CELEBRATING MORE THAN A CENTURY OF EXPERTISE, INTEGRITY, AND EXCELLENCE
CHIEF
EXECUTIVE
SENIOR
CREATIVE
EDITOR
CONTRIBUTING
Ayzia James, Skye Sherman
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Nick Mele, Karin Belgrave, Randi Fair
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Rita Guarna
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Stephen Vitarbo
SENIOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Darius Amos
ASSISTANT EDITOR Kirsten Meehan
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Robert Beringela, Christen Fisher, Leslie Garisto Pfaff, Everett Potter, Donna Rolando
PUBLISHER
Lizette Chin
ADVERTISING/PRODUCTION
SERVICES
Penny Boag, Griff Dowden, Christopher Ferrante, Jacquelynn Fischer, Catherine Rosario
A CCOUNTING
Kasie Carleton, Urszula Janeczko, Steven Resnick
PUBLISHED BY Wainscot Media
CHAIRMAN
Carroll V. Dowden
PRESIDENT AND CEO
Mark Dowden
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENTS
Rita Guarna, Lizette Chin
VICE PRESIDENTS
Nigel Edelshain, Thomas Flannery, Noelle Heffernan, Maria Regan, Steven Resnick
Cover photograph of Dileiny Baron by Jonathan Paul.
DEAR FRIENDS,
Welcome to our latest issue of ACCENT magazine, for fall and winter 2024. It’s hard to believe that the sun has set on summer, we are already halfway through fall, and preparing for the rapidly approaching holiday season.
Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, however, we’d like to bring you up to speed on some of the things happening in our corners of the world. First, we’re thrilled to mark our 48th season in Palm Beach with the onset of a renovation to our Worth Avenue store. The plans feature a reimagined space to spectacularly showcase our brand-partners including Tudor, Breitling, Breguet, Fred, and Chopard, along with the beautiful jewelry and spectacular diamonds that are hallmarks of the Hamilton Jewelers collection. This significant renovation will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2024, and we’re already counting the days until we can welcome our clients into this exciting new space and customer experience.
In August, Hamilton took its latest crop of employees back to school with Hamilton Jewelers University, our annual team-building event that underscores our commitment to fostering a strong company culture and ongoing investment in our team members’ professional growth. H.J.U. sessions focused on collaboration and jewelry knowledge—from gemstone setting and watchmaking to engraving and coding—and provided our newest associates with the opportunity to acquire the skills they need to perform their jobs effectively and empower them to take on other challenges that enhance the client experience, as well.
Finally, this year we were incredibly honored to be nominated for—and even more honored to receive—the 2024 WatchPro Award for Multi-Generational Watch Retailer. We are fortunate to be part of an intimate collective of multi-generational luxury retailers in the U.S. and around the world who perpetuate similar values and legacies of family, community, quality, and knowledge. In an age of consolidation, global conglomerates, and standardization, the independently owned multi-generational firm offers a level of individuality, service, and care that truly is second to none.
Please enjoy this issue with our compliments and best wishes for a joyous holiday season. We look forward to seeing you in the Palm Beach and Princeton stores soon!
HANK B. SIEGEL, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O. @HAMILTONCEO
ANDREW I. SIEGEL, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
@HAMILTONNEXTGEN
The Hamilton Jewelers flagship, located at the corner of Nassau and Witherspoon streets, in downtown Princeton.
HAMILTON HAPPENINGS
THE THIRD ANNUAL HAMILTON JEWELERS GARDEN PARTY
Spring was in the air on Thursday, May 9, when Hamilton bedecked the doorway of its Princeton boutique with a bevy of blooms for its Third Annual Garden Party.
The V.I.P. shopping event featured the new spring 2024 collections from Hamilton’s top jewelry designers and invited guests to indulge in exclusive in-store-only experiences: custom fashion sketches by artist Deanna First; light bites, sweet treats, and drinks from The Roving Bar; an exclusive “forever” bracelet gift with purchase; and a Hamilton Home sweepstakes. The Garden Party trunk show continued through the weekend, as shoppers were able to peruse a special selection of pieces with a portion of the proceeds benefitting local nonprofit organizations Princeton Nursery School and SAVE Animal Shelter.
AN EVENING WITH BVLGARI IN DOWNTOWN PRINCETON
On Thursday, April 18, the Hamilton Jewelers Princeton location hosted an evening of Italian artistry and craftsmanship in celebration of the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Saga timepiece.
The extraordinary watches—which the luxury brand debuted in 2014— have raised the bar for timepiece design, setting nine world records in the process, including its latest achievement as the thinnest mechanical watch ever produced. The special collection, which was on view at the store throughout the following week, also included the limited-edition timepiece created in honor of Bvlgari’s 140th anniversary.
ROBERTO COIN COCKTAIL PARTY ON WORTH AVENUE
On Wednesday, February 21, Hamilton joined fashionable forces with the art and lifestyle publication Galerie and Italian fine jewelry designer Roberto Coin in support of the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach. The beautiful evening began with a shopping and cocktail hour at Hamilton’s Worth Avenue store, in Palm Beach, featuring an exclusive selection of new and high jewelry pieces from the luxury designer.
A private dinner at the home of the magazine’s founder and editorial director Lisa Cohen followed, and a portion of the evening’s overall proceeds benefited the Palm Beach–based nonprofit organization, which protects and celebrates the architectural, botanical, and cultural heritage of Palm Beach through advocacy initiatives, educational programs, architectural resources, and cultural events.
VENETIAN PRINCESS
THE MISSION
“Our mission is simply to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Over the past 53 years, the BGCPBC has opened in the county’s most disadvantaged areas so we can reach and serve the children who need us most. Without us, the vast majority of the young people we serve at our 20 club facilities would have little, if any, option but to go home to an empty house each day after school and spend their summers in unsupervised situations. Left alone, not only are children afraid, but they’re also at far greater risk of becoming a victim or, worse yet, becoming a victimizer. Instead, they are with us, in a safe, supervised, and educational haven, where they are with caring youth development professionals and certified teachers.”
THE PROGRAMS
“With the high cost of living, many parents and guardians are often working two jobs just to make ends meet and are still unable to afford the high cost of after-school or summer programs. BGCPBC is one of the few affordable programs that allows parents to find employment and maintain it knowing their children are in a safe place. In addition, children, particularly those from economically disadvantaged areas, are not reading or comprehending math at their grade level, and the clubs employ both youth development professionals and certified teachers to help even the playing field. All of this is funded through myriad grants, charitable foundations, individual donors, special events, and governmental support, particularly from the Department of Education, which funds our certified teachers.”
CHARITY SPOTLIGHT
SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITIES THAT SUPPORT US
When Irving Siegel opened Hamilton Jewelers in 1912, he established a foundation of honesty, integrity, and service to customers and community. We continue to hold firm to that founding tenet today, and to that end, we work with and establish relationships with many charitable organizations in all of the places we call “home.” One such nonprofit is the Boys & Girls Club of Palm Beach County. Here, Erin Nicoloso, the BGCPBC’s vice president of marketing and business development who’s been with the organization for more than a decade, shares with us a few of the things that makes the BGCPBC so special—and so important.
THE FUTURE
“There is a slate of special activities for the upcoming 2024-2025 season, everything from smaller-scale job fairs, holiday functions, and sports competitions, to the BGCPBC’s Annual Winter Ball and Barefoot on the Beach fundraising events. And in January 2025, the BGCPBC will break ground to build a new, 31,000-square-foot, state-of-theart clubhouse. One wing will offer traditional Club programs for youth from 5 to 13 years of age and the other wing will be a Workforce Readiness Center dedicated to helping teens graduate from high school with a plan for the future, whether it be going on to post-secondary education, completing a certification program for a skilled labor position, or joining the military.”
Actor Chris Hemsworth brings a superhero sensibility to the watches he collects— bold, sometimes larger-than-life and always in perfect taste.
Ryan Pierse
/ Staff
/ Getty Images
CLASSY AUSSIE
TIME HASN’T DIMMED THE APPEAL OF FORMER “SEXIEST MAN ALIVE,” CHRIS HEMSWORTH, BUT IT’S INSPIRED SOME SPLENDID ACQUISITIONS
He’s become identified with Thor, the Norse god of thunder, and for your average actor that might be a pinnacle. But it was just a step on the path for Chris Hemsworth, the Melbourne, Australia-born actor named by People magazine a decade ago “the sexiest man alive.” The now 41-year-old is a durable Hollywood A-lister and one of the film industry’s top action performers. He turns heads wherever he goes with his drop-dead good looks, his superhero-sized star power—and his discerning taste in watches.
Hemsworth became a household name, of course, with his portrayal of Thor in Marvel’s sprawling cinematic universe, first in the 2011 film that shared that character’s four-letter name and then in seven subsequent pictures. He brings a grounded charm, a heavenly physique and a deep passion to the godly superhero. And passion, for this player, is no mere prop. Anything Hemsworth loves becomes integrated into his public image, from his exercise routines to his children’s interest in martial arts. He’s a loud and dedicated sports fan, particularly of his beloved Western Bulldogs of the Australian Football League. He also has a family connection to motorsports—his father raced motorcycles. That connection deepened with 2013’s biopic Rush, in which Hemsworth played Formula 1 driver James Hunt. That role is what connected him to the TAG Heuer Carrera Sport Chronograph. Hunt wore the same watch, and it began something of a love affair. Hemsworth was the brand ambassador for the Swiss watchmaker for five years. He’s frequently photographed wearing the Jack Heuer Autavia 85th anniversary edition, a 2017 remake of the famous Jochen Rindt model from 1966.
Though he left the ambassadorship in 2021, Hemsworth’s tastes have proven
WATCHES TO WATCH
Though Chris Hemsworth seems to gravitate toward the pink tones of rose gold, he went bold and shining yellow with this yellow-gold Rolex Submariner Date. With a dramatic dark face, this piece weighs a hefty 296 grams, but its visual impact is worth every gram.
It was Swiss brand TAG Heuer that first captured Hemsworth’s imagination and pulled him into the world of timepieces. The Carrera Automatic Chronograph, with its brown strap and understated luxury, was featured in the movie Spiderhead which he starred in and produced.
Cool, sleek and blue as his eyes, the hyper-chic Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Date was the Aussie actor’s watch of choice for the Spiderhead premiere.
to be loyal. In the 2022 movie Spiderhead, which he produced as well as starred in, he wore a TAG Heuer Carrera Automatic Chronograph model, with an anthracite, sunray-brushed dial, as sinister prison head Steve Abnesti.
Another of Hemsworth’s loyal tastes: the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak line. One, worn at a 2022 screening of TV show Limitless with Chris Hemsworth, is a pink-gold-on pink-gold piece with a deep blue tapisserie dial. Very classy, very retro and extremely eye-catching. And he topped that at 2023’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he debuted his all-gold Royal Oak, a 1017 ALYX 9SM limited-edition chronograph created in collaboration with designer Matthew Williams.
Hemsworth was one of the first celebrities to be seen with the gold iteration. And it was rose gold again at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival in France, where he appeared flashing the very stylish Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 116505 with a meteorite dial (matching his pale pink jacket). It wasn’t the first Rolex Daytona the actor has touted, either. He’s been photographed wearing the 18K yellow gold Daytona 116528, with a sleek black dial and shining gold inner rings.
While playing the “plus one” to his wife Elsa Pataky at the premiere of her movie Interceptor in 2022, Hemsworth once again drew attention with a skeleton variant Bulgari Octo Finissimo in rose gold (back to the pink tones—again, the man knows what he likes). At the premiere of Spiderhead that same year, the icy blue of his Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Date perfectly matched his popped-collar shirt and piercing eyes.
Here’s a star whose taste in timepieces is fully worthy of his visage, his stature and—yes, his passion.
What to do on your next winter-weekend jaunt? Look no further than the tony vacation destination sought by travelers the world over: Palm Beach
LUNCH AT LE BILBOQUET
1. HAMILTON An 18k yellow gold and pavé diamond ring.
2. HAMILTON A pair of 18k yellow gold, tsavorite, and diamond spiral-shape earrings.
3. HAMILTON
Dress by CAROLINA HERRERA
Handbag by BOTTEGA VENETA
Shoes by JIMMY CHOO
SAILING THE INTRACOASTAL
1. FRED
“Force 10” 18k yellow gold buckle and gold cord bracelet.
2. FRED
“Force 10” 18k yellow gold, diamond buckle, and navy cord bracelet.
3. HAMILTON
HAMILTON
HAMILTON
Sunglasses by CELINE
Shoes by ROGER VIVIER
Sweater by JOHANNA ORTIZ
Shorts by TOTEME
REFUELING AT CELIS JUICE BAR
1. HAMILTON An 18k yellow gold and five-row diamond geometric-shape ring.
2. HAMILTON A trio of 14k yellow gold and diamond bangle bracelets.
3. HAMILTON A pair of 18k yellow gold and oval-shape diamond earrings.
4. HAMILTON
necklace.
Sunglasses by SAINT LAURENT
Shoes by LOEWE
Sweatshirt by MONCLER
Shorts by LOEWE
DINNER AT PALM BEACH GRILL
1. HAMILTON
2. HAMILTON
3. HAMILTON
Dress by MISSONI
Handbag by JIMMY CHOO
Shoes by MANOLO BLAHNIK
Menottes dinh van collection
TRIVIA NIGHT AT SWIFTY’S
A Private Reserve 18k white gold and graduated Y-shape diamond necklace.
A Private Reserve platinum, 18k rose gold, and pavé diamond bracelet.
