Salamander 2018

| THE MAGAZINE

NEW IN NOLA

NOPSI HOTEL REIMAGINES A HISTORIC BUILDING

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION

The making of the Middleburg Film Festival

48 HOURS IN CHARLESTON Food, history and the great outdoors

JUST FORE GOLFERS

Specialty spa treatments for players

DISCOVER LOCAL FLAVOR

Culinary experiences that inspire travel

A PRODUCTIVE meeting doesn’t require WALLS. It requires an OPEN MIND

Inspiration abounds. And for good reason. Salamander Hotels & Resorts Founder and CEO Sheila C. Johnson has infused her passion, perseverance and creative sensibilities into a collection of meeting venues designed to ignite new ideas and unify your group like never before.

THE BEST SHOPPING IN CHARLESTON IS ACTUALLY IN MOUNT PLEASANT

BRUNELLO CUCINELLI, LORO PIANA, ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA, ST. JOHN, SALVATORE FERRAGAMO, JIMMY CHOO, STUART WEITZMAN, LAFAYETTE 148, VERONICA BEARD, MAJESTIC FILATURES, THEORY, ALICE + OLIVIA, TORY BURCH, WOLFORD, TRISH MCEVOY, & MORE WITH FREE CONVENIENT PARKING

CONTENTS

FEATURES

30. NOLA WELCOMES NOPSI

The new NOPSI Hotel, New Orleans reinvents a historic building, ushering in a new era while paying homage to the past.

By Tiffanie Wen

34. TRAVEL BY TASTE

Dive into local flavor with place-based cuisine and unique epicurean experiences.

By Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

40. ’TIS THE SEASON

Spa treatments draw inspiration from changes in the natural environment to offer tailored experiences throughout the year.

By Michelle Franzen Martin

44. 48 HOURS IN CHARLESTON

Rich in history, buzzing with activity and awash with coastal cuisine, South Carolina’s Holy City welcomes visitors with legendary Southern charm and hospitality.

By Joe Rada

50. FILM FESTIVAL RISING

The annual Middleburg Film Festival provides four days of fantastic films in a stunning setting. By Joe Yogerst

54. THE ART OF THE HENDERSON

Featuring everything from glass art to handcrafted furniture, the Henderson Artist Project has transformed the luxury new resort into a work of art itself with more than 465 creative pieces on display.

By Ashley Ryan

60. PICTURE PERFECT

These expert smartphone photography tips will help you capture your most memorable travel moments in eye-catching images that deserve to be both shared and framed.

By Michelle Rae Uy

DEPARTMENTS

8. WELCOME LETTER

10. MUST-SEE EAST

Discover some of the most highly anticipated events on the East Coast.

14. DRINK: RUM RENAISSANCE

The island party drink is finally getting the recognition it deserves.

16. DESIGN: HOLLYWOOD NIGHTS

Elegantly designed movie-themed rooms bring the magic of Hollywood home.

18. DID YOU KNOW?

Discover fun facts and stories behind local experiences near some Salamander properties.

20. SPA: FORE GOLFERS ONLY

Specialty massages target specific muscle groups, helping to relax and re-energize your game.

22. FASHION: CLASS WITH A MODERN TOUCH

Fashion designer Brett Johnson shares his inspiration.

24. GOLF: GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE

Hammock Beach Resort’s Ocean Course reopened after a 13-month closure with upgrades that make it a ravishing sight, not to mention a world-class golf experience.

26. OUTDOOR: HEADED FOR THE TOP

Sean Burch, extreme athlete and mountaineer, wants to train you to climb Mount Everest.

28. FAMILY: JUST FOR KIDS

Vacations at Salamander properties come alive for children with these exclusive kids camps that offer endless fun and entertainment.

62. EXPERIENCE SALAMANDER

From Virginia’s countryside to Florida’s coast and beyond, discover Salamander Hotels & Resorts’ authentic destinations and travel experiences.

66. 7 QUESTIONS WITH DAWN MERCER

As the director of golf instruction at Innisbrook Resort, Dawn Mercer has been perfecting her teaching skills and her golf swing for three decades.

FOUNDER’S LETTER

Welcome to the 2018 edition of Salamander | The Magazine. This year we have some exciting new developments at Salamander Hotels & Resorts and, as a result, new experiences for our guests. This summer, the luxurious Hotel Bennett opens in Charleston, South Carolina, overlooking historic and iconic Marion Square. One of the most significant lodging developments ever built in the state, it serves as the ideal gateway to explore the Holy City. On page 44, discover some of the best ways to spend 48 hours in Charleston, including must-try cuisine, outdoor adventures and opportunities to dive into local history. The hotel itself is located on a historic site, which formerly housed the west wing of The Citadel - South Carolina’s Military Academy, and was more recently home to the Charleston Library.

History is also a prominent theme throughout another one of our recent openings: NOPSI Hotel, New Orleans, which debuted in July 2017. “NOLA Welcomes NOPSI” (page 30) explores how the new hotel has reimagined a local landmark, which was originally built in the 1920s to serve as the headquarters for the city’s utility company and transit operator. The property offers a unique look at New Orleans’ past and future, which is particularly relevant this year as the city celebrates its tricentennial.

We have also reimagined one of our most renowned golf experiences: Hammock Beach Resort’s Ocean Course in Palm Coast, Florida, has reopened after a 13-month restoration. Following the damage caused by Hurricane Matthew in 2016, we decided to not only repair the course, but make it better than ever before. You can learn about the changes on page 24.

Whether you are joining us for a one-of-a-kind golfing experience, a seasonally inspired spa treatment (page 40) or to enjoy authentic regional cuisine (page 34), we hope this issue provides insight that will help you make the most of your visit. Thank you for staying with us.

Yours in Hospitality,

Sheila Johnson Founder & CEO, Salamander Hotels & Resorts

alamanderalamander

| THE MAGAZINE

EDITORIAL

EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER

Steve Zepezauer steve@firebrandmediainc.com

EDITOR

Katherine Duncan katherine@firebrandmediainc.com

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

Ashley Probst, Ashey Ryan, Sharon Stello

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Micaela Myers, Briana Verdugo

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jackie Adams, Belinda Lichty Clarke, Stephanie Kalina-Metzger, Dale Leatherman, Michelle Franzen Martin, Joe Rada, Michelle Rae Uy, Jennifer Walker-Journey, Tiffanie Wen, Joe Yogerst

DESIGN

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Sonia Chung

MARKETING & DESIGN DIRECTOR/ART DIRECTOR Paul Graff

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Shaylene Brooks

PHOTOGRAPHER/PHOTO EDITOR

Dondee Quincena

CORPORATE

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & FOUNDER

Steve Zepezauer

CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER

Scott Sanchez

FINANCE/OFFICE MANAGER

Michelle Ruelas

SALES

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Carrie Robles carrie@firebrandmediainc.com 305-431-5409

LOCAL SALES

Dee Dee Hubbard

Maureen Kappler

PRODUCTION

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Tina Leydecker

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Megan Shelhamer

DIGITAL MEDIA

CONTENT WRANGLER

Kim Zepezauer

CORPORATE FOUNDER & CEO

Sheila Johnson

PRESIDENT

Prem Devadas

CORPORATE PR DIRECTOR

Matt Owen

MUST-SEE EAST

From cultural events to sports competitions and artistic marvels, these are some of the most highly anticipated events on the East Coast.

Charleston Wine & Food Festival

Charleston, South Carolina

Feb. 28 - March 4, 2018

Tantalize your taste buds in a wide variety of ways at more than 100 events in celebration of the annual Charleston Wine & Food Festival. At the Culinary Village in Marion Square, enjoy all-inclusive access to food demonstrations, wine tastings, live music, shopping and more. Beverage workshops, signature dinners, excursions and interactive cooking classes will also be held around town as part of the festival. (charlestonwineandfood.com)

Weigh your fresh catches daily at the

Valspar Championship

Innisbrook Resort

Palm Harbor, Florida

March 5-11, 2018

Some of the top professional golfers in the world will take part in this year’s competition, including twotime PGA TOUR Player of the Year Rory McIlroy, who will make his Valspar debut. The championship will take place over the course of four rounds on the resort’s strikingly beautiful Copperhead Course. There will also be performances by Jake Owen and Dustin Lynch. (valsparchampionship.com)

Charleston Wine & Food Festival

Destin Fishing Rodeo.

Passport DC

Washington, D.C.

May 1-31, 2018

More than 70 embassies will come together to present events featuring both the local culture and the international diplomatic community in the nation’s capital. Take a global journey on the Around the World Embassy Tour (May 5) or the Fiesta Asia Street Festival (May 19), in addition to other festivals, performances, exhibitions and workshops. (culturaltourismdc.org)

Charleston Fashion Week

Charleston, South Carolina

March 13-17, 2018

Based in the historic Marion Square, this five-night celebration of fashion showcases the talents of emerging clothing designers and models from Charleston and beyond. From runway shows to style lounges, spot upcoming fashion trends all around town. (charlestonfashionweek.com)

Gasparilla International Film Festival

Tampa Bay, Florida

March 20-25, 2018

Sit back, relax and enjoy a variety of local and international premieres, with a jury judging the films in categories like Best Documentary Feature, Best World Showcase and Best Florida Production. There will be additional audience choice awards presented during the festival as well. (gasparillafilmfestival.com)

French Quarter Festival

New Orleans

April 12-15, 2018

Celebrate the culture and spirit of New Orleans with this special fourday music festival. Featuring more than 400 hours of music from local acts on a total of 23 stages, guests will enjoy everything from jazz, Cajun and gospel tunes to classical, funk and brass bands. (fqfi.org)

Country 500

Daytona Beach, Florida

May 25-27, 2018

Held at the Daytona International Speedway over Memorial Day

weekend, this country music festival features some of the biggest names in the genre, including Chris Stapleton, Toby Keith, Dierks Bentley and Sugarland. There will also be meet-and-greet opportunities, carnival rides and a western wear vendor fair. (country500.com)

Red, White & Blue Hero Celebration

Destin, Florida

May 31 - Aug. 16, 2018

Each Thursday throughout the summer, take part in a celebration honoring local veterans, featuring a presentation of colors, a World War II air show, live music from The Village Belles and fireworks over the harbor. (destinchamber.com)

FEI World Equestrian Games

Mill Spring, North Carolina

Sept. 11-23, 2018

Every four years, this equestrian competition is held, combining high-caliber events like jumping,

GOOD SPORTS

dressage, reining, driving, vaulting, endurance and more with horseriding demonstrations and exhibitions. Held in the middle of the Olympic cycle, the 2018 event will take place at Tryon International Equestrian Center, a 1,400-acre facility with competitions held year-round. (tryon2018.com)

Destin Fishing Rodeo

Destin, Florida

Oct. 1-31, 2018

Known as a fabulous destination for sport fishing, Destin presents a monthlong fishing rodeo. Head out on the water on a charter or private boat, fish from a kayak or paddle board, or stay on dry land and try your luck from the pier, jetty or shoreline. Bring your best catches for daily weigh-ins from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (destinfishingrodeo.org)

Florida Sports Expo

Orlando, Florida

Nov. 3, 2018

For an interactive sports experience that brings fans and athletes together, visit the Florida Sports Expo at Orlando Festival Park. Guests can see how they stack up against their favorite pros in sports like baseball and soccer, attend the World’s Greatest Tailgate Party, meet athletes and enjoy live demonstrations and performances. (floridasportsexpo.com) S

Whether you are visiting Washington, D.C., or live there year-round, catch high-energy pro games during these seasons in the nation’s capital.

October 2017April 7, 2018

October 2017April 11, 2018

March 29Sept. 30, 2018

SeptemberDecember 2018

UNITED March 3Oct. 28, 2018

The Gasparilla International Film Festival red carpet

Experience the Authentic

As the foremost boutique winery in Loudoun County, Greenhill features award winning wines made with 100% Virginia grapes. Take a tour of our tasting room, barrel room, cellar, farm store, conference rooms, catering kitchen, and club house. Visit our website to plan your visit.

Tasting Room Hours

Open daily, noon until 6pm October to April

Open daily, noon until sunset May until September

Farm Store Hours

Thursday to Sunday, noon until 6pm, year round

GreenhillVineyards.com

EAT+DRINK

RUM RENAISSANCE

The island party drink is finally getting the recognition it deserves.

By Jennifer Walker-Journey

Charlie Shed was sitting at a bayside bar at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, smoking a local cigar and sipping a glass of Havana Club Rum—not Bacardi’s version, but rather the coveted brand created in Cuba and unattainable in the U.S.— when it hit him: He was living the iconic image that people conjure up when they sip and savor each note of a well-aged rum.

“The stories of sitting in a portico at the Hotel National and the experience of being in Rio de Janeiro, or at the Ritz in Naples—you put a nice rum with it and it’s just romantic and fun,” says Shed, director of food and beverage at NOPSI Hotel, New Orleans.

Rum hasn’t always been considered a refined

libation. It has a longtime reputation as the booze that spikes piña coladas from poolside Tiki bars or the principal ingredient in the old college standby rum-and-Coke. But rum has hit a renaissance of sorts. The trend of critically tasting a spirit that has hit just about every liquor, from bourbon to whiskey to gin, has finally fallen upon the island party beverage, and it’s about time.

Sticky Roots

The story of rum begins with an unwanted waste product that plagued 17th-century Caribbean sugar cane plantation farmers. Producing sugar involved crushing the sugar cane, boiling the residual juices and then pouring it into clay pots to cure. Gooey liquid would seep out of the pots and leave behind sugar. No one knew what to do with that viscous byproduct, which we now call molasses, so for years it was often just dumped into the sea.

Eventually, someone discovered that molasses could be fermented and it was no longer tossed out as trash, but distilled. Through the years, the process was refined in distilleries that sprang up throughout the Caribbean and Latin America.

Today, the clear liquid distillate is either filtered to remove impurities, creating a light rum with sweet but subtle flavor. Or, it is aged in charred oak or wooden barrels, creating a golden or dark rum with a bolder taste. Typically, the longer the rum has aged, the darker the color.

Lighter rums are usually mixed into cocktails, while the darker, more distinctive rums are served straight up or on the rocks so that notes like espresso, vanilla or burnt orange can be discerned. But blending a dark rum into a cocktail or even adding it to a marinade or dessert isn’t frowned upon. That’s because, generally speaking,

BUTTERED RUM

Ingredients:

Small slice of butter

1 packet of brown sugar

Dash of cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice

Splash of vanilla

2 ounces dark rum

Hot water

Method:

Mix all ingredients together and serve in an Irish coffee mug.

Recipe courtesy of Charlie Shed, director of food and beverage at NOPSI Hotel, New Orleans.

Americans love rum. More rum is sold in the U.S. than bourbon, scotch, gin or tequila, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. Yet, only a fraction of rum that is sold falls into the “high-end premium” or “super premium” categories compared to other spirits. But the perception of rum is changing as premium and craft versions have come into favor in recent years.

