Resident Magazine NY APRIL 2019 RONI WILLETT

RESIDENT NEW YORK

THE ICON ISSUE

Roni Willett

NEW YORK’S HOTTEST IT GIRL

READ MORE ABOUT ALEXANDER DREYMON PAGE 42

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RESIDENT IS PUBLISHED TWELVE TIMES ANNUALLY. HAMPTONS RESIDENT IS PUBLISHED FOUR TIMES ANNUALLY BY METRO RESIDENT. COPYRIGHT 2016 BY RESIDENT MAGAZINE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRODUCTION OF ANY MATERIAL FROM THIS ISSUE EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER. UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS ARE WELCOME ON AN EXCLUSIVE BASIS, BUT MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A SELF-ADDRESSED STAMPED ENVELOPE. REASONABLE CARE IN HANDLING MANUSCRIPTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS WILL BE TAKEN, BUT RESIDENT MAGAZINE CANNOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR UNSOLICITED MATERIALS SUBMITTED. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. *THIS ISSUE FEATURES PAID FOR SPONSORED CONTENT AND COVERS PROVIDED BY OUTSIDE SOURCES. SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS,PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT CHRISTOPHER PAPE AT: CHRISTOPHERP@RESIDENT.COM

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SPRING IS IN BLOOM S

pring is the celebration of new life, rebirth and renewal.

For this month, our cover star was the dashingly handsome and talented actor Alexander Dreymon who stars in Last Kingdom on Netflix. German by birth, Alexander Dreymon is taking Hollywood and the cinema world by storm and is poised for stardom. Between his back-to-back filming schedule around the globe, this true Renaissance man also finds time to devote to his charity, Tiger Burning Bright, which is dedicated to the conservation of endangered tigers around the world. A beautiful person inside and out, Alexander delves into his exciting new projects on the horizon as well as his thoughts on the new chapter in his life.

This month, we traveled to the exotic and mystical landscape of Laos, the land that time forgot. This is the 85th country I have traveled to, and I was completely captivated by its natural beauty and majestic landscape. As Ibn Battuta has said, “Traveling leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” With Laos, there are thousands of stories to be told. It is a place that will forever change you from its magnificent vistas that take your breath away to the genuine warmth of the friendly Lao people.

It is one place that should be on everyone’s bucket list.

We also had global travel on our agenda taking us to Sardinia, Taiwan, and the Spring Break destination of Ft. Lauderdale.

Our fashion editorial this month was based on Bryan Ferry’s hauntingly beautiful Slave to Love and shot by Jaime Pavon. This modern-day fairytale shows how love and lust intersect over one night in this provocative spread at the Playboy Club NYC. With warmer weather on the horizon, New Yorkers are coming out of their caves and exploring our dynamic culinary scene.

This month, we featured some of our favorite new hot spots around the city as well as the popular modern steakhouse and other hot new hotel openings.

As Robin Williams said, “Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party.’”

Follow me on my adventures @hillarylatos

Hillary Latos - Editor in Chief hillaryl@resident.com

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CONTENTS BUZZ 16

SOCIAL SAFARI

130

NEW YORK SOCIETY SCENE

132

DINING 50 YARA

52

DINING OUT: NYC

58

SOCIAL SCENE

DEMARCHELIER

BEAUTY 18

RED RABBIT

Beauty Game changers

20

EUROPEAN WAX CENTER

FASHION 22 Slave to love

ICON 34

60 62

IL BORRO

ESCAPE 64

TAIWAN

68

LAOS

72

ROSEWOOD LUANG PRABANG

74

roni WILLETT

AVANI+ LUANG PRABANG

COVER 42

SOFITEL LUANG PRABANG

ALEXANDER DREYMON

76 78

Sardinian

CONTENTS 80

FORT LAUDERDALE

84

YOUR NEXT SPRING BREAK

86

ALIZ HOTEL TIMES SQUARE

88

THE AMASERENA

90

SOFITEL NY

92

TIMES SQUARE EDITION HOTEL

PROFILE 98 MEERA GANDHI

106

DR. ALEXANDRE SCHEER

110

STEVE COHEN

112

EVI KOKALARI-ANGELAKIS

114

PLAYBOY CLUB

116

CHITA RIVERA AWARDS

118

KELLY FISCHER

120

KEN JEWELL

122

THE MAGIC OF HOPE

124

PAMELA MORGAN

126

AVIATOR SPORTS AND EVENT CENTER

LIVING 128 THE FARMSTEAD

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SOCIAL SAFARI

SOCIETY STEPS INTO SPRING Pope Francis, Oprah, Salonniere List, Movies, Art, Books, FIT, Rick Owens, MET, Haute Couture & Charles James

By R. Couri Hay with Photos by Patrick Mcmullan The Pope Paints Domingo Zapata Domingo Zapata was understandably nervous when meeting with Pope Francis, who appointed the Spanish-born artist an ambassador for Scholas Occurrentes, an organization that promotes arts education.

