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AMERICANA MANHASSET 1800 336 3469

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NEW YORK ASPEN BAL HARBOUR B E V E R LY H I L L S SOUTH COAST PLAZA HOUSTON SHORT HILLS LAS VEGAS ALA MOANA CENTER RHSC WAIKIKI S H O P S AT W A I L E A

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CONTENTS

Contents P14,16,18,20:19 FEB

64

PEOPLE 28

Chad Hurley Changing the way we watch

28

30

Reese Witherspoon Star power

32

Eddie Lampert The go-to money manager

36

Phil Knight The man who just did it

64

Craig Robins Remaking Miami

86

Jennie Saunders Founding NY’s hottest culture club

86 On the cover: Phil Knight (photograph Michael O’Neill/Corbis Outline)

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CONTENTS

Contents P14,16,18,20:19 FEB

80

PROPERT Y 44

Beauty on the Inside Lafia/Arvin’s design dreams

58

Down Mexico Way

72

Pre-Fabulous Ready made luxury at Joshua Tree

78

Arizona Rising How Arizona became the creative classes destination du jours

80

Hot Property Phoenix / Scottsdale’s rocking mountaintop manses and sprawling desert estates

85

Body & Soul Canyon Ranch, the spa sine qua non

72

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CONTENTS

Contents P14,16,18,20:19 FEB

104 116

TRAVEL 94

Travel Intell Artisans of Leisure

98

First Class Boutique airlines and the new luxury commercial class

102

Taxi!

Very light jets: the high-tech, half price revolution is go!

104

36 Hours in‌ Las Vegas

108

Wynn Las Vegas Peace in the heart of a high-thrill town

102 110

The Royal V Crowning the highest hilltop of Lake Las Vegas

112

Travel the World without Leaving Home

114

Luxury goes Exploring

115

Big Money Playa Reinvesting in Costa Rica (and high-end living)

116

Destination Rio

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VICE 128

Who Wants Candy?

Why Candy & Candy are sweeter than Willy Wonka

134

53

Paris Match Patrick Jouin’s stunning reinvention of Van Cleef & Arpels flagship store

SNAPSHOTS 138

Naughty, Naughty How Kiki de Montparnasse made New York blush

34

Defining Moments in Sport The 1988 America’s Cup

140

Second to None 46

Shopping strike: Chicago

The Art of Living Stunning architecture in Palm Beach? A new devel-

149

Our Man in Hong Kong

opment still manages to astonish

What Nobu Mastuhisa did next

46 156

Cuba’s Coup de Grace

Paradise Preserved The truly eco-friendly resort and spa in Bora Bora

How to choose cigars well and take the burn out of

47

buying

160

Drink the Profits

On the Frontier of Emerging Market Real Estate Nicaragua’s Pacific Riviera

The heady world of wine investment explained

138

149

48

Viennese Whirl & Ranch Dreams

51

Farmaceuticals Farm not pharma makes 4mula a new design classic

53

Double Eagle Puma hits the links in style

55

The Growing Paneristi

THE EDITOR’S NOTE

WELCOME TO THE CLUB

Y

ou may be wondering what 100Thousand

100Thousand Club is not a stocks sheet, but a certain

Club is. Is this what happens if you don’t un-

type of property piques our interest – property that’s

check the ‘please send me more information’

well designed, well built and well placed. The sort of

box when buying online?

property, in fact, that works as an investment and a

You can relax. 100Thousand Club is a new luxury

publication focused on the U.S., but with a global per-

Property is the biggest store of wealth in America

spective. It’s for readers who are less focused on celebrity

and it will be protected as such. Alan Greenspan may

and more interested in the tastemakers and business

have jolted investors with his recent prediction of a one-

leaders driving culture and commerce.

in-three chance of recession this year (the bond markets

Simply stated, 100Thousand Club is for substantive professionals who have made it. People like you.

I’m not sure who first said: “if life is a journey, travel in style” – perhaps somebody can tell me? – but whoever it was...

second (or third) home.

gave it even money), but from the Federal Reserve down, only soft landings are forecast for housing.

Reading around the net last week, I clicked on

Fabulous opportunities for investment abound,

Forbes.com and – predictably – their lists. The rich seem

in some traditional and some surprising locations.

to be getting richer (there are now a record 946 dollar

This issue, we look at Arizona’s rocking mountaintop

billionaires around the globe), even if the top two don’t

manses and scorching desert estates, the colors and

change. Gates and Buffet are the Martin and Lewis of

class of Mexico, and what happened when pre-fab met

billionaires, their polished double act seeing off all con-

cutting edge in Joshua Tree, California.

tenders. Bubbling under is where the interest lies.

The combined wealth on the list grew 35 percent

There’s more, of course, but I’ll let you discover it for yourself.

during 2006 to $3.5 trillion on the back of rising property prices, commodities and stock markets. This in a

Enjoy the magazine,

year plagued with reports of collapsing markets and bursting bubbles, when you could be forgiven for cashing in and hiding everything under the mattress.

Is this an example of growth through bravery? Does Bill have the heart of a lion? Of course not: he has a damn good portfolio (and Microsoft, but that’s another story).

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Adam Burns

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CONTRIBUTORS:US

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Contributors

SCOTT MITCHEM, Editor-at-Large

SARAH EVA CARLSON, Assistant Editor

HARLAN DAVIS, Writer

DAWSON FEARNOW, Writer

Born: 2/4/74 Based: New York City Contact: scott@scottmitchem.com Worked for: Wallpaper*, Conde Nast Traveller UK, CITY magazine, etc.

Studied: Purdue University Next trip: Tokyo, Japan Best trip: Holidays in Brazil, 2004

Born: 12/15/80 Based: New York City Contact: acarlson@gdsnewyork.com Worked for: 100Thousand Club Studied Augustana College, University of St. Andrews, Scotland, King's College London, University of London Next trip: Paris, France Best trip: One week with friends staying at a beautiful stone house in Crail, a Scottish fishing village.

Born: 2/26/84 Based: New York City Contact: harlan.seth.davis@gmail.com Worked for: 100Thousand Club Studied: Indiana University School of Journalism Next trip: Five-day breather in Belize Best trip: Thanksgiving holiday in Rio de Janeiro with the famed culinary Troisgros family

Born: 6/28/76 Based: Phoenix, AZ Contact: dawson@dawsonfearnow.com Worked for: Fearnow INK, CITY magazine, Arizona Foothills Magazine, etc.

Studied: Arizona State University Next trip: Tikehau, Tuamotu Atolls, French Polynesia Best trip: Swimming with baby Grey Wales and yachting in the Sea of Cortes

MICHAEL MORAN, Photographer

ROBERTO D'ADDONA, Photographer

DOUG FOGELSON, Photographer

MICHELLE HOLDEN, Photographer

Born: 7/18/51 Based: New York, NY Contact: michael@moranstudio.com Worked for: Hyatt Hotels, Gensler Architects, Architectural Digest, The New York Times, Domus, Interior Design, Tod Williams Billie Tsien and Associates, Abitare, Diller + Scofidio, etc.

Studied: UCLA School of Architecture and Urban Planning Next trip: Moscow, Russia Best trip: Venice, Italy; December, 2004.

Born: 1/31/71 Based: New York City Contact: robertodad@earthlink.net Worked for: L’officiel, Vogue, Movado, Audemars Piguet / Bulgari, MTV Studied: Engineering school, Lausanne, Switzerland Next trip: Sonoma, CA Best trip: Brazil

Born: 10.01.70 Based: Chicago Contact: doug@drfp.com Worked for: Inc. Magazine, SOM, Gensler Studied: School of the Art Institute of Chicago Next trip: Rancho Mirage, California Best trip: Croatia, Zagreb, Dalmation Coast

Born: 6/17/73 Based: New York and Sydney Australia Contact: info @michelleholden.com.au Worked for: Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, InStyle, Madison, Cosmopolitan, Speedo, etc.

Studied: Photography/ Photomedia at UWS, Sydney, Australia Next trip: Paris, France Best trip: Patagonia, South America, Machu Picchu, Barcelona, Spain, South Island in New Zealand, my first time to New York, etc.

T H O U S A N D

C L U B

PREMIER ISSUE SPRING 07

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C L U B

Publication information Chairman SPENCER GREEN

Circulation Manager BEN KELLY

Chief Executive Officer JAMES CRAVEN

Business Development Manager DARREN HENWOOD

Publishing Director ADAM BURNS

Marketing Coordinator KATIE EVANS

Finance Director LIN ROWE

Data Services Manager NITIN SHIVARAJ

Editor-at-large SCOTT MITCHEM

Web Services Coordinators ALLIMALAR RAMACHANDRAN, ARUN M, KUMAR SWAMY

Assistant Editor SARAH EVA CARLSON Senior Designer ANDREW HOBSON Senior Designer (Web) JAMES WEST Designers ZOË BRAZIL, MICHAEL HALL, HOLLY WHITE, SARAH WILMOTT Design Assistants PRADEEP KUMAR PADMANABHA, NAGARAJ PS, GS RANGANATH Contributing Writers HARLAN SETH DAVIS, DAWSON FEARNOW, SCOTT MITCHEM Contributing Photographers/Illustrators ROBERTO D’ADONNA, DOUG FOGELSON, MICHELLE HOLDEN, MICHAEL MORAN Production Manager WEI KEE Production Coordinator SOPHIA PINTO Client Services Manager MICHELLE BAKER Worldwide Sales Director GLENN WILLIS Project Director DHARPAN RANDHAWA VP Sales JOHN RANDALL VP Communications ANDREA SIMONS Business Development Director CAMESIA FEARON Fashion Portfolio Director SHAUNA LAZZARO Lifestyle Portfolio Director MICHELLE QUINN LACISTE

Your Luxury Lifestyle Your Club

General Manager (North America) KATHRYN REEVES Subscription Enquiries +1 212 904 0888 www.100thousandclub.com

www.100thousandclub.com

General Enquiries info@100thousandclub.com Letters to the Editor letters@100thousandclub.com Printer Walsworth Publishing Company 306 North Kansas Avenue Marceline, MO 64658 800.369.2646 (Toll free) 660.258.7798 (Fax) 100 Thousand Club (Vol. 1, Issue 1, Q1 2007) is published four times a year by GDS Publishing. All rights reserved.

GDS Publishing, Inc. 33 Whitehall Street, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10004, USA. Legal Information The advertising and articles appearing within this publication reflect the opions and attitudes of their respective authors and not necessarily those of the publisher or editors. We are not to be held accountable for unsolicited manuscripts, transparencies or photographs. All material within this magazine is © 2007 100thousand club.

Head Office GDS International, Queen Square House, 18-21 Queen Square, Bristol, BS1 4NH, UK Tel: +44 117 921 4000.

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T H O U S A N D

C L U B

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PROFILE CHAD:19 FEB

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PEOPLE Chad Hurley

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PROFILE CHAD:19 FEB

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“We started as a personal service but we saw an opportunity for professional content providers to benefit from what we’re creating,”

PEOPLE

Chad Hurley is co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of YouTube, one of the biggest providers of videos on the net. He was named as one of Business 2.0’s “50 people who matter” in June of 2006, and he sold YouTube for $1.65 billion to Google in October. Not bad for someone who only turns 30 this year.

Photography JOE PUGLIESE

T

he story behind YouTube is already the stuff of legend – its three founders (Chad Hurley, Steve Chen and Jawed Karim) wanted to share some videos from a dinner party with friends in San Francisco and couldn’t, so they built a website. In just 11 months that site had become one of the most popular on the net. Last year they sold it to Google for shares worth $1.65 billion and Hurley recently announced the roll out of a revenue-sharing mechanism that would

“reward creativity”. The dinner party idea has legs.

Speaking in a session on social networking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Hurley said the system would be rolled out in a couple of months and use a mixture of adverts, including short clips shown ahead of the actual film. The offer applies only to people who own the full copyright of the videos that they are uploading to the YouTube website.

Is this important stuff? Hell, yeah. YouTube has more than 70 million users a month. If you’re not on it, your friends and family are. It influences how we watch and what we watch. If Murdoch owned YouTube, liberal America’s blood pressure would go through the roof.

Hurley has his own take on the YouTube phenomenon, believing that it “empowers people” with a video solution. In the past, video sites have been too proprietary, making decisions on what was entertaining to the community. YouTube removed that barrier. “It’s really the users of the community that decide what’s entertaining to them,” says Hurley.

What type of content on YouTube is proving most popular? “Since everyone has a chance to participate, you’re sometimes surprised at what’s entertaining people,” says Hurley.

“What we do see is the user-generated content rising to the top. That means simply people talking on their webcams. That is becoming the most intriguing content that people are actually engaging with. The more popular users on our site are people that are just telling their stories. It’s almost the ultimate form

Changing the way we watch

of reality television … where people just like to listen to someone else tell their stuff.”

If that doesn’t sound too inspiring – and many critics point out that what YouTube really needs is a firm hand on the content tiller before it sinks in a sea of ‘hilarious’ home videos – bear in mind the site is still in a period of immense growth.

“We started as a personal service but we saw an opportunity for professional content providers to benefit from what we’re creating,” says Hurley. “So we’re really early on reaching out to the labels, to the networks, to the studios, to talk with them about how we can form relationships, how we can develop a system that they can benefit from. They developed great content and we want them to be compensated for that.”

A deal with Warner Music should test the waters. The record label can ask YouTube to remove any videos that have its music in them, or allow it to stay online and share in any advertising revenue YouTube can generate around it. “Warner is able to protect its rights, but also to monetize this new market with people’s creativity,” says Hurley.

Ultimately, YouTube’s impact is a result of choice. It’s television you can tailor – and it’s another shot across the bows of our historic media providers. Diversify or die folks. You have been warned.

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PEOPLE Reese Witherspoon

Star Power Reese Witherspoon garnered much critical praise and awards for her turn as June Carter Cash in Walk the Line. In truth, an Oscar was the only thing missing from a near flawless career curve that has taken Witherspoon from army kid to one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People and Hollywood’s highest paid female actor.

Photography TOBY CANHAM

J

une Carter Cash personally approved of Reese Witherspoon to play her in the 2005 biopic that brought an Academy Award for Best Actress, although the two never met, and you can’t help but see the parallels. Both are renowned for a dedication to their families. Cash sang comedy songs in the Grand Ole Opry but won a succession of awards for her serious work. Witherspoon got her big break playing it ditzy in Legally Blonde, but cleaned up by playing it straight.

Witherspoon credits her parents with giving her an “ambitious streak”, although it's difficult to see

how either could have predicted how far she would go, despite early precocity. Dr John Witherspoon, a military surgeon, and Betty Reese, a registered nurse who would later gain a PhD in pediatric nursing, gave their daughter the nickname “Little Miss Type A” because, says Witherspoon, “aged seven, I understood complicated medical terms, such as the difference between type A and type B personalities.” (Witherspoon’s production company is called Type A Productions after the in-joke).

A typical military upbringing meant following Dad to postings, most notably four years in Germany, followed by a stable – and supportive – late childhood and adolescence in Nashville, Tennessee. Her imagination was encouraged: “We weren’t the kind of children that were shadowed. We didn’t have nannies. We didn’t have housekeepers ... I think part of the joy of being a child is privacy. Your fantasies and dreams are so important to you at that moment.”

Witherspoon clearly also had the actorly knack of observation back then, telling Interview magazine: “I grew up in an environment where women accomplished a lot. And if they weren’t able to, it was because they were limited by society. I grew up with a grandma – my father’s mother – who was incredibly intelligent but was limited by the bounds of society and propriety ... She was a voracious reader, and she encouraged me to read a lot as a child.” Grandma’s “disconnect between her capabilities and her lack of fulfillment and achievement,” motivate Witherspoon to this day.

Where Grandma met barriers, Witherspoon was encouraged. She started modeling at the age of seven and attended Nashville’s prestigious private all-girls' Harpeth Hall School (in one of her earliest roles, at the age of nine in her school play, she played June Carter's legendary mother Maybelle Carter).

She landed her first major acting role aged 14, playing a tomboy in Robert Mulligan’s The Man In The Moon. The role earned her rave reviews, and roles in bigger films followed. Her career seemed set, but Witherspoon, ever mindful, chose Stanford University and life as a literature major over Hollywood.

Two years later and she was back in front of the cameras. Success came gradually until Legally Blonde (2001), which followed the birth of her first child (her second coincided with the sequel Legally Blonde 2; there may be more children, there won’t be more Blondes). Clever career management, alternating serious and comedic roles, has kept paycheques on the up. For upcoming horror flick Our Family Trouble, based on the Bell Witch legend, Witherspoon will reportedly earn $29 million (topping Julia Roberts’ record $24 million for Mona Lisa Smile).

June Carter Cash chose well. Witherspoon walks the line.

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“I grew up in an environment where women accomplished a lot”

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PROFILE EDDIE:19 FEB

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PEOPLE Eddie Lampert “The key for any company to create value is having a profitable core business”

The go-to money manager 32

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PROFILE EDDIE:19 FEB

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PEOPLE

Edward S. (Eddie) Lampert is wealthier than Warren Buffett was at his age (he’s 45). His $15 billion hedge fund, ESL Investments, has delivered average annual returns of nearly 30 percent, after fees, since its 1988 launch – outperforming Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway during its 19-year span.

Photography NAJIAH FEANNY

M

edia mogul David Geffen, who gave Eddie Lampert $200 million to invest in 1992, says that had he not periodically taken money out for diversification, he would have $9 billion today. As it is, Geffen is on record as saying, “I’ve made more money from Eddie than from all the businesses I’ve created and sold.” That’s some recommendation.

Like Buffet, Lampert buys cheap stocks and holds them for long periods (he calls himself a “value in-

vestor”). This potent mix of bets on down-and-out investments with unnatural patience reached its zenith with Lampert’s now famous Kmart coup.

People thought Lampert was crazy in 2002 when he began buying up Kmart debt at around 40 cents on the dollar after the retailer filed for Chapter 11. But Lampert had spent hundreds of hours analyzing Kmart’s financials and reached a simple conclusion: “Kmart’s bankruptcy was avoidable,” he says.

“For the first year or so, we had declining same-store sales, but more stores made a profit. To some people, it looked like a plane that was going from 40,000 feet to 20,000 feet, and in five minutes from now, it’s going to hit the ground. We said, ‘We’re going to land this plane’ and we did.”

In 2004 alone, the stock soared 300 percent, ESL’s stake grew from $1.3 billion to $5.4 billion, and as a reward Lampert pocketed a reported $1 billion in fee income.

The buzz on Wall Street, however, was that Lampert planned to milk the company for cash, using Kmart’s real estate as his secret cache. And in June he announced the sale of some 70 Kmart stores – 5 percent of the base – to Sears and Home Depot for more than $900 million. Kmart stock zoomed on the news.

“Many analysts said Kmart would never emerge from bankruptcy. Next they said Kmart would never make it through our first holiday season. Then that Kmart was a real-estate play without a retailing strategy,” says Lampert. “What I focused on when I invested in Kmart was the potential for a revitalized retail operation. We didn’t even do a separate valuation of the real estate.

In fact, Lampert had another card to play. His hedge fund had been stealthily accumulating almost 15 percent of Sears over the previous four years. In selling 50 Kmart stores at a premium price, he’d spotlighted the weakness of Sears’ management. With Wall Street convinced that Kmart had gotten the better of the deal (Home Depot’s purchases were deemed more strategic), Sears stock dipped and Lampert struck an $11 billion merger.

“The key for any company to create value is having a profitable core business. Berkshire Hathaway has a reinsurance business – Kmart’s combination with Sears made its retail business stronger. We can allocate the cash that business generates to the highest returns we can find – renovating stores, acquiring other businesses,” says Lampert. “I’m not from a retail background, but I am a shopper. I come to this with practical, logical ideas.”

What next for this mercurial, hands-on investor? “One of the unspoken secrets about business leaders is that they often have no idea about where they’re going to end up,” Lampert says. “I know the right direction. Whether we end up at the destination, I don’t know. But we’re headed in that direction.”

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DENNIS_CONNER (PROFILE 3):19 FEB

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SPORT The 1988 America’s Cup

Defining Moments In Sport The 1988 America’s Cup

M

any sporting contests are de-

tion design team, announced that they

scribed as being like David vs

would be going with a catamaran.

Goliath, but the 1988 Amer-

In fact, two catamarans were built – one

ica’s Cup isn’t one. Despite

with a soft rig and the other, the eventual

the size difference (the US

choice, hard-rigged with a winged-mast.

team raced an 18.3-meter boat, the New

Conceived in record time, Stars and Stripes

Zealand challengers a 27.43-meter monster),

was a marriage of cutting-edge naval archi-

David was packing more than a catapult.

tecture and aeronautics, built by the excep-

This was not a race for sailors, it was a

tionally gifted team of Gino Morrelli, Bruce

battle of designers – and it changed the face

Nelson, Britton Chance, Bernard Nivelt,

of racing forever.

Dave Hubbard and Duncan MacLane.

The long silence of the San Diego Yacht Club

Mr America’s Cup, Dennis Conner, was

following Dennis Conner’s victory with the 12-

to be skipper. “The boats are going to be very

metre Stars & Stripes on February 4th 1987 in

big, very radical, and very controversial,” he

Fremantle is often cited as the reason behind

said at the time. “The contest will not be a

the 1988 America’s Cup. Taking literally the

sailboat race. It will be a design lottery in

words of the Deed of Gift, New Zealand banker

which the sailors will have little or nothing

Michael Fay, impatient with American foot-

to do with the outcome. In one word, the

dragging, sent a challenge contrary to all expec-

1988 America’s Cup challenge will be

tations on July 15th 1987.

bizarre.” Conner wasn’t wrong.

His challenger would be a 90-foot mono-

The “bizarre” Challenge was sailed on

hull, pushing aside the 12-metre class that

September 7th and 9th off San Diego. The

had been used in each Cup since 1958. Taken

Stripes & Stripes crew won easily, only to

aback, the Americans rejected the challenge

have the Cup awarded to the New Zealanders

but Fay asked to the Supreme Court of the

after a legal challenge, and then returned on

State of New York County to intervene and

appeal. The 12-metre era was over. It’s been Go-

the validity of the challenge was confirmed.

liath vs Goliath ever since.

With just 10 months to prepare, the de-

34

100 Thousand Club

fenders decided upon a radical option. John

The 32nd America’s Cup race will be held on

Marshall, chief of the Sail America Founda-

3-7 April in Valencia, Spain.

