25A April-May Issue 2015

April/May 2015

25A Gold Coast Luxury Magazine

Sag Harbor village

Age Defying

The Boxing Legend

Bernard Art | Design | Fashion | Features | Food | Health | Luxury | Profiles | Auto | Shopping | Travel

Tom Fitzgerald Photography

EAST Hampton

O LEG C ASSINI E L E G A N C E K N O W S O N LY O N E N A M E

速

O LEG C ASSINI E L E G A N C E K N O W S O N LY O N E N A M E

速

Long Island Hospitality Ball

Save

T H E DAT E

Long Island Hospitality Ball 5th Annual Long Island Long Island Hospitality Ball Hospitality Ball

Save

Save

T H E DAT E

Benefiting the T5th HE DAT E Carol M. Baldwin Annual Breast Cancer Long Island 5th Annual Hospitality Research Long Fund, Inc. Ball Island the & Spirits Hospitality Up BenefitingBall Carol M. Baldwin Benefiting Breastthe Cancer CarolResearch M. Baldwin Fund, Inc. Breast&Cancer Spirits Up

Hosted by Alec Baldwin Research Fund, Inc.

MONDAY, JUNE 2015 & Spirits Up by1, Hosted Alec Baldwin MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2015 Hosted

by Alec Baldwin 7PM - 12:30AM 7PM -JUNE 12:30AM MONDAY, 1, 2015 Crest Hollow Country Club Hollow Country Club 7PM Crest - 12:30AM NY Club CrestWoodbury, Hollow Country Woodbury, NY Woodbury, NY

“The price of living is giving.”

“The price of living is giving.”

“The price of living is giving.”

- UNKNOWN

- UNKNOWN

- UNKNOWN longislandhospitalityball.org longislandhospitalityball.org &

Spirits Up

&

Spirits Up

Anywhere in the World.

Long Island’s most experienced air charter operator.

2221 Smithtown Ave, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 631 737 0477 | www.excelaire.com

Available at

72

contents April/May 2015 Cover

72 Bernard Hopkins: The Age Defying Bernard Hopkins 12 Publisher’s Note

Fashion/Couture

20

16 20

Mother's Day Gifts Spring Fashion Cristina Ottaviano, Rising Star In The World Of Luxury Fashion Dee Ocleppo, Spring/Summer 2015 Collection

Regimen

Your Face Now and the Future Row Into Summer Shape!

The New Age of Fitness Debloat Naturally

Profile

44

50 RB Shore Development Top Long Island Builders Ira Gross & Tim Lau Real Estate Brokers with

Laffey Fine Homes

Design Designing in the Hamptons

contents April/May 2015 Feature

58

Saving The Gold Coast

Celeb Elvis, The Beatles & Me Kevin Nicholas "New Style to Magic” Interview with Phil Grande

64

Taste Philippe By Philippe Chow A-List Hotspot Bobby Van’s, Reaffirms the Heritage of Grand

Steakhouse Dining Tips from a Pro: Throwing an Asian-Inspired Party Favorite Hamptons Food Put a Tropical Twist on Traditional Summer Cocktails

70

City Hamptons Sag Harbor A Hidden Gem

Jetset

98

Celebrating Southampton’s 375Th

Anniversary Year Transported to Spring Private Malta Corinthia Palace Hotel and Spa Everwunder Escape on a Private Jet

Live Effortlessly.

Life can be complicated. But it doesn’t have to be.

The Ritz-Carlton Residences in the Village of North Hills on Long Island’s legendary North Shore. Within 20 miles of Manhattan and 60 miles from the Hamptons. See for yourself. The Best New Address on Long Island.

Residences starting at $1.5M.

888.563.2902 · TheResidencesLongIsland.com The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Long Island, North Hills are not owned, developed or sold by The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. or any of its affiliates (“Ritz-Carlton”). RXR North Hills Phase I Owner LLC uses The Ritz-Carlton marks under a license from Ritz-Carlton, which has not confirmed the accuracy of any of the statements or representations made herein.

The complete offering terms are in an offering plan available from sponsor. File No. CD-14-0036.

102

contents April/May 2015 Art

Inspiring and Inspired The Brilliant Richard J. Demato Fine Arts Gallery In Sag Harbor

Auto

110

106 Koenigsegg Regera

Event

112

Jean Shafiroff Hosted a Celebration of the Book “Incomparable Couples” 25A Magazine’s Cover Party at Hendrick’s Tavern for Cornelia Guest Altaneve on Ice 388 Restaurant St. Patty's Bash International Socialite Lara Preston Celebrates 50th Birthday 20th Anniversary Kickoff Party

106

Publisher’s Note

It’s that time of the year again, Spring, it’s finally here. Everything is once again new and fresh. Our annual Spring Fashion issue will entice you with this season’s hottest trends.

In this issue, we feature an exceptional athlete, Bernard Hopkins. The longest reigning middleweight champion of all time. Honestly age defying, at 50 he is still boxing, why you might ask him? His response, “because I can.” A true rags to riches story. He stands for so much more than just boxing. You will be inspired.

The Hampton’s, the place to be, from fine dining, weekends soaking up all of it’s history and charm, or casual days just relaxing at one of the many beautiful beaches. This issue gives you a glimpse into Hampton style.

The RJD Gallery in Sag Harbor, Designing in the Hamptons by Jody Sokol and the some of our favourite Hampton’s food.

Just to name a few, our feature writer, Monica Randall takes us on her escapades of “Saving The Gold Coast.” You will also enjoy, Victoria Crosby’s story, Elvis, The Beatles & Me. We are blessed to have talented writers and loyal readers.

I would like to wish all of 25A’s mothers, a very happy Mother’s Day!

Chase Backer Publisher

ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM DROPHEAD COUPÉ

What will your inspiration be?

Inspired by pioneer aviator, Charles Stewart Rolls, the Phantom Coupé Aviator Collection epitomizes the golden age of flight. From saddle leather footmats to an aviation grade Thommen clock, there is no limit to what can be achieved with Rolls-Royce Bespoke.

Choose your inspiration. Experience a car with endless possibilities; a car bespoke to you.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC, P.O. Box 1227, Westwood, NJ 07675-1227 Tel: 1-877-877-3735 www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com © Copyright Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited 2012. The Rolls-Royce name and logo are registered trademarks.

Gold Coast Luxury Magazine

25AA

November 2013

25A

Long Island’s Gold Coast Luxury Magazine

Long Island’s Gold Coast Luxury Magazine Publisher Chase Backer

Publisher Chase Backer Editor-In-Chief Jason Feinberg

Editor-In-Chief Pernilla Hughes

Nassau County Exec Ed Mangano Maksim Chmerkovskiy Megan Hilty Gateway Canyons Resort

Jr. Art Director Rebecca Townsend Office Manager Lori Biddiscombe Office Manager Lori Biddiscombe Asst. Office Manager Linda Cunningham

TIM

MATHESON

Art | Design | Fashion | Features | Food | Health | Luxury | Profiles | Sports | Shopping | Travel

Director of Financial Marketing Georgia Gerosavas Copy Editor Jari Mineroff

25Amagazine.com

LAURA BELL

BUNDY

The Flower Boss Brian Flowers

THE ICONIC

25A

February 2014

Gold Coast LuxuryMagazine Magazine Gold Coast Luxury

Dec/Jan 2014 December 2013

25A magazine

25A 25

Copy Editor Carla Santella Director of Strategic Marketing Prof. Jack Mandel Editor-at-Large Gwen Wunderlich-Smith Director of Financial Marketing Georgia Gerosaus Features Editor Victoria R. Crosby Editor-at-Large Gwen Wunderlich FitnessEditor Editor Kristy Castagna Fashion Debi Pine Food Editor Morgan Features EditorClara Victoria Caruso Fitness Editor Pam Polestino Food Writer Venus Quintana Food Editor Venus Quintana Contributing Health Editor Scott B. Wells, M.D. Contributing Health Editor Brustein Scott B. Rosen, Wells, M.D. Nutrition Editor Lindsay M.S., R.D. Nutrition Brustein Rosen, M.S., R.D. SocietyEditor EditorLindsay Christopher Robbins Society Editor Christopher Robbins Arts and Travel Editor Diana Pinck Arts and Travel Editor Diana Pinck Gold Coast Writer Monica Randall Features Writer Victoria Crosby Event Coordinator Tina Ruggiero Gold Coast Writer Monica Randall

Gold Coast Luxury Magazine

DEC/JAN 2014 | Vol. 3 issue 9

CORNELIA

Contributors Andrea Correale, Shane Fonner, Olivia Katz, Jane Lerman, Liz Mendoza, Aline Contributors Marie, Correale, Alyssa Nightingale, Ilena Ryan, Jamie Jerome, Norah Lawlor, Norah Andrea Kristy Bradford,, Elizabeth Elizabeth Adams Miller, Diana Erbio, Bobbie Catala Shane Fonner, NatalieDarwen, Gaebelein, Olivia Katz, Iarrobino, Jake JeffKelly Krasner, JodyMattone, Sokol, Spencer Jane Lerman, LizDenner, Mendoza, O’Malley M.D., Scalzitti, Dr. Gerald Acker, Mineo, Susan Aline KonigMarie, Alyssa Nightingale, Ilena Ryan, Andrea Iris Wiener Contributing Photographers Contributing Photographers Patrick McMullan, Tom Fitzgerald & Pam Deutchman, Deann Arce, Van Cushny, Patrick McMullan Paul Gerben, Clifton Parker, Paul Prince, Kat Rabbit, Johnny Schiano, Jennifer Deann Arce, Van Cushny, Paul Gerben, Thomas, Stacey Skordas, Wayne Herrschaft, Ric Marder, Marco Ricca, Jerritt Clifton Parker, Paul Prince, Kat Rabbit, Clark, Michael J Rovnyak, Maya Johnson, Michael Plunkett, Keith Scott Morton Johnny Schiano, Neil Tandy, Jennifer Thomas Contributing Photo/Videographer Benno Klandt Contributing Illustrator Robert Bergin Contributing Photo/Videographer Benno Klandt Advertising Account Reps Paul Anthony, Trish Cope Contributing Illustrator Robert Bergin Hair & Make-up NuBest and Spa Trish Cope Advertising Account RepsSalon Paul Anthony,

GUEST Dan Lauria Peter Max Gold Coast Holiday Style

Art | Design | Fashion | Features | Food | Health | Luxury | Profiles | Sports | Shopping | Travel

Art | Design | Fashion | Features | Food | Health | Luxury | Profiles | Auto | Shopping | Travel Art | Design | Fashion | Features | Food | Health | Luxury | Profiles | Auto | Shopping | Travel

25A Gold Coast Luxury Magazine

March 2014

KATIE

LEE

Oleg Cassini Vera Wang The Gateway to Machu Picchu Bridal/Romance issue

Cover photo by Nigel Barker

Art | Design | Fashion | Features | Food | Health | Luxury | Profiles | Sports | Shopping | Travel

Fran Drescher Courtney Reed Eden Roc at Cap Cana Baker House 1650

BOBBY

FLAY

25A

April/May 2015 April / May 2014

Food Issue Alex Guarnaschelli Kingside Damaris Phillips Vitae American Cut Revel Gold Coast Chefs

Gold Coast Luxury Magazine Gold Coast Luxury Magazine

Contact: Contact: 1057 RdRd 1057Jericho Jericho East Norwich, NY 11732 East Norwich, NY 11732 516.864.2525 (f) 516.399.2444 (f)www.25Am 516.399.2444 agazine.com For advertisment please call 516.864.2525 for more information. facebook/25amagazine twitter/25amagazine Writers, Models, Musicians and Photographers please inquire

Art | Design | Fashion | Features | Food | Health | Luxury | Profiles | Sports | Shopping | Travel

Mother's Day Gift Guide Voltaire's Castle

The House on Fort Hill Sag Harbor village Anthony Rapp

EAST Hampton

CLYDE Bernard FRAZIER

Art | Design | Fashion | Features | Food | Health | Luxury | Profiles | Sports | Shopping | Travel

Tom Fitzgerald Photography

Basketball Legend

Age Defying

The Boxing Legend

©www.25Amagazine.com Copyright 2013 by 25A magazine, All rights reserved. 25A magazine is published ten times per year. Reproduction without permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publisher facebook/25amagazine twitter/25amagazine and editors are not responsible for unsolicited material and it will be treated as such and unconditionally assigned Musicians for publication subject to 25A magazine’s right to edit.

Writers, Models, and Photographers please inquire

Art | Design | Fashion | Features | Food | Health | Luxury | Profiles | Auto | Shopping | Travel

TOCJUN2014_A.indd 11

© Copyright 2014 by 25A magazine, All rights reserved. 25A magazine is published ten times per year. Reproduction without permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publisher and editors are not responsible for unsolicited material and it will be treated as such and unconditionally assigned for 5/20/14 5:14 PM publication subject to 25A magazine’s right to edit.

Happy Mother's Daygift

Vogue Collection 18k gold ring and earrings with amazonite and diamonds

Ambrosia Cuff Sterling silver with white sapphires, Â green quartz, blue corundum, turquoise, turquoise doublet, Â and crystal.

16 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

Town & Country Earrings 18k gold with pink mother-of-pearl, pink tourmalines and diamonds.

Downtown Collection This collection is set in sterling silver with a black rhodium finish. It features a Turquoise Doublet center stone which is actually a combination of two stones – turquoise with rock crystal. The center stone is surrounded with turquoise, white sapphires and sky blue crystal.

gift MICHAEL Michael Kors Backpack - Bloomingdale's Exclusive Small Rhea Zip Soft Venus Studded $358.00

AQUA Kelly Fringe Chandelier Earrings $28.00 AQUA Leila Cuff $25.00 RJ Graziano Taylor Horn Pendant Necklace, 30" Lydell NYC Hedi Stone Cuff $30.00

18 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

MILLY Crossbody Essex Fringe Small Drawstring $275.00

Dylan Gray Tassel Statement Necklace, 30" Bloomingdale's Exclusive $130.00

m

mother Moschino Crystal Heart Crossbody Bag Moschino Multicolor-Logo Bucket Bag

Available at April/May 2015 | 19

Available at www.dorenyc.com

Pompeii Bandeau

This stunning multicolor mosaic Pompeii printed bandeau bikini is made with luxuriously soft and rich Italian Nylon Lycra and embellished with hand placed multicolor Swarovski crystals that shimmer beautifully in the sun. $242.00

Available at www.sauvagewear.com

Labyrinth Gold Stud Crystal Bikini

Dazzling and incredibly detailed bikini featuring lusciously soft Italian Nylon Lycra geometric print fabric, and accented with gold pyramid studs, and hand placed Swarovski crystals. $241.00

Available at www.sauvagewear.com

Eastwood sport coat - navy/blue/green windowpane $898.

Limited estate shirt - sky/blue/white check $298.

Riley trouser – solid navy $350.

Embarcadero tie - $155.

100% silk handrolled square - blue $50.

On model right, Monterey sport coat - sand/brown/teal/cielo plaid $898.

Limited estate shirt - aqua/white stripe $298.

Laguna trouser - solid tan $350.

100% Silk handrolled square - aqua $50.

On model left, Marin soft coat - latte $595.

Limited estate shirt - tan/brown/grey multi plaid $328.

Clint trouser - sand $198.

100% Linen handrolled square - black $50.

The Acqua Originale Collection by The House of Creed

Limited estate shirt - orange/ rouge/white check $348.

Toyon sweater – tangerine $245.

Ventana ii trouser - white $198.

Woven buffalo leather belt - brown $295.

Fabiano soft jacket – terracotta $445.

Limited estate shirt - blue/peach/ multimicro check $298.

Lucas trouser - khaki $245.

100% Linen handrolled square - white $50.

Goddess Caftan

Stunning Silk chiffon Caftan with Italian gold beaded neckline. The seams are fitted to the body, with a draw-string waist that has gold end caps and extra wide arm holes, giving this caftan a glamorous draped silhouette. $240.00

Available at www.sauvagewear.com

Rose Gold Spider One Piece The updated style of the popular Sauvage Spider monokini. Featuring chic and elegant adjustable rose gold sliders on the top and placed rose gold adornments on the hips. $195.00

Rosa D'Oro Buckle Bikini Hawaii

This solid color halter top and lowrise bottom has unique rose gold buckle adornments and comes in bright spring colors, perfect for a glamorous day in the sun. $208.00

Available at www.sauvagewear.com

Designer: Sonjja Baram Photographer: Danny Chin Model: Amie Jade

Available at www.sonjjabaram.com

Orange Plaid Retro Lycra Swimmer

Slim-fit retro swim trunk that's stylish and sophisticated. Beautiful Italian plaid nylon lycra is the perfect shade of blue with orange and white stripes. White waistband, lace-up, and side stripes contrast nicely with the printed plaid.

Inner mesh-liner, 3.5" inseam 12" length. $70.00

Pompeii One Piece

This stunning multicolor mosaic Pompeii printed one piece is made with luxuriously soft and rich Italian Nylon Lycra and embellished with hand placed multicolor Swarovski crystals that shimmer beautifully in the sun. $220.00

Available at www.sauvagewear.com

Pacific Floral Retro Lycra Swimmer

Tropical slim-fit retro swim trunk that's stylish and sophisticated.

Subtle 3-color floral print has a soft touch and four-way stretch. Pacific floral is a seafoam green base print with dark green outlines and cream flowers/waistband/drawstring. $65.00

French Terry Sweat Pants

Soft and cozy French Terry Cotton.