“Relax, now I’ll paint on you,” the Pontiff told him after the swearing in, and proceeded to paint a cross, a bird and his signature on Zapata’s blue suit.

The cross and bird topped with the papal autograph is Francis’ artistic signature – last year he painted a similar image on a Domingo pane Zapata @ Vatican of glass with Zapata. This year fellow artist Mr. Brainwash and Domingo worked together on a canvas. “He did a cross, and a bird and then he signed it,” said Zapata who wrote “I am human” in Spanish on the canvas.

Brainwash wrote has motto “Life is Beautiful” and added a heart. The painting, titled “El Inmigrante,” has an immigration theme and will be auctioned off to benefit Scholas Occurrentes. scholasoccurrentes.org

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The Vatican Zapata previous work with the pontiff sold for $500,000 to benefit the arts organization. Francis enjoyed the experience and invited him back to the Vatican for another joint art session. “What’s great is that I am the first painter to ever paint with the Pope, and I am the first painter to ever become a canvas for the Pope,” Zapata said. “I think it’s beautiful we have a Pope that promotes art in education,” he said. “It’s extremely important, and I am proud to be an ambassador of this and to be able to help.” Zapata also donated other works to help raise over a million dollars for the organization . Of Pope Francis’ artistic skills, Zapata says, “We need to get him a couple more classes, but I think he’s doing better.” And what will he do with that brand new suit with the Pope’s painting on it? “I’m going to paint on it, and then I’m going to auction it for the cause.” Who else would tell you these things? dzapata.com Charles James The Couture Secrets of Shape The work of, “America’s First Couturier” Charles James, who was lauded by his contemporaries Chanel, Dior and Balenciaga for his elegant and avantgarde designs was feted on both sides of the pond at book parties for Charles James: The Couture Secrets of Shape by James’s

last assistant, friend and heir Homer Layne and the German fashion scholar Dorothea Mink with text

by FIT’s Director Valerie Steele, Paul Caranicas, Carolyn Roider, and yours truly. Another American designer Rick Owens, who wrote the introduction for the book, available on Amazon, hosted a raucous reception and exhibition of James’ work after his own critically acclaimed show in Paris where Rick he joyfully confessed.

Owens “I have knocked in Paris off a Charles James cocoon coat and reinterpreted it in raw-seamed shearling, naturia and duvet.”

Brilliant! Owens said of his show, that was inspired by both James and KISS designer Larry LeGaspi, “It’s about sex where the woman is in control.” Pat Cleveland, the 70’s supermodel who worked with James, was among those dancing surrounded by James’ acclaimed drawings and dresses pinned like butterflies on the walls.

Fashion Institute of Technology The children of the designer, Charles James Jr. and Louise James and fashion and art world luminaries including Rockefeller heiress and sculptor Elizabeth de Cuevas, Peter Thomas Roth, collector Libbie Mu-

grabi and the photographer Anton Perich who made a 24-hour documentary of James with me all attended the lecture and book signing at FIT. The museum at FIT has a group of James’ work in their ar-

Peter Thomas Roth @ FIT

R.Couri Hay and Libbie Mugrabi @ FIT

chives but the definitive archives of his work is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art along with an extensive archives of fashion and erotic drawings given to the museum by both Layne and I. The Met gave a block buster show on James work in 2014 and you can view the designer’s work on their website. If you are a fashionista you need this book. metmuseum.org

SOCIAL SAFARI Miss Porter’s School Salonniere List Oprah Winfrey said, “Think like a Anne Hearst and Jay McInerney, queen. A queen is not afraid to fail.

