International Opulence Fall 2017 by Adriana Naylor

FALL 2017

Haute Horology Highlights

ART OF JUXTAPOSITION

WHIMSICALLY COMPARING MAN'S RELATIONSHIP WITH NATURE

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Opulence Fall 2017

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64 68

SUMMER 2017

T o p A r t F E AT U R E S 40

ON THE COVER

ART OF JUXTAPOSITION

Artist Steven Kenny is making his mark in the art world through his surreal juxtaposition of man and nature. Painting: The Fan

The chalk on the street

Meet the most amazing anamorphic 3-D street artists around the world

WHIMSICALLY COMPARING MAN'S RELATIONSHIP WITH NATURE

Balanchine’s Jewels

A Real-Life Fairytale Between Ballet and Jewels

Unearthing dalí

Unearthing

Opulence Fall 2017

The surreal court-ordered exhumation of artist Salvador Dalí

YOU DREAM IT, WE FIND IT, YOU CHARTER IT

70 Art FEATURES CONTINUED

68 The Perfect Storm

48 Rogues’ Gallery of Whit, Drama and Deceit

Did Van Gogh trade places with a look-alike?

Cold Glass artisan Jack Storms discusses the techniques behind his Technicolor creations

70 Moments in Time Maestro Chris Burlini’s dramatic mid-career new genre

72 Art Basel Hong Kong, Switzerland & Miami

The world’s most influential modern art shows

Michelangelo & The Medici

FEATURES

Emily Fenichel, Ph.D., explores the influence of the Medici on Michelangelo’s art, life, and legacy

54 The Modern-Day Da Vinci,

Master Artist Kurt Wenner

64 A Man for All Seasons Edwina Sandys recounts her pathway to art, and grandfather Winston Churchill’s influence

26 The Contemporary

Renaissance of Port Wine

34 2017 WORLD Whiskies AWARDS WINNERS 36 Taste the World’s Rarest 38

Opulence Fall 2017

and Most Expensive Liquors at The One Ounce Club Ireland’s Magical Newbridge

114 features (continued)

88 A dom perignon toast to the

revitalized historic surf club

Carleton Varney dishes on Newbridge Silverware — the Tiffany of Ireland

96 PERLA LICHI’s Art of design 98

63 INSERT COIN, GET GUM, CHIPS, FERRARIS

Supersize vending machines now dispense automobiles

74 RED BULLRUSH SHOTS 2017

Spectacular action photography

Restoring GUZÓW PALACE

104 Chef José Avillez Two-Michelin-star epicurean in the Portuguese culinary scene

108 ROMANCING IN PORTUGAL 112 A Spanish Mediterranean coast journey 116 Neptunian Island Playground

78 Private Golf &

Country Clubs FamilyCentric Re-ENVISION

An interview with the President & CEO of the National Club Association Henry Wallmeyer

82 AirCruising Exploration

122 A CRACK IN CREATION Gene Editing Advances

124 Inside The Bloodiest 47 Acres in America

An eerie historical look behind the walls of the Missouri State Penitentiary

In the world’s largest luxury private charter Jet

84 LUXURY ROAD TRIP TO KEY LARGO

86 meet the

Fragrance Sommelier

Opulence Summer 2017

departments Editor’s Letter Gadgets Broadway Across America Entertainment National Event Guide Dishing With The James Beard Foundation President National Dining Guide Gentlemen’s Corner What Women Want Fine Art Conservation Art Of Landscape Social Living Condo Law Real Estate Guide

18 20 21-22 23 24-25 30 32-33 37 45 67 102 119 128 130-144

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editor’s letter

HORIZON PUBLISHING Executive PUBLISHER & Owner David Hammond, CEO Jayne Hammond, President

s I prepare to introduce you to this 2017 art edition of International Opulence, it’s the evening of September 7 and keeping me company is the Weather Channel host telling of an approaching category 5 hurricane – the strongest, he says, in modern recorded history. Today, the storm plowed over Barbados and is making its way toward South Florida. I’m thinking, ‘What could I possibly write about that compellingly ties together the seemingly unrelated topics of fine art and a buzz-saw-shaped monster storm named IRMA?’ The answer feels a bit uncanny. You see, in September 1944, nearly the exact same quandary was on the mind of American painter John Marin. But instead of ‘what to write?’ he was thinking ‘what to paint?’ Like me, Marin got his answer from Mother Nature. His 1944 painting called ‘Hurricane’ hangs in a gallery called IMA (not IRMA, but close enough to notice the coincidence), the Indianapolis Museum of Art. It’s a thickly daubed oil painting Marin created to depict the turbulent storm history books recorded as the ‘Great Atlantic Hurricane of 1944.’ It hit the artist’s hometown in Maine with brut force. Yes, precisely 73 years ago to this very day, on September 7, 1944, that storm formed through a tropical wave adjacent to – get this – Barbados. Could it be that an islander who experienced IRMA’s wrath today was a child who went through Marin’s painted storm threequarters of a century ago? It’s too early to predict as I write this the impact IRMA will have on my hometown in the coming days, but I wonder if 73 years from now a painting depicting its path may hang in an art gallery, making certain the historical events this storm fetches never go forgotten. It’s true what they say about art being a pictorial history book of civilizations. In this issue, we bring you stories of artists who have already been – or surely will be – recorded in art history archives. Our cover story is about Steven Kenny, a surreal artist who masters the juxtaposition of man and nature. Then, fittingly, we tell you about Jack Storms, an artisan who has re-mastered the age-old art of cold glass sculpture. Our columnist Edwina Sandys takes you on a tour of the paintings by her grandfather Winston Churchill. You’ll read of the recent exhumation of Salvador Dalí in Spain; a Sotheby’s executive’s tale of how Vincent van Gogh may have traded places with a lookalike; and the story of the lifelong control the Florence Medici family had on Michelangelo – and so much more! If this issue reaches you in inclement weather, don’t fret. Grab a cup of coffee, find a quiet nook and dig into what this issue has to offer.

EDITOR IN CHIEF Robin Jay editor@internationalopulence.com SENIOR CREATIVE ART DIRECTOR Adriana Naylor artdirector@internationalopulence.com 954-331-3912 Marketing Manager Melissa Bryant Melissa@internationalopulence.com 954-331-3390 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Associate Kim Golightly kim@internationalopulence.com 954-999-9087 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT Michael Jay michaeljay@internationalopulence.com 954-593-5060 Business Development Consultant Karen Talbot Evans 954-663-1786 karen@internationalopulence.com Contributing Writers: Stephanie Bowman Alona Abbady Martinez Michael Chapnick Jill Patterson Jana Soeldner Danger Erick Rodriguez Jennifer Doudna Ava Roosevelt Emily Fenichel, Ph.D. Edwina Sandys Clarence Fernandez Todd R. Sciore Chris Gallagher Carleton Varney Steven Joseph Kelly Villasuso Dale King & Julia Hebert Hugh & Mary Williamson Marla Horn Lazarus Photographers Dan Brooke Mel Jay Douglas Lance Frank T. Smith Raul Villasuso, Jr. PROOFREADER Suzanne Shaw

Robin Jay

General Counsel Barry Weiss bweiss@csiinternational.com

Editor in Chief

International Opulence Magazine is published quarterly by Horizon Publishing LLC. Copyright © 2017. All rights reserved. Horizon Publishing LLC, 6700 North Andrews Avenue, Suite 400, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 – Vol. 7, No. 3 Fall 2017 (ISSN # 2157-5274)

Hurricane, 1944, John Marin, oil on canvas, 64 cm x 76 cm, Indianapolis Museum of Art 18

OPULENCE

Fall 2017

Subscription Rates: $40 per year, $10 per issue. For subscription inquiries or change of address, contact the subscription department, (954) 308-4300 Ext. 4312, Fax: (954) 331-6028. Horizon Publishing, LLC, its affiliates and contributing writers have exercised due care in compiling the information contained herein, but with the possibility of human or mechanical error, cannot assume liability for the accuracy of this data. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in part or in full in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording and any information storage and retrieval system without first obtaining permission from the publisher.

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Gadgets & Novelties

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The Genuine Irish Telefon Box

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Opulence Fall 2017

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Broadway 2017-18 Season

CHICAGO

New York City, NY

NEW YORK CITY, NY

Baltimore, MD

Broadhurst Theatre

LONGACRE THEATRE ONGOING

May 1-6, 2018 The Hippodrome Theatre

New York City, NY

Ongoing Ethel BarryMore Theatre

ORIENTAL THEATRE DEC. 7- DEC. 31, 2017

NEW YORK

ASTOR PLACE THEATRE ONGOING

STEVEN SONDHEIM THEATRE ONGOING

WEST PALM BEACH, FL New York City, NY

Miami, FL

Ongoing Bernard B. Jacobs Theater

April 3-8, 2018 Adrienne Arsht Center

NEW YORK City, NY

Ongoing Eugene O’Neill Theatre

Los Angeles, CA

October 11-November 19 Ahmanson Theater

FEBRUARY 6-11,2018 KRAVIS CENTER

Miami, FL

New York City, NY

November 28-December 3 Adrienne Arsht Center

Now- December 30 Neil Simon Theater

Washington, DC

October 24-November 19 The Kennedy Center

Miami, FL

May 8-13, 2018 Adrienne Arsht Center

NEW YORK

Ongoing Lunt-Fontanne Theatre

New York City, NY Ongoing Shoenfeld Theatre

Costa Mesa, CA

Feb. 27 – March 11, 2018 Segerstrom Center For The Arts

Chicago, IL

Chicago

New York City, NY

Costa Mesa, CA

February 6-11, 2018 Segerstrom Center For The Arts

Ongoing Music Box Theatre

July 17-29, 2018 The Oriental Theatre

Ongoing Ambassador Theatre

Costa Mesa, CA

November 7-19, 2018 Segerstrom Center For The Arts

Chicago, IL

November 9-December 2 The Oriental Theatre

MIAMI , FL

April 3-8, 2018 Adrienne Arsht Center

New York City, NY

MIAMI, FL

ADRIENNE ARSHT CENTER Oct. 5- Oct. 15, 2017

NEW YORK CITY, NY MARQUIS THEATRE ONGOING

Baltimore, MD

October 1-6, 2018 The Hippodrome Theatre

Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Ongoing Imperial Theatre

Broward Center For the Performing Arts January 9-21, 2019

Los Angeles, CA

November 30-December 3 Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza los-angeles-theatre.c

For tickets in Baltimore, Costa Mesa, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City and Washington DC, go to www.BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com; for shows in Chicago, go to www.BroadwayinChicago.com; and in West Palm Beach, go to www.Kravis.org. Fall 2017 Opulence

Broadway 2017-18 Season

New York City, NY

Ongoing August Wilson Theatre

Los Angeles, ca

New York city, ny

August 11-December 30 Pantages Theater Hollywood

Miami, FL

April 3-8, 2018 Adrienne Arsht Center

CHICAGO, il

THE PRIVATEBANK THEATRE RUNNING THROUGH SEPT. 17, 2017

Richard Rodgers Theatre ongoing

New York City, NY Ongoing Shubert Theatre

Chicago, IL

Jan. 30-Feb. 11, 2018 The Cadillac Palace Theatre

December 27, 2017January 7, 2018 The Kennedy Center

SAN FRANCISCO, ca

SHN ORPHEUM THEATER STARTING MARCH, 17, 2017

Washington, DC Kennedy Center Coming SEPT. 2018

Costa Mesa, CA

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Washington, DC

February 27 – March 11, 2018 Segerstrom Center Fort The Arts

May 8-20, 2018 Broward Center For the Performing Arts

Baltimore, MD

February 6-11, 2018 Segerstrom Center For The Arts

New York City, NY

October 1-January 7 Al Hirschfeld Theater

October 3-October 8 Hippodrome Theater

Baltimore, MD

Chicago, IL October 11-29, 2017 The Cadillac Theatre

November 16-December 10 Hippodrome Theater

NEW YORK CITY, NY Ongoing Minskoff Theatre

Ft. Lauderdale

November 7November 19 Broward center for the performing arts

Chicago, IL

Feb. 14-March 4, 2018 The Cadillac Palace Theatre

Costa Mesa, CA

April 24-May 5, 2018 Segerstrom Center For The Arts

New York City, NY Ongoing Majestic Theater

Chicago, FL

October 3-8 The Cadillac Theatre

Fort. Lauderdale, FL

January 5-7, 2018 Broward Center For the Performing Arts

CHICAGO, IL

ORIENTAL THEATRE JULY 11- JULY 23, 2017

Los Angeles, CA

NEW YORK City, NY Now through January 18, 2018 Broadway Theatre

November 21December 31 Ahmanson Theater

Chicago, IL

Dec. 9, 2017-Jan. 21, 2018 The Oriental Theatre

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Feb. 14-March 4, 2018 Broward Center For The Performing Arts

New York City, NY

Ongoing The Gershwin Theatre

New York City, NY Ft. Lauderdale , FL

October 19- November 5 broward center for the performing arts

NEW YORK CITY, NY

Ft. Lauderdale, fl

Baltimore, MD

October 10-October 22 Broward Center for the Performing Arts

JaN. 30-Feb. 4, 2018 The Hippodrome Theatre

Chicago, IL

Ongoing Winter Garden Theatre

July 3-22, 2018 The Cadillac Palace Theatre

Chicago, IL

Nov. 1-19 The Cadillac Theatre

Costa Mesa, CA

July 24-August 5, 2018 Segerstrom Center For The Arts

Chicago, IL

Ongoing Palace Theatre

Opulence Fall 2017

Fort Lauderdale, FL

October 19- November 5 Broward Center for the Performing Arts

April 11-22, 2018 Broward Center For The Performing Arts

Nov. 21-Dec. 3, 2017 The Cadillac Palace Theatre

Costa Mesa, CA

Feb. 27 – March 11, 2018 Segerstrom Center For The Arts

New York City, NY

Ongoing Nederlander Theater

By Marla Horn Lazarus

Entertainment

Balanchine’s Jewels A Real-Life Fairytale Between Ballet and Jewels

meralds, rubies and diamonds never sparkled more brightly than in George Balanchine’s spectacular performance of Jewels, where gems and ballet become vibrantly displayed. The ballet, inspired by jeweler Van Cleef & Arpels, is a tale of mutual admiration and ongoing inspiration, considered to be Balanchine’s greatest work.

The Story Behind The Story The initial spark of the romance began in the 1960s when Balanchine, on his daily walk in New York City, used to pass the Van Cleef & Arpels boutique on Fifth Avenue. The extraordinary beauty of the jewels fascinated him. He befriended Claude and Pierre Arpels, and soon his appreciation for the art of the jeweler inspired his new ballet. The rest, as they say, is history. The Russian-born Balanchine became one of the most influential choreographers of the 20th century and praised as the father of American ballet. Jewels – the first ‘three-act story-less ballet’ – is not so much about gems as about facets of classical dancing. The costumes, created by Balanchine’s long-time collaborator Barbara Karinska, were such finely crafted pieces of art in their own right that some of them have been exhibited in museums. Balanchine once explained, “Of course, I have always liked jewels; after all, I am an Oriental, from Georgia in the Caucasus. I like the color of gems, the beauty of stones, and it was wonderful to see how our costumes…came so close to the quality of real stones (which were of course too heavy for the dancers to wear!)” Each act is quite distinct in international styles and showcases a blend of different composers: Fauré for Emeralds, evokes the dreamy

romanticism of French ballet; Stravinsky for Rubies, conjures the exuberance of the American Jazz Age; and Tschaikovsky for Diamonds, reflects the classic grandeur of 19thcentury Russian ballet at its imperial height.

Jewels – Coming To Miami And Beyond Starting This Fall The 32nd season of the Miami City Ballet (MCB) will open October 20 celebrating the 50th Anniversary of this glittering masterpiece, which they have not performed in a decade. Edward Villella, Founding Artistic Director of Miami City Ballet, danced in the Rubies section of Jewels when it debuted in New York City in 1967. It

was there that he grew to stardom under Balanchine and brought the master’s style and legacy to the Miami City Ballet. In homage to both Villella and Balanchine, Lourdes Lopez – who took the reigns as artist director of MCB in 2012 when Villella retired – proudly added Jewels to the MCB 2017 fall repertoire. It’s no wonder why Dance Magazine recently named Lopez one of the most influential people in dance. “I love this art form. Dance can change lives,” she told International Opulence. For ticket information, go to miamicityballet.org

Fall 2017

OPULENCE

2017 National Calendar

NYC

CHICAGO

Katy Perry

Ed Sheeran

October 2-6

Barclays Center, 620 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY www.barclayscenter.com

Madison Square Garden, 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, NY thegarden.com

September 29- October 1

Kenny Rogers: The Gamblers Last Deal

October 28

Nial Horan

November 15

5400 North River Road, Rosemont, IL. Rosemont.com

5400 North River Road, Rosemont, IL Rosemont.com

Halsey: “Hopeless Fountain Kingdom” Tour

October 14

Prudential Center 25 Lafayette St, Newark, NJ prucenter.com

Mike Birbiglia “The New One”

December 8

Imagine Dragons: Evolve World Tour

The Chicago Theatre, 175 N State St, Chicago, IL. thechicagotheatre.com

October 24

Prudential Center 25 Lafayette St, Newark, NJ. prucenter.com

Los Angeles, CA

Jay-Z 4:44 Tour

October 26-27

Barclays Center, 620 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY. barclayscenter.com

Andrea Bocelli

December 13-14 Madison Square Garden, 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, NY thegarden.com

Chance the Rapper

October 3-4

Hollywood Bowl, 2301 Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA. hollywoodbowl.com

CHICAGO

ODESZA

October 20

Staples Center, 1111 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA. staplescenter.com

Steve Martin & Martin Short

October 6-7

Chicago Theater, 175 N State St, Chicago, IL thechicagotheatre.com

Zac Brown Band

October 28-29

Hollywood Bowl, 2301 Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA. hollywoodbowl.com 24

OPULENCE

Fall 2017

2017 National Calendar

Washington DC

Los Angeles, CA

Ricky Gervais Live V: Humanity World Tour

November 1

Guns n’ Roses

November 24

Staples Center, 1111 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA , staplescenter.com

Miami

Washington DC

October 7

Jiffy Lube Live, 7800 Cellar Door Dr, Bristow, VA bristowamphitheater.com

December 23

Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric, 140 W Mt Royal Ave, Baltimore, MD lyricbaltimore.com

6801 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA dolbytheatre.com

Thomas Rhett

The Nutcracker

Chris Rock: Total Blackout

October 18

The Theater at MGM National Harbor, 10 MGM National Avenue, Oxon Hill, MD mgmnationalharbor.com

50th Anniversary Celebration of George Balanchine’s Jewels

October 20 – November 19, 2017

In Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach miamicityballet.org

Alt-J

Lady Gaga: Joanne World Tour

October 19

Verizon Center Washington DC, 601 F St NW, Washington, DC verizoncenter.monumentals sportsnetwork.com

Josh Turner

October 29

The Theater at MGM National Harbor, 10 MGM National Avenue, Oxon Hill, MD mgmnationalharbor.com

November 10

Fillmore Miami Beach, Gleason Room, 1700 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL fillmoremb.com

SantanaTransmogrify Tour

October 28

Hard Rock Live, 1 Seminole Way, Hollywood , FL seminolehardrockhollywood.com

Marc Anthony

November 17-18 American Airlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd, Miami aaarena.com

Fall 2017 Opulence

The Contemporary

Renaissance of Port Wine By Kelly Villasuso

Opulence Fall 2017

s Portugal rides the rising tides of popularity, demand for one of its centuries-old, national drinks — port, Oporto, or Vinho do Porto — is surging, too. According to a recent study of the global fortified wine market by global research company, Technavio, call for this rich, grapes-turnedliquescent-Portuguese-indulgence has positioned it as one of the forerunners in the market today. Why the fervor for “red Portugal?” It seems millennial wine drinkers and their favorite mixologists have figured out port should not be relegated to their grandparents (or me) any longer. Their desire for new, premium wines has expanded and is now driving the port market, too. From the Port Classic and the Portuguese

Sour, to port on the rocks or straight up, the contemporary thirst for this sweet drinkable treat seems unquenchable. So, on my recent trip to the motherland of port, I had the opportunity to go right to the source to try to get ahead of the young’uns and turn my knowledge and my palate from that of a tawny tyro into a Colheita connoisseur. Here is a snapshot of what I learned in the mecca for Vinho do Porto.

Port Is Portugal in a Glass Portuguese wine has been made from grapes off vines in the Douro Valley for approximately 2,000 years according to historians. The Douro Valley appellation is the third-oldest in the world behind Chianti, Italy, and Tokaj-Hegyalja, Hungary, and is home

Porto Portugal

Fall 2017 Opulence

Douro ValleyPort Wine Country

to over 100 grapes (castas) authorized for port production, although only five are widely grown and utilized. With such a long-standing lineage, it should be clear that port is of Portuguese descent. However, with names like Cockburn, Taylor, Graham and Croft, it is easy to think that port is a British export. But the locals will tell you fervently that port is Portuguese through and through — with a bit of influence from the Romans, Greeks, and, yes, most definitely British, over its lengthy evolution. The most significant was adding a grape brandy to the wine to prevent its spoiling while shipping it to England back in the 1700s, which incidentally stopped the fermentation process and influenced how we experience robust, sweet-spirited port wines today.

Vila Nova de Gaia As Havana, Cuba, is to rum and Ica, Peru, is to pisco, Vila Nova de Gaia (“Gaia”), Portugal — the municipality directly across the Douro River from the medieval city of Oporto or Porto — is the perfect place to sip in the history, spirit and cul28

Opulence Fall 2017

ture of Portugal … one port house and one port at a time. Since the early 1900s, Gaia — and, for centuries prior, Porto — has been one of the most precious of all locales in Portugal … the place where all port makers transport their wines from the Douro Valley to store and age in their respective cellars or houses. There are literally dozens upon dozens of cellars lining the narrow streets of Gaia. At first glance across the Douro River from Porto or from up close on its banks in Gaia, the port houses appear to be stacked together like building blocks, emboldening you on your pilgrimage to taste every port like the little engine that could. Speaking from experience, that is an optical illusion and port touring should come with a warning: Caution! Many port lodges are farther than they appear, especially after a tipple or two. Traversing the steep, winding ascent over beautiful (but occasionally dicey) Portu-

guese pavement (calçada portuguesa) requires comfortable shoes, clear vision, and endurance. In other words, strategically plan your tours and/or pace your port partaking because going downhill can be a little challenging … even without port goggles.

Elders Still Know Best At the Douro River’s edge, between the larger cellars of Cálem and Sandeman, resides the grand dame of port, House of Kopke. Demurely housed in a three-story building butting up against the bustling Taberninha do Manel, it’s easy to walk right past this port wine institution — if you didn’t know better or if you somehow missed “The Oldest Port Wine House” denoted above its door. Being that I was taught to respect my elders, I dedicated my afternoon to paying homage to the eldest port brand in the world (established in 1638) and the second oldest business in all of Portugal. After visiting other cellars, I found no “bells and whistles” at Kopke.

Cálem Port Wine house

There was no cellar tour nor interactive programming. After tasting some of the finest ruby, tawny (white and red), and vintage ports in the world poured from the iconic, hand-painted black Kopke bottles, nestled in an elegant tasting room with views of Porto across the river, it became very clear why: At Kopke, port is the star and the show. For a more high-tech tour, however, you can walk right next door to visit the younger sibling of Kopke, House of Cálem. Their new program is very interactive and their cellar was beautiful. If you plan accordingly, after a visit to Kopke, you can take in a traditional Fado performance in the evening while indulging in Cálem ports.

Photo : Raul Villasuso Jr.

Port showing Kopke and Cálem locations

www.kopkeport.com www.calem.pt turismo@sogevinus.com Travel writer Kelly Villasuso and photographer Raul Villasuso, Jr. live in Chicago but, through their travels, call the world home.

Photo : Raul Villasuso Jr. Fall 2017 Opulence

dishing with the James Beard Foundation President

By Susan Ungaro

The Best Life Lessons Revolve Around Food

Susan Ungaro For years, I’ve collected teapots. With one of my displays, I have a framed quote: “Tea and sympathy served here.” I don’t know the roots of this Irish saying but I do know that growing up in the Kelliher home (that’s my maiden name), it was while sitting ’round the kitchen table with a cup of tea and some sweets that I first heard many of my best life lessons, like “If you don’t shoot for the stars you’ll never get to the moon” and “Life is like a teabag, you get stronger the longer you’re in hot water.” I guess that’s why I’ve always loved quotable quotes. James Beard had quite a few

great ones, including this one, which makes me laugh whenever I read it: “Don’t be the type of host who has to be put to bed before the guests.”

