WAG magazine - Nov. 2015

RYAN REYNOLDS The actor next door

SET IN STONE

Oscar Reyes’ attentive craftsmanship

DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS’ JASON CONE An advocate for healing the world

DANIEL KSEPKA

Partial to penguins

THE VREELAND COUSINS

The sweet scent of Diana’s descendants

HOMESTYLE CATERERS A family affair

THE FEDERALIST

Alexander Hamilton wishes he slept here

passion for

WORK JUDGED

BEST MAGAZINE WESTCHESTER & FAIRFIELD LIFE NOVEMBER 2015 | WAGMAG.COM

IN NEW YORK STATE

Le Farm, Bedford NY This 25 acre gentleman’s farm offers privacy & tranquility in a stunning equestrian setting. The thoughtfully renovated 5 BR main house is perfectly sited on the property, overlooking a pond, paddocks, & rolling lawns. French doors beckon guests to the terrace & pool, while large windows frame idyllic views. The heart of the home is a luminous great room w/a vaulted ceiling & stone fireplace, while formal living & dining rooms offer venues for more traditional entertaining. The west wing master suite & adjacent oak-paneled study offer the perfect setting for quiet repose. Another 3 family BRs and 2 BTHs reside in the south wing of the home, & an additional guest suite occupies its upper level. In addition to the pool/pool house & terrace, the grounds offer a tennis court, 2-BR guest cottage, garage space, & a greenhouse.

The equestrian facilities include a 5 stall barn, outdoor arena, 6 paddocks, & direct access to the Bedford riding lanes. MLS#4526323 Price Upon Request

Honey Hollow, Pound Ridge NY

Extraordinary Equestrian Estate, North Salem NY

Sited on 34 bucolic acres of open fields, lush woodlands and within walking distance of the 4700 acre Pound Ridge reservation is this classic 6 bedroom, 6 1/2 baths colonial. This traditional home melds relaxed country living with generously proportioned rooms for elegant entertaining. The property includes a strategically situated pool, an artfully planted terrace and tennis court. This home offers a remarkable lifestyle in a picturesque setting! MLS# 4532852 Price: $3,398,000

Enter a half mile driveway to this spectacular 68 acre secluded equestrian estate surrounded by 200 acres of conservation land on historic Baxter Rd. The distinctive 6 bedroom, 7 bath stone/clapboard home features a spacious master suite with his and her bathrooms, a wine cellar and a luxurious indoor pool. The 8 stall barn includes a tack room, feed room, wash stall and full hay loft with a 2 bedroom Groom’s apartment above. Adjacent to the barn is an 80 x 180 ft. indoor riding arena plus an outdoor ring and large flat grass paddocks. Numerous garages for the car enthusiast. All in turn key condition.

MLS# 4521039 Price:$8,000,000

Silverbrook Farm MILLBROOK NY

Silverbrook Farm, Millbrook NY

Hook Road Retreat, Bedford NY

Chestnut Hill, Ridgefield CT

An equestrian estate at the gateway to Millbrook. Just 90 minutes from NYC, this 53.45 acre property is the perfect gentleman’s farm.

An impeccably restored Federal/Italianate 6-BR manor house overlooks paddocks & open fields. The grand entertaining spaces evoke Gilded Age style, featuring antique fireplaces, European tile, oversized windows & quarter-sawn oak flooring. The chef’s suite includes a restored butler’s pantry w/marble countertops, 2014 renovated kitchen w/ professional grade appliances, French doors to the terrace, & an open concept office/playroom. The grounds include a 3BR cottage, carriage house w/ apt, garage & restored ice house.

The equestrian features include an outdoor ring, 11 stalls in 2 barns, & 6 paddocks. Well-kept trails for riding & walking throughout.

Fishing enthusiasts will enjoy the pristine trout stream that borders the grounds. Surrounded by mature gardens & specimen trees.

MLS #4530510 Price $2,595,000

Beautiful colonial, on prestigious Hook Rd. in the heart of the estate area. This original antique was renovated and expanded to include 5 BRs & 5.1 Baths. The gourmet kitchen includes granite counters, custom cabinets, a gas/electric cook-top & Subzero refrigerator and opens to a finely appointed family room/living room. Window wrapped Breakfast room. Details throughout include hardwood floors, built-ins and accents of molding. The property is 2 level landscaped fenced acres with a gated entry, heated pool, stone patio and charming covered porch. An additional 1,734 sq ft. basement with high ceilings is suitable for finishing. All privately situated but close to Bedford Village and convenient to train station.

MLS# 4541249 Price: $1,795,000

This 5 BR, 4.5 bath Colonial home boasts high ceilings, hardwood flrs & moldings. The gourmet kitchn features warm cabinetry, & granite countertops. The breakfast area opens onto the patio. The home includes a FDR, LR w/ views of the Hudson Valley, den & a comfortable office w/screened porch. The large MBr has a fplc, & a screened porch. 3 additional BR’s on the 2nd floor, 1 en-suite & 2 connected by a shared bath. Completing the 2nd floor is a bonus room. The home’s lower level includes a guest suite and a gym area. The equestrian amenities include the 4 stall barn, outdoor arena & 2 paddocks.

Short ride to the NS trails. The grounds feature lawns, mature plantings, gazebo, & pool. Stone patios offer flexibility for outdoor dining. MLS#4537579 Price: $1,450,000

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CONTENTS

WHAT’S INSIDE: 12 14 16 18 22 24 28 32 36 38 42 44 50 52 56

| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

The Dutch effect Work, the four-letter word we love to hate Love’s silken threads Like a rock Of penguins past Chelsea Clinton’s world Historic designs Smooth sailing Passion knows no borders Brimming with tradition Radio days A passion for food – and customer service High-flying ambitions From flower to flour COVER STORY: Ryan Reynolds – Superhero and family man

Oscar Reyes of Westchester Granite in his Mamaroneck workshop. See story on page 18.

by JohnNOVEMBER Rizzo.

2Photograph WAGMAG.COM 2015

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ON THE COVER: Ryan Reynolds, at The Picture House in Pelham.

RYAN REYNOLDS The actor next door

SET IN STONE

Oscar Reyes’ attentive craftsmanship

DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS’ JASON CONE An advocate for healing the world

DANIEL KSEPKA

Partial to penguins

THE VREELAND COUSINS

The sweet scent of Diana’s descendants

HOMESTYLE CATERERS A family affair

THE FEDERALIST

Alexander Hamilton wishes he slept here

passion for

WORK Photograph by JUDGED

BEST MAGAZINE WESTCHESTER & FAIRFIELD LIFE

IN NEW YORK STATE

NOVEMBER 2015 | WAGMAG.COM

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John Rizzo

NOVEMBER 2015

LISA CASH

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Celebrate the Holidays in High Style December 3–9, 2015 Opening Night Preview Party for the Greenwich Winter Antiques Show Thursday, December 3, 6:30 to 9:00 pm Eastern Greenwich Civic Center, 90 Harding Road, Old Greenwich, CT Advance reservations required

Browse the show before it opens to the public. Meet over 40 nationally recognized exhibitors featuring fine art, marine art, estate jewelry, American and continental furniture, prints, luxury handbags and more from the 18th century to the mid-20th century. Preview Party and Antiques Show café catering provided by Marcia Selden Catering & Event Planning.

Greenwich Winter Antiques Show Friday, December 4, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Saturday, December 5, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Sunday, December 6, 11:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Greenwich Civic Center, 90 Harding Road, Old Greenwich, CT Admission is $15 per person, payable at the door

New! DOYLE Appraisal Day on December 4, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. By appointment only. Contact Kathy Brackenridge at 212-427-4141, Ext. 211 or DoyleCT@doyle.com. The Greenwich Winter Antiques Show is produced by Frank Gaglio, Inc.

Holiday Boutique

Tuesday, December 8, 6:00 to 8:30 pm Wednesday, December 9, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Christ Church Greenwich, 254 East Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT Free admission Cross off your gift list at our artfully curated Holiday boutique, where you’ll find something for everyone from over 35 vendors that range from sweet monogrammed childrenswear to cuddle-worthy knitwear and semi-precious sparkles. Join us Tuesday evening and shop with cocktail in hand while sampling delectable hors d’oeuvres from Watson’s Catering in a more relaxed setting.

Holiday House Tour

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Advance reservations required for the House Tour, Luncheon and Toast of the Tour.

Wednesday, December 9, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Sponsored by David Ogilvy & Associates/Christie’s International Real Estate. A once-a-year opportunity to visit five impeccably designed Greenwich homes.

Wednesday, December 9, 4:00 to 6:00 pm Champagne tea, remarks and book signing by celebrated interior designer Charlotte Moss.

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This year, Giovanni was one of 14 trainers selected by fitness website PTontheNet to be an official global ambassador for the company. He writes regular articles for PTontheNet as well as David Weck’s WeckMethod website and has appeared on NBC’s “Today” show and National Geographic’s “Brain Games.”

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AUDREY TOPPING

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Photograph by José Donneys.

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A WORKAHOLIC.

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(I’m writing this as I’m having dinner.)

I write through meals, through (sortof) vacations. (You’d be surprised what you can get done on a trip to Bali.) I’ve even written in pre-op. (The surgeon himself came to collect my notebook and pen.)

Journalism is, of course, a profession that lends itself to workaholism.

Our beloved Waggers are always working crazy hours, so I’m in good company.

And, naturally, delighted to present an issue filled with people who love to work — or love the lifestyle work affords them. (See this month’s WAGwits, who live to work or work to live.)

The passion for work is ingrained in this country and, particularly, in this area, thanks to the Dutch, who settled much of New York and Connecticut and whose relatively tolerant industriousness was unparalleled, as you’ll read in our opening essays. That passion remains key to the immigrant experience, which has contributed so mightily to the development of this country. Witness Oscar Reyes, who came to the United States from Guatemala in 1990, as Danielle R. tells us, to become a premier stone worker and offer a better life to his daughters.

Dr. Elias Hanna, whom you’ll meet in Doug’s Wine & Dine column, came from Syria to become a doctor who worked in a M.A.S.H. unit in Vietnam and established Hanna Winery in California’s Sonoma County. The willingness of people like these to, in the

words of Tennyson’s “Ulysses,” “strive, to seek, to find and not to yield” is what has made our nation great.

The passion for work is often tied to specific loves — Burchenal Green’s for American maritime history (Mary’s story), Daniel Ksepka’s for penguin paleontology, Jose Molina’s for straw hats (Mary again), Alexander and Alexandra Vreeland’s for perfume and their family heritage as descendants of fashion legend Diana Vreeland. Cover guy and Bedford resident Ryan Reynolds has parlayed a love of improv and comedy into a wide-ranging film career (Reece’s profile).

Not everyone has had the luxury of pursuing their passion as work. And here I want to pause to pay tribute to those who had no choice but to toil — the enslaved Africans who built what became New York and made Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow a prosperous farm and mill.

To those who are fortunate enough to have any choice in the matter, I always advise to do what you love if you can — and, if you can’t, find what you like in what you don’t. There’s always an element of play in work as our Wanderer Jeremy has discovered on business trips to London and Paris.

Cosmopolitan hotels aren’t the only ones heeding the work-life balance. Ryan Reynolds says he weighs his acting assignments more carefully now that he and wife, Blake Lively, are the parents of a 9-month-old girl.

There has to be time for family, friends, hobbies and just that quiet moment to put up your feet — and plunge into WAG. It is our work, our joy.

And, we hope, your delight.

Georgette Gouveia is the author of “Water Music” and the forthcoming “The Penalty for Holding,” part of her series of novels, “The Games Men Play,” which is also the name of the sports/culture blog she writes at thegamesmenplay.com.

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In the Dutch

'manor'

TRACING THE ROOTS OF TODAY'S WORK ETHIC

BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA

IN THE NEW YORK METROPOLITAN AREA, TO WORK IS TO BE AND WHO YOU ARE IS WHAT YOU DO. AND THAT, MANY SAY, IS BECAUSE OF THE DUTCH. “I think there’s a real Dutch imprint in how business is conducted here,” says David Fink, a history buff who experienced this firsthand in his years on Wall Street. “The Dutch founded New York City (then New Amsterdam) as a trading post. …As long as you abided by the rules of trade, all were welcome. There is a lesson of acceptance and tolerance that was bred into the democracy of the trading post.”

And this doesn’t just apply to New York, for the colony of New Netherland that was chartered by the Dutch West India Co. in 1621 included parts of Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware and a smattering of Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.

“This area was all Dutch,” says Peter C. Sutton, The Susan E. Lynch executive director of the Bruce Museum in Greenwich and one of the foremost authorities on Northern Baroque art. “Theirs was a fluid society in which you could raise yourself up if you worked hard.”

This was reflected in all aspects of a small country that had to contend with the encroachment of both the sea and larger neighbors. The royal House of Orange was made up of military leaders who were unlike the hedonistic Charles II of England or his grander-than-vous in-law, Louis XIV of France. Dutch painters — three times the number of shopkeepers — learned to specialize to entice clients, Sutton says, since there was no system of patronage as there was in England, France, Spain and Italy.

In a land where you had to make your own way, the able-bodied and sharp-witted were useful, regardless of persuasion. The Dutch had a policy of religious toleration that welcomed, for example, Jewish refugees.

(Rembrandt is said to be the first artist to use a Jewish subject, one of his neighbors, in portraying Jesus.)

It was this policy that guided the Dutch West India Co. in New Netherland as it embraced not only Jews but the native Lenape people, Huguenots, Swedish

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An interpreter rakes hay at Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow. Photograph by Bryan Haeffele.

and German Lutherans, Scotch Presbyterians, English independents, Anabaptists and Moravians, according to “New York: An Illustrated History,” the superb companion book to Ken Burns’ equally superb documentary series.

It was not, however, a Kumbaya moment. For one thing, the colony was run in a haphazard manner by the company, an ocean away, and lorded over by director generals who were either murderous incompetents, particularly in dealing with the indigenous peoples (Willem “the Testy” Kieft) or efficient martinets (Peter Stuyvesant, the Rudy Giuliani of New Netherland).

For another, the idea of being what you do cuts both ways: It frees you to be anything but it suggests that you have no identity unless you’re working.

There’s a chilling moment in “The Island at the Center of the World,” Russell Shorto’s must-read book on Dutch Manhattan, that describes how Adriaen Van der Donck — the lawyer/workers’ right activist/hero of New Netherland — retrieved a young woman who ran away from her employer, Kilaen Van Rensselaer, and his colonial estate, Rensselaerswyck, outside Albany.

Van der Donck — whose title Jonkheer would give Yonkers its name — found her about to give birth. He did the decent thing and waited until the baby was old

enough to travel before returning mother and child to Van Rensselaer, who castigated him in a letter: “It is your duty to seek my advantage and protect me against loss.”

For those who owed their souls to the company store that was the Dutch West India firm or the vast estates of the patroons, life was hard. That hardness is palpable as you tour Philipsburg Manor — the Sleepy Hollow gristmill, farm and trading center that was part of the Anglo-Dutch Philipse family’s 52,000 acres in Westchester County and the Bronx. Philipsburg Manor was owned by Manhattan man-abouttown Adolph Philipse, who left the running of this provisioning plantation to an overseer, Elbert Aertsie. But the real work was done by the miller, Caesar, and the 22 other enslaved African men, women and children who lived on the property. (The Dutch had a carrot-and-stick policy of half-slavery, whereby a man could earn his freedom, but his wife, children and descendants would still be slaves, says Michael Lord, associate director of content development and delivery for Historic Hudson Valley, which administers the site. Once the Dutch finally ceded New Netherland to the British in 1674, slavery became codified in the 13 colonies.)

The slaves who worked Philipsburg Manor were re-

sponsible for producing up to 15 tons of wheat weekly during the grinding season — September to December or until the water-powered mill’s pond froze over.

Much of the work was done on the first floor of the three-story manor house and in the gardens and outlying buildings. The second floor consisted of bedchambers for Philipse and guests. The top floor was a kind of general store where tenant farmers could purchase pelts, dishes, linens and liquor, further enriching Philipse.

After his death in 1750, his nephew and heir, Frederick Philipse II, sold off nine of the slaves, taking the rest to his Yonkers estate (now Philipse Manor Hall), where they were divvied up among his heirs when he died a year later. Historic Hudson Valley’s Lord asks visitors to imagine what it’s like to labor when you have no personal rights — when to work is not to be.

“They have to step back sometimes,” he says of the stunned visitors. “Some people put themselves in those shoes.”

And find they are standing in a place with no more sentiment than the Dutch had given to relinquishing New Netherland — or the colony to being under new rule.

It was and is, after all, strictly business — for better and for worse.

WAGMAG.COM NOVEMBER 2015

13

Work

THE FOUR-LETTER WORD WE LOVE TO HATE

BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA

In the 1940 movie “His Girl Friday” — Howard Hawks’ uproarious, gender-bending remake of the play “The Front Page” — reporter Hildy Johnson (Rosalind Russell) longs to escape from the tabloid rat race and settle down with her nice but dull fiancé, Bruce Baldwin (Ralph Bellamy), in Albany. Only her editor, Walter Burns (Cary Grant) — who also happens to be her ex-hubby — will have none of it, what with a convicted killer on the loose, one whose real story could blow the lid off City Hall.

Every time Hildy and Bruce look to make their escape, Walter reels her back in, so much so that Hildy barely notices when Bruce leaves without her.

Should it surprise anyone that Hildy winds up with Walter — he being Cary Grant and all? Editor and reporter decide to remarry and take a long-delayed honeymoon to Niagara Falls, but first there’s the little matter of a strike in Albany, which needs coverage and is on the way….

The United States is a nation of Walter Burnses and Hildy Johnsons.

“Americans live to work — it’s culturally ingrained,” Chantal Panozzo wrote in the Oct. 11 edition of The New York Times. “If we’re not busy, we’re not worthy.”

Panozzo is an ad copywriter who experienced culture shock when she returned from working in Switzerland — a place of four-week vacations, banker’s hours, national health care and paid family and medical leave. (On the other hand, Switzerland is also the land of cuckoo clocks while America sent a space 14

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NOVEMBER 2015

probe to Pluto this past summer — grand ambition knowing no punch clock.)

Part of the American love affair with work is, as Panozzo noted, our particular heritage.

Whether you were born here to the indigenous peoples, forced here on slave ships or came here of your own accord seeking religious, political and economic freedom in wave after wave of immigration, you quickly learned that the only way to survive was to put your back into it. It’s an attitude that’s prevalent in an age of financial and geopolitical volatility. Indeed, it’s not unusual to see the sign “Will work for food” or hear of immigrants taking on two and three jobs to put bread on the table for their families. (Part of our fear of immigrants is not merely that of the stranger in our midst whose real work may be to threaten American freedom but the fear of their job hunger and thus job loss for the rest of us.)

We Americans, however, don’t merely want to survive. We want to thrive. Here the love of work may be tied to personal pride, individual goals and, of course, money, which may not buy happiness, but can sure make misery comfortable. Take a look at the answers on our WAGwit page this month. While many of the respondents are passionate about what they do, just as many others are passionate about being paid to do it. Which begs so many questions, not the least of which is: Is it possible to be great at something you don’t love first and foremost? (Three of America’s finest tennis players — Serena Williams, John McEn-

roe and Andre Agassi — have said they never loved tennis, at least not the way Jimmy Connors, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic have professed to love it.) Is it rather that some are unaware of how much they love their work, else they couldn’t do it so well for so long? Or is it a romantic misunderstanding of what a job/career is? (There’s a reason it’s called “work.” Not every aspect of it is play, especially when you have to do it day in, day out.)

Complicating the purity of America’s love of work is the technology that permeates the entire globe and makes work 24/7. As someone once said to me, it’s always breakfast time somewhere, meaning time to start the day and grab the iPhone, iPad, iSomething. It’s enough to make you yearn for the days when someone was blissfully out of reach. Something’s gotta give.

Workers — particularly women who are now expected to climb the corporate ladder while remaining in charge of children and households — are pushing back.

In Anne-Marie Slaughter’s controversial new book “Unfinished Business: Women Men Work Family” (Random House, $28), an expansion of The Atlantic article she wrote three years ago about career advancement while raising children, she takes on the corporate world’s limited support for workers with families while telling her own story of how she relinquished a “dream job” at the U.S. State Department to return to Princeton academia and spend more time with her children.

Somewhere, Ralph Bellamy is smiling.

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Love’s silken threads

BY AUDREY TOPPING

Fragment of red Chinese silk with golden dragons and flowers. Image courtesy of Dreamstime.com.

IN THE LAST 25 YEARS, THE CHINESE FASHION INDUSTRY HAS WITNESSED AN UNPRECEDENTED DEVELOPMENT. Since President Deng Xiaping’s gaige kaifang (“reform and opening up”) in 1978, China has produced a host of excellent works by contemporary designers like Huishan Zhang and Christopher Bu, who have helped open the market to the outside world, making a bold appearance on the world stage.

As a result, Chinese fashion is hot, hot, hot. Witness “Fashion China” (Thames & Hudson), the first major illustrated book on the contemporary scene there, and even the recent Metropolitan Museum of Art blockbuster “China: Through the Looking Glass,” which considered the effect of Chinese culture on Western fashion.

But Chinese “fashion” actually began 5,000 years ago with

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Contemporary silk gowns inspired by an ancient Chinese tradition.

Photograph courtesy of China Intercontinental Press.

for almost 3,500 years. It was not until 440 A.D. that the secret leaked out due to the vanity of a Chinese princess who married a prince in a Central Asian Kingdom. The princess desired silken robes so she hid some silkworm eggs and mulberry seeds in her headdress and smuggled them by camel caravan along the Silk Road to now-defunct kingdom of Khotan.

In 550 A.D., two Buddhist monks secreted some eggs and cocoons in hollow bamboo staves and rustled them into India where the famous golden Banares silk was born. Eventually, the art spread to the West.

Paper made from the bark of the same mulberry trees that nourished silkworms also came to Western regions along the Silk Road. Silk sparked the main trade along all the routes and brought ancient civilizations together. And to think it all began with a bountiful mulberry tree, hard-working silkworms and craftswomen and their brilliant empress.

There must be a message here. Perhaps it can be found in the words of Sinologist and historian Johan Eital (1892): “The Chinese see a golden silk thread of spiritual life running through every form of existence and binding together, as in one living body, everything that subsists in heaven above and in the earth below.”

This has become even clearer in our 21st century world as financial markets, trade flows, pandemics, wars, refugees, migrations and climate change tether us — just as love will inevitably tie us all together with a silken thread.

