New York Lifestyles Magazine - August 2016 by New York Lifestyles Magazine

Vol. 2 #8 | August 2016

“You Can Make It Here” Comptroller Scott Stringer

Rio 2016

Meet Our Hometown Heroes

PLUS INSIDE:

Pat Collins

August Broadway Reviews & Top Videos

Join us at Forest Hills Stadium at The West Side Tennis Club

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Table of Contents FOLLOW THE

Feature 10 12 15 45

15 52

Publisher’s Note August at a Glance Scott Stringer: Reimagining How The City Works Olympics 2016: New York’s Hometown Heroes

Fashion 20 22 24 26

Making Perfect Scents Summertime Sports: Keeping Your Eyes In Focus What to Wear to Your Favorite Summer Rooftops Fashionably Blanc

Travel 29 33 34 37 41 42

Child’s Play: Pack Your Bags For A Truly Memorable Adventure Motoring: 2 Hours from New York Accessible Aruba: New Yorkers Go-to Caribbean Destination Iceland: Country of Contrasts Hamptons Favorites Mystique of Mustique

Real Estate 48 50 52 54 55

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Table of Contents PURSUE

82 Health & Wellness 59 60 63 66 68 70

perfection. 88

Keys to Maintaining a Healthy Marriage Choosing the Perfect Wrinkle CrossFit Strengthens Bodies A Savvy New Yorker’s Guide to Foods with a “Health Halo” Body Language Secrets Become a Savvy Grocery Shopper

Drinks & Dining

73 Dine the World on a New York Staycation this Summer 76 Is Gluten Free for Me?

Theater & Arts 78 80 82 86

New Artists Put the “A” into the Big Apple On the Big Screen August Broadway Reviews with Pat Collins Pat Collins’ Picks of New Home Entertainment Releases

New York, NY 88 90 91 93 94 95 96

Time for Tee: If the Shoe Fits... Entrepreneurs Corner: Klara Madlin Made in NY: Margo Manhattan The Cost Of Getting There: The Hamptons The Person You Should Know: Randy Zelin Book Reviews 15 Minutes with Chef Marcus Samuelsson

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Vol. 2 #8 | August 2016 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 J P Bradford Arts & Entertainment Editor Pat Collins

Fashion & Style Columnist Miki Makrillos

Real Estate Editor Daniel J. Bollinger

Chief Photographer David Handschuh

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For subscriptions, address changes or back issues, call: (646) 259-2651 newyorklifestylesmagazine.com Facebook: /NYLifestylesMag Twitter: @NYLifestylesMag Instagram: @NYLifestylesMag All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material from this issue is expressly forbidden without permission of the publisher. Printed in the USA. New York Lifestyles Magazine is published 12 times annually. © 2016 New York Lifestyles Magazine

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Publisher’s Note

This month’s cover story features New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer seen here with publisher Ernie Anastos “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.” ne of my favorite interests is looking for positive quotes. It has been a true passion for most of my life. I do it because they are fun to read, motivate me and I love to share them with others for the very same reasons. No surprise, I do have my favorites. So, here is my choice for this month’s issue. “At any given moment, you have the power to say: This is not how the story is going to end.” I really like this quote because it means you have the control. Life can easily get away from us. Situations, circumstances and people can influence our decisions and the destiny they lead to. My advice is to think for yourself. Weigh all your options, listen to people you trust, but you make the call. It is ultimately your life and your decision. “Sometimes life is about risking everything for a dream no one can see but you.”

-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 | AUGUST 2016

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August 2016 Calendar 2

Andrew Lloyd Webber classic musical Cats opens on Broadway

Summer Streets 2016 starts in lower Manhattan with some seven miles of City streets opened to the public

7 th 11 th 19 th 20 th

Paul McCartney in concert MetLife Stadium (www.metlifestadium.com)

New York Yankees play the New York Mets (through August 4th) Yankee Stadium 2016 Summer Olympics commences (through August 21st) in Brazil and on television (www.olympic.org) National Drone Racing Championships (through August 7th) Governors Island (www.dronenationals.com)

Legendary singer Barbara Streisand (also 13th) Barclays Center (www.barclayscenter.com)

12th Annual Hudson Valley RibFest New Paltz, Hudson Valley (www.hudsonvalleyribfest.org) Cycle Adirondacks bike tour (through August 27th) Hadley-Lake Luzerne (www.cycleadirondacks.com)

23 th 25 th 27 th 29 rd

US Tennis Open 2016 qualifying rounds (through August 26th) Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (www.usopen.org)

Annual Central Park Film Festival (through August 29th) (www.centralparknyc.org) 147th Travers Stakes horse race at Saratoga Race Course (www.saratogaracetrack.com)

US Tennis Open 2016 tournament commences (through September 11th) Billie Jean King National Tennis Center

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Comptroller Stringer marches in the 2014 Puerto Rican Day Parade in Manhattan.

Scott Stringer: Reimagining How The City Works

By Anthony Rapacciuolo

n 1979 the legendary Frank Sinatra released his famed song “New York, New York” and proclaimed in the famed lyrics that “if I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere,” singing about the fast-paced lifestyle and opportunities that our great city offers. Fast forward 37 years later to the present day and New York City’s 44th Comptroller, Scott M. Stringer, who tells New York Lifestyles Magazine that his job is to ensure that everyone can “make it here” ... albeit in a less lyrical tone than old blue eyes. The role of the Comptroller is far-reaching with responsibilities including overseeing performance and financial audits of all city agencies. While serving as a fiduciary to the city’s five public pension funds (totaling nearly $160 billion in assets), he also provides comprehensive oversight of the municipal budget and fiscal condition. The Office of Comptroller must ensure transparency and accountability and vigorously enforces prevailing wage and living wage laws. Not to be overlooked, this former Manhattan Borough President promotes numerous innovative policies that enhance city government’s efficiency, integrity, and performance for all New Yorkers.

Scott’s career in government goes beyond urban limits. Before entering into the city administration, he served six terms in New York State’s Assembly (1992-2005), where he led the fight on issues of domestic violence (he authored the anti-stalking law) and affordable housing. That spirit continues and since taking office as Comptroller in 2013, the 56-year-old alumnus of John Jay College of Criminal Justice has been “reimagining how our city works” and dedicates to protecting and maximizing every taxpayer dollar for the benefit of our city as a whole. In such a short time, Scott has rolled out programs to create more jobs, cut the red tape that exists between the private and government sectors, revamped the $160 billion public pension system, and placed particular focus on our city’s youth and education programs. New York Lifestyles Magazine had the pleasure of speaking candidly with the Comptroller about some of his past success and future goals for our city. In fact, we were even given an exclusive look into his life outside of the office where he shared with us what he called his “life’s suffering.” Don’t be alarmed as it isn’t as dramatic a revelation as I’ve portrayed it to be, but you’ll still have to read the article in its entirety to see what it is. AUGUST 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 15

Scott Stringer appears on MSNBC in the lead-up to the New York presidential primary in April 2016.

Scott Stringer hosts a press conference with his family and elected officials on the steps of City Hall to present his report on Families & Flexibility: Reshaping the Workplace for the 21st Century in June 2014. What do you think is the best part of the city? New York City is the center of the universe! Every day I have an opportunity to interact with people from every corner of New York and from every walk of life. New Yorkers speak over 200 languages and come from over 170 countries; our diversity is incredible. My job as Comptroller is to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to make it here. I’m a lifelong New Yorker and together with my wife, Elyse, we’re raising our two boys here, and constantly thinking about the city that we are going to leave for our children as well as the children I’ll never meet. As a native New Yorker, what are your fondest memories growing up here? I grew up in Washington Heights back in the 70’s, and it was a tough time to come of age. The subway I took was a roving crime scene. I lived through the New York blackout, the Bronx is Burning 16 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | AUGUST 2016

Scott Stringer marches in the 2016 Pride Parade in Manhattan with his family. period, and graduated high school the same year the Son of Sam crime spree took place. But even with all that was happening, it was a good upbringing. There was a sense that if you worked hard and played by the rules, you could aspire to the dreams that you had. I feel like the luckiest person in New York because I have had a front row seat to this ever-changing city. You are clearly passionate about New York so what do you think defines a New Yorker versus someone who lives in another city? New Yorkers have a certain attitude, confidence, and we have a spirit that can’t be broken. We have proven that time and time again. Whether it’s a devastating hurricane or post 9/11, there is a strength New Yorkers possess that ultimately defines them. Given the time of year, what do you think makes our city unique in the summer months?

Scott Stringer hosts press conference in Lower Manhattan in June 2016 to introduce a proposal for free sunscreen at city parks, beaches, pools and playgrounds. When it is summer in the city, I love taking my two little boys to the city parks and playgrounds to play in the sprinklers. There’s so much to do in the summer in the five boroughs, from the beaches to the festivals and street fairs. From salsa dancing in Orchard Beach to the fireworks on the East Side, New York just seems to come alive for everybody in all boroughs. With summer, comes longer days and plenty of sun. Tell us about your campaign to protect New Yorkers by offering free sunscreen dispensers at public pools, parks and beaches. Skin cancer is a real threat, and we found in our report that the rate in adults increased nearly 40 percent annually from 2006 to 2011. These numbers are staggering! And it’s why I’ve proposed the city provide sunscreen dispensers at parks, pools, playgrounds and beaches at no cost. With similar programs in Boston and Miami, we need to catch up. The cost is minimal and funded mostly by nongovernmental organizations. We’re looking forward to sitting with

the Department of Health on how best to roll out this program. What are some of your other top priorities and initiatives? Since taking office, we have reimagined how this office does business. We’re focused on improving New York City for all. We’ve revamped how we operate the city’s pension fund; we’ve created reporting methods for our affordable housing challenges. Did you know that every night 57,000 people including 22,000 children go to sleep in homeless shelters? We are investigating the conditions of these shelters and moving the city to act. We’ve also initiated programs related to expanding arts and culture in our school systems. Most recently we’ve investigated day care centers, where 50 percent did not have required lead testing for their water on file with Department of Health. Sometimes we work in close collaboration with City Hall and at other times we are holding them accountable so we can have a government that is truly effective for present day and years to come.

AUGUST 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 17

At the Comptroller’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration at Surrogate’s Court in Manhattan in September 2015 with, from left, Carlos Cuevas (Comptroller’s nephew), Elyse Buxbaum (Comptroller’s wife), Comptroller Stringer, Arlene Stringer-Cuevas (Comptroller’s mother), Carlos Cuevas (Comptroller’s Step-Father), Carlos Cuevas Jr. (Comptroller’s step-brother). There seems to be a theme of programs and initiatives for our city’s youth, do you think there’s a difference between a child who grows up in New York versus anywhere else in the country? When you grow up in New York City, you have a head start. Why? Because of our diversity. Think of our global economy. Our kids are living this experience every day so that by the time they get that New York City education they will already be well prepared 18 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | AUGUST 2016

to do great things here and around the world. Sound off! Tell our readers something they don’t know about you. I’m going to give this to you as an exclusive! I am a long-suffering NFL New York Jets fan! Of course, this has been going on for decades. When my two children were younger, it could have gone either way—Giants or Jets. But now they’re Jets fans, and we enjoy spending Sunday’s together watching the game. •

By Ann Lawlor

Making Perfect Scents

ummer brings with it a whole new array of smells and scents - the ozone of the sea, the smell of summer flowers. Even if you are trapped indoors at offices or entertainment you can still participate in the summer season with these scents...

1. 1. FLOWER Sunshine Fragrance $19.97 / 30ml Available at Walmart or Walmart.com

2. Cartier La Panthère EDP Légère $130 / 2.5oz Available at Bloomingdales.com

4. Privet bloom Eau de Parfum $68.00 / 1.7oz Available at HamptonSuncare.com, select locations of Neiman Marcus, Blue Mercury, Planet Beauty and Space NK 20 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | AUGUST 2016

3. The House of Creed Aventus For Her $405 / 75ml Available at Neiman Marcus and NeimanMarcus.com

5. Oscar de la Renta Extraordinary Pétale $88 / 90ml Available at Macys.com

6. La Femme Prada $75 Available at Macys.com

9. 8. 7.

7. Liberty Island by Bond No. 9 $295 / 100ml; $220 / 50ml Available at Bond No. 9 New York Boutiques, Saks Fifth Avenue Nationwide, select Bloomingdale’s stores, Harrods UK, and bondno9.com

9. Natalie Eau De Parfum $95 / 1.7oz Available at Curve boutiques and other select boutiques nationwide and NatalieFragrance.com

10. 8. Annick Goutal Rose Pompon $149 Available at us.annickgoutal.com

11. 10. Jean Paul Gaultier Classique Eau Fraîche $90 Available at Macys.com

11. Terry De Gunzburg Thé Glacé $170 Available at Barneys.com

14.

13. 12.

12. Sweet Like Candy by Ariana Grande $59 Available at Ulta.com

13. Amongst The Waves EDP $80 Available at Anthropologie and shopolivine.com

14. Gold Rush Paris Hilton $60 / 3.4 oz Available at Perfumania and Perfumania.com

AUGUST 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 21

Summertime Sports: Keeping Your Eyes In Focus By Dianne Zoppa ummertime sports like tennis, golf, fishing and boating, require proper outfitting that includes thoughtfully chosen eyewear that can amp up both your performance and your style. Even athletes with perfect 20/20 vision will benefit from wearing the correct sunglasses, explains Sanford Hutton, CEO of Colors in Optics, Ltd. in New York City. An optician, former science educator, golfer and tennis player, Hutton has created luxury, high fashion eyewear for forty years. He offers these guidelines for choosing sunglasses that will keep you at the top of your game and looking sensational: • It is crucial to select lenses that provide maximum UV absorption. When possible, add additional protection from glare and potentially damaging UV rays with polarized and/or mirrored lenses. • Fit is essential. Temples and nose pads should feel comfortable and secure to accommodate head movements, such as following the trajectory of a golf ball or spotting the rapid back-and-forth action on the tennis court. • Lightweight frame materials and shapes that provide adequate coverage and protection enhance performance. For example, boaters should consider oversized shapes that hug the face, helping resist off-the-water breezes that potentially can lift

2. KT505 S06 Matte Silver with Olive Lens by Kiton Sail away in Kiton’s men’s luxe Aviator in matte silver. The solid olive tinted lenses provide the practicality of a comfortable, lightweight and wind-resistant fit set in the elegant lines of this classic style. 22 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | AUGUST 2016

sunglasses when a boat moves at high speeds. Attaching a head strap affords extra security. • Typically, high quality fashion sunglasses can be re-fitted with prescription lenses. • If you wear prescription glasses, let your eye doctor know what sports you play. He/she will advise on appropriate tints and lens materials. Most experts would agree that for country club players and non-competitive water sports such as yachting, sailing and fishing, tint color is a matter of preference. For golfers, rose copper, browns, and ambers are ideal for heightening contrast on the fairway and reading the green as well as following the ball against blue sky. Rose copper tint is a bonus when putting, allowing the player to filter out the reds and yellows within the green field. Some opticians advise that tennis players will gain an advantage in spotting the bright yellow ball through mirror-coated or polarized lenses to reduce glare on sunny days. For water activities, here are some general tips: green tinted lenses will enhance visual acuity for specific light situations, such as sight fishing; gray tints are neutral and all-purpose, providing contrast and effective light filtering on water; purple or rose tints offer the brightest field of vision, especially applicable to sight, bass and inshore fishing. 1. CS 270 MARIN by Colors in Optics, ltd, in Watermelon Pink with Lime Tips) The rosy pink mirrored lenses of Colors in Optics’ women’s Marin style will help create contrasts on the golf green and, in this pretty watermelon pink and lime combination, add a summery blush of color to tennis togs.

3. CP 244 BOCA by Colors in Optics, ltd. in Tortoise over Sky Blue A handmade Aviator frame in acetate, Boca by Colors in Optics, ltd. offers uptrend brow bar detailing, shown here in Tortoise over Sky Blue. This unisex design features generously contoured polarized gradient lenses that enhance vision for country club athletes and sailors.

4. 4. MO816-S01 Black and Red design by Moschino Lunching in the clubhouse, competing on the links or courts, or simply soaking up the rays on top deck Moschino sunglasses elevate the game with European panache. These lightweight, sporty frames, with rubber temples and a distinctive logo are both posh and practical.

5. 5. CS281 MARINE by Colors in Optics, ltd. in Tokyo Tortoise The flattering and classic rectangle shape of Colors in Optics’ Marine men’s design in a rich Tokyo Tortoise offers polarized sea green mirrored lenses that are ideal for boating but equally effective on the court or fairways.

6. KT508 SO1 Kiton design in Gold with Tortoise detailing For the yachtsman, a sophisticated sunglass in gold metal with a stylized tortoise brow bar, captured in a classic round Aviator shape. By the revered Italian design house Kiton, these will merit second glances.