Rum Revival

Rum relies on sugar cane, which is also the most successful crop in Louisiana’s history, according to the American Sugar Cane League. The plant was brought there as a gamble in the late 1700s to replace blighted indigo crops. To everyone’s delight, sugar cane grew like wildfire in the state’s warm climate and alluvial soil.

Louisiana’s abundance of sugar cane was the impetus for accomplished artist James Michalopoulos to invest in his own New Orleansbased craft rum distillery in 1995, a time when no one else in the continental U.S. was making rum. His distillery, Celebration Distillation, produces a variety of Old New Orleans Rum using locally sourced Louisiana sugar cane. They are the highest rated rums produced in America. Michalopoulos says he’s not surprised about the growing interest in premium rum.

“I’ve always known about the possibility of great rum, that it could be something that you can actually taste and drink that has a refined profile,” Michalopoulos says. “ … I’ve had a sense it was headed for a renaissance. Like fashion— one spirit rises and another takes a rest.”

As interest in rum increases, more people are eager to learn about what they are tasting. As a result, tours of Celebration Distillation are in high demand.

The distillery provides several daily shuttles from the French Market to its distillery on Frenchmen Street about 2.5 miles away. Here, visitors can see, smell and taste how Celebration Distillation makes its premium rum.

Old New Orleans Rum is also poured at Above the Grid, the rooftop bar at NOPSI Hotel, where Shed says his bartenders and mixologists are required to be knowledgeable about the liquor they recommend to customers.

“There are so many great aged rums out there and they’re all very intricate in their flavors,” he says. “It’s nice to put glasses in front of people and give them a taste of something they wouldn’t normally try. They say, ‘Oh, I like this,’ and start experimenting with more upgraded ones. It ends up being a lot of fun.” S

Distilling machines (above) can be used to craft rum from sugar cane (right).

DESIGN HOLLYWOOD NIGHTS

Elegantly designed movie-themed rooms bring the magic of Hollywood home.

By Michelle Franzen Martin

Reunion Resort is just a short drive from Orlando, Florida’s various theme parks and attractions, but guests don’t have to leave the property to experience the magic of movies. Darth Vader, Nemo and a team of superheroes can all be found within the resort’s vacation rental homes; their likenesses are inspiring Hollywood-themed rooms that elegantly capture favorite stories and the imaginative atmosphere that comes along with a visit to a theater. The rooms—each as unique as the films they represent—appeal to people of all ages.

“Kids love themed rooms because it makes them feel like they are part of the movie,” says Toronto-based designer Laura Stein of Laura Stein Interiors, whose work at Reunion includes a Batman-themed room with a two-story-tall mural of Gotham City. “It’s a great outlet for their imaginations. For adults, it’s all about nostalgia.”

A “Star Wars”-inspired bedroom

The designs also demonstrate a growing desire to bring the movies home, as interior designers around the country draw inspiration from the big screen. “I’ve seen some amazing rooms that literally look like a set out of a Disney movie,” Stein says. “I’ve also seen a basement bar designed to look like it was from ‘Casablanca.’ … As long as there is Hollywood, there will be Hollywoodthemed rooms.”

At Reunion Resort, the owners along with the designers and the resort’s rental team work together on the unique spaces. In some cases, guests have the opportunity to experience a variety of film genres, as many of the Reunion homes comprise various themed areas.

A “Harry Potter”-inspired room brings Hogwarts to life: A red train doubles as a bunk bed, while shelves complete with replicas of Harry’s school books line a nearby wall. On the other wall, four additional wood-paneled bunk beds are also available for aspiring wizards.

For younger guests, a “Monsters University” room brings in tones of blue, lime green and other bright colors with graphic murals of scenes from the Disney movie. Plush toys depicting characters from the film are comfortably placed on the beds for a fun and welcoming feel.

Suzanne Nichols of Winter Park, Floridabased Suzanne Nichols Design Group, who has

designed a variety of rooms at Reunion Resort, says the assortment of Hollywood-themed living areas are the reason people are choosing to stay at one property over another.

Nichols has designed many movie-inspired spaces—among them, a “Frozen” room, complete with a snowflake lamp that drops from the ceiling. Another resembles scenes from Disney’s “Finding Nemo”; in addition to a four-bunk bed, a loft in the shape of a boat offers additional play space. Nichols also used 3-D graphics to bring to life Nemo, Dory, Frank the octopus and even the coral.

While some of the films and characters represented in the vacation homes’ designs are subtle, others are a bit more over-the-top.

“You can have a general sense of what the theme is, or feel like you’re truly put into the movie,” says Scott Campbell, assistant director of rental management at Reunion Resort. “Our ‘Star Wars’ AT-AT room [inspired by the four-legged

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Discover the vacation villas and homes available at other Salamander properties.

Palm Coast, Florida’s Hammock Beach Resort offers spacious villas throughout the resort, plus a private home experience. The rentals include unlimited access to the multilevel pool, all six Hammock Beach Resort restaurants and two golf courses, as well as beach access including chairs, umbrellas and towels, plus food and beverage service.

Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida, provides rental villas that are perfect for families and golfers. Each condo features a full kitchen and access to six pools, four golf courses and a luxury spa.

The Henderson in Destin, Florida, has numerous family-oriented one- to twobedroom condos that overlook the resort’s lazy river and swimming pools. They are also just steps away from Primrose, the resort’s signature restaurant.

vehicle from the film] is a perfect example of putting you into the movie itself.” The room features an AT-AT bed, and at the top of the bed, the wall of the AT-AT opens and guests can admire a mural of the Millennium Falcon starship on the wall or enjoy watching the film on TV.

From under the sea to a galaxy far, far away, when choosing a vacation home at Reunion, there’s no shortage of imaginative destinations. S

A “Monsters University”-inspired space at Reunion Resort

The resort also offers a rental with a bowling alley.

FACTS

DID YOU KNOW?

Discover fun facts and stories behind local experiences near some Salamander Hotels & Resorts properties.

HAMMOCK BEACH RESORT Wild Lineage

The rare Cracker horses and cattle that call the Florida Agricultural Museum home are descendants of the livestock brought to America by the first Spanish settlers.

Third Time’s a Charm

The princess that Princess Place Preserve is named for didn’t earn the title until her third marriage, to exiled Russian prince Boris Sherbatow, despite the fact that she lived there with her first two husbands when it was called Cherokee Grove.

THE HENDERSON Ahoy Matey

The Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival first started out as a water skiing festival in the 1950s.

Written in the Sand

Although Crab Island is one of the most popular spots in Destin for both tourists and locals alike, it is not actually an island at all—it’s a simple sandbar.

INNISBROOK RESORT Access & Architecture

John Chesnut Sr. Park, a nearby county park, was named for a former Pinellas County commissioner who helped create public access to local land. He also assisted in the building of both the Belleair Beach Causeway and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

Travelin’ Chimps

Before starting the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary in the 1970s, husbandand-wife duo Robert and Anna Mae Noell traveled the country, performing magic tricks, vaudeville acts and

1700s. Currently, only about 600 people reside on the land that makes up the original town.

From East to West

50 West Vineyards got its name from Route 50, the road next to the property, which runs across the country from Ocean City, Maryland, to West Sacramento, California.

NOPSI HOTEL, NEW ORLEANS

Popular Passageway

juggling, as well as presenting their boxing chimpanzees.

SALAMANDER RESORT & SPA For Sale

Joseph Chinn, cousin to George Washington, sold what is now the Middleburg Historic District to regional Federalist leader Leven Powell for only $2.50 per acre in the

Once called Good Children Street, the now-hip St. Claude Avenue was renamed for Claude Tremé, a land developer who immigrated to New Orleans from France. Tremé also has a local neighborhood named for him.

A Humble Beginning

The Backstreet Cultural Museum first started in Sylvester Francis’ two-car garage in the same Tremé neighborhood mentioned above, after he was gifted Mardi Gras Indian costumes and other cultural artifacts in exchange for giving locals photographs he had taken.

REUNION RESORT

Geographic Geology

Before Walt Disney World became the main tourist attraction near Kissimmee, Florida, visitors flocked there to see Monument of States, built by Dr. Charles Bressler-Pettis and featuring rocks and other objects from each state in the country.

Rolling on the River

The Kissimmee River was drained and manually deepened in 1881 in order to make it easier to ship products like cypress lumber and sugar cane into the Gulf of Mexico via the Florida waterway. S

Crab Island Suncoast Primate Sanctuary

White wine at 50 West Vineyards

Florida Cracker cattle

C

SPA FORE GOLFERS ONLY

Specialty massages target specific muscle groups, helping to relax and re-energize your game.

By Belinda Lichty Clarke

Resort spa menus are expanding their services to include a host of customized treatments to achieve specific goals, among them, massages especially designed for golfers. What better way to unwind after an active round than with a therapeutic treatment that truly targets the muscles you’ve worked the hardest?

According to Golf Digest fitness adviser and doctor of physical therapy Ralph Simpson, if a player overworks muscles and creates trigger points—which are common during golf vacations when players are logging multiple days of 18 or 36 holes—the sooner those points are treated, the better. Massage is one way to alleviate, or even eliminate, the pain and dysfunction associated with trigger points. “The biggest error to make is to have a massage within a two-hour window before playing,” Simpson says. Getting a deep tissue massage too close to a tee time can leave players feeling sore throughout the game with muscles that won’t perform optimally. “I always have players use massage after golf, unless it’s a specific injury that’s being treated, but then it should be at least two hours before tee time.”

These specialty massages at Salamander’s collection of spas can help speed up recovery and improve flexibility, among other benefits, so you’ll be well-prepared for another round in no time.

Golfer-Sage Massage at Hammock Beach Resort

At the AAA Four Diamond-rated Hammock Beach Resort, guests can treat themselves to the Golfer-Sage massage, which incorporates a routine that massage therapists have developed to specifically address the needs of every golfer, at any level. This 80-minute treatment includes a head-to-toe massage and concludes with stretches that will lengthen and return the body to a more balanced state.

“We use our Epicuren lotion for the service and the focus is on upper and lower body,” says Kadie Withrow, spa manager. “On the upper part of the body they are working on shoulders and arms, and lower body is hips and lower back. It’s a really a great full-body massage for golfers because the therapist will focus on all the areas that you use while golfing.”

Golfer’s Massage at Reunion

Resort

Reunion Resort provides weary golfers with the choice of either a 50- or 80-minute Golfer’s

The Muscle Melter helps with circulation, flexibility and range of motion.

Massage. This specialized treatment uses deep tissue and relaxation techniques combined with aroma-infused T Spheres (massage balls).

According to Stephanie Wise, director of spa recreation and fitness at Reunion, the aromatherapy rubber balls are used to help alleviate muscle and joint aches and pains. The therapist holds the T Spheres in his or her hands and manipulates the balls around the shoulder blades and then up the back of the neck to address pressure points in the arms, hands and feet.

The spa uses Elemis aromatherapy oils, specifically the Elemis Musclease Active Body Oil, for the Golfer’s Massage. This oil contains ingredients such as maritime pine, sea buckthorn, sea fennel extracts and rosemary essential oil, which help to ease muscle spasms and stressed joints that can be the result of exercise such as golfing.

“We retail this product as well so golfers can keep the relaxation going long after leaving the spa,” Wise says. “This oil is also great as a daily moisturizer or as a bath soak.”

Muscle Melter at Innisbrook Resort Innisbrook Resort in Tampa Bay, Florida, features a tempting 50- or 80-minute treatment aptly named the Golfer’s Muscle Melter Massage. Heather Cancetty, director of spa at Innisbrook, says this targeted treatment focuses on releasing muscle tension and mobilizing the joints in the affected areas. The full-body massage uses a melange of pressure and light stretching to aid a player’s range of motion, circulation and flexibility.

“Massage therapy can help by developing your upper body and fueling your muscles to receive maximum nutrients, both of which help you to perform optimally and recover quickly. Finally,

experiencing a Golfer’s Muscle Melter Massage before or after the game can have a huge physical and emotional impact on the quality of your performance and recuperation,” Cancetty says. “The eucalyptus steam room aids in workout recovery, loosens stiff joints and even burns calories. This is offered in both the gentlemen’s and ladies’ relaxation lounges here at Salamander Spa Tampa Bay.” S

SPA TO SPORT

Discover some of the top benefits of massage therapy for golfers, courtesy of Salamander Spa at Innisbrook Resort.

Enhances Flexibility

Massage can be particularly helpful for golfers looking to improve their swing and increase mobility in the muscles associated with golfing. In addition to added flexibility, a massage can help the muscles to relax, making them move more freely through a game.

Stimulates Blood Flow

A massage prior to play stimulates healthy blood flow and reduces muscle soreness after a game. It also helps the muscles and mind to relax before the game for better focus.

Strengthens Weak Points

Massage therapy can also help strengthen weak points including hips, shoulders, hands and legs. One of the best ways to help heighten performance is to address muscle tightness and trigger points with massage.

Aromatherapy oils sourced from natural ingredients are used in massage to ease muscle spasms.

Specialty massages for golfers can help speed up recovery and improve flexibility.

FASHION CLASS WITH A MODERN TOUCH

Fashion designer Brett Johnson shares his inspiration.

By Michelle Rae Uy

It all began with a pair of Nike Air Force 1 sneakers he owned and personalized when he was a child. Ever since Brett Johnson can remember, fashion has always been a passion of his. Back when he was 7 or 8 years old, he had a footwear obsession that lead to a hefty sneakers collection that would have made grown men cry. By the time he was 11, he was already dreaming of designing his own athletic brand.

Discussing his luxury menswear line, the now New York City-based designer is down-toearth—a surprising and refreshing attitude from a rising fashion industry star who was brought up in affluence. Perhaps it’s because early on, his parents—Salamander Hotels & Resorts founder Sheila Johnson and BET co-founder Robert Johnson—instilled in him the importance of a strong work ethic no matter your upbringing.

“People prejudge because of my family’s background. They think, ‘Oh he probably has people doing these things for him and everything’s given to him,’ ” he says. “I think my work ethic speaks for itself, to be the first person in the building and the last person to leave. I’m in the store every single day.”

At 28, he not only fulfilled his childhood dream but also successfully opened his flagship store in New York City’s SoHo district. The fall 2017 opening showcased a major shift in direction. When he first started his luxe brand in 2013, sneakers were the key pieces in Johnson’s line. These days, he’s all about the more tailored, coolly debonair and elegantly cosmopolitan look.

Yet no matter where his interests lie, one thing is constant: Johnson’s designs are often a reflection of his personal ardor, whether it be from his love of sports when he was young or from splitting

“I

think my work ethic speaks for itself, to be the first person in the building and the last person to leave.

I’m in the store every single day.”

—Brett

Johnson

his time between town and country. In fact, that vivid juxtaposition left such a lasting impression on him—and by extension, his designs—that no matter where he takes inspiration from for each collection, it will always be the underlying theme.

