25A SUMMER 2026

Gold Coast Luxury Magazine

THE KING OF NEW YORK

BRUN

SON

LEADS THE KNICKS TO THE NBA TITLE

ARTWORK BY WILLIAM QUIGLEY

SUMMER ISSUE 2026

JALEN

$20.00 USD Fashion | Luxury | Profiles | Features | Shopping | Travel | Art | Design | Auto | Food | Health

METROPOLITAN

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Photographer: MJ Molina Photo Monica Molina Model: Alejandra Tamayo Modeling Agency: Palm Beach Models PR

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ROLLS-ROYCE AND YACHTING: A SHARED HERITAGE

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A SPRINGTIME VISION TO CARRY INTO THE YEAR AHEAD

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ROLLS-ROYCE SPECTRE INSPIRED BY PRIMAVERA EVANESCENT - SPIRIT OF ECSTASY

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

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The Nature of Jean

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chlumberger.

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PHOTOGRAPHER: DAVID SCAROLA

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Photographer: MJ Molina Photo Monica Molina Model: Alejandra Tamayo Modeling Agency: Palm Beach Models PR Summer 2026

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

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“We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.”

-President John F. Kennedy Nothing worthwhile is easy. It requires vision, hard work and perseverance. Every page of our magazines is dedicated to inspiring, informing and delighting our readers, from gorgeous Palm Beach Models, to the very best in luxury travel, cuisine, resorts and beyond, as we honor our stakeholders for their ongoing commitment to these beautiful magazines.

Metropolitan Palm Beach cover star, Christopher Lee Jones, has spent his entire life trying to help protect people and save lives while in the merchant marines, as a Firefighter, Paramedic, EMT and now as a space researcher. Today, Christopher lives in South Florida, where he researches space exploration, orbital debris, and the growing threat of the Kessler Syndrome. His passion for educating others about this critical issue inspired him to write Mars Mission I: Surviving the Kessler Effect (Second Edition), a fact-based science fiction novel designed to raise awareness about the challenges facing humanity's future in space.

While SpaceX Trillionaire Elon Musk is at the forefront of Mars exploration, Jones spends his time meeting with NASA scientists and others to help devise a safe and effective way to dispose of space debris and head off a potential space catastrophe that could pose an existential threat to everyone on earth.

Years ago, in the mid 1800s, sci-fi author Jules Verne accurately predicted how advances in technology might one day transform our world. The same way a certain U.S. President, in 1962, once predicted that mankind would one day walk on the surface of the moon. Author Christopher Lee Jones just might be this generation’s Jules Verne. We are honored to feature a true American hero and thought leader like Christopher Lee Jones on our magazine cover. Happy 250th Birthday America! The land of the free and the home of the brave.

Cheers!

Chase Backer Publisher Metropolitan/25A Metropolitan Palm Beach

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Natural Beauty. Expert Craftsmanship.

V IEW OUR SPECTACUL A R COLLECTIONS IN PR I NC E T ON and PA L M BE AC H PRINCETON

PA L M BE AC H

PA L M BE AC H G A R DE N S

H A M I LTON J E W EL ER S.COM

@H A M I LTON J E W EL ER S

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palm beach

Model: Madison Sohaney Photographer: Megane Claire

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EDITOR’S NOTE EDITOR’S NOTE

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“Now you're in New York. These streets will make you feel brand new. Big lights will inspire you. Let's hear it for New York!”

“Oh, how this spring of love resembleth, The uncertain glory of an April -Alicia Keys, Empire State of Mind by Jay-Z day, Which now shows all beauty of the Sun, And by and by a cloud takes all away”

It’s been a whirlwind of ticker-tape and euphoria in Manhattan this summer as point guard Jalen Brunson

- William Shakespeare showed that a lifetime of hard work, grit, perseverance and talent was more than enough to lead the city’s beloved basketball team, the New York Knicks (Go New York, Go!), to it’s first NBA title in 53 years! Alicia Keys Spring is here and Metropolitan magazine is also in full bloom with stories on the latest in fashion,

serenaded NYC as the team received the keys to the city at City Hall. health, wellness and beauty.

Meanwhile, across the USA, soccer fanatics from Europe and all points have joyously descended on American Celebrating beauty and empowering women is what Chase Backer, luxury magazine publisher and

cities to cheer on theirAesthetics soccer heroes likeowner, Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappe, Neymar Palm Beach Advanced MedSpa is all about. Nobody does it better.and AndEngland’s nobody Harry Kane. They are

flooding social media with reports that their has gotten it allChase. wrongHeabout America cares more about striving to be your best.

That’smedia why everybody loves is a loyal friend all this time. Americans and friendly a visionary businessman whoair is inconditioning constant pursuit of excellence, thinking state biggerof and are and kind. There’s everywhere, enormous thenever art football stadiums and giving with up onunique what ortraditions who he believes in. Chase is all about newEverything stories, andisnew cities and culture. incredible foodnew andchapters, free refills. bigger. There are endless adventures while always supporting and dreams celebrating his friends, old and new. choices.

Americans think bigger. worthwhile There are charities hopes and across this great country.

Cover Star Kimberly Guilfoyle is just one of Chase’s extraordinary, multi-talented friends. She honors

The World Cup has brought the world to New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Seattle and the San Francisco area us yet again. So do you, dear reader.

and the world is seeing the USA, which is celebrating its 250th birthday, in a whole new light. Sports can truly bring people together. The world has been waiting for a chance to celebrate our collective humanity, shared Cheers! experiences and common goals. As Thomas Jefferson once declared at the birth of this great nation —a very

important truth —that all people have the natural, unalienable rights to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Adam Kluger Editor inAmerican, Chief Proud visionary publisher and successful entrepreneur, Chase Backer, is the embodiment of the

Metropolitan/25A American Dream. He goes for it daily and encourages all around him at the Metropolitan magazine group and Metropolitan Palm Beach everyone in his circle to do the same.

We hope you enjoy this summer issue which has sports, hot fashion, art, books, music and incredible thought leaders like Christopher Jones who is dedicated to protecting the earth.

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Enjoy!

Adam Kluger Editor in Chief Metropolitan/25A Metropolitan Palm Beach

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Uncompromised Clean Beauty

Model: Xen Sams Summer 2026

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CONTENTS SUMMER 2026 COVER KNICKS PAINTING BY WILLIAM QUIGLEY

FASHION 24 WEDDING SEASON 34 THE ENDURING MUSE

TRAVEL 40 THE BOCA RATON

PAGE 56

PAGE 84

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Photographer: MJ Molina Photo Monica Molina

palm beach models

Model: Alejandra Tamayo Modeling Agency: Palm Beach Models PR Summer 2026

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CONTENTS SUMMER 2026 PROFILE 32 SPOTLIGHT WITH JULIANNE MICHELLE 33 MELISSA HORNUNG 42 DESIGNER LEAH LOGUE 46 CHRISTOPHER JONES 56 KNICKS CHAMPIONSHIP 2026 68 SHARON MAHN 80 THE HAMPTONS CREATIVE COLLECTIVE 82 MARY ALICE WILLAMS 84 BILLY KENT 90 EPYPE MARKETING 92 YOURHOMETV 96 GRETCHEN PHILYAW 98 NOVERA SKINCARE 102 AMERICA'S FEHSF 104 ANNIE WATT: THROUGH THE LENS PAGE 98

ART FORM 64 ART X FASHION 72 SUMMER MOVIE REVIEWS 74 SUMMER READS 2026 78 2026 WOMEN OF TIKTOK 100 HB PUBLISHING 101 TOP 5 BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

SOCIAL

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101 LITERACY PARTNERS 110 NY WOMENS FOUNDATION 111 COUTURE CROISETTE 112 ZEY HOTEL 113 GREENWICH POLO CLUB 114 MONACO GRAND PRIX 117 PICKLEBALL CHARITY 118 THE BERKSHIRES 120 JEWELER ALBERTO LUZZI

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Publisher Chase Backer

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Editor-in-Chief Adam Kluger Assistant Publisher Jaime Backer Art Director Lonee Telemaque

LUXURY MAGAZINE

PALM BEACH

Sales Manager Jeffrey Strahl

SPRING 2026

Copy Editors Sean Buttimer; Whitney Thompson; Maribel Alvarez; Lillian Langtry; Nicole Ashley Schubert, Cade Callen Features writer: Gia Carillo Lifestyle Editor Norah Bradford Luxury Editor Stephanie L. Howitt Editor at Large | Art, Culture, Fashion Rachel Vancelette; Douglas Evans

JULIANNA

STROUT

Global Culture Editor (Paris Office) Coco Dolle

FROM MISS AMERICA PAGEANT TO POLITICS

$20.00 USD Fashion | Luxury | Profiles | Features | Shopping | Travel | Art | Design | Auto | Food | Health

Palm Beach Fashion, Travel & Art Editor Melissa Hornung Fashion Photographers Jason Konrad Profiles Editor Alexandra Appino-Tabone Social Editor Clara Morgan

LUXURY MAGAZINE

FEBRUARY 2026

Sr. Food Editor Sean-Patrick Hillman Food Editor , Andrea Correale; Maribel Alvarez Digital Media Director Nancy Molina Sr. Music Editor Cade Callen

JEN

SELTER $20.00 USD Fashion | Luxury | Profiles | Features | Shopping | Travel | Art | Design | Auto | Food | Health

Contributors Rachel Vancelette, D.D. Rice, Paul Prince, Peter Elston, Johnny Angel, Harry White Contributing Photographers Thomas Concordia, Jacques Malignon, David Scarola, Tara Quinn, Jason Konrad, Luciana Pampalone, Michael Gaida, Michael Paniccia, Jay Mathews, Filip Shobot, Chris Carroll, Lenny Stucker, Patrick McMullan, MA , Tom Fitzgerald and Pam Deutchman, Sandy Ramirez, Jan Klier, Mitchel Gray, Paul Prince, Kristiina Wilson For advertisement info: 646-300-1852 Info@metmagny.com | 25amag.com Facebook.com/metropolitanmagazinepb Writers, models, musicians and photographers, please inquire.

© Copyright 2021 by Metropolitan Magazine, All rights reserved. Metropolitan is published eleven times per year. Reproduction without permission of the publisher is prohibited.

The publisher and editors are not responsible for unsolicited material and it will be treated as such and unconditionally assigned for publication subject to Metropolitan magazine’s right to edit.

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wedding season Photography: Misty Higgins

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Photography: Misty Higgins

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Photography: Misty Higgins

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Photography: IG | @morethanokey Hair installed & styled: IG | @jessicaotse

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Photography: IG | @morethanokey Hair installed & styled: IG | @jessicaotse Summer 2026

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THE ENDURING MUSE The Mysterious Redhead

By Melissa Hornung Fashion, Travel & Art Editor

Every frame contains a small secret. Some are found in the light; others are hidden in the pages.

For centuries, artists, poets, and philosophers have returned to the same enduring muse. Long before beauty became curated or manufactured, it was discovered in youth—in alabaster skin touched with a sprinkling of freckles, expressive eyes, copper curls illuminated by natural light, and the quiet confidence that exists before the world begins to redefine it.

Today, young women are increasingly encouraged to refine, alter, and reinvent themselves in search of a manufactured ideal. Yet these portraits quietly remind us that natural beauty has always been the greater muse. Alabaster skin touched with a sprinkling of freckles. Copper curls that refuse perfect order. Expression before performance. Character before conformity.

These qualities have endured from the Renaissance to modern portraiture because they speak to something deeply human. The mystery of the Mona Lisa. The quiet intimacy of Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring. The ethereal grace of Botticelli's Venus. Across centuries, the qualities that have inspired artists have remained remarkably constant.

They are remembered not because they conform to a single standard of beauty, but because they reveal individuality, light, humanity, and the quiet poetry of youth.

There is a quiet confidence throughout the series, balanced by a gentle sense of curiosity and the first subtle hints of womanhood. A pocket mirror reflects more than a face. A thoughtfully chosen book offers a playful clue to those willing to linger a little longer. Every composition invites a second look, rewarding observation rather than demanding attention.

Looking at these photographs, one is reminded that the language of beauty has changed remarkably little. What has changed is our pursuit of it.

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Perhaps that is why these images feel so timeless. They do not imitate the great masters; they quietly participate in the same conversation.

The model remains anonymous.

The mystery remains intact.

Photography: Madeleine Brookes Mysterious Redhead: Alice Lily Styling: Elizabeth Darling

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SPOTLIGHT WITH JULIANNE MICHELLE

Longevity Through a Wellness Lens

By Julianne Michelle

O

n May 10, 2025, I had the privilege

members Nadira Saban and Justin Alexander.

of hosting an extraordinary evening

I was deeply grateful to our volunteers, Chris

at Sophie Kanter’s elegant Upper

Agianian and Gee Wang, whose efforts ensured

East Side townhouse in support

the event ran seamlessly, as well as to Annie

of Mommy’s Heart, the nonprofit

Watt for her outstanding photography and

I founded to provide free legal, mental

PairMe Wines for their generous contribution.

health, and advocacy services to survivors of

A highlight of the evening was guest speaker

domestic abuse. The event brought together

Dr. Nadine Macaluso, psychotherapist, author,

philanthropists, advocates, and public figures

and survivor whose life inspired The Wolf of

from across political and professional lines, all

Wall Street’s Naomi Lapaglia. Dr. Macaluso

united in our shared mission to protect children

shared her powerful story of surviving abuse

and parents at risk.

and rebuilding her life, later channeling her experience into meaningful advocacy work.

One of the evening’s defining moments was

Her recent book, Run Like Hell: A Therapist’s

honoring New York State Assembly Member

Guide to Recognizing, Escaping, and Healing

Rebecca Seawright with the Mommy’s Heart

from Trauma Bonds, offers invaluable insight

Champion for Families and Justice Award

and support to survivors across the world.

for her dedication to advancing family court reform. Among our distinguished guests were

Since founding Mommy’s Heart, I’ve witnessed

Virginia Maloney (Democratic Nominee, NYC

firsthand how urgently our services are needed.

Council District 4 and board member), Alina

We’ve assisted over 100 survivors forced to

Bonsell (Republican Nominee, District 5), Sir

battle lawfare while seeking safety from abuse.

Ivan Wilzig, Dr. Elliot Heller, James Pecora,

Our volunteer-run organization continues to

Count

champion legislative reform, most notably

Edward

Stroh,

and

fellow

board

supporting bill A01154/S6825, which seeks to hold courts accountable when systemic failures place children in harm’s way. The statistics are staggering. 2,000 children die each year from neglect or abuse, and 58,000 are courtordered into unsafe custody arrangements.

The funds raised at this benefit directly support Mommy’s Heart’s trauma-informed legal assistance, mental health resources, and advocacy initiatives. Each donation helps protect families navigating the most painful and complex challenges of their lives and moves us closer to a future where justice and safety are within every survivor’s reach.

For more information or to contribute, please visit www.mommysheartfoundation.com.

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25A 25A OnceUpon UponAACoconut Coconuttranscends transcends Once the boundaries of a mere brand;itit the boundaries of a mere brand; embodiesaadevotion devotiontotococonut coconut embodies water's natural, hydrating water's natural, hydrating essence

essence and a mission profoundtomission and a profound foster a to foster a more compassionate more compassionate and inclusive

and inclusive world.

We pledge world.

We pledge to redefine to redefine hydration throughline a that hydration through a product product line that champions purity, champions purity, sustainability, and sustainability, and philanthropy. philanthropy.

A dedication to the simplicity of A dedication to the simplicity of nature is at the core of our ethos. nature is at the core of our ethos.

We source premium coconuts We source premium coconuts from from sustainable farms, ensuring sustainable farms, ensuring that our that our products contribute to products contribute to everyday welleveryday well-being and reflect being and reflect a commitment to a commitment to environmental environmental stewardship. stewardship.

Once Upon A Coconut aspires Once Upon A Coconut aspires to epitomize transparency in the to epitomize transparency in the beverage industry by meticulously beverage industry by meticulously crafting each product with coconut crafting each product with coconut water-derived ingredients selected for water-derived ingredients selected their hydrating properties, culminating for their hydrating properties, in a celebration of the versatile health culminating in a celebration of benefits of coconuts. the versatile health benefits of coconuts.

Our commitment extends beyond

crafting exceptional beverages. Once Our commitment extends beyond Upon A Coconut is on a mission crafting exceptional beverages. toOnce impact theAworld positively.