Colors in Optics, Kiton, and Moschino sunglasses range in price from $175 to $575. For more information on these styles call Colors in Optics, ltd at 1-866-393-3374.The Kiton sunglasses are available at E.B. Meyrowitz & Dell, 19 W. 44th St., NYC; the Moschino sunglasses are available at Bloomingdale’s. • AUGUST 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 23

What to Wear to Your Favorite Summer Rooftops By Kelly McFarland of Mimosas and Manhattan ressing in New York during the summer can be a feat in and of its’ own – dressing stylishly in New York is a whole other beast to tackle. But let’s face it, from the rooftop bars, pools and BBQ’s there really is nothing like NYC in the summertime. Before you throw on a pair of old jorts and gym tank – check out our three rooftop worthy looks that will keep you looking and feeling cool until Summer Friday’s are just fond memories of the past. Whip out the mini dress This is one of the only times of the year that the mini dress is accepted – nay, outwardly welcomed, in your weekly wardrobe. When hitting up some of our favorite spots like Hotel Chantelle and Northern Territory, the mini dress is the perfect summer staple to dance and entertain all-evening long.

Photo by Join Comb

Photo by Laurel Creative

24 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | AUGUST 2016

Flowy is your friend Sure a bodycon dress may look cute when you leave your apartment but leave it to a popular (and crowded) rooftop like Brass Monkey to get you feeling all types of sticky. Throw on a flowy romper like the one above from Asos or a fun denim look from BB Dakota! They will have you feeling easy and breezy.

Photo by H.B. Media

Pack your swimsuit Sure NYC rooftops in general are great, but rooftops with pools? Even better. Mr. Purple, Zerzura and McCarron Park Hotel all have us swimming laps of luxury. Don’t be afraid to pack up the ‘kini and take a dive!

Photo by H.B. Media

Add some color & patterns Add some color + patterns to the usual NYC all-black uniform… it’s summer after all! Patterns help camouflage perspiration so you don’t have to sweat the small stuff.

AUGUST 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 25

Fashionably Blanc

By Miki Makrillos

ew York goes undercover in code “white” during the summer months. The mission for this secret rendezvous is well kept among the approximate 5,000 randomly chosen participants. Even in the age of social media, the stylish, elegant, etiquette filled event Diner en Blanc remains a well kept secret. This “chic picnic” has become a stylish event that allows it’s guests to unleash their fashion whimsy.

friends, and requested all his guests wear white attire. Since then, it has become an annual social event in Paris, hosted at the most prestigious public sites such as the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées, and Place de la Concorde with approximately 10,000 guests in attendance. This event has since expanded to more than 60 cities around the world with the coordination of Francois’ son, Aymeric Pasquier, who co-founded Diner en Blanc International with partner Sandy Safi. Together, they have made this event become an exclusive sensation worldwide.

Diner en Blanc originated 27 years ago in Paris when Francois Pasquier held a picnic party in a public space inviting a handful of

In New York for the past five years waiting lists have totaled 35,000 applicants for only 5,000 guests. According to its co-founders this

26 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | AUGUST 2016

event is such a success because guests have to “commit to participate”. Rules are strict for willing participants. After purchasing a ticket ($32.00), guests must be willing to carry their own table, chairs, a tablecloth, all white china, decorations, candles and food during rush hour, while planning days and sometimes weeks in advance for the “right outfit”. Yes, there is a dress code of chic, strictly white dress, and attention seeking headwear. Participants are notified to arrive at a central location with their belongings and are told last minute to follow a team leader to the secret location. Past years landmark locations such as Lincoln Center and Pier 26 have been host to Diner en Blanc: an elegant, glamorous revisiting of high French society, and guests engaging one another, knowing that they are taking part in a truly magical event. It is a moment in time where there are no disruptions: no car traffic, no pedestrian traffic, but an all white unique event where stylish people of diverse backgrounds are brought together to share good taste and a love of beauty. It also gives people the pleasure of spontaneity, creative expression, and getting back to basic values that are forgotten in

the bustle of city life, such as sharing a meal with friends, while getting dressed up for the celebration. Presentation time is here!! The event begins after hours of setting up beautiful rows of white adorned tables. Men are sitting on one side of the table, and women on the other. All guests are elegantly and stylishly dressed in white suits, gowns, cocktail dresses and elaborate accessories. There is a silent stand by all, and a long standing tradition of white napkins waving in the air, signaling the start of the dinner “a toast to all!!”. As the evening continues with mingling and dancing there is a beautiful picturesque New York skyline adorning this unique ethereal experience. • About Miki Makrillos Miki Makrillos is a commentator on style and fashion on her website: wonderwomantalks.com AUGUST 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 27

MORE WHOA! FOR YOUR SUMMER THE BOARDWALK

RIDES

WILDWOOD, NJ •

WAT E R PA R K S

•

moreyspiers.com

HOTELS

Child’s Play: Pack Your Bags For A Truly Memorable Adventure By Patricia Canole lane, train or will it be four wheels? Where in the world to go on your family vacation? Relax! We’ve got some amazing ideas to make this trip a treat.

NANTUCKET, MASSACHUSETTS THE VIBE:

Upon arrival to this beach escape, you’ll notice there are no traffic lights as far as you can see! What you will find on this tranquil island, located 30 miles south of Cape Cod, are stretches of beautiful beaches, unpretentious cottages, and a harbor filled with sailboats. Younger kids will love Children’s Beach right in Nantucket Town, while parents might prefer Jetties Beach, which has a restaurant where you can sip a drink at sunset while the youngsters play in the sand. Tweens and teens like Surfside Beach and come early afternoon they’ll head over to Broad Street for some great ice cream at The Juice Bar. Kids of all ages will enjoy Nantucket and be kept busy with sailing, fishing, kayaking, surf lessons, theater programs at The Dreamland Theater (nantucketdreamland.org) or simply chill on the sand. A visit to the Bartlett’s Farm (barlettsfarm.com) is always a fun place to explore and, should it rain, head to The Sea Dogs Exhibit at the Egan Maritime Institute (eganmaritime.org) or teach the kids some local history at The Whaling Museum (nha. org) with its hands-on Discovery Room. For more information on Nantucket Island, visit www.islandofnantucket.info.

White Elephant

WHERE TO STAY:

The Wauwinet (wauwinet.com) is an elegant escape on the island’s eastern end. Active types can bike or play tennis. Wauwinet’s sister property, the White Elephant (whiteelephanthotel.com), is in a prime harbor-front location. The Quaker-style, gray-shingled hotel has many guest rooms with fireplaces. At the Boat Basin, you’ll find The Cottages where families are close to the nautical action. AUGUST 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 29

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

Hotel del Coronado

THE VIBE:

It’s a friendly, laid-back city with a distinct beach lifestyle. There’s so much to do here: boogie board, swim, surf, snorkel, kayak, scuba dive. And, best of all, the weather is ideal—it’s almost always in the 70s. A visit to San Diego means a day at the zoo with more than 4,000 animals, so plan on staying the day. Two moving walkways make getting around easy. Don’t feel like walking? Take the double-decker bus tour, which covers about 70 percent of the zoo. Looking for more adventure? Older kids will enjoy Torrey Pines Gliderport (flytorrey.com). This hang-gliding and paragliding spot atop a cliff overlooking the Pacific offers breathtaking views. Kids fly tandem with an instructor. Spend another day at Balboa Park (balboapark.org), first built for the 1915 World’s Fair. The 1,200-acre park features 15 museums and nine performing arts venues. One favorite: the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center (rhfleet.org), which appeals to kids of all ages. Be sure to bring along a picnic lunch. For more information on San Diego, visit sandiego.org. 30 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | AUGUST 2016

WHERE TO STAY:

A must is the Hotel del Coronado (hoteldel.com), a grand Victorian beachfront resort. “The Del” is always alive with activity, as guests marvel at the fanciful architecture and ocean views. Opt for rooms in the Beach Village at The Del which are closer to the beach—making them an excellent option for families.

OAHU, HAWAII THE VIBE:

Oahu melds luxury into a laid-back ambiance. Add postcardworthy beaches, emerald-tufted mountains, lots of adventure; it’s no wonder that Hawaii’s third-largest Isle is the most visited. Kids will enjoy the close-up dolphin encounter at Sea Life Park (sealifeparkhawaii.com), a scenic 15-mile drive from Waikiki. The park houses a seabird sanctuary, penguin habitat, turtle lagoon, sea lion feeding pool, and an excellent Hawaiian reef exhibit showcasing sharks, moray eels, and manta rays. But it’s the Dolphins that will steal your heart. Be sure to check their website for current information on the various Dolphin Encounter Programs, and bring a towel and bathing suit. However, if this program is booked, The Kahala Hotel & Resort (kahalaresort. com) also offers their own Dolphin Quest. Reservations are required. Of course, the most popular visitor attraction in Oahu—and certainly the most moving—is the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor (nps.gov). The monument memorializes the men who died during the attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II. A boat shuttles you to the memorial, which lies above the sunken USS Arizona. Not too far from the Waikiki beaches soars Diamond Head—Honolulu’s volcanic mountain. Hiking up the inside slope of its crater wall is the perfect activity to do first thing in the morning and early, and the air is still relatively fresh. For a truly memorable day, rent a car and spend the day exploring Oahu’s famous North Shore. Ever hear of the Banzai Pipeline? Champion surfers from around the world gather to ride the waves reaching over 30 feet. And don’t miss the funky old town of Haleiwa where you can get delicious rainbow-flavored shave ice at legendary Matsumoto shop (matsumotoshaveice.com). For more information on Oahu, visit gohawaii.com.

Hilton Hawaiian Village

WHERE TO STAY:

Hawaii’s largest resort Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort (www.hiltonhawaiianvillage.com) is a must for families. Kids 5-12 can immerse themselves in activities at Camp Penguin and includes some off-site excursions to the Honolulu Zoo, and the Waikiki Aquarium. Back at the hotel, be sure to grab a prime spot to watch the entertainment and fireworks on the beach every Friday. It’s free! • AUGUST 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 31

beautiful beachfront luxury

Set sail for adventure at the Port Royal and make luxuriously appointed accommodations your port of call on the Jersey Shore. Soak up some sun and salty sea air with your First Mate from a private balcony with spectacular views of the sparkling Atlantic Ocean.

Voted 2015 Favorite Hotel by Family Vacation Critic

On the Beach at Palm Road â&#x20AC;˘ 6801 Ocean Avenue â&#x20AC;˘ Wildwood Crest, NJ 08260 PortRoyalHotel.com 609/729-2000 A MOREY RESORT

Motoring: 2 Hours from New York

By Jeffrey Bradford

espite a national speed limit of 55mph a 2-hour trip out of New York City some 110 miles out offers you some distinct day trip ideas. Here are three day trips worthy of consideration to try out. The Hamptons, Long Island Distance from NYC: 89 miles Time: 2 hours 18 minutes The Route: The i-495 highway What to see and do: You have read the Ralph Lauren catalogs or watched the reality shows – so why not drive and spend the day in tony Southampton. Enjoy flavored coffee at The Golden Pear. Brunch at 75 Main restaurant - favorite of Vice President Joe Biden. Drive to Coopers Beach, ranked amongst the best in the Country and take in the sun. Dine at Tutto al Giorno or Kozu and if you are too tired to drive home stay at The Southampton inn. The ideal wheels: The current official vehicle of the Hamptons appears to be the Range Rover HSE. 2016 model prices start from $84,950 (www.landroverusa.com). The Hawks Nest, Sullivan County Distance from NYC: 89 miles Time: 2 hours 4 minutes The Routes: I-87 to Woodbury Commons, Route 6 to Middletown, I-84 West to Port Jervis, CR-97. What to see and do: Numerous car commercials have been filmed on this twisty, turny route in the Catskill Mountains. Fly fishing, Boating and camping on the Delaware is a low-tech way of reconnecting with yourself, friends and family. The ideal wheels: Perfect for Jeep owners (www.jeep.com), Harley Davidson riders (www.harley-davidson.com) Rhinebeck, Dutchess County Distance from NYC: 109 miles Time: 2 hours 27 minutes The Routes: North on the Taconic Parkway What to see and do: An iconic town located deep in the Hudson Valley whose formation predates the Revolution by 90 years. Hang out at one of America’s oldest Inn’s – The Beekman Arms. Walk the town or drive around and enjoy the horse farms and rolling hills. The ideal wheels: Mercedes Benz (www.mbusa.com). • AUGUST 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 33

Accessible Aruba: New Yorkers Go-to Caribbean Destination By Sana Butler

f you are like us, you have been to the Caribbean more than once. Something about lying in the sun, slathered in sunscreen, watching waves roll from indigo to neon, calms the mind; the island life teaches us all to slow down. While the Concrete Jungle sets the tone of a hyper-active schedule of Broadway shows, museum exhibits, opera tickets, on the road, the simple act of handing a beach towel to a hotel staff to drape over a chair is an orchestra seat ticket to do nothing. Now through November is the ideal time to go because it is hurricane season when traditional travelers stay away. The Dutch island which lies southerly outside of the hurricane belt welcomes average weather of 83 degrees almost 365 days a year. Because it is a

34 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | AUGUST 2016

desert island (who knew?), rain is a harmless anomaly and the dry climate means you skin is more likely to feel sticky from the SPF. (Desalination provides the island’s only source of water).

Oftentimes, advance research on a destination to find places to go and what to do to travel like a local is a very good idea. This is not one of those times. There is not a lot to Aruba’s desert landscape so picking the right hotel is as important as packing the right bathing suit. Whether you’re a beachgoer, an adventure seeker, or a foodie in search of local eateries (like Screaming Eagle and Zeerovers), there’s plenty to do on this island, despite it only being 19.6 miles long. The beaches in Aruba are incredible, from sparkling turquoise colors in the daytime to vibrant backdrops at sunset. One of the most picturesque and action-packed beaches is Palm Beach, a hub for watersports enthusiasts and sunbathers alike, so you’re going to

Forget having to worry about farm raised shrimp or genetic modified fish that plagues good eats in New York City. Enjoy fresh seafood right from the source at Zeerover in Savaneta. Zeerover Savaneta 270 Savaneta, Aruba +297.584.2544

want to pack the right bathing suit - You will be spending a lot of time together. That is why New York City is the #1 feeder city to the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino which in turn has arguably the highest percentage of return visitors on the island at 80 percent. The staff is on New York time which is a herculean sensibility considering the sun in your face, the sand under your feet, warmth, and relaxation inspires things to generally move slower. A groomsman who complains that his girlfriend and all of the bridesmaid commandeered the bathroom gets a new room to get dressed without a blink. When we want something we (admit it) wanted it yesterday. Found on Palm Beach at the north-west tip of the island the Aruba Marriott Resort lures travellers with 411-rooms of contemporary decor, 9 bars and restaurants (Atardi, the pop-up restaurant on the beach is by far the best), 12 spa treatment rooms at Mandara Spa and a casino of slot machines that feels like the departure hall of a Las Vegas airport. The property offers the privacy of an adults-only pool and the exclusivity to book accommodations in the Tradewinds Club & Lounge on the 8th floor, accessible only with special key access. The hotel-within-ahotel retreat delivers a boutique feel without the price.

What’s better than room service in bed? A chef-inspired, endless courses of French-fusion finedining without the messy sheets. Screaming Eagle’s Dinner-in-Bed experience may have been copied from Miami but perfected here. Screaming Eagle J.E. Irausquin Blvd. 228 Eagle Beach, Aruba +297.587.8021 screaming-eagle.net

Perhaps the best part of your stay is when you leave and see the hotel plays host to paintings by no name, up and coming local artists on sale throughout the lobby. Forget the gift shop, roam the halls for a souvenir. Visit www.marriott.com for more information. • Don’t want to miss your weekly Downward Dog session while on vacation. Try something new and practice your Ujjayi breathe on the water. After paddling away from the beach, take a Yoga class in the middle of the Atlantic with a stand up paddle board as your mat. The hotel concierge can book an appointment.

The penthouse at Oyster Bay

The Penthouse at Oyster Bay is the premier unit at the Lighthouse at Oyster Bay Beach Resort. The unit features 3 bedrooms, 3 full baths and each with its own balcony. Each balcony slider folds completely into the wall, the screens retract fully as does the drapery making the opening to the room about 12 feet. The layout of the entire unit affords a vista from every room and you will love the quiet and privacy of this special location. Natasha Laurent | CIPS Sales Associate/Rental Specialist RE/MAX Island properties Cell: 721 524 0640 Office: 721 544 4580

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 guestsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; access to Montaukâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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!

Iceland: Country of Contrasts By Jeff and Stephanie Sylva t is a country of contrasts. It is a country of extremes where fire and ice coexist. Iceland is rugged and harsh – but it is also welcoming and inspirational. It is the European continent’s youngest landmass, yet the country is steeped in old traditions and folklore sagas. Iceland’s diversity is probably most evident in its geophysical location – at the juncture between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates which are drifting apart by a few centimeters every year. This location directly on the continental rift is a major reason for Iceland’s active volcanic and geothermic history producing the incredible forces that shape the unique scenery of Iceland.

This diversity is also evident in Iceland’s weather – conditions tend to change quickly, so layering clothes and having a good rain parka are essential (something we were quick to learn during our recent visit to this country which lies just below the Arctic Circle). In just one day we hiked on one of Iceland’s many glaciers in a cold and windy rain, only to witness a glorious rainbow on a perfectly sunny afternoon at one of the numerous waterfalls that populate the country. We came to understand that Icelanders embrace their fickle, sometimes harsh, weather, just as they embrace the ruggedness of their landscape. Indeed, it is this extreme diversity of landscape that has propelled Iceland to the top of many people’s “to go” list. Iceland is just a five-hour, non-stop flight from New York – perfect even for a long weekend getaway. Alternatively with IcelandAir’s free stop-over program, experiencing Iceland for up to seven days is an easy side trip to any European vacation.

