Aventura Magazine October 2022

+ FAVORITEHAUNTS 5 GHOSTSSPOTSSPOOKYFORANDGHOULS MADE IN DADE POWERPORTRAIT ARTMIAMI’SPICTURINGSCENE COURTHOLDING JAI ALAI’S RETURN TO THE MAGIC CITY Dennis “El Barba” Dalton and Ben Gadsden

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tweed dress, boots For buying information, turn to page 137. FINONOWMICHAEL 8 AVENTURA MAGAZINE CONTENTS OCTOBER 2022 | AVENTURAMAGAZINE.COM FOR THE LATEST IN ALL THINGS LUXURY FEATURES 74 THE JAI LIFE There’s only one place in North America to watch the storied sport of jai alai—and it’s right here in the Magic City By Jess Swanson 82 PAINTING THE TOWN Raymond Elman celebrates the Miami arts community in his portraits By Nicole Martinez 90 AMERICAN BEAUTIES Ten U.S.-made boats that boast some serious patriotic power By Howard Walker 98 TRENDSETTER Fall’s coolest trends and how to style them for South Florida Photography by Michael Filonow

Center 68 HIGH ROAD A

44 trio of Miami couture

with

LOCAL

creators

Go green at Little Haiti’s Plant the Future

REAL

EDITOR

LGBTQIA+ icons share their coming out stories 42 GIRL POWER

How nutrition aﬀects the quality of your sleep, plus the meaning of melatonin

cat TOP LAWYERS 117 ATTORNEY PROFILES

duo behind

Three Miami

STUDIES 139

Tour Miami’s brewery circuit on the Brew Bus, go inside Magic Mike Live, spend a day with a Miami City Ballet dancer, discover the Biscayne Poet’s bespoke poetry

28

SIP goodness at Salt & Straw

LAST it personal at Bespoke Bal Harbour

newly opened stores, salons, and studios to check out 38 COMMUNITY

Pics from Miami’s most fabulous events

Boost your regimen camelliainfused and -inspired

THE LOOK

A seasonal, sparkling, low-proof cocktail

Metro Miami’s premier lawyers

CONTENTS

JEWELRY BOX

132 BITES

new

MINDFUL MIXOLOGIST

FROM

Five spooky spots to visit this Halloween

electric

items

Four

63JOURNEYS

136

30

ON AIR

56

PLANT POWER

60 TALK Christian Siriano

Haute designer home-entertaining goods and the perfect pink accessories

SOCIAL SEEN

COVER: PHOTOGRAPHER: STEVEN MARTINE MODELS: DENNIS “EL BARBA” DALTON AND BEN GADSDEN LOCATION: MAGIC CITY CASINO X 21 58 MEYERASHLEY 63 RESERVERITZ-CARLTONAZADÚN,OFCOURTESY

are on-trend 58 BEAUTY

Fall ﬂavors to try, two Miami food fests sure to satisfy, pan-Asian delights at 1-800-Lucky, plus local brand Latin Gin

TEACHING TECH

16 THE

LIVING WITH IVEY

Orange baubles BEAT

& SAVOR 131 SPOOKY SWEETS Ghoulish

10 AVENTURA MAGAZINE

THE MIX

HAUNTED

The

queen of Miami radio is making the move to mornings 36 NEW & NOW

DEPARTMENTS

Rich

LOCAL LOVE A

Editors’ picks for autumnal

Level up the dynamic Crazy Filthy

66 QUICK TRIPS Ocala’s

concept 70 HIGH SEAS Silent

34

ON THE

21AVENTURIST

46

WITH... Multifaceted designer

LOOK 144 CUSTOMIZED CREATIONS Make

26 MIAMI

ON THE SCENE

51STYLE

THE EDIT

WANDERLUST

Helping students make the grade

Experience the magic of Zadún, a RitzCarlton Reserve on the Los Cabos coast World Equestrian Mercedez-Benz sedan Group’s Silent 60 power

with

products

54

Executive

Editor Mary Murray Managing Editor Melissa Puppo Fashion Editor Katherine Lande Automotive Editor Howard Walker Travel Editor Paul Rubio Web Editor Abigail Duﬀy ArtDESIGNDirectors Craig Cottrell, Airielle Farley, Ashley Meyer, Jenny Fernandez-Prieto Photo Editor Kelly Rogers Digital Imaging Specialist Leonor Alvarez-Maza CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Allison Wolfe Reckson CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jules Aron, Ivey Leidy, Christiana Lilly, Liza Grant Smith, Nicole Martinez, Jess Swanson, Timur Tugberk CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Kent Anderson, Michael Filonow, Steven Martine SUBSCRIPTIONS 800-308-7346 Published by Palm Beach Media Group North, LLC, P.O. Box 3344, Palm Beach, FL 33480, 561-659-0210 • Fax: 561-659-1736 Aventura magazine is a registered trademark of Palm Beach Media Group North, LLC • Corporate Headquarters: P.O. Box 3344, Palm Beach, FL 33480 aventuramagazine.com FOLLOW US

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14 AVENTURA MAGAZINE

Publisher Terry Duﬀy

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Miami is full of magic, right down to its nickname. The tag “Magic City” is as old as the place it describes—and coincidentally, it ﬁ rst emerged from the pen of a magazine writer. In 1896, Henry Flagler hired Ethan Vernor Blackman to write an article about then-unincorporated Miami. Flagler was hoping Blackman could spin the kind of copy that would attract folks to the still-unnamed, still-under-construction metropolis nestled between Biscayne Bay and the Miami River, the railroad tycoon’s latest train stop along Florida’s East Coast.

X

16 AVENTURA MAGAZINE FROM THE EDITOR

It’s been nearly a century since Blackman gave that interview, and people are still coming to Miami to ﬁnd the magic. That’s why this issue of Aventura Magazine celebrates the people, products, pastimes (and more!) that are made in Dade.

From the improbable reinvigoration of the storied sport of jai alai (turn to page 74 to read The Jai Life by Jess Swanson), to an artist documenting Miami’s vibrant arts community (don’t miss Painting the Town by Nicole Martinez beginning on page 82), this month’s pages offer a myriad of ways to ﬁnd your own made-in-Dade magic.

THEMAKINGMAGIC

MARTINESTEVEN

CAPEHART

But hanging with the pelotari at Magic City Casino’s fronton? Just one of the many perks of being editor in chief.

In a 1925 Miami Daily News interview, Blackman looked back on the making of the meant-to-be moniker. “People read the catchy line and then read more to ﬁnd out what the magic is,” he said. “There is something in the word ‘magic’ that catches the attention of everyone and they want to know what it is that is almost too good to be true. So they come to Miami to ﬁnd out.”

Kristen Desmond

Blackman lived in Daytona Beach, so Flagler sent him a city blueprint and pictures of the area for inspiration. The writer immediately saw the promise of the place and headlined his story: Miami: The Magic City. The name has stuck ever since (a testament to the power of magazines).

As I found out ﬁrsthand, wielding a cesta is not as easy as it looks.

klefevre@aventuramagazine.comLeFevre

JAI ROLLER

MARTINESTEVEN

BEHIND THE SCENES

Jai alai is back, and the world’s fastest ball sport has never looked better.

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AVENTURIST

COVETABLE FINDS, HOT HAPPENINGS, AND MUST-ATTEND EVENTS

Ready to hit the taps at the ever-growing list of craft breweries in the Magic City? Take the bus—A.T. Molina’s Brew Bus , that is. With stops like Dogfish Head Miami and Est. 33 Thai Craft Brewery & Kitchen (among others), guests are in for a day of hops-laced happiness. For out-of-towners (and Miamians in need of a little brewlaced staycation), The Gabriel Miami Downtown has partnered with Brew Bus to launch its Beer Concierge, a bespoke brewery tour service via Molina’s vintage VW van. For hotel guests on the foodie circuit, Molina provides thoughtful recommen dations for beer and food pairings as they navigate the city’s exotic local flavors. (miamibrewbus.com; thegabrielmiami.com) —Kristen Desmond LeFevre

BREWS ON BOARD

OCTOBER 2022 21

THE MIX

RIVERAISABELCRISTINA

MAGIC CITY MIKE

AS SEASON KICKS INTO FULL SWING IN SOUTH FLORIDA, YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS THESE EVENTS MUSIC, Movement, and More

AVM: Why is Miami the perfect venue for Magic Mike Live?

COURTESY LIVEMIKEMAGIC COURTESY LIVEMIKEMAGIC @ADIADINAYEV

Art, music, and tech come together with the annual III Points festival in Wynwood. From October 21-22, revelers can experience headliners LCD Soundsystem and Rosalía, as well as Porter Robinson, Flume, Chris Lake, Busta Rhymes, and more than 100 other acts. Six stages will be rocking, outfitted with au diovisual technology that offers enhanced concert sets far beyond the norm. In between performances, refuel at the III Points food court or watch live graffiti art for an immersive experience you’ll be sure to upload to your Instagram feed. (iiipoints.com) —C.L.

What talent is required to be a part of this show?

22 AVENTURA MAGAZINE AVENTURIST

HOT TAKE

They’re industry-trained dancers who happen to be super handsome and dance super sexy, and sometimes they’re in their underwear. There are a lot of sexy moments, but there’s a ton of super danceheavy, choreographed pieces. These guys are at a high level in their craft and have been training for a long time.

COURTESY

Faulk: South Florida is just full of life and fun and it generally has a party atmos phere of just feeling good. I don’t think there’s anything like this in Miami. It’s going to be an event and a moment—a destination for women to go have dinner, hang out, and have a really special night. The Miami Marine Stadium is such a unique venue for the show. It was a big deal to be able to get the site approved. It feels like an entire experience. Our tent was built in Belgium, and we used it in Australia. All of our venues are beautiful, but for this venue, every seat is truly incredible.

AROUND TOWN

For Magic Mike Live choreographer and co-director Alison Faulk, the Miami leg of the tour is a return home. Raised in Pembroke Pines, she says she “cannot contain” her excitement about bringing the show to South Florida. Aventura Magazine chatted with Faulk ahead of the debut to discuss opening the show in her hometown. —C.L.

III Points

Channing Tatum’s delicious production of Magic Mike went from the silver screen to the stage with Magic Mike Live, touring the world with shows in Las Vegas, London, Australia, and Berlin. Now, the show is making its debut in the Magic City. Think: chiseled men ripping off their shirts and suits to reveal oiled-up abs, followed by breakdancing and gyrating as showers rain down, all to your favorite tunes. Then, add acrobatic stunts and the Miami heat to up the ante. If your heart can handle it, you might even get an up-close-and-personal performance. A show like this can’t just be hosted anywhere, either. Magic Mike Live is taking place at the Miami Marine Stadium, where guests surround the arena stage to ensure that ev eryone has the best views of the dancers. Tickets are on sale now, and yes, VIP experiences are available. (mmltour.com) —Christiana Lilly

Miami Hay Maze

LIVEMIKEMAGIC

Magic Mike Live is a 360-degree experience based on the hit movies.

We may not have four seasons in Miami, but we can still experience fall tradi tions with Miami Hay Maze. Coming to Bayfront Park October 21 to November 6, the open-air autumnal event includes a 6,000-square-foot maze, a beer garden, and a photo-worthy leaf pit. And come Halloween, the maze plays host to a spooky soiree. (miamihaymaze.com) —C.L.

Drink of Choice

DAILY Diary Galler’s GO-TO’S

Chill Time

6:30 p.m. Galler will stretch, ice, and relax before driving home for dinner.

“There’s a boardwalk that connects North Beach Oceanside Park to the beach and I really like it because you can walk and peek in on the Four Seasons. We actually had a party at the ballet in the outdoor cabana.”

When he’s not writing poetry, Fuentes manages the art collection for the Miami-Dade Public Library system. He is also the author of For the Love of Leotards and the co-author of Welcome (instagram.com/thebiscaynepoet)Home—C.L.

Shopping Guilty Pleasure

9 p.m. After dinner, she studies her roles for the next rehearsal day, sews her shoes, watches TV, enjoys a snack, and gets ready for bed.

“Pubbelly Sushi has a really good lychee sangria. I love it out there; you can sit and watch the people at the mall, and they have a great outdoor area.”

ASHWOODJASON IZILIAEV IZILIAEV

CULTURE Center STAGE

Sometimes it’s best to do things the old-school way. Just ask Oscar Fuentes, who dons a bowler hat as he drives his restored 1974 Dodge Dart, his trunk full of mechanical typewriters. Dubbed the “Biscayne Poet,” he sets up shop on Saturdays from 4 to 6 p.m. at the 1 Hotel in South Beach, where he writes bespoke poems for guests. First, Fuentes asks for three words that come to mind. Then he gets to work, clicking away at his typewriter. In just a few minutes, he unrolls the inked paper to present his creation. The cost? Whatever tip you’d like to leave. “Poetry has a special place on paper, where people can actually read it, take it home, maybe read it again, other than just listening to a poem and then forgetting about it after a few minutes,” he says.

Workout Must

2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Lunch break. Galler can also spend time in physical therapy, get a massage, or get fitted at the costume shop.

11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Rehearsal. The company receives their schedules 48 hours in advance, giving them time to prepare for a role and familiarize themselves with the music.

“I love Pura Vida’s Super Greens smoothie. I’ve gotten their pesto tuna sandwich, which is good, as well as the SoBe salmon and pesto chicken.”

Poetic JUSTICE

10 to 11:30 a.m. Company class. Galler says she loves dancing on the left side of the studio to be closer to the live pianist.

3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Second round of rehearsals. If they are close to a performance, they’ll do a full run-through of the ballet.

In the world of Miami City Ballet, October is the kickoff to the 2022-2023 season, starting with Romeo and Juliet. But for Aventura resident Samantha Hope Galler, the season is also her debut as one of the company’s principal soloists. The Massa chusetts native has graced the stage as the Swan Queen in Swan Lake, Hermia in A Midsum mer Night’s Dream, and Mauve in Dances at a Gathering, to name a few. Among her roles this season, she’ll appear as the Sugar Plum Fairy in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. Ever been curious about what a day in the life of a balle rina entails? Here, we showcase Galler’s daily diary and share some of her favorite spots around town. (miamicityballet.org) —C.L.

8:50 a.m. After a breakfast of coffee, Greek yogurt with peanut butter, or hard-boiled eggs with tomatoes and toast, Galler drives up Collins Avenue to the Miami City Ballet studio.

Favorite Bite

“I love Lush; they have a really good one at Aventura Mall. They have a shampoo bar that smells like vanilla, and I also like their lip scrub. I also like to shop at Zara [and] the Gap, and I love to look at Tiffany’s and Cartier.”

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“When I’m at Makoto at Bal Harbour, I get the spicy tuna roll. I love eel [and] edamame, and I like to sit outside since it’s an open indoor mall.”

“I can walk directly to the Don Soffer Exercise Trail from my apartment. There are swans in the center of the golf course. The Turnberry is there, and it’s just really beautifully kept. The path is one of my favorite things to do.”

Refuel Remedy

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THE CHILLS: Guests who visit Tuttle’s burial site report feeling the presence of someone watching over them. Don’t miss the ﬁnal resting place of Carrie Miller—her husband couldn’t bear to bury her, so he bought an altar, placed her body on it, and had concrete poured over her corpse. Her tombstone reads: “The body of Carrie Barret Miller was molded in this solid block of concrete. December 4, 1926. After the body has gone to dust, her sleeping form will remain.” Listen for the scratching sounds that many say they hear coming from inside the monument. Want to encounter a ghost yourself? Grab tickets to the popular Miami City Cemetery Tour, held this year on October 28. (historymiami.org/event/miami-city-cemetery-tour/)

SPOOKYHALLOWEEN. SPOTS

THE HISTORY: Founded in 1897, just a year after the city’s incorporation, this historic graveyard stands as a monument to more than 9,000 departed souls—including many of the folks who shaped the Magic City’s early history. Book a tour with HistoryMiami to walk the cemetery alongside historian Paul George and hear stories of notable Miami residents, from civil rights leader Reverend Theodore Gibson to “Mother of Miami” Julia Tuttle to Bernard Mackey of the Ink Spots Quartet.

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THE HISTORY: A preserved example of Miami in the 1920s, this home of Charles Deering—a Chicago industrialist, preservationist, environmentalist, art collector, philanthropist, and early Miamian—is both a museum and an ecological gem. Now a state-protected park, the property is spread across more than 400 acres of coastal Miami. But it’s also said to be one of the most haunted places in South Florida—frequented not only by Deering himself, but by the ghosts of the native people who once lived upon the land.