One of the very best things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating. — Luciano Pavarotti

Here are some more that I love:

All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt. — Charles M. Schulz

If you think well, you cook well. — Ferran Adriá One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well. — Virginia Woolf Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside. — Mark Twain Ice cream is exquisite. What a pity it isn’t illegal. —Voltaire Everything you see I owe to spaghetti. — Sophia Loren Though their life was modest, they believed in eating well. — James Joyce

Too much of anything is bad, but too much Champagne is just right. — Mark Twain People who love to eat are always the best people. —Julia Child And finally, one more from James Beard that I believe is just as important today as it was in his times: “If we really believe in food, we must do something about it. For our voices should be raised above the rest.” Susan Ungaro PRESIDENT, THE JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION

ZUCCHINI FRITTATA James Beard – Author and Educator

A frittata is a great way use up leftover vegetables! James Beard recommended serving this dish for Sunday brunch, along with briskly chilled Champagne. Ingredients 6 to 8 small zucchini 3 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons butter 8 eggs 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese Method Wash but do not peel the zucchini. Cut into 1/4-inch slices and cook slowly in oil and butter until just tender.

OPULENCE

Fall 2017

Beat the eggs with the salt and pepper and pour gently over the zucchini. Cook until just set. Sprinkle the cheese on top and run under the broiler to brown lightly. Let the frittata stand for a minute or two, and then cut into wedges and serve. Yield Serves 6

Fall 2017 Opulence

JAMES BEARD TASTE AMERICA EVENTS Now in its fifth year, Taste America is our 10-city tour taking place September 22–November 11, 2017. James Beard-Award winning chefs will be creating collaborative dinners and doing free cooking demos in cities around the country. Choose your culinary destination below. For more event details and tickets, go to www.jamesbeard.org/taste-america-events. A portion of proceeds for the cross country tour will go to the Taste America Scholarship Fund, in which local culinary students in the 10 participating states were invited to apply.

CHICAGO Taste Chicago Benefit Dinner Friday, October 27 Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago Meet TASTE AMERICA ALL-STAR Michael Voltaggio of ink.well in Los Angeles

PHOENIX Taste Phoenix Benefit Dinner Friday, September 22 Mountain Shadows 5445 East Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley, AZ Meet TASTE AMERICA ALL-STAR James Beard Award Winner Traci Des Jardins from Jardiniere, San Francisco.

SAN FRANCISCO Taste San Francisco Benefit Dinner Friday, October 27 Fairmont San Francisco Meet TASTE AMERICA ALL-STAR James Beard Award Winner Hugh Acheson of Five & Ten, Athens, GA

LOS ANGELES Taste Los Angeles Benefit Dinner Friday, October 6 214 South Main Street, Los Angeles, CA Meet TASTE AMERICA ALL-STAR James Beard Award Winner Barbara Lynch from Barbara Lynch Gruppo, Boston

NEW ORLEANS Taste New Orleans Benefit Dinner Friday, October 6 Royal Sonesta New Orleans 300 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, LA Meet TASTE AMERICA ALL-STAR James Beard Award Winner Rocco DiSpirito, Author of Rocco’s Healthy + Delicious

PHILADELPHIA Taste Philadelphia Benefit Dinner Friday, October 13 Museum of the American Revolution 101 South 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA Meet TASTE AMERICA ALL-STAR James Beard Award Winner Marc Murphy of Benchmarc Retaurants by Marc Murphy

SEATTLE Taste Seattle Benefit Dinner Friday, October 13 411 University Street, Seattle, WA Dinner menu created by: Taste America All-Star James Beard Award Winner Ashley Christensen, Poole’s Diner, Raleigh, NC 32

Opulence Fall 2017

AUSTIN Taste Austin Benefit Dinner Friday, November 3 W Austin 200 Lavaca Street, Austin, TX Meet TASTE AMERICA ALL-STAR Ludo Lefebvre of Trois Mec, Los Angeles

BOSTON Taste Boston Benefit Dinner Friday, November 3 Taj Boston 15 Arlington Street, Boston, MA Meet TASTE AMERICA ALL-STAR James Beard Award Winner Daniel Boulud of Bar Boulud, NYC, Boston and London

KANSAS CITY Taste Kansas City Benefit Dinner Friday, November 10 The Nelson–Atkins Museum of Art 4525 Oak Street, Kansas City, MO Meet TASTE AMERICA ALL-STAR James Beard Award Winner Tony Mantuano of Spiaggia, Chicago

Chef Michael Solomonov From Israel With Love Defining Israeli cuisine by creating simple food with layers of flavor By Marla Horn Lazarus

he 2017 James Beard Award winner for “Outstanding Chef,” Michael Solomonov transforms simple foods into culinary masterpieces. Born in Israel, raised in Pittsburgh until age 15, Solomonov moved back to Israel to work in a bakery. “I just stumbled upon food and was amazed,” he told International Opulence. He enjoyed preparing flaky burekas and the fond memories it revived of he and his grandmother making them together.

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Upon returning, Solomonov studied at the Florida Culinary Institute and spent time in South Florida restaurants before moving to Philadelphia. In 2009, he opened Zahav, meaning gold, evoking ‘the sun sparkling on Jerusalem stone.’ It gave the chef a stage to trail blaze his interpretation of Israeli cooking – and it also served a very personal purpose. You see, Michael had lost his brother, David, to sniper fire while he served in the Israeli Army. “It changes one’s identity after going through that kind of trauma, and it made the path I was going to take become clear: I felt that through this restaurant, I could share the experience of my brother’s life with everyone.”

Solomonov brought authentic Israeli flavors to Philadelphia and beyond – earning him accolades. In May, at the Lyric Opera House in Chicago, when the presenter of the ‘Outstanding Chef’ 2017 James Beard Award announced Solomonov’s name, the chef recalled, “It was a magical and exciting experience. It was coincidental that it was also Israeli Independence Day!” At Zahav, Solomonov serves hummus, including masabacha, a light Palestinian version of chickpeas immersed in tahini, and a Turk-

ing 100 percent of its profits to Broad Street Ministry Hospitality Collaborative. For Solomonov, inspiration comes in many forms. “My frequent travels to Israel, eating in restaurants and people’s homes all come together. I start with classic dishes and recreate them with local ingredients, making them my own,” he said.

An Honor of Heritage The Israel Ministry of Tourism named Chef Solomonov a Culinary Ambassador, raising awareness of Israel’s vibrant and diverse global cuisine. “I like to get everyone fired up to be generous and gracious with guests,” he said. “My motto is: ‘If I could, I would pick everyone up, put them on my back and run to Israel.’ Since I can’t, I need to represent Israel to its fullest and get people excited.”

“I felt that through Zahav, I could share the experience of my brother’s life with everyone.”

A Closer Look at Zahav As executive chef/co-owner of Zahav,

– Chef Michael Solomonov

ish variety served warm with butter. “When I became a chef, Israeli cuisine excited me because of the many types and styles,” he said. The talented chef’s previous culinary awards include the 2016 James Beard Award for “Best International Cookbook” and “Book of the Year” for his co-authored first cookbook Zahav: A World of Israeli Cooking; and the 2011 James Beard Award for “Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic.” In addition to Zahav, Solomonov co-owns restaurants Federal Donuts, Dizengoff, Abe Fisher, Goldie and the philanthropic Rooster Soup Company, donat-

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Now in South Florida Chef Solomonov recently opened venues in Miami. Enjoy Israeli-style pastry at Federal Donuts, and taste Middle Eastern delights at Dizengoff, located side by side at 250 NW 24th Street. Marla Horn Lazarus is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. She is International Opulence magazine’s newest culinary columnist and also author of the food blog ‘A Culinary Creation.’ Fall 2017 Opulence

2017

WORLD Whiskies AWARDS WINNERS BY ALONA ABBADY MARTINEZ

t is a well-known fact that Ol’ Blue Eyes loved his Jack Daniel’s so much he was even buried with a bottle of it when he died in 1998. Other famous folks with a fondness for the amber spirit included Winston Churchill, Mark Twain, and more recently, celebrities like David Beckham and Mila Kunis. There is a myriad of whiskeys to love, and there’s just something about ending the day with a glass, neat or on the rocks, that makes life taste lovelier. All whiskeys are made by distilling a fermented mash of grain, most commonly corn, rye, wheat or barley and then aged in oak barrels to give it flavor and color. Depending on the grain and the barrel in which it is aged, tasting notes will often include references to nuts, fruits, spices, vanilla and oak. In March, the 2017 World Whiskies Awards announced what distilleries stood out from the rest in this very competitive industry. Opulence International was fortunate to hear from some of the victors with regard to what makes them stand out from other worthy competitors.

Opulence Fall 2017

World’s Best Grain The Fuji-Gotemba Distillery from Japan Single Grain, 25 Years Old Small Batch The Fuji-Gotemba distillery sits on the southeastern side of Mount Fuji in Gotemba, the city in Japan selected for the distillery because of its climate similar to Scotland. This Asian whisky offers roasty aromas and bold flavors of vanilla, custard and oatcake, with notes of marzipan, ginger and oak. World’s Best Bourbon John J. Bowman, USA Single Barrel Bourbon “Whether we’re making our single barrel, or experimenting to create new limited editions, we’re dedicated to always creating the best products we can. At A. Smith Bowman, it’s important to us to remain true to tradition while also embracing innovation and creativity. We’re excited and feel very honored to have received the title of ‘World’s Best Bourbon’ two years in a row for two different bourbons,” said Brian Prewitt, Master Distiller. Best Irish Single Pot Still Redbreast, 21 Years Old, Ireland “Redbreast 21 Years Old is rich and spicy, displays notes of dried sultanas and figs,” said Liam Sparks, Redbreast brand ambassador. “Its hint of toasted wood and vanilla takes me back to my granny’s house as a boy – to the kitchen filled with aromas of dried fruits soaked in whiskey as Christmas cake preparation began.”

World’s Best Rye A.D. Laws Secale Straight Rye Bottled in Bond, Colorado, USA “Our ‘no shortcuts’ philosophy at A.D. Laws whiskey house starts from fresh grains and malts produced on a family farm in Colorado,” said Alan Laws, founder and CEO. “We coax the huge rye flavor out of our heirloom grain through heavy mashes using traditional sour mash techniques. Careful and slow distillation follows with lengthy aging in full-sized, heavily charred, American white oak barrels that benefit from the unique environment of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. In short, our distinctive rye stems from our soulful process and regional terroir.” World’s Best Blended Suntory Hibiki, 21 Years Old, Japan Hibiki Whisky embodies the soul of Japanese craftsmanship, this harmonious blend resounds with calm complexity and “Wa”, oneness. The history of Japanese whisky is the history of Shinjiro Torii, the founder of Suntory. In 1923, Shinjiro Torii envisioned a whisky filled with the essence of Japanese nature and hand-crafted by artisans through a patient process of enhancing the work of nature. World’s Best Single Malt Craigellachie, 31 Years Old, United Kingdom “You can really feel the high ABV on the nose, but it doesn’t transfer onto the palate. The texture is rather dry and almost chalky, with initial nectarine flavours giving way to pepperoni before a green, hoppy, beery character comes in on the long finish. There’s a hint of bonfire in there too.”

CEDAR RIDGE NAMED DISTILLERY OF THE YEAR BY THE AMERICAN DISTILLING INSTITUTE Jeff Quint knows a thing or two about distilleries – after all, it’s in his DNA. Quint can trace his love and dedication to spirits back to Germany, where his descendent, Johann Jakob Quint had a cooperage and winery on the Mosel River in Wintrich, Germany. Quint’s great-grandfather, John Quint, migrated to Eastern Iowa in 1881, bringing his trade and skills with him. Jeff learned the art of wine and brandy-making from his father, Howard, and, although Jeff went on to have a successful career in the world of finance, his passion for spirits led him back to his family roots where, in 2005, along with his wife, Laurie, he founded Cedar Ridge Distillery. Since then, they have won numerous awards including, most recently, the American Distilling Institute’s 2017 Distillery of the Year, the 2016 International Craft Spirits Award (gold for Bourbon, Single Malt, and Malted Rye), and the 2016 North American Whiskey Competition (gold for Bourbon and Single Malt). Cedar Ridge is a grain-to-glass distillery. “While there are hundreds of new distilleries carrying the ‘craft’ label, there are only a few dozen of us that are actually producing our whiskey from grain to glass,” Jeff explained. “For Cedar Ridge Bourbon, our flagship product, we actually grow our own corn. We mill it, mash it, ferment it, distill it, barrel age it and bottle it all on our property. And we ferment ‘off grain’, providing a cleaner starting product going into the stills. I think that’s what makes the nose and flavor nuances a bit more delicate in our Bourbon than in most.” Editor’s Note: In case you noticed multiple spellings of whiskey (or whisky) in this article, it’s not typos. In Ireland and the United States, whiskey is spelled with an “e”. In Scotland, Canada and Japan, whisky is sans the “e”. Fall 2017 Opulence

Taste the World’s Rarest and Most Expensive Liquors at The One Ounce Club By Alona Abbady Martinez

magine experiencing the world’s rarest and most expensive spirits one ounce at a time. That is precisely what The One Ounce Club, launched in the summer of 2017, invites its guests to imbibe. Unlike most elite clubs, there’s no membership requirement for joining, just an interest in tasting high-end beverages, and, with the most expensive pour, the Hardy Perfection Cognac, priced at $888 an ounce, a willingness to spend big bucks to do so. Featured spirits include exclusive offerings and special editions, such as Pappy Van Winkle 25, Johnnie Walker Blue Label “Year of the Monkey,” Glenmorangie Pride 1978, Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Century, Hennessy Paradis Imperial Cognac, Rémy Martin Louis XIII Cognac, and Gran Patrón Burdeos, among othJuan Horta – sommelier ers. Prices range from $23 to $720 per ounce. The club is in the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, located in Hollywood, Florida, just minutes from Fort Lauderdale’s world-famous beach. It was created as part of the beverage program for the property’s award-winning steakhouse, Council Oak. Named after the sacred oak tree on the Seminole reservation where tribe leaders would meet regularly to discuss tribal business, Council Oak is home to a number of high-priced bottles only the biggest of spenders would purchase— think Hennessy Paradis Imperial at $9,000 and Johnnie Walker & Sons “Odyssey” at $3,000. It also houses some of the rarest bottles, like one of only 710 bottles of the limited edition Pappy Van Winkle, which can be enjoyed by the ounce for $495. Pappy Van Winkle 25 is the oldest and most expensive bourbon bottle produced by the Old Rip

Opulence Fall 2017

Van Winkle Distillery. Distilled in 1989, the bourbon was stored at the Van Winkle family distillery before it was moved to the Buffalo Trace Distillery in 2002 where it continued to age for another 12 years. “Our Pappy Van Winkle collection is among our most coveted options,” Juan Horta, the restaurant’s esteemed sommelier, explained. “We have the 10-year, 12-year, 13-year, up to the limited edition 25-year. The Macallan 25 is also one of our popular pours. We find that our guests really enjoy the whiskey and cognac selections of The One Ounce Club. We also offer great high-end and rare vodka and rum bottles.” For those that favor mixed drinks, the program also includes two premium cocktails featuring the exclusive libations. French for “13”, the Treize ($195) features Remy Martin Louis XIII Cognac, Ciroc X “Ten” Vodka, Grand Marnier and Eiswein. The ingredients are mixed, stirred and poured tableside and topped with an elegant 24k gold flake garnish. For a lavish riff on a classic, the Smoked Rare Manhattan ($95) features Macallan Rare Cask Single Malt Whisky, Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth, orange bitters, sugar cube and smoked cinnamon sticks. The cocktail is then mixed, smoked tableside and poured over an ice sphere. Juan Horta stumbles when trying to pinpoint his favorite pour. “With so many great bottles, it’s difficult to choose a favorite. One I really like is the 1824 Series of Macallan. There are very few places in Florida that offer this bottle and we’re proud that Council Oak is one of them.”

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Fall2017 2017 Opulence Fall OPULENCE

Ireland’s Magical Newbridge By Carleton Varney

f you are looking for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, you’ll find it in Newbridge (Co. Kildare, Ireland) where the pot will be filled with not gold, but silver! Newbridge Silverware is definitely the Tiffany of Ireland and the pot of silver is flowing over into stores on the European continent and soon on this side of the ocean. The Greenbrier Shop in White Sulphur Springs, Mary Mahoney in Palm Beach, L.V. Harkness in Lexington, Kentucky, to name only a few of the retailers who have filled their exclusive boutiques with silver, china, and glassware of the Newbridge brand.

The Academy Award Oscar statue greets guests entering the nostalgic Café Carleton within the Newbridge Silverware Museum in County Kildare, Ireland.

For sterling silver flatware, Newbridge offers many patterns that brides-to-be around the world are choosing for their wedding wishes. I particularly like the Bead collection as it can universally be used with any and all china patterns at Newbridge. A variety of china patterns are on display, including one that I designed for the firm – a stag’s head centerpiece cartouche on white with a pale blue and gold border. The Newbridge color of its interior, its exterior buildings, and jewel boxes is a lovely pale, warm blue, a color that can be used with every possible décor. With yellow, with pink, with green, with red, yes – Newbridge blue with white and gold is a classic. Just as blue and white Canton ware, blue and white Danish china, blue and white azulejos from Spain have been favorites for years and generations. Speaking of generations, the Newbridge Silverware firm has been in business for generations. Established in 1934, the company has been making flatware for the homes

Opulence Fall 2017

Carleton Varney of kings and society folk and for the tables of those who enjoy the finest. Since 1993 William Doyle, the chairman of the firm, has directed the comings and goings as well as supervising the growing collection of silver products from jewelry, to bridal gifts, to picture frames, and on and on. All things silver are in this Irish pot at the end of the rainbow.

so much to love in kildare Tourists and visitors to Ireland love County Kildare as it is the home of the Curragh Racecourse and it is home to some of the world’s most beautiful stud farms, including that of the Aga Khan. If you go to the Irish races at Kildare, Newbridge will be the local village and a stop should be made at Newbridge Silverware where Café Carleton will greet you for breakfast, lunch, and teatime. Operated under the discerning eye of Natalie Collins, the variety of food is delightful and desserts will please any gourmet delight. The restaurant is part of the Newbridge Retail Shop where adventure is part of the experience. Marvel at the jewelry, some designed by the

(Above) A quintessential afternoon tea at Café Carleton, replete with refined Newbridge china, silverware and crystal. (At right) Fine china and silver place setting designed by Carleton Varney for Newbridge. (Below) Exhibit of Princess Diana’s dresses in the Newbridge Museum of Style Icons. Irish actress Amy Huberman and some creatively modern like the pattern I like called “Oceans” pendants, and earrings in silver and pink gold vermeil. Pink gold is one of today’s fashion looks in jewelry for women around the world. The face of Ireland’s Newbridge Jewelry is the world-renowned model Naomi Campbell and it is she herself who stands tall in a corset of Newbridge sterling on the exterior wall of the factory building – something to see in itself.

Museum of style icons The pièce de résistance (after the showroom of course) is the Museum of Style

Icons. A museum that became the toast of Ireland, thanks to the foresight of William Doyle who wanted to present a treasure trove of iconic fashions to the world located in Ireland. The museum houses fashions worn by some of the world’s most glamorous and famous icons – Princess Grace, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Elizabeth Taylor, Betty Grable, Clark Gable, Barbara Eden, Fred Astaire, and Van Johnson to name only a few. The museum is located within the Newbridge compound and offers visitors a chance to see the collection that is on par with any other museum in the world. William Doyle has acquired many of the fashions at auctions and some are loaned from other collectors on this or that side of the Atlantic or Pacific. Newbridge Silverware offers visitors the opportunity to purchase reproduction pieces from the collection of Princess Grace of Monaco (for the Princess Grace Foundation) and there are some reproductions from Greta Garbo’s glamorous Hollywood life. Yes, Newbridge Silverware is the store for visiting where today’s collectibles may very well be tomorrow’s heirlooms. Fall 2017 Opulence

Artist Steven Kenny is making his mark in the art world through his surreal juxtaposition of man and nature BY ROBIN JAY

The Ribbons – (next page) This painting was inspired by a bird in flight that made me think of a headdress or hat. Everything else fell into place after that. The female figure seemed to be moving forward so I added the swirling hummingbirds and ribbons to add to that sense of motion. 40

Opulence Fall 2017

PHOTO: ROSSIE NEWSON

T A P O S I T I O N E R

Artist Steven Kenny

The 1770 settlement of Peekskill, NY, received one of 15 “Path to victory” awards for its role in winning the Revolutionary War. But Peekskill has another lesser known ‘path of victory’ – for producing world-renowned creative talent. Many years ago, city officials launched a campaign to recruit artists with subsidized studio lofts. The Binney & Smith Company, makers of Crayola Crayons, opened in Peekskill in 1864. Since then, this artsy town has produced Marvel Comics artist Herb Trimpe, author TC Boyle, actor Stanley Tucci, comedian Jackie Gleason, film maker Mel Gibson, and L. Frank Baum, author of The Wizard of Oz.

“Dalí believed that sensorial perception offered only a slice of true reality. He knew our subconscious minds contained keys to a complete understanding of ourselves and the world,” Kenny said. “Surrealism gives me the means to express my thoughts, feelings and experiences in multifaceted ways. I rely heavily on my intuition and often am not entirely sure what the underlying significance is of the images I’m creating. However, I always strive to make images that are intriguing and beautifully crafted and encourage viewers to find their own story in them.”

In 1962, another future artist was born into Peekskill – Mr. Steven Kenny. One might point out the similarities in style of Baum’s written whimsical characters (talking lion, flying monkeys) and Kenny’s surreal Renaissance style paintings that are also a juxtaposition of animals and humans.

The Pursuit of Surrealism Raised in a loving family in a home across from woods and wildlife, Kenny said his nature environment and his Catholic school upbringing surrounding him with surreal stories that made him wonder and think, influenced his passion for surrealism. Fittingly, I stumbled onto Kenny’s artwork while researching our story on surrealist Salvador Dalí (see page 48). Steven Kenny is a docent at the Salvador Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The Pelican King

Fall 2017 Opulence

His Own Path “I was an illustration major at the Rhode Island School of Design but found that department stifling. When the administration refused to allow me to switch to painting, I went to Rome for my senior year as part of RISD’s European Honors Program,” he said. After returning, Kenny moved to Soho to begin a painting career. When money ran tight, he made ends meet as a freelance illustrator for 13 years. Eventually, his clients were spread around the country, allowing him to work from anywhere. He moved to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, was picked up by a prestigious gallery in Washington, D.C., made the transition from illustration to fine art and “never looked back.”

The Nature Influence “I grew up surrounded by nature,” Kenny recalled. “As a child, I closely observed the seasons slowly passing and how wildlife continually adapted. I realized that change is essential and birth and death play equal roles. Yet, humans avoid change, seek stability, and have an adversarial relationship with old age and life’s end. In my paintings, I try to show that we are inextricably bound to the rhythms and laws of nature. Painting is a daily reminder that the beauty of life is ours to experience every day but is ultimately ephemeral.” I asked Kenny how he’d describe himself to someone he’s never met – and what makes his adrenaline rush. “I once took a personality test,” he said. “The results showed my three traits were honesty, authenticity, and genuineness. Public speaking is hugely exciting and terrifying. I was incredibly shy as a boy and could barely read aloud in class. Now I enjoy speaking to groups because it requires me to think on my feet, stay focused, and connect with my audience while being entertaining and occasionally funny. I’m still nervous beforehand, but I’ve gained confidence. “My studio is my 600 square foot monk cell. I can’t paint with anyone around. Music is always playing. My Pandora stations include Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Yes, Radiohead, Kanye West, Jethro Tull, Beethoven, Vivaldi, Black Sabbath, Bob Marley, and others. The dress code is definitely paint spattered.” 42

Opulence Fall 2017

The Ice Wings – I often combine animals and the human figure. In this case I chose a flamingo and the figure carries a pair of ice skates. Instead of having typical feathered wings, they are made of ice. The ice will surely melt as the woman walks along the beach. On the sand before her is a snow globe with a tiny figure skater inside. Is she remembering a past life?

After the Flood â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Many of the figures in my paintings are based on antique photographs. In this case, a boy in a sailor suit caught my attention. There had recently been lots of heavy rain in our area and I wanted to do something about flooding. I placed him astride a heron which is naturally acclimated to water. The blow-up flamingo represents a manmade replica of another water bird meant for our entertainment. Finally, the rocking horse represents another animal replica but in this case is rendered useless by the high water. Fall 2017 Opulence

The Ruff – I enjoy reinterpreting clothing and fashion using natural elements to make my figures appear to be in harmony with nature. In this case I chose to allude to the ruffs and dresses worn during the 17th century Elizabethan and Jacobean periods. The woodpeckers boring holes into the skirt and bodice are references to the passage of time.

What career stories have led this artist to jump for joy, laugh, cry? “There are so many things!” Kenny said. “One early highlight was illustrating an album cover for the rock band Journey. I’d always dreamed of doing that as a teenager and I felt like I’d finally ‘made it’ when it actually happened. Life as an artist is a constant roller-coaster ride of highs and lows. I view it in terms of the changing seasons and natural adaptation.” Kenny finds inspiration in interesting ways. I asked what influenced his painting – The 44

Opulence Fall 2017

Fan – shown on this issue’s cover. “In the case of The Fan, I started with a simple desire to paint a mermaid. Mermaids combine human and animal traits so they fit perfectly into my oeuvre. The female figure is based on an antique black-and-white studio portrait photo from the early 20th century. Her upward floating hair lent itself nicely to the stinging anemone that clown fish hide in. The fan coral in her hand is an analogy to fans women used at the time the photo was taken. Pearl earrings and

ring completed her adornment. The silhouetted sharks above her add an ever-present natural element of danger.” Kenny’s curriculum vitae is extensive (to see it in full, visit www.stevenkenny.com). Recently, he earned the 2016 Visual Arts MUSE Award from the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance, and a Professional Artist Grant from Creative Pinellas. “I’m living my dream. To spend every day doing what I love most is such an amazing gift.”