A pair of 18k white gold, and marquise- and round-diamond “ribbon” earrings. Prices upon request
1. HAMILTON
2. HAMILTON
3. HAMILTON
Handbag by JUDITH LEIBER
Shoes by MANOLO BLAHNIK
Dress by VICTORIA BECKHAM
AS SEEN ON
THE BRIGHTEST STARS FROM THE SCREEN AND RUNWAY SHINE ON THE RED CARPET THE HELP OF THE WORLD’S FINEST JEWELRY
Even without megastar hubby Justin Timberlake at her side (he was on his “Forget Tomorrow” world tour), actress Jessica Biel stole the show when she arrived at the 2024 Met Gala. The Emmy-nominated Biel donned an exquisite set from Cartier’s Grain de Café collection, which is inspired by the glamour of the French Riviera and the beauty of Grace Kelly. The ring, necklace and earrings—each of which resembles flower petals—are made out of 18K yellow gold, platinum and diamonds.
Model Amelia Gray has walked the runway for Chanel and Jean Paul Gaultier, but she made her red carpet debut at this past spring’s Met Gala. The daughter of Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin rocked a Solar Diva choker from Messika’s Midnight Sun high jewelry collection. The necklace features an intense, yellow cushion diamond weighing almost 35 carats. To complement that piece, Gray wore Messika’s stunning Glam’Azone double ring and the brand’s yellow gold My Twin trilogy ring.
A five-row 18k white gold and emerald-cut and round-brilliant diamond flexible “eternity” band.
A three-row 18k white gold and emerald-cut and round-brilliant diamond flexible “eternity” band.
18k
THE GOOD LIFE
PULL OUT ALL OF THE STOPS WITH THIS CURATED COLLECTION OF THE SEASON’S MOST DAZZLING DIAMONDS AND GORGEOUS GEMSTONES
Photography by Daniel Springston Styling by Sebastian Pataric
Clockwise, from left:
A six-row
white gold and diamond stretch bracelet.
A nine-row 18k yellow gold and diamond stretch bracelet.
From Hamilton’s Diamond Classics Collection Prices upon request
Clockwise, from left:
An 18k white gold, pear-shape emerald, and diamond ring.
An 18k white gold and emerald-cut diamond “flex” bracelet.
An 18k white gold and channel-set baguette and round-brilliant diamond “bow” bracelet.
An 18k white gold, emerald-cut emerald, and five-row emerald-cut and round-brilliant diamond ring.
An 18k white gold, emerald-cut sapphire, and five-row emerald-cut and round-brilliant diamond ring.
From Hamilton’s Diamond Classics Collection Prices upon
Prices upon request
Clockwise, from left:
An 18k yellow gold and emerald-cut bezel-set diamond bracelet.
An 18k gold and mixed-shape fancy-color diamond “line” bracelet.
An 18k yellow gold and modern-asymmetrical three-stone fancy-yellow diamond ring.
A pair of 18k yellow gold and bezel-set yellow diamond rings.
From Hamilton’s Diamond Classics Collection
Blue Sapphire Ombré Necklace with diamonds in 18k gold
HOW CAN YOU RESIST?
RESISTANCE BANDS AS A WORKOUT TOOL AREN’T COMPLEX OR COSTLY OR HIGH-TECH, BUT IN THEIR HUMBLE WAY THEY WORK WONDERS
LeBron James was 28 when a workout video of him went public in 2013. Between footage of the four-time NBA champion practicing hook shots and three-point jumpers, people saw how he used resistance bands while performing squats, lunges and other plyometric exercises (that is, those that involve maximum muscle exertion in short bursts of time). More than a decade later, James still employs resistance band training as part of his workout regimen, and he remains in peak physical condition. This past summer, at 39 and the league’s all-time leading scorer, he won gold with the U.S. men’s basketball team at the Paris Olympics.
Like James, Hollywood’s Halle Berry, Jason Mamoa, Zendaya and Jessica Alba, among others, have all publicly shared their workout routines that involve this basic modality. But resistance band training isn’t just for high-profile athletes and A-listers. The bands date back to the late 1800s, when a Swiss inventor designed a prototype gymnastics apparatus using stretchy ropes with clips and handles. They’ve been used by rehabbing patients, gym enthusiasts and home workout fiends ever since. The bands’ design has improved over time, going from fabric contraptions to today’s latex-fabric blend, synthetic rubber or silicone. They’re also made with varying levels of tension or resistance, making them ideal for strength training, as they require a person’s force to stretch. (This distinguishes resistance-band training from TRX, or suspension training, which uses a person’s own body weight as resistance.) According to the Cleveland Clinic, a 2019 study shows that training with resistance bands provides strength gains similar to those achieved using conventional gym equipment.
“Muscles do not have eyes,” says Maik Wiedenbach, a two-time World Cup swimmer for Germany, adjunct
professor at New York University and owner of an eponymous personal training firm in New York. They’re not deterred by the simplicity of a workout tool. “Using resistance bands creates mechanical tension and metabolic overload in the muscle, so it’s just as good as using dumbbells.” Physical therapists and physical trainers alike have lauded resistance bands for their economy and adaptability. “They are more portable and much more affordable than weights,” Wiedenbach says. “You can fit 300 pounds of resistance in your backpack, and you only spend about $80. When my gym was closed during COVID, we trained people outdoors with bands.”
Forget pumping iron—let’s stretch some rubber. Wiedenbach says the following resistance band movements are good for anyone, any time, anywhere:
• Chest presses: Wrap the resistance band behind your back, holding both ends with your hands. Starting with your arms at your side and elbows bent, push the band out in front of you as you straighten your elbows, and hold for one second. “You don’t need a gym to do your bench presses,” says Wiedenbach.
• Clamshells: Lie on your side, one leg on top of the other with your knees slightly bent. Loop a resistance band around both thighs. Keeping your feet together, lift your top knee. Switch sides after each set.
• Rows: Attach the resistance band securely to a door. Holding the band with both hands, pull the band back as you bend your elbows. Keep your elbows near the side of your body. “Just make sure your band is firmly anchored,” Wiedenbach warns. “I almost took out my eyeball when a doorknob flew my way!”
• Squats: Stand on the resistance band and grab both ends with your hands. While standing in a squatted position and holding the band, rise up to a standing position. Lower back down and repeat.
A LONG DAY’S NIGHT
WHEN THE GOOD TIMES CAN’T BE CONTAINED TO THE DAYLIGHT HOURS, THESE ELEGANT TIMEPIECES AND ACCESSORIES WILL TAKE THE HIGH-END ROAD Photographs
BREITLING
The Breitling Super Chronomat 44mm in titanium with ceramic accents on the bezel, chronograph pushers, and crown.
BACCARAT
The Baccarat Harmonie Collection cut-crystal tumbler (set of two).
TREATING EVERY GAME LIKE HIS FIRST. GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO WEARS THE CHRONOMAT.
The
The
MONTBLANC
The
HAMILTON Diamond and sapphire cufflinks. Prices
JAEGER LECOULTRE
42 mm Jaeger LeCoultre Polaris Perpetual Calendar watch in 18k pink gold with interchangeable blue rubber (shown) and black-alligator straps.
BACCARAT
Baccarat Véga Collection martini glass (set of two).
Montblanc Meisterstück Le Grand Rollerball pen in deep-black precious resin with gold-coated details.
The Cartier Santos de Cartier in 18k rose gold with interchangeable black alligator-skin (shown) and calf-skin straps.
MONTBLANC
The Montblanc Meisterstück wallet in black European full-grain cowhide with a jacquard lining.
MONTBLANC
The Montblanc Meisterstück ballpoint pen in black precious resin with platinum-plated clip and rings, and a twist mechanism.
Prices upon request
CARTIER
PICTURE PERFECT
LIGHTS, CAMERA, DAZZLE! A PICTURE IS WORTH MUCH MORE THAN A THOUSAND WORDS WHEN THE DIAMONDS ARE ONE IN A MILLION
Photographs by N E L L H O V I N G This page:
Clockwise, from top:
Platinum, 18k yellow gold, and intense fancy-yellow diamond three-stone rings (available in various shapes and carat weights).
A pair of 18k yellow gold and bezel-set radiant-cut, fancy light-yellow diamond stud earrings.
From the Hamilton Private Reserve Collection
This page:
A pair of platinum and mixed-shape diamond cluster earrings.
A pair of Lisette oval and pavé diamond drop earrings.
A pair of platinum and pear-shape diamond “flower motif” earrings.
From the Hamilton Private Reserve Collection
THE SCENT THAT SAYS “YOU”
THESE DAYS AN INDIVIDUAL FRAGRANCE CAN BE COMPOSED LIKE A PIECE OF MUSIC, AND SUCH PERSONAL OLFACTORY IDENTIFIERS ARE CATCHING ON By Donna Rolando
Go ahead and stop the show with a Versace LBD or Armani tux, but if you really want to be unforgettable, the secret lies in unlocking the olfactory magic of personalized fragrance.
Experts in aromatic self-expression know that scents make sense for the ability to immortalize the times of our lives as effectively as any snapshot—but in a special way that’s close to the emotional heart of things. Want that kiss to really linger? Want to keep that wedding-day vibe fresh? A carefully crafted fragrance—designed in notes just like a melody—has the power to revive memories with each encounter.
Drawing from more than 30 years’ experience, Sarah Horowitz-Thran of Sarah Horowitz Parfums in Westlake Village, Calif., explains, “When you create a fragrance and wear that fragrance into the world, the people who smell it will remember you by it. It becomes your signature. You’re creating memories for others as well as yourself.”
Nothing made for the masses reflects the inner you like a formula you have sculpted. Of course, you’ll work with perfumers, who can guide you through fragrance families such as floral, oriental, fresh and woody, then let you sample and savor corresponding notes from their fragrance organ. The result: a skin symphony with you among the composers.
• Know yourself. A custom scent is an expression of individuality. Horowitz-Thran suggests that clients reflect—and take notes on—their fragrance likes and dislikes before meeting the perfumer, and keep in mind that there can’t be too much info. Be mindful of favorite flowers and citrus or other fruits—whatever scent makes you happy, she says. “That helps the perfumer know where they’re starting and gives them a feel of the genre they may be working in.”
• Know your audience. Self-discovery includes contemplating where you’ll wear this custom creation, according to Claire Lewis, owner of Fragrance Shop New York, in Manhattan’s East Village for more than 30 years. As a rule of thumb, an office fragrance is lighter than the most popular request: a sexy date-night creation, which calls for heavier notes such as amber. One would expect a bridal fragrance to stand out from an everyday scent, Horowitz-Thran says, and a winter scent from a summer version.
• Let your personality shine. One’s personality and lifestyle also can influence the perfect formula, says Horowitz-Thran, and deep-dive questions help to reveal what makes each customer tick. “I ask them what makes them happy, and then I start choosing fragrances or materials based on their responses,” Horowitz-Thran explains. For a beach baby, for example, she’s likely to evoke the scent of the ocean with a salt note.
Lewis, in turn, envisions citrus or aquatic notes for an active or
sporting life. “People will pick things based on their memories of things, also their age,” she says. “The younger generation likes fruity, sweet, vanilla, pineapple and strawberry,” while older ones steer clear.
• Start clean. Just as an artist appreciates a blank canvas, the perfumer works best with skin that’s fresh and clean—free of lingering smells, says HorowitzThran. She recommends showering with unscented soap and skipping the body lotion and other aromas. “You want your skin as the canvas, and you don’t want any competing fragrances,” she says.
• Take your time. Your perfumer is often ready to invest an hour or more in creating your essence, so don’t be hurried. You will be asked to choose three notes that when balanced will form your unique scent. Each note—the top, middle and base—works best when they’re all layered together, as their endurance on the skin varies, Lewis explains. She describes the top note (perhaps citrus) as volatile, with a life of no more than 30 minutes; the mid note (often floral) as the “heart of the perfume,” enduring around three hours; and the base (possibly a musk) as the allday foundation, which adds depth and warmth.
Explaining why the process takes time, Horowitz-Thran says, “We sit in front of what’s called my fragrance organ and the notes—the materials—are set up on it like a piano.” There are literally hundreds of choices, from essential oils to highly concentrated absolutes; the goal is to narrow the field to about 20 materials and then do a blind smell test, explains Horowitz-Thran. When favorites are combined in just the right measure, a custom scent is born.
• Respect your chemistry. Each body has its own chemical makeup, so that what smells great on a friend may not do you justice. “The biggest mistake in creating a custom fragrance is to get the opinions of everyone else before yourself,” says Horowitz-Thran. She adds that skin is viewed as the final ingredient, because body chemistry determines how a fragrance smells on you.
• Don’t be a slave to fashion. Lewis has seen many women trying to duplicate a hot-selling perfume such as Baccarat Rouge, even thinking they have the “recipe” for it from social media. While she can draw similar notes, like amber and saffron, too many unknowns mean that no exact copy is possible—and, in any case, that would “defeat the whole purpose” of a personalized scent.
Part of making an unforgettable impression, these experts say, is one’s olfactory impact. It may take some searching to find your scent, but discovering it can be a delightful “eureka” experience. As Horowitz-Thran says: “When we land on the formula and I see the look in the client’s eyes when they smell it and say, Oh my gosh, that’s it! That’s the best moment.”
LOVE OUR SNOWY PLANET
WITH SKI-DOO’S NEW ELECTRIFIED SNOWMOBILE, YOUR NEXT WINTRY EXPEDITION ACROSS A BLANKET OF WHITE CAN BE CLEAN, COMFORTABLE—AND QUIET
Make room, Tesla and Rivian, because the chionophiles have come out to play too. Canadian manufacturer BRP (Bombardier Recreational Products) has electrified its iconic Ski-Doo snowmobiles, and it’s now taking inquiries and orders for the 2025 Ski-Doo Grand Touring Electric Sled. This electric vehicle (EV) is a product of the company’s mission to add cleaner, eco-friendly models across every sector. (BRP is also the parent of other recreational brands, such as Can-Am motorcycles and Sea-Doo watercraft.)
The new snowmobile enjoyed a limited U.S. debut earlier this year, when five luxury ski resorts and recreation parks, including Grand Adventures outside of Winter Park, Colorado, introduced the EVs in their respective fleets.
