Aventura Magazine January 2024

STEM SISTERS

FIVE FIERCE FEMALES WORKING TO MAKE MIAMI A TRUE TECH TOWN Leigh-Ann Buchanan

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CONTENTS

JANUARY 2024 | AVENTURAMAGAZINE.COM FOR THE LATEST IN ALL THINGS LUXURY

FEATURES 52 WOMEN IN TECH Meet five of Miami’s high-tech heroes

By Jess Swanson

58 SERPENT STALKER One Aventura woman’s pursuit to eliminate pythons from South Florida’s wetlands

By Gaylene Salomons

64 CHOLITAS BRAVAS Miami photographer Celia D. Luna is using her lens to showcase fierce Bolivian females who are breaking barriers

By Christiana Lilly

70 RHINESTONE COWGIRL Ride off into the sunset in the season’s coolest dresses, jeans, boots, and more

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Celia D. Luna captures the spirit of diverse cultures and powerful women, including Bolivia’s Cholitas Bravas.

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CELIA D. LUNA

Photography by Olivia Graham

AVENTURA MAGAZINE

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YAFA Signed Jewels

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Photography – Ian Jacob Studios Hair/Make up – Deborah Koepper Styling – Logan Horne

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CONTENTS

19 DEPARTMENTS 14

FROM THE EDITOR

AVENTURIST 19 ART SCENE Photographer and designer Diana Eusebio uses dyes made from native plants to bring her creations to life

20 AROUND TOWN

ALEJANDRO CHAVARRIA, WORLD RED EYE

Hit the sweet spot at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden’s Festival of Chocolate, test your knowledge at three local joints during National Trivia Month, and get your giggles on at Arlo Wynwood’s ArLOL Comedy Series

22 IN FOCUS How the Women’s Fund Miami-Dade is working to close the gender pay gap

24 SPOTLIGHT Tarot reader Cardsy B reveals what’s in store for 2024

26 Q&A Artist Marco Cochrane discusses R-Evolution, his colossal sculpture on Lincoln Road

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28 PROFILE Holocaust survivor Stella Sonnenschein shares her story in the hopes of preventing future genocides

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STYLE 31 THE LOOK Designer beauty products, plus vacation-worthy fashion accessories

34 THE EDIT Our editors’ favorite gear to achieve their New Year’s resolutions

36 JEWELRY BOX

ASHLEY MEYER

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ON THE COVER: PHOTOGRAPHER: PASSION WARD MODEL: LEIGH-ANN BUCHANAN

Stand out in the saddle or the stands with horsethemed jewelry

38 BEAUTY Makeup must-haves that will keep you glowing from day to night

AVENTURA MAGAZINE

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JENNIFER MCCURDY | STEIDEL CONTEMPORARY

NIELS STRØBEK | GALLERI CHRISTOFFER EGELUND

JANUARY 24-28 | 2024 PA L M B E AC H C O U N T Y C O N V E N T I O N C E N T E R A R T PA L M B E AC H .C O M

Benefiting

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CONTENTS

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JOURNEYS 41 WANDERLUST Kudadoo Maldives Private Island rewrites the all-inclusive rule book

45 FLORIDIANA The Ritz-Carlton, Naples redefines Gulf Coast luxury

46 QUICK TRIPS Bayside dreams are reality in Sausalito

48 HIGH ROAD Behind the wheel of the all-electric Porsche Taycan Turbo S

50 HIGH SEAS Vanquish’s VQ55 Sports Line proves that speed equals power

SIP & SAVOR 81 OPENINGS Get your groove and your grub on in sandy style at Tala Beach at 1 Hotel South Beach

82 LOCAL BITES Thomas Keller brings a taste of Paris to Coral Gables, a new app helps you score tables and discounts at some of Miami’s top restaurants, and more

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86 MINDFUL MIXOLOGIST A parsley cocktail with wellness roots

HOME 89 INTERIORS A family of five finds space to thrive after a renovation of their home in Aventura’s Presidential Estates

90 BY DESIGN Trendspotting the hottest new design finds for 2024

92 ELEMENTS Decor that evokes the spirit of Morocco

94 INSPIRED LIVING Great gains in home gyms

SOCIAL STUDIES 99 SEEN ON THE SCENE EMILIO COLLAVINO

Pics from Miami-Dade’s most fabulous events

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LAST WORD 104 ON THE RECORD WITH...

Nikki Spoelstra gives us the inside scoop on raising three kids, her popular podcast, her junk food obsession, and more

AVENTURA MAGAZINE

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Highest prices paid for your Jewelry, Diamonds, Watches and Modern Art.

Editorial Director Daphne Nikolopoulos Editor in Chief Kristen Desmond LeFevre Creative Director Olga M. Gustine Executive Editor Mary Murray Fashion Editor Katherine Lande Automotive Editor Howard Walker Travel Editor Paul Rubio Libations Editor Jules Aron Web Editor Abigail Duffy DESIGN Art Directors Airielle Farley, Ashley Meyer, Jenny Fernandez-Prieto Digital Imaging Specialist Leonor Alvarez-Maza CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Jane E. Enos, Allison Wolfe Reckson, Gaylene Salomons CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Rikki Altman-Yee, Alena Capra, Christiana Lilly, Jesse Scott, Liza Grant Smith, Rebecca Szymczak, Jess Swanson

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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

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OPERATIONS Chief Operating Officer Todd Schmidt Accounting Specialist Mary Beth Cook Accounts Receivable Specialist Ana Coronel Distribution Manager Judy Heflin Logistics Manager Omar Morales Circulation Manager Marjorie Leiva Circulation Assistants Cathy Hart, Britney Stinson Circulation Promotions Manager David Supple IT Manager Omar Greene

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FROM THE EDITOR

CAPEHART

GIRL TALK

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EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK WONDER WOMAN Talk about a woman who isn’t afraid to take up space—the colossal R-Evolution statue by Marco Cochrane (now on display within the 400 block of Lincoln Road) offers a new viewpoint on the power of the female form. (Page 26)

Aventura’s first issue of 2024 shines a light on women—those who make Miami what it is today and those who are using their voices to create an even brighter tomorrow. You’ll want to meet them all, from artist and designer Diana Eusebio (page 19), who uses dyes derived from native plants to bring her garments into living color, to Marya Meyer (page 22), the executive director of the Women’s Fund Miami-Dade, who works to resolve key women’s issues, including the critical gender pay gap. And in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day this month, we sit down with survivor Stella Sonnenschein (page 28) as she recounts how her parents smuggled their only daughter out of the Warsaw Ghetto, gave her an alternate identity, and sent her to live with foster families to keep her from perishing at the hands of the Nazis.

Miami’s clout as a true tech center is on the rise—and it’s no surprise that women are at the forefront of the movement. Turn to page 52 for “Women in Tech,” profiles of five dynamos who are forging new paths and making sure everyone has a seat at the tech table.

From the heights of the tech world to the wilds of our South Florida wetlands, Donna Kalil isn’t afraid to get her feet wet, especially when she’s hot on the trail of invasive pythons. Don’t miss her story, “Serpent Stalker,” beginning on page 58.

Finally, for a shift in focus on the way the world sees women, Miami photographer Celia D. Luna takes us to Bolivia to meet a group of indigenous women who are turning the tables on traditional gender roles. Get to know them through Luna’s images and Christiana Lilly’s prose in “Cholitas Bravas,” starting on page 64.

Here’s to strong women everywhere this month and in the new year ahead.

May we know them, be them, and continue to celebrate them!

Kristen Desmond LeFevre klefevre@aventuramagazine.com LIP SERVICE There’s no better way to start the new year than with bold strokes.

For me, that’ll mean carefully applied swipes of Chanel’s 31 Le Rouge lipstick, which is now available in a chic (and eco-friendly) glass case.

(Page 31)

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AVENTURIST

ALEJANDRO CHAVARRIA, WORLD RED EYE

DIANA EUSEBIO

DIANA EUSEBIO

TH E INSIDE TRACK TO A L L T HI NGS NEW A ND NOW I N MI A M I- DA D E

TRUE COLORS «

Fashion designer and photographer Diana Eusebio sees the world in color and uses a totally unique palette of all-natural dyes made from native plants to bring her creations to life. For example: avocado seeds produce pink, achiote makes orange, and Spanish moss yields yellow (the latter was a discovery Eusebio made while living in the Everglades for a month, working alongside hydrologists and park rangers as she tried various plant species to craft the perfect shade of yellow). “It’s like alchemy to me,” she says. “It’s a collaboration with nature.”

In her photography, Eusebio digitally manipulates her images to make what she calls “supernatural” hues, printing photographs onto textiles and then dying them in different colors. During a recent trip to the Dominican Republic, she photographed family members and used locally sourced achiote to dye her prints. “Once I figure out what kind of essence the person or the

THROUGH THE SHUTTER

ART SCENE

place has, then I assign them a color,” she explains.

Eusebio’s work has been featured in such magazines as Photo Vogue and Paper. As an artist in residence at Miami Beach’s Oolite Arts, she teaches students how to dye fabrics—ranging from old clothing to curtains—using plants and spices, giving renewed life to their textiles. Her work is currently on view in an exhibition entitled “Bounce” at Oolite Arts through January 21. Her pieces are also included in “Banned: An Interactive Lucy St. Project” at the Lowe Art Museum through February 24. (dianaeusebio.com) —Christiana Lilly

JANUARY 2024

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AVENTURIST

Sweet SPOT

Before it’s a melt-in-yourmouth confection, chocolate gets its start on the branches of cacao trees— making Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables the perfect venue for this month’s Festival of Chocolate. The sweet celebration runs January 21-22 and features more than 15 chocolatiers, as well as bourbon and chocolate tastings, a wine and cupcake pairing, the chocolate Olympics, and other activities that chocolate lovers of all ages can enjoy. While you’re there, explore the butterfly garden, arboretum, and Gate House Museum, and travel the world along the equator within the habitat exhibits. (fairchildgarden.org/eventon/a-festival-of-chocolate) —C.L.

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With a more-than-100year-old history, The Taurus in Coconut Grove is embedded into the fabric of Miami. On Tuesday nights, catch happy hour and then stay for trivia, complete with audio and video elements, plus gaming buzzers for a truly competitive night out. (thetaurus coconutgrove.com)

POP QUIZ JANUARY IS NATIONAL TRIVIA MONTH. BEST YOUR BRAINY FRIENDS WITH A FACTOID FEST AT ONE OF THESE MAGIC CITY HOT SPOTS.

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It really is all fun and games at North Miami Beach’s Lost City Brewing, with a schedule packed with comedy nights, bingo, karaoke, live music, and trivia nights on Tuesdays.

Choose from 16 beers on tap as you work your brain against rival teams.

With frequently rotating brews (and old faithfuls), you’re sure to try something new while you win your way through each round of trivia. (lostcitybrewing.com)

Most in-town trivia nights are on Tuesdays—but not at the Hotel Gaythering on Miami Beach. On Wednesday nights, drag queen Blamie Forret hosts six rounds of tough trivia questions; the evening’s winner gets $50 off their bar tab. (gaythering.com) —C.L.

LAUGHING MATTER «

AROUND TOWN

Get your giggles out once a month at the Arlo Wynwood. Produced and emceed by comedian and entertainer Paula Barros, the hotel’s new ArLOL Comedy Series features curated shows by local comedians. “It’s always fresh, it’s always different people coming through the door, and our hotel guests seem to just really love it,” says Brooke Gramer, director of marketing for Arlo Wynwood. “They can come downstairs to the third floor and have a free comedy show once a month.”

The hour-long shows are free to the public and occur on select Thursdays once a month at 9 p.m.

This month’s show will take place January 18. (arlohotels.com/wynwood) –C.L.

AVENTURA MAGAZINE

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AVENTURIST

IN FOCUS

Closing THE GAP

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and more than one job because they are saddling an inordinate amount of responsibilities of unpaid labor—our elder care, our child education, our child care. If businesses are willing to be smart, focus, and give more work-time flexibility, they can have amazing female employees, but we need to upgrade those systems to not be so old-fashioned.

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Women still make 18 cents less on the dollar than men make. With gender inequity still pervasive, the Women’s Fund Miami-Dade is on a mission to close that gap and provide equal standing for all. “If we don’t put our gender lens on, we don’t see things and we don’t improve them,” says executive director Marya Meyer. The fund follows four pillars for advancing equality for women: economic mobility, freedom from violence, health and well-being, and leadership. Within each pillar, the fund sponsors grants, funds studies, and creates public awareness campaigns; you may have seen their “Daddy, why do you still pay women less?” billboards around town.

Meyer spoke with Aventura about how the Women’s Fund Miami-Dade is making a difference locally and beyond. (womensfundmiami.org) –C.L.

Executive director Marya Meyer (left) and her team at the Women’s Fund MiamiDade (below left) collaborate to raise awareness about women’s issues. The organization recently launched a series of floating billboards that promote equal pay (above).

Aventura: Is equality possible to attain?

Meyer: The needs in Miami are actionable—that’s what I want everybody to start with first. We don’t want to come with doom and gloom. We want to come with data and solutions, and that’s what the Women’s Fund has been doing for three decades.

We look at gaps and needs, and we try to get people out of silos [and] working together to address them. Many times, we have to retrofit systems because they weren’t originally conceived for equity.

How is there still such a wide pay gap?

Most of the discrepancies come because women are so often needed to take more flexible work, which often means less well-compensated work

What are some of ways the Women’s Fund is working to combat inequity?

By funding research and data focused on women and girls. The United Nations says the biggest impediment to women’s advancement is a lack of visibility because of lack of data. If you don’t see it you don’t have to address it, right? We’re saying, “Okay, we’re going to make it very visible.” On our website, you see the gender equity dashboard. We launched the gender equity index in September [2023], and there will be new updated data in March, in time for Women’s History Month. We can see how we’re doing relative to what full equity would be in those different areas.

Why are these issues so critical to you?

Because I can do something about them. A lot of things cross our paths every day and [there are] a lot of things we care about. But some things call to you, and you say, “Hold it. I can do something about this.”

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AVENTURIST SPOTLIGHT

IN THE CARDS WHAT’S IN STORE FOR 2024? TAROT READER TO THE STARS REBECCA SZYMCZAK (AKA CARDSY B) CONSULTS HER CARDS JUST FOR US.

BY REBECCA SZYMCZAK

Which astrological signs should use this year’s increased inspiration to kick passion projects into high gear? Which should take time to reflect on the lessons of the past year to gain clarity before taking big leaps? Here’s a look at the year ahead, plus insights into abundance in both love and finance coming in where you may least expect it.

As we leave 2023 behind, numerologically we’re exiting a seven year (2+0+2+3=7), which is a year of pause, preparation, and reset. As we enter an eight year in 2024, the seeds we planted in the past are beginning to blossom, generating feelings of both optimism and responsibility. Because manifestation occurs more rapidly in an eight year, intention and focus are essential now. If you aren’t clear on goals or resolutions by New Year’s, the second week of

SIGN: ARIES/ARIES RISING (March 21 to April 19) CARD: Strength Aries are often ready to charge into action at the slightest trigger. Strength reminds you to let others initiate. In both love and work, if you let the other party lead, you might be pleasantly surprised at the results. 2024 allows you to take a deep breath and enjoy the rewards of receiving.

SIGN: GEMINI/GEMINI RISING (May 21 to June 20) CARD: King of Wands Geminis love to analyze and talk things out before taking action. King of Wands reminds Geminis not to spend too much time overthinking. 2024 is the time to shoot for the stars. If you do, big rewards will arrive by spring. Pay special attention to any important meetings on or around January 11.

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January provides an equally powerful portal for setting goals for the year. The new moon in Capricorn on January 11 illuminates the steps we need to take to seize opportunities that are now within reach. Numerological eight years focus on creating and achieving, which require stamina and endurance. This year, it will be increasingly important to identify how we recharge and refuel ourselves to tap into our internal supply of inspiration and determination.

