ADDRESS THE TRIUMPHS AND CHALLENGES OF THE CURRENT STATE OF THE GLOBE
A MUSEUM FOR OUR TIME
EXPLORING THE LIVING NARRATIVE THAT IS CHARLESTON’S
INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM
RESIDENCES
Nestled in the heart of horse and wine country, Residences at Salamander is a curated collection of only 49 homesites located within the grounds of the 340-acre Forbes Five-Star rated Salamander Middleburg. Steps away from the historic village of Middleburg, a selection of available home plans have been designed to pay tribute to the landscape and a life led by superior ease and elegance.
With an ongoing commitment to an impeccable lifestyle, Owners at Residences at Salamander enjoy abundant amenities at the resort and surrounding area. From concierge services, family-friendly activities, and home rental management to premier access to golf, tennis, and local wineries, residents are surrounded by five-star adventure and luxury at every turn.
48 IN SEARCH OF THE EXOTIC Award-winning photographer and writer Eric Lindberg’s work strives to convey the beauty and diversity of the world’s people, cultures and wild places on all seven continents.
CONTENTS / FEATURES
18. A MUSEUM FOR OUR TIME
The newly opened International African American Museum is a living testament to the triumphs and traumas that have shaped the African American journey, and America’s.
BY TERENCE LOOSE
26. CHARMING THE SNAKE PIT
Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course, a mainstay on the PGA tour, offers one of the most challenging—but fun—stretches in all of golf.
BY T.J. OLWIG
32. CROSSING FROM CAPITAL TO COUNTRY
How to spend four perfect days between Washington D.C. and Middleburg, VA.
BY JILLIAN DARA
40. FLAVORS OF THE WORLD
Meet four Salamander chefs who celebrate the intersection of their heritage and modern cuisine. BY SUE G. COLLINS
62. AN EXTRAORDINARY GATHERING
In June, the Aspen Institute will host the 20th anniversary of the Aspen Ideas Festival with a blend of thoughtprovoking, moderated discussions. BY DANTE AMODEO
68. NATURE’S WONDERS
Elemental healing elevates the spa experience. BY SUE G. COLLINS
72. A PLATINUM PINNACLE
Half Moon in Jamaica celebrates seven decades.
BY JILLIAN DARA
78. PICKLEBALL TRAVEL
The fastest growing sport in the nation is on the travel fast track.
BY DANTE AMODEO 22
A HOME FOR EVERYONE
Art aficionado Josh Feldman shines the light on Washington D.C.’s ARTECHOUSE, which is creating a home for digital artists and partnering with NASA to produce a must-see exhibit that is out of this world.
BY ASHLEY WARD
DEPARTMENTS
Swimming with the horses at Half Moon in Jamaica
CAPTURING THE MOMENT
A wedding celebration at Charleston’s Hotel Bennett
20. PROFILE: CHEF KWAME ONWUACHI LOOKING TO THE STARS
Acclaimed Chef Kwame Onwuachi returns to the nation’s capital with Dōgon.
30 EAT & DRINK: IN THE LEAVES
Afternoon tea is a burgeoning tradition for family and friends.
82. EXPERIENCE SALAMANDER
Discover the unique character and exceptional destinations of Salamander Collection.
88. SNAPSHOTS
Through the eyes and lenses of Salamander guests
90. INSIGHTS: WALK THROUGH FIRE
Sheila Johnson, Founder of Salamander Collection, offers insight into her career and memoir.
Photographer Eric Stein captured this beautiful moment at Hotel Bennett in Charleston, South Carolina
Welcome to the latest issue of SALAMANDER.
Since our last magazine published, our company has been incredibly busy, including completing our rebranding as Salamander Collection and picking up numerous recognitions along the way.
We represent more than hotels and resorts; for the past decade, our unique culture of inclusion, kindness and warmth has created a genuine sense of belonging, which is why Salamander Collection is an even more fitting name for our company. My own personal values of honesty, authenticity, respect and passion have always provided our guiding direction, and these were highlighted in my memoir, “Walk Through Fire,” which chronicles my unusual journey into the hospitality industry – which I fell in love with from the very first moment. I have appreciated every media appearance and book talk, where I was able to explain all the reasons hospitality helps connect beauty, culture and comfort.
Most recently, we were extraordinarily delighted and humbled that Salamander Middleburg received separate Five-Star awards from Forbes Travel Guide for accommodations, spa and dining – making the property one of only five in the U.S. and 13 worldwide with these designations. Additionally, Hotel Bennett in Charleston, S.C., and Half Moon in Jamaica retained their Four-Star awards, making them among the most decorated properties in their regions, while we have undertaken significant enhancement projects at Aspen Meadows Resort, Innisbrook Resort in Tampa Bay, Fla., and Salamander Washington DC. Finally, the first homeowners have now moved in at Residences at Salamander, our first branded luxury real estate development.
None of the accolades we have achieved would be possible without our dedicated service professionals, who have developed the sense of belonging we have created in each of our destinations. Whether you are in Aspen; Montego Bay; Washington, D.C.; Tampa Bay; Charleston or Middleburg, when you feel accepted and surrounded by comfortable luxury, you know you’ve arrived at Salamander Collection.
I hope you enjoy the stories contained within these pages, and that the insight helps you further enjoy a visit to one of our locations.
Welcome home,
Sheila Johnson Founder and CEO Salamander Collection
SALAMANDER
EDITORIAL
EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER
Steve Zepezauer
steve@firebrandmediainc.com
EDITOR
Justine Amodeo
justine@firebrandmediainc.com
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Ashley Ryan, Sharon Stello
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Dante Amodeo, Sue G. Collins, Jillian Dara, Jesica Farthing, Terence Loose, T.J. Olwig, Ashley Ward
At Half Moon in Jamaica, guests can enjoy a unique riding experience; getting the best of both land and sea by riding the turf in the arena, then heading out for a scenic trek on the private Sunrise Beach, followed by a bareback swim where guests can surf the waves with their horse in the beautiful Caribbean Sea. Half Moon’s equestrian center is home to many horses rescued from adverse environments and activities.
CAPTURING THE MOMENT
Chloë Beesburg and Blake Van Kennedy enjoy a moment of quiet conversation in the stunning foyer of Hotel Bennett after their wedding.
A Home for Everyone
ART AFICIONADO JOSH FELDMAN SHINES THE LIGHT ON DC’S ARTECHOUSE, WHICH IS CREATING A HOME FOR DIGITAL ARTISTS AND PARTNERING WITH NASA TO PRODUCE A MUST-SEE EXHIBIT THAT IS OUT OF THIS WORLD.
By ASHLEY WARD / PHOTOS By ARTECHOUSE CULTURE
ARTECHOUSE’s experiential art space is opening its doors to the future of art and digital finesse. Steps away from Salamander Washington DC, this dynamic venue prides itself on using cutting-edge technology and “unique architectural spaces” to create a cinematic experience audiences won’t forget.
Josh Feldman, ARTECHOUSE’s director of sales & marketing, has seen the journey from the beginning. And he agrees it is more than just a gallery: It’s a sanctuary for artists to find their true voice and for the community to find themselves within the magic of boundless imagination. It’s a home for everyone.
Visitors exploring “Beyond the Light”
SALAMANDER MAGAZINE: ARTECHOUSE is such a unique combination of art and science. What inspired the creation of this space?
JOSH FELDMAN: When we first got started, our founders, Tati and Sandro, were working in the city. They founded an independently funded organization called Art Soiree that was hosting exactly what it sounds like: celebrations of art gathering groups of people together to create these unconventional experiences that are now experiential events that you’ve seen in probably every event that’s popping up in some sort of way. In the whole process, Tati and Sandro started to work with digital artists that had smaller experiences but didn’t have installations. They started to realize that these artists did not have a home for their art. There just wasn’t a space, or experimental home, that could open its doors to produce a full-scale exhibition of their work. Since ARTECHOUSE was founded in 2015, we’ve collaborated with a multitude of artists that are given this platform for the first time ever and have since grown to world-renowned status artists.
SM: It seems like ARTECHOUSE is somewhat of a home for artists: a place where everyone can find belonging and inspire the community.
JF: Exactly. We want to be a home for everyone. ARTECHOUSE is meant to inspire future generations that there’s more technology and
mediums to create with, whether that’s AI, creative coding or a musical instrument that derives from periodic tables. Our latest exhibition, “Beyond The Light,” is part of the largest collection of in-house productions of IP exhibitions produced by an organization like ours. In essence, it’s celebrating something we can all relate to: how the universe can connect us, and how NASA is looking to connect us to the outside world. All of the technology and artwork you see is original. It’s all an original experience that you’re not going to get anywhere else and it’s of a quality that’s superior.
SM: Do most of your exhibitions or installations, like “Beyond the Light,” carry a celestial theme?
JF: We started off 2023 with a laser exhibition called “Intangible Forms” created by Shohei Fujimoto. Imagine 660 lasers flying around the space and dancing – a very introspective and contemplative exhibition that’s meant to interconnect us to everyone all around us. An exhibition is a living thing in a lot of ways. I like to believe that ARTECHOUSE is an extension of the theater and, like the theater, our visitors bring the experience to life, whether it’s within panels or on-site programming we’re hosting or within our free weekly program with NASA. Like a theater has a few different shows within the season, so does ours. The same space transforms every single time from the ground up.
SM: Why is ARTECHOUSE the go-to experience for Salamander guests?
