Science Research Program • Expanded AP Course Offerings • Recently Renovated Campus • Recently Renovated Campus
370 Underhill Avenue, Yorktown Heights, • 914-962-2780 • Soundviewprep.org 370 Underhill Avenue, Yorktown Heights,NYNY • 914-962-2780 • Soundviewprep.org Independent co-ed day school for grades 6 – 12 • Picturesque Campus
Independent for grades 6 – 12 • Picturesque Campus 4-to-1 Studentco-ed Facultyday Ratioschool • Excellent College Placement • Rolling Admissions 4-to-1 Student Faculty Ratio • Excellent College Placement • Rolling Admissions JOIN US FOR AN OPEN HOUSE! - SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14 FROM 1 – 3 PM
JOIN US FOR AN OPEN HOUSE! - SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14 FROM 1 – 3 PM O NE O F T H E T OP 50 CATH OL I C H I GH SCH OOL S ACA DE MI E S
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>> CH A MP I O NSH I P ATH L ETI C TEAMS >> AWA R D-W I N N I N G D R AMA C L U B >> MAS S O F F ER ED DAI L Y >> H Y BR I D C U R R I C U L U M O F B L E N D E D CO U R S E S >> L F >> MAT H H O N O R S S OCI E T Y >> CH E S S CL U B >> >> CA M P U S M INIS TRY >> A R T C LU B >> BAS KET BAL L >> CAR EER EXP L O R ER S >> G OAt Stepinac, the classroom SWIMMING >> H A B I TAT FOR H UMAN I TY >> G A M ING C LU B >> S OCC ER >> MOC K T R I AL >> C R U SAD ER N EW S PAP ER >> BU S I N ES S I N VE S T M E N T >> CR O S S CO U N T RY extended beyond our walls. >> BOOK C LUB >> C RUSA DE R S FOR LIFE >> DE B ATE A ND FO R EN S I C S >> C H O R U S >> L AC R O S S E >> MU AL P H A T H ETA >> D R AMA C L U B >> F OOT B A L L >> H E A L T H CA R E We tackled real- world problems. FORUM >> KEY C LUB >> INDOOR TR AC K >> JA Z Z B A ND >> C L AS S R OO M C R U SAD ER >> L I T ER ARY J O U R N AL - T H E P H O EN I X >> MS G VA RS ITY >> CO M M U N I T Y with global warming SERV IC E >> TRAC K & FIE LD >> NATIONA L HONOR SOC IET Y >> EN G I N EER I N G >> C U LT U R A L AWA R E N E SS To MMO N I N T ER ES T >> PH OTOG R A PH Y >> PR O M >> COdeal define your future. COMMIT TEE >> CONC E R T B A ND >> B ASE B A LL >> S C IE NC E ROC KET C L U B >> S PAN I S H C L U B ( S OC I EDAD L AT I N A)food E C R EW >> C U R R E N T my E V E Nteam T S >> S T U D E N T and crisis, >> S TAGshortage BA ND >> BOWLING >> S TUDE NT G OV E R NM E NT >> DIV E R S I T Y C L U B >> L I T ER ARY MAG AZI N E >> I TAL I AN C L U B W R ES T L I N G L AW N S PO R T S >> alternate>>forms of energy >> H OCK E Y >> created TR AV EL C LUB >> VOCA L A R TS E NS E M B LE >> THE S HE P H ER D Y EAR BOO K >> T EN N I S >> O N E O F T H E T O P 5 0 CATH O LIC H IG H S C HOOLS >> 65 Y E A RS OF production (a wind turbine) EXC E L L E NC E I N E D UCATI ON >> 1 0 0 % GRADUATI ON & ACC E PTA N C E R ATE >> 4 H O N OR S ACA D E M IE S >> 2 2 A DVA N C E D PL AC E M EN T COURS E S >> 1S T IN T HE and food production N AT I O N TO O F F E R >> A COMPL ETE DI GI TAL TEX TBOOK LIB R A RY >> MO R E T H AN 1 1 , 0 0 0 A LUM N I >> C H A M PIO N S H IP ATH LE TIC T E AM S >> AWA R D - W I N N I N G (a self- sustaining vertical farm). DRAMA C LUB >> MAS S OFFE R E D DA ILY >> HY B R ID C UR R I C U L U M O F BL EN D ED CO U R S ES >> AMBAS SADO R ’S C L U B >> CAMP U S M I N I S T RY >> A R T CL U B >> BASKETB ALL >> CA R E ER EX PL OR ER S >> G OLF >> M ATH HO N O R S S OC I ET Y >> C H ES S C L U B >> S W I MMI N G >> HA B I TAT F O R HU MA N I T Y >> G A M I N G CL U B >> S OCCE R ANDRE BRAGA S F O R LOF I F E2019 >> MOC K TRIAL >> C RU SA DE R NE WSPA P E R >> BUSI NESS I N VE S TM E N T >> C R O S S CO U N T RY >> BOO K C L U B >> C R U SAD ER CLASS >> D E B AT E A N D F O R E N S I CS >> CHO RUS >> L AC ROSS E >> M U A LP HA THE TA >> DR A MA C L U B >> F OOT BAL L >> H EAL T H CAR E F O R U M >> KEY C L U B >> I N DOO R T R ACK >> JA Z Z B A N D >> OP S CL ASSROO M C RUSADE R >> LITE R A RY J OU R NA L - THE P H O EN I X >> M S G VA R S ITY >> CO MMU N I T Y S ERVI C E >> T R AC K & F I EL D >> N AT SHI O N A L H OTNEO R S OCI E T Y >> I EN GINEERING >> C ULTU R A L AWA R E NE S S >> COM M ON INT ER ES T >> P H OTOG R AP H Y >> P R O M CO MMI T T EE >> CO N C ER T BAN D >> BAS E B A L L >> S CI E N CE R OCK E T CL U B >> SPANISH C LUB (S OC IE DA D L ATINA ) >> STAG E C R E W >> C U R R EN T EVEN T S >> S T U D EN T BAN D >> BOW L I N G >> S T U D EN T G OVE R N M E N T >> D I V E R S I T Y CL U B >> L I T E R A RY M AGA Z I NE >> ITA LIA N C LUB >> WR E STLING >> L AW N S P O R T S >> H OC KEY >> T R AVEL C L U B >> VOCAL AR T S EN S EMBL E >> T H E S H E PH E R D Y E A R B OO K
A LU MNI
AMBASSADOR’S C LUB
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 2 PRESENTATIONS @ 6PM & 7PM SUNDAY OCTOBER 27 PRESENTATIONS @ 1PM & 2PM
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TOP PRIVATE SCHOOL OPEN-HOUSE DATES NOT TO MISS MARIA REGINA HIGH SCHOOL
500 W. Hartsdale Ave., Hartsdale, New York 10530 914-373-8191 // mariaregina.org Top administrator: Anna Parra OPEN HOUSE DATES: Oct. 26, Noon
THE MASTERS SCHOOL
rative and poised scholars. Both day and boarding students benefit from learning in a boarding school environment, which includes the resources, diversity and activities of Masters’ vibrant seven-day campus, convenient access to New York City with a majority of faculty living on campus. To learn more about giving your child the Masters’ advantage, attend the fall Open House on Oct. 19 or Groups Tours on Sept. 19 and Oct. 3. To RSVP, contact admission@mastersny. org or 914-479-6420.
49 Clinton Ave., Dobbs Ferry, New York 10522 914-479-6400 // mastersny.org Top administrator: Laura Danforth OPEN HOUSE DATES: Middle school: Oct. 19, 9 a.m. to Noon Upper school: Oct. 19, 9 a.m. to Noon
MILLBROOK SCHOOL 131 Millbrook School Road, Millbrook, New York 12545 845-677-8261 // millbrook.org Top administrator: Drew Casertano NOTRE DAME CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL 220 Jefferson St., Fairfield, Connecticut 06825 203-372-6521 // notredame.org Top administrator: Christopher Cipriano
Since its founding in 1957, Maria Regina High School has been a distinguished leader in education for young women, providing a rigorous learning environment and strong social and moral guidance in a faith-based tradition. Celebrating more than 60 years of excellence, MRHS is committed to the values of Scholarship, Service and Spirit. We challenge young women intellectually, spiritually, athletically and through extracurriculars. By embracing the diverse personal, cultural and intellectual backgrounds of its students, MRHS develops young women so that they can make a significant contribution to their community and society.