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PHIL KNIGHT (5 PAGES):19 FEB

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PEOPLE Just Did It...

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PEOPLE

Just Did It...

Interview JULIA ATLEE Extra Reporting JACKIE KRENTZMAN Photography MICHAEL O’NEILL/CORBIS OUTLINE

For many of us, there is no Eureka moment. Phil Knight, self-made billionaire and co-founder of Nike, had three. One can’t help but wonder if this is somehow a measure of the man.

O

nce dubbed the “most powerful man in sports”, Phil Knight presents himself as affable, albeit slightly stiff and a tad shy.

Since stepping down as CEO of Nike (for the third and final time), he’s moved his office to above the ultra-secretive Nike research labs, which somehow seems fit-

ting: the ever-present glasses, the dark clothes...

Knight still has the lean, almost gaunt build of a runner. He has been portrayed as mysterious, inscrutable, eccentric, unpredictable, enigmatic, idiosyncratic, shy, aloof, reclusive, competitive and a genius. We may never know which adjective suits him best.

Knight, who with his wife of 28 years, Penny, has two grown sons, shuns publicity the way Howard Stern courts it.

“Genius” is the one attribute on the list that Knight questions.

“Other than that, I’m all of those things – most of those adjectives are right some of the time,” he says. That’s as far as he’ll go. When asked a potentially revealing question he toys with a can of Diet Pepsi or fiddles with his watch. He signals that a question is not to his liking by deftly shifting the focus to Nike, lapsing into corporate-speak or even abruptly cutting himself off in mid-sentence and waiting – in stony silence – for the next question.

Knight says he’s no genius. He paid $35 for Nike’s swoosh. If that’s not genius, it’s close

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LAFIA/ARVIN AD:8 JAN

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Raising the Standard for Interior Design...

L/A is one of the most published Interior Design Firms in the United States (including numerous “Covers”, such as Architectural Digest and The Robb Report publications) and has the highest overall Interior Design Firm rating in Los Angeles according to The Franklin Report. We are currently featured in a Robb Report Luxury Home Cover Story in the Spring/2007 Issue.

Many of our projects are “Getaways” and “Estates”, although projects fall in between. We also have extensive experience designing historical properties, such as our 3 Year complete renovation of one of the most famous Beverly Hills historical estate properties remaining (at various time owned by Barbara Hutton and Cary Grant, and Pamela Mason and James Mason), and the furnishing of a historic six story Brownstone in Manhattan.

Clients include senior executives/principal owners of Fortune 500 type companies, domestic and international, celebrities and athletes. One recent project was for a senior executive/director of an English company commencing extensive U.S. operations, and his wife, who needed a complete renovation and turn-key furnishing (an L/A specialty) of a 3 story residence within 2 months. We look forward to designing your next main residence or getaway.

Lafia Arvin, A Design Corporation 741 A 10th Street Santa Monica, CA 90402 Phone: (310)587-1141 • Fax: (310)587-2243 design@lafiaarvin.com • www.lafiaarvin.com

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PEOPLE

A meeting of minds

Knight received his MBA from Stanford in

Knight was raised in Portland, the son of

1962 (it must have left a lasting effect, in 2006

a lawyer turned newspaper publisher. He was

he donated $105 million to the School, by far

a middle-distance runner for the University

the largest donation to a business school in his-

of Oregon track team, which had one of the

tory) and, according to his father’s wishes, se-

best programs in the country under leg-

cured a “real” job with a Portland accounting

endary track coach Bill Bowerman.

firm. But first, he traveled to Japan, where he

Knight had more enthusiasm than talent and Bowerman was obsessed with running

became enamored of Japanese culture and business practices.

shoes. “I was very aware of shoes when I was

Knight refined both his philosophy of life

running track,” Knight says. “The American

and business while in Japan. He studied Asian

shoes were offshoots of tire companies. Shoes

culture and religion and climbed Mount Fuji,

cost $5, and you would come back from a five-

which the Japanese consider a sort of pilgrimage.

mile run with your feet bleeding. Then the

He also visited the Onitsuka shoe factory in

German companies came in with $30 shoes,

Kobe, and persuaded the company that made

which were more comfortable. But Bowerman

Tiger shoes – now known as Asics – to make him

still wasn’t satisfied. He believed that shaving

its first US distributor. He invented the name of

an ounce off a pair of shoes for a guy running

the new company on the spot –

a mile could make a big difference. So Bower-

Blue Ribbon Sports – and on his

man began making shoes himself, and since I

return signed Bowerman as his

wasn’t the best guy on the team, I was the log-

co-founder.

ical one to test the shoes.” In terms of epochmaking happenstance, this was a doozy.

An indifferent student, Knight graduated

In the early years Knight kept day jobs and started to de-

“Keep the culture strong, keep the history and remember the man [Bowerman]. And keep the entrepreneurial spirit alive”

velop the management style that

from Oregon with a degree in journalism in

would define him: find people who care about

1959. He enlisted in the army for a year (and

the product and let them handle the details. He

served in the reserves for seven), then enrolled

dealt with finance, Bowerman designed shoes,

at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford.

and the first employee, Jeff Johnson, managed

Stanford changed Knight’s life. Finally,

the company’s retail store in Santa Monica, cre-

school wasn’t drudgery. For the first time, he

ating ads and stationery on his own.

was excited to read about something other

Events outside of Knight’s control, however,

than sports. And it was in Frank Shallen-

were soon to shape his future. Bowerman was

berger’s small-business class that Knight con-

amongst those who first popularized jogging,

ceived the company that would make his name.

Johnson had a dream about the Greek goddess of victory and, in 1971, Knight’s Japanese sup-

“That was an ‘a-ha!’ moment”

plier tried to take over his business. Knight broke

Shallenberger gave his class the following

away. He paid a local graphic artist $35 to come

assignment: invent a new business, describe

up with a new logo – a fat checkmark dubbed a

its purpose and create a marketing plan. In

‘swoosh’ – worked out a deal with a supplier, and

his paper, “Can Japanese sports shoes do to

named the new brand Nike after Johnson’s

German sports shoes what Japanese cameras

dream. The new shoe debuted at the 1972

did to German cameras?” Knight developed a

Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon.

blueprint for superior athletic shoes, pro-

Nike sold $3.2 million worth of shoes that

duced inexpensively in Japan, where labor was

year, and its profits doubled in each of the next

cheaper. “That was an ‘a-ha!’ moment,”

10. Nike passed Adidas to become the industry

Knight says. “First, Shallenberger defined the

leader in the United States in 1980, the year it

type of person who was an entrepreneur – and

went public.

I realized he was talking to me. I remember

Knight honed his management style in those

after writing that paper, saying to myself:

heady, pressured days. He hired people he liked

‘this is really what I would like to do’.”

hanging out with: Nike’s early management 100 Thousand Club

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PEOPLE

meetings were rowdy, drunken affairs known in-

but nobody could have predicted what he

ternally as ‘buttfaces’. When fights broke out

would become to our culture.”

among his men – and they were mostly men –

Knight is being disingenuous. Behind every

Knight would rarely interrupt. He liked to see the

one of Nike’s advertising slogans – like ‘Bo

passion. He was equally hands-off about direc-

Knows’, ‘Just Do It’, and ‘There Is No Finish Line’

tion: “Sell shoes,” Knight told Rob Strasser, one

– lies Knight’s vision. When sales stagnated in the

of his top lieutenants, when he sent him to start

mid-1980s, Knight discovered that technologi-

a European division in 1981, according to

cal innovation alone could not continue to drive

Swoosh, the unauthorized account of Nike’s

growth. He learned several hard lessons on how

early days. It was easy then: running was hot,

to build brands and understand consumers, and

sneakers were a fashion item, and Nike made the

transformed his technology company into a

ones everyone wanted.

marketing company whose product is its most important marketing tool.

“I’m Phil Knight, and I don’t believe in advertising”

“Ultimately,” says Knight, “we wanted Nike to be the world’s best sports and fitness com-

Skip forward: as 20-year-old Stanford

pany. Once you say that, you have a focus. You

golfer Tiger Woods fought his way to an un-

don’t end up making wing tips or sponsoring the

precedented third US Amateur title, Knight

next Rolling Stones world tour.”

shadowed him from hole to hole, appraising

To keep the company growing, Nike began

the young phenomenon’s every smile the way

splitting its brands into sub-brands. In tennis,

a golf coach would his swing. “I hope we sign

Nike divided its shoes into Challenge Court – for

him,” Knight said at the time. “If not, I hope he

younger, more active players – and Supreme

goes to medical school.”

Court – for older, more mature players.

Three days later, Woods called a news con-

That approach brought the company to

ference, stepped before the TV cameras and

a broader range of consumers while

announced that he was quitting college to

preserving the customer base. And

join the Professional Golf Association Tour.

to create an emotional tie

“Well,” he said with a big grin, “I guess it’s

with the consumer, Nike

‘Hello, world’ huh?”

started advertising on

An adoring sports media lapped up the

A Nike Dunk SB ‘Pigeons’ sneaker: yours for $1600

TV. “Sports is at the

young man’s winning soundbite. Then, just 24

heart of American

hours later, the other shoe dropped. In a barrage

culture,”

of new TV spots and full-page newspaper ads,

says. “You can’t

Nike unveiled its latest pitchman: pro golfer

explain

Tiger Woods. The Nike-crafted tagline on the

much in

Knight

ads? “Hello, World.”

Nike made a quantum leap in 1984 when it signed 21-year old Michael Jordan to endorse a basketball sneaker. Within a year, it seemed that every boy in America was strutting about in the clunky, siren-red Air Jordan high-tops. “It wasn’t planning,” Knight says.

“We could see that he was a charismatic guy who jumps over the moon and

is

very

competitive,

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PEOPLE

“Shallenberger defined the type of person who was an entrepreneur – and I realized he was talking to me”

60 seconds, but when you show Michael Jordan,

commodity – that teenagers from Paris to

you don’t have to. It’s that simple.”

Shanghai would be just as taken with Charles

But make no mistake: as athletically awesome and charismatic as Michael Jordan is, he

Barkley’s ample attitude as teenagers in Trenton and San Diego.

alone did not make Nike as recognizable

What now? Knight’s bought himself a film

worldwide as Coke and McDonalds. Nike is a

company and it’s clearly close to his heart. But

cultural icon because Knight understood and

his heart, like his left calf, will be forever tattooed

captured the zeitgeist of American pop culture

with the ubiquitous swoosh. He still knows what

and married it to sports. He found a way to

Nike needs: “keep the culture strong, keep the

harness society’s worship of heroes, obsession

history and remember the man [Bowerman].

with status symbols and predilection for sin-

And keep the entrepreneurial spirit alive.” But

gular, often rebellious figures. “We didn’t in-

can he ever leave it alone? More importantly,

vent it,” Knight acknowledges, “but we

would we want him to? The world’s a more ex-

ratcheted it up several notches.”

citing place because of Knight. Bo knows that.

Knight also understood that this lust for heroes and appreciation for in-your-face attitude is

With thanks to Jackie Krentzman for her copy and

not limited to American youth. He correctly pre-

The Stanford Magazine for allowing us access to

dicted that American culture was a marketable

their archives.

100 Thousand Club

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PROPERTY Beauty on the Inside

L

afia/Arvin is one of the most published interior design firms in the United States, and the highest rated interior design firm in Los Angeles ac-

cording to The Franklin Report.

The firm’s goal is to establish long-standing relationships. The result is multiple residences for most clients – and as many as five for several.

Lafia/Arvin has been recognized for its expertise for both “estates” and “getaways”, having had numerous published projects in both categories, including being featured on the on the Spring 2007 Cover of Robb Report Luxury Home. Oprah Winfrey showcased one of Lafia/Arvin’s projects near her home in Montecito, and described it as one of the most beautiful estates she had ever seen.

In working with its clients, the firm has repeatedly expressed that it does not want the “end result” to be for people to walk into a house that it has worked on and think “This is a Lafia/Arvin design” (or that it looks like a residence that they just visited or viewed in a publication). To L/A, ideally the residence expresses the clients’ tastes and per-

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100 Thousand Club

Beauty on

the Inside

From large estates to getaway cottages, this Los Angeles design firm specializes in creating its clients’ dreams.

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PROPERTY

“Lafia/Arvin has been recognized for its expertise for both ‘estates’ and ‘getaways’” – Monique Lafia

sonalities. Its sense of design includes inclusion of antiques and artwork, customized furnishings addressing comfort, and in some projects mixed with more contemporary lines, always including usage of inviting color backgrounds, fabrics and details.

Projects range from expansive estates, to smaller beach cottages. Current projects include an approximately 20,000 square foot French style estate in Beverly Hills, a large Italian style estate in Hawaii, and several second residences for other clients.

There is no specific size requirement for the design projects accepted and the firm has extensive experience with historical properties. For example, L/A recently completed its interior and exterior design of a 1920s Beverly Hills mansion built by an American film icon and later owned by Cary Grant and James Mason (to be featured on the Spring 2007 Cover of Robb Report Luxury Home); and is also responsible for a multi-storied historical brownstone in Manhattan.

Find out more: www.lafiaarvin.com

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The Art of Living Stunning architecture is no stranger to the ultra chic landscape of Palm Springs, but somehow, ALTA, a development of 67 semi-custom desert modern homes, still manages to astonish.

O

nce in a great while, a community is conceived that is so unique and so inspiring, it takes on a life of its own. ALTA is one such place. It was born of a deep commitment to out-

standing architecture, individuality, and the art of living. And it was bestowed with four prestigious architectural achievement Gold Nugget Awards for Outstanding Floor Plan, Outstanding Community Design, and 2006 Home Of The Year.

Developer Newport Coast Capital Management has raised the bar.

“In an age where even post-modernism is passé,” says Lisa Brown, editor of Builder and Developer magazine, “Newport Coast Capital Management brings a futur¬istic vision to the stage.”

Discover spaces that speak volumes, while harboring divine secrets.

You’ll have spaces to share, or to covet. And views that compare to a deeply religious experience... no matter what your religion. There is ultimate privacy, so you can just be... and there’s that location in beautiful Palm Springs – a small but sophisticated town and an international destination for the jet-set crowd. You never know whom you might run into at the grocery store or gym.

“ALTA is all about award-winning architecture, amazing expanses of glass, and indoor/ outdoor living,” states Kim Bauer, VP of Marketing for the development. This is not just living art, it’s live-in art.

Paradise Preserved At the exclusive, eco-friendly InterContinental Resort & Thalasso Spa in Bora Bora, pampering doesn’t come at the expense of the pristine island environs.

Find out more: www.altapalmsprings.com

A

native of Lafayette,

Pacific Ocean. To put that into

Louisiana,

Richard

perspective, imagine a region

Bailey seems an un-

similar in size to Western Eu-

likely candidate to be

rope, where the total land mass

revolutionizing French Polyne-

of all the islands add up to an

sia’s hospitality industry. How-

area only slightly larger than the

ever, this owner of four resorts

state of Rhode Island.

across the South Pacific – with a

Located halfway between Los

fifth planned for Tetiaroa (Marlon

Angeles and Sydney, these iso-

Brando’s former private island) –

lated island chains also consti-

has been fascinated with this is-

tute one of the world’s most

land paradise since he first visited

sublimely pristine ecologies.

in 1963 as a nine-year-old child.

ALTA: art you can live in

46

100 Thousand Club

An avid scuba diver who’s

Also known as Tahiti and

traveled extensively across French

Her Islands, French Polynesia is

Polynesia, Bailey understands

a series of five major archipela-

better than most how vital it is to

goes comprised of 118 individual

protect this delicate ecosystem.

islands spaced over some two

His main goal when developing

million square miles of South

the new InterContinental Resort

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On the Frontier of Emerging Market Real Estate Grupo del Sol is one of Central America’s most progressive development firms. The company is headquartered in Managua, Nicaragua but its sphere of influence already extends from Brazil to Panama’s Pearl Islands.

L

ocated on over 600 lushly forested acres, Arenas Bay is Grupo del Sol’s flagship project on Nicaragua’s Pacific Riviera. This extraordinarily beautiful location is defined by three secluded and

private bays, which carve the contours of over three miles of majestic Pacific coastline. The waters are clear blue. The sand shimmers golden in the clear, fresh light. Lush vegetation blankets the surrounding hillsides, sheltering and nurturing a vast array of plants, birds and animals.

Respect for the natural environment is the hallmark of every Grupo del Sol development. Unlike typical clear-cut developments, Grupo del Sol’s focus is on building communities that blend with the beauty of their natural landscape.

A leader in Latin America since 1991, Grupo del Sol’s track record of successful residential development sets this developer apart. Metropolitan projects include Pueblo Viejo, Los Balcones de Santo Domingo, & Thalasso Spa in Bora Bora was

Wake up to one of the world’s most pristine egologies

and El Cafetal, collectively a 250-acre tourist and residential develop-

are treated with the same respect

cool each of the 80 villas, elimi-

tional team is known for providing excellent infrastructure, superior

and generosity as the hotel’s

nating hazardous carbons that

construction, and the financial track record to complete any project.

guests. No easy task, considering

pollute the atmosphere and re-

Arenas Bay is a rapidly growing community. The first few houses

the service and amenities that

ducing electricity consumption

have been turned over to new owners and a further 20 homes are under

have made the Intercontinental

by 90 percent.

construction. The Beach Club and Restaurant, spectacular pool, Aqua

to ensure the islands themselves

brand famous. But for Bailey, this isn’t lip service.

Coral reef transplantation and sea turtle rehabilitation cen-

Bailey’s new resort and Tha-

ters are also centerpieces to the

lasso (or salt-water-therapy) spa

resort’s eco-friendly approach, as

goes far beyond the fairly achiev-

is the dedicated “Green Team”,

able strata of LEED certification,

in-house biologists and veteri-

including pioneering a revolu-

narians sanctioned by the Min-

tionary air-conditioning system

istry of the Environment to

and creating progressive environ-

direct the hotel’s efforts in re-

mental programming to ensure

ducing its impact on the pristine

that the property stilted above the

surroundings.

crystal clear waters of French Poly-

environmentally

stretch of virgin beach at the base

means the new Intercontinental

of famous Mount Otemanau.

Bora Bora can offer guests the

tioning system is a model for fu-

Spa and its Village, Sunyata Yoga and Wellness Centre as well as Arenas Bay Marina will all break ground in 2006 and 2007.

Find out more: www.arenasbay.com

Such a Herculean effort to be

nesia treads lightly on its sexy

This one-of-a-kind air-condi-

ment located on the outskirts of Managua. Grupo del Sol’s interna-

responsible

greatest luxury of all – a clear conscience.

ture development, pumping ice-cold deep-sea water through

Find out more:

a titanium heat exchanger to

www.boraboraspa.interconti.com

Nicaragua’s Pacific Riviera: an extraordinarily beautiful location

100 Thousand Club

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Ranch Dreams An individual must be passionate about their dream property to spend 20 years developing an incredible vision and six years searching for the perfect site – and then engineering a dramatic 700-foot entrance tunnel.

S

aguaro Ranch, near Tucson, Arizona, which promises to be one of the finest boutique resorts and residential com-

munities in the country, is the realization of a life long dream for developer Stephen Phinny.

Phinny has assembled an impressive array of experts to ensure the success of every facet of Saguaro Ranch, including an architectural firm that specializes in unique four and five star properties; a landscape architectural firm that has completed projects for the royal families of

Viennese Whirl

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates; a project planner who is a savant in

Outstanding commitment to individual service, personal customer care and timeless elegance are perfectly combined at the Grand Hotel Wien.

the lost art of structural sighting; an interior design firm with properties of distinction throughout the United States and Mexico; and a Guest Ranch general manager with international hospitality industry experience.

he legendary Grand Hotel was built in

T

a Japanese restaurant, “Unkai”, which has

Tucked within 1,035 pristine acres are just

the 1860s according to the plans of

been awarded two toques by Gault Millau,

180, four to five acre home sites where resi-

Carl Tietz, the celebrated architect of

and the award-winning gourmet restaurant

dents and their guests can enjoy authentic

the period, and opened in 1870 as the first

“Le Ciel”, which serves a combination of Vi-

desert living amid the finest services and

Grand Hotel in Europe.

ennese and French cuisine over the

amenities.

Following a brief spell as headquarters to

rooftops of Vienna.

At the heart is the 50 acre Guest Ranch

the International Atomic Energy Agency, the

Exquisite fabrics and rare antiques add to

and Spa, an intimate boutique resort de-

building was bought by All Nippon Airways

the Grand Hotel’s unique splendor. The en-

signed for socializing, dining, learning, enter-

in 1989, re-planned and totally renovated to

trance of the hotel is on the Kaerntner Ring,

tainment and shopping, including: a Ranch

re-open in new splendor as a 5-Star deluxe

a few steps from the world-famous Vienna

House, plans for approximately 30 casitas

Hotel. While the historical facade of the

State Opera in the very heart of the city. Park-

(configured with less than 100 individual

Palais Corso was retained, the interior is of a

ing facilities for guests are available in the

master suites), two superb restaurants, a

completely new design. The emphasis was

underground car park. The hotel offers a

world-class spa, indoor performance theater,

kept on tradition as a framework for state-of-

well-equipped fitness room, which is avail-

recording studio, fitness center, tennis courts,

the-art technology. On 1 August 2002, the

able 24 hours, a business centre and high

pools, general store with post office, town

hotel was sold to the international hotel

speed internet access in all rooms. These serv-

hall, art barn and horse ranch. Sounds like its

company JJW Hotels & Resorts.

ices are free of charge for hotel guests.

time to saddle up.

Find out more: www.grandhotelwien.com

Find out more: www.thedesertcalls.com

Grand Hotel Wien features 205 luxuriously decorated rooms and suites. It offers 48

100 Thousand Club

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Tasting Time What is the greatest luxury that life can afford? If your every worldly wish had been fulfilled, what might you yet wish for? Would it be to experience a whole century in just one moment?