Thus far, it’s been greeted with a warm welcome, as there’s much to love. Each sled boasts seating for two, a push-button start, digital gauges with a 10.25-inch touchscreen, heated throttle grips and high-performance LED headlights. Luxurious are the amenities, and so is the ride quality. That’s because a lithium-batterypowered, clutchless motor replaces a gas-fueled engine, creating a driving experience blessedly free of smoky fumes and engine noise. And, like any EV motor, Ski-Doo’s has plenty of torque, so climbing over snowy hills isn’t an issue. Want to feel like a lynx stealthily prowling the snow? This may be your best chance.
Ski-Doo, in fact, had a specific user in mind when it designed the Grand Touring edition. Owners who want to explore the immediate
snowy landscape around their vacation cabins will appreciate the exhaust-free ride and the model’s shorter track length, which allows maximum range along groomed and packed trails. On a full charge, the battery has a range of about 31 miles, based on a cruising speed of 15 miles per hour. That’s not a lot of range in the broader EV world (in comparison, a Tesla Model 3 gets up to 341 road miles on a single charge), but it’s plenty of mileage for a scenic jaunt around the resort. With shorter distances and a comfortable, cleaner ride, the company says the Grand Touring sled is ideal for taking friends around a wintry estate and perfect for introducing someone to the sport of snowmobiling. After all, everyone loves to play in the snow!
The Ski-Doo Grand Touring Electric Sled starts at $16,999.
Riding the wave. Ahoi neomatik 38 date Atlantic. With sports watch features and dress watch style, Ahoi is a true all-rounder. The robust case a with screw-down crown and red warning ring is water-resistant to 20 atm—and yet only 9.9 millimeters in height. The innovative automatic caliber DUW 6101 is at work inside, which features a patented quick date adjustment in both directions. In deep ocean blue, this brand-new watch is made for everyday wear and adventure of all kinds. Now available at Hamilton Jewelers. More information online: hamiltonjewelers.com and nomos-glashuette.com
POLISHED JEWEL OF THE ALPS
A $1.9 BILLION INVESTMENT HELPS TURN A HISTORIC SWISS SKI RESORT INTO A PLAYGROUND FOR THE MOST DISCERNING 1 PERCENT By Everett Potter
Few ski resorts can document the history of their locations from the Ice Age through Roman occupation, host a longstanding active military base and serve as the setting for a James Bond movie. Yet that describes the Swiss ski town of Andermatt, a historic alpine village. Could all of that have been only the beginning?
In the past 15 years, Andermatt has been undergoing a transformation. An Egyptian billionaire discovered it and dropped $1.9 billion to create one of the most luxurious resorts in the Alps, an ongoing mega-project. Two years ago, he wooed Vail Resorts, who bought a 55-percent stake in the development. There’s nothing like it in Europe.
The metamorphosis of Andermatt, from a quaint ski town to a resort aiming to attract the 1 percent, has been a heady journey with luxury and exclusivity as the driving forces. Nestled in central Switzerland, Andermatt is a convergence point for the north-south and east-west routes through the Alps. It boasts three of the country’s most renowned mountain passes: the Gotthard, the Furka and the Oberalp. This high alpine location positioned Andermatt as a pioneer in Swiss mountain resorts. In 1872 it unveiled the Grand Hotel Bellevue, a summer and winter sports haven that welcomed esteemed guests such as Great Britain’s Queen Victoria.
There was a longtime Swiss military base in this strategic locale, shadowed by two enormous mountains, Gemsstock and Nätschen/Oberalp. To keep the soldiers entertained, the area’s first ski lift was installed in 1937, and Andermatt evolved further into a charming, classic ski town, albeit a pleasant second-tier resort, one not mentioned in the same breath as luxury standard bearers St. Moritz, Zermatt or Gstaad. The city had a brief brush with fame when the car chase scene in Goldfinger was shot here in the early 1960s. But it was gasping for life, with an aging ski infrastructure and a dwindling population after the army’s departure 20 years ago. It was half forgotten, except by ski bums
who came for the deep powder and the lack of crowds.
Because this is Switzerland, where everything that can be improved will be improved, Andermatt was a problem waiting to be solved. The town needed a visionary, a vision—and a commensurate cash infusion. It came from an unlikely source, Egyptian billionaire Samih Sawiris, whose investments include nitrogen and methanol products and construction. Wooed by the Swiss interest in developing the moribund area, Sawiris saw the possibilities. The area’s proximity to Milan and Zurich sealed the deal. He agreed to invest provided he could build and sell real estate, a common tactic in the U.S. but rare in Switzerland.
Andermatt, that sleepy Swiss ski town with outdated lifts, was on the receiving end of a $1.9 billion investment. The showpiece that kicked it off was The Chedi, a resort at a lofty level of discreet and luxurious, a brand founded by Adrian Zecha of Aman Resorts and best known for resorts in Oman and Doha.
When I visited last year, the parking lot was arrayed with a display of candy-colored Ferraris, just back from a James Bond-like spin in the Furka Pass. I’ve stayed in many Swiss luxury properties, but never in one quite so understated as The Chedi, where the staff is ultra discreet, polished and alert, as if a head of state was in residence. When you walk by the building, its signage is so minimal, and its façade so understated, that you have no idea it’s a hotel. The rooms have a subtle luxury, are lavishly wood-paneled and boast fireplaces and mountain views. The restaurant, called The Japanese, has two Michelin stars. Some 7,500 feet up on the nearby Gütsch Mountain, The Chedi has a sister restaurant, The Japanese at Gütsch, which has one Michelin star and serves omakase, kaiseki, sushi and tempura, along with panoramic views of the Gotthard and the Oberalp Pass, in a sleek modern building. Thanks to a 116-foot-long indoor pool, a private skating rink and a 26,000-square-foot spa, you won’t be bored. I was more than dazzled by this Asian-influ-
enced hotel in one of Switzerland’s snowiest valleys. All this luxury aside, skiing is the raison d’être for coming to Andermatt. The mountain to warm up on is Nätschen/Oberalp, which has green, blue and red trails. But the mountain to explore is Gemsstock, which has long attracted all the powder hounds to this town in Switzerland. Wide-open alpine slopes, steep descents and abundant snow are its calling cards, with vast amounts of off-piste terrain. But my favorite skiing in Andermatt is to be found on the longer but gentler runs. The ski area extends beyond the peaks around Andermatt itself to the neighboring resorts of Sedun and Disentis. The latter, which lies several valleys and a dozen or so miles away, has a striking, eighth-century Benedictine monastery and is notable for being the center of Romansh-speaking Switzerland. (Romansh is the country’s fourth language, which can be traced back to Roman occupation.) Culture aside, skiing these trails on an extended ski safari is not hugely challenging. It is, however, about having as much fun as you can have on skis, exploring new countryside, hearing a new language, and challenging yourself to some of the 110 miles of trails. I took off for Sedrun and continued to Disentis, an all-day affair. At the end of this exhilarating day, when I felt a bit like an explorer, I took a train back to Andermatt, which had a ready bar car, marking the end of a very civilized Swiss ski day.
This is the biggest ski project the Alps has ever seen, and it got bigger when Vail Resorts came along in 2022, enticed by Sawiris to make Andermatt its first European acquisition with a 55-percent ownership stake. Andermatt is now part of the Epic Pass, and Vail plans to upgrade the lifts to further heights, upgrade snowmaking, and expand on-mountain dining. The new development is set apart from the old town of Andermatt, which has cobblestone streets and oniondomed churches and retains its vintage feel. Even with Vail’s presence, it doesn’t feel remotely Americanized— at least not yet.
The ski resort town of Andermatt features three of Switzerland’s most celebrated mountain passes—the Gotthard, the Furka and the Oberalp; Gondolas of the Gütsch Express appear to “fly” over snowy slopes, taking skiiers to the mountaintop above a sea of clouds; The Chedi in Andermatt is an understated resort boasting guest rooms with wood paneling, fireplaces and mountain views.
THESE PORTS ARE CALLING
FOR THE SEAFARING TRAVELER, FEW DESTINATIONS WORLDWIDE CHECK EVERY BOX AS BEAUTIFULLY AS THESE FIVE. HOW MANY HAVE YOU VISITED?
Everybody’s looking for something when they travel the seven seas: adventure, cuisine, shopping, relaxation. You can have it all when you navigate your yacht to the world’s beautiful and shipshape ports. These places are at the center of nautical life, combining charm and character at the dock with a surrounding city that’s well worth a day trip or an extended stay with family and friends. Here are five unregrettable ports:
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, U.S.A.
Perhaps no other American shoreline along either the Atlantic or the Pacific is as pristine and prestigious as Florida’s Gold Coast, and this port city just may glisten brightest. Less than 10 miles south of freighterpopulated Port of Palm Beach is the Town of Palm Beach Marina, the boating mecca of many Fortune 500 moguls and their superyachts. It’s more than 80-years-old, but it sparkles now more than ever thanks to a $40 million post-pandemic renovation. It has a total of 84 berths, 10 of which can accommodate vessels up to 294 feet long, and offers state-of-the-art amenities such as a floating concrete dock, expanded shore power, wider and deeper slips, high-speed Wi-Fi and more. This slice of Sunshine State heaven also is the gateway to the town’s exclusive lifestyle. Think plenty of greenery and scenery: golf courses, art galleries, wellness spas, historical museums, boutiques and five-star dining establishments—including Chef Daniel Boulud’s famed Café Boulud.
PORTO CERVO, SARDINIA, ITALY
Like the Sunshine State’s Gold Coast, Italy’s shoreline along the Tyrrhenian Sea is rich in ports with style and history. Jetsetters head to Naples and Capri, for instance, for business and holiday. But roughly 220 miles from Rome is Porto Cervo on the island of Sardinia. Tucked into the northern tip of the island, Marina di Porto Cervo is a popular Mediterranean yachting hub that draws vessels from all over the world. The old port was built around 1960 and used primarily for fishing, but it’s since been updated and upgraded. The New Marina and East Dock combined have berths for 100 luxury yachts up to 525 feet long, with room for about 600 additional smaller boats. Once docked, crew members can take advantage of on-site boat service, including high-speed fuel pumps, a laundry concierge and 24-hour security. Passengers, meanwhile, will have access to waterfront shopping, dining, lounges and nightclubs, art galleries, museums and, most important, Sardinia’s fine-sand beaches and turquoise waters.
SHANGHAI, CHINA
With an annual GDP of around $18 trillion, China is the world’s second-largest economy, and Shanghai is its major financial hub. The city’s massive port, connecting the East China Sea and the Yangtze River, is the world’s busiest—shipping vessels transport roughly 47 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) containers a year here. But yachts too make their way through these waters. Many boaters on business head to the North Bund area, an upscale corporate and retail neighborhood along the banks of the Huangpu River, or the Metropolitan Marina Club in one of the city’s popular commercial districts. Others head to the Grand Shanghai International Marina, which has 20 superyacht berths (279 total berths). The facility also provides electricity, fuel delivery, water services, showers and entry to China’s largest metropolis. Along Nanjing Road, the city’s visitors can discover top-tier shops, luxury boutiques and fine dining options (148 restaurants were honored in the 2024 Michelin Guide Shanghai).
MARINA BAHIA GOLFITO, COSTA RICA
Both coasts of this Central American country have long been magnets for tourists and adventurers alike. Yachters, however, may head toward Golfito, a nearlycentury-old region along the Pacific shoreline known for sportfishing, rain forest expeditions and boating. The Marina Bahia Golfito is one of the country’s premier marinas, offering 45 slips for personal vessels up to 350 feet as well as boat maintenance, shore power, potable water services, cable TV and Wi-Fi, among other amenities. Off the dock, visitors can alternate between resort life and nature. There are pristine beaches with crystal-clear water, water sports, fine and casual dining options, energetic lounges and bars. Framing the beaches are Costa Rica’s lush rainforest and the Golfito Mixed Wildlife Refuge, where activities such as ziplining and hiking—and the opportunity to see rare tropical birds, endangered cat species and playful squirrel monkeys—await.
CORAL SEA RESORT, WHITSUNDAY ISLANDS, AUSTRALIA
With flawless, white-sand beaches and water as blue as the sky, the Whitsunday Islands off Australia’s Queensland coast are a destination for vacationers and adventure seekers alike. This is also a main stopping point for deep-sea divers, expedition leaders and anyone interested in seeing one of the planet’s natural wonders, the Great Barrier Reef. The Coral Sea Marina here caters to all sailors destined for the Whitsundays, with a total of 520 berths—146 of which are designated for superyachts between 75 and 165 feet. If your vessel is longer (up to 262 feet), call ahead and a premium space may be cleared for you. Once there, take advantage of the amenities, including the Coral Sea Resort’s restaurant, bar and pool club, lounge, spa and beauty bar, courtesy cars and helipads. Outside of the resort, in the marina village, visitors will find more shopping opportunities, dining, ocean experiences and, of course, underwater excursions to the Great Barrier Reef.
TUDOR’S WILD RIDE
CALL IT THE HERO OF THE GIRO: THE PELAGOS FXD CHRONO “CYCLING EDITION” IS A WATCH FOR THE MOST DISCRIMINATING RACER—OR COLLECTOR By Christen
What began in 1909 as a way for the Italian sporting newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport to garner publicity has blossomed into a race on par with the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España. The second-oldest grand cycling tour in the world, the Giro d’Italia—or the Giro, as it’s called—has been run 107 times, skipping years only for the two world wars. Considered the most beautiful and most festive of the grand tours, it is also known to be one of the most difficult races on the calendar. The fight for the prestigious maglia rosa, the “pink jersey” worn by the lead rider of the Giro, is not for the faint of heart. Run primarily in Italy, this multi-stage bicycle race takes place over three weeks, with only two days off through various terrain with an overall elevation that is the equivalent of ascending Mt. Everest six times.
This year, the Tudor Watch Company served as the Giro’s official timekeeper, and for the first time entered its own pro cycling team to compete for the maglia rosa. To commemorate this historic occasion and celebrate Tudor’s ongoing commitment to the sport of professional cycling, the company has unveiled the Pelagos FXD Chrono Cycling Edition, specifically engineered for the riders on Tudor team, yet suitable for any level of cycling competitor, enthusiast or fan.
