Modern Luxuria Vol 15 August 2021

VOL 15 AUGUST 2021

Kim’s bold and balanced plan for Edmonton here: A vibrant and connected city Economic recovery and growth Core services and maintenance Supports for our most vulnerable

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August 2021

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Highlights Note Editors Notes 6 Profile From the 2008 Nutcracker’s Waltz of Flowers to today – Alberta Ballet’s Reilley and Kelley McKinlay 14 Men’s Fashion Specializing in above average - Addetto Men’s Wear Kingsize Fashion 24 Women’s Fashion Floc Boutique – sustainable, local and ethical fashion for all shapes and sizes 28 Auto Horsepower for Hope – Car enthusiasts raising money for Kids With Cancer Society 36 Food Café la Reine – a new gem with bold and unique flavours of French pastries 44 Drinks From nature to the art of wine – Rare Wine Report 50 Travel Experiential travel with the world adventurer - Sorin Mihailovici 60 Lifestyle River Valley Adventure - Exploring Edmonton’s River Valley Has Never Been More Fun 66 Wellness Alyssa Schmidt’s philosophy of integrated well-being - 4 Points Health & Wellness 70 Décor Building the thoughtful and the unexpected – Brian Guenther 76 Real Estate Augustana – a 30-storey resurrection in the government district 82

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August 2021

“ I think the role of the artist is to take whatever it is they believe in and put it out there so the public can see it - CHARLES BOWDEN

”

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Editors Note Writing the Editor’s Note for this month has not been

and passion for our city will have Edmonton’s cityscape

an easy task. Not because we didn’t feel inspired, but,

breathing and morphing for all of us to appreciate.

like many of you, we’ve been enjoying life without too

When you make travel into an art form, every trip you

many restrictions, and it’s been amazing. While we’re

take is a memory of a lifetime. And one of the best

still being very cautious, we are loving every moment of

guides to the world our city has to offer must be Sorin

activities that we were restricted from over the previous

Mihailovici. Having visited over 70 countries, but still

months, and that inspired our theme for this month’s

hungry for more places to see, Sorin’s business is a

note: the Art of Living.

lifestyle agency, created for travelers who want to learn the art of life through these fascinating tours with Spark

If there’s one performing art that speaks elegance,

Experience.

strength, and beauty all at the same time, it’s ballet, and we are so excited to bring you our conversation

We must not forget or take for granted that artistry is all

with Reilley and Kelley McKinlay. And with Swan Lake

around us. In complexity of effort and essentiality of use,

opening this anticipated season in November 2021, we

woodworker Brian Guenther builds pieces that are

can’t wait to be reminded of Tchaikovsky’s marvelous

timeless; a lineage that challenges modern and

score and are curious about the Alberta Ballet’s

traditional carpentry. Sawdust is what remains in the

reimagined take on this classic.

Guenther Studio after wood is transformed into functional, breathtaking furniture.

The art of living repartee continues with Kevin McKee.

We hope that you will take a moment for the art in your

It’s a mindset of resurrection and rebirth for one of our

lives. Introduce yourself to something new or reacquaint

city’s newest rental towers in the heart of the

yourself with something familiar. It doesn’t have to be

government district that was once the Augustana

complex, it just has to be appreciated.

Lutheran Church. McKee’s unwavering commitment

.

Heidi & Jelena

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August 2021

PUBLISHED BY MODERN LUXURIA LTD. FOUNDER Elsa Amorim ART DIRECTOR

CONTRIBUTORS

Andrea Noye

Brandy Belitsky Mona Butler

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

Joe Gurba

Jelena Bojic

Jelena Kovacevic

Heidi Johannson

Lana Linton Paul McGrath

COPY EDITOR

Trevor Tsoi

Margaret Crowe Lucie Oosterveld BRAND AMBASSADORS Marlenie Arana Serap Ozturk Gordana Bosiocic Tracy Sestito

VOL 15 AUGUST 2021

COVER Photography by PMG Image

EDMONTON’S PREMIER DIGITAL GUIDE TO LUXURY AND LIFESTYLE

ADVERTISE WITH US TODAY HELLO@ MODERNLUXURIA.COM | PHONE 780-906-7235

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August 2021

Beauty is

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bold fresh confident H A I R T R A N S P L A N T S U R G E RY C O S M E T I C D E R M ATO LO GY M E D I C A L D E R M ATO LO GY L A S E R R E J U V E N AT I O N

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August 2021

A Day at the Race Inspired by the gentrified atmosphere you might find at the Kentucky Derby Saturday, August 28, 2021 Century Mile Racetrack & Casino

For more information visit packwoodgrand.com www.modernluxuria.com

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es

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August 2021

Pas

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De Deux WORDS BY HEIDI JOHANNSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY PMG IMAGE

“

When a body moves, it’s the most revealing thing. Dance for me a minute and I’ll tell you who you are.

- MIKHAIL BARYSHNIKOV

” Watching Alberta Ballet Company members Reilley and Kelley McKinlay navigate my questions over a Zoom call while they jostled their energetic ten month old between them was, as anticipated, grace under pressure.

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August 2021

In perfect unison, it was an effortless and seamless

It’s Alberta Ballet’s mission to ‘ignite the curiosity

performance. One would think they had been doing this

and imagination of people in all communities

most of their adult lives and that assumption would be

across the province.’ A few company members

right. As they enter into their 14th and 20th seasons

have lived this sentiment/adage for over a decade.

respectively with the company, the McKinlays’ love story

What keeps this company cohesive?

is as eloquent as one would imagine. Their first partnering was The Nutcracker Waltz of the Flowers in 2008 and

Reilley and Kelley - We’ve been so fortunate all of

they solidified their ‘Pas De Deux’ with nuptials in 2015.

these years under the direction of Jean Grand-Maître.

The excitement of the ballet season is just around the

We’ve been building relationships for years and the

corner so we took the opportunity to find out how this

trust that exists between the members is huge.

couple manages a life at home as husband and wife, as

Everyone is bringing in unique contributions and

parents, and on stage as two of Alberta Ballet’s most

experiences. It makes us all valuable to the company.

recognizable and celebrated ballet dancers.

