ALESSANDRO BALZAN | Fall 2024

FALL 2024

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ALESSANDRO BALZAN THE GT CHAMPION

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Editor’s Note As summer’s warmth gradually transitions into the vibrant hues of fall, we are excited to present our latest issue of Haute Living Naples.

This edition is brimming with captivating stories of remarkable individuals who call Naples home.

We had the pleasure of sitting down with Italian international race car driver, Alessandro Balzan. He shared his exhilarating journey through the racing world and the passion that drives his success. We then dive into a heartfelt conversation with NBA legend Rick Barry, who reflects on his illustrious career and the dedication it took to reach the pinnacle of his sport.

Our issue also highlights the fast-paced lives of local couples immersed in the thrilling world of motorsport, featuring their experiences with Ferrari’s prestigious Corso Pilota. Their stories of speed, passion, and partnership offer a fascinating glimpse into this adrenaline-fueled lifestyle.

As the French say, “La vie est un voyage, pas une destination” — life is a journey, not a destination — and these couples embody this sentiment in their pursuit of thrill and excellence.

We celebrate two inspiring families making a significant impact on the Naples community, showcasing their dedication and contributions that help shape the vibrant spirit of our city.

In this edition, we also provide an update on the latest developments in luxury hotels in Naples, highlighting new and exciting offerings that elevate the local hospitality scene.

For our grand finale, we delve into the legacy of a visionary family whose groundbreaking project is set to transform Naples’ hospitality, dining, private clubs, and more. This feature uncovers how their ambitious venture will redefine our community.

Here’s to embracing the journey ahead and all the exciting moments it brings.

Cheers,

Marie Hernandez Rubenstein Editor-in-Chief, Haute Living Naples

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CONTENTS

ON THE COVER

ALESSANDRO BALZAN

20 FERRARI CORSO PILOTA Elevating the Art of Performance Driving 22 LIVING IN THE FAST LANE: Naples’ Racing Dynasties — The Garretts and The Kozyras 30 MEET THE CARTERS A Story of Family, Leadership, and Balance 36 JOE AND MARY SMALLWOOD Meet the Naples natives who thrive as a dynamic duo that doubles as passionate entrepreneurs building a strong and supportive community through their businesses and leadership skills.

38 RICK BARRY, NBA’S UNMATCHED SHARPSHOOTER 42 THE MCCABES: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE A story of resiliency, bravery, and forging new ventures in the Southwest Florida community

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50 ALFRESCO ELEGANCE WITH PATINA COLLECTION APERITIVO STYLE 52 A WORLD OF SCENTS Stacy Bee’s Founding Journey of Bee Apothecary 60 DISCOVERING THE VISION AND CRAFTSMANSHIP BEHIND HAYES HABERDASHERY Alexander Hayes’ journey from luxury retail to founding Naples’ premier bespoke menswear destination.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF SCOTT MCDERMOTT, LAZIZ HAMANI, CODY LIDTKE

12 COVER STORY Alessandro Balzan

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58 THE PERRY HOTEL NAPLES DEBUTS THIS FALL 60 DISCOVER NAPLES DINING GEMS A Culinary Journey Beyond Borders 62 HAUTE TIME Aaron Rodgers reveals the complex nature of reganing confidence as he heads into his second season with the NY Jets 64 HAUTE FASHION A haute look at how the Prada Galleria is reimagined through a new floral applique;the Louis Vuitton Women’s Fall-Winter 2024 Collection marks Nicholas Ghesquière’s 10th year at Louis Vuitton; sail into victory with Louis Vuitton’s trophy trunks for the 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona; and the latest in fashion news from Dior, Stefano Ricci, and Bottega Veneta 86 HAUTE JOAILLERIE Louis Vuitton’s 2024 High Jewelry collection, Awakened Hands, Awakened Minds, is a Parisian dream 94 HAUTE MOVES Bentley V8 Motors on the rise 96 HAUTE TRAVEL Have an endless summer at these international and domestic seaside destinations 102 HAUTE SCENE

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ALESSANDRO BALZAN INSIDE THE WORLD OF PROFESSIONAL GT ENDURANCE RACING

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COVER STORY

THE STORY OF AN ITALIAN WITH AN AMERICAN DREAM AND A LOVE AND PASSION FOR CAR RACING.

BY DARBY KORDONOWY PHOTOGRAPHY SCOTT MCDERMOTT

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lessandro Balzan, a GT endurance racer for Ferrari Factory team AF Corse, recently spoke with Haute Living Naples at the 113-acre tranquil retreat, Winvian Farm in Connecticut, not far from Balzan’s home. Here, he unwinds and recharges from the high-speed world of racing, where he averages 70 flights a year, constantly traveling to compete while also training clients for the Ferrari Challenge North America series.

It is here at the luxurious Relais & Chateaux resort nestled in serene woodlands and meadows. It features an award-winning spa, European culinary style fine dining restaurant, and 18 uniquely themed cottages, including a treehouse cottage that brings Balzan back to his early childhood memories. He reflects that in Italy, treehouses were not a part of their culture, and he had always wanted a treehouse in his backyard. Taking time to slow down, live in the moment, and enjoy a restorative experience while connecting with nature is part of Balzan’s successful habits as one of the world’s top professional GT endurance racers.

With a recent victory at the Michelin Le Mans Cup Championship Series racing the Ferrari 296 GT3 with the Ferrari Factory team AF Corse, serving as the head coach of Ferrari’s Driving School, Corso Pilota, coaching Ferrari Challenge North America clients, and an enchanting fall wedding in Italy nestled among the Colli Euganei hills in the Veneto region with his professional equestrian jumper fiancé Nina on the horizon, Balzan is living life in the fast lane with a bright future ahead while achieving significant milestones with a tunnelvision focused mindset and unwavering dedication and commitment to his lifelong passion of racing.

Balzan was born and raised in Rovigo, Italy, where he began racing go-karts when he was nine. He learned from an early age that having a good team behind you is important. Balzan’s brother Lorenzo started racing before him, but his dad said, “You know what, we already have a kid racing go-karts; I’m going to buy the smaller gokart called the mini kart for you.” Balzan’s brother realized he loved driving go-karts, but he loved working on the go-karts as a mechanic much more, so all the focus shifted toward Balzan.

“My early days go-kart racing were some of my best memories with my brother and dad,” remarks Balzan. “My brother was an amazing mechanic and coach, helping me perfect my racing line and try different things. We were crazy competitive, but we had so much fun, and I think that is one of the reasons why we had so much success. We loved what we were doing, waking up at four in the morning, driving three hours to a go-kart track, and spending long days on the track.”

When Balzan turned thirteen, he began racing in the professional series. He started traveling all over Italy since many of the biggest manufacturers and important go-kart tracks are based in Italy.

Balzan’s first major race was the Italian Karting Championship, with over fifty percent of the drivers coming from all over Europe and a high level of teams and drivers.

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Balzan wearing his 10-year America anniversary helmet at a recent win of second place at Road To Le Mans during the six weekend Michelin Le Mans Cup championship racing the Ferrari 296 GT3 with his Ferrari Factory team AF Corse.

Balzan comments, “During this racing period in 1994, it was me, my brother, and my dad, and we started having great results and were very competitive, even if I was not part of a big team.”

At fourteen, a professional factory team, Top-Kart, called Balzan and gave him the opportunity to race for them. They also gave Balzan’s brother an offer to become the team manager, leading Lorenzo to become one of the best mechanics in the go-kart world, and now, the racing world, where he’s served as the mechanic for Formula 1 racing professionals, including Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. Joining this team of 14 drivers across the world and having his brother serve as the team manager gave Balzan great peace of mind to have his family by his side. With this team, Balzan won the Italian Championship and the European Championship, then flew to the U.S. for the first time for a competition in Charlotte at a beautiful go-kart track where the Charlotte Speedway is.

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“I remember one of the nicest things is that we had to ship all the equipment, the go-karts, engines, and tires, and I remember my brother packed Barilla pasta with all the equipment because you know Italians cannot live without their pasta.”

At 18, Balzan naturally switched from professional cart racing to various car racing. The French car manufacturer Renault allowed Balzan to transition from go-kart racing to open-wheel car racing.

“I was happy with what I achieved in go-kart racing, and my dream was always to start racing cars and, more specifically, endurance,” exudes Balzan. “I always loved the endurance GT racing. It was always my dream to drive the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the iconic endurance races.”

During Balzan’s first season, there was minimal testing during the championship, but he did very well in the Formula Renault Eurocup with Renault. The next year, he began racing touring cars. In 2000, Balzan had a milestone with Renault, finishing the season fourth in the Renault Clio V6 Eurocup and becoming the champion in the Italian Renault Clio Cup Winter Series, a tough, high-level championship with 85 drivers driving the same car at the same time.

“For me, the most incredible memory that year and throughout my

COVER STORY

PHOTO COURTESY OF FOTOSPEEDY

“WHEN I WEAR MY HELMET, AND I AM HIRED TO DRIVE NOT JUST ANY CAR, BUT A FERRARI, HOW CAN I NOT BE GRATEFUL? I ENJOY EVERY MOMENT, EVERY LAP. I’M ALSO A PROFESSIONAL AND EXPECTED TO PERFORM TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. OF COURSE, THERE IS PRESSURE, BUT THAT JUST ADDS THE THRILL OF THE SPORT.”

career was racing in Monaco at the Formula 1 Grand Pix support race in Monte Carlo, the same track as Formula 1,” reflects Balzan. “I did the race on Sunday, literally two hours before the Formula 1 Grand Prix, and finished second on the podium. I was very young, just 20 years old, and for me to step on the podium in front of everyone there for the Formula 1 Grand Prix and drive the track was a lifetime experience.”

Balzan’s next significant milestone was winning the Italian Alfa Romeo 147 Cup in 2002. He comments, “We had an incredible season.

We won a championship, and the prize for winning the championship was a race car, so from there, I started building a relationship with Alfa Romeo. That was very important for my career because winning the car that year allowed me to keep racing with Alfa Romeo in 2003.”

Balzan competed in the European Touring Car Championship in 2003, racing with the Alfa Romeo 156. During the years of 2004 leading up to the World Touring Car Championship in 2005 and 2006, Balzan was changing brands and had great results and learned how to fight in these intense competitions with great results.

“You know, you fight very hard,” reflects Balzan. “You really use your doors and bumpers because there is a lot of contact. You have these 30-minute, super intense races where, every lap and every

corner, there is a fight going on. All the drivers were racing 110% for 30 minutes, so of course, some drivers were very aggressive, and they were pushing you out of the track using small contacts that made it hard for the driver and the team, but the races were amazing.”

Those short-circuit races are very different from what Balzan does now. Now, Balzan races endurance races and is starting a race for 24 hours and not going to risk anything within the first 20 hours.

Balzan smiles when reflecting on racing his first Ferrari at 28 years old during the Italian GT Championship in 2008, expressing, “So, of course, when I got the opportunity to drive the Ferrari F430 GT2, I said I think I will never forget that day in my life because the team said to me ‘You know Alessandro, this is a Ferrari. It’s very powerful.

The speed is incredible. It’s a challenging car to drive.’ I remember the first lap I did with that Ferrari, and I thought, ‘Oh my god, this is like an extension of my body! This car is so easy to drive, and it brakes!’

The car could do everything incredibly well.”

For Balzan, the Ferrari F430 GT2 was such a perfect match for him; he won every single sprint and endurance race that season. This was when Ferrari started to become very involved, not only with Formula 1, but also with GT endurance racing. Another first during the Italian GT Championship was Balzan’s first time sharing a car with a teammate.

“This is a very different situation because it’s not just me in the car for any practice or race,” remarks Balzan. “Now I must stop and do a driver change. The teamwork and the team effort became even more critical. It was a great season, and I was driving an amazing machine with the Ferrari F430 GT2 engine screaming back in the day.

There were no noise restrictions. That car was not making noise; it was making music.”

From 2009 to 2011, Balzan’s dream was to keep racing with Ferrari, but the economy had had a tough year, and he faced the challenge of not having a sponsor. Luckily, he received the incredible opportunity to race with Porsche and won the Porsche Carrera Cup Italy three

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COVER STORY times in a row. Balzan reflects on this challenge, stating, “The transition from the Ferrari to the Porsche was not easy. It was a totally different machine. The Ferrari had a beautiful sequential gearbox with incredible downforce. It was a well-balanced car, whereas the Porsche was a fun car to drive, but was it easy? Absolutely not. The 911 was challenging for me to adapt to with very limited testing. I was lucky because I had a great mechanic, manager, and engineer behind me, and that’s the reason why I had three very good years with them.

It was a true team effort.”

Racing with Porsche, Balzan also achieved another milestone, setting the world’s fastest lap ever, a track record, while qualifying in the Porsche Supercup at Monza in 2011, driving a 911 GT3 Cup race car. Monza has always been one of Balzan’s favorite racetracks, and he remembers thinking to himself when he did that lap in front of 70,000 screaming Italian fans, that the perfect lap does not exist.

But upon reflecting on this achievement, he expresses, “I guess this was one of the closest laps to perfection. I knew in the car that it was strong because I nailed my breaking points, and I was able to cut all the curbs like I wanted. The car was amazing to drive, and when I crossed the finish line, I said to myself, I cannot do anything better than this.”

Balzan actually still had five minutes to go in his qualifying session, but jumping the leaderboard to pole position, he thought to himself, “You know what, I cannot do anything better than this. I’m going to the pit because I don’t think I can improve this. When I arrived there, my team was freaking out, and everyone was out of control screaming because I was the only car going under one minute and 50 seconds, which at that time was a big deal.”

In 2012, Balzan was back in a Ferrari, claiming top podium finishes in every one of the 12 races that year to clinch the Ferrari 458 Challenge World and European Championship with the Ferrari team of Moscow. This outstanding success was important for him because the engineer he worked with on this team was also connected with a new, developing Ferrari team in the States, finally giving Balzan the opportunity to race at the sought-after American tracks in 2012.

During this time, Alessandro also became an instructor at the Ferrari Driving School known worldwide as Corso Pilota, which he later became the head instructor of in North America as he is to this day.

In 2012, Balzan raced in the two Grand-Am Rolex GT races with Scuderia Corsa at Lime Rock Park and Laguna Seca. With strong results at both races, Balzan was given the full Grand-Am season championship in 2013, including the 24 Hours of Daytona, where he finished fourth.

When asked if he gets nervous before a race, Balzan responds, “I always have been very lucky because I don’t get anxious before driving or racing. I just stay with my crew. I love the energy and the vibe that the mechanics give to you because they are working hard for you and your car before the big endurance races like the 24 Hours of Daytona, a race that you start preparing for in mid-December, and the race is end of January, so you can imagine the amount of hard work and sacrifice that the team, the mechanics, the engineer, and every single member of the team spend to prepare the car. When the organizers say, ‘Okay, gentlemen, start your engine,’ I still get a lot of emotions, especially before the 24-hour races because, you know, you have to do this perfectly for 24 hours.”

In 2013, Balzan won the last known Rolex GT Grand-Am Championship before it was rebranded as IMSA. This was one of the most special seasons of his career because he didn’t know any of the tracks, so he had the challenge of learning new tracks quickly as a foreigner new to the American racing scene. Fortunately, adapting immediately

to new tracks is no problem for the talented Ferrari ace; he won his first American endurance race at Kansas Speedway, clinching the full season championship, which concluded in Lakeville, CT, at Lime Rock Park, only one hour from where he currently resides. There was an incredible gala dinner to celebrate the win, where he received a Rolex Daytona engraved with ‘2013 GT Champion’, which is very sentimental to him to this day, reminding him of his incredible memories throughout the season. Despite all the wins, Balzan had a few races where the Ferrari had to fight hard against the mighty Corvette but ultimately defeated the American monster by the conclusion of the tough season. This led to a season finale celebration at the top of the Empire State Building, where Balzan was truly living the American dream he had dreamt of with Ferrari.

In 2016, Balzan achieved a milestone when he was offered a full season of racing with Ferrari, racing the Ferrari 488 GT3 with a female driver, Christina Nielsen, and moving full-time to live in the U.S. in Las Vegas instead of flying back and forth to his home country Italy. Participating in the IMSA SportsCar Championship, involving 11 races a year, required constant testing and coaching, while Balzan also became involved with the Ferrari Driving School, Corso Pilota.

Since then, he’s had a notable win at Road Atlanta’s 10-hour Petit Lemans, and several more runs in the 24 hours of Daytona, Lemans, and Spa, all behind the wheel of his favorite Italian speed machine.

Fast-forward to this year with Ferrari, and Balzan is leading the sixrace Michelin Le Mans Cup Championship Series with the Ferrari 296 GT3 with Ferrari Factory team AF Corse achieving multiple wins, including podium finishes at Road To Le Mans on the world-famous circuit in the French countryside. Balzan explains how he keeps a winning mindset on the track by stating, “I remind myself that this is what I have always loved doing. I am driving and racing a Ferrari.

The team has trust and faith in me to go out there and do what I am capable of. So, let’s enjoy it.”

To Balzan, Ferrari’s cars are more than amazing machines that are incredible to drive. Ferrari is the most iconic racing and automotive brand in the world. Being an Italian representing one of the most recognized brands in the world that is born and bred made in Italy, like himself makes him very proud, and it is an honored for him to compete for Ferrari.

Serving as the head coach of Ferrari’s Corso Pilota, Balzan loves seeing the Ferrari enthusiasts come and drive the road cars where Ferrari gives them the tools to appreciate what makes Ferrari such a special brand, like no other. Balzan passionately remarks, “On the road, it’s not so easy to appreciate the car’s capability and highly advanced qualities because of the potential obstacles on public roads like cops, deer, and distracted drivers. But you certainly can on the racetrack. We have top coaches in the program who utilize all the industry’s latest technologies to help sharpen every driver’s skills, including data analysis and onboard videos. We drive for two full days on the track, and after those two days, the clients absolutely love it. They often come back to further advance through our levels in the school and then go on to compete in the race cars in the Ferrari Challenge races, which take place at the best, most coveted racetracks around the world.”

Whether he is racing, training, or teaching, Balzan remains humble and always grateful after every checkered flag. He is always sure to remind himself, “When I wear my helmet, and I am hired to drive not just any car, but a Ferrari, how can I not be grateful? I enjoy every moment, every lap. I’m also a professional and expected to perform to the best of my ability. Of course, there is pressure, but that just adds the thrill of the sport.”

