Vol. 3 #4 | April 2017
TONY
In
SHALHOUB
B roa d w a y ’ s H it
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13 FEATURES 10 12 13 48 50 53
Publisher’s Note April 2017 Calendar Cover Story: Tony Shalhoub Through The Lens With Annie Watt Joan Hornig: Shop For Good Ernie Anastos Day In NYC
FASHION & BEAUTY 18 Downtown Chic 20 Resort Getaway Style 22 Spring Ahead To A Younger You
22
TRAVEL 25 31 34 36 38
Historic Hotels Of America The Wonders Of Lake Austin Resort Belize: Screen Gems Innisbrook, A Salamander Resort Milford, PA: A Place To Stay
25
REAL ESTATE & HOME DECOR 41 43 46 55 58 60 62
Notes From DB The Lower East Side A Gulf-Front Masterpiece Long Island’s Roslyn Landing Luxury In Los Cabos: Querencia 507 West Chelsea RE Spotlight: Bernard Zyscovich
43 APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 5
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Every Home is Special to Us . • VICKI GAILY, REALTOR-ASSOCIATE® • MARKETING DIRECTOR
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66 HEALTH & WELLNESS 64 66 68 69 72 74
Spa Scene: GemVie MediSpa No-Fuss Fitness Stress: The Epidemic Of Our Times Easy Weight Loss Secrets Banishing The Baby Blues Spring Clean Your Breakfast
DINING 76 Dining Out 78 Sweet Treats
76
THEATER & ARTS 80 82 84 86 88 90
Big Screen Previews Pat Collins On Broadway Pat Collins’ Picks of Home Entertainment Spring Museum Roundup About Books Step Right Up: Circus 1903
86
NEW YORK, NY 92 Entrepreneur’s Corner: Angie Mar 94 My New York Story: Lee Gabay 96 15 Minutes With Laura Osnes
92 APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 7
ISSN 2474-770X
Check us out on the web! Vol. 3 #4 | April 2017 President / Publisher Bill Mason Executive Publisher Ernie Anastos
Editor at Large Nina Anastos Floyd
Vice President of Sales Lyle Seltzer
Director of Operations Kurt Nesheim
Marketing Director Phillip Anastos
Art Director Eric Duncan
Managing Editor Patricia Canole
Medical Editor Doris Day, MD
Arts & Entertainment Editor Pat Collins
Feature Editor Joan Hornig
Real Estate Editor Daniel J. Bollinger
Fashion & Style Editor Miki Makrillos
Contributing Editor Clint Brownfield
Chief Photographer Annie Watt
Read Any of Our Issues In Digital Format on:
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Contributing Writers Michael Alpiner, Joan Bauer, Shari Bilt Boockvar, MS, RDN Kristen Carlucci, RD, Tricia Connolly, Karen Feld Lee Gabay, Judy Goss, Alana Johnson, Peter Kalellis Gretchen Kelly, Daryn Mayer, Kelly McFarland, Griffin Miller Jeannie Pawlowski, Anthony Rapacciuolo Michael and Nava Raviv, Richie Realms, Joanna Roberts Beth Shapiro, Baruch Shemtov, Bill Spadea, Patricia Stark Leigh Stringer, Jeff & Stephanie Sylva, Leslie Termuhlen Diane Terman, Gigi Stone Woods, Lori Simmons Zelenko Internet Presence Scott Cuollo, Richard Austin Advertising BLUE VISTA 725 Sales Bill Mason Sr. - Director of New Business Development John Miller - Director of Sales - Travel Michael Stulmaker - Director of Sales - Real Estate Janneta Abunda - Senior Sales Manager New York Sales Office (646) 259-2651
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE “New York Lifestyles Magazine is a continuation of my passion to share news, information and lifestyle about where and how we live. This commitment reflects a positive approach to offering compelling features with the highest quality presentation. As executive publisher, I am proud of our professional staff and my family who are helping to reshape the way you read and enjoy this exciting magazine.”
LIVING BETTER & LONGER ecently, a friend of mine shared an engaging book with me. Dr. Teo Mendez graciously gave me a copy of Blue Zones written by Dan Buettner. This New York Times bestseller focuses on lessons for living longer from the people who have lived the longest. The author traveled the world, from Sardinia, Italy to Okinawa, Japan, to meet individuals who shared their secrets to a long and healthy life. He calls these areas of the world Blue Zones to identify communities where common elements of lifestyle, diet, and attitude have led to an extraordinarily long life. Underline the word attitude. Clearly, diet and exercise are essential practices of considerable importance. Personally, what impressed me about Dan Buettner’s book was highlighting the benefits of a positive attitude. Research shows that centenarians share this common characteristic which greatly contributes to their health and longevity. I
I think this is a good commitment for all of us and it should be nurtured for a lifetime. “A positive attitude is like a fire: Unless you keep adding fuel it goes out.”
-Ernie Anastos
Executive Publisher
Ernie Anastos is a celebrated author and distinguished Emmy award winning TV news legend in New York. He is recognized as a champion for promoting more positive news and an influential voice in the world of media. 10 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
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APRIL 2017 CALENDAR Macy’s Annual Flower Show Macy’s Herald Square macys.com
1
st
The Nasty Women of History Tour The Metropolitan Museum of Art shadyladiestours.com
14
th
4 th 8 th
A Taste of Brooklyn Fifth Avenue, Park Slope parkslopefifthavenuebid.com
The 19th Annual NYC Tartan Day Parade Sixth Avenue (from 45th to 55th Streets) nyctartanweek.org
New York International Auto Show Jacob Javits Center autoshowny.com
16
th
19
th
22
Tribeca Film Festival Various venues/Lower Manhattan tribecafilm.com
nd
ArtExpo New York Pier 94 artexponewyork.com
12 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
23
rd
Easter Parade Fifth Avenue (49th to 57th Streets) nycgo.com Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt Starts at Slattery’s (8 East 36th Street) fareharbor.com/pogoevents
The 9/11 Memorial 5K Run/Walk Pier 26-Lower Manhattan 9/11memorial.org
TONY SHALHOUB
S tars I n B roa d w ay ’ s H it
THE PRICE
or most, award-winning actor Tony Shalhoub may be more well-known as the obsessive-compulsive detective Adrian Monk, than any other character he’s portrayed in his illustrious career. For this character actor, it’s just fine. You see, Tony is always reinventing himself by playing an entirely different character every time the lights go on and the camera rolls. He is the kind of man who loves to do different things. Born to Lebanese parents in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Tony became intrigued with the acting world at age six. From the little school production, he flourished and graduated Yale Drama School with a Masters in 1980. Eventually, he moved to Broadway where he met his future wife, Brooke Adams, whom he married in 1992. Then Hollywood beckoned, and soon after arriving was auditioning for the role of Antonio Scarpacci in the long-running sitcom Wings (which starred
Tim Daly and Steven Weber). More success followed with roles in Men in Black and Men in Black II. But his big break came, playing the eccentric detective in Monk. The series made him a star and earned him many awards. Today, Tony can be seen in the highly acclaimed The Price as Walter Franz, a wealthy surgeon along with his estranged brother Victor (played by Mark Ruffalo) who are reunited after many years in their late parents’ Manhattan townhouse to decide how to dispose of the antiques and other collected items. Danny DiVito (it’s his Broadway debut) plays a wise and comical antique dealer. Jessica Hecht is Victor’s wife, Esther. Our Arts and Entertainment editor, Pat Collins, recently spoke with Tony about his current Broadway hit The Price, the success of Monk—and his life off the stage.
APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 13
I met my wife Brooke Adams during The Heidi Chronicles… and that’s kind of how it happened. Next month is our 25th anniversary, and I am forever indebted to Wendy Wasserstein.
14 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
Is the strained relationship between the brothers the reason why Arthur Miller’s play, The Price, is timeless— and universal in its appeal? The play is certainly timeless because it deals with issues like the “haves and the have-nots” as well as American culture and gender and how people can get their priorities mixed up. It’s relevant now as it has been throughout history. What was your very first appearance on stage—before Broadway or even regional theater? I was an extra in my sister’s high school musical The King and I, and that’s when I was bitten by the proverbial bug and love of theater.
Mark Ruffalo and Jessica Hecht in THE PRICE Photo by Joan Marcus
You won three Emmys, A Golden Globe, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards for your portrayal of Adrian Monk. Looking back on the first of eight seasons, did you envision the program would be one of the most successful prime-time shows. There are so many factors and things at play, but you can never get too complacent. We felt we had something that was unusual and we felt proud of it. We were in the right place at the right time. USA Network was rebranding itself, and it didn’t have any original series at the time. I’m not sure Monk would have gotten the attention and care that USA gave it initially if were broadcast elsewhere. You were Tony-nominated for Conversations with My Father, Golden Boy, and Act One. How did The Heidi Chronicles change your life? Well, I met my wife Brooke Adams during The Heidi Chronicles. I was part of the first replacement cast, as was Brooke, and that’s kind of how it happened. Next month is our 25th anniversary, and I am forever indebted to Wendy Wasserstein for introducing me to Brooke and helping to create my life. In what show did you make your Broadway debut?
Tony Shalhoub & Brooke Adams
The female rendition of the Odd Couple by Neil Simon in the mid-80’s. I played the role of one of the Costazuela brothers, who were the neighbors upstairs. It was a really funny rendition, and we did a pre-Broadway tour all over the country for about six months, and then we brought it to New York, and we ran for another six months on Broadway.
APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 15
Tony with Tyne Daly and Alan Cumming Photo courtesy of broadway.com
I’d like to do more Shakespeare… I’ve done some earlier in my career, but haven’t in a while—so that’s always in the back of my mind. What revival, play or musical is on your wish list to appear in next? There are several things I’ve done before that I’d like to get another shot at! I did an off-Broadway play with John Turturro, and that was a play that you can drill down forever and never fully master it. That’s one that I’d love to revisit. I’d like to do more Shakespeare as well. I’ve done some Shakespeare earlier in my career, but haven’t in a while, so that’s always in the back of my mind as well. Right now, I’m keeping my options open. The Price is a limited engagement. When is the last performance? It’s scheduled to end on the 7th of May. However, there’s a strong possibility it’s going to be extended to the 14th of May. Have you had the opportunity to see other Broadway shows while starring in one? Once I have the performance schedule, it becomes nearly impossible. For now, I’ll have to wait for the schedule for The Price to finish before I can get out and view other shows. 16 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
Tony Shalhoub & daughter Josie Lynn
Tony Shalhoub, Mark Ruffalo and Jessica Hecht in THE PRICE Photo by Joan Marcus
The play is certainly timeless because it deals with issues… American culture, gender, and how people can get their priorities mixed up.
What is your post-show routine? If there are people I know in the audience, I’ll typically bring them in the back into the dressing room. If that’s not the case, I leave the theater, and there’s usually a line of people waiting outside, and we’ll do photographs and autographs and so forth. It takes a while to wind down and decompress from the play; it’s very intense. Sometimes when I get home, I’ll sit and stare out the window and bring myself back to my own world, my own realm outside of the character I was playing. Describe working with Mark Ruffalo who replaced John Turturro? I had met Mark when I was in London last year; we spoke for about a half hour because we had mutual friends. We hit it off, and it felt as though he was someone I’d known for a long time even though I had just met him. I think he’s one of the best actors of our generation, and I was very pleased that I would be working with Mark after John Turturro. What are your plans after the show’s final performance? I assume you are not planning to shop for antique furniture! I did a play off Broadway just prior to The Price called The Band’s Visit, and it did very well. It was a musical based on a movie, and there’s a good possibility that it will move to Broadway. • APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 17
DOWNTOWN CHIC By Miki Makrillos | Photos by Miki Makrillos
ashion, food, and entertainment made the annual Open Market, a fundraiser co-chaired by Diane von Furstenberg, Andrew Rosen, Mazdack Rassi and Gary Kline, the place to be. The fundraiser benefited the Meatpacking District Improvement Association, a non-profit business alliance that maintains the meatpacking district through a beautification program and protects the area’s storied history. The event billed as “the largest indoor neighborhood block party,” was held at the Highline Stages. Two floors were transformed into a designer shopping haven, featuring sample sales from designers DVF, Theory, Helmut Lang, Trina Turk, Joie, Alice + Olivia, Rag & Bone, Lilla P, Meg, Rebecca Taylor and Nesh NYC as well as silent auction of items from various contributors. Gourmet foods were served by some of the best restaurants in the meatpacking district, such as the STK Downtown, Fig & Olive, Bagatelle, The Wild Son, Morimoto to name a few. Sparkling wine and specialty cocktails were courtesy of Chandon and other sponsors. There was an abundance of culture, social networking, and celebrity presence at this annual event. Beautiful, talented artists, actors, designers, and entrepreneurs made their presence and support for a good cause!
18 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
I had a splendid time sampling the delicious gourmet delicacies, sipping cocktails, and mingling. I walked away with a beautiful DVF dress and handbag, a beautifully embroidered sheer floral skirt by Alice and Olivia, and a stylish spring shirt by Rebecca Taylor. My VIP gift bag was filled with fashionable delights from various sponsors including a wonderfully illustrated Chelsea Market Cookbook. Congratulations to our hosts, Diane von Furstenberg, Andrew Rosen, Mazdack Rassi and Gary Kline, and all the participants who made this an enjoyable and successful fundraising event, bringing the fashion and food communities together for a fashionably chic experience. •
Miki Makrillos at Open Market 2017 APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 19
RESORT GETAWAY STYLE By Miki Makrillos
pring break and vacation getaways are here. Whether you are going on a cruise or to a tropical destination, get your resort wardrobe packed and ready to go on your exotic adventure. Crisp whites, nautical blues, tropical prints along with bright accessories will compliment your carefree mood.
SAIL AWAY
Seed Bead Tassel Earrings- $49.50 Ann Taylor AnnTaylor.com One Shoulder Ruffle in Solid, $69.50 Fluid Tie Sash Chambray Wide Leg, $119.00 Ann Taylor AnnTaylor.com
Sleeveless Elli Lace Up Sweater, $79.50 Pants – Dropped Ann Taylor AnnTaylor.com
Villefranche-sur-Mer, France Lilly Pulitzer Hampton Tank Dress Color: Resort Navy Beach Bathers $118.00 Saks Fifth Avenue Saks.com
Halston Heritage Flowy Cold Shoulder Dress Color: Light Grey $325.00 Saks Fifth Avenue Saks.com 20 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
Seed Bead Bobble Stretch Bracelet$39.50 Ann Taylor AnnTaylor.com
Alice + Olivia Benny Drawstring Pants Color: Palace Paisley $295.00 Saks Fifth Avenue Saks.com
HOT TROPICS
Reed Garden Square Scarf- $59.50 Ann Taylor AnnTaylor.com
Fem Tank with Low Back Marjani Print, $59.50 Pajama Trouser, $119.00 Ann Taylor AnnTaylor.com
Crinkle Tee with Bow Sleeve, $59.50 Fluid Tie Sash Short, $59.00 Fern Raffia Sandal, $119.00 Ann Taylor AnnTaylor.com
NICHOLAS N/Nicholas Amalfi Striped Cold-Shoulder Dress Color: Amalfi Stripe $395.00 Saks Fifth Avenue Saks.com
Lilly Pulitzer Two-Piece Floral & Leaf Print Mansi Set Color: Resort Navy Travelers Palm $218.00 Saks Fifth Avenue Saks.com
Seed Bead Statement Necklace- $49.50 Ann Taylor AnnTaylor.com
Lilly Pulitzer Benicia Tunic Dress Color: Multicolor $178.00 Saks Fifth Avenue Saks.com
APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 21
SPRING AHEAD TO A YOUNGER YOU By Daryn Mayer
s we spring forward to a new season, how do we turn back the clock on our appearance and reverse the signs of aging? The key to reversing the aging process can be found in advances in modern science and technology, and include both products and non-surgical procedures. Each has the ability to precisely stimulate our body’s ability to regenerate and revitalize both our appearance and our wellbeing, inside as well as out.
FACING THE FACTS Our faces can truly express our feelings and our age. Wrinkles, fine lines, sagging skin, redness, and brown spots can make us look older than we feel. While there are many treatments available to correct and reverse the signs of facial aging, until now none of their benefits were available in a bottle. According to Dr. Vivian Bucay, a dermatologist practicing in San Antonio, DefenAge® is an innovative and proven skincare system that corrects up to sixteen visible signs of aging in just six weeks. Initial results can be seen after only one week. “Utilizing the power of peptides and its exclusive ingredient, Age– Repair Defensins®, DefenAge® massages the body’s own dormant master stem cells. These cells create new epidermis, which eventually becomes new skin. DefenAge® brightens and improves skin imperfections, smoothes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and balances texture. This approach is absolutely revolutionary and utilizes our natural mechanism.” Dr. Bucay continues, “Unlike other skincare products that distribute ingredients through the barrier layers of skin, DefenAge® is formulated to bring its powerful agents through the hair follicles located on our entire body. This ensures the most efficient and effective means for the body to create beautiful new skin, which creates a smoother, firmer, and more youthful appearance, inside and out.” “While DefenAge® was originally developed to be used on the face, we have seen it do wonders to improve and firm the skin tone and texture on the neck, décolletage, and hands.” Dr. Bucay concluded by saying, “DefenAge® is a breakthrough approach that addresses the signs of aging skin. I’m impressed with the improved appearance of the skin after using DefenAge® on myself, my patients, and on participants in a multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled study that we just completed.” For more information on DefenAge®, visit defenage.com; for Dr. Vivian Bucay, visit drvivianbucay.com.
YOUR BODY ONLY BETTER As we age, especially when we get past 35, it becomes more difficult to eliminate stubborn fat. You know, that belly pudge that won’t budge, those saddlebags you just can’t lose, and the excess upper arm bulge that’s not arm candy. According to Dr. Michele Green, a cosmetic dermatologist based in Manhattan, “saying goodbye to stubborn body fat can be easy with a 35-75 minute Coolsculpting® procedure done in my office on the Upper East Side.” Dr. Green continues, “CoolSculpting® is a non-invasive procedure that utilizes a controlled cooling technology and has been cleared by the FDA to eliminate fat cells. You can lose up to 25 percent of body fat and eliminate those stubborn bulges on your stomach, flanks, upper arms, thighs, and buttocks, all with no surgery or downtime. I have been using CoolSculpting® on my patients for years, and it’s a safe and effective way to gently remove the soft fat that lies just below the skin without painful and intrusive surgery.” As a practicing dermatologist for over twenty years, Dr. Green is able to determine who is a good candidate for the CoolSculpting® procedure. Her technique is based on the anatomy of the body and its skin structure, which gives her the ability to treat those areas that will respond to the CoolSculpting® treatment most effectively. “It’s effective technology has allowed me to revitalize my patients’ bodies and their confidence. Unlike other treatments that target fat, CoolSculpting® takes the least amount of time and treatments to see the maximum results. After just one treatment, my patients notice their clothes fit loser, which makes them feel better. The results are proven and long-lasting”. For more information on Coolsculpting®, visit coolsculpting.com; for Dr. Michele Green, visit michelegreenmd.com.
Before DefenAge®
After 4 weeks
22 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
Before Coolsculpting®
After 10 weeks
HAIR FOR NOW Hair loss on the scalp and brow can elicit a loss in confidence. We can affect our health with diet, exercise, and lifestyle. As we age, however, our body’s ability to repair hair follicles and grow healthy new hair on its own diminishes. According to Dr. Tim Neavin, a plastic surgeon and Medical Director of Artisan Hair Transplant Center in Beverly Hills, “While topical and oral medications like Rogaine and Propecia can be helpful in slowing down hair loss, PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) injections are quickly becoming an effective way to actually repair damaged hair follicles without surgery. PRP utilizes your body’s own blood platelets to repair damaged hair follicles and stimulate regrowth”.
Before NeoGraft™
After
For those whose hair follicles are too badly damaged, Dr. Neavin recommends the NeoGraft™ process. “This minimally invasive hair restoration procedure utilizes suction-based FUE technology to gently extract hair follicles without any cutting or bleeding. The machine then harvests these follicles, which I’m then able to implant on the forehead or brow area precisely. This creates a very pleasing aesthetic result for each of my patients,” says Dr. Neavin. “Hair and eyebrow transplantation are safe and effective procedures that permanently restore beautiful hairlines and create fuller, more balanced eyebrows,” adds Dr. Neavin. Dr. Neavin cautions, “Stay away from plucking; it kills the hair follicles. For more information on Artisan Hair Transplant Center and Dr. Neavin, visit artisianhairtransplant.com; for NeoGraft™, visit neograft.com.
NeoGraft™ Eyebrow Transplant
A KNIFELESS BREAST LIFT Sagging breasts can be a drag, and even the best bra is only a temporary fix. As we age our breasts tend to droop and lose volume. Gone are the days when a breast lift meant having to go undergo the scalpel. According to Dr. Barry DiBernardo, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Medical Director of New Jersey Plastic Surgery Associates, “ThermiTight® is an effective, non-surgical breast lift alternative.” ThermiTight® uses radio frequency (RF) energy to tighten and lift breast tissue up to two inches without visible scarring. The result, says Dr. DiBernardo is “a more perky and youthful looking bust line.” For more information on ThermiTight® , visit thermi.com; and for New Jersey Plastic Surgery Associates, visit newjerseyplasticsurgery.com. •
The key to reversing the aging process can be found in advances in modern science and technology. Daryn Mayer is a producer, marketing savant, journalist who has been a trendsetter in the lifestyle industry for many years. She has collaborated with outstanding media brands including Fox TV, Telepictures, NewsCorp, American Express Publishing, Hearst Media and many others. Founder of You Fortified™ (youfortified.com), Daryn provides a go-to destination and resource for the best of accessible and luxuriant lifestyle products and solution for living a fortifying lifestyle. If you would like Daryn to review your fitness class or studio for future consideration, please send an email to daryn@youfortified.com. APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 23
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WAV E S H O T E L & S PA Wellness All- Inclusive
HISTORIC HOTELS OF AMERICA By Jeff & Stephanie Sylva
iscerning travelers choose their accommodations with an eye toward quality and high standards. But deciding which quality hotel to stay at can be a daunting task. Many travelers have come to recognize the consistent authenticity, historic significance, and sense of place that members of the Historic Hotels of America are known for. This official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation recognizes, celebrates, and promotes the finest historic hotels. A major component of the Historic Hotels of America program is how the member hotels represent the heritage and development of America. No matter your preference, you will find a Historic Hotel in settings that range from rustic to refined and in locales as diverse as the mountain wilderness, manicured countrysides, the center of small towns and bustling metropolises. In addition to representing America’s heritage, and while maintaining a high standard of quality accommodations, these historic hotels often reflect interesting themes that add a further dimension to a stay.
