Artful Living Magazine | Winter 2023

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THE TRAVEL ISSUE

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CULTURE

COMPASS

HOME

PROPERTY GALLERY

Coldwell Banker Realty presents the finest homes for sale. 142

BUILD

Streeter Custom Builder and Charlie & Co. Design create a shingle-style sanctuary. 150

DESIGN

Brooke Voss designs a modern manor in Fargo, North Dakota. 157

CRAFTSMANSHIP

Kyle Hunt & Partners imbues a new home with an old soul. 164

RETREAT

Martha Dayton Design and U+B dream up a Costa Rican escape.

EDITOR'S LETTER

THE NEW YEAR ALWAYS BRINGS WITH it a sense of hope, a fresh start, a clearing of the slate. For Artful Living, 2023 also marks our 15th anniversary — an impressive milestone we hardly could have imagined back in the early days, when founder Frank Roffers assembled a group of whip-smart, hard-working people to bring this brand to life. I often refer to that period as our wild, wild West phase, which was as exhilarating as it was challenging. We were naive and brazen, a typically dangerous combination that somehow worked in our favor. We made our fair share of mistakes, but overall, we had more victories than failures. And we ultimately built something I’m incredibly proud to be a part of.

Along the way, we’ve accomplished plenty: We’ve secured exclusive interviews with luminaries from Tom Brokaw to Martha Stewart to Padma Lakshmi. We’ve produced content that went on to score accolades, like a coveted James Beard Award. We’ve caught the attention of the nation by (unintentionally) breaking news, a rarity for a quarterly lifestyle magazine. Thanks to these achievements and more, I was recently named Editorial Director of the Year by Folio, an honor I share with our entire team.

As we look to write the next chapter in the Artful Living tome, we’re excited about what the future holds. Sure, those early wild days might be behind us, but that doesn’t mean we can’t continue to push the envelope and stand apart from the pack. After all, that’s in our DNA.

In this issue, we’re focused on the absolute best travel experiences on earth — and that’s not an exaggeration. Our feature, “Go Big or Stay Home” (page 112), dives into the world of rarified travel, showcasing exclusive destinations, excursions, happenings and more. Because who doesn’t want to escape the ordinary? I’ve had my fair share of once-in-a-lifetime moments, like witnessing Virginia’s legendary Chincoteague Pony Swim (a bucket lister for an equestrian like me). Or dancing in the streets of Delhi while donning a sari and henna as part of traditional Indian wedding festivities (yes, they last for days). Or dining next to famed former Vanity Fair Editor-in-Chief Graydon Carter at New York City institution Le Bernardin as part of its 50th anniversary last year (I did my best not to fangirl).

But this is about more than just bragging rights; although it does make for fun dinner party fodder. It’s about making the most of our short time here and filling our years with enriching, unforgettable experiences with loved ones. If you can look back on it all and laugh, cry and realize how fortunate you’ve been — much like I’ve recently done reminiscing about those early Artful Living days — then that’s a life well-lived.

reading, Kate Nelson Editor-in-Chief

Happy

Kate Nelson Editor-in-Chief

Hayley Saunders Associate Publisher

Lexi Sunberg Managing Editor

Margaret Cooper Art Director

AJ Longabaugh Digital Editor

Genevieve Cossette Director of Sales

Meg Kelly Marketing + Events Manager

Mitchell Lambert Business Manager

Tyra Ericson, Kristin Hogna Interns

Frank Roffers

Founder + Editor-at-Large

Pete Burgeson President

Editorial Advisory Board

Heidi Libera, Chris Plantan, Dana Swindler

Contributors

Writers: Merritt Bamrick, Jennifer Blaise Kramer, Brittany Chaffee, David Coggins, Bonnie Culbertson, Katie Dohman, Christina Fortier, Amber Gibson, Chris Lee, Wendy Lubovich, Robyne Robinson, Anne Roderique-Jones, Laura Schara

Photographers: David Crane CryoPhotos, Spacecrafting Illustrators: Hilbrand Bos, Michael Iver Jacobsen, Frank Moth, Klawe Rzeczy

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Contact Emma Cutler Velez at 612-803-1910 or evelez@artfulliving.com.

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Contact us at 952-230-3133 or hello@artfulliving.com.

Artful Living

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Artful Living is published by North Co., all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted without permission. North Co. cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Artful Living is committed to preserving the environment and demonstrates this by printing efficiently and sustainably. In consideration of environmental impact, this magazine is 100% recyclable.

Emma Cutler Velez Publisher

ON THE COVER

Our Cover Shot

Our winter travel issue features a scene captured at the historic Villa Scarpariello Relais in Ravello, Italy. Dating back to the 1500s, the castle sits perched upon a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean and is a beloved getaway for history buffs and luxury lovers alike. Photographer Holly Chippindale, who shot this blissful seascape, is known for her strong sense of storytelling and aesthetic exploration. “I hope this image reminds people to always see the beauty in the small things, such as a pink umbrella,” she says. Whether or not you have warm-weather travel plans this season, we hope this cover — even for just a moment — allows you to kick back and escape to the idyllic waterfront of the Amalfi Coast.

About Us

Artful Living is one of the top independent boutique lifestyle magazines across the United States with international reach. Founded in 2008, this award-winning quarterly magazine features engaging original content and beautiful design, bringing the best of the North and beyond to an affluent audience with impeccable taste. This elegant, intelligent publication aims to inspire and entertain, highlighting culture, home, style, travel, food, profiles and more. The Artful Living lifestyle brand is headquartered in Minneapolis.

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Back on Track

Is train travel officially making a comeback? Here’s our take.

Dog Days

Get an exclusive sneak peek of the Lake Minnetonka Klondike Dog Derby.

Globe Trotting

Check out our editors’ all-time favorite travel destinations.

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THE GREAT MIGRATION

INSIDE THE NEW SNOWBIRD TREND.

BY ANNE RODERIQUE-JONES ILLUSTRATION BY MICHAEL IVER JACOBSEN

IS THERE ANYTHING MORE PREDICTABLE THAN A septuagenarian New Yorker decamping to Florida for the winter? Just picture it: They bear a striking resemblance to Helen Roper sashaying around in her signature caftan and partake in activities like water aerobics, gossiping about the neighbors and discussing weather patterns. Now take everything you think you know about snowbirds and toss it out the window.

There’s a new flock flying south; perhaps we’ll call them baby snowbirds. Often in their thirties or forties, these baby birds are seeking respite from the winter in warm-weather locales like Miami, New Orleans and Palm Springs. The breed consists mainly of young and mid-career professionals in search of more meaning and excitement after enduring the life shift brought on by a global pandemic.

I’m part of this demographic, and I get it. In fact, I became a baby snowbird before it was all the rage, marking the first time I’ve ever been ahead of a trend (even if it was accidental).

While slugging away at a magazine internship in 2013, I learned about the term New-New, used to describe someone who lives in both New York City and New Orleans (my two favorite cities, coincidentally). I knew at that moment that instead of aspiring to own a sprawling house in the suburbs, I wanted to spend retirement in two places with opposing climates. My husband and I, both in our early forties, tested out this lifestyle pre-pandemic and recently became full-on baby snowbirds — or, more specifically, New-News. Last year, we even dipped our toes into international territory, escaping to the peaceful waterfront commune of Ospedaletti, Italy.

For us, the pandemic presented a new way of thinking: Life is short — why wait until retirement to live the most meaningful life? (Or in millennial speak, YOLO.) This global event was also the catalyst for redefining the working world, nearly doubling the number of people who work from home. And honestly, if you can do your job without the commute and the water cooler chitchat, why should it matter if you’re logging onto a Zoom call from Portland or Portugal? Hence this burgeoning travel trend that’s no longer exclusive to seniors with big bank accounts.

Chalk it up to generational differences — or similarities, depending how you look at it. University of Texas, Austin Psychology Professor Art Markman boils it down to this: Young and middle-aged adults are finding a way to live a full life while still being able to put in a full workday. And these days, that’s easier than ever to achieve. As he explains, “This generation is waiting to get married and delaying (or entirely opting out of) starting a family. As a result, there’s a generation of people with more disposable income and fewer major commitments. Add in the ease of finding rentals thanks to companies like Airbnb, and you have the perfect recipe for skipping town when the weather gets bad.”

But for baby birds, it’s about more than just escaping the cold to pass the month of December in resortwear. This is a demographic that prioritizes experiences over objects, opting to spend their money on Coachella instead of a car. It’s this livein-the-moment sensibility and not the supposed stability of the onetime American dream that makes them happy. Chasing those ideals is so 2000s.

So is a permanent address a thing of the past — or is this new snowbird phenomenon a fleeting fad? We’re calling it now: Unless we’re somehow transplanted back into a traditional working environment (which seems pretty much impossible at this point), the baby snowbird is going nowhere anytime soon. That is, until it’s time to head south for the winter.

rock the casbah

DESIGNER LUCY PENFIELD BRINGS MOROCCO HOME — JUST FOR A NIGHT. BY JENNIFER BLAISE KRAMER

“WHAT HAPPENS IN MARRAKESH STAYS IN MARRAKESH” IS MOST DEFINITELY NOT THE MOTTO for Lucy Penfield. After the interior designer visited the North African city, she was determined to bring the entire sensory experience back home. On a cool evening at the turn of the season, she hosted an intimate dinner, which she called “a feast for the senses,” for a few lucky friends right in her own dining room.

“I wanted to recreate the magic I felt there,” Penfield says, recalling her recent voyage to Morocco that was tailored around cuisine. She’d embarked on one of Peggy Markel’s Culinary Adventures, which focus on slow food and soulful travel to destinations including India, Italy, Spain and, of course, Morocco. There, Penfield took cooking classes, baked in clay ovens, shopped for spices in colorful souks, rode camels on the beach, and fell in love with Berber rugs and textiles. The trip included a visit to Jnane Tamsna, a famed boutique riad (supermodel Kate Moss checked in right after their stay) decorated by designer and hotelier Meryanne Loum-Martin with sprawling gardens, exotic peacocks, romantic lighting and striking Moorish tilework, some of which Penfield replicated on her own glossy green kitchen backsplash.

Transforming a trip into an interior is far from foreign for Penfield. She designed her own abode (in collaboration with Charlie & Co. Design) based on a visit to Stellenbosch, South Africa. Classic, intricate Cape Dutch arches repeat from the exterior architecture into the modern kitchen nook and the mudroom armoires. So when it came to spinning Morocco into a Minnesota dinner party, the host was unafraid to incorporate all she’d taken in — maybe minus the peacocks.

“We all have these impressions and emotional experiences where you’re transported right away,” notes Penfield, who used memory along with artisan souvenirs to recreate an authentic interpretation. “The trick is to weave that story into your own home and lifestyle so it doesn’t look like the Walker Art Center prop room!”

For her story, Penfield turned her arched breakfast nook into a bar where guests sipped on gin cocktails infused with honey, lemon and mint, complete with flower ice spheres by Minnesota Ice. The signature

drink and curated menu were created in collaboration with local chef Stephanie Meyer. She cooked up saffron rice and chicken with apricots, olives and almonds, incorporating traditional spices and methods, including using the terra cotta tagines Penfield picked up on her trip. After noshing on appetizers of eggplant spread, warm spiced olives and pomegranate-glazed kofta by the fire, everyone migrated to the candlelit dining table, which was covered in a smattering of souvenir linens with delicate patterns reminiscent of the maze-like souk alleyways where Penfield found these treasures.

“It’s not just monkeys, snake charmers and storytellers that inspire there; it’s also the shops, artisans, textiles, rugs and pottery all in the same colors of the cuisine,” she says. “This tablescape was an explosion of colors and layers inspired by the infusion of spices like coriander, cumin and cinnamon. The yellows of cumin, curry and turmeric are layered with the mystery and surprise of the richer spices.”

Terra cotta dishware added another authentic layer dressed with marinated olives, rosemary sprigs and mint leaves for the evening’s tea ceremony. Antique silver cups spilled over with heaps of pink and orange roses, while silver urns were piled high with bright pomegranates and shiny mandarins, echoing the traditional decadent orange cake served for dessert.

To recall the riad’s “Euro infusion of style, art and design,” Penfield filled her home with French jazz rather than predictable music, hung lemon leaf branches from the chandelier and added in candles galore, awaking the senses wherever possible. She adds: “The smelling of the spices, the twinkling of the lights, the delicacy of the cuisine — it all takes you back!”

TRÉS

CHIC

BY WENDY LUBOVICH

IT’S ONE OF THE MOST ASTONISHINGLY BEAUTIFUL mansions in all of Paris. Secluded on the tip of the Île St. Louis, the Hôtel Lambert hosted luminaries from Chopin to Delacroix, Brigitte Bardot to Yves Saint Laurent. So when it came time to sell off the estate’s storied treasures, aesthetes around the world took note. Here was a chance to purchase candlesticks owned by Marie Antoinette — truly the sale of a lifetime.

But first, more on the manse itself. The hotel (meaning “palazzo” in French) was designed in 1640 by the same team that built venerable Versailles. Suffice to say, its pedigree is impeccable. Over the years, it’s been home to Voltaire, Baron Guy de Rothschild and Polish Prince Adam Jerzy Czartoryski. During the 20th century, fabulous fetes were hosted here, with celebrated figures like Salvador Dalí and Princess Grace of Monaco in attendance.

A new era began in 2007, when Qatari Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani bought the property and began a meticulous renovation. Every gilded inch of the estate was restored to period perfection. Next, the sheikh filled the sumptuous suites with some of the finest decorative arts ever assembled. “It is unique not only as one of the world’s greatest collections, but also because it reminds us that such collections continue to be built today,” observes Sotheby’s CEO Charles Stewart.

So astounding was the assortment that Sotheby’s in Paris held five separate live auctions, ultimately taking in a staggering €76.6 million. That set a world auction record for French decorative arts, with proceeds supporting the Al Thani Collection Foundation, a nonprofit promoting art and culture.

And what a sale it was. Coveted pieces were snapped up by seven iconic French museums, including Versailles. The top lot was a pair of circa 1784 royal marquise chairs, some of the most important remaining examples of Louis XVI furniture. The epitome of French elegance, they sold for €3,665,000.

A reverence for royalty drove emboldened bidding for a pair of circa 1785 gilt and blue-patinated bronze candelabras previously belonging to Marie Antoinette. Adorned with female figures in Egyptian headdresses, they embody the ancien régime and fetched €655,200.

Meanwhile, a lavish circa 1770 French silver soup tureen once owned by Russian Empress Catherine the Great went for €1,184,500. Festooned with acanthus foliage and laurel garlands, the vessel was a gift for her lover, Count Grigory Orlov — the cost of love indeed. Just as irresistible was a circa 1923 hand-painted screen of the Bay of Naples once owned by Coco Chanel. Bringing in €756,000, the work adorned Madame’s famed Paris apartment on Rue du Faubourg St. Honoré.

Even with all these princely treasures off to new owners, the Hôtel Lambert continues to surprise. The residence was purchased in 2022 by French telecom magnate Xavier Niel for a reported €200 million, one of the largest ever private property deals in Paris. And so we now await the next chapter of this magnificent mansion, which will no doubt be a heavily gilded one.