The good news is that the past three years provided us with everything we’ll need to succeed in 2024. The not-so-great news is we are the only ones responsible for the results. Use the first weeks of 2024 to clarify your intentions for the year and then apply the effort required to receive whatever you’re manifesting. (cardsyb.com)

SIGN: TAURUS/TAURUS RISING (April 20 to May 20) CARD: The Emperor Taurus, ruled by Venus, greatly appreciates beauty and the finer things in life. The Emperor helps you to set a solid foundation for the year ahead. Is this a more luxurious home life? Clearer boundaries around work/ life balance? Whatever shape it takes, it’s definitely an upgrade!

SIGN: CANCER/CANCER RISING (June 21 to July 22) CARD: Judgement The Judgement card examines where you came from, including the mistakes you’ve made along the way. It’s a nudge to celebrate the highs and forgive yourself for the lows—those exact moments brought you to where you are today.

January is a time to acknowledge how far you’ve come since last year.

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SIGN: LEO/LEO RISING (July 23 to August 22) CARD: Seven of Pentacles The Seven of Pentacles is a reminder that your work behind the scenes in 2023 did not go unnoticed. This year’s momentum can create an adrenaline rush; don’t allow this to push you into unhealthy workaholic habits.

Remember to reward yourself with moments of play and self-care.

SIGN: LIBRA/LIBRA RISING (September 23 to October 22) CARD: Five of Swords Libras, symbolized by the scales, crave fair and balanced solutions. Early 2024 presents an opportunity to say yes to a shady win. Trust your instincts and you will come out triumphant. Taking the high road will set you up for an even bigger win this year.

SIGN: SAGITTARIUS/SAGITTARIUS RISING (November 22 to December 21) CARD: The Sun Sagittarians are known for being optimistic (sometimes to a fault). The Sun card brings a feeling of celebration but also sheds light on what is hidden in shadows. You may face things you were avoiding and do some energetic house cleaning to make space for all the good stuff headed your way.

SIGN: AQUARIUS/AQUARIUS RISING (January 20 to February 18) CARD: Ace of Swords Ace of Swords sheds light on a new truth that is likely to spark an idea or clarify how a new venture will move forward.

Hints may have started to come at the very end of 2023. Expect green lights and clear communication around this matter as early as mid-January.

SIGN: VIRGO/VIRGO RISING (August 23 to September 22) CARD: The Chariot Virgos tend to be perfectionists and love details, but The Chariot brings an unexpected victory that may ask you to release control of the smaller points and go with the flow. The Chariot is a catalyst for massive success and change, but beware: it doesn’t always deliver in the ways you expect.

SIGN: SCORPIO/SCORPIO RISING (October 23 to November 21) CARD: The Lovers 2024 is an invitation to release resistance and let your guard down. The Lovers bring in a healing connection and period of harmony. If you’ve been in an “I’ve got this” zone of independence, The Lovers energy allows you to receive and, more importantly, feel open and deserving of what’s on the way.

SIGN: CAPRICORN/CAPRICORN RISING (December 22 to January 19) CARD: Queen of Cups The Queen of Cups encourages you to start the year by treating yourself. Capricorns are notorious workaholics and may be tempted to focus energy outside themselves, whether on friends, family, or work. The Queen of Cups emphasizes the importance of intentional self-care to thrive this year.

SIGN: PISCES/PISCES RISING (February 19 to March 20) CARD: Temperance Pisces is represented by the symbol of two fish, highlighting the need for balance and support. It may have seemed like you were swimming solo without knowing what to expect for most of 2023. Temperance brings a sense of flow and additional support from those around you for 2024.

JANUARY 2024

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AVENTURIST Q&A

WOMAN UP

Artist Marco Cochrane stands in front of his 45-foottall sculpture, R-Evolution, a symbol of feminine strength and liberation on display on Miami Beach’s Lincoln Road through April.

MARCO COCHRANE, CREATOR OF R-EVOLUTION, TALKS ABOUT THE POWER OF THE FEMALE FORM

BY JESSE SCOTT

If you’ve taken a stroll down Lincoln Road recently, surely you’ve seen it: R-Evolution, a 45-foot-tall statue towering above the 400 block, glistening in the Miami Beach sun by day and illuminated in LED lighting by night.

Equally as impressive as its stature (it weighs in at 32,000 pounds of steel rods, tubing, and geodesic triangles) is its message.

An homage to female strength, the piece is the third and final sculpture in sculptor Marco Cochrane’s “The Bliss Project” series, which aims to spark social change and see beyond the sexual charge surrounding the female body. R-Evolution was inspired by a friend of Cochrane’s who brings “goddess energy,” he says, and has served as a muse for seven of his sculptures to date.

The statue debuted in the Nevada desert at the 2015 Burning Man festival. In November, it arrived in Miami Beach, where it will remain on display through April. Aventura sat down with Cochrane to discuss the piece’s significance. (marcocochranesculpture.net) Aventura: Why Miami and why now for R-Evolution?

Cochrane: Really, the piece is timeless, and I always aim to do timeless work. It’s for all of humanity. Art Basel presented an amazing opportunity and location, with Lincoln Road being such a staple of South Florida.

What are you hoping people walk away with after seeing your work here?

I work with feeling, that is my main focus. People experience this as very empowering ... and it’s all about the power of being present in the moment.

The sculptures are being honestly themselves.

That honesty of presence is really important, for people to see a giant version of a woman just being present. Sure, it’s at a mall, but it’s about being centered, which can be really difficult to do in this world of ours right now. I hope it brings people a sense of calmness and healing, with this feminine sense of power.

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Were there any unique challenges you faced in bringing R-Evolution to life?

I invented this method of construction and it’s very time-consuming. I did it because the casting of bronze this big would cost millions of dollars.

I thought I could save money by building in this layered method. It’s not that I’ve saved money, but I love that the result is transparent. I’ve been hooked on work that is transparent ever since.

Now I look at regular bronze statues and think of them as so dense. It did take two years to make, with five full-time people helping me. It was made on Treasure Island in the middle of the San Francisco Bay in a 6,000-square-foot shop.

What’s next?

I’m going back in time a bit, creating my version of Venus of Willendorf. It’s the oldest sculpture found [at] nearly 30,000 years old. In the meantime, I’m optimistic about humanity. I think we can ... learn to live with each other and thrive.

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alfredo leon An invitation to Style, Functionality and Elegance.

ABITAR DESIGN GROUP LLC www.alfredoleon.net • (754) 234 0871 • alfredoleon63@aol.com MIAMI • FT. LAUDERDALE • PALM BEACH

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AVENTURIST

PROFILE

A SURVIVOR’S STORY JANUARY 27 MARKS INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY, WHICH HONORS THE MILLIONS WHO SUFFERED AND PERISHED AT THE HANDS OF THE NAZIS. SURVIVOR STELLA SONNENSCHEIN REMEMBERS IT ALL TOO WELL—THIS DAY AND EVERY DAY—AND SHARES HER STORY IN THE HOPES OF PREVENTING FUTURE GENOCIDES.

BY JESS SWANSON

Stella Sonnenschein is careful not to underestimate the power of a child’s memories. The 88-year-old was only 4 years old when World War II broke out, but the ensuing decade was the most formative of her life. “I remember everything: the sky being dark and the bombs raining down at an angle like shooting stars,” Sonnenschein says more than eight decades later. “I look at children completely different now. They see what’s going on and understand more than we think.”

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During the Holocaust, approximately 6 million European Jews were murdered, including Sonnenschein’s father, Hersh; her older brother, Yosek; and more than a dozen other relatives. Sonnenschein, who now resides in Aventura, calls herself “lucky” because she survived. Despite the agony of reliving painful childhood memories, she has retold her firsthand account of the Holocaust countless times to students across the county.

“I try to teach my students that no matter

what you go through, you have to overcome it and do the best you can to be kind, help other people, and be grateful,” she says.

“Maybe I can help somebody not be an antiSemite and to be a more tolerant human and loving of everyone, not only Jews—whether they are Muslim, gay, anyone.”

Although South Florida is home to one of the largest populations of Holocaust survivors in the world, there are now fewer than 50,000 nationwide. Sonnenschein un-

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Stella Sonnenschein survived the Holocaust after her parents smuggled her out of the Warsaw Ghetto. She was given a new identity as a Catholic, Polish orphan and was taken in by foster families.

She survived; her brother (far right) did not.

“

I COULD ONLY SEE THEIR SHINY BOOTS. I WAS SO SCARED THAT THEY’D PULL ME OUT, BECAUSE THEY COULD HIT YOU, BEAT YOU UP, KILL YOU.”

derstands that, as survivors age, telling her story is more important than ever. But, thanks to the University of Southern California (USC) Shoah Foundation’s interactive program called Dimensions in Testimony, her experience has been immortalized. The immersive installation uses artificial intelligence from Sonnenschein’s recorded video responses (she participated in more than 40 hours of interviews, answering roughly a thousand questions) to create real-time conversations with her and other Holocaust survivors who participated in the program. Last October, Sonnenschein’s testimony debuted at the Holocaust Documentation & Education Center in Dania Beach (hdec.org).

“It’s mostly for the next generation,” she explains. “For the people who will be there when we are not there in person.”

Sonnenschein fondly remembers glimpses from her life in Warsaw, Poland, before her family was forced into the Warsaw Ghetto in 1939.

There, Sonnenschein would have to hide in a small cabinet from Nazi officers who were sending children to concentration camps. “I could only see their shiny boots,” she recalls. “I was so scared that they’d pull me out, because they could hit you, beat you up, kill you.”

When it became too risky to keep concealing their daughter, Sonnenschein’s parents devised a plan to smuggle their blonde-haired, green-eyed daughter out of the ghetto using a new identity.

Stella would become Stasia Borkowska, a Polish Catholic orphan. She was 7 years old. “They gave me a new name, a new family history, and taught me the Catholic prayers in Polish,” she says. “They told me not to forget who I really was, but to forget enough to not be caught in a lie because they would kill me.”

Over the next four years, Sonnenschein lived

with several foster families, who never suspected that she was Jewish. But she says she felt immense guilt for lying about her identity, especially as she prepared for First Communion in the fourth grade. “My biggest sin was lying,” she says. “I wanted to be honest with the priest, but I couldn’t tell him the truth. I didn’t know what they were going to do if I did.”

When the war ended in 1945, reports about the scope of the genocide led 11-year-old Sonnenschein to believe she was the only Jewish person alive. She was overjoyed when she was reunited with her mother in 1946, and then deeply saddened to learn that her father had been killed during a rebellion against the Nazis, and that her brother, who was 13 at the time, had been picked up by the Gestapo police and taken to Pawiak, a prison notorious for torturing and killing inmates.

Sonnenschein’s mother had only survived by disguising herself as a firefighter and marching out of the ghetto as if she were a member of the squad.

“When my mother survived, I thought they all had survived,” Sonnenschein says of her father and brother. “It was bittersweet because she had to tell me how they were killed. That reality was a lot for a child emotionally.”

To this day, Sonnenschein dislikes the sounds of airplanes and people speaking German, which she admits is a “nice language” but one that she still finds “triggering.” In 1950, Sonnenschein and her mother moved to Israel to be closer to surviving relatives. It was there, on a blind date, that she met her future husband, Ben, a Holocaust survivor who was living in the United States. As newlyweds the pair moved to New York in 1958, settled in New Jersey, and had two children, Gail and Howie. In 1991, they moved to Aventura, which Sonnenschein considers “one of the best places in the world.”

Her husband died in 2015, and while she misses him dearly, she refuses to let grief take over. The spirited octogenarian dresses in vibrantly patterned clothes, paints with bright colors, and enjoys visiting with friends and family. Sonnenschein takes chair yoga and water aerobics classes, and especially relishes the positions that require her to look up and spread her arms wide in gratitude.

“That kind of movement always makes me happy. I don’t know what it is—being outdoors, blue skies—but it’s something physical that connects with my brain, and I just think, ‘Thank God.’ People live such a short time on this earth. We should make the best of it.” « JANUARY 2024

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STYLE

CURATED FINDS, LUXE ACCESSORIES, AND RUNWAY REPORTS

© STUDIO DES FLEURS

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NEW YEAR,

NEW YOU

PAMPER YOURSELF WITH ULTRA-LUXE BEAUTY AND SKIN PRODUCTS AND ACCESSORIES

BY KATHERINE LANDE 1. Limited-edition nail enamel wreath with 24 nail varnishes in a signature orange circle box ($1,518), Hermès Beauty, hermes.com | 2. Flaconnier High End trunk with Myriad fragrances in custom bottle designs made in collaboration with legendary architect Frank Gehry (price upon request), Louis Vuitton, us.louisvuitton. com | 3. Dior Capture Totale Hyalushot, a Botox-alternative wrinkle topical with a concentrate of powerful active ingredients and a precise application to target each wrinkle ($90), Dior, dior.com | 4. Aveda x Iris Van Herpen Henosis hair pin set ($60 for set of three), Aveda, aveda.com | 5. 31 Le Rouge lipstick in Chanel’s first-ever glass case, packaged in a keepsake white lacquer box inclusive of a leather sleeve and two refills ($405), 6 Chanel, chanel.com | 6. Julia Amory x Tammy Fender toiletry set with Tammy Fender skin care products in a Julia Amory–printed bag, available in Revitalizing Red, Purifying Green, and Soothing Blue ($175), Julia Amory, juliaamory.com

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STYLE ANIMAL KINGDOM Charm necklace ($3,500), Dior, Miami, dior.com

THE LOOK

ON HOLIDAY WHETHER JET-SETTING SEASIDE OR DINING UNDER THE PALMS, LOOK THE PART WITH ISLAND-INSPIRED ATTIRE

BY KATHERINE LANDE

X STYLE NOTES GARDEN PARTY: Wear prints evocative of flora and fauna.

COLOR BLOCK: Accessorize with punches of a bold solid color.

STEPPING OUT: Be flirty and dress to the nines for both day and night.

FRESHLY SQUEEZED Cruise handbag (price upon request), Chanel, multiple locations, chanel.com

ORANGE YOU GLAD? Loubi Girl 85mm orange leather sandals ($825), Christian Louboutin, Miami, christianlouboutin.com

GIVE ME FEVER Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello Fever 110 sandals ($995), Saint Laurent, multiple locations, ysl.com

OSCAR DE LA RENTA SPRING 2024 The same vibrant floral print works for both days by the pool and starlit alfresco dinners.

ALL CAUGHT UP Amita 45 purple fishnet and mesh slingback pumps ($825), Jimmy Choo, Aventura, Coral Gables, jimmychoo.com

H MARKS THE SPOT Clic Clac H L’Epopee D’Hermès bracelet ($800), Hermès, Aventura, Miami, hermes.com

MELLOW YELLOW Valentino Garavani tote bag ($4,500), Valentino, multiple locations, valentino.com 32

TEENAGE DREAM Teen Triomphe bag in lizard ($7,900), Celine, Miami, celine.com

PETAL PUSHER Garden Party earrings with citrine, colored tourmalines, amethysts, and apatites set in 18-karat gold ($18,250), Irene Lummertz Jewelry, irenelummertz.com

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STYLE FLOWER POWER Eternity roses in Fleura vase ($429), Venus et Fleur, venusetfleur.com This year, I want to fully appreciate the natural beauty around us and to stop and smell the roses. What better reminder to take the time to do so than Venus et Fleur’s Le Plein–style arrangement of 24 to 26 Eternity roses (which last a year or longer) in a handcrafted ceramic Fleura vase? —Allison Wolfe Reckson, contributing editor

TIME IS ON MY SIDE Loftie clock ($149), Loftie, byloftie.com I’ve always been a good sleeper, but lately I’ve been feeling like my wind-down and wake-up routines could use a refresh. Enter the Loftie clock, which boasts cool features (including meditations and a two-phase alarm) designed to gently ease you in and out of sleep.

—Mary Murray, executive editor

THE EDIT

Keys to Success THE TOOLS OUR EDITORS WILL USE TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR 2024 RESOLUTIONS GET UP AND GO Allpa 35L travel pack in Desert ($200), Cotopaxi, cotopaxi.com In 2023, I logged my lifetime high of flight miles.

I intend to outdo myself this year. Next to TSA PreCheck, a carry on–size traveler backpack, like this one from Cotopaxi, has been the single most revolutionary add-on. It not only inspires me to pack more mindfully, but it is a breeze in the airport.