JF: It has something for everyone, whether you’re a business traveler and you want to disconnect from the outside world, or you’re in town for a date night or a weekend stay. We’re also home to an XR bar, featuring cocktails and mocktails that are XRpowered. And we’re not just a place for adults and couples. We’re also known for our family programs and creating memories with loved ones. It’s totally a one-of-a-kind experience.
THE PROFILE / CHEF KWAME ONWUACHI
LOOKING STARS TO
ACCLAIMED CHEF KWAME ONWUACHI MAKES A HIGHLY ANTICIPATED RETURN TO THE NATION’S CAPITAL WITH DŌGON. By Matt Owen
Chef Kwame Onwuachi, pictured on Salamander Washington DC’s walkway to the district’s revitalized southwest waterfront
Chef Kwame Onwuachi is no stranger to pushing boundaries. But at his latest restaurant, he will also honor them – and the West African lineage that helped draw the borders of the nation’s capital – with a little help from above.
The acclaimed chef makes his highly anticipated return to the District of Columbia with a concept inspired by Washington, D.C. Surveyor Benjamin Banneker – a Black man credited with mapping the borders of the district using the location of the stars – and also exploring Banneker’s West African heritage to the Dogon tribe.
Dōgon by Kwame Onwuachi opens in Spring 2024 along the revitalized southwest waterfront at Salamander Washington DC, part of a significant hotel enhancement project. Pronounced “Doh-gon,” the restaurant offers vibrant cuisine served through an Afro-Caribbean lens and draws from Onwuachi’s unique Nigerian, Jamaican, Trinidadian and Creole background.
“I firmly believe that a restaurant should have a story, because when it has a story, it has a soul,” Onwuachi says. “Researching the history of Benjamin Banneker, the Dogon tribe and the connections to our location was a humbling-yet-inspiring experience. Our menu celebrates all the cultures within D.C.’s four quadrants. This is the story of Dōgon.”
Banneker was a self-taught mathematician, astronomer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of Washington, D.C., including his innovative use of astronomy to help survey the soon-to-be City of Washington in 1791. Authors have also contended that Banneker’s ancestry can be traced through his grandfather to the Dogon tribe from Mali, reputed for their advanced knowledge of astronomy, mathematics and engineering.
“Through his surveying work and skills, Banneker has helped bring people together for generations,” Onwuachi says. “With this story and the Dogon lineage as our foundation, we saw an opportunity to create something new: a restaurant that celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Africa in a contemporary D.C. setting.”
The incredible story of Banneker, the Dogon people and its lineage of astral observers also fueled the design of Dōgon. Undertaken by Modellus Novus, which previously collaborated with Onwuachi at Tatiana in New York City, the interior showcases the night sky and transports guests into a distinctively dramatic atmosphere where chain curtains welcome guests at the entrance, referencing Banneker’s Gunter’s Chains, a device he used to measure and survey.
Dōgon’s opening follows Onwuachi’s highly acclaimed Tatiana, which in 2023 was named the city’s best restaurant by The New York Times and rated one of the country’s best new restaurants of the year by Esquire magazine. Forbes called it more than a restaurant and the “future of fine dining.”
Onwuachi has penned multiple books, like his successful memoir, “Notes from a Young Black Chef,” and the bestselling cookbook “My America: Recipes from a Young Black Chef.” He has also been a
contestant and a judge on Bravo’s “Top Chef.” In 2019, he was acclaimed by Esquire as its Chef of the Year, recognized by Food & Wine magazine as one of its Best New Chefs and named by the James Beard Foundation as Rising Star Chef of the Year.
The Dōgon opening brings Onwuachi together again with Sheila Johnson, founder and CEO of Salamander Collection, with whom he has built a special relationship. The pair created The Family Reunion, which has quickly become the premier gathering of culinary professionals of color in the country and takes place at Johnson’s Five-Star Salamander Middleburg resort in Virginia.
TO READ MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF BANNEKER, THE DOGON TRIBE AND THEIR CONNECTIVITY, VISIT DOGONDC.COM.
ART + DESIGN
A Museum for Our Time
THE NEWLY OPENED INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM IS A LIVING TESTAMENT TO THE TRIUMPHS AND TRAUMAS THAT HAVE SHAPED THE AFRICAN AMERICAN JOURNEY — AND AMERICA’S.
By TERENCE LOOSE
In the heart of Charleston, South Carolina, the International African American Museum (IAAM) has risen to celebrate the intricate tapestry of the African American journey. Located in Gadsden’s Wharf, a place where more than 100,000 enslaved Africans entered America and, at one time, the country’s busiest slave trading port, the IAAM does more than educate the public on the darkest days of the African American experience. Instead, the IAAM stands as a testament to the resilience, triumph and enduring spirit of a community and how
that shaped our nation.
“We often talk about the African American journey living at the intersection of triumph and trauma, great pain and great joy. And you can certainly see that evidenced in a city like Charleston, and I’m excited that an institution like ours gets to exist in this space,” says IAAM Chief Learning and Engagement Officer Malika Pryor-Martin,.
She adds that the IAAM is not just a physical structure, it is a living narrative that unfolds the stories of African Americans throughout history. As visitors
step through its doors, they are transported into a realm where the struggles and achievements of a community are not just artifacts but living, breathing testaments to the human spirit.
It begins with the structure itself. Hovering 13 feet above the ground, the museum grounds are the site of the African American Memorial Garden, literally a living testament to a people’s history. One of most impactful elements of the garden is The Tide Tribute, which is made up of relief figures, each representative of a man, woman or child who
SAHAR
COSTON;
HARDY
ESTO
The museum offers more than just an educational experience; it provides a living narrative of history.
Top left and top right: the museum’s architecture, inspired by traumatic stories; bottom left: IAAM CEO Tonya Matthews; all others: last summer’s grand opening, which featured numerous events throughout the city
laid shackled in the holds of ships once anchored in nearby Charleston Harbor. As the tide changes, the shapes of those it honors are hidden and revealed, emphasizing the fluidity of the past, present and future.
NOT JUST A “SLAVERY MUSEUM”
Too often, when people use or hear the phrase “the African American experience,” it translates to “slavery.” And while that is certainly an important and needed focus of the museum, it is – by far – not the only one. Instead, the IAAM documents the entire African American experience, from the days of enslavement and the fight for freedom to present day achievements and contributions of the African American community and America itself. Each
exhibit in its 11 galleries is a chapter in a larger narrative, a story that refuses to be defined solely by adversity but rather shaped by the profound strength that emanates from resilience.
“People are not defined by their circumstances alone,” Pryor-Martin says. “We don’t stop being human beings merely because we’re facing difficulty. People fall in love. They build families. It’s under harrowing conditions, but they do it nonetheless.” So, while the dark history of the slave trade is certainly on display, in various mediums, so is the story of a people whose spirit could not be broken, who embraced life, family, community, even while under great oppression and, in so doing, shaped the American experience as much as America shaped theirs. The museum goes beyond the surface of
historical accounts and delves into the very essence of humanity – the stories of love, resilience and the unyielding determination to build meaningful lives despite the challenges faced.
In so doing, says Pryor-Martin, visitors leave not just with a deeper understanding of the history and culture of a people, but with probing, meaningful questions anyone can relate to. “What does it compel and inspire someone to do when they’re fighting for the people they love? What does it look like when the concept of love is expanded to community? What is someone willing to do when they believe in the unequivocal right of their neighbor and their brother or sister to be free and to be treated and identified as human beings?” she asks.
These are not just the questions for
As part of its grand opening, the museum held a worship service at Morris Brown AME Church.
our time, but for all times. So, as visitors explore exhibits that depict the creation of families, the forging of bonds and the building of communities, they witness the indomitable spirit that has sustained the African American community throughout history. The concept of love expands beyond personal relationships to encompass the collective love for community and the relentless pursuit of freedom and equality.
In this way, the museum hopes to connect with visitors on a human, emotional level. In some ways, it’s an attempt by a historical museum to remove the history bias. “So often when we contemplate history, we’re contemplating it on a timeline. We are contemplating it in this sort of grand sweeping way and we lose the humanity,” Pryor-Martin says. She notes that, in doing this, we can lose the fact that people are making history in the moment, unsure of outcomes or, often, what is happening outside their community. “They are making it sometimes, just in their small neck of the woods. We read it on a timeline as if it is inevitable, but they’re experiencing it as human beings. And so, we strive to bring a bit of that, because not only does it further humanize individuals and a group of people who have historically been dehumanized, it also facilitates this opportunity for a visitor, no matter their background, to be able to identify with a fundamentally human story,” she says.
A NECESSARY DIALOGUE IN CHALLENGING TIMES
While the IAAM hopes to inspire dialog, understanding and illumination, there is no doubt it comes in challenging times, when a disturbing number of voices are attempting to revise or even deny history. The museum confronts the dangers of nostalgia and revisionist history, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging and learning from the complexities of the past. The exhibits are not just a retelling of events; they are a call to question preconceived notions and engage in a dialogue that transcends biases.
“We are navigating a moment when historical facts are being challenged in
favor of nostalgia, which can be very, very dangerous,” Pryor-Martin says. But, she adds, that just makes the museum’s mission even more vital.
By presenting a full and authentic portrayal of African American history, the IAAM challenges the idea that the lack of personal experience equates to nonexistence. It invites visitors to confront uncomfortable truths, fostering a deeper understanding of the struggles, achievements and contributions of the African American community.