Upon Coconut is on By actively giving back tothe communities, a mission to impact world uplifting individuals, and supporting positively. By actively giving charities, we foster a brighter, back to communities, upliftingmore compassionate world for all. Join us individuals, and supporting

incharities, sipping with purpose as we hydrate we foster a brighter, not just bodies but also contribute more compassionate world for all. toJoin the us well-being our purpose global in sippingofwith community. as we hydrate not just bodies but

also contribute to the well-being of Learn more community. at www. our global onceuponacoconut.com, and follow

usLearn @onceuponacoconut more at www. onceuponacoconut.com, and follow us @onceuponacoconut

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THE BOCA RATON

BECOMES ONLY RESORT IN THE AMERICAS TO EARN QUADRUPLE FIVE-STARS FROM FORBES TRAVEL GUIDE he Boca Raton is awarded a total of 24 stars in Forbes Travel Guide’s (“FTG”) 2026 Star Awards, announced today by the only global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants, spas and cruise ships. Beach Club and Spa Palmera retained their prestigious Five-Star ratings, with Yacht Club and Flybridge restaurant newly joining that tier. Tower hotel was also recognized with a Four-Star award. This distinction places The Boca Raton among just seven resorts worldwide to earn quadruple Five-Star status and marks a milestone achievement for the storied property’s continued pursuit of excellence.

“To receive this distinction during our centennial is especially meaningful,” said Daniel Hostettler, President & CEO of The Boca Raton. “For 100 years, our Club and resort have helped define luxury hospitality, creating extraordinary experiences for generations of guests and members. To now stand among just seven resorts in the world—and the only one in The Americas—with quadruple Five-Star ratings speaks volumes about the passion and dedication of our team and the enduring vision that has shaped this property since 1926. As we look ahead to the next century, our commitment to innovation, excellence, and world-class service has never been stronger.”

The accolades arrive as The Boca Raton ushers in its second century, commemorating 100 years of heritage, innovation, and hospitality.

Originally founded as the Ritz-Carlton Cloister Inn in 1926 by visionary and architect Addison Mizner, the private club and resort has evolved into one of America’s most iconic destinations. The latest recognition follows the resort’s incredible $375 million transformation, including the unveiling of a newly reimagined Beach Club, setting a new standard for coastal luxury and experiential travel.

“The Boca Raton’s four Five-Star ratings signal its arrival into an exclusive global circle of luxury resorts,” said Amanda Frasier, President of Standards & Ratings for Forbes Travel Guide. “This achievement underscores South Florida’s growing stature as a global destination for sophisticated travel and reflects how The Boca Raton delivers at the highest level across every dimension of hospitality as a place where families, couples, wellness seekers, and discerning travelers alike can find world-class experiences tailored to them.”

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Stay up to date on 100 Year offerings by visiting TheBocaRaton. com, and follow along on Facebook and Instagram @TheBocaRaton.

The Boca Raton: The Boca Raton originally opened in 1926 as The Ritz-Carlton Cloister Inn and today stands as one of South Florida’s most storied luxury destinations, and the only quadruple Forbes FiveStar resort in The Americas. Spanning 200 waterfront acres, the property is exclusive to The Boca Raton Club Members and resort guests, and comprises five distinct hotels: Beach Club, Bungalows, Cloister, Tower, and Yacht Club. Following a multi-year transformation, The Boca Raton continues to evolve while honoring a century of iconic hospitality. Amenities include a private beach, the Forbes Five-Star Spa Palmera, 18-hole golf course, a full-service marina, Racquet Club with pickleball and tennis courts, Harborside Pool Club, seven swimming pools, retail shops, state-of-the-art fitness clubs, and wellness programming. Culinary offerings span more than 18 restaurants and lounges, including signature concepts in partnership with Major Food Group. For reservations, call (561) 447-3000 or visit TheBocaRaton.com.

Forbes Travel Guide: Forbes Travel Guide is the only global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants, spas, cruises and their restaurants. Our anonymous professional inspectors evaluate based on hundreds of exacting standards, with an emphasis on exceptional service, to help discerning travelers select the world’s best experiences.

The only way to get a Five-Star, Four-Star or Recommended rating is by earning it through our independent inspection process. For more information about Forbes Travel Guide, please visit ForbesTravelGuide.com.

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SETTING THE STAGE:

LEAH LOGUE on Design, Determination, and Defying a Stage IV Diagnosis

eah Logue, one of Palm Beach’s most in-demand interior designers, has been quietly fighting for her life behind the scenes: delivering headline-worthy design while undergoing treatment for stage IV metastatic colon cancer. Known for her bold, detaildriven

aesthetic, Logue’s story blends design excellence with extraordinary resilience — offering a powerful narrative about creativity, purpose, and perseverance.

A second-generation South Floridian, Logue is largely self-taught, having spent more than a decade flipping properties hands-on before transitioning into full-scale interior design and ground-up construction projects. What began as informal decorating and consulting evolved rapidly into a thriving design firm working alongside leading architects and developers, with a client roster that includes professional athletes, celebrities, business moguls, and Palm Beach’s most discerning homeowners.

Logue’s work is instantly recognizable — a sophisticated balance of transitional design layered with coastal influences, statement moments, and unexpected details. Her reputation for precision and hands-on involvement has made her exceptionally selective in accepting projects. A self-described perfectionist, Logue oversees every detail from conception to completion, often committing months or years to a single vision — a level of dedication that has led to a business built largely on referrals and repeat clients.

“Design has always been about creating joy, beauty, and meaning,” Logue shares. “Cancer didn’t change that — it clarified it.”

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In March, Logue was diagnosed with stage IV terminal metastatic colon cancer, with widespread disease including over 50% of her liver. Given months to live, she made the decision to pursue chemotherapy alongside holistic therapies — a choice that transformed her life but did not stop her work. Instead, she continued designing, leading projects, and showing up creatively while undergoing treatment.

“Design has always been about creating joy, beauty, and meaning,” Logue shares. “Cancer didn’t change that — it clarified it.”

Despite the physical demands of treatment, Logue remains deeply involved in her projects, continuing to design spaces that evoke emotion, gratitude, and connection. Her ability to maintain creative leadership while navigating illness has inspired clients, colleagues, and followers alike, reframing the conversation around what resilience truly looks like. For Leah, design has never been just about aesthetics, “It’s about intention, integrity, and creating spaces that evoke emotion” — values that became even more essential after her diagnosis.

Her story is not one of stepping away — but of standing fully in purpose.

It offers a rare and powerful look at resilience, redefining success, and what it means to continue building beauty when life demands courage. As she continues to design and advocate for living intentionally, her work serves as a testament to perseverance and the healing power of creativity.

For more information or to view Leah Logue’s portfolio, visit @lifeinlogue on Instagram.

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MARS MISSION I: Surviving the Kessler Effect (Second Edition)

Book by Christopher Lee Jones

I

By Cade Callen & Adam Kluger

n his latest book, Mars Mission I: Surviving the Kessler Effect, Christopher Lee Jones presents a sci-fi nightmare where a missile attack destroys two satellites, triggering the Kessler Effect, an apocalyptic scenario elaborated by NASA scientists Donald J. Kessler and Burton Cour-Palais that describes a runaway chain reaction caused by exponential collisions of space debris in low Earth orbit. Collisions create debris that decimates all of humanity’s satellites.

As a result, life on Earth effectively returns to the 1800s. No phone service, no power, no gasoline, no GPS, no transportation, no food, and no municipal water. Riots soon break out, and the National Guard is deployed to restore order. People are dying. No one knows who is to blame for the growing chaos. NASA cannot communicate with any of the astronauts on the International Space Station or on a recently launched mission to Mars. The astronauts are left to fend for themselves. Things look very grim for the people of Earth, the astronauts on the ISS, and the astronauts on Mars. Can they survive, and if so, how?

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Q: Why did you write this book?

A: I wrote the book to get the message out about the Kessler Effect, and also, I’m a lover of action movies.

So, I wanted to create an action-packed, cliff-hanging thriller.

Q: Why is the message of this book so important?

A: If the Kessler effect takes place, many people in the United States and every developed country will die because we are so dependent on our satellitedriven infrastructure, and nobody- not NASA, not the Department of Defense- has stopped to think, 48 Metropolitan Palm Beach | 25amag.com

“What happens if we lose all of our satellites?” It's just something they wouldn't consider. It's unthinkable.

Q: So, from a military standpoint, could satellites be targeted in future wars?

A: Well, that's the key to the book—The Joint Chiefs are racking their brains, wondering who would do this.

Russia has satellites; all of Europe depends on them.

Much of Mexico and South America is also satellitedependent. The relationship between the China National Space Administration and NASA has always been adversarial… The book couldn’t be more timely in its message.

Q: What is the Kessler effect —how would you describe it?

A: I normally describe it as analogous to blowing on a cosmic dandelion. All the seeds (cosmic debris) would go in the direction you blow, but they also circle around, and some go left, some go down, and some go up.

That's what an initial debris hit, or strike, would be like.

Q: Quite a disturbing image A: And that's only the initial phase —now you have what's called a debris field, and now imagine that hitting

20 or 30 or 50 or 100 satellites and all of those doing the same thing, exploding out like a bunch of dandelion seeds blowing in the wind, and every 90 minutes they circle the Earth and they're back again for another strike.

So the Kessler Effect can develop within three hours of the initial strike.

Q: Then what would happen?

A: We could lose every satellite; all communications would be shut down in three hours.

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25A Q: Why does the Kessler effect make such a timely and interesting science fiction adventure book or movie?

What’s the danger of the Kessler effect to the average person?

A: Imagine a housewife on her way into the grocery store, checking her texts, when her cell phone suddenly stops, and it doesn't have a signal, and she starts looking around, and she sees everybody else doing the same thing. Then, all of a sudden, she looks up and sees a car crash straight into a telephone pole. Her credit card won't go through at the store, and while that's happening, all power is being disrupted. The power companies cannot see what the other companies are doing, making it impossible to coordinate the power supply. Too many power companies are interlinked via the web to manage and coordinate supply to protect their equipment and infrastructure. So all power-producing facilities are shut down.

Q: Is there a solution to this Kessler effect?

A: The solution is to try to clean up the debris, but doing so is incredibly difficult. Several companies are currently trying to remove individual rocket bodies, along with literally millions of small debris fragments smaller than 10 centimeters that are orbiting at 17,000 miles per hour. And that’s the debris we can’t track. A few agencies monitor space specifically to provide launch windows for agencies like NASA and companies like SpaceX. You probably heard the window is open for about 30 minutes, which means that, as best they can tell, the spacecraft should be able to make it through without catastrophic damage. I’m meeting with people all the time, talking to retired colonels from the Air Force and Space Force, and people from the Pentagon, trying to find a better answer than the one currently being pursued.

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“I found your book to be both interesting and an accurate reflection of what could happen in the future. I found it hard to put the book down because of how well the story is put together. I think the book illustrates the orbital debris issues better than the movie “Gravity”.

- Donald Kessler, Retired NASA Senior Scientist for Orbital Debris Research

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Q: Tell us more about the book and its connection to Elon Musk.

A: I wrote the book when I believed that Elon was going to send a crew to Mars, and then I started sitting back and thinking to myself, well, how would he do that…so then I started putting the math together—he'd have to send nine starships in advance. Two would have to start making oxygen and methane in advance. In the book, 21 astronauts are sent up to Mars, get marooned there, and nobody on Earth even knows much about it because there's no communication left. The International Space Station is a nightmare and is doing a predetermined altitude maneuver, an emergency maneuver to try to avoid the debris, and those are just some of the realistic scenarios I have in the book. In the end, if we could just get the message out about the Kessler effect as a little more emergent concern, that is really the main goal.

Q: If this book were to be turned into a movie, given how timely it is, you know what, who would be the star?

A: I imagine this actor would be in his 50s or 60s, because the older you are, hopefully the more educated you are. Maybe Tom Hanks would be great, or another actor of like stature.

the crew capsule part of it doesn't even leave much space for water and fuel. So, what I found in my recent studies: crew isolation leads to insanity over extended periods, and we're talking about typical training periods of about three months so far. But they've had Russians who literally pulled guns on each other. There was a message sent by one Russian back to their command headquarters that said, "Get me out of here, or you're going to end up with two dead bodies returning.” So it's the isolation that's the issue. Other than that, as long as you can allow for a lot of versatility, as you know, you get tired of watching movies after the 10th movie, and have been encapsulated for two years.

Q: What are your favorite space movies?

A: I loved “The Martian.” I thought that was exciting. I loved “2001: A Space Odyssey”. I don't know what year it came out. When I saw the spaceship approaching the space station in “2001,” it just blew my mind.

Q: What did it mean to you to have Donald Kessler say that your book would be more exciting as a film than “Gravity”?

Q: How realistic is Elon Musk's vision for visiting Mars and populating Mars?

A: I was excited because the people who made “Gravity” had referenced him for some questions and background investigation when they made the film, so when he thought that my book might make a better movie than “Gravity,” I thought that was saying a lot!'

A: Honestly, in recent research that I've done, the biggest issue is crew isolation. I think the rest of it is all doable, but just spending six months in a capsulethat's really the key: to have a lot of versatility, and I mean in that capsule. I imagine it is in my mind, like five or six stories in the starship cruise capsule. Just

About the Author: Christopher Lee Jones grew up in Southern Michigan and attended Jackson High School and Michigan State University. He moved to South Florida just before Hurricane Andrew. He obtained his Advanced Scuba Diver certification and his USCG Captain's license,

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working in the Merchant Marine industry and assisting with numerous sailboat and powerboat deliveries throughout the Caribbean. He has been fortunate enough to take his personal boats to many of the islands of the Bahamas.

He obtained his Fire Certification, Paramedic, and EMT certificates and worked for Miami-Dade Fire Rescue for many years, retiring in 2019. He has always been a self-admitted space nut in hibernation.

After watching one of the first Falcon 9 launches, where the booster returned and landed safely, and then watching the first Falcon Heavy in person, where both boosters landed safely back at Kennedy Space 54 Metropolitan Palm Beach | 25amag.com

Center, he knew he needed to pursue his love of Space again. Since then, Christopher has traveled to many NASA destinations for research, including the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and has toured the Marshall Space Flight Center and the Redstone Arsenal, where the staff patiently answered his numerous questions.

Today, he still resides in South Florida and continues his astronomical studies. Additionally, Christopher Lee Jones is the founder of Satellite Orbital Access and Removal (SOAR), a space debris clean-up company that has just partnered with the University of Texas at El Paso.

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ARTWORK BY WILLIAM QUIGLEY

NY KNICKS

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THE Jalen KINGBrunson OF NEW YORK Leads the Knicks to the NBA Title

By Ira Kaufman

I

was in the Frost Bank Center on June 13 when the Knicks finally, and I mean FINALLY, broke a 53 year old curse and delivered an NBA Title to New York and the tens of millions of Knick fans worldwide.

I would not have been in San Antonio watching Game #5 if it were not for Jalen Brunson. If the Spurs would have played the Celtics, Pistons, Cavs, or Sixers, etc, the Finals would have been a sweep. The Spurs would have had a huge parade, probably on June 13.. All the flaws of the Spurs – coaching, choking, defense, offense – everything would not have been exposed by the mere mortals on the Celtics, Pistons, Cavs or Sixers. The Spurs would have won every game by 20 and looked like a team that could win a dozen championships.

But the elite of the elite in their field are able to overcome all obstacles and do things mere mortals cannot even fathom. A scientist like Jonas Salk discovers a cure for polio that had frustrated thousands of scientists for years; Steve Jobs invents a computer that does things no one could ever imagine; the general Hannibal leads men and elephants to defeat the great Roman army over and over; Beethoven composed music that we have not seen before or after.

And Jalen Brunson leads the Knicks to beat the Spurs in 5 to win the NBA Championship.

Yes, the Knicks are a great team and KAT is awesome and OG is great and the bench is tremendous and Mike Brown made all the right moves and Leon Rose was a genius in putting together a very special team – but….. this is Brunson’s team, he is the leader, he is the play maker, he is the driver.

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It is hard to find any athlete who has been “doubted” so much throughout his career, who has achieved as many accomplishments.

He was the two time High School Illinois Gatorade Player of the year, leading his team to a monumental upset in the 2015 State title game, scoring 30 points… but doubters said he would not be a good college player.

He was the two time National Champion at Villanova winning the titles in 2016 and 2018 over UNC and Michigan and becoming the Naismith College Player of the Year… but doubters said he would be an average pro at best and he was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2018 draft with the 33rd pick – Deandre Ayton was drafted 1st and Marvin Bagley #2, and even though this was a tremendous draft with Luka #3, Trae Young #5, and SGA #11 - there were a lot of players you have never heard of drafted ahead of Brunson - including the Knicks pick of Kevin Knox at #9 – Kevin who???

So when Brunson played on Dallas, they made him the 6th man, yes the 6th man, and in the 2021-22 season he finally got a chance to start and was AMAZING, and in the 2022 playoffs, with Luka hurt, he led the Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals beating the Suns and the 58 Metropolitan Palm Beach | 25amag.com

Jazz including an epic Game #2 when he dropped 41 points against the Jazz… but once again there were doubters. The brain trust of the Dallas Mavericks, including the supposed genius Mark Cuban didn’t even offer him a contract to stay. The Mavericks told Brunson to “shop around” and then come back to the Mavs with an offer. Of course the Knicks in a brilliant move, hired his father as an assistant coach and then gave him a 4 year $100M contract. Leon Rose did not doubt Jalen Brunson.

But when he signed with the Knicks the first thing all the commentators from Stephan A to Mad Dog to Nick Wright said was that this was an awful signing and that he could never be a leader on a championship team.

The Knicks were 37-45 in 2021-22; then signed Brunson and the next year won 47 games. And won their first round series against the Cavs, which was the Knicks first playoff win in over a decade… but the doubters said he could not lead them to a title.

Brunson was a great player for the Knicks in 2022-23, averaging 24 points, and 23-24 averaging 29 points, with the Knicks winning 50 games and beating the Sixers in the first round and losing to the Pacers in

7 games… BUT DID YOU KNOW, BRUNSON WAS CUT FROM THE 2024 OLYMPIC TEAM – CUT!!!! He was so devastated that he thought about playing for Jamaica.

Then last year Brunson led the Knicks to the Eastern Conference Finals where they lost to the Pacers and he was selected to his 2nd All NBA 2nd Team… but the doubters said the Knicks need Giannis to win the title and Brunson is just a #1A not a #1.

Then this year the Knicks had an up and down season and trailed the Hawks 2-1 and the critics are coming for Brunson but he leads the team to a 13 game stretch were they destroy the Hawks,

the Sixers, and the Cavs (including in Game #1 where Brunson led the greatest comeback in NBA history… but still the doubters said Brunson could never lead the Knicks over the Spurs – “we can’t wait to sign Giannis and Lebron!”

The Knicks win two games in San Antonio with Brunson scoring 30 points and 20 points… but after a game #3 loss to the Spurs when Brunson scores 32 points the doubters are calling for Brunson to get off the ball and let KAT run the team.

The Knicks win game #4 in dramatic fashion with an amazing comeback and shot by OG Anunoby with Brunson scoring 36 points…. but the doubter are still out there - “Who should be the MVP when the Summer 2026

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25AKnicks win? OG, KAT, or Brunson. CAN YOU BELIEVE for others to make the big shots (just like MJ with Paxon THIS!!

And in Game #5, we had the “Mic Drop Game”. 45 points. 15 points in the 3rd quarter. In a game where Kat scores 2 points and OG scores 11 and where the bench did nothing all game. When no one for the Knicks did anything all game - except Brunson.

In Game #6 of the 2021 NBA Finals Giannis scored 50 points, 14 rebounds and had 5 blocks to clinch the title.

I was there and it was out of this world.

In the history of the NBA only 2 players, just 2, have scored 45 points in a NBA Finals clinching game on the road. One is Jalen Brunson last night. The other – MJ in 1998 against the Jazz in the Last Shot Game. I was there for that one also I don’t care about Brunson size, shooting percentage, defense, dribbling or anything. He led the Knicks to their first title in 53 years. He is the reason. When the Knicks are down in the game he brings them back. He puts the team on his back. He wins at home and he wins on the road. He torches horrendous old defenders like James Harden and young tenacious defenders like Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper. He makes one big shot after another and when he misses, he sets the stage

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and Kerr). He is the straw that stirs the drink. He is why KAT has emerged as a great 2nd option and embraces the role. He is the reason why OG has blossomed into a super player. He is the reason why Landry Shamet , who was out of the league when the season started, had the hottest 3 point playoff streak in NBA history. He is the reason why Mike Brown is viewed as a genius now. He is the King of New York.

I sat behind the Knick bench for the three NBA Finals games in San Antonio. He is the player the coaches and the players look to when the Spurs and Wemby went on a run and the fans were going crazy. Game #5 turned on the no call on Brunson’s 3 point shot in the 3rd quarter when Brunson thought he was fouled by Wemby and then the Spurs matched with a Vassal 3 to go up 62-53.

The Knicks and Brunson spent the entire 4 minutes of the time out arguing with the refs about the call. The team rallied behind its leader. At first I thought the arguing would be a distraction, but Brunson knew that this added extra focus to the task and forced the Knicks to “lock-in”.

Brunson is not MJ, but he has the one MJ trait that Lebron did not have for much of his career (I think he has it now), and many of the greats of the greats do not possess – the sheer ability to lead his team to victory no matter what the odds through his play and his leadership. He is

In Game #5 Brunson didn’t care about Knicks in Six or going back to NYC for Game #6. He didn’t’ care about anything but winning the title right now! The Larry O’Brien Trophy was in the building, back in some storage room. Brunson was going to grab it and take it back to NYC. True champions don’t wait for the title to be handed to them – if it is there, they take it.

I took a ton of amazing pictures before, during, and after the game.

Brunson warming up before the game with his father and how they look right into each others eyes as his father passes him the ball – think how many times his father has passed him a ball – from when he was a toddler to the present day.

Brunson shooting the ball just sitting on his fingertips – this gives him the touch to make the long range 3’s and the circus shots in the lane.

a 1st ballot Unanimous NBA Hall of Famer - Today. He should not only be on the next Olympic Team he should pick the team.

In Game #6 in Utah in 1998, everything was falling apart for the Bulls. Pippen could not move because his back was broken and Rodman spent the game talking to David Hasselhoff. MJ was the only player doing anything for the Bulls. Sure, the Bulls could have won in Game #7 in a few days, as they were up 3-2, but Jordan knew how dangerous the Malone, Stockton Jazz were (they had the best record in the league and had just beat the Bulls at home in Game #5). Jordan was not going to wait for a Game #7. No excuses, he was going to win the game.

Brunson facing a trio of defenders, Castle, Champagnie, and Harper. Brunson oozes confidence like he knows he is going to get by them.

Brunson inbounding in front of Ben Stiller taking a pictures.

Brunson taking circus shots where he has body control and touch and strength.

But my favorite picture is Brunson, after the no call on the 3 point shot, with fire coming out of his ears and you can see a focus in his eyes. That is the look, the fire, the passion that MJ had in the NBA Finals in Game #6 when everything around him was falling down.

Follow Ira at @Iraonsports and the Ira On Sports podcast on Itunes and SoundCloud.

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LOOK UP

TIMES SQUARE TO VENICE: Cultural Storytelling Through the Lens of ART X FASHION A custom couture creation by designer Naeem Khan, with international curator Rachel D. Vancelette photographed at Palazzo Mora along the canals of Venice by renowned Italian photographer Francesco Francia, becomes a visual expression of LOOK UP's mission to connect art, fashion, and humanity.

Photo credits: Francesco Francia gainst the historic backdrop of Venice's winding canals and the architectural grandeur of Palazzo Mora, a remarkable creative collaboration unfolded during the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia.

More than a fashion editorial and more than an art project, the photoshoot created by renowned Italian photographer Francesco Francia featuring curator Rachel D. Vancelette in a custom couture design personally selected and created by internationally celebrated designer Naeem Khan became a visual expression of the very ideas that define LOOK UP VENICE: creativity, craftsmanship, cultural exchange, and the enduring dialogue between art and fashion. Captured throughout Palazzo Mora and along Venice's iconic canals, the photographs bring together a remarkable lineage of creative influence from the artistic vision championed by the late Franca Sozzani and by the remarkable Vogue Italia editior Alessia Glaviano, Vogue Photo, to the cultural legacy of Andy Warhol, Halston, and Studio 54, and ultimately to LOOK UP's contemporary mission of global connection through art, media, and storytelling.

Presented at Palazzo Mora as part of the European Cultural Centre's Personal Structures exhibition, LOOK UP TIMES SQUARE TO VENICE brings together artists, cultural leaders, photographers, performers, visionaries, and changemakers from around the world to explore what it means to "look up" in an increasingly connected society. The project marks the international expansion of LOOK UP and the human archive of voices from its debut in Times Square on Thanksgiving 2026 one of the world's most important cultural stages.

For curator Rachel Vancelette, the Venice presentation represents a meaningful full-circle moment. In 2010, under 64 Metropolitan Palm Beach | 25amag.com

the visionary leadership of the late Franca Sozzani and with the support of Vogue Italia's Alessia Glaviano, Vancelette was invited to contribute her first feature for Vogue Italia. The subject was artist Kenny Scharf and his legendary Cavern a Go-Go gatherings, immersive celebrations of art, fashion, music, performance, and creative expression that brought together artists, designers, collectors, musicians, and cultural figures in a uniquely New York cultural experience. The story proved particularly meaningful because Scharf's world embodied the very spirit of interdisciplinary collaboration that would later define much of Vancelette's own work. Cavern a Go-Go represented a place where art and fashion were not separate disciplines but part of a larger cultural conversation.

In many ways, it reflected the same creative energy that LOOK UP seeks to foster today.

The foundations of that perspective were further shaped by the mentorship of the late Barbara Rose, the renowned art historian and critic who first encouraged Vancelette to come to New York, telling her simply, "Come stay a week and see if you like it." What began as a brief visit became a lifelong chapter.

During those formative years, Vancelette also held senior leadership positions at Yvon Lambert New York and Gladstone Gallery, working alongside some of the most influential artists, collectors, curators, and cultural leaders of her generation.

These experiences would ultimately help shape the philosophy behind LOOK UP, a platform dedicated to bringing together diverse creative voices through meaningful cultural dialogue.

That philosophy found one of its most elegant expressions in Venice through her collaboration with Naeem Khan and Francesco Francia. For the occasion of LOOK UP VENICE and the Venice Biennale, Naeem Khan personally selected and designed a custom couture gown specifically for Rachel Vancelette. The creation was far more than a garment, it was a work of art.

Renowned internationally for his extraordinary craftsmanship, Khan's couture designs often require hundreds of hours of meticulous handwork by master artisans. Intricate embroidery, hand-beading, embellishment, and detailed finishing techniques have become signatures of his practice, elevating each creation beyond fashion into the realm of artistry. Every piece reflects a commitment to preserving traditional craftsmanship while embracing contemporary elegance. Created especially for Venice, the gown embodied the same commitment to beauty, excellence, and storytelling that has defined Khan's celebrated career. Photographed by Francia throughout Venice, with key images captured inside Palazzo Mora and along the city's legendary canals, the resulting series transcends traditional fashion photography. Instead, the photographs become visual narratives.

Through Francia's lens, architecture, history, couture, contemporary art, and cultural identity converge. The timeless beauty of Venice provides the setting, while Khan's handcrafted couture creation becomes a symbol of the dialogue between past and present, craftsmanship and innovation, fashion and fine art. The significance of Khan's participation extends well beyond fashion. Before becoming one of the world's most celebrated couture designers, Khan worked within the creative orbit of Andy Warhol and was influenced by the legendary cultural ecosystem that surrounded Warhol, Halston, and Studio 54. It was a period when artists, designers, photographers, musicians, and cultural icons gathered together, challenging traditional boundaries and creating new forms of cultural expression.

Khan would later become one of the most respected names in international fashion, dressing an extraordinary roster of influential figures including Michelle Obama, Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Taylor Swift, Queen Noor of Jordan, and countless leaders from the worlds of entertainment, philanthropy, politics, and international society. Yet the Venice collaboration offered something uniquely personal.

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Khan created a bespoke couture design specifically for Rachel Vancelette and the LOOK UP Venice initiative, a cultural platform dedicated to creativity, humanity, and connection. Vancelette, recently described by the Italian press as a "global cultural architect," has built LOOK UP TIMES SQUARE as an international dialogue uniting voices across art, fashion, media, and technology. The gown itself became an artistic statement, reflecting the shared values of craftsmanship, creativity, and cultural storytelling embraced by both Khan and Vancelette. Renowned for creations that often require hundreds of hours of intricate handwork by master artisans, Khan's designs transcend fashion, occupying a space between couture and fine art.

The collaboration carries particular significance given Khan's unique place within fashion history. Early in his career, Khan worked alongside legendary designer Halston and within the creative orbit of Andy Warhol, experiencing firsthand one of the most influential periods in American cultural history, a journey chronicled in his celebrated Rizzoli book. Through the lens of renowned Italian photographer Francesco Francia, known for his masterful use of light and ability to capture both elegance and emotion, the Venice images become far more than a fashion editorial. Set against the historic interiors of Palazzo Mora and the timeless beauty of Venice's canals, That dialogue includes a remarkable community of participants for LOOK UP TIMES SQUARE, among them Studio 54 icon Nikki Haskell, photographer Michel Haddi, actor Ray Fearon, television personality Max Tucci, Factory Boys Robert Dupont and Richard Dupont, makeup icon Laura Geller, Olympian and artist Roald Bradstock, and the celebrated collaboration between Shepard Fairey and Karen Bystedt for would of been Andy Warhol's 96th Birthday. Together they represent the diverse range of voices contributing to the growing global movement.

The dialogue surrounding the Venice presentation also extends to the growing intersection of contemporary art and couture. Among those helping shape this conversation is artist Stanley Casselman, whose ongoing creative relationship with Naeem Khan has sparked discussions about new possibilities between fine art, fashion, materiality, and art making. Through collaborative initiatives and shared creative exploration, Khan and Casselman represent a broader movement named KACE and work toward interdisciplinary cultural experiences that challenge traditional boundaries between artistic disciplines

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blending silkscreen painting with handmade adornments and weavings. Vancelette is now working KACE in a movement toward institutional conversations about the broader collaboration of the merging of Art X Fashion for which she has discussed and written on for over a decade. Vancelette's upcoming book In the Pursuit of Art X Fashion: A Global Compendium presents over 400 collaborations, a six year project to be announced end of 2026.

While the Venice photoshoot remains centered on the collaboration between Khan, Francia and Vancelette, it also reflects a larger ecosystem of artists, designers, photographers, and cultural leaders whose work continues to inspire future conversations around museum exhibitions, publications, and international cultural programming. The exhibition LOOK UP TIMES SQUARE curated by Vancelette presents over 40 creative industry members voices speaking to the question "What Does LOOK UP mean to you?" with artworks by a series of artists, the private invitation by the European Cultural Centre to curate the exhibition came in February, the exhibition opened May 5th and remains on view until November 22nd at Palazzo Mora and open to the public daily. Ultimately, the Venice photoshoot is about far more than a series of images. It stands as a visual embodiment of LOOK UP's central message: that creativity has the power to connect people, disciplines, histories, and generations. This is a story has found a powerful new chapter on the canals of Venice with an upcoming LOOK UP conference which will be held November 21st which will hold talks, performances and more.

LOOK UP TIMES SQUARE: www.lookuptimesquare.com Personal Structures Exhibition at Palazzo Mora, Venice Italy Open to Public: May 5th- Nov 22nd, 2026 Website: www.personalstructures.com/participants/look-up-time-square/ Follow at Instagram: @introxpert9 | @rvancelette | @naeemkhannyc | @kacestudio @francesco_francia_photography Special thanks to contemporary artists Rossella Vasta and Nathan Brujis.

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Photo credits: Francesco Francia

SPOTLIGHT FEATURE

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SHARON MAHN

on Legal Recruiting’s High-Stakes Market

S

By Meghan Hemingway

Sharon Mahn understands the ecosystem of a deal: the rainmaker, the firm, the spouse, the whispered possibility of a move and the enormous business that may follow.

For more than two decades, Mahn has lived inside that world. A former trial lawyer turned founder and CEO of Mahn Consulting, she has moved major partners, helped build teams and brokered deals that shift millions in revenue and alter the future of a practice. She has done it through instinct, nerve and a relationship network built the old-fashioned way – one cold call, one lunch, one leap of trust at a time.

“It was about building a career and a life that felt more aligned with who I am,” says Mahn. “The best placements are not just transactions. They are relationships that continue to build over time.”

Mahn is clear-eyed about how much the business around those relationships has changed. As Big Law has grown larger, richer and more mobile, legal recruiting has grown with it – into a high-stakes market where information can be as valuable as the move itself. Mahn has seen that evolution from every angle: as a lawyer, as a recruiter, as an entrepreneur and now as a commentator co-anchoring The Exchange Briefing from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange with veteran journalist Jane King.

Mahn has built an exceptional career by understanding power in all its forms: who has it, who is trying to move it and what is at stake when it changes hands. Her own story is proof of what can happen when women insist on keeping theirs.

“Nobody is coming to save you,” Mahn says. “You have to stand up and fight for the life you want.”

Mahn is named to the 2026 Lawdragon 100 Global Leaders in Legal Strategy & Consulting.

Lawdragon: Where did you grow up?

Sharon Mahn: I was born in New York and raised in New Jersey. People keep leaving for Florida, but New York has always had my heart. I love

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the energy, the neighborhoods, the water, the fact that it keeps changing.

Once you spend any real time here, you’re a New Yorker.

LD: What drew you to recruiting?

