Delamar Hotel

Sail away on one of our private yachts for an unforgettable experience on Long Island Sound. Bask in the sun, relish the salt air or swim in the serene waters.

delamar.com

PUBLISHER

DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Tanya Plath

ART DIRECTOR

Kim Hall

DELAMAR VP OF SALES & MARKETING

Jackie Kosiba

ADVERTISING SALES P.O. Box 79322 Charlotte, N.C. 28271 203-561-5086

DELAMAR is published twice a year by LUX Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced without written consent from the publisher.

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DELAMAR assumes no responsibility for the material contained herein and does not reflect the opinion of the publisher or its staff. DELAMAR Magazine does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertisements or editorial. DELAMAR Magazine reserves the right to edit all materials for clarity and assumes no responsibility for accuracy, errors or omissions. Articles and photographs are welcome and may be submitted to our offices to be reviewed.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Colleen Guilfoile

Richmond

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Katelyn Rutt

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Katelyn Rutt

Marci Moreau

MaryEllen Fillo

Adam Jacot de Boinod

Lexi Ritsch

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Hicham Amaaou

Maxime d’Angeac Martin Darzacq

Amy Vischio

Tina Sommers

Kaitlin Parry

COVER PHOTO

Videler

Photography

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Delamar guest,

Twenty years ago when we opened Delamar Greenwich Harbor, having reimagined a well located 1960s motor hotel with a “colorful” reputation, we never realized what a challenge it would be to create and sustain a first class luxury hotel. Today, three recessions and a pandemic later, I feel very fortunate to have made that voyage. The rewards of providing a special hospitality experience to tens of thousands of guests and becoming an integral part of the community is most gratifying.

We have been lucky to have worked with a very talented group of individuals from inception, and have truly created a family and a culture of superior service and professionalism that is appreciated by our guests resulting in extremely high return visitation and #1 ratings for all Delamar Hotels and Spas in Connecticut on TripAdvisor. It is a loyal family of hard-working individuals from all over the world. I should also acknowledge a group of loyal and supportive financial partners and my wife and our children who have put up with a business that never sleeps.

Four Delamars currently in operation and three more (Mystic, Westport, Lime Rock) in the construction and planning stages validates our initial concept, of marrying sophisticated design, world class restaurants, best in class spas, with intimacy, whimsy and local engagement. As we move forward, making every effort to maintain the best of the Delamars, we have learned that change is also welcome, as long as it does not negatively impact our DNA.

We are therefore embarking on refreshing our rooms and public spaces where necessary and creating accessible activities to enhance the visitor experience, and create more connectivity to the local community. Given our locations near or on the water, our proximity and historical relationships to museums and the art world, we are planning to offer experiences that will get our guests on the water, and stimulate their minds through art and collaborations with local educational institutions.

We look forward to welcoming you and getting to know you better in our next twenty years and the Delamar family and I want to thank you for your patronage.

Yours Sincerely,

GREENWICH

lescalerestaurant.com

CONTENTS

ONLY AT THE DELAMAR

14 Curate your private experience with the Delamar, from private yachts, vineyards, galleries and cheese tastings.

LUXULLAN

20 What is new in the world of luxury? A new estate in Burgundy is a haven for wine aficionados. The perfect blend of advanced technology, superlative and craftsmanship create the Weismann Thunderball. Once upon a time there was the future Orient Express train in past meets present.

WELLNESS

40 Mushrooms for wellness and boosting your immunity. Celebrating 10 years with the Delamar and Valmont. A powerhouse pastor and the benefits herbs have on the body and mind.

STYLE

48

Effortless elegance meets coastal charm and the weekend edit.

EPICUREAN

52 In the culinary world cooking is considered the ultimate expression of love, and food, in it most pure form, is the medium by which we convey our deepest affections. We sit down with Chef Frederic Kieffer Executive Chef and Partner of the Greenwich Hospitality Group. How the hobby-turned-business is bringing new life to the art and craft of gin-making with Tuck Gin.

FEATURES

64With a penchant for the unrepeatable, the Greenwich Hospitality Group founder Charles Mallory breathes new life into storied destinations across Connecticut and beyond. Where is the real Gatsby? East Egg, West Egg and its connection to Westport. With a deep respect for its storied past, the Italian boat builder Fratelli Aprea has navigated the transition from fishing to luxury while remaining anchored in its heritage.

HOME

82 Integrating a Connecticut homeowners worldly collection of objects into a new home design.

ART & CULTURE

90 Peter Kirkile’s playful sculpture “Charms” and a pensive oil painting of a young boy and an elephant by Brian Keith Stephens, or an unusual circular textured paper piece are among the fine art pieces that grace the walls as one meanders around. An artistic settee made entirely of quarters by artist Johnny Swing provides a comfortable place to contemplate intriguing photos by Adrian Broom. The name of the museum? The Delamar hotels.

TRAVEL

102 A fabled 19th century palazzo is a world class hotel revived by Rocco Forte to its former splendor.

WEDDING

116 Located along the Connecticut coast the Longshore Inn is a location unlike any other.

DRIVE

128

This timelessly elegant, high-performance car is a contemporary take on the chic, pleasure-seeking Italian lifestyle of the 1950s and 60s. This Ferrari Roma Spider begins a new story.

MAPPING OUT THE FUTURE

132 Two new hotels in Connecticut are in view.

Only at The Delamar DESIGN YOUR OWN EXCLUSIVE

CURATE YOUR PRIVATE YACHTING EXPERIENCE

Sail away on one of our private yachts for an unforgettable experience on Long Island Sound. Bask in the sun, relish the salt air or swim in the serene waters.

Sail away on one of our private yachts for an unforgettable experience on Long Island Sound. Bask in the sun, relish the salt air or swim in the serene waters. Design your charter to your liking with our yacht inspired menus, created by our talented Chefs. For example, add a bottle of bubbly or a gourmet picnic lunch, based on the menu of the day. Our team will work with you to create your customized experience, so all you need to do is relax and unwind!

CURATE YOUR PRIVATE YACHTING EXPERIENCE DELAMARFLEET

Design your charter to your liking with our yacht inspired menus, created by our talented Chefs. For example, add a bottle of bubbly or a gourmet picnic lunch, based on the menu of the day. Our team will work with you to create your customized experience, so all you need to do is relax and unwind!

We look forward to welcoming you aboard! To reserve your private charter; Email us at charters@thedelamar.com. Private charters must be booked a minimum 48-hours in advance. Available June-October. Non-refundable within 48-hours. Delamar Greenwich.

We look forward to welcoming you aboard!

DELAMAR FLEET

WHISPER

WHISPER

HIHI

DELPHINE

SORRENTO

HINCKLEY I

SORRENTO

HINCKLEY II

HINCKLEY I

ANGELIQUE

HINCKLEY II

To reserve your private charter; Email us at charters@thedelamar.com

Private charters must be booked a minimum 48-hours in advance

Available June-October

SEE & BE SEEN IN STYLE while being chauffeured around town in one of our classic cars. A scenic route will be provided for you to take in Connecticut’s beautiful wonders. (1 hour minimum). To book the classic car experience please call 203.661.9800 to speak to our Concierge. Delamar Greenwich, Southport, West Hartford.

Experience subject to 6.35% CT state tax and 20% gratuity. Non-refundable within 48-hours

ANGELIQUE

Enjoy a deliciously curated WINE & CHEESE TASTING in the cozy Artisan Tavern while enjoying 5 hand-selected cheeses by our Chef from our local cheesemonger. Reservation must be booked 24 hours in advance. Call 860-937-2500 to speak to our Guest Relations Coordinator. Delamar West Hartford.

STROLLING BARREL TASTING AT MARI VINEYARDS

Visit the heart of Mari Vineyards and experience tasting estate-grown wine straight from the tank and barrel before it is released. Sample three unfinished wines from Mari's tanks and barrels and receive an intimate tour of their winemaking process. Guests will finish their tasting with a meat and cheese charcuterie snack and three additional wine samples showcasing finished examples of the unfinished wine tasted along the tour. Later that evening, guests will be treated to a thoughtfully curated private dining experience in Artisan's Birch Room, featuring Mari wine pairings. Delamar Traverse City.

EARTHPLACE. Enjoy a private hour-long guided trail walk on Sundays 11:30 am – 12:30 pm (15 minutes from the hotel) led by one of their trainedsanctuary staff members. Earthplace maintains a 62-acre wildlife sanctuary, the largest open space area in Westport, with a variety of habitats including fields, forests, ponds, and a stream. After your leisurely walk, present your room key for 10% off of admission to their exhibits and gift shop. The guided trail walk fee is $12 /per person and 24-hour advance reservations are required. To reserve call 203-259-2800 to speak to a Front Desk Agent. Delamar Southport.

Your room key will grant you complimentary admission to the NEW BRITAIN MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART, a museum full of works by celebrated masters and contemporary artists alike. Visitors can drop in for guided tours on Saturdays to explore their masterpieces and on Sundays for their special exhibitions. Delamar West Hartford.

NEW YORK NEW JERSEY PALM BEACH

MICHAEL A MORITZ PRINCIPAL ARCHITECT

LUCULLAN

A new estate in Burgundy is a haven for wine aficionados.

COMO Le Montrachet, opened its doors on April 15th, 2023. Situated in the heart of Burgundy, one of the world’s most prestigious wine regions, the hotel is a celebration of French gastronomy, hospitality and style.

To create COMO Le Montrachet, COMO has sensitively reimagined Hotel le Montrachet, a 19th century ‘place du village’ inn located in the village of Puligny-Montrachet, Burgundy. The hotel is housed across three heritage buildings arranged around the charming village square which lies just steps from the legendary ‘Le Montrachet’ vineyard. Guests can choose from 30 individual rooms and suites. For this project, the COMO Group has again collaborated with esteemed designer Paola Navone, who also designed COMO Castello del Nero in Tuscany. Navone’s redesign of COMO Le Montrachet is elegant in its translation of the ‘esprit du lieu’ and complemented by contemporary touches. The overall palette is inspired by the colours of the Burgundy countryside with custom-designed furnishings specially curated for the hotel.