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY SOTHEBY’S/ARTDIGITAL STUDIO AND ANDRÉ OSTIER

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LUXURY DINING AT HOME

The world is changing and we're all finding that home is our favorite place to be. So we’re bringing the restaurant to you. No reservations required.

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MAN OF THE WORLD

DAVID COGGINS SHARES HIS FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATIONS. ILLUSTRATION BY HILBRAND BOS

TRAVELING IS OFTEN WHEN WE FEEL MOST ALIVE. WHETHER WE’RE EXPLORING A NEW place or returning to a beloved city, our senses are heightened when we connect with another culture. Not to mention we can eat well, admire sublime paintings, visit enlightened shops and maybe even catch a few fish — all of my preferred pastimes. Here are some of my favorite travel destinations, near and far. Hopefully they’ll make you want to pack your bag and get out into the world.

For Dining

When I land in Charleston, South Carolina, I head straight to Lewis Barbecue and I don’t apologize if it’s before noon. I don’t want to start a barbecue argument, but the move here is the beef brisket. Hominy Grill sadly closed, but nearby is Xiao Bao Biscuit, a smart, modern Asian restaurant in an old gas station. Order a cocktail at the Grey or in the sleek lobby at the Dewberry. For dinner, try oysters and a fried chicken sandwich at the bar at Leon’s and you’ll do very well. (Oh and don’t miss Ben Silver, the wonderful men’s store on King Street.)

As a New York City resident, I have some strong opinions about where to eat. If you enjoy very good updates on the Gallic tradition, start at Frenchette in Tribeca. The dining room is lovely and lively, the bar is charming, and the wine list is excellent. Il Buco serves classic Italian food in a moody, antiquefilled room on Bond Street. Around the corner, sibling spot Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria is a little more airy and perfect for a pizza. New York City is also a great place for breakfast (power or not). Peer over The New York Times at your fellow diners at Balthazar, or if you’re craving something lighter, Jean-Georges’ vegetarian ABCV will set you right.

For Viewing Art

Yes, Paris is home to the legendary Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay. But the City of Light has extraordinary small museums with their own personalities and charm. The Musée Cognacq-Jay is a wonderful private collection that focuses on French painters like Chardin and Fragonard. The Musée Maillol in the Seventh Arrondissement has a strong permanent collection featuring favorites like Degas, Matisse and Rousseau, and also hosts good temporary exhibitions. If that’s not enough, visit Delacroix’s studio or, for something a little wilder, try the family-friendly Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature (hunting and nature).

What’s wonderful about Florence, Italy, is that you can experience both the Uffizi (a timed ticket later in the afternoon is the way to go) and the Bargello (housed in a former prison). But also make time for masterworks in churches, like the splendid Giotto frescoes in Santa Croce or Fra Angelico’s frescoes in the monks’ chambers at San Marco Museum. Seeing these paintings in the spaces they were designed for is transcendent.

For Shopping

Men like to shop if a store feels small, personal and smartly focused. Welcome to London. You might find yourself wandering in an arcade and the next thing you know, you’re seriously considering a vintage Rolex. There are modern approaches here, such as Drake’s on Savile Row and Speciale, the impressive tailor in Notting Hill. But don’t forget the classics like Sotheran’s, the wonderful old bookstore, and Berry Bros. & Rudd, one of the world’s great wine shops.

I’ve fallen in love with the intimate stores in Venice, Italy. There’s the delightful Chiarastella Cattana for incredible linens and home goods in a 17th century scuola. Keep your eyes open for Venini glass, especially the older vases and bowls that can be found in the antiques stores around town. The gorgeous Martinuzzi is right on St. Mark’s Square and carries lovely linen, glassware and children’s dresses. And if you’re designing your house like a palazzo, visit Bevilacqua for extraordinary fabrics fit for a doge.

For Fishing

Anyone who loves to fly-fish must make the pilgrimage to Patagonia. Your first stop should be the incredible Lodge at Trevelin, run by the expert Patagonia River Guides. There’s no better setting for legendary Argentinian hospitality and fantastic trout fishing. A steak lunch with a good bottle of malbec at the side of the river is a must, and after some coffee, you’ll recover to fish well into the evening. The fishing is great January to April, so you can escape winter while living well in the Southern Hemisphere.

For something more family-oriented, try Turtle Inn in Placencia, at the southern tip of Belize. Stay in the Indonesian-style thatched-roof villas right on the ocean. The hotel can arrange for guides to take you fishing for tarpon and the very elusive permit, a fish designed to break your heart. There’s also a pool and plenty to do for those who aren’t fiercely determined to fish on their holiday.

A Minnesotan turned New Yorker, David Coggins is the author of the New York Times bestseller Men and Style and writes a style column for Artful Living.

Talla Skogmo’s FAVORITE THINGS

THE INTERIOR DESIGNER ESCHEWS THE LATEST TRENDS FOR TIMELESS GOOD DESIGN.

BY CHRIS LEE

KNOWN FOR HER BEAUTIFUL, TIMELESS INTERIORS, TALLA SKOGMO and her eponymous design firm work throughout the Twin Cities and beyond. Southwest Florida, with its many Minnesota transplants, is also Skogmo territory. All seek her impeccable taste, well-honed skills and steady hand.

“This is the best time of my life,” she exclaims. “You get to the point where you’re comfortable handling any hiccup that comes up. That’s the sort of confidence you get after 46 years.”

Skogmo majored in interior design at the University of Minnesota, but her real education began in 1976, when she went to work for legendary Minneapolis designer Tom Gunkelman. “I worked by his side for 27 years,” she says, learning the business of design from one of the best.

In 2004, she established her own firm, where she built her impressive portfolio by emphasizing teamwork and, most importantly, listening to clients. Her expertise has earned industry accolades, including the ASID Designer of Distinction Award in 2009 and the Tom Gunkelman Legacy Award in 2011, in addition to many ASID project awards.

Skogmo is endlessly enthusiastic about the spaces she and colleagues Jennifer Zirkelbach and Annie Baldwin create for clients. Like her work, Skogmo’s favorite things are classics.

1 | Icon

Rather than designers idolized from afar, she points to local greats Tom Gunkelman, who mentored her early on, and Robert Lenox, who greatly influenced her. In addition to their design chops, both excelled at forming the relationships that were the bedrock of their businesses.

2 | Room

Gathering spaces. “I love living rooms and cozy dens,” she notes. She often reserves a special nook or alcove to showcase a favorite artwork.

3 | Project

When a former client brought her to an Edina Rolling Green home she was considering, Skogmo urged her to buy it. “It was nothing spectacular on the outside, but the property was fabulous,” she recalls. By the time the dream team — Skogmo, builder Erotas and Paul Hannan of SALA Architects — had transformed the house to meet the owner’s vision, it was fabulous both inside and out.

She collaborated on custom touches with some of the best artisans in town, like Steven Cabinets, who made the butterflied antique oak veneer panels for the study. But Skogmo was particularly gratified that every piece of furniture she’d selected for the client’s previous home, a modest Georgian Colonial in Eden Prairie, fit into this house in a new way: “It really is a testament to good furniture; it lasts.”

4 | Artist

That same client introduced Skogmo to artist Steve Smulka at Gallery Henoch in New York City. His still-life paintings are shimmering, hyper-realistic visions. “You feel like you need to touch the painting to make sure it’s not glass,” she says.

5 | Shop

Gallery Henoch soon joined her list of favorites, including beloved Twin Cities spots like Gallery 360, Anthony Scornavacco Antiques and Robert Riesberg Antiques.

6 | Accessory

Fresh flowers and antiques with a special meaning. “It could be a box or a little sculpture,” she explains. “I have a cheese box on my coffee table that belonged to a friend who passed away that I just love.”

7 | Destination

It was once Venice, Italy, but now it’s closer to home: Southwest Florida. A condo in Pelican Bay (which thankfully survived Ian) is her family’s second home. She also works with numerous clients in the Gulf Coast and West Palm areas.

8 | Rule to Break

Contrary to the design rule that dictates to never display family photos in a public room, “I can’t think of anything I love more than photographs — those are your people,” says Skogmo. “Really, there’s not a right or a wrong in our industry. Mostly there are lots of right decisions for a given space; there isn’t just one that’s perfect. It’s more about, What do you want? What do you like?”

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY BECCA SABOT, SUSAN GILMORE, GALLERY HENOCH, SCOTT AMUNDSON, TROY THEIS AND ALYSSA LEE

From weddings to work parties, board meetings to brainstorm sessions—there are many reasons to hold your event at Mia, with many one-of-a-kind spaces to make it perfect. A Twin Cities landmark with ample parking, the Minneapolis Institute of Art is the premier destination for memorable experiences. Plus, your event supports the museum.

Photo: Christopher Jason Photography

THE GUIDE

MUST-HAVE ACCESSORIES FOR TRAVEL’S BEST MOMENTS. PRODUCED BY

CHRISTINA FORTIER AND KATE NELSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY SPACECRAFTING

LEFT

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The Vision To See Banking Differently

Builder: Kyle Hunt & Partners

Interiors: Alecia Stevens

Landcape: Yardscapes Photo: Scott Amundson

GRAUBÜNDEN IS THE WORLD’S MOST UNDERRATED WELLNESS DESTINATION.

BY ANNE RODERIQUE-JONES

THIS STORY STARTS OUT WITH A MID-YOGA SURPRISE. ONE MINUTE, I’m looking up at the bluebird sky and breathing in the fresh mountain air while the Swiss Alps kiss the backdrop. The next, a goat named Pogo is pooping on my yoga mat (surprise!). I signed up for this — goat yoga — and only in Switzerland would this situation somehow feel charming.

Known for its utterly picturesque vistas, Graubünden is Switzerland’s largest region, making up more than 17% of the country’s total land area. It’s also the most sparsely populated, with just 200,000 residents, leaving plenty of space to explore the area’s 1,000+ lakes, 1,000 miles of ski slopes and nearly 6,000 miles of hiking trails. And this, my friends, is why Graubünden is the world’s most underrated wellness destination.

When most of us think of Switzerland, a few things come to mind: watches, chocolate, cheese, perhaps a multipurpose knife. But may I propose three entirely different notions? Here, the headliners are a nice steam, nourishment and nature immersion. What does all that have to do with wellness, you ask? Allow me to explain.

First things first, Graubünden has no shortage of spas, often tricked out with multiple saunas, steam rooms, cold plunges, foot baths, hammams and more. So upon arriving at your destination — in my case, the Hotel Schweizerhof Lenzerheide — after an overnight flight and feeling about as haggard as a Nick Nolte mug shot, I suggest booking a massage. (I swear it’s a near-instant cure for jet lag.) If you’re feeling bold, a nude steam will also do the trick.

While we Americans are known for our modesty, many spas in Switzerland have a no-clothing policy in their saunas and steam rooms. So as I was relaxing post-massage in my fluffy oversize robe, an older woman popped out of the no-towels-allowed steam room and slipped into nothing but a pair of high heels. She then strutted across the spa like it was her own personal catwalk, with more confidence in her pinky finger than I have in my entire being. To me, she embodied the very idea of confidence and body positivity.

Later that evening, I went mushroom foraging (fully clothed, thank you) in the Lenzerheide forest, where moments later, I cooked fungi with herbs and butter over an open fire. Buzzwords like “clean eating” and “farm to table” get thrown around a lot these days, but this was the real deal. The following night at the Michelin-starred Scalottas Terroir, I bit into a potato that tasted as if it had just been plucked from the earth (it had!) and Swiss chard (just called chard here) that was just so green and flavorful. I kept exclaiming, “It tastes just like a potato!” This epiphany may sound silly, but my standard American diet has become so desensitized that real food can in itself feel like self-care.

My forest bathing didn’t end there. While hiking in a squirrel forest (yes, there’s such a thing) along the edge of Lake Heidsee, I fed the namesake critters hazelnuts straight from my hand and watched birds flock to a fellow hiker’s fingers à la Cinderella. This immersion in nature is not at my disposal in New York City, nor is this kind of fresh air.

On that, locals would often exclaim “Smell the fresh air!” as if they just know theirs is superior. Being outside is a thing here no matter what time of year, with the Alps acting as both a playground and a gym (there are 250+ countrywide outdoor calisthenic parks). And that air — seriously the freshest I’ve ever taken in — does indeed offer a sense of well-being. Sure, a spa treatment is undeniably soothing, but so too is a tranquil walk on an outdoor path amidst crisscrossing streams and deep green pine trees.

During a run near the stunning Cresta Palace Celerina one morning, I passed a herd of cows grazing peacefully in a meadow, donning bells so as to be easily found when roaming the mountainside. These creatures are near celebrities here, with locals touting the world’s best milk, cheese and yogurt (and they’re not wrong) due to the excellent care given to these four-legged friends. It seems that even the animals here get to indulge in wellness. Which brings me back to goat yoga.

I was in a peaceful warrior pose and instructed to close my eyes. But I couldn’t; the view was just too beautiful (plus I was on goat watch after Pogo’s unexpected deposit). As I looked up at the snowcapped Alps and breathed in that famous fresh air, a furry mammal brushed up against my fingers, politely asking for a pet. Pogo was back, but this time to lay beside me, and so I found myself doing downward dog next to a sleeping goat.

Goat yoga is just one reason why Graubünden is the world’s most underrated wellness destination. There’s also the lovingly made meals with thoughtful ingredients. And the mindful walks through the forest with incredible nature views. And of course, the spas and steam rooms — where next time I’ll channel my inner Swiss and lose the towel.

masterworks

THE TOP ART HOTELS AROUND THE WORLD.

BY BONNIE CULBERTSON

WHAT IS IT THAT COMPELS US TO SEEK OUT SPECTACULAR views, ancient monuments and celebrated works of art around the world? Simply put, beauty in all its forms is the reason we travel. Savvy hoteliers know this all too well, which is why many are now staging museum-worthy collections throughout their properties. Some go even further, inviting renowned artists for exclusive exhibits and residencies. Whether you fancy yourself an aficionado or simply enjoy artful living, here are the top five art hotels around the world waiting to stir your creative spirit.

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY SFER IK TULUM

PETIT ERMITAGE

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA

Why We Love It

If you’ve ever wondered what it was like to party at the Moulin Rouge with Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Edgar Degas and other 19th century bohemians, you’ll want to book a stay at West Hollywood’s Petit Ermitage. Named for the Hermitage art museum in Russia’s Winter Palace, this 80-room hideaway delivers a more intimate museum experience. Some 150 artworks, including pieces by the likes of Salvador Dalí and Joan Miró, add to the eclectic aesthetic. The property’s whimsical design draws influence from the founders’ global travels.

What to Experience

Head to the rooftop Butterfly Bar, where a crowd of inthe-know locals and rotating artists-in-residence makes for prime people watching and conversation starting. And humans aren’t the only ones enjoying this space; Petit’s more petite winged friends — a community of butterflies and hummingbirds — can be found fluttering throughout the adjacent rooftop garden, a nationally recognized sanctuary.