AUGUST AUGUST2016 2016| |NEW NEWYORK YORKLIFESTYLES LIFESTYLESMAGAZINE MAGAZINE| |37 37

Iceland was pretty much on nobody’s radar until 2010. That was the year that European air travel was stopped by the eruption of the volcano Eyjafjallajokull, and everybody’s attention was drawn to this small Nordic nation. Since then tourism in Iceland has increased dramatically. Many visitors are drawn to the capital city of Reykjavik, a small city (pop. 203,000 in the greater Reykjavik area) in comparison to other European capitals. The city reflects the charm of Europe, but with a hip, unpretentious energy and youthful vibe. For those who want to explore the world’s northernmost capital city, we suggest purchasing the Reykjavik City Card. The card offers free admission to a number of the city’s museums, national galleries, the Animal Zoo and Family Park, all of the city’s thermal pools, and the ferry to Videy Island. The card also offers free unlimited travel by bus within the capital area. We constantly took advantage of the bus system since we did not have a car rental when staying in the city – parking is at a premium. The City Card, which can be purchased for a one-day, two-day, or threeday period, also offers discounts on admissions to a number of city attractions. Reykjavik is cosmopolitan enough to offer a variety of international restaurants, but many visitors want to try some fresh Icelandic seafood. Two restaurants in Reykjavik we highly recommend are Apotek and Tapas Barinn. Both offer a selection of seafood as well as European dishes. Apotek, “the pharmacy,” is so-named because the historic building long housed the city’s main pharmacy. Now a casual-smart restaurant and popular cocktail lounge, Apotek’s design reflects the “pharmacy” theme and serves exquisitely 38 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | AUGUST 2016

prepared small plates and entrees from a flaming hot Argentinian grill. Tapas Barinn, recommended to us as one of the more popular places with locals, focuses even more on a tapas menu. A number of pre-selected tasting courses, such as the Icelandic Gourmet Feast that we sampled, offer a variety of Icelandic specialties such as Arctic Char, smoked puffin, pan-fried blue ling and Minke Whale. A selection of main courses is also available. To truly experience Iceland you need to get out of Reykjavik to see – and experience - the spectacular Icelandic scenery. Although there are many chartered day trips available from Reykjavik, we suggest a more immersive trip – a self-drive tour with Nordic Visitor, one of Iceland’s and the Nordic region’s leading travel agencies. Traveling with our friends, Karen and David, we chose the Iceland Full Circle Tour giving us nine days of driving all kinds of roads throughout Iceland. The beauty of a self-drive tour with Nordic Visitor is that everything is arranged for a flawless travel experience. In addition to a choice of car size (GPS, WiFi hotspot, and a pre-paid cell phone included), arranging excursions, and preparing a personalized travel guide with outlined maps highlighting a wealth of attractions and sites, Nordic Visitor offers three levels of accommodations, all with breakfast included. We chose the mid-level, “Comfort,” and were very pleased with our accommodations. Iceland’s unique scenery is a palette of dramatic extremes. Each day’s drive brought a variety of awe-inspiring landscapes and scenery featuring powerful or idyllic waterfalls (Dettifoss is

Europe’s most powerful waterfall); vast glaciers (Iceland is home to Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajokull); and glacial lagoons populated with spectacular blue icebergs floating in icy waters. We drove past towering snow-capped mountains and visited numerous volcanic craters (on average, Iceland experiences a volcanic event every five years); and geothermic fields of geysers, steam vents and bubbling mud pots. Hiking maze-like lava fields resembling moonscapes, strolling black sand beaches with impressive basalt columns and dramatic rock formations, and viewing magnificently-blue fjords kept us in awe of Iceland’s natural beauty. An outdoor enthusiast’s paradise, Iceland offers a variety of short to multi-day hikes, snowmobiling on a glacier, river rafting, ice climbing, kayaking, caving, diving ultraclear glacial waters, salmon fishing, whale watching, puffin viewing and of course, horseback riding on the famous Icelandic horses. We opted for a glacier trek with Arcanum Glacier Tours, who have been in business for over 20 years. We donned helmets, crampons, and a safety harness, then grabbed an ice pick, to explore the amazing terrain of crevasses, sink holes, and ice ridges on the Solheimajokull glacier. We also explored the Lofthellir lava cave known for its unusual ice formations. After a short hike across a magnificent lavafield, our guide from Saga Travel, “Bucky,” was great helping each of us squeeze through narrow crevices and crawl up and down inclines to enter the main chamber of the cave. Lofthellir boasts the greatest natural ice sculptures currently known in an Icelandic lava cave. With more than 170 geothermal pools throughout the country, a cherished pastime for Icelanders is relaxing in these hot tubs,

which often function as the local version of the pub, where they can catch up on all the town gossip. The most popular pool with visitors and probably Iceland’s most famous attraction is the Blue Lagoon, which is located between Reykjavik and the airport in Keflavik (prior reservations are required). The mineral-rich waters are soothing for a range of skin conditions and a soak will leave your skin silky smooth. We enjoyed soaking in the Myvatn Nature Baths, a pool of geothermal water drawn from depths of up to 2,500 meters located in a natural setting with great views. With nearly day-long sunlight in late spring and summer, we stayed in the Nature Baths until late in the evening, and later ended our day with a midnight toast to the sun setting over Lake Myvatn. An alternative to a self-drive tour is staying in Reykjavik and doing day trips outside the city. Nordic Visitor can arrange any of a variety of such trips, the most popular of which is the Golden Circle. This trip includes a trio of incredible natural attractions – Thingvellir National Park (location for a number of scenes from HBO’s “Game of Thrones”), the famed geothermal area of Geysir, and the spectacular waterfall Gullfoss. A country of sharp contrasts, where the endless daylight of summer is offset by the nearly daylong darkness of winter and the radiance of the Aurora Borealis, Iceland is rugged, mysterious, awe-inspiring, and idyllic. Iceland is epic. For more information please visi: www.nordicvisitor.com www.visitreykjavik.is www.iceland.is www.visiticeland.com • AUGUST 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 39

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...

Hamptons Favorites

By Jeffrey Bradford e asked Hamptons Salt owner Peter Pierce to share his ten favorite things in the Hamptons that makes him feel good... 1. A swim or walk on Fowler Beach. I love the seclusion and natural beauty, but go early or late to secure one of the prized parking spots. 2. A gelato from Sant Ambrose and walking through Southampton Village. www.santambrose.com 3. A clambake & bonfire on the beach. East End Clambakes provide everything you need, so you can relax and enjoy yourself with your guests without all the work of entertaining at home! www.eastendclambakes.com 4. A stroll through Mecox Gardens. It always provides great inspiration and hidden gems to discover. www.mecox.com 5. Produce shopping at the Green Thumb, Halsey Farm & Milk Pail for the local treasures of the Hamptons! www.greenthumborganic.com www.halseyfarm.com www.milk-pail.com

6. Cocktails & dinner at Baron’s Cove in Sag Harbor. www.baronscove.com 7. Lobster Clam Bake outside at Duryea’s Lobster Deck in Montauk. www.duryealobsters.com 8. Picking up plants at Marders. There is always something to add to the yard. www.marders.com 9. Grabbing a gourmet selection of foods at Pierre’s Market to eat at Sagg Main Beach. Pierre’s Market 542 Sagg Main St Sagaponack, NY www.pierresbridgehampton.com 10. Attending - and donating Hamptons Salt to - the numerous summer benefits that support local causes and raise great sums of money for East End Charities. • Hamptons Salt Company Gift Box AUGUST 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 41

Mystique of Mustique

By Neal Sroka ong before the “beautiful people” discovered St Barth’s, the place to see and not be seen was Mustique. An Island of only 1,400 acres, purchased in 1958 for £45,000 by Colin Tennent aka The 3rd Baron of Glenconner, was to become one of the Caribbean’s best kept secrets. Mustique, which today is legally part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines now has a year round population of 500 people which grows to approximately 1,200 during peak season. Having only two small hotels and approximately 100 Villas, the island attracts some of the most famous people in the world. Current 42 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | AUGUST 2016

owners include, Shania Twain, Tommy Hilfiger, Laurence Stroll and Mick Jagger. Princess Margaret received a 10-acre plot in 1960 as a wedding gift from Lord Glenconner, on which she built a residence called Les Jolies Eaux, which transformed this quiet little island into an international playground. In 1979 ownership of the island was turned over to the Mustique Company a private limited company whose shareholders are the homeowners. Original homeowners included David Bowie who built himself a beautiful Balinese House which was eventually sold to publishing magnate Felix Dennis. Mr. Dennis’ estate sold the house last year for approximately £14m.

Presently there are several extraordinary residences available on the island for sale including Plantation House, one of Mustique’s most iconic properties. Plantation House is set amongst tropical gardens and grounds and commands unparalleled 270 degree views over the island to the Caribbean Sea, it is a traditionally styled masterpiece. Shogun, an elegant Japanese style villa, perched high in the Endeavour Hills with spectacular views over Britannia Bay to the Caribbean Sea. The main, five-bedroom house at Shogun is comprised of a linked series of Japanese pavilions, each exquisitely decorated in its own individual style. A dining pavilion extends out over the koi pond, which is torch-lit by night and there are numerous sun-decks and shady nooks for reading and relaxing. There is an adjacent two-bedroom cottage called Little Shogun, with its own swimming pool, sitting room, courtyard and kitchen. And there is also the Travellers Tree Cottage providing two en-suite bedrooms for guests of staff. Within the undulating 5 acres of tropical landscaped grounds is a private golf course.

Flomarine, an Oliver Messel style villa, with elegant spacious verandahs and sun decks offers enchanting views across the Caribbean Sea to neighboring islands. Flomarine has been designed with an authentic Caribbean feel to take advantage of indoor/outdoor living with open plan accommodation and various outdoor dining or entertaining areas as well as a gazebo. Located in the Endeavour Hills there are 4 generous sized colonial style en-suite bedrooms all with views over the swimming pool and garden. The fresh water swimming pool provides a place to relax and unwind, and the surrounding tropical gardens ensure the property remains very private. So if you want to vacation where Paul McCartney last honeymooned, walk the same extraordinary beaches as Princess Margaret and Mick Jagger, or have a drink at Basils Bar which is the only real nightlife on the island, then Mustique may be the place you need to discover. • Neal Sroka is the Founder of the Sroka Worldwide Team at Douglas Elliman Real Estate specializing in resort Real Estate in the Caribbean and Latin America. www.SrokaWorldwideTeam.com Mustique real estate opportunites are handled exclusively by Edward de Mallet Morgan of Knight Frank. AUGUST 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 43

Olympics 2016: New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hometown Heroes By Jeffrey Bradford he countdown to the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics is well underway with the opening ceremony due to start at 07:00pm EST on August 5th, 2016. For the next sixteen days the best athletes from all corners of the Earth will compete in a range of events. For New York there will not just be a strong Team USA to cheer on but also a number of athletes who hail from the Empire State. So that you can give them an extra boost we would like to present our Hometown Heroes competing for gold in Brazil; Anita Alvarez (Synchronized Swimming) Kenmore, NY 2014 East Zone Athlete of the Year competing in her first Olympics in the synchronized swimming event.

Matt Anderson (Volleyball) West Seneca, NY Outside Hitter competing in his Second Olympics. MVP of the 2015 FIVB World Cup and four time USAV Male Indoor Player of the Year.

Carmelo Anthony (Basketball) New York, NY hree time Olympian with two gold medals and one bronze medal playing position of forward. Plays in the NBA for the New York Knicks.

Sue Bird (Basketball) Syosset, NY Three time Olympic gold medalist competing in Basketball playing the guard position. One of the few players to have an Olympic gold medal, World championship gold medal, WNBA title and NCAA title.

Tina Charles (Basketball) Jamaica, NY 2012 London Olympic games gold medalist and strong philanthropist donating half her 2014 and 2015 WNBA salary to Hopeyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Heart Foundation providing AED devices to schools and gymnasiums.

Maria Michta-Coffey (Track & Field) Nesconset, NY 20 kilometer Race Walk competitor in her Second Olympic Games.

Vashti Cunningham (Track & Field) Middletown, NY Daughter of NFL quaterback Randall Cunningham qualified as youngest member of the Track & Field squad for Rio.

Crystal Dunn (Soccer) Rockville Centre, NY Forward and 2015 Golden Boot winner for number of goals scored.

Phyllis Francis (Track & Field) Queens, NY Set the American indoor record in the 400m at the 2014 NCAA Indoor Championships.

Justin Gatlin (Track & Field) Brooklyn, NY Two time Olympian and Four time Olympic medalist in the 100m (one gold, two silver, one bronze).

Melissa Gonzalez (Field Hockey) Mohegan Lake, NY Competing in her second Olympics in the midfield position. Gold medal winner at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto.

AUGUST 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 45

Megan Guarnier (Cycling) Queensbury, NY Originally a national level swimmer. After being invited to ride in a college bike race she has not looked back â&#x20AC;&#x201C; often with a clear track ahead of her. In 2013 Megan held 1st place in the Team World Cup Overall Classification.

Natasha Hastings (Track & Field) Brooklyn, NY 400m competitor in her first Olympic Games.

Daryl Homer (Fencing) Bronx, NY Took up fencing after reading the dictionary definition and competed in the 2012 London Olympic games. Serves as a brand ambassador for a charity called Fencing in the Schools.

Molly Huddle (Track and Field) Elmira, NY Second Olympic Games competing in the 5,000m for which Molly was the 2011 National Outdoor Champion.

Alisa Kano (Gymnastics) New York, NY Born in Tokyo, Japan Alisa is competing in her first Olympics in the Rhythmic Gymnastics event.

Allie Long (Soccer) Northport, NY Midfield player for the Portland Thorns.

46 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | AUGUST 2016

Beezie Madden (Equestrian) Cazenovia, NY Three-time Olympian holding two gold medals and one bronze medal in show jumping.

Miranda Melville (Track & Field) Rochester, NY 2015 USATF Outdoor Champion competing in the Race Walk event.

Delilah Muhammad (Track & Field) Jamaica, NY 400 meters hurdles competitor and 2013 US Outdoor Champion.

Meghan Musnicki (Rowing) Naples, NY Won gold in the London Olympics competing in eight member rowing.

Lia Neal (Swimming) Brooklyn, NY 2012 Olympic Bronze medal winner in 4x100m freestyle event.

Nzingha Prescod (Fencing) Brooklyn, NY Competing in her second Olympic games in the discipline of foil fencing. 2015 Senior World Championships Bronze Medalist.

Emily Regan (Rowing) Buffalo, NY Competing in her first Olympics, Emily won a gold medal in the 2015 World Championships.

Henrik Rummel (Rowing) PIttsford, NY Won bronze medal at the London Olympics in 2012 and competing in his second Olympic Games.

Jenn Suhr (Track & Field) Fredonia, NY Pole Vault competitor in her third Olympics holding both the Gold (2012) and Silver (2008) medals.

Sarah True (Triathalon) Cooperstown, NY Ended the 2015 season ranked third in the World and came fourth in the 2012 London Olympic games. At high school ran cross country and track and swam with the boys team as the school lacked a womens team.

Dana Vollmer (Swimming) Syracuse, NY Competed in the 2004 and 2012 Olympic Games winning three gold medals in London in the 100m Butterfly, 4x200m Relay and 4x100m Relay events. Kristen Shaldybin (Gymnastics) Brooklyn, NY Rythmic Gymnastics competitor in her first Olympic Games. McLain Ward (Equestrian) Brewster, NY Three time Olympian, Two time medalist with two gold medals in discipline of show jumping. Deajah Stevens (Track & Field) Bayside, NY Competing in the 200m womens dash and first woman to make Team USA while still in college.

Breanna Stewart (Basketball) North Syracuse, NY Silver medal winner in the 2015 Pan American Games. Breanna is competing in her first Olympics in the position of Forward/Center. First woman to earn 4 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors.

Miles Chamley-Watson (Fencing) New York, NY Won gold medal at the Pan American Games in both 2011 and 2015 for his team. First US menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fencer to win an individual senior world championship title in 2013.

Rudy Winkler (Track & Field) Ithaca, NY Competing in his first Olympics in the Hammer throwing event.