Under the leadership of General Manager, Florian Bonnin, the hotel encompasses the best of COMO. In keeping with the gastronomic traditions of the area, Le Montrachet Restaurant will reopen with Executive Chef, Romain Versino overseeing the menu which will change with the seasons in order to best showcase the produce from local farmers and suppliers.

COMO Le Montrachet is an ideal getaway for oenophiles and wine connoisseurs. In addition to Montrachet, one of the most renowned vineyards in the world, four Grand Cru vineyards and seventeen Premier Cru vineyards lie close to the hotel as well as the villages of Chassagne-Montrachet, Meursault, Volnay and Pommard. The hotel’s own sommelier, André Berthier, is available to take guests on private wine tastings and trips to local wineries. Guests can also enjoy wine tasting workshops where they will visit a vineyard to learn about the vines and enjoy wine samplings in the vineyards with the sommelier or vintner.

Burgundy also has much more to offer visitors than just fine wine and is a year-round destination. From cooking classes and bicycle tours, to scenic hikes and hot air balloon rides over the vineyards, the region has something for everyone. Highlights include the local Beaune jazz and classical music festival in July and August, the period “vendange” in mid-August where the grapes are harvested, and the vivid change of colours in the vines in both spring and autumn are sights to behold.

www.comohotels.com

COMO Le Montrachet lies in the heart of the Burgundy countryside

The Return of an Icon

The Perfect Blend of Advanced Technology, Superlative Design and Craftsmanship

Established in 1988, Wiesmann manufactures cars for the purist in all of us. Best known for combining German innovation, engineering and design with classic British elegance and style, Wiesmann has not deviated from its founding vision, resulting in hand-built, bespoke vehicles that have been – and will continue to be recognised by connoisseurs as some of the world’s most iconic sports cars. The all new Wiesmann Project Thunderball will build upon that legacy and propel itself elegantly into the future.

Wiesmann’s ground-breaking all-electric roadster is now available to reserve. Wiesmann will be the first to market, anywhere in the world, with an all-electric, two-seater convertible. Customers are now able to register an interest for Project Thunderball on www.wiesmann.com to secure a place on the customer reservations list.

This follows on from the car's successful global debut at this year’s prestigious amfAR Gala in Cannes, and the return of the Wiesmann brand with the world’s first all-electric luxury roadster. The first customer deliveries are on track to begin in 2024.

Project Thunderball, the world-first all-electric convertible roadster, will be crafted from advanced carbon fibre, weighing in at little more than 1700kg (3747lb), with a power to weight ratio of 2.5kg per HP, bringing remarkable agility and handling more than worthy of the Wiesmann badge.

Roheen Berry, CEO of Wiesmann: “Project Thunderball is the car that will bring Wiesmann into the new electrified era. Since revealing the car in April we have seen an overwhelming response from potential customers. The car is driving beautifully and our investment in the technology such as the regenerative breaking and latest battery technology has paid off. The

Wiesmann brand not only has such a storied and wonderful past and legacy, but a bright and exciting future ahead of it.”

Production of Project Thunderball will take place at Wiesmann’s ‘Gecko’ factory, a stunning state-of the-art facility in Dülmen, Germany and will be available in the US. Project Thunderball will be carefully crafted by many of the team which helped grow this iconic German brand, the last truly independent European sports car marque remaining today, alongside some fresh new talent, using the most modern production technology while retaining Wiesmann’s reputation for bespoke German coachbuilding expertise of the highest order.

Past meets Present

Once Upon a Time... There was the future Orient Express Train

Photos by Maxime d’Angeac Martin Darzacq

140 years ago, Georges Nagelmackers turned his dream into reality by launching the first luxury Orient Express trains. Today, the legend continues with the unveiling of the future Orient Express train. Completely re-imagined, the old historic carriages, disappeared, forgotten, and then found again, are back in service. For years, several vintage Orient Express train carriages lay, forgotten, at a small railway station on the border between Poland and Belarus. Arthur Mettetal, a French railway fan spotted the distinctive blue carriages in a YouTube video, kickstarting a journey across Europe to track down the lost trains in 2015.

Hospitality group Accor purchased the rediscovered carriages and enlisted Parisian architect Maxime d'Angeac to meticulously restore them, ready for operation on a Paris to Istanbul rail route that's set to operate from 2025. The first glimpse of the renovated interiors suggest a glamorous travel experience. The cars’ decor is inspired by the 1920s glamour, combining Art Deco with modern luxury. Sébastien Bazin, Chairman & CEO, Accor: “We are proud, today, to reveal the first images of the future Orient Express train. A story inspired by a dream, a timeless train, the object of all fantasies and which becomes a reality. Maxime d’Angeac’s design awakens the myth with the revelation of its luxury, modernity, and French elegance. Tomorrow, the Orient Express will shine again, proud of its 140 years of history and looking to the future. The legend continues.” Fascinated by the great revolutionary artistic movements and a lover of travel novels, architect Maxime d'Angeac has been carrying out prestigious restoration and decoration projects for luxury houses such as Daum, Hermès, and Guerlain for the past 20 years. With this project, he writes the new destiny of a myth. An idea born of a dream, he explains: "This is the reinterpretation of a legendary train, conceived as a new embassy of French luxury, sublimated by the know-how and talents of the best French craftsmen.”

Spectacular and unexpected, the Dining-Car revisits the codes of the Orient Express. Maxime d'Angeac reinterprets the "rail" motif created by Suzanne Lalique-Haviland in the 1930s, which has been reworked on the partitions using the stoneboard technique. Under a mirrored ceiling, crossed by a series of arches, tables and wrap-around armchairs line up, lit by lampshades revisiting the original models.

The Suites invite you into absolute comfort and a functional spirit. Everywhere, the corners are rounded, the partitions are covered with precious wood and leather, the headboards embroidered with wood, mother of pearl and bronze. In a niche, the famous Lalique "Blackbirds & Grapes" panels, originating from the historic train, are displayed. At the time of the "Great Transformation," the large sofas are revealed in the comfort of a large bed. A bathroom and dressing room complete the ingenious layout.

Orient Express unveils for the first time the decor of the future Bar-Car, a sumptuous showcase inviting passengers under large domes of light inspired by the Second Empire style. The bar area features a glass counter and an ideal tribute to René Lalique. At each table, a clock rings for cocktail and dinner times. A call button is reserved for the champagne service. Another for the staff.

CONTEMPORARY ELEGANCE, ARTFUL INDULGENCE

Inspired by historic industrial buildings, our uniquely designed hotel serves as a homage to French-Canadian and Northern European architectural design. Energize your senses and discover whimsical art-filled walls throughout.

Past, Present, & Future

The Greenwich psychic and spiritual worker, renowned for

Written by Katelyn Rutt

Unlike most vocations that require the honing of new skills, Janet Lee’s foray into the world of psychic and spiritual work was incredibly innate.

“I am a born-gifted psychic with an Indian background,” Lee says. “My entire family has the ability to look into a person’s past, present, and future and help them shed light on troubling issues in their life. My grandmother was a handson healer, my mother was a born-gifted psychic with vision, and I have the divine ability of both gifts.”

This dual-ability, Lee says, is very unique in the industry. It’s arguably what brought her from northern Connecticut to Greenwich decades ago—a charming area she has now called home for nearly 25 years.

“I was approached by Saks Fifth Avenue to do a promotion,” Lee says. “They asked me to come in and do psychic readings for any $100 purchase at the Lancôme counter, so I came across to Greenwich.”

On the morning of the promotion, the line zig-zagged and Lee was booked with readings for most of the day.

“The second request I got from Saks Fifth Avenue was to return and work for Chanel, doing readings for each $500 purchase,” Lee says. “Once again, the line wrapped around the corner of the store.

In the third conversation I had with Saks Fifth Avenue they said, ‘Janet, can you please be our VIP psychic for the store?’”

From that moment forward, the “Greenwich Psychic” was born. Lee worked at Saks Fifth Avenue every weekend, prompting her to eventually open her own shop on Greenwich Avenue where she could specialize in psychic and spiritual work.

Since then, Lee’s psychic work has expanded to include a luxurious office suite in Manhattan where she conducts most of her readings for her Wall Street clients. Both of her office spaces blend luxury with comfort and feature a home-like atmosphere.

“In a typical reading, people will come in, sit down, and I will do most of the talking,” Lee says. “The reading starts by going through a person’s past, present, and future. Most of the time, the reading concentrates on the mind and heart, what’s going on in the present, and healing any broken parts.”

Confidentiality is highly important to Lee, who has a list of high-profile clients she guards carefully. No matter the client or the unique struggles they bring to Lee, the psychic finds deep fulfillment in her calling.

“When they enter, clients are broken and hopeless,” Lee says. “After working with me, we’ve picked up all of the pieces and put them together again. Clients always leave feeling whole and happy.”

her celebrity and Wall Street clientele in Manhattan, shares the story behind her divine gifting.

WELLNESS

Mushrooms for Wellness

TIPS TO BOOST YOUR HEALTH

Written by Lexi Reich

Fungi may just be the future of the wellness world. While mushrooms have been consumed for thousands of years, health enthusiasts continue to uncover the medicinal benefits that various mushroom varieties offer.

Stepfanie Romine, health coach and author of Cooking with Healing Mushrooms, spent years studying the power of mushrooms in Asheville before writing her guide to integrating medicinal and functional mushrooms into one’s daily life. With the influx in popularity and claims to mushrooms as a “quick fix,” Romine warns readers to be patient in their herbal healing journey.

“No single herb, mushroom or supplement is a cure-all,” she says. “Don’t expect major changes to happen overnight, and with any wellness or health regimen, you still have to put in the work. If you’re taking cordyceps for stress but making no effort to reduce or manage the overwhelm you’re experiencing, you can’t expect your stress to simply disappear. As with herbs, supplements or even pharmaceuticals, you need to do your part to deal with the root cause of your issues, not simply treat the symptoms.”