As he wants the many aspects of his life and experiences to manifest in every single piece of clothing, he often amalgamates this town-andcountry flair with his passion for travel. After falling in love with Italy’s culture, architecture and knack for excellent craftsmanship while on a family trip long ago, he made the decision to realize his designs in Florence.

“Italy has a whole different way of life when it comes to manufacturing and craftsmanship,” Johnson explains. “To be able to produce from that country where so much care, thought and effort are put into every single detail speaks volumes about the quality of my pieces.”

His spring/summer 2018 collection, which debuted in January 2018, is also Italy-inspired, with just a touch of rustic born out of a trip that he took with his girlfriend to Lake Como a couple of years ago.

The best thing about his designs might just be how chic and refined they are without being unattainable and old-fashioned. “I always want to have classicism rooted in each collection, but just with modern touches, and nobody’s been able to blend the two worlds together,” Johnson says.

He’s obtained a deeper understanding of the buying habits of his loyal followers, as well as potential customers from all over the world, simply by taking the time to meet new people and interact on a personal basis, despite his demanding schedule. And his clothes boast the same Italian quality and craftsmanship as his competitors, but with half the price point. Everything from the knits and shirts to the blazers and jackets are upscale yet affordable, elegant yet approachable. It’s what makes them distinctively Brett Johnson. S

STYLISH SELECTIONS

These items from Brett Johnson’s fall/winter 2017 collection are available at brettjohnson.co.

COTTON JERSEY BLAZER, $1,595

CORDUROY CARGO TROUSER, $465

ENGLISH RIBBED ROLLNECK KNIT, $695

TROUSER, $465

GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE

Hammock Beach Resort’s Ocean Course reopened after a 13-month restoration with upgrades that make it a ravishing sight, not to mention a world-class golf experience.

By Dale Leatherman

The pristine fairways and coastal views of Hammock Beach Resort’s Ocean Course in Palm Coast, Florida, are a striking sight to behold. Even before setting up a tee or selecting the right club to take on one of the Jack Nicklaus Signature holes, the impressive seaside scene makes a visit to the green an unforgettable experience. But behind the immaculate course is a history of trial and reinvention.

“In October 2016, Hurricane Matthew rolled up the east coast of Florida with 90 mph winds and a storm surge up to 9 feet,” says Brad Hauer, director of golf at Hammock Beach Resort. “Sea water flooded the entire Ocean Course, the irrigation system and the interconnecting lakes. The experts we called in said we had the highest salt levels they’d ever seen.”

The storm was an unexpected hit to the course, which is part of the Salamander Golf Collection. However, the Hammock Beach team took the difficult situation as an opportunity to not only restore the course, but elevate it to a level that exceeded its past incarnation. Thirteen months after the wipeout, the Ocean Course reopened. In some ways it was a flashback to the year 2000, when it debuted as

Florida’s first new oceanfront layout since the 1920s. But this time the grass was greener and softer, the sand was easier to hit from, and even the views of the Atlantic from the six ocean holes were better. “Having the course closed for 13 months was hard on us,” says Ty Brassie, Hammock Beach Resort’s director of sales and marketing, “but our long-term vision motivated us to do the right thing.”

The “right thing” turned out to be flushing salt from the soil and replanting the entire course in Platinum Paspalum, a salt-tolerant grass that flourishes with fewer fertilizers and insecticides. That was the most dramatic change, but there was much more to the renovation. “We rebuilt all of the tee boxes and added forward tees playing 4,100 yards for beginners, juniors, seniors—anyone wanting to play a shorter route,” Hauer says, “and we mowed the entire course to fairway height, so there’s no rough. It gives the course a very pristine look, and you can spray balls and not worry about having a bad lie unless you hit it into the woods.

“Over time, greens shrink because of mowing patterns,” Hauer adds, “so we returned the putting surfaces to the size and configuration they were when we opened in 2000.”

The layout’s 70-plus bunkers were also restored to their original shapes and given a new look and feel. The crew replaced the indigenous sand with G-Angle bunker sand—coarse, crushed silica that resists wind, drains better and lessens the severity of “fried egg” lies (when a ball is submerged in the sand). “G-Angle is the best on the market,” Hauer says. He adds that everyone, from the owners to the teams on the ground, worked together to take this special course to a whole new level. “It’s 10 times better than it was before the storm,” he says. Brassie agrees. “A signature Jack Nicklaus course could not simply be patched together and remain one of the top courses in Florida,” he says. “It was a challenging 13 months, but it was worth it. Our members and resort guests are amazed at the quality and beauty of the course. New membership is up, as is corporate group business. We made the right decision.” S

Ocean Course at Hammock Beach Resort

GREENS MAKEOVER ON INNISBROOK’S NORTH COURSE

The North Course at Innisbrook Resort in Tampa Bay, Florida, enters the new year with a new look and feel following a greens restoration last summer.

The course, one of four championship layouts at the resort, reopened Nov. 3 with greens planted in TifEagle Bermuda, the same grass found on the resort’s famed Copperhead Course, which serves as the venue for the PGA TOUR’s Valspar Championship.

“The greens were about 40 years old and the original TifDwarf Bermuda had become contaminated with other grasses, making for inconsistent putting surfaces,” says Bobby Barnes, Innisbrook’s director of golf. “We restored the greens’ original designs, fumigated the old grass and sprigged with TifEagle Bermuda.

The new greens are smoother, truer and faster because they tolerate closer mowing. Our members and guests are ecstatic.” While the North Course was closed, Barnes had all of the bunker collars re-sodded, added some landscaping and trimmed back invasive Brazilian pepper trees. New trees were planted to restore the doglegs on holes one and 18, and as a backdrop to hole five’s island green.

The course that aficionados call “Baby Copperhead” was part of the Larry Packard-designed 27-hole Copperhead Course in the early 1970s. At 6,325 (par 70) yards, it’s the shortest of the resort’s four layouts, but deserving of respect, according to Barnes. “For a relatively short course, it’s pretty demanding,” he says. “It’s a shotmaker’s course and the par 3s are daunting.”

The restoration of the Ocean Course included re-planting the entire course with salt-tolerant grass.

OUTDOOR

HEADED FOR THE TOP

Sean

Burch, extreme athlete and mountaineer, wants to train you to climb Mount Everest.

By Jackie Adams

Sean Burch always dreamed of climbing Mount Everest one day, but, like many people, he relegated it to the list of things to be done “one day.” The death of his beloved grandfather stirred Burch into action, and he decided to change his dream to a goal. Over the next 15 years, Burch became the first Virginian to summit Mount Everest, won eight world records for extreme athletic accomplishments, became a motivational speaker and wrote the book “Hyperfitness: 12 Weeks to Conquering Your Inner Everest and Getting Into the Best Shape of Your Life.” Now, Burch has partnered with Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg, Virginia, to create Two Years to the Top, a two-year program that will train anybody to climb Mount Everest so that they can turn their dream into a reality, too.

achievements.

Salamander Magazine: How did you first get into mountaineering?

Sean Burch: My grandfather was a big influence on me, and he became very ill, so I went to visit him and it turned out to be our last visit. To see this man that I looked up to so much now, so frail and feeble, say, “You know what the worst part about dying is? All these dreams and goals that I have in my mind, now I know I’ll never achieve them.” It had me in tears. And then he said, “I don’t want that to happen to you.” So after he died it finally hit home; that’s when I said, you know what, I’ve always had this goal of climbing Everest, I’m just going to do it. I didn’t know how, but I was going to climb that mountain, alone. … And then it kind of expanded after Everest to all of these other world records—[I thought,] if I can do this, then what else can I do?

SM: When you look back on all that you have achieved, which accomplishment are you most proud of?

SB: Everest is probably the most special to me, because that’s when I realized just how precious life is, and also what I was capable of doing. I felt as if, when I was sitting on that summit I was sitting next to my grandfather, and I realized how much more there is to life and to enjoy every single second of it. And that’s why I wanted to do Two Years to the Top, because Everest can change someone else’s life. I have met many, many people who are extremely wealthy yet still unhappy inside, and don’t feel complete. What I’m trying to do here is reach people to get the best out of them and help them achieve their dreams and goals.

Sean Burch has won eight world records for extreme athletic

“I felt as if, when I was sitting on that summit I was sitting next to my grandfather, and I realized how much more there is to life and to enjoy every single second of it.”

—Sean Burch

SM: Can you tell us about Two Years to the Top and how you got started doing this program with Salamander?

SB: I do a lot of public speaking, and I always ask: If anybody had the time and money and physical ability, would they want to climb Everest? And at least half the audience always raises their hands. It really blows me away that a lot of people want to do it but they just don’t know how to go about doing it. So my thought was to create this program where it will take two years of daily training, if not with me then [with] daily communication, and me keeping up on their workout program and them having to follow strict guidelines. … My big thing was I didn’t want them to have any [prior] experience; I wanted to mentor them and train them [in] the correct way to climb the mountain. I mean, if you have a base, that’s fine, but the idea is no experience preferred.

SM: What does your personal daily fitness program look like?

SB: I do a program I created called Hyperfitness that I wrote a book about. It’s a mental, physical and nutritional program. All three are very important, so I combine them. You can’t just do a physical workout and think, “OK, I can achieve any goal I want to.” It starts and ends with the mind. Then you get to the physical and, of course, the nutritional is just as important. … [The program] is based on how to achieve any goal. Not necessarily Mount Everest—but if you want to do that, that’s great—but if you want to run a marathon, you want to run a 5K, something that you never thought you could do, that’s the goal: to take something that’s buried deep within you, where you think, “I can’t do that, that’s for someone else.” And that’s where I say, “No, you can do it, and here’s how.” So it’s that type of program. I train every day; I don’t ever take a day off. S

TIME TO TRAIN

Currently, Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg, Virginia, offers the Two Years to the Top package with Sean Burch where guests can prepare for their own Mount Everest climb. Burch will dedicate two years to the guest and prepare them physically and mentally for the 29,035foot climb with Salamander Resort & Spa as the training ground. Guests will stay at the resort for one week every six months as well as one weekend stay every month as they train, recover and push themselves to the limit with one-on-one coaching by Burch.

The Two Years to the Top training package starts at $260,000 per person and includes:

• Five one-week stays at SRS; one initially and then every six months after

• Twenty weekend stays at SRS; once a month until the six month mark

• Daily spa treatments while on property; customized based on need

• Daily cooking studio kitchen time for meal prep

• Full access to pools, bike rentals and fitness center

• Salamander Resort & Spa branded workout gear

• Daily communications 24/7 with Burch

• Active and daily meditation instruction

• Take-home daily workout plans

• Take-home daily meal plans

• Option of joining Burch on separate expeditions

JUST FOR KIDS

Vacations at Salamander properties come alive for children with these exclusive kids camps that offer endless fun and entertainment.

By Ashley Ryan

When traveling together as a family, it’s not always easy to find activities that appeal to both adults and children. Without access to many of the materials you’d use at home to entertain the kids, planning a few days’ worth of pastimes can be incredibly daunting. That’s where kids clubs come in. With adventures that combine learning and creativity with physical exercise and the great outdoors, these programs ensure that everyone enjoys their getaway.

“Kids camps give the adult traveler time to do things they want to do, without having to worry about entertaining the children, while feeling comfortable knowing their children are happy and having fun,” says Stephanie Wise, the director of spa, recreation and fitness at Reunion Resort.

With engaging itineraries customized for specific age groups and opportunities to socialize with other children, kids camps help young explorers make the most of their stay. That opportunity to enjoy some time with peers during a trip—for both adults and children—often makes it easier to take vacations as a group, rather than having the children stay behind. “Travel helps bond families and create memories that children will remember for a lifetime. It also helps them learn about different cultures … and become more receptive to differences among people and their peers,” Wise explains. “Just like in adults, travel helps to alleviate stress by taking children away from their normal routines and allowing them different experiences

outside of the norm.”

These camps at Salamander Hotels & Resorts have everything little ones need to stay active and entertained, while making lifelong memories.

Kids Crew, Hammock Beach Resort

The Kids Crew at Hammock Beach is designed to be a one-of-a-kind experience, filled with activities that will appeal to children between the ages of 4 and 12. With a morning drop-off program from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a similar evening version from 6-10 p.m., kids can get away from their parents for a while to explore a world of imagination. One special program hosted by the recreation team at Kids Crew is a pirate adventure, complete with pirate

Many of the Camp Reunion activities at Reunion Resort take place at the property’s 5-acre water park.

music, a toy sword, a compass and a telescope. Children can create their own pirate hats as well before setting off with their captain to search the grounds and collect doubloons before the experience culimnates with digging up buried treasure on the beach. “I am in the business of making memories,” explains Recreation Manager Catrina Vargas. “… We truly strive to bring fantasy to reality.”

Poppy’s Kids Club, The Henderson Through Poppy’s Kids Club, children staying at the resort are able to explore the beach with walks on the sand, volleyball matches or flag football games, according to resort Recreation Manager Daniel Lenzi. “We have the capability to offer a camp where children can get an educational and informative experience without them feeling like they are still in school,” he explains. “Our Henderson [Beach] State Park rangers even come to the resort weekly to host Afternoon with the Ranger programs where they get to talk to the children about sustainability and ecotourism.” In addition to the beach, children between the ages of 4 and 11 can be found playing on the grand lawn, where games like cornhole, ladder golf, spike ball and bocce ball take place when the weather is nice, or playing board games inside the club building. Creativity is also celebrated with arts and crafts that allow kids to paint canvases or make their own survival bracelets. Starting in March, Poppy’s will be a mobile club program, with the resort becoming a backdrop for seasonal camps, artistic afternoons and more.

Camp Nessie, Innisbrook Resort

A typical visit to Camp Nessie will keep kids busy throughout the day, as the 900-acre Innibrook Resort has endless opportunities for children to learn and explore. The morning starts off with icebreaker games so that the campers—ages 4 through 12—can get to know one another. Then, before devouring a fresh lunch, the kids head outside to wander along the resort’s nature trail and enjoy the playground or miniature golf course. After lunch, a tram takes the children to the Loch Ness Pool, where they can swim, soar down waterslides or showcase their competitive spirit with in-pool games. Then, back at camp, the afternoon ends with indoor activities like volleyball and racquetball. “We provide a safe yet exciting and educational camp experience for the children and we can expose kids to a variety of activities in one self-contained resort setting that gives parents a true comfort level in terms of service and safety,” says Director of Recreation Teri Michalski, “and the kids feel perfectly at ease.”

Camp Reunion, Reunion Resort

The Central Florida-based Reunion Resort is the perfect destination for a warm-weather, poolcentric kids camp, and that’s exactly what Camp

Reunion is. Counselors start with group games so that the children, also between the ages of 4 and 12, can get to know one another before heading to the resort’s 5-acre water park for playtime on the three slides, in the lazy river or in the kiddie pool. They also host group games in the pool area before returning to the club for lunch. While their food settles, the counselors lead instruction for arts and crafts that the kids can take home, then head back outside for games on the lawn. They finish up the day with a snack and quiet activities like board games, video games or air hockey until the parents arrive to pick them up. According to Wise, “Kids camps allow children to meet new people and experience new adventures on their own and helps them gain a bit of independence.” She adds, “… Camps also give children and families a topic to bond with through conversation and sharing of the day spent away from one another.”