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Fall Fall2017 2017 Opulence OPULENCE

Unearthing

The surreal court-ordered exhumation of artist Salvador DalĂ in July would have astounded even the master himself By Robin Jay

Opulence Fall 2017

n the eerie evening hours of Thursday, July 20th in Figueres, Spain, the surreality of the event that transpired beneath the glassed dome of the the Dalí TheatreMuseum would have surely shocked even artist Salvador Dalí in a way that no melting clock or eye-shaped pendant ever could.

Director of the Gala Salvador Dalí Foundation Juan Manuel Sevillano (R), Figueres Mayoress Marta Felip (2-R) and Director of the Dalí museums Montse Aguer (3-R) watch a judicial cortege work to exhumate the remains of famed Spanish artist Salvador Dalí.

The Response María Pilar Abel Martínez with her mother, who worked as a maid under the employment of friends of Dalí in Spain.

You see it was here, in the final resting place of Dalí, where a court-ordered entourage of judicial secretaries, Forensic Medical Institute representatives, members of the Fundació Gala-Salvador Dalí and attorneys advocating for the Spanish State, the Foundation and the taro-card reader María Pilar Abel Martínez, observed as pulleys lifted the master’s tombstone and then his coffin lying two meters beneath. The exhumation was an effort to prove (or disprove) Martínez’ claims that she is the love child of the otherwise childless Dalí and a legal heir to some portion of his behemoth estate.

The Fundació Gala-Salvador Dalí couldn’t have disagreed more. After completing the exhumation, the Foundation declared in a statement that “It considers the exhumation performed on Salvador Dalí’s remains entirely inappropriate, for the reasons presented in its judicial review: There is no evidence that claimant Pilar Abel Martínez’ claim has any legal basis, as the only grounds provided constitute a notarial statement from a woman who claims to be a friend of the mother [Martínez’ mother is still alive at the time of this writing, but is in a reported state of dementia].

Site of Dalí’s tomb in the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figuero, Catalonia. www.salvador-dali.org

“His moustache is still intact, 10 past 10 [referring to clock hands], just as he liked it. It’s a miracle.”

In a post-exhumation interview with a radio station local to the Dalí TheatreMuseum, Bardalet exclaimed, “His moustache is still intact, 10 past 10 [reWhy A Madrid ferring to clock hands], just as he liked it. — Narcís Bardalet, the coroner who preserved Dali’s body in 1989 Court Ordered It’s a miracle… I was quite moved. The and who removed the scarf on his face during the exhumation in July. The Exhumation moustache is still there and will be for “Before agreeing to such an invasive act as centuries.” Much to the chagrin of the Fundació GalaSalvador Dalí, Martínez filed a lawsuit in 2015, the exhumation of Salvador Dalí in a muEditor’s note: At the time of printing this edition of saying that her mother once worked as a maid seum, the claimant Pilar Abel Martínez – as International Opulence, no word yet on the results for friends of Dalí in the 1950s and had a secret proposed by the Foundation and the Span- of the additional paternity testing. Once released affair with the married artist. Past efforts to com- ish State – should have been required to car- to the public in Italy, results will be posted on our pare Martínez’ DNA with hairs from Dalí’s death ry out a DNA test to compare her DNA with website at www.InternationalOpulence.com. mask proved non-conclusive, which provoked that of her legal father (deceased) or her • Salvador Dalí House in Portlligat, Spain her to press for the artist’s exhumation and fur- brother, to thereby obtain all available eviwww.salvador-dali.org/ca/museus/casadence that she is not their daughter or sister.” salvador-dali-de-portlligat ther paternity testing. “The DNA study of the painter’s corpse is necessary due to the lack of other biological or personal remains with which to perform the comparative study,” the Madrid court said.

The Findings Within Narcís Bardalet, the coroner who performed Dalí’s embalming after his death in 1989, was also present at the artist’s unearthing and removed the silk scarf covering the artist’s face.

• Gala Dalí Castle Púbol, Púbol-la Pera, Spain www.salvador-dali.org/en/museums/gala-dalicastle-in-pubol/ •D alí Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida www.thedali.org Fall 2017 Opulence

Rogues’ Gallery of Whit, Drama and Deceit

he throng of historic and contemporary figures tied to the vast profession of art and its purveyance is not easily measured or defined. In fact, Eugene Delacroix, an artist and leader of the French Romantic movement, once referred to art sellers as “financiers du mystère.” Philip Hook – a board member and senior director at Sotheby’s – will release in October his latest book Rogues’ Gallery, The Rise (and Philip Hook Occasional Fall) of Art Dealers, the Hidden Players in the History of Art, in which he scrutinizes creators of art, the sellers, purchasers, auctioneers, collectors and fanciers, among others. His tome present evidence suggesting that artists and their ilk walk a fine line between exquisite creativity and personal desire for notoriety, riches, splendor and gratification.

lives. The men looked so remarkably alike that even Van Gogh’s paintings of art dealer Reid were long misidentified as self-portraits. As Hooks tells it, “When Reid suffered a romantic disappointment and confided it to Vincent, such was their closeness that Vincent – not feeling very positive about life either – proposed they should commit suicide together. After a night’s heavy drinking, they thought better of the plan.” “That much is certain,” said Hook. “But conspiracy theorists enjoy the speculation that the two decided to exploit their similarity of appearance and exchange identities.” Perhaps, he speculates, Reid went off to Arles, the asylum at Saint-Rémy de Provence, and three years later shot himself. Or perhaps Van Gogh, as Reid, traveled back to Scotland and enjoyed a successful career as an art dealer. Hook playfully debunks this supposition, saying, “It’s a wonderful fantasy in a world – the art world – that has in the past proved rich in human comedy.”

Did Van Gogh Trade Places With A Look-Alike?

Sotheby’s Senior Director Philip Hook takes the lid off the world of art dealing to reveal the

Pablo Picasso with Mr. & Mrs. Sam Kootz

brilliance, cunning, greed, daring and drama of its practitioners

By Dale King & Julia Hebert

Vincent van Gogh portrait of Alexander Reid Hook fills his newest volume with the eccentricities of the art world, an amalgam of scandals, near-scandals and plain old misbehavior told with the whimsy and irreverence of a cheeky storyteller. Perhaps the most tempting tidbit involves a renowned artist in a cryptic circumstance not totally unresolved today. Legend has it that Danish painter Vincent van Gogh and a Scottish friend, Alexander Reid, who looked as if he could be his twin, may have traded

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Pablo Picasso

Picasso’s Folly Even a figure with the standing of Pablo Picasso wasn’t immune to the occasional jest. Hook writes, “When [art dealers] Mr. and Mrs. Sam Kootz were ushered in to

Picasso’s… studio, he made great play of a drawing he was making for Douglas Cooper [another art dealer].” Purposefully goofing on the couple, Picasso maintained his intense pretense, ignoring the couple’s inquiries. Finally, an irritated Mrs. Kootz pointed to her hair – a gesture to her husband indicating a salon visit was imminent. “Picasso, who had been watching out of the corner of his eye, jumped up full of apologies and ushered them out with a ceremonious show of courtesy. So sorry to have held them up, he told them. Of course, he insisted, Madame Kootz’s coiffure took precedence over other considerations. Would they please let him know the next time they came to Europe?”

Paul and cousin Bruno severed their art dealing business after a serious disagreement, never to associate again. “Later, Paul Cassirer married actress Tilla Durieux, who, although vivacious and charming, was also demanding and difficult. Finally, worn down by the erraticism of the art market, the rampant inflation of the [German] mark and recurrent women trouble, Cassirer committed suicide in 1926” in the office of the lawyer handling their divorce.”

Two Sides To The Coin In addition, “Not all art dealers have been rogues. Some have been scholars and connoisseurs [while] others have been genuine pioneers,” Hook noted. Throughout history, art dealers have sold what Hook calls “a heady mixture of intellectual and aesthetic stimulation, spiritual benefit, social and cultural status and investment opportunity. This offers certain temptations when it comes to pricing, which haven’t always been resisted.” Rogues’ Gallery, The Rise (and Occasional Fall) of Art Dealers, the Hidden Players in the History of Art, will hit book stores on October 31, 2017.

Commented the author, “Really, Picasso should have been given some sort of award for cruelty to dealers.”

Cassirer’s Dramatic Departure

Portrait of Alfred Flechtheim by Otto Dix (1926)

Flechtheim’s Art Sale In the Knick of Time

Portrait Paul Cassirer

Tilla Durieux wife of Paul Cassirer Art vendor Paul Cassirer’s troubles were many, and not particularly comic. Difficult, abrasive and suffering from depression,

Taking one’s life is always a drastic solution. In late 1913, German art dealer Alfred Flechtheim considered such a dénouement when his finances ran dry, including his rich wife’s dowry, which he spent. He also discovered he had fallen in love with a young man, a Swedish artist. “Confronting simultaneous bankruptcy and marital disaster, Flechtheim contemplated suicide,” said Hook. But it would pale by comparison to Van Gogh’s self-inflicted demise. In a major beyond-the-grave moment, the deceased Dane turned out to be Flechtheim’s salvation. The dealer “succeeded in selling a Van Gogh to the Düsseldorf Museum for 40,000 marks.” It was a deal that came just in time.” In 1937, Flechtheim stepped on a rusty nail and died from blood poisoning. Hook admits, in a missive to International Opulence, that “there are many fewer rogues now,” owing to professional standards and “an art market involving billions of dollars.”

“

It’s a wonderful fantasy in a world – the art world – that has in the past proved rich in human comedy.

”

– Philip Hook

Senior Director at Sotheby’s

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Michelangelo & The Medici A synopsis by Emily Fenichel, Ph.D., recently presented at the Boca Raton Museum of Art for The Friends of the Uffizi Gallery ne of the most enduring relationships in Michelangelo’s life was his personal and professional entanglement with the powerful Medici family. The Medici were responsible for Michelangelo’s early education, some of his major commissions in Florence, and ultimately, his exile from the city as an elderly man. This is a comprehensive view of the influence of the Medici on Michelangelo’s art, life, and legacy.

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W Michelangelo di Ludovico Buonarroti Simoni

Lorenzo de’ Medici

Michelangelo’s biography is full of myth. Apocryphal stories abound about the artist – some of which were started by Michelangelo himself. One of my favorite tales surrounds Michelangelo’s birth. As the story goes, Michelangelo’s mother and father were on a journey to Caprese in 1475. Francesca was in the final stages of her pregnancy with Michelangelo and her horse startled on a mountain path, throwing her off. Michelangelo’s mother survived and gave birth to the artist a few weeks later. In Michelangelo lore, this story is used to explain the artist’s unusual name. His parents thanked the archangel Michael and God for delivering their son safely by naming their son Michelangelo.

We could say plenty about the story of Michelangelo’s birth. We might note there are elements that mirror Christ’s birth, which I am sure is no accident. Michelangelo’s mother stands in for Mary, heavily pregnant and on a journey. However, Michelangelo’s parents were sent to Caprese because his father, Ludovico, the Florentine government had given him a job as a Judicial Administrator. Who controlled the Florentine government at this time? The Medici family. The Medici might have provided the job on the behest of Michelangelo’s mother who had a genealogical connection to the powerful family.

The Link The Medici were important, not only in Michelangelo’s life, but also in Florence. The family’s power can be traced back to Cosimo de’ Medici, the father of the country. He built his family’s wealth through banking (particularly as a banker to the Pope).

Cosimo de’ Medici Cosimo controlled Florence for nearly 30 years, followed by his son, Piero the Gouty, and then by his grandson Lorenzo in 1469. Cosimo de’ Medici built the family palace in Florence and contributed money to build the San Marco monastery and a chapel in the church of San Lorenzo. Lorenzo developed his own relationships with prominent artists, such as Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci. They spent the equivalent of tens of millions of dollars on paintings, sculptures, and architecture because they recognized that by commissioning art accessible to the public, they could influence how other Florentines saw them. When Cosimo commissioned the Medici family palace, he was ever aware the thick stone and the heavy cornice projected the family strength.

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The name Medici is nearly synonymous with Florence, but the Florentines were not always keen on the family. After the death of Lorenzo de’ Medici, the family was forcibly expelled from the city for several decades. This cycle repeated at least once more in the 16th century before the family took control for good.

Enter Michelangelo Michelangelo’s relationship with Lorenzo de’ Medici would be among the most important of his life. His familial connections through his mother’s side and father’s employment probably earned Michelangelo a spot in the Medici sculpture garden, a school for young sculptors led by Bertoldo de’ Giovanni, who had studied with Donatello who taught Michelangelo the rudiments of sculpture.

Florentine church of San Lorenzo, the Medici family church Eager to exploit his childhood friendship with Michelangelo, Leo X commissioned the artist to create a façade. Being Michelangelo, he was particular about the materials and

Photo courtesy of Mel Jay

Michelangelo’s relationship with Lorenzo de’ Medici would be among the most important of his life. David is a marble masterpiece sculpted by Michelangelo between 1501 and 1504.

The Massive Commission

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Think about this. In the 1510s, we have 12 massive marble columns being quarried and hauled down steep mountain paths, across a valley, loaded onto boats to the port at Pisa, and then onto barges to float to Florence – all without modern equipment. We are talking ox carts and sledges here. The expense and the difficulty persuaded Leo X to abandon the project. To this day, San Lorenzo church does not have a façade. With his family’s continuation in serious doubt – Leo decided they needed memorialization and quickly. He asked Michelangelo to design and build another family burial commission. What he came up with was more than a little strangely unique. These blind windows, for example. Why have a window cut into the wall if it does not open to the outside? And then there are the Medici tombs flanked by figures of Giuliano and Lorenzo de’ Medici that look nothing like the men they commemorate. Instead, dressed in ancient armor, they resemble Roman heroes. Michelangelo himself remarked that viewers hundreds of years from now wouldn’t care what the men actually looked like, but instead would know them as heroic figures.

Michelangelo carved several works in the Medici Garden – two of which still survive: the Madonna of the Steps and the Battle of the Lapiths and the Centaurs. Lorenzo was pleased with the young artist and gave Michelangelo a room in his household. He spent most of his formative years with the Medici children, two of whom grew up to become Popes and Michelangelo’s patrons; Giovanni became Leo X, and Giulio became Clement VII. Leo was keen to add his stamp to the Florentine church of San Lorenzo, the Medici family church. It lacked a completed façade.

carving of the architectural elements. He insisted the columns must be cut, quarried, and sculpted from one solid piece of marble. The artist selected high quality stone from a quarry hundreds of miles away.

Giovanni became Leo X

Leo X died in 1521, right in the middle of Michelangelo’s work on the New Sacristy, but a

away. The figures were to have been included in the tomb of Julius II – in fact, Michelangelo had already been paid by the Pope’s family. The situation is a bit fishy – why would the artist risk giving away sculptures that weren’t technically his? It turns out these works were a deliberate political gift, evidence of Michelangelo’s opposition to the Medici.

Sala di Michelangelo second Medici pope, Clement VII, was elected two years later. Not only did he want Michelangelo to complete the New Sacristy, but he added another project: the Laurentian library. Unfortunately, Clement VII was a terrible politician. His poor decisions came to a head in 1527 when Rome was sacked by the Holy Roman Empire army. Naturally, if the Pope is dealing with an invasion, he couldn’t possibly pay artists at work at San Lorenzo. Work there ground to a halt. Florence expelled the Medici from the city for a second time. Clement VII was absolutely distraught, and by 1529, he had signed a treaty with the Holy Roman Empire that restored authoritarian Medici rule in Florence.

A Quandry for Michelangelo This left Michelangelo in a pickle. He supported the republican government as a patriotic Florentine, but he turned his back on his patron and childhood friend, Clement VII. Michelangelo could have easily defected from Florence. Instead, he declared himself a patriotic Florentine and offered his services to the republic for free. As war with the Papacy became inevitable, the republic charged Michelangelo with strengthening the defensive city walls for a long siege by the Holy Roman Empire and the Medici Pope. The artist oversaw construction. His strange design angles actually deterred much of the heavy artillery and

the fortifications held for 10 months. Eventually, however, the Medici ruled again.

The Repercussions Michelangelo had embroiled himself in this political conflict and had chosen the losing side. In fear for his life, Michelangelo escaped to Venice. Pope Clement VII quickly forgave Michelangelo’s patriotic fervor and invited him to come back to Florence to resume his work. Michelangelo agreed. However, when Alessandro de’ Medici became the despotic ruler of Florence in 1532, he had little sympathy for republican supporters. Michelangelo’s life was probably only saved by the intervention of Pope Clement VII. When the artist learned the Pope was gravely ill in 1534, he left the city, never to return. Michelangelo spent the remainder of his years in Rome, along with a small band of republican Florentines. One such family was the Strozzi. In 1544, they brought Michelangelo into their home when he was ill. Michelangelo’s close friendship with them gives evidence of the artist’s continued political interest and how ardently he opposed Medici rule in Florence. After Michelangelo recovered, he made an extraordinary gift to the Strozzi family: two so-called “Slaves.” These figures are bound, muscular men. The only problem is that they weren’t really Michelangelo’s to give

You see, the Strozzi had been working with the French to strengthen the position of republican Florence against the Medici. They gave the French King gifts – including the Slaves made by Michelangelo. We cannot know if Michelangelo knew this would be the fate of his gift, but considering his closeness to the Strozzi family, it’s likely his gift was always intended as a political tool. These sculptures are still in France at the Louvre.

The Final Connection Even Michelangelo’s death and funeral were shaped by the Medici family. Cosimo Primo de’ Medici tried desperately to get Michelangelo to return to Florence, even establishing an art academy, naming Michelangelo as the head in absentia. Michelangelo was not moved. He only returned to the city after his death. His body was taken from Rome to Florence, directly against the artist’s plans, where Cosimo de’ Medici and the artist/biographer Vasari arranged a lavish funeral. It was said that, despite taking nearly a week to get back to Florence, the artist’s body did not stink on arrival, but instead gave off a lovely odor. As I said at the beginning, Michelangelo’s biography is full of myth. The episode is a testament that, even after death, Michelangelo could not escape the powerful Medici family. From sculpture gardens to facades, wars and ramparts to political gifts, Michelangelo spent eight decades pleasing, avoiding, working for, and working against the Medici family of Florence.

Fall 2017 Opulence

The Modern-Day Da Vinci, Master Artist Kurt Wenner BY STEVEN JOSEPH

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but it actually has to do with the visual effect of the areas between the columns,” he elaborated. In 1986, National Geographic aired a documentary on Wenner and his art entitled Masterpieces in Chalk.

f it looks like one of the Seven Deadly Sins is coming through the floor, don’t be alarmed. You aren’t hallucinating, you’re experiencing the artwork of Master Painter Kurt Wenner. Kurt specializes in “anamorphic”, or 3-D pavement art, a relatively new form of work which uses a special form of geometry to appear as if it is rising from, or sinking into, the surface upon which it is displayed. The piece on the left is called “Gluttony,” and was painted on the floor of the Palazzo Te, in Mantua, Italy. But Wenner is no one-trick pony. Kurt is truly a modernday Da Vinci, perfecting a multitude of art forms, including architecture, sculpture, and traditional two-dimensional paintings.

From Spaceships to Open Spaces Wenner first started as an artist at the Rhode Island School of Design. After college, Wenner found employment at a non-traditional venue for artists. “NASA needed to have artists to draw their projects. I might have been the last person to hold this job, as rudimentary computer graphics were first coming into use at the tail end of my time there.” While in school, he was told he had a horrible eye for the human form, and resolved to learn to draw better. “I might have been one of the worst amongst my peers, but all of my peers as a whole were poor when compared to the Renaissance artists of the 1500s.” Denied entry to a formal Rome program for study, Wenner decided to make his own way. Wenner busked the streets of

Kurt Wenner Europe as a street painter in order to fund his travels, learning and practicing various techniques along the way. In Italy, the tradition of painting in the streets dates back hundreds of years. Artists would re-create images of The Madonna and admirers amongst the street traffic would leave coins placed directly on the image as an homage to both the religious figure and the talents of the painter. The term modannari was created to refer to these street artists and Wenner quickly honed his craft on the streets of Rome to sustain himself.

A Master Painter

After the success of the National Geographic film, Wenner began to receive commissions for his projects and started creating permanent installations on ceilings or in the lobbies of buildings and churches. “I don’t accept the idea of permanence really well,” Wenner said. “There is a generational gap where today’s youth are more about collecting experiences than things. I don’t know that art will be bought and sold in the same way it used to be. People just aren’t hanging art on their walls anymore.” Wenner believes that what gives something so much value is its uniqueness and its collectability. But with his artwork, the real permanence is the digital file. So for Wenner, the focus is on the journey, rather than the destination. “Sometimes the pieces for me are more a memory of the experience when I look at the pictures. One likes to have good pieces, but it’s the ongoing challenge of doing it that’s more important.”

A Renaissance Man “When I began offering my services as a muralist in Santa Barbara in the ’80s, I found

Wenner then began testing himself in competitions against other artists, winning several gold medals along the way and eventually earning the title “Master Painter.” Around the same time, Wenner began experimenting with projecting three-dimensional images onto the two-dimension surfaces he was painting. The anamorphic art required Wenner to invent his own mathematics to calculate the dimensions of the objects he wanted to paint. “Linear perspective stops at 90 degrees, the images I create show a viewing angle of 120 degrees or more,” explained Wenner. Kurt compares the mathematics he uses to the ancient practice of entasis in columns, where columns are curved to create the illusion that negative space between the columns is rectangular. “They teach you that it is a correction to the columns, so the columns themselves don’t appear curved,

Portrait of a boy drawn by Wenner. Fall 2017 Opulence

The architectural rendering of a mansion Wenner was commissioned to design.

“I’m fascinated with the idea of icons, these images and ideas which travel through centuries and change and evolve.” —Kurt Wenner out that nobody could design, sculpt and cast architectural details, so I began to offer that service too,” Wenner said. From there he quickly moved on to proportioning facades and floor plans for architectural firms, and eventually found himself sculpting, as well. “I started with decorative designs, and ended up creating full figurative sculptures,” Kurt elaborated. Wenner feels his architecture and sculptures are rooted in a larger exploration of classical design, creativity and

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geometry. “I often find it’s easier to create completely original designs than to correct flawed ones.” These days Wenner travels all over the world creating commercial installations, but every now and then he’ll get the opportunity to reference his roots. “When I first came to the U.S. to spread the 3-D art-form, I came from Italy where it was practically obligatory to do religious iconography, to a place where it was almost illegal. And I moved from the church to classical mythology. Once I started to get commissions, it became about featuring the assets that people have, whether it be a vehicle or a movie or a product. Fortunately, I still get commission opportunities from churches and get to create religious pieces.” Although his career started in the streets of Italy, Wenner now says some of his best experiences have come on another continent altogether. “Nowadays, I very much enjoy Asia and the Middle East. I’ve recently visited some exotic locations like Shanghai and Dubai. One of the things about Asia is quite a bit of the country still works with their hands. And I think that makes the audience more able to relate to the work that I’m doing.” Even though Wenner got his start re-creating the works of Renaissance masters, for Kurt, there is real pleasure in creating something unique. “I’m fascinated with the idea of icons, these images and ideas which travel through centuries and change and evolve.” By creating his own art form, Wenner has transformed the art landscape in such a way that his pieces and their display is truly oneof-a-kind. Wenner surmises, “Originality is what it’s all about in the end.”

Examples of Wenner’s interior design (above) and traditional two-dimensional oil painting (right).

To see more of Kurt Wenner’s work, visit kurtwenner.com

Fall 2017 Opulence

The Chalk On The Street A

Meet the most amazing anamorphic 3-D street artists around the world BY STEVEN JOSEPH

namorphosis is a distorted projection or perspective requiring the viewer to occupy a specific vantage point to reconstitute the image in a remarkable three-dimensional manner.

Kurt Wenner is the father of anamorphic 3-D street art, a genre he helped create in the ’80s, creating chalk paintings in the streets of Italy. Wenner has come a long way from his days of trying to protect his work from his spectators to designing his work around them. “I used to think of the pavement art in terms of a drawing demonstration. I wanted to show young Italians that one could still work in that way. But later on, people started interacting with the images more. And I started to design the images around that fact. Now it’s a huge part of my designs, ‘Where are people going to stand? How are they going to participate in the image?’” Wenner feels that the art is the relationship between the work, the environment, and the people. “For me, no art exists without the spectator.”

Kurt Wenner

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Juandres Vera Juandres Vera is a successful anamorphic 3-D artist who originally went to college to be a director. His work behind the camera prepared him for creating street art, “I had to apply my knowledge in the basics of how the optics works in the perspective from a single point of view which is the start point of every 3-D illusion. I’m always looking for a framing based on the average lens of the audience so everybody can get the most of the composition and the best shot possible when they are interacting with the street painting piece.”

Juandres Vera

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“When it comes to my art, I’m looking for the audience to take away a smile, a moment of joy.”

“I always start with, ‘Where’s the ideal spot for a person to stand?’ and then I create the image around that.” Joe Hill Joe Hill is one half of “3D Joe & Max,” an anamorphic street art team who hold the world record for the largest piece of street art ever created. Despite his success in the field of anamorphic street art, Joe originally started his art career as a portrait painter to subsidize his college education. “I got into street art by accident, actually. I was commissioned to do a chalk painting in the streets of Spain, and thought that it would just be a one-off thing. But I found that I loved it.”

Joe Hill

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Vera Bugatti Vera Bugatti first started painting anamorphic street art 4 years ago. “I did not receive a formal training. I always painted and I grew step by step, making mistakes, learning on the street.” Her favorite projects are the ones in which she can convey messages in which she’s more free to design what she’s feeling. “Expressing feelings, giving messages, and traveling and meeting interesting people makes you discover new aspects of thinking and be. Since I consider street-painting as a part of my artistic path I try to find new subjects and more different suggestions to have a dialogue with. It’s a way for me above all.”

Vera Bugatti

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“People are absolutely fascinated by anamorphic art. They find it magic.”

INSERT COIN, GET GUM, CHIPS, FERRARIS By Chris Gallagher and Clarence Fernandez

rom supercars in Singapore to a rugged red pickup truck in Nashville, supersize vending machines now dispense automobiles.

Forget about soft drinks and potato chips - a “vending machine” in Singapore is offering up luxury vehicles, including Bentleys, Ferraris and Lamborghinis. Used car seller Autobahn Motors opened a futuristic 15-story showroom last December, with vehicles on display in 60 slots, billing it as the “world’s largest luxury car vending machine.” Customers on the ground floor choose from a touchscreen display which car they wish to see. The car arrives within one to two minutes, thanks to an advanced system that manages vehicle retrieval, the company says. Gary Hong, general manager at Autobahn Motors, said the vending machine format was aimed at making efficient use of space in land-scarce Singapore, as well as standing out from the competition. “We needed to meet our requirement of storing a lot of cars. At the same time, we wanted to be creative and innovative,” he told Reuters. He has been approached by developers interested in using the company’s Automotive Inventory Management System for parking services, he added. Vehicles on offer run from modern luxury sports cars to classics, including a 1955 Morgan Plus 4. Fall 2017 Opulence

Afor Man All Seasons The Art OF WINSTON CHURCHILL

Still life of Fruits, 1930s. Oil on canvas, 25 x 30 in. All Winston Churchill works are © Churchill Heritage, Ltd. by artist and author Edwina Sandys, Granddaughter of Winston Churchill

Edwina Sandys’ painting and text © Edwina Sandys | Artist Rights Society, NY

he Society of the Four Arts in Palm Beach is opening an exhibition of my grandfather’s paintings this year on December 1st for members and guests and for the public on December 2. The show also highlights other aspects of his extraordinary life.

Winston Churchill was the first artist I ever knew. As a young child, I would stand behind him, watching as he put magic on the canvas. Many years later I followed Grandpapa’s footsteps, finding my own pathway to art and sharing some common ground with him. Churchill was 40 years old when he started painting. In May1915, he had resigned as First Lord of the Admiralty after the disastrous Dardanelles campaign. Out of office, he found inactivity intolerable. One Sunday afternoon he picked up a paint box belonging to his children. Gingerly he mixed a little blue and white and, with the smallWinston Churchill and granddaughter est brush, carefully placed a tiny dab “about as big as a bean” on the naked surface of the enormous canvas looming before him. He stood staring at it, Edwina Sandys (1963) thoroughly defeated. At that moment a car came up the driveway and out stepped Lady Lavery, the artist wife of Irish painter Sir John Lavery. She peered critically over his shoulder. “Painting!” Lady Lavery exclaimed. “But what are you hesitating about? Let me 64

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Churchill, by Frank O. Salisbury:“Blood Sweat and Tears”, 1943. Oil on canvas, 49 x 39 in. © Estate Salisbury.

have a brush – the big one.” Splash into the turpentine, wallop into the blue and white, frantic flourishes on the palette – clean no longer – and then several large, fierce strokes and slashes of blue on the absolutely cowering canvas. Anyone could see that it could not hit back. The sickly inhibitions rolled away. Churchill said, “I seized the largest brush and fell upon my victim with berserk fury.” On the other hand, I had a different start. At the age of 30, a wife and mother, with two sons at kindergarten, I thought there must be more to life than this. What could I do that would be challenging? My first thought was to be an anchorwoman on TV – but then I thought I would never be brave enough to do that. Then I thought “Why not go into the family business? Politics! Aha!” My husband had already secured a safe seat in Cornwall for the next election. I then was selected for an unwinnable seat in the East End of London. I got the maps out and with magic markers colored the different areas to concentrate on. All fine - until my husband’s constituency told him that they had chosen him out of 70 – all married men. They said they Painting by Edwina Sandys: “Brush would drop him if I insisted on with History,” 2014. Acrylic on canvas, fighting for my own seat. “Tell 44 x 34 in. Edwina to get off the bus!” So I did and fell into art using the lovely colored magic markers I already had at hand.

Terrace at Trent Park, c. 1935. Oil on canvas. 24 x 20 in.

Neither my grandfather nor I went to art school, although he did get a bit of advice from some good painters he knew. But perhaps my grandfather’s best critic was my grandmother Clementine. As my aunt Mary Soames wrote: “One of her more frequent criticisms was that Winston was prone to ‘overwork’ a picture, and she would try to remove the canvas when she judged the right moment when the best result had been achieved. “She really was quite brave; I have seen her stand watching my father painting, and suddenly quite calmly remove his canvas from the easel and walk off with it! No one else would have

On the Var, c. 1935: Oil on canvas, 30 x 25 in. dreamed of taking such a liberty, and needless to say my father sometimes was very angry when she ‘swooped’ away his masterpiece.”

Winston Churchill at easel with Clementine, Florida 1946

Before he ever took paintbrush to canvas my grandfather was literally painting with words, so when he actually did start painting, it seemed preordained. He was entranced by contrasting patterns of light and shade. To him, writing and painting were the Yin and the Yang to each Fall 2017 Opulence

Marrakech, 1947: Oil on canvas, 22 x 27 in. other. He wrote lyrically about how painting had opened his eyes more widely to the wonders of nature. “I found myself instinctively as I walked, noting the tint and character of a leaf … the dreamy purple shades of mountains, the exquisite lacery of winter branches…” he said. And this was the same man who said: “...We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields, and in the streets… we shall never surrender...” Perhaps the greatest legacy an artist can have is to be an INSPIRATION to others. My grandfather has been that to many. President Dwight Eisenhower, President George Bush, and countless others have followed his lead. Winston Churchill painting at Château St. Georges Motel, near Dreux, France, 1930s (see below).

A Man For All Seasons The Art of Winston Churchill 2 Four Arts Plaza, Palm Beach, FL 33480 Exhibit opens 10 a.m. , December 2, 2017 - January 14, 2018 Esther B. O’Keeffe Gallery The exhibition is organized by the National Churchill Museum at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, and The Society of the Four Arts, Palm Beach, Florida. Open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. -5 p.m., Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. AND don’t miss an illustrated lecture by Artist Edwina Sandys who will discuss the life and art of her grandfather Winston Churchill. December 9, 2017 at 11 a.m. Walter S. Gubelmann Auditorium | No charge.

The chateau at St. Georges Motel, c.1935. Oil on canvas, 20 x 24 in. 66

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F I N E A RT C O N S E RV a t ion

Restoring Churchill’s Only Oil Painting Created During WWII By Gordon Lewis, Founder of the Fine Arts Conservancy

ost of us recall Winston Churchill as the British Prime Minister who steered England through the perils of World War II. President Kennedy said to a specially convened joint session of Congress (while awarding Churchill an honorary American citizenship) that “He marshalled the English language and sent it into battle.” In 1946, Churchill gave an address to Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, in which he coined the phrase “Iron Curtain.” Some know he was a highly accomplished landscape painter. The renowned English painter, Sir Oswald Birley remarked, “If Churchill had given the time to art that he has given to politics, he would have been, by all odds, the world’s greatest painter.” Churchill did not discover oil painting until his 40s, but over a period of 48 years, his creativity yielded more than 500 paintings.

Showing the difference between the restored area, and the area that still retains the aged varnish.

Churchill painted Tower of Katoubia Mosque, Marrakech, Morocco, shown here from his balcony at La Mamounia Hotel on March 23, 1943 (we found the date inscribed on the rear of the picture). It was called by the Art Daily (a highly regarded British publication), “A superb example of Churchill at his best.” Today, the La Mamounia is a five-star hotel.

THE DELICATE RENEWAL There are some paintings which a conservator must approach with reverence, and this is one. When we received the picture, it was suffering the vicissitudes of advancing age. The varnish layer was turning yellow and dark with age. Natural varnishes darken over time; it was not until the development of artificial varnish that their clarity remains. Now began the extensive and tedious process of developing a combination of solvents which would only remove the varnish while not affecting the oil paint layer. Many collectors and dealers say, “It just needs a cleaning.” As true as that may be, cleaning (removal of aged varnish) is, hands down, the

Tower of Katoubia Mosque, Marrakech, Morocco, completed restoration single most dangerous of all procedures in restoring paintings. This is the one step which can physically dissolve the paint layer with no hope of recovering it. The only possible resolution, in such a case, is repainting the lost passages, but few conservators are skillful enough to repaint lost areas precisely copying the artist’s exact brushstrokes, and, more importantly, these restorations ARE NOT acceptable in the art world. They are considered unethical.

For these reasons, it is not wise (and can be dangerous) to place a painting into the hands of anyone other than a conservator of proven ability for any procedures – most of all cleaning. The image of the painting half-cleaned, shows the difference in the colors as Churchill intended and the diminished hues caused by the yellowed varnish layer. The palette is now as rich as the Marrakech view from Churchill’s balcony. Fall 2017

OPULENCE

The

Perfect Storm Cold Glass artisan Jack Storms talks about the ancient and intricate skills he uses to create works of art that diffuse light into a myriad of brilliant, beautiful colors. By Dale King & Julia Hebert

n room 41 of the British Museum lies the most spectacular and rare 4th-century Roman glass cup of its time. The Lycurgus Cup was gilded of dichroic glass, an ancient form of cold glass formation that refracts two different colors, red or green, depending on the way light shines through it. The name of the Lycurgus Cup artist isn’t known, but today, in the 21st century, you’ll find a modern-day dichroic glass artisan who is a master of this painstaking art form: Jack Storms.

The Backstory During his junior year as an art major in college, Jack Storms apprenticed for a local craftsman who had mastered the rare talent of creating cold glass artwork. Storms quickly became captivated by the remarkably stunning works around him; entranced by the rainbows of hypnotic, streaming colors and seized by the vibe from the lead crystal core spreading outward through a pristine layer of dichroic glass. “I knew this was something I was going to do for the rest of my life,” said Storms. “I never had that feeling before. I was always worried about my future and my career – or if I would even have a career.” Working alongside the inspirational artist for nearly two years, Storms internalized each meticulous step in the creative process. He soon became aware of the tremendous physical challenge this art form demanded, and the weeks it took to fashion even one piece. Storms literally “soaked up the knowledge” imparted by his mentor. “At some point, after graduation, at a time when I was pretty 68

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much running the studio, I decided it was time to go out on my own.”

The Storms Glass Maestro Today

The accident, late in 2014, sidelined him for “the better part of a year” – at the most productive time in his career. “Everything started happening so fast. I was training employees, working 60, 70, 80 hours a week. I had to manage people and work. I also wanted to be home to hold my son.” In a sudden, painful instant, his blazing work pace ceased. For three days, he lay in a hospital bed, fearing the worst. “I was psyched that I wasn’t dead,” he exclaimed. “I could have been blinded completely. A clot could have gone to my brain.” The mishap forced him “to relearn sculpting. My studio has to be significantly cleaner and more organized or I could trip and fall. I have hired additional workers to help me. It took a year to pull myself out of it.”

Today, at 47, he is one of the few people passionate and skilled enough to handle the arduous task of combining lead crystal and dichroic glass using a cold glass process – a technique requiring eight to 18 weeks of work to yield a single complete creation.

Though Storms lost the sight in one eye, his inspiration remains unscathed, and his passion is still fueled by determination. “When I went into the studio and things were not exactly where I left them, it got frustrating. But I kept working at it. The only way I could get better was to keep going.”

Dressed in black shirt and gray pants spattered with a hint of paint, Storms begins each sculpture with a block of lead crystal glass. He cuts, grinds, polishes and laminates the material, inserting slivers of dichroic glass – dozens of shards – until he achieves the desired design. Storms then encases the core in optical crystal and hand-sculpts each piece to the desired shape on a cold press lathe.

His life and labor still unfold daily at the studio near his home in Valencia, California. It’s a noisy, bustling epicenter where machines spin, drill and grind. Storms toils at the massive glass-cutting lathe that he designed and built, based on machinery used by his dad, a master woodworker.

The end product is either a geometric work – a cube, pyramid, circle or wedge – or a latherounded piece – an egg, wine glass, flute or wine bottle – that turns a shaft of light into a profusion of iridescent, bubbling shimmers. Not content to just toil in the shop, the artist wanted to share his meticulous designs with the world. “By 2012, I had been working at it for 12 years. My wife started putting items on Facebook and YouTube, and popularity soared.”

Near Tragedy To this day, Storms continues to turn out exquisite creations despite losing the sight in his right eye after being slammed in the face by a piece that flew off the lathe.

Paternal Inspiration

“I saw the beautiful work my dad made. I figured I could do the same thing with glass as he did with wood. So, I fashioned the lathe.” Storms called it “one of the most satisfying parts of my career. I talked to every tech I could find and every one said you can’t make a lathe for glass. Well, I did it, and I felt fulfilled. It was nice to do something no one had a vision for.” Storms’ inspiration and intense work ethic derive from his heart and mind and filter to his creative hands that transform a simple block of glass into a masterpiece. “I’m in a competition with myself,” he said. “My biggest opponent is myself. Every art piece that goes through my fingers is the most beautiful one I’ve ever made – and if it isn’t, I work on it until it is.”

“I am creating a body of work made up of the most stunning things people will ever see. There are lots of crazy, beautiful pieces still to make.” – Jack Storms

Fall 2017 Opulence

Moments in Time An interview with master painter Christopher Burlini

rtists become known for their particular styles, but events in an artist’s life can lead to major changes in artistic expression. That is the case with painter Christopher Burlini. Burlini, trained by Italian masters, paints and teaches at the Burlini

Opulence Fall 2017

By Jana Soeldner Danger

Studio of the Arts in Boca Raton, Florida. His recent collection, “Moments in Time,” exemplifies such a change.

New Style Burlini’s new style reflects an end to earlier struggles and a turn to the wonder and peace

in his present life, the result of his moves from Chicago, San Francisco and Miami Beach, and the opening of his own studio that he runs successfully with his partner Belinda. “Artists paint where we are and how we’re feeling, and the last 10 years have changed my life,” he

To the Beach The new paintings portray beach scenes with elongated, impossibly thin figures enjoying the beach during everyday moments. “I’m a surrealist at heart,” Burlini said. “I wanted to modify that by keeping the root of abstraction with the quality of the moment of reality. Each beach scene has an individual thought, a subtly private conversation.” Circles superimposed over the figures draw the eye and create the illusion of movement. “It’s like the movement of a wave, or a little interference — a tug of war between the figures and the circles,” he said. “Our eyes are geared to see just so much at a time, and one minute eyes are locked on the figures, and the next on the circles.” Although the collection now includes smaller works, the original paintings were oversized, 10-to-12 foot canvases that could be placed individually, or together to create more complex scenes. “When they were towering over you, it was like you were sitting on the beach,” Burlini said.

Pop-Up Gala The Burlinis introduced the works through an unconventional pop-up gala that began with a “Willy Wonka” challenge. “It was a complete gamble,” Burlini said. “I sent out golden tickets with candy bars. People had no idea what to expect. We asked the question, ‘Are you willing to go on an adventure into the unknown?’ “We’re humbled and flattered with the response,” he continued. “We are creating our own identity in the art world by keeping exclusivity to our work.” A pop-up gala offers people a unique opportunity — a personal involvement in which to experience the artist and his work. There is a welcoming atmosphere of celebration, entertainment, and excitement.

said. “It’s gotten better.” His paintings now are very different from those of the past. “It’s a complete 180 from the heavy innuendos and darker explorations in my earlier work,” he said. “I’m communicating with my audience through happiness and fun now.” The immediate catalyst for change was very personal. Gorda – Spanish for chubby – a

beloved rescue dog and constant companion for years, passed away while he was completing a painting. It seemed like a sign. “I took her everywhere, and she’d always been beside me while I worked,” he said. “I thought, if I’m going to make a change, now is the time. Sometimes you have to walk through a new door.”

Although, Burlini still works with galleries and having his own studio has allowed him a larger platform to showcase his work. The art world has changed, today, with the power of social media, artists are taking more responsibility, becoming more business-oriented. It’s very rewarding!” Editor’s note: To see more of Burlini’s Moments in Time, and to read more about his captivating past, go to InternationalOpulence.com or BurliniArt.com. Fall 2017 Opulence

The World’s Most Influential Modern Art Shows By Alona Abbady Martinez

Art Basel, the international art show that began in Basel, Switzerland in 1970, has grown to be one of the biggest worldwide influencers of the international art scene, hosting three thriving shows each year: Art Basel in Switzerland, Art Basel Hong Kong, and Art Basel Miami. Providing a platform for galleries to show and sell their work to collectors, museum directors, and curators, it also attracts a large international audience of art spectators and students, making it one of the most anticipated events for

art enthusiasts. Established and emerging artists showcase their contemporary art, and galleries wanting to exhibit their work must undergo a strict review by an international selection committee. In addition to the artworks shown by participating galleries, all three shows offer parallel programming produced in collaboration with the host city’s local institutions. All works of art are for sale, with many priced for only those with the highest budgets. Here is a brief highlight of this year’s Art Basel Events:

ART BASEL HONG KONG March 21st - March 25th With half of the participating artists coming from Asia and the AsiaPacific, Art Basel Hong Kong is committed to promoting the region’s diversity and artistic talent in Modern and contemporary art. Although this is only Hong Kong’s fifth year, they already boasted more than 240 art dealers from 34 countries. Dealers noted a rapid increase in interest in the region, with wealthy Chinese collectors becoming savvy art experts by visiting museums overseas, read-

ing and learning through social media and other collectors, and becoming fixtures in the art world’s international circuit of fairs. Galleries, such as David Zwirner found immediate success, selling two of three $1.5 million works from Belgian painter Luc Tuymans within the first hour of the show. The gallery also sold a mediumsized work from Yaoi Kusama’s “Infinity Nets” series for $450,000, a small Michaël Borremans Michaël canvas for $420,000.

Yaoi Kusama’s Infinity Nets series piece above sold for $450,000 through the David Zwirner Gallery.

The David Zwirner Gallery sold two of three $1.5 million works from Belgian painter Luc Tuymans, including K (2017).

Opulence Fall 2017

ART BASEL SWITZERLAND June 15th - June 18th This year marked the 48th celebration of the annual art fair in its originating city Basel, Switzerland. Presented by its leading partner, UBS, Art Basel Switzerland hosted 291 renown galleries from 34 countries and six continents, presenting works from early 20th century to contemporary artists. Garnering the prize as the most

expensive piece sold was Philip Guston’s Scared Stiff (1970), selling for a price in the region of $15 million. The sale of an untitled Eva Hesse work from 1961 to a Chinese museum for $2.5 million is a testament to the growth of demand from Asian collectors in Art Basel.

The sale of an untitled Eva Hesse work from 1961 sold to a Chinese museum for $2.5 million.

Philip Guston’s Scared Stiff (1970) sold for a price in the region of $15 million.

ART BASEL MIAMI December 7th - December 10th Miami offers pristine beaches, trendy nightclubs, and incredible restaurants, but it is the vibrant and growing art scene Art Basel provides since it was first introduced in 2001 that has elevated the Magic City’s reputation to one of sophistication and culture. This year, over 200 of the world’s leading international Modern and contemporary art galleries will display artworks by over 4,000 artists, including paintings, sculptures, installations, photography, film, video, and digital art ranging from pieces by young artists to

museum-caliber masterpieces. The show highlights Miami’s cultural diversity, with an elite younger generation of gallerists like Altman Siegel (U.S.), GALLERYSKE (India), Labor (Mexico) and Gregor Podnar (Germany), presenting last year for the first time as well as established names like Galerie Greta Meert (Belgium), Bergamin & Gomide (Brazil), Di Donna (U.S.) and Menconi + Schoelkopf (U.S.), all specializing in Modern art, returning.

Storm, 1963 by Lee Krasner, sold for $6 million at Art Basel Miami (December 2016).

Mach II, 1964 by Kenneth Noland, sold for approximately $1.25 million at Art Basel Miami (December 2016).

Fall 2017 Opulence

FORMULA ONE GRAND PRIX CAR WITH SPARKS BUDAPEST, HUNGARY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; July 29, 2017: Sparks fly behind Daniel Ricciardo of Australia driving the Red Bull Racing RB13 TAG Heuer on track during final practice for the Formula One Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring. Photography by Lars Baron.

Opulence Fall 2017

FLAMING BASEBALL HOT CORNER TEMPE, ARIZONA - March 28: Kris Bryant catches a flaming baseball while playing the hot corner in Tempe, AZ USA, on 28 March 2017. Photography by Robert Snow.

Fall 2017 Opulence

red RED BULL RUSH SHOTS 2017 Compiled by Robin Jay

For more than three decades, the caffeine, taurine, B vitamins and carbs in the Red Bull energy drink have fueled the wings of seriously skilled athletes. For this editor, the adrenaline rush comes from the killer action photography that stealth Red Bull photographers capture in the wink of a shutter. Enjoy the selection of 2017 thrill shots weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve scrapbooked for you hereâ&#x20AC;Ś

Opulence Fall 2017

Fall 2017 Opulence

NEPTUNE STEPS IN GLASCOW GLASGOW, UNITED KINGDOM, March 17, 2017: Gordon Benson gets a first look at the daring swim-and-climb obstacle course ahead of competing in Red Bull Neptune Steps competition. Photography by Leo Francis.

Opulence Fall 2017

Fall 2017 Opulence

Private Golf & Country Clubs’

Family-Centric Re-ENVISION

An interview with the President & CEO of the National Club Association Henry Wallmeyer By Robin Jay

The 1968 slogan ‘You’ve come a long way, baby’ didn’t originally refer to private golf and country clubs, but it’s certainly relevant to the industry today. A keyhole comparison of the origins of private gentlemen’s clubs in the 1800s in London and clubs in America now shines a compelling spotlight on why. Henry Wallmeyer at The University Club of Washington, DC 78

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Photo by: Frank T. Smith Photography

he 1968 slogan ‘You’ve come a long way, baby’ didn’t originally refer to private golf and country clubs, but it’s certainly relevant to the industry today. A keyhole comparison of the origins of private gentlemen’s clubs in the 1800s in London and clubs in America now shines a compelling spotlight on why. The Society Herald in 1888 described the typical day of a young bachelor. “He breakfasts, lunches, and sups at the club. He is always at billiards…he writes innumerable letters, shakes hands a dozen times a day, drinks coffee by the gallon and has a nod for everybody, lives, moves, and has his being within the club,” Amy Milne-Smith wrote in The Journal of British Studies.

Emergence of Private Clubs In America

Augusta National Golf Club

A Club of Gentlemen by Joseph Highmore c. 1730 In 1786, the first private golf club opened in the United States: The South Carolina Golf Club of Charleston, followed by the Savannah Golf Club in 1794. By the turn of the century, country clubs were regarded as ‘the very essence of American upper-class.’ But a century later, times are changing. For private clubs to thrive in a new generation, they’re redefining membership. Just ask industry expert Henry Wallmeyer, President & CEO of the National Club Association (NCA), a 55-year-old member-driven organization based in Washington, D.C., that advocates for the private club industry.

The New Modern-Day Private Golf Club Gone is the trend in men-only private golf clubs with strict full-time dress codes and a single five-hour, 18-hole golf option. “Most people don’t have five hours to go play golf, myself included: I’ve got an 11-year-old daughter and a 9-year-old son at home. I

Medinah Country Club don’t have five hours on a weekend to play a round of golf if I want to remain happily married,” Wallmeyer laughed. “People today want to come and practice. Many private clubs have ‘performance centers,’ with covered bays where people can hit all year long, have their swing videotaped and work with a PGA pro. Clubs are also installing simulators. You’re hitting a ball against a screen and basically playing a huge, giant video game of golf. It takes only an hour or two hours. If you want to go out with your son or daughter or spouse and hit a few balls, that’s a great fun thing to do.”