Available in Black or White. Has contrasting grey topstitch drawstring front. $74

Available at www.sauvagewear.com

couture

25A

THE NASSAU Blue floral canvas body with beige rattan overlay and light brown vitello leather trim $1,995

TH PLAZA CLUTCH Green tortoise shell python body $1,995.00

THE ROMA TOTE White goat leather body with black rattan cover and white trim $2,195

Dee Ocleppo (Hilfiger)

Launched Her Spring/Summer 2015 Collection

Attracting Style Influencers Such As

Beyonce

F

By Clara Morgan

or the Spring/Summer 2015 collection, the second season of her newly launched bag line, Creative Director Dee Hilfiger drew inspiration from her travels in the Caribbean. The collection has already been well received by the fashion industry in the United States, attracting style influencers such as Beyonce.

Made in Italy, the bags in the collection feature streamlined silhouettes paired with interchangeable covers in exotic skins and leathers. Bright PVC and fringed basket weave detailing give each bag a sense of playful jet set glamour, perfect for transitioning from sun and sea to daily accessorizing.

To purchase and to see other styles and colors, please visit deeocleppo.com

42

| 25A www.25Amagazine.com

LouCri Jewelers Buying & Selling All Your Jewelry

Bring Your

WATCH IN

Take Our

WATCH OUT

Excellence Without the Hefty Price Tags Lowest Price Guaranteed Free & Insured Shipping A+ Rating With the Better Business Bureau

COME IN AND CHECK OUT OUR H T SLIDERS. Pre-Owned Watches As Good As New Without the New Price.

Over 200 watches in stock, over 2,000 available for order.

LouCri Jewelers

55 Northern Boulevard Greenvale, NY 11548 www.loucri.com | sales@loucri.com | 516-960-7757

regimen

25A

Your FACE

Now and the Future By, Dr. Gerald Acker

A Personal Statement We all age and this is most evident in the face, despite diet, exercise, fillers, toxins, lasers and creams. The face will irrevocably age. There is a gravitational collapse of the soft tissues as well as a generalized deflation.

I have spent forty years of my life perfecting a tool set to recapture youth and to then slow its relentless process. This represents the culmination and innovation of many of the greatest International Cosmetic Surgeons whom I have known intimately and shared their wisdom and experience. I have adapted and amalgamated their innovations on more than three thousand personal facelift patients.

My surgery is hospital based with minimal anesthesia, though facial surgery demands artistry, judgement and expertise; safety remains as the irrefutable constant. Hospital advantages include state of the art diagnostics, multispecialty medical personnel, private duty nursing and available overnight stays. I provide patients with my home phone number, have out of country patients stay with me and consequently have had no reported lawsuits for twenty years.

I have a somewhat unique perspective on facial surgery. I use no bandages.

Pain is generally limited to Tylenol. Minimal bruising and swelling is expected.

Hairlines remain in place. The male face must remain strong and defined.

Women require a soft elegance and a restoration of their youth. No one can look wind-blown, or taught. Tight skin flattens facial features, destroying the highlights, convexities and “S” curves of youth. Make-up can be worn in two-three days and half my patients are out to dinner in four days.

How do I do this?

The face collapses and wrinkles centrally around the eyes and mouth as these are the emotive, moving facial units. We Do Not Age In Front Of Our Ears. To efface a defect or create a high light on a human face, that site must be reached surgically. I Do Not believe that distant facial defects supported by tension sutures, have any long-term effect (i.e. – The Thread Lift, Life Style Lift). Early in my career, I studied for three years in Head and 44 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

Photo by Pierre Tourigny

Neck cancer as well as time in Art History. Fortuitously, this has allowed me to expand surgical parameters without attendant trauma. It also has given me insights into the nuances of detail that define each of us.

What do my patients want?

They want to be themselves; but better. They want to recapture the vigor, enthusiasm, and harmony that defined their youthful persona. Many have tired of quick and transient fixes. My average patient wants an immediate, predictable, definitive, semi-permanent result. Surprisingly, there have been no increased complications in the 70-80 year old patients, compared to patients in their 30’s when operated on in a hospital milieu.

Suffice to say, I am a strong believer in aesthetic facial surgery. Though my practice is not economically driven, I relish the challenge of a masterful operation. My enthusiasm for cosmetic facial surgery is sustained and reinforced by the gratitude and appreciation of my patients.

(Dr. Acker graduated Columbia College summa cum laude and John Hopkins Medical School, Phi Beta Kappa. He continued surgical training at the John Hopkins Hospital, was chief resident at Mt. Sinai Hospital and chief resident in plastic reconstructive surgery at the Hospital University of Pennsylvania.

During this time he did fellowship at the Cancer Center of the National Institute of Health and at the Mayo Clinic. Dr. Acker is double-boarded. He has been chief and director of three departments of plastic Dr. Gerald Acker surgery in New York, extending over 20 years. In 2001 Dr. Acker’s team won the first Paragon Award as the Best Doctor/PA team in the United States. Dr. Acker has been voted one of the leading doctors of the world by the International Association of Plastic Surgeons. He has also won the Good Samaritan Award from the American Police Hall of Fame.)

regimen

25A

Row Into

Summer Shape!

T

By Kristy Castagna

he latest fitness craze on Long Island takes it’s cues from the strength and endurance exercises developed by the sailors of years ago. A regimen of low-impact, efficient, calorie-burning techniques, combined with upper body strength and core development has created some of the strongest men and women in history. These are not new concepts, and at the core of these disciplines is rowing. Rowing has been a staple in naval crew training as well as competitive sport among colleges for hundreds of years. An outstanding example of an organization that is keeping this fitness regime alive is Row45.

press, hip hinge and upper body rowing motion; these exercises are essential for enhancing core strength while maximizing flexibility and range of motion.

While we tend to gravitate toward spin and yoga classes, the benefits of a rowing class can break us out of our fitness routine. Rowing can deliver a full body, low-impact, work-out, combining cardio and toning unlike any other.

So take a lesson from islanders of past. North and South shore families can enjoy the fun and health benefits of indoor rowing as well as getting a jump start on the kayaking, canoe and paddleboard activities we look forward to in the summer months. Row now.

Row45 has locations in Albertson and Jericho. Each facility, exclusively uses the Indorow System. A water-based machine that provides the precise resistance to target the main muscle groups, increasing resistance as speed and intensity increase. Row45 is the brain-child of fitness expert and long-term gym owner, Craig Hatchett, of D-Fine fitness in Albertson.

As a massage therapist, many of my clients ask how they can maintain their strength while keeping a low impact workout. Rowing is a full body, intense, low impact workout that incorporates posture-improving movements of leg

Kristy Castagna, LMT is a licensed massage therapist. A graduate of the New York College of Health professionals.

An active member of the American Massage Therapy Association. She can be reached at KristyCCC@me.com or at www.huntingtonmassagetherapy.com 516-779-2542

46 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

The New Age of Fitness

T

By Spencer Scalzitti

he fitness industry is changing, and it’s changing faster than ever.

Decades have gone by with the fitness industry selling the same concepts as when it was first introduced. The leaders in the fitness industry have recently created new models and techniques that only a very small percentage of fitness professionals are introducing to their clients. Most current fitness programs utilize training modalities that have long been out of date. These concepts are basic weight training, steady state cardiovascular exercises, and some sort of general nutritional advice.

Jack Lalane opened what could be considered the first fitness club ever in 1936 with these same ideals as his business model. Then many decades later the newest thing to come into fitness clubs was the group fitness class. Then shortly after, another top favorite was the home exercise video. These can be seen on many channels advertised as the best new way to lose weight and get in shape. Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons had capitalized on these ideas in the 1980’s. All of these concepts can be seen as outdated and the fitness industry has been overdue for a new, revolutionary concept.

Spencer Scalzitti

Over the past few decades, there has been more influence from the world of physical therapy and new research studies. The combination of general fitness mixed with the concepts of “prehab”, and post-rehab, has created a concept known as corrective exercise. Put simply, corrective exercise is a more mature fitness model. It involves much more than simple strength or cardiovascular training. Complex assessments are performed when first seeing a client. Then, a more intricate exercise program is created and progressed throughout the client’s journey. Now, this does not mean that aesthetic or weight loss goals are not part of their program. Instead, it will now involve exercises that may help take a client out of pain and/or reduce their risk of future injury.

The number one predictor of injury is imbalance or asymmetry in the body.

Corrective exercise uses assessments that have been shown through research to be some of the best predictors of imbalance or asymmetry. These studies have been done on different levels of functional ability ranging from the general population to athletes. When a body is balanced, it is an efficient body. It saves time in workouts, getting you faster results, making you more proficient in every sport you play and physical action you take. So, besides acquiring the benefits, the question becomes what happens if you do not have corrective exercise in your fitness routine? A building is built using the strongest and most sturdy metal. Millions of dollars are put into the design and décor, creating the most beautiful house in the neighborhood. The problem is, this house was built on an unstable surface. So, no matter how much work has been done afterwards, the foundation is imbalanced and that house will eventually collapse or fall apart. Building function, strength, or beauty on top of a dysfunctional body will only cause more dysfunction.

It is important to understand that regardless of how long you have been exercising, it is never too late to add corrective exercise into your programming.

The urgency actually increases the longer you have exercised. Compensations will allow you to accomplish all the movements in your current routine. This is how your body tries to hold itself together, similar to the house using sturdy beams to keep itself upright. The problem is that as you continue to move forward with your current program you only increase the strength of your imbalances and compensations. This causes overuse in certain areas and under activity in the ones that are supposed to be working. This is one way imbalances can cause future injury.

Moving your body out of pain or further away from injury are not the only benefits of corrective exercise. Another beneficial aspect is that these exercises can be incorporated into your current routine. However, it is not a simple process, the trickiest part being how to figure out which exercises need to be fit into your program and at what time. This is where the fitness professional you use needs to be educated in corrective exercise and some type of rehabilitation work. This way the program you are using can accomplish what you want as well as what you need. The combinations of the two will allow you to not only look but also feel your best.

Spencer Scalzitti, M.S., CES, WLS Owner of Aesthetics to Athletics (516) 980-9396, Roslyn, NY 11590 www.A2Afit.com | Spencer.Scalzitti@yahoo.com April/May 2015 | 47

regimen

25A Debloat Naturally

By Lindsay Brustein Rosen, MS, RD

W

ith warmer weather just around the corner, debloating the tummy region is a priority for many. If your schedule is tight with work projects, social gatherings, and seasonal celebrations, you may be skimping out on gym time. But have no fear; after all, “abs are made in the kitchen.” With these easy to follow tips and tricks, you’ll be feeling a little bit lighter in no time.

Drink Warm Water With Lemon Upon Waking In order to avoid bloat, increasing fluid intake is a good idea. Lemons are naturally a diuretic as well as a gentile laxative when added to warm water.

This warm beverage will wake up your digestive system and get things moving. It will also help reduce the amount of salt retained in the body.

Increase Dietary Fiber Intake Most people don't get enough fiber in their daily diets. Adequate fiber intake is the key to feeling full, energized, and bloat-free. You should aim to get 25 to 35 grams of fiber per day. Munch on fiber-rich foods like apples, pears, raspberries, chia seeds, quinoa, and whole grain breads.

It may be best to limit intake of cruciferous vegetables and beans, which may be associated with stomach discomfort.

Photo by Aurelian Săndulescu

Welcome Seasonal Fruits With Open Arms Seasonal fruits like pineapple and papaya contain enzymes (known as bromelain and papain, respectively). These enzymes help banish bloat by breaking down protein and easing digestion.

Practice Mindful Eating Take time when eating meals. Sitting down, chewing slowly, and taking time to enjoy your food can prevent air from being trapped in your digestive system. Because digestion begins in the mouth, bloating can be avoided by thoroughly chewing your food.

48 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

Photo by lisaclarke

Photo by T.Tseng

Nutrition By Bru Apple Chia Pudding

Avoid artificial sweeteners Many artificial sweeteners contain sugar alcohols which can cause tummy troubles. Avoid snack foods and beverages that contain artificial ingredients like sucralose and aspartame.

Eat small frequent meals Instead of three large meals per day, try eating smaller meals more often.

This can keep you free of the puffy feeling that often follows larger meals.

Eating more frequently can also help control blood sugar and manage hunger.

Ingredients: ¼ cup chia seeds 1 cup low-fat milk (*I use unsweetened almond milk) ½ Tbsp agave nectar ½ apple, diced into small pieces 1 Tbsp slivered almonds 1 tsp ground cinnamon Directions: 1) Mix chia seeds, unsweetened almond milk, and honey together in a small bowl or glass mason jar. Let it set in refrigerator overnight.

2) Remove mixture from fridge in the morning. Your pudding should look thick and the chia seeds should have gelled at this time. Top with fresh apple, slivered almonds, and ground cinnamon. Enjoy immediately.

Lindsay Brustein Rosen, MS, RD is a registered

Start your morning off with a bang

dietitian and the founder of Nutrition by Bru, a nutrition counseling and consulting practice in New York. She received a Master of Science in Nutrition

It is no lie that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Starting the morning with a well-balanced meal rich in lean protein, heart-healthy fats, and fiber-rich carbohydrates is the ideal equation for success. Chia pudding is a tasty and easy breakfast that can be made in advance (think, the night before), stored in the fridge, and enjoyed the very next day. High in anti-inflammatory omega-3s and dietary fiber, this concoction will leave you feeling satiated and ready to tackle your day.

and Dietetics from New York University, and has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. She is an active member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, as well as the Greater New York Dietetic Association.

nutritionbybru.com April/May 2015 | 49

profile

25A Robert Beer of RB Shore Development

RB Shore Development Top Long Island Builders

By Bobbie Catala Iarrobino R.B Shore Development has upheld a tradition of excellence in the luxury home market for over 50 years. Started in 1946, their vast knowledge and experience has grown this family business into what it is today.

Every project is ensured quality, value, and service, no matter how large or small. Robert Beer, owner of R.B. Shore Development, possesses a superior understanding of their clientele, and their vision for their home. Customer satisfaction is achieved by R.B. through an expert team of architects, designers, suppliers, and subcontractors. Their devotion to their clients insures satisfaction throughout the building process.

R.B. is proud of their reputation in providing passionate attention to every detail, whether you are building your home from the start, or upgrading your existing residence.

Our very own Long Island’s Gold Coast is synonymous with some of the most luxurious homes today. Growing up on the North Shore, Robert Beer was taught the business under the watchful eye of his grandfather and mentor 50 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

Morris Sosnow. Robert started from the ground up, working in the field, loading trucks, doing carpentry work, and mastering “All the tricks of the trade.” With this kind of intensive early training, Robert can provide his clients with expert project execution. There are very few builders around today that have the capability to build a home from, as Robert states, “From soup to nuts.” Robert is also devoted to keeping ahead of the curve, on top of current trends, including energy efficiency, insulation, cutting edge cabinets, style, and paint colors. He is proud of his company’s unparalleled commitment to design.

Robert’s grandfather, Morris Sosnow started Birchwood Park Homes over 50 years ago.

He built East and West Birchwood in Jericho, The Towers at Waters Edge in Bayside, and numerous high-rises in New York City. When the company was bought out by Kimco, Robert went on to start his own organization, R.B. Shore Development. Robert feels that his grandfather is looking down on him with admiration, and proud of the way he has upheld the family legacy. Beer is sentimental about his grandfather.

“What inspired me to do what I do today was all about my grandfather. I looked to him with all the admiration and respect anybody could ever have.”

Beer reflects back to 2005, when he was building two homes a year. Built on a reputation of predictable excellence, he now builds ten or twelve high end, custom homes a year on the North Shore of Long Island, spanning from Great Neck, Roslyn, and the Brookvilles, to Huntington, and even the Hamptons.

R.B. buys homes, tears them down and rebuilds on the property. They also buy homes in need of a complete restoration. Some of the homes are built, “on spec”. According to Beer, “They are sold before the roof goes on.” Known for their meticulous quality of craftsmanship, R.B. has built an enduring client base. Many of their customers come by word of mouth. Their high level of expertise, bolstered by their commitment to customer satisfaction have made their homes in high demand. The importance of building relationships along with building homes defines R.B. as one of Long Island’s premier builders.

R.B. Developers is a company made up of “master builders� with steadfast commitment to excellence in the process of your project, from concept to completion. Beginning with the first meeting between clients, and the R.B. team, there is a feeling of security that the relationship will be one of a consistent quality, with expectations exceeded, that is integral to every Beer home.

R.B has upheld a tradition of exceptional ability for over half a century. Devotion to quality, integrity, and organized solutions have made this company build a reputation of predictable excellence.

For more information contact: info@builtbybeer.com | 516-625-0025

April/May 2015 | 51

profile

25A Ira Gross & Tim Lau Real Estate Brokers with

Laffey Fine Homes

Ira Gross

A

Tim Lau

International Buyers Focus on Trophy Neighborhoods

merica’s great melting pot, New York City, has long attracted foreign real estate buyers eager for a solid investment in the land of opportunity. Today, however, the promise of a quieter life in trophy neighborhoods and trophy homes has attracted a record number of international buyers to target a nearby upscale locale, Long Island’s North Shore.

“The real estate market is forever changing,” said Ira Gross, real estate associate broker with Laffey Fine Homes, a 41-year-old real estate agency with 16 offices in Nassau, Suffolk and Queens Counties. “Today, international buyers are branching out from the cities to the suburbs to enjoy a higher quality of life. We’re witnessing that trend explode right now on the North Shore.”