For more information on the US Olympic team visit www.teamusa.org. Details of television coverage can be found on www.nbcolympics.com â&#x20AC;˘ AUGUST 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 47

Ultimate Home

By Victoria Ingalls

n eclectic mixture of object to enrich your home, ranging from home safety devices to objects that make life fun in the home…

San Francisco Salt www.sfsalt.com A range of gourmet salts in various sizes from 5oz to 25lb bags

Fire Avert Stove Inspired by Fire Fighters and funded by its success in the TV show Shark Tank the idea is simple – the FireAlert listens for your fire alarm and when it sounds turns off electricity to your stove. www.fireavert.com

Paglione Oak Bottle Your own oak wine bottle to rapidly age wines and spirits in hours – ideal for turning Trader Joe’s into Chateau Margeaux… www.oakbottle.com

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Haiku Home Keep cool and be energystar efficient this month with the Haiku home ceiling fan this summer. The Haiku integrates with the Nest thermostat and in winter can still work to keep warmer air from rising too prematurely equalling lower heating costs. Cool and smart! www.haikuhome.com

Krups coffee maker The EA81 is a compact and smart fully automatic machine that produces a state-of-the-art coffee at each press of the button. It Makes specialty drinks (espresso, ristretto, cappuccino) available at home with a touch of a button, more product features include; patented compact thermoblock system for consistently hot coffee from the first to the last cup, easy cafĂŠ-quality results and a professional-quality grinder. www.krupsusa.com/EA81

Allaire Rum Crystal Reserve White Rum from the Caribbean island of Barbados aged for 3 years in the barrel and filtered using a special technique to impart a rich clean flavor â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ideal for those summer cocktails. www.allaireprivee.com

The Mova Cube This striking cube houses a globe that rotates continuously on its own. Through a complex mixture of fluids that keep the globe symmetrical to all sides of the cube, the globe is able to float perfectly in the center of the cube. www.movainternational.com AUGUST 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 49

555 West 59th Street

East 72nd Street

New York Treasures: Real Estate Rare Finds

By Leslie Termuhlen

est Seekers International is among the leading, full service global real estate brokerage and marketing firms in New York City, the Hamptons and beyond. One of the challenges of being large and experienced is being put to the test to help people find unique and different places to make home. Given how important water is as both a function of a home and a calming sight we tasked Nest Seekers to find four ideas which integrate water into a unique living opportunity. Montauk holds a beautiful ocean front property that lies along a private beach next to a year-round resort. This two bedroom, two-and-a-half bath single family home is located at 272 Old Montauk Highway with 2,133 square feet, in which almost every room in the house has an ocean view. If that is not enough, the house comes with many amenities including private parking, its own private cabana, and all amenities offered by the neighboring five-diamond Gurney’s Resort. The Upper East Side is known by everyone for having flawless properties, whether large or small. The condominium unit at 515 East 72nd Street offers a one bedroom, one bathroom unit, which not only offers enough space for single renter, but also offers amazing amenities along with the unit. An amenity unbeknownst to many in the New York City area is a pool, yet this building offers not only a large pool, but also spa services, yoga rooms, basketball courts, a fitness center, and your own balcony. New York is always changing and bettering itself, which is exactly what is happening with 172 Madison Avenue, a currently under 50 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | AUGUST 2016

construction, soon-to-be luxury living space with 33 floors which encompass 69 homes. Of those 69 homes, four are penthouses, one is a mansion, and one is a SkyHouse. Madison Avenue is the perfect location for being in the center of the historic city life. The new construction will offer ceilings 11 feet tall in most properties and 23 feet tall in the SkyHouse. Each unit will have its own “curtain wall of glass” that allows a corner view for watching the fast-paced city life with sound-proof insulation. The building offers a Steam Room, a Pet Spa, a Playroom, a Club Room, and also a 67-foot infinity pool. Opposite the Upper East Side, the Upper West Side has amazing properties to offer as well. A perfect family home is located at 555 West 59th Street. This five bedroom, four bathroom home offers a private terrace with 899 exterior square feet and panoramic views of Lincoln Park. The 2,744 interior square foot home offers 10 foot floorto-ceiling windows for plenty of daylight or nightlife from the Manhattan skyline. It is rare to find a New York City home with so much indoor and outdoor space, making this a needle-in-a-haystack find. One thing all these properties have in common are the amazing water amenities, while most New York homes do not have access to a pool right in their building or the beach right outside their windows. Finding the perfect New York City home for you may be a bit of a struggle yet, finding one with amazing water amenities always helps ease the decision. Perfect for swimming laps, occupying guests, or just relaxing after a day in the office, these properties are one-of-a-kind. For more information visit www.nestseekers.com •

Saddle River, NJ

La Maison deRêves The House of Dreams

Gated, palatial estate on a 2 acre private enclave. Hand cut exterior stone facade, slate roof, copper enhancements and incredible architecture. Handcrafted woodworking throughout. Elevator, custom mahogany windows, custom home automation, pool, spa and pergola. Price upon request.

Saddle River, NJ Pool& Tennis $1,649,000 Brick colonial with elegant woodworking and great flow for entertaining. 6 bedrooms, vaulted family room with fireplace. Exterior amenities include a pool, cabana & tennis court. Multi-million dollar supporting value in immediate area.

Saddle River, NJ Prime Resort Setting $3,395,000 Grand Estate boasts exquisite finishes and superior craftsmanship. Library, private den and banquet-sized dining room. Gourmet kitchen, luxurious master bath & lower level all recently updated. Stone veranda, tennis court, pool & spa.

Saddle River, NJ Simply Elegant $3,495,000

Saddle River, NJ Brand New Hamptons Style

Incredible brick manor on 2 prime acres. 6 bedrooms, 7.2 baths, 5 fireplaces, fabulous woodworking and 5-car garage. Elegant stone veranda, heated pool & spa and lushly landscaped setting. Sought after multi-million dollar Fox Hedge area.

Sleek and stunning stone and cedar colonial at the end of a country lane in a 2 acre cul de sac setting. 6 bedrooms, 6 1/2 baths, theater area, wine tasting, elegant woodworking, wrap around mahogany porch, and more! Move right in!

$4.695,000

Every Home is Special to Us . • VICKI GAILY, REALTOR-ASSOCIATE® • MARKETING DIRECTOR

OFFICE

201 934-7111 • CELL 201 390-5880 • VGAILY@SPECIALPROPERTIES.COM • SPECIALPROPERTIES.COM Information deemed reliable but subject to errors and omissions.

75 Wall Street – FiDi Full Service Lifestyle Living By Daniel J. Bollinger

5 Wall Street is located at the heart of New York City’s Financial District (FiDi). FiDi has experienced exponential growth in the past few years and there still remains substantial growth potential in this area of Manhattan. FiDi is still transitioning from its historic role as one of the financial centres of the world into a residential neighborhood. With ten subway lines running through FiDi, the South Street Seaport, Battery Park, and an abundance of retail and luxury shopping with home services it is easy to see why FiDi in terms of price per square foot has grown faster than Manhattan as a whole in the past few years. You will see it become more popular once Whole Foods is “officially” in FiDi and the Full Service Market slated for 70 Pine Street comes on stream. There is some interesting history regarding the 75 Wall Street building. Originally converted from office space to condos 75 Wall Street was then converted to rentals upon completion in 2009 and are now back on the market as condos. This is a blessing in disguise for any potential investors since a condo now offers an instant cash flow via the rentals for the owner. These condos are great for living too. Sitting atop the Hyatt-managed Andaz Wall Street Hotel, 75 Wall Street offers luxury condominiums in the center of New York City’s most dynamic neighborhood. The studios to four bedroom plans available offer features with some great design details. 52 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | AUGUST 2016

The designers infused the triangular façade of the building wonderfully inside. Sometimes triangular corners can create unusable or wasted space but not in any of 75 Wall Streets’ residences. I was very impressed how there is no wasted corner spaces in any of these condos. All angular walls are large enough to use the space plus the windowed walls create great views of downtown Manhattan. With lofty 10’ plus ceilings the apartments have a spacious feel to them. The kitchens have a great open feel to them also. I am a big fan of gallery style apartments as they provide more privacy with bedrooms set on opposite ends of the apartment and 75 Wall Street delivers nice gallery layouts. Most of the units also have a home office for those who need to get work done at home. Another impressive design detail is the integrated overhead storage cabinetry in some select residences. Space is always appreciated in NYC and these custom designs show how well the designers maximized the spaces. There are views galore with six-foot windows yielding panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline and New York’s river and bridges.

There are also many great amenities at 75 Wall Street. Many standard ones present in most new buildings these days include a fitness room, spa, meeting room, and lounge (named Club 75). Club 75 has a billiards table and is unique, boasting indoor/outdoor entertainment spaces with fireplaces and I particularly like the glass enclosed lounge with a bar and kitchen. Of course there are views galore throughout Club 75. Club 75 can also be rented out for private events. But the best amenities come with living on top of a hotel because you have hotel service options including room service, valet laundry, valet parking, and a Tesla Destination charging station ~ for an area of Manhattan that is still growing this shows real thought into the demands of the future. Another unique amenity is that 75 Wall has partnered with Luxury Attaché to provide residents with exclusivities, such as fitness classes, access to the hottest tickets and restaurant reservations, and programming for children. 75 Wall Street potentially presents a great investment and/ or personal residence. Guaranteed instant cash flow on your investment in living in a growing neighborhood with top notch amenities that is sure to increase in value as more necessities (Whole Foods) move into this neighborhood. To learn more about everything 75 Wall Street please visit their website at www.75wall.com • AUGUST 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 53

Manhattan Real Estate – Hot Neighborhoods

By Nicola Clayton

anhattan currently ranks sixth in the ten most expensive real estate markets in the world - surpassed only by Monaco, Hong Kong, London, Singapore, Geneva and followed by Sydney, Paris, Moscow and Shanghai – according to the 2016 report by London-based real estate consultancy Knight Frank. With falling interest rates, stock market uncertainty and homeowner mortgages at an all time low, investing in residential real estate in Manhattan has buyers lining up with sacks of cash and bidding wars are commonplace. First time open houses usually result in multiple bids that very same day. The average sales price of a residence in Manhattan is over two million dollars in 2016, according to Douglas Elliman’s 2nd quarter 2016 report, compared to a year ago when the average price was just shy of $1.9 million. Manhattan apartment prices continue to set records and re-sale activity of more than 80% of the market has set a new record average price per square foot of $1,493 – up nearly 14% over last year. Mortgages are low and versus renting it is time to seriously consider entering the market. Pied-a-Terre’s are a hot commodity as well. For example, an owner at The Victoria – a coveted prime Union Square building at 7 East 14th Street - might offer a studio for rent in the $2,750 - $3,000 per month range. Should a studio come on the market for sale in the building – the math is the same. It simply makes more sense to buy. Real estate in Manhattan has continued to be a solid investment over the past four decades. If you are interested in moving up to a luxury building – some of the best neighborhoods with new developments include: 1. West Chelsea - featuring Zaha Hadid’s stunning 520 West 28th overlooking the Hudson Yards redevelopment. 2. TriBeCa - now undergoing massive loft conversion to luxury housing at every turn including 87 Leonard originally 54 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | AUGUST 2016

constructed in 1860. New builds in TriBeCa are also in demand and include 11 North Moore and 101 Leonard 3. NoHo – The Schumacher Condominium on Bleecker – completely sold out except for PHA listed at $20,000,000 4. The Financial District. Hot movement here includes One Seaport’s all glass building and the star architect David Rockwell designed 75 Wall Street.

Manhattan is set apart from the rest of the world with the Cooperative apartment where one may be tremendously wealthy but still needs to be approved by the building’s board of directors. If you are buying a co-op here are a few tips for ensuring you become the “Buyer of Choice.” 1. Pick a real estate agent who is going to work hard on your behalf and will prequalify you every step of the way moving toward the co-op purchase. Find the agent that’s right for you stick with them and trust their judgment. They are your ticket to success. 2. Recognize that while it feels like an invasion of privacy, the co-op application process is actually going to protect you as an investor in the building – New York has had fewer foreclosures than other markets due to co-ops not accepting buyers who can’t afford their apartments. 3. After your offer has been accepted a lengthy document asking for full financial disclosure, a variety of personal and business references, background check and board interview await. This takes 3-4 weeks and in some cases longer. It is onerous and well worth it. Do bear in mind, it is your real estate agent’s job to work with you every step of the way, to help you locate an apartment you want to buy, to accurately prepare all documents and board packages on your behalf and to prep you for the board interview and help you move toward a successful close. Your real estate agent is your ticket to success. •

AvaDoBro – Dwntwn BK Rentals By Daniel J. Bollinger

AvaDoBro, which stands for Ava Downtown Brooklyn is a great example of 21st century design in a rental development. It is right next to 388 Bridge Street which I have also written about. Located right in the heart of Downtown Brooklyn close to everything including Manhattan. Avalon Communities receives high honors from me for their thoughtful design details and especially their amenities. This is a dog lovers’ dream with a heated indoor/outdoor dog run and pet spa. There are plenty of panoramic views of the city with two floors of lounges at AvaDoBro. For those who are in the know that Brooklyn is the most popular borough in the world and are interested in experiencing it AvaDoBro offers the perfect rental to live out the Brooklyn experience. It’s the perfect home base to live and experience everything this city offers.

AUGUST 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 55

AvaDoBro offers studio to three bedroom apartments. They are not large like most of the condos that I write about but these are rentals. Very impressive how Avalon Communities lays out the apartments though. In the studio there is a sizeable walk in closet AND an in-unit washer and dryer. Find that in another studio apartment. In all the apartments you will find the designers laid out the rooms to create an open airy feel. All with top notch materials and appliances. It’s some of the design details that are very impressive. In select models you have sliding barn doors. It looks great and saves on space without the conventional doors. There are built-in charging stations for our gadget intense society. Another impressive feature is that AvaDoBro offers “Do It Yourself ” kits to customize your space with. You know the parts are all going to fit and match your apartment! These are great design details in your apartment. But there are a number of art pieces throughout the building that are very appropriate for my beloved Brooklyn and make this building a great place to live. In the lobby there is a huge mural, in the mail room there are a number of wall height drawings/sketches, the elevator walls have photographs, and each unit has hand painted artwork around their apartment number sign. Very industrial and city appropriate artwork. Some of it is done by local artists residing in Brooklyn. All of this makes for great living but what really sets AvaDoBro apart is their amenities. Their dog run for one. A sizeable outdoor space for your dogs to play and heating lamps under the seating for those cold days in the NYC winter. The pet spa is located right inside the dog run so you can rinse your puppy off or maybe have him run on the doggie treadmill for a little while. I really like that the front desk has a cookie jar of doggie treats and I witnessed a few dogs who knew exactly how to get them. If you are a dog owner in NYC you have a place where both you and your baby are welcomed. 56 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | AUGUST 2016

There are also two community lounge areas. The first is on the 30th floor and has an outdoor terrace with several fire pits and BBQ stations. The views here aren’t the highest but are still interesting. On the 58th floor there is a rooftop lounge with both indoor and outdoor areas. And these views are fantastic. There simply haven’t been views like this in Brooklyn until this building a few others have been built in the past several years. They have the usual bike storage and bike lobby for residents with bikes and also rent out a few of their own like Citi Bike does. The subway is on site for the A,C,F, and R trains and the 2,3,4,5,B, and Q trains are only a few blocks away. In the lobby there is a Café with interactive tv displays where you can get train schedules, local bar/restaurant information, all the arts and theatre going on around Brooklyn and more! This is 21st century design in the heart of Downtown Brooklyn. And on-site garage parking. I can see why Avalon Communities develop from California to Connecticut and from Florida to New York. They develop with the intent not just to provide housing, but to offer a home with social and community design ideas incorporated. For someone who has heard all about the Brooklyn buzz and wants to live in one of greatest boroughs with a ton of nightlife, restaurants, culture, and more AvaDoBro provides great rentals in the heart of it all. Well laid out apartments, artistic accents and design details galore. Close to all transportation, great amenities, iconic views. All of this is available to you, and your dog, at AvaDoBro... your city, your life. For more information, visit: www.avaloncommunities.com • AUGUST 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 57

Keys to Maintaining a Healthy Marriage

By Wendy Knecht

ow can I miss you if you don’t ever leave?” I am not sure what country western song these lyrics came from, but the ring of truth is universal. Let’s face it. A little bit of absence certainly does make the heart grow fonder, or at least one would hope that is the case. As an international flight attendant, my life was all about coming and going — sometimes for a week or ten days at a time. It was hard to find that special someone, and I always thought it was my crazy lifestyle. But after meeting my husband at the innocent age of 45, I realize now that all of that coming and going, which was second nature to me, is also what is helping to keep our now 11year marriage alive and exciting. At the beginning of our marriage, before I hung up my wings, I was on a leave of absence from the airlines, but working a lot at QVC, in Philadelphia, hawking my designs and other company’s products as well. Meanwhile, my new husband was back in Los Angeles, going into his office daily, doing his doctor stuff, as he always did. Whenever I would ask him on the phone “What are you doing?” his snarky response was always, “Waiting for you to come home.” Yes, this did invoke guilt, even if he meant it jokingly. I knew he wasn’t exactly pining away for me, but I knew he wasn’t putting out much energy to make plans with his friends, as I would have been doing had I been the one at home. Any absence seems like too much when a relationship is new, and the reunion is always full of sparks. When I went back to flying for a while before I quit, the away time seemed to be too much to bear for both of us. One of the reasons I quit is that I would just rather have been doing my traveling when I chose to, and I had too many other entrepreneurial interests that I wanted to spend my time on. After I quit flying, we had tons of together time, which was

fabulous. As time went by, as in any relationship, the newness and excitement wore away a bit, which is completely normal. So much can be said for just feeling comfortable and secure. It’s a wonderful feeling of knowing that your significant other is always there for you, and the comfort level makes you feel pretty smug. For me, it also made me a little nervous…