We know of many couples that work together but The both of you have had commendable careers

to share artistry in motion between a couple is so

with Alberta Ballet. What do you love most about

intimate. How often does this happen in the

being a part of this company?

professional ballet world?

Reilley - My favourite thing about working for Alberta

Reilley and Kelley - It’s quite rare. Even when dancers

Ballet is doing what I love for a living. More and more I realize

who are couples want to work together, it doesn’t

how rare it is to be able to do what you’re passionate about

always have the best outcome. There aren’t any filters

for a job and I try not to take that for granted.

or boundaries but It’s been easy for us. We love working together. Both of our approaches, even when we aren’t

Kelley - One of my favourite things about working for

working together, is that it takes two to tango and if

Alberta Ballet is the places it’s taken me around the

something goes wrong, accountability lies with each of

world. I have travelled to Egypt, China, Russia, England,

us. We figure it out together. We complement each

Thailand, and across North America to dance. They were

other. We are not the exact same at all but we bring

all incredible experiences and I have made lifelong

the other part to each other. We are very good at

friends in the process.

communication whether it’s at home or at work.

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August 2021

It’s undeniable that the arts community has been deeply impacted by the pandemic. How can our city help support the arts?

Kelley - People need to remember that it is the arts that get us through the most difficult of times. We always turn to the arts for comfort - be it movies, music, dance; it’s always been there for us. I’m just hoping that when things return to normal, people realize how important it is and remember to support artists.

How do you establish a home to work life balance?

Reilley and Kelley - We decompress on the way home, talk it through. Then it’s done by the time we get home.

At the end of the day, we’re passionate about what we do but it’s still a job. There are more important things - like our children - so it makes it easy to prioritize our lives.

Can you speak to the dichotomy of males and females in the ballet world?

Kelley - It’s so interesting because for a female to get a job she needs a really good facility, nice feet, nice legs and extensions. Not necessarily all the time but the stereotype is that you have to have the full package. For a male that’s not always the case. I’m not flexible, I don’t have great feet but I have excelled in where I know my strengths are and I make those outweigh my weaknesses.

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Being a Mom and a professional dancer must keep you on your toes!

A true balancing act! How do you do it all?

Reilley - It was a personal decision for me. I wanted to have two children while I was dancing and go back afterwards. I’m not going to lie, there are moments when I wake up in the middle of the night in a sweat thinking, how am I going to do this with two children? We’re never going to see them with our hours, how am I going to make lunches and have two baths, but you know what? We figure it out and are really fortunate with our support system.

Are there any rituals that you adhere to before a performance?

Reilley - Between the two of us we always have a moment together.

Neither of us are crazy superstitious but once you figure out what works for a certain show you continue with it. As simple as, what time you start doing your hair, and warmup, leading up to performance time.

Kelley - For me, I don’t know why I started this but I will go stand right up against the main drape at centre stage and bounce a little bit and get in the zone. (Reilley is quick to add he looks a bit unusual but because he’s been there for so long, people just let it slide!)

Do either of you have a most cherished performance?

Reilley - (without a moment’s hesitation) Dangerous Liaisons in 2017. I danced the lead with Kelley. I was pregnant with my daughter and nobody else knew. It was wonderful, I didn’t have to worry. The only person that mattered, that knew, was my partner and that was Kelley. There was one moment where he spins me so much and I was upside down. And he held onto me for just one moment longer than he normally would have knowing my condition.

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August 2021

How do you maintain your physical health throughout the season and while on break?

Reilley - You remember how extreme the physical demands of ballet are once you are coming back to it, specifically in my case from pregnancy. It is very important to rebuild all your different muscles and I do that by doing a mix of ballet, pilates, and riding a stationary bike. I usually do all that as cross training when we are in season and dancing, but it has required some creativity while coming back from my second pregnancy as we have not had access to studio space due to Covid.

Kelley - While it’s crucial to stay strong for both performing and injury prevention, it is just as important to take time off both physically and mentally. It is so easy to get burnt out as you spend each and every day pushing yourself physically and emotionally to achieve perfection even though we know it’s unattainable. We are in an art form. We are always learning.

Do you think or plan beyond each season?

Reilley and Kelley - We’ve always been season by season. Once you have kids you think ok, what next? The pandemic has forced us to focus on the future so we’ve tried to use this time to brainstorm when we’re not chasing our 10 month old and our three year old around. No definite plans as of yet. Again, one ballet season at a time.

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August 2021

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Do you have any advice for aspiring, young

Kelley - Nope! (I think he’s just being considerate of

dancers?

all the other guys out there!)

Reilley - If you love it, keep doing it, even if it doesn’t

What does Modern Luxuria mean to you?

get you a professional career. Too many people don’t do enough of what they love. Perseverance,

Reilley - I’m going to be super sappy but our life is

determination and support.

pretty luxurious at the moment. We both get to be home. We have a yard for our two beautiful children

Kelley - I was told I may never be a dancer. For a lot of

that we get to spend time with, so we feel very

kids that can be devastating. I brushed it off and I

fortunate.

clearly didn’t let it stop me. How can one person know what the future can hold? Or what a director wants?

Kelley - It’s become so evident through this pandemic

At the end of the day, you won’t know if you don’t try.

that I wouldn’t have been home seeing them grow

It was never, what am I going to do if this doesn’t

up during these crucial years. I’d be at work, all day,

happen? It was kind of like, I’m going to do it. I never had

every day. To have everyone at home spending every

any doubt that this was what I was going to do.

hour together - we have made the most of it and have loved it. It’s been the silver lining in all of this. As well,

Some honesty now… you must have serious

I’m a car guy!

credibility on a dance floor!

Reilley - Funny enough, I can’t get him out there!

www.albertaballet.com

He won’t do it!

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August 2021

Addetto Menswear Puts The Spotlight On Big & Tall Addetto Menswear opened its doors in 1991 after business partners Calum and Raul discovered there was a lack of high fashion for big and tall men in Edmonton. Located on the south side of the city on Parsons Road, Addetto offers Kingsize fine menswear, tall ties, large sized socks and shoes, oversized suspenders, pocket squares, facial masks and more, so you can look your best for any occasion.