However, Romine is still a huge advocate for integrating fungi to boost natural health, and has a wealth of knowledge to share when it comes to getting started.

WHEN WERE YOU FIRST INTRODUCED TO MUSHROOMS?

“I was first introduced to mushrooms when I lived in South Korea back in 2005. Then in 2012, my husband and I moved to the mountains of North Carolina to prioritize healthy living. A temperate rainforest with unparalleled biodiversity, Asheville and the surrounding area is a hot spot for natural health, and I dove right in, learning about herbal medicine, foraging for plants and mushrooms and soaking up as much information about the natural world as possible. Having followed a plant-based diet since 2010, I felt drawn to natural and herbal medicine, including the healing power of mushrooms. I actually worked for an herbal supplements company for several years, where I spent a year working on education and marketing for a product launch that combined herbs and mushrooms. Now I live in Berlin, Germany, but I still cook healthy, seasonal, plant-based meals (with plenty of medicinal mushrooms) to fuel my active life and husband’s long-distance road cycling.”

WHAT ARE THE KEY BENEFITS OF MUSHROOMS?

“If you’re new to mushrooms, start by picking an area of health to support. Reishi is called the mushroom of immortality, and it’s a tonic and adaptogen (meaning it supports your stress response). Reishi is a good one for immune health, sleep and overall longevity. Chaga and turkey tail are popular for immune support as well. If you’re an athlete or want an energy boost, try cordyceps. Yes, that’s the mushroom from The Last of Us, but it won’t turn you into a zombie. It’s an adaptogen that’s been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine — and promotes a healthy sex drive. If you’re at the supermarket, reach for shiitake mushrooms. They’re brimming with nutritional as well as immune benefits.

Mushrooms are best-known for their immunosupportive qualities, but different species have different benefits. Supplements like tinctures or capsules contain higher doses that are more potent and precise, but cooking with mushrooms is an easy way to reap their benefits.”

WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHEN GETTING STARTED?

“In choosing mushroom extracts or tinctures, quality matters. Look for reputable brands, and shop at stores like your local co-op or other ‘healthy’ supermarkets that have their own set of standards for any products they carry. This will help you weed out the less reputable companies. Focus on brands that use mostly fruiting bodies.

Eating mushrooms as part of a healthy, whole foods diet is like squirreling away $20 from each paycheck you earn. It doesn’t take much effort but builds up over time. However, if you’re in debt or close to retirement, those $20 contributions won’t make much of a dent in your debt or be enough to live on in your later years.

If you’re interested in taking mushrooms therapeutically, such as in the doses used in clinical studies, talk to a naturopath or registered dietitian. You can have too much of a good thing. If you ate enough shiitakes, for example, to reach the clinical therapeutic dose of lentinan, you’d end up with a major bellyache — and some unsavory GI side effects.

While I firmly believe in the healing power of mushrooms, please know that these mushrooms aren’t magic. Some may have noticeable effects the first time you consume them, but most take a while. I felt calmer the first time I took reishi tincture, for example, but I’ve never noticed any changes in my body from eating maitake or shiitake, other than not getting sick all winter (which could be attributed to any number of health-preserving measures I take). Just as you need to take an entire course of antibiotics, you also need to give holistic treatments time to take effect. How long and how much are questions you should discuss with your health care team.”

HEALTH, REBALANCE & REJUVENATION

Offering European based cutting edge spa treatments with two of the world’s leading skincare brands Biologique Recherche and Valmont.

The Essentials

The aphorisms “you are what you eat,” and “beauty comes from within,” are tropes our customers come to us understanding. What we do at the Delamar Spa is what we do as a company at large. We search the world to provide quality, in this case, the most efficacious noninvasive products and treatments. We do the research and provide the services. If you follow our protocols, you will see beauty that is transformative.

- Georgette Mallory

Celebrating 10 years of partnership this year, Delamar hotels and Valmont joined forces back in 2013 to create a luxurious spa experience through the Swiss expertise of Valmont and through the vision of incorporating art into both aspects of the hotel’s properties from the lobbies to the spa treatment rooms, When Art Meets Beauty.

The Valmont brand transforms the skin into a dazzling exhibit of beauty, at any age, in any environment. Acclaimed as the foremost cosmetic expert of the decade, Valmont remains ever true to its roots and its values. 100% Swiss, its world-renowned effectiveness stems from the exclusive union of preserved natural resources and scientific prestige.

Guests can experience Valmont’s unique and luxurious signature treatments at all Delamar locations and indulge in the classic white and green jars to choose which of the products are best for them. Valmont is proud of our decade-long partnership with Delamar Hotels.

The Power of Food Culinary Herbs for Body and Mind

Written by Marci Moreau

If someone asked me to choose a favorite aroma, it would be a toss-up between parsley and the smell of sunscreen on a baby, probably because they both remind me of summer. Summer always brings me back to our tiny beach house that was truly a small house that held hundreds of people. And with lots of people, especially when those people are part of a big Italian family, there is always, lots, and lots, of food.

Every weekend, my grandmother and flock of aunts, arrived, armed with platters of vegetables, of course, chicken cutlets, reused ricotta cheese containers filled with homemade tomato sauce, and bunches and bunches of parsley and fresh herbs wrapped in damp paper towels to keep them from wilting.

My grandmother loved summer herbs and she used them in everything. She snipped them with scissors, or as she told me, “gently rip them into pieces and sprinkle them like confetti.”

When I asked her, “Sprinkle them where, grandma?” She smiled, and said, “Everywhere.”

My grandmother was not the first one to fall in love with the power of summer herbs. Used as medicine for thousands of years, because of their anti-bacterial, anti-viral, or as I like to say, anti-everything properties, culinary herbs have been recognized by most every culture. They are multi-faceted in their abilities, enhancing the flavor and depth of recipes, and they are also a powerful source of healing, for the body, and the mind.

In the nutritional wellness world we consider these culinary herbs botanical adaptogens and anxiolytics, natural substances that help the body adapt to stress, reducing the harmful impact on our body and mind. Even more, the latest research is suggesting remarkable antidepressant potential, making these culinary herbs a small miracle.

Parsley tops the list, not only because I am biased, but because it really is a culinary health champion, especially when it comes to chlorophyll and apigenin. Chlorophyll, sometimes called green blood, helps to give plants their green color and absorb energy from the sun, and apigenin, a plant compound, or phytochemical, are both more than abundant in parsley. This Herculean duo is a master detoxer, an immune booster, and reduces harmful inflammation throughout the body and the mind.

The flat, or Italian parsley, has more flavor than its curly counterpart, so it is most often used in food preparation, but when it comes to antioxidant ability and health benefits, they both deliver huge results.

And it turns out parsley not only smells like heaven but it is pretty much omnipresent in all that it can do. There is new research to suggest parsley can reduce cortisol levels, thus creating a better platform for improved physical and mental wellness. No wonder my grandmother told me to sprinkle this everywhere.

You would think parsley is a hard act to follow but basil, otherwise known as the King of Herbs, with over 60 varieties, definitely holds its own. Sweet basil, with a spirited robust flavor, plays a central role in the culinary scene, seasoning many summer dishes, and thanks to eugenol, an essential oil in basil that you can actually feel on your hands when you “gently rip the leaves,” it also delivers potent health benefits to almost every system in our body.

Cardiovascular, respiratory, digestion, and the immune system are all the lucky beneficiaries but the king does not stop there. Also reign-

ing as the herb with the highest level of magnesium, basil decreases our stress levels, improving memory and enhancing cognitive function, creating a whole lot of good for our mental health too.

Chives are just as powerful and although I have heard some people complain chives are too much and can overtake a garden, considering the immense health benefits chives bring to our body and mind I say move over and give them as much room as they want.

From the impressive Allium family, that also includes garlic, leeks and scallions, chives contain vitamins A, C, K, as well as folate, the B12 vitamin that promotes red blood cell production and DNA synthesis. All of this makes us very healthy, and chives can also improve digestion creating a healthier gut microbiome, making us much happier too.

Even better, the flavonoids in chives stimulate the production of glutathione, considered the “master antioxidant” because it does a clean sweep of our body removing toxins anywhere they may hide, and for its ability to make every other antioxidant even more powerful.

All the summer herbs are truly phytonutrient superheroes and it’s no surprise Simon and Garfunkel chose to sing about sage, rosemary and thyme too. Sage grants us a nutritional profile as strong as its flavor, rosemary has mineral properties as intoxicating as its aroma, and thyme bestows us with even more vast medicinal benefits.

All of this power makes me want to sing too however I will make music in the only way I know how; with food, and share with you my recipe for Powerhouse Pesto, for you to use “Everywhere.”

POWERHOUSE PESTO

This pesto sauce is a winning combination of antioxidant ingredients. I cannot say enough about it! Packed with super foods, it is a potent source of vital energy our bodies can use to stimulate healthy processes. It is so versatile it can be used every day. I use it as a sauce for pasta, rice, grains and pizza. It is an amazing base for dressings or marinades and to flavor meats, poultry, seafood and vegetables. It does not matter how you use it, rub it all over you body if you want to, just use it, and eat it often! Your body and mind will thank you! The sauce will keep well refrigerated for a week or freeze up to three months. Makes 4 cups.

• 1 cup broccoli, chopped

• 1 cup lacinato kale leaves (ripped in small bite size pieces)

• 1 cup spinach

• 1/2 cup dandelion greens

• 1/2 cup basil

• 1/4 cup parsley

• 1/4 cup wheatgrass

• 1 cup basil

• 1/4 cup chives

• 1 cup almonds

• 1 cup olive oil

• 1/2 cup freshly grated parmigiana reggiano

• 3 cloves garlic

• 1/2 piece of large turmeric root

• 1 large piece ginger root, peeled

• juice and rind of one lemon

• salt and pepper to taste

Pulse broccoli, kale, spinach, dandelion greens, parsley, basil, wheatgrass, garlic, turmeric root, and ginger root in a food processor, slowly adding olive oil , and process until almost smooth. Add the almonds and a little more olive oil at this point if needed and pulse for about a minute. Next add the parm cheese, lemon juice and rind, salt and pepper, and blend a couple of minutes more until smooth and all the ingredients are well blended. Enjoy the power!