As much as I loved (and still love) spending time with my husband, I did realize that too much togetherness may not be the best thing for our marriage. For me, my many years of singledom had blessed me with many friends from many walks of life. My husband had friends too, lots of them. But men seem to be a little different, and it seems that unless a man is a real “guy’s guy,” they just don’t seem to put the energy out to cultivate friendships and get together like women do. I realized that it would be important for him to have significant friendships, and I encouraged him to develop these friendships. I used to laugh when someone would invite him to a baseball or hockey game, and he would call me to see ask permission. So sweet, but seriously? “Go and enjoy, of course, you don’t have to ask,” I always replied. Finally, he’s seen the light, too. He has his hiking group on Saturday mornings, his poker group every other Tuesday, and loves his fishing and skiing expeditions out of town with the boys. I totally enjoy having my girl’s weekends away, traveling for business, or just taking a few days off and going to New York, alone. It’s good for our marriage and serves to make us both more interesting to each other. And when you go away, they really do miss you. Yes, we take plenty of long weekends and incredible vacations together. But cultivating separate interests and having our time apart is what keeps our relationship fresh and exciting. Personally, I love the yin and the yang of having time apart coupled with intense time together. The time apart keeps the spark and mystery alive in our marriage, and a little longing adds a lot of appreciation.• AUGUST 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 59

Choosing the Perfect Wrinkle

By Dr. Doris Day

ow do you feel about your wrinkles? Do you embrace them and think they are the sign of a life well lived? Do they horrify you and make you think you look like your wonderful mom who you love dearly but, let’s face it, she’s been old since the day you were born? In this age of aesthetics chasing and erasing lines and wrinkles is very popular, but the question I always ask is: “is it a good idea?” The answer is not easy or obvious. It is also not an all or none response. Not all wrinkles are created equal and you may be surprised to know that erasing all the wrinkles doesn’t make you look younger and can even make you look older! My nearly 20 years of practicing and teaching aesthetic dermatology has been a very enlightening journey, partly because it didn’t really exist before 20 years ago so I’ve been living and participating in the history and building the art of the science of it, and partly because there’s been an exponential growth of treatment options and our understanding of the aging process. But mostly it’s because I’m 60 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | AUGUST 2016

right there in the age group of women seeking the treatments... so it’s really about me. In the past the main option would be to age to a point and then have surgery to pull things back up into place. The result was fewer wrinkles but that often wouldn’t translate into looking younger. One of the biggest and most important lessons I’ve learned is to never chase lines and wrinkles, instead I investigate and understand them and I treat the source. Sometimes the story is a simple one of too much sun exposure, usually over decades. In fact, over 90% of wrinkles come from exposure to ultraviolet radiation. This is important not just for wrinkles of course, but the story there is that I also need to be on the lookout for skin cancer and do regular screenings to make sure I catch them early to offer the best cure rate and the least amount of scarring.

Sometimes the story is more subtle and complicated but when I understand the story and share it with you, you will see why some wrinkles are to be cherished, or at least accepted and others are better being addressed for reasons of health, and of course rejuvenation. Here’s a prime example: One of the biggest wrinkle concerns I hear every day is a concern about forehead lines. For some reason people hate their forehead lines. It may seem like a simple thing to fix with a neuromodulator like Botox Cosmetic or Dysport but I submit to you that this is one of the trickiest and more advanced areas for treatment and I almost never recommend it for this area. Here’s why. One of the most important jobs of the forehead muscle is to lift the brows and keep your eyelids out of your eyes. That makes the muscle an elevator, it lifts. Lifting is a positive movement and I would not want to eliminate it. Chances are if you start to notice more lines in your forehead it’s because your brows are slowly starting to drop and your lids are getting a little heavy. You probably feel it before anyone else sees it. But it often leads you to engage the forehead muscle to contract to pull up the brow and since many of the muscles of the face are attached to the skin, the skin moves along with it and makes forehead lines. Taking away it’s ability to do that will actually drop your brows making them lower and heavier and will make your eyelids sag, never an ideal situation. In this case erasing forehead lines may make you look smoother, but it won’t make you look better, or younger. The real solution is to try a tightening or lifting treatment to lift the brows and now with the advances in treatments this can be done without surgery. My favorite treatment for tightening and lifting without surgery, and even better without down time uses radiofrequency and ultrasound energy. These are not lasers, they are devices that use specific types of energy to create heat at specific depths deep in the skin and to

stimulate collagen contraction and new collagen formation to lift the brows or other parts of the face and eliminate the need to use the muscle for that action. It’s a longer lasting and often more natural looking approach. You’ll look just like you and feel great. And any lines left can be treated with a little neuromodulator and filler to further soften them for a natural and very attractive appearance. Another example of what I see on a very regular basis is a concern over nasolabial fold lines - those lines from the corners of your nose to the corners of your mouth. Women and plenty of men too, notice those lines deepening as they age and want them treated. It’s easy to do, but usually not the best place to start since those line are often a reaction to deflation of the midface. By gently and discreetly placing the filler where it’s needed, often far away from those folds, we can create a soft lift and improve those lines without ever touching them. It’s magical in the effect and the best part of the magic is that it looks beautiful and natural, and no one will be able to tell anything was done. The moral to this story is that every wrinkle tells an important one that’s unique and personal to you, and it’s worth paying attention because you have great control over it and have the power to make it a positive one with a happy ending. This involves proper sun protection every day all year round, using great products on your skin like retinol and antioxidants, eating a healthy diet and staying hydrated, also having the right treatments for you as needed and learning to love the way you look even more with every decade, wrinkles or no wrinkles. I always love a happy ending. • Dr. Day, a dermatologist, is affiliated with NYU Langone Hospital. AUGUST 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 61

CrossFit Strengthens Bodies

By Dr. Jessica Shepherd

hat do you do when your workout routine gets a little mundane? You change it up! Good for you there is CrossFit, which is a fitness regimen designed to improve fitness and health. It focuses on physical activity that constantly varies functional movements which are performed at relatively high intensity. The reason it has caught so much attention is that it features the best aspects of gymnastics, weightlifting, running, rowing and more. Now CrossFit is coming to Brooklyn baby! The newest location is in Williamsburg at 415 Wythe Ave and will highlight a new feature of community and fun. Brooklyn residents have been drawn to the location because of it’s community feel starting with a “wine tasting” event/mingle that is open to members and non members. In addition to hosting bootcamps on the weekend, they also want to show their dedication to women by having women coaches.

having been a competitive athlete my whole life. My body feels stronger, looks stronger, and is far more fit than ever before. I love that we track data for each workout, so that I can easily see just how much more I’m lifting, or just how much my cardio endurance has improved. This means the competitive element is still there, which I crave, and which helps me push myself--normally I’m competing with myself to achieve new personal bests, but there’s also a fun element of friendly competition amongst other athletes at my gym. As if the incredible physical results I’ve seen weren’t enough, the communal aspect of CrossFit has also fostered an incredible group of friends and sense of community at my gym. This means working out often doubles as hanging out with my friends; it suddenly became a lot less solitary, and instead exceptionally motivating, supportive, and just plain fun. So drop by the new location in Williamsburg or their other two locations to get a feel for the variety in fitness training and meet the highly trained coaches who will get you to a new level of wellness. •

As one of their coaches Laura Siegle stated, “CrossFit has become the healthiest addiction possible for me! The fact that it’s constantly varied means workouts are never boring, and working out in general is never monotonous. Prior to starting CrossFit, I was doing a lot of long distance running; I got tired of the same workouts, and my body wasn’t getting any stronger. My CrossFit workouts are shorter, and the results have been insane. I’ve never experienced such incredible gains from any other workout routine, despite

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A Savvy New Yorker’s Guide to Foods with a “Health Halo”

By Shari Bilt Boockvar, MS, RDN

o what is a Health Halo anyway? The answer is simple... it is basically any food with a perceived health benefit. For example, there are so many foods today that are touted as being organic, natural, gluten-free, or non-GMO. Just because they are marketed with those claims does not mean that these foods with

SUSHI

a health halo are fabulous for our energy levels or waistlines. Bacon is “natural”, but I think most would agree that it is not great for us. So what is a savvy New Yorker to do when trying to choose food with halos, but wanting to do it the “right” way? Follow my easy tips below and you will be on your way to choosing tasty foods that you can feel good about.

GRANOLA

GRANOLA is one of those foods that many people love for breakfast or reach for as a convenient snack. If you don’t check labels you could be turning this into a dessert. • Simplicity is key. Look at ingredients and choose brands that list items that you recognize and can pronounce. The least processed, the better. • Keep portions in mind. You’ll notice on the Nutrition Facts label that most servings are 1/4 - 1/3 cup and range from approximately 120-150 calories per serving. If you pour yourself a 1 Cup bowl that can add up to almost 400 calories or more! • If you enjoy granola as a cereal with milk, use 1 serving and mix with a fiber rich cereal and berries to bulk up your bowl. • Granola can be a great topping for Greek yogurt with fruit.

SUSHI can be one of the best choices when dining out or ordering takeout in New York. It is typically made with fresh ingredients that are not pre-prepared and are made at the time you order. However if you are not careful, your meal can quickly add up in unwanted calories in fat. • Choose simple ingredients such as fish, rice, avocado, cucumber and other veggies for your maki style and hand rolls. • To decrease the amount of carbohydrates and calories in your rolls, ask them to make it using less rice or order “Naruto” rolls, which are rolled in cucumber instead of rice. • Spicy rolls are typically made with mayonnaise. To enjoy the flavor without the extra fat, simply order the spicy mayo on the side and then dab a bit on top of each piece of your roll. You’ll get the same flavor without the extra fat.Order Chirashi as your meal. It’s a great option and is on most menus. In this dish, sashimi is served on a bed of rice and you can decide how much rice to eat with each bite. • Great appetizer choices include edamame, garden salad and miso soups. 66 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | AUGUST 2016

HUMMUS AND GUACAMOLE

HUMMUS AND GUACAMOLE are two of my personal favorites for taste and they are a great source of “healthy fats”. Portion control is the key here otherwise the calories and fat skyrocket before you know it. • 2-4 Tablespoons should be your portion guideline (2 tablespoons if you are watching your weight). • Make a little go a long way. Put a portion on your plate and use as your dip. • Spread as a condiment on your favorite sandwich instead of mayo, oil or mustard. • Instead of traditional salad dressing, use 2-4 Tablespoons of hummus or guacamole. • For a quick meal idea, simply dollop either (or both) on top of simply grilled chicken or fish and serve with a side of roasted veggies.

JUICES & SMOOTHIES JUICES & SMOOTHIES are a quick and convenient option and are available at so many local shops. They can be nutritious and delicious but be careful of pitfalls that will take a vitamin-rich option to a sugar-rich choice. • All types of juices typically lack fiber, which is extracted in the juicing process. Fiber is an important part of weight control and slows the absorption of sugar found in the juice itself. • If you do enjoy a juice for the benefits of the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals, go for green juices made from leafy greens and veggies. These tend to have less sugar than their fruit juice counterparts. In fact, a typical bottle will run you about 80-150 calories in comparison to a fruit juice with 150250 calories. • A smoothie with the right ingredients is a better option while keeping the fiber. Choose those made primarily from vegetables with 1 serving of fruit. Those made with 3-4 fruit servings or more still will add up in sugar and calories. • Choose a smoothie with a quality protein choice such as Greek yogurt or milk. A tablespoon of your favorite nut butter will add a burst of flavor and a scoop of cacao powder will give it a chocolate punch. • Try making a refreshing smoothie at home in your blender using this easy guideline: 1 cup plain Greek yogurt + 1 cup frozen berries + 1 tablespoon nut butter + handful of spinach + ¼ cup water.

FROZEN YOGURT

FROZEN YOGURT is one of those yummy foods that so many of us want to believe has the same health benefits as a serving of yogurt but in a frozen format. Unfortunately, that just isn’t so. Although some may have the benefit of probiotics, most are made with extra sugar and other additives for flavor and texture. Keep in mind that flavors can range between 25-30 calories per ounce. This does not seem like much but when you are filling your cup at your local self-serve shop, you can easily be pumping 6-8 ounces... that can be as low as 150 calories but as high as 240 calories before you even add toppings (and it is usually a dessert after you’ve eaten a full meal)! • Count while serving yourself. Typically each second is about a 1 ounce. Count to 3 or 4... If you are enjoying as a snack you want between 100-200 calories total, including the fro yo and toppings. • Weigh your cup before putting toppings on so you can calculate the calories. You can always add more. • Start with a cup of fruit and top with 1-3 ounces of frozen yogurt as the topping and not the other way around. • Make a fruit sundae instead of using frozen yogurt at all. Mix a generous cup of berries and top with a tablespoon of chocolate syrup, a few mini marshmallows and chopped walnuts or sliced almonds. • AUGUST 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 67

Body Language Secrets By Patricia Stark

will unlock and share the secrets of body language that can help you look and feel comfortable and confident in stressful, awkward or unfamiliar situations. Do you bite the inside of your mouth? Do you adjust your glasses, bounce your foot, chew on your nails or rub your neck? Maybe you do but you don’t even know it. Body Language is a language we all speak even when we are not talking out loud. The messages our body sends out to other people around us are a direct result of the things we are thinking

68 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | AUGUST 2016

and saying to ourselves internally. When our self-talk is negative, when we have doubts, fears, and worries our bodies will react often before we even realize it. Wouldn’t you like to be able to control your body language to your advantage? What if you could give off signals to others that you are calm, cool and collected even if you’re not? What if the way you choose to carry yourself and use your gestures and your space could actually make you more confident? This is all possible once you know some of the secrets of body language. When I work with my public speaking clients I often hear them say “I don’t know what to do with my hands.” When people are self-conscious they suddenly seem to forget how to function in their own bodies.

Here are the top 10 Body Language signs to avoid that can make you look nervous, unsure, and uncomfortable: 1. Self Soothing or Self Pacifying Touch. Rubbing the arms as if one is cold. Rubbing ones neck. Self Preening. Rubbing and ringing of the hands. 2. Hiding hands or feet. Shoving hands in pants or coat pockets. Clasping hands behind ones back. Jiggling change or keys in pocket. Sitting on hands. Pulling feet up tight under ones chair.

3. Biting or chewing mouth, nails, cuticles. Chewing on objects like pens, pencils. 4. Pacing while standing, bouncing feet while seated. Rocking side to side in a chair. Backing up or away from people or situations.

Conscious Things to Do

5. Clearing throat. Excessive swallowing. Licking lips. 6. Poor posture. Minimizing the space you take up in a chair or while standing. Imploding into your self. Head down. Shoulders rolled forward. 7. Blocking or closed off gestures like arms crossed in front of body. Hands clasped tightly in front of pelvis.

Here are the top 10 things you can do to consciously control your body language to help you look and actually feel more confident and comfortable: 1. Stand up straight. Your mother had it right. Shoulders back, chin up, straight long and tall back.

8. Stiff body void of normal gestures. Locked into place afraid to move or adjust normally for comfort. 9. Lack of eye contact. Eyes darting around the room. 10. Strained or blank facial expressions. Absence of a relaxed smile. Facial expressions that do not match the tone and context of the words being used.

2. Sit up straight if seated. Slightly lean forward. Sit more toward the front of your chair. 3. Keep hands and fingers away from your mouth. 4. Keep hands relaxed down by your sides and be sure to use your hands freely when you speak to help you express your thoughts and emotions. 5. Maximize your space. Allow yourself to spread out and use the immediate area around you. 6. Relax in your space. Settle down any unnecessary movement, repetitive habits or leaked excess energy. 7. Stand with your hands on your hips for a few minutes or your hands and arms stretched out up over your head and shoulders if sitting. 8. Gently grab your chin when you are listening to someone speak or when you are in thought. 9. Get yourself together behind closed doors. Avoid making adjustments to your hair, makeup, wardrobe or accessories in front of others. 10. Make great eye contact. Be fully in the moment. Be a great listener. Remember that your facial expressions should express both your understanding of others and match the words and emotions you are communicating with. Smile.