HOTEL TUGU

BALI, INDONESIA

Why We Love It

Founder Anhar Setjadibrata, one of the biggest collectors of Indonesian fine art and antiquities, has made it his personal mission to preserve and share the country’s history through his five boutique properties spread across the archipelago. In Bali, the Tugu’s decor doesn’t shy away from bold colors and patterns. The 21 villas and suites are designed to match the island’s vibrant tropical landscape, with exquisite artwork depicting Indonesia’s most romantic folklore and legends. The Puri Le Mayeur Villa, for instance, celebrates the eternal love between famed Belgian artist (and one-time Bali resident) Adrien-Jean le Mayeur de Merprès and Ni Pollok, his wife and muse.

What to Experience

A traditional Balinese dance performance is one of the isle’s must-see attractions. At the Tugu, catch a show in the beautiful Bale Agung Hall.

THE CULLEN

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

Why We Love It

What sets the Cullen apart from other art-centric hotels is that its entire aesthetic revolves around a single person. Indeed, everything from the architecture to the interiors pays homage to late Aussie painter Adam Cullen, winner of the 2000 Archibald Prize. The property boasts 119 residence-style rooms, from smaller studios up to the sprawling penthouse (many with kitchenettes or outdoor grills). Every space mimics the artist’s contemporary style, with mostly black-and-white decor to complement his famously colorful, often humorous prints. The cumulative effect is edgy and punk rock, giving this inn an undeniable cool factor befitting its trendy Prahran address. When not busy admiring the artwork, you can browse the stylish boutiques, hip cafes and buzzy clubs all within walking distance.

What to Experience

Hit up the historic Prahran Market, just opposite the Cullen, for organic produce, sustainable seafood and fine cheeses. Then return to your well-outfitted suite to savor your delicious meal while taking in the sunset over Melbourne’s skyline.

AZULIK TULUM, MEXICO

Why We Love It

Given Tulum’s reputation for enticing the “gypset” crowd — carefree, nomadic souls with sophisticated tastes — it comes as no surprise that the destination is home to one of the world’s most enchanting artistic retreats. Azulik’s organic architecture undulates through the jungle, resulting in immersive, sensorially inspiring spaces. Since its opening in 2018, the resort has attracted global artists eager to collaboratively explore new forms of creative expression. At Azulik, nature is art: The 48 villas are built almost entirely from bamboo, and the rotating gallery exhibits and regular fashion shows highlight makers who reflect three core values: nature, art and ancestrality.

What to Experience

Book a table at either of the onsite restaurants, Kin Toh and Tseen Ja. Both elevate cuisine to an art form. Every detail, from the curated fare to the tables perched in jungle-topping tree nests, has been meticulously crafted to enliven all five senses.

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY GRANT SMITH-VIEW/ALAMY STOCK

PHOTO AND SFER IK TULUM

THE FIFE ARMS

BRAEMAR, SCOTLAND

Why We Love It

In 2018, art world power couple Iwan and Manuela Wirth debuted this renovated 19th century hunting lodge to showcase 14,000+ creations — some dating back hundreds of years, others crafted just for the inn. The 46 guest rooms are thoughtfully composed with paintings, sculptures and antiques that reflect the Highlands’ rich cultural heritage as well as the duo’s eclectic taste. During a complimentary daily tour, you could encounter an original Picasso, a watercolor by Queen Victoria or a chandelier made from stainless steel cutlery. The artist-in-residence program, meanwhile, has welcomed notables like poet Alec Finlay to create a lyrical guide to nearby Cairngorms National Park and artist/naturalist James Prosek to design the striking coat of arms displayed in the drawing room.

What to Experience

Once properly inspired, let a professional artist be your guide to wild sketching the magnificent Highlands, designing a personalized tartan or expressing the stirrings of your soul through a creative writing workshop.

Cosmetic Dentistry

CRUISING THE MEDITERRANEAN WITH VIRGIN VOYAGES.

BY GENEVIEVE COSSETTE

ALL ABOARD

THIS TRIP WAS ONE OF MANY FIRSTS. NOT ONLY was it my first time exploring the Mediterranean, it was also my first time cruising and my first time experiencing entrepreneur Richard Branson’s Virgin brand. Prior to this trip, cruising was never something I felt I absolutely had to do, but after a seven-night stint on the Valiant Lady, I can say with confidence that I’ll definitely be traveling the Virgin way again.

With its inaugural sailing in August 2021, Virgin Voyages is still pretty fresh to the scene. Valiant Lady is the line’s second of four currently in the fleet. Boasting a yacht-like exterior and interiors crafted by some of the world’s most renowned architects and designers, the ships rival top boutique hotels. Public spaces like lounges and restaurants are sleek and luxurious, each with a different vibe and aesthetic. The 1,408 cabins and suites feature thoughtful elements like state-of-the-art technology and spacious balconies with hammocks.

Debunking the myth that all cruises have buffets, these ships actually have zero. In an effort to reduce food waste and elevate the overall experience, Virgin offers made-toorder fare at all of its 20+ eateries. You really can’t go wrong at any of the onboard restaurants, which feature menus crafted by Michelin-starred chefs. Extra Virgin, an Italianinspired concept, offers dishes like bucatini carbonara with housemade pasta and affogato prepared tableside. Razzle Dazzle, a veggie-centric spot, serves up mushroom “tartare” and whole roasted heirloom cauliflower. You can top it off with a craft cocktail from some of the industry’s best mixologists or pop some bubbles in honor of the brand’s partnership with Moët & Chandon.

On board, there’s no shortage of activities to enjoy. The Virgin brand is synonymous with entertainment, which definitely shines through in the programming. In the evening, travelers can enjoy countless acts that aren’t your typical cruise line fodder — think drag shows, jaw-dropping cirque and immersive dance performances. During the day, you can relax at the soothing Redemption Spa (salt room, please), take a seaside sunrise yoga class or even get a tattoo at onboard parlor Squid Ink. Oh and did I mention the ship is kid-free?

Valiant Lady currently offers two themed Mediterranean itineraries. Ours, the Irresistible Med, departs from Barcelona, Spain, with stops in Toulon, France; Marina di Carrara, Italy; Ajaccio, Corsica; Cagliari, Sardinia; and Ibiza — six different destinations with no extra flights or hotel changes necessary. Enticing shore excursions are available at each stop. With one peek of the itinerary, I quickly realized the appeal of cruising. Our days were filled with shopping in St. Tropez, savoring gelato in Florence, wine tasting in Ajaccio and exploring in Ibiza’s Old Town.

The big question is, as someone who had never cruised or experienced the Virgin brand before, would I book another trip on Virgin Voyages? The answer is undoubtedly yes. What was previously a travel excursion I had no real burning desire to try ultimately turned into the trip of a lifetime. In fact, I’ve already started looking into upcoming itineraries — Dubai and Cairo, anyone?

BY AMBER GIBSON

NORTH AMERICA’S LARGEST SKI RESORT IS ALSO ONE OF THE MOST FUN. Whether you want to spend all day on the mountain or you’d rather explore arts, culture, dining and shopping, Whistler, Canada, has it all. With more than 8,000 acres of skiable terrain and hundreds of groomed runs, there is something for every ability level, plus a super social après-ski scene in Whistler Village. This is the first winter that all borders are fully open post-pandemic, so international travelers are back in full force, especially for the Peak to Valley Race and the Whistler Pride and Ski Festival.

WHISTLER

THE ARTFUL LIVING DESTINATION GUIDE TO WHISTLER.

STAY

FAIRMONT CHATEAU

Whistler’s most iconic stay has just completed a $14-million renovation of its 364 guest rooms. The modern mountain chalet aesthetic includes rich sustainable hardwoods and state-of-the-art technology as well as ski-in/ski-out access to multiple lifts and complimentary ski storage. The Mallard Lounge is the hottest après-ski spot, so cozy up beside the fireplace to enjoy live music and people watching.

Discerning guests will appreciate the 96 Fairmont Gold rooms for a “hotel within a hotel” on a private floor and access to an exclusive lounge stocked with culinary treats all day. Serious skiers can grab individual Le Creuset ramekins of frittata and bread pudding before hitting the slopes, then sip pre-dinner drinks at sunset with Whistler Blackcomb views. Fairmont Gold rooms also offer a sensory aromatherapy shower experience with Skinjay essential oil capsules designed for party, play, detox or sleep. Sweet dreams.

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY BRANDON BARRE, TOURISM WHISTLER/GUY FATTAL AND LEILA KWOK

SKI WITH AN OLYMPIAN

Every resort offers ski lessons, but it’s not often that you get the chance to take a private lesson with an Olympic skier or snowboarder. At Whistler Blackcomb, a dozen different athletes who competed in events ranging from snowboard halfpipe to freestyle mogul skiing will take you out for the day so you can follow their tracks through fresh powder. Perfect your technique with tips from world-class pros like Ashleigh McIvor, the first gold medalist in the sport of ski cross when it debuted at the 2010 Vancouver games.

Skiers and snowboarders of all abilities are welcome, with both individual and small group lessons available. I recently skied with 2010 Olympian Robbie Dixon, and although we just cruised along intermediate blue runs, he quickly helped me get back on my feet after several years away from the sport — plus his stories and local recommendations were priceless.

BRAIDWOOD TAVERN

Styled after a mountainside cabin with stone hearths and reclaimed woods, Braidwood Tavern captures the laidback luxury Whistler is known for. The well-dressed marmot mascot on the menu is Uncle Bruce, the eatery’s imaginary owner and consummate host. His cheeky irreverence is reflected in the casual yet delicious shared plates, including duck poutine, hot fried chicken wings and a variety of flatbreads to be savored alongside the excellent selection of British Columbia beers on tap.

There’s an extensive vegan menu that’s just as tasty, with highlights like roasted tomato soup, plant-based rigatoni bolognese, and green pea and zucchini coconut curry. If you’re looking for an indulgent après cocktail, try one of the spiked hot chocolates inspired by destinations from the North Pole to Japan (think matcha hot chocolate with strawberry ginger bitters and Japanese whiskey) paired with signature “spudnuts” — warm potato sugared doughnuts that coat your fingers like snow.

AUDAIN ART MUSEUM

This private museum debuted in 2016 and today showcases a permanent collection of nearly 200 artworks from coastal British Columbia creatives. Highlights include landscape paintings by Emily Carr and larger-than-life sculptures and traditional wood carvings by First Nations artists. Dominating the first gallery is Haida master carver James Hart’s “The Dance Screen (The Scream Too),” an elaborately detailed red cedar dance screen with shimmering abalone inlay that celebrates the important role of salmon within Indigenous communities and the natural ecosystem.

The museum’s minimalist, angular architecture is both artful and environmentally friendly, raised on concrete stilts so as not to disturb the forest and floodplain below, with a long, glazed walkway from the skylit entryway to the galleries. Upcoming exhibitions include a collection of Dutch and Flemish prints. Browse the shop on your way out for a beautifully curated assemblage of objets d’art, jewelry and gifts by local creatives.

IL CAMINETTO

One of the city’s most venerable restaurants, Il Caminetto opened its doors more than 40 years ago and was recently reinvented by Toptable Group, with refreshed interiors inspired by ski chalets, including oversize leather booths and a split-face stone fireplace. Request one of those sumptuous booths when making your reservation for the most intimate and comfortable seats in the house. The staff exudes classic Italian hospitality, greeting every guest like an old friend.

Begin with Italian salumi and a selection of cheese while trying to decide between the lobster linguine and the wild mushroom risotto. The award-winning wine list focuses on Italian regions and British Columbia bottles, with dozens of options available by the glass. Try a Brunello di Montalcino or Painted Rock Estate Winery’s flagship red blend to pair with hearty winter favorites like Quebec veal chop and bistecca alla fiorentina.

DINE

SCANDINAVE SPA

Serenity is the name of the game at this iconic Nordic hydrotherapy spa. Cell phones, conversation and children are strictly verboten to ensure the most peaceful and rejuvenating experience possible. The self-guided experience alternates between hot and cold hydrotherapy to boost immunity and circulation.

First, sweat out toxins and dilate blood vessels in a Finnish sauna, hot-jetted pool or eucalyptus steam room, then take a quick dip in a cold plunge bath or under a waterfall to close pores, release endorphins and increase your heart rate. Finally, relax in the solarium or fireplace lounge and just breathe. Repeat as many cycles as you like before noshing on local vegan snacks in the cafe. It’s rare to find time to truly disconnect; Scandinave gently pushes you to escape the daily grind and soak up the subtle beauty in the sights, sounds and smells of nature.

What if all you need is the right advisor?

Congratulations to Christina K. Boyd for being ranked No. 1 in Minnesota on the Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” 2022 list, published on April 7, 2022. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2021.

Christina K. Boyd, CRPC® Managing Director Senior Financial Advisor

Merrill Lynch Wealth Management

315 Lake Street East Suite 200 Wayzata, MN 55391 952.476.5613 fa.ml.com/boydgroup

Source: The Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list, published on April 7, 2022. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2021.

Data provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC. Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors ranking was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual, and telephone due diligence meetings to measure best practices; also considered are: client retention, industry experience, credentials, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, such as: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. SHOOK’s research and rankings provide opinions intended to help investors choose the right financial advisor and are not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receive compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. For more information, please see www.SHOOKresearch.com. SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC.

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (also referred to as “MLPF&S” or “Merrill”) makes available certain investment products sponsored, managed, distributed or provided by companies that are affiliates of Bank of America Corporation (“BofA Corp.”). MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, Member SIPC and a wholly owned subsidiary of BofA Corp. Banking products are provided by Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC and a wholly owned subsidiary of BofA Corp.

Investment products: Are Not FDIC Insured Are Not Bank Guaranteed May Lose Value

The Bull Symbol and Merrill are registered trademarks of Bank of America Corporation.

The College for Financial Planning Institutes Corp. owns the service marks Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM, CRPC®, and the CRPC® logo, and the certification marks Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™, CRPC™, and the CRPC™ logo.

© 2022 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved. MAP4960336 | AD-11-22-0292 | 472538PM-1022 | 11/2022

As interior designers, we have one goal: to make your home an expression of your spirit and a lasting source of happiness.

Whether you’re remodeling or building a new home, we’ll guide you through the complexities for spectacular results.

go BIG OR

STAY home

BY ANNE RODERIQUE-JONES

HERE’S

an idea for a dream vacation: You and some besties jet off to an African private island. Or perhaps breakfast in bed aboard an opulent train car sounds more suitable? Maybe it’s a spa day in the sky. This is all actually possible. Postpandemic, savvy globetrotters are eager to spend their time and money wisely as in go big or stay home. Here, we peer into the world of rarified travel, showcasing the most exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime experiences on the planet. Yes, they’re limited. And expensive. And oh so incredible. Because let’s face it: We’re ready to get out into the world again and make the most of it. So let’s not stay home let’s go big.

JOIN AN invite-only SAIL

The St. Barths Bucket Regatta might as well be called the Bucket List Regatta because it’s become so exclusive, especially after a three-year hiatus. The comeback happens this March, when monied superyacht owners will swoop into the Caribbean for the biggest social soiree of the season. The event is invite-only for the most extravagant sailing vessels, with friendly competitors vying for the coveted Bucket Cup. No money is at stake (who needs it anyway?), nor are there any advertisements or sponsorships. The billionaires are simply there to, as they say, “win the party,” including four days of beach bashes, open bars and yacht hopping.