MONEY TALKS
Perhaps there is no better metric to gauge belief in a project in modern America than money. And if that’s true, the IAAM comes through with flying colors. In the making for more than 20 years, the project gained supporters
from every corner of the country, raising over $100 million toward its completion. From Congressman Jim Clyburn and Civil Rights icon John Lewis to founding donors Salamander Collection CEO Sheila Johnson and local hotelier Michael Bennett, support for the museum was as eclectic as it was determined. They, along with dozens more like them, defied what many said would – could –never happen.
But then, that seems a most fitting testament to the museum’s mission. Triumph through adversity. Strength from uncertainty. “I think about our existence, particularly in this moment. And in Charleston, a space where folks might think the existence of a $100 millionplus capital project that centers [on] the African American journey couldn’t exist,” Pryor-Martin says. “And yet, here we are.”
SAHAR COSTON; HARDY ESTO
Many of the museum’s exhibits are interactive.
Charming the Snake Pit
INNISBROOK RESORT’S COPPERHEAD COURSE, A MAINSTAY ON THE PGA TOUR, OFFERS ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING – BUT FUN – STRETCHES IN ALL OF GOLF.
By T.J. OLWIG GOLF
I’ve played a handful of PGA TOUR host venues in my day, but never had I ever teed it up a week before the pros were slated to get after an $8.1 million purse ($8.4 million in 2024) in prime tournament conditions.
My fling with Copperhead, widely considered one of the toughest tracks on the pro circuit, meant airstrip-narrow fairways, 4 inches of gnarly Bermuda rough in every which direction, and greens so polished and so slick I might as well have worn bowling shoes.
Throw in the three W’s of Florida golf – wind, water and wiry grass, certified kryptonite to my homemade game – and it was the ideal layout for my inaugural round of the season. This is, of course, to say nothing of the Snake Pit, Copperhead’s infamous closing trifecta.
Since 2003, the world’s best players have played the tree-lined trinity (holes 16-18) more than a half-stroke over par, a final three-hole scoring average topped by just two other courses during that
Groundstaff prepare the 18th green at the Copperhead Course before the annual PGA TOUR Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort.
stretch. Kindly, Innisbrook does warn players of its difficulty (evocative of the famous warning sign at Bethpage Black in New York) with an oversize bronze statue of a snake on the 16th tee box, one of the hardest holes on the PGA TOUR.
That’s where Striker, official guardian of the Snake Pit (who could easily moonlight as the Slytherin house mascot in Harry Potter), puts all comers on notice.
“The Moccasin, The Rattler and The Copperhead are Among The Most Difficult Finishing Holes on the PGA TOUR!” Should one want a before-shot of their impending threeheaded dance with the devil, the hashtag #SnakePitSelfie accompanies said alert. Neither a kneeling bench beneath the serpent, where I could have prayed for mercy, nor the counsel of my playing partner, Director of Golf Andrew Corry, could have thwarted my bailout of a snap hook into the stately Florida pines, a ball flight I had hoped my muscle memory retired in 2022. The damage: double bogey, par, bogey for a 3-over aggregate.
While my driver might have benefited
from a visit to the swing doctor prior to my date with Copperhead, the gift of a TOUR-level tee time is the magic of the experience, not the letdown of a rusty swing. Sure, it was fun to rattle off three consecutive pars to close out my wobbly front nine (golf is, after all, a collection of small victories), but the true perk was doing it on the same manicured turf that I’ve watched the big boys compete on for years. Photoshopped fairways. Ball-eating primary rough. Spick-andspan greens running 12-plus on the Stimpmeter. Copperhead rewards imagination, one of my favorite parts of playing this game.
As the osprey flies, Copperhead’s first tee box sits 2,000 yards eastward of St. Joseph Sound in the Gulf of Mexico. There, in a scraggly treetop nest, a mated pair of the chirpy, masked sea hawks served as the unofficial starters for my round, signaling our proximity to the ocean. No matter my coordinates on the globe, a day on the links will forever double as a birdwatching tour – ever the more when I’m in the Atlantic Flyway.
After spotting a couple of orbiting bald eagles on my outward nine, a distant blur of pink triggered my trained eye as I walked up the 11th fairway. The fastmoving freckle of a cloud was multiple par 5s away in length. I raised my binoculars to confirm the skyward sighting. It was, in fact, what I had suspected – a roseate spoonbill, whose Champagnetinted plumage brightened an otherwise haphazard hole where I may or may not have had a run-in or two with oak trees cloaked in Spanish moss. Wings may have eluded me on the scorecard, but the blue Florida sky gifted me with an unexpected avian first.
Outside of the months leading up to the Valspar Championship, Copperhead’s conditions are much friendlier on the everyday player. Resortwide, three additional layouts are available for guest play: the South, the North (nine holes) and the Island Course, Innisbrook’s original routing. The latter showcases one of the most surprising aspects at the resort: its undulating topography, an uncommon golf trait that will make you forget you’re
DREW XERON
From left: Copperhead’s 16th hole, a lengthy dogleg right par 4 with significant water trouble; the 17th hole, a challenging, tree-lined par 3; the finishing 18th hole, which starts with a narrow tee shot and features a series of bunkers on the right side of the fairway
in America’s flattest state.
Having come off of a blue-chip layout in Copperhead, I was expecting a gentler day for my final round. Then I met the starter on the Island Course’s practice green, who, before directing me to the opening tee, casually declares, “Copperhead is a far more forgiving course.” He was right. Between Lake Innisbrook hugging the first six holes and the back nine’s wild elevation, the Island Course has some serious teeth. I also rewarded it with the prize for best hole on the 63-hole property at the par-3 fourth, where a hairy, lone Cypress tree acts as a fortress and flagstick gatekeeper in the middle of a greenside bunker.
While Innisbrook has something for everyone, its fairways and greens are its heartbeat, making for the ultimate golf trip. If you can, play all of its layouts, but just remember: “What happens in the Snake Pit, Stays in the Snake Pit” – unless you post a number, that is. In that case, broadcast your score for all to hear.
JUSTIN KRIEL
The imposing Snake Pit statue greets golfers before they take on one of the most challenging finishing holes in golf.
EAT&DRINK
Hotel Bennett recently held a special tea to celebrate its partnership with TEALEAVES, which created a unique tea blend to serve at the hotel.
In the Leaves
AFTERNOON TEA IS A BURGEONING TRADITION FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
By SUE G. COLLINS
Is afternoon tea the new happy hour?
Judging by growth and demand, it just mght be. Already a popular event and social media favorite for its Instagrammability, the hashtag #afternoontea revealed a whopping 7.1 million posts in 2023, compared to 6.2 million in 2022. Additionally, an increase in the number of sober events offered has meant friends and family have gravitated toward afternoon tea to eat, chat and drink – all without alcohol.
And if ever a place could gracefully marry the elegance of afternoon tea with in-demand visuals, it would be Hotel Bennett in Charleston, South Carolina – specifically its Champagne lounge, Camellias, named the Most Instagrammable Bar in South Carolina by the Food Network.
Since opening in 2019, the hotel has held highly popular teas in Camellias and recently partnered with TEALEAVES to create its own blend of black tea.
The reimagined site of the former city library transformed into a luxurious refuge, Hotel Bennett features many stunning spaces. But, for many, one room remains a standout. Camellias is an experience, full of pink-hues, crystal chandeliers and reclaimed pink marble bars, a leftover from the library of the past. The room itself was inspired by Fabergé jewelry, giving the experience of stepping into a glittering ornament.
With this amazing space in mind, event planning takes on a creative edge and Camellias’ tea service on Friday, Saturday and Sunday is no exception. There are three choices available. The children’s version is simplified, with crustless sandwiches and other kid-friendly snacking options. Adults are treated to regular tea or crown tea, which includes a glass of sparkling rosé for those who wish to imbibe. Charleston’s Lowcountry grandeur is reflected in the cuisine: cranberry chicken salad croissants, truffled deviled eggs, and pimento cheese augmenting and representing local flavors.
Special tea events are on the schedule, like the hotel’s extremely popular Santa teas, planned for the holidays. “Santa is there and reads a book to the kids, sending them home with little treats and goody bags. While they are at the tea, they fill out their Christmas lists with Santa,” says Food and Beverage Director Alex Hernandez.
Additionally, Camellias holds a variety of very popular Princess Teas, which, among other things, features Elsa from “Frozen,” as well as Christmas in July where Santa wears a Hawaiian shirt, talks about visiting nearby Folly Beach and the hot chocolate is frosty.
Whether you prefer your tea hot or cold, there’s no doubt afternoon tea is currently on fire.
A STORIED HISTORY
During the mid-19th century, the concept of afternoon tea first appeared in England when Anna Russell, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, would become hungry around 4 p.m. in the afternoon. Because dinner was not served until 8 p.m., the Duchess asked that a tray of tea, bread, butter (some time earlier, the Earl of Sandwich had the idea of putting a filling between two slices of bread) and cake be brought to her room in the late afternoon. Soon, she began inviting friends to join her until it became a fashionable social event. During the 1880s, upper-class and society women would change into long gowns, gloves and hats for their afternoon tea, which was usually served in the drawing room between 4 and 5 p.m.
Sipping tea at Camellias at Hotel Bennett
FROM CAPITAL TO
Crossing Country
How to spend four perfect days between Washington, D.C. and Middleburg, VA. By
JILLIAN DARA
The countryside surrounding Salamander Middleburg
Brimming with history, culture and a burgeoning epicurean scene, a trip to Washington, D.C., is a vibrant occasion. Unique among American cities because it was completely planned as the national capital and needed to be distinct from the states, there’s so much to see that you might feel like taking a break from your own vacation after buzzing from museum to theater and bar to restaurant.