The design of the Pelagos FXD Chrono “Cycling Edition” is all about legibility, comfort and meeting the needs of the cyclist. The dial, reflective of the team colors, is matte black with easy-to-read red accents on the chronograph, counters and tachymeter scale. Its square hour markers and snowflake hands, among the hallmarks of the Tudor divers’ watches introduced in 1969, are made of Grade X1 Swiss Super-LumiNova luminous material
Fisher
to further enhance readability in any conditions. But what really makes the Cycling Edition special is its tachymeter. While it is typical for a tachymetric scale to be calibrated for motorsports, this watch’s scale, presented on a 45-degree angled rehaut around the circumference of the dial, is marked at speeds at which cyclists travel.
The watch is powered by the manufacture-caliber MT5813, a self-winding mechanical movement with a bi-directional rotor system that was derived from the manufacture-caliber Breitling 01 chronograph, the result of a lasting collaboration between these two iconic Swiss brands. The high-performance movement displays hours, minutes and seconds as well as chronograph and date functions and boasts a “weekend-proof” power reserve of 70 hours, meaning that the wearer can take the watch off on Friday night and put it on again Monday morning without having to wind it.
The black, matte-finished carbon composite case is 43 millimeters in size, has a fixed bezel with 60-minute graduation, as with all FXD models, features fixed strap bars that are machined into the main body of the case, giving the timepiece its name (FXD stands for FiXeD). The watch is presented on a single-piece, 22-millimeter, black fabric strap woven on 19th-century jacquard looms by the Julien Faure company in the Saint Etienne region of France.
Whether you’re fighting for a coveted colored jersey in a world-class cycling race or taking off on your own grand tour, you’ll find the Tudor Pelagos FXD Chrono Cycling Edition to be a lightweight, stylish watch with superior functionality, durability and comfort.
This watch starts at $5,275.
The Tudor Pelagos FXD’s matte black dial and easy-to-read red accents reflect the Tudor Watch Company cycling team’s colors.
ELECTRIFIED OPULENCE
ROLLS-ROYCE’S NEW SPECTRE ISN’T THE FIRST EV OR THE ONE WITH THE LONGEST RANGE. BUT: ROLLS-ROYCE!
If you haven’t yet jumped aboard the electric-vehicle bandwagon, there’s news: Things just got serious. As it has done throughout its storied history, Rolls-Royce has rolled out a game changer and charged up the industry—this time with the release of the Spectre. A debut for the 2024 model year, the Spectre is not only the British manufacturer’s first ultra-luxury EV sports coupe, but it also creates a brand-new class for the automotive world. At first glance, the Spectre may resemble Rolls-Royce’s other coupe, the Wraith, but the similarities end with looks. Not only is the Wraith gaspowered, it’s built on an entirely different platform—in fact, the Spectre shares its platform with the Phantom, widely considered the most luxurious car in the world. That immediately elevates the Spectre to a level of prestige no other EV can claim.
But the Spectre won’t get by on its family name alone, and designers
know that. Beneath the hood is a fully electric, oh-so-silent powertrain with two motors that make a combined 577 horsepower and a 0-to-60 time of around 4.2 seconds. Those are strong numbers for a big vehicle: The Spectre weighs in at approximately 6,600 pounds (more than 1,300 more than the Wraith). There are expected luxuries that go into any Rolls-Royce, including state-of-the-art driver-assistance and safety features, hefty automatic doors (with driver’s side umbrella, of course), starry-night headliner, leather-trimmed seats and dashboard and touchscreen infotainment system. But most of the extra weight comes from the EV’s 102.0-kWh batter y, which has a range of up to 290 miles on full charge. The efficiency numbers lag behind the Spectre’s closest competitors, but if that’s a dealbreaker for you, let the next person claim your new electric Rolls.
The Spectre starts at $422K.
BLURRED LINES
THE BOUNDARIES OF PHOTOGRAPHY, PAINTING AND PRINTMAKING DON’T WORRY SVEN PFROMMER— OR LIMIT THE LAYERED EFFECTS AND EXPLOSIONS OF COLOR IN HIS STRIKING WORK
We’re taught that practice makes perfect—but also warned not to let perfect become the enemy of the good. Berlin-born artist and photographer Sven Pfrommer, 59, has perfected an artistic approach (see how that verb creeps in?) that can be seen as embracing the imperfect. He’s spent much of his creative career traveling the world, capturing the subtleties of the people and the places—“exploring different cultures and different visual languages,” he says—and he knows that our planet is a place that resists neat, pat formulations. Cities, of course, are humankind’s stab at imposing order on space, and Pfrommer excels at depicting cities—but there’s often a feel of throbbing chaos in the air.
“I usually tend to work on a series at a time, given by theme or source of inspiration,” he says on his YouTube channel. In his London studio, Pfrommer creates “photograms” and digitally adds the blemishes for which his abstract pieces are known—littering black-and-white stills with dashes of color, blurring faces and silhouettes, turning a bright day into a stormy one.
Spotlighting the aesthetics of imperfection, the artist’s photographs, prints and mixed media have been seen in exhibits worldwide, including in galleries in the U.S., the U.K., Germany, Portugal and the Netherlands. In 2024, Pfrommer was commissioned to create pieces for the Maduro jazz club in Singapore and for what he calls a “hospitality interior project” in Chicago. (Sounds mysterious, but its acronym is clearly HIP.)
German-born contemporary artist Sven Pfrommer digitally enhances photos from his London studio to create photograms, photographic images made without a camera.
Opposite page: Pfrommer produced “Saigon Blur V” in 2016 as part of his “Human Blur” Series. The piece is based on his trip to Ho Chi Minh City the previous year.
This page: Pfrommer used scanography art techniques (manipulating a flatbed scanner to make images) to create this framed piece for his abstract series. Opposite page: “Rainy Days in Hong Kong” is part of the artist’s lens blur photography series. The original image was shot on a stormy evening in the famous port city.
This page: “Fluid Horizon I” is from Pfrommer’s 2022 seascape photo series.
“I experimented with found glass to create an abstract view on seaside horizons,” he says.
Opposite page: This image is from Pfrommer’s “Watchtower I” series, a collection of photographs taken while the artist was observing daily life around a Myanmar public square in 2015.
By SK YE SHERMAN
GIRL POWER
FROM WALLPAPER TO PAPER GOODS, COOKIES TO LICHEN, THESE GO-GETTER FEMALE FOUNDERS WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY TIES ARE SHARING THEIR CREATIONS WITH THE WORLD—AND LIVING BY THEIR OWN RULES
Palm Beach County is a hotbed of creativity, innovation, and some seriously enviable design talent—and women are the driving force of much of that classic Palm Beach style. We caught up with five female founders who have followed their passions, trusted their instincts, and gotten the proverbial dirt under their nails to launch successful businesses and make a name for themselves in their respective fields. Whether they’re baking, penning correspondence, or scoring chic vintage finds, these ladies have mastered the art of doing it all and then some.
CHELSEA VIAU
CHELSEA LANE & CO.
Chelsea Viau started her eponymous design business, Chelsea Lane & Co., as a way to bring together all of her many passions and turn them into her day-to-day tasks.
“When I was 10, I was selling all of my stuff on eBay, and by 16, I was homeschooling myself so I could work full time,” she says. “I have always had a strong passion for business, start-ups, marketing, interior design, and illustrations. It was hard to narrow down exactly what I wanted to do, and I felt like I had to just pick one. My life and my passions sort of just progressed into what my business is today.”
She received a bachelor’s degree in business with a minor in marketing, then continued on to receive her certificate in interior design while starting her business. “I love the interior design/art side of the business but equally love the paperwork and business side!”
Chelsea Lane & Co. is a design showroom specializing in wallcoverings and textiles, and also offers full-service interior design and a custom drapery and window treatment facility, and caters to designers and builders with a trade program. Inside their West Palm Beach showroom—which is, incidentally, located in the same building as Palm Beach Regency (turn to page 73 to learn more)—they have a darling boutique with furniture, coffee table books, and candles, but their virtual showroom options allow them to offer their expertise anywhere in the world. Her next project is a multi-line wallcovering collection featuring the work of several talented local artists.
A career highlight was purchasing her own commercial building—as was taking a look around to realize she had built a solid team that allows her to take a step back to spend time with her daughter, husband, and two cats in order to maintain a healthy work/ life balance. Best of all, she loves what she does, day in and day out.
“I truly love flipping through all of the wallpaper books with clients,” she says. “I could literally spend an entire day looking at textiles and never get tired of it. There are so many beautiful patterns out there and they just make my heart happy.” chelsealaneco.com
CAROLINE McGINLEY GRINGUITA COOKIES
Caroline McGinley never planned on starting a business. She was teaching English as a second language in Montevideo, Uruguay, when she was persuaded by her roommates to sell her baked goods.
“I didn’t listen to them immediately, but after living in Uruguay for a year, I started an Instagram account and posted photos of my creations,” she says. “That led me to developing my own recipes for oversize American-style stuffed cookies, which started to gain traction on social media due to their uniqueness.”
She soon grew her side business, Gringuita Cookies (“la gringuita” means “little American girl”), to the point where she was racking up daily orders and soon had started distributing to small stores. “I was selling the cookies in Spanish, which is not my first language, and while it was a challenge having to overcome my fears of inevitable grammatical errors and having an accent, it gave me newfound courage and confidence to move forward.”
In March 2020, she returned to Florida to quarantine with family; when borders closed indefinitely, she took all the momentum she had created in Uruguay and launched Gringuita Cookies stateside. Her bake-from-frozen cookie dough comes in resealable pouches so you can bake each one fresh; each dough ball weighs more than a quarter-pound, and three of the four core flavors have unique fillings. Unsurprisingly, she soon had raving fans here, too. And then a dream scenario materialized.
“When I launched the business here, I read a blog that Whole Foods buys from small suppliers, and my goal immediately became to sell to my local Whole Foods stores,” she says. Then, in 2023, something completely unexpected happened: Gringuita Cookies was one of 10 companies to be accepted into Whole Foods’s Local and Emerging Accelerator Program. During the 12-week course, McGinley learned from industry experts and Whole Foods stakeholders (the CEO popped onto one of their calls!), and soon after, Gringuita Cookies launched in 17 Whole Foods stores throughout South Florida.
Today, McGinley mainly sells wholesale but still loves doing farmers’ markets and hopes to continue to grow Gringuita Cookies so it can one day be found in stores everywhere. She believes the hardest part of getting where you’re going is just starting. “These days, starting can be as noncommittal as posting pictures of your product or service on social media,” she says. “My advice? Do it and see what happens.” gringuita-cookies.com
KORINNE BELOCK
PALM BEACH REGENCY
Korinne Belock wasn’t planning on buying vintage treasure chest Palm Beach Regency; she was busy running Urban Simplicity, a home organization business she had founded and spent the previous decade building into one of the early premier organizing businesses in the United States, with operations in New York City and Palm Beach.
“Over the years, while furnishing a rental on the island—then our home in El Cid in West Palm Beach—I became friendly with the previous owners of Palm Beach Regency. In 2020, they asked if I’d be interested in buying the business,” Belock says. “It took about two seconds for me to say ‘yes.’ It just naturally felt like the right time for a new challenge.”
While the transition from home organization to interior design might sound like a big leap, Belock didn’t sweat it. “Spending thousands of hours in clients’ homes gave me a sense of all sorts of interior design styles, as well as what people want, use, and what they actually need.”
Today, Palm Beach Regency has a 5,000-square-foot warehouse in Lake Park, an online shop with active sales and shipping across the country and internationally, and a supremely shoppable showroom in West Palm Beach’s emerging SoSo Design District, on South Dixie Highway. Vintage lovers can score iconic finds in Palm Beach Regency’s trademark décor style: faux bamboo, Chinese Chippendale pieces, rattan, wicker, Lucite, pagoda, ginger jars, shells, and all things carefree, chic, and coastal.
While Belock has mastered the style that has earned Palm Beach Regency such a loyal following, there’s been plenty to learn along the way. “It never occurred to me how operational this business would be,” she says. “Sure, there is a fun and creative side, but there are approximately 10 steps from when we get in each piece to when it gets up onto our website and on the shop floor. It takes an entire team, each with a role in the process, to make it happen.”
Like many business owners, Belock is always striving for more—even when, one could argue, she’s already made it. But she has some advice for her younger self and anyone looking to follow in her footsteps: “Be patient. Every job, good and bad, is going to prepare you for where you’re going. You’ll learn what you love and what you hate and grow your skill set along the way so that when the time comes, you’re ready to run the show.” palmbeachregency.com
LINNEA BAST
LINNEA BOTANICALS
All artists work from the inside out, but for Delray Beach–based biophilic artist Beatrice Linnea Bast, the focus is on connecting people to the natural world by bringing the outside in.
Known for her custom-preserved lichen installations and original botanical watercolors, Bast combines fine art and horticulture to create her signature maintenance-free pieces that liven up any space. Her art is an outpouring of her hope to encourage people to care for and protect our environment by connecting them to nature in their everyday in-home lives. She also believes it cultivates happiness in our lives, too.
Bast has long known where she wanted to be and took an unusual path to get there. “I’ve always wanted to be a professional artist,” she says. “Growing up, I studied from every art program I could in Philadelphia; after my BFA, I wanted to have a more traditional background in business before going out on my own, so I worked as a strategy consultant for IBM. This approach set me up really well for running my own business.” After working for a couple of companies, she went back to school for horticulture, which gave her the perfect combination of skills to launch Linnea Botanicals.
Today, while she loves the process of creating each original piece, seeing where her art finds a permanent home is her favorite part of the process. “It’s very rewarding to see my work transform a space,” she says. “For example, I installed an eight-foot piece in Palm Beach Gardens in an outdoor loggia that turned out to be the centerpiece of the client’s home. As you walked through the grand French doors, the greenery of the lichen could be seen from the entryway, bringing warmth and nature to the forefront.”