AUGUST 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 69

Become a Savvy Grocery Shopper By Kristen Carlucci RD-N here are two kinds of people in this world – those who love grocery shopping and those who dread it. If you are the latter, you might wonder why it takes you so long to get your shopping done, what foods you should buy, and whether it is normal that your final bill gives you heart palpitations. It doesn’t have to be this way! Want to know the secrets of those highly successful grocery shoppers? Simply look for sales going on at your local grocery store, plan your meals around these ingredients, and create your list. We are taking you aisle by aisle so you can start filling your cart with fresh, filling, and super healthy foods to fuel you and your family smartly. Aisle #1: Always start in the produce section since your goal is to fill at least 50% of your plate with antioxidant-packed fruits and vegetables. To save money without sacrificing flavor, look for a variety of seasonal and colorful produce to enjoy all week long. Stock Up On: Fresh salad makings, summer vegetables for grilling, precut carrots and bell pepper for snacking, berries, cherries or peaches for a healthy dessert. Aisle #2: Time to fill your cart with meat and seafood! Lean protein helps you eat less by keeping you fuller longer, and helps promote healthy muscles, bones, and skin. You want your plate to be filled 25% with lean protein, or about 4-6oz. Stock up on: Skinless chicken/turkey breast, wild caught or canned fish (especially salmon and tuna which contain heart-and-skinhealthy omega 3 fatty acids), pork tenderloin, bison, or 90% lean ground meats. Aisle #3: Not a big fan of animal protein, or trying to reduce your consumption? There are tons of vegetarian protein sources that also make the perfect low calorie, yet filling snack! Bonus: These are a much more budget-friendly option than their animal protein counterpart. Stock up on: Eggs (whip up a batch of hardboiled for the week), hummus for dipping vegetables, Greek yogurt or cottage cheese, beans or tofu to add to salads, or nuts/seeds and nut butters for a dose of protein, healthy fats and fiber. Aisle #4: Next stop: High fiber carbohydrates. Yes, that’s right; you don’t need to cut out carbs for good! These should take up the remaining 25% of your plate to create the ultimate balanced meal. Carbs are proven to boost your mood and energy levels, stabilize blood sugar levels and keep you satisfied - the key is to always go for whole grains. Stock up on: Brown rice or quinoa to add to stir-fry, sweet potatoes (top with black beans and a dollop of Greek yogurt), whole grain sprouted bread for sandwiches, oatmeal for breakfasts, or whole grain pasta with turkey meatballs. Aisle #5: Lastly, don’t be afraid of the frozen foods section. This can be a great, cost effective option if you are worried about your fresh fruits/vegetables going bad. Produce is frozen at its peak freshness 70 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | AUGUST 2016

so almost all of the nutrients are retained. Just make sure there is no added sodium, sugar or sauce lurking in there. Stock up on: Simple, ready-to-steam frozen vegetables to add to your dinners. Or whip up a frozen fruit smoothie to satisfy your sweet tooth after dinner or post-workout. Shopping smartly is something everyone can do, as long as you are equipped with a list of your favorites from each of these five aisles, grocery shopping can and will be a huge success! • Kristen Carlucci is a New York City-based registered dietitiannutritionist and corporate wellness coach who has inspired thousands to lose weight and live their best lives. She currently works with the employees at Bloomberg LP, and was also the nutrition expert for Pitney Bowes, as part of their nationally recognized, award-winning corporate wellness program. www.kristencarlucci.com Instagram/Pinterest/Twitter: @kristencarlucci

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Dine the World on a New York Staycation this Summer

By Marion Elston

ummertime is the best time to travel; with family to a distant theme park, with friends on a road trip, or with your significant other on a romantic getaway. If you don’t have travel plans, discover new ways to”staycate”(vacation close to home) this summer. There are many cultural restaurants transcending borders and whisking diners away to paradise through their taste buds. You may not have long distance plans for the summer, but ditch the FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and soak up some culture at these fine dining cultural excursions in New York City. SOUTH OF FRANCE MAMO restaurant is the transatlantic sister to Cannes film festivals go-to restaurant MAMO Le Michelangelo on the French Riviera. The SoHo hot spot offers diners traditional southern Italian/French cuisine in an elegant setting. Michelin-Starred Executive Chef Massimo Sola heads up the kitchen. Some of MAMO’s signature offerings include their flavorful Raviolini al Tartufo (truffle ravioli), Coniglio alla Ligure (rabbit legs with spinach and foie gras), the MAMO Burger and the Focaccia al Tartufo (truffle pizza). For those with a sweet tooth, MAMO has a delicious dessert menu which includes the classic Tiramisu, the rich Affogato alla vaniglia con fragole calde and the Cheesecake alla lavanda (cheesecake with a lavender twist). Celebrity favorite, MAMO restaurant, serves up delicious seasonal a la carte dishes such as the fresh Salmon Carpaccio, a home-style Capri Salad, and Wild Sea Bass with fingerling potatoes. MAMO also boasts an impressive cocktail menu with seasonal cocktails including the sour cherry flavored Amorena, the beautiful lavender Valentina cocktail and the smoky yet elegant Fumeè cocktail. In addition to the cocktail program, MAMO has an extensive wine list of carefully selected French and Italian wines to complement the cuisine. Executive Chef Massimo Sola is the 2016 winner of Il Primo Manhattan, a competition for Italian chefs all over New York City, for his exquisite spin on the traditional pasta carbonara. MAMO 323 West Broadway New York, NY 10013 www.mamonyc.com CHINA The Upper East Side Chinese eatery, China Fun, has a wide ranging menu of delicacies originating in various regions of China. Like their food, the China Fun’s décor blends old world Chinese culture with the modernity of New York City chic. China Fun brings unique, delightful twists on traditional Chinese food universally enjoyed by guests. Plan a night out and experience what it truly means to be China Fun this summer. The succulent Peking Duck tastes like perfection with every bite. Chicken in Peach Sauce is served with a sesame seed garnish which tantalizes the palate with its combination of sweet and savory flavors. Have your choice of pork or pork and crabmeat in the Soup Dumplings, unconventionally served all day long. Be sure to request – 24 hours prior – China Fun’s succulent Red Cooked Pork Belly which is available all year round, but only on the menu during the Chinese New Year. It is China Fun’s signature secret, shhh! Each cocktail is beautifully crafted with a fruity garnish, paper fan or cocktail umbrella invoking a Polynesian feel such as its Spicy Mango Mojito served with Leblon 100% Brazilian Cane Rum, mango, mint, lime and dash of Tabasco. Saketome features sake along with Grey Goose, lime juice and served either shaken or straight up with a pickled ginger garnish. China Fun 1221 Second Avenue New York, NY 10065 www.chinafun-ny.com AUGUST 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 73

INDIA Tamarind Tribeca is a high-end restaurant serving classic Indian dishes with upscale taste. Owner, Avtar Walia, brought together a skilled team of chefs able to add new spins to classic fare in an exquisite fashion. Executive Chef Peter Beck leads the kitchen in the creation of Tamarind’s signature dishes. Choose a Treasure from the Tandoor like Punjabi Tikhe Kabab which is boneless chicken marinated in yogurt, roasted whole spices, jalapenos, ginger, and garlic. The Sufiyani Machli is a marinated sea bass, hung yogurt, dill, lime zest, with a mixed peppercorn crust. Vegetarian specialties include Saag Paneer which is ground spices over spinach and cheese, and Bhindi Do Piaza made from okra, dried mango and caramelized onions. Specialty cocktails like the Tamarind Margarita mixes Tamarind with Jose Cuervo Tequila, Grand Marnier, plus orange and cranberry juice. The Ginger & Pepper Martini blends Absolut Peppar with ginger and lime in a powerful cocktail mix. Tamarind 99 Hudson Street New York, NY 10013 www.tamarindrestaurantsnyc.com MEXICO Head over to Amigos Mexican Bar & Restaurant and enjoy delicious dishes “aire libre” on the restaurant’s lively terrace or in the bright, piñata-filled dining room. Amigos is the perfect place to hang out with friends—and that is exactly what Executive Chef Alex Garcia does. Each month, Amigos will feature a new celebrity Mexican chef, including James Beard Award nominee Aaron Sanchez (Chopped, Taco Trip), Adrien Leon and Roberto Santibanez (author of Tacos, Tortas and Tamales), to ensure a new and fresh approach to the menu. However, one of the staples that will always be present is the guacamole, which is made fresh to order, and was ranked the fourth best in the United States by The Huffington Post in 2014 when it opened. Amigos offers a tantalizing blend of Latin American and American cuisine in Morningside Heights on the Upper West Side. Other signature dishes include Adobo Short Ribs Tacos, Nachos Grande and Slow Cooked Pork Carnitas. Amigo’s also offers specialty cocktails such as the Purple Piñata which is a blend of tequila, blue curacao, cranberry and sprite, and the Cactus Juice mixed with rum, sour apple schnapps, blue curacao, sprite and orange juice. Amigos Mexican Bar & Restaurant 2888 Broadway New York, NY 10025 www.amigosnyc.com AMERICA Quintessential American dining can be found at T-Bar Steak & Lounge, which is a well-loved mainstay on New York’s Upper East Side. T-Bar offers a wealth of American classics including its signature Crusted Tuna served with Soy, Wasabi Rémoulade and Seaweed Salad or its Roast Free Range Chicken with truffle jus. A meal at T-Bar would not be complete without ordering a favorite from The Steak Bar, which features an impressive range of superbly-cooked Certified Black Angus Cuts of beef including its Black Angus Porterhouse for two served with your choice of steak sauce, béarnaise sauce or poivre sauce. Owner Tony Fortuna first opened T-Bar in 2007 on the corner of 73rd and 3rd Avenue. It is noted for its perfect execution of classic dishes. The restaurant’s Executive Chef Ben Zwicker, previously of the Four Seasons, Aureole and Petrossian, makes T-Bar’s classic steakhouse fare relevant and exciting, while also putting his unique twist onto other classic dishes. Cap the evening off with drinks at the intimate bar serving specialty drinks like the T-Bar Cosmopolitan which mixes stoli citrus blood orange juice with lime, and the Downtown Manhattan which is a fascinating blend of whistle pig straight rye whiskey, brandied cherries, Antica Vermouth, and cherry herring. T-Bar Steak & Lounge 1278 Third Avenue New York, New York 10021 www.tbarnyc.com 74 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | AUGUST 2016

THE MEDITERRANEAN Owners Paola Pedrignani and Francois Marchand of Amaranth, attribute the Mediterranean bistro’s long-running success to “staying true to their Mediterranean roots and never compromising on quality.” Located just off Madison Avenue on 62nd Street, between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue, Amaranth offers a large portion of specialty items imported directly from the Mediterranean. The Steak Tartare is prepared in front of customers to ensure freshness and the right balance of spices, and the octopus Carpaccio is fresh, quality seafood from the Mediterranean served on a bed of greens. The Whole Maine Lobster Salad is served with radicchio, endive, arugula, cremini mushrooms and citrus vinaigrette. Amaranth is named after the deep red-rose colored flowers of the Amaranth plant, owner Paola Pedrignani says. “The deep, wine red color is warm and welcoming – we thought it represents the way our restaurant feels brilliantly.” Amaranth 21 East 62nd Street New York, NY 10021 www.amaranthrestaurant.com ITALY Il Gattopardo offers sophisticated Italian cuisine in their Midtown Manhattan location on West 54th Street. Husband and Wife Gianfranco and Paula Bolla-Sorrentino, along with Executive Chef Vito Gnazzo, opened the restaurant across from Museum of Modern Art in 2001. The traditional Southern Italian comfort food at Il Gattopardo is inspired by classic Italian cuisines adapted from Gnazzo’s early career in Milan, Italy. The “Crudo di Branzino” is a fresh sea bass marinated with lemon and extra virgin olive oil from Cilento, over fennel and mâche salad. Enjoy a filling main course of Herb crusted Colorado rack of lamb served with potato croquettes and sautéed spinach, and garnished with spicy fruit mustard. For a lighter dinner the Chef ’s selection includes Verdue grigliate which is organic seasonal grilled vegetables. Complement your meal with ‘I dolci’, or sweets, on the dessert menu which include the traditional Warm Zabaione, with fresh mixed berries, and prepared table side. Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta is layered with raspberry gelatina. Il Gattopardo 13-15 West 54th Street New York NY 10019 www.ilgattopardonyc.com PARIS (NORTHERN FRANCE) Balthazar offers a distinguished French menu in their brasserie-inspired New York City establishment. Owner Keith McNally opened the 80 Spring Street location in the spring of 2007 with the accompanying Balthazar Bakery. The ambiance of the Balthazar dining space is raved about for its tall, red leather banquettes, vintage brass oversized mirrors and high tin ceilings; in addition, the faded saffron yellow walls reflect antique lighting fixtures adding warmth to the dining space. Delicious entrees include Sautéed Skate with fava beans, Easter egg radishes, Marcona almonds, and spring onion Soubise; the Grilled Chicken Paillard with frisée, tomato confit and shaved parmesan; and Homemade Fettuccini with broccoli rabe pesto, Bianco Sardo, and basil bread crumbs. The extensive wine list has decadent options from the Cuvée Renaissance white wine to the La Petite Chapelle red wine. You may also choose from a number of champagnes; Vouette et Sorbée, Louis Roederer Brut, Drappier Brut Nature Rose and many more. A Balthazar Bakery wholesale division was built in New Jersey to support its overwhelming popularity. Here, an assortment of salads, sandwiches, breads, and pastries can be ordered from the menu. Balthazar 80 Spring Street New York, NY 10012 www.balthazarny.com GREECE The cozy atmosphere in Avra Estiatorio takes you to Greece with stone washed walls, imported limestone and distressed wood floors, and French doors that lead to a floral courtyard. The upscale eatery serves specialty seafood along with traditional Greek cuisine. Fish are caught whole and sold by the pound. The American Snapper, from the Atlantic Ocean, contains a distinctive sweet flavor. Lobsters from Maine are grilled in the shell with Ladolemono. Fagri is white snapper imported from the Mediterranean. Other dinner menu options include Garides Psites which is savory eggplant and potato moussaka over grilled Gulf jumbo shrimp. Plaki is an oven baked Chilean sea bass with Vidalia onions, tomatoes, potatoes and herbs. Avra’s desserts are homemade with healthier options including fresh fruits. Avra Estiatorio 141 East 48th Street New York, NY 10017 www.avrany.com AUGUST 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 75

Photo by William Coles

Is Gluten Free for Me? By Emily Costa

hoppers strolling through the health section of any supermarket aisle are likely to find a plethora of gluten free items, for example cookies, pasta, breads, crackers and pizza dough. As you are bombarded with the GF (or Gluten Free) label, you may stop to ask yourself, “What is gluten anyway?”, “Is it bad for me?” and “Should I avoid it?” A few years ago, the word gluten was exclusively used in the culinary world. Since gluten free is as common now as the whole wheat craze was back in the early 2000’s, people are often unaware of the affects that gluten can have! There is still a very vague idea of what it even is. Let us try and break it down. Gluten is defined as a protein that binds together wheat, barley, and rye. Visualize a pizza dough being thrown in the air; it stretches and expands, right? That is gluten at work! The irresistible texture we all love and know in most of our bread, pizza, and pasta is gluten. That leads us to the thought, why gluten free? I have come to discover, there are two main reasons people avoid gluten. 1. They suffer from Celiac Disease/Gluten Sensitivity 2. They are interested in a healthier lifestyle As defined by the Celiac Foundation, Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the ingestion of gluten leads to damage of the small intestine. Celiac Disease can cause a variety of other health concerns such as inflammation and digestive disorders. The only known treatment is a complete dietary change. Due to the heightened awareness of gluten intolerance, many people have decided to go “gluten free” as they pursue a healthier 76 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | AUGUST 2016

lifestyle. If you find yourself on this journey, here are some quick health tips: • Substitute white flour with nutrient dense grains such as brown rice and quinoa. These grains are high in fiber, which help keep you full for longer periods of time. • Take advantage of starchy vegetables like zucchini, sweet potatoes and carrots as part of your carb load, giving you more nutrition with fewer calories! • Give your body a break from over processed food. The results are increased energy, clearer thinking, and improved digestion. A few things from which most of us would benefit! If you do choose to be gluten free, read the labels! Many gluten free items still contain high amounts of sugar or fillers. We always encourage our clients to be mindful of what they are eating and why. My Sister’s Chef was created out of a need. You see, my sister is among one of the many Americans who has Celiac Disease. She was diagnosed in 2003 before many gluten free foods were readily available. Being able to learn how to make foods that our whole family could enjoy, was something that became a passion and obsession. Now, My Sister’s Chef is dedicated to not only making foods that are 100% gluten free, but also accommodating all different types of dietary restrictions, educating through our hands on cooking classes, and providing in home meal services. Here are some of our favorite products: • Trader Joe’s Brown Rice Penne • Riceworks chips • Bob’s Red Mill gluten free 1 to 1 flour mix • Annie’s Homegrown Cocoa and Vanilla Bunny Cookies Whatever you do, make healthy choices, and remember if you are to indulge do so in moderation! For more details please visit www. mysisterschef.com •

New Artists Put the ‘A’ into the Big Apple By Maria Van Vlodrop

longside the glittering worlds of finance and entertainment in New York City is the vibrant arts community. MVVO ART is opening the Accessible Art Fair New York edition this November 1st, 2016 at The National Arts Club where 60 emerging artists selected by a juried event in May will showcase their work. The Fair removes barriers between artists and collectors and creates a welcoming environment for the discovery of great talent. New York Lifestyles Magazine spoke to three of the participating artists and asked the simple question, “what inspires you and your connection to New York?”

GRANT COLLIER

New York has two faces. My place upstate gives me time to reflect and my time in the city snaps me out of it. That’s important. It’s this contrast that keeps me awake and curious. As a child I was taught to be in the world but not of it. A half truth but nevertheless it taught me to be a curious observer, as if an alien, curious of this world and the people around me. While walking the streets of the city I observe strangers going about their individual lives and I wonder what it is we all share. Life seems borrowed somehow, here for a long moment; a particular moment in time. Some have it easy and some have it hard. There’s little sense to be made of it other than to love and to make something from it. This is why I’m an artist. I like capturing the light, the forms, music, and I spend time looking at other artist’s work. But most importantly it’s the stories I’m interested in. Within them there’s a spirit passing through and I’m interested in capturing that. And what role does the body play in this? I find an infinite amount of resource here. 78 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | AUGUST 2016

MARGARET ANN WITHERS

Inspiration is tricky because I can’t will it into existence. However, I’ve found that for me to be open to inspiration I have to do three things. First, I have to be open to new experiences. So I expose myself to all different kinds of art, whether it’s visual art, music, fiction, poetry, movies, or plays. And, on a daily basis I pick a time where I slow down how I experience things, to where I’m almost in a meditative state, sometimes I do this on the subway or in the park or just walking down the street. The second thing I do, free of self-judgment, is to play around with any new ideas that come up. And the third thing I do is to work out the new idea in my studio. I think it’s very important to be optimistic and to allow myself to mess-up in order for inspiration to take hold. In 2006, my husband and I sold everything, said goodbye to our nice comfortable life in Denver and moved to New York City to pursue our art practices. Thankfully, New York City is a gold mine of new experiences!