With beautiful scenery to explore at Salamander Resort & Spa in Virginia, it’s no wonder that Camp Salamander typically takes place outdoors.

“In our camp setting, we try to get outside as much as possible,” says Kari Bowman, the resort’s recreation director. “We’d like for them to put down the electronics and go on a nature hike or learn how to use a bow and arrow.” In addition to hiking and archery, the camp, which is designed for children between the ages of 4 and 10, features swimming and arts and crafts to take home, but it also allows campers to tailor their experiences. “The most unique aspect is that we can customize to the child’s interest,” Bowman explains. Some of these activities include feeding horses at the on-site stables, building cardboard boats, fishing, learning about the stars and going on scavenger hunts. S

Top: arts and crafts by the pool at Innisbrook Resort; bottom: a bounce house at Reunion Resort

Camp Salamander, Salamander Resort & Spa

NOLA WELCOMES NOPSI

The new NOPSI Hotel, New Orleans reinvents a historic building, ushering in a new era while paying homage to the past.

By Tiffanie Wen

NOPSI Hotel, New Orleans opened last summer to much local fanfare, as the luxury hotel is steeped in history and included a multimillion-dollar renovation of one of the Central Business District’s most iconic, but until now, neglected, buildings: the Jazz Age headquarters of the New Orleans Public Service Inc. This year, as New Orleans celebrates its tricentennial, the local landmark serves as a particularly relevant reminder of the city’s storied past. People outside of New Orleans may not recognize the acronym NOPSI, or feel nostalgic about their own local power company. But NOPSI, which ran the city’s electric, gas and public transit systems from 1923 through the 1980s, still conjures up warm recollections among locals, who often have relatives who worked for the company, and who can still see the old acronym on thousands of manhole covers located throughout the area. NOPSI was part of New Orleans daily life. Today, locals and tourists alike have plenty of reason to visit the hotel, which features 21-foot-high vaulted ceilings, original terrazzo floors, three distinct food and beverage venues, a unique ballroom with exposed brick, nostalgic memorabilia throughout and the luxury amenities and service synonymous with the Salamander Hotels & Resorts brand.

The lobby of NOPSI Hotel, New Orleans features restored ceilings and the original floors.

NOPSI Hotel, New Orleans opened in 2017.

History of NOPSI

New Orleans Public Service Inc. has its roots in 19th century street car electrification. “Transit systems in big cities were the first big consumers of electric power,” says Edward Branley, an author and local historian. “In the 1890s you had streetcars come about. The streetcar companies set up power ... generation plants in big cities and ran the electric wires for the car lines.”

By 1923, after consolidation of other utilities, NOPSI had become the power company, and in 1926 it began construction of the building on the 300 block of the CBD that would open a year later as NOPSI’s headquarters.

“It had a Romanesque front. Inside, the interior, the visual comparison is that of a bank. Because at the time people would go in to pay their electricity bills in cash. So you have these beautiful vaulted ceilings and terrazzo floors,” Branley says. “The big space also helped show off the NOPSI light fixtures; [NOPSI,] of course, manufactured them and wanted to sell them to customers.” Part of the original transaction counter has been saved in the new hotel and now serves as a historic display with memorabilia like old ticket stubs and photographs of NOPSI employees.

Not only did patrons head to NOPSI HQ to pay their bills, NOPSI became a part of daily life in New Orleans in other ways. “New Orleans

the BIG EASY CELEBRATES 300 YEARS

2018 marks New Orleans’ tricentennial; here, discover some of the defining moments in the city’s history.

Public Service Inc. created a special bond with the residents of New Orleans by connecting with them on a personal level,” says Ellen LeMaire, general manager of the hotel. “They offered many ‘public services’ free of charge, such as lighting hot water heaters and changing fuses as needed. They offered cooking classes in the utility building’s lobby area and showcased the newest home appliances to educate New Orleanians on the latest technology.” Many of today’s local residents can still remember visiting the building as a child, or had a relative who worked in the lobby or one of the offices upstairs.

By the 1990s, though, the building had fallen into disuse. “The NOPSI building was a cornerstone of New Orleans’ financial district from 1927 to 1989,” LeMaire says. “When NOPSI was privatized in the mid-1990s, the building became vacant and eventually flooded during Hurricane Katrina in 2005.”

NOPSI Today

In 2015, Building and Land Technology of Stamford, Connecticut, purchased the building with plans to bring it back to life as a hotel, with the goal of restoring as many original elements as possible. It partnered with Salamander Hotels & Resorts to transform it into the first luxury hotel to open in the city in a generation.

1718

La NouvelleOrléans is founded by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville. 1762

France signs treaties ceding Louisiana and New Orleans, to Spain. 1803 Louisiana reverts back to the French, who sell it to the United States for $15 million.

Today, the hotel includes 217 guestrooms set over nine stories, with custom-designed furnishing. “The bathrooms are quite large, creating a comfortable setting with upgraded amenities such as Mistral products, plush robes and a clean design highlighted by white subway tiles in the shower area,” LeMaire says. The amenity package in the guestroom even includes a Mardi Gras mask. Adjacent to the NOPSI building is the Dryades building, a former utility repair room that now features crystal chandeliers set against exposed brick walls (made of bricks from the original NOPSI building), arched windows and a restored ceiling crane. The result is a uniquely industrial-elegant 4,000-square-foot space that hosts formal events.

“The hotel draws a plethora of luxury leisure transient travelers who desire an authentic New Orleans hotel experience in a casually sophisticated atmosphere,” LeMaire says. “It also draws midsize to small corporate groups who enjoy the personalized attention in a smaller, independent property.”

Dining at NOPSI

NOPSI also features three distinct dining venues. “We wanted each space to have its own identity,” says Peter Page, executive chef of the hotel. “We wanted it to be kind of a walking theater or ongoing dialogue. As you walk through the hotel, each space has its own part or scene to play in the story

1814-15

American troops, led by Andrew Jackson, fend off a British invasion of NOLA in what became known as the Battle of New Orleans, one of the last battles of the War of 1812.

1833

Though the tradition of Mardi Gras dates back to at least the 17th century, Bernard Xavier de Marigny de Mandeville, a rich plantation owner of French descent, raises money to fund an official Mardi Gras celebration in 1833.

A guestroom at NOPSI Hotel

The hotel’s rooftop pool

of NOPSI. And we are trying to make the food fit that ongoing scenario.”

Set underneath the vaulted lobby ceilings, underCURRENT features traditional, classic and even vintage-style cocktails. Food options include a charcuterie board with carefully selected cured meats and an artisan cheese board with a rotating variety of four crafted cheeses.

Located poolside on the ninth floor is Above the Grid, the hotel’s popular rooftop bar that opens to the public after 4 p.m. The venue, which boasts beautiful city views, has proved extremely popular among locals and visitors alike, and features cabanas, bottle service and music Friday and Saturday nights. “Above the Grid is hot and happening,” Page says. “We’re lucky in New Orleans to have such great weather, and the rooftop is a great way to take advantage of that. It’s comfortable for 20- and 30-somethings but is not a dance club or unapproachable for someone in their 40s and 50s.”

The menu includes several items for sharing, like a trio of house-made potato chips with baconpimento cheese dip, or the mezze dip display, which includes Mediterranean-style hummus, Moroccanstyle curry chicken and artichoke caponata.

But the venue that serves as the ultimate

gathering place is Public Service, a regionally inspired restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and includes a bar of its own.

“The vision was to make Public Service a neighborhood restaurant,” Page says. “We have an interesting opportunity in the CBD with young urban professionals who don’t necessarily cook at home. We wanted to be that second home for them. We especially wanted Public Service to be the ‘Cheers’ of New Orleans—where people could come in, be greeted by name at the door and feel comfortable sitting at the chef counter for dinner.”

The menu, which highlights local New Orleans ingredients and suppliers, includes favorites like tasso hush puppies made with sweet corn, pimento, cheddar cheese and honey cane syrup, whole roasted gulf fish and chef gumbo. Page says one of the most popular dishes is the steak frites.

“The dish has got a fancy name and the French pedigree, but we didn’t want it to be pretentious or step on itself since it’s a bistro dish in France,” he says. “We do it with simple baked potatoes that we fry and serve with a cut of beef called spinalis dorsi, or rib-eye cab. It’s an old cut that used to be traditional in the ’40s and ’50s and fell out of favor. People don’t know it as well, but it’s delicious. It’s rich and has a depth of flavor and stays moist and tender. We dress it with arugula and pickled red onions. It’s an elegant dish but very approachable.”

Celebrating History

Last November, NOPSI invited community members to attend a celebration in honor of the building’s 90th anniversary. The celebration also included 1,000 complimentary streetcar transfers. Approximately 150 former NOPSI employees attended a roving reception, where they enjoyed refreshments and tours of the building’s restoration.

A hundred or so diners enjoyed a special “Then and Now” menu at Public Service, which featured vintage recipes from the NOPSI cookbook, an annual publication produced by the utilities company and highly treasured by its customers. The special items were such a hit that they were permanently added to the regular menu. “NOPSI built a very special

1830s

The first efforts are made to drain the rising water within the city.

1862 The Union captures New Orleans, the largest city in the Confederacy, in the Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip.

1900

By the turn of the century, New Orleans was one of the largest and wealthiest cities in the U.S. The city’s streetcars were electrified, and New Orleans jazz was born.

1908

The New Orleans Public Library opens.

1927 NOPSI headquarters opens.

1967

The New Orleans Saints football team is formed.

1970

The first annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is held.

community spirit and culture in its 70 years of operation. As we now occupy that very same space, this time as a luxury hotel, it is our goal to revive and build upon that very special spirit and connection with those who visit us,” LeMaire says. Indeed, one of the aspirations of NOPSI Hotel is to transport visitors back in time. “I have two friends whose mother worked at NOPSI. They took her for a meal at Public Service when the hotel first opened, and she was moved by it. She walked into the lobby and could see herself walking into the lobby and going upstairs to the office,” Branley says. “That’s what happens to everyone who visits. You know when you walk in that you’re somewhere that’s been there longer than you and has its own past story.” S

2005

Hurricane Katrina, making landfall as a Category 3 storm, strikes New Orleans, flooding 80 percent of the city.

2010

The New Orleans Saints win the Super Bowl.

2017

NOPSI Hotel, New Orleans opens.

2018 The city celebrates its tricentennial.

NOPSI provided electrical service to the city.

UnderCURRENT is located in the lobby.

TRAVEL BY TASTE

Dive into local flavor with place-based cuisine and unique epicurean experiences.

By Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Travel is all about authentic experiences, and one of the best ways to immerse yourself in local culture is through cuisine: the flavors and dining customs that are unique to the area. According to a recent survey conducted by AAA, approximately 75 percent of Americans feel that food and dining are an important part of their travel experiences. Four out of five have toured wineries and distilleries, or participated in activities like cooking classes while traveling. The organization cites millennials, in particular, for embracing the foodie travel trend, with 88 percent of them reporting that they participate in food-related experiences while vacationing.

With properties located in diverse environments, from tropical Florida to urban New Orleans and rural Virginia, Salamander Hotels & Resorts provides an array of opportunities to learn about local culture through unique epicurean experiences available both on- and off-site. Seasonally inspired dishes designed to capture the flavor of a region are created with the culinary adventurer in mind, and activities like on-site cooking classes and customized in-suite dining experiences add to the allure.

Fresh Flavors in Coastal Florida

Located beside a white-sand beach on the Gulf of Mexico, The Henderson in Destin, Florida, is positioned in a prime location to execute its dock-to-table dining concept with fresh off the boat, top-quality seafood.

Brendan Davey, executive chef of the signature restaurant Primrose, insists on cultivating relationships with purveyors. The chef, who has AAA Five-Diamond experience, brings with him an exceptional skill set, with an eye toward excellence. Menu favorites include a chilled seafood plateau that features blue point oysters, chilled Gulf shrimp, tuna poke, king crab and sashimi, and a seafood paella using local ingredients. “We create it using techniques from around the world with ingredients we can source from our own backyard,” Davey says. Other popular dishes include daily fish specials, pulled directly from the Gulf, and the crab cakes.

Those making travel plans may want to time the trip to take advantage of nearby food festivals, like the Sandestin Gumbo Festival. The competition attracts chefs from all over the Gulf Coast every February. Celebrity judges name “Area’s Best,” and guests have the opportunity to vote for “People’s Choice.”

Those who enjoy adult libations will want to mark their calendars to attend the Annual Bourbon at the Bay held in November at the Regatta Bay Golf & Yacht Club, where guests can indulge in a selection of scotch, bourbon and Champagne, while bidding on trips, gifts and more in a silent auction.

The piece de resistance, however, is the South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival. The best-in-class event is held in April, but feels like Christmas to die-hard foodies. Featuring more than 800 wines, Champagne, craft beer and a

SPREAD: JACK GARDNER

Primrose restaurant at The Henderson in Destin, Florida, features fresh, top-quality seafood.

“We create [the seafood paella] using techniques from around the world with ingredients we can source from our own backyard.”

—Brendan Davey

Winter vegetables with lemon ricotta, beet coulis, kale, Parmesan crisps and yuzu at Primrose

Brendan Davey, executive chef at Primrose

THE CLASSIC SAZERAC WITH A TWIST

We can thank Antoine Amedie Peychaud, owner of a New Orleans apothecary, for the Sazerac. Peychaud introduced his friends to toddies made with his trademark “Peychaud’s Bitters,” crafted from a secret family recipe. By 1850 the Sazerac became the first branded cocktail.

The original recipe included French brandy. Eventually the brandy was replaced with American rye whiskey, with a dash of absinthe. The recipe continued to evolve over the years, with changes made as late as the year 2000. Today, the Sazerac Co. lays claim to this recipe as the “official Sazerac cocktail.”

Ice 1 cube sugar

3 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters

1.5 ounces Sazerac Rye Whiskey or Buffalo Trace Bourbon

¼ ounce Herbsaint

Lemon peel

Pack an old-fashioned glass with ice. Place the sugar cube in a second oldfashioned glass and add the Peychaud’s Bitters to it, then crush the sugar cube. Add the Sazerac Rye Whiskey or Buffalo Trace Bourbon to the second glass containing the Peychaud’s Bitters and sugar. Empty the ice from the first glass and coat the glass with the Herbsaint and discard the remaining Herbsaint. Empty the whisky/bitters/sugar mixture from the second glass into the first glass and garnish with the lemon peel.

Note: Jacob Musyt, director of food and beverage at the Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg, Virginia, creates a twist on this classic libation using local rye whiskey and honey made on the property.

variety of fine foods from cheese to olives, oysters, sushi, charcuterie and chocolates, the event should be high on the priority list of anyone who is seeking a first-class culinary experience.

Located about six hours west of The Henderson in Palm Coast, Florida, Hammock Beach Resort offers a wide variety of culinary experiences on-site, including an Italian chophouse, a seafood restaurant, a sushi bar, a gastropub and outdoor poolside dining. “A guest can visit here for a multiple-day stay and not have the same food experience twice,” says Jason Neff, the resort’s director of food and beverage.

Culinary-inspired travelers are also invited to take advantage of Hammock Beach’s fully customized in-suite dining experiences, where chefs work with guests to create a memorable menu for four to 20 people in the privacy of their own accommodations.

Wine dinners and tastings that range from beer to wine and spirits are held throughout the year as well, and cooking with the chef classes are especially popular, according to Neff.

Seasonal Fare in Historic Virginia

Salamander Resort & Spa in historic Middleburg, Virginia, is a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of large cities. “We are located in the heart of Virginia wine and equestrian country, and many who stay at our property visit the wineries and come back for dinner, then afterward gather around the fire pits for s’mores,” says Jacob Musyt, director of food and beverage.

Guests who enjoy an interactive experience can sign up for cooking classes conducted by Executive Chef Ryan Arensdorf. “We do handson, experiential cooking classes, which last two hours and are tailored to our guests and the

season,” says Musyt, explaining that the program may include festive cakes and pies during the holidays and a class on prepping vegetables and planting a garden during the spring season, where the director of landscaping assists. Bacon, sausage and ham are also made in-house and techniques are shared with guests. “We have a large Green Egg smoker and conduct a curing and smoking class,” Musyt says. Another product crafted onsite is honey. “We tend to approximately 150,000 bees. Guests can walk up to the area where were harvesting,” Musyt adds.

As with all the Salamander properties, chefs make it a point to know the purveyors. “We want to be environmentally sustainable and meet the suppliers,” says Musyt, using a July Fourth celebration as an example. “It’s customary for the chef to visit the farm and pick the pig for our outdoor pig roast. He knows where the pig eats and sleeps. Sourcing products starts with a relationship before ending up on someone’s plate.”

Selecting local ingredients is just part of

Enjoy fresh sushi and premium wines at the sushi bar at Hammock Beach Resort.

Honey-Lemon Sazerac at Salamander Resort & Spa

The Atlantic Grille at Hammock Beach Resort

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Salamander’s fresh food philosophy. “We grow a lot of our own vegetables. Our chicken comes from Purcellville located right down the street, our seafood comes from the Rappahannock, and we get our fresh crab from Maryland, which is just a drive away,” Musyt says.

When the weather turns warm, locals and outof-towners gather for the annual Twilight Tasting held at the Equestrian Center during the month of July. “We serve food and bring together local wineries, distilleries, breweries and Nashville acts for a superior sensory experience,” he says.

The area is also ripe for foodie outings. Market Salamander, located nearby on West Washington Street in Middleburg, is a convenient stop for browsing, buying or indulging. The working chef’s gourmet market features cuisine that spans the globe, with internationally inspired dishes that reflect American and Mediterranean influences. Foodies can choose from among a variety of meats, wines, domestic and imported cheeses, and freshly prepared foods and desserts.

Located about a half-hour drive away is the Oatlands Historic House and Gardens, which is open seven days a week from April through December. Few activities exemplify Southern charm more than afternoon teas, which are held throughout the year. According to Moriah Lemming, manager of special events and site use, offerings vary by season, with Christmas and Mother’s Day teas being the most popular. “For each tea, we feature a special scone, like lemon ginger, along with tea sandwiches like classic cucumber, blue cheese with pear and fig, devilled ham, and apple butter cream with cinnamon,” says Lemming, adding that entire families are encouraged to attend the teas, with hot cocoa provided for the little ones.

History, Food and Fun in New Orleans

NOPSI Hotel, New Orleans, located on the corner of Baronne and Union streets in the heart of NOLA’s Central Business District, is an architectural treasure. Built in 1927, it affords guests oldworld luxury in a modern era, with three distinct dining environments featuring fresh Gulf Coast seafood, classic New Orleans fare and much more.

Saving room for brunch at the on-site Public Service restaurant is a must, especially for the pain perdu, which is served with bananas Foster sauce and fresh whipped cream. Or indulge in the restaurant’s upscale riff on a traditional crab cake, called the Rex, and served with jumbo lump crab, poached egg, avocado, smoked corn, hollandaise and a drizzle of aged balsamic.

Guests who stay at NOPSI can also take advantage of the popular New Orleans Culinary History Tour (noculinarytours.com). Kelly Hamilton, a retired educator with a degree in history, hosts the three-hour educational activity,

THE PALM COAST CRUSH

Jason Neff, director of food and beverage at Hammock Beach Resort, offers this recipe for a local Florida drink called the Palm Coast Crush.

¾ ounce Gunnar’s Vodka ½ ounce triple sec Juice of two freshly crushed Florida oranges in a fruit press Splash of lemon-lime soda

Combine all ingredients and serve in a rocks glass, over ice.

which takes guests on a leisurely stroll through the French Quarter to sample the cuisine of iconic restaurants like Antoine’s, established in 1840, and Tujague’s, which dates back to 1856. Guests will learn the difference between Cajun and Creole cuisine and have the opportunity to taste classics like turtle soup. “The Creoles ate and cooked what was in the water surrounding them,” Hamilton explains.

Classic treats like pralines will be offered along the way, as well as New Orleans’ mainstays like red beans and rice. Hamilton, a New Orleans native, explains that the dish is traditionally eaten at the beginning of the week.

Iconic libations will also be offered, like the Sazerac, created in New Orleans, and the French 75, which Arnaud’s is famous for. During the tour, guests will learn more about the cocktails and their history, as well as the history of the restaurants that created the dishes for which New Orleans is known. S

The Rex features jumbo lump crab, poached egg, avocado, smoked corn and hollandaise sauce.

Palm Coast Crush

Tours combine cuisine and history in NOLA.

LIVE TRANQUIL

We all have a passion. We all have a dream. For some, it's about adventure. For others, it's about tranquility. Our dreams are as vast and varied as the world is wide. But they all start with inspiration, and inspiration starts with our surroundings. That's what home is – what you choose to surround yourself with. Family. Friends. History. An amazing view. Atmosphere. Art. It's all part of what makes a space a home, because your home is where you truly LIVE.

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’Tis the Season

Spa treatments draw inspiration from changes in the natural environment to offer tailored experiences throughout the year.

By Michelle Franzen Martin

Ahot stone massage warms the muscles and mind during the winter months. A stimulating scalp treatment awakens the senses in the spring. A hydrating cleanse restores damaged summer skin, and an autumn-inspired exfoliation three months later will leave you feeling refreshed and rebalanced.

As the seasons change, so do the needs of our bodies. Modern spas are not only drawing inspiration from the seasons, they are also tailoring their ingredients and their environments to address how nature’s cycles affect both physical and mental states.

“While the seasons change every three months, the body also experiences aspects of the seasons each and every day from the time we wake until the moment we go to sleep,” explains Cindi Moreno, spa director for Salamander Spa at Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg, Virginia. “We experience a gentle awakening that transcends into energy that moves our body into activities where we must focus our minds, ground our bodies and then let go of the day before we retire for bed. Challenges can occur when we feel depleted in one area or more, and when we cannot accomplish what we need to achieve in a balanced way. This can often lead to frustration, exhaustion or sleep irregularity.”

Seasonally inspired spa treatments help counteract the challenges that each season brings. It’s a growing trend, with spas around the country offering experiences that include outdoor massages in the warm-weather months and exfoliating treatments that address dry, damaged skin during late fall and winter.

“Spas are often inspired by the changing temperatures to offer more than just relaxation and rejuvenation services,” says Denise R. Fuller, a licensed

Seasonal spa treatments are inspired by the natural environment.

Salamander Spas offer treatments that can help counteract the challenges that each season brings to both body and mind.

The Winter Warming treatment includes a hot stone massage.

esthetician and co-founder of the Florida-based National Aesthetic Spa Network. “Seasonal treatments can tap into earthly elements, nature’s cycle and holiday traditions, but do know there is a science behind the service. Spa treatments are designed to help you adjust to climate changes and stay healthy all year long.”

Winter

Salamander Resort & Spa captures the beauty of its changing environment through artwork on each of the four floors that is named for a season, and when developing the spa menu, the resort partnered with a local alchemist who worked closely to develop four seasonal services that are intended to energize and rebalance the mind and body during a particular time of year.

Each ritual includes a dry mitt exfoliation, facial cleanse, full body massage, use of an earth element during the massage and a scalp ritual.

Treatments are primarily held indoors, although there are several treatment rooms with outdoor garden terraces.

“The seasonal treatments are designed for anyone who needs to reconnect, recover, revitalize

“The seasonal treatments are designed for anyone who needs to reconnect, recover, revitalize and restore.”

—Cindi

Moreno

and restore,” Moreno says.

The spa’s 80-minute Winter Warming treatment includes a sensory skin brushing and detoxifying facial mask while guests enjoy a three-step scalp experience, followed by a hot stone massage. The massage uses a blend of natural ingredients that provide warmth and improve circulation.

“This revitalizing treatment focuses on reflection and restoring the body and mind with the sole purpose of recovery,” Moreno says.

Fuller says that massage is essential in the winter. Research shows that it reduces depression, increases neurotransmitters associated with lowering anxiety, and decreases heart rate and blood pressure. Massage can also aid in the treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder, a serious form of depression with symptoms that typically appear during late fall or early winter.

Although The Henderson in Destin, Florida, doesn’t experience extreme winters like many other areas in the country, the resort’s on-site Salamander Spa attracts guests from around the world who come to escape from—and counteract—the challenges that the coldest months can bring.

The spa’s 80-minute KUR Wellness treatments are recommended for winter. Balancing and rejuvenating, they draw upon natural resources—thermal mineral water, purifying algae, essential oils and herbs—to counteract winter stresses. The experience includes a relaxing wrap, therapeutic hydrotherapy soak and a muscle-relieving massage.

“It’s detoxifying,” says April Smith, spa director for the Salamander Spa at The Henderson. “In January, February and March, it’s the perfect reboot for spring.”

The experience also encourages relaxation and

therefore better rest, which can be especially beneficial around the bustling holidays. “The massage makes you feel well,” Smith says. “You sleep better that night. It really relaxes you.”

Spring

Similar to the winter experience, the spring spa treatment at Middleburg incorporates eco-grade essential oils from local plant extracts and connects them to each season.

“Spring focuses on the liver,” Moreno says. “The treatment is invigorating, energizing and improves vitality using oils with rose, chamomile, lavender and grapefruit.”

The spa’s Spring Awakening includes a stimulating exfoliation followed by a facial cleanse to hydrate and nourish the skin, then a scalp treatment awakens the mind. The treatment concludes with a bamboo massage that includes a combination of heat and pressure.

In Destin, the Salamander Spa’s Neroli Blossom sensory experiences—both the 50-minute and the enhanced 80-minute version—draw inspiration from spring. “Neroli is a flower,” Smith says. “It is one of our essential oils, a bitter orange, with a scent like Florida oranges. It’s a nice warmer for spring.”

The 50-minute treatment uses the signature aroma to invigorate the senses. The experience is both relaxing and uplifting, and includes an energy-balancing, eucalyptus-infused foot cleansing ritual with reflexology to help clear the mind. It concludes with a lymphatic dry brush technique followed by a neroli blossom therapeutic meditative massage. The 80-minute treatment also includes a neroli enhancer with acupressure and massage.

Summer

In the summer months, when sun and chlorine can wreak havoc on the skin, body scrubs are highly recommended. “For summer skin and winter skin, we always suggest a body scrub,” Smith says. “And particularly in summer, we recommend our Salt of the Sea Body Scrub experience. It’s reminiscent of a salty beach.”

Fuller says salt scrubs have myriad benefits. “A salt scrub will encourage the natural flow of circulation and bodily fluids within, and will exfoliate dead skin, paving the way for fresh new cells to regenerate,” she says. “For those suffering from hay fever [or other allergies], salt therapy can make breathing easier, improve lung function, alleviate sneezing [and] coughing, clear mucus and strengthen the immune system.”

At the Salamander Spa in Destin, the Salt of the Sea Body Scrub experience starts with a cleansing loofah scrub using a thermal mineral shower/bath gel. The scrub is followed by exfoliation with mineral salts and aromatherapy.

But salt scrubs aren’t the only way to counteract the effects of summer. At the Salamander Spa in Middleburg, summer treatments focus on

releasing stored heat in the body and increasing circulation using the earth element of fire (heat).

“The treatments [also] reduce muscle tension and balance digestion,” Moreno says. “They focus on the heart, using oils with bergamot, jasmine, spearmint and ginger.”

The spa’s Summer Sizzle treatment starts with a dry exfoliation and hydrating facial cleanse. A scalp treatment follows before a relaxing fullbody massage that uses hot and cold stones. An aromatherapy blend of spruce, spearmint, lime, black pepper and eucalyptus rounds out the experience, leaving guests cleansed, energized and rejuvenated.

Fall

Autumn—a time of transition between the warm summer days and shorter, cooler winter ones—is the ideal season to seek a sense of feeling calm and grounded. Salamander Spa in Middleburg uses oils with eucalyptus, pine, patchouli and vanilla to achieve this.

“Fall focuses on calming and grounding the feet and opening the lungs using the earth element of metal [and] using oils with eucalyptus, pine, patchouli and vanilla,” Moreno says. The Fall Rebalancing experience begins with a dry-skin exfoliation that increases circulation, while a facial cleanse and scalp treatment focuses on the mind. A full-body massage combines Swedish, deep tissue and ayurveda, which balances and revitalizes areas of the body.

In Destin, the 80-minute Henderson’s Dreams treatment includes a customized mineral salt scrub with eucalyptus and a full-body massage that incorporates warm mineral stones. Guests also enjoy a foot massage while feeling warmed in a relaxing cocoon wrap. The experience can be customized with a choice of lavender, ginger or neroli aromatherapy oil.

Any Season, Any Time

Although the seasonal treatments are designed to be most beneficial during particular times of the year, they also can be tailored to meet individual needs. “The four seasonal treatments are recommended to be done during the appropriate time of year, but customization is made based on challenges you may be facing emotionally or physically that can be restored [by] taking aspects of another seasonal treatment,” Moreno says.

No matter what the season, lavender is a musthave. “Lavender alleviates stress,” Smith explains. “It’s something that is known to relax people instantly.” The Salamander Spa in Destin offers lavender treatments in a lavender steam room.

Moreno recommends taking home a bottle of the specialized oil that was used during a seasonal treatment. “It can be added to a bath, a foot soak or a small application to trigger points on the body,” she says. “It can be used that season, or all year round.” S

YEAR-ROUND AROMAS

Get a seasonal spa experience at home using these tried-and-true essential oils.