C

100 Years Young

reated by the House of

mandie, the world’s most luxuri-

Rémy Martin, Louis XIII

ous liner, to the supersonic splen-

has been the absolute co-

dour of Concorde.

gnac since 1874, the culmination

Its carafe is a history in itself.

of a hundred years of craftsman-

A mysterious decanter unearthed

ship, a true act of genius reveal-

on the site of a 16th century bat-

ing a unique relationship with

tlefield, whose precise origin and

time.

purpose will likely never be

Its name evokes the land-

known. And yet, with its extrava-

marks of history: the famous per-

gant forms and regal fleur-de-lys

sonalities who made it theirs –

emblems, it seemed predestined

Chanel, Picasso, Churchill or de

to hold this most extraordinary

Gaulle – and the great occasions

of cognacs.

of which it was a part, from the

Raise a glass and it is not the

maiden voyage of the Nor-

past that preoccupies your mind,

Montblanc: 100 years old and still breaking new ground in luxury.

H

ow should a 100th anniversary be celebrated?

Luxury brand Mont-

blanc put away the balloons and decided instead on exclusivity, craftsmanship and a world first.

100 years ago, the three founding fathers of Montblanc took their inspiration from the snow-covered peaks of the highest mountain in Europe. The white top of Mont Blanc’s glacier became their trademark. Now their trademark is a unique star-

The Montblanc 100 Years Solitaire Mountain Massiv Skeleton 2006: a sparkling diamond firework in only three pens worth $152,000

50

100 Thousand Club

cut diamond, the acme of all Montblanc anniversary editions.

This world première – Mont-

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but the present that seduces your senses. For Louis XIII is unlike any cognac have ever experienced before.

It tempts the eye with rich, warm hues of mahogany, characteristic of long-aged eaux-de-vie.

It teases the nose with unmistakable woody notes, evocative of century-old oak casks. And then,

F

ound in prestigious boutiques in NY, LA, London, Madrid, and Perth, 4mula has made

all at once, it explodes in a fire-

a global mark on the industry as

work of flowers, fruits and spices,

one of the most exclusive lines

a dizzying alchemy of extremes.

available.

Farmaceuticals Regarded as “a new design classic” by Art Review, 4mula has launched its award-winning line of bath, body and skincare products to critical acclaim across the global luxury circuit.

Using only natural ingrediFind out more: www.remy.com

ents, 4mula secures a portion of

tomers, realizing that the cost of

ratively) into what is notably the

the world’s limited annual supply

the product is made up by the

most logical and longest-lasting

of 100 percent pure essential oils

benefits of a healthy approach to

bar of soap ever made, to their soy

to produce their line. As a com-

caring for your skin.

and fruit-derived Anti-aging Vita-

pany philosophy, “Farms not

Nature and technology con-

mins, to 4mula’s reusable pack-

Pharms” has become the key to

nect as never before, as 4mula

aging system and profit-share

blanc is the only brand in the

creating a natural and vegan line

uses the science of essential oils,

with worldwide humanitarian or-

world to have its logo cut as a di-

that does not rely on chemicals to

along with ingenious design, to

ganizations, the company has be-

amond – glitters inside the trans-

clean and protect the skin. While

create a package that offers both

come a guiding force for change

parent cap head of some very

other companies concerned with

stunning appearance and results.

in the way companies approach

special writing instruments.

the environment.

profit over quality use second-

From the notorious 4mula Bar-

In homage to its three

rate ingredients, 4mula seeks out

box, whose extraordinary design

founders, the “Montblanc 100

natural solutions for their cus-

raises the bar (literally and figu-

Find out more: www.4mula.com

Years Solitaire Mountain Massiv Skeleton 2006” Edition is limited to only three skeletonised fountain-pens – real art treasures.

Perfectly formed, cap and cone cover the silhouette of Mont Blanc in 18-carat white gold, studded with 1277 white and 123 blue diamonds, reflecting fresh snow and glacial blue ice along one sparkling diamond firework.

Find out more: www.montblanc.com

100 Thousand Club

51

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Note: Club case sold separately.

Quiver case also available.

Double Eagle Puma hits the links in highstyle with a bag system suitable for the fairway and the highway. From garment bag to golf bag in one zip, it's far easier to master than the front nine.

J

ust as you've mastered art of packing the carry-on suitcase, an alluring new reason to visit the baggage carousel rears its head: the ultimate stress-free golf travel bag. If the hazards of schlepping a human-sized tote to Pebble Beach and back again have ever made you question your dedication

to the game, this is probably the bag you’ve been waiting for. The truth is, you’re not going to touch down in Phoenix for a client meeting without swinging by Troon North. (Better yet, just move the meeting to the links.) Traveling with irons, as painful as it is, is far preferable to botching your foursome with sub-par pro-shop clunkers. Puma has heard the collective moan and has whipped up a golf travel bag so smart, your travel itineraries may start to resemble a PGA tour roster.

Go to puma.com

Classic Style Way back in 1738, Pierre Jaquet Droz succeeded in making people forget about the phenomenal complexity of the mechanisms and movements required to actually run his masterpieces.

T

he Quantième Perpétuel by Jaquet Droz is a horological masterpiece and homage to those original “Grandes Complications”.

The interplay of the blued steel hands represents his keen sense

of melding Haute Horlogerie with poetry. The serpentine hands are reserved for the Calendar functions – months, days and date – with a double-retrograde indication of the day and date; while the Lancine-type hands are dedicated to the time functions – central hour and minute indications and large seconds subdial at 6 o’clock. Stunning.

100 Thousand Club

53

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SNAPSHOT

The Growing Paneristi

Incredible timepieces that have become popular with everyone from collectors to celebrities are anything but standard issue, unless you are an Italian commando.

T

he foot-traffic-flooded streets of Beverly Hills always supply the same sensory

overload

of

Chanel, Versace, Gucci, and Rolex.

While each of these standard bearers represents the utmost in sophistication,

luxury,

and

superiority, there also exists a breed of brand that winds its way into our exclusive directory because of its functionality, history, and technical elitism.

The Royal Italian Navy of the late 19th century may not be the most traditional starting point for a company that now casts its five boutiques in some of the most upmarket shopping districts in the world. But Officine Panerai watches have come to fruition as a benchmark for timepiece connoisseurs due to their lineage. The Panerai Radiomir, crafted in Florence in

mide and mesothorium that en-

age fashionista, they are the pedi-

Gamma force took hold of a tor-

1938, was the first military divers’

abled the instruments on the face

gree of a brand whose naval her-

pedo in 1938.

watch and it became a permanent

to be viewed without the aid of ad-

itage finally broke through to the

You can now enter a Panerai

fixture on the wrists of the Royal

ditional lighting that could be

international market in 1998.

boutique in Hong Kong, Florence,

Italian Navy, eschewing the normal

glimpsed by enemies).

After a special edition of time-

Shanghai, Portofino, and, yes, Bev-

duties of a wrist watch as we know

Forward thinking functional-

pieces released to the public in

erly Hills. The convenience and ac-

it to accompany the Gamma force

ity and a practicality of design

1993, and a bit of enhanced pub-

cessibility of these flagship stores

on manned torpedoes – a bit more

have remained a hallmark of Pan-

licity from a limited series of

may be fantastic for those looking

of a daunting task than an after-

erai timepieces. The original lumi-

watches requested by Rocky him-

to show something other than

noon dive off Grand Cayman.

nous paint has now been replaced

self, Sylvester Stallone, in 1995,

baubles on their wrists, but here’s

Treasured by aficionados even

by a non-radioactive compound

the Richemont Group purchased

to hoping you’ll never be able to

to this day, the 300 models pro-

that is tritium based, and the

Officine Panerai in 1997, deliver-

browse alongside the J.Crew in the

duced at that time bore many

water resistance improved by a

ing internationally the following

Time Warner Center. After all, I

technical treasures, but none more

trade marked technology of lock-

year, and treating all luxury shop-

don’t think those Gamma forces

familiar to today’s watch lover as

ing down the winding crown.

pers’ to what the Paneristi – ded-

would have approved.

its luminosity (made of a compos-

While these specifics may well

icatees of the eponymous brand –

ite of zinc sulphide, radium bro-

bear no importance to the aver-

had hoped for since the first

Find out more: www.panerai.com

100 Thousand Club

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PROPERTY Down Mexico Way

Down Mexico Way No longer content to play second fiddle to its more renowned (and raucous) neighbor, Cancun, Mexico’s Riviera Maya has evolved into the one of the Caribbean’s most desirable and posh seaside sanctuaries.

58

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Enjoy the sizzling nightlife of Mexico’s Riveria Maya

F

or decades, Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula has been luring vacationers, spring-breakers and second-home buyers with its combination of translucent turquoise waters and stunning

white-sand beaches. Highlighted by Cancun and its three million annual visitors, this large landmass jutting out between the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea offers something for everyone: easy air access, world-class diving and sport fishing, vibrant shopping, dining and nightlife scenes, even a variety of preColumbian pyramids and exciting archeological adventures.

Of course, one thing has been largely lacking since the Mexican government carved this mighty tourist mecca out of a tropical forest in the early 1970s—a sense of true luxury and exclusivity. Sure, Cancun is trying to upgrade its budget and party travelers’ reputation by upgrading existing resorts such as the Ritz-Carlton and the JW Marriott, as well as adding design forward properties such as ME Cancun, which features a sleek all-suite floor called “The Level,” and a private lounge created by nightclub Randy Gerber. And the skyline is teeming with a bumper crop of high-end high-rise condos. However, with its crowds, convenience and collection of affordable all-inclusive resorts,

and cenotes (pronounced say-no-tays), a series

the well-preserved remains of this once-

Cancun will always be more spring break than

of naturally occurring sinkholes whose fresh,

bustling city of 50,000. Overflowing with trop-

stately. Nevertheless, it serves as a handy

preternaturally clear water just begs to be ex-

ical fauna and exotic wildlife, the Riviera Maya’s

launching point for Yucatan’s emerging, elite

plored. Starting just south of Cancun, this sun-

natural beauty continues right into the scenic,

hotspots.

drenched strip of Caribbean shoreline stretches

aquarium-like sea thanks to a coral reef barrier,

Enter the Riviera Maya, a once-sleepy

some 80 miles south to the ancient Mayan

the second-largest in the world, that skirts the

stretch of postcard perfect beaches, lagoons

ruins of Tulum, where guests can stroll among

entire coastline. No wonder why the local 100 Thousand Club

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60

tourism board reports that the number of ho-

never been a better time to fulfill your beach-

tels in the Riviera Maya has expanded fivefold

front living fantasies.

Viceroy Mayakoba Spa: state-of-the-art relaxation in an historic setting

(from 70 to more than 375) in the past decade,

Let’s start in Playa del Carmen, where the

such as private sun decks with heated plunge

while the residential market has turned equally

Los Angeles-based Kor Hotel Group will debut

pools), this development is spread over eight

scorching.

its distinctive Tides Playa del Carmen in sum-

acres of prime beachfront property. The adja-

Don’t fret, though, because despite the

mer 2008. Like the original Tides on Miami’s

cent resort will also offer a 300-foot-long pool

breakneck growth spurt the powers that be in

South Beach, this new Yucatán incarnation is

with a stylish bar-lounge, three fine-dining

Rivera Maya seem to have leaned a lesson

being billed as “chic by the shore.” Replete with

restaurants and a 14,000-square-foot spa and

from their over-built, over-booked neighbor

209 fully-furnished luxury resort-style residen-

fitness center adorned with pampering rooftop

to the north. Even in the region’s de facto cap-

cies (ranging from 750 to more than 3,000

treatment rooms. $450,000 – $2.5 million.

ital, Playa del Carmen–where you’ll find every-

square feet and including must-have amenities

888.752.9220, www.tidesplayadelcarmen.com

thing from generic budget hotels and

Just a few miles to the north, Mayakoba is

American fast food chains to couture bou-

indubitably the crown jewel of Riviera Maya’s

tiques and 5-diamond accommodations such

upscale ambitions. When complete, this mag-

as The Royal Hideaway Playacar–strict devel-

nificent 600-acre, $1.5 billion complex just

opment laws have limited the density of new

south of Puerto Moreles will house six super-

developments, both commercial and residen-

resorts by top-drawer hoteliers: Banyan Tree,

tial. Meanwhile, with Playa del Carmen’s re-

Fairmont, La Casa Que Canta, Rosewood,

gional airport scheduled to open sometime in

Viceroy and one more to be named later. Billed

2008, allowing jet-setters to bypass the one-

as an eco-sensitive resort development, the

to two-hour car ride from Cancun, there’s

owners have opted to build out only one third

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The Greg Norman designed golf course south of Puerto Moreles

of the total acreage to better preserve the property’s verdant jungle, velvet lagoons and pristine shoreline. This sumptuous development, which translates to “village of water” in ancient Mayan, also features a series of freshwater canals interconnecting each resort–so guest can

62

hop between properties on a series of silent

A mere lanchita ride away, Viceroy Riviera

electric lanchitas (boats). Aside from an eclec-

Maya Resort & Residences is the sister property

tic medley of restaurants and lounges, enter-

to the Tides Playa del Carmen. Also set for com-

tainment

Greg

pletion in 2008, the Viceroy’s sweeping prop-

Norman-designed golf course complete with

erty plans for 161 luxury resort residences,

cenotes as water hazards, which you might rec-

broken down between Beachfront Resort Resi-

ognize from its starring role in Mexico’s first-

dences and Lagoon Resort Residences. De-

ever PGA Tour stop in February.

signed by renowned Mexico City-based

options

include

a

Once completed, Mayakoba will house a va-

architectural firm, Legorreta + Legorreta, both

riety of refined residential opportunities, but

settings feature a variety of floor plans ranging

none as architecturally stunning as the Rose-

from studios to a select supply of expansive

wood Residences at Mayakoba. Described as 32

five-bedroom models. Further enticements in-

Collector’s Villas nestled amidst private lagoons

clude plush amenities such as plasma screen

and tropical splendor, each Villa features ap-

TVs and private infinity-edge pools and services

proximately 4,500 square feet of air-conditioned

such as daily housekeeping, complete home

living space plus approximately 5,000 square feet

and landscape maintenance and in-residence

of outdoor terraces and patios. Designed by the

dining with private chefs. And of course,

avant-garde architect firm, Casa Jardin of Spain,

Viceroy Riviera Maya owners will have access to

these spacious, glass-filled manses feature

exclusive Mayakoba community amenities (in-

rooftop solariums and docking facilities for in-

cluding meeting facilities, a swimming pool

resort boat transportation, while incorporating

and gourmet restaurant and cocktail lounge),

is busy putting the final touches on a plush

indigenous slate and limestone mined from

as well as water taxi service to the fully-ap-

resort and spa just north of Playa del Carmen,

local cenotes and rich, dark woods from native

pointed Viceroy Beach Club, home to a water-

and published reports say that the Four Sea-

forests. Naturally, Villa owners will have access

front restaurant and beach bar, private cabanas

sons is also scouring the area for a beachfront

to all of the Rosewood Mayakoba resort’s ameni-

and recreation areas for parents and children.

to call its own. In fact, if you really want to get

ties and services, including the spa, restaurants,

$700,000

ahead of the curve keep your eyes on the

fitness center, beach club, golf carts and boat

www.viceroyrivieramaya.com

–

$8

million.

800.473.0089,

Costa Maya, a burgeoning hotspot sand-

transportation and business center. Prices start

And that’s just a sampling of the upscale

wiched between the Riviera Maya and Belize

at $3.5 million. 866.519.8769, www.ownrose-

offerings percolating across Mexico’s favored

where farsighted developers are already snap-

woodmayakoba.com

coast. High-end hotelier, Mandarin Oriental,

ping up property.

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PEOPLE Remaking Miami

The design collaborative, Wokmedia, presented by Contrasts Gallery at Design Miami/ 2006 Photo credit: Richard Patterson

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The Newton Building, in the Miami Design District with street signage for Modus R Exhibition during Art Basel Miami Beach 2006 Photo Credit: Richard Patterson

Remaking Miami Real estate developer, art patron and design enthusiast Craig Robins has helped make Miami what it is today, an increasingly sophisticated city once known only for sin and sunshine. Fueled by a keen business sense and intense personal passions, Robins plans to continue remaking his hometown, one piece at a time.

C

alvin Klein and Craig Robins: together, these two men helped restore South Beach’s tarnished luster and build the glitzy $500-a-night hotel-crammed playground of today. Fashion legend Klein created its aura of cool: he came to the city to shoot an iconic underwear ad on the roof of an Art Deco

hotel, its stark white curves the ideal backdrop to his skimpy white briefs; inevitably, catalog shoots and gaggles of modelizers soon followed. As for Robins, born and bred in Miami, it was he who helmed South Beach’s real estate revival; Robins’ enthusiasm for the area and canny investments were a steroidal shot in its architectural arm – and just in time, too.

Author MARK ELLWOOD

By the mid-1980s, the Art Deco-heavy district, once a tourist haven, had flat-lined. It was a no-go area, largely the preserve of nursing homebound geriatrics or criminals, many of them undesirables left over from the Mariel Boatlift. Then an art-loving student at law school, Robins was looking for studios he could rent to artists, to help indulge his longtime passion; low costs lured him across the causeway. “I found this incredible building on 5th and Washington, but the guy who owned it didn’t want to just sell the studio – he offered me a half interest for $20,000! So I kind of decided not to become a lawyer but went into the real estate business,” he shrugs.

It was a canny move. Over the next few years, Robins’ DACRA corp became a major landlord on the beach, as well as a driving force behind the cultural renaissance there – in the ten years after 1980, as club kids, models and artists flocked there, the median age of Miami Beach’s population plummeted from 65 to 47; while prices rocketed – land once barely worth $20/square foot was fetching more than ten times that. Versace bought a

100 Thousand Club

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mansion, Lincoln Road’s street cafes proliferated, Espanola Way was re-

“I became interested in design. And in the US, the design industry was

vived (another Robins personal project) and funky boutique hotels filled

operating with this arcane business model – selling in unattractive malls

the old Art Deco hulks, many of them co-owned by Robins and Island

that only licensed decorators could get into,” he explains, “The heritage of

Records legend Chris Blackwell. South Beach hasn’t stumbled since.

the Design District was showcasing design from the beginning, and we

Once Robins had resuscitated one neighborhood, he cast around for

tapped into that historical energy and began to do something that at the

another chunk of Miami both undervalued and overlooked; and in 1994,

time was relatively non-existent.” In the first two years, Robins snapped up

Craig found it on the mainland, just off Biscayne Boulevard. Decorators

10 buildings and made them over into airy, modern showroom space with

Row, as it was then known, was created out of a pineapple plantation by

input from well-known New York-based architect Walter Chatham; that

pioneering Miamian Theodore Moore; as South Beach’s deco hotels were

lured brand name tenants like Chicago-based interiors guru Holly Hunt,

thrown up in the 1920s, Moore had spotted the opportunity to provide

who has a 25,000 sq foot store, as well as Knoll, which relocated from Coral

furniture and furnishings to the real estate boom and quickly filled his

Gables. Kartell’s cherry red store even incorporates what’s left of pineapple

newly created district with wholesale interiors showrooms. But the sim-

king Moore’s original home. And Robins decamped there himself, moving

ple, low-rise showrooms and historic homes here – which had barely

DACRA’s offices into the heart of the new district.

weathered the Great Depression soon after their opening – were all-but-

One major change from the time on South Beach was Craig’s ability to

abandoned by the early 1980s. Residents and businesses had hemor-

commission new buildings in the Design District, thanks both to more va-

rhaged, thanks to the twin blows of Miami’s well-deserved reputation at

cant lots and also to less stringent preservation laws. Most eye-catching was

the time for bloody urban violence (the lethal Overtown riots just a few

the Living Room building, which has become a mascot of sorts for the

blocks away) and the opening of the DCOTA building, an enormous,

‘hood: masterminded by local architect-cum-artist team Roberto Behar and

trade-only interiors mall in Fort Lauderdale.

Rosario Marquhart, it’s an entranceway turned inside out, with a giant con-

Simple, classic, airy – Bulthaup designed kitchen at Aqua The Design District was step one – Aqua Alison Island has been planned with the greatest hits of contemporary architects Photo credit: Steven Brooke

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Enzo Enea's "Garden Lounge" in the Miami Design District, launched at Design Miami/ 2005 Photo credit: Richard Patterson

68

crete couch on the sidewalk, oversized lamps and even a ‘painting’ on the

views and light instead of Miami’s standard looming cul-de-sacs. It was all

wall – in fact, a simple hole through which the sky is visible. R&R also de-

planned by Robins in concert with a greatest hits of contemporary archi-

signed the two statues in the local school playground; aptly, it’s Design &

tects, like Chatham, Hariri & Hariri and Alison Spear; the development en-

Architecture Senior High, or DASH, a grammar school for the gifted in the

compasses low-rise condo clusters as well as rockstar-ready individually

creative arts, which teaches teens who test in the basis of fashion or indus-

designed single family homes. It’s all topped off, of course, with Robins’ sig-

trial or graphic design alongside core competencies like Maths and English.

nature public art projects - showstopper is Richard Tuttle’s mural, Splash,

Meanwhile, Robins has been juggling a smaller yet just as intriguing ad-

along the side of the Chatham building, which looks like a meteor has

junct project, a $250m high-end community on Alison Island, an 8.5 acre

landed in a pool of paint and sent splatters up the side of a pure white wall.

lozenge-shaped landmass just off the Miami Beach sandbar in the bay. It’s

“It’s this little jewel,” Robins swoons, then pauses. “What I’d like to do next

intended as an urban utopia – a gated community of the future, with side-

is combine a place like the Design District with a place like Aqua, integrat-

walks promenades and streets that dead end at the water for maximum

ing a creative, commercial and cultural neighborhood.”

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Craig Robins, photographed in the Moore Building Photo credit: Jeffery Salter

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I N

H I S

O W N

W O R D S

A conversation with Craig Robins

Investing so heavily in South Beach when you did must have seemed very risky.

I have to say at the very beginning I had this vision that south beach would be transformed into a great place. I did have intuition about it, that potentially a lot of creative people could be enticed to come there. The historical buildings were so beautiful but they were run down; most people saw it as an impossible place that would never make practical sense.

I saw it as an incredible opportunity for something special.

You feel the same way about the Design District now?

My business has always been neighborhood building – even in South Beach, I focused on certain areas to make those work better: first Ocean Drive, then Washington Avenue, the a little bit south of Fifth Street and eventually Lincoln Road.

And in 1994, I decided we had really expanded South Beach to every possible area. An especially inspiring issue for me has always been the rift between Miami and Miami Beach, and bringing the two components of greater Miami together was a much more interesting business model. We were able to take a lot of lessons from South Beach – we saw the Design District as having the potential to become Miami’s creative laboratory.

What lessons did you draw from the beach when you started again on the mainland?