As Manhattan real estate prices soar to unprecedented highs, North Shore real estate’s price-per-square-foot offers a tremendous value, comparatively.

Serene, spacious neighborhoods like Lloyd Neck, Brookville, Muttontown, Oyster Bay Cove, Laurel Hollow, Woodbury and Cold Spring Harbor have 52 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

begun to draw droves of foreign real estate investors and families. According to the National Association of Realtors, nearly 50 percent of international real estate purchases occurred in American suburbs. This trend is on the rise, according to Gross.

Less than an hour from New York City, wealthy foreign home buyers are rediscovering the Gold Coast. One investor recently purchased his third New York house, a $2.5 million, two acre waterfront property in Lloyd Neck.

Located on a peninsula jutting into the Long Island Sound, Lloyd Neck features exclusive beaches as well as Caumsett State Park, the home of 200 species of birds.

Another available Lloyd Neck property, at 12 Seacrest Drive, over 10,000 square feet, has both water view and an indoor two-story pool/spa offered for less than $3 million. Real estate agents consider properties such as this one a steal compared to New York City where prices of new construction start at $3000 per square foot compared to $400-600 per square foot in Long Island.

2 White Cap Ct Lloyd Neck

12 Seacrest Drive Lloyd Neck

1784 Route 106 Muttontown In nearby Muttontown, a 22-acre, $7.5 million home that includes a 11,000 square foot house, an equestrian track and indoor and outdoor swimming pools, is currently on the market. The trophy home, at 1784 Route 106, may be appealing to Asian buyers interested in a connection to American history, according to Tim Lau, a real estate salesperson for Laffey Fine Homes, member of Luxury Portfolio of the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World.

Lau, who speaks two dialects of Chinese, can attest to the exodus of Chinese from America’s cities. According to a recent New York Times article, 27 percent of Long Island real estate deals that closed in January were to Chinese buyers. Nationally, Chinese investors purchased $22

billion in real estate from April 2013 to March 2014. International real estate investment locally is expected to continue to rise this year.

“Other hot neighborhoods that are drawing attention, are Jericho, Syosset, Roslyn and Manhasset,” said Gross. “School driven neighborhoods are the first and foremost on their minds.”

“Of late, well-heeled international buyers have learned an age-old truth: Long Island real estate offers unbeatable value and space at a bargain,” said Lau. Property information call Ira Gross Phone: 516-922-9800 igross@laffey.com April/May 2015 | 53

design

25A

Designing in the

HamptonS Photos by Keith Scott Morton

By Jody Sokol

W

hen designing in the Hamptons, I naturally think of the beach and light colors.

So when one of my clients called me to help her with her summer home, it was no different.

We started with her living room. When she purchased the home, she fall in love with these beautiful, oversized white sofas from the previous owner, Jody Sokol and decided to purchase them. We used these sofas as our jumping off point for the room. We wanted the space to have a clean look but recognized there were young children and needed to balance the lightness of the sofa with a few darker things for those just "in case" moments. For that reason we opted for charcoal linen on the slipper chairs. To balance out the chairs and infuse bright pops of color, we added fabulous silk shantung pillows. The round wood mirror over the fireplace lends a casual elegance to the room. In addition, I always love to use ottomans in rooms, you never know when you need a few additional seats that can move around easily.

54 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

Each of the six bedrooms in the house is very different. When we started with this cream bedroom (seen above), it already bathed in natural sunlight, we loved it so much and chose to keep that relaxed feeling. That’s why we went with creams and taupes. We wanted a room that you would love to "cozy up" in with a good book. The bedding is a cream matelasse lined with a tan and white check. We threw in a few ikat taupe pillows for something trendy and dialed it down a notch with the two light batik pillows.

The two shagreen night tables are simple but make a statement and the lucite and linen benches jazz things up a bit and could be utilized in other parts of the house. A simple pattern rug helps tie everything together.

Next up on the agenda was designing a room for two active little boys. It needed to hide wear and tear and also be low maintenance at the same time. When the boys weren’t using the room, it needed to double as a guest room for adults. The room started off with horrible lime green drapes and they had to go! We wanted to do something light and airy, hence the linen drapes adorned with a gorgeous silk trim which ties in beautifully with the bedding. When we discussed the bedding, we decided to pass

on something light in favor of something more forgiving. This fabric is actually an indoor/outdoor fabric that can be wiped up in a quick pinch if needed. Â The red and white ticking makes it a bit more casual. We loved the distressed furniture here. We figured with two active boys, we might get a ding here and there.

The small den or sitting area is right off the kitchen and we knew a lot of people and kids would be congregating there. That is why we selected a dark, very durable, kid friendly fabric for the custom sofa. We added

the rug which is a fun, dark, soft bubble rug on the floor in case the kids needed a soft landing for playtime, but our absolute favorite are these mobile concrete tables. I think by now you realize that when it comes to a beach house, you have to anticipate lots of company and one could never have too many movable pieces of furniture. Who can argue with that?

For more information contact Jody at Jody Sokol Design at 516-7905265 or visit www.jodysokol.com.

April/May 2015 | 55

Building HOMES Building RELATIONSHIPS ORGANIZED SOLUTIONS - CONSISTENT QUALITY

Robert Beer & Family have been building quality, luxury homes for over 60 years making them a great choice for helping your family to build a new home. RB Shore Development specializes in New Construction, Land Development, Project Management, Renovations, Landscaping, Sports Courts, Pools, Canabas, and much more. If you’re thinking of building or renovating a home and want to learn more, consider what RB Shore Development can do for you today, from concept to completion.

Robert Beer | RB Shore Development LLC Rated By 25A Magazine As One Of Long Island’s Top Builder RB Shore Development LLC | www.builtbybeer.com | (516) 625-0025 | info@builtbybeer.com

features

25A SAVING THE GOLD COAST Story and Photos

by Monica Randall

PEMBROKE, in Glen Cove was demolished in 1968.

During the fifties and sixties living anywhere on the North Shore of Long Island was like living in a war zone. The land rumbled with the constant sound of the wrecker’s ball striking relentlessly at what remained of the old estates. All during the day, six days a week, the steady drone of bulldozers could be heard in the distance. No preservationists fought to save our Island showplaces, no heirs came to reclaim them, and no eulogies were given to mark their sudden extinction from this earth.

While the remains of the gilded age were crumbling around me, I ran around frantically, trying to capture their final moments on film as the manor houses went down in a spectacular blaze of glory. I watched helplessly as the destroyers stripped the earth of all trees and exotic shrubs and plowed under the gardens and their ornaments until there was nothing left but a desert of sand. It is difficult to imagine the amount of destruction that took place in such a short period of time, but it is estimated that between 1958 and 1968 around 450 of the original estates went down. Today, only about 100 remain. Their downfall began with the stock market crash of 1929, followed by the Great Depression, escalating taxes, and the rising cost of heating 58 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

fuel. But it was the Second World War that finally brought an end to the era of grand living. This was due largely to the number of servants required to sustain the huge estates. Typically, a property with hundreds of acres and complex formal gardens employed seventy-five men to keep things in perfect order. Almost all of the estates maintained enormous stables requiring dozens of groomsmen, stablehands, and live in vets. Then there were the farm and dairy workers, chauffeurs, butlers, wine stewards, cooks, silver and brass polishers, valets and chimney sweepers.

When the war broke out, most of the men were drafted, and with the possibility they would not return alive, the idea of hosting grand parties was unthinkable, as were many other pastimes of the rich. Luxury yachts were turned over to the government to help the war effort. Many of the big houses were closed up and abandoned, and they soon became designated ruins.

One of the greatest losses was Laurelton Hall, the hundred room Moorish palace designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Set high on a hill overlooking Oyster Bay Harbor, it housed the artists life’s work of stained glass windows, paintings, crystal fountains and other examples of his unique art. The house

No one seemed to care or take notice - not the police, the landed gentry, or the local historical societies, who considered the buildings too new to be of historical value. Land developers were oblivious, and often ignorant of what they were destroying. Often no provisions were made to inspect a property to salvage the artwork or investigate its historic origins. Ironically, there were cases where a developer destroyed objects that were worth more than the money he made by developing land.

One spring day, a large estate in Lattingtown was about to be leveled. I was there the day demolition began, taking photographs of it going down wing by wing, when I saw something about to happen and could no longer stand still. At the far end of a crystal and gold ballroom, there stood an alabaster mantel of such indefinable beauty; it almost made me cry just looking at it.

Across its facade there were allegorical scenes of exquisitely carved angels with fairy wings, whose delicate fingers and luminous eyes appeared to beckon and speak of everything divine. It was poetry frozen in marble.

But on that day, I stood helplessly watching the demolition crew attack the building. I became more desperate until something in me snapped as I ran towards it. “No!” I screamed, as the bulldozer rumbled and charged towards the mantel as it exploded into a thousand pieces, then the iron monster turned around and headed back through what was left of the shattered wall. I shook with rage as strange and dark thoughts raced through my mind. I wanted to take control of the bulldozer and run the driver over a few times, but that would have served no useful purpose. Others would have come and finished the job, and there was no one left to rebuild what was being lost.

My world was unraveling around me, and I was burning with rage, as it appeared that every bulldozer in the state had moved in on the Gold Coast and was waging a war without any opposition. There was work to be done.

Hundreds Of Flapper Gowns Were Rescued From Old Steamer Trunks And Found Their Way Into The 1974 Movie Version Of: The Great Gatsby.”

stood abandoned and vandals set fire to it. The fire burned for a week, turning the skies over the historic village, black. As the flames consumed the house and its treasures, little could be done to save it.

Beacon Towers, the Sands Point Castle, said to have inspired F. Scott Fitzgerald to write The Great Gatsby, was bulldozed because the owners could no longer pay the taxes on it. Some grand old manor houses stood empty for decades with all their furnishings left inside. Furguson’s Castle, (see November issue of 25A) a great stone fortress built on a cliff overlooking Huntington Harbor, was believed to be haunted. A “For Sale” sign hung on the gate for nearly twenty years with no offers. When it was finally bulldozed, it went down with millions of dollars worth of imported ancient artwork, including dozens of twelfth-century icons, two Della Robbias, and the famed “Reclining Angel” by Michelangelo.

As I fled the demolition site, tumbling through the rubble and over-turned earth, I made a vow that as long as I lived I would never stand by helplessly again, even if it meant taking some revolutionary action. Of course it was impossible to stop the leveling of buildings I did not own, but I’d find a way to save parts of the interior; the artwork, woodcarvings, and imported details and furnishings that were often left behind. If they were about to be destroyed, I would find a way to save them. I was not alone in my thinking.

There was my younger sister, Chloe, an accomplished equestrian, who had a wild and daring spirit and possessed the same spark of rebellion just waiting for an outlet. We knew many of the old caretakers, and groomsmen who continued to live in their estate cottages, and stables long after the manor houses were gone. They had flatbed trucks, chain saws, rope ladders, and all the tools we would need to stage a small protest.

We set up headquarters in the guesthouse on our parents’ property, where we had played as children. It was a one-room white clapboard cottage with a pull-down staircase that led to the second floor. A charming structure with pink shutters, geranium filled window boxes, and gingerbread trim, it April/May 2015 | 59

The Francis P. Garvan estate in Old Westbury was leveled in 1974.

rain or shine, in heavy fog and howling blizzards, we persevered, scaling walls, climbing gates and fences, even crossing a moat that surrounded a ruined castle. We lowered ourselves down elevator shafts, slithered through furnace grates and coal chutes. Whatever it took, we got in.

A Rescued Gazebo Was Reconstructed And Stands In A New Garden.

looked more like the dwelling place of Little Bo Peep than the hideaway to two self-proclaimed revolutionaries. Inside our headquarters we covered one wall with a huge government aerial map of the Gold Coast area so we could keep track of the properties in danger. Purple flags were the memorial markers for mansions already lost. Blue flags were for those under surveillance, meaning they were empty, but intact, or protected by guard dogs, watchmen, or just waiting to be sold to developers. Red flags were for the hot spots, or when we decided to take action to save something of interest. They had to have been abandoned for a long time, or been targets of repeated attacks by vandals, and marked for demolition. The night before each mission, we would meet in the little cottage, study the map, and devise a strategy, and hope we didn’t get caught. We called ourselves, “The Gold Coast Rescue Team,” and we were determined that one way or another, we were going to save or steal what remained salvageable in those doomed mansions.

Almost everyday after school, we roamed all over the estate properties at dusk, following the bridle trails that gave us easy access to out-of-reach places. We surveyed endangered buildings and made notes for future operations. After months of research, all the red flags were in place. Then we hit every abandoned building from Glen Cove to Huntington. Day or night, 60 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

Many things were so badly damaged, they could no longer serve any earthly purpose, but we regarded them as precious mementos, giving them the same importance that an archeologist would give to relics from a lost civilization. There were days when we worked until we were exhausted, but there was just so much you could load onto a horse or stuff into a basket of a bicycle. It was time to borrow the spare car in our parents’ garage. I was driving at fifteen, although I was not licensed to do so, but they were short trips, and getaways tend to go fast. Our parents didn’t notice that one of the cars went missing, or that our cottage was soon bulging with strange and curious objects. Our cover was blown when we ran out of storage space in our playhouse and began loading mantels, chairs, and carved moldings in the second floor loft of the spacious brick garage. It was then that my mother noticed that something odd was going on. “Would you kids kindly remove all this junk?” she said one day, scanning the heaps of wood and broken objects that were already reaching the ceiling. “Junk!” I said incredulously. “You call this junk? That moose head once belonged to J.P. Morgan.” “What, might I ask, are you doing with it?” she said glaring down at my sister and I. “Well, Mr. Morgan died, and none of his heirs wanted it cause it had...moths?” I responded, as my mother grumbled and stormed off into the house. We had a problem, and unless we found another safe haven, all our efforts would be in vain. We were getting frantic: mansions were going down faster than we could get to them. Seventeen were destroyed that summer. We knew a kindly caretaker who lived on a huge estate in Old Brookville. The manor house was long gone, so he felt the same way about the loss of his world, as he knew it. We traded some garden ornaments for storage space in his unused carriage house.

In our first year, we rescued forty-two battered chairs, seven steamer trunks filled with beaded flapper gowns, and hats frothy with lace, feathers and silk flowers. We removed enough brass and gold-plated doorknobs to

Ambrose Clark’s, BROADHOLLOW, burnt to the ground in the mid-sixties.

replace the hardware on every door in Buckingham Palace. At Farnsworth, in Oyster Bay, abandoned for nearly thirty years, we salvaged half a dozen gilt-framed paintings that had been slashed by vandals. We lost track of all the marble fragments, capitals, balustrades, stained glass windows, and fireplace mantels. But there was never to be another mantelpiece like the one lost the year before.

Chloe and I moved about these deserted places quietly, with intense curiosity and awe, but at times we felt as though we were indeed discovering the remains of a lost civilization. It was through these discarded things that we came to know the richness and beauty of the Gold Coast’s brief season.

Getting around the overgrown roads leading up to raid sites became easier when at the age of sixteen, my father gave me a white Buick convertible, the kind with the flipper fins on the back fender. It was spacious enough to put a concert grand in the backseat, had the opportunity presented itself.

With it our missions became more daring.

One day, we spotted bulldozers plowing through a maze of outbuildings and overgrown greenhouses, where at the end of a long glade of cherry trees stood a beautiful latticed gazebo. I knew it would be gone the next day.

We had to save it. That night with the help of our caretaker friend, we used crowbars, a winch, and his flatbed truck, and the three of us dismantled the small structure piece by piece. Many years later it was painstakingly reconstructed, and now stands happily in a garden surrounded by flowers.

The Woodward Playhouse By 1965 nearly 450 estates had been destroyed. I had just moved to the Woodward Estate in Oyster Bay, which had been abandoned since the infamous shooting death of William Woodward in 1955 (see August, 2012 issue of 25A.) A “For Sale” sign had been posted on the gates since that time, but most folks are wary about moving into a house with bullet holes, and blood stains on the walls and floor. After ten years, an older socially prominent couple bought the property and were willing to rent me the entire second floor. There was an eight-car garage that no one was using, so there was plenty of room to expand our little pirate operation.

FARNSWORTH, in Oyster Bay, had been abandoned for nearly 30 years.

In time, we had several close calls with the police, who were unaware of what we were doing. We were breaking all the rules, and while we didn’t agree with those rules, we knew if we kept up our activities, sooner or later we were going to get caught. Once a property was leveled, developers were building split-levels that sprouted up like mushrooms overnight. With them, the chances of our being seen increased. We had to come up with a new plan.

Poodles on the Prowl I often wondered if my mother harbored a secret wish to run off and join the circus, or theater, as she loved to design and sew elaborate costumes. One year she made my sister and I matching poodle costumes for a Halloween party. The costumes were designed as tight-fitting black knit jumpsuits, with fluffy Mongolian lamb fur around the torso, and a fury tail and ears.

Black masks complete with whiskers, covered our faces. I suggested we carry on our rescue missions in broad daylight in full view of anyone who might happen by, but so disguised that no one could identify us. My sister thought it was the stupidest idea she’d ever heard. “What are we going to call ourselves? The Poodle Banditos?” she asked. “That will work,” I said.

The disguise worked like a charm and within a few weeks we had salvaged enough Gold Coast treasures to fill another garage. But people in the area were starting to talk.