BY KRISTEN DESMOND LEFEVRE

THE CHILLS: Visitors and ghost hunters alike say they’ve heard or recorded the voices of spirits throughout the property. See (and hear) for yourself on one of the popular Historic Ghost Tours that the estate oﬀers throughout the month of October. Walk the same paths that indigenous people, Miami’s early settlers, and even Charles Deering might have walked on a guided tour that touches upon historic events, previous inhabitants, and the estate’s paranormal activity. (deeringestate.org/ event/ghost-tours/all/)

SURE, YOU CAN GET YOUR SPOOK ON AT ANY NUMBER OF HAUNTEDPERFORMANCE-BASEDHOUSESTHATPOP UP ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA THIS TIME OF YEAR. BUT IF YOU’RE READY FOR A TRULY SPINETINGLING EXPERIENCE, TRY ONE OF THESE BOO-TASTIC METRO-MIAMI HAUNTS—WHERE REAL SPIRITS ARE SAID TO OFFER THRILLS AND CHILLS JUST IN TIME FOR

HAUNTED MIAMI

THE CHILLS: Biltmore-based ghost stories began when gangster Thomas “Fatty” Walsh was shot and killed after an argument over a gambling dispute at a party there in 1929. It is speculated that his ghost still lingers at the hotel, especially in the bar area, where sounds of glasses clinking and bottles shaking have been heard. Some say Walsh—who was known for his taste in alcohol and Cuban cigars—hangs around the bar, playing tricks on staﬀ and guests. Others claim that Walsh’s apparition haunts the thirteenth ﬂoor (where he was killed) and that the scent of his ghostly cigar smoke can be picked up throughout the property. (biltmorehotel.com)

THE CHILLS: Consul Domingo J. Milford’s wife, Paula, died at a young age after a leg amputation went wrong. (There’s a stone monument in Villa Paula’s backyard marked with her name, but it turns out that Paula is buried elsewhere and the marker was simply placed there in her memory.) Reports of ghostly activities include slamming doors and gates, piano music playing, and dishes and glassware rattling oﬀ shelves. Most eerily, it is said that Paula’s ghost can be spotted moving throughout the house on a single leg. Others have reported the smell of strongly brewed Cuban coﬀee and blooming roses—believed to have been two of Paula’s favorite things. (villapaulamiami.com)

THE HISTORY: Villa Paula was built to be Miami’s ﬁrst Cuban consulate in 1926. Today, it boasts an art gallery—with works from Picasso to Miami’s own Pervis Young—a beautiful exhibition space, a striking gazebo, and bougainvillea-laced gardens. But while the setting is stunning, Villa Paula is said to be haunted by the ghost of a former resident.

THE HISTORY: Lincoln Road’s famous Art Deco–style Colony Theater ﬁrst opened as a Paramount Pictures movie house in 1935. During WWII, soldiers garrisoned on Miami Beach watched propaganda ﬁlms and training reels on its screens. Since then, it’s exhibited both movies and live theater shows. Today, it’s managed by Miami New Drama, a South Florida theater company that hosts music, dance, and theater performances.

THE CHILLS: After almost a century of history, the Colony Theater has been said to have picked up a few ghosts. But the most commonly seen ghost doesn’t belong to a departed person. Instead, the venue’s most celebrated spirit is a small white poodle that is known to haunt the building, chasing guests and barking at them. (Perhaps not out of the ordinary for the high-class luxury lifestyles of Miami Beach, where even the ghosts have designer dogs.) Other reports include an entity that’s not seen but rather heard—via disembodied footsteps that some say roam the building, especially in the area behind the main stage, in the theater lobby, and on the main elevator. (colonytheatremiamibeach.com)

OCTOBER 2022 27 3 4 5

THE HISTORY: Built in 1926 by George Merrick (the venerable founder of Coral Gables), The Biltmore quickly became the toast of the town, hosting fashion shows and galas complete with famous guests like the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Al Capone, and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

One day in fifth grade, Matias—who had a penchant for coding and the inner workings of video games—responded with his idea for an app that would connect students who might be too nervous to ask teachers for help in class with an after-school peer tutor.

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Once eMerge Americas President Melissa Medina Jiménez assured security that the sixth grader and his mother, Lourdes Aviñó, were indeed the founders of YTeach—a peer-to-peer tutoring platform launched in 2018—the duo was granted access. The event’s judges went on to select YTeach as one of 10 finalists out of 100 early stage start-ups. Matias is the youngest cofounder to ever participate in the event, which he attended again this year.

The Kids Are ALRIGHT BY JESS SWANSON

“They thought my mom was just taking me there because there was no one to babysit me and they didn’t want to let me on the floor,” says Matias, now 15 and a sophomore at Miami’s Belen Jesuit Preparatory School. “Everyone thinks that some middle-aged white man has to be the founder.”

This year, the Aviñós signed their first elementary school, launched an “Uber-style” tutoring service that allows students to submit a request to all tutors in that subject who are available for an immediate session, and debuted an analytics dashboard that allows schools to monitor the highest performing peer tutors, the top subjects requested for tutoring, and the number of logged community service hours by day, week, and month.

Matias and Lourdes Aviñó co-founded the tutoring platform YTeach, which they’ve shared at eMerge Americas.

FORGET THE OLD SCHOOL: THIS TEENAGE START-UP FOUNDER IS HARNESSING TECH TO GIVE EVERY STUDENT A CHANCE TO MAKE THE GRADE

“Matias literally handwrote the business plan and pitched it to us,” Lourdes recalls. “You sort of tell your kids to dream big, reach high, push yourself, get out of your comfort zone—now I had to do what I preached.”Motherand son got to work, delving into a new world of UX/UI de sign, cold calls, and presentations. Matias’ vision was for the platform

“There’s definitely momentum and awareness, along with students getting more comfortable on the app,” Matias says. “The goal is to help impact as many students positively.” (yteach.com) «

YTeach launched at Belen Jesuit Preparatory School during the 2019-2020 school year and has since expanded to more than 40 schools across the country, including in Kentucky, California, and Connecticut. More than 1,000 tutoring ses sions have taken place on the app, and close to 10,000 students have logged into YTeach.

TEACHING TECH

YTeach was born out of Lourdes’ daily after-school question to her children: “What did you do to help someone today?”

In 2019, Matias Aviñó was all set for his big break at the eMerge Americas Start-up Showcase, an annual venture-backed tech event held at the Miami Beach Convention Center. But first, security would have to let the 11-year-old founder inside.

Matias, who is on the crew team and tutors on YTeach in history and math in his spare time, credits his success to time management. He dedicates Sundays to getting ahead in either his classes or YTeach business plans.

“It’s a huge game changer that we’re starting to see younger faces in the tech industry,” Matias says. “A misconception we’ve had to face is what a typical team looks like: We’re a mom and son who co-founded this together and not a team of five 40-year-old men.”

to be a subscription-based model, paid for by schools and available to all students at no cost, while peer tutors would earn community service hours in exchange for their participation.

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In 2008, the husband-and-wife duo became creative director and chief executive gardener, respectively, of Plant the Future, a botanical art gallery and boutique in Wynwood where

PLANT POWER

Greenhouse Effect BY LIZA GRANT SMITH

Paloma Teppa (right) operates Plant the Future, a natureinspired biophilic design studio in Little River that is part plant shop, part botanical art gallery.

“Plants don’t kiss you or hug you, but they offer a profound and very soft way to heal the soul, the sadness in life, and the problems we have as humans,” says Teppa. “For me, it started with a table centerpiece. Now, after 15 years, it’s more like a lifestyle and an opportunity to connect the soul with plants.”

Even before biophilic design was a buzzy term, Paloma Teppa and Yair Marcoschamer were already deeply entrenched in the concept.

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Commissions around the country soon became the norm, followed by a second location at the 1 Hotel South Beach (which Teppa and Marcoschamer no longer operate). Then, three years ago, the couple purchased a building in the Little River neighborhood that’s now their flagship store. The space is the ideal backdrop for Teppa’s various creations, as well as new collabo rations with porcelain brand Lladró and conceptual artist Isabel Engle bert, with whom Teppa designed a moss-inspired jewelry collection. And then there’s the community connection piece, including work

shops and plant care classes. This aspect of the business has become all the more important in recent years, explains Marcoschamer.

“[Many people] were aware of this need to connect with nature, but I think the last couple of years and the pandemic accelerated this awareness,” he says. “When people got stuck in their homes and disconnected from the world, this desire for connection with the natural world became more important than ever before.” (plantthe future.com) «

Above: At Plant the Future, Paloma Teppa creates bespoke moss murals for residential and commercial installation. Right: Cacti terrariums are just one of Teppa’s most popular small-scale pieces of living art.

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Teppa uses cacti, perennials, palms, and a whole lot of moss to create terrarium arrangements. The gallery/ boutique quickly became the go-to source for stunning botanical installa tions for posh hotels, high-end retail ers, restaurants, and offices.

It took me about 20 years to get here! In 2000, I started as an intern at 99Jamz. I’ve literally had every shift out there—mornings, nights, afternoons, even weekends and overnights. How do you give back to the Miami community?

Just call her Supa. No, really—that’s how most peo ple address Supa Cindy (and she’s not mad about it). The Queen of Miami Radio has been coming to you live on air for 22 years; she’s such a staple that the City of Miami Beach officially named September 20 Supa Cindy Day. Supa recently moved from hosting The Afternoon Get Down show with D.J. Entice, on 99Jamz from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., to a new gig on the station’s morning program known as The PAC Jam Morning Show alongside D.J. Nasty 305 and Radio Big Mack. Aventura Magazine caught up with Supa to get a peek into what it means to be queen. (supacindy.com)

Local Hang: I like to go to Wynwood and walk around. Or head down A1A to check out the beach.

ALL HAIL THE QUEEN

Supa’s favorite Magic City spots, playlist must-haves, and streaming binges

Supa Cindy: Radio is changing. Listeners in their teens and early 20s are listening to their playlists. Our core audience is really 25- to 36-year-olds now. I’ve been at 99Jamz the longest of all the on-air personalities. When people think of radio in South Florida, I’m one of the people they instantly think of, so the move back to mornings just made sense.

I have a nonprofit called Supa Friends that mentors and guides young people. Right now, I’m focus ing on mental health. And now that I’m moving to mornings, I’m excited to really make Supa Friends a big focus of mine again. [That’s] hard to do when you’re on air for a five-hour block every afternoon. What do you hope listeners take away from your shows?

You’re a local radio legend. How did you get to where you are?

Morning Juice: Juice and Java is my spot for a ginger limeade or an awesome sandwich or salad.

South Florida radio legend Supa Cindy makes her move toonmornings99Jamz.

BY KRISTEN DESMOND LEFEVRE

ON AIR

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AVENTURIST

AVM: What prompted the move back to morning radio?

Playing on Repeat: Bad Bunny and Beyoncé. For local acts, King Hoodie and Ball Greezy are awesome.

Binge Time: Bel-Air on Peacock. It’s a reboot from Will Smith [centered] around the dark side of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

AS QUEEN OF MIAMI RADIO, SUPA CINDY IS HOLDING COURT IN A NEW TIME SLOT

My favorite part of my job is meeting the listeners. When people meet me, they’re like, “You sound exactly how you sound on the air!” And it’s the truth because I’m myself; I’m not ashamed. My mistakes, my health, my relationships, I talk about everything. I’m an open book. I think I’m like a sister, a friend—and listeners can relate to things I’m talking about. I hope they tune in to me for the realness of it all.

Sunday Funday: You’ll find me at Yellow Green Farmer’s Market or the Coconut Grove Organic Market, walking around a park, or honestly relaxing in my bed watching TV.

Shopping Stop: I love the Aventura Mall. I’ve been a diabetic since I was 10, so my weight fluctuates. I love the mall because it has sizes for everything. I’m in a seri ous Zara phase right now!

Supa Savvy

Miami Meals: Papi Steak is my upscale go-to.

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Dedicated yogis looking to switch up their practice should head to Midtown’s newest hot yoga studio, Yoga Joint. For more than 12 years, founder Paige Held has garnered a dedicated following in Broward and Palm Beach counties, oﬀering a trifecta of wellness via Flow, FIIT, and Restore classes. The Miami studio also oﬀers complimentary mats and towels plus pre-booking for members. (yogajoint.com) —Melissa Puppo

NAILING IT

Fashionistas, rejoice. Maison Valentino has opened its doors in the Aventura Mall, adding its name to the list of ultra-haute designers with a footprint at Florida’s largest mall. The chic new boutique will carry the Promenade and After Club Fall 2022 collections, plus eyewear, handbags, shoes, jewelry, and more for men and women. “Valentino is an iconic brand because of its combination of artistry and craft,” says Jackie Soﬀer, chairman and chief executive oﬃcer of Turnberry (owner of the Aventura Mall). “Its designs blend heritage and innovation to create beautiful pieces that will resonate with Aventura Mall’s discerning guests.” (valentino. com) —Kristen Desmond LeFevre

HOME STRETCH

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Ready your shelves for the opening of Assouline at Bal Harbour Shops. The Parisian-based publishing house is a favorite among literati for its visually rich tomes. Miamians can get their luxe coﬀee-table-book ﬁx in Assouline’s new outpost, which features an Ultimate Salon stocked with handcrafted titles (including titles from the coveted Impossible Collection). The boutique’s opening follows a popular run as a 2021 Bal Harbour pop-up shop. “Our brand is a celebration of luxury and culture,” says founder Prosper Assouline. “We couldn’t think of a better city that matches the same energy to open our newest Assouline store.” Don’t miss the super-Instagrammable rainbow neon sign that reads “Travel From Home,” an homage to the brand’s travel series. (assouline.com) —K.D.L.

FASHION FIX

OPEN Season

PAGE TURNER

With new locations in Coconut Grove and South Miami (and more in the works across South Florida), GlossLab is taking over the local manicure market, aiming to modernize the nail studio experience with its payments.tech-enhancedhospital-gradepolishes,trends,beingfoundedThemembership-basedhygiene-ﬁrst,concept.future-forward,female-salonpridesitselfonattheforefrontofindustryincludinglong-lastingnontoxicproducts,sterilization,andbookingsand (glosslab.com) —K.D.L.

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FROM FANCY MANICURES TO FASHION ICONS, DON’T MISS THESE FOUR NEWLY OPENED METRO-MIAMI SPOTS THAT OUR EDITORS ARE LOVING THIS SEASON

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It was at a very early age that I accepted my differences. Since I could walk, I was drawn to ele ments of the oppositely assigned gender (female): toys, shoes, clothes, and cartoons. My mother had always wanted a daughter and would even dress me up like a baby doll. As I grew older, living with my grandmother and my auntie, I was looked upon as an outcast because of the artistic and creative things I loved to do,

[which were] atypical for young boys. For instance, I was never trained to dance or braid hair, however I performed and styled like the other kids (primarily girls) that had been. These were all God’s gifts instilled into me as a young person who was just living in society being their authentic self.

WOMAN.”ASOWNBYTHEIROTHERSTOCONFIDENCEPOWERITHATFORTOWARDTURNINGONMAYTHOUGHTTURNMEWEREMEHELP,INMOMENTCLAIMEDMYANDHELPLIVETRUTHSLIVINGMYTRUTHATRANS

BY TIMUR TUGBERK

THREE METRO-MIAMI LGBTQIA+ ICONS TELL US WHY THEY’RE NOT GOING TO HIDE THEIR PRIDE

OUT AND ABOUT COMMUNITY

JASMINE MCKENZIE THOSE I’D

OCCUPATION: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE MCKENZIE PROJECT PREFERRED PRONOUNS: SHE/HER/THE VOICE/MOTHER LGBTQIA+ IDENTIFICATION: BLACK TRANSGENDER WOMAN “ WHEN

Since 2008, I have opened my doors to black LGBTQIA+ youth in need of housing, food, and other necessities, which ushered in my advocacy career. My primary focus and involvement are working with Black transgender and nonbinary folks, as the founder and executive director of The McKenzie Project. (themckenzieproject.org)

I was outed as gay on October 27, 2003, at 14 years old when my family caught me canoodling with a boy. My family was not aware of the personal sensitivities within our LGBTQIA+ community and felt it was okay to tell everyone in our community that I identified as gay, which wasn’t my full truth. It wasn’t until my eighteenth birthday when my feelings of un certainty, fear, and clarity finally came to fruition. When those I’d thought may turn on me were turning toward me for help, in that moment I claimed my power and confidence to help others live their truths by living my own truth as a trans woman. Helping others navigate life gave me all I needed to fully live mine!

Coming “out of the closet” is a process that starts with personal acceptance. Even afterwards, it can take an individual years to fully settle into their authentic truth among family, friends, col leagues, and society. In honor of National Coming Out Day on October 11, Aventura Magazine asked three members of the Magic City’s LGBTQIA+ community to share their coming out stories.

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I have two coming out stories to share: one personal and one professional. Picture it: Mother’s Day at my colleague’s apartment. I’m hosting my family when the answering ma chine picks up a message from my boyfriend at the time. They say, “Don’t shoot the mes senger,” but that’s how I felt when my mother’s questioning went on the attack. I played it cool until my sister essentially blurted out my truth, outing me to my family. The weight lifted off me was enormous and began the lengthy process of healing. It took years for my mother to fully accept me, which was the best part of being my

My second coming out came in 2006 during my first run for Miami Beach Commissioner. Even though I was out to my friends and family, I was not campaigning as an openly gay man as I was warned it could hurt my campaign. After I won the first round of voting, I was going into a run-off election with the second highest vote-getter who was determined to bring me down any way they could. My opponent outed me on a live radio show debate. The tremendous outpouring of support I received after confessing that I was gay was wonderful and has allowed me to live my life openly ever since.

Being the first openly gay Latino elected to public office in the state of Florida, I feel a strong connection with both communities. I think being “out” has helped people see me as genuine and authentic—both qualities people like in their elected leaders.

MICHAEL CHRISTIAN GÓNGORA OCCUPATION: FORMER VICE MAYOR, CANDIDATE FOR MIAMI BEACH MAYOR PREFERRED PRONOUNS: HE/HIM/HIS LGBTQIA+ IDENTIFICATION: GAY CINDY BROWN OCCUPATION: LAMBDA LIVING PROGRAM MANAGER AT JEWISH COMMUNITY SERVICES OF SOUTH FLORIDA PREFERRED PRONOUN: SHE/HER/HERS LGBTQIA+ IDENTIFICATION: LESBIAN OUT AND ABOUT CONTINUED...

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Looking back on our com munity I see many changes; some are amazing, and some that I wish hadn’t occurred. Anita Bryant’s anti-gay movement had scared me regarding coming out throughout my youth. When the human rights ordinance passed on December 1, 1998, that was wonderful!

AVENTURIST

authentic self when it finally happened.

Coming into adulthood in the early 1980s, I was aware I was different. I identified with sing ers and characters on TV and gender-bending musicians like Depeche Mode, Erasure, and Duran Duran more than my schoolmates.

that existed in the ’90s dissolving. Having per severed through adversity in our LGBTQIA+ fight, being outed on TV, and forced to live my truth in an unaccepting world has fueled my career and to this day makes me passionate about making others within our LGBTQIA+ family passionate as well. «

I was about 12 or 13 years old when I real ized I was “different.” I had a major crush on my cheerleading coach. Like most preteen adolescents, hormonal change is very confus ing, and I couldn’t pinpoint what I was feeling. I still thought I’d grow up to marry a man! It took a while for me to understand why I was different. I realized I was a lesbian when I was in college. I never officially came out to my parents; they simply found out. As a result, I was asked to move out of my mother’s house and subsequently, we didn’t speak for years. That was still years before I publicly came out as lesbian in the early 1990s, when I started my career in activism. In 1993, an evening CBS News Miami reporter outed me to the world.

The downside to becoming more accepted and mainstream is that there are fewer spaces we can call our own (only 15 lesbian bars in the entire USA as of 2021). Another side of normalization (like the passing of marriage equality): I see the kind of passionate activism

Inspired, they pair launched The Enternship to help middle-aged women get back into the work force. The idea was simple: Instead of hiring college interns with little experience to work at their firm, Kaplan and Wunderlich decided in stead to seek out a group of women with life and career experience

An empathetic Kaplan felt that she, too, was ready for growth.

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In-person events are now in the works. Kaplan and Wunderlich recently launched a September retreat in the Magic City centered around three action-packed days of mingling and motivational programming.“Thereisnothing more powerful than a group of women who all are on the same types of journeys and are there to uplift and inspire,” says Wunderlich.Theduoplans to host an inter national retreat sometime in 2023 in order to bring even more likeminded women together to share and network. “It absolutely lights me up to be able to help women step into an evolved, happier, and more successful version of themselves,” says Kaplan. “It is so rewarding.” (crazyfilthyrich.com) «

Wunderlich say their journey started a few years back when Wunderlich was turning 40 and Kaplan was going through a breakup. “I had watched the movie The Intern [in which a retiree played by Robert De Niro interns at a fash ion website run by a much younger Anne Hathaway]. I said, ‘I’m about to turn 40. I can’t have on my tomb: Here lies a publicist,’” Wunderlich jokes. “I needed to be more.”

“

—DaraSKILL.TRANSFERABLEISSUCCESS,FORWHICHANEASILY”Kaplan

Maserati).Kaplanand

Leveling UP

From left: Dara Kaplan and WunderlichGwen

GWEN AND I BOTH LOVE TO HELP WOMEN. WE KNOW HOW TO CREATE A PLAN

BY MELISSA PUPPO

Kaplan and Wunderlich followed the success of The Enternship with their Pretty Electric podcast, where they touch upon everything from more—allmentoring,Zooms,centeredofCrazyyearsbasedadviceentrepreneurshipfemaletocareertopersonalstoriesonthepair’s20-plusinthebiz.Now,they’relaunchingFilthyRich,aseriesfive-weekprogramsaroundgroupone-on-onejournaling,andaimedathelping women

GIRL POWER

If you feel like you’re simply ex isting these days but not really liv ing up to your full potential, Dara Kaplan and Gwen Wunderlich just might have the mindset cure you need. Dubbed Crazy Filthy Rich, their new self-help platform is aimed at women who want to learn, strive, and ascend. It all grew out of Kaplan and Wunderlich’s own desires to get more out of their roles as the founders of Wun derlich Kaplan Communications (a New York– and Miami-based public relations, branding, and communications agency work ing with high-profile clientele like Netflix, MTV, Charlotte’s Web, and

boost their confidence and let go of fears (which the duo reports is what holds most women back from achieving their goals).

To date, Crazy Filthy Rich has garnered more than 6,000 female followers worldwide. Programs include The Reset (tools and strate gies needed to readjust your life), The Blueprint (strategically build your own customized roadmap of goals), The Side Hustle (increase your income and find your pas sion), and The Art of Reinvention (redefining and reinventing who you“Gwenare).

and I both love to help women,” shares Kaplan. “We know how to create a plan for success, which is an easily transferable skill.”

DARA KAPLAN AND GWEN WUNDERLICH’S CRAZY FILTHY RICH IS A NEW BLUEPRINT TO HELPING WOMEN ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS

who simply needed some updated skills in order to re-enter the workforce or make a career change.

Dental Services Cosmetic Dentistry • General Dentistry Dental Implants • Bonding Porcelain Veneers • Zirconia Crowns Oral Surgery • Sapphire Whitening Invisalign Aesthetic Services Botox • Dysport • Juvederm Versa • Restylane Contour • Kybella Radiesse • Silhouette Threads Lyft Mini Thread’s • Morpheus8 • Lumecca PRP • EMax (Skin Tightening) Evolve X • Venus Legacy Call us today 305-868-4600 323 Sunny Isles Blvd, Suite 506 Sunny Isles Beach, FL drmarcocontreras.com33160Adharacenter.com Photo by David Vance

HOME grown Goods

BY KRISTEN DESMOND LEFEVRE

AVM: Describe your aesthetic. Johanne Wilson: Fresh, clean, bold, and inspirational. There are a lot of military inﬂuences in our pieces. We are pushing the message that it is time to organize, to get involved in our community, and to join organizations on a local level that are doing the work. We drew inspiration from the Civil Rights Movement for the styling of the signature collection. We referenced photos of the Black Panthers, drawing from a time when young people were active. We also got inspiration from the TV show A Diﬀerent World. The young, educated, conscious hip-hop vibe is [featured] throughout the collection.

Terrance is a certiﬁed master of illustration. In an eﬀort to teach his daughter about historical icons—like Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Angela Davis, Nina Simone, and more—he created a collection of original drawings for her. I loved them, [so I] put them on clothing and the rest is history. The vision has always been to teach and reintroduce the icons to the next generation. ... As black designers we believe that it is important for us to bring our perspective to fashion.

What’s the story behind your Icon line?

IN THE CLUTCH

LOCAL LOVE

A SELF-TAUGHT ARTIST WHO HAS TAKEN EVERYTHING FROM HOME FURNISHINGS TO JEWELRY BY STORM, ELIZABETH SUTTON RELOCATED TO MIAMI MID-PANDEMIC IN 2020. HER VIBRANT WORK IS FULL OF LOCAL VIBES. WE’RE LOVING SUTTON’S MIAMI CLUTCH PURSE—AN HOMAGE TO THE THRIVING LOCAL ART SCENE. (ELIZABETHSUTTON.COM)

Miami-bred shoe designer Voyette Lee’s collection—called Voyette—is a star on the rise. “I wanted to create an aﬀordable shoe collection that is attainable to everyone,” Lee says. Everyone, indeed: Her designs have been spotted on the feet of celebs from Venus Williams to Nicki Minaj, from Saweetie to Jenna Dewan. “I’m known for being just a bit dramatic,” Lee says. “I created a heel—what is now my signature— to replicate barbed wire. To me, it is sleek, showing a woman’s elegant, feminine, chic sense of style, and then you see the heel which shows she’s nothing to mess with!” (voyette.com)

What started as an illustration project has turned into a fashion brand offering clothing and accessories. COOL Creative’s pieces are now sold in their Little Haiti storefont, as well as in boutiques and select Macy’s stores (including macys.com). Johanne says she and Terrance hope their work will “uplift and unify people as they embrace their differences.”

Johanne Wilson combines her love of art and her passion for social justice to create what she calls “fashion that celebrates us.” As people color, she and her husband, Terrance, wanted to wear clothing that represented their experience. But they soon found that the fashion industry wasn’t offering many options. So, in 2015, COOL Creative (COOL is an acronym for Create Out of Love) was born.

BE COOL

Left: COOL Creative’s store in Little Haiti; below: Terrance and Johanne Wilson with their daughter, Valencia.

BUYING LOCAL IS EASY WHEN YOU LIVE IN A CITY AS FASHIONABLE AS MIAMI. HERE ARE OUR PICKS FOR THREE OF THE HOTTEST MAGIC CITY–BASED FASHION CREATORS AROUND.

At right, Johanne shares her take on designing a fashion line that looks chic while celebrating culture and community. (createoutoﬂove.com)

Voyette’s Marvelous isfeaturesstilettolacesandbling;theTonyasti-lettoindenimﬁnishedwithchainsandthebrand’ssigna-turebarbedwireheel.

44 AVENTURA MAGAZINE AVENTURIST

Shoe-In

designing a fashion line that looks chic nity. (createoutoﬂove.com)

THE GOOD LIFE JUST GOT BETTER! www.Williamsislandrealty.com 305-937-7800 Joel Matus is the Broker and Owner of Williams Island Realty. For the past 22 years he has been the #1 producer, selling multi-billion dollars in real estate at Williams Island. Joel is not only dedicated to his work in Williams Island, but is a full time resident as well. Joel believes in the luxurious lifestyle of our community and represents it in all transactions. JOEL MATUS - OWNER/BROKER - 305.409.0000 - JOEL@WILLIAMSISLANDREALTY.COM 4100 ISLAND BLVD, UNIT 1504 For Sale – $2,000,000 | 2608 SQ. FT. – 3 BR / 3.5 BA 2800 ISLAND BLVD, UNIT 1501 For Sale – $1,600,000 | 2670 SQ. FT. – 4 BR / 4.5 BA 3500 ISLAND BLVD, UNIT DPH01 For Sale – $2,300,000 | 4339 SQ. FT. – 4 BR / 4.5 BA 2600 ISLAND BLVD, UNIT 3001 For Sale – $2,600,000 | 2580 SQ. FT. – 3 BR / 3 BA

4 OTHER WAYS TO IMPROVE SLEEP

»»

» Avoid caffeine after 12 p.m.

» Magnesium-Rich Foods • Spinach • Pumpkin seeds • Avocado • Quinoa » Vitamin D–Rich Foods • Salmon • Mushrooms • Eggs • Also, sunshine! » Tryptophan-Rich Foods • Salmon • Eggs • Nuts and seeds » Omega-3-Rich Foods • Salmon • Avocado • Nuts and seeds • Olive oil Top SLEEP FOODS» HER.FORHIVEOFCOURTESYCLOTHINGGARDEN.&GIFTHOME,HIVEOFCOURTESYPROPS

46 AVENTURA MAGAZINE AVENTURIST

Exercise, yoga, and meditation. Just 10 minutes a day can lower stress hormones and promote calmness.

THE ROLE NUTRITION PLAYS IN THE QUALITY OF YOUR SLEEP

A GOOD NIGHT’S REST

» Wait two to three hours after eating before going to sleep. Lying down while trying to digest a meal can cause discomfort and disrupt sleep.

Melatonin is a hormone that the brain’s pineal gland produces in response to darkness. Maybe you’ve heard of the importance of seeing the sun first thing in the morning and avoiding screens in the bedroom to help set your circadian rhythm (the internal clock that controls the sleepwake cycle). When we have trouble sleeping, we often chalk it up to too much stress, too many intrusive thoughts, too much blue light, or an overall feeling of restlessness. When that sleep-wake cycle feels off and sleep is hard to come by, many of us are quick to turn to sleeping pills or synthetic melatonin.However, what most people are unaware of is that your gut produces 400 times more melatonin than your brain does. How does this work? The gut microbiome (a collection of trillions of gut bacteria) converts nutrients from your food into serotonin, which is the moodstabilizing hormone that can be thought of as the building blocks for melatonin, the sleep hormone. The body does this beautifully, if the gut microbiome is balanced and we are getting adequate nutrition and vitamins—primarily an amino acid called tryptophan and vitamins

such as magnesium, vitamin D, zinc, and omega-3s. In fact, magnesium deficiency has been linked with low melatonin production.

There are numerous ways you can improve your sleep through your diet. For example, cherries, especially tart cherries or Montmorency cherries, have been shown to increase melatonin levels; consuming just 6 ounces of cherry juice can increase the body’s ability to use tryptophan. Plants and herbs—including chamomile, valerian, and lavender—can also help relax the nervous system. Add a few drops of lavender essential oil to your pillowcase, dilute it and apply it to your forehead, or add culinary lavender to your tea. Read on for more tips for better sleep.

» Use the bedroom for sleep, sex, and calming activities. Try eliminating the television and read instead (not off a screen).

LIVING WITH IVEY BY IVEY PHOTOGRAPHYLEIDY BY KENT ANDERSON

What is Melatonin?

2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar

2 tbsp. raw pumpkin seeds

1 small shallot

1/4 tsp. salt

10-oz. salmon ﬁllet, skin on

OCTOBER 2022 47

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

» Toss together the quinoa and spinach. Arrange on a platter and drizzle with vinaigrette. Garnish with pumpkin seeds, pomegranate seeds, and sliced avocado. Using a fork, roughly chop salmon into cubes and add to salad.

INGREDIENTSINGREDIENTSAVOCADOVINAIGRETTE

» Brew tea as directed. Add cherry juice and enjoy before bedtime.

1 tbsp. olive oil

1 cup fresh basil, packed

1 Theavocadojuiceof

4 oz. hot Chamomilewatertea bag 6 oz. tart cherry juice INGREDIENTS

saltFahrenheit.degreesPatgenerous-

Cherry Tea

1 tsp. raw honey

1/8 tsp. sea salt

TIMESLEEPY

1 cup cooked quinoa

»»

» To make the avocado vinaigrette, add all ingredients, except olive oil and water, in a high-speed blender. Pulse to combine. While blender runs on low, add olive oil gradually, then add water gradually to thin.

1/2 avocado, thinly sliced

»

» Preheat oven to 450 ly.saltfillettheFahrenheit.degreesPatsalmondryandgenerous-Addoliveoilto a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the fillet for 6 minutes. Flip and transfer to the oven for 6 minutes. Transfer to a plate, carefully remove skin, and set aside.

1 garlic clove

Water to thin (1/4 1/

2 cups fresh spinach

SPINACH and Quinoa Salad

2 tbsp. pomegranate seeds

1/4 cup olive oil

1 lemon

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BY KATHERINE LANDE

1. Dior Maison Jardin d’Hiver dinner plate ($150), dessert plate ($130), Dior, dior.com | 2. Gucci Decor cushions in GG monogram silk blend or cotton blend featuring graphic patches with wool front and moire back ($860-$1,150), Gucci, gucci.com | 3. Giambattista Valli Home x Moda Operandi tabletop collection featuring En Plein Air and Cairo Jaipur themes ($185-$1,025), Giambattista Valli Home, modaoperandi.com | 4. Gingham dinner napkins ($118 for set of four), Tory Burch, toryburch.com | 5. Equipages d’Hermès Diligence side table made from natural maple with brass wheels in H Taurillon leather and detachable wicker baskets and trays ($42,600), Hermès, hermes.com | 6. Tree of Life porcelain teapot hand-painted with 18-karat gold details ($275), Cubi Verde porcelain saucer set with hand-painted gold trim ($185), La DoubleJ, ladoublej.com 2 4 5 6 1 3

51 STYLE CURATED FINDS, LUXE ACCESSORIES, AND RUNWAY REPORTS CASA CHIC FASHION DESIGNERS ARE ELEVATING THE ART OF ENTERTAINING AT HOME

CLASS ACT Pink tweed handbag from Fall/Winter 2022 Act 2 ($5,000), Chanel, Aventura, Miami, chanel.com GLAM Aventura,($1,650),

Fuchsia Trifolio bucket bag ($1,850), Salvatore Ferragamo, Aventura, Miami, ferragamo.com

DAVID YURMAN: 20 percent of sales for the Renaissance Cable bracelet will be donated to BCRF, during October while supplies last.

SHIMMER & SHINE

HOT DATE Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello Instinct 110 pumps in satin ($695), Saint Laurent, Aventura, Miami, ysl.com

VALENTINO FALL/ WINTER 2022

THE LOOK BY KATHERINE LANDE

GOOD POINT Aluminum Renaissance Cable bracelet in pink acrylic ($425), David Yurman, Aventura, Miami, davidyurman.com

FIRST BLUSH Stretch crystal sandals in pink ($1,750), Bottega Veneta, Bal Harbour, Miami, bottegaveneta.com

GLADIATORGLAM

♥

♥ ♥ ♥

JIMMY CHOO: 20 percent of the purchase price for the Varenne Avenue handbag will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), up to $100,000.

PUCKER UP Tom Ford Beauty lip color in ($58),Casablanca Tom Ford, tomford.com

A visual saturation of monotone pink makes a statement.runway

Valentino Garavani Roman Stud shoulder bag ($3,900), Valentino, Bal Harbour, Miami, valentino.com

TOM FORD: 100 percent of the purchase price for the Casablanca lip color will be donated to the Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Campaign, through June 2023 while supplies last.

FASHION FOR CHARITY

52 AVENTURA MAGAZINE STYLE

PLAY UP YOUR FALL WARDROBE AND MOOD WITH THIS HAPPY INPRETTYHUEPINK

BUBBLEGUM POP Varenne Avenue handbag in candy pink quilted patent leather with Plexi strap ($1,650), Jimmy Choo, Aventura, Miami, jimmychoo.com

WINN-DIXIE | NORDSTROM RACK l MARSHALLS l HOMEGOODS l MICHAELS ARTS & CRAFTS Visit PromenadeShopsAventura.com to get a complete list of stores. GUMBERG ASSET MANAGEMENT CORP. LEASING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE l 954-537-2700 l WWW.GUMBERG.COM Enjoy casual dining, shop at our boutiques and pamper yourself at our salons and spas. At the Promenade Shops, you’ll find values galore along with a wide range of services, ladies evening gowns, specialty bicycles, kids haircuts and much, much more. Conveniently located in the City of Aventura at the northeast corner of Biscayne Blvd (US-1) and Ives Dairy Road (NE 203rd Street), just minutes east of I-95 and 2 blocks north of the Aventura Mall. Your Community Alternative To The Mall “Where shopping is a dream!” IN AVENTURA

AND EVERYTHING NICE

54 AVENTURA MAGAZINE STYLE

Pumpkin Spice tea ($28 for a petite box), Tea Forte, teaforte.com

Devotees of the Nest New York Pumpkin Chai fragrance mark their calendars for the arrival of this beloved limited-edition candle every fall—and for good reason. Warm, splendidly spiced notes of pumpkin, masala chai, cardamom, ginger, and cinnamon enhance the coziness of any space.

Despite having curated a collection of South Florida–friendly coats and jackets, when fall rolls around and the weather cools down, I always ﬁnd myself opting for this hooded wool- and cashmere-blend poncho for instantly chic seasonal snuggles. —Kristen Desmond LeFevre, editor in chief

New York Pumpkin Chai candle ($70), bloomingdales.com

Liquid powder eye shadow tint in sephora.com

I’m a sucker for anything skeleton, so you can bet that I’ll be stocking up on the porcelain pieces from this chic set. The dinner plates are a must, and I’ll be using the candy bowls long after Halloween.

Les Mains Hermès nail enamel in Orange Boîte ($45), Hermès, hermes.com

Sardine bag ($4,200), Bottega Veneta, bottegaveneta.com

COLOR POP

SKELEBRATION

This updated version of the cult-fave quilted pouch bag is on my wish list this fall. The rich cranberry color and curve shape are trending this season, and the metal handle gives it a luxe edge. It’s the ultimate handbag for both day and night. —Katherine Lande, fashion editor

Day of the Dead Dinnerware Collection ($13-$70), Williams Sonoma, williams-sonoma.com

FLEURSDESSTUDIO©

—Mary Murray, executive editor

SCENTSATIONAL

—Abigail Duﬀy, web editor

THAT’S A WRAP

Fendi cream wool and cashmere poncho ($1,980), Fendi, fendi.com

ORANGE CRUSH

Hands down, Hermès’ Orange Boîte—the iconic color of the house’s signature box since 1942—will be my go-to for a pop of seasonal spirit. The polish is known for its radiant color and long-lasting lacquered shine, plus at least 71 percent of its ingredients are of natural origin. Reckson, contributing editor

THE EDIT

VERY BERRY

7 AUTUMN-INSPIRED ITEMS OUR EDITORS ARE LOVING NOW

The ﬂavors of fall—cinnamon, ginger, and clove—converge in this gorgeously aromatic black tea blend. The petite box of 10 pyramid-shaped tea bags is perfect as a hostess gift or as a personal indulgence. —Daphne Nikolopoulos, editorial director

I plan to herald the fall season by donning one of my favorite cream-topowder eye shadows in this new ochre tint. The warm terra-cotta-like shade has a beautiful shimmer and is my current go-to. —Melissa managingPuppo,editor

Falling FORWARD

JEWELRY BOX YOUORANGEGLAD BY MARY MURRAY (davidor.com)

56 AVENTURA MAGAZINE AVENTURIST

5. PEACHY KEEN Misahara Nebo necklace with peach moonstones, mother-of-pearl, opals, and diamonds set in 18-karat rose gold, $12,000.

3. CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES Hamilton Jewelers Confetti bangle with orange enamel and diamonds set in 18-karat rose gold, $3,950. (hamiltonjewelers.com)

7. FIRE STARTER Nak Armstrong Ruched ear clips with ﬁre opals and diamonds set in 20-karat rose (nakarmstrong.com)

4 6 5 7 2 8 9 13

9. STILL THE ONE Louis Vuitton Spirit High Jewelry Radiant bracelet with a garnet and diamonds set in 18-karat gold and platinum, price upon request. Louis Vuitton locations (us.louisvuitton.com)

Melissa Kaye Lola hoops with neon orange enamel and diamonds set in 18-karat gold, (melissakayejewelry.com)

8. DOUBLE TROUBLE Tamara Comolli large Bouton ring with carnelian set in 18-karat gold, $2,750, and Bouton solitaire ring with a diamond set in 18-karat gold, $2,650. (tamaracomolli.com)

2. FRUIT PUNCH Provident Jewelry ring with an orange sapphire and diamonds set in platinum, price upon request. (providentjewelry.com)

4. CURVE APPEAL Davidor pendant with orange lacquered ceramic and Palais diamonds set in 18-karat gold, $7,850. Davidor, Bal Harbour Shops

1. HERE COMES THE SUN Eﬀy Jewelry ring with an opal and diamonds set in 18-karat gold, $14,175. Macy’s locations (macys.com)

5. PEACHY KEEN (misahara.com)

THESE JUICY GEMS ARE NOTHING TO BOO ABOUT

6. SLAM DUNK $2,950. gold, $5,100.

Introducing Boutique Cardiovascular Care Aventura Health District | 2820 NE 214th St. Ste 902 | Aventura FL 33180 WWW.MANELACARDIOLOGY.COM786.320.5633 Manela Cardiology FOR YOUR HEART HEALTH Same Day Cardiac Evaluations | Diagnostic Testing Providing a Beautiful Center for all Your Heart Health Needs

Beautiful

STYLE MEYERASHLEY

BLOSSOMSBeckoning blooms only to

aren’t the

thing camellia plants have

boast about. For centuries, the seeds from these eastern and southern Asian plants have been harvested and cold-pressed for their nourishing oil, renowned as a beauty secret of geishas in Japan. Camellia oil is lightweight yet rich in moisturizing oleic acid, antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and vitamins A, B, D, and E. It also lends an intoxicating note to fragrance. Reap camellia’s benefits with these picks: Krigler Extraordinaire Camelia 209 Perfume with notes of camellia, bergamot, cardamom, cedarwood, and tea ($725 for 3.4 fl. oz., krigler.com); Chanel No. 1 de Chanel Crème Revitalisante Au Camélia Rouge Revitalizing Cream and L’Eau Rouge Revitalizing Fragrance Mist ($110 each, Chanel counters); True Botanicals Pure Radiance Sugar Scrub with organic sugar, camellia and jojoba oils, and kaolin clay ($38, Nordstrom locations); Chanel Hydra Beauty Camellia Glow Concentrate ($90, Chanel counters); and TO112 Conditioner for Dry Hair with nourishing camellia and tamanu oils ($30 for 8 fl. oz., to112.com). —Abigail Duffy 58 AVENTURA MAGAZINE BEAUTY BEAT

©2022 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently operated subsidiary of HomeServices of America, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, and a franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. Equal Housing Opportunity. CINDY ORLINSKY BROKER-ASSOCIATE 305.469.3222 cindy@houseandhive.com I houseandhive.com #1 IN SINGLE-FAMILY HOME SALES IN AVENTURA #1 RANKED AGENT IN AVENTURA “RATE MY AGENT” LOOKING TO BUY OR SELL? The House & Hive team provides luxury residential and commercial clients with the very best service, expertise and attention to make the most out of the way you live, work and play today.

Describe your new furniture collection.

I really design for my custom ers and people [who] love my clothes. I want it to be a full Siriano lifestyle. I want our chic clients to be wearing a fabulous Siriano dress, lying in a beautifully designed Siriano room.

We have so many exciting projects in the works. My large exhibition of all my work over the last 15 years is on display at SCAD Fash Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta, which has been exciting. We just opened a new store called The Collective West in Connecti cut, and our interior business is really growing with two hotel projects in the works and a restau rant. We are just really proud that we get to work and create magical things every day.

The acclaimed designer known for bold runway moments and size inclusivity dishes on his new furniture collection

I have always been interested in interior design. It was some thing my mother introduced me to when I was young. We were always reupholstering sofas and chairs and adding drapery all over our house, so that was fun for me to watch growing up.

I wanted this collection to feel modern and stylish, just like one of my dresses. [The pieces] have an element of statement and sculpture, which was so impor tant to me. I wanted them to feel special and not just be functional chairs that take up space. They also have vintage references from the ’60s and ’70s, which are my favorite eras in furniture design.

Christian Siriano offers customers “a full Siriano lifestyle” with state ment-making fashion and furniture collections.

What influenced you to branch out into home design?

Who or what has been your greatest inspiration when designing the collection?

inspiration just like I would when I create a dress. Then we get into fabrics and silhouettes for a room.

60 AVENTURA MAGAZINE STYLE

What’s next for the Christian Siriano brand?

Christian Siriano

How do you feel the worlds of fash ion and interior design intersect? They are so similar in a lot of ways. We have a client and start with an

You’ve had many showstopping red-carpet moments. What’s the one piece from the furniture col lection that will make a statement in any room?

BY KATHERINE LANDE

It’s really a similar process for both. I have even been using interior fabrics for clothes and clothing fabrics for interior projects. It is so fun to try and do things differently. I think that’s why clients are com ing to me. I bring a new perspec tive to this world of interiors.

REAL TALK WITH...

I think our Lola settee is one of the most exciting pieces in a room, but our Lula chair has become the most popular.

Thank you, Neighbors! For My 50 Year Jubilee of Selling and Reselling your Homes Celia & Esther For the golden, treasured friendships formed with buyers and sellers For your continued confidence, trust and loyalty allowing me the opportunity to now serve the 3rd generation CELIA MUSSMAN REALTOR cmussman@onesothebysrealty.com305.336.5762ASSOCIATE ESTHER PEART REALTOR epeart@onesothebysrealty.com305.331.4641ASSOCIATE We look forward to continuing to assist with the sale of your home, to find a new one for you, and to form lasting friendships. If you are thinking of buying or selling, please call us! When you’re ready, we’re here for you! © 2022 ONE Sotheby’s International Realty. All rights reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty Logo are service marks licensed to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC and used with permission. ONE Sotheby’s International Realty fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each franchise is independently owned and operated. Any services or products provided by independently owned and operated franchisees are not provided by, affiliated with or related to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC nor any of its affiliated companies. The information contained herein is deemed accurate but not guaranteed. Pricing subject to change without notice. We Sell Condos Too! 19101 MYSTIC POINTE DR. APT. 2307 20281 E COUNTRY CLUB DR. APT. 1115 3000 ISLAND BLVD. APT. 1601 3201 NE 183 ST. APT 1503 1800 NE 114 ST. APT 1604 19101 MYSTIC POINT DR, APT. 2301 401 NE 194 ST. 806 NE 191 TER. 6000 ISLAND BLVD, APT. 1808 3000 ISLAND BLVD, P.H. 4 251 174TH ST. APT. 1517 Single Family Homes Just Sold 20125 NE 21 COURT 18670 NE 21 AVENUE 21111 NE 21 COURT 1880 NE 211 TERRACE 19514 PRESIDENTIAL WAY 2370 NE 193 STREET 2030 NE 208 STREET 21311 NE 23 AVENUE 2213 NE 203 TERRACE 1831 W OAK HAVEN CIRCLE 20890 NE 32 AVENUE 18655 NE 21 AVENUE 21120 NE 21 PLACE 20830 NE 21 COURT 1901 NE 206 TERRACE 20143 NE 19 PLACE 2461 NE 199 STREET 19301 NE 22 AVENUE 20920 NE 21 COURT 19400 NE 23 AVENUE

OFFICIAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER PROVIDER PROUD TRUCK AND TOWING PARTNER OWNED BY: PRODUCED BY:

JOURNEYS

OCTOBER 2022 63

RESERVERITZ-CARLTONAZADÚN,OFCOURTESY

ZADÚN, ONE OF RITZ-CARLTON’S RARE RESERVE PROPERTIES, IS A CHIC OASIS ON THE RUGGED LOS CABOS COAST

f you sign up for an agave tasting at Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Mexico’s Los Ca bos region, be prepared to walk out with more than a buzz. In addition to sips of some very fine mezcal and raicilla, you’ll get a taste of the mythology of the places where the agave spir its are distilled. Take sotol, for example. Out in the desert, the story goes, sotoleros catch a rattle snake and dunk it in the firewater, fangs and all, until it drowns. That microdose of venom is sup posed to be good for the health, to add vigor. We’re told it’s a local legend. Maybe.

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Inset: A corten steel “skin” encases Candil, the resort’s agave bar. Below: Spa Alkemia invites guests to take the healing waters.

Moments like this are typical of the ethos of Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties. As the highest expression of the brand, these resorts (there are five around the world, the other four are in In donesia, Thailand, Puerto Rico, and Japan) aim to immerse guests in the culture, history, and

YOUR PASSPORT TO THE MOST FASCINATING CORNERS OF THE GLOBE

Cabo COOL

BY DAPHNE NIKOLOPOULOS

resort’s Ambassadors of the Environment, a team of trained naturalists who combine facts and fun to make nature come alive.

Zadún sits at the crossroads of desert and sea, between the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortéz, so its story revolves around the rugged environ ment of Baja California Sur. Baja is famous for winter whale-watching, and Zadún’s perch atop a hilly landscape is the ideal place to observe the rituals of these gentle giants. From December to April, humpback and gray whales travel to the warm waters of the Sea of Cortéz—“the aquar ium of the world,” accord ing to Jacques Cousteau—to mate, calve, and nurture their young. Sometimes they’re so close to the coast, you can lit erally see them breaching from the terrace of your villa. For a more intimate encounter, your personal tosoani (a brilliant combination of concierge and butler) can arrange a private 2-hour boat excursion with the

While nothing outranks whale-watching on the bucket-list scale, the Ambassadors offer a wide spectrum of programs to keep guests of all ages engaged. On a rainy afternoon, sign up for the chocolate-making experience. It starts benignly enough with a history lesson, where you’ll learn that cacao beans were once more valuable than gold and that Montezuma drank 50 cups of chocolate a day, then progresses to a hands-on part that will make you appreciate that bar of Godiva in a whole new way. After roasting, peeling, and grinding the cacao beans, you’ll simmer them in hot milk with the spices of your choice. No instant gratification here, but good things—in this case, the drink of the Aztec gods—are worth the wait.

On the more active front, the Ambassadors lead morning and afternoon hikes through the landscapes of Puerto Los Cabos. The steep, rocky trails leading to the highest point of the Zadún preserve grant glorious views of the sea and desert ecosystem, and the exercise will jus tify the churros after dinner. For a deeper dive into the local flora and fauna, a guided 3-hour trip to the San José Estuary combines hiking with serious Indigenousbird-watching.traditionextends to Spa Alke mia, where therapies are inspired by ancient healing techniques and native ingredients. The Desert Botánica Ritual incorporates poultices with botanicals found in the Baja desert, and the Soothing Massage delivers a hydrating jolt, compliments of a prickly pear and agave infu sion. The can’t-miss treatment here is the Sava sana Experience involving music and sound. For this, you lie in Savasana posture on a mat

flavors of a region while providing next-level luxury. Each of the Reserves has a unique nar rative that’s tied to the locale and its people.

64 AVENTURA MAGAZINE JOURNEYS livingindoor-outdoorvarioustastingfromClockwisetopleft:Candil’sagavecoversregionsofMexico;inaGrandReserveVilla;Humo’sparrilla-grilledoctopusandpoundedkampachicrudo;expansiveseaviewsunfoldbeyondaguestroom. RESERVERITZ-CARLTONAZADÚN,OFCOURTESY

Clockwise from top left: El Barrio, meaning “neighborhood,” features murals by local artists; Equis’ seaside cabanas; couples’ treatment room at Spa Alkemia; a corten steel sculpture by Arturo Berned welcomes travelers in the arrival pavilion; on a guest room patio, a wall-mounted sculpture is illuminated at night.

Whether dining at Humo or one of the more casual restaurants, music continues into the night, resonating across the hillside. On the lawn by the pool, families peer through telescopes at the stars, which seem brighter and more abun dant here. It’s a really happy energy, and that in itself is an experience. (ritzcarlton.com/zadun) «

while sounds (some musical, some not) sur round you. The idea is that the vibrations reach deep within the body to bring on a complete meditative state and, subsequently, a state of awareness and well-being.