STAY IN NEW YORK’S swankiest SUITE

“You’ll never even be in your hotel room” is a phrase often uttered to make you feel a smidge better about New York City’s notoriously shoebox-sized accommodations. But not at the highly anticipated Aman New York, America’s first urban outpost from the high-end hotelier. Only hotel guests (from $3,200/night), Aman Club members (initiation fee: $200,000) and residents (the five-story penthouse sold for $180 million) are granted entry into this hot spot situated in Manhattan’s iconic Crown Building on Billionaires’ Row. All 83 seductive suites have working fireplaces (a novelty in New York City), plus the onsite Italian and Japanese restaurants, speakeasy jazz club, and soaring garden terrace will tempt you to stay in. Not to mention the spa: three floors dedicated to wellness, including an indoor swimming pool (another Big Apple rarity) and a set of “spa houses,” with hot and cold soaking tubs and a private hammam or banya. P.S. In case you’re interested, that Aman Club membership currently has a waitlist (sorry!).

FLY LIKE A queen

If Martha Stewart is a super fan, so are we. Emirates airline now offers the most extravagant first class cabin in existence. The experience begins before wheels up, with a chauffeured Mercedes whisking you to and fro the first-class lounge at more than 30 international airports. Like a diamond ring nestled in an unassuming box, the suite on the A380 looks a bit simplistic at first. But once onboard, it feels as if you’re in a five-star hotel above the clouds. Endless caviar paired with vintage Dom Pérignon, anyone? Or perhaps it’s “cinema snacks” like lobster rolls while enjoying a new release? Nosh on whatever you like, whenever you like — served upon fine china naturally. And don’t miss the shower spa, where you can indulge in a steamy rinse at 40,000 feet then cozy up in the first-ever Hydra Active moisturizing sleepwear (specially created for Emirates) all while a flight attendant turns down your bed.

RIDE A regal RAILWAY

All aboard the most opulent experience on wheels: Belmond’s Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Though recently restored, the train exudes 1920s-era elegance that makes it feel like you’re traveling within a novel. The best route is the 10-night journey from Paris to Istanbul. Pro tip from luxury travel publicist Melanie Brandman: Book a Grand Suite (from $7,400/night), which features sleeping and living quarters plus a marbled en-suite bathroom with gilded fixtures handcrafted by Parisian artisans. Equally impressive is the 24-hour butler service, which means that free-flowing libations, a private dinner or a tailored bathrobe are all just a bell ring away. A day in the life goes something like this: Check in with a porter then settle in for a multi-course meal (with wine pairings from the onboard somm, obviously). Then perhaps a catnap before evening entertainment in Bar Car 3674. It’s not over, though — midnight brunch follows with bubbles and bites. Finally, it’s time to retreat to your gloriously glam suite and awaken only for breakfast in bed.

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY BELMOND,

SPACE PERSPECTIVE AND SIMON BAJADA

LEAVE PLANET EARTH

It feels like space travel is hotter than a newly single Gisele Bündchen. But no need to take a run-of-the-mill rocket when you can travel in style in a sleek capsule. Space Perspective has unveiled Neptune, which will launch in 2024 with just eight passengers per experience. So what’s this swanky six-hour excursion like? The world is your oyster, including cocktails, passed hors d’oeuvres and 360-degree interstellar views. The vessel looks more like an elegant lounge than a spaceship and can be arranged to accommodate a special event — say a dinner party or an intimate wedding. Once you purchase the $125,000 ticket, Space Perspective feels like a private club, with exclusive invites to pre-launch events. For more on space tourism, flip to page 190.

DINE AT THE hottest POP-UP

There’s a slight smugness the comes with visiting a destination before it gets super popular. We’re here to say that Greenland is the new Iceland. And if you’re a foodie, even better. The venerable two-Michelin-starred eatery KOKS has temporarily popped up in an uber isolated locale: Ilulissat, home to just 53 residents. You’ll want to reserve a table stat, as this rare dining experience can only be enjoyed select dates from June to September and is limited to just 30 people per night (the tasting menu starts at $370). No need to fret about lodging; KOKS also offers an overnight stay in one of 15 cabins that sit cliffside along a fjord. To up the exclusivity factor, the property is reachable only by boat, where you’ll pass through the UNESCO-protected Ilulissat Icefjord.

TOUR THE fanciest FACTORY

It’s easier to score an invite to Buckingham Palace than it is to visit the Rolex factory in Switzerland. The “house with the crown” is nearly impossible to see unless you know the right people, says luxury travel writer Annie Fitzsimmons. Rolex has long been an authority on high-end timepieces, so it naturally follows that the brand’s production atelier is akin to a ballet, with precise steps and movements almost as impressive as the final product itself. But you might ask: With iPhones in our pockets and smartwatches on our wrists, are these timepieces still in vogue today? Possibly even more so for tastemakers and collectors, who, like clockwork, are drawn to relics and rarity.

JET to the SOUTH POLE

There’s no need to rough it like an early explorer. Welcome to the most luxuriously remote camp on the planet. White Desert is the only outfitter that delivers you to the interior of Antarctica via private jet, with departures November to February. Here, you’ll encounter thousands of emperor penguins while trekking to the South Pole. Accommodations are as posh as the transportation, with 12 guests (both Prince Harry and Bear Grylls approve) staying in tricked-out eco-camps: opulent, heated cabins boasting plush bedding and floor-to-ceiling windows. Chef-prepared meals and cocktails by a roaring fire are the icing (we had to!) on the cake. The area is so seldom traversed, this might be the only time a coworker doesn’t inwardly groan when you show off your vacation snaps.

LOWBROW for the HIGH ROLLER

Like the CEO who loves a street hot dog as much as a glass of fine wine, affluent globetrotters have a certain infatuation with low-end rituals. Think of a simple potato chip dressed in caviar — the perfect high/low combination. Here, six travel experts (including yours truly) divulge their favorite lowbrow food experiences.

TACOS ACROSS THE BORDER TIJUANA, MEXICO

“The best tacos I’ve ever had in my life are at Tijuana staple Tacos El Franc; it’s this buzzy, local-filled taqueria that’s authentic to its core,” says Hotels Above Par founder Brandon Berkson, who grew up in San Diego and takes the pedestrian bridge across the border (bring your passport). He suggests ordering the carne asada and the tripa taco, then snagging a seat in one of the plastic chairs to devour this tasty meal.

DIVE BAR ON THE BEACH

THE HAMPTONS, NEW YORK

A place that’s not a scene in the Hamptons? Don’t scoff until you’ve seen the Station Bar. Publicist Sybil Bunn Pool, who summers in Southampton, explains, “We like to escape to our favorite dive in nearby Hampton Bays, the Station Bar. It’s right on the water and has picnic tables in the sand, live music and delicious bar food — plus it’s not at all sceney.”

MUST-TRY CHINESE IN MISSOURI

SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI

This Ozarks destination is low-key famous for its Springfield-style cashew chicken. Invented in the 1960s by Chinese American chef David Leong, the dish consists of fried boneless chicken pieces smothered in brown gravy and topped with cashews and green onions. Like New Yorkers with bagels, everyone in the Ozarks has their place for cashew chicken, and we are firmly in camp Canton Inn. This small, no-frills shack has a few tables, but most people opt for the drive-through. The cashew chicken meal runs $8.15, but bring a 10 spot for a perfectly crispy egg roll on the side.

WINE ON THE WATER PARIS

A beloved low-end experience in a high-end destination is as good as it gets. “Les Nautes on the Quai des Célestins serves wine by the glass, and you can sit with the locals on the water,” says Washington Post travel reporter Natalie Compton. “You pay a euro deposit for a real glass and get it back once you return it. Late at night, you can buy a beer from the vendors walking along the river with their coolers.”

A WEST COAST OLD-SCHOOL DINER

LOS ANGELES

Sure, the City of Angels is jam-packed with fine-dining establishments (where you’re likely to see a celeb or two), but if you want to eat at a true L.A. institution, travel writer Amelia Mularz suggests checking out the old-school diners around town. One such spot is the Apple Pan, which opened in 1947 and to this day serves hickory burgers and cream-topped pies around its original U-shaped counter. The prices have changed since the forties, but you can still get a memorable meal for $20.

A HAUTE DOG IN A COLD CLIME

ICELAND

So back to those hot dogs, but make them Icelandic. (In fact, these might just be the unofficial food of the Nordic island nation.) The must-try delicacy is made with lamb, pork and beef, then topped with onions and various condiments like Icelandic-style ketchup, sweet brown mustard and remoulade. “They’ll run you a couple of dollars and can be eaten anytime, making them the perfect snack or quick meal,” advises Well+Good Deputy Editor Samantha Leal.

DIVE DOWN TO history

It’s unlikely that we’ll ever find solace in Jack and Rose’s Titanic ending (sigh). The next best thing to closure? A trip with OceanGate Expeditions to view the wreckage of the RMS Titanic itself. This eight-day expedition, which departs from St. John’s, Newfoundland, feels like the ultimate science field trip. As one of just five people aboard, you’ll become a trained mission specialist, descending 2.5 miles to the ocean floor, surveying the scene and helping document this historic maritime site. A spot on the Titan submersible will set you back $250,000, but you can take comfort knowing you’ll be part of a highly exclusive club. A century after the infamous shipwreck, fewer people have visited Titanic than have been to space (just an estimated 200 in the 15 years since its discovery). And as Jim Bendt, owner of Pique Travel Design, a Virtuoso agency, points out: Even though the whole thing feels super posh, you’re still allowed to indulge in the obligatory “I’m the king of the world” moment.

PARTY IN A PRIVATE art collection

Imagine living in a contemporary art museum. That’s what it’s like to stay in the Empathy Suite at Las Vegas’ Palms Casino Resort. This two-story, 9,000-square-foot party pad (from $75,000/night) atop the Fantasy Tower was designed by artist Damien Hirst, and it’s oh so extra. As in, butterflies, skulls and a medicine cabinet full of diamonds. Six of his original works are on display, including two bull sharks suspended in formaldehyde in a white tank as well as a curved bar filled with medical waste like needles and gloves. Of course, all the high-roller requisites are covered: 24-hour butler service, a fully serviced bar, a pool table, a salt therapy room, two massage rooms, and a private pool that cantilevers over the side of the building.

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY SCIEPRO/SCIENCE

PHOTO LIBRARY, PALMS

CASINO RESORT, LUOMAN AND RITZ CARLTON, TOKYO

shakeit IN SOUTH AMERICA

Picture this: You’re on top of a parade float, letting loose in a custom sequin and feather costume, waving to the crowd like a pageant queen. This is the well-to-do version of Rio Carnival. The Greatest Show on Earth attracts two million people to the Brazil city, where the kickoff is marked by a raucous, celebrity-studded party at the Copacabana Palace. As an esteemed guest of legendary travel outfitter Abercrombie & Kent, you’ll obviously have an invite. This eight-night tailored journey (from $10,000) begins at the Philippe Starck–designed Hotel Fasano Rio de Janeiro, where fashion designers and makeup artists will assemble your ensemble. Don’t worry; you’ll learn to samba before the big Magic Ball. And who needs Instagram? A professional photographer will capture every whirlwind movement. Throughout the five-day celebration, you’ll float above the crowds in a front-row box. After the festivities, a private yacht will whisk you off to Hotel Fasano Angra dos Reis for a restful coastal getaway.

SIP A luxe MARTINI

Did you know you can actually drink luxury?

The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo serves a cocktail aptly called the Diamonds Are Forever Martini. Inspired by James Bond, the drink is available only at the city’s tallest hotel. Make your way to the 45th floor bar, where this bespoke quaff is crafted tableside with chilled vodka, a twist of lime and a yoursto-keep one-carat diamond garnish. The $22,200 price tag (just 12 have been ordered in 15 years) includes a live band performing “Diamonds Are Forever.”

SCORE A SEAT at the TRACK

A trip to the Monaco Grand Prix is undoubtedly a oncein-a-lifetime adventure, but here’s an industry secret for you: The renowned race is best experienced via small ship, according to Jim Bendt of Pique Travel Design. This highly desirable event sells out each year, with just 7,500 adrenaline junkies in attendance. But guests on Windstar’s Wind Surf need not worry about scoring those coveted tickets; section K for Saturday’s time trials and Sunday’s final offers higher seats (as opposed to benches) that have spectacular harbor views. Two days’ worth of Formula One fabulousness includes themed cocktail parties and a delectable dinner. Come evening, you can avoid the race crowds and escape back to the ship’s Bridge Suite, where a refreshing bubble bath awaits.

GET happy IN THE HIMALAYAS

You’ve done the whole spa day thing: a pretreatment steam, Swedish massage and post-service robe basking session. Let’s one-up that with a trip to Bhutan, an extremely exclusive South Asian destination that’s also a wellness haven. Upon arrival at Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary (which is as high-end as it is healing), head to the Transformation Room to reframe your mindset. Next comes a consultation with an in-house medicine doctor, who will prescribe traditional treatments like ku nye massage or an herb-infused hot stone bath. Sure, there’ll be plenty of yoga, but you might also hike to a monastery to meditate with monks or take a pottery class with the resident art instructor. Each of the 24 guest rooms (from $715/night) feels like a spa within a spa, featuring private outdoor space. By the end of your visit, you’ll be one of those people who actually likes to meditate.

ESCAPE TO A private ISLAND

Imagine having your own private island to enjoy with an intimate group of close family and friends — oh, and a resident marine biologist. Located off the coast of Tanzania, Thanda Island is an uninhabited eight-hectare retreat nestled in the Shungimbili Island Marine Reserve, home to nearly 300 aquatic species. In a nutshell: You and your fellow globetrotters will have this protected ring of the Indian Ocean all to yourselves. Upon the isle sits a five-bedroom villa (from $25,000/night) with a long list of enviable amenities: a glassrimmed swimming pool, cigar humidor, pizza oven, indoor aquarium, Steinway piano — and let’s not forget, your own marine biologist to lead customized snorkeling trips.

Screen dreams

Do you ever dream of being outside with all of the comforts of the indoors? With the touch of a button, Phantom Screens lets you enjoy the outdoors, without annoying bites or buzzes. Fully customizable, so all your dreams can come true, from insect protection, added privacy, to shade from the sun and more. Dream on at phantomscreens.com

Photo Courtesy of Spacecrafting

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Where High-End Real Estate Is Headed in 2023

Happy New Year! It’s no secret the real estate market has gone through dynamic changes in the past few years, including in the luxury sector. While high-end home buying and selling evolve, one thing hasn't changed – Coldwell Banker Realty continues to be the undisputed leader in luxury in Minnesota*. Thank you to all our wonderful clients, especially the sellers showcased in the following Winter Property Gallery!

It is important to recognize the driving forces behind this shifting landscape. You can feel confident that our best-in-class associates have the wisdom and experience to navigate the ever-changing market and are here to help you make intelligent real estate decisions.

The Trend Report , produced by the Coldwell Banker Global Luxury ® program, is a data-driven, luxury real estate market report that gives a big-picture perspective of high-end property purchasing and sale trends. It includes curated data from a survey conducted by Censuswide of over 2,000 high-net-worth consumers, statistics from the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing and Wealth-X, and insight from Luxury Property Specialists. It shows that affluent consumers are diversifying their portfolios and looking at long-term investment strategies. Trends driving these shifts include:

• The Desire for Stability – Wealthy buyers are gravitating toward home opportunities that can create long-term generational wealth in locations less affected by extreme weather and climate change.

• Increased Demand for Smaller Homes – High-net-worth individuals are looking at smaller investment and secondary homes, and luxury single-family homes with smaller footprints are selling faster.

• Growing High-Net-Worth Hedging – Seeking homes that decrease the exposure to higher interest rates, newly minted millionaires are purchasing with cash and alternative financing options.

• Rising Global Property Buying – With a strong U.S. dollar, the rising cost of living in the states and political unrest, the affluent are returning to buying overseas.

For the full report, visit blog.coldwellbankerluxury.com or reach out to one of our Luxury Property Specialists for local insight on the Minnesota luxury market. And if you are planning to list your home for sale or purchase your dream residence in 2023, stop by a Coldwell Banker Realty office or visit ColdwellBankerHomes.com to get started in the right direction.

Cheers!

Baker President

*Based on closed sales volume information from NorthstarMLS for Hennepin and Ramsey counties for properties of $1 million or more as reported on Dec. 2, 2022 for the period Jan. 1-Sept. 30, 2022, calculated by multiplying the number of buyer and/or seller sides by sales price. Source data is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. Affiliated real estate agents are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2023 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Advisors LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.

Matt

Minnesota and Western Wisconsin Coldwell Banker Realty

KRISTA WOLTER

612.247.5106

Krista@KristaWolter.com

KristaWolter.com

SHADOW LANE | NORTH OAKS

4 BR 4 BA | $1,350,000

Traditional brick two story located in the MV School District and close to Pleasant Lake and the trails throughout the private community. Gourmet kitchen with high-end appliances, expansive counters, and a sunroom that walks out to the yard. Spectacular owners' suite with custom walk-in closet, workout room, wet bar, and lavish bath.

MONARCH WAY | NORTH OAKS

6 BR 5 BA | $1,150,000

This custom, 2 story walk-out home in the MV School District features generous spaces, upgraded finishes, and an open floor plan with a main floor bedroom. The spacious kitchen includes a center island with granite countertops and an informal dining area. Professional landscaping, paver patio & a private backyard with pond & water views.

209 QUAIL STREET | MAHTOMEDI

4 BR 3 BA | $995,000

One lot remaining in the Villas of Quail. Welcome home to a unique opportunity in the heart of Mahtomedi. Experience main floor living at its best with the option of 2 bedrooms on the main floor, a finished lower level, and 3 car garage. Within minutes of White Bear Lake and miles of bike trails. Taking lot reservations now.

BLACK LAKE COURT | NORTH OAKS

4 BR 5 BA | $1,495,000

Classic North Oaks custom built, walkout rambler by Michels Construction features main-floor living at its best! The open, spacious kitchen features a center island, granite counters, a walk-in pantry, an informal dining room, and an inviting hearth room space. The Butler pantry includes a warming drawer and additional custom cabinetry.

Executive Health Care invites you to experience the most efficient, comprehensive, and convenient physical examination program available.

We understand the demands of your career, your schedule, and your life. We know how your health affects the well-being of your family and the vitality of your company.

Call to schedule your comprehensive executive physical at 612-871-6268.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine Dudley McLinn, M.D. & Jason Reed, M.D.

2800 Campus Drive, #44, Plymouth, MN 55441 | www.ehc.bz (Across from West Health at the Intersection of Highway 55 & Interstate 494)

LET THERE BE LIGHT

BY MERRITT BAMRICK

STREETER CUSTOM BUILDER COLLABORATES WITH CHARLIE & CO. DESIGN AND ELLINGTON & CO. DESIGN ON A SERENE, LIGHT-FILLED SANCTUARY.

A COUPLE OF EMPTY NESTERS WERE WELL AHEAD of the so-called coastal grandmother trend when they outlined their wishes for their dream home. While the term may be in vogue right now, the aesthetic is timeless: casual living with an elevated twist. It’s the perfect description for shingle-style architecture — commonly seen along the East Coast — but with a custom touch from Streeter Custom Builder, Charlie & Co. Design, and Ellington & Co. Design.

This classic yet informal abode looks right at home in the heart of Edina. There’s just something about shingle style that evokes relaxation, which is exactly what the clients were after when they tapped Streeter for their second project together. “We wanted a retreat with unfettered access to all our local favorites,” remark the clients. The house also needed to feel cozy for the couple’s day-to-day life, with the ability to easily flex for entertaining. “This home lends itself to a level of sophistication that’s delicate yet completely livable,” shares Streeter Project Manager Clay Carlson.

From the outside, wood cladding and welcoming verandas are indicative of shingle-style architecture, while custom copper chimney caps and limestone patios give the exterior a marked Midwestern appeal. “There’s a softness that shingle style allows,” says Charlie & Co. Principal Designer Colby Mattson, who worked in tandem with Project Manager Jonathan Mason. He points out how the cedar shingles were steamed and bent to create depth surrounding the front gable windows. But more than anything, it’s the expansive window banks that make for a serene home flooded in natural light.

Also notable is the large glass wall of Marvin Signature Ultimate windows and doors on the structure’s south side. The team maintained a 10-foot ceiling in the living room and incorporated windows into the additional six-and-a-half feet of two-story volume to create a space that’s bright and airy without feeling cavernous. “You get the intimacy of the living room with all the drama of the daylight,” Mattson explains.

The floor plan encourages connection and spaciousness without being totally open. In particular, the clients craved a sense of separation between the kitchen and living room, so the team crafted a doublesided fireplace that acts as a divider. It’s a favorite feature for the owners — in particular the family’s longhaired dachshunds, who often lie on opposite sides like bookends. When the furry friends aren’t warming up by the fire, they have their own dedicated spot in the mudroom just off the kitchen. Here, a pocket door keeps them at bay during hosted events, while a built-in screen lets them look out so they’re not missing all the fun.

The kitchen is designed for easy circulation and entertaining yet is rightsized for everyday living, including a breakfast nook near the fireplace. Its scale is made possible by two hard-working pantries: a butler’s pantry between the kitchen and dining room plus a working pantry directly behind the kitchen. This allows for a smaller, more intimate gathering space and puts the softly curved range hood front and center as a focal point. The textured plaster hood complements the fireplace and is a favorite element of interior designer Carrie Ellington.

She purposefully designed the interiors to act as a canvas. To wit: You’ll notice different details depending on where the sun sits, with shadows revealing expert architectural nuances like custom millwork and unique curvatures. Ellington selected warm white paint to balance the brightness of the daylight and offset it with gray-green accents. “We loved these tones in the clients’ last home and wanted to evolve them for this project,” she adds.

Of course, the abode wouldn’t be complete without that iconic staircase. The blackened steel railing features vertical spindles that wrap up the treads and around the loft. Directly off the owners’ suite, this transitional area encourages a slowdown at the end of the workday.

There are plenty of other spaces for R&R, including the luxurious wet room complete with herringbonepattern tile and a sophisticated curved entry, where the team concealed the sliding glass door track within the archway for a seamless look. In warmer months, you’ll find the family relaxing out on the covered terrace, which boasts a limestone fireplace and classic wood beam ceiling. The house is a stone’s throw from a golf course and is equipped with a simulator for the off-season. Also nestled into the lower level are an exercise room, an infrared sauna and a bar/lounge area. “Every room has a special detail that’s just right for us,” the owners gush.

Achieving that highly customized feel is the result of a highly synergetic process between a talented team. “The earlier we can collaborate together, the more successful a project will be,” asserts Carlson, likening the seasoned partnership to a “creative shorthand” that delivered a home the clients dreamed up in every detail — and then some.

food mAtters truth mAtters

These days, the world is engaged in a serious discussion on how to affect positive change on our agricultural lands – how to leave them better than we found them and, in some cases, even repair some of the damage we’ve done. Today’s forwardthinking farmers are paving the way to a reimagined industry, developing systems to build soil fertility, sequester carbon and create biodiversity to regenerate the earth.

Beyond “reduce, reuse, recycle,” regenerative agriculture is the way forward for our planet, at least according to an increasing number of farmers and ranchers. It’s about old ways becoming new again and relying on Mother Nature to do what comes, well, naturally.

Regenerative farming is not new; in fact, it’s pretty old. Long before early American settlers established homesteads in the Midwest, bison used to forage these plains, aerating soil and dispersing native grass seeds with their hooves while naturally fertilizing the soil. The land lived in perfect balance with the animals,

FARMING

taking what it needed from them and giving back lush, grassy, green pastures for their next grazing season.

Kowalski’s is proud to partner with farmers and ranchers engaging in regenerative agriculture. Beyond the benefit to our precious natural resources, these “old-fashioned” agricultural techniques are producing foodstuffs that taste the way they’re supposed to taste – really, really good. You’ll find chicken, beef, eggs and lots of locally grown produce in our markets that are produced in harmony with nature, and we continue to add more such products every day.

“There isn’t going to be an overnight change that improves the health of our soil, water, and animal and plant life,” says Kowalski’s Meat & Seafood Director Troy Schmeling. “The answer on how to affect change is complex. It starts with educating ourselves about and being aware of what’s going on in farming. A good second step is to support agricultural products that have regenerative and sustainable initiatives behind them.”

modern

manor

FARGO GETS A DOUBLE TAKE THANKS TO DESIGNER BROOKE VOSS.

BY JENNIFER BLAISE KRAMER

THE COEN BROTHERS DID A NUMBER ON FARGO, CONJURING scenes of lonely wilderness and woodchippers — but that’s strictly cinema. Today, the city is looking quite cosmopolitan, thanks in part to noted designers like Brooke Voss, who recently completed a family home that secures North Dakota firmly on the style map.

“There are so many misconceptions about the Midwest, and Fargo in particular,” Voss explains. “Fargo is a progressive city, home to many young entrepreneurs and legacy family businesses and foundations.” Having grown up in South Dakota an hour from the state line, she leapt at the chance to work in the area with a young family looking to bring some grandeur to their neck of the woods. In conjunction with Kristine Anderson and Bob Le Moine of PKA Architecture and custom home builder Tomlinson Schultz, they created what Voss calls a “modern manor.”

Clad in cream-painted brick with a grand front entry, the 5,290-squarefoot abode boasts a look very much shaped by client Taylor Burgum, whose husband, Brooks, had previously worked with PKA on a family lake cabin. “My vision was warm, inviting, classic and chic,” she says. “I wanted touches of modern, but also touches that felt feminine. I’m very inspired by European architecture, so that played a role, too.”

“Taylor has exquisite style,” Voss attests. “She certainly set the table, then let us roll up our sleeves and get to work.”

As the team worked from the outside in, they let the exterior’s painted brick inform the interiors, with a base color (Sherwin-Williams Dover White) and texture that quite literally became a building block for the rest of the house. That grand façade is echoed immediately inside the foyer, where patterned marble floors are balanced with delicate wall paneling. “Perfecting the geometry of the applied molding paneling was brilliance by Bob Le Moine,” says Voss. “And the striking pattern and color

of the floor was a bold, fun play.” Then came layers of raw woods, warm leathers, and hints of blue and blush within a “very strict palette.”

“I love black and white; it’s a sure-fire combination,” Voss notes. “The juxtaposition is sharp and slightly edgy.” That palette gets kicked off right away as the entry wraps around the corner to the music room, where an heirloom grand piano rests alongside a Mies van der Rohe daybed from Knoll. Nearby, the powder room is wrapped in floral Osborne & Little Lomasi wallpaper with matching fabric on the Roman shade.

While so much of the home is light and airy, Voss says they “fearlessly drenched” the study in a moody blue-green, dousing enameled Benjamin Moore Narragansett Green on the paneling, bespoke bookcases and built-in desk. A softer, romantic blue graces the owners’ suite, while a more playful cornflower blue adorns one of the boys’ rooms. Every bedroom has a thoughtful dose of pattern, be it a Phillip Jeffries mural for the parents or Schumacher embroidered animal draperies for the baby, as no detail was too small.

“The creative team scrutinized every trim profile, scoured the United States for the perfect marble, and pined over furniture, finishes and textile selections,” shares Voss, adding that she’s “completely starry-eyed” over the marble kitchen countertops, which wrap up the walls and continue into the glass cabinets flanking the Wolf range.

But can such a formal manor party? You betcha! Behind the sprawling kitchen, there’s a back pantry equipped with prep space for entertaining, plus the dining room sports a curated wine wall. And whenever the owners want to take the festivities outside, integrated Phantom screens create a comfortable outdoor dining space that opens up to a fire pit moment under the North Dakota sky. Here, Voss confirms, “Midwestern stargazing couldn’t be better.”

BUILDING CHARACTER

BY WENDY LUBOVICH

KYLE HUNT & PARTNERS CRAFTS AN ABODE WITH AUTHENTICITY.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT AMUNDSON

HOW DO YOU BUILD A NEW HOME BUT with the soulful character of an older house? That inspiring intention was the cornerstone for a 7,517-square-foot cottage in Cottagewood, where modern-day knowhow meets Old World charm. “For this home, we worked together to research products and techniques both new and old,” explains builder Kyle Hunt of Kyle Hunt & Partners.

At the top of the list? Natural materials. Recycled-timber beams, blemishes and all, add an aged sensibility. Stone countertops and sink basins feel organic. And custom metalwork has burnished beauty. “This house combines rustic and refined,” notes architect Jean Rehkamp Larson. “The formal and informal play well together, as they do in old Northern European houses.”

That’s exactly the look owners Bari Kessler and Dave Marantz were after. The couple moved from Minneapolis to Lake Minnetonka in search of a simpler life closer to nature. Kessler, an interior designer with a passion for antiques, was drawn to the idea of a new home with a sense of history — the perfect place for the couple’s three boys and two dogs to feel at ease. “I wanted the house to be a respite from the busy world around us,” she says.

And she found that respite in her favorite room: the cozy family den. With its worn red leather chair, this corner salon has an inspired alchemy of art and antiques. “Everywhere I look in that room makes me feel so happy, because every surface is covered with patterns, textures, colors, and collected art, objects and books that I love,” Kessler effuses.

South Carolina–based interior designer Alecia Stevens worked with Kessler and the team to hone this blend of old and new. She was able to mix in beloved rugs, chairs and paintings, gently layering these pieces room after room for a stylish look that feels lived in and loved.

But keeping track of all the details for a house like this takes supreme coordination. That’s where the Kyle Hunt team shined. The 32-year-old Deephaven company specializes in artisanal homes that stand the test of time, tailoring each house to a client’s specific

needs and wants. For this project, Hunt’s job was to assemble a stable of talented artisans, including a stucco pro, plaster painter, metal smith and cabinet maker, all to give the abode an aged look. “The craftspeople involved on this home were so committed to the goals of the owner,” Hunt recounts.

That devotion is evident in the custom cabinetry, where newly built cupboards look like antiques. Crafted by Joe Michalski of Rosemount Woods, the inset wood cabinetry features exposed hinges, cup-shaped drawer pulls and brass name plates — nothing cookie-cutter here. Same goes for the plaster walls, where Otto Painting Design created a special hand-troweled patina.

But above all, this home was created for a family of three boys, which is apparent throughout. Situated outside their bedrooms, a miniature study hall with built-in desks and bookcases serves as a homework hangout. The attic above feels like a treehouse, with a special room just for Legos. Another nook houses the family guinea pigs, while bunk beds set the stage for sleepovers.

In the end, this reimagined cottage provides inspiring spaces for both adults and kids to thrive. It is indeed a new house with an old soul, capturing the nostalgic comforts of home: “This house nurtures those of us who live here and signals to others who we are and what’s important to us,” Kessler concludes.

Log onto ArtfulLiving.com for a closer look into this artisan-crafted Cottagewood home.

RAINFOREST RETREAT

MARTHA DAYTON DESIGN AND U+B CAPTURE A SLICE OF COSTA RICAN SPLENDOR.

BY WENDY LUBOVICH

IT’S ONE THING TO HAVE SOME OF THE BEST VIEWS in Costa Rica. It’s another to actually bring elements of the rainforest right inside. That’s the idea behind Villa Eram, a dreamy escape where the walls are made of tropical plants and the floors are lined with little rivers of water. “It’s unlike any project I’ve ever worked on,” says Martha Dayton, president and principal designer of Minneapolis-based Martha Dayton Design. “It’s simply stunning.”

For this 7,400-square-foot getaway perched on famed Papagayo Peninsula, the plan was to build a modern American abode, then fill it with touches of tropical elegance. Look down, and you’ll see little channels of water running through the floors. For Iranian-born owner Nazie Eftekhari, who also has residences in Minneapolis and New York City, these recall similar rivulets in her grandparents’ home. “It’s a centuries-old Persian practice of incorporating water features indoors for both the aesthetic impact and natural air conditioning,” explains the noted philanthropist and human rights activist. “The end result is pure magic. Very Persian, yet very Costa Rican.”

Dayton, along with fellow designers Kelly Perry and Kory Reckinger, relished in shaping this exotic retreat. For the past 18 years, the award-winning firm has designed everything from chic Manhattan penthouses to charming cabins up north. The through line is always to make life easier for clients while infusing a sense of beauty throughout a property.

To set the architectural stage, Dayton and team collaborated with Paul Udris, founding principal of U+B Architecture & Design of Minneapolis, known for his exemplary residential work both locally and abroad, in locations as far-flung as Morocco and Cyprus. For Villa Eram, he crafted a space that feels open and bright, with nature taking center stage via sliding walls of glass that overlook the famed gulf. Once open, they bring in cool breezes, creating the dazzling effect of a house without

walls. “It’s the most amazing view for a home I’ve ever seen,” Udris notes. “And with the glass wall across the entire back of the house and the water and plants woven throughout the space, the view and the surrounding landscape become one with the architecture.”

Another bold stroke is the placement of the infinity pool, which runs the length of the home. Because of its seamless integration, it doesn’t read as an object but instead an integral component of the villa. “We spent a lot of time choosing just the right color of pool tile,” says Udris. “Finally we found this subtle gray tile, which perfectly reflects the color of the sky and the ocean beyond.”

That same attention to detail extends to the furnishings, which are crisp and clean in gentle shades of white, cream and beige. To offset that quietness, a dining table adds organic drama. Designed by Udris and Dayton, and made by local craftsmen with Guanacaste wood, it’s accented with a ribbon of glass right down the center. “It’s my absolute favorite dining room table,” notes Dayton. “I love the rich golden brown as a counterpoint to all the white.”

Nevertheless, nature still steals the show, especially by way of one final interior feature: an entire wall made up of lush tropical plants, a sort of living wallpaper right in the sitting room. Woven with thick layers of leaves, the green wall carries a fresh scent, bringing all the romance of a secret terrarium. “In the rainforest, these plants live under a canopy of trees, so they don’t need much sunlight,” Dayton explains. “And sometimes you’ll find white orchids tucked into the wall.”

From the minimalist aesthetic to the magnificent views of nature inside and out, this Costa Rican retreat has become a beloved escape for Eftekhari to relax with family and friends. Here, you can simply open up the doors, feel the tropical air and listen to the sounds of wildlife in the distance. “Honestly, it feels like you’re sleeping in the middle of the rainforest,” Eftekhari sums up. “Villa Eram is absolutely our happy place.”

For an exclusive tour inside this Costa Rican residence, head to ArtfulLiving.com.

ADVENTURE

BY DAVID CRANE CRYOPHOTOS

LAURA SCHARA CONQUERS AN ALASKAN GLACIER. PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID CRANE CRYOPHOTOS

AS THE OLD SAYING GOES, “IT IS NOT THE mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” This statement rings particularly true for me and reflects my internal yearning to venture out on new epic outdoor excursions each year. From deer hunting in the tropics to horseback riding in the mountains, the bigger the adventure, the better. Pushing our limits and defying that inner voice that sometimes says “I can’t” is a road you need to travel for happiness.

Last summer, my boyfriend, Dan, and I decided to travel to Alaska. Known as one of the most untouched, unforgiving yet beautiful landscapes in our country, the last frontier is a fascinating destination. It’s famous for the Iditarod, gold mining and salmon fishing, but in my opinion the state has so many more bragging rights. To start, it boasts 17 of the highest mountain peaks in the United States. When it comes to lakes, Alaska far outpaces Minnesota with more than three million (but who’s counting?). Plus it’s home to an estimated 100,000 glaciers — which is where my icy idea was born.

Dan and I contemplated a comfortable Alaskan cruise to see as much of the landscape as possible, yet something told me we needed a bigger and bolder adventure. When I learned about the opportunity to explore the Matanuska Glacier with MICA Guides, I was drawn to this idea of being surrounded by ancient white ice and bold blue glacier pools. This natural wonder is considered a warm-based glacier, meaning it has water present underneath and throughout, which acts as a lubricant to move it down the mountain.

This ice mass formed some 22,000 years ago and currently measures four miles wide and 27 miles long — impressive to say the least. For us, the real draw was not only the chance to ice climb and explore glacier pools and 100-foot-deep crevasses but also the opportunity to enjoy a luxury overnight camping experience on the glacier. (Yes, that’s right; you sleep on a very large chunk of moving ice.)

This adventure starts a few hours outside Anchorage in Glacier View at MICA headquarters, where you’re greeted by the friendliest, most organized team. To start, you go through safety instructions and gear selection, which includes ice climbing crampons, a helmet and an ice axe. We opted for the Ultimate Helicopter experience, with transportation to and from the glacier via an R44 chopper. That was an Uber ride I’ll never forget!

After being dropped off at camp via helicopter, we could immediately feel the chill coming from the glacier. Our guide, Brett Winterbottom, was the perfect blend of safety instructor, glacier educator and everyday adventurer with a sense of humor. Although he took a safety-first approach, he pushed us to explore, climb and hike higher and steeper than we normally would, ensuring we had a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.

For six hours, we descended steep ice walls and explored the most beautiful blue glacier pools, tall flowing waterfalls and 100-foot-deep crevasses. All our hydration for the next 24 hours came

right from the glacier itself, as we filled our portable water containers with clean, pH-balanced water that was 400 years old. The tones of blue on the Matanuska were unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It felt like we’d left Earth and landed on an imaginary icy planet. The glacier pools were varying shades of aqua, and any photo taken was immediately ready for the #NoFilter hashtag.

The glacier is always moving and shifting. It moves so slowly that you don’t notice while you’re walking on it, but the evidence of its constant shifting is everywhere. A highlight of the day was jumping across a crevasse that was hundreds of feet deep. I was roped for safety, yet I hesitated as I wasn’t sure my legs would be able to launch me over the ravine — but they did. This reminded me that we’re capable of rising to the occasion and taking on any challenge life throws at us. Adopting this “I can” mindset comes in handy in everyday life. These kinds of wild adventures are all about conquering ourselves and leave us with a better understanding of who we are.

After our day of exploring, we were greeted by the camp boss with a cocktail by the campfire. I have to admit I wasn’t sure how camping on ice could be luxurious, but it certainly was! Appetizers, dinner and breakfast the following day — think dishes like pesto salmon in the evening and caribou sausage with eggs come morning — were prepared by the camp chef. To our delight, our large canvas glamping tent boasted a queen-size memory foam mattress with piles of fluffy down comforters. The temperatures do dip into the 30s at night, so MICA provides warm down jackets to supplement the long underwear, hats and gloves we’d packed.

The next morning, we unzipped our glamping accommodations to enjoy a beautiful view of the glacier and the hot coffee waiting for us on our front step. We took a moment to enjoy the quiet morning, the cool fresh air and the ultimate stillness before it was time to head back to base camp. The Ultimate Helicopter experience includes a 30-minute private air tour of the entire glacier, which was the perfect way to end our excursion. It was incredible to see how grand this natural wonder is and to think that we’d climbed part of it. I’m still basking in the joy of this wild bucket list experience and can’t wait to return to Alaska for the next great adventure.

Laura Schara is a lifelong outdoor enthusiast and cohost of the television series Minnesota Bound.

HEAVY HITTERS

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF WOMEN’S BOXING.

BY ROBYNE ROBINSON ILLUSTRATION BY KLAWE RZECZY

THEY CALLED IT THE LUJAN BRAWL: a six-round Saturday night main event that New Mexico boxing fans had been waiting for. The sports pages were touting it. Local TV stations gave it tons of hype. But it wasn’t a matchup of bulky heavyweights circling the ring. Instead, all eyes were on the flyweight square-off between MMA fighter Amanda “The Glitch” Lovato and Katherine “La Guera Pistola” Lindenmuth — a single mother throwing punches at a widow with three sons.

The two didn’t disappoint, giving the crowd a show with a flurry of upper cuts, hooks and crosses. In the end, two judges ruled the fight in Lindenmuth’s favor. A third judge thought Lovato fought well but ultimately couldn’t hold off the relentless pressure. Fans declared it one of the best bouts on the card that night. “They loved the energy,” Lindenmuth says with excitement. “It was what they came to see.”

Hundreds of miles away in Oklahoma City, Lisa Bauch was supervising a regional tournament of more than 275 amateur boxers, both men and women, from 30 franchises across Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota competing for a shot at nationals. Nearly 30 bouts in three rings, all happening at the same time, with scheduled fights until midnight. The former owner of popular Minneapolis studio Uppercut sold that gym and established herself in the Golden Gloves arena to work with amateurs across the region.

Bauch saw an opportunity pro fighting wasn’t offering: inclusive amateur boxing for personal gain, particularly for women. “It’s all about the confidence it builds; you overcome so many fears,” she says. “You put together your game plan, and you have seconds to make that choice in the ring. Once you land a hit, it’s like, I can do this.”

“When you put on the gloves and hear the sound they make when they hit, you can feel the adrenaline,” echoes Tamara Frapasella-Fortune, co-owner of Fortune Gym. Her 4,000-square-foot training complex is the largest in Los Angeles, where dozens of world champs train, including the legendary Mia St. John and UFC Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey. Frapasella-Fortune was a fitness model before taking on Kim Kardashian in a 2009 celebrity boxing match, then got totally hooked on it. “It’s like jumping out of an airplane,” she exclaims. “It’s thrilling.”

Roughly a third of U.S. boxers today are women; most are white, but a growing number are Black and Latina. And surprisingly, many are over 40. Bauch explains there are numerous misconceptions about women in boxing; she believes there are 10 times as many women stepping into the ring today who are better fighters than men because of their size and lower body strength. Plus she thinks they’re more coachable. “When you get talent in the ring, women are a joy to watch,” she notes. “They’re technically sound, and fans appreciate their talent more.”

Women have been boxing since the 1700s, but not without a prolonged fight to try to knock them

out of the ring permanently. Rounds of discrimination lasted well into the 20th century, with many countries legally banning women from the sport. Newspaper articles ostracizing public matches as “sexual” and “vulgar” circulated worldwide.

Still, it didn’t stop them. Some women staged protests and hunger strikes in the 1960s for the right to box as more than a novelty. Records from the Women Boxing Archive Network show that amateur matches were sanctioned in Minnesota in the late 1970s. But it wasn’t until lawsuits were filed in the 1990s — two decades after Title IX was signed into law — that U.S. boxing associations finally admitted defeat and authorized the first fights between women.

Once the ban was lifted, amateurs like 16-year-old Dallas Malloy threw the first punches, winning her bout against Heather Poyner. The 1993 match drew more women to the ring. Suddenly, names like Laila Ali and Stephanie Jaramillo were adding excitement for fans — and hope for female pro boxers.

Then in 1996, junior welterweight Christy Martin scored the first big women’s pay-per-view contract. Her bloody brawl with Irish fighter Deirdre Gogarty drew millions of viewers, not only because the pint-sized boxer had a record of 49 wins, 31 knockouts and three losses, but because the fight was strategically placed on the undercard of the Mike Tyson/Frank Bruno showdown, thanks to her legendary promoter Don King. This helped women’s boxing break through to a global audience. After eight years of sparring, Martin was suddenly an “overnight” sensation, making the rounds on late-night talk shows and becoming the first female boxer to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated Women’s pro boxing was having its moment in the spotlight. But it didn’t last long. “It was huge then,” notes Justin Fortune, co-owner of his eponymous L.A. gym and a former pro who fought Lennox Lewis for the heavyweight crown in 1995. “Christy and Laila Ali were headlining over guys.” But these pioneers were also the sport’s show ponies, representing the elite 1% of female boxers with access to the best promoters and prize purses. “Mia and Ronda were big because they had endorsements and

marketing,” says Frapasella-Fortune pragmatically. “They had the right niche, the right look.”

“Today, pro boxing is in a bit of a slump,” Fortune admits. “There are a lot of good fighters in America, but it hasn’t really taken off like 30 years ago. Until there’s someone exciting, like a mean heavyweight, it won’t make a comeback for men or women.”

Not much has changed in the pro boxing arena in recent decades for a few reasons: no money, no major fighters and the rise of MMA — mixed martial arts, where women get the same amount of ring time as men, get placed at the top of the bill and get a shot at earning some real money (more than the $30,000 female boxers typically pocket a year).

But it’s a different story in amateur boxing. A 2021 Harris Poll revealed boxing has moved up the ranks to become America’s fourth most popular sport, attracting more than 26 million new fans since 2010 (when it didn’t even crack the top 10). Analysts attribute this to Gen Zers, who like the short rounds and the nonstop action that could lead to a knockout at any minute.

Then there’s the impact of the #MeToo Movement. Beginning in 2006, countless women came forward with stories about the lecherous, violent behavior they’d endured for decades. Suddenly, assault survivors and activists began fighting back. It wasn’t long after that gyms started seeing more women lacing up their gloves.

“Boxing teaches women to protect themselves,” says Bauch. She hopes to see more women of color take up the sport, particularly in Native American communities, where women are vanishing at alarming rates. Because of the growing violence against them and the lack of help from tribal or municipal law enforcement, many Indigenous women are now turning to the ring to safeguard themselves. Bauch has been encouraging several South Dakota gyms training Native women to participate in Golden Gloves tournaments. “None of the girls made it to Oklahoma City,” she notes.

“But 2023 will be different. There was an Indigenous group with USA Boxing last year, but it lapsed. When they bring it back, we’ll do a show in Minnesota.”

But there are still obstacles. “It’s mind-blowing how many people want to keep amateur boxing the way it is,” Bauch explains. “It’s an uphill battle. Let’s open it up to everyone and improve the sport so it’s not so scary to women. When women train next to men, men have more respect for them. Women can complement male fighters if men simply open their minds.”

Bauch fought her way into the Golden Gloves arena and is on the hunt for a successor who will eventually take her place in management and keep pushing for gender balance in boxing. “We’re so much more accepted now as coaches, trainers and franchise owners,” she says. “There’s

a crack in the wall. It won’t come down, but it’s definitely better than it used to be.” She’ll wait until the Golden Gloves 100th anniversary event in Philadelphia later this year to decide if she’ll stick with it.

But “once boxing is in your blood, you’re finished,” says Fortune. His wife agrees. Today, Frapasella-Fortune trains 10 to 12 clients a day, including model and socialite Blac Chyna. She also chases her 5-year-old twins around the gym and challenges opponents with her brawn and her brain as a chess boxer — bobbing and weaving in the ring for a round, then moving pawns and queens around the board for the win.

Meanwhile in New Mexico, Katherine Lindenmuth commutes three times a week after working a full shift to train at Rosales Karate and Kickboxing Academy. She’s adding a master’s in criminal justice to her sports marketing degree, studying every day and keeping her three boys focused on their schoolwork. She’d love it if they were interested in boxing, but they like their video games, iPhones and TV — “all the things I don’t have time for,” she laughs.

It’s been just the four of them since her husband, Jim, died eight years ago; she calls them her little team. “It’s not perfect every day, but we work to accomplish a lot,” Lindenmuth says. There’s no extra money for a manager or promoter, so she does all her own marketing. She has a 2–0 record, so maybe with more training and more fights under her belt she’ll get noticed by a good promoter. If she’s lucky, she could be that 1% that makes it to the top of the sport. But even if she’s not, she can already see the effect her presence has in the arena, in the gym and in the community. So she’ll keep fighting — for her boys. For Jim, who she believes is watching. And for women like herself.

“The gym is full of little girls now,” Lindenmuth explains. “It’s amazing the energy you feel from them. They tell me, ‘I want to fight just like you.’ So I want to be tough for them since they’re getting in there, getting dirty and working hard.” Inspired and hungry after her showstopping bout, she lands her final thoughts like a knockout punch: “We’re breaking down barriers. We’re here to give everything we have.”

256 WATER STREET, EXCELSIOR | BRIGHTWATERCLOTHING.COM

THE WILD

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY VISIT JACKSON HOLE/NEW THOUGHT MEDIA

BY KATE NELSON

WILD WEST

WHY JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING, IS THE PREMIER AMERICAN WEST DESTINATION.

I HAVE A CONFESSION: UNTIL LAST FALL, I’d never been to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. This came as a shock to friends who know how much I love that hard-to-nail combination of adventure and exclusivity, and when I told them I was finally departing for this beloved destination, they were just as excited as I was. And let me tell you, Jackson Hole did not disappoint.

I was totally awestruck from the minute our plane touched down at the petite (and recently updated) airport smack dab in the middle of Grand Teton National Park, with boundless nature views extending in every direction. The ongoing conservation efforts here are apparent, reflecting the Jackson Hole Land Trust’s protection of some 55,000 acres across Northwest Wyoming.

The swankiest stay for a sojourn is undoubtedly the Four Seasons Resort and Residences. The Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five-Diamond hotel is one of few luxury ski-in/ski-out resorts in America, situated at the base of the top-rated Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Having stood as the grand dame of Teton Village for two decades, the opulent six-acre property just underwent a full-scale renovation last year.

All 124 spacious guest rooms and suites got a refresh, with updated interiors echoing the surrounding tranquil environs and incorporating

state-of-the-art technology. Several privately owned residences within the property are also available for rental, including the crème de la crème penthouse, boasting five bedrooms spread out across 4,700 square feet. Although I was tempted to stay tucked away in the secluded sanctuary of our suite (complete with gas fireplace, private balcony and vistas galore), the Four Seasons’ impressive array of amenities and activities beckoned.

The hotel’s public spaces are adorned with natural materials like wood, stone and leather, which act as a gallery backdrop for a remarkable collection of some 2,000 artworks, including originals by Joan Miró, Grant Wood and Alberto Giacometti. All cravings are satisfied thanks to the onsite culinary offerings, including sophisticated steakhouse Westbank Grill, boisterous Handle Bar and laidback Ascent Lounge. (I highly recommend the wagyu beef tartare and the bison tenderloin with seared foie gras at Westbank, if you’re asking.)

As I quickly learned, relaxing is not hard to do here. Clocking in at nearly 12,000 square feet, the spa features a full-service salon, hot and cold hydrotherapy, steam rooms, and a wide range of massages, facials and other soothing treatments. The Après Body Ritual will set you right after a day of skiing, hiking or otherwise enjoying mountain life, complete with a relaxing whirlpool soak, a tailored massage, an invigorating foot scrub and a rich body wrap. Complimentary yoga classes take place

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY FOUR SEASONS JACKSON HOLE AND VISIT JACKSON HOLE

in the well-equipped gym, and the heated freeform pool is the ideal spot for year-round lounging. But let’s be real: Adventure is the name of the game in Jackson Hole, and the Four Seasons definitely delivers. The hotel taps local experts to guide you on a plethora of excursions all year long, such as fly-fishing or whitewater rafting on the Snake River, hot air balloon aerial tours, ATV and horseback riding excursions, and, notably, the new immersive wolf encounter in nearby Yellowstone National Park. For our wildlife safari in Grand Teton, I set the bar high, telling our naturalist guide I hoped to see all the animals the 310,000-acre park is famous for, including the elusive grizzly bear. In addition to educating us about the area’s notable conservation programs, she somehow pulled it off, complete with sightings of elk, moose, pronghorn, bison and, yes, even a grizzly bear.

Of course, a trip to Jackson Hole is incomplete without a visit to downtown, with its inviting shops,

restaurants and art galleries all centered around the picture-perfect town square. Fine Dining Restaurant Group is behind the top eateries here — including wine and tapas bar Bin22, Asian fusion eatery The Kitchen and Parisian brasserie The Bistro — all of which exude the destination’s signature casual elegance. I also thoroughly enjoyed a stroll through the National Museum of Wildlife Art, featuring works from Georgia O’Keeffe, Carl Rungius and John James Audubon.

So to all you longtime Jackson Hole lovers, I say: I totally get it. I now understand why this tiny Wyoming resort town has long enchanted everyone from financier and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr., who in the 1920s helped establish Grand Teton, to celebrated photographer Ansel Adams, who captured the area’s stunning landscape, to modern-day regulars like Sandra Bullock, Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt. And with our collective fascination for the ranch lifestyle at an all-time high (thanks, Yellowstone), I’m ready to declare Jackson Hole the premier American West destination.

STAR TREK

IS SPACE REALLY THE FINAL TRAVEL FRONTIER? BY BRITTANY CHAFFEE ILLUSTRATION BY FRANK MOTH

A NEARBY MOON GLOWS AN ETHEREAL GOLD. THE PLANE landing is uncharacteristically smooth, like gliding. Beyond the runway, miles of rustic crimson undulate. Dust suspends in the ether like butterscotch ashes. The pilot’s voice clicks on over the loudspeaker: “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Mars.” A vacation in the cosmos sounds like a far-off fairy tale, but is packing our bags for the final frontier closer than we think?

Naturally, humans are fascinated with space. Pop culture phenomena like Star Wars, Star Trek and Avatar promise us intergalactic opportunity, boasting seemingly limitless possibilities and a vastness that suspends beyond disbelief. On the astrology front, we’ve long been obsessed with how the stars can explain our state of being and help us control our destiny. In the fifties, humankind raced to the moon, proving our obsession with exploration. At one point, Earth’s oceans and mountains were the final frontiers; now, we’re ready to explore the galaxy like we once sailed the Atlantic.

“We’ve got an enormous waiting list of people who want to go to space,” says entrepreneur Richard Branson, whose Virgin Galactic is developing commercial spacecraft. “I think 20 years from now, a spaceship will have reached Mars and that we may be involved in a moon project. I think that some kind of living habitat will have been formed on the moon and that companies like Boeing will be involved in it. I think one day there will be a hotel just off the moon, with pods, where you can see back to Earth, and little two-seat spaceships, where you can travel around the moon and come back to the hotel at night.”

Branson is among the many believers. In recent years, our infatuation with space has skyrocketed. To wit: Last April, tech magnate Elon Musk launched four civilians into orbit on SpaceX’s first private mission. Actor William Shatner recently reflected on his 2021 trip aboard Blue Origin, the spacecraft owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The experience moved Shatner to tears. “I discovered that the beauty isn’t out there; it’s down here, with all of us,” he writes

in his new memoir. “Leaving that behind made my connection to our tiny planet even more profound.”

The Star Trek star isn’t the only one making his way into the Milky Way. In fact, there’s a modernday space race afoot: In 2021, Russia announced its mission to make the first movie in space right after NASA revealed plans to film Tom Cruise aboard the International Space Station. Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos, helped bring The Challenge to life, sending cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, actress Yulia Peresild and film director Klim Shipenko to the ISS. (The movie is set to release this spring.)

Which begs the question: Is space tourism only for billionaires and celebrities? What about the regular globetrotter? Right now, a ticket to space will set you back $450,000 on Branson’s Virgin Galactic. To date, fewer than 10 civilians have gone to space, but some 600 people have reserved tickets from the company’s first round of sales, despite travel delays. Even for the most affluent of jet-setters, launching into the stratosphere can seem out of reach.

But engineer Mehak Sarang, who works for Japanese aerospace company Ispace, sees a future where space tourism becomes so popular it’s affordable for the average consumer. “There is something to be said about the way technology is progressing,” she says. “It’s likely that space travel is the next boundary. Look at the history of commercial aviation. In the beginning, who could afford that? Only the rich. Now, there are flights for five euros in Europe. It’s really a matter of volume.”

Well, volume and capital. In aviation’s beginning days in the early 1900s, only government officials and wealthy individuals could afford to fly. In other words, innovation is bankrolled by private dollars. “These kinds of tourists are funding this early technology development; they’re necessary to prove out technology and volume,” Sarang adds. “Multiple flights are going within a year’s time now; I don’t think anyone foresaw that happening so quickly after the first commercial space flight in 2020. I know it seems like the mega-rich way, but these expensive flights are the start.”

“It’s likely that space travel is the next boundary. Look at the history of commercial aviation. In the beginning, who could afford that? Only the rich. Now, there are flights for five euros in Europe.“

Even in the interstellar, business is business. It remains to be seen if growing appeal among travelers can turn these proof-of-concept initiatives into a booming industry. But Sarang is optimistic: “Even in the past 20 years, space tourism has gone from a governmental endeavor to a commercial one — that’s a huge breakthrough,” she notes. “What once cost $300 million now costs $70 million. This provides some hope that we’ll continue to develop better technology and more efficient processes.” It’s true; a lot can change in 20 years. In 2001, a ride on the Soyuz spacecraft cost $20 million a seat. So the more trips to Mars, the merrier? Maybe.

How can travelers scratch their space itch right now? Start with a six-hour float some 100,000 feet in the air aboard Space Perspective’s Neptune spaceship, buoyed by a giant balloon. Flights for 2024 are already sold out, but for $125,000 a seat, you can reserve your spot for 2025. Want a cut-rate option? Take a buzz in the World View Explorer capsule; it’s a mere $50,000 for 12 hours attached to a helium-filled balloon. (The kicker: Both Space Perspective and World View are still awaiting Federal Aviation Administration approval to take flight.) If stopovers are more your thing, Orbital Assembly is aiming for an ambitious opening day as early as 2025 for the first space hotels, Pioneer Station and Voyager Station. The bill slipped under your door after a three-night stay? An estimated $5 million.

All of this talk raises an important moral inquiry: Is commercial space tourism something we should even be exploring as a society? Think about, for example, the environmental impact. A singular rocket launch has an immense carbon footprint, akin to 25 long-haul plane flights. Even smaller-scale options, like World View’s balloons, are powered by thousands of cubic meters of helium, the only completely nonrenewable element on the planet.

And let’s not forget the fragility of the human species. Space flight poses multiple health risks, from radiation sickness to possible brain functionality impairment. According to NASA experts, ongoing space flight for 30+ days can shift the brain upward and alter motor and cognitive skills. After all, launching into space is no magic carpet ride.

It tracks then that commercial space travel has plenty of skeptics. “Despite extensive projections, space tourism is likely to remain a tiny fraction of commercial space exploration,” says UCLA Environmental Law Professor Ted Parson. “It reminds me of tourism on Mt. Everest. It’s the indulgence of very rich people seeking a transcendent experience, and the local environmental burden is intense.”

Alas, it seems space travel isn’t as clear as the blue sky. But, as believers point out, blue skies aren’t the limit. For his part, Richard Branson sees an opportunity in sharing space with all. “I was once a child with a dream looking up to the stars,” he waxed poetic during his first space flight in 2021. “Now I’m an adult in a spaceship looking down to our beautiful Earth. To the next generation of dreamers: If we can do this, just imagine what you can do.”

Whether you’re team dreamer or doubter, we may not be that far off from a future where anyone can travel to space. Consider how mobile we’ve become in recent generations. “Space tourism is almost plausible from that view,” explains Sarang. “Our descendants will be traveling by even more magnitudes. And where is there left to go?” Space. So will we be spring breaking on the red planet in 20 years? For now, the answer is in the stars — or maybe, in our horoscope.

DESERT

DREAM

BY MERRITT BAMRICK

CHARLES STINSON CREATES AN ARIZONA GETAWAY CELEBRATING THE BEAUTY OF THE TERRAIN.

PHOTOGRAPHY

BY COREY GAFFER

THE DESERT HOLDS A CERTAIN mystique — the kind that Charles Stinson is an expert at bottling up and turning into the tangible. The vast landscape, intricate color palette and unique climate conditions quickly became sources of inspiration for the prominent architect, who was excited to collaborate with a couple of familiar clients for their vacation home in Arizona’s high desert. They dreamt of a getaway that complemented the environs and seamlessly integrated indoor/ outdoor living. So Stinson took to the rocky region to scout the site himself. “The rocks, the cacti, the mountains — it all provides a different way of relating to nature,” he shares.

Even in a contrasting environment to his native Minnesota, Stinson’s signature marks are evident: strong horizontal planes, long expanses of glass to capitalize on views and an abode situated within the landscape as if it were there all along. The team, including Project Manager Chuck Thiss and Arizona-based builder James Manship, determined from the very beginning that they wanted to nestle the structure into the mountain site. In doing so, the house is a study in prospect refuge, promising security and respite for its residents while yielding limitless vistas of the terrain and watercolor skies.

The home makes a strong yet organic first impression, much the way a mountain might. The linear exterior is bedecked in heartland limestone sourced from Oklahoma with earthy sand tones that complement the desert surroundings. It’s capped with a flat anodized aluminum roof boasting several solar panels to maximize energy efficiency. Balancing the rawness of the stone and aluminum is a custom water feature encased in stainless-steel plates. Water cascades over the edges into a lit trough, casting a dreamy glow as you near the front entry.

A closer look at the feature reveals a tile base with fiber optic lighting, illustrating a “starry sky” within. It’s a subtle but intentional design detail the team achieved through thoughtful exploration. “As Charles will say, ‘The best idea wins,’” notes Thiss of the collaborative nature of the project. “The water feature was part of the original drawings, and once we started working through it, our entire team figured out how best to bring it to life.” This nuanced element adds to the sanctuary-like feel of the space and can be enjoyed from indoors or out thanks to the glass hallways.

Attention to detail is evident in the elegant palette, refined architectural forms, and uninterrupted integration between interior and exterior. The team utilized the same heartland limestone for thoughtful touches in the living areas: Interiors are composed of vertical stone formations and horizontal wood planes, giving the home an ultra modern feel while simultaneously making it more intimate. Adding to the inviting nature are walnut ceilings and tropical olive wood walls, which immediately shroud you in a warm welcome. They’re offset by cool terrazzo flooring flecked with mosaic detailing. Custom rugs artfully lead from one zone to the next, each tailored to perfectly fit its space and provide softness with both texture and tone.

A few steps across the entry reveals the great room, dining room and, of course, that view. Sliding glass doors span 30 feet across and 10 feet high to capture the panorama. The doors slide completely into the stone walls, allowing for full connection to the outdoors. And thanks to Arizona’s climate, the owners can enjoy that sense of connection nearly yearround, soaking up the “seasons” out on the terrace.

“We knew we wanted to do the outdoor living area ‘up in the air,’”

recalls Stinson. It provides protection from climate and critters while offering stunning views into the valley and golf course below. “They’re floating up there onsite; it’s just gorgeous,” he punctuates. Indeed, the terrace boasts the best of relaxation. Spanning the length of the structure, it includes a full kitchen and bar, dining room, lounge area, cozy living space with TV, plus infinity pool and hot tub. A glass railing lets the vista remain the focal point, and large roof overhangs help beat the heat while also shielding the windows from intense sunlight.

It’s a beautiful retreat for entertaining friends and family, too. A floating wood staircase leads guests down to a private suite. Step by step, a grand saguaro cactus comes into view, perfectly framed by a window between landings. In fact, every hallway is capped with a piece of artwork or met with a window to encase the sculptural landscape. “It provides a connection to the valley through vignettes,” Thiss notes. The lower level boasts similar comforts, replete with the same warm material palette, full-height ceilings and a secluded patio. Stinson is particularly proud of this home’s holistic nature, noting that even the beds, desks and storage are built in. “It was almost like building a yacht that way, with so many elements incorporated directly into the structure,” he says.

Since the house has been completed, Stinson and his wife, Carol Eastlund, have visited the clients and dined on the very terrace that was once “a drawing in the sky.” It’s all about this full-circle moment for the architect: “It’s fun to see the site when there’s nothing there and explore the possibilities, then to come back to enjoy each other’s company on this very thing you dreamed of,” he muses. Stinson’s team is actively working on additional projects in the desert and beyond, taking his award-winning architecture across the country with the support of local teams.

As for this abode, what began as a part-time getaway ultimately turned into the owners’ main residence. The team credits this success to their attention to every detail and their collaborative style that empowered the client to be a driving force in decision-making. Thiss adds: “We delivered on a home that completely fits the way the clients want to live.”

Notables

THE REGION’S BEST AND BRIGHTEST.

BY KATIE DOHMAN

Dudley McLinn, MD, and Jason Reed, MD

EXECUTIVE HEALTH CARE

Client demand initially sparked the idea for Executive Health Care: What if physicians could provide Mayo Clinic–level care… just not in Rochester? “It can be just as thorough but more convenient and more efficient by being closer,” explains Dudley McLinn, MD, his admiration for the renowned Minnesota medical center evident. “And it can provide continuity of care; we can be someone’s doctor on an ongoing basis.”

That was 25 years ago, when the self-owned practice was born. To date, the Executive Health Care team has provided top-notch service to fewer than 1,000 patients, offering tip-to-toe physicals, testing, prevention screenings and more, all in one go, rather than booking appointments with multiple specialists spread out across weeks or even months. Clients fill out a thorough survey prior to each visit, which determines the outline of the health menu.

This helps tailor the appointment to each individual’s exact needs and concerns, explains McLinn’s colleague, Jason Reed, MD. “People are looking for extended time in front of their physician,” he asserts. “Executive physicals are two hours and follow-ups are 90 minutes, which really gives us time to have excellent communication.” That’s time for patients to ask all their questions and to ensure they’re addressing any current conditions as well as planning for their future health.

Clients also need ready availability, which Executive Health Care delivers on. “We can see most patients same day if needed,” Reed notes. “We’re real humans who answer our phones. We manage prescriptions and referrals. And of course, we’re on call 24/7 and answer after-hours calls within 15 minutes.” They’ve got cell and text access to some of the most sought-after specialists in the Twin Cities, too.

“The last thing I want is patients sitting in a lobby reading People magazine,” says McLinn. “They want efficiency. They’ve got things to do. We should accept cognizance, convenience and thoroughness as a given.” In other words, the kind of care we all wish for.

Joseph and Lisa Robbins

BRICK + LINEN

Joseph and Lisa Robbins know a little something about building. The husband-and-wife team — he an architectural designer and she an interior designer — have been making houses feel like homes for a combined 20+ years. In 2021, they opened their first brick-and-mortar shop in Stillwater, Brick + Linen. Then, last fall, another outpost followed, this time in Wayzata. Both locales boast a curated collection of bespoke, artisancrafted home goods and gifts; they also serve as full-service design studios.

“I dream a little dream, and Joseph gets it off the ground,” says Lisa of the shops, acknowledging that Brick + Linen acts as a “billboard for the backbone of the business” — that is, their design/ build company, BLd.Co.

The shops feature all the things the couple loves, things that “give comfort and respite,” Lisa notes, pointing to cozy throws, handmade pottery and namesake stonewashed linens. Creating that vision, Joseph explains, is often what prompts people to engage the firm to collaborate on larger projects: a restoration, a complex remodel or a start-from-scratch new build.

“Handling these important decisions and your investment is our specialty,” says Joseph. “Our design tends to be very thoughtful and approachable. There’s an organic, tactile nature to it,” which is also apparent in the shops.

“Great design is an experience; it should feel guided, detailed and fun,” Lisa explains.

“We believe that living a life you love starts at home, which should be a place of relaxation and rejuvenation. Our homes are also an extension of who we are and what we yearn to be, so I listen very closely to clients to understand how they feel about their homes. Sometimes it’s just taking home a new accessory, a pampering bar of homemade soap or a pair of earrings that’s enough to fill your cup.”

Their local fan base is growing rapidly — and organically. When people discover Brick + Linen or BLd.Co, “it tends to be a wonderful happenstance,” notes Joseph. “We like to think our shops have a unique vibe, even from each other, and as we continue to grow, we’re going to keep that alive.”

Hackamore Brewing

Hackamore Brewing is in the phase of its startup journey where what was once a dream is now becoming reality: Come spring, founder/president Zac Gleason and his partners — Jake Gleason, John Kraemer, Rich Cleveland and Aaron Melby — will be opening the doors to an 11,000-square-foot brewery, golf simulator, pro shop and forthcoming restaurant in the heart of Chanhassen.

A former properties portfolio director and a prominent food influencer (he posts on Instagram under the handle @sotaeats, reaching nearly 17,000 followers), Zac gave up his day job to pursue his passion for dining and drinks, with an aim to create an elevated bar-going experience, from the interior design to the inventive fare to merchandise in a so-called pro shop cobranded with apparel company Travis Mathew.

While the head brewer’s name is still under wraps, Zac teases a couple details: an award-winning brewer with more than a decade’s worth of experience. Together, they’ve developed 16 taps with a rotating menu of beers, alcoholic seltzers and a solid nonalcoholic beer. Five flagship brews will always be available: Let’s Go Hazy, an IPA inspired by Prince; Number 14, a crisp American lager that’s a tribute to his grandpa; Grandma’s Kitchen, a strawberry-rhubarb pie sour; Potbelly, an oatmeal stout; and the predicted bestseller: the Can Crusher Cream Ale, an easy drinker named after his childhood chore. “I learned the value of money by crushing cans and turning them in for a few bucks,” he says.

Much of the biz is inspired by family; he grew up in Corcoran in his grandparents’ home on Hackamore Circle. “The beers and interior are a bit of an homage to Hackamore Circle,” he explains.

The space is being built out by Kraemer, who is not only a partner on the project but also a friend. The John Kraemer & Sons vice president and director of sales recognized that Hackamore was going to be really special when Zac showed him the business plan. “People want a release and a place to go let their hair down a bit,” Kraemer says.

The onetime office space, with its 20-foot ceilings and loads of glass, is getting a full-gut remodel, with interior design assistance from Summer Krzoska. The end result will feature a blacked-out bar with copper accents, a stage to host live music, a golf simulator, a giant keg wall, a patio, and lounge areas with TVs. “It’s been very fun developing what is going to set us apart in the craft beer industry,” Zac concludes.

ADVERTISER INDEX

6Smith, 195

Abitare Design Studio, 31

Albertsson Hansen Architecture, 89

All Seasons Fireplace, 155 ALL, Inc., 22

Art Resources Gallery, 203

Artful Living, 14–15, 97

Aulik Design Build, 211 Baldamar, 209

Brick + Linen, 177

Bridgewater Bank, 80

Brightwater Clothing & Gear, 183

Bruce Kading Interior Design, 103

Celebrity Cruises, 88

Chankaska Creek Ranch & Winery, 141

Charles R. Stinson Architecture + Design, 6–7

Charlie & Co. Design, 41

Chazin Interiors, 202

Christina Boyd/Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, 111 City Homes, 23

Clairmont Design + Build, 67

Coldwell Banker Realty Property Gallery, 126–140

Crutchfield Dermatology, 25

David Heide Design Studio, 59 Daybreak Interiors, 97

Denali Custom Homes, 18

DOM Interiors, 156

Don Julio, 161

Eminent Interior Design, 111

Eskuche Design Group, 155 Executive Health Care, 141

France 50, 188

Gabberts Design Studio & Fine Furniture, 16 Gianni’s Steakhouse, 103 Grace Hill, 71

Gunderson’s Jewelers, 2–3 Halunen Law, 177 Hammer Made, 21

Heather Hansen Real Estate Team, 170 Hendel Homes, 29

Henri Interiors, 40

International Market Square, 10–11

InVision Distinctive Eyewear, 203 Jaguar Land Rover Minneapolis, inside front cover, 1 Jester Concepts, 163

John Kraemer & Sons, inside back cover Keenan & Sveiven, 47

Kowalski’s Markets, 148

Kyle Hunt & Partners, 39 Lake Minnetonka Klondike Dog Derby, 182 Lecy Bros. Homes & Remodeling, 79 Lelch Audio Video, 42 LiLu Interiors, 64

Lucy Interior Design, 81 Mall of America, 4–5

Mark D. Williams Custom Homes, 53

Martha Dayton Design, 27

Martha O’Hara Interiors, 82 Martin Patrick 3, 8–9 Max’s, 149

Minneapolis Institute of Art, 72 Nancy Norling, DDS, 58 Nor-Son Custom Builders, 46

Paris Dining Club, 60

Phantom Screens, 124

Pink Wealth Management Group, 149

Plastic Surgery Consultants, 65 Prestige Pools, 59

Prospect Refuge Studio, 37 Purcell Quality, 64

R.F. Moeller Jeweler, back cover

Randolph Interior Design, 66

Rehkamp Larson Architects, 81 Roth Living, 48

Sanctuary Salonspa, 71

Serene Oaks Dental, 98

Spacecrafting, 110 Stonewood, 12–13

Strand Design, 183 Streeter Custom Builder, 35

Studio M Interiors, 90 Swan Architecture, 20

Talla Skogmo Interior Design, 89 TEA2 Architects, 57

Terry John Zila, 154

The Butcher’s Tale, 104

The Gallery Kitchen & Event Center, 70

The Lakes Residences, 67

The Loupe, 17

The Sitting Room, 47

Top Shelf, 162

Traditions Classic Home Furnishings, 162 Union Place, 172

Vujovich Design Build, 102

Warners’ Stellian, 19

White Oaks Savanna, 33

Baldamar marks the turning point where we usher in the new standard for style, service and steak. It means the menu’s made with old-world craft at its core and modern day meat eaters in mind — with flavors forged in fire and folded into pure primal perfection. It’s where every steak is aged 40 days and 40 nights for a taste of biblical proportion, and where crazy-fresh seafood means it was caught during your morning commute. At the bar sits every spirit imaginable, and someone who isn’t afraid to use them. This is more than a new steakhouse. It’s a line in the sand. It’s not just where you celebrate special occasions. It’s where you create them.

Private

PUBLISHER'S TAKE

I’VE NEVER BEEN THE TYPE TO MAKE OVERLY AMBITIOUS New Year’s resolutions, but I do believe in taking time to reassess, set intention and recommit to taking care of myself. Easier said than done. So this year, I’m focusing on things I can do even when I’m running short on time. It sounds cliché, but squeezing some self-care into my daily routine makes a significant difference in how I feel, especially during the darker winter months. Here are some things that are working for me this season.

I love infrared saunas to reduce stress and help with restful sleep. The HigherDose Infrared PEMF Mat takes those benefits to the next level, with the warmth of infrared and healing benefits of PEMF therapy and negative ion–producing crystals. Even a few moments on the mat combined with some breath work is calming and rejuvenating. My skincare goal would be to get regular facials, but my reality is that there are only so many hours in the day. The Hanacure All-In-One Facial provides incredibly efficient results at home, giving my skin an immediate luminous glow in under 30 minutes. It’s perfect for before a special event, pre-travel or, in my case, after my toddler is asleep. Speaking of sleep, I don’t think I’ve slept through the night since becoming a mom, so now I add half a teaspoon of Sun Potion Lion’s Mane to super charge my first cup of coffee in the morning. This adaptogen is known for its wide range of health benefits, like improved memory and concentration. La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5 is an ultra thick multipurpose cream that protects the skin barrier by locking in moisture. I use it on my hands and face during winter and pre- and post-flights. (It also doubles as a diaper cream, so we love that.) Women-owned Swedish clothing and accessories brand House of Dagmar caught my attention in 2019, when it launched its Good Choice label. This indicates that a garment is produced using exceptional manufacturing processes of at least 50% sustainable materials along with other important considerations like GOTS-certified organic cotton and FSC-certified viscose. By January, the novelty of my favorite knits and outerwear has worn off, so I’m integrating a few key pieces from Dagmar to refresh my winter look with high-quality materials and low environmental impact. Cheers to the New Year, taking care of ourselves and good things to come in 2023!

My very best,

Emma Cutler Velez Publisher

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY HIGHERDOSE, HANACURE,

SUN POTION, LA ROCHE-POSAY AND HOUSE OF DAGMAR

LAST CALL

Step inside America’s hottest new hotel, Aman New York, on page 112.