Attracting Women and Children “Clubs are becoming family-centric because time is precious for a family,” he said.

“They’re designing events for ladies and the kids. They can opt to play three, six or nine holes instead of 18.” One private Northern Virginia club offers three holes on a Friday night for women who are learning the game of golf and who want to play with other women and enjoy wine at each hole. “It’s a social experience,” Wallmeyer explained. My ears perked when Wallmeyer told of a surprising new move at Medinah Country Club in Illinois, which is near-and-dear to my heart: The year I served as high school class president, we planned our class prom at this stunning venue. “Medinah Country Club renovated its number-two course with a program called Fall 2017 Opulence

“Clubs are becoming familycentric because time is precious for a family.” — Henry Wallmeyer , President and CEO of the National Club Association ‘Golf for Life’ that enables more people to succeed at golf. Instead of the normal four tee boxes on a hole, they now have up to seven on a hole, and they’re not designated for men, women, juniors, seniors; rather, it’s based on your skill level. If you’re a youngster or just learning to play and can’t hit the ball far, you can play much closer to the hole. My 82-year-old mother-in-law has played golf her whole life but can’t hit as far. She would love to play from a closer tee box.” “We’re also seeing growth in tennis, pickleball and paddle tennis because these sports are less time-intensive. Clubs are engaging members more. Pools are no longer the rectangular, swim-team style pool. Now, it’s zero-entry pools, innovative slides and resort-style activities. One club in the D.C. area when it snowed, sent an email to members inviting them for a sleigh ride on the golf course. The chef served s’mores and hot chocolate.”

More Innovations Clubs across the country are expanding their offerings to their evolving memberships. Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, Florida, offers a multitude of experiences for all of their member segments. Club programming includes sunrise yoga on the beach, strength and cardio classes, and kayaking for wellness seekers; premium food and beverage activities such as culinary classes and din-

ing at The Galley, a club restaurant which overlooks the adjacent marina; and two championship golf courses, among other high quality amenities and experiences. In the Washington, D.C. area, public restaurants are much better now than they were 20 years ago, and clubs have to compete. “Clubs can’t do the Friday night formal dining anymore, because nobody is going to go home from work, get dressed up and go to the club to eat,” Wallmeyer said. “As a result, clubs are becoming more casual in attire, but not in their food. There are more casual dining options, but the club food is becoming ever more upscale; they’re ramping up wine programs and the ambience. A number of clubs have dining tables in their wine cellars.” Members also want more wellness options. “Fitness centers, some with physical rehabilitation therapy and spa services, are offered. Clubs are incorporating more ways to ‘wow’ members.” NCA guides private clubs in navigating through intricate business, legal and legislative matters, as well. “We’re guiding clubs in dealing with human resources and labor matters, environmental aspects, water regulations, tax issues, statute compliance and other matters affecting members,” said Wallmeyer. “We’re helping them in a very positive way.” For more information about NCA, visit www. nationalclub.org.

Some clubs are adding innovations like indoor golf simulators.

Opulence Fall 2017

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Fall 2017 Opulence

AirCruising Exploration In The World’s Largest Luxury Private Charter Jet By Robin Jay

Discerning world travelers who revere bespoke ocean and river cruising can now discover the newest style of cruising – high above a sea of clouds. Crystal Skye, the world’s newest, largest and most spacious Boeing 777 private luxury jet, was officially christened in August and is ready for private leisure or group business charter. Welcoming up to 88 privileged guests, global itineraries are tailored to exacting specifications, taking you on extraordinary journeys to lands both exotic and remote. With Skye butlers as proficient in 38 of the world’s languages as they are in delivering completely personalized experiences, each customized Crystal AirCruise is purposefully designed to be unstructured, engaging and immersive, delving into the heartbeat and personality of each destination with enriching authenticity.

A Closer Look Artisans and engineers at Greenpoint Technologies transformed the lavish aircraft to the highest standards of aviation design, featuring handcrafted, fully-reclining flatbed seats arranged in a staggered 2x2x2 configuration to provide extra-wide aisleways, accommodating guests traveling in pairs. Each seat reclines to a full lie-flat configuration of 70.5 inches, and features customized privacy surrounds, a four-way adjustable headrest and individual storage ottoman to ensure comfortable rest in flight. Each seat is equipped with USB ports, power outlets, a state-of-the-art inflight entertainment system featuring 24” HD monitors (the industry’s largest), with on-demand programming and extensive music library, Bose™ Noise Canceling headphones, Apple iPads™, Global Wi-Fi (Sky-Fi) with customizable user interface Worldwide calling and luxurious in-flight bedding, plush blankets, lumbar pillows, sleeping pillows, duvets, mattress toppers and a customizable in-flight amenity tote. 82

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Soaring Fine Dining The culinary experience aboard Crystal Skye transcends all notions of elegance and luxury as Chef Francois Van Zyl transforms flying into an event unto itself. Inspired by the flavors of global discovery, an extraordinary flow of service, food and hospitality amplifies the five-star dining experiences in the air. Infused with the hallmarks of the awardwinning cuisine served on Crystal ships purity and innovation - you are treated to a standard of fine dining unrivaled among private jet charters today. From delectable amuse-bouche, creative soups and fresh salads to mouthwatering main courses, refreshing palate cleansers, exquisite desserts, cheese plates, and wine pairings

from the Skyecellar, onboard guests enjoy professionally served full-service dining, course-by-course, in the comfort of their Crystal Exclusive Class seat - prepared on-demand per guest’s desire and never en masse. Extended airborne travel between destinations allows Chef Francois and his team to dazzle you with multiple culinary moments, from specialized wine pairing menus and destination-focused meals with locally sourced ingredients to High Tea in the social lounge and comfort cuisine “Movie Nights.” Carefully selected partners around the world follow strict standards set forth by Chef Francois, ensuring that provisions adhere to the same benchmarks of excellence and adding to the consistency of the epicurean experience. Two state-of-the-art galleys and a Chef’s Cart customized with expert culinary tools, mean steaks can be grilled, fish can be poached, vegetables steamed and ice cream churned, even at 40,000 feet.

“As a global luxury traveler myself, I have been privileged to travel aboard some of the world’s finest aircraft, and there is nothing like Crystal Skye around the world,” said Edie Rodriguez, Crystal CEO and President. Crystal Skye elevates private jet travel to entirely new levels of luxury. Unmatched among any private jets for charter, this ultra-long-range (19.5 non-stop hours) aircraft is distinguished by exhilarating exclusives and surprises just waiting for guests to discover. Editor’s note: International Opulence readers interested in chartering a private flight aboard Crystal Skye may call Unique Travel, a Cyrstal Platinum Agency, 561.819.5542.

Unmatched among any private jets for charter, this ultra-long-range (19.5 non-stop hours) aircraft is distinguished by exhilarating exclusives and surprises just waiting for guests to discover. Fall 2017 Opulence

Life is a Highway…

I Want to Ride It All Night Long… …to a Place Exactly Like Nowhere Else by Robin Jay

ith the radio blasting Tom Cochrane’s roadtrippin’ rock ballad ‘Life Is a Highway’, the family and I loaded into our high-tech, luxuriously appointed weekender test-drive ride – a 2017 Buick Lacrosse – and hit the road toward Mile Marker 97, all while belting out in unison, “If you’re going my way...I want to drive it all night long!...”

When I first read the invitation to test drive a “luxury” Buick, my right eyebrow raised…‘a luxury what?’ Could it be true my grandmother’s favorite automobile brand had really re-invented itself with a lavish offering? With magazine deadlines looming, I was reluctant to find out. Yet, with the Lacrosse equipped with 4G Wi-Fi, Active Noise Cancellation, a Headsup Projection Windshield Display, Apple CarPlay, Buick IntelliLink and supple lumbar-supporting leather seats, making deadlines en route sounded doable. Then, the coupe de ta destination sealed the deal on saying ‘yes’ to the road trip: A seaside bunga84

Opulence Fall 2017

low adjacent to 14.5 miles of beach on the site of a former historic pineapple plantation – the new Playa Largo Resort – Key Largo’s first luxury resort in 21 years, with the island’s only full-service spa, water sports galore and dining options that included the Las Olas Ceviche Bar, the only true ceviche restaurant in Florida’s Upper Keys. With the kids engaged in their streaming iPhone movies and me cozied up with copy to edit on my iPad, my husband shifted gears and glided with road-hugging precision onto the Florida Turnpike southbound. “Remember, my dear Mr. Andretti, this is a state highway, not the Autobahn,” I teased him. Had my grandmother been on board, her jaw would surely have dropped to learn the luxurious 8-speed, beautifully sculpted, modern designed sporty sedan was – indeed – a Buick.

To Playa Largo or Bust Copyediting completed, I powered down my iPad to enjoy the ride and reminisce about our highly anticipated destination. Before Playa

Largo existed, there was Captain Ben Baker and his 160-acre pineapple farm. During the 1860s, Captain Ben homesteaded the prime Key Largo real estate. Using natural fertilizer, he discovered how to plant 6,000 pineapple stalks and grow the nation’s largest and most successful pineapple farm. In a single summer, Captain Ben racked up a supposed $7,000 - equivalent to $100,000 by today’s standards! Having discovered the secret art form of transporting his crops to the northeastern U.S., Captain Baker was affectionately known as “King of the Florida Wreckers.” Pineapple operations were so successful that historians estimate 85 percent of America’s pineapples were grown in the Florida Keys. (That is, until a 1935 hurricane wreaked havoc on farming in the Keys.)

An Ecological Oasis The Florida Keys are home to some of the nation’s most exotic plant and animal species. To protect the ecological diversity, before even breaking ground, the Playa Largo team conducted detailed surveys to ensure wildlife wasn’t harmed in the construction process. Now, Playa Largo is a tropical, indigenous, luxurious resort. Here, with Playa Largo’s underwater weddings, brides have the option to feel like a mermaid by diving with her groom and writing “I do” on slates amongst the shallow-water corals, shipwrecks and hidden treasures of the Florida Keys. To anchor their love, they can sponsor

the planting of a coral reef fragment that will remain and continue to grow over the years, just like their marriage. Tranquil, opulent guest accommodations are reminiscent of a residential beach house with an Ameri-Caribbean aesthetic. Playa Largo offers 177 luxury rooms and suites with sunset Florida Bay views; 10 secluded, two-story bungalows nestled in the rare, natural hammock trees (we stayed in one of these – and adored the home-like comforts); and an exclusive three-bedroom, four-bathroom Beach House with private pool and beach. The executive chef at Playa Largo cooked us a sumptuous private meal at the Beach House with a menu that included local products – like the black mangrove honey that was so delicious we scouted the island for a bottle to buy and take home. Throughout out visit, the kids enjoyed paddle boarding and a nature hike. I had the pleasure of dozing off during a Reflexology Acupressure Massage at the spa. And we all basked in the beauty of a Key Largo sunset cruise amid the mangroves and azure blue waters. Exactly like nothing else, Playa Largo is an iconic landmark with remarkable design and best-in-class resort amenities. And getting there in the Buick Lacrosse was the cherry on top of our weekend of Life on the Highway. Fall 2017 Opulence

The

Fragrance Sommelier By Jana Soeldner Danger

How breaking the cardinal oenophile rule of

no perfume at wine tastings led entrepreneur

Kelly Jones to marry two of the world’s oldest

pleasures: wine and fragrance

ever, ever wear perfume to a wine tasting. Unless, of course, it’s one of the Notes of Wine collection by Kelly Jones.

enhanced each of them. “When you put your nose into your glass, the matching perfume has the same notes,” she said.

At first, she encountered plenty of skepticism. “When I launched the line, a lot Jones learned the hard way about the of people in the wine world were aprule of not wearing scent in a wine tastprehensive about it,” she recalled. “They Kelly Jones said, ‘you can’t do that!’ But then they ing room. She was swirling chardonnay at a California vineyard when the winemaker demanded to know who saw that the two worlds were coming together. Now I work with was wearing perfume. Sheepishly, Jones realized that she was the winemakers on both the West Coast and in New York City, and sevguilty one. She had inadvertently broken one of the cardinal laws of eral tasting rooms in California sell my perfumes.” wine etiquette – at least for true oenophiles. Wearing scent is anathOne of those winemakers is Clarissa Nagy of Nagy Wines in Orcutt, Caliema, because it can interfere with the delicate nose of the vintage. fornia. “Kelly is a master of her trade,” Nagy said. She hand selects each “But as the perfume wafted from my skin, something curious hap- component to create a perfect, aromatic pairing with wine. The synergy pened,” she said. “The fragrance notes were perfectly mingling with is amazing. I’m pleased to carry such a beautiful product. It’s a wonderthe wine, enhancing all of the nuances of the bouquet in the glass.” ful addition to my lineup.” Was it possible to create scents that paired with wines, much as the tastes of foods do? “I wondered if I could break the rules and use perfumes to make the nose better appreciate the notes of the wine,” said Jones, a scent sommelier and fragrance designer who now lives in New York City.

Conjuring Beautiful Blends With five bottles of wine in hand, she headed back to her studio. Sipping and sniffing while mixing oils and other fragrance ingredients, she conjured blends that seemed to capture the notes of each of the varietals. She was certain she had created a way to marry two of the world’s oldest pleasures, wine and perfume, in ways that 86

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The Aroma Wheel Knowing that most wine aficionados are familiar with the wine aroma wheel, a tool used in wine tastings to help identify various scents and tastes in the vintages, Jones created her own version using words that describe not only wine varietals, but also the complexities of perfumes. “It helps people discover the bouquet of a wine’s aroma through the words of a perfumer,” she said.

An Unexpected Career Path Jones’ path to her career as a fragrance designer was a circuitous one, although her love for scents began as a child. “All I wanted for my eighth birthday was perfume,” she recalled.

She grew up in Detroit, and often visited her grandparents’ nearby farm. “I loved playing in the woods there because there were so many flowers and trees to smell,” she said. As she got older, her fascination with scents continued to grow. “I started building my own library of fragrances and buying individual oils,” she said. After graduating from high school, she attended Michigan State University, where she received a BA in International Relations. Later, she earned an MBA at the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Glendale, Arizona. With diploma in hand, she moved to Southern California to take a job in corporate planning at Toyota’s North American headquarters. “I grew up around cars, and I love them,” she said. “But I’d work all day at an executive job and then go home and be creative with scents and study perfumes and oils.” When she was offered an opportunity to join the marketing department at a fragrance house in New York City, she jumped at it. There she learned about every aspect of the business, from where the flowers and fruits grow to the creation of new scents to selling a finished product. “It exposed me to the magic behind the world of perfume,” she said. “I found out about everything that happens between

the field and the bottle.”

Like A Chef A single fragrance can have as many as 100 ingredients. “A perfume designer is like a chef creating a new recipe,” she said. “You have to get the ingredients and the scent just right before it’s ready for the marketplace.” She believes her Notes of Wine perfumes encourage wine novices to experiment. “Someone will say, ‘I never drink red wine,’ but then they smell the perfume and say, ‘maybe I’ll try it again.’”

Complex Blends Perfumes in the Notes of Wine collection

are complex blends of tantalizing scents. The first one she created was paired with chardonnay. “It’s what I was drinking at the time I had the idea, so that’s what I started with,” she said. The sultry scent has notes of honeydew, toasted oak, vanilla blossom and crème brulee. Bright, refreshing pinot grigio has the citrusy smell of grapefruit and aromas of starfruit, green apple and camellia. Ethereal riesling awakens thoughts of white peach, Anjou pear, bergamot and raspberry leaf. Contemporary merlot teases the nose with scents of rhubarb, red currant, mission fig and candied violet, while spicy cabernet brings notes of pink peppercorn, black cherry, tobacco flower and vintage leather. A recently introduced rosé features sheer, seductive scents of pink currant, osmanthus, Provencal herbs and wood.

Enhancing Experience While she realizes that true oenophiles may never be onboard, she believes her perfumes make learning about and experiencing wines more enjoyable. “The world of wine tasting can be really intimidating,” she said. “But after you smell the perfumes and the wines and learn about what some of the descriptive words really mean, you can smell them in different ways. The perfumes are great for when you’re spending a day in the vineyards having fun.” Discover your favorite fragrance pairing at www.kellyandjones.com 87

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Fall 2017 Opulence

A Dom Pérignon toast to the Historic Surf Club Rebirth By Robin Jay

How fitting that the world’s first (and finest) wine brand – named after its humble maker, the Benedictine monk Dom Pérignon – would symbolically christen the reemergence of the original 1930s clubhouse, once the ballroom where the likes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Elizabeth Taylor and Tony

Opulence Fall 2017

PHOTO: SIMONA MAFFEI

orks of Dom Pérignon popped in celebration on August 12, 2017, at the Le Sirenuse Champagne Bar – the historic heart of The Surf Club – just months after the unveiling of its grand restoration that harkens back to the Gilded Era glory days in Surfside, Florida.

Diego Meraviglia Dom Pérignon Brand Ambassador in the U.S.

Bennett sang and danced across its floors, and the retreat where Sir Winston Churchill relaxed by painting its adjacent seashore. “The humble beginnings of Dom Pérignon became the wine of royalty, including Louise the XIII in Versailles,” said Diego Meraviglia Dom Pérignon Brand Ambassador in the U.S. “450 years later, we’re still here today associating champagne with high living, with high value, with celebration, with the wine of kings and the wine of princes, the wine of luxury. And so it’s certainly apropos for celebrating the restoration of the iconic Surf Club, the playground to those many consider America’s royalty.”

Standing in the grand entry hall of The Surf Club, the model is wearing a Stella McCartney Bernice Silk Sequin Dress. The gown is embellished in luxurious silk with concealed back zip closure. Made in Italy. Available at Saks Fifth Avenue Bal Harbour.

A Look Back The Surf Club was the brainchild of tire tycoon Harvey Firestone and his cronies Carl Fisher and Irving Collins, both fellow South Florida pioneers. One winter afternoon during the height of Prohibition in the late 1920s, the men were sailing aboard Firestone’s yacht, Marybelle, dreaming of the perfect place to build a private social club. They took one look at the striking Miami Beach coastline and agreed they had discovered the ideal location. Firestone hired architect Russell T. Pancoast to make their vision reality.

The Surf Club Debuts in 1930 On New Year’s Eve 1930, The Surf Club in Miami opened the doors to a vetted membership and soon became a gathering place for exceptional figures of the past century. Magnificent events – from poolside fashion shows and debutante galas to black-tie boxing nights and overthe-top parties – filled its social calendar.

Photo: Hamid Kootval, DAS Model Management

The Surf Club in Miami has hosted history. It is an institution whose reputation looms large in the imagination of so many more people than can ever have visited it, let alone been members. When Harvey Firestone first had the idea of a new type of social club, he could never have imagined how enduring the appeal would be of what he would soon create. Fast-forward to 2017. The creation of Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club combines the glories of the past with the possibilities of the future, bringing the next chapter of this legendary club to life. On this same 9-acre stretch of oceanfront in Surfside, Florida, Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club today comprises 77 guest rooms, a selection of hotel residences, Le Sirenuse Restaurant and Champagne Bar, three pools, a pristine beach, and Spa and Wellness Center.

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“The Surf Club’s success has always been determined by quality, passion and relaxed precision and that remains our priority today; being intuitive, exceeding our guests’ every expectation and creating memories that will last a lifetime,” said General Manager Reed Kandalaft.

Own a Piece of History By bringing the iconic club back to life – complete with modern improvements and additions befitting of its elegant past – Four Seasons is offering those looking for an exclusive seaside hideaway the opportunity to own a piece of this legendary landmark. 90

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Greeting you from the entrance of The Surf Club, the model is wearing a Marchesa Notte Floral Embroidered Halterneck Dress. This imported floor-length gown features 3-D popover details and concealed back zipper closure. Available at Saks Fifth Avenue Bal Harbour.

Photo: Hamid Kootval, DAS Model Management

Top: Frank Sinatra at the Surf Club Middle: 1949, Elizabeth Taylor with her then fiancé William D. Pawley, Jr. Bottom: Winston Churchill painting at the Surf Club.

Top: Oceanfront guest room Middle: La Sirenuse Champagne Bar Bottom: La Sirenuse Miami Restaurant

Photo: Hamid Kootval, DAS Model Management

The newly luxury expanded property now hosts the intimate, 77-room Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club, flanked by a pair of 12-storey transparent towers designed by Richard Meier. Within the glistening towers, you’ll find 119 private residences (which accommodate up to six bedrooms and 7,800 square feet apiece) and 31 one- and two-bedroom hotel residences that offer the perfect blend of the on-call amenities you’d expect from a grand hotel and private living. Lounging at the iconic Champagne Bar at Le Sirenuse at The Surf Club, the model is wearing a Versace Asymmetrical Geometric Dress. This one-shoulder ensemble boasts artful embellished panels. Made in Italy. Available at Saks Fifth Avenue Bal Harbour.

Photographer: Hamid Kootval, DAS Model Management, Miami Model: Kailin Brousseau, DAS Model Management Hair and Makeup Stylist: Tarrin Winn Venue: The Surf Club, Miami Coordinators: Kim Golightlly, International Opulence, Elliott Stares, Elliott Stares PR Inc.

For a showing of available private residences at The Surf Club, contact Chris Soares of Opulence International Realty at 305-439-0926 or chris@investinmiami.com. Editor’s note: In the Winter 2017 edition of International Opulence, look for the premiere column by Dom Pérignon Brand Ambassador Diego Meraviglia, who’ll expand on the intriguing story of the Benedictine monk whose namesake appears on every bottle of the world’s finest champagne. It’s a story you’ll not want to miss! Fall 2017 Opulence

‘ROMANCING THE STONE’ Behold the Gem Collector’s Trophy Diamond ‘The Heart of the Maldives’

By Steven Joseph

“

No fancy colored diamond collection is complete without a green stone,” said David Federman, expert gem author in Modern Jeweler. “But since, next to red, green is probably the rarest of all natural diamond hues, most collections lack representation from the green portion of the diamond rainbow. Even when they do contain greens, the stones’ color is usually not a bona fide natural one — or at least not classified as such by a gem lab of stature.

”

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Well then, behold here a diamond that would complete a fancy colored diamond investor’s collection. David Rosenberg, president of the Southeast United States Diamond Bourse, was recently presented this masterpiece he calls “The Trophy” – an extremely rare 4.16 carat fancy intense blueish green diamond – by its owner who was interested in bringing it to market. The diamond is the centerpiece of an absolutely breathtaking piece of jewelry. The blue-green precious stone, certified as a natural colored diamond, is surrounded by a halo of 14 Argyle pink diamonds, mounted on a band of 18k rose gold with two additional Argyle pink diamonds. “When I saw it (the ring), it spoke to me,” said Rosenberg.

The Provenance

two and a half years ago, profiling his rise to the most-respected authority on fancy colored diamonds, his self-made background, and his ascension as the youngest president in the diamond bourse’s history. Recently, the Argyle mine in Western Australia, famous for its pink diamonds, named Rosenberg one of just five ‘Select Ateliers’ in the United States. “Many of the diamonds that come out of the mine are pink, but there are also some red, some purple, and some blue. But I am the only retailer in the United States to whom they are providing their larger and more important stones,” explained Rosenberg. The Argyle mine produces 90 percent of the world’s pink diamonds, and its imminent closure in 2020 means the stones are about to become even harder to come by.

For “The Trophy” to turn this gem aficionado’s head speaks volumes. Rosenberg was the subject of a feature in this magazine

Portal to the Argyle Diamond Underground Mine, Australia Fall 2017 Opulence

Rio Tinto Argyle Diamond Mine

The mysterious alchemy that results in the pink coloration of Argyle diamonds is a very unique combination of temperature and pressure deep within the earth’s surface. The Story Behind Pink Diamonds Pink diamonds are shrouded in myth and mystery. “The mysterious alchemy that results in the pink coloration of Argyle diamonds is tied up with a very unique combination of temperature and pressure, deep within the earth’s surface, occurring 1.6 billion years ago. It is in fact an unfathomable randomness, created and limited by nature,” said Marie Chiam, Marketing Manager for Rio Tinto Diamonds.

Recent Auction Results Recent auction results have seen many rare fancy colored diamonds sell at over $1 million dollars per carat, but this is no surprise to Rosenberg. “Natural colored diamond stones have always been of interest, especially from royalty. But in the last decade or so, the important intrinsic investment value that rare natural fancy colored diamonds bring to a well-balanced portfolio has become more well-known.” Rosenberg elaborated, “The colors are extremely rare. And now the affluent want to diversify their wealth. So they have part cash, part stocks, part art, and part real estate. But they also want something tangible, something portable – like rare fancy colored diamonds.”