Hilary Geary Ross and Wilbur Failure is another stepping stone to Ross, Audrey Gruss, Steven Stolegreatness.” Oprah doesn’t pop man and Jill Kargman are among up in our town the nominees named to the highly very often so anticipated 2019 Salonniere 100 when she does List of America’s best party everyone hosts. The nation’s leading pays attenwebsite, founded by Carla McDonald is dedicated to tion. The Dr. Katherine Windsor, Agnes the art of entertaining and talk show Gund and Oprah queen along was inspired by Winfrey @ Sotheby’s with vetsociety figures Robert Cenedella and eran arts patron including OsRenee Willett Agnes Gund, car Wilde, @ NYCIFF co-chaired a Zelda and benefit at Scott Fitzgerald Jeff Lima and Janel Tanna Soand Gertrude @ NYCIFF theby’s Stein, who for the legendary Miss Porter’s created “saSalonniere’s and gave the LifeJennifer School, which celebrated its 175 lons” where time AchieveAniston Susan J. anniversary last year. The night’s good conversament Award Barron and theme was By Women, For Tomortion about arts to Soprano’s Deborah Kuhn row’s Women and it celebrated the and letters star, Vincent @ NYCIFF first-all-women artist benefit auction were the Pastore and with all proceeds going to financial stars. The the Rising aid for Miss Porter’s students. Over Austin and Star Award forty works of art created by forty Nantucket to Renée Wilpioneering women’s artists includhostess lett, whose film ing April Gornik, Dorothea Rockchose the Flight 666, won Salonniere’s burne, Ghada Amer, Lily Stockman honorees in the Best Horror category.

Carla McDonald and Roni Horn were offered by from Other winners included actress the auction house. Jenny Holzer, Jill across Janel Tanna for the female focused Spalding, and Adam Sheffer of Pace the U.S. for drama, Sienna’s Choice, Deborah Gallery led the auction initiative. their exquisite Kuhn who won Best Director for sothebys.com Gund, graduated from entertaining style, the thriller, Monarch Butterfly and Miss Porter’s in 1956, and Oprah, including Muffie artist, Susan J. Barron for Depicting a longtime supporter of the school, and the Invisible, a moving documentary Potter Aston were Honorary Co-Chairs of the Aston, about veterans with PTSD, directed Dr. Sherrell sale. Winfrey is an adamant believer Charlotte Moss, by the festival’s founder Roberto in the power of education and is the Tony Ingrao and Rizzo. Painter Robert Cenedella founder of the Oprah WinRandy Kemper, introduced a screening of his multi frey Leadership Academy Herb Karlitz, Bunny Wilaward-winning documentary, Art for Girls (OWLAG) in liams, Jennifer Aniston, Bastard, which explores collusion South Africa, which Derek Blasberg, Ashley and corruption in the art world and was modeled after McDermott, Susan Gutfrecan be viewed on Amazon Prime.

Miss Porter’s. The und, Jean Shafiroff, Becca Other honorees included director OWLAG Board is Carson Thrash, Lynn Paul Borghese for The Kids Menu, chaired by Miss PorWyatt, Irene Michaels and Kathrina Miccio, Nyle Lynn, Josh ter’s Head of School, Oprah Winfrey.

Mayes and Blake Winston Rice.

Jean Shafiroff and Michael Dr. Katherine Windsor.

Bloomberg @ United Negro Going forward, Gund thesalonniere.com nyciff.com NYC International Film Festival Factory Cowboys – Working with Warhol by director, Ulli Lommel opened the 10th annual NYC International Film Festival (NYCIFF).

Chicago Fire star Jeff Lima served as emcee

College Fund

and Winfrey will serve as the co-curators for the bi-annual Contemporary Curated sale at Sotheby’s. porters.org Pietro’s Fight Night Round VII NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal was among the athletes who spoke out in support of Pietro’s Fight, the nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness and funds to find a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). The organization was `founded by Manni and Dayna Scarso in 2012 after the couple learned the devastating news that their then-three-year-old son Pietro, now 10, was diagnosed with DMD – the most common and lethal child-

Sal Strazzullo, Dayna Scarso, Manni Scarso and Allison Strazullo @ Pietro’s Fight

hood genetic disorder in the world affecting one in every 3,500 male births. The night honored power attorney Sal Strazzulo with the ‘Cure Fighter Award”. Strauzzlo noted that it was International Women’s Day saying, “Every day is women’s day, especially when you look at the work that Dayna does each and every day.” The cast of Jersey Boys sang their hits, which kept the crowd of 600 dancing and over 250k was raised at El Caribe Country Club. pietrosfight.org

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BEAUTY

Beauty Game

changers

By Hillary Latos

Reverse the effects of aging from head to toe, and from the inside out, with these game-changing beauty products.