Our days as the poodle bandits were short-lived; our cover was blown one day after I ran a stop sign on Wolver Hollow Road, following an otherwise uneventful raid at Farnsworth. The Brookville Police, used to seeing the locals coming and going from one costume party to another, took no notice of our peculiar attire, nor the eight-foot armoire rising up like a monolith out of the back seat of the convertible. As I fumbled with my black paw gloves to find my license, the officer asked, “you girls from around here?” “Yes, I live on the old Woodward estate,” I replied. “You related to the Woodwards?” he asked. “No, we’re poodles,” I said, unable to stop myself. My sister was trying not to giggle, but her whiskers were vibrating. “Have you girls been drinking?” he asked. “Oh noooooo,” we said, simultaneously shaking our heads, causing our fur ball ears to sway from side to side. “I am going to April/May 2015 | 61

An 18Th Century Painting That Had Been Slashed By Vandals At Farnsworth, Was Rescued And Restored.

let you off with a warning, but you need to pay attention to stop signs,” he said in a friendly tone. “We’ll be good. Thank you,” we said. And the officer drove off.

Looking back, it was perhaps the narrow escapes that kept us addicted to the excitement and adventure of what we were doing. To us, there was nothing in God’s creation more stimulating than a successful rescue mission. I never felt more alive or committed to a cause. There was, of course, the sheer terror of it; the imminent danger of sweet peril-and the glorious rapture of leading a secret life. It was perhaps the impossibility of some of the challenges we took on, knowing they exceeded all reason, our abilities, and our strength, that drove us. Our most daring mission was to be our last.

The Last Rescue Mission Word was out that one of the fabled estates in Glen Cove was coming down. It had been built along the waters edge with one of the largest palm conservatories in the country. A round stained glass Tiffany globe hung from a chain at the far end of a thirty-foot ceiling. The building had been abandoned since the fifties, and had survived attacks by vandals only because it was protected by an eight-foot wall and locked gate. The only way to reach the property was by boat. We put a red flag on the map to mark the spot and stayed up half the night to come up with a plan to save the Tiffany piece. The next morning, we got up at 5:00 am and drove to a dock in Bayville, where a friend had given us a key to his small motorboat.

We followed the shoreline until we reached the estate, then we tied the boat in a thicket of low-hanging trees. As we walked up the beach, we saw that the manor house was already half gone. Three bulldozers stood ominously in the drive. Part of the glass conservatory had been leveled and most of the palm trees were crushed and lay flattened on the ground. We looked up and saw the glass globe was hanging precariously from a half-twisted girder. With no time to spare, we ran into the half-demolished house and dragged several mildewed mattresses back to the site, placing them under the Tiffany globe. Then I carefully unwrapped my father’s hunting rifle from an old woolen blanket, steadied the barrel on the rim of the broken urn, 62 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

took careful aim, and fired. The blast shattered the surrounding glass in a four-foot area of the North wall but missed the chain. Dozens of black birds which had been roosting in the rafters, exploded into flight and headed in all directions. “Everyone within fifty miles had to have heard that!” Chloe cried nervously.

“You’re breaking my concentration,” I snapped, and prepared to try again.

“The police are going to break your concentration if you don’t get out of here,” she hissed, inching her way towards what had once been an entrance but was now a pile of broken glass and rubble. I looked up at the Tiffany prize and marveled at the beauty of its blue green prisms and lavender birds.

No bulldozer was going to get its jaws on that work of art; not that day. I took a deep breath and kept my eye on the target, a quarter inch brass chain that was one link away from setting the globe free. I steadied the gun and fired again. In that instant the globe fell twenty feet, landing with a thud on the mattresses below. We both squealed with delight, and quickly wrapped the lamp in a blanket, tied it with a cord and rolled it down to the beach and into the boat and we were out of sight only seconds before we heard the police arrive.

Rifle blasts have a way of attracting attention, but nothing would have stopped us; nothing except for the cold reality that finally hit us one day: we had lost the battle, and there was nothing left to save. By 1968, The Gold Coast Rescue Team was no more. Most of the great manor houses were gone, and Long Island had lost its chance to become what Newport, Rhode Island is today; a perfectly preserved architectural record of a glorious time that will never come again.

Authors note: In the late 1970’s we incorporated a non-profit organization called the The North Shore Preservation Society. It oversees the largest collection of artifacts, costumes, and Gold Coast memorabilia in the world.

Sources: Winfield: Living in the shadow of the Woolworth’s - St. Martins Press, The Mansions of Long Island’s Gold Coast, Rizzoli International.

Second Annual

Evening e of Hop

A BENEFIT TO SUPPORT SUICIDE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION IN LOVING MEMORY OF

MICHAEL A. BENINCASA KEYNOTE SPEAKER:

JOSEPH SCHULMAN Executive Director, North Shore-LIJ Care Solutions

HONOREE:

VINCENT DITUCCI Suicide Survivor

THURSDAY, MAY 28TH 2015 | 6:30PM HARBOR CLUB at Prime 95 NEW YORK AVE., HUNTINGTON, NY 11743

Dinner, Dancing, Wine, Beer, Casino Tables and Raffles To purchase tickets $125 each visit www.michaelbenincasa.com Please RSV by May 1st

N

icole Benincasa-Ragonese currently serves as the Manager of Patient and Family Centered Care at North Shore University Hospital where she is responsible for optimizing patients and families health care experience through emotional, social and developmental support. Aside from her day job, she also has a private practice where she specializes in working with suicide survivors. After the passing of her brother, Nicole and her family founded the Commack Alumni Scholarship Foundation in Loving Memory of Michael A. Benincasa in 2012. Since then she spends her time spreading suicide awareness and prevention through education.

It's important to note that depression was the leading risk factor in the 40,600+ deaths by suicide last year. This is thetenth leading cause of death in our nation. It's difficult for some to understand that suicide is a desperate attempt to escape the suffering that has become so unbearable. Often, people can't see a way out, and give in to the feelings of hopelessness, helplessness and isolation. Despite their need for the pain to stop, most suicidal people are ambivalent about taking their lives.

We can spread hope and awareness by knowing the warning signs *Talking about suicide, dying or questioning life *Changes in personality and behavior *Increase drug and alcohol use or acting recklessly *One becomes withdrawn or isolated *Feelings of being trapped and self-loathing *Unusual calls or visits saying goodbye or giving away possessions Understanding the changed thinking: At last year's Evening for Hope, my friend and mentor Laura Campbell from the Long Island Crisis Center explained... *When one doesn't reach out for help and becomes hopeless, it feels like they are trapped in a box where the stress turns into pain. Their loved ones remain outside the box. *Their loved ones don't leave, but the hopeless person can't see them anymore and all the good in their life doesn't matter. *The person will do anything to get out of their box of pain. Suicide may become an option.

Knowing how to help: If you suspect a loved one is contemplating suicide don't be afraid to ask, "Are you ok?" Do this in a direct yet non-confrontational way. Use the numbers below as support: *National suicide prevention line 1-800-273-TALK *Long Island Crisis Center Hotline 516-679-1111 April/May 2015 | 63

celeb

25A

Elvis Presley

Elvis, The Beatles & Me

By Victoria R. Crosby Photo Courtesey of Victoria Crosby, Will Hutchins and 02 Exhibit

J

anuary 8, 2015 marked what would have been Elvis Presley’s 80th birthday. He died on August 16, 1977 at the age of 42.

I have been an Elvis fan since my early teens. I grew up in Cheshire, England, on the Wirral Peninsula, across the River Mersey from Liverpool, and I saw the Beatles play as a popular local band in the very early 1960’s, in and around Liverpool. The songs they played were covers of American songs, including Chuck Berry and Little Richard, although they were also heavily influenced by Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly and the Crickets. John Lennon is quoted as saying “Nothing affected me until I heard Elvis. Without Elvis there would be no Beatles.”

In 1965 The Beatles and Elvis met at his home in Los Angeles, arranged by their managers, Brian Epstein and Colonel Tom Parker. From some reports it is said that the Beatles sat staring at Elvis with little to say to their idol until Elvis broke the ice by saying, “If you are just going to sit there staring at me I am going to bed.” They all laughed, then strummed guitars a little, but it was hardly a jam session, and it had been agreed by their management that there would be no recording or photographs of the meeting. John Lennon famously said “before Elvis there was nothing.”

It had been my childhood dream, inspired mostly by Elvis music and films, to live in America, and while still in my teens I left England for New York. I saw Elvis perform at Madison Square Garden in 1972

64 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

Will Hutchins and Elvis From the Movie "Clambake"

and in 1973 at the Nassau Coliseum, and I have visited Graceland many times. I also had the good fortune to meet two of the men who Elvis worked with during his career. Will Hutchins, who appeared with Elvis in several films, Spinout and Clambake, lives not far from where I live, and he and his wife Barbara have become my friends.

“Life before Elvis was like the world was in black and white,” Hutchins said to me when we first met, “life with Elvis made the world seem in Technicolor!”

As a child in England I used to watch a TV show about a cowboy called Tenderfoot, which in the US was called Sugarfoot, starring Will Hutchins. I never thought I would meet this star of TV and films.

I interviewed Will and Babs Hutchins on my radio show in 1999.

I was also lucky to meet Scotty Moore, who was Elvis’s original bass player when he was with Sun Studios in Memphis, playing with Bill Black as the Blue Moon Boys. In 2003 I had hired country singer Ronnie McDowell, when Scotty was part of his band, to perform an Elvis Tribute Show at a time when I was the Managing Director of a summer music festival in Morgan Park in Glen Cove.

Years ago I wrote a poetry collection, Elvis; His Life in Rhyme, and I have recorded a tribute show on WHPC 90.3fm each year, for more than twenty years, with my poetry and his music, on the anniversary of his birth and death. www.ncc.edu/whpc

April/May 2015 | 65

Will Hutchins, Barbara Hutchins & Victoria Crosby at Studio WCWP

From the 02 Exhibit

Scotty Moore & Victoria Crosby

The King In London Although Elvis never performed in the United Kingdom, he still has a very large fan base there. The reason Elvis never performed outside of the US, is reported to be because his manager, Tom Parker, discouraged it, due to the fact that he, Parker, didn’t have American citizenship.

exhibit opened in London at the 02, an event space on the River Thames, on December 2014 and will continue until August 31, 2015.

The British Invasion artists, including, The Beatles, were great admirers of Elvis and his music. A few years ago there was an exhibit at the Pier Head in Liverpool, called Elvis and Us, about the connection between Elvis and the Beatles, a collaboration of the museum, The Beatles Story on the Albert Dock, with Graceland and Elvis Presley Enterprises in Memphis. Now a new

The 02 exhibit will include cars, jewelry, costumes and other personal items from the Graceland collection. This will give the opportunity to millions of European fans to see the many Elvis artifacts, which have never been seen before outside of Graceland, and for American visitors to see their King on British soil. www.Elvisatthe02.com

Elvis at The 02 is the largest ever Elvis memorabilia exhibit in Europe, with cooperation of Elvis Presley Enterprises in Memphis, Tennessee.

"We'd go to see

The Beatles when they were

still known as The Quarrymen."

From The Mersey Sound to The Long Island Sound

By Victoria Crosby In my early teens I used to ride the buses and trains around Merseyside.

I'd go to watch the bands perform, I'd see Cilla Black and Rory Storm.

I rode the Ferry 'Cross the Mersey every day, long before I'd heard Gerry Marsden play.

It was not approved of in our house to speak with the accent of a "scouse", that nasal sing-song Liverpudlian voice was not the Cheshire people's choice.

And the places where these bands would play were in areas where I was told to stay away.

But my sister and I would break the rule, and sneak out of our class at school and take the ferry to Liverpool. We'd go to the Cavern on our lunch hour, or the show at night at the New Brighton Tower.

We'd go to see The Beatles when they were still known as The Quarrymen.

Then the Silver Beatles they became, but hey, who cares, what's in a name?

Black leather jackets and jeans they wore and sang the songs I'd heard before, American standards, rhythm and blues, yet they could never fill Elvis's shoes.

But before those lads became real well known, off to America I had flown.

I knew in the future I would be far away from my town near the Irish Sea. All my life I'd planned someday to make it to the U.S.A. The music there spoke to my soul, that down and dirty Rock and Roll.

And to go visit Graceland was my goal.

So it was quite a great surprise to hear that those four local guys had the number one hit throughout the land, and they'd become a famous band.

As I look back it's amazing to me that they reached such celebrity, yet by playing original music it seems that they attained their American Dreams. and eventually as the years went by, I can tell you, so did I. I went to Graceland because you see, that was the American Dream for me.

66 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

(c) Copyright 1994 Victoria Crosby All rights reserved.

celeb

25A

KEVIN "New Style NICHOLAS to Magic”

A

By Jari Mineroff

t only 27 years old, Oceanside native Kevin Nicholas has already made a name for himself as a celebrity magician, here on Long Island and across the United States. With an impressive list of clients such as the New York Yankees, Rangers, Amway North America, the W Hotel, and the fashion house of Saint Laurent, Nicholas is bringing his new style of magic into the modern times. “I would like to be referred to as a mentalist, he says. No more pulling rabbits out of hats or doves out of sleeves,” laughs Nicholas.

“I’m not your child’s magician.”

He refers to himself as a modern mentalist, driven to ‘make magic cool.’ A self proclaimed entertainer, it is Kevin’s ability to connect with his audience that garners him a growing fan base each year. But it is the unique concepts for his tricks, which keep audiences mesmerized, show after show. His magic is more creative, using cellular technology, 68 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

mixing illusion with religion, even delving into illusion and fashion. Nicholas explains: “There is a sense of creativity in magic that is the same aesthetic in fashion. I want to develop a magic concept using fashion brands, based on their marketing idea.” It is this successful pairing of ‘entertainer meets innovator’ that sets Kevin apart from others in his industry.

Nicholas’s magical journey began at the age of 13, when an infomercial advertising a magic set, sparked his interest. “My parents supported my curiosity and bought me a set. Within the first week, I performed all 80 effects.” After realizing his gift, he pursued other ways to learn the craft and found an opportunity to do so, only two years later. Kevin saw a write-up in a magician’s magazine about a mentoring program in Las Vegas called, “The World Magic Seminar Teen Competition.” With his parents’ full support once again, he flew to Vegas to compete amongst kids from all over the world and came in third place.

speaker as well as an entertainer. “One of my proudest memories was when I was flown to Tampa to do a motivational speech and performance, for the New York Yankees during spring training.” Some of the celebrities he has performed for are Ozzy Osbourne, Derek Jeter, LLCool J, as well as members of royalty. But it is his work with over 50 of the top charities in the country, which makes him feel truly blessed. One of those is Charity: Water, an organization that raises money to create wells for clean water in 3rd world countries.

Still in the pinnacle of his youth, Kevin has accomplished more success in his craft, than most will achieve in their entire career. An amazing journey thus far, his next goal is to perform for even larger-scale private parties and explore different mediums of television. He also hopes to work with different national brands and create experiences for their customers using their products.

From the hallways of Oceanside High School to the ballrooms aboard private yachts, Kevin Nicholas wants to serve as a mentor to other young kids and be an example that dreams can come true. “I’m blessed to live a life of awesome,” says Nicholas. “I truly feel I haven’t worked a day in my life yet.”

This program not only gave him the confidence to perform on his own, it taught him about the business side of magic and the vital skills to make it a life-long career.

As Kevin continued to hone his craft, his love for entertaining grew, and he began performing for adults rather than kids. During college, he socialized at upscale venues on the North Shore, creating relationships with the staff and diners. “I sat at the bar for hours, he said, performing magic tricks to my fellow patrons. At the end of my illusion, I always loved hearing those words from the crowd that had gathered: “WOW…what just happened?” they’d say. It fueled my adrenaline and gave me the strength to keep pursuing my dreams.”

The prolific restaurant owners, Gillis and George Poll, soon recognized his talents and hired him to perform at private events. “That was the moment I realized everyone knew who I was.” This paved the way to lavish parties in New York City, the Hamptons and Los Angeles. “What seemed to start as a hobby, had now led to a career,” said Nicholas. “A career….. all started here, on Long Island.”Nicholas’s career continues to flourish. He’s had the privilege of working with many sports teams and organizations as a April/May 2015 | 69

celeb

25A

Interview with

Phil Grande

P

By Jeff Krasner

hil Grande, who spent several years as lead guitar with the Joe Cocker band producing 6 platinum and gold albums from 1987 to 1992, is a Long Islander like so many others who carved their niche into music history. The following in depth interview was conducted March 28, 2015 between recording tracks for his next album and rehearsing with his new band.

Jeff Krasner: How old were you when you picked up your first guitar?

Phil Grande: I was 7 years old, in dog years. Do the math (with a grin and a smile).

JK: Who were your early influences?

PG: My early influences were the The Ventures, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, George Benson, BB & Albert King.

JK: What kind of student were you in high school (East Meadow High School)?

PG: I actually had a 90 GPA, but never really applied myself because I knew I only wanted to do one thing in my life. I dropped out in my senior year but eventually went back to get my GED. JK: Are any members of your family musically orientated?

PG: Yes, my Uncle Nick on my mom’s side was with the Mills Brothers and played several instruments including the upright bass.

JK: What was the first band that you played in and how much did you earn?

PG: Back when I was 12, I played in a cover band called Zog One. It was a 3 piece band and each member earned $30.00.