CAMOMILE HIXON

When I was a child, my mother would drive us from Connecticut down the West Side Highway past burnt-out cars to visit Cousin Billy, who still lives in the same loft in SoHo on Broome St. The abandoned-looking buildings were canvases for graffiti and the pedestrians were punk rockers, drag queens and misfits. It felt dangerous yet exhilarating to be in an environment where people were openly expressing themselves. What a stark contrast from our picturesque Protestant little town. I used to feel sorry for Billy having to live in such a dystopia. Later, I began to understand how the unique atmosphere of nonjudgment actually led to the emerging art scene which I later became a part of. My large-scale paintings and environments in glitter express these early ’80’s while at the same time transmitting an optimistic vision for the future. The Search for the Missing Unicorn was inspired by this Manhattan. In 2010 I placed posters around the city. The signs picturing a unicorn read ‘Missing Unicorn: large female with a friendly disposition…if seen, please call and leave a message.’ Thousands of people called the Unicorn Hotline over the first weekend with wondrous tales. The project went viral, major media outlets covered the story, and famed photographer Terry Richardson took pictures and tweeted them. In my experience, New York City remains a beautifully open-minded place where an artist can spring an imaginary beast on the public and they play along without missing a beat.

For more information on the Accessible Art Fair New York please visit www.mvvoart.com • AUGUST 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 79

On the Big Screen By Pat Collins

SUICIDE SQUAD Will Smith and Margot Robbie whose combined talent and charisma were wasted in the appalling dud “Focus”, reunite in “Suicide Squad”. He is the ace assassin Deadshot. She is Harley Quinn, the platinum blonde in clown makeup wielding a bat. They and other DC Comics’ villains in the Squad are released from prison to carry out a hush hush government plot against a formidable enemy. Oscar, Emmy and Tony winner Viola Davis brings her commanding presence to the role of Amanda Waller, the intelligence officer who controls the anti-heroes’ mission. Jared Leto has the most demanding role playing the maniacal Joker as obsessed with Harley as she is with him. Mr. Leto’s performance inevitably will be compared to Jack Nicholson’s and Heath Ledger’s. Devoted DC Comics fans no doubt are aware that Mr. Leto never disappoints the audience. FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS Three time Oscar winner Meryl Streep who has a fine singing voice plays an eccentric Manhattan socialite whose singing voice prompted listeners to cover their ears. The real life titular character was a delusional American heiress who selffunded her ambition to sing professionally and ultimately appear on stage at Carnegie Hall. Her long time significant other St. Claire Bayfield (Hugh Grant) failed to dissuade Florence from what turned out to be a public humiliation. One critic at the time described her as “incapable of sustaining a note”. She died a month later. Before her demise Mrs. Jenkins, a wholly unsympathetic character, lived a selfindulgent lifestyle. Stephen Frears directed the film which would have gone largely unnoticed were it not for the presence of marvelous Meryl. THE FOUNDER “We love to see you smile”. That is one of Mc Donalds’ catchy slogans but the home of happy meals was often a battleground with the Mc Donald brothers on one side and on the other Ray Kroc, the Midwest milkshake machine salesman who persuaded the reluctant Mac and Dick to expand their business. Michael Keaton, whose recent award winning films, Spotlight and Birdman revived his career, has another meaty role as the ruthlessly ambitious and hard bargaining Kroc. Director John Lee Hancock’s film begins in the 1950’s when the brothers, played by Nick Offerman and John Carroll Lynch, ran a humble southern California burger place. In time the Golden Arches would be worth in excess of $500 million. How that success was achieved is one of the most interesting and uniquely American stories. 80 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | AUGUST 2016

WAR DOGS RATED R In the “you can’t make up this stuff dept.,” War Dogs recreates the bizarre but true story of how two brash, young guys from Miami were awarded a $300 million Pentagon contract to supply arms to America’s allies in the Afghan military in 2007. How did they pull it off? By taking advantage of a government program which allows small businesses to bid on U.S. military contracts. Efraim Diveroli (Jonah Hill) and David Packouz (Miles Teller) who were both clueless about the bidding process, applied and soon were on their way to the Middle East. With “The Hangover” director Todd Phillips behind the camera expect a wild R rated adventure as the guys unknowingly put themselves in danger in enemy territory. The movie is based on journalist Guy Lawson’s 2011 article in Rolling Stone magazine. PETE’S DRAGON RATED PG Disney’s end of summer 3D adventure is well timed to entertain young movie goers who already saw “Finding Dory” twice “Ice Age-Collision Course”, “The Secret Life of Pets” and “Jungle Book”. The titular Pete- (Oakes Fegley) resembles a mini Tarzan when he is found by Park Ranger Grace Meacham (Bryce Dallas Howard) in a Pacific Northwest forest. The orphaned child tells of living in the forest for six years with a friendly dragon named Elliott. The boy’s story is similar to one Grace’s father, (Robert Redford), told her. Is Elliot real or imagined? That is the question Grace sets forth to answer in this remake of the 1977 Disney original. BEN HUR RATED PG Driving his chariot at full speed, Ben Hur (Jack Huston) is back on the big screen in what the film makers describe as a re-imagining of Lew Wallace’s 1880 novel. Huston steps into sandals not unlike those worn by Charlton Heston as the Judean Prince betrayed by his adoptive brother Messala (Toby Kebbell) and sentenced to five years on a slaveship for confronting the Roman rulers. Morgan Freeman adds gravitas as the hero’s trusted advisor and mentor Sheik Ilderim. Director Timur Bekmambetov shot the Circus Maximus chariot race in a space that equaled the size of three football fields. The 1959 Ben Hur directed by William Wyler won 11 Oscars including best picture. SOUTHSIDE WITH YOU It was a hit at the Sundance Film Festival but will the indie film win positive reviews from the current occupants of the White House? The romance between Michelle Robinson and Barack Obama is the subject of director Richard Tanne’s dramedy. Their first date took place at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1989. We learn that Ms. Robinson did not consider the museum visit with her fellow Harvard Law School classmate an actual date. Tika Sumpter and Parker Sawyers are the young stars who in recreating the First Couple’s second night out share an ice cream cone and a kiss. The elegant First Lady who masterfully preserved the family’s privacy during eight years at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue may decide not to show “Southside” in the White House screening room. • 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. AUGUST 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 81

August Broadway Reviews with Pat Collins AMERICA’S FAVORITE COMEDY WHODUNIT!

SHEAR MADNESS DAVENPORT THEATER Last month the cast of the whodunnit comedy Shear Madness packed their blow dryers and moved from New World Stages to a new location - The Davenport Theater on West 45th street. Tony winner Cady Huffman and fellow cast members, playing stylists at a West side unisex hair salon, interact with audience members who are asked to solve the murder mystery unfolding on stage. The result is a different show every night. Playwright Paul Portner has bragging rights to one of the longest running non musicals. Shear Madness offers an ideal opportunity to show off your Jessica Fletcher Hercole Poirot or Miss Marple like detective skills. The show runs two hours.

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL The popular baby boomer juke box musical returns to Broadway with a cast of 33 singing the iconic hits that made Motown both a hugely successful record label and the catalyst for racially integrating American popular music. The plot revolves around Motown creator Berry Gordy and his often contentious relationships with his super star artists including The Supremes, Gladys Knight and The Pips, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and The Jackson Five to name a few. Most audience members are eager to not only revisit Motown’s past but also to relive their teen years as well. Who can forget hearing “I Heard It Through The Grapevine “, “My Guy” or “Dancing In The Streets” for the first time. Please resist the urge to sing along during the show. Chester Gregory, who plays Mr. Gordy, leads a cast of 33 at the Nederlander Theater.

THE HUMANS TONY WINNER MOVES TO BIGGER HOUSE The cast of “The Humans” recently vacated the intimate Helen Hayes Theater and took up residence in the significantly larger Gerard Schoenfeld Theater a few feet away. Playwright Steven Karam’s dramedy deservedly won the 2016 Tony award for best new play and two of its extraordinary stars, Jayne Houdyshell and Reed Birney, were respectively named best featured actress and best featured actor in a play. Under Joe Mantello’s direction, The Humans is both poignant and laugh out loud funny as it explores the fear and anxiety of middle class Americans facing an uncertain economic future. The Helen Hayes Theater will undergo a long overdue renovation. 82 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | AUGUST 2016

NEVERLAND CLOSES AUGUST 21 Finding Neverland’s prolific producer Harvey Weinstein cannot be accused of losing faith in his musical but despite his legendary promotional skills the musical, based on the 2004 Johnny Depp movie, will vanish the end of the month. Matthew Morrison of “Glee” fame originated the role of Peter Pan creator J.M Barrie and Frasier star Kelsey Grammar played dual roles as Captain Hook and barrier’s American producer Charles Frohman. Tony Yazbeck is the current and last Barrie .Paul Slade Smith masters the quick wardrobe changes from Hook to Frohman. The Broadway show remains faithful to the film’s plot which centered on Barrie’s platonic relationship with Sylvia Davies, a London widow whose 4 young sons inspired Barrie to create the boy who vowed to never grow up.

AVENUE Q FULL PUPPET NUDITY OFF BROADWAY The unusual musical comedy with puppets and R rated dialogue continues to entertain grown-ups at New World Stages on West 50th street, The show which features Trekkie Monster, the Bad Idea Bears and other naughty characters won the Tony Award 13 years ago, scoring an upset victory over the witches of “Wicked’ . The production has no connection to Sesame Street or the Jim Henson Company although two of Avenue Q’s puppets could be described as Bert and Ernie’s badly behaved cousins. With song titles like “Lucy The Slut “ and “The Internet Is For Porn” need I remind parents that this is decidedly NOT a family show.

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FUN HOME CLOSING THE DOORS AT CIRCLE IN THE SQUARE The last performance of the highly acclaimed 2015 Tony Award winner is September 10. The brilliant tragicomedy is based on cartoonist Alison Bechdel’s 2006 graphic memoir about her closeted gay father and her coming out in college. The title refers to the family run funeral home where she and her sisters were raised under unusual circumstances. Original cast members including Tony winner Michael Cerveris, Judy Kuhn Beth Malone and Emily Skeggs will remain with the show until that last curtain call. Fun Home runs a riveting one hour and 45 minutes with no intermission. Fun Home’s national tour launches in October - first stop Cleveland. Then onto LA, Chicago, Las Vegas and San Francisco. THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME CLOSING SOON September 4 is the last date to see the 2015 Tony Award winner. A high functioning teenage boy with Asberger’s Syndrome leaves his home in the London suburbs to find the killer of a neighbor’s dog. Tyler Leah excels in the demanding role of the young protagonist in an extraordinary play. Check out the merchandise counter in the theater lobby. My favorite item is a T shirt with the following words on the front - “I Find People Confusing”. •

THREE FREE DRINKS!

FUERZA BRUTA THE PARTY’S OVER Off Broadway’s long running spectacular ends its nine year run Aug 28 but before then guests are encouraged to frolic in the club’s splash zone every Sunday night at 7 pm. Remember to bring a change of clothes which can be left at the coat check. The show, which was imported from Buenos Aires, combines acrobatics, live throbbing music and a wet and wild finale. Fuerza Bruta is not for those who suffer from claustrophobia or are unable to stand for an hour and 50 minutes. Seats are in short supply at the Daryl Roth Theater, Admission prices range from $ 39 to $125 VIP tickets. The perks include a personal bartender. Location is the 101 East 15th Street. At Union Square and 15th Street.

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Pat Collins’ Picks of New Home Entertainment Releases ANGRY BIRDS RATED PG Based on a Finnish video game Angry Birds was a surprise blockbuster grossing $337,542,301 at the global box office. Jason Sudeikis provided the voice of Red, an orphaned, socially awkward misfit forced to take the bird version of anger management classes taught by Matilda (Maya Rudolph). When a boat with green pigs on board docks at the island’s marina they are welcomed by the flightless residents but Red fears the newly arrived pose a threat to the community. His fears are confirmed when the pigs steal bird eggs for food. The rescue effort involves huge slingshots, kitchen utensils and a wise Eagle (Peter Dinklage). Some commentators saw a connection between Angry Birds’ plot and an election year debate on immigration. The kids who made it an international hit saw a funny movie. KEANU RATED R The popular Comedy Central funnymen and Peabody Award winners Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key make their movie debuts in the comedy adventure Keanu. The titular kitten survives a drug operation gone wrong in a LA church and arrives at Rell’s (Peeles’s) front door in the suburbs. The adorable furry houseguest is missing after a burglary and Rell turns to Clarence (Key) his next door neighbor and family man for help. With Clarence’s family conveniently out of town he is free to participate in a funny, fast moving adventure. The phrase - a cat has nine lives- is put to the test as Keanu-named for Keanu Reevessurvives a cat-napping ordered by a thug named Cheddar (Method Man). Also in the cast- Will Forte and Nia Long. CODE BLACK SEASON 1 Should you require urgent care in LA be grateful the ambulance driver rushes you to Cedars Sinai and not an emergency room resembling the one in Code Black. Resident Director Dr. Leanne Rorish (the consistently fine actress Marcia Gay Harden) oversees an overworked staff of first year residents who refer to her as “daddy”. The show’s title refers to an alert signaling the lack of sufficient resources in the ER. The wellreviewed CBS show is not for viewers who faint at the sight of a paper cut. 86 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | AUGUST 2016

GREY’S ANATOMY SEASON 12 The first season without Patrick Dempsey’s Dr. Derek Shepherd, who was killed in a car crash the previous season, finds his widow Meredith Grey, played by the Ellen Pompeo, coping with- a new class of interns at Seattle’s fictitious Grey Sloan Hospital. The enormous success of the long running series is rightly attributed to its multitasking creator Shonda Rhimes who also serves as the show’s head writer and showrunner. Season 12 features the 250th episode “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner” as well as guest stars Rita Moreno and Casey Williams. RATCHETT AND CLANK The worst animated family movie of the year thus far is based on the PlayStation 2 and 3 video games and runs a torturous 94 minutes. Ratchett, a raccoon like creature known as a lombax is a mechanic with special skills. His goal is to leave his dry and dull planet and become a Galactic Ranger with a new found friend Clank. The 3D computer animated sci-fi so called comedy comes with a dull you’ve seen it before plot, forgettable bad guys and not one memorable action scene. Paul Giamatti voices the villainous Dr Drek. The other famous folks in the voice cast are Sylvester Stallone, John Goodman and Rosario Dawson. CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR RATED R Nick Jonas, best known as the star of Disney Channel movies and one third of the Jonas Brothers band adored by tween girls moves from PG family fare to an R rated thriller set in a wealthy North Carolina lakefront resort community Nick’s character Doug lands a job working on a boat owned by his parents neighbors. The young curvaceous wife next door (Isabel Lucas) and Doug quickly enter into an affair which she instigates and pleads with him to keep secret, fearing her older, jealous investment banker husband Elliot will exact revenge on her and her teenage lover. When Elliot turns up dead the Sheriff (Paul Sorvino) does not rule out Doug as a suspect. The movie which receives brutal reviews is definitely not what you wished for and is inappropriate for Nick’s young fans. TOP GEAR SEASON 5 What the British media describe as a motoring show is a phenomenal success. The Guinness Book Of World Records lists the BBC’s series as the most widely watched factual TV program in the world with an estimated audience of 350 million. Top Gear gives all those who fantasize about experiencing the thrill of a hazardous adventure behind the wheel the opportunity to live vicariously and be highly entertained as well. Risk taking host Jeremy Clarkson left the show in 2015 Co-presenters (that’s British for co-hosts) Richard Hammond and James May followed soon after. One of the questions posed in season 5 was “can an ice cream truck jump over four bouncy castles.” The Who’s Roger Daltrey was one of the many celebrities participating in “The Star In A Reasonably Priced Car” segment. • AUGUST 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 87

Time for Tee: If the Shoe Fits... By Jeffrey Bradford

ity the poor feet. Golfers spend money on the latest technology clubs, golf balls which test the limits of responsiveness in accordance with USGA regulations and the latest clothes for the benefits the fabrics or fashion offers mentally to the player. Every shot a golfer takes involves the use of feet and yet footwear is often regarded as an afterthought and replacement only when the 88 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | AUGUST 2016

dampness leaks in on a spring dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s round. However, well chosen footwear will help provide stability and comfort when the ancient course you are treading is carry-only. Brighter minds however have been thinking about how golf shoes can be designed to improve the performance of the golfer. Footjoy, one of the largest manufacturers of golf shoes is launching the FJ Performance Fitting system with the aim of enabling golfers to have their swing analyzed and shoes customized according to an algorithm that will yield you genuine improvements.