Ginger reduces inflammation and aids digestion.

Lavender encourages relaxation, improves mood and can treat a variety of skin issues.

Eucalyptus, often used in steam rooms, helps with breathing and sinus problems and is believed to be an anti-inflammatory.

Frankincense, often thought of during the holidays, helps with anxiety.

Lemon brightens skin, elevates mood and can help relieve pain.

Rosemary stimulates the nervous system and can improve cognitive function.

Charleston, South Carolina

48 HOURS IN Charleston

Rich in history, buzzing with activity and awash with coastal cuisine, South Carolina’s Holy City welcomes visitors with legendary Southern charm and hospitality.

By Joe Rada

South Carolina’s biggest city feels like a small town in the ways that matter. Church steeples and bell towers rather than bulky skyscrapers accent its low-rise skyline, earning the nickname “The Holy City.” Centuries-old homes, tree-shaded public squares and quaint-yet-vibrant commercial districts line narrow streets rooted in Colonial times. Wide rivers and a broad harbor flank the city, making Charleston perfect for leisurely strolls past scenic waterfronts and open-air markets.

Nearby beaches, islands, marshes and gardens provide ample opportunities for outdoor recreation. When it’s time to eat, a creative culinary scene nurtures a passion for cooking fresh, local ingredients, especially seafood. When it’s time to rest, accommodations range from the intimate and historic to the hip and modern. The city’s most exciting new hotel, Hotel Bennett, overlooks iconic King Street and Marion Square Park and offers a level of luxury not previously available for visitors and locals alike.

Besides fascinating history, interesting cuisine and abundant nature, another characteristic makes Charleston a must-experience destination: its warm and welcoming people. This is, after all, a place that has long defined Southern charm and hospitality.

Steeped in History

In Charleston, history is everywhere. One of the country’s oldest cities, founded in 1670, it reflects many of the most impactful periods in the nation’s past. Evidence of its age can be seen in certain cobbled streets, slate roofs and gravestones made from rocks that arrived as ballast in wooden ships carrying the earliest goods and settlers into Charleston Harbor.

In a city devoted to preservation, old and new mingle so well that they are sometimes difficult to tell apart. Walk through the Historic District and glimpse courtyard gardens through intricate wrought-iron gates that might have been forged centuries ago or just last year. Find authentic cannonballs serving as decorative elements. Relax on genteel porch swings that look like they have been catching sea breezes for decades, but are relatively recent additions on a public pier in Waterfront Park. Even modern parking decks are designed to blend in.

The narrow lanes south of Broad Street thread Charleston’s most exclusive and affluent neighborhoods. A church spire pokes elegantly above dignified homes built in Georgian, federal, Greek Revival and Queen Anne architectural styles. One unique stretch called Rainbow Row features harbor-facing townhomes built in the 1700s and 1800s and painted in vivid pastels, a tradition still maintained.

Wrapping this oldest part of town is The Battery, a seawall erected for defensive purposes but now a grand promenade providing views of

SHOPPING TIP:

In addition to the renowned boutique shopping on King Street, enjoy oldschool service and a great selection of men’s and women’s designer clothing and more at Gwynn’s of Mount Pleasant. Take an excursion over the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge to visit the luxury department store, which has been a local institution for 50 years.

stately homes, Charleston Harbor and distant fortifications, such as Fort Sumter, target of the Civil War’s first shots and now a national monument preserving battlements, cannons, flags and other remnants of that era.

Be sure to stroll through Charleston City Market, an 1841 vintage commercial arcade spanning four blocks and filled with artists, craftspeople, musicians, horsedrawn carriages and other vendors.

For quintessential Charleston souvenirs, look for the sweetgrass baskets intricately handwoven by local artisans.

Step further back in time with a tour of the aristocratic 1820 Aiken-Rhett House, one of the best-preserved townhouse complexes in the nation, or explore the

Gilded Age 1876 Calhoun Mansion, which is accented with chandeliers and marble busts (it appeared in the movie “The Notebook”). Or see a different take on history at the captivatingly dismal Provost Dungeon preserved beneath the Old Exchange building.

There are so many fascinating aspects about Charleston—its places and people, historic and current—that it’s a good idea for visitors to hire a professional tour guide. These storytelling experts are licensed by the city only after mastering their subjects and passing a rigorous test.

“Charleston guides are passionate about this city,” says John LaVerne of Bulldog Tours, which offers dozens of walking tours focused on subjects like history, architecture, food and even ghosts, including tours of gardens, pubs, graveyards, chefs’ kitchens and more. “We know details people might not find on their own and pack a lot into walks that allow an intimate look at our city. We learn to sense what any given group is interested in and give them more of the kinds of stories they want to hear. Mostly, we love being cheerleaders for Charleston.”

Lowcountry Cuisine

All of this cultural exploration works up an appetite. Luckily, Charleston boasts a stellar lineup of innovative chefs who honor culinary traditions while taking creative license with fresh, local ingredients, including copious amounts of seafood.

Sweetgrass baskets at Charleston City Market

Battery Park features waterfront mansions, statues and old cannons.

Charleston, South Carolina, was founded in 1670.

Charleston lies at the heart of South Carolina’s Lowcountry, a coastal plain where meandering rivers, sprawling estuaries and the open Atlantic produce a bounty of fresh seafood. Several indigenous dishes are worth seeking out.

SIDE-DISH TIP:

Just about anywhere in the city, sample the Hoppin’ John, a thick mélange of black-eyed peas, rice, onions, bacon and spices.

Shrimp and grits, a combination that originated in Charleston, appears in as many variations as there are chefs tinkering with its success. Try it at Hank’s Seafood with Andouille sausage, tomato and garlic added, or at High Cotton with okra, too.

She-crab soup, a bisque-like blend of crabmeat, cream and sherry, is ubiquitous in Charleston and a cherished mainstay at venerable 82 Queen and Poogan’s Porch.

Countless Charleston restaurants serve crab cakes loaded with Atlantic blue crab. Enjoy them in an upscale environment at at Michael’s on the Alley or Blossom, or in a more casual setting at Charleston Crab House. Splurge on local oysters—roasted, grilled, baked, fried, stuffed or raw—at Oyster House, Amen Street Fish & Raw Bar, or Coast (Coast’s bacon-wrapped sea scallops are superb, too). Even Charleston’s craft breweries get into the seafood spirit; Holy City Brewing’s Oyster Stout is brewed with oysters for a smooth, slightly briny effect.

An intriguing local marvel called Frogmore stew, or Lowountry Boil, is a delicious concoction mixing shrimp, smoked sausage, sweet corn, new potatoes, onions, seasoning and whatever individual cooks add to make it their own. It is sometimes served over newspaper to catch its drippy goodness. Bowens Island Restaurant serves it with dockside views of vast marshes and creeks.

Stretching beyond seafood but staying true to the fresh-and-local theme is the guiding principle for many renowned and creative Charleston chefs, including several James Beard Award winners and semifinalists. FIG’s chef Mike Lata serves excellent seasonally inspired cuisine, which has included pan-roasted duck breast. The Grocery’s chef Kevin Johnson also takes advantage of local, seasonal ingredients, with a fluctuating menu which has featured dishes such as chanterelle mushroom toast, adding whipped ricotta and cured egg yolk to grilled sourdough. Hominy Grill’s chef Robert Stehling elevates simple fried green tomatoes, sautéed chicken livers and more into memorable feasts, best accompanied by his trademark biscuits and followed by his signature buttermilk pie.

“What I love about the culinary scene here is

HOTEL BENNETT

Meet Charleston’s new luxury hotel.

In summer 2018, Hotel Bennett—the south’s grandest new hotel—will open on Charleston’s famed King Street and overlooking the city’s iconic and historic Marion Square. European in design, the 179-room luxury property features elegant guestrooms and suites opening onto the square, a two-tiered restaurant with outdoor seating, and a stylish bar and lounge. The hotel will also include a spectacular rooftop pool and bar, a luxury spa, a patisserie and over 14,000 square feet of grand event and meeting spaces.

The hotel is named for the Charlestonbased Bennett family, is owned by local hotelier Michael Bennett and his company Bennett Hospitality, and is being managed by Salamander Hotels & Resorts. The hotel’s historic site formerly housed the west wing of The Citadel, South Carolina’s Military Academy, and more recently was home to the Charleston Library.

Hotel Bennett’s sweeping lobby will serve as a gathering place for visitors and locals alike. The signature restaurant and its bar open onto dramatic terraces overlooking Marion Square, while Camellias Bar will feature an etched-mirrored ceiling and reclaimed pink marble from the former Charleston Library for its bar and tabletops.

Drawing on the inspirational venue, the hotel’s signature spa will create an urban oasis for guests with treatments that incorporate the area’s maritime surroundings. The spa will also provide a true King Street shopping experience for those browsing the exclusive retail offerings.

The rooftop experience will feature an elegant, heated pool at its epicenter, and spectacular views of Charleston. By day, the pool, bar and terrace will provide a peaceful retreat for the hotel’s guests, serving chilled drinks and creative, lighter fare. In the evening, it will become the city’s most sophisticated new gathering place.

Hotel Bennett will also offer corporate groups and destination weddings the most luxurious new event spaces in Charleston, including a 6,600-square-foot ballroom, an elegantly appointed boardroom and a spectacular rooftop event location.

Okra and shrimp beignets at Hominy Grill

FIG serves cuisine inspired by the season.

Chef Robert Stehling of Hominy Grill

the focus on fresh, indigenous, heirloom ingredients,” Stehling says. “We’re keeping traditions alive but innovating, too. Hominy Grill’s mission when we opened in 1996 was to bring good cooking into a neighborhood setting, which was unusual then but is common now. More and more neighborhood restaurants reflect Charleston’s history and culture.”

Outdoor Pursuits

When it’s time to work off some of those finedining calories, head outdoors. Start with a brisk walk along White Point Garden opposite the Historic District’s seawall. Look inland toward mansions, gardens and statues, or across the harbor toward Fort Sumter, Castle Pinckney, Patriots Point, Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse and likely a flotilla of sailboats or dolphins.

For an outdoor activity that combines several worthy aspects, paddle a sea kayak for great freshair exercise. Routes explore scenic barrier islands, current-carved inlets and estuaries alive with swaying marsh grass, towering palmetto trees, wading shorebirds, skittering fiddler crabs and other wildlife. Kayaking tip: Count on Coastal

Expeditions, based at Shem Creek across the harbor from downtown, for paddling gear, route suggestions and guides.

For beachcombing and swimming, head to nearby Folly Beach. A stretch called The Washout offers some of the best surfing on the East Coast. Parking tip: Feed parking-area pay stations to avoid getting a ticket in Charleston, especially at The Washout.

DAWN-AND-DUSK

TIP: Due to the way The Battery wraps around Charleston’s peninsula—where tongue-in-cheek locals proudly claim the Cooper and Ashley rivers join to form the Atlantic— it’s great for viewing both colorful sunrises and sunsets.

A short drive from Charleston, along the twisting Ashley River, wear walking shoes and bring a sense of curiosity to visit several carefully preserved former plantations. Middleton Place, a National Historic Landmark and former rice plantation from before Revolutionary times, features lush gardens, symmetrical lakes shaped like butterfly wings and sophisticated sculptures around a 1755 house museum and restored stable yards where artisan interpreters demonstrate old-time blacksmithing, pottery, weaving, carpentry and

other skills. Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, founded in 1676, features manicured paths over footbridges and boardwalks, past ponds and riverbanks, and through elaborate gardens where something is blooming just about year-round. At Drayton Hall, tour an iconic 18th-century estate highlighting early American art, architecture, archaeology, furnishings and decor.

Taking part in any of these outdoor activities, or returning to the downtown Historic District for more wandering on narrow streets as old as America, will justify another round of tucking into Charleston’s remarkable cuisine. Enjoy your Southern getaway, y’all. S

Middleton Place features lush gardens and symmetrical lakes.

Creating Unique Events and Tours in the Virginia Wine Country

FILM FESTIVAL RISING

The annual Middleburg Film Festival provides four days of fantastic films in a stunning setting.

By Joe Yogerst

Sometimes an off-the-cuff remark is all you need to get things started, to plant the seed that blooms into something great. Such was the case with the Middleburg Film Festival, created by Sheila Johnson after a good friend suggested that the property she had acquired in rural Virginia—a 340-acre property that would one day sprout the Salamander Resort & Spa—would make a great location for movie fest.

When that friend happens to be Robert Redford, you tend to listen. Two decades later, the Middleburg Film Festival is on the verge of hosting its sixth year this October. During that time it’s evolved from a newcomer on the festival scene to a rising star in the movie world, garnering excellent press, loyal followers and a growing reputation for great films. Forty-four Oscar nominations came out of the movies that screened at Middleburg in 2016, and Johnson expects another great year of Oscar nominations for films presented at the most recent festival.

From left: John Horn, Sheila Johnson, Emma Stone, Damien Chazelle and Susan Koch at the 2016 Middleburg Film Festival

A Star is Born

Johnson was already familiar with Middleburg from her daughter’s show-jumping exploits when she moved to the area in 1996 and dove even deeper into the equestrian world. But given her diverse background in the arts—movies, music and television in particular—Johnson was also keen to cultivate her creative streak in new and exciting ways. She was already on the board of Redford’s Sundance Institute when she invited the Academy Award-winning actor and director to visit her in Middleburg.

“He came to talk to me about Sundance and about his resort,” Johnson remembers. “I took him up on the property to show him where I was building my resort, and he looked down on the town and said, ‘You really should put a film festival here.’ It stuck in my mind.”

Of course, film festivals aren’t born overnight. It would take more than a decade before Johnson opened the curtain on her own event. One of her first moves was bringing another old friend on board—filmmaker Susan Koch—as the festival’s executive director. The mutual trust and understanding between them was already established; the pair had previously collaborated on a two very wellreceived documentaries, “Kicking It” in 2008 and “The Other City” in 2010, with Johnson producing and Koch writing and directing.

Two major factors had to be overcome for them to launch the festival: securing venues in which to screen films and trying to get A-list producers, directors and studios to show their latest creations at a brand-new festival in a town with fewer than 800 people.

“ ... We want to continue to play to our strengths by presenting the ‘best in film’ while retaining the relaxed and intimate environment that sets us apart from other festivals.”

—Susan Koch

Festival founder Sheila Johnson (left) and Dee Rees, director of “Mudbound”

The Middleburg Film Festival features live music each year.

“The most obvious challenge was the fact that there’s no movie theater in the town of Middleburg,” Koch recalls. “So we had to find existing venues that we could transform into temporary movie theaters. With the help of a terrific tech crew, we created four theater venues outfitted with stateof-the-art projection and sound equipment required by the studios for the high-profile films that we screen. Our largest venue, the Salamander Resort ballroom, seats approximately 350 people. We were thrilled when one Oscar-winning film director told us, ‘This is better than many movie theaters I’ve been in.’ ”

Johnson is delighted to follow her long involvement in the entertainment world—as co-founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET) and as an executive producer and producer on such highly acclaimed films as “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” and “A Powerful Noise” (2008)—and from the beginning, the festival has presented a stellar lineup of films that is truly astounding.