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Ferrari Corso Pilota Elevating the Art of Performance Driving

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FERRARI

BY MARI HERNANDEZ RUBENSTEIN

THE FERRARI CORSO PILOTA PROGRAM OFFERS FERRARI owners an unparalleled opportunity to deepen their understanding and skills behind the wheel. This exclusive training program is divided into a three-part course series designed to progressively enhance participants’ driving abilities. The courses—Sport, Evoluzione+, and the Race Course—cater to a range of skill levels, from complete novices to those preparing for competitive racing. The Race Course even licenses drivers to compete in the Ferrari Challenge racing series, offering a gateway into the world of professional motorsport.

Dagney Wysong, Marketing Manager of Ferrari of Naples, elaborates on the program, “The Corso Pilota presents a unique opportunity to safely enhance driving skills, confidence, and ability. It allows participants to partake in progressively challenging activities, applying lessons learned from earlier stages to advance and hone their capabilities.”

Participants in the Corso Pilota program are guided by a team of seasoned instructors, each bringing a wealth of experience in Ferrari performance driving. The instruction is highly personalized, ensuring that drivers of all skill levels receive tailored guidance and support. “Led by a team of seasoned instructors, participants receive valuable insights and guidance tailored to their individual skill levels,” Dagney explains.

“Each instructor is adept at nurturing drivers of all proficiencies, including absolute novices, ensuring a comprehensive and rewarding learning experience.”

For luxury automobile collectors, Corso Pilota provides a deeper connection to Ferrari’s storied racing heritage. “At its core, the Ferrari brand is rooted in its racing heritage,” Dagney emphasizes. “This unique brand positioning offers clients a remarkable opportunity to deeply engage with and embrace the essence of the brand, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in the rich history, passion, and high performance that defines Ferrari.”

No specific prerequisites are required to join the Corso Pilota program, other than being a Ferrari owner with a desire to improve their driving skills. The program welcomes drivers of all experience levels, providing professional instruction that evolves with each participant’s progress.

“Other than being a Ferrari owner who wants to have fun while dramatically improving their performance driving skillset, none at all,” Dagney assures potential participants.

The program blends theoretical knowledge with hands-on driving experiences. Drivers receive instruction on fundamentals such as optimal driving positions, throttle and brake control, and precise cornering techniques. These lessons are then put into practice on some of the world’s most renowned race circuits. Post-session data debriefs with instructors further refine participants’ skills, enabling them to achieve faster lap times and better overall performance.

Feedback from Ferrari clients who have completed the Corso Pilota program is overwhelmingly positive. Many express a newfound confidence and skill in handling their vehicles, with some even progressing to compete in the prestigious Ferrari Challenge Race series.

Dagney shares, “Clients who have progressed through the Corsa Pilota program and into the Race series are absolutely hooked! Even if racing is not the intended future, we have clients who repeat the various stages of the Corso Pilota program for ongoing performance driving fun and driver development.”

Ferrari of Naples actively supports and promotes the Challenge Race Series and its associated activities. The dealership sees the Corso Pilota program as a critical step in fostering a passionate and engaged community of Ferrari enthusiasts and potential racers. Dagney highlights, “Our dedication lies in fostering a love for motorsport that aligns seamlessly with the goals of Maranello and the Ferrari legacy.

The Corso Pilota program serves as a significant milestone, and our dealership ensures that participating clients are recognized as brand ambassadors, extending exclusive invitations to events within the racing world.”

The Naples racing team has seen notable participation from clients and is also looking forward to welcoming new members in the upcoming season. Additionally, there is a strong focus on encouraging female participation, with the aim of creating one of the largest women’s race teams in the Ferrari Challenge series.

Ferrari owners interested in the Corso Pilota program or joining the racing team are encouraged to visit Ferrari of Naples. “I invite you to visit our dealership and witness our passion firsthand,” Dagney says.

“Allow me to personally guide you through the process and help you embark on an exciting journey into the world of Corso Pilota and Ferrari racing!”

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Living in the Fast LANE: Naples’ Racing Dynasties — The Garretts and The Kozyras 22

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Strap in and rev up as we dive into the high-octane world of two dynamic couples who’ve turbo-charged their lives with the thrill of racing. From navigating the twists and turns of the track to curating their collections of iconic cars, the Garretts and the Kozyras embody a passion that fuels their every move. Join us as we cruise through their exhilarating journeys, exploring the challenges and triumphs that come with racing and uncovering the love stories that intertwine with their ad-ventures on the world’s most prestigious circuits.

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DRIVING PASSION

BY MARI HERNANDEZ RUBENSTEIN

DON AND JAMIE GARRETT HAVE FOUND AN EXHILARATING way to intertwine their lives through the world of motorsport.

Their story is not just about the thrill of racing but also about the evolution of a shared passion that has brought them closer together and enriched their family life. Don Garrett, a native of Upstate New York, has called Naples home since 1977. Eight years ago, his life took a fortunate turn when he met Jamie at a wedding. Their 12-year-old son, Lucas, is starting to spark the same interest in the fast lane.

The Garretts’ journey into the world of racing began somewhat unexpectedly. “It was about a year and a half ago,” Don recounts.

“I attended a Ferrari Espresso and Exotic car show on a Saturday and spotted a Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo. I was intrigued, so I asked about it and learned it was a track-only car. That discovery led us to explore Ferrari’s racing program.” Initially, the car was meant to be a collector’s piece, but it wasn’t long before they decided to experience its full potential on the track.

Their first hands-on racing experience came during a Ferrari Corso Pilota event in Miami, where Jamie’s performance was particularly notable. She placed second in an autocross event, which ignited their

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enthusiasm for the sport. “That event really opened my eyes to the possibilities in racing,” Jamie recalls. “It was exhilarating to see how quickly I could improve with the right guidance and experience.”

This initial success led them to participate in the Corso Pilota on Ice event in Italy, where they had the unique experience of driving on an ice track. “Driving on ice was like learning to dance with the car,” Don recalls. “It was a humbling yet exhilarating experience that showed us the full range of the vehicle’s capabilities.”

As they delved deeper into the racing world, the Garretts realized the need for separate vehicles to optimize their experience. They acquired a second 488 Challenge Evo, each car adorned with reverse matching graphics in contrasting colors—black, white, and fuchsia.

This decision was not merely practical but also a reflection of their distinct racing styles and personalities. Don describes their approach: “Jamie drives with finesse, while I tend to be more aggressive. It’s a good balance that keeps things interesting.” Jamie adds, “It’s fascinating to see how our different styles complement each other.

We learn a lot from watching each other race, and it pushes us both to improve.”

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In their journey through the racing world, mastering the art of driving high-performance cars has been a significant part of the Garretts’ experience. For Don Garrett, this involves a deep understanding of the vehicle’s capabilities. “Learning to trust the car and its limits is crucial,” Don explains. “You need to know the car’s behavior under different conditions and understand how far you can push it without crossing the line. It’s about developing a relationship with the car, where you gain confidence in its responses and control.”

He continues, “One of the key elements is what we call ‘seat time’— spending as much time behind the wheel as possible. Seat time helps you become familiar with the car’s handling and performance. You learn to read the car, anticipate its reactions, and adjust your driving style accordingly. It’s a process of constant learning and adjustment, but it’s what makes racing both challenging and rewarding.”

Mastering the complexities of high-performance racing is only possible with the right coach. “Racing is a continuous learning experience, and having skilled coaches is essential. They provide insights that go beyond what you can pick up on your own, helping you understand the nuances of the car and the track. Their guidance has been crucial for improving my skills and pushing my limits,” Don explains. “It’s all about accumulating ‘seat time’ and applying what you learn from these experts to really connect with the car and enhance your performance.” Jamie adds, “Having a strong relationship with your coach is just as important. Trust and clear communication with your coach make a big difference. They need to understand your driving style and offer feedback that resonates with you. When you have that kind of rapport, it makes the learning process much more effective and enjoyable.”

One of the most rewarding aspects of this journey has been seeing the reactions of young girls and their families at the races.

After posting their professional pictures from the second round, Jamie noticed a significant response. “Little girls would come up to me with their moms, and it was heartwarming to see their excitement and curiosity,” Jamie shares. “The moms would often say, ‘See, just like her, you can do anything you set your mind to.’ It’s incredibly fulfilling to know that our presence and achievements are encouraging the next generation of female racers and showing them that they, too, can pursue their passions with determination and confidence.” Don adds, “It’s been wonderful to see that kind of impact. I think it’s important to show young girls and women that racing isn’t just for men. There’s a place for them in the sport, and they can excel just as much. It’s inspiring to see the enthusiasm and to think that we might be part of encouraging more women to get involved in racing.”

When behind the wheel, Don Garrett feels an intense rush of adrenaline and control, enjoying the thrill of pushing the car to its limits. Jamie Garrett experiences a deep connection with the car, focusing on precision and rhythm. For her, racing is a chance to disconnect from the outside world and fully immerse herself in the track and the car. “There’s a unique kind of peace that comes over me when I’m racing,” she reflects. “It’s just me and the car, and everything else fades away. It’s a form of meditation in motion.” This combination of technical skill and emotional engagement makes each race a unique escape for her. Their driving experiences reflect their passions and shared excitement for the sport.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DON AND JAMIE GARRETT

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Balancing this passion with their professional and personal lives has been challenging, especially for Don, who continues to manage his construction and general contracting career. “It’s a balancing act,” he admits. “Between running a business and dedicating time to racing, there are moments when it feels like a juggling act. But it’s incredibly rewarding to see the progress we’ve made and to share this journey with Jamie.” Recently, the Garretts faced their most challenging race yet at Watkins Glen. This experience tested their skills and endurance like never before, marking a significant milestone in their racing journey.

In a particularly challenging moment, Jamie encountered an unexpected issue with the chill-out system in her car, designed to keep drivers cool.

“The chill-out system has a compressor under the floorboard on the passenger side. It pumps fluid through a vest to cool you down, but it gave me a panic and anxiety attack because it cooled me down too much before I was even hot. I couldn’t even drive” she recounts. That morning, without the issue, Jamie was on track to set one of her best times at 1:56.

Unfortunately, because of the malfunction, she only managed a 1:59 in the afternoon. This incident underscores the unpredictable nature of racing and the constant need for adaptability and resilience.

Looking ahead, the Garretts are eager to expand their involvement and commitment in the racing world. They have ordered new Ferrari 296 GTBs, intending to step up to the Challenge series—a move that signifies their commitment to advancing in the sport. “We’re excited to

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see how we can push ourselves further with these new cars,” Jamie says.

“It’s a big step up, but we’re ready for the challenge.” This next phase will undoubtedly bring new experiences, but they are eager to take it on. Their upcoming track schedule? The renowned Sonoma Raceway, where they anticipate testing their skills and making their mark on this challenging circuit, followed by Indianapolis.

Outside of racing, Jamie maintains a deep connection to her other passion—horses. This interest counterbalances the high-speed thrills of the racetrack, offering her a peaceful and grounding experience. “It’s nice to have something else to focus on during the off-season,” Jamie reflects, highlighting the importance of having diverse interests. The couple also enjoys fishing together, adding another layer to their shared adventures.

For the Garretts, racing is more than a sport; it is a lifestyle and a shared pursuit that brings joy and excitement. Their story is a testament to the power of discovering new passions and the joy of pursuing them together. Whether navigating the curves of a racetrack or enjoying quiet moments with their family, Don and Jamie Garrett are living life to the fullest, driven by a shared love for adventure and the thrill of the race. As Jamie reflects on their journey, she says, “Racing has taught us to embrace challenges and celebrate victories, big and small. It’s not just about the speed; it’s about the journey and the people you meet along the way. This adventure has brought our family closer and given us memories that will last a lifetime.”

The Kozyra’s Motorsport Story

BY MARI HERNANDEZ RUBENSTEIN

IN A WORLD DOMINATED BY SPEED, PRECISION, AND adrenaline, few stories are as captivating as that of Bill and Melissa Kozyra. United by their shared passion for high-performance cars, they have turned a casual interest into a dynamic lifestyle, racing together across some of the world’s most prestigious tracks. Their journey, which began with a simple purchase of a car condominium, has evolved into a narrative of partnership, competition, and love.

In 2015, Bill and Melissa Kozyra embarked on a thrilling journey into the world of performance driving, setting the stage for their current dedication for racing. “We began driving on performance tracks in 2015 after purchasing a car condominium at M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan,” Bill explained. “We are also completing another one in Tampa, Florida, called The Motor Enclave. These luxury garages feature

a performance track, and we initially drove streetcars like Porsches, Ferraris, and Lamborghinis there.”

The experience of pushing high-performance streetcars to their limits was exhilarating and soon sparked a deeper interest in racing. The Kozyras transitioned from weekend drives to competing on nationally renowned racetracks. Bill took to the track with a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, while Melissa began her racing journey with a Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo race car.

“My story’s quite similar to Bill’s,” Melissa shared. “We picked up the Ferrari 488 because a friend invited us to a Ferrari Challenge weekend.

We went to support him, saw a car for sale, and the rest is history.”

The Ferrari Challenge weekend was more than just a race; it was a catalyst for their commitment to the sport. The allure of the Ferrari 488

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FEATURE allows them to familiarize themselves with the track, conduct thorough testing, and fine-tune their strategies. “Understanding the track layout and getting a feel for the car’s behavior in different conditions is crucial,” Bill explains. They also dedicate countless hours to simulators, learning the intricacies of each circuit before they even arrive.

Their training journey began with the Porsche Sport Driving School in Birmingham, Alabama, laying the foundation for their racing careers.

They then advanced to Ferrari’s Corso Pilota courses, which were essential for preparing for the Ferrari Challenge series. “Simulators are also a big part of our training,” Melissa explains. “They help us learn new tracks and understand the car’s dynamics before actually racing.”

However, their journey hasn’t been without challenges. “Racing is as much a mental game as it is physical,” Melissa shares. “Overcoming the fear of high speeds and maintaining focus during intense moments on the track can be daunting.” Bill adds, “There have been times when we’ve faced mechanical issues or adverse weather conditions, which test our skills and patience. Racing at Watkins Glen in New York, with its demanding corners and unpredictable weather, has been particularly challenging but also incredibly rewarding.”

Despite these challenges, the exhilaration they feel when racing is unmatched. “There’s nothing quite like the rush of adrenaline as you navigate a difficult turn or push the car to its limits,” Bill says, “It’s a mix of fear, excitement, and pure joy.”

Technological advancements play a significant role in their racing performance. Melissa’s new Ferrari 296 Challenge Race car, which she recently purchased and has just started racing, is equipped with Electric “Brake by Wire “steering and electric assisted brakes. The car also has Air conditioning, not typical in most race cars. Unlike Ferrari’s 296 street

PHOTOS COURTESY OF REGIS LEFEBURE PHOTOGRAPHY

marked the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. What started as a hobby quickly evolved into a full-blown commitment, propelling them into the competitive world of motorsport.

As their devotion for racing grew, they quickly realized the importance of having the right coach to guide them through the complexities of the sport. Bill emphasized, “Finding the right coach is crucial. It’s not just about someone who knows the technical aspects of driving but also about finding someone who can connect with you personally. A good coach helps you build confidence, refine your skills, and navigate the mental challenges of racing.”

Melissa added, “The coaching relationship is incredibly important. A great coach becomes a mentor, providing not only technical guidance but also emotional support. They help you understand your strengths and areas for improvement, and they challenge you to push beyond your limits. This partnership is key to achieving success on the track.”

The couple’s relationship, much like their racing career, blossomed with time. They met in 2010 and just celebrated their 10-year wedding anniversary. This milestone is a testament to their enduring partnership, both on and off the track. Racing, they explain, has brought them even closer. “It’s a shared interest and passion,” Melissa notes, “We enjoy competing and pushing each other to be better.”

In the high-stakes world of racing, competition is inevitable. However, for Bill and Melissa, it’s all in good fun. “During testing sessions, Melissa often has better lap times,” Bill admits. “And I’m perfectly fine with that.” This friendly rivalry enhances their experiences, pushing them to improve while maintaining a light-hearted and supportive atmosphere.

Preparation is key to their success on the track. Bill and Melissa make it a point to arrive at race locations a few days in advance. This extra time

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car, which is a hybrid power train, the 296 Challenge Race car is powered purely by an internal combustion engine for the Race track version.

“These features make a big difference in performance,” she says. “They allow us to push the car and ourselves to the limit.”

“The telematics and live streaming technologies provide real-time feedback, which is crucial for improving lap times and overall driving skills,” Bill adds.

Despite their achievements, Bill and Melissa’s racing dreams continue to grow. For Melissa, racing in Monaco is a dream yet to be realized.

“We were there recently, and the idea of driving on that iconic track is thrilling,” she says. Bill, on the other hand, has his sights set on the Nürburgring in Germany, a track known for its challenging layout and historical significance.

For couples interested in racing, Bill and Melissa offer sage advice: start with a reputable driving school. “It’s crucial to understand car handling and track dynamics,” he explains, “Trust in yourself and the car is key.”

The Kozyras are also avid car collectors, with a collection that allows them to drive a different car each week if they choose. Their love for collecting autos goes hand-in-hand with their racing interests, providing them with a diverse array of high-performance vehicles to enjoy both on and off the track.

Bill and Melissa’s journey is a powerful example of how following your zeal and embracing challenges can lead to extraordinary experiences. Their story illustrates that with dedication, hard work, and a shared vision, it’s possible to turn a personal interest into a fulfilling and dynamic pursuit. As they continue to explore new tracks and push their limits, they embody the idea that success is not just about reaching a destination but about the journey itself. For anyone inspired to follow their own dreams or tackle new challenges, their story serves as a reminder that the greatest victories are achieved by remaining actively engaged in the competition, and sometimes, that happens to be on the fast track.

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A Story of Family, Leadership, and Balance

BY MARI HERNANDEZ RUBENSTEIN

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF ERIK KELLAR

Meet the Carters:

FEATURE RYAN CARTER, THE PRESIDENT OF SCOTLYNN USA DIVISION Inc., and his wife Amy, a dedicated stay-at-home mom epitomize the blend of professional success and personal fulfillment. In an exclusive interview with Haute Living Naples, they shared insights into their journey, values, and the rituals that keep their family close-knit.