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millions of hard-working silkworms and skilled women. Today’s out-ofthe-box stylists are using amazing variations of the silk and brocades discovered in 3000 B.C. by Leizu, the legendary Silk Goddess and wife of the Yellow Emperor, creating works that respect the profundity of their heritage while reflecting the spirit of their times. And while global communications and the global economy have enabled China to explode on the international scene, Chinese fashion has been evolving since ancient times, traveling to other parts of the world via the Silk Road.

It all began then with silk. There are many legends about its discovery. The one I like best relates how silk was detected by a lucky coincidence. Leizu, No. 1 wife of the legendary Yellow Emperor, was sipping tea under a mulberry tree in her garden when a stray cocoon splashed into her steaming jasmine tea. Oops. Lo and behold, it began to unravel itself into shimmering, tea-tinted threads.

Entranced, she plucked it out, wound the silken strands around her finger and pulled out a filament about 3,000 feet long. Before long her ladies-in-waiting, working day and night, gathered thousands of cocoons and tossed them into boiling water to unravel the threads which they skillfully wove into radiant silken cloth. They created a fabulous robe for Leizu from about 2,500 cocoons. The miraculous fiber soon became a status symbol of royalty, so precious that it was kept a Chinese secret, under penalty of death,

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A ROCK

BY DANIELLE RENDA PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOHN RIZZO

18 Reyes WAGMAG.COM Oscar

NOVEMBER 2015

DULCE REYES WAS ONLY 8 MONTHS OLD WHEN HER FATHER, OSCAR REYES, LEFT GUATEMALA FOR THE UNITED STATES. “The first time I got to see my father again, from what I was told, was when I was 2 years old,” Dulce says. “He was trying to make a living over here and he always told me: The reason he has everything is because of me.”

Oscar is the owner of Mamaroneck-based Westchester Granite Inc., The Marble and Granite Works Co. He became involved with the business — which his brother started — in 1990 shortly after emigrating from Guatemala, his native country. Though Oscar specializes in custom stone design, fabrication, installation and maintenance, the heart of his business lies in his close relationships.

“The idea was to make a difference in how we approach people, because there’s a lot of competition out there,” Oscar says. “I realized that the people who interact with the customers are the employees.

In our case, I wanted the customers to talk with the people who actually take the orders and put their hands on the product.”

While he certainly has assembled a strong team, Reyes himself encapsulates his company’s strengths through his own approach. A recent client, who worked with Reyes on a large antique

kitchen island, was more than impressed with him.

He arrived not only on time but early. She wasn’t directed to his showroom but rather he brought the samples to her. And those were not only what was requested but additional samples he had researched and thought might work. He was able to explain the strengths of each and help the client with her decision. Throughout the process he was easily reachable, responsive and perhaps best of all, finished the work in time and on budget. Add it up and you get a singular experience, one that not many homeowners can say they’ve enjoyed.

“We try to put our best (effort) toward every job,” he says. “Of course, it got us our name.”

FROM THE GROUND UP “We started in a little garage in Tarrytown,” Oscar says. “And then we moved to another garage in White Plains and then we rented this place. We’ve been here quite a while now.”

Oscar learned the design trade from his brother. In Guatemala, he had been a teacher in a trade school, specializing in electrical work and carpentry. But after Dulce’s birth, he sought a higher income, prompting the move to the United States.

A few years later, during the early growth of Westchester Granite, Oscar needed a way to con-

nect with the public. With the help of 4-year-old Dulce, Oscar delivered fliers door-to-door, advertising his business for the first and only time.

“I remember he had neon fliers,” says Dulce, who now serves as a company spokeswoman.

On the fliers were Oscar’s drawings of The Flintstones, characters from the popular 1960s TV cartoon series about a “modern Stone Age family.”

Westchester Granite has since relied on word-ofmouth for referrals, no longer requiring Fred and Wilma’s services.

“People who are pleased with what we did recommend us to the next person,” Oscar says. “The best part is when the job is complete and it looks good.”

“And the customer’s happy,” Dulce says, finishing her father’s sentence.

“Every job is important and we try to always give special attention,” Oscar says. “And we try to make it happen in a short time.”

Westchester Granite has designed projects for noteworthy people and companies, including Martha Stewart’s interior design team, the onetime Hertz headquarters when it was located in Park Ridge, N.J., and musician Antony Hegarty, along with many private residences.

Oscar and Dulce recall some of these clients.

“I think 10 years ago or so, there were some black

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tables brought to my father that were completely broken in half,” Dulce says. “And one of our skilled workers who unfortunately no longer works with us did these tables for a woman. Come to find out, this woman worked for Martha Stewart and these tables were in the Martha Stewart magazine.”

“We just did a table for a lady that flew here from Italy. I don’t know how that happened,” Oscar says with a smile.

“I guess she’s a designer like my father, who goes above and beyond for the customers,” Dulce says.

“She flew here to New York and worked with him to make sure her table was well done.”

According to Oscar, approximately 80 percent of the business consists of designing kitchen countertops, mostly in granite and marble with a recent spike in quartz, though there are myriad options.

Alice Cummings, owner of AKC Interiors in Greenwich, is one of Oscar’s longtime clients. An 18year Greenwich resident, Cummings was recently seeking a new kitchen design that still maintained the original architecture of her magnificent home.

“I was looking for a space that would work for not only my family but also for catering, which I do a lot,” Cummings says. “I think the layout is successfully accomplishing my initial goal of an intimate space that works well for family and catering.”

In addition to kitchen countertops, Westchester Granite also designs bathrooms and vanities, fireplace surroundings, bathtubs and Jacuzzi decks, wall and floor coverings, stone tables, windows, showers, door sills and saddles and barbecue tops.

The company typically completes about three kitchen countertops per week, along with a handful of vanity tops and bathrooms.

“My favorite part is always the end of it,” Oscar says. “Leaving a product, leaving a happy customer and leaving something that’s going to last longer than us.”

A FAMILY MAN “I work for my father,” Dulce says with a smile.

“Yes, she’s the secretary,” Oscar says.

Under his wing for many years, Dulce, a fulltime college student, has dreams of expanding the business.

“I always want to do more,” she says. “Hopefully, future-wise we can grow to the point where we

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Oscar Reyes and one of his employees at work in his Mamaroneck workshop.

can land bigger jobs and not just work with customers one-on-one but with high-end designers who want to design for buildings.”

She’d also like to expand the fabrication-only business into both an importing and fabrication business.

“My father has been the breadwinner of the family and he has definitely gone above and beyond, not just in his business, but also with his family,” she says. “He’s putting my sister and me through college. He’s doing the best he can, because he knows how important it is for us to achieve something better. He basically gave us the start to a better life. You know how they say, ‘The American Dream?’ Well, I feel like we’ve been living it. Because of my father, we have lived a wonderful, privileged life.”

Oscar and Dulce exchange a smile.

“That’s what I think his passion is,” Dulce says, “to wake up every single day and please these customers and make sure that we are OK.” Westchester Granite Inc. is at 332 Center Ave., Mamaroneck. To contact Oscar, call 914-7770370 or email westchestergranite@marbleandgraniteworks.com.

Alice Cummings in the kitchen of her Greenwich home. The countertops are done by Oscar Reyes.

Photograph by Bob Rozycki.

WAGMAG.COM NOVEMBER 2015

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OF PENGUINS

past

BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHN RIZZO

Daniel Ksepka is a world renown penguin 22 WAGMAG.COM paleontologist.

NOVEMBER 2015

IT’S FAIR TO ASSUME THAT DANIEL KSEPKA WINS THE “SO, WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING?” GAME AT COCKTAIL PARTIES. He’s a paleontologist, and not just any kind of paleontologist, but a penguin paleontologist.

He’s one of the foremost penguin paleontologists in the world.

“Well,” he says sheepishly, “we’re a small group anyway. But I’m among the most enthusiastic.”

He’s like that — boyish and charming and boyishly charming. Ksepka (pronounced “SEP cuh”) is curator of science at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, where he organized the popular exhibit “Madagascar: Ghosts of the Past” (through Nov. 8). It’s a journey to an island that broke off from Africa and India millions of years ago and is home to lemurs and thousands of other unusual species, alongside prehistoric remains.

Like those of the elephant bird — a flightless giant (up to 10 feet tall and 1,000 pounds) that survived until about a millennium ago. Ksepka peers into a case that juxtaposes an egg from an elephant bird (huge) with those of a chicken (tiny) and an ostrich (bigger but still dwarfed by the elephant bird egg). Ksepka says one elephant bird egg could supply 75 omelets (assuming that you, too, like a two-egg omelet).

But Ksepka’s favorite birds are, of course, everyone’s “tuxedoed” faves. Why penguins?

“By definition, every paleontologist is an evolutionary biologist,” he says. “Penguins have been around for 62 million years. The human species is only 6 million years old, so penguins are 10 times older than we are.”

And very different from other birds. Penguins may not be able to fly, but their little flippers and dense bone structure make them ideally suited for their amphibious role in the ecosystem.

“What they do in the water is similar to flight,” says Ksepka, whose “March of the Fossil Penguins” blog has more than 50,000 visitors a year. “I call it ‘underwater flight.’”

Plus, he says, “(they) have such personalities. They fall in love. They steal. They pair off and raise chicks.”

They also transcend traditional roles. Ksepka points to the 1998 story of Roy and Silo, male chinstrap penguins at the Central Park Zoo who formed an attachment and incubated and raised a chick named Tango. There are, he says, a range of behaviors in the animal kingdom.

Ksepka has been observing animals since he was a child in New Jersey. That’s when he fell in love with dinosaurs and trains. All kids love both, he says. But dino-might never left this Jersey Boy. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in geology from Rutgers University before going on for a master’s and Ph.D. in

earth and environmental studies at Columbia University. Ksepka “practically lived” at the American Museum of Natural History during the five years he spent researching penguin fossil records for his dissertation and learning about curating natural history objects, including skeletal remains, skins and rocks.

He did postdoctoral research at the North Carolina Synthesis Center before joining the Bruce in June of last year.

Next up for Ksepka at the museum is “Secrets of Fossil Lake” (Nov. 21-April 17), in which the paleontological sleuth will uncover the remains of days lived 52 million years ago in and around a Great Lake in what is now parts of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming.

When he’s not studying birds, Ksepka is watching them. However, he and wife Kristin Lamm — a Ph.D. candidate in bioinformatics, the science of categorizing complex biological data — share a Stratford home not with birds but with four cats, Oscar, Minou, Giselle and Tabitha, as well as a Mediterranean spur-thighed tortoise named Jane.

What? No birds in the menagerie? Ah, see Oscar, Minou, Giselle and Tabitha.

“We once had a button quail,” Ksepka adds, “but I think birds for the most part prefer not to be pets.”

For more visit brucemuseum.org and fossilpenguins.wordpress.com.

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Chelsea Clinton’s world

BY RONNI DIAMONDSTEIN PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOHN RIZZO 24

WAGMAG.COM

NOVEMBER 2015

J

ILL SANTOPOLO, PHILOMEL EXECUTIVE EDITOR, ALWAYS HAS HER ANTENNA UP FOR A GREAT STORY. SO IT’S NO SURPRISE THAT WHEN SHE SAW CHELSEA CLINTON ON JON STEWART’S “THE DAILY SHOW” ON SEPT. 14, 2013, SHE KNEW CLINTON HAD A GREAT BOOK IN HER. Two years later, almost to the day, “It’s

Your World: Get Informed, Get Inspired & Get Going!” (Philomel Books, 402 pages, $18.99) — Clinton’s first children’s book — debuted, the result of Santopolo and Clinton’s mutual passion for work.

“I knew she was a natural storyteller,” Santopolo says of Clinton.

“When I saw Chelsea talking with Jon Stewart on ‘The Daily Show,’ I was impressed by the way in which she was able to take an incredibly complex concept — noncommunicable diseases and their effects — and make it accessible and easily understandable. At that point, I knew she would be able to write a wonderful nonfiction book — for kids, for adults, for anyone really. I was lucky that she wanted to write one for children.”

Recently, Santopolo joined Clinton, an activist and vice chairwoman of the Clinton Foundation, at the Chappaqua Library, where more than 150 people flocked to meet the former first daughter; buy a signed copy of her book, geared to ages 10 to 14; and contemplate the ways in which they could make a difference. As it has done for Clinton’s parents, Bill and Hillary Clinton, The Village Bookstore of Pleasantville supplied the books.

“It’s Your World: Get Informed, Get Inspired & Get Going!” Cover photograph courtesy Penguin Young Readers.

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Former President Bill Clinton with some of Chelsea Clinton's young fans.

“The book signing in Chappaqua was lovely,” Santopolo says. “The library staff, bookstore staff and all the people who came out to support Chelsea and ‘It’s Your World’ were so friendly and complimentary. I loved seeing the pledges people wrote on the ‘What will you do?’ stickers as well.”

The Sept. 30 event was another chapter in a beautiful collaboration.

“As an editor, I connect with my writers before we start the creative process to make sure that we have a shared vision for the project. Then once the process begins, I work with those writers to make sure that the book stays true to that vision and is written in the clearest, strongest way it can be.

“I’m probably a combination cheerleader/taskmaster,” Santopolo adds of her editing style. “Chelsea and I worked just that way. We connected before the creative process of ‘It’s Your World’ started in earnest, and then I gave her notes on her drafts, asking questions and starting conversations about the different ways to make our shared vision a reality.”

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Santopolo discovered that she and Clinton had much in common. “When Chelsea and I first started talking about ‘It’s Your World,’ we discussed ‘50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth’, which is a book that both of us loved when we were children.

That book changed my view of the world.”

She is hopeful that Clinton’s book will take it one step further. “My dream for ‘It’s Your World’ was that it would have the same kind of power —and I think that the finished book does. In fact, as far as I’m concerned, ‘It’s Your World’ does more than that. It doesn’t only have the ability to change readers’ views of the world but their views of themselves as well.”

Chock-full of facts, charts, photographs and personal stories, “It’s Your World” aims to inform and inspire young people to get involved in such issues as poverty, hunger, homelessness, gender inequality, disease and climate change.

Empowerment is a theme that comes up in Clinton’s book as well as other books that Santopolo edits.

“Whether it’s a book like Chelsea’s ‘It’s Your World,’ or a novel about contemporary teens fighting for their freedom like in Atia Abawi’s ‘The Secret Sky,’ or even a picture book about a small piece of bread who’s on a quest to find a friend like in Terry Border’s ‘Peanut Butter & Cupcake,’ I think almost all of the books I edit can be read as stories of empowerment,” she says.

Santopolo’s experience as a writer — she is the author of such works as the “Sparkle Spa” series and the “Follow Your Heart” books for middle graders and young adults respectively — contributes to her success as an editor.

“I think that working on both sides of the desk makes me very cognizant of what goes into the other job. When I’m writing, I often think about what my editor self would want from a writer, and, when I’m editing, I often think about what my writer self would want from an editor — and in both cases I do my best to deliver.”

For more, visit itsyourworld.com.

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Christopher Martin and Jennifer Charlebois Martin.

Photograph by Bill Fallon.

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Historic designs

BY BILL FALLON

THANKS TO THE PHENOMENON OF BROADWAY’S “HAMILTON,” FEDERALISM — AS AN ELEGANTLY TAPERED STYLE, AT LEAST — HAS NEVER BEEN MORE AU COURANT. But then, The Federalist knows all about that. For 20 years — the last five months under new ownership — the tony Greenwich store has been supplying its far-flung clientele with quality turn-of-the-19th century reproductions that reflect a passion for craftsmanship. The result: You can have all the ca-

chet of “Alexander Hamilton slept here” without any of the discomforts.

The three-room store, occupying 4,000 square feet of an appropriately Federalist-style building on East Putnam Avenue, draws on polishers, carpenters and carvers in the U.S. — Massachusetts is a production hotbed — and light makers in Florence, Italy, where the store gets its chandeliers and wall sconces. (Light fixtures account for

about 40 percent of the store’s business.)

“The ‘wow factor’ is the product integrity and the authenticity of the product and the brand,” says store manager Russell Raiteri. “Craftsmanship — the lost art, the timeless tradition — was relevant in its day. And it still has its mark everywhere you look today. The craftsmen who supply our products are not so much about money. A lot of their pieces rise to the level of artwork. This really differentiates The

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A dropleaf gaming table with slide out top.

Images courtesy of The Federalist.

Federalist from another store that tries to reproduce a Federalist item.”

Adds co-owner and CEO Jennifer Charlebois Martin, “It really comes down to quality. We’re not a lighting and furniture store. Our products are all handmade and all custom. For us, the product and its quality are so important.”

Pointing to a glass-and-metal lighting fixture, Christopher Martin, Jennifer’s husband and fellow co-owner, says, “Some of these finishes cannot be reproduced in a factory. The pieces are authentic, not something you would find in a showroom. It’s all about the fit and finish, where you don’t notice the welds and where the heavy pieces may actually be hollow tubing that, because of its finish, looks heavy. The bar for our suppliers is high.”

The Martins live a mile from the store. Christopher, an accountant and lawyer by training and profession, is principal of the Stamford-based law firm Martin LLP. Jennifer worked for 25 years in the financial industry.

Christopher and The Federalist’s third coowner, David Santora, are responsible for the one-, five- and 10-year plans and for the marketing initiatives of the store, which was founded by John Ehrlich, who sold it last May. “You might think these pieces are only for an 18th-century home, but we’ve discovered there is an eclectic appreciation of them,” Jennifer says. “A lot of designers will mix modern and mid-19th century. We hear from designers and architects about 30

WAGMAG.COM

NOVEMBER 2015

Desk and bookcase with dental molding, glass doors with inlaid barring and ebonized top.

the appeal of furnishings from different periods.”

Raiteri, a New York City transplant, cited “authenticity” as key. Indeed, the pie-crust tables appear to be waiting for James Madison himself — one of the authors of “The Federalist Papers” on the Constitution, along with Hamilton and John Jay. In another space, a thicket of headboards and footboards possesses the simplicity and heft of the American forest primeval.

That they are modern defines “counterintuitive.”

Both Jennifer and Christopher say The Federalist is about buying a story — a sideboard bonded with dowels or a copper-gone-green light fixture or even an 18th-century-style oil painting. A client who owns a Dallas penthouse recently bought seven light fixtures that, unlighted, blazed with metallic colors.

“Do you see the red highlights?” Jennifer asks, pointing to a detail. The light had been handrubbed 22 times.

Those who have made The Federalist’s stories their own are legion and nationwide, with the Sun Belt being the main clientele. Federalist pieces are in the White House, which is built in the same neoclassical style, and Augusta National Golf Club.

Locally, the Greenwich Country Club has bought some of the store’s furniture and light fixtures. In Manhattan, the InterContinental New York Barclay on 48th Street and its parent InterContinental Hotels Group PLC are clients.

The buying usually begins with a visit to the website — what Christopher calls “the entrée” that

Bow front chest with top with inset ornamental band and cross banded mahogany inlay.

leads to a phone call.

“Generally clients buy via brand and reputation,” Jennifer says. “They buy sight unseen — no touch and no feel. But they know that nothing walks out unless it is personally inspected.”

Russell ticks off common characteristics of the shopping experience that include discussion of details like finish and size.

“The website is a way to be introduced to a piece, see it and call for more information,” he says. “It might involve the scale and shape of a mirror. That’s how we build relationships.”

Although pieces arrive constantly, Jennifer says each package is like a holiday gift, exciting to unwrap.

“I am in awe of what this individual has done,” she says of each craftsman.

Nicholas Pinnella, a sales associate, oversees shipping, which, with a smile, The Federalist calls “fulfillment services.”

“Shipping is one of the most important aspects of the business,” Jennifer adds. “Clients want it in the best condition possible.” Craters are hired for big chandeliers.

“All their products are outstanding,” says customer Kathleen Montgomery of The Plains, Va., who has bought indoor and outdoor lighting fixtures at The Federalist. “They have no competition.”

The Federalist is at 95 E. Putnam Ave. For more, call 203-625-4727 or visit thefederalistonline.com.

WAGMAG.COM NOVEMBER 2015

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SMOOTH

SAILING

BURCHENAL GREEN STRIVES TO PRESERVE MARITIME HISTORY

Photograph courtesy of the National Maritime Historical Society.

B

BY MARY SHUSTACK

BURCHENAL GREEN STEPS OUT OF HER PEEKSKILL OFFICE TO HAVE HER PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN.

A brisk wind whips off the Hudson River just steps away, creating what most would consider troublesome conditions.

But as Green playfully reminds, “Blowing hair is good. It’s very nautical.”

And Green would certainly know.

The lifelong sailing enthusiast has been president of the National Maritime Historical Society since 1995.

“I came here for a year and now it’s been 20 years — but don’t

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say that because I tell people I’m 29,” she says with a winning smile.

Many might be surprised to hear this nonprofit organization with an international presence — England’s Princess Anne was set to be honored Oct. 29 at its annual awards dinner at the New York Yacht Club — is headquartered in charming-if-humble offices tucked within the industrial park area surrounding the Charles Point Marina.

As its website states, “Our mission is to preserve and perpetuate the maritime history of the United States and to invite all Americans to share in the challenging heritage of seafaring.”

The way Green sees it, the society’s work is vital.

“We have a huge mission with a national voice.

Our mission is to keep alive the stories. America was founded by ships coming over. Except for Native Americans, we are a culture founded by people coming over on ships.”

THE SOCIETY The society attracts membership of those affiliated with the U.S. Navy, yachting enthusiasts and history buffs alike. It was formed in 1963 in reaction to an unsuccessful effort to save the 19th-century ship Kaiulani, the last American-made square-rigger to round Cape Horn.

“It was a wake-up call that America needs to preserve our heritage and we need to preserve these ships,” Green says.

The society works to accomplish its goals through publications (its quarterly Sea History magazine has just begun worldwide newsstand sales), educational programs for all ages, the preservation of historic ships, sail training and maritime conferences, partnerships, events and awards that celebrate contributions to this field.

Through its Charles Point Council, the society

offers monthly lectures and field trips, as well as opportunities to board historic ships.

After all, Green says, there is nothing like “when you get to walk on these ships, when you get a real idea of the dedication and the hardships.”

On a recent morning, Green has settled into the society’s library, where a staggering display keeps the eyes darting among titles from “Tales of Maritime Maine” to “Wind and Salt Spray” to “The Story of American Yachting.”

“We have a library of about 8,000 books,” Green says, with fundraising under way to help modernize.

“We would like the library assessed and digitized. It’s a wonderful asset.”

The conversation is far-reaching, from historic ships and preservation efforts to ideal ways to engage today’s students. Along the way, she’ll touch on pirates, shipwrecks, maritime law, economics, historic artifacts and introducing maritime careers to a new generation.

“In the founding of this country, a maritime career was so well known,” she says. “It was a lively profession, and it still is.”

Even though, she admits, it’s not in the spotlight.

“It’s become so efficient so it’s become invisible.”

A REAL WATER BABY Green’s love affair with all things nautical comes naturally.

The daughter of a newspaperman, she was born in New Jersey but the family lived in various places throughout the country.

Her family, though, has islands in Pointe-au-Baril in Georgian Bay of Lake Huron and she grew up spending summers there with family members taking wooden boats from island to island.

She carried on the sailing tradition when she moved to the Hudson Valley, taking her two sons out on the river.

Until joining the society, though, her sailing life was not a professional endeavor.

Green has her bachelor’s degree from the Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa and earned the first master’s in computing in education from Columbia University. She taught English and reading in New York City schools, was managing editor of Creative Computing for five years and was co-editor on two publications before a stint as partner at Hud-

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Burchenal Green, president of the National Maritime Historical Society, outside the organization’s Peekskill headquarters. Photograph by Bob Rozycki.

son Valley Crafts, a cottage industry that developed specialized products.

Earlier, she also was involved in archaeology, working on projects in England, Holland and other sites around the world.

The society, she says, gave her a chance to work with a national organization near her home. That its focus was a topic dear to her heart was a bonus, says the longtime Cortlandt Manor resident, who just happens to live on a lake.

At home, she’s fond of observing the pileated woodpeckers and blue herons.

“It’s just wonderful. Then I come here and we’ve got the eagles and the sea gulls,” she says of her riverside office.

For Green, work at the society has had many highlights.

In 1998, she helped bring the only parade of tall ships up the Hudson River in the 20th century — and served as the assistant parade marshal in the event that recognized the bicentennial of Rockland County.

“There are perks to this job,” she affirms. “They

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have sent me sailing in Tahiti.”

And this month, Green will again head overseas when the society joins with maritime museum representatives from around the world in Hong Kong for the 17th International Congress of Maritime Museums conference.

“We are going over to Hong Kong because we are the national maritime society, but we’re living in a global network.”

Maritime history, she says, has had a real effect on the world — “A lot of maritime battles have changed the course of history” — and can continue to do so.

The spirit of early explorers and the tenacity of sailors through the ages share “that character that we’re going to need to explore space.”

These days, though, Green’s thoughts are more on these shores, particularly the society’s offices, which house a hodgepodge of maritime memorabilia.

“It’s not a destination,” she says. “We really have a few wonderful things, but we’re not a museum.”

Creating one, however, is a thought.

“We have a project that we have been talking about since 1999,” she says. It is to build an interpretative maritime center on the Hudson River, ideally in Peekskill, “… like Mystic for Connecticut. It would be so wonderful for the river, for America. It’s sort of back on the table now.”

It’s a project, she says, that certainly has merit, if not funding.

“You can’t keep our maritime heritage alive without support.”

Schoolchildren, she says, would benefit immeasurably.

“Do you know how many kids who live in the Hudson Valley have never been out on the Hudson?”

In talking about her own family trips on the river — and times on other waters around the world — there is a constant that clearly keeps Green enthusiastically helming the society’s ship ever forward.

“The absolute happiest times of my life have been on boats.”

For more, visit seahistory.org.

Passion

KNOWS NO BORDERS

BY SEYMOUR TOPPING

N THE HOURS AFTER THE INEXPLICABLE OCT. 3 BOMBING OF THE MÉDECINS SANS FRONTIÈRES (DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS) HOSPITAL BY AN AMERICAN GUNSHIP DURING THE TALIBAN SIEGE OF KUNDUZ IN AFGHANISTAN, THE FIRST AND MOST INCISIVE PUBLIC VOICE DEMANDING AN INVESTIGATION OF THE AIRSTRIKE WAS THAT OF JASON CONE, the executive director of the international humanitarian aid group. In the bombing, which began at 2:08 a.m. and continued until 3:15 a.m. (local time), 22 were killed and dozens wounded. The casualties included doctors, other hospital staffers and Afghan civilian patients.

Cone was traveling and when news of the disaster reached him in Tokyo, he immediately took action. On PBS radio and to the world press, Cone declared that the airstrike, later described by the American military as a “mistake,” was “a great violation of humanitarian law” that “can rise to the level of a war crime until we have an independent investigation that tells us otherwise.” He asked for an investigation by the International Humanitari-

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an Fact-Finding Commission, a body created under the Geneva Conventions of 1949.

The Paris-born Cone, who grew up in Hastings-on-Hudson, spoke in grief and outrage, describing how under the bombardment, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) staffers desperately called military offices, including that of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in an effort to stop the attack. He pointed out that the hospital was a known structure. We had, he said, made the exact GPS coordinates of our health facilities in the Kunduz compound clear to the American-led coalition forces, to Afghan authorities and to U.S. officials, both in Washington, D.C. and Kabul, as well as to the enemy Taliban, back on Sept. 29 and 30.

Pentagon officials, acknowledging that the bombing was a mistake, had stated that the AC-130 gunship, which had carried out the strike, had been dispatched in response to a call by Afghan forces for air support as they were battling the Taliban.

Several days later, President Barack Obama telephoned MSF International President Joanne Liu to apologize and express condolences. He promised a thorough investigation and, if necessary, would

implement changes to make sure that tragedies like this one are less likely in the future. (The Pentagon has since offered to pay compensation for the bombing.)

Cone spoke of the events as “the darkest couple of days in our organization’s history.” MSF was founded in 1971 by a small group of French doctors and journalists with the aim of providing emergency care to populations in danger. Its underlying principle to this day is that assistance is offered based solely on need, irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation. MSF was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999 “for its work with populations in danger” and now operates in more than 70 countries.

Cone has experienced some of the MSF’s “dark days.” Prior to assuming the post of executive director — a position based in New York City — earlier this year, Cone served as communications director. He oversaw emergency and advocacy functions relating to the Haiti earthquake, the West African Ebola outbreak, global childhood malnutrition and HIV AIDS. During his tenure as communications director, The Harris Poll ranked MSF as the top nonprofit organiza-

tion in the field of international aid (2012-14).

In recent years, Cone has at times worked on the ground on risk assessment assignments serving MSF’s Medical Care Under Fire program. He put into place measures to safeguard aid workers operating in countries racked by civil war or factional power struggles. Well-known in the field to hospital workers, Cone is a powerfully built man, a former high school football player, 38 years of age, standing 6 feet, 1 inch. Despite the anguishing nature of his work, he wears a ready smile.

In the last two years he has toured the South Sudan, the Arab Middle East nations, Myanmar and the Gaza Strip in Palestine. It has been a period in which there has been a rash of attacks by warring factions on medical aid stations. He has been writing a summary survey report, which proposes worldwide action to protect humanitarian aid workers and their vital life-saving facilities. Yet he manages to find time to be with his wife, Christie, a corporate lawyer, and to play with his two small children in their Manhattan apartment.

Asked about what seemed to be Cone’s early commitment to humanitarian causes, evident at Franklin & Marshall College, his mother, Karen Topping Cone, said, “From the time he was a little

Jason Cone. Photograph by Audrey Topping.

boy, he was always quite intense about principles, passionate about doing right and personally sensitive to other people’s pain.”

From the age of 8, traveling with his parents, Jeffrey and Karen, both international business executives, he was an intense observer of poverty and

deprivation in the less-developed countries.

Today, Jason Cone returns to those countries to ease pain and suffering with no less passion.

The author, the former managing editor of The New York Times, is married to Wagger Audrey Ronning Topping. They are Jason Cone’s grandparents.

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WAGMAG.COM NOVEMBER 2015

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Brimming n o i t i w ith trad

BY MARY SHUSTACK PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALAIN J. CARMONA AGUILAR, COURTESY OF MONTICRISTI

WHEN IT COMES TO FASHIONABLE HATS, THE PANAMA IS A STYLE RECOGNIZED AROUND THE WORLD. BUT, REMINDS JOSE MOLINA, THAT SARTORIAL FAVORITE IS ACTUALLY NOT FROM PANAMA BUT RATHER ECUADOR. And what is properly called the Toquilla Straw Hat — a traditional style made from the leaves of what is known as toquilla palm — came to be associated with the country from where it was shipped to destinations around the world rather than from where it was made.

Spreading the history of the iconic design and bringing it to the forefront of contemporary fashion are among the goals of Monticristi, launched in February 2012 by Molina and two partners.

Molina, a former Stamford resident and the company’s marketing vice president, is joined in New Jersey-based Monticristi’s leadership by CEO Pablo Vinueza, who, like Molina, traces his roots to Ecuador, and executive director Emilio Gomez, from Paraguay.

With their backgrounds in international business, marketing and finance, the men have teamed up to raise the awareness of a cultural tradition while upping the fashion quotient along the way.

“We kept hearing about ‘Panama hats,’” Molina says.

But, he says, he and his partners were determined to give Ecuador’s famed straw hats “the credit they deserve.”

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BACKGROUND, TRADITION The straw-weaving tradition, which dates back centuries, is particularly strong in the Ecuadorian coastal climate that provides optimum conditions for producing the finest straw.

Skilled weavers craft these hats by hand, with work concentrated in the towns of Pile and Montecristi — the company name is a registered-trademark spin on the spelling of the town name.

“It’s something that’s being lost,” Molina says of the tradition, passed down through generations but today threatened by high-tech production and shifting populations.

Buoying the local economy and keeping this tradition alive are what Monticristi is all about, as its website proclaims: “It is our intention to make the art of weaving recognizable internationally, fusing it with a touch of contemporary fashion to sustain its prestigious legacy.”

And it’s a legacy that others have noted. The Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), for example, recognized traditional weaving of the Ecuadorian toquilla straw hat in 2012.

For those at Monticristi, it’s all about respecting that past while looking ever forward.

“We want to create that dynamic,” Molina says.

速

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This Fedora Black Silk Headband E-Class Monticristi Extra Fino 44 Grade handmade 100-percent Toquilla Straw Hat ($19,000), a unique piece that takes 7 to 10 months to create.

The Fedora Short Brim Black Silk Headband Hat ($1,450) from Monticristi.

And, it helps, it must be said, that hats are in vogue again.

“In the past two years we’ve seen a lot more people wearing hats,” Molina says.

The fashion shift, coupled with the ever-growing emphasis on and appreciation for all things handcrafted, offers an opportunity for quality products with unmatched durability and luxurious finishing touches, which at Monticristi include bands of the finest silk from India hand-stitched to the hats.

The mayor of Montecristi and the director of tourism have certified the company’s hats since May of 2012, another vote of confidence that helps when cultivating an appreciative audience.

“The hardest part, I would say, is teaching people the complexity of our hats, how long it takes and showing them the value.”

Already, Molina says, the company has found a select audience willing to wait up to 10 months for a custom design of these singular hats, which can start at around $300 and reach into five figures.

“They understand,” Molina says. “They know the process. They know the hat is going to be one of a kind.”

The Monticristi site offers not only a step-by-step description of the hat-making process and the tradition’s history but also goes into detail about the weaves that distinguish each grade, culminating in the Extra Fino Monticristi.

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THE FUTURE A longtime summer staple, the toquilla straw hat in recent years has become a year-round fixture, a stylish topper found as often on a young woman’s head as a mature man’s.

“It’s funny how it complements women’s clothes,” Molina agrees.

And Monticristi is poised to tap right into that trend, with styles designed for all ages and tastes.

“It is very traditional but we want to give it a twist,” he says, mentioning the company’s own designs, such as the patented small-brim fedora.

Each handcrafted hat comes with a certificate of authenticity, which further reinforces its prestige.

The company continues to spread the word via sales at premium retailers, social media outlets and participation in events such as NYC Couture Fashion Week held in September in Manhattan.

In the spring, the company hopes to participate in industry events in both Cannes and Milan. The company also, Molina says, is committed to giving back and supports charitable causes.

Monticristi will always be faced with competitors who produce inexpensive hats for the mass market.

A Monticristi hat, Molina says, will simply stand apart.

“We call our hats wearable art.”

And, we’re sure, so do the growing numbers of Monticristi customers.

For more, visit monticristi.com.

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Radio DAYS

DENNIS ELSAS SHARES MUSICAL MEMORIES

BY MARY SHUSTACK

Dennis Elsas in the studio. Photographs courtesy of Dennis Elsas.

WITHIN MINUTES OF TAKING THE STAGE AT ROCKLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE, DENNIS ELSAS IS HOLDING UP A TRANSISTOR RADIO. The simple gesture triggers a tangible ripple of nostalgia through those gathered in the Suffern campus theater.

We’ve left this chilly October night to return to earlier days, ones when these handheld radios and the sounds that came out of them meant the world.

It’s an association mirrored by the very presence of Elsas, since the longtime Rye resident’s voice has been a metro-area staple for some four decades.

“I always say I grew up listening to me, too,” Elsas says with a laugh at one point.

On this night, he’s presenting “Rock ’N’ Roll Never Forgets” as one of The Historical Society of Rockland County’s golden anniversary events.

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It’s a multimedia show that takes us through his storied career, offering a behind-the-scenes peek into the music and musicians of our time.

“It’s also a bit of a love letter to radio,” Elsas will later share.

And indeed, the show kicks off exploring the radio landscape that dotted Elsas’ Queens childhood, when he would listen to New York’s great AM rock personalities — think Murray “the K” Kaufman, Bob Lewis, Bruce “Cousin Brucie” Morrow and Scott Muni. We follow along as he attends Queens College and joins the campus station, his first taste of what would become his lifelong profession.

“Growing up I didn’t think I ever imagined I would do this,” he says. “I didn’t know anybody in the media. I didn’t even know there was ‘a media.’”

He did know, though, that opportunity was there.

“It’s the 1960s. The whole world is about to change.”

In the era of the World’s Fair and Woodstock, we hear about how the Federal Communications Commission would transform the “face” of radio, with new regulations paving the way for the explosion of FM music programming.

Elsas, back from post-college travel in Europe, would get his start at WVOX in New Rochelle, introducing some of that new music with a show called “Something Else Again.”

A BIG STEP

It all leads up to a pivotal step, with Elsas hired

by Muni (then program director) himself in the summer of 1971 to join WNEW-102.7 FM. Within six months, Elsas would become not only music director but also a pioneer of the progressive FM radio revolution. In his role, Elsas would be involved in selecting what music would be on the air, introducing

listeners to new sounds, new artists and even, new ways of thinking.

“It was a treat to work there, and I worked with an amazing bunch of men and women,” he says.

His 25-plus years with the station are highlighted by one particular afternoon, Sept. 28, 1974, when John Lennon paid an on-air visit. Elsas had met the former Beatle when he was finishing up his “Walls and Bridges” album at The Record Plant earlier that summer and casually invited him to the station.

“I just threw it out there,” Elsas says.

When Elsas found out Lennon was coming, he told listeners all day to stay tuned for a big surprise.

The surprise was Lennon spending two hours talking music, The Beatles and even playing DJ, to the delight of all.

It was not just another day at the office, as Elsas recalls.

“I’m now this young kid who’s pinching himself when John Lennon walks in.”

That interview would later be featured in numerous outlets, most notably in “The Beatles Anthology,” and remains in the permanent collection of The Paley Center For Media, formerly The Museum of Television and Radio.

Two months later, Elsas would welcome Elton John to the same studio, the day after the star’s concert at Madison Square Garden, during which Lennon was a surprise guest.

It’s clear that no matter the interview, Elsas’ easygoing manner creates an instant rapport with his subject. He might be exploring the story behind an album-cover shoot with Graham Nash or bonding with John Mellencamp over a shared love of a 45 (Remember those?) of “The Peppermint Twist”

by Joey Dee and the Starliters. He even has the audience hooting as we watch Elsas ask Jerry Garcia — during a “PM Magazine” television interview in 1984 — “Does one need drugs to truly enjoy the Grateful Dead experience?” (Garcia’s reply, in part: “No. That’s not what it’s all about.”).

ENDURING LEGACY

It’s now some five years since Elsas debuted this multimedia show.

“The very nice people at the Rye Arts Center were

Dennis Elsas welcomed John Lennon to the WNEW-FM Radio studio in Manhattan on Sept. 28, 1974.

doing an exhibition,” about rock photography, he says. “They said ‘Could you do a presentation at some point, sort of to kick off this exhibit?’ and I said ‘Sure.’”

At that point, Elsas had already built up his website, a treasure trove of interviews and more, so he had the material at hand to collaborate on the project that continues to evolve.

To date, he’s presented the show to Westchester, Connecticut and New Jersey audiences and looks forward to future bookings.

In the meantime, fans can tune in weekday afternoons to hear Elsas on WFUV-90.7 FM, the noncommercial public media service of Fordham University that he joined in 2000. There, he has continued his legacy, interviewing artists who include Elvis Costello, Patti Smith, Ringo Starr and Nash. Elsas is also heard on the Classic Radio channel of SiriusXM Satellite Radio, which he balances with the demands

of being a leading voiceover artist who’s the “Voice of Rock History” at the Museum at Bethel Woods.

He’s also been an announcer for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame broadcasts and for VH1’s “Concert of the Century” at the White House.

Elsas, who shares his life with wife, Nancy, and dotes on four grandchildren, will further lend his voice this month as special guest host of the Neuberger Museum of Art’s Nov. 7 “Benefête.”

For Elsas, it all comes down to connecting with the listener — a relationship he plans to continue for the long term.

“I like to believe what I love about radio and I think you love about radio is the one-to-one. … We spend a lot of time with each other, one way or another.”

And that makes for some special memories for all.

For more, visit denniselsas.com.

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Homestyle Caterers A passion for food — and customer service

BY MARY SHUSTACK PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOHN RIZZO

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Brothers Al and Joseph Ciuffetelli, from left, in the kitchen at Putnam WAGMAG.COM NOVEMBER 2015 County Golf Course in Mahopac.

I

T’S RARE TO SEE AL CIUFFETELLI SITTING AT A DESK.

He’s more often out and about between the many sites and events served by Homestyle Caterers.

He might be stopping by a corporate luncheon, a post-round golf gathering or a glittering wedding reception.

It’s done, he says, to “just make sure” all is going well.

And he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Customer service is what we’re about.”

On a recent afternoon, Ciuffetelli has made time to meet with WAG, and we are indeed sitting, this time in his office at Putnam County Golf Course in Mahopac, one of Homestyle’s venues. The talk is all about his family-owned business and what keeps it going.

As Ciuffetelli shares, “I did not want a job that I was going to be bored at.”

Seems he got his wish.

Today, Homestyle Caterers provides healthy

lunches for countless schools and institutions, operates grille-room restaurants, food service and private events at this course as well as at Dunwoodie Golf Course in Yonkers, offers off-premises catering and, most recently, has expanded into the entertainment field.

The rewards, Ciuffetelli says, are many, reinforced most vividly at countless Homestyle events.

“That’s what I love,” he says. “I love watching people having fun. …They’re making memories.”

A TASTE FOR BUSINESS For as long as he can remember, Ciuffetelli has had a passion for food, something shared with his brother Joseph, whose training includes study at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park.

The brothers, who grew up in Yonkers and now live with their respective families in Yorktown, have worked together for more than a quarter of a century in various aspects of the food industry.

“I started actually when I was 14 years old,” says Al, who began at Morley’s, the noted market in his home-

town that he would go on to purchase at age 29.

“We started as a supermarket, but it just grew,” he says. The catering aspect, he adds, “just took off.”

Eventually, he continues, the brothers had an opportunity to start a new business and sold the supermarket and its affiliated bar and restaurant.

“We took a chance,” and entered the food-service end of the industry, with early days focused on providing meals to schools, nursing homes and the like, soon breaking into the corporate world.

From the start, it seems, the brothers’ roles were clear. Ciuffetelli considers himself the “face” — and voice — of the company and oversees the business end, while Joseph focuses on the culinary side.

“He was just so talented I couldn’t compete,” Ciuffetelli says, before playfully adding. “I don’t cook — I cut. Like I’ll do the antipasti.”

THE FAMILY AS A TEAM For Ciuffetelli, the business has grown naturally.

“It’s all about relationships. We’ve built up so many relationships over the years.”

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And that tradition of gathering continues.

“We take the entertainment from the outside and take it inside. We never stop.”

Through this all, there is plenty of work with nonprofit organizations and local causes.

“We’re all about the community,” he adds.

And, of course, the food.

Ciufftelli credits his brother — “He’s so creative” — with keeping on top of culinary trends, offering new twists on many classics. Changing tastes and dietary requests are always kept in mind, too.

“We listen to our customers,” Ciuffetelli says. “They give us great ideas.”

They also give requests for those Ciuffetelli classics.

“We’re very big into the Italian dishes,” he says, mentioning antipasti, penne vodka and chicken dishes.

With the next generation already getting involved, Ciuffetelli says with a laugh, he finally thinks he’ll be able to “retire one day.”

But, he admits, that’s a long ways off.

A WIDER WELCOME

Joseph and Al Ciuffetelli, from left, head up the family-owned Homestyle Caterers.

I love watching people having fun. …They’re making memories.

— Al Ciuffetelli

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The most important one, though, just might be within his own family. The company, he notes, grew from a staff of five to a thriving operation that now employs nearly 60, many of them family members.

“That’s a big part of what we are,” he says. “Family’s a big part of it.”

Ciuffetelli views the company’s success — which includes now operating for some four years at each of the golf courses — as something strongly tied to the public’s perception of Homestyle Caterers.

“They love our food. They like what we have to offer. We’re a family.”

And it’s one that supports family events.

At the Putnam course, for example, Homestyle offers Friday-night barbecues, with music, in the summer.

“All the families are out here. It’s not just the adults.”

At Homestyle, Ciuffetelli says, there are always thoughts toward the future.

“We serve 2,000 meals every single day.”

There is, he says, a real strength in being a yearround, seven-day-a-week operation capable of creating events for parties of 40 to more than 1,000.

“We’re so diversified,” he says, noting the company also caters for commercials and television shows.

More recently, it’s been catering business events and bringing in entertainment to the Westchester County Center.

“We started out doing the food, and we got started in entertainment,” he says of his newest venture.

From the “Legends of Motown” event in September to the Kenny Rogers concert set for Dec. 11, Homestyle is ever expanding its offerings — but goals remain.

“We’re really trying to get more corporate office buildings,” Ciuffetelli says.

With its new White Plains kitchen, Homestyle Caterers is poised for such expansion within the business community — and will bring, Ciuffetelli says, more than just delicious food.

“The people know when you love what you do.

That’s a fact.”

For more, visit homestylecaterersinc.com.

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WHAT'S NEW

the stones

BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA

Eleanora Toledo, wife of Cosimo I de’ Medici, duke of Florence and scion of a family of arts patrons and power brokers. From the studio of Agnolo Bronzino (circa 1562-72).

Copyright by kind permission of the 2015 Trustees of the Wallace Collection.

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HERE ARE FEW ERAS IN WHICH WORK — THE WORK OF POLITICS AND COMMERCE — WAS MORE INTIMATELY CONNECTED WITH THE ARTS THAN IN THE RENAISSANCE. The patronage of the papacy, royalty and aristocracy in the 15th and 16th centuries enabled great artists like Raphael and Holbein — along with countless, now nameless craftsmen — to explore the full measure of their gifts. They in turn created decorative and fine artwork — jewels, paintings and paintings featuring jewels — that announced and enhanced the status of the patrons and those portrayed.

This is the gleaming subtext of Yvonne Hackenbroch’s “Jewels of the Renaissance” (292 pages, 200 illustrations, $195), certainly one of Assouline’s most sensuous, sumptuous books to date. Martine Assouline has dedicated it to Maria Bellonci, “who first opened the doors of the Renaissance to me with her magnificent book, ‘Lucrezia Borgia.’” And indeed, this would also be a fitting tribute to the adored yet still exploited daughter of the scandalous Pope Alexander VI. With its luxury slipcase and maroon endpapers embellished in golden arabesques of flora and fauna, the crimson tome seems to drip pearls — along with garnets, sapphires and enamels. The quality of the paper stock and reproductions underscore the weightiness — sometimes quite literally — of the patronage

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that financed the works. Among the patrons of the slyly insightful painter/jewelry maker Hans Holbein the Younger was Henry VIII, seen here, circa 1537, in a magnificent gray doublet studded with what appears to be rubies set in gold and draped in a gold chain and a ruby and pearl-crusted one. (A drawback of the text is that it doesn’t necessarily offer much on the jewels in the paintings, though that may be a historical impossibility.)

Even when the subject is undressed there are jewels. In a detail from Jan Massys’ painting “David and Bathsheba,” a three-strand pearl necklace featuring two drop pearls not only mirrors the creaminess of the adulterous Bathsheba’s exposed bosom but heightens the eroticism of the work, in concert with her filmy, open gown, jeweled armbands and feathery headdress.

There are whole pages of close-ups of jewelry set against black backdrops, such as a delightful salamander inset with rubies that was recovered from the Girona, a ship of the Spanish Armada that fared so disastrously when it tangled with Elizabeth I’s fleeter fleet in 1588. Animals, both real and imaginary, figure into many of the works, as in an enameled gold pendant of a hippocampus (a kind of fanciful seahorse) with a female rider, set with cabochon emeralds (circa 1580, Spain).

But for the art lover, there is no greater setting for

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these gems than the paintings in which they or similar works appear. Many are old acquaintances, including Raphael’s chastely bejeweled “Lady With Unicorn” (circa 1505-06) and the portrait by an unknown artist of the future Elizabeth I as a tween princess (circa 1542-47) — her elaborate scarlet gown and headdress threaded with pearls, her self-possessed gaze indicative of the kind of monarch she would become.

Other paintings are revelations, such as Hans Muelich’s 1545 portrait of Albrecht V, Duke of Bavaria, which reveals understated (for the period) gold chains and a handsome, pensive, remarkably contemporary face.

Perhaps the real “find” is a French school portrait of Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII and mother of Elizabeth I, that offers a softer, indeed lovelier take on the doomed, bewitching queen — her dark tresses caught up in a pearl hairnet, a pearland-gemstone choker separating her head and neck from the rest of her body, just as an executioner’s sword would do in 1536.

Portraits like this and Alonso Sanchez Coello’s of Elisabeth of Valois — third wife of Philip II of Spain and later the romantic heroine of Verdi’s opera “Don Carlo” — demonstrate that there is no jewel that can compare with an arresting face.

Or a great work of fine art.

For more, visit assouline.com.

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HIGH-FLYING AMBITIONS

BY COLLEEN WILSON PHOTOGRAPH BY ANTHONY CARBONI

WHEN MOST PEOPLE TURN 16, THE FIRST THING THEY DO IS GET THEIR DRIVER’S LICENSE. For Benjamin Hamilton, his 16th birthday meant getting his student pilot certificate.

And this was just one of many stepping stones since he was 2 years old — when knew he wanted to be in aviation — that have helped pave the way for Hamilton to become CEO and co-founder of ImagineAir Inc., an Atlanta-based company that aims to serve the more than 900 mostly underused airports on the East Coast.

“In college, I was going to go on the path of becoming an airline pilot, but I wanted to take this to a much bigger level to really make an impact and share my passion with a lot more people,” Hamilton says.

It was that idea that inspired Hamilton and some college dorm mates to create a plan for an airline company that would serve the business commuters who typically drive between three and eight hours and only stay a small amount of time.

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“It’s more than just a niche market. This is something that we believe can really change the world in the same way Uber has changed how people think about driving,” Hamilton says.

Since the company started in 2007, it has amassed 11 Cirrus SR-22 aircrafts, 40 employees and in May 2014 merged with Danbury-based Kavoo, making ImagineAir one of the largest air taxi services on the East Coast.

Instead of buying more expensive and larger aircrafts, like jets or airplanes that fit six to eight people, ImagineAir uses planes that fit three passengers comfortably at an average cost of $400 per person one-way.

The key to keeping that price comparable to say JetBlue or Delta is using “small, modern aircrafts, which are best-suited for the mission,” Hamilton says.

Departures out of Westchester County Airport in White Plains are among the most popular, along with East Hampton Airport on Long Island and Teterboro Airport in New Jersey. But, Hamilton adds, no airport that ImagineAir serves

represents more than 3 percent of the company’s departures. His vision of expansion includes nearly 30 aircraft in the next year and 1,000 in the next 15 years.

“The fact that there are five times as many people doing this type of travel as there are flying the airlines, the market justifies it,” he says. “This is our goal, and we’re going to get there faster than anybody else.”

With a goal to expand private flight at an affordable rate through his company, it’s clear that Hamilton is not just passionate about aviation and business but about how many people he can expose to flying.

Becoming a commercial airline pilot “would have been a nice, comfortable, fun lifestyle and I always wanted to do that since I was a kid,” he says. But the bigger picture was appealing to the majority of people and changing the way they think about private aviation.

ImagineAir still has a ways to go in that respect, he adds, “but you only live once, so go for it.”

For more, visit imagineair.com.

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From fLower to fLour: THE MAIN COURSE’S KEVIN LAHEY STORY AND PHOTOGRAPH

BY BOB ROZYCKI

IT’S A LITTLE AFTER 9 IN THE MORNING AND KEVIN LAHEY HAS ALREADY PUT IN SIX HOURS OF HANDS-ON, LABOR INTENSIVE WORK IN HIS COLD SPRING KITCHEN. Someone has to make the scones that he boasts are the best in Cold Spring, if not beyond. (He’s not kidding: These handfuls of delight need no butter, cream cheese or other flavor-muting slather.) Grab a coffee — also the best in town per Lahey, the newly opened double-D be damned — and you’re “good to go.”

That phrase has been his mission statement since he and then-partner Joan Turner opened The Main Course Etc. Inc. on Chestnut Street, aka Route 9D, in 1995. The two first wanted to sell food sous-vide style, a method in which it’s prepared and then vacuum-sealed in plastic bags.

But alas, faced with onerous and endless federal bureaucratese laced with food codes containing innumerable pages and annexes worthy of the cetological chapters of “Moby Dick,” the two novices to the food trade came to the quick consensus that “we didn’t want to go down that road.”

The partners were new to preparing food for retail. Turner was an anthropologist and 52

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Lahey was a horticulturist by trade, having served as head gardener for 25 years at the 3,000-acre Glynwood Estate outside the village. The estate was owned by George W. Perkins Jr., a diplomat and executive, and his wife, Linn, the daughter of George Merck of the pharmaceutical company of the same name. After Mrs. Perkins’ death in 1993, the property became a nonprofit and Lahey shifted gears. The one constant, he says with a smile, was “We like to eat good food and party.”

Lahey is wearing a light blue Oxford with sleeves rolled and khaki shorts as he pulls up a steel stool in his kitchen-cum-office, unknowing he is about to tell the tale of how a homegrown Cold Spring boy with family roots dating back 130 years — born at The Julia L. Butterfield Memorial Hospital (the launching zone for all nine brothers and sisters), watched “The Galloping Gourmet” on TV as a kid, went to Haldane High School, spent winters operating the snow guns on Mount Beacon’s ski slopes and earned his degree at the School of Professional Horticulture at The New York Botanical Garden — ended up running a successful eatery.

Lahey seasons his sentences with a measure of salty language and a pinch of profanity. YFY is code for great food: Yum; F as in yes, that F-word; and Yum.

He truly is a man of the earth, and a proud one at that, as exhibited in his extolling his He truly is a man of the earth, and a proud one at that, exhibited by his extolling of his “killer quinoa salad” (very tasty) or “great tuna fish sandwich” (yes) or “best bran muffin in the world” (I cannot attest since he was sold out!)

It was Lahey who spied the open space in the building that once housed a motorcycle shop up front and a lawnmower repair service in the back. It was partner Turner who reached out to Susan Baker, who ran Susan Lawrence Gourmet Foods, the successful catering business in Chappaqua. She consulted for the two and set them on the right track, Lahey says.

Initially all the pots and pans came out of Lahey’s and Turner’s respective home kitchens.

So without any training in cooking between the two of them, they were off. Well, for the first day, anyway. The second day they did the unheard of and closed their doors to reconnoiter. Now, the business was off and running. Unlike a restaurant, Lahey says, there is no bar bill, no tipping: “Customers come in and bring it home.”

Lahey says the shop has had the same recipes since the beginning. “You have to stay consistent. There are no shortcuts. We don’t skimp on anything.” The only

thing that has changed is the retirement of his partner Turner with whom he still keeps in close contact.

The business model remains true. “We’ve never advertised once in 20 years,” Lahey says. And for 15 of those years, The Main Course has provided picnic staples for the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival at Boscobel.

And he knows which days of the week customers are looking for turkey burgers or salmon burgers. Lahey points out proudly that there is no greasy smell in the air. Why? “We don’t do any frying.” Burgers are first seared and then finished cooking in the oven.

And for sautéing, it’s only olive oil or canola.

The shop now has 12 workers with five cooks in the two kitchens. One family member, sister Eileen, has been a longtime helper. Lahey refers to her as “a godsend.”

So, for a guy who has gone from flower to flour, he voices no qualms about getting to work at 3 a.m.

He seems genuinely happy with his second career. I mention Mark Twain’s quote: “The secret of success is making your vocation your vacation.” And Lahey is quick to point out that the great writer once lived at Wave Hill in the Bronx, which was owned by the Perkins family, the same ones who owned Glynwood.

For Lahey, it’s all kismet.

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DOCTOR’s Rx for patient success She’s a former emergency room director (Westchester Medical Center) and an internist with 20 years in private practice. She’s the founder of Evolved Science, a personalized medical practice with headquarters in Manhattan and offices in London and, coming soon, Miami. She’s appeared on PBS, “The View,” “Good Morning America” and “Good Day New York” and in the pages of The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, the Daily Mail, Vogue and, of course, our own WAG magazine.

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Now Erika Schwartz, MD, comes home for a Dec. 3 event at Neiman Marcus Westchester, Level One, that will promote her new book — and blow the lid off the health care system.

In “Don’t Let Your Doctor Kill You: How to Beat Physician Arrogance, Corporate Greed and A Broken System” (Post Hill Press/Simon and Schuster, Nov. 10, $25), Dr. Erika outlines key ways to empower yourself as a patient and reclaim health care from “health scare.”

She discusses “the perfect patient,” blindly ac-

cepting whatever the doctor tells him or her to do; the arrogance of the patronizing, patriarchal physician; and the role of Big Pharma and the insurance companies in clouding the doctor-patient partnership.

Dr. Erika will elaborate on all this and more when she offers her “Rx for Patient Success” at Neiman’s from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Join WAG and the good doctor then for sips, nibbles, a goody bag and straight talk that’s just what the doctor ordered. rsvpwestchester@neimanmarcus.com.

Erika Schwartz, MD. Courtesy of the doctor.

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Ryan Reynolds with Marshall Fine during the Q&A after The Picture House’s advanced screening of “Mississipi Grind” on Sept. 19.

Photograph by John Rizzo.

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RYAN REYNOLDS

SUPERHERO AND FAMILY MAN

BY REECE ALVAREZ

WHEN IT COMES TO THE CRAFT OF ACTING, THERE ARE FEW MORE VERSATILE MOVIE STARS THAN RYAN REYNOLDS. HE’S BEEN A SUPERHERO (“GREEN LANTERN”), A FRAT BOY (“NATIONAL LAMPOON’S VAN WILDER”) AND EVEN SANDRA BULLOCK’S PUT-UPON ASSISTANT (“THE PROPOSAL”).

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Recently, the Bedford resident and Vancouver native sat down with Marshall Fine, critic-in-residence at The Picture House in Pelham, to discuss his latest role, that of a down-on-his luck gambler who becomes an improbable good luck charm for a gambling addict (Ben Mendelsohn) in “Mississippi Grind,” a film that salutes a venerable genre, the buddy road picture.

It’s a movie with a “loosey-goosey” feel reminiscent of Robert Altman’s “California Split” (1974), Fine says, which Reynolds attributed to directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck.

“It’s ballsy to make a movie like this now — to do something that is such a throwback,” Reynolds says. “The climaxes are many and they are character-based. There are no transformers or car chases or end-of-the-world scenarios. It is just two guys having a very mature, adult love story and I think that is a beautiful thing.”

Reynolds spoke highly of his co-star Mendelsohn, whom he says deserves a “forest” of awards for his performance in the film and whose Method approach he particularly admires.

“He showed up as Gerry — I still have never met Ben,” Reynolds says, joking. “But Ben is one of those Method actors that doesn’t make his process your process. He is so inclusive and generous and just wants everyone in the scene to be amazing, even the guy that is not saying anything over in the corner. You learn a lot from guys like that.”

While “Van Wilder” (2002) was one of the first films to make audiences notice the Canadian actor’s charm and way with a snappy line, Fine cited Reynolds in lesser-known films like “Buried” (2010) and “The Voices” (2014).

“I think he has a lot of range, a lot more range than some people give him credit for,” Fine says. “I admire his willingness to take on smaller, chancier films when he obviously has the ability to command big salaries from big studio movies.”

Reynolds was blunt when asked about his start in the entertainment business.

“I became an actor to get out of the house,” he says. “I was an actor because I could.”

Reynolds described his career, beginning with improvisational comedy at age 12. His first movie, “Ordinary Magic” (1993), was followed by a string of series and movies for TV, but it wasn’t

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Ryan Reynolds with wife, Blake Lively, on the red carpet in Cannes for the premiere of his film “Captives.”

all smooth sailing. After a two-year hiatus on the night shift at a grocery store, Reynolds’ made a decision to move to Los Angeles, where he returned to improv with the Groundlings comedy group.

“That’s when I kind of fell in love with it,” he says of performing.

Small independent films and big studio films followed — a successful career that Reynolds says has its roots in the comedy of Chevy Chase.

“Back then I just idolized Chevy Chase — I watched him, I studied him, I imitated him. If you watch ‘Van Wilder,’ I am imitating Chevy Chase. I am doing my best version of that.”

At 39 years old and with more than 62 credits to

his name as an actor, Reynolds continues to split his time between independent and big production films.

Fine asks if after all these movies, including some “abysmal failures,” as Reynolds put it, he still gets the same satisfaction out of acting as when he started.

“More, I think. It depends. When you are doing a big movie, that’s just kind of scary, because it is engineered entirely towards an outcome. You can’t have as much fun with it. Those can sometimes be tough but also rewarding and fun.

“I think what I am really addicted to is sort of what Curtis (his ‘Mississippi Grind’ character) is

addicted to in this movie — being on the set, I love being around people, being around a crew. I love that we are all there making something together.”

Reynolds’ “Deadpool” is due for release in February. He plays the title antihero, based on the Marvel Comics series, one of several action- and comics-based roles he has taken on. The role of Deadpool will be the last of this type, he tells Fine.

“If there was no Deadpool, I certainly wouldn’t be diving into any kind of spandex,” he says.

Stunts also aren’t as easy as they used to be and he is more considerate of his filming schedule now that he and wife, Blake Lively — “Gossip Girl,” the face of Gucci Première fragrance and Reynolds’ “Green Lantern” co-star — are the parents of 9-month-old daughter, James, a family name.

“It is very hard to say I’ll go to Anchorage for 10 months and shoot. It is very tough. You have to let your actual life seep in and be home,” he says. “My wife is an actor as well and we try not to work at the same time so it can be sometimes challenging to schedule stuff.”

Lively, from California, has starred in several feature films, including “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” (2005), “Accepted” (2006), “The Private Lives of Pippa Lee” (2009), and, most recently, in “The Age of Adaline” (2015). Perhaps best-known as Serena van der Woodsen in the TV drama “Gossip Girl” (2007—12) — she is also an aspiring lifestyle guru who counts Martha Stewart among her influences and a human rights activist who appeared at Greenwich Country Day School recently to take part in a discussion about “A Path Appears,” a documentary on gender-based oppression in which she participated.

How Reynolds, a Canadian from Vancouver and Lively, a California native, ended up in Westchester is not as curious a story as it might seem.

“There is a bit of country in me. I like having a little more space,” Reynolds says. “I like the idea that for the price of a one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan you can have a backyard in Westchester. Really, it is just a simple, practical thing.

I am not a guy who is stumbling out of bars at 2 in the morning. I don’t really need that in my life.

For both my wife and I, it just works really well. We love Westchester. It’s gorgeous.”

For more, visit thepicturehouse.org.

On the move at LAX. Photographs courtesy of Dreamstime.com.

WAY

Past present at Pokahoe

BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA

THE VILLAGE OF SLEEPY HOLLOW is the kind of cozy community where yesterday and today happily coexist. Think Philipsburg Manor, an 18th-century mill and farm that was worked by slaves; the Old Dutch Church; Sleepy Hollow Cemetery; and, of course, Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” whose ungainly hero, Ichabod Crane, has been transformed by Hollywood into a hunky detective.

So it’s not surprising that one of its prominent houses — a stately stone affair with stunning views of the Hudson River — should have a colorful past and an equally engaging present.

“It’s an awesome house,” says owner David Fink, “a big, easy house.”

Indeed, from the moment you set foot in the sweeping hallway of Pokahoe — with its 18-foot bar60

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rel-vaulted ceiling supported by Doric columns and its commanding through-view to the river — your first and last thoughts are of spaciousness (elegantly punctuated by French doors). Whether you’re in the living areas, kitchen or dining room, all is light, airy and, yes, easy. And that is due to owners who have clearly married an enthusiasm for the house’s history — it is, after all, on the National Register of Historic Places — to the needs of a contemporary family.

As he talks, Fink — whose company, Think Fink, produces corporate events — pulls out books and newspaper clippings about the house and considers the role of the Dutch in New York’s financial destiny.

His home doesn’t go back that far but rather to 1848 when it was built by James Watson Webb, a newspaper editor with diplomatic ambitions.

“He was quite a character,” Fink says. “He was trying to position himself for a diplomatic posting but one he liked — London or Paris.” According to correspondence with President Abraham Lincoln, Fink says, Webb turned down a chance to serve as U.S. envoy to the Ottoman Empire and instead wound up ambassador to Brazil.

His reversal of financial fortune led former New York City Mayor Ambrose C. Kingsland Sr. to buy the house for $25,000 in 1864. But Kingsland never lived in it and instead sold it to John C. Frémont (for whom Fremont, Calif., is named) and his wife, Jessie Benton Frémont. Talk about your characters. Frémont was a maverick — a Western trailblazer, a passionate abolitionist and a far-thinking, but insubordinate Civil War general who had been the first presidential candidate

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of the newly formed Republican Party in 1856, paving the way for the more temperate Lincoln. Mrs. Frémont was his equal, Fink says — an independent-minded, financially savvy woman in an era when women were expected to defer to their husbands. Despite this, the Frémonts, too, experienced financial difficulties and the house reverted to Kingsland.

It seems as if Pokahoe, as either Webb or Frémont named it in homage to the Indians, was destined to thrive only to sputter. In 1928, the house became part of Sleepy Hollow Manor Inc., which fizzled during the Depression. By World War II, the three-story manse, which had 14 fireplaces, had fallen into disrepair, becoming a ranch-style home in the 1950s.

Enter Mary Butler-Fink, David Fink’s wife. She and her first husband bought the house in 2002. (The house, Fink says, was actually under contract to someone else who failed to show for the closing, which was on Sept. 11, 2001.) Working with architect Tom Felton of Studio 511, Butler-Fink and her then husband spent 18 months and more than $1.2 million on a restoration-renovation of the house — raising ceilings, adding a second floor, piecing together fireplaces with marble that had been discarded on the site and painting the home in historical colors (pale yellows and greens, blues in various hues.)

At the same time, Pokahoe has a host of modern ame-

nities, Fink says — five air-conditioning zones; a modern kitchen; four up-to-date baths, including a spacious one in the dreamy deep-blue master suite; and plenty of storage space, particularly in the basement, which contains an intimate wine cellar. It is in the basement where the past really comes alive as Fink tours you through spaces in which the kitchen, day stable and slaughterhouse were located.

A former partner in Broadstreet — the corporate communications arm of Drexel Burnham Lambert that was spun off into an independent company after Drexel’s 1990 bankruptcy — Fink went to high school on Long Island with Butler-Fink, with whom he was friendly but not romantic. A reunion enabled them to get better acquainted, and they became a couple in 2004.

As he walks down the sloping lawn that gives way to marshes, railroad tracks and the river, Fink points to two green Adirondack chairs where the pair would share a bottle wine. (Butler-Fink’s three children, two daughters and a son ranging in age from 26 to 32, spent the latter part of their childhoods at Pokahoe as well.)

Now the couple is looking to relocate to eastern Long Island — and, perhaps, take on another historical project?

Says Fink with a smile, “I would love to.”

For more information, contact Dalia Valdes at 914772-8002 or dalia.valdes@juliabfee.com.

PRINCE WILLIAM HAS PRINCE HARRY, SNOOPY HAS SPIKE – YOU KNOW, THE BAD-BOY BABY BRO WHO’S A CHUNK OF CHARM AND A TON OF TROUBLE. That’s what WAG Weekly is to WAG. In our e-newsletter, we let down our hair (and occasionally, our grammar) to take you behind behind-the-scenes of the hottest parties and events, offer our thoughts on the most controversial issues of the day, share what couldn’t be contained in our glossy pages and tell you what to do and where to go this weekend – all while whetting your appetite for the next issue.

If you can’t get enough of WAG — or you just want to get WAG unplugged — then you won’t want to miss WAG Weekly, coming to your tablet each Friday a.m.

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Financial Advisor 2000 Westchester Avenue, Suite 1 NC

Contact us so that we can help you take control of your future.

Purchase, NY 10577 Phone: 914-225-4717 Fax: 914-225-6738 douglas.ruby@morganstanley.com http://morganstanleyfa.com/ therubygroup

© 2015 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. JOB INFORMATION 8372062/ 603450449

PROJ. NO.:

CRC 1301404 09/15 CS 8372062 09/15

TRIM SIZE:

SPECIFICATIONS 9" × 10.875"

NOTES

WEAR

Daniel Wingate Photograph courtesy of Escada.

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ESCADA’S

EVO LUT ION

BY DANIELLE RENDA

A CROWD GATHERS AT NEIMAN MARCUS WESTCHESTER, AWAITING THE RUNWAY SHOWING OF ESCADA’S FALL/ WINTER 2016 COLLECTION. DANIEL WINGATE, CREATIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE GERMANY-BASED COUTURE BRAND, STANDS BEFORE THE CROWD, PROUDLY DESCRIBING HIS VISION FOR THE ULTRA-FEMININE LINE.

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From left, long-sleeve crystal-collar gown, dark tivoli red, $2,675; and long-sleeve lace gown, black, $5,895. Available at neimanmarcus.com.

Photographs courtesy Neiman Marcus Westchester.

“I was very much inspired by the brand’s history, but at the same time, I wanted to sort of delve into the gentleman’s wardrobe,” Wingate says. “Gentleman, feminine, beautiful mix.”

Down the maroon runway, models showcase straight-line pantsuits, bold jackets, knee-length skirts and strong embellishments, along with the use of black, gold and endearing purple and pink.

Each ensemble embraces the female form in a classy, yet sensual, manner, with flowing fabrics accentuating curves.

Dance serves as Wingate’s muse for this season.

“Dance and all of the great doyennes of modern dance,” he says of Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham and company.

Wingate’s personal favorite is a sleek, versatile jersey jumpsuit, providing “comfort and movement from boardroom to ballroom.”

But each piece has its own charm.

ay Parties Cafe ctivities Birthd and Sto ms and A re Hands-On Exhibits Daily Progra

Stepping Stones Museum for Children

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NOVEMBER 2015

“I think it’s better to have fewer but finer things,” Wingate adds, “timeless clothing that you can wear and they can become heirlooms.”

The brand has been redefining women’s couture since it was founded in Munich in 1978 by Margaretha and Wolfgang Ley, who named their company after an Irish racehorse they bet on — and won.

Margaretha, a top fashion model, created longer pant lines to fit woman of her height. Escada has since dressed royalty, including Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Sarah, Duchess of York.

Since the early days of Escada couture, the brand has expanded to include Escada Sport, along with bags, shoes, fragrances and eyewear.

Wingate, who lives in Germany, has served as its design director since 2009.

Despite the brand’s fashion changes, he says, its products remain consistent.

“I would say the signature at Escada is the enduring quality and unequivocal perfect fit for almost 40 years.”

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WHEN LORO PIANA’S FALL CARAVAN ROLLED INTO NEIMAN MARCUS WESTCHESTER, IT BROUGHT WITH IT THE LUXE ITALIAN COMPANY’S CLASSIC, VERSATILE APPROACH TO CASHMERE CLOTHING.

Natural STORY AND PHOTOGRAPH BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA

Featured in WAG’s November 2012 “Choices Made” issue, Loro Piana has been acclaimed as the foremost manufacturer of cashmere and the largest single buyer of the finest wools, seeking out the fleece of Merino sheep in Australia and New Zealand and Hircus goats in Mongolia — as if the company were a latter-day version of Jason and the Argonauts in search of the golden fleece. Indeed, Loro Piana’s signature baby cashmere comes from the first combing of Hircus goat kids’ underbellies — which can only happen once in the animals’ lifetimes and, thus, makes the resulting fabric truly rare.

But cashmere and wool are just two of the materials used in Loro Piana’s buttery-soft offerings. Wild mink, chinchilla, leather, suede and cotton twill are also in the picture. They’re used in gray, tan, cream, black and navy coats, jackets and vests that may reverse, button up or button down; collars that stand at attention against the elements or relax indoors; and riding pants that flatter even as they fit like a second skin.

Among the innovations that were demonstrated by Nony Odum — Loro Piana’s national sales manager for women’s ready-to-wear, far left — were the demicarré, a combination shawlscarf, featured in seductive blue and an equally beguiling purple and each trimmed in matching couldn’t-stoptouching-it chinchilla; and a gray cashmere scarf that mimicked a sweater thrown over the shoulders but without the bulk.

The pièce de résistance left, however, was a belted black cashmere coat with a chinchilla shawl collar. Simple and, quite simply, a knockout.

For more, visit neimanmarcus.com.

Nony Odum, national sales manager for Loro Piana, 68 the WAGMAG.COM NOVEMBER 2015 describes model’s ensemble.

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Adjectival

ALLURE

BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA PHOTOGRAPH BY BOB ROZYCKI

Alexander and Alexandra Vreeland

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t

he words “legendary” and “icon” could be applied to Diana Vreeland, but then they would be redundant.

As a columnist and editor at Harper’s Bazaar, editor-in-chief of Vogue and special consultant to The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute for almost half a century, the onetime Brewster resident not only helped set the fashion tone for American women — including a young first lady named Jacqueline Kennedy — but defined for many women coming of age in publishing what it meant to be an editor.

Her life and legacy are celebrated in the liquid jewels that make up the eight Diana Vreeland Parfums, now available at Mary Jane Denzer in White Plains. The fragrances — housed in jewel-colored rectangular bottles with faceted edges that recall the original vessel for Channel No. 5 and festooned with complementary tassels — evoke different aspects of

Vreeland. The best-selling, amethyst-colored Simply Divine is an ode to tuberose, romance and the man who was the great love of her life, her devastatingly handsome hubby, Reed, says Alexandra Vreeland, the 3-year-old company’s marketing associate and Diana’s great-granddaughter. (The company was founded by its president, Alexander Vreeland, Diana’s grandson and Alexandra’s first cousin, once removed.)

The crimson-colored Perfectly Marvelous is redolent of the jasmine groves of Diana’s beloved Tunisian home; Extravagant Russe, an amber tribute to her Met exhibits on Russia. Absolutely Vital contains the sandalwood she always dabbed on, while Outrageously Vibrant plays with cassis, patchouli and rose and Outrageously Brilliant is rich in bergamot and lemon oils.

This past spring, the company added Daringly Different, whose blend of iris and oud recalls Diana’s love of North Africa and the Middle and Far East. “It’s sexy and sensuous,” Alexandra says, and reflects, Alexander adds, the iris trend going on. Recently, they added Devastatingly Chic, a lush blend of carnation, pink pepper, mandarin, patchouli and rose.

With so many to choose from, how to tell which

one(s) are right for you?

“You have to like it on your own skin,” Alexander says. “Take it home. Walk around in it.”

A fragrance smells differently on different women and what smells good at one stage in one’s life may not in another, he says. Helping the fragrance to adhere: The company has a velvety body cream that you apply before the scent.

“I think like everything,” Alexander adds, “a great fragrance is about the ingredients, the quality of the ingredients and the quality of the perfumer.”

When he started the company, Alexander took 35 pages of requirements to International Flavors and Fragrances on West 57th Street — “so far west it could be in New Jersey.” There he works with noses Clement Gavarry, Celine Barel, Carlos Benaim and Yves Cassar to create scents that bottle the audacity, independence and inspiration of the woman who wrote the “Why Don’t You?” column for Harper’s and made you feel, Alexander says, that anything is possible.

So why don’t you try Diana Vreeland Parfums?

Diana Vreeland Parfums are $250 for 3.4 ounces and $185 for 1.7 ounces. The body cream is $125, For more, visit dianavreeland.com and mjdenzer.com.

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71

2

Library bar at Saint James Paris.

Photograph courtesy of Maison Carnot.

A tale of two (working) cities

BY JEREMY WAYNE

IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A GREAT HOTEL FOR YOUR BUSINESS TRIP TO LONDON OR PARIS, NOW IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE BEST OF TIMES. Be-

cause at long last hotelkeepers have discovered that work and play are not mutually exclusive and, in these two hardworking European capitals, the best hotels for leisure often turn out to be the best ones for work, too.

In London, may I declare myself a fan of The Beaumont? Situated almost opposite Selfridges (for my money London’s best department store) in a glorious Art Deco building once an Avis car-rental garage, The Beaumont, while new, is old-fashioned

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in the best sense. (It was launched by the owners of The Wolseley, one of London’s hottest restaurants.)

The Beaumont is filled with exquisite antiques, and you don’t need to be Einstein to operate the drapes.

But it’s also totally 21st century, with a state-of-theart spa, a 24-hour fitness center and valet parking (unheard of in London). It also boasts what has become one of London’s very best hotel bars, Jimmy’s, and a restaurant, The Colony Grill Room, where I would sell my grandmother for the omelet Arnold Bennett or indeed the Veal Pojarski.

I’m wild, too, about The Lanesborough at Hyde Park Corner (where you can see into Queen Eliza-

beth’s backyard from the upper floors), which has just reopened its doors after an 18-month reno.

Restored to its Regency grandeur by the late, great Alberto Pinto, the hotel looks spectacular, dripping with gilt and brocades, and with butler service as “standard.” Some standard! Service has been elevated to an art form here and in the hotel’s restaurant, Céleste, executive chef Florian Favario is cooking up a storm, clearly seeking to mirror the success of Céleste’s “sister” restaurant, the three Michelin-starred Epicure at Le Bristol Paris, where he was formerly head chef. Who said sibling rivalry is a bad thing?

The Colony Grill Room at The Beaumont in London. Photograph by Nick Ingram.

If, on the other hand, you want a small hotel with less razzmatazz but still oodles of character, The Zetter Townhouse, newly opened in Marylebone, may be the one for you. Its location near Marble Arch tube station is great for business — you can get to the City (Financial District) in less than 15 minutes — but it’s a treat, too, to return to The Zetter’s canopied beds, its Victorian bedroom knickknacks and an after-work gimlet or martini at its cozy bar, which draws a lively and stylish local crowd.

They say that an Englishman works in town but plays in the country, while in France it’s the opposite.

Perhaps that’s why working in Paris never feels quite like work, and my heart always gives a little lift as I step off the Eurostar (recently upgraded, by the way, and soon to have long-overdue free Wi-Fi in all classes), no matter how heavy the schedule ahead may be.

The newly opened, diminutive Maison Souquet, in Pigalle, where I stayed recently, offers everything I want on a short working trip and more — a comfortable bed, wall-plugs in the right places for my devic-

es, a charming hotel bar and even an authentic hammam (Turkish bath) to relax in (off company time).

Bags of character too — the place was once a brothel — and at a price that won’t frighten the horses.

Although not new, a recent Paris discovery for me is the Saint James Paris, an exceptionally beautiful Napoleon III residence a stone’s throw from the Arc de Triomphe and very popular with Americans.

Rooms manage the clever trick of being both fabulously grand but also functional (Nespresso machines, first-class technology). There can’t be a more atmospheric spot in the city than the Saint James’ historic Library Bar, with its sumptuous wood paneling and thousands of antique volumes.

I’m a new convert, too, in Paris, to Le Bristol, where everyone, from the gouvernante (housekeeper) to the most junior commis waiter, is utterly devoted to your comfort and enjoyment, and where the cloakroom attendant is so raffinée she would almost certainly have been for the chop had she been around at the time of the Revolution. Suites at

Le Bristol are the size of a small country, and as for dinner at the hotel’s restaurant, Epicure — the whole, crazy seven-course shebang — it is intense and wonderful and delivered with a sweetness and sincerity that outshines even the food.

And, speaking of food, if you’ve had it up to here with airline food, next time you cross the Atlantic for work, do give the new, all-business-class airline La Compagnie a whirl. The pre-take-off Champagne and cranberry juice cocktail is merely a taste of the delicious treats to come — a superb filet de boeuf and chocolate bombe glacée among them. At fares in line with full-fare coach, you can fly from Newark to London and back from Paris — or vice versa — with no premium, and the flight attendants, 1950s-glamorous in their baby blue uniforms, can’t do enough for you. Entertainment, meanwhile, comes via a personal Samsung Galaxy Pro tablet, with a USB port for your own devices. Did I say entertainment? I did — because as everybody knows, all work and no play makes Jacques a very dull boy.

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WONDERFUL DINING

– t e e r t S l l i M 74

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Oyster and clam selections at Mill Street Bar & Table.

Photographs by Noah Fecks.

A LOCAL TASTE OF LAND AND SEA

BY DANIELLE BRODY

LIKE A TRIP THROUGH A FARMERS MARKET, GREENWICH’S MILL STREET BAR & TABLE OFFERS A DIVERSE SAMPLING OF WHAT CONNECTICUT HAS TO OFFER. Executive chef and managing partner Geoff Lazlo uses Stella Mar oysters from Greenwich Harbor and produce from nearby purveyors and the Back 40 Farm, an 85-acre Washington, Conn., organic farm owned by Bill and Lesley King, partners in the restaurant. With local harvests and a seasoned staff, the restaurant has a menu that is abundant in creativity and satisfying dishes.

It includes shared snacks, garden dishes, flatbreads, homemade pasta, seafood and wood roasted-meats that have a touch of international influence.

The American farm-to-table restaurant is a homecoming for Lazlo, who grew up in Greenwich farming in his backyard — and sometimes eating at the restaurant that formerly occupied the Mill. A Culinary Institute of America graduate, he went on to work at Pocantico Hills’ Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Westport’s Le Farm and The Whelk and Manhattan’s Gramercy Tavern.

The buzz of Lazlo’s restaurant, which opened in September, brought in a lively crowd on a Friday night in early October, with nearly all reserved tables and the walk-in spots taken.

I started in the bar, a cozy nook that leads to an almost-hidden V.I.P. lounge. I tried the Grilled Margarita, which had a smoky flavor from the grilled limes. Other cocktail names and ingredients were also original, including the Hanky Panky, a drink with Ford’s gin, Fernet Branca and vermouth, and Byram River Daisy, a rum and lime cocktail whose name pays homage to the restaurant’s riparian neighborhood.

Drink in hand, I walked through the dining room of wooden tables, exposed brick and delicate chandeliers. A wooden banister with orangeand white-painted pumpkins leads a few steps up to the focal point of the restaurant — a glimmering, crescent oyster bar. Toward the kitchen is the garden room, which has a communal table and seating for couples. Outside is a patio that seats about 20.

Sitting on a backless chair facing a mural of abstract waves in the garden room, I had to give the

menu several reads. Was I craving land or sea? I gave both a shot.

First, I had the grilled oysters served on a bed of chunky sea salt paired with a full white wine recommended by the sommelier, Michael Gallucio, who hails from The Inn at Pound Ridge. The oysters dispel any myths that Greenwich shellfish are inferior. With a lemon wine sauce, they not only went down easily but were enjoyable, too.

We quickly finished a plate of Mediterranean spiced carrot fries with a buttermilk dressing.

Rather than thick-cut, sweet carrots, the carrots were thin, savory chips.

Another surprising vegetable dish was the roasted cauliflower. Don’t expect a dish of small florets.

This was a hearty head of cauliflower smothered with velvety pine nut butter, capers and lemon, suitably served with a steak knife.

We moved from the farm to Italy with a gnocchi dish, which also had a surprising but welcome flair. Infused with sage pesto, the gnocchi was a light green. The atypical dish threw me off at first, but after a few bites, I was all-in. Tip: Keep the soft, homemade bread given at the beginning of the meal on the table to dip in any extra sauce.

From the wood-roasted meats section, we ordered pork meatballs served over a polenta mash

with sweet and sour onions. The polenta muted the flavor of the comfort food. When eating only the meatballs, I got their full, flavorful effect and eventually ignored the polenta.

Although full, we had to try one of Mill Street’s specialties, the pasture-raised chicken served with spaetzle (small egg noodles that tasted like mild corn) and carrots. This was tender and delicious and yielded some tasty leftovers.

The dessert menu also had a lovely selection of farm-inspired options, like blueberry shortcake with corn ice cream and a dulce de leche sundae with goat cheese ice cream.

The mini ice cream sandwich sampler called to me that night. These were not your average ice cream truck desserts. The sampler had a trio of sandwiches made with soft and dense cookies ranging from decadently rich to spicy and sweet.

Whether you come to Mill Street on a date or with kids, expect good food and friendly service, but don’t expect the same dishes every time. With paper menus and a reliance on seasonal foods, it seems Lazlo is game to experiment in the comfort of his new hometown haunt.

Mill St. Bar & Table is at 230 Mill Street in Greenwich. For more, see millstreetct.covm.

The rustic-style interior of Mill Street Bar & Table.

WAGMAG.COM NOVEMBER 2015

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WINE & DINE

Christine Hanna of Hanna Winery.

A vintner’s eco-minded approach yields results STORY AND PHOTOGRAPH BY DOUG PAULDING

ike most wine entrepreneurs around the globe, Christine Hanna, president of Hanna Winery, is paying a lot of attention to her environment and its place in the world. Grape growers in particular and farmers in general are getting back in touch with the earth and embracing a broad spectrum of nondestructive flora and fauna for ecological balance. Many studies and lots of anecdotal evidence are telling them a living, breathing and holistic farm is healthier, creates more and better produce and will be sustainable for the foreseeable future, perhaps indefinitely. Christine’s father, Dr. Elias Hanna, was born in Syria.

Early on it was clear he was bright and his family thought living in the United States would give him many more options. After college he became a doctor, working in a M.A.S.H unit in Vietnam. After the war, he married and meditated on the proper place to raise a family. He wanted his family to 76

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“Know the land and to know the earth.” He wanted his family to be grounded through working and touching the land. Elias Hanna bought some land in what would eventually become the Russian River Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA) in California. He and his family began making wine, albeit an uninteresting vintage, in the 1970s. In 1985 they decided to take their wine to a new plateau and hired skilled winemaker Merry Edwards as a consultant. They continued to buy up acreage and improve their grape growing and winemaking techniques. Today, Hanna Winery owns some 600 acres with more than 250 acres planted with grapes in Sonoma County. Elias’ eldest daughter, Christine, came to Westchester County recently to meet, to educate and to seduce the New York media. She invited us to an exceptional luncheon at Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Pocantico Hills to show us its sustainable and organic food production. It

is unusual to ferry New York City media to Westchester for events for logistical reasons. I asked Christine why she took on this additional challenge to creating this event.

“In Sonoma we are certified sustainable. We wanted to show what we do at the winery, with livestock and vegetable gardens all growing together, sequentially and collaboratively grazing and reinforcing each other, the by-products from each used to fertilize and enhance the other. Blue Hills in Westchester illustrates and embodies our approach in Sonoma.”

This wonderful working and experimental farm conducts tours daily and it is well worth the trip, especially for those who aren’t familiar with how our food is sourced.

Christine took over management of the winery operation in 1993 and she has been on a mission to make Hanna Winery a national name. That year, Hanna Winery was making 1,000 cases a year. Today they are producing more than 50,000. After our educational and beautiful farm tour of flowers, fruits and vegetables, chickens, turkeys, pigs and sheep, Christine showed us her wines. She first poured her 2014 Hanna Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc and told us, “The Russian River Valley is perfect for Sauvignon Blanc. Its cool climate environment lends itself to a crisp, grapefruit-y, New Zealand-style Sauvignon Blanc. This wine accounts for half of our total production.”

It is stainless steel-tank fermented with no oak.

Retailing at $19, it is a very delicious and attractive aperitif.

She poured her 2013 Russian River Valley Chardonnay next. Both of these white wines are harvested at night and delivered to the winery cool and ready for pressing. It is oak-barrel fermented and showed a pleasant fruitiness with an oaky presence. “I’m looking for the perfect balance of acid, fruit and oak influence,” she said.

Next we tasted the 2013 Hanna Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is 75 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 20 percent Malbec and 5 percent Merlot. “This is the earliest we’ve ever been done with our harvest,” Christine adds. This wine showed ripe dark fruit, dried currants and a plummy finish. It sells at a competitive $42.

Then Christine poured her 2013 Hanna Bismark Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. Tasting of dark fruit, it is well-balanced, oaky and brooding with a great mouthfeel.

Finally we tasted the 2014 Hanna Bismark Vineyard, Sonoma Valley Zinfandel. It was raisin-y with ripe dark fruit. Production is limited so it may be difficult to find. But well worth the effort.

Write me at doug@dougpaulding.com.

WAGMAG.COM NOVEMBER 2015

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An apple a day...

Well, November is here and what better way to celebrate Thanksgiving than with hot apple turnovers.

These will take the chill out of the air and warm your palate. They are simple and so delicious. Once you’ve made homemade turnovers, you will never again buy them in a store.

WHETTING THE APPETITE

INGREDIENTS:            

1 teaspoon grated orange zest 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice ½ teaspoon honey 1 ¼ pounds of Granny Smith Apples plus 1 sweet red apple 3 tablespoons dried cherries 3 tablespoons sugar (extra to sprinkle on top) 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 package frozen puff pastry (l7.3 ounces – 2 sheets) defrosted 1 egg beaten plus 1 tablespoon water (egg wash) Pinch of salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS:

APPLE turnovers

 Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Mix orange zest and orange juice in a bowl.

Peel, quarter and core the apples and cut them into ¾-inch slices. Toss the apples with zest and orange juice immediately to prevent apples from turning brown. Add cherries, sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, honey, salt and pepper.  Flour a board and roll out each sheet of puff pastry into 12 by 12-inch squares.  Cut each square into 4 smaller squares and keep chilled until ready to bake.  Brush the edges of each square with egg wash and place about 1/3 cup of apple mixture in the center, folding the square into a triangle and sealing the sides by pressing the edges with a fork.  Transfer to a parchment-lined sheet pan and brush the top with egg wash, sprinkle with pinch of sugar and make 2 slits on the top of turnover.  Bake 20 minutes until golden brown and puffed.  Serve immediately. You can add a scoop of vanilla ice cream or confectioners sugar.

BY JACQUELINE RUBY PHOTOGRAPH BY BOB ROZYCKI

For more, contact the Saucy Realtor at jacquelineruby@hotmail.com.

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WELL

Lift weight to Lose weight

BY GIOVANNI ROSELLI PHOTOGRAPH BY BOB ROZYCKI

Giovanni Roselli is a Tier 4 coach for Equinox’s private training facility.

YOU’VE PROBABLY HEARD IT BEFORE: YOU NEED TO LIFT WEIGHTS. It will help maintain bone density, keep your body fat down, lower your risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, improve cognitive function and reduce anxiety and depression, among many other benefits.

Another advantage of strength training is its substantial effect on metabolism — the process by which what you eat and drink is converted to energy. Here are some related facts: One pound of muscle burns six calories per pound per day. One pound of fat burns two calories per pound per day.

That four-calorie difference may not sound like much, but for most people, that’s the difference between living lean and living overweight. To complicate matters further, after the age of 20, the average person loses one-half to seven-tenths of a pound of muscle per year. That’s five to seven pounds a decade.

As women approach menopause, the rate at which they lose muscle doubles, which is why so many begin to gain weight right around that time of life.

After the age of 70, the average person loses three pounds of muscle per year.

Why is this so important? When you lose muscle, 80

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your metabolism slows down.

Dieting without exercise or dieting with cardio (an aerobic workout) as your only means of exercise also affects metabolism. If you are shaped like a pear and manage to lose a few pounds with diet and just cardio, you just end up looking like a smaller pear.

We should all strive to increase or at least maintain our metabolism. The formula to accomplish this is simple: Clean eating plus strength training equals a healthy metabolism.

Specifically, doing interval-based strength training maintains and potentially increases lean muscle tissue, making you leaner and enhancing EPOC (exercise post-oxygen consumption) so your body will continue burning calories even after exercising.

Still don’t feel like you should be lifting 20, 30, 40 pounds or more in the gym? Well, consider this: How much do your children or grandchildren weigh?

How often do you lift them, carry them or manage to get them into a car seat? How about performing some daily activities like moving a box, carrying groceries or putting your luggage in an overhead space?

Now I know there are those out there with the mindset, “I don’t want to lift weights. I don’t want to get too muscular and bulky.” If that’s a concern, there are plenty of ways to still train with weights ef-

fectively and efficiently without incurring an overly muscular physique.

In addition, as we age, what are more and more people afraid of? Falling. Breaking a hip. One out of three adults aged 65 or older falls every year. In 2013, about 25,500 older adults died from injuries that resulted from falling. Moreover, many people who fall, even if they are not injured, develop a fear of falling. This concern may cause them to limit their activities, which leads to reduced mobility and loss of physical fitness and, in turn, increases their actual risk of falling.

Throughout the years, I’ve learned that in general, people have one goal in common — we all want the best quality of life in terms of health and mobility. Now I’m not saying strength training is the only answer to this goal, but I do believe that it should be an integral part of our lives. I also want to be clear and say that you do not need to be lifting weights every day for an extended period of time. Depending on your fitness level, you can reap the benefits by weight training two to three times a week for as little as 15 to 30 minutes a day. Your body will thank you now — and in the future.

Reach Giovanni on twitter @GiovanniRoselli and his website, giovanniroselli.com.

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WELL fillers, aesthetician services and products best achieve the optimal outcome. The outcome is also dependent on the proper after-care, so we spend the necessary time to explain and instruct our patients to ensure a long-term optimal outcome.”

WHAT PROCEDURES ARE YOUR PATIENTS MOST INTERESTED IN RIGHT NOW? “Botox and Coolsculpting are the top two procedures that our patients request. Botox can be done quickly and conveniently without downtime while providing excellent natural appearing results, replacing plastic surgery as the primary treatment option for many patients. We have been performing Botox treatments for more than 10 years and are one of the leading providers in the country. Coolsculpting has revolutionized the body-contouring industry. It’s the state-of-the-art nonsurgical body-sculpting treatment that gives permanent results.”

Photography courtesy of The Greenwich Medical Skincare and Laser Spa.

Finding the younger you

BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA

eamwork, innovation, skill and individualized care have helped make The Greenwich Medical Skincare and Laser Spa a leader in its field. Recently, Marria Pooya, the sleek spa’s managing partner, shared some of the most-often asked questions with us:

WHAT MAKES YOUR PRACTICE DISTINCTIVE? “We focus primarily on cosmetic dermatology and building a long-term relationship with our patients, which makes sense since proper skin care demands a lifetime of commitment. …We are in the top 3 percent nationwide in Botox and Juvederm injections, as well as the top 3 percent nationwide in Ultherapy skin tightening treatment. We have performed and are nationally recognized for performing the most Coolsculpting treatments in Connecticut and have performed thousands of successful procedures and treatments.

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“Our customer service is second to none. This includes our leading practitioners who have vast experience and knowledge, and focus on a comprehensive and holistic approach to skin rejuvenation. We offer a very broad portfolio of treatment options and detailed after-care programs in an office atmosphere that soothes the senses and provides the optimal setting for treatment and comfort.”

WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH TO PATIENT TREATMENT? “We evaluate each patient individually since everyone has a different goal, physical condition, and ideal. Thus accordingly each patient requires a customized approach. Most of our patients want natural-looking results that subtly make them look better. We live by the credo that ‘less is more’ to achieve optimal and natural results. For most concerns, we find that a combination of lasers,

DO YOU HAVE ANY PRODUCTS OR SERVICES THAT ARE UNIQUE TO YOU/ YOUR PRACTICE? “We have been utilizing a unique treatment that helps repair lines, wrinkles, stretch marks, enlarged pores and acne scaring called The Eraser. The basic procedure has been used safely and effectively for more than 20 years. However, we have found that by applying it in a two-step process combining micro-needling with platelet-rich Plasma treatments it achieves even more impressive results. The Eraser can give the patient smoother, healthier-looking skin by promoting active collagen growth. There’s no downtime and patients generally see improvement in their skin after their first treatment.”

WHAT NEW TRENDS ARE YOU NOTICING IN YOUR FIELD? “There has been a very large influx of nonsurgical devices and treatments, which have been recently introduced. We are especially excited about Kybella, the new FDA-approved injectable drug that helps reduce the pocket of fat under the submental (chin) area.”

DOES YOUR PRACTICE HAVE A MOTTO THAT SUMS UP WHAT YOU DO? “Our tagline is, ‘There’s a younger you inside.

Let us help bring it out.’”

For more, visit GreenwichMedicalSpa.com.

EPTIONAL IS EXC

DELIVERING DREAMS Special Delivery Due: Winter 2016

It’s a brand new wing. Our new addition features beautiful, spacious and private Labor and Delivery suites. The perfect complement to a maternity department long known for outstanding medical care and a superior patient experience. Our level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit continues to lead as one of the most advanced in the region, able to care for the tiniest of patients.

exceptionaleveryday.org W H I T E

P L A I N S

H O S P I T A L

I S

A

M E M B E R

O F

T H E

M O N T E F I O R E

H E A L T H

S Y S T E M

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Gifts and new products ideal for any occasion COMPILED BY MARY SHUSTACK

A PASSIONATE VOICE Legendary musician Elton John has long supported the fight against AIDS, working tirelessly for the cause. His latest efforts include an artistic collaboration, the Lalique + Elton John “Music Is Love” collection. The series of limited-edition crystal pieces to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) are available at Lalique boutiques nationwide. They include the crystal angel, limited to 999 worldwide, and the red crystal heart, limited to 499 worldwide ($1,800 each); and the clear crystal heart ($1,200), limited to 999 worldwide. The masterpiece of the collection is a one-of-a-kind Cire Perdue Angel that will be auctioned off along with four other unique pieces during the singer’s famed Academy Award party next February in Los Angeles.

For more, visit lalique.com.

Photographs courtesy of Lalique.

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NOVEMBER 2015

AN ODE TO PRESERVATION Around the country countless garden lovers are striving to preserve and promote their local treasures. “Rescuing Eden: Preserving America’s Historic Gardens” (The Monacelli Press, $50) is a lavish hardcover book that puts nearly 30 such properties in the spotlight. With stunning photography by Curtice Taylor and text by Caroline Seebohm, the journey through the history of American garden design celebrates the work of dedicated conservationists and private owners with stops at everything from simple 18th-century gardens to lavish Gilded-Age estates.

Those with a keen eye will also spot regional treasures that include Untermyer Park and Gardens in Yonkers, Innisfree Garden in Millbrook and the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme.

For more, visit monacellipress.com.

Courtesy of The Monacelli Press.

GLISTENING KITCHEN DESIGN The Glass House in New Canaan is devoted to keeping alive the legacy of Philip Johnson, a man who dedicated his life to architecture and design. Its Design Store is filled with stylish choices, including plenty for the kitchen. Among our favorites – ideal as we head into the holiday-entertaining season – are the Espera bowls. These 24k gold-plated creations designed by Anna Rabinowicz include the large colander/fruit bowl (pictured, $1,350) and the small fruit/nut bowl ($330).

For more, visit designstore.theglasshouse.org.

Photograph courtesy of The Glass House Design Store.

WAGMAG.COM NOVEMBER 2015

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Ultimate Gifts to make this holiday like no other

“Monkey Pod Tree” by Cali Gorevic

“CROSS-POLLINATION: A DIALOG BETWEEN MEDIUMS” Cali Gorevic & Julie Anne Mann

Thursdays - Sundays 12-6 P.M.

Nov 6 - Nov 29, 2015

66 Main Street, Cold Spring, NY 845-809-5838 www.gallery66ny.com

WORLD CLASS PARKING PROUDLY SERVING WESTCHESTER, ROCKLAND, AND FAIRFIELD COUNTIES FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

We are highly flexible and customize all contracts to work within your specific service and budget requirements.

We make parking a non-issue.

wcparking.com 914-683-1992 86

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NOVEMBER 2015

Private Home Party Specialist.

Spread Holiday Cheer

WAGMAG.COM NOVEMBER 2015

87

Loving and Sharing… the best way to enjoy the holidays!

la bottega salon IT’S MORE THAN A HAIRSTYLE, IT’S A LIFE STYLE

To our valued clients, we give our heartfelt thanks and wishes for a wonderful holiday season and for 2016 to bring you only the best of everything!

Greenwich Connecticut’s Original Since 1993

3 Field Road, Greenwich CT 06807 l 203.869.9545 l Tue-Fri 9-5 Sat 9-3 www.SweetLisas.com l Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

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NOVEMBER 2015

263 S. Ridge Street Rye Brook, New York

914-937-5333

520 Mamaroneck Ave. White Plains, New York

914-948-7227

PET OF THE MONTH

MACY

the great WHEN MACY, A MALE COCKER SPANIEL, arrived as a stray at the SPCA, he was matted and in need of medical attention. The poor guy had chronic ear infections that were never properly treated, so he has a permanent head tilt. (But then, so did Alexander the Great, and he went on to conquer the Persian Empire.)

Macy will certainly conquer your heart with his looks and charm. He loves everyone he meets — four-legged and two-legged creatures among them — wiggling his entire body when you pet him.

And though he’s 8 years old, he has plenty of pep, enjoying long walks and play time.

To meet Macy, 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.

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NOVEMBER 2015

Dog-lovin’ house

Chester at a summer cottage in the Berkshires at Lake Garfield.

MARK S. GRAHAM, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AT KITCHEN BRAINS, WRITES US ABOUT CHESTER, OLIVER AND SUGARIE: “Chester lives in Stratford on the Housatonic River with me and my wife, Kristin (adjunct theater professor at Seton Hall University and Southern Connecticut State University).

PET PORTRAITS

Oliver, left, and Sugarie also at the cottage. Photographs courtesy of Mark S. Graham.

Chester is a 10-year-old Yorkie who chases squirrels and sleeps in our bed.

Oliver, 10, and Sugarie, 7, are Chester’s cousins, who live in Los Angeles with my daughter-in-law and son, Brandon Graham, a filmmaker and co-founder of EUXMedia. Both (Oliver and Sugarie) are mixedbreed rescue dogs. Oliver has appeared on a dog

Jingle

grooming TV show and a number of videos.

Sugarie was abandoned in the park. Oliver was left in front of the City of Angels Animal hospital in LA. Chester and Oliver and Sugarie visited for a week at Lake Garfield in Monterey, Mass.

They love to tube, kayak and run free — in the Berkshires.”

Holiday Season!    

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Celebrate The Holidays With A Great Show!

THE RIDGEFIELD PLAYHOUSE for movies and the performing arts

Non-profit 501 (c) (3)

Give The Gift of Live Music! • Gift cards available

KENNY G A Holiday Show December 8 @ 8PM

A great night of hits & holiday music with the Gammy-winning sax player.

Holiday Show & 50th Anniversary Special

December 16 @ 8PM

With mega-hits “ABC,” “I Want You Back,” “I’ll Be There,” “Blame It On The Boogie,” “Shake Your Body” and more!

Billy Gibbons & The BFG’s

The Irish Rovers Holiday Show

The ZZ Top guitarist/vocalist and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer inductee.

A Christmas celebration in honor of their 50 Years of Music!

Whitford & St. Holmes

The Wizards of Winter

November 18 @ 8PM

November 19 @ 8PM

After selling tens of millions of records with Aerosmith and Ted Nugent, Brad Whitford and Derek St. Holmes reunite for a world tour!

Karla Bonoff & Jimmy Webb

November 21 @ 8PM

Two Grammy winning songwriters in a rare double-bill appearance!

INSIDE F1: 2015 Year in Review November 30 @ 7:30PM

December 5 @ 8PM

With original members of Trans-Siberian Orchestra

December 9 @ 8PM

Performing the greatest hits (“Christmas Eve in Sarajevo,” “Queen of the Winter Night”) plus music from their original rock opera.

Jim Breuer

December 10 @ 8PM A night of stand-up at its best with this SNL Alum and one of Comedy Central’s “100 Greatest StandUps of All Time!”

An Evening with Todd Rundgren

December 15 @ 8PM

An evening with Formula One commentators David Hobbs, Steve Matchett & Leigh Diffey

Featuring John Ferenzik, Jesse Gress, Prairie Prince and Kasin Sulton

Blood, Sweat and Tears Featuring Bo Bice

Tiempo Libre

“Spinning Wheel,” “I Love You More Than You’ll

A special holiday show by the modern heirs to Cuba’s rich musical tradition.

December 2 @ 8PM

Ever Know,” “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy” 92

ETHAN ALLEN HOTEL PRESENTS

December 17 @ 7:30PM

Tickets on sale now! (203) 438-5795 • ridgefieldplayhouse.org

WAGMAG.COM

NOVEMBER 2015

THROUGH NOV. 7

for all foodies. Venues offer a three-

bluegrass music featuring the band Love

Theatre NOW New York presents “Car-

course prix fixe dinner menu for $29.95

Canon, delicious harvest fare and square

rie: The Musical,” based on the novel

per person and some offer three-course

dancing. 7 p.m., Brynwood Country Club,

by Stephen King. Spend an evening with

lunch menus for $20.95. For participat-

568 Bedford Road, Armonk; 914-502-

everyone’s favorite prom queen. 8 p.m.,

ing restaurants and further details, visit

1414,

Irvington Town Hall Theater, 85 Main St.,

hudsonvalleyrestaurantweek.com

events/hoedown

opendoormedical.org/foundation/

Irvington; 855-254-7469, tnn.org



NOV. 5

Phelps Memorial Hospital Center’s 28th annual “Champagne Ball” honoring

THROUGH NOV. 30

The Junior League of Central Westches-

Emil Nigro, MD of Larchmont, director

The Hudson River Museum celebrates

ter hosts its 29th annual Holiday Bou-

of Emergency Medicine, and TD Bank.

the art form of dance all month-long.

tique. More than 50 businesses will offer

Cocktail reception, dinner and dancing,

“Dancers Among Us,” photographs by

a wide variety of merchandise, such as

with a silent auction featuring gift certif-

Jordan Matter, is on view. Events include

jewelry, home goods, clothing, hostess

icates, cocktail packages, accommoda-

workshops that teach and demonstrate

gifts, items for children and more. 9 a.m.

tions and jewelry. 6 p.m., Sleepy Hollow

ballroom dancing, salsa, the cha-cha,

to 3 p.m. and 4 to 10 p.m., Scarsdale Golf

Country Club, 777 Albany Post Road,

jazz dancing and more. 511 Warburton

Club, 1 Club Way, Hartsdale; 914-723-

Briarcliff Manor; 914-366-3104, phelp-

Ave., Yonkers; 914-963-4550, hrm.org

6130, jlcentralwestchester.org/hb

sevents.org



THROUGH DEC. 9

WHEN & WHERE

The 3rd annual “Gilda’s Stairclimb”

helps raise critical funding and awareness

NOV. 6, 13 AND 20

The Flinn Gallery spotlights artists Lisa

for the free cancer support programs of-

“The Song is You!” — The Hoff-Barth-

Corinne Davis, Hazel Jarvis, Shannon

fered by Gilda’s Club of Westchester. 6

elson Music School hosts a free series

Rankin and Rebecca Riley in the new ex-

p.m., Westchester One (the tallest office

of jazz vocal workshops with guest MJ

hibit “Beyond Boundaries, an Explora-

building in Westchester), 44 S. Broadway,

Territovers for jazz lovers of all ages. 25

tion of Maps and Mapping.” 10 a.m. to 5

White Plains; 914-450-5467, gildasstair-

School Lane, Scarsdale; 914-723-1169,

p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 1 to

climb.org

hbms.org

ANDRÉ LEON TALLEY

NOV. 8

François Larrieu’s colorful acrylics on

5 p.m. Sundays, with evening hours un-



til 8 p.m. Thursdays. Greenwich Library,

The New Rochelle Council on the Arts

second floor, 101 W. Putnam Ave., Green-

will celebrate its 40th (Ruby) anniversa-

NOV. 7

wich; 203-622-7947, flinngallery.com

ry with a gala dinner dance. The theme,

Pianist Alon Goldstein will be the fea-

“Lush Life,” salutes composer Billy

tured soloist when The Symphony of

NOV. 8

Strayhorn and the glamour of the Big

Westchester opens its 19th concert sea-

The Katonah Museum of Art will hon-

NOV. 1

canvas. Canfin Gallery, 39 Main St., Tarrytown; 914-332-4554, canfingallery.com

Band era. There will be a cabaret-style

son at Iona College. A frequent perform-

or André Leon Talley at the Himmel

Westchester

performance by guitarist Bucky Pizza-

er with the Symphony, Goldstein will

Award and Lecture. Talley has been a

County’s only indoor fine craft show, is

relli and the Ed Laub Quartet as well

perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto

fixture in popular culture for more than

set on the stage and in the lobbies of the

as cocktails, dining and dancing. 6:30

No. 5, Op. 73, E flat major (“the Emper-

three decades, serving as Vogue’s edi-

award-winning Performing Arts Center at

p.m., Glen Island Harbour Club, 299

or”). 8 p.m., Christopher J. Murphy Au-

tor at large, and is the curator of several

Purchase College and is a benefit for this

Weyman Ave., New Rochelle; 914-636-

ditorium, 715 North Ave., New Rochelle;

scholarly fashion exhibits, including this

arts venue. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 735 Ander-

6500, newrochellearts.org/lushlife.php

914-654-4926, thesymphonyofwestche

year’s “Oscar de la Renta: His Legendary

ster.org.

World of Style” at the Savannah Col-

“Crafts

at

Purchase,”

son Hill Road, Purchase; 845-331-7900, artrider.com

lege of Art and Design (SCAD) Museum



NOV. 6

Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley’s 10th

The Bridgeport Neighborhood Trust

NOV. 7 AND 8

annual “Walk for Wishes & 5K Run”

third annual “Masquerade Ball,” a mys-

The Westport Young Woman’s League

Westchester Ave., Purchase; 914-232-

fundraiser attracts hundreds of families

terious night of fun with twists and turns.

presents “CraftWestport.” In its 40th

9555, katonahmuseum.org

and individuals throughout the region

Enjoy music, entertainment and compli-

year, the indoor fine crafts festival fea-

to help make dreams come true for chil-

mentary beer, wine and food. Costume

tures more than 175 contemporary art-

dren with life-threatening illnesses. Rain

prizes for best-dressed, most mysterious

ists and craftsmen from the region and

NOV. 13

or shine, 8:30 a.m., Franklin D. Roosevelt

and more. 7 p.m., Amici Miei Cafe, 957

across the country. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Dominican Sisters Family Health Services

State Park, Yorktown Heights; 914-478-

Main St., Bridgeport; 203-290-4255, bn-

Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday,

presents its annual “Hope Gala.” Cock-

9474, hudson.wish.org

tweb.org/masquerade

the Fieldhouse at Staples High School,

tails, dinner and dancing with Bernie Wil-



70 North Ave., Westport; 845-331-7900,

liams and his All-Star Band. Mike Bennett

craftwestport.com

from WHUD Radio will be the emcee of

NOV. 2 THROUGH 15

“Harvest Hoedown,” hosted by the Open Door Foundation to benefit Open

of Art., 5 p.m., Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

Headquarters,

2000

the event, which honors Anthony Domino,

Fall Hudson Valley Restaurant Week –

Door Family Medical Centers, will hon-

With more than 100 Westchester Coun-

or Joyce Rheingold, Rye resident and

NOV. 7 THROUGH 29

ty restaurants participating, it is a must

former foundation board member. Live

“New Works” is an exhibit of Jean-

Jr. 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., Trump National Golf Club, 339 Pine Road, Briarcliff; 914-9411710, dsfhs.org WAGMAG.COM NOVEMBER 2015

93

The New Canaan Artisans’ annual

self-defense techniques and financial

NOV. 19 THROUGH 22

of Sandor Szabo. 3 p.m., The Reformed

“Holiday Boutique” features “winter

literacy programs. 5 p.m., Katonah Vil-

Ann’s Place presents its 13th annual

Church of Bronxville, 180 Pondfield Road,

woolies” (hand- knit hats, scarves and

lage Library, 26 Bedford Road, Katonah:

“Festival of Trees,” with events to cel-

Bronxville;

cowls), hand-knit infant’s and children’s

917-363-7403, hopesings.net

ebrate the holiday season while raising

church.org

914-337-6776,

reformed-

sweaters and stuffed animals, needle-



funds for the organization’s commu-



point, fine embroidery, jewelry, unique

Chappaqua Cares presents the Empty

nity-based cancer support programs.