How Natural Blue Green Diamonds Get Their Color

Rough diamonds mined at the Argyle Mine 94

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The two colors present in the center stone of this Trophy Diamond, blue and green, are two of the rarest colors for diamonds to achieve certification. Blue is only present in diamonds if there was some of the element boron in the carbon during the diamond’s formation. And green can only be found if the diamond is naturally irradiated by ex-

posure to a radioactive element after formation, most commonly uranium. “Green is one of the hardest colors to be certified, because you had a lot of jewelers radiating their diamonds artificially,” said Rosenberg. He continued, “To get a diamond certified green, you have to start with the rough stone, and polish it just a little bit at a time, constantly sending it back and forth to the GIA so they can document that it’s still the same stone.” Most green diamonds still have a little bit of the original skin on at least one of the facets of the stone in order to maintain their authenticity. Rosenberg once said he wouldn’t recommend a diamond unless it had a story to tell, and the blue-green at the center of the Trophy Diamond certainly tells a sweet tale. “When I set my eyes on the stone, I was immediately reminded of the calm and crisp waters of the Maldives,” Rosenberg said. And so he refers to the stone as ‘The Heart of the Maldives’ in the island’s honor. He continued, “The island is very serene and luxurious, just like the ring. It is also located near the equator, and so I feel like when you wear this ring, you’ll find balance.” For Investors The owner of ‘The Heart of the Maldives’ diamond ring has placed the ring on the market. Rare fancy colored diamond collectors wishing to request a private appointment to view it in Boca Raton, Florida, may call David Rosenberg at (561) 477-5444. Or, visit www.rosenbergdiamonds.com. Shift Boss Monica Sentsho is part of the team working hard to open up access to new underground mining areas at the Cullinan mine in Africa.

“To get a diamond certified green, you have to start with the rough stone and polish it just a little bit at a time, constantly sending it back and forth to the GIA so they can document that it’s still the same stone.” — David Rosenberg Above ground at the Cullinan mine in Africa.*

*The exact mine of origin of the blue-green diamond in ‘The Heart of the Maldives’ isn’t certain (however, the authenticity of the natural color is certified), but the Cullinan mine is most celebrated in the world as a main source of rare blue diamonds. Fall 2017 Opulence

Master Interior Designer Perla Lichi Perfects Artful Living By Alona Abbady Martinez

rue art knows no boundaries. To Claude Monet, paint hue selection was just as important for his personal home’s furniture and walls as it was for the museum-quality canvases he painted. Composer Igor Stravinsky used principles of Picasso’s Cubism to elevate his tonality. And literary artist James Joyce studied the relations of space and time when developing some of his manuscripts. And when it comes to creating captivating living spaces, Master Interior Designer Perla Lichi is the maestro of artful living.

The Fine Art of Displaying Fine Art Perla Lichi knows that fine art plays a critical role in every interior scheme. She compares

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completing an interior décor with artwork to the satisfying results that come with matching a fine wine with a gourmet meal. A successful interior designer for 33 years, Lichi actually considers her profession an extension of fine art. “I work with many cultures and styles and consider my interior design work an art into itself,” she explained. “The art is that extra touch that completes the space.” Perla Lichi is the CEO and principal designer of her namesake company, Perla Lichi Luxury, offering turnkey upscale interior design services with stunning results. Although Ms. Lichi works with a myriad of styles, ranging from traditional to contemporary, she meticulously incorporates art in her transformation of every space.

When it comes to fine art, Lichi has worked with clients of all levels of expertise. Some already own or want specific tangible investment-grade fine art included in their homes. Others are drawn to artwork currently in vogue in the art world. Lichi helps them select the art based on their color schemes, style and room configuration. Clients with little to no knowledge of art completely entrust the designer to add paintings or sculptures that will elevate the look of their newly designed home.

Customized Artistry Perla Lichi Luxury prides itself in tailoring each home to the customer’s unique preferences and needs. Every project is a new adventure to which Lichi considers the art

included as the finishing touch. She encounters many instances where clients already own fine art and would like to incorporate it into the new design. For a 5,500 square foot custom Mediterranean home in Parkland, Florida, the client owned three large artworks: a portrait of Albert Einstein and a contemporary image of the Statue of Liberty by Gene Francois and a stylized portrait of Elvis Presley by Denny Dent. These were collectibles and the clients were keen on incorporating them into the overall renovation of their home. “These paintings made three very strong statements and demanded prominent display. But they were not appropriate for main living areas. We hung them instead in in his game room and in the upstairs landing, where the large artworks add to the ambience and literally transformed the walls into works of art,” Lichi said.

Designing Worldwide With offices in South Florida, a showroom in Dubai and a soon-to-belaunched showroom in Toronto, Perla Lichi has a roster of artists she works with directly to help transform each and every space. “Sometimes people come to me and just want a modern piece of art, so I get them that piece.” Other times, she encounters clients resistant to let go of works of art that they believe may not go with the new design of their home. Lichi believes art is like jewelry, where pieces can easily be mixed and matched. “Just because the home is a modern home, doesn’t mean the artwork inside has to be all modern,” she said, adding that she will always find a space that works for each work of art. “If you like a certain piece and it feels good to you—sometimes people have an emotional connection—then you have to find the proper place for it, regardless of the style.” Lichi’s passion for design and her commitment to reflecting her client’s own personal style is what has made her one of the top interior designers in the world. “I can walk into a home and visualize the owners’ personality just by observing the art on the walls. As an interior designer, you must have an eye for these things.” It also helps that Perla Lichi is an artist herself. “Art is personal. It moves you, and art has no rules! That’s what I love about it. There’s no wrong art. That’s why they call it art, not math!”

Fall 2017 Opulence

R est o r in g Th e

SPLENDOR OF GUZÃ&#x201C;W PALACE

IN P O L A N D

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Q A

With Count Michal SobaŃski By Ava Roosevelt

The sight of the dilapidated, French Renaissance-style palace in Guzów, near Warsaw in Poland, has remained etched in my memory since 2001, when my-then 26-year-old nephew-in-law, Michal Sobański, proposed a visit. Dark clouds threatened that day as we pulled in front of the Sobański’s family residence.

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The Palace was in virtual ruins. Anywhere in the U.S., the site would have been condemned as unsafe to trespass. We stepped inside the hollow-sounding ballroom and Count Feliks Hilary Sobański promptly opened our umbrellas as rain began pouring through holes in the roof. Wind howled thought the damp interior and what was left of the windows and doors were crudely barred by plywood. Since 1856 when Feliks, Count Sobański (Michal’s great-grandfather) purchased it at auction, Adolf Hitler’s visit in 1939, the German occupation, post-war communist nationalization in 1944 and time itself have reduced the palace’s once-grand interior to a bare skeleton of despair and neglect. Gone were all the paintings, sculptures, silver and furnishings embossed with the Sobański coat of arms. Centuries of tradition were stripped away with cruel strokes of sheer greed and ignorance. The Sobański family’s ancestral title dates back to Pope Leon XIII and so does Michal’s determination to preserve its legacy. He decided to regain ownership and restore Sobański Palace to its former glory. We listened in disbelief when Michal began detailing his vision, which included control of the family chapel, the sugar factory and the restoration of an adjacent park and numerous fishponds. Amidst sheer jealousy and contempt for the Sobański family, fierce

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battles with the Guzów local government lasted for years. In 2010, the Ministry of Culture declared Guzów worthy of historical distinction and partook in the restoration of the parks, leaving the rest of the project in Michal and his sister Isabela’s hands. AVA: The fact that you, your father Marek and your sister Isabela had to buy back in 1996 the totally devastated property, which rightfully belonged to the family for centuries, must have been demoralizing. How do you feel about this today? MICHAL: We were outraged. The process was very costly, both financially and emotionally. Poland is the only country behind the former iron curtain which does not carry out the Act of Reprivatization. In addition, Count Michal Sobański the law established after 1945 by the Communists prohibited us, the owners, from approaching our former estates from a distance closer than 30 km. Today, in a free Poland, this decree is still enforced. After 20 years, our bitterness wore off. Now we strive to save the palace and the park by all means available, but even time cannot easily erase the memory of these shameful facts.

Above: Rendering of Guzów Palace shows final look of restoration. Right: Before and after photos of windows and doors. During my recent trip to Warsaw, Michal invited me again to visit Guzów. What a difference 16 years make! Upon our arrival, the once ghostly-looking Guzów Palace was bustling with activity. Amidst a full-fledged construction site, employing dozens of locals, men were working on the roof, scurrying on the scaffolds, installing new handmade windows and massive oak doors. The reinforcement of the old structure, waterproofing the basement, installation of an indoor swimming pool, was completed, and all done to the original specifications. The adjacent park was lined with freshly planted trees. The fishponds, cleaned and restored. The progress, a testament to Michal and his sister’s unwavering determination to accomplish the impossible, took my breath away. AVA: Please tell us about the financial and emotional burden Guzów’s restoration may have caused you. Michal: It took nearly 10 years to gather resources to start the renovations. My own savings and a modest allowance from the Ministry of Culture provided funding for the entire project to date. With the renovation of Guzów far from completion, I think daily about securing the necessary funds to realize my dream. AVA: You named your son Feliks after your great-grandfather Feliks, Count Sobański, the family patriarch. The public sentiment seems more favorable to your title and your personal accomplishments. As the heir apparent, does your son Feliks share your enthusiasm for these projects?

Michal: Certainly, the time when all you needed was a title to achieve a social prominence are gone forever and rightfully so. I inherited my title and the requisite responsibility, which comes along with it. It is a force which I target to ensure the legacy of my name. The prominence of a family is created by individual acts, so that part of their achievements inspires other members and motivates them to take positive action, too. Feliks must choose for himself the direction for his life. Deep in my heart, I hope both my son Felix and daughter Zosia will be a part of Guzów. In the meanwhile, I will continue my journey. For more information, please visit www.palacwguzowie.pl

Ava Roosevelt is the author of The Racing Heart. She is also a Palm Beach philanthropist and wife of the late William Donner Roosevelt, grandson of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

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in the L and scape

Miniature

Magical Art D By Mary & Hugh Williamson

ramatic world events are often a catalyst for fads. Never was that more evident than with the Chicago World’s Fair; World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, which saw the introduction of the Ferris Wheel, the elevator and the all-important zipper to over 28 million visitors. The 600-acre fairgrounds included 200 buildings along with replicas of the ships that brought Columbus to the new world 400 years earlier. Central to the midway was a lagoon, and in it was Wooded Island, a respite from all the excitement. This pastoral retreat was home to the Japanese Pavilion, and the Osaka Gardens, and it was there that miniature Bonsai displays brought the concept of Fairy Gardens to this country. The small scale was a perfect environment for fairies, with plenty of hiding spots. The New York Times recognized an opportunity for a story, and the fairy garden fad was born! It has continued to this day. You can carry on the tradition and delight a child or grandchild! (Wooded Island exists today, and has been revitalized as the Garden of the Phoenix. It serves as a reminder of the glorious 1893 World’s Fair. Most of the fair buildings were temporary. One important exception is the Museum of Science and Industry, formerly the Palace of Fine Arts at the 1893 event.)

Ireland is awash with them! The earliest reference to fairies in England comes from scholar and historian Gervase of Tilbury (Essex) in the 13th century. If you research this, you will find that some of the fairies described shared nothing at all with the familiar and benevolent Tinkerbelle of Peter Pan fame; dark fairies abounded. However, in Victorian and Edwardian times, fairies seem to have taken on a more pleasant persona. They appear to share more in common with butterflies than they do with humans. It is these “nature” fairies that our fairy gardens surely will attract. They are presently perceived to be beautiful, helpful, sweet and to fly with gossamer wings. And, they are invisible!

Practical Application The planting of a Fairy Garden is a perfect way to introduce a child or grandchild to the fun and beauty of landscape gardening. Creating an environment for fairies in something so small as a flower pot, a teacup, a bonsai dish, or in a larger environment outdoors, a corner of a patio or your balcony can generate excitement and a love of plantings. A child will always associate their fairy believer helper with magic. What parent or grandparent doesn’t love that?

Fairies have been a part of poetry, paintings and lore for centuries. The works of Yeats and Shakespeare are sprinkled with references to these magical creatures. A Fairy is the being. Faerie is their world. Both have been romanticized, and with the passage of time are now deemed glamorous and good.

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Making it happen is simple. Just like with regular garden planting, identify your garden location or container. Mix 1/3 local soil with 1/3 sand, and 1/3 Black Cow or equivalent in which to plant. Choose small varieties that complement the scale of the pot or area; miniature ivy, tiny flowers like Baby Tears, Creeping Bluestar, Carpet Tulips, miniature Wing Dianthus and tree-like miniatures. It is fun to add to the garden gradually, with pebble paths, stone steps, shell birdbaths and perhaps a doorway to a secret fairy retreat. Miniature doors can be attached to the ground level crotch of a tree, or painted on and embellished with trim and a small doorknob! It is well known that only fairies can open the doors, so Liquid Nails, or other permanent means of attachment are fine. Fairy houses can be the centerpiece of a large planter, nestled among the plants and moss. It is convenient and helpful to know that humans are NOT supposed to see fairies. So, you can’t fail. Note: Fairies often leave behind some telltale fairy dust. What fun for our young ones to find it in the morning! It is uncanny how much fairy dust resembles items that grandparents see in the craft store.

Finding Inspiration

A Little History

Fairytales sprang from Russia, Eastern and Western Europe, particularly the British Isles.

How it is Done

Teacup fairy garden by Garden Answer

Fairy doors are fascinating, as you discover the seemingly infinite varieties and clever iterations that other fairy believer helpers have contrived. For example, back in 1993, fairy doors began to appear in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in random spots! After the first one popped up, it was followed by dozens more. The city then created a Fairy Door Walking Tour, bringing enchanted pedestrians to the urban center. A bit of a cult was formed! The doors to fairy abodes, both indoors and out graced bookstores, a

“Garden fairies come at dawn, Bless the flowers then they’re gone.” – Author Unknown

shoe boutique, coffee shops, art galleries, Google’s local office, the University of Michigan campus, a waffle shop and many others, including the library. Some were naturalistic, others were very refined. Many of these very charming examples remain. It was, essentially an “Art Installation”, and a brilliant marketing effort! Or was it? Maps were sold, posters featuring photos of each door were produced and books were written, including Jonathan B. Wright’s Who’s Behind the Fairy Doors? Be sure to explore the Ann Arbor Fairy Doors and others, such as the Milburn, NJ trail version online. They will inspire you, although commercially produced fairy doors, furniture, trellises, tiny wheelbarrows, rakes and other accoutrements are very popular and readily available. So, if your carpentry skills are not your strong point, you can still be a hero. Garden shops and online sources offer elaborate fairy castles complete with solar lighting, as well as charming rustic doors, and even footbridges, though why fairies would need a footbridge is another mystery! Do remember that fairies are allergic to plastic, and prefer natural building materials, like acorns and pinecones! Creating a dollhouse for fairies is one way to look at it, with the added benefit that your fairy garden might just foster a love of the outdoors and gardening, far away from electronic “devices”. What a way to light a flame for which you will always be remembered.

Mary and Hugh Williamson

The Williamsons live in Bluffton, SC. , where their youngest grandchild races to the fairy garden to look for changes when she visits. The hidden tree-mounted fairy door always sports seasonal decorations and signs of residence. Fall 2017 Opulence

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Chef José Avillez

Two-Michelin-Star Portuguese Epicurean By Kelly Villasuso

s Portugal adjusts to its ever-growing popularity, chefs throughout the country look for ways to keep step not only with the influx of global gastronomes, but with the changing tastes of the locals, too — all while preserving and honoring Portugal’s deep-rooted, diverse culinary culture. Leading this charge is Chef José Avillez. Chef Avillez has risen to the top of the Portuguese culinary scene, bringing with him national and international accolades. From two Michelin stars, to “Boa Cama Boa Mesa” Platinum and Gold Forks, and Repsol Suns, to 2016 Best International Restaurant (Condé

Nast Traveller International) and one of the world’s best restaurants (Restaurant magazine; 85th in 2017), it seems this charismatic, innovative super chef is just getting started. After having the opportunity to experience Chef Avillez’s bravura at Belcanto — from the Elderini (a martini made with elderflower liquor and a “green olive” filled with a chocolate and cumin core), Azorean tuna “bouquet,” and the Portuguese pot-au-feu, straight through to the strawberries, lychees, roses and yuzu — one can only imagine what he will conceive of next. I interviewed Chef Avillez to get a glimpse of the man behind the Portuguese culinary wizardry. Photo above: The garden of the goose that laid the golden egg

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PHOTO CREDIT: LUIS MILEN

International Opulence: Name one of the iconic dishes you believe helped distinguish you as a chef. Chef Avillez: If I had to choose one, [it would be] ...”Dip in the Sea”, a dish from Belcanto with sea bass, seaweed and shellfish. I grew up in Cascais by the sea, surrounded by pinewoods. The memory of being that close to the sea is very strong and it really is a part of me, it defines me. The creative process is complex, because everything influences me: the past, the present, my travels, the people, the landscape… along with my inner world. Usually, I make these creations mentally and I only execute them later. It’s a mental process. When I put them into effect, the dish is already 90 percent created. Portuguese cuisine is tremendously rich and varied, but if I had to make just one suggestion, I would recommend our fish and shellfish. For me, it’s the best in the world. Our shore’s cold water makes its flavor and texture extraordinary. Mandarin

PHOTO CREDIT: Paolo Barata

International Opulence: When did you develop your passion for cooking? Chef Avillez: I have had a passion for food ever since I was a child. Really it was more of a passion for eating. I started cooking at 7. My sister and I baked cakes that we would sell to our family, friends and neighbors. We didn’t measure the ingredients, but the cakes came out fine. International Opulence: Who do you feel made the most significant impression on you as a cook? As a chef? As a person? Chef Avillez: My mentors: Maria de Lourdes Modesto, the most important Portuguese author on Traditional Portuguese Cuisine; José Bento dos Santos, the most important Portuguese gastronome; all the great chefs I have worked with and learned from, including my training at Alain Ducasse’s school; my internships in Eric Fréchon’s kitchen at the Bristol Hotel and at Fortaleza do Guincho under Antoine Westerman; and Ferran Adrià at El Bulli. Ferran Adrià had a life-changing role in my career and in my life.

www.belcanto.pt/EN www.joseavillez.pt

“The creative process is complex, because everything influences me: the past, the present, my travels, the people, the landscape… along with my inner world.” – Chef José Avillez

A gastronomic experience is made up of several details: a passionate team, high-quality products, the accurate technique, excellent service and the right atmosphere, along with the meal’s rhythm, its temperature and textures. The drive to innovate comes from my passion for food and from the joy I feel by surprising others. Dip in the Sea PHOTO CREDIT: Paolo Barata 106

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ROMANCING IN

PORTUGAL PHOTO: RAUL VILLASUSO

By Kelly Villasuso

Lisbon

early three decades ago, while watching the movie Overboard, I became captivated by a love story about a Portuguese couple,

Arturo and Katarina: Arturo was a lowly Portuguese fisherman who fell in love with the governor’s daughter, Katarina. When the governor found out, he banished Arturo from his beautiful, beloved Portugal. Before going out to sea, Arturo pledged to Katarina he would return and would notify her with three blasts of the ship’s horn.

the sea hits the rocky shores and the spray rises, it is said to be Arturo and Katarina making love.

(shared on page 26) in The Contemporary Renaissance of Port Wine.

This tragically beautiful tale kept me wondering about this small country (just slightly bigger than the state of Maine) for decades. With Portugal now on every “must-go” travel list in global media, I finally got my chance to experience the home of the legendary Arturo and Katarina and traverse through three of its seven diverse regions — Lisbon/Sintra, the Algarve, and Porto

As the older sibling of Rome by 400 years, Lisbon clearly has had practice being the global “it” city. Lisbon effortlessly introduced me to a few of its many faces: The “City of Seven Hills” as I climbed the calçada portuguesa (hand-laid mosaic stone) walkways throughout Lisbon, taking in the old, the new, and a rooster or two; the “Queen

Lisbon

Legend has it that they both drown, meeting at the ocean’s floor to be together forever. When

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PHOTO: RAUL VILLASUSO

One cold and foggy night a year later, Arturo sailed into the territory and sounded his horn three times. After hearing his call, Katarina dove from the rocks into the water below. Arturo yelled from the ship, “Katarina, Katarina” and Katarina responded, “Arturo.” He could not see Katarina through the dense fog, so Arturo dove into the icy sea to find her. Visit Cais da Favorita, a sailboat-turned-bar with sling-back chairs to relax at the river’s edge while sipping on port under the brilliant Portuguese sun.

As the crown jewel of Portugal, Sintra has more royal abodes per square mile than any other place in Europe — and has UNESCO world heritage status to prove it.

Palácio Nacional Pena de Sintra, Portugal

Discoveries to Experience in Lisbon: • Visit Cais da Favorita, a sailboat-turned-bar with sling-back chairs to relax at the river’s edge while sipping on port under the brilliant Portuguese sun. • Take in the most spectacular views from the coolest rooftop bar at one of the finest hotels in Lisbon: The Sky Bar at the beautifully renovated Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisboa Hotel. Ask Bartender Henrique Pimpao Caio Oliveira’s for his signature Portuguese Sour, garnished with a tiny Szechuan Button (also known as buzz button, ting flower, and electric daisy). Between the drink and the view,

your night will be electrifying … only to be amped up by Tivoli’s Cervejaria Liberdade restaurant’s Clams Bulhão Pato and Arroz de Lavagante (European Lobster Rice).

Tivoli Palácio de Seteais

Sintra After Lisbon, we set out for the mountain town of Sintra, about 20 miles — yet a world — away. We were awestruck by the majestic Palácio Nacional de Sintra, the Palácio e Quinta da Regaleira, and the spectacular Palácio Nacional da Pena, as we inched toward our hotel, Tivoli Palácio de Seteais. Had we not had four wheels on the ground, I might have thought we had driven straight into the pages of a fairytale. Manicured lawns and gardens rolled out toward a mélange of flora in every direction, only interrupted by yet another breathtaking palace. As the crown jewel of Portugal, Sintra has more royal abodes per square mile than any other place in Europe — and has UNESCO world heritage status to prove it.

PHOTO: RAUL VILLASUSO

of the Sea” as she reigned over the Atlantic Ocean and Tagus River, making unique fish and seafood, such as sardines, Pato clams, and Gooseneck barnacles, delectably accessible to me; and the “City of the Light” as the long summer days ushered in gorgeous sunsets over the city’s brilliant waters. No matter which face Lisbon unveiled for me, I fell for it much like Arturo did Katarina.

Interior of Tivoli Palácio de Seteais

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As we entered the grounds of Palácio de Seteais, our role in this fairytale world crystallized. In a matter of miles, we had magically transformed into a prince and princess. The “most beautiful place in Portugal” (stated the king of fairytales himself, Hans Christian Anderson, about Sintra) was where one could write their own romantic legend … with a happy ending.

PHOTO: RAUL VILLASUSO

Discoveries to Experience in Sintra: • Experience the romantic utopia of Sintra with a stay at Tivoli Palácio de Seteais, opting for full immersion in their royal offerings with a dinner for two in the majestic Pillement Room discreetly accompanied by your private butler (Armenio was utterly charming) and harpist (Katherine was extremely talented). • Visit the neighboring palaces, Pena or Palácio de Monserrate, by way of horse and carriage for an authentic and romantic adventure.

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PHOTO: RAUL VILLASUSO

After Sintra, we set out on a three-plushour drive to Vilamoura in the Algarve region. As we headed south, the landscape of Portugal changed yet again, taking on a balmy, tropical feel. The Algarve rolled out a proverbial royal carpet of almond, fig, and orange trees, among other Algarviangrown treasures.

PHOTO: RAUL VILLASUSO

Algarve

The humid breezes blew through the car window as we descended on our hotel, Anantara Vilamoura, bringing promise of sun-soaked hours (of which the Algarve has nearly 3,000 hours each year) lounging oceanside or by the pool — much needed after the bustle of Lisbon and our royal appearances in Sintra.

Executive Chef — Bruno Viegas. Get up close and personal with the local merchants and the shoppers who represent daily Portuguese living in this slice of heaven.

minorhotels.com/en/tivoli/tivoli-avenidaliberdade-lisboa

• Master the Arnold Palmer designed Oceanico Victoria golf course at Anantara Vilamoura or one of 29 other courses in the Algarve.

vilamoura.anantara.com

minorhotels.com/en/tivoli/tivoli-palaciode-seteais

Never did I feel closer to the soul of the Portuguese fisherman, Arturo, than in the Algarve, where fish and seafood are the culinary star, and to the noble soul of Katarina as I fell in love with the authentic Algarvian hospitality (we were greeted with glasses of sweet carob and Algarvian orange juice, almonds and figs), song (the evening Fado performances were amazing), food (EMO in the hotel was on par with the six Michelinstarred-restaurants throughout the Algarve), and wine (particularly from the Negra Mole grape grown exclusively in the Algarve, which produces a beautiful wine like Pinot Noir).