The Masters School is a leading coed, five-day and seven-day boarding school for grades 5-12 that fosters active intellectual exploration through a vibrant convergence of ideas, cultures, arts and athletics. Masters’ students confidently find their own voices and emerge ready for success in college, career and life. Located on a beautiful 96-acre campus, The Masters School is distinguished by its powerful and transformative approach to education featuring the renowned Harkness teaching methodology. Gathered around oval tables, students take an active role in their education, which builds confident, collabo-
OAKWOOD FRIENDS SCHOOL 22 Spackenhill Road, Poughkeepsie, New York 12603 845-242-2340 // oakwoodfriends.org Top administrator: Chad Cianfrani RIDGEFIELD ACADEMY 223 W. Mountain Road, Ridgefield, Connecticut 6877 203-894-1800 // ridgefieldacademy.org Top administrator: James P. Heus
BE A SCHOLAR. BE AN ATHLETE. BE A VOLUNTEER. BE A LEADER. BE A PERFORMER. BE AN ARTIST. BE A GRYPHON! Learn more about what it means to BE A GRYPHON at our All-School Open House Saturday, October 19, 2019 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 2225 Westchester Avenue, Rye, NY (914) 967-5622 | www.holychildrye.org
AN ALL-GIRLS, CATHOLIC, INDEPENDENT, COLLEGE-PREPARATORY SCHOOL FOR GRADES 5-12 112
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Founded in 1902, an independent, college preparatory day school, providing character-based education for boys in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12. To learn more and register for our fall Open House, visit BrunswickSchool.org OP EN HO US E
R SV P Sunday, Nov. 3
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TOP PRIVATE SCHOOL OPEN-HOUSE DATES NOT TO MISS RIPPOWAM CISQUA
Lower School 325 W. Patent Road, Mount Kisco, New York 10549 914-244-1200 Upper School 439 Cantitoe St., Bedford, New York 10506 914-244-12500 // rcsny.org Top administrator: Colm MacMahon OPEN HOUSE DATES: Oct. 17, 6 p.m. Oct. 26, 9 a.m.
Rippowam Cisqua School ignites learning in PreKindergarten through Grade 9 students. Parents are drawn to RCS because of its unique ability to stretch, challenge and lift young minds. Strong student/teacher relationships are supported by small interactive classes, flexible learning spaces, and an immersive curriculum that integrates academics, arts, athletics, wellness, and innovation. By cultivating their imagination through academic play, exploration, and discovery, students engage in joyful learning experiences
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that spark their intellectual curiosity and personal growth. Graduates emerge as independent thinkers, confident communicators, and engaged leaders who respect and contribute meaningfully to a diverse and increasingly complex global society.
SACRED HEART GREENWICH
1177 King St., Greenwich, Connecticut 06831 203-531-6500 // cshgreenwich.org Top administrator: Pamela Juan Hayes OPEN HOUSE DATES: Admission Tour day: Oct. 9, 9 to 11 a.m. Upper School Open House: Oct. 17, 6 p.m. Sacred Heart Greenwich Open House: Nov. 2, 9 a.m. Admission Tour Day: Nov. 13, 9 to 11 a.m. Barat Center Open House: Nov.15, 9:30 a.m. Admission Tour Day: Dec. 11, 9 to 11 a.m. Admission Tour Day: Jan. 15, 9 to 11 a.m.
Sacred Heart Greenwich provides an empowering learning environment for girls and young women from kindergarten through 12th grade to prepare them to become confident, intelligent and compassionate global leaders. The school offers a coed program for young children at the Barat Center for Early Childhood Education. Located on a beautiful
110-acre campus at 1177 King St., in Greenwich, Connecticut, Sacred Heart is an all-girls’ Catholic, independent college-preparatory day school that offers a rigorous academic program, which challenges students to take on a variety of leadership roles on campus and beyond.
SCHOOL OF THE HOLY CHILD
2225 Westchester Ave., Rye, New York 10580 914-967-5622 // holychildrye.org Top administrator: Melissa Dan OPEN HOUSE DATES: All-School: Oct. 19, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 5, 9 to 11 a.m. Dec. 10, 9 to 11 a.m.
A college-preparatory school for girls, fifth through 12th grade, that strives to develop “women of conscience and action.” Accomplished and dedicated faculty members foster the spiritual development, individual talents and interests of each student. This is realized through rigorous and comprehensive academic, art, athletics, service and global programs.
Preschoolers built these jeeps for an African Safari.
At RCS, exploration
is a requirement. Project-based learning creates a genuine desire to explore the unknown.
Each day, we inspire PreK through Grade 9 students to imagine, create, and innovate. Schedule a tour at www.rcsny.org/VisitRCS or call (914) 244-1205.
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TOP PRIVATE SCHOOL OPEN-HOUSE DATES NOT TO MISS
SOLOMON SCHECHTER SCHOOL OF WESTCHESTER Lower School, K-5 30 Dellwood Road, White Plains, New York 10605 914-948-3111 Upper School, 6-12 555 W. Hartsdale Ave., Hartsdale, New York 10530 914-948-8333 schechterwestchester.org Top administrator: Michael Kay
SOUNDVIEW PREPARATORY SCHOOL
370 Underhill Ave., Yorktown Heights, New York 10598 914-962-2780 // soundviewprep.org Top administrator: Ken Cotrone OPEN HOUSE DATES: Oct. 6, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Soundview Preparatory School provides a rigorous, academic program in a supportive and caring environment that recognizes and values each individual. Our welcoming community is one that fosters self-confidence in an intellectually challenging, yet nurturing environment. We help students to find their voice through small classes with passionate, experienced educators who are deeply invested in the academic, personal and social-emotional progress of our community. Our rolling admissions accepts students in sixth through 12th grade.
The mission of The Ursuline School, an independent, private, all-girls Catholic school is to educate, inspire and empower a diverse population of 780 young women in grades six through 12 with our college preparatory curriculum. Ursuline students learn 21st century critical thinking skills and engage in service opportunities both locally and globally. The school belongs to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association and has 35 teams in 13 sports. Open House Saturday, Oct. 19, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Middle School Information Night Wednesday, Nov. 13, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
THE URSULINE SCHOOL
THE WINDWARD SCHOOL Lower School 13 Windward Ave., White Plains, New York 10605 Middle School 40 W. Red Oak Lane, White Plains, New York 10604 Windward Manhattan 202 W. 97 St., New York, New York, 10025 914-949-6968 // thewindwardschool.org Top administrator: John J. Russell
1354 North Ave., New Rochelle, New York 10804 914-636-3950 // ursulinenewrochelle.org Top administrator: Eileen Davidson OPEN HOUSE DATES: Oct. 19, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Middle School: Feb. 2, 12 p.m.
TRINITY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL 926 Newfield Ave., Stamford, Connecticut 06905 203-322-3401 // trinitycatholic.org Top administrator: Dave Williams
FOUNDED IN 1865 • GRADES 9-12, PG • LOCATED ONE HOUR FROM BOSTON
2019 OPEN HOUSE EVENTS MONDAY, OCTOBER 14 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7 9:30 am - 1:00 pm
CUSHING ACADEMY 39 School Street Ashburnham, MA 01430 978.827.7300 admissions@cushing.org www.cushing.org
At Cushing Academy, seeing is believing, and there’s no better way to picture yourself as a Penguin than to dive right in. Please join us for an Open House for the opportunity to: Learn more about the programs we offer. Meet with students, faculty, administrators, coaches, current parents. Tour our beautiful New England campus and explore our new facilities. Enjoy lunch with the Cushing community • Ask questions and get answers!
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TOP PRIVATE SCHOOL OPEN-HOUSE DATES NOT TO MISS
TRINITY-PAWLING
700 Route 22, Pawling, New York 12564 845-855-3100 // trinitypawling.org Top administrator: William W. Taylor OPEN HOUSE DATES: Oct. 14, 9 a.m.
programs is the Effort System — teaching boys that the more they invest of themselves the greater their accomplishments will be. Trinity-Pawling’s Center for Learning Achievement provides support services to assist students in reaching their academic potential. Specific instructional programs are available for students who have language-based learning differences and for students with executive-function difficulties. WHITBY SCHOOL 969 Lake Ave., Greenwich, Connecticut 06831 203-869-8464 // whitbyschool.org Top administrator: Simone Becker, head of lower school; Jonathan Chein, head of upper school
WINSTON PREPARATORY SCHOOL
The goal of a Trinity-Pawling education is to unlock the potential for greatness that exists in each boy. The school pursues this goal through a vigorous, experiential learning environment that emphasizes innovation, creativity, collaboration and critical thinking. The Trinity-Pawling learning experience combines a timeless commitment to character with a dedication to prepare young men for an ever-changing world. One of the school’s most distinctive
57 West Rocks Road, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851 203-229-0465 // winstonprep.edu OPEN HOUSE DATES: Sept. 20, 9:30 a.m. Oct. 11, 9:30 a.m. Nov. 1, 9:30 a.m. Nov. 13, 6 p.m. Jan. 24, 9:30 a.m. Feb. 28, 9:30 a.m. Mar. 11, 6 p.m. Apr. 24, 9:30 a.m. May 15, 9:30 a.m. Jun. 5, 9:30 a.m.
THE ROYAL CLOSET Serving Our Area Since 1986
Winston Preparatory School is an innovative day school for students in the fourth through 12th grade with learning differences such as dyslexia, nonverbal learning disabilities and executive-functioning difficulties. Our unique model of education for the individual provides intense-skill remediation while encouraging students to build independence, resilience, responsibility, self-awareness and self-advocacy. Visit winstonprep.edu/apply-now to sign up for an open house.