What I realized was that in South Beach, we were very much able to run businesses that helped accelerate revitalization.

While in the Design District we became very active in cultural programming – Art Basel, Design Miami, presenting exhibits and non profit art spaces – what we didn’t have was the commercial side, and that’s an important part of making these neighborhoods really vital. It’s all exploding now, though – there’s probably going to be about 5 or 6 fantastic places open in the next few months. Residential is also a vital part of making this happen – our goal is always to have a 24-hour community, creating live/work spaces from the beginning.

I know you’ve moved to the Aqua development yourself.

The home I purchased was designed by Allen Shulman. I see it as a long term project – my girlfriend has worked very hard to assemble an incredible collection of designer furniture there. I really want to experience what it’s like to live at Aqua and learn about what we’ve done right and what we should do differently in the future. I think I’ll continue to do mixed use neighborhoods for the rest of my life. I really enjoy the idea of a garden – to me, the garden is much more a jungle as opposed to the traditional manicured garden. We made sure we were growing bananas and coconuts and mango trees at Aqua for the land to produce fruit for people. And it’s another place to have my art, it’s a refuge for me.

You’re passionate about art, especially public art, especially after receiving the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt Design Patron award last year. Any upcoming projects?

I continue to be very committed to Design Miami, the design show I launched in conjunction with Art Basel. And I’m collaborating at moment with Marc Newsom on a spectacular project with DASH – he’s going to do the entrance. He wanted to do something for the community. Marc is such a remarkable person – with all the attention and success he’s had, one can see how getting really local and working with a public high school in the middle of the Design District far from where he lives might not be interesting. But in Marc’s case, it’s the contrary, he’s so genuine about the creative process. At this stage in his career it’s remarkable that he’s not diminished spirit or generosity. And also on the art front, we’re working on getting an art school in Miami.

What’s next for you and DACRA? I’ll always be focused on Miami, and would love to take on another large scale project here. But we’re also putting a lot of energy at this point into getting to work on a global platform – Moscow, Beijing, Shanghai, Buenos Aires, etc. In the next few months, we’ll pick a few areas to focus on, where we can begin to apply a lot of what we’ve learned on a global platform.

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PROPERTY Pre-Fabulous

o1

Pre-Fabulous Developer David Dixon partners with Los Angeles’ rising starchitects Leo Marmol and Ron Radziner to bring ready-made luxury to Joshua Tree, California.

F

72

or years architects and design magazines

Perhaps few places in the country understand the

have been waxing prosaic about the Brave

formula for luxury second homes better than the well-

New World of prefabricated home design.

known desert resort areas east of Los Angeles. The

The most ambitious concepts imagine a

glamorous desert getaway was made famous in nearby

near future where homebuyers simply

Palm Springs, and is alive and well today with Skyline

point and click their way to a new home,

Modern, a ground breaking prefabricated-only develop-

having it shipped and installed anywhere in the world—

ment in the picturesque desert town of Joshua Tree, Cali-

all for a fraction of the cost of custom construction. But

fornia. Here, developer David Dixon (who’s also putting

despite the considerable buzz and an array of solutions

the finishing touches on a handsome restoration of the

by architects and manufacturers the world over, pre-fab

Chateau Marmont-esque Colony Palms Hotel in Palm

has proven to be more hype than happening, as develop-

Springs) has partnered with the renowned design-build

ers struggle with the difficulties inherent in building a

architecture firm of Marmol Radziner to craft five of

new business model for everything from financing to

their award-wining modular manses. Featuring sweep-

construction to marketing. And while the market focus

ing vistas of the cactus- and boulder-strewn Joshua Tree

of the pre-fabrication movement has always been on the

National Park, each 1.25 to 2.5 acre lot includes delivery

masses, which are focused on affordability, it’s actually a

and construction of a razor-sharp two-bedroom home,

significantly less-affordable iteration that is gaining the

including 900-square-feet of covered patio deck and, of

momentum the category as a whole has yet to realize.

course, a swimming pool.

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PROPERTY

o1 One of the modular manses in situ, Joshua Tree, California

o2 There’s 900 square feet of covered deck and, of course a swimming pool

o2

o3 High quality interiors blur the line between indoors and outdoors

o4 Dixon, Marmol and Radziner

o4

o3 100 Thousand Club

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o5 o5 Razor-sharp design and

Constructed on-demand inside Marmol Radziner’s

impressive is Skyline Modern’s eco-friendly credibility,

eco-friendly credibility? Skyline

65,000-square-foot factory in Vernon, CA, just south

achieving L.E.E.D certification thanks to a variety of

of downtown LA, these steel framed habitats are not

green materials such as recycled steel frames, wood

the cheapest prefabricated designs around ($650,000

harvested from responsibly-managed forests, energy ef-

for a standard model, including land). However, says

ficient appliances and low VOC paints (i.e. less off-gas-

developer David Dixon, unbelievably low cost is not

sing of toxic fumes into the environment).

Modern proves it can be done Photo credits: Benny Chan, fotoworks

the sole goal at Skyline Modern. “Couture prefab, like

Of course, for most buyers—Dixon says he received

we’re doing, is not the 10-cents-on-the-dollar proposi-

the lion’s share of interest from Southern Californians

tion that some designers are promising. Our process

looking for a show-stopping vacation home—the real

eliminates material waste, achieving efficiencies most

luxury this project offers is convenience. After all, at

luxury new-build projects can’t, but the reality is it’s

Skyline Modern the time between green lighting an

more like a 30 to 40 percent discount, because we’re

order and popping Champagne is less than six months.

using some really beautiful parts.“

“Actually, Dixon says, “five months is quite realistic.

At Skyline Modern, beautiful parts include bamboo flooring, Ipe wood decking, Caesarstone countertops,

And after that, you have a world-class vacation home without the time and stress of building new.” n

Bosch appliances and premium floor-to-ceiling glass panels that both blur the line between indoors and

For sales info, contact Skyline Modern, (323)401-3565,

outdoors and frame those endless horizons. Even more

skylinemodern@marmolradzinerprefab.com 100 Thousand Club

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Arizona Rising

School of Public Policy, members of the “Cre-

Author DAWSON FEARNOW

ative Class” have always been drawn to urban en-

With a thriving economy and cultural amenities such as top-notch shopping, dining, nightlife and the arts – not to mention rugged natural beauty and a temperate climate that leads to year-round outdoor fun – it’s no wonder Arizona has become a vibrant new hub for the creative class.

vironments because working and living around other talented people makes them more creative.

But even more paramount, he says, modern Americans expect to do work they love in a place they want to be, resulting in a shift to regions that offer concentrations of other talented peo-

78

f your visual snapshot of Arizona is limited

I

– Phoenix and Tucson. Loosely defined as 25-35

to cowboys and cacti, rattlesnakes and re-

year old workers and entrepreneurs who are

In short, they want it all – urbane sophisti-

tirees, it’s time to update your mental

knowledge workers – whether in the arts or the

cation and the high-energy vibe of a big city,

rolodex. In fact, the US Census Bureau re-

sciences, the Creative Class consists of scientists,

along with the more leisurely quality of life and

ported that Arizona is the fastest-growing state

engineers, artists, technology designers and de-

abundant outdoor recreational activities associ-

in the nation, adding some 213,000 people over

velopers, management and professionals.

ated with more pastoral settings. It’s a rare com-

ple and a great quality of life.

the past year. Meanwhile, Arizona’s average age

However, in today’s increasingly mobile

bination, but one that Arizona offers in spades.

has dipped to 34.3, well below the national me-

United States, where individuals and even entire

Take Greater Phoenix (a.k.a. the Valley of

dian of 36.4 and even beating out famously hip,

families are constantly uprooting themselves in

the Sun), a rapidly growing metropolis of

youthful meccas such as San Francisco (39.4)

search of better opportunities and more entic-

nearly 4 million people incorporating the city

and New York City (35.8).

ing environments, what is luring these talented

of Phoenix – the nation’s fifth largest city – and

No wonder Fast Company magazine recently

young professionals to seek out cities such as

24 surrounding towns and cities, including

named two Arizona locations in its list of “Top

Phoenix and Tucson? First, says Richard Florida,

Scottsdale, Mesa and Tempe. Unspooling over

10 Emerging Hubs for Creative Talent in the US”

the Hirst Professor at George Mason University’s

a geographic area larger than the city of Los An-

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geles (9,000-plus square miles), Greater

dents to settle in Arizona every year? Naturally,

shopping inside our abundance of trendy bou-

Phoenix is undoubtedly more of a suburban

Arizona’s temperate climate, highlighted by the

tiques and couture clothiers. As for the arts,

landscape than more high-density cities such

mild winters and year-round active outdoor

downtown Scottsdale alone contains more

as Chicago or New York. However, downtown

lifestyles in desert cities such as Phoenix and

than 125 galleries offering everything from tra-

Phoenix itself is in the midst of an unprece-

Tucson, always comes to the forefront. How-

ditional Cowboy art to avant-garde exhibitions

dented revitalization thanks to this new influx

ever, Arizona is actually home to a variety of

of Contemporary masters. Nightlife, mean-

of urban-centric Creative Class types.

landscapes, ranging from the sweeping Pon-

while, is always hopping in a state that hosts

Once a 9 to 5 city core that was largely empty

derosa Pine forests of northern Arizona to the

annual gatherings such as College Football’s

on nights and weekends, downtown Phoenix has

snow-capped peaks of Mount Lemmon outside

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and the FBR Open, the

been transformed into a vibrant 24/7 hub for

of Tucson – the southern most skiing area in

PGA Tour’s most-attended event, as well as the

students, scientists and other Creative Class

the United States.

2008 Super Bowl.

types thanks to a new crop of high-rise condos

Culturally, Arizona is equally diverse. Sure

Of course, when you average some 325 days

and loft conversions that – combined with a va-

you can still find authentic Western saloons

of annual sunshine like Greater Phoenix and

riety of new sports, dining and entertainment

serving up traditional campfire cuisine, or shop

Tucson, weather is always going to play a role.

venues – let residents live, work and play in the

for authentic Native American jewelry, but Ari-

After all, what’s more appealing than dining al-

same neighborhood. Furthermore, ground-

zona is also home to an eclectic, innovative din-

fresco, going hiking or playing a round on one of

breaking developments such as Arizona State

ing scene – a fact reinforced by our eight James

the state’s 338 golf courses – all in the dead of

University’s new Downtown Phoenix Campus

Beard Award-winning chefs – and world-class

winter?

and the construction of the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), a research facility

working

to

unravel

the

genetic

components of complex diseases such as cancer and diabetes, have turned the area into a burgeoning Biotech/Biomedical cluster. All told, this burgeoning bio boom, which now includes the International Genomics Consortium, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Arizona Biomedical Collaborative and Phoenix Union Bioscience High School, has helped make Arizona an appealing destination for cutting edge companies such as Google Inc., which recently selected ASU’s Tempe Campus for a significant new expansion.

A mere 100 miles to the south, Tucson’s city core is undergoing its own renaissance, fed largely by a similar Biotech/Biomedical boom.

Home to the nation’s fifth fast-growing hightech community, Tucson’s Creative Class is also leading pioneering biomedical research in the fields of cancer treatment, optics and the neurosciences. Meanwhile, international technology giants such as IBM have established cutting edge research centers inside the University of Arizona’s Science and Technology Park.

Of course, none of this could be possible if Arizona wasn’t attracting the type of talented, young go-getters that these companies require to fuel this technological innovation. So what exactly is drawing those 200,000-plus new resi100 Thousand Club

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PROPERTY Hot Property

Hot Property Despite a cold front moving across much of Phoenix/Scottsdale’s once-scalding residential real estate market, one home category is hotter than ever: mountaintop manses and sprawling desert estates.

A

o1 o1

Desert Mountain

s little as 10 years ago, a million dollar

Chiricahua Golf Course,

home sale was ‘stop the presses’ time in

Phoenix and Central Arizona.

the Valley of the Sun, says local luxury

Photo credit: Chris Coe

real estate guru, Walt Danley. In fact, he

o2

says, most years you could count the number of mil-

Weather may have put

Scottsdale on the map, but

lion-plus sales on one hand. Fast forward a decade

high-end properties are keeping

or two and you’ll be lucky if a cool million lands you

it there

a condo in one of the Valley’s many new high-rise towers or a historic adobe in Downtown Phoenix.

Meanwhile, the median home value in posh Paradise Valley is some $1.7 million and un-built lots in North Scottsdale’s super-trendy Silverleaf development top out in the low eight figures. o2 80

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PROPERTY

o3

Fantastic views and

desert living are making the Valley a property hotspot

o4

Desert Botanical

Gardens, Phoenix Arizona.

Photo credit: Joanne West

“It’s all about the lifestyle,” says Lauren Simons, VP of Marketing for the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Often that means first luring affluent visitors with the Valley’s collection of first-class resort properties, the Ritz-Carlton, the Four Seasons, The Phoenician, etcetera, as well as celeb-friendly boutiques such as Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain. However, Simons says, it’s the amenities – four major sports teams, five working James Beard Award-winning chefs, top-flight shopping, renowned symphony, ballet and opera companies, never mind a thriving Western and Contemporary art scene centered upon Scottsdale’s 125 galleries – that make owning a piece of Arizona’s Sonoran Desert such an appealing proposition.

However, as you’d expect with a city growing by more than 100,000 residents annually, Greater Phoenix is in a constant state of flux. Fortunately, luxury buyers can rest assured so long as they remember these three names: The verdant and lush Biltmore area in central Phoenix, the pristine deserts of North Scottsdale and the tiny (and tony) Town of Paradise Valley, a pastoral enclave wedged between Phoenix and Scottsdale. o3

Biltmore Unwinding across 2-1/3 lushly landscaped acres, this handsome “compound” is located on a quiet little detour just west of Biltmore proper. Built long ago enough to have hosted an inaugural gala for former President Ronald Reagan, this sweeping estate has undergone a wall-to-wall renovation to bring it inline with today’s luxury standards, including de rigueur amenities such as cherry wood floors, a spacious new master suite and the addition of an art-house-theatersized home theater/billiards room carved out of a former drive-through garage. (Don’t worry about being forced to park on the street; there are still multiple attached garages, as well as a soaring eight-car carriage house/office/den .) However, the real standout here is the sprawling grounds, including tennis court, pitchand-putt golf green, bamboo-lined koi pond and even a o4

trickling brook. $9,000,000 100 Thousand Club

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o5

The - Master Suite

– thoughtful amenities and the outdoors en suite

o6

The large kitchen at the

heart of this great family home

o5

North Scottsdale Some showpiece homes like to strut their stuff for all to

right, and you’ll discover a large kitchen and a wide

see. Other estates are a little more coy, especially from

open living space, followed by the more private master

the street. Take this courtyard sanctuary, a seemingly in-

suite. The opposite wing, meanwhile, is filled with

nocuous manse hidden behind a gated fence in a North

children’s room and a nanny suite, workout room with

Scottsdale neighborhood full of similarly sized homes.

steam shower and sauna, and a guest casista adjacent to

Yet, from the moment you throw open the oversized

the giant garage. $6,900,000

front doors, all pretense of modesty is forgotten as the open foyer gives way to an open floor plan and an entire wall of foldaway floor-to-ceiling glass panels, revealing a grassy inner courtyard and shimmering 100,000 thousand gallon swimming pool—all backgrounded by a hulking four-car garage and show deck (so you can park your beloved Benz or lovely Lamborghini right on the pool patio). In fact, thanks to minimal interior bearing walls and a plethora of outsized windows, this regal rectangle of a home features pleasing courtyard panoramas from every viewpoint. Wind around to the 82

o6

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o7

The glass-tiled pool and

the azure sky. Every home should look like this

o7

Paradise Valley

84

From the waterfalls and rock formations lining the court-

distinctive Versailles pattern, as well as an azure glass-tile-

yard entry to the majestic mountain views awaiting around

bottomed pool that serves as the perfect counterpoint to

every corner, this Paradise Valley hideaway is one welcom-

the perpetually sunny Arizona sky. $5,375,000

ing host. Designed by noted local architect Lash McDaniel,

Located on five meticulously maintained acres in

the home’s central focal point is a stunning great room

the heart of Paradise Valley, this expansive estate offers

overlooking the spacious pool deck and featuring floor-to-

classic Continental cache in a stunning Southwestern

ceiling views of both Mummy Mountain and Camelback

setting.. The palatial interiors—which include a living

Mountain’s timeworn boulders. From here, the rest of this

room, great room, family room, formal dining room,

handsome villa unfolds with a pleasantly meandering floor

library, office, restaurant-quality kitchen with adja-

plan that eventually reveals four bedrooms, six baths, his

cent butler’s pantry, even an elevator—are beautifully

and hers offices, his and hers two-car garages and a home

appointed in a timeless Old World style. Outside, the

theater. The attention to detail across the space is extraordi-

perfect-for-entertaining covered patio with multiple

nary, including hand-troweled plaster walls, arched ceilings

fireplaces and a built-in barbecue extends along the

studded with flagstone trim, raised fireplaces, peek-a-boo

entire back of the home, while the rest of the spacious

skylights and a gorgeous teak-topped kitchen island. How-

grounds include a ramada with an outdoor fireplace, a

ever, all this pales in comparison to the striking outdoor

pool, pool bath, tennis court and garage space for four

spaces centered around a travertine pool deck inlaid with a

vehicles. $23,000,000 n

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Body and Soul For decades, Arizona’s Canyon Ranch has been the Southwest’s spa sine qua non. However, with a stately sister property in rural Massachusetts and a trio of resort-based satellite spas – including one onboard the majestic Queen Mary 2 – Canyon Ranch’s famed combination of body and soul bliss is on the move.

this Ranch is the 100,000-squarefoot Spa complex, featuring exercise, weight training and cycling gyms, yoga and Pilates/Gyrotonic studios, indoor tennis, racquetball, cycling and squash courts, in-

ounded by Mel and

F

door swimming pool and jogging

Enid Zuckerman, the

track, massage and body treat-

original Canyon Ranch

ment rooms and skin care and

outside of Tucson, Ari-

beauty salons. Meanwhile, out-

zona sprawls over 150 lushly land-

door facilities include a 50-foot

scaped acres in the gently rolling

swimming pool, tennis courts and

foothills of the scenic Santa

a ropes challenge course.

Catalina Mountains. Although

Most recently, Canyon Ranch

world-renowned for its compre-

has partnered with top resorts in-

hensive mind, body and soul care,

cluding The Venetian in Las Vegas

Canyon Ranch’s Arizona outpost

and the Gaylord Palms Resort in

is relatively understated, prefer-

Kissimmee, Florida, to open a se-

ring to surprise with unexpected

ries of intimate SpaClubs. Inside

elegance rather than hitting

these luxe facilities, guests can ex-

guests over the head with conspic-

perience a slice of the Canyon

uous opulence.

Ranch lifestyle, including pam-

At Canyon Ranch Tucson

pering

massages,

therapeutic

this translates into a series of

Ranch is much more than the sum

Ranch Lenox is located some 150

bodywork and professional fitness

charming, adobe-style guest cot-

of its parts. Take the 3:1 staff-to-

miles northeast of New York City.

training. However, no matter how

tages winding in and around a

guest ratio, which includes on-site

Highlighted by the historic mar-

sexy or sun-drenched, those loca-

sleek

spa

physicians, nurses, psychologists

ble and brick Bellefontaine Man-

tions pale in comparison to

complex that includes eight gym-

and counselors; as well as exercise

sion – built in 1897, it’s a copy of

Canyon Ranch’s newest SpaClub

nasiums, Pilates and Gyrotonic

physiologists, nutritionists, move-

Louis XIV’s Petit Trianon and was

aboard the magnificent Queen

studios,

80,000-square-foot

yoga/meditation

ment therapists, acupuncturists,

designed by the architects who

Mary 2. A true ocean-crossing lux-

dome, as well as seven lighted

a

fitness instructors, golf and tennis

crafted the New York City Public

ury liner, this handsome ship

tennis courts, a basketball court

pros; not to mention aestheti-

Library – Canyon Ranch Lenox

tempts guests with a 20,000-

and three outdoor pools. Then

cians, massage and bodywork

looks nothing like its Arizona sib-

square-foot Canyon Ranch facility

there’s the state-of-the-art Golf

therapists and hiking and biking

ling. However, the top-flight facil-

spread across two decks. Along

Performance Center (computer-

guides.

ities, all-inclusive amenities and

with the 24 massage, body and

innate sense of serenity make it a

skincare treatment rooms, and an

worthy counterpoint.

extensive weight-training and car-

assisted swing analysis, anyone?)

Naturally, as the hubbub sur-

and the cooling Aquatic Center,

rounding this cutting-edge health

a shimmering desert oasis offer-

and wellness facility spread be-

At Canyon Ranch Lenox, the

dio center, water has been incor-

ing multiple Watsu pools, a

yond the Southwest, East Coasters

main buildings (the Inn, Spa and

porated throughout the spa,

cross-training pool with condi-

started clamoring for a Canyon

Bellefontaine Mansion) are all

including a Thalasso (or salt

tioning equipment, a whirlpool

Ranch to call their own. Enter the

connected by weather-proof, glass-

water) therapy pool with airbed re-

and two aquatic therapy pools.

majestic Canyon Ranch in Lenox,

enclosed walkways that look out

cliner lounges, relaxing neck foun-

However, anyone who’s ever

Massachusetts. Opened in 1989

upon the property’s reflecting

tains and a “deluge” waterfall

visited this stunning Sonoran

on 120 woodland acres in the

pools, formal gardens and verdant

where the flowing waters soothe

Desert sanctuary knows Canyon

heart of the Berkshires, Canyon

green lawns. But the true heart of

away any tension.

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Culture Club t’s a Thursday night like any other and you're polishing off the

I

week with a few drinks. You stride a handful of blocks from the office to your club, and while whizzing through lobby you spot Kiefer Sutherland glad-handing guests at the ‘24’ season premiere.

You won’t join the rapt audience of Jimmy Fallon, Damon Dash, and others for the white-knuckle action – increasing your blood pressure alongside Jack Bauer’s is the last thing you need. Instead,

it’s scotch and dinner with a new music-industry friend whose mere presence seems to ratchet up the intelligence of your iPod. A few paces away, Anna Wintour and her colt-like fashion assistants skitter around, shuffling place cards. Just another night at The Core Club, you think.