Ryan Carter, The Making of a CEO Ryan Carter’s ascent to leadership began in January 2007 after graduating from the University of Kentucky. His first job at a logistics company in Cincinnati, Ohio, laid the groundwork for a significant partnership with Scotlynn Commodities in Ontario, Canada. “During those three years, I developed a great working relationship with Scotlynn’s CEO, Scott Biddle,” Ryan recalls. This partnership blossomed into the founding of Scotlynn USA Division Inc. in March 2010.

“We chose to headquarter our business in Fort Myers because Scott Biddle had a vacation home here,” Ryan explains. At just 26, with only his dog to look after, Ryan took a leap of faith. “The journey over the last 14 years has been a lot of fun. We have had positive sales growth every year except for one,” he says, reflecting on the company’s impressive expansion from a small startup to a thriving enterprise with over 450 employees.

Overcoming Challenges The early days were fraught with challenges, particularly in establishing credit and reputation. “We were a brand new company with no credit, working in an industry where 50% of the truckers we worked with wanted to be paid within a day of delivering a shipment,” Ryan shares.

However, through perseverance and strategic financial management, they built a trustworthy brand. One of Ryan’s proudest professional achievements came in 2022 when Scotlynn doubled its year-over-year sales. “Our team worked incredibly hard to bring food to millions of people in North America during the pandemic,” he says with pride.

Balancing Growth and Personal Development Ryan Carter reflects on his dual journey of personal and professional growth, noting how they have intertwined throughout his career. “The journey of growing this company has also been a personal journey of growth for me,” Ryan shares. “As a 26-year-old man, I’ve evolved significantly over the 14 years leading up to my 40s. Part of that journey included meeting and marrying my incredible wife and having three wonderful sons.” He emphasizes how growing a family while leading Scotlynn has enriched both his career and personal life.

Ryan continues, “Being a father and husband has put me in the same seat as many of my employees, allowing me to experience firsthand the struggle to balance being an engaged parent with a demanding career.

I’ve adapted our policies and expectations to ensure that Scotlynn remains a great place of employment for everyone, regardless of their family situation.” He reflects on how the company’s early focus on new college grads with fewer personal commitments has shifted to accommodate employees at various stages of their lives, fostering success and balance for all.

He concludes, “Being part of their successful career journeys has been the best on-the-job training for leadership I could ask for.”

Strategies for Success Ryan attributes much of Scotlynn’s success to hiring the right people.

“We hire for character first. If you are not a good person who is honest, hardworking, and willing to learn, we are not interested,” he emphasizes. This focus on integrity and the team’s input has been crucial. “Most decisions we make are not made without getting

feedback and perspective from the people that these policies and procedures will impact.”

Staying ahead in the industry also involves a strong technology team and the ability to be nimble. “We invest heavily in learning and tools. We are still small enough to pivot like a jet ski but also big enough to push through the industry like a barge,” Ryan explains.

The Perfect Balance Balancing professional responsibilities with personal life is a cornerstone of the Carters’ philosophy. “I have changed my schedule to allow much more family time,” Ryan says. This includes delegating work travel to his management team and dedicating weekends solely to family activities.

Their family life revolves around active and engaging pursuits. “With three boys, physical activity is key to a good day! We enjoy swimming, playing sports, hiking, and skiing,” Ryan shares. Amy adds, “On a rainy day, we enjoy playing a competitive game of Trouble or Go Fish or just wrestling around in the family room!”

The Heart of a Family x 3 Family traditions and values are deeply ingrained in the Carters’ lives.

They have three sons: Elijah, 7, Lucas, 5, and Matthew, 4. Each child has unique interests and personalities that the Carters nurture with care.

“Elijah is our engineering and entrepreneurial-minded child. Lucas is thoughtful, determined, and athletic. Matthew is our hilarious, theatrical, car and book-loving child,” Amy describes with a smile.

The Carters cherish their family traditions and routines, which help maintain their strong family bond. “Every night at bedtime we spend 10 minutes of ‘special’ time with each of our boys so they have a chance to talk about anything that is in their hearts. We end the night with a bedtime prayer and take turns thanking God for what we are grateful

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PHOTO COURTESY OF MEGAN DIPIERO

for,” shares Amy. Sunday mornings are another cherished family tradition, dedicated to homemade crepes and a family pool day. Additionally, every morning, each of the boys takes turns turning on Ryan’s car before racing inside to wave to him out the window, adding a special touch to their daily routine.

Balancing their busy lifestyles while ensuring their children stay grounded and connected is a priority for the Carters. “The most important thing I think we do is prioritize time with them and make sure each child gets one-on-one time with a parent,” Ryan explains. Amy has a “two per week” rule, meaning she will only commit to two outings max per week during the school year that would take time away from the kids. They also limit screen time to have more family time and teach the children how to manage their downtime. By not overscheduling their activities, they allow for more additional playtime, which helps keep their children balanced and connected.

Supporting Each Other The Carters excel in supporting each other’s roles. “Ryan handles the business and finances of the home. I handle all things kids and homerelated,” Amy explains. They maintain open communication and a well-

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structured routine. “We take time together, just the two of us, as much as possible,” Ryan adds, emphasizing the importance of their relationship in maintaining a strong family foundation.

Mrs. Amy Carter Music touches my soul at the deepest level. I love live music and musical theater.

I also have a passion for all things wellness; I enjoy learning how to be my best, healthiest self. Spending quality time with my girlfriends keeps me grounded and connected to myself, not just as a mom but as a human being. – Amy Carter Despite these interests, Amy is mindful of her current priorities. “In this season of my life, my whole world revolves around our children and making sure they have a strong foundation and connection to us.

The wisest people remind us how quickly our children grow up; they’ll be gone in the blink of an eye. Pretty soon, they won’t want me around as much, so I feel the need to be with them as much as possible in their younger years. This means I must be comfortable putting off some of my own passions. I know the time will come when I have ample opportunity to dedicate to my interests. Right now, it’s all about family.”

Amy is passionate about mental health awareness and reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness. “Having worked at the David

FEATURE The. Carter. Legacy.

Looking ahead, the Carters have clear professional and personal goals.

Ryan aims to hit the $1 billion mark in annual sales for Scotlynn by 2025, having just recently surpassed the 740MM mark. “Achieving that goal is a great milestone that our team should be proud of,” he says.

On a personal level, they aim to make each year better than the last by fulfilling their lives with meaningful and special moments.

The Carters hope to leave a legacy of community impact and positive influence. “Our personal legacy would be deeply tied to raising our three boys to become incredible men admired for their character and work ethic,” Ryan says. “My proudest moment was watching Ryan speak at the grand opening of the Scotlynn headquarters. Seeing all that he’s been able to accomplish over such a short period of time and all of his hard work pay off, I just couldn’t have been any prouder of him,” Amy adds.

The Carters’ story is one of dedication, balance, and unwavering commitment to their values. As they continue to lead by example, they inspire those around them to strive for both professional excellence and a fulfilling personal life. As Ryan himself shared, “There are a lot of proud moments that come to mind. Anytime I walk into the room with Amy by my side, I feel a great sense of pride in her just being my wife. She is incredibly smart, beautiful, dedicated, and overall, a very genuine person of great character.”

With their unbreakable bond, strong work ethic, faith, and three amazing kids, the Carters are poised to leave an indelible mark in the community they call home.

Lawrence Center, I saw the immense need for mental health services right here in SWFL,” she says. Amy is also dedicated to children’s well-being, physical fitness, and spending quality time with friends.

The Carters are actively involved in charitable causes.

They support organizations such as Lee Health’s Kids Minds Matter, David Lawrence Center, The Immokalee Foundation, Community Cooperative, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lee County. “We spend a lot of our free time attending events related to these causes, whether informational, fundraising, or volunteering,” Amy notes.

They are also invested in supporting the local waters of SWFL, Ryan shared “For the last five years, we have been supporting the nonprofit Captains for Clean Water.

We make donations, attend events, and I have spoken at several community and roundtable events. They are a great group of people doing something we feel is very important for Florida, which is improving water quality.”

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Meet the Naples natives who thrive as a dynamic duo that doubles as passionate entrepreneurs building a strong and supportive community through their businesses and leadership skills.

BY DARBY KORDONOWY

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF ERIK KELLAR

Joe And Mary Smallwood

FEATURE

Joe Smallwood, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of BCB Homes Joe Smallwood went to college at the University of Florida, receiving a civil engineering degree, and was not sure what he wanted to set out to do, but he knew that his background could be applied to many different disciplines. During his summers throughout college, he worked as a boat captain, which also paid for his tuition. His last summer in college, a family friend invited Joe to work for them in construction in Naples.

During this internship, Joe’s first construction project was a villa home project in Bear’s Paw Country Club, which made him realize the personal impact of home building.

“I worked on a project my last summer before my senior college and I really enjoyed it, and that’s when the light bulb went off,” exclaims Joe. “I decided I would like to get into construction. The construction I got into initially was multifamily, residential, office, and commercial; It wasn’t luxury custom homes, so I worked in the commercial field for a while, and then in 1993, I started my custom home building company, BCB Homes.”

This was an opportunity for Joe to run his own company when Naples was transforming from a mostly vacation community into a mixed community where some people were living here full-time and making Naples their home base. This created a stronger need for high-end homes because most people were spending more time in Naples. The home buying process has also changed over time in Naples from wordof-mouth to customers now buying houses on the internet sight unseen.

Naples also became increasingly more popular when The Ritz-Carlton, Naples opened in 1985, drawing in thousands of people each year for corporate conferences.

Joe was born in Tampa, moved to Miami until he was six, and then finally moved to Naples in 1969, living here most of his life. His family began coming to Naples because his dad was working on the Marco Beach Hotel, now the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort. His dad worked in construction on the hotel, and then he started a window company business in the early 1970s.

Mary Smallwood, Creative Director and CEO of Mary Smallwood Accessories Mary Smallwood is a handbag and accessories designer with purses, travel bags, and jewelry, and now has a partnership with Marissa Collections. Her top-selling bag is the Nexus handbag in patent leather that comes in neutrals, vibrant hues, and metallics. This handbag lays flat, and it is easy to pack several in a suitcase to accessorize a look with different-hued handbags without the toll of heavy baggage.

“The business started when I made a handbag for myself, and I wore it out, and it was designed to be hands-free,” Mary explains. “I needed a solution for my phone because I was out a lot at events with Joe and I didn’t want to feel rude with my phone out.”

Mary also has a fine and semi-fine jewelry line launching soon inspired by Naples, the Naples Pier, and earth, wind, water, and fire.

Sustainability is important in all of Mary’s projects, and she is working with partners in India, the Philippines, Romania, and Thailand to source materials globally. Particularly, Mary selected her primary textile partner from India because the business is good for the people and the planet, giving back to its employees for their children’s education. For philanthropy, Mary serves on the Youth Haven committee, and her main strengths are working behind the scenes and with participants. She has also designed jewelry for the STARability Foundation.

Mary originally moved to Naples from Chicago when she was 11. Her parents loved St. Patrick’s Day and notably created the first St. Patty’s Day Parade in Naples because there was not a parade at the time. Growing up in Old Naples in the 1970s, Mary spent most of her time at the Naples Pier almost every night with her parents, and it is nature that inspired most of her handbag collections. Before her budding handbag business, Mary studied marketing and business administration at Florida State University. Previously, she worked as a spa professional, and she originally moved home when she was hired to build a 20,000-square-foot spa in Bonita. Then, she began to work at BCB Homes, building gyms for clients.

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FEATURE

Building Homes And Relationships Joe’s company, BCB Homes, has a core group of team members who have worked together for the last 25 years. BCB Homes began in 1993 with four or five people and now has more than 230 employees. The company offers the unique and advantageous opportunity to become an employee-owner.

“Once a year, we select a group of people that we think epitomize the culture and the mission of BCB Homes,” Joe explains. “These selected employees are demonstrating our values in our leadership practices and our mission and are offered the opportunity to become employee-owners. As we expand, our owners consist of a committed group of people focused on the success, growth, and betterment of BCB Homes.”

BCB Homes consists of a unique and skilled group of people who build, remodel, fix, and manage homes in Naples. Joe’s company puts an emphasis on training, and not just training as an employee your first two weeks, but training early, often, and continuously.

Joe passionately adds, “We’ve assembled a better team over all these years. We train them better, give them more opportunities, and give them more support. The talent level we have in our company sets us apart in the industry. We provide our staff with a tremendous amount of training, resources, and support so that they can use their talent to the fullest. We truly give

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everybody all the tools in the toolbox that they need to succeed. We are always striving to get better, and there’s always another level to which we can improve.”

Joe reflects on the impact of the employeeownership program by stating, “Almost universally, you see a powerful change in focus with the folks who become owners. It is a very powerful thing if everybody gets a little bit more focused. Just think if everybody, even a small percentage, becomes more focused. It is making our company better every day, making their personal job better every day, and helping other employees become better every day.”

When asked about the future of home

building in Naples, Joe remarks, “I think Naples is going to continue to become more and more desirable. As long as I’ve been living here and building houses, Naples has continuously become a more desirable place to live, especially for people who build the kind of product we have built for the last 35 years. That is going to continue, which means the houses will not necessarily be larger, but they will get more complicated. People will have more focused wishes on what they want in their homes, and so they will get harder to build. We are going to have to keep getting better to satisfy the wishes and desires of our future clients.”

FEATURE

The BCB Homes building method begins with a comprehensive conversation with their clients. Their team guides clients through the whole process so their visions turn into real, tangible items they’ll touch when they live in their house. This process involves clear and consistent communication with clients, resulting in a complicated and unique luxury custom home with highperformance, reliable products.

“We serve as the architect, the landscape architect, the interior designer, the engineers, and we begin with a big picture conversation and start drilling down,” Joe explains. “The clients communicate from a high altitude about their expectations, and then we help them make the decisions to fulfill that vision.”

For Mary and Joe, BCB Homes is more than just a custom home-building business. It is about relationships that form through creating a meaningful space for a person or family that results in cherished, long-lasting memories.

“We become friends with these people, and they’re all so different, and it’s amazing how it all comes together. It truly becomes them,” exclaims Mary.

Over the years, Joe and Mary have made countless new and close personal friends through their relationship as a builder.

Joe adds, “When Mary and I walk into somebody’s house for a dinner party 20 years after we build a home and become friends, that’s a pretty cool feeling to see them enjoying the product years later.

It’s very rewarding.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF HEATHER DONLAN

A Neapolitan Family Joe and Mary both went to Gulfview Middle School and Naples High School together but didn’t meet till high school. They were always friends but didn’t date until after college and have been married for 25 years. Though Mary and Joe went to different colleges, they would see each other quite often in Naples. After multiple years of bumping into each other, Mary and Joe finally started dating, and everything worked out. Joe began dating Mary while she was in the health and fitness business, and their first date involved her helping Joe design a spa inside a house he was building on the beach. Mary received her degree in hotel restaurant management and worked in the hotel industry. She then ran the spa at Mar-a-Lago Club. She also spent a winter working at a spa in Switzerland at a ski resort and then went on to own a Pilates studio in Palm Beach.

Mary and Joe have two boys, ages 18 and 20, and two yellow labs.

To balance their careers and personal lives, Joe and Mary spend a lot of time together traveling to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Guatemala, and the Florida Keys, where they participate in activities such as fishing, skiing, boating, tennis, and scuba diving.

“I think we collaborate on everything and are very supportive of each other,” says Mary. “If he needs to bounce something off me or I need to bounce something off of him, he’s there. He’s not afraid to tell me when I’m not doing the right thing but also lets me learn my own lessons. He is a businessman, so he knows what it means to take risks.”

For the best marriage advice, Joe says, “It’s a lot of moving parts. You have to manage your business. You have to manage your personal stuff and family. It is complicated, but it keeps it from getting boring. It has got to be a conscious thing where you constantly improve and keep it going forward and upward.”

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FEATURE

Rick Barry,

NBA’s Unmatched Sharpshooter

RICK BARRY, AN NBA LEGEND KNOWN FOR HIS INCREDIBLE achievements, sat down with Haute Living to discuss his illustrious career, memorable moments, and the unique techniques that set him apart.

Here are some highlights from the conversation.

Haute Living (HL): Reflecting on your NBA career, you had numerous accolades, including an NBA Championship and being named Finals MVP. What do you consider to be the highlight of your time in the league?

Rick Barry (RB): “First of all, I didn’t play basketball to win individual honors and awards. I played basketball because it’s a team sport to win.

My goal was to be on a team and, hopefully, a championship team. So, if I had to pick out the highlight of my whole career, it would obviously be being on the championship teams. I had the good fortune of being on a team with the Oakland Oaks.”

Barry recalled a close call with the Warriors in 1967, where they came within a couple of plays from winning a championship. “We could have possibly won a championship,” he said, but leaving for the ABA and eventually winning there brought a new perspective. Despite injuries preventing him from playing in the playoffs, he still cherishes that championship experience.

His ultimate highlight came later. “In the 1974-75 season, we had the greatest upset in the history of basketball in the finals. It’s probably one of the most overlooked accomplishments, but it was absolutely amazing,” he shared.

HL: Can you share a memorable moment or game that stands out to you from your NBA days?

RB: “A game that stands out for me is the finals of the Western Conference in 1975 against the Chicago Bulls. I was absolutely stinking up the arena, something like two for 14, and we were trailing by double digits in the third quarter. Al Attles took me out of the game, which took a lot of guts on his part.”

Barry continued, “My teammates played exceptionally well, and even though I thought I’d go back in sooner, Attles kept me out into the fourth quarter. When I did return, I played really well, went five for seven from the field, and made a crucial assist to George Johnson. We came back and won, which enabled us to go to the finals. It was such an important part of my whole career to finally get back to the finals and then be named MVP. My teammates played great, helping us win a championship.”

Barry is thrilled that a documentary on this historic upset is finally

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being made. “They say the best things in life are worth waiting for. We’ve waited 50 years for someone to do a documentary about the greatest upset in the history of sports.”

HL: Your underarm free-throw technique is legendary. What inspired you to adopt this unique shooting style, and how did it impact your game?

RB: “The underhand free throw is still unique because, for some reason, people don’t want to copy it. The only person really doing it now is my son Canyon, who’s on the Olympic team for USA Basketball in 3x3. My father, who was a semi-pro player and coach, taught me. I didn’t want to do it initially because of the stigma, but it’s the most efficient way to shoot a free throw.”

Barry expressed confusion over why more players don’t adopt the technique. “Physicists tested it and said it’s the best way to shoot a free throw, yet nobody wants to do it. It’s almost beyond my comprehension.

I can’t understand why team owners, general managers, and coaches don’t demand that poor shooters learn to do it that way.”

HL: How did you manage family life with your demanding NBA career?

Can you share insights into how your family supported your career?

RB: “Family life was special because it was like having another family with my teammates. We were together for eight months out of the year, traveling and practicing. I was lucky because I was able to have my children involved in my job. At one point, all four of my older sons were ball boys. They’d take pregame meals, nap, and ride with me to the game. It was incredibly special to have them be part of that.”

Barry is proud of his sons following in his footsteps. “There’s nothing in any sport that comes remotely close to having a Hall of Fame father with five sons all getting Division I college scholarships and playing professionally. Three of them played in the NBA, and my son Canyon is now an Olympian. It’s remarkable.”

HL: What were some of the biggest challenges you faced transitioning from professional basketball to life after the NBA? How did you stay connected to the sport after retiring?

RB: “I always tried to prepare myself as best I could for things I studied in college. I couldn’t have a minor because I was in the business school, which didn’t allow it, but I had as many credits in radio, TV, and film work as I did in my major, marketing. Growing up, I saw Pat Summerall and Frank Gifford of the New York Giants transition to broadcasting, and I thought it would be great to become a professional athlete and then broadcast afterward to talk about the sport I love. So, I prepared myself

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ERIK KELLAR LOCATION RITZ CARLTON: BEACH RESORT, NAPLES

BY MARI HERNANDEZ RUBENSTEIN

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“WHEN I RETIRED, I DIDN’T MISS PLAYING THE GAME BECAUSE I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT. I LEARNED TO COMPARTMENTALIZE THINGS, PUTTING ANYTHING NEGATIVE ON THE BACK BURNER. THIS ABILITY HAS HELPED ME GET THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES IN MY LIFE.”

for that career. I had the good fortune to start my broadcasting career with the Warriors. I did a radio show during the season in my second year, and then I got into TV. I had a long career in broadcasting, doing both radio and television.

When I retired, I didn’t miss playing the game because I never thought about it. I learned to compartmentalize things, putting anything negative on the back burner. This ability has helped me get through difficult times in my life. After retiring, I needed to find something else, so I got into long driving in golf. I became a one-handicap golfer and competed in the World Long Drive Championships, winning four world titles during my career. They eventually got rid of the division for older competitors, so I had to move on to something else.”

HL: Recently, you developed a love for pickleball. What attracted you to this sport? Has your experience in basketball influenced your approach to playing pickleball?

RB: “I was a pretty good tennis player, but tennis was too hard on my body.

My wife suggested I try pickleball. At first, I didn’t know what it was, but after researching it, I found it to be cool and fun. I decided to train until I was good enough to win a national championship. I practiced diligently and drove two hours to the Villages to work with great players like Dick Scott and Ted Meyer. My first tournament was with Jeff Johnson, and we won.

I then entered the US Open, the World Seniors, and the USA Pickleball Nationals, winning several titles in mixed doubles and men’s doubles.

Recently, I took on the challenge of playing singles, despite having four knee surgeries and no cartilage in my knee. I practiced with top players and won games against younger competitors. My goal now is to achieve

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the Triple Crown, winning men’s singles, mixed doubles, and men’s doubles. Finding a partner for mixed doubles was tough, but I found Sue Matthews, and we dominated our matches.”

HL: Bill Walton is often celebrated for his contributions to the game.

How would you describe his legacy and impact on basketball?

RB: “Bill Walton was an incredible player who had a significant impact on basketball. Sadly, we lost him recently to colon cancer. Bill had an interesting life, including his involvement with the Patty Hearst case and the 70s Liberation Army. Despite his struggles with ankle injuries, he had a great career and one of the greatest games in NCAA tournament history. We also lost other greats like Jerry West, who was a good friend and the NBA logo, and Chet Walker. Losing friends and family is never easy, but it’s a part of life. I try to focus on the positive and move forward, remembering the good times and the contributions these individuals made to the sport.”

HL: What are your future plans?

RB: “I’m involved in various business ventures, including a company that benefits employees and saves them money, which I’m working on with my oldest son, Scooter. I’m also involved with Aloe MD, a company that produces incredible Aloe-based products for pain and inflammation, and Medici Leaf, a cannabinoid company. Another exciting project is called Mastery, which uses AI for visualization, a tool that has received great responses from pro sports teams and individuals.

I’m always looking for opportunities and staying active. I wish I had the kind of contracts players get today. If I did, I would love to give back and help others, much like the show “The Millionaire” and “Undercover Boss.” There’s immense satisfaction in changing people’s lives for the better. I believe in playing the cards you’re dealt and making the best of it, and that’s what I strive to do every day.”

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POWER, LEGACY, AND VISION:

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FEATURE

THE MCCABE FAMILY

A story of resiliency, bravery, and forging new ventures in the Southwest Florida community.

BY DARBY KORDONOWY

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appearing when I was in the Air Force. I could have made a career out of the Air Force, but I didn’t. I stayed in there for three years, which was the obligation during the Vietnam War. I spent my time in Pakistan and then Omaha, Nebraska, in the intelligence services of the Air Force.”

When Phil got out of the Air Force, he left without a warrant or desire to stay, but he believes to this day that the military is a wonderful career for many people. Phil reflects, “I got out but wasn’t ready to start a business. The CIA recruited me to work in the command center in Omaha for my last two years in the Air Force. The CIA then offered me a job, and I went to work for the CIA for just over four years. At age 26, my entrepreneurial spirit emerged; before that, I had no idea what I was going to do.”

When Phil was with the CIA, he worked mostly overseas on what they call per diem, so there were no expenses, and everything went into the CIA’s credit union. Phil adds, “I had a huge savings at the time, and I felt quite secure and independent and ready to go. It was a grand total of $25,000. The CIA gave me the launching pad to go out and seek new opportunities.”

Phil’s real estate and hospitality journey began when he bought his first lodging business in Scarborough, Maine, when he was 27. The property

PHOTO CREDIT: LOS ANGLES

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he McCabe family has built a legacy in Naples, Florida, marked by resilience, determination, innovation, and a focus on enhancing the local community for residents and tourists alike.

The McCabe legacy in Naples begins with Philip J. McCabe Sr., a hotelier, real estate developer, entrepreneur, and the founder and CEO of Gulf Coast Commercial Corporation, who has impacted the Naples community for more than 40 years.

Phil grew up with five children and two adults living in one bedroom in the working-class neighborhood of Dorchester in Boston, where he lived in the attic with his three brothers. His mom was a secretary, and his dad was a teacher in Boston. He is a second-generation American with grandparents from Ireland, and he has an Irish passport and enjoys visiting Ireland. Reflecting on his first job, Phil says, “I started working as a caddy when I was 12 years old at a golf course nearby. That is when I started to learn the concept of ‘work and save, work and save, work and save,’ and that’s what I did, and I never stopped.”

Phil left Dorchester when he was 18 and went into the military. As far as where his entrepreneurial spirit stems from, Phil expresses, “I’m a born entrepreneur, and it’s in my DNA. I don’t know where it came from.

There’s nobody else or anybody that sprouted the way I did. It started

FEATURE

“I KEPT MYSELF ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THAT MARKET AND DEMOGRAPHIC OF NAPLES, WHICH HAS GONE HIGHER AND HIGHER.” was bankrupt and about five acres on the beach. Phil immediately thought to himself, “Location, location, location,” which has been a huge part of his career success. His summer business of cottages on the beach quickly turned into a year-round business where Phil was operating his cottages in the winter and on a monthly basis because there was no such thing as an Embassy Suites or Residence Inn by Marriott back then. There was a lot of migration in Portland at the time, and companies needed housing.

Phil believes and understands that a very significant component of being a thriving entrepreneur is understanding the financial aspects of every project, managing a balance sheet, and the importance of building upon your assets. His entrepreneurial genes were really boiling while he was in Maine. Fortunately, he had excess capital from the income of the cottage business that he plowed back into other things, including buying land in Kennebunkport, Maine, out of bankruptcy during a financial crisis in New England, along with a historic property called the cigar factory in Manchester, New Hampshire. Phil currently owns 60 acres of land in Kennebunkport, Maine, where he enjoys spending his vacations creating lasting memories with his sons.

Phil moved to Naples in 1984, where he was between Maine and Naples for a couple of years. When he opened his first boutique hotel in Naples, the 99-room Inn of Naples, in 1986, he moved full-time to Naples.

From his cottage business in Maine, he had learned the ins and outs of hospitality management, construction, and maintenance, so when he got to Naples, he made the decision to make Naples his home. Phil’s goal of moving to Florida was to build a new hotel. Phil expresses, “I had my vision of a boutique hotel. It was quite different than owning a Maine property, but I ended up locating and buying a piece of land in Naples, gaining zoning approval, and going through the whole process all by myself. My vision was to build an independent boutique hotel. I had no problem taking charge of the whole thing from the beginning to the end of it and operating it myself.”

In 1992, Phil opened the Inn at Pelican Bay in north Naples. Reflecting on this hotel and the Inn of Naples, Phil remarks, “When I drove down Fifth Avenue in 1985, I didn’t buy downtown. I bought uptown because I didn’t have any faith in the downtown area. When I sensed an opportunity downtown, I strategically bought a bank building that became the Inn on Fifth, starting with a vision to develop this area.”

In 1998, McCabe purchased the site for the Naples landmark and destination hotel Inn on Fifth. Over the next 25 years, he transformed the site into a luxury anchor and AAA Four Diamond status hotel on Fifth Avenue South. He also redeveloped the commercial property across the street from the Inn on Fifth in 2010 to create the 32-Club Level Suites.

“All of the property I have built, including the Inn of Naples, the Inn on Pelican Bay, the Inn on Fifth, and the Club Level Suites at the Inn on Fifth, were all becoming a higher- and higher-level property. I kept myself on the leading edge of that market and demographic of Naples, which has gone higher and higher. You must recognize and build into the market.”

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FEATURE Phil also has built residential properties, but his number one vision for the market was building independent, small boutique properties, making sure that they were going to be managed and designed and that the quality of the product (he calls his hotel rooms products) be the best of the best. As the former chair of the Community Redevelopment Agency in Naples, Phil has guided the city through significant transformations, including rezoning historically commercial areas that were in decline to residential use and overseeing extensive landscape beautification projects across city and county medians. He also strongly advocated creating a city characterized by pedestrian-friendly streets, sidewalks, and enhanced connectivity. Reflecting on his greatest achievement, Phil enthusiastically states, “Besides having my two sons. That’s a big one. It is also to see Naples as it is today because I was so significant to the foundation, the zoning, governance, the landscaping, and the beautification of Naples.”

Phil continues to expand his ventures in Naples, including the recent completion of a 14,000 square-foot hangar at the Naples Airport, with an adjacent office building that serves as the headquarters for his company, Gulf Coast Commercial Corporation, a boutique real estate company specializing in the holding, development, and management of boutique hotels, restaurants, residential, mixed-use, and commercial buildings.

Innovation thrives under the leadership of Phil Sr., as he collaborates and works side by side with his two sons, 28-year-old Philip McCabe Jr., Director of Operations, and 29-year-old Joseph McCabe, VP of Development at Gulf Coast Commercial Corporation.

“It is a small, family-owned business,” Joseph remarks on the work dynamic. “You have got to have thick skin to work with us. When we go on family vacations, there’s always an element of work to it. So, even when we’re traveling, we’re always studying other hospitality products and construction projects around the world. Work never leaves my personal life, and my personal life never leaves my work, so everything is blended and integrated into my whole life.”

Joseph serves on the board of the Fifth Avenue South Business Improvement District (BID), teaches golf as the assistant golf coach at the Community School of Naples (CSN), and is the founder and owner of Naples Jet Sales, providing a concierge-level service in the aircraft industry that fulfills specific customer requests by finding aircraft around the world tailored to each buyer’s needs. Naples Jet Sales is run solely by Joseph, who he calls his one-man band that is focused on personal relationships at the center of his business model. His love for airplanes began at an early age. Joe reflects, “As a kid, I loved playing with paper planes, and I had built remote-controlled airplanes when I was seven years old. I have always loved airplanes and flying in general, having been surrounded by airplanes my whole life. When I was young, my dad bought a Cessna 172 Skyhawk airplane to take lessons on because he wanted to get his pilot’s license for another airplane that he was buying. I would go up with him, and the entire time, he would end up looking at real estate, so I pretty much ended up taking the lessons.”

“EVEN WHEN WE’RE TRAVELING, WE’RE ALWAYS STUDYING OTHER HOSPITALITY PRODUCTS AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AROUND THE WORLD. WORK NEVER LEAVES MY PERSONAL LIFE, AND MY PERSONAL LIFE NEVER LEAVES MY WORK.” Fast forward to his post-graduate years from High Point University, where Joseph studied business administration with a concentration in entrepreneurship, he began to manage the sales and acquisitions of his dad’s airplanes with another broker. Now, he is embarking on receiving his pilot license. Reflecting on his skill set for the aviation world, Joseph states, “I have almost a photographic type of memory for stats and specs of airplanes. For instance, I could look at an airplane and tell you what it is, approximately what year it is, what type of engines it has, what kind of maintenance intervals there are, the calendar versus hourly inspections, and more.”

Joseph brings his entrepreneurial skills and strengths to Gulf Coast Commercial’s development team, focusing on logistics and construction. On future projects, Joseph exudes, “We own land in Anguilla, roughly 100 acres down there encompassing a mile and a half of coastline and about 3500 linear feet of beach. We just went through the memorandum of understanding (MOU) process with the government of Anguilla. We’ve been approved for entitlements for a large resort, hotels, and a marina.”

Phil’s youngest son, Philip McCabe Jr., grew up shadowing his dad in the hospitality business from a very young age, working at the legendary now-closed McCabe’s Irish Pub located next to the Inn on Fifth, then later working as a concierge at the Club Level at The Inn on Fifth during his high school summer. Ten years later, he opened Naples’ first speakeasy, The Vine Room, on Fifth Avenue South in 2021, which has now become

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a sought-after destination bar and nightlife hotspot in Southwest Florida with lines wrapping around the block. Philip Jr. offers a strong skill set in creative hospitality, seeking inspiration globally from his travels to the world’s top hotels, cocktail bars, spas, and restaurants to give his customers a luxurious and unforgettable experience-driven visit.

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hat’s next for the McCabe family? Their latest business endeavor is a five-star boutique hotel and private club in Naples, Florida, breaking ground this fall and slated for opening in late 2026. The catalyst for their upcoming boutique hotel was the purchase of the Beacon Bowl that came to the McCabe’s when the owners were looking to move and build a bigger, better bowling alley elsewhere. Together, Phil Sr., Joseph, and Philip Jr. studied the opportunity for a boutique hotel, including the entire commercial corridor of Trail Blvd (running parallel to US/41) and its stark difference to the quality of development and landscaping on the west side of 41 with Waterside Shops and Artis—Naples.

Philip Jr. states, “We concluded that in order to position a boutique hotel at a five-star level, we would need to reenvision the south end of Trail Blvd at large, creating a linear park and high-quality landscaping.

We believe this will be transformative for the commercial district, which runs from 7-Eleven to Ridge Dr, adding greater pedestrian friendliness and an attractive aesthetic for customers and guests of the neighboring businesses, including our hotel.”

The Carnelian Hotel will encompass an all-club level, all-suite boutique hotel with 70 rooms, creating an intimate B&B experience at a five-star level. Guests will enjoy tailored services, including butler service, private chef dining in the larger suites, in-house chauffeur service, and more. The ground floor will feature an impressive motor court, a small retail area, and two significant restaurants that will be open to the public. The second to sixth floors and the rooftop will be private to members and guests only.

“We believe Naples is lacking in the boutique segment of

“WE HAVE AN AMAZING TEAM OF IMAGINEERS, ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, DESIGNERS, AND CONSULTANTS. EVERYBODY IS WORKING AS A TEAM, AND THAT’S WHAT MAKES IT A SUCCESS.” hotels, specifically independent hotels with no brand or flag that create unique experiences for its guests,” states Philip Jr. “At the Inn on Fifth, we built the Club Level suites across the street, which are 32 suites with exclusive use of a club lounge and a rooftop. The lounge serves complimentary all-day snacks and continental breakfast, as well as a top-shelf bar and hors d’oeuvres in the evening. We are taking that building and component of the Inn on Fifth and making it the concept of the entire hotel. We are perfecting the typical suite with a generous living area, a bar, a 5-piece bathroom, and a walk-in closet, which will all be standard in our suite.”

The second floor of The Carnelian Hotel will feature a 20,000-squarefoot wellness club with state-of-the-art facilities. The wellness club has three pillars dedicated to a mission of overall well-being: active, recovery, and relaxation. To activate, The Carnelian Hotel will have a state-of-the-art fitness center with complimentary personal training.

The wellness locker rooms will house significant recovery methods, including a ThermoSuite with hydrotherapy (cold plunge, hot plunge, HydroMassage, and more), as well as multiple types of saunas and steam

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rooms. For relaxation, the hotel will showcase a 10,000-square-foot fullservice spa with experiential treatment rooms and individualized spa lounges for pre- and post-treatments. Levels three through five are hotel suites equipped with wonderful views of the Gulf of Mexico, starting on level four.

“Our Wellness club at Sterling’s will really be the first of its kind in Naples and beyond," says Philip. "Longevity and anti-aging therapies will be at the forefront of our mission. We are incorporating the latest technologies with proven holistic offerings, along with a 5-star spa to offer a robust wellness solution for our members.”

The sixth floor of Sterling’s will feature 19,000 square feet of luxurious hospitality venues and experiences for members only, including the Sterling’s club restaurant, a lounge and jazz bar, and The Vine Room’s sister speakeasy. The 20,000-square-foot rooftop will feature two experiential pools, one reserved for adults and the other welcoming children. Additionally, guests can enjoy a stunning poolside bar and restaurant with views of the Gulf of Mexico and the Naples skyline.

Sterling’s club members will delight in unique experiences, including nightly entertainment and exclusive events such as chef’s tables, wine tastings, cooking classes, TED talks, and over-the-top holiday events such as a New Year’s Eve gala, a Halloween costume party, and Christmas spectacular. Sterling’s will collaborate with cultural venues such as Artis—Naples and Gulfshore Playhouse for entertainment offerings, and Waterside Shops for retail experiences. The rooftop will also host events such as cookouts with top chefs, music and theatre, and holiday fireworks shows.

“In studying the location of the property, we realized this is really the center of Naples, between downtown and North Naples and Bonita,”

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says Philip Jr. “There are more than 38,000 households within a five-mile radius, many without a clubhouse, convenient dining and nightlife, or even a gym or significant wellness offering. We know there are a lot of golf clubs in Naples, but we feel an ‘everything but golf club’ would resonate well, especially in this location and at this scale.”

Gulf Coast Commercial Corporation is working with world-renowned AvroKO for the interiors of the hotel and private members club. For creative and branding, they are working with New York-based agency, King & Partners. The hotel’s three central design pillars are Nouveau Continental, Paradise Coast, and Collector’s Sanctuary, using different reds from the Carnelian stone throughout the suites and public spaces, as well as Carnelian itself.

“There is a synergy between the three of us,” expresses Phil. “We have an amazing team of imagineers, architects, engineers, designers, and consultants. Everybody is working as a team, and that’s what makes it a success. You’ve got to be able to constructively work with those teams of professionals who hopefully know more than you do, and that’s what I try to teach my two boys. We want to bring in people who know more than us.”

Reflecting on the longevity of his career and his exciting new boutique hotel project, Phil shares, “My vision now going into The Carnelian Hotel and Sterling’s club is based on all of my previous career, and I would characterize it as iconic. Now it’s my crowning of my career achievement here. It is going to be fun. We are going to have architecture that will be iconic, and that will take precedence for that location. We will change that whole location as I did with Fifth Avenue.”

5400 Tamiami Trail N, Naples, FL 34108

FEATURE

Alfresco Elegance with Patina Collection’s Aperitivo Style Discover the art of aperitivo with Patina Collection, where Italian tradition meets outdoor charm for a serene and stylish pre-dinner experience.

BY DARBY KORDONOWY

THE ENCHANTING RITUAL OF APERITIVO, DEEPLY ROOTED IN Italian culture, is more than just a prelude to dinner—it’s a celebration of relaxation, socializing, and the simple pleasures of life. This cherished tradition, typically enjoyed in the early evening, seamlessly blends light snacks with a selection of aperitifs, creating a cheerful atmosphere that encourages conversation and connection.

Karen Abell, owner and curator of Patina Collection, perfectly captures the essence of this charming tradition. “Whether in Naples, Tuscany, or Chicago, entertaining and dining alfresco is an important part of our social style. There is nothing more charming than setting an unexpected table, dropping chandeliers from trees, indoor pillows softening the seating, and creating a surprise! Life is busy, and we spend most of it indoors, so stolen moments are much more intimate when outside, shared with friends and family. When we can, dining what we

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call ‘aperitivo style,’ the menu and the pace are much more relaxed. We find ourselves lingering for hours, talking and sharing memories. La Vita e Bella!”

Embrace the cherished tradition of aperitivo with Patina Collection and Naples locals for a night of sips, snacks, socializing, and shopping at their monthly aperitivo evenings during the season from 6-8pm. Plus, don’t miss special aperitivo afternoons where you can create topiaries to add a stylish addition to your alfresco setting.

To create your own version of aperitivo nights in Naples, Abell expresses, “Transform your outdoor dining into a European-inspired experience with a touch of elegance and charm. Start by layering your table with a mix of plate and bowl styles that complement your cuisine— think classic porcelain for a sophisticated touch or rustic earthenware for a cozy feel. Drape your table with beautiful linens to set the mood and

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ERIK KELLAR

add a touch of refinement. Don’t forget stylish salt and pepper shakers that blend seamlessly with your table setting.”

For cuisine, Abell recommends creating a mouthwatering charcuterie spread with cheeses, cured meats, fresh fruits, and crusty bread as the centerpiece. Abell says, “Arrange it all with care to make every bite a delight. With these elements combined, you’ll have a table space that’s perfect for enjoying leisurely outdoor meals with friends and family, just like in the heart of Europe. Bon appétit!”

351 12th Ave S, Naples, FL 34102 patinacollection.com

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FEATURE

A WORLD OF SCENTS Stacy Bee’s Founding Journey of Bee Apothecary

BY MARI HERNANDEZ RUBENSTEIN

HAUTE LIVING SITS DOWN WITH STACY BEE, THE founder of Bee Apothecary, to discuss her journey in creating a brand that blends her cultural experiences and entrepreneurial skills. From her inspiration drawn from her time in India to the influence of the Bush family, Stacy shares how her unique background shapes her brand’s ethos. Join us as we explore her vision for Bee Apothecary, her personal connections to the fragrances, and her insights into balancing motherhood, career, and her love for golf.

Haute Living (HL): Bee Apothecary seems to be the culmination of all your lifetime diverse experiences, blending aromas, cultural immersions, and your entrepreneurship skills. What motivated you to start it, and how do you integrate your background into the brand’s ethos and product development?

Stacy Bee: The idea for Bee Apothecary goes back to my time in India. Some of my board members were essential oil manufacturers, and I met a chemist who taught me blending and formulation. Fragrance has always been a passion, along with essential oils and aromatherapy. I wrote the business model while in India, and after returning to the US and starting a family, I launched Bee Apothecary. The brand reflects my experiences around the world, blending memories, cultures, and my entrepreneurial skills.

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FEATURE HL: Tell me about the name. How did you choose it?

Stacy Bee: The name is inspired by Santa Maria Novella in Florence, Italy, a place that captivated me. It was started by monks who created herbal and medicinal products for the Pope and royal families. The bee represents my last name, and the logo features a crown and the Lorraine Cross, symbolizing my family’s heritage and service. The bumblebee, despite its weight, keeps flying, symbolizing perseverance and resilience.

The name and logo reflect my journey and inspirations.

HL: You mentioned the Bush family’s influence in naming the fragrance “CAVU.” Can you share how this name came about and its significance, especially in relation to President Bush’s pilot background and the family’s legacy?

Stacy Bee: I was on a committee called the Bush Classic, which included members of the Bush family. After George and Barbara Bush passed away, their daughter and granddaughter approached me, offering their support during a challenging time in my life. They suggested creating a commemorative scent to honor their parents, inspired by items from their medicine cabinets. We developed scents at Walker’s Point that evoked memories of their mother, father, grandfather, and grandmother.

When Doro Bush first smelled “Pearls of Love,” she had tears in her eyes because it brought back nostalgic memories of her mother. The Bush family’s mission of public service inspired these scents, reflecting their commitment to helping Americans grow their businesses. “CAVU,” which stands for “clear and visibility unlimited,” is a pilot term from World War II, symbolizing “endless possibilities.” This name, tied to President Bush’s background as a pilot, embodies the idea of limitless potential and clear direction in life.

flowers because I love them. I tend to favor jasmine and gardenia. For men’s scents, I often add lavender because it’s light and fresh. My signature scent, “Beaches and White Flowers,” celebrates Florida with its white flowers that grow on golf courses. We have a total of three scents sold on the website, and for custom corporate luxury clients, I do private scent building.

HL: Can you share some pivotal moments from your childhood that shaped your passion for the environment and sustainable living?

Stacy Bee: Growing up, my father was in the lumber and timber industry.

We had mills and forestry programs, and we always replanted trees after cutting them. We lived on a 200-acre hobby farm in western Wisconsin, where we planted 20,000 trees at times. My roots also involved having animals, with a herd of 50 beef cattle. My mom taught me how to grow our food, from beans to strawberries, and we canned it. This upbringing instilled in me the importance of a healthy and organic diet. Gardening with flowers also played a significant role, with their scents, like freshcut hay and blooming irises, influencing my love for nature.

HL: Your early career involved working closely with Chairman and CEO Jim Howard, who became a significant mentor in your life. How did his guidance influence your approach to business and leadership?

Stacy Bee: Jim Howard had been the president of Bell and then came to NSP, where he specialized in mergers and acquisitions. I started working for him at 19, in the utility company’s call center, just as technology was emerging. I was among the first to be trained on our new customer service system, which was crucial for a merger.

Jim valued my hard work ethic and my Midwest values. He taught me

“THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT SCENT THAT RECHARGES YOU AND HELPS YOU MOVE FORWARD. I WANT TO BUILD BEE APOTHECARY INTO SOMETHING TRULY SPECIAL. MOST IMPORTANTLY, MY BRAND IS ABOUT UPLIFTING PEOPLE IN LIFE, CELEBRATING WOMEN, ENTREPRENEURS, AND BUSINESSMEN WITH STORIES AND IDEAS.” HL: What are your aspirations for Bee Apothecary, and how do you envision the brand evolving?

Stacy Bee: My vision is to build luxury scents that everyone loves and wants to have in their pocket. I’m deeply involved in the golf world, and I envision every pro shop, women’s guest day, or Pro-Am having one of my scents. Personally, I always carry a rollerball of my scent when I play golf—it’s a pick-me-up on frustrating days or after a tough golf shot. There’s something about scent that recharges you and helps you move forward. I want to build Bee Apothecary into something truly special. Most importantly, my brand is about uplifting people in life, celebrating women, entrepreneurs, and businessmen with stories and ideas, and guiding them through the journey of entrepreneurship, parenthood, and community service, echoing the mission of the Bush Center for Public Service.

HL: Do you have a favorite scent and why?

Stacy Bee: Each scent has a bit of my heart in it. I always add different

about the fundamentals and lifestyle necessary for success, including learning golf for corporate events. He respected my willingness to learn and work long hours. His mentorship emphasized character, morals, and fundamentals, which have been key in my leadership approach.

HL: Transitioning from utility to founding your own marketing and public relations agency was a bold move. What inspired you to take the leap, and what were some of the challenges you faced?

Stacy Bee: Working with C-suite executives and having strong relationships with them inspired my move. Jim Howard had connections with leaders from Ecolab, 3M, General Mills, and more. I realized I had a niche in communicating with high-level executives and managing high-conflict situations, which is essential in PR. I became known for my work and was recognized as a 40 under 40 by American City Business Journals. The challenges included dealing with healthcare uncertainties and managing a startup, but my strong relationships and niche expertise helped me succeed.

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HL: Your time in India as CEO of the United States-India Investors Forum led to some unique experiences, including involvement in an Indian Marathi language film. Can you share more about how this opportunity came about, your experiences working on the film, and how your time in India, including this film experience, impacted you both personally and professionally?

Stacy Bee: My frequent travels to India for PR work led me to meet the Consul General, who invited me to lead the US-India Investors Forum.

Before that, I met a Bollywood producer through the child cast as my son in a Marathi film about surrogacy. This opportunity allowed me to learn the local language and experience a less touristy side of India. I took a sabbatical to work on the film, which won the President’s Award in India and earned me the Best First-Time Actress award. The film also screened at the Minneapolis International Film Festival. Living in India for nearly four years broadened my worldview, teaching me to appreciate diverse cultures and communication styles and to be more adaptable and open-minded.

HL: How did your passion for golf begin, and how does it connect with your personal and professional life?

Stacy Bee: My mentor, Jim Howard, encouraged me to learn golf. I remember my first game with him—I was terrible! Being outdoors, which aligns with Bee Apothecary’s brand, is what drew me to golf. It’s not just a sport; it’s a way to learn about people in four hours of play— about their choices and the kind of company you want to keep. Golf offers a social aspect and a wellness component; walking a golf course averages six miles. It’s a family affair for me; I play with my two sons.

Golf connects me with people who support my business and whom I

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support in return. I aim to play once or twice a week, but recently, it’s been more like two or three times a month. I have been blessed to play in beautiful courses like Kingsbarns in Scotland and, more recently, Teeth of the Dog in the Dominican Republic. It left a lasting impression—it has more beach holes than Pebble Beach, and the experience playing there with the LPGA president was phenomenal.

HL: How do you balance motherhood with your professional endeavors?

Stacy Bee: Balancing is a continuous challenge; we’re never perfectly balanced. Surrounding myself with supportive people and remembering our values and ethics, as taught by my mentor, is crucial. It’s about teaching our children resilience, gratitude, and the understanding that life has its ups and downs. Living at Wilderness, they’re involved in tennis and golf, but golf, with its rules and etiquette, is particularly valuable. It teaches them discipline and respect, values that carry over into life beyond the course.

HL: What advice would you give to young women entering the workforce today?

Stacy Bee: Work hard, stay humble, and learn from everyone around you.

Persistence pays off; it’s about taking small steps toward your goals and learning from setbacks along the way. Resilience, courage, and serving your community are paramount to me. Staying true to your values and holding yourself and others accountable builds a strong foundation for success in any endeavor.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ERIK KELLAR

FEATURE

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DISCOVERING THE VISION AND CRAFTSMANSHIP BEHIND HAYES HABERDASHERY Alexander Hayes’ journey from luxury retail to founding Naples’ premier bespoke menswear destination.

HAYES HABERDASHERY IS NAPLES’ FIRST CURATED LUXURY menswear boutique, founded and owned by Naples native Alexander Hayes. Over the past decade, Hayes has immersed himself in the world of luxury department stores, developing a refined taste for tailored menswear. In his previous position as a Men’s Specialist at Saks Fifth Avenue, he had the privilege of working closely with prestigious brands like Zegna and notably serving as the brand ambassador for Isaia Napoli for five years. Hayes has taken his ten-plus years of experience to curate a boutique that is truly for the man who wants to be a step above the rest not only in how he dresses but in life. The boutique itself has the perfect mix of ready-to-wear clothing if you’re looking for something new for the weekend or a last-minute trip, as well as the ability to suit all custom clothing and footwear needs, including shoes, shirts, knitwear, outerwear both dressy and casual, slacks, suits, and sport coats. Hayes’ goal and mission is to offer full wardrobe styling for his clientele to help them achieve a wardrobe that is equivalent to their personal success in life, all while building personal relationships with the clientele along the way.

Haute Living Naples goes behind the seams of Hayes Haberdashery with Alexander Hayes.

Haute Living Naples (HL): How did you decide to start Hayes Haberdashery?

Alexander Hayes (AH): After having been in luxury retail for over a decade specializing in menswear here in Naples, I realized that I felt there was a void in the market for what men were looking for in a place they went in to shop. I bet on myself that I could open something truly unique to the area that would fill the gaps that were missing.

HL: What brands do you carry? What materials are the clothing/ footwear/accessories made of?

AH: The backbone of the boutique is definitely Neapolitan Menswear, which is the region of the world where the best men’s clothing is made.

As far as brands carried in the store, we carry Isaia, Sartorio, Manto, Errico Formicola, Barmas, B Settecento, Mauro Ottaviani, Mauro Blasi, Barton Perreira, and Bontoni. The materials used for the clothing are only the finest in fabric selections from wool, linen, cashmere, silk, and vicuna, and for the footwear and accessories, the materials are leather, suede, alligator, and deerskin.

HL: What is the process of a customized appointment for clients at Hayes Haberdashery? What services do you offer?

AH: As far as making an appointment, there are three different ways that

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work well: by phone call or text (239) 249-9752, email ahayes91@gmail.com, or through our website hayeshaberdashery.com. From there, we can discuss what you are looking to achieve during your appointment. For services, we offer men’s personal styling and coordination with your better half as well for events and photos, executive image consultations and styling, full-service alterations, and the best any man can find in both off-the-rack clothing as well as made-to-measure and custom clothing from the best artisans the world has to offer.

HL: What are the most popular styles you see in Naples that men buy at Hayes Haberdashery?

AH: The most popular styles I see in store are definitely softer, less structured sports jackets that pair great with more casual attire, sophisticated knitwear in elevated fabrics such as johnny collar polos, hoodies, and crew neck sweaters in both short and long-sleeve options depending on the time of year and whether a man wants to wear a jacket over the top, and lastly elevated accessories that scream quiet luxury such as our footwear from Bontoni and sunglasses from Barton Perreira as they are different from what a gentleman would see in a traditional high-end mall, which helps them stand out from their peers in a sophisticated and James Bond type of way.

HL: How is Hayes Haberdashery different from other menswear stores in Naples, and in Florida?

AH: I really do believe that we are the first menswear store in Naples that offers not only the best in made-to-measure and custom clothing but also the best in ready-to-wear clothing, whether it be elevated knitwear, denim, chinos, five pockets, polos, and most importantly the personal styling and the ability to put both your dress and casual wardrobes together for you to build you a complete wardrobe that you feel confident in. I would say one of the biggest goals for the store, in general, is to make it known throughout not only Florida but all of America for men who love to wear the finest clothing the world has to offer.

HL: What menswear trends are popular now?

AH: ‘Quiet Luxury’ is still the king of trends in menswear, and it is also what we specialize in here at Hayes. As far as other trends, I would say the fit of men’s clothing is definitely relaxing; the fits are not as tight and clingy as before, and this can be highlighted as we begin to see the re-introduction of pleats in trousers.

97 9th St N, Naples, FL 34102

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ERIK KELLAR

BY DARBY RADCLIFF

an Evening at the

Palm Royale A Bright Night for a Cure

Save the Date

JAN

2025

Elite Jets Hangar 125 Aviation Dr S, Naples, FL 34104 5:30 PM – 11:00 PM

The Perry Hotel Naples Debuts This Fall The Perry Hotel Naples, a stunning new 160-room boutique hotel nestled deep within the picturesque Cocohatchee River in Naples, Florida, will open this fall.

This property will be the second location for The Perry, a hotel brand that launched in Key West in 2017 and promises to elevate the hospitality landscape in Southwest Florida.

BY DARBY KORDONOWY

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Haute PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE PERRY HOTEL NAPLES

TRAVEL

The waterfront hotel boasts a modern industrial design with high-end amenities spanning seven floors. Most guest rooms feature balconies with uninterrupted views. Guests can enjoy a ground-floor pool adjacent to an activity lawn, a poolside tapas eatery, a lobby coffee bar, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and a breathtaking open-air deck. The rooftop offers a pool and a poolside bar with craft cocktails, and the Tigress Restaurant provides an upscale rooftop eatery with chef-driven Asian-fusion cuisine and panoramic water views.

“The opening of The Perry Hotel Naples will significantly change the landscape for destination hotels available to travelers visiting Southwest Florida,” says Mike Raymond, CEO of FOD Capital, project developer of The Perry Hotel Naples.

Imagined by Florida-based design firm Casaconde & Associates, The Perry Hotel Naples’ contemporary industrial aesthetic is apparent from the moment guests enter the two-story lobby. Rustic materials such as exposed brick, stone, and light woods are complemented by steel beams, metal chandeliers, and leather seating, offering a comfortable yet sleek atmosphere.