—Abigail Duffy, web editor

IT’S PERSONAL Custom pickleball paddle ($86), Ame & Lulu, ameandlulu.com After watching everyone around me pick up pickleball and love it, I decided to make 2024 the year I give it a try. Now I need all the stylish gear, starting with a custom paddle by Ame & Lulu. They can replicate any design to add a sense of fun, win or lose. —Daphne Nikolopoulos, editorial director

BRAIN BOOST Mind-training app (price varies based on subscription), Elevate, elevateapp.com Exercise isn’t just for the body. Offering reading, speaking, math, and reasoning games, this app provides the perfect workout for sharpening my communication and analytical skills. Bonus: it’s fun!

—Jane E. Enos, contributing editor

MOVING FORWARD Cloudmonster running shoes ($170), On, on-running.com When I need inspiration to exercise, a new pair of sneakers—in a vibrant color—seems to work wonders.

Made of a lightweight super foam, the Cloudmonster promises to propel me off the couch and out the door.

—Gaylene Salomons, contributing editor WASTE NOT Lomi Bloom ($499), Lomi, lomi.com I’m aiming to be kinder to the planet via composting, and Lomi makes the process simple. This device dehydrates and grinds organic matter (such as meal scraps and paper products) into a loose soil that you can sprinkle on your lawn or garden. Better yet? The Lomi app keeps a tally of how much waste you’ve kept out of landfills. —Kristen Desmond LeFevre, editor in chief 34

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Seamless Edge Sinks

BEFORE

AFTER

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STYLE

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HIGH HORSE FROM THE RANCH TO THE FIELD, EQUINE-THEMED JEWELRY IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA

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BY MARY MURRAY

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1. SEEING DOUBLE Lionheart Johanna horse medallion with tiger’s eye, diamonds, and 14-karat gold on the Golden tiger’s eye bead link chain with diamonds set in 14-karat gold, $2,345 for medallion, $1,845 for chain. (lionheartjewelry.com) 2. HAPPY TRAILS Lugano Diamonds stirrup earrings with diamonds set in 18-karat rose gold, price upon request. (luganodiamonds.com) 3. BLUE BLOOD Hermès Helios Cheval necklace with enamel set in palladium-plated hardware, $1,050.

Hermès, Aventura, Miami (hermes.com) 4. LEAD THE WAY Roberto Coin Animalier horse ring with diamonds and black diamonds set in 18-karat white gold, $20,330. Roberto Coin, Miami (robertocoin.com) 5. NUZZLE UP Cicada horse bracelet with diamonds set in 18-karat gold, $24,300. (cicadajewelry.com) 6. SHOE IN EF Collection ring with diamonds set in 14-karat gold, $750. The Showroom, Miami (theshow room-miami.com) 7. LUCKY CHARMS Rondel Jewelry The Wellington Gretta bracelet with diamonds and enamel set in 18-karat gold, $10,728. (rondeljewelry.com) 8. LIGHT-FOOTED Karina Brez Fearless Feathers ring in collaboration with Dani G with blue sapphires and diamonds set in 14-karat rose gold, $1,900. (karinabrez.com) 9. HOT TO TROT Gucci horsebit three-row bracelet with enamel and diamonds set in 18-karat gold, price upon request. Select Gucci locations (gucci.com)

AVENTURA MAGAZINE

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Cindy Orlinsky Your Aventura Specialist

*

Cindy, a serial entrepreneur, attorney, successful business executive, and dynamic real estate broker-agent, has founded and launched the house&hive team. With a focus on serving buyers and sellers of luxury and commercial real estate in South Florida, Cindy brings a unique perspective to the rapidly evolving real estate marketplace.

The name “house&hive” represents the disruptive nature of the industry, driven by a commitment to delivering exceptional results and client service at the highest level. With her extensive background and expertise, Cindy is well-equipped to guide clients through the complexities of this changing market.

LIST YOUR HOME AND FIND YOUR DREAM HOME WITH CINDY ORLINSKY. CALL CINDY TO SEE WHAT IS AVAILABLE IN COUNTRY CLUB ESTATES.

Sold | 19931 NE 36th Place $3,000,000

Sold | 19996 NE 36th Place $2,450,000

Sold | 3680 NE 201st Street $1,750,000

For Sale | 20026 NE 36th Place | $2,850,000 | 4 BR, 2.5 BA Web# A11469080

Sold | 3683 NE 199th Street $1,875,000

Cindy Orlinsky

Broker Associate Executive Director of Luxury Sales M 305.469.3222 cindy.orlinsky@elliman.com houseandhive.com

elliman.com

1021 KANE CONCOURSE, BAY HARBOR ISLANDS, FL 33154. 305.866.4566. © 2024 DOUGLAS ELLIMAN REAL ESTATE. ALL MATERIAL PRESENTED HEREIN IS INTENDED FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. WHILE, THIS INFORMATION IS BELIEVED TO BE CORRECT, IT IS REPRESENTED SUBJECT TO ERRORS, OMISSIONS, CHANGES OR WITHDRAWAL WITHOUT *PER CINDY ORLINSKY INTERNAL RECORDS. NOTICE. ALL PROPERTY INFORMATION, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO SQUARE FOOTAGE, ROOM COUNT, NUMBER OF BEDROOMS AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN PROPERTY LISTINGS SHOULD BE VERIFIED BY YOUR OWN ATTORNEY, ARCHITECT OR ZONING EXPERT. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY.

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STYLE

BEAUTY

NIGHT & DAY

ASHLEY MEYER

Party season is in full swing. From afternoon charity luncheons to swanky evening soirees, take your look from day to night with these showstopping, long-wearing makeup essentials that will stay photo-ready all night: Deborah Koepper Powder Illuminator in 02 ($55) and XLXL Mascara ($38, deborahkoepper. com); Guerlain Ombres G Eyeshadow Quad in 360 Mystic Peacock ($85, Nordstrom, Aventura, Coral Gables); Benefit Whoop Lash Enhancing Serum ($56, benefit cosmetics.com); Moira Soft Focus Waterproof Setting Powder in Sheer/ Light ($12, moirabeauty. com); Deborah Lippmann Cuticle Oil ($22, Nordstrom, Aventura, Coral Gables); Chanel Ultra Le Teint Ultrawear All-Day Comfort Flawless Finish Foundation ($65) and Le Rouge Duo Ultra Tenue Ultrawear Lip Colour in Daring Red ($45, Chanel counters); and Polite Society B.I.G. Mouth Lip Plumping Oil Gloss ($27, Ulta Beauty locations).

—Abigail Duffy

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AVENTURA MATTRESS: YOUR GATEWAY TO BETTER SLEEP IN 2024 Unveiling a New Year of Comfort and Quality Step into the new year with Aventura Mattress, where Tania, our passionate owner, leads the way in redefining the mattress industry. Discover why Aventura Mattress is the go-to for excellence in bedding and unmatched customer service.

The Heart of Exceptional Service Tania’s commitment to exceptional customer service sets Aventura Mattress apart.

We believe in going beyond expectations, providing personalized consultations, and prompt delivery services. Your satisfaction is our priority.

As we embrace the new year, let Aventura Mattress be your partner in achieving a wellrested, and revitalized life. Join our satisfied clients who’ve experienced the Aventura difference. Sleep better, live better with Aventura Mattress.

Testimonials: What Our Clients Say “Changed the way I sleep. Unparalleled comfort!” - Sarah M. “Tania and her team made mattress buying a delight. Wouldn’t go anywhere else!” - John D.

AventuraMattress.com 15516 Biscayne Blvd, North Miami Beach, FL 33160

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305.627.3755 11/21/23 3:35 PM

2777 NE 183rd Street | Aventura, FL 33160 TheSterlingAventura.com Assisted Living | Memory Care Assisted Living Facility License #10117

Discover the bright side of senior living.

At The Sterling Aventura, you or your loved ones will receive high-quality care while soaking in the excitement of our sunny neighborhood. Our experienced staff prioritizes all-around wellness at a price that’s hard to come by anywhere else in South Florida.

Look on the bright side when planning for the future.

Learn more by calling Mark at 786.386.0573 or emailing MMonaghan@TheSterlingAventura.com.

NEW APARTMENT RENOVATIONS COMING SOON!

WONDERING IF YOUR CHILD IS ALLERGIC TO PETS? Ask one of our Pediatric Allergists.

DOCTORS NEAR YOU Jaime Landman, MD • Zevy Landman, MD • Philip C. Mirmelli, MD • Kfir Shamir, MD • Barry J. Mark, MD • Stacy M. Nassau, MD • Jose E. Rojas Camayo, MD DISORDERS, SERVICES & TREATMENTS Allergic Rhinitis (Hay Fever) • Anaphylaxis • Asthma • Chronic Cough and Breathing Difficulties • Biologicals • Contact Dermatitis • Drug Allergy • Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) • Food Allergy • Immunotherapy (Allergy Shots) • Insect Allergy • Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS) • Patch Allergy Testing for Contact Dermatitis • Penicillin Allergy Testing • Pet Allergy • Pollen, Mold and Dust Mites Allergy • Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) • Skin Allergy • Sinusitis • Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT) • Urticaria (Hives) • Xolair AVENTURA PH. 305-932-3252

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12/5/23 1:46 PM

JOURNEYS

YOUR PASSPORT TO THE MOST FASCINATING CORNERS OF THE GLOBE

WANDERLUST

LUXURY WITHOUT LIMITS DIVE INTO THE WORLD’S FOREMOST INCARNATION OF ALLINCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE AT KUDADOO MALDIVES PRIVATE ISLAND

BY PAUL RUBIO

Kudadoo Maldives Private Island boasts 15 ryokan-inspired overwater residences.

I

f you’ve traveled to the world’s finest resorts and think you’ve seen the best hospitality has to offer, think again.

Ensconced among the 35,000 square miles of ocean blues comprising Asia’s smallest country, Kudadoo Maldives Private Island is the ultimate, next-generation, ultra-luxe overwater fantasy, brought to life by meticulous eco-chic design, a sublime location, over-the-top amenities, and an unparalleled “anything, anytime, anywhere” policy in which nothing is off limits or costs extra.

The 15-residence, Yuji Yamazaki–designed property in the Lhaviyani Atoll is a study in sustainable, contemporary Japanese elegance. At Kudadoo’s core lies The Retreat, a bi-level, open-air pagoda crowned by 989 solar panels that power the JANUARY 2024

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JOURNEYS

Clockwise from left: aerial view of a two-bedroom residence; outdoor amenities include a private pool in each residence; the castaway setup at Dream Island; aerial view of Kudadoo island; interiors of an island residence.

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resort in its entirety. Cross-ocean breezes cool the bold yet understated structure, which, ironically, houses the most overstated of enticements, including a world-class wine and cheese cellar, an ocean-fronting international restaurant (catering to all dietary preferences), a sleek live music lounge, an infinity-edge swimming pool, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and a world-class spa.

Yamazaki’s architectural prowess is further evidenced in each of the 15 ryokaninspired floating residences, which begin at 3,300 square feet. The wood-framed villas are bordered by overlapping lattice-style screens on three sides, while the fourth is marked by retractable glass doors that bring the outdoors in. Within this transitional space is an expansive, tiered sundeck that optimizes the Maldivian magic through the likes of a private infinity pool, a glass-bottom dining area, swinging daybeds, and a ladder that ends in the sparkling turquoise waters exploding with marine life.

Kudadoo’s light-on-earth build is trailblazing, but its “anything, anytime, anywhere” (AAA) philosophy, in which all experiences are bundled into a single nightly rate, is even more so. This unique concept allows guests to fulfill their sun-kissed bucket-list desires in every and any way imaginable. At first, it’s a bit difficult to fully grasp the breadth of this too-good-to-be-true AAA policy, but a few simple examples elicit indication, starting with something as simple as breakfast.

You could head to The Retreat for a traditional morning meal overlooking the water,

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Clockwise from above: The Retreat; dining in the forest; Kudadoo’s waterfront restaurant; the Himalayan salt room; aerial yoga and romantic dinners on the beach are part of the inclusive experience.

feasting on items from the 21-page menu, which opens with a choice of 24 seasonal fruits—from the familiar to the exotic—mixed, matched, and plated to your liking. (The menu then moves on to fresh juices and smoothies, egg-forward creations, superfood-driven delights, and healthy pan-Asian specialties, among others.) But why “settle” for this restau-

rant reverie when it’s possible to attain even wilder tropical dreams? Instead, request a decadent, Instagram-worthy floating breakfast in your infinity pool, indulge in a Champagne castaway breakfast marooned on a massive sandbar (dubbed Dream Island), or go healthy with a vegan detox brunch on the beach. Almost any dish you desire is fair game—with that 21-page digital breakfast menu as a guide—as are the libations, the location, and the time. Come lunch and dinner, repeat similar exercises in epicurean extravagance.

Beyond meals, plan languid or actionpacked days based on endless island activities, all of which are private and included.

Consider immersing in the open ocean alongside a marine biologist in search of the Maldives’ majestic giant mantas, followed by guided (or solo) snorkeling above the vibrant reef that frames Kudadoo island. Treat yourself to endless hours of massage and beauty

treatments in the Sulha Spa, which has the first and only Himalayan salt room in the Maldives, a sprawling steam room embellished with twinkling lights, a Finnish sauna, a colossal gym, and two overwater treatments rooms.

Continue the wellness theme with private fitness training, boxing, or vinyasa, hatha, or

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JOURNEYS

Two highlights of Kudadoo include sipping your way through the wine cellar and being marooned on Dream Island.

aerial yoga sessions, courtesy of a resident team of spa therapists, personal trainers, yoga instructors, and meditation gurus who are at your beck and call—at no extra charge.

If water sports are more your speed, take the house Jet Skis out for a spin or try your hand at flyboarding. Keep the adrenaline levels up by playing a bit of paddle tennis with a pro. As a break from the tropical heat, engage in an edu-

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cational wine and cheese tasting in The Retreat cellar, where six Champagnes and 80 wines from Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list are readily available as endless pours. Discover a few wines you like? Keep a stock in the wine fridge in your residence (again, at no extra charge).

In all cases, activities, experiences, and meals are flawlessly executed thanks to a dedicated private butler, whose sole job is to deliver your perfect stay in paradise.

Across the Maldives, tropical splendor shines

at its finest with the softest sand imaginable, dense coconut forests, and an unequivocal water world brushstroked by infinite shades of blue. It’s no surprise that the world’s most remarkable resorts have materialized across this small island nation. However, even those who’ve previously experienced Earth’s foremost resorts—whether in the Maldives or elsewhere— will find Kudadoo the ultimate castaway fairy tale, where a boundless narrative on tropical luxury is yours to write. (kudadoo.com) «

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CHRISTOPHER CYPERT

FLORIDIANA

GOING FOR

THE RITZ DISCOVER A NEW CHAPTER IN BEACHSIDE EXTRAVAGANCE AT THIS REIMAGINED NAPLES CLASSIC

Clockwise from top left: the opulent lobby bar; poolside cabanas; the veggie-forward Sofra restaurant; a king-size ocean-view room.

BY GAYLENE SALOMONS

Originally the surname of a Swiss hotelier who founded a series of grand European lodgings in the late nineteenth century, “Ritz” is synonymous with elegance and sophistication. Combined with the word “Carlton,” it has become a globally established luxury hotel brand.

In 1985, Southwest Florida welcomed such a hotel along Vanderbilt Beach in North Naples. The Ritz-Carlton, Naples capitalized on the then relatively undeveloped beauty of

DON RIDDLE IMAGES

Enjoy top-shelf sushi at the romantic Dusk restaurant.

the southern Gulf Coast, luring business and leisure travelers to the area.

Nearly 40 years later, the stately seaside hotel has established itself as a Naples classic.

In July 2023, the resort debuted a stunning transformation, including a redesign to all 474 guest rooms, a new lobby and lobby bar, and new pools and poolside bungalows. Should your reservation include access to the club lounge, you are invited to bypass the lobby check-in and head to the newly added 92room Vanderbilt Tower, home to the brand’s largest club lounge in North America.

Entering through the palatial front doors, an extravagant experience unfolds. A gleaming marble floor gives way to an Art Deco–style lobby area that surrounds an opulent bar, while gold accents add a touch of glamour.