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WONDERFUL DINING
UPSCALE, UP THE STREET BY JEREMY WAYNE
FOOD & SPIRITS
Everybody loves Rui. And why, indeed shouldn’t they? Neat and trim, with kind, almost plaintive eyes, Rui Correia is the co-owner of Douro, the popular Greenwich Mediterranean restaurant that has recently relocated to a historic site a few hundred yards away along Greenwich Avenue. One Friday lunchtime, we settle into a corner table tucked away at the back of the restaurant, behind the fancy new bar, Rui and I, to shoot the breeze over small plates and glasses of Rui’s own blend “Chef Rui Correia,” a humdinger of a red wine made in collaboration with Paulo Coutinho, a winemaker from the eponymous Douro region in Portugal. First up for me, though, a Diet Coke in a heavy glass the size of a bucket — with ice cubes the size of shoe boxes — which is just the thing for a broiling Greenwich summer’s day. Mind you, Rui looks cool enough in a forest green V-neck T-shirt and sharp, tailored shorts. Totally Euro, ever so Greenwich. I’m wearing more than he is but oddly I feel underdressed beside him. Rui grew up in northern Portugal and came to the United States at age 9. His grandparents had a restaurant in Porto, where his grandmother was the cook and his grandfather looked after the customers. The food was simple but flavorful, dishes centered on staples such as sardines, octopus and liver, all of which young Rui was eager to try. As if on cue, our server brings over a plate of sardines. Here in Greenwich they are quickly poached in olive oil, with lemon, pepper and thyme, and come prepped and primped on crisp and fresh crostini. Gone in two bites, they’re all about flavor and freshness. “Simple food speaks to the soul,” says Rui, though I
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Rui Correia, chef and co-owner of Douro. Photograph by Bob Rozycki.
hardly need convincing. Next up, grilled octopus, arranged on a chickpea purée, with roasted peppers cooked long and slow, so that their flavor is fully extruded. A touch of sesame piri piri for some heat and here you have another corker of a dish. “We buy Spanish or Portuguese octopus from cold Atlantic waters,” says Rui, almost conspiratorially, and therein lies the secret and the reason this octopus tastes as good as it does. At any rate it gives the lie to octopus being a tough and recalcitrant mollusk. If young Rui felt any culture shock coming from sunny Portugal to settle with his family in gritty Yonkers in the late 1980s, he did not let it interfere with his ambition. Starting work at 16 as a dishwasher, he was soon promoted to the role of server, because he spoke English. A move to a restaurant in Bronxville kindled his interest in the kitchen, where more and more he found himself hanging around the stoves. His boss recognized his developing passion and encouraged him, helping him secure a place at the New York Restaurant School on a soccer scholarship. There’s passion all right. It’s evident in a wagyu beef carpaccio, seared on the outside, with gooseberries and almost sweet aged vinegar, with some watercress for a bit of bitterness. “Not entirely Portuguese,” says Rui, smiling. It’s evident, too, in a wonderful lamb empanada, which comes to the table piping hot, the flakiest pastry encasing minced leg of lamb, fragrant with thyme and dotted with the sweetest, fire-roasted tomatoes. A talk on tomatoes and produce in general follows. Like me, Rui is frustrated that he cannot buy a decent tomato in the winter months. He solves his problem by keeping his tomatoes in the dark until they ripen. Time spent as a line cook in Danny Meyer’s restaurants Union Square Café and Gramercy Tavern followed. Then came a restaurant of his own, Café Porto in Yonkers until 9/11 put the kibosh on it. He opened another Portuguese restaurant, Oporto, in Hartsdale, coincidentally with another Rui, where he developed his take on a modern Portuguese cuisine that could respect the traditional and keep its integrity while absorbing other Mediterranean influences. “Variety and quality are the two keys to a good diet,” says Rui, and you’d better believe him. The small plates menu echoes his philosophy, although there are larger entrées on the menu too, fresh fish like whole dourado
— note the Portuguese spelling — and branzino. There’s even a burger, although this is no ordinary burger, with its char-grilled Kobe beef, pickled onion and manchego cheese, served on a Portuguese-style roll. Paella, too makes an appearance, a version that Rui says is creamier than its Spanish counterpart. It was working at his next restaurant, Porto, in Scarsdale, Rui met businessman Ron Shemesh, who had married his cousin and business partner, Maria. Together, the three opened Douro in Greenwich in 2009, slap in the middle of the recession. “We struggled at first. Greenwich had only French or Italian restaurants and it took two years until we started to win people over.” The new Douro was even less “hardcore” Portuguese — Ron’s Israeli background saw hummus coming onto the menu and some crowd-pleasing pastas arrived and stayed there, too. “We’re more a Mediterranean restaurant now with a hint of Portuguese,” muses Rui. “Plus, of course, all the Moorish influence — cilantro, cinnamon, pimentón, saffron…” He reels off the names of the herbs and spices trance-like, as if they were soporifics. The move along the avenue has meant that Douro has changed up a gear. Its new home, at 253 Greenwich Ave., was built for the Putnam Trust Co. of Greenwich in 1917, designed by the engineer and builder Rafael Guastavino, Jr. Some design changes have inevitably occurred over the years. Most recently, the bar has moved center stage and the mezzanine has disappeared, as if by sleight of hand, to reappear at the rear of the restaurant, seemingly floating on air. Thousands of terracotta tiles have been restored on the soaring pillars and, while reducing noise isn’t exactly rocket science, at Douro it kind of is, since walls have been painted with ceramic paint, developed by NASA, to reduce the decibel count. Although Greenwich residents will have seen many names over the door in recent years — Greenstreet, Dome, Gaia and Morello Bistro to name but four — the care and devotion of the new owners, the Douro dream team, not least in their painstaking and sympathetic restoration of the site, suggest they are here to stay. Rui, too, seems happily settled. “My wife is expecting a baby in September,” he confides, as a rather wonderful lunch draws to a late close. For more, visit dourogroup.com. SEPTEMBER 2019
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RAISING CAIN FOR HEALTHY HOSPITAL EATING BY JEREMY WAYNE PHOTOGRAPH BY BOB ROZYCKI
FOOD & SPIRITS
They’re rolling out the fine bone china at Phelps Hospital in Sleepy Hollow but it’s not for some upcoming fancy fundraiser. It’s for the people who really matter — the hospital patients. No more coffee in plastic cups either, because from now on coffee will be served bedside in real china cups. These initiatives and many more besides are the brainchildren of Andrew Cain, regional executive chef for dining services at Phelps and at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, Cain earned his stripes at Michelin-starred restaurants such as Michael Mina and Per Se in Manhattan and most recently at the prestigious Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa in California. But after 16 years in wine country, the Maryland native was ready for a change, not least because he wanted his children to be closer to their grandparents back east. So, he followed his mentor, the celebrated French-born chef, Bruno Tison, to Northwell Health (which runs 23 hospitals in New York from Syracuse down to Long Island), to help revolutionize what health-care catering is all about. Now, at the two hospitals, Cain is revamping buying and ordering and generally bringing in “resort” practices. This means food on demand, room service by another name, which means eating when you want to, rather than when the administration dictates you should. Patients will have discussed their options in advance or else can call down to place an order, with a full menu served between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. The quality of the food has skyrocketed. Homemade buttermilk pancakes are now made in-house. “We can serve two pancakes now for breakfast, whereas previously, when the pancake mix came out of the box and was packed with salt, we were only able to serve one.” And local produce matters. Generic maple syrup, which previously was ladled out of industrial-sized vats, has given way to Hudson Valley maple syrup, more work since it needs to be portioned out individually, but far healthier and, perhaps just as important, better tasting. The hospitals have scrapped low-cost, “shelf stable” orange juice and now use only Tropicana. And they crack real eggs — no powder or
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Andrew Cain prepares a test meal of braised boneless beef short rib, Yukon Gold mashed potatoes, sweet carrots and their puree with red wine braisage reduction sauce.
substitute here — and high-quality eggs to boot, and cook them to order in a pan, not on the fathappy griddle. All vegetables are fresh and more “plant-forward” meals will soon be finding their way on to the menu. Artisanal breads come from Amy’s Bread in New York City, which supplies many top restaurants. Cain and his team are moving, too, to eliminate frozen and canned foods. Fish — he offers cod as an example — is line-caught and sustainable. As for chicken, Northwell is now the biggest single buyer of fresh, nonantibiotic and hormone-free chicken on the East Coast. “Healthy, nutritious and sustainable,” are the watchwords Cain keeps coming back to. And it’s not just patients who are enjoying the benefit of the new regime, where fat fryers have been banned and sodas are most definitely off the menu. (Bring on the fresh juices and the wheat germ.). The philosophy extends to Phelps’ cafeteria, which sells up to 700 nutritious meals every day to hospital visitors. “Plus, we do great food for our colleagues,” Cain says proudly, a boast supported by the story of Russ Ficke, a chef manager at another of Northwell’s hospitals,
North Shore Syosset, who lost 50 pounds through simple exercise and healthy eating. The slick video of Ficke’s transformational journey plays on a loop on a plasma screen in the lobby of Phelps’ main entrance. Menus at Phelps will change regularly with the seasons, no small task when you’re catering for 20 different types of diet. They’re on trend, as well, with avocado toast being introduced shortly — it’s already on the menu at Northern Westchester, Phelps’ sister hospital — while there is definitely no sense of preachiness in the double cheese “maternity burger,” from Phelps’ dedicated maternity menu, offered to just-delivered moms, in all likelihood craving what they have not been allowed to eat in the preceding months. As charming and modest a chef as you will ever hope to meet, Cain is not above clearing a couple of dirty cups from a table or bending down to pick up an empty granola bar wrapper from the floor as we walk through the hospital cafeteria on my hospital tour. The benefits don’t end when patients are discharged. Phelps holds cooking classes for different patient groups who work with dieticians, learning better eating habits to take home and even an actual recipe, a kind of after-sales service if you like. The local demographic is also considered, with Mexican, Latin American and some Caribbean dishes finding their way on to the menu. “Curry coming soon,” Cain says. Phelps FARMacy, meanwhile, is a gardening initiative to promote wellness and communitybuilding through education and access to healthy food, operating on a volunteer basis to help the undernourished. But at the end of the day, it’s not only about the food and healthy eating. It’s more of a holistic, feel-good, be good to the environment and be good to yourself philosophy. For instance, Cain has mandated the removal of all Styrofoam and plastic straws from the facility. Even plastic aprons have been given the heaveho, to be replaced with restaurant-style, natural fiber aprons. “They’re better for the environment and better for morale,” the chef says. “And besides,” he adds with a smile, “it’s always nice to be well-dressed.” For more, visit nwhc.net and phelpshospital.org.
Proprietor, Bobby Epstein of the legendary Muscoot Tavern in Katonah, invites you to experience his newest restaurant—
Kisco River Eatery Come in and savor the fresh raw bar and our impressive variety of steak, pasta, chicken and seafood selections in our warm and cozy atmosphere.
Gather • Eat • Drink.
Lunch & Dinner 7 days a week Sunday Brunch 11-3 Happy Hour Daily from 3-6 222 East Main Street • Mount Kisco, NY 10549 914 • 218 • 3877 info@Kiscoriver.com www.kiscoriver.com
Free Parking Around Back
WINE & DINE
WHISKEY’S (AND WHISKY’S) MOMENT
FOOD & SPIRITS
BY DOUG PAULDING
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As some of you may know, I wrote a “Wine Tasting Journal,” published last year by Peter Pauper Press. I have several friends who are more spirits-centric than wine and a few suggested I write a “Spirits Tasting Journal.” I ran the idea by my editor who then ran the idea by the publisher. He suggested I write a formal proposal for the project. I did and it was accepted, the contract was signed and I began the project. The manuscript was submitted and enthusiastically accepted and it will be available sometime in early 2020. I casually interviewed many bartenders about trends in the industry and at their bars. From Manhattan to Cape Cod to Vermont the answer about trends was the same. “No one orders cosmos anymore. That went away when ‘Sex and the City’ went off the air. We are now seeing patrons ordering up the brown spirits, men and women alike.” There are several brown classifications. All spirits, post-distillation are clear. The brown color and subsequent flavors come from wood aging of the spirit. There are clear rums and tequilas but when wood barrel aging becomes part of the process, the color changes, the flavors and texture take on a myriad of tasting and mouthfeel profiles and, of course, the price will increase. Barrels are expensive and wood aging takes time. But all the whiskeys of the world are by definition, barrel aged. So today I would like to focus on whiskey as a worldwide expression of brown spirits. There are many types and styles of whiskey. The different whiskey-producing areas of the world felt the need to codify their production standards by enacting laws that assisted in seeing to it that their regional expression was guaranteed to meet certain standards. Scotland and Ireland were the originators of this beloved and stimulating quaff that can cement friendships or trigger fights. Both countries use barley as the dominant grain. Single malt whiskies can only be made from barley but other grains are allowed for blended whiskey. And both Scotland and Ireland require a minimum barrel aging time of three years, but some producers age for many more years or decades. Bourbon and Tennessee whiskey must be produced using at least 51% corn as the base fermenter. Some producers use a much higher percentage of corn but they can employ other grains. Both whiskeys must be aged a minimum of three years in new oak barrels. This imparts a sweetness of vanilla and perhaps honey, and a spiciness of pepper and licorice, depending on the degree of fire the wood was exposed to during barrel manufacture. Tennessee whiskey can only come from Tennessee while Bourbon can be made anywhere in the United States but must follow the 51% minimum corn and the new oak barrel rule. WAGMAG.COM
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Canadian whiskey rules are simple. The grain source can be wheat, corn, barley or rye. They must be barrel aged for a minimum of three years and they must be made in Canada. Japan, Australia, New Zealand and India are relatively new to the world of whiskey production but they are all making some wonderful whiskeys. Find a large liquor store where you might be able to find a large assortment of smaller bottles to sample some whiskies. Whiskey can be mixed with any number of ingredients to make a popular cocktail like the Manhattan or the Old Fashioned but let’s go pure here. I attended a Macallan “whisky” seminar (Scotland dropped the “e” in the word) several years ago, and the Macallan head distiller told us the proper drinking process. Pour some whisky in a glass and add a couple of ice cubes or a small bit of water. This, he said, would release the essence of the whisky and let it open up and properly express itself. The whiskies of Scotland can be all over the map in flavor profile. The lowland producers of Scotland tend to make pure and lighter whiskies while the northern highland producers often add different degrees of smokiness from using smoldering peat moss in the process. This can add a touch or an avalanche of smokiness in the whisky. Some of the heavily peated whiskies require some time and multiple tastes over the years to adjust to the flavors. The Irish whiskeys (note the different spelling and plural) tend not to use peat, so these whiskeys tend to lean toward the sweeter and fruitier. And typically both countries will bottle their liquor at 80 proof, or 40 % alcohol by volume. Bourbon and Tennessee whiskeys are naturally going to have a sweeter flavor, because of the corn base and because of the requirement of only using new oak barrels. The individual producers decide on their distillery’s desired flavor profile. The amount of oak aging time is critical as more time will impart more of the oak flavors. Equally important is the heat or fire that the wood was exposed to during barrel construction. More fire will emit a spicier and bolder flavor. Less toast will offer up lighter and fruitier whiskey. Both Bourbon and Tennessee whiskey can be bottled at much higher proofs. I always want to know the alcohol percentage of these whiskeys. Two or three drinks of 100 proof (50% alcohol by volume) will be 25% stronger than the same number of drinks at 80 proof. Self-monitoring is always key to a good time. So there you have it. Whiskey is a wonderful drink much in fashion at the moment. If it tastes too alcoholheat strong, add more cubes or water to bring it to your comfort level. Everyone has a house style they prefer. Explore different countries, explore different producers. Becoming whiskey-literate will open doors. You’ll see. In partnership with U.S. importer Hotaling & Co., Ireland’s Dingle Whiskey Distillery has announced the arrival of Dingle Single Malt Whiskey Batch No. 4, a limitededition whiskey that is available in key markets nationwide.
E R OA R I N
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MUSCOOT
Voted!
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One of New York States Top 15
Best Hole In The Wall “ Restaurants That Will Blow Your Taste Buds Away
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STEAK
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Stop in and experience the charm of this historic eatery, a neighborhood favorite since the Roaring ‘20s! Enjoy our cozy tavern where it’s always lively and cheerful or relax on our patio overlooking our horseshoe and bocce ball courts. Live music on Saturdays and some Fridays On Sundays, enjoy outdoor live music from 4 to 8:30 Happy Hour Daily from 4-6 and again from 9-11 on Thurs, Fri and Saturday nights.
105 Somerstown Turnpike, Katonah, NY (Corner of Rt. 100 and Rt. 35) www.muscoottavern.com 914 • 232 • 2800
WELL
‘FACING’ OUR PATH TO BEAUTY BY STEPHEN WARREN, M.D.
surgeries in 2018 as in 2017 — an increase attributed, in part, to a growing number of nonmedical staff, “medical spa” personnel and inexperienced physicians attempting to perform cosmetic procedures. For the patient, revision surgeries can prove much more painful than the original procedure with longer recovery times. For the surgeon, “fixing” already scarred tissue, which has reduced vascularity, is technically challenging — and riskier. In essence, revision can turn into reconstructive plastic surgery.
Pablo Picasso’s “Femme assise (Sitzende Frau)” (1909), oil on canvas, Staatliche Museen, Neue Nationalgalerie, Berlin.
HEALTH & FITNESS
It’s all about the face. In this age of “selfies,” social media, and a desire to remain “relevant” in the workplace, appearance is everything. And millennials — those born between 1982 and 2002 — seem to be a primary driving force behind the upwards trend in surgical, minimally invasive and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures, with nose reshaping (rhinoplasty) and eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) among the top five requests. Total cosmetic procedures in the United States number nearly 18 million, according to 2018 statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons From cheek and chin implants to neck lifts, facelifts and procedures to make the eyes look less tired, more and more people, even baby boomers who want to control the aging process and men, yes, men, are turning to facial enhancements as a self-confidence booster. But the search for beauty can prove elusive as evidenced by a concomitant rise in requests for facial revisions — procedures to correct “botched” surgeries or address what may be patients’ failed expectations. The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery indicates some of its members performed nearly twice as many revision
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On the road to perfection Pathways to achieving that “right look” are many — and perhaps a bit treacherous at times. Even if a cosmetic procedure is highly successful, a patient might express dissatisfaction with the overall result, because he or she never entered the process with clear expectations. Prior understanding and consultation with a plastic surgeon are essential. Oftentimes, the most appropriate procedures are dependent on a patient’s age. For example: • Rhinoplasty can help younger patients achieve better facial balance. The surgeon realigns underlying bone and cartilage to change the size, shape or projection of nose. • Neck lifts smooth an aging neck by removing extra fat and repositioning sagging muscles and tissue. • A facelift may be an option after age 40 when cheek volumes decrease, the neck sags, brows become heavier and skin wrinkles deepen. Through incisions made just behind the hairline near the ears, the surgeon repositions deeper tissues beneath the skin and removes excess skin to eliminate jowls and sagging and restore facial contours. • Blepharoplasty eliminates excess skin and fat from the upper eyelid, the lower eyelid or both areas to reduce puffiness, which begins developing after age 30. The procedure is sometimes performed with a browlift to change a person’s tired or angry appearance • Lip augmentation, often performed with an injectable dermal filler composed of natural-like substances, gives the lips a plumper appearance. The risks Even in the hands of experienced surgeons, cosmetic procedures, including nonsurgical approaches such as injection of dermal fillers or BOTOX, pose risks. Scarring, infection,
allergic reactions, blood clotting or body fluid accumulating painfully under the skin, skin necrosis and damage to nerves that control facial muscles are potential complications. It is important to remember, patients heal differently in response to the “injuries” incurred in any surgical procedure, and unhealthy lifestyles can get in the way of a procedure’s success. Smoking, for example, compromises the healing process by shrinking blood vessels. Surgeons depend on a sufficient blood supply since their efforts to improve appearance involve the reshaping and movement of tissue from one location to another. When bad surgery happens But these risks pale in comparison to poorly performed procedures that leave patients with tightly stretched, scarred skin from a facelift; a blackening, necrotic nasal tip following rhinoplasty; lumpy, oversized lips; an asymmetrical face; or eyelid surgery that places the lower lid in the wrong position or prevents a patient from completely closing the eyes. Worse, cosmetic procedures gone wrong may lead to chronic pain, permanent disfigurement and scarring and, occasionally, even death. And, the risks don’t go away with nonsurgical approaches. Improperly administered injections of botulism during a blepharoplasty, for example, can cause temporary — and sometimes permanent — blindness, while inappropriate application of silicone fillers may result in formation of hard, gravelly lumps under the skin or allow the silicone to migrate and poison other organs in the body. More risky yet are injectables performed at parties by dubiously licensed people. Takeaways To avoid becoming a star on the TV program “Botched,” find a plastic surgeon certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery with extensive education and training in harmonizing facial aesthetics with function. Even better, avoid — or at least delay — a need for cosmetic surgery by improving lifestyle. Wear sunscreen, eat a healthy diet, drop the excess weight, exercise, get a sufficient amount of sleep, reduce stress and, if you smoke, stop — now, because beauty, indeed, is truly skin deep. Stephen M. Warren, M.D. is a boardcertified plastic surgeon who specializes in facial rejuvenation. For more, visit stephenwarrenmd.com.
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Unlike many other "diet plans", this is NOT a set of "rules" or a "one-size-fits-all" prescription. In fact, it's not a prescription at all. It's a set of principles about how and why nutritional choices work. Principles such as: • Progressively building habits over a long period of time to promote confidence and long-term sustainability. • Monitoring progress and adjusting behaviors as needed. • Building consistency and repeatable systems for making good choices. • Helping bodies function and perform their best, approaching change holistically; looking at all sides of a problem.
Nationally certified and recognized fitness trainer and Precision Nutrition coach. • Mention this WAG Magazine ad and receive 20% OFF the program. As a thank you, veterans receive 50% OFF. • Daily nutritional habits and reminders guide you through your transformation. • Workouts come complete with videos and modifications specific to the individual. • At the end of the program, if not completely satisfied, you will receive a full refund. Visit www.GiovanniRoselli.com for more info or contact him directly at Gio@GiovanniRoselli.com.
WELL
READING, WRITING AND MOVING BY GIOVANNI ROSELLI
“Teachers who love teaching teach children to love learning.” — Robert John Meehan, author I have known my wife, Stacey, for almost a decade now and I’ve come to realize that one of her favorite times of the year is preparing for school to begin. Whether it was setting up her classroom when working at The Windward School in White Plains or now preparing to tutor students at The Reading Village, the private educational business she started in 2014, it brings her great joy. Stacey talks about her students with such passion and enjoys sharing their success stories with me. She specializes in teaching reading, spelling and writing to children with dyslexia. Movement is important in our family and Stacey gets her students to use their bodies during their lessons. She feels movement is a component to keeping her students attentive. I asked Stacey to share some tips she discusses with parents about the transition back to school and how she uses motion to help her students be successful. What are your thoughts on going “back to school” each year? “Back to school brings a special excitement. To teachers, it’s a fresh start to open minds and share the love of learning to your students. To parents, it means stocking up on healthy snacks, getting sharp pencils and perhaps allowing your child to get a new pair of sneakers.
HEALTH & FITNESS
Movement and multisensory experiences are key components of learning, says special education teacher Stacey Roselli. Photograph courtesy The Reading Village.
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“What does back to school mean for the children? “When I asked several of my students how they felt about school starting again, the general consensus was they couldn’t wait to see their friends. One student in particular shared her excitement about seeing her friends but then the conversation changed directions. She began talking about her commitment to dance and how she had to be on a train by 6 a.m. to ensure she was done with her school day with enough time to get to her after-school dance lessons. Summer days are gone and your children are about to undergo quite the change…. “Please understand just how much we teachers ask of your children. By the time they get home from school, they may be cognitively and physically tired. As parents, we often have little control over what happens during the school day, but as soon as our little ones are back in our arms, we can help them make good choices about how to spend their afternoons. I often suggest that parents set routines and allow the children to be a part of how to schedule the rest of the day.” Do you have any suggestions on exactly how to incorporate movement into a child’s educational routine? • “No gadgets needed. Have a conversation with your children and let them know you understand how demanding their day has been. Get them running around outside and get their blood flowing. Set an agreed-upon time to play before starting work. Let them set a timer and explain that once the timer goes off, homework begins. • “Jump around. Whether I am working with first-graders or sixthgraders, I get my students out of their seats during lessons. I’m such a believer in movement that I have a trampoline in my office. I once had a student ‘write’ an entire essay while jumping on a trampoline. It was amazing how he could brainstorm and clearly express what he wanted to write. As his tutor, I wrote down his ideas and we even revised and edited his work with him still jumping on the trampoline. If your children have homework that can be practiced orally, have them jump or hop as they explain the answers. If they are studying for a multiple-choice exam, write a, b, c and d on an index card, place them in different parts of the room and have your child jump to the correct answer. • “In addition to a trampoline, I have an exercise ball in my office. I’ve had many students tell me that the movement and bounce they get with the ball helps them maintain attention much better than sitting on a hard chair. Allow your children to choose which seat they want and discuss if the movement helps them learn. This can lead to important conversations about how your children learn best. • “Get creative and be multisensory by using all the learning pathways — seeing, hearing, feeling and awareness of motion. If your child has a spelling test, don’t just grab a pencil and paper to study. Use sandpaper, trays of sand or any tactile surface and have your children spell the words. They will get a muscular feel as they speak the letters. There has been much research that shows that using multisensory learning results in greater ease and success in learning. “Set a routine, keep everyone smiling and balanced. Happy learning.” For more, visit TheReadingVillage.com. And reach Giovanni on Twitter @ GiovanniRoselli and at his website, GiovanniRoselli.com.
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PET CARE
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Mays is a 3-month-old petite Boxer/Hound mix who is as sweet as she is adorable. She loves to hop around and play like a typical puppy, but she also enjoys being held and fawned over like a little baby as she is calm and affectionate. She is the SPCA’s little love bug. Mays will be medium to large full-grown and will most likely be an active gal. She has such a good nature that she will be a great companion to anyone looking for a furry new best friend. To meet Mays, visit the SPCA of Westchester at 590 N. State Road in Briarcliff Manor. Founded in 1883, the SPCA is a no-kill shelter and is not affiliated with the ASPCA. The SPCA is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays. To learn more, call 914- 941-2896 or visit spca914.org.
Dream Kitchens and Baths Season opens October 27th! Vision, passion, virtuosity. The Westchester Philharmonic delivers all that and more. With dynamic conductors Eric Jacobsen, Rachael Worby, and Jayce Ogren, soloists Simone Porter, HyeJin Kim, and Ran Dank, and a music & dance collaboration with Ballet Hispanico.
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PET PORTRAITS
A PERFECT PLACE
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROBIN COSTELLO
PET CARE
The Dog Chapel on Stephen Huneck’s Dog Mountain — a puppy paradise, where dogs and their owners can spend time together running free, in bucolic pastures.
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I’ve always believed there are perfect places on earth — inspirational spots where your heart, mind and spirit are all in harmony. Although elusive, they still can be found. On a country road near St. Johnsbury, Vermont, a beautiful folk-art sign said “DOG CHAPEL.” An ardent pet lover, I was intrigued and ascended what locals call “Dog Mountain.” I knew I had found something special with the sight of more than a dozen dogs romping and playing on the mountainside meadow. This was a 150-acre heaven on earth — hiking trails, swimming ponds, wildflower meadows and vistas all designed for the enjoyment of man’s best friend. It’s a labor-of-love from the Vermont folk artist, woodcarver and children’s book author Stephen Huneck, who wanted to design a place that honors the healing power of “dogs, nature, love and art.” A restored farmhouse serves as a gallery full of Huneck’s dog-related artwork, but the main attraction here is The Dog Chapel. The sign outside beckons “Welcome, All Breeds, All Creeds, No Dogmas Allowed.” My heart skipped a beat: Could this be a perfect place? Designed in the style of an 1820s Vermont country church, The Dog Chapel features gorgeous stained-glass windows that are unlike any you’ve seen before, with images of dogs (haloed and anWAGMAG.COM
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Inside The Dog Chapel, a place of solace and reflection for two- and fourlegged creatures alike, filled with thousands of messages of love for pets that have passed over Rainbow Bridge.
gel-winged) being petted by human hands, licking scoops of ice cream off cones and facing forward with their tongues hanging out. Each is labeled with a canine-related theme like Faith, Friend, Play, Lick, Peace, Trust and Joy. You can’t hold back a smile when you see the whimsical carved pews that feature beloved dog breeds as the end pieces. But the smile soon turns to a tear when you realize the walls are covered from floor to ceiling with thousands of Post-it notes and photographs of beloved pets who have passed over Rainbow Bridge. People make pilgrimages to The Dog Chapel from all over the globe to leave beautiful messages of love, loss and gratitude to the animal companions who have made their lives here a little more joyful, loving and complete. Huneck endeavored to create a puppy paradise, where dogs and their owners can spend time together running free, off-the-leash in bucolic pastures. He also wanted to create a sacred space where owners could remember and memorialize these sweet creatures that spend their whole lives loving us. He has succeeded beyond measure. Novelist Robert Louis Stevenson said, “You say there are no dogs in heaven. I tell you this: They will be there before any of us.” If the love on display at Dog Mountain is an early sign, no bones about it, we will all be together in that other perfect place. For more, visit dogmt.com.
raft rs!
95th Annual
Yorktown Grange Fair September 6 — September 8
Grange Fairgrounds • 99 Moseman Road, Yorktown Heights
Rides ~ Exhibits ~ Livestock ~ Contests ~ Live Music Every Day! Produce ~ Flowers ~ Art ~ Baking ~ Needlework ~ Photography ~ Legos ~ Poultry ~ Rabbits New! it Rabb w o Sh
y Famil r o f Fun l l A !
Special Performance!
7.75 x 4.75 Saturday 8 p.m.
Livestock Exhibits & Demonstrations
Fair Midway with Rides, Games & Food
New Low P ric $10 p e! e Carlo r ad
Antique Tractor Parade Saturday at Noon
yorktowngrangefair.org
The Schoolhouse Theaterudien& Arts Center ce
THE AMISH PROJECT
October 3rd-28th
The Amish Project is a fictional exploration of the Nickel Mines schoolhouse shooting in an Amish community, and the path of forgiveness and compassion forged in its wake. “Extraordinary... A remarkable piece of writing." --The New York Times
A n ipatio Partic sts Events Calendar ont-e 4 P.M. C9/1
COLONEL NORMAN HATHAWAY’S BIGBAND, A JAZZ AGE PARTY WITH THE BEST OF SWING 9/20 - 8 PM LOHUD COMEDY PRESENTS BRIAN SCOTT MCFADDEN 9/28 - 11AM SLOAN WAINWRIGHT CLASS: SINGING WITH YOUR HEART, SOUL, AND BODY 9/28 - 7PM SLOAN WAINWRIGHT & TRINA HAMLIN AN EVENING OF POP, ROCK, JAZZ AND BLUES.
OCTOBER 3RD-28TH - THE AMISH PROJECT 11/9 - 8 PM PETER CALO, JESSE TERRY, ROBINSON TREACHER AND CASSIDY COME TOGETHER IN A NASHVILLE-STYLE SONGWRITER CIRCLE.
www.SchoolhouseTheater.org (914) 277-8477 | 3 Owens Rd. Croton Falls, NY, 10519|SchoolhouseTheater@gmail.com SEPTEMBER 2019
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WHERE & WHEN
Sept. 4
Bedford Playhouse presents a screening of “Dog Doc,” followed by a Q&A with the subject of this film, pioneering veterinarian Marty Goldstein. Called a miracle worker for holistically treating animals after other vets have given up, he provides a last hope for pet owners with nothing to lose.7 p.m., 633 Old Post Road; 914-234-6704, bedfordplayhouse.org.
Sept. 5
The Bruce Museum inaugurates a monthly series, featuring thought leaders in the arts and sciences, with “Generation : How Contemporary Women Artists Are Re-Shaping Today’s Art World” Jennifer Blei Stockman, moderates a wide-ranging dialogue and exploration with Nicole Eisenman, Lin Jingjing, Paula DeLuccia Poons and Laurie Simmons. 6 p.m., 1 Museum Drive, Greenwich; 203869-0376, brucemuseum.org.
Sept. 5 through Sept. 8
The Ridgefield Jazz, Funk & Blues Weekend is a fourday celebration with a lineup of jazz, funk and blues artists performing in venues all over Ridgefield. Performers include Fairfield Counts, Ike Sturm, Jane Monheit, Carlos Gomez Quartet, Jazz Vespers, Mavis Staples and The Brian Butler Quartet. Venues include The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, Ridgefield Playhouse, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, and Lounsbury House. jazzfunk.org.
Sept. 7 and 8
“The Phoenix Season: Art from the Ashes,” the Stratford Arts and Culture Festival, features art installations, an artisan village, historical walks and theatrical, musical and children’s performances. Shakespeare Property, 1850 Elm St.; 203-375-5300. StratfordPhoenix.com.
Sept. 8 through Oct. 4
Harrison Council for the Arts presents “Mandalas for Mindfulness,” an exhibition that features an artform that encourages reflection and healing. Artist Doreen Grozinger will be present to meet visitors on Sept.14. Gallery hours vary. Harrison Public Library, 2 Bruce Ave.; 914-8350324, harrisonpl.org.
Sept. 8
PJS Jazz Society presents a performance by vocalist Antoinette Montague for a jazz and blues concert. 5:15 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 199 N. Columbus Ave., Mount Vernon; 914-667-0823, pjsjazz.org.
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Antoinette Montague performs Sept. 8 in Mount Vernon. New Canaan’s Carriage Barn Arts Center holds an opening reception for its 42nd annual Member Show, which celebrates the range, interests and talents of artists working across all genre, styles and media. 3 p.m. 681 South Ave.; 203-594-3638. carriagebarn.org. The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum celebrates the launch of “Harmony Hammond: Material Witness, Five Decades of Art,” co-published with Gregory R. Miller & Co., with a panel discussion on Hammond’s exhibition inside the galleries featuring an intergenerational group of artists whose own practices have been influenced by Hammond. 3 p.m., 258 Main St., Ridgefield; 203-4384519, aldrichart.org.
Sept. 12
Bedford Playhouse presents a screening of the documentary short film “Desert Flight,” which explores the unique relationship between people and horses. A 7 p.m. cocktail reception precedes the screening, which is followed by a Q&A with producer Ryan Koral. The film begins at 7:45 p.m. 633 Old Post Road; 914-234-6704, bedfordplayhouse.org.
The Quick Center for the Arts holds an opening reception for “Rodin: Truth, Form, Life — Selections From the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Collections.” The opening is preceded by a lecture, “Drama from Head to Toe: Rodin and the Making of the Burghers of Calais” by Jennifer Thompson. 5 p.m. lecture, 6 p.m. opening reception. Quick Center for the Arts at Fairfield University, 1073 N. Benson Road, Fairfield; 203-254-4242. fairfield.edu.
Sept. 13
As part of JazzFest White Plains (Sept. 11-15), ArtsWestchester presents vibraphonist Joel Ross, followed by a second set during which the band will be joined by Chilean saxophonist Melissa Aldana. 7 p.m. first set, 9:30 p.m. second set, ArtsWestchester, 31 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains; 914-428-4220, artsw.org/jazzfest. Dust off your old toga and head to the Bedford Playhouse for a special screening of the beloved 1980s classic “Animal House.” Afterward stay for a Q&A with one of the stars of the film, Peter Riegert, moderated by local author Scott Johnson. 8 p.m., 633 Old Post Road; 914234-6704, bedfordplayhouse.org.
The Friends of Chappaqua Performing Arts Center offer “The Battle of the Bands at ChappPAC,” featuring Red Grenadine with The Horn Dogs, Ripchord and The Station Agents. There’s a cocktail party with the bands at 6:30 p.m. The event starts at 8 p.m., Chappaqua Arts Center, 480 Bedford Road; 914-458-5143, chappaquapac.org.
Sept. 21 and 22
“Armonk Outdoor Art Show” features 185 juried artists who will display artworks in a range of mediums. Family friendly activities and food round out the event. Proceeds benefit Friends of the North Castle Public Library. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Community Park, 205 Business Park Dr.; 914629-7529, armonkoutdoorartshow.org.
Sept. 22
Hudson Valley Writers Center presents an “Evening with Three Poets.” Sean Thomas Doughtery, Jeffrey McDaniel and Michelle Whittaker will read from their works. 4 p.m., 300 Riverside Dr., Sleepy Hollow; 914-332-5953, writerscenter.org.
The Armonk Outdoor Art Show is set for Sept. 21 and 22.
Sept. 13 and 14
The Rye Arts Center presents “Painters on Location,” a plein air paint-out throughout the town of Rye. Dozens of professional painters will paint various parks, beaches, buildings and other noteworthy areas of Rye on Sept. 13, with the work to be auctioned at a Sept. 14 reception. Times vary. For times and locations: 914967-0700, ryeartscenter.org.
Sept. 14
Enjoy “Cocktails and Canvases at the Lachat Town Farm,” a fundraiser for WestonArts. Walk the trails of Lachat Farm, admire the co-op gardens, enjoy custom cocktails and view paintings and sculpture from Weston’s vast pool of artistic talent as a preview of WestonArts Open Studio Tour. 5 p.m., Lachat Town Farm, 106 Godfrey Road West; bbvalenti@optonline.net, westonarts.org.
Sept. 14 and 15
Stamford Downtown presents “Arts and Crafts on Bedford,” a fair displaying one-of-a-kind handcrafted goods made by local and regional artists. It includes kid-friendly activities at the Imagination Station in Latham Park and free art workshops. Restaurants will have extended outdoor patio cafés and the street will be closed to traffic for the weekend. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Bedford Street; 203-348-5285. stamford-downtown.com.
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Sept. 15
Opening reception for “A River Runs Through It,” a group exhibition of paintings and sculpture, highlighting Amazon Day, the founding of what is now known as the State of Amazonas in Brazil. The exhibition encourages preservation of the Amazon. 3 to 5 p.m., Greenwich Arts Council, 299 Greenwich Ave.; 203-862-6750, greenwicharts.org.
Sept. 20
Norwalk Preservation Trust presents “More Mad Men Modern: A Second Look at Norwalk’s Mid-Century Modern Architecture,” a tour of significant homes and buildings from the 1950s to the 1970s, including a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright associate, Edgar Tafel. Attendees will travel in buses and enjoy a reception at the end of the tour. 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Starting at St. Philip Church, 25 France St.; 203-852-9788. norwalkpreservation.org.
Sept. 27
Arc Stages presents “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” an award-winning rock musical that tells the story of Hedwig, the gender queer singer of the fictional rock band The Angry Inches. Times vary. 147 Wheeler Ave., Pleasantville; 747-6206, arcstages.org.
Sept. 28
Dancers Caleb Teicher and Nic Gareiss blur the lines of dance by mixing various genres in their work. RiverArts presents their hour-long performance followed by a Q&A session. 8 p.m., Irvington Town Hall Theater, 85 Main St.; 914-412-5120, riverarts.org.
Smart Arts presents Hiplet Ballerinas, a company that offers an innovative dance form that combines classical pointe with hip-hop and urban movements set to popular music. 8 p.m., Westchester Community College’s Academic Arts Theater, 75 Grasslands Road, Valhalla; 914606-6262, sunywcc.edu/about/smartarts.
Sept. 21
The Norwalk Symphony opens its 80th season with “Symphonic Journeys.” Works include: Glière’s “Russian Sailors Dance,” from “The Red Poppy,” Bartok’s “Hungarian Pictures,” Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 and Ravel's “Tzigane.” 7:30 p.m. Norwalk Concert Hall, 125 East Ave.; 203-956-6771. norwalksymphony.org.
The Greater Bridgeport Symphony announces its season premiere, “Look to the East,” a musical exploration of The Silk Road, featuring Kayhan Kalhor, master of the Persian kamancheh (spiked fiddle), members of the Silk Road Ensemble and Matthew Hill, a 16-year-old prodigy and co-winner of GBS’ Young Instrumentalists’ Competition 2019. 8 p.m., The Klein, 910 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport; 203-5760263. bptsym.org.
Presented by ArtsWestchester (artswestchester.org) and The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County (culturalalliancefc.org/FCbuzz-events).
Experience Something Real 2019-2020 OCTOBER 20 Flamenco Legends: The Paco de Lucia Project NOVEMBER Gina Chavez Live in Concert 8 10 Dorrance Dance 16 Chouk Bwa 23 Arch 8: Rising Tide 23 CMS of Lincoln Center DECEMBER An Evening with David Sedaris 7 13 A.I.M: An Untitled Love 15 Canadian Brass: Christmas Time is Here
TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW
FEBRUARY 8 Orpheus Chamber Orchestra 8 Villalobos Brothers 14 Paul Taylor Dance Company 15 The Manhattan Transfer 23 MUMMENSCHANZ: you & me 28 Air Play MARCH 1 The Very Hungry Caterpillar 6 It Gets Better 14 CMS of Lincoln Center 14 Ballet Folclórico Nacional de México 15 A Cappella Live! 20 Mariachi Los Camperos 22 Treehouse Shakers The Boy Who Grew Flowers 27 Black Violin 28 Doug Varone and Dancers APRIL 18 RUBBERBAND: Ever So Slightly 25 CMS of Lincoln Center MAY 2 Gravity and Other Myths: A Simple Space 5 Tania Pérez-Salas Compañía de Danza
914.251.6200 www.artscenter.org LUCILLE WERLINICH, Chair of Purchase College Foundation
Pictured: BAir Play © Florence Montmare
JANUARY 25 CMS of Lincoln Center 30 Limón Dance Company
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Untermyer Park and Gardens in Yonkers was the setting for the Untermyer Gardens Conservancy’s 2019 “Summer Solstice Sunset Soirée,” held June 19 in the Walled Garden. Diana Boodell and Lee Michel co-chaired the event, which honored Martin Ginsburg, who has played a leading role in the revitalization of the Yonkers waterfront and other communities along the Hudson. Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and dessert were prepared and served by X2O Xaviars on the Hudson. The soirée’s theme was “Flower Power,” and guests dressed exuberantly, taking inspiration from the exquisite garden, which provided a festive backdrop for a fun evening. Photographs by Jessica Norman and Toby McAfee. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19.
Kirsten Axelsen Carmel Kristen DeLaMater and Paul Feinstein Charles Warren, Samantha Jenkins and Adrian Untermyer Barbara Israel and Timothy Tilghman Jenny Du Pont and Eugene Linden Richard and Beth Fitzgerald Dan Wolk and Ann Carmel Lee and Stella Michel Geraldine and Christopher Canty Stephen Byrns and Steven Simpson Rachel and Andrew Ginsburg Anna Mutoh, Diego Blake, Michelle Yang, Allie Devito, Peter Boodell and Helena Howard Shannon and Patrick Daugherty Martin and Irene Ginsburg Gabe Compos, Michael St. Pierre, Danielle Orofino, Dan and Nicole Mulvey Mike Spano and Mary Calvi Doug Ramsay, Andy and Robin Stamelman and Allison and Harry Clayton Diana Boodell, Peter O’Reilley, Harold Neu and Fiona Watt Mark Annunziato and Raissa Fitzgerald
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TOMORROW’S LEADERS On June 24, Volunteer New York! welcomed the 22nd class of leaders to graduate from its signature executive training program, Leadership Westchester, run by facilitator David Severance. As part of the 2019 commencement event, the organization honored Joseph L. Ricca, superintendent of schools, White Plains Public Schools, with the Leadership Westchester Alumnus of the Year. A highlight of the induction ceremony occurred when the class of 2019 was welcomed into the Leadership Westchester Alumni Association — a group of men and women who continue to make a difference professionally and personally in the county. Photographs by Paul Schneiderman. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.
Bianca Di Salvo, Joseph L. Ricca and Kate Bialo Jennifer R. Machuca and Drew Coburn Jenet Ferris and Michelle Nicholas Laura Picone and Fran Higgins Gary and Ellen C. Bloom Jill Singer and Taryn Duffy Maureen Callaghan Jacobson Carmen L. Martínez-López and Rosemary Byrnes Sam Wallis and Lisa Dente Monique Harding and Henry Wilson Robert Caluori and Elizabeth Phillips Valerie Christie and John Foligno Brigette McLeod Williams Ky’ron Fitzgerald
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PICKLEBALL, ANYONE? Yorktown recently had a grand unveiling of brand new outdoor pickleball courts at the Granite Knolls Sports & Recreation Complex. Fast-growing pickleball blends elements of tennis, racquetball and Ping-Pong. The local pickleball community was excited to have this new space, but outdoor play can present challenges, one of which is wind. Club Fit saw the need and donated protective windshields so that the pickleball enthusiasts could enjoy the new community recreation space. 15.
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Ralph Masca, Ellen Withers, Alice Ahearn, Lorraine Murrau, Helena Rodriguez, John Rice, and John Doherty
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A HOME RUN FOR KIDS Once again top names in the world of sports gathered to help support the Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation. The annual event, a day of golf and tennis with a reception at the Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Scarborough, raised more than $400,000 for the worthy cause. Funds received support the foundation’s Margaret’s Place programs, which provide young people with the help they need to live a life without violence. Now in its 17th year, SAH has reached more than 97,000 students through individual and group counseling, school-wide campaigns, peer leadership and educational opportunities. Joe Torre Safe At Home helps young people overcome their trauma and get on the path to hope and healing. Photographs by John Chan Photography. 1. Allison Strack, Deb Matera, Nicole Graziano, Beth Murray and Christie Ronan 2. Aaron Krickstein, Colin Roller, Brian O’Connor and Sasha Nianova 3. Morris Hatalsky, Ken Daneyko, Rick Cerone and Len Mattiace 4. Joe and Ali Torre 5. Ed Pavelle, Chuck Rogers, Jim Leyritz and Bob Murray 6. Roy Fugazy, Nate Bratcher, Jack Devlin, Joe Torre, Michael Devlin, Ryan Dempster and Robert Devlin 7. Roy Fugazy, Nate Bratcher and Jack Devlin 8. Ken Dashow, Lenny Canora and Jack Callahan
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SWEET SUMMER TREAT In honor of National Watermelon Day on Aug. 3, campers at Summer Trails Day Camp in Somers beat the heat wave by celebrating with a “Wacky Watermelon Day.” Kids enjoyed taking a bite out of this invigorating, summer fruit with funfilled watermelon-themed games activities and a watermelon eating contest. Since 1974, Summer Trails Day Camp and Baseball Camp have offered programming for children that creates lifelong memories and friendships. Photographs by Sarah Bussinger. 9. 10. 11. 12.
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Remy Rosado and Zohair Syed Hailey Sirkin Sierra Mancuso, Chris Lotto and Michael Rae Andrew Rivera, Ryan Hoffman and Sydney Ralls
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BIKE BONANZA
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Fifty unsuspecting children from the Westchester Boys & Girls Club in New Rochelle recently received a special treat when they arrived to attend what they thought was just regular field day of sports with their parents. Instead, they were surprised with a free bike and helmet from members of the SKG Team at Barnum Financial Group. It was the second time SKG participated in the Bikes for Kids Program (part of the Barnum Foundation for Life), which provides underserved children with an uplifting and empowering experience. 1.
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Ken DiCairano, Ryan Wright, David Jones, Jared Chin, Chris Kampitsis, Destiny Morris, Ben Soccodato, Ryan Smith, Johnny Fiorino, William Iannuzzi. front: Anthony Maiuolo, Rachel Lapadula, Jonathan Rosen, and Anna Rakotz Young rider gets a lesson from volunteer Ben Soccodato Volunteer Ryan Wright helps a child pick a bike Volunteer Jared Chin helps a young cyclist
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‘LOVE’ ALL Despite an ongoing heat wave, Mother Nature provided an incredible night for the third annual “Eat, Play, Love” tennis fundraiser held July 27 at Club Fit Briarcliff. With motivation and generosity from an anonymous matching donor, the tennis enthusiasts raised more than $11,000 for My Sisters’ Place. Organized by Club Fit member Lisa Olney of Yorktown, also board member of My Sisters’ Place, the event drew tennis players and supporters for a night of fun that included an array of raffle prizes. Photographs by Ann Krobath. 5. 6. 7. 8.
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Carly Levine The star competitors Rodrigo Schtscherbyna, Lisa Olney and David Hugues Tyson Stephens and Betsy Ellison
ONE ‘MO’ TIME Weinrib & Connor, a 26-year-old full-service advertising agency that has been working with the New York Yankees since 2005, was hired to produce the Yankees 2019 National Baseball Hall of Fame weekend events. These notably included a gala celebration for legendary closer Mariano Rivera and former ace Mike Mussina, who entered the Hall of Fame as a Baltimore Oriole, in Cooperstown, New York, on July 21. 9.
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Mariano Rivera and Mary Connor
WELCOME HOME Maplewood Senior Living, a provider of luxury senior living residences, celebrated the opening of its newest location, Maplewood in Southport with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and cocktail reception. The new senior community, features private apartments equipped with the latest technology in a full-service, resort-style residence. City officials and project principals as well as local business people were on hand at the ribbon cutting. Photograph by Barry Hymna. 10.
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Michael Stein, Shani Walters, Steve Levin, Michael Tetreau, Gregory D. Smith, Shane Herlet, Jocelyn Isabelle and Amy Silva-Magalhaes
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A JAZZY FUNDRAISER Wartburg hosted its seventh annual “Jazz in June — A Wartburg Celebration of Arts and Music” Gala on June 13. The event, attended by 350 guests and 46 sponsors, raised more than $200,000 at the Surf Club on the Sound in New Rochelle. This year’s event included a special keynote by actor Chazz Palminteri. Rebecca Solomon, News 12 on-air reporter, was the emcee for the evening’s program. The celebration honored Fred Schwam, Westchester Ambulette, Lippolis Electric Inc., Clark Patterson Lee and the United Lutheran Church. The funds raised at this year’s gala will help Wartburg provide specialized Alzheimer’s/dementia training to clinical staff as well as help fund the vital programs and services that ensure those experiencing memory impairment live with the independence and dignity they so richly deserve. 1.
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Rebecca Solomon, Angela Ciminello, Chazz Palminteri, David Genter and Gianna Palminteri.
HEY, ‘MAMBO’ “Mambo Italiano,” a musical about family and food, would seem a perfect choice for The Westchester Broadway Theater, which is also all about family, friends and food. The show, which bowed Aug. 8, runs through Sept. 29. 2. 3. 4.
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Alexandra Amadeo Frost, Bill Nolte, Joy Hermalyn and Alex Drost Alexandra Amadeo Frost and Zach Schanne, Joy Hermalyn (center) and ensemble. Joy Hermalyn and Bill Nolte
NEW RO’S MO New Rochelle held a special celebration for New York Yankees legendary closer Mariano “Mo” Rivera in honor of his being inducted Rivera into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The city called home for nearly a decade marked his unanimous selection by declaring July 27 “Mariano Rivera Day.’’ In a classic salute to “The Sandman,” New Rochelle presented him with the key to the city and staged a Pinstripe Parade through its downtown and over to Hudson Park where the postparade festivities took place. Photographs by Nicholas & Lence Communications. 5. 6. 7.
Noam Bramson, Charles B. Strome III and Mariano Rivera Fans welcome Rivera Mariano Rivera
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WONDERFUL 100 Six remarkable centenarians, (among a dozen who reside on United Hebrew of New Rochelle’s senior living campus) were recently feted at the nursing home as part of United Hebrew’s Centennial Celebration. The event highlighted United Hebrew’s history of caring for Westchester’s seniors. New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson presented special proclamations to the centenarians while a representative of State Sen. Shelley Mayer was also on hand with resolutions in the seniors’ honor. 8. 9. 10.
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Noam Bramson and Dorothy Landes Sammy and Al D’Angelo, Rita Mabli, Mary Mignogna, Christina D’Angelo and Nora O’Brien Ethel Traberman and Randy Neuringer SEPTEMBER 2019
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WAGVERTISERS SEPTEMBER 2019
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WE WONDER: WHO INFLU ENCES YOU R ST YLE? *
Debbie Adams
Lawton Adams
Candis Burgos
Eva Fernandez professor South Salem resident
solutions consultant Brooklyn resident
“Halle Berry.”
“Eva Longoria.”
“Vera Wang.”
“David Bowie.”
“I tend to dress in solids, often preferring comfortable-yet-classic fashions. In that, I look to Ryan Gosling, David Beckham and Ryan Reynolds.”
Steven Marrero
sales office manager Somers resident
owner, Lawton Adams Somers resident
receptionist Bronx resident
Carla Pierce
banker Somers resident
Liz Mira
pet sitter Somers resident
Michelle Neeson small-business owner Danbury resident
owner, Christian bookstore Danbury resident
owner, Holbrook Cottage Briarcliff Manor resident
“George Clooney.”
“Vera Wang.”
“Anne Klein.”
“I really like Diane Keaton’s style.”
“Eileen Fisher and Michelle Obama.”
*Reported by summer intern Madison Gross. 144
James Freni
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