JK: Did you ever hold down any other jobs?

70 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

PG: Yes, I worked in a chemical plant that lasted less than a year. I played with my band at night and had an office job by day. My sister Phyllis Grande was a budget director with CBS Television and she helped me secure a job as a junior accountant. I remember telling my co-workers that someday I would be signed by Columbia Records upstairs. A few months later, at 23 years old, it became a reality when I was signed by Elizabeth Joel (Billy Joel's ex) to Columbia by her and John Small of Decent Records. “Ha, I always hated fucking day jobs."

JK: What was your first big break?

PG: I was signed by Elizabeth to join The Charlie Midnight Band in 1981.

The drummer was John Small from the Hassels who was in Billy Joel’s band in the 60's.

JK: How did you get the Cocker gig?

PG: I was recommended by Charlie Midnight and landed the job without an audition in 1986. I toured with Joe on 6 world tours until 1992 earning 6 platinum and gold albums. (Back then they were still called albums.)

JK: What other bands did you play in?

PG: I played with Blue Oyster Cult, Scandal with Patty Smyth, Ellen Foley (Meat Loaf), Dan Hartman, Michael Monroe and my own bands.

JK: What types of guitars do you play?

PG: 72' Gibson Les Paul, 1962 Epiphone Casino, Fender Stratocaster, and a Guild acoustic.

JK: Who would you like to play with now?

PG: Marilyn Monroe (with a smile), Lennon & McCartney, George Harrison and Mozart. I've always been into classical.

JK: Who are your favorite all time guitar players?

PG: Jeff Beck and Jimi Hendrix.

JK: Do you play any other instruments?

PG: Bass and percussion.

JK: Who are you listening to these days?

PG: Mostly classical, Bartok, Mozart etc.

JK: The question for the ages, if stranded on a deserted island, what would you like as the only records you can listen to?

PG: Beatles (White album), Hendrix (Electric Ladyland), Beethoven, and Best of the Blues.

JK: What are your favorite and largest crowds that you’ve played for?

PG: We (Cocker band) played at the Berlin wall when it finally came down.

Millions watched all over the world and thousands were in attendance.

The largest crowd was also with Cocker in the Netherlands at The Pink Pop Festival to 140,000 fans.

JK: What are you doing these days?

PG: Recording a new album and getting ready to hit the road with my new band. I am also a record producer and an active studio and session musician.

JK: Have you made any TV appearances over the years?

PG: Actually quite a few. Three times on the Tonight Show with Carson, my favorite, three times on Letterman with Cocker and Ellen Foley, Arsenio Hall, Good Morning America, and numerous TV appearances across Europe.

JK: If you were to do it all over again, would you do anything different?

PG: Well first, burn more guitars and less bridges. I feel very fortunate and gifted even when I was on the balls of my ass. However, I always stuck to my guns because I love the music, who doesn't? I wouldn't change too much. I'm not very happy with the music of today but I'm also not a dinosaur. I respect my predecessors and hope the musicians after me will respect my work.

The above interview was very candid and extremely honest. To follow Phil's upcoming performances and to purchase his latest CD please contact: Themusicbkr@yahoo.com or go to JeffKrasnerProductions.

Photo by Michael J Rovnyak com for tour information.

April/May 2015 | 71

cover

25A

Boxing Legend

Bernard Hopkins 72 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

The

Age Defying

Bernard Hopkins

cover

25A Bernard Strutting Down Post Avenue, Westbury

By Bobbie Catala Iarrobino Photos by Tom Fitzgerald and Pam Deutchman

“If you do what you’ve always done, you will get what you have always got.” Mark Twain oncesaid. If you’re a champion boxer this is next to impossible.

Bernard Hopkins calls himself an alien. Looking back at his career, this is difficult to debate. Hopkins has defied Father Time with a career that spans almost three decades. But things did not come easy for the prize fighter. To truly appreciate Hopkins’ achievements, and what we can all learn from him, you first have to know something of where he came from.

Born on January 15, 1965, Bernard Humphrey Hopkins Jr. lived in one of the most crime-ridden projects in Philadelphia. By 1982 he was convicted of nine felonies, and sentenced to Graterford prison for 18 years. But behind these high walls is where the Hopkins legend began to develop. His introduction to boxing came from a fellow inmate, a former boxer named Michael “Smoky” Wilson, who was serving a life sentence for murder.

Hopkins once told a reporter for the Philadelphia Daily News “I saw worse stuff inside prison than I ever saw on the streets. I saw guys raped, beaten and tortured. When I saw a guy murdered for a lousy pack of cigarettes, something inside me snapped. I knew that I had to be responsible for turning my life around.”

Hopkins is refreshingly honest about his life. During my time with him he openly shared his mind set during his early years. He hated school.

He watched his family work hard and get nowhere. Both of his parents abused alcohol. At 17 and imprisoned, he wanted desperately to get off J block. Hopkins felt boxing was an outlet, and the only thing he was good at. Prison taught him to maximize every second of every day. “When you came up from nothing it’s not easy to have the patience and discipline to change your life.” He learned the discipline, and found “the gift.”

He began boxing and became a champion in the penitentiary. With good behavior, he was out in less than five years. The wardens words still echo today, “You’ll be back in 6 months.” How wrong that warden was.

74 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

Hopkins Bernard Hopkins Boxer Bernard Humphrey Hopkins, Jr. American boxer currently fights as a light heavyweight and middleweight.

Born: January 15, 1965 (age 50), Philadelphia, PA Height: 6' 1" (1.85 m) Weight: 174 lbs (79 kg) Martial art: Boxing Having Bernard Hopkins on the cover of 25A magazine was a great choice for us. He stands for so much more than just boxing. Now at his age (of 50) the reason that he's boxing still is quite interesting, because he's got millions. He doesn't need money.

Bernard Hopkins would go on to be the longest reigning middleweight champion of all time. He held the title from 1994 until 2005, with twenty successful defenses of the title. He won the International Boxing Federation title in 1994, then added the World Boxing Council, World Boxing Association, and The Ring title’s in 2001. He became the first man to hold all four major sanctioning bodies titles, when he won the World Boxing Organization title in 2004. The Ring Magazine ranked him #3 on the list of the 10 best middleweight title holders of the last 50 years. He broke George Foreman’s record for the oldest fighter ever to win a World Championship at the age of 46. He later broke his own record by winning the FBF Title from Tavoris Cloud in 2013 and again in 2014 when he won the WBA title from Beibut Shumenov at age 48 and 49 respectively.

Once known as “The Executioner” Hopkins declared in 2013 that he is an “Alien”… a non explanation of getting old without getting old. He feels that we live in a world that believes if you are different, you are strange. He wanted to inspire people, that they could be an alien too if they wanted.

This of course created quite a buzz. His response? “If I’m not, than explain how I do it. ”According to B-Hop, he has preserved his body by controlling everything that goes into it. This could be why he looks and feels like someone half his age.

A l i e n

Boxing Club: At the M. Phipps Sports Center

Great Bernard Hopkins

The

cover

25A

Hopkins philosophy? “Eat right, take care of your body, and duck more punches than you take.”The boxer says he is who he is because of what he does, and how he lives. He doesn’t do anything to compromise his health.

He does not eat any meat, fish or dairy. What DOES he eat? Egg whites, tofu, salad, fruits and vegetables. He eats only whole wheat and whole grain products. Creative preparation is the key … perhaps we could coax a cooking lesson. Unlike most other boxers, Hopkins maintains close to his fighting weight year round. He lives in training, keeping his body supple and fit at all times. “I don’t drink occasionally, I don’t drink on holidays. I don’t drink alcohol, period,” he said “not wine, not anything.” He drinks cranberry juice and sparkling water. He also is a big fan of juicing.

Bernard Hopkins believes body in motion lives, and a body that stands still dies. He walks, runs, does calisthenics, swims, and practices yoga.

So what does a prize fighting boxer do in his spare time? Hopkins loves to play pool and read. Subject matter? Literature, politics, and history.

Possessing a great interest in The Art of War, and dictators, Hopkins is fascinated with how things relate to this time, in this world. He also says he loves going against mainstream politics.

Hopkins is happily married with children, and blessed with everything he needs… friends, religion, as well as money and fame.

So what makes a man who has it all want to fight again at 50? His answer…

“Just because…because I can do it.” He will making a decision on who his next opponent will be by the middle of this year. Who does he want to fight? Carl Froch or Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. are at the top of the list. B-Hop 78 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

wants them to “Put their money where there mouth is.” That sounds like a challenge if there ever was one! He feels that even if he loses he will be motivating people. The self disciplinarian explained that everything he does is a plan, giving every move four or five scenarios.

His vision for the future of boxing is clear. Bring integrity back to boxing.

He believes journalism can help boxers move up the ladder and be able to fight because of their credibility, and not based on hype. Hopkins believes the media machine can get boxing “Back to what we had. Fight the best against the best.”

Bernard Hopkins has been a shareholder and partner in Golden Boy Promotions for 11 years. Golden Boy is a combat sport promotional firm started by former boxer Oscar De La Hoya. Golden Boy is one of boxing’s most active and respected promoters, presenting shows in packed venues across the United States. Hopkins is the east coast managing partner, the man that brings the talent to Golden Boy, and builds the brand.

Hopkins himself is inspired by people that have done something - those that did not want to be“Just a, they did more.” A few on his list … Russell Simmons, Jay Z, and Michael Strayhan.

Bernard Hopkins is a bonified boxing great, not only on a promotional level, but with the goal of giving back to the fans that have supported boxing, and kept it viable year after year. He wants his end in boxing to be on his own terms. “They try to con you out by saying, ‘You’ve done everything.’ “. Hopkins says he became a champion when he overcame the street.

Profound words indeed from an impressive and complicated man.

From Homer's IIiad “Sons of Atreus, and all you other strong-greaved Achaians, we invite two men, the best among you, to contend for these prizes with their hands up for the blows of boxing. He whom Apollo grants to outlast the other, and all the Achaians witness it, let him lead away the hard-working jenny [female donkey] to his own shelter.

The beaten man shall take away the two-handled goblet.”

He spoke, and a man huge and powerful, well skilled in boxing, rose up among them; the son of Panopeus, Epeios. He laid his hand on the hard-working jenny, and spoke out: “Let the man come up who will carry off the two-handled goblet. I say no other of the Achaians will beat me at boxing and lead off the jenny. I claim I am the champion. Is it not enough that I fall short in battle? Since it could not be ever, that a man could be a master in every endeavour.

For I tell you this straight out, and it will be a thing accomplished. I will smash his skin apart and break his bones on each other. Let those who care for him wait nearby in a huddle about him to carry him out, after my fists have beaten him under.”

So he spoke, and all of them stayed stricken to silence. Alone Euryalos stood up to face him, a godlike man, son of lord Mekisteus of the seed of Talaos; of him who came once to Thebes and the tomb of Oidipous after his downfall, and there in boxing defeated all the Kadmeians. The spear-famed son of Tydeus was his second, and talked to him in encouragement, and much desired the victory for him. First he pulled on the boxing belt about his waist, and then gave him the thongs carefully cut from the hide of a ranging ox. The two men, girt up, strode into the midst of the circle and faced each other, and put up their ponderous hands at the same time and closed, so that their heavy arms were crossing each other, and there was a fierce grinding of teeth, the sweat began to run everywhere from their bodies. Great Epeios came in, and hit him as he peered out from his guard, on the cheek, and he could no longer keep his feet, but where he stood the glorious limbs gave. As in the water roughened by the north wind a fish jumps in the weed of the beach-break, then the dark water closes above him, so Euryalos left the ground from the blow, but great-hearted Epeios took him in his arms and set him upright, and his true companions stood about him, and led him out of the circle, feet dragging as he spat up the thick blood and rolled his head over on one side. He was dizzy when they brought him back and set him among them. But they themselves went and carried off the two-handled goblet.

—(From Book XXIII of Homer’s Iliad, translated by Richmond Lattimore.)

April/May 2015 | 79

cover

25A Brief History on Boxing Boxing, also known as pugilism or the sweet science, has roots that go all the way back to ancient Greece and Rome. There were no gloves back then, just leather taped to the hands.

The first documented boxing match took place in Britain in 1681 when the Duke of Albemarle engineered a bout between his butler and his butcher.

Jack Boughton, also known as “the father of boxing,” developed the first set of rules for the sport.

In 1865 a revolutionary change took place when John Sholto Douglass, drew up a new set of rules for boxing, basically transforming it into what it is today.

Some of the significant changes were three-minute rounds and regulated use of approved boxing gloves.

Popularity of the sport spread, and in 1904 it was included in the St Louis Olympic Games.

In 1927 the National Boxing Association (NBA) became the first “sanctioning body” to govern over the sport. The NBA ranked fighters and arranged matches between champions and the most deserving challengers. Today three sanctioning bodies control the world of boxing. The WBC, IBF and WBA are the only bodies whose titlists are recognized worldwide as “champions.”

Boxing Club: At the M. Phipps Sports Center, Post Ave, Westbury

80 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

Thank you: Boxing Club: At the M. Phipps Sports Center.

Photographer Tom Fitzgerald and Pam Deutchman/T.H.E.fitzgeraldphotography/ thefphoto.com Hair and make up by NuBest Salon and Spa.

Kelly O’Malley Mattone,M.D. Ultherapy - CoolSculpting - Botox - Dysport - Restylane - Lashes - InvisiLift MicroCurrent Facial Sculpting - Endermologie - Facials - Painless Hair Removal 8 Bond Street, Suite 200, Great Neck, NY 11021 - 516.482.2424 - www.aestheticmedicalstudio.com April/May 2015 | 81

PHILIPPE BY PHILIPPE CHOW A-LIST HOTSPOT

By Elizabeth Darwen

A

n ever-strong whirlwind since opening its doors in December 2005, Philippe by Philippe Chow in New York remains a hotspot and staple for a virtual “who’s who” of the music, film and sports industries, not to mention politicos, CEOs and an array of additional New York influencers.

Diners have included A-List celebrities like Rihanna, Kobe Bryant, Troy Aikman, Carmel Anthony, Dick Parson, Oprah Winfrey, Anna Wintour, Robert De Niro, Beyonce and Jay-Z. Philippe New York exudes elegance combining its chic décor of red, black and white hues with plush leather banquettes and intimate booths that lend an air of opulence as the glow from flickering candles and overhead skylights set the tone for a luxurious dining experience. For VIP patrons seeking something a bit more secluded, a seductive subterranean floor offers a lounge, as well as two intimate wine cellar dining rooms, which are fully equipped with Wi-Fi and state-of-the-art entertainment systems perfect for viewing parties.

Chef Chow, who was born in China and has been cooking professionally since he was a teenager in Hong Kong, is best known for show-stopping dishes that are as lavish as they are delicious. The food at Philippe is 82 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

served family-style and signature items include Salt & Pepper Lobster, Chicken Satay, Glazed Spare Ribs, Filet Mignon with oyster sauce and the legendary Peking Duck, which is carved tableside and served with house-made pancakes.. Since opening, Philippe Chow has received top culinary accolades including “Best Peking Duck” from the New York Observer and “Best in Chinese” by Zagat. In addition to the dishes that exemplify Chef Chow’s take on classic Beijing-style cuisine, Philippe has a lengthy wine list, as well as a selection of vintage champagnes. Guests also can also sip on specialty cocktails, like Lychee Martinis which are reminiscent of the Far East but with a New York twist. To end their meal on a sweet note, diners can order one of Pastry Chef Kostas Paterakis’ desserts. With his dessert menu, Paterakis veers away from Asia and offers American comfort food staples, like Red Velvet Cake, Warm Apple Crumb and a decadent flourless Chocolate Cake that also happens to be gluten-free. Philippe New York can also host your next fête, in one of their private rooms that can accommodate 10 to 100 guests and/or provide offsite catering.

Philippe New York City: 33 East 60th St., New York, NY 10065 Phone: (212) 644-8885 Website: philippechow.com

BOBBY VAN’S REAFFIRMS THE HERITAGE OF GRAND STEAKHOUSE DINING

By Elizabeth Darwen

B

obby Van’s Steakhouse has earned its place as a venerable New York institution, thanks in part to a continued commitment to cooking techniques perfected years ago by the founding fathers of New York steakhouse cuisine. Celebrating its 46th Anniversary in 2015, Bobby Van’s grew from its original home in Bridgehampton, NY, and now includes a repertoire of nine fine restaurants that offer the refined style of a classic New York City steakhouse.

A quintessential steakhouse, Bobby Van’s is at the roots of the New York steakhouse family tree, with strong employee connections to original famed eateries. It is restaurants like Bobby Van’s that have inspired a legion of imitators, but Bobby Van’s still shines as a premier authentic steakhouse. When restaurateur and Chef Robert Dicker - the greatnephew of steakhouse legend Peter Luger - joined the Bobby Van’s team in 1996, he brought with him a wealth of family knowledge and tradition.

These traditions of quality food and superior customer service are still the hallmark of Bobby Van’s dining experience today. Dicker remains at Bobby Van’s where he helps to oversee the all-important process of selecting and dry aging the kitchen’s quality prime beef. Executive Chef Craig Jermin, who has also been at the company some 20 years, says the culinary team are passionate about the age-old family techniques that have been passed down for generations. “We are proud of our connection to the Luger tradition and are fiercely dedicated to providing the very best steak in New York City.”