CARE/OF Build your own personalized daily vitamin pack with Care/Of—a monthly subscription service that is tailored to your personal needs, giving you essential vitamins and supplements you need while not overloading your body with what is not needed. Products come in convenient, daily, on-the-go packets.

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ZERO HOUR DETOX Party all night without the repercussions of a hangover the next day with Zero Hour Detox.

Powered by high absorption glutathione, which is what your body produces to detoxify and repair itself. ZeroHD has created an oral delivery system to support your body’s efforts to clear alcohol and toxins from your system.

Take them while drinking and 3 more before bed for a clear head the next morning.

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REPRONIZER HAIR DRYER More than just a blow dryer, the Repronizer 3D Plus reverses the damage done to your hair and adds moisture and gloss back to your strands through their proprietary technology. Strand by strand, damaged hair improves over time, becoming reprogrammed and rebalanced with increased usage.

Launched in Japan, this advanced technology is built into the ceramics of the Repronizer with a systemic programming technology that improves hair health at the quantum level.

bioprogramming.com PAULA’S CHOICE BEAUTY BOOSTERS Jump-start your skin care regime while correcting specific ailments with Paula’s Choice Beauty Boosters. Concentrated levels of powerful ingredients like vitamin C (25%), retinol 1%, azelaic acid 10%, and niacinamide (10%) can help to create a tailor-made cocktail to address individual skin care needs.

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SEROVITAL ADVANCED Reverse the signs of aging with Serovital Advanced dietary supplements that support the body’s natural production of human growth hormone. Their proprietary ingredients work synergistically to accelerate skin benefits such as hydration, firmness and smoothness as well as weight loss, increased energy and improved sleep in as little as 15 days.

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BEAUTY

EUROPEAN WAX CENTER Calls Out the Absurdity of the Pink Tax By w. a. muller

I

t costs more to be a woman. Big Surprise.

Thanks to the Pink Tax, the average woman is charged an extra $1,351 each year on basic goods and services. $1,351 that won’t get invested, donated, or used for passion projects or businesses.

Money she doesn’t have a say in spending. It’s real.

It’s absurd. European Wax Center (EWC), a brand that empowers confident women every day, is doing something about it.

EWC first launched its #AxThePinkTax campaign in 2018 to raise awareness surrounding the oftenoverlooked Pink Tax: the extra amount of money women are charged for everyday products and services throughout their lives. The “tax” is present everywhere from baby bottles and personal care products to clothes, canes, and more. As the Clio award-winning campaign enters its second year this month, EWC will take the campaign to the next level by not only continuing to raise awareness through education but also by providing people

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with tools to take action and ignite a movement.

“As multiple studies have confirmed, The Pink Tax is real. It affects not only the millions of women who come to our centers, those who work at EWC locations, but all women, everywhere,” says Sherry Baker, President of Marketing and Product Development for European Wax Center.

In addition to the 2015 landmark New York study*, a new 2018 study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office** on gender-related price differences revealed that while the Pink Tax exists, not enough people speak up about it because the price differences are difficult to identify and therefore, many consumers continue to be unaware that it exists. As a result, the government has assumed a status quo stance with no plans to take action. With this insight, EWC has amplified its efforts to raise awareness about this unfair pricing practice to create a consumer outcry to inspire change.

This year’s #AxThePinkTax initiative includes a new look and feel calling out the absurdity of The Pink Tax with a bold eye-catching campaign including media partnerships, live events & activations, street art, in-center visual takeover and programming, social media, influencers, an updated website with educational resources & downloadable Starter P. AX (digital toolkits to help people take action) and more.

Visit your local EWC for the chance to win Pink Tax swag, service and product discounts, and loyalty points with percentages all related to The Pink Tax, through EWC’s “Wax On, Tax off” peel-off cards. * From Cradle to Cane: The Cost of Being a Female Consumer: A Study of Gender Pricing in New York City ** CONSUMER PROTECTION: Gender-Related Price Differences for Goods and Services

axthepinktax.com

The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is

Improving Lives Today MSAA provides free programs for the MS community including: n n

n

n n n

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Safety and mobility equipment Funding for MRIs for diagnostic and follow-up exams Cooling vests for heat-sensitive individuals Helpline Educational programs Videos, webinars, publications, and podcasts Online peer-to-peer community Mobile phone app to track and manage symptoms and medications

For more information about programs, services, and ways to support MSAA’s mission, please visit mymsaa.org or call (800) 532-7667.