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RESERVERITZ-CARLTONAZADÚN,OFCOURTESY

If days at Zadún are tonic for the body, nights are for the soul. As daylight diminishes, the steel “skin” surrounding Candil lights up, beckon ing guests to sip an agave cocktail before din ing at the fire kitchen of Humo. Mexican and Peruvian specialties are prepared on a woodburning parrilla and served sizzling to the table. Don’t miss the Baja-endemic snook or any of the choice beef cuts accompanied by grilled veggies and a killer chimichurri.

entourages, but that’s only part of the picture. Nearly half of the guests of the 248-room hotel are either horse lovers who enjoy the energy and spectacle of the sport, or travelers looking for a luxury vacation with an unusual spin.

inSpectatingSTYLE

BY DAPHNE NIKOLOPOULOS

f you’re a horse-show enthusiast, or on the sup port team of a competitive equestrian, you may be used to long hours on hard bleachers or grass, lackluster food, and facilities that might not be best de scribed as “glamorous.” The World Equestrian Center (worldequestriancenter.com) and its showpiece, The Equestrian Hotel (equestrianhotel.com), are here to change all that.

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THE EQUESTRIAN HOTEL AT OCALA’S WORLD EQUESTRIAN CENTER PUTS YOU IN THE HEART OF THE HORSE-CIRCUIT ACTION

In the middle of it all—literally—is The Equestrian Hotel. It’s logical to assume that The Equestrian accommodates competitors and their

QUICK TRIPS

Located at the west end of Ocala amid horse farms and sprawling golf communities, the 380-acre complex rivals—and in many cases exceeds—Wellington Inter national (where the Winter Equestrian Festival is held) as the epicenter of equestrian competition. With multiple indoor and outdoor arenas, the WEC is equipped for grand-scale competitions on the pro and collegiate levels. Almost every discipline, from dressage and hunter/jumper to Western pleasure and reining, has a home here, and an expansive polo facility is currently under construction. Be yond equestrian, there are facilities for sporting events like volleyball, cheerleading, and even a national-level dog show.

Lounging in an elegant suite while watching a dressage competition beyond a picture window is definitely not your everyday hotel fare. The Equestrian puts you in the heart of the action without sacrific ing the comforts and style of a high-end hotel. Marble bathrooms, haberdashery-inspired fabrics, and elevated classic design are all

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Clockwise from above: The World Equestrian Center and The Equestrian Hotel occupy a 380-acre complex in Ocala and offer an unparalleled, world-class experience in the sport; a standard hotel room with king-size bed overlooks the Grand Arena; show jumping takes center stage.

CENTEREQUESTRIANWORLDOFCOURTESY

PHOTOGRAPHYRYBACKANDREWOFCOURTESY

The public places are opulent but restrained. The lobby blends de mure elements such as panel molding and mahogany millwork with glitzy touches like Swarovski crystal chandeliers and unapologetic strokes of gold. Naturally, equine references from horse-head lamps to stirrup drawer pulls are everywhere. The showstopper here is undoubt edly the floor-to-ceiling fireplace, but don’t miss the dog paintings that decorate practically every square inch of wall space on the ground lev el. It has to be one of the biggest collections of dog art, anywhere.

On the dining front, the big story is Stirrups (stirrupsocala.com), as much for its fine-dining menu as its terrace overlooking the Grand Arena. Dine on prime steaks or Southern fare like summer-corn hush puppies and black-eyed pea salad while watching equestrian events just steps from your table. If you can snag a seat at the Yellow Pony (yellowponyocala.com), jump at the chance. This buzzing gastropub is all about its bourbons and whiskeys, but its Tatanka Blue bison burger is the stuff of legends. Order it with a side of garlic-parmesan

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It’s easy to make a weekend of exploring the hotel and show grounds, but the surrounding area is compelling in its own right. Ocala is an outdoor enthusiast’s playground, with such attractions as Ocala National Forest (fs.usda.gov) and some of the state’s most beautiful springs. Closest to the WEC, Rainbow Springs (visitrainbow springs.com) is a popular spot for tubing and swimming (that water!). A bit farther but worth the drive, Juniper Springs (fs.usda.gov) offers family-friendly, prolific snorkeling on crystal-clear water. For adrena line seekers, The Canyons (zipthecanyons.com) is a scenic and chal lenging spot for zip lining (including a full moon adventure). Opt for the Big Cliff Canyon tour and fly over lakes, treetops, and canyons— one of many bucket-list experiences that can be checked off during a stay-and-play at The Equestrian. «

accommodation hallmarks, but it’s the bird’s-eye view of the sporting events—like your own private box!—that sets the rooms apart.

Clockwise from top right: The Equestrian Hotel’s lobby showcases a mix of elements including Swarovski crystal chandeliers, equine references, and an impressive collection of dog art; Josh Dolan and Bromance compete in the Hunter Derby; Yellow Pony gastropub; dining options abound on property.

CENTEREQUESTRIANWORLDOFCOURTESY

french fries and atone later.

I’ve come to the Mercedes-Benz research center in rural Immendingen (south of Stuttgart) to take a closer look at this visionary Vision EQXX. Right now, the EQXX is a concept car, with no plans for production. But the lessons learned from this advanced piece of engineering and technol ogy will be incorporated into pretty much all upcoming Mercedes EVs.

Arguably the Merc’s most impressive feature, however, is what lies beneath, i.e., the battery pack under the floor. It has roughly the same 100-kWh output as the battery powering the latest flagship all-electric

THE GROUNDBREAKING MERCEDES-BENZ ELECTRIC SEDAN THAT CAN GO 747 MILES ON A SINGLE CHARGE

I’m a range anxietist. Each time I get behind the wheel of an electric vehicle with a longish drive ahead, a tsunami of fear washes over me. Am I going to run out of juice before I can find a socket? It’s the same anxiety seen at airports and Starbucks across the land: smartphone us ers with power cords in hand, desperately in search of a vacant outlet.

Going the DISTANCE BY HOWARD WALKER

But there’s hope on the horizon. The remarkable Mercedes-Benz Vi sion EQXX can go for an astonishing 747 miles on a single charge. To put that into perspective, 747 miles is roughly the distance from New York to Chicago, Miami to Charlotte, and L.A. to San Fran and back. In a recent record-shattering run, the EQXX whizzed across Europe, from Mercedes headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, to Silverstone, England.

See it in the aluminum and it’s a jaw-dropper, largely on account of that teardrop body design. And it doesn’t just look slippery, it is slippery.

HIGH ROAD

Climb aboard and the surprisingly production-ready cabin feels part George Jetson, part Mercedes E-Class circa 2030. It’s packed with some really cool features, like a massive, pillar-to-pillar, 47-inch touchscreen. The interior uses lots of sustainable, non-animal materials too, includ ing upholstery made from cactus, mushroom roots, and vegan silk. The funky blue shag mats on the floor are a mix of bamboo and recycled plastic water bottles. Need a snack? Chew on a seat.

Mercedes achieved a drag coefficient of 0.17, making the Vision EQXX the most aerodynamic road car ever.

68 AVENTURA MAGAZINE JOURNEYS

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aero effect of that 0.17 drag coefﬁcient. Lift off the throttle while cruising a ﬂat section of the track and the speed of this silver bullet just doesn’t change. The car coasts and keeps on coasting.

Other than that, the EQXX drives like any other EQ electric Mercedes. That means instant acceleration, silent running, agile handling, and the uncanny feeling that you’re helping save the planet. Range anxiety? Consider me cured. «

OCTOBER 2022 69

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Piloting the EQXX around the sinewy Immendingen road course requires you to totally recalibrate your driving style. For starters there’s the

When you need to scrub off some speed—yes, that’s a tight corner up ahead—the brake pedal is there, but it’s not necessary. Instead, steering-wheel paddles provide four stages of regenerative braking. In one-pedal driving mode, lifting off the gas will stop you in your tracks, while dumping juice back into the battery.

Mercedes EQS sedan, but it’s 30 percent lighter and 50 percent smaller.

Tipping the scales at just under 3,900 pounds, the EQXX is 1,800 pounds lighter than an EQS 580. Reduced weight means less power is needed to move it; the relatively modest 241-hp rear-mounted electric motor can punch the EQXX from standstill to 60 mph in a sprightly 7 seconds. The EQXX also comes with 117 solar panels integrated into the roof that juice all the accessories, including the cooling fans, lights, and controls. On a long drive, they can add up to 15 miles of range.

HIGH

Austrian-owned Silent Group launched its massive solar-powered catamarans in 2016. Back in 2018, its then flagship Silent 64 grabbed headlines by becoming the first solar-powered catamaran to cross the Atlantic, from Spain to Barbados, in just 16 days.

BY HOWARD WALKER

THE NEW SILENT 60 LUXURY CATAMARAN USES THE SUN’S RAYS TO TAKE YOU CRUISING

Today, I’m in Fort Lauderdale, slathering on the SPF 50 and trying out the Silent Group’s newest power cat, the $3-million-and-up Silent 60.

70 AVENTURA MAGAZINE JOURNEYS

Along with beaches, gators, and Key lime pie, the one thing Florida has in abundance is sunshine. So, when a boatbuilder comes up with a luxury cruiser that’s 100 percent powered by the sun, it’s worth taking notice.

Its claim to fame is its ability to use sunshine to cruise at 6 to 8 knots for up to nine hours, or roughly 100 nautical miles a day. Ease back to a sail boat-like 4 to 5 knots and you have the possibility of near perpetual motion.

However, for those who live by the mantra that life is too short to own an ugly boat, this might not be the craft for you. With its boxy superstruc ture, black-framed vertical glass, slabby hull sides, and Kansas-flat roof, it’s all function and not a lot of form.

SILENT RUNNING SEAS

But space—and plenty of it—is a huge part of the appeal here. At al most 30 feet wide, it’s half as wide as it is long. The outside entertaining areas are truly vast, whether it’s the full-width rear cockpit, the spacious flybridge, or the sunken deck on the bow. Inside, you could hold a party for 20 in the salon and it would still feel empty. Add to that the large galley and dining area, plus the choice of three or four cavernous cabins, includ ing a master that takes up one entire hull.

Our skipper for today’s cruise along the Intracoastal is Silent’s delivery

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to customer

ELECTRIC TOP SPEED: 15

There is something totally soothing about gliding along with only the sound of water bubbling up in the wake, feeling the sun on your face, and knowing that it’s not costing you a dime in fuel. Miller tells me that one Silent 60 owner made the decision to buy after tiring of using his 80foot Italian motor yacht for family weekend trips from Lauderdale to the Bahamas and spending more than $12,000 on fuel. He’s not alone. Right now, more than 30 Silents are awaiting construction at the builder’s yards in Fano, Italy, and Istanbul, Turkey. In addition to the 60, there’s an 80 and even a superyacht-size 120-foot version.

GUIDING

To get technical for a second, this 60 comes with Silent’s E-Power propulsion pack, with its twin 268-hp electric motors and 207-kWh lithium-ion batteries. It’s good for 7-knot cruise speeds with a claimed— though optimistic—15-knot top speed.

I’m guessing somewhere in the instruction manual for each yacht is the line: Just add sunshine. «

FILE

PRICE: $3 FEET 6 INCHES 2 X 268-HP KNOTS

DRAFT: 3 FEET POWER:

MILLION LENGTH: 59

If you want more juice, then go for the E-Power+ package with twin 455-hp motors, 286-kWh batteries, and the promise of a brief 20-knot top speed. But remember that for anything over 5 knots you’ll need to crank up the diesel generator for one of every three hours to top off the batteries. Thankfully, like the electric motors, it is whisper quiet.

BEAM: 29 FEET,

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captain, Kyle Miller. With a tap of the bow thruster control and a burst of electric power, he eases the 60 out of its side-on slip and into the open waters.

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THELIFEALOCALCASINOISBETTINGBIG ON BRINGING THE STORIED SPORT OF JAI A I BACK TO THE MAGIC CITY STORY BY JESS SWANSON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEVEN MARTINE This page: Daniel Spinner winds up for a powerful throw. Opposite page: Magic City Casino’s Pelotari includeBen Gadsden, Ben “Benny” Langhans, Nicolas Eyheragaray, Aratz Mendizabal, and Daniel Spinner

o, not the citrusy beer produced by Cigar City Brewing in Tampa (although the brand does sponsor the sport). What we’re talking about here is “the fastest ball sport in the world.” Despite its high-powered tagline, the game of jai alai (pronounced hi-uh-lye) had all but slipped into obscurity following a players’ strike in the 1990s and the growing popularity of lotteries, card rooms, and slot machines at the turn of the millennium.

But in the 15 minutes before the ﬁrst jai alai game on a Sunday evening in July, the Magic City Casino—located a few miles west of Coral Gables near the Dolphin Expressway—appears as if it has slipped into a time warp. Scores of men and women, accompanied by their wide-eyed children

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and grandchildren, trickle into the indoor stadium overlooking a three-walled court. It could easily be 1983. The smartphones and facial coverings are the only twentyfirst-century clues signifying otherwise. They’re lining up to make their selections for the upcoming five matches of H2H (called head-to-head), a new jai alai league launched at the casino last spring that pits two or four similarly skilled players against each other. Before the games begin, people clutch scraps of paper and circle the team they think will win each of the five matches, and whether it’ll be won in two sets or three. It costs nothing to participate and, for every prediction that comes true, the casino will pay participants $20. Since parking and admission are free, there’s literally nothing to lose and as much as $100 to gain.

While jai alai appears to borrow elements of racquetball and baseball, jai alai came ﬁrst, originating in the Basque region of Spain more than four centuries ago. It’s centered around the cesta, a sickle-shaped, woven basket players strap to their wrists and use to throw and catch a ball clocking speeds up

“We’re the last drive-in, the last Blockbuster, the last deli,” Savin laments. “But we see something here. We think the product is inherently a good one, with a tremendous amount of appeal to one or two generations that have never experienced jai alai.”

to 150 miles per hour— a curious crossover between Edward Scissorhands and Fastball

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“We tried to put a new spin on the game and take it to 2022,” says Scott Savin, chief operating ofﬁcer at Magic City Casino. “We’re trying to see not just what works in American sports but sports worldwide.”

number of jai alai permits in the state soon rose from eight to 12.

For years, state law required non-tribal casinos to conduct live jai alai games or horse and dog races in order to operate the moneymaking card rooms and slot machines.

But, following animal abuse allegations, greyhound racing was banned in Florida via a constitutional amendment in 2018. This prompted other casinos to consider implementing jai alai leagues, and for a time it seemed the sport was rebounding. The

Then, in 2021, Florida legislators passed what many believed to be the sport’s death knell: SB 7080, which rid casinos of their requirement to host jai alai games in order to run slots and cardrooms. At the time, three jai alai arenas (called frontons) operated in Miami. Now there’s only Magic City Casino; in fact, it’s the only fronton in all of North America.

Attempting to revive an obscure handball game might sound like an exercise in futility, but Savin is betting on its little-known Miami precedent: The city was once home to the largest jai alai fronton in the world, which drew in a world-record audience of more than 15,000 people back in 1975. It was so popular that Miami Vice centered an entire episode around the game in 1986. In fact, the player who appeared in that episode, Juan Ramón Arrasate, is now tasked with coaching Magic City’s unlikely 28-player roster

Opposite page, clockwise from far left: Matt “Douglas” Langhans; Michael Carballo follows through after a hard throw; Chula Chargers team owner Michael Blechman with son Andrew Blechman, who is Magic City Jai Alai’s game announcer.

“We had all different football players, baseball players—one guy was a lacrosse player, another a high hurdler, plus a golfer from FAU,” Savin says. “We were teaching them a sport they had absolutely no idea how to play.”

comprised of third-generation Basque players and, to ﬁll the remaining slots, former college athletes who had never picked up a cesta before. Training the former athletes was an effort that proved both hilarious and frustrating as chronicled by ﬁlmmaker Billy Corben in his 2019 documentary, Magic City Hustle

MUST CATCH AND RETURN THE BALL IN ONE FLUID MOTION (THE BALL CAN BOUNCE ONCE).

NAPLESILLUSTRATED.COM | APRIL 2021 77

In hindsight, it seems unlikely that Darryl Roque and Julen Goitiandia would ever cross paths. The former is from Tennessee, was once a pitcher for the University of Miami baseball team, and won the college World

!

Right: Chad “CRB” Barnes blasts a forehand shot to the inside portion of the court. Below: Anderson “Anderluck” Correa makes a diving rebote shot.

THE PRINCIPLES OF THE GAME ARE VERY SIMPLE. THE OBJECT IS TO BOUNCE THE BALL OFF THE FRONT WALL WITH SUCH SPEED AND SPIN THAT THE OPPOSING PLAYER CAN’T RETURN IT. TO P YER TWO.

IF A P YER HOLDS THE BALL AND BREAKS THE CONTINUOUS MOTION OR CAN’T CATCH IT AFTER ONE BOUNCE, THE OTHER P YER SCORES A POINT.

OCTOBER 2022

And yet, on a July evening, both men ﬁnd themselves at the Magic City Fronton, unspooling their cestas to proudly reveal a pair of matching callouses on their right wrists from where the wicker glove digs into their skin with each throw as if they were scars from a blood pact. It’s hard to imagine that ﬁve years ago Roque was a high school math teacher and Goitiandia was 4,400 miles away in northern Spain.

“To be honest, I don’t remember if I was 2 or 3 when I tied my ﬁrst cesta,” Goitiandia says. “It’s my favorite sport, my tradition, and myGoitiandiahobby.” accepted a position at Magic City to play in February 2021. But, for Roque,

MUST THEN CATCH AND RETURN THE BALL, AND SO ON.

Here’s how it works:

SERVES

Series championship in 1999. The latter, nearly 20 years Roque’s junior, grew up in the Basque region of Spain to a family of competitive jai alai players, including his grandfather, father, and older brother.