The process of dry aging its USDA prime quality beef is key to developing the superior flavor of Bobby Van’s’ steaks, Jermin says, which they do “the old fashioned way”. Once the team carefully selects well-raised and well-marbled steak, they age it in a specially-designed, humidity-

controlled room for up to 28 days, which tenderizes it and enriches the flavor. Prime beef aside, the kitchen import the majority of their seafood from overseas. “If you want to serve the best, you have to source and buy the best,” Jermin says. The tuna is flown in from the Maldives, the Branzino comes from Spain, and salmon from Scotland. Locally, Bobby Van’s seafood supplier has 30 boats in the water providing the kitchen with the freshest fish and shellfish daily. The restaurant offers guests a wide variety of dining options outside of prime beef and seafood, including supremely-prepared pastas and wood-fired pizza.

In New York City, where restaurants tend to shine brightly then fade like a show on Broadway, Bobby Van’s Steakhouse has more than passed the test of time. Each night the restaurants pack out with Wall Street tycoons, famous athletes, New York’s political tycoons, celebrities, and others wanting to experience to soak up the elegant atmosphere and impeccable service. Bobby Van opened his first restaurant in Bridgehampton, New York in the summer of 1969. After two successful decades, Bobby sold this restaurant to a group of four restaurateurs: Joseph Smith, Joe Phair, Rick Passarelli, and Joe Hickey who opened a second Bobby Van’s Steakhouse location in the Helmsley Building on Park Avenue. The Bobby Van’s Family has grown to also include Bobby Van’s Steakhouse and Grill on Broad Street in the Financial District, Bobby Van’s Grill on East 54th Street, two Times Square locations on West 45th Street and West 50th Street, two Washington D.C. locations, an airport restaurant in JFK’s Terminal 8, and a take-out burger joint called BV’s Burger, which is also located in Times Square.

For more information, please visit: bobbyvans.com April/May 2015 | 83

taste

25A

Asian Inspired Chicken and Noodles

Tips from a Pro:

Throwing an Asian-Inspired Party

By Andrea Correale Andrea Correale, President of Elegant Affairs, is a celebrity caterer and the new national entertaining expert for the Lenox brand. Andrea has been featured in multiple magazines and on television networks such as People magazine, Woman's Day magazine, Oprah.com, FOX 5, WCBS, Bravo, VH1, Lifetime, and Martha Stewart Living.

L'Oreal Paris Academy calls her their lifestyle expert with a series of entertaining videos used to inspire women nationwide. elegantaffairscaterers.com

84 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

A

sian-inspired food is huge in the restaurant industry right now, and it’s a style of cuisine that won’t be going away any time soon.

Why not take this delicious type of food and base a theme party around it? There are many delicious elements of Asian cuisine, and you can incorporate them in a surprisingly easy way for your next party.

Like any party, you need snacks out in the very beginning. Instead of the usual crudité or chips and dip, mix it up with some edamame, which you can easily make on your own, with a dusting of sea salt. Or, try Nobu-style shishito peppers. Both are delicious choices and are perfect options for bar snacks.

At your dining room table, set up a dim sum station, which is a fun option for guests. You can include a variety of shumai, dumplings, and pot stickers.

Present them in bamboo steamers and put them on display, along with a ginger scallion sauce and bright signs with festive fonts that indicate what every dish is. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can make the items from scratch, but you can also purchase them for an easier option. As long as you display them well, your guests won’t mind!

Top Left. Vietnamese Spring Rolls Top Right. Chicken Satay with Peanut Dipping Sauce Bottom left Beef Negimaki Bottom Right Dim Sum

Many people are staying away from carbs as they prepare for bathing suit season. You can easily please these guests with lettuce wraps. Put out whole leaves of lettuce, minced Thai-style chicken and/or beef, along with hoisin sauce on the side. It’s healthy, tasty, low in calories and carb-free.

Another staple your guests will expect at an Asian-style theme party is sushi. If you’re up to it, you can make it yourself, but I recommend going to your favorite sushi restaurant and ordering a variety of sushi and sashimi, and serving it with wasabi and pickled ginger on the side; if you’re serving many other types of food, purchase about 4-5 pieces of sushi per person. For a better presentation, put the sushi on a wood board or ceramic platter, instead of the disposable plastic containers it arrived in.

One easy item to make in advance is a soba noodle dish with spiced shrimp, beef or chicken. Purchase some vibrant colored takeout boxes, as well as chopsticks, and pre-arrange the noodles in the boxes with the tops open and chopsticks in them. In addition, Asian soup spoons are also trending for presentations of one-bite items, such as a piece of tuna tartare with wasabi cream. Line them up for a stylish look that also lends well to the theme. With the takeout boxes and spoons, people can easily pick them up and graze during the night.

For additional protein, you can do kebabs or satay – they’re a perfect party food because you can precook them and keep them at room temperature.

They’re on a skewer, so they’re easy to eat when mixing and mingling.

Make sure to include a peanut dipping sauce for an accompaniment.

If you want to serve additional proteins, offer a skirt steak station with a soy sauce-based marinade with scallions and ginger, or glazed pork ribs, all carved to order. Consider whole-roasted Peking ducks to make a statement, along with crepes, cucumber and hoisin sauce. Other popular choices include beef Negimaki.

For your vegetarian guests, Vietnamese-style vegetable spring rolls are a wonderful option. Chop up vegetables, either leave them raw or blanch them, and wrap them in spring roll wrappers. From my experience, people love these, so you can’t go wrong!

What’s a party without dessert? Set up a tea bar with Asian-inspired teas, such as Jasmin tea. Serve it with a Fuji apple tart or sautéed bananas with fried wontons and ice cream.

When it comes to the bar, you obviously want to have the classics such as vodka and tequila, but consider adding some hot and cold sake into your selection, as well as Sapporo or Kirin beer. For signature drinks, consider a Mai Tai or Singapore Sling.

All of these elements will lead to an incredible themed party, and best of all: many of these items can be purchased in advance, so you can work less and enjoy your party more. Mix things up and throw a theme party – your guests will appreciate a fun change from the usual cocktail event!

April/May 2015 | 85

Favorite

Hamptons Food

By Andrea Correale

Summer Watermelon & Heirloom Tomato Salad Ingredients: • 1 small seedless watermelon, peeled and cut into small chunks • 2 heirloom tomatoes, each cut into 8 wedges • 1 tablespoon mint, minced • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil • 1/4 cup feta • salt to taste For Honey Balsamic Glaze: • 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar • 1/3 cup honey • 1/4 cup granulated sugar Directions: Place all the ingredients into a small sauce pan and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Allow the mixture to reduce by half, remove from heat and cool.

For Salad: Place watermelon, , tomatoes, mint, and oil in a bowl and gently toss together. Season with salt. Top with a crumbling of feta and drizzle the honey balsamic glaze over.

Citrus Buttered Grilled Lobster Tails Ingredients: • 4 lobster tails • 1⁄4 cup butter, melted • 1 tablespoon lemon juice • 1 teaspoon orange rind, grated • 1⁄4 teaspoon salt • 1 dash ground ginger • 1 dash paprika Directions: Cut down the center of the shell and through the meat but not through the undershell. Spread tail open, butterfly style. Combine all other ingredients and brush over lobsters. Place tails on foil on the grill, underside down. Grill 15-20 minutes or until meat loses its translucency and can be easily flaked. Loosen meat from shell. Brush with butter mixture before serving.

86 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

Spaghetti with Fresh Basil Pesto Ingredients: 1 pound dried spaghetti 1 small clove garlic ¼ cup pine nuts 3 cups loosely packed fresh basil leaves, washed kosher salt and pepper 2/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1/4 cup (about 1 ounce) grated Parmesan Directions: Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Place the garlic, pine nuts, basil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 pepper in the bowl of a food processor and pulse to combine. While the machine is running, drizzle in the oil through the feed tube, stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the Parmesan.

Local Grilled Sea Scallops with Warm Tomato Basil Ingredients: • 1 teaspoon coriander seeds • 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice • 2 tomatoes—peeled, seeded and diced • 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh fennel • 1 tablespoon chopped chervil or tarragon • 1 tablespoon finely shredded basil, plus baby leaves For garnish: • Salt and freshly ground pepper • 16 jumbo sea scallops (about 1 pound) Directions: In a saucepan, toast the coriander and fennel seeds over moderate heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes; transfer to a mortar and let cool. Pound until coarsely ground.

Warm the 1/4 cup of oil in the same saucepan. Add the spices along with the lemon juice and let stand for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, chopped fennel, chervil and shredded basil; season with salt and pepper.

Light a grill or preheat a grill pan. Brush the scallops with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the scallops over high heat, turning once, until browned and just firm, about 4 minutes. Transfer the scallops to plates and spoon the warm tomato dressing on top. Garnish with basil leaves and serve.

April/May 2015 | 87

Put a Tropical Twist onTraditional Summer Cocktails Treats from TY KU Coconut Nigori

Enjoy Cocojito Tropi-Co 1 oz TY KU Coconut Sake 2 oz Club Soda 1 oz Coconut Flavored Vodka 1-2 Muddled Strawberries 96 Calories

2 oz TY KU Coconut Sake 1,5 oz Club Soda, 0,5 oz Agave Nectar Fresh Mint, Squeeze of Lime 73 calories

Tokyo Sea Breeze 2 oz TY KU Coconut Sake 1 oz Cranberry Juice 1 oz Pineapple Juice 94 Calories

Cocoberry 2 oz TY KU Coconut Sake 1 oz TY KU Sojou or Vodka 4-5 Muddled Blueberries Garnish with Mint 81 Calories

88 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

Coconut Wonder Cocomosa 1.5 OZ TU KU Coconut Sake 1.5 OZ Champagne Freshly Squeeze Orange Juice (85 Calories)

2 oz TY KU Coconut Sake 1,5 oz POM Wonderful Mint Leaves Splash of Agave Nectar 91 calories

Planning on an an Affair?

P lanning onhaving having Affair?

delicious cuisine, stylish presentation, impeccable service

OFF-PREMISE CATERING & EVENT DESIGN for your HOME, BUSINESS or VENUE Southampton 631 324 9825 路 Glen Cove 516 676 8500 路 Manhattan 212 991 0078 An on-site caterer for The Nassau County Museum of Ar t, a neo-georgian mansion located in Roslyn Harbor

ElegantAffairsCaterers.com

city

25A

HAMPTON'S Sag Harbor A Hidden Gem

90 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

S

Photos by Deann Arce

ag Harbor a unique and captivating village. Located in the towns of East Hampton and South Hampton, on the south fork of long Island.

Rich in culture and old word charm, you can take a stroll down Main Street, visit the quaint local shops, revel in the artsy aspects of the village, or just sit down to lunch at one of their many restaurants. Sag Harbor is truly one of Long Island’s hidden gems.

The village has the distinction of having had the first custom house in the United States, the first volunteer fire company in the state of New York, and the first newspaper printed on Long Island. There are many defining landmarks of the village as well; Including its Main Street, The whaling museum, The windmill, The American Hotel, Hannibal French House, Church Street and of course the marinas and beautiful beaches.

Characterized by the windmill that sits atop of the tourist information center.

Sag harbor Founded in 1707 became a prosperous harbor and was once a whaling village port, famously mentioned in “Moby Dick” by Herman Melville.

Most of Sag Harbor is on the National Register of Historic Places. The village takes pride in its history and works hard to preserve, commemorate and share their past.

The jewel of Sag Harbor is the historic Hannibal French house. Built for the owner of the last of the great whaling firms, it is an excellent example of Italianate of “ Double Bracket” style. Another must see is the Whaling Museum, dedicated to the town’s past as a prosperous whaling port. It houses the largest collection of whaling equipment in the state of New York.

Your visit would not be complete without a stay at The American Hotel,

built in 1846. The hotels top rated restaurant, with an award wining wine list, reopened July 4th, 1972, and has since been a location to be conjured with on the Main Street of Sag Harbor.

Through all of its 300 years, Sag Harbor has preserved its special history, beauty and individuality.

April/May 2015 | 91

jetset

25A

Southampton Inn Pool

Special events throughout the birthday year include:

Cooper’s Beach

CELEBRATING SOUTHAMPTON’S 375TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR

By Clara Morgan

S

outhampton Inn, which has stood as a well-loved focal point of the local Southampton community for almost 50 years, is participating in the town’s 375th anniversary celebrations throughout 2015, offering a host of specials, packages, events and more.

Founded in 1640, Southampton, New York is considered the first English settlement in the state of New York. The Southampton Historical Museum is leading the 375th Anniversary Committee together with local hotels, restaurants, shops, museums, and town and village officials.

The Historical Museum and Southampton Inn are partnering to honor many of the historic families by welcoming them to the town with historic lineage lectures, home receptions, and honorary dinners at the Inn. The Halsey family will be celebrated in July, and the Howells in October.

• Southampton Historical Museum’s opening exhibit - April through December. The exhibit will feature a history of Rogers Mansion which is located just 0.4 miles away from the Southampton Inn • The Southampton Historical Museum’s Pelletreau Silver Shop on Main Street is offering Jewelry Making Classes throughout the year. Students will learn the basics of jewelry making, from sculpting wax and soldering to setting stones and polishing, over an eight-week course • A lecture program at the Historical Museum will continue through 2015. Antique Fairs will run May through September, with a Polish Festival in August, Harvest Day Fair in September, and Chowder Festival in November – the reasons to visit are nearly endless • The highly-anticipated Annual Southampton House Tour: “Insider’s View” will be held on May 30th, 2015 • Southampton’s 375th Birthday Party will be held on June 20th, 2015 at Rogers Mansion, four days after the first settlers of the town landed at Conscience Point on June 12, 1640. Free one-year, family memberships to the Historical Museum will be offered this day only. The party will include a band and dessert.

• The highly anticipated Late Summer Cocktail Party will be held on September 5th, 2015 at Rogers Mansion and includes gourmet hors d’oeuvres and open bar.

Southampton Inn will welcome guests throughout the year with various birthday themed packages as the hotel, with its 90 guest rooms, 50 foot pool, tennis court, and Coopers Beach shuttle, is within walking distance of most of the Southampton Village historical activities.

• The year’s celebrations will conclude with New Year’s Eve events, held annually at the Southampton Inn and a special museum benefit event being held at the Port of Missing Men historic mansion.

Southampton Inn: 91 Hill St., Southampton, NY 11968 Phone:(631) 283-6500 Website: southamptoninn.com

For more information visit: southamptonhistoricalmuseum.org

92 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

Transported to

SPRING

By Diana Erbio Carriage on Display at Long Island Museum.

Photo Courtesy by The Long Island Museum.

A

s the earth greens and winter melts once again into the past, the signal to emerge is strong. For me a day trip is the perfect antidote to cabin fever.

A ride in the countryside or maybe just a simple trip to town has satisfied many that lived during eras when people were truly cabin-bound. Today, although never really cabin-bound, a long snowy winter certainly makes some of us feel as though we were.

I found visiting the Long Island Museum to see carriages of the past that took people on trips of business and pleasure followed by High Afternoon Tea at Robinson’s Tea Room both in Stony Brook to be just the outing I needed to spring forward, far away from a long cold winter.

When I visited, snow was still visible, but crocus and daffodil shoots and other signs of Spring were pushing through. The sun was warm and birds sang as I made my way along the brick pathway to the Dorothy and Ward Melville Carriage House.

The collection of almost 200 carriages that Ward Melville amassed, reside in the eight galleries that showcase these conveyances that transported people of past generations. Goods were also moved via many of the vehicles on view.

The Going Places Gallery features carts and carriages commonly used on Long Island. Market wagons were used to deliver farmer’s produce to New York City and Surreys carried vacationers comfortably between transit hubs, hotels and nearby amusements.

The Streets of New York Gallery depicts 19th century New York City. Two wheeled delivery

High Afternoon Tea at Robinson's Tea Room.

Photo Courtesy by Ward Melville Heritage Organization.

carts, heavy wagons, streetcars and stylish private coaches used during the era are set against wall murals of black and white photo imagery showing the buildings, people and cobblestone streets of early New York. A video shows how difficult it must have been to navigate the streets with so many varied vehicles and pedestrians sharing the same space.

Robinson’s Tea Room for High Afternoon Tea. I once read that High Afternoon Tea is a tradition that is believed to have started in England when the Duchess of Bedford, Anna felt faint in afternoons.

She began sipping on tea and noshing on tasty tidbits secretly brought to her by her servants to tide her over until dinner which would not be served until 7 pm or later.

At The Gentleman’s Coach House Gallery are carriages that once were used by those who lived in the 19th century Gold Coast mansions of Long Island’s North Shore. Rare, royal carriages used by European nobility are in The European Vehicles Gallery.

Robinson’s Tea Room has an extensive list of teas which are served from porcelain teapots into dainty china cups. Among the tea choices are Lavender Earl Grey, Jasmine Blossom Green, Long Island Strawberry Green, traditional teas and pages of others.

After viewing the carriages, I headed up the hill along the brick pathway to the Art Museum where exhibits change every few months. Currently on exhibit are Ansel Adams: Early Works and American Horizons, East to West: Landscape Painting and Photography which will run through August 2nd.

The High Tea luncheon consists of a multi-tiered tray of butter scotch pecan, cinnamon, and raisin scones, small sandwiches of cucumber, shrimp salad, ham salad, and turkey and a layer of Petit Fours and miniature custard fruit tarts.