Necklace

EPICUREAN

Chef’s Table

Chef Frederic Kieffer Executive Chef and Greenwich Hospitality Group Partner

Written

“We have a mission to better the world with food”

by Marci Moreau

In the culinary world cooking is considered the ultimate expression of love, and food, in its most pure form, is the medium by which we convey our deepest affections.

The greatest culinary leaders do this seamlessly and in the very best kitchens the food that is being prepared commands the most sincere respect. It is there, that food is considered a prized life force, meant to nourish and nurture, and to make us whole.

It’s already a thoughtful and mindful approach, and yet still, there are some chefs that do even better. Chef Frederic Keiffer is in the ranks of what I consider to be the most profound and passionate masters of cuisine, and is definitely, doing much better.

In his words, “It is a great responsibility to lead a kitchen, not only for the staff and the customers in the dining room, but for future generations. From the choices we make, with the food we buy, to our preparation and sourcing methods, we have a mission to better the world with food.”

His guiding philosophy centers around a more sustainable approach for hospitality and with each and every recipe, he blends his culinary

passion with a monumentous respect for the ecosystem of food, and creates the perfect dish. Building a gastronomical platform with a moral compass is a priority within the Greenwich Hospitality Group and it is apparent, Chef Frederic is initiating a movement to transcend the experience of dining and make the world a better place to be.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST FALL IN LOVE WITH FOOD?

I would say it started pretty early in high school. I was growing up in the countryside of Paris and needed to find a job. Because there are so many restaurants in Paris, one of the easiest jobs to get was in the restaurant business. I was too young to know what I wanted to do but by the end of high school I knew I wanted to be in the kitchen. I loved being there.

I then enrolled in the Ferrandi Culinary School in Paris and spent six years in school until I earned my Masters. In culinary school in Europe you spend a good amount of time doing internships in restaurants and I had the opportunity to work for quite a few restaurants.

It was great exposure and it brought me to the United States through a student exchange program with Johnson and Wales in Providence. I went back to Paris to finish my Masters but was called back to work at C’est Si Bon in Greenwich, CT. I was supposed to stay for five or six months and it's been thirty years. I never left…

WHEN WAS THE FIRST TIME YOU FELT AN EMOTIONAL REACTION TO FOOD?

Today that happens frequently. It’s funny, I don’t remember what I ate a week ago but I remember my first meal at La Tour d’Argent in Paris. It means Silver Tower and it is the oldest restaurant in Paris. I ordered the signature dish, pressed duck, and I remember being so intrigued by the entire process. The whole bird is roasted, the legs and breast are removed and the carcass is pressed to get the juice out of the bones. There is a little pan to catch the juices and it is then served over the duck meat. There is a tradition of presenting a numbered certificate to each person who orders it. To me all of it was emotional, the food, the process, the whole experience.

WHAT ROLE DOES FOOD PLAY IN YOUR FAMILY LIFE TODAY?

Food has a central role in my family. It’s our core. We have a garden at home. My wife tends to it more than me. From April to November we do not buy anything at the store. We grow lettuce, strawberries, tomato, apples, eggplant, beans…We grow most of what we eat. When you harvest food you grow there is nothing better than that. At the end of the season we can our vegetables and use them for food in the fall and winter months. It is very satisfying.

My wife is from Europe and her parents were from a rural area of Germany, where there is a lot of farmland. Animals were part of her upbringing. She has a good understanding of where food comes from, and the origins. Cooking food from scratch, from what we grow, homemade food, was part of her family’s culture. We share the same values.

I have chickens at home, different breeds. My children are involved in raising them and gathering the eggs. It is important to me my kids learn and understand about the lifecycle of food.

We serve very limited processed food in my home, only Nutella. My kids love healthy food and they like to bring fresh sandwiches for lunch at school. If I want to punish them I make them eat at school. It's the harshest punishment they could have.

We appreciate local sources and living with a sustainable focus. In our family there is great respect for animals, food, nature, and the environment. It all starts at home for me.

HEY CHEF, WHAT DOES YOUR TABLE LOOK LIKE?

It looks like a complete table where everyone must be present. My wife, and I, and my three children are at the table. We have at least one meal together every day.

In season, our meals start with what is in the garden. We serve fresh eggs that we gather from our chickens for breakfast almost every day. On Saturdays and Sundays we make homemade crepes or waffles, and also an egg based recipe. In the summer we fish a lot and cook what we catch.

My family will always ask what is for dinner. They look forward to spending time at our table. There is a great respect for food and food is a priority. My children are open to all kinds of foods. On our table we have a lot of vegetable choices, green squash from the garden, fresh herbs, and lots of food from local farms. We always talk about food and discuss where it comes from and who is growing it.

My children are exposed to a variety of quality foods. It is very important. Our table is a place where we enjoy spending time together and we learn respect for the earth.

WHAT DOES “SUSTAINABLE HOSPITALITY” MEAN TO YOU?

The mission here is so much more than buying food and cooking it. You have to understand there is a reason for what you cook and how you cook it. I want all the chefs who work in our restaurants to understand the meaning of food and the role that it plays in the world.

To me, sustainable hospitality means you have to cook responsibly and you have to make the right decisions. Our mission at the Greenwich Hospitality Group, to better the world with food, guides me in every decision I make, in all my kitchens. We are responsible for so much more than serving food to our guests~we are responsible for the environment, the world, and the earth.

As the Executive Chef you have a great responsibility overseeing the culinary realm for all the Delamar restaurants ...

With our restaurants it all starts with local and clean food sources. Our chefs work with the local farms and know all the farmers. We know the professional foragers and the best local sources for all the food we serve on our menus. We not only buy from them but they are our friends. Relationships are important to us, our relationships with people and our relationships with nature.

One of our strongest relationships is with Gilbertie’s. It is an organic family farm in Easton, CT, started by Sal Gilbertie. Most of what we have in our gardens at our restaurants comes from Sal. I still go there every spring and load up my car with herbs and vegetables. Sal has so much knowledge; he is a great teacher and a true storyteller of food. I love our visits.

Every time I go I come away with a lot more than herbs

and vegetables; I’m always learning something new about food from Sal.

Gilbertie’s was the inspiration for our superfood chopped salad. The beautiful greens and vegetables grown on the farm became the foundation for what we call The Georgette Salad at L’Escale in Greenwich, in honor of our owner, Charles Mallory’s, wife, Georgette.

The way we cook sends a message to our staff and then they bring that message out in the world. It says we need to reduce the carbon footprint and we have a responsibility not just to our guests but to the world and our environment. I think it is very important what we do.

Future generations depend on us to do the right thing, we have a story to tell and I like to think we are doing it with our food.

FARM-TO-TABLE SUSTAINABLE CUISINE

delamar.com

“A good Chef has to truly appreciate  what mother nature has to offer and cherish it all along the cooking way!”

—Chef Frederic Kieffer

To Create the Artisan Clam Chowder you will need:

• 12 oz. of butter

• 1/2 pc. of celery mirepoix

• 2 pc. onion mirepoix

• 2 pc. fennel mirepoix

• 4 diced leeks

• 2 oz. chopped garlic

• 11 oz. ap flour

• 4 cans clam juice

• 6 ears fresh corn kernels (summer)

• 3 oz. ricard

• 2 cups noilly pratt

• 4 cups white wine

• 2 qts. heavy cream

• 1/2 bunch of thyme leaves

• 2 lb. sliced fingerling potatoes

• 4 cups fresh chopped clams

Noisy butter, oyster, crab meat, shrimp, Whitaker, fava beans (in season) scallion, corn kernel (in season) chive, preserved lemon served with fennel cracker.

Render the mirepoix for 10 minutes (no color), add the chopped garlic and cook another 2 minutes, add the diced leek cook for 1 minute.

• Add the flour and cook for 3/4 minutes until it tur ns white.

• Add the wine, noilly prat, ricard bring to a boil simmer for 5 minutes.

• Add the clams juice bring a boil simmer for 2 minutes.

• Add the cream, sliced potatoes, thyme and simmer for about 15/20 minutes.

• Check the seasoning.

• When the potatoes are cooked stir in the chopped clams and remove from the fire.

• Reheat the soup to order.

• In a small pan reheat the shitakee, fava bean, corn kernel and other seafood add chopped chive & preserved lemon.

• Pour the soup table side and serve it with fennel crackers.

A Trailblazing Spirit

How the hobby-turned-business is bringing new life to the art and craft of gin-making.

Written by Katelyn Rutt

Known for its botanical flavors, long-lasting finish, and expert craftsmanship, TUCK Gin is perhaps the newest and most unique kid on the block. The brand emerged in 2019 and has taken the alcohol world by storm with its three primary products—all reimagined twists on American-style gin. So where does it all begin? Believe it or not, the journey started as a one-man hobby in a Western Connecticut basement.

“I initially created a gin for the fun of it, a passion project if you like, then we had the wild idea to do it for real,” President and Chief Tasting Officer Jonathan Davies says. “I have a degree in chemistry, so the basic distillation process wasn’t scary. It ultimately came down to deciding what general style we were shooting for and then specific flavor choices.”

After joining forces with three local partners, the group sorted through around 400 common botanicals—citrus, herbs, spices, nuts, and more—to create the ultimate blend. The goal was to create a gin that would be approachable for frequent and non-gin drinkers. Davies adds that he was initially drawn to the concept because gin is “the most creative spirits category,” requiring only juniper berry.

The group settled on a citrus-forward approach using grapefruit peel, and took the road less traveled with jasmine—as opposed to lavender or rose like many gins.

“We import them from India over ice, getting them into our still within 72 hours of being picked,” Davies says. “Contrast fresh grapefruit peel and fresh jasmine flowers to using the dried equivalents that most gin and beer makers use, and the flavor depth and crispness comparison is night and day.”