Beautiful as it is, her art doesn’t just sit around and look pretty. “Lichen installations contribute to cleaning air naturally in a sustainable and far more economical way than using air purifiers,” Bast explains. “Similar to living walls, preserved lichen will continue to draw moisture and airborne particles, including dust, out of the air even though the lichen isn’t actively alive and has been preserved.”
Lately, Bast has been doing more botanical watercolor commissions and hopes to get more experimental with functional sculptural pieces in her next studio, as well as work on more large-scale installations for private residences and public spaces. “I would love to have my botanical watercolors on fun materials such as lamp shades, wallpaper, and napkins,” she says. Because who wouldn’t want to help make the world a little bit greener than they found it? linneabotanicals.com
MARCIE PANTZER
DEAR ANNABELLE
Marcie Pantzer has loved letters since childhood: receiving them at sleepaway camp, sending them off to family and friends, and finding and collecting beautiful stationery. “There’s really nothing quite like that feeling of opening an envelope from someone you love or discovering a beautiful new style of paper or envelope and tucking it into your stationery drawer,” she says. Starting her stationery line Dear Annabelle (named after her daughter) five years ago “felt like a natural extension of that lifelong obsession.”
In creating Dear Annabelle, the former Town & Country editor set out to make something she felt was missing from the market: elevated, beautifully designed paper goods (and eventually entertaining accessories) that incorporated modern wit and humor. Her creations are glamorous but never over-the-top; timeless but always with a wink of whimsy. She comes up with new designs by sketching out ideas then working with her team of graphic artists and illustrators to polish them.
And it’s working. The brand has grown to national recognition and has a loyal customer base; when Pantzer meets a stranger who has heard of Dear Annabelle, she’s especially proud. “I hope that launching my company will be inspiring to my daughter and our three other children, and perhaps to other women who want to create a business on their own.”
Her business advice is simple: “Just start! If I were to do it all over again, I would have done it sooner. I was out of the workforce for more than 10 years while raising my kiddos, and it was very hard to get back in. Honestly, you could wait forever for the right moment, but it will probably never come. There is never a good time to take an entrepreneurial leap, so you need to just be brave and go forward.”
Of course, she also suggests asking for help and advice when you need it. “Sure, it can be intimidating, but I’ve discovered that people are almost always glad to help, and it’s this sharing of information that allows businesses to thrive and business owners to grow.”
As she looks ahead, Pantzer is excited to launch notebooks, pens, a line of candles in porcelain vessels, and holiday crackers for tabletop. It’s all part of her bigger picture of bringing loved ones together through correspondence, entertaining, and heartfelt moments at home. dearannabelle.com
THE FARAWAY FAROES
RUGGED AND REMOTE, THESE BREATHTAKING, DANISH-RUN ISLANDS 200 MILES NORTH OF SCOTLAND TEMPT THE TRAVELER WITH POSSIBLE PUFFINS—AND SHEEP FOR SURE By Everett
Potter
Thanks to the ascendancy of the new Nordic cuisine and Scandinavian design along with a warming planet, Nordic countries are having their moment. Norway, Sweden and Denmark are enjoying a rapid rise in visitors, but Iceland stands apart. There are now upward of 4,000 people a day slipping into the steaming waters of the Blue Lagoon.
So where to go and avoid the crowds? As someone who loves remote places, stark northern beauty and chance sightings of wildlife, I’d almost reluctantly suggest the Faroe Islands. I say “reluctantly” because this archipelago of 18 emerald-green islands in the North Atlantic is already being discovered. All but one of the islands are inhabited, and they lie roughly midway among Iceland, Scotland and Norway. Created some 55 million years ago by volcanic eruptions, they offer an extraordinary, otherworldly landscape of towering basalt cliffs and green pastures, waterfalls and dormant volcanoes. There always seems to be mist enveloping parts of the mountains, fjords and plunging gorges. The sight of traditional turf-roofed buildings adds to the sense that you’ve stepped into the world of Lord of the Rings Sheep seem to be everywhere, and offshore are rich fisheries, including whales, which the seafaring Faroese still hunt despite international pressure not to do so.
Wet and windy, the archipelago is warmed by the Gulf Stream and rarely gets snow. Settled by Vikings during the ninth century, the Faroes
Discover the “lost world” of the Faroe Islands, renowned for its staggering natural beauty and worldliness of its people.
Luxury accommodations aren’t the only draws of the Hotel Føroyar—its hillside location offers visitors amazing vistas; there’s no shortage of delicious food on the Faroe Islands, including fresh salad with tomatoes, smoked ham, cheese and mayonnaise; wildlife like sheep and puffins are abundant on the Faroes.
were probably first visited around A.D. 565 by Irish monks.
So why did I come here? As a longtime devotee of North Atlantic lands, from the Shetland Islands to Newfoundland, I’ve always considered the Faroes the grand prize, the most remote I could get. What surprised me was the culture, the staggering beauty and the worldliness of the people who live in this faraway place.
Once part of the Kingdom of Norway, the Faroes have been under Danish control since the 14th century. Today they are a self-governing nation under the external sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark and are not part of the European Union.
If you’ve seen aerial photos of the Faroes, it appears that you’d need a Viking longboat to get from island to island. The major islands are interconnected by ferries and a highly sophisticated, 14-mile system of tunnels. One of the newest connects Tórshavn, the capital of the islands on the isle of Streymoy, to the island of Eysturoy. It’s also the world’s first sub-oceanic tunnel with a roundabout, subterranean artwork and a soundtrack you can listen to on your rental car radio.
It’s not just infrastructure that defines the Faroes’s forward-thinking DNA. The country is periodically closed to tourists, most recently in May 2024, in an effort to avoid overtourism and keep it sustainable. The government folks here have a system to invite up to 80 volunteers to work on a variety of maintenance projects, providing them with free local accommodation and food.
They’re smart to pay attention. The Faroes’s unique beauty has made them darlings of Instagram, with pictures of the small, colorful birds called puffins, of the lake known as Sørvágsvatn and especially of Múlafossur, a waterfall that cascades into the sea. I confess that I wanted to get to the westernmost island, Mykines—then reachable only by boat and the one where the puffin colonies are located—though not necessarily for Instagram purposes.
Tórshavn, the capital city, is more than just a base camp for any trip to the Faroes. With 14,000 people (the entire nation has just 53,000 people and many more sheep), you find hotels, restaurants and shops. The oldest section still has turf-roofed houses that date back hundreds of years, and there’s a bright and bustling harbor and enchanting little lanes with shops, bars and restaurants. I enjoyed beers at Mikkeller Tórshavn, a branch of the Danish microbrewer located in a 500-year-old house. Roks is the country’s standout restaurant, in a two-story, turf-roofed building that, in part, dates back to the 17th century. Chef Poul Andrias Ziska features the Faroes’s fish and shellfish on tasting menus, offering what are possibly the freshest fish in the world. Ever a supporter of fusion cuisine, I was happy to discover Raest, helmed by Chef Sebastian Jiménez from Mexico, who puts a Latin twist on the many fermented dishes on the menu.
The Faroes are not exactly overflowing with luxury hotels, but the Hotel Føroyar would be outstanding anywhere. I loved its mix of subtle design and astounding vistas, and it’s where I stayed during my time on the islands. It was designed by the Danish architecture firm of Friis & Moltke and is tucked into a hillside overlooking Tórshavn. There may be a sod roof, but inside, there are 200 modern rooms with incredible views of the islands and ocean. While The Hilton Garden Inn is a workaday chain throughout the U.S., its namesake in Tórshavn is a modernist, Scandinaviansleek building with glass walls, the better to see the island views and soak in the north Atlantic light. The Hotel Hafnia is a hip boutique downtown hotel that is colorfully designed and offers more intimate quarters.
Mykines, the westernmost of the Faroes, is home to many puffin colonies; the vibrant colors of homes and boats shimmer along the shore near Tórshavn on Streymoy Island.
Tórshavn, on the isle of Streymoy, is the capital and largest city of the Faroes. Commonly known as Havn, it’s home to various shopping strips, local boutiques and the Nordic House cultural center; the view from a lighthouse on Mykines Island is breathtaking; turf-roofed houses are abundant in Tórshavn.
On the other hand, you don’t spend a lot of time in your room on a visit to the Faroes. You’re exploring, hiking, driving past a million sheep and praying for a break in the sea mist to take perfect photos of waterfalls, cliffs and possibly a puffin.
My favorite moments on the islands include seeing the sea arch of Drangarnir, a natural, arch-shaped formation off the coast of Bøur. Seabirds are everywhere, along the shore, making acrobatic turns in the air. Walking around the fishing village of Gjógv on Eysturoy was delightful: a cozy, safe harbor surrounded by vast green fields. It was my starting point for an afternoon hike to the village of Funningur, a quiet seaside town at the foot of the Faroes’s highest mountain, Slættaratindur, at nearly 3,000 feet. But nothing beats seeing surfers in the wild North Atlantic, and while the surf wasn’t at its most dramatic point, there were enough waves to keep some surfers happy at the remote village of Tjørnuvík, the heart of the Faroes surfing culture. My only disappointment was that whenever I tried to plan a boat trip to see the puffins on Mykines, the trip was canceled, defeated by wind and waves.
On the Faroes, when you can’t go outdoors, go inside. The Føroya Fornminnissavn, the national museum, offers a great look into the history and culture of the Faroe Islands. Kirkjubøur is a seaside village a short drive from Tórshavn, home to Roykstovan, a 900-plus-year-old, turf-roofed, log farmhouse that has been occupied by 17 generations of the Patursson family and that contains a farmhouse museum. In Tórshavn, The National Gallery of the Faroe Islands displays more than 2,500 works, including paintings, sculptures, installations and textiles, dating back to the 1830s.
When the British Army occupied the Faroe Islands during World War II, the troops called them “The Land of Maybe,” meaning that the weather decides what you can do on a given day, so go with the flow. I never got out to see the puffins on Mykines, so maybe there will be a next time.
A DAY DOWN TOWN
ACCORDING TO DILEINY BARON, LOWER MANHATTAN IS AN INFLUENCER’S PARADISE: “IT’S THE HEART OF N.Y.C. FASHION!” THE NEW YORK-BORN AND BERGEN COUNTY–BRED ENTREPRENEUR AND MODEL—WHOSE FASHION PHILOSOPHY BLENDS EFFORTLESS ELEGANCE, BOLD YET MINIMALIST TOUCHES, AND COMFORTABLE SOPHISTICATION—TAKES US ON A GLAMOROUS GAMBOL THROUGH THE COBBLESTONED STREETS OF SOHO AND THE WEST VILLAGE
Photographs by JONATHAN WILLIAMS
Additional photographs by RANDI FAIR
“Oversized pieces are everywhere right now, so pairing this overcoat with the clean lines of the trousers felt like a no-brainer.”
The Fashion: White T-shirt and jeans by Zara; overcoat by LOFT; metallic pumps by Christian Louboutin from Nordstrom Garden State Plaza; bag by Chanel from Rebag.
The Jewelry:
Wave Collection 18k yellow gold and diamond collar necklace, $10,595; 14k white gold and emerald-cut diamond “bypass” cuff bracelet, $6,490; 18k yellow gold and diamond “bypass” cuff bracelet, $11,095; Duet Collection 18k white gold and natural diamond hoop earrings, $5,800, by Hamilton Jewelers Private Reserve Collection.
“It’s a of and Perfect Blend Timeless Contemporary.”
“This outfit is with a Modern Twist.” Classic
The Fashion:
The Jewelry:
“The black satin skirt paired with the red bag and metallic heels is a sophisticated holiday look perfect for this season’s festive gatherings.”
Black satin skirt and button-up by Zara; metallic pumps by Christian Louboutin from Nordstrom Garden State Plaza; bag by Chanel from Rebag.
18k yellow gold and diamond geometricdesign bangle bracelet, $33,990; 18k yellow gold and pear-shape diamond ring, $6,900; 18k yellow gold and diamond geometricdesign drop earrings, $11,095; 18k white gold and diamond chevrondesign earrings, $18,050, by Hamilton Jewelers Private Reserve Collection.
“The barrel jeans are a strong trend this season, giving the look a stylish edge.”
The
Fashion:
The Jewelry:
“This is my
White T-shirt and jeans by Zara; metallic pumps by Christian Louboutin from Nordstrom Garden State Plaza; bag by Chanel from Rebag.
Mercer Collection 18k rose gold diamond wide ring, $8,595, and 18k rose gold three-row diamond ring, $4,795; Boundless Collection 18k rose gold diamond
bezel-set pendant, $1,250; Duet Collection 18k rose gold diamond bangle bracelet, $7,700, and 18k yellow and white gold diamond band rings, $2,500 each; 18k white gold mixed-shape diamond earrings, $19,000, by Hamilton Jewelers Private Reserve Collection.
LOVE STORIES
By JENNIFER P. HENDERSON
THE PATH TO “HAPPILY EVER AFTER” BEGINS WITH THE HARMONY OF COMPANIONSHIP AND AFFECTION AND CONTINUES ONTO FOREVER WITH MEANINGFUL KEEPSAKES OF COMMITMENT
A famous comedian once quipped, “The secret to a happy marriage remains a secret.” Perhaps that’s because depending on who you ask for matrimonial guidance, you’ll likely get a different response. Some couples swear by scheduling regular date nights and never going to bed angry. Not sweating the small stuff and maintaining open lines of kind communication are other frequent suggestions and the list goes on and on. For the couples featured in the following “Love Stories” profiles, however, there is one wonderfully common thread: a loving foundation of friendship.
“I know not everyone has the luxury of getting to know their partner for 17 years before they get married, but if there is a lesson others can take from our relationship, it’s that you really should marry your best friend,” says Jade Faugno-Maria, a senior vice president at a PR agency, who met her husband, Daniel Gadala-Maria, in college. The head brewer at Finback Brewery in Queens, NY, Daniel seconds that emotion. “In a world where so many people are thinking of themselves, Jade brings everything back to a place of caring. This general outlook is the source of the comfortable love that she brings to me.”