And, that’s just the opportunity that the serene Virginia countryside offers with its rolling hills and vineyards. At the center sits historic Middleburg, which got its name because of the town’s location midway between Alexandria and Winchester on the Ashby Gap (now known as Route 50).
These two Capital and Country neighbors provide the perfect complementary way to spend four ideal days.
Washington, D.C.
Choosing the right home base is key to maximizing time in the District.
Conveniently located along the southwest waterfront, between the National Mall and The Wharf, Salamander Washington DC is located in the new heart of D.C.
The area offers a plethora of eateries for foodies, while history and entertainment are only ever a five- to 10-minute jaunt away (or opt for the hotel’s Gem Car for a complimentary drop-off to The Wharf and all museums at the National Mall up to Constitution Avenue).
The National Mall is an ideal place to start with its array of museums that appeal to every taste, from the National Gallery of Art to the Library of Congress, United States Botanic Garden and National Portrait Gallery, the latter of which hosts weekend workshops for artists and change-makers. Of course, there’s also The Smithsonian Institution’s 21 museums and zoo, including the must-see National Museum of American History and National Air and Space Museum. With so much selection, it’s best to narrow down your interests ahead of time to ensure your
Top The Jefferson Memorial in the nation’s capital in Washington, D.C.; right: the garden outside Salamander Washington DC
entire party’s preferences are met.
After some historical and intellectual stimulation, it’s time to head back toward the hotel and The Wharf’s impressive dining scene. A few of the D.C. team’s favorite spots are: La Vie, offering coastal-inspired cuisine like moules frites, sweet and savory tartines, plus stunning water views. Officina is elevated Italian: the first floor features aisles of the finest imported Italian olives, prosciutto and cheese, the second-floor restaurant is focused on the bold flavors of southern Italy and the third floor is outfitted with a stunning rooftop bar complete with fire pits and a private dining space. Lastly, check out Nara-Ya for Japanese izakaya (think: sashimi, kushiage meat and vegetable skewers and takoyaki, or octopus) as well
as one of the most creative sushi menus in the area by Executive Chef Lucas Irwin and renowned Creative Culinary Director Kaz Oshiro.
After refueling head over to a performance at one of the nearby venues. Though timing varies per event, there’s The Anthem for headliner concerts and The Kennedy Center for large-scale performances, covering everything from opera to the symphony orchestra. For something slightly more low key, check out Union Stage for rotating live music in an intimate bar with draft beer.
Start your second day with a visit to ARTECHOUSE, an innovative amalgamation of art, science and technology that’s on a mission to “stimulate interest in limitless possibilities.” Spend as much
time here as you like then get moving in the form of shopping.
Some of the most popular recommendations of the Salamander DC team include:
Politics and Prose: Unique to D.C., this independent bookstore and community gathering place features a wide assortment of books, stationery and gift items, and an inviting space with regular author events, book signings and classes.
Shop Made in DC: A retail initiative with a mission to grow the D.C. maker community (while also offering diverse programming, classes, and events), this store at The Wharf showcases a wide selection of products, including apothecary items, apparel, art, furniture, jewelry, home décor, and stationery.
LOCAL TASTEMAKERS SHARE THEIR FAVORITE AREAS AROUND TOWN
Diament Jewelry: A treasure box of jewelry, gifts and accessories, its jewelry line is delicate with a vintage feel, all at an affordable price. Most pieces are handmade locally by the owner Libby Diament.
Starting this spring, take advantage of staying at Salamander and enjoy a hot new dining experience at Chef Kwame Onwuachi’s vibrant new restaurant, Dōgon. The renowned chef is returning to D.C. after opening Tatiana, an esteemed restaurant in New York.
On the Road
The drive from D.C. to historic Middleburg is just over an hour northwest, but we suggest departing in the morning and leaving a little buffer room for stops at some must-visit spots along the way.
Julie Holland, @blazersandbubbly, suggests antiquing along the quaint Middleburg streets, vintage shopping at Nostalgia in Purcellville, then grabbing a slice of pizza at Chrysalis Vineyards tasting room. “Dinner at the charming Hunter’s Head Tavern, in Upperville, is a delightful way to end the day after a bike ride along peaceful country roads,” says Holland.
Lisa Morris, @occasionallyluxe, often shares her recommendations in fashion, beauty and travel around town.
In Middleburg, she recommends spending a day at Lost Barrel Brewing. “Stop along Washington Street on your way to LBB and check out the cute shops where you’ll find everything from antiques, to jewelry, to fashion and more,” she says.
When it comes to top restaurants, Mia Svirsky, @DistrictEats, adds her mustvisits: wine tasting at Greenhill Vineyards as well as Cana Vineyards & Winery, and scoops of frozen goodness at Scruffy’s Ice Cream Parlor, where seasonal flavors and affogato are popular.
Greenhill Vineyards
Hunter’s Head Tavern
JULIE HOLLAND
MIA SVIRSKY
LISA MORRIS
First up, the Pentagon is just across the George Mason Memorial Bridge as you leave the city behind. You can either marvel at it on a quick drive by or sign up for an hour tour of the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense and world’s second-largest office building. Then, just up the road is Arlington National Cemetery: the globally recognized burial location hosts the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the eternal flame at President John F. Kennedy’s grave.
Finally, hit the road for about 40 miles then stop for lunch or an afternoon snack and tasting at Quattro Goombas winery and brewery, suggests freelance writer and local guide, Austin Graff. (@austinkgraff on Instagram). “There’s something for everyone—beer, sour ales, wine, pizza, and weekend live music,” he shares, adding that there’s plenty of space for everyone, too, including a family section and separate adults-only area.
Middleburg, Virginia
The trip to Middleburg is like driving through the English countryside. Stone stacked fences line the roads, which are dotted with one small town after another. But, there are very few with the history and culture of Middleburg, and none that can showcase 15 stars—which in the case of Salamander Middleburg represents three separate Forbes Five-Star ratings for accommodations, spa and dining. This makes the resort one of only five in the United States and 13 worldwide to achieve these designations.
We recommend checking in at the resort first before venturing out, as you can easily walk into the village or use Salamander’s car service. There are plenty of local attractions to explore in this historic town, including numerous boutiques, specialty shops and restaurants. With just one stop light, but several side streets with hidden gems, Middleburg has a particular charm and celebrates the equestrian lifestyle, which has drawn many famous residents for decades. President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy would often spend their White House weekends out in the countryside and were building a home in the area before President Kennedy was tragically killed. After exploring Middleburg for all it has to offer and more, we suggest retreating
back to the resort to either relax or choose from an expansive list of activities from horseback riding to mountain bike tours, mixology classes, cooking demos, foraging hikes and more. Many also come to enjoy the Salamander Spa, which boasts tailored wellness treatments and a private outdoor courtyard with a heated pool, while an evening at Salamander is not complete without a dining experience at Harrimans Grill, which is the newest Forbes Five-Star-rated restaurant in the mid-Atlantic. With a nightcap in hand, take a seat at the outdoor fire pit, reflect on a star-filled dining experience and take in the clear night sky.
B
GREENHILL WINERY AND VINEYARDS
SALAMANDER MIDDLEBURG
QUATTRO GOOMBAS WINERY AND BREWERY
Clockwise from top left: A map of Washington, D.C.; a photo at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery; Shop Made in DC; The Wharf; The United States Botanic Garden
OF THE
FLAVORS WORLD
MEET FOUR SALAMANDER CHEFS WHO CELEBRATE THE INTERSECTION OF THEIR HERITAGE AND MODERN CUISINE.
By SUE G. COLLINS
CHEF EDGAR KANO
Chef Edgar Kano was born in Mexico City to a Japanese household, allowing him to appreciate a fusion of cultures at an early age. “One of the flavors that reminds me most of my childhood is the aroma of freshly cooked gohan Japanese rice. That punch of steam, similar to a sweet perfume, was an indication that the table was set. Today, that aroma still opens my appetite,” said Kano.
Now, at the helm of Gabrielle Restaurant at Charleston’s Hotel Bennett, he is inspired by those engrained childhood flavors. “I remember the albondiga[s], or Mexican-style meatballs, with a hit or more of the smoky chipotle pepper and fresh corn tortillas. I could eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner.” From corn tortillas on a comal (a griddle made from earthenware) to Mexicanstyle rice, pickled Japanese vegetables like takwan (pickled daikon radish), rakyo (pickled Japanese scallions) and teriyakiglazed snapper with shizo leaves, Kano brings a world of creativity to his menu. He is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, with more than 20 years in culinary leadership roles working for Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.
“Each dish has a part of my heritage and soul. The salsa del diablo, a sauce I learned from my mother-in-law, is an explosion of flavor that is becoming more popular every day with our wagyu tenderloin lettuce wraps,” Kano says.
The menu in Gabrielle has a coastal philosophy, featuring the best of both worlds (sea and land). The menu is based on the availability of high-quality ingredients, Kano notes. “We are strengthening our relationship with the local fishermen and farmers. Our oysters are harvested in the morning and being served for lunch the same day.”
CHEFS’ TABLE
WE ASKED THESE INTERNATIONAL CHEFS WHO THEY WOULD INVITE TO THEIR TABLE FOR A MEMORABLE MEAL.