A NEW LIFE Of the 295 Historic Hotels, 92 of them are prime examples of adaptive reuse—that is, they started their life as something else before becoming a Historic Hotel. For example, Hotel El Convento in San Juan, Puerto Rico was once a former Carmelite convent. After being vacated by the nuns in 1903, the convent was left for decades to ruin. In the 1950’s it was a target for the wrecking ball until it was saved by Puerto Rican tourism, cultural officials, and millionaire Robert Woolworth, who purchased it in 1962 and converted it into a European-style luxury hotel restoring the intricate beauty and Spanish features of the original convent.
Hotel El Convento
Ledges Hotel Photo courtesy of Jumping Rocks Media Ledges Hotel in Hawley, Pennsylvania was built in 1890 as the John S. O’Connor Glass Factory. The hotel today still illustrates the deep culture and heritage of the area’s manufacturing industry throughout the hotel. The name Ledges reflects the hotel’s location perched over Wallenpaupack Creek and offering stunning views of the creek’s cascades.
The Kendall Hotel Since 1894 and continuing for more than a century, a Victorian red brick building adjacent to Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Kendall Square housed the Cambridge Fire Department Engine 7 Station. But in 2002, the building was converted into a luxury boutique hotel; and today, after a pair of additions, The Kendall Hotel at the Engine 7 Firehouse serves as the only historic hotel remaining in Cambridge.
The Craddock Terry Hotel
The Porches Inn The Porches Inn at MASS MoCA (the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art) in North Adams is comprised of six Victorian row houses, once homes to families of mill workers who lived and labored there for decades. The Inn, which is named for the long verandas that link the buildings, is a prime representation of the revitalization of this once forgotten mill town.
The Craddock Terry Hotel in Lynchburg, Virginia was once the Craddock Terry Shoe Company, the first shoe company south of the Mason-Dixon Line and the fifth largest in the world. And, yes, shoes do figure in this luxury boutique hotel’s amenities. A signature in-room shoebox breakfast is offered daily, as well as complimentary overnight shoe shine. APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 25
CELEBRATING FOOD & DRINK From a popular late-night snack to an iconic cocktail, Historic Hotels have engendered some interesting food and drinks. In the 1920’s the Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky drew large crowds each evening for its dinner dance. After dancing the night away, hungry revelers flocked to the restaurant. Understanding that a simple plate of ham and eggs was not glamorous enough for the nocturnal party-goers, Chef Fred Schmidt created a unique dish—an open-faced turkey sandwich with bacon and a delicate Mornay sauce. Thus was born the Hot Brown—a “musthave” on any visit to Louisville. Today the Brown Hotel is an AAA Four Diamond hotel featuring classic English Renaissance architecture and an elegant Georgian-Revival style exterior—and was recently named one of the Best 500 Hotels in the World by Travel + Leisure magazine. Brown Hotel
The Palmer House The Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel in Chicago, Illinois is the birthplace of the brownie. Bertha Palmer directed the creation of this dessert staple to be served at the Columbia Exposition World Fair in 1893. The original Palmer House did not survive nearly as long as Bertha’s baked specialty. Built by Potter Palmer as a wedding present for his bride, the structure was only 13 days old when it burned to the ground in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The Palmer House is the longest continually operating hotel in the United States listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as a Chicago landmark designated by the Chicago Landmarks Commission.
The Caribe Hilton Looking for a drink that captured the authentic flavors of Puerto Rico? Ramon “Monchito” Marrero, the bartender at The Caribe Hilton in San Juan, experimented for three months before coming up with the recipe for the iconic Piña Colada. That was in 1954; but “Monchito” continued to serve his concoction—which was to become the island’s national drink in 1978—at the Caribe Hilton for another 35 years. The Caribe Hilton features a secluded beach, oceanfront swimming pools, nine restaurants, a full-service spa, and lush exotic gardens on a 17-acre private peninsula. Ever wonder who created tomato juice? Well, in 1917 Chef Louis Perrin of the French Lick Springs Hotel in French Lick, Indiana ran out of oranges and smartly substituted tomatoes to make the morning drink. Established in 1845, French Lick Springs Hotel attracted guests from around the world to experience the “miracle waters” of nearby sulfur springs. Today, the hotel—one of two hotels at French Lick Resort—is famous for its Beaux-Arts architecture, ornate masonry, and peerless luxury exemplified by its grand lobby and its gold leafing.
French Lick Springs Hotel
26 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
Georgian Terrace Hotel
MOVIE CLASSICS In 1939 the stars were out in Atlanta, Georgia. The stars of the blockbuster movie Gone with the Wind that is. Many of the film’s stars, its producer David O. Selznick, director Victor Fleming, and author Margaret Mitchell attended the movie’s Premiere Grand Gala at the Georgian Terrace Hotel’s Grand Ballroom. Many of the Gala attendees stayed at the Georgian Terrace. With its floor-to-ceiling windows, crystal chandeliers and white marble columns, The Georgian Terrace provides a signature brand of southern hospitality as one of Midtown Atlanta’s most elegant hotels.
The Stanley Hotel International best-selling author Stephen King’s haunting novel, The Shining, has a connection to two Historic Hotels. The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado was founded by the co-inventor of the famous Stanley Steamer automobile, F.O. Stanley, who was enamored with the beauty of the area and decided to build a hotel to showcase his famous autos. Stanley reconfigured a truck into the Stanley Mountain Wagon—the world’s first motorbus—to transport guests from the rail stations to the hotel. As a result, tourism boomed, the town grew, and Rocky Mountain National Park opened. However, the Stanley Hotel is probably best known for serving as the inspiration for King’s novel which then led to the famed movie. This white Georgian Colonial Revival hotel still poses a striking contrast to the rugged mountain terrain and remains one of the Rocky Mountains most recognizable hotels.
Timberline Lodge Timberline Lodge, situated at the 6,000foot level on the south slope of Mt. Hood in Oregon, was used in the classic movie production of King’s novel as the exterior image of the fictional Overlook Hotel. With panoramic views of soaring pines and majestic mountain peaks, Timberline Lodge was built in 1937 as part of a WPA federal arts project pairing craftsman with apprentices and features native materials and Old World craftsmanship blended with modern amenities.
Grand Hotel A favorite pastime of guests at the iconic Mackinac Island, Michigan summer resort, the Grand Hotel, is to sit in rocking chairs on the world’s longest porch enjoying the charm and elegance of the Victorian era. Each October some of these guests discuss their favorite movie, Somewhere in Time. This touching love story was filmed at the Grand Hotel, so members of the 1980 film’s fan club meet here each October. The movie is about a playwright who uses self-hypnosis to travel back in time to meet the actress whose vintage portrait hangs in a grand hotel. Guests to Grand Hotel may well feel that they have gone back in time, as cars are not allowed on Mackinac Island and horse-drawn carriages are the preferred modes of travel. APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 27
HISTORIC MOMENTS Some Historic Hotels were the sites of some very memorable events. Built on the site of Texas’ first brewery, just steps from the historic Alamo and the famous River Walk in San Antonio is the Menger Hotel. The hotel has hosted such notables as San Houston, Generals Lee and Grant, and Presidents McKinley, Taft, and Eisenhower. The hotel’s bar, a reproduction of the House of Lords Pub in London, is where Teddy Roosevelt recruited his famous Rough Riders. The Menger Hotel is renowned for its beautiful architecture, a restored 19th-century wing with Victorian-style guestrooms, and rare antique furniture, all creating an unmistakable air of historic luxury. Airlie in Warrington, Virginia was the location of where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. started to pen his famous “I had a dream” speech. For more than five decades, global leaders and policy makers, including Dr. King, have visited Airlie for numerous significant conferences. Located just one hour from Washington, DC, Airlie is best known as a state-ofthe-art conference center. Its sprawling 600 acres of lush Piedmont countryside make for a perfect place to retreat and relax—and for a wonderful opportunity to enjoy Airlie’s farm-to-table culinary experience featuring fresh herbs and vegetables from its four-acre organic garden.
Menger Hotel
Airlie
DESTINATION HOTELS Some of the Historic Hotels are more than just luxury accommodations—they are the destination itself. The Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia offers a beautiful setting surrounded by the Allegheny Mountains, with indoor and outdoor activities year round including championship golf courses and the largest hot springs in a Virginia hotel. The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs is a 5,000-acre resort playground incorporating luxury accommodations and the natural beauty of the Rocky Mountains. In addition to a wealth of activities including 54 holes of championship golf and a Forbes Five-Star spa, the Grand Dame of the Rockies boasts a unique art collection that captures the spirit of the West from a variety of American masters.
Omni Homestead Resort
The Chumash Indians believed that a mystical valley located 35 miles south of Santa Barbara, California held healing powers, and so named this particular place Ojai (“The Moon”). It is here that one of California’s most revered destinations, the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, offers an ideal— some would say magical—setting to enjoy many outdoor activities and adventures, as well as an outstanding array of treatments from its award-winning spa. The Broadmoor You can discover much more about the Historic Hotels from the Annual Directory, which provides short descriptions of all of the member hotels. Unique attributes of hotels, such as Presidential visits, notable art collections, historic tours, beautiful gardens, historic memorabilia, and even ghost hauntings, are designated with icons on the hotel’s page in the directory. The Annual Directory may be viewed as an e-book, downloaded as an app, or purchased at historichotels.org/directory. •
Ojai Valley Inn & Spa 28 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
Jeff and Stephanie Sylva are retired English and Social Studies high school teachers who have been freelance travel writers for over 28 years. They’ve been publishing in many national publications and who love to write about the great outdoors and, of course, travel.
SUPERB, DELUXE CONDO RENTAL UNITS
26 LUXURY CONDO SUITES THE ISLANDS CLUB CONDOMINIUMS ON SEVEN MILE BEACH Grand Cayman
www.theislandsclub.com.ky We offer 2, 3 or 4 bedroom suites, each with its own private patio or balcony overlooking world famous Seven Mile Beach. The Islands Club is located within easy walking distance of many fine restaurants, dutyfree shopping, nightclubs, golf course, a large modern grocery store and water sports and activities. On the beach, large Casuarina trees provide shade from the sun as you relax in a lounge chair by the sea.
For more information visit theislandsclub.com.ky or Call TOLL FREE 1-866-533-0934 Tel: (345) 945-5211 E-mail: islclub@candw.ky
Everything under the sun... 8501 Atlantic Ave (by Diamond Beach) Wildwood Crest, NJ 08260 l Coronado Resort is Wildwood Crest’s premier BEACHFRONT full-service FAMILY hotel. By Diamond Beach, we are just minutes from fine restaurants, downtown Wildwood’s historic nightlife & world-famous BOARDWALK and just a short drive to Victorian Cape May or Atlantic City’s dazzling casinos. With a variety of AAA-rated accommodations (from single guest rooms to spacious 1, 2 & 3 bedroom suites), El Coronado can meet the needs of the most discerning traveler. Our three indoor elevators will whisk you to one of 18 smoke-free unit-styles of your oceanfront or
in BEACHFRONT resort perfection!
oceanview room with private bath, efficiency or full kitchens & private balcony. All rooms come equipped with microwave, coffee maker, DVD player & refrigerators. Other on-site amenities include 24-hour Front Desk, ATM, in-house Café (with patio dining serving 4-Star breakfast & lunch), FREE in-unit WiFi, a wellequipped Exercise Room, Game Room, Gift Shop and 2 in-house guest laundries. FREE poolside movies, hot dog cookouts and LIVE entertainment are featured on our Pool Deck twice weekly in-season to pamper our guests. High-season also provides our own Children’s Activity Director on staff hosting 2 interactive events daily for the kiddies (M-F). By the way, our spacious pool, kiddie
pool and hot tub are heated for your comfort. Looking for a party venue during your vacation? El Coronado’s Fiesta Room can accommodate parties large or small (rental fees apply). So whether a romantic rendezvous for two, a family reunion or a vacation getaway for “your clan”, El Coronado Resort has the comfortable accommodations you’ll need to create magical vacation memories for you and your family! See you at the beach! For more informtion, call or visit: 1.800.227.5302 www.elcoronado.com
Your premiere Oceanfront Destination... on the corner of Syracuse Avenue and the Beach...
THE WONDERS OF LAKE AUSTIN SPA RESORT By Karen Feld
alking on water—that’s the surreal feeling I had at the Lake Austin Spa Resort in the Texas Hill Country. I arrived late evening to a welcoming, delicious picnic meal—a hint of what was to come! My cabin, one of 40, had a private fountain garden in the rear and a terrace facing the lake. Once I opened the bath salts, the fresh lavender aroma filled the comfy room. The soaking tub faced a lush garden outside and fresh flowers inside, perfect for a tranquil night’s sleep. Austin has often been called America’s favorite city with its vibrant music and downtown renewal. Like many other guests I was so relaxed at the world class spa resort that once there, I didn’t want to leave—not even for a 30-minute car ride (or water taxi) to check out the downtown music scene. There’s something about the serenity of a lake, the ripple effect, and ions—in this case, the 19-mile long river—that adds another dimension to spa life, wellness and healing.
APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 31
Bird Castle Lake Austin Spa Resort Photo by Ryann Ford Couple relaxing by resort pool Astor Café
START THE DAY RIGHT Although not a breakfast person, I couldn’t resist the avocado toast with crisp bacon and juicy tomato topped with a sunny side up egg in the lakeside Astor Café in the morning. I learned, too, that it was Michael McAdams and William Bucks who purchased the neglected 19-acre property and transformed it into a destination luxury spa and wellness retreat. That was twenty years ago and today it continues to provide excellence in health and wellness. The activity schedule includes not only water activities but also tarot classes, drumming for full body strength, hoop dancing, Pilates, floating meditation or acoustic guitar meditation: Self-improvement in all areas of life for those of us open to learning and unplugging. As difficult as it may be, leave your digital devices at the door. You’ll be relieved you did. You can do as much—or as little—as you wish. Chill in a hammock lakeside, embark on a mindful hike or work with an individual trainer. After a morning yoga class in the tree house, I felt a call to the lake. Here, during a river cruise, Captain Chuck pointed out Blue Herons nesting in pecan trees along the shoreline during a river cruise. One side of the water is a nature preserve and the other dotted with handsome limestone houses and a matching two-story boathouse and decks. Later, while peddling a hydrobike, I watched a lone coot swimming against the lush green landscape. Also available to guests are Howie leg-powered stand-up pedal boards, stand-up paddle boards, and kayaks. Don’t miss this opportunity to walk on water. 32 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
Girlfriends Relaxing on Lake Austin
HEALTHY INSIDE OUT Hunger pangs are quickly satisfied: Fresh fruit, smoothies, and homemade frozen yogurt are available anytime—banana cream became a favorite. Enjoy lunch in your robe on the patio by the spa or in the main restaurant, which has the intimate feel of a friend’s lake house. Of course, calorie counts are listed, after all this is a spa resort. Executive Chef Stefane Beauchamp’s nutritiously creative preparations would lead you to think five-star restaurant rather than a spa. The bison burger was delicious at lunch as was the locally caught redfish followed by gluten-free key lime pie at dinner. The organic produce and herbs including 45 varieties of basil are grown on the property or sourced from local purveyors. Be sure to drop in for one of the winning French chef ’s fun cooking classes with ample tastings.
Executive Chef Stephane Beaucamp Friends on the porch
Spa treatments are amazing, and like the classes and activities, try one or all? The Neroli Blossom Sensory Massage and Texas Starry Night Massage were tempting, but I opted for the Weekend Warrior, one of the newly introduced body treatments—80 minutes of a customized deep tissue massage combined with assisted gentle range of motion exercise. My tight muscles felt like putty in the hands of the skilled therapist. Treatments focus on energy healing, organic skin care, water emersion therapies and oxygen facials. After your spa treatment, be sure to relax in the soothing Blue Room with gardens hand-painted on linen wall panels and while there experience meditation through coloring. Lake Austin Spa has superb personalized service, activities, and treatments without “attitude” for the savvy guest. It’s a healing place for body, mind, and spirit. A piece of that energy is now a part of me. After a few days of pampering, I returned home with a feeling of renewal and a package of the fresh lavender bath salts to mimic that wonderful Zen feeling as though I was immersed in the organic lavender field overlooking the lake. For more information on Lake Austin Spa Resort, visit lakeaustin.com. •
Welcome to Harborside resort montauk
The Harborside Resort Montauk offers a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. On-premise pool and tennis, attractive rooms, studios, suites and efficiencies - each offering many amenities. Montauk is one of the beautiful resort destinations on the East Coast. Miles of breathtaking coastline, nature trails and preserves, varied watersports from famed surfing to water-skiing to whale watching.
World renowned fishing is found here, too as Montauk is well recognized as one of the top fishing capitals of the world. For beach lovers, we provide our guests’ access to Montauk’s finest ocean and sound beaches. And, golfers, bring your clubs and golf at the magnificent Robert Trent Jones designed Montauk Downs State Park located just one mile from the Harborside. You can enjoy the pleasure of
371 West lake dr. montauk, nY 11954 631.668.2511 montaukharborside.com
nearby horseback riding, being pampered at a marinotherapeutic spa, great shopping and a trip to our treasured beacon - the Montauk Point Lighthouse. Sample the gourmet delights of the finest restaurants, just a short walk or drive away. You will never be at a loss of things to do in Montauk - where a great vacation begins!
BELIZE: SCREEN GEMS By Patricia Canole
tried-and-true formula for cinema success is to take an exotic tropical setting, toss in a dose of adventure and let the good times roll. It’s also a great recipe for an unforgettable getaway. Why not borrow a theme from a classic movie and play it out amidst the unspoiled natural beauty of Belize? A small Central American country, about the size of Massachusetts, Belize was formerly known as British Honduras and, unlike its neighbors, English is the primary language. Since becoming independent from England in 1981 the country has wisely emphasized eco-tourism and the preservation of its bountiful natural resources, and some top-notch resorts catering to active travelers have sprung up. Adventures await nature lovers in Belize.
INDIANA JONES If you fancy yourself as an Indiana Jones-type, then Lamanai Outpost Lodge (lamanai.com), named for the nearby Mayan ruins of Lamanai (it means submerged crocodile) will bring out your inner explorer. Lamanai is all about adventure, which begins before you even set foot on the property. It takes a 45-mile transfer from the airport, and an unforgettable hour-long boat trip up the New River just to get to this secluded resort. Simple but elegant describes the accommodations housed in thatch-roofed cottages. The Mayan ruins and the abundant wildlife are the star attractions here. You can climb to the top of the pyramids and look out over the treetops of the surrounding forest, board a nighttime boat safari and look for the endangered Morelet’s crocodile, take a hike through the jungle in search of howler monkeys, or go on a birdwatching trip with one of the resort’s naturalists. And when you’re ready to kick back and relax, you can sip your favorite beverage at the lodge or take a nap in one of the most comfortable hammocks you’ll ever experience. 34 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
TARZAN AND JANE Perhaps your style is more Tarzan, the Lord of the jungle, and Jane, his well-mannered wife. If this is the case, then Pook’s Hill Lodge (pookshilllodge.com), at the foothills of the Maya Mountains, has the right mix of adventure and style to keep you both happy. A wildlife enthusiast’s dream, Pook’s Hill is tucked away in a rainforest clearing bordering a nature reserve. Birds such as hummingbirds, toucans, and parrots all flock to the towering canopy attracting birdwatchers from all over the world, while Jaguar, coatimundi, and howler monkeys roam nearby as well. During the day you can go tubing down the river, explore the Maya underworld in the haunting caves of Barton Creek or Caves Branch, or search for wildlife with one of the lodge’s full-time naturalists. At night, relax at the bar before dining by lantern light in the main house. Later, go for a flashlight safari with a guide or turn in for the evening in your private cabana.
BLUE LAGOON For those who prefer the beach to the jungle, modern conveniences such as WiFi and cable television in your room to rustic charm, then X’tan Ha Resort (xtanha.com) on Ambergris Caye is your place in the sun. A short transfer from Belize City, X’tan Ha encourages guests to take full advantage of the world-class diving, and snorkeling found alongside this island. Blessed with the world’s second largest barrier reef—only the Great Barrier Reef in Australia is larger—Ambergris Caye has long been a diving hotspot. But you don’t have to be an expert to enjoy the splendors below the surface of the water. Even beginners can experience the coral reefs and the wildly-hued tropical fish, or swim at Shark Ray Alley with the amazingly tame rays and sharks. If warm-blooded creatures are more to your liking, you can snorkel with manatees at nearby Goff ’s Caye. When you’re ready to relax you can lounge on your private verandah, stretch out poolside, or lie on the beach. And if shopping, restaurants, and nightlife call out to you, trek to San Pedro, a town with a distinct Caribbean flavor. For more information on Belize, visit travelbelize.org. • APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 35
INNISBROOK, A SALAMANDER RESORT By Griffin Miller
ampa Bay’s Innisbrook, a Salamander Golf Resort and Spa, was once almost exclusively synonymous with golf. After all, it occupies a lush landscape made up of 900 wooded acres peppered with 72 gutsy holes spanning four courses, including it’s acclaimed—recently renovated—7,340 yard Copperhead Course, home to the PGA Tour’s annual Valspar Championship. While dedicated duffers and international golf publications rank conspicuously among Innisbrook’s promoters, it also shines brightly for family R&R and a haven for vacationers who want nothing more than to relax; it has a lot more going for it than rolling greens and tournaments.
