VISIONS OF LIGHT DYNAMIC DUO William and Kate ANTHONY FAUCI speaks truth to power JOHN OLIVER’S Danbury “feud” YOGI JANELLE BERGER stays in the moment LIGHTING THE SEASON Indoors, outdoors and within the heart
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MAGAZINE
IN NEW YORK STATE 2014, 2015, 2016 2018, 2019 WESTCHESTER & FAIRFIELD LIFE DECEMBER 2020 | WAGMAG.COM
CONTENTS DECEMBER 2020
14 Shadow play
40 On the ‘Big Road’
18 Farewell to Lord & Taylor
44 Making the right connections
20 In the moment
48 Ending slavery, brick by brick
26 John Oliver does Danbury
52 Head of the class
28 Designing Women
54 Anthony Fauci’s inconvenient truth
32 A most complementary pair
58 Into the light
36 Book ’em, Diane
66 Going his own way
38 Real estate and ‘Real Talk’ 2
WAGMAG.COM DECEMBER 2020
THIS PAGE: Candlelight. Photograph by Alex Fauvet on Unsplash. (See "Into the light" on page 58.)
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FEATURES HIGHLIGHTS
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HOME & DESIGN 60 Let there be lighting 64 Safe holiday sparkle 66 Going his own way 68 In the ‘Pink’ FASHION & BEAUTY 70 Thriving stylishly
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TRAVEL 72 Bella Isla Bella 76 For the stylin’ armchair tourist 78 Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way FOOD & SPIRITS 82 ‘Moontruck’ by Gianna’s 86 A curry for the holidays 88 Drinking my way to a new book HEALTH & WELLNESS 90 Getting fit, virtually 92 Is Covid-19 anxiety making you sick? PET CARE 94 My Buddy WHEN & WHERE 96 Festive December
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WITS 98 We wonder: How will you lighten the holidays this year?
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m Re cla i
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movement e e r f in a p of
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EDITORIAL
PHIL HALL
DEBBI K. KICKHAM
Bob Rozycki MANAGING EDITOR bobr@westfairinc.com
Georgette Gouveia EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ggouveia@westfairinc.com
WILLIAM D. KICKHAM
ART Sarafina Pavlak GRAPHIC DESIGNER spavlak@westfairinc.com
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John Rizzo, Bob Rozycki
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Gina Gouveia, Phil Hall, Debbi K. Kickham, Doug Paulding, Giovanni Roselli, Bob Rozycki, Gregg Shapiro, Barbara Barton Sloane, Jeremy Wayne, Cami Weinstein, Katie Banser-Whittle
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Some readers think WAG stands for “Westchester and Greenwich.” We certainly cover both. But mostly, a WAG is a wit and that’s how we think of ourselves, serving up piquant stories and photos to set your own tongues wagging.
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The Kensington White Plains is ready for the “What If’s”.... Are you?
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hinking about the “What If’s” can be uncomfortable—and extremely stressful. But if you have an older relative living alone or at home with you, then it’s important to give the “What If’s” some serious thought, especially now.
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EDITOR’S LETTER BY GEORGET TE GOUVEIA
professionals, often working moms like themselves, with firms in Fairfield County and beyond that value what the company calls “a work/life balance.” Suzanne McCann of Destination: College helps underserved student-athletes at Mount Vernon High School and Greenburgh’s Woodlands High School achieve their higher education aspirations. And Sharon Prince, founding CEO of Grace Farms Foundation in New Canaan, seeks to eradicate forced labor with In winter, the darkest of seasons in the Northern Hemisphere, the foundation’s Design for Freedom program. we encounter, well, the darkest of seasons this year. Naturally, we We also shed light on some great seek out light, its warmth and its heat. sources of retail therapy — Pink in Rye for And so we say, “Let there be light” — litlast-minute gifts and eternally Mary Jane erally, with a story on indoor lighting to Denzer in White Plains for luxe dresses brighten the feathering of everyone’s for the occasions that continue virtually nest. In contrast, Jeremy considers the and will return on a grander scale in peroutdoor illuminations so popular at this son some day. time of year, while also noting the role As will travel to evocative places like light plays in every religion from the the Isla Bella Beach Resort in the FloriAbrahamic faiths to Hinduism. da Keys ( Jeremy again) or Ireland’s Wild But there is no light without darkness, Atlantic Way (Barbara’s story). And when as we discuss in our opening essay. The you do travel, you’ll want to take along stars’ twinkle is visible only in an inky some of the items in Debbi’s annual gift sky, while the sparkle of precious jewguide, suitable for this season’s armchair els and metals is more vivid in black tourist as well. or midnight blue velvet cases. Shadow But should we be discussing things has shaped light in every art form, from and places in a year of social distancing chiaroscuro-tinged paintings to film in which so many have lost their lives, noir. Light and dark, then, are counterloved ones and livelihoods? We think so, balances. We don’t have to succumb to because things and places are only reour psychological darkness, but we do This hat is one of my recent souvenirs of Lord & Taylor minders of what and whom we love. Our have to acknowledge it to achieve that Eastchester, now about to close, and a reminder of happy times spent there. Photograph by Bob Rozycki. “Visions of Light” issue includes a tribute balance. to Lord & Taylor Eastchester, one of the Fortunately, we have a lot of stories great, historic stores in Westchester County, an emporium of fashin this issue to help you regain or keep your equilibrium. Chrision and beauty that helped many of us mark our rites of passage. topher J. Robles, M.D., of White Plains Hospital Physician AssociIt’s closing soon but lives already in memory as a place that ates, offers some cogent strategies for coping with Covid anxiety. deepened our relationships and our sense of ourselves, for things Among them is yoga, which Jeremy delves into with Purchase and places are never only about themselves. They’re really about model-turned-yogi Janelle Berger. Wares columnist Cami has tips the experiences we had with them and the people we shared to take some of the stress out of socially distanced holiday gaththem with. erings. We are, Christianity tells us, a people of the light who must not We also connect with some luminaries, who, in the spirit of hide it under a bushel. By sharing our individual lights in a season “namaste,” the word that closes many yoga practices, say in efof darkness, we join them with those of others and, in that way, fect, “From the light in me to the light in thee.” They may be not light the whole world. be as famous as Anthony Fauci, M.D., recently honored at New From all of us at WAG, we wish you a holiday season filled with York Medical College’s Founder’s Dinner for his grace-filled leadlight and joy. ership during the Covid crisis; or William and Catherine, the Duke A 2020 YWCA White Plains & Central Westchester Visionand Duchess of Cambridge, who help keep the British royal famary Award winner and a 2018 Folio Women in Media Award ily present with their compassionate steadiness (Phil’s story); or Winner, Georgette Gouveia is the author of “Burying the Dead,” John Oliver, host of HBO’s “Last Night This Week With John Oliver,” “Daimon: A Novel of Alexander the Great” and "Seamless Sky" who’s long-running “feud” with Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton ( JMS Books), as well as “The Penalty for Holding,” a 2018 Lambhas benefited Connecticut charities; or longtime Americana muda Literary Award finalist ( JMS Books), and “Water Music” sician-songwriter David Bromberg (Gregg’s interview), out with a (Greenleaf Book Group). They’re part of her series of novels, new CD/DVD package, “Big Road.” “The Games Men Play,” also the name of the sports/culture blog But our local luminaries are doing much to shine a light on othshe writes. ers. Diane Garrett of Diane’s Books in Greenwich pairs readers Her short story “The Glass Door,” about love in the time of with just the right book ( Jeremy’s story). New Canaan Realtor and the coronavirus, was recently published by JMS. Read WAG’s YouTube performer Mark Pires teams his audience with the right serialization of “Seamless Sky” here. For more, visit thegamesresidences and some much needed entertainment (Phil’s story). menplay.com. Runa Knapp and Jasmine Silver of connectalent match skilled WHEN WE WERE CASTING ABOUT FOR SUB-THEMES FOR OUR YEAR OF “2020 VISIONS,” WE DECIDED THAT DECEMBER WOULD BE ABOUT FASCINATING PEOPLE. BUT AS THE CORONAVIRUS HAS DEEPENED IN THE UNITED STATES, WE QUICKLY PIVOTED — THERE’S A 2020 WORD FOR YOU — TO “VISIONS OF LIGHT.”
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WHAT'S TRENDING CLOTHES TO VROOM IN What’s better than driving a sleek car by McLaren? Driving a sleek car by McLaren while wearing its equally elegant clothes. The British luxury pioneering supercar company has partnered with British premium sportswear brand Castore to debut their first technical male sportswear collection. Taking inspiration directly from McLaren’s modern engineering and use of lightweight materials to improve performance, the limited-edition Castore collection is designed to offer style and comfort in cotton T-shirts, performance tops and outerwear. Bonded seams, a sonic welded construction and heat transferred interior components keep garments highly streamlined and near-weightless. The collection also embraces smooth, sloping curves and hexagonal grid formations, while creating a streamlined and flattering silhouette with an understated yet distinctive aesthetic. Each piece is ergonomically cut for ease of movement and offers superior wicking, odor-resistance, four-way stretch and a unique mesh construction that increases airflow, cooling and ventilation. Castore was founded to create the highest quality sportswear in the world and its collaboration with McLaren is true to that pioneering spirit. Both British brands were drawn together by an enduring quest for creating products of exceptional quality and unrivalled user experience. As with McLaren’s supercars, every last detail has been thoughtfully considered and executed in the creation of their collaborative performance collection. Hero pieces include a range of performance tees. With thermo regulation properties through Coldblack technology, the performance tee reduces heat buildup while protecting you from the sun’s rays through a UVA and UVB protection textile finish. The tees also feature laser-mapping design in key sweat zones to increase airflow through the garment, making them the ideal choice when you’re training or on the move. The utilization of advanced engineering techniques is key to every piece of the collection. A case in point is the technical softshell jacket, which is designed for both style and function. Showcasing a streamlined silhouette and relaxed athletic fit, the jacket is highly breathable and also includes seal branding to reduce added weight. Featuring water repellent zip closures, the collection’s Softshell Jacket is a model example of light outerwear for an active lifestyle. The Castore and McLaren collection is available at Castore stores and castore.com. — edited by Georgette Gouveia
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WE NEED A LITTLE CHRISTMAS This year, Christmas cheer can’t come early enough. Recently, Italian singer Giada Valenti wagmag.com/all-you-need-is-love/ released a lovely, soothing version of “What Child Is This?” This beautiful Christmas carol was recorded in an unplugged style, with guitar and violin. It was produced by Paul Umbach, who also worked with artists like Britney Spears, 'NSYNC, Backstreet Boys. The violin solo on the track is played by Volkan Canbolat. Said Valenti: “I love Christmastime and I love to sing all those songs that bring so Singer Giada Valenti has released a new single much joy to all of us. But ‘What Child Is just in time for the holiday season. Courtesy Giada This?’ is one of the few songs that every Valenti. holiday season reminds me of what Christmas is all about. It touches my heart every time I sing it, thinking about hope, that hope we all have at Christmastime that things will get better. It was great to work together with two amazing and talented friends, like Paul Umbach, a veteran record-producer and one of the most talented musicians, and Volkan Canbolat, a young immigrant like me with big dreams who always creates love vibes with his violin. ‘What Child Is This?’ is my first Christmas recording, and I loved every second of it.” The carol’s lyrics were written by William Chatterton Dix in 1865, although the melody, recognizable as “Greensleeves,” is an English ballad that dates from the Renaissance. At the time he composed the lyrics, Dix was an insurance company manager who had been struck by a severe illness. While recovering, he underwent a spiritual renewal that led him to write several hymns, including lyrics to “What Child Is This?” Although it was written in Great Britain, the carol is more popular today in the United States than in its country of origin. To listen or download the track, visit: giadavalenti.com/epk-1 — edited by Georgette Gouveia
BRINGING HOME AN EXCLUSIVE BIRKIN
Look good while driving a McLaren in its first technical male sportswear collection, a collaboration with another luxe British company, sportswear brand Castore.
Who doesn’t love a beautiful Hermès heirloom-quality Birkin bag? It’s the world’s most coveted purse. Problem is it can be hard to find — which the author Michael Tonello hilariously described in his wonderful book, “Bringing Home The Birkin” (available on Amazon). As of today, WAG readers are in luck. The Privé Porter store — which has grown to become the largest and most reliable source for brand new Hermès collectible handbags and accessories, all via its Instagram e-commerce instagram.com/ priveporter/ — is giving our readers “first crack” at one sumptuous, brand new, neverused purse, for just one week, starting today, before it goes on sale to the general public. This Hermès handbag features gold hardware and is made of porosus crocodile, considered to be the most valuable material used by Hermès to make Birkin bags. It is the most expensive and exclusive leather in the world. At Hermès, no bag of precious skins (alligator, crocodile, lizard, or ostrich) is made with more leather than one animal can produce. No scars, no damage, just a finely bred specimen to meet Hermès’ ultra-high standards. You’ll look stunningly gorgeous carrying this VIP purse — whether in first class on your private jet — or just on your outings to the supermarket, where you will be a standout. And all for just — yes, you’re reading this right — $78,000. — Debbi K. Kickham DECEMBER 2020 WAGMAG.COM
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shadow play BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA
What does a season of light mean in a year of darkness? We’re told in Isaiah 9:2 (and George Fridiric Handel’s “Messiah”) that “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” — words that in themselves shine at yuletide. We’re exhorted to have ourselves a merry little Christmas and let our hearts be “light” in a Hugh Martin-Ralph Blane song, some of whose oft-revised lyrics were anything but.
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Georges de La Tour’s “The New-born” (1640s), oil on canvas. Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rennes. The work puts La Tour’s signature candlelit spin – complete with anachronistic bourgeois Baroque clothing – on an ancient religious subject, as the Virgin Mary and her mother,2020 St. Anne, contemplate Baby Jesus. 15 DECEMBER WAGMAG.COM
Someday soon we all will be together, if the fates allow,” Judy Garland sang to a weeping Margaret O’Brien in “Meet Me in St. Louis” (1944) as they prepared to leave their beloved Midwestern home for their father’s job promotion in New York. “Until then we'll have to muddle through somehow.” When Garland sang this version of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” at the Hollywood Canteen during World War II, soldiers who were about to be deployed wept. Martin’s lyrics seem just as apt for today’s social distancing, which has separated family and friends from the most intimate of holiday gatherings. But they’re also a reminder that there is no light without darkness. It’s the idea behind chiaroscuro, a technique of shading in the visual arts pioneered by the ancient Greeks — who called it skiagraphia or “shadow painting” — and refined to high art in the Renaissance and Baroque, in which light and dark model the figures in a scene and indeed the entire work. Few artists were better at this than the French Baroque painter Georges de la Tour (1593-1652) whose distinctive, candlelit masterworks illumined contemplative religious subjects. Chiaroscuro, however, has also been put to more profane effect, as in Caravaggio’s sensual, sometimes brutal canvases, often featuring overripe, leering young men, and Raphael’s delicately molded nude of his mistress, Margarita Luti, “La Fornarina” (1518). In our time, chiaroscuro has figured in everything from the photographs of Annie Leibovitz to the 1940s' films noir. It’s fine for art to make, well, art out of this. But what of our psychological shadow play? It’s a subject the choreographer Antony Tudor tackled in his 1987 ballet of the same name, Raphael’s “La Fornarina” (1518-19), oil on wood, a “Jungle Book” of a ballet about a feral presumably a portrait of boy’s quest for enlightenment. Overcomhis mistress, Margarita Luti, ing the temptations of power and lust, deed, in other contexts they can be forces and a masterpiece of subtle chiaroscuro modeling. Galleria the hero of this “Shadowplay” is master for good. Righteous anger can spur us to soNazionale Arte Antica. of all he surveys, until a last-minute itch cial justice. Fear can free us to take necessary reminds him, or at least the viewers, risks. It’s the context that drives perception, not that we retain elements of our animal the quality itself. nature. It’s an excellent lesson for a The darkness shapes the light in and around us. moment in which we’ve been laid So we may have only a little Christmas, Hanukkah, low by one of nature’s most miKwanzaa or winter solstice celebration this year. But croscopic creatures, unleashed it’s still a time to celebrate. And we can keep the spirit of by our unbalanced relationship these festivals of light, as Scrooge learns to do in Charles with exotic animals. Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” not just on the day or in the Yet even as we acknowlseason but every day. edge our animal nature and We don’t have to be Pollyanna about it. Life won’t let us anystrive for greater harmony way. Yet there is still much to relish amid our present challenges. with nature, we don’t have In his “Ode on Imitations of Immortality From Recollections of to succumb to it. We don’t Early Childhood” (1804), Romantic poet William Wordsworth wreshave to yield to our wild tles with many of the same issues we’re grappling with today, not the emotions, but we do least of which is the knowledge that life is fleeting. Still he takes comfort have to embrace them in the idea that we are not alone. We are part of something greater than and own the anger, ourselves. It is to that greatness we are born. And is to that greatness, he fear, despair and deniwrites, that we shall return: al that the darkness …Shades of the prison-house begin to close upon the growing Boy, has wrought. These But he beholds the light, and whence it flows, have their place. InHe sees it in his joy…
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Talk with Geri and a member of her team about how to you can align your values with your financial goals. Call 914.253.8800 or visit pellwealthpartners.com Pell Wealth Partners is a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFP (with plaque design) in the U.S. Investment products are not federally or FDIC-insured, are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed by any financial institution, and involve investment risks including possible loss of principal and fluctuation in value. Barron’s listings are based on data compiled by many of the nation’s most productive advisors, which is then submitted to and judged by Barron’s. Key factors and criteria include: assets under management, revenue produced for the firm, regulatory and compliance record, and years of professional experience. Barron’s is a registered trademark of Dow Jones, L.P.; all rights reserved. This award is not indicative of this advisor's future performance. Neither Ameriprise Financial nor its advisors pay a fee to Barron’s in exchange for the ranking. Ameriprise Financial, Inc. does not offer tax or legal advice. Consult with a tax advisor or attorney. The Compass is a trademark of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. Investment advisory services and products are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, a registered investment adviser. Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, Member FINRA and SIPC. © 2020 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.
farewell to lord & taylor BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA
Lord & Taylor in Eastchester is closing. After a three and a half-month lockdown, the store reopened in June, only to see parent company Le Tote file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Aug. 2 and announce L & T’s liquidation some three weeks later. (New owner Saadia Group, which acquired Lord & Taylor in October for $12 million, has announced that it will run L & T as an online business only.)
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That leaves what’s left of its 38 stores, including one in Yonkers’ Ridge Hill mall and one outlet to close by the end of the year, although the sales clerks I talked to said the Eastchester location — which became the de facto flagship last year after the landmark Fifth Avenue store closed — may hang on until Valentine's Day. Since Lord & Taylor’s Covid return, I’ve been haunting the Eastchester locale, housed in a curving, white Modernist building that helped signal the suburban expansion of the great New York City stores in the postwar era (in this case, 1947). The L & T expansion was spearheaded by store president Dorothy Shaver, the first woman to head a multimillion-dollar firm, who also introduced the store’s distinctive script logo by Andrew Geller and its American Beauty rose icon. The trailblazing Shaver was a fitting leader for a business that had originally
opened in 1826 on the Lower East Side as America’s first department store. Now it is at the end of a long goodbye that has made me think not only about my relationship with things but the complex pas de deux between cost and value. Surely it was discounted costs (albeit a mere 20 percent) that drew long lines that first weekend in August when Lord & Taylor “surprised” customers with the closing announcement everyone had already surmised. With no dressing rooms open as per Covid-19 guidelines and all sales final, some ladies had commandeered an open, Loehmann’s-style backroom downstairs and were doing a striptease there to make sure their planned purchases fit. Others, fully clothed, were stuffing themselves into outfits on the sales floors, a no-no. “You’re a woman,” one man said to me as he pulled a size 2 black polka-dot-
One of my “souvenirs” of Lord & Taylor and a bag with its pre-2015 script logo. (The last iteration used “Lord + Taylor” in print.) Photograph by Bob Rozycki.
ted white dress by Ralph Lauren down around his wife, a petite but buxom size 4. “Do you think this fits her?” I pointed out that it was only slightly tight and she was wearing a sweatshirt and jeans. It would be fine. With that seal of approval, they headed to a long line that snaked around the lingerie department. As the weeks passed, the discounts grew and dressing rooms opened but the crowds oddly thinned, affording me time to look around and troll for the last red powder blush here and pink washcloths there. It also gave me ample opportunity to consider the difference between the cost of an item and its value. Was a small, oval ruby ring flanked on each side by two little diamonds in 14-karat gold, on sale for $1, 440, ever worth its original $3,000 price tag? Was it worth the discounted price? How could you tell under the pressure of a final sale and without a gemologist at your side? Or is the truth worth of an item determined by the buyer’s willingness to meet the seller’s asking price, whatever that may be? Ah, but then that depends on the object’s value to the buyer. For anyone who saw a sweet little ring of brilliant clarity, warmed by yellow gold — perfect for those independent-minded women born in July, the month of rubies — $1,440 might seem
like a good bargain, while for those who cared nothing for rubies and July birthdays, $440 or even $44.40 might be too much. But the value of a thing lies not only in its material quality and even its monetary context. The purchaser of such a ring might look back one day and say, “This was my souvenir of Lord & Taylor, a store that gave me much happiness.” The word souvenir comes from the French “to remember.” For many, Lord & Taylor was the place they bought their first suit, a prom gown or that little black dress for a last-minute cocktail party invite. It was the place where I spent part of many a Saturday with Aunt Mary — the beloved aunt who raised me — and my sisters Jana and Gina. I remember one time when we were trying on hats, we laughed so uproariously at what we looked like that a security guard followed us out of the store, convinced we had taken something. We had — a memory of not only a good time but the close relationship the four of us shared. Now as I walk through what remains of a once vibrant store — its trunks, shelves and fixtures tagged with “sold” signs, its makeup counters Covid shrinkwrapped — I am reminded that my aunt is gone and we three sisters are scattered in different places.
But I still have the pink faux crocodile tote bag I use in summer and the beautiful Santa Claus in faux fur-trimmed green and red plaid and the red ornament nestled in silk in a Florentine paper box that I display at Christmas as well as many other treasures. These are not only souvenirs of happy times at Lord & Taylor but part of my tastes and thus my identity. A thing is never just an object, an example of our materialistic consumer culture. It’s about you and the experiences you’ve had and, most important, the people you’ve loved and shared them with. I’ll be at L & T at the end. (I’ve promised some friends that when it gets to 80 percent off, we’re going to lay siege to the jewelry department.) And I’ll remember that time, too, just as I recall one I shared recently with my cousin Michele in which we paused before the hats. They have long since ceded pride of place inside one of the main floor entrances and lay forlorn on a couple of shelves off the dresses and gowns department downstairs. At one end was a prominent pink organza hat with a square top, a broad brim and a pink flower — the kind Queen Elizabeth II might wear. I tried it on. “It’s really you,” my cousin said, only half-joking (I think). For indeed it was.
DECEMBER 2020 WAGMAG.COM
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Janelle Berger with sound bowls. Photograph by Rob Lang. 20
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in the moment BY JEREMY WAYNE
Originally from Niagara Falls, Janelle Berger came to New York at age 19 to model, starting out with Wilhelmina, progressing to Ford and later Elite before meeting her husband, Greg, graduating to QVC, having children and moving to Purchase. She started to “check out� yoga after her son, Sam, now 21, was born, wanting to get her body back into shape.
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s well as private sessions, Janelle currently offers four yoga classes weekly at Life Time Westchester, the luxury athletic club in Harrison. In conjunction with the Neuberger Museum of Art in Purchase, she also runs “Wellness Wednesday,” a series of live, online meditation sessions that are then recorded and accessible to all, free of charge. We recently spoke by phone, when Janelle gave me a crash course in yoga, generously shared some of her meditation insights and reminded me I should not be talking on my cellphone while walking the dog. So, Janelle, let’s talk yoga. I’m a novice. Where to begin? “ ‘Yoga’ means to yoke, to come together. I find that as we discover all the different ways to work out the body, we sometimes forget about working out the mind. If we practice meditation and if we practice yoga, we find that mind/body connection. And when we start to practice that, it becomes almost like brushing our teeth.” How so? “Just look at what’s going on in the world today with Covid. My favorite type of yoga is yin. With yin, you get into a pose and there is a lot of breathwork. And isn’t it interesting that this virus is really affecting everybody’s breath? So, whether I’m teaching meditation or looking up and I saw a hawk with a squirrel in yin, we always begin by working with the breath. Feeling the breath, its mouth. Sounds morbid. But if I’d have been how the body slightly expands when you breathe in, and also how on my phon,e I wouldn’t have seen it. Or I’d never it leaves the body and how it grounds you. And when you focus on hear a woodpecker.” the breath, we can focus our minds and watch our thoughts.” And the third of the three – “Acceptance”? And meditation seems to play a big part, right? “ ‘Acceptance’ is this: You don’t want to look like “Yes. I’m certified in shamatha meditation, which means the person standing next to you. Everyone’s so hard “peaceful abiding,” and is a form of concentrated mindfulness. on themselves. You want to accept where you are, in Concentrating. When you’re getting sick for instance, you’re acthe moment, right now.” tually listening to your body. And if we really listen to our bodies, “OK…I get the idea, but speaking for myself, if we can actually save ourselves from getting sick.” I just accepted who I am and where I’m at, I A kind of preventative medicine? probably wouldn’t get out of bed in the morning. I “It is preventative and holistic in a way. In other words, say wouldn’t be motivated. There’d be no incentive for you’ve had a rough day, and your back’s hurting, and you’ve self-improvement. had a fight with one of your co-workers, or a family member, “Well, I should have you give the classes. No, it’s about and you feel this tightness in the back of your neck. Then you accepting where you are but having the willingness to move lie down, work on the breath, breathing in, maybe holding the forward and not beat yourself up. When you beat yourself top of the breath….” up, that’s when you stay where you are and you’re stuck. And …I think I can hear you doing that as we’re talking. even the things that aren’t great, sometimes we have to go “Yes, yes. And then, as you’re exhaling and letting your through them in order to grow.” body settle, that physical agitation in the body will slowly reNow, you just mentioned walking your dog. What type of lease. If you’re focused on the breath, the sensation of pain dog, may I ask? eventually subsides.” “He’s a Goldendoodle. You know, when I would play my sound (Mutters) Beats my usual solution of reaching for the bowls (traditional singing bowls for healing) through the computgin. er, when things were still closed, he would sit in the corner and “Most times people come out of a yin class, they feel like meditate.” they’ve just had a massage.” I can believe it. Now, just taking it full circle and getting back Sounds good. Now, your website opens with the to modeling…. headings “Awareness, Observation and Acceptance.” “It was interesting, an interesting time. I wasn’t practicing yoga Tell me about those three, what each means and then, but I did learn a lot about myself during that time.” entails. I’ll bet you learned a lot about New York, too. “‘Awareness’ is basically training. People walk around (Pause and sigh) “Yes, I did. Yes, I did.” and they’re just not aware. Why not? They’re thinking of And now, back to the present: Which of your many classes do you where they have to be, or something that just happened, most enjoy teaching, which of the many disciplines? but they’re not in the present. So, awareness is coming “Right now, I’m teaching more of a flow class, vinyasa, where the posinto the present moment.” tures move a little quicker. One breath, one movement. But I really enjoy And ‘Observation’? teaching the yin. And you know what? I shouldn’t even say ‘teaching.’ It’s “When you’re in the present moment, you actually guiding. As a matter of fact, I end each class saying something along the lines start to observe what’s going on around you. I have that the greatest teacher always lies within yourself.” a dog and when I walk him, I don’t bring my phone with me. It’s quiet, I’m in the present moment because For more, visit janelleberger.com. And for more on “Wellness WednesI’m looking at nature, at the trees, looking at the sky. days” at the Neuberger Museum of Art, visit purchase.edu/neuberger-museIf it’s cold, I have the sensation of being cold. It’s just um-of-art/wellness-wednesday/. a little thing, but I was walking the other day and
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WAGMAG.COM DECEMBER 2020
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john oliver does danbury BY PHIL HALL
Maybe the oddest of odd couples to emerge in 2020 was a trash-talking British comedian and a small-city Connecticut mayor who waged the zaniest public feud to dominate this year’s media.
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The dust storm began on the Aug. 16 episode of HBO’s “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver,” in which the eponymous host offered a segment highlighting problems with the jury selection system. Citing Connecticut as an example, Oliver claimed residents in Hartford and New Britain were being omitted from jury duty because a computer glitch reported them as being deceased. In the midst of his presentation, Oliver unexpectedly pivoted and launched into scatological denunciation of Danbury. “Cuz if you’re gonna forget a town in Connecticut, why not forget Danbury?” Oliver exclaimed. “Because, and this is true, f--- Danbury. From its charming Railway Museum to its historic Hearthstone Castle, Danbury, Connecticut can eat my whole a--. I know exactly three things about Danbury: USA Today ranked it the second-best city to live in, in 2015. It was once the center of the American hat industry. And, if you’re from there, you’ve got a standing invite to come get a thrashing from
John Oliver works the microphone. Photograph by Chad Cooper / Creative Commons.
John Oliver, children included. F--- you.” This was not the first time that Oliver put Danbury in his crosshairs. Back in 2017, when Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton put forth a long-shot video campaign to lure Amazon into selecting his city as the site of its second headquarters complex, Oliver provided his distinctive brand of sarcastic putdown humor to denigrate the effort. Three years ago, Boughton ignored Oliver’s provocations. This time around, however, Boughton responded immediately to Oliver’s insults via Twitter, retweeting an unflattering childhood portrait of Oliver while offering a bare-knuckles invitation to the comic. “Hey @iamjohnoliver don’t worry, we are working on some Danbury payback for you,” Boughton tweeted. “Oh, and I will not hesitate to throw the hands. #bringit” A week passed before Boughton dreamed up the “payback” promised to the funnyman: He would affix Oliver’s name to a sewage treatment facility. “We are going to rename it the John Oliver Memorial Sewer Plant,” the mayor announced in a social media statement. “Why? Because it’s full of crap just like you, John.” Boughton also sarcastically commended Oliver for raising the issue of Danbury’s efforts to lure Amazon to the city as the site of its second headquarters complex. “And, oh by the way, thanks for showing that Amazon video. We did get Amazon here in Danbury,” he said, referring to the last-mile distribution facility that the e-commerce giant agreed to bring to the city this past spring. Oliver, who waited with respectful patience for Boughton to run the course of his response, then switched the stakes by promising to donate $55,000 to Danbury-area charities if the sewage plant was named for him. He also claimed he would pay for a sign bearing the “John Oliver Memorial Sewer Plant” name. “I will happily do all of that if — and only if — your mayor makes good on his promise to officially name that sewage plant after me because I want this. I need this,” Oliver proclaimed on his HBO show, adding he would give Boughton one week to meet his challenge. “I beg of you: Don’t Danbury this one up.” Boughton returned the volley with a caveat: He would accept the charitable gift provided that Oliver attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the renamed facility in person. Yet the mayor was not ready to let bygones be bygones, ribbing Oliver’s charitable donation pledge as being “a little light for somebody in the 1%” and demanding that the comic make good on his offer.
“Now look, don’t Oliver this up,” Boughton said in his social media response. “Should you choose not to take us up on this offer, we certainly have something we’ve named after you — your own personal porta potty, the John Oliver S---house. So, Mr. Oliver, come on up to Danbury and sit on your throne.” Danbury’s city council might have felt left out of the fun, so they used an Oct. 8 session to vote 18-1 with a single abstention to affix “John Oliver Memorial Sewer Plant” to the facility. Although the new name is strictly ceremonial and not an official renaming of the location, Boughton quickly took to social media to hail the development. “Yup.. It’s official The Danbury Sewer Plant is now the John Oliver Memorial Sewer Plant. — You’re move John. Bam! #DanburyPride,” the mayor wrote online. Oliver opted not to go public with his response, but instead quietly arranged to make good on his offer. On the Oct. 18 edition of his program, Oliver confirmed he traveled to Danbury for the unveiling of the sign that renamed the sewage treatment plant in his honor. Oliver played a brief video of his arrival in the city while wearing a homemade and conspicuously shabby hazmat outfit before posing for photos with Boughton. For his part, Boughton did not mention when their meeting took place. He earlier explained a public ceremony could not occur due to health safety concerns related to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Instead, he shared a photo he took with Oliver on his social media pages while declaring, “It was glorious. Congratulations to Mr. John Oliver. #DanburyPride.” And when the story wound up, Boughton quietly acknowledged in a radio interview that the feud with Oliver was not exactly an act of spontaneous combustion. “Something like that doesn't happen with a little bit of planning, come on,” Boughton said during an appearance on “The Ethan and Lou Show” on WRKI-FM in Brookfield. “But yes, we did plan it. No, we couldn't tell anybody about it. I did laugh at people that were like posting on my Facebook page and were like, ‘Hey man, he's never going to come here, OK? You're an idiot. Why don't you focus on being mayor?’ Well, there, I got you back.” More important, Oliver made good on his word with charitable donations being channeled to the Connecticut Food Bank, ALS Connecticut and the nonprofit DonorsChoose which is using the funds to provide school supplies to teachers. Yeah, maybe the feud wasn’t entirely legit, but for a year notably lacking in feel-good stories it was a wonderful daffy diversion. DECEMBER 2020 WAGMAG.COM
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Ana Muralles and Claudia Gomez of AC Designs Ltd. Photographs courtesy AC Designs Ltd.
WAGMAG.COM DECEMBER 2020
designing women BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA
While women have fared better in the pandemic than men have medically, they have suffered disproportionately economically. And yet, the virus has also provided women business owners with new opportunities as well as challenges. Witness AC Designs Ltd. in Bedford Hills, a go-to place for window treatments, upholstery — and all things fabric, says Ana Muralles, who owns the business with Claudia Gomez.
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hen they returned from the three and a half-month lockdown in June, they and their full-time staff of four were faced not only with back orders but new ones. After a season at home, Muralles says, many had decided it was time for a refresh. The team fulfills all the orders on-site, working with local individual designers and with Country Willow, a furniture and home décor store that’s also in Bedford Hills, and Westchester House & Home, a design center in Mount Kisco. The owners play complementary roles, with Gomez heading production and Muralles, client relations, including project measurements and installations. They’ve been complements ever since the two met 17 years ago at Neighbors Link in Mount Kisco, which helps immigrants integrate into the community. There they learned English and were soon spearheading a sewing class, with Muralles organizing it and Gomez teaching it. The two had always been interested in different aspects of design — Muralles, from Guatemala, jewelry; Gomez, from Colombia, clothing. Then some Neighbors Link board members said, What about home décor? The pair started their business — named for their first initials — 15 years ago in a friend’s apartment. Taking no chances, they kept their day jobs as nannies, working on their American dream at night. Ten years ago, they were ready for the next step — their own storefront, which today teems with neatly piled boxes of fabrics, books of swatches, pillows and upholstered furnishings, examples of their handicraft. Many of the fabrics are prints. “Our clients wanted a little more pop in their rooms, so more print fabrics,” Muralles says, adding that they do a lot of plain panels for rooms in which prints are used elsewhere. “Designers are working with wallpaper. That’s very in as well.” AC Designs also does a lot of cornices and Roman shades, which stack rather than roll up. What threads all the work is fabric from companies like Ralph Lauren and Sister Parish. And not just for furnishings and window treatments. Modestly, Muralles doesn’t mention that the business donated 150 masks to the Bedford Hills, Katonah and Mount Kisco volunteer fire departments and Bedford Police at the height of the pandemic this past spring. For AC Designs, it’s also about the fabric of life. For more, visit acdesignsltd.com.
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WAGMAG.COM DECEMBER 2020
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a most complementary pair BY PHIL HALL
During October, a photograph emerged online of Prince William gazing through the window of a Kentucky Fried Chicken near London’s Waterloo Station. The 38-year-old second-in-line to the British throne had just emerged from attending an exhibition documenting quarantined lives across the U.K. when he paused and offered a curious peek through the window of the eatery.
William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, on a 2018 royal visit to Sweden. Courtesy Frankie Fouganthin.
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aturally, the photo generated a wave of digital jollity, but it was clearly in fun — social media merrymakers commiserated with his desire for a detour into fast-food temptation. This good-natured response is certainly a testament to the genuine affection which Prince William — and his wife, formally Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, but better known to the public simply as Kate — have generated since their fairy-tale wedding in April 2011. After too many years when the members of the royal family generated criticism ranging from being fiscally wasteful to anachronistic, it appears that the House of Windsor regained the common touch. Indeed, you would have to go back to the World War II era of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (the future Queen Mother) when the royals seemed like real people. Back then, the royal family reflected many British families during the nation’s darkest hours. The king’s brother, the Duke of Kent, was killed in a 1942 military air crash while the teenage Princess Elizabeth, the future queen, joined other young British women by serving in the Auxiliary Territorial Service as a mechanic and driver. When a portion of Buckingham Palace was destroyed by the Luftwaffe, the queen defiantly proclaimed, “I am glad we have been bombed. It makes me feel we can look the East End in the face.” Even the formidable Dowager Queen Mary loosened up, happily surprising hitchhiking servicemen by giving them rides in her chauffeured limousine. But in the aftermath of the war, the royal family seemed to retreat to the distant otherworldliness that set it apart from the people. Over time, social and economic changes in Britain that chipped away at the ossified class system made the monarchy seem anachronistic. The palace goofed on occasion by misreading the public mood, most notably from the royal kibosh on Princess Margaret’s wish to marry the divorced Group Capt. Peter Townsend to the 1969 television documentary “Royal Family” that many critics felt invited too much familiarity and trivialized the queen’s role. Tensions between the public and the crown frayed when the collapse of the marriage of Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales — William’s parents — became tabloid fodder, hitting a low point with the princess’ tragic death in a car crash in a Paris tunnel on Aug. 31, 1997 and what many saw as the royals’ pitifully slow response in paying tribute to her. Today, however, the royal family’s place within the British realm has never been more secure, due in large part to William and Kate’s ability to connect with the public. What are they doing right that hasn’t been done since the 1940s? For starters, William and Kate appear as equals who complement each other without awkward upstaging. While George VI was never truly at complete ease in public gatherings, his stiff-upper-lip appearance and the visible
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confidence of his regal wife gave the impression of a couple who balanced each other. But the asymmetrical appearances of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, whose public role as consort always left him several paces behind his wife, would later throw the royal dynamic off-kilter, while the visible tensions between Charles and Diana made their joint appearances painful to watch. In comparison, William and Kate work as a power couple who clearly enjoy the other’s company and the company of others. There is also a light sense of informality that has never been seen in the royals. William has been known to leave his jacket and tie home for public appearances in sweaters and shirts unbuttoned at the collar, while Kate’s embrace of understated couture, off-the-rack dresses and coats, power pants and blazers and especially countrified looks marks a style detour from the royal protocol requiring dresses at all times of the female royals. (Kate is also known to wear the same outfit more than once, to the dismay, and delight, of royal-obsessed fashionistas.) William and Kate have also brought a warm empathy to their public duties, which has become more apparent during their work amid the pandemic. Both have sought out Britain’s frontline workers for in-person praise and have mastered the Zoom platform when public gatherings were not possible due to health safety reasons. Their conversations in these settings are in-depth — not the gracious small-talk you would associate with earlier royal generations, but a genuine attempt to listen and learn from the experiences of others. And the couple also knows when to politely draw the line. Kate is a rather skilled photographer and takes all of her children's official photographs for birthdays and major milestones. She’s literally and figuratively calling the shots on the youngsters’ coverage. The three children are only sparingly allowed into the public eye, and the British media has respected royal requests for familial privacy, also something of a first. (This judiciousness makes their offthe-cuff remarks about the kids — Prince Louis’ love of food writer Mary Berry, for instance — all the more precious to their fans.) Furthermore, William and Kate appear eager to modernize the monarchy, albeit at a pace that doesn’t seem too fast for an institution with little previous success in rapid pivoting. This is evident in their recent decision to use an online job posting for a housekeeper — and while they went on the Royal Vacancies website rather than Indeed or Craigslist, this was still a digital step forward. In October, the couple used a video phone conversation with students at a Pakistani girls’ school to play a quick game of Pictionary, which was shared on Instagram. And it doesn’t get more 2020 than that. Perhaps the good fortune that William and Kate are enjoying is a result of perfectly aligned stars. Kerry King, the resident astrologer for The Sun, Britain’s often outrageous tabloid, recently explained, “Kate (Capricorn) and William (Cancer) are a perfect astrological match as they are opposite signs. This means they sit exactly opposite each other on the zodiac wheel and are hard-wired to be attracted to each other. Each has what the other lacks and, together, they make up the ‘whole package.’” Or, maybe, the answer is not in the stars but in clear view: William and Kate are simply the right people at the right time for the right job. William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, on a royal visit to India in 2016. Courtesy the British High Commission in New Delhi. DECEMBER 2020 WAGMAG.COM
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book ’em, diane BY JEREMY WAYNE
Diana Garrett is irritated. Actually, she’s positively disgruntled. The source of her indignation is parking in Greenwich. Or lack of. “All the shopkeepers are up in arms. In the 30 years I’ve been here, Greenwich has never done anything for parking for small stores.”
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By coincidence, I am talking to the eponymous owner of Greenwich’s celebrated bookstore, Diane’s Books, by phone on what quickly transpires is the store’s 30th birthday. I offer my congratulations. “It’s a hard day for me, because we always have a party and we always wear costumes and we always do…well, all kinds of things on our anniversaries. But we can’t do any of that today.” To add to her general displeasure, the last block of Greenwich Avenue has been closed to accommodate outdoor dining during Covid-19. “When I opened the store, there was only one restaurant in the neighborhood and in the block which they’ve closed off alone there are now 10. And of course, all those restaurants have waiters and managers and chefs and it’s eight-hour parking back there, which is perfectly ridiculous. They seem to be very concerned about the restaurant business but not about the shopkeepers. I ask her what she’d like to see done
about it. “My back lot faces the train station and the back of the buildings on Railroad Avenue. There’s no reason they can’t build a three-story parking garage. People could park and go to the train, or they could park and come to me. Everyone tells me I’m an institution so you’d think the town might ask my opinion. You’d think with all these established stores that the town would care about us, would make a point of making sure we survive.” Indeed, it would be hard to disagree. There were seven bookshops on the scene when Garrett first arrived in Greenwich and now there is just one — hers. Given the parking issues, the public’s seemingly endless appetite for upscale designer stores and the behemoth that is Amazon (“a real battle for all of us bookstores,”) I’m keen to know how her bookstore alone has seen all the others off and stayed the course. There is a thoughtful pause. “I don’t know or care what’s on the best-seller lists. The only thing I care about is my customers
and what’s the best book for them.” But stocking and supplying the best books — in a store with an inventory of 35,000 books — elevates bookselling to an art. “I buy all the books in the store and everything is there for a reason. And I think honesty and kindness go a long way.” She tells her staff that it’s not about the cash register, it’s about the customer, “because the cash register isn’t going to happen if we don’t have the customer service that I insist on having.” She moved to Greenwich with her husband, Gordon, from Toronto in 1990. He worked for IBM and the family moved around constantly — Canada, Europe and the USA. When she posed the question of where they might eventually settle as a family, he answered her, quick as a flash: “Greenwich — so green, so pretty, so close to New York. Perfect for the family.” “And that,” says Garrett, “was that.” When it came to the question of what she might do as a career, he reminded her she had a masters’ degree in library science and suggested she get a job in a library. “I said to him, ‘I don’t want to put books on a shelf, I want to take them off the shelf and put them in people’s hands. The Dewey Decimal System (the global library classification system,) nearly killed me in library school.” And she was struck by how there was no children’s bookstore in the town — not that Garrett believes in children’s bookstores per se. That is to say, she believes only in family — read “regular” — bookstores, ones with children’s sections, because, as she likes to say, “unless the whole family reads, you don’t raise readers.” She is a flag-bearer for good books and reading habits but never a pendant or, forfend, a bully. For one thing, she believes books are to be enjoyed and for another, she doesn’t take herself too seriously. “I had a boy back from college, a regular customer, just call me to say “hi.” I said, ‘Remind me what your favorite book is?’ You know what he told me? ‘Captain Underpants.’ And I have a lot of kids in their late teens and early 20s that do that now, that just like to call me up. I call them ‘Diane’s Books graduates.’” She can be arch, too. “When a customer tells me that his 5-year-old is reading, I’m like, ‘Everybody knows how to read.’ Being able to read is not the ‘piece,’” she says. The “piece” is to have fun and to make the child fall in love with reading forever and ever. And while she loves that children have strong opinions, she would like to see adults maintain their influence. If this sounds old-fashioned, Garrett sees it as entirely practical. “You know, these kids are so smart that sometimes parents forget — precisely because they are so damn smart — that
Diane Garrett. Photograph by Dorothy Yewer.
they’re the parent and that’s the child.” “Parents are always saying to their kids, ‘Do you like it? Do you like it?” and I say to the parents, “Excuse me? I think you’re the boss, applesauce.” On burning issues of the day such as race and diversity, Garrett accepts that they form part of a modern library, but warns that they cannot form a complete library alone. She’s also tired of lurid sex in novels. “It’s so unnecessary in a really well-written piece of fiction. It’s just a prop.” She insists that total “focus” on bookselling — the selling of actual books — is what’s kept her in business. “We don’t sell toys. We don’t have a café. The only service we offer other than bookselling is gift wrap.” (It’s free.) With tiny margins on pure bookselling, most bookstores only survive by virtue of the addons. But Garrett is adamant. “I absolutely refuse to go there,” she says. The weeks leading up to Christmas are when the bookstore traditionally does 30
percent of its annual business, and she is keeping her fingers crossed that faced with the unholy trinity of Covid-19, limited parking and the ever-present threat of Amazon, the season will hold up. Certainly, if a recent visit I made to the shop is anything to go by, when I was able to park less than 50 yards away and the store was lively but social distancing could still be safely practiced, there should be little to fear. But it did bring home to me just how much we must support our local business gems if we want them to survive. So precarious is the situation, that even the newsletter with news and reviews that Garrett used to mail out has been shelved. Once happy to share her suggestions widely, she is now more circumspect, because she knows people will take her recommendations and order the books online. “I’m now more careful with my secrets,” confesses Greenwich’s institutional bookseller. Diane’s Books is at 8 Grigg St. For more, call 203-869-1515 or visit dianesbooks.com.
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real estate and ‘real talk’ BY PHIL HALL
Real estate brokers and entertainers have a lot in common. Both rely heavily on charismatic personalities to keep their careers in motion, and both need to be able to read their audiences when working their respective venues.
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Mark Pires is unique because he is an entertainer who became a real estate broker and then managed to find the balance between his twin pursuits. Through his work in the New Canaan office of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties, Pires is a prominent broker in Fairfield County’s percolating luxury housing market. And as the host of the daily music-comedy “Mark Pires Real Talk” show on YouTube, he is one of the most unpredictable talents in the online video sphere. And if that’s not enough, he’s also an inventor and entrepreneur with his own patented instrument. This unlikely odyssey began during Pires’ teen years as a student at Southwest Connecticut State University when he was cast as the doomed scion of the
Montague clan in a school production of “Romeo and Juliet.” “We did it in the round at Southern Connecticut, and then we did it at Long Wharf and finished up at the Palace in Stamford,” he recalls. “It was a more of a modern take. We started off the show where the first time you see Romeo, I'm sitting at a café playing guitar. In the third act when Romeo gets banished, he has an opening monologue. I turned that into a song. I was on stage with my guitar for every performance, singing that first monologue as a song.” Pires had considered exploring a career as a singer/songwriter. He was a 2004 VH1 Song of the Year Finalist and some of his music was heard on MTV. In 2012, he was offered a record contract that was predicated on his relocation to Los Angeles. However, he had doubts about the fine print of the contract while happy personal circumstances detoured him away from Tinseltown. “In 2012, my wife and I we're engaged,” he said. “My wife would never move to L.A. and my whole family is in Fairfield. I was left with a choice: Do I move to L.A. and follow my dream of 10 years to become a singer/songwriter, or do I marry this amazing woman and see where that road goes? I chose the best thing ever: I married her and we had three kids.” Pires focused on a real estate career, but show business didn’t entirely flush out of his system. He found himself in the spotlight in 2013 by tapping into the then-new drone technology to achieve aerial shots of luxury properties that were previously filmed from helicopters — with the catch that Pires offered the drone videography of properties as a free feature of his work. “I just sold a house in New Canaan and my client happened to be in PR,” he says. “And he asks if I mind that he sends a note to the New Canaan paper about this. I was like, ‘No, not at all.’ Before you know it. I'm in the paper, on Channel 12, Fox. Everybody wanted me on, and I became the drone expert because I was the first guy to think of it.” Pires would tap into online video for his real estate work, doing both serious walkthroughs of his properties and comic spins where he did celebrity impressions as part of his sales pitch. A walkthrough doing a killer imitation of Christopher Walken’s distinctive vocal patterns became a favorite with clients. On New Year’s Eve 2018, Pires recorded and posted a video for YouTube designed to remind potential homebuyers to call him for their residential pursuits. He did a fol-
low-up video the next day and then the day after that. These turned into a loose series of vlogs running between five and 20 minutes, later evolving into a daily show called “Mark Pires Real Talk” that can run up to 90 minutes per live episode. Pires occasionally has guests on his program, but it is mostly an unscripted oneman tour-de-force in which he does celebrity and political impersonations along with music performances. Viewers have been watching from as far away as Australia and China, and his audience can chat with him in real time for song requests. Pires notes that one gregarious regular audience member inexplicably keeps asking him to perform the kooky tune “Crabs for Christmas.” To date, Pires has yet to allow a day to pass when he is not on camera. “I don't take a break from ‘Real Talk,’” he says. “I take seven days to nine days off for my real estate business to go away with my family — but while I'm with my family, they go to sleep and my wife says, ‘Go into your show.’” Many of Pires’ “Real Talk” performances find him upon the BeatSeat, an instrument that he invented. Billed as the first drum for guitarists, the BeatSeat looks like a solid, upright stool that users can play with their hands and feet. And besides offering a unique percussion sound for his music, Pires unexpectedly found the BeatSeat served a second purpose. “At my daughter's birthday party two years ago, she invited a friend who happens to have autism,” he says. “And it's not a mild case. He’s very nervous. They're all playing on the BeatSeats and he sits down on one. And my wife comes over and taps me on the shoulder to say, ‘You know, you have a sensory therapy drum?’ I had no idea what a sensory therapy drum was. And now, we're learning it could be one of the most powerful things out there for someone with special needs.” Pires currently manufactures his BeatSeat in Connecticut — he notes that the Fairfield public schools recently ordered instruments for the entire district — while continuing to appear on his daily show and helping homebuyers find their dream houses. And while his schedule might seem more than a tad exhausting, Pires is invigorated with his life. “I really am enjoying everything that's going on right now,” he exclaims. “While I'm alive with the world. I think what I want to be remembered for is being someone who just gave it all.” For more, visit markpiresrealtalk.com.
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David Bromberg. Photograph by Ria Burman. WAGMAG.COM DECEMBER 2020
on the ‘big road’ BY GREGG SHAPIRO
Even if you don’t immediately recognize the name of Tarrytown native David Bromberg, you’ve undoubtedly heard him play on albums by Carly Simon, Bob Dylan, Phoebe Snow, Ringo Starr, John Prine, Jerry Jeff Walker, Gordon Lightfoot, Richie Havens, The Eagles and Willie Nelson, to name just a few. A multi-instrumentalist across various genres, as well as a singer and songwriter, Bromberg — who has released 19 studio albums, including his first in 1971 — has returned this year with “Big Road” (Red House), credited to the David Bromberg Band. Bromberg was kind enough to answer a few questions shortly after his 75th birthday:
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David, I’d like to begin by wishing you belated happy 75th birthday. Was it an epic celebration? “It kind of was. It was the first time in six months that my band and I got to play together. We were all jonesing for being able to play together. We did an online concert that had many more viewers than we expected. It was a wonderful thing that we got to do.” Being both a songwriter and an interpreter of other people’s songs, what was involved in your song selection process of the 12 covers – which includes the three in the medley – that you recorded on your new album “Big Road”? “I just record things that I've wanted to sing for a long time. (They are) usually the things I have been singing.” As in the songs you’ve been singing in concert, for example? “Yes.” “Big Road” also features a pair of original tunes, “George, Merle & Conway,” and “Diamond Lil.” How would you say that your songwriting has evolved over the years? “You can kind of hear it right there. Because “Diamond Lil,” I wrote quite a long time ago and recorded it back then. “George, Merle & Conway” is the most recent thing I had written at the time we recorded. But, as for what I would say about it, I don't do that kind of thing [laughs]. I don't look back.” I love the sense of humor in “George, Merle & Conway.” I also appreciate that it is a song that honors singers and songwriters. Did you ever have the good fortune to cross paths with George Jones, Merle Haggard or Conway Twitty? “No. I got to play with Waylon Jennings, (who was also) Buddy Holly’s former bass player (in The Crickets). I sat in with his band once. It was fun.” Having the DVD with the performances and mini documentary included with the CD is such a pleasure, especially in these days of the pandemic when experiencing live music is on hold. Why did you decide to include a DVD in the set? “A lot of it had to do with the song ‘Roll On John,’ which we used to do, and probably still will when we get to performing it, as an encore. We would do it standing in front of the mics. That was very important to it. Because doing that would illustrate that that was us actually singing. There's a thing about when you have a sound system in the middle, it doesn't really register that this is flesh and bones. These are some people I could talk to doing this. The closest I could come to recording it so it would show that same thing, would be doing it in a video.” It’s very effective. In the mini doc, musician and producer Larry Campbell describes you as “Americana when Amer-
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icana wasn’t cool.” (Bromberg laughs.) What does it mean to you that Americana has been embraced by music lovers in the way that it has? “First of all, I'm still not included. The Americana thing is a form of country music. The thing with different styles of music is I've always ignored them. I do what the hell I want. But if you don't swear allegiance to that form of music, you couldn't possibly know anything about it and you're not considered one of those performers.” So instead of honoring your versatility they kind of shut you out? “They didn't shut me out. Maybe (they think) I'm too old. I don't know. I just don't fit into their thing. I’m a member of the Americana thing, because I want to be. It's not because they want me to be.” Because you started as a sideman – you even have a 1990 album titled “Sideman Serenade” – does that mean you have a special kind of respect for sidemen, including the members of your own band? “Absolutely. I miss being a sideman. I mean it's really wonderful to be an accompanist. One of the things about (musician and ‘Big Road’ producer) Larry Campbell, he's about as good as it gets. There's a couple of others. I really like Nina Gerber. She’s really spectacular. She’s on the West Coast, so East Coast people may not know her as much, but she's really amazing.” You grew up in Tarrytown and I was wondering if that was where your interest in music began, perhaps in school or with like-minded friends? “Yes. It didn’t begin in school at all. But I did have a friend or two that were interested in the same thing. There weren't many of us. I haunted the record store. For some reason I taped my LPs. I was one of those nerds who brings his guitar everywhere he can get away with it. It all started when I was 13.” The thing is, to have a friend who's always got a guitar with him, your friends must have considered themselves lucky, because that meant they could hear live music and they could sing along with you. “No, I was just some a------ over in the corner. (Laughs.) Let’s be real.” In addition to being a musician, you have a musical instrument business in Delaware where you live. Are you finding now, because there are people who are obeying the stay-at-home orders, that they are investing in instruments so they can play at home and they can make music while they're waiting for this all to end? “No. No, it doesn't work like that. What's more in the front of people's minds is when are they going to work again so they have money to buy the instrument they want to buy and play.” For more, visit davidbromberg.net.
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making the right connections BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA
Runa Knapp and Jasmine Silver are very good at connecting talent — theirs with each other and those of others with companies in Fairfield County and its environs.
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Jasmine Silver and Runa Knapp of connectalent. Photographs by Tiffani Djiounas/ Tiffani Photography. 45 DECEMBER 2020 WAGMAG.COM
n March 2019, the Westport residents, who met when their youngest children were in preschool, co-founded connectalent, which brings skilled professionals together with firms that value what the company calls “a work/life balance.” Most of their applicants, they say, are women like themselves — moms seeking greater flexibility as they juggle careers and kids, particularly in the coronavirus pandemic. “But we’ll help any candidate,” adds Silver, a former senior associate at a matrimonial and commercial litigation law firm in New York City with degrees from the University of Michigan and New York Law School. “As a candidate, you come to us, sign up on our website and upload your résumé,” she says. “Then we reach out to you by phone.” The purpose of the interview is to make curated matches between the applicants and prospective companies. “We’re very specific on the résumés we do send to these companies,” says Knapp, a certified public accountant who is a former senior manager at KPMG with degrees from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of Southern California (USC). “They receive only a handful of very precise candidates.” “We pride ourselves on getting to know both candidates and the corporations,” Silver says. “Personality is a big part of this,” Knapp adds. In other words, connectalent doesn’t just connect talents. It connects temperaments as well. Candidates don’t pay any fees, while companies are charged only when they hire a connectalent applicant. Though connectalent will contact you if it thinks you are right for a certain position, it will not conduct a job search for you, whereas it will the C-suite level, which is great,” Knapp says. “We’ve had conduct a thorough search for a compainvestment firms that are looking at female talent, because ny, drawing on its own talent pool and they’re all male.” outside sources, Silver says. Contacts And while quite a few marketing firms have scaled back — between candidates and businesses many of connectalent’s candidates are in marketing — there are made through connectalent alone, are a good number of administrative positions available. but both parties are free to conduct As for the candidates, Silver says there are two types in the searches elsewhere. Within connecCovid-19 era — those who are seeking some kind of employtalent, job seekers can avail themment, whether it be full- or part-time, contract, in-office or reselves of its coaching and résumé mote; and those who’ve had to step back from the job search to editing experts, while prospective care for and help school their kids. employers can make use of a partSilver and Knapp understand their needs. Both have two ner firm that conducts background grade school-age children and have continued to work remotely checks. during the pandemic. While remote work has been trending, it is At the moment, employers not for everyone. But neither is it for every company. That’s where reaching out to connectalent inconnectalent comes in, to match the right person with the right clude financial firms with an eye position. on diversifying their personnel. “Probably the most rewarding part of our job,” Silver says, “is to “There are a lot of jobs in fimake that connection that just clicks.” nance companies that have a deFor more, visit connectalentct.com. sire to bring in more women on
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WWW.MURIQICOSMETICS.COM
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Sharon Prince, Grace Farms Foundation’s founding CEO. Photograph by Ryan Slack.
ending slavery, brick by brick BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA
Though slavery has been outlawed from the face of the earth, modern slavery, an estimated $150 billion criminal industry, exists in the forms of human trafficking and forced labor. In the building supply chain in particular, forced labor is like metastatic cancer – often undetected and yet everywhere. Worldwide, there are 25 million adults and 152 million children forced to work in the steel, timber, rubber, bricks, glass and textiles industries in such countries as Brazil, Russia, India and China, with no hope of escaping the crushing cycle of poverty.
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It’s a subject that has taken on new significance recently as Nestlé USA and Cargill argued before the United States Supreme Court that they are not liable for human rights abuses committed against six Malian former child slaves, who were forced to work on cocoa farms in Ivory Coast, which supplies much of the cocoa for the companies’ products. A decision is expected in June.) In the meantime, Grace Farms Foundation in New Canaan has stepped forward to address the catastrophe of forced labor. For the last five years, the nonprofit, which is dedicated to peace through five initiatives — nature, the arts, justice, community and faith — has been housed in the curving, modern River Building designed by SANAA, a Tokyo-based architectural firm, so it’s fitting that it should seek solutions to a problem in the building trades that Sharon Prince, Grace Farms’ founding CEO, says is all the more tragic for its insidiousness. This isn’t like going to a quarry and seeing workers abused, she adds: “This is beyond what you see, which is why people miss it.” To counter that, Grace Farms has created a multifaceted response, Design For Freedom. It began in 2017 with a discussion between Prince and the late Bill Menking — professor, curator and founding editor-in-chief of The Architect’s Newspaper. They convened leading principals in architecture, engineering and construction for the Design for Freedom Working Group, which has expanded to more than 60 experts from various building disciplines. The results include: • A report on the scope and details of the forced labor phenomenon; • A dedicated website, designforfreedom.org, with more content; • Partnerships with a number of universities, including the Yale School of Architecture, where associate dean Phil Bernstein and Luis de Boca, former U.S. ambassador-at-large to monitor and combat trafficking in person and Grace Farms Justice Initiative senior adviser, teach a first-of its-kind class on forced labor in the building supply chain; • A webinar series presented in partnership with Pratt Institute that examines the forced labor phenomenon and industry solutions; • And a fundraising, ethically manufactured face mask that will be sold exclusively through a partnership with Herman Miller, a member of the working group. Face masks are in the Grace Farms wheelhouse. Since the pandemic took off here in March, the organization has delivered some two million pieces of PPE — 500,000 N95 masks, plus surgical and disposable masks; coveralls; face shields; gloves; cap; and goggles — to health-care facilities in the state of Connecticut that include Greenwich Hospital and the Nathaniel Witherell Assisted Living Facility. Grace Farms, which has been closed since March 9, has also provided more than 60,000 food-insecure individuals with healthy meals and distributed about 145,000 pounds of food to date. One of the upsides of this challenging year, is that “we’ve gotten to know our neighbors so well,” Prince says, adding, “we’re committed to this community.” For more, visit gracefarms.org.
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1 RIDGE HILL BOULEVARD, YONKERS, NEW YORK | RIDGEHILL.COM
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head of the class BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA
The cliché of student-athletes is that they skate along on their physical rather intellectual abilities. But every school and community has a vested interest in educating kids, mind and body, particularly those students who are underserved.
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Enter Destination: College, which helps prepare student-athletes at Mount Vernon High School and Greenburgh’s Woodlands High School in Hartsdale for higher education via The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, pizza and baked goods. The pizza and baked goods aren’t really part of the 14-year-old nonprofit’s programs. They’re just designed to feed the body while more than 65 volunteers feed 200 eager minds, says Suzanne McCann, Destination: College’s executive director. As for The Times and Sports Illustrated, they’re there to help develop reading comprehension, vocabulary and general critical thinking skills, via subjects and issues of the day to engage the students, who are members of the boys’ and girls’
soccer and basketball teams, the girls’ volleyball team, the cheerleading squad and the football team at Mount Vernon High and the football team at Woodlands. Destination: College volunteers also help students with homework and preparation for taking the Regents exams. (According to the New York State Education Department’s website, you must have not only 22 units of credits to attain a Regents or local diploma but pass five Regents exams, or department-approved alternatives, in English language arts, math, science, social studies and what is called a “pathway” through one of the following — the arts, foreign languages, career and technical education, career development and occupational studies, the humanities or STEM.
Destination: College director of college/access and retention Linda D’Arcy working with Mount Vernon High School student Rachel Mojica. Courtesy Destination: College.
Volunteers also help with SAT/ACT formal prep, essay and résumé writing, college and financial aid applications, sports/ academic scholarship opportunities and athletic recruitment support. (Destination: College also provides financial support to student-athletes at the Charles E. Gorton High School in Yonkers.) The organization’s role doesn’t end when students head off to college. The nonprofit follows up with them and maintains a connection through networking events. Pre-Covid, the organization’s Summer Program afforded Mount Vernon Middle and High School students day trips to the Westchester County Court House and ABC’s “The View” and the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan. As with all educational organizations, the coronavirus has wreaked havoc with
Destination: College’s vital in-person learning. “How were we going to read over Zoom?” wondered McCann, a Bronxville resident and volunteer with a long track record, who in heading the organization since 2014 followed in the footsteps of founder Nancy McKenna, still an active member of the organization. But read, discuss, view and study is exactly what the students have been doing with such activities as “Team Reads,” using short Times’ videos. Meanwhile, 20 student volunteers from Bronxville, Hackley, Sacred Heart and Fieldston high schools tutor more than 40 peers online in everything from algebra to geometry, chemistry and AP history. Persistence pays: This year Destination: College has seen 35 of its 36 seniors enroll in college. While the vast majority
of these students are in the SUNY (State University of New York) system, McCann says, DC is also represented by students at Barnard College, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania and the United States Military Academy West Point as well as some 40 other institutions of higher learning. More important, 84% of DC students — the majority of whom are black — return for their sophomore year. “It’s a notable average,” she adds, “because the national average for minority students is 66 percent.” The reason for this disparity in DC’s favor is what McCann calls its “nudging and coaching. “That contact directly correlates with a more positive outcome to keep them on track.” For more, visit destinationcollegeny.org.
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anthony fauci’s inconvenient truth BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA
In “An Enemy of the People,” an 1882 play by Henrik Ibsen, Thomas Stockman, M.D., runs afoul of friends, family and other citizenry of a small southern Norwegian town when he exposes the local spa, a big moneymaker, as a hotbed of bacteria. Despites threats and bribes, he stands by his discovery, proclaiming at the end of the play that he is the strongest man in town, because he can stand alone.
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ut he is not alone. He stands with the truth. Ibsen himself, who saw his play more as a dramedy than a straight drama, was ambivalent toward his hero, suggesting that he might’ve been more persuasive had he been a little less zealous. It’s understandable. No one likes the unadulterated truth, much less its messenger. We prefer to think with waggish Ibsen contemporary and literary equal Oscar Wilde that “the truth is rarely pure and never simple,” allowing us to cherry-pick those facts that are convenient. And yet, there is something fascinating, confounding and ultimately admirable about the individual who sticks to his guns with the unvarnished truth. You have to wonder if Anthony Fauci, M.D. — the embattled director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who’ll turn 80 on Christmas Eve and who began by delivering prescriptions for his parents’ Brooklyn pharmacy, sees himself in Stockman, a man we can take stock of and put stock in. Or perhaps the former pre-med classics major at the College of the Holy Cross, who received a Bachelor of Arts degree there before As a member of the White going on to graduate first in his class at Cornell University Meddisease now a chronic one, thanks to a House coronavirus task ical College, would prefer to think of himself as a latter-day Cascomplex, expensive cocktail of antiretroforce, Anthony Fauci, M.D., addressed the White House sandra, the virgin Trojan prophetess doomed by the god Apolviral drugs, Fauci has turned his research press corps in April as lo, whose advances she had rejected, never to be believed. attention to the immune system’s role in President Donald J. Trump That Apollo was the Greco-Roman god of plagues as much as HIV infections and its response to them. and Vice President Mike Pence looked on. the lord of the arts, the sun and truth makes the analogy all Ultimately, Kramer, a part-time Connecticut Courtesy the White House. the more fittingly complex. resident who died of pneumonia on May 27, Whatever your literary poison, there’s no denying that would call Fauci “the only true and great hero” Fauci has paid a price for his commitment to the truth about among government officials in that crisis. the need for an aggressive national response to the novel Over the years, other accolades have poured coronavirus and the disease it causes, Covid-19. Lionized by in — the Presidential Medal of Freedom from many on the left — Brad Pitt played him on NBC’s “Saturday President George W. Bush in 2008 for his work Night Live” — he’s been demonized by some on the right to on PEPFAR, the AIDS relief program; a slew of honsuch an extent that he requires a security detail. His famiorary degrees, including one from Johns Hopkins ly — which includes wife Christine Grady, chief of the DeUniversity in 2015; one of Time magazine’s 100 most partment of Bioethics at the National Institutes of Health influential people this year; even special recognition Clinical Center, and three adult daughters — has been haat New York Medical College’s Founder’s Dinner this rassed. Steve Bannon, former adviser to President Donald past October. Fauci has transcended both honors and J. Trump, has been banned from Twitter and lost his lawcalumny, passing into literature as Anthony Della Vida, yer for suggesting Fauci should be decapitated. (Fauci’s M.D., in Kramer’s play “The Destiny of Me” and the inlong agon with the current administration and its supspiration for the physician love interest in Sally Quinn’s porters has not been without its humor. Debunking Sen. romance “Happy Endings.” (Those skeptical of Fauci as a Rand Paul’s notion that New York’s relatively successful romantic should know he met his wife, a nurse as well as a response to the virus after once being its epicenter was bioethicist, while they treating an NIH patient.) due to herd immunity, Fauci said, “In New York, (the However, the baseball-loving Fauci, who threw out the herd immunity rate is) about 22%. If you believe 22% is first pitch for the Washington Nationals’ home opener at the herd immunity, I believe you're alone in that." start of Major League Baseball’s Covid-shortened season, reHaving served six administrations — Republican mains Theodore Roosevelt’s “Man in the Arena,” “who spends and Democratic alike — without political prejudice, himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the Fauci had seen pandemics before. Those of us who triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at covered AIDS in the 1980s remember the good docleast fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with tor well. He was then in his 40s, the prime of life, the those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." newly minted NIAI head and once again challenged He is still Cassandra on the Trojan parapets, his warnings unby a Republican administration that took an ostrich heeded by some; still Stockman, standing alone. approach to a fearful health crisis. Then as now, But his voice will not be silenced. Predicting a tough winter, Fauci there were missteps and a backlash, only then it is nonetheless encouraged enough by recent vaccine trial successes to was mainly from the left in the form of the besieged forecast a better outlook for the second half of 2021. That all depends, LGBTQ community, whose members felt, rightly though, on whether or not we take the vaccines once they’re offered so, that they were faceless to the government. Playand double-down on our current protocols. wright/AIDS activist Larry Kramer called Fauci a “A public health message like I’m trying to give is not encroaching on pill-pushing idiot. anyone’s freedom,” he told Andrew Ross Sorkin, founding editor of The But rather than be put off, Fauci went all in, New York Times’ DealBook financial news service, last month. “We’ve got reaching out to the gay community and researchto do everything we possibly can to pull together as a nation and not as ing patient therapy and an HIV vaccine. With the individual factions having differences that spill over into public health.”
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into the light
Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights. Photograph by Lightscape on Unsplash. 58
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There will be many places to find a wonderful display of lights in our area this holiday season, from the “Holiday Lights” show at the Bronx Zoo, to “The New Westchester’s Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru Extravaganza” at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla to Hartford’s “Holiday Light Fantasia” in the city’s Goodwin Park – with myriad private homes and public spaces dramatically illuminated between.
Lights are also Covid-friendly, or at least pose no specific Covid-threat, especially as many of the best shows can be enjoyed from the safety, to say nothing of the warmth, of the family car. The one bright spark, so to speak, in an otherwise damped down holiday season this year, may well be the physical luminescence wherever we turn. But soon enough December will be catapulting us into fully-fledged winter, and then it will be time to reconsider another kind of light – natural light. Because, as we all wait anxiously for the vaunted vaccine, from whichever source it might come, this is going to be the winter of the great outdoors. Throw away your ugly SAD boxes and your vials of vitamin D and take the mink or the fauxfur out of mothballs instead. Here come months of restaurant terraces under patio heaters, of windows flung wide open, of wraparound Ray-Bans at the ready as sunbeams, reflected off of snow perhaps, blind you with their wintry light. While we tend to put up with winter, which in normal times we might alleviate with a skiing trip or a hop down to Florida, coupled with the hope of an early spring, Scandinavians tend to embrace it. No SAD for them, no counting the days until the vernal equinox in March, no Netflix ad nauseam. No, they’re sitting pretty, wrapped in their sealskins through the long northern winter, looking into each other’s eyes over flickering candles, and saying “Skal.” Winter? Bring it on. The fact that hygge is no-longer redflagged by spell-check tells you something. I first discovered hygge, the Scandinavian concept of cozy conviviality, with the power to brightening the short winter days and long nights, on a trip to Denmark way back in the 1990s. In the first hotel we stayed in, on Denmark’s Jutland coast, the number of candles could have powered a small country. By contrast, a year later, driving at night through what was then still Czechoslovakia, I have never forgotten the bleakness of the villages we glided stealthily through, each house or apartment lit by a single, 40watt bulb, the maximum a Czech household was then permitted to burn at one time. There was such a desperation, such a melancholy to that lack of light. It was the very antithesis of hygge. The Abrahamic faiths all have festivals centered around light. For Christians, it was a star in the East which first herald-
ed the Savior’s birth, and indeed it would be hard to separate Christmas from light. The Jewish festival of Hanukkah in part commemorates the miracle of how a single flask of oil, enough to light the Temple menorah, or candelabrum, for only one night, lasted the entire eight days necessary for the Temple’s rededication. In Islam, light is a sign of God’s presence, and during Eid al-Fitr, the festival that marks the end of Ramadan, Muslim homes are adorned with lights and decorations. Light, too, is the central symbol of Diwali, observed by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains – the word “Diwali” itself coming from the Sanskrit for “row of lamps.” And doubtless Kwanzaa, the African-American festival celebrating faith, unity and collective work and responsibility, traditionally observed with the lighting of candles, will hold a special resonance this year in the wake of Black Lives Matter. Thus, people of faith, and likewise people of none, take comfort in physical light, in whatever form it takes. But there is, of course, another kind of light beyond the material. It is the light of actual enlightenment, the light of hope, the light that reveals truth and dissipates despair. Shakespeare encapsulated it and popped it on Portia’s lips in “The Merchant of Venice: “How far that little candle throws his beams / So shines a good deed in a naughty world.” And the common symbolism of light seems never to have had more actual, practical application than now. Because if, on the one hand, we talk about hopelessness, gloom and even death, all of which have been manifest in this extraordinary year, we must talk equally about our shining lights – our healthcare workers, caregivers and armies of volunteers, from neighbors to restaurant owners, to kids giving up their time and compromising their own safety to spread a little light. The light spread by altruism, after all, is a proven cure for depression and we all know that it is better to light a candle than sit in a blackened room and curse the darkness. They say it’s darkest before the dawn. As we head into the new year, with its promise of an effective Covid-19 vaccine and the prospect of deep political change, it already feels – at least to a cockeyed optimist like me – that we are slowly leaving the recent darkness behind and heading into the light.
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WARES
HOME & DESIGN
LET THERE BE LIGHTING BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA
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WHEN THE LORD SAID, “LET THERE BE LIGHT,” AS RECORDED IN GENESIS, DO YOU THINK HE WAS GOING FOR TRADITIONAL CRYSTAL, WHICH IS HAVING ANOTHER MOMENT, OR MORE OF A DANISH MODERN LOOK?
Fortunately, there is something for every taste as our thoughts turn naturally to lighting in a season in which the days have grown shorter and in a stay-at-home moment that finds us all feathering our nests.
For traditional feather-ers, there’s Schonbek’s new Helenia chandelier (1) – from the Greek, meaning “light” – with curving arms of low-carbon steel, Italian-cast brass floral bobeches and Bohemian hand-cut crystal. The chandelier comes in heirloom gold, heirloom or antique silver or black. The 150-year-old Schonbek – part of The Swarovski group – is also home to the equally elegant Jasmine and Tassau lines and the sumptuous Bagatelle collection. For more, visit schonbek.com.
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1 For modernists, Sonneman-A Way of Light has reimagined the cluster pendant as interlocking circles and in styles suggesting modern nebulae, maracas going every which way, wind chimes and more. Sonneman also makes Coral Surface lighting (2) that snakes along a wall or over a ceiling for a general glow that also targets downlighting. The metal body connects a series of three-light modules, which allows you to vary the size and the spacing. Each section features a smooth, circular shade wrapping around the LED source, the diffusers made of thermoplastic with an acrylic lens. For more, visit sonnemanawayoflight.com.
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Still can’t get enough of cluster pendants? Try Original BTC’s offerings, which will remind you of cream-colored seashells (3). For more, visit originalbtc.com. With many of us living and entertaining outdoors as much as in, even in the cold weather months – hey, what’s a few frozen fingertips among friends – Ameico Lighting is here to help with its battery-operated portable lanterns. They include the egg-shaped &Traditon Lucca, whose golden glow is designed to evoke the northern Tuscan city of Lucca (another name meaning “light”) at night (4); Le Klint Candlelight by Philip Bro Ludvigsen, a flickering “flame” under a glass dome that provides a snuggy Scandinavian “hygge” wagmag.com/visiting-scandinavia-at-home/ environment (5); the cylindrical Ro Table Lamp, conjuring 1920s Danish craftsmanship (6); and the mushroom-shaped Como Table Lamp by Space Copenhagen (7). For more, visit ameico.com.
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CELEBRATING LIFE, LOVE, & THE POWER OF FLOWERS SINCE 1925 4th Generation, Locally Grown & Locally Owned
www.BlossomFlower.com 914.237.2511
WARES
HOME & DESIGN
SAFE HOLIDAY SPARKLE BY CAMI WEINSTEIN
SHARING THE HOLIDAYS WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS FILLS OUR HOME WITH DECORATIONS, LAUGHTER, TRADITIONAL FOODS, COCKTAILS AND FESTIVE ATTIRE. OUR FAMILY CELEBRATES BOTH CHRISTMAS AND HANUKKAH. PACKAGES ARE WRAPPED FOR SHARING AFTER DINNER ON CHRISTMAS EVE OR WITH BREAKFAST IN THE MORNING. AS OUR FAMILY EXPANDS, WE ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SHARE THE HOLIDAYS WITH NEW FAMILY AND RELATIVES.
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Lighting the menorah on Hanukkah, beginning Dec. 10, will be different this year as Jewish families gather around — at a safe social distance.
This year will be different because of Covid. We may have to divide our usually large, boisterous group into smaller groups and spread out the holidays over two or three days. Having hosted both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for many years, I have some tips for spreading out the holidays so that everyone can stay safe and still enjoy them. Set your cocktail bar up early and in one place. Leave it set up with your favorite libations, garnishes and cocktail
napkins. We love to create a signature holiday cocktail for our guests. Once those cocktail glasses come out of the dishwasher at the end of the evening, set them up at your cocktail station for the next day’s party. Spread out your choices of appetizers. Maybe the first day the theme can be traditional to your cultural background. We do both hot and cold antipasti. On the subsequent day, maybe switch to cheeses, fig jams and English biscuits and nuts. Making
individual holiday appetizer plates for your guests may be a great way to avoid spreading germs by cutting down on shared utensils. The same would go for your main meal. Decorate your home and have your flower arrangements brought in at the last minute so they can be used on your table for a couple of days. Just change out your table linens. Having a minimum of two sets of linens ensures your won’t be up washing your tablecloths at midnight for the next day and resetting
the table. I always have a minimum of three sets because there could be an inadvertent spill. Every year I use the same set of holiday dishes, crystal and flatware. Once it goes through the dishwasher, my table is reset for the next day’s festivities. This year may be a good year to use paper napkins instead of the cloth ones I would normally use. This cuts down on spreading any germs, too. Since celebrating and hosting backto-back dinners for years, I learned to take the pressure off of my husband and myself. We prepare some of the foods from scratch and fill in with some catered items. Gone are the days of overdoing it and ending up sick and run-down. And in today’s climate it’s important to keep our immune systems healthy and not stressed. The added bonus is that this gives you extra time to share with your guests. Our family loves to cook and we share the cooking. Everyone loves making his or her own specialties. This gives all of us a chance to taste different foods and, as the chef of a couple of dishes, you are free to select a complicated recipe because you are only creating one or two dishes. It helps to have someone organize the menu so you don’t end of up with several side dishes or too many desserts — although we have never had any complaints about too many desserts in my family. Zoom holidays have also caught on and work really well when loved ones are far away, making travel hazardous for them. If you can’t see your loved ones in person at least you have the chance to see them on your computer. The elders in your family may require some help learning how to Zoom, but a little patience can ensure that they will have the chance to see your faces. After all, holidays are about seeing loved ones and sharing time together — however you can. Try to make this holiday season fun and joyful even with all the restrictions that we have to deal with this year. Remember the goal is to ensure many, many more shared holidays with loved ones once we get past the pandemic. Wishing everyone a safe and healthy holiday season with many sparkles and a very Happy New Year. For more, call 203-661-4700 or visit camidesigns.com.
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HOME & DESIGN
GOING HIS OWN WAY BY KATIE BANSER-WHITTLE
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ARTIST. TEACHER. COMMUNITY ACTIVIST. TAILOR. SEAMAN. SOCIAL OBSERVER. MENTOR. TAXI DRIVER. GAMBLER.
Artist Norman Lewis was not just one, or a few, of the above; he was all of them. Many of those roles were simultaneous. The rich complexity of his life was an integral part of his paintings, drawings and three-dimensional pieces. That diversity makes Lewis a fascinating man and an intriguing artist. It also contributed to his relative obscurity until recently. He was restlessly inventive and experimental. As an artist, he never developed a signature style or stuck to a single overarching theme. Lewis worked in mixed media before that became a fashionable catchphrase in the art world. Many of his works combine
pastel, oil, watercolor and crayon. He explored every possible medium and form in pursuit of a “new visual order” that would integrate both sociopolitical and purely formal and artistic ideas. In addition to paintings, drawings and lithographs, his output included sculptures, needlework and threedimensional soft figures. Most of all, Lewis’s work was largely overlooked because he was a Black man living and working in his native Harlem in the mid-20th century. Doors — especially gallery and museum doors -- that were open to his white contemporaries and friends such as Ad Reinhardt, Mark Rothko and Mark Tobey were rarely opened for Lewis. Born in 1909 to hard-working parents from the Caribbean, Lewis was from
Norman Wilfred Lewis’ “Holiday, Figures in an Orange Landscape,” oil, ink, gouache and graphite with artist’s incisions on board. Sold for $12,300 at Skinner Inc.
Norman Wilfred Lewis’ “Abstract,” oil on canvas. Sold for $183,000 at Skinner Inc.
his childhood intensely sensitive to and interested in the visual world. But his family could not provide the luxury of specialized fine art training. His art education came from books and closely studied museum shows, particularly of the Mexican muralists, Postimpressionists such as Vincent van Gogh and Henri Matisse and abstract painters like Arshile Gorky, all of whose works were being widely exhibited in the 1930s. Lewis’ only formal art study was with the pioneering Black portrait sculptor Augusta Savage, who had her studio in the basement of the building where Lewis worked in a garment business. Savage inspired and mentored the ambitious young man with her teaching and her example as an activist for Black art at the Harlem Artists Guild and the Harlem
Community Arts Center. The 1920s and 1930s were formative years for Lewis. The ferment of the Harlem Renaissance, a sociocultural flowering in Manhattan’s premier Black community that spanned the Roaring ’20s; the deprivations of the Great Depression; and ominous political developments in Europe and Asia provided the themes for Lewis’ early work. Social Realism was at first the dominant pattern in the complex tapestry of his art. Homelessness, police brutality, evictions, bebop music were all part of the Harlem scene he was immersed in, and all of these were prominent in his fast-growing artistic output in these years. Along with his painting in the 1930s, Lewis studied at Columbia University and worked as an art teacher in President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration. He continued to engage with social issues as both activist and artist but increasingly moved away from representational work towards his own version of Abstract Expressionism. He was the first African-American to be associated with the movement. Lewis’ exploration of abstraction deepened after World War II. This was prompted largely by his disillusionment with American society, which fought a racist ideology abroad during the war while maintaining segregation in its own
armed forces. (The military would not be desegregated until 1948.) He concluded that despite the vigorous activism in which he played a leading role, the art world didn’t have (or perhaps wouldn’t exert) the power to influence politics in a more progressive, egalitarian direction. Thus Abstract Expressionism, not Social Realism, became his preferred path to developing his aesthetic interests and wide-ranging artistic skills. Yet his later works displayed a distinctive fusion of abstraction and figurative art. Music had always intrigued and inspired him, evident now in rhythmic lines and suggested figural shapes that wove through layers of subtle color. Late in his career, Lewis received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Guggenheim Foundation. These honors were belated recognition of his success in achieving an objective that he once expressed to an art historian thusly: "The goal of the artist must be aesthetic development and in a universal sense, to make in his own way some contribution to culture." Lewis was an outlier and an innovator. The renewed interest in his complex and fascinating body of work is recognition, however belated, of his considerable contributions to American and world art and culture. For more, contact Katie at kwhittle@ skinnerinc.com or 212-787-1114.
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WARES
HOME & DESIGN
IN THE ‘PINK’ BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA
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ONE OF OUR GUILTIEST PLEASURES IS THE GIFT BOUTIQUE. SO WE’RE TICKLED PINK TO FEATURE PINK — A HOME GOODS AND GIFT SHOP IN RYE THAT WE LOVE POPPING INTO WHENEVER WE’RE IN THAT CITY.
There a bouquet of scents tantalizes the nostrils — even through a mask. Lacquered trays in botanical and seasonal patterns serve as backdrops for candles, miniature, lit Christmas trees in red boxes, Nutcrackers and other yuletide offerings. Books, pillows and cosmetic-style cases orient you as they proclaim Rye’s coordinates and zip code or celebrate New York City in bloom. A little girl’s vanity reminds you of the shop’s name. And ornaments and tea towels respectively help you keep your sense of humor by noting “2020 — very bad. Would not recommend”; and “You think it’s bad now? In 20 years, our country will be run by people homeschooled by day drinkers.” But Pink had us at two of our favorites — boxes filled with sachets of herbal infusions and tea by Tea Forté wagmag. com/tea-time/and scented liquid and solid soaps by Michel Design Works like its Tartan creation, which evokes a snow-tinged pine forest with hints of moss and amber. With name brands like Lafco, Archipelago, Votivo, Kate Spade and Kai, the shop also highlights local wares along with items from businesses in developing countries that seek to improve the lives of their employees. Pink, which has been on Purchase Street a little more than a year, began 20 years ago as Pink on Palmer in Larchmont, selling skincare and cosmetic products, says owner Judy Graham. Why the move? “The foot traffic is so much better (in Rye) and I live here,” she says. As for the shift in merchandise, she adds that after the 2008 crash on Wall Street, it became clear that a lot of retail was moving away from brickand-mortar stores to online. Revisiting
her business model, Graham reasoned that home goods and gifts were less vulnerable to that exodus. It’s hard, after all, to buy a last-minute gift on Amazon for a spur-of-the-moment gathering. And as if on cue, a woman dashes in for just such a thing. “It’s the best shop for hostess gifts,” she says before running out. We can’t but agree.
Photographs courtesy Pink.
Pink is at 34 Purchase St. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. For more, call 914-481-5454 or visit pinkshoprye.com.
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WEAR
FASHION & BEAUTY
Anastasia Cucinella and Debra O’Shea. Photograph courtesy Mary Jane Denzer.
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THRIVING STYLISHLY BY GEORGETTE GOUVEIA
WE DON’T HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT THIS HAS BEEN A CHALLENGING TIME FOR THE LUXURY MARKET. AND YET SOME LUXURY RETAILERS HAVE MANAGED NOT ONLY TO SURVIVE BUT TO THRIVE IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, THANKS TO SOME REINVENTION AND A LITTLE HELP FROM THEIR FRIENDS.
“The good thing is that we have been in business for 40 years and have a lot of loyal clients,” says Anastasia Cucinella, co-owner with Debra O’Shea of Mary Jane Denzer in White Plains — a name long associated with high-end fashion in Westchester County and beyond. But loyalty tells only one part of the story. Clients such as brides and grooms have gotten creative about their gatherings in the time of Covid. Venues have gotten inventive, too, as 80% of this year’s weddings were postponed. That means that couples have been booking ceremonies and receptions for next year, perhaps opting for an early day in the week as they come up against weddings that were always slated for 2021. Meanwhile, some weddings and what O’Shea calls “Zoommitzvahs” and other events took place in the warm weather months as small outdoor and/or online affairs. These may have occasioned gowns for backyard terraces or shorter dresses transitioning to evening gowns. Adding to the challenge of the new normal is the question of inventory. With mills shuttered and couture house staff working at 25% or 50% capacity, inventory is more limited. What once took 12 weeks now takes six months. Cucinella and O’Shea, who have been working with clients by appointment, encourage them to start planning and committing to their choices for their big days now to accommodate lag time. Elsewhere, it’s business as usual at the elegant store, whose gray and white palette offsets shimmering day and evening dresses and radiant accessories. There will be trunk shows by Neil Bieff, Monique Lhuillier, Pamela Rolland and Jason Wu at MJD in January and February as well as spring and summer collections. “People are tired of hanging around in loungewear,” Cucinella says. Time to be glamorous again. And Mary Jane Denzer is just the place to do it. For more, visit mjdenzer.com.
Gowns by Jason Wu (top) and Naeem Khan scintillate at Mary Jane Denzer.
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BELLA ISLA BELLA
WANDERS
TRAVEL
BY JEREMY WAYNE
“HELLO,” SAYS A RATHER LOVELY LADY, DRESSED HEAD TO SNEAKERED FOOT IN SHOCKING PINK. SHE JUMPS RIGHT OUT OF HER SENTRY HUT TO WELCOME US AT THE ENTRANCE TO ISLA BELLA BEACH RESORT, THE NEWEST AND FAR AND AWAY THE SWISHEST RESORT TO HAVE OPENED IN THE FLORIDA KEYS SINCE — WELL, SINCE EVER, ACTUALLY. I BRING DOWN THE WINDOW AND THE LADY IN PINK ISSUES US THE ALL-IMPORTANT PARKING PASS THAT WILL IDENTIFY US AS HOTEL GUESTS. THEN SHE POINTS US IN THE DIRECTION OF THE LOBBY, ALONG A NEWLY-LAID DRIVEWAY FLANKED BY TROPICAL GARDENS AND A THOUSAND ALEXANDER PALMS.
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Ah, that lobby: A dazzling white pavilion, with marble-inlay parquet floors, blinding white walls and double-height, wood-beamed ceilings, which would not look out of place in a Maharaja’s palace. Carla, behind the (naturally) all-white front desk, which runs across an entire wall of the vast hall, has us checked-in in a trice, handing over wristbands for keys so we’re never going to get locked out of our room because we forgot to take the pesky plastic keycard. Others in my party, however, don’t seem keen to leave the lobby and I can’t say I blame them. You see, they’re taking in the view, a 200-foot private beach — with what, it will turn out, are
Sunset Pier. Photograph by Douglas Friedman-
Isla Bella main swimming pool. Courtesy Isla Bella. Exterior of Il Postino, Isla Bella Beach Resort's restaurant. Photograph by Angela Bankhead.
the most comfortable sun loungers this side of paradise — and the sparkling, limpid turquoise sea beyond. The Florida Keys, those heavenly microdots fanning out southwest like a flick of splattered ink from Key Largo, just south of Miami, are not known for their beaches but suddenly, with the coming of Isla Bella, the bar has been raised. Yanked right up, in fact. In 20 years of coming down to this neck of the woods, I have truly never seen a lovelier beach than this. Finally ensconced in our two-bedroom suite, with its cane furniture, crisp linens, spiffy pillows, bedside lamps of hammered silver and fabulous blue and white drapes (a tropical riff on
Toile de Jouy), Isla Bella is working its spell. The freshness of the room and the shimmering view out across the water would vivify the most Covid-battered spirit. The resort is the brainchild of visionary developer Pritam Singh, who grew up partly in foster care in New England. He first came to Key West as a 17-year-old, sleeping rough on the porch of a local inn for months. Fifteen years later, he returned, already an established real estate developer, bringing real class to the naturally beautiful but somewhat down-at-heel Keys in terms of luxury homes, resorts and commercial development. Isla Bella is as gorgeous to
look at as it is comfortable to stay in. Its location on Marathon Key, just yards from the Miami side of the Key’s famed Seven Mile Bridge, is thrilling and the resort manages the clever trick of making its guests feel right in the heart of the action, while simultaneously offering splendidly isolation should you want it. The 199 guest rooms are built in gingerbread style over just three stories. Each and every one boasts a generous terrace and all face Isla Bella’s mile of sandy beach, with a cluster of rooms sharing one of four pools on this side of the property. These are, in addition to the resort’s main pool, gracious, scalloped affairs that almost seem to mimic the
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Beach Bar. Photograph by Douglas Friedman.
inlets of the Keys themselves, punctuated with zingy blue and white sun umbrellas and overlooking the Sand Cove beach and breathtaking Sunset Pier. As for the food, it’s fresh and wholesome, and what it occasionally lacks in sophistication it more than makes up for with charming service. At the resort’s central, nominally Italian restaurant, Il Postino, where you can eat inside, on the covered deck, or on the sand virtually at the water’s edge, they do big conch fritters at lunchtime as well as Caribbean fish gyros, tasty shrimp and a bunch of appetizing salads. Dinner offers more choice, adding bruschetta, a zesty tuna tartare and some welldevised pasta dishes, along with grilled fish and meat entrées. Antoinetta, our server, looks after us like royalty, greeting us every day with a smile and quickly remembering our favorite drinks and dishes. For even less formal dining, the curiously named and vaguely oxymoronic Burger Palace, alongside the main pool, serves up a quick burger or hot dogs, poolside or on the beach. And the beach
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bar, which comes into its own at sunset, when guests jockey for the best position (tip: there are actually no bad tables), serves a hybrid menu of the two, along with exceptionally good, strong cocktails, Over in the Town Square, adjacent to the marina on the other side of the lobby, another option for lighter snacks is the Marketplace at Isla Bella. Situated in what looks like a giant barn, this is a brilliantly conceived café and general store, all under one large roof. Come here too for all your sports equipment, snazzy beachwear, chic jewelry, beautiful glass and tableware, luscious coffee-table books you will ache to buy and original gifts of every description. The Marketplace also houses the activities center, where you can sign up for many of the resort’s myriad “experiences,” such as biking, kayaking, fishing or jet-skiing, along with a host of other water sports. At one point during our weeklong stay, I feared my wife had been kidnapped. Seriously, I couldn’t find her on the beach or in the Marketplace, the two locales between which, up to this point, she had
been blithely dividing her time. I found her eventually — in the spa, of course — wwglowing after her Serenity Bamboo massage with Gina and — happy as a kid in a candy store — playing with all the product testers from the highly regarded Shira Esthetics brand. An easy and for the most part beautiful two-hour drive from Miami, or a mere 45-minute spin up from Key West, which is served by its own international airport, Isla Bella offers all the charm and exoticism of the Caribbean without having to leave the USA. (Yet another option is flying into Florida Keys/ Marathon International Airport, which is just six minutes drive from the resort, by private jet or charter.) A sybarite’s bolthole just a few hours distant from the New York metropolitan area, Isla Bella’s a name that should go straight into your contacts as soon as Covid allows for safe and quarantine-free travel. Stay once, and I guarantee you’ll return time and again. For reservations, visit islabellabeachresort.com. To book a private charter with Tradewind Aviation, visit flytradewind.com.
A WRITER TRYING TO OUTPACE HER PAST A DELIVERY MAN ON THE FRONTLINES AND THE GLASS DOOR THAT DIVIDES YET CONNECTS THEM
AVAILAB JMS BOO LE AUG. 12KS
FROM WAG’S EDITOR COMES A BRIEF TALE OF LOVE AND LOSS IN THE TIME OF CORONA THEGAMESMENPLAY.COM DECEMBER 2020 WAGMAG.COM
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WANDERS
TRAVEL
FOR THE STYLISH ARMCHAIR TOURIST BY DEBBI K. KICKHAM
It’s the yuletide season again, and three out of three “wise men” agree that these luxury food, travel and beauty gifts are great for this year’s stylin’ armchair tourist:
FOR THE FOODIE
Give the gift of Gleaneagles — Order some goodies from this gorgeous golf resort in Scotland. Each hamper is a five-star treasure trove of treats for food-lovers, with the larger hampers, including bottles of Ruinart Champagne to toast the festive season. Treats include buttery Scottish shortbread, preserves inspired by the flavors of Perthshire, oils and dressings produced on a farm near the hotel and the star of the show — a rich, malty Christmas pudding created by the resort’s executive pastry chef, Phillip Skinazi. $360 for the large hamper. shop.gleneagles.com Fish tale — Since you can’t cruise to Alaska right now, why not at least dine on its most famous product, salmon? It’s also super for tired skin, according to some dermatologists. And, for your
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holiday meal, include other seafood from Alaska — halibut and crab legs. Prices range from $175 for five pounds of salmon up to $379 for 10 pounds of king crab legs. store.newsagaya.com/ sagayapremierhalibutpack-2.aspx
FOR THE WOULD-BE WANDERER
‘Roam’ where you want to — Roam is the world’s first and only colorcustomizable premium luggage company, founded by former Tumi executives. Featuring a new color palette, Roam customizes every detail — from the front and back panels to the stitching to the wheels — so you can create the perfect mix of hues that is completely your own. Each is handcrafted and made-to-order with a 100-day risk free trial, which is rare for any custom item. The Globetrotter (large check-in), $550. roamluggage.com/collections/allluggage Carry it off — The Brysie Lane Calistoga large tote is a timeless classic luxury bag made with leather that is supple and soft
to the touch. Like all of its bags, the large tote was made to complement all of your travel ensembles. Stuff it full of beauty products for your favorite gal — or guy — and you’re good to go. $290. brysielane. com/ Tough love — The packable Love Full Circle Puffer jacket — great for travel — is completely sustainably made. It is woven from recycled fibers and filled with insulation from 100% recycled plastic bottles. Featuring removable hood, front zip, button closure pockets and a water-resistant fabric, it compresses into a pillow for the plane. $169. bernardofashions.com Yes, you can take it with you — The Canon Selphy Square QX10 compact, portable printer is a great asset to have on the road. Comes with a built-in battery so you can print your travel photos anytime, anywhere. $149.99. usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/ home/products/details/printers/ mobile-compact-printer/selphysquare-qx10
Alaskan salmon is a great holiday dinner and also makes a great gift for foodies. Courtesy Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute.
FOR THE BEAUTY LOVER
Be scent-sational — The Harmonist is the first-ever fragrance collection inspired by ancient philosophies of harmony and balance. Each fragrance embraces aspects of yin and yang dualities and the five elements — water, earth, wood, metal and fire — encouraging personal discovery and expression. To discover your true element with the power of scent, visit the website and enter the time, day and location of your birth. Moon Glory fragrance, $336. theharmonist.com Ooo, what a lucky man — From the posh Paris perfume house of Maison Francis Kurkdjian comes a special scent for men, L’Homme À la rose. It features two natural species of roses — damask and centifolia, along with woody, amber base notes and grapefruit. $275 for 2.4 oz. franciskurkdjian.com/men-sfragrances.html Spice it up — I’m a sucker for the scent of cinnamon and cloves, so I was in heaven with Pumpkin and Spice’s
The beautiful Bernardo jacket rolls up into a pillow that's perfect for the plane ride.
Coco & Eve’s hair masque smells dee-lish and works wonders on tired tresses.
Roam luggage can be customcolored to your exact specifications.
The Brysie Lane Calistoga tote is ideal for any trip.
The Vibrastrait Pro vibrating flatiron by Beautopia features tourmaline ceramic plates.
The Harmonist fragrances embrace yin and yang so you smell great anywhere in the world.
entire skincare collection. Along with its succulent smell, it’s vegan, crueltyfree, eco-friendly and free from sulfates, silicones and phthalates. The Day Bundle includes jelly cleanser, facial scrub exfoliator, clay mask, day moisturizer face towel, mask, application brush and travel bag. $149. getpumpkinandspice. com Best-tressed list — As I write this, I just used the Coco & Eve Like A Virgin Hair Masque, and my bleached/Keratined/ fine hair is smooth-as-silk. This five-inone treatment, which restores texture and shine in only 10 minutes, is a musthave in your Samsonite suitcase. $44.90. cocoandeve.com/products/supernourishing-coconut-fig-hair-masque Play it straight — Who doesn’t love sleek hair? Create it easily with the Vibrastrait Pro 1" Vibrating Flat Iron. Dubbed by beauty gurus as "The Healthier Hair Straightener," this iron leaves hair soft and healthy, while decreasing styling time by 30 to 50% with no pulling or tugging. The result is a smooth, frizz-free finish that looks great anywhere in the world. $99. BeautopiaHair.com
FOR THOSE NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
Get healthy — Achieve more in 2021, with a Happy Planner that helps you attain all of your goals for health, wellness and fitness, or just targets your interests in recipe and meal plans, budgeting and more. Healthy Habit Classic, $27.99. Also available are adorable stickers tailored to travel, wellness, staying organized and more. $19.99 for the value pack of 500+ stickers. thehappyplanner.com/ collections/fitness-wellness/products/ classic-fitness-weekly-planner-healthyhabits-12-months Ready, set, get fit — Now there’s no excuse not to work out — especially when stuck at home or in a hotel room. Crossrope, which bills itself as the highest quality jump rope system in the world, promises a full-body workout you can take anywhere. The jump ropes are low-impact, compact, portable and lightweight, making them perfect for traveling. Get Fit Set, $238. LE Mat, $89 (to protect your knees.) crossrope.com/ products/get-fit-jump-rope-bundle For more on Debbi, visit debbikickham.com.
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WANDERS
TRAVEL
IRELAND’S WILD ATLANTIC WAY BY BARBARA BARTON SLOANE
“We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch, we are going back from whence we came.” — President John F. Kennedy
WILD. WILD? NOT A WORD YOU’D TYPICALLY ASSOCIATE WITH IRELAND. PUBS? CHECK. SHAMROCKS? CHECK. GUINNESS? OH DEFINITELY, BUT WILD? YES. IT’S THE SEA, YOU SEE. A PLACE WHERE RUGGED RULES
At the very edge of Europe, this newest odyssey, the Wild Atlantic Way, extends for 1,600 miles along Ireland’s western seaboard. It is the world’s longest, most culturally rich coast, stretching from Malin Head in County Donegal down to Kinsale in County
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Cork. Here the Atlantic Ocean’s power has carved a coastline of raw beauty with sharp cliffs, wave-capped inlets, barren beaches and stately lighthouses dotted along the way. Of this land one long-time local said “…with myriad miles of uninterrupted ocean, no windbreak and no reefs, there’s just a wide, wild, open space that allows the sea to grow and grow before it comes to a sudden stop on our shore.” The Wild Atlantic Way is as close to exploring an openair museum as you’ll get — exceptional landscapes, stunning flora and fauna —
Peig Sayers. Courtesy The Great Blasket Centre.
An ancient tower along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. Courtesy Sloane Travel Photography.
the air perfectly matching the austere surroundings. I walked through an ancient burial ground festooned with Celtic high crosses made of granite, some 1,000 years old. Then, the small ferry hustling across the water to transport me once more to life — and warmth — was a welcome sight.
CATCH AND COOK
and packed with history and adventure, as I was about to find out.
A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE — IN VIKING FOOTSTEPS
Where the Shannon River meets the Atlantic Ocean lie the Scattery Islands in County Clare. After a short ferry ride, there before me in all its ruined glory was St. Senan’s Monastery, an ecclesiastical center founded in the sixth century and invaded by Vikings centuries later. It is today a windswept, desolate place, the blustery chill in
In Dingle Harbor, County Kerry, the Atlantic offers an abundance of fish. Although I’d never before held a fishing rod, it seemed simple enough as Tom, the boatman, baited and gently placed my rod overboard. I asked how I’d know if I had a bite. “Oh, you’ll know,” was all he said as he walked away. He was right. I felt a strong tug on the line, began reeling and suddenly, flopping before me — a large Ling fish. (When I returned home and told this tale, I predictably fell into that time-honored tradition of stretching my hands wide and saying “this big.”). Although my Ling would win
no awards in a fish beauty contest, once cooked, it was yummy.
THE CLIFFS OF MORE
Oh yeah, Ireland’s most visited natural attraction, the Cliffs of Moher, has everything you’d expect — and more. Local historian and farmer Pat Sweeney was my guide for a three-hour walk above the Doolin Cliffs stretching for five miles along the Atlantic coast of County Clare. The briny smell of the sea was intoxicating, the vertiginous paths that hovered along cliffs with 700-foot drops, daunting; and green fields strewn with sheep and cows, captivating. The constant cry of seagulls overhead and ferocious waves pounding rocks below was nature at its most elemental.
‘DON’T LET IT BE FORGOT…’
At the very edge of Europe, off the Dingle Peninsula lie the mystical Blasket Islands, a small archipelago renowned for its storytellers. Here lived a tiny
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A classic Irish landscape. Courtesy Sloane Travel Photography.
population steeped in traditional culture that remained strong in an isolated, rugged community, living simply from the land and sea. Visiting The Great Blasket Centre with its galleries of artifacts and portraits of inhabitants, I felt the toil of their hard lives and had a keen appreciation for these long-ago people. Due to a declining population, the islands were abandoned in 1953. As their numbers dwindled, native author Tomas O’Crohan wrote the book “The Islandman,” in part “so that some record of us might live after, for the likes of us will never be again.” The Blasket Islands were the home of the noted Irish writer Peig Sayers. Born in 1873, she was taken out of school at age 12 and spent several years in the nearby town of Dingle as a domestic servant. She moved to the Blaskets after marrying Padraig O. Guithin, a
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fisherman. As she was illiterate, she dictated 350 ancient ghost, religious and folk legends to the Irish Folklore Commission. Sayers’ biography begins with this bleak yet poignant passage: “I am an old woman now with one foot in the grave, the other on its edge. I have experienced much ease and much hardship from the day I was born until this very day. Had I known in advance half or even one third of what the future had in store for me, my heart wouldn’t have been as gay or courageous as it was in the beginning of my days.” The book was chosen as text for teaching and researching Irish in many schools in the country. This fascinating author continued to live on the island until 1942. She died in County Kerry in 1958, Her home on the Blaskets has been restored and is open to the public.
ACTIVITIES ABOUND
Hiking, cycling, surfing. It’s all here, as well as gentler pursuits. I’m thinking of a Connemara pony ride that I did along a serene silver-blue sea. If you’re an adrenalin junkie, I can think of no wilder activity than coasteering. What is that, you ask? Oh, just jumping off a several hundred-foot cliff into the roiling Atlantic Ocean below. For you, maybe. For me, not. Someone once said, “I believe one has to escape oneself to discover oneself.” Why? Because it’s easy to get lost in this fast-moving world and forget the lash of a salty sea breeze or the roar of waves. It’s easy to forget that somewhere brilliant sun is falling behind an historic relic or that lighthouses are still keeping watch over the sea. Easy to forget. But, if you want to remember, just think of the Wild Atlantic Way and plan a visit. For more, visit Ireland.com/tourism.
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Nationally certified and recognized fitness trainer and Precision Nutrition coach. • Mention this WAG Magazine ad and receive 20% OFF the program. As a thank you, veterans receive 50% OFF. • Daily nutritional habits and reminders guide you through your transformation. • Workouts come complete with videos and modifications specific to the individual. • At the end of the program, if not completely satisfied, you will receive a full refund. Visit www.GiovanniRoselli.com for more info or contact him directly at Gio@GiovanniRoselli.com.
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‘MOONSTRUCK’ BY GIANNA’S BY JEREMY WAYNE
WONDERFUL DINING
FOOD & SPIRITS
THERE ARE MANY KINDS OF EATING ESTABLISHMENT IN THE ITALIANAMERICAN REPOSITORY, FROM THE RED-SAUCE RELICS AND NO-FRILLS PIZZERIAS TO TRENDY TRATTORIAS, STYLISH LOCANDES AND HIPSTER OSTERIES. BUT WHAT THERE IS ONLY ONE OF — AND TO PUT MY MONEY WHERE MY MOUTH IS, I’LL BET YOU A BRAND-NEW PAIR OF FERRAGAMOS TO A PAIR OF YOUR OLDEST, SHABBIEST SNEAKERS — IS A JOINT LIKE GIANNA’S. The first thing I loved about Gianna’s, located in the unlovely surroundings of the Executive Park strip mall in Yonkers, was the parking. You see, the last time I was in Yonkers, a month ago, I spent so long looking for a parking space that I managed to miss my appointment. Not so at Gianna’s, where you park right outside the front door — any closer and you’d be driving through the plate glass window and right up to your seat at the table. And the second thing I loved was the welcome, not from a host or manager, but from a toggedup chef, seated in the restaurant’s party room just to the left of the front door, head on hand like Rodin’s “Thinker,” deep in thought, who sprung to attention as we entered and greeted us, as much as masked smiles and elbow-bumping will allow, like long lost
A sample of mouthwatering fare at Gianna's . 82
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Photograph by Jeremy Wayne.
friends — even though he had never once before clapped eyes on us. So far, so terribly good and it only got better. A server appeared straight out of central casting — central casting that is, for a server in an Italian-American restaurant. Think Cher in “Moonstruck” (had she played a restaurant server,) but with flame red hair and a sideline in Covid wisecracks. “Sit where you want,” said Cher, and when we sat where we wanted — at the only table for four in a sea of tables for two, which might have rattled another server — she removed the two surplus covers without demur and sweetly asked what she could fix us to drink. Well, that was an easy one. The Castellucio Sangiovese may not have been the most elegant expression of this grape, but at $34 a bottle, scarcely more than you’d pay in the liquor store, we were happy drinking it till the cows came home — or at least until the 10 p.m. curfew, at which time we were summarily dismissed, but with expressions of genuine regret and exhortations to return soon. But I’m getting ahead of myself. If Gianna’s menu were a star sign, for sure it would be a Gemini — split personality. On the one hand, with its chicken parmigiana and its veal marsala, it’s a throwback to a simpler, more innocent age, you know, meat and two veg, Dean Martin on the loop. On the other, it’s shot through with sophistication — roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon and walnuts, pappardelle with beef short ribs and a garden vegetable ragù. But either way, let me tell you, the food is sublime. Fried calamari came as a teetering tower of golden trinkets, which could have passed for exotic rings or bangles. Burrata, a great wobbling mound of the creamiest buffalo mozzarella, indecently rich, rippled with a slice of wafer-thin prosciutto and topped with the softest, creamiest roasted peppers, was slathered in good olive oil. Then came the pasta, house-made ravioli, the lightest, airiest parcels filled with
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the sweetest, tenderest lobster; and penne alla vodka — a dish I have never really understood (the cultural and culinary relationship between Italians and Russians being somewhat murky,) but one which, done right, as it was here, reaches the heights. Next up, chicken scarpariello, a dish from the Calabrian south and a house specialty, with sausage, potatoes and hot peppers for that crucial touch of heat. And as for veal piccata, which I don’t think I’ve eaten in 20 years, with its white wine and capers, it was an almost Proustian veal moment. No room for pizzas, but they are best sellers here, and all night long — or rather, until the 10 p.m. witching hour — the pizza-eating great and good of Yonkers were stopping by to pick up their orders. Don’t get me started on Gianna’s décor. Not the high-backed, deepbuttoned, faux-leather banquettes in a disarming variant of Dodge blue (but why not let’s be kind and call it Egyptian blue?), nor the white ceiling tiles which are simultaneously every
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makeover show host’s nightmare and delight. Because, actually, taken as a “look,’ untrammeled by any decorator’s art, it is all rather charming. As for the importunate football, enemy to private conversation, played endlessly on the restaurant’s TV screen, even that I couldn’t bring myself to mind too much in this extraordinarily convivial place. (“That TV,” observed my guest, “ is practically the size of the football field itself.”) When the bill finally came, I discovered a wet, blotchy, almost illegible slip of paper. “It’s the Clorox,” explained our sever, our very own Cher. “They even sanitize the plastic bill presenters now.” “Yonkers needs more places like this,” reads an old press review posted on the restaurant’s website and dating from goodness knows when. Correction: Everywhere needs more places like this, but since this restaurant is a one-off, I doubt anywhere will get another Gianna’s. For reservations, visit giannasyonkers.com
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WHAT’S COOKING?
FOOD & SPIRITS
MIXED VEGETABLE WITH COCONUT MILK
Photograph by Aditya Menon.
A CURRY FOR THE HOLIDAYS BY RAJNI MENON Vegetable curry is one of the most popular dishes in South India. My grandma would put a ton of veggies into a pot along with aromatic spices and serve it with her handmade flatbread or steamed rice. There are different versions, but the best one is with the addition of coconut milk. I have made a thicker version of the curry, so it’s perfect with mashed potatoes for the holiday table. It’s 100% vegan as well. Happy holidays to all.
INGREDIENTS: 1/2 cup potatoes, cut into medium sized cubes 1/4 cup carrots, cut into cubes 2 tablespoons beetroots, cut into small cubes 1/4 cup green peas 1/2 cup white onions, chopped 1 teaspoon minced garlic 1 teaspoon minced ginger 1/4 cup Roma tomatoes, chopped 1 cup coconut milk 1/4 teaspoon black pepper powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder 2 tablespoons coriander powder 2 tablespoons coconut oil 1 teaspoon black mustard seeds 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped 1 tablespoon grated beets for garnish METHOD: 1. Heat coconut oil in a sauté pan and add black mustard seeds. Let it pop. 2. Add chopped onions and salt and stir-fry until onions are golden brown. 3. Add black pepper, turmeric and coriander and stir well. 4. Add ginger and garlic and stir for a few seconds. 5. Add tomatoes and cover and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. 6. Add all vegetables and coconut milk and mix well to combine. Cover and cook for another 10 to 15 minutes or until veggies are tender and coconut milk is slightly thick. 7. Add fresh cilantro leaves and mix. Garnish with grated beets. For more, visit creativerajni.com.
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TRATTORIA 632
Restaurants in Westchester County change plans but not dreams amidst the pandemic.... The very popular family eatery, Trattoria 632 is excited to welcome back their loyal diners and greet new ones as they open for indoor and outdoor dining on their new patio. Delivery and take-out of their full, extensive menu is also available. Patrons can rest assured that Trattoria 632 has taken every measure and precaution to ensure a delectable and safe dining experience. Nonna Marie’s homemade cakes and pies are no exception! She is serving her famous carrot cake and original cheesecake recipes and Trattoria 632 is delighted to see their customers smiling again!
632 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase, NY 10577 914-481-5811 trattoria632 .com
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WHAT’S COOKING?
FOOD & SPIRITS
DRINKING MY WAY TO A NEW BOOK BY DOUG PAULDING
Doug Paulding with his “Wine Tasting Journal,” new “Spirits Tasting Journal” and a single malt Scotch Whisky. Photograph by Aaron Paulding. 88
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IN 2018 I ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT WITH PETER PAUPER PRESS INC. TO WRITE A “WINE TASTING JOURNAL.” FOR MANY YEARS NOW, I HAVE WRITTEN WINE AND SPIRITS STORIES FOR DIFFERENT MAGAZINES FOR WHICH I TRAVEL TO A WINE REGION AND, WHILE ON LOCATION, IDENTIFY WHAT MAKES THE REGION OR THE WINERY UNIQUE AND INTERESTING.
Or I get invited to a wine luncheon or dinner with a winemaker, owner or PR person promoting a product and will ask questions to discover what makes them noteworthy. I then submit my story to my editor, who makes everything clean for publication. When I submitted my “Wine Tasting Journal” manuscript, it went past several desks and through multiple editorial perusals in which several editors weighed in for punctuation, accuracy and readability. My “Wine Tasting Journal” was published and is available on Amazon where it is still selling and consumers consistently review it well. Several friends and some buyers of this journal who lean more in the liquor direction, suggested I create a “Spirits Tasting Journal” in a similar form. I mentioned this to my editor, who floated it past Laurence Beilenson, the CEO of Peter Pauper, and they agreed it was a project ripe for development. We entered into a contract and I spent weeks on my couch this past spring with my laptop, several reference manuals, a few internet devices and varied glasses of the day’s particular spirit in front of me, all for research and inspiration. We had agreed to write about clear and brown-aged spirits and there are many examples of each. The clears typically include vodka, gin, rum and tequila. The browns include all of the different regional whiskeys but also aged rum, aged tequila and grapebased brandies, notably Armagnac and Cognac. Of course, a proper spirits journal wouldn’t be complete without discussing the fortified wines, made by fermenting fruit, arresting the fermentation process of changing sugar
into alcohol by adding a high alcohol spirit to kill the yeasts. This maintains natural sugars and a natural sweetness in the product and the brandy used to kill the yeasts bolsters the alcohol to higher levels than you’re likely to find in a wine but considerably less than you would find in a distilled spirit. For each of these spirits, I needed to conduct considerable multisource research, assemble my notes and taste several examples of each category. In each of my journals, I have wanted to devise a page for actively rating and reviewing what you are tasting. There are categories with numerical scales to rate your experience and opinion of the subject. In my “Wine Journal,” it was fairly easy to construct that page. Because spirits are so different, I imagined a unique-tasting-profile page for each spirit or at least each spirit class or style. But I was overruled by Peter Pauper Press and they requested/ demanded a single rating page that would properly apply to every spirit and fortified wine. It took some time and was difficult to devise, but it works and I’m happy it came to be this way. Everyone has someone in his life who enjoys wine or spirits and would benefit from keeping quick and concise notes about tasting experiences. Holidays are just around the corner and these
journals could be a perfect, inexpensive gift for any number of people in your life. Throw in a desired bottle of choice and you will be a hero. In both journals, I encourage simplicity. I wanted the reviewer to be able to record tasting notes and continue in conversation with friends without being too distracted. One sniff/taste and it is possible to fill in some of the rating profiles. On Amazon there is a profile of the writing and descriptive style for each journal along with examples of the rating page in each. The value of recording your tasting experiences over time is that it will help you, a retail associate or a sommelier match you with a drink you will like. If it’s clear what you have enjoyed in the past, it is easy to match a proper preference in many price ranges. Successful explorers, inventors and writers tend to keep some type of journal to track their direction and improve their circumstances. The same is true for the wine/spirits drinker. We have all tasted drinks we love and likely tasted drinks we abhor. By tracking your direction with these journals and some degree of methodology, your improved knowledge and improved palate will improve your tasting experience. Cheers. Write me at doug@dougpaulding. com.
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GETTING FIT, VIRTUALLY BY GIOVANNI ROSELLI
ERIC PELLINI HAS BEEN A CLOSE FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE OF MINE FOR MANY YEARS. I AM PROUD TO SAY I HAVE SEEN ERIC RISE THROUGH THE RANKS OF HEALTH AND FITNESS COACHING TO BE RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE TOP COACHES IN OUR AREA. As so many in
the fitness sector continue to adjust during these unique times, I recently spoke with Eric on his current business model and future plans.
Why do you love to coach?
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“Ten years ago, my decision to become a coach was a life preserver for me. I was a young, aspiring broadcast journalist who had little empathy for himself. Life post college issued a flurry of its hardest punches and my ego was bruised, confidence low and the overall path in life seemed to vanish. “Addressing my health brought me back to an earlier version of myself I could love. My evolution as a coach and a person have been parallel journeys. My commitment to growth in both aspects of my life allows me to be a great asset to each person I work with…. “As the years passed, I realized my journey as a coach gave me tools I needed to continue to evolve and help others find their way. Everyone deserves the chance to be happy.”
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Eric Pellini. Courtesy Pellini.
As someone who has launched an online business, tell us how similar is an inperson training session versus a virtual experience?
“When transitioning to virtual, it’s important to create a workspace that embodies your energy. When you have a space and a brand that’s authentic to you, your clients can adapt seamlessly to the virtual experience. “I invested time and energy into my vision. I moved to a bigger place, renovated the garage into a gym and upgraded my technology to provide top-notch audio and visual. “My clients really look forward to the experience and in most cases we forget that we are miles apart.”
What have you learned since shifting to virtual training?
“It’s about empowering the students, which is the focus of my class, Transferable Strength. “Guiding students to any health goal depends a lot on helping them find self-awareness (and the) ability to selfadjust and build self-confidence. “I want my students to gain their independence so our training transfers into daily life.”
What would you say to someone who is hesitant to try virtual training?
“That I understand their hesitation. Many of my clients were skeptical about virtual classes and training, but once they experienced the community feel and attention to detail, they knew they had found something special.”
What’s your favorite thing to coach?
“Our conscious ability to control and manipulate our breath might be our greatest ability to manage mental and physical strength. With better control of our central nervous system, anything is possible. “I have increased my baseline strength levels, as well as my clients, with as little as 10 minutes of breathing prior to strength training.”
Is virtual training the future?
“In-person training isn’t going away, but virtual training adds flexibility and the opportunity for greater reach.”
How have you tried to separate yourself in this competitive environment?
“Curiosity and great communication equals great coaching. The ability to deliver client-centered coaching requires genuine curiosity for each student. First, listen to the person in front of you and you will learn what they need. Active listening builds trust and helps each client understand where they are in their journey and how they can get to where they want to go.”
How do you keep people motivated during a pandemic when there is so much anxiety and mental exhaustion?
“Lead the way. I have found vulnerability to be my super power in 2020. By sharing insecurities and challenges through social media and in my one-on-one sessions, I help create a safe space for others to do the same.
What advice do you have for someone looking to start an at-home training program via virtual fitness?
“I consider myself a human mechanic. I enjoy guiding my students towards better movement with acute attention to execution and the fundamentals of breath work. If the strength isn’t transferrable, what’s the point?”