“Chefs
Carmen ‘Titita’ Ramirez Degollado, Susana Palazuelos and Enrique Olvera, among other hundreds of chefs that are iconic Mexican chefs and ambassadors for Mexican cuisine”
- CHEF EDGAR KANO, HOTEL BENNETT
CHEF JEAN BAPTISTE-LAWSON
Jean Baptiste-Lawson, a native of Paris, is the head baker at Salamander Middleburg, with a pedigree from the French baking school École Professionnelle de Boulangerie et Patisserie, in Champigny-sur-Marne, where he specialized in learning the production of artisan breads, gourmet pastries and chocolates. Baking is an exacting practice and Baptiste-Lawson’s dedicated studies and experience over more than a decade provide him with a solid foundation in the Middleburg kitchen.
Currently, as Head Bread Baker, he’s baking French baguettes, soft milk bread rolls and brioche buns for bread service and the market bakery. And, while each of the 300-plus buns he bakes daily packs a bouquet of flavor, he recommends a semi-salted butter to complement each bite. Born in Togo, West Africa, Baptiste-Lawson grew up in Paris, where food played an important role with African spices and traditional ingredients filling his family pantry. Now, at Market Salamander and Harrimans Grill, he works with the chefs to create beautiful breads that build on the finest local ingredients.
CHEFS’ TABLE
WE ASKED THESE INTERNATIONAL CHEFS WHO THEY WOULD INVITE TO THEIR TABLE FOR A MEMORABLE MEAL.
“Sheyi
Emmanuel Adebayor, Togolese former professional footballer; Angélique Kidjo, Beninese-French singer-songwriter, actress and activist; Kémi Séba, Beninese panAfricanist activist”
- JEAN BAPTISTE-LAWSON, BAKER, SALAMANDER MIDDLEBURG
CHEFS’ TABLE
WE ASKED THESE INTERNATIONAL CHEFS WHO THEY WOULD INVITE TO THEIR TABLE FOR A MEMORABLE MEAL.
“Chef Massimo Bottura from Osteria Francescana, a three-Michelin-star restaurant based in Modena, Italy; Giuseppe Garibaldi, an Italian general, patriot and revolutionary; and James Bond”
-
CHEF MARCO FOSSATI
For chef Marco Fossati, director of food & beverage operations at Salamander Washington DC, it is the scent of fresh basil cultivated in the coastal town of Pra’, Italy (nestled between the Ligurian Sea and the Ligurian Apennines mountain range), where he grew up, that inspires him.
“Its medium-small curved green leaves, delicate scent and intense flavor distinguish it from other basil plants. The smell of fresh herbs – fresh basil, rosemary, sage and marjoram (a popular herb in Liguria) – seemed to always permeate the kitchen, the heart of our home,” Fossati says. His passion for cooking was born standing in the kitchen beside his grandmother for hours at a time. “Every Sunday, Nonna would go to mass, visit her loved ones in the cemetery and head home to make handmade potato gnocchi with basil pesto and green beans. She always purchased fresh ingredients the day prior,” he notes. They tended to use older potatoes, giving them more time to store sugars and convert them into starch, with less water in their cells.
Spaghetti alle vongole (spaghetti with clams) was his father’s favorite for the end of the week.
“The simple preparation includes shaved red garlic, slow-cooked in extra virgin olive oil with fresh chile peperoncino. Next, stems of parsley, clams and pigato (white wine from the Liguria coast) is added – simply delicious,” Fossati says.
These mountains inspire some of his favorite menu items, including ravioli with house-made ricotta plus three hour slow-roasted leeks, organic egg yolks, brown butter, sage and fresh Parmesan. “All ingredients are locally sourced, except for our flour, which comes from Italy. The magic of authentic Italian cuisine is the simplicity and the freshest of ingredients, prepared with love,” notes Fossati, who embarked on a remarkable career that included working at prestigious luxury hotels, renowned Michelinstarred restaurants including Il Carpaccio in Paris, and exclusive private clubs like Harry’s Bar and Annabel’s in London before gracing Salamander Washington DC with his finesse.
CHEF CHRISTOPHER GOLDING
Chef Christopher Golding grew up in Jamaica where his grandmother instilled in him a love for cooking. “She taught me that a recipe is just a list of ingredients and a guideline, but your duty is to bring out the soul in the dish,” says Golding, now the chef de cuisine at Sugar Mill Restaurant, the signature restaurant of Half Moon in Jamaica.
“The aromas that remind me most of my childhood are spices that we use in our cooking: Scotch bonnet peppers, pimento berries, fresh thyme and scallions, and my grandmother’s red pea soup cooked outside in a Dutch pot over a wood fire.” Golding brings those memories to life for Sugar Mill’s guests, celebrating the intersection of his heritage and modern cuisine. Look for pimento woodsmoked marlin, Josper roasted pork belly with ripe plantain espuma and snapper with passion fruit and roasted pumpkin sauce. Some techniques Golding employs, such as Josper roasting (using an enclosed charcoal oven where food is cooked at high temperatures) and the use of espuma (transforming fruit or vegetable extracts into foam), elevate his menu and add subtle but important flavor profiles to his dishes.
CHEFS’ TABLE
WE
“My late grandmother, my late mother and my father –thank God he is still alive.”
- CHEF CHRISTOPHER GOLDING, HALF MOON
In Search of the Exotic Profile: Eric Lindberg
Through his photos and stories, Eric Lindberg—a travel and assignment photographer and writer who has traveled to familiar and remote corners of the world in search of the exotic, the exquisite and the offbeat—strives to convey the beauty and diversity of the world’s people, cultures and wild places on all seven continents. His award-winning photos and stories have been featured in magazines, books, calendars, newspapers, tourism websites and promotional travel publications nationwide and overseas.
Covering subjects ranging from foreign rail journeys and wilderness river expeditions to American road trips and urban cultural hot spots, Lindberg specializes in travel, editorial and destination photography.
Lindberg has been named Photographer of the Year three times by the Society of American Travel Writers, and he has been awarded one of the top three prizes in this prestigious competition for 10 of the last 13 years.
An accomplished writer as well as photographer, Lindberg has been widely published across North America. As with his photos, his stories go beneath the surface of a place, looking deeper into the soul of a culture, its people and the authentic travel experiences found in that destination. Here is what he has to say about some of his award-winning images.
During an assignment in Sri Lanka, I came across these two young Buddhist monk novices enjoying the morning ocean breezes along the Laccadive Sea.
SRI LANKA PARAGON
ERIC LINDBERG
JORDAN
One of Jordan’s major tourist attractions is the ancient archaeological site of Petra. Arriving early, I was at the front of the entrance line and took this photo as the site opened and before the crowd of tourists behind me swarmed into the scene.
PEOPLE
This sadhu posed for me at sunrise on the ghats of the Ganges River in Varanasi, one of India’s holiest cities.
STORM CHASING
Storm Chasing—On an extreme weather-chasing trip across the Midwest, I was fortunate to be close to this church in New Mexico as a powerful storm front blew in.
BOSNIA
Stari Most (Old Bridge) in the historic town of Mostar, BosniaHerzegovina, was first built in the 16th century, and rebuilt after being destroyed in 1993 from shelling by Croat forces during the Croat-Bosniak War.
COLOMBIA’S CARTAGENA
Palenqueras are direct descendants of the first free African slaves in the New World. Today they are a common sight in Cartagena, Colombia, posing for tourists around the old city.
RIVIERA MAYA
I met this Mayan dancer after a folkloric performance along the Caribbean Yucatan coast of Mexico.
NYC
Vessel in NYC rises 16 stories above Hudson Yards. With 154 stair flights, the total length of the stairs exceeds 1 mile. Access to those stairs is currently closed due to several suicides after it opened in 2019.
TANZANIA
A Maasai man strolls through his village near Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania.
NAOSHIMA ISLAND, JAPAN
Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s famous yellow pumpkin sculpture was reinstalled in 2022 after it was damaged during a typhoon. I went to the location on a trip to Japan several times over three days because I saw the possibilities for a good photo. Due to the stormy conditions, I was rewarded with this wonderful light.
OREGON COAST
Sometimes all the elements align perfectly. A cloudless sky, low tide at sunset, and a large waxing moon provided dramatic beach lighting at Bandon, Oregon.
To view more of Lindberg’s images and work, visit EricLindberg.com.
In June, the Aspen Institute will host the 20th anniversary of the Aspen Ideas Festival with a blend of thought-provoking, moderated discussions from over 300 speakers ranging from heads of state and athletes to artists, musicians and writers.
By Dante Amodeo / Photos By Daniel Bayer
The Aspen Ideas Festival, and even the birth of Aspen as a popular resort destination, traces back to the vision of Walter Paepcke, a philanthropist and Chicago businessman inspired by the beauty of the idyllic mountain town in the mid-1940s. When Paepcke saw Aspen, “he envisioned an ideal gathering place for thinkers, leaders, artists, and musicians from all over the world to step away from their daily routines and reflect on the underlying values of society and culture,” according to the Aspen Institute.
That vision has indeed come to fruition in the Aspen Ideas Festival, a 10-day celebration taking place in June that functions as a nexus for curious intellectuals to explore some of the most pressing and innovative ideas of our time, while simultaneously honing into the spirit Aspen was built upon: the intersection of mind, body, and spirit.
Nestled beneath the Rocky Mountains, nearly 4,000 festival attendees will enjoy the opportunity to peruse the Aspen Institute’s picturesque 40-acre campus, which is also home to the newly renovated Aspen Meadows Resort. On the agenda is a blend of thoughtprovoking, moderated discussions from
over 300 speakers ranging from heads of state to athletes to artists, musicians and writers, as well as a variety of outdoor and wellness activities like yoga, hiking, morning runs and bird watching.
The 2024 festival marks its 20th anniversary and is shaping up to address the opportunities and challenges facing the planet, with the theme poetically dubbed “Bright Minds for Dark Times.”
The festival will be guest curated by award-winning journalist Tina Brown, former editor of The New Yorker, editor-in-chief of Tatler and Vanity Fair, founding editor-in-chief of The Daily Beast and founder of Women in the World and the Sir Harry Evans Global Summit, among other prestigious accolades. Brown will gather the kindling for what Graham Veysey, Executive Director and Executive Producer of the Aspen Ideas Festival calls, “an extraordinary gathering of thinkers and doers.”
A critical component to the event isn’t just procuring the right speakers, but the right combination of speakers. “Our bread and butter is really more about the moderated conversation than presentation,” says Veysey. “We have very
The Aspen Ideas Festival’s picturesque campus
few single speaker presentations and we work hard to provide diversity of opinion to help people think about things in multiple perspectives. That really happens with the more spontaneous conversation.” In turn, this adds complexities to the curation phase: For example, how does one find the ideal moderator to facilitate a productive conversation dynamic, which in the heat of a live moment, could turn south? This is especially true when tackling tightly coiled issues like the Israel-Hamas Conflict.
Nevertheless, the festival won’t shy away from “gritty” conversations, in fact, “they’ll be addressed first thing in the morning,” says Brown. This will parallel the structure of last year’s “Wicked Problems,” which kicked the day off with a contentious discussion of topics like gun control between multiple perspectives on stage. Brown, who’s no stranger to generating fresh content, believes that this year’s
content should strive for the ideal combination of “intellectually challenging and gritty with joyful and escapist,” the latter of which she calls “an intellectual sorbet course.” She goes on to clarify, “If you’ve just come out of an intense conversation about Ukraine, you don’t want to go into another about what’s happening in Myanmar, but you might want to hear something about music or culture or lifestyle. … You don’t want to make people feel their heads are exploding.”
“A thoughtline of the festival this year is going to be “World on Fire,” says Brown, “which I think needs no explanation, but we must remember, the world’s also on fire with ideas, good ones. Although you want to talk about the enormous challenges and problems facing the world, you also want to talk about the people who are solving them and offer that respite and the spiritual havens which can help us to live our lives with
pleasure and sanity.
”Some of the topics Brown mentions she wants to explore include the space revolution and AI. “They are of huge interest to people and I’m going to see how we can discuss these both in ways that are also very much linked back to humanity,” she says, “so that these are not what I call ‘conversations in the ether,’ but answer how these amazing tech innovations are going to affect us as a human race.”
Also on the agenda: journalism, a profession close to her heart. “I want to bring that strand of truth tellers to Aspen because one of the things I feel very keenly about is how we defend democracy with journalists, [who] are under tremendous attack from everywhere,” says Brown. “People don’t know what to believe. Facts are spewed out and you don’t know where they come from. Are they coming from a partisan source or AI? I think the whole question
Clockwise from top left: Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry (2018) speaking in the Benedict Music Tent; freestyle skiing Olympian Eileen Gu (2022); musicians Wynton Marsalis and Jon Batiste; (2015); former President Bill Clinton (2008); birds of prey demonstration in Anderson Park
of how we uphold truth telling and understand what is real and what’s false is a very big discussion for us.”
Brown hints that she aspires to include global voices to “bring the world outside us in.” Additionally, she envisions a variety of disciplines discussing topics. For example, she says, “It’s wonderful if you’re asking, ‘What does America stand for?,’ to have a terrific writer, perhaps somebody marvelous from the theater, as well as political experts. I think it’s much more interesting to hear from people who don’t normally talk about politics, which is not really what you see a great deal of, certainly in television coverage.”
What’s also important will be to include new and unexpected voices.
According to Veysey, “while everyone wants to know ‘Who are the big speakers?’, often the speakers that have the most impact are ones that you least
expected or potentially never heard of.”
He recounts one such presentation that stood out to him: “It was with a guy named Steven Jones who was running a bread lab at the University of Washington, and he was talking about going back to our roots and baking with ancient grains and why that is so important to our ecosystem and the way we eat.”
While the event will be intellectually stimulating, there will also be an important emphasis on bringing joy and fun to the experience, a celebratory element that involves the outdoors. According to Veysey, another team is working on “how to activate this beautiful campus, whether it’s through receptions in our parks, dinners in our facilities or field trips where we’re taking people to the Maroon Bells to experience the beauty of a sunrise at the most picturesque peaks in North
America.” This balance highlights the philosophy of mind, body, and spirit that the foundation of Aspen was built upon. While spirit can mean a variety of things to each person, one of the most compelling reasons to attend the Aspen Ideas Festival isn’t just for the content, the location, or even the activities, but for the people who will gather there.
Passes for the 20th Aspen Ideas Festival, June 23 – 29, 2024, can be purchased at AspenIdeas.org.
Aspen Ideas Festival community picnic
Charles “Lil Buck” Riley (2015), a world-renowned movement artist known for being an ambassador for Memphis Jookin’, a freestyle-based dance involving intricate footwork.
Nature’s Wonders
ELEMENTAL HEALING ELEVATES THE SPA EXPERIENCE.
By SUE G. COLLINS
As wellness tourism continues to grow year after year, the spa industry is constantly evolving and developing innovative treatments that cater to the needs of a discerning clientele.
While a traditional – and memorable – spa experience truly soothes all five senses through the use of scents, lighting, music, refreshments and services, across various Salamander properties, spa directors are more committed than ever to multisensory wellness, including researching and developing products that use the healing properties of fresh flowers, herbs, native berries, buds, fruits, vegetables, spices and even wine.
“Did you know that sugar beets provide a form of hyaluronic acid or that calendula is an amazing plant that provides anti-fungal, antiinflammatory and anti-bacterial properties,
SETTING THE TONE
Curated by Salamander spa directors, follow this playlist to set the tone for relaxation and a renewed sense of well-being. Use for a brief mental break mid-day or during your meditation or yoga practice. Enjoy songs that will evoke the essence of the Salamander Spa at home.
PEACE
THE SUN IN SEPTEMBER by Matthew
WE MOVE LIGHTLY by Dustin O’Halloran THEM by Nils Frahm
RIVERS OF FLUTES by Sacred Flute
PEACEFUL GARDEN by Buddha’s Lounge EXISTENCE by Yoo Woon FLOW by Akleia
ERIC STEIN
PIECE by Bill Evans
Halsall
making it an effective wound healer and eczema soother?” says Nicole Colavito, spa manager at Salamander Washington DC. This is the kind of conversation she lives for. She explains that the spa’s signature scent has been specifically designed to lift moods and reduce stress.
“Palmarosa and rosewood calm the nervous system while neroli, marjoram and ylang ylang blend to support support a release of inner tension.”
The spa, which is undergoing a significant enhancement and expansion in the first half of 2024, uses Linne Botanicals featuring organic and sustainable, wild-harvested ingredients to effectively address a wide range of skin care concerns. Native plants like yarrow, geranium, rosemary and lavender have evolved to survive in their particular climate and hold strong adaptogenic
qualities leading to a high concentration of active compounds which are then extracted for use. “Our Holistic Facial featuring Linne Botanicals ‘skin food’ optimizes cellular function and brings balance to all skin types,” says Colavito.
Antioxidants are substances that may protect your cells against free radicals, which may play a role in heart disease, cancer and other diseases.
Black currant buds are also a source and carry anti-inflammatory benefits. “Black currants help fight and protect from free radicals that attack the skin’s tissues to slow aging,” says Ashley Helmick, director at Salamander Spa in Middleburg, in the heart of Virginia’s wine country. “We have also partnered with an exclusive wine-inspired line to create services that bring the vineyard to the treatment table. These products are
infused with several ingredients derived from two grape varieties, pinot noir and chardonnay,” says Helmick. “The core ingredient is the A2OC complex that combines pinot noir extract and black currant buds to improve cell oxygenation and renewal and protects cells from premature aging and environmental aggressors.” The spa’s vino-inspired treatments include the Grand Cru Massage, Pinot Noir Body Wrap, and the Vino Radiance Facial. Salamander Spa also partnered with a local alchemist who created a custom scent saluting the Virginia landscape, starring a blend of cedarwood, rosewood, tobacco, sandalwood and jasmine.
At Fern Tree, a Salamander Spa at Half Moon in Jamaica, outdoor soaks are offered in traditional large stone tubs on a private terrace, ideal for two.
Left: Fern Tree, a Salamander Spa at Half Moon in Jamaica; right: the pool at Salamander Middleburg
BRINGING IT HOME
The Jamaican Bush Bath features a selection of herbs from Half Moon’s garden, including lemon grass, leaf of life, scaevola, mint, French thyme, cerasee, neem, aloe and grapefruit—depending on the season. “Steeped and drawn for clients, designed to detoxify and rejuvenate the skin is our Soothing Coconut Milk Bath, a hydrating and soothing soak with coconut milk,” says Tanya Vassell, spa director. The leaf of life plant is also known as miracle leaf and grows wildly in Madagascar and Jamaica with anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and antihistamine properties. Cerasee helps cleanse toxins and the leaf of the neem tree can help reduce blood sugar levels and aid digestive issues. By integrating nature-inspired spa therapies into treatments, Salamander spas offer a sanctuary for the body, mind and spirit to recharge and thrive.