Thank you to RESIDENT MAGAZINE for their support of MSAA and the MS Spring Golf Classic.

fashion cover

Slave voLove Photography | Jaime Pavon @pavonphoto Producer | Hillary Latos @hillarylatos Stylist | Steven Lassalle @stylebylassalle

Models | Audrey Giambattista | Viktorija Lukoseviciute | Caleb Fechtor | Ashton Smith | Luis Urrutia Hair Styling | Jacqueline Cicala @jacquelinecreates Makeup | Alena Bankovska | Blowout Morristown Team Nail Artist | Victoria Wreen @nailsbyvictoriawreenbah Photo Assist | Ricardo Alarcon Retouching | Karla Cevallos @lolaretouch Makeup Assistants | Kelly Cortland | Blowout Morristown Team Stylist Assitants | Stephanie Lentz / Marie Savage Hair Assitants | Bryana Espinoza | Blowout Morristown Team Shot on location at The Playboy Club NYC

“You’re running with me Don’t touch the ground”

Female Model 1 Dress: Ramy Brook Shoe: Stuart Weitzman Fur jacket: Apparis Male Model 1 Jacket: O.N.S. Clothing Shirt: O.N.S. Clothing Pant: Topman Shoe: Loding Paris Male Model 2 Jacket: Paul Smith Shirt: John Varvatos Pant: Boss Shoe: Prada Female Model 2 Dress: BCBG Shoe: Prada Fur Coat: Vintage Coat Saku | Top Ezie | Skirt and silk scarf stylist’s own

fashion cover

Female Model Dress: Michael Kors Fur jacket: Apparis Shoe: Andre Assous Male Model Jacket: All Saints Shirt: Boss Pant: Theory Shoe: kenneth cole

Dress: DVF Shoe: Prada Vest: Echo Jewelry: rachel zoe

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fashion

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Dress: Aidan Mattox Shoe: Vintage Jewery: DKNY

To need a woman You’ve got to know How the strong get weak And the rich get poor

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fashion cover

We’re the restless hearted Not the chained and bound

Male Model Shirt: Reiss Pant: Top Shop Shoe: Kenneth Cole Female Model 1 Dress: BCBG Shoe: Prada Female Model 2 Dress: BCBG

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fashion

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Male Model 1 Jacket: All Saints Shirt: Boss Pant: Theory Shoe: kenneth cole Female Model 1 Dress: Aidan Mattox Shoe: Vintage Male Model 2 Jacket: DKNY Shirt: Tom Ford Pant: Ermenegildo Zegna Shoe: Loding Paris Female Model 2 Dress: Michael Kors Fur jacket: Apparis Shoe: Andre Assous

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cover

The sky is burning A sea of flame Though your world is changing

I will be the same

icons

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RONI WILLETT

Financial Analyst, Art Collector & Young Philanthropist

By Bennett Marcus Photographed By UDO SPREITZENBARTH Makeup by: Wakana Ichikawa for Angelo David Salon | SMASHBOX Cosmetics Hair By: Risako Itamochi for Angelo David Salon | The Flex Brush | T3 Micro Shot on location at Dear Irving on Hudson at Aliz Hotel Times Square

I

the purchase of artworks since 2013 when they had to fill their newly renovated New York City apartment. She was 18 years old at the time and is now 23.

Roni, a financial analyst, philanthropist and graduate student, began advising her family in

She studied art history in school, interned for prominent New York art advisor Sandy Heller, worked with the contemporary artist Alex Israel in Los Angeles and spent two consecutive summers taking courses at the Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London. Growing up surrounded by art coupled with her education and past work experiences in the field allows Roni’s parents to instill trust in her to make the tough

n just six years Roni Willett has built an impressive art collection of more than 60 works by A-list artists including Yves Klein, Richard Serra, Chuck Close, Julian Opie and others. “At my recommendation, my family collects art from artists with different nationalities, race, age, gender and political or social agendas,” says Roni. “We have pieces that explore different mediums that range from paintings and sculpture to mixed-media and furniture.”

decisions regarding the art and furniture that decorates their various homes.

“Aesthetically, my parents trust my judgment. They appreciate my commitment to showing them artists they had previously not known but prove to be valuable. These artists are ones that I have studied, stumbled upon by going to galleries or museums, or have heard of through word of mouth,” she says. She relies on her instincts as to why they should invest in a particular artist and/or a specific piece. Taking over her family’s collection happened naturally over the course of a few years.