SARAH & BEN
BORDENTOWN CITY, NJ
ENGAGED: NOVEMBER 2021
MARRIED: OCTOBER 2023
Their Meet Cute:
“Ben and I grew up in Robbinsville, NJ, and both went to Robbinsville High School. We met at Homecoming my freshman year and his sophomore year. He asked me to dance, and we spent the rest of the evening together. We were friends for the remainder of high school, always walking the line of maybe being more. My freshman year of college, I was home for winter break and Ben was, too. We saw each other at a stop light—and the rest is history.”
Her Favorite Things:
“I love Ben’s intelligence. We were both in the engineering program together in high school, and when we first started talking, it was effortless. It didn’t hurt that he had the best hair and the bluest eyes I had ever seen, too. He’s an incredible person, and I am always in awe of his kindness, intelligence, humor, and ability to turn my day around.”
His Favorite Things:
“Sarah and I were instantly drawn to each other from the first moment we met. She’s the most caring and empathetic person I know, and we are always laughing and smiling when we’re together.”
Their Q.T.:
“Sarah and I restored a 100-year-old Craftsman-style home in Bordentown City, NJ. We’re also huge foodies and have spent a lot of our relationship trying out different restaurants in Philadelphia. We just love to spend time together no matter where we are: a museum, a fancy restaurant, or just hanging on the couch.”
The Proposal:
“It was definitely a surprise! We were at SkyHigh, the restaurant at the top of the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia. The sun was setting, and a waiter arrived with Champagne. It’s our tradition to toast no matter what the occasion, so I asked Ben if he wanted to do the toast. He said, ‘Here’s to spending the rest of your life with your best friend,’ and then got down on one knee. It was pure magic. We spent the whole dinner laughing and crying and talking about how excited we were. We just took in the moment.”
The Ring:
“I wanted something timeless, and Ben wanted me to help him. We decided to use baguettes from my grandmother as the side stones and then picked out a 2.4-carat center stone to go into a classic style.”
The Ensemble:
“My dress was custom made for me by my favorite designer, Sareh Nouri, and my veil was cathedral length. I felt like a princess. I’m also a huge shoe lover and wanted to have a pair of spectacular heels to really be a statement piece.”
The Planning:
“Planning the wedding was honestly much more enjoyable than we’d expected. We took lessons for our first dance, and the Sid Miller Band was going to be the showcase of the reception. Even though there was a lot of pressure, we absolutely loved taking dance lessons together and it ended up being one of our favorite parts of the planning.”
The Big Day:
“We got married at the Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia. We’d spent so many weekends in Philadelphia, first when I was in college at Drexel and then after that when we were both working. The city has been the spot for so many incredible memories, and we could not imagine our wedding being anywhere else. Sarah comes from a finance background, and it was cool to have our wedding in a former bank building. It was classic and grand and everything you’d imagine in a timeless venue.”
The Vibe:
“I am a huge chinoiserie fan and many of my details for the wedding centered around chinoiserie, pearls, and my favorite flower, the white phalaenopsis orchid. The room was so dreamy with so many candles, and all-white florals including the orchids, which were from Hawaii. The night ended with an afterparty filled with Philadelphia classics.”
The Vows:
“The ceremony was Jewish and Catholic, so we had a priest and a rabbi. We wrote custom vows, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.”
The Greatest Lesson:
“Ben is so good at just being present, so I’ve learned to slow down and to focus on what brings me joy.” | “Sarah has taught me compassion and perspective. We’re constantly improving and deepening our communication. We’ve only grown closer in our relationship.”
Their First Anniversary:
“For our wedding guest book, we went with a phone: Each guest left us a message to listen to on our first anniversary. So, we will be listening to messages while drinking a bottle of Dom Perignon from our engagement party and eating our anniversary cake from Bredenbeck’s Bakery.”
Their Future:
“Our greatest hope is to always remember how lucky we are to have each other, no matter how tough life can be sometimes. We hope to have a family some day and to show our kids that true love does exist.”
MIRANDA & ALEX
SOUTH PHILADELPHIA, PA
ENGAGED: MARCH 2022
MARRIED: SEPTEMBER 2023
Their Meet Cute:
“We first met through mutual friends when I was a freshman at New York University and Miranda was a senior in high school. We were both in relationships at the time. Two years later, when I was studying abroad in Buenos Aires, I heard Miranda was at N.Y.U. and newly single, so I contacted her to set up a date for the day after I returned to New York. That was almost eight years ago—we’ve been together ever since.”
Her Favorite Things:
“I was drawn to Alex’s curiosity and eagerness to learn new things. After our first few awkward conversations about my favorite books and music— questions I hate answering—I realized that although he has impeccable taste, he is more interested in what others like. He makes me feel safe, secure, capable, and loved, and that’s all I can ask for.”
His Favorite Things:
“I was immediately struck by how good of a friend Miranda was to the people she is close to, and they were quite protective of her when we first started dating, which showed me that she was somebody really special to them. They were right! She’s always thinking of others—whether it’s giving gifts, sending cards, cooking dinners, or countless other gestures.”
Their Q.T.:
“We love to go on road trips. Our first trip was to Louisville, KY, six months into dating—a 15-hour drive! Since then, we’ve been all over the East Coast. Miranda only learned to drive a few years ago (a real New York City native!), so I am happily the designated driver in our relationship. We also love to read and cook, and Miranda is famous for her canning and preserving projects every summer. Our house is always stocked with homemade pickles, jams, fruits, and veggies.”
Their Soundtrack:
“We’re both music lovers, but if we had to distill it to a few cuts, they would be ‘In Spite of Ourselves’ by John Prine and Iris DeMent; ‘Blue Moon’ by Big Star; and ‘Family Affair’ by Sly & the Family Stone.”
The Proposal:
“Alex proposed to me in Washington Square Park, at the bench where we used to eat lunch together as N.Y.U. students. I practically grew up in this park, so that added to the sentiment for me, too. It was March, and it was unseasonably cold. Although I saw it coming a mile away, it took Alex a while to get the nerve up, so we were both shivering for more than one reason. We were alone, except for a group of teenaged onlookers who cheered for us after I said ‘yes.’”
The Rings:
“I chose her engagement ring alone, but I knew Miranda wanted something timelessly beautiful, so I went with a classic gold band with a round-cut solitaire diamond—as timeless as it gets. We kept things classic for the wedding rings, too, with simple gold bands to match Miranda’s engagement ring. Some traditions aren’t worth messing with.”
The Dress:
“We chose our wedding date of September 2, because my parents were also married on September 2, back in 1989. I wore my mother’s dress, too, which my mother and grandmother made themselves.”
The Big Day:
“We were married at St. Philip’s in the Highlands, an Episcopal church in Garrison, NY, whose history dates back to the Revolutionary War. We’d driven past the church countless times and constantly marveled at its beauty—a stone Gothic Revival chapel on a hill, surrounded by native foliage and an historic cemetery—and had taken walks throughout its grounds years before we got engaged. Our reception was held at the nearby Bird & Bottle Inn, an historic bed and breakfast. We fell in love with its old-world charm and bucolic creek-side setting when we first visited it, and we held our reception both indoors and outdoors to take advantage of both its natural and architectural beauty.”
The Vibe:
“We wanted to really lean into the natural elements of the church and the inn. Fall is our favorite season, so we were looking forward to capturing the special feeling of transition and anticipation that early September brings. Miranda’s friends helped design and create our invitations, flowers, and cake, and we gave them full creative license. Our favorite part of the wedding was seeing everyone’s vision come to life, in honor of our love.”
Their Future:
“We’re looking forward to starting a family of our own soon, to continuing to appreciate one another through thick and thin, and to spending the rest of our lives together. We’ve learned that a good life is a life surrounded by people who love and care about you. If we have that, nothing can stop us.”
JADE & DANIEL
BROOKLYN, NY
ENGAGED: NOVEMBER 2022
MARRIED: APRIL 2024
Their Meet Cute:
“We met as sophomores at Princeton University through our eating club, the Quadrangle Club. We were definitely friends first—for 13 years, in fact—but it wasn’t until Daniel moved to New York that we were both in a position to explore a romantic connection with one another.”
Her Favorite Things:
“Daniel is the life of the party, a friend to all, and the kind of guy who people run up to hug when he walks in the room. His smile and energy have always been magnetic. As a partner, I am also drawn to his tenderness and compassion. He can put me at ease with a few words or by taking my hand in his. I can truly be myself around him, but he also makes me a better version of myself.”
His Favorite Things:
“Jade is the most brilliant, beautiful, and kind person I have ever known. She’s taught me to embrace my feelings and to be more sensitive to others’, and in doing so has helped make me feel happier than ever and like a more complete person. She is the poet who complements this scientist perfectly. Plus, her taste is impeccable, and her sense of humor slays me.”
Their Q.T.:
“We love to cook together. During the pandemic we devoted our weekends to cooking elaborate meals. It started out with global cuisines, but has since evolved into more creative themes, such as ‘purple,’ which involved us using as much purple produce as we could find in as many applications as we could think of. Another was Toy Story, when we made dishes inspired by the movies, including Mr. Potato Head pancakes and Green Army Men–inspired creamed spinach.”
The Proposal:
“We had been talking about taking this step for a while, and Daniel kept saying he wanted to plan something special, to which I kept replying that I didn’t care if we were in our pajamas in our living room—our commitment was all that mattered. Daniel was adamant that we should do something to celebrate, so we booked a bed and breakfast near Asbury Park. I knew which weekend it was happening, but I didn’t know exactly when, or where, or how. We were ready to head out for the weekend when Daniel dropped to one knee, right there in our living room. My previous refrain—‘I don’t care if it’s in the living room!’ —had come full circle.”
The Ring:
“I’ve known since I was a little girl what my engagement ring would be. I was my paternal grandmother’s only granddaughter, so I inherited hers: a beautiful Art Deco-style ring with a round diamond in a square setting in the center and rectangular diamond baguettes on either side. I wanted to keep the original setting, but the ring was missing baguettes, and it needed to be resized. We reached out to the Princeton alumni network for recommendations, and Hamilton came so highly recommended. From our first meeting with Alena, we knew we were in the best hands.”
Her Look:
“My wedding gown was a clean, classic, off-the shoulder Carol Hannah in gleaming white silk Mikado. The highlight was a veil with gold sequin detail that I found on Etsy; it was probably the thing I received the most compliments on all day! For the reception, I changed into a shorter version of the white and gold dress, which was easier to dance in.”
His Ensemble:
“I wanted a classic black suit with a pop of Princeton orange. I ended up having double-sided bow ties made for my groomsmen and me: black on one side, orange on the other.”
The Bands:
“Alena showed me an H1912 band with an alternating pattern of diamonds and emeralds. It was beautiful, but Daniel wasn’t with me that day, so I told her I couldn’t make a decision yet. Months later we went back into H1912, but the ring wasn’t in the case; I assumed it had been sold, and that was that. We started chatting with another salesperson, James, and I told him about the ring Alena had shown me. The next thing I knew, he’d produced it from under the counter. The ring fit perfectly.” | “I wanted a plain band in platinum, to match Jade’s rings. After Jade’s double success stories, we went right to Hamilton!”
The Venue:
“We were married at the Princeton University Chapel, followed by a reception at the Nassau Inn. During our first week on campus in 2005, the university held an orientation event for the incoming freshmen in the University Chapel. I remember looking around at that stunning place and telling my mom I wanted to get married there someday. It gives me goosebumps to realize, so many years later, that my future husband was there, too, and could have even been sitting only a few rows away.”
Their Future:
“We hope we never forget how we felt about each other the day Daniel proposed, the day we exchanged vows in front of our dearest friends and family, or today, as we answer these questions three months after our wedding. We know we will grow and change as our life together evolves, but we hope this feeling is our constant.”
DENNY’S KITCHEN
SOUP
' S ON
FOR ACCENT’S RESIDENT CHEF AND FORMER HAMILTON JEWELERS STYLIST AND DESIGNER DENNY SIEGEL, THE FALL SEASON IS SYNONYMOUS WITH THE COMFORTING PREPARATION OF SAVORY SOUPS FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS
By DENNY SIEGEL
Photographs by KARIN BELGRAVE Food styling by GINA MUKHERJEE
“SOUP HAS THAT MAGICAL WAY OF FEEDING T HE BODY AND THE SOUL.”
It’s hard to believe fall is already here! Each year, the season always manages to sneak up on me, and the days—and indeed life—seem to be flying by: My children are no longer children; they are adults with wonderful children of their own (who, for that matter, aren’t kids anymore, either). So when I feel the first signs of this new season—the leaves turning color, the crispness in the air, the sun dropping earlier, the need for a sweater in the afternoon and an extra blanket on the bed at night—it signals a time of reflection and renewal. And there’s no better way to make space for contemplation, of course, than cooking in the kitchen.
Nothing says “fall” to me more than homemade soup simmering on the stove top. The scent of mingling spices—paprika, cinnamon, allspice—fill the air in the warmest, most wonderful way. Soup has that magical way of feeding the body and the soul, and so preparing a variety of soups has become my seasonal practice. One of the best things about cooking in fall is that you get to work with the classic autumnal ingredients that make up the bases for some of the most delicious types of soup: pumpkin, squash, spinach, cauliflower, and onion to name a few. In the following pages, you’ll find my favorite recipes that can be served directly from the pot or made in advance to freeze and enjoy later in the season.
CREAMY ROASTED PUMPKIN SOUP
Serves 6
INGREDIENTS:
For serving
• ½ cup toasted pumpkin seeds
For soup
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 onions, sliced into 1¼-inch wedges (3½ cups)
• 2½ lbs. pumpkin or butternut squash, peeled and seeds removed, flesh cut into 1¼-inch cubes (8 cups)
• salt and black pepper
• 1 qt. vegetable stock
• 1 Tbs. rose harissa (more or less to taste)
• ¼ tsp. saffron threads
• 1 orange, finely zested (1 tsp.)
• ¾ cup crème fraîche
• ¼ cup cilantro leaves
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 450° F.
2. To toast the pumpkin seeds: In a medium skillet over medium-low heat, add the pumpkin seeds, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently until seeds begin to pop and are light brown in color. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
3. Combine the oil, onions, and pumpkin in a large bowl with ¾ tsp. salt and a good grind of pepper. Mix well and transfer to a large parchment-lined baking sheet. Roast for 25 minutes, until ever ything is soft and caramelized. Remove from oven and set aside.
4. In a large stockpot, place vegetable stock, harissa, saffron, orange zest, ½ tsp. salt, and a good grind of pepper. Bring to a boil over high heat and, once boiling, carefully tip the roasted pumpkin and onions, along with any oil from the sheet pan, into the stockpot. Stir through, then decrease the heat to medium and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the crème fraîche, then, using an immersion blender, blend until completely smooth.
5. Garnish each portion with a sprinkle of toasted pumpkin seeds and cilantro.
CRUNCHY CHEDDAR AND CARAWAY CHEESE STRAWS
Makes 10
INGREDIENTS:
• 1 box Dufour frozen puff pastry
• All-purpose flour, for dusting
• 1 free-range egg, lightly beaten
• 3½ oz. aged cheddar cheese, finely grated
• 1 tsp. caraway seeds
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Dust work surface lightly with flour and roll out pastry into a rectangle, 1/16 to 1/8-inch thick. Trim the edges with a sharp knife in order to get a rectangle, about 12 by 8 inches. Place on baking sheet dusted with flour and leave to rest in fridge for 30 minutes.
2. Return pastry sheet to dusted work surface. Br ush off any flour and then brush the top with the beaten egg and sprinkle over half the cheese. Press the cheese down lightly with your hands so it sticks to the pastry. Be brisk so you don’t warm up the butter in the pastry. Carefully turn over the pastry, br ush off any excess flour, and repeat this process on the other side.
3. Cut strips about 1¼ inches across the width of the pastry. Pick up a strip by grasping one end in each hand. Place on the work surface and hold one end still. Twist the other end to make a tight spiral form. You will need to pull as you twist to get a long, hollow straw shape.
4. Carefully transfer the straws to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Space them at least 1¼ inches apart, and sprinkle with caraway seeds. Let them rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
5. Preheat oven to 350° F.
6. Place the pan of cheese straws in the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Do not open the oven door for the first 15 minutes.
7. Once the straws are a light brown color, remove them from oven. Let them cool slightly before serving. (The straws also can be warmed up in the oven to crisp before ser ving at a later time.)
SAVORY WHITE BEAN, SAUSAGE, AND SPINACH SOUP
Serves 4
INGREDIENTS:
• 16 oz. fresh sweet or hot Italian sausage
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 2 Tbs. olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup carrots, diced
• 1 celery stalk, diced
• 2 medium white potatoes, diced
• ½ Tbs. kosher salt
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 1 (15 oz.) can white beans, drained and rinsed
• 4 cups baby spinach
• 2 Tbs. lemon juice
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Brown sausage over medium-high heat in a large stockpot.
A fter sausage is cooked, remove from pot.
2. Add onion and olive oil and cook until translucent.
3. Add garlic, carrots, celery, potatoes, and salt and pepper to taste.
Sauté for 5 minutes then add sausage and chicken stock back into t he pot. Simmer for 30 minutes until vegetables become soft.
4. Add white beans and simmer for an additional 30 minutes.
5. Just before serving, add spinach and a splash of lemon juice.
FRENCH ONION SOUP
Serves 6
INGREDIENTS:
• 1 medium baguette
• 8 medium Spanish or yellow onions, thinly sliced
• 3 Tbs. butter
• 5 Tbs. olive oil
• 3 cloves fresh garlic, crushed
• 1 cup white wine
• 1 t sp. kosher salt
• 2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 6 cups beef stock
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme
• 8 pieces French or Italian bread
• 1½ cups grated Gruyère cheese
• ½ cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
I NSTRUCTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 425° F.
2. Toast 1-inch-thick baguette slices on a sheet pan for 4 minutes. S et aside.
3. I n a large stockpot, melt the butter and olive oil together over medium heat. Add the onions, reduce heat to low, and let onions soften, stirring every few minutes for about 25 minutes. Stir often.
4. W hen the onions have caramelized, add the garlic, and stir for one minute. Add the wine to deglaze the pan, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes to soften the flavor of the alcohol. Add pepper. Slowly add the beef stock. Reduce heat to medium-low, add the t hyme, and simmer for 2 hours. Add salt and pepper to taste.
5. L adle the hot soup into ovenproof vessels. Top with baguette slices, cover with Gruyere and some Parmesan, and melt under the broiler setting of the oven, with the door cracked, for 2 to 3 minutes. Be very careful, as the broiler setting can burn the cheese quickly.
6. S erve immediately.
“NOTHING SAYS ‘FALL’ MORE THAN HOMEMADE SOUP SIMMERING ON THE STOVE TOP.”
DENNY’S
CLASSIC NEW
ENGLAND
CLAM CHOWDER BREAD BOWLS
Serves 6
INGREDIENTS:
• 6 slices thick-cut bacon, diced
• 4 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, diced
• 2 ribs celery, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 2 Tbs. butter
• 2 tsp. kosher salt
• 1 tsp. cracked black pepper
• 1 tsp. dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 3 (6.5-oz.) cans razor clams in clam juice, or 1 lb. fresh razor clams
• 6 cups low-sodium chicken stock
• Milk, for consistency, as needed
• 2 cups heavy cream
• ½ cup minced fresh parsley
• Small sourdough bread bowls, for serving
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Brown bacon in a large, heavy-bottomed soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. (Pro tip: The slower you cook the bacon, the crisper the results.)
2. Once bacon is browned, add vegetables, butter, and seasonings. Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes, then add the flour; cook 2 to 3 minutes, then add the clams and chicken stock. Stir continually to activate the flour thickener. Turn heat down to low, and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes.
3. If the chowder is too thick while cooking, add milk in ½-cup increments. During the last 10 minutes of cooking, add the cream and parsley. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove and discard the bay leaf.
4. Lightly warm bread bowls in the oven, then slice off the tops and hollow out the excess bread.
5. Spoon the hot chowder into the hollowed-out bread bowls, and serve immediately.
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DESIGNS ON LIVING
SIMON PEARCE’S JAMES MURRAY DISCUSSES THE DESIGN AND ARTISTRY INVOLVED IN MAKING THE NUANCED GLASS AND CERAMIC PIECES THE BRAND IS FAMOUS FOR—AND THAT DELIGHT ADMIRERS AROUND THE WORLD
James Murray’s first experience with Simon Pearce was an auspicious one: On a family trip to Vermont, he came across the glass and pottery designer’s flagship, a spectacular fusion of retail store, glassblowing workshop, and top-rated restaurant. A graduate of New York City’s famed Pratt Institute with a degree in industrial design and a master’s in design management, Murray had been working with private brands in the home goods space, where he oversaw glass and crystal design and development, coordinating with factories in Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Romania. And so from the moment he laid eyes on the array of Simon Pearce’s one-of-a-kind glass and ceramic vessels, Murray knew he was in the presence of something extraordinary.
Founder Simon Pearce and the brand’s signature Vermont evergreen. “Marcel Proust said, ‘The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes,’” says James Murray.
“I was impressed with a company turning out such beautiful products made right here in America while everything else in the market [at that time] was about outsourcing,” he says. “I decided to reach out to the company. I met Simon for lunch at The Mill, and a few months later, my family and I moved to Vermont.”
The rest, as they say, is history: Since 2011, Murray has been the senior vice president of Design and Product Development for the premier glass and ceramics brand, carrying out its namesake founder’s vision: to design and make products in the U.S.A. that embody a “form-follows-life” ethos. To keep him on point and on product purpose, Murray’s days typically start with a list: In the morning, he works through any number of ongoing design projects, evolving them quickly to solidify ideas and develop iterations. In the afternoon, he moves onto what he calls the “pragmatic aspects of development,” which involve inter-department meetings, sample follow-ups, and production check-ins. He’s in constant and close collaboration with the brand’s incredibly talented team of glassblowers, designing collections based on an amalgam of Pearce’s inspiration, market feedback, and perhaps most significantly, the specific talents and expertise of the artisans themselves.
“The making of glass adds an element of excitement, in that every piece requires the expertise of the glassblower to make the form come to life,” Murray says. “Glass is a remarkable and enigmatic material. Considering it is just melted sand and a few other elements, its versatility and applications are incredible. From a design perspective, it is an infinite medium to work with, and I love the potential. I’m highly motivated to keep pursuing what can be done with it.”
While Murray is not a glassblowing artisan himself, his profound curiosity to explore the possibilities of Simon Pearce’s chosen mediums makes him a devotee of the “Mock it up before you mess it up” school of thought: Make things quickly to test ideas, identify potential problems, and then work to resolve those problems before getting too far into the development process. He considers it a key tenet of the “design-thinking approach” to new products. (To wit: Murray’s love of his work has inspired him to pass along his knowledge to future generations, too; he’s since spent the past two decades teaching design and product development with a focus on sustainability, in the design management program at Pratt Institute.)
“I’ve been doing drawings for as long as I can remember. Depicting reality or imagining new things through drawings has always been my communication method,” he says. “I originally went to Pratt with the intention of pursuing fine arts, but I discovered industrial design while there, and loved the idea of making things that people can enjoy. I stayed in a few fine art studio classes because I still value ‘raw art’ as the source for creation.”
Another design principle Murray adheres to in his day-to-day rigors also is a central principle of the Simon Pearce brand philosophy.
“[It] reminds me of this quote by William Morris: ‘Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.’”
Case in point: the Simon Pearce Vermont evergreen. This best-selling “heirloom gift” is perhaps the brand’s gold standard of timeless nature-inspired design, exquisite craftsmanship, and functional beauty. In the following pages, Murray gives us a behind-the-glass look at how handblown creations are brought to stunning life.
“THE CORE OF WHAT I ENJOY IS GIVING FORM TO THINGS THAT BECOME A PART OF PEOPLE’S LIVES.”
JAMES MURRAY
THE INSPIRATION
“From a historical perspective, I have always been interested in Scandinavian glass and ceramics,” says Murray. “I also take a modernist perspective on design, of doing form-based studies and experiments in materials to come up with new and unexpected concepts. Working in Vermont, you can easily be influenced by the beauty of nature, from hiking in the green mountains, to the rivers, waterfalls, and Lake Champlain. Like so much of our collection, the trees were initially inspired by the natural world that surrounds our factory. It’s hard not to be inspired by this landscape!”
THE PROCESS
“The simple three-sided tree gets formed on the glass floor with the glassblower first making the three sides into a molten gather of glass in the proportions of a tree. They then cut into the three sides to make the branches, which are then manipulated into the gestures of evergreen tree branches by hand. It’s an artful process, each one turning out with its own unique characteristics. The 26-inch trees are very difficult to make and are a true example of art glass that only a few glass blowers can make. Each year we add a different edition of a unique technique such as silver leaf or bubble. This year it will be the Vela with a snow drift (white lines).”
THE MARK
Along with every piece made in the Simon Pearce workshop, each evergreen is “signed” with a distinctive mark on the underside. “The mark is called a pontil, and it’s a vestige of the glassmaking process: the impression the iron made as it held the piece as it was made. Some glassmakers grind t his mark down, erasing it, but we have chosen to celebrate it as a reminder of the handmade nature of our work. At Simon Pearce, the challenge of making one-of-a-kind glass vessels becomes an expression of virtuosity, that is something alive and happening in the moment of making the glass or ceramic object.”
THE COLLECTION
From young saplings to stately elders to snow-tipped trees, the collection now comprises 11 different iterations of the evergreen, in glass and ceramic. And while the trees are typically associated with the winter holidays, Simon Pearce devotees keep their favorites on display all year long. “As we started making the trees, we have also been inspired and moved by our customers’ reaction to the collection,” says Murray. “We have many customers who collect trees, creating their own ‘enchanted forest,’ using them to mark family milestones or holidays. It’s lovely to think about our collections—Simon Pearce’s and our clientele’s—growing alongside one another.”
HAMILTON
By LESLIE GARISTO PFAFF
MICHELIN ON THE MOVE
SURE YOU CAN BOOK A FLIGHT AND RESERVATIONS TO ENJOY A TRULY MEMORABLE MEAL. BUT NOW YOU CAN BOOK YOUR OWN MICHELIN-STARRED CHEF FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE EVENING IN
Eric Silver was in his Brooklyn kitchen, watching with rapt attention as a Michelin-starred chef dropped little baskets made from wonton wrappers into a pot of hot sesame oil, then deftly scooped them out and filled them with ahi tuna tartare. The occasion was his wife’s 50th-birthday party, and Silver had invited 30 of the couple’s best friends to celebrate it in their home with an extraordinary dinner that included baby morel mushroom onigiri; a salad of Japanese cucumber, green strawberries and baby kale in a white balsamic vinaigrette; eggplant sandwiches with tempura shiso; sweet-potato fries with black truffle aioli; fried chicken with pickled eggplant, basil and mint; rigatoni arrabbiata; clam pizza; Tuscan lemon madeleines; and, of course, birthday cake.
Through his company, Gradito, Sean Kommer brings Michelin-starred chefs like himself into diners’ homes for a memorable and exceptional dining experience.
BY ELIZA KOMMER.
“I’d never done anything like this before,” says Silver, “and it exceeded all of my expectations.” In fact, exceeding expectations is the stock-in-trade of Sean Kommer, the chef in question and the owner of Gradito, a company that allows diners to bring a Michelin-starred chef into their home for an exceptional experience (and an even more exceptional meal). Kommer describes the business as “a full-service events agency for people who really care about food.”
That would, of course, describe Kommer himself. He’s worked at some of the world’s great restaurants, including the three-Michelin-starred Quique Dacosta in Spain, the one-starred Bouchon in Las Vegas, the one-starred Shirosaka in Tokyo and the two-starred Disfrutar in Barcelona. The idea for Gradito was born during a trip through Italy, where Kommer met with some of the country’s most celebrated chefs and was blown away not just by the food they prepared but also by the hospitality with which they served it. “That feeling of hospitality was something I wanted to give people in their own homes,” he says.
One of Kommer’s talents, outside the kitchen, is matching chefs with clients. “If you’re looking for a themed dinner,” he says, “we’ll connect you with someone who’s worked at a three-star in Bilbao. If you’re looking for an omakase”— a Japanese meal in which the chef surprises diners with a menu of his or her own choosing—“we’ll try to organize a chef who’s worked in Japan and at one of the hardest-to-book omakases in New York City.”
This page: Northern Vietnamese squid sausage with young sticky rice flakes, mung bean foam and garden chamomile. Opposite page: One of Chef Kommer’s skills outside of the kitchen is pairing Gradito’s chefs with clients. For most events, a chef will collaborate with the client to come up with a customized menu as well as ideal table settings to create the perfect vibe— quirky requests aren’t a problem.
This page: buckwheat sable tart with mountain sweet strawberries and milk ice cream. Opposite page: Though Gradito is hired to prepare, cook and serve exclusive meals, chefs, sommeliers and staff members can be as social as clients prefer. If a guest wants to watch food prep, or if the client wishes to learn more about the cooking process, they’re welcome to chat up the chef.
In most cases, chefs and clients collaborate to come up with the menu. Lauren Hoelzer, who booked Kommer for an intimate dinner party for four in her Hoboken home, was looking for an evening of food she describes as “Japanese-inflected.” Her husband worked closely with Kommer to devise a menu that included zucchini with Japanese curry sauce, New Zealand cockles with shiro miso sauce, and heritage pork chop with eggplant, black sesame, koshihikari rice and shio kombu in a Tuscan lemon sauce. She also booked a sommelier to create wine pairings for each course. (If you prefer cocktails, Gradito can send along a professional mixologist.)
Quirky requests aren’t a problem. Perhaps the quirkiest, Kommer says, was from a client in Florida who wanted a “death row”-themed dinner party featuring his own preferred last meal of beluga caviar beignets, somen noodles with white truffle, ethical foie gras, jamon Iberico with Elvish honey, sustainable bluefin tuna, grilled kobe beef, and fugu—the pufferfish-based dish that can be fatal if prepared incorrectly.
Gradito’s chefs, who are definitely not out to kill their clientele, will be as sociable as clients prefer. They’re more than happy to talk about what they’re preparing as they prepare it, and to let hosts and guests observe the process if they’re so inclined. “Sean showed me how he made the arrabbiata,” says Silver. “He wasn’t like, ‘Oh, this is my idea, and I own it.’ He was very generous throughout the entire evening.”
Like Silver, many of Gradito’s clients book a chef for special events such as birthdays, anniversaries, and dinner parties. (“Some finance guys,” Kommer says, “book an event to seal a deal.”) For those who’ve never had a Michelin-starred chef cook for them in their own home, the experience is singular— and possibly addictive. Hoelzer, a self-described foodie and tasting-menu aficionado, says of her Gradito dinner party, “It was the best meal I’ve ever had, and I just booked another for September.” There’s no special event then, she explains; she just wants a chance to replicate a gustatory experience she’ll never forget.
THREE FOR THREE
A TOP SOMMELIER PICKS VARIETALS TO MATCH A TRIO OF COURSES, ASSURING A DINNER THAT WILL DAZZLE
No law says you can’t get away with serving just one great wine at your next get-together. But maybe it’s your first for a while and you’d like to step it up. To make the evening truly memorable, you can pair each course of your meal with its own bottle, one chosen to complement its individual flavors. What might such a dinner be like? We asked Chris Cree, managing partner of New Jersey’s Cree Wine Company in Hampton, to be our sipping guide. Cree—one of only 56 Americans to have passed the MW Exam offered by the London-based Institute of Masters of Wine— picked some underappreciated and unexpected varietals to enjoy with each phase of the meal, from appetizer to entrée to dessert:
CHARCUTERIE APPETIZER
When assembling a plate of meat, cheese, fruit and veggies for a crowd, our expert prefers “crisp, clean unoaked whites or lighter reds with moderate tannin or acidity.” He says Italian whites seem to be the most popular companion for charcuterie plates at his store, but Cree prefers Spanish reds for this app pairing, specifically those from the Bierzo region. The one he recommends below “is an incredible wine from rock-star winemaker Raúl Pérez.” He describes the taste as “a lovely, crunchy red and dark fruit notes, bright acidity, juicy mid-palate and softish tannins.” —Bottle to try: Bodegas y Viñedos Raúl Pérez, Bierzo Tinto Ultreia St. Jacques, 2019, $19.
STEAK ENTRÉE
Red is the way to go when enjoying a big, juicy steak, says Cree, because the tannins in red wine interact beautifully with the fatty flavors in the meat. For an herbed steak, “you can’t go wrong with a big Napa Cabernet or Bordeaux. If you’re firing up the barbecue,” says Cree, “try Zinfandel. Its brambly, plush dark and red fruits, nice acidity, soft tannins and moderate oak work well with the smoky-sweet flavor of BBQ.”
—Bottles to try: Favia Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville, 2018, $175; Bedrock Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel, 2020, $25.
CHOCOLATE DESSERT
When eating something sweet such as milk chocolate, Cree prefers “sweet and lively” bottles with lots of berry fruit notes and bright acidity that contrast with the creamy chocolate taste. He loves dark chocolate with a Port, which has a sweet, complex flavor profile, and leans toward a dry Chenin Blanc, made with the ripest of white grapes, for white chocolate treats. His selection below for the latter is “sweetly concentrated” with “tropical fruit notes, lemon zest and grilled pineapple—underpinned by bright acidity.”
—Bottles to try: (dark chocolate) Niepoort Porto Colheita, 2007, $50; (milk chocolate) Marenco Pineto Brachetto d’Acqui, 2023, $25; (white chocolate) Huët Vouvray Le Mont Moëlleux Premier Trie Chenin Blanc, 2022, $70.
SCHOOLED IN DETAIL
CLASSROOMS ONCE FILLED THE UPPER WEST SIDE BUILDING WHERE AN APARTMENT WAS RECENTLY TRANSFORMED BY DESIGNER ALYSSA KAPITO.
NOW IT’S A LESSON IN THOUGHTFUL DESIGN
The design of a great interior isn’t just about choosing paint colors and furniture to match a style. Consideration of the home’s unique architecture is important too. When 37-year-old Alyssa Kapito, an art history maven who runs an eponymous design firm in New York City, creates her interiors, she relies on what she’s given as well as what she’s inspired to bring.
“Every detail in a space matters and ultimately plays a part in how one feels upon entering a room,” Kapito says in her newest book, Alyssa Kapito: Interiors. “The light, the scale, the colors, the textures—even the scent of the surroundings—all have an effect.” In designing the Upper West Side residence seen on the following pages, she uses both vintage and contemporary pieces to complement the former Beaux-Arts school building’s architecture, particularly its soaring windows and ceilings.
This page: The living room features a bespoke parchment coffee table with mid-century accessories as well as a bookcase by Swiss architect Pierre Jeanneret.
Opposite page: The plaster chandelier bestows a radiant glow over a custom game table and a pair of vintage chairs by Italian designer Gio Ponti.
Previous spread: “It’s a rare find and pleasure to craft a home with such proportions and scale,” interior designer Alyssa Kapito says of this Upper West Side home, which was an arts school in the 1940s before it was converted into a residence.
To draw the eye toward the ceiling and the plaster chandelier by Eric Schmidt, she hung long curtains in the living room, as well as throughout the home. “I always hang curtains as high as they can go,” she says, “because scale in a room is so important to me.” The living room during the day is bathed in sunlight, while the tall windows create long poetic shadows that are beautifully romantic.
This page: New York City-based designer Christopher Peacock customized the oak element in the kitchen he created, including cabinetry, an island and a sliding ladder. The two brass pendant lights above the island are by Urban Electric.
Opposite page: With a ceramic vase by Korean-American sculptor Yongjin Ham and “his and hers” sink and vanities, the primary bathroom is an example of how Kapito blends custom elements with modern art.
All images are reprinted with permission from Alyssa Kapito: Interiors (Rizzoli New York, 2024). Photography by Joshua McHugh.
Hamilton’s Silhouette Solitaire
WISE AT
IF ONLY PEOPLE COULD GET BETTER IN EVERY WAY AFTER AGE 50— AS SCOTCH DOES
We live in an age of instant this and automatic that, and God forbid we have a wrinkle. But there remains one world in which patience is a virtue and what’s old is still venerated: the world of whisky. It takes skill to distill malted barley, and forbearance to stand by as the whisky ages in barrels for decades—until and beyond the half-century mark. As long as the product—both the barrel and the liquid—remains undisturbed, the aging process can eliminate harsh alcohol flavors in the early stages before the wood imparts complex, subtle and sometimes exotic new flavors. The superannuated Scotches at right are proof that good things indeed come to those who wait.
Duncan Taylor Rarest Macallan
52-Year-Old Single-Malt Scotch Whisky
An independent Scottish bottler released this whisky in 2023 as part of its “Rarest of the Rare” collection. Originally distilled and casked in ex-bourbon barrels in 1969, the liquid aged for decades before it was transferred into sherry casks. If you can get your hands on a bottle (each has a price tag of around $90K), you’ll taste a whisky with notes of chocolate and hints of cinnamon and spice, and a finish that’s creamy and sweet.
Bowmore ARC-52
The partnership between the legendary Scottish distillery and famed British automaker Aston Martin has yielded a remarkable single-malt that aged 52 years in a sherry cask and an American oak exbourbon barrel. At roughly $75K, each bottle provides a sip to savor: Fruity notes dominate on the nose, with the same fruity-candy flavor on the palate and finish. The bottle too is a masterpiece—it comes with a magnetic clasping top so that the whisky stays safe in its vessel.
The Macallan Lalique 55-Year-Old
Single-Malt Scotch Whisky
This single-malt was aged in casks at the company’s distillery in Moray. In 2007, Macallan collaborated with French glassmaker Lalique to create 420 special decanters for the whisky’s release. Designed to resemble a perfume bottle, each one contains whisky with a sweet, dried fruit aroma, a fruity taste on the palate and a soft, smooth finish. Ready to try it? A bottle has an average selling price of around $180K.
Dalmore 50-Year-Old Sherry
Cask Crystal Decanter
It’s been said that this 50-year-old contains whisky distilled as early as the late 1800s, when Victoria was on the throne. The youngest spirit in the single-malt, however, was distilled in 1928 and originally bottled in 1978. What does history taste like? Inside each hand-cut crystal decanter—which on average sells between $80K and $100K—is a whisky that greets the nose with hints of espresso and chocolate, and the palate with coffee and dried fruit.
Highland Park 50-Year-Old
The recent release of this whisky came with a back story: The whiskies from nine casks first laid down in 1968 were combined 40 years later into first-fill sherry oak barrels, where they aged for another 12 years. Flash forward to 2020, when that whisky was married with Highland Park’s 2018 batch and bottled in 274 units, each with a price tag around $28K. On the nose, it has notes of black cherry and sugar with the flavor of dried fruit and toasted wood on the palate. Its finish is light and smoky.
FINISHING TOUCHES
THEY SAY GOOD THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES— AND WHEN IT’S ALSO TIED WITH A SIGNATURE SILVER HAMILTON JEWELERS BOW, YOU KNOW YOU’RE IN FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL
Prices upon request
From left:
An 18k yellow gold and bezel-set emerald-cut diamond bracelet.
An 18k white gold and pearl-shape diamond bracelet.
An 18k yellow gold and oval diamond “bar” bracelet.
An 18k yellow gold and mixed-cut diamond anniversary band.
A Silhouette Collection platinum, 18k yellow gold, and round-brilliant diamond engagement ring.
A platinum, 18k yellow gold, and radiant-cut diamond “solitaire” engagement ring.
A platinum and emerald-cut three-stone diamond engagement ring.
A Lisette Collection 18k yellow gold and oval-cut diamond “halo” band.
From Hamilton’s Engagement and Diamond Classics Collections
Photography by Daniel Springston
Styling by Sebastian Pataric
FROM THE HAMILTON ARCHIVES
Over the course of its storied history, Hamilton has faced its fair share of challenges, but none more significant than during the periods of 1948 and 1957.
In February 1948, a young Martin Siegel was attending boarding school in Connecticut. He had a transistor radio in his dormitory that allowed him to receive broadcasts from home via the local Trenton station WTTM. While listening one day, he heard a shocking news story about a fire that had damaged several stores. He immediately phoned his father, Irving, who confirmed the terrible news: A floor-coverings store had caught fire and caused extensive damage to several surrounding properties, including Hamilton’s 122 S. Broad Street location, which had been destroyed.
For the next 10 days, Hamilton Jewelers operated from temporary quarters opposite the Stacy-Trent Hotel, on West State Street. Though the fire had leveled the shop, Hamilton persevered, and less than two weeks after the fire, Irving had not one but three different Hamilton locations: 122 S. Broad Street, West State Street, and 24 N. Broad Street (at Hanover). The Broad and Hanover streets building was extensively remodeled, and in 1955, Irving took title to the property and bought the adjoining store at 22 N. Broad Street, as well.
Another devastating fire would follow, in October 1957, once again ravaging the Hamilton store. However, Irving took this as yet another opportunity to regroup and reinvent. He called upon the renowned New York architectural firm, Louis S. Kaplan—who had worked on notable regional landmark projects such as the Trenton War Memorial and the Teaneck Armory—to design a state-of-the-art, two-story structure. The grand opening of the 7,000-square-foot location on December 4, 1958, made headlines throughout the region and the industry for its unique design. Despite this recognition, Hamilton never lost its focus on the key elements of success: strong relationships with suppliers and associates, personal attention, community involvement, and unsurpassed quality.