The inaugural 2013 festival kicked off on opening night with “Nebraska.” The Alexander Paynedirected comedy-drama starring Bruce Dern and Will Forte would go on to garner six Oscar nominations. Among the 24 other films that screened that first year were “August: Osage County” with Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts, “Philomena” with Judi Dench, as well as the Johnson-executive produced “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” with Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey.

“We place great emphasis in curating the best possible slate of films,” Koch says. “A Hollywood studio executive told me when we first launched, ‘When you only screen 25 films, they all need to be great.’ This set a high bar for us, and it’s one that we consistently strive for and hopefully meet. We look

for a mix of Oscar contenders, independent film ‘gems’ that you might not otherwise get a chance to see, foreign language films, and powerful and inspiring documentaries. We also look to present diverse voices in filmmaking. This past year, nearly onethird of our films were directed by women.”

Success also depended on getting viewers into the seats. It certainly helps having such great lineups and stars like Bruce Dern, Meg Ryan, Lee Daniels and Emma Stone on hand. Middleburg is also conveniently located—the town, set in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, is just 30 minutes from Dulles International Airport and one hour from our nation’s capital.

The Washington Post was there the opening night, raving about the festival’s cozy atmosphere and lack of pretension. Noting that there were no red carpets and many of the tickets were just $15, the Post called it “a really itty-bitty Cannes brightened by fall foliage instead of the glistening French Riviera. … The Washington area—has never hosted a festival that features so many potential Oscar contenders at the same time that the awards season conversation aggressively hits the gas.”

Better Doesn’t Mean Bigger

Since that first year, Johnson, Koch and Programming Director Connie White have set out to make Middleburg better and better, although not necessarily bigger. “My original aim was to keep it intimate,” Johnson says. “And what I mean by intimate is keeping it small, keeping it right in the town of Middleburg so people can literally walk from movie to movie.”

Like most film festivals, selecting the films that screen each year involves a little “behind the screen” magic, a process that includes attending other film festivals, working with an advisory board based in Los Angeles that keeps an eye on upcoming movies, and touching base with their many contacts in the film industry. “As our reputation continues to grow within the film industry, we’re able to present more and more high-profile films, including many Oscar contenders,” Johnson says.

Middleburg’s proximity to the nation’s capital

has proved invaluable in attracting well-known press and politicos to speak at the event. Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder participated in a conversation following the screening of “Loving” in 2016. New York Times film critic Janet Maslin spoke with CNN Senior Political Analyst David Gergen about how American presidents are portrayed on the big screen. Panels and talks are moderated by The Washington Post film critic Ann Hornaday, Public Radio’s John Horn, and Vanity Fair Special Correspondent Maureen Orth.

Despite her longtime association with Sundance and her frequent visits to other film festivals, Johnson feels that Middleburg has blazed its own trail rather than following the templates or examples set by other events.

“I want everybody to feel like they can get in a film, they can relax, they can get something to eat and they can come to our different venues, where they can drink wine and listen to intelligent conversation at our panels and really just enjoy the entire experience,” Johnson says.

Another thing that sets Middleburg apart is how music is woven into the fabric of the festival. Each year the lineup features a tribute to a film composer that includes an interview session with that composer. The Shenandoah Conservatory Symphony

Scott Cooper and Sheila Johnson

Opening night of the 2017 festival

Seminars take place in the Salamander Library.

TOP LEFT: JEFF MASON

Orchestra then performs the world premiere of suites from their most memorable scores. Among the composers who have been featured are Nicholas Britell (“Battle of the Sexes,” “Moonlight,” “The Big Short,” “12 Years a Slave”), Henry Jackman (“Captain Phillips,” “Captain America” films and “Wreck-It Ralph”) and Carter Burwell (“Carol,” “Rob Roy,” “Twilight” and “Gods and Monsters”).

It Takes a Village

Beyond the movies and music, the most endearing thing about the Middleburg Film Festival is probably its location—the chic Salamander Resort & Spa and rustic Loudoun County, Virginia.

“After five years, it’s hard to find any downside to our location,” Koch says. “The town of Middleburg is charming and historic. It’s located in the heart of wine country, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The festival takes place in October at the height of fall foliage. There’s no traffic, parking hassles or long lines. Salamander Resort serves as a wonderful festival hub for film screenings and great parties—and also a place where filmmakers and filmgoers can engage in conversation in an intimate and relaxed environment.”

Many festival participants and guests stay at Salamander. The resort’s ballroom transforms into the main movie theater and symphony orchestra concert venue. Cozy conversations are held in the library by the fireplace.

Shuttles whisk guests into town for screenings at The Hill School, Middleburg Community Center and the National Sporting Library & Museum, as well as panel discussions, filmmaker conversations and tastings at local wineries. All of the venues in town are within walking distance to one another.

In addition to the movie venues and wineries, the town features wine tastings at the local vineyards, a cidery and distillery, fashion boutiques and

other shops, equestrian outfitters, coffee shops, and numerous restaurants. “Besides presenting films, we want people to explore all that Middleburg has to offer with its rich history, scenic beauty, warm hospitality, and glorious fall foliage,” Johnson says.

Concentrating so much of her time and energy on the resort, the film festival and her various charitable undertakings, Johnson has put her film producing and financing activities on the back burner. “If the right project comes along, absolutely,” she answers when asked about a return to active filmmaking. “ ‘The Butler’ was really a right project for me,” she says. “I’ve known about this gentleman and thought that his story needed to be told.”

Now in its sixth year, Johnson and her team look forward to building on their strong track record of bringing top quality films to Middleburg as well as attracting leading filmmakers and filmgoers from all over the world.

“From the beginning,” Koch says, “our tag line has been ‘Four days of fantastic films in a stunning setting,’ and we want to continue to play to our strengths by presenting the ‘best in film’ while retaining the relaxed and intimate environment that sets us apart from other festivals.”

Koch says Middleburg will continue to showcase diverse filmmakers and celebrate the “unsung heroes” of filmmaking like composers and cinematographers. As the festival moves forward, they would like to present film-related events throughout the year and also increase the festival’s educational outreach and mentoring of future filmmakers. “Last but not least, we hope to increase the growing recognition of MFF as a ‘must-stop’ for films on the road to the Oscars—and a place where attendees can experience the very best in film, expand their understanding of the world through cinema, engage in fascinating conversation, and enjoy the warm hospitality and natural beauty of Middleburg.” S

THE FILMS OF SHEILA JOHNSON

Salamander Hotels & Resorts and Middleburg Film Festival founder Sheila Johnson has executive produced a number of films, including:

“Lee Daniels’ The Butler” (2013): This award-winning drama is about a butler who served various presidents during 34 years in the White House. Lee Daniels directed the film, based on real-life presidential butler Eugene Allen.

“The Other City” (2010): Susan Koch directed this documentary about the side of the nation’s capital that few tourists ever get to see—the 3 percent of the population that is HIV positive.

“Ella es el Matador” (2009): “She is the Matador” follows the lives of two European women who have chosen bullfighting as their profession and the struggles they face both in and out of the “plaza de toros.”

“A Powerful Noise” (2008): Filmmaker Tom Capello illuminates the struggles of three women in Vietnam, Bosnia and Mali as they face poverty, prejudice, oppression and ethnic strife.

“Kicking It” (2008): Directed by Susan Koch and featuring actor Colin Farrell who narrated this moving documentary about six down-and-out people who played in the Homeless World Cup of soccer.

Susan Koch, Greta Gerwig and Sheila Johnson at the 2017 Middleburg Film Festival

the ART of THE HENDERSON

Featuring everything from glass art to handcrafted furniture, the Henderson Artist Project has transformed the luxury new resort into a work of art itself with more than 465 creative pieces on display.

By Ashley Ryan

Russ Gilbert’s “Illusion,” located in the Salamander Spa hallway, resembles an underwater aquarium.

JACK GARDNER

The emerald waters and sprawling white sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico make Destin, Florida, one of the country’s most desirable beach destinations. But at The Henderson, the natural wonders aren’t the only aspects that catch the eye. The leaders of the luxury seaside resort, which opened in fall 2016, recognized the area’s vast amount of local artistic talent and tastefully incorporated it in The Henderson’s design.

Fondly named the Henderson Artist Project, the initiative showcases 465 pieces of artwork from 13 different artists throughout the property. From paintings and sculptures to glass installations, practical wooden pieces and jewelry sold in the on-site boutique, the variety was an important part of the project.

The process as a whole ensured a level of uniqueness that is rarely seen in resort art collections. The resort’s owners requested participation from some of the artists while still others were selected following an interview process. After narrowing the final 25 candidates down to 13, they were commissioned to produce multiple custom pieces that were installed in time for the hotel’s grand opening and continue to be an important part of The Henderson’s story.

“We have so much opportunity as a hotel to honor local artists,” says William B. Dunavant III, CEO and president of Dunavant Enterprises, which owns The Henderson. Dunavant adds that the artwork was intended to set the feel for the property, reflect the vibrant art community along the Gulf Coast and turn The Henderson itself into a work of art.

The Henderson Artist Project is just one avenue that the resort uses to give back to the local community, along with its Loved Locals program, which provides hotel discounts for Florida residents that live nearby. Dunavant says that the hotel plans to develop an array of community events as well, from jazz concerts to art fairs featuring local musicians and artists.

While many of the pieces included in the project stand out by providing a sense of place, like the six large works in the Living Room depicting sand dunes similar to those found along the Destin coastline, still others provide a historical component. One such piece, which was donated by Dunavant himself and placed in the hotel’s boardroom, is a full-length portrait of his father, William B. Dunavant Jr., who took control of Dunavant Enterprises at the age of 29 and currently serves as the chairman of the board.

Here, discover just a few of the stunning pieces on display as part of the Henderson Artist Project, as well as the process and inspiration behind them.

Russ Gilbert’s Art Glass

One of the most prominent pieces at The Henderson is the “Oat Grass Glass” installation that sits behind the reception desk in the front

lobby. Crafted by local glass artist Russ Gilbert, the piece is reflective of the coastal environment, with sea oats maintaining a strong presence on local sand dunes (and in the hotel, with the theme carrying over to the numbers outside of the rooms).

The piece features a stunning display of three panels, each featuring its own illuminated glass sea oats set against a deep blue background. Gilbert, who has made glass art for more than 30 years, is fueled by the idea of creating—of making something that didn’t exist earlier that day. “It was quite a bit of work, but I sure did enjoy it,” Gilbert says.

This is not Gilbert’s only piece on display in the hotel. He also crafted a stream of aqua-colored glass fish called “Groupings of Fishes” for the wall in the Primrose restaurant, as well as a glass

centerpiece called “Illusion,” which resembles an underwater aquarium, for the Salamander Spa hallway. “I think it [is] the most generous, forward-thinking thing that I’ve seen in this community in a long time,” Gilbert says of the Henderson Artist Project. “… I’ve never had an association with a group like that, and had absolutely nothing but good things to say about everybody involved.”

Justin

Gaffrey’s

Acrylic Paintings

While layering paint on wooden panels wasn’t the first career Justin Gaffrey tried his hand at, it came naturally, as the process of mixing colors is reminiscent of the way he blended flavors while working as a chef. He didn’t start painting until he was 30 years old, but looked for a unique way to challenge himself with his artwork—and he found it.

Justin Gaffrey paints with a stunning impasto effect, adding thick layers of paint for a unique texture.

Using a palette knife and heavy-bodied acrylic paint, Gaffrey creates texturized works that rise up off of the wooden canvas and bring his paintings to life. Vincent van Gogh originally influenced his

Layered with beeswax, Lori Drew’s minimalist oil paintings are created using drywall knives and ink rollers.

business, it seems fitting that his large-scale landscape paintings can be found in the private dining room at Primrose. With one piece plastered across one wall, and two smaller paintings continuing the same scene on the wall to the right, they are definitely the focal point of the room. “Mixing colors, to me, is exactly like blending flavors,” he says in a video made for the project, adding that local lakes and forests are also major sources of inspiration for him. “ … That inspires me to make art—not just the landscape of what it looks like, but just the peacefulness of it. … It inspires calmness in me that allows me to create.”

The process, from meeting with the interior decorator to delivering the finished pieces, took nearly a year to complete, with the paintings depicting an ecological landscape specific to northwestern Florida: a native dune lake surrounded by slender longleaf pine trees.

Gaffrey also produced eight small paintings that were placed outside of the Primrose entrance, each featuring yellow impasto flowers.

Lori

Drew’s

Oil and Cold Wax Paintings

impasto style, but he continues to find inspiration in the nature that surrounds Destin, whether in the lake behind his home or the nearby state forest. Since Gaffrey was originally in the restaurant

In a little over two months, Lori Drew crafted 27 paintings for the Henderson Art Project, using her own impressive technique to produce somewhat abstract images of recognizable local subjects. She layers beeswax and solvent with various

LORI DREW

colors of oil paint using drywall knives and ink rollers to create the look that she is after— though she says the beauty of it is that it doesn’t have to be perfect. This technique allows Drew to create complexity in her paintings while still maintaining a certain level of minimalism. The paint mixture combines with the wooden canvas to create a unique texture and, with soft edges rather than hard lines, her artwork retains a sense of peace.

“My goal was to have the viewer feel the natural beauty of the beach and beyond in each painting,” Drew explains of her artwork at The Henderson, which adorns the public restrooms on the hotel’s ground floor. In the ladies’ room, vibrant florals featuring regional flowers decorate the walls, while the men’s bathroom features scenes related to golfing and fishing.

“The whole staff was so wonderful to work with, allowing artistic freedom while keeping with The Henderson’s unique style,” the artist adds. “To this day, whenever I go into the bathrooms at The Henderson, I love the feeling and sense of peace my art brings to these private showing spaces.”

Donnie Galli’s Reclaimed Wood Furniture

More functional than some of the other pieces that are part of the Henderson Artist Project, Donnie

Galli’s artistic woodwork is a unique addition to the initiative. While the most eye-catching piece he was commissioned for lies in the hotel’s Living Room—a table crafted from 1,000-year-old wood found in swamps and rivers in the region that incorporates a custom floral-stained design—Galli also crafted solid wood purse stools.

Designed to benefit diners in the on-site restaurants Primrose and Horizons, these purse stools eliminate the need to loop purse straps over the edge of a chair or a purse hook. Instead, the custom purse rests, which sit low to the ground next to guests’ chairs, allow both men and women to put any carried bags on them.

Gallery - Custom FraminG

While the purse stools are perhaps the most unique offerings Galli crafted for The Henderson, there are also other pieces that he made for the resort as well: the custom-built point-of-sale desk in the retail boutique, wooden receipt holders and the tabletops in Primrose, constructed from cypress, barn wood and vintage scrap metal.