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Collection highlights One of Roni’s favorite pieces in her collection is an oil-on-canvas portrait of her by Richard Phillips.

“I have always been a fan of Richard’s so to see first-hand his process and more importantly to be a part of it was a very enjoyable experience that I will never forget. The portrait serves as a great souvenir of the time I spent with him to create a work of art,” she says.

Two other pieces in her collection that she considers standouts are “Simahue Walla (The World Stage, Israel)” by Kehinde Wiley and “Not Yet Titled Bronze Bust” by George Condo.

Both are among her favorite artists whose work she has appreciated for as long as she can remember.

“Kehinde Wiley is known for combining traditional motifs with contemporary figures. His heroic and regal portraits are set against eye-catching, brightly colored and intricately designed backdrops. While his work catches your eye, Wiley forces the viewer to reconsider society, history and stereotypes. I admire how he successfully aims to redefine identities,” says Roni. kehindewiley.com Roni says George Condo “is our modern day Picasso.

He depicts figures that are distorted and otherworldly but are extremely beautiful and sexy.”

Diversity of artists Roni describes her collection as an assemblage of pops of color, bold statements and cultural diversity.

She tends to be attracted to contemporary artists that have worked in the latter half of the 20th century through today. “Within the overarching classification of contemporary art, our collection is diverse,” she states.

always be a market.” She advised that having a diverse collection can mitigate some risks from a financial standpoint. Look for diversity in artists (emerging vs. blue chip), mediums (paintings vs. sculpture vs. photographs, etc.), artistic periods (Contemporary vs. Old Masters, etc.) and even geographical origins (American vs. European vs.

Asian etc.) because demand can change.

Roni believes having a diverse range of artists and mediums in a collection allows each work to become a part of a vision greater than if shown alongside pieces with similar characteristics. She says, “Different mediums, colors and varying subject matters can play off each other in a conversational way and, therefore, enhance the experience of the viewer. I take pride in showcasing the inevitable yet compelling way an artist takes into account other cultures and other artists, from the past and present, due to the fact that we live in a globalized and connected world.”

Advice for young collectors “The core of collecting, for anyone, starts with one’s personal aesthetic. The first step is finding a piece that moves you and can be imagined in your home.”

Once you’ve found the piece Roni says, “research, research, research! If you are not familiar with the artist, find out where he or she went to school, which galleries his or her work is shown and historical data about the artist such as past auction prices and publications in which the artist appeared.” She recommends checking the provenance of the piece, its edition number, making sure it is being sold by a reputable merchant, as well as checking auction records and online vendors, such as Artsy and 1stdibs, to make sure the price is accurate.

Financial aspects of collecting “Art can no longer be classified solely as a beautiful object due to the astronomical prices in today’s art market,” says Roni. She thinks it would be foolish to ignore the fact that art is seen as an investment.

With her current career in finance, this type of thinking has become second nature. She assured me that today “there is extreme interest in fine art internationally and history proves that there will

“With prices at an all-time high it would be foolish to purchase anything without considering its shortterm and long-term value,” Roni explains. “This is where my love of art meets my financial aptitude.”

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Living with art, now and into the future: Roni’s family collection is displayed throughout their various homes rather than in storage. They have never sold a piece in order to acquire another. “For now, I enjoy being surrounded by the art my family and I have collected. Our home wouldn’t feel the same without the pieces that are hanging on the walls.”

They sometimes rearrange pieces as they add to their collection, but for the most part, once they choose a spot it stays put.

Roni has been exploring the possibility of expanding her family’s collection to other movements; for instance, she is intrigued by Old Masters and art from the Renaissance.

“Symbiotically mixing our contemporary pieces with art from other generations will create a provocative juxtaposition between the pieces when displayed in the same room.”

“My goal is to continuously amass a collection that can ultimately be enjoyed by my kids and grandkids,” she says.

She considers donating pieces to museums a priority because she believes that art should be viewed and experienced by everyone. “We’ve loaned pieces to museums in the past but looking forward I intend to do that more often.”

Philanthropy Roni lends her energy to a number of philanthropic causes; the four in which she is most active are the Michael Milken Prostate Cancer Foundation, United Hatzalah, the USC Shoah Foundation and the CFDA Foundation (Council of Fashion Designers of America.)

Roni got involved with the Prostