WAG Magazine November 18 by Westfair Business Journal

FAMOUS SISTER ACTS Jackie, Lee, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Margaret BROTHERHOOD WINERY Bottling tradition since 1839 SHREVE, CRUMP & LOWâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S Gem of a family

JANE FONDA Talks life, family and more

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MAGAZINE

IN NEW YORK STATE 2014, 2015, 2016

INSPIRED SIBLINGS

SIBLINGS AS COLLEAGUES From Ferri to Pirri, Simone to Weisz SUCCESS TIMES TWO Twins Jay and Neil Canell MUSICAL SIBS The Callaways and the Balkuns

WESTCHESTER & FAIRFIELD LIFE

NOVEMBER 2018 | WAGMAG.COM

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CONTENTS NOVEMBER 201 8

Reveling in sibling rivalry

Sister acts

The Simone Sisters: Following dad’s path in real estate

Terrain, part of a stylish Westport family

Haven on earth

A gem of a family

Bebe Neuwirth and ‘all that jazz’

Honoring their heritage

Doubles team

‘The Essential Liz’

Consequences of the one-child policy

Sisters with heart

From Italy, with love

A sisterhood of support

A toast to Brotherhood

A different kind of ‘Blues Brothers’

Out of their sisters’ shadow

Little gestures, big effects

COVER STORY

Jane Fonda, chapter and verse THIS PAGE:

Have spa, will travel

Older sibs are smarter – still

Brotherhood, America’s Oldest Winery in Washingtonville is a Hudson Valley landmark, with a history dating back to the 19th-century. Courtesy Brotherhood, America’s Oldest Winery. See story on page 40.

RYAN Ryan knew he needed a strong team to fight colorectal cancer. Ryan Droege was only 41 years old, into fitness and completely blindsided when a colonoscopy revealed he had advanced colorectal cancer. At the White Plains Hospital Center for Cancer Care, Dr. Joshua Raff and a team of experts rallied around him with an aggressive plan - including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and genetic counseling - to beat the cancer. Now, Ryanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s back to his active lifestyle and doing the things he loves most. Colorectal screening can save your life. Download a pre-screening form at exceptionaleveryday.org/screening or to find a physician call (914) 849-MyMD.

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 LT H S Y S T E M

FEATURES H I G H LI G HTS

WAY Georgian splendor in the backcountry

WHAT’S COLLECTIBLE? Two for the (artistic) road

WEAR Lush lashes

WARES Designing for siblings

WEAR Everyone loves Kobi

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? New town, same spirit

100

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? A charmer on the Hudson

102

WANDERS Travels with sis and mom, the 100-year-old rock star

104

WANDERS Past is present in Swiss journey

108

WANDERS Aruba, a sun-kissed sojourn

110

WANDERS The sun god’s journey to the moon

112

WANDERS A tale of two cities

116

WONDERFUL DINING Brotherly tastes

118

WINE & DINE An Argentine wine by way of France (and Stamford)

120

WELL Can Tiger Woods’ surgery help you?

122

WELL Stop counting and start observing

124

PET OF THE MONTH There’s always Hope

126

PET PORTRAITS Dog-gone beautiful

128

WHEN & WHERE Upcoming events

132

WATCH We’re out and about

144

WIT What’s the secret to a great sibling relationship?

COVER: Jane Fonda and Peter Fonda, a pair of famous siblings.

FAMOUS SISTER ACTS Jackie, Lee, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Margaret BROTHERHOOD WINERY Bottling tradition since 1839 SHREVE, CRUMP & LOW’S Gem of a family

JANE FONDA Talks life, family and more

JUDGED A

TOP

MAGAZINE

IN NEW YORK STATE 2014, 2015, 2016

INSPIRED SIBLINGS

SIBLINGS AS COLLEAGUES From Ferri to Pirri, Simone to Weisz SUCCESS TIMES TWO Twins Jay and Neil Canell MUSICAL SIBS The Callaways and the Balkuns

WESTCHESTER & FAIRFIELD LIFE

NOVEMBER 2018 | WAGMAG.COM

Jane Fonda photograph by John Shearer, courtesy Invision/AP Images; Peter Fonda photograph courtesy Getty Images.

104 64 76

COVER STORY

PATTY Today was another milestone for Patty and our team of cancer experts. Over twelve years cancer-free. Patty Ferris and Dr. Green, her oncologist, have been through a lot together. From Patty’s diagnosis of breast cancer to her mastectomy, chemo, and many, many follow-up visits. At the White Plains Hospital Center for Cancer Care, every patient’s battle with cancer is our battle, too. It’s this commitment to delivering exceptional care every day that has kept Patty cancer-free for all these years. Watch her story at exceptionaleveryday.org/survivor

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 LT H S Y S T E M

Dee DelBello

Dan Viteri

PUBLISHER/CREATIVE DIRECTOR dee@westfairinc.com

GROUP ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/CREATIVE dviteri@westfairinc.com

EDITORIAL Bob Rozycki MANAGING EDITOR bobr@westfairinc.com

Georgette Gouveia EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ggouveia@westfairinc.com Mary Shustack SENIOR WRITER/EDITOR

Audrey Ronning Topping CHINA FEATURES WRITER

Peter Katz COPY EDITOR

ART Sebastián Flores ART DIRECTOR sflores@westfairinc.com

Our state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities enable us to keep our quality high and our prices low. • Home Ofﬁce & Mudroom Areas • Entertainment Centers • Bookcases • Pantries • Garage Systems QUA • Accessories LI

Kelsie Mania ART DIRECTOR kmania@westfairinc.com

PHOTOGRAPHY Anthony Carboni, Sebastián Flores, John Rizzo, Bob Rozycki

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jena A. Butterfield, Ryan Deffenbaugh, Aleesia Forni, Gina Gouveia, Phil Hall, Debbi K. Kickham, Meghan McSharry, Laura Joseph Mogil, Jane Morgan, Doug Paulding, Jennifer Pitman, Giovanni Roselli, Bob Rozycki, Gregg Shapiro, Barbara Barton Sloane, Seymour Topping, Jeremy Wayne, Cami Weinstein

PRINT/DIGITAL SALES Anne Jordan Duffy ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/SALES anne@westfairinc.com

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Some readers think WAG stands for “Westchester and Greenwich.” We certainly cover both. But mostly, a WAG is a wit and that’s how we think of ourselves, serving up piquant stories and photos to set your own tongues wagging.

HEADQUARTERS A division of Westfair Communications Inc., 3 Westchester Park Drive, White Plains, NY 10604 Telephone: 914-694-3600 | Facsimile: 914-694-3699 Website: wagmag.com | Email: ggouveia@westfairinc.com All news, comments, opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations in WAG are those of the authors and do not constitute opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations of the publication, its publisher and its editorial staff. No portion of WAG may be reproduced without permission.WAG is distributed at select locations, mailed directly and is available at $24 a year for home or office delivery. To subscribe, call 914-694-3600, ext. 3020. All advertising inquiries should be directed to Anne Jordan at 914694-3600, ext. 3032 or email anne@westfairinc.com. Advertisements are subject to review by the publisher and acceptance for WAG does not constitute an endorsement of the product or service. WAG (Issn: 1931-6364) is published monthly and is owned and published by Westfair Communications Inc. Dee DelBello, CEO, dee@westfairinc.com

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WAGGERS

TH E TALENT B EH I N D O U R PAG E S

JENA A. BUTTERFIELD

ROBIN COSTELLO

RYAN DEFFENBAUGH

ALEESIA FORNI

PHIL HALL

BILL HELTZEL

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MEGHAN MCSHARRY

DOUG PAULDING

JOHN RIZZO

GIOVANNI ROSELLI

GREGG SHAPIRO

MARY SHUSTACK

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COVER STORY: GINA GOUVEIA, PAGE 72

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OOPS! In our story on performer Janine DiVita (“La Dolce DiVita,” October WAG, page 38) we misidentified the composer of “Anything Goes.” It was Cole Porter (duh). And we mischaracterized the music in the musical “Shadows,” opening in Manhattan Nov. 29. It’s similar to that of the Icelandic band Sigur Rós.

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This doll in the traditional nun’s habit was given to the Sisters of the Divine Compassion in White Plains. See story on the sisters on Page 52.

N N

ovember and January are what we at WAG call our “swing” months: They have no set themes. This November, we’ve decided to plumb the most complex and enduring of relationships — siblings. Think about it: You and your parents will not share all of life’s journey anymore than you and your children will — should you have children. That is the natural order of things. You may not marry and, if you do, you may not stay married. Friends are generally your contemporaries, but they enter and exit your lives. Siblings, however, are contemporaries bound by blood. Often, they’re our first friends, but fueled by the intricacies of birth order and parental bonds, they’re also often our first rivals — which we explore in our opening essay and in a piece about new books on two sets of famous sisters — Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Lee Radziwill; and Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret. We at WAG, though, like to “accentuate the positive,” as the song says. The siblings you’ll meet in these pages draw tremendous strength from their ties — at work and at play. Identical twins Jay and Neil Canell, who co-helm The Canell Group under the 12

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NOVEMBER 2018

exclusive umbrella of JP Morgan Securities, say they can count on each other at the office, in their volunteer work and when socializing with their families (Gina’s story). The Balkun Brothers — guitarist Steve and drummer Nick — are making a name for themselves as one of Connecticut’s top indie bands (Phil’s interview) while the Pirri brothers — Luigi and Piero — have made a name for themselves with their Pirri Hair Studio in Greenwich (Meghan’s story). Sisters get into the act, too. Patricia and Joanna Simone have complementary positions at Simone Development in the Bronx (Ryan’s article). Terri and Grace Ferri may be in different fields — Terri at Morgan Stanley’s Purchase headquarters; Grace at United Hebrew of New Rochelle — but they came together to co-chair a powerhouse Westchester Fairfield Go Red For Women Luncheon for the American Heart Association this past spring. Then there are the mixed sibling partnerships — Brian, Brad and Olivia at Shreve, Crump & Low jewelers in Greenwich (Meghan’s story); developers Alexandra and Andrew Weisz of the RPW Group (Gina again). Sometimes, we could only get one sib but such is the bond that the other is never far from the in-

terviewee’s thoughts, as you’ll discover in Gregg’s encounter with Liz Callaway — singer, Westchester County resident and sister of singer Ann Hampton Callaway — and Gina’s cover story on Jane Fonda, who returned to Fairfield County for a talk at Fairfield University’s Quick Center for the Arts. Jane reminisced about growing up Fonda in Greenwich where the tomboy rode horses, attended Greenwich Academy and often played protective big sister to her sensitive brother, Peter. (They are bookended by half-sisters Frances and Amy.) Jane is a complicated woman who’s been on a painful journey of self-discovery. You may not like everything she’s done — she doesn’t like everything she’s done — but you have to admire her for taking ownership of it. Elsewhere as usual we play off and on our theme. Audrey revisits China’s One-Child Policy to consider the pitfalls of being an only (male) child. Mary tours Brotherhood Winery in Washingtonville and Terrain in Westport, sister store to Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters. Barbara soaks up the sun at Aruba’s Boardwalk hotel, run by twins Kimberly and Stephanie Rooijakkers. Jeremy considers London and Paris, sister cities, and their new hotels. Meghan visits with Sole Sisters, the Women’s Initiative for the Greenwich United Way while Jena’s at Big Brothers, Big Sisters and at My Sisters’ Place, which strives to end domestic violence — a most powerful, timely story — then takes a break with Spa Party Sisters, who bring the spa and the good times to your home. I also take a sentimental journey to the Sisters of the Divine Compassion, who educated me at the now defunct Academy of Our Lady of Good Counsel in White Plains, and discover that while their world may have shrunk in one sense, their commitment to service and community has only enlarged. If I may be permitted another personal note, it’s a comfort and a pleasure for me to have my sister Gina aboard, bringing her passion as well as her writing expertise to three stories this month. We’re two of three sisters — Gina being the youngest and Jana, a diplomat in Myanmar, the middle — and though we are often apart in the far, wide world, whenever we get together, we pick up right where we left off. But then, isn’t that the way of sibs? A 2018 Folio Women in Media Award Winner, Georgette Gouveia is the author of the “The Penalty for Holding” (Less Than Three Press), a 2018 Lambda Literary Award finalist, and “Water Music” (Greenleaf Book Group). They’re part of her series of novels, “The Games Men Play,” also the name of the sports/culture blog she writes at thegamesmenplay.com. Readers may find her novel “Seamless Sky” and “Daimon: A Novel of Alexander the Great” on wattpad.com.

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Edwin Roscoe Mullins’ “Cain, or My Punishment Is Greater Than I Can Bear” (about 1899), marble. Glasgow Botanic Gardens, Kibble Palace. WAGMAG.COM Photograph by Daniel Naczk. 14 NOVEMBER 2018

G G

REVELIN IN SIBLIN RIVALRY BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA

It is our most enduring relationship — longer than that of parent and child or spouses — and more complex than friends, because it assumes a friendship, bound by blood. Siblings are one another’s first friends, cohorts, playmates, helpmates and sounding boards. They’re also one another’s first rivals and even enemies, sometimes fatally so. Every story about siblings must begin with that of Cain and Abel or the many variations thereof. Cain and Abel both sacrificed to the Lord — Cain, the fruits of tilling the soil; Abel, those of tending his flock. God, as is his wont, was pleased with Abel’s sacrifice. That of Cain — a vegan ahead of his time — not so much. Rejected and jealous, Cain kills Abel. The Bible, in its wisdom, never explains why. Nor does it answer the obvious question: If God is God and therefore omniscient, then he must’ve known how Cain would react beforehand, n’est-ce pas? Ah, but God gives men free will, the catchall answer. There is another one, however, which assumes the rich metaphoric quality of the Bible, and that is that

the story of Cain and Abel is a parable of humanity’s journey from a nomadic people following the herd to an agrarian society that puts down roots in every sense of the word. Note that as a punishment Cain is set to wandering — but not really. He goes to dwell in the land of Nod, east of Eden; marries, presumably one of his and Abel’s sisters; and fathers a son, Enoch, whose name he gives to the city he builds — none of which he would have done presumably had he not murdered Abel. But then as the 18th-century poet Alexander Pope observed in “An Essay on Man”: “All nature is but art, unknown to thee; All chance, direction, which thou canst not see; All discord, harmony not understood; All partial evil, universal good. And, spite of pride, in erring reason's spite, One truth is clear, 'Whatever is, is right.” There are, as we have said, any number of similar

NOVEMBER 2018

WAGMAG.COM

The graves of Vincent van Gogh and his brother, Theodore (known as Theo), in Auvers-sur-Oise, France.

stories that span ancient traditions, including the Abrahamic faiths and Sumerian mythology. And there are countless artworks inspired by the story down through history. Perhaps the greatest of these is John Steinbeck’s 1952 novel “East of Eden,” which gives us two pairs of Cain and Abel-bodied brothers — Charles and Adam Trask and Adam’s sons (who may really be Charles’ out-of-wedlock boys) Cal and Aron. The 1981 miniseries dramatized the whole book, which is set primarily in Salinas Valley, California, in the early 20th century. Better-known, however, is the 1955 film version, which concentrated on the second pair and made James Dean, as Cal Trask, a star. In each version, the sensitive, ornery Cal is rejected by the strict Adam, which precipitates his terrible revenge on the pious, inflexible Aron. (The movie scene in which Raymond Massey’s Adam rejects a birthday gift of money from Dean’s Cal because it was made on wartime speculation remains one of the most painful you’ll see on film.) Steinbeck underscores the tension between Cal and Aron by introducing a love triangle involving Aron’s fiancée, Abra, who is eventually drawn to the wilder but more compassionate Cal — a triangle that exists in some versions of the Cain and Abel story. Abra, like the reader/viewer, comes to understand that while Aron may appear to be the more moral of the two brothers, it will be the forgiving and forgiven Cal who is left to fulfill his father’s wish for his sons to lead a good life. Hollywood has seen plenty of on-screen sibling rivalry and at least one grand case off it with Oscar winners Olivia de Havilland and Joan Fontaine — sisters who were not always sisterly. Olivia — a 102-year-old legend perhaps best-known as Melanie in “Gone With the Wind” — was the elder by 15 16

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months. But Joan — the shy but feisty governess in “Jane Eyre” (1943) — was the first to do many of the things they shared. As Joan told The Hollywood Reporter, rather presciently, in 1978: "I married first, won the Oscar before Olivia did and, if I die first, she'll undoubtedly be livid because I beat her to it.” As is often the case of rival sibs, the coveted affection of a parent served as the backdrop. Joan thought their mother, Lillian, preferred Olivia. (Indeed, when Joan set out to follow Olivia into an acting career, Lillian reportedly nixed the idea of Joan using the family surname as it was already part of Olivia’s brand. So Joan took Lillian’s maiden name.) The relationship was further complicated by Olivia’s early difficulty in accepting a younger sibling — she apparently cut up Joan’s hand-medowns; Joan’s childhood illnesses, which brought out Lillian’s protectiveness; and an endless she said-she said about everything from their Oscar rivalry to Lillian’s cancer treatment and subsequent death. (Though Joan would beat out Olivia the year she won for “Suspicion,” 1941, Olivia would go on to win Oscars for “To Each His Own” and “The Heiress,” making them the only siblings to date to receive Oscars.) Despite their up-and-down relationship and final period of estrangement, Olivia said she was “shocked and saddened” upon hearing of Joan’s death in 2013. There are many sibling relationships, however — real and imagined — that retain a genuine warmth and love despite their complexities. Think of the four sisters in Louisa May Alcott’s much-loved, much-filmed “Little Women,” celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. The quartet cycles through war and peace, envy and for-

giveness, love and death. But what never changes is the sisters’ devotion to one another. One of the most moving and successful real-life sibling pairings was Vincent van Gogh and his art dealer brother, Theo. Their story is also oft-told, including in Irving Stone’s 1934 novel “Lust for Life,” made into a 1956 film, and the 1990 movie “Vincent & Theo.” Much has been said, then, about Vincent’s failure to “make it” as an artist, about how Theo was not only his emotionally troubled brother’s patron but really also his brother’s keeper. (Most of the more than 800 letters Vincent wrote were to Theo, who kept his adored big brother’s correspondence.) When Theo married Johanna Bonger in 1889, Vincent became concerned that perhaps there would no longer be financial room for him in Theo’s life — particularly after the couple’s son, Vincent, was born. The senior Vincent needn’t have worried, for he not only didn’t lose a brother, he gained a sister — and ultimately an effective marketer. When Theo died in Paris in 1891 — six months after Vincent’s death — Johanna was left with the paintings and correspondence Theo had accumulated from his brother. In words and images, her husband and his brother came flooding back to her. Recognizing that this was baby Vincent’s legacy, she began to exhibit the paintings and publish the letters. You can say that Johanna van Gogh-Bonger made Vincent van Gogh Vincent van Gogh. In 1914, Theo’s body was exhumed and reburied beside Vincent’s in Auvers-sur-Oise, France. A stone wall serves as a head rest for the markers; a bed of ivy and flowers, their coverlet. They are the symbols of a bond that begins in the womb and extends even beyond the grave.

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THE SIMONE SISTERS: FOLLOWING DAD’S PATH IN REAL ESTATE STOYR AND PHOTOGRAPH BY RYAN DEFFENBAUGH

Sisters Patricia and Joanna Simone are the third generation to work in the family business, the major, metro New York real estate firm Simone Development Cos. On any given workday in the Bronx office of Simone Development, you’d likely find all three generations of the real estate family hard at work. There's Patricia and Joanna’s father, CEO and president Joseph Simone, and the company chairman, their grandfather, Pat Simone, 91 and still coming in daily. The company owns and manages more than 5 million square feet of commercial, health care and industrial space in the tristate region. The Simone office is on the penthouse level of 1250 Waters Place, a nine-floor building that is one of two medical office towers in Hutchinson Metro Center, the company’s most significant development to date. In a conversation with WAG from a conference room adorned with renderings of the company's latest projects, the two Simone sisters described the 42-acre medical office complex as an example of the company’s ingenuity and vision. At a time in the early 2000s when few developers took interest in the Bronx, Joseph Simone saw in the 1970s state psychiatric center the possibility for a sprawling, modern Class A medical office space. “Our father is a visionary,” says Patricia Simone. “He has a gift and we’re fortunate to be able to learn and watch him.” The two sisters are no longer just learning and watching. Patricia has been working for the family company a decade, Joanna for seven years. In that Joanna Simone, left, with sister Patricia Simone at the Simone Development Cos. headquarters in the Bronx. 18

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time, they have climbed the corporate ladder and guided projects with serious effect on the New York metro real estate market. The company’s recent Westchester projects include opening a full renovation of the Boyce Thompson Center, an 85,000-square-foot mixed use medical complex that brought doctor's offices, restaurants and a Starbucks coffee shop to a formerly abandoned brick research institute in Yonkers last year. In 2015, the company opened the county’s first new Westchester Avenue office building in 25 years: a four-story, 85,000-square-foot medical office for Westmed, part of the company’s revitalization of the Purchase Professional Park. “In addition to health care development and having that niche, we really specialize in public-private partnerships and figuring out how to get things done that benefit the community,” Patricia says. She has risen from a college intern in the company to president of Simone Management Group. Joanna is the company’s vice president of leasing and property management operations. As two of three sisters in the family, they say working together hasn’t changed their relationship. All three sisters have always been close, Patricia is quick to say. But working together has added a new dynamic. “I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” Joanna says. “Nothing is like sitting in a conference room and all having each other’s back. No one even has to know, I can just look at my sister and know that she is there and she gets it.” The sisters followed different paths to the family business. Both were raised in Harrison and described being introduced to the real estate business at a young age. They’d ride along with their father to check on properties or track the progress of construction. Patricia, the youngest of the three Simone sisters, was interested in a career in her family's industry almost immediately. “As a child growing up, she was always following my dad around, watching everything,” says Joanna. “She was a cute little kid, in that sense, who wanted to help out.” Patricia completed multiple real estate internships while studying at Emory University in Atlanta. She was working at Simone Development’s headquarters, then in New Rochelle, within two weeks of her college graduation in 2008.

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“Especially for real estate, there is nothing like learning in the depth of the financial crisis,” Patricia says. “It’s easy to go into a business when everything is going well. It’s beneficial to start your career in a down market and have to fight your way up and learn that way.” She started as a lease administrator, helping with documentation for about six months before spending a year and a half assisting with the actual leasing of the company’s diverse portfolio. At that point, she was promoted to director of leasing for the entire company. “It was a sink-or-swim moment,” Patricia says. “I pulled it together and it was the hardest I’ve possibly ever worked and possibly ever will. I was nonstop.” On top of that, she decided to go back to school to take night courses for a master’s in real estate at New York University. “Luckily, that’s when Joanna entered the picture and saved me, and everyone, and my sanity,” Patricia says. Joanna started her career with five years in the fashion industry. She worked for a wholesaler that bought and resold contemporary and luxury clothing for discount retailers, first as an assistant before working her way up to national sales manager of the company’s women’s division. She called her time in fashion, “the best learning experience and boot camp I could

have ever asked for.” But she says she eventually realized her passion may not be in fashion. To her surprise, she found herself drawn to the family business. “I took a huge risk, because I wasn’t sure if I would love real estate or where I would land at the company,” Joanna says. “No one really knew.” She started in January 2012, through a yearlong crash course in the company during which she took courses at NYU’s Schack Institute of Real Estate. She landed in the company’s leasing department, which she says became a natural fit for her sales background. Flipping the sibling’s age dynamic, Joanna started under her younger sister’s management. But Patricia says her older sister proved a quick study. “She came in cold. We had to start from the bare basics,” Patricia says. “And now, seven years later, she’s a leasing force. She can run with the best of them and no broker is getting one over on her.” And, as Patricia tells it, Joanna was able to handle more of the leasing work while she was pulled toward roles on the operations and marketing ends of the company. “Our father in particular has very high expectations of us, so it was a lot of pressure,” Patricia says. “Having Joanna come in, while I didn’t know it at the time, was really a life saver and the best thing that could have happened.”

Today the two work closely together, even while handling separate responsibilities. They say there are occasional disagreements — similar to any among coworkers —but they can talk through them and leave any issues in the office. “That’s what makes it work, having that balance of work-life together, not just work,” Joanna says. “We see our father on the weekend for a family event and have that fun experience. But then we come to work on Monday and have a project meeting and it’s back to work.” In preparing for the interview for this siblings-themed feature, Patricia says someone mentioned that they’re not just siblings in business together; they are sisters in a real estate industry that still is in many ways dominated by men. “That’s not something you often come across,” Patricia says. “We don’t think about it often, but it’s a cool thing to realize.” It’s also something they hope to have a hand in changing. Real estate may be behind the times in integrating women into leadership positions, but they’re each in a position to help the industry catch up. “I think it’s something that we’ll see change and develop,” Patricia says. “We plan to promote it to young women to enter the real estate workforce coming out of college, through internships. We see it happening.” For more, visit simdev.com.

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EM OF A AMILY STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY MEGHAN MCSHARRY

David Walker raised his three children, Brian, Brad and Olivia, with the mindset that they were free to follow whatever career paths they pleased. Yet today, all three work for their father’s Shreve, Crump & Low, the Federal-era, Boston-based jeweler that has had a home on Greenwich Avenue since 2014. “Jewelry has been a passion for all of us. When you are a third-generation jeweler, it is in your DNA,” the siblings said in an email interview. “None of us were expected to join the family business. Our parents always encouraged us to do what we love.” Their close-knit relationship is exemplified by their choice to respond to our recent interview by collaborating on their responses rather than answering individually. They explained that their upbringing taught them to be supportive as well as reliant on each other, which has extended into their young adult lives. Of working with siblings, they say, “It is not for everyone, but the three of us happen to love working and we love working together.” The biggest challenge for the Walkers is not working alongside each other, but rather the threeto-four-hour drive between Shreve’s Massachusetts stores and its newer Greenwich emporium. “Communication over multiple locations can

be a challenge for any evolving company. There are always challenges having a family split,” they said. But working together fills the void. Their Sunday night tradition involves a sit-down dinner with family, friends or both as a way of “being present with each other” and staying close, although this tradition is often strained by the distance among family members. Having grown up with the jewelry business, the Walker children pride themselves on their efforts to become skilled in as many areas as possible. Middle-child Brad and youngest Olivia went on to become certified gemologists after graduating college. They explained that one of the greatest benefits of working so closely with one another is that they are always able to pick up where a sibling has left off. Rather than defining themselves by their individual titles, they instead focus on their passion for jewelry and watches and assist one another when needed. Pearl and diamond jewelry is showcased in Shreve, Crump & Low’s vault.

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SPORTING HISTORY

The Shreve, Crump & Low Cup was created for the new polo tournament at Greenwich Polo Club.

From its earliest days as a Bostonian purveyor of watches and silver in the Federalist Era, Shreve, Crump & Low — the luxe jewelry emporium that has found a home, too, on Greenwich Avenue — has also been known for its commemorative cups, beginning in 1835 with The Daniel Webster Vase. It was commissioned by Boston’s citizenry in honor of the Massachusetts senator and his defense of the United States Constitution against South Carolina nullification. Later that century, however, Shreve, Crump & Low’s commemorative creations would take on a sporting identity. In 1899, the company received what it describes on its website as its most famous commission — a silver challenge bowl for a new yearly lawn tennis competition that would ultimately become the Olympics of men’s tennis. The Davis Cup is named for Dwight F. Davis, the Harvard University senior who is credited with devising the tourney even though what he did mostly was to pay for the trophy with his own money (about $1,000, or roughly $30,000 today). The Davis Cup now involves 135 member nations of the International Tennis Federation. France is the defending champion and, with home-court advantage, will face off against Croatia on clay in Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille, Nov. 23 through 25. (Croatia defeated the tournament record-holding United States, with 32 titles, in the semifinals.) Currently, the tournament is undergoing a controversial revamp that could put it in conflict with September’s Laver Cup. In 1910, the jeweler moved on to baseball and created the Cy Young Award to honor Young, the winningest pitcher to date (with 511 wins). A year after Young's death in 1955, Major League Baseball Commissioner Ford C. Frick announced that the award would be given each year to the best pitcher that season. Today, the Cy Young is awarded to the best pitcher in the American League and the best in the National. This year’s winners will be announced in the middle of the month, with the New York Mets’ Jacob deGrom a favorite for the National League’s Cy Young. Given its sporting history, it’s no surprise that Shreve, Crump & Low should become a tournament sponsor itself, teaming with Greenwich Polo Club for the Shreve, Crump & Low Cup, contested for the first time this past June. Fans look forward to the Cup’s return next season. — Georgette Gouveia NOVEMBER 2018

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“It’s not only creating and appreciating beautiful craftsmanship,” the Walkers said, “but it is also the excitement we receive from being able to help celebrate different milestones in customers’ lives.” Customers from Westchester, Fairfield and even Manhattan choose Shreve’s for its centuries-long history and reputation as a purveyor of luxury jewelry. Whether selling an engagement ring, handling hardware such as the Davis Cup – see sidebar — or selling a Rolex, the Walkers handle their jobs with the same poise and passion as those who have been in the business for decades longer. “Every day we are building the Shreve, Crump & Low legacy,” the Walkers said of the business, crediting continuing innovation for the company’s continued success. “Greenwich is a new home base for us that provides us many new opportunities, and we are excited to grow here for many years to come.” “We simply consider ourselves stewards to a historic brand name. There will be big things to come for Shreve, Crump & Low.” Spoken like a true class act. For more, visit shrevecrumpandlow.com.

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HONORING THEIR HERITAGE BY GINA GOUVEIA PHOTOGRAPHS BY BOB ROZYCKI

Respect for lineage is something that comes across clearly upon meeting siblings Alexandra (“Alex”) and Andrew Weisz at the gleaming offices of the headquarters of the RPW Group in Rye Brook. Refurbished within the past year, the bright, white space is being adorned by Alex with a green plant “wall” the morning I arrive to interview them. Settling into a glass-enclosed conference room with the children of Robert P. Weisz, founder of this thriving, commercial real estate development firm, I learn of their deep respect for their father’s South American heritage and the business he founded and has so carefully cultivated. RPW had acquired this former headquarters of Philip Morris International in 2004, when the two were still in high school, but they remember how proud their father was to add such a significant building to his portfolio. Reimagining it as a multitenant space, he changed the orientation of the hallways — radically, Alex tells me — repositioning the outdoor windows to serve as light sources along internal hallways and enhancing the services. As an immigrant to the United States from Uruguay, Robert and Argentine-born wife Cristina, the siblings’ mother, settled in New Jersey where Robert started his first venture, a wholesale furniture manufacturing business utilizing imported raw materials. The endeavor, which began before their children were even born, spawned an ever-increasing interest and further talent

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for acquiring and rehabilitating commercial buildings — largely warehouse and industrial spaces between Weehawken and Newark, New Jersey, at the outset, they both explain. Spanish was their first language at home for the young children. Throughout their childhood and up to now, they have traveled at least annually to the family's home in Punta del Este, Uruguay. They speak of those trips as being very grounding and playing a key role in their development, exposing them to a way of life so different from their own upbringing. Two years apart — Alex is older — they spent their early years in New Rochelle, then Purchase, before settling into a home their father built in Greenwich. Alex attended Greenwich Academy for her entire elementary and secondary school education, while Andrew went to Hackley School in Tarrytown. Alex tells me she was focused almost solely on her academic subjects, with her sights set on attending a top-tier college. She met that by goal by attending Harvard University for her undergraduate education, majoring in philosophy, before obtaining her juris doctor degree from the University of Pennysylvannia. While at Hackley, Andrew was an avid tennis player and then later turned his energy and attention to squash, as the school had installed new courts during his time there. His passion for the sport continued at Trinity College in Hartford where he was a four-time national champion while pursuing a degree in international studies. Each a staunch advocate of the other, he gives the point for academics to his sister, but she is quick to return the compliment. “Andrew is more even-keeled,” Alex tells me. “He has tremendous people skills and what he’s been able to do on the leasing end here is very palpable.” After law school, Alex went into practice at the New York office of the large, international firm, Weil, Gotschal and Manges. But after two and a half years, she acknowledges that it wasn’t feeding her soul. She became increasingly drawn to “meditation and mindfulness,” she told me, adopting these centering practices in earnest. It was about this time that she turned her attention to his father’s business in a professional capacity. Things were good at RPW — growth was steady and many new buildings along Westchester Avenue were recently acquired — but there was room for improvement and modernization. True that many of her father’s original employees had been at the firm for decades, but meaningful enhancements and programs were needed, not

Andrew and Alexandra Weisz.

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engaged in City Squash, a nonprofit that helps New York City youth in pursuit of academic, athletic and personal achievement. He is also a founding member of a unique charity in Cartagena, Columbia — Squash Urbano — which provides children with an opportunity to play sports while continuing their education, something not readily available to them in this impoverished region of the world. Benevolence runs through the members of this family, who regularly lend their buildings’ beautiful common spaces and atriums for fundraisers. They are also deeply involved with Reaching U, a charity that assists single mothers and children in Uruguay. Alex now finds herself in an advisory capacity to the firm while she shifts into a new career — life coaching. It is somewhat ironic that she had formulated her plans for RPW with the hope that Andrew would join her, and now she is leaving the daily operations aside. “It’s odd not having her here every day,” Andrew says, “but I know she is never far away.” Alex tells me she hopes others will reap the benefits of this bold, new move, saying, “I would like to leave a little bit on the planet.” I somehow find it hard to imagine that there will only be a little bit left behind by these folks. For more, visit rpw.com.

only for them, but for their tenants. Andrew, who had chosen to start his post-college career in commercial real estate at Cushman & Wakefield in New York, was then at Newmark Knight Frank where he was specializing in leasing and acquisitions, the position he holds today at RPW as a vice president of the firm. His path prepared him well for spearheading the efforts to lease the company’s second Manhattan acquisition and its only presence in the borough currently, 275 Madison Ave., a class-A office building in midtown. Though Alex had joined earlier, it was just September of last year when the two joined forces at RPW, dividing their time between the Rye Brook base and the offices in New York City, where both reside. Both speak of the close kinship they share and the efforts each has undertaken, singularly and together, to enhance and preserve the company’s resources, operations and employment culture. Working in concert, the siblings handily and quickly accomplished some “significant” projects — institution of employee reviews and advancement programs, a new company website, renovation of the offices in Rye Brook, infrastructure improvements at many of their buildings and implementation of a tenant portal for their two newest properties, 925 and 1025 Westchester Ave. in White Plains. Married in June of this year, Andrew is actively

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‘THE ENTIAL LIZ’ BY GREGG SHAPIRO

Westchester County resident Liz Callaway — who will be performing her new show “A Hymn to Her” at Feinstein’s/54 Below in December — is a familiar voice and face to fans of Broadway, cabaret and animated movie musicals. From her Broadway debut in the Stephen Sondheim musical “Merrily We Roll Along” to singing the Oscar-nominated “Journey to the Past” from the beloved animated feature “Anastasia,” Callaway has demonstrated exceptional vocal abilities that have been at the center of her performance career. She can also be heard singing with her sister, Ann Hampton Callaway, on the “Broadway For Orlando” recording of “What The World Needs Now Is Love.” WAG recently spoke with Callaway about her career and the upcoming concert. Liz, you released the CD “The Essential Liz Callaway (Working Girl)” in 2015. What was involved in the song selection for the album? “It was difficult. I wanted to make a, for lack of a better phrase, a ‘best of Liz.’ Also, because I do so many concerts, rather than drag all of these different CDs around, let me see if a can come up with something that represents what I’ve done. I made a big list. I did a query on Facebook and Twitter. It always helps to have people’s suggestions. I knew I wanted to do a few new songs that I hadn’t done before, so I did a live concert at The Metropolitan Room to get one song that I knew needed to be a live performance. That went so well that I ended up using four songs from that concert.” We’re glad you did! There is a whole generation of fans who know you from your film work — providing the singing voices in ani30

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mated features such as “Anastasia” and “The Swan Princess.” What does it mean to you to be associated with these films? “I love it. I had no idea that that would be such a huge part of my career. Wherever I go, people know me from those movies, particularly young people. I really want to nurture a relationship with a younger generation so that they know my music. I teach a lot of master classes when I go around the country and internationally when I do concerts. It’s amazing how many people talk about ‘Anastasia’ in particular. They say it’s the soundtrack to their childhood. It’s one of my favorite jobs that I ever had. It’s the same thing as having CDs — having movies that are a permanent record of something.” Speaking of “Anastasia,” we noticed that “Journey to the Past” — the single of your duet with Christy Altomare, who is currently starring in the Broadway production of “Anastasia” — was released on Sept 28. How did that come to pass? “Actually, I’m producing it. It came to pass because I sang with Christy at ‘The Broadway Princess Party,’ which was created by Laura Osnes and Benjamin Rauhala. It’s a show they’ve done in New York at Feinstein’s/54 Below where they get people who’ve played princesses on Broadway or in animated movies, such as Susan Egan, who played Belle in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ (to perform).

They’re actually touring the country with it now. They’ve asked me to do it a couple of times and I wasn’t able to do it. They invited me to do it in May (2018) and Christy, as well. That was the first time we sang together. Benjamin created an arrangement of ‘Journey To The Past.’ When we were rehearsing, I filmed a crappy little video on my phone of us rehearsing and I put it up on social media and it went crazy. The idea that the original voice from the movie was singing with the voice from Broadway struck a chord with people. After we did the performance, which was so much fun, I thought we really need to have this for posterity. I produced my last two albums. I’ve been wanting to produce some singles and I thought this would be a perfect one to start with.” Now that the stage adaptation of “Anastasia” has opened on Broadway, how many performances have you attended? “I have attended two performances. I went to the opening in Hartford when they first did it. Then I went to the opening night on Broadway. On a recent Friday night, I watched some from the wings, but the rest I listened to from backstage. I’m actually planning to see it again soon because there are some new cast members who are friends of mine. It’s an excuse to go see it again.” You and your sister Ann Hampton Callaway both have established music careers.

Liz Callaway.

by Bill Westmoreland. 31 NOVEMBERPhotograph 2018 WAGMAG.COM

Was it a given that you would also perform together, as you are doing later this month, or did one of you have to convince the other that it would be a good idea? “The answer to that is that it was absolutely not a given. Not at all. When we were growing up (in the Chicago area), I was the super-shy one. I wouldn’t perform in front of anyone unless my family would leave the house. Ann always knew she was going to be a performer. I didn’t start doing theater until midway through high school. Ann and I didn’t become super-close until she went off to college. Then we moved to New York together. In fact, today is the 39th anniversary of my moving to New York. I was 18 and Ann was 21. She moved three days earlier. She started working at a piano bar and at the end of the night, if I had a couple of cocktails — the drinking age was 18 back then — I might get up and do a couple of songs with her. “But it was still really hard for me to perform in front of people. Then I started doing Broadway and was doing cabaret. She said, ‘We really need to do something together.’ She got a date for us at the old Russian Tea Room. We didn’t have a show. Like anything, you get the date and then figure it out afterwards. We did two nights and it was so much fun. She said, ‘We have to do this again.’ We got a date at Rainbow & Stars and put together ‘Sibling Revelry.’ We have sort of never stopped. Whenever we can perform together, we do. I’m even more

grateful than ever to have this show because Ann just moved to Tucson — which is hard for me because we were living five minutes away from each other in Westchester. Now, in particular, we are trying to get as many jobs as we can so we can have an excuse to see each other.” Your new show, “A Hymn to Her,” is a tribute to women such as Eydie Gormé, Barbara Cook, Carole King, Billie Jean King, Julia Child and Meryl Streep, who have inspired you to become the woman you are. How did the concept for the show come about? “I’ve always wanted to do a show like this. There are certain women who have meant a lot to me. Even Eydie Gormé: As a child she was someone I’d sing along with when my family would leave the house. I think it’s interesting that as a child I gravitated towards torch songs the way she sang them. Last year, I set a goal for myself to be more prolific musically. I want to challenge myself to do more shows and more new music. Feinstein’s/54 Below invited me to come back and do another show. Again, I said I’d do it and then I’d figure it out afterwards, like when I worked with Ann for the first time. Then my husband came up with the title, ‘A Hymn to Her,’ and then I had to create the show. I love the show. It’s a chance to be a little autobiographical and to thank the women who have inspired me.” How does Billie Jean King, whom WAG pro-

filed in our June issue, figure into the show? “In addition to being a big tennis fan, I admire her so much, not just what she’s done for women, but for equality for everyone. I was able to have a phone call with her and I asked her if she had a favorite song. A song that she loves, which ended being my favorite thing to do in my show is “What About Us?” by Pink, which I didn’t know until she told me about it. Not only did I get to talk about an inspiration, but she inspired me to try something new — which is what I want to do now in my career; take some chances and try new things, whether it’s onstage or with recording new projects or things like that.” Finally, Liz, would you mind saying a few words about what you like best about life in Westchester? “I love living in Westchester, because it’s beautiful. There’s a wonderful community here. My husband (Dan Foster) has a theater company in Westchester called Hudson Stage Company. We just did their annual gala. They celebrated their 20th year. I’m very involved with that. I love New York City. I’m there all the time, but there’s so much in Westchester in the arts and great restaurants and theater and music. Personally, I love New York City, but I love to leave it at the end of the day. I just love living in Westchester.” Liz Callaway performs at Feinstein’s/54 Below in New York City, Dec. 3-4 and 7-8. For more, visit 54below.com and lizcallaway.com.

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SISTERS WITH HEART BY LAURA JOSEPH MOGIL

erri and Grace Ferri are two sisters who have joined forces to make a difference in the world. Together, the siblings co-chaired the fundraising and outreach for the Go Red for Women Luncheon held this past June at the Hilton Westchester in Rye Brook to benefit the American Heart Association (AHA). The luncheon raised more than $350,000 for research and education aimed at fighting heart disease in women. According to Terri, who lives in Eastchester and is branch manager of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management’s headquarters in Purchase, volunteering plays a big role in her life. “As I got older, getting involved in the community became much more important to me. I saw the opportunities that I was afforded and I really wanted to give back.” Speaking about her involvement with the American Heart Association, Terri — the elder by three years — says she learned about the AHA and its Go Red event through her work at Morgan Stanley. “This nonprofit really resonated with me on two levels, because it’s an organization that emphasizes our health and being heart healthy and also focuses on women. I try to be an advocate for women, especially women in business.” Grace, who lives in New Rochelle and is the vice president of development and marketing for United Hebrew of New Rochelle, says, “As an adult, I started volunteering because I worked in the not-for-profit world and I knew the importance of helping others. I’ve volunteered for many organizations, serving on committees and sharing my knowledge about how to gather information and grab people’s attention.” Grace says that most of her career has been in health care and she sees that the caretakers of families are mostly female. “At my organization, nearly all of the people that provide care are women — the nurses and the aides that are on the front line. So when Terri introduced me to the American Heart Association and I saw how it was an organization that promoted women’s health, I knew I wanted to get involved.” Speaking about co-chairing the event with her sister, Grace says, “I couldn’t have asked for a greater

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Terri and Grace Ferri. Photograph by Aaron Kershaw.

opportunity. I felt grateful to work with my sister because I love her and we had the chance to feed our ideas off of one another. My heart was so full on the day of the event when I stood on the stage with Terri.” In addition to deciding to co-chair the AHA Go Red event, the two sisters also made a commitment to take good care of themselves and each other. According to Terri, the AHA’s message this year has been to have “partners in health.” “It’s somebody who keeps you on track and Grace has always been that person for me,” she says. This past January, the two decided to do a Boot Camp Challenge. It lasted six weeks with a rigid diet plan and workout routine. “It was really hard, but we got through it because we motivated each other to go to the class even when we didn’t want to. It was great to have someone to commiserate with,” Terri says. Grace agrees and adds, “We realized at the end of the six weeks that the message that the AHA was sending out about having partners in health was exactly what we had experienced. You really do need somebody to keep you going, to get up and go to the gym when you may not really want to or to be mindful of taking care of yourself.” Grace and Terri have always been very close, sharing many of the same friends and same inter-

ests and going to the same high school. Today, they talk every single day and continue going to the gym together before work. They also see each other on weekends, whether it’s going out to dinner, shopping or visiting each other at home. Terri says she and her sister are similar in the sense that they care very much about their families, protecting each other and keeping family ties tight (including their parents and another sister). As far as their differences, she notes, “While Grace is warmhearted, she’s much better at separating and seeing things more clearly during a very emotional time.” Grace says, “I’m sillier than Terri is. She’s a little more serious. I’m more lighthearted. I like to laugh and joke and put things in perspective and try to encourage Terri not to sweat the small stuff.” She adds, “I’ve always admired Terri since I was a young girl. I see what she does for Morgan Stanley and the volume of people that she manages. She is in a man’s world in her field and has shown herself to be extremely bright and extremely strong, yet still gives time to volunteer organizations. She’s very impressive.” Terri is extremely proud of Grace as well. “What makes her so fantastic is not only having the brains and the wherewithal to run the programs at her work so well but also the size of her heart. If you go

with her to Willow Towers (at United Hebrew), you see that every single resident knows her name and wants to kiss and hug her. They tell me how wonderful and beautiful she is.” She adds, “Grace is loyal to her family and has the integrity that most people can only dream about. I think it makes her good at what she does, makes her a good wife, an awesome sister and daughter, a wonderful aunt and just a great person all around.” The sisters continue to be involved in the AHA and it’s National Go Red Day, which will be held on Feb. 1, 2019. They are both also volunteering with the Italian American Forum, a nonprofit based in Bronxville that focuses on Italian culture. The two will be honored for their efforts by the forum’s partner, the Italian Welfare League, Nov. 3. “We continue to try to be involved in the community as much as we can and touch as many nonprofits as possible so that the resources we come in contact with can help other people,” Terri says. She notes that, “A little donation goes a long way so it’s important to be in contact with other organizations that don’t have the robust funding like the American Heart Association and to recognize other places that need some assistance. If we can be the vehicle to do that, then it’s extremely gratifying.” For more, visit GoRedForWomen.org.

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Piero Pirri was singled out in the texture category as a finalist for the North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) in Las Vegas for his Renaissance-inspired styles, seen here and on page 38. Photographs by BABAK. 36

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FROM ITALY, WITH L VE

BY MEGHAN MCSHARRY

When we think of Italy, we think of food, culture and hospitality. While situated in New England, Pirri Hair Studio in Greenwich evokes that same Italian energy thanks to its owners, Piero and Luigi Pirri. Hailing from Cosenza, Italy, a city in the southern region of Calabria, the brothers opened Pirri Hair Studio on Greenwich Avenue in 1992. On a recent trip to the salon, we were greeted by Piero and his wife, Giulia, who quickly offered us water or espresso and made us feel immediately welcomed. True to form, we thought — Italian hospitality could surely give Southern hospitality a run for its money. Luigi and Piero are just 18 months apart in age. Piero recalls being a young man unsure of what he wanted to do with his life when Luigi, who had already begun his career as a stylist, suggested he start training and join him in the industry. Lo and behold, after apprenticeships in Italy, training in London and then a brief stint styling in New York City, the brothers have now held their spot as one of Greenwich’s most trusted salons for more than 26 years. “When you have someone in your family you can trust, it’s perfect,” Piero said of running the salon with his older brother. “I want to kill him sometimes,” Luigi said jokingly, as any elder child might. “But we love each other,” he continued. “Everyone has their own ideas, but at the end of the day we compromise and work together.” The Pirri brothers ooze charisma, so it’s no surprise that their salon has loyal clients, some of whom have been seeing the brothers since the beginning. During our visit, we had the chance to meet a 26-yearlong client of Piero’s, who sang his praises. “We’ve been here so long now that we get the children, the grandchildren. We get all of the generations,” Luigi said of their loyal clientele. The duo has also styled for some of the area’s biggest celebrities, including Diana Ross and Gretchen Carlson. The Pirri brothers attribute much of their success

Piero and Luigi Pirri of Pirri Hair Studio. Courtesy Pirri Hair Studio.

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to their Italian background, explaining that people associate Italy with being ahead on trends and style. But they also credit much of their success to the fact that they are a family-run business. They initially opened as a Toni & Guy salon (part of a British franchise). However, they made the change to Pirri Hair Studio because using their own family name separates them from being just another chain salon. “It’s more original and represents our family,” Luigi said. Piero’s talent was recognized this summer when he was selected as a finalist for the North American Hairstyling Awards in Las Vegas. His styles, inspired by the Renaissance, earned him a top spot in the texture category. While Piero may not have won the grand prize, his designs certainly show how versatile his skills can be. Whether you visit the salon for a basic cut or an out-of-the-box style, the brothers offer everything from the classic to the avant-garde. As for upcoming trends in hair, Piero recalled that in recent years pastel colors and even icy gray tones have been all over the scene. However, trends are shifting back to natural, he said, with brown natural brown tones (no more damage from bleach) and French-inspired cuts like bangs — for those of us bold enough to rock them. For more, visit pirrihair.com.

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Tours take visitors through the cavernous underground cellars of Brotherhood, America’s Oldest Winery in Washingtonville. Courtesy Brotherhood, America’s Oldest Winery.

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OOD

BROTHERH BY MARY SHUSTACK

Arriving on the grounds of Brotherhood, America’s Oldest Winery in Washingtonville on a recent morning, WAG is quickly swept up in the historic feel of the Hudson Valley landmark.

And it’s no surprise, since the winery that celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2014 is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The surroundings evoke a decidedly Old World-feel, from a simple, circa-1859 chapel to a stately stone building aptly called Grand Monarque Hall. But it’s the announcement by our tour guide, Glenn Yanow, which takes us by surprise. “Most of the tour’s going to be underground,” he says. “There are cellars under all these buildings.” And, we will soon find out, those cellars beneath Brotherhood Village are the heart of the Orange County operation that officially launched in 1839 by a man called Jean Jaques. THE HISTORY The Brotherhood tour takes visitors through Brotherhood Village, where we hear about the Grand Monarque Hall (now a popular wedding and special-event venue), the Mansion and the Chapel and pass by both the Gift Shop (filled with not only wine-themed accessories but also artisan-made goods and more) and the Vinum Café. The winery hosts numerous events, including live summertime entertainment and welcomes visitors all year long. In history shared by both Yanow and in panels posted throughout the cellars, visitors learn how in 1810, a French Huguenot émigré named Jean Jaques purchased land in the Hudson Valley and began to plant grapes. By 1837, he added more land in Washingtonville and two years later, as history — and the Brotherhood website — tells us “his first underground cellars were dug and Mr. Jaques fermented his first wine vintage. Those cellars, the oldest and largest in America, are still in use today at Brotherhood Winery.” The Jaques family — first Jean and then his sons, as the Jaques’ Brothers Winery — operated the enterprise for nearly 60 years. It would next be under the ownership of Emerson family, who renamed it Brotherhood. In 1921, Louis Farrell purchased Brotherhood and Wine at Brotherhood. Photograph by Mary Shustack.

stayed afloat (when so many other wineries struggled) by selling wine for religious ceremonies throughout Prohibition. That move earned Brotherhood the title of America’s oldest continually operating winery, with Farrell eventually starting what has come to be known as wine tourism. In 1987, a partnership of businessmen, including prominent Chilean winemaker Cesar Baeza, purchased Brotherhood. The group would see it through a period that included a devastating 1999 fire, eventually leading Baeza to form a new partnership in 2005 with the Castro and Chadwick families of Chile. THE TOUR Today, the site not only bottles Brotherhood wines, but Yanow says, “We are a major bottler here for many, many East Coast wines.” Up until the 1960s, Yanow says all the grapes for Brotherhood wine were grown here, but land was then sold off for surrounding development. Now a demonstration garden showcases a selection of grapevines but, Yanow notes, most all of the grapes used here are brought in from other parts of New York, including the North Fork, the Finger Lakes and places closer to Brotherhood.

Underground, the tour is all about a climate-controlled (approximately 58 degrees) walk through Brotherhood history, touching on the creation of the hand-excavated cellars now filled with displays that round out the working parts of the operation. These include Prohibition-era bottles, original winemaking equipment, historic images and a crested wine vault filled with historic bottles. Visitors are introduced to winemaking methods and the barrel-aging process (some 200 oak barrels are on display — spot the CS notation for Cabernet Sauvignon, for example), with questions encouraged throughout. Along the way, tidbits are shared about the production methods of the premium wines that include red and white varietals and traditional, sparkling and dessert wines. THE TASTING ROOM Tours start and end in the state-of-the-art tasting room that also serves as a gallery featuring work of regional artists as well as a shop/showroom. After our journey through Brotherhood’s story, our small group is ready to taste some of the winery’s creations, which Yanow serves up in commemorative wine glasses that participants get

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to take home. He deftly explains the options for each flight, noting which of each of three pours is dry or sweet, sparkling or not. It’s an introduction, we note, that leads most all visitors directly to purchase a drinkable souvenir. (Personal favorites included the Brotherhood Winery Carpe Diem Moscato Spumante and the Brotherhood Riesling, both of which we did purchase; and, yes, there are plenty of lovely indoor and outdoor spaces to relax in before hitting the road). From a start in the 19th century, today Brotherhood is sold in Asia and northern Europe and carried by some 700 retailers in the tristate region, as well as Pennsylvania. The winery is also part of the 80-mile Shawangunk Wine Trail, a group of 13 wineries in Ulster and Orange counties. Visitors, Yanow says, come not just from the region but rather, “all over the world. We get people from China, Japan, Europe.” And, with each visit, the Brotherhood story — and wines — reach a new audience. Brotherhood Winery is at 100 Brotherhood Plaza Drive in Washingtonville. It is open daily April through December and Fridays through Sundays January through March. For more, visit brotherhood-winery.com.

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A DIFFERENT KIND OF ‘BLUES BROTHERS’ BY PHIL HALL

Steve and Nick Balkun never intended to be a music industry sibling act. “We were always in other bands when we were teenagers, but we never really expected to be in a band together,” Nick says. But as they transitioned into young adulthood, older brother and guitarist Steve and younger brother and drummer Nick found themselves working together as part of collaborative music efforts with other liked-minded rockers from their hometown of Hartford. Fellow bandmates came and went, and by 2010 the brothers became the last men standing in their group. “That’s when we became a full-time power duo,” Nick adds. Today, the Balkun Brothers are one of the most corybantic forces of energy in the indie music scene, offering an innovative blast of classic psychedelic rock, old-school blues and a contemporary riff on jam-funk. Regionally, they earned the Best Rock Band in New England honors at the 2017 New England Music Awards and snagged the Best Blues Band in Connecticut title from 2013 through 2016 in the Connecticut Music Awards. And it would not be an exaggeration to anoint them as the hardest working men in today’s music industry, headlining concerts that have been known to last up to five hours at venues across North America and Europe. “We do more than 200 shows a year,” Nick says during a telephone interview conducted with WAG while the pair were in transit to a North Carolina engagement. “We are pretty much traveling all the time.” Unlike contemporary rock music that often seems too safe and bland for its own good, the Balkun Brothers get their inspiration from a wild gumbo of barrier-shattering music genres. Their formative years were spent listening to records featuring blues icons Son 44

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Steve and Nick Balkun. Courtesy the Balkun Brothers.

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From left, Steve and Nick Balkun.

House, Johnny Winter, Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters, but they also found time to plug into the different planes of the rock experience, absorbing the 1960s artistry of The Doors and the 1980s energy that emerged with the heavy metal bad boys of Mötley Crüe and the funk-fused sounds of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. With such eclectic musical cross-pollination feeding their inspiration, who is the audience for a Balkun Brothers show? “We have wide range of fans,” says Steve, taking the phone from his brother while the duo was on the road in North Carolina. “Little kids who are 2 years old and 90-year-old grandmothers who love our stuff. The teens and college crowd like us. We came up in the blues scene, so that tends to bring in an older crowd. And old school rock ’n’ roll fans are with us.” The brothers’ fans cross borders, too. The pair played gigs to enthusiastic crowds in France, Germany and the Netherlands last year and Belgium this year, and they’ve received fan mail and record sales from countries where they’ve never set foot, including Australia and Japan. Nick 46

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credits social media with connecting their music to far-flung audiences. “I don’t know how they know about us, but the internet is a crazy place,” Nick says with a laugh. Traditionally, sibling acts in the music world have been known to experience seismic ups and downs: The Everly Brothers famously split up for a decade after Phil Everly walked offstage during a concert saying, “I’m tired of being an Everly brother,” and the Jacksons dealt with internal difficulties after Michael Jackson’s solo endeavors took him to superstardom. More recently, the Jonas Brothers eagerly parted company after eight successful years together in order to pursue individual career identities. But that has not been the case with the Balkun Brothers. Their musical odyssey often takes on a family dimension. “Sometimes our dad is a roadie for us,” Nick says. “And our mom sometimes makes our onstage attire or will check out what we are wearing.” Also on the road with the brothers is Steve’s wife, Sara, with whom he is celebrating his second anniversary. “She’s been a supporter since day one,” Steve says. “It definitely wouldn’t work out if she did

not approve. She loves rock ’n’ roll and I definitely would not have married a woman who was not down with rock ’n’ roll.” To date, the Balkun Brothers have released two albums — their independently produced 2015 offering “ReDrova,” which charted at number one on the Roots Music Report Blues-Rock album charts and was number five on the Roots Music Report overall Blues charts, and the 2017 “Devil on TV,” released on the Dixiefrog label. As their 2018 touring slate begins to wind down, the brothers are planning to spend more time in the recording studio. “We have a lot of new material,” Nick says, adding that they have booked the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis and the Electrical Audio studios in Chicago for recording their yet-to-be-titled 2019 album. Still, the lure of the road and the adulation from live audiences will ensure the Balkun Brothers will stay front and center in the coming year. “Playing live is the name of the game,” Nick says. Adds Steve, “We try to connect with people on a real, organic basis. We try and at every show, we give 110 percent.” For more, visit balkunbrothers.com.

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OUT F THEIR SI TERS’ SHAD W BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA

The older sister was serious; the younger, fun. The older was something of a tomboy who loved horses; the younger, a girly girl — one whose delicate, curvaceous beauty drew the lion’s share of male attention and who sought solace in the sea. And while the younger would exhibit a theatrical flair, it was the shyer older sister who would command the world stage. The sisterly relationships of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Lee Radziwill and Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret had more in common than you might think, as two new books, to-be-devouredlike-a-box-of-chocolates, illuminate. Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberg’s juicy page-turner, “The Fabulous Bouvier Sisters: The Tragic and Glamorous Lives of Jackie and Lee” (Harper, $28.99, 518 pages), is the more conventional, if only because Craig Brown’s “Ninety-Nine Glimpses of Princess Margaret” (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $28, 423 pages) is such a stylish meditation not only on the life of the princess — real and imagined — but on the nature of storytelling itself. Yet both offer poignant accounts of artistic younger sisters who fought to establish identities beyond being princesses — Lee was married to Polish Prince Stanislas “Stas” Radziwill — in the shadow of England’s and America’s “queens.” The four lives intersected at the height of their glamour in the 1960s. Indeed, they might’ve all met at a state dinner at Buckingham Palace in June of 1961, according to Vanity Fair, but for some checkmating between the elder sisters. Jackie, who had covered Elizabeth’s coronation for the Washington-Times Herald but was now married to President 48

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John F. Kennedy, wanted her sister and husband, who lived near the palace, to attend the dinner. But the queen, as head of the Church of England, frowned on divorcées and previously married couples. (The Radziwills had each been married before.) Nonetheless, the queen relented but declined to invite her sister, whom Jackie wanted to meet. Novelist Gore Vidal — a man for whom the adjective “acerbic” seems to have been invented — would later say that Jackie told him the queen was “pretty heavy going” — a remark he passed along to Margaret, who reportedly replied, “But that’s what she’s there for.” Margaret would always uphold her sister — “you mean, Her Majesty, the Queen,” she would correct those who became too familiar — just as Lee would be there for Jackie, particularly in the days after the president’s assassination. (In “The Fabulous Bouvier Sisters,” Kashner and Schoenberger write that Lee confided in photographer Cecil Beaton, another of the boldface names the sisters shared, that she “had gone through hell” trying to help Jackie cope with her grief.) Yet the younger sisters would both chafe at the restrictions and requirements placed on them by their elder sisters’ iconic roles.

The moment King Edward VIII abdicated in order to marry American divorcée Wallis Warfield Simpson, thus elevating his younger brother to the throne as George VI, Elizabeth’s and Margaret’s fates were sealed. As the new king’s only children, Elizabeth (1926-) was the heir and Margaret (19302002), once Margaret Rose of York, was in her words “Margaret Rose of nothing.” A real English rose who blossomed amid the perks of being first the daughter and then the sister of a monarch, the fashionable, headstrong Margaret proved less adaptable to the ribbon-cutting aspects of her new position. Tedium would soon give way to heartache: Margaret would be forced to give up the man she loved, her father’s equerry, the divorced Capt. Peter Townsend. Though the love affair is dramatized with real feeling in Netflix’s riveting “The Crown,” Brown’s “Ninety-Nine Glimpses” suggests that both the princess and the captain realized it was a bridge too far for her to become just Mrs. Peter Townsend. (However, in Glimpse 28 of his biography/pseudobiography, Brown conjures an obit for that very woman, whom he imagines having lived in wedded bliss in a farmhouse outside Paris, often visiting her uncle and Aunt Wallis.)

President John F. Kennedy asked wife Jacqueline to make a diplomatic trip to India and Pakistan, and Jackie brought sister Lee Radziwill along as her closest companion. The trip was a spectacular success, with thousands turning out to cheer “America’s Queen” and her “lady in waiting.” Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. March 1962. Courtesy John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. NOVEMBER 2018

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While the Bouvier sisters of Manhattan and East Hampton were not as constrained in their choices as the royal siblings, their social class expected them to marry well — particularly as their adored and adoring father, dashing stockbroker “Black Jack” Bouvier, fell on hard times and their exacting mother, Janet, married wealthy stockbroker Hugh D. Auchincloss. Lee (1933-), whose real name is Caroline Lee, married first, to publishing executive Michael Canfield. (The marriage was later annulled.) But Jackie (1929-1994) would eclipse her by marrying the scion of the Kennedy family. As the sister-in-law of the president, Lee — whose design sense and cultural tastes influenced her sister and their extended family — would shine in the spotlight. In June of 1963, she stood in for her pregnant sister on the trip to Berlin in which President Kennedy would give his famed “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech — which she called “the most thrilling experience of my life.” But the trip was also designed to steer Lee away from her affair with Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, considered a Kennedy liability. Indeed, one of the revelations of “The Fabulous Bouvier Sisters” is that the reason Jackie went on the subsequent fateful cruise with Lee and Onassis was not merely to assuage the loss of her baby, Patrick, but to persuade Lee not to marry Onassis. It’s a what-if of the caliber that Brown tackles in “Ninety-Nine

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Glimpses”: What if Lee and not Jackie had married Onassis? It wasn’t to be and once again it appeared that while adventurous Lee led, commanding Jackie picked up the ball and ran with it. As Jackie and Elizabeth’s iconic status deepened, Lee and Margaret strove to refine their own identities. They both turned to the sea — Margaret to a home on the Caribbean island of Mustique, Lee to one in East Hampton, Long Island — and to the arts. Both sets of sisters had enjoyed putting on family theatricals as children. (It is telling that the practical Elizabeth questioned whether they were charging too high an admission, while the haughty Margaret, who grabbed the starring roles for herself, presciently realized an audience would pay anything to see them.) Margaret, who sang and played the piano, “felt most at home in the company of the camp, the cultured and the waspish,” Brown writes in “Ninety-Nine Glimpses.” She was, he continues, “drawn to the world of well-heeled bohemia — writers and musicians and actors and other fast-living artistic types who could nevertheless be relied upon to show a fair measure of deference.” Lee, too, thrived in an aesthetic milieu, the difference being that being a princess didn’t stop her from acting on her artistic impulses. She starred on the stage (a 1967 production of “The Philadelphia Story” at Chicago’s Ivanhoe Theatre) and on the

small screen (a live TV adaptation of the noir classic “Laura” the following year). She ran her own interior design business. She wrote books, including the most recent “Lee,” “Happy Times” and, with Jackie, who had become an editor, the illustrated “One Special Summer,” originally a gift for their mother. Given their rarefied circles, Margaret’s and Lee’s often overlapped. Auchincloss step-relative Vidal was to Margaret what his archenemy, novelist Truman Capote, was to Lee — a confidant. Both women fell for bisexual ballet god Rudolf Nureyev, whom Margaret said “was more beautiful than I can describe, with his flared nostrils, huge eyes and high cheekbones.” And both women would have long relationships with photographers. Margaret married Anthony Armstrong-Jones, the Earl of Snowdon, while Lee took up with Peter Beard, described as “half-Tarzan and half-Byron.” Yet there was a sense of the unfulfilled in the lives of both women, who drank heavily. Today, a sober Lee divides her time between New York and France. She once wrote, “There are people who are destined to be shaped by the impulses of their hearts, rather than by reason….” She and Margaret could be described as romantics; Jackie and Elizabeth, as realists. The realists may find it easier to navigate the world. But the romantics may be the better story.

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SISTER ACTS

BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA PHOTOGRAPHS BY SEBASTIÁN FLORES

he gardener looked briefly askance at me, an unfamiliar presence on a campus that is still an oasis off the impervious hustle and bustle of North Broadway in White Plains. No matter. I was determined to have my “Brideshead Revisited” moment. Like the narrator of Evelyn Waugh’s elegiac novel, Charles Ryder, I had returned to a place that had played a crucial role in my life though I had not been intimately acquainted with it for many years. The Leo I. Kearney Gymnasium where I excelled at nothing but modern dance and the athletic fields beyond where I tried to avoid playing soccer and softball. The high school building still standing tall, like an order of flapjacks, where we put on Molière plays and produced a videotaped French soap opera, “Heartbreak on Lafayette Street”. The stone-crusted chapel where I honed my love of singing. The Spanish Colonial convent where we were sometimes sent as a punishment and where the sympathetic older nuns served us hot chocolate in the plant- and statuary-filled solarium. (Some punishment.) Mostly, though, I stood before the elementary school that stared back at me like an old friend. I could see myself on the second-floor wraparound porch with seventh-grade classmates, staging a radio play that went awry when a prop malfunctioned, and with fifth-grade classmates peering out of a second-story window at a bemused college girl and police officers, searching for her Volkswagen Beetle, which we had moved from one end of the parking lot to another during recess. (I think that may have required extra punishment at the convent.) It was as a schoolgirl at the Academy of Our Lady of Good Counsel that I wrote a short story about my grown up self returning to the campus. Now after a half century, it was coming true. 52

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Sister Laura Donovan, president of the Sisters of the Divine Compassion and a member of the five-sister leadership team.

Recounting this later to a friend, I had to pause, overcome with emotions that I hadn’t expected to feel. On the campus, though, there was no time for tears but only a delicious sense of anticipation, as I was on a far more important mission — to assess how the Sisters of the Divine Compassion, who had shaped the woman and writer I have become, were faring amid challenges to the Roman Catholic Church and American society in the 21st century. What I found is that while their world has, in some ways, contracted — Good Counsel High School closed in 2015, the elementary school in 2017, both for fiscal reasons; and the order numbers 73 nuns from a high of more than 300 — the sisters’ sense of community and mission of service, always the core of the order, has continued and strengthened. “We’re quietly and not so quietly doing what we have always done,” says Sister Laura Donovan, president of the Sisters of the Divine Compassion and a member of the five-sister leadership team. “We’re an apostolic order, which means we have a contemplative and an active life.” We are talking in the administrative St. Joseph’s

House, a historic Victorian building lined with wildflowers that served as the order’s first convent in White Plains and remains one of two structures, along with the Chapel of the Divine Compassion, whose use the sisters retain now that the 16-acre site has been sold. There on the second floor, Sister Laura has convened an informal round table that includes Sister Jane Keegan, a retiree and volunteer who has worked in education, publishing and fundraising; Sister Felicitas Russell, a Good Counsel High School alumna who serves in the Advancement Office; Sister Carol Peterson, who is on the order’s leadership team and has been an English teacher, a caseworker and a school administrator, including as principal of Good Counsel High School; and Beth O’Keeffe Cleary, a laywoman and alumna of the high school, who is director of congregational advancement for the order. On the first floor of the building is one of the four missions that the order operates. For 27 years, The RDC Center for Counseling & Human Development has provided licensed, affordable counseling to those whose problems may range from anxiety to divorce to bereavement.

The other three missions are: The Center of Compassion — a Dover Plains site that includes a food pantry, a thrift shop and a backpack program providing elementary school children participating in the free breakfast and lunch initiatives with nutritious foods for the weekend; Preston Center of Compassion — offering women, children and families in the Bronx a variety of educational, business and social services, including a Big Sister, Little Sister program; and Preston High School — a college-preparatory high school for girls, also in the Bronx. (There’s also the Divine Compassion Spirituality Center online, which offers reflection resources and a lecture series and invites you to join the sisters wherever you are in the world at 6 p.m. Thursdays for 15 to 20 minutes of meditation/centering prayer in whatever faith tradi-

tion you practice.) What these missions demonstrate is a changing world — and a changing sisterhood. “The sisters used to live in large communities that served large institutions,” Sister Jane says. Now with many in their senior years — the median age is 79 — they live in small, self-sustaining groups or even by themselves, as they strive to fulfill social needs that are more diverse and dispersed. It is this expanding, more peripatetic sense of community, Sister Laura adds, that may be the biggest change for the sisterhood in this era, just as Vatican II (the Second Vatican Council, 1962-65) created bridges to the contemporary world that included, for the nuns, the introduction of a modified habit (1967) and the adoption of lay dress (1973). Says Sister Carol: “Community to us is not just living in a group.” Like others interviewed for this story, she didn’t set out to be a nun. A product of

Clockwise from top left, Sister Jane Keegan; Sister Felicitas Russell; Beth O’Keeffe Cleary, director of congregational advancement for the Sisters of the Divine Compassion; and Sister Carol Peterson.

early Catholic schooling, her education took a secular turn at SUNY Oneonta. Sister Jane, an admirer of Amelia Earhart, dreamed of being a pilot or a civil engineer like her father. Even sports- and STEM-loving Sister Laura, who did want to be a nun, had a twin career goal — to be a Rockette. Ultimately, all of them felt a longing for something greater that they saw at an early age in the sisterhood’s joy — a word that comes up several times in our conversation. Growing up in Scarsdale, Sister Felicitas, a nun for 59 years, went from public school to Good Counsel Academy. What she saw there made her sit up and take notice — literally. “I remember saying to my mother, ‘This woman dresses in a habit and tells me to sit up straight,” Sister Felicitas says. “I saw joy with them, together with a purpose and, of course, a great love of God.” “They look so happy,” Sister Carol, a sister for 33 years, recalls of the nuns at St. Columbanus School in Cortlandt Manor and Kennedy Catholic High School in Somers. Sister Jane, a nun for 62 years, remembers her senior-year banquet at Preston High at which the nuns served the graduating class. “Their generosity and self-sacrifice moved me.” It was that sense of service that moved Sister Laura, a nun for 49 years, when she attended St. Bernard’s School in White Plains. “The church and the parish were the center of social life,” she says, recalling projects with the underserved in Harlem and Warwick in Orange County. “They drew me in.” It was the desire to serve that also drew Mother Mary Veronica, who founded the order with Msgr. Thomas Preston in 1886. Like others in this story, she didn’t intend to become a nun. She wasn’t even a Catholic. The daughter of a wealthy Welsh-American merchant, the former Mary Caroline Dannat Starr — whose story is told in Sister Mary Teresa, “The Fruit of His Compassion” (Pageant Press, 1962) — married and had two sons. But increasingly dissatisfied with Protestantism, she sought out religious instruction from Preston and, shortly after her husband’s death, began working with him to improve the lives of Irish immigrant girls in Manhattan. In 1892, they moved their ministry to the former Tilford Estate in White Plains, where it ultimately grew into a kindergarten through 12th grade program and Good Counsel College — later the College of White Plains and, since 1976, part of Pace University. Though much has changed, more remains. “Our mission,” Sister Laura says, “is God’s compassion in the world.” The Chapel of the Divine Compassion celebrates Sunday Mass at 11:30 a.m. Weddings are still performed there for alumnae. For more, visit divinecompassion.org. NOVEMBER 2018

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The Berry Blue Faux Wreath from Terrain. Images courtesy Terrain. 54

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rrAIN,

PART OF A STYLISH WESTPORT FAMILY BY MARY SHUSTACK

There’s a pretty stylish family calling Westport home. In fact, three of the URBN siblings reside within the tony town along the Saugatuck River. The older sisters — play along with us — are Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie, but WAG decided to check in with the family’s youngest as it heads into the holiday season. Terrain joined the URBN family — with roots in the 1970s — in 2008, the original in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania. It’s expanded to include today an additional Terrain store in Pennsylvania, several in California and the one in Westport. Terrain, you might think, thrives in the warmer months. After all, it’s a garden center of sorts, billed on the URBN site as “a garden, home and outdoor lifestyle brand deeply rooted in nature and plant life.” It’s in that creative interpretation of garden center, though, that Terrain comes into its own. Lauren Aber, store manager of the Westport Terrain, has been with the store — more an artsy warehouse with soaring ceilings and plenty of light — since its opening in May of 2012. “I moved here from Atlanta,” Aber tells us, to open the store and has been there since. It’s been steady progress since the opening. “We’ve had a lot of changes,” she says. “Inside the store, we completely change the footprint about twice a year. Outside, we continually add on parking.” An additional parcel, she says, will soon ease the always-busy parking lot. “The thing I’m most excited about is we’re a display garden,” she says, with more showcases planned down the line. IN TERRAIN The store offers a welcoming indoor/outdoor environment, where you can pick up everything from a houseplant to an artful scarf, some premium olive oil to a delicate necklace. In between, there are books and home goods, kitchen tools and

pampering products. And that’s not to mention the offerings of the Terrain Garden Café, a bustling area that adds a real vibrancy to the surroundings. Aber says at Terrain there’s an appreciation for plants and flowers in all stages, not just full bloom, which means there is something for every season. A lot of customers are indeed gardeners, but she notes, “It’s broader though. We have plenty of people who say, ‘I’m not a gardener. I don’t have a green thumb.’” Her reply? “There’s a plant for everyone out there.” It can be elaborate — or the simplest touch. “You can have herbs on your kitchen windowsill. There’s a place for plants in every room of your home.” Aber notes customers are always on the lookout for something new. “We do have a large group of designers or people who change out their rooms often.” Creating atmosphere is key to the ever-changing décor. “Lighting is something that’s really important to us,” she adds, mentioning string lights and a new lantern design. This time of year she says, “it’s all about” people getting cozy, with fire pits and such. HOLIDAY TIME An annual treat, locals and visitors alike have come to know, is visiting Terrain during the holiday season — and this year will be no different. “It’s just going to be just beautiful, lush,” Aber says, as the transition is just getting underway. “Holiday is what we do best, hands down. It takes us at least four weeks to do everything we do for holiday.” With countless hanging displays complementing items at eye level, it’s all about, Aber says, “lay-

er upon layer.” A classic touch comes from clear glass ornaments that can be filled with sprigs of greenery, as battery-powered light adds a delicate sparkle. “We use those on mantels or tabletops or nestled into greens,” she says. An understated approach is a bit of a trademark at Terrain. “With us, our color palette is always fairly muted,” Aber adds. And that extends to the wreaths, a perennial favorite. “Wreaths are something that we also keep our eyes on,” she says. “We always look at our wreaths as something you can build on.” For most every design, she adds, “We look to nature.” Aber says the look often encompasses a mix, though, perhaps accenting a gilded tabletop item with natural finds. In another example, oak-leaf verdigris pieces would “weave in dry grasses.” “Not everything has to be bought from a store,” she adds. “For us, we kind of focus on, we always say, ‘high and low.’” But, she adds, there is a theme running throughout. “Color and texture in foliage is something that’s always been important to us.” Terrain offers special events and workshops that put design in focus. “We have a mantel design workshop that sells out every year,” she says, noting that the shop has also expanded its selection of dried and faux flowers. “We do faux really well.” BY THE BOOK This autumn — and right through the holiday season — Aber says Terrain is proud to launch its first book, published in October to mark Terrain’s 10th anniversary.

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Outdoor, home and decorative goods from Terrain include, clockwise from top left, the Oval Bonfire Basket; the Metal Greenhouse ornament; the LED Nature Bauble ornament; and a ceramic Chinoiserie Vase.

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An in-store event set for Nov. 1 will celebrate the publication of “Terrain: Ideas and Inspiration for Decorating the Home and Garden,” edited by creative director Greg Lehmkuhl and the community of garden and design experts (Artisan, 400 pages, $35). “We’re super-excited about it,” she says. “It kind of feels like ‘Here we are’ to the world.” Set up by season, Aber notes, “Each chapter focuses on things you can make and create in your own space.” And in Westport, space is about family for Terrain, as Aber says having the store’s “siblings” nearby is a bonus. “We have a great relationship with Anthropologie,” she says, noting its staffers often use the Terrain café for meetings. “We partner with them from everything to employees and events. They did a home-design event down in the courtyard,” she says, with Terrain customizing container gardens to add atmosphere. The collaboration, she says, “was great to see.” After all, it’s always nice for family to visit each other, especially for the holidays. Terrain is at 561 Post Road East in Westport. Terrain will host a Book Launch Party from 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 1 and welcome the season with its Holiday Open House from noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 17. For more, visit shopterrain.com.

to benefit the Greenwich Historical Societyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Art and History Education Programs

MMXVIII

Celebrate the Holidays in High Style! Opening Night for the Greenwich Winter Antiques Show Celebrating Honorary Design Chairs David Monn and Alex Papachristidis Friday, November 30, 7:00 to 9:00 pm Patrons Early Admission at 6:00 pm Eastern Greenwich Civic Center Generously sponsored by Betteridge

The Greenwich Winter Antiques Show Fine Art, Jewelry and Antiques Saturday, December 1, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Sunday, December 2, 11:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Greenwich Civic Center Produced by Frank Gaglio, Inc.

Rago Modern Design Lecture and Appraisal Day Saturday, December 1, 2018 Lecture: 12 noon Appraisals: 1 pm to 5 pm Eastern Greenwich Civic Center Appraisals by appointment. Please contact Jennifer Pitman at jenny@ragoarts.com or 917.745.2730.

Holiday Boutique

Tuesday, December 4, 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm Wednesday, December 5, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Greenwich Country Club

Holiday House Tour

Wednesday, December 5, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Reservations required (rain or shine) Generously sponsored by David Ogilvy & Associates

Holiday House Tour Luncheon

Wednesday, December 5, 11:30 am to 1:30 pm Greenwich Country Club Reservations required For further information and tickets please visit us at www.greenwichhistory.org/antiquarius Generously supported by

Exclusive House Tour Media Sponsor

HAVEN ON EARTH BY JENA BUTTERFIELD

here is a place in Westchester County where people can go to break free of gender-based violence. It’s safe, it’s confidential, it’s transformative and it’s where even the most basic truth is reinforced. “It’s OK to tell your story,” says Cheryl Greenberg, chief development officer at My Sisters’ Place (MSP), a leader in domestic violence advocacy with offices in White Plains and Yonkers. The core of the organization’s mission is to believe survivors of abuse and tackle the humiliation and outright dismissal they often face. “The stories

CEO Karen Cheeks-Lomax. Photographs courtesy My Sisters’ Place.

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are extraordinary,” says CEO Karen Cheeks-Lomax. “MSP is like family,” says one woman helped by the organization. “They took us in with open arms and protected us when we needed it the most. With their help, I was able to find the strength that I had lost. After all, I had a daughter that … depended on me to keep her safe and loved.” Her story and many stories like them have dominated the political climate recently. The core mission of My Sisters’ Place is aligned with the #MeToo movement. “I think what we are seeing is a culture shift,” Cheeks-Lomax says. But she’s quick to point out the shift is “slow moving.” Just one year after the movement mobilized and the nation began to embrace a new paradigm of female empowerment, its limits have been exposed. Christine Blasey Ford’s public account of her own sexual assault — and the subsequent confirmation of the man she accused, Brett Kavanaugh, to the highest court in the land — riveted a nation and frustrated many. “We’ve seen (the likes of) Dr. Ford in our offices,” says Cheeks-Lomax, who issued a statement in response to Ford’s testimony stating in part “It takes tremendous courage and fortitude to share a story of sexual assault — no matter how and where you communicate it. We are committed to continuing our work to improve the societal response to those who come forward.” Adds Greenberg, “What we know is that this (reality of abuse) has always been the case.” But in the era of #MeToo, “This is on everyone’s mind right now,” Cheeks-Lomax says. As if to drive home this point, in October — exactly one year after the Harvey Weinstein allegations broke — the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to two anti-rape activists, Dr. Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad. Since high-profile individuals have come forward or been accused, agencies such as My Sisters’ Place have “gained that public view,” Greenberg says. “It reminds people that there are organizations here. We have the phone ringing off the hook. We see the bravery of individuals every day. It’s an amazing outpouring of people.” Cheeks-Lomax couldn’t help but think back to attorney Anita Hill’s testimony before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee in 1991. She noted one encouraging difference in people’s perception of events this time around. When Ford’s testimony was televised “a lot of people wanted to see what she was saying. A lot of times, in the past, even women may have blamed (the victim) in a way. #MeToo took that away. That shift for me is the bigger one. People are saying, ‘I believe you’.” Cheeks-Lomax says, if nothing else, that’s progress. There is new understanding of why the victim

Part of a mural created by high school students at a recent Summer Institute, a weeklong program focused on the dynamics of abuse and how to build healthy relationships.

may have held onto her story for so long. Society is saying “I am not going to blame the woman that says, ‘me too.’” The more we take these issues out of the shadows, the freer women feel to come forward with their story. But to say “it hasn’t been an easy road” is an understatement. The statistics are shocking. For instance, marital rape was legal in New York state until 1984. Greenberg notes that often women say things like, “‘I didn’t realize that was me, because I didn’t have that language’ or ‘I can’t believe I can finally talk about it and not be blamed.’” Cheeks-Lomax adds, “We see people who are traumatized. When people reach out to MSP, they may not even fully realize the extent of what happened to them. We begin to peel that onion.” While the organization advocates against domestic abuse, it also deplores human trafficking. “Believe it or not, there is an intersectionality,” Cheeks-Lomax says. Oftentimes the partner is the trafficker. “Probably 95 percent or more have a sexual component, because they are intimate partners.” Attention to domestic violence began during the women’s movement in the 1970s. The name My Sisters’ Place came from an underground code

IT TAKES TREMENDOUS COURAGE AND FORTITUDE TO SHARE A STORY OF SEXUAL ASSAULT — NO MATTER HOW AND WHERE YOU COMMUNICATE IT. WE ARE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING OUR WORK TO IMPROVE THE SOCIETAL RESPONSE TO THOSE WHO COME FORWARD. — Karen Cheeks-Lomax

for someone who was in need. It was an often-used phrase. “A bunch of us kept that name,” Greenberg says. Women and children who were running from abuse, “could easily say, ‘I’m going to my sister’s place,’” she says. It was also easy for a man to say that phrase. “We serve all in the community,” Cheeks-Lomax says. Men, women, children, transgender, gay or straight — all are served. Though women can also instigate abuse, “men are the primary aggressor,” Cheeks-Lomax says. “Ninety-three percent of all abuse is perpetrated by men against women.” My Sisters’ Place offers an array of supportive services like emergency shelter (it has 20 beds), counseling for children, legal help, help for teens so they may learn what a healthy relationship looks like and even foster care for pets so that no one is left behind. “We see safety planning as a verb,” Cheeks-Lomax says. The organization can provide someone to accompany people anywhere they feel nervous to go. “We want to make the woman feel like ‘We can get through this,’” she adds. But she wants one message to get across to anyone suffering abuse: “Remind people we are here to help them.” For more, visit mspny.org.

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60 WAGMAG.COM NOVEMBER 2018 Bebe Neuwirth. Photograph by George Holz.

e r

BEB NEUWI TH AND ‘ALL THAT JAZZ’ BY GREGG SHAPIRO

Bebe Neuwirth is one singular sensation. She sings and dances and is comfortable in both comedic and tragic roles. A versatile performer, Neuwirth made her Broadway debut in “A Chorus Line” in 1980 and went on to receive well-deserved acclaim for her work onstage, including Tony Awards for “Sweet Charity” and “Chicago.” But she is perhaps best-known for her deadpan Emmy Award-winning portrayal of the withering psychiatrist Lilith Sternin, ex-wife of the eternally exasperated, preternaturally pompous Dr. Frasier Crane, on “Cheers” and then occasionally on “Frasier.” More recently on the tube she’s been seen on “Madame Secretary” and “Blue Bloods.” Her film work includes “Green Card,” “Bugsy,” “The Faculty,” “Tadpole” and “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.” WAG caught up with her before her concert, “Stories With Piano,” at the Ridgefield Playhouse on Nov. 10. Bebe, as a singing actress on Broadway, you’ve had the distinction of singing songs by John Kander and Fred Ebb, Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields, Marvin Hamlisch and Ed Kleban, and Andrew Lippa, to men-

tion a few. Do you have a favorite among them? “I’d say there’s a tie going on with Cy Coleman and Kander and Ebb. I love their music. And I can say this for John (Kander) and Fred (Ebb) and Cy Coleman: I want to say it’s a holistic experience, but that sounds easily misinterpreted. Their music gets into every part of one’s being. Their music makes me dance and it makes me sing. There’s no way of saying this without it sounding incredibly clichéd and icky (laughs). All of their music is perfect. It’s completely satisfying.” Additionally, as a dancer you have danced the choreography of Michael Bennett and Bob Fosse. Please say a few words about the discipline involved in that. “It’s a life’s work to become a dancer and to hone that craft and then to understand what happens to technique when it goes onstage and becomes a form of expression. There’s nothing instant about becoming a dancer. That is years and years and years of very hard work. The only thing that’s instant is whether or not somebody has talent. You can see a little kid’s drawings or see a little kid in dance class or hear a little kid singing and go, ‘Wow.

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They’ve really got talent.’ That’s the only thing that’s instant — recognition of whether or not somebody has talent. After that, it takes many years to develop a reliable, dependable and most importantly strong technique. They can then use their talent to its greatest degree and not leave it to chance. If you have your strong technique, you’ve got a strong foundation and you can do anything when you get out onstage.” And then there’s maintenance involved. “Absolutely. You don’t just do it and then it’s done. Especially when you’re talking about something physical like singing or dancing. That requires maintenance, because those are actual physical muscles that need to be used.” In 1996 you received a Tony for playing Velma Kelly in the Broadway revival of Fosse’s “Chicago.” Ten years later, you returned to “Chicago” on Broadway to play Roxie Hart and then in 2014 came back again to play Mama Morton, which makes you the first person to play three different characters in one Broadway musical. What was that like for you? “It was really interesting. The first thing, of course, was after playing Velma to come back and play Roxie. I believe I was the first person on Broadway to do that. I have such an intimate relationship with the show as Velma and, living within that world from that perspective, it was interesting to stand on the other side of the stage, sometimes literally and sometimes metaphorically, and see the show from a completely other perspective. Velma starts the show on top of the world and then sinks down into the depths and spends the entire two and a half hours trying to climb back and reclaim her place at the top, which she only does in the finale. “Roxie starts the show in depths, rock bottom, and spends the whole show finding herself sitting on top of the world for the first time in her whole life and enjoying that perspective. She winds up losing everything and then getting it back in the finale. Then when I played Mama Morton, I was quite a bit older and it was yet another perspective from which to experience the show that I know so intimately. (It was) very gratifying. I also feel very protective of the show and the people in it. It was interesting to have that going on in me while I was playing Mama, who is protective of her girls because they are her source of income. She actually has some feelings in there, I think.” “Cheers” will always have a special place in our heart because, as a student at Emerson College in the early 1980s, The Bull & Finch, on which the show was based, was our hangout. What did playing Lilith on “Cheers” mean to you? “It was an incredible job and an amazing part that they wrote, and continued to write, and it was a great privilege to work with those writers and that ensemble of brilliant actors and James Burroughs. As incredible as it was to watch, it was like that to do. There are a lot of things that made it what it was, but at the core was the writing, as well as the deci-

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sions made by the producers. How to do what, what to develop, where to take these characters? The biggest props go to the writers. They always aimed up at the audience. They never aimed down. They always assumed that the audience was intelligent, was paying attention and had a really good sense of humor. There were no cheap jokes. There were just very satisfying jokes. They were satisfying, because they came from that bizarre ensemble of very truthful characters. That’s what made it funny.” On “Madame Secretary,” you co-starred with a number of performers with connections to Broadway. When you work with people such as Tony Award-winners Keith Carradine and Patina Miller, as well as Sebastian Arcelus, Erich Bergen and Tim Daly, do you ever find yourselves breaking into song? “We used to all wiggle around, not singing too much. There was a lot of goofing around on the set. Just because you get a bunch of Broadway folks together, you don’t get that.” As a movie actress, you have worked with some incredible directors, including James Ivory, Spike Lee, Woody Allen, Robert Rodriguez, Barry Levinson, Peter Weir and Kathy Bates. Do you have an all-time favorite movie experience? “No, I can’t choose a favorite. They were all amazing and fascinating. My favorite director is Bob Fosse, but I worked with him on the stage. I never did a film with him. That said, how can I say, ‘Oh, I like this person better than Barry Levinson?’ Barry is brilliant. He’s amazing and such a sweet, funny, lovely man to be around. In terms of movie experiences, they’re all very different. I had a great time doing ‘The Faculty’ with Robert Rodriguez. That was a fun time. I did two pictures with Barry Levinson (‘Bugsy’ and ‘Liberty Heights’). It was fun, I got to wear incredible costumes and dance and be incredibly glamorous and funny. Almost all of them have been wonderful experiences. “There’ve been a couple that were difficult experiences, but I would say I’ve been very fortunate. My first movie was Cameron Crowe’s ‘Say Anything’ and I’m doing a scene with John Cusack. Between that and then working with Peter Weir and Gerard Depardieu, I was just trying to figure out and understand what the hell was going on. It was very bizarre to me. I’d like to go back and do those again now that I know a little bit more about how it all works. They were patient with me, that’s for sure.” With Emmy Awards and Tony Awards to your name, you are halfway to the coveted EGOT. What would it mean to you to complete that foursome? “You can’t think in terms of awards. I don’t really spend time thinking about that. That’s not how I approach my life or my work or my calling.” What can your fans expect from your upcoming concert at the Ridgefield Playhouse? “My show is called ‘Stories With Piano.’ It’s just me and my music director, Scott Cady, who is a beautiful pianist and artist. The two of us perform story songs.

I don’t talk too much about myself. The stories are really the songs. It’s all music that I love that happen to be story-songs in one way or another. They might be a linear narrative or a conversation or a moment in a person’s life, but they all seem to have an emotionally driven, character-driven narrative of some kind. They are not from shows that I’ve done. I’m not going to sing ‘All That Jazz.’ I’m not going to do that. I love those songs, but it’s not for this show. I do them in other concert versions. “This show is really very intimate. Some of the songs are funny, some heartbreaking, some nostalgic, some quite reverential. I think it’s a beautiful mix of songs. There’s Kander and Ebb, Stephen Sondheim, Cy Coleman, Edith Piaf, Tom Waits and Kurt Weill and a couple of others. It’s an interesting cabaret of intimate material, a conversation with the audience. It’s a very communal thing. “I believe that theater is the modern-day tribal fire. It’s where we tell our stories. The tribal fire was the tribe getting together to listen to stories. At first, they were survival stories and then they became entertaining. I feel like the footlights are our modern-day tribal fire. That’s why you feel a different way when you come out of a live theater than you do leaving a movie theater. You may have had an incredibly deep experience, but there’s something in between you and the performance — the cameras and the editing and the soundtrack, all these mechanical things happen. You have the communal experience, but it’s not so much with the performance as it is with the other people in the audience. I feel like in live theater, we are all in it together. If the audience isn’t there, it’s a rehearsal. If the performers aren’t there, it’s a get-together. I feel like it taps into a primal need that humans have and that’s why the theater is so important in whatever way you experience it — going to your kid’s recitals or going to hear a symphony or going to a cabaret room or Broadway or the West End. It could be anything, but an audience gathering with performers and sometimes musicians and the stage crew — everyone in that building is making an event that is shared.” You have a brother named Peter and I was wondering if you would please say a few words about the effect that he’s had on your life. “He’s my big brother. We have a complicated and close and loving relationship. I don’t know if all siblings would say that, but I think that’s pretty much the deal when you have a sibling. Hopefully it’s complicated and loving and nurturing in some way. We’re in vastly different fields, but we have some similarity in musical taste. There is some overlap. He’s a Deadhead. I do like the (Grateful) Dead. He’s a Leonard Cohen fanatic. I do like Leonard Cohen, but I’m not a fanatic. I appreciate him. We both have a shared love of The Beatles and probably Led Zeppelin, I imagine, and Jimi Hendrix. We’re very different animals, my brother and I, and yet we have a loving relationship.” Bebe Neuwirth performs at The Ridgefield Playhouse Nov. 10. For more, visit ridgefieldplayhouse.org.

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DOUBLES

TEAM BY GINA GOUVEIA PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOHN RIZZO

If I ever found myself in a foxhole, I would want Jay and Neil Canell to be in there, too. This dynamic duo — who co-head their own wealth advisory firm, The Canell Group, under the exclusive umbrella, JP Morgan Securities — personify an accomplished, united front. Meeting at their Park Avenue offices, I learn everything there is to know about their backstories and then some. Smart, forthcoming and entertaining, they make our one-hour meet fly by in an instant. The Canell brothers are not just close, co-working siblings, they are twins, having entering the world together in Queens. Jay tells me he’s the older one — by 3 minutes. Their parents, Elaine and Roger, didn’t 64

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realize they were going to have twins until the boys were delivered. (Considering all the technology and preparation that goes into birthing these days, it’s almost unimaginable.) So, having instantly outgrown their one-bedroom apartment, the family relocated to Scarsdale, where their parents still reside. As identical twins, each admits to having been able to fool teachers, classmates and friends alike, though not intentionally. Right. They sound alike and act in a similar manner, presenting both a complementary quality and a strong sense of solidarity and like-mindedness often found in twins. No surprise, then, that they have been a tag team their entire lives, nearly lifelong partners in business and entrepreneurial ventures, save for a short hiatus just after college. In the mid-1990s, they even appeared on “Late Night with David Letterman,” together with

nine other sets of twins, for a reading of “Top Ten Reasons It’s Good to Be a Twin.” Both are husbands and fathers. Jay, his wife and their own set of twins reside in Scarsdale, while Neil’s not far away with his band of five in Purchase. There is a younger sister, Dina, and like Jay, she also has twins. The entire clan is close and the whole family belongs to Willow Ridge Country Club in Harrison, where Jay and Neil have been active board members, each serving stints as members of the club’s membership committee. Currently, it’s Jay’s turn. They didn’t compete against each other in school sports, Jay explains, but chose, by design, to assume positions that complemented each other. Both played football, basketball and lacrosse in high school and went on to play Division 1 lacrosse

Neil, left, and Jay Canell.

in college — Jay on offense, Neil on defense — at Lehigh University. When they played football, for example, Jay was the quarterback, Neil the wide receiver. Musically speaking, Jay played the guitar, Neil the piano. You get the idea. In fact, our interview is a collegial back and forth banter — like I said — tag team. They were in the same fraternity at Lehigh, though they were not roommates. “But remember,” Neil says kiddingly, “we were womb-mates.” From their early years in school and sleepaway camp and throughout their professional careers, the Canell brothers enjoyed a robust band of friends who have stayed true throughout their lives and for whom they would do anything, they tell me. Their entrepreneurial spirits surfaced at a young age, too, and haven’t diminished since. Toward the end of high school, they started a business aptly

called Mirror Images, a party-promoting enterprise. Their broad network of friends naturally signed on, leading to years-long success in hosting lavish parties, most at homes in the Hamptons. And, at Lehigh, they sold branded boxer shorts and T-shirts as a side hustle — their drive and passion again leading the charge. If this sounds like a lot of togetherness, consider their post-college career tracks. Initially their paths diverged, with both landing positions on the sell side. Neil started at Anderson Consulting and continued in sales with an international courier company, TNT SkyPak, rising to the top of its 95-member ranks in a year’s time. Jay took a more traditional investment banking route, entering a management training program, at Chase Manhattan Bank. Ultimately, they reunited at Lehman Brothers in

1994 — Neil had started in 1992 — and started their professional collaboration in earnest, working on the same sales team. Between them they were making hundreds of cold calls daily, the select few resulting in strong and prosperous client relationships. They were co-rookies of the year after their first year, earning the title of senior vice president and becoming the youngest members of the directors’ council there. The daily grind on the brokerage desk paid off, as they continued to build the foundation of their current team, many of whom have been in their employ for more than 12 years. Their successes as a formidable group in financial product sales prompted a move, in 2000, to Paine Webber and eventually UBS and, then six years later, to Smith Barney, where they stayed on until its assimilation into Morgan Stanley Wealth Management.

Neil, left, and Jay Canell.

Now, since 2016, The Canell Group has been aligned with JP Morgan Securities, chosen, each tells me, for its leading dominance as one of the world’s largest and most prestigious banking institutions. “For us, as a boutique wealth advisory group,” Neil explains, “it affords us tremendous support from the organization, as well as access to upper-tier management,

a trip to Mykonos and Santorini. With great pride and passion for the work they do outside the office, the brothers became particularly animated when our conversation turned to philanthropy and community. Both are founding members of the nonprofit SCOPE — Summer Camp Opportunities to Promote Education — and lend both time and resources in various capacities to Timber Lake Camp, Riley’s Way, The Pediatric Cancer Foundation, Athletes vs. Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation and The Master’s School, among others. Actively engaged within their respective communities, they support youth and varsity lacrosse teams and through their business, sponsor summer internships for students — 68 to date. One annual work tradition is hosting the entire Lehigh University lacrosse team — some 30 to 40 students — for a daylong boot camp at their offices, offering life lessons and coaching. During the event, they share expertise and Canell-isms from what they refer to as the “Canell Bible,” a copy of which Neil just happens to have on hand when we meet. The brothers’ guiding principles and commitment to long-term relationships with key people from their past and present have brought them to a happy place in their lives — one they share with many, all of whom know that these two forces have their backs, for life. For more, jpmorgansecurities.com.

having long admired the bank’s CEO, Jamie Dimon.” Adds Jay, “With our entrepreneurial focus and holistic approach to investing, we run our business more like a family office and each client has a personalized, individual portfolio.” They enjoy a 99-percent retention rate among their clients, who represent a cross-section of high-net-worth individuals, and a “Who’s Who” of entertainment-industry celebrities and professional athletes. Over the past decade, they have been named numerous times to the prestigious lists of top wealth advisers in Barron’s, Financial Times, Forbes and New York magazine. Each acknowledges his good fortune not only as an individual and sibling but as a business partner, knowing that such partnerships don’t work for everyone. Being brothers, and twins to boot, “there is never an issue of trust,” Jay says, “and we are rarely on a different page.” If they ever find themselves at a stalemate, which is rare, Neil tells me that it’s their father, a former executive with Guy Carpenter & Co., who serves as the arbiter. On the home front, most socializing and holidays involve the entire clan. Each December the Canell family travels as a pack — last year it was Israel — and this year will find them in the Dominican Republic for the holidays. When Jay and Neil co-celebrated their 40th birthdays, it was with an intimate — not — group of 350 family and friends and, for their milestone 50th, they hosted 30 of their closest friends on

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America’s Oldest Jeweler Since 1796

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The traditional meets the modern in this beautiful, 15-year-old Georgian estate on North Street in Greenwich’s pastoral backcountry. The 12,811-square-foot interior — which includes seven bedrooms, eight full bathrooms and two partial baths — boasts grandly scaled spaces featuring exquisite architectural detailing with the finest custom craftsmanship, along with state-of-the-art technology. French doors open onto an approximately 3,000-square-foot bluestone terrace, which overlooks a breathtaking landscape design by Janice Parker that includes a walled garden

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NOVEMBER 2018

with a heated pool. The house, which lists for $7,995,000, sits on 2.3 acres that appear even more expansive when you consider that they are adjacent to open space and conservation land. For more, contact Shelly Tretter Lynch (WAG cover, December 2014) at 203-550-8508 or 203618-3103.

A LAMBDA LITERARY AWARDS FINALIST

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Jane Fonda. Photographs courtesy Jane Fonda.

WAGMAG.COM

NOVEMBER 2018

JANE F NDA, CHA TER AND VERSE BY GINA GOUVEIA

Every life has a narrative and someone who has reached the age of 80 surely has many stories worth telling, wisdom worth sharing. When you are Jane Fonda — actress, activist, author and philanthropist — audiences will gather to hear your recollections, learn from your experiences and revel in the breadth and scope of a life that has been lived on a public stage. A crowd of nearly 800 attended the “Open Visions Forum” at Fairfield University’s Quick Center for the Arts in late September for the program “Jane Fonda, Speaking Out: Artist as Social Activist.” Fonda was gracefully introduced by Geena Clonan, founding president of the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame, who announced that, earlier in the day, Fonda had been presented with the organization’s first-ever Constance Award, recognizing a non-Connecticut native for exemplary thoughts and actions addressing the struggle for gender equality. During Clonan’s opening remarks, she reminded Fonda of the time she had previously spoken on the Fairfield University campus — in November 1970, amid a period of controversial, rueful anti-Vietnam War activism that has earned her the enmity of many veterans to this day. “I was a different person then,” Fonda retorted. “I was so f—ed up.” She’s no stranger to Connecticut. From age 10 through 12, Fonda lived in a large, rambling Greenwich house overlooking the former toll booths on the Merritt Parkway with her parents, actor Henry Fonda and his wife, the former Frances Ford Seymour Brokaw, brother Peter and half-sister Frances, known as Pan. She attended Greenwich Academy during those years, developing her love of horses and riding at backcountry stables. The audience, spanning decades — from university students to 90 year olds — sat in rapt attention as Fonda eloquently delivered her prepared remarks in perfect pitch, reflecting upon what she called “my three acts.” Though her organized presentation may have been scripted, her delivery was anything but. Spoken at times with frank language, this was not a recitation, this was raw, authentic Jane — standing at a lectern, delivering her life lessons — honestly admitting the flaws of her early years when she was conducting her own personal revolution. “I was scared,” she told us, “of getting to the end of my life with a lot of regrets and not being able to do anything about it.” At age 59, Fonda realized that with her milestone 60th birthday approaching, she would be entering the third act of her life. Thus, began the start of years-long research, leading to many revelatory moments and prompting her 2005 memoir, “Jane Fonda, My Life So Far.” With both parents already gone, much of her fact-gathering came, she explained, from photo-

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NOVEMBER 2018

graphs and third-party accounts. “Photographs,” she said, “give you an understanding of relationships and the dynamics of individuals’ lives that influenced their behavior — the vulnerability that prevented them from forging healthy relationships with the people in their lives.” She described this as a period of self-definition — a search for who she was, rather than what she did. I had previously read Fonda’s memoir, learning more about the many painful periods of her life, especially the account of her childhood years — having a distant, self-absorbed father and a fragile and emotionally detached mother, who committed suicide at an upstate New York sanatorium when Fonda was 12. Still in Greenwich during that tragedy — Fonda did not find out the cause of her mother’s death until much later from a magazine — her father appeared onstage that same evening during his run in the Broadway show “Mister Roberts.” In that same memoir, Jane spoke of her brother, Peter. (In addition to Pan, they have a half-sister, Amy, adopted during their father’s third marriage to Susan Blanchard.) By her account, he did not suppress his feelings as she had, causing her some consternation as a child. Jane favored the mode of pretending everything was OK, while Peter wore his feelings on his sleeve, often displaying what their father considered weakness. When their father would take them fishing on the Long Island Sound, Jane would bait Peter’s hooks on the sly in her efforts to conceal his squeamishness. Fonda doesn’t speak of her siblings during the course of the evening, but she does refer to her own children — relationships that needed to be mended in order for her to move forward — and grandchildren. Indeed, she told us that she would be traveling the following day to celebrate the 50th birthday of daughter Vanessa Vadim, from her first marriage to Roger Vadim, the French director and producer. From Fonda’s second marriage to Tom Hayden she also has a son, Troy Garrity, who is an actor, and an adopted daughter, Mary “Lulu” Williams, a social activist. From an examination of the early chapters of her life, Fonda told us, she came to understand more fully the dynamics of her parent’s troubled marriage and the need, particularly upheld by her father, to present the perfect picture. In the process of performing a life review it changed how she thought about her own life. “You realize,” she said, “that much of what happened had nothing to do with you, which frees you to forgive.” With this newfound willingness to shift perception, she came to terms with the demons that prompted many of her past choices — with her career,

WHEN THEIR FATHER WOULD TAKE THEM FISHING ON THE LONG ISLAND SOUND, JANE WOULD BAIT PETER’S HOOKS ON THE SLY IN HER EFFORTS TO CONCEAL HIS SQUEAMISHNESS.

social activism and the three powerful men who would become her husbands. At the time of her self-exploration, Fonda was in her third marriage with Ted Turner, the billionaire media mogul. She described stashing a laptop under her jacket when they would go fishing on one of his Montana properties. She paused to ask an aside, “Did you know he had like 23 kingdoms?” Each would go off to fish separately, Fonda told us, but she would instead hide under a tree, conducting her research and writing. She told the audience that it took her two years to get up the courage to broach the subject of creating a new agenda for her third act with Turner and then frankly stated, “You all know how that turned out.” Fonda told us her theory that the first decade of our lives is one of authenticity, one in which we truly personify who we are. Of her young self, she said, “I was limber and athletic, with a strong

body and a strong voice, but we were conditioned to believe that young girls aren’t supposed to be strong and feisty.” Prescribed gender norms and the social paradigm of patriarchy pervade adolescence, she told us. “Girls’ voices go underground at puberty, while for boys, it is their hearts that go underground at the age of 4 or 5, usually when they go off to school. And, it’s much more challenging for girls, attributed as representing the emotional, tender side, while for boys it’s all about toughness and masculinity.” Fonda cited a book by Terrance Real, “I Don’t Want to Talk About It: Overcoming the Secret Legacy of Male Depression,” praising the author for his psychological interpretations of “men’s ingrained fear of being vulnerable and how they suppress depression.” The powerful message clearly resonates with the crowd, which Fonda happily observes, contains many men, often not the case we are left

to assume. She encouraged parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles alike to recognize the differences of gender and to raise boys who are capable of feeling and being emotionally literate. We’ve seen a lot of Fonda lately — appearances on the talk show circuits and at events coinciding with the recent release of the HBO-produced documentary, “Jane Fonda in Five Acts.” On the cusp of turning 81 Dec. 21, she is out, not on a tour, but rather to reflect, share, inspire and engage us. Her radical approach to activism may have been tempered over the years, but her passions for equality, promoting the rights of the disadvantaged and heralding equitable pay scales have not diminished. A lot of her political attention and energy is focused on the Midwestern states, she said. Last summer, she traveled to Michigan with her longtime friend and “Grace and Frankie” co-star, Lily Tomlin, to champion a “one fair wage” campaign, directed at

closing the gap and increasing support of equitable pay for women and minorities. “Starting in 2016, after (President Donald J.) Trump was elected,” she told us, “I studied hard and I knew I had to go out there to do this work.” She spoke of what she called, “hitching my wagon to organizations on the ground,” taking to doorto-door canvassing, urging people to get out and vote. “Democracy is not a spectator sport,” Fonda said. Speaking with voters around the country, she offers this, “You have to ask yourself, is the person you are voting for capable of empathy?” Teaching others how to live their best lives has been at the core of much that has driven Fonda, from the workout videos of the 1980s that strengthened us, to her self-help and second New York Times bestseller, “Prime Time,” which offers sage advice for living and aging well. Now well into her own third act, Fonda spoke of her own self-awareness and the inevitability of “ascending the staircase,” a reference to the late author, Neil L. Selinger, who Fonda said embodied this concept to the fullest. “Had I not done the preparation I would not have been able to face it,” Fonda said. Successful aging, she suggested, requires more than staying healthy from disease, it requires disabling the psychic wounds of the past and harnessing our wisdom so that our own personal process is a prescient one. As she grew older, Fonda learned that carrying resentment and hatred only caused undue stress and accelerated the aging process, exacerbating what she called, the “decrepitude” that awaits us all. “But only one third of how our life enfolds is genetic,” she said, “so the good news is having some control over the other two thirds.” This brings us back full circle to her advocacy for performing one’s life review and “finishing up the task of finishing ourselves.” Throughout this affecting evening, we had the privilege of hearing advice from someone of remarkable achievement who made peace with her past and whose focus, now more than ever, is on doing the most with her remaining time. “We can’t control the length of our lives,” Fonda said, “but we can control the depth and width.” Much of what Fonda covered was so profound and insightful that when it came time for the Q&A — first with the onstage panel and then by attendees — I found myself in the cue with a lighthearted question that has long been on my mind. Possessing such a melodic voice, did you ever sing? I asked her. “Why no,” she said, “and I don’t think anyone has ever asked me that question.” I’ve long admired Fonda not only for her acting prowess but her ability to use her voice to raise our consciousness, to inspire and entertain us. To my mind, Fonda “sang” to her audience in Fairfield that night, and she sang to me — a song that will resonate for quite a long time.

NOVEMBER 2018

WAGMAG.COM

CONSEQUENCES OF THE ONE-CHILD POLICY

A Chinese woman and child at the entrance gate to the Temple of Heaven Park in Beijing on March 13, 2009.

BY AUDREY R. TOPPING

erhaps the most significant side effect of China’s one-child policy is the lack of siblings. Modern China faces many challenges and contradictions to the traditional Chinese family structure that has been the most important component within Chinese society for centuries. In spite of the collapse of Imperial China in 1912, the Civil War between Mao Zedong’s Communists and Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist troops that ended with the Communist victory in 1950 and the chaos of the Cultural Revolution (1966-76), the traditional family was one of the few ideas that survived relatively 76

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unscathed. Few Chinese have forgotten the importance of family, although elderly Chinese often lament the fact that their children and grandchildren, born in the 1980s or later, have no clear moral compass or respect for the rigid standards of family behavior established by Confucius, whose philosophy shaped the spring and autumn period of Chinese history (fifth and sixth centuries B.C.). He championed strong family loyalty, with respect and filial piety to one’s elders. Each family member had a specific place and form of address for older and younger brothers and sisters, with elder sons prized above daughters. When my American missionary grandparents

served with the China Inland Mission during the last years of the Imperial Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), Chinese families had an average of four children while most peasants had as many descendants as they could produce. Males were highly favored and female infanticide was culturally acceptable. In the 1890s, my grandmother rescued hundreds of abandoned baby girls and founded the first orphanage in Hubei Province. At that time, several generations of the same family lived under one roof. Parents prearranged the life of their children and adult offspring felt obligated to return home on a regular basis for the rest of their lives. By the 1940s, when my parents served as Canadian

diplomats in Nationalist China and I was a student at the University of Nanjing, Chinese families still abided by the hierarchical Confucian code, but most of my fellow students complained about parental pressures and especially forced marriages. When I returned to Communist China as a journalist in the 1970s, family life had changed radically. Traveling by train to Beijing, I was shocked to see flamboyant red banners emblazoned with “Have fewer children and raise more pigs” flying above the lines of young women from the communes harvesting the rice paddies. Similar signs were also painted on the rooftops and walls of village huts. The one-child policy was enforced by law in 1979. It was initiated to curtail China’s rapid population growth but it had unexpected results, including fundamental human rights abuses. Most parents traditionally preferred males, who traditionally care for elderly parents. Sons became status symbols. Uncounted millions of female infants were aborted or abandoned. A generation later, Chinese society was seriously off balance by a skewed sex ratio. Orphanages were filled with girl babies, many of whom were adopted by Americans. By 2018 most children were “male singletons” with no genetic siblings. Researchers reported an excess of males expected to reach 12 to 20 percent in

20 years. For the first time in history, China had more marriageable men than women. This has resulted in women power. Women are better educated and, to the surprise of men, they’ve become quite finicky when choosing husbands. They still have a long way to go, but women are claiming “half the sky.” The first singletons born under the one-child policy experienced the absence of brothers and sisters and other far-reaching changes. Every family suddenly had more income to invest in education and consumer goods. Education costs soared over night. In the past many families had to choose only one of their children to progress to higher education. The income previously spread among several children in past generations was now focused on one child. “Only sons” were called little emperors. Many were considered spoiled and self-centered. The very notion of “siblings” became alien. The term “brother” or “sister” was used when talking about cousins. The new singletons were better educated and had more opportunities but they shouldered pressure from two parents planning their lives and felt the responsibility of caring for aging parents. Whether China’s singletons were hurt by the one-child policy or benefited from it is still a subject of debate. Researchers have been investigating what it is like to grow up in a world without broth-

ers or sisters. Are siblings really that important? Children born in the 1970s and ’80s were usually surrounded by large extended families, but those born more recently have parents who were singletons, too, so they grow up with fewer cousins and smaller families and experience a much different childhood than previous generations. Singletons cultivate new friends but have few long-term friends who grew up together. University of Melbourne Economist Nisvan Erkal conducted a study of only children in Beijing, which found that because of the One-Child Policy singletons are “significantly less trusting, less trustworthy, more risk averse and less competitive … also more pessimistic and less conscientious.” The one-child policy was recently relaxed but, contrary to government expectations, many parents see their singleton status in a positive light and refuse to have more children. My adopted Chinese son and his wife, for instance, who have one bright and beautiful but spoiled son, feel they cannot create as many opportunities for a second child and think he may feel lost in competitions. They were both singletons themselves and claim they did not want to share their parents with others. What happens, though, when singletons are forced to share in the far, wide world?

WAGMAG.COM

A SISTERHO OD OF SUPPORT BY MEGHAN MCSHARRY

“Once women find sisterhood, there is nothing stronger.” — singer-actress Zoë Kravitz

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NOVEMBER 2018

At the 13th annual Sole Sisters Luncheon, the Sole Sisters committee members pose with keynote speaker Melissa Bernstein of Melissa & Doug, back row center (in blue). To her left is Grace Djuranovic, luncheon co-chair; to her right is Jamie Eisenberg, luncheon chair. Greenwich United Way CEO David Rabin is also pictured. Courtesy Sole Sisters.

It was the 2004 “Stepping Out” Gala — celebrating the 70th anniversary of Greenwich United Way with bites, bubbly and shoe theme — that led to the creation of its fundraising women’s initiative, Sole Sisters. What began as a small group of women has grown into a large one, with a number of them already being honored as lifetime members. Following their motto, “Women Stepping Up to Help Others Step Forward,” Sole Sisters selects a specific cause to support each year, assisting the United Way in its mission of identifying needs of the community, raising awareness for those needs and creating lasting solutions. Sole Sisters recently served lunch at a homeless shelter, applied a fresh coat of paint to the library at the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich and collected more than 1,000 pairs of shoes for donation to United Way partner Neighbor to Neighbor. Their biggest event, the annual Sole Sisters Luncheon,

takes place each spring and features a well-known keynote speaker. Past speakers included Gretchen Carlson, Arianna Huffington and Gloria Vanderbilt. The keynote speakers themselves draw in hundreds of attendees from Fairfield and Westchester counties. At the 13th annual luncheon at Greenwich Country Club this past April, Melissa Bernstein of Melissa & Doug, a toy manufacturer headquartered in Wilton, was the keynote speaker. She shared the inspiring words of her success story and encouraged the 350 attendees not to be afraid of failure. “I implore you to get out of your heads, where fear, doubt, insecurity and worry lie, and move into your hearts, where it is all about experiencing each moment, taking risks and living life to the fullest,” Bernstein said. Failure is the “key to success,” she added. The recent addition of a “shoe cam,” sponsored by

The Greenwich United Way’s 2004 anniversary celebration theme “Stepping Out” led to the creation of Sole Sisters.

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The Saks Shops at Greenwich, allows luncheon-goers to show off their kicks, adding lighthearted fun and tying into Sole Sisters’ shoe-themed origin. Additionally, a fashion and accessories boutique made up of local vendors donated a portion of the proceeds to the Sole Sisters’ fundraising efforts. “People think the need isn’t here,” says David Rabin, Greenwich United Way CEO. Rabin, who left a career in banking almost three years ago to lead the United Way, says his biggest regret was not doing so sooner. He explains that the United Way’s dual philanthropic program, which includes the annual grants process and, now, efforts to help close the Early Childhood Achievement Gap (ECAG). Six percent of Greenwich’s population lives under the federal poverty line, and 22 percent is considered asset-limited, income-constrained but employed, known as ALICE — which makes up almost one-third of the town’s population. Children from ALICE families naturally enter school at a disadvantage, which the United Way hopes to remedy through the ECAG program. Among the efforts to close the achievement gap is Reading Champions. This successful program

WHAT BEGAN AS A SMALL GROUP OF WOMEN HAS GROWN INTO A LARGE ONE, WITH A NUMBER OF THEM ALREADY BEING HONORED AS LIFETIME MEMBERS. FOLLOWING THEIR MOTTO, 'WOMEN STEPPING UP TO HELP OTHERS STEP FORWARD,' SOLE SISTERS SELECTS A SPECIFIC CAUSE TO SUPPORT EACH YEAR.

brings trained professionals to all Greenwich elementary schools to teach students how to read. Now, the program is also at three after-school centers. Rabin also told us about Financial Champions, a new program which will be based at the Greenwich Boys & Girls Club to help increase financial literacy among 5th- through 7th-graders. This program is designed to teach kids about handling money in ways that most school curriculums do not. Since its foundation, Sole Sisters has raised more than $2 million to help support the Greenwich United Way. At the spring luncheon, Sole Sisters Chair Jamie Eisenberg announced a partnership between the organization and Melissa & Doug. The brand made a donation of educational toys to help support the ECAG program. While members of Sole Sisters may not be united by blood, they are instead united by a shared passion for philanthropy and support for the people of their community. Without Sole Sisters’ efforts, thousands of Greenwich residents would be without the aid they need to better their lives. For more, visit greenwichunitedway.org.

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LITTLE GESTURES, BIG EFFECTS

Trivia night with a Big and Little. Photographs courtesy Big Brothers Big Sisters.

BY JENA BUTTERFIELD

he traditional gift for celebrating 60 years may be diamonds, but there is something infinitely more valuable than that. For youth all over Westchester County, it’s the gift of time and mentorship. The anniversary for the Port Chester-based affiliate of the well-known youth mentoring organization Big Brothers Big Sisters of Family Services of Westchester is a celebration of futures altered, communities strengthened and meaningful connections made. The mentorship model matches adult volunteers (“Bigs”) with children (“Littles”) in a triedand- true relationship that emphasizes the importance of role models in the life of a child. History 82

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has proven that Bigs can have a major effect on helping their Littles navigate life and recognize their full potential. “We have … adults who were ‘Littles’ years ago,” says Executive Director Valerie Brown. “And they’ll say, ‘It changed my life.’” In Westchester, more than 12 percent — the number is more than 23 percent in some communities — of children live in poverty. But every year, thanks to the organization, hundreds of those children (between the ages of 7 and 17) have been paired with a companion and mentor whose one-on-one relationship with them influences the trajectory of their lives. The Big Brother or Sister commitment is fulfilling and simple but the value received by the Littles is immeasurable. Bigs are asked to give just four

hours a month and can even fold the hours into their own leisure time — playing basketball, sharing music or just chatting over an ice cream. Proof that it’s the “little” things that matter most. Many volunteer Bigs have been beneficiaries of these relationships themselves. “They had a great role model that really helped them and they want to give back,” Brown says. Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest and largest youth-mentoring program in the country with nearly 400 agencies and more that 275,000 Bigs nationwide. The longevity of the organization means its name recognition is unparalleled. Indeed, Brown adds that when volunteer candidates are asked how they’ve heard about the group, many say, “I’ve always known about it.” The Westchester affiliate was launched in 1958

and is unusual in that it operates under the umbrella of FSW. “Out of 300 chapters, 30 of us are part of a larger agency,” Brown says. “FSW is an awesome service agency with 48 programs. What is really wonderful is we can really easily provide ancillary services,” like housing and mental health support. Big Brothers Big Sisters itself has a 114-year history in the United States. In 1904, New York City County Clerk Ernest Coulter began looking for volunteers to mentor the increasing number of young boys he saw paraded through his courtroom. Meanwhile, the Ladies of Charity (eventually Catholic Big Sisters) had begun doing the same for young girls. The two operated separately until 1977 when they joined forces. Unfortunately, the long history and name recognition is not enough to drive recruitment. “We have had sort of a tough time with recruitment,” Brown says. “It’s typical to have boys on a wait list nationwide.” Right now, there are more than 45 boys on the wait list in Westchester County. “It’s so interesting, because we have women volunteers and no men.” In July, the organization hosted a dynamic fundraising event, “The Big Game Day,” at Dave & Busters in Pelham Manor. Current and former New York Jets players were on hand to sign autographs and pose for pictures. “That was a really fun event,” Brown says. “But it did not yield one Big Brother.”

Big Sister Cindy and Little Sister Bre’anna.

Surprisingly, she adds, these events rarely do. Volunteers report they are instead reminded about the program the old-fashioned way, through flyers and other paper postings. “Our Bigs are a little older,” Brown says. Fifty percent of Bigs are between the ages of 48 and

60. Only a quarter are younger. Those younger volunteers usually participate in site-based (as opposed to community-based) after school enrichment programs. They come through colleges such as Manhattanville, Pace and Mercy. These programs have been successful but seldom do they translate to the community-based mentorship model. So, the organization is always looking for new ways to attract volunteers. “We are starting a couples’ match,” Brown says. On Nov. 3, The Performing Arts Center at Purchase College will host “Big Brothers Big Sisters: The Really Big Show.” Last year, the variety show-styled event featured Jay Leno, comedian and former host of “The Tonight Show.” This year, the featured headliner will be The B-52s. Adults considering participation in the mentorship program are asked to make a one-year commitment to their Littles, though the average match length is about three and a half years. The organization runs extensive background checks, conducts interviews and contacts references so that the resulting match will be a success. And, Brown adds, “We have an LGBTQ program as well.” The point folks at Big Brothers Big Sisters want to drive home is that mentorship does indeed make a difference in a child’s life, no matter how big or little. For more visit bigswestchester.org.

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Tiaras and boas make their way down a pink runway.

HAVE SPA, WILL TRAVEL BY JENA BUTTERFIELD

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Relax. You deserve it. Pick up the phone and order in. “I am mobile,” says Marcella Chilelli-Lombardo, owner of Spa Party Sisters, the mobile party service based in Harrison that pampers people throughout Westchester and into Connecticut, Manhattan, New Jersey and Long Island. Chilelli-Lombardo will bring everything needed for a spa experience directly to you and any number of your oh-so-deserving friends. It’s arguably the ultimate in luxury and may even be better than pizza delivery night — healthier, too. As the number of people who consider regular spa treatments a necessary part of well-being increases, so do the ways in which they become easily accessible. A calm mind and body can be fast-tracked by

the luxurious setting Chilelli-Lombardo can create in an area designated by you in the comfort or your own home. She and her staff will arrive at your door armed with everything from tables, robes and soothing music to skincare, nail polish, glitter and glam. Groups are best. The core mission of Spa Party Sisters is in the name. The experience is meant to be a bonding one. “When you go to a spa, you’re not together,” Chilelli-Lombardo laments. “I always wanted to do parties and there was never a place to go.” Chilelli-Lombardo has 35 years in the beauty industry, working as a licensed aesthetician and cosmetologist. She began her career in Greenwich with clients who sought privacy, convenience and a custom-designed experience. The name Spa Party Sisters came to Chilelli-Lombardo as she was musing about her own three sisters and the way they often bond, thanks

to their shared interest in the beauty business. “I thought ‘anybody can be your sister,’” she says. From there, things took off. “Word of mouth is what keeps my business going,” she says. “And business has been booming.” But let’s be real: Anyone who provides their guests with a soft robe and a massage to put them in a state of bliss and bolsters that feeling by giving them freshly painted nails and glowing skin has most likely created sisters for life. Young girls can throw spa birthday parties and host sleepovers. “I just did one for the Girl Scouts,” Chilelli-Lombardo says. They can choose manicures and pedicures, learn hair-braiding techniques or even put on a fashion show using things like glitter, faux diamonds, boas, tiaras and magical wings. Often, she adds, girls just like to chat with their friends and relax with cucumbers on their eyes: “They learn how to unwind.” Spa Party Sisters can handle both small and large groups. Chilelli-Lombardo says she once did a party for several dozen 6-year-olds. If that sounds like a disaster waiting to happen, she says that’s not the case in her line of work. Parents are often surprised that the kids are

THE CORE MISSION OF SPA PARTY SISTERS IS IN THE NAME. THE EXPERIENCE IS MEANT TO BE A BONDING ONE.

not frenetic. She is pleased to report that soft music and professional chairs have the same effect on kids as they do on the rest of us. “That’s the atmosphere I bring,” she says. “The girls are just so happy.” Teenagers can get makeup tutorials and learn skincare regimes to aid hormone-driven breakouts. Adults can host bridal parties or a girls’ night in. The possibilities seem endless. Lately, Spa Party Sisters has been doing more corporate events. Chilelli-Lombardo says companies are beginning to realize that employees perform better when relaxed. “They can be more productive at work,” she says. Her chair massages do the trick and she can quickly transform any office or hotel space. She’s realizing there really are no limits to how much Spa Party Sisters can grow. So, for now, Chilelli-Lombardo and her staff continue to zip all over the metro area, relaxing clenched shoulder muscles and making us all feel polished and beautiful. In fact, she’s traveling so much, she thinks there may be a pretty pink van in her future. “I have,” she says, “big dreams.” For more, visit spapartysisters.com.

I can afford to be loving to you, baby sister, because I’m smarter than you.

OLDER SIBS ARE SMARTER – STILL BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA

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hat’s what studies have been telling us for decades: Older children tend to have higher IQs than their younger brothers and sisters — anywhere from one to three points. It’s a small difference but a significant one, scientists say, one that can mean the difference between a good and a great school, a good and a great career. But what accounts for this? The latest studies — from the universities of Houston, New South Wales and Sheffield, published in an article on the Independent’s website, independent.co.uk — suggest that parents spend more time stimulating their first-born intellectually. (This would seem a no-brainer as anyone who has ever been a kid with siblings knows that parents hover over number one. By the time the third kid comes along, it’s “What was your name again?”) Older children also benefit educationally from being the ones, more than their parents even, who

put the kid sibs wise. And you know the old saying: Teachers learn from their students. They may even learn more than their students. WAG would like to offer its own humble theory. Perhaps older children — who tend to be responsible, structured parental companions and echoes — are simply better at taking standardized tests. These alone, however, are not predictors of life and career success. Strapped with parental expectations, older children also tend to be more neurotic and less risk-taking. It’s the younger sibs who are more adventurous, which can lead to transcendent discoveries. As birth order expert Frank J. Sulloway — a visiting scholar at the Institute of Personality and Social Research at the University of California, Berkeley — told The New York Times in an article on a 2007 study, it can mean the difference “between every-year or every-decade creativity and every-century creativity, between innovation and radical innovation.”

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TWO FOR THE (ARTISTIC) ROAD BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA

ver the summer, we caught up with artists Chris DeRubeis and David Najar — or rather, their work — during a presentation at The Ritz-Carlton New York, Westchester by Park West Gallery, which presents art exhibits and sales in hotels and on cruise ships around the world. DeRubeis has patented an Abstract Sensualism, creating fluid nudes — as well as works in other genres — on various kinds of metal that he manipulates with chemicals, paints and even power tools. Najar describes his bold landscapes as Contemporary Expressionism, using textures, patterns and saturated colors applied with rubber brushes to capture imagined scenes. They’re the same techniques he uses to create his figures and still lifes. We asked them each recently to describe their work and lives as artists: CHRIS DERUBEIS Describe your work as you would to a potential client. “My paintings appear 3D with movement that comes to life as you walk past….The painting is constantly shifting, moving with the light source. No two paintings can ever be made exactly the same way. They are all unique to themselves.” What made you decide to become an artist? “Ever since I was young, I felt I was good at it. People would tell me I was good at art so it made me feel good to paint and create things. I live to paint and love the feeling of people enjoying my art. I experimented with all types of art forms as a child and the passion just grew stronger and stronger as I grew up.”

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Chris DeRubeis’ “New Ship at Sea.” Images courtesy Park West Gallery.

Tell us a little about your background. “I was all self-taught and had lots of struggles along the way. It was hard to break into the art world when I was young. I basically went broke, down to nothing. My wife worked two jobs. I did all types of freelance art jobs — anything to get me the income to do another art show event. “There wasn’t a person to teach me my style. It was all created in my parent’s garage when I was 20 years old. I titled my style of art Abstract Sensualism back then. It is now a registered trademark and the way people describe my style of works. I sell my art through Park West Gallery and many international locations, including my own galleries (in Key West, Florida; Scottsdale, Arizona; Lake Tahoe, Nevada; Lahaina, Maui, and Ko Olina, Oahu, both in Hawaii).” What’s next for you? “New gallery locations. I just opened another new location this month in Maui — DeRubeis Fine Art of Metal Gallery Maui. I also opened a winery and vineyards in Northern California. I have a passion for wine as well and all the bottles have my artwork.” DAVID NAJAR Describe your work as you would to a potential client. “I describe nature as a subject that is simultaneously in perfect harmony, full of beauty and

near God. My artwork seeks to capture this indescribable balance with a serene combination of movement and color, mixing imagination with reality. I call this Contemporary Expressionism. I do not base my scenes on actual places, but about 40 percent of my technique leans toward abstraction….I borrow aspects from reality and combine them in my imagination.” What made you decide to become an artist? “I taught Krav Maga for 20 years. During my many conversations with (founder) Imi Lichtenfeld, (he) often told me that I would be surprised by what I’ll find inside me. This prophetic musing came to be when I visited a museum where, upon viewing a painting by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, I felt my passion for art reawaken and decided I had to learn how to paint. “I was in my 30s when I realized that I wanted to create art for a living. I signed up for painting classes, instructing Krav Maga by day and painting at night. After a year of classes, my art teacher praised my abilities but asked me to leave the class because of my independent style. “I didn’t let the critique deter me, though. In 2003, renowned Israeli artist Itzchak Tarkay began to mentor me. The two of us painted together until Tarkay’s passing in 2012. I also learned from Moshe Rosenthalis, a Lithuanian artist who

was a soldier and illustrator during World War II before immigrating to Israel.” Tell us a little about your background. “Born in 1962, I grew up in Israel. My teachers recognized my artistic skills, but my family was less supportive of my talent. In my family, there was no such thing as an artist or painter. The closest thing to a painting we had at home was a tapestry. “I attended Bar-Ilan University from 1987 to 1990, where I earned a bachelor of science in social sciences. With my artistic pursuits stymied, sports took over my life. This eventually led me to an exercise facility that also served as a school for Krav Maga, the hand-to-hand combat system used by Israeli defense and security forces. I took an interest in the martial art, and soon after met Lichtenfeld….We became fast friends, despite an age difference of 50 years, and I endured intense training to become a coach and leading figure in Krav Maga.”

David Najar’s “The Four Seasons.”

What’s next for you? “I will be continuing to do both solo and group exhibitions with Park West Gallery around the world with my art.” For more, visit derubeisfineart.com, davidnajar.net and parkwestgallery.com.

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Extensions by Sam: Samantha DeVito specializes in lash extensions for a more dramatic, lengthening look. Photographs courtesy Hott Lash.

LUSH LASHES BY MEGHAN MCSHARRY

y 17-year-old sister, Peyton, added an interesting new item to her back-to-school shopping list — an eyelash lift. Not to be outdone by a mere teen, I decided it was time to bite the bullet and try one for myself. My everlasting quest for longer, curlier eyelashes began at a young age. I was 12 when I first snuck an eyelash curler (along with a classic pink and green tube of Maybelline Great Lash) out of my mother’s makeup bag and discovered how much more awake and feminine I looked after a few pumps of the curler. As I grew older, however, the combination of waterproof mascara and curling my lashes daily led to brittleness and, once, even ripping out all of the eyelashes from my left eye while rushing to get ready for school one morning. Take it from me: It is very difficult to play field hockey on a steamy turf field without eyelashes to stop sweat from dripping into your eye. Eyelash extensions came on the scene a few

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years back and have boomed in popularity thanks to their dramatic effects. But, after seeing mixed results from friends, I’ve been wary to try them myself due to the fear of my eyelashes looking shorter as the extensions naturally fall out. A lash lift, however, promises beautifully curled, longer looking lashes for six to eight weeks and, coupled with a lash tint, can leave your natural lashes looking like you swiped on a few coats of mascara. The curl itself makes your lashes appear longer, and all without any extensions needed. Hott Lash, a new subsidiary of Hott Blow Dry & Beauty Bar, opened in Armonk last April. Samantha DeVito, a certified cosmetologist and an employee at Hott Blow Dry, helped the brand to expand its menu of services by becoming its first eyelash expert. The new salon, just a few steps away from the original, full-service location, offers eyelash extensions, lifts, tints and more. After seeing before and after photos of lash lifts on the salon’s Instagram page, I scheduled an appointment immediately.

When I arrived, Samantha was warm and friendly, which made the idea of lying on a table for an hour or more much less daunting. Explaining each step as she went along, she began by gently wiping away any traces of my makeup from that day and applied barriers to my lower lashes. She then placed a rod on my eyelids and carefully brushed my lashes onto the rod, applying a perm-like solution to set them into that curled position. A half-hour later, my lashes were beautifully curled. She then tinted them black for that just-applied-mascara look. After the lift, I looked in the mirror and saw that my stick-straight lashes had been transformed to look long and fluttery, even without makeup. Since the treatment, I have had no need for mascara and my eyelash curler now hibernates in the depths of my makeup drawer. And, best of all, you can carry on with your normal routine after a lift. With extensions, you have to avoid water for at least 48 hours and be extra gentle with your lashes to avoid fallout. The lash lift allows you to continue using mascara if you so please, and you only have to wait a day after the procedure before showering. Weeks later, I’m still shocked that even my notoriously hard-to-curl lashes have held up to the treatment. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to cut down on the time of her morning routine and feel more confident from the get-go. For more, visit hottlashbar.com.

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DESIGNING FOR SIBLINGS BY CAMI WEINSTEIN

ids have definite ideas of how their rooms should look. Over time I have developed some strategies that make both parents and kids happy when decorating their rooms. It’s important for children to have their own spaces, to learn how to take care of that space and to incorporate treasures and mementos from their experiences growing up into their rooms. It’s great for them to have that sense of comfort and to know that their rooms are their own special space. When children are young and, especially if they are the same sex, they want everything to be exactly the same. They can perceive anything the other has as something that is more special than what they have — right down to a pillow. I always try to ensure that there are equal and same elements for both. As they grow older and their interests start to diverge, kids begin to have clearer ideas of what they would like their room to be like and what colors they would want. Sometimes these ideas can get quite fantastical and more than a parent can bear. Have an initial meeting with your children and get some ideas of what they would like in their rooms and what colors they would like. (Note: The idea of what they would like can often change from hour to hour and day to day). Think about what you can handle in their rooms in terms of design, too. Painting the entire room a bright purple may not be a parent’s idea of a great color choice — although, I have done many a teenage girls’ room in shades of lavender with purple shag rugs. When I am hired to do a child’s room after the initial meeting with the parents and kids, I create two or three scenarios of room designs and go over them with the parent before we show the kids. This ensures that no matter which design the child selects the parents are comfortable with moving forward. It also creates less confusion and possible conflicts between parent and child. There are some patterns I have noticed over the

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Try to create a room the child can grow into. Here, Wares columnist Cami Weinstein has selected a palette and furniture that can be easily updated with other accessories as the child matures. Courtesy Cami Weinstein.

years of designing kids’ rooms. Often when kids are young, parents create really charming baby rooms and before you know it, the children are grown and ready to move on to a more older child-orientated room. They can have a hard time changing and updating their personal, familiar, comforting space even though they want to. Just give them some time until they feel ready. I have done over rooms for teenagers who still have their baby wallpaper up. And here they are getting their driver’s licenses. If children aren’t ready to update their rooms, give them the extra time they need and when you do update their rooms, remember to bring some elements of what they had before into their new spaces. In my own children’s rooms, some childhood cactus plants have made it through a couple of room redecorations and have even moved with them into their own adult apartments. If you are redoing a child’s room when they are preteen, try to create a room that will grow with them. Go with a full or queen-size bed, nightstands and, if possible, a desk that can function so they can have space for their computer and printer and good

task lighting. It’s about this time that they move from doing their homework at the kitchen table to doing it in their rooms. Since teenagers tend to be a bit messy, make sure there is ample room for storage in the pieces of furniture that you select. Redecorating is expensive, so buying furniture that can grow with them as they move from being college bound to adults bringing home significant others is important. When kids finally move out and you are officially an empty nester, their rooms often become a home office, guest room or exercise room or some combination of the above. Once you are an empty nester and your children have moved on to living on their own, you will find, as I am experiencing with my own children, that they don’t want to take their accumulated childhood stuff with them. They also don’t want you to throw it out. Their apartments are now incredibly neat and organized (never happened in their rooms growing up) and are quite nicely decorated in a mid-century style. It is jaw-dropping to see all those years of messy rooms translate into clean living spaces. For more, visit camidesigns.com.

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EVERYONE LOVES KOBI BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA

retty, pretty,” Kobi Halperin said of our pink and gray floral scallop-edged Ted Baker dress as he bustled about helping customers during a recent Saturday appearance at Bloomingdale’s White Plains. “Bustled” was the operative word. The ladies couldn’t get enough of Kobi. And why not? His creations — from a black halter jumpsuit to a floral print yellow dress with bell-shaped sleeves that can be hiked up to serve as a blouse with chandelier-print pants — will take you from the office to a cocktail party. “It’s time to get dressed again,” Kobi told the audience that assembled for a small runway show. And Kobi was there to show you how to do it. One way is with midnight-blue velvet moto jackets and fabulous knee-length gray-blue, leopard-print vests trimmed in fur in unusual places, such as on the deep pockets or on the elbows. “What I love, too, is the mixing up of navy, burgundy and red,” he said. “It’s all about dressing up while dressing down.” For more, visit kobihalperin.com.

Kobi Halperin's latest looks take you from day to night. Images courtesy Kobi Halperin.

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

NEW TOWN, SAME SPIRIT STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY MARY SHUSTACK

or many, pets are not just animal companions but part of the family — siblings, or children, if you will. At Patricia’s Presents, which opened in Bethel in mid-September, that spirit is warmly embraced — and embodied from the start, in the form of a petite rocking horse that holds the “open” sign at the shop’s entrance. Even owner Patricia Polk’s own dog manages to be a part of the action, keeping an eye on things from within gated quarters in the back office on a recent afternoon. Polk introduces a visitor to Scotty, but the rescue Cocker Spaniel’s not the only animal presence in the surroundings. As WAG knew from its 2015 profile, Patricia’s Presents is an eclectic shop where all things animal — whether it’s a needlepoint pillow featuring a Corgi, an equestrian-themed painting or a handful of playful pig-themed gifts — find a welcome home. As expected, the shop also still features a sophisticated mix of home goods, fashions and a selection of jewelry, many of the adornments designed by Polk herself. This autumn, Polk is settling into a new space in the midst of charming Greenwood Avenue, having made the move to town after five years in Ridgefield. “So, here we are,” Polk says with a broad smile that reinforces how comfortable she is in her new retail home.

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Polk says she was ready for the move, as her neighboring tack shop — which anchored the cluster of stores along a busy stretch of Ethan Allen Highway (Route 7) — was closing after more than 40 years. She began checking out other Fairfield County communities and, she says, “started to fall in love with Bethel.” “It’s more artsy and pretty than just pretty,” she says, noting, for example, she’s already finding an audience that appreciates her artist-inspired clothing and accessories. Connecting with a clientele that appreciates her approach has always been Polk’s goal. Polk, raised in New York City and now living in New Milford, studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan. She would go on to work in the Garment District but eventually pursued another dream, to be a flight attendant. That new direction proved fulfilling, especially as it allowed her to explore the world and gather materials and sources for her jewelry designs. She began showing her jewelry at dog shows nearly 20 years ago and, from there, began expanding her offerings with it all eventually coming together in the Ridgefield shop. The space in Bethel is comparable in size to her previous shop, though it feels much larger thanks to large picture windows. And Polk is proud of one key addition — proper dressing rooms, which have allowed her to expand her selection of clothing. But it’s the varied gifts that seem to catch everyone’s eye. Dotted around a leopard-print rug are tables and displays holding everything from fun signs (“Princess Parking”) to wall hangings featuring dog silhouettes, from animal-head wire sculptures to Fair Trade selections such as gift boxes created in South Africa out of recycled soda bottles. Polk shows off a selection of 3D greeting cards, an elaborately detailed gift in itself. “Do you think I have fun here? I enjoy myself,” Polk says with a laugh. As do customers, with whom she enthusiastically chats as they make a purchase on this recent day. As she goes to show us another new item —

Jewelry, fashion and animal-themed gifts are a part of the mix at Patricia’s Presents, which has relocated to Bethel. NOVEMBER 2018

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holiday-themed pigs that squeak when you squeeze them — Polk pauses, seeing the shop from, literally, another perspective. “This store is so new (that) I stand somewhere I’ve never been before and I say, ‘Yes, this is lively. It’s not boring.’” Boring, we note, would never describe the eclectic offerings of Patricia’s Presents. As she continues the impromptu tour of her inventory, she soon looks up to ask, “Have you had a great laugh today? You’re going to now.” And she’s right. She takes one of the Chuckle Buddies she has on hand and within moments, the little motion-activated animal is rolling on the floor emitting an infectious laugh. Yes, we do join in, admitting it would indeed make quite a stress reliever. It’s yet another example of what Polk once told us about her shop still being the case. “People seem to appreciate the fact it’s a little quirky.” Summing it up best, perhaps, is the slogan printed on yet another of the countless gift items at Patricia’s Presents: “Be the reason someone smiles.” Patricia’s Presents is at 164 Greenwood Ave. in Bethel. For more, visit patriciaspresents.com. Patricia Polk at her new shop in Bethel.

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

A CHARMER ON THE HUDSON BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA

hen we first met Andy Todd — president of the Greystone on Hudson luxury residential development in Tarrytown — in the late fall of 2016, he toured us around the more than 100-acre site, which opens onto pastoral Taxter Ridge Preserve. Among the houses he had in the works at that time was a charming Dutch Colonial Revival manse — with the characteristic gambrel roof and curved eaves; a turret; and a wrap-around porch — all of which made it at once cozy and commanding. Now Andy has written us to say that the house, at 20 Carriage Trail, is complete. The 9,831-square-foot interior — which includes 100

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six bedrooms, six full bathrooms and one powder room — lets the natural beauty of the 2.08-acre site in. Guests are swept through a covered colonnade into an elegant reception room with soaring 20-foot ceilings and stunning views of Taxter Ridge Preserve through walls of glass. Hand-scraped hardwood flooring ushers them past the grand staircase through the generous public rooms, which include a great room, a formal dining room and a living room, all equipped with elegant fireplaces. The gourmet commercial kitchen and butler’s pantry are outfitted with top-of-the line Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances. Additional amenities include room for a home theater, yoga room/gym/spa, staff

quarters, a pool, a tennis court and a wine cellar. There is also a laundry room, a pantry and a spacious mudroom. Throughout, the house offers exquisite detail and quality, including gently sweeping walls of cedar shakes and copper, foundation walls hand-cut from indigenous stone, Old World moldings, fine cabinetry and mahogany windows composed to flood the home with an abundance of natural light. The second floor sleeping quarters are dominated by the large master suite, which features a sitting room, a private terrace and a master bath with a massage and steam shower and a freestanding massage jet tub for ultimate relaxation. The master closet is a sanctuary filled with natural light and elegant built-ins. Three additional bedroom suites grace the second floor with two additional bedroom suites downstairs, each with its own custom cabinetry, walk-in closet and full bathroom. Integrated speakers and smart home technology throughout keep everyone connected. The house was designed for living and entertaining on a grand scale inside and out with 2,583 square feet of covered exterior space and verandas on each level, overlooking Taxter Ridge Preserve. For more, visit greystone-on-hudson.com. NOVEMBER 2018

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TRAVELS WITH SIS AND MOM, THE 100YEAR-OLD ROCK STAR BY DEBBI KICKHAM

y mom, Joanna Karpowicz, is 100 years old, still traveling, still shoe-shopping, still going strong. Most people are amazed that she is as active as she is — constantly attending book clubs, going to movies, gardening, you name it. She uses a walker occasionally and has a hearing aid. But other than that, she is still buying clothes and jewelry, and vacuuming the sofas. She never stops. Her motto is "Keep Moving." Raised in Poland, she spent most of her life in Milford (where she has been a widow for the past 54 years). Mom has an incredible work ethic that you just don't see in people today, and she is as alive and as witty and funny as ever. She loves to travel and frequently accompanies my sister, Christine Lynch, to the Metropolitan Opera in New York, where they always have lunch at a little French bistro beforehand. This past summer, mom, Christine, and I went on a month-long trip to Poland and Paris. Here are some of the highlights of our family trip — and mom's inimitable travel advice. Be game — even if you look ridiculous. mom is always open to trying new experiences (especially if she is wearing the right shoes). In Poland, we visited Krakow's medieval Cloth Hall, where we discovered a stall selling (plastic) helmets, which looked like armor from the Middle Ages. We each put one on and took a snapshot. (By all indications, we were ready to cross the moat.) The resulting photo of us was hilarious and we’re grateful it didn't ruin mom's hairdo in the process. Book a luxury limousine. When going to the airport to begin our trip, we wanted a safe, secure, upscale experience that would set the tone for our journey. Mom, especially, wanted to spend the twohour drive in comfort. We found exactly what we wanted with the award-winning chauffeured car service EmpireCLS of Secaucus, New Jersey. Our driver, 102

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In the Polishresort town of Zakopane, Joanna Karpowicz, center, with daughters Christine Lynch, left, and the author, Debbi Kickham.

Carlos, became our instant friend and we can honestly say that we so appreciated his professionalism and charm. We were so impressed that we personally requested that he pick us up at JFK four weeks later when we returned home. Like just about everyone we met on this trip, Carlos couldn't believe mom is 100. (Similarly, at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, one of the flight attendants from Norwegian Airlines, who was assisting mom, burst into tears when I told her mom was 100. No one believes it.) "Go in luxury when you can," is mom's motto. She just loves to go first-class (even when it's just eating the world's best hot dog at Danny's Drive-In in Stratford). empirecls.com Show your gratitude. From the moment we arrived at the trendy Parister Hotel in Paris, we were wowed. The manager on duty was waiting for us — outside — and he escorted us in and offered us a glass of wine, before the night crew circled around mom and sang, "Happy Birthday" in French. In fact, the hotel blew us away with its personal touches and on-the-spot answers and assistance. Mom went out of her way every day to thank — and tip — the staff. She never missed an opportunity to say something kind to the staffers and to be mindful and thoughtful about her gratitude for their hard work and service. hotelparister.com Go first-class for your face. Mom still spends time searching for the perfect blusher (although she loves Nars' Orgasm) and the ultimate foundation. We spent an afternoon at the swanky Le Royal Monceau Raffles in Paris, visiting the white paradise that is the Spa My Blend by Clarins. We all oohed-and-aahed the moment we entered, seeing the sumptuous surroundings of this five-star hotel. There, we all had a one-hour Clarins Facial ($207), where we were sloughed and buffed to perfection. The spa is also the only place where you can purchase Clarins' 11 boosters (developed by founder Dr. Olivier Courtin-Clarins) that can be added to any face cream. Mom had also had a facial in Krakow the week before — and believe me, she's got the complexion perfection to prove it. leroyalmonceau.com

Try new things. While we were in Krakow, we visited the internationally famous store selling Inglot — a high-end cosmetics brand in Poland for years (which is available in Manhattan at its store in Times Square and at Macy's). Inglot is beloved for its huge, huge, huge selection of first-class color cosmetics (and skincare). Jennifer Lopez is its spokesmodel. We three Karpowicz girls had makeovers using the latest-and-greatest hues and techniques. Of course, Mom bought everything and used it every day — even when we were on our family farm in the small village of Sokolina and not going anywhere special. Mom grew up on the farm, which has been in the family for more than 100 years. inglotcosmetics.com She's also always eager to try new foods (and still weighs herself daily) and, to this day, is still raving about our first meal at the Parister Hotel — a buttery burrata mozzarella. Similarly, mom cannot stop talking about our tea in the Proust Salon at the Paris Ritz, complete, of course, with birthday cake and a serenade by five senior members of the staff. And here's a tip: We saved the pastries they served, putting them in the hotel’s fridge and then bringing them home to share with our family in Trumbull. Stay curious. In Poland, mom heard of a brand new book that was written by former Polish President Lech Walesa's wife. She snapped that up faster than you can say "Solidarity." Mom is also always reading books, voraciously (especially if the books are available in large print). Take a private tour. Though we have traveled to Paris with mom before, we took an exclusive Paris City Vision morning tour with our host Sandrine. Today, mom still talks about our delightful visit to Montmartre and all of the interesting facts and tidbits that Sandy told us. This private tour was as good as it gets. We were accommodated in every way (especially when we needed to stop for a café au lait). Sandy, like everyone else, thought that mom was about 70 years young, in looks and demeanor. pariscityvision.com When in doubt, buy chocolate. You should see mom at the duty-free shops at the airport. While she loves Lindt, she's still nuts about Nestlé. She's there buying chocolate for everyone she has ever met in her life (along with beautiful bars of soap). Stay active. Mom never sits down — except to say the rosary. When she's not baking, scrubbing or weeding the garden, she is polishing the silver and ironing the sheets. (You should have seen her maneuvering the Champs Elysées — with her walker — while sightseeing on the streets of Paris.) While at the Parister Hotel, she told the concierge about all of her chores back home. "You know," he said to her with a big laugh, "We just might have a job for you right here." Enjoy life every day. When I returned home, I told a colleague about mom, and he kept shaking his head in amazement. "Wow, I would love to take her out sometime," said my 60-year-old friend. "Tell me," he said with a deep laugh, "By chance is she still dating?" Mom, je t'aime. Always.

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PAST IS PRESENT IN SWISS JOURNEY STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALEESIA FORNI

t’s Trubshachen.” Those are the words my dad can’t stop saying. He’s sitting on a train speeding through the rolling hills and farmland of Switzerland from the country’s de facto capital of Bern to a tiny train station in the municipality of Trubshachen. From Trubschachen, our group, made up of myself, my parents and two aunts, will take a bus to an even smaller village called Fankhaus, the land where my great-great-great grandfather, Niklaus Fankhauser, departed two centuries ago with his sights set on America. My dad is by no means a somber man, but he’s also not one to show overt excitement. But right now, he’s antsy. He can’t sit down and he can’t stop smiling. For some reason, it reminds me of my own feelings when I first visited “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’ in Orlando. For him, Trubshachen is also something of a mythical place, one he and his two sisters, Nancy and Jane, have heard stories about since childhood. It’s also a land that after nearly 70 years, they’re finally getting the chance to see for themselves. This trip has been years in the making, a chance for my father and his siblings to visit the land of their ancestors. Both my paternal grandfather and paternal grandmother trace their roots to Switzerland, though each family is from opposites ends of the landlocked country. On this train ride, the one where my dad looks happier than a kid on Christmas morning, we’re headed to the land of my grandmother’s family, the Fankhausers. My aunts are sitting together on the train, each equally as amused as I am by my dad’s outburst of excitement. We depart the train at Trubshachen and immediately take in the gorgeous scenery — Swiss chalet-style homes, a smattering of quaint inns and eateries, flowers so lush and stunning they 104

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look artificial. We then hop on a bus that will take us on a 15-minute trip and drop us off at Fankhaus. If my dad is antsy, my mom is ecstatic. This trip has been, for her, as much of a fact-finding mission as for my father and aunts. She spent months on Google and ancestry.com, tracking the Fankhausers’ roots and attempting to connect with any present Fankhaus residents. One discovery was a museum in Fankhaus, though what exactly the museum showcased we were unaware. Emails she’d sent to the owners had gone unanswered. Still, we decide to try our luck and head for the museum. We have no idea what to expect, but we are armed with Google Maps, which takes us on a few wrong turns and down a path that literally runs through a cow pasture. After a handful of knocks on a handful of wrong doors, we find the Fankhausers we are searching for. The matriarch of these Fankhausers seems flustered, understandable given our surprise visit. She points around her home to a barn, where she says we will find the Fankhauser museum. The museum, we find, is a tribute to both the

Clockwise from above: A classic home in Fankhaus; one of the homes of the Forni ancestors; and a view from the Bernina Express.

Fankhausers and an offshoot of Christianity called the Anabaptists. This sect believes that baptism can only be valid if he or she is able to make the decision to be baptized, as opposed to infant baptism. Beginning in the 16th century, Anabaptists were persecuted by both Protestants and Roman Catholics for their beliefs. Fankhausers were, according to the museum, both Anabaptist themselves and those who helped protect them during that time. We walked through the museum, which served as the home of a man named Christian Fankhauser in the 1600s. We are led to a hidden room that Christian, an Anabaptist himself, used to hide inside during times of persecution. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dark and cold, and the five of us huddle together on a wooden bench, thankful for both our past and present family. A few days after our Fankhaus trip, after weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve traveled from Bern to southern Switzerland, journeyed to the top of the snow-covered peaks of Schilthorn, walked through the stunning waterfront landscape of Lucerne, ventured up an openair cable car to Stanserhorn mountain, we set out on the journey for another piece of our history.

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The Forni ancestral quest is a bit different: We know people here. We’re fortunate that other family members have made similar treks to Bedretto, the tiny string of villages where my greatgreat-great grandfather Maccabeo Forni was born and raised before moving to America. We even stay at the Hotel Forni in nearby Airolo. We meet up with a man named Giovanni, a well-connected lifelong resident of the area who, on a previous trip to Switzerland, my cousin happened to run into in the Hotel Forni restaurant. Giovanni then introduces us to a man named Elia, another Bedretto villager that he affectionately refers to as “The Professor” because of his historical knowledge. Elia proves to be an exceptional impromptu tour guide, showing us printed family trees of our ancestors dating back to the 1500s, taking us to the church where those same ancestors were parishioners and walking us through a cemetery dotted with Forni headstones. The highlight, though, is when he takes us on a tour inside two homes that were lived in by our ancestors, the father and grandfather of Maccabeo, respectively. It strikes me how rare this opportunity is, and how amazing it is to not just be in the land of your ancestors but to walk in their actual footsteps. To sit by the same fireplace where they warmed their hands on a cold evening. To huddle in a kitchen where they cooked many of their meals. Family legend says that Maccabeo and other Swiss immigrants settled in southeastern Ohio, the area where I grew up, because it reminded them of their home in Switzerland. Now that I’m here, it’s easy to see why. Sure, there are no mountains in my hometown, but there is an abundance of hills, valleys, thick forests and green space. We finally say our goodbyes to Giovanni and thank him for a day that will certainly be etched into each of our minds for the rest of our lives. As we walk back toward our hotel, the three siblings stop at a sign that reads “Bedretto,” reminiscing about the past, yet immersed in the present. After this stop, our European voyage will take us across the border into Italy, where sights and experiences will include cheese making on a remote dairy farm, a chapel on Lake Como and even a hike to the Forni Glacier (no familial connection, we’re told, just a name). There are sights that will take my breath away, like the Duomo in Milan and the alpine landscape along the Bernina Express train route. But I think the view — the one of my father and aunts staring up at the sign printed with a town name their parents and grandparents spoke about for decades — is the one I’ll cherish most of all. 106

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From top, Hotel Forni offered a comforting stay during the trip; and a view of Bern, Switzerland’s de facto capital.

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ARUBA, A SUN-KISSED SOJOURN BY BARBARA BARTON SLOANE

“In every outthrust headland, in every curving beach, in every grain of sand, there is the story of the earth.”

–Rachel Carson

love the beach, particularly with winter right around the corner. So Aruba, here I come. Called “The One Happy Island,” Aruba is about 19 miles long in the southern Caribbean Sea, just 15 miles from the coast of Venezuela. Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao form a group referred to as the ABC Islands, with the A island getting more repeat visitors than any other in the Caribbean. You may ask why that’s the case. Well, for one thing, it’s located below the hurricane belt and has a climate of 82-degree days year-round. Indeed, it has the most sunny days in all of the Caribbean. Also, whether you’re looking to relax and unwind or seeking adventure and excitement, it’s all there, quite simply, something for everyone. For such a relatively flat island, the unusual hills and monolithic boulders are truly amazing. Two rock formations, Ayo and Casibari, are stunning geological formations that you can climb and explore. Ayo has towering stone boulders and was once considered a sacred site by the island’s original inhabitants. Casibari’s tonalite boulders are found just off the main road to Santa Cruz. I took one of the picturesque walking trails and, finally reaching the top, found a breathtaking 360-degree view and some impressive prehistoric rock drawings that were a just reward. Equally spectacular are the beaches. Eagle Beach has been named one of the top 10 in the world. On my visit, it seemed that the beach was a part of everything I did — from water activities to riding a horse on the sand to lunches, cocktails and dinners. Back in 2007, the Aruba government announced that $350-million would be invested on public and

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A view of Aruba. Courtesy Sloane Travel Photography.

private projects of all sorts to attract tourists and build the economy. One project which attracted a lot of attention was construction of a linear park beginning at the airport and increasing island access for bike riders and pedestrians alike. While on the island, I’d been told that an offroad experience was fun and one I wouldn’t forget. Well, they were right on one count. I think I’ll remember it for as long as I live. Fun? One person’s fun can be another’s, er, nightmare. To be fair, it appeared that everyone on this adventure was having a blast. Me? Not so much. We drove in a bumpy caravan formation led by a professional tour guide who showed us the best landmarks of Aruba. All I was aware of was crashing through roads with crater-like holes, skirting boulders, bumping, grinding and eating dirt that the vehicle in front of me was kicking up. Oh, it was unforgettable, all right. There are loads of water sports there — windsurfing, paddle boarding and kite boarding, among them. More to my taste were snorkeling, kayaking — and lying in a hammock. Others, however, come for amour. Aruba is an ideal spot to get hitched and has been named one of the world’s top wedding and honeymoon destinations by Brides magazine. Speaking of romance, I found a dreamy hidden gem on this island known as Boardwalk. Set on an historic coconut plantation and conveniently located mere steps from famed Palm Beach, this intimate, trop-

ical oasis is owned and run by Belgian twin sisters Kimberly and Stephanie Rooijakkers. To quote the Irving Berlin song, “There were never such devoted sisters…” Born and raised in Aruba for the first six years of their lives, the twins moved to Belgium in the early 1990s but never skipped their yearly vacation here, always staying in close contact with their native land. While kite boarding on the island in 2008, the sisters discovered the Boardwalk property and instantly fell in love with it. Learning that the property was for sale a few years later, they knew their island was calling them home. Since that time, Boardwalk has been featured in The New York Times, USA Today and National Geographic Traveler. Its lush gardens, hammocks on terraces and, my particular favorite, the Champagne breakfast delivered to the room, make this a perfect place for couples, honeymooners or anyone wanting a peaceful, serene home base from which to explore the environs. On Aruba, “bon bini” means “Welcome to my country.” It’s a phrase in Papiamento, one of two official languages in Aruba; the other is Dutch. I often heard Papiamento during my visit. I never did learn the word for goodbye, undoubtedly because I didn’t want to say it. I much preferred the local phrase te aworo — see you later — thus ensuring my return. For more, visit aruba.com.

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THE SUN GOD’S JOURNEY TO THE MOON BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA

n awe-inspiring new book by teNeues Publishing on the Apollo space program — timed to anticipate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing next summer — also offers a reminder of the classical, familial origins of the program’s name. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s official history details a moment in July 1960 when Abe Silverstein, NASA’s director of space flight development, suggested the name Apollo for the program that would ultimately land a man on the moon. Why use the name of a Greco-Roman god? The precedent had been set with two previous programs. As the new book, “APOLLO VII-XVII” ($65, 320 pages) points out, “Project Mercury put the first American, Alan Shepard, into space on May 5, 1961.” The project was named for the fleet Roman messenger god — Hermes in Greek mythology — he of the winged cap and feet, an image later immortalized in bronze by Renaissance artist Giambologna. “After a further five Mercury solo missions,” the book notes, “Project Gemini was seen as the stepping stone to the moon where two-man crews flew 10…missions during 1965 and 1966 with three main objectives — to fly extended-duration missions (the time it would take to get to the moon and back), to develop EVA (extravehicular activity) techniques and to develop the procedures necessary to rendezvous and dock.” With two men aboard each flight, Gemini — after the devoted twin brothers of Greek mythology, Castor and Pollux — seemed like an appropriate name. But why Mercury’s big brother Apollo — who

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On Apollo 7, Commander Walter M. Schirra looks out of the command module window during its 11-day orbit around the Earth. © “APOLLO VII-XVII,” published by teNeues in the United States this month, $65. Apollo 7 photograph © Courtesy of The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) photographic archives.

was, after all, god of the sun, along with music and truth — and not Apollo’s twin sister, Artemis (Diana in Roman mythology), goddess of the moon and the hunt? There seems to be no other reason than Silverstein found Apollo to be an attractive name. Plus, he thought the image of the god in his golden, horse-drawn chariot, hauling the sun on its daily journey across the sky — an image crystallized in a fountain at the gardens of Versailles — captured the grandeur of the mission NASA was about to undertake. (This was also an era in which hurricanes had only female names. Perhaps NASA saw a female name as bad luck.) In any event, Apollo 7, the first manned mission in the Apollo program, went into space on Oct. 11, 1968. (It was preceded by a number of missions that did not carry the Apollo designation. The mission known as Apollo 1 was named retroactively to honor the crew of Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger E. Chaffee, who died on Jan. 27, 1967, in a fire aboard the command module during a launch pad test.) Apollo 18 through 20 would be scrapped for a variety of reasons. The return of Apollo 17 on Dec. 19, 1972, would mark the end of the program, though we did not know it. Best known, of course, are the two missions that were the program’s apotheosis — Apollo 11, the first lunar landing — and its most spectacu-

lar failure — Apollo 13, with its exploding oxygen tank that damaged the service module, aborted a moon landing and instituted a race to return the crew alive to Earth. (The story was absorbingly told in Apollo 13 Commander James A. Lovell Jr.’s book, “Lost Moon,” and the subsequent movie, “Apollo 13,” starring Tom Hanks.) In its four years and 11 missions, Apollo gave us a heck of a ride, as this book demonstrates in 225 color and black-and-white photographs that required new technology and new training for the astronauts to shoot pictures in space. Some will be familiar, like the first color photograph, courtesy of Apollo 8, of the earthrise — in which earth appears like a cloudy blue marble, at once so special yet perhaps also so lonesome in its life-bearing properties. Others, like a blue ombré effect casting light on a sliver of textured blue moon, via Apollo 13, read like an abstract painting. Many of these photographs have a mystical quality, achieving, along with the work they captured, the transcendent. “APOLLO VII-XVII” was written by Floris Heyne, Joel Meter, Simon Phillipson and Delano Steenmeijer and edited by Neil Pearson. It contains a special foreword by Apollo 7 astronaut Walt Cunningham. For more, visit teneues.com.

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A TALE OF TWO CITIES BY JEREMY WAYNE

ust like real siblings, London and Paris are inextricably linked (think Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities”) — even if they are not always the best of friends. Politically, they are often poles apart and superficially they disdain each other’s style, while secretly wishing they could be more like the other. Londoners, like all of us, admire Parisian chic and savoir-faire. Parisians love London and all things Cool Britannia, history blended with a healthy dose of iconoclasm. One thing they certainly have in common, though, is great hotels and here are a handful of my current favorites. Originally opened in 1910, after a four-year renovation returning it to its former glory, Hotel Lutetia has recently relaunched. This luxury five-star hotel, which in its day has hosted Pablo Picasso and James Joyce — the only “grand” hotel, incidentally, on Paris’s Left Bank — is a haven of comfort and good living. Concierge Xavier knows what you want before you want it. The best florist in Paris? No problem. A racehorse for Christmas? Of course! (Actually I took a liberty with that one, although I’ve no doubt Xavier could find you a racehorse if that’s what you wanted). The Bar Josephine, with its superbly restored frescoes by Adrien Karbowsky, is already one of the hottest new spots on the Rive Gauche and — in addition to the hotel’s “casual” restaurant, Le Saint Germain — a top brasserie will be opening shortly. With Saint Germain on the doorstep, the Lutetia’s number needs to go straight in to your speed-dial. “Paris is always a good idea,” Audrey Hepburn said, and nowhere is it a better idea than Pavillon de la Reine, on the ravishing Place des Vosges at edge of Le Marais. The very word Vosges, with that gorgeous downy z (as in Zsa Zsa Gabor) just rolls off the tongue, giving a hint of the locale. Set in a 17th-century building right on the Place,

accessed through a private garden, Le Pavillon is like staying in a friend’s very well-appointed house. It is elegant and impressively well-run, the welcome is warm and genuine and the guest rooms, although not especially large, offer every comfort. The intimate ground floor salon boasts a real log fireplace and a small bar based on an honor system, where you help yourself to drinks. And a great addition to Pavillon, opened since my last stay, is its new restaurant, Anne, run by one of Paris’ most talented young chefs, Mathieu Pacaud. There is also a rather wonderful spa by Codage. Also on the Right Bank, the delightful Grand Hôtel du Palais Royal, opposite the Palais Royal Garden and just steps from the Musée du Louvre, was recently relaunched following a makeover by designer Pierre-Yves Rochon. Considering its central location, it’s an exceptionally quiet hotel, with smart guest rooms that manage the clever trick of being both functional and rather beautiful. There’s a good on-site bar and restaurant, but the hotel’s real jewel is its Moroccan-style hammam, a boon after a heavy day’s sightseeing. And one further, important plus: In a town where hotel prices (which were never exactly low) have recently gone through the roof, I think Hôtel du Palais Royal offers good value for money. Across the Channel in London, meanwhile, hotels keep opening like there’s no tomorrow, which is perhaps appropriate considering nobody knows what tomorrow, post-Brexit, may bring. The Hari — snuggled away in that riotously expensive part of Belgravia where the white stucco-fronted houses these days are home to Russian oligarchs and football managers, but where the independent shops along Pont and Walton streets are still a serious shopper’s dream — is not a new hotel but a reworked old one. Owner Aron Harilela is a brilliant hotelier who has stamped his vision on this charming London property. Rooms are Le Pavillon de la Reine. Courtesy Le Pavillon de la Reine.

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Studio Suite at The Hari. Courtesy The Hari, London.

not large but they are somehow right, with highquality amenities and excellent in-room technology, while the sort of glazed-in balcony, complete with window seat, give the studio suites a great feeling of additional space. The hotel benefits, too, from a terrific Italian restaurant, Il Pampero (try the tonnarello cacio e pepe, prepared in a Parmesan wheel) and an atmospheric, slightly hugger-mugger bar, popular with locals. Arriving off the red-eye recently at 45 Park Lane, the Dorchester’s stylish younger sister (speaking of siblings) on Park Lane, the front-desk manager greeted me thus: “Mr, Wayne, you’ve come from New York. You must be exhausted. And hungry. We’ve left a little bite for you in your room, so you don’t need to go to the trouble of coming down to breakfast or calling room service, if you don’t feel like it.” Now, that’s what I call a welcome. Intuitive, generous and most of all — kind. The little bite turned out to be perfectly chilled fresh orange juice, good hot coffee and the flakiest, butteriest croissant with house-made jams. Why can’t more so-called luxury hotels think this way?, I wondered. This contemporary luxury hotel prides itself on personal service. Butler or “host service” is stan-

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dard, each guest “as unique as a fingerprint with (his or her) own plans, needs and expectations.” So runs the blurb and it’s true: The concierge is among the best informed in London. There’s really nothing legal that this brilliant hotel can’t arrange for you. 45 Park Lane is also home to CUT, an outpost of Wolfgang Puck’s steakhouse empire, but here given a modern British twist, not least with its razzle dazzle collection of Damien Hirst art. Just steps away from 45 is the InterContinental Park London Lane, a hotel I’m drawn back to time and again for its distinct London buzz, its extravagant flower arrangements in the lobby and its two excellent restaurants. (I’ll come to those shortly.) At the InterConti, you feel you practically own the city, especially if you can snag a room with a view of Hyde Park Corner and Knightsbridge. The building opposite you, Apsley House, was once the home of the Duke of Wellington and is affectionately known as Number One London — with good reason I might add. Harrods is just a walk or gentle jog down the street, Hyde Park is opposite you in all its glory, Buckingham Palace is but a hop, skip and a jump away. And, in case that hard-to-score invitation to tea at the palace fails to land on your doormat, each

morning, just before 11, you’ll see the horse guards, resplendent in their red uniforms, marching outside your window en route to Buck House for the Changing of the Guard ceremony. Back at the hotel, meanwhile, you’ll find slick, InterContinental service at its best. While the rooms are modern and functional, you will benefit from an extended workspace, complimentary breakfast and afternoon tea, evening drinks and canapés and an amazing view if your room type allows you access to the seventh floor Club InterContinental. As for the restaurants mentioned earlier, Michelin-starred Theo Randall at the InterContinental offers some of the finest regional Italian cooking in London, while the year-old Mexican restaurant, Ella Canta, is winning plaudits for its authentic Mexican cuisine — courtesy of Mexican celebrity chef Maria Ortiz. Open weeknights until 1 a.m. (2 a.m. on weekends), full of fun and surprising twists, Ella Canta the restaurant could be a metaphor for London itself. For more, visit hotellutetia.com, pavillon-de-lareine.com, grandhoteldupalaisroyal.com, thehari. com, dorchestercollection.com, parklane.intercontinental.com.

AMERICAN EATS & URBAN DRINKS WE ARE OPEN FOR BRUNCH NOW! EVERY SUNDAY STARTING AT 12PM Happy hour seven days a week from 4 to 6

128 Bedford Rd, Katonah, NY 10536 | 914-401-9600 | katonahwoods.com

WONDERFUL DINING

Dark wooden accents, brightly colored walls and artwork distinguish Magno's Grill.

BROTHERLY TASTES STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALEESIA FORNI

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hen chef Angelo Magno first decided to open a restaurant in Westchester, he knew two things — that the business would be called Magno’s Grill and that he would launch this eatery with his brother, chef Paz Magno. “The restaurant business is hard, so it’s nice to work together,” Angelo says. “We have a really good connection.” Magno’s Grill opened its doors at 108 Centre Ave. in New Rochelle early this summer, offering a mix of Argentine and Italian fare. “They fuse together well,” Angelo says of the

two cuisines. Magno’s Grill also mixes together upscale accents in a comfortable atmosphere. Crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling and large portraits grace the walls, while two large-screen televisions are behind the wood bar. Though the restaurant is new, Angelo is no stranger to the food business. He has worked in the restaurant world in Westchester County for decades, including jobs at Tango Grill and Milonga Restaurant, both White Plains establishments that have since closed their doors. He also co-owned Gaucho Grill, the now-defunct Italian eatery on North Broadway in White Plains. Paz also has a long history of working in kitchens in Westchester, most recently at Chatterbox 54 in Briarcliff Manor. The fusion of Italian and Argentine cultures at

Clockwise from top left: A 10-ounce steak sits on a bed of potatoes and is topped with shrimp; eggplant rollatini with spinach and ricotta; rigatoni with peppers, onions and melted mozzarella; and blackened tuna with diced mango and oranges.

Magno’s Grill is apparent in its range of appetizers, from Argentine empanadas to clams oreganata. A standout starter is the eggplant rollatini, which combines ricotta cheese, spinach and mascarpone and is doused in a delicious Cognac sauce. Those more inclined toward seafood will find options such as red snapper with lobster sauce, salmon with sun-dried apricots or a sole fillet stuffed with crabmeat. In another entrée, blackened tuna shares a plate with diced mango, oranges, red onions, scallions and a tart orange sauce. The restaurant’s paella with saffron rice is artfully presented with an assortment of seafood — a whole lobster, shrimp, mussels and clams. There’s no shortage of pasta dishes, either. Linguine is joined by calamari, shrimp and tomato

sauce, while lobster ravioli is covered in a pink brandy sauce. Rigatoni is topped with red and green peppers, onions and melted fresh mozzarella. But where the restaurant really shines is in its string of steak options. Our favorite dish is a 10-ounce shell steak — juicy, cooked to perfection and melt-inyour-mouth tender. The steak is topped with shrimp and scampi sauce and sits on a bed of roasted potatoes, onions, peppers and mushrooms. Angelo tells me that along with serving delicious food, presentation is also key. Many dishes are dressed up with vertical slices of fried plantains or artfully placed florals. “My whole intention is giving the best to our customers,” Angelo says. The 50-seat New Rochelle restaurant marks the

smallest restaurant Angelo has opened to date. Still, Angelo says, “I think this little place is perfect.” Angelo adds that he was interested in New Rochelle because he views it as an up-and-coming city. “It’s very exciting for me to be here in this city, because this city looks like it’s growing every day,” he says, noting recent developments like the nearby mixed-use complex at Church and Division streets. The family business at Magno’s Grill involves more than just Paz and Angelo. Their sister Gloria is also involved in the eatery, working behind the scenes in bookkeeping and accounting. “We’ve decided to start this new adventure,” Angelo says. “Together, we know everything’s going to be right.” For more, visit magnosgrill.com.

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WINE&DINE

From left: Ramiro Barrios, managing director of Clos de los Siete; vintner Michel Rolland; Lauren Lucas, media manager; and Peter Deutsch, CEO of Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits.

AN ARGENTINE WINE BY WAY OF FRANCE (AND STAMFORD) STORY AND PHOTOGRAPH BY DOUG PAULDING

ecently, I had the pleasure of dining — and drinking — with vintner Michel Rolland and wine importer Peter Deutsch in a private room in Manhattan’s Tocqueville restaurant. In Wine Spectator’s 40th anniversary edition in 2016, Rolland and Deutsch’s father, Bill, founder of Stamford-based Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, were named two of just 43 wine industry giants worldwide, among such noteworthy names as Rothschild, Antinori, Mondavi, Chapoutier, Harlan and Turley — so you know the evening was pretty special. Over its course, I learned about their backgrounds. Rolland has been in the wine industry his entire life. He grew up on a farm/winery in Bordeaux, learning the lifestyle and the industry from his parents before going on to oenology school, where he met his future wife, Dany. Rolland is an affable and fun guy with a hearty, contagious laugh. He owns wineries in France and produces much wine, but he is better-known as 118

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a consultant. His client list is impressive, including more than 150 wineries in 13 countries on four continents. Bill Deutsch has been in the wine business half of his life. He came of age in the accounting industry but got a glimpse of the wine world when he was assigned an audit of a wine company. He was soon transported to the seductive world of wine. In 1988, Rolland was invited to visit Argentina for a consulting project and immediately saw the winemaking potential of the region. He assembled a small team of partners from Bordeaux and went to work. He decided the weather, the soil, the hot days and cool nights and the local influence of the snowcapped Andes, some 60 miles south of Mendoza, would be a perfect location. They found a perfect plot of 2,000 acres at 3,600 feet above sea level. The idea was to bring Bordeaux winemaking techniques to Argentinian terroir. Rolland and his partners built four different bodegas, or wineries, each owned and operated by a different partner making his own brand. But each bodega

would also contribute significant amounts of wine to a group project, a custom Rolland blend of all four bodegas known as Clos de los Siete. The Deutsch family, which has been importing Rolland wines from France for many years, is now responsible for importing Clos de los Siete into the United States. At Tocqueville, we tasted through a brilliant vertical presentation of the label, beginning with the 2015 vintage, followed by the ’14, the ’11, the ’10, the ’09, the ’06 and, finally, the ’03, which was made from baby vines just 4 years old. All of these wines are blends of Bordeaux varietals with slightly different blend percentages in each vintage. The 2015 was comprised of 58 percent Malbec, 23 percent Merlot, 10 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 8 percent Syrah and 1 percent Petit Verdot. Each of the other vintages was the same order of grape dominance but the percentages were changed to reflect something in the growing environment that year. With five main grape types to taste and blend each year, it guarantees a quality product each vintage. Or as Peter Deutsch said to me, “Find me a better wine for under $20. It can’t be done.” Each of these wines showed the same DNA of flavor profile — dark and dense fruit with a good backbone of tannins and spice. Dark cherry and blackberry were dominant in all of them. Some showed licorice, spice box and leather, some more generous and giving, some more restrained (think decanter), but all showed good balance, great mouthfeel and an extended finish. My personal favorite of the lineup was the 2006, showing hearty dark fruit and a silky smoothness. The label is attractive and uncluttered with a seven point gold star, each point representing one of the partners. I found these wines online at around $18 per bottle. A 12 bottle case purchase will bring the price down closer to $16 per bottle. Rolland said, “Argentina is so great for wine production. And we want to make wine that people like to drink. And then drink again.” He and his partners are producing close to a million bottles of Clos de los Siete each year and are hoping to bump that number to 1.2 million bottles soon. Malbec has a long history in the world of wine dating back many centuries. It found its fame and prominence in the southwest of France, specifically the Cahors region. But Argentina imported the grape and over a couple of decades showed what some altitude, a lot of sun, significant stony geological environment and high-quality vineyard and winery practices could create. And Rolland took it to another plane by adding differing amounts of the noble Bordeaux varieties grown in Argentina to improve the nuance, the structure, the flavor and the experience of solo Malbec. As autumn arrives and cooler nights begin to usher in winter, order up some Clos de los Siete. This is a high-value wine at an attractive price brought to you by a couple of wine industry giants. Write me at doug@dougpaulding.com.

E R OA R I N

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Stop in and experience the charm of this historic eatery, a neighborhood favorite since the Roaring ‘20s! Enjoy our cozy tavern where it’s always lively and cheerful or relax on our patio overlooking our horseshoe and bocce ball courts. Live music on Saturdays and some Fridays On Sundays, enjoy outdoor live music from 4 to 8:30 Happy Hour Daily from 4-6 and again from 9-11 on Thurs, Fri and Saturday nights.

105 Somerstown Turnpike, Katonah, NY (Corner of Rt. 100 and Rt. 35) www.muscoottavern.com 914 • 232 • 2800

WELL

CAN TIGER WOODS’ SURGERY HELP YOU? BY SCOTT SIMON, MD

hen Tiger Woods took first place at the 2018 Tour Championship recently, it was his first major win in more than five years. In April 2017, Woods underwent a lumbar spinal fusion surgery to relieve the debilitating back pain that had forced him to drop out of the sport in which he’s considered one of the greatest golfers of all time. Before his lower spine fusion, Woods said playing golf was the furthest thing from his mind. “I was beyond playing,” he told Bob Harig, a senior writer at ESPN.com. “I couldn't sit. I couldn't walk. I couldn't lay down without feeling the pain in my back and my leg. That was a pretty low point for a very long time.” Spinal fusion surgery has been around for more than 50 years. However, recent developments in minimally invasive techniques, computer navigation and robotics have made it less invasive, safer and more precise. Newer technology also reduces the need for repeated X-rays during surgery, which decreases radiation exposure for the patient and the attending surgical staff. Recovery is quicker and outcomes are much better than in years past. Spinal fusion surgery welds together two or more vertebrae in the spine to reduce motion in the section that causes pain from arthritis, injury, disease or degeneration. Each procedure is slightly different depending on the patient’s individual condition, but typically the surgeon will decompress the nerves and replace a damaged disc (discectomy) with a bone graft and a synthetic cage in order to re-establish a normal level of space between the affected vertebrae and the nerve channels. In Wood’s case, the fifth lumbar vertebra had slid slightly over the sacrum, a condition known as spondylolisthesis, and was corrected by fixating and fusing the fifth lumbar vertebra to the sacrum. In time,

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Tiger Woods.

the vertebrae will heal into one solid piece. Most cervical (neck) fusion cases can be performed on an outpatient basis, with patients recovering at home and moving about on the same day. Thoracic and lumbar spinal fusions for the mid and lower back usually require a hospital stay of two to four days, depending on the location and complexity of the condition. In addition to spinal fusion, a neurosurgeon may also recommend a procedure known as a laminectomy, during which damaged bone or tissue is removed. Spinal fusion surgery is not the answer for everyone with back pain, however, and should only be considered after conservative treatments, such as NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), physical therapy and injections have failed to provide lasting pain relief. Spinal fusion can treat a number of back and neck problems, including: • degenerative disc disease; • spondylolisthesis; • spinal deformity such as scoliosis or kyphosis curvature of the spine; • broken or fractured vertebrae; • infections; and • tumor.

Depending on the nature and location of the spine disorder, neurosurgeons will use one of three approaches to perform the procedure. The anterior approach requires a small incision to be made through the front or side of the abdomen to reach the lumbar region or through the front of the neck to reach the cervical spine. With the posterior lumbar approach, a small incision is made in the middle of the lower back; posterior cervical fusion is performed through the back of the neck. RECOVERY Patients tend to feel better in less time than it takes for the bone fusion to become solidly formed. Post-lumbar surgical patients should avoid bending or lifting until they are cleared by their surgeon. Most patients are off all pain medication by the beginning of week three and often return to work by week six. Full recovery from cervical fusion can take from three to six months. Lumbar fusion can take from six months to a year to heal completely. If you experience prolonged back or neck pain that radiates down a limb, consult with a board-certified neurosurgeon to learn if spinal fusion is an option for you.

STRONG + BEAUTIFUL was created to remind all women of their internal strength and beauty, no matter their current state of mind or physical well being.

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WELL

STOP COUNTING AND START OBSERVING BY GIOVANNI ROSELLI

s a certified Precision Nutrition coach, I’ll often get asked many questions regarding “calories.” As the holidays approach once again, fitness enthusiasts are looking to maintain their sixpack abs and weight-loss clients are scurrying to figure out how they are going to get through the holidays without falling off track, as these common questions get asked: • “How many calories do I really need?” • “Should I be counting calories?” • “Does food x have too many calories?” • “Am I eating too many calories?” • “Do I need to eat more calories of something?” Many believe that the answer is to count their calories. However, as Precision Nutrition answers below, that may not necessarily be the answer. Counting calories makes most people feel deprived and restricted. You focus on what you think you can't do or have, rather than on nourishment, adding value and improving food quality. And as soon as your brain thinks it's getting deprived, it'll want to do exactly the opposite — “rebel,” “be bad” and “break the rules.” Counting calories doesn't tell you about food quality.  Calorie math won't tell you whether the food you're eating is adding value to your body. You can get 2,000 calories from healthy, nutrient-rich meals spread over a day…or you can get it from a large Frappuccino and a couple of pastries. (Which one do you think is a better choice?) As Precision Nutrition is fond of saying, a high-quality machine needs high-quality fuel. If you're working on building your body or a strong performance, put premium gas in the tank.

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Giovanni Roselli. Photograph by Osiris Ramirez.

Counting calories is inaccurate and a pain. Calorie counts on food package labels are often wrong. And “calories” are just a measure of energy. They don’t account, for instance, for the way our bodies digest, absorb and use this energy. Researchers estimate that even meticulous calorie counting can be up to 25 percent off. That means if you try to eat 2,000 calories, even if you do it “perfectly,” you could be eating anywhere between 1,500 and 2,500 calories. (And who counts calories “perfectly” anyway?) Unless you’ve got a food scale and meticulously weigh and track every morsel of food that goes into your body, you have no real idea how many calories you’re actually consuming. Really, you’re just guessing, which kind of defeats the whole purpose of counting calories. Counting calories doesn’t focus on building habits. You want to get in shape, feel good and stay that way for life. Right? A strong, lean, healthy body doesn't come from doing math. That fit, healthy body and lifestyle come from showing up and doing what matters, over and over. You can get the body you want without ever being that meticulous.

Awareness beats calorie counting. Learn to be aware of what food you’re eating — why you’re eating it, when you’re eating, how you're eating it and how that food fuels your performance. Learn to be aware of what you're thinking, doing and sensing — aware of your patterns, habits and triggers, aware of what's around you and aware of what you're doing well. If you’re aware, you’re in control.  You always carry your awareness with you. You probably don’t carry a food scale and calorie list. (And if you could, would you want to?)  Awareness is the only true way to get healthy and fit for life. TAKE A TEST RIDE Sound interesting? Looking to build some real, sustainable habits? Email me at Gio@GiovanniRoselli.com and I’ll select one lucky winner to go through my online nutrition coaching platform via Precision Nutrition for the remainder of the year. Hey, it may just help you get through the holidays a little bit easier. Reach Giovanni on Twitter @GiovanniRoselli and at his website, GiovanniRoselli.com.

give thanks.

www.BlossomFlower.com 914.304.5376 877.458.1709

PET OF THE MONTH

THERE’S ALWAYS HOPE “‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul And sings the tune without the words And never stops — at all...” — Emily Dickinson

ope is also a 3-year-old Chihuahua, Dachshund and Jack Russell Terrier mix (or so the SPCA thinks), who’s looking for a forever home. Her big brown eyes will melt your heart even as her playful side puts a smile on your face. Hope can be shy initially but warms up quickly and, while spunky, also enjoys just snuggling up and relaxing with you. She recently had a litter of puppies that were all adopted so now it’s mama’s turn to find a loving family — preferably a calm one with no other dogs so she can be spoiled as your one and only. To meet Hope, 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.

Photograph by Sebastián Flores. 124

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InSiDe, He’S A WoLf

BoRn To LoVe MeAt.

PROTEIN ~ GRAIN-FRE E HIGH

Made with more of the chicken, duck or salmon dogs naturally desire. All dogs descend from wolves, so it’s not surprising they share many traits — especially a love for meat. That’s why we created protein-rich, grain-free BLUE Wilderness.®

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9/4/18 2:11 PM

PET PORTRAITS

Courtesy Fox Chapel Publishing.

DOG-GONE BEAUTIFUL BY ROBIN COSTELLO

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ith a style that could be described as Andy Warhol meets Keith Haring, Dean Russo’s soulful portraits of pets have captured the hearts of animal lovers everywhere. Known for the expressive faces of the cats and dogs he captures on canvas, Russo thinks his paintings create an emotional connection with the viewer. He believes it’s all in the eyes. “For me, the eyes of the animal are how they communicate.” An accomplished graphic artist and native Brooklynite, Russo has a signature style that was influenced by the urban art of the streets he calls home. Filled with bold colors that juxtapose abstract patterns, his colorful and vibrant pieces are created using a minimum of 10 mediums — everything from

pastels, oils, pencils, wax and charcoal to Sharpie markers, spray cans, liquid acrylics and more. The story behind Russo's eye-catching portraits is a parable of animal rescue awareness. Russo would visit shelters and ask for photographs of adoptable pets to paint. He would then donate proceeds from the paintings back to the shelter. He and his unique paintings soon developed a loyal following. Fast forward a decade and Russo has become a bonafide pop-art sensation. His canvases can be found throughout the graphic art world, in galleries, private collections and in licensed merchandise everywhere. Looking for a budget-friendly holiday gift? Check out the complete line of lined writing journals featuring Russo’s prints published by Quiet Fox Design, an imprint of Fox Chapel Publishing. For a one-of a kind, custom portrait of your own pet, visit deanrussoart.com or artofmypet.com.

Conservation, Wine & Floral Design Presented by Westmoreland Sanctuary

Come and enjoy evening discussions on nature and conservation over wine, appetizers and floral design sessions. And bring home a beautiful arrangementâ&#x20AC;Ś created by YOU!

Thursday, April 12 WINE & VINE 7pm

Wednesday, May 16

MAY BOUQUET 7pm

Saturday, Sept. 29

FALL WREATH 7pm

Thursday, Dec. 6

WINTERSCAPES 7pm

To register, please visit www.westmorelandsanctuary.org MISSION To secure and preserve land for the enjoyment and enrichment of all ages through Environmental education and Conservation programs.

60th Anniversary

WHEN & WHERE

Through Jan 20

“Maya Lin: A River is a Drawing,” a site-specific interactive exhibition that explores the geology and topography of the Hudson River and the effects of climate change. Noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, Hudson River Museum, 511 Warburton Ave., Yonkers; 914-9634550, hrm.org.

Nov. 1 through Dec. 1

Rye Arts Center presents The Ground Glass’ 43rd annual photography exhibition. The show will feature works by the Westchester-based association. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 51 Milton Road; 914-967-0700, ryeartscenter.org.

Nov. 2

The opening reception for “We Are Artists Every One: The Art Center in Action, 1970-1986,” an exhibition of artwork, photographs, artifacts and oral histories that explores the Bridgeport Art Center, a creative, cultural, social and political space that flourished in the 1970s and early 1980s. 6 to 8:30 p.m., Bridgeport Public Library, 925 Broad St.; 203-576-7400, bportlibrary.org.

Through Nov. 3

Hudson Stage Company presents “Constellations,” a two-character drama by Nick Payne. Marianne and Roland’s relationship unfolds across time and space with each variation sending their relationship on an entirely new trajectory. Times vary, Whippoorwill Hall at North Castle Library, 19 Whippoorwill Road, Armonk; 914-2712811, hudsonstage.com.

Nov. 3

Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “Aida,” about an Egyptian prince and an Ethiopian princess who fall in love amid a war between their nations, is presented in concert by the Gateway Orchestra, Gateway Opera Chorus and featured soloists. 8 p.m., The Klein Memorial Auditorium, 910 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport; 800-424-0160, theklein.org. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Family Services of Westchester presents “The Really BIG Show” featuring The B-52s as headliners, with additional performances by Harlem Gospel Choir, Jazz House Kids, Matt Schuler, The Really Big Show Singers and Matt Whitaker as the nonprofit honors Chad Johnson. 7:30 p.m., The Performing Arts Center at Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Road; for reservations contact Valerie Brown at 914-305-6874, vbrown@fsw.org.

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"Three White Birches" by Dennis Dilmaghani, featured at Rye Arts Center through Dec. 1.

Nov. 3 and 4

Westport Young Woman’s League’s 43rd annual CraftWestport — More than 200contemporary artisans and artists from across the country will exhibit at Connecticut’s largest indoor fine crafts festival. Admission proceeds will be distributed to charitable agencies by the Westport Young Woman’s League. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Staples High School Fieldhouse, 70 North Ave.; 845331-7900, craftwestport.com.

Nov. 4

“Diwali: A Celebration of Light,” a folk arts program of stories, traditional Indian dances and other activities to celebrate the Hindu festival of lights, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness. 2 p.m., White Plains Public Library, 100 Martine Ave.; 914422-1476, whiteplainslibrary.org.

Nov. 4 and 5

The Chamber Players of The Greenwich Symphony present “Three Corners of Spain,” a concert of music by composers Arriaga, Granados, Montsalvatge and Turina. 4 p.m. Sunday, Round Hill Community Church, 395 Round Hill Road; and 7:30 p.m. Monday, Greenwich Arts Council, 299 Greenwich Ave.; 203-6374725, chamberplayersofthegso.org.

Nov. 6

The Sixth annual Andrus on Hudson fundraiser, “A Night of Inspiration.” Cocktails, dinner, live music and a silent auction featuring jewelry, sports memorabilia, event tickets, restaurant gift cards and more. Proceeds will enhance the lives of Andrus on Hudson seniors with additional therapeutic, cultural and artistic activities. 6 p.m., 115 Old Broadway, Hastings-on-Hudson; 914-478-3700, andrusonhudson.org.

Nov. 10

The Symphony of Westchester’s 22nd season-opening concert will include performances of Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 in E minor and Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E Minor by cellist Inbal Segev. 8 p.m., Christopher J. Murphy Auditorium, 715 North Ave., New Rochelle; 914-654-4926, thesymphonyofwestchester.org. ArtsWestchester presents “Songs of the Brickyards,” a folk arts program related to its current “Brick by Brick” exhibition, which celebrates the shared story of the Erie Canal and the Hudson Valley brickyards. Storytellers, singers of spirituals and gospel legends will take audiences through the history of slavery, Hudson Valley brickyards and the African-American church in Haverstraw. 3 to 5 p.m., 31 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains; 914-428-4220, artsw.org/brickbybrick.

experience something real November 2 NW Dance Project 4 Aida Cuevas Totalmente Juan Gabriel 18 Circa Carnival of the Animals

#PAC1819

December 1 CMS of Lincoln Center Windstorm 1 Jazz at The Center: Joe Lovano plays Bernstein 2 Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia The Rainbow Fish 8 Orpheus Chamber Orchestra | Steven Isserlis, cello 9 Boston Brass Christmas Bells Are Swingin’ 14 The Rob Mathes Holiday Concert (also on Dec 15) 16 Westchester Philharmonic Winter Pops! January 19 Gina Chavez 26 CMS of Lincoln Center Esteemed Ensemble February 2 DIAVOLO: Architecture in Motion® 10 Westchester Philharmonic Friends and Family 16 Robin Spielberg March 2 CMS of Lincoln Center Hungarian Fire 10 Trusty Sidekick Theatre Company Shadow Play 16 Aspen Santa Fe Ballet 23 Portland Cello Project Homage to Radiohead 30 Jazz at The Center with Cyrille Aimee April 7 Tiempo Libre 7 Westchester Philharmonic All-Beethoven Season Finale 20 The Triplets of Belleville 25 BODYTRAFFIC May 4 CMS of Lincoln Center Deeply Inspired 5 Daniel Kelly’s Rakonto: Student Voices

914.251.6200 www.artscenter.org

LUCILLE WERLINICH, Chair of Purchase College Foundation

Nov. 17

Smart Arts at Westchester Community College presents TAYLOR 2, a modern dance company established by choreographer Paul Taylor, who died Aug. 29. This six-member company, formed in 1993, introduces the athleticism, humor and range of emotions found in Taylor’s contemporary work. 8 p.m., 75 Grasslands Road, Valhalla; 914-606-6262, sunywcc.edu/smartarts. Max Weinberg’s Jukebox comes to The Ridgefield Playhouse. Weinberg, the longtime drummer for Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, invites the audience to create the set list he and his four-piece group will play that night. 8 p.m., 80 E. Ridge Road; 203438-5795, ridgefieldplayhouse.org.

Symphony of Westchester, featuring cellist Inbal Segev, performs Nov. 10. Photography by Dario Acosta.

Nov. 11

Yonkers Philharmonic will open its new season with a family concert. The program will include Richard Strauss’ Serenade in E-flat major, Mendelssohn’s String Symphony No. 10 in B minor, Carl Heinrich Hubler’s Concerto for Four Horns and Orchestra with the Metropolitan Horn Authority and more. 3 p.m., Saunders Trade High School, 183 Palmer Road; 914-631-6674, yonkersphilharmonic.com. PJS Jazz Society presents a live concert that features vocal group SAGE. The all-women’s jazz, blues and contemporary ensemble has opened for and appeared with Ray Charles, Regina Carter and the Duke Ellington Show Choir. 5:15 p.m., 199 N. Columbus Ave., Mount Vernon; 914-667-0823, pjsjazz.org. Hear Broadway performers Frank Mastrone and Terry Eldh, accompanied by Heather A. Hamilton, pay tribute to Leonard Bernstein, through his songs and their stories, in “Bits and Pieces.” 7:30 p.m., Saugatuck Congregational Church, 245 Post Road East, Westport; 203291-4800, westportlibrary.org.

Nov. 11 and 12

The Stamford Symphony, with director-violinist Andrés Cárdenes performs Antonio Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons.” 8 p.m. Sunday, 3 p.m. Monday, Stamford’s Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St. 203-325-4466, stamfordsymphony.org.

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Nov. 13

The Glass House and New Canaan Library present Samuel White — a founding partner of PBDW Architects, which combines historic restoration and adaptive reuse with new designs in historic settings — speaking on “Something Old, Something New: The Architecture of Transformation.” 6 p.m., New Canaan Library, 199 Elm St.; 203-594-9884, theglasshouse.org.

Nov. 14

Purchase College Conservatory of Music presents a performance featuring Soul Voices with artistic director Pete Malinverni. This group of singers from various backgrounds, interests and major study areas demonstrates the unity that is possible via the universal gift of the human voice. 7 p.m., 735 Anderson Hill Road; 914-251-6700, purchase.edu/ academics/music. JIB Productions presents “Short Cuts, an evening of shorts from the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival. This program is themed "Is There a Way Out?" and features director Richard Raymond, who will screen his film “Souls of Totality.” 7 p.m. refreshments; 7:30 films and discussion. Garden Cinemas, 61 Isaac St., Norwalk; 203-293-8729, JIBproductions.org.

The Center for Contemporary Printmaking (CCP) announces its 20th annual MONOTHON fundraising auction and party. After a month of artist printing sessions in October, pieces from CCP artists (both old and new) are auctioned along with special art-related experiences to raise funds for the organization. 5:30 p.m., Carriage Barn Arts Center, 681 South Ave., New Canaan; 203-899-7999, contemprints.org.

Nov. 20

Caleb A. Scharf, director of astrobiology at Columbia University, speaks on “The Zoomable Universe” in a Westport Astronomical Society lecture. 7 p.m., Fairfield Public Library, 1080 Old Post Road; 203-256-3155, fairfieldpubliclibrary.org.

Nov 23

Opening of “A Magical Christmas Eve at the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum” — Capture the enchantment and excitement of the night before Christmas and explore Christmas Eve as it was celebrated by the Lockwood and Mathews families. Also features 21st-century holiday decorations with trees and other seasonal displays. Tour hours: Noon, 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays, 295 West Ave., Norwalk; 203-8389799, lockwoodmathewsmansion.com.

Nov. 27

“Cell,” a play by Cassandra Medley. When a jaded guard arranges jobs for her sister and niece at an immigrant detention center, Gwen’s family erupts into a battle over home and homeland security. As time ticks down to save a detained child, “Cell” paints a picture of the secrets we keep in order to survive. 8 p.m., Fairfield University, The Quick Center for the Arts, 1073 N. Benson Road; 203-2544010, quickcenter.fairfield.edu.

WATCH

DOCTORS IN THE HOUSE

A group of doctors who are among Westchester County’s most distinguished and one promising medical student were recognized Sept. 20 at the annual “Doctors of Distinction” Awards at Doral Arrowwood in Rye Brook. Presented by the Westchester County Business Journal and WAG magazine, the annual awards program honors leaders in the medical field who were chosen for their dedication and commitment to improving the lives of people throughout the region. Photographs by Bob Rozycki. 1. Max G. Gaujean, Gary Sastow and Anthony Sanfratello 2. Jay Canell, Justin Dembo and Neil Canell 3. Steve Kraus and Mark Fialk 4. Dean Brown, Janice Green and Yami Holguin 5. Philip Maynard and Ginette Portera 6. Suzanne Gardinier and Joanne Ahola 7. Dan Zucchi and Holly Benedict 8. Kayron Rosayaie, Kimberly Yee, Sasa Rosayaie, Alexandre Archer and June Archer 9. Dr. Jeremy Hill, Disha Gupta, Shauna Pringle and Glen Prusky 10. Ettie Ganz and David Ganz 11. Jay Zaslow, Denise Garcia Egin and Andrea Beltran Ruggiero 12. Boriana Parvez and Joan Ruddy 13. Robert Rosenberg, Jeanmarie Loria and Stefania Gabriele 14. Matthew Sullivan and Haim Keren 15. Finbarr Ifudu 16. Kathleen McArdle and Mary K. Spengler 17. Jessica Klarl, Georgia Close and Fran Ganz-Lord 18. Joel Francis and Lorna Anderson 19. Kathryn Hyams, Elias Hymans and children 20. Mellany Bagtas and William Frishman 21. Linda Ferrentino, Vera McEnroe and Tom Owens

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PERSIAN FEST

The Untermyer Gardens Conservancy presented its inaugural Samuel Untermyer Award to British-Iranian journalist Christiane Amanpour — host of PBS’ newsmagazine “Amanpour and Company” — on Sept. 16, during its annual celebration of Mehregan, the ancient Persian harvest festival. Traditional Persian music performed by Amir Vahab filled the air as guests clinked late-afternoon cocktails and savored Persian cuisine in an open tent with spectacular views of the Hudson River. Vartan Gregorian — president of the Carnegie Corp. and, like Amanpour, also Iranian-born — presented the award to her. Violin prodigy Oliver Hakim dazzled the crowd of 250 with his performance in the Temple of the Sky against the night sky as guests threw esphand seeds into the ceremonial fire pits to ward off the evil eye. The event culminated in a performance by the Vancouver Pars National Ballet in the temple, which is the gardens’ outdoor amphitheater. Designed by Yonkers-based sculptor Jacqueline Lorieo, the Samuel Untermyer Award replicates in miniature key design elements of the Persian garden. The award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated bravery and shined a light on important issues of the day. The event raised funds to support the conservancy’s efforts to restore Untermyer Gardens and its once grand, now ruined Persian Pool. Photographs by Ralph Gabriner, Jessica Norman and Rebecca Smeyne. 1. Steve Byrns 2. Shahram Razman, MD, Kimia Karian, Mitra Razman, MD and Michael Razman 3. Susan Sahim and Betty Emamian 4. Tom Lollar, Dan Wolk, Ann Carmel, Maroakh Sakhai, Nazee Moinian, Kamran Hakim and Parviz Shakiban 5. Sofia Din and Loveleen Sood 6. Christiane Amanpour 7. Michael Bakwin and Kathryn Buckley 8. Vartan Gregorian 9. Vancouver Pars National Ballet in the Temple of the Sky 10. Batya Gorin, MD and Howard Feldman 11. Vancouver Pars National Ballet 12. Beth Fitzgerald, James Blanchard, Richard Fitzgerald and Susan James 13. Pierre and Jenny du Pont 14. Oliver Hakim in the Temple of the Sky

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WATCH

WORKING TOGETHER

Achieving more, together was the theme of Westfair Communication’s recent “Women’s Blueprint: Mentors That Have Inspired Leadership” event. The lunch and learn gathering was held at The Osborne in Rye and brought together professional women and entrepreneurs from all sectors of the business world with a message of cooperation — not competition — as a blueprint to success. Helen Rothberg, professor of strategy at Marist College and a faculty member of the Academy of Competitive Intelligence, delivered the keynote address and all attendees received a copy of her book, “The Perfect Mix: Everything I Know About Leadership I Learned as a Bartender.” The presenting sponsors of this event were Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Westfair Communications, publisher of the Westchester County Business Journal, the Fairfield County Business Journal and WAG magazine. Photographs by Bob Rozycki. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.

Helen Rothberg Marcy Berman-Goldstein Holly Mitchell Fran Pastore Daniel Trust Helen Nickells, Joy Chaillou and Mike Cappelli Arlene Rodgers and Jennifer Handelsman Amina Cush Elizabeth Frankel Winterbridge and Connie Butler Leslie Grossman and Stacey Cohen Ellen Mellyn, Alice Tseng and Gilda Borenstein Maria Stadnik, Carolyn Sierra and Lisa Ball Anne Hardy, Zulma Primeaux and Jann Mirchandani Joyce White and Sarah Bamford Dana Marjieh and Lisa Black Wei Du and Frank Rogers

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WATCH

LUNCHEON SPECIAL

Westfair Communication’s “Women in Food, Beverage and Hospitality” event celebrated female entrepreneurship and empowering women at the VIP Country Club in New Rochelle on Sept. 27. Panelists detailed the successes and hardships they experienced in creating their own businesses. Sponsors for this event were Courtyard Travel, VIP Country Club, Catskill Provisions, 3E Public Relations, Greater Hudson Bank, Gilda Bonanno LLC, Buzz Creators and Digitalchair. Supporters for this event were Big Green Truck Pizza, Unified Wealth Management, Thompson’s Cider, Hidden Realms, JanCare, Professional Women of Westchester, The Recipe of Success, Hospitality Resource Group and Daniels O’Connell PC. The event honored Ready to Empower. Photographs by Bob Rozycki. 1. Silvia Baldini 2. Simone Klabin 3. Lucy Halperin Zaro, Loren Brill and Jennifer Mezzapelle 4. Stephanie Pawlikowski, Claire Marin and Tracy Gavant 5. Gilda Bonanno 6. Nancy Panzer and Jackie Polikoff 7. Rachael Engelhardt and Lara Sullivan 8. Tracey Daniels and Sari Kaplan Mittler 9. Yami Holguin 10. Valerie Hovasapian and Elizabeth Bracken-Thompson 11. Tracey Schneider, Marcia Pflug, Aviden Safaei and Marria Pooya 12. Richard Boehm and Anne Ryan

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WATCH

NEW YORK MEDICAL HONORS The New York Medical College (NYMC) held its annual Founder’s Dinner at the DoubleTree Hilton in Tarrytown recently. More than 300 academic, health care, business and community leaders attended this year’s black-tie gala, which raised funds to benefit NYMC students through supporting scholarships and initiatives. This year, three distinguished guests were recognized for their commitment to NYMC and the larger medical community, including Felix Wimpfheimer, MD, who was presented with the Alfred DelBello Distinguished Service Award. This is bestowed on an individual who has helped advance NYMC’s mission of education and research though service, commitment and expert ability. Also honored for their transformative achievements were Judith M. Watson, executive director of the Greenburgh Health Center who received the Jackson E. Spears Community Service Award; and Nobel Prize winner William C. Campbell, who received the Willian Cullen Bryant Award. The Irish-born Campbell, studied at Trinity College at the University of Dublin and at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where he received his doctorate in 1957. He worked for pharmaceutical giant Merck until 1990. He is now with Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. In 2015, the biologist/parasitologist shared the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine with Satoshi Ömura and Youyou Tu “for their discoveries concerning a novel therapy against infections caused by roundworm parasites.” Photographs by John Vecchiola. 1. Felix Wimpfheimer, MD, Judith M. Watson and William C. Campbell 2. Alan Kadish, MD, David Patterson and Edward Halperin, MD 3. William and Esther Frishman 4. Rob Amler, MD 5. Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Vilma Bordonaro 6. Jerry Nadler, MD 7. Adam Hammerman and Salomon Amar, MD 8. Joseph Morales, MD, and Sharon Halperin 9. Tara Alfano, Jennifer Riekert and Beth Gorin 10. Camille Harriott, Pamela Cunningham, Lisa Kaurich and Linda Lipkin 11. George Contreras, Christopher Chukwura, Jade Bedell, Edgewood Warner, Purvi Desai, Keya Dushyant Desai, Mary Sofianos, Jeremy Lyngdoh, Latoya Ann-Simone Patrick and Jeffrey Patrick

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WE WONDER:

WHAT’ S THE SECRET TO A G RE AT SIBLING REL ATIONSHIP ?

Kevin Banks

student White Plains resident

receptionist Mount Vernon resident

John Griffin

graduate student New York City resident

Charlie Jenkins

Sarah Kelly

“I think the secret to a great sibling relationship is open communication. If you and your loved ones can be honest with each other, then I think you can overcome almost any problem.”

“I’m certainly not qualified to say what makes a great sibling relationship. My siblings and I have plenty of arguments and disagreements – though, I suppose remembering that you love them is the basis for a great relationship.”

“I think the qualities of any great relationship are pretty universal. You need to be open, honest and willing to listen. I think that goes for a sibling relationship as well as any other kind.”

“I don’t think I can tell you what makes a sibling relationship great. My siblings definitely aren’t the best role models. But I can tell you what won’t make a sibling relationship work. You can’t be too selfish or take the people around you for granted. You’re the best support system for each other.”

“I like to think that I have a pretty good relationship with my siblings because we make the time for each other. Life can get complicated and busy, but if you just remember to acknowledge each other and spend time with the people who are important to you, it makes for a very healthy, meaningful relationship.”

Greg Lee

Camila Lopez real estate agent Katonah resident

New York City resident

Dan Schmidt

Trudy Washington

“I think time is one of the most important factors in developing a good relationship with your siblings. As we’ve all gotten older, my brother and sister and I have all gotten better at relating to one another.”

“A great sibling relationship begins with an example set by the parents. I know my parents created an environment where... supporting each other was the most important part of being a family and we all try to follow that lesson to this day.”

“My siblings and I all try and make a point to speak at least once a week. That way, we all know what’s going on in each other’s lives and I think that’s part of what gives us a connection. We all make it clear that we’re important to each other.”

“I’d say that effort is one of the most important parts of setting up a great sibling relationship. If you all put effort into listening, visiting and loving each other, then I think you have a much better chance at a meaningful relationship. At least, that’s what my siblings and I try to do.”

Su-mi Kim

retired Crestwood resident

“My relationship with my sister has gotten better over the years, because we’ve both gotten better at being grateful for the other. If you don’t take each other for granted, I think it’s easier to have a great sibling relationship.”

Aisha Fields

information technology Bronx resident

design associate Hartsdale resident

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lawyer Scarsdale resident

intern New Rochelle resident