PHOTO: RAUL VILLASUSO

Discoveries to Experience in Algarve: • Spend the morning shopping in Loulé, a traditional Portuguese market town in the Algarve, with the utterly charming Loulé resident — and Anantara Vilamoura’s

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A Mediterranean Journey By Jana Soeldner Danger

Ronda’s ‘Roman Bridge’ All Landscape photos by Dan Brooke

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A visit to southwest Spain is a journey that winds through centuries of religious strife and human accomplishment on a pathway of breathtaking natural beauty and wonder. Photographer and businessman Dan Brooke and his wife Tatiana recently traveled there, visiting the cities of Estepona, Ronda, Malaga and Seville, as well as the British territory of Gibraltar. “This part of Spain and other coastal areas were trade ports inhabited by the Phoenicians and later the Romans,” said Dan, who remarkably shot the landscape and structure photographs in this layout with his cell phone. “The Muslim Moors conquered it in the 700s and ruled for nearly 600 years until the Christians finally began to take over in the 1300s and 1400s. But the Moorish architecture and influence can still be seen today.” Travel with the Brookes as we visit some highlights of the region’s rich history and culture.

RONDA Perched high on a mountaintop, Ronda is divided by the deep El Tajo gorge. Originally an Iberian settlement, the city was eventually conquered by the Romans. “The ‘Roman Bridge’ and other smaller bridges provide access to either side,” Dan said. “It’s a beautiful town with narrow, winding streets and lots of character.”

Ernest Hemingway

Ronda was a summer home for author Ernest Hemingway. Actor/director Orson Welles’ final wishes were to be laid to rest in Ronda. “His ashes and those of his wife Mori are buried in a flower-covered well

at the countryside estate of his friend, bullfighter Antonio Ordóñez,” Dan said. A picturesque walkway, or paseo, is named for each of these famous visitors. The Welles pa- Orson Welles seo runs behind a modern hotel, while the Hemingway walkway leads to the beautiful

Though construction began on top of this Moorish mosque in 1528, the combination of Baroque, Gothic, and Spanish Renaissance style cathedral was never fully completed. Alameda del Tajo garden and it also runs behind the Corrida Goyesca, Spain’s oldest bullring. The origins of bullfighting are lost in antiquity – the activity may have begun with the Visigoths in the 5th century – but Ronda is considered to be the home of the modern version. “The bullring is open to tour on your own, and it is amazing to see,” Dan said. “The inside stairs are decorated with beautiful tile work. There’s also a Spanish stallion riding school on the grounds, where we watched them practice.”

On a hillside near the bullring is the Merced Carmelite Convent. The first Carmelites were male hermits, former pilgrims and crusaders who dedicated themselves to a life of austerity, poverty and prayer. In 1452, the first order of nuns became part of the convent, much to the chagrin of many of the old monks. Plaza del Socorro is home to the city’s casino as well as the Artists Society. On many evenings, visitors can enjoy Flamenco shows in this charming corner of town. Fall 2017 Opulence

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Alcazaba of Malaga

A passageway connects the Alcazaba to the Gibralfaro Castle, where towers offer a breathtaking, panoramic view of the city. On clear days, it’s possible to see all the way to the coast of North Africa and the Strait of Gibraltar. The city is rich in other Roman ruins, as well. “During an archaeological dig, the remains of Roman walls lined with red stucco, and small cisterns carved into the rock that were used for making garum, a kind of fish paste, were found,” Dan said. “There’s also a dungeon where Christian slave girls were locked up at night.” Today, a glass pyramid covers the site. “But you can peer down through it to see the cisterns and imagine the people who once used the vibrant port,” Brooke said.

Pablo Picasso

MALAGA

Some of Malaga’s early construction was sur-

The seaside city of Malaga, where quaint shops and cafes line the streets, was another memorable stop. “We hadn’t planned to spend much time there and decided to go later in the day,” Dan said. “But when we got there, we wished we had had more time. In fact, it turned out to be one of our favorite places. The downtown area was very European looking, with old buildings, quaint cafes and shops, and street vendors roasting and selling Malaga almonds, which were different from anything we had tried before, and very tasty.”

prisingly sophisticated, especially its sewer system. “Every home had a latrine,” Dan said. The Alcazaba, a hilltop citadel built by Muslims on the remains of an old PhoenicianPunic fort, once served as protection for the busy commercial port. “It overlooks the city and the Mediterranean, and it dates back to 1057,” Dan said. “And parts of it were built using materials from an old Roman theater.” That theater, built during the time of Caesar Augustus, was buried for centuries and discovered in 1953 when construction began for new palace gardens.

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Malaga is the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, Dan noted. His former home in the Plaza de la Merced is now a historic monument, and it’s easy to imagine the young artist growing up there. Actor, singer, director and producer Antonio Banderas is also from there.

GIBRALTAR Dan had a personal reason for wanting to visit Gibraltar (a British territory uniquely positioned on the tip of a peninsula bordered on the top by Spain) where monkeys living on both the rock and in the town are a draw for tourists. “We went there mostly for the memory of my grandfather, who was there during World War II while he was in Cadiz,” Dan said. “The port city of Cadiz is evidently the oldest

Seville Cathedral from La Giralda Tower

J.C. Nichols, was modeled after,” said Brooke, whose hometown is Kansas City. “A smaller version of the Seville bell tower was built there in 1923.” Rock of Gibraltar continuously populated city in Europe, dating back to the Phoenicians.” Traveling between Spain and Gibraltar turned out to be an adventure in itself. “After going through immigration, we had to cross an active airport runway to get into town,” Dan said. “Going both ways, we needed to wait for commercial airliners to clear before we could cross.”

SEVILLE Their last stop was the city of Seville on the Guadalquivir River, an important harbor during the Spanish conquest of the American continent. Today, it is the capital and largest city in the autonomous community of Andalucia and the province of Seville, as well as the cultural and financial center of southern Spain. Seville’s rich culture and history date back to the Middle Ages. But Dan was interested in visiting it because of a modern connection: “I wanted to see the city that the Kansas City Country Club Plaza, built by

Constructed by Muslims in the 12th century, the La Giralda Tower is one of the few structures remaining in the world that was built by Almohads (a Muslim Berber sect and dynasty). In yet another mix of cultures and religions, the tower is connected to Seville’s cathedral.

the Ibero-American exhibition in 1929, features fountains, bridges and baroque arcades, as well as benches representing all of the Spanish provinces. “It’s much newer, being built in 1928, but it’s very beautiful with amazing tile work.” Dan paused as he reminisced, “We can hardly wait to go back and see more of this land of breathtaking history!”

“It’s the largest Gothic church in the world, and the third largest cathedral in the world,” Dan said. “It’s truly breathtaking. But the main reason I wanted to go there was to see the tomb of Christopher Columbus. It’s very impressive, and his son Ferdinand is also buried in there.” Next to the cathedral is the Alcazar of Seville. “It’s a large palace built by the Muslims in the 950s next to a surrounding Roman wall,” Dan said. There was some unexpected activity. “They were filming a Game of Thrones during our walking tour, so we missed some parts because we had to get around the film crew,” he said. Their last stop was the Plaza de Espana. The square, which was constructed to house

Tomb of Christopher Columbus

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ISLAND PLAY GROUND

By Stephanie Bowman

It takes those in the Western Hemisphere over 20 hours to travel here, yet its popularity continues to rise. Known for its beaches, volcanoes and biodiverse hotspots, if you ever make the trek here, you will have undoubtedly visited the most special place on earth. Indonesia combines the promise of wild adventure with the opportunity to restore inner peace, allowing visitors to experience a well-balanced vacation. Here’s what you have to do if you ever find yourself in the best part of the East Indies.

Snorkel in Gili The Gili islands’ beaches definitely rival those of the Maldives and Fiji in their beauty and abundant sea life. The archipelago of three tiny islands—Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air—can be found near the Coast of Lombok Island, fringed by palm trees and white, sandy beaches. Each island has its own uniqueness, but all three restrict the use of motorized vehicles. Bikes and horses are the only means of transportation, though it’s not unusual to see locals walk. The largest island of the three, Gili T, measures only 3 kilometers long and 2 kilometers wide. Activities include snorkeling, diving, sunbathing and drinking, and accommodations range from tiny beach shacks to 5 star resorts and private villas.

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With a reputation of being the “turtle capital of the world,” the Gilis live up to their repute lodging an array of marine life and colorful reefs beneath its turquoise waters. Not into diving? Bask in the sun while swinging above the sea on one of the eight iconic swings erected in the middle of the ocean.

At its beaches, a horizon full of waves summons surfers of every level; while endless miles of sand are reserved for yogis doing downward dog poses. The rich scent of Balinese cuisine tantalizes foodies, while coffee addicts flock to hip cafes in hopes of

consuming the infamous kopi luwak coffee—native to Indonesia and ranked the most expensive java in the world. Promise yourself you’ll wake up in Bali one day.

Swim in Bali Bali, the most popular of the 17,500 islands that make up Indonesia, is a lush islet known for its surf and rich culture. Referred to as the “Island of the Gods,” magnificent temples and ornate flower-petal offerings are sprinkled throughout the island. Though speeding scooters and heavy traffic occasionally become a nuisance, its sites and friendly inhabitants more than make up for it.

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Monkey Around in Ubud Escape to Ubud, also known as the heart of Bali. Featured in Elizabeth Gilbert’s bestselling manifesto “Eat, Pray, Love,” this cosmopolitan community is more laid back than Bali. Because of its slower pace, expats and hippies have migrated here, making Ubud their permanent home. More surprisingly, monkeys make up a considerable part of the city’s population thanks to Ubud’s Sacred Monkey Forest, a sanctuary for the Balinese long-tailed monkeys. Hundreds of tourists visit the popular attraction daily, feeding monkeys while exploring ancient temples found within the nature reserve. Balinese long-tailed monkeys

Temple de Borobudur, Java, Indonésie

Besides monkeys, Ubud is also recognized for its iconic rice paddies and stunning backdrops. Be sure to rent a bike and explore the lush rice fields. For dinner, get swept away by the famous 100-candlelight spread, a six-course dining experience. Diners eat alongside the Ayung River surrounded by candles and thousands of flower petals. You can enjoy the most romantic dinner you’ll ever have at Swept Way restaurant located at The Samaya Resort. Manifest your inner Elizabeth Gilbert and go find yourself in Ubud.

Pray in Borobudur The Borobudur temple, located in Central Java, is the largest Buddhist temple in the world. It’s no surprise that it’s listed on UNESCO World Heritage site. The ancient temple was built in the 8th century, erected in the shape of a traditional Buddhist mandala. The best time to visit the temple is right before sunrise, hiking up numerous steps with a flashlight just in time to watch the sun bathe the temple’s breathtaking compound. Achieve nirvana at this iconic temple. Experience what it means to live in a postcard in this tropical paradise.

Hang with Dragons Indonesia is home to Komodo National Park. Another one on UNESCO’s list, it’s one of the only places in the world where you can see these magnificent creatures. If the fear of getting attacked by a poisonous reptile overwhelms you, hop on a boat to Padar Island to see the tri-colored beaches. Despite the challenging hike, the highest point of the island offers unrestricted views of a white, a black and a pink sand beach. Just like the long flight to travel to Indonesia, the journey to this magical spot is definitely worthwhile. Komodo National Park

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INtErNAtIONAL OPULENCE CELEBrAtES FINE Art & FINE rUm Guests attending the International Opulence Summer 2017 issue launch party at the famous Wynwood Diner in Miami toasted with skinny Mojitos made with Ron Barceló Rum. the 87-year-old rum brand is the only Dominican rum distilled from the juice of fresh sugar cane. Melding art, spirit and a proud Dominican heritage, Ron Barceló has partnered with Wynwood-based neofigurative art-ist Ruben ubiera to create a limited edition bottle for Barceló Añejo Rum. Cheers!

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Philanthropy

BY AVA ROOSEVELT

The Most Seen Man On TV & His Novel Notion on Giving

s we plan each issue of International Opulence, I propose philanthropically inclined individuals who are not only newsworthy but who have touched me with their honesty, spirit and faith. Mike Lindell, a Minnesota-born CEO of the privately-held company MyPillow (which has sales exceeding $1 billion) came to mind in an instant. Seldom do I meet a person who embodies all these qualities. Combined with generosity, kindness and an abundance of enthusiasm, Mike won my heart at a handshake. The evening we met in New York, he openly shared with me how he managed to overcome an addiction to cocaine and alcohol. He then handed me one of his famous “My Pillow” pillows. It was tangible proof that one can change for the better despite two failed marriages, a handful of odd jobs and a prolonged inability to conquer one’s demons. “Does this Q&A have a luxe component to it?” asked my Editor in Chief, Robin Jay. “Sleep, like money, is only unimportant when you get it. How many people do you know who wouldn’t give anything for a good night’s rest?” We chuckled, but sleep disorders cost Americans an estimated $63 billion annually in lost productivity. These facts were not lost on Mike Lindell, who in 2004 sank his entire savings into developing an all-American-made pillow, which millions, myself included, swear by. He spends approximately $1.8 million a week on advertisements, production for which he directly oversees, on TV, radio and in newspapers. Called the ‘most innovative marketer in home goods,’ Mike has broken sales records at QVC and recently won the coveted “Product Concept of the Year” award. He is

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Mike Lindell

said to be the most-seen man on American television and has dominated the marketing field with his advertising strategy. Ava: Mike, you said, “I was an addict in every sense of the word.” When did you hit rock bottom and what was your turning point? Mike: Do you remember the days before flat-screen TVs, when you turned off the television and the picture reduced to a tiny dot? I felt as if my life was being reduced to a point of nothingness. That’s when I knew I was at the end of my rope. In 2009, I went to bed in the early morning hours of January 16. I asked God to remove the weight of addiction from my shoulders. The next morning, I woke up and felt literally unchained. I touched my arms and body because I couldn’t believe the sense of freedom I felt. But it was very real. I was freed that day, and by God’s grace, I am still free.

Ava: Why pillows? Mike: I could never get a good night’s sleep growing up. I didn’t have much money back then, but I’d spend whatever I could spare on different types of pillows. Nothing worked. So I began to reverse-engineer my ideas of what a pillow should be. I started with the result I wanted and worked backward. Ava: Your four children, along with some 1,500 other personnel, have worked at MyPillow. What role have your kids played in achieving success? Mike: When I started the company, my four kids were all in their teens or 20s and became my first employees. They played a pivotal role. They’re great kids. They never lost faith in their dad. They were with me when I was hand-packing custom foam into my first prototypes. Today, I look at all

of my employees as family. It is also very important to me to keep the production of MyPillow within the confines of my great home state and that all parts of the pillow are made in the USA. Ava: A former down-pillow addict and now a MyPillow convert, I can attest that your product is special, but how did you manage to corner the market already saturated with similar products? Mike: MyPillow was a solution to an age-old problem, and the industry was really a onesize fits all marketplace. MyPillow solves the problem of keeping your neck straight at night. Other pillows bend, twist or conform to you as you move in your sleep. Everyone doubted our print ads, our infomercials, but it came down to the product being one of the best products in history. Yet, I kept getting turned down from stores. I decided I’d bring it right to the people. I didn’t realize that most infomercials fail! I just believed that mine would be amazing because I was just so passionate about this product. Ava: Part of the MyPillow sales fund the Lindell Foundation, which is dedicated to addressing inner-city blight, especially as it affects young people, veterans and others who are susceptible to addiction. Tell us about it. Mike: I saw that one of the main issues with big-time charities was their own corruption or waste. When someone donates money, they don’t exactly know how and where those funds are being allocated. Does the young orphan really find a home, or are the donations paying some director their huge fee? As I did with forming my company, I went the reverse-engineering route to better construct the notion of giving. First, I started by looking at what I wanted in a charity. Highest on my list was to find real needs that we could help. The second priority was assurance that the money would

I saw that one of the main issues with big-time charities was their own corruption or waste. When someone donates money, they don’t exactly know how and where those funds are being allocated. — Mike Lindell

go directly to where it was supposed to go. Finally, I wanted to know the results of the donation; did the orphanage in Cambodia get their roof repaired, did the 20 kids in India get the glasses they needed? With Lindell Foundation, donors are assured that 100 percent of their money makes it to the needy because MyPillow is covering the foundation’s overhead. The money donated actually goes to the little kids in need. MyPillow has donated millions to get this off the ground. We are now focusing on the needs in America. We will have a rotating grid of “need squares,” and when you see a cause you like, you can help it immediately with as little or as much as you wish. Ava: Tell us about your friendship with Stephen Baldwin and the film production company you formed together. Mike: Stephen and I have both overcome considerable obstacles in life. We met at a radio station and really clicked. We were driving through Times Square and I said, “Stephen, I have a book coming out about my life and I’d like to make a movie about it some day.” He said, “Why don’t you and I make the most amazing faith-based movies ever?” Light Beam Media was born. We are already on our 3rd project of faith-based films. Our first film is a comedy titled ‘Youth Group.’ Stephen is a featured star, as are his brother Billy and sister-in-law Chynna Phillips, Billy’s wife. I have a one-line part at the end of the film. Ava: Mike, in a couple of words, what do you believe defines who you are? Mike: Faith, loyalty and integrity. Ava: Thank you Mike. I am proud to be able to call you my friend. God bless you.

Ava Roosevelt is the author of The Racing Heart. She is also a Palm Beach philanthropist and wife of the late William Donner Roosevelt, grandson of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

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Scientific Discovery

A CRACK IN CREATION Gene Editing Advances of CRISPR and the Unthinkable Power to Control Evolution An excerpt by Jennifer Doudna

y name is Jennifer Doudna. I am a biochemist, and in the past half-decade, I have become involved in a groundbreaking area of the life sciences. By the summer of 2015, the biotechnology that I’d helped establish was growing at a pace that I could not have imagined. And its implications were seismic .

The biological world is…undergoing profound, human-induced changes. When agriculture emerged 10,000 years ago, humans began biasing evolution through the selective breeding of Jennifer Doudna plants and animals, but the starting material — the random DNA mutations constituting the available genetic variations — was still generated spontaneously and randomly. As a result, our species’ efforts to transform nature were met with limited success.

The Dawn of CRISPR Scientists have succeeded in bringing this primordial process fully under human control. Using powerful biotechnology tools to tinker with DNA inside living cells, scientists can now manipulate and rationally modify the genetic code that defines every species on the planet, including our own. And with the newest and arguably most effective genetic engineering tool, CRISPR-Cas9 (CRISPR for short), the genome — an organism’s entire DNA content, including all its genes — has become almost as editable as a simple piece of text. As long as the genetic code for a particular trait is known, scientists can use CRISPR to insert, edit, or delete the associated gene in virtually any living plant’s or animal’s genome.

“This CRISPR illustration is provided by Synthego, which helps scientists accelerate CRISPR genome engineering research by providing technologies that significantly improve the effectiveness of research while drastically reducing the time required in the lab,” said Kevin Holden, PhD, Head of Synthetic Biology at Synthego. – Kevin Holden, PhD, Head of Synthetic Biology at Synthego.

This process is far simpler and more effective than any other genemanipulation technology in existence. Practically overnight, we have found ourselves on the cusp of a new age in genetic engineering and biological mastery — a revolutionary era in which the possibilities are limited only by our collective imagination.

Gene Editing in Humans To treat many diseases, CRISPR offers the potential to edit and repair mutated genes directly in human patients. In laboratorygrown human cells, this new gene-editing technology was used to correct the mutations responsible for cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, some forms of blindness, and severe combined immunodeficiency, among many other disorders.

How The Science Works CRISPR enables scientists to accomplish such feats by finding and fixing single incorrect letters of DNA out of the 3.2 billion letters that make up the human genome. Researchers have 122

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The utility of this same machine to perform DNA manipulations in other kinds of cells, including human cells, was immediately clear to us. By the time scientists employed CRISPR in primate embryos to create the first geneedited monkeys, I asked myself how long it would be before some maverick scientists attempted to do the same in humans.

Gene editing holds the promise of life-changing treatments and, in some cases, lifesaving cures. corrected the DNA mistakes that cause Duchenne muscular dystrophy by snipping out only the damaged region of the mutated gene, leaving the rest intact. Because CRISPR allows precise and relatively straightforward DNA editing, it has transformed every genetic disease — at least, every disease for which we know the underlying mutation(s) — into a potentially treatable target. Physicians have already begun treating some.

The Ethical Dilemma Gene editing holds the promise of lifechanging treatments and lifesaving cures. But there are other profound implications of CRISPR technology: It can be used not just to treat diseases in living humans but also to prevent diseases in future humans. The CRISPR technology is so simple and efficient that scientists could exploit it to modify the human germline — the stream of genetic information connecting one generation to the next. Yet once it becomes feasible to transform an embryo’s mutated genes into “normal” ones, there will certainly be temptations to upgrade normal genes to supposedly superior versions. Should we begin editing genes in unborn children to lower their lifetime risk of heart disease, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, or cancer? What about endowing unborn children with beneficial traits, like greater strength and increased cognitive abilities, or changing physical traits, like eye and hair color?

The Accidental Discovery This is unprecedented in the history of life on earth. And it forces us to confront an impossible but essential question: What will we, a fractious species whose members can’t agree on much, choose to do with this awesome power? Controlling the evolution of the human species could not have been further from my mind in 2012, when my colleagues and I published the research paper that formed the basis of the CRISPR gene-editing technology. Yet in the course of our research on a bacterial immune system called CRISPR-Cas, we uncovered the workings of an incredible molecular machine that could slice apart viral DNA with exquisite precision.

An easy way of rewriting genetic code with CRISPR brings nearly limitless promise for disease elimination, but also the possibility of peril from overzealous power seekers.

What repercussions would we need to prepare for? I was tempted to leave those discussions to the people with actual bioethics training… Yet at the same time, as a pioneer in the field, I felt a responsibility to help lead the conversation on how those technologies could, and should, be used. In particular, I wanted to ensure that the discussion involved not only researchers and bioethicists but also a great range of stakeholders, including social scientists, policymakers, faith leaders, regulators, and members of the public. Gene editing forces us to grapple with the tricky issue of where to draw the line when manipulating human genetics. Some people view any form of genetic manipulation as a perverse violation of the dignity of life. Others see the genome simply as software — something we can fix, clean, update, and upgrade — and argue that leaving human beings at the mercy of faulty genetics is not only irrational, but immoral. We hope this book will demystify this exciting area of science and inspire you to get involved. Excerpted from A Crack in Creation: Gene Editing and the Unthinkable Power to Control Evolution by Jennifer Doudna and Samuel Sternberg. Copyright © 2017 by Jennifer Doudna and Samuel Sternberg. Used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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American History

Inside The Bloodiest 47 Acres in America An eerie look at the history behind the walls of the Missouri State Penitentiary By Erick Rodriguez

and McNally has named Jefferson City, Missouri, ‘America’s Most Beautiful Small Town.’ As such, you may find it surprising that this charming state capital town of flower pots and white picket fences also has a much darker nickname associated with one of its historic institutions – the Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP), ‘the bloodiest 47 acres in America.’

Throughout its operation for over 100 years, the prison served various manufacturing roles, among them being the largest saddletree factory in the world. Former warden and historian Mark S. Schreiber explains that since its initial completion in 1835, the prison expanded to include over 5,000 convicts in 1932 and has been called the poster child for why free industrial market convict labor should not be used in competition with union labor. He further elaborates that the prison served as an influential industrial resource for the City of Jefferson, at one time producing up to 10,000 pairs of shoes and boots every two weeks and making over 60,000 saddletrees per year.

The More Infamous Side of MSP MSP was not only famous for its manufacturing prowess, in fact, there were a host of infamous offenders who were housed in what was called the bloodiest prison in America in the 1960s. Some of the notable inhabitants include the man who killed Martin Luther King – James Earl Ray, boxer Sonny Liston, gangsters Roger McQueen and Edna Murray, a member of the Bonnie and Clyde gang Blanche Barrow, bank robber Charles “Pretty Boy” Floyd, and a man who survived the dark dungeon of the prison for 18 years named JB Johnson. The reason why Missouri State Penitentiary is a blood-ridden reminder of a cruel period in American history is that it is known for the hundreds of cases of handmade contraband weapons created by clever inmates who were violent, unpredictable and murderous. Schreiber’s book, Shanks to Shakers, is a solemn recognition of the dark criminal history that surrounds Jefferson City’s historic prison. In it, the former warden tells the story of the penitentiary through photographs taken throughout its history, as well as memoranda he acquired following its final days of operation in 2004. Modern critics would point out the immoral practices that characterized the prison, including the use of gas chambers, lethal injection, and torture of inmates.

Infamous Inmates: A former Union General, the first train robber, 1930s gangsters, a world champion athlete and the assassin who killed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. all came through the gates at the Missouri State Penitentiary.

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The Historic Riot Following horrid conditions faced by the prisoners at the penitentiary, a riot erupted at the prison on September 22, 1954, after two inmates pretended to be sick in order to incapacitate their guards, steal their keys, and release an onslaught of some of the most heinous criminals known to the American government.

Although the rioting ended, the damage that accumulated from it added up to over $5 million. The outbreak resulted in the loss of four inmates and injured 50 of them, while only injuring four officers. It took more than 245 state troopers to subdue the chaos and not a single prisoner was able to escape thanks to their valiant effort. Following repairs passed into law by the governor Matthew Donnelly, an enormous shakedown of the prison revealed what amounted to an arsenal of weaponry. The day after the riot, 100 St. Louis policemen joined prison guards to find sledgehammers, axe handles, screwdrivers, scissors, files and pieces of heavy machinery filed down to sharp, deadly points. When asked, the convicts claimed that the reasoning for the riot was that three new members of the parole board were former members of the Highway Patrol, which the prisoners felt was unfair since they thought the officers would not be impartial when considering parole in the conference held the Monday after the riot. Governor Donnelly refused to make any changes to the parole board despite the protests of the convicts. Violence at the penitentiary often became commonplace and often was so rampant 126

Opulence Fall 2017

PHOTO BY FRANK SMITH

Many of the convicts smashed prison property and set the complex alight, leading to a riot that amounted to 2,500 prisoners running loose inside the complex, and one inmate was reported to have been tortured to death by other prisoners. Once confronted by a mighty show of firepower in the form of machine and riot guns, the breakout was contained and order returned to the penitentiary. The containment was not without resistance, and many officers were close to deadly injuries planned by the inmates who awaited them. In one officer’s account, he was nearly hit by a 50-pound cake of ice pushed over a ledge above his head!

that Schreiber noted the burdensome number of cases of assault, escape, and homicide that pervaded the prison. One officer, Lieutenant Harold Atkinson, was stabbed 69 times in 1975, an example that illustrates just how hard and gruesome the job at the Missouri State Penitentiary could be. Even the cyanide gas chamber executions became so dangerous for those conducting them that the governor limited the method to lethal injection after consulting with the general assembly of Missouri. Since the first execution of George “Tiny” Mercer in 1989, the prison only conducted execution by lethal injection. Although the punishments sound heinous and sometimes inmates were docile and model prisoners, Schreiber explains that Tiny was a member of a motorcycle gang who kidnapped, abused, and killed a young waitress.

Resident Feline Adds Levity Even though the prison was known for its violence and history of administering

the death penalty, there are aspects of the penitentiary known to few other than those who worked in it. One such facet is the story of Mike the cat, who was known for carrying cigarettes around the complex through saddlebags attached to his stomach. The desperate convicts would pass notes through Mike’s bags, using him as a means to their ends in exchange for tuna fish. Another famous story from the complex involves the escape of the man who murdered Martin Luther King, James Earl Ray, who used the prison bakery’s truck to escape the undermanned penitentiary. On a Sunday morning, Ray convinced fellow inmates to hide him beneath a crate of bread loaves inside the truck. Lax weekend guards failed to spot the hiding inmate before it left MSP grounds to make a delivery. As stupendous as some of the stories from the Missouri State Penitentiary may seem, its dark history is contrasted with its brighter touristic future. The prison, after closing in 2004, now serves as a museum remind-

PHOTO BY FRANK SMITH

Infamous Missouri State Penitentiary Inmates

PHOTO BY FRANK SMITH

ing its visitors what the justice system could be like. Some even see the penitentiary as a monument that stands against older prison practices that would be hailed as barbaric in the contemporary period where human rights are protected to a greater degree. The status quo has reflected a moralist shift toward the elimination of the death penalty, although various states still retain it as a last resort for certain crimes. Whether or not you agree with the death penalty, we can all gain a better understanding of the history of the criminal justice system by looking at the MSP history in order to avoid past misgivings and pave a future for a correctional system that reduces recidivism, maintains order, and fairly administers justice in a way society can accept as reasonable. Hindsight gives us the best vantage point to determine how our nation’s justice system can improve on the way prisoners are treated and prevent the spread of criminality. Despite the manufacturing profitability of prisons and the correctional system, a future with a greater value for societal quality of life demands a reduction in crime for the benefit of all who wish to live in a peaceful United States of America.

Blanche Iva Barrow: A fringe member of Bonnie and Clyde’s gang and wife of Clyde Barrow’s brother Buck, Blanche was convicted of intent to murder Sheriff Holt Coffey. She served 6 years.

Charles Arthur “Pretty Boy” Floyd: Floyd arrived at MSP in 1925 to serve 4 years for a $12,000 payroll robbery. After release, he robbed multiple banks and in a manhunt was shot dead by police.

James Earl Ray: In 1959, Ray held up a grocery store and was sentenced to 20 years. In 1967, he escaped in a bakery truck. On April 4, 1968, Ray assassinated Dr. Martin Luther King in Memphis, TN.

John B. “Firebug” Johnson: Firebug attemped many escapes but is most notorious for setting fire to MSP, killing several inmates. He survived 18 years in a pitch black dungeon and later authored “Buried Alive for 18 Years at MSP.” Fall 2017 Opulence

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CONDO LAW

By Michael Chapnick

Suspensions of Residents’ Use of Community Amenities Help Associations to Maintain Compliance

lorida community associations are always seeking to implement the most cost-effective options at their disposal to collect unpaid dues and compel unit owners/residents to comply with their rules and restrictions. As a result of legislative changes to the state’s Condominium Act a number of years ago, associations are now able to suspend the rights of an owner, tenant or guest to use common elements and facilities if the owner of the unit is delinquent more than 90 days in paying a monetary obligation to the association. Condominium associations may also suspend, for a reasonable period of time, the right of an owner and/or resident to use common elements and amenities for the failure to comply with any provisions of the association’s declaration, bylaws or rules. As with the imposition of fines, suspensions for rule and covenant violations may only be imposed if the association provides the owner/resident with at least 14 days advance written notice of the committee hearing. The committee must be composed of other unit owners who are neither board members nor persons residing in a board member’s household, and suspensions may not be imposed without the majority consent of the committee. The effectiveness of these suspensions depends on whether communities have the types of amenities that would be sorely missed by residents, such as pools, tennis courts and fitness centers, and if they have the on-site personnel and monitoring capabilities that would be required to enforce the bans. Monitoring and enforcement of the bans against these residents will typically require concerted efforts by on-site staff as well as association directors and members. The suspension of use rights against delinquent or unruly owners and residents can present its challenges, but it may also serve as one of the most effective collections and enforcement tools for associations. Partner Michael Chapnick with the South Florida law firm of Siegfried, Rivera, Hyman, Lerner, De La Torre, Mars & Sobel focuses exclusively on community association law. www.srhl-law.com, www.FloridaHOALawyerBlog.com, 305-442-3334.

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Michael Chapnick

Title Here

Trust is more than just a word. let us earn yours.

Legal Counsel to Community Associations Since 1977

Offices in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Main Office: Suntrust Plaza, 201 Alhambra Circle, Suite 1100, Coral Gables, FL 33134 800-737-1390 | www.srhl-law.com Fall 2017

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Portfolio & Real Estate Guide 5745 sw 94th street | Pinecrest, FL Priced at $7,599,000 See Next Page Agent: marianna dubinsky 305.432.7555

305.615.1376 | oirfl.com

O p u l e n c e p o r t f o l i o & R e a l Es t a t e G u i d e

Modern Tropical Oasis Pinecrest 5745 SW 94th Street Pinecrest, FL 33156 9 Bedrooms 10 Baths / 2 Half Baths 17,714 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $7,599,000

Two lush acres are the setting for this contemporary masterpiece built in 2015 with 3 master suites and indoor/outdoor living. www.5745sw94thstreet.com Agent: Marianna Dubinsky (305) 432-7555

Grove at Grand Bay COCONUT GROVE 2675 S Bayshore Dr. #401S Miami, FL 33131 6 Bedrooms 6 Baths 4,492 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $4,999,999

Located in the South Tower, this 6 bedroom 6 bath residence with summer kitchen offers 270 degree direct ocean and park views. www.GroveAtGrandBay401.com Agent: Giancarlo Butron (786) 316-2292

Income Producing Duplex Key Biscayne 290 Fernwood Road Key Biscayne, FL 33149 6 Bedrooms 4 Baths / 2 Half Baths 4,094 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $3,097,000

Enjoy great cash flow from this fully rented duplex in the heart of Key Biscayne. Each 3/2.5 unit features its own private pool. wwww.290FernwoodRd.com Agent: Pamela Diaz De Leon (305) 720-8439 132

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Tortuga Bay punta cana 0 Calle Pepe Way #D1 Punta Cana, Dominican Republic 5 Bedrooms 6 Baths 9,526 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $4,750,000

Turn-key 5 bedroom villa located in the luxurious, private, exclusive self contained compound of Tortuga Bay Punta Cana Resort & Club on the eastern coast of the Dominican Republic. 15,000 acre 5 Star resort designed by Oscar de la Renta, includes 9 restaurants, including Michelin chef, ecological reserve, world class spa and 2 golf courses. Resort hotel awarded Top 25 Luxury Hotels in the Caribbean. This income producing, well-situated villa features 5 master suites with 6 bathrooms. www.TortugaBayVilla.com Agent: Pamela Diaz-de-Leon (305) 720-8439

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O p u l e n c e p o r t f o l i o & R e a l Es t a t e G u i d e

Two-Story Combined Residence Downtown Miami 1100 Biscayne Blvd. # 4905-6 Miami, FL 33132 5 Bedrooms 5 Baths / 4 Deeded Parking Spaces 5,475 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $2,990,000

Soaring 20 foot ceilings reveal stunning Miami water views from this custom residence in the sky at the elegant Marquis. www.1100BiscayneBlvd4906.com Agent: Tomi Rose (786) 229-1949

Spanish Style Villa Miami Beach 5300 Pine Tree Dr Miami Beach, FL 33140 5 Bedrooms 4 Baths 3,226 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $2,800,000

This impeccably remodeled 1920â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Spanish style villa with wood and marble throughout is located on prestigious Pine Tree Drive. www.5300PineTreeDr.com Agent: Kelly Lyles (305) 904-0824

Balinese Inspired Miami Shores 8932 NE 10th Ct. Miami, FL 33138 4 Bedrooms 3 Baths / 1 Half Bath 3,830 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $2,250,000

This stunning, Balinese inspired home embraces the best in relaxed, inside/out luxury living. www.8932NE10thCT.com Agent: Kelly Lyles (305) 904-0824

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Las Olas River House Ft Lauderdale 333 Las Olas Way #310 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 3 Bedrooms 2 Baths / 1 Half Bath 3,223 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $1,869,000

Las Olas River House residence in the sky exudes opulence. Private elevator and river view from the unit. www.333LasOlasWay.com Agent: Tomi Rose (786) 229-1949

Biscayne Beach Miami 2900 NE 7th Ave #2802 Miami, FL 33137 3 Bedrooms 4 Baths 1,863 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $1,750,000

Fabulous NE corner unit with stunning direct ocean views of Biscayne Bay and the islands. www.2900NE7thAve2802.com Agent: Giancarlo Butron (786) 316-2292

Ritz-Carlton Residence Bal Harbour 10295 Collins Avenue #710/711 Bal Harbour, FL 33154 2 Bedrooms 2 Baths / 1 Half Bath 1,147 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $1,725,000

Own at the Ritz. This perfectly situated oceanfront fully furnished condo-hotel unit may be enjoyed or leased out at your pleasure. www.10295CollinsAvenue710.com Agents: Pamela Diaz De Leon (305) 720-8439

New Life on Edge of the Water N e i g hb o r h o o d S p o t l i g ht B y J ill Pat t e r son

dgewater covers an area about one and a half miles just north of Downtown Miami hugging the western shores of Biscayne Bay and offering unobstructed dazzling water views night and day over Biscayne Bay with Miami Beach in the distance. While the shoreline south of Downtown Miami has seen high-rise development for generations, the northern shores of Biscayne Bay had remained largely a sleepy community of low rise apartment buildings and older single family homes. Today, Edgewater is buzzing with builders at work on new apartments, mixed-use projects, and some of the highest profile waterfront condo developments in Miami, such as Biscayne Beach (just delivered),

Aria on the Bay

A trip up bedraggled Biscayne Boulevard from 18th to 39th street, which runs up the center of Edgewater, belies the massive development and sheer volume of transaction activity going on under its surface. An untapped goldmine, a change in zoning had developers flocking here in this last cycle of new development.

Elysee (preconstruction), Missoni Baia (preconstruction), Aria (topped off ) and the Paraiso projects (in various states of construction), to name a few. (See inset for a rundown on the latest development.) The heart of Edgewater has to be the much beloved Margaret Pace Park which bursts with life in the evening and weekends. Eight acres of green touching the blue, The Park features a large dog park, tennis, b-ball, volleyball, free yoga, and is a magnet for food trucks and festivals. While The Daily Creative Food Company located in the nearby CitĂŠ complex seems to feed the entire neighborhood with a panini for all, other unique local

Biscayne Beach

spots include Bunny Cakes vegan bakery and Fuchai for tasty Korean Bibinbap. For the more discerning eater, there is Migonette, an oyster bar/seafood haven and much anticipated, Michael Schwartz has just announced the details of his new waterfront restaurant, Amara at Paraiso, set to open this November. While Edgewater still seems to lag behind its tony neighbors of Wynwood and the Design District, it is only a matter of time before Edgewater becomes an elite residential address. For additional information on Edgewater Real Estate, please call Opulence International Realty at: 305.615.1376

New Contruction Delivered

Paraiso Bay

1770 N Bayshore Drive 647 Residences

701 NE 29th Terrace 391 Residences

600 NE 31st Street 360 Residences

Best priced luxury waterfront in Miami overlooking Margaret Pace Park and Biscayne Bay.

With interiors by Thom Filicia this development features the amenities of a beach resort and an elegant Hamptonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vibe.

With interiors by United Design out of London, Paraiso Bay offers tennis, bowling alley and a pool 100 meters in diameter.

Gran Paraiso

Paraiso Bayviews

One Paraiso

660 NE 31st Street 317 Residences

600 NE 31st Street 396 Residences

131 NE 7th Avenue 272 Residences

Gran Paraiso offers 10 foot ceilings, interiors designed by Piero Lissoni and shares stunning amenities with Paraiso Bay.

This building is farthest from the water, but still offers “Bayviews” and sleek interiors by acclaimed designer, Karim Rashid.

Direct water views from this building closest to the water with larger units and interiors by Piero Lissoni.

Missoni Baia

Elysee

26 Edgewater

777 NE 26th Terrace 249 Residences

700 NE 23rd Street 100 Residences

321 NE 26 Street 86 Residences

Designed by Hani Rashid, this elegant project offers the joyful style of Missoni with sumptuous spa amenities, including an Olympic lap pool.

Designed by Bernardo Fort-Brescia and comprised only of large 3 bedrooms units, Elysee is Limited Edition boutique living.

Affordably priced boutique building offering top quality finishes, international design, full amenities, with commercial retail.

Bay House

Cite

600 NE 27 Street 399 Residences

2000 N Bayshore Drive 436 Residences

Developed by Melo Group, Bay House offers expansive 2 and 3 bedroom units.

Built in 2004, low-rise Cite and Cite on the Bay kicked off development in the Edgewater area. Some argue it’s the best value in Edgewater.

Icon Bay

Paramount Bay

The Crimson

460 NE 28 Street 299 Residences

202 N Bayshore Drive 346 Residences

601 NE 29 Street 90 Residences

Completed in 2015, this is one of the latest of the Related Icon projects and is designed by Arquitectonica.

Built in 2010, designed by Arquitectonica with interiors by Lenny Kravitz, Paramount Bay has maintained its resale value and its sense of style.

Smart building completed in 2016, The Crimson has its eco-friendly LEED Silver certification with no sacrifices on luxury.

O p u l e n c e p o r t f o l i o & R e a l Es t a t e G u i d e

Biscayne Beach MIAMI 2900 NE 7th Ave #707 Miami, FL 33137 3 Bedrooms 4 Baths 2,298 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $1,650,000

Best line in the building with high end finishes and appliances as well as forever views of the Biscayne Bay. www.2900NE7thAve310.com Agent: Giancarlo Butron (786) 316-2292

Income Producing Duplex Miami 500 NW 19 Ave. Miami, FL 33125

2,583 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $999,000

Near Marlin Stadium, this entirely renovated duplex boasts a 10% cap rate. www.500nw19Ave.com Agent: Monica Gonzalez (786) 693-3568

Residence at the Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove 3400 SW 27 Ave #506 Miami, FL 33133 2 Bedrooms 2 Baths / 1 Half Bath 1,540 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $869,000

The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove, setting the standard for luxury & impeccable service throughout the world. www.3400sw27av506.com Agent: Mary Handel (305) 496-4254

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Penthouse at the Beach Miami Beach 1330 West Ave #LP 3504 Miami Beach, FL 33139 2 Bedrooms 2 Baths 1,084 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $765,000

Best line in the building! Come see the incredible views from the Penthouse. Highly sought after 04 line with amazing ocean and city views from every room. www.1330westave3504.com Agent: Adi Zilberberg (305) 209-5017

St Tropez Sunny Isles Beach 200 Sunny Isles Blvd. #1002 Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160 3 Bedrooms 2 Baths 1,461 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $748,700

Stunning 3 bedrooms 2 baths unit in St Tropez! features top of the line appliances and wide water views. www.200sunnyislesblvd1002.com Agent: Ana Cruz (561) 201-0738

Paramount Bay Residence Miami 2020 N Bayshore Dr. #1204 Miami, FL 33137 2 Bedrooms 2 Baths 1,135 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $669,000

Enjoy the view of the Bay and Miami Beach skyline from this turnkey Paramount Bay Residence. Offered fully furnished with upgrades like porcelain floors throughout. www.2020paramountbay1204.com Agent: Cristiano Soares (305) 439-0926 Fall 2017 Opulence

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Market Report Los Angeles

ollowing an active first quarter, we are pleased to report that the upscale, single-family residential market in L.A.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top neighborhoods has only strengthened. In the second quarter of 2017, prices and total sales were

up, and it took less time to sell a home. In fact, the average price per square foot for a single-family home in the $1 million and up category rose to its highest point ever, averaging $2.9 million, or about $947 per square foot. Price increases have not dissuaded buyers, and the number of high-end home sales in the second quarter of 2017 increased 13.1% from one year ago. High-end condominium sales over $500,000 also saw a jump, with a 23% increase in onebedroom unit sales, and 10.4% increase in two-bedroom unit sales, while prices remained relatively stable.

As The Agency continues to set its sights on growth and innovation, we were thrilled to open two new offices in Pacific Palisades and Calabasas, bringing our count to 13 locations worldwide. We also expanded our reach to represent clients in commercial real estate with the launch of our commercial platform, The Agency Commercial Advisory. The new division specializes in leasing, tenant representation, and investment sales, further strengthening The Agency brand and allowing the team to be a full-service provider across the real estate spectrum. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re excited to see what the second half of 2017 holds as we continue to expand our reach, explore new markets and revolutionize the industry, one new property at a time.

Billy Rose, Founder, President, The Agency

Mauricio Umansky, Founder, CEO, The Agency

C a lifor ni a 424. 230. 370 0 | t h eeagency ag e n c y r e .co .com m

Redefining the Beverly Hills Estate

Beverly Hills 1006 Lexington Road Beverly Hills, CA 90210 7 Bedrooms 12 Baths 16,400 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $32,000,000

This newly constructed estate features a stunning, light-filled atrium, theater, auto gallery, parklike grounds and custom design elements throughout grand-scale living spaces. Agents: Mauricio Umansky (424) 230-3701 Rouja Koleva (424) 400-5922

Villa Sogno

Malibu 29917 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, CA 90265 7 Bedrooms 11 Baths 4.04 Acres

Listed at: $29,000,000

Situated on its own four-acre bluff above Zuma Beach, this newly built Tuscan villa designed by Douglas Burdge spares no expense while offering front row coastline views amid total privacy. Agents: Angel Kou (424) 221-5042 Blair Chang (424) 230-3703

Mission Bay Penthouse

SAN FRANCISCO 480 N Mission Bay Boulevard, #1405 San Francisco, CA 94158 3 Bedrooms 2 Baths 1,921 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $3,995,000

Sophistication and luxury combine at this 14th-floor residence which presents sweeping city and water views through floorto-ceiling windows, gorgeous hardwood floors and the finest finishes. Agent: Rachel Swann (415) 943-9520

Opu lence portfolio & R e a l E Es state Gu ide

Autumn in New York

hen New Yorkers get together talk inevitably turns to real estate. Who’s buying? What are the latest record sales? What’s the latest starchitect property? Where is the market headed? These topics all

fuel the conversation. It doesn’t matter if you are an architecture buff tracking the latest new developments or a fan of historic townhouses, watching the real estate market is as important as attending the blockbuster museum shows and knowing

By Amy Gotzler

the hot new restaurant.

However, it’s important to keep things in perspective. Approximately 75% of Manhattan residences are rentals and there are only about 290,000 owned homes in Manhattan. The average apartment sales price has hovered around $2,000,000 for the last couple years, while the median price has been in the $1,100,000 range. The ultra-luxury market we read so much about is a small but fascinating fraction of the City.

Manhattan real estate isn’t simply defined as a buyer’s market or a seller’s market, or even by new development versus resale prices. As with the art market, it is composed of many micro markets. When making an investment – be it real estate, a collectible watch or a great painting – having timely, accurate information and working with knowledgeable experts are key to achieving the best price for something you will appreciate for years to come.

N e w Yor k 212.906.9203 | b h susa .com .co m

Loft Living Inkwell 520 West 45th Street New York, NY 10036 2-3 Bedrooms 2-3 Baths 1,211+1,901 SQ.Ft

$1,900,000 + $2,800,000

With a design vocabulary that finds its inspiration in craft, honed and refined for 21st century living, this home is where grand spaces and light mix with custom finishes and materials. Amply-proportioned two and three bedrooms homes made for gracious living Agent: Lisa Lippman (212) 588-5606

Stylist Penthouse Tribeca 15 Leonard Street PH Tribeca, NYC 10013 5 Bedrooms 6 Baths 4,574 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $15,650,000

Experience the perfection of discrete, luxurious living in this Penthouse. This oasis in the sky boasts six terraces totaling approximately 1,577 square feet of outdoor space. Agents: Laura E. Moss (212) 452-4507 Stephen E. McArdle (212) 906-0590

Parkside Mansion Park Slope 104 Prospect Park West Brooklyn, NY 11215 5 Bedrooms 4 Baths 6,200 SQ.Ft

Listed at: $10,000,000

If you love fine art, attention to detail and historic preservation, then look no further. This home has been beautifully maintained and every finish and upgrade was carefully curated. Agent: Terry Naini (917) 841-1826

O p u l e n c e p o r t f o l i o & R e a l Es t a t e G u i d e

The Closing Congrats to our Top Producers for the last quarter, Monica Gonzalez, Melissa Hormann, Ana Cruz and Pamela Diaz De Leon. Monica has been working on selling income producing commercial properties and Melissa has been focusing lately on the benefits of EB5 for foreign families. EB-5 stands for “Employment Based 5th” category and is often referred to as the “employment creation category.” By investing $500,000 or more in certain EB-5 designated projects proven to create jobs, foreign investors may obtain a green card and lawful permanent U.S. residency. Ana has been busy offering concierge buying and selling services to her international clients and Pam will be unveiling a boutique high-end new development she will be marketing South of Fifth in the coming months. In the Miami Beach luxury market, prices are lowering for condos by about 20% from last year this time of publication, but the market shows about the same number of sales. Single family homes prices are flat from last year this time, but the speed of the market has been picking up and there are roughly a third more sales. On mainland Miami, luxury condo prices dipped 23% from last year this time and the number of sales are down 13%. Luxury single family homes on the Miami mainland saw good growth with prices rising 20% and the number of sales up about 5%. In the Fort Lauderdale luxury market, there has been a quickening of the market with more sales for both homes and condos. Condo prices are up 17% from last year at this time while home sales are basically the same. The Palm Beach market has been heating up as well, with luxury median prices up 57% from last year, 17% more sales and 13% less inventory. We are gearing up for an exciting season this Fall culminating in Art Basel, December 7-10, attended by roughly 100,000 visitors, art experts and lovers from all parts of the globe. This season’s Art Basel will be the first event to take place in the newly renovated Miami Beach Convention Center. New venues, new shows, and of course, more parties! Keep up to date by checking our website www.opulenceinternationalrealty.com for all the latest news.

Jill Patterson, Broker Opulence International Realty 144

Opulence Fall 2017

Photograph by Thiago Costa from Kiwii Photography

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—INTRODUCING—

THE NEW

C RYS TA L

W H E R E A L L I N C L U S I V E I S A L L E XC L U S I V E

An All Exclusive journey with Crystal is more than just a luxurious way to explore the world. It is an adventure of a lifetime, opening up the globe and unlocking discoveries at every turn – just for you. Whether by sea, land or air, we are taking luxury travel higher than ever before. Welcome to the new Crystal. Where all inclusive is All Exclusive.

OCEAN

RIVER

YA C H T E X P E D I T I O N

P R I VAT E J E T J O U R N E Y S

LUXURY RESIDENCES

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND RESERVATIONS CONTACT UNIQUE TRAVEL 561-495-5775 | www.uniquetrav.com *All offers and promotions are capacity-controlled, subject to availability and may be withdrawn or changed at any time. Fla. Seller of Travel Reg. No. ST-26377. Aircraft is operated by Comlux Aruba, NV. Crystal AirCruises, LLC is not an air carrier and does not possess D.O.T. or F.A.A. authority. Crystal AirCruises, LLC is a marketing agent for P4-XTL. © CrystalAirCruises, LLC. ©2017 Crystal Cruises, LLC. Ships’ registry: The Bahamas and Malta. AD17852_C