SM: I came to recruiting as a lawyer, and that has always shaped the way I look at the work. I understood what lawyers were weighing when they considered a move – their clients, their firms, their compensation, their families, their fears and their ambitions.

Recruiting is about judgment, timing and trust. You are helping someone make a decision that can change the direction of their career and their life.

I have worked on major placements and combinations, watched lawyers grow into positions of real power and helped people make moves that changed their lives. I love that part of the work. The best recruiters do more than make introductions. They help people see what is possible.

LD: How did you get comfortable building a career around cold calls?

SM: I am extremely social, and I always wanted to meet everyone. I loved being in New York. I loved coming to work every day. I loved going out, meeting people, going to games, concerts, dinners – all of it.

So it never really felt like cold calling to me. It felt like building relationships.

I became good friends with my clients and candidates, and over time those relationships became real friendships. People I met 25 years ago are still in my life now.

At the time, legal recruiting was much more secretive than it is now.

People were afraid to be seen with a recruiter. They would say, “Do not tell anyone I am talking to you.” Some people used fake names. It felt very old-school and private.

Now managing partners call because they want to know what is happening in the market, what is happening at their own firms and how to think about talent. I have watched lawyers go from young partners

to chairs, managing partners and leaders of major firms. Now I get to share what I have learned over 25 years – how to build business, how to position yourself, how to make good career decisions and how to think long-term. That is really exciting to me.

LD: What have been some of the most significant placements of your career?

SM: The stakes are enormous now. Legal recruiting is not what people may imagine it to be. This is not just someone sending a résumé and making an introduction. In the partner market, you may be talking about lawyers with $50M books of business. If a major partner or team moves, that can change the financial picture of an entire firm.

SM: I have worked on very large deals, including the merger of a major firm where I moved about 150 lawyers. Those matters are interesting because of their scale, complexity and impact on the market.

Law firms are not like public companies. Their value is tied very directly to their lawyers, their client relationships and their revenue. If you take out a major team, you are not just moving people. You are moving business. You are moving institutional knowledge. You may be shifting a meaningful percentage of a firm’s bottom line.

But I really do think every deal is interesting in its own way, because you are helping someone make a life-changing decision. Of course, the big lucrative deals are wonderful for your bottom line. But even a smaller placement can have tremendous impact. You may be helping someone get a better opportunity, more money, less stress or a clearer path to build a book of business.

That is why law firms need to be much more sophisticated about how they work with recruiters and what they share. If a recruiter knows that one office has a need, or that one partner may be vulnerable, or that a practice group is under pressure, that information can be used in ways the firm may not expect. And because the industry is not meaningfully regulated, there is very little in place to prevent that.

I see my role as going beyond simply placing someone in a job. I help candidates market themselves and think about their careers long-term.

Sometimes that means making personal introductions. Sometimes it means putting them on my show at the Stock Exchange. Sometimes it means connecting them with business contacts or helping them understand how to position themselves in the market. When my candidates grow, I grow with them. If they build business, become more successful and develop stronger practices, that is good for everyone.

The best placements are not just transactions. They are relationships that continue to build over time.

LD: What should lawyers understand before they speak candidly with a recruiter?

LD: Tell us more about your show. You’re co-hosting The Exchange Briefing from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. How did that come about?

SM: I teamed up with my friend Jane King, who I’ve known for 20 years.

Jane is a powerhouse – she’s a national financial reporter, a former anchor on CNN and Bloomberg, and she is at the New York Stock Exchange early in the morning doing financial reporting. In between all of that, we fit in our show.

It’s called The Exchange Briefing, and we bring guests to the Stock Exchange to talk about the legal market, what their clients are doing and the broader trends they’re seeing. We’re targeting managing partners, practice leaders and people who are very high up in the industry. The show gives us a way to bring in lawyers and business leaders who can speak to what’s happening in real time.

Most of what you see from the Stock Exchange is finance or tech. We’re saying, “Let’s also talk about the legal implications.” There are all these emerging growth companies, especially in AI and digital assets, and the market is moving so quickly. Companies that were started three years ago are being sold for billions of dollars. It’s hard to keep up, even when you’re trying to keep up.

LD: As Big Law has grown, how has that changed the stakes in legal recruiting?

SM: Speaking with a recruiter is not the same as speaking with a lawyer.

There is no attorney-client privilege. There may be a relationship of trust, and there are many recruiters who take that very seriously, but as an industry matter, candidates should not assume that everything they say is protected.

That matters because candidates often tell recruiters deeply personal information – compensation, conflicts, health issues, family pressures, internal firm problems and why they are afraid to leave. A good recruiter needs context to help someone position a move properly. But where does that information go? Who sees it? Is it accurate? Can it be shared, sold, hacked or used later in a way the candidate never intended?

Those questions are even more serious now because of AI. Information that used to sit in one database may not stay there forever. Once data is aggregated, searched or processed by new tools, the candidate may have no control over it and no ability to correct it.

People think legal recruiting is simple. It is not. There is an entire world behind it, and lawyers need to understand that before they share information that could affect their careers, their reputations and their firms.

LD: How does AI affect the way sensitive recruiting information can be collected, stored and used?

SM: AI raises the stakes because it can process and amplify information without necessarily understanding whether that information is true, complete or fair. It does not have judgment. It can read what is public, what is repeated, what is best marketed or most visible – but that does not always mean it is the most accurate information.

That is why I keep coming back to oversight. Recruiting has always involved sensitive information, but the technology has changed the scale. Information can move faster, travel farther and be interpreted by Summer 2026

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The question is not just whether AI will help or hurt the recruiting industry. The question is: What duties do we have when we collect, store and use information about people’s careers? Because if the information is wrong, and it gets amplified, the harm can be very real.

LD: How should we be thinking about regulation in legal recruiting?

SM: I think there should be a licensing component, an ethics board and some form of enforcement authority. I say that as someone who is a lawyer by background. Lawyers answer to the bar. Doctors, financial professionals – there are systems in place. If you mishandle money, client information or professional obligations, there are consequences.

In recruiting, we are handling incredibly sensitive information, but there is no comparable oversight. There are industry organizations with ethics rules, but they do not have real enforcement power, and not every recruiter or recruiting company is even subject to them. So the question becomes: Who is actually regulating the industry?

I have lived through this myself, and it has made me think seriously about what happens when there is no meaningful check on the industry.

To me, regulation is about protecting everyone – candidates, law firms, clients and recruiters – who are trying to do the work the right way. The legal market has changed. The money has changed. The technology has changed. The oversight needs to change too.

LD: Tell us about rebuilding your career after leaving Major, Lindsey.

SM: When I left, I had already learned the business and had been very successful. I was one of the top producers. But the environment had become too big, too competitive and too cutthroat for the kind of life and business I wanted to build.

At the same time, my mother was very sick. She had leukemia and died when she was only 62. I was going to Sloan Kettering every week while I was working, and watching someone you love go through that changes your perspective very quickly. It makes you realize that time is not guaranteed.

So when I left, it was not just about starting another recruiting business.

It was about building a career and a life that felt more aligned with who I am. I wanted to do excellent work, but I also wanted to enjoy my life, protect my relationships and work with people in a way that felt personal and human.

What I learned is that you have to love your life while you are living it.

I came to New York in my 30s, and now I am pushing 60. It goes by fast. Every day counts. Every day is an opportunity to meet someone new, help someone, make a connection, see something, do something different.

That is how I rebuilt. I kept working. I kept making placements, kept 70 Metropolitan Palm Beach | 25amag.com

helping people and stayed close to my candidates, my clients, my lawyers, my friends. I served on boards. I run marathons. I try to connect as much as I can back to charity, service or helping other people.

Every day you spend feeling sorry for yourself is a day you are not out there connecting with people or doing something good. Nobody is coming to save you. Whatever your circumstances are – illness, litigation, divorce, heartbreak, professional setbacks – you have to stand up and fight for the life you want. You have to stay hopeful, stay positive and keep going.

LD: Looking back on your career, is there anything you would change about your journey?

SM: I wouldn’t change a thing, because I think you have to go through everything you have gone through in order to be where you are now.

You make the best decisions you can with the information you have at the time, and then you keep moving forward.

Of course, there are hard moments. I do not know anyone who has reached a high level and has not failed or been knocked down in some way. If that has never happened to you, maybe you have not pushed hard enough. The key is not to stay down.

I am inspired by women who keep going. When you are younger, you want to believe everything is fair and just. But as you get older, and as you become more successful, you see how hard it still is for women to get to the top. So I do think there is value in refusing to disappear.

One of the best pieces of advice I received was, “Do not hide. This does not define you. It is a moment in time.” At first, that sounds easy.

But sometimes you have to fake it until you make it. You get up, you go back out into the world, and every day you keep pushing forward until you get where you need to be.

Failure is an opportunity to learn. You get back up. You keep going.

That is resilience.

SHARON MAHN’S TOP 10 TIPS

FOR FINDING & VETTING THE BEST LAWYERS

Prioritize Specialization Over General Practice

Look Beyond Online Reviews

Look for attorneys who focus deeply on your specific issue (e.g., whitecollar defense vs. general criminal law).

Reviews can be misleading—verify through referrals and professional networks.

Evaluate Track Record, Not Just Reputation Case outcomes, deal history, and courtroom experience matter more than branding.

Gauge Communication Style Early Responsiveness and clarity during the consultation phase often reflect future interactions.

Assess Firm Resources vs.

Solo Attention

Ask About Strategy, Not Just Outcomes.

Larger firms offer resources; boutique firms often provide more personalized service.

A strong lawyer should articulate a thoughtful, realistic approach—not just promises.

Check Peer Recognition & Industry Rankings.

Honors like Super Lawyers, Chambers rankings, and peer reviews can signal credibility.

Understand Fee Structures Clearly Transparency in billing (hourly, contingency, flat fee) is essential to avoid surprises.

Confirm Licensing & Disciplinary History.

Always verify standing with the state bar and check for any red flags.

Trust Professional Matchmaking When Stakes Are High.

Legal recruiters and insiders often know which attorneys truly excel in niche areas.

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SUMMER

MOVIE

REVIEWS

By Robbie Kluger

SUPERGIRL (2026) The movie Supergirl directed by Ana Noguiero was a decent movie but not anything to write home about. The action scenes in the movie, and the settings were very well coordinated, the acting by Milly Alcock was very professional, but the main problem was the portrayal of the characters in the story. The backstory given to Supergirl was well thought out and original, however, the other characters were not quite as noteworthy. The character Lobo, played by Jason Momoa, is one of the most cunning characters in DC comics, who has the ability to outmaneuver even the Justice League, but here he exists only as comic relief. Finally, the main antagonist, Krem of the Yellow Hills sounded like a good villain in theory, but was unremarkable and one dimensional. There are also plenty of gross alien scenes that some viewers saw as unnecessarily disgusting, most likely compliments of producer James Gunn’s style. All in all, Supergirl was a decent movie, but did not stand out in terms of characters, or make Supergirl much of a force to be reckoned with.

72 Metropolitan Palm Beach | 25amag.com

THE ODYSSEY (2026) The Odyssey, directed by Christopher Nolan, is a very good and well done piece of cinema.

The movie has an all-star lineup of actors, such as Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron and Robert Pattinson, just to name a handful, and each played their part well.

The Odyssey is a movie that requires a lot of context, each backstory was well explained.

Matt Damon captured each scene perfectly, and did a good job playing a man that knows how to lead, but has lost his sense of self in all of the years he was gone. The Odyssey was definitely a 5-star movie.

SPIDERMAN (2026) The movie Spiderman Brand New Day was an excellent film. It was directed by Destin Daniel Cretin, and stars Tom Holland, Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Mark Ruffalo, Jon Bernthal, and Florence Pugh. Despite what fans might have expected from the trailer, the movie defied all expectations and went an entirely different route than expected. Spiderman also showed off the lighter sides of gritty fan favorite characters like the Punisher, and Black Widow to great effect.

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SUMMER READS HOT

2026

By Gia Carillo & Adam Kluger

Best Gossip: Rob Shuter

Best book on Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy

By Elizabeth Beller

74 Metropolitan Palm Beach | 25amag.com

Best History of Flowers:

Best Book on J.D. Salinger:

Best book on Branding:

Best book on surviving Ex-Husbands

Jill Brooke

Stacy Ross Cohen with Allison Kluger & Kudzi Chikumbu

Thomas Beller

Lisa Kaye Rayner

Comedic Actress keeps it real

Best Books on Baseball

Best Books on Baseball

Best 5X Best-Selling Book on ASD

Best book on Health & Wellness

Motherly Advice:

Laura Clery

Dr. Robert Melillo

Domenic Melillo

Ahron Friedberg, MD

David Krell

Norah Lawlor

Summer 2026

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SUMMER READS HOT

2026

Best Book marketer Penny C. Sansevieri

Best book on healing oneself in tough times Dora Wang, M.D.

76 Metropolitan Palm Beach | 25amag.com

Best blast from the past: Tama Janowitz

Best Music magazine compilation:

Most exciting book on Mars exploration:

Best Book on Gemini program

Christopher Lee Jones

Trouser Press/ Ira Robbins

Jeffrey Kluger

Suspense

Best new book co-written by a married couple:

Best Coffee Table Book:

Terrific Children’s Picture Books

Best Book on online dating

New Thriller:

Diane M. Dickson

Alexa Modugno

Merry Miller

Tama Janowitz

Aesha Waks

Sara Carson

NEW RELEASES...

WINNERS & LOSERS

Winners and Losers is a darkly funny, sharply observed collection of interconnected stories about dreamers, hustlers, artists, romantics, and misfits struggling to find meaning in modern life. Set against the backdrop of New York City and beyond, these characters chase love, success, money, inspiration, and redemption—often finding something entirely different.

By turns poignant, provocative, and entertaining, Winners and Losers offers an unforgettable portrait of flawed but fascinating people searching for connection, purpose, and a second chance in an imperfect world.

About the Author Adam Kluger is a television writer/ producer and President/Founder of Adam Kluger Public Relations. From 1988-2001 Adam worked at CNN. He wrote and produced the highly-rated television show, “CNN Showbiz this Weekend with Bill Tush” for over 10 years. Adam is also the Editor in Chief of Metropolitan Magazine.

Winners & Losers | Adam Kluger

From a television producer pursuing a mysterious waitress, to a failed artist unexpectedly discovering recognition, to a neurotic screenwriter navigating medication and heartbreak, each story captures the unpredictable twists that separate triumph from disaster. Filled with humor, longing, absurdity, and hard-earned wisdom, the book explores the fragile line between ambition and self-destruction, luck and skill, victory and defeat.

Adam Kluger

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Best of TikTok 2026

WOMEN TIKTOK of

Best deadpan stand-up Comedienne Rachel Lenihan

Top global fitness and health influencer Jen Selter

Top Lifestyle expert Xen Sams

Most hilarious skit comediennes Nikki Howard

Comedienne

Manon Mathews

78 Metropolitan Palm Beach | 25amag.com

Comedy/Dry Wit Chynna Walker

Woman who makes living in a van seem cool Nikki Delventhal

It Girl Actress Aesha Waks

Funniest sports rants Lauren Rossi

Best Classical Pianist Hai-Kyung Suh

Best New Podcast with an irreverent sense of humor for moms Mic’d & Medicated

Summer 2026

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THE HAMPTONS

CREATIVE COLLECTIVE:

Fashion, Friendship & Summer Style

I

nspired by the timeless glamour and effortless elegance of photographer Slim Aarons, this vibrant fashion editorial was photographed by Luciana Pampalone at her waterfront home. Bathed in summer sunlight, the idyllic setting becomes the backdrop for a stylish gathering of creatives celebrating friendship, individuality, fashion and the joy of summer living.

The editorial stars Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin—entrepreneur, entertainer and founder of the newly launched House of Vanderbilt Family Office—alongside her beloved dog, I Love Lucy.

Joining her are celebrity hairstylists Vivienne Mackinder, Marco Maranghello and Eliut Rivera, along with their beloved dog, Cleopatra; entrepreneur Hassan Boujaran; producer, actress and angel investor Cassandra Seidenfeld; international image consultant and empowerment

speaker Yli Lirano; professional ballet dancer Emma Chloé Albrecht; and interior designer Barbara Tate.

The entire cast is dressed in BenMo-2.0, the colorful fashion and lifestyle brand created by celebrity stylist Montgomery Frazier, widely known as “The Image Guru.” Inspired

by Montgomery’s late husband, Ben Mindich, the collection combines bold design with a meaningful mission, with a portion of its sales benefiting CaringKind.

Instagram @lucianapampalone @benmo2.0 @consuelo_vanderbilt_costin @ylislovelook @marcomaranghello @eliut_salon @viviennemackinderhair @tate_interior_design @CassandraSeidenfeld @emma_albrecht0 @dream_team_creatives1

80 Metropolitan Palm Beach | 25amag.com

Mick Jagger at Andy Warhol’s Montauk compound 1977 © Christopher Makos 24 × 17 in (61 × 43 cm) Edition of 15

MAKOS Ten Works.