Nature and wildlife are central to The Perry Hotel Naples’ identity.

The hotel’s landscape pays tribute to the local native ecosystem, featuring a riverine estuary, a mangrove forest, and an upland forest of native pines, oaks, and palms. The boardwalk from the pool deck leads guests to the mangrove-infused nature conservation area, where they can immerse themselves in Florida’s wildlife. Hotel guests can choose from multiple water activities, including water sports, fishing trips, and a dolphin and sunset cruise from the riverfront pier featuring an eight-slip marina and a dock. The pier also offers direct channel access to the Gulf of Mexico and Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park Beaches.

“The area has become increasingly desirable for travelers due to its proximity to nearby beaches, golf courses, world-class shopping, and other areas for outdoor recreation,” explains Matt Strunk, CFO of FOD Capital. “The Perry Hotel Naples will be a wonderful destination hotel for travelers and locals alike.”

12155 Tamiami Trail N., Naples, FL 34110

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USS Nemo

DISCOVER NAPLES’ DINING GEMS A Culinary Journey Beyond Borders

BY MARI HERNANDEZ RUBENSTEIN

Renowned for our stunning vistas and rich history, the city of Naples, which many of us call home, is also a treasure trove of extraordinary dining experiences. From the delicate artistry of Japanese cuisine to the vibrant spices of Indian dishes, the sophisticated elegance of French fare, and a fusion of flavors that transcend boundaries, Naples offers a diverse culinary landscape that promises to enchant every palate.

In this feature, we invite you to embark on a journey through Naples’ dining gems, where each restaurant brings its own unique flair to the table, making every meal an unforgettable celebration of global flavors.

TRATTORIA ANGELA NAPLES Relax, enjoy, and Buon Appetito at Trattoria Angela, where Enrico and Angela bring the warmth and hospitality of their hometown, Bacoli, Italy, to Naples, Florida. Enrico, who moved to the U.S. in 1994, honed his culinary skills at Aldo’s Restaurant in Baltimore. He later partnered with Oscar nominee Chazz Palminteri to open “Chazz Bronx Original” in the Inner Harbor. Trattoria Angela offers a menu brimming with authentic Italian flavors, from classic pasta dishes and wood-fired pizzas to fresh seafood and house-made desserts. Every dish is crafted with care and passion, reflecting their commitment to quality and tradition. They provide genuine Italian hospitality, delivered with family kindness and always with a smile. 835 Vanderbilt Beach Rd, Naples, FL 34108 NAT NAT Indulge in Lovr Boys’ organic baked goods, including their signature, crave-worthy sourdough cinnamon roll, lavender matcha cookies, and herb and garlic sourdough bagels to pair with espresso beverages and teas. Lovr Boys also creates weekly rotating desserts for Nat Nat during the evenings, including a lemon Chantilly cake with cherry jam and cream cheese frosting. If you love natural wine, enjoy a neo-bistro menu featuring a weekly Focaccia bread and innovative specials created by owner Ming Yee that change weekly and are perfect for sharing with friends or a date while savoring a wine flight. 3080 Tamiami Trail N, #1, Naples, FL 34103

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Haute NAMBA Yōkoso (ようこそ) or welcome to NAMBA, where the heart of Izakaya dining comes alive with Japanese comfort foods and specialties served as small plates for sharing. Inspired by the vibrant Namba district in Osaka, NAMBA captures the essence of authentic Izakaya dining with a menu crafted by Executive Chef Koko. Influenced by years of apprenticeships under renowned chefs like Makoto Okuwa, Chef Koko ensures a perfect balance of flavors in every dish. NAMBA’s menu features enticing small plates of beef, chicken, pork, and vegetables, as well as signature dishes like ramen, aburi sushi, and premium grilled selections such as prime rib eye, Alaskan king crab, and whole tiger prawn. Each dish is carefully prepared with the freshest ingredients, using handcrafted techniques and special order items to ensure superior quality and taste. Presented in a casual, welcoming setting, NAMBA invites you to relax, share, and savor fine Japanese cuisine at its best.

8847 Tamiami Trail N, Naples, FL 34108

21 Spices

21 SPICES 21 Spices by Chef Asif invites you to embark on an epicurean adventure where classical Indian cuisine meets modern presentation and innovative techniques. Chef Asif, recently honored as a James Beard featured chef for his dinner “Innovative Indian Cuisine by Chef Asif” at the James Beard House on November 16th, 2019, uses the freshest seasonal ingredients to craft a unique culinary journey. The menu features a wide selection of outstanding biryanis, curries, and vegetarian delights, alongside refreshing salads, Tandoorroasted lamb, prawns, fresh fish, chicken, and kabobs, all prepared in an open-style kitchen. Homemade chutneys accompany many dishes, adding a personal touch to each course. Elegant appetizers and stuffed tandoori naan are served as part of the small bites menu in the wine bar, while saffronginger ice cream and unique desserts provide a sweet conclusion to your meal. Join 21 Spices for a dining experience that combines artistry with the rich flavors of Indian cuisine.

USS NEMO All aboard the USS Nemo! The USS Nemo is an acclaimed fine dining destination renowned for its award-winning cuisine and distinctive ambiance. Since its establishment in 2000, USS Nemo has consistently been voted a top restaurant in Naples, offering an upscale dining experience with freshly caught, creatively prepared dishes. Specializing in seafood, they feature standout dishes like misobroiled sea bass, along with a variety of land-based options, including vegetarian specialties such as miso-glazed tofu and Admiral Tso’s cauliflower tempura. Be sure to save room for appetizers and desserts, including tuna tataki pizza and fresh coconut cream pie. For lunch, enjoy seafood favorites like fish tacos, crunchy grouper, coconut shrimp, and Hawaiian Poke, or opt for local favorites like the steak sandwich, sashimi salad, or grilled octopus.

The USS Nemo offers an experience that continues to impress both critics and locals.

4270 Tamiami Trail E, #21 Naples, FL 34112

3745 Tamiami Trail N, Naples, FL 34103

TRAVEL

VERANDA E Revel in a romantic and exotic tropical setting, whether dining under a pergola, canopy or the stars and palms. Veranda E, nestled within The Escalante, offers a refined culinary experience that marries Asian-inspired flavors with a French flair. Executive Chef Bryan Sutton and his team use the freshest ingredients, many of which are grown in the restaurant’s organic garden.

The menu features an array of exceptional dishes, including ‘Organic Hearts of Romaine with Aged Blue Cheese Caesar Dressing,’ ‘Hot-n-Crunchy Grouper with Mango Chutney Sauce and Tropical Rice,’ ‘Pepper-Seared Wagyu Beef with Warm Blackberry Truffly Vinaigrette,’ ‘Crispy Whole Red Snapper with Citrus Ginger Sauce,’ ‘Hoisin BBQ Boneless Beef Short Ribs with Maui Onion Rings,’ and ‘King Salmon with Strawberry Basil Relish and Asian Sticky Purple Rice.’

Guests can enjoy fine dining in a captivating setting that blends elegance and exotic charm, making every visit a memorable escape.

290 5th Ave S. Naples, FL 34102

CELEBRATION PARK Celebration Park redefines the dining scene with an exhilarating food truck experience in the heart of the revitalized Bayshore District. This vibrant waterfront destination combines an industrial-chic vibe with a full-service bar that offers panoramic views of the waterway leading to the Gulf of Mexico. Owned by Rebecca Maddox, also owner of Rebecca’s and The MADDOX, Celebration Park captures the essence of her food truck inspirations from around the world. The park’s unique setup features an array of top-notch food trucks, including Islands Seafood, Gyros2Go, Molto Street Food, Gigi’s BBQ Pit, Gigi Gourmet, Mega Sabor, and Dragonfly. It’s a lively hub where families and friends can gather without the rush of table turnover, offering a casual, dynamic atmosphere. The experience is elevated by live music from some of Naples’ most talented local artists, creating an unforgettable blend of taste, entertainment, and vibrant socializing by land or boat. 2880 Becca Ave, Naples, FL 34112 THE BOHEMIAN The Bohemian is a chef-driven restaurant in the heart of downtown Bonita Springs, located in the newly renovated Entrada at Old 41 and Bonita Beach Road. Their culinary approach centers on a chef-driven kitchen offering shareable selections with global influences, all crafted with a focus on technique and quality. With a commitment to using locally sourced ingredients and herbs from their rooftop organic garden, The Bohemian creates fresh, made-to-order dishes that reflect the changing seasons. The versatile Florida hardwood oak grill adds a unique flavor to the ever-evolving menu. This relaxed, feel-good gathering spot also highlights a rotating selection of Florida brews and handcrafted drinks, making it the quintessential addition to the area. Open seven days a week with late hours on weekends, The Bohemian invites you to enjoy their dining room, bar, or ambient patio at any time. 27975 Old 41 Rd, Bonita Springs, FL 34135

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Haute

TIME

THE

BEAUTY IN HIGH COMPLICATIONS

AS AARON RODGERS ENTERS HIS SECOND ‘FIRST TIME’ PLAYING WITH THE NEW YORK JETS, HE REVEALS THE COMPLEX NATURE OF GETTING YOUR CONFIDENCE BACK.

BY ADRIENNE FAUROTE PHOTOS COURTESY OF ZENITH WATCHES STYLING TOM SOLURI GROOMING JULIA DALTON-BRUSH

THERE IS SOMETHING INCREDIBLY FREEING ABOUT AARON Rodgers. As I sat down with our Haute Time September cover star, I have to say that, at that point, I had been researching the legendary NFL quarterback for several weeks. I watched his interviews with Pat McAfee (the former NFL punter-turned-sports analyst, comedian, and media personality), understood the stories that made headlines, and studied the Zenith watches he gravitated towards. I was doing my due diligence. Yet, within moments of our conversation starting, the notes I had meticulously prepared went out the window.

Interviewing Rodgers felt like having a conversation with a longtime friend, a therapist, and a fellow watch enthusiast all at once.

The last time Haute Time sat down with Rodgers was in 2021, when he was entering his sixteenth season with the Green Bay Packers, so we had quite a bit of catching up to do. Since then, Rodgers has played two more seasons (nearly reaching two decades with the Packers) and was traded to the New York Jets during the 2023 NFL Draft with a two-year, $75 million guaranteed contract — though unfortunately suffered an injury during his first season with the team.

Fast forward to today, just a few weeks before training camp, and Rodgers feels good. “I feel blessed to still be playing football at 40 years old.

Being in New Jersey, near New York City, has been a beautiful experience,” Rodgers admits, jokingly adding that the New York Jets should technically be called the New Jersey Jets.

“It’s a new team, a new organization, and new guys to get to know.

Although getting hurt in the first game last year was tough, it was a good change. I embraced it, and I am looking forward to a healthy season this year,” he continues. Naturally, his recovery after tearing his Achilles tendon is top of mind for everyone as the 2024 NFL season approaches.

Despite the complexity of the injury, Rodgers exudes a calm energy. “[The recovery] is multifaceted,” he explains. “I went to, in my opinion, the best doctor in the country, Dr. Neal ElAttrache. NFL running back Cam Akers was his patient a few years ago, and he returned faster than anyone else has ever returned from an Achilles injury — five months. So, I knew I was in the right place. Physically, the rehab was fantastic,” Rodgers adds.

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Rodgers is facing his final mental hurdle: regaining the confidence to do all the things he knows he is capable of, but hasn’t done in a year.

“The last bit of [healing] will happen in a few weeks, when I go back to training camp, reconnect with the guys, and have my body respond exactly the way I want it to,” he explains.

As Rodgers mentioned, recovery is not linear.

In fact, he has been scrutinized for his alternative healing methods, namely ayahuasca. As a firm believer in exploring different energies to heal the body, I had to ask how these different healing tools have changed his life. “In a lot of different ways,” Rodgers says, laughing as he admits that the answer to my question would take over an hour to discuss (though I wish we had that time). “But I would say that doing ayahuasca, especially, has changed my life for the better. I’ve participated in numerous ayahuasca ceremonies — they are like microcosms of life.”

For Rodgers, life is a big ceremony. “In the week-long ceremonies, there are a lot of high moments, and a lot of difficult moments, but the goal is to find a deeper connection to yourself, to nature, and to the people around you. It’s given me a lot of high doses of self-love, forgiveness, and gentleness — things that have really made a big impact on my life.”

On a deeper level, these alternative healing methods have challenged Rodgers’ ego. “It can be an incredible tool to dive deep into the exploration of self and to deal with self-criticism and all of the different things we tell ourselves — the lies we tell ourselves — to deal with the ego,” he explains.

Given his time in the spotlight, I imagine this tool is essential. “You have to learn to find a proper place for the ego, to put it back into the heart and get it out of the head. You turn the ‘observer’ on where you can look at your life from an objective point-of-view to find a deeper connection with yourself and the people in your life.”

Rodgers has taken certain tools from these ceremonies and implemented them into his everyday life, such as ‘Hapé,’ a ritual involving a sacred tobacco blend and ashes from sacred fires, known for its cleansing, grounding, and spiritual effects. “I first became familiar with it years ago, when I was in Peru, but it has since become a weekly

practice for me when I need to ground myself. It’s a great tool for getting back into my body when I’m feeling a little worn out; it’s a good way to re-center,” he says. These techniques have proven to be efficacious for Rodgers to stay present in time.

Speaking of time, I happen to notice the Zenith Defy Skyline Chronograph on his wrist. It’s no secret that Zenith has been a part of Rodgers’ life for some time now, and I can’t help but draw a parallel between the two as they both enter new chapters: Rodgers is about to restart his career with the Jets, and Zenith welcomed a new CEO, Benoit De Clerck, this year.

As we delve deeper into watches, Rodgers recalls one of his favorite lines from the movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall. “I harken back to the line from when Mila Kunis is talking about not wearing a watch anymore.

She says something about how she doesn’t know the point of wearing a watch anymore, when everyone has the time on their phone, but I think there’s a classy nature to wearing a watch. There is an heirloom quality to it — passing it down through generations. That didn’t happen in my family,” he continues, “but it’s something I want to pass down myself.”

Thanks to his relationship with Zenith, his future children will definitely need to be Chronomaster Sport fans. But for Rodgers, the relationship with Zenith goes beyond the physical watch. “When you endorse a product, you aren’t just endorsing the actual watch; you are endorsing the people who make the company special. Some companies forget that it’s not the name on top of the building or the name at the back of the jersey that special — it’s the people who make it special.”

In fact, it was the people behind Zenith who solidified his love for the brand. “Going to Switzerland and actually meeting the men and women who work at the facility, and to see how much they care, is what locked it in for me. The 10,000 hour-rule by Malcolm Gladwell

WATCH: Zenith Skyline Chronograph with blue dial

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WATCH: Zenith Chronomaster Sport Titanium

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(the rule that it takes 10,000 hours of intensive practice to achieve mastery of complex skills and materials), is very true with these men and women who make the parts of the watches — there’s an expertise that you can’t help but appreciate the beauty of,” Rodgers admits, before getting philosophical about it (‘the Rodgers perspective,’ I like to think of it). “In life, in general, when you meet someone who is super passionate about something and they tell you about it, it draws you into that passion, and you feel connected because someone cares about something so much.”

Though he wasn’t wearing it at the time of our conversation, Rodgers’ go-to Zenith is hands down the Chronomaster Sport with the white dial — it’s the one he would pick to wear for the rest of his life if he had to choose — but he also has an affinity to the 41mm limited edition Chronomaster Sport Aaron Rodgers, with the legendary green dial. “We spent several months working on that collaboration, making decisions on so many small things, so when I saw it for the first time, it was truly meaningful. I helped put that watch together.”

Rodgers actually gifted his limited edition watch to a few important people in his life, like Dr. ElAttrache and his agent, Ed Berry.

Like most, Rodgers looks at time as the most valuable commodity.

“I’ve spent so much of my time stewing over things that don’t matter and which, vibrationally, are just distant with my body. I think any time you have experienced the death of a close friend, it’s a reminder of how fast time goes and how finite life is,” he reflects. “So now, I am trying to spend my time with the people who matter most.”

Rodgers has many layers to him as a human being. Actually, in technical watchmaking terms, I would categorize him as a high complication — and like high complications, there is so much beauty in the complexity that is Aaron Rodgers.

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The Louis Vuitton Women’s Fall-Winter 2024 collection marks Nicolas Ghesquière’s 10th year at Louis Vuitton. He reflects on his journey with memory as his guide by creating a special FallWinter 2024-25 collection that bears witness to a decade of his signature designs, drawing on the different themes and silhouettes that continue to encourage us to escape reality through fashion.

PHOTOGRAPHY CODY LIDTKE STYLING ASSISTANT ANNY CHOI FASHION DIRECTION ADRIENNE FAUROTE MAKEUP ASAMI MATSUDA AT SAINT LUKE ARTISTS HAIR CHIKA F.K USING ORIBE MODEL GEORGIA FOWLER AT IMG DIGITECH TONY TRIPOLI PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT STEFUN TALLEN STYLING SAMANTHA CHAU ALL CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES BY LOUIS VUITTON WOMEN’S SHOT ON LOCATION AT SOUND VIEW GREENPORT

Louis Vuitton belt coat, $5,950, and fitted shirt, $1,650;available at select Louis Vuitton stores, 866-884-8866, and louisvuitton.com

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Louis Vuitton sequin long sleeve, price upon request, and City Steamer Soft MM handbag, $6,950;available at select Louis Vuitton stores, 866-884-8866, and louisvuitton.com

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Louis Vuitton 3D pocket technical parka, $5,450, 3D pocket technical mini skirt, $2,800, Berlin ankle boot, $1,830, and Slim Trunk handbag, $3,850;available at select Louis Vuitton stores, 866-884-8866, and louisvuitton.com

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Louis Vuitton dress, $9,100 and Serrures 20mm belt, $875;available at select Louis Vuitton stores, 866-884-8866, and louisvuitton.com

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Louis Vuitton floral jacquard blouse, $4,350, floral jacquard pants, $2,300, Lucky Trunk handbag, $3,700, and Berlin ankle boot, $1,830;available at select Louis Vuitton stores, 866-884-8866, and louisvuitton.com

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Louis Vuitton patchwork shearling coat, $11,800, bonded jersey mini skirt, $1,900, GO-14 MM handbag, $6,900, and Jazz Derby, $1,330;available at select Louis Vuitton stores, 866-884-8866, and louisvuitton.com

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Louis Vuitton high V-neck asymmetric dress, $16,700, and knit bra and leggings, price upon request;available at select Louis Vuitton stores, 866-884-8866, and louisvuitton.com

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Louis Vuitton tiered V-neck gown, price upon request;available at select Louis Vuitton stores, 866884-8866, and louisvuitton.com

Louis Vuitton leather bolero, $4,100;available at select Louis Vuitton stores, 866-884-8866, and louisvuitton.com

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LOUIS VUITTON CONTINUES THE PRESTIGIOUS LEGACY IT BEGAN IN 1983 BY DESIGNING THE LOUIS VUITTON CUP TROPHY AND TWO UNIQUE TROPHY TRUNKS FOR THE LOUIS VUITTON CUP AND THE 37TH AMERICA’S CUP IN BARCELONA.

BY ADRIENNE FAUROTE PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF LOUIS VUITTON

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Over the last several decades, Louis Vuitton has become a name synonymous with victory. As just seen with the Trophy Trunks and Medals for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris designed by Louis Vuitton, the Maison continues its dedication to sporting awards with the Louis Vuitton Cup and the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona this year.

Founded only a few years apart — America’s Cup in 1851 and Louis Vuitton in 1854 — these two esteemed institutions have shared a parallel history for over 130 years. Their paths converged in 1983, when Louis Vuitton introduced a dedicated trophy for a showdown between the competition’s Defender and the Challengers.

This partnership has since elevated the visibility and prestige of the America’s Cup, with Louis Vuitton playing a crucial role in enhancing its prominence for 40 years, from the United States to Australia, Bermuda, Hong Kong, Dubai, France, and Spain.

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A new chapter of this story will begin in Barcelona on Thursday, August 29, extending through to Monday, October 7. During this period, the five Challengers of the Louis Vuitton Cup regatta — INEOS Britannia, Alinghi Red Bull Racing, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, NYYC American Magic, and Orient Express Racing — are poised to compete against the Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand, in the 37th edition of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup match.

Since the inception of the Louis Vuitton Cup over 40 years ago, prestige, innovation, and performance have been at the forefront of the brand’s partnership with the America’s Cup. This collaboration celebrates the convergence of two worlds, where the art of sailing meets refined luxury. Both institutions share a modern approach, evident in their use of 3D design and sustainable, lightweight materials, whether in the creation of Trophy Trunks or the foils that allow the AC40 and AC75 to glide swiftly through the water, while still honoring time-honored traditions.

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The 2024 bespoke trunks will be meticulously crafted at the historic Louis Vuitton atelier in Asnières. Each trunk is designed to carry one of two prestigious trophies: the Auld Mug, the silver ewer awarded to the America’s Cup winner since 1851 and recognized as the world’s oldest international sports trophy, and the Louis Vuitton Cup, a trophy introduced by the Maison in 1983 for the victor of the Louis Vuitton Cup competition.

For Pietro Beccari, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Louis Vuitton, this race holds a great amount of honor. “It’s with an immense sense of pride that we return to this historical competition as Title Partner. Port Vell of Barcelona will be the setting for a display of elegance and power, where teams will compete with boldness, talent, and mastery on increasingly innovative yachts. These values equally reflect the spirit of Louis Vuitton and its artisans.”

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“We are working every day to make the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Barcelona the most exceptional ever. By bringing its name and spirit to the event, Louis Vuitton is once again part of our pursuit of excellence,” states Grant Dalton, CEO of the America’s Cup event.

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THE ART OF THE For over 15 years, the Prada Galleria has withstood the test of time, becoming one of the most iconic handbags within the Prada universe. This year, the Prada Galleria is reimagined through a new floral appliqué that is quintessential Prada.

BY ADRIENNE FAUROTE

The Galleria, named after the brand’s historic flagship, opened by Mario Prada in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in 1913, is continuously rethought, reimagined, and revitalized, becoming a blank canvas for open artistic expression each collection.

For the 2024 season, the Galleria Soft Grain introduces a fresh lightness to the classic design, transforming the bag’s demeanor with supple calfskin exterior and nappa linings inside. This new treatment serves as a luxurious foundation for the three-dimensional floral blooms that adorn the bag, each hand-crafted from fine leather, boasting Prada’s expertise in leatherworking for more than a decade.

Up close, the bag’s exterior features these intricate flowers, ranging from delicately coiled rosebuds to fully bloomed anemones, all meticulously reimaged as graphic elements by Prada’s skilled artisans. The multi-layered floral appliqués are available in a variety of colors, like muted greens and a lush dandelion yellow — a very ‘Miuccia Prada’ color palette.

These floral embellishments, always woven throughout Prada’s ready-to-wear collections over the past four decades, have become synonymous with the brand’s name and its unparalleled Italian craftsmanship.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF PRADA

PRADA GALLERIA

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Stefano Ricci

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Bottega Veneta

PHOTOS COURTESY (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) STEVE MCCURRY FOR STEFANO RICCI, BOTTEGA VENETA, PIERRE MOUTON

Fashion Dior

NEWS

From new collections to one-of-a-kind collaborations, here’s the latest in the fashion industry.

BY ADRIENNE FAUROTE

STEFANO RICCI Italian luxury menswear brand Stefano Ricci unveiled its Spring-Summer 2025 collection, titled “Mission Cambodia,” inspired by eponymous country. Captured by Steve McCurry and in partnership with Wild Earth Allies, it celebrates the rich heritage and culture of Cambodia through a collection full of natural fibers, with an earthy color palette and key silhouettes like Saharian and field jackets, as well as aloe linen shirts.

DIOR For the first time in history, The Lowell Hotel debuted a special afternoon tea service in collaboration with Dior Maison, featuring the Lily of the Valley tableware collection, exquisite confections by the Majorelle team, and inspired by Christian Dior’s favorite flower to celebrate summer in New York City.

BOTTEGA VENETA The Liberta bag, introduced on the Winter 2024 runway, is Bottega Veneta’s new handbag silhouette, available in small and medium sizes in four different colorways.

Inspired by a 1970s archival bag and crafted from smooth calf leather, the new design departs from Intrecciato craftsmanship to highlight the natural attributes of the leather through innovative tannery techniques.

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PaRISIAN PHENOMENA Louis Vuitton’s 2024 High Jewelry collection, Awakened Hands, Awakened Minds, reflects a great sense of Parisian pride with 220 unique masterpiece jewels across thirteen themes, marking the sixth and largest High Jewelry collection for the Maison under Francesca Amfitheatrof, the artistic director for Watches and Jewelry. “France in the 19th century was a phenomenal time of incredible change, and when Paris really became the center of the world,” says Amfitheatrof. “The design language of Awakened Hands, Awakened Minds reflects that — all its intricacies, complications, and innovations — turned into incredible jewels.”

BY ADRIENNE FAUROTE

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PHOTO COURTESY OF NATHANIEL GOLDBERG

Louis Vuitton High Jewelry, Awakened Hands, Awakened Minds collection, Vision necklace in platinum and yellow gold, two octagonal step-cut yellow sapphires of 13.47 and 11.79 carats from Sri Lanka, one LV Monogram Star cut diamond of 2.01 carats and yellow sapphires, and diamonds

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Louis Vuitton High Jewelry, Awakened Hands, Awakened Minds collection, Victoire necklace in platinum and yellow gold, one 15.16-carat LV Monogram Flower cut diamond, two LV Monogram Star cut diamonds of 3.06 and 2.53 carats each, and diamonds

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PHOTO COURTESY OF LAZIZ HAMANI

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PHOTO COURTESY OF NATHANIEL GOLDBERG

Louis Vuitton High Jewelry, Awakened Hands, Awakened Minds collection, Vision earrings in yellow gold and platinum, two octagonal step-cut yellow sapphires from Sri Lanka of 7.45 and 6.50 carats each, two LV Monogram Star cut diamonds of 0.73 carat each, yellow sapphires and diamonds and Vision ting in yellow gold and platinum, one 3.80-carat octagonal step-cut yellow sapphire from Sri Lanka, and diamonds

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PHOTO COURTESY OF NATHANIEL GOLDBERG

Louis Vuitton High Jewelry, Awakened Hands, Awakened Minds collection, Cœur De Paris necklace in platinum and pink gold, one 56.23-carat fancy deep orangy-pink square emerald-cut diamond, one LV Monogram Star cut diamonds of 5.73 carats, 24 LV Monogram Star cut diamonds for 15.90 carats, and diamonds

PHOTO COURTESY OF LAZIZ HAMANI

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PHOTO COURTESY OF THOMAS LEGRAND

Louis Vuitton High Jewelry, Awakened Hands, Awakened Minds collection, Perception necklace in white gold, two antique cushion brillant-cut sapphires of 20.10 carats from Sri Lanka and 7.08 carats from Madagascar, one 2.51-carat LV Monogram Star cut diamond, and diamonds

PHOTO COURTESY OF NATHANIEL GOLDBERG

Louis Vuitton High Jewelry, Awakened Hands, Awakened Minds collection, Splendeur earrings in yellow gold and platinum, two cushion stepcut rubies of 2.99 carats from Mozambique, and diamonds

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Bentley V8 motors on the rise The end of the V12 era does not cut back on performance.

BENTLEY DOES THINGS RIGHT. ANYONE WHO’S BEEN BEHIND the wheel of a B-car knows this, but some expressed concerns that the coming of the self-driving cars (when?) and the end of the internalcombustion engine (when?) would mark the start of the “Anemic Era.” We should not have worried, at least not as far as Bentley goes.

The famed Bentley 12-cylinder motors ended production earlier this year and will not be available in any new models. With impressive horsepower and incredible torque, those 6.0-liter motors set the standard for performance. So, how would the eight-cylinder motors compare?

Well, the eights certainly have better fuel economy, but will the legendary performance of the bigger motors be lamented by today’s drivers?

Bentley invited me to Boston to get familiar with the more-powerful V8 motors that will be the nameplate’s main motivators in the coming years, the eight-bangers. But, of course, there was no “banging” with these whisper-quiet power plants, whose silence was befitting the GTs, Flying Spurs, and Bentaygas that I was set to drive the next day to The Preserve Sporting Club, a 3,500-acre retreat near Providence, Rhode Island.

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A brief overview of the Bentley family may be helpful. The Bentley GTs are two-door “grand tourers,” either convertible or hard top. The Flying Spurs are four-door cars, while the Bentaygas are Bentley’s SUVs. Each of those body styles comes with a variety of options, some focusing on luxury, others on performance, and a few even available with an extended wheelbase (the Bentley online configurator allows interested patrons a multitude of ways to create the vehicle that is the most suitable for their needs).

Over the years, I’ve driven all of Bentley’s models and have enjoyed each of them for different reasons. Want a grand touring car? Try the GT Speed, with its performance focus. Interested in a sporty cruiser for those wonderful summer days and nights driving through the countryside?

Try the GT Convertible (or “GTC”) with its plush fabric top which, when up, has all of the benefits of a hardtop with an elegant roof. Need a car for up to five adults? The Flying Spur delivers, with ample leg room, power fold-down tables, and TV screens in the back seats. And if you need more of a utility vehicle, which is equally at home on the ranch, at

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BENTLEY

BY TIM LAPPEN

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a lakeside picnic, at the gun club, or on a night on the town, then call on the Bentayga. This time, from the offered fleet waiting for me in Boston, I chose a unique two-tone Flying Spur, with gleaming silver paint and beautifully contrasting gloss black grille surround, hood, and roof.

While the drive from Boston to my stay in Rhode Island was a mere 50 miles or so — and mostly on highways — my Flying Spur was quiet, smooth, powerful, and comfortable the whole way. Yet this was no docile machine when the pedal hit the metal, which, of course, was necessary when coming on to the highway and merging. With an output of about 540 horsepower, this should not have come as a surprise, even though the Flying Spur weighs in at over 5,000 pounds.

The weight of the car, when kept in check by a supple yet confident suspension, provided me with the smooth ride of a long wheel-base 2.5ton cruiser, and yet, there was nary a wallow in sight as I navigated the curves and twisties.

And no, I did not ignore the GTs on this trip. They did wonderfully on the path to Providence too, ensconcing their drivers and passengers in quiet comfort while rocketing down the turnpike (never past the speed limit, of course).

Once we arrived at The Preserve — a 3,500-acre resort with room to roam and areas set aside for almost any outdoor event you can imagine, such as fly fishing, skeet shooting, picnicking, and even off-roading at the custom-designed mud, rock, rivulet, and puddle filled course — it was time for the Bentaygas to shine. For this Angeleno, who is used to seeing the Bentaygas’ offroad cred mostly used to conquer nothing more than dusty Starbucks’ lots, putting the highly capable Bentley utility vehicle through the paces to handle the trails with aplomb and grace was a great experience. What a brilliant move from Bentley to let potential customers experience all that the Bentayga has to offer while staying at a luxurious resort with so many activities to choose from, most of which showcased the Bentayga’s terrific functionality.

So, as Jay Leno is fond of saying, “There’s no replacement for displacement,” and I am a big fan of the Bentley W12 S (basically two V6 motors side by side). That said, the fire-breathers of yore clearly are on their way out, and Bentley has found a way to closely emulate the performance of the Bentley big-motor brethren while greatly improving the gas mileage and making room for the upcoming hybrid and then fully electric line of models. I will miss the sound of a big gas-fired motor, but the rush of acceleration produced by their V8 twin-turbos is equally thrilling; the handling improved by the reduced engine weight of the smaller motor and the impressive gas mileage are wonderful tradeoffs. (Note: At press time, Bentley just introduced the 771-horsepower GT Speed hybrid, so you don’t have to worry about your next Bentley not having enough power!).

Bentley has a way of creating cars that are at once elegant and refined, yet fast and highly responsive. Coupled with their inimitable ability to fabricate luxurious interiors with every detail thoughtfully created out of the finest materials, all Bentleys contain that excellent DNA of great design, high-quality components, excellent ergonomics, and also provide drivers and passengers alike the great satisfaction that they are in a well-thought-out machine. I remain a big fan of the brand and am pleased to report that the company’s move to the smaller-displacement motors does not require any need for lowered expectations: the V8s easily uphold Bentley’s long-term commitment to performance, coupled with luxury.

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THE ENDLESS

SUMMER

WHEN STAYING AT THESE CHIC BEACH RETREATS, SUMMER CAN TRULY LAST ALL YEAR LONG.

BY LAURA SCHREFFLER

PHOTO COURTESY OF HOTEL BELLEVUE SYRENE

I N T E R N AT I O N A L

HOTEL BELLEVUE SYRENE If we’re talking about oceanfront grand dames, well, Hotel Bellevue Syrene is it. There’s a classic beauty about this Sorrento spot, which first opened its doors in 1820, with its jagged coastline, charming sea views, and incredible art collection. Book the Pompeiana Suite for its stellar views of the Gulf of Naples, Pompeian-style frescos, and its hydro-massage bathtub. Beyond the sparkling water, the hotel offers much beauty throughout, inclusive of fishponds rife with water lilies that evoke Roman times and frescos painted as a tribute to famous guests which adorn the walls. But beauty isn’t all that’s on offer at this timeless hotel: there’s also a private beach, an incredible wine room with hard-to-find Italian varietals, and the atmospheric La Grotta cave venue.

This should be your summertime staple. Piazza della Vittoria, 5, 80067 Sorrento NA, Italy

I N T E R N AT I O N A L

Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay

NOBU HOTEL IBIZA BAY The free-spirited, stylish haven that is Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay is a great place to embrace the hedonism of Ibiza and the unparalleled wellness and serenity that the Nobu Hotel brand is known for. The property, a collaboration between L+R Hotels and MC Hotels, offers everything a guest could ask for, including 152 designer rooms, an Ibiza Bay Spa

by Six Senses, three restaurants — including, of course, its namesake Nobu eatery — a pool bar, and an adults-only pool. The property will keep its health party programming going this fall with a variety of wellness options inclusive of holistic hikes, transformative “Grow Through What You Go Through” mental health retreats, and its signature “Self-Sundays” on its rooftop, complete with sound baths and sunrise yoga. Also, this past June, it was here that chef, founder, and innovator Nobu Matsuhisa unveiled his inaugural, limited-edition menswear collection, Spanish Sushi Club, a collaboration with LA-based

Art Hotel Villa Fiorella

designer Chris Stamp. Carrer de Ses Feixes, 52, 07800, Illes Balears, Spain

ART HOTEL VILLA FIORELLA Art Hotel Villa Fiorella is less a hotel than a beautiful contemporary art gallery on Italy’s Amalfi Coast, located in the quiet village of Massa Lubrense, a few miles from Sorrento, and nestled between the Gulf of Sorrento and the Gulf of Naples. The hotel, which looks like a piece of art itself, is set amid a plethora of olive and lemon trees for that extra Italian touch, with corridors liberally lined with pieces by Alik Cavaliere, Liliana Moro, Davide Rivalta, Takeo Hanazawa, Mario Sironi, Cy Twombly, Sasà Giusto, and Maria Laithes. All of the property’s rooms face the sea, with views of Capri and Vesuvius, though the vistas are most exquisite from the Terrazza Fiorella and the Cielo Sky Lounge. Michelin-starred chef Carmine Mazza helms the kitchen here, with cuisine that suits the location to a “T.” There’s also a spa and infinity pool for additional luxurious touches. Via Vincenzo Maggio, 5, 80061 Massa Lubrense NA, Italy

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Cap Vermell Grand Hotel

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RESPECTIVE PROPERTIES

For a holiday focused on fine dining and relaxation, head to Cap Vermell Grand Hotel, home to gastronomy in the Balearics with Mallorca’s only 2 Michelin star restaurant in VORO, from worldfamous chef Álvaro Salazar. The property is beach adjacent, located in the Canyamel Valley in the exclusive northeast of Mallorca, but the ocean views (and waterfront proximity) are stellar here regardless. This summer, come for VORO, where constantly evolving 18- or 22-dish tasting menus are on offer alongside 400 national and international fine wines, as well as pop-up ROKA, a haute cuisine concept from Japan. Also, new for 2024, The Crossing comes to Cap Vermell for the first time, opening on August 14 and offering a journey through the ancestral flavors and innovation of Michelin-starred chef Jitin Joshi’s native Indian cuisine. Indulgences continue throughout the property with its three swimming pools; sauna; pool bar; spa that features a unique quartz sand bed; and proximity to a slew of award-winning golf courses. For the ultimate luxury, book one of the property’s villas, which feature spacious living rooms, a large dining room, four bedrooms, four elegant marble bathrooms with Bottega Veneta products, a private pool, and a fully equipped kitchen. Urb. Atalaya de Canyamel, Vial A, 12, 07589 Canyamel, Illes Balears, Spain

Anandes Hotel Mykonos

ANANDES HOTEL MYKONOS Perched upon a hill within the heart of Mykonos Town, celebrated for its charming architecture and vibrant energy, is the gorgeous new boutique Anandes Hotel, which opened its doors in June. The small but mighty property features just 42 rooms and suites, many equipped with private pools, all of which have ocean views. Designed by Studio Bonarchi, the property blends traditional elements with avant-garde design in a Cycladic style, using embossed pine wood, linen fabrics, and rattan throughout, with custom light fixtures from French sculptor and artist Philippe Antonioz, and specially designed artworks from the likes of Richard Serra and Thomas Houseago. Each room features Bang & Olufsen products, custom bedding, as well as bathrobes, slippers, and bathroom amenities by Frédéric Malle. In addition to a spa and 24-hour gym, the property houses internationally acclaimed French Rivierainspired restaurant La Petite Maison (LPM), for which a bespoke menu for poolside dining has been created; it seamlessly marries the signature French Riviera flair with Greek influences and sophisticated cocktails

Hôtel Byblos

like its signature Tomatini. Street of Fine Arts, Mikonos 846 00, Greece

HÔTEL BYBLOS Is there a more glamorous summer destination than Saint-Tropez?