Davies says the consensus was largely unanimous during the early stages of focus group testing.

“I will always remember one participant telling us emphatically, ‘Mark my words, you will one day thank me for this. Your barrel finished gin will become your hero product,’” Davies says. “You never want to openly say that you have a favorite child, but I think that we share a very slight preference for our aged gin too...even though we love them both deeply.”

While the process of settling on a flagship gin may have been more clear-cut, choosing a name wasn’t so simple. The four founders had a simple vision: A name that was short, easy to call out at a bar, and simple to remember. Plus, one that would pop on a label and have a bit of levity.

“Believe me, we had countless group creative sessions, some sober, some less so,” Davies says. “We mocked up a number of brand ideas/ names and even registered a trademark application for another name before that was contested.”

“That offers almost infinite possible combinations, and literally every gin is different because of that breadth of that choice,” Davies says. “The gin category has been on a tear in much of the rest of the world as the styles have changed from the ultra-dry gins of 50+ years ago to more contemporary expressions. Why couldn’t we create something different and interesting, and build an American-styled, craft gin brand? After all, gin is in.”

The name “TUCK” slowly worked its way up from a second-tier option to the top of the list. As a nickname for the Saugatuck River that flowed behind Davies’ house and connected the homes of the four founders, it just made sense.

“The Saugatuck River water table provides the water we originally used to cut our gin, and even now we match the pH and minerality of it in our current production in Greenport, New York,” Davies says. “The river provides a foundation and location to the brand, and a sense of belonging, life, and beauty. It brings a little zen...if you like that stuff.”

While there are many aspects that distinguish TUCK Gin from its counterparts, the distilling process is perhaps the most notable.

“Rather than distill all of the botanicals together in the same still, we distill each of them separately and then blend them together to create the gin,” Davies says. “This was the way I had initially crafted the gin.”

If this process is negated, botanicals will come off the

stills at slightly different temperatures, overlapping the good flavors of one with the less-than-optimal flavors of another.

“If you distill each separately, you get cleaner, brighter flavors and a better product,” Davies says. “This method requires greater effort, but the result is worth it. We may not be the only ones doing this, but it is a pretty exclusive club and we are very proud of what we created.”

TUCK Barrel Finished

This flagship gin rests in French Oak barrels for months to allow the original exotic spices and botanicals to age into their more refined flavors, while adding irresistible layers of spiced vanilla and roasted caramel for a complex tasting experience.

TUCK Gin

Balancing the piney taste of juniper with exotic spices, fresh citrus, and floral notes, this gin is a twist on tradition.

Charles Mallory

With a penchant for the unrepeatable, the Greenwich Hospitality Group founder breathes new life into storied destinations across Connecticut and beyond.

Written by Katelyn Rutt

For Charles Mallory, the path to hospitality wasn’t clear-cut. The restaurateur and hotelier began his career in the oil shipping business, seemingly unrelated from the world of concierge desks and bellhops.

“I always had an interest in restaurants and hotels, and even considered going in that direction after college,” Mallory says. “Little did I know the shipping business would allow me to do a lot of traveling and spend significant time in hotels and restaurants throughout the world. It was a happy career for me and fueled my enthusiasm for those areas.”

Mallory’s 30-year journey zig-zagged from shipping to real estate development until his acquisition of the former Showboat Hotel in 1999—alongside friends, family, and investors. Greenwich Avenue, referred to as the “Rodeo Drive of the East Coast,” was the perfect location for the group’s first hotel renovation. The tired 1960s motel, a former coal yard, received a reimagining comparable to its colorful history and quickly secured its place as an iconic mainstay.

“Life went swimmingly until the financial meltdown of 2008,”

Mallory says. “I had been passive as a general partner until then, and had to roll up my sleeves and figure out how to run the business. I found I very much enjoyed it.”

Not dissimilar to his outlook on life, Mallory considers every detour or repositioning as the catalyst to a new destination.

“This crisis also gave us an opportunity to acquire two other hotels that were unfinished which meant we were officially in the hotel business, and not just in possession of a single or passive investment,” Mallory says. “The crisis ironically propelled the business forward.”

However, there are nearly 187,000 hotels worldwide. Mallory’s ace in the hole? Developing a destination that is impossible to replicate.

“I try to find unrepeatable locations or areas where there are real challenges to enter the market,” Mallory says.

“For example, Southport is driven by parking and zoning, so it would have been impossible to build another hotel there. West Hartford is a town-owned site that is in the heart of a delightful community, is close to business and social activities, and presents like a landmark. It has raised the bar for hotels in affluent suburbs.”

With Mallory at the helm, Delamar Hotels has an exciting future ahead. A hotel on the campus of Mystic Seaport in Eastern Connecticut will serve as a bookend to the Greenwich location, with glistening water and historic vistas from each guest room. Mallory describes the hotel as a “magical destination” with waterfront dining, a dock, and a pool.

“We have another Delamar underway in Westport which will be complementary to Delamar Southport and the newly-acquired lease at The Inn at Longshore,” Mallory says. “I am also a general partner for a build at Lime Rock Park, a historic sportscar racing track in Northwestern Connecticut. It’s a wonderful opportunity to create something unique...a luxury hotel at a sports car racing facility.”

As an auto history buff and avid collector, the hotelier also has plans to transform his collection into a movable feast of cars and boats that would be visible and usable in the group’s hotels and restaurants—alongside art courtesy

of his close relationship with many museums and local institutions.

“I’ve loved cars ever since I was very young,” Mallory says. “I have two magazines that I’ve subscribed to for respectively 65 and 64 years in a row. I was also actively involved in vintage racing in the 80s and 90s. I’m built more for comfort than speed now.”

But Mallory isn’t slowing down any time soon. In a way, he is a new brand of superhero, helping to create thousands of jobs, save buildings from destruction, and reposition them for success.

“I learn from my mistakes and know my limitations in a very real way,” Mallory says. “Having good partners, a helpful son, and a supportive wife is a blessing. We also have a wonderful leadership team and staff from all over the world who work very hard and do it because they love it. People are a huge part of what makes Delamar Hotels so special.”

The Real Gatsby

East Egg, West Egg and its connection to Westport

Written by MaryEllen Fillo

Imagine it through the eyes of famed author F. Scott Fitzgerald. A mysterious millionaire, a luxurious estate, outrageous parties with couture-outfitted celebrities and special guests, hot jazz and dancing, free-flowing liquor and sumptuous buffets. It is the quintessential 1920s party setting that set the stage for his masterpiece, “The Great Gatsby.” The place? It might be closer than you think.

The Inn at Longshore in Westport, a Delamar property, is considered one of the premiere wedding and special event venues in Fairfield County. And along with its elegance and coveted reputation comes an intriguing back story, strong suggestions that the site may have been part of the inspiration for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel.

As academics debate exactly what really inspired the Fitzgerald’s famed story of the fictional millionaire, Jay Gatsby, and his love affair with another main character, Daisy Buchanan, The Inn at Longshore has emerged as one of the Connecticut shoreline sites that may have contributed to the author’s imaginary tale written nearly 100 years ago.

“For so many years, it was believed that the inspiration, storyline and elements of the novel for ‘The Great Gatsby’ stemmed from his time on Long Island,” said Robert Steven Williams, who with historian Richard “Deej” Webb, produced the documentary “Gatsby in Connecticut: The Untold Story.” The documentary, currently being screened at several universities and theaters around the state, contends that Fitzgerald’s extended Connecticut stay with his wife Zelda in 1920, was tapped as part of the story line in the American classic. Extending the theory of Barbara Probst Solomon, who first wrote the Westport connection in a New Yorker magazine article , Williams, a filmmaker, songwriter, novelist and Westport resident, and Webb, a former history professor and author of “Boats Against The Current: The Honeymoon Summer of Scott and Zelda,” offers further evidence that some of the inspiration for Gatsby’s estate and Nick Carraway’s (another main character in the book) guest house (the place the Fitzgerald’s honeymooned), was not solely a Long Island setting, but instead The Inn and its nearby, privately-owned Compo Road residence.

Images of archival Inn art courtesy of Robert Steven Williams

The Inn was the onetime estate of mysterious, millionaire Frederick E. Lewis. The estate was hopping according to Williams and Webb’s research, a party place fueled by a cultural shift that included prohibition, a surging economy and excessive indulgence. The Fitzgeralds lived in Westport for several months. The couple, and especially the very spirited Zelda, were regular guests at the over-the-top parties and places that uncannily paralleled those that were featured in the novel.

“We found articles of fabulous parties there and it is interesting that little is known about Lewis, “ said Williams noting that it seemed as if Lewis had been “scrubbed” from existence as one of Westport’s elite. “We dug down and found his grandson and obtained tons of photographs and read tons of newspaper clipping and got a strong sense of who the man was,” Williams continued. “There is absolutely the essence of Gatsby.” The ties between the Westport places and geography in a few of Fitzgerald’s books as well as one of his wife’s, are undeniable and offering some interesting opportunities to residents and visitors.

The Westport Museum of History and Culture are offering “Destination Westport: In Gatsby’s Shoes” from time to time. The 90-minute walking tours, according to Nicole Carpenter, its director of programs and collections, combine the history of a then bucolic Westport with the story and places Gatsby visited and lived in the town that influenced Fitzgerald’s novel..

Williams said he was surprised at how many Westport residents are not familiar with the Fitzgerald history in town, including actor Sam Waterston, who played Nick in the 1974 movie version of the book.

“He was graciously giving us an hour to be part of the documentary,” said Williams. “He stayed the whole day because he found the connection to Westport so fascinating.”

Christine Hussey, director of sales and marketing at The Inn, said there are guests that do ask about the Fitzgerald and Great Gatsby connection with The Inn, and that Webb’s book has been available to guests at The Inn that includes a ballroom, the restaurant and 12 guest rooms. The Inn is slated for an $8 million renovation beginning in 2025.