If you’re sitting in this lounge, then you’re no stranger to news-making names and you’re hardly lacking in your own laurels. You and your peers were culled by The Core Club founder and CEO, Jennie Saunders for your brazen accomplishments – or at the least potential for such. Back in 2003 the lawyerturned-entrepreneur set out to invent a radically new membership experience and filling the clubhouse’s 33,000 square feet with a cross-section of leaders and luminaries was the first step. Gathering like-minded people wasn’t her goal; that would be a snooze. Finding people that run at the same pace (read: breakneck), was. ‘Transformative’ is a term she uses frequently to describe Core members, and, the roster backs it up. Bigwigs from online juggernauts, heads of real estate empires, art and film entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and brand-name authors are some; more than a dozen industries are represented. Hence, by the time you’ve pulled your leather barstool into position, you’ve already passed three such ambassadors in the lobby.

A sexy destination filled with A-listers is the backbone to a scheme by

Conversations, connections, chance meetings and a good cocktail – the bar at NY’s fashionable Core Club

Saunders to create a globe-encompassing socially motivated think tank, of sorts. Conversations, connections, and chance meetings could take place not only in the 55th Street space, but also anywhere in the world, at Coresponsored cultural events, and most often, over the internet, where neither traffic, nor time zones can stop the flow of ideas from member to member. Zoom out and members see The Core Experience, but in the dayto-day, they’re simply living life, edited.

Saunders obsession with a lifestyle-driven community began in college at Fordham where, as a freshman, she created The Other Place, a coffee house that soon offered a jam-packed programming schedule. This was 100 Thousand Club

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pre-Starbucks and long before the Seattle empire joined forces with the

lowed by a discussion with director Ed Zwick. The Core Conversations series

entertainment world.

regularly host events with top personalities and professionals, such as George

Then, and now, Saunders cites her mission as the “relentless pursuit of rel-

Soros, who recently discussed his latest book, “The Age of Fallibility: Conse-

evance.” It shows in the physical space, but extends to be part of everything

quences of the War on Terror” with the membership. It’s a community in which

Core touches, from offsite events (Art Basel Miami, Sundance) to Core Media

even downtime is maximized with education-based experiences. As Saunders

exclusive concerts, to the VCC (Virtual Core Club), a home-away-from-home for

puts it, time is the only commodity that members can’t find enough of.

peripatetic members. The search for relevance means that Core offerings are ed-

The 60-person screening room is but one of a collection of jaw dropping

ited to their most essential. From the library to the fitness center menu to film

spaces in the five-story venue. A restaurant by Craft boasts dramatic private

screenings (and the members themselves) and more is not necessarily merrier.

and public spaces, the lounge and bar host a stunning oversized blown glass

Take the library. The standard dark-paneled walls and Faulkner-laden

chandelier, a fitness center and spa are clean, warm and modern. Honey-col-

shelves have been shrugged off for canvasses by Basquiat and Salle near issues

ored die-cut wood paneling weave through the rooms. It’s all the world of

of Abitare, Virginia Quarterly Review, and The Economist. On glass and alu-

Stonely Pelsinki Architects Neukomm (SPaN), a New York firm that counts

minum shelves is a collection of tomes curated by Paris Review alum Lea Car-

Calvin Klein among its clients. Their architectural coups – corrugated walls,

penter. It’s likely the most engaging, provocative, and relevant library this

a staircase that slices through floors and folds to become a bench – appear

side of the Morgan.

throughout. For the club’s interior elements, SPaN worked with Studio

And those are just works on paper. The real action, and where the Core sen-

Sofield on custom furniture designs in sumptuous textiles. The total effect is

sibility resonates the most is at the weekly cultural programs such as Core

a timeless, inviting, and a freshly modern take on a hideaway studded with

Films that gathers members in a cushy three-bandshell theater with banks of

world-class art (think Hirst, Warhol, De Kooning). It’s no wonder it graced

large seats (or small sofas). A winter screening of “Blood Diamond” was fol-

the cover of Interior Design.

The staircase slices through floors and folds to become a bench

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Art is a vital part of the Core experience – and Jennie has fabulous taste

Still, Core members spend more time in airport lounges than on 55th

inal Batmobile.) Though it’s just getting rolling, the VCC is shaping up to

Street, which is why the VCC online community is accelerating as much buzz

be a must-read. A thread about “highly addictive websites” yielded weeks’

in considerably less time. So for those who missed the moment when Jean-Luc

worth of reading material, with agendainc.com and newseum.org as crowd

Ledu and Ducasse’s André Compeyre debate the best canapé for Petit Verdot,

favorites. Here, stock tips come from analysts, book recommendations from

footage from those events, plus parties are uploaded daily to the web. Which

editors, blogs from trend-spotters and marketing gurus, and Oscar fore-

means you can witness how the evening played out for your cronies back

casting from producers.

home while you’re enjoying lunch at the Park Hyatt Tokyo.

90

There is, of course, no substitute for human contact, for buying someone

On Core Forums, members sound off on topical events, and Core Rec-

a drink, for a precious earful of overheard conversation (especially among this

ommends is a veritable Zagat to lifestyle. Need a driver in Milan? Tap into

crowd). And with all that in mind, and more still, Saunders is scouting locales

the travel forum. Or unload a few bottles of Mouton Rothschild on the Ex-

with Core potential. LA is a strong contender; then again, recommendations

change page. (Recently the “other” category offered ownership of the orig-

for the best burger on the PCH are only a click away anyway.

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In Her Own Words A conversation with Jennie Saunders

What led you help to create the Core Club? What was the sense of purpose you brought to it?

I was obsessed with creating a business that’s globally relevant. From my early years, I had clarity about what I want in life: to effect change. But what it was, didn’t unfold until I went to law and business school.

How did your experience with creating The Reebok Sports Club inform this project?

In 1990, “lifestyle” was not a category. I was talking about blending together experiences. The Reebok Sports Club team was full of people who had ventures tied to what I wanted to do—real estate development, sports clubs—and they let me prove that category existed. Collectively we launched it in 2000, and I left after 10 years of invaluable experience.

With so many different components – Web, Media, and a Physical Club – it seems you’ve really built more than just a Club but rather, an “experience”? Is that how you see it?

Very much so. It wasn’t by accident that the physical property was first. We’d never be who we are if it started with a web or media platform. We’re serving a psychographic of accomplished, transformative people. No one business can comprehensively affect their lifestyle, it needs to be multi-dimensional and breaking existing boundaries to be uniquely relevant. It’s like Cirque du Soleil, it transcends categories. It takes me time to articulate everything that contributes to the Core experience - it needs to be discovered. Everyone wants to simplify it, but I will never dumb down the concept.

What models did you look to for inspiration while creating the Core experience?

I love Steve Jobs and the brand sensibility of Apple. And I’m an admirer of Howard Schultz and of Starbucks, I like how he’s recently tied his concept to the entertainment industry. We're doing the same thing, with a different demographic and psychographic.

You’re focused on growing the VCC now. There are event photos and footage, conversation forums, and member recommendations. What else is coming?

Our members have shown that they need us to aggregate and curate news and information, such as personalized RSS feeds. When they travel, they want to be connected to experiences or they want to know who else is in Vegas when they're there. They tell me that they won’t go on Ebay, but they would consider selling their car or art or airtime on the VCC. It’s based on community needs.

Do you trust Core members to upkeep the forums? Aren’t they busy?

If we were a one-dimensional business, maybe I wouldn’t. We'd be less relevant. It's about our range and breadth and depth. No single thing is most important to every member.

This past holiday season you raised one million dollars to buy mosquito nets for 100,000 children at risk for malaria.

Has philanthropy always been part of your business plan?

Core Cares, our philanthropic wing, was sparked by members. Our members said, ‘hey, we have a community with a high concentration of intellectual, creative, and financial capital, and that allows us to effect change in the world.’ We launched it in 65 days.

You’re looking several locations for new clubs and ways to grow the web and media platforms, but where do you see The Core Club in ten years?

I tell people, we're going to be bigger than Google. Not in the way that we’re everything to everyone, but to be a resource for lifestyle needs and experiences for a universe of people with a certain core sensibility. People tell me that we’ve created a new demographic, and it’s not the “billionaire service industry.” Our members control spheres of influence. A CEO of a company is able to touch that company, plus hundreds of thousands of others, if not millions.

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Travel Intell Author SOPHIE DONELSON Photography DOUG FOGELSON

A

rtisans of Leisure, a three-year-old New York-based firm offers a spellbinding array of ideas, such as a tour of pop culture

Die-hard culture seekers have met their match with a new breed of travel agencies that outfit intrepid travelers with extravagant custom-made itineraries, and just about anything else they can imagine.

Tokyo or an expedition through England’s Cotswold gardens.

The difference between these tours and other high-end jaunts

is that when you stumble into the mother of all anime shops or bob amidst rose beds in a private estate, only your next of kin is there to snap photos—these tours are private.

Take, for example, says Artisans principle Ashley Isaacs Ganz, a young Los Angeles family who plans their summer trip around themes their children are studying in school – last year it was the indigenous art of Chinese villages. Or a board member of the New York Botanical Gardens who’s traipsing through the most decadent gardens in Italy.

Anyone who has ever used a top-notch travel agent or luxury tour company will find the depth of Ganz's agency staggering. Forget them booking the ne plus ultra of B&Bs (though they do that, too); Artisans arranges personalized, intimate experiences. Cook Thai in a private home in Chang Mai. Savor a luxury picnic (on white linens) amidst ruins in Morocco. Meet a tailor for a made-to-measure suit in Vietnam.

Asia is Artisans of Leisure's specialty, and where access to traditional and sacred hideaways is the most valuable currency for curious travelers.

Jet setters who have exhausted glam-packed shopping-and-dining weekend are finding solace in Kyoto, says Ganz. Here, tradition is rooted deep with spirituality; guests can request a private Zazen meditation session with a monk at a local temple or don ceremonial geisha dress in the Gion district at an authentic geisha home. Artisans' tours can also grant access to imperial

Tour pop culture Japan or find solace in Kyoto

villas and exclusive ryokan guesthouses.

If Asia is the bread-and-butter of Artisans of Leisure, for Cazenove + Loyd, it's Africa. Though the London-based firm has expert teams in each of India, and South and Latin America, Africa is their first love. Big game trips helped the team make their name back in 1992 when Susie Cazenove and Henrietta Loyd transformed their authority on the Dark Continent into a business venture. Their itineraries now reach well-beyond a Land Rover cruise for wild animals, but all of the excursions require ultra-experienced guides and terrain that isn’t forgiving to hyper-groomed dilettantes.

Trips to Tanzania include a stopover in spice-rich Zanzibar and a few nights on the desert island of Pemba. In keeping with life in the bush, guests will be asked to trade in their creme La Mer for a stick of SPF 30. But the payoff is huge: the chance to experience unadulterated wildlife in one of the world's most startlingly severe backdrops. Not even your Canon EOS will quite capture it. – Sophie Donelson.

Artisans of Leisure, (212) 243-3239, www.artisansofleisure.com Cazenove+Loyd, +44(0)20 7384 2332, www.cazloyd.com

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Author GREG LINDSAY

A handful of new luxury commercial carriers represent an emerging "boutique" category in air travel, offering superior service, convenience and comfort to what is becoming a cult of business and leisure clients traveling between some of the world's greatest cities.

First Class carriers to beat them at their own game. “I keep opening the newspaper expecting to find someone doing this to Asia – Singapore, Hong Kong, I don’t know where – but someone will do it,” says Marc Rochet, CEO of the Parisbased L’Avion. He describes the economic logic behind this surge of aviation startups succinctly: “The competition for low-yield economy passengers willing to connect through hubs is very strong. That is why we think there is a niche market in a point-to-point, high-yield passenger.”

The first to fly was Eos, which borrows its name from the Greek goddess of the dawn, now operates two flights daily between New York JFK and London’s Stansted airport. Its customized Boeing 757s have had their 200 or so coach seats ripped out and replaced with just 48 “suites” ot since Concorde set down in Paris for the

N

that include lie-flat seats with 21 square feet of room,

last time four years ago has flying commercial

more than either British Airways’ or Virgin’s -- the airlines

retained even a glimmer of chic. Nowadays,

to beat on the world’s most competitive route, which now

globetrotting members of the smart set either

features more than 25 flights per day. More significantly,

own their own jets or discreetly charter them by the hour.

Eos undercuts its rivals on those routes by nearly 25%,

For everyone else, flying long haul–even in business class–

with unrestricted walk-up fares of $7,500 vs. BA’s $9,756

is usually something to be endured rather than enjoyed.

or Virgin’s $9,846.

If the only planes in the sky belonged to U. S. carriers,

But now Eos is facing its own cut-throat competitor

the NetJets snobs might have a point. American airlines

from the other side of the pond, Silverjet. Its new rival is of-

are awash in bankruptcy filings, hostile takeover attempts,

fering an good-enough product aboard customized 767s at

and relentless merger rumors, all of which is intended to

a relative bargain, starting at $2,000 round trip. Silverjet has

offer flyers less choices and less amenities than they al-

begun flights between Newark (where it is building its own

ready have. Faced with this looming shakeout, their most

VIP lounge) and London Luton, where it will offer “seat-

lucrative customers – the international business class trav-

side” check-in at a lounge within airport’s general aviation

eler who wants a flat-bed seat and a fast-track through the

terminal, promising an intimacy on par with private jets.

thickets of airport security – have already begun bailing

All of these things – the brand building, the Boeings,

out for the luxe treatment of overseas carriers like Emi-

the bespoke interiors and lounges – add up quickly. Sil-

rates Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.

verjet successfully floated its shares in the U.K before fly-

Hot on their trail is a new generation of boutique airlines with names like L’Avion, Eos, and Silverjet, all intending to serve only a handful of cities with maximum service and style, all for a fraction of Virgin’s Upper Class fare. They’ve marshaled hundreds of millions in venture capital and cherry-picked the best talent from the legacy 100 Thousand Club

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Eos (New York JFK - London Stansted) Number of seats; plane type: 48 seats on a Boeing 757 Seat pitch/size: 78-inch lie-flat bed.

Round-trip unrestricted walk-up fare: $7,500.00 Lounges/facilities: Shares the Emirates Airlines lounge at JFK; built its own lounge at London Stansted. Offers curbside assistance and guidance through security at both airports.

Other amenities: Frequent-flyer programs offers cash rewards in addition to free flights; partnered with the London concierge service Quintessentially to assist passengers after their flights.

Silverjet (Newark - London Luton) Number of seats; plane type: 100 seats on a Boeing 767 Seat pitch/size: 75-inch lie-flat bed.

Round-trip unrestricted walk-up fare: $2,652.00 Lounges/facilities: Private lounge within Luton’s general aviation terminal, “Silver Lounge” at Newark.

Other amenities: “Carbon neutral” -- the fare includes a charge to offset each passenger’s share of the flight’s carbon dioxide emissions; limousine or helicopter service to Luton from central London available, with additional fees.

L’Avion (Newark - Paris Orly) Number of seats; plane type: 90 seats on a Boeing 757 Seat pitch/size: 48-inch pitch; 140-degree recline Round-trip unrestricted walk-up fare: $5,150.00 Lounges/facilities: Shared lounge at Newark; private lounge at Orly.

Other amenities: A corporate partnership with Aria Limousine (www.arialimousine.com) means preferred rates on luxury car service to/from the airport in both New York and Paris.

ing, raising approximately $50 million, which it used to

L’Avion began flights between Paris Orly and Newark

purchase its first pair of planes. Eos has raised $160 mil-

in January at an introductory fare of just $999. With

lion to date, with which it intends to add more planes,

only $32 million in his war chest, L’Avion’s Rochet is

contemplate new routes to Paris and/or Zurich, and to

counting on word-of-mouth, first-mover advantage,

underwrite near-daily advertising in The New York Times

and lesser competition on his routes to carry the day.

as it continues to fight for traction against the incum-

He’s already eyeing additional routes for his 757 to

bents on the route. These are unheard of numbers for

more American cities, such as Boston, and, in the op-

such small-scale airlines; jetBlue, the most successful new

posite direction, to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. “The bou-

U.S. carrier in decades, began service to 11 cities in 2000

tiques may have begun life in the U.S. with Eos and

with just $130 million. Considering the high costs of both

MAXjet, he says, but now it is moving to Europe with

jet fuel and promotion, a shakeout among the boutiques

us and Silverjet. I think there will be one or two more

may not be long in coming.

in Europe – in Italy and maybe Germany – and then one

But there are more routes capable of supporting boutique service than just London-to-New York.

or two in Asia.” And Concorde won’t be missed for much longer. –Greg Lindsay 100 Thousand Club

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C

ould our skies soon resemble the Jetsons? The very light jet (VLJ) is a giant step in the right direction, making executive air travel, once the sole preserve of the super rich and the corporate giant, more affordable for all. The idea of smaller, technically advanced

jets has been around since at least the 1980s, when developments in navigation and electronics suggested something dramatic could emerge. And perhaps unsurprisingly, the VLJ start-ups swarm with former tech execs.

For example, the Eclipse 500 is the revolutionary concept from which the entire VLJ aircraft category has sprung in the 10 years since it was announced. Eclipse was founded by Vern Raburn, a former Microsoft executive, and has Bill Gates as a key investor.

According to Raburn, the tech is key. These planes may be more affordable, weighing in around $1.5 million – less than half the $4 million it now takes to buy a business jet – but those dollars buy a lot of innovative manufacturing processes, digital technologies adapted from the data

Taxi!

Very light jets are sending travelers, corporations, and commercial operators soaring. Could these high-tech, half price planes revolutionize the way people travel – or are we looking at a Segway of the skies?

technology industry, cutting-edge electronics in the cockpit, and advanced systems throughout.

The Eclipse 500 is the first pure VLJ to receive Federal Aviation Administration certification, meaning that it is now in full production. It will hold two pilots and three or four passengers and no bathroom. A competitor, Adam Aircraft, is nearing certification of its A700, which allows room for five passengers and a bathroom. CEO and founder Rick Adam once ran IT for Goldman Sachs.

Will first-to-market advantage win out? It depends on how the VLJs are used. They could be an addition to a corporate jet fleet, a new sky toy, or the savior of the nascent air-taxi industry.

Air taxis are the unknown in whether VLJs can achieve widespread success. Their business models are based on snatching business travelers from the highways by providing on-demand travel between smaller airports. The cost will be equivalent to a standard airline ticket, plus the cost of an overnight stay – between $1 and $3 a mile, much less than the $10 that a typical private jet might charge but usually more than a first-class or last-minute commercial air ticket.

Many of their potential customers now drive between cities, and it’s those folks who will have to put a high value on their time to make the investment in jets pay off. Will it work? Watch the skies.

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The Eclipse 500: a steal at $1.5 million

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TRAVEL 36 Hours in Las Vegas

36 Hours in Few things recharge the proverbial batteries like a quick romantic getaway. A carefully chosen location and proper planning can make them simultaneously exciting and relaxing – whether naughty or not. And what better city for either approach than Las Vegas? Count among the many vices on offer shopping, suites, dining, spas, and of course, casinos. It’s

Arrival 11:00am, Saturday

Wynn

Wynn

The Las Vegas Executive Air Ter-

Lunch 12:30pm

Shopping 2:00pm

You don’t have much time to

In recent years Las Vegas has

spare with dozens of luxury re-

added a virtual Who’s Who of de-

tailers to visit and a massage to

signer boutiques and specialty re-

minal at McCarran International

Check-in 11:30pm

follow, so make it a quick lunch.

tailers, with service to match the

Airport makes private arrivals

Check into the Wynn’s Fairway

James Beard award-winner Tom

world’s fashion capitals. There

and departures quick and con-

Villa suite, overlooking the

Colicchio’s ‘wichcraft (3799 Las

are nearly limitless luxury op-

venient-the key to a short get-

city’s newest and most challeng-

Vegas Blvd. South, MGM Grand

tions to choose from, including

away. Visit www.netjets.com to

ing golf course. Designed by Steve

Hotel, 702-891-3166) offers all-

Prada (3600 Las Vegas Blvd.

charter your flight and count on

Wynn’s own development group,

organic sandwiches famous for

South 702-866-6886) and Gucci

the Wynn Resort’s concierge to

the rooms are perfect for two, with

their amazing combinations.

(3500 Las Vegas Blvd. South 702-

book transportation-with op-

well-considered bathrooms and

Save some room for dinner and

369-7333). So put the Black Card

tions ranging from understated

considerable room to move, rest or

go with the many lighter options.

to work and prepare for your big

livery service to exotic car rental.

work. The space is also perfect for playtime, with all the required amenities and a lighting system designed with seduction in mind.

104

Wynn

‘wichcraft

the perfect mix for 36 hours of fun away from home.

100 Thousand Club

night on the town.

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Mandalay Bay

Las Vegas

Start the night with a pre-dinner

Las Vegas ranks among the

glass of champagne at the lounge

world’s greatest cities for dining

within the award-winning

options, with a Vegas outpost

Daniel Boulud Brasserie.

now almost essential in any top

Spa 5:30pm

Tucked quietly away from the

chef’s global growth strategy.

With one of the best spas in town

noise and excitement of the

Just ask Daniel Boulud or Tom

just down stairs you might opt

resort, the warm, stylish design

Colicchio, who also operates

Gambling 12:30am

for an elevator ride over a trip

sets the scene for a romantic

Craftsteak (3799 Las Vegas

Try your hand at a variety of top

down the strip, but if you are up

evening out. Or for a bit more

Boulevard South, MGM Grand

properties until you get hot. The

for a change of scenery the Bath-

buzz, Parasol Up, the comfy yet

Hotel, 702-891-7318). Choose

Bellagio (3600 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

house (Mandalay Bay Resort &

energetic casino bar just up stairs

MIX (3950 Las Vegas Blvd S,

702-693-7111), The Palms

Casino, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd

from the restaurant will certainly

Mandalay Bay Resort, 702-632-

(4321 West Flamingo Rd.,

South, 877-632-9636) offers

hold your attention with a

9500) for its sexy crowd, fantastic

866-942-7777) The Venetian

world-class spa services and a

non-stop stream of gamers and

views of the Strip and a hand-

(3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South,

grotto-like design that elevates

resort guests passing by the

blown glass chandelier with more

702.414.1000) and the Wynn

the spa experience. Do your best

plush environs.

than 15,000 glass globes. For a

are all favorites for their

to book the latest trend in treat-

more gastronomic “experience”

luxurious environments,

ments, the four handed massage.

try the 16-course tasting menu at

VIP gaming areas and

Obviously double the pleasure of

Joël Robuchon at the Mansion

personal service.

your usual Swedish.