The property is technically a beach resort, and guests comfortably stroll the grounds in cover-ups and flip-flops on their way to the pool, the nearby beach, or the waterfront Gumbo Limbo restaurant, where prized sunsets occur nightly. However, there are ample

opportunities to stick with the luxury theme.

Change into a stylish outfit, head down the eerily fast elevators, and take a seat atop one of the lobby bar’s plush ivory stools for a glass of Champagne. If it’s after 5 p.m., waltz over to Dusk and indulge in some top-shelf sushi in a romantic setting. The menu offers an abbreviated yet well curated selection, from eel and tuna sashimi to an aburi-style salmon roll.

Be sure to save a day for a spa visit. You are almost guaranteed to get lost in the 51,000-square-foot space, where subdued coastal colors and low lighting abound. A scheduled treatment provides unlimited daylong access to a coed steam room, cold plunge pool, hot tub, and private outdoor pool teeming with more than 100 minerals.

If a lavish vacation is what you desire, go for the glitz of a five-diamond resort: the Ritz-Carlton, Naples once again received the coveted AAA Five Diamond designation for 2024. However long you choose to stay, you will certainly feel like a very important person for the duration. (ritzcarlton.com/naples) « JANUARY 2024

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FELIPE PASSALACQUA

FELIPE PASSALACQUA

JOURNEYS

QUICK TRIPS

Storybook Sausalito

FIND AMPLE WAYS TO ENJOY DAYS ON THE BAY IN THIS IDYLLIC CALIFORNIA CITY

Clockwise from top left: The Inn Above Tide and its Tidal Suite; views of the San Francisco Bay at The Inn Above Tide; tour the famous Sausalito houseboats with Sea Trek via kayak or stand-up paddleboard.

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When you finish a page-turner, dreading the thought of leaving the main characters behind is expected. Feeling that way about the setting is another story.

Fans of Laura Dave’s mystery thriller The Last Thing He Told Me know this feeling well.

Set in part in the enclave of Sausalito, California, the novel casts the city and its laidback charm as a central character. Add to this the fact that the protagonists call one of Sausalito’s famous floating houseboats home, and the destination’s soul comes into full view.

Water rules life in Sausalito, and few places harness it quite like The Inn Above Tide FELIPE PASSALACQUA

FELIPE PASSALACQUA

CAVAN CLARK

BY ABIGAIL DUFFY

(innabovetide.com). Perched quite literally over the San Francisco Bay, the threestory inn is the sole luxury boutique hotel in Northern California where every room is on the water. Suites boast panoramic views of the bay and all its landmarks—from the San Francisco skyline to neighboring Tiburon— complemented by elegant, earthy surrounds designed by Ana Maria Delgado of Anamar.

Relaxation is the first order of business, and guest rooms are replete with private balconies, fireplaces, and soaking tubs, all ideal for relishing or retreating from the balmy Bay Area air.

After awaking to an awe-inspiring sunrise (those never get old to an East Coaster), a houseboat adventure beckons. Fuel up with a continental breakfast of locally sourced delights in the hotel’s picturesque Drawing Room before setting off for a kayak or

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AUBRIE PICK DREW KELLY

stand-up paddleboard tour of the Sausalito icons with Sea Trek (sea-trek.com). Oreo, the sunbathing harbor seal, awaits at the Sea Trek docks to bid voyagers and their guides a safe paddle.

Along the way, you’ll pass such famous vessels as the Matthew Turner and the Freda, the bay’s wildlife, and sailors piloting their own boats, before 400-plus vibrant floating homes come into view. Bobbing in your kayak, you must pause to take in the stunning feats of architecture before you.

The homes are reminders of Sausalito’s prolific shipbuilding efforts during World War II, when more than 20,000 people built military ships around the clock, then settled and constructed the innovative structures. Over the years, the city’s bohemian community has attracted creatives and thinkers from various

ABIGAIL DUFFY

Clockwise from below: The Inn Above Tide’s Skyline Suite, Penthouse, and breakfast; the Sea Trek dock, with Oreo the harbor seal and the Matthew Turner.

walks of life, including poet Allen Ginsberg, psychedelic savant Timothy Leary, author Maya Angelou, and musician Otis Redding, who wrote “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” while savoring these seascapes. These floating dwellings tell a story of their own, with verdant potted houseplants, quirky fixtures (think: clawfoot tubs on balconies), and vivid colors as unique as each home’s history.

The almost-two-hour paddle works up an appetite. For a caffeine fix on the way back to The Inn Above Tide, hit Laura Dave’s callout Fred’s or Firehouse Coffee & Tea. For dinner à la The Last Thing He Told Me, visit Poggio Trattoria (poggiotrattoria. com) for standout pastas, like the birthday dinner–worthy linguine with brown

butter and fried sage. A trip to Sausalito isn’t complete without a meal at the Michelin- and Zagat-lauded Sushi Ran (sushiran.com), one of the country’s most coveted Japanese restaurants, serving impossibly fresh fish flown in from Japan and paired with sake. For a taco- and mojito-fueled affair, Copita Tequileria y Comida (copitarestaurant.com) offers the ultimate alfresco vibes.

Ready to see a different side of the bay?

Trade your paddles for a ride aboard the Golden Gate Sausalito Ferry, docked just steps away from The Inn Above Tide. After breezing by the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and the Bay Bridge, the ferry drops passengers at the famed Ferry Building in San Francisco. Waste away hours here snacking and perusing artisanal and vintage wares, or head out to one of the museums within walking distance on Mission Street, like the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (sfmoma.org) or the Museum of the African Diaspora (moadsf.org).

After a day well spent on the other side of the bay, returning to Sausalito at sunset— with the hillside homes illuminated, harbor seals bobbing in the water, and seabirds gliding over the waves—will provide all the inspiration you’ll need to write a novel of your own. « JANUARY 2024

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JOURNEYS

HIGH ROAD

WARP SPEED

PORSCHE’S ALL-ELECTRIC 750-HP TAYCAN TURBO S IS TOP GUN FOR THE HIGHWAY

BY HOWARD WALKER

P

orsche really should have a three-word warning sticker prominently displayed on the dash of its all-electric Taycan Turbo S. The simple message: remember to breathe.

That’s because when you select drive and stand on the right pedal with a modicum of intent, the resulting thrust will deplete your lungs, cause your teeth to clench, and flood your eyes with tears. Think of it as the automotive equivalent of childbirth. Then there is the inevitable explosion of expletives—or maybe just one long one—that would make a salty sailor wince. A plain “wow” is not going to cut it.

It’s what happens when twin electric motors juiced by a honking 800-volt battery pack unleash a Kraken-like 750 horsepower and 774 torques. There are nuclear explosions with less oomph. It translates into standstill-to-60-mph acceleration in a blink-of-an-eye 2.6 seconds.

That’s fast. No, that’s insanely fast. That’s almost as fast as Porsche’s legendary 918 Spyder supercar, which is still the fastest Porsche road car ever made. Yet here is a whisper-quiet, smooth-riding, four-door 48

family sedan that’s equally adept at Publix grocery runs.

But the true beauty of this flagship Taycan is that it’s a Porsche first and an electric car second. That means it has steering that’s as surgically precise as McDreamy’s scalpel and massive Goodyear Eagle rubber that grips tighter than a Dwayne Johnson handshake. Show it a curve and its active anti-roll bars virtually eliminate body roll, while rear-wheel steering makes the car as nimble as a 911 GT3. As for the brakes, hitting them hard can turn any innie into an outie.

Porsche unveiled the Taycan in 2019, making it the poster child for its plans to deliver more than 80 percent of its new models as fully electric by 2030. Coming soon for 2024 is an all-electric Macan, followed by electrified 718 Boxster and Cayman two-seaters plus a Cayenne EV. The Taycan is the purist here, designed from the ground up as an EV with a unique body. And what a body. It looks like the resulting offspring of a Panamera and a 911 after a wild night in a Stuttgart bierkeller. I love that 911-style nose distinguished by hooded, quad-

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LED headlights; the vertical intakes ahead of the front wheels; and the gorgeous light strip across the rear with glass-like, 3D Porsche lettering. The 21-inch Mission E wheels that come standard on the Taycan Turbo S are pieces of art.

Climb aboard and it’s all Porsche 911 minimalism, with an added touch of Tron.

POWER FILE You can get up to five LED screens scatPRICE: FROM $194,900 MOTOR: 2 X ELECTRIC WITH 93.4-KWH tered around the dash, including one in BATTERY PACK POWER: 750 HP TORQUE: 774 LB-FT 0-60: front of the passenger and, in the Turbo S, 2.6 SECONDS TOP SPEED: 161 MPH LENGTH/WIDTH: 195/77 there are weirdly long, wagon-style Sport Tura 16.8-inch curved glass gauge display.

INCHES WEIGHT: 5,101 POUNDS WHY WE LOVE IT: BECAUSE ITS ismo and Cross Turismo versions that echo the Up front, the big-bolstered sports seats PERFORMANCE IS NOTHING LESS THAN ELECTRIFYING. Taycan models. are supremely comfy and supportive, If I have one criticism of the Taycan, especially our super-powered though the individual rear seats are short on kneeroom and headTurbo S, it’s the range. An EPA estimate of 222 miles is pretty unreroom. (Even Porsche calls the layout 2+2.) But there’s decent cargo space, with 14.1 cubic feet behind the rear seats and a generous 29 cu- markable in comparison to Tesla’s Model S with around 400 miles and Lucid Air’s 500-plus miles. However, spring for the Performance Batbic feet with the rear seats folded. The quality of the materials inside— tery Plus and you should see 278 miles between charges. all that glove-soft leather and satin-finished metal—is spectacular.

But you don’t buy a Taycan Turbo S to eke out the best mileage.

The five-model Taycan lineup kicks off with a 402-hp, zero-to60-in-5.1-seconds base version priced from $90,900 and soars to our Like any Porsche, it’s designed to be driven, and driving the Turbo S flagship $194,900 Turbo S. For those who want more practicality, delivers thrills that few other cars can. Just remember to breathe. «

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JOURNEYS

HIGH SEAS

DUTCH MASTER THE NEW VANQUISH VQ55 SPORTS LINE PACKS A 3,000-HP PUNCH—AND YES, IT’S FAST

BY HOWARD WALKER

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Lord John Dalberg-Acton said it best in 1887 when he scribbled: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Had he been around today, one might assume that his pointed observation wasn’t in reference to the morality of man but rather the brandnew VQ55 Sports Line rocket ship from Dutch builder Vanquish Yachts.

The absolute power in this case is a highly corrupting 3,000 horsepower delivered by a quintet of 600-hp Mercury Verado V12 outboards.

The fruit of all this power is that flat out, this Vanquish can scream through the water at an eye-watering—literally—80 mph. So speedy is this 55-foot center console that Vanquish claims it’s the first in its class to be designed in an aerodynamic wind tunnel.

Sitting in the VQ55’s expansive cockpit at 80 mph could be a somewhat hair-raising experience. But to keep your coif under control, Vanquish has come up with a neat party trick: at the press of a button, so-called “wind doors” attached to both sides of the helm station power out into the side-deck walkways to deflect the torrent.

“The doors really cut down the turbulence in the back of the boat,” Vanquish CEO Tom Steentjes told me during a tour of this new Sports Line at the recent Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, where it made its global debut.

This VQ55 Sports Line breaks the mold by being molded in glassfiber composite rather than aluminum. Its searing speed is partly due to the stepped design of its hull, which adds lift and reduces friction.

That, and those five muscly Merc V12s hanging off the carbon fiberreinforced transom.

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POWER FILE PRICE: FROM $3.7 MILLION LENGTH: 56 FEET, 5 INCHES BEAM: 16 FEET, 1 INCH DRAFT: 3 FEET, 2 INCHES ENGINES: 5 X MERCURY VERADO V12 MAX POWER: 3,000 HP TOP SPEED: 80 MPH/70 KNOTS WHY WE LOVE IT: BECAUSE IT JUST MIGHT BE THE SEXIEST CENTER CONSOLE MONEY CAN BUY.

Not a fan of outboards? Steentjes will happily build you a VQ55 SL with a pair of thundering Nanni N16 1,200-hp V8 diesels coupled to water jets, but you’ll have to make do with a slightly less feisty 57-mph top speed.

Either way, the Vanquish is going to get you to the Bahamas, the Keys, or anywhere in a hurry. Or just drop the hook, crank up the tunes, and fire up the grill for a memorable day on the water. With seats for 18 of your closest friends, this vessel is aimed squarely at the Miami-SaintTropez-Ibiza sun-worshipping crowd.

While the VQ’s mission in life is to party hard while the sun shines, it does boast a comfortable air-conditioned cabin for overnighting, with a

double bed in the bow and two singles in a separate twin-bed cabin amidships.

The bathroom has a roomy stand-up shower, too.

But it’s on deck where the fun happens. Behind the air-conditioned helm—with its four body-gripping bucket seats that look like they’re out of a Lamborghini—there’s a near fullwidth outdoor galley with a fridge, sink, and industrial-grade ice maker.

Beneath that oversize hardtop, there are facing sofas with a large table for alfresco dining. Behind that, there’s a vast sun pad that powers upward to reveal a tender garage with space for a couple of Seabobs.

Now stroll forward along the reassuringly deep side decks to the bow area, with its U-shaped sofa, opposing bench sofa, and large table in between. Scattered around this Dutch master are no fewer than 48 carbonfiber cupholders—just because.

Naturally, all this quality and craftsmanship doesn’t come cheap. The base price of a VQ55 Sports Line with the five V12 outboards is $3.7 million. With a Seakeeper gyro and a few other options, expect to pay closer to $4 million. As for being corrupted by all that power? Priceless. «

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W 

TECH MEET FIVE OF MIAMI-DADE’S FIERCEST FEMALES WHO ARE LEADING THE CHARGE TO MAKE THE MAGIC CITY THE WORLD’S NEXT TECH HUB

BY JESS SWANSON

Leigh-Ann

BUCHANAN

It’s hard to pinpoint the moment when LeighAnn Buchanan adopted her personal motto: “Either live by intention or exist by default.” As a child, she wanted to be a lawyer, an objective that brought her to South Florida 17 years ago to attend law school at the University of Miami.

For eight years, Buchanan worked as a commercial litigator. But in 2016, she shifted and founded Aire Ventures, a social impact venture studio that highlights racial equity, diversity, and inclusion in South Florida’s tech scene.

“I was looking to have a deeper impact in the community, but in a way that was more innovation-driven,” Buchanan recalls. “If I’m being honest, I didn’t know what ‘innovation’ was and struggled to see myself as an innovator even though people would look at what I’d done and say, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s so innovative.’”

During Buchanan’s seven-year tenure at Aire, the venture studio served more than 55,000 innovators (including 70 percent people of color and 49 percent women) and established more than a thousand national and global tech and entrepreneurial support partnerships. She oversaw projects like Tech Equity Miami, a $100 million funding consortium to expand connectivity, tech education programming, resources for

small businesses, and tech employment opportunities for Miami-Dade residents.

“The through line of my work has been looking at how we can use tech and innovation as a tool for accelerating equity, opportunity, access,” Buchanan says, “and making sure that folks—women, people of color, people from different experiences and of different abilities— can actually see that they do have the power and can be empowered to create solutions to some of the most pressing challenges that exist in society and also in their everyday lives.”

Early last year, Buchanan became the president and CEO of the Miami-Dade Innovation Authority, a new nonprofit organization providing grants to start-ups tackling pressing local challenges like climate change, health, housing, and transit. In this way, it is bridging the gap between private-market solutions and the MiamiDade County government, which has the ability to scale the impact of these solutions to make life better for its 2.7 million constituents.

When Buchanan reflects on her origins as an innovator, this new challenge feels like a natural progression. “I didn’t know what the specific platforms would be, but in hindsight I can see that the core mission was always the same.”

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Claudia

DURAN

Claudia Duran always finds the silver lining.

When her entrepreneur parents couldn’t attend after-school events, she saw their absence not as a personal slight but an indicator of their passion for their professional projects. When she moved to New York in 2008 to work in private wealth management for Deutsche Bank during the most severe economic crisis since the Great Depression, she took it as a challenge. “Within my first month of work I had to become very agile and resilient,” Duran recalls.

Her blend of optimism and tenacity positioned Duran to transition into the nonprofit world. In 2012, she became the managing director of Ashoka, a global organization supporting social entrepreneurs in São Paulo, Brazil. “I had to learn the language and learn how to navigate a market that I wasn’t familiar with,” she says.

“Brazil is a very big country with a very big network of founders, but that market got me a lot of experience with entrepreneurs.”

It was a natural fit when, in 2019, she was named managing director of Endeavor Miami, a firm that helps local entrepreneurs scale their companies. “At first, I didn’t know the tech scene in Miami or that there even was one,” Duran says. “The ecosystem was pretty small with not that many growth founders. South Florida was pretty siloed and not a hub for technology.”

But by the end of 2020, the region’s tech scene skyrocketed as Miami Mayor Francis Suarez welcomed investors and innovators fleeing COVID-19 lockdowns in other states. Endeavor Miami became their landing pad. “We had to be very innovative, learning how to manage the network virtually and make connections between entrepreneurs, investors, and mentors,” Duran says. “For me it was like, ‘Here comes another challenge. Let me tackle it versus being a victim.’”

In 2022, Endeavor Miami’s entrepreneurs generated more than $800 million in revenue and employed more than 5,000 people. “More and more, we’re going to have these inspirational stories of entrepreneurs who chose South Florida as their home and scaled their companies here, hiring local talent and having a local impact in this community,” Duran says. “We’re in a very great moment for entrepreneurship in South Florida and it’s thriving.”

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Melsa

MEDINA JIMÉNEZ

As a little girl growing up in Miami, Melissa Medina Jiménez wanted to be a gymnast or an Olympic athlete. “I would not say I was heavy into tech,” she admits. But her father, CubanAmerican businessman Manny Medina, is considered one of the city’s most successful entrepreneurs—and she inherited his business acumen and enterpreneurial spirit.

After college, Medina Jiménez began working for his company, Terremark, as it was transitioning from real estate to technology. Over the next decade, Terremark began providing cloud-based resources to some of the world’s largest companies and U.S. government agencies, hosting more than a dozen data centers and the Network Access Point of the Americas, through which all regional internet traffic is routed. The company was wildly successful— ultimately, it was sold for $1.4 billion to Verizon in 2017—but Medina Jiménez and her father at times felt limited by their location.

“Nobody was even using Miami and tech in the same sentence at that time,” Medina Jiménez recalls. “Recruiting and hiring talent wasn’t easy in Miami, and we would always get asked, ‘Why are you headquartered in Miami?!’”

But Medina Jiménez and her father were determined to bring the tech community to Miami, even if it meant nurturing it themselves; they launched eMerge Americas, a venture-backed platform dedicated to transforming South Florida into a global tech hub.

“Many people ... told us it didn’t make sense to do that here, that Miami is not a tech hub,” Medina Jiménez says.

But the pair studied the tech ecosystems in Silicon Valley, New York, Austin, and Boston and highlighted the variables that set Miami’s then-nascent tech scene apart: “our diversity, multiculturalism, and geography in connec-

tion to Latin America,” Medina Jiménez says.

Held in 2014, the first eMerge Americas conference drew 5,000 entrepreneurs, innovators, executives, government leaders, and academics to the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Since then, growth has been exponential. At the 2023 conference, there were more than 20,000 attendees from more than 45 countries.

But unlike other tech conferences, eMerge

Americas’ audience reflects Miami’s diversity: 65 percent is multicultural and almost 50 percent are women.

“That’s unheard of for a tech conference and it makes me super proud,” Medina Jiménez says. “We are a predominately minority community and are one of the few metropolitan cities founded by a woman. We will continue to make sure that’s at the heart of what we do.”

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Miee

ABBS

Michelle Abbs moved to Miami after college in 2006 and never left. But there was a time when she felt that she’d have to relocate west to thrive in the world of technology. “It just felt like everything was happening in Silicon Valley,” she says.

Still, Abbs was determined to forge forward.

Her experience working with Teach for America Miami-Dade underscored the role of technology in education, especially in lower performing schools. “Access to devices and infrastructure and knowing how to use them really changes the course for kids,” Abbs says. “There are ... really big gaps between the haves and have-nots, but if you are strategic about addressing the underlying causes you can minimize that gap.”

Since then, Abbs has led Babson College’s Miami Win Lab, an accelerator program dedicated to growing and scaling the ventures of female founders that raised more than $10 million in capital and created more than 60 tech jobs. Then, as the managing director of Mana Tech, she collaborated with entrepreneurs, founders, and innovators to foster a local tech hub. During Miami Art Week in December 2021, she organized an NFT conference that saw more than 4,000 attendees.

Soon, women began approaching Abbs with questions about NFTs, cryptocurrency, and the blockchain. “I noticed this trend of women saying that they don’t feel comfortable speaking up because they don’t want to sound stupid,” she recalls. “Unfortunately, there’s some imposter syndrome where women feel that if they didn’t go to MIT or have a background in computer science or engineering that they don’t belong in this space.”

In January 2022, Abbs founded Web3 Equity, an educational company seeking to onboard and empower women to engage in the tech scene.

So far, more than 800 women have opened their first digital wallet to participate on the blockchain. “One of the biggest misconceptions is that women can only hold the more personal types of roles in marketing and strategy. But we’ve found that most of the women in our community who are working full-time in Web3 are on the technical side. They’re builders and helping to scale blockchain companies. It shows that when we give women opportunities and learning environments, they thrive.”

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Maie

VO

There is a stereotype that successful venture capitalists, investors, and founders tend to have a specific pedigree and gender: Ivy League–educated men. But Maggie Vo, the managing general partner at Fuel Venture Capital in Miami, knows better. “I can use myself as evidence because I don’t have any of those boxes checked,” she says. “I went to a school in Kentucky and didn’t go to New York to pursue an investment banking career.”

Before she was named as one of the top venture capitalists in Miami by Business Insider and earned South Florida Business Journal’s coveted 40 Under 40 award, Vo was a 17-year-old Vietnamese exchange student in upstate New York, studying for her TOEFL and SAT exams to apply for college in the United States before her senior year was over. “It a was a lot of culture shock and homesickness for sure,” she recalls. Vo was not only accepted and later graduated from Centre College, but she went on to pass all three of the Charter Financial Analyst (CFA) exams on her first try.

“I don’t wake up and think I have to ‘defy the odds,’ but I don’t let people say no to me,” Vo explains. “If I know I want to do something, I keep my head down and stay very focused.”

After working at Prudential Vietnam Fund Management in Vietnam and Prudential Property Investment Managers in Singapore, Vo returned to the United States and pivoted into the male-dominated world of venture capital. In 2018, she accepted the position as Fuel Venture Capital’s managing general partner in Miami.

Under her leadership, its portfolio of tech startups has grown from four to 33 companies, with $500 million in assets under management. Vo credits their location in South Florida as being crucial to their success and differentiating them from other funds in New York or Silicon Valley.

“Miami is right above Latin America and very close to Europe and the UK,” Vo explains. “We didn’t want to be somewhere where it’s already pretty crowded but somewhere we can identify founders from different backgrounds and provide investors with a diversified choice.”

But it’s not just the thrill of venture capitalism that excites Vo; she’s drawn to the relationships she builds on all sides of the table, with investors, founders, and her team. It’s this

intimacy that allows her, as an Asian woman, to reinforce the decisions that benefit women and minorities and address issues that keep the VC playing field so homogenous.

“As a woman sitting at the top, you want to do something that not just helps you but other people too,” Vo says. “I speak differently.

I look different. But I don’t like to blend in, that’s not my personality. So I hope I stand out and I hope that I stand out in a good way.” « JANUARY 2024

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A S I N VA S I V E BURMESE PYTHONS CONTINUE TO P R O L I F E R AT E I N S O U T H F L O R I D A’ S WETLANDS, MIAMIAN DONNA KALIL IS WORKING T O E R A D I C AT E THE UNWELCOME P R E DAT O R S

By Gaylene Salomons Photography by Nick Shirghio

“I stick up for snakes,” says a soft-spoken female of slim build and medium stature. A cheerful, freckled face peers out from underneath a weathered, wide-brimmed hat wrapped in a band of python skin. Clad in lightweight camouflage pants, hiking boots, and a bright-pink long-sleeve T-shirt identifying her as a member of the Everglades Avengers, a python elimination team, Donna Kalil is ready to set out on an evening hunt as a paid exterminator of the very creatures she loves.

AN UNUSUAL CAREER Born in Georgia to a father serving in the Air Force, Kalil, who now resides in the Miami area, enjoyed a childhood filled with nature and adventure. The family lived in Venezuela during her preschool years, and Kalil remembers snorkeling, diving, and playing with snakes. When she was 7 years old, they moved to North Miami, settling in Aventura. She spent weekends tagging along with her dad and two older brothers, fishing and exploring. “The ocean was my front yard and the Everglades my backyard,” she proclaims.

Kalil, who embraced snakes from a young age, refers to herself as a herper—one who searches for amphibians or reptiles as a hobby. If she was ever afraid of them, she does not remember, stating that “finding and playing with snakes has always put a smile on my face.” Six years ago, Kalil went through an unconventional midlife career change, trading buying and selling real estate for python hunting.

The Burmese python (Python bivittatus), native to Southeast Asia, is believed to have slithered into South Florida more than 40 years ago, a result of the then-burgeoning and largely unregulated exotic pet business. Most of the unwelcome creatures that escape or are released into the wild do not successfully establish a reproductive population. The legless and carnivorous Burmese pythons, however, felt perfectly at home

Donna Kalil is outfitted and ready for an evening hunt as a member of the Everglades Avengers, a python elimination team in the Florida Everglades.

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Clockwise from inset: Kalil and fellow python hunter Mark Rodriguez (rooftop) aboard the snakemobile; remains of hatched python eggs; rain clouds loom in the distance as the team starts out on the hunt.

in this region’s subtropical climate and began rapidly reproducing. Although they pose a minimal risk to human safety, pythons have become a major menace to the bioregion, depleting native wildlife populations by chomping down untold numbers of mammals and birds every day.

State governmental agencies began responding to this threat. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is tasked with ensuring healthy populations of all native wildlife and their habitats statewide. In the spring of 2017, FWC launched a Python Action Team Removing Invasive Constrictors (PATRIC) as part of its mission to manage non-native species and bring balance back to the Everglades. In the same year, the South Florida Water Management District 60

(SFWMD) started a Python Elimination Program. The two organizations work in tandem.

Carli Segelson, public information director, Division of Habitat and Species Conservation at FWC, reports that “Burmese pythons are currently considered established from just south of Lake Okeechobee to Key Largo and from western Broward County west to Collier County.”

Segelson reports that “the low detection rates and harsh and difficult-toaccess habitat have challenged public land managers’ ability to assess population and apply control methods across the landscape.”

Michael Kirkland, senior invasive animal biologist for SFWMD, believes that pythons now exist across more than 5,000 square miles

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Inset: Traversing the terrain at 8 miles per hour under a dramatic early evening sky.

Below: Kalil and Rodriguez scan a wooded area near the levee.

of South Florida. When asked how many pythons are living in the Everglades, Kirkland responds: “Due to the cryptic nature of this species, coupled with the vastness and relative inaccessibility of the Everglades, we cannot perform a conventional population estimate.” The real answer, he says, is: “We simply don’t know.” He does, however, consider the python invasion a “very unique and significant problem that has garnered sustained international media attention,” considering it “the flagship for invasive species management around the world.”

After becoming aware of the python problem, Kalil started volunteering with Florida State Parks; she was then employed by both FWC and SFWMD as one of the original 25 python hunters and, according to

Kirkland, was “the first contracted female python hunter for the state.”

(Both organizations now retain a total of 50 contracted python hunters.) At present, Kalil works solely with SFWMD, getting paid for doing what she loves in a role she describes as “protecting the native snakes of Florida.”

ON THE HUNT Recently, Aventura was invited to tag along with Kalil on an evening hunt. We traveled to mile marker 28 off US 41 (between Naples and Miami), where we meet Kalil and fellow python hunter Mark Rodriguez. The pair arrive in a well-equipped green-and-beige 1998 Ford Explorer sporting a fitting license plate: SNAKER. Kalil and her snakemobile are tight companions, having logged more than 300,000 miles in the Everglades together.

We don bright yellow vests—mandated by SFWMD—and generously spray ourselves with mosquito repellent before climbing aboard. Two of us perch on the SUV’s rooftop, outfitted with high-intensity lights, while the remainder of the group climbs in the cab. We crane our necks out the window and scan the environment, remaining on high alert for the frequently well-camouflaged predator.

When Kalil is asked how many pythons live in the Everglades, she answers: “Maybe tens of thousands—or maybe hundreds of thousands.” While she explains that we don’t know exact numbers, we can approximate based on landmass and estimates of mammals still living, such as rabbits and racoons. Kalil reports that there is still no measurable difference in the python population, explaining that they are increasing their territory and noting that they were “once sighted north to US 41” but are now “seen north to I-75.” She prefers to remain NAPLESILLUSTRATED.COM | OCTOBER 2023 JANUARY 2024

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Clockwise from left: Kalil shines her flashlight into a ditch hoping to spot a snake; the top of Kalil’s trusted Ford Explorer offers a unique vantage point; Kalil searches the ground for python eggs.

optimistic, however, and guesses that the actual number is probably more like tens of thousands.

To date, she has personally captured close to 800.

“This is the speed I like to hunt at,” says Kalil, as we bump along at 8 mph. It’s a seasonal job, and during the nesting months of May and June, Kalil heads out for at least six hours, both during the day and in the evening, five or six days a week.

The females are fervently seeking high and dry ground to lay their eggs, which must gestate for 45 days, according to Kalil. She explains that python eggs will not incubate if they get wet.

The night of our hunt, five pairs of eyes are searching in earnest for a python. If we spot one, we are cautioned to follow Kalil, walking slowly and quietly from behind. Kalil likes to catch a snake gently, explaining that there is no need for speed. “Be respectful to the animal,” she says.

“And be careful not to leave a shadow.”

Kalil prefers to grab the snake behind the head. Every snake has a distinct personality, she reports. “Some are fighters; sometimes you have to talk to them and calm them down.” If they do start constricting, Kalil says you can let them go, and they will quickly depart the scene. She works with one gloved hand, coming face to face with the snake—a method practiced by her idol, the late William Haast, former director of Miami Serpentarium Laboratories, a snake venom production facility near Punta Gorda, Florida.

Has Kalil been bitten? “Oh yes,” she admits. “Pythons will and do bite.”

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She explains that their teeth are razor-sharp—with four rows of teeth on top and two rows on the bottom. The snakes also spray musk—an oily substance with a nasty odor—as another defense mechanism.

Once she calms the snake, Kalil places it in a pillowcase. How does a petite woman wrangle a snake that is potentially 90 pounds and 14 feet long into a pillowcase? She prefers to hunt with a partner. She has lost her grip on a few snakes during her hunting tenure, all while wrestling in the water. “There,” she confirms, “you have to be quick.”

After Kalil secures the snake in the pillowcase, she then places it in

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Enveloped in darkness and surrounded by an eerie silence, the hunt continues.

a locked box in the back of her SUV. Her next task is logging the point of capture’s coordinates in an app (designed by FWC), recording the exact location where the snake was found. She sends this information to Kirkland—no matter the time of day or night.

In her contracted position, Kalil is responsible for documenting the weight, length, and sex of each snake she captures. She is allowed to keep the skin. “I skin it and freeze it,” she says, eventually sending it to a tanner. While the pythons are humanely euthanized, Kalil does not like to discuss details. After the skin is removed, Kalil disposes of the rest of the snake as she sees fit. When it comes to the python eggs, “there is a hawk at a nearby research center who enjoys [them],” she remarks.

What is the toughest part of her job? “Spotting one!” exclaims Kalil, even though she has keen eyesight and has honed her ocular skills over the years. During our hunt, Kalil frequently stops to reverse the truck for a second look at an area. “Don’t blink,” she cautions, confessing: “I have missed a snake.”

Under a darkening sky we continue our trek, creeping through 15 miles on the levee. An eerie silence pervades the atmosphere. At times, we hear frogs chirping and owls hooting, but other times, we hear nothing. After noting evidence of wild boars alongside the road, we finally spy one zigzagging through the woods. When we pull up next to the occasional large body of water, we shine the flashlight over the surface and see numerous sets of orange eyes belonging to the alligators, also apex predators. “They go head-to-head,” remarks Kalil, and tells of an alligator gulped whole by a ravenous python.

As of January 2023, FWC reports more than 18,000 pythons in

Florida have been removed; paid contractors with FWC’s PATRIC and SFWMD’s Python Elimination Program are responsible for removing approximately 11,000 of them.

Our hunt this evening is unsuccessful. We depart at 2 a.m. with cricks in our necks, desirous of our beds. Rodriguez, Kalil’s longtime friend and frequent hunting partner, summarizes hunting pythons with a fitting refrain: “They are everywhere, anywhere, and yet sometimes nowhere.”

Ever hopeful, Kalil reminds us that she has found pythons crawling around near the entrance to the levee or alongside the road on the drive home; she calls these finds “gimmes.” She decides to take us to one last spot along US 41, where she successfully captured a female the previous year. We park and, although exhausted, follow her once again into the swamp. We come up with a mere consolation prize: the remains of last year’s hatched eggshells.

Determined to keep a smile on her face and ever optimistic, Kalil, a true nature lover, sums up her evening: “If I don’t catch a python, at least I’ve caught a sunset.” «

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> BRAVAS Cholitas

By Christiana Lilly Photography by Celia D. Luna

IT WASN’T LONG AGO THAT THE TERM “CHOLITA” WAS A SLUR USED TO SHAME BOLIVIA’S INDIGENOUS WOMEN. TODAY, THEY’VE RECLAIMED THE TERM. PHOTOGRAPHER CELIA D. LUNA CAPTURES THE STRENGTH OF THESE FIERCE FEMALES, WHO DON TRADITIONAL CLOTHING TO BREAK BARRIERS IN NONTRADITIONAL WAYS.

Standing at the foot of the Altiplano plateau in La Paz, Bolivia, Celia D. Luna was nervous.

She’d landed in the Bolivian capital that morning and was waiting for someone she’d connected with via TripAdvisor—a woman she was depending on to make an introduction to a gang of wrestling women who were set to perform that day.

Cholitas.

“She told me to wait for her at this cable car,” Luna recalls. “She wasn’t showing up and I was freaking out. I was losing light.”

Finally, her contact arrived and together they rode the cable car to El Alto, altitude 13,000 feet. Luna was greeted by a shy group of women sporting traditional Bolivian garb: bright skirts, bowler hats, and fringed shawls. With just 20 minutes before their show, Luna posed them in front of the colorful circus-style tarp. Then, the once 64

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The first stop on Celia D. Luna’s journey to photograph Bolivian cholitas was the wrestling ring. Just 20 minutes before their match, she took portraits of the young women in their luchadoras garb.

Opposite page: Luna snapped this self-portrait while traveling in Tepoztlán, Mexico.

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“

I naturally see the power in women. We’re portrayed sexually, and I think we’re so much more than that.” bashful wrestlers transformed into confident luchadoras—arms crossed, chins up, and fists raised ready for a jab.

“My dream was coming true at that moment,” Luna says. “As soon as I would pose them, [there] was a very strong look in them, a gaze.

I didn’t have to do much.”

A Miami-based photographer, Luna was in Bolivia for her most intensive photography project yet, capturing the cholitas of the Andean nation. Once a slur used to put down indigenous women, cholitas have since reclaimed the moniker and incorporated it into their acts of feminist defiance, from shirking European clothing in favor of traditional dress, to dominating in wrestling, hiking, and skateboarding.

They’re just the type of people Luna gravitates toward. She’s known for her portraiture mixing modern and culturally traditional moments with floral headdresses, ribbons woven through braids, and bold earrings. “For so long, women have been examined through the gaze of men,” Luna says. She feels it’s her duty to shift the narrative to one that celebrates women’s strength and grace.

“I naturally see the power in women,” she adds. “We’re portrayed sexually, and I think we’re so much more than that.”

One of her earliest influences was her mother, who raised her alone in Ayacucho, Peru. Employed as a travel agent, she would often take Luna with her on trips to neighboring communities, where she was immersed in the colorful craftsmanship of traditional dress and art. When Luna was 15, her mother moved the duo to Miami. It was here that Luna discovered photography while studying graphic design at the Miami International University of Art & Design. For a project, she cut out eyes from magazines and created a mask for her mother to wear. Luna would bring her camera to concerts, parties, picnics, and other gatherings. Soon, people were asking if she would photograph them—and they were willing to pay.

“Something in me changed,” she says. “I think as an artist, you are very hard on yourself. I feel like people look at my work and say, ‘Oh my God, it’s great!’ You’ve got to believe it; you’ve got to believe it.”

After becoming a professional photographer, Luna discovered the cholitas through social media. She saw accounts with young Bolivian women wearing their polleras, or full skirts, while practicing tricks on their skateboards, hiking, and in the wrestling ring. She was fascinated by this rebel group, made online connections with 66

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Luna spent the day with skateboarders in the city of Cochabamba, learning about how they were introduced to the sport and their goal to share their love for the ramps with other women and girls.

Opposite page, from top: Wearing traditional billowing skirts, luchadoras defy gender stereotypes as they prepare to take on opponents in the wrestling ring; this image—of Tefy Morales, who is part of the ImillaSkate crew—is one of the most popular from Luna’s photo exhibit of the cholitas.

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Right, from top: A 5-year-old hikes alongside her mother and is a part of the new generation of cholitas; three members of the ImillaSkate crew show off their braids, another proud piece of their Aymara culture.

Opposite page: In a show of sisterhood, the Bolivian climbers Luna photographed are members of the Aymara indigenous group and wear traditional dress while taking on new peaks together.

people who could introduce her to the athletes, and booked a trip to Bolivia with her mother.

“That whole project was not set in stone,” Luna says. “Every day was a little stressful for me because I was like, ‘Is this going to happen? Why am I here? Did I travel all this way for nothing?’”

After photographing the wrestlers, she joined the cheering crowds inside the tent to watch the theatrical matches. The cholitas spun in their skirts, bounced off the ropes of the ring, and threw elbows while riling up the crowd. These women represent a new generation of cholitas, many of them having learned to wrestle from their mothers and aunts.

Next up was Luna’s shoot with another group of cholitas, this time hikers—still wearing their skirts but having traded in the hats for helmets and shawls for climbing ropes, armed with trekking poles and stake hammers. They’ve also inherited this tradition from their mothers, and they were joined by an even younger generation: one of their 5-year-old daughters, outfitted in her own hiking gear.

“She would hike with her [mother] on Sundays; it was really special,” Luna says. “They’re passionate about hiking. ... You pursue a mountain, and then you’re done with it, and you go to a bigger mountain.”

The skateboarders were the final group of cholitas to meet. Luna traveled to Cochabamba to spend the day with seven skaters. They had modified their outfits for the sport, wearing shorter skirts, some donning scarves instead of hats. Over a traditional Bolivian lunch, they shared their dreams to travel the country and the world to teach women and girls a sport that had changed their lives. At the skatepark, Luna photographed each woman individually, witnessing their camaraderie when one struggled to land on her board after getting air off the ramp.

“The first one wasn’t landing the trick, but I saw the beautiful thing of the community,” she says. “They were rooting for her like, ‘You got this! You can do this!’”

The end of this shoot marked the end of Luna’s weeklong trip to Bolivia, and with her precious images, she returned home to Little Havana. Once she shared photos of the cholitas on social media, magazines came to her. Her series, called “Cholitas Bravas,” has since been shown in the United Kingdom, Paris, and Miami’s own Roberto Matas School of Photography.

Parents have told Luna that they want their own daughters to have the heart of a cholita. “It’s really special that something so dear to my heart is getting so much love,” she says. “It’s an awakening to me, that if I do something with my heart and all my being, it will touch someone.” (celiadluna.com) « JANUARY 2023

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Rh

COWGIRL Be the best dressed at the barn and beyond Photography by OLIVIA GRAHAM Shot by Aventura on location at Skara Glen, Wellington

Tory Burch T-shirt, pants, belt; Jimmy Choo boots; Dior straw hat.

Opposite page: Valentino denim shirt, jeans; Jimmy Choo boots.

For buying information, turn to page 96.

Fashion editor: Katherine Lande 70

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Max Mara sweater dress; Hermès leather belt.

Opposite page: Dior blouse, jacket, skirt, boots, earrings For buying information, turn to page 96.

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Gucci vest with detachable sleeves, skirt, boots, earrings Opposite page: Michael Kors Collection blazer, pants; Dior boots.

For buying information, turn to page 96.

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Stella McCartney jacket, jeans; Jimmy Choo boots.

Opposite page: Louis Vuitton jacket, jumpsuit, belt, boots, brooch; House of Clyde hat.

For buying information, turn to page 96.

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Chanel top, jacket, shorts, boots, gaiters, earrings Opposite page: Chanel dress; Balmain boots.

For buying information, turn to page 96.

Model: Antonina V., The Source Models, Miami Hair and makeup: Kateri Giehl, Intellectual Property, New York Fashion assistant: Stephanie Gates Photography assistant: Juan Hernandez Digital tech: John Lynch Location: Property represented by David Welles, Global Equestrian Real Estate Advisor, Equestrian Sotheby’s International Realty, Wellington, wellesproperties.com

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@PAPP PHOTO

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SIP&SAVOR

COURTESY OF TALA BEACH

BOLD FLAVORS, COOL COCKTAILS, AND LOCAL FAVORITES

OPENINGS

BEAUTY OF THE BEACH Coastal Mediterranean magic meets Miami heat at Tala Beach at 1 Hotel South Beach, a dreamy new toes-in-the-sand restaurant open to the public Thursdays through Sundays from noon to 8 p.m. Tala epitomizes tropical chic, hidden under the shade of swaying palms, cloaked in dense foliage, and strewn with driftwood tables and daybeds decked out in colorful pillows and woven textiles. A shared-plates menu focuses on light beachside bites like hummus and baba ghanoush with crudités, hamachi crudo, East Coast oysters, and grilled octopus.

Tala’s thematic beverage program channels sea, sun, and sand with refreshing beachside cocktails. We recommend the Tala Spritz, a mix of strawberry-infused Aperol, Prosecco, and grapefruit soda, or the tequila-forward Sustainable Sandia with watermelon agua fresca and serrano chili to get the party started.

Thursdays and Fridays are the best bet for those looking to sip and chill among friends.

Things amp up on Saturdays and Sundays with DJ-led sessions and dancing in the sand. On one designated Saturday each month, scene

queens can look forward to multisensory Tala Nights, an all-out throwdown that’s heavy on fashion, fire-wielding entertainment, headlining DJs, and bottle service under the stars.

(1hotels.com/south-beach) —Paul Rubio

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SIP&SAVOR

DAVID ESCALANTE

HOT SPOT

ALL-STAR AMERICAN CHEF THOMAS KELLER BRINGS A TASTE OF FRANCE TO CORAL GABLES

BY PAUL RUBIO

Chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author Thomas Keller is doubling down on his love of South Florida with the opening of a new outpost of his popular French concept, Bouchon Bistro, in Coral Gables. While Keller’s freshman Florida endeavor, The Surf Club Restaurant, evokes mid-twentieth-century dining glamour over a menu of continental cuisine, Bouchon Bistro is unabashedly French and skews more informal and price-conscious.

“The menu at Bouchon highlights classic 82

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French dishes everyone can recognize and admire,” says Keller. “Our team has done a fantastic job of creating dishes such as roast chicken, steak frites, and croque madame, which pair perfectly with a dynamic selection of wines and cocktails curated by our beverage director, Michel Couvreux.”

Indeed, a recent dine at Bouchon Bistro was a testament to traditional French cuisine perfected. The night began with a glass of

DEBORAH JONES

Menu highlights at Coral Gables’ Bouchon Bistro, a new restaurant by Thomas Keller (below), include moules au safran with fries (inset) and poulet rôti with marble potatoes, bacon lardons, onion confit, hen of the woods mushrooms, and chicken jus (left).

Mumm Champagne alongside just-baked, piping-hot baguette knots with salted butter and snacks that included fresh and smoked salmon rillettes, plus Keller’s famed creamy deviled eggs. Several raw bar delights arrived next, followed by escargots in parsley-garlic butter (topped with puff pastry) and then a heaping pot of moules au safran (Maine bouchot mussels steamed with white wine, Dijon mustard, and saffron) served with a hefty portion of french fries. A decadent crème brûlée and a generous pour of Chablis capped off the evening.

More than fabulous food, Bouchon Bistro delivers a unique ambience that’s at once distinctly Parisian yet remarkably neighborhoody. While the red leather seating and tastefully gilded trim recall a bona fide bistro typical of the City of Light, the unstuffy and approachable atmosphere imbues a hyper-local feel (a rarity in Miami).

“The strong sense of community [that] Coral Gables embodies is something that very much attracted me to the neighborhood,” explains Keller. “We wanted to create a space where the neighborhood can come together regularly and enjoy an excellent meal.” Mission accomplished. (thomaskeller. com/coral-gables-florida/bouchon-bistro)

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A M O RE T T OA SH LE

Y

BONUS BENEFITS

DEALS

BON APPÉTIT

T RE

TO

AS

HLE

Y

A new game-changing app called InKind is saving Miami diners big bucks. The subscriptionbased program ($100 annually) allows users to pay their tab directly through the app and then receive 20 percent back in credits for future dines at restaurants in the InKind network. Diners can make a reservation via the app (which partners with OpenTable), through InKind’s concierge service (when OpenTable’s availability is limited), or on their own. The only requirement? Pay your tab through the app—and watch your credits add up. Alternatively, members can pre-purchase restaurant credits at a discount and pay via credits. (Case in point: pay $499 up front and get $600 to be used at in-network restaurants.)

Some of Miami’s best eats are at your fingertips with the InKind app.

The growing list of more than 1,000 participating restaurants nationwide boasts around 50 Miami favorites, including Ariete (recipient of one Michelin star), Sushi by Scratch (also Michelin starred), Zitz Sum and Chug’s Diner (both Michelin Bib Gourmand establishments), Maty’s (Bon Appetit’s Best New Restaurants 2023, Food & Wine’s Best New Chef, and The New York Times’ 2023 list of the 50 best restaurants in the United States), Sushi Yasu Tanaka (Michelin recommended), and The Gibson Room (also Michelin recommended). (inkind.com) —P.R.

AMERICAN EXPRESS CARDHOLDERS CAN GET THEIR FIRST YEAR OF INKIND MEMBERSHIP FREE VIA A STATEMENT CREDIT. LOCATE YOUR AMEX OFFERS IN YOUR CREDIT CARD ACCOUNT, ENROLL BY MARCH 18, PAY WITH YOUR DESIGNATED CARD, AND BE ON YOUR WAY TO PRIMO DINING—AT A DEEP DISCOUNT. (AMERICAN EXPRESS.COM)

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JANUARY 2024

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SIP&SAVOR RECIPE

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INGREDIENTS

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1/2 tbsp. chili oil 1 tbsp. minced garlic 14 oz. Ka-Me Thai Ribbon Stir-Fry Noodles 2 oz. raw edamame, shelled 2 oz. grilled portobello mushrooms 4 oz. julienned carrots

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2 tbsp. sliced green onions 2 oz. hoisin sauce 1/2 cup kale 2 oz. sliced cucumber 2 tsp. crispy garlic 1 tsp. tuxedo sesame seeds microgreens for garnish

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For many of us, January is a time to embark on new wellness and healthy eating goals. Thankfully, Miami has no shortage of fast-casual restaurants to help you achieve or maintain the new you. Case in point: SoBe Vegan on South Beach, which specializes in house-made vegan, gluten-free, plant-forward cuisine, ideal for both dining in and takeout. For a taste of the healthy good life, SoBe Vegan shares a quick and easy recipe for one of its bestsellers: hot Thai noodles. (sobev.com) —P.R.