That’s a rhetorical question. Those who agree and are looking to really soak up the best of the French Riviera, book the luxury palace that is Hôtel Byblos. This haute hotel in the center of Saint-Tropez recently unveiled four exclusive suites in collaboration with Parisian designer Laura Gonzalez, who has previously designed Paris’ tony Saint James hotel and residences and Hôtel Hana, among others. For her first project in the area, Gonzalez drew inspiration from the hotel’s rich history, using vibrant colors like coral and celadon, weaving in vintage items and unique creations such as the ceramic minibars inspired by 1970s travel trunks, and marquetry wooden doors made by hand. Beyond the new suites, the offerings here are sublime: Cucina Byblos, a restaurant

by Alain Ducasse, the most decorated chef in the world; a Sisley spa that gifts guests with the immersive “Eaux Rêvées” water journey, with its Turkish baths, sauna and waterfalls, at any point during their stay; an incredible beach club in Byblos Beach Ramatuelle, one of the best of its kind in Pampelonne; and a magical, mythical nightclub in Les Caves du Roy. 20 Av. Paul Signac, 83990 Saint-Tropez, France

Amanruya

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RESPECTIVE PROPERTIES

AMANRUYA The Aman brand is one of the most storied in the world, and Amanruya, its property in stunning Bodrum, on the glamorous Turkish Riviera, is no exception. Here, enjoy the sights of the turquoise Aegean waters from the hotel’s private pebble beach, while an ancient pine forest with olive groves and cypress trees provide a stunning, otherworldly backdrop. The village-like resort offers a calm and quiet respite from the hustle and bustle of Bodrum with free-standing guest pavilions, all of which house private pools; a stunning beach club; home-style Mediterranean fare; a holistic spa with a menu inspired by traditional Turkish wellness practices; a variety of complimentary water sports such as paddle boarding, snorkeling, canoeing, and kayaking; art exhibits; and Turkish cooking classes, among other things. It is, as its name suggests, a “peaceful dream” indeed, and one that can actually come true. *|OW UNE N 'HPLU 0HYNLL % OHQW (FHYLW &G %RGUXP 0XùOD 7 UNL\H

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Rosewood Miramar Beach

D O M E ST I C ROSEWOOD MIRAMAR BEACH For an idyllic stay on the American Riviera, head to stunning Montecito, home to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and book a stay at the unparalleled Rosewood Miramar Beach. This stunning resort, which is spread across 16 acres of pristine beachfront, is the only hotel in Southern California to offer guestrooms set directly on the sand. As conceived by developer and owner Rick Caruso, the property pays tribute to the late esteemed Southern Californian architect Paul R. Williams, with elements such as the Manor House’s luxuriantly curved staircase and the Cabana Pool’s distinctive serpentine-edge design. Every thoughtful and seemingly small touch is luxurious, inclusive of a custom “Marine Fresh” amenity line, Rivolta Carmignani bed linens, and Mariage Frères teas. There are also plenty of fashion collaborations, including a stunning new Bottega Veneta store, which joins boutiques like Brunello Cucinelli and Gwyneth Paltrow’s goop. Its array of activities, seven dining destinations, inclusive of the Michelin starred Caruso’s, and the serene Sense, a Rosewood Spa, makes this one to beat. 1759 S Jameson Ln, Montecito, CA 93108

Montage Laguna Beach

MONTAGE LAGUNA BEACH Perched on a coastal bluff high above the Pacific Ocean is Orange County’s chicest waterfront resort, the breathtaking Montage Laguna Beach. In addition to stellar views of the sea and an award-winning spa, special offerings include a private helicopter charter complete with an oceanfront champagne picnic on Catalina Island; a summer-long pop-up of Montage Los Cabos’ Thai eatery, Talay, in the Studio Garden; private e-bike and kayak tours; its Class with a Glass wine tasting series; Sunday Veuve Clicquot champagne brunch at The Loft; and a decadent afternoon tea with a slew of tea-based, boozy cocktails (our favorite being the London Fog: Earl Grey-infused Gardener French Riviera gin, bergamot, lemon, and lavender with a vanilla honey foam), as well as house champagne Krug on the menu. For an extra special afternoon, embark on a chartered boat experience through Newport Beach aboard the property’s luxurious 36-foot Aviara yacht. 30801 Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

HALEKULANI Halekulani is, hands-down, one of the most impressive hotels in the world. Starting with a ginger blossom lei and plentiful alohas, a stay at this oceanfront resort in Waikiki leaps from strength to strength. This luxurious, 453-room hotel, situated on five prime oceanfront acres on Waikiki Beach, is a one-stop shop for seemingly everything: it houses three restaurants, two cocktail lounges, one pool/bar, a spa, fitness and movement studio, business center, hospitality suite, a print shop, bakery, and florist. Here, many of the guest rooms have ocean views with the iconic Diamond Head volcano in the background, though the crème de la crème are the Premier Suites; our vote being for the Royal Suite, which features two bedrooms, a dining room, dressing area, a large wraparound lanai, and a 24-hour personal butler. Come for high-end eatery House Without A Key with its nightly Hawaiian music and hula dancers (insider tip: book Ernest Hemingway’s favored table, number 97); the sensational afternoon tea at Orchids; one of the biggest and best Sunday brunches in Hawaii; and L’Apéritif, a bar inspired by the cocktail culture of the late 19th century executed in collaboration with the Ritz Paris. Its newly renovated SpaHalekulani opened this summer with some of the most innovative treatments in America, with elements like vibroacoustics tables that feature surround sound for noise blanketing, built-in heating, and aromatherapy for ultimate relaxation. Each suite will have a distinct water feature, ranging from a Japanese ofuro (the only one in Waikiki) to a rain shower.

We predict many awards in its future. .ăOLD 5G +RQROXOX +,

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF RESPECTIVE PROPERTIES

Halekulani

Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa

Henderson Beach Resort

Ocean House

Little Palm Island

GURNEY’S MONTAUK RESORT & SEAWATER SPA

HENDERSON BEACH RESORT

New Yorkers flock to The Hamptons each summer for a slice of seaside, and here, there is no better beach retreat than Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa — the only luxury year-round resort in The Hamptons situated directly on the beach.Speaking of the beach, its Beach Club recently welcomed a collaboration with Dolce&Gabbana, which includes exclusive beachwear collections and loungers, curated music, and innovative cocktails that reflect the brand’s Italian heritage. At the hotel itself, guests can also indulge in style via a range of amenities, including multiple oceanfront dining options, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a seawater-fed indoor pool, and the recently renovated Gurney’s Seawater Spa, a 30,000-square-foot, full-service thalassotherapy and wellness destination. This summer, the property has also debuted its summer music series, Sound Waves, with world-class DJS, as well as an outdoor workout program led by top fitness influencers.

Head down to Destin, Florida, featured in the aptly named Taylor Swift track “Florida!!!” to see what all the fuss is about at this epic Gulf Coast destination. Here, the sand is white, the water is green, and a good time is available for all. The area’s pièce de résistance is the Henderson Beach Resort, a property reminiscent of a luxurious grand seaside manner of days past. Inside, the 170-room hotel features spacious, coastal-inspired guest rooms and suites with sweeping balconies or terraces, coastalinspired dining in a relaxed setting, a beautiful, nature-inspired spa with cutting-edge treatments, and two swimming pools. Best of all, guests enjoy private beach access, and on a beach this incredible, that’s something no visitor should take for granted.

290 Old Montauk Hwy, Montauk, NY 11954

America’s only private island resort — located in the Florida Keys — is a pretty sensational spot to spend a vacation. Arrive by seaplane or private boat at this adults-only paradise with its charming, thatched roof bungalows, and take advantage of its extreme new offering, the “Impactful Indulgence” package. Starting at $250,000, this three-night resort buyout includes use of all 30 suites for up to 60 guests; direct access to its SpaTerre for sustainable facial and massage treatments such as the Organic Slimming Seaweed Leaf Wrap that utilizes hand-harvested seaweed leaves; complimentary dockage for up to five yachts; and a welcome amenity of Nicolas Feuillatte champagne, among other offerings. Best of all, the resort extends a $5,000 per night donation to Mote Marine Labs, a Keys -based, independent, nonprofit marine research institution, to assist with their efforts in restoring the ocean’s coral reefs using cutting-edge science. With this donation, guests can experience a first-hand look into ocean conservation while taking a half-day excursion with a world-class Mote scientist to “plant” coral in order to help with reef restoration.

28500 Overseas Hwy, Little Torch Key, FL 33042

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RESPECTIVE PROPERTIES

OCEAN HOUSE Perched high on the bluffs of Watch Hill, Rhode Island, overlooking a pristine stretch of white sand beach with sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean, is Ocean House, one of the best beach hotels in New England.

The resort — which is located in the very same town as Taylor Swift’s vacation paradise — originally opened in 1868, but today, has a more modern esthetic, with a slew of thoughtful touches that make the stay incredibly memorable: an in-room private bar with complimentary non-alcoholic beverages and gourmet snacks (Signature Suites also offer a selection of gratis alcoholic drinks); large terraces and/or fireplaces; marble bathrooms, some of which come with deep soaking tubs; six restaurants; a spa with seasonally changing treatments inspired by the ocean and the harvest; a 65-foot indoor lap pool and squash courts; a movement studio with a virtual fitness system; the Center for Wine and Culinary Arts; a 650-foot white sand beach with cabanas; a championship-level croquet lawn, putting green, shuffleboard court, and billiards room; private yacht and fishing charters; and even a screening room. It doesn’t get much better than this. %OXͿ $YH :HVWHUO\ 5,

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LITTLE PALM ISLAND

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HATS IN THE GARDEN RAISES $4 MILLION FOR NAPLES BOTANICAL GARDEN

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NAPLES BOTANICAL GARDEN CELEBRATED THE 20TH ANNUAL Hats in the Garden this past season in Naples, Florida, with more than 700 guests in attendance and raising more than $4 million.

Hats in the Garden has served as Naples Botanical Garden’s primary fundraiser for two decades, advancing its mission to connect people with plants. The 2024 event “Runways,” presented by William Raveis Real Estate, featured a champagne reception, luncheon, and a Carolina Herrera runway show powered by Saks Fifth Avenue, with an appearance by Wes Gordon, Creative Director of Carolina Herrera.

This year’s Hats in the Garden chair, Barbie Hills, and the Sustaining Leadership Council, a devoted group of 47 women who annually contribute to Garden gifts and organize each Hats in the Garden fundraiser, will dedicate $2.5 million of the funds raised to support the event’s Fund-a-Need focus on preparing the Garden’s 90-acre Preserve, featuring restored Florida ecosystems and rare native plants, for future enhancements.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF ZEE ANNA PHOTOGRAPHY/GULFSHORE LIFE

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The Fund-a-Need amount includes a generous pledge of $1 million by Jerri and David Hoffmann of the Hoffmann Family of Companies. The Fund-a-Need program supports the costs of providing an eco-friendly tram to the Preserve, making the Garden’s natural areas more accessible and inviting for the Garden’s 260,000-plus annual visitors.

“Together, the friends of the Garden have joined to create a power, a power for good,” says Barbie Hills, 2024 Hats in the Garden chair. “There is nothing better that we can do! We start with a fun time. We end up with helping the Garden. Naples Botanical Garden serves everyone!”

A fun bonus surprise this year was Barbie Hills’ son-in-law, Bret Baier, Fox News Anchor, who served as an enthusiastic emcee for this year’s 20th anniversary of Hats in the Garden. Baier told the audience, “My most important title for this event is son-in-law of Barbie Hills.”

Bret and his wife, Amy, and sons, ages 16 and 13, have visited the Naples Botanical Garden for years. “Our kids have spent a lot of time at the Barbie Hills’ rolling hill with all their cousins,” says Bret. “This is a beautiful place. For us, it is a place where your blood pressure goes down, and you enjoy the beauty of this place. Barbie has a special connection to this place and is a proud member of the Sustaining Leadership Council of Naples Botanical Garden.”

Notable attendees included Barbie and Paul Hills, Amy and Bret Baier, Kathleen and Scott Kapnick, Donna McGinnis, President and CEO of Naples Botanical Garden, Leslie Fogg, Tom and Darby Hills, Dan Hills, John Paul Hills, Lauren Hills, Jody Lippes, Cheryl Coleman, Laurie Davis, Wilfredo Emanuel, Shirley Welsh, Mary Stone, Brynne Coletti, Simone and Scott Lutgert, Dr. Amy Quinn, Kathy Mezzalingua, Dyan Smith, Raimonda Childress, Sonya Sawyer, Erin Biggers, Michelle Fawcett, Jennifer Sullivan, Joan Clifford, Dr. Deborah Houk, Erin Brechbiel, and more.

1. Hats in the Garden chair Barbie Hills 2. Simone and Scott Lutgert and Heather Dockweiler 3. (From L to R) Dan Hills, John Paul Hills, Lauren Hills, CoCo Hills, Barbie Hills, Paul Hills, Amy Hills Baier, Bret Baier, Darby Hills, and Tom Hills 5. Edee Deluca, Sonya Sawyer, and Raimonda Childress 5. Simone Lutgert, Wes Gordon, and guests 6. Kathleen Kapnick, Chair of the 2024 Board of Directors at Naples Botanical Garden, and Donna McGinnis, President & CEO at Naples Botanical Garden and Vice President of the Board of Directors for the American Public Gardens Association (APGA) 7. Lance White, Scott Kapnick, David Hoffmann, Paul Hills, Dr. Robert Heidt, Sean Mayo, Kermit Sutton, Bob Scott, and Scott Lutgert 8. Amy Heuerman, Amy Brazil D’Amico, Jill Miller, Lori Stevenson, Borana Kondakciu (back row, left to right), Lisa Pierce, Jody Lippes (seated on swing, left to right)

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SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WINE & FOOD FEST HOSTS SECOND WINE &WOMEN EVENT 2 1

SWFL CHILDREN’S CHARITIES LAUNCHED A NEW SUMMER WINE series to bring like-minded women together to support a great cause. Cochairs Katy Ciccarello and Renee Ciccarello have hosted monthly socials, a series of dinners that will conclude in September. The July event at Stone’s Throw in Cape Coral featured Utopium Cassata Wines and highlighted the Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest.

SWFL Children’s Charities has donated over $29 million in the past 15 years to support pediatric health initiatives. The 2025 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest will take place January 17 & 18, featuring Chef Vintner Dinners and a Grand Tasting and Live Auction at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa. 4

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1. (From L to R) Katy Ciccarello and Renee Ciccarello 2. Diane Sherman, Cindy McClung & Lauren Bernaldo 3. Aurelia Bell, Claudia Heligman and Sandi Heinrich 4. Amy Radel, Morgan Kollman, Pam Kollman & Renee Ciccarell 5. Nikki Brown, Sandy Stilwell Youngquist & Elaine Hawkins 6. Heidi Davis, Bailey Susic & Olivia Rivera

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHARLIE MACDONALD PHOTOGRAPHY

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MOTHER’S DAY SOIRÉE BRUNCH

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ON APRIL 27, 2024, YAMRON JEWELERS AND FERRARI OF NAPLES hosted a memorable Mother’s Day Soirée Brunch at the stunning Time4unaples property. The event celebrated the elegance of motherhood with a luxurious brunch, live music, and exquisite displays of jewelry and automobiles. Guests enjoyed a day of joy, fine dining, and cherished memories in an atmosphere filled with love and timeless charm.

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1. Natalie Harley & Laura Kendall, Yamron Jewelers 2. Emily Rose, Ferrari of Naples 3. Patricia Warfield, Emily Rose, Piper Arielle, Sachi Ganzak 4. Jewelry 5. Lily Ustayev & Rachel Paz 6. Kaelyn Rhodes 7. Laura Rosa, Maureen Mills, Sophia Fives, Claudia Kuhn 8. Camille Forman 9. Shera Askar

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PHOTO CREDIT: LOS ANGLES

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ELEGANCE WITH A PURPOSE: YAMRON JEWELERS AND ELIZABETH STAR HOST AN EVENING OF LUXURY AND PHILANTHROPY YAMRON JEWELERS, IN COLLABORATION WITH MRS. ELIZABETH STAR, hosted an exclusive event featuring the renowned jewelry brand Seaman Schepps.

This intimate gathering celebrated the timeless elegance of Seaman Schepps’ designs while also supporting a worthy cause. A portion of the proceeds from the event were generously donated to Women Lifting Women, the fundraising initiative of the Women’s Foundation of Collier County, furthering the foundation’s mission to empower and uplift women in the community.

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1. Elizabeth Starr, Guest 2. Mary Smallwood 3. Linda Malone, Ashley Dewji 4. Lily Ustayev 5. Women Lifting Women initiative 6. Elizabeth Starr, Guest

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PHOTO CREDIT: LOS ANGLES

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11291 TAMIAMI TRL N NAPLES, FL 34110-1635 Tel.239.256.1400 dwysong@newcountry.com ferrariofnaples.com

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