One Book Signing.

SOUTHAMPTON Design: paugarcia.net

SATURDAY, JULY 18 5–7 PM

BARRYVILLE GENERAL 53 N. Sea Road Southampton, NY 11968

On view through September 2026

makostudio.com

"Mick Jagger in Montauck at Andy Warhol's compound" 1977 © Christopher Makos 24" x 17" / 60 cm x 43 cm edition 15 Summer 2026

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TV PIONEER MARY ALICE WILLIAMS

reflects on Ted Turner and the birth of CNN s the tall ships floated past the Statue of Liberty to mark the nation’s 250th birthday, I watched in awe as my daughter Laura reported the parade of sail live on television. I had been in her place exactly fifty years ago, covering the very first Operation Sail for NBC News in 1976.

know they were getting the news un-biased and factual.

The government allowed the fairness doctrine to evaporate in 1987.

And then cable news became the wild west. It also became increasingly expensive to keep correspondents and four-man crews in the field.

Having panels of people in air-conditioned studios is cheaper.

I was out there with a shooter operating a camera the size of a Volkswagen, a sound person handling the mics and wires running into a great big box and a lighting person juggling three large heavy lamps perched on iron stands.

Fifty years later, TV reporters are often sent into the field with little more than an I-phone.

CNN was founded on a relative shoe string. Creating a TV network that could put field crews and cameras no more than seven hours (!) away from any breaking story meant planting satellite dishes all over the planet.

Money got tight. So tight that the first Christmas, the company couldn’t meet payroll, so I emptied my savings account to get the New York Bureau staff through the holidays. But making money was not the prime objective. Connecting the human family was the point. The world’s first 24-7 global network was founded on the principle that if everyone in the world could see each other, they could understand that we humans have common challenges and could share practical solutions. In the belief that maybe, just maybe there’d be a chance at peace in this troubled world. Naïve? Yep. But our founder Ted Turner was a wild man. A go-for-broke idea guy who rarely took no for an answer.

Technology and ideology have transformed journalism.

Quick history lesson: Until June 1, 1980, Americans together watched the evening news on one of three channels. ABC, NBC and CBS all had rigorous editors and endless fact-checkers and adhered to the 1934 Communications Act that required they serve the public interest and the Fairness Doctrine that required they tackle controversial issues by covering all sides of the story. (There are rarely just two sides) On June 1, 1980, CNN went on the air, making cable cool. Cable Television was, well, cable. So it didn’t have to adhere to any pesky fairness laws governing broadcast. But we at CNN adopted the fairness doctrine as our guiding light anyway because we wanted viewers to 82 Metropolitan Palm Beach | 25amag.com

We had a rough start, Ted and me. When CNN’s founding President Reese Shoenfeld took me to Atlanta so Ted could meet the person hired to run the New York Bureau, he neglected to mention that I was a woman. (It was 1980) I didn‘t make it across the threshold before Ted was stomping around his desk and hollering about my gender. But

within minutes, we had come to an understanding. Call them rules of engagement. He wouldn’t call me or write me or try to control the way we covered stories. And he was brave enough to leave me in charge. Ted kept his promises.

And within months, we at CNN’s New York Bureau had hired so many women that the wags were calling it “Petticoat Junction”. So Ted Turner not only created a titanic world force in CNN but had allowed the world to see women as intelligent, informed and serious players in our field. And that ultimately opened wide the doors for women in all fields.

Six months into our hectic start-up, CNN hit an inflection point that helped me understand what impact we could have.

It changed the world. In August of 1980, the Solidarity labor union took over the docks in Gdansk, Poland. The Soviet Union sent war tanks in, cutting all communication wires as they went. CNN’s camera crew was there. Our camera man popped the video tape from the deck, handed it to a runner who chucked it over a fence. A courier caught it and carried it to our Paris Bureau. Our bureau chief transmitted the video of tanks crushing dock workers by ATT long lines to London and from there by Trans Atlantic cable to New York. We flew it by satellite to our Washington bureau which sent it to Atlanta from where it was transmitted to the world. In a matter of minutes … the world bore witness.

The Soviets backed down. CNN taught me that the whole world is safer when the whole world is watching.

When I recently flew to Atlanta to celebrate the life and legacy of CNN Founder Ted Turner, I was struck by how few of the original project group members are still with us. Stunned by the vast expansion of the studios and edit suites. Heartened by the energy of this new generation of journos who’ve taken their place in a craft that is morphing with blinding speed. But morphing into what?

When CNN went on the air, the elders warned that broadcast journalism was tuning up for a swan song. Nope. The only thing that changed was the delivery system. But the current change is more than just a new highway paved in a pocket toy.

It’s a change that’s put fact-based journalism itself on the line. When anyone can post anything on any social media site at any time, without attribution to any source, how can anyone know what’s true?

I find the prospect of A.I. even more alarming. Because if people can’t tell what’s true, they lose their trust in journalism. And without journalism … factual information designed to connect us all and help us collectively govern

this great country … we risk being hopelessly divided.

Without unity, without solid info to believe in and act on, Americans can’t work together to expand equality or cure health care or repair the roads or protect our land or get anything accomplished so that our kids can thrive.

The best lessons I’ve learned are from own kids: Alice works with neuro-divergent children. She has taught me that empathy and curiosity and creativity can be transformative.

Sara is a head coach at IMG Academy. She has taught me that real leaders help their people risk achieving greatness.

That takes humility and humanity.

Sara’s twin sister Laura is a TV news reporter. Through her coverage of harrowing and intensely human events, she has taught me that the best stories not only illustrate what’s wrong but illuminate what’s possible.

Would I do it all again? Yep.

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SPOTLIGHT FEATURE

FILMMAKER BILLY KENT

ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF CREATIVITY

By Adam Kluger & Kira Joe Photos by Billy Kent

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Billy Kent is an independent filmmaker, director, writer, producer, educator, and photographer whose work explores the intersection of humor, intimacy, and human contradiction. Born in Manhattan and

Billy, you’ve had such a prolific career as a writer, filmmaker, and teacher. Tell us a little bit about your creative process and some of your favorite films and commercials.

raised on New York City's Lower East Side, Kent has spent his career telling stories about people searching for connection, meaning, and

I think my creative process is really about observation and accumulation.

a place to belong. His work is grounded in observation, emotional

I tend to collect little human moments, awkward conversations,

honesty, and a deep respect for character.

gestures, fragments of memory, light on a wall, somebody trying and failing to say what they mean. A lot of my work starts there rather than

Kent made his feature debut with The Oh in Ohio (2006), starring Parker

from plot. I'm interested in emotional texture and the strange comedy

Posey, Paul Rudd, Danny DeVito, Heather Graham, and Liza Minnelli.

of being alive.

The film premiered at SXSW and the Edinburgh International Film Festival and was praised for its intelligence, warmth, and emotional

As a filmmaker, I'm drawn to work that feels human and lived in.

insight. He followed with HairBrained (2013), starring Brendan Fraser,

Films like Five Easy Pieces, Manhattan, Old Joy, Paterson, Moonlight,

Alex Wolff, Parker Posey, and Julia Garner, a coming-of-age comedy

and The Headless Woman, along with the work of filmmakers like

about identity, ambition, and belonging.

Jim Jarmusch, Aki Kaurismäki, Paolo Sorrentino, Kelly Reichardt, Lynn Shelton, Barry Jenkins, and Lucrecia Martel. I love filmmakers

Over the course of his career, Kent has directed more than 350

who trust silence, observation, rhythm, and emotional contradiction,

films and commercials and received five Emmy Awards. Through his

and who trust their actors enough to improvise and discover those

production company, Love Lane Pictures, he has collaborated with

unexpected, beautiful moments that can't be written into a script.

internationally recognized artists and cultural institutions, creating films

Filmmaking is often about creating the conditions for surprise.

with figures including Ai Weiwei, Olafur Eliasson, Cristina Iglesias, El Anatsui, and Steven Holl. His work often explores the creative process

I've also been incredibly fortunate to work with remarkable actors over

and the relationship between people, ideas, and place.

the years, including Parker Posey, Danny DeVito, Paul Rudd, Heather Graham, Liza Minnelli, Alex Wolff, Julia Garner, and most recently Dave

Photography has been a parallel creative practice throughout

Hill. What I've learned from all of them is that great performances often

Kent’s life. Influenced by photographers including Earlie Hudnall Jr.,

emerge from trust. When actors feel safe enough to bring themselves

Hiroshi Sugimoto, and Elliott Erwitt, his images focus on landscape,

fully to the work, they inevitably surprise you.

architecture, and fleeting moments of human presence. Working primarily with medium-format cameras, he is drawn to observation,

Whether I'm making a feature film, a museum piece, or a commercial,

imperfection, and the small, unexpected moments that reveal

I'm always chasing the same thing: authenticity, connection, and

character and place. His photographs have been exhibited throughout

moments that linger after the screen goes dark.

the Hudson Valley and reflect many of the same themes found in his films: memory, humor, connection, light, and the passage of time.

Since 2014, Kent has taught directing and visual storytelling at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, where he encourages students to trust observation, performance, and cinematic language as tools for discovering their own artistic voice.

Now based in Saugerties, New York, Kent is developing In the Wind, a deeply personal feature inspired in part by his experiences with loss and grief. The film follows a musician returning upstate to scatter his father's ashes, only to confront unresolved friendships, questions of authorship, and the possibility of renewal.

Across all of his work, Kent returns to a simple belief: that meaning invite audiences to look closely, embrace ambiguity, and discover the extraordinary within everyday life.

Billy Kent

is found not in spectacle, but in presence. His films and photographs

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You first came to my attention at Vassar when you produced

a really cool Madonna video for True Blue. How did that all come about and what was that experience like?

wonderfully prehistoric now. I'm fairly certain my family treated it as a civic responsibility and called thousands of times on my behalf. Looking back, it was probably my first lesson in both filmmaking and audience building. You could make something

Well, that whole chapter really started at Vassar College. I

creative, but you also had to find a way to connect people to it. In

somehow got my hands on a Bolex camera, and the magic of

many ways, that's not so different from what I'm doing today.

the Bolex was that you could stop the film and start it again,

I'm currently making a new independent feature film called In

which opened up all kinds of creative possibilities and made

the Wind, starring Dave Hill. It's a story about friendship, grief,

filmmaking feel playful and experimental. Around that time, I

creativity, music, and getting older, and we're hoping to shoot

was making films with friends like Evan Wright, Joe Messina,

this summer in the Hudson Valley.

Matt Sampton, and Kerri Green from The Goonies. We were all young, curious, and completely obsessed with making things.

The film recently received fiscal sponsorship through the

There was a feeling that if you had a camera, a few friends, and

Woodstock Film Festival, which means all donations are fully

enough energy, you could create almost anything. One of those

tax deductible. Independent filmmaking has always depended

friends was offered an internship at MTV but passed on it, and

on communities of people helping stories find their way into the

the opportunity found its way to me. Suddenly I was working

world, and it's exciting to still be doing that all these years later.

around the VJs during the height of MTV's influence in the mid1980s. It was an incredible time when music, film, fashion, art,

Who are some of your sources of inspiration?

and pop culture were all colliding in real time. The summer after that, MTV held a nationwide music video competition. A few

My mother Evelyn was probably my first and greatest creative

friends and I put together a video that ended up in the Top 10. I

influence. She loved movies and understood their power to

believe Pamela Adlon was also among the finalists. The winner

shape how we see the world. We spent countless hours in

was determined entirely through call-in voting, which feels

theaters together watching films like 2001: A Space Odyssey,

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25A Chinatown, The Man Who Fell to Earth, My Life as a Dog, and

Timeless work is usually simple. One idea. One feeling. One clear point

Arthur. Seeing Liza Minnelli in Arthur was especially memorable and

of view. The audience feels when something has been crafted with

helped me understand how vulnerability and humor can coexist in a

care. Most importantly, people don't remember what you told them.

performance. I'm also inspired by photographers Earlie Hudnall Jr. and

They remember how you made them feel.

Hiroshi Sugimoto. Hudnall's ability to see ordinary people with dignity and humanity, and Sugimoto's sense of time, light, and stillness, have

Any thoughts on how creatives can embrace AI?

both influenced how I think about images.

I think every generation of artists faces new tools that change the way The ocean has been another lifelong source of inspiration. I carry a Fujica

work gets made. For me, the more interesting question isn't what AI

645 medium format camera whenever I can and have photographed

can do, but what remains uniquely human.

Newcomb Hollow Beach for most of my life. I'm fascinated by places that aren't home but become temporarily comfortable, where people

The same is true when working with actors. No technology can replace

reveal something of themselves. Finally, I owe a tremendous debt to

the moment when an actor brings something unexpected to a scene,

the people I've worked with at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

a look, a hesitation, a line reading, a piece of themselves that wasn't

Making films there over many years taught me that storytelling isn't

on the page. Some of the best moments I've captured with actors like

just about narrative. Through the humanity, intellect, and generosity of

Parker Posey, Paul Rudd, Danny DeVito, Liza Minnelli, Julia Garner, and

Gary Tinterow and Mary Haus, I came to see film as a bridge between

Dave Hill happened because people were willing to trust each other

people, ideas, and communities. That's become one of the central

and stay open to surprise. Technology can help us make things faster,

beliefs behind all of my work.

but creativity isn't really about speed. It's about curiosity, observation, empathy, and connection. Whether I'm standing behind a medium

What's the secret to creating a timeless commercial?

format camera on a beach in Wellfleet or sitting with actors working through a scene, the goal is the same: to pay attention to what it feels

I think the secret to a timeless commercial is that it can't begin with

like to be human.

marketing language. It has to begin with something emotionally true.

The tools will continue to change. What matters is preserving our ability The commercials people remember years later usually contain a

to see, listen, and connect. I believe in the power of community and

genuine human insight. They understand longing, humor, connection,

that is a creative renewable power that no tech can undermine or take

aspiration, insecurity, or joy. The product matters, but the emotional

away.

truth matters more.

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25A One Tap to Share It All Epype acts like a digital Swiss army knife— packaging images, offers, videos, social handles, and ecommerce links into one shareable mobile interface. For content creators and media partners on Your Home TV, that means their shows and promotions can now be shared instantly to audiences across the globe with a single tap—no apps, no downloads, just direct digital engagement.

This is a timely solution for brands and content distributors grappling with the fragmentation of digital platforms and the overhead of maintaining multiple engagement tools. By offering a centralized, no-code way to promote programs and offers across mobile, Epype removes complexity while maximizing reach.

Taps Epype to Supercharge Mobile Sharing for Streaming & Brands

“Businesses are overwhelmed by platform overload,” Stockell added. “With Epype, we’ve centralized the process and accelerated mobile sharing for everyone on our network.”

Your Home TV and Epype Join Forces to Simplify Mobile Content Sharing and Boost Viewer Reach Big Reach, Low Friction our Home TV, the fast-growing OTT network known for accessible, family-friendly content, has announced a strategic partnership with Epype, a mobile-first digital engagement platform designed to simplify and amplify brand and content connectivity. The goal? To make mobile sharing as seamless as a tap—literally.

The collaboration gives Your Home TV’s content creators, brands, and marketers a powerful tool to instantly share their streaming programs, ecommerce links, offers, and contact information without the friction of traditional apps or multi-platform clutter.

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“We’re introducing a streamlined solution that allows businesses to connect with customers and distribute content seamlessly,” said Sean Stockell, CEO of Your Home Digital. “That’s the genius behind Epype.”

Since its 2022 launch, Your Home TV has carved out a growing niche in the OTT space with 1,100 programs, 112 million views, and global accessibility via mobile and Rokuconnected TVs. Featuring short-form content across 20+ genres—from cooking to sports— the network offers both viewers and creators a cost-effective way to produce and consume streaming entertainment.

Now, with Epype embedded into its sharing infrastructure, the platform is giving creators the distribution velocity they've needed all along.

“Epype will enable Your Home TV content creators, brands, and media partners to share programs and offers in under 30 seconds,” said Steve Eastland, CEO of Epype. “No app, no hassle—just real-time engagement.”

The Broader Implications

Mobile Is the New Media Hub

This move reflects a growing trend among streaming and content platforms: streamlined, app-free engagement. With audiences increasingly mobile and attentionfragmented, reducing the number of steps between discovery and action is more than convenience—it’s a competitive edge.

Together, Epype and Your Home TV are capitalizing on a media reality where mobile isn’t just a channel—it’s the channel. The ability to instantly share branded content, campaigns, and direct offers—without asking users to jump through hoops—is the kind of streamlined engagement that modern marketers crave.

For marketers, sales teams, and media personalities like Xen Sams, the value is obvious.