SOBE VEGAN

Noodling Around

In a sauté pan over medium heat, drizzle most of the chili oil and minced garlic. Add noodles and edamame. Mix and cook for 1 minute. Add mushrooms, carrots, and green onions, and mix again. Add the hoisin sauce and cook for another 2 minutes. (Total cook time should be around 3 minutes.) Place kale on a serving dish and then transfer the noodle mixture on top of the kale. Add cucumbers, crispy garlic, tuxedo sesame seeds, and a drizzle of the remaining chili oil. Garnish with microgreens.

12/7/23 9:15 AM

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The pinnacle of the festival, this adults-only, multi-hour, daytime affair at Las Olas Oceanside Park features unlimited bites and tipples from local mainstays plus celebrity chef entertainment aplenty. Head to the main stage to catch a

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THE GRAND TASTING

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CELEBRATING ITS FIFTH YEAR, THE VISIT LAUDERDALE FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL RETURNS TO FORT LAUDERDALE JANUARY 8-14 WITH AN ENTIRE WEEK OF CELEBRITY CHEF–LED TASTINGS, DINNERS, AND HAPPENINGS. BETTER STILL? ALL PROCEEDS SUPPORT THE JOE DIMAGGIO CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL. HERE, WE SPOTLIGHT THREE FESTIVAL EVENTS THAT ARE WORTH THE DRIVE (OR BRIGHTLINE RIDE) NORTH. (VLFOODWINE.COM) —P.R.

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FESTIVAL FAVES

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BROWARD BEAT

cooking demonstration by MasterChef star chef Aarón Sánchez (pictured above), followed by a cook-off between Food Network royalty chef Jason Smith and chef Nancy Fuller.

When: January 13, 1 to 4 p.m.

Pricing: $95 in advance or $125 at the door.

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WOK ‘N’ ROLL A new event, this cultural mash-up pairs an Asian street market vibe with American rock and roll at Backyard in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale. Look forward to limitless small bites presented

by Two Happy Buddhas (best known for Temple Street Eatery), familiar rock anthems, and plenty of booze to go around.

When: January 11, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Pricing: $75 in advance or $110 at the door

PICNIC IN THE PARK Presented by Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, this complimentary, familyfriendly event at Las Olas Oceanside Park features food trucks, cooking demonstrations for aspiring young chefs, live entertainment, and hands-on culinary classes for all ages (for an extra charge).

When: January 14, noon to 4 p.m.

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L IEL OV AC C S E FRANC

MINDFUL MIXOLOGIST

Going GREEN PROSPERITY AND WELLNESS ARE ON THE MENU THANKS TO THIS VIBRANT SIP THAT SYMBOLIZES GOOD FORTUNE

BY JULES ARON

Native to the Mediterranean region of Southern Europe and cultivated for more than 2,000 years, parsley’s unique flavor, cultural symbolism, and health benefits have made it a ubiquitous ingredient in culinary traditions worldwide. Popularized by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles the Great, who grew it all over his property, parsley was considered a sacred herb and seen as a symbol of growth and rebirth. Parsley also brings a host of health benefits to the table.

Rich in vitamins C, K, and A, parsley bolsters the immune system, promotes bone health, and supports vision. In traditional Chinese medicine, parsley aids in digestion, the reduction of inflammation, and the detoxification of the body. Incorporate it into your cocktail routine with this verdant drink.

X Clean Slate Ingredients 1 cup cucumber slices 4-6 sprigs parsley 1-2 sliced jalapeño rounds 1/ 2 oz. fresh-pressed lemon juice 1/ 2 oz. organic agave syrup 1 1/2 oz. tequila blanco

GYORGY PAPP

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Juice the first 3 ingredients and add 1 ounce to a mixing tin. Add remaining ingredients with ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled glass and cheers to the new year.

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C R E AT I N G E NVI R O N M E N TS T H AT INSPIRE

BESPOKE GALAS | DREAM WEDDINGS | WORLD-CLASS DESIGN WWW.SPECIALEVENTRESOURCE.COM | 561.686.7757

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ENTIRE STORE SHOWING THIS AD TRADE ACCOUNTS AVAILABLE

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NEW SHOWROOM - OUTLET STORE OPENING

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HOME

EMILIO COLLAVINO

FROM CIT Y TO SHORE, THE FINE ART OF MIAMI LIVING

INTERIORS

PARTY OF FIVE

After seeing 2ID Interiors’ work on Instagram, a young couple from Israel asked founders Rafaela Simoes and Laila Colvin to help them transform a home they’d purchased at Presidential Estates in Aventura. The husband and wife also needed a bit of arbitration from the design team, as they did not initially share a vision. “He is very modern,” Simoes explains of the husband. “The pictures that were coming from his wife were more [about] light woods and organic touches.” There were also three young children with design needs of their own.

To satisfy the husband’s yen for something of-the-moment with the wife’s longing for soft edges, the design team brought in cushiony Husk armchairs from B&B Italia and a geometric light fixture by Vibia. “The chandelier is very clean and modern,” adds Simoes. “It makes quite a statement.”

That clean feeling included keeping the floors uniform. They opted to use only large-format tiles that resemble stone, as well as oak panels that Simoes and Colvin incorporated in millwork throughout the space, in-

cluding myriad vertical niches and even bespoke panels behind the family room television. However, per the husband’s request, the home lacks traditional elements, including baseboards and trim for the lighting. The wife had concerns that the finished result would be too minimalist, but Simoes reassured her with a promise to soften all that with the furnishings.

The negotiations returned when it came time to tackle the primary suite. “The wife really wanted it to be very clean, very white, very soft,” says Simoes. “But, again, by incorporating the husband’s masculine, dark elements, we came up with the final palette and they loved it. We mixed smoked mirrors and soft cushions with the soft paneling headboard and some wood in between.” In the bedroom’s adjoining bath, large porcelain slabs and a dark wood base under the freestanding bathtub satisfied both parties. As for the finished product? “When they all saw it, the kids jumped up and down, Mom was smiling, and Dad approved,” says Simoes. “It was a hit all around.” (2idinteriors.com) —Rikki Altman-Yee

JANUARY 2024

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HOME

BY DESIGN

GET INTO THE GROOVE

NOW TRENDING THE RESULTS ARE IN: THESE ARE THE TOP FIVE HOME DESIGN TRENDS FOR 2024

BY ALENA CAPRA

R DA

The start of a new year is always a great time to think about refreshing your home. Before you jump into redecorating, however, take a moment to familiarize yourself with the latest design trends. This fall, I traveled to High Point Furniture Market to spot what’s hot in furnishings and decor. (alenacapradesigns.com)

L RY SERENA AND LILY

NOBLES

When it comes to home furnishings, fluting is the decorative detail of 2024.

Dating back to ancient Greek and Roman architecture, this finish features a series of concave channels or grooves, and you’ll find it on stone or wood accent tables, bathroom vanities, nightstands, decorative lighting, table bases, and even wall treatments.

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TALKING TRAVERTINE

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TRAVERTINE IS HAVING A HUGE RESURGENCE. I FIRST SPOTTED IT IN FLOORING AND WALL TILES, BUT MORE RECENTLY I’M SEEING IT BEING USED IN FURNISHINGS, LIGHTING, AND ACCESSORIES. THIS WARMTONED STONE IS A GREAT COMPLEMENT TO BOTH WOODS AND METALS. TRY IT MIXED WITH BRASS AND BRONZE IN A LAMP, A TABLE BASE, OR EVEN A STURDY SIDE TABLE. THESE DAYS, FINISHES TEND TO BE HONED (UNPOLISHED) OR VEIN-CUT, UPDATING THE LOOK OF TRAVERTINE WE’VE SEEN IN YEARS PAST.

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If you’re looking for something a little more interesting when it comes to wood furniture, give burl a whirl. Burl wood was originally popular in the Art Deco and Hollywood Regency eras, then again in the 1970s. This exotic and unique wood now comes in a variety of grains and colors, and is finding its way into a new era of design. From coffee tables to credenzas, dining tables, and beyond, the beauty of burl wood makes a statement in any room.

PEACEFUL PALETTES The hottest colors of the moment take their cues from nature, with lots of blues and greens in the mix. Most of the 2024 color of the year selections from various paint brands include options in this colorway. There are hues of blue such as Blue Nova from Benjamin Moore, Upward from Sherwin-Williams, and Renew Blue from Valspar. Behr went with a deeper tone in Cracked Pepper, a beautiful, soft charcoal that complements much of the matte black accents we are still seeing in furnishings and decor.

It’s all about curved furniture right now. Things are rounding out with sofas, chairs, nightstands, headboards, tables, and more. Softer edges have replaced the linear look we’ve been seeing for years—both on upholstered pieces and in case goods. The rounded and bubbly style of furniture reminiscent of the ’80s is back and better than ever.

AVENTURA MAGAZINE

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STAY CONNECTED! AVENTURA intrigues, entertains, keeps readers informed on trends in dining, fashion, beauty, the arts and entertainment, fun and celebrities. Meet locals who are making their mark and discover all that is happening in the area.

aventuramagazine.com

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HOME ELEMENTS POLO SIVORI, GORT PRODUCTIONS

MOROCCAN MYSTIQUE ROCK THE CASBAH WITH THESE MOROCCAN-INSPIRED PIECES

BY LIZA GRANT SMITH

PENDANT WITH PANACHE Blending an elegant style with a classic, distinguished look, Meyda Lighting’s Moroccan brass pendant ($990) features an intricate design and is hand-finished in craftsman verdigris. Capitol Lighting, Fort Lauderdale (capitollighting.com)

GEOGRAPHY CLASS Alison Cahlin of Cahlin Design Group created this fun and eclectic sitting room for local jewelry designers who love all things Moroccan. She notes that the space is a reflection of the exquisitely crafted, intricately carved pieces they make using colorful precious gems. “We paired the sculptural, orange, mahogany-framed sofa with a classic, navy, velvet sofa, tufted with brass nailheads for interest,” she adds. “The hexagonal side tables, Moroccan ceiling fixtures, and patchwork poofs were all sourced from a Moroccan shop out of San Francisco. The gold wall medallions are pieces that the clients brought back from their frequent travels to Southeast Asia.” Coconut Grove (cahlindesigngroup.com)

BARE BONES Luxury Handicrafts’ Moroccan waterfall coffee table ($1,398) is a luxurious statement piece, complete with bone inlay and a brass base.

Anthropologie locations (anthropologie.com)

CATCH SOME RAYS The Caskata Artisanal Home porcelain Marrakech canapé plates ($80 for set of four) recall the vibrant patterns found on ceramics at Moroccan markets.

Grove Gallery & Interiors, Miami (grovegalleryinteriors.com)

FURTHER REFLECTION This stunning Kenitra arch mirror ($416) by Uttermost is crafted from forged metal and finished in antique gold.

Dida Home, Miami (didahome.com)

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ARTS AND CRAFTS Assouline’s Moroccan Decorative Arts ($250) celebrates the country’s artistic heritage through images of everything from leatherwork to woodwork by photographer Philippe Saharoff. Assouline, Bal Harbour (assouline.com)

DIAMOND MINE Evocative of vintage Moroccan carpets and made from a durable and soft performance fabric, the RH Savona diamond pillow cover ($230) marries form and function. RH, Aventura (rh.com)

CONES OF INFLUENCE Made from recycled beer and wine bottles, these sleek, handblown Moroccan cone glasses ($48 for set of six) from Verve Culture boast organic forms. Saks Fifth Avenue locations (saksfifthavenue.com)

AVENTURA MAGAZINE

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12/4/23 10:20 AM

BE IN THE KNOW! DISCOVER AVENTURA’S HOTTEST EVENTS AND HIDDEN GEMS.

Sign up now to receive “INSIDER’S GUIDE,” Aventura Magazine’s weekly eNewsletter. aventuramagazine.com

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ALLIED KITCHEN & BATH AND MELISSA MAILLY / PHOTO: DARRYL NOBLES, DREAM FOCUS PHOTOGRAPHY

HOME

INSPIRED LIVING

PUMP YOU UP ENSURE YOUR HOME GYM DELIVERS MOTIVATION ON ALL FRONTS BY INCORPORATING THESE TOOLS AND TIPS THAT PROMOTE FORM AND FUNCTION

BY LIZA GRANT SMITH

LET THERE BE LIGHT Studies have shown that light, whether natural or artificial, can influence energy levels, concentration, and athletic performance.

Leave the dimly lit rooms for romantic dining endeavors and give yourself a view of sun-soaked environs with ample windows that offer bright scenic backdrops and maximize natural light. If LED lighting is the only option, or if you like early morning or late-night workouts, opt for bulbs between 4,000 and 6,000 on the Kelvin scale. This range is considered neutral cool and will produce a mentally stimulating blue light that is ideal for creating a motivating setting. Also think about layering your lighting, which will allow you to change the vibe of the room depending on what activity you are doing.

SENSI CASA DESIGN STUDIO / PHOTO: CHRIS CARTER

FORM

HAVE A LITTLE FUN WITH DESIGN AND DECOR Aim for an upbeat space. There are endless ways to achieve this, including wallpapered accent walls, bold art, and splashes of color. Adding plants, whether in the form of botanical walls or the potted variety, is a welcome biophilic design touch that can also purify the air and relieve stress.

UNCORK MODERN OPTIONS Good floors are truly the foundation of a solid home gym. As a flooring material, cork continues to grow in popularity. Because it is sourced from cork oak tree bark, it is an environmentally sustainable option that is also resistant to mold and mildew. Furthermore, it is shock absorbing (meaning it can lessen strain on muscles and joints) as well as sound absorbing.

FUNCTION IMPART SOME INTELLIGENCE INTO YOUR ROUTINE Smart fitness equipment allows you to personalize your efforts while also receiving feedback from experts, something that has long been missing from home workouts. The cherry on top: many of these devices are quite compact. Take Tonal, for example. This all-in-one smart strength-toning device uses magnetic weights and an adapted cable machine to provide resistance of up to 200 pounds and hundreds of strength-training exercises and trainer-led classes—all in one wall-mounted machine. (tonal.com) 94

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SOFIA JOELSSON DESIGN / PHOTO: DBOX

ADDRESS WHAT COMES AFTER THE WORKOUT Rest and recovery should be essential parts of your exercise regime as they allow your body time to repair itself between workouts. This tends to be an often-overlooked aspect of home gyms.

Make it a priority by including cubbies or cabinets for foam rollers or massage tools, among other recovery necessities. Want to go bigger and more high-tech? Invest in a red-light machine. Research has shown that red-light therapy helps to reduce inflammation and muscle damage caused by workouts, speed up muscle recovery, and reduce injury healing time. PlatinumLED’s Biomax panels deliver a blend of five wavelengths of light for maximum results.

The Biomax 600 and 900 panels are big enough to be used for full-body treatments and can be mounted to a mobile floor stand for easy maneuverability. (platinumtherapylights.com)

PLAY INTO YOUR PASSIONS Create a destination filled with a variety of activities you enjoy—not just standard exercise equipment that can feel like a chore. Depending on your personality and interests, this may mean anything from a small putting green (or a full golf simulator, if space allows), to a Ping-Pong table, a punching bag, or even a climbing wall. The more incentives you have for visiting your fitness space, the less likely you are to make excuses not to go.