WORDS BY BRANDY BELITSKY

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August 2021

Belt - Made in Portugal, Fabric 75% cotton, 23% polyamide, 2% elastane

Belt - Made in Canada, handcrafted premium leather)

Saxx Underwear

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Suspenders - Stitch tone on tone stripe

Keeping it local, Addetto works closely with Canadian manufacturers for the best fit. Their sizing runs from a 34 waist pant with a 40 inch inseam, up to a size 66 waist, shirts from a medium tall up to a 7xl tall and suits and sport coats from a 42 extra tall up to a 66 tall.

If they don’t have it in stock, Addetto offers in-store custom tailoring for that perfect fit.

Don’t see something you like? Addetto’s Master Tailor is available to craft new wardrobe items in any size and offers fabric swatches so that you can select the color and material that fits your needs.

Stay tuned for Addetto’s new fall line hitting the racks this month. Featuring a new and exciting season of cozy sweaters and outerwear. www.addettomenswear.com

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August 2021

WORDS BY BRANDY BELITSKY PHOTOGRAPHY BY JELENA KOVACEVIC MODELS KLARISSA PARADIS, JILL GAMEZ

Birds of a Feather, Floc Together www.modernluxuria.com

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Founded by two friends and co-workers, Sandra and Janelle, Floc Boutique is your one-stop shop for clothing, shoes, jewellry, footwear, belts, handbags, housewares and gifts.

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August 2021

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Plaid Suit - Adroit Tank - Inwear Sneakers - Sam Edelman Jewelry - Twisted baubles

Vest & pant - Yaya Bralette - Soaked in Luxury Jewelry - Twisted Baubles Belt - Brave

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August 2021

Sweater - Saint Tropez Jeans - Fidelity Hair Scrunchie - AngHill Designs (Local Brand) Jewelry - Twisted Baubles (Local Brand)

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Vest - Soaked in Luxury Blouse - Kaffe Leather pants - Denim Hunter Handbag - Armadillo (Local Brand) Jewelry - Twisted Baubles (Local Brand)

Sandra and Janelle, two fashionistas originally from

With a strong focus on local, ethical and sustainable,

Winnipeg, recognized that there was a need in Edmonton

Floc Boutique works closely with many local designers

for a shop that offered head to toe styling with a strong

to feature beautiful, high quality articles at a medium

focus on service and relationship. They wanted to help

price point.

women who were struggling to find their style or to find clothing to fit their body, maybe in a time of transition

More recently Floc Boutique has been working with

in their lives, and wanting a more casual wardrobe.

their brands on size inclusivity and have been trying to find more brands that offer extended sizing to fit all

Opening their doors in 2008, Floc Boutique was born in

shapes and sizes. Keep an eye out for some fun new

downtown’s trendy district on 124th street and 101st Avenue.

brands launching this fall.

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August 2021

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August 2021

Horse

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epower For Hope How Horsepower For Hope is bringing car enthusiasts together to help kids with cancer.

WORDS BY BRANDY BELITSKY PHOTOGRAPHY BY TREVOR TSOI

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August 2021

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August 2021

In late spring of 2019, Don Riep, Nick Samaha and Manoj Gupta were discussing over a cup of coffee how they could help the Kids With Cancer Society (KWCS). The idea was to raise some funds by uniting the car community. They spearheaded a group of supporters who then became the Horsepower for Hope (H4H) committee, which has since continued to grow.

Don, a former business owner and co-founder of Yardstick Software with his wife Dianne, sits on the board of the Kids With Cancer Society. Through that role he saw the need for financial support to the society. Already connected in the car community with Nick and Manoj, and many other kind hearted supporters, it was a natural move to tap into this group of car enthusiasts who socialize together, to support a great charitable organization with valuable programming for families of children going through their cancer journey.

Through that connection, in 2019, Dianne became involved in the Beaded Journey Gala committee for the KWCS, and the Gala to Golf Tournament in 2021 all supporting KWCS. Both Don and Dianne made a big change in their professional careers in the winter of 2020 allowing them to give much of their time to support the coordination of these events.

In their first year, they hosted a Show and Shine with hopes of raising $25,000 – they ended up raising $87,000, having a turnout of close to 100 registered cars. H4H has continued its success as it taps into the skill sets and support of many.

This year, the 2021 Afterburner Rally raised $540,000, with a stretch goal of $350,000, for the KWCS with less than 1% in expenses.

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August 2021

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This year’s “Afterburner Rally” theme was aviation. The stops included the Aviation Museum downtown, as well as Aurora Jet at the International Airport where they hosted Lamborghini from Calgary. They also provided a small static Air Show with a unique display of 10 different aircrafts. Along with this, the EPS hosted a small format autocross race track at the (former) downtown municipal airport. The EPS provided their tactical and K-9 units on display, as well as flew in the AIR 1 police helicopter.

Although not planned yet, another event is on the horizon for 2022 with a new bar being set. Planning will begin in January.

These events are open to car enthusiasts from all walks of life. If you have a desire to connect with the H4H community which supports the KWCS, then you’re welcome to get involved. For car events, any vehicle is welcome.

There

are

several

smaller

car

events

throughout the spring to fall driving season, and there is one big event in the summer. If you want to participate in the summer event, you will need to register once it opens up in the new year. If you want to volunteer for events, you can email volunteers@ horsepower4hope.ca. And if you’d like to be a financial sponsor for H4H events, you may connect with Tracey or Emily at the KWCS at ​​780-496-2459. www.horsepowerforhope.ca www.kidswithcancer.ca

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August 2021

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WORDS BY MONA BUTLER PHOTOGRAPHY BY TREVOR TSOI

The Coffee Shop Queen Takes Her Throne Café La Reine’s Melissa Sabourin puts Spirit, Ambition, and Flavour on the Menu A new queen has stepped onto Edmonton’s French pastry scene. Though the opportunity to reign as “la reine” of Café la Reine was an unexpected career direction, Melissa Sabourin has filled the role with the grace and enthusiasm one would expect of a monarch raised for the throne.

It was always her dream to be in the food and beverage industry. She studied Hospitality Business Management while working her way through the ranks at the Cactus Club in downtown Edmonton, but was falling out of love with the company. When asked to return after the second lockdown, she instead resigned. Melissa turned her focus to her custom cakes and baked goods page, Bonne Cuisson, but that didn’t last as long as expected!