For information on the documentary screenings go to gatsbyinct.com

For information on the Gatsby walks go to westporthistory.org

For information on The Inn go to innatlongshore.com

CELEBRATE YOUR FOREVER

The Inn at Longshore is located one hour from NYC overlooking beautiful Long Island Sound and surrounded by a lush golf course. Along the open coastal waters, it is one of the premiere event venues in lower Fairfield County.

©Vicki plus Erik Photography

©Trisha Keeler Photography

A Legend of the Seas

With a deep respect for its storied past, the Italian boat builder has navigated the transition from fishing to luxury while remaining anchored in its heritage.

Written by Katelyn Rutt

Set under the balmy, lemon-speckled cliffs of Sorrento, the Fratelli Aprea story is the definition of legendary. From serving as trusted vessels for fishermen soaring through Mediterranean waters to special mission staples during World War II, Fratelli Aprea’s “Gozzo Sorrentino'' boat is as adaptable as the seas it has commanded for more than 130 years.

The dreamer behind the now six-generation heirloom product: Cataldo Aprea. As the family’s first master shipwright operating in the original shipyard of Marina Grande—a coastal port dotted with colorful homes and fishing nets hung to dry—Aprea

began what would become an internationally-acclaimed brand with a caliber of artistry that places it in a league of its own.

Since its inception in 1890, the family-run company has masterfully balanced Italian tradition with an openness to reinvention. Thanks to Michael Sinacola, CEO of the USA division of Fratelli Aprea, the brand expanded in 2021 to bring a luxurious Italian yachting experience stateside. Well-accustomed to the needs and desires of yachting culture, Sinacola knew Fratelli Aprea had both the craftsmanship and legacy to reimagine its purpose and enter the yachting industry.

The boat builder offers seven unique USA models, from its smaller 25’ and 26’ cruising boats built for speed to 32’, 36’, and 50’ semi-cabinatto, hard top models providing sumptuous comfort for living and dining. Each boat features a semi-displacement hull along with gleaming mahogany, polished teak, Italian fabrics, and other thoughtful touches to envelop guests in a sensory yachting experience.

Fratelli Aprea boasts a fully custom footprint with artisanal elements hand-chosen to suit each of its unique buyers —plus the option for add-ons to assist with the mobility and accessibility requirements of certain clients. Carefully handcrafted in Italy, each model arrives in the States with construction and

design that exceeds USA standards of construction, component selection, and compliance.

More than a century after its inception, the name “Fratelli Aprea” is just as revered by yacht aficionados as it is by seamen, and the company’s international acclaim is a testament to its high level of expertise and authenticity. Shaped by the Mediterranean waters of its homeland, Fratelli Aprea transports guests back in time—wherever in the world they may be.

You can enjoy your personal cruise on Long Island sound aboard the Fratelli Aprea leaving from Delamar Greenwich or to build your custom boat or purchase one you see here contact www.fratelliapreausa.com.

HOME

Design Synergy Integrating Art & Interiors

Photos by Amy Vischio

These Greenwich, CT homeowners have a beautiful collection of objects from all over the world. Jeanne Collins of JerMar Designs was inspired by these unique pieces and sought to integrate them into the design with space planning and a color scheme that would put this collection front and center. In this case, the homeowners already had an art collection to work with. Not everyone has an art collection as a starting point and Collins also enjoys the process of working with her clients to source art and take the mystery out of that process. Art and design are seen in connection with each other and it’s the conversation between the furnishings and the art that brings depth and beauty to a space.

Collins approached this project with the key design principal of the integration of art and design. Together they can be greater than their individual parts. The photograph of the Afghan woman is a well-known National Geographic image by Steve McCurry that the homeowners purchased from Cavalier Galleries in Greenwich. This striking work anchors the central vignette in the living room. The photograph is framed by soft window treatments and the curved settee beneath it. Collins heightened the power of the dark cranberry colors in the photograph with velvet throw pillows that carry these deep pigments into the décor. Upon entering the living space is an antique statue purchased from Sotheby’s that Collins designed a custom stand for that elevates this

female statue both figuratively and literally.

Great design is all about contrast and layering materials, textures and design elements together. For art to pop it helps to have a neutral backdrop. In this living room there are a lot of neutral tones, from the rug to the upholstery, but dramatic pops of color in the cranberry throw pillows, deep green velvet chair bring interest and engage with the art without overpowering it. A more restrained color scheme also allows the eye to focus on other design elements. In this case the sexy silhouette of the sofa arms are pronounced, since the neutral tones are not fighting for attention. It’s all about balance.

Collins appreciates the value of a quality art collection and this project was especially gratifying because the art is so interesting. Often times a painting will be the jumping off point that inspires her design. It is also very helpful in illuminating a client’s style and taste. The bold artwork allowed Collins to compliment it with incredible textures in the furniture, such as pink mohair and rich green velvets. The addition of a Holly Hunt Lens coffee table was one of Collins’s favorite pieces, as it functions as a piece of artwork. A luxurious rug from Stark grounds the space and brings in a textural warmth to soften the metals. In addition, the bespoke round lacquered ombre side tables fabricated locally by GS Woodworking create interest, with their curves and high gloss finish –much in the same way that art engages with us.

Jason Longo

PERSONALIZED AND UNIQUE WEDDING CEREMONIES | VOW RENEWALS UNITY CEREMONIES | RELATIONSHIP COACHING

Jason Longo is an exceptional Wedding Officiant and Certified Relationship Coach, based out of Wolcott, Connecticut. A nondenominational ordained Minister and Justice of the Peace, Jason specializes in creating moving, personalized, and unique wedding ceremonies for couples of all backgrounds and beliefs. Determined to provide you with heartfelt, five-star service, Jason consults with couples prior to their wedding to incorporate elements of their personal love story into their unique ceremony. This highly respected, award-winning Wedding Officiant and Certified Relationship Coach has officiated well over 400 five-star weddings throughout the entire United States, and has been featured in “The Connecticut Bride” magazine. Jason is the proud recipient of the Weddingwire Couples’ Choice Awards from 2016 through the present as well as the Knot’s Best of Weddings from 2020 through the present. Jason was recently inducted into The Knot’s Hall of Fame for the countless accolades that he has received for his outstanding services.

"I consider it to be a profound honor to have the opportunity to listen (really listen) to what my couples are envisioning, and find creative and unique ways to bring their love story to life in the form of a once in a lifetime wedding ceremony."

- Jason Longo

CULTURE

Art Amongst Us

Written by MaryEllen Fillo

Peter Kirkile’s playful sculpture “Charms” and a pensive oil painting of a young boy and an elephant by Brian Keith Stephens, or an unusual circular textured paper piece are among the fine art pieces that grace the walls as one meanders around. An artistic settee made entirely of quarters by artist Johnny Swing provides a comfortable place to contemplate intriguing photos by Adrian Broom. The name of the museum? Delamar hotels.

Each of the Delamar Connecticut locations, in Southport, Greenwich and West Hartford, as well as its Traverse City, Michigan not only provide exemplary accommodations and dining, but also offer guests an equally impressive, creative, cultural experience with an array of quality art.

“My passion is art and design and I wanted to share that with our guests,” explained Charles Mallory, founding partner of the Greenwich Hospitality Group, which owns and operates the boutique-style, contemporary hotels. “We wanted the real thing, real art, not copies,” he said. “We do not want to shortchange our customers if we can provide the real thing,” the Connecticut resident and art connoisseur continued. “We think the caliber of the art in each of the locations speaks to the caliber of our hotels.”

And it does. Besides a wide breadth of artwork representing many artists, styles, and mediums, Delamar hotels has established curated art as part of its brand, the décor, and the travel experience.

“When Charles reached out to me to curate the art for his hotels, one of the considerations was branding each with a continuity or style because each hotel has its own personality,” said Diane Birdsall, a Connecticut artist and interior designer who has coordinated art for all the properties. “We do offer an eclectic range of art, looking to artists from each area,” she continued. “We explore some of the unique qualities of an art collection when we decide what to place in the hotels.”

Besides exploring area artists and their works, when it came time to choose art for the West Hartford Delamar, Birdsall explained a very different opportunity presented itself.

“That hotel gave us a blank wall and that prompted Charles to pursue a partnership with the New Britain Museum of American Art,” she added, referring to the 120-year-old, award-winning museum in New Britain, CT that is dedicated to American art.

Thanks to the partnership, the hotel and its guests have enjoyed rounds of rotating exhibits featuring famed American art pieces by artists like Sol Lewitt, Andy Warhol, Jim Dine, Jennifer Wen Ma and Ellen Carey.

“Both the hotel and the museum recognized the value of aligning art and

tourism when we began the cooperative project in 2017,” said Lisa Lappe, spokesperson for the museum. “The museum benefits from increased exposure of the artwork and increased foot traffic from hotel guests.”

Cross-marketing is not new but is one that is gaining traction as places like hotels forge relationships with cultural venues in their cities in a symbiotic relationship that benefits both.

“The art in the hotel common areas is intended to pique interest,” said Birdsall. “We are not selling it but guests at our hotels see it and then perhaps decide to visit the venue while in town or investigate the website.”

In Connecticut, museum officials agree that getting the art out there into public spaces not only increases the opportunity for the public to quality art but educates and enhances the experience for visitors to the area, complimenting the West Hartford Delamar for the successful collaboration.

“Delamar West Hartford is providing hotel guests a portal to this world-class art museum with thoughtfully curated art exhibitions inside the hotel and free admission for all hotel guests to the museum,” says Brett Abbott, Director and CEO of the New Britain Museum of American Art. “This important partnership increases global exposure to our collection and amplifies the voices of American artists to a wider audience.”

Mallory said he is looking forward to ramping up the art program at the hotels.

“I want our hotels to have more exhibits, more often,” he said as he prepares for two new hotels and their art displays. “I don’t think artwork is compromised if it is in a hotel lobby or on a living room wall rather than a museum,” said Mallory. “Wherever it is, it represents talent. Everyone should be able to enjoy it, no matter where.”