(also MGM Grand Hotel &

The Palms

Dinner 9:30pm

Mandalay Bay

Drinks 8pm

Casino, 702-891-7925) – among the city best and most expensive.

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The Palms

TRAVEL

Wynn

Blow your winnings on bottle

Wynn

Clubbing 3:00am service at the Palm’s ever-popular Ghostbar or at Bellagio’s fa-

Brunch 2:00pm, Sunday

Golf 4:00pm

Departure 9pm

mous Light toasting the night

Well rested and ravaged with

Get in the Sunday swing at

Travel in style on Sunday night,

away with the A-list crowds from

hunger, room service is always

Steve Wynn’s new

with little baggage, a short ride

the coasts – which means a late

the best bet on a lazy Sunday af-

championship golf course,

to the airport and the comfort

arrival and early morning depar-

ternoon. But if you’ve escaped

designed by Tom Fazio.

of your chartered Citation V.

ture. Arrive home just in time for

the evening unscathed and have

Conspicuously located on the

The hotel concierge has left a

sunrise – best watched from bed

the energy to step out, poolside

strip, it’s clubhouse features

few tasty treats for your on-

with a nightcap already on ice

brunch has become a citywide

The Country Club (3131 Las

board enjoyment and in just a

and waiting courtesy of room

event. Any of the top resorts offer

Vegas Blvd South, 702-770-

couple short hours, you’ll be

service. Take it from there.

impressive options, served with a

3315), the classic American

home, rested and ready for

healthy dose of desert sun on a

steakhouse by nationally

Monday morning.

seasonal basis.

acclaimed chef Rene Lenger and perfect place to enjoy a post-round drink.

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Wynn Ed:19 FEB

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TRAVEL Wynne Las Vegas

Elegance and tranquillity in the heart of high-thrill Las Vegas

Wynn Las Vegas

W

ynn Las Vegas, opened in April 2005, as a refreshingly elegant and tranquil oasis amidst the high-thrill attractions of Las Vegas. The $2.7 billion destination resort is one of the

most luxurious resorts ever built and aims to cater to the specific needs of each guest.

Upon entry to Wynn Las Vegas, an ornate combination of fresh flowers, beautiful gardens and natural sunlight surround you. Stroll in any direction and discover the unique neighborhoods – sometimes exciting, occasionally tranquil but always imaginative.

Rooms and suites are each designed to feel like a stylish apartment, with floor-to-ceiling windows that provide unparalleled views of Las Vegas. Guest rooms are furnished with plush, European linens and bedding, as well as flat screen televisions in both the living and bath areas. Marble bathrooms are complete with soaking tub and separate shower, not to mention a 13" flat-screen TV. Suites feature a chic, cosmopolitan living and entertaining area with unbelievable views of the sparkling Las Vegas Strip or the Wynn Las Vegas golf course.

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An imaginative theatrical experience Cap off any night with theatre. A completely new form of staging and artistic performance, Le Rêve is the latest spectacular created by legendary director Franco Dragone. Performed in an intimate domed theatre in-the-round, no seat is more than 40 feet from the action.

Spa, salon and shopping The Spa and The Salon at Wynn Las Vegas focus on every detail of the guest. The spa boasts 45 treatment rooms equipped for massage, body treatments, facials and hydrotherapy. The Spa also houses a state-of-the-art fitness center. Separate facilities offer showers, steam room, sauna, and whirlpool. Each guest receives access to a private locker filled with spa robes, slippers as well as various hair and body care amenities.

Guests can make shopping a full-time activity at the Wynn Esplanade, which has an exclusive collection of boutiques including Brioni, Cartier, Chanel, Dior, Graff, Jean Paul Gaultier, Jo Malone, Judith Leiber, Louis Vuitton, Manolo Blahnik and Oscar de la Renta.

The ultimate dining experience Wynn Las Vegas guests can dine at one of the unique 22 signature food and beverage outlets designed and planned by the world’s most acclaimed master chefs such as Daniel Boulud, Alessandro Stratta, and Paul Bartolotta.

The beauty of nature (refined) Watch golfers tee off on our exclusive golf course, the work of Tom Fazio, Steve Wynn and Mother Nature. Or, as a guest of Wynn Las Vegas, play a round yourself, and work your way toward the 37-foot waterfall that presides majestically over the 18th hole.

And still there is more…

More to discover. More to enjoy. More to make your own. There may be words to describe Wynn Las Vegas, but in truth, only experience tells the tale. What story will you write?

Find out more: wynnlasvegas.com

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TRAVEL The Royal V

Lake Las Vegas’ crowning glory – the resort community of V Just 14 of the site’s 45 acres have been developed – leaving the fairways free

The Royal V

W

ith a nearly unlimited choice of amenities, the 2,600-acre Lake Las Vegas Resort has rapidly become the upscale neighborhood of choice in the fast growing Las Vegas area. And within this resort community reigns V, which sits regally atop the

highest hilltop of Lake Las Vegas.

Inspired by the Renaissance villages of Tuscany, V at Lake Las Vegas blends Italian-style architecture with its prime hillside location to create a truly exceptional living experience for its homeowners.

Created by Centex Destination Properties, a developer of premier secondhome, residential resort communities across the United States, V provides an incredible real estate opportunity just 17 miles from the Strip. Homeowners can enjoy their own peaceful sanctuary and an exceptional resort lifestyle with easy access to all the excitement of Vegas.

Centex Destination Properties intentionally planned the community to encompass development over just 14 of the site’s 45 acres in order to maintain an open, spacious feel and preserve the outstanding view corridors of the mountains, lakes, fairways, desert surroundings and the European-style MonteLago Village.

Set behind an elegant, gated entrance complete with its own caretaker’s cottage, V represents a unique collection of villas and townhomes, including The Estates, The Club Estates and the Palazzos.

The Estates The Estates range from 1,300 to 1,700 square feet. These distinctive oneand two-story residences feature Tuscan-inspired architectural details, wrought-iron balconies, carved archways and sun-washed color palettes. All homes include a private one-car garage, full-size washer and dryer, gas fire110

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places, natural stone flooring and designer carpet, as well as luxury kitchens and master baths with high-end finishes.

The Club Estates The Club Estates are planned to be truly spectacular residences. This unique collection of only 12 single level residences will offer two popular existing floor plans, along with two new floor plans. The Club Estates are planned with all the enchanting features of The Estates, but with new exterior finishes reminiscent of Tuscan country stone villas and cottages. The Club Estates plans will range from 1,600 to 2,050 square feet, providing two bedroom and three bedroom models.

The Palazzos The proposed pinnacle of the community will definitely be the Palazzos,

Interiors are finished to a high spec, with warm colors, Tuscan character and modern conveniences All homes inclue luxury kitchens

which are designed to provide commanding views of the surrounding lake and landscape. The proposed Palazzos plan includes five distinct buildings, which are designed to appear as individual lavish Tuscan Villas. Planned within each building will be 13 individual residences with top-notch finishes, warm colors, Tuscan character and modern conveniences. When fully opened, large operable window walls will bring outdoor living inside to create an animated singleentertainment space by combining the large interiors with the adjacent exterior balconies (each complete with an exterior fireplace). The Palazzo plans will range from 1,600 to 2,400 square feet, providing two and three (with or without study) models.

With its incredible amenities, V really is designed to be its own resort within the larger Lake Las Vegas Resort. The lifestyle at V centers around the clubhouse, La Casa Di Agio, which means House of Leisure. This three-tiered, multi-million dollar facility with panoramic views was intentionally planned on one of the prime pieces of land at V and modeled after the Renaissance tradition of living around water. This centerpiece attraction will provide a gathering place to meet with friends and family, while enjoying such luxuries as “wet sunning�, cabanas, stargazing, water gardens and a Southern Italian Renaissance-style spa grotto.

In addition to the easy access V offers to all the excitement of Vegas, there is also a wide choice of incredible recreation options in nearby Lake Las Vegas and the surrounding area. V homeowners can enjoy the Mediterranean-themed MonteLago Village with upscale shopping, fine dining and entertainment options, including casino. An abundance of outdoor recreation is available. Plus, there is ice-skating in the winter and concerts and movies under the stars in the summer.

Included with the purchase of a residence in The Estates is a Silver membership initiation fee for championship golf at the award-winning Reflection Bay Golf Club, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, and The Falls Golf Club.

These Silver memberships, subject to activation and payment of required dues, include golf at both courses with preferred green fees throughout the year.

With its own unique character, understated elegance and luxury residences, V at Lake Las Vegas affords the ultimate place from which to enjoy an unsurpassed style of resort living. The Estates villas and townhomes are priced from the $700s. Please see the V ad in this publication for additional details.

Find out more: www.v-llv.com

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TRAVEL Travel the World Without Leaving Home

Travel the World Without Leaving Home It used to be that serious wealth accumulated slowly. Not anymore. The people who are producing the most wealth in the world today started out somewhere in the middle and climbed up quickly on the strength of their ideas.

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he new generation has risen fast, re-

T

meets this quest for a private and bespoke experi-

taining their middle-class values and

ence. Consider the idea of finding the ultimate

tastes and redefining what it means be

home or perfect vacation option that meets the de-

wealthy. They overwhelmingly cite hard

manding expectations of the savviest of us – fabu-

work, focus, courage and determination – not con-

lous design, welcoming community, superb service

nections, intelligence or education – as the key

and the best destination or destinations.

drivers of success. Accordingly, wealthy families

Choosing a home aboard the globe’s

never lose their concern for price or their appreci-

largest private yacht, The World is, as one

ation for value. They purchase products or serv-

long-time Resident explains, “the perfect solu-

ices with the highest nexus of quality, exclusivity

tion”. Beyond eliminating the travel hassles

and personalization.

and providing a means to visit the most inter-

The World, the only private residential com-

esting, exotic and far-flung destinations, this

munity at sea, is the ideal lifestyle option that

truly unique ship has created a community of

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like-minded residents and guests intent on

tures, an art gallery and a study provide more cere-

seeing the globe in style.

bral pursuits. A range of nice reading rooms, deck

Since it first set sail in 2002, The World has peacefully visited over 100 countries from Albania

cafés, a card room and a range of bars allow for a variety of evening pleasures.

to Zanzibar. The World travels slowly and lingers

If you have a passion for travel and seek a per-

in port for several days at a time – on average 2.5

sonalized experience, The World is for you. As

days – while stopping at many out-of-the-way

shared by one of the residents: “There is nothing

places. It is about experiencing each destination

like this anywhere in the world – the sheer magic

thoroughly and in a leisurely pace and seeing it like

of going to the most fascinating place on earth in

you belong – not as a tourist.

the comfort of your own home.”

Among the hundreds of ports visited some of

For adventurous and discerning travelers who

the most memorable in past years have been

enjoy the comforts of a private villa or vacation

Antarctica, the Artic, South Africa, Macchu Picchu,

home, and also have a passion for the sea and life on

in-depth China and Japan journeys and month-

a yacht, The World marries these lifestyles perfectly

long sojourns in Australia and New Zealand.

and offers the most ideal way to spend a holiday.

In 2007, The World will sail to breathtaking and invigorating South America and to the many

Find out more: www.aboardtheworld.com

wonders of Europe .

A village at sea When onboard you can also enjoy the many amenities of this “village at sea”. The staff of 250 is there to ensure that the 150-200 residents and guests have a memorable holiday experience. The ship boasts four top-class restaurants including French, Italian and Asian dining options. The chefs can even be booked to cook privately for you in your apartment. Other features on The World include a gourmet market and delicatessen stocked with local produce in every port of call; a fully-stocked library with daily newspapers; a fullservice spa; and superior health and fitness facilities that include two swimming pools, and a full-size tennis court; a theatre for movies and lecEnjoy the many amenities of this “village at sea” A range of bars allow for a variety of evening pleasures

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Join one of the Food and Wine Circle of Interest cruises and meet with chefs from Le Cordon Bleu, one of the world’s foremost culinary institutes.

Enjoy hands-on cooking workshops and accompany chefs on shoreside market tours.

Luxury Goes Exploring With some of the highest space and service ratios at sea and superbly attentive staff, stepping onboard a Regent Seven Seas cruise guarantees traveling in style. But there’s more… rom the seafaring heritage of Radis-

F

go beyond what the tourists see, offering guests

son Seven Seas and the world-

the thrill of authentic discovery while in-

renowned service of Regent Hotels, a

dulging their pleasures and pastimes with the

new level of luxury is born: cruising

guidance of an expert guest host.

that is personal, individual and unique. On a

And along with the stimulation of enrichment

Regent Seven Seas cruise, guests can explore the

and the wonder of the undiscovered, you’ll find

places they visit from their own perspective –

yourself in a small, close-knit social circle of those

and as a traveler instead of a tourist.

who share your passion, enjoying an easy-going at-

Of course the four award-winning ships in

mosphere of camaraderie, fun and friendship.

the Regent collection offer the finest accom-

Come discover The Regent Experience, and

modations at sea, with pampering yet unob-

find out why Regent Seven Seas Cruises was voted

trusive service, superb cuisine, state-of-the-art

the world’s top-rated cruise line by readers of

technology and spas by Carita of Paris. They

Conde Nast Traveler in 2006.

also offer a unique way to explore the world through your own personal lens.

Whether your passion is history, the per-

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Find out more: www.TheRegentExperience.com or call 877 505 5497. ‘Luxury Goes Exploring’,

forming arts or fine food and wine, Regent’s

‘Circles Of Interest’ and ‘The Regent Experience’

‘Circles of Interest’ are themed programs that

copyright Regent Seven Seas Cruises 2007.

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Big Money Playa Paradisus Playa Conchal is investing more than $20 million dollars in expanding and remodeling Costa Rica’s largest and most luxurious hotel in response to a high demand for luxury hotel services in the country. aradisus Playa Conchal Hotel – a part of the renowned Spanish

P

In Costa Rica the visitor can enjoy lovely tropical beaches, the grandest ad-

hotel chain Sol Melia Hotels & Resorts – began expanding and

ventures, the wonders of nature and scintillating culture – all the necessary

remodeling its facilities in January of last year, to fulfill the grow-

components of an ideal vacation. No wonder, then, that thousands of

ing demand for luxury rooms in Costa Rica.

tourists have made Costa Rica their top travel choice.

The expansion reached a total of 20,500 square meters, consising of two

Last year Paradisus Playa Conchal attended to more than 200,000

new buildings of three floors each, providing a total of 102 new rooms under

guests, which justifies the important amount invested in new areas of the

the “Royal Service” category, the highest category of rooms in Paradisus

hotel. It has a total of 530 employees and the majority of them are from

Playa Conchal, which provides luxury and comfort within this natural and

nearby locations like Liberia, Santa Cruz, Filadelfia, Belen and Cartagena,

exotic destination.

contributing to the local economy.

“Besides the new rooms, the hotel decided to integrate a new restaurant

With the opening of its new facilities, the hotel will create 200 new jobs

and pool for the exclusive use of the 124 rooms within the Royal Service

– making Paradisus Playa Conchal Costa Rica’s biggest employer in the hotel

category – together with a new convention center with a capacity for up to

business. Besides direct jobs, the hotel’s business dynamics will also create

600 people, a new chill-out bar and club, and a casino” added Francina

a lot of non-direct jobs that will benefit as well.

Gutierrez, Director of Sales.

To cover the hotel’s local job demand, Paradisus Playa Conchal opened

Another innovation is the “Family Concierge” category, a luxury concept

a regional learning center in conjunction with INA (National Learning In-

for families wanting to travel in lavishness combined with very special and

stitute) to help promote students as front desk clerks, chambermaids, wait-

magical details for the children.

ers, cooks, bellboys, etc.

Paradisus Playa Conchal has been successfully operating for 10 years in Costa Rica, which has become one of the most visited countries in the world.

Find out more: www.solmelia.com

Playa Conchal Hotel – began expanding and remodeling its facilities in January of last year, to fulfill the growing demand for luxury rooms in Costa Rica.

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Author SCOTT MITCHEM Photography ROBERTO D’ADDONA

RioT

Destination

Rio de Janeiro’s boundless energy is set to the beat of the samba drum, drawing a sophisticated crowd from all over the world to its buzzing streets and brilliant beaches.

he world knows Rio de Janeiro for its sun and samba dancers, but lately, the city’s increasing gang violence has been top of mind. Only Mayor Cesar Maia’s recent

naming of super model Naomi Campbell as the city’s cultural ambassador seemed to register as news amidst the near-daily, and increasingly grim reports – and perhaps only because the highly criticized announcement came just days after she pled guilty to assault charges in a New York City court.

From broadcast media to the bloggosphere, the recent, unusually shocking reports of bus bombings and car jacks have overshadowed nearly all news coming out of Brazil. And while one might expect tourism to suffer for the increasingly sobering reports, there is one well-heeled group of travelers that remain undeterred and intoxicated by one of the world’s sexiest cities.

In recent years, Rio has become a favorite destination for the international jet set. Glamorous groups of celebrities, professionals, playboys and party girls arrive just before the holidays to enjoy its decadent, increasingly cosmopolitan scene, keeping the city buzzing through Carnaval. Count among them Mario Testino, Narcisco Rodriguez, and of course, Naomi Campbell. For this group, Campbell’s appointment as the city’s new spokesperson isn’t 100 Thousand Club

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such a surprise. They’ve seen her

boulevards of Zona Sul, the styl-

posh penthouses of Ipanema has

partying in Rio for years, bouncing

ish and wealthy southern half of

long been the modus operandi of

from hotspot to hotspot and often

the city, are a virtual wonderland

the local elite and celebrity resi-

creating her own “festas” at late

for both business and pleasure.

dents like Calvin Klein, a stylish

night haunts like Leblon's pizzeria

It’s a sexually charged scene pop-

set of new nightlife destinations

Guanabara – glamorous entourage

ulated with a virtual Who’s Who of

stretching from Leblon to Lapa

in tow. She launched a children’s

global players from the fashion,

has opened to cater to the now

charity there and in many ways, is

media and entertainment indus-

thick, though fashionable crowds

everything that Rio is, beautiful,

tries running unchecked and

and their high global standards.

sexy, uninhibited, and dangerous.

nearly anonymous in a refresh-

And this spring, Rio de Janeiro

The clear water and hot sands

ingly casual, low-key environ-

will solidify its place as an A-list

that surround Rio de Janeiro are

ment. Fun is by far the priority,

destination with the opening of

punctuated with dramatic moun-

but making connections or getting

two long-awaited projects.

tains, topped with the lush fo-

a bit of business done is always

liage, creating a stunning urban

easier in the sands of Rio. And

landscape that includes incredi-

“networking” with top local tal-

ble botanical gardens, the dy-

ent, whether wearing “fio dental”,

namic architecture of Oscar

the “dental floss” known the

Niemeyer and a non-stop parade

world over, or sporting a well-

of beautiful beach goers and

packed pair of Brazilian swim

local residents, called “Cario-

trunks, called “sungas”, is a big

cas”. This potent mix creates the

part of the draw.

backdrop for a decadent scene

For a particularly distin-

where, for the wealthy and fa-

guished portion of the jet set,

mous, anything goes. Between

wired in by local handlers, pro-

hard-bodied Brazilians and the

fessional contacts or personal

stylish “Gringos” visiting from

friendships, their fame and repu-

Europe

and the

the

tations ensure they never miss a

beaches

and

party. While cocktailing in the

DAMIEN SIMMONS

Americas,

throughout

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Right; Museu de Arte Contemoranea, Niteroi, designed by Oscar Niemeyer, Below; Ipanema Beach.

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restaurant family in Sao Paulo – perhaps more accurately the finest in all of Brazil. The hotel will include 82 rooms and 10 suites, featuring private butler service, spa, a lounge named Londra, and the Fasano Al Mare, the family’s newest dining experience, dedicated to traditional Italian seafood. And the rooftop pool and bar, complete with stunning views of “Dois Irmãos,” the iconic twin mountain peaks at the end of the beach in neighboring Leblon, is guaranteed to be the city’s next high-drama door. A sensitive, yet stylish addition to the neighborhood’s chic beachfront skyline, the property finally brings a fivestar boutique alternative to the historic Copacabana Palace.

And while it has taken roughly 75 years for the local competition to heat up, the Copacabana Palace intends to remain South America’s finest hotel with the launch of its multi-million dollar spa this April. Opening as the city’s best – oddly the first of its kind in a city packed with people accustomed to being pampered – the spa has a month’s long waiting list of locals waiting to decompress alongside regular guests such as Mick Jagger, George Clooney and Jean-Paul Gaultier.

The lone beacon of luxury in an otherwise no-go neighborhood, the

“A stylish set of new nightlife destinations stretching from Leblon to Lapa has opened to cater to the now thick, though fashionable crowds and their high global standards”

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The Fasano Rio, the sister

hotel will bring a flawless reputa-

property of Sao Paulo’s finest

tion for quality and service to its

hotel of the same name, will open

elegant, and sizable, new venture.

this July, bringing a host of new

Perhaps only Anouska Hempel's

luxuries to Ipanema beach.

new Warapuru Resort and Spa in

The project was “imagined”

Itacaré, Bahia, scheduled to open

by Philippe Stark for the leg-

later this year, will rival the spa in

endary Fasano family, but patri-

size, scale and breadth of services.

arch Rogério Fasano’s exacting

Securing a coveted reservation will

influence is clear. With his second

be a challenge even for the most

hotel, he is advancing a four-gen-

connected, unless of course you

eration old reputation as the finest

are checked into the hotel.

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“It has a culture all its own, a unique mix of beauty, sensuality and unfortunately, a little danger – just like its newly named envoy to the world”

122

While Rio sizzles all summer

car, though helicopter is the pre-

Santa Teresa and Niemeyer’s many

long, and New Year’s Eve and Car-

ferred mode of transportation for

modern masterpieces. In fact, Rio

naval are the high points, crowds

the posh pack of Brazilians that

is a year round destination in a way

can make the city difficult to nav-

host the casual but exclusive par-

most seasonal see-and-be-seen

igate and decidedly more pedes-

ties held on boats, private islands

spots can never be. It’s a special

trian. For the smart set, taking the

or in beachfront homes.

city that can become a part of the

party to the yacht-filled archipel-

And when the season ends,

people who visit and often keep

ago of Angra dos Reis or the bare-

unofficially after Carnaval, the

condos. It has a culture all its own,

foot chic peninsula of Buzios,

same set of devotees continue to

a unique mix of beauty, sensuality

once dubbed the St. Tropez of

visit for a quick fix of debaucheries

and unfortunately, a little danger –

South America, has become de

and to enjoy the city’s other gems

just like its newly named envoy to

rigueur. Both are just two hours by

tourist free, like Jardim Botanico,

the world.