As part of Designs by Donnie, Galli regularly crafts reclaimed wooden furniture, though he has only been doing so since his late 30s. Using techniques he learned from his grandfather as a child, he makes beautiful pieces of furniture as well as things like serving boards and candleholders.

This table by Donnie Galli was crafted with 1,000-yearold wood found in local rivers and swamps.

Arturo Mennillo’s Historical Photographs

While they may not be from an artist currently producing work in Destin, the rows of black-andwhite photographs that adorn the walls within The Henderson are an incredibly important part of the Henderson Artist Project. These images, created by the late Arturo Mennillo, provide an invaluable sense of place while also offering a look into what came before. “History is a very important piece of how we got to where we are,” Dunavant explains.

Mennillo, who went on to become an official photographer for the U.S. Embassy, started out photographing the Emerald Coast from the 1940s through the 1960s. In addition to the many images of sport fishing and sunny beaches that he shot in the Destin region, he captured special moments in time, photographing the area’s most prominent events as well as celebrity visitors.

“[We] want [our guests] to go away with a good experience but [we] also want them to go away with a story,” Dunavant says.

The collection of images was donated to The Henderson by Mennillo’s son, Tony, who is also a photographer. They line the walls of the Historic Hallway on the ground floor of the hotel, but can also be found along the corridors outside of the guestrooms.

Melissa Mercer Brown’s Textured Paintings

Inspired by everything from coastal landscapes and views of the Gulf to hammock vegetation, colorful wildflowers and scenic bayous, Melissa Mercer Brown creates stunning landscape paintings depicting vistas found near her Florida home.

Invited by The Henderson to apply for the artist initiative, she spent nearly four months completing three large-scale landscape paintings that were then placed in the hotel’s entrance as well as in the hallways between the Crystal Ballroom, the Destin Ballroom and Dunavant Board Room.

Brown’s painting style is similar to that of Gaffrey’s, though instead of a palette knife, she uses her fingers to create the impasto effect. Once she has the desired texture, she says, “I also use a layer of washes to give a translucent depth, interest, dimension and liveliness with a haze of impressionism and yet capturing the quiet beauty of simplicity.” Brown, who serves as a board member for the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County, says that she views art as one way to give back to the people around her, noting that she loves to make people feel good with her paintings.

On top of the paintings, Brown sells Salty Sparrow jewelry in the hotel’s ground floor boutique. Created with co-founder Angel Mabry, the chic collection features coastal-inspired necklaces, earrings and bracelets as well as jewelry for men and essential oil necklaces.

For more information, including video, visit: hendersonbeachresort.com/play/artist-project. S

Historic photos taken by renowned photographer Arturo Mennillo are on display.

“Feeling His Glory” by Melissa Mercer Brown is one of many coastal landscapes that she has painted.

Picture Perfect

These expert smartphone photography tips will help you capture your most memorable travel moments in eye-catching images that deserve to be both shared and framed.

By Michelle Rae Uy

Picture this: You’re on a stunning stretch of quiet beach along the Florida Gulf Coast at sunset with sand sparkling in the sun, the emerald sea lapping against the shore and tiny baby turtles making their way to the water. Before you sit down to bask in the moment, you take a few photos with your smartphone to capture the picture-perfect scene before you.

Yet, no matter what you do, your photos fall short of doing it justice. One of the many joys of traveling is the privilege of taking a piece of your experience home with you through photographs, but it’s all for naught if your images come out dark, lopsided or worse, blurry. You wonder if it’s just your phone, that it just isn’t powerful enough to take quality photos.

Not quite so. Having the top equipment for photography helps, but it won’t guarantee excellent shots. A great photographer makes for great images, whether it’s taking photos with a professional digital single-lens reflex camera or with a smartphone. Luckily, to be a better photographer, you need only to practice and keep a few suggestions in mind.

Here, award-winning photographer and author Jack Hollingsworth shares some of his top tips and tricks for better smartphone photos.

Content Trumps Craft

There is not one ideal camera setting to capture a single scene because it depends on what you’re trying to convey or what effect you want to achieve. Know that blurry doesn’t necessarily mean bad, and underexposed doesn’t necessarily mean there was an error. As Hollingsworth puts it, “What a picture says [content] is far more important than how it was created [craft].”

“I would rather see the right content with the wrong settings than the wrong content with the right settings,” he adds. In fact, many professional photographers experiment with the “wrong” settings to get the photo they want. So be patient, take your time and don’t be afraid to do try different settings yourself.

Shoot Now, Edit Later

“While you are in capture mode, be in the moment,” Hollingsworth says. “Give it your full

This spread: Instagram photos captured at or near Salamander Hotels & Resorts properties

@madelinefreeman_

@heidigurtner

@feeldabrize

@augustlindvall

@_heatherbenson_

creative attention. Stay focused on taking photos, and don’t get distracted by post-processing and Instagram sharing. Edit and share later.”

Capturing a photograph is the first and most important step in your creative process, and if you get hung up on editing and posting on social media, it will take you away from that. It might even cause you to miss something—a subtle change in lighting or your subject’s expression— that would have made for the best shot. Stay focused, and leave the post-processing for later.

Zoom With Your Feet, Not Your Fingers

“Use your digital zoom slider sparingly,” Hollingsworth advises. Smartphone zooms are digital zooms, which means that the more you zoom in on your subject, the less crisp and the more pixelated your photos will be. It’s not worth the trouble.

Instead, he strongly suggests getting closer to your subject physically. You’d be surprised at how a few steps can make a world of difference. If that’s not possible, he proposes cropping the photos after they’ve already been taken, which might degrade the quality a little but not as much as it would with a digital zoom. Or, you could opt to invest in a good telephoto lens specifically designed for smartphones.

Don’t Shoot Everything at Eye Level

Most professional photographers will tell you that experimenting with different angles is everything in photography. A shot taken while lying belly-down on the ground might make for a more compelling image than a shot taken at eye level. Similarly, shooting down from a higher perch might also produce a more interesting photo than from ground level. Even just a few inches to the left or a few feet to the right might be better than where you’re standing.

“Sit down, climb up, lie down. Change it up,” Hollingsworth recommends. “Most people shoot everything at eye level. Dare to be different. Stand out by varying your camera-to-subject angles.”

Use the Exposure Compensation Slider

Professional photographers consider the auto mode almost a transgression to the art form. The same rule applies for smartphone photography. If you want better-looking photos, don’t stick to

Avoid automatic exposure, experiment with different angles and move closer to your subject to produce the best photographs with a smartphone.

auto. As Hollingsworth reveals, “the exposure compensation slider is my favorite and most used feature on my iPhone.”

Carve out time to play around with your phone’s exposure compensation slider, which allows you to experiment with different exposure settings. It’s a really handy feature that’s also easy to use: “Slide it up and the photo gets brighter, slide it down and the photo gets darker,” he says. This alone could make all the difference between a decent image and a captivating one. S

@milo.allerton

@flavoredbysjay

@ellengledet

@marianiwright

OVERVIEW EXPERIENCE SALAMANDER

From the Virginia countryside to Florida’s coast and beyond, discover Salamander Hotels & Resorts’ authentic destinations and travel experiences.

SALAMANDER RESORT & SPA MIDDLEBURG, VIRGINIA

Located on 340 picturesque acres in the scenic foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Salamander Resort & Spa’s elegant, yet cozy, design reflects the traditional style found in the Virginia countryside. Its natural setting, within the village of Middleburg, is ideal for both relaxing and enjoying a range of outdoor pursuits, including zip lining, hiking and biking. The resort also features a full-service equestrian center; it is home to a 14,000-square-foot stable, nine paddocks and 25 acres dedicated to horse experiences for all ages and skill levels. In addition to the exhilarating activities, Salamander Resort & Spa includes a luxury spa offering calming treatments to refresh both body and mind, as well as a variety of dining opportunities which highlight fresh ingredients from Virginia’s Piedmont region. (salamanderresort.com)

THE HENDERSON DESTIN, FLORIDA

This seaside getaway overlooks 2 miles of crystal-white beach and emerald-green water along the Gulf of Mexico. Opened in November 2016, the 170-room resort features timeless coastal architecture reminiscent of bygone days. Its location, adjacent to a 200-acre nature preserve, adds to the sense of tranquility while also providing numerous opportunities to experience the local environment through hiking, biking, water sports and more. The resort draws inspiration from Destin’s history as a fishing village on the menus of Primrose restaurant, Horizons Bar and the Sushi Bar. Also, many of the treatments at its Salamander Spa draw inspiration from the area’s natural surroundings. With two pools, an old-fashioned ice cream shop and a kids’ camp, it’s a firm family favorite. (hendersonbeachresort.com)

NOPSI HOTEL, NEW ORLEANS NEW ORLEANS

The historic headquarters of the former New Orleans Public Service Inc. (NOPSI) has been reinvented as a luxury 217-room hotel. Located in the Central Business District, the building originally opened in 1927. In 2017, it reopened as NOPSI Hotel after a meticulous restoration returned each space to its previous splendor, including the building’s street facades, cast iron rails and stone panels. It offers some of the city’s most refined accommodations—including 76 suites—a regionally inspired restaurant, 14,000 square feet of architecturally significant indoor and outdoor meeting space, and a sophisticated rooftop pool and bar. (nopsihotel.com)

HAMMOCK BEACH RESORT

PALM COAST, FLORIDA

Situated along 2 miles of Atlantic coast, Hammock Beach Resort features more than 300 accommodations, which include spacious and multibedroom villas and suites housed within its oceanfront towers. Guests can enjoy the property’s two championship courses (designed by golf luminaries Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson), which are routinely ranked among the state’s best. A Fantasy Waterpark, complete with slide and lazy river, is also on hand for visiting families, as well as a marina with docking slips, private club amenities and charter services where visitors can enjoy kayaking, fishing and more. The resort also features a variety of on-site dining, from a casual poolside eatery to an elegant Italian restaurant, as well as sushi, coffee and cigar bars. (hammockbeach.com)

INNISBROOK RESORT

TAMPA BAY, FLORIDA

This 900-acre retreat is one of the country’s most celebrated golf resorts. It is home to four championship courses, including the top-rated Copperhead course, which welcomes the world’s finest players each March during the PGA TOUR Valspar Championship. In addition to golf, the resort offers plenty of other fun activities for the whole family: miles of jogging and cycling trails, 11 clay tennis courts, lakes for fishing and six swimming pools—including the Loch Ness Monster Pool with waterslides. It also features a Salamander Spa with outdoor yoga terrace, and numerous restaurants, including the renowned Packard’s Steakhouse. (visitinnisbrook.com)

HOTEL BENNETT

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

The South’s grandest new hotel, Hotel Bennett opens this year overlooking Charleston’s iconic and historic Marion Square. Years in the making and located on King Street—Charleston’s most prominent address—the hotel perfectly blends unparalleled luxury with an unmatched setting. It features 179 luxurious guestrooms and suites, a signature restaurant with stunning views of Charleston’s famed park, and a stylish bar and lounge. The hotel also includes a spectacular rooftop pool with cabanas and bar, a luxury spa, a French patisserie, and a variety of grand event and flexible meeting spaces. (hotelbennett.com)

REUNION RESORT

ORLANDO, FLORIDA

Located just 6 miles from Walt Disney World, and near many other world-renowned attractions, the resort includes over 300 well-appointed accommodations, including private villas, vacation homes and condominiums, all surrounded by 2,300 acres of gorgeous flora. As the only property in the U.S. with golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson, the resort is ideal for golf lovers. Reunion also features a full-service luxury spa, plus family-friendly activities like a water park and lazy river. There are several spectacular dining options on-site, including Eleven, which boasts a rooftop pool and views of Walt Disney World fireworks. (reunionresort.com) S

LAST

7 QUESTIONS WITH DAWN MERCER

As the director of golf instruction at Innisbrook Resort, Dawn Mercer has been perfecting her teaching skills and her golf swing for three decades.

By Ashley Ryan

Dawn Mercer has served as director of golf instruction at Innisbrook Resort for the last six years, but her start in the golf industry—and connection to Innisbrook—began much earlier. After attending the resort’s first junior golf camp with Mike Souchak and Jay Overton at the age of 13, she played for a year in high school and continued to practice with her family before eventually landing a job at the resort golf shop. In her first year she moved into a teaching position, later progressing to lead instructor before transitioning to her current position. In 2017, she celebrated her 30th year at Innisbrook. Here, Mercer chats about her experiences in the golf industry and what makes teaching in Florida so special.

Salamander Magazine: What do you love most about your job?

Dawn Mercer: Being outdoors, meeting

people from around the world—people with the same interests. Doing a sport that I love. I love to teach, I love for people to learn. To be able to do it in this setting and environment and call it work is almost a getaway, you know? I mean, people come here for leisure and vacation to get away from it all, and I get to do that every day. … You create a lot of friendships and connections throughout the world, so it’s great.

SM: What would you be doing if you weren’t working at Innisbrook?

DM: A fun passion for me is anything on the water. Fishing, boating. I don’t get to do it all the time, but if time didn’t matter, I’d be somewhere on the water.

SM: What is the most challenging thing about golf instruction?

DM: It’s convincing people to keep it simpler

than they already make it and also convincing someone who already has far too much information to kind of let some of that go and just go back to basics, to what’s kind of simple and obvious. It is difficult to teach someone who has played for a very long time and has preconceived notions of the way it needs to be.

SM: How did you first get interested in golf?

DM: My father got me started. I’m the last of six kids and he self-taught himself at the age of 30 and was just very addicted to the game. So my one sister and I took up tennis and golf, and I just liked golf better than tennis.

I started [playing golf] when I was 12 and Innisbrook offered their first junior program when I was 13 and I went to that and kind of started from there.

SM: What does Florida offer that other regions don’t?

DM: Year-round climate to play is a big one. That’s really the biggest thing that stands out to me. I mean, granted, I can play indoors … up north, but it’s more the possibility to play yearround. … [Florida] is more geared toward outdoor environments; there are a lot of golf courses.

SM: What is the most interesting thing that has ever happened to you while on a golf course?

DM: My father hit a golf ball and almost killed my mother. It was pretty scary. We were at, I think, Callaway Gardens [in Georgia] and my sister and I were standing there and he went back to tee off … and hits a drive and just line-drives it at my mother about 6 feet off the ground. She spins around, it hits her in the rear end and she falls to the ground. … A golf ball travels around 180 miles per hour in the first short distance and my father was a plus 2 handicap so he was a very good golfer. She had a bruise that was like tree rings.

SM: What advice do you have for those who are looking to break into the field of golf instruction?

DM: One, to learn as much as possible from multiple instructors because there are many ways to hit a golf ball, and really do your best to listen more and speak less.

… Take advantage of your peers in the industry and try to observe as much as possible. … I think what’s difficult in the early stages of instruction is, as a nonconfident and new instructor, you never shut up and you’re all over the page and you don’t just stick to a couple points. As you learn, you learn to sit back and listen and watch and really pick and choose your words and what you apply. S