If only the joy of experiencing an oasis of holistic therapy could last forever! We asked Salamander spa directors to share a few at-home treatments.
“I swear by a weekly body scrub in the shower to keep your skin silky smooth all year long. I love the Vinesime Pinot Noir body scrub because it gently exfoliates, but also leaves your skin super hydrated,” says Ashley Helmick, director at Salamander Spa in Middleburg. “If you are looking for at home scrub, mixing sugar, coconut oil and essential oils will also do the trick. It is so important to not only take care of the skin on your face, but the skin on your body as well.” Make your own turmeric milk to sip throughout the day. A
natural anti-inflammatory, it works to reduce gut inflammation and aids in the alleviation of muscle soreness after exercise. “However, with turmeric, one can overdo it. That’s why I like to create a milk as opposed to taking a supplement,” says Nicole Colavito, spa manager at Salamander Washington DC. “I use an organic turmeric tea bag and steep it very strong or I use fresh organic turmeric and grate it to create my own tea.” Then add about ¼ teaspoon each of cinnamon, ground turmeric and ground ginger and 1-2 tablespoons of raw honey. Blend together the warmed turmeric tea, additional spices and the raw honey, then add a cup of unsweetened plant-based milk, mix thoroughly and refrigerate.
ERIC STEIN
A Platinum Pinnacle
HALF MOON IN JAMAICA CELEBRATES SEVEN DECADES.
By Jillian Dara
IN 1954, THE BIGGEST U.S. news story of the year saw the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously rule that “separate educational facilities are inherently unequal,” legally ending racial segregation in public schools.
At the same time in Jamaica, while the country was still eight years away from officially declaring independence, significant markers were being laid. The year before, Alexander Bustamante had become Jamaica’s first chief minister (the preindependence title for head of government). The following year, Norman Manley
– for whom the International Airport in Kingston is named – would assume the same role.
Civil and political change was happening and, on the northern coast of Jamaica, a real estate purchase would take place that would forever change the trajectory of tourism for the island –especially in the Montego Bay area.
A RICH HISTORY
“We’ve come so far from our humble beginnings,” says Guy Steuart III, chairman of the board of Half Moon.
Witnessing historical events, from the island’s independence to natural disasters such as the 2020 pandemic, Steuart says the resort has endured because of its people and its legacy – not just among guests but also the generational workers who have contributed to every detail.
The story of the iconic Half Moon begins in 1954 when 17 businessmen – among them Donald Deskey, designer of New York City’s famous Radio City Music Hall; Harvey Firestone Jr. of the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co.; and Steuart’s grandfather,
HALF MOON HISTORY AND HIGHLIGHTS
TIMELINE:
1954 - Half Moon opens with six employees.
1959 - Chris Blackwell released his first record under the Island Records label by jazz pianist Lance Hayward, who was the house band leader at Half Moon. In December 2016, Steuart obtained the original record and found a Volume 2 to be played at an on-site party with Hayward’s family and the original drummer from the band, Clarence ‘Tootsie’ Bean.
1960 - Rose Hall and Half Moon set out to design
Jamaica’s greatest golf course with designer Robert Trent Jones Sr.
1961 - The Prince of Wales (now King Charles III) first visited Half Moon with his father.
1962 - Jamaica gained independence Aug. 6. Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, visited to open the Jamaican Parliament and all cottages were fully booked at Half Moon, which served as the official guesthouse for the
opening. Queen Elizabeth II visited multiple times years later.
1965 - Half Moon comprises 60 rooms.
1975 - Half Moon employs 264 people.
1979 - Half Moon purchases the Colony Hotel, adding 25 acres of land and 500 meters of waterfront to the Half Moon property. Architect Earl Levy converted the Colony cottages into one-bedroom villas. The area was known as Oleander until 2017 when it was replaced by Eclipse.
Guy Steuart III
Curtis – bought 35 acres of land where they built 17 cottages and 30 beachfront rooms that became known as Half Moon Hotel and Cottage Colony.
The allure of Jamaica’s tourism predates the original opening by about 50 years, when it was acknowledged as a tourist enclave in the early 1900s. The earliest hotels opened in Port Antonio and along the northern coast in St Ann’s Bay and Ocho Rios. The period that followed was an ebb and flow for the tourism industry – in the 1930s, sugar and banana sales plummeted so the government poured money into the alternative industry of tourism to save employment. At the end of that decade, World War II saw German submarines patrolling the Caribbean, which saw a decrease in tourism.
In 1947, Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay began welcoming regular flights from Miami, which is when Harold and Genevieve deLisser opened Sunset Lodge in Montego Bay. In the 1950s, tourism was again increasing and, in 1951, Harold held the first shareholder meeting for what would become Half Moon.
“Workers used to take a donkey to get to the hotel,” says Steuart, recognizing the
1980s - A timeshare concept was developed for 260 25-year club membership contracts (valid only for one week per year).
1988 - Jamaica was struck by Hurricane Gilbert, a Category 4 hurricane. Twenty-foot waves damaged Half Moon, with palm trees uprooted and bungalows heavily damaged. Not to mention, 80% of Jamaican homes lost their roofs.
1997/1998 - A kitchen spark ignited what became known as the Grand Fire, which destroyed the main building, including dozens of original artworks by Michael Lester
Leszczyński, otherwise known as Michael Lester.
2003 - Sixty-six first generation Hibiscus suites and all but one of seven cottages east of the main lobby were replaced. The newer Hibiscus suites were subsequently renovated in the summer of 2021.
2019 - Salamander Collection was appointed to manage the resort and prepare to open the Caribbean’s finest new property in a generation: Eclipse at Half Moon.
2020 - Eclipse opens to great acclaim after years of planning, creating three resort experiences at Half Moon: Founders Cove,
Eclipse and the Rose Hall Villas. However, just three weeks after Eclipse’s opening, Jamaica closed its borders due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. Half Moon closed for several weeks, but rebounded exceptionally well.
2022 - Half Moon attains the coveted Forbes FourStar award, making it the highest-rated property in Jamaica. Additionally, Prince William and Princess Katherine pay the resort a royal visit.
LOREN
BEDELI
hotel’s immense growth over the years and its impact on the island’s development as a result of tourism. He jokes that the hotel now offers a parking lot, which may seem simple but, in reality, Half Moon, he says, “is an interesting case study over the years of entrepreneurial success and contribution to the region” as the hotel is a home-away-from-home for both travelers from afar and their local staff from the town over.
From 1954 to 2024, the hotel has hosted celebrities from political figures to royalty, and continued operating through cultural, political and natural events that have all become a significant part of its history. The British Royal Family have visited multiple times, including Queen Elizabeth II, (now) King Charles III, Prince Harry, Prince William and Princess Catherine. Politically, George H. W. Bush also visited while, in 1960, John F. Kennedy, his wife Jacqueline and their daughter Caroline stayed over a month at Cottage 9. Hollywood heavyweights Paul Newman, Noel Coward , Patty Page and Rock Hudson all enjoyed vacations at the resort, too.
Today, Half Moon offers three distinctive resort experiences: Eclipse at Half Moon, Founders Cove at Half Moon and Rose Hall Villas by Half Moon. In total, the resort offers 210 elegantly appointed rooms and suites, including multi-bedroom villas, two miles of beachfront, numerous restaurants and bars, Fern Tree – a Salamander Spa, a golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and much more.
Yet there’s a reason beyond its idyllic location that, during peak periods, 85% of guests are return visitors. “We represent a cultural crossroads in Jamaica,” Steuart says. “Whether your intellectual eye is drawn to art, music, cuisine, drinks, architecture or nature, you’ll find it throughout your stay here.”
It’s just how Steuart’s grandfather envisioned it all those years ago.
Astrict regimen of leisure and relaxation used to be the hallmark of the perfect vacation. Now it seems that in the wake of the pandemic, travelers are finding themselves gravitating toward exploring new experiences and skills to add to their quiver. And for many who visit Salamander Collection properties, this arrow points to the fastestgrowing sport in the nation: pickleball. Millions of players have been swept up in the torrent of this fun and rewarding new activity, and that’s just after a few years of mainstream popularity. How did a sport over 50 years old suddenly accelerate to a crescendo? Many pickleball aficionados and newcomers alike have attributed its rise to a simple factor: wide accessibility. That is, soft physical demands, modest equipment needs, a short learning curve, and an emphasis on lighthearted competition within a funloving community. And so, with guests of all types checking in, it comes as no surprise that pickleball has become a Salamander marquee activity.
Alex Rebeiz, owner of Cascades Tennis, which operates its tennis and pickleball programs at Aspen Meadows Resort, says the game’s growth really sped up when, “everybody was restricted at the peak of COVID and pickleball was considered a safe sport like golf and tennis. The court is so small that you could set it up on your driveway with a small net and tape. Access to it is easy. The learning curve is easy, and once you start to get to a higher level, it’s still a physical activity.”
Pickleball travel
THE FASTEST GROWING SPORT IN THE NATION IS ON THE TRAVEL FAST TRACK.
By DANTE AMODEO
Often, pickleball’s small-sided arena inspires more camaraderie than cutthroat competition, so even the more timid or self-proclaimed “unathletic” players can find great enjoyment.
Bryan Fox, director of racquet sports at Innisbrook Resort, adds, “Pickleball is approachable and not as intimidating as other sports. Shorter games allow for fast rotations and a more social experience. The smaller court and simple-tolearn swing path allows players to start playing almost immediately.”