TRANSFORM ING YOUR

Lifestyle

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T: 954-900-6610 | F: 954-900-6609 drduque@innovationmedicalcenter.com www.InnovationMedicalCenter.com Telemedicine Appointments Available Se Habla Español

JANUARY 2024

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IMMIGRATION PERSONAL INJURY FAMILY LAW

ELIZABETH AMARAN, ESQ. ATTORNEY AT LAW AREAS OF PRACTICE •EMPLOYMENT-BASED • EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISAS VISAS•INVESTMENT INVESTMENTVISAS VISAS•EXTRAORDINARY • EXTRAORDINARY ABILITIES ABILITIESVISAS VISAS •LABOR • LABOR CERTIFICATION CERTIFICATION•STUDENT • STUDENTVISAS VISAS•FAMILY • FAMILYBASED BASEDVISAS/ VISAS/ADJUSTMENTS ADJUSTMENTS •ASYLUMS • ASYLUMS•NATURALIZATIONS • NATURALIZATIONS•DETENTION • DETENTIONAND ANDREMOVAL REMOVAL •VICTIMS • VICTIMSOF OFDOMESTIC DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VIOLENCE •VISAS • VISAS FORFOR CRIMINAL CRIMINAL ACTS ACTSWITNESS WITNESS •AUTOMOBILE AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS ACCIDENTS •SLIP/ • SLIP/ FALLFALL INCIDENTS INCIDENTS •PRODUCTS • PRODUCTSLIABILITY LIABILITY•PRE/POSTNUPTIAL • PRE/POSTNUPTIAL AGREEMENTS AGREEMENTS •DIVORCES • DIVORCES•PATERNITY/ • PATERNITY/ CUSTODY CUSTODY•CHILD • CHILD SUPPORT/ SUPPORT/ALIMONY ALIMONY •ENFORCEMENT • ENFORCEMENTACTIONS ACTIONS

FREE CONSULTATION Payment Plans Available

(305) 931.3500 We Speak English Spanish Russian ELIZABETH AMARAN, ESQ.

Aventura View 2999 NE 191st Street Suite 704 Aventura, FL 33180 *HIRING AN ATTORNEY IS AN IMPORTANT DECISION AND SHOULD NOT BE BASED SOLELY ON ADVERTISEMENT. BEFORE YOU MAKE A DECISION, REQUEST FREE WRITTEN INFORMATION ABOUT OUR QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE.

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RHINESTONE COWGIRL BUYING INFORMATION PAGE 70 Funnel neck twill T-shirt ($398), embellished viscose pants ($2,998), studded belt ($598), Tory Burch, Aventura Mall, Miami Design District, toryburch.com; Nell black knee-high boots with chains ($1,695), Jimmy Choo, Aventura Mall, Shops at Merrick Park, Coral Gables, jimmychoo. com; straw hat ($1,500), Dior, Miami Design District, dior.com.

PAGE 71 Denim embellished shirt ($2,900), embellished jeans ($3,900), Valentino, Aventura Mall, Bal Harbour Shops, Miami Design District, valentino.com; Nari Flowers black leather ankle boots with flowers ($1,725), Jimmy Choo, Aventura Mall, Shops at Merrick Park, Coral Gables, jimmychoo.com.

PAGE 72 Sweater dress with puff sleeves ($995), Max Mara, Aventura Mall, maxmara.com; Mini Constance Guillochee belt buckle and reversible leather strap belt ($780), Hermès, Aventura Mall, Bal Harbour Shops, Miami Design District, hermes.com.

PAGE 73 Blouse ($1,800), jacket ($4,600), skirt ($5,800), West boots ($2,690), earrings ($580), Dior, Miami Design District, dior.com PAGE 74 Black double crepe sable blazer ($2,290), black double crepe sable pants ($905), Michael Kors Collection, michaelkors.com; West boots ($2,690), Dior, Miami Design District, dior.com.

PAGE 75 Camel all-over GG canvas vest with Gucci customization, Velcro closure, contrast orange bow detail, and detachable sleeves ($6,300), black low-waist wool midi skirt with Gucci tape at the front and slit ($1,500), mid-heel boots in Mystic White shiny leather ($2,200), single medium earring in metal with palladium finish ($490), hoop earrings in metal with palladium finish ($520), Gucci, Aventura Mall, Bal Harbour Shops, Miami Design District, gucci.com PAGE 76 Vintage denim and twill jacket ($1,350), light blue vintage crystal star jeans ($2,200), Stella McCartney, Bal Harbour Shops, stellamccartney.com; Myos 800 black brushed calf leather ankle boots ($1,325), Jimmy Choo, Aventura Mall, Shops at Merrick Park, Coral Gables, jimmychoo.com.

PAGE 77 Draped pinstriped jacket ($9,450), draped pinstriped jumpsuit ($5,800), Biface 20mm belt ($475), Illusion ankle boots ($2,470), LV Symphony brooch ($1,610), Louis Vuitton, Aventura Mall, Miami Design District, us.louisvuitton.com; custom hat (price upon request), House of Clyde, houseofclydehats.com.

PAGE 78 Cashmere knit top ($2,050), glittered jacquard tweed jacket (price upon request), glittered jacquard tweed shorts ($5,400), boots ($1,900), gaiters ($250), earrings ($650), Chanel, Aventura Mall, Bal Harbour Shops, Miami Design District, chanel.com PAGE 79 Printed silk muslin dress ($8,700), Chanel, Aventura Mall, Bal Harbour Shops, Miami Design District, chanel.com; Dan Western suede leather boots ($1,995), Balmain, Bal Harbour Shops, balmain.com.

AVENTURA MAGAZINE

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11/29/23 12:36 PM

STUART FLORIDA DESIGN

MIAMI EDITION

FLORIDA DESIGN Creative Class ART-CENTRIC INTERIORS FROM MIAMI TO SUNNY ISLES BEACH

Creatives You Need To Know

WOMEN

BY THE NUMBERS

WHO FLY

LOCAL LADIES WHO HAVE EARNED THEIR WINGS

100 THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT COLLIER COUNTY

+

YOUR GUIDE TO

STATE OF THE ART

M AGAZINE

SEASONED VOICES

LONGTIME RESIDENTS REMEMBER NAPLES

THE CAMERA EATS FIRST

FOODIE FEVER

SLIDE INTO THE DMs OF A LOCAL FOOD INFLUENCER

IS THE MAGIC CITY THE WORLD’S HOTTEST FINE DINING DESTINATION?

BREWS YOU CAN USE

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ART & THE CITY The Players, Must-Sees, and Surprises of Basel 2022

FOOD & DRINK

CELEBRATING

DESIGN INTEL One-on-One With Paola Lenti

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AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO SPRING TRAINING

Vincenzo Betulia, chef/co-founder of Osteria Tulia, Bar Tulia, and The French Brasserie Rustique

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HOW SUPER CLAMS ARE CLEANING THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON

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E N T E R TA I N M E N T A V E N U E F L AV O R S O N 5 T H D I N I N G G U I D E

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SETTING THE STANDARD

Palm Beach Media Group is a renowned publishing company with print publications representing a mix of proprietary titles and custom magazines, along with digital solutions, serving the entire state of Florida and more.

P A LM B EA CH M ED IA . COM

PUBLISHER OF: Naples Illustrated Naples Charity Register Palm Beach Illustrated Palm Beach Charity Register Naples Realtor Magazine Palm Beach Relocation Guide Vero Beach Magazine The Jewel of Palm Beach: The Mar-aLago Club Jupiter Magazine 5th Avenue South: 5th Avenue South Business Improvement District Aventura Magazine Naples 100 Stuart Magazine Community Report: Collier Community Foundation Palm Beach 100 Pinnacle: Jupiter Medical Center Foundation Vero Beach Magazine: Vero Beach Handbook art&culture: Cultural Council for Palm Beach County Time and Treasure: Guide to Better Giving Florida Design Southwest Florida Relocation Guide Florida Design Miami Edition Florida Design Annual Sourcebook Florida Design Naples Edition Fisher Island Magazine Club Braman Magazine Advances: Tampa General Hospital Naples on

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30th ANNIVERSARY EDITION

BADGLEY & MISCHKA AT FASHION MEETS ART • CUSTOM JEWELRY • TIMELESS NEW RIOMAR HOME • BEACH BARBER SHOP • PEDAL POWER VOLUME XXVI, NUMBER 2

®

2022-2023

ADVANCES THE ACADEMIC DIFFERENCE

FEBRUARY 2023

Fashion Times Five

PERFECT

SPRING 2023

WORLD-CLASS HEALTH CARE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY

NEXT-DAY ONCOLOGY APPOINTMENTS

Leslie Bergstrom is one of the stylish local ladies we meet in

+

PITCH

Pinnacle

AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO SPRING TRAINING

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JESSICA

KORDA AFTER RECOVERING FROM INJURY AT HOME IN JUPITER, SHE’S READY FOR THE 2023 LPGA TOUR

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UPCOMING JANUARY 3RD AUCTION

Alex Guofeng Cao (American/Chinese) Chromo

Rolex GMT Master II Pepsi

Judith Leiber Cupcake Clutch

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11/28/23 4:36 PM

SOCIAL STUDIES SEEN ON THE SCENE IN SOUTH FLORIDA

OLGA NIKOZA

TWYLA COUTURE, ELA PRUSZYNSKA, DEREK WARBURTON, TONI NEGAS

SOPI MITIL, SANDRA MADJDI, LAURA GANAZO

SHAILEEN E, MANI ZARRIN

CHRISTIAN ALEXANDER, JOHN MARTINEZ

FAB FASHION

WORLD RED EYE

WHO: Fashion Group International, South Florida WHAT: Rising Stars Awards WHERE: Southeast Financial Center, Miami HIGHLIGHTS: Spotlighting the region’s emerging fashion designers, the event recognized Derek Warburton with an Icon Award.

KRISTOFFER DOURA, DEREK WARBURTON, NIKKI SVEC

VALERIA KRASAVINA

AMBER WONG

CLAUDIO CIVITICO, ALEJANDRA VILLALOBOS

JANUARY 2024

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SOCIAL STUDIES

MARCELA CARUSO, ILEEN KHON, PATRICIA PHELPS DE CISNEROS, ALEXA HALABY, ADRIANA CISNEROS

DANIELLA CABEZAS, LINDSEY WOLFSON, LAURA RAIFFE

MICHELLE PÉREZ, DARLENE BOYTELL PÉREZ, LUKE PALACIO

STATE OF THE ART WHO: Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) WHAT: International Women’s Committee Luncheon WHERE: PAMM HIGHLIGHTS: The celebration commemorated women in the Miami community making major impacts on the arts and honored Venezuelan art collector and philanthropist Patricia Phelps de Cisneros.

DANIELLA CABEZAS, BELISSA ALVAREZ DARLENE BOYTELL PÉREZ, PATRICIA PHELPS DE CISNEROS, JORGE PÉREZ

FRANKLIN SIRMANS, DARLENE BOYTELL PÉREZ, PATRICIA PHELPS DE CISNEROS

WORLD RED EYE

FRANKLIN SIRMANS, ADRIANA DE MOURA

TRIXIE BELO-OSAGIE, PEJU WILSON, BERNICE STEINBAUL

100 AVENTURA MAGAZINE

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11/30/23 3:49 PM

A Seasoned Caring Cardiologist with a Concierge Approach

JANET SHEIN, DEEDEE MOSS

RADMILA LOLLY, DIANA BOYTELL

LEONARD PIANKO M.D, FACC 2023 Gold Award Winner for Best Doctor Miami-Dade Favorites Contest Sponsored by the Miami Herald Voted “Best Doctor” by Castle Connolly Board-Certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology

CRISTIANNE CISNEROS, GABRIELA CISNEROS, PATRICIA PHELPS DE CISNEROS, GABRIELA WILLSON, ADRIANA CISNEROS

Expertly trained in Preventative Cardiology & Non-Invasive Cardiology Offering a Concierge Care Option

WORLD RED EYE

Accredited Nuclear Stress, Ultrasound, and Echocardiogram Labs

MARITZA LACAYO, TRIXIE BELO-OSAGIE

GILBERT VICARIO, ZOE BUCKMAN

21097 NE 27th CT., Suite 110, Aventura, FL 33180

305.384.4720 • leonardpiankomd.com JANUARY 2024

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SOCIAL STUDIES

LISA ROSS, GALE NELSON, MELANIE DICKINSON

JULIE AND MIKE MORAN

KATIE BLANCO BOURDEAU, JOSIE WANG, MARIA ROGERS

ALL THAT JAZZ WHO: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami WHAT: Jazz at Joe’s WHERE: Joe’s Stone Crab, Miami Beach HIGHLIGHTS: Some of Miami’s top philanthropists and community leaders kicked off an event season filled with opportunities to empower local youth, including mentorship, after-school programs, and more.

JOSHUA PREVER, GALE NELSON, IRIE, AKIN AYODELE, ALLAN PRINDLE

SONIA GIBSON, NEYVA RAOLA, MIRIAM SALAZAR, BETTY BARRIOS

JENNY KENNEDY, BRONWYN C. MILLER

DANIEL JUNIOR, JAFFUS HARDRICK, THOMAS EUGENE

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF MIAMI

ALEX COX, JOSHUA PREVER, DORON RACHMAN

102 AVENTURA MAGAZINE

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A

B O UTIQ UE

DERMATOLOGY PRACTICE SHAUNTELL AND GALE NELSON, JENNIFER AND GERALD GRANT

Newsha Lajevardi, MD B O A R D - C E R T I F I E D D E R M AT O L O G I S T MATT GORSON, GALE NELSON, MATTHEW ALLEN

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WWW.NEWSHADERM.COM AVENTURA MEDICAL TOWER 2801 NE 213th St., Suite 1005 | Aventura, FL SUSANA CISNEROS, KARINA ALVAREZ

JOHN GRISHAM, LOURDES TUDELA

RENEE LOPEZ-CANTERA, JAMES WILLIAMS

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF MIAMI

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JILL MASUR, BRONWYN C. MILLER, DEBBIE YOUNG, CAROL SUROWIEC, ILENE DIAZ, MIGNA SANCHEZ LLORENS, CRISTINA CONDE

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12/4/23 12:11 PM

LAST WORD ON THE RECORD WITH...

NIKKI SPOELSTRA While Nikki Spoelstra admits that no one can know it all, she’s on a mission to help others know (and love) themselves. The South Florida native and former Miami Heat dancer talks with Aventura about starting out, balancing being a mom to three kids with producing her popular podcast, The Know with Nikki Spo, her secret junk food obsession, and more. (nikkispo.com)

BY KRISTEN DESMOND LEFEVRE

GENESIS BONILLA

«

I grew up in... Kendall. I was born and raised in Miami.

When I was a kid, I wanted to be... everything! A mermaid, a fairy, a marine biologist, a firefighter like my dad, a professional dancer, an actress, a singer, a Radio City Rockette, a fashion designer, a musician, a stylist. My first paycheck was... working at Cold Stone Creamery when I was 16 years old. My biggest challenge in life has been... discovering what self-love really means. I started my podcast... in 2021 in order to tell the stories of people who are finding and celebrating their deepest sense of inner knowing. I wanted to build a community where people feel less alone. My podcast is about... people and how they’ve overcome hard stuff and found their ways back home to themselves. Whenever someone tells me they want to start a podcast, I tell them… it’s a lot of fun and more work than people realize. If I wasn’t doing this, I’d probably be… an art dealer or a stylist. An upcoming project I’m excited about is… finding creative ways to fundraise and give back to the charities I am involved with. I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but… I would never tell you something I shouldn’t!

In 2024, I want to… create more peace and balance in my life and in the lives of people I connect with. I want to reach and help more people with my podcast. My average day looks like… getting my kids ready for school, school drop-offs, working on my podcast, going to the gym, doing a baby enrichment class with my daughter, picking the boys up from school, extracurricular activities with my children, homework, prepping dinner, prepping lunches for the next day, unwinding with my kids, putting them all to bed, doing my skin care routine, reading a book or watching a show, meditating, going to sleep. Repeat!

When I’m not working or momming, you’ll find me… recovering from working and momming. I think rest and downtime are really important to having the stamina to do it all. When I want to relax, I… lie out in the sun, book a massage, or both. Sometimes it’s really nice to just take a personal day and sleep. To stay in shape, I… work out about four times a week: weight

lifting, cardio, and yoga. I try to eat relatively clean, but I definitely indulge in treats from time to time. People would be surprised to know that... I love fast food. It’s my guilty pleasure (sometimes). My secret junk food obsession is… McDonald’s. If you’re going to pour me a drink, make it… a Diet Coke. If we’re eating out, I’ll book a table at… Portosole. If you’re coming to my house for dinner, I will probably… do my best. The prettiest place in Miami is… anywhere on the water. Heat fans are… the best NBA fans in the country. I said what I said! I love Heat Nation!

104 AVENTURA MAGAZINE

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11/30/23 9:10 AM

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