“Reach out to me. Nothing beats speaking with someone who can take into account your personal barriers to entry. Find a coach you feel you can relate to and who takes the time to understand your unique needs.”
What lessons and knowledge have you learned over the last year that you want to share?
For more, visit ericpellini.com. And reach Giovanni at Gio@giovanniroselli.com.
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Brain and Spine Care‌ and So Much More Brain and Spine Surgeons of New York offers patients stateof-the-art care from some of the world’s leading, board-certified and fellowship trained physicians. This group of award-winning doctors spans in expertise across neurosurgery, neurology, orthopedic surgery, head and neck sur-
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IS COVID-19 ANXIETY MAKING YOU SICK? BY CHRISTOPHER J. ROBLES, M.D.
IF 2020 HAS TAUGHT US ANYTHING, IT’S THAT COVID-19 HAS AFFECTED EVERY PART OF OUR LIVES. ONE ASPECT THAT OFTEN GOES OVERLOOKED IS THE INCREDIBLE TOLL IT HAS TAKEN ON OUR MENTAL HEALTH. Living in the time of a
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pandemic can be anxiety-provoking. According to the CDC, symptoms of anxiety disorder and depressive disorder increased considerably in the United States April through June versus the same period last year. Indeed, during late June, 40% of adults in the United States reported struggling with mental health or substance use issues as a result of the pandemic. For those with existing anxiety disorders, pandemic stress is exacerbating these mental health challenges. But they are not alone. This stress is affecting us all. Heightened anxiety is the most common complaint I hear from patients. As a family physician, my patients range from adolescents to adults. Not only do I get to know their full medical history, I get to know them as individuals. So, when I see chronic anxiety presenting in patients who are not normally anxious — the “worried well” as I call them — I get
WAGMAG.COM DECEMBER 2020
Nothing gives you a sense of accomplishment – and keeps anxiety at bay – quite like tackling chores.
concerned for their long-term health. Soon we will have a Covid-19 vaccine and life will, I hope, resume as it once was, but that will take time. Until then, we need to do our best to follow state and CDC guidelines to help control the spread, while finding unique ways to keep our spirits high and our lives moving forward in a healthy direction. As we head into the colder, darker days of winter, it’s important to make a plan now to shore up our mental and physical health as we look forward to a brighter 2021. Here are ways to keep anxiety in check to boost your health and happiness this winter: Use social media the right way: Many studies have shown a link between social media use and depression, especially when you develop an unhealthy emotional connection (fear of missing out, feeling disconnected when not logged in). However, a recent Harvard study finds that it is how you use social media, not necessarily how often and how long you use it, that matters more. Using social media to connect with “real” friends and reinforce your network of social support can have beneficial mental health outcomes. My friends and I really enjoy playing virtual trivia every other week. Apps like Houseparty (houseparty. com) offer a range of games that can be played with groups virtually. Or, try a Zoom happy hour with family and friends. Since we’ll likely be celebrating our holidays differently this year, use technology to bridge those miles. Stretch your stress away: Multiple studies have shown that practicing yoga can decrease the body’s secretion of cortisol—a common stress hormone. A large analysis of 17 studies and over 500 practitioners of hatha yoga in 2017 found that yoga was a promising anxiety-reliever, and subjects who had the highest levels of anxiety at the outset saw the greatest amount of stress relief. Hatha yoga — the classic branch of the discipline that is good for beginners — focuses on simple techniques such as breathing and postures called asanas. Online classes
are readily available. But any type of simple physical activity, even going on a brisk walk or using resistance bands, helps to refocus your attention while also increasing the body’s production of mood-boosting endorphins. Train your attention: Mindfulness is a popular buzzword these days — but there is flood of research showing its effectiveness to reduce stress. Hundreds of studies have shown that taking a few minutes every day to train your attention on the present moment and then accepting the feelings and experiences of that moment without judgment to help let it go, can reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Try a phone app like Headspace.com or Calm. com, or search for a guided meditation on YouTube. Eat food that helps you feel good: Unhealthy eating can exacerbate stress by affecting the part of the brain that controls emotion and mood. Sustained periods of stress can lead to the body releasing more cortisol, a hormone that helps the body deal with a stressful event. Too much cortisol in the blood stream can make you feel hungry, causing you to overeat. In addition, there is a growing body of evidence linking our digestive health with brain health, and that includes our response to stress. Certain foods are natural stress fighters, so make sure your diet includes herbal teas, dark chocolate, whole grains, fish, nuts, avocados, citrus fruits and leafy greens. Finally, be productive: If you have been saying to yourself, “I always wanted play guitar,” now is a good time to learn. Try something new, like drawing, chess, or becoming a master chef. It is also a great opportunity to tackle those home improvement projects, like painting, cleaning out the garage or trimming trees. A sense of accomplishment can keep anxiety at bay and put your mind and body at ease. Christopher J. Robles, M.D., of White Plains Hospital Physician Associates specializes in family medicine and primary care. To make an appointment with him, call 914-849-7075.
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PET OF THE MONTH
PET CARE
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MY BUDDY
Buddy is a gentle giant. Courtesy SPCA.
Buddy may be a common dog’s name, but it’s the perfect one for this big guy, an 80-pounder with a huge smile who’s really a gentle giant. Buddy is around 3 or 4 years old and is shy at first but warms up when he’s out of his kennel and playing. Once he gets to know you, he’s a really fun and outgoing pooch. Because of his size, he’d love a person or family who has a yard for him to romp around and get his exercise in. Buddy enjoys going on walks and would do best in an adult home with someone who has dog experience since he’s a bit bashful with strangers at first. He likes playing with some dogs. It all depends on the chemistry if he will become best “buds” with them. To learn more about Buddy or set up a meet and greet, visit spca914.org. WAGMAG.COM DECEMBER 2020
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WHEN & WHERE THROUGH DEC. 6 Greenwich Historical Society’s annual “Antiquarius” festival has a new, virtual look this season. Themed “Together at Home,” the holiday perennial celebrates the decorative arts, antiques, architecture and design, featuring the “Greenwich Winter Antiques & Design Show” and “Festival of Tabletop Trees.” 203-8696899, greenwichhistory.org THROUGH DEC. 31 Clay Art Center presents “Concepts in Clay,” a virtual exhibition that features the works of celebrated Black ceramic artists from across the U.S. The artists depict their thoughts on what present-day America means to them through their diverse works. This collection also investigates a variety of themes that are part of the Black experience in America, such as the image of self, social justice and activism. The exhibition is available on the center’s website. 914-937-2047, clayartcenter.org THROUGH JAN. 6 Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo will transform itself into a “Winter Wonderland,” offering guests an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of nature in a safe, outdoor setting. The Winter Wonderland Walk includes 10 festive vignettes, from Fairy House Lane and a special train display, Imagination Station, to custom artist and children-designed snowmen, a Hanukkah Plaza, and Kris Kringle Corner. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. 1875 Noble Ave., Bridgeport; 203-394-5522, beardsleyzoo.org THROUGH MARCH 21 In its recently renovated main art gallery, the Bruce Museum presents a major new art exhibition, “She Sweeps with Many-Colored Brooms:” Paintings and Prints by Emily Mason (1932-2019),” highlighting the painter’s earliest experiments in oil on paper and in printmaking from two decades of intense innovation in her career. Mason “translated the language of Abstract Expressionism, one of gesture and movement, into an abstraction of pure color composed in delicate veils and washes.” 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays.1 Museum Drive, Greenwich; 203-8690376, brucemuseum.org
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Kyle and Kelly Phelps’ “Grace,” on view in Clay Art Center’s “Concepts In Clay: Artists of Color” online through 12/31. Courtesy Clay Art Center.
DEC. 3 Calling all quilt enthusiasts: The Norwalk Historical Society presents “Norwalk Quilt Stories: A Virtual Talk with Lizzy Rockwell.” The veteran children’s book author will dive into the story behind her latest book, “The All-Together Quilt,” and explore Norwalk quilt stories as she discusses her work with Peace by Piece: The Norwalk Community Quilt Project, the inspiration for her book. The evening will include surprise guests and an interactive Q & A. 203-8460525, norwalkhistoricalsociety.org DEC. 3 THROUGH 6, 10 THROUGH 13 AND 17 THROUGH 20 The Ridgefield Theater Barn presents
Patrick Spadaccino’s one-man adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” directed by Scott R. Brill, in cabaret-style seating; Covid restrictions apply. A recorded version will also be available. 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays 2 p.m., Sundays. 37 Halpin Lane; 203-240-6268, ridgefieldtheaterbarn.org. DEC. 4 The New Choral Society will present its 27th annual “Messiah (Part 1),” which was recorded lin November, complete with the refined acoustics of the Hitchcock Presbyterian Church in Scarsdale. The performance will debut on Dec.
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WHEN & WHERE 4 and remain available for viewing throughout December. 7 p.m.; newchoralsociety.org/messiah DEC. 5 MoCA Westport welcomes everyone to an outdoor “Holiday Open House” that will feature outdoor caroling by small groups of the Orphenians of Staples High School; performances by Westport School of Music teachers and students; complimentary admission to the “World Peace” exhibition; and a holiday-themed project for young people. Noon to 5 p.m. 19 Newtown Turnpike; 203-222-7070, mocawestport.org.
DEC. 11 THROUGH 13 White Plains Performing Arts Center will present its “Santa’s Holiday Extravaganza” of pre-recorded holiday songs, stories and traditions on Zoom. The event will feature performances by professional singers and dancers. It all culminates in a reading of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” by Mrs. Claus, followed by a special live appearance by Santa. Each screen will be permitted two minutes alone with Santa to get a screenshot with the guest of honor. Times vary; 914-3281600, wppac.com
DEC. 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 AND 20 To celebrate Connecticut’s largest IMAX Theater, before it is demolished in 2021 to make way for a federal railroad bridge replacement project, The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is showing 22 fan-favorite movies from the past three decades through Jan. 18. Among them is the feature-length, animated holiday movie “The Polar Express,” on three weekends in December. 4:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. 10 N. Water St.; 203-852-0700, maritimeaquarium.org.
DEC. 11 THROUGH 13 AND 18 THROUGH 20 The Music Theatre of Connecticut MainStage presents “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.” Adapted for the stage by Joe Landry from the screenplay by Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Frank Capra and Jo Swerling, this beloved American holiday classic comes to captivating life as a live 1940s radio broadcast, starring four actors who perform the voices of dozens of characters while creating Foley sound effects. Livestreaming also available. 8 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays. 509 Westport Ave., Norwalk; 203-454-3883, musictheatreofct.com.
DEC. 5 THROUGH JAN. 2 The Pandemic Players, a group presented by Schoolhouse Theater, is providing Zoom readings of short plays to audiences, even while theaters are closed. Afternoon readings this winter bring the joy of the holidays into listeners’ lives with selections that include O. Henry's “The Gift of the Magi,” and Charles Dickens' “A Christmas Carol.” 3 p.m.; theschoolhousetheater.org
DEC. 12 Westchester Collaborative Theater in Ossining will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a livestreamed evening of theater and music. Scenes from three of its productions over the past decade will be reprised and works from its upcoming 2021 season will be performed. Alexis Cole and K.J. Denhert will also provide entertainment throughout the evening. 8 p.m., wctheater.org
DEC. 8 Pianist and musical scholar Orin Grossman presents “An Afternoon with ‘Porgy and Bess,’” George Gershwin’s groundbreaking 1935 opera about life, love and loss amid Charleston’s Black community. The musical contains some of Gershwin’s greatest music, and this virtual presentation will feature Orin Grossman performing some of it, including “Summertime,” “My Man’s Gone Now,” “It Ain’t Necessarily So,” and “Bess, You Is My Woman Now,” in special arrangements by pianist Earl Wild. 203-254-4010, thequicklive.com
DEC. 13 Picture House Regional Film Center’s annual holiday “Nutcracker Magical Matinee” will go virtual this year, with performances by Ballet Arts’ dancers. In full costume and wearing masks to follow health regulations, the performers will bring the timeless holiday ballet and Tchaikovsky’s score to life. 914-738-3161; thepicturehouse.org DEC. 13 THROUGH 20 M&M Performing Arts Company will present in-person performances of “Mr.
Dickens Tells A Christmas Carol” at the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum. Taken from the original script, actor Michael Muldoon will play Charles Dickens and bring the travails of Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim to life. Seating will be strictly limited by social distancing guidelines. 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, 895 Shore Road, Pelham Bay Park, Bronx; 718-885-1461, bpmm.org DECEMBER 16 Curated by Frederic Chiu, the inaugural season of The Lundberg Family Foundation Masters’ Series in the Arts presents a Beethoven 250th Anniversary Concert with QuatreStax playing Beethoven’s Quartet Op. 95 in F minor, “Serioso,” and Mendelssohn’s Quartet No. 2, Op. 13, in A minor. This is a virtual concert presented by The Westport Library. 7 p.m. 203-2914800, westportlibrary.org. DEC. 19 Concordia Conservatory at Concordia College will present a film version of its annual “Community Holiday Musical.” When word gets out that there will be no Concordia Holiday Community Musical due to Covid, current and past performers reminisce about past shows and perform their favorite musical numbers to determine the “best” holiday musical yet. 7 p.m.; 914-395-4507, concordiaconservatory.org DEC. 20 In honor of the season of lights, join the 100-member Fairfield County Chorale for a online streaming event, “FCC Presents, Gifts,” weaving together technology, animation, dance, the visual arts and the music of Bach, Mozart and Mendelssohn into one curated holiday performance. 4 p.m. 203858-3714, fairfieldcountychorale.org. The Connecticut Dance School (CDS) performs a reimagined digital version of “The Nutcracker,” filmed inside the school’s newly created Black Box Theatre, with 100 CDS students from across Fairfield County. Tony-Award-winning actor, director and Broadway star James Naughton will narrate the performance, while dancers spring to life from the pages of a “Nutcracker” storybook. A recorded version of the performance will be available to ticket holders through Jan. 4. 4 p.m. 203-3842492, ctdanceschool.org.
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WE WONDER:
HOW WILL YOU LIGHTEN THIS HOLIDAY SE ASON? “The holiday season tends to come with a mix of pressure and obligation for me. There are so many gifts to buy, deadlines to meet and events to attend and often I find myself so rushed it seems difficult to find moments to just pause. This year I intend to stay focused on gratitude and appreciate all the small and large moments. We have too much to be grateful for not to savor it.”
SHEREEN CAMPBELL
founder of My Little Magic Shop New York City resident
“As a board member of County Harvest – a nonprofit organization that battles food insecurity here in Westchester – I am fortunate enough to work with a dedicated group of volunteers, partner food agencies and donors who rescue and distribute over 650,000 pounds of food each year. This year, hunger has become a crisis of historic proportion due to the ongoing pandemic. I hope to lighten this holiday season by continuing to volunteer my time and encourage my friends and family to get involved in the ongoing fight against hunger. ‘Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others,’ Booker T. Washington.”
AMY COLE
founder and president, AOK Communications Pelham resident “This holiday season, I choose to be grateful and influence the good by spreading the holiday spirit, word and deed, rather than giving my attention and energy to today's discouraging news. The world is changing, and I think it is essential to reflect on all the goods that have occurred. I know I am grateful for all the fantastic new clients we've gained and campaigns we've worked on. I am also grateful for the new skills we've acquired that have allowed our agency to flourish even through these challenging times. So bring on the music, food and fun and let's give thanks for the good that has occurred in order to start the New Year’s right.”
“This holiday will be spent with my partner and daughter, preparing food together. 2020 has reminded me that our health and family are the most important things in my life. We'll play games, video chat with extended family around the country, get out the Xmas decorations while watching an Xmas movie.”
BARBARA GALAZZO
exhibitions director at Rockland Center for the Arts Cold Spring resident
MADELINE FAMILIA
founder and president of Creative Voices PR New York City resident
“Saddened by the horrible toll of lives lost by the pandemic, including some in our in our community, I will lighten this holiday season by embracing all my cherished loved ones with the deepest love, affection and gratitude — as never before – hopeful that this darkest chapter will soon be behind us as we prepare for the light and promise of a new year.”
FRANK PAGANI
president, Pagani PR Ardsley resident
“I will lighten this holiday season by joining the Westchester Oratorio Society's ‘virtual singalong"’of the holiday classic "Messiah" by Handel, streamed live via YouTube from St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Somers. I will also participate in ‘Art Show: Bedford's’ virtual art exhibit that will promote charitable giving through the sale of art via its website at artshowbedford.org. These are events that have lifted my spirits for many years and, although it is difficult not to pursue them in person this year, I am happy that they can still light up my life and the lives of others on a virtual basis.”
CAROLINE WALKER
retired attorney Bedford Hills resident
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See Africa as only an insider can Bring your camera and learn how to capture some amazing moments. 10-DAY KENYA SAFARI, NOVEMBER 2019 africaphototours.com
YOUR HEALTH IS ESSENTIAL The last several months have taught us a lot about what’s essential. Essential workers. Essential supplies. Essential businesses. Now it’s time to attend to another essential – your health. Not getting prompt, proper, regular medical care can have long-term consequences. At White Plains Hospital and our physicians’ practices, we’ve exceeded the state and federal guidelines to protect you. Infection control was always our priority, and now we’ve taken further action, creating separate COVID patient areas, implementing extensive cleaning practices, and screening for all staff and patients. Because staying safe means staying healthy. And your health is essential.
Learn more about our safety precautions at wphospital.org/safety