The Bruce Museum

Having recently undergone an impressive $67 million renovation and expansion project The Bruce Museum in Greenwich CT. has open its doors again to the public. Doubling its foot print to an impressive 74,500 square feet director Robert Wolterstorff has stated the the new expansion will create a “CASE” for the Bruce as a center for Community, Art, Science, and Education.

EXHIBITION SCHEDULE JULY – DECEMBER 2023

Then is Now: Contemporary Black Art in America

On view through October 15, 2023

Collection Installation: American Modernism

On view through October 15, 2023

Material Matters: The Sculptures of Elie Nadelman

On view through September 24, 2023

Mark Dion and Alexis Rockman: Journey to Nature’s Underworld

June 24 – August 27, 2023

Monsters & Mermaids: Natural History’s Greatest Hoaxes Unraveled August 26, 2023 – February 11, 2024

Robert Motherwell and Multiplicity: September 16 – December 3, 2023

Connecticut Modern: Art, Style and the Avant-Garde 1930 – 1960

September 23, 2023 – January 7, 2024

The Bruce is located at 1 Museum Dr, Greenwich, CT 06830

A new experience in the art gallery.

On January 1st 2023, the Trimper Gallery opened its doors offering clients an ever-evolving selection of artwork, across all mediums, price points and time periods.

Over the years Alex Trimper developed a totally unique multi-dimensional approach to connecting and working with the gallery's clients. As the only gallery on the east coast with this unique vision the Trimper Gallery will offer a lounge boutique experience. This new gallery concept will offer a higer price point and calliber of artist exhibitated. Trimper will partner with galleries all over the country to present a rotoating art show. With VIP only, highly curated shows where 25 people max will be invited, the entire experience will be like no other.

“Trimper Gallery’s renovation work is very exciting for several reasons, not the least being the enthusiasm of Alex Trimper the owner of the gallery. His creation of the Art Lounge area in the back of the gallery as a venue for regular ‘Artside Chats’ is brilliant. I also found his openness to new ideas refreshing; that collaboration has given birth to the rotating display wall on the front window as well as the moving wall which will hold painting and large prints on both sides and separates the two areas of the gallery at the same time.”

Mahdad Saniee, AIA principal of Saniee Architects LLC, Greenwich, CT.

ART LOUNGE

sculpture painting/print

painting/print

moving display wall

rotating display wall

reception

objects

GALLERY

About Westport Country Playhouse

Photo by Beth Huisking

Founded in 1931, the mission of Westport Country Playhouse is to enrich, enlighten, and engage the community through the power of professionally produced theater of the highest caliber and the welcoming experience of the Playhouse campus. The not-for-profit Playhouse provides this experience in multiple ways by offering live theater experiences of the highest quality, under the artistic direction of Mark Lamos; educational and community engagement events to further explore the work on stage; the New Works Initiative, a program dedicated to the discovery, development, and production of new live theatrical works; special performances and programs for students and teachers with extensive curriculum support material; Script in Hand play readings to deepen relationships with audiences and artists; the renowned Woodward Internship Program during the summer months for aspiring theater professionals; Family Festivities presentations to delight young and old alike and to promote reading through live theater; and the beautiful and historic Playhouse campus open for enjoyment and community events year-round.

For a list of plays and to purchase tickets visit. www.westportplayhouse.org

Photo by Robert Benson

Quarter to Art

Written by MaryEllen Fillo

You may not recognize the name Johnny Swing but you will definitely notice his coin furniture art when you walk into the lobby at the Delamar Hotel in West Hartford. You can’t miss the centerpiece, an oversized settee called “Fortune Cookie” made completely of quarters, a dazzling medium Swing has become known for as an artist. Quirky and thought-provoking are words that have been used to describe his array of welded pieces like “Murmation,” “Half Dollar Chair,” and “Nest.” The same words could also be used to describe their creator, a Connecticut native who now lives in Brookline, Vermont where he has a farm and a studio. Admitting it has been a while since he visited his West Hartford creation (we’ll let him tell that story), Swing was on his way to welding more coins into a new creation when he took some time to chat about him, his art and his growing up in Connecticut.

Q: When did you know you wanted to be an artist?

J: Pretty much from the age of three and on. The only thing I was good at was making things. My mother sewed and was a pretty good seamstress. So, one of the first things I was curious about was her Singer sewing machine and the pedal on the floor to drive it. I wanted to sew and started making soft sculptures. I eventually was not a fan of fabric arts, but everyone has to start somewhere.

Q: So then what happened?

J: I went to school in Salisbury, then Skidmore and then art school and became a welder. I lived in New York and worked as a professional welder doing art on the side. I created a piece made entirely of things I found and among the things I found were coins. I became obsessed with them but knew I could never find enough coins to make whole pieces so now I just buy the coins for my furniture. You’d have to be obsessed to create a piece that has up to 75,000 welds. My mind is always on art and I’m usually doing three things at once, renovating a building, working on some pieces, or designing new work. I am 62 now and not as nimble as I used to be!

Q: What is the fascination with coins?

J: Something as simple as a penny is a work of art in itself. It’s a little sculpture. By taking 6,000 of them and connecting them together, I create a sculpture within a sculpture. Think about all the experiences a coin has been through, changing hands, being in different places. And imagine sitting down on something made of those coins and being surrounded by money. It’s glamourous, it’s a throne. When people sit on one of my pieces they are being transformed. It’s interactive. Of course, there have been people who are aghast that I have taken coins and eliminated their value.

Q: Have you visited your “Fortune Cookie” in West Hartford?

J: If I go over to the Wadsworth in Hartford sometimes, I will stop by The Delamar. The last time I saw “Fortune Cookie” my girlfriend and I had brunch there because her Tesla needed to be charged. Some of the people there recognized me and it made me feel like a rock star!

Q: Is there any embarrassment or regrets that your pieces are in a hotel lobby rather than a museum exhibit?

J: I want to share my art and what better place is there than a lobby in a hotel? I love making connections and when I make things, I want to share them. Many of my pieces are in private collections or museums

but it is fun knowing that people out there are just enjoying my work. The lobby is a dream location!

Q: How do you come up with the names of some of your pieces?

J: Some of them are so obvious to me like “Fortune Cookie” or “Murmation” which is made of nickels. But I don’t name everything. I want people to have their own experience without my title. My furniture can be approached as innocently as you want, or you can take it further intellectually and dynamically.

Q: You are a CT native. Any good memories?

J: Oh yes. There was a brook behind our house, and I was always out there in it. Even in winter I would have to change outside after playing out there. I had no regard for health or safety.

Q: If someone were to do a sculpture representing you know what would that look like?

J: It would be made of wood and then set on fire. I am very accident prone, and no one should be making a sculpture of me. My works are the best representation of me. I’m proud of my work. Making art has been a nice way to mature.

TRAVEL

A Fabled 19th Century PALAZZO

A

Written by Adam Jacot de Boinod

world-class hotel revived by Rocco Forte to its former splendor.

Sicily is just too big an island to cover in a week. I suggest either going to Western Sicily (as I chose) with Palermo where one airport is, (with Monreale) and then the south-west (with Agrigento).

There’s much to see within the bustling city of Palermo and especially in the old town which felt heady, exuberant and theatrically baroque. Not to miss are the Norman Palace (with its stunning Cappella Palatina), the Fontana Pretoria and the baroque churches (of which the Gesu and La Martorana are very special). Somewhat neglected is the Teatro Massimo with its royal box and echo chamber all redolent of the Liberty years of the Belle Epoque. The Cathedral with palm trees outside is a wonderful combination of Norman, Moorish and Gothic architecture. I particularly recommend the 10,000 ceramic tiles at Rooms at the Museum of Majolica Genius (open only between 3 and 5pm).

Stunning positioned along the coast, looking out across the bay and fifteen minutes from the city centre is the majestic Villa Igiea. This world-class hotel was revived by Rocco Forte to its former splendor. Originally designed to be approached from the water, the villa had its sand-colored, crenellated façade extended to become a hotel. The Villa Igiea’s literature hails itself as a “small corner of Sicilian paradise” and unquestionably it has maintained all the glamour of its 1920s heyday. Swallows swoop over tiered lawns, terraces and pathways are lined with scented jasmine and immaculate topiary. The pool, set beside an original Greek ‘tholos’ temple, has a peaceful, airy expanse amid the soothing sound of yachts either on the move or tingling their masts.

The public rooms are sublime. There’s an impressive, vast ballroom, there’s the Art Nouveau, or Liberty Style, as Italians say, Sala Basile, with mural frescoes of languid maidens amongst meadows. And there’s my favorite: the splendid Florio dining room with its potted plants and light blue wicker chairs around beautifully spaced tables. Of the 78 rooms (starting from €620 per night) mine felt brand new: so high was the quality of its finishing. So crisp and classic the décor. It had stunning views over the garden, the yachts in the marina, the glinting

sea and the misty mountains. Come evening and the drinks on the terrace felt sophisticated and romantic. It’s best to dine al fresco on the outdoor terrace if possible and at night it’s beautifully lit as a pianist performs from the vaulted bar. As I dined I was lucky enough to witness a wonderful reflection of the full moon across the water.

Five mile south is Monreale, a picturesque town that’s charming and attractive. It’s set on the slope of Monte Caputo and overlooks the fertile ‘conca d'oro’ (Golden Shell), described by Oscar Wilde as “the exquisite valley that lies between two seas”. It’s home to orange, olive and almond trees, whose produce is widely exported. With its gorgeous Arab, Byzantine and Norman influences, the cathedral has to be seen. For it’s a testament to the human spirit and a glorious homage to Christ whose giant face looks down in his golden apse over the altar and congregation. Through the interior are intricate mosaics of biblical scenes and there’s so much wonder to absorb in wandering around the cloister with its palm and olive trees encircled by columns with a multitude of different mosaics and carvings.