Hudson Valley Wine & Chocolate Fes-

Christmas ornaments, an array of craft-

Bowls Project, part of an internation-

Enjoy a kickoff cocktail party, communi-

tival — Sip wine and sample chocolates,

ed wooden objects and hand-painted

al grassroots effort to raise money and

ty tree walk, Taps and Trees Craft Beer

wine, spirits, cider and craft beer from all

articles. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Morrill Hall at St.

awareness in the fight against hunger.

Fest, Polar Express Pajama Party and

across our region. Celebrate the fall har-

Mark’s Church, 111 Oenoke Ridge Road,

Participants

bowls

Lego and robotics competitions, with

vest with more than 40 vendors and get

New Canaan; 203- 274-2620

and are then invited to a simple meal

holiday shopping, entertainment and

a jump on holiday shopping. 11 a.m. to 5

of soup and bread. In exchange for a

refreshments. The Matrix Conference

p.m., Ramada Conference Center, Route

cash donation, guests are asked to keep

& Banquet Center, 30 Old Ridgebury

9 and Interstate 84, Fishkill; 845-278-

the bowl as a reminder of all the empty

Road, Danbury; 203-790-6568, anns-

7272, partnerswithPARC.org

Relive the life, times and music of the

bowls in the world. Chef Michael Psilakis

place.org

“Fab Four” in the musical adventure “All

is featured. 5 p.m., Whippoorwill Club,

You Need Is Love,” written, directed and

50 Whippoorwill Road, Armonk; Face-

narrated by Martin Charnin and featur-

book: EmptybowlsWestchester or chap-

ing performances by the Shelly Burch

paquacares.org

NOV. 13 AND 14

create

beautiful

NOV. 27 THROUGH JAN. 3

NOV. 20 AND 21

“Westchester Winter Wonderland” —

“Festive Stroll of Homes” — Tour three

Take a stroll through Kensico Dam Plaza

Applause Ensemble and the David Shen-

homes (beautifully decorated for the

with the illuminated spectacle of “Candy

ton Quartet. 8 p.m., Emelin Theater, 153

holidays) in Briarcliff Manor on this year’s

Cane Lane” and a musical light show.

stroll. All proceeds benefit the Ossining

Meet with New York Rangers alumni

Silver Hill Hospital will hold its sixth an-

Children’s Center. 10 a.m. to noon and

and enjoy outdoor ice skating at “Rang-

nual “Giving Hope Fall Gala.” The event,

2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 3

ersTown” on a temporary rink or bring

which honors Marsha Linehan and Jonny

p.m. Saturday. An additional fundraising

the kids to visit with the “Big Man” at the

Podell, is hosted by stand-up comedian

luncheon will be held noon Friday at the

Santa Experience. Join other shoppers

Pelham Art Center’s annual exhibition,

Colin Quinn and includes dinner, dancing,

Sleepy Hollow Country Club. A reception

as they browse the artisan craft village

“Craft-Tastic.” Blown glass, woodwork

a live auction and an after-party. Black tie.

will be held both days at Holbrook Cot-

for that perfect gift or treat. Then top it

and dyed leather creations will be in-

6:30 p.m., Cipriani 42nd Street, 110 E. 42nd

tage, 1253 Pleasantville Road, Briarcliff

off with a meal or beverage at the food

cluded among the many disciplines rep-

St., Manhattan; 203-801-2307, silverhill-

Manor; 914-941-0230 ext. 13, ossiningc-

court. Park Drive West, Valhalla, winter-

resenting 22 local and national artists. 10

hospital.org

hildcenter.org

wonderland.com

NOV. 16

Library Lane, Mamaroneck; 914-6980098, emelin.org

NOV. 13 THROUGH JAN. 2

a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays



and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays, 155 Fifth

Script-in-Hand play reading of “Dracu-

Ave., Pelham; 914-738-2525, pelhamart-

la,” dramatized by Hamilton Deane and

NOV. 21 THROUGH DEC. 23

NOV. 27

center.org

John L. Balderston, from the novel by

The Clay Art Center’s annual Holiday

“Mooseltoe” — The children’s book,

Bram Stoker. 7 p.m., Westport Country

Studio Tour and Sale features fine,

about a moose who wants to fly with

Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, off Route 1,

functional pottery and ceramic sculp-

Santa’s reindeer, comes to life in this

Westport; 203-227-4177, westportplay-

ture by 50 area artists. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

production voiced by Broadway stars

house.org

Mondays through Saturdays, Clay Art

and celebrities. Mooseltoe character

Music for Broken Consort from Britan-

Center, 40 Beech St., Port Chester; 914-

available for photos after the show. 11

nia and Germany.” Baroque music per-

937-2047, clayartcenter.org

a.m., White Plains Performing Arts Cen-

NOV. 14 Ars Antiqua presents “Sweet Sorrow,

formed on original period instruments.

NOV. 17

Concert followed by a buffet of English

The Olana Partnership’s “2015 Freder-

Cheeses and German mulled wine, 8

ic E. Church Award Gala,” named after

NOV. 21 THROUGH JAN. 18

p.m., Church of St. Mary the Virgin, 191 S.

the Hudson River School painter whose

“The Holiday Train Show,” with more

Greeley Ave., Chappaqua; 914-238-8015,

Hudson home, Olana, is a masterpiece of

than 150 New York landmark replicas

NOV. 28

ars-antiqua.org

Persian design, recognizes outstanding

made of all-natural materials. It has been

Armonk celebrates the return of everyone’s

accomplishment in American art, culture,

expanded this year more than 3,000

favorite snowman — and its native son —

landscape design and environmental

square feet to include a salute to the

with “Frosty Day.” Activities and family

conservation. This year’s gala launches

1964 World’s Fair. The New York Botan-

events start at noon, with a parade that

Hope Sings creates original songs to raise

Olana’s 50th anniversary season and will

ical Garden, Southern Boulevard, Bronx;

will go down Main Street, then onto Bed-

awareness of and funds for various char-

honor Jim Hamilton, Martin Puryear, Ja-

718-817-8700, nybg.org

ford Road and past the “Village Square”

ities and causes, often with a focus on

son Rosenfeld, Lucy Rockefeller Waletzky

women. Its second “Songs for a Cause”

and Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s NY Parks 2020

event benefits Girls Inc. Westchester, em-

Plan. 7 p.m., The Metropolitan Club, 1 E.

NOV. 22

powering girls from underserved commu-

60th St., Manhattan; 212-921-9070, olana.

Verdi’s “Requiem” — More than 100 par-

dancing, costumes and music to welcome

nities with life skills, leadership training,

org/gala2015

ticipants will perform under the leadership

Frosty home. ArmonkFrosty.com

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ter, 11 City Place, White Plains; 914-3281600, wppac.com

mentioned in the song beginning at 4:30 p.m. More than 30 local groups and organizations will participate with floats, lights,

2015 2016

NOVEMBER 6 7 8 12 15 20 21 22

Munich Symphony Orchestra Arturo Sandoval Opera at the Cinema: Aida National Theatre Live: Hamlet Black Violin The Art of Time Ensemble: Sgt. Pepper Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Jessica Lang Dance

DECEMBER

Pictured: Arturo Sandoval. Photo Š Manny Iriarte

EXPERIENCE SOMETHING REAL

5 A Chanticleer Christmas 6 Ray Chen, violin 18 &19 The Rob Mathes Holiday Concert

For event details and tickets, call 914-251-6200 or visit

WWW.ARTSCENTER.ORG THANK YOU

WATCH 1

WE APPLAUD OUR CFOS

CFOs from a spectrum of industries shared how they make the numbers work at Westchester County Business Journal’s annual event on Oct 8.

Before getting to business, a violinist greeted guests to The Briarcliff Manor in the town of the same name, a 20th century mansion recently opened by Perry DiNapoli. Attendees networked and ate a variety of Italian dishes – passed coconut shrimp, stuffed breads and Italian specialty meats, and drank beer and wine provided by Val’s Putnam Wines & Liquors.

Judge Robert Chersi, former CFO of Fidelity Investments and a faculty member at Pace University’s Lubin School of Business, spoke of challenges facing CFO, summing them up with, “change is the way of life” and “no rest for the weary.”

Representatives from sponsors McGladrey and TD Bank announced the nine finalists. Of those, the three winners were Susan Bartow, CFO of School Choice International; Mark Hirschhorn, executive vice president and CFO of Teladoc and Gary F. Brudnicki, senior vice president, chief operating officer and CFO of WMCHealth Network.

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Photographs by José F. Donneys.

1. Amy Fischer and Jerry Landau 2. Rebecca Thorpe and Clay Risher 3. Mark Hirschhorn accepts his award for CFO of the year.

4. Jeff Nadler, Bobby Herbold and Estella Li 5. Johnathan Bohhomme and Jasmin Gonzalez 6. Michael Israel and Gary Brudnicki with his award.

7. Katherine DaPolito, Gamal Abdulrahman and Artis Ramos 8. Alé Federico and Rick Rakow 9. Marissa Brett and Richard Wishne 10. Susan Bartow and her award.

11. Michael Mazilli and Pat Trask 12. Joe Long and Pina Tripodi 13. Adam Kintish and David Richman

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EXCEPTIONAL

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WE CELEBRATE OUR CFOS SUCCESS

The business community came out to celebrate seven exemplary CFOs at the Fairfield County Business Journal’s annual CFO of the Year event Oct 7. Held at David Soundview Catering’s new Stamford space, The Landing, guests enjoyed the caterer’s charcuterie, bruschetta and a variety of dips and Val’s Putnam Wines & Liquors.

Thomas Santa, CEO of Santa Energy Corp., kicked off the award ceremony speaking about new business challenges and the importance of CFOs, especially in his own billion-dollar business. Representatives from sponsors McGladrey and TD Banks announced the seven finalists. From that group, the three winners were Jay Ford, CFO of Splash Management Group; Jeff Gulbin, CFO of Finacity Corp. and Michael Kinney, CFO of Sacred Heart University.

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Photographs by José F. Donneys.

1. Hank Murativuc and Jerry Landau 2. Judges Peter M. Gioia, Patricia M. Poli and Julie McNeal 3. Michelle Gall, Sunder Zingone and Gamal Abdulrahman 4. Michael Piqueira and Ryan McGurk 5. Michael Wiebe and Richard Williamson 6. Shawn Abaspor and Bita Ramkar 7. Finalists Matthew Wilber, Csilla Stekler, Ryan Johnson, Michael L. Iannazzi (in behalf of Michael Kinney), Jeffrey Gulbin, Jay Ford and Paul Driscoll 8. Andy Warren and Amy Fischer 9. Artis Ramos, Kathlerine DaPolito and Christian Gosselin 10. Erin Barba and Joanne Amante 11. Rich Luce and George Guzman 12. Steve Angeletti, David Richman and Charles McNiff 13. Brian Danishevsky and James Schoppmann

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BUILDING THE

HOSPITAL FOR THE FUTURE

WATCH

FEAT OF CLAY

The Clay Art Center recently held its eighth annual fundraiser, “Hand in Hand – A Celebration of Clay and Community,” at the Willow Ridge Country Club in Harrison. Guests enjoyed more than 100 silent- and live-auction items as well as the variety of food and beverages provided by 18 area restaurants. Proceeds from the fundraiser support Clay Art Center scholarships and programs, including the Artist in Residence Program.

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1. David Gelfarb, Debra Fram, Leigh Taylor Mickelson and David Buchwald 2. Honorees Sarah Coble, Robert Rattet, Debra Fram and Sally Ng

BLOWING OUT CANCER

Salon La Bottega hosted a charity salon day to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) at the salon’s Rye Brook location.

Proceeds from the day went to support blood cancer research in honor of Blood Cancer Awareness Month. The event raised more than $3,000 for LLS, and Salon La Bottega treated LLS’ local 2016 Girl of the Year, Savanna, to a day of pampering.

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3. Alexa Piccirillo, Carly Sahagian, Emma Daw and Catherine Puppa 4. Clients get the royal treatment at Salon La Bottega.

5. A private consultation with a client at Salon La Bottega.

6. John Verazza with Savanna, a young cancer survivor who got a day of beauty at the spa.

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A MASTERFUL

NEW HEALING ENVIRONMENT

GO, TOBI!

Hundreds gathered recently at the Hilton Westchester for the 10th annual “Women on the Move” luncheon to benefit the New York City/Southern New York chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

This year’s event honored Tobi Rogowsky of Harrison, who has lived with MS for more than 40 years. A retired lawyer, Rogow- sky is presently on the board of trustees of the chapter. With more than 20 years as a volunteer, she has raised more than $2 million for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Photographs by Mike Benton.

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1. Jennifer Gold, Tobi Rogowsky and Andrea Glenn 2. Svetlana Murphy and Harriet Murphy

CARING FOR CAREGIVERS

Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester hosted its 23rd annual "In Celebration" gala cocktail reception to support The Anna & Louis H. Shereff Caregiver and Complementary Care Programs. The event, was held at the Westchester Country Club in Rye and featured culinary delights, an open bar, entertainment and a raffle.

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Photographs by John Vecchiolla Photography and Hospice and Palliative Care of Westchester.

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3. Holly K. Benedict and Kevin J. Plunkett 4. Mary K. Spengler, William F. Flooks Jr. and Kathy A. McMahon 5. Barbara and Paul Khoury 6. T.J., Ted, Jennifer and Jo Anne Lee, Connie Raffa and Sheldon Alter 7. Jesse and Rochelle Shereff 8. James P. O’Toole and Jack Geoghegan

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WHITE PLAINS HOSPITAL’S

NEW PATIENT TOWER Is Being Unveiled exceptionaleveryday.org

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WATCH

ALWAYS IN BLOOM

The C.V. Rich Mansion was jumping as the White Plains Beautification Foundation celebrated its golden jubilee, honoring four who’ve been instrumental in beautifying the city – founding President Brian Wallach, past President Beth Wallach (Brian’s wife), Barbara Vrooman, chairwoman of Adopt-A-Park, the foundation’s fundraising arm, and the late architect Bob Pollock.

Guests savored Southwestern, Italian and Chinese food stations (the last featuring takeout cartons along with plates), and a chocolate and vanilla cake shaped like the big basket of flowers that sits on the triangle at the top of South Broadway courtesy of Barbara and Richard Dannenberg. The 200 guests also enjoyed a raffle, a silent auction, the musical stylings of the Bronx Bear Band and taking home the white rose centerpieces.

1. Jane Prout, Joan Traber, Mary Merenda, Susanne Gallagher and T.C. Gallagher 2. Claudia and Raymond Doherty 3. Barbara Vrooman and Mitzi Renz 4. Ana Diaz and Lisa Morano 5. Deborah Donahoe and Isabel Becerra

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A PLACE TO HEAL

Ann’s Place, a community-based cancer support center in Danbury, recently received a $5,000 grant from the Rotary Club of Ridgefield to help provide cancer patients and their families with a comprehensive set of non medical services. Ann’s Place offers free counseling, support groups and wellness programs.

6. Catherine McGrath, Anthony Zeolla, Rainer Gonet, Rich Vazzanna, Robert Herber and David Nurnberger

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MAKE YOUR GIVING MATTER MORE. Establish a donor advised fund or a permanent fund with the Westchester Community Foundation and bring your philanthropic legacy to life.

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To learn more, please contact Laura Rossi at (914) 948-5166 or lrossi@wcf-ny.org.

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Providing Holiday and Corporate gifts to anywhere in the U.S. International Wines, Spirits and Beers Free Wine Tastings on Friday and Saturday Daily Sales and Specials Corporate and Client Gifting Programs Event Planning Services Classes, Seminars and Tutorials Private In-Home Tastings and Classes Free Delivery Service (inquire) Family Owned Since 1957

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WATCH

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HAPPY 40TH, GNC!

The Greenburgh Nature Center hosted its third annual golf outing and 40th anniversary gala recently at Scarsdale Golf Club. The event raised more than $70,000 to support the nature center’s mission to provide ongoing educational programming that inspires curiosity, passion and respect for the natural world.

1. Bruce Jacubovitz, Cookie and Michael Woltz and Julie Sherman 2. Bill Doescher and Lisa Salvadorini 3. Bob Dazy and Margaret Tjimos Goldberg 4. Erika Hall, Travis Brady, Cathy Luddven, Robin and Jacob Friedman and Eric Rothenberg 5. Sandy Morrissey 6. Chris Ahlgrim, Keith Fasano, Conor Walline and Anthony Luisi

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WATCH

OOH LA LA

Costumed revelers celebrated “La Soirée: Paris Jazz” at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts in Katonah. The event featured tarot card readings, entertainment by Avalon Jazz Band and a bistro-themed dinner, with proceeds benefiting Caramoor’s historic Rosen House.

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Photographs by Gabe Palacio.

1. Darsie Alexander, Lara and David Buchwald, Robert and Ellen Grimes 2. Evelyn McKoan, Sylvia Lim, Abigail Murthy, Ana Maria Leeming, Teck Wong, Joel McKoan, Lex Leeming and Sundip Murthy 3. Melissa Mulrooney, Lisa and Paul Welch 4. Jeff Haydon, Merceds SantosMiller, Marie Bosch, Millie Ignelzi, and Esther Natter 5. Sandra and Bill Cordiano, Nina and Michael Stanton

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We’re there for the moments that matter most.

E X C E P T I O N A L C A T E R E R S Serving Fairfield, New Haven and Westchester Counties

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203.324.5724

DavidsCatering.com

HUNGER COURSE

Fordham Westchester recently hosted a “Lunch and Learn” event, featuring representatives from The Food Bank for Westchester. The topic was “The Crisis of Hunger in Westchester County,” presented by Erica Santiago. Attended by students from Fordham’s Graduate School of Social Service, the presentation provided an overview of programs and services offered by The Food Bank.

WATCH

A HOLE IN ONE

1. Erica Santiago, Linda White-Ryan and Persephone Zill

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White Plains Hospital held its second annual “Drive for a Cure” at Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor. More than 200 people enjoyed a day of golf and tennis, followed by cocktails and a dinner reception, silent auction and awards presentation. The outing raised more than $125,000 for the cancer program at White Plains Hospital.

2. Larry Smith, Mary Franco, Una Hopkins and Peter Post 3. Kaare Weber, Sara Sadan, Joshua Raff and Seth Lerner

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CARDINAL VIRTUES

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, visited and blessed San Miguel Academy of Newburgh on the occasion of its 10th anniversary during an outdoors ceremony at the school. Dolan toured the facilities of this “oasis in the neighborhood,” and ate lunch, homemade by parents, in the school gym. His visit recognizes that with the right interventions and commitment, those who face incredible income inequality and unimaginable hurdles can triumph over adversity.

4. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Sheila Mara, Ann Cacase and Mary Neenan

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EMPOWERING KIDS

The UJA-Federation of New York’s Scarsdale Women’s Philanthropy kicked off its 2016 campaign with a discussion about anti-Semitism in a changing world. The event, which took place recently at Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale, brought together more than 80 women, who came to learn about what Jewish children face today and how to prepare them to feel confident.

5. Irene Steinberg and Jennifer Goldfarv 6.Mauri Zemachson and Allyson Simon

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MODERN LIVING IN AN ENCHANTING, HISTORIC SETTING

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Nestled on Warwick Road within the prestigious Lawrence Park West estate enclave of Bronxville is one of the area’s finest historical structures.

The most-admired home, a rarity on the market, is now offered by only the second owner in its storied history.

The 1919 Tudor Revival, designed by renowned architect William Bates for one of Bronxville’s pioneers William Frederick

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List price: $1,795,000 3,905 square feet 5 bedroom, 4.5 baths Over half an acre Finished/walk-out basement Less than 1 mile to the village of Bronxville and train station • 28 minutes to Grand Central Station MLS # 4508202 FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT LIA GRASSO OF DOUGLAS ELLIMAN REAL ESTATE AT 914-584-8440, 914-232-3700 OR LIA.GRASSO@ELLIMAN.COM

Kraft, is a perfect example of a well-maintained property.

The landmarked three-story, stone-and-timber building with a slate roof is a design masterpiece set within more than half an acre of private property landscaped to perfection with mature trees and plantings and complemented by an artistically handcrafted gazebo and a detached two-car garage.

After entering through an arched portico you are surrounded by an elegant dining room and living room with a marble fireplace. French doors lead to a four-season, light-filled and stonewalled sunroom/porch. The dining room leads you to a stonewalled breakfast room, where an abundance of windows allow a

light and bright setting that virtually brings the outside in.

The home’s interior exemplifies architect Bates’ enthusiasm for designing spaces ideal for entertaining. All were created with the thought to provide ample light throughout, with grouped windows in varying sizes creating the ideal environment for gatherings. Spaces flow from room to room and seemingly right into the outdoors.

As it has since its creation nearly a century ago, this oneof-a-kind home promises to provide the setting for an exceptional life for whoever is lucky enough to become its third owner.

WATCH

FLYING HIGH

More than 800 guests attended the 28th annual AmeriCares Airlift Benefit at the JPMorgan Chase Hangar at Westchester County Airport. The event raised a record $2.6 million for the emergency response and global health organization’s work in more than 90 countries. The evening culminated with 89 guests boarding a plane to see the clinics, hospitals and community health programs AmeriCares supports in Guatemala. The whirlwind 24-hour experience gave supporters an up-close look at the effect AmeriCares is having with its health programs in underserved communities around the world.

Photograph by Elaine and ChiChi Ubiña.

1. Michael J. Nyenhuis, Erica Hill and Tony Goldwyn

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COOL JAZZ ON A HOT NIGHT

Immaculately tended grounds and a profusion of garden flowers were among the stars of The Woman’s Club of White Plains’ “Jazz for the Gardens” fundraiser, featuring Glenda Davenport and the Hiroshi Trio. More than 100 guests feasted on hot and cold hors d’oeuvres as well as sumptuous desserts at this inaugural event, which was held at the C.V. Rich Mansion, the club’s home.

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2. Laurette Young, Mitzi Renz and Barbara Vrooman 3. Esther and Irving Natter 4. Juliana and Henry Marback 5. Maureen Fallon, Pam Duffy and Susan Doherty 6. Ann Palancia 7. Alan and Mary Jane Goldman 8. Barbara and Richard Dannenberg

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Travel with us in small group photo tours and Workshops to: ETHIOPIA, MYANMAR, LAOS/CAMBODIA, TANZANIA AND INDIA Working in the field, learn photojournalism, portrait photography, location lighting, editing and workflow with new topics daily and personal attention. Updated 2015 dates, itineraries, testimonials and tour fees are posted online at www.johnrizzophoto.com SHWEDAGON PAGODA, YANGON “As the Director of the Foreign Press Association, I have worked with many photojournalist, but none have measured up to the outstanding work done by John Rizzo. I first met John after Sept. 11th and his photos of that disaster attest to his remarkable skill and sensitivity to the subject. He is an artist in his field.”

— Suzanne Adams, Director Foreign Press Association, New York

“John Rizzo has brought some of the most dazzling photographs to the pages of WAG. He’s an artist who brings the vanishing cultures of the world to our eyes” -Dee Delbello, Publisher, Westfair Communications & WAG Magazine

“Being a student of John Rizzo has been one of the greatest learning experiences in my life. I am glad I got to learn from John as the quality of my work has grown leaps and bounds because of his guidance.”

— Allen French, New England School of Photography

John Rizzo Photography | 624 White Plains Rd. #144, Tarrytown, NY 10591 | (646) 221-6186 worldwide mobile | www.johnrizzophoto.com

WATCH

BRIT WIT – AVRIL GRAHAM AT NEIMAN MARCUS

Avril Graham – executive fashion and beauty editor at Harper’s Bazaar and the subject of a September WAG profile – brought her trademark warmth, knowledge, humor and eye to “The Trend Report,” a Neiman Marcus Westchester fashion show that benefitted the Georgetown Scholarship Program.

“It’s not just about the label but how you put together pieces,” Graham said. “That’s what really makes a fashion statement.” And she demonstrated this again and again, whether it was pairing Jimmy Choo red python shoes with a gray jacket, pants and vest by Elie Tahari or putting a sequined piecrust Dries Van Noten top over a black-and-tan camouflage Alexander McQueen one or draping a stunning Lanvin faux snakeskin/fur vest over a Co vest, Elie Tahari sweater and St. John pants, – all in winter white, one of the seasons big trends.

(Others include boho chic, lace, widelegged pants, fur and red, red, red.)

Speaking of the crimson color, there was a sleeveless, figure-hugging kick-pleat dress and matching shrug ensemble by Michael Kors that was to die for. But Graham said not to fear pairing two different shades as in black-bordered red Alexander McQueen dress and a brighter Michael Kors coat.

To it all Graham brought her dry Brit wit. A Dolce & Gabbana green lace skirt and black see-through blouse – known as the Sicilian widow’s look – Graham said, “She’s not crying too much.”

– Georgette Gouveia

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Photographs by José F. Donneys.

1. Suzy Maguire and Cecilia Deschapelles 2. Donna Cantrell, Tara Irwin and Anna Paternoster 3. Micheline Dinardo 4. Donna Dixon, Sandra Patino (in back row) and Angela D’Onofrio 5. Susanne D’Ariano 6. Druex Claiden 7. Julie Gaynor, Avril Graham, Helene Byrnes, Michelle Mauboussin and Hannie Sio-Stellakis 8. Elie Tahari green blouse, Etro vest, Frame jeans, Aquazzura boots, Rag & Bone hat.

9. Stella Los-Paiz, Rania Hadchiti and Ellen-Jane Moss 10. Kate O’Brien, Shelby Saer, Tracy Yort, Amanda Miller and Margaret Cotter 11. Julie Gaynor, Christine Gerleit and Lu Guitierrez 12. Models showcase the day’s outfits one last time as the show concluded.

13. Avril Graham - Harper’s Bazaar executive fashion & beauty editor 14. Michelle Mauboussin

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Meet 14 of the hardest working people in the arts. They’ve not only succeeded in their respective fields — including architecture, construction, education, energy, finance, the law, marketing and public relations — but they’ve also donated much time to guiding the development of what is now ArtsWestchester, thus serving the arts throughout the county.

As ArtsWestchester celebrates its golden anniversary, the flagship arts council in New York state salutes the current and past presidents of its board of directors:

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Froma Benerofe

Jacqueline A. Walker

(2014 - present )

(2012-14)

Froma Benerofe, the current ArtsWestchester president, hopes her tenure will be marked by raising significant funds for an ArtsWestchester endowment. Having served as chair of the Grants Committee for six years, she knows well the needs of the cultural community.

Benerofe has dedicated her life to helping others. She has done this through her work as a clinical psychologist specializing in trauma and child abuse, which earned her an award from The Westchester Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect. A lifelong arts advocate, she has served on the board of the Steffi Nossen Dance in Education Fund and the Parsons School of Dance. She has also served as regional chair of the Westchester UJA Federation. Benerofe holds a bachelor of arts degree from Vassar College, a master’s degree in social work from Columbia University and certification in interpersonal trauma from Fordham University. She lives in Purchase with her husband, Andrew.

“Arts are an integral part of life and living. Too often, people go through life and don’t see all of the art around them ... both in buildings, design features of offices, artwork on the walls, landscapes ... and all the creativity around them.”

“ArtsWestchester is the hub of the arts community in Westchester – both in supporting and building a stronger cultural presence. As board president, I have had the joy and opportunity to meet and work with an incredible group of professional and volunteer leaders who are so diverse and yet so cohesive.”

Jacqueline A. Walker raised the bar on giving at ArtsWestchester by jumpstarting a Friends Organization and revving up the arts council for a Campaign for the Arts. An active and dedicated board member since 2002, Walker and her husband, Arthur, received ArtsWestchester’s highest tribute in 2010 for their support of exhibitions and performances at ArtsWestchester’s historic Arts Exchange building.

Walker, a former director of human resources at American Express and Lever Brothers, holds a bachelor’s degree from Elmira College and a master’s degree in teaching from Columbia University. She has served on the boards of the Scarsdale Adult Schools and the Neuberger Museum of Art. “The arts foster creativity, express our values and build bridges between cultures. The arts enrich our everyday lives by inviting conversation and reflection and promoting an intellectual experience for the participants.”

“I am so proud of the work our staff does to promote and ensure that the residents of Westchester have a marvelous cultural component to their lives ...Bravo, ArtsWestchester.”

WAGMAG.COM

NOVEMBER 2015

Joseph Oates

Stephen K. Dishart

(2010-12)

(2009-10)

Joseph Oates’ presidency was defined by his guiding the board through a process that resulted in a five-year strategic plan. He helped ArtsWestchester navigate a difficult economic period, providing the leadership to make tough financial decisions. Throughout his 12 years on the board, Oates has enjoyed fame as auctioneer par excellence at ArtsWestchester’s annual golf outing.

Currently senior vice president, Corporate Shared Services for Con Edison, Oates, a mechanical engineer, has also held positions in the construction, auditing, generation planning, energy management and corporate planning departments of the utility.

A resident of White Plains, he holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees in mechanical engineering from Manhattan College and an MBA from Fordham University. He also serves on the boards for the 100 Club of Westchester and the South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corp.

“I believe that art, in all of its forms, makes Westchester County the wonderful place it is to live and work. The arts energize Westchester.”

“Con Edison has supported ArtsWestchester for many years. I have enjoyed supporting the organization since 2003 as a board member, and as president for two years.”

Stephen Dishart, president of Dishart Communications and Crisis Management Consultants, led a rebranding of ArtsWestchester during his term as board president. His expertise in communications helped position ArtsWestchester for the future with a new logo and marketing strategy.

He began his career as a broadcast journalist, where he won a number of journalism awards for news reporting. Subsequently, he served in high-level global communications positions for the Mellon Financial Corp. and Swiss Re. He serves on the boards of Green Chimneys Children’s Services and the New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund. A resident of Cortlandt Manor, Dishart is also active in Bridges to Community, which builds homes in the poorest regions of Nicaragua, and is a part-time graduate faculty member of Baruch College’s Department of Communications Studies.

“The arts invigorate our communities, expand our minds and enhance our perspective. ArtsWestchester takes this a step further by bringing art not only into our communities at various venues across all of Westchester, but right into our schools for the precious education of our children.”

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Jamie Shenkman (2002-05)

John Peckham (2005-09)

John Peckham’s leadership has been a mainstay of the ArtsWestchester organization since he joined the Board of Directors in 1999. His board membership was preceded by his late mother, Janet Peckham, who was a leading member of the Westchester arts and business community. As president and later as chairman of the board, John Peckham has worked to develop the ArtsWestchester building as a beacon for the arts and continues to help guide the organization for the future.

A Katonah resident with his wife, Amy, and four children, he is president and CEO of Peckham Industries Inc., a position he has held since 1993. Headquartered in White Plains, Peckham Industries is a leading producer of highway building materials in New York state, with plant locations in Connecticut and Vermont, as well as in Westchester and throughout the Hudson Valley region.

A lifelong Westchester resident and a graduate of Chappaqua schools and Union College, Peckham has been an active member in industry and community organizations, including The Masters School, The Down Town Association, The Moles, Seven Bridges and Dorset Field Clubs.

Professionally, he has served as president of the Empire State Concrete and Aggregate Producers Association and is a past president and current director of The Associated General Contractors Association of New York. He is also a director on the boards of the National Associated General Contractors and the Construction Industry Council.

“The arts are magical for children, thought provoking for adults, inspirational for communities and economically important to our County.”

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Jamie Shenkman became a member of ArtsWestchester’s Board of Directors in 1995, continuing a love for the arts that began in her childhood. As a board president who valued the art of collaboration, she led ArtsWestchester’s engagement and partnerships with its vast array of affiliate organizations. At the same time, she oversaw the completion of the organization’s first capital campaign in which the Sally and Melvin Shenkman Gallery at ArtsWestchester was established in memory of her parents.

A writer and aficionado of antique jewelry, Shenkman holds a master of fine arts degree from Pratt Institute and is the owner of Jamie’s Antiques, a business that specializes in vintage jewelry. Shenkman serves on the board of the Teatown Lake Reservation and is a trustee of the Jacob Burns Foundation, which is named for her grandfather, the late Jacob Burns, a Manhattan attorney and philanthropist for whom the film center in Pleasantville is also named.

In addition to publishing her own short stories, Shenkman enjoyed a long career as associate vice president of Thompson & Bender, a public relations and marketing firm. She lives in Croton-on-Hudson with her husband, artist Chris Magadini.

“Art is transcendent. Whether you appreciate it or create it, the experience can be transformative and give greater meaning to life.”

“ArtsWestchester supports the arts in myriad ways and on many levels. Its mission and good works remind us that we must not lose sight of how much joy the arts contribute to our lives.”

A fundraising event at the Rockefeller estate in the early 1970s. From left, former Westchester County Executive Alfred B. DelBello, former Arts Council Executive Director Polly Siwek, Happy and Nelson Rockefeller and other guests.

LaRuth Gray

A. Maren Hexter

(2001-02)

(1997-2000)

LaRuth Gray has dedicated her life to children by working to improve their quality of education and their quality of life. An ArtsWestchester board member since 1997, Gray has a passion for the arts that runs as deep as her commitment to ensuring the accessibility and diversity of the arts in Westchester A retired superintendent of schools for the Abbott Union Free School District in Irvington, Gray serves as scholar in residence for the Metropolitan Center for Urban Education (Metro Center) at New York University. Prior to this appointment, she served as deputy director of Metro Center and as affiliate professor in the Administration, Leadership and Technology Program at NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development.

She began her career in education as a teacher in the New Rochelle public schools and moved up in the ranks to become chairman of the Language Arts Department. From there, she was named first principal, then director of instruction and finally assistant superintendent before becoming superintendent of the Abbott Union Free District. Among her accomplishments are the design, development and execution of a plan for the reorganization of the New Rochelle public schools to address the problems of minority isolation and declining enrollment. A lifelong arts advocate, Gray was honored by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Alliance for Arts Education as an outstanding educator.

A graduate of Howard University, Nova University and Columbia University Teacher’s College, Gray is married to Joseph Morgan, who is also an educator.

“I grew up in rural East Texas during the roughest years of segregation in that part of the country. The arts were an incredible window to the world for me and provided hope for the future.”

A. Maren Hexter of Armonk, a resident of Westchester since 1970, is a dedicated and tireless advocate of the arts in this county.

Hexter has served on ArtsWestchester’s board since 1997 and led the organization as president during the acquisition of its headquarters at 31 Mamaroneck Ave. in White Plains. The purchase and the renovation of a historic bank building was a huge step for the organization. However, Hexter was an enthusiastic proponent of the transformative role the arts could play in the economic revitalization of the downtown. She believed that the presence of ArtsWestchester would activate the streetscape and would further engage the diverse members of our community in the arts.

Hexter has played a leadership role on the boards of The Music Conservatory of Westchester, the Mount Kisco Concert Association and the United Way of Northern Westchester, where she served as president. She remains connected to her alma mater, Middlebury College, as a member of its arts council. Additionally, she has served on the boards of directors of the Westchester Chapter of the American Field Service, the Chamber Dance Project, the Rondo Dance Theater, the SPCA of Westchester, the Westchester Community Foundation and the International Programs of Bedford. A dance and film enthusiast, Hexter is a competitive ballroom dancer and the proud grandmother of four grandchildren.

“The arts open new vistas into the world around us. I am forever grateful to the artists whose hard work raises my appreciation and understanding of that world.”

“ArtsWestchester is for me a vast learning experience among some of the finest and most dedicated individuals in Westchester.”

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Betty Himmel

Kenneth J. Gould

(1995-97)

(1992-95)

Betty Himmel of Purchase, who was presented with the 2001 Arts Award, is a dedicated arts advocate and passionate supporter of the cultural and educational life in Westchester County. A member of ArtsWestchester’s Board of Directors, serving nonconsecutive terms since 1982, Himmel has played a significant role in the growth of the organization, including her tenure as its board president from 1995 to 1997. During that time, the foundation for ArtsWestchester’s nationally recognized arts-in-education program was strengthened and expanded. A strong leader known for running a “tight ship,” Himmel helped build close relationships with the cadre of arts organizations affiliated with ArtsWestchester and structured the guidelines for the emerging gallery and performance space at the ground-level of the ArtsWestchester building.

At the Katonah Museum of Art, Himmel was instrumental in guiding and expanding the museum, first volunteering in 1968 and later becoming board president in 1976 and again in 1991. She nurtured that museum into what has become one of the county’s cultural jewels. She is a major presence on the board of the Westchester Community College Foundation and ardently speaks for the importance of a college education for all. Himmel is a graduate of Western Reserve University with a degree in political science and a master’s degree in history from Columbia University.

“Art expands our horizons, stimulates our minds and nourishes our souls – our lives would be barren without art – and ArtsWestchester plays a vital role in providing this stimulation and nourishment to our community.”

Kenneth Gould is a lifelong resident of White Plains where he has practiced law for more than 40 years. Gould came to what was then known as the Westchester Arts Council in 1986, becoming president of the board in 1992, shortly after Janet Langsam took over the helm as executive director. A priority for Gould was to maintain the council’s partnerships with Westchester County government, its corporate supporters and the arts affiliates. Gould was adept at balancing the needs of individual artists, emerging arts organizations and Westchester’s cultural destinations.

His involvement and understanding of the organization played a vital role in the negotiations for the purchase of the building at 31 Mamaroneck Ave. in White Plain, which ArtsWestchester owns and operates as its home. Gould has continued to guide ArtsWestchester as legal counsel for more than 25 years, assisting the board and staff in real estate, financing and contract work.

He is also a longtime member of the Board of Trustees of United Way of Westchester and Putnam and serves as vice chairman of its board and chair of its Community Initiatives Committee. He has also served as president of The Music Conservatory of Westchester.

Gould received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and his juris doctor degree from George Washington University Law School.

“I see art as the human activity by which we express and communicate our thoughts, emotions, values and our humanity to each other. Art gives us pleasure when we experience beauty and it inspires, teaches and guides us in our lives.”

“I have experienced ArtsWestchester as the local organization which assembles and distributes resources, both financial and otherwise, to further the arts in Westchester, enhancing our communities and therefore the lives of all who are exposed to the arts organizations and artists whom it supports.”

WAGMAG.COM

NOVEMBER 2015

Timothy J. Curtin

Daniel Idzik

(1987-1990)

(1983-85)

Timothy Curtin first joined ArtsWestchester’s board in 1983. He shared his leadership and expertise as chairman of the Westchester Arts Fund Campaign and later as president of the board from 1987 to ’90, during which time he celebrated the organization’s 25th anniversary.

After 12 years with the FBI, Curtin joined the Corporate Relations Department of Ciba-Geigy Corp. in Ardsley. As director of the department, he was responsible for its corporate public affairs, federal and state government relations, communications, art services and Washington office.

Retiring from Ciba-Geigy, Curtin served on then Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy’s transition team and cabinet as an unsalaried special assistant. He spearheaded many projects to promote public art throughout that city and was named Stamford Citizen of the Year in 2013. It has been said, “Tim’s heart is in the area of how to make this world better in the form of art.”

Curtin served as president of the 100 Club of Westchester, a member of the Government Liaison Committee of the Westchester County Association and in a variety of positions with the Westchester County United Way Campaign. He is a past member of the Stamford Planning Board and served as chairman of the Stamford Fire Commission for two years.

Curtin holds a B.S. from Boston College, a J.D. degree from Seton Hall University Law School and an MBA from the University of Connecticut. He completed Brooking Institution’s program for business executives on federal government relations and the Columbia University executive program in business administration.

“Life without art is unimaginable. It is central to our very existence.”

“I believe that ArtsWestchester played a major role in creating awareness of the many cultural opportunities that exist in Westchester County. Its focus on supporting small, struggling startup arts organizations led to an increase in the quality and diversity of programs available to Westchester residents.”

Daniel Idzik first joined the board of the then-Council for the Arts in Westchester in 1980, having previously served as president of the Rye Arts Center. In 1983, he succeeded Kay Niles as president of the board of directors. In that capacity, Idzik had the great pleasure of working with a highly energetic and dedicated board and particularly valued his close relationship with Chris Bruhl, the then-executive director. Under Idzik’s leadership, the arts council reorganized and strengthened its committee structure and completed its first long-range strategic plan.

While maintaining his day job as general counsel of Booz Allen Hamilton, an international management and technology consulting firm, Idzik completed his board term in 1986, going on to serve the Philharmonia Virtuosi and the Neuberger Museum of Art as a board member and president. He also was appointed vice chairman of the Westchester 2000 Education and Arts Committee. In 1990, Idzik was honored with an ArtsWestchester’s Arts Award.

Most recently, Idzik served for 13 years as a board member of the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival.He retired in 1998 with his wife, Kathleen Osborne, and moved from New York City to Longboat Key, Fla. They share six children and 18 grandchildren.

“Westchester County has been blessed with a vibrant and highly diverse arts community that has contributed immeasurably to making the county a wonderful place to live. I am proud and privileged to have been a member of that community.”

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A. Corwin Frost

George Newlin

(1974-75)

(1966-69)

Corwin Frost was president during a pivotal time for the arts council, guiding the development of an Arts Action Plan that envisioned a larger and broader role for the organization. A graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy, Princeton University and the Rhode Island School of Design, he is a third-generation architect who practiced architecture in New York City with Frost Associates. He subsequently became responsible for architecture and engineering services as director of facilities engineering for CBS Inc. and then as deputy director of design, construction & management for the City University of New York. Later, he became an architectural and planning consultant for several clients, including the Newark, N.J. public schools. He has served as a trustee of the Rhode Island School of Design, chairman of the Bronxville Planning Board and was president of the then-Council for the Arts in Westchester from 1974 to 1995.

Frost lives in Bronxville with his wife, Randy Frost, also a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. Randy is a fiber artist and was active for many years as an artist-in-residence with ArtsWestchester, working in several Westchester schools.

“With father and grandfather architects, a mother who was a devoted reader, writer and patron of the arts, and a wife who is an artist, and as an active architect for many years, the arts are and always have been integral to my life.”

“ArtsWestchester, as now constituted, evolved from the Council for the Arts in Westchester. I had the honor of serving as president in 1974-75, which was the pivotal time during which the Arts Action Plan was developed with an arts consultant and envisioned the larger and broader-based organization that exists and thrives today.”

George Newlin, attorney, financier, pianist, opera singer, author and bon vivant, was the first president of ArtsWestchester, which 50 years ago was inaugurated as the Council for the Arts in Westchester. He, along with a group of visionary residents, were instrumental in building support for the then-fledgling arts organization. His expertise, vision and passion for the arts laid the foundation for the vibrant leadership organization that ArtsWestchester has become – 50 years later.

Newlin has always been caught between the law and the arts and has tried to keep a hand in both. From Yale Law School, he went straight to Vienna to study opera and piano and, after his military service, he continued music studies in New York City. While working as an attorney, Newlin wrote the charter and bylaws for the then-Council for the Arts in Westchester and filed them in December of 1965. He later worked at an investment bank, spending time in assets management and venture capital, all the while studying singing and playing piano concerts. In 1988, Newlin got badly bit by a literary bug and focused on creating a new type of single author anthology, first with Charles Dickens (six volumes published), then Anthony Trollope (four volumes) and George Eliot (two volumes). He led a reading series on Trollope for 10 years that covered all 47 of his novels, and he has just started a new one on Henry James. Every five years, beginning when Newlin turned 70, he has played a piano concert centered on a Beethoven piano concerto. Next February, for his 85th birthday, he’ll play two late Beethoven sonatas.

Newlin has a son, a daughter and six grandchildren. He lives in Princeton, N.J., the home of his alma mater (Class of 1952).

“The ‘arts’ for me are primarily music and literature. As a performer in music, I can choose my collaborators — Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, whomever. What a privilege and delight. And I love to read and to share what I read, a deep and ongoing satisfaction.”

“I’m thrilled at how the Council, now ArtsWestchester, has survived and made an impact for nearly five decades so far. I salute founders Ogden Reid, Jeanne Thayer, Larry Valenstein, Hans Wolflisberg, Thelma Rost and Al and Dee DelBello, who were at the forefront of the arts movement in the county.

Other vitally important contributors were Olcutt Sanders, Nelson Rockefeller, Bill Ruder, Mark Schubart, Kay Niles and, of course, Corky Frost, my successor as president/chairman, as well as phenomenal benefactor Eugene Grant. They have my undying thanks.”

WAGMAG.COM

NOVEMBER 2015

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NOVEMBER 2015