As Epype CEO Steve Eastland puts it:

“Epype’s intuitive, mobile-first tech stack allows us to connect across all digital touchpoints while maintaining authenticity, speed, and ROI,” said Sams, host of A Moment of Xen on iHeartMedia’s 710 WOR. “It’s a gamechanger.”

“We started by asking, what if businesses could share news, programs, or offers instantly with vast mobile audiences? With Epype, the answer is now clear—and the results are astounding.”

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YOUR HOME DIGITAL Tampa-based

began by disrupting the home industry, now focuses on family-friendly program streaming worldwide

By Adam Kluger

ean Stockell launched Your Home Digital in 2015, following a 32-year career in mortgage lending and community banking. He achieved significant success in banking and managed U.S. mortgage production offices in the Midwest and Southeast before a career pivot. Stockell has an entrepreneurial spirit and unique ability to navigate change.

The backstory: Stockell began developing technology for home consumers in 1994, before the Internet emerged as a driving force. His first product was called, LoanSource. It was a floppy disk system, which loaded onto a home PC and provided an easy-to-use guide through the mortgage process. Stockell described his first real-tech endeavor as an experience similar to using TurboTax, but it focused on the home financing industry instead. Stockell said, “it was powerful because it included an interface with a large regional bank, which just happened to be the first beta partner with Freddie Mac on the Loan Prospector automated underwriting system.

Stockell said, “LoanSource included a glossary of real estate terms, a quick guide to compare loan products side-by-side, closing cost estimates, payment calculator, forms to complete for employment and asset verification, the convenient ability to submit a loan application in minutes from a home computer, and receive an automated underwriting loan decision quickly.” He added, “this had never been done before.

Our system was developed before the launch of Quicken, Ditech, LendingTree, or Rocket. LoanSource was revolutionary, but timing and partnership issues derailed the project. This was a significant learning experience for me, which led to understanding the importance of ownership control, and extreme caution in partner selection for the future.”

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Your Home Digital introduced YourHome1Source.com to the U.S. market in October of 2015, as the nation’s first All-Things-Home website. This extensive home resource portal provides a myriad of home topics and products. It is FREE for site visitors with no registration requirements, no fees, no questions to answer, and no apps to download. YourHome1Source offers about 400 original articles, books and guides, photo galleries for home ideas, DIY resources, links to lenders, insurance providers, home movers, home security, warranty, inspection, home furnishings, and online store. It’s truly a one-stopshop. YourHome1Source expanded into video production and hosting in 2016, launching Your Home TV with more than 200 home product videos. Stockell said, “this was our gateway into global streaming.”

Your Home TV launched in 2022. It is a browser-based global streaming network available on Roku and easily accessed via mobile device worldwide. “It’s a fast-growing OTT platform because Your Home TV focuses on non-scripted original content, not re-run TV series or old movies.”, says Stockell. “Your Home TV is best described as the upstreaming network, because we serve brands, influencers, and upand-coming filmmakers. We’re quite different from the large brand CTV (connected TV) brands like Netflix, Paramount+, or Amazon Prime. Your Home TV features short-run programs, i.e., five to fifteen minutes and ideally serves today’s viewers on mobile devices.” Your Home TV has scaled by forming more than 50 alliances with media partners involved with content creation and distribution though the network.

Board Director, Miles Robinson, says, "I am excited about what founder, Sean Stockell and his passionate team of technology and media partners have created. Their collaboration of producers, influencers, and filmmakers is truly revolutionary in the streaming industry. Your Home TV provides audiences with genuine stories, experiences to cherish,

"Your Home TV is thriving because our network carries original and unique content. We're not limited to rerun content which most streaming networks carry, like redundant movies, documentaries, or television series reruns. Our network covers a multitude of topics and features emerging creative producers who are often overlooked or excluded by megastream outlets. Viewers find our shows about Real People, Real Stories, and Real Life to be compelling.

They connect with and develop a relationship with

these stories. Binge watching of our programs is common. It's a wonderful experience, our producers and audience connecting. Your Home TV provides a low cost, high visibility gateway for leading brands to reach new audiences through streaming. Our global streaming network is affordable for brands, influencers, filmmakers, and advertisers to reach millions of viewers in the U.S. and abroad via Your Home TV." says, Sean Stockell, founder and executive producer of Your Home TV.

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OUR SERVICES:

Provide FAST Channel Build, Tech Support, Production Resources, and Marketing Bundle (Turnkey Streaming)

55 SIGNED PARTNERSHIPS, 46 CHANNELS ALREADY LAUNCHED: 1,000+ Shows Published Since 2022

CONTENT:

Family Friendly Content Across 20 Genres.

Non-Scripted, Short-run, Educational and Experiential Programs More Topics and Titles in Production

MEDIA:

iHeartRadio, Uptone Pictures, Faith + Sports Network, The Disability Channel, ESTV, MTR7 Soccer Legends

and features an array of "feel good programs" today's viewers are seeking. In my 40 years in the entertainment, film, and music industry, it's rare to see an alliance come together as we're seeing with Your Home TV.

to studios, connect them with videography and editing resources, and provide marketing assistance. We allow our channel partners to thrive, and we provide them with a worldwide stage,” Stockell said.

Your Home TV offers FREE streaming for families on a variety of topics and interests.

Equally important, Your Home TV offers creators and producers a place to showcase their content affordably and to reach a large and growing global audience. “We are truly a turnkey streaming gateway for creatives. We host and distribute content, provide access

Your Home TV has quickly amassed over 1,000 programs and episodes since 2022, and has logged 100 million views across all shows.

The platform allows creators to tell their stories, retain ownership of their work, and collect 100% of their sponsor revenue. According to Stockell, there are currently 56 channel partnerships providing content in 20 genres.

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www.foa.yourhometv.com

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About Gretchen Philyaw Host of Fabric of America Executive Producer & Host Gretchen Philyaw Gretchen Philyaw is the host of Fabric of America.

Gretchen is a CEO, a founder and writer. She's a proponent of American industry, a skilled hand and entrepreneur and now, Gretchen is about to show the world the excitement of making it in the USA. Please join Gretchen on the ultimate road trip for America where she will travel the USA to celebrate the people, places and experiences that show the American Dream is alive and well.

Fabric of America

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NOVÉRA SKINCARE

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Makes Its U.S. Debut with Manhattan Launch Event at Emanuel New York

By Adam Kluger

Canadian luxury skincare house introduces Gemstone Infusion face mist collection at Midtown Manhattan’s “home of ultra niche”

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ovéra Skincare, the Canadian luxury skincare house founded by Zeeshan “Zee” Mohammed, celebrated its United States launch with a New York event at Emanuel New York.

treated water with actives including sodium hyaluronate, niacinamide and a stable form of vitamin C. The collection includes Rose Quartz for her, Clear Quartz for him and Amethyst, a unisex, scent-free mist created for sensitive and reactive skin.

The launch introduced Novéra’s debut collection of gemstone-infused, clinically driven face mists to the American market. Built around the idea that gentle and effective skincare should not be a trade-off, Novéra began as a personal search for a better skincare ritual after Mohammed watched his young daughter, who has eczema, dread the daily routine of creams and topical products.

The New York launch was held at Emanuel New York, 329 West 39th Street, a Midtown Manhattan luxury boutique known as “the home of ultra niche.” The store offers a curated mix of niche fragrance, beauty, skincare, clothing and accessories, shaped by fashion designer Victor dE Souza and beauty veteran Dustin Lujan. Emanuel New York is also the exclusive New York City home of City Rhythm perfumes and has become a destination for scent lovers, fashion clients and guests seeking a highly personal luxury retail experience.

Rather than create another traditional moisturizer, Mohammed reimagined the face mist as the center of the skincare ritual. The result is Novéra’s Gemstone Infusion collection, which pairs quartz-

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“Novéra did not begin in a boardroom. It began with my daughter,” said Zeeshan “Zee” Mohammed, founder of Novéra Skincare.

Novéra Skincare Gemstone Infusion collection (Photo Credit: Novéra Skincare)

“I wanted to create something gentle enough for sensitive skin, beautiful enough to feel like luxury and effective enough to become part of a real daily routine.”

Every Novéra formula is vegan, cruelty-free, alcohol-free, Halal certified and made in Canada. The brand excludes more than 1,800 ingredients and positions its mists as a 10-second skincare ritual designed to hydrate, balance and refresh the skin without friction, heaviness or irritation.

Notable attendees included: Zeeshan Mohammed, Victor DeSouza, and Dustin Lujan.

About Novéra Skincare: Novéra is a Canadian luxury skincare house founded in 2025 by Zeeshan “Zee” Mohammed and born from a personal moment at home — his young daughter’s struggle with eczema, and the question of why hydration had to feel like a chore at all. Its debut collection, the Gemstone Infusion™ Face Mist in Rose Quartz, Clear Quartz and Amethyst, pairs gemstone treated water with clinically studied actives such as hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and vitamin C, while excluding more than 1,800 ingredients by name. Every formula is vegan, cruelty-free, Halal certified, alcohol-free and made in Canada. Born from Earth. Perfected by Science.

For more information, please visit: www.noveraskincare.com IG: @noveraskincare | FB: novera | X / T: @noveraofficial About Emanuel New York: Emanuel New York is a Midtown Manhattan luxury boutique located at 329 West 39th Street, offering a curated mix of niche fragrance, beauty, skincare, clothing and accessories. Positioned as “the home of ultra niche,” the store brings together emerging and distinctive fragrance houses, fashion-forward retail and a couture sensibility shaped by designer Victor dE Souza and beauty veteran Dustin Lujan. Emanuel New York is also the exclusive New York City home of City Rhythm perfumes and has quickly become a destination for scent lovers, fashion clients and guests seeking a highly personal luxury retail experience.

For more information, please visit: www.emanuelnewyork.com IG: @emanuel_newyork | FB: emanuelnewyork | PIN: emanuelnewyork Summer 2026

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THE COMING REVOLUTION IN BOOK PUBLISHING

By Hugh Taylor

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echnology has been disrupting the publishing industry for decades. First, it was photo typesetting, which replaced hot metal in the 1970s. In the early 1980s, desktop publishing radically sped up the process of typesetting and formatting a book. In 1987, Bantam published the Tower Commission report on the IranContra affair. This was the first book ever to go to press directly from a digital file—largely bypassing editors and typesetters. Each technological leap streamlined the publishing process and made it faster and cheaper to bring a book to market.

We are now at the start of another such cycle, one that will likely dwarf the advances of the last 50 years. The recent, rapid advance in generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), as exemplified by ChatGPT, is having a potentially transformative impact on the book authoring process. GenAI software, used correctly, can take over many of the author’s traditionally laborious tasks. It is now possible to use GenAI to produce a publication-quality book in a tiny fraction of the time that was once required.

It’s important to differentiate between purely AI-generated books, i.e., unreadable “slop,” and books whose authors have used GenAI as a creative partner to produce their best work on an accelerated timeline. Getting this right is not a push-button process. Good quality results from GenAI require thoughtful planning of narratives, interviews, and descriptions of author voice, along with careful structuring of “prompts” that trigger the machinery of GenAI.

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I will confess that I was dubious about this idea until recently. As someone who has written 14 books the old-fashioned way, I went through my own Kübler-Ross stages of sulking and rage about being replaced by a machine. I sniffed that software would never write the way I could. Yet, I’ve evolved to where my new motto regarding GenAI is, “You’d be surprised.” Perhaps I shouldn’t be. Anthropic GenAI swiped several of my books to “train” itself, along with the work of 150,000 other authors, so it embodies all of our collective talents. (I’m due to get at least 99 cents from a big class action lawsuit in this matter, so there’s that.)

Ultimately, I decided to embrace the new paradigm of book authoring. I now use GenAI to create books of my own. I also use the technology to ghostwrite and publish books for clients. It’s not for everyone, though. Certain types of books, such as those for coaches and speakers, are great candidates for GenAIassisted ghostwriting. Subjective, personal work is less suited to the technology, though again, you’d be surprised.

We are at the very beginning of this disruptive but promising cycle. Skepticism abounds.

Naysayers are out in force. I suspect their viewpoints will soon be in the rearview mirror. Like it or not, GenAI is on the verge of revolutionizing book publishing. If you’re interested in becoming an author, it may be best to see this new approach to book writing and publishing as an opportunity.

Hugh Taylor is the President of HB Publications, LLC

Hugh Taylor, Founder HB Publications

JAMES STURZ

TOP 5 BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

FLESH

by David Szalay I keep thinking about the spareness of this 2025 Booker Prize-winning novel. It’s a story about consequences, precariousness, coarseness, desire, privilege, and longing. Does it matter that it’s set in London? It’s set inside us.

SYLVIA

by Leonard Michaels

James Sturz

Underjungle by James Sturz www.jamessturz.com www.facebook.com/james.sturz www.instagram.com/jamessturz/ www.linkedin.com/in/james-sturz-a936954/

MIGRATION: NEW & SELECTED POEMS

by W.S. Merwin

Merwin was a New York City boy who moved to Hawaii, transformed a failed pineapple plantation into an astonishing palm forest, and was also the 17th United States Poet Laureate.

You don’t have to read all 500-plus pages. A single one chosen at random will make you ache, smile, or gasp.

That’s what it does to me.

I discovered Michaels in a creative writing seminar in college, and read his autobiographical novel about his failed first marriage sometime after figuring out that I wanted to be a writer, too.

I keep going back to it, which means I still plan to read it another few times. There’s fierceness and anguish here, and especially brilliance.

WHAT I TALK ABOUT WHEN I TALK ABOUT RUNNING

by Haruki Murakami

I ran my third marathon in January, qualified for the big races next year, and then fractured my tibia in May. So while I heal, I’m focusing on the meditative part of the sport instead. That includes listening to Murakami, and his thoughts about endurance, pace, and exhilaration.

MRS. CALIBAN

by Rachel Ingalls

Sometimes life is drollness, libido, cocktails, avocados, beaches, betrayal, and six-footseven amphibious lizardmen. So if any of that’s missing from yours, you’ll find it here. Reading this book makes me laugh.

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AMERICA’S FINANCIAL FIRST RESPONDERS (FEHSF)

dedicated to protecting the families of our fallen heroes.

By Gia Carillo

Federal Enforcement Homeland Security Foundation (FEHSF), Richard S. Kendall, Founder and Chairman has been leading the effort for over 30 years.

The Federal Enforcement Homeland Security Foundation was not created for recognition. It was created for response and immediate impact.

In a Nation secured each day by men and women whose names are rarely known, the Foundation stands as a quiet but decisive force — the Financial First Responder for Federal Law Enforcement Agents/Officers and their families when tragedy strikes. Structured as a 501(c)(3) humanitarian, apolitical, directgiving organization, FEHSF occupies a singular space in American philanthropy: it exists to move quickly, discreetly, and meaningfully in moments when time is everything.

Closing the Gap Between Sacrifice and Support Federal Agents operate in spaces most citizens will never see — confronting terrorism, organized crime, cyber threats, narcotics trafficking, and emerging national security threats. Their work is defined by unpredictability and risk. When tragedy occurs — when an Agent is killed or gravely injured in the line of duty, or when a family faces sudden medical or disaster-related crises — traditional systems are often slow, layered and procedural. FEHSF was built to close that gap. The Foundation’s mandate ensures Emergency Funds are received by suffering Families within 24 to 48 hours. There is no protracted approval process.

No distant bureaucratic review. Only swift action, guided by dignity, urgency and respect.

In the most vulnerable hours of a family’s life, the Foundation becomes a stabilizing force — ensuring mortgages are paid, medical bills are covered, children’s financial needs are met, and grief is not compounded by financial fear.

This speed is not incidental. It is structural.

FEHSF was engineered for precision.

Since its inception, the Foundation has distributed millions of dollars in direct support to hundreds of Families across a wide range of Federal Law Enforcement Agencies including: 102 Metropolitan Palm Beach | 25amag.com

ATF, CBP, DEA, FBI, HSI, IRS, Secret Service, USMS and USPIS. FEHSF honors the sacrifices of fallen, wounded and suffering Agents not only with words but with tangible care and gravitas.

A Private–Public Partnership with National Weight FEHSF’s credibility is reinforced by the stature of those who guide it. It represents a rare alignment of public service and private leadership — a Partnership between senior Federal Law Enforcement Officials and accomplished Leaders in business, medicine, law, technology and finance.

Serving as Honorary Chairman, Governor Tom Ridge brings historic gravity to the Mission. As the first U.S. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Governor Ridge understands firsthand the pressures and responsibilities borne by those protecting our beloved Nation. His presence signals both continuity and seriousness of purpose.

Governor Ridge often refers to the service performed by those FEHSF supports as a Calling. The entire Family shares and bears the burdens and risks when danger is confronted. Ridge Awards presents its Lifetime Achievement and Patriot Awards to distinguished and philanthropic individuals in the Private Sector. Most importantly, Agents from the Agencies FEHSF supports who performed heroically and effectively in the Field are duly acknowledged.