I left the mosaics of Monreale to journey around the patchwork of fields inland. With rugged mountains in front of further mountains as an extra backdrop, the scenic views swept, undulating and dramatically, twenty miles or more. Such a contrast of wild contours and cultivated land. It’s rich in volcanic rock and ash producing extremely fertile soils. There are abundant olive groves in a landscape speckled with vineyards. The orchards of orange trees were so compact in their fight for light. All joyously fertile and yielding. The meadows of intoxicating wild flowers of many colors seemed as though a rainbow had descended on earth. It left me wondering how nature could be so pretty. I left feeling how one Sicilian proverb has it: “Li ricchi cchiù chi nn'hannu, cchiù nni vonnu.” (“The more you have, the more you want”).

Adam Jacot de Boinod wrote The Meaning of Tingo and Other Extraordinary Words from around the World, published by Penguin Books.

CELEBRATE YOUR FOREVER

WEST HARTFORD

GREENWICH

WEDDING

A location UNLIKE Any Other

Located along the Connecticut coast, The Inn at Longshore is the perfect wedding venue. This picturesque location offers a stunning backdrop for any couple looking to tie the knot. The Inn is located one hour from NYC on the beautiful Long Island Sound. Nestled between a lushgreen golf course, and the sparkling open waters. Enjoy a unique "from-scratch" culinary experience spanning from clambakes to elegant sit down dinners. A location unlike any other in Connecticut.

Amma Rhea Photography.

The Inn at Longshore in Westport, CT offers a picture perfect setting for your dream wedding. With stunning water views and beautifully landscaped grounds, The Inn provides a romantic backdrop for your special day. The Inn boasts a spacious ballroom with high ceilings and breathtaking views of the sound. The outdoor terrace is perfect for a cocktail hour or an intimate ceremony, surrounded by lush gardens and panoramic views of the water. All guests of The Inn have access to Longshore Club Park, which includes a variety of outdoor activities. Enjoy the beautiful public beach, walking trails, biking, town pool, and golfing (during peak season). Also on site is the 5 Star restaurant "La Plage". There is a reason they are known as "The Crown Jewel" of Westport.

The Inn at Longshore also provides exceptional catering services, including customizable menus and expertly crafted cocktails. Their team of experienced event planners will work with you every step of the way to ensure that your special day is unforgettable.

In addition to its beautiful setting, The Inn also offers 12 luxurious guest rooms many with waterfront views. The rooms include a complimentary breakfast, served daily.

A PICTURE-PERFECT SETTING For Your Big Day

All of Delamar Hotels offer a picture-perfect setting for your big day. Each with their own unique backdrop, Greenwich Harbor and Traverse City offer stunning water-front locations, West Hartford showcases a gorgeous ballroom leading to an outdoor lawn and Southport provides a unique and charming ambiance for your wedding celebration. Their award-winning chefs create exquisite menus using the finest ingredients to delight every palate.Dedicated catering teams offer personalized service that put visions to life with customizedmenus and bespoke cocktails. Whether you’re looking for a grand celebration or an intimate gathering, your special day will be an unforgettable, unparalleled experience.

“When you book your wedding with the Delamar, you are sure to have an treasured experience. It is important to us to hear what is most important to each couple on their wedding day when considering the venue. Whether it is an elegant dining experience, or making sure they get extra time on the dance floor, it is our job to make sure it happens. Our skilled banquet team ensures efficient service throughout the day from serving the groomsman lunch in the billiard room, to late night bites in the tavern

to brunch the following morning. There is only one wedding held a day so their vision is the complete focus, and they are sure to receive personalized attention wherever needed.”

Erin Neagle- Director of Catering, Delamar West Hartford

DREAM WEDDING

Delamar’s team of professional sales and catering experts understand that every couple’s dream wedding is unique, and they strive to make it a reality. Visions, preferences as well as budgets are discussed in depth to create a tailored plan to reflect the couples individual style. Their personalized approach extends beyond the ceremony, on the day of the wedding, their exceptional team will be onsite to make sure every detail runs according to plan so the couple can just enjoy their day. Delamar believes in creating unforgettable experiences for their clients and strive to exceed expectations at every step of the way.

“We had our wedding reception, after party, and brunch at the Delamar, and we couldn’t be happier with everything. From our very first meeting a year out, everything

was seamless, easy, well-communicated, cohesive, and organized. The food at all events was phenomenal, the service was impeccable, and everyone spoke so highly of the extremely courteous and professional staff.”

EXTROADINARY EVENTS

Delamar Hotels offer an ideal venues to host events leading up to the big day; bridal showers, bachelorette spa weekends, rehearsal dinners, receptions, and post wedding brunches. The venues themselves are with picturesque views and elegant decor that creates the perfect atmosphere for any celebration. Guests can choose from a variety of spaces available at select hotels, some include stunning ballrooms, outdoor patios, and waterfront terraces. Whether it’s an intimate dinner or a lavish party, each guest will be in awe of the service provided and couples will have an unforgettable experience.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS

Each hotel location offers spacious guest rooms and suites that are designed with comfort in mind, featuring plush bedding, premium linens, and high-end toiletries. You can also take advantage of the hotel’s world-class spa services at Connecticut locations for a relaxing pre-wedding pampering session. In addition to beautiful accommodations, many amenities and services are available to make your stay even more enjoyable. Take a dip in the indoor or outdoor pools at the Traverse City location, work up a sweat in the fitness center, or indulge in delicious cuisine at one of the on-site award restaurants. With these luxurious offerings, you can ensure that both you and your guests will have a memorable experience when celebratingyour special day.

– Sylvia married 7/29/2022 (wedding wire review)

Dream Celebration

Zak and I met in West Palm Beach in the summer of 2016. While Zak was a complete stranger to dating apps, truth be told I was spending multiple nights a week there.

A few flirty messages and a four plus hour date later, we quickly discovered our mutual love of pizza and beer, New England skylines and Florida shorelines, and — thankfully — that I was absolutely not a Giants fan.

Fast forward four years and we had survived a 1,200 mile move and six new jobs, but nothing could have prepared us for what came next.

After a short but intense battle, we lost a true matriarch of our family, and I was struggling to pick up

the pieces. Yet, with Zak by my side and the love my dear Aunt Andrea had for him, it was clear Zak was already my partner, and the rest was merely a formality — and, the fun part.

When Zak popped the question over an incredible sunrise with an equally incredible quarantine beard, I of course said yes, knowing the only thing I wanted more than to be Zak’s wife was to throw a wedding unlike any other.

We quite quickly settled on a date — June 06, 2021 — what would have been my aunt’s 53rd birthday. However, what took much, much more effort was the venue, and I knew I had an uphill battle before me. I needed a place with a capacity for every person my father had ever

met — 318 of them to be exact — yet with a charm that made you feel like the only couple who ever mattered. I wanted character, I wanted romance, and from the very moment I saw it, I wanted — no, I needed — The Inn at Longshore.

While Covid forced our hand and caused a postponement no one wanted, the 832 days of planning, replanning, and my dad still extending the guest list couldn’t have been more worth it. People came hungry — for food, for entertainment, for joy, and for love. Longshore provided it all, and then some.

It was as if Christine and her team — along with Amy, the wedding planner/therapist/friend of my dreams — knew just how badly we needed this day to be perfect, how much healing we had to do. They made it look effortless, feel limitless, and as if it had to be the best day of their lives, let alone ours.

Now, nearly a year later, the gratitude I feel is still overwhelming, and I’m reminded of it every time I look at the background on my phone, or pass exit 42 on the Merritt Parkway. The only thing I'd change is that it’s already over.

CLASSIC CAR EXPERIENCE

Be chauffeured in style. Select a car from our founder’s collection, a vintage car is perfect for any occasion.

DRIVE

Ferrari Roma SpiderA New Story Begins

This timelessly elegant, high-performance car is a contemporary take on the chic, pleasure-seeking Italian lifestyle of the 1950s and 60s. This spider carries over the proportions, volumes and specifications of the Ferrari Roma’s hugely successful V8 2+ concept, but what makes it so striking is the adoption of a soft top, a solution making a welcome return to the Prancing Horse range on a front-engined car 54 years after the 1969 365 GTS4.

There’s a novel and modern take on the soft-top design that underlines the Ferrari Roma Spider’s exuberant character, with extensive personalization options that include sophisticated, bespoke fabrics and contrasting stitching. On a functional level, the soft top deploys in just 13.5 seconds and can be actioned at up to 60 km/h. The fact that it is so compact also yields a larger boot and boosts the car’s versatility. A new, patented wind deflector integrated into the backrest of the rear bench can be deployed by a button on the central tunnel, guaranteeing exceptional in-car occupant comfort without taking up any space in the car.

The Ferrari Roma Spider retains the Ferrari Roma’s excellent dynamic characteristics: it boasts a best- in-class weight/ power ratio thanks not only to its soft top, but also to its all-aluminium chassis and 620 cv V8 from the engine family that was heralded as the International Engine of the Year on four consecutive occasions. The engine is coupled with Ferrari’s universally-acclaimed 8-speed DCT known for its incredibly fast shift times as well as excellent standards of comfort and mechanical efficiency.

The Ferrari Roma Spider is not just rewardingly easy to drive, it is also extremely dynamic and responsive: this makes it the perfect companion on out-of-town weekends and longer journeys alike. Always, of course, with the exhilarating Ferrari V8 soundtrack playing in the background.

A number of features are designed to make this car superbly versatile, including a category-topping boot size which includes a hatch via the rear seat backrests to allow larger items to be carried, and standard wireless connectivity by Android Auto® and Apple CarPlay® Wi-Fi. Not forgetting, of course, 18-way-adjustable heated ergonomic seats that are also available with an optional neck warmer for colder days. www.ferrari.com

Mapping Out The Future

DELAMAR HOTEL WESTPORT

DELAMAR WESTPORT

Delamar Westport is poised to become the preferred destination for travelers seeking a luxury boutique hotel experience in a stunning location of Westport, CT.

DELAMAR MYSTIC

Delamar Mystic, a stunning waterfront luxury boutique hotel slated to be built on the property of the Mystic Seaport Museum, will treat guests to unparalleled views of the Mystic River and Mystic Seaport.

Proposed view from across the river

Proposed water view from North