I was drawn to an oil painting of a rural landscape with some blooming wild growth. I read the title and it is called A Long Island Farm, Springtime

by Robert Bruce Crane. Painted in 1890. I smiled because I imagined the artist using the mode of transportation I just saw in the previous building.

Perhaps some of the produce grown on this farm was hauled to New York City on one of the market wagons.

Another painting, Long Island Landscape, by Leon Foster Jones painted in 1910 is a woodland setting which is springing to life after what also might have been a long winter.

I grew a bit hungry so my plan was to go to nearby

Also on the menu are wraps, quiches, pot pies and more. Reservations are required for High Afternoon Tea. Noshing on tasty tidbits and sipping tea while surrounded by floral décor definitely chased away the perceived cabin fever of a winter that seemed it would never part my company.

SIDEBAR Long Island Museum 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook, NY 11790 (631) 751-0066 www. longislandmuseum.org Robinson’s Tea Room 97 E Main Street, Stony Brook NY 11790 (631) 751-1232 Diana Erbio is a freelance writer and lives on Long Island.

April/May 2015 | 93

jetset

25A

Private Malta Corinthia Palace Hotel and Spa

By Victoria R. Crosby

Corinthia Palace Hotel Facade Of Villa Corinthia

T

he Corinthia Palace Hotel and Spa in Malta has a unique travel opportunity for visitors this year. Private Malta, beyond the island’s closed doors, tailor made for a minimum of two people, this private tour, with Beyond3sixty, the Maltese Islands’ luxury holiday specialists, will take visitors beyond the usual tourist attractions, which in themselves are wonderful, since Malta has many UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The lucky guests will be taken to private homes and palazzos to meet the owners, in addition to visiting the silent city of Medina and the Baroque capital Valletta. The visit will also include a yacht tour of the Grand Harbor, private visits to St John’s Cathedral, in addition to musical performances in Palazzos.

One of the private homeowners, Jim Dunn’s home is part of the tour.

“My home in Cospicua, which is part of the historic Three Cities, will be included,” Jim said, “It is, if you like a Brit’s version of a 200-year -old 94 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

refurbished townhouse or Palazzino in this beautiful part of Malta – one of the most original and untouched areas of the island.”

Valleta has been chosen as the European City of Culture in 2018, and the city has been undergoing a major renaissance and extensive refurbishing of both public and private buildings. Guests will enjoy meals in private homes and some of the island’s most interesting people and places, which were chosen for their historic connections, fabulous Baroque and Medieval architecture and collections of art, offering an insight into Maltese life. Also on the itinerary will be a concert exclusively for the guests of Private Malta.

The Corinthia Palace Hotel and Spa is a five star hotel, the original flagship of the Corinthia Hotels, which opened in 1968. The luxury property offers over one hundred and fifty rooms, indoor and outdoor swimming pools as well as tennis and squash courts. The Althenaeum Spas and Health

Private Residence

Corinthia Palace Hotel Villa Corinthia Restaurant

Private Residence

St John's co-cathedral interior by Paolo Meitre Liberatini

Club has an extensive range of revitalizing treatments within the opulent elegance of the hotel, in a century old restored villa. The Corinthia Palace Hotel and Spa has won the Best Hotel in Malta award from the International World Travel Awards, for the past six years.

Beyond3sixty is a different service from the usual tour company. They specialize in creating luxury, bespoke holidays in the Maltese Islands for discerning travelers, with personal service and attention to detail.

The climate in Malta has been described by International Living as the world’s best. There are beautiful beaches, a thriving nightlife, seven thousand years of history, with architecture from the ancient, medieval and early modern periods, and includes the highest density of UNESCO World Heritage Sites anywhere in the world, with such fascinating history of the Knights of St. John, the Maltese Cross and the Maltese Falcon.

Malta gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1964 and became a Republic in 1974 and part of the European Union in 2004. Both Maltese and English are official languages.

In 1942 King George Vl awarded the Cross of St. George to the people of Malta due to their bravery under the second siege of Malta during World War ll.

The Original Facade of The Corinthia Hotel Budapest

Corinthia Hotel Budapest Although the Academy Award winning film, "The Grand Budapest Hotel," wasn’t filmed at the Corinthia Hotel Budapest, the hotel, originally named the Grand Hotel Royal, opened in 1896, and there is a similarity in the facade of the building, so there is a buzz that Wes Anderson was inspired by the hotel.

In 2012, Anderson stayed at the hotel and spa, which was totally restored to its former glory in 2003, and was given a complete tour of the hotel, including the parts that the general public don’t get to see. Even though he claims it is completely fictitious, there is no denying the similarities. In celebration of the four Oscars won by the film, there are now special tours being offered to include the film history in Budapest. The Lumiere Brothers, the earliest filmmakers, held their first screening in Continental Europe at the hotel in 1896 in the ballroom which was transformed into a theater for over one thousand people.

“The Grand Budapest Hotel” package offers guests a 1930’s style luxury experience, including transportation by limousine, and VIP treatment throughout the stay.

For reservations: corinthia.com/hotels/budapest/offers/experience/ grand-budapest-hotel

For further information visit: private.malta@corinthia.com April/May 2015 | 95

jetset

25A SHOP Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the new lifestyle store splashing onto the Hamptons’ scene this summer. Copious Row, well-known for their online store, premiers its first brick-and-more location this April with an exclusive selection of well-curated items. Founded by David Chines the store is ideal for the shopper who is constantly in search of unique items that emphasize their personal style. Copious Row is the ultimate destination for gift items when nothing ordinary will do. The store is now open and will be open six days a week. Hours will expand in season. It is located at 27 Washington Street in Sag Harbor, NY. For more information and an inside look at some of the offerings, visit www.copiousrow.com

ever wunder

By Gwen Wunderlich-Smith

Spring is finally here and we couldn’t be happier. We’ve put together the perfect list for a smashing season ahead and it’s filled with cultural and warm weather happenings. Add a touch of culture into your routine with a visit to the Sakura Matsuri at Brooklyn Botanical Garden or head to the theater to enjoy the most talked about fashion movie of the season, Dior and I. Heading to the Hamptons? If so, shop til you drop at the all new Copious Row or wine and dine at Almond in Bridgehampton.

With sun, sand and surf on the horizon, it looks like the winter blues are a thing of the past.

96 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

WATCH Grab the low-calorie popcorn and head to the theater to experience Dior and I on April 10. This film brings the viewer inside the world of the Christian Dior fashion house with a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Raf Simons’ first haute couture collection as its new artistic director. Realistic and riveting come time mind as the film takes the every day pressures of the fashion industry and the mysterious echoes from the iconic brand’s past. For theaters and more information, visit http:// www.diorandimovie.com

BLOOM Get enchanted this spring by seeing the cherry blossoms flowering in New York City. Now, you can take part in this tradition with the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s annual two-day Sakura Matsuri, celebrating traditional and contemporary Japanese culture. Some activities include taiko drumming, a kimono fashion show, samurai sword demonstrations, folk-dancing performances, a cosplay fashion show, tea ceremonies, kabuki dancing, manga drawing, and much more. Come join us April 25 and April 26 from 10 to 6. http://www.bbg.org

EAT Here’s the dish on what’s hot in Hampton’s dining. Reminiscent of a Parisian bistro, there’s a sense of eccentricity within Almond in Bridgehampton. Tin ceilings and zebra wallpaper are the prominent décor. Jason Weiner is the co-owner and executive chef with partners Eric Lemonides and Antonio Rappazzo for the perfect combination of skilled service and delectable delights. The wine list is mostly French, to match a menu of bold bistro fare. We highly recommend the turkey burger deluxe and the macaroni and cheese that comes with prosciutto and truffles. Yum! The bar scene does get lively, so if it’s quiet sustenance you seek, arrive early to enjoy a three-course prix-fix supper. http://www.almondnyc.com

DONATE Taste of Hope is the American Cancer Society’s signature culinary, wine, and spirits event featuring New York’s most prevalent restaurants and beverage vendors. Guests enjoy a tasting where they can try signature dishes, wines and spirits, and creative cocktails. As it is the tenth anniversary since the founding, the event is hosted annually by the Taste of Hope volunteer committee and will be celebrating the $1.3 million raised to support the American Cancer Society’s mission and goal of eliminating cancer as a major health problem. General admission is $175 and VIP admission is $250. We hope you’ll join us on April 20 at the Metropolitan Pavilion West by creating a world with more birthdays, finding cures and fighting back against cancer. http://www.tasteofhope.org April/May 2015 | 97

jetset

25A

Escape on a Private Jet

S

By Bobbie Catala Iarrobino

avor life as Aura Jets, Florida’s premier jet charter broker sweeps you off on a coast to coast vacation you will cherish long after you return home.

Your journey begins on the east coast of Florida for two days in the enamoring seaside town of Jupiter. Here, nestled peacefully, is The Jupiter Beach Resort. This luxury hideaway boasts effortless elegance and casual sophistication. The staff, ready to spoil you in simple luxuries, with every attention given to detail. Relax, play, and indulge at this unique beachfront retreat.

The Jupiter Beach Resort

F

The Jupiter Beach Resort offers 168 rooms (36 suites) plus 4 luxury penthouses suites on oceanfront property, with a limestone reef shoreline. Relax by the lovely oceanfront pool, complimented by a jacuzzi, hammocks, and a fire pit set on a dune overlooking the ocean.

If you’re feeling adventurous, delve into an afternoon of scuba diving or deep sea fishing. Explore Dubois Park, where you can bike ride, kayak or picnic at this eco-friendly retreat. The shallow, lagoon style beach with a “lazy river”, is a perfect family sanctuary.

Jupiter

Sarasota

FLA The Jupiter inlet Lighthouse and Museum offers climbing tours to the top of the landmark 1860 Lighthouse and a waterfront history Museum in a restored WWII Navy building known as station J.

If you’re feeling hungry, head over to Sinclair’s Ocean Grille. Here you can take in the views at Jupiters famed oceanfront restaurant. You may enjoy Too Bizarre, which offers tapas, while you enjoy eccentric art, comfy sofas, a great wine list, and an eclectic atmosphere.

Another choice is Guanabanas, which has become an institution in northern Palm Beach county because of its lush, tropical setting, great cuisine, and cocktails. Here you can listen to live music in this open-air restaurant and bar, adorned with woven tiki huts and banyan trees towering overhead, and hand-chiseled coquina stone pathways underfoot.

The Resort at Longboat Key Club

The Square Grouper Tiki Bar and Castaways Marina have grown to become one of the most popular watering holes in the United States, if not the world. Jimmy Buffet’s “It’s five o’clock somewhere” video was shot here.

The marinas hosts several local fishing tournaments.

Little Moir’s Food Shack is the perfect place to pair one of their variety of beers with creatively prepared seafood dishes that include wahoo, mahimahi, and snapper. They also serve delicious fried tuna rolls with basil, and panco crusted fried oysters. If you’re craving biscuits and gravy or shrimp and grits, then Center Street Nook is where you will want to be.

Jupiter Beach Resorts own poolside Sand Bar is the perfect place to order a drink, grab a hammock and unwind.

jetset

25A

The resort is perfect for family fun, corporate events (on-site 12,000 square feet of interior/exterior meeting space). It is the perfect place place for a wedding, with its secluded oceanfront alfresco wedding space.

Located on the northern tip of Palm Beach County, this acclaimed resort was voted the top 150 mainland US resorts by Conde Nast Traveler readers choice awards.

FLA On day three of your vacation, guests will be whisked off to Florida’s west coast aboard a private 7 passenger Cessna Conquest plane. After a 45 minute flight you will arrive at the award winning Resort at Longboat Key Club. Spend two amazing days exploring this 410-acre beachfront playground paradise.

Located on Long wood Key on the Gulf of Mexico, just 15 minutes west of Sarasota, the resort boasts dramatic views, sand like sugar, and spectacular sunsets.

Tennis Magazine not only calls The Tennis Gardens at the resort one of the top tennis resorts in the Golf Coast , but one of the top ten nationwide.

This stunning $4.5 million facility has been the venue for the USTA Sarasota Open Men’s Invitation every year since 2008.

Conde Nast traveler named The Resort at Longboat Key Club one of the top 100 golf resorts. Here you will find two PGA approved golf courses, driving ranges, clubhouses with indoor/outdoor dining, two fully stocked pro shops, and state of the art locker room facilities. The 18 holes of championship golf designed by Bill Mitchell himself, are magnificently surrounded by more than 5,000 Palm trees and pink and white Oleanders.

The resorts guest rooms are fully equipped with every necessary amenity to inspire guests to consider staying forever. From the private balconies, take in the breathtaking views of the Gulf of Mexico, serene lagoon, or golf course fairways.

On the property there is a 4,000 square foot fitness center, including Mind and Motion studio for group fitness classes. Visit the lush 9,000 square foot House Spa, where you can relax and rejuvenate in luxury.

If you feel like sight-seeing you might want to visit Sarasota Jungle Gardens, or the Marine Selby Botanical Gardens. Stop at St. Amands Circle, where small town charm meets European sophistication. Here you will find boutiques, art galleries, and fine restaurants. Located minutes from the resort are educational museums, and cultural sites, operas, and ballets. The complimentary shuttle service is at your beckon call, ready to take you there.

The eight on-site restaurants allow you to satisfy any craving. For the sophisticated palate, visit Sands Pointe Restaurant, and take in the stunning 100 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

views of the ocean. Barefoot’s Bar and Grille serves fresh Florida seafood, salads, and sandwiches. Here you can sip on a tropical cocktail outdoors, and enjoy the year round sunshine.

If you want to enjoy outdoor dining with action-packed views then Spike ’n Trees is the place for you. This casual spot serves breakfast and lunch overlooking the golf, tennis and fitness facilities. The menu includes the freshest lunch buffet in town. Wash it down with natural smoothies and fresh organic smoothies. Fresh and healthy is the norm at Court 21 Cafe and Lounge. You can watch live tennis action while sipping on natural smoothies, protein drinks, and vitamin filled juices.

The resort’s newest restaurant, The Tavern and Whisky Bar is “farm to table” all the way. The menu is created around seasonal produce and locally sourced ingredients. The bar gets its name from over 100 hand-selected whiskeys on the drink menu. L’Ancora Bar has signature cocktails, and an extensive wine list. Enjoy live music here on weekends.

Discover northern Italian home cooking at Portofino. Handmade pastas, wood-fired oven pizzas and seafood are served al fresco while you hear the sounds of light waves splashing against the boats. This trattoria overlooks the Longboat Key Club Moorings.

The average temperature year round is 75 degrees in Sarasota, and its almost always sunny. The skies are blue and the water is turquoise. The sands are white, like powdered sugar at this exclusive enclave. Lush Florida vegetation defines this area for eco-tourism. The Resort at Longboat Key Club is the go-to pace for deep sea fishing, dolphin watching, kayaking, sailing and hiking. All set to glorious sunsets, this is the essence of sanctuary.

BOOKS

Author Justine Faeth

Check Out her Interview On The Today Show With Matt Lauer And Ann Curry Online

Author Mitzi Libsohn

M

itzi Libsohn has reached her destination as a poet through the individuality of her style, which is inseparable from her life’s experiences. The fluency – the rhythmic flow – the rich narratives – all create a oneness of artistic expression that make her poems stand apart for their striking individuality. The haunting quality and extraordinary mental images – love recaptured and lost, nature’s landscapes, the moon, the endless sky, and the eternal romance of the sea – all, once penetrated, have the power and force of life.

Exceptional for their lustrous quality – their radiance is a reflection of her poet’s mind – producing richly embroidered tableaus woven with a common thread. Mitzi Libsohn’s poems display an array of eloquent poetic artistry that have a distinction of style upon which she has placed her stamp.

Pauli Rose Libsohn

Immortal Kisses

By Mitzi Libsohn

Ghosts imprison’d by YESTERDAY Stand guard and laugh When I grow dizzy with the taste of kisses remembered Kisses frozen in my throat Kisses you gave me when we danced on the beach.

Immortal kisses.

To order this book visit: iBooks, Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble. com, Ebookpie.com, Kobooks.com, Bordersbookworld.com, Bokus. com, Litres.ru, Lovereading.co.uk

Chat Love Chat Love a romantic, funny story about finding Mr. Right and online dating.

You will find yourself connecting with the character in her search to find true LOVE. City girl Lucia is having trouble finding a man. With a few nudges from her friends, she decides to try out Chat Love, an online dating service for New Yorkers. Hilarity ensues with one disastrous date after another… where do these men come from? Mars? Certainly not Manhattan! She finally meets someone from work who is almost perfect, but decides to move on as he’s still seeing other women. She keeps in contact with a man named Jack on the Chat Love site. Could he be the one? What about her love interest at work? Will Lucia find her man? Chat Love will give you something to talk about!

Published by Brown Books/Small Press

justinefaeth.com goodreads.com Facebook/Justine Faeth (author) Twitter.com/Justine Faeth Follow me on Instagram at justine_faeth "My Mission Is To End All Forms Of Abuse To Animals".

All Book Proceeds Are Donated To Animal Charities.

artform

25A

Art

Diana Pinck

A native New Yorker, Diana Pinck grew up in a very artistic and intellectual milieu in her mother’s native Lucerne, Switzerland. Here she pursued painting, photography and writing from a very young age, encouraged by family and friends who recognized her raw talent. At New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts she continued honing her visual and intellectual skills and graduated with a BA in film production. To strengthen her competence in classical fine arts painting Pinck attended night classes at The Arts Student’s League of New York, while supporting herself as an X-Ray Technologist at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York.