Founder and Chairman, Richard S. Kendall established the Foundation with a clear vision: to create a permanent, reliable support system for Federal Agents/Officers in crises.

Under his leadership, FEHSF has grown into a nationally respected and trusted institution defined by efficiency, discretion, response, trust and integrity. The Executive Leadership Team ensures that compassion is matched by discipline. Ariel K. Grossman, Chief Operating Officer, maintains operational agility. Executive Director, John B. Devito translates donor

Founder Richard S. Kendall

commitment into immediate aid. Financial stewardship is led by Vice Chairman and Treasurer Dan Knopf, whose oversight safeguards transparency and fiscal strength.

Medical oversight is provided by Dr. Jordan Josephson, ensuring that health-related assistance meets the highest professional standards. Vice Chairmen Josh Fox, Michal Grayevsky, and Min Kyriannis bring strength across nonprofit partnership, communications strategy, and national security technology.

The Board of Directors reflects a similarly distinguished blend of influence and commitment, including financier and communicator Anthony Scaramucci; legal advocate Marie Napoli; physician and wellness author Nicholas Perricone; and attorney and civic leader, Sharon Mahn. Their collective oversight ensures that the Foundation’s growth never eclipses its core purpose: direct support to those in need. This is philanthropy governed not by abstraction, but by accountability Where Philanthropy and National Security Intersect Beyond Emergency Grants and a multitude of FEHSF Sponsored Events, The Foundation has cultivated another signature forum: its recurring National Security Briefings. These convenings are deliberately structured to bridge a gap that too often remains abstract — the distance between Federal Law Enforcement Leadership and civilian business executives whose industries are increasingly shaped by geopolitical volatility, cyber threats and regulatory risk. In private settings that encourage candor over ceremony, senior officials and corporate leaders engage in substantive dialogue about real-time challenges confronting the Nation. Discussions range from evolving counterterrorism priorities to cyber intrusion trends, supply chain vulnerabilities, financial crimes, and the broader economic implications of global instability.

The objective is neither spectacle nor partisan commentary. It is alignment.

For business leaders, the Briefings offer rare, high level intelligence and informed perspectives from those operating on the front lines of National Security. For Law Enforcement professionals, they provide insights into how emerging threats reverberate across markets, infrastructure, and innovation ecosystems.

The result is a more integrated understanding of how public safety and private enterprise intersect — and how the Missions of both communities, though distinct, increasingly overlap.

In an era when National Security risk can migrate from a distant conflict zone to a corporate balance sheet in a matter of hours, these Forums serve as both an educational platform and strategic bridge. They reflect a broader truth embedded in the Foundation’s work: safeguarding the Nation is no longer the sole province of Government. It is a shared responsibility, requiring informed Partnership between those who enforce the law and those who power the economy.

The Schneiderman Cup: Legacy in Action Among the Foundation’s signature Events is the

Annual Golf Outing now known as The Schneiderman Cup, held at Alpine Country Club.

What began as a philanthropic initiative established by the late Fred Schneiderman — a former FEHSF Board Member and devoted supporter — has evolved into a gathering defined as much by purpose as by tradition.

Senior Business Executives, corporate leaders and Law Enforcement professionals convene not merely for sport, but in quiet affirmation of a shared commitment: to ensure that the families of those who protect the Homeland are never left unsupported.

The Value of Being There First The value added by FEHSF is not abstract. It is measured in immediacy.

It is the difference between waiting and relief.

Between uncertainty and stability.

Between isolation and solidarity.

In the upper tiers of philanthropy — where global finance, civic responsibility, and influence converge — few organizations operate with such clarity of purpose. FEHSF does not compete for attention. It competes against time and urgent Family needs.

America’s Federal Agents form a discreet circle of protectors. They move quietly, often anonymously, into harm’s way. The Federal Enforcement Homeland Security Foundation

stands quietly behind them — ensuring that when sacrifice meets hardship, response is swift, dignified, and certain.

But this Mission endures only through Partnership.

Supporting FEHSF is more than a charitable contribution; it is a tangible affirmation that the Nation stands behind those who stand in its defense. By donating funds, attending Ridge Awards Annual Gala, participating in The Schneiderman Cup, National Security Briefings or other Foundation Sponsored Events, supporters help sustain a rapid-response lifeline for the Federal Law Enforcement Community in crisis. FEHSF is in the process of developing its Emerging Leaders Council for next Generation Leaders to ensure the Foundation’s Legacy. An Education Fund is being established to ensure that children left behind based on a Line of Duty death are protected financially regarding their College Education.

To learn more and become engaged with FEHSF Mission as a supporter/donor, please visit https://www.fehsf.org (https://www.fehsf. org/).

When the next call comes — and it inevitably will — the strength of that response will depend on those willing to stand behind it. FEHSF Mantra: “They Have Our Backs. We Have Theirs”.

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THROUGH THE LENS For twenty years, the Annie Watt Agency (AWA) has documented the people whose generosity has helped shape New York's philanthropic and cultural communities. Through thousands of photographs taken at charity galas, benefit dinners, museum events, and private celebrations. The agency has created a visual history of those who quietly—and sometimes very publicly—make a difference.

Through the Lens

The following pages feature highlights fromcause, six previous fundraising photography exhibitions in Annie New York Whether it is a magazine cover, a charitable or a special occasion, the photographers with City and Palm with images capturing significant events and distinguished guests.

Watt.com makeBeach, an occasion more memorable.

Annie and her associate photographers embody the essence of professionalism, seamlessly moving through any assignment with finesse and an innate ability toWould capture thelike moment at its our heart.

To book a photographer, contact you to attend next event?

On September 16, annie@anniewatt.com 2026, the agency will mark its 20th

ANNIE WATT ANNIE WATT anniewatt.com

Photography by AnnWattAgency.com

anniversary with a seventh fundraising photography exhibition in midtown Manhattan. The event will include a special "FAMOUS" presentation, offering guests professional portraits and the opportunity to engage with photographers. For ticket information, email: annie@anniewatt.com

JOHN'S BIRTHDAY PARTY

Annie Watt Agency NYC photographers

Barbara Tober, Cici Cord, Sharon King Hoge

Eleanora Kennedy, Alex Powers

Mai Hallingby, Sharon Handler Loeb

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Annie Watt Agency Florida photographers

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Annie Watt, Amelia Ogunlesi

Annie Watt Agency NYC photographers

Barbara Tober, Cici Cord, Sharon King Hoge

Annie Watt Agency NYC photographers

Barbara Tober, Cici Cord, Sharon King Hoge

Eleanora Kennedy, Alex Powers

Eleanora Kennedy, Alex Powers

Eleanora Kennedy, Alex Powers

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Photo Credits | pg 116 cont... ( Left to right - top to bottom) GROUP: Annie Watt Agency Florida photographers 01 Annie Watt Agency NYC photographers 02 Barbara Tober, Cici Cord, Sharon King Hoge 03 Eleanora Kennedy, Alex Powers 04 Mai Hallingby, Sharon Handler Loeb 06 Annie Watt, Amelia Ogunlesi 07 Geoffrey Bradfield, Amy Hoadley 08 Cornelia Bregman, Cole Rumbough 09 Franck Laverdin, Jean Shafiroff 10 Stephanie Stokes, Michele Gerber Klein 11 Somers Farkas, Frederick Anderson 12 Suzanne and SydneyBea Murphy 13 David Hochberg, April Gow 14 Mark Gilbertson, Cheri Kaufman 15 Judy McLaren 16 Arnie Rosenshein, Laurence Kaiser, Daniel Colon 18 Franck Laverdin, Heidi Roberts 19 Anne Nitze, David Beer 20 Michel Witmer 21 Katrina, Othon, and Kathy Prounis 22 Anne Van Ness, Patricia Shiah 23 Karl and Norio Rozak 24 Chase Backer, Randi Schatz 25 Cece and Lee Black 26 Margo Langenberg, Edgar Batista 27 Lee Fryd, Jeannette Hektoen, Dr. Penny Grant 28 George Ledes, Christine Schott Ledes 29 Alex Donner, Annette De Loreno 31 Robert Caravaggi, Annie Watt, Eda Viner, Cliff Viner, Eric Viner 32 Errol Rappaport, Artist Taty Horoshko, Iris Apfel, Annie Watt, Chief of the PB Police Nicholas Caristo 33 Sharon Marantz Walsh, Anne Akers 34 Ron Burkhardt, Julie Hayek 35 Bob Murray, Sharon Bush 36 Tracy Turco

37 Mary Bryant McCourt 38 Kay List, Guy Clark, Harrison Morgan, Camilla Webster 39 Ken and Maria Fishel Rick Rose 41 Carol Calicchio 042 Nandini Jayaprasad, David Beil, AlexandraDana Guisita 43 Harry Benson, Monique Ogilvie, Pamela O'Connor

44 Metodija (Miki) Mihajlov, Art Benvenuto, Anne Akers, Errol Rappaport 45 Catherine Carey 46 Dr. Dino Rivera, Kathleen Giordano, Dr. Penny Grant 47 Anthony Haden-Guest, Barbara Dixon 48 Matt & Linette Semino

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PARK AVENUE IN BLOOM: A LIVING LEGACY Park Avenue’s spring blooms this year carry special resonance, marking 250 years of American history while celebrating the enduring community spirit that makes the avenue a perennial New York treasure.

into a living gallery each spring. This year also introduces new sculptures

by Michele Oka Doner and Manolo Paz, further enriching the avenue’s long-standing dialogue between art, nature, and civic pride.

That spirit was on full display at the annual Tulip Party at Scully & Scully on April 16, 2026. Inside, 13 interior designers transformed tables into evocative tableaux inspired by the original colonies. Participants including Barba-Hill Design, Jennifer Cohler Mason Design, Phoebe Beachner, Gramercy Design, and Rudy Saunders brought imagination and elegance to the theme, blending historical references with the freshness of the season.

The Tulip Party celebrates more than design; it honors the visionaries who shaped Park Avenue. Decades ago, philanthropist Mary Lasker championed the idea that beauty and horticulture could flourish in the heart of the city, inspiring the creation of The Fund for Park Avenue.

Since 1980, The Fund has relied entirely on donations to maintain the avenue’s iconic malls—ensuring that Park Avenue continues to bloom, season after season, in the heart of Manhattan.

Outside, Park Avenue’s malls burst with tulips in shades of red, white, and blue(ish)—continuing a beloved tradition that turns the thoroughfare

To learn more, read David Patrick Columbia’s A stroll down Park Avenue and what it evoked.

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10 Bob and Liz Austin, Susan and Bill Thomas, Marilyn and Larry Lee 11 Kevin Stewart and Patrick (p.s.) Gordon 12 Skylar Dyer, Felix Hernandez, Karl Jones, Justin Hull, and Jonathan Kok 13 Parker Wayne and Johnny Murrell 14 Emily Stewart and Ryan Jude Tanner 15 Emily Stewart, Carly Wignarajah, Ben Stewart 16 Tulsa CARES 2026 Gala

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NEW YORK WOMEN’S FOUNDATION

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Launches The Invisible Womxn, a New Landscape Analysis of Climate Justice in New York City

T

The Invisible Womxn (Image credit: The New York Women’s Foundation)

By Norah Lawlor

he New York Women’s Foundation launched The Invisible Womxn: Creating a Climate-Resilient New York City that Centers Gender Equity, a report exploring how the climate crisis disproportionately affects women and gender-expansive people of color in New York City. Commissioned by The New York Women’s Foundation in 2025, the report was written by urban sociologist Tiasia Obrien-Shah. It draws on field visits, focus groups, and interviews with a gender- and racially inclusive cohort across the city.

The research highlights how climate-vulnerable workers are often overlooked in the data systems that shape climate policy and funding. At the same time, it documents the critical role that community-led organizations in Environmental Justice neighborhoods play in advancing climate resilience.

“You cannot solve compounding harm with single issue policy,” said Tiasia Obrien-Shah, author of the report, “You need spatial intelligence, You need to understand place, people, and community at a local level. We need to honor the lived experience and expertise that live in that community.”

To mark the launch, The New York Women’s Foundation convened an expert panel comprised of advocates, community

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leaders, and partners in New York City for a conversation on climate justice, gender equity, and representative data. The panel included Tiasia Obrien-Shah (Report Author), Allyson Martinez (Brooklyn Level Up), and Elizabeth Yeampierre (UPROSE and Climate Justice Alliance). Cecilia Cortes Vila, Associate Director of Programs at The New York Women’s Foundation, moderated the conversation on community-led climate solutions.

The discussion reinforced a key message of the report: those most affected by the climate crisis must be at the center of shaping the response.

“Economic justice has been a key component of our strategy since the inception of The New York Women’s Foundation. But why environmental justice? We made this deliberate decision because we know that investing in environmental justice is essential for advancement. Climate change, pollution and resource depletion are not abstract issues. They are economic realities, and they have disproportionately impacted marginalized communities,” said Camille A. Emeagwali, Senior Vice President of Programs & Strategic Learning at The Foundation.

The Invisible Womxn serves as a landscape analysis of New York City's climate justice ecosystem, surfacing community knowledge, identifying gaps in data and policy systems, and providing a foundation for future action.

on the

hiTechMODA Showcases International Designers During Cannes Film Festival Week Designs by Divine Silk, House of Zora, Marc Defang (Photo Credits: Cecile Rangheard)

The international fashion production platform presented designers Divine Silk, House of Zora, Marc Defang, House of Anastasia and Zaggaro, with Charles Madelaine Champagne as sponsor hiTechMODA brought its global runway platform to the French Riviera with a fashion presentation in Cannes, France, staged during one of the world’s most watched cultural moments for film, fashion and international style.

The presentation took place at the historic Carlton Cannes, a Belle Époque landmark on the Croisette long associated with cinema, glamour and red carpet history. Against that backdrop, hiTechMODA presented an international designer lineup featuring Divine Silk, House of Zora, Marc Defang, House of Anastasia and Zaggaro, placing emerging and established creative voices in a setting defined by Mediterranean elegance and global visibility. The Cannes event was positioned by hiTechMODA as part of its expanding international season, following the brand’s ongoing work to connect designers, models and creatives with major fashion audiences across the world.

The evening blended runway presentation, luxury hospitality and Riviera atmosphere, with Charles Madelaine Champagne serving as sponsor. Guests were welcomed into a setting designed to reflect the intersection of fashion and film, with the presentation offering designers a platform to showcase their work in the same city where global media, celebrities, tastemakers and cultural leaders gather each year during Cannes Film Festival week.

For hiTechMODA, the Cannes presentation

marked another step in its international growth, extending the company’s footprint beyond New York and across fashion capitals and cultural destinations. The brand’s 2026 global calendar includes additional showcases in Tokyo (June 19th, 2026), New York (September 11th-12th, 2026), Milan (September 26th, 2026) and Paris (October 3rd, 2026), underscoring its continued commitment to creating opportunities for designers to present on high-profile stages and connect with broader audiences.

Known for producing runway experiences that emphasize diversity, innovation and global access, hiTechMODA continues to build a platform where designers can be seen within polished, professionally produced environments. In Cannes, that mission took on a distinctly cinematic tone, pairing couture, craftsmanship and red-carpet energy in a presentation that celebrated both the artistry of fashion and the power of place.

About hiTechMODA Productions:

hiTechMODA Productions is an awardwinning production company that produces world-class fashion events with a focus on technology, sustainability, and inclusivity. By offering designers of all levels an opportunity to showcase their work on a high-profile stage, hiTechMODA is setting the new standard for modern fashion showcases. For more information, please visit www.hitechmoda.com IG: @hiTechMODA | FB: hitechmoda | X: @HitechModa | YT: @hitechmoda Summer 2026

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ZEY HOTEL BRINGS BOUTIQUE STYLE TO THE NORTH FORK From the owner of 75 Main in Southampton, the Greenport property blends boutique hotel design, Mediterranean dining and cafe culture steps from ferries, shops and the harbor

By Norah Lawlor

Z

EY Hotel, ZErdem Restaurant and Zey Cafe are bringing a fresh hospitality experience to Greenport, blending boutique hotel style, Mediterranean dining and cafe culture in one of the East End’s most vibrant port towns. Located on Main Street, the destination places guests in the heart of Greenport, with walkable access to shops, galleries, the waterfront and ferry connections to Shelter Island and onward to the Hamptons.

ZEY Hotel offers a hip, contemporary boutique stay with eight rooms and two suites, designed for travelers seeking a more intimate and stylish alternative to the traditional East End hotel experience. The property features modern design touches, colorful interiors, comfortable guest accommodations and amenities including sumptuous bedding, indulgent minibars, Egyptian cotton bathrobes and complimentary wireless internet.