FAMILY PHENOMENAL Of course, if you want to introduce your kids or significant other to the glories of golf, then it is possible. As you might expect, Innisbrook is home to first-tier instructors headed by Class-A PGA pro, Dawn Mercer—who brings Golf 101 to the fabulous program. Also available are tennis clinics (juniors and adults), weekly lessons for 10 and under, plus holiday and summer kid’s tennis camps. And, FYI, there’s also racquetball for those so inclined. As for kids (particularly the younger set) who might not gravitate to clubs and rackets, there’s the resort’s Loch Ness Monster Pool with two amazing water slides, a 15-foot waterfall, sand beach areas, water volleyball, plunge pool with jets and, fountain. Loch Ness Central is also where you can score bikes for family rides throughout Innisbrook’s beautiful haven of diverse foliage.
POUR ON THE PAMPERING As an avid spa aficionado, I can honestly report that the Salamander Spa at Innisbrook is five-star all the way, from its front desk staff to its estheticians to its savvy menu and luxurious ambiance. Clearly, it is a place of escape where cell phones are silenced, and you’re wrapped in snuggly robes that need only come off for treatments or after you slip behind the glass doors leading to the steam room and hot tub. Here, you can sign on for outdoor yoga classes or book a simple mani-pedi that turns out to be as luxe as a signature massage, body treatment or facial. Speaking of mani-pedis, these are an attractive option with 12- to 17-year-olds, as are often makeup applications (the best!). It’s worth noting too that, unlike other exclusive spas, there is no strict age limit on massages, facials and other services, the sole caveat being that, if a child is under 16, a parent or guardian needs to be in the room during the service. Oh yes—while the couple’s treatment room seems custom made for mom and dad, at Salamander it gets equally high marks as a mini-retreat for mom-daughter bonding. 36 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
THE FOOD FACTOR Four restaurants cover most on-site dining needs: Packard’s Steakhouse (upscale and laid-back), Market Salamander Grille (fresh seasonal offerings), Turnberry Pub (casual with a golf course view) and The Grill at Loch Ness (poolside), as well as Osprey Sports Bar (quick bites). Picnickers, families and “do not disturb” types will want to visit Market Salamander where chef-prepared items are available for purchase and, as the literature notes: “We can assist with grocery shopping for in-suite preparation.” Innisbrook’s restaurants, while known for their quality American menus and ingredients, are also building a reputation for dishing up monthly specials. As for April, three of the resort’s eateries will be rocking Grilled Cheese Day on the 12th. Gastronomic creativity is alive, well, and off the charts at Innisbrook.
SUITE & SAVORY Accommodations at Innisbrook are as unique as its personality. There are no mega-hotels here but rather a collection of lowrise buildings with Mansard-inspired roofs—befitting the original 1970’s architectural concept—tucked away in treestudded clusters throughout the sprawling resort. There are four categories of rooms ranging from Deluxe Guestroom to TwoBedroom Suite—all with the usual upscale features—Wi-Fi, flatscreen TVs, high-end bedding and toiletries, daily maid service and so on. All can accommodate four guests comfortably (the two-bedroom suite is large enough for a family of four). Suites also include a living room or parlor and either a full kitchen or kitchenette. For me, this meant brewing my daily cup of coffee and sipping it leisurely on my private veranda before heading out for the day.
OFF CAMPUS To maximize a Tampa Bay visit, it doesn’t hurt to explore—even if it means leaving your comfort zone behind. Empower Adventures Zip-Line Tour (zipontampabay.com) is a good (excuse the pun), jumping off point. And as it turned out, the experience was more exhilarating than scary (although adrenaline among the vertigo set pumped rather loudly until we got our bearings). Various programs are available, including an “extreme” version and another that takes place after dark. Other recommended off-site options include taking a complimentary shuttle from the resort to Honeymoon Island State Park where you can pick up a ferry to Caladesi Island—voted America’s Most Romantic Beach. Also not far from Innisbrook is Tarpon Springs, the world’s sponge-diving capital where one can head out to sea with a sponge-diving captain (not too shabby), or take in the shops where myriad goods are up for sale including, you guessed it, sponges of every size and shape imaginable. For more information on Innisbrook, a Salamander Golf Resort and Spa, visit innisbrookgolfresort.com. • Griffin Miller specializes in spa travel and New York theater. Her resume includes writing for The New York Times, For the Bride and Hotels. She also creates promotional materials for the Metropolitan Opera, BAM, and Guggenheim Museum. A member of The New York Travel Writers’ Association, she is a playwright and award-winning collage artist. APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 37
MILFORD, PA: A PLACE TO STAY By Michael Alpiner
hat has made Milford, Pennsylvania earn the title of one of America’s “cool towns,” according to leading travel publications? One need only cross the scenic Delaware River, meander along Route 6 under a canopy of trees, past the sign that reads “Milford Cemetery: No Hunting,” into a town which balances the Victorian décor with the hip and, yes, a cool mood of this unique and remarkable small town. For instance, on one side of the road, a fireworks shop promises to ignite the spirit of exploration, while on the other, an austere 19th-century edifice stares with stately arrogance and open shutters at the parade of travelers and weekend adventurers. For years, I knew Milford as a place to stop and stretch my legs en route to my parents’ home in the Poconos. Its location was conveniently situated when nature called, or when my stomach lacked the patience to complete the last leg of my journey. Certainly, I noticed Milford’s Victorian architecture, blue stone walkways, and quaint shops, a small town’s attention to detail. But I suppose I was moving too quickly and found myself more focused on the end of my excursion rather than on absorbing the old world charm and serenity that exists within the simple grid and comforting borders of Milford—a mere 70 miles from NYC.
NATURAL WONDERS Sitting at a local café, I found myself surrounded by historic photographs of the town on the walls (the one by my table mysteriously fell off the wall nearly striking me on the head…legend says the town might be haunted, but I was not deterred). I discovered that Milford was developed in 1796 by Judge John Biddis, who was a master craftsman and inventor. He named the streets of Milford after his children, and the lanes after his favorite berries and fruit. Milford is an attractive location by virtue of its scenic overlooks, access to the Delaware Water Gap National Park, and juxtaposition to New York City and Philadelphia. All waterways in Milford drain into the Delaware River, and differ in height, creating what is known as a fluviarchy, a network of waterfalls. The falls provided water power to mills, which contributed to Milford’s economy and growth in the 19th century. With a population of a little more than a thousand, Milford is culturally diverse yet concentrated. I passed old men in plaid shirts and overalls, sharing the gossip of the day, families with “tourist” written all over them, eager to tackle the same itinerary that filled my head, shop owners with a thousand tales to tell, whose merchandise ranged from scented candles to medieval weaponry. Willow (thewillowshop.com) is one of those shops that, upon entering, dazzle the olfactory nerve with candles and soaps, hand-painted furnishings, bohemian clothing and bags, oils and pasta, all of the highest quality. Nearby Golden Fish Gallery (goldenfishgallery.com) is a great shop with an eclectic maze of rooms where one can purchase a knight’s helmet, gargoyle sculptures and jewelry, gothic wall art, knives, swords, or just about anything you might include in your medieval costume party. 38 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
Hotel Fauchére
Columns Museum
THE BEST CHOICE Since I was staying, and not just passing through town, I chose the Hotel Fauchére (hotelfauchere.com), a Relais & Châteaux property, as the lodging worthy of my attention to the historical. Established in 1852 by Master Chef Louis Fauchére, the hotel has 16 guests rooms, two with second story balconies, a restaurant (The Delmonico Room), a bar (Bar Louis), a bakery (Pâtisserie Fauchére), conservatory and garden. Adorning the walls throughout the hotel is framed artwork from the Hudson River School, an art movement inspired by Romanticism which expresses common themes of 19th-century America: discovery, exploration, and settlement. Here I discovered a warm and inviting atmosphere visited by such notables as Charlie Chaplin, Mae West, Andrew Carnegie, Teddy Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Robert Frost, and many others. In fact, I was informed that my room was once occupied by Rudolph Valentino, and whose spirit has been reported still lurking there.
Hotel Fauchére
The hotel’s owner, and recently elected Mayor of Milford, Sean Strub, has created the backdrop for a classic travel and lodging experience. Executive Chef Michael Glatz offers guests cuisine that focuses less on the presentation and more on the taste. The aura of Bar Louis makes it easy for patrons to be transported back in time, and find intimacy and comradery against a sea of colors glowing through the bottles on the lighted bar. Behind the bar, a huge photo of Andy Warhol kissing John Lennon on the cheek makes one “imagine” how “fifteen minutes of fame” is better than a lifetime of anonymity. In a small town like Milford, no one is anonymous. Another highlight of my stay in Milford was my visit to the Columns Museum (pikehistorical.org), one of those small town sites that boast some impressive artifacts. The primary display profiles a blood-stained American flag reportedly used to cradle Lincoln’s head after that fateful night in the Ford Theater. Authentic posters and newspapers from WWII present a sad yet palpable history, and various rooms profiling other episodes in American history remind visitors what we were fighting for.
Columns Museum
Grey Towers National Historic Site (greytowers.org) is the ancestral home of Gifford Pinchot, first director of the United States Forest Service (USFS) and former governor of Pennsylvania. A tour of the French chateaux-style mansion and majestic grounds is an excellent way to learn about and celebrate the origin of the conservation movement in America. The Apple Valley Restaurant (applevalleyrestaurant.com) rounds out the Milford experience with its Early American trapper décor surrounding patrons with relics such as snowshoes, traps, wagon wheels, totem-like carvings, and even a full-size canoe suspended from the rafters. The restaurant offers casual dining with the taste of something much more gourmet. And before you leave, be sure to check out Copper Kettle Country Store (copperkettlecountrystore.com), just off the main road, where visitors can stock up on beef jerky, handmade soap, home goods and décor, t-shirts, mugs, honey and jellies, jewelry and much more. I headed back across the Delaware River with a new understanding of the spirit of Milford, PA. Like every small town, there is a history and a local charm that one cannot fully embody at 25 miles an hour. There is a true benefit from belonging, if only for a couple of days. I had breezed through Milford many times before and admired it from afar. The poet in me recalls the following lines: We shall not cease from exploration. And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. Besides being referred to as “cool,” a stopover en route to something more, Milford is also a great place to stay. •
Grey Towers
Apple Valley Restaurant Michael Alpiner has been an English teacher in New York City for the past 29 years. Michael has published work in Jewish Currents, Soul Fountain, Light, New Work Review, and Blood to Remember (an anthology of Holocaust-related poetry). APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 39
Bill Gearhart aBr, Gri President, PrinciPal Broker
TOWNSIDE, REALTORS® 4005 Electric Road, Suite 100 Roanoke, Virginia 24018
540.989.3311 office 540.989.6980 fax BGearhart@coldwellbanker.com www.bgearhart.com www.cbtownside.com
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40 Liberty Ln n at u r a l B r i d G e , V i r G i n i a
$799,950 • Mls# 827657 “Liberty Hill” circa 1825. One of the Seven Hills houses of Rockbridge County. Restored with updated kitchen and baths but featuring original wainscoting, moldings and floors. 11 fireplaces & 12.8 acres with barn for horses.
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$699,950 • Mls# 785820 Beautiful riverfront home with a guest cottage located 30 minutes from Virginia Tech, 10 minutes from Floyd, and beautifully situated on 107 acres of pastures and wooded acreage and a mile of river frontage.
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$5 2 4 , 9 5 0 Privately set on 22+ beautiful acres with mesmerizing views of the Blue Ridge and Appalachian mountains. This spacious 4BR, 4B home features include first floor master suite, large eat-in kitchen, a rec room with 2 sided fireplace, and multiple porches. The grounds are highlighted with a barn and fully stocked pond.
NOTES FROM DB By Daniel J. Bollinger
INTEREST RATES The talk of the town these days is interest rates. They are on the rise and all data points to a continued increase throughout the year. The best way to play this is to buy a pre-development. You get a “double bang for your buck” in this situation. When buying into pre-development, you enter into a contract on a unit but don’t have to close until project completion. You can also obtain a mortgage once in contract. Pre-development prices increase closer to project completion. So not only are you saving money by buying a pre-development unit when the prices are lower, but you are also saving on your mortgage. That is the “double bang for your buck,” saving on both pre-development pricing and lower mortgage rates. Citizen’s Bank has a great “lock and shop” product. You can get pre-approved for a mortgage and “lock” into an interest rate at the same time. I have been speaking to industry leaders, and they are all confirming this. Allen Shayanfekr of Sharestates says, “We are definitely seeing rising interest rates since markets are up, the Fed has to increase interest rates to compete with that (the stock market).” He also says, “there is a huge value-add in locking in interest rates.” Mark Ferguson of Investformore.com agrees and says, “This is a good time to buy, rates are as low as they’re going to be for now and I can’t see them going any lower, especially with the current stock market activity.” Ben Shaoul of Magnum Real Estate Group says, “With recent increases in interest rates and projected additional increases in the future, our advice to purchasers is to enter into contracts to purchase real estate now with the current, low rates.”
HOW RISING INTEREST RATES AFFECT BUYER/SELLER Buyer • A 1 percent rise in rates = 11 percent drop in purchasing power for a buyer. • As rates rise and buyer’s maximum purchase price falls, buyers find they can’t afford as much “home” as they once could. • As you can see above, as buyers move to higher purchase prices, their effective purchase amount that is reduced by rising rates is quite significant. Therefore, it is a good time to buy before interest rates increase more. Seller • If rates are already at low levels (which they are), buyers will usually be influenced to spend more to take advantage of good financing terms. • While this rise in rates benefits the lender, it forces the seller to lower their prices. • As you can see, it is better to list your home sooner rather than later. As buyers lose purchasing power they rarely downgrade, usually they will instead wait until prices drop and/or interest rates drop. Therefore, it is a good time to list your home now before rates go up even more. The year 2017 is going to be a very interesting year in real estate. The stock market trending positively and reaching new historic heights shows confidence in the system. Interest rates will have to trend up as well. All of this suggests that now is a great time to buy or sell your property to stay ahead of the curve. • Daniel Bollinger Licensed Real Estate Salesperson Halstead Real Estate DanielJBollinger@Yahoo.com Luxury NYC Real Estate Expert APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 41
is Proud to Welcome
DANIEL BOLLINGER to its Boerum Hill Office
Contact Daniel today for all of your real estate needs:
DANIEL BOLLINGER Licensed Real Estate Salesperson t: 718.613.2895 dbollinger@halstead.com
495 Atlantic Avenue | Brooklyn, NY
THE LOWER EAST SIDE By Daniel J. Bollinger
s one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, the Lower East Side has long been a working-class neighborhood with an ethnically diverse makeup, rich with New York City history. The area stretches east from the Bowery to East River Park; it is bordered on the north by Houston Street and on the south by Canal Street and East Broadway. In its past, the Lower East Side has been an immigrant neighborhood with Irish, Italian, German and Polish settling here. While it became a center of Jewish immigrant culture in the late 19th and early 20th century, today it is prominently comprised of people of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent. With the plethora of development going on, the Lower East Side is poised to become even more of a melting pot. To give scope to the amount of growth in the LES, there is a new development on every block on Houston Street from the Bowery East. The bulk of new development is comprised of four projects: 196 Orchard, 287 East Houston, 242 Broome, and 150 Rivington, bringing 222 units to market in these four developments alone.
287 E
ast H ousto n
APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 43
At the recent event, “LES is MORE” gathering, the sponsors of these four developments gave us a vibrant discussion on the changing landscape of the Lower East Side post-election. Moderator Leonard Steinberg(President of Compass) along with panelists Benjamin Shaoul (Magnum Real Estate Group), Charles Bendit (Taconic Investment Partners LLC), Arthur Stern (Cogswell Lee Development), Andres Hogg (Hogg Holdings), and José Antonio Grabowsky (Vinci Partners USA) discussed how the LES is ripe for living and investments today. Here are some highlights of the conference and the new developments:
242 Broome
On the topic of the seller’s vs. buyer’s market today, Ben Shaoul explained, “Make deals today: I see the supply dissipating and it becoming a seller’s market as opposed to a buyer’s market.” Ben also feels confident that if you buy today, your investment will increase in value by the time these units come to market because of the increasing trend of limited housing supply coupled with inflation, as he stated. “If you watch inflation over the next three to five years, the value of that apartment will appreciate automatically, and buyers will make money on their purchase.” Leonard Steinberg echoed Ben’s statements, saying, “The threat of rising interest rates is the one thing that fuels a sense of urgency because when you know rates are about to rise, that really can get you off your chair to make a (purchasing) decision.” These points should be taken into account when considering recent interest rate trends, which just had their largest jump post-election in a few years. Andres Hogg brought attention to the developers’ efforts to honor the LES’s past when he said, “Developers are respecting the authenticity of the neighborhood. The architects are making sure they keep the authenticity and a design that fits in with old, traditional buildings.” This is also seen in the facades of these buildings, which possess a touch of “old” while certainly exhibiting modern characteristics.
196 Orchard
Charles Bendit included his input about the Lower East Side when he said, “People are moving back into the city, especially the empty nesters. The LES has character—it is cool, hip and close to all other “hip” neighborhoods. The LES is the center, and it ties all these other communities together.” His thoughts on location are proven by the LES’s borders with SoHo, NoHo, Chinatown, and the East Village, along with Chelsea and Tribeca just a short walk away. Arthur Stern commented on one of the most relevant factors, the price points, in addition to the neighborhood, “The neighborhood is authentic, there’s grittiness, and it has a history. It is one of the last areas of old NY. There is more bang for your buck here with these price points.” He does make an excellent point about the prices— with the $1-$3 million range in NYC having the most velocity in today’s real estate market, all four of these developments are right in this sweet spot. José Antonio Grabowsky commented on the culture and transportation in the area. “The FDR and all trains run through the LES. It is a walk/bike to Chelsea, and all the restaurants, hotels, and museums trend very positively for the neighborhood.” Grabowsky also mentioned that there is not much living inventory in the LES— most upcoming are in these four developments. Speaking of local top restaurants and eateries near the developments, the worldfamous Katz’s Delicatessen is located right next to 196 Orchard. The LES is shaping up to be one of the best-priced neighborhoods to invest in. It is already one of the best places to reside for all the reasons above. There is always something going on in the LES, it’s close to other great neighborhoods, public transportation galore, it still has that old NYC charm with artistic grittiness, and price points in these developments lie within the $1-$3 million sweet spot range. Here, highlights of each development: 44 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
150 Rivington
196 Orchard
196 ORCHARD/UPTOWN ELEGANCE WITH A DOWNTOWN FEEL Developer/Sponsor: Ben Shaoul of Magnum Real Estate Group Architect: Ismael Levya Architects 94 units comprised of studios to 4 bedrooms Non-traditionally stacked units; there is a 1BR on a penthouse floor 44 different floor plans of varying layouts including gallery styles Open layouts with oversized windows All exposures have protected views Spanish handmade, gilded bronze with brick façade Design Detail: Bathrooms have deep niches below walnut cabinetry and mirrored medicine cabinets One penthouse has all four exposures with a private terrace 287 East Houston
242 Broome
242 BROOME/CALM, COMFORTABLE LUXURY Developer: Taconic Investment Partners, LLC Architect: SHoP Sponsor: Delancey Street Associates 55 Units from 1 to 3 bedrooms Open layouts with oversized windows Gracious layouts for LES All Gaggenau Kitchen package Warm light brown integrated kitchen cabinets Beautiful master bath with great niche factor Amenities: Gym, entertainment lounge with kitchen 150 Rivington
150 RIVINGTON/BALANCED DESIGN 287 EAST HOUSTON/ SPACE FOR LIVING
Developer: Arthur Stern, CEO of Cogswell Lee Development Architect: GLUCK+ Architects Sponsor: Cogswell Realty 45 units of 1 to 3 Bedrooms Developer: Jose Grabowsky and Andres Hogg Open layouts with floor to ceiling windows Architect: AA Studios; Jeffery Cole, Executive Architect Design Highlight: Three sectional sliding glass door adjacent from 28 Units from 1 to 3 Bedrooms, triplex penthouse, two duplex living room for more private or more open living maisonettes Kitchen: Very ‘balanced’ as well with integrated cabinetry, deep Kraus Kitchen: All Miele kitchen with an open layout in a gray & white kitchen sink, and a lovely island with an open layout palette. Very cozy & very functional kitchen design Bathroom: Beautifully ‘balanced’ with great matching niche factor in Master Bath: Minimally elegant. One slab gray marble wall. Large the wet room and above toilet. Unique gray tiles with large mirrored medicine cabinet and rain shower head medicine cabinets with wood trim that matches vanity • APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 45
A GULF-FRONT MASTERPIECE By Patricia Canole
re you ready to wake each day in paradise? Welcome to Captiva Island. Located in Southwest Florida off the Gulf of Mexico, this barrier island provides many excellent opportunities to experience life at its best. You’ll be in awe of the island’s many nature trails and habitats, and glorious sunsets. There are miles of magnificent beaches offering hours of sunbathing, boating, fishing, shelling and, oh yes, swimming (maybe with dolphins?). Captiva Island has also been a favorite of many in the creative arts: Anne Morrow Lindbergh wrote her best-selling A Gift From the Seas during her stay on the island. Robert Rauschenberg is another fine example of the artistic spirit who made his home on Captiva. Rauschenberg, who died in 2008, became well known for his modern works seen the world over. In fact, his works are contemporaneous with that of Andy Warhol. He’s also been cited as a forerunner of American Pop Art along with Jasper Johns. Robert Rauschenberg’s home on Captiva was designed by his partner and assistant, Darryl Pottorf. He told us that he designed it specifically to Bob’s taste and created a setting that would accommodate his art and lifestyle. “Captiva Island provided an environment that reinvigorated Bob’s life and art. When Bob first came to Captiva, he was surrounded by butterflies…and knew then at that moment the island was for him. Rauschenberg’s enthusiasm for pop culture led him to search for a new way of painting. He found it by embracing materials traditionally outside of an artist’s reach. Rauschenberg often covered a canvas with house paint, or ink the wheel of a car and run it over a paper to create a drawing, while still demonstrating a concern for formal painting. In the 1950s he changed the world of art with the introduction of his “combines” and cemented his place in art history. His most famous “combine” entitled Monogram featured a stuffed Angora goat with a tire around his middle and paint on his forehead—all placed on a platform which the artist referred to as a “garden.” The idea of combining and of noticing combinations of objects and images has remained at the core of Rauschenberg’s work.