Today, Pinck exhibits in the New York Tri-State area, and her paintings are in numerous important collections in the US and Switzerland. An integral part of 25A magazine since it’s inception, she contributes articles and photographs regularly as its current Art and Travel Editor.

Most recently the artist paints in oil on gold, silver and copper leaf. This new

Cornelia Guest, Painting by Diana Pinck. mixed media technique - of which the portrait of Cornelia Guest is a brilliant example - has elevated her work to a new plateau. An exhibition of these exciting new paintings is planned for the summer of 2015 in the Hamptons.

To find out more about the artist and upcoming events visit her on her website and on facebook: www.dianapinck.com | facebook.com/dianapinckart

Inspiring and Inspired The Brilliant Richard J. Demato Fine Arts Gallery In Sag Harbor

Mary Chiaramonte Mother I'm Tired, Acrylic on Wood 18"x24"

Andrea Kowch: Her Thoughts They Humm, Acrylic on Canvas 34"x24"

Yana Movchan: Fashionista, Oil on Canvas 20"x16"

Adrienne Stein: Bloom, Oil on Canvas 36"x24"

Adrienne Stein: Oilivia, Acrylic on Canvas 36"x30"

Fine Arts Gallery In Sag Harbor

By Diana Pinck. Photos Courtesy of RJD Gallery ’Brilliant’ may seem a tad hyperbolic, yet it perfectly describes the Richard J. Demato Gallery, its raison d’être, its band of talented artists and their exquisite work. Established just a little over five years ago, the gallery is flourishing and steadily gaining national and international recognition for itself and its artists. Simultaneously it cultivates support for a number of nonfor-profit organizations by donating a considerable amount of money, time, space and art, and by creating a nexus around which collectors, supporters and artist have a meaningful exchange and the chance to support these worthy organizations. These organizations include but are not limited to The Retreat, The South Hampton Animal Shelter and Fountain House NYC. After running one of the most successful garment print companies in America for 30 years, Richard Demato and his wife, renowned artist Harriet Sawyer, left their work in New York and relocated to the Hamptons in 2002. Richard worked in Real Estate and was still searching for something exciting and

meaningful to sink his teeth into, when a neighbor sold him a raffle ticket to benefit The Retreat. This non-for-profit organization is the only domestic abuse shelter for women and children on the east end of Long Island. After learning more about The Retreat, their fantastic staff, its dedicated board and the life changing impact it provides for those in need, Richard quickly became involved He served as a board member for twelve years and as a president for three.

In late 2009, the acute businessman heard about a property for rent in Sag Harbor that would be perfect for a gallery. He signed the contract on the spot, and the RJD Gallery opened a few weeks later. “Harriet and I had talked about opening a gallery. I knew that art and vacation packages make the most money for charities. Opening a gallery seemed the natural next thing to do.” Having no experience as a gallerist was no stumbling block for Richard. He had acquired the visual tools and business acumen in the April/May 2015 | 103

RJD Gallery on Main Street in Beautiful Sag Harbor. Photo by Imagery Hamptons & Guillaume Le Berre

print garment industry, and he had always been an avid art collector. Of course it did not hurt, that he had made countless friends amongst artists and collectors alike.

“We specialize in contemporary art with the focus on narrative portraiture, imaginative realism and contemporary landscape.” In lay men’s terms, that means the gallery shows realistic paintings that tell a story and make you think not only about the painting but also about yourself. “An extraordinary painting will look different to you every day, because it changes for you as you change. It makes you look inside yourself.”

“We select new artists as a group. My gallery director Eve Gianni Corio, my staff and I, we all have to love the artist.”

The gallery throws its full support behind these chosen few. Frank Oriti,

Margo Selski: My Voice Shall Call Your Daughters and Tell Them They are Sailors, Oil and Beeswax, on Linen 30"x40"

Gallery Owner Richard Demato & Gallery Director Eve Gianni Corio Infont of Andrea Kowch's An Invitation. Photo by Tom Kochie

for example, was working as welder in a steal mill of his native Cleveland.

An advance from the gallery enabled him to paint full time. This payed off tremendously when Oriti’s first one-man show at the RJD Gallery nearly sold out. The New York Times wrote a long exposé on the show and this exposure lead to the artist winning the Cleveland Art Prize. He has since exhibited at The Museum Of Contemporary Art in Jacksonville, FL. This is just one of the many success stories of the collaboration between the Gallery and its artists.

And the art - my dear loyal readers of 25A - I let the art speak for itself.

Upcoming exhibit at the RJD Gallery: Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation: “A Magical Menagerie” May 9-21, 2015.

For more information visit www.rjdgallery.com | 631-725-1161

Kevin Muente: Potential of Loss, Oil on Canvas 36"x48"

Sherry Wolf: Mondrian Modern, Acrylic on Canvas 60"x60"

Bart Vargas: Eastern Self Portrait, Mixed Media 40"x32"

Frank Oriti: Clarity, Oil on Panel 24"x24"

Teresa Elliot: The Bend, Oil on Linen 48"x40"

Kadir Nelson: Harlem Equus, Oil on Canvas 72"x72"

Pamela Wilson: Derailed by Heart, Oil on Linen 30"x30"

Phillip Thomas: Ode to the Invisible Man, Mixed Media 32"x22"

In under 20 seconds you could be traveling from a standstill to 248 miles per hour.

Price Tag: $1.890.000

By Jake Denner

The Koenigsegg Regera is a brand new top of the food chain creation by the legendary Automotive Designer, engineer and visionary Christian Von Koenigsegg.

The Regera is part of a new class of automobiles now being called "Mega-Cars", It is a 1500 horsepower hybrid setup utilizing a Dual Overhead Cam V8 and three electric motors. Using revolutionary building techniques and materials combined with extraordinary engineering. It can accelerate faster then any production in history!

Most Advanced Car In The World

The Production

Doing away with a transmission for a direct drive system, basically takes the power being made by the motors and sends it directly to the wheels with no energy loss and extra weight of a transmission.

The Regera's other high tech goodies includes active aero parts, 3G connectivity, software Updates, Apple CarPlay and much more. On top of that all the doors, mirrors, rear wing and more can be operated by remote or app. Only 80 handmade models will be made with 6 of them being sold before it was revealed at the 2015 Geneva Auto Show. The Koenigsegg Regera is currently the most advanced production car in the world and will certainly Inspire and amaze the world for generations to come.

Manhattan Motorcars The only authorized Koenigsegg auto dealer in the US 270 Eleventh Ave, New York, NY 10001

Photos by ©Patrick McMullan

25a-list

25A

Rose Hartman Author, Suzette Charles

Jean Shafiroff

Jean Shafiroff Hosted

a Celebration of the Book

“Incomparable Couples”

By Rose Hartman Published By Acc Editions

N

oted New York philanthropist Jean Shafiroff hosted a celebration of photographer Rose Hartman’s new book, “Incomparable Couples”, at Upper East Side bistro, Swifty’s, on Tuesday, March 10, 2015.

Over 60 guests came together to enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in Swifty’s elegant private dining room. Author Rose Hartmansigned selected snapshots from her book which highlights fashion’s greatest couples over three decades—including Claudia Schifferand Valentino, Bianca and Jade Jagger, Andy Warhol and Lou Reed, Hugh Grant and Elizabeth Hurley, along with the event’s host Jean Shafiroff who is featured in the “Pets” section with her pit bull.

Attendees included host Jean Shafiroff and her husband Martin Shafiroff, Rose Hartman (Photographer, Author of “Incomparable Couples”), Robert Caravaggi (Swifty’s Restaurateur), Chef Stephen Attoe (Swifty’s Restaurateur), Roy Kean, Amelia Ogunlesi, Christopher Walling (Christopher Walling Jewelry), Maggie Norris (Fashion Designer), Victor de Souza (Fashion Designer), Ike Ude (Photographer & Author), Edgar Batista, Roric Tobin,

108 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

Jamie Colby (Fox News), Randi Schatz (President, Avenue Magazine), Ann Rapp (Screenwriter), Geoffrey Bradfield (Interior Designer), Michael Gross (Author, “House of Outrageous Fortune”), Fabiola Aria (Fashion designer), Cassandra Seidenfeld, Lauren Lawrence, Marc Rosen, Larry Kaiser, Craig Dix, Suzette Charles, Rick Friedberg.

About Jean Shafiroff: Jean Shafiroff is a noted philanthropist who is actively involved as a volunteer fundraiser and leader of several charitable causes. She possesses a remarkable ability to connect different charitable groups with interested people and resources and sits on the board of seven charities. Jean’s particular interests include charities related to women, health care, animals and the people of the cities she calls home, including New York Women’s Foundation, Couture Council, Southampton Hospital, NYC Mission Society, JBFCS, Southampton Animal Shelter, Lighthouse Guild and French Heritage Society. In tandem with her philanthropic responsibilities, Jean has also hosted events in honor of the entertainment industry both in New York and Los Angeles.

About Incomparable Couples by Rose Hartman Chronicling the alluring world of beauty and style, photographer Rose Hartman has captured fashion’s trendsetters for three decades, and in so doing has helped to define what we appreciate most about glamour and those who create it. Thanks to her impeccable timing and placement, Hartman opts to trip the shutter at just the prescient moment, capturing a critical instant in a conversation – a pose, a gesture, an embrace – so as to present us with a lasting image of the personal dynamics between famous couples in fashion and film that is a glorious testament to Hartman’s exceptional talent and unerring eye. Published by ACC Editions. Available on Amazon.com

Amelia Ogunlesi, Geoffrey Bradfield

Richard Farley, Chele Chiavacci

Michael Gross, Christopher Walling

Joan Jedell, Missy Pool, Jamie Colby

Roy Kean, Randi Schatz

Dr. Raphael Magana, Lieba Nesis, Maggie Norris

About Swifty’s Swifty’s has been a favorite Upper East Side haunt for over 15 years, despite an ever-changing dining scene. A sophisticated yet low-key American bistro, Swifty’s attracts a devoted clientele. Owners Stephen Attoe and Robert Caravaggi, former chef and maître d' respectively of legendary Upper East Side boîte, Mortimer’s, combine classic and straight-forward, American and European cuisine with friendly and impeccable service. The ambient dining room, reminiscent of a wellappointed English country house with rustic wooden floors and whimsical patterned wallpaper, was created by famed decorators Mario Buatta and Anne Eisenhower.

Edward Callaghan, John Wegorzewski

Jean Shafiroff, Rose Hartman

Flo Anthony, Shane Inman

Liz McDermott, Cristina McGillicuddy, Missy Pool Pat Attoe, Blaine Caravaggi

Victor de Souza, Alyson Cafiero

Rose Hartman, Cassandra Seidenfeld, Randi Schatz, Lauren Lawrence

Ike Ude, Jean Shafiroff, Robert Caravaggi

Jamie Colby (c) James Edstrom

Greg Brown, Marc Rosen, Rick Freeman

Roric Tobin, Larry Kaiser, Geoffrey Bradfield

April/May 2015 | 109

25a-list

25A 25A Magazine’s Cover Party for Cornelia Guest at Hendrick’s Tavern Photos by Michael Plunkett/Patrick McMullan

Cornelia Guest Cover Girl

Art Editor, Diana Pinck painted a beautiful portrait of Cornelia.

Cornelia Guest & Gillis Poll On Thursday March 12, 25A hosted its Dec/Jan cover party at Hendrick’s Tavern for the Iconic Cornelia Guest. The party was a huge success, 25A Magazine and Cornelia’s high society friends attended for luxurious meet and greet. Some of the guests included; Gillis Poll, Robert DuPont, Suzy Bancroft, Arthur & Robin Lacker, Ben Weinstock, Dianna & Joe Corpus, Denise Cardinale, Joni Spenser, Monica Randall, Victoria Crosby, Venus Quintana, Kevin & Alexis Durson, Maria Babaev, and Diana Pinck, just to name a few. Everyone enjoyed the amazing food and drinks, in the intimate, elegant setting of Hendrick’s Taverns lounge. A truly memorable evening. Cornelia even made delicious, vegan chocolate chip cookies. Thank you Cornelia!

A Very Special Thank You, to Gillis and George Poll for hosting our Cover party! What a spectacular evening we had.

Gillis Poll, CorneliaGuest and Chase Backer

Kari Breglia and Babette Gladstein

110 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

Ben Weinstock and Cornelia Guest

Arthur Lacker and Robin Lacker

Tracey Delio, Anne Bratskeir and Tracy Ellis

Dianna Corpus and Joe Corpus

Cornelia Guest and Marko Matijas

Venus Quintana, Maria Babaev and Diana Pinck

Venus Quintana, Gillis Poll and Diana Pinck

Kevin Durson, Alexis Durson

Cornelia Guest

Denise Cardinale and Joni Spencer

Diana Pinck, Maria Babaev, Tina Ruggiero and Bobbie Catala Iarrobino

Cornelia Guest, Suzy Bancroft and Robert Du Pont

Jillian Backer, Chase Backer and Jaime Backer

April/May 2015 | 111

25a-list

25A

O

Photo by

Altaneve on Ice

The Rink at Brookfield Place, 200 Vesey Street

n February 26, 2015, Consuelo Vanderbilt Costinand David Noto founder of Altaneve Italian Sparkling Wines the second annual Altaneve on Ice black tie ice-skating social at The Rink at Brookfield Place.The affair featured a live jazz performance by Cole Rumbough, as guests enjoyed Magnolia Bakery mini cupcakes and sipped Altaneve Prosecco while watching professional figure skaters Stephanie Jill Chernick and Kristina Layton dance around the ice. All Proceeds from the event benefited Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research, anorganization that focuses on finding less toxic treatments for patients with leukemia, lymphoma and other related blood cancers. Those in attendance included: Founder of Altaneve Sparkling Wines David Noto, Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin, CEO of Novitas US Nicole Noonan, Steven Knobel, Alastair Short, Jos Scella, TRUE Model Management CEO Dale Noelle, and Interior Designer Shane Inman.

388 Restaurant St. Patty's Bash

Photos by Paul Prince & Deann Arce

Thank you Matty and Chris for your generosity and the fine spirited time. The food and drinks were amazing.

INTERNATIONAL SOCIALITE LARA PRESTON CELEBRATES 50TH BIRTHDAY WITH A WEEK-LONG CELEBRATION IN ST. BARTH’S

By Clara Morgan Socialite Lara Preston celebrated her 50th birthday for six nights with six parties across the island of St. Barth’s. The party started with a barbeque at the home of Greek entrepreneur Sir Stelios-Haji-Ioannou and 25 of her closest friends. Next, a kickoff party to greet the 60 plus guests jetting to the island at Bonito Restaurant. Guests who made the trip included Letizia Vanni, Paola Bacchini and Arnie Rosenshein, Patricia Quick, Marco Decesaria, Chris Price and Dr. Janna Massar, Paul and Maya Doran, Richard and Donna Soloway, Isabel and Joseph Helou and Stefano and Maria João Saviotti.

Guests donned their flowy dresses and Roman shields for a Gladiator

114 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

themed party at hotspot Nikki Beach. To mark the halfway point of Preston’s birthday celebrations, the glitterati ate at Le Plage Tom Beach and then aboard the Yacht “Oasis” in Gustavia. The Champagne and Caviar Splash in the Sea Followed By A Lobster Brunch at the Manapany Hotel on Gouveneur Beach followed. Thomas Thouvenin and staff of Enjoy St. Barth’s, known for their extravagant parties, served magnums of rosé champagne. Later, guests went to Le Ti, owned by Carole Gruson, for a private dinner and “Pirate Party.” The finale, her birthday, the nearly weeklong celebration concluded with a massive blowout at Villa Rockstar at the Eden Rock hotel hosted by Brett Graham and Courtney Barr, featuring a performance by Sole.

certified collision specialists certified collision specialists 20 lakeview avenue rockville centre, nY 11570 • 516. 766. 0101 • midislandcollision.com

25a-list

25A

20TH ANNIVERSARY KICKOFF PARTY

IN PALM BEACH FOR THE NEW YORK CENTER FOR CHILDREN

By Clara Morgan | Photography by Maya Johnson

Michele Herbert, Lauren Vernon

Friends wishing Happy Birthday to Lauren Vernon at Buccan

Bettinna Bennett, Missy De Bellis Rapaille, Dr. G. Clotaire Rapaille, Michele Herbert, Laura Goodman, Lauren Vernon, Guy Clarke, Nicole DiCocco, Joy Marks, Harrison Morgan

Guy Clarke, Michele Herbert, Harrison Morgan 116 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

Lauren Vernon, Henry Buhl

Nicole DiCocco, Harrison Morgan

Dr. G. Clotaire Rapaille, Henry Buhl, Harrison Morgan, Lauren Vernon, Missy De Bellis Rapaille, Missy De Bellis Rapaille, Guy Clarke

Lauren Vernon, Missy De Bellis Rapaille, Bettina Bennett

Guy Clarke, Joy Marks

388

Restaurant & Catering

Where every night is a celebration 388 Willis Avenue | Roslyn NY | 11577 | (516) 621-3888 | www.388restaurant.com

ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM DROPHEAD COUPÉ WATERSPEED COLLECTION ARRIVES AT SPIRITUAL HOME IN THE ITALIAN LAKES Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC, P.O. Box 1227, Westwood, NJ 07675-1227 Tel: 1-877-877-3735 www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com © Copyright Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. The Rolls-Royce name and logo are registered trademarks.