Many have also picked up on the social allure of the game. The wide net of pickleball seems to catch everybody and to not embrace it creates a sense of FOMO. “It doesn’t matter if someone’s never played a racket sport or it’s Roger Federer, everybody from all walks of life, age groups, backgrounds and demographics want to play and try it,” says Rebeiz, “and everybody knows somebody
who’s playing it and they don’t want to be left behind.”
The evidence shows that this isn’t merely a domestic fad. Notably, there are talks of broadcasting exhibition games at the upcoming Olympics to christen the sport on the world stage.
The numbers only indicate further growth, Rebeiz says. “Of all the classes I run, our Learn to Play Pickleball clinics have been the most popular. I don’t know where it’ll end up at the end of this calendar year, but the trajectory is straight up and we’re seeing it. I mean, we’ve had to build and convert 10 courts in our resort to meet the demand of our clients.”
Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a sparkly eyed newcomer, the experts who run pickleball at various Salamander properties have invaluable knowledge to share. And for those who don’t have a clinic planned in the very near future, here is a sample from their arsenal of tips.
Top left: Pickleball enthusiasts at Aspen Meadows Resort; right: a pickleball match at Half Moon in Jamaica
TIPS FROM PICKLEBALL EXPERTS
ALEX REBEIZ (ASPEN MEADOWS RESORT)
FOR THE BEGINNER:
“The beginner needs to learn the kitchen [the soft game] first, because that’s where the game is won. You’re not going to win a match of doubles from the baseline. It’s just not going to happen.”
FOR THE ADVANCED:
“Spend time mastering the transition zone. That’s the transition between the baseline and the kitchen. Spend a lot of your time in that space, which, in tennis, we call ‘no man’s land.’ You’re not supposed to spend time there in tennis, but in pickleball, you need to master it. You have to be able to handle incoming balls in this position, whether they’re hit at you soft or hard. So, you need to practice volleys, half-volleys as well as the drops into the kitchen.”
BRYAN FOX (INNISBROOK RESORT)
FOR THE BEGINNER:
“Don’t get overwhelmed with scoring rules. Just remember: Don’t volley in the kitchen [the painted, non-volley zone].”
FOR THE ADVANCED:
“Do not speed up the ball unless the shot is truly there. This requires a lot of patience. But remember, more points are lost on errors than won on winners! Also, instead of going for the obvious shot where space is open on the court, think about what shot is going to be most challenging for your opponent to hit. Usually this is a body shot or at the feet.”
BRYCE SLICK (SALAMANDER MIDDLEBURG)
FOR THE BEGINNER:
“Stay out of the kitchen!”
FOR THE ADVANCED:
“Instead of looking for the ‘kill’ shot, just keep volleying and let the opponent make the mistakes.”
EXPERIENCE SALAMANDER
From the heart of horse and wine country to the turquoise hues of the Caribbean Sea, discover the unique character and exceptional destinations of Salamander Collection.
SALAMANDER MIDDLEBURG/VIRGINIA
Located on 340 picturesque acres in the scenic foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Salamander Middleburg’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 triple Forbes Five-Star resort also features a full-service equestrian center, a world-renowned spa offering calming treatments to refresh both the body and mind as well as a variety of dining opportunities, including Harrimans Grill, which highlights fresh ingredients from Virginia’s Piedmont region. (salamanderresort.com)
ERIC STEIN
EXPERIENCE SALAMANDER
INNISBROOK RESORT
TAMPA BAY, FLORIDA
This 900-acre retreat is one of the country’s most celebrated golf resorts. It is home to 63 holes of championship golf, including the top-rated Copperhead Course, which welcomes the world’s finest players each March during the PGA TOUR’s Valspar Championship. In addition to golf, the resort offers plenty of other activities for the whole family, including 10 tennis courts, seven pickleball courts, lakes for fishing and six swimming pools – including the Loch Ness Monster Pool with waterslides. It also features a Salamander Spa with an outdoor yoga terrace and numerous restaurants, including the newly re-imagined Packard’s Steakhouse. (innisbrookgolfresort.com)
Salamander Washington DC is just minutes from the exciting attractions and restaurants in the new District Wharf. Featuring a grand sense of arrival, the hotel’s elegant, bustling lobby and lounge open onto one of D.C.’s most attractive and intimate outdoor spaces, replete with fire pits and waterfront views. Many of the property’s 373 beautifully designed rooms and re-imagined suites also overlook the Potomac River and Tidal Basin, while the new multilevel spa is widely considered the finest in the District. Additionally, Salamander Washington DC is home to Dōgon, the new restaurant by chef Kwame Onwuachi. In 2024, the hotel will complete its exciting enhancement program. (salamanderdc.com)
MATHEW DANDY
EXPERIENCE SALAMANDER
ASPEN MEADOWS RESORT
ASPEN, CO
Blending nature, art and authenticity on 40 acres of rolling meadows and beautiful groves in Aspen’s West End, Aspen Meadows Resort is a secluded sanctuary for visitors and guests designed to reinvigorate mind, body and spirit. The recently renovated resort features 98 Bauhaus-inspired guest suites while the grounds are rich with architecture and outdoor sculptures. The resort features a new restaurant, West End Social, and is also home to the Aspen Institute, allowing guests access to ongoing special programming; it also hosts the Institute’s Aspen Ideas Festival. (aspenmeadows.com)
EXPERIENCE
MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA
Celebrating its 70th anniversary, the iconic Half Moon features three distinctive resort experiences: Eclipse at Half Moon, Founders Cove at Half Moon and Rose Hall Villas by Half Moon. In total, Half Moon offers 210 elegantly appointed rooms and suites, including multi-bedroom villas, along two miles of beachfront. Enjoy a wide variety of unique and awardwinning amenities and activities, including numerous restaurants and bars; Fern Tree, a Salamander Spa; a Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed golf course; a fitness center with 11 flood-lit tennis courts; equestrian center; children’s village; water sports and more. (halfmoon.com)
EXPERIENCE SALAMANDER
HOTEL BENNETT CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
Known as the “Queen of King Street,” Hotel Bennett also overlooks Charleston’s iconic and historic Marion Square. In its unmatched setting, the hotel seamlessly combines stately elegance and tasteful luxury with colonial charm and Southern hospitality. It features 180 luxurious guestrooms and suites, the signature Gabrielle restaurant featuring stunning views of the city’s most famous park and a stylish Champagne bar called Camellias. The hotel also includes a spectacular rooftop pool and bar with cabanas, a luxury spa, a French patisserie, and a variety of grand event and flexible meeting spaces. (hotelbennett.com)
ASPENMEADOWSRESORT-@KUTIM.LIKES
HALFMOONJAMAICA-@BLRNYC
HALFMOONJAMAICA-@EDEIMUSIC
WALK THROUGH FIRE
Sheila Johnson, founder of Salamander Collection, offers insight into her career and memoir, the advice that led her to her business success and the foundational spirit behind her company.
By ASHLEY WARD
Success stories aren’t born overnight. The same is true for Sheila Johnson, co-founder of BET (Black Entertainment Television) and entrepreneurial icon, who, as suggested in her memoir, “Walk Through Fire,” published by Simon & Schuster, had to walk through flames to get there. From humble beginnings growing up in Maywood, IL, Johnson dreamt of pursuing her passion as a talented, young violinist and cheerleader. However, her life took a tragic turn when her father announced that he was taking off in the thick of her adolescence, leaving her mother high and dry and Johnson without a childhood. Institutional racism, betrayal and overcoming self-doubt were only some of the setbacks that followed. Amongst these was a hurdle far more heartbreaking: an emotionally abusive marriage spanning over three decades that would leave Johnson divorced and
depressed, albeit not defeated. Johnson’s fearless candor paints the story of a true American Dream, a profoundly poignant reality of love and loss, and the resilience required to surmount it. Rising from the ashes in her third act, Johnson shares pieces of her journey, from tragedy to triumph, and the lessons that led her to find true love and the way back to herself.
SJ: I started my career in the arts – as a violinist and music teacher – which helped me to become both creative and organized. I used those skills as a building block to help me first succeed in the cable business, followed by the hospitality industry and sports team ownership. I’m now in the third act of my life, but I’m as passionate as ever about pushing the boundaries, and new and current projects.
SM: What have been some ofyourfavoritememories sinceSalamanderMiddleburg openeditsdoors?
SJ: Opening day in August 2013 was a particularly momentous occasion for me, as there had been many people who doubted my ability to both get the resort approved and built. But it’s gone on to achieve great acclaim and the recurring events we hold there are very special to me: the Middleburg Film Festival, which is almost as old as the resort itself, and the Family Reunion, which celebrates diversity within the hospitality industry and has quickly become one of the premier food and wine events in America.
SJ: To mark our decade milestone, we held a beautiful community gathering, and we also rebranded our company as Salamander Collection because we now represent much more than hotels and resorts. For the past decade, our unique culture of inclusion, kindness and warmth has created a genuine sense of belonging, and this new chapter truly encapsulates my vision and tells a story that’s been evolving for years. We’re not a cookie-cutter company and that distinguishes us from other luxury brands. Specifically at our resort in Middleburg, we have recently begun welcoming our first community members in our Residences at Salamander development. We are building 49 homes over the next several years and look forward to welcoming many more residents.
SJ: It’s imperative we do all we can as a community and individuals to help our youth. As they are our future, it’s arguably the most important gift that adults, especially older adults, can do for society. A few years ago, I set up a fellowship at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government for 50 students from underserved communities. It’s been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and those young people have become leaders of today and tomorrow.