When the house was transferred to Darryl, he did make some improvements but did not make changes that would affect Bob’s spirit in the design. However, his decision to sell the home did not come easy. “I found the island lonely without Bob,” Darryl said. “I still expect to see Bob greeting me with a big smile and ready to have a great time working, dining, or just talking about life.” The home reflects the beautiful surroundings and provides the ultimate in relaxation and privacy. Unexpected surprises like the views of the Gulf of Mexico from every angle, a beautiful Brazilian wood staircase, polished Corian floors throughout the home, a private elevator, and a gourmet kitchen are just a few of the highlights. With two master suites and private balconies, it’s a dream come true. Darryl’s hope is that the new owner will continue to have the same joy and love for the island and find it as peaceful and energizing as Bob did. Darryl also believes that Bob’s spirit and impact on the beautiful island won’t be lost. The Rauschenberg Foundation has established an incredible Artist in Residency program on the Rauschenberg Foundation compound. The program uses all the facilities and focuses on Bob’s belief that “art can change the world.” By fulfilling Bob’s wish to establish a residency program his foundation has ensured that Bob’s legacy will indeed continue on Captiva Island—and the world. For more information on this property, contact Holly Peeples at VIP Realty Group, Inc. (866-472-7800; hollybell@prodigy.net). •
46 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
THROUGH THE LENS Photography By AnnieWatt.com
THE MOVEMENT OF HER STORY: KOREAN EMBROIDERY THE LIFE AND ARTWORKS OF YOUNG YANG CHUNG
David Yoo, Gina Yoo, Dr. Young Yang Chung, Emi Eu
Barbara Tober, Dr. Young Yang Chung, Barbara Regna, Seolbin Park
Peter Kimmelman, Elbrun Kimmelman, Dr. Young Yang Chung, Seungje Oh, Michael Hearn
Doris Liebman, Dr. Young Yang Chung, Christina Rose 48 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
AMERICAN THEATRE WING’S THE 2017 JONATHAN LARSON GRANTS
Ty Defoe, Tidtaya Sinutoke, Ben Bonnema, Erato A. Kremmyda, Michael R. Jackson, Maggie-Kate Coleman
JOAN JULIET BUCK’S BOOK SIGNING “THE PRICE OF ILLUSION: A MEMOIR”
Mary Huack, Ann Dexter Jones, Candace Bushnell, Joan Juliet Buck
Cici Cord, Barbara Tober, Lucia Hwong Gordon, Lauren Day Roberts Larson Family
Jill Furman, Jason Michael Webb
Eleanora Kennedy, Marshall Rose, Candice Bergen
Heather Hitchens, William Ivey Long
Salman Rushdie, Joan Juliet Buck
SACHA LICHINE HOSTS ROSÉ TASTING AT SANT AMBROEUS, PALM BEACH
Sacha Lichine, Mathilde Lichine
3RD ANNUAL SHUBERT FOUNDATION HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE FESTIVAL FOR NYC PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Paul King, Robert Wankel, Amy Dorfman Wine, Vicki Reiss, Michael Sovern, Phil Weinberg Deputy Chancellor NYC Schools
TOM GOLD’S 6TH ANNUAL NEW YORK CITY SEASON
Tom Gold, dancers
Okieriete Onaodowan, The Music Man Tom Gold, Tash Perrin
James Dunning, Susan Magrino
The Music Man Jack Lynch, Tom D’Agostino Jr., Luann de Lessep, Sacha Lichine
Sacha Lichine, Martha Stewart
Fe Fendi, Sylvester Miniter, Elyse Newhouse
Into the Woods
Lloyd Cheu, Kristen Segin, Douglas Mintz, Mary Elizabeth Sell APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 49
SHOP FOR GOOD By Joan Hornig | Photos by Jenna Bascom
’m a bit embarrassed that as a jewelry designer and consumer, museum lover and “only in New York” obsessive, before last year I had never attended what arguably is the best annual pop-up sale in the city. On April 3rd, I will be at the opening of the Museum of Arts and Design’s 17th Annual “LOOT: MAD about Jewelry” event. No doubt I will return throughout the week until it ends on April 8th. Truth be told, while I have always supported MAD, I didn’t understand what LOOT was all about and for too many years missed this great opportunity to shop at a curated jewelry museum show.
JEWELRY FOR ALL When chosen by MAD as a 2016 honoree for my work in combining jewelry design with philanthropy, I quickly learned that LOOT isn’t about plundering or stealing (although the prices can be so good, it may feel that way). Rather, by invitation only, over 50 international jewelry designers come together in a curated mecca to celebrate and redefine jewelry for collectors and jewelry enthusiasts. With the only permanent jewelry gallery devoted exclusively to showcasing modern and contemporary jewelry in the United States, MAD presents jewelry at the intersection of art, design, and fashion underscoring the importance of LOOT as an important exhibition as well as sale. A floor of the museum is transformed into efficient rows of carefully packed cases filled with studio and art jewelry made from an array of both traditional and unconventional materials that challenge our definition of beauty and wearable art. Side-by-side with gold, silver, pearls, precious and semi-precious stone jewelry are pieces crafted from recycled plastic, broken plates and cups, parchment, cast apples, re-purposed skateboards and driftwood fashioned into modern, contemporary designs. The presence of designers standing behind their cases eager to discuss their work further energizes the show. There is a near frenzy to see, shop and be first in line on day one of LOOT as jewelry aficionados position themselves to find a piece that perfectly speaks to their personal style. But even though it gets a little warm from the crowds, it’s worth it. LOOT provides visibility for emerging artists, often launching their commercial careers and is the recognized platform for showcasing the newest generation of jewelry designers. One piece is chosen each year to become part of MAD’s permanent collection through the LOOT Acquisition prize and all sales benefit the museum’s exhibition and educational programs. 50 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
UNIQUE SHOPPING Some say “When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping.” As the challenges in maintaining non-profit institutions continue to accelerate, museums face constant struggles to meet their financial needs. Even with blockbuster and critically acclaimed shows, admission fees do not cover their costs. Museums rely on grants, generous patrons and donors, and support from creating traveling shows. So, it is no surprise that museums no longer limit sales to exhibition catalogs, books, posters, and postcards. Comprising an industry worth about a billion dollars, retail establishments in museums represent a significant and growing segment of the retail and gift shop sector. Increasingly museum stores have become “concept” shopping destinations both in their brick and mortar locations and on-line. No longer afterthoughts, they have become integral in keeping these institutions financially healthy. To maintain their tax benefits from retail income, museum gift shops must stay true to each museum’s mission and exhibitions by offering items which reinforce and supplement their educational objectives. No wonder there is more and more collaboration between curators and the store buyers and operators. LOOT represents a perfect example of how when things get tough we can shop for a cause and continue to enjoy the benefits. I suspect that LOOT’s hybrid shopping/exhibition format is one other museums will appropriate. While it takes a year of intensive curation, the accrued benefits go well beyond the income raised. The LOOT sale has a “pull” effect, bringing a new and larger national and international audience into the museum. Moreover, there is an enthusiastic spillover into shopping in the beautiful MAD design store in the museum’s lobby where all purchases also support the museum.
I am devoted to attending and shopping in museums. I find museum stores to have unique, well-priced merchandise with the added benefit of discounts for members. And, I have another confession to make about how I have used these stores “strategically.” When our kids were young, I’d promise shopping in them as a reward for behaving in the exhibitions that led us to them. Weak parenting? Perhaps. Effective? Absolutely! Regardless of where located in the museum, entering a museum store is free. Just ask the front desk for a pass. Nothing precludes you from introducing your children to museums through their shops. The American Museum of Natural History (shop.amnh.org) is the perfect place to start. Watch as your child looks back into the great halls as you head to the shop. The large appealing children’s section encourages kids to ask to see the real things in the museum. You’ll soon be returning for an admissions ticket for a fulfilling and educational experience in an exciting place open 363 days of the year! I’m not alone in finding museum shops enticing. Many shopping guides recommend our exceptional NYC museum stores, including MAD’s (thestore.madmuseum.org). Others that regularly make the lists include: • Metropolitan Museum of Art (store.metmuseum.org ) • Museum of Modern Art (moma.org) • Brooklyn Museum (brooklynmuseum.org) • Rubin Museum (rubinmuseum.org) • Jewish Museum (shop.thejewishmuseum.org) • New York Transit Museum (transitmuseumstore.com) • Studio Museum in Harlem (studiomuseum.org) • The 9/11 Museum (groundzeromuseumstore.org) Whether your tastes run to the arts, history, culture or technology, no doubt a purchase in a museum store will extend your experience and help make it possible for others to enjoy what museums offer. But when it’s jewelry you’re after, start April 3rd-8th with the MAD: LOOT sale and check out the store on the first floor to see former LOOT designers’ work with other outstanding selections for more retail therapy. Doing good wears well over time! For more information on MAD: LOOT, visit madmuseum.org. • Joan Hornig is a New York-based Jewelry Designer, Social Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist. She left a Wall Street career 15 years ago to create a jewelry line at Bergdorf Goodman, where 100 percent of her profit is donated to the charity of the purchaser’s choice. APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 51
Help Cure Food Insecurity Food Insecurity happens when the poor, the disabled, the elderly – wonder whether they will have enough food to feed themselves and their families. St. Francis Food Pantries and Shelters have strived to eradicate food insecurity by feeding the children who play in your neighborhood parks, the working poor, the lonely and marginalized with the welcoming respect that St. Francis epitomized. It all starts with confronting food insecurity. Then, doors are open to so many more ways we can serve our neighbors in need.
St. Francis Food Pantries and Shelters
Feeding, clothing and counseling families in need. Tel: (212) 279-6171
www.stfrancispantries.org
YOU can donate. YOU can volunteer. YOU is the key word. Everyone of ‘YOU’ has something special and unique that you can contribute to the cause.
St. Francis Food Pantries and Shelters, New York’s answer to food insecurity.
Bill de Blasio giving a speech at the event
ERNIE ANASTOS DAY IN NYC By Patricia Canole | Photos by Annie Watt/AnnieWattAgency.com
ith the dawn of Spring, Mayor Bill de Blasio proclaimed March 21st “Ernie Anastos Day” in New York City. “It’s amazing to be honored by the city of New York, the greatest place in the world,” said Ernie who was surrounded by family, friends, and colleagues at Gracie Mansion.
Left: Ernie Anastos, Joseph Sano | Right: Kelly Anastos, John Catsimatidis, Margo Catsimatidis, George Venizelos, Bill Grous Mayor de Blasio told the guests that “as an accomplished writer, a respected broadcast journalist and celebrated anchorman, Ernie Anastos has continued to be a leader in the television industry for more than 40 years. Throughout his career, Ernie has always demonstrated an unyielding commitment to raising the standards of reporting,” he continued, “and helped keep generations of New Yorker well-informed. Today, we celebrate him as a symbol of the bold and indomitable spirit of New York’s Greek-American community!” The Emmy award-winning Fox5 broadcaster has also done turns at the local ABC and CBS affiliates in New York. His anchored coverage has spanned the world: 9/11 World Trade Center attacks, travel to Cuba to interview Fidel Castro on the 45th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution, and interviews with Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, and Bill Clinton. His reports from Cape Cod on the John F. Kennedy, Jr. plane crash in 1999 garnered an Emmy.
Left: Peter Stratis, Ernie Anastos Right: Bill de Blasio, Ernie Anastos
Miss Greek Independence 2017 Julia Kokkosis, Ernie Anastos
Elder Archbishop Demetrios of America, Chirlane McCray Family and friends had the chance to congratulate the grateful recipient at a reception immediately following the ceremony. • APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 53
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ROSLYN LANDING By Daniel J. Bollinger
ucked away in the historic village of Roslyn is the new 78 townhouse community of Roslyn Landing. In these two-and three-story townhomes, flat-over-flat condominiums and single family homes you are within walking distance to the library, movie theater, many charming shops, restaurants, parks, and entertainment. G4 Capital Partners and North Shore home builder, The Ranches, have done a great job building this development in classic architectural styles that seamlessly compliments the village’s historic ambiance. Roslyn is located approximately 25 miles from the center of Manhattan on the Gold Coast of Long Island; this development offers every amenity of both metropolitan and suburban living.
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LIFESTYLE LIVING The townhomes have traditional brick masonry exteriors and are beautifully designed inside as well. 10-foot ceilings throughout with select residences having double height ceilings all with open layout floors of kitchen, dining, and living rooms. The kitchens have great subway tile backsplashes with a superior appliance package including Wolf, Subzero, and Bosch. There are three different cabinet palettes to choose from and design options including shaker-style or espresso flatfront cabinetry. You even have a choice of rich marble or Caesarstone for your countertops. A design detail that is most impressive is the oversized Kohler farm sink. Kohler fixtures are prevalent throughout the kitchens and bathrooms. The tray ceilings and crown moldings (in addition to another custom architectural millwork) make for stately residences that are apropos for Roslyn and the Gold Coast. The master baths are also quite impressive with a great double ledge niche factor, a wet room with floor to ceiling marble along with a marble bench. There are fireplaces in every home along with big walk-in closets. The units are smart wired by Honeywell, and Roslyn Landing works with home buyers on custom lighting, finishes, and other design details. This new development offers a range of living options from two level flats and townhomes and three level brownstones all with private elevators and two car garages, but it doesn’t end there. The community outdoor environment and amenities will also impress. There are twelve acres of landscaped grounds. There are two manmade ponds which have kayaks and paddle boards for residents’ use. There is a village green space, barbecue grills, and a children’s playground. All of this can be reached walking along the promenade boardwalk which Roslyn Landing built for the town. There is also a clubhouse with many indoor amenities including a billiards table, bar, catering kitchen, fitness center, indoor children’s playroom and a golf simulator. But the amenity that sets Roslyn Landing apart is the firstof-its-kind partnership with The Red Door by Elizabeth Arden, the global leader in the luxury day spa industry. This amenity provides “house call” spa services; manicures, pedicures, and massages at the ring of your doorbell. The location is one of the best on Long Island. Roslyn Landing is metropolitan living in a Gold Coast suburb. One that delivers all the benefits of owning a suburban home but with all the luxury conveniences of city living as outdoor landscaping, snow and refuse removal, as well as mobile on-site security, are provided. Manhattan is close and easy to reach by car or train. Drivers have nearby access to the LIE and the LIRR provides an easy train ride via the Roslyn and Manhasset stations. For more information on Roslyn Landing, visit roslynlanding.com. • 56 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
Experience
Holden Beach
Hot Island Homes!
Looking for a quiet getaway? Holden Beach offers simplicity at the coast. Put away the busy life and enjoy the panoramic coast. Our area is very affordable for vacations or having a 2nd home. Low taxes, convenient amenities and a low population makes Holden Beach the ultimate location to unwind and enjoy your family.
Contact us today to learn about vacations and owning real estate at Holden Beach. We are conveniently located between Wilmington, North Carolina and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. For any iformation call or email: 910-842-1616 liveholdenbeach@gmail.com
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LOS CABOS LUXURY By Liza Mencarini
t’s the land of salt and sea, surf and sand and where rugged desert mountains meet the crystal clear waters. There’s truly no place on Earth like Los Cabos, Mexico. Los Cabos has become a top destination for vacation home buyers, with the market ramping back up to pre-recession prices and sales pace. For resort-goers, the town is booming, with 22 new resort openings in 2017, including luxury brands such as The Four Seasons, Nobu and Auberge. With a mix of beautiful scenery, fresh seafood, and warm, welcoming people, those looking for a second home have their eyes set on the Baja California Peninsula. What’s more, top-notch health care, low property taxes, and worry-free living—including security and property management—make Cabo even more attractive. Rising to the top of Cabo’s luxury real estate market is Querencia – the region’s only truly private gated community. Set atop the highest point in sunny San Jose del Cabo, Querencia is a 1,800-acre gated enclave that features a vast assortment of residences with expansive views of Mexico’s sparkling Sea of Cortez. There’s nothing like the tranquility that you get from Querencia. The gorgeous master-planned community combines luxury real estate with resort amenities, offering a variety of home sites, modern condos, lavish villas, and custom homes—providing plenty of options for every prospective home buyer. Querencia has become the top luxury community in Cabo, and here are the reasons Querencia (and Cabo!) is hotter than ever.
SUNSHINE YEAR ROUND The year-round sunshine and fresh ocean air of Los Cabos offer a paradise for those who want to escape the cold weather or love to stay active. Visitors can readily enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking (Querencia alone is home to a network of trails), swimming, scuba diving, surfing, paddle boarding and sports fishing nearly any time of year. For the golf enthusiast, Querencia is home to a worldrenowned 18-hole Tom Fazio Signature Course. Ranked one of the Top 100 courses in the world and awarded “Golf Destination of the Year” by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators, the spectacular course is a captivating mix of desert bluffs, elevation changes, and awe-inspiring shoreline views. Residents also enjoy the Q Club—the community’s 58,000 square-foot clubhouse—which is the heart and soul of Querencia. The Q Club offers world-class amenities, including a multitude of top fine dining options, a wine cellar, business center, game room and full concierge. For the health aficionado, the club has a state-of-the-art fitness center with a yoga pavilion. There’s also various aquatic amenities— including a lap pool, infinity pool, kids pool, and Jacuzzis—all boasting stunning ocean vistas. For those seeking a peaceful day of relaxation, there’s a full-service spa, fully equipped with a sauna, steam room, treatment rooms, beauty salon and barber shop. 58 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
UNPARALLELED VIEWS Whether it is a ready-made, turnkey property, or a “custom” luxury dream home, Cabo offers endless real estate options. At Querencia, the selection of homes and condos feature the finest luxury furnishings and amenities, while home sites offer a blank canvas for buyers to stroke their genius designs alongside worldclass builders and architects. One of the main highlights is the unobstructed Sea of Cortez views. With water surrounding three sides of the region, there is no shortage of beachfront real estate to experience in Los Cabos and Baja California Sur. Querencia offers breathtaking views of the ocean, and the soon-to-open Ocean Club will allow residents unprecedented access to extensive water experiences in Acapulquito, one of Cabo’s most acclaimed surf beaches. Recently, Querencia announced the new phase of the popular Verandas luxury condominiums, which offer two-, three- and four-bedroom layouts with spacious gourmet kitchens, breezy open-air terraces, expansive master suites and custom finishes and upgrades. The community also unveiled its newest neighborhood, Las Laderas, which features 14 single-family homes that offer contemporary design, modern amenities, and spectacular sea and golf course views.
FAMILY FRIENDLY Los Cabos is evolving into a destination—and even a year-round home—for the entire family. New movie theaters, art and music festivals, parks and nature exhibits offer entertainment for all ages. At Querencia, the Kids Club is always a favorite hangout spot. Likewise, the luxury buyer demographic now includes Gen-X and even Millennials. San Jose del Cabo is one of the most picturesque places in the world, and Querencia is the top community to experience the private and exclusive side of Cabo. For more information on Querencia, visit loscabosquerencia.com. • APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 59
507 WEST CHELSEA By Daniel J. Bollinger
n ever developing West Chelsea we found a beautiful new 375 unit rental complex composed of three buildings located at 507 West 28th Street. Next to The High Line and across the street from Zaha Hadid’s condo development, 507 West Chelsea couldn’t be at a better location. The three buildings combine seamlessly with a beautiful rotunda lobby with a sculptural multi-colored glass skylight. The studio-to-two bedroom rentals all have condo-like finishes; some wings are designed for privacy. The 28th Street side offers five units per floor on the lower levels and two-to-three units per floor on the upper floors. Most come with private balconies and terraces. There are quite a few different layouts in this development, but the quality design is consistent throughout. Floor-to-ceiling windows in all units make for great views and allow for plenty of light and come equipped with solar shades. The kitchens come with a stainless steel package of Blomberg and GE Café Series appliances. Some units have an open kitchen layout while others have pass thru kitchens. All have integrated cabinetry, and there is plenty of it in all the units. Kitchens are fitted with Kohler fixtures and quartz Ceaserstone countertops. Most striking is the stainless steel kitchen sink. The Bosch dishwasher is also nice. The color palette is light gray matte that creates an open airy feel and when combined with the appliances and the sparkling stainless steel backsplashes it creates a sophisticated industrial motif.
A STEP ABOVE THE REST The bathrooms also have a range of layouts but with design consistencies. Large elongated floor-to-ceiling light gray porcelain tiled walls are a step above your average rental, and they match the kitchen palette. There is a huge medicine cabinet with plenty of storage more befitting a condo than a rental. Most bathrooms feature two important design details - they are windowed and many showers have finished ledges that act like niches (great niche factor design aesthetic). All Kohler fixtures again in the bathroom with a very nice rain shower head. These are very beautiful apartments. The corner units have two exposures for panoramic views. The layouts make the best use of space which is great for entertaining. This is evident with the pocket doors throughout the apartments. The pocket doors (and all doors) are all solid wood construction. All of the closet doors have cute double pencil head wall protectors on the top of the hinges. The larger bedrooms have floor outlets made of solid brass. Small design details like solid brass floor outlets denote the care that the sponsors took in developing these rentals. The larger design features that denote this as well are in the amenities. 60 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
ALL THE BASICS…AND MORE There are seven thousand square feet of amenities spread over these three buildings. All the basics that you would expect are present like a children’s playroom, laundry room (most units come with Bosch washer/dryer), and two resident lounges. One is a quiet lounge that could be called “industrial cozy” with a fireplace with a landscaped green wall above all wrapped in sculptural concrete, steel, and warm wood. The second lounge is more of an entertainment lounge with a full catering kitchen where adults can enjoy some relaxing entertainment and keep a watchful eye on their children; a glass partition separates both. There are two roof decks outfitted with furniture and barbecue areas and high enough that you get some great views. But the ultimate amenity that comes with renting at 507 West Chelsea is a 50-foot indoor pool. More than just “a pool” it has great space with plenty of reclining seating around it. There is also a skylight in this space, so natural light penetrates. As West Chelsea develops into another hot spot in our city, 507 West Chelsea is a desirable place to call home with well designed units and a great amenities package. 507 West Chelsea is helping to build up the area as it has an additional 30,000 square feet of space for shops and convenience stores. Right now the concessions being offered make this a great value play. For more information on 507 West Chelsea, visit 507westchelsea.com. • APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 61
REAL ESTATE SPOTLIGHT By Daniel J. Bollinger
or nearly forty years Bernard Zyscovich, of Zyscovich Architects, has strived to create projects with a purpose, bringing new life and vibrancy to cityscapes through integrated urban planning, architecture, and interior design. To this day, Zyscovich Architects has remained true to the original concept: design projects that have purpose and meaning. Since the firm’s inception in 1977, the goal has always been to establish a company that can provide high-value services for design-specific issues while placing “social betterment” at the core of everything we do. Zyscovich Architects has designed the full spectrum of projects, from transportation facilities and airports to K-12 schools and universities, mixed-use commercial and public-private partnership developments to multi-family residential high rises and master plans for cities from Bogota Columbia to Miami Florida to NYC. I had a chance to sit down with Bernard and ask him a few questions. What brings you to New York City these days? Since living here during my years studying at Pratt Institute, New York City has always been an inspiring source of energy for me. Since opening an office here in the city several years ago, we have grown substantially which now brings me here more often. Your website classifies you as, “Making People Places.” Care to elaborate? We engage very seriously in urban design, architecture and interior architecture and believe that what we do is make stage sets for the interaction of people. So, we make places where people act and interact in a beautiful and engaging atmosphere that we have the privilege to create. What is your definition of “social betterment”? Can you give some examples of your work? We have chosen to orient our practice towards work that has impact and purpose. We love having the opportunity to transform and create new neighborhoods, or design a great school or even develop a plan to transform highway infrastructure into safe bikeways and parks like our last pro bono project that is now on exhibit in Miami (planzformiami.com). 62 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
What is your approach to urban design and master planning? Our approach is discovering what is unique and authentic about the places where we work and build the plan around that. We call that Real Urbanism© which I discuss in a book I authored published by ULI called Getting Real about Urbanism. With so many new New York City neighborhoods forming like Hudson Yards and Long Island City, what advice can you give to our fine city?
Keep moving forward with this grand experiment called New York. I love how the emphasis on open space and parks of recent years, makes the city so much more livable while also being even more urban. I’m a big believer in eco-solutions like solar panels and such that help cut our carbon footprint and bring down operating costs of structures. Have you incorporated anything eco into your projects or plan to? Yes, we have been incorporating these elements for years in our LEED buildings but also love experimenting with these ideas with our institutional clients. See the YouTube video of our platinum school called Galaxy E3 Elementary School in Palm Beach. Where do you draw your inspiration/ideas from? To a great extent traveling and also, of course, just plain curiosity. Which architect or architectural style has influenced you the most? Like most architects, I have been trained and influenced by modernism, but I think that projects need to be understood in their moment and am influenced as much by popular culture and music as any particular style. What do you want to be remembered for? Leaving something behind that added value to the communities that I work in: Making something out of nothing. In Miami, you have Puerto Sagua right off Ocean Drive and in New York City, I would recommend Café Habana on Prince Street. Let me take you there, and we can compare? Si’ como no! • APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 63
SPA SCENE: GEMVIE MEDISPA By Griffin Miller, Spa Editor
omewhere on this third planet from the sun—the very sun that warms and ages us simultaneously—there is a magical potion that makes your skin glow, your acne or wrinkles (check one or both) disappear, and anything on your person that sags droops or simply annoys you. Correction: Nowhere on this planet does any such potion exist. Granted, some of these beauty complaints can (presumably) be corrected through makeup, OTC creams, prescription serums, QVC gizmos or cosmetic surgery. Increasingly, though, 21st-century-ites who want to improve face and body aesthetics are turning to spas: short term for special events; ongoing for upkeep. As for the seriously result-oriented, medical spas are the best option—and in Manhattan, one of the most respected (and impressive) is GemVie MediSpa. Here, specialized services with lasting effects require diligence, commitment and, at times, the ability to tolerate mild doses of stinging, itching, soreness, and downtime. Red-carpet fabulous is not for sissies. While non-invasive regimens—facial peels, dermaplaning, microdermabrasion, microcurrent non-surgical facelifts, and other proven media-corrective measures—are instrumental in keeping us looking our best, not all medical spas offering these services are created equal. And big bells and whistles don’t necessarily guarantee results.
AN EXTENSIVE SPA MENU GemVie is unique in its relaxed yet comprehensive approach to what will and will not work for individual clients. According to spa director and esthetician Galina Morgovsky, not only are clients carefully vetted before undergoing a service (“What is your concern: wrinkles, discoloration, acne?”), once treatment begins, they are asked at different points how they feel (tightening, itching, etc.) on a one to 10 scale. This approach proved a useful touchstone during my “Image I Peel the signature facelift” – a four-tiered, easy-on-delicate facial tissue treatment that promises immediate results and delivers. After my face was cleansed and prepped came the Facelift Solution, followed by an Anti-Oxidant Facial Enhancer, then a Resurfacing Masque and finally, the Vital C Hydrating Enzyme Masque. This cumulative method—no layers are removed until the end--allows for maximum saturation and a nice glow that lasts for several days. Really!
The Spring edition of Spa Week® is slated for April 17th through 23rd, and Manhattan is a major player with dozens of spas and wellness centers offering some of their most coveted services—normally running between $100 and $500—for a mere $50 each. For a list of participating spas, the treatments being offered, contact information for appointments and any more information on Spa Week, visit spaweek.com.
Other peels are more intense and only part of GemVie’s extensive menu (check out their website—it’s wonderfully diverse, including everything from waxing to massage to Botox and Juvederm). One final note: GemVie’s clientele are likely to be (or become) regulars, which is why the spa offers impressive multiple-treatment packages and frequent specials (an Intense Pulse Light Rejuvenation Treatment was recently reduced in price more than one-third). As for the next big thing, Galina says that micro-needling promises to be the next big thing, which means that sometime soon, GemVie will be offering it to its clients. My advice? Stay tuned! For more information GemVie MediSpa (24 East 36th Street), visit gemvie.com. • 64 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
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NO-FUSS FITNESS NYC By Daryn Mayer
ith warmer weather around the corner, what’s the best way for busy New Yorkers to spring into shape without wasting a lot of time and effort? As a former fitness trainer and instructor, I am very particular about working out, and I believe that exercise should be fun, safe, and effective. According to TV host and fitness pro Eraldo Maglara, “The perfect workout should focus on your fitness goals, and it should be designed to motivate you to increase your strength and stamina.” He continues, “You should try to incorporate more than one type of exercise in your workout, however, if you find something you love, stick with it. Today’s fitness trend is about personalized instruction, either individual or in small groups. And it’s not just on-site anymore. A lot of boutiques are streaming their classes to reach members who can’t make it to their facilities”, says Eraldo. Here’s a roundup of some of the best fitness classes and studios that offer perfectly balanced workouts. Each class includes hands-on instruction, fabulous music, motivation, and high energy to keep you working until the end.
FLYWHEEL SPORTS Flywheel Indoor Stadium Cycling Created by the legendary instructor, Ruth Zukerman, one of the driving forces behind the indoor cycling phenomenon, Flywheel offers classes with highly trained instructors in a stadium setting. Their proprietary seating, which is both curved and tiered, ensures that riders have an unobstructed view of the instructor and that every seat is the best seat. During each class, talented Flywheel instructors lead you through climbs, descents, races, rhythm-riding, and sprints to supercharge your day. All of the activities are set to musical playlists that are crafted to motivate, inspire, and empower you, not just in class but in life. Flywheel’s innovative technology puts the power of your ride at your fingertips. Each Flywheel bike is equipped with a small computer screen, or TechPack, which allows riders to view their real-time performance data and total energy expended. Instructors provide clear targets for RPMs and torque during the ride, which makes it easy for you to challenge your toughest competitor: yourself. Additionally, Flywheel classes are not just for your legs; they also help to strengthen your core. Flywheel’s workout also helps to tone your arms with a pair of weighted bars. Finally, on a personal note, I think that the classes are invigorating, addictive, and worth every penny. FlyBarre by Flywheel FlyBarre is a total-body sculpting class that blends light weight-training with exercises to help you strengthen your core, Combining these two types of workouts yields the ultimate toning experience. Led by motivational instructors, FlyBarre is a fun, high-energy workout that quickly slims the body and strengthens its muscles. Routines are switched frequently and concentrate on different areas of the body, such as arms, abdomen, legs, and glutes. FlyBarre is characterized by rhythmic “pulses.” These small, isolated movements transform your body and tone muscles you didn’t even know you had. Each exercise is carefully crafted, and their expert instructors lead you through individualized exercises, which creates a personalized experience. Finally, you can choose from a broad selection of classes that enables you to customize your experience level with your busy schedule. In addition to the signature classes, they also offer FlyBarre Sport, which is an enhanced version of standard FlyBarre, as well as classes that focus solely focus on specific bodily areas. Flywheel Sports offers an IOS app that makes it easy to browse, reserve, and manage your classes online. Classes are located throughout the New York metropolitan area. And for Frequent Flywheelers, they offer monthly membership and bulk pricing packages. Bonus perks include complimentary shoes, towels, fruit, and water. For more information on Flywheel Sports, visit flywheelsports.com. 66 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
RIPPED FITNESS Created by Brian Ripka, Ripped Fitness is a fantastic and effective fifty-minute workout. Ripped combines dynamic strength and sculpting exercises with a high-intensity cardio treadmill. Their specially-trained, experienced instructors guide, encourage and inspire you through this full-body fitness regimen using state-of-the-art Woodway Treadmills, which is the gold standard used to train professional athletes around the world. Each class includes great music that is selected by instructors who inspire and guide you in a luxurious environment. You may never have more fun exercising than you do on a treadmill at Ripped. They offer the ability to reserve classes online, and for Daily Rippers they have bulk and live-streaming options available. Bonus perks include a water bottle and cushy orange towels, and they have locations on the Upper East Side and in Westchester. For more information on Ripped Fitness, visit rippedfit.com.
AKT (ANNA KAISER TECHNIQUE) Created by celebrity trainer Anna Kaiser, all of the AKT classes incorporate high-intensity intervals with flexibility and strength training, which provides participants with a comprehensive workout. The content of AKT classes changes every two weeks to prevent plateauing by keeping both the body and the mind challenged. With a variety of courses to choose from, AKT has something for everyone: Happy Hour For those who want to get their groove on, Happy Hour is a dance-based interval training class that is perfect for students of any level. They alternate between unique combinations of dance cardio, toning, and dynamic flexibility sections, and they are conducted with heartpumping music that is designed to keeps the mind and body motivated. 4 Play For those who prefer not to dance, there is 4 Play. Not your average boot camp style class, these sessions feature weighted props, bands, energizing music, and a motivating instructor who pushes participants in a fun and engaging manner. 4 Play is one of the quickest and most effective ways to build lean muscle while improving your overall strength through a combination of HIIT intervals, functional strength training, and dynamic stretching. On demand streaming is available, as well as memberships and bulk packages. Bonus perks include beautiful showers and changing rooms, infused water, and special events. • APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 67
THE EPIDEMIC OF OUR TIMES By Dr. Peter Kalellis
ow often have you heard, “I’m stressed, I can’t take it anymore?” I was surprised to hear the word “stress” from my cousin Dimitri who lives in Athens, Greece. “I have a lot of stress,” he said with a deep sigh. Obviously, Americans have no monopoly on the stress epidemic. It exists in other parts of the world. But what does “stress” really mean? Does it mean to be overwhelmed for a day or two by too much to do in too little time? Does it mean that the person is in panic mode while facing a pressing deadline? According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary stress is defined as “a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation.”
STRESS FOR ALL AGES For most people, daily pressure hassles are the most damaging to the body. Internalizing stress creates something of a steady drip, drip, drip of stress hormones into a person’s tissues, including the brain. The little stressors add up over time and can do far more damage than an occasional negative event that might produce a more massive stress reaction. One does not have to be a physician or psychologist to realize that everyone regardless of age has some experience of stress. Thousands of people suffer from some kind of stress. The question that always surfaces in our minds: Why has stress, which is almost as common as an average cold, become a major problem in our daily lives? In our times of rapid changes and insecurity about life’s events, individuals and families are undergoing significant stress. Changes in lifestyles, passionate self-scrutiny, and turbulent family interaction, conflicts in values, competitive feelings, and undefined and unrealistic expectations frustrate any attempt to create a meaningful way of life. We may have attained intellectual feats, and technology is daily reaching unimaginable progress; yet most of us experience a feeling of emptiness, an emotional deprivation, and seem to need more. Often, the more we learn about ourselves, the less we think of ourselves. The more we observe life, the less we participate in joyful living.
YOUR VITAL ENERGIES Many aspects of life cause stress upon the mind, body, and soul. Our busy schedules seem to fill every waking hour with important appointments and tasks. Dealing with a major personal conflict or sudden illness or the painful loss of a loved one makes life stressful. Stress is stealing the vital energies we need to be reasonably content, inwardly whole human beings. The chance of escaping stressful times is slim. But the objective of this article and the future articles is to help the reader face reality and learn to live reasonably happily with less anxiety. Living as God meant us to live requires that we understand and appreciate what is ours every day—our humanity, our health, our homes, our life and someone who cares and loves us. We develop our bodies and find them strong, beautiful, and useful. We cultivate our minds and realize that they are God’s greatest gifts to humans as we use them wisely and creatively. We can be truthful and honest with ourselves and to others. We are willing to take risks, to change when the situation calls for it, to hold back if what is ahead seems risky or dangerous. We adjust to what is new and different, keeping what seems to be useful and discarding what is not. Doing these things makes us healthy, alert, sensitive, playful, loving, and productive human beings. 68 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
Most of us have been told one time or another what we ought to do to build up and maintain physical health. Eat the right food. Don’t overeat, drink alcohol in moderation, and don’t smoke. Take a multiple vitamin every day, plus vitamins B-12, B-6, and C. Exercise regularly, at least thirty minutes each day. Watch your weight. Learn to relax. Get a good night’s sleep. Have a complete physical checkup at least once a year. Your medical doctor has probably told you to make sure your systolic blood pressure is under 140 and your diastolic not above 70. Beyond any doubt, good physical health is important and needs to be maintained. The question we are left with is: Does it eliminate anxiety? Many healthy, good-natured, and strong people are still subjects to some stress. And since some stress is unavoidable, how can we live with less stress? I hope and believe that the articles about stress during the following months will help the reader live a life with less stress. • Dr. Peter M. Kalellis is a psychotherapist, marriage and family therapist, lecturer, and writer. He has a doctorate in clinical psychology and is the author of many books. He maintains his practice in Westfield, New Jersey.
EASY WEIGHT LOSS SECRETS By Patricia Canole
ith warmer temperatures right around the corner, it’s time to think of outdoor workouts and healthier eating plans. If this is the case and you want to lose a few pounds—but can’t face the thought of strict eating programs, then take heart. You can lose weight without suffering. By making small changes in your daily routine, you can lose 14 pounds in just over two months without feeling deprived—and still, have plenty of energy to take care of those lastminute planning details. It’s simple math. For every 3,500 calories, you expend above what you take in; you lose a pound. Pare 350 calories from what you normally eat and burn an extra 350 a day and you’ll be 14 pounds lighter in 60 days. Follow these simple suggestions, and you’ll not only lose weight—you’ll also create new habits that will help keep you trim throughout the year!
RE-PORTION YOUR PORTIONS Many of us tend to eat more servings of fat-free foods like bagels, cereals, and grains than we realize. People have heard the message about weighty matters, but not the message that portions of food also matter. Check the food packaging for suggested serving size and compare it to what you’re eating—you may be surprised. A 105-calorie serving of Grape Nuts, for example, is only one cup of cereal—a large bowl can easily exceed 400 calories. If you’re dining out and can’t control your portions, just divide your meal into thirds and leave a third on your plate—you’ll cut your total calories without feeling deprived. Save 209 calories by leaving a third of your cheeseburger and fries at lunch.
USE A SPEED BUMP If you tend to be a fast eater, try a “speed bump” food at the beginning of your meal. A speed bump food is something like hot soup or spicy salsa that you can’t consume very quickly— so you’re forced to slow down, which gives your body a chance to feel satisfied before you overeat. Since it takes at least twenty minutes to feel full, take your time and concentrate on enjoying your food instead of gobbling it down—you’ll wind up consuming less. Save 352 calories by skipping that third piece of deepdish pepperoni pizza.
THINK ABOUT DRINKS How many calories are you drinking? If you regularly down lattes or sweetened beverages, it’s probably more than you think. A lot of research has shown that people don’t look at beverages as food. So many of us confess they’ve had two cups of juice at breakfast not realizing that’s 300 calories right there—that’s three miles of walking. Cutting back on coffee and tea can have a significant effect on your weight if you usually add cream or sugar to them. If you drink a lot of java, you can lose 10 pounds in a year simply by drinking it black instead of with cream! Save 20 calories for every cup of coffee you drink black instead of with a tablespoon of half-and-half. APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 69
MAKE SMARTER SUBSTITUTIONS We tend to eat the same foods over and over, so look at the foods you regularly consume and cut calories that you won’t miss. If you always eat buttered toast for breakfast, try it with jam or fruit spread instead. Cut back on the mayo you spread on your sandwich. And instead of using margarine on cooked vegetables, try a non-fat butter-flavored spray. Save 100 calories per tablespoon of margarine you skip.
EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS Don’t be daunted by burning additional calories—it’s easier than you think. In other words, everything—from standing up out of a chair to walking down a hall to lifting weights or biking—counts, so people need to be conscious of trying to increase physical activity in little ways throughout the day. Even the busiest of us can work extra movement into their schedules, Park farther away from the store or take the stairs instead of the elevator when you’re running errands. Even household chores like vacuuming, sweeping and dusting can be challenging depending on how much effort you expend. The harder you work, the more calories you use! Burn 170 calories for 40 minutes of house cleaning and doing laundry.
TUNE INTO YOUR BODY Are you truly hungry when you eat? Or do you tend to snack out of habit without paying attention to your appetite? If you’re eating when you’re not hungry, those are usually extra calories that your body does not need. Instead, “check in” with your body to confirm that you’re physically hungry before you eat. Save 246 calories by passing up two chocolate chip cookies and a glass of 2 percent milk.
GET MOVING! Don’t overlook the calorie-burning benefits of regular exercise—aim for thirty minutes of sustained physical activity most days of the week. You may find it more convenient to break this time into three tenminute segments if you don’t have the time for one sustained workout. Take breaks from work and walk up and down the stairs or go outside. Burn 117 calories by walking up and down your stairs for 10 minutes.
BUILD MUSCLE Finally, if you want to achieve lasting weight loss, don’t neglect strength training. It’s effective for weight control because it helps maintain muscle mass and muscle burns more calories than fat even at rest. Investing in dumbbells and performing a simple weight routine twice a week will keep you toned—and increase the number of calories you burn even when you’re relaxing at home with your new husband! Burn 110 calories by lifting dumbbells for 20 minutes. • 70 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
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BANISHING THE BABY BLUES By Dr. Carly Snyder
ecently celebrity model Chrissy Teigen revealed her lingering struggle with postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter Luna. She is not alone. Did you know that postpartum depression, anxiety and psychosis affect one in four women? However, what is most amazing is the stigma around mental illness, and cultural myths of effortless motherhood keep so many sufferers from coming forward. We recently met with Dr. Carly Snyder, a reproductive and perinatal psychiatrist who works with women struggling with emotional symptoms throughout their reproductive years. “Women often come to see me at pivotal points in their lives to address anxiety or depression. Some women are struggling with their mood and need to address things in advance of pregnancy, sometimes while undergoing fertility treatments, whereas other women are already pregnant or postpartum. We work together to minimize mood symptoms while simultaneously reducing risk to a future baby and mom. Other women are currently stable and feeling good, but have a history of a psychiatric illness like depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder and hope to conceive shortly,” she said. Synder also explained there are still others on medications. We discuss the options, risks, and benefits of various forms of treatment, and together map out ways to maximize their health and wellness in advance of, during, and after pregnancy. What is your approach to treating mental health and all aspects of a women’s life when creating a treatment plan? I believe in a holistic approach to mental health. I always strongly encourage lifestyle modifications, such as dietary changes, exercise, and improving sleep hygiene—I am always asked if there is any one thing that can make or break a woman’s mood and the answer is sleep! There is no treatment effective enough to overcome the adverse effects of sleep deprivation, and nothing is as restorative and mood enhancing as a good night’s sleep and being consistently well-rested. • Dietary changes are also important to minimize inflammation, a cause of or an exacerbating factor increasing anxiety for some women. Additionally, I hunt for potential biologic causes for a woman’s mood symptoms, such as low vitamin D and B-12 or hypothyroidism. By checking labs and examining for abnormalities, we can determine ways to improve a woman’s overall health and as a result also improve her mood and energy. 72 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
• Psychotherapy is also incredibly helpful for women struggling with mood symptoms, so I will often either see a woman in therapy myself or refer her to a respected colleague if she is not already in treatment. What can be done for more severe depression? I believe in the benefit of medication for women struggling with more moderate to severe illness. Choosing the right medication to minimize symptoms requires me to work in close collaboration with the woman and understand her history, her symptoms and to know the most modern literature and research. I provide women with options and information and allow them to decide how to approach treatment—my role is not to decide for them, but to give them the tools to make a well-informed, educated decision. Every woman deserves to feel emotionally stable and healthy in advance of, during and after pregnancy. My goal is to empower my patients with knowledge and tools to feel their best in short and the long run.
Why is depression considered a women’s health issue? One in four women will experience depression in their lifetime. Pregnancy is not protective against depression or anxiety, and sadly 12-to-20 percent of pregnant women experience clinical mood symptoms during their pregnancies. Untreated depression and anxiety during pregnancy are potentially dangerous for mom and her baby as they are associated with poor self-care, decreased attendance at routine prenatal care and increased drug and alcohol use. It results in preterm labor and delivery, increased risk of gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia, traumatic delivery and C- sections, poor fetal weight gain... the list goes on. Women who are depressed and anxious in pregnancy often do not improve with delivery, which makes sense given the profound drop in hormones and the new stressors that come with a newborn including sleep deprivation, the physical toll of delivery with little time to recuperate, and the newfound responsibilities of caring for an infant. What can happen to a woman with severe depression? Sadly, in its most severe form, depression is deadly. Suicide is a leading cause of death in the first year postpartum, accounting for up to 20 percent of maternal mortality in that first year. Untreated depression and anxiety are associated with impaired bonding, lower likelihood of successful nursing, shorter duration of nursing, and various behavioral and developmental consequences for a baby. Not to mention that some research suggests that exposure to untreated illness during and after pregnancy is associated with poor sleep for infants through two years of age. Postpartum psychosis, considered by most to be a form of bipolar disorder, is associated with 5 percent suicide rate and 4 percent infanticide rate. Thus postpartum psychosis is considered a medical emergency requiring hospitalization immediately. Beyond the scary statistics, I remind women that being pregnant and having a new baby are incredible, unique times in a woman’s life—stressful, yes, but still incredibly rewarding and undeniably beautiful when mom is emotionally well enough to enjoy the moments. Depression and anxiety rob women of the ability to enjoy the incredible journey of pregnancy and the indescribable joy of cuddling your infant. Parenthood is an amazing experience, and there is no reason why moms or their children should suffer the consequences and lose the wonderful experiences because of untreated mental illness. What is being done today to help women with mental health conditions? Thankfully, there is an increasing understanding over the past few years that experiencing mood symptoms during or after pregnancy is not something to feel guilty or ashamed about; women are just as worthy and equipped for motherhood if they suffer from mental illness, and can feel well and be happy with proper support and treatment. Celebrities speaking out about their personal battles with postpartum depression has been instrumental in normalizing the experience. Rather than remaining quiet and ashamed, by speaking out about their experiences, celebrities have allowed other women to be open about their emotions and ask for help. Advocacy groups such as Postpartum Support International have worked tirelessly to improve understanding of perinatal mood disorders for women and their families while simultaneously teaching providers how to adequately treat women in these situations. I am the Research Chair on the Board of Directors for Postpartum Support International, and can personally attest to the tireless work by PSI to improve understanding and increase the availability of well-trained providers on behalf of all women suffering from perinatal mood and anxiety disorders all over the world. Additionally, positive steps have been taken by states such as New Jersey and New York through mandated screening for depression during and after pregnancy to help increase identification of women suffering and refer them to treatment. Our society still has ways to go before we can comfortably say there is no longer stigma surrounding mental health conditions during and after pregnancy. However each year brings positive growth and a greater appreciation for the illness and support for treatment, and that is a beautiful thing for moms and their families. • Carly Snyder, MD is the Clinical Course Director for the Mount Sinai Beth Israel Senior Reproductive Psychiatry Elective and holds voluntary faculty and teaching appointments at Beth Israel Mount Sinai and New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Dr. Snyder is a regular contributor to the Huffington Post on her blog called MD for Moms. She has a weekly radio show also named MD for Moms on TuneIn Radio and the BBM Global Network. She is regularly quoted as an expert in women’s mental health and wellbeing, most recently in Cosmopolitan, Reader’s Digest, The New York Post and Self. APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 73
SPRING CLEAN YOUR BREAKFAST By Shari Bilt Boockvar, MS, RDN
pring is here and not only is it common for New Yorkers to do an annual Spring cleaning of their homes, but it is also an excellent time of year to rejuvenate meals. As many of my clients and friends know, I don’t recommend changing all your foods at once, so one of the best places to start is with breakfast. It’s the first meal of the day and the one that will set the pace for the rest of your choices for the remainder of the day. Need some fresh ideas? Here are some breakfasts that I make for my family!
WHOLE GRAIN TORTILLA OR PITA BREAKFAST QUESADILLAS I love the versatility of tortillas and pitas. You can stuff them, roll them, or use them as thin crust pizzas. Try topping yours with any of these varieties: • Cottage cheese, sliced strawberries, ground cinnamon and a drizzle of honey. • Turkey breast, apple slices, light shredded cheese (toasted if desired). • Scrambled eggs and mashed avocado. • Light whipped cream cheese, tomato, onion and smoked salmon.
WHOLE GRAIN CRACKER TOPPINGS Crackers are quick and easy, no toasting necessary. I enjoy them with a tablespoon of almond butter, sliced apples and a drizzle of honey. I’ve also used them to “scoop” scrambled eggs with chopped avocado.
WHOLE GRAIN CEREAL Yes, it’s okay to eat cereal as long as you stick to the serving size on the box and choose whole grain varieties. Look for brands that have at least 4-5 grams of fiber and no more than 3 grams of fat per serving. Check the ingredient list to make sure the ingredients are simple and not loaded with sugar. Simplest way to enjoy? Mix in your favorite berries and pour on your dairy or non-dairy beverage of choice.
STEEL CUT OATMEAL Oatmeal is a wonderful heart and waist friendly choice. Look for those without a lot of added sugar. I love adding a chopped apple and small handful of chopped or sliced nuts such as almonds, walnuts or pecans, or you could swirl in a tablespoon of your favorite nut butter.
NUTRIBULLET OR BLENDER SMOOTHIE If you only have a few minutes to put together a quick, healthy and protein-rich breakfast, grab your NutriBullet or blender. All you need to do is add a few ingredients and blend. Here’s your recipe: 1 cup of low fat Greek Yogurt + handful of frozen berries + 1 tablespoon nut butter + ¼ cup water (add a handful of spinach or kale, if desired).
PANCAKE OR WAFFLE SANDWICHES So easy! Take a whole grain pancake or waffle, spread with Greek yogurt or cottage cheese, top with slices of your favorite fruit and put another pancake or waffle on top. Voila! Breakfast sandwich! Feel free to add a drizzle of natural peanut butter or honey in the sandwich.
REACH FOR A BAR AND A PIECE OF FRUIT No time for breakfast? I’m not a huge fan of substituting bars for meals but sometimes there just isn’t time. Look for ones made with simple ingredients, not a lot of sugar and that have a minimum of 3 grams of fiber per serving. An example would be Oatmega or RX bars. The bar along with fruit can make a quick meal when in a jam.
Shari Bilt Boockvar, MS, RDN is a nutritionist in New York and the Tristate area. She specializes in nutrition counseling and consulting for weight control and fitness. Shari can be found blogging about her favorite products and recipes at Facebook.com/ NutritionShari, Twitter.com/NutrtionShari, Instagram: NutritionShari, and nutrifactsforyou.com. 74 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
DINING OUT
ANGUS CLUB STEAKHOUSE Angus Club Steakhouse is a rare find and fits in well in the Midtown East restaurant scene where shops and hotels line Lexington and 55th Street. When we stepped inside, there is a surprisingly beautiful Art Deco influence throughout. The bi-level restaurant boasts muted shades along with beige and metallic accents. Add leather chairs, along with the soft illumination from the chandeliers, and you have what co-owner Margent Maslinka calls a steakhouse with a not-too-overly masculine ambiance. But the real star here is the food. All natural. The menu is built on years of experience and knowledge from Executive Chef and co-owner Edward Avdyli in preparing perfect steaks and seafood for the masses. Only dry-aged Prime USDA cuts from the Midwest make for the most delicious beef that is tender and full of flavor. The selection process is crucial to ensure the quality of meat provided is second to none. For starters cut into the Jumbo Lump Crabmeat Cocktail, filled with juicy crabmeat, which illustrates sheer freshness and perfection. Bacon-lovers will enjoy the Thick Slab of Canadian Bacon—charred to perfection. There’s also Lump Crab Cakes, Prime Steak Tartare, and the Baby Lamb Chops are incredibly tender and good.
SATISFYING TO THE LAST BITE Main course choices are endless: Try the signature Porterhouse or Ribeye - both prime examples of how satisfying the meat itself can be. All steaks are served in their natural juices. Melt in your mouth perfection with each bite is the proper way of enjoying steak. Also on the menu are a perfectly prepared NY Sirloin Steak as well as the Filet Mignon. But let it be known, Angus Club isn’t only for those meat lovers who appreciate their knives held at the ready to dig into a juicy steak. Seafood and those tempting side dishes happily reflect another side of their menu that melds American comfort food with a bit more decadence. The Grilled Chilean Sea Bass, prepared with capers and carrots in a white wine reduction, is served well-seared and delivers an elegant taste. Also for the seafaring crowd don’t miss the 3 lb. Lobster (steamed or broiled), and the pan-seared Norwegian Salmon with Beurre Blanc Sauce. Of course, no main course is complete without a few sides. For comfort food to the max, try the delightful Truffle Mac ‘n’ Cheese with its creamy texture of cheese and essence of truffle oil. Other sides to try include Sautéed Mushrooms with a slight hint of garlic and oil as well as the ever-popular Creamed Spinach, marinated and cooked in its own broth, allowing for a more flavorful heartiness. Angus Club Steakhouse houses well over a thousand bottles of wine in their temperature-controlled wine cellar (located on the Lower Level). Sommelier Margent will happily recommend some excellent wine pairings to go with your meal. This steakhouse knows their beef (and seafood, too). They also deliver on service and generous portions. Dining here is truly a pleasant way to enjoy an evening on the town. We guarantee it won’t be your last! For more information on Angus Club Steakhouse (135 East 55th Street), visit angusclubsteakhouse.com. -Lyle Seltzer 76 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
TESSA TESSA is an energetic, lively, restaurant featuring original, inspired and delicious food. Located on the Upper West Side, the Michelin-recommended eatery is an excellent place where you can enjoy everything from cocktail hour to a full meal at the bar which seats 50, or dinner in the bustling 65-seat dining room. It’s well-appointed and an ideal pre-theater spot or postconcert mezze with drinks, as well as for dinner paired with the finest bottles of wines from TESSA’s reserve list. The theme and style of the restaurant are aptly captured by the desiagn and décor at once rustic and urban-industrial, welcoming and chic. In the back, there’s a private dining/wine room that is quiet, but still part of the action.
A DINING EXPERIENCE No matter what you choose to order—the flavors pop and surprise. The Mediterranean-inspired menu is designed to please and offers guests everything from mezze, cheese boards, shared plates, appetizers, pasta and risotto, entrees, sides. From Executive Chef Eric Cope, examples include a Mezze Trio of house dips—carrot harissa, smoked eggplant, ricotta cheese. Or, opt for the Tender Octopus a la Plancha with Yellow Squash Caponata, Tangy Green Olive Tapenade, and aged Balsamic. Don’t pass up the pasta which is available as an appetizer or entrée or sharing portions that may include Lobster Whole Wheat Spaccatelli tossed with Local Corn, Chanterelles, Shallots, and Purslane and Rabbit Cavatelli. Entrees are equally delicious and range from Long Island Duck to 32 oz. Cote de Boeuf for two (45-day dry aged Certified Angus Beef with a side of your choice). Sides include Housemade Fries with Rosemary Salt, Creamed Spinach and Kale, and other Seasonal Vegetables. To pair with the food, the TESSA team has developed an intriguing and balanced wine by the glass program with selections from France, Italy, Germany and the US and ten beers on tap with frequent rotations. The cocktail and wine list features classic cocktails and inventions such as La Flor de Tessa with Broker’s Gin, Cocchi Americano, lavender honey, fresh lemon, rose water and an edible flower. But it doesn’t end there—after dinner drinks include an enticing list of dessert wines including Port, Madeira, Armagnac, Cognac, Calvados, Amaro, and Chartreuse. Perhaps most impressive of all, there is also a thoughtfully curated wine list of over 90 labels in the wine room. For more information on TESSA (349 Amsterdam Avenue), visit tessanyc.com. • -Patricia Canole APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 77
SWEET TREATS By Gigi Stone Woods
ately, we seem to put a lot of effort into depriving ourselves of calories, sugar, and cholesterol, so when we do indulge, we owe it to ourselves to find the treats most worthy of our sinning. I have always believed we should be the most wellinformed, well- researched gluttons we can be, which is why I decided to enlist the one person I know who approaches sweets-eating with the concentration and urgency of a surgeon separating conjoined twins: my 4-year-old son, Weston.
DŌ, COOKIE DOUGH CONFECTIONS Once upon a time, lines stretched so far around the block for Cronuts, Levain cookies, and Magnolia cupcakes that people even hired strangers to wait for them. Not anymore. NYC dessert lovers aren’t craving warm-from-the-oven treats. Now, they can’t stop eating cookie dough. Yes, the kind your mother wouldn’t let you lick out of the bowl for fear you’d contract salmonella. Kristen Tomlan, certified genius, figured out how to make cookie dough that’s safe to eat, and those who try it may never be the same again. The raw dough is made with pasteurized eggs, so it can’t technically make you ill unless you OD. Perhaps that’s the secret message in the shop’s name: “DO.” Since February, when it opened its doors, crowds have formed early and stayed late. “DO” has even had to hire “line managers” to help keep it all moving. Obviously, the most popular flavor is the classic chocolate chip but don’t overlook the appropriately named “heavenly dough,” which is made with sugar cookie dough, Nutella, chocolate chips, caramel bits and sea salt. Oops, I just left a pool of drool on my laptop. For more information, visit DŌ, Cookie Dough Confections (550 LaGuardia Place; cookiedonyc.com).
BLACK TAP Black Tap is your wildest milkshake fantasy come true. Instagramworthy masterpieces featuring a kitchen sink of toppings: doughnuts, slices of cake, M&Ms, cotton candy, rock candy and chocolate chip cookies. Before you go, please seek the assistance of a friend—it’s not wise to try to eat one of these alone. Plus, it’s nice to have someone to stand with you in line; Black Tap fans have been known to wait up to three hours for a jaunt to shake heaven. For more information, visit Black Tap (529 Broome Street; blacktapnyc.com).
TAIYAKI NYC When it comes to the prettiest dessert in town, Taiyaki is a clear winner. The trendiest new Japanese ice cream parlor in Chinatown serves treats that are so beautiful; you almost don’t want to ruin them with your mouth. Picture this: soft-serve ice cream piled on top of an openmouthed, Tai-fish-shaped waffle cone. The fish, a symbol of wealth and good luck in Japan, actually works. By the time you finish a cone, you feel fuller, happier, and richer.
SQUISH MARSHMALLOWS
For more information, visit Taiyaki NYC (119 Baxter Street; taiyakinyc.com).
If you crave s’mores year-round and wouldn’t dream of skipping marshmallows to top your hot chocolate, then you’ll want to head over to the appropriately named—Squish Marshmallows. Katherine Sprung is the creator behind Squish Marshmallows who was hooked when she started making these confections in new and unique flavors. These hand-cut marshmallows come in a variety of flavors, ranging from banana pudding to birthday party to peanut butter and jelly, and, of course, the obvious s’more. For more information, visit Squish Marshmallows (120 St. Marks Place; squishmarshmallows.com). 78 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
ODD FELLOWS ICE CREAM CO.
THE SWEET SHOP Kelly “The Candyman” Jaime, and his wife, Glyn, are the husband-and- wife candy buffs who started this shop, combining a love of sweets with all things vintage and retro. Their shop specializes in hard-to-find sweets and is filled from floor-to-ceiling with candies from around world, fun trinkets and artisanal treats. Their more than 200 candy jars include a great selection of candy necklaces, Pop Rocks, and Turkish Taffy. Bestseller: “Candyman’s Silkies,” handmade marshmallows drenched in your choice of buttery caramel or chocolate caramel. Most unusual treat: cherry-flavored gummy chicken feet. For more information, visit The Sweet Shop (404 East 73rd Street; thesweetshopnyc.com).
THE SWEET LIFE This old-fashioned, family-run candy shop has occupied its Lower East Side location for 25 years. The place is filled with long-gone treats, like penny candy from apothecary jars. An even sweeter deal: giant gummy bear and chocolate made on the premises. And their mixed candy- and- nut bags make a chic hostess gift. For more information, visit The Sweet Life (63 Hester Street; sweetlifenyc.com).
True aficionados already know that the ice cream at Odd Fellows is amazing, but it reaches a new peak when it’s surrounded by a soft and sweet brioche bun. Drizzled with caramel sauce and coated with rainbow sprinkles, it’s irresistible. For more information, visit Odd Fellows Ice Cream (175 Kent Avenue; oddfellowsnyc.com).
LI-LAC CHOCOLATES Manhattan’s oldest chocolate house, preserving traditions and heritage of old-school handcrafted chocolate for nearly 100 years, Li-Lac Chocolates uses original recipes and cooking methods from the 1920s. Luckily, they haven’t gone the least bit stale. For more information, visit Li-Lac Chocolates (40 Eighth Avenue; li-lacchocolates.com).
VOSGES HAUTE-CHOCOLAT If you’re truly a chocolate connoisseur and believe it to be one of the five basic, food groups, then you already know Vosges. The highly stylized and top-quality brand was founded in 1998 and has offered exotic varieties and unique flavor combinations ever since. Many of its most beloved bars were inspired by founder Katrina Markoff ’s global travels, including Red Fire Chocolate, made with Mexican chili and cinnamon, and Black Pear Chocolate, made with ginger and sesame seeds, not to mention the famous Mo’s Dark Chocolate Bacon Bar. For more information, visit Vosges Haute-Chocolat (132 Spring Street; vosgeschocolate.com).
TOP CANDY & CHOCOLATE SHOPS Dylan’s Candy Bar, with its eye-popping color displays, is a mecca for candy lovers, but a few little candy shops scattered around New York City are still worth their own pilgrimage. From the old-fashioned shops that have survived for decades to the newcomers that have spawned a million Instagrams, these stores are worth a visit whenever you’re in the mood for some quaint charm and nostalgia. Think: Pixie Stix, Nerds, Ring Pops, and everything you ever found in your Halloween stash. Multiple locations, for more information, visit: dylanscandybar.com
Gigi Stone Woods is an award-winning, national TV on-air host, anchor, correspondent and producer from ABC News, CBS News, NBC News and Bloomberg TV. She is currently a rotating anchor and producer of various national news shows including “Early Today” on NBC and MSNBC and appears regularly as a business expert on Fox5 NY. She also works as an on-air media trainer, media message writer and TV consultant through her company, Stone Woods Media. Stone Woods received her master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University. She is a native New Yorker. APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 79
BIG SCREEN PREVIEWS By Pat Collins
THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS Rated PG 13 Gentlemen, start your engines. You too Michelle Rodriguez. The need for speed crew is back for an eighth installment and racing through the streets of New York City; Cleveland; Mŷvatn, Iceland: and Havana. A semi-retired Dominic (Vin Diesel) is recruited by an anarchistic criminal mastermind (Charlize Theron) known as “Cipher” whose name and nonexistent moral code would suit a Bond villain. Deckard (Jason Statham) and Luke (Dwayne Johnson) and the other pedal to the metal drivers join forces to rescue Dom and abort Cipher’s mission which involves high-tech terrorism. The movie’s producer Neil Moritz said the plot “marks a shift from heist films to a spy caper.” Chris Bridges and Tyrese Gibson also return for more exceeding the speed limit action. New to the cast is Oscar, Emmy and Tony winner Helen Mirren. No, Dame Helen has not taken up street racing. She plays Decker and Owen Shaw’s mother. Fast And Furious 7 was dedicated to Paul Walker who was killed driving his car in a 2013 collision before production on that sequel was completed. He was so enthusiastic about Furious 7 that he predicted an eighth installment would be given a green light. Vin his costar and a good friend later remarked “Furious 7 was for Paul. Furious 8 is from Paul.” SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE Rated PG They are small and blue, and they live in mushroom-shaped houses. They are also a goldmine for Sony. The first movie, The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol grossed more than $560 million in 2011. In the new 3D computer-animated comedy the adventurous Smurfs—Brainy (Danny Pudi) Clumsy (Jack McBrayer of 000) Hefty (Joe Manganiello) and Smurfette (Demi Lovato) find a mysterious map which directs them to a lost village which they and their friends must locate before the villainous Gargamel (Rainn Wilson) does. Other stars contributing their voices are Julia Roberts (Smurfwillow) Michelle Rodriguez (Smurfstorm) and Mandy Patinkin (Papa Smurf). The movie’s release date April 7th is well timed to entertain young audiences during spring break. THE CIRCLE Not Yet Rated The very busy Emma Watson, who is currently on the big screen in Beauty and the Beast stepped into the role of a new and naive employee of The Circle, a large tech, and social media company when Alicia Vikander dropped out due to a scheduling conflict shooting the next Bourne movie. As Ms. Watson’s character Mae Holland rises in the ranks, she begins to contemplate the ethical repercussions of the company’s probing into the private lives of those being watched as part of a Big Brother-like experiment. What started as a dream job turns into a nightmare as fellow staffers and the company’s founder Eamon Bailey (Tom Hanks) question her loyalty. The film is based on Dave Eggers’ bestselling novel and co-stars Patton Oswalt, Ellar Coltrane, the boy we watched grow up in Boyhood and the late Bill Paxton who tragically and unexpectedly passed away in February. 80 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
THE PROMISE Rated PG 13 Multimillion dollar epics about love and war such as Dr. Zhivago are not as popular with movie goers as they once were. However, that fact did not deter the late billionaire and philanthropist Kirk Kerkorian from bankrolling the $100 million The Promise. He was passionate about bringing the real but little-known story of the Ottoman Empire’s purging of its Armenian population to the big screen. The film set in 1914 at the start of World War I stars Oscar Issac, as Michael, a medical student of Armenian heritage and Christian Bale as Christopher, an ambitious AP reporter. Both are in love with Ana (Charlotte LeBon), an artist a long way from her home in Paris. The film received mixed reviews when it premiered at last fall’s Toronto Film Festival. Most critics praised Mr. Isaac’s and Mr. Bale’s performances and the physical production but took issue with director Terry George’s decision to devote more screen time to the love triangle rather than the Turks’ genocidal war on the brave but outnumbered Armenian people. Mr. George chose James Cromwell for the role of U.S. Ambassador and Jean Reno as Commander of the French Navy. The Oscar-nominated Shoreh Aghdashloo who co-starred in Mr. George’s excellent film Hotel Rwanda plays Michael’s mother.
UNFORGETTABLE Rated R No boiled pet rabbits appear in director Denise Di Novi’s tale of jealousy and revenge. “When love ends, madness begins” is the tagline in the coming attractions trailer for a thriller with a sort of Fatal Attraction-like plot. Tessa (Katherine Heigl), a vengeful, jealous, mentally unstable divorcee makes her ex-husband’s and his new wife’s life a suburban living hell with threats and creepy unannounced visits. One of her most vengeful acts is Tessa’s attempt to frame wife # 2 (Rosario Dawson) for a murder she did commit. Geoff Stults plays Tessa’s now fearful former spouse. Lily (Isabella Rice) is the young daughter from the broken marriage who lives with dad and her new stepmother. Ms. Heigl was not the movie maker’s first choice. Kate Hudson and Kerry Washington turned down the psycho role. Probably a wise decision.
LEAP Not Yet Rated The 3D computer animated film which was released abroad with the title Ballerina is sure to please little girls, their mothers, and grandmothers. Elle Fanning voices the story’s 11- ye ar-ol d he roine, Felice—an orphan who escapes to the City of Light determined to pursue her dream and audition for the famous Paris Opera Ballet. Carly Rae Jepson provides the voice of Felice’s mentor, a cleaning woman who in her youth was a ballerina. MY ENTIRE HIGH SCHOOL SINKING INTO THE SEA Rated PG 13 In this hand-drawn animated comedy adventure two socially awkward sophomores Dash (voiced by Jason Schwartzman) and Assaf (voiced by Reggie Watts) who write for the Tides High School newspaper uncover evidence proving the school was built on an earthquake fault and will collapse under the weight of a new auditorium on the top floor. Of course their dire warnings go unheeded, and of course, disaster strikes. Dash, Assaf and a few others manage to escape and float out to sea where other perilous adventures await. One critic who reviewed the movie when it was screened at the Toronto Film Festival last fall described director Dash Shaw’s unusual entry as The Poseidon Adventure meets Freaks and Geeks. The stellar voice cast members are Lena Dunham, Susan Sarandon, and Maya Rudolph. • About Pat Collins Pat Collins is a three-time Emmy award-winning film, theater and entertainment critic/reporter. Her outstanding media credits include WCBS-TV, Good Morning America and WWOR-TV. She is a contributor to CUNY-TV’s Arts and The City program and the host of several Broadway specials including Kinky Boots On Broadway, Fiddler On The Roof: Back On Broadway, and The Road To The Tonys. APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 81
ON STAGE REVIEWS WITH PAT COLLINS THE LITTLE FOXES Samuel J. Friedman Theater Laura Linney and Cynthia Nixon alternate playing the leading roles in a revival of Lillian Hellman’s play set in a small Alabama town in 1900. Regina Hubbard Giddens, a character made unforgettable by Bette Davis in the 1941 film, is a conniving, resentful Southern belle determined to do whatever it takes to live as well as her two wealthy brothers. As male heirs, they inherited their father’s estate. The role of her sister-in- law Birdie, an emotionally fragile, alcoholic married to Regina’s morally bankrupt brother, went to Patricia Collinge in the movie version. Do not delay arranging for tickets to this Manhattan Theater Club production—one of the season’s most anticipated theatrical events. SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION Barrymore Theater Alison Janney and John Benjamin Hickey are the WASPY gullible Kittredges who welcome a young stranger into their Upper East Side home in a revival of John Guare’s 1990 play. A charming young man named Paul (Corey Hawkins) convinces Ouisa and Flan that he is their son’s boarding school friend and is seeking their help after thugs stole his money in Central Park. He also claims to be Sidney Poitier’s son—a claim not easily confirmed before Google existed. Mr. Guare’s critically acclaimed work won the Olivier Award, received a Tony nomination and was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for drama. The 1993 film adaptation starred Will Smith as the persuasive con man. A DOLL’S HOUSE, PART TWO John Golden Theater Laurie Metcalf, one of the most versatile and in-demand talents on stage and screen has the Nora role in Lucas Hnath’s new play which begins many decades after Henrik Ibsen’s heroine left her husband and children. The story resumes when Nora unexpectedly returns to her former home. Sam Gold, a Tony recipient for Fun Home, directs the ensemble cast—Oscar winner Chris Cooper, Jayne Houdyshell whose performance in Humans brought her a much deserved Tony and Condola Rashad who made her impressive OffBroadway debut in Lynn Nottage’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Ruined.
ANASTASIA Broadhurst Theater Twenty years after the animated movie was released a Broadway musical version of Anastasia transports audiences to early 20thcentury Russia to retell the tale of a young amnesiac member of the royal family. The titular character and her beloved grandmother, the Dowager Empress Maria, narrowly escape the Bolsheviks with the help of a servant boy but are separated as they flee Russia for Paris. A few years later the teenaged Anastasia, now known as Anya, is hired by a charming con man named Dimitri and his duplicitous partner Vladimir who plan to present Anya as the missing royal and collect the reward money. Anya/Anastasia, of course, is unaware she is Maria’s real granddaughter. And you have guessed by now who her romantic interest is. A word of advice to young theatergoers—do not base your report on 20th Century Russian history on Anastasia’s plot. Christy Altomare has the title role, Derek Klena is Dimitri, and Mary Beth Peil plays the Dowager Empress. The production’s behind the scenes talent which made Ragtime a hit reunited for Anastasia—Terrance McNally (book), Stephen Flaherty (composer) and Lynn Ahrens (lyricist). The show will be seen by young participants in “Camp Broadway’s summer session.” For more information about the program catering to theater-loving kids, visit campbroadway.com. 82 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE The Hudson Theater A limited amount of $41 rush seats are available on the the day of the performance at the magnificently restored Hudson Theater on West 44th Street. The box office is open every day but Monday. The original production of the Steven Sondheim/James Lapine musical did not receive the Tony Award for best musical in 1984. However, I predict this splendid revival with Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford will be a strong contender in that category when the awards are presented in June. Mr. Gyllenhaal was not an obvious choice to play impressionist painter George Seurat—a role created by Mandy Patinkin in the original production. Two years ago Mr. Gyllenhaal delivered a solid performance in Constellations co-starring Ruth Wilson. However, he is best known for his movies including Zodiac, Brokeback Mountain, and Night Crawler. None of the roles above required him to burst into song, and I admit to being skeptical about Mr. Gyllenhaal’s singing ability. But I was wrong. His Finishing The Hat was greeted with a well-deserved standing ovation at the performance I attended. The glorious Tony-winning leading lady Annaleigh Ashford adds another memorable performance to her resume as Seurat’s lover. Kudos as well to director Sarna Lapine who shepherded this production from Encores! The limited run ends April 23rd.
INDECENT Cort Theater Paula Vogel’s new and unusual play with music directed by Rebecca Taichman comes to Broadway by way of Yale Repertory, La Jolla Playhouse and the Vineyard Theater. The same cast has been with this production for more than two years. Ms. Vogel’s subject is the actual story of the controversial 1923 Broadway debut of Sholem Asch’s The God of Vengeance and the risks taken by those who performed it. When the work was read at a literary club meeting in the 20’s one participant accused the author of “pouring petrol on the flames of anti-Semitism.” Indecent also dealt with prostitution and homosexuality which were forbidden topics 94 years ago. When the first production opened on Broadway, the cast and producer were charged with obscenity and jailed. THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG Lyceum Theater Lead producer Kevin McCollum, the recipient of three Tony Awards (Rent, Avenue Q and Lin-Manuel Miranda and director Thomas Kail’s first hit In The Heights), brings the Olivier Award-winning comedy from London to Broadway. The plot revolves around a small theater company’s attempts to stage a 1920’s murder mystery. Three members of Mischief Theater—Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields—co-wrote the play and co-starred in the UK production. Members of the original cast will appear in the New York version. It is comforting to know they were not replaced by former TV stars attempting to reboot their careers. Three of the aforementioned writers/actors respectively had worked at a Gourmet Burger Kitchen, a call center, and a pub before their show became a critical and commercial success. One of the producers J. J. Abrams, the acclaimed movie director, admits to being a theater buff since he was a kid and has boxes of old Playbills to prove it. THE BANDSTAND Bernard Jacobs Theater The new big band era musical set in Cleveland in 1945 was directed and choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler—the Tony-winning choreographer of Hamilton and In The Heights. Laura Osnes, a Tony nominee for Cinderella and Corey Cott best known for Newsies, costarred in the Paper Mill Playhouse production before moving to the dressing rooms of the Bernard Jacobs Theater. Mr. Cott’s character— Donny—and his buddies return to Cleveland after serving their country in World War II. Jobs are scarce, and the now forgotten veterans are struggling to make ends meet, Julia— Ms. Osnes—a young widow and band singer persuades Donny and his disillusioned friends to enter a competition sponsored by a major radio network to discover the next Duke Ellington or Glenn Miller. The winner is promised an opportunity to write musicals for a major Hollywood studio. The plot resembles that of a post-World War II MGM movie but is there a happy ending here? I will not divulge that answer.
THE LUCKY ONE Beckett Theater The Lucky One written by Winnie The Pooh creator A. A. Milne opened in 1922. Ninety-five years later the Mint Theater Company is staging a revival directed by Jesse Marchese. The New York Times theater critic all those decades ago wrote: “Few plays have ever been more directly and deeply searching of the springs of conduct; more subtle in depicting the essential character .” Timeless is another adjective used to describe the plot. A long-standing hostile relationship between two brothers turns more acrimonious when the younger, likeable, successful sibling Gerard (Robert David Grant) refuses to offer financial and moral support to his brother Bob (Ari Brand). Tickets for all performances are $65. •
Hamilton Update Brian D’Arcy James who originated the role of a nutty King George in the original production at the Public Theater will be back in the show beginning April 14th for a limited engagement. Mr. James had exited the musical before it became a hit due to a previous commitment to co-star in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels with Christian Borle. He received his third Tony nomination for hilariously playing the character Nick Bottom.
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PAT COLLINS’ PICKS OF HOME ENTERTAINMENT RELEASES TONI ERDMAN Rated R Remember to prepare a few snacks if you intend to watch the long German/Austrian film which was nominated for but did not win the Oscar for best foreign language film. That award went to Iran’s entry The Salesman. The central character in director/writer Maren Ade’s dramedy is a divorced music teacher and a practical joker who creates an alter ego to reconnect with his estranged daughter. Jack Nicholson was an early fan of the movie and convinced Paramount to make an English language version with him in the starring role. It probably did not take long to convince the studio’s execs to greenlight that project. Mr. Nicholson could add a fourth Oscar to his collection playing another unpredictable protagonist. Kristen Wiig joined the cast as a successful business woman who moves from her hometown in Germany to Bucharest to be far away from dad. ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY Rated PG 13 The film which attracted devoted grown up and young fans of George Lucas’ first installment Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope was budgeted at $200 million and grossed more than a billion dollars at the global box office. Events in this standalone movie take place prior to those which unfolded in Mr. Lucas’ 1977 unexpected hit. Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Riz Ahmed, Mads Mikkelsen and Forest Whitaker are the key cast members in director Gareth Edwards’ international blockbuster.
WOMAN OF THE YEAR The Katharine Hepburn-Spencer Tracy 1942 classic directed by George Stevens is now available on Blu-Ray. It is the first of nine films the two legends made together. She is Tess Harding a renowned feminist, political commentator, and journalist. Mr. Tracy’s character Sam Craig is the down-to-earth sportswriter she marries. Ring Lardner wrote the screenplay, and George Stevens directed the opposites-attract comedy which the late respected and adored Robert Osbourne described as an “essential.” BOUNCE BACK Rated PG 13 Hepburn and Tracy’s Adam’s Rib may have been the inspiration for director Youssef Delara’s indie romantic comedy. Shemar Moore, the former host of Soul Train and Criminal Minds cast member Nadine Velazquez, are battling experts on the subject of personal relationships. He plays Matthew Taylor, the handsome author of a bestseller about reinventing oneself. Nadine as Kristin Peralta publicly denounces him as a fraud on a network talk show. Their on-air verbal confrontations eventually lead to a truce between the unlucky in love Kristin and the divorced Matthew. You probably have guessed how the movie ends.
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OSCAR WINNERS/ NOMINATED MOVIES ON HOME VIDEO
WAR ON EVERYONE Rated R Albuquerque New Mexico, the home of Bryan Cranston’s fictional meth dealer/chemistry teacher Walter White and the location for some of the violent scenes in No Country For Old Men is also the setting for Irish director John Michael McDonagh’s black comedy about two corrupt cops. Bigoted and hot-tempered Terry Monroe (Alexander Skarsgard) and his less volatile partner Bob Bolano (Michael Pena) get wind of a million dollar robbery. Do they report this important information to police Chief Gerry Stanton (Paul Reiser)? No, but they do hatch an ill-considered plan to interrupt the heist, shoot the perpetrators and make off with the money. Not all goes according to plan, and a mob boss suspects Terry and Bob of stealing the loot. Earlier in the movie, Terry is asked why he went into law enforcement. His answer: “You can shoot people for no reason.” He failed to take into account members of the criminal underworld who shoot people for many reasons- revenge being one of them. The movie scored a less than impressive 54 percent among critics according to Rotten Tomatoes.
SLEEPLESS Rated R The snooze of a movie with Jamie Foxx and T. I. as corrupt cops who run afoul of the mob was widely ignored by filmgoers and panned by most reviewers. It scored an embarrassing 19 percent on Rotten Tomatoes’ tomameter and grossed approximately $25 million. Will someone on the left coast please send Mr. Foxx a script worthy of his extraordinary talent?
MOONLIGHT This breathtaking indie film which won the Academy Award under dramatic and unusual circumstances is available on DVD, Blu-Ray, Amazon video, and iTunes. Mahershala Ali took home the best supporting Oscar for his unforgettable performance. Director Barry Jenkin’s film also dominated the Indie Spirit Awards winning top honors in the best film, director, screenplay, and three other categories.
LA LA LAND The film that brought Emma Stone and its director Damien Chazelle Oscars but lost the big prize can now be viewed on Amazon and iTunes April 11th and on DVD and Blu-Ray April 25th.
HIDDEN FIGURES The Oscar-nominated movie which in my opinion has the best ensemble cast of 2016 is also a significant commercial success. Made for a modest $25 million, the film brought in more than $200 million at the box office. Other nominated films available on home video are Arrival, Fences, Hacksaw Ridge, Hell or High Water, Lion and, Manchester By the Sea.
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NYC’S SPRING MUSEUM ROUNDUP By Clint Brownfield
e all know that New York City is the cultural capital off the world, and one of the biggest reasons for this distinction is the incredible number of museums of every size and description that are dotted throughout the city. They not only provide us with treasure troves of enrichment via their collections but also draw visitors from all over the globe—enriching our city monetarily as well. All the museums listed below contain permanent collections that attract millions of visitors each year, but they also mount special exhibitions throughout the year—usually at no extra charge to the price of general admission. Here we provide a glimpse into some of the dazzling special exhibitions running this spring and summer. Check the museums’ websites for more information about the exhibits, hours and costs for admission. Let the culture begin!
THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
The Met greeted 7 million visitors last year who thronged to view the permanent collections and to attend special exhibitions that are offered throughout the year. The museum attracts more visitors each year than the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building combined. Info: 1000 5th Avenue at 82nd Street; metmuseum.org.
This staple on the New York cultural scene dates back to the late 1860s and is today one of the largest museums in the world—greeting around 5 million visitors of all ages each year. Say hello to the statue of Theodore Roosevelt as you mount the impressive steps up to the front entrance—his father was one if the museum’s founders. Info: Central Park West at 79th Street; amnh.org.
Seurat’s Circus Sideshow Through: May 29, 2017 Which takes as its focus one of The Met’s most captivating masterpieces, this thematic exhibition affords a unique context for appreciating the heritage and allure of Circus Sideshow (Parade de Cirque), painted in 1887–88 by Georges Seurat (1859–1891). Anchored by a remarkable group of related works by Seurat that fully illuminates the lineage of the motif in his inimitable conté crayon drawings, the presentation explores the fascination the sideshow subject held for other artists in the nineteenth century, ranging from the great caricaturist Honoré Daumier at midcentury to the young Pablo Picasso at the fin de siècle.
¡Cuba! Through: August 13, 2017 This major comprehensive special exhibition takes visitors inside the Cuban experience. Meet its people, explore its landscapes and encounter its rare and unusual species—and come away with new perspectives on this intriguing country so close to our shores. And yes, there are some snazzy vintage 1950s cars on view.
Mummies Through: January 7, 2018 This special show offers an up-close look at one of the largest collections of mummies housed in North America. From ancient Egypt to preColumbian Peru, the exhibition explores the intersection between societies, their environment, and the preparations they made for their dead. With the aid of modern techniques like high-resolution CT scans THE FRICK COLLECTION and forensically reconstructed sculptures, visitors to Mummies will Perhaps the best example of a classic home that also is a museum glimpse people from centuries ago and learn how contemporary is The Frick Collection, which is housed in the mansion Henry scientists have gleaned amazing details about their ages, practices, and Clay Frick built 1913-1914. It’s rich permanent collection, as per even their causes of death. Mr. Clay’s will cannot be removed from the building. But, works from around the world can certainly be brought in to temporarily Photo by Michael Bodycomb boost the permanent collection and provide more material for spectacular special shows. Info: 5th Avenue and 70th Street; frick.org. Turner’s Modern and Ancient Ports: Passages through Time Through: May 14, 2017 Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775–1851), nineteenthcentury Britain’s greatest land- and seascape artist, depicted ports throughout his career, both in monumental oil paintings and in watercolors. An insatiable traveler and an artist with a deep fascination with light, topography, and local traditions, as well as with classical antiquity, Turner brought an innovative approach to the depiction of both modern and ancient ports. Turner’s Modern and Ancient Ports: Passages through Time, a major exhibition that brings together some thirty-five works from the 1810s through the late 1830s in oil, watercolor, and graphite that capture contemporary cities in England, France, and Germany, as well as imagined scenes set in the ancient world. It unites for the first time the museum’s two paintings of Dieppe and Cologne with a closely related, yet unfinished, work from Tate Britain that depicts the modern harbor of Brest. 86 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY The New-York Historical Society is the second oldest museum in America and is our country’s oldest historical society. It continues today in its imposing building on Central Park West, just across from the park providing visitors an unparalleled glimpse into our beloved city via its permanent collection and special exhibits. Info: 170 Central Park West at 77th Street; nyhistory.org Tattooed New York Through: April 30, 2017 This fascinating and illuminating exhibition explores the history of tattoos in New York—from being fashionable among the social elite in the 18th and 19th centuries on through the history of body art and its resurgence in popularity today. Temporary tattoos are available onsite in case you’d like to see how one might look in real life. Saving Washington Through: July 30, 2017 This is the inaugural exhibition in the new Joyce B. Cowin Women’s History Gallery. Showcasing the contributions of First Lady Dolley Madison and her female contemporaries to the fledgling democracy of early America as an example of how women’s critical but often behind-the-scenes work gave rise to the nation’s capital as a beacon for the world, it upends the familiar narrative of our American founding as a power struggle among men. The exhibition opened on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2017 and remains on view through July 30, 2017 The groundbreaking exhibition illustrates the mission of the Center for Women’s History: to reveal the often-overlooked stories of women who shaped American history. Photo by Dale Mall
Courtesy of the artist and Bridget Donahue
WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART The museum commonly just called The Whitney by New Yorkers, made U.S. art history in January of 2015 when it moved to its new headquarters--designed by world-renowned architect Renzo Piano. It’s located just at the downtown entrance to the High Line Park, which is also a much beloved addition to the New York cultural scene. Info: 99 Gansevoort Street, West Village/Meatpacking District; whitney.org. The 2017 Whitney Biennial Through: June 11, 2017 This is the first of the Whitney’s famed biennials to be housed in the new 200,000-square-foot building and promises to be the most well attended in the museum’s history. The 2017 Whitney Biennial, the seventy-eighth installment of the longest-running survey of American art, arrives at a time rife with racial tensions, economic inequities, and polarizing politics. Throughout the exhibition, artists challenge us to consider how these realities affect our senses of self and community. The Biennial features sixty-three individuals and collectives whose work takes a wide variety of forms, from painting and installation to activism and video game design. If you want to be up-to-date when it comes to the contemporary art scene in America today—this is the place to be!
BROOKLYN MUSEUM If you think the new Whitney building is impressive at 200,000-square feet, then plan a visit to the Brooklyn Museum. It weighs in at 560,000 dazzling beaux-arts square feet. It’s original architecture was by the noted firm of McKim Mead and White and sculptural details were the creation of Daniel Chester French, sculptor of the statue of Abraham Lincoln, which is the centerpiece of his eponymous memorial in Washington, D. C. Info: 200 Eastern Parkway; brooklynmuseum.org. Georgia O’Keeffe: Living Modern Through: July 23, 2017 Do not miss this exhibit! If you’re lucky enough to live in Brooklyn these days, then just amble on over to the museum. If you don’t, then make a special trip and plan to stay awhile—not only to see the Georgia O’Keeffe exhibit but to view one of the most comprehensive collections in any museum in the world. Georgia O’Keeffe: Living Modern takes a new look at how the renowned modernist artist proclaimed her progressive, independent lifestyle through a self-crafted public persona—including her clothing and the way she posed for the camera. The exhibition expands our understanding of O’Keeffe by focusing on her wardrobe, shown for the first time alongside key paintings and photographs. It confirms and explores her determination to be in charge of how the world understood her identity and artistic values. In addition to selected paintings and items of clothing, the exhibition presents photographs of O’Keeffe and her homes by Alfred Stieglitz, Ansel Adams, Annie Leibovitz, Philippe Halsman, Yousuf Karsh, Cecil Beaton, Andy Warhol, Bruce Weber, Todd Webb, and others. It also includes works that entered the Brooklyn collection following O’Keeffe’s first-ever museum exhibition—held at the Brooklyn Museum in 1927. Go to this exhibit! • Clint Brownfield is a travel, food and beverage writer and has reported from all seven continents, more than 100 countries and 45 states. He is based in New York City—his favorite destination in the world. APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 87
ABOUT BOOKS By Joan Bauer AN ILLUSTRATED BOOK OF BAD ARGUMENTS (LEARN THE LOST ART OF MAKIG SENSE) by Ali Almossawi The Experiment, LLC, New York Where and how did you learn to think? Is the way you think now the way you will always think? Are you a good arguer? Are you too old to change? Too young to care? Too emotional? Have you decided in this winner takes all world, that it’s better to keep your thoughts to yourself and avoid the conflict of conversations that could likely turn into arguments, misunderstandings, or free-for-alls? Oh, Dear Reader, have I got a book for you. Ali Almossawi has written a multi-layered, marvelous book about logical reasoning that is desperately needed. The cover and size (fiftyone pages) might make you think it’s for kids, and while the art is engaging, this is not a picture book for little ones. It’s a picture book for us—a bold, fascinating look at fallacy—a word that seems to have fallen out of play, but still, collides with our senses throughout the days. It is evident in our politics and our online debates. The fallacy is having a darned good run. The misconception that the world is flat (not Thomas Friedman’s best-seller on globalization), made the rounds in the 14th century while scientists and explorers tried to debunk it. There are plenty of misbeliefs today to keep us occupied. Almossawi presents nineteen logical fallacies—from the informal to red herrings. Among them: • The Ad Hominem approach (from the Latin meaning “to the man”): “attacks a person rather than the argument he or she is making”…such as, “You’re not a historian. Why don’t you stick to your own field?” • The Hasty Generalization: “asking ten people on the street what they think of the president’s plan to reduce the deficit can in no way be said to gauge the sentiment of the entire nation.” • The Slippery Slope argument: “attempts to discredit a proposition by arguing that its acceptance will undoubtedly lead to a sequence of (terrible, horrible, unknown) events…” The beauty of Almossawi’s book is it’s seeming simplicity entwined with clear-eyed reasoning. It is an appeal to think and listen and try, in this increasingly biased world, to be impartial. I’m betting you might groan a few times like I did at the way we buy into fallacies without thinking. How many times have I been caught by feeling that one event caused another event: At the end of every night and shortly before dawn, the beaver walks all the way to the top of the mountain and asks the sun to come out. The sun always does. Well, of course, it does. The beaver’s walk happens just before dawn but doesn’t cause the sunrise. But the beaver is there every morning, isn’t it? Might he have something to do with the dawn? Might he and the sun have an understanding? I’m particularly fond of this beaver story—it’s a good one to use with children who love “what if?” games. I can picture some terrific family dinner moments surrounding this book, showing children how to think clearly and not just emotionally. And The Appeal to Hypocrisy can come to a wearied parent’s aid when trying to diffuse sibling argument: 88 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
AN ILLUSTRATED BOOK OF BAD ARGUMENTS (LEARN THE LOST ART OF MAKIG SENSE) by Ali Almossawi - Guy bear says to girl bear: Why do you keep eating my porridge? - Girl bear’s retort: How about I start listing all your bad habits? Yes, we have all been there, and these conversations never end well. To see the pitfalls in arguments when they are presented—instead of tripping over them—could significantly improve life. To listen, actually listen—how rare is that gift of time becoming? To listen without waiting for a pause to jump in. To listen with intelligence and with openness, trying to gain some understanding of where the other person is coming from and evaluating arguments on their merits. It is this last point that is the hardest, of course. But if communication is like a highway and we are like cars approaching an intersection, we’d best obey the rules to stop, look, and then proceed. I suppose our emotions will always build walls to truth. Who doesn’t want to be right, win an argument, or have the last word? It is markedly tough to be impartial in a world with lines drawn that are often not of our own making. But An Illustrated Book of Bad Arguments wants us to see the traps and fight our way through to sense and reason. In doing so, like engaging in brain strengthening games and cognitive exercises, maybe, just maybe, our synapses will spark, our neurons will multiply, and from arguments we can build a better world. • Joan Bauer is a New York Times bestselling novelist and winner of the Newbery Honor Award, the LA Times Book Prize, and two Christopher Awards. Her latest novel is Soar, published by Viking/Penguin Random House. Connect with her on Twitter @joan_bauer or at joanbauer.com.
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STEP RIGHT UP! STEP RIGHT UP! By Patricia Canole
elcome to the world of CIRCUS 1903—The Golden Age of Circus; it’s the circus reimagined and a show for all ages! In this world premiere event that takes place Wednesday, April 5th through Sunday, April 16th, producers of the world’s biggest magic show, The Illusionists, have teamed up with the award-winning puppeteers from War Horse. CIRCUS 1903—The Golden Age of Circus presents a thrilling turn-of-the-century circus spectacular, that has all the thrills, and daredevil entertainment one would expect from the circus—with an exciting new twist. The vintage circus combines the daring sensibilities of Cirque du Soleil with the Broadway puppetry production of War Horse.
CIRCUS 1903
Experience over two hours of edge-of-your-seat entertainment with an incredible cast of the most unique, spellbinding and dangerous circus acts from all four corners of the globe. Sensational puppetry puts elephants back in the ring as never seen before while Ringmaster Willy Whipsnade takes you on a mesmerizing journey through the magic of the circus. As the show’s producers explained it’s a unique family entertainment— and we want to keep it fresh so that circus-lovers will come back and see it again and again—just like the circus of years ago! From astonishing acrobatics and awe-inspiring aerialists to heartstopping high-wire feats, you won’t want to miss this thrilling, brand new show! •
The Golden Age of Circus at The Theater at Madison Square Garden is scheduled for the following dates and times. For tickets, visit circus1903.com. April 5th at 7:00 PM April 6th at 7:00 PM April 7th at 7:00 PM April 8th at 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM April 9th at 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM April 12th at 7:00 PM April 13th at 7:00 PM April 14th at 7:00 PM April 15th at 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM April 16th at 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM
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*Offer valid on select seats and performances.
USE CODE: Buy your tickets today at
or *Valid on select seats and performances only. Must use code CIRC6 to redeem. Offer not valid on previously purchased tickets and cannot be combined with any other offer. A $6.00 facility fee is included in the price of each ticket. Discount is calculated off of the original box office price. Service charges apply to telephone and internet orders. All sales are final—no refunds or exchanges. Offer may be revoked or modified at any time without notice and is subject to availability. Other restrictions may apply. Š2017 MSG Sports & Entertainment Holdings, L.P. All rights reserved. Offer expires 4/16/17. Accessible and companion seats are available via the Disabled Services Department at 212-465-6034.
ENTREPRENEUR’S CORNER By Judy Goss
harpen your knives and get ready for a chophouse feast! This female chef is re- setting the table for a New York City legendary, albeit controversial, former celebrity haunt. When Angie Mar took over The Beatrice Inn as Executive Chef in 2013, she was a relatively new chef taking over an iconic restaurant known for their debauchery and mediocre food, riding on the aftermath of a sour New York Times restaurant review. It was shocking to discover that she had only been cooking for about three years at that point. When Angie was offered the opportunity to turn the kitchen around as Executive Chef, it took her two months of contemplation before she accepted the position. She hesitated at first, turning down the job, then after persistent offers from the owners, she decided to take on the challenge. “Everyone thought I was crazy to take the job,” Angie exclaimed. But she knew that to elevate her status as a chef in the restaurant industry she would have to start cooking her own food, and the offer was too tempting the more she thought about it. Also, she realized that if she could bring back a highly controversial restaurant “from the dead” that it would make her career. It also doesn’t hurt that the venue itself is a stunning piece of architecture, established back in the 1920’s as a speakeasy. The Beatrice Inn is rich with history, culture, and nightlife in its existence throughout the decades but right before Angie took over, they were struck with disparaging reviews and controversial press about both the food and rowdiness of the parties that were held there.
SOUL-SEARCHING OVERSEES Originally from Seattle, Angie was in commercial real estate for a decade before she realized her passion for cooking. Coming from a family that was prominent in the restaurant industry in Seattle (her Aunt is Ruby Chow who established the first Chinese restaurant outside of Chinatown in Seattle), she didn’t follow family tradition at first. Angie was traveling in Spain when she realized that her passion was to cook, and after immense soul-searching decided she was going to NYC to invest all of her savings into enrolling in culinary school. I asked her what the trigger was in Spain that finally made her go after her real passion and walk away from a successful corporate career. “You know, I think it was the lifestyle. I was on a tapas crawl by myself and realized this is what my family has always done. This is what I love, this is my passion—and to be able to make a business out of it, I am very thankful, she said.” But Angie attributes her cooking prowess mostly to working in kitchens, not necessarily culinary school. Working full-time and attending school full-time was tedious, but she skillfully made the right moves to become a quick success in a short amount of time. With her ambition and decisive drive, the sky’s the limit for Angie who is excelling rapidly within an industry that is competitive and physically demanding, not to mention typically male-dominated. She was happy to see that there were several women in her class in cooking school. She believes the landscape of culinary school is changing from as little as ten years ago. Women are participating more and more but even so, out of the 30 students in Angie’s class she was the only one that stayed within the industry.
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A MEATY PHILOSOPHY After taking over and revamping the menu, Angie bravely brought the restaurant back up through the ranks with her culinary talent and unique flair for focusing on meats. Only three years after she became Executive Chef (remember, at this point Angie had only been cooking for a total of six years!) she was offered ownership of the restaurant, and she jumped at the chance. Angie Mar re-opened at the end of 2016 as a “not so traditional” NY chophouse with her savvy business background and unique culinary expertise that reflects in the meaty menu. Since then The Beatrice Inn has been transformed into a recent success. Soon after re-opening, as the new owner (along with her investor partners, Carla Ruben of Creative Edge Parties and Melissa Merrill), Angie received a positive review as a “Critic’s Pick” in the New York Times. It’s admirable to find a female chef obsessive with meat. Angie is forging a new path within the restaurant industry and indeed has become a role model for female chefs who are currently working their own way up the ladder of a culinary career. Angie emphatically states that “I cook what I want to eat.” And by the way, she will butcher it herself too! Angie’s upbringing was focused mainly on meat, and she does not bother to make every diner happy. “I don’t have a vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free option on the menu.” Angie cooks what she craves and what she mostly desires is meat. The menu is a “celebration of my parents and the culture that they gave me. It’s what I want to eat and share with others who come into my restaurant.” Angie concluded she’s opened restaurants before but taking over one is completely different. “You’re acquiring someone else’s family, kitchen culture, what they built; it’s not an easy thing.” But she figured the only way to go was up. So she stuck to her mission to elevate the restaurant’s success to the highest that it could be. And not only has she set the table for a new reputation for The Beatrice Inn but female chefs and entrepreneurs too. • Judy Goss is currently the radio show host of What Women Want with over 500,000 downloads and is a published author of St. Martin’s Press. She is also an entrepreneur who founded the nationally acclaimed networking organization What Women Want with its 20 chapters from New York to California. Judy is also a freelance journalist who interviews people about her favorite topic; their personal stories and what inspired them to be who they are today. APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 93
MY NEW YORK STORY By Lee Gabay
IT’S TEN 0’CLOCK Twenty years ago, when I began teaching middle school in the Bronx, my day always ended with the Ten 0’Clock news. While I scurried around my East Village apartment preparing the next day’s lessons, grading papers and making tomorrow’s lunch, the Ten O’Clock news was my soundtrack. Periodically, I would stop in front of the TV to watch the weather to know what clothes to wear the following day or tune in to see the usually disappointing Knicks highlights. In more than the literal sense, local TV journalists Rosanna Scotto, John Discepolo, Cynthia Santana and a host of others became my anchors. These real-life, on-air personalities taught me how to skillfully communicate and navigate the many challenging people and situations that are thrust upon a first year New York City teacher. Newscasters have strong voices and speak with authority. Yet they are always approachable. I am generally a confident person, but teaching, particularly teaching in New York City, can be humbling and I needed to adjust my classroom persona to adapt to the joys, resistance, successes and shunning I was to experience. Broadcasters never raise their voice. Even during the most difficult stories or interviews, they remain outwardly cool and in control. Borrowing from that, and rather than getting into a shouting match with twenty-five eighth graders, I looked for the few students who were on task and praised them copiously. Students feed off compliments more than they grow from criticism. Their unwelcome noise soon dissipated as the quality of their work elevated.
THE MOST INTERESTED PERSON IN THE ROOM I further studied broadcasters and saw that they all shared a genuine curiosity about people. The more the subject shined, the better the segment. Rather than being the focal point of the lesson and bloviate for fifty minutes, the class and the work were about the students. I needed to remind the students of their value and not my own. I became the most “interested” and not the most “interesting” person in the room. From watching newscasters, I honed my ability to ask good questions, to listen and to retain that information. Recently, when local TV news journalist Linda Schmidt visited my classroom in Brownsville, Brooklyn to do a story on the impactful work being done at the school, she asked me why I teach. I answered, “Similar to you, I am interested in people.” We had a wonderful conversation, agreeing that our jobs provide us with a front row seat to all that is great about the city and, sadly, much of what is difficult. Five years into my teaching career I switched schools to Passages Academy, a school for court-involved youth inside the city’s correctional facilities. Inside the Juvenile Detention Center, I had a student named Samantha who was a 14-year old misanthrope. She was moody, nasty, a poor speller and mistreated the entire staff. Her mouth was lethal. However, she was also occasionally very charming and a great dancer. Working with her reminded me of on-location field reporters, always wondering what unexpected circumstances may arise. I began to watch these on-air reporters — these “street magicians” — and marvel at the elegant way they handled themselves with difficult people and spontaneous situations. Though I would never claim to enjoy my moments with Samantha, she did deserve – and receive – my respect and engagement for simply allowing me the privilege to teach her. 94 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
STREETWISE New York is the biggest media market in the country. It also is home to the largest school system in America with over 75,000 teachers and 1 million students. Educators and the media cover a lot of pavement and use the city to our collective professional benefit. I currently teach at Brooklyn Democracy Academy, a transfer high school serving over-aged and under-credited students. Many have been through the juvenile justice and foster care systems. This is essentially a last chance high school. What separates these struggling students from successful students is access and opportunity to our city’s phenomenal resources. These habitually disengaged students didn’t care for school because, as many have told me, they felt as if school “didn’t care for them.” They viewed classrooms as unsafe spaces with people who were out to prove them wrong. Heeding the students’ words, I now spend my days thinking of new ways of educational engagement, and I use a reporter’s mindset by taking full advantage of our surroundings. The city has become an extension of our classroom, exposing the students to plays, sports, music, museums, galleries, culture, cuisine and so much more. Encompassing our various walks of life, what all New Yorkers seem to have in common is caring and contributing to the well being of our young people. Playwrights, politicians, authors, actors, activists, intellectuals, merchants, mechanics, athletes and designers have visited the school to spend time with the students and share their stories.
AFFIRMATIVE ACTIONS Early on in my teaching career, after a lesson where the class read a newspaper about a murderer, a student named Marcus said to me, “Gabay, I get enough negativity at home. I like you and your class, but I like it best when you keep the lessons positive. Today’s article and discussion was fine, but it wouldn’t hurt you to find something happy.” Marcus taught me that I failed to acknowledge the grace and positivity in their worlds, and in my attempt to connect with the students, I brought in magazine articles, songs and books that all shared a heightened sense of urban drama and sensationalized danger. I found myself playing into hackneyed imagery of violence and adversity as a means to capture their attention and win them over. In broadcast news terms, I was going for ratings vis-avis the “if it bleeds, it leads” mentality. Marcus helped me learn, counterintuitively, that the more inspiring a story is, the more powerful can be its impact. I soon noticed improvements in behavior during class and even a rise in the number of students completing homework assignments. It took an icon such as Ernie Anastos to reinforce this positive context shift. His daily “Positively Ernie” segments reiterated my student’s suggestion from years ago. When Ernie invited me to join him on air in studio, it was a testament to Marcus’s wisdom, which improved my professional effectiveness and has sustained my teaching career. Speaking with Ernie live on the Six O’Clock News as the subject of an uplifting news story validated Marcus’s powerful advice to me of praise and inspiration. Perhaps in my case, and certainly for Ernie Anastos, longevity comes from positivity. Teachers and TV news journalists provide a public service and, at best, we can create a body of work that is honest, authentic, and celebrates the human experience. • Lee Gabay is a doctor of Urban Education who teaches in Brooklyn, N.Y. He has written about education, incarceration, basketball and sneaker culture since 2006. His first book, I Hope I Don’t See You Tomorrow was published in 2016. He lives in the Lower East Side with his wife and daughter. APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 95
15 MINUTES WITH LAURA OSNES By Baruch Shemtov
aura Osnes has been taking the Great White Way by storm ever since her Broadway debut as Sandy in Grease. She’s starred in Cinderella, Bonnie and Clyde, Anything Goes, and more, scoring two Tony nominations along the way. Now she’s starring in the brand new original musical Bandstand, about a group of World War II vets performing in a band that features Osnes’ character Julian Trojan as its singer. As she reflects on her career here in New York, it’s clear that Osnes is continuing her winning streak as Broadway’s leading lady. Take me back to your childhood. What did Broadway represent to you? I was one of those kids that grew up listening to Broadway cast recordings, acting them out in my living room. Broadway was the dream—the pinnacle of the theatrical experience, both as an audience member and as an aspiring performer. What did it feel like to first take the stage on Broadway? It was pretty surreal for me. I remember making my first entrance in my first performance of Grease and getting entrance applause....What?! Because of the nature of how I got to Broadway (via a reality TV show on NBC called Grease: You’re The One That I Want), we had some loyal fans who had watched the TV show and made us feel like rock stars early in the run. But more than that, it was the most exciting, humbling, rewarding, and magical moment. My childhood dream had come true. What does it take for you to get into character? I love having the rehearsal process to do research, discover, and dig deep into who my character is. But the finishing touch for me is always adding the costume—that’s what truly helps me transform into each character I play. Which role have you most identified with over the years? Probably Cinderella. I like to think she and I were the most alike at heart, though she always inspired me to be better. Cinderella was the most imaginative dreamer—a hopeless romantic— yet strong and smart enough to decide her own fate (in our Broadway version!). She was known throughout the land for her kindness, generosity, and forgiveness. May we all strive to be like Ella! Let’s talk about Bandstand. What will the show bring to Broadway? Bandstand’s high-energy, exuberant, original swing score is played live by the Band’s characters in the show. Tony winner Andy Blankenbuehler (Hamilton) has infused these numbers with sizzling choreography that feels both thrillingly fresh yet completely authentic to the 1940’s swing style. 96 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2017
The compelling original story follows a talented singer/songwriter and World War II vet, Donny, who returns home, lost and scared. Donny’s only hope becomes assembling a band of all vets to compete in a radio broadcast competition, whose winners get to be in the movies. My character, Julia, lost her husband, Michael, in the war. She, too, feels lost and scared in her own way, and Donny convinces her to sing backup in the band. Through the highs and lows, their bonding friendship and their music become the healing power they all need. There are moments of sheer joy and other moments of deep, complex emotion. We hope people come to the show and are changed, challenged, and moved by the end. How do you think audiences will relate to the show? Even though it’s a period piece, Bandstand feels fresh, hip, and exciting. What Andy can create through staging and movement is just brilliant—it’s impossible to describe, you have to experience it! But it hits the soul and is unmatched by any director/choreographer I’ve worked with. I also think people will be able to relate to the show’s themes of love, loss, belonging, healing through music, and going after a dream. What’s the best part about opening a brand new musical? Getting to create a role is every actor’s dream. I’ve been a part of Bandstand’s developmental process for the past two years, so seeing it through to its Broadway opening is a very emotional and fulfilling experience for me. I am so grateful that I will get to put my stamp on originating this role on Broadway, and we will finally get to share this beautiful story with our audience! • Baruch Shemtov is a New York-based television reporter. A graduate of Harvard College, Baruch has interviewed a long list of leaders and stars including Senator John McCain, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Tom Cruise, Ryan Seacrest, Yo-Yo Ma, and many more. Baruch grew up in the City and is passionate about everything the Big Apple has to offer. Visit Baruch Shemtov at baruch.tv.
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