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TRAVEL Destination Rio

FOOD

AND

DRINK Portuguese. Enjoy late afternoon “cafezinhos” at

Capricciosa Rua Maria Angélica 37, Ipanema, 21/2527-2656

the upstairs café.

Maria Bonita Rua Vinícíus de Moraes 149, 21/2523-4093

Ipanema’s favorite pizzeria attracts a low-key but stylish group of locals and visitors in the know

Rio de Janeiro’s source for major label

The experience at the city’s best “churassco” is one of pure decadence, beginning with a seemingly endless seafood and salad bar before a truly endless array of fire-roasted meats arrive table side.

designers and a few local surprises, Maria Bonita has been dressing the Carioca elite

FASANO GROUP

Porcão 21/2554-8535

since the mid-seventies.

HOTELS

Forneria Rua Anibal de Mendonça, 112, Ipanema, 21/2540-8045 Designed by famous Brazilian architect

Satyricon Rua Barão da Torre 192, Ipanema, 21/2521-0627

Isay Weinfeld, this airy, modern space is perfect for a light dinner, dessert or curbside cocktails.

Rio de Janeiro’s best seafood restaurant,

foreign dignitaries.

Gero Rua Anibal de Mendonça, 152, Ipanema, 21/2239-8158

Alessandro e Frederico Cafe Rua Garcia D’Avila, 73, Ipanema, 21/2239-6045 Lunching at this Ipanema cafe means eating

FASANO GROUP

Satyricon has served everyone from celebrities to

alongside Rio’s fashionable and famous.

Owned by the Fasanos, this Italian restaurant a

Celebrity sightings, sexy sidewalk traffic and a

must visit. The sophisticated service and

well considered menu make this a mid-day

comfortable room also make it a must return.

favorite.

The Fasano Rua Vieira Sonto 80 www.fasano.com.br

Sushi Leblon Rua Dias Ferreira, 256, Leblon, 21/2274-1342 It’s always a packed house at Sushi Leblon, the sexy anchor to the string of restaurants and cafes on the happening street of Rua D’Ferreira.

SHOPPING H. Stern Rua Visconde de Pirajá 490, Ipanema, 21/2274-3447 global client list from its beautiful Ipanema flagship. For the best experience, have your

Confeitaria Colombo Rua da Assembléia, 13, Centro, 21/2220-9008

concierge arrange an appointment, and avoid

This dining institution and tourist favorite

district, or Centro, and is known for its

Livraria da Travessa Rua Visconde de Pirajá 462, Ipanema, 21/22875157,

voluminous atrium and decadent brunch.

An amazing book and music store store with a

is located in the city's bustling business

their airport kiosks.

well curated offering in both English and

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ORIENT EXPRESS HOTELS

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Brazil’s most famous luxury jeweler serves a

Copacabana Palace Avenida Atlântica, 1702, Copacabana, 21/2548-7070 www.orient-express.com

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TRAVEL Destination Rio

BEACHES

Lanchonetes Compania de Fruta (Rua Visconde de Piraja,

Prainha

Ipanema, 21/2247-0795) is the best of the

This “little beach” is adored by surfers and those

storefront “lanchonetes” that dot the neighborhoods

in the know for its dramatic beauty. Secluded,

of Rio. Hundreds of fresh juices and smoothies

unspoiled, and difficult to get to, it remains a

made from exotic Brazilian fruits are the reason to

well-kept secret just south of the city. Taxis are

stop on your way to or from the beach. Don’t leave

hard to come by in this out-of-the-way location,

the country without trying Açai, a national treasure.

Garota de Ipanema Rua Vinícíus de Moraes 49, Ipanema, 21/2523-3787

maximum convenience and flexibility.

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so consider hiring a car for the day to ensure

café where Antonio Carlos Jobim wrote “The Girl

Jardim Botânico Rua Jardim Botânico, 1008

From Ipanema” has plenty of charm. Don't miss the

This beautiful, centuries old botanical

famous “Picanha”, a Brazilian specialty filet, table

garden is often overlooked in lieu of beaches

grilled here and widely regarded as the city's best.

and other attractions, but it is worth a visit

While not a luxurious location, the neighborhood

for its amazing array of sculptures, fountains

Lapa

and over 6,000 rare plant species from the

Live music institutions Rio Scenarium (Rua do

Amazon and beyond.

SARAH CURTIS

Lavradio 20, 21/3147-9005) and Cairoca de Gema (Avenida Mem de Sa 79, 21/2221-0043) have inspired the transformation of this downtown

WHEN TO GO

district. The area is a must visit for its amazing live

Late December Mid-March. Rio is hottest in the

Ipanema

samba music and increasing number of restaurants

South American summer, when stylish crowds

The most chic beach in Zona Sul is

and lounges. Lapa is also famous for its antique

of international globetrotters arrive for New

Ipanema, where the famous “Posto Nove”,

modern furniture shops and stunning Portuguese

Years and stay through the Carnaval season.

or lifeguard stand Number 9, attracts a

colonial architecture, making it a favorite

dense grouping of hip Brazilians and

destination both day and night.

sunbathers from all over the world. Enjoy

BE PREPARED Pack light and think simple but sexy. Leave

“Aqua de Coco” direct from the coocnut,

watches and jewelry at home, embracing the

served seemingly everywhere on the sand.

beach culture that makes the city what it is.

Forget the beach towels and buy a “konga”, as soon as you step on the beach. The simple

Leblon

cotton cloth is light, doesn’t carry sand and

Less of a scene, but equally posh, Leblon is

doubles as a sorong or scarf – making it an

home to the dramatic “Morros Dois Irmaos”,

essential part of your late afternoon look.

which, like the many beachfront hotels, loom

GETTING THERE

over the local sands. Grab a beer at Boutiquim Informal (Rua Humberto de Campos, 646) after

American Airlines 800-433-7300,

RIO CVB

the beach, the traditional Brazilian, pub-like bar

www.aa.com

is a popular destination for the area’s gorgeous, fun-loving residents.

MUST DO’S

Delta 800-221-1212 www.delta.com

Skip the Corcovado and take the cable car to the top of “Pao de Açucãr”, which

Japan Airlines (JAL) 800-525-3663,

Barraca do Pepe Quiosque 11, Barra, 21/9875-5910

offers an equally inspiring view of the

www.jal.com/en

Widely known as the hottest spot on the sands

happy hours and live-music events, it

of Rio, chic and sexy locals flock to Barra

features an amphitheatre perched atop

TAM (Brazilian Airlines) 888-235-9826

Tijuca’s popular beach kiosk for lunch, drinks

the large granite mountain.

www.tamairlines.com

and to see-and-be-seen.

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Sugarloaf Avenida Pasteur, Urca

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city and Guanabara Bay below, but with fewer tourists. Also popular for its sunset

United Airlines 800-241-6522, www.united.com

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Who Wants Ca ndy ?

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Author EVA HAGBERG

100Thousand Club’s Eva Hagberg sets sail with Candy and Candy, London’s Purveyors of Limitless Luxury. odern luxury isn’t what it used to be.

M

Candy & Candy, the boutique Londonbased firm behind Candyscape, a completely overhauled ultra-luxe literal dreamboat of a yacht, is redefining the rules of the open sea. Candyscape’s designers are expanding on and ex-

pounding about interpretations of luxury, and taking them all the way around the world.

Candy & Candy, a full-service interiors, architecture, branding, and design firm, riffing off of successful projects in locations from Los Angeles to London to Monaco to Russia decided to take their particular brand of multifunctional techno-happy design to a boat.

In 1994, the firm bought a 44.7-meter Benetti yacht – already a symbol of extreme luxury – and completely overhauled it. The boat is badass, with a cruising speed of 15 knots and a top speed of 16.5 knots, enabled by two 2,184-horsepower Deutz engines. Candyscape, available for private and corporate charter, finds itself (appropriately) based in Monaco, that European bastion of James Bond-style old-school-inflected luxury. But not forever.

Candyscape: Appropriately based in Monaco, Europe’s bastion of James Bond-style luxury

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We sat down to dinner and I won $500 – Candy & Candy’s multifunction dining roulette table Nick and Christian Candy: purveyors of “ultra-luxe, techno-happy” design

“Last year it traveled everywhere,” Brigitta Spinocchia, the firm’s creative

of the present tend to connect a modernistic exterior with an equally spare

director, says. “This year it has stayed mainly in the Med – St. Tropez, Cap Fer-

interior, a move away from Candyscape’s kind of old-school mahogany-and-

rat, Portofino.” If those ports sound like a laundry list of luxury, it’s only fit-

fine-wallpaper luxury, and towards a slicker-than-thou pared-down futurity.

ting for the boat, which Candy & Candy has tricked out in a combination of

Candy & Candy’s unapologetic return to the movie-magic-style luxury of our

old-school Italian-yacht-style luxury and what some might call bachelor chic.

minds’-eye Monaco is a back-to-the-future from-the-forties vision in its at-

“I think the boat has an essence of technology that people would call

tention to history.

‘bacheloresque,’” Spinocchia says, referring to what she calls the “boys’ toys”

“We did a facelift with Candyscape,” Spinocchia explains of the design

design elements: a multifunctional dining/roulette table, a bespoke media

approach. “The physical things that we changed were the floor and wall cov-

center – which the firm calls Kaleidoscope--with the capability to store thou-

erings, and the furniture.” In other words? “The things that, if you were to tip

sands of DVDs and CDs, the movies projected onto a ninety-inch drop-down

the boat upside down, would come out.” She says that the firm prides itself on

screen. If it sounds like it’s all a man’s world, though, Spinocchia is careful to

being able to take such a thorough approach, completely overhauling a space

point out that there are more “feminine” touches sprinkled throughout what

in order to conform with a completely different style than the existing frame,

she refers to as the boat’s turnkey-approached design. A Louis Vuitton-de-

while still keeping in mind the necessary synergy between the two. With Can-

tailed bathroom – designed to conjure those famous trunk sets--is one, chi-

dyscape, Candy & Candy focused on re-envisioning the ideals of a yacht.

noiserie wallpaper another. “I would say it’s a nice eclectic mix of both,” she

“We wanted to break the rules,” she says. “We wanted to think outside

says. All of the furniture was designed specifically for the boat, and the com-

the box, and take away all those curves that are always inside a yacht, and

plexity – and completeness – of the vision is clear.

think about doing something slightly different.” The firm went back to ar-

Fans of the movies The Island and Miami Vice might recall the boats of the

chitectural basics and thought about how to best relate the inside to the

cutting edge presented there. Sleek, narrow, and above all fast, luxury yachts

outside. “We looked at the external architecture of the yacht and tried to 100 Thousand Club

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For all of its size, Candyscape has a fixed volume: it can’t get any bigger, so they just made it better The 44.7-meter Benetti

complement the external architecture with the interior redesign,” Spinocchia says. “The two should work hand in hand.” The designers also had to work with elements unique to a yacht, focusing on safety as well as sexiness, on fire regulations as well as faux-crocodile. Still, Spinocchia says, Candy & Candy was able to break some of the more established rules of yacht design without compromising on boat safety, something absolutely integral to the design process no matter how uninspiring it might at first glance seem. Using existing parameters was, for Candy & Candy, as exciting as a design challenge as their current work on Candyscape 2, a from-scratch second boat.

Candyscape can accommodate up to twelve guests divided among six cabins, each with an ensuite bathroom. Spread over three levels plus a sundeck, the boat encompasses a master bedroom, a dining room/games room, a whirlpool, a lounge/cinema room, a galley/pantry, and crew’s quarters, along with atrium spaces and an outdoor bar. The interior incorporates details like gold leaf ceilings, crocodile skin-embossed leather flooring, a shagreen-covered bar, and silk handpainted wallcoverings, all visual cues inspired by 1940s-style prints and design.

The mutability of the spaces is all part of what Spinocchia refers to as a growing trend in lateral living. With physical space increasingly becoming the ultimate luxury, it’s a sense of openness and changeability that clients look for.

Having more bedrooms than the next yacht isn’t necessarily more luxurious; having more open space is. “We’re focusing on rooms that can become multifunctional,” she says. “When that transpires back to a yacht environment, it becomes a room where the doors slide back into pocket doors and it becomes one huge salon, or the dining room isn’t just a dining room, it can become a games room.” Where space is an issue, then, Candy & Candy focuses on finding ways to maximize it. And for all of its size, Candyscape has a fixed volume: it can’t get any bigger, so they just made it better.

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Paris Match

Author SOPHIE DONELSON

Patrick Jouin has reinvented Van Cleef & Arpels’ crown jewel, giving the Paris flagship more sparkle than ever. hen it came time to

W

searing through a block of plastic

choose a designer

to create a chair). Those space-age

to revamp the orig-

practices and his penchant for

inal Paris boutique

“complexity and modernity” cap-

of Van Cleef & Arpels, top brass at

tured the imaginations of the

the company didn’t let tradition

VC&A team. But, in the end, the

stand in the way of innovation. In-

spirit of the Paris boutique took

stead they enlisted Frenchman

its cues from a much earlier notch

Patrick Jouin to take on the cen-

in the timeline.

tury-old boutique in the jewel box

Case in point, the private view-

of French retail, Place Vendôme.

ing rooms where an arabesque of

Jouin’s ideas enchanted them. He

vines and flowers emerges from

envisioned the boutique as a

otherwise traditional wood panel-

dreamscape of shimmering flower

ing. Wood walls were common in

petals and warm honey-colored

the era of the Place Vendôme’s

woods with a chandelier of frothy

birth; and to prepare for this proj-

Murano glass bubbles cascading

ect, Jouin took himself there, and

from above. And with that, the

to the Paris of King Louis XV when

company gave him carte blanche

the Baroque era was in full swing.

(“white card” as Jouin would tell

Then, cabinetmakers were her-

you) to make his fantasy a reality.

alded as magic men, used carving

Until now, the 39-year-old de-

and ornamentation to depict fan-

signer has been best known as the

tasy landscapes rife with exotic

Philippe Starck alum that de-

plants and creatures. Artists

signed Alain Ducasse’s stunning

worked alongside them on frescos

Mix restaurant in Las Vegas. But

or intricate plaster trim, turning

in design circles, Jouin is some-

rooms into pure confection. Jouin

what of a legend for pioneering a

riffed on the era by hiring modern

more obscure art – the use of

day guildsmen to tweak age-old

stereo-lithography techniques for

techniques into a modern-day

furniture design. (Imagine a laser

masterpiece. Flourishes such as 100 Thousand Club

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vines are commonly rendered

human-size fairies, decked in jew-

headlines, first by winning over au-

Patrick Jouin’s uncanny wood bas-relief

plaster, but Jouin spun that motif

els, occupy cutout nooks, adding

diences with a brooch of blooming

showcasing the magnificent jew-

on its head, creating a totally un-

to the otherworldly feel.

roses at the International Exposi-

els. Though the whole of the bou-

canny wood bas-relief instead. For

Renaissance-era inspiration

tion of Modern Industrial and

tique bathes in welcoming, amber

this, Jouin elicited the help of Ate-

yields to another decade in the en-

Decorative Arts, the birthplace of

light, Jouin used blue-tinted illu-

liers Fancelli a multidisciplinary

trance hall where a chandelier

Art Deco. From that moment,

mination for the jewelry displays.

firm that is equal parts cabinet-

dangles Murano-glass orbs, sus-

VC&A’s jewels adorned royals and

“With the warm ambience, I

silver screen beauties, all taken with

wanted the jewelry to appear

VC&A’s forward-looking baubles

bright and cold,” says Jouin. “Your

(Princess Grace of Monaco was an

eyes are immediately attracted by

especially dedicated client). The in-

the jewelry, it’s the only thing that

“If you look carefully at the jewelry it’s full of nature and of dreams” maker, sculptor, and artist. Four

pended in space, feeling almost

novations kept coming. In the 30s,

is bright.” He even used indirect

members of the crew hand-carved

Sixties in its modernity. But its

the company unveiled the Mystery

light sources near mirrors so

the central woodland theme plus

backdrop is a curvaceous wall

Setting, a radical new way to clus-

“everyone looks beautiful” when

butterflies, dragonflies, and fairies.

from another time, as it’s decked

ter gems without visible prongs or

trying on pieces.

A slick sheen on the oak makes

out in Art Deco blossoms leafed in

supports. But through the years,

It’s a modern idea set amidst

the common wood radiant.

white gold. The oversize relief is an

the company was always inextrica-

generations of inspired touches.

ode to the Deco era when Van

bly tied to Place Vendôme; even the

For Jouin, that was all part of the

Cleef & Arpels hit its stride.

jeweler’s ‘mark’ bears the Place’s

plan. “There are parts of the bou-

iconic column.

tique that you can’t tell – is it the

“It came from an imaginary world,” says Jouin of the panels. “If

136

you look carefully at the jewelry it’s

Founded in 1906 after the mar-

full of nature and of dreams, I was

riage of two diamond-dealer heirs,

The paneling and the roses

1940s, ‘50s or the ‘20s? I’m like a

thinking about “A Midsummer’s

it wasn’t until 1925 when the

were reminiscent of other era, but

DJ, mixing histories, references,

Night

young company began to make

Jouin took a modern tack in

styles.”

Dream.”

Nearby,

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New York’s stunning new celebration of intamacy – Kiki de Montparnasse

Naughty, Naughty ...

S

oHo's latest retailer, Kiki de Montparnasse, is making both wideeyed tourists and know-it-all New Yorkers blush with an unexpectedly elegant offering of intimate instruments, gift items, and the city’s most luxurious lingerie. Former Diesel vice president Andrew

Pollard and accomplished fashion designer Jennifer Zuccarini launched the brand with a focus on “celebrating intimacy,” and since its opening last year, its clients have been doing just that.

Named after the French artist, muse and performer, the store uses sophisticated programming and marketing programs to put its clients in touch with their “inner sensualist”. From their well-executed intimacy workshops to the pretty, polished and professional staff, the brand is as dedicated to educating its clientele as it is enchanting it. The second floor

“salon” hosts both a range of high-end how-to seminars and discussion groups, as well as exclusive parties that have become the hottest invite in town. And while how to purchase intimate apparel or use 24-karat gold handcuffs might be obvious, other objects, such as the $750 rose quartz “instrument of pleasure” or the $595 “restraining arts kit” might require more explanation – a potentially awkward endeavor that is handled with ease by the delightful staff.

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Designed by Commune, the space is warm, sexy and functional – perfect for the inner sensualist in you

Designed by Los Angeles based interiors firm Commune, the space is warm and sexy, with functional features such as the “Before, During and After” lighting in the luxurious dressing rooms. The space is the perfect showcase for signature products such as the Swarovsky crystal encrusted vibrator, the strip poker set with sterling silver chips and a collection of potentially naughty although useful items ranging from digital cameras to reference books.

It’s these imaginative and inspiring products that have fueled the brand’s initial success, catching the attention of several local luxury brands. Boutique hotelier Jason Pomeranc, owner of New York’s 60 Thompson and Hollywood’s Roosevelt Hotel, is the first to partner with Pollard and Zuccarini, who will create customized intimacy kits for purchase in the mini-bars. Stylish and sensuous, the kits contain a beautifully designed, compact vibrator, three boxedcondoms,Kiki’sownsilicone-basedlubricant,andspecialtymints.Whatbetterplacetosurrendertoyourinnersensualist than a luxurious hotel suite?

Kiki De Montparnasse, 79 Greene Street, New York, (212) 965-8150, www.kikidm.com

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Second to None

Photography DOUG FOGELSON

With a history of world-class design and architecture, and a sophisticated group of auctioneers, galleries and retailers, Chicago is America’s premier destination for a modern shopping spree.

F

or most, Chicago isn’t top of mind as a global shopping destination. Despite a growing number of stylish boutiques for both men and women, the “Second City” is still considered exactly that, living in the long retail shadow of New

York. But for design professionals, collectors and enthusiasts, there is no better place in the country for modern and contemporary furniture and furnishings than Chicago. With a strong supply of collection quality originals available at more reasonable prices than in major coastal markets, and a plethora of top boutiques and showrooms, the city has become a must do destination for design junkies looking for a modern fix and a fun weekend away.

Chicago’s greatest legacy has always been design, taking nothing away from organized crime, politics, or the Blues. The Great Fire of 1871 leveled the city, creating a blank canvas for designers like Louis Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright and Mies van der Rohe to create their masterpiece of modern architecture. The city invented the skyscraper, and is proudly home to several seminal works that help create the picture perfect skyline. And recently, a new group of projects by the likes of Frank Gehry, Rem Koolhaas and Renzo Piano have added to the city’s world-class architour, raising its profile once again as one of the world’s most architecturally significant cities.

Between boutiques and buildings Chicago can certainly fill the daylight hours, but it’s a different group of destinations that will advance your modern agenda long into the evening. A crop of world-class restaurants, “gastro-experiences” and five-star hotels are giving the “windy-city” a nation-wide reputation for nightlife. Dining institutions like James Beard Award winners Blackbird and Charlie Trotter’s remain must visits, but the toughest tables in town are now set at Moto and Alinea. This duo of highly conceptual, highly acclaimed restaurants are booking six-months in advance, so you’ll need to make use of the concierge desk at one of the city’s great hotels-which include favorites such as the Park Hyatt and Four Seasons. You’ll also need to make use of that shiny new Centurion card, which will get a workout while shopping, eating and drinking at Chicago’s long list of hot spots.

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WELCOMED ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2006

Joseph D. Cinque President & CEO The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences

1 888 450 1887

55 Saint-Jacques Street West, Montréal (Québec) Canada hotelplacedarmes.com

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CASATI GALLERY

949 West Fulton Market, 312.421.9905, www.casatigallery.com Owner Ugo Alfano Casati has leveraged his expert knowledge of vintage Italian modern design into Casati Gallery, a gorgeous showroom featuring original furniture, lighting and accessories by designers such as Achille Castiglioni, Carlo Bugatti, Osvaldo Borsani and Joe Colombo.

Other rare gems, such as the striking one of a kind lobby chandelier, designed

by Gio Ponti for the famous Parco dei Principi Hotel in Rome, arrive after extensive buying trips throughout Italy. With one visit it is clear why Casati is considered one of the foremost authorities on Italian modern design in the Americas.

ORANGE SKIN 223 W. Erie St., 312.335.1033, www.orangeskin.com

JOE TANIS

Local designer and retail impresario Obi Nwazota opened Orange Skin showroom 2001, adding yet another source for new production, imported furniture pieces to the Chicago interiors shopping landscape. Nwazota has curated an interesting mix of modern furniture and innovative design products within his River North showroom, including top lines such as Minotti, Molteni&C, Kartell and Vitra and charming products such as indoor doghouses as well designed as the spaces they occupy.

Orange Skin also operates a successful design consultancy, collaborating with local interior designers and some of the world’s most well known architects, such as Adrian Smith and Helmut Jahn.

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SALVAGE ONE

1840 W. Hubbard, 312.733.0098, www.salvageone.com

While a solid source for midcentury modern furniture, Salvage One is known as one of the largest purveyors of architectural elements and salvage in the world, making it a must visit for the experience alone. The company’s voluminous warehouse is home to a seemingly endless collection of rarities, ranging from Mies van der Rohe original chairs to antique French cast iron balconies to 19th century limestone fountains adorned with cherubs. While perfect for those looking to fit out a country estate or pied-eterre, the space is also ideal for post-brunch browsing with a dynamic setting unlike any other in the city.

MORLEN SINOWAY

MODERN TIMES

ARTS 2020

1052 West. Fulton Market St., 312.432.0100, www.morlensinoway.com

2100 W. Grand Av., 312.243.5706, www.moderntimeschicago.com

895 1/2 Green Bay Rd., Winnetka, 847.501.3084, www.arts220.com

Located in the heart of the fashionable Fulton Market, Morlen Sinoway operates as the atelier for the designer’s own custom commercial and residential furniture. The space is also a showcase for premium lighting, flooring materials and accessories from across Europe. The designers and products are selected by Sinoway himself and are exclusive to his boutique, making it a must visit when shopping or gallery hopping in the city’s meatpacking district. Plan a late afternoon arrival to avoid the trucks and forklifts that still work between the local warehouses each morning.

Owners Martha Torno and Tom Clark have built reputations as two of Chicago’s mid-century design experts, opening Modern Times in 1991 in a Wicker Park storefront that helped the neighborhood become one of the city’s hottest shopping destinations.

Fern Simon clearly has modern design in her blood. The twin sister of Murray Moss, New York’s most influential interiors retailer, Simon owns charming Arts 220-suburban Winnetka’s source for vintage modern furniture. Featuring French and Italian mid-century pieces from companies like Prouve and BBPR, the small boutique is worth the forty-minute trek north from the city.

While in the area, don’t miss the Baha’I Temple, one of the city’s most arresting pieces of architecture-just ten minutes away on scenic Sheridan Road, over-looking Lake Michigan.

The boutique continues to specialize in beautifully restored rarities and first class originals from the usual list of suspects including Eames, Nelson, Saarinen, and Le Corbusier, albeit in a new location. They also offer an unmatched collection of modern lighting and interesting surprises such as vintage handbags, jewelry and accessories.

ART GALLERIES

moniquemeloche 951 West Fulton, 312.455.0299, www.moniquemeloche.com

Wright20 1440 West Hubbard, 312 563 0020, www.wright20.com

Bodybuilder and Sportsman 119 North Peoria, 312.492.7261, www.bodybuilderandsportsman.com

Rohna Hoffman Gallery 118 North Peoria, 312.455.1990, www.artnet.com/rhoffman.com

Luminaire 301 West Superior, 312.664.9582, www.luminaire.com

Julia Friedman Gallery 118 North Peoria, 312.455.0755, www.juliafriedman.com

Vedanta Gallery 835 West Washington, 312.432.0708, www.vendantagallery.com 100 Thousand Club

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FASHION BOOKS

AND

MUSIC

PRAIRIE AVENUE BOOKSHOP 418 S. Wabash Av. 800.474.2724, www.pabook.com The country’s largest and finest architectural bookstore stocks books on architecture, design, technology, and related disciplines. A collection of Chicago architecture guides and maps are available to help enthusiasts navigate the many local design treasures.

JAZZ RECORD MART 27 East Illinois, (312) 222-1467, www.jazzmart.com It’s not surprising that the world's largest record shop dedicated to jazz and blues is in historically music minded Chicago. The experts on staff help you navigate the seemingly endless offering of vintage records, CDs, media and memorabilia from these quintessentially American music genres.

IKRAM 873 North Rush Street, 312.587.1000, www.ikramonline.com

HOW

Owner Ikram Goldman puts together an impressive offering of top designers such as Imitation of Christ and Alexander McQueen each season, but what sets this boutique apart is the stunning collection of vintage clothing and accessoriesavailable at a premium. Ikram’s dedicated clientele has come to depend on her rare finds and of course, the considerable Jimmy Choo collection. The staff prides itself on personal service, so it’s no surprise many of the most special pieces never see the sales floor, especially when you consider that most of the clients don’t either. Private appointments are available on a case-by-case basis, so please ask nicely.

PRIVATE AIRLINES

Ultimo-114 East Oak St., 312.787.1171 Blake-212 W. Chicago, 312.202.0047

TO

GET THERE

NetJets, 877-356-5823, www.netjets.com

LIVERY Car Service/Taxi Delaware Cars and Limousines 1325 W. Lake St., 800.222.8370 Checker Taxi 845 W Washington Blvd, 312.243.2537 Yellow Cab Company

APARTMENT NUMBER 9 1804 North Damen Av., 773.395.2999 One of few fashion boutiques focused exclusively on men, this stylish little stop has become a local favorite by stocking top lines and securing citywide exclusives on brands like John Varvatos and Seize sur Vingt. Interesting gift items by the likes of Paul Smith add to the experience, as do owners Amy and Sarah Blessing. The stylish sisters are fun, friendly and seem to know exactly what fits, having spruced up clients in both Chicago and Los Angeles since 2002.

Barney’s New York-25 East Oak Street, 312.587.1700 George Greene 49 East Oak Street, 312.654.2490

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1004 N Elston Av., 312.942.0166

SHIPPING Terry Dowd,inc., 773.342.8686 Specializing in fine art and antiques transport storage and shipping.

Craters and Freighters, 847.427.0319 Domestic full-service crating and shipping.

SafePack Services, 773.736.3616 International full-service crating and shipping.

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GRAND HOTEL WIEN

Enjoy the ultimate luxury The legendary Grand Hotel Wien, member of the Leading Hotels of the World, is one of the most modern und luxurious hotels in Austria. Its location in the heart of Vienna, directly at the famous "Wiener Ringstraße", just a few steps to the Vienna State Opera and the "Kärntner" Street is incomparable.

Countless prominent personalities such as José Carreras, Dalai Lama, Cindy Crawford, Sir Paul McCartney, Michail Gorbatschow and U2 have stayed at the Grand Hotel Wien.

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Guests can enjoy culinary delights in three restaurants and two bars.

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HOTELS

THE PENINSULA CHICAGO

THE DRAKE

108 East Superior Street, 312 337 2888 www.chicago.peninsula.com

140 East Walton Place, 312.787.2200,

The Peninsula Chicago is one of the country’s premier properties, consistently topping editor’s lists as the city’s best. One reason is the newly launched Peninsula Academy, the highly personalized program designed to give guests insider access to areas of particular interest within the city, such as shopping.

The Academy offers inside access to the Kennedy family owned Merchandise Mart, and its 130 showrooms and over 2000 product lines are normally restricted to industry professionals. Local designer Merilee Elliott secures purchasing privileges to one of the world’s largest collection of home furnishings.

Elliott also serves as a personal tour guide and consultant, assisting with everything from space planning to shipping.

www.thedrakehotel.com

FOUR SEASONS 120 East Delaware Place, 312.280.8800, www.fourseasons.com/chicago

PARK HYATT 800 North Michigan Avenue, 312.239.4000, www.parkchicago.hyatt.com

THE RITZ-CARLTON 160 East Pearson Street, 312.266.1000, www.fourseasons.com/chicagorc

THE INTERCONTINENTAL 505 North Michigan Avenue, 312.944.1320, www.ichotelsgroup.com

RESTAURANTS

ALINEA

NoMi

1723 N Halsted Street, 312.867.0110, www.alinearestaurant.com

800 N. Michigan Av.,

LARA KASTNER

Chicago’s chef du jour is Grant Achatz, the wunderkind behind the sleekly sumptuous Alinea restaurant. A master of hypermodern molecular-gastronomy cuisine, Chef Achatz has built his stellar reputation on innovative tasting menus, where butterscotch-coated bacon is hung on wire trellises, sugar snap peas are delivered on aromatic miniature pillows and sauces are flash-frozen on AntiGriddles, patent pending “cooking” surfaces that achieve temperatures below -50°F.

312.239.4030, www.nomirestaurant.com

BLACKBIRD 619 W. Randolph Street, 312.715.0708, www.blackbirdrestaurant.com

MOTO 945 West Fulton Market, 312.491.0058, www.motorestaurant.com

CHARLIE TROTTER’S 816 W. Armitage, 773-248-6228, www.charlietrotters.com

AVEC 615 West Randolph Street, Chicago, 312.377.2002, www.avecrestaurant.com

THE BONGO ROOM 1470 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-489-0690

TRU 676 N. St. Clair St. 312-202-0001

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The right partner, the right place and the same attention to detail: it’s another classic NOBU

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Our Man in Hong Kong In a metropolis defined by its novel treats, and innovative combinations of eastern and western cultures and technology, the culinary track has generally followed the same pattern of inventive development.

However, in veteran chef Nobu Mastuhisa, Hong Kong should be delighted to find an old hand.

Author HARLAN SETH DAVIS

F

or the most discriminating diners and connoisseurs of Japanese food, “broiled black cod with miso” conjures both images and taste buds that always lead one back to one of Nobu Matsuhisa’s seventeen in-

ternational eateries, spanning the globe from Malibu to Mykenos. To any international traveler or appreciator, the Nobu namesake has become as common place in the worlds of business and leisure

The inventive Japanese peruvian food at NOBU InterContinental – as good as the views

travel as it has to the dedicated diners of the original Matsuhisa outpost in Beverly Hills and the landmark temple of gastronomy, NOBU in Tribeca.

The newest outpost in the innovative chef’s portfolio is the NOBU InterContinental Hong Kong, which opened last December, delighting the 140 lucky diners who reserved their seats within the first hour of bookings being taken.

As Nobu-san – as he is known to many – continues to expand his empire, the locales and settings become increasingly enthralling and meticulously located. When dining at the original NOBU for the first or fiftieth time, it is a difficult task to take attention away from the perfectly fried rock shrimp tempura or impossibly fatty toro tartar and fully 100 Thousand Club

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appreciate the carefully crafted David Rockwell designed interior. In this newest outpost in the InterContinental Hong Kong, the inventive Japanese-Peruvian food must compete for attention against floor-to-ceiling awe-inspiring views of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island. The setting aside, Nobu himself seems as energized about this Hong Kong venture as he did in 1994 when he opened the doors to the original NOBU at the constant urging of partner Robert De Niro.

Says Nobu, “Hong Kong is extremely cosmopolitan, fashionable and international… In addition many of our regular clients who travel internationally are dining at NOBU restaurants around the world, so we now look forward to greeting our friends from abroad here in Hong Kong.”

While to even the most novice international reveler Hong Kong is anything but a random locale for this newest venture, the right partner was a sticking point in Nobu’s determination of the right time. “Opening in Hong Kong now means I have found the right partner and address in Hong Kong because it has the best view, location and reputation.”

It is clearly not a stretch to tag the InterContinental Hong Kong as the most desirable milieu in the sparking, sea-side city, and competing 150

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against the ranks of Shangri-La, Peninsula, and

the Hong Kong and Asian dining scene. Having

Mandarin Oriental only highlights even further

a chef of Nobu’s caliber open a restaurant at our

the grandiose features of the twenty-seven year old

hotel further enhances not only InterContinen-

property. Beyond the pleasantries of butler service,

tal Hong Kong’s reputation for innovative food

the Alaine Ducasse restaurant SPOON, and the

and beverage, but also Hong Kong’s position as

Club InterContinental exclusive retreat on the sec-

one of the greatest culinary cities in the world.”

ond floor where every conceivable personal and

While the natural beauty of NOBU Intercon-

business need is met and surpassed in a moment’s

tinental Hong Kong’s setting would be adequate

notice, the property is grandly situated on the

for even the fussiest foodie, David Rockwell’s

Kowloon waterfront, overlooking the stunning

team in New York has designed a space that’s ul-

panorama of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Is-

timate goal was to provide the amalgamation of

land also gazed upon from NOBU. Also awaiting

the essence of Nobu’s native Japanese country-

the most discerning of voyager is the famed Pres-

side with the influence of water, inspired by Vic-

idential Suite, boasting 7,000 square feet of lav-

toria Harbour. For those descending into the

ishness and luxury that surpasses any other in

restaurant with only Norway native Executive

Hong Kong. Clearly Matsuhisa was not capricious

Chef Oyvind Naesheim’s – formerly of NOBU

in his partnership with this most prolific property.

London – yellowtail sashimi with jalapeño in

While this newest edition to a world-class din-

mind, Rockwell’s ode to the motion of sea, in the

ing resume replaces a celebrated veteran in the

form of the sea urchin ceiling, a rippling fixture

seafood shrine YU, even Managing Director of the

made from over 450,000 tiny sea urchin spines

property Jean-Jaques Reibel knows that he has

may not be the feature presentation. A main at-

struck culinary gold. “From its superb Japanese

traction it becomes, however, especially when

cuisine to its high profile clientele, NOBU Inter-

combined with the bar that surrounds a cascade

Continental Hong Kong is a welcome addition to

of 7,700 black riverstones. As any serious diner Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island provide the backdrop to a stunning David Rockwell interior

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can attest, when entering any Matsuhisa eatery, it becomes quite apparent within a moment’s notice that the carefully crafted signature dishes, all the brain-child of Nobu himself, take centerstage. Within the walls of this newest sanctum, however, the Rockwell group has succeeded in sufficiently maintaining the individuality and intimacy that has characterized Matsuhisa’s establishments, the world over.

Provisions and surroundings aside, Nobu has been busy with other ventures as well, namely the creation of two private label sakés, both of which were crafted exclusively for him by Hokusetsu Saké from Sado Island, Japan. The bamboo saké cups that have become so familiar to NOBU dedicatees with a leg on each side of the globe will now be filled with special varietals brewed by Hokusetsu during the most arctic days of the year. For those of us whose search for A cascade of 7,700 black riverstones surrounds the bar – scotch on the rocks anyone?

Hokusetsu products in the United States has been crushed by the realization that they are exclusively sold through Matsuhisa’s restaurants, these specialty brews are a welcome respite. Now if only we could get Hokesetsu himself to play the New Age music of Japanese composer Kitaro to us, as he does to his famous bottles of Ongakushu saké for three years in a special cellar.

While Hong Kong is not as easy a trek as a cab ride from Museum Mile down to Tribeca, one thing has become vividly apparent while trotting the globe for white fish tiradito in London to squid pasta in Tokyo. Nobu knows no boundaries and never fails to astound. So Nobu-san, where to next?

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Cuba’s Coup de Grace

F

or decades, the thrill of the chase has only fueled fanned the flames of Cuban’s cult status, sending admir-

President Kennedy was so mesmerized by Cuban cigars, the legend went, he ordered up hundreds of cases of Upmann’s moments before signing off on the trade embargo with Castro’s Cuba in 1962.

eres to Europe, or to middlemen, in

the quest forwish-fulfillment. Forty-five years later, purists still hold Cuban cigars in the highest regard, believing that they’re produced from the world’s most premium tobacco leaves and rolled by the world’s best craftsman. The only hitch loyalists see are the ever-higher prices. Though even that adds to the cachet.

Of course, it’s not impossible to procure, say, a spicy Romeo y Julietas in any urbane city.

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CUBAN CIGAR:19 FEB

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SNAPSHOT

One simply must know the right people and pay a premium for the hand-made contraband.

The best Cuban cigars, grown in the Vuelta Abajo in western Cuba, benefit from sweltering

Take the burn out of buying

daytime heat countered by cool nights, but the real coup de grace is the hand rolling, a dying art in Castro’s Cuba.

The crescendo of speculation that the reign of the Cuban was on borrowed time came in the late 1990s, when, due to an explosion of exports (from 30 million cigars at the beginning

When Mark Twain coined the phrase, “If I cannot smoke in heaven, then I shall not go,” he could have been speaking for every cigar smoker. But what happens “If I cannot buy good cigars in heaven?”

of the decade, to 300 million by its close) the quality of product seemed to be slipping with

The key to a good cigar is not always the price, how the tobacco has been prepared,

counterfeits further endangering the prestige

constructed and aged is equally important.

factor. And Cuba’s climate-endowed neighbors

Premium cigars – far and away the most popular purchase – can be “machine

– in Honduras, Jamaica and the Dominican Re-

bunched” or “handmade”. The difference between the two is more than semantics.

public – were catching up.

Machine-bunched premiums are only rolled by hand (hence the term, “hand rolled”), whereas handmade cigars are constructed entirely by hand. Sadly there isn’t a “rolled on the thighs of virgins” standard.

“Super-premium” cigars are a cut-above both, simply because they are made with specially selected tobaccos and higher-grade wrappers (the most expensive part of the cigar). Super premiums also tend to have been aged longer, which enhances taste and complexity.

“Vintage” cigars are the gand-crus of smoking. These cigars may be aged longer than super-premiums but, most importantly, the components are made from all or a portion of a tobacco crop that had an unusually good year.

Size rules For any given brand/blend, the size will affect the taste. The rule of thumb is: “the bigger the ring, the fuller the flavor – the longer the cigar, the cooler the Today, the politicos and financiers who frequent Manhattan’s Club Macanudo, just off of

smoke”. If you find a cigar too rich, try it in a smaller ring. Because less leaf is used it will have less punch but the same taste.

Park Avenue, seem content to partake in the fruits of these improvements. Although the

Where to buy?

Cuban cigar industry has benefitted from an in-

Cuba’s tobacco growers are arguably the best in the world, but they don’t nec-

flux of capital in 2000 when the European con-

essarily make the best cigars. Many expatriate cigar makers moved to The Do-

glomerate Altadis bought a 50% stake in

minican Republic after the Cuban revolution and took their priceless knowledge

Habanos SA, critics say that buying Cuban can

with them. Honduras has a similar climate to Cuba and similar number of expa-

be a gamble. Says General Cigar Company’s

triates as The Dominican Republic, while Nicaraguan cigar makers are back to their

Victoria McKee, “”It’s a forbidden fruit. The al-

1970s peak.

lure of Cubans is founded on mystique. Pre-em-

The best option is to choose a reputable supplier and experiment. Try different

bargo Cuban cigars were the top of the line, but

sizes, standards and blends until you find the one (two, three, four, or more) that

today, you risk buying a plugged cigar – the

is right for you.

construction just isn’t there.” As she surveys the

As the self-styled “world’s largest humidor”, Cigar500.com carries only original

after-work crowd filling the club, McKee says,

brand cigars protected by guaranteed UPS delivery and Cigar Authentication Cer-

it’s cigar master’s like GC’s Daniel Nunez who

tificates.

are transforming the industry. Now, with products like the Partagas 160, a limited reserve premium cigar, on the market, there’s simply no need to look to Havana.

158

100 Thousand Club

Find out more: www.cigar500.com

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WEALTH Drink the Profits

mission (either directly or via a buyer’s fee) that must be factored into the final selling price of a wine.

Auctions have tended to be the favored method for many collectors and investors over the years and they are still the most respected and common platform

Drink the Profits

primeur” or as a “future” allows

for the trade of the very best

connoisseurs and the wine investor

wines. Auctions are pure expres-

to buy at the market’s first pricing

sions of the marketplace on any

The complex world of wine investment can drive even the most serious players to drink. Christie’s Head of North American Wine Sales, Richard Brierley, describes a sophisticated landscape to the 100Thousand Club, and suggests a rather enjoyable investment strategy.

for wines to be delivered in two

given day and create global com-

years time.

petition for the wines on offer.

They have become incredibly sophisticated and international.

ered when investing in wine.

For the investor, this advance-

One’s investment in great wine

ment brings closer the split-second,

will only be successful if the wine

reactive marketplace that allows for

is ideally stored during

the best prices to be

the years of its matu-

achieved at any one

ration.

time. The value at-

he huge growth of the

T

easy to ascertain quality. “Blue

wine business has seen

chip” wines now include the best

more and more people

of Burgundy, Italy, Spain, Califor-

space may choose

one market may be

competing for the great

nia and beyond.

to make a cellar in

considerably

wines that were once only available

Wine investment has become

their home. And

higher than in

to the privileged European fami-

quite the hot topic amongst

they come in all

ones own. So, by

lies. Now collectors and connois-

wine lovers and professionals.

sizes,

buying early and

seurs across the globe seek out the

Whilst prices of the great wines

simply functional

very best. It is natural then that the

have continued to increase –

to the elaborate “sec-

price increases generated by this

often outperforming the major

ond homes” of wine fa-

huge demand that out-strips sup-

economic indicators – most still

natics.

ply, has led to speculation on the

invest for different reasons.

choose – the temperature and

world’s best vintage wines.

160

Insurance and storage are considerable costs to be consid-

Those who have

from

tached to a wine in

the

Whatever

at the right price and selling to a you

Whether investing for financial

humidity control is the highest

growing international audience for the very best wines, wine investment can be successful. I prefer a

Many of the investment grade

return, or in the hope of a complete

priority. Off-site storage is typi-

mixed approach; buy five, sell

wines are still to be found in Bor-

and harmonious mature wine, the

cally $20-25 per case, per year.

three, drink two for free (also

deaux and the 1855 classification

time to ‘liquidate’ might well be the

The cost of liquidating your

known as drinking the profits),

system in Bordeaux; grading the

same. The wine’s first major in-

cellar is also an expense in itself.

and if all else fails invite all of

great châteaux from first through

crease in price tends to coincide

In most cases to get the best

your friends over to drown your

fifth growth, made it relatively

with its maturity. Buying “en

price, a seller will pay a com-

100 Thousand Club

sorrows.

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