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August 2021

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“A couple of weeks later, I came across an ‘Indeed’ job posting for a “Café Manager” and quickly came to learn they were looking to invest in an individual and create a business together; a French-inspired café/bakery!”

Instead of just being a manager for a coffee shop someone else owned, Melissa found herself in the unique position to make Café la Reine her own. A vast majority of the offerings on the menu, which she got to design with the help of a couple of close friends, were recipes even she hadn’t tried yet. But they were worth experimenting with in order to provide the most authentic French pastry experience possible. For those wanting

non-traditional

twists

to

some

classic

favourites, she’s begun rolling out some fun flavours, with even more to come!

“One thing we are known for is creating bold and unique flavours as in some of our Macarons - like Strawberry Basil, Mojito, and our Raspberry Rosewater Croissant.”

Café la Reine has been open for a month now and this coffee shop kingdom has been quickly gaining loyal subjects who have been loving everything Melissa has brought to the menu, especially when there isn’t anything quite like it nearby.

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August 2021

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“They have loved our interior design, service and staff, variety of goods, and accessibility. I am hoping to see more people from the community every day come and try us out as they are what makes us.”

This little realm is off to a good start, but like any queen, Melissa’s ambition and entrepreneurial spirit will keep it growing. “My goals list for the café is forever in length!”

Looking toward the nearer future, Melissa is excited to build up the menu with rotating seasonal fare and custom orders. Down the road, those who love the look of Café la Reine could have the chance to rent out the space for special events, and have their own dedicated event menu too.

There will be no need to wait for updates too long either, as Melissa already has new menu items coming up on the horizon. “Alcoholic beverages and dog treats are coming soon! I also would love to be able to offer delivery for people and some secret goods for the future.”

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August 2021

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WORDS BY JOE GURBA

Rare Wine Report Many Albertans outside of the drinks business don’t realize how good we have it here for wine selection. We live in one of the best wine markets in the world. Every week we see a new wave of lovely and limited wines appear in our shops, however briefly, until those in the know snap them up.

This is a small sampling of the terroir driven wines you need to hunt down this month, wines made on small farms by true vignerons with that rare gift for gently translating nature into art. These wines are nourishing and artful records of another lap around the sun.

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August 2021

Rivetto 2017 Barolo di Serralunga d’Alba DOCG 100% Nebbiolo.

Barolo DOCG, Italy. $80-$85 Still available at: City Cellars, Crestwood Fine Wines, Campbell Liquor Store.

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Enrico Rivetto is considered by his neighbours

cover crops and fertilize the vines naturally.

to be, come si dice… eccentric. And it is not

And the fruit those vines bear is infinitely more

simply that he’s spent the last 20 years, at an

complex. In short, Rivetto is trying to restore a

immense cost, transitioning to become the

complete and largely self-sustaining ecological

first biodynamic certified grower in Barolo. His

circle in his vineyards.

passion and conviction in the belief that the best and most singular fruit of place can only

In the cellars, Rivetto’s style is deeply classical.

grow in a biodiverse atmosphere has led him to

He eschews the small French barriques that

go further still. As a fourth generation vigneron,

became fashionable after the eighties, opting

he took his inheritance of 50 rolling hectares

instead for the traditional Slavonian oak

in one of Barolo’s most highly regarded

three thousand litre botti of the yesterage.

communes, Serralunga d’Alba, and pulled up

These vessels age the wine far more slowly,

several hectares of vines to make room for wild

imparting little in the way of oak flavour,

woodlands, a plethora of garden crops, nut

instead concentrating the energy of the wine

trees, orchards, pasture for donkeys, biological

into a glacial unfolding. Rivetto’s Barolos are

corridors for beneficial insects, and permanent

famously tannic in their youth, equipped

cover crops between his rows.

with the grip to go the distance, necessary to preserve the wine over decades of development

Enrico champions natural, holistic poly-farming.

in the bottle. His wines not only reward aging,

At a time when an average hectare of vines in

they demand it. But with a decade or more of

Barolo sells for 1.2m euros, pulling up vines to

cellaring, they reveal the beguiling symphony of

return the diversity and self-sufficiency of his

notes great nebbiolo is loved for: truffles, roses,

land is a price he’s willing to pay to grow the true

tar, tobacco, dried cherry, garden herbs, and

soul of Nebbiolo in Barolo, without recourse to

wild mushrooms. It’s an authentic window

chemicals or intrusive farming practices. His

like no other into the heart of Italy’s most

cover crops aerate the land and draw pests

beloved appellation.

away from the vines. His donkeys eat those

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August 2021

Crivelli 2019 Ruché di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG 100% Ruché. Castagnole Monferrato DOCG, Italy $40-$45 Still available at: Color de Vino

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variety

deter you from hunting down this marvelous

indigenous to Piemonte, the Italian province

example of a unique variety just awarded its

best known by wine lovers for its Barolo and

own DOCG status in 2010. There’s a reason

Barbaresco. All in all, there are only 40 extant

locals call it the Red Prince of Monferrato.

Ruchè

is

an

exceptionally

rare

hectares of Ruché vines. Azienda Agricola Crivelli is one of the highest regarded producers

Crivelli’s Ruché is difficult to simply reduce

of this rare wine, grown in only seven villages

to tasting notes. It is a unique wine with an

just northwest of Asti: Grana, Montemagno,

almost geranium like note that is difficult to

Portacomaro, Refrancore, Scurzolengo Viarigi,

describe. The fruit profile is all over the board

and the titular Castagnole Monferrato.

and belies rote categorization. It’s fair to say the wine is floral and peppery and has a dark

Ruché is known for being a fleet-footed red

berry fruit profile with a slight bitterness on

variety that drinks beautifully with antipasti,

the finish. The tannins are big but well ripened

and while Crivelli’s Ruché lives up to that

and lend the wine structure. The grape’s

reputation with its lean minerality, this newly

parentage remains shrouded in mystery

released 2019 vintage is nevertheless boozy,

and ampelographic research is ongoing.

hitting 14.5% when their past cuvées would

But despite having no known relation to any

sit around 13 or 13.5%. But this is chalked

other known Piemontese vines, Ruché does

up to honest winemaking that reflects

have some of that Nebbiolo charm with its

the vintage for what it was. Year after year,

lighter colour, robust tannins, and large body

record breaking heat has left its imprint on

somehow disguised by a floral levity. If you

wine regions the world over. Ironically, this is

swoon for Italian wine, you have to hunt one

happening just when taste is actually shifting

of these bottles down while there’s still some

away from big boozy wines to more refreshing

left just to see if it’s for you.

and food-friendly ABVs. But don’t let this

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August 2021

Château le Puy 2017 Emilien Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Carménère. Francs Côtes de Bordeaux AOC, France. ~$50 Still available at: Crestwood Fine Wines, Highlands Liquor, Prestige Liquor, Color de Vino.

www.modernluxuria.com

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In my humble opinion, Odilon Redon stands

in the face of global taste and the questionable

a head above the other painters of Bordelais

edifications of 20th century winemaking

provenance. You might think a better jump-

technologies. It is a wine so classic as to have

off for a wine & art ekphrasis would be Rosa

lapped the competition and once again

Bonheur with her pastoral themes, painted

become timely and relevant, recalibrating our

with

but

compass for taste. This wine is rustic yet pure.

her works would be a better fit for the vast

It seems to spring from the earth with all of

majority of 21st century Bordeaux wines. Not

earth’s energy and frankness of sensation.

Château Le Puy.

And this wine remains democratic, year

jaw-dropping

visual

accuracy,

after year purposefully kept affordable and Redon, many years ahead of surrealism,

accessible despite its now idolized stature

wanted to place “the logic of the visible at the

(see the manga comic, Drops of God!).

service of the invisible.” The Amoreau family vignerons at Château Le Puy, not unlike

I spent four days in Bordeaux in February

Redon, seem to eschew the academic aim of

of 2016 and had the unshakeable feeling

depicting nature. Instead, Le Puy wines use

that Bordeaux is jealously hiding something

the nature outside us to capture and depict

behind its plainness. Bordeaux is an austere

something essential within us, rendered in

town of black wrought-iron accents grappling

all the dreamy encrusted confusion of colour

grey and sandstone facades, the manorial

that marks that transition, waltzing back

buildings standing shoulder to shoulder,

and forth over the threshold of dream and

etching out stiff, clean, breezy streets. The

nightmare, blossom and putrefaction, the

countryside is lovely, but it’s only as beautiful

moment and the process.

as most everywhere else. Even the gently sloping vineyards appear too textbook to

Am I granting a meagre wine a gravitas too

be remarkable. You’d be forgiven for not

lofty, reserved for art and religion? Then you

realizing the ludicrous final price some of

must try Château Le Puy. This is art in a bottle.

those precious grapes command as they

The Emilien is a desert island wine. This is one

flutter by your window. But I maintain that

of the first wines to unlock my obsession. It is

Bordeaux has quietly cloaked its invisible

an enigma. Emilien is delightfully complex yet

greatness behind this restrained appearance.

constantly approachable. It stood unwavering

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August 2021

If you’ve studied Bordeaux wines you’re already familiar The painting calls to mind a panoply of existential with what I witnessed first-hand, that Bordeaux’s dilemmas, but we are here to talk about wine. Having skies are as often overcast with the tired pallor of low visited Bordeaux and fallen in and out of love with the clouds as they are endowed with the powder blue overpriced wines over the years, I can’t help but see the azure you see splashed across vineyard websites and Cyclops Polyphemus as representing the all-consuming tourist pamphlets. In Redon’s Le Cyclope we see this beast of Bordeaux’s global affluent clientele, sucking up metamorphosis on display: one sky giving over to the Bordeaux’s wines en primeur and dictating a style of other, and we are unsure which is passing the baton winemaking that is ever bolder and oakier and edited to conform to the beast’s taste (but trend does, at last,

and which is grabbing it.

seem to be waning). But in Galatea I see the unyielding Poking his curious head over the hilltop is Polyphemus spirit of the Amoreau family and the other Bordeaux the Cyclops in his youth, before Ulysses has blinded growers that have held out, hiding from that global him. He’s been transported from the golden hues cyclops, complaining as Galatea complained to Scylla in of Etna to the pallid blues of Acquitane (where here Ovid’s Metamorphoses: too, locals like Redon have grown up with rumours Oh! Gentle Venus, how powerful your rule is over us! of one-eyed giants that roam these lands since time How that ruthless creature, terrifying even to the woods themselves, whom no stranger has ever seen with

immemorial).

impunity, who scorns mighty Olympus and its gods, how In Redon’s masterpiece, the spacial plane is oddly he feels what love is, and, on fire, captured by powerful flattened as it is in dreams. The unfixed sizes of the desire, forgets his flocks and caves. […] Your love of killing, Cyclops, the stretch of land, and the ethereal naiad your fierceness, and your huge thirst for blood, end, and Galatea make measurement impossible. Each denies the ships come and go in safety. the next any meaningful scale by which to measure As this class of buyers, a sizable portion of whom cannot the other’s height or distance or enormity. These three deny their Cyclops-like myopia and predatorial mode bodies simply stand in a balanced relationship to one of accumulation, faun over Bordeaux’s beautiful wines, another—not unlike this wine, in balance with itself, their euphemistic ‘business interests’ can at least go yet dreamily unmoored from the familiar rubric.

neglected momentarily, to the benefit of the demos

In the foreground, Galatea, the fresh-water nymph who suffer under them. But behold! Telemus warns the stalked

by

the

unrequited

love

of

monstrous heavy hearted Polyphemus:

Polyphemus, is nestled as one with the terroir of “Ulysses will take from you, that single eye in the middle indistinguishable flora. The land explodes in endless of your forehead.” Polyphemus laughed, and answered: colour and abundance, hidden beyond his gaze.

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“O most foolish of seers, you are wrong, another, a girl,

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has already taken it.” So he scorned the true warning,

farming? Do you care to hear about the complex parade

given in vain, and weighed the coast down, walking

of aromas: red current, tarragon, fresh plum, rose hip,

with giant tread, or returned weary to his dark cave.

hibiscus, nutmeg, potpourri, star anise, bergamot,

In this wine-market reading of the myth, the Cyclops,

potter’s clay, granola, each unfolding in turn..? Or the

in pursuit of Bordeaux’s hidden greatness, forgets his

succinct plum and raspberry laden palate with a hint

flocks—his stocks and bonds and covert wars—and tries

of prune concentration and fresh cut tomato? No

to buy his heart’s desire. He goes on to offer Galatea all

more than Redon cared to hear someone expound

he owns and his vast strength, trying to woo her. She is

on his pastel technique, I’m sure! Shall I tell you the

the one he cannot have. He tries and fails to consume

wine is 85% Merlot, 7% Cab Franc, 6% Cab Sauv, 1%

the essence of what he can not buy nor be. And he

Malbec, and 1% Carménère? You might as well explain

fails. Nature will not reveal itself in this way.

Le Cyclope to me by rattling off the percentage of different colouring pigments Redon used.

But to those who look past the inflated labels and

I haven’t the money to try Château Pétrus, a fifteen

find the humble and unfaltering estates of Bordeaux

minute drive west from Le Puy, and I am not sure I

exemplified by growers like Château Le Puy, real wine,

need to. They produce an artwork so successful, it has

affordable and accessible, will reveal itself, and in

eaten its own tail and metamorphosed back into wine

itself, reveal the glories of nature. Wine that is ripe and

qua commodity—more an investment than anything

pure, ‘more flowery than the meadows / friskier than a

else. I’m sure it’s a treat, but how can I justify spending

tender kid, more radiant than crystal / smoother than

the equivalent of a kid’s art history tuition on a single

shells, polished, by the endless tides / more welcome

case? How can I drink something so vaunted without

than the summer shade, or the sun in winter’ as

seeing it as its own end? Wines like Château Le Puy’s

Polyphemus despairingly describes Galatea. This is my

Emilien, on the other hand, are the very essence of true

own lifted and repurposed ode to this poetic wine, this

art—the art not as an end unto itself, but as a light cast

wine that made me see wine differently, made me see

back onto life. As a bridge. The true artwork exists in an

wine as a human expression of nature.

ecosystem that makes all the less sense the more you try to make sense of it. It is as simple as it is ineffable. It

This wine is the long-awaited love letter nature sends

is quite simply beautiful.

back to us. It is the most immediate and unpretentious reason to care about the planet—not for the economy, not for fear, but just for the sake of its untellable beauty.

Do you care to hear about ambient yeasts, foregone fining and filtration, or the hard work of biodynamic

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August 2021

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WORDS BY JELENA BOJIC PHOTOS SUPPLIED

The Great Escapes with Sorin Mihailovici “ Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things can not be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.

– MARK TWAIN

” Imagine this: with a blindfold on your eyes and a dart in your hand, you throw it at a map and then you travel there. Sounds like a movie, right? Well, it’s a reality for Sorin Mihailovici, an Edmontonian who is living his adventure through Travel by Dart.

Just today, he was getting a chocolate massage in Costa Rica (and yes, that’s a thing, chocolate lovers), and next week he may be off to the Maldives. And just a warning, you may not like Sorin by the end of this story…not because he’s not likable, but because his life consists of these outlandish travel experiences that may make you slightly jealous. Otherwise, he’s a really great guy.

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August 2021

Years ago, Sorin was talking to a few friends about success, and how they define it. He realized then that his philosophy of success didn’t really translate into the material stuff, but having the freedom to explore the world. “Imagine just throwing the dart and going exactly where it lands,” he remembers saying. Next thing they know, they’re at Walmart, shopping for a set of darts and a world map. Sorin and Matt decide to throw it, and wherever it lands, they’ll go. No do-overs. A third friend was filming the event, the dart landed on the North Pole, and since they couldn’t visit that specific area at Christmas time, they decided to go to the closest place - the most northern village in the world, Longyearbyen, located between Norway and the North Pole. The next two months were spent planning and raising money by creating sponsorships for corporate companies. Upon returning from this great adventure, they made a documentary, submitted it to festivals, and people started asking when the next tour was coming. Before the next trip, they organized a black-tie gala for 200 guests with a silent and live auction, and an opportunity for someone to throw the dart and determine the next destination. Russia was the next place – a large portion of the map, so not surprising. Sorin and the crew did research on social causes that are impacting Russian people and discovered that there are a lot of orphanages that don’t receive much support; so, they decided to visit one, and buy gifts for all the kids. Once there, they realized it’s not as easy as it sounds, not a single orphanage wanted to let them in or even talk to them.

It took a lot of work, conversations, meeting new people, and finally, they were able to find one that was open to having them visit. After a six-hour flight, they were in a

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small town, at the orphanage, asking every single kid for their wish. The next day, they were back with gifts.

This small yet meaningful act of kindness for the children, became a bit of a signature act for Travel by Dart, and a part of their mission is to help and inspire people in the areas they visit.

Chile, Bermuda, Indonesia, and many other places were destinations to follow. As the dart lands, Sorin plans, adjusts, the group members may change sometimes, but he’s a constant. On one of these trips, one of the travelers said to Sorin,“This sparked something in me.” Embracing the challenges of the random destination has inspired Sorin to create packages for travelers who want to experience special places but avoid traditional resorts and touristy ways of travel. And so, Spark Experience was born. Sorin learned that many people dream of less-visited destinations such as Uruguay, Costa Rica, and those countries not usually found on the ‘vacation packages’ travel agency sites. His clients are those who don’t want to research online for must-see attractions, but instead look for a real genuine experience of a place, its people, culture, and thrilling activities. And that’s what Sorin delivers.

The next trip is to Italy in September, and without revealing too many details, let’s just say this will be a trip of a lifetime.

Balancing his time between Travel By Dart and Spark Experience, Sorin comes to his headquarters, Edmonton, to finalize his documentaries, get organized, visit family and friends, and plan his next destination.