The hospitality concept is led by owner Zach Erdem, the restaurateur behind 75 Main in Southampton, who has expanded his signature East End energy to Greenport. ZErdem Restaurant, located at 314 Main Street, brings a Mediterranean-inspired dining experience to the village, with a menu known for vibrant dips, shareable plates, kebabs, seafood and warm bistro-style atmosphere.

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ZErdem restaurant is now open from and welcoming guests.

Reservations can be made via OpenTable: https://bit.ly/48VOmzE Together, ZEY Hotel, ZErdem Restaurant and Zey Cafe position Greenport as a stylish base for a modern East End escape: part seaside village, part dining destination and part launch point for ferry-hopping to Shelter Island and the broader Hamptons. With its port-town charm and contemporary design, Zey Hotel offers visitors a relaxed but scene-aware way to experience the North Fork this season.

Zey Hotel and Zey Cafe 439 Main Street, Greenport, NY 11944 Tel: (631) 477-4000 ZErdem Restaurant 314 Main Street, Greenport, NY 11944 Tel: (631) 477-6540

RIDES INTO SUMMER with its 2026 Sunday Polo Season

G

The celebrated high-goal polo venue returns with world-class sport, signature hospitality and one of the East Coast’s stylish summer traditions

By Norah Lawlor

reenwich Polo Club, one of the world's premier high-goal polo venues, announces the return of its 2026 Sunday Polo season, inviting guests to experience an afternoon of world-class sport, summer style, and field-side hospitality in the heart of Connecticut's backcountry.

Set within the exclusive Conyers Farm community, Greenwich Polo Club offers a distinctive Sunday escape just outside New York City, bringing together elite players, exceptional equine athletes, and spectators from across the tri-state area. Established in 1981, the club is recognized as one of the leading high-goal polo destinations in the world and serves as the home of the legendary White Birch polo team.

The 2026 season opened with the American Cup on June 7th, followed by the East Coast Silver Cup on June 14th and June 21st, with the final taking place on June 28th.

The East Coast Gold Cup, presented by Interactive Brokers, will be contested on July 5th and July 12th, culminating in the championship final on July 18th.

The celebrated East Coast Open, presented by Audi, begins August 30, with additional Sunday match dates on September 6th and September 13th.

The season concludes with CSI Greenwich on September 26th and 27th, bringing Olympic-level international CSI5* show jumping to Greenwich Polo Club and adding another major equestrian event to the club's calendar.

Sunday match days are designed as a complete afternoon experience.

Gates open at 1:00 p.m., the match begins at 3:00 p.m., and play

concludes at approximately 5:00 p.m. General admission is available, with on-site parking available separately. Children under 12 receive complimentary admission.

Guests may choose from a variety of viewing experiences, from relaxed lawn seating and reserved umbrellas to bistro tables, SkyBoxes, private cabanas, and elevated hospitality offerings. The CTC&G Players' Lounge provides a turnkey social experience featuring furnished lawn seating, shaded bistro tables, live music by MOJO, a premium cash bar by The Cup Bearer, and private restroom access.

Food and beverage remain a signature part of the day. The Pony Bar

by The Cup Bearer returns with polo-inspired cocktails, while Marcia Selden Catering offers pre-ordered hospitality packages and a rotating selection of gourmet food trucks adds to the festive atmosphere. Guests are also invited to participate in the tradition of stomping the divots at halftime, one of the sport's most iconic spectator experiences.

Over the years, Greenwich Polo Club has hosted many of the sport's most celebrated players, including Mariano Aguerre, Facundo Pieres, Hilario Ulloa, and Nacho Figueras. Its fields have become synonymous with top-level competition, champion horses, and an atmosphere that welcomes both longtime polo enthusiasts and first-time visitors.

Greenwich Polo Club's 2026 sponsors include Interactive Brokers, presenting sponsor of the East Coast Gold Cup and official online trading solution, Audi, presenting sponsor of the East Coast Open and official vehicle partner, Mohegan Sun Online Casino, Hospital for Special Surgery, U.S. Bank Private Wealth Management, Barbados Tourism Marketing, FlyHouse, UBS, COVQ®, Morano Group Landscapes, U.S. Polo ASSN., La Suite Skincare, and Penmax Communications, Inc. Summer 2026

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When the World's Most POSH CITY Becomes the World's Fastest Street Circuit

MONACO GRAND PRIX

By Melissa Hornung Fashion, Travel & Art Editor

F

or one remarkable week every spring,

something

unimaginable

happens.

almost One

of

the world's most posh, elegant, and historic destinations willingly

closes its streets, transforms an entire city into a Formula One circuit, and welcomes the world's elite for what many consider the most glamorous race weekend on earth.

Even standing there in the middle of it, I found myself asking: How did they make this happen? Monaco doesn't simply host Formula One. For one extraordinary week, Monaco becomes Formula One. The Monaco Grand Prix is more than a race; it is a tradition that has captivated generations.

Historic streets become racing lines while Port Hercule fills with magnificent yachts and every balcony, rooftop, terrace, and harbor becomes another front-row seat. Monaco's glamour is inseparable from its royal story, from Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III to Prince Albert II, whose presence continues the Principality's traditions at events like Formula One and the Monaco Yacht Show.

There is no better place to experience this transformation

than

the

iconic

Fairmont

Monte Carlo. Positioned beside the legendary Fairmont Hairpin, the circuit literally wraps around the hotel, making it one of the world's most extraordinary Formula One vantage points. Guests arrive from around the globe— 114 Metropolitan Palm Beach | 25amag.com

many directly from the Cannes Film Festival and the Côte d'Azur's spring social calendar—bringing their yachts into Port Hercule before continuing the celebration in Monaco.

From the rooftop terraces, suites, and restaurants, drivers negotiate the famous Hairpin just below while the roar of Formula One echoes across the city. Nobu, Amù, Nikki Beach, exceptional hospitality, and panoramic Mediterranean views make the Fairmont not just a hotel, but an essential part of the Grand Prix experience.

Everywhere I looked, something was happening. Crowds gathered whenever a famous driver appeared on foot. Cameras followed every arrival. Helicopters traced the coastline overhead. There wasn't an inch of available space—on the ground or above— that wasn't part of the spectacle. Whether watching from the Paddock Club, a private suite, a rooftop terrace, or aboard one of the extraordinary yachts moored throughout Port Hercule, every perspective offered another unforgettable view of the race.

As the checkered flag falls, Monaco changes outfits.

The excitement simply shifts from the circuit to the city's legendary nightlife. Back at the Fairmont Monte Carlo, guests gather for cocktails before making their way into the evening. Outside Lilly's—one of Monaco's most sought-after places to see and be seen—a procession begins to form. Men arrive in impeccably

tailored tuxedos while women step from Bugattis, Aston Martins, Ferraris, and Rolls-Royces wearing flowing designer silk gowns in champagne hues, crisp white, and rich jewel tones that shimmer beneath the Riviera lights.

Some have just stepped off private yachts in Port Hercule. Others arrive from intimate dinners, elegant rooftop receptions, or private villas perched high above the Principality. Fashion photographers wait patiently as each arrival becomes part of the evening's spectacle. Champagne continues to flow, conversations drift effortlessly from Formula One to art, fashion, yachts, and business, and for a moment the entrance to Lilly's feels less like the doorway to a nightclub and more like the red carpet of Monaco itself.

Formula One in Monaco cannot truly be explained. It has to be experienced.

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The sound. The speed. The Mediterranean. The yachts. The fashion. The rooftops. The extraordinary feeling that an entire city has transformed itself into the world's greatest stage.

That story continues this September as I return to the Fairmont Monte Carlo during the Monaco Yacht Show with Palm Beach Models PR & Global Activations for a curated rooftop fashion experience overlooking Port Hercule.

Life is good in Monaco.

During Formula One, it becomes unforgettable.

The story continues this September.

Stay tuned.

Melissa Hornung

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PICKLEBALL WITH PURPOSE Center for Family Services Palm Beach County Serves Up Charity Tournament

By Norah Lawlor

T

The event at Replay will bring players, spectators and supporters together for a day benefiting behavioral health services and family support programs he Center for Family Services of Palm Beach County will present “Paddles for a Purpose,” a charity pickleball tournament bringing together players, spectators and community supporters for a day of competition, connection and giving back.

The event will take place Friday, June 26th, 2026, at Replay, 6600 High Ridge Road, Boynton Beach, Florida. Registration begins at 9:00am, with play beginning at 10:00am. The event is hosted by the Palm Beach Royals, the local Palm Beach Pro Pickleball team, with Copperpoint Brewing Co. serving as the exclusive beverage sponsor.

Other community supporters include the Paddle Bag Sponsor by Razorback Electric and the Volley Sponsor donated by Kipu Health. All players will receive a goody bag for their participation created with the collaborative partnerships from Jade Dental, Smash House Burgers, PuraVida Chiropractic and Wellness, and Applied Nutrition.

“We developed ‘Paddles for a Purpose’ because pickleball is inherently about community, connection and physical activity, all of which are pillars of good mental health,” said Todd L’Herrou, CEO of the Center for Family Services of Palm Beach County Inc.

Player registration options include individual and double player entry, plus a league package. Spectator tickets are also available and include food, two adult beverage tickets, tournament viewing and participation in chance drawings. All proceeds directly benefit the Center for Family Services of Palm Beach County.

For more information about the event, please visit: www.ctrfam.org/ paddles/ About The Center for Family Services of Palm Beach County, Inc. Since 1961, The Center for Family Services of Palm Beach County, Inc. has embraced the philosophy that families should be the center of the community, and the center of every family should be a healthy connection. The Center provides innovative programs that meet the changing and growing needs of individuals, families, and children in the community with their resources and social service programs. The Center for Family Services is accredited by CARF® International and by Nonprofits First for Excellence in Nonprofit Management.

For more information, please visit www.ctrfam.org IG: @cfspbc | FB: centerforfamilyservicespbc | X: @Center4FS Summer 2026

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THE BERK SHIRES Photo credits: 1 Berkshire

Turn early-Summer Into a Season-Opening Invitation

Get ready to swap the city sirens for birdsong! Whether you're looking for world-class culture, epic outdoor adventures, or the perfect farm-to-table bite, the Berkshires are officially open for summer fun 1Berkshire is highlighting the Berkshires as a timely Northeast getaway for early summer travel, welcoming visitors to the rolling hills, cultural landmarks, historic villages and outdoor experiences that define the region. For travelers from New York City, Boston, Albany, Hartford and surrounding markets, the Berkshires offer a scenic and accessible seasonal escape marked by fresh air, vibrant downtowns and memorable discoveries along the way.

Early summer in the Berkshires brings a distinctive “just arrived” energy, with blooming gardens, lush green trails, bustling patios, local coffee shops, craft breweries and independent businesses setting the tone for the season. From the historic charm of Stockbridge and Lenox to the artistic pulse of North Adams and Williamstown, the region offers a flexible itinerary for travelers interested in outdoor adventure, cultural exploration, distinctive dining and classic New England hospitality.

Culture remains one of the Berkshires’ defining draws. Tanglewood in Lenox, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, is preparing for its 2026 season, continuing its role as one of the region’s signature summer traditions. A Tanglewood picnic on the lawn, with music carrying across the grounds at sunset, remains one of the most recognizable experiences of the Berkshires summer calendar.

Jacob’s Pillow in Becket will celebrate its 94th annual international festival beginning June 24th, bringing world-class dance, performances, workshops and campus programming to one of the country’s most celebrated dance destinations. The festival continues to draw artists, audiences and cultural travelers to the Berkshires each summer.

In North Adams, MASS MoCA continues to anchor the region’s contemporary arts scene with large-scale installations, exhibitions and 118 Metropolitan Palm Beach | 25amag.com

live performances. Visitors to the northern Berkshires can also explore Bright Ideas Brewing, local shops and nearby cultural destinations, including the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown.

For a touch of Gilded Age history and architectural grandeur, The Mount, Naumkeag and Chesterwood offer historic settings, exhibitions, gardens and seasonal programming. Theater also remains central to the Berkshires experience, with stages across the county lighting up through organizations including Shakespeare & Company, Berkshire Theatre Group and Barrington Stage Company.

Outdoor recreation is another key part of the early summer season.

Now is the time to explore the Appalachian Trail, Mount Greylock, scenic lakes, forest paths, waterfalls and other natural landmarks across the region. Travelers can plan hikes, paddling routes, cycling excursions and outdoor experiences through berkshiresoutside.com.

The Berkshires’ food and hospitality scene also plays an important role in the region’s seasonal appeal. Farm-to-table dining is deeply connected to the county’s agricultural identity, with farmers markets, bakeries, casual gathering spots, craft beverage destinations and refined restaurants contributing to the visitor experience. Lodging options range from romantic inns and boutique properties to familyfriendly retreats and countryside stays.

The Berkshires offer a summer rhythm shaped by art, music, food, nature and historic character. With the summer season underway, 1Berkshire invites travelers to explore the region’s villages, cultural institutions, trails, restaurants and scenic routes as part of an early summer escape. Additional travel planning information is available at berkshires.org.

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The jewelry brand celebrates its Hamptons appearance with an opening-night reception showcasing Italian craftsmanship and contemporary design

lberto Luzzi will bring the artistry of Italian jewelry-making and the contemporary energy of New York to the 2026 Hamptons Jewelry Show, taking place Thursday, July 23rd, through Sunday, July 26th, at the Southampton Fairgrounds.

The SoHo-based jewelry house will mark its participation by welcoming collectors, clients, media representatives and invited guests to a VIP reception at its exhibition space during the show’s opening-night preview on Thursday, July 23rd, 2026. The evening will offer guests an opportunity to meet designer Alberto Luzzi, view the brand’s latest creations and discover the detailed craftsmanship behind its distinctive jewelry.

With roots in Rome and New York, Alberto Luzzi is known for expressive, handcrafted designs that balance traditional technique with a relaxed, modern sensibility. The brand’s earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings are created in sterling silver and 18-karat gold vermeil, with collections characterized by sculptural silhouettes, intricate metalwork, woven wire, filigree detailing and carefully finished surfaces. The brand is currently developing a collection in solid gold with diamonds and emeralds which will debut in the coming months.

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Luzzi has worked in jewelry design for more than 20 years, developing an aesthetic shaped

by Italy’s tradition of skilled artisanship and the individualism of downtown Manhattan.

Together with business partner Nic Canal, he opened the Alberto Luzzi boutique at 102 Thompson Street in SoHo during the Fall of 2025. The intimate store presents jewelry as part of everyday personal style rather than something reserved solely for formal occasions.

Aima 18k Gold Vermeil Lariat Necklace with Gold Mesh

The Hamptons Jewelry Show returns to Southampton for its second year, bringing together contemporary designers, estate jewelry dealers, gemstone specialists and luxury watchmakers. Produced by the team behind the Hamptons Fine Art Fair, the four-day event approaches jewelry as wearable art and provides collectors with access to distinctive pieces from exhibitors representing a range of styles, periods and international traditions.

Aurora 18k Gold Vermeil Bezel-Set Statement Cuff Bracelet with Amethyst

About Alberto Luzzi: Alberto Luzzi is a contemporary jewelry house blending traditional Italian craftsmanship with modern New York style. Known for handfinished designs in sterling silver and gold vermeil, the brand creates sculptural earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings for clients who value individuality, artistry and versatile elegance.

Aima 18k Gold Vermeil Drop earring with black mesh

IG: @albertoluzzi_jewelry FB: AlbertoLuzzigioielli

Ricami 18k Gold Vermeil Wide-Cuff Bracelet

Summer 2026

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The Ultimate Luxury is Choice

Artist Conceptual Drawing

2QO\ RQH DGGUHVV LQ DOO RI :HVW 3DOP %HDFK R௔HUV GLUHFW Intracoastal Waterway frontage, a private owners’ dock with boat slips, and the exclusivity of a property limited to only 55 total residences.

Sales Gallery & Showroom

THE NEW ROLLS-ROYCE GHOST 250 N Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach THE NEWBox ROLLS-ROYCE GHOST Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC, 1227, Westwood, THEP.O. NEW ROLLS-ROYCE GHOSTNJ 07675-1227 Tel: 1-877-877Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC, P.O. Box 1227, Westwood, NJ 07675-1227 Tel: 1-877-877-3735 Developed by 561.933.7497 | sales@albapalmbeach.com 3735Westwood, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC, P.O. Box 1227, NJ 07675-1227 Tel: 1-877-877-3735 www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com © Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. The Rolls-Royce name and logoand are registered © Copyright Copyright Rolls-Royce Motor The Rolls-Royce name are trademarks. registered Copyright Rolls-Royce Cars.Cars.

The Rolls-Royce name and logo are logo registered trademarks.

ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE© RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATINGMotor THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE AND TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, trademarks.

FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. © Scuba Club WPB, LLC. All Rights Reserved.