Michael and Nina Blechman, a retired couple whose son works closely with Savin, own the Chula Chargers squad. Even though the team came in last place, Michael Blechman enjoyed the experience.

donors to the University of Miami, sent the school’s athletic apartment a bizarre request to email former athletes who might be interested in learning to play jai alai professionally—no experience necessary. The position would be paid, with beneﬁts and health insurance.

Clockwise from left: Jerseys of Matthew “Douglas” Langhans and Baraka “The Rock” Short commemorate the duo’s 2019 doubles championship win; Michael Carballo, Julen Goitiandia, and Darryl “Tennessee” Roque practice on the court; Roque mingles with fans post-game.

78 NAPLES ILLUSTRATED

it all came down to a random 2017 email from the University of Miami’s athletic department seeking former college athletes interested in playing competitive jai alai. Roque thought it was a joke, but he responded anyway. He’s grateful that he did.

“My ﬁrst reaction was this wasn’t true and that it was fake,” Roque says. “But lo and behold, ﬁve years in, we’re still here and only trying to get stronger.”

“I love anything with speed—I ride a motorcycle and my father used to race cars—and being the world’s fastest ball sport is awesome,” Roque says. “Then, also, being around teammates and sports my entire life, it’s nice having the locker room and having our team. Jai alai is an individual sport but we are brothers; we communicate and help each other out.”

“My most memorable moment was sitting with the guys putting the doubles teams together. I felt like Jerry Jones for a couple of hours,” Blechman says. “I really got to know the players on a personal level, and was able to build that relationship with them, giving them a thumbs up from the owner’s box and cheering for our guys.”

YOU TOO CAN BUY YOUR OWN JAI A I TEAM

In February 2022, at the start of the Magic City Jai Alai’s ﬁfth season, the league debuted Battle Court, a new team concept that divides the league’s 28-player roster into four teams. Seasonal squad ownership rights cost $100,000 and include perks such as determining doubles teams, access to players, and an exclusive VIP area to watch games. Last season’s team owners included Chris Cote, the longtime producer of the Dan Le Batard Show (he owned the Cesta Cyclones); K Marie, otherwise known as “La Gringa Mas Latina” on 94.9 FM (she owned the Wall Warriors); and Jammin’ Johnny from El Zol 106 (he owned the Rebote Renegades).

By next year, Savin estimates they’ll need to expand their 28-player roster to make way for a ﬁfth

“We’reteam.going to need more players for next year if we expand from four to ﬁve teams,” he says. “If the league experiences an expansion that we hope to see in the next few years, we’re going to need training for people who want to become jai alai players.”

The Magic City Casino wanted to bring back jai alai, but ﬁrst the fronton would need players, and years of declining interest in the sport stateside made that effort especially difﬁcult. But the Havenick family, which owns the casino and are major

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• Holds or juggles the ball, preventing one continuous motion.

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• Serves the ball and it does not land between the underserve and overserve lines.

A P YER SCORES A POINT IF THE OPPOSING P YER:

THE

Darryl “Tennessee” Roque pivoted to jai alai after

theballprofessionalplayingbase-asapitcherinMontrealExposorganization.Left:Dennis“ElBarba”Daltonsendsthepelotaﬂying. OCTOBER 2022

• Does not catch the ball on the ﬂy or after one bounce.

THERE ARE 8 P YERS IN EACH GAME

“With slots, you pull the handle and push the button; it’s low labor and high proﬁtability,” Savin explains. “But we are working to develop jai alai into a ﬁnancially

THE

Y.

THE NEXT P YER IN THE ROTATION GETS ON THE COURT AND P YS AGAINST THE POINT WINNER.

• Intentionally interferes with a player trying to catch the ball.

2 P

At first, Savin explains, the sudden interest in jai alai was to allow the casino to continue operating its slot machines while shifting the business model away from dog racing. But in 2021, when state legislators decoupled jai alai and horse races from the operation of slot machines and card rooms, Savins says, the Magic City fronton didn’t abandon its new program—even though jai alai hadn’t turned a profit. This November will mark the end of Magic City fronton’s fifth season.

PELOTA IS PLAYED IN A ROUND-ROBIN STYLE

• Throws the ball out of bounds.

THERE ARE YERS ON THE COURT FOR EACH MATCH OF THE GAME. P YER WHO WINS THE POINT STAYS ON THE COURT. P YER WHO LOSES THE POINT LEAVES THE COURT AND SITS AT THE END OF THE BENCH BACK OF THE ROTATION LINE) AND WAITS FOR ANOTHER CHANCE TO P

(THE

• Pelota: A hard rubber ball covered in hardened goat skin; it’s smaller than a baseball but harder and heavier than a golf ball.

• Cinta: The binding used to tie a cesta to a player’s hand

• Pelotari: Jai alai players

• Scoop: An underhand catch on a short hop

Clockwise from top left: Dennis “El Barba” Dalton positions his cesta for a catch; The U.S. National Jai Alai Championship trophy; Michael Carballo follows through; Nicolas Eyheragaray launches a forward shot.

Rules of the game: Depending on the format, two or four players are pitted against each other to throw and catch a ball with a sickle-shaped, woven mitt tied to their right arm in a three-walled court. A single player hurls the ball—which can reach speeds up to 150 mph—at the back wall. His opponent must catch it and then throw it back at the wall. Each player is given two opportunities to serve the ball. In doubles games, one player covers the front court while the other covers the back court. Loud and fast-moving, a match ends when a player is either unable to catch the ball or accidentally throws it out of bounds, forfeiting the point to the other player or team.

• Faja: The sash that each player wears around his waist

AVENTURA MAGAZINE

• Fronton: The building where jai alai is played

• Sacque: A serve

Jai alai variations: Magic City Casino offers traditional round-robin play, but has also introduced H2H, in which the first player or team to score six points wins the set, and the first player or team to win two sets wins the match. This simplifies the way wagers are made. A set runs roughly 15 to 25 minutes. A typical H2H session, comprised of five matches, runs between two and three hours.

It was only a matter of time, Savin assured the former college athletes, until they would beat the more experienced jai alai players. Savin trusted the program and especially their coach, Arrasate, a 13-time world champion jai alai player. Admittedly, there was a steep learning curve. In the ﬁrst season in 2018, the audience and the more seasoned players laughed at the rookies.

viable model, and we are fortunate that the casino feels we can develop jai alai into a standalone business that is proﬁtable.”

• Cesta: The glove-like, handcrafted wicker scoop tied to a player’s hand and used to throw the ball

“Looking back at all our videos, I don’t understand how anyone took a chance on us: We sucked and looked terrible,” Roque says. “I remember my ﬁrst throw went nowhere near where it was supposed to go, but at least I didn’t hit my foot.”

Origins: Hailing from the Basque region of Spain, jai alai (which translates to “merry festival” in the Basque language) is played worldwide, but especially in Spain, France, and several Latin American countries.

• Tanto: A point scored

• Cancha: The three-sided playing court

• Mucho: The thing to yell when your team is winning or needs encouragement

• Rebote: Any shot made after the ball hits the back wall

JAI A I 101

By the second and third year, the performance of Magic City’s players drastically improved at the U.S. National Jai Alai Championships, where one

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Now, Savin reports that hundreds of thousands of people tune in to watch the games remotely via the Jai Alai app and FTF Sports, including 75,000 users for the livestream on TikTok. In August, the casino announced a multiyear agreement with ESPN, which will cover the fronton’s Battle Court Season II on ESPN3.“Jaialai has all the elements people who love football, baseball, and other major sports are looking for,” Savin says, “except our ball travels faster, the danger is higher, and so is the athleticism.”

Synthetic cestas are hard to ﬁnd and not as durable or good for players, as they can

lead to injuries that you wouldn’t get with a handmade cesta.

To be a cestero is a labor of love. The sport of jai alai has a future only because of what Magic City’s program is doing to support it. I recognize that, and because of it I play the best I can and make cestas proudly.

NAPLESILLUSTRATED.COM | APRIL 2021 81

I started to learn the craft at 15. I learned to make and repair cestas as an apprentice. One of the artisans at the local jai alai school in Tijuana showed me the trade.

Emmanuel “Manny”

It takes much longer to create a cesta than it takes to repair one, approximately 30 hours of labor. A cesta is made from chestnut for the body and wicker is used for the threading. The wood must be so thin to be pliable. Each cesta is used diﬀerently by the player in terms of how it is worn.

“We think jai alai will be one of those things not to be missed in Miami,” Savin foresees. “Jai alai used to be one of those must-do things, like Vizcaya, and our foremost goal is make that happen again.” (jaialaiworld.com) «

“It was a big upset in the jai alai world,” says Sandra Rodriguez, a Magic City Casino spokesperson. “It was a big experiment, and there was so much elation.”

How do you make a cesta?

By next year, Savin expects to expand the team and hire more players. There’s even mention of creating a new jai alai training facility to route more athletes into the sport. In the coming years, Savin hopes, jai alai will once again be as synonymous with Miami as drinking a café con leche at Versailles, ordering stone crabs at Joe’s, or snapping a selﬁe at Wynwood Walls.

Can cestas be made by a machine?

—Kristen Desmond LeFevre

Tucked into a cubby inside Magic City Casino, Victor Manuel “Manny” Ramirez does what no machine can do. Ramirez makes cestas, and he says he’s one of fewer than 10 cesteros artisans trained in the skill of cesta crafting. We caught up with Ramirez, who was introduced to jai alai as a teenager in Tijuana.

THE CENTURIES-OLD CRAFT OF CESTA MAKING

What does it mean to you to be among the few cesteros left?

Laduche OCTOBER 2022

AVM: How did you learn to be a cesteroRamirez:?

player made it to the ﬁnals and two doubles teams made it to the semiﬁnals. By 2021, one player, Matt Langhan, seized the national jai alai championship title for singles. Langhan also paired up with his brother, Benny, and captured the doubles title that same year.

Sure, relocating to South Florida is nothing new. But when Elman moved to Miami full-time in 2012, he took a uniquely artistic approach in getting to know his new home. As Elman puts it, having a footprint in Miami since the early 2000s allowed him to “witness the cultural explosion here” and understand that there was room for real storytelling.

Paintingthe Town

The couple had owned a Miami Beach condo since 2001, but they spent the majority of the year at their home on the northern tip of Cape Cod in Provincetown, Massachusetts. “The Cape can be lousy weather in May and June,” Elman says. “We were driving, and my wife just looked at me and said, ‘Why are we going back?’”

Primarily an abstract painter during the ’70s and ’80s, in 1989, Elman began focusing on a series of mixed-media portraits (measuring 60 inches by 43 inches and 40 inches by 30 inches) of prominent people in the arts. His portraits of Pulitzer Prize recipients Jhumpa Lahiri, Stanley Kunitz, Alan Dugan, and U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky are in the collection of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. To date, he has completed more than 400 portraits.

RAYMOND ELMAN captures the likenesses—and the stories— of the Magic City’s most creative movers and shakers

BY NICOLE MARTINEZ

82 AVENTURA MAGAZINE

ike so many others before them, artist Raymond Elman and his wife, Lee, became Miamians after a conversation about the lousy weather up north.

A dedicated portraitist of both visual and literary forms, Elman has spent the last decade or so documenting the Magic City’s cultural greats—from cartoonist Jim Morin to poet Juan Felipe Herrera, dance director Robert Battle to architect Bernardo Fort-Brescia, and musician Tony Succar to ﬁlm director Billy Corben—in large-scale portraits and in-depth interviews.

L

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As a resident of Provincetown—known for its artists’ colony that has attracted heavyweights like Hans Hofmann and Robert Motherwell— Elman says he uniquely understood the importance of chronicling such a rich critical and artistic commingling. He founded Provincetown Arts magazine in 1985 as a way to capture and share the spirit of the local arts community—and to provide an outlet for his portraits and interviews that portrayed his subjects in their everyday lives.

“I thought of it as documentation inside an art colony from an insider’s point of view, and as a memoir of my life,” Elman says.

Soon, Elman needed a new place to publish the southern swing of his storied career. He told his ﬁrst portrait and interview subject— Cuban-American Miami-raised poet Richard Blanco—about his dream for a Miami arts publication. Blanco suggested that Elman contact artist John Bailly, who teaches at Florida International University (FIU). After a series of discussions with the university, in 2015, Elman and FIU launched Inspicio, which showcases the diverse talent within Miami

Artist Raymond Elman at work on a new series called Orts in his Miami Gardens studio

Right: Elman in his Cape Cod studio

“In the beginning, I was searching for people who either grew up in Miami or went to school in Miami,” he says. But a conversation with a friend helped him realize that “Miami is like this tidal place where people ﬂow in and ﬂow out, and they bring culture and also take Miami culture with them,” Elman recounts. “So I started thinking people coming in for Basel and Book Fair were fair game.”

DUNLAPDAVID

Post-move and fully ensconced in South Florida, Elman began actively creating and curating a new series of Miami-based works in 2013. He says that his initial Miami portraits were aimed at really getting to know the people who knew the city from the inside.

and South Florida’s arts communities (inspicio.fiu.edu). Elman edits the publication, and its pages often include his portraits and interviews with some of the Magic City’s most creative residents across the visual, per forming, and literary arts.

Elman’s local work has earned him praise—and expanded his opportunities. In 2018, he was honored with an Ellie Award from the ArtsCenter South Florida (now known as Oolite Arts). The accolade included funds that Elman used to create a series of 40-inch-by-60-inch mixed-media portraits and interviews celebrating The Historic Hampton House (historic hamptonhouse.org). Located in Miami’s Brownsville neighborhood, the former motel was a “Green Book” location in the ’50s and ’60s, offering refuge for Black travelers (including Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Josephine Baker, and Aretha Franklin, to name a few) who needed a place to stay when they visited still-segregated South Florida. Portraits in Elman’s Hampton House series include Enid Pinkney, who led the Hampton House preservation efforts; former astronaut Winston Scott; and Khalilah Ali, ex-wife of Mu hammad Ali. Next up? An exhibit of 20 portraits at the Jewish Museum of Florida in Miami Beach in 2023. (jmof.fiu.edu)

Robert Zuckerman passed away in June. But his legacy as an accom plished major motion picture industry photographer lives on in the hearts of the people he worked with and whom he

Photographer ZuckermanRobert

For Elman, the point of every portrait he creates and every interview he conducts is as much to honor his subjects as it is to remind himself of the honor of knowing them. “One of my great pleasures in life is knowing someone from point A to point B,” he says. “In some ways that’s what’s happening with these portraits; I’m capturing the experience of knowing them.” (raymondelman.com)

Elman with Samurai Swordsman, a portrait of his teacher, mentor, and friend, Knox Martin.

One of my great pleasures in life is knowing someone from point A to point B.” “

84 AVENTURA MAGAZINE

Elman’s artistic process begins with him asking his subject to take them to the place where they feel most comfortable. On location, Elman spends about 15 to 30 minutes photographing them with plenty of natural light. Back in his light-filled studio, Elman will enlarge the photographs and print them on up to 20 sheets of archival 11-inch-by-17-inch paper. He then soaks the printed pages in water and adheres them onto canvas and into the original portrait using polymer resin. Once that process is complete and has dried, he’ll paint over the photo with oil paint, a technique he developed himself.

“Robert was a saint,” Elman says of Zucker man. “I never heard him complain about anything. He was constantly doing outreach work and finding ways to help others. I call his portrait, Saint Robert at Haulover Cut.”

Kindsight, which tells the story of the richness of everyday encounters and experiences through photographs of ordinary people, from taxi and bus drivers to waitresses, plumbers, and kids at a playground.

After a rare progressive disease put him in a wheelchair, Zuckerman moved to Miami to teach at FIU. He often visited local schools, putting on workshops aimed at teaching students how to photograph and write, with the goal of connecting them to the things that move them.

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But Zuckerman also worked in still photography, publishing a book entitled

counted as friends—stars like Will Smith, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Denzel Wash ington, Melissa Leo, Oprah Winfrey, and many others.

“I think the Miami art scene is amazing. It has so much energy,” Zuckerman told Elman in an interview before his death. “Art is really encouraged in Miami, both in the art districts and in the schools. I try to work with young photographers and make myself available as much as I can.”

His big- and small-screen photography credits include I Know What You Did Last Summer, Any Given Sunday, Training Day, National Treasure, Transformers, Pursuit of Happyness, The Shield, Rescue Me, and Nip/Tuck.

A Miami Beach native whose family is deeply embedded in the city’s cultural and political history, Michelle Oka Doner is a celebrated visual artist with numerous public art installations across New York City, Miami, and other parts of the country. Working in a range of me dia including sculpture, prints, and drawing, Oka Doner’s oeuvre also includes costume and set design— like the stunning costumes she created for the Miami City Ballet’s 2021 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Oka Doner is also the author of Miami Beach: A Blueprint of an Eden, which chronicles Miami Beach from the 1920s to the 1960s through her lens.

86 AVENTURA MAGAZINE

“I was born and raised in Miami Beach. It was a small community in those days,” Oka Doner recalled in her interview with Elman. “Miami was a wonderful launching pad for the hopes and dreams of a young woman. I have maintained a strong and passionate relationship with this“Therecommunity.”issomething in Michelle’s work that reminds me of the Golem in Michael Chabon’s Kavalier & Clay —fashioning life from natural debris and mud,” Elman says of Oka Doner. “In her case, when we shot the portrait, she said, ‘Let’s do it in front of my favorite banyan tree,’ across from where she grew up in Miami Beach. There’s a fierceness about Michelle, and I think I got that.”

Miami was a wonderful launching pad for the hopes and dreams of a young woman.”

Artist OkaMichelleDoner

“

You might recall Richard Blanco’s heartfelt reading of his poem, One Day, during President Obama’s inauguration in 2013. The fact that this Miami-based poet, teacher, and memoirist was chosen to commemo rate such an event says enough about what we he means to our community. Blanco’s writing has been published in The Nation and The New Yorker, among other prominent titles, and he has taught at Georgetown American University and Wesleyan College.

OCTOBER 2022 87

Elman recalls watching the his toric moment on TV. “I thought, ‘This will be the first guy I do a portrait of in “AsMiami.’”aCuban-American growing

Elman was sure to capture that feeling of home when he and Blanco connected. “I always say to my sub jects, ‘Let’s capture an image of you in a place that’s meaningful to you.’ And we went to La Carreta,” he says, describing the Cuban restaurant where Elman photographed Blanco that is famous for its “abuela-style” food and authentic Cuban espresso.

up in Miami, I never felt like ‘the oth er,’” Blanco told Elman during their interview. “I knew my community, and that is a very privileged space to grow up in. Writing and read ing One Day at President Obama’s inauguration, I realized that there are many exile narratives that have always been part of the American story, they just aren’t highlighted like the story of the Pilgrims.”

Poet BlancoRichard

A former New York City Ballet ballerina herself, Lopez has led the Miami City Ballet as its artistic direc tor since 2012. Born in Havana but raised in Miami, Lopez studied ballet under the inimitable George Balanchine and danced as a soloist in a number of the company’s major productions. She later transitioned to a career in television, working as a cultural arts reporter at NBC in New York, before returning to ballet.

communities, [so] that children have the opportunity to access professional dance training. Why should they have to leave South Florida like I did if they want to dance?”Elmansays Lopez’s personality shines through in his portrait of her. “I love that Lourdes is giving me an extraordinary grin,” he says. “Given her accomplish ments, she could have been a very aloof person as she was one of the greatest dancers in the world. She was so warm and so welcoming, and that’s what came through in the portrait.”

Dancer LopezLourdes

“I believe that dance has the ability to change lives,” Lopez revealed to Elman. “I have a real desire to bring what we do at Miami City Ballet to other South Florida

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OCTOBER 2022 89

“I chose to do a portrait of Campbell because he is a major poet and a MacArthur Genius award recipient,” Elman says. “I especially love his book of poetry titled XX: Poems for the Twentieth Cen tury, which I think is brilliant. [It’s] a sequence of 100 poems—one for each year of the twentieth century— written in a wide range of forms and voices, including Einstein, Picasso, and Matisse.”

Poet Campbell McGrath

I believe that dance has the ability to change lives.” “

«

Campbell McGrath is a celebrated poet and arguably one of the most accomplished creative writing professors at Florida International Uni versity. Among his many accolades, McGrath is the recipient of the Pushcart Prize, has been named a MacArthur Genius fellow and a United States Artists fellow, and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

A native of Chicago, McGrath now calls Miami home. In fact, many of his works, includ ing a 2003 collection titled Florida Poems, are centered around the state’s unique charms and challenges. “The best thing about the Miami

literary community is that it is very mutually supportive and unified,” he told Elman. “New York and Chicago, for example, have cliques. Miami is open-ended and doesn’t have rival centers competing for attention.”

90 AVENTURA MAGAZINE

AMERICAN Beauties

By Howard Walker

Boats designed and built in the United States lead the worldwide industry standard. Here are 10 of the very best that will have you flying the star-spangled banner as you cruise the open seas.

power?

When the battery gets low—or you simply need to get somewhere in a hurry—the Hinckley’s twin 550-horsepower Cummins turbo-diesels will kick in and punch you to a 35-knot cruising speed.

What happens when you combine Down East lobster boat lines with the latest in hybrid diesel-electric You get Hinckley Yachts’ brand-new Picnic 40 S SilentJet.Thisbuilt-in-Rhode-Island knockout features two beefy 90-kW electric motors juiced by an 80-kWh battery to ease you out of your slip in stealthy silence. Then this oh-so-elegant 40-footer will cruise along at 7 knots for an hour and 5.5 knots for 90 minutes.

And while the diesels are purring, they’re also topping up the battery. In just 30 to 45 minutes, they’re back to being fully charged, allowing you to run all the systems (including the air-conditioning) at anchor with no need for a generator. Watts not to love? (hinckleyyachts.com)

Hinckley Yachts Picnic 40 S SilentJet POWER FILE PRICE: $2.6 MILLION (EST.) LENGTH: 42 FEET BEAM: 12 FEET, 10 INCHES ENGINES: TWIN CUMMINS DIESELS POWER: 1,100 HP ELECTRIC: TWIN 90 KW TOP SPEED: 37 KNOTS

Viking Yachts 64 Convertible Huckins Sportsman 38

If you want to strike fear into the biggest fighting marlin or tuna in the deep blue sea, you want a Viking. Based in New Gretna, New Jersey, this familyowned builder has been turning out state-of-the-art fishing battlewagons for more than half a century.

ENGINES: CUMMINS QSB

PRICE: $6 MILLION TOP SPEED: 42 KNOTS

6-CYL. POWER: 2 X 380

Viking’s latest—and perhaps greatest—big-game fishing machine is the 64 Convertible, a hard-charging, wave-smashing 64-footer packing more than 4,000 horsepower of V12 MTU muscle.

Lovers of classic wooden motor yachts will likely know all about the racy Sportsman 36 that Frank Pembroke Huckins began building at his Jacksonville yard way back in 1936. At the time it was the must-have weekend cruiser for Florida boaters.

Evolved from the super-successful 54 Convertible, this new 64 saw a major redesign of its hull and deck, which now has the strength and rigidity of a Wells Fargo bank vault. Forty knots into gnarly seas? Not a problem.

But the added appeal of the 64 is that it combines hedonistic levels of luxury and comfort for when the rods are stowed and the margaritas get mixed. There’s even the option of an enclosed, fully air-conditioned flybridge, as well as air-conditioning in the cockpit and a 50-inch pop-up HD TV in the leather-lined salon. (vikingyachts.com)

PRICE: $1.2 MILLION

POWER FILE

While the unmistakable lines are largely unchanged, everything else is brand new. Now, instead of trusty timber, the Sportsman 38 uses the very latest in marine construction materials, including Kevlar, carbon fiber, and impact-resistant structural foam.

(EST.) LENGTH: 63 FEET, 10 INCHES BEAM: 18 FEET, 11 INCHES ENGINES: TWIN MTU V12 POWER: 2 X 2,000 HP

POWER FILE

In place of the original gas motor, there’s a pair of beefy 380-horse Cummins inline-6 turbo diesels, together with a high-torque 20-hp Elco electric motor juiced by a bank of 18 lithium-iron-phosphate batteries. Engage the electric motor and the Sportsman will glide along at 7 knots for a couple of hours. Fire up the diesels and you can run at 35 knots.

Going back to the future has never been so much fun. (huckinsyacht.com)

LENGTH: 38 FEET

TOP SPEED: 35 KNOTS

While the original Huckins Sportsman eased out of production decades ago, a new consumer appreciation for authenticity and retro style prompted the Huckins family to create an updated version of the original Sportsman 36—and make it a hybrid.

BEAM: 12 FEET, 6 INCHES

HP ELECTRIC: 20 HP

The result is this mirror-varnished 34-footer, built from double-planked sapele hardwood and featuring a plump upright bow, a curvy stainless-steel-framed windshield, a sun-shading hardtop, and a wave-piercing deep-V hull. Inside there’s room for 12 in the main cockpit and a spacious open bow, with all-white upholstery designed by Gretzky’s wife, Janet. She also commissioned lots of cushions emblazoned with her husband’s iconic 99.

Fancy one just like it? Coeur Custom has a second boat in build that will be priced at around $900,000. (coeurcustoms.com)

Powering the Steinway 340 HT (named for the piano maker) is a pair of Mercury 8.2-liter 430-hp gas inboards that can push the boat to a comfortable 45-knot top speed.

When hockey great Wayne Gretzky wanted a new boat for cruising on Idaho’s Lake Coeur d’Alene—where he has a summer home—there was only one choice: a wooden masterpiece from local builder Coeur Custom.

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POWER FILE PRICE: $900,000 LENGTH: 33 FEET, 6 INCHES BEAM: 9 FEET, 6 INCHES ENGINES: MERCURY V8S WITH BRAVO OUTDRIVES POWER: 2 X 430 HP TOP SPEED: 45 KNOTS Coeur SteinwayCustom340 HT

For any well-heeled captain of industry contemplating purchasing a superyacht around the 100-foot mark, there’s one name that shoots to the top of the list: Westport.

Cigarette Racing 59 Tirranna

She’s also fast. Two 1,900-hp Caterpillar diesels can give an impressive 26-knot top speed. Add to that a composite fiberglass hull that’s acclaimed for its smooth, super-stable ride, and you have a vessel that’s more than worth its multimillion-dollar price tag. (westportyachts.com)

This pencil-thin projectile is the flagship of Miami-based Cigarette’s fleet. Constructed from lightweight yet I-beam-stiff carbon fiber and composites, the Tirranna is designed to do one thing and one thing only: Go insanely fast. Miami to Bimini? The Tirranna will get you there in less than an hour.

Yet it’s also packed with creature comforts, like a 29-speaker 5,200-watt JL Audio sound system and Poltrona Frau leather upholstery. Below decks there’s a forward settee that converts to a queen bed, plus a spacious shower and head. In the cockpit and open foredeck there’s seating for up to 28 of your closest friends.

PRICE: FROM AROUND $3 MILLION LENGTH: 59 FEET BEAM: 14 FEET ENGINES: MERCURY RACING VERADO 450R POWER: 6 X 450 HP TOP SPEED: 70 KNOTS

There’s poetry in motion when a Cigarette Racing 59 Tirranna—propelled by a sextet of supercharged 4.6-liter Mercury Racing V8 outboards packing a combined 2,700 hp—is shrieking across the water at 80 mph. Eyeballs water, cheeks flap, follicles get wrenched from your scalp. Call that fun? You bet.

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POWER FILE

PRICE: $17 MILLION (EST.) LENGTH: 112 FEET BEAM: 23 FEET, 10 INCHES ENGINES: TWIN CATERPILLAR C32 POWER: 2 X 1,900 HP TOP SPEED: 26 KNOTS

This Port Angeles, Washington, yard has been around since 1965, building salty commercial craft and passenger ferries. In the mid-1980s, it expanded its lineup to include luxury motor yachts.

Westport W112

The most successful in Westport’s constantly growing catalog is the W112 series. Since its debut in 1994, more than 65 of these classy 112-footers have been built, making it arguably the most successful superyacht ever.

What’s the appeal? Timeless elegance is part of it; Westport shirks the current trend of overexaggerated, origami-folded yacht design. The 112 is also the perfect size—not too big, not too small—with cabins for eight guests and space for a crew of five.

If all this sounds appealing, expect to write a check for around $3 million. But when it comes to zipping to the Bahamas for lunch at 80 mph, the Tirranna is priceless. (cigaretteracing.com)

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We’re sure Chris Smith would be proud. (chriscraft.com)

Nothing captures the essence of American beauty on the water more than a Chris-Craft. The now-Sarasota-based company has been around since 1874, when Chris topher Columbus Smith, aka Mr. Chris-Craft, built his first wooden boat at age 13.

These days, the company is part of another American icon, Winnebago Industries, and builds a lineup of center-console and bowrider models in the 24-foot to 35-foot range. Each one com bines high style, quality, and craftsmanship with surprising value for the money.

Take your pick from twin Mercury or Volvo V8 gas engines with stern drives. Or triple 300- or 350-hp Mercury Verado outboards, each with the option of easy-parking joystick control.

Chris-Craft Launch

Our current favorite is the flagship of the fleet, the new Launch 35 GT. In addition to masses of stretch-out seating, this family-friendly 35-footer comes with all those lovely Chris-Craft cues, such as teak flooring, diamond-quilted upholstery, and a stainless-steel-framed windshield.

35 GT POWER FILE PRICE: FROM $548,000 LENGTH: 35 FEET BEAM: 10 FEET, 10 INCHES BASE ENGINES: MERCURY V8 6.2-LITER POWER: 2 X 350 HP TOP SPEED: 50 KNOTS

In 2017, the yacht was sold to Florida entrepre neur Klaus Bytzek, who renamed her Nadan and embarked on a refit that included the addition of a pilothouse on the top deck. She was sold again in 2021 after being on the market for $28 million. (burgerboat.com)

Among the hundreds of award-winning yachts the yard has turned out over the years, one of the true standouts is the 151-foot Sycara IV, designed to capture the style and splendor of the 1920s Golden Age. Built for East Coast car dealer extraordinaire Ray Catena, she features a gorgeous fantail stern, gold-leaf-encrusted bowsprit, and a sleek superstructure that enables her to squeeze under the low bridges of New York’s Erie Canal.

Inside she’s all Madrone burl paneling with inlaid Macassar ebony, teak, and maple flooring, plus lots of mirror-polished stainless steel. French doors leading into the main salon feature Lalique crystal panels.

Company SYCARA IV POWER FILE PRICE: $28 MILLION (EST.) LENGTH: 151 FEET BEAM: 27 FEET ENGINES: TWIN CAT ERPILLAR POWER: 2 X 600 HP TOP SPEED: 14 KNOTS

Burger Boat

Manitowoc, Wisconsin, seems an unlikely place to base a company that specializes in cutting-edge superyachts. But the Burger Boat Company has been crafting world-class vessels here since 1863.

Seattle-based Delta Marine dates back to 1967, when brothers Ivor and Jack Jones began building fiberglass fishing boats. Today, the Jones family still owns and operates the company, which is renowned for the graceful, state-of-the-art superyachts it designs and builds.

If you’re in the market, she could be yours for a cool $100 million through brokers Burgess. (deltamarine.com)

Delta Marine INVICTUS

Yachts like the ravishing 216-foot Invictus that premiered in 2013 and is a firm favorite within the luxury charter market, cruising the Mediterranean in the summer and the Bahamas and Caribbean in theFeaturingwinter. a rugged steel hull and lightweight composite super structure, the yacht is cavernous inside and out, courtesy of a beam that stretches more than 43 feet. Below decks it’s big enough to ac commodate 20 guests across nine staterooms.

58

OCTOBER 2022 97 POWER FILE PRICE: $100 MILLION LENGTH: 216 FEET BEAM: 43 FEET ENGINES: CATERPILLARTWINDIESELS POWER: 2 X 2,280 HP TOP SPEED: 16 KNOTS POWER FILE PRICE: FROM $2.5 MILLION LENGTH: 66 FEET BEAM: 16 FEET, 2 INCHES ENGINES: VOLVO-PENTA IPS950 POWER: 2 X 725 HP TOP SPEED: 30 KNOTS

Powered by a pair of 2,780-horsepower Caterpillar diesels, she has a top speed of 16 knots and carries enough fuel to cover 5,000 nautical miles at 13 knots.

The 58 is part of a five-model lineup of Sabre Salon Express fast cruisers that includes a 38, 43, 45, and 48. Add to these a 48 Fly Bridge and top-of-the-line 66 Dirigo flagship.Butthe $2.5 million 58 has everything the cruising family could dream of. Below decks, there’s a full-beam master cabin, a forward VIP, and a twin-berth guest cabin to starboard, each with its own en-suite head and shower. Up in the salon, there’s a spacious galley, oversized sofas, and a well-equipped helm station with seating for four.

Delta’s craftsmanship is seen in the top-notch construc tion and stunning interior fixtures and fittings. Our favorite spots aboard are the Rat Pack–style bar and sky lounge that converts into a nightclub worthy of Paris.

If there’s such a thing as a Bentley Continental for the seas, a leading candidate would by the Maine-built Sabre Yachts 58 Salon Express. With its gracious proportions and single-minded focus on quality and craftsmanship, the Sabre 58 oozes luxury from every pore of its satinvarnished woodwork.

Power comes from space-saving Volvo Penta IPS950 pods each packing 725 hp and good for more than 30 knots flat out. And just like that Bentley, this Sabre delivers its horsepower in serene silence. (sabreyachts.com) « Sabre Yachts Salon Express

Restock your closet with the season’s hottest pieces 98 AVENTURA MAGAZINE PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL FILONOW SHOT BY AVENTURA ON LOCATION AT THE VENETIAN POOL, CORAL GABLES FASHION EDITOR: KATHERINE LANDE

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Fendi chiffon dress; Gucci earrings. For buying information, turn to page 137.

Alexander McQueen dress, jacket, heels For buying information, turn to page 137.

JACKET

100 AVENTURA MAGAZINE

LEATHER

THE WHITE TANK Prada tank, skirt For buying information, turn to page 137.

BERETS & KNEE-HIGH BOOTS

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Gucci faux fur coat, boots, beret For buying information, turn to page 137.

BACK TO BLACK Valentino crepe jumpsuit, pumps, gloves For buying information, turn to page 137.

COLOR BURST

Stella McCartney violet dress; Alexander McQueen ear cuffs, cuff. For buying information, turn to page 137.

Vuitton sequin tweed dress, boots For buying information, turn to page 137.

106 AVENTURA MAGAZINE

TRIBUTE TO TWEED

Louis

Lafayette 148 New York coat; Alexander McQueen pumps. For buying information, turn to page 137.

FAUX FUR COAT

Model: Jessica C, The Source Models, Miami Hair and makeup: Gianluca Mandelli, Creative Management, Miami, using YSL Beauty and Leonor Greyl Photography assistant: Troy Robertson Fashion assistant: Roxy Rooney, Honey Communications

Today, Paulo instills his passion and work ethic in his twin sons, Bruno and Pietro, who started working at 14, learning from their father’s example. His sons now work closely with him on all areas, including operating the expansive local distribution center and vast inventory to creating singular turn-key lifestyles in South Florida’s most coveted neighborhoods.

Artefacto also has experienced extraordinary success in the home-staging sector, creating turn-key interiors that elevate and define South Florida living. A signature Artefacto home typically features layered organic textures and furnishings, surrounded by warm contemporary luxuries. Rooms are styled around a single statement piece while embracing a full monochrome aesthetic, rich in neutral

Paulo Bacchi is celebrating 20 years of Artefacto Miami as his famed Brazilian home furnishings brand continues its renowned approach to contemporary living.

Homebuyerstones.who seek uncompromised turn-key living immediately envision and experience themselves in Artefacto

His company is internationally recognized as South Florida’s go-to for delivering captivating multi-milliondollar condos in the most iconic architectural towers, such as Arte Surfside, Jade Signature, Monad Terrace, One Thousand Museum, and Residences by Armani Casa, as well as custom estates in coveted addresses.

Markingenvironments.the20thanniversary in Miami this month— and having recently celebrated 45 years in Brazil—Paulo unveils the highly anticipated Edition 2022, the sixth

exclusive collection for Artefacto by designer Patricia Anastassiadis. Edition 2022 beautifully expresses the hallmarks of Artefacto: timeless, warm, and neutral, rooted in conscious design.

Titled Psyché—meaning breath, life, and soul—the new collection of 12 limited-edition pieces arrives in the U.S. this month, drawing inspiration from Greek history, culture, and architecture.

Brand loyalists span South Florida’s top brokers and developers, interior designers and architects, and celebrities and socialites.

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ARTEFACTO 17651 Biscayne Blvd., Aventura

20 EXCELLENCEYEARS OF IN SOUTH FLORIDA

Paulo started building his legacy at 18 when he joined the company founded by his father Albino in São Paulo in 1976. He tripled Artefacto’s business in the ‘90s and took over as CEO a decade later, expanding his company to the U.S. in 2002.

Named Designer of the Year by Casa Vogue, Anastassiadis designed Edition 2022 in collaboration with the Bacchi family to convey a sense of space and function, while celebrating the home as host to life’s moments and memories—from working and entertaining to relaxing and evolving.

For further information, call 305.931.9484 or visit artefacto.com

Sarah Z Designs is a start-to-finish firm that handles everything from building permits and concierge services until the final showcasing day. The firm specializes in biophilic designs, an approach to designing spaces that

She’s an award-winning interior designer based in South Florida with over 12 years of experience and was named one of the most “Dynamic Women” by Miami Magazine Sarah has managed to build a business that caters to a wide range of clientele. Her impeccable taste for design has earned her a reputation as one of the most soughtafter professionals in the industry.

Sarah is a creative powerhouse in the design industry whose commitment to excellence and ability to deliver and execute a high-quality design is unparalleled. In a competitive field, her meticulous attention to detail, eye for color and shape, and ability to create harmony while pushing boundaries and incorporating bold ideas make Sarah’s work stand out.

She has built an impressive portfolio and stature for excellence across South Florida and beyond, from individuals looking for help redecorating their homes to large corporations interested in creating spaces that reflect their brand identity. She’s been recognized by several industry publications and has won multiple awards for her work on luxury residential projects.

Sarah is a native New Yorker who moved to Aventura in her thirties and founded her award-winning firm Sarah Z. Designs. She has been involved in all aspects of construction, including architecture, design, and management. She received her degree in Residential Design from The Art Institute in Fort Lauderdale.

focus on human connection with nature. Sarah’s work is known for the bold use of color and texture, with touches of biophilic elements, which reduce stress and promote an overall sense of well-being through natural lighting and materials such as wood, natural stone, and metals.

In the world of interior design, there is Sarah Zohar.

Her inspiration to become an interior designer stemmed from her childhood when she spent time with her father—a developer and builder for over 60 years—and observed the way he designed and built homes for his clients. She assisted her father on his projects and learned what it takes to build a house from the ground up. As a result, she developed an early appreciation and a keen eye for the art of interior design and developed her own style.

SARAH Z DESIGNS 2605 NE 189th St., Miami For further information, call 305.906.5500 or visit sarahzdesigns.com

INTERIORWORLDDESIGNSARAHZOHAR OF THERE IS IN THE

“I’m passionate about what I do, and I’m a perfectionist,” says Sarah. “I believe that interior design is more than just picking out furniture and color schemes. I love the way that it makes you think about every last detail—from space planning, lighting, smart home, custom millwork, etc. It’s about making sure that everything comes together to create an environment that reflects your tastes and personality, from the beginning stages to the outcome. Accessories, fabrics, and wallcoverings are exciting addons to complete a project. The ultimate finishing touch to create a beautiful home.”

Sarah’s passion, attention to detail, and ability to create a seamless experience for her clients and connect on a personal level are the keys to her success. Her goal is for her design to be an expression of her client’s unique story. Ensuring that every room she touches is transformed into an expression of its owner’s personality and style, she works closely with each of her clients to ensure they are comfortable with every aspect of the design process, whether it’s a small remodel or a high-end luxury home. She leaves a bit of her heart in every project she works on.

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He balances his clients’ desires using a unique approach to offering an adaptable solution for every detail. He’s also open about costs and construction, ensuring clients receive the perfect balance of pragmatic construction and an attractive, innovative design.With

more than 35 years of experience in highend projects in South Florida, this architect and interior designer works with an outstanding team of designers, engineers, and contractors to complete any client’s dream project.

ABITAR DESIGN GROUP, LLC

2330 NE 192nd St., Miami

For more information: 754.234.0871 or visit alfredoleon.net

Promotion DESIGNER PROFILES

THEOF

Alfredo Leon uses the finest materials from around the world and stays on top of the latest design tendencies. He pays extra attention to details and brings uniqueness and professionalism to ensure each project is state of the art.

Launched in 2015, Abitar Design Group takes care of every aspect of a project, from design, permits, and construction processes to interior design and renovations. He works with a roster of contractors, subcontractors, and professionals to offer a turnkey solution to the clients, turning their on-paper blueprints into reality.

STATESERVICESART

Alfredo Leon and his company Abitar Design Group have developed a reputation based on exemplary customer service. No matter the type of project, the most important factor for Alfredo is to feel he accomplished his client’s visions and sees the smiles on their faces.

Yavuzsurfaces.Hocaoglu emphasizes that while TopZero sinks are today’s best choice for new countertops, they can also be retrofitted into existing countertops on site without pulling the countertop. He adds that this quick and unique kitchen sink replacement service updates any kitchen in one day with a much smaller budget than replacing the entire countertops.

TOPZERO SINKS

5352 NW 35th Ave., Fort Lauderdale

The TopZero family believes the kitchen is the heart of the home and the most important room in the house. It is where everyone gathers, and memories are made. Family, friends, and guests tend to congregate around the kitchen, and there’s no such thing as a kitchen without a sink! Choosing the right kitchen sink is a vital decision as it has such an essential role in cooking and cleaning. It should be functional. It should be stylish. For over 16 years, UKINOX USA under its trademarks UKINOX and TopZero has been helping its customers to achieve this in their kitchens.

For more information: 954.776.0444 or visit topzero.com

Owners Yavuz and Mehmet Hocaoglu are two brothers from Turkey who came up with an idea to revolutionize the market by introducing a rimless, seamless edge TopZero sink in 2015. The vanishing edge of a TopZero sink, which looks like an infinity-edge pool, is not only aesthetically pleasing but also more hygienic than under-mount sinks. The unsightly silicone joint between the sink and the countertop is eliminated! TopZero sinks—made in Europe and patented in the U.S., Canada, and The European Union, can be virtually installed on any countertop material including natural marble and granite, quartz, porcelain, laminate, and solid

Promotion DESIGNER PROFILES

INNOVATIVEDESIGNERTHEOF

Yavuz is grateful and proud to be part of this company and its exceptional products and services. “We will never stop inventing, developing, and improving for this industry we love. This is the way of life I chose,” he says.

HIDALGOCARLOSBYPHOTO

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Shiva Amini Dr. Payam Hakimi FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE Encouraging biochemical processes of organs and systems in the body for optimum physiologic and hormonal functioning. OSTEOPATHIC MANIPULATION Straightening the misalignments in the skeletal system which can promote pain, decrease mobility and limit the normal circulation of nerves, blood vessels and lymph. CLINICAL HOMEOPATHY Using minute amount of substances found in nature to stimulate body towards improved health. ANTI-AGING MEDICINE Maintaining vigor and vitality, optimum physique, (painless and flexible joints,) sustained brainpower, and extending the quality aspect of life. INTEGRATIVE@BODYOFHARMONYMEDICINE Bay Harbor Islands 305-397-8282 // Beverly Hills 310-285-9914 // info@bodyofharmony.com // www.bodyofharmony.com Encourage wellness and optimize your vitality at Body of Harmony by combining any of our Functional Medicine, Osteopathic Manipulation, Clinical Homeopathy, and Cellular Reprogramming therapeutics. It takes more than Hormone Balancing and IV-nutrition protocols to feel healthy, energized, motivated, focused, strong and connected. Our expertise is to Harmonize your Physique, Physiology, and Psyche. HARMONIZING SERVICES / PROCEDURES: Bio-Identical Hormone, Replacement Therapy, Osteopathic Manipulations & Cranial Osteopathy, Postural Stability, Inflammation Elimination, Heavy Metal Chelation, Athletic Performance Protocol, IV Micro-Nutrient Therapy, Vitamin Injections, Detoxification, Pregnancy & Pediatrics Osteopathy & Homeopathy 15516 BISCAYNE BLVD | NORTH MIAMI BEACH, FL 33160 | 305-627-3755 | TANIA@AVENTURAMATTRESS.COM | AVENTURAMATTRESS.COM

ZZZZzzzzzz

When you have a health issue, you go to a doctor. So, when you need a great night’s sleep, you must go to an expert who has twenty years under her belt.

Are you in need of a legitimate beauty rest? Look no further than Aventura Mattress, a one-stop-shop for all your sleeping needs, from custom options that are created just for you to a vast selection of products that were hand-picked by its founder, sleep expert extraordinaire Tania Yumbla.

Working with interior designers, health providers, chiropractors, etc. Tania explained the benefits and the importance of a good night sleep to prevent any health issues. Many people care only about exercising and diet, without knowing that to achieve a healthy lifestyle, you must have the 3 pillars “sleep, diet and exercise.”

THE BEST SLEEP GURU IN TOWN

For almost three decades, Easley Appellate Practice has established itself as a top-rated, award-winning, premiere all Board-Certified appellate firm. EAP concentrates exclusively in appellate litigation and strategic, trial-litigation support. EAP’s appellate practice serves an array of clients, from Fortune 500 companies to individuals across the United States, Latin America, and Europe. The firm is committed to offering appellate representation of highest caliber, in all federal and Florida courts, trial and appellate, the Florida Supreme Court, and the United States Supreme Court. EAP has earned its reputation as a primary, go-to resource for attorneys with federal and Florida appeal issues. EAP’s founder, Dorothy F. Easley, is Board Certified by The Florida Bar as an “appellate expert” and “appellate specialist.” She is regularly sought for appearances in trials for strategic litigation support and appellate preservation security as well as a nationally recognized author of the treatise, SUCCESSFUL FEDERAL APPEALS IN ALL CIRCUITS: A Practical Guide for Busy Lawyers. We relish complex legal issues. Admissions: Every federal appellate court, First through Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeals. Admitted to United States Supreme Court. Statewide Florida Appellate Practice. US News-Best Lawyers® - Appellate Practice since 2020. US News-Best Law Firms® - Appellate Practice since 2020. Florida Super Lawyers® - Appellate Practice since 2006. Florida Super Lawyers - Top 50 Women Lawyers. Florida Super Lawyers - Top 100 Miami Lawyers. Florida Bar Board Certified in Appellate Practice. Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent Rating expectations© appellate raising EaslEy appEllatE practicE, pllc 1200 Brickell Avenue, Suite 1950 / Miami, Florida T: 800-216-6185 / www.easleyappellate.com

Aventura Magazine’s ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES FIND 203 OF THE TOP LAWYERS AS CHOSEN BY THEIR PEERS. WE PROFILE SOME OF THE BEST LEGAL MINDS PRACTICING IN THE AVENTURA AREA. SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Emilio J. Alvarez-Farré

APPELLATE PRACTICE

Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP squirepattonboggs.com561-650-7214Miami

Reginald Sainvil Baker & McKenzie LLP bakermckenzie.com305-789-8993Miami

Hugo E. Acebo

Foley & Lardner LLP foley.com305-482-8422Miami

Robert M. Brochin

Jason Daniel Joffe

TOP LAWYERS SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Berger Singerman LLP bergersingerman.com305-982-4057Miami

Jeffrey A. Cohen

BANKING AND FINANCE LAW

Patricia E. Lowry

Chris Lomax Lomax Legal Coral lomaxlegal.com305-582-6506Gables

Aventura Magazine partnered with the firm Professional Research Services, which asked licensed Miami-Dade County attorneys who they would recommend, other than themselves, in the area. Attorneys were allowed to name up to three colleagues in each specialty. Nominees were then evaluated on the basis of the survey results, the status of their licenses, and their standing with The Florida Bar. Qualifying attorneys who received the highest number of votes are reflected on the following list.

Joel S Perwin PA Miami perwinlaw.com305-779-6090Beach

BANKRUPTCY AND CREDITOR LAWANDRIGHTS/INSOLVENCYDEBTORREORGANIZATION

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Lawrence D. Silverman Sidley Austin LLP sidley.com305-391-5204Miami

Jessica L. Kopas

Shutts & Bowen LLP shutts.com305-379-9141Miami

Oscar A. Gomez

Richard H. Critchlow

LITIGATIONSBET-THE-COMPANY

Andrea Picco

Haber Law PA haber.law305-379-2400Miami

Greenberg Traurig LLP gtlaw.com305-579-0703Miami

BUSINESS LITIGATION

Haber Law PA haber.law305-379-2400Miami

Kula & Associates PA 305-354-3858Miami ext. 302 kulalegal.com

Upchurch Watson White & Max uww-adr.com305-266-1224Miami

Madelyn Peterson

EPGD Attorneys at Law PA epgdlaw.com786-837-6787Miami

William Petros Law Coral petroslaw.com305-446-3699Gables

John B. Hutton

Rodney A. Max

Akerman LLP akerman.com305-982-5623Miami

THEABOUTLIST

Young Berman Karpf & Gonzalez PA ybkklaw.com305-377-2291Miami

Carlton Fields PA carltonfields.com305-539-7289Miami

Carl A. Fornaris Greenberg Traurig LLP gtlaw.com305-579-0626Miami

BIOTECHNOLOGY LAW

Brett J. Novick

Allen Bonner

Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP squirepattonboggs.com305-577-7010Miami

J. Thomas Cookson

Joel D. Eaton

Alberto “Papo” Manrara

EPGD Attorneys at Law PA epgdlaw.com786-837-6787Miami

Assouline & Berlowe PA assoulineberlowe.com305-567-5576Miami

Andrew S. Berman

Colson Hicks Eidson Coral colson.com305-476-7400Gables

William C. Arnhols

Michael Greenberg

ALTERNATE RESOLUTIONDISPUTE

Podhurst Orseck PA podhurst.com305-358-2800Miami

Elliot B. Kula

Joel S. Perwin

Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP morganlewis.com305-415-3456Miami

Eric N. Assouline

Law Offices of Aaron Resnick PA 305-672-7495Miami

Jessica L. Kopas

Kenny Nachwalter PA knpa.com305-381-7466Miami

Rebecca C.E. McFadyen Polsinelli PC polsinelli.com305-921-1816Miami

Greenberg Traurig LLP gtlaw.com305-579-0788Miami

LEARN

COMMUNICATIONS LAW

Marshall R. Pasternack

Sabrina Puglisi Puglisi Law puglisilaw.com305-403-8063Miami

Ira N. Rosner Holland & Knight LLP hklaw.com305-789-7556Miami

Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP bilzin.com305-350-2356Miami

The Hall Law Firm PA hallpa.com305-374-5030Miami

Christina C. Russo Akerman LLP akerman.com305-982-5531Miami

John Arrastia

Jeffrey Michael Cohen

Michael D. Joblove

Martin T. Schrier Cozen O’Connor cozen.com305-704-5954Miami

Foley & Lardner LLP foley.com305-482-8412Miami

Aventura Magazine October 2022

Articles inside

MINDFUL MIXOLOGIST

LOCAL BITES

SPOOKY SWEETS

AMERICAN BEAUTIES

TRENDSETTER

PAINTING THE TOWN

REAL TALK WITH

WANDERLUST

THE JAI LIFE

QUICK TRIPS

BEAUTY BEAT

HIGH ROAD

THE EDIT

THE LOOK

NEW & NOW

ON AIR

HAUNTED MIAMI

PLANT POWER

COMMUNITY

LOCAL LOVE

TEACHING TECH

GIRL POWER