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August 2021

Thinking of this life, always visiting new places, seeing

What does the future look like? “Eventually, I’ll run out

breathtaking sites, enjoying the most beautiful views, I

of places to visit. But I still want to know the world. I’m

wonder if he always had this travel bug, this drive to

still hungry for that knowledge, even after visiting just

explore and visit every part of the world? “My father had

under 70 countries.” And how does one create this

a stroke at 42. A guy once full of life, energy, and drive,

lifestyle? Sorin says it’s through creating digital, online

he spent the last 30 years in bed. He’d been saving

businesses that he can work remotely, that allows him

money to travel with me and my mom, but it never

the independence and the luxury of throwing the dart

happened. His biggest regret in life was not being able

and packing the suitcase. His app, the Scam Detector,

to explore the world.” Sorin was 12 at the time, and

that he created years ago when a friend was a victim of

seeing the suffering of both his parents, while hearing

a scam and lost a large sum of money, has been

about this regret, planted a travel seed in his mind. Over

featured on BBC, Forbes, CBC, and all major media. It’s

the years, it became his lifestyle and his path. Sorin left

a great business and a source of income, but also

his job at City TV in 2016 to dedicate fully to traveling.

provides a valuable service to people, especially in the digital, online shopping world we live in today.

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As we slowly come back to life as we knew it before the

businesses together.” As we’re wrapping up our

pandemic, Sorin is busy scheduling and planning

conversation, I realize how much I miss traveling,

upcoming trips. Just finishing up a very interesting

whether it’s going to new places or ones I’ve visited

series of videos on Easter Island, he’s wealthier for an

before, there’s nothing like packing a suitcase and

incredible experience from one of the most remote

taking off into a new adventure. Here’s to dreaming of

and intriguing islands in the world.

joining the Spark Experience soon!

“People cry when these trips are over,” he says.

Adventures vary by the group and their interests, from

www.sparkexperience.com

sleeping in a hammock in the Amazon jungle to flying

www.travelbydart.com

over Tuscany in a hot air balloon, to parasailing over Rio de Janeiro. The most rewarding part of traveling with groups?

“They

bond

and

become

friends,

stay

connected after the tours; some have even opened

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August 2021

WORDS BY LANA LINTON PHOTOS SUPPLIED

Bicycles, Rafts & Segways, Oh My! Exploring Edmonton’s River Valley Has Never Been More Fun August is here, and we all know what that means: the dog days of summer are behind us as we begin to creep towards the autumn. Those of us who relish in the long days, sweltering heat, and radiant sunshine feel a prickling urgency to complete our summer bucket lists. For those of you keen to add another item to your lists, I have just the thing, River Valley Adventure Co.

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August 2021

If you, dear reader, are anything like me, you may consider yourself more of an indoor person. You thrive in comfortable, air-conditioned spaces, have what your outdoorsy counterparts call an unreasonable fear of garter snakes, and never learned to ride a bike.

Nonetheless, I invite you to challenge whatever your status quo looks like for an outdoor adventure that every Edmontonian should have at least once.

The Oxford Dictionary defines adventure as “an unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity.”

With River Valley Adventure Co., you can have what the Oxford Dictionary describes without the hazard.

Cycling enthusiasts are in for a treat with the option to rent mountain bikes and electric bikes. Take them for a few hours or the whole day and experience what the most beautiful part of our city has to offer. With over 480 kilometers of trails, you’ll never get bored.

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Perhaps you’re feeling bold and fancy a more Robinson Crusoe exploit? River Valley Adventure Co. can make that happen for you. Hop into an inflatable raft and brave

the

unpredictable

waters

of

the

North

Saskatchewan River (a life jacket is required, lest you end up shipwrecked like poor Robinson). There are few scenes as breathtaking in our city as those only accessible on the river—an excellent option for a daring yet romantic first date.

If you’re seeking a more relaxed adventure like me, you can grab a friend and rent a surrey bike, complete with built-in shade and baskets for your trail-side picnic. If cycling isn’t your thing, then perhaps you’d prefer a Segway tour. A laid-back experience that almost anyone of any age can enjoy. You can glide across the Walterdale Bridge or zip along the River Valley trails.

There’s a lot to be seen, from the bush to the sidewalk.

Whether you’re looking to explore the heart of our city, off the beaten path or on, River Valley Adventure Co. has you covered. Join a tour or head out on your own; you can decide what adventure means to you.

www.rivervalleyadventure.com

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August 2021

A Conversation Between Mind & Body How 4 Points Health and Wellness founder Alyssa Schmidt created a visionary space for a mental and physical connection

WORDS BY LANA LINTON PHOTOGRAPHY BY JELENA KOVACEVIC

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August 2021

Upon arriving at 4 Points Health and Wellness, it is immediately apparent that this is founder Alyssa Schmidt’s second home.

Her presence is encompassing, her voice delicate. She has spent time outdoors recently, and the sun endears her. After I meet Mary, her timid street dog from Thailand, Alyssa ushers me into a small sitting room with two mid-century modern inspired chairs. She curls up opposite me just as one would at home, barefoot; her genial sense of self-confidence is infectious.

“Most of us aren’t aware that our minds and bodies are disconnected,” Alyssa says, “we break that connection so we can thrive in society.” From personal training and yoga classes to craniosacral and chiropractic therapies, 4 Points offers a multimodal approach to health and wellness. You can get a massage, have an acupuncture treatment and even see a dietitian all in one place. If something emotionally tricky comes up, there’s a psychologist who can help you find your balance again. Alyssa believes that we are truly healthy when everything is balanced and connected. “Say you’re a bodybuilder, and you look great, but deep down there’s depression, and you don’t love yourself.

You’re not healthy; you just look good,” she says, shrugging her shoulders.

Alyssa was born and raised in Edmonton and has always felt a pull towards helping others. At age 12, she began volunteering with autistic children, which led her to Grant Macewan University, where she received an honours degree in psychology.

The plan was to get a PhD and become a clinical psychologist.

“I loved the brain. I was fascinated by [it], but then in my gap year, I started working with kids at an intensive trauma treatment home,” and everything changed.

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August 2021

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Alyssa saw holes in the Government-funded program right away. “You can’t just do therapy,” she says with a comical and matter-of-fact tone, “we needed to get their

bodies

and

minds

healthy.”

With

the

implementation of a healthier diet and exercise (or ‘baby bootcamp’, as she affectionately calls it), improvements in the kids’ behaviour and overall health were instant. The program’s limitations planted a seed within Alyssa; and she began to think, “Well, if I ever did it, I would want to do it [differently].” She wanted to work with people of all ages and then something unexpected happened.

The toll of working with trauma began to manifest, “I had this perfect life. In my head, I thought everything was good. I was very disconnected from my emotions.”