“We found that the majority of golfers perform significantly better while wearing shoes that are fit to their swing style,” added Dr. Sasho MacKenzie, Sports Biomechanics Professor and BodiTrak Advisor. “The FJ PFS combines algorithms derived from thousands of golf swings, and swing information collected with the BodiTrak mat, to determine with a high probability, the best style of shoe for a particular golfer.” See www.footjoy.com for more details. If you cannot wait to access the FJ Performance Fitting system what are the best choices ? In a busy field some of the standouts include the Addidas Adicross V, Calloway Xfer Nitro and New Balance NBG 3001. •

Gadget of the Month

Optishot 2 No time to battle the traffic to play a round in the heat, humidity and bustle of summertime ? The Optishot 2 is a home golf simulator with a mat that connects to a computer (not included) and a net (just make sure you can swing a golf club without damaging the crockery). To add to the versatility of Optishot you can also subscribe for access to play a variety of courses around the world and play against other people through the internet – all without breaking a (physical, not virtual) sweat. See www.optishotgolf.com for more details.

AUGUST 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 89

Entrepreneurs Corner: Klara Madlin By Victoria Ingalls

his month New York Lifestyles sat with entrepreneur Klara Madlin to ask her about what motivates her in business and what inspiration can be used to help others. 1. What experience would you say triggered your interest in the real estate business? I got into this business by buying a brownstone on West 80th Street with another friend, and the woman who sold the property to me was 80. I was 35, and I’m standing on a scaffold painting the ceiling. I had just lost my job, which, when you’re a clothing designer, happens every season or so. And my friend who bought the brownstone with me said, “Did you ever notice there are no women over the age of 40 as designers — unless their husbands own the company or they have a lot of money?” I said, “Not until now.” So I called the woman who had sold us the building and I asked, “How long have you been doing this?” She said, “20 years.” I said, “You started when you were 60?” If she could change careers, I thought, so could I. 2. How long ago did you decide you wanted to run your own brokerage and how long did it take to achieve? Why? I opened my own firm in 1984. I was working for a small firm owned by an attorney. I had been working in real estate for 3 years. Most of the agents in the firm would call me for advice and information, and I found that I enjoyed mentoring and figured if I was doing it anyway why work for someone else? 3. Which question on the real estate licensing test do you remember most and why? There was a question about riparian rights which is not something that comes up often in Manhattan real estate. I got the question wrong and looked it up after the exam. 4. In your experience, what do you see as the main challenges for commercial and residential businesses? Do you see this changing in the short to medium (3-5 year) timeframe? The main challenges I see in both the residential and commercial business in the foreseeable future is affordability. It has become very difficult for people or businesses just starting out to get started in New York because of the high startup price. 5. Tell us a little about your business and about your typical day? 90 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | AUGUST 2016

I tend to get up quite early and check and answer emails while I have my morning coffee. Then I go over my appointment book and see what I have to do and where I need to be. I usually arrive in the office late morning and there is always something happening. I am available to all the agents to help with whatever deals they are working on and also I go over every board package before it goes to management. I am happy to say that in all the years we have been in business, there have been less than a handful of board turndowns. 6. What are your favorite projects you are working on currently? We recently started representing CANVAS, the latest project of Miami-based NR Investments, to New York purchasers. CANVAS, a luxury high-rise located at 1630 Northeast 1st Avenue in Miami, FL is poised to become one of the city’s most iconic residences. While Miami and New York are different in many respects – most notably in climate! – the two cities are both cosmopolitan with an international population. NYC home buyers and young professionals looking for a second entry-level home, as well as empty nesters and ‘snow birds’ looking for second homes, often turn to Miami to to escape the brutal winter months. In short, it’s a very exciting new project in Miami which will be perfect for New York buyers. 7. If someone came to you now to ask for advice about starting a real estate brokerage firm what would you say? If you are willing to work very hard 24/7 go for it! But be prepared for the ups and downs that come with running the show and make sure that you have enough money to get through the first year. 8. Outside of business what are your favorite activities? I love to travel. Also I own an apartment on the beach in Long Beach, New York where I go to relax and look at the ocean. I have been taking sketching classes at the Art Students League which I find very enjoyable. •

Made in NY: Margo Manhattan

By Elizabeth Darwen

or inspiration, internationally-renowned jewelry designer Margo Manhattan looks to the fast pace of New York City and ballet worlds theatrical scenes. Margo aims to create a variety of looks through mixing and matching different types of chains, leather, pendants and necklaces which combine to display her signature styling. “The piece finds the person,” says Margo, who immediately focuses on each client’s unique features. Margo dreamt of becoming a jewelry designer when she was a child and first started designing after her aunt showed her and her cousins how to make beaded bouquets with Swarovski crystals. This inspired Margo to take her first jewelry design class. She began constructing jewelry in the Byzantine technique at the age of 15. As she continued to create her own jewelry designs, her passion for metal and stones developed. After studying jewelry design at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology, Margo arranged fashion shows in night clubs, and

dancers of the New York City Ballet acquired a number of her pieces. As her business started to grow, Margo moved from selling her pieces at flea markets to retail stores in her area. Margo perfected her design skills in Paris at the Studio Bercot. During her time in Paris she began perfecting her craft alongside fashion icons Karl Lagerfeld, Patrick Kelly and with famed Vogue Magazine photographer Arthur Elgort. Not long after her arrival in Paris, Margo’s jewelry was prominently featured in Paris Vogue after her jewelry was discovered in a styling shoot by Patrick Demarchelier. After completing her apprenticeship in Paris, Margo Manhattan moved back to New York City in order to focus on expanding her jewelry line. In December 2010 Margo relocated her boutique to its current New York location in the Upper East Side. Margo Manhattan boasts an impressive celebrity clientele. The New York based designer collections was worn and loved by pop culture and fashion icon Beyoncé in her 2013 self titled visual album. In addition to Beyoncé, Margo’s collections are owned and adored by Selena Gomez, Katie Couric, Amber Heard, Wendy Williams, Nicole Miller, Margot Bingham, Alexa Ray Joel, Rinka and more. Margo, whose passion has always been to help others, has built a reputation as a visionary, socially aware and iconic designer which took form of a symbolic ground breaking design that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for cures, treatment and awareness. She designed the universally recognized original Red Ribbon Lapel pin of AIDS awareness in 1991, followed by the Pink Ribbon for Breast Cancer for Estee Lauder and other Breast Cancer fundraising efforts. Margo launched her e-commerce website www.margomanhattan.com in 2015. Tune in and shop the collection of her signature ‘rock and roll chic’ jewels, and make sure to pop by the Margo Manhattan Boutique at 88th & Madison Avenue – her beautiful jewel box shop on the Upper East Side, to experience the full breadth of her unique style. While you’re there, don’t miss The Vault, a stunning collection of unique one-of-kind pieces, featuring diamonds, emeralds and sapphires, all set in white and yellow gold as well as platinum. For more information, visit: www.margomanhattan.com • AUGUST 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 91

The Cost Of Getting There: The Hamptons

By Laurie Gelman

ure, you got an awesome quarter share in a house in the Hampton’s this summer for the bargain basement price of $3,000. You are broke but happy. However, when you ponied up for this rental, did you take into consideration how much it would cost you just to get to the beach and back every time you go? If you’re very lucky, someone who really likes you has a car. If not, this is what you’ll be facing. Lets get the fantastical out of the way first. If shelling out $3,000 was a gut buster for you, then paying to take a helicopter out east is probably not in the budget. But just for shits and giggles you should know that it costs between $500 and $1,200 to get a seat on a chopper - even more for a ride on a sea plane (www.flyblade.com). So, back to reality. The bus or the train is going to be your best bet and because there are options for each, you have to ask yourself how much is my time and comfort worth? Two bus companies duke it out for your commuting dollar – the Hampton Jitney (www.hamptonjitney.com) which also has the Ambassador service and The Hampton Luxury Liner (www. hamptonluxuryliner.com). The Jitney is always packed, rarely on time and in my experience, loud. But you get what you pay for which is a ride, a snack and a newspaper for $32 one way (less if you pre-pay) Their Ambassador service will run you $50 a ride but more room and less noise. The Hampton Luxury Liner offers just that, a little more luxury in the form of movies, music, magazines, snacks and free wi-fi all for $45 a seat. The drawback? Not as flush a schedule as their competition.

If you choose the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) a standard one way fare from Penn Station to Southampton on Friday night is $28.25. Not so bad but you do have to change trains in Jamaica Queens which should be considered a Hunger Games challenge. Train time to Southampton is 2 hours and 45 minutes. Just pray you get a seat. The better train option is the Cannonball which leaves Penn Station at 4:08pm on Thursdays and Fridays. You need a reservation as there is limited seating, although they do use the double decker train. Price is $42.25 one way BUT you get to Southampton in 2 hours flat. Weigh that against Friday night rush hour traffic and you may want to spend the money (www.mta.info/lirr). Of course these options only work if you don’t plan on going anywhere while you’re at your groovy Hamptons share tenement. If you enjoy clubbing and the beach, you may want to rent a car or use a Zip car (www.zipcar.com). Rentals vary and are hard to nail down without advanced planning, but it pays when you have 2-3 friends splitting the tab with you. Friday to Sunday you are looking at a few hundred dollars plus gas. The Zip car is an interesting and cheaper option. Although it will cost you $7 a month to be a member of the Zip Car Club, you can usually get a vehicle for $89 per day. Again, you can split it with friends. The downside for both? Hours and hours on the LIE. Smart people leave either before noon or after 8PM to avoid the soul sucking traffic. Turns out there is no boat service to the Hamptons (unless you have a yacht) but I’d say that’s a business opportunity just waiting to be scooped up. The Beast to Montauk in 60 minutes anyone? • AUGUST 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 93

The Person You Should Know: Randy Zelin

By Victoria Ingalls

n a city of some 8.5 million people, it can be a challenge to find the right professional for the right task. In an effort to make life easier for you here is our speed-dial selection of the month; Randy Zelin is a leading trial attorney with a concentration in white collar criminal defense as well as complex civil litigation matters. Randy has been named a New York Super Lawyer in consecutive

years from 2011 through 2016, and has over 25 years of experience defending individual and corporate clients in both State and Federal Courts across the United States. A former prosecutor, Zelin has represented many forms of business organizations, boards of directors, special committees, professionals and individuals in all aspects of criminal, regulatory, self-regulatory and civil matters, including, frauds related to securities, banking, tax, customs, bankruptcy and insurance to name a few. Zelin is a true trial lawyer, having built his career trying complex fraud and business crime cases. Randy has successfully tried many high profile cases, which have led to results such as the dismissal of federal insider trading charges after the jury could not reach a verdict; a nationally cited downward variance in a federal securities fraud case, and an acquittal on a DWI count where the client’s blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit. But Randy’s greatest achievements are those that never come to light -- where the problem is solved before there even is a problem, where the high-profile client’s problems get no publicity, and where the client never sees the inside of a courtroom. Randy is a highly sought after legal commentator for the media, regularly appearing on Fox News, Fox Business Channel, CNN, CBSN, CNN Headline News, Bloomberg and local network television, as well as the New York Law Journal, New York Times and Wall Street Journal, offering expertise on a wide range of legal issues and cases. Zelin is also a frequent lecturer at continuing legal education programs on criminal law and procedure, and has taught as a guest instructor in various local law schools’ trial advocacy programs, as well as for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy. Recent high profile cases handled by Zelin that have been commented on in the media include a CNBC segment on Apple vs. FBI, discussing the FBI’s access to the San Bernardino shooter’s iPhone without Apple’s help; a CBSN segment on a new “textalyzer” device that would tell police which drivers text behind the wheel; a CBSN segment on what legal consequences Trump’s adviser could face following the run-in with former Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields; and a CBSN segment on Dr. Luke responds to legal battle with Kesha. For more information on Randy Zelin, visit: www.randyzelinlaw.com •

94 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | AUGUST 2016

Book Reviews By Chris Beakey & Jeffrey Stephens

Flynn.

OGUE MISSION is the fourth thriller featuring CIA operative Jordan Sandor, a story that will appeal to fans of Jack Du Brul, Brad Thor, Daniel Silva and the late Vince

Stephens has the ability to evoke the “Oh God, this could really

happen?” kind of fear that makes for great suspense – partly due to high-stakes plotting but even more so through Sandor’s rebellious personality, adept use of violence, and indisputable moral code. Simply put, he’s a lot like 24’s Jack Bauer with a sense of humor, or a more realistic version of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher, and ultimately the kind of friend you’d love to have in real life. For these reasons and more, ROGUE MISSION is one of the best books I’ve read in this genre. I wasn’t just captivated by it. I believed every word of it. When I reached the last page and looked from the living room of my DC apartment toward the White House I actually found myself hoping, “It won’t happen here.” That is, unless Jeffrey Stephens decides to write it that way in his next Jordan Sandor novel, which I will have no choice but to read. Reviewed by Chris Beakey, author of FATAL OPTION, coming in February 2017. David Baldacci continues to turn out consistently entertaining stories at an astonishing pace. His last two works are no exception. THE GUILTY features super-spy Will Robie in an unusually personal tale. Robie’s father, from whom he has been estranged for years, is a well-respected judge in a small Southern town who has just been accused of murder. Although the judge refuses help from his prodigal son, Robie travels to Mississippi to clear his father’s name. As expected, the ensuing path becomes increasingly twisted and ever more dangerous. The pages turn quickly as you race to the climax. THE LAST MILE brings back Amos Decker, the man who can forget nothing. Working with a special FBI task force, he becomes embroiled in a murder investigation where the parallels with his own life become uncomfortably clear, even as the lines between guilt and innocence blur. Decker must employ all of his extraordinary mental agility to solve the case, especially after one of his own team disappears. Once again, you will be drawn into a well-written web of deceit and mystery. Either novel or both make a nice way to spend a summer’s day—and night. • Reviewed by Jeffrey S. Stephens, author of ROGUE MISSION.

AUGUST 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 95

15 Minutes With Chef Marcus Samuelsson

By Baruch Shemtov

hef Marcus Samuelsson has taken the culinary world by storm for years, translating his multi-continental background into vibrant cuisine that’s taken center stage everywhere from Harlem to the White House. As an influential force in Harlem, Samuelsson’s popular Red Rooster has become a destination for visitors from around the world, while the chef ’s expanding empire of eateries, including Street Bird, is bringing his creative menus to fans around the world. How would you describe your heritage? I’m American. I was born in Ethiopia. I was raised in Sweden. But I’m American now. I mean all of us come from a place, right? Whether our grandparents, our great grandparents, or people like me. I immigrated to America so my heritage is [born in] North Africa, raised in Europe and living in Harlem.

fortunate that the community embraced us and we’ve been able to hire 150 people that have a job here in Harlem and seventy percent of them come from Harlem. That makes a big difference. That’s important. How does New York inspire you? Well it does because it’s a center of creativity and talent. The amount of talent that you meet and see in New York, that you learn from, customers. So for me it’s a big part of why I moved here, is to be part of the most talented city. What makes your cuisine unique? It’s our journey and it’s my vision. Living in Japan or living in Europe or looking at the migration as a great place of inspiration, so I think the cultural aspect. And I bring that to the table.

And how does that experience influence your cuisine? Being a chef, it’s about understanding yourself and understanding your food and who you are as a person, and then teaching around that and creating recipes and food around that. So, for me, I will always have Ethiopian dishes in mind. I will always have European dishes in mind. And yet, I think a lot about the foods of the migration.

When did you realize that you’d made it? I don’t think it’s an either or. I think it’s a place of you continue to work, you continue to work on your craft. I don’t think that making it is a bus stop. Making it is an opportunity for me to work with something that I really enjoy. That’s making it in a way. Being able to be part of an industry and adding to the industry, that’s making it. For me it’s not a bus stop of “Oh today I have made it or I haven’t made it,” you know?

What would you say unifies all your restaurants? It’s a spirit and an energy of hospitality, making people happy, understanding a place. We’re cooking not in an anonymous place. We’re cooking in a very specific place: Harlem. That has a lot of meaning to a lot of people. So being part of a place, cooking from a place.

President Obama certainly honored you when he gave you the opportunity to prepare his first state dinner for India. What was that like? It was a great moment, a very big moment in my career. And it’s one of those moments that I will always treasure and remember. It’s a moment that I don’t take for granted. I was very appreciative of it.

Why did you choose to create a restaurant in Harlem years back? Well, it’s been a community that I always admired and I learned a lot about, and I wanted to be a part of. So, to me, it was important to create jobs within the community and be part of the community that I admired. For me, why shouldn’t inner city America have great restaurants? That was an idea that I thought I can be part of changing the conversation. I could be part of creating a great restaurant in an inner city and hiring from that community.

What still gets you excited? Creating jobs and making a difference in the community.

How has that community evolved since you established Red Rooster? Harlem evolves like any community. We have obviously been 96 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | AUGUST 2016

Whats next for Chef Marcus Samuelsson? Continuing to build on my food festival Harlem EatUp! Continue to work on Red Rooster and Street Bird and continue to add value in the community in Harlem and create jobs. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life what would it be? Sushi. It’s fish. That’s what i was raised on. And there’s an elegance to it that I love. •