Alyssa began to struggle with breathing, became anxious and felt physical pain that was hard to define.

Medically speaking, she was clear, so she turned to an acupuncturist who “right away [said] can you tell me a bit more about your trauma?” Over several sessions, Alyssa began to address things that she had never acknowledged as her mind and body began to connect. It was from this experience that in 2014, 4 Points Health and Wellness was born. The four points refer to a compass: mind, body, soul and you. “Our mind is what has and perceives all of our experiences, but then it lives in our body. We feel [our experiences] in our bodies. So, how do we put those together? That’s what we do here, we rebuild the mind-body connection.”

www.4pointshealth.com @4pointshealth

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August 2021

Finding the Formula for Timelessness in the Art of Woodworking Brian Guenther Studio One builds the thoughtful and unexpected In our day-to-day, we hardly ever consider the details of carpentry or woodworking, but it is something that surrounds us. We sit, stand, and live completely encompassed by a craftsman’s skills. For Brian Guenther, our practical needs are an opportunity to create timeless art that will delight for generations.

WORDS BY MONA BUTLER PHOTOGRAPHY BY TREVOR TSOI AND RK PHOTO

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August 2021

One could almost say that woodworking is in Brian’s

viewed woodworking. I decided right then and there

genes. He started working with wood at his father’s

that this was the type of work I wanted to do and soon

sawmill at a young age and built his own treehouse,

after I enrolled in an advanced woodworking and

along with furnishings to go inside, using scrap lumber

furniture design course. I spent a full 12 months

from the mill. It goes without saying that Brian is a

immersed in furniture making and furniture design.”

creative who loves to work with his hands, but the epiphany that this was to be his career came from a

The majority of his work so far has been based on client-

different source. At 18, his passion truly sparked.

led projects. Most clients have some photos for inspiration but trust Brian to take the design and make

“I came across a furniture gallery with many handcrafted pieces of furniture that changed how I

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it into something unique and exceptional.

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August 2021

“First I talk to the clients and get an idea of what type of design they like. Then, I like to take in the whole space and in my mind, I scroll through the various inspirations I have and find something that suits that space. I like to work with interior designers and riff off of their ideas that they might have for the space or it might be the existing architecture that inspires the design” When given the opportunity, Brian doesn’t shy away from total creative freedom, like with his most recent furniture pieces: a pair of side tables for the launch of the Hager Studio website. The wood for this particular project had been sitting in his workshop for a few years, among others similarly waiting to be transformed, waiting for the perfect design to bring out its potential.

The tables blend some modern elements of interior design, like copper and gold accents, with a timetested classic: mid-century modern.

“I’ve been playing around with highlighting the figure in wood with dye for a few years and I always love the idea of adding metallic accents to pieces. I wanted to do something bold so I decided to use that wood. I didn’t like that wood turns kind of yellow with a natural finish on it so the idea of accenting the figured grain with dye was an easy choice.”

Carpentry and woodwork are crafts meant to build something to last but some don’t stand the test of trends and time when created with too many up-tothe-minute touches. Brian’s winning combination is to craft something thoughtful yet unexpected.

“Obviously time will tell if I have achieved something timeless, but I try to add just enough modern to keep things trendy, and just enough traditional to keep them grounded.”

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August 2021

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Rubble With A Cause “ You enrich people with creative resources, and over time, these Lego bricks that end up in their heads eventually build this enormous, incredible castle.

- MARIA POPOVA

” A few months ago, Kevin McKee bought a new set of Lego. The interlocking plastic bricks still satisfy his need to assemble, create and reconfigure. This lifelong fascination with the intricacy of building and construction led him to establish Pangman Development Corporation. With a thirty year career in real estate, McKee brings an expertise and unique approach to development and an unwavering loyalty to our city.

WORDS BY HEIDI JOHANNSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY JELENA KOVACEVIC

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August 2021

“People in this city are caring, thoughtful, hardworking,

resurrection being the Augustana. Longtime real estate

humble…all of those things that you want in a friend.

partner and ‘deal junky’ John Day, came to McKee

They’re consistent and honest. You list those things

professing, “I just bought a church!” That ‘church’ being

that you want in the people around you and that’s

the Augustana Lutheran Church in the government

Edmonton!” - McKee

district. Two and a half years later a 30 storey, 240 unit, purpose built rental is checking numerous boxes.

Versed in his strengths and shortcomings, McKee

Appealing to a wide range of residents, it is situated

intuitively surrounded himself with an incredibly

just steps from what makes everything great about our

talented team. Visionaries, morphing a property from

city including the Legislative Grounds, river valley trails

what it can be to what it should be. One such

and our vibrant arts and cultural district.

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August 2021

As Edmonton continues to find its way, it’s becoming more comfortable being a small city that can live big and that is the same for metro buyers. McKee states that there is a fundamental shift from the past in the buyer market.

They recognize value, are more sophisticated and are prepared to pay more for high quality. And as a developer, it’s enjoyable for McKee to participate and anticipate developing high quality projects in order to have a successful and healthy downtown. “The core of our city needs to thrive 24/7 not just 8-10 hours a day, Monday through Friday. You need to have critical mass downtown in order to support services. Build upon itself. We need to be reminded of how much progress has been made downtown. Over 2 billion in construction projects not including the private sector. There’s a tremendous amount of activity. We need to remind people that it’s here.”

Reflecting on what makes our city so unique, McKee emphasizes that Edmonton is in a really good place.

Specifically that the ‘quality of life is amazing and the opportunity for any of us to make a meaningful difference in the community exists.’ Any one of us has the opportunity to leave this place a little bit better. “As Edmonton continues to grow I’m hoping that our children will aspire to get educated here and make a life here. That is one of my desires for every child, that they come here and stay.”

With each new prospective project, Pangman Development starts with ‘unpacking the location’ which inevitably becomes a journey to discovery and a commitment to, ‘building a future to remember for our city.’ Watch for a more altered skyline as Pangman starts on a three phase, almost 1000 unit project. A collaboration with Maclab Development Group, it will be on the corner of Jasper Avenue and 108 Street on the western edge of the new downtown city park. www.pangmandev.com www.liveaugustana.ca

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August 2021

4552 - 99 Street Edmonton, AB T6E 5H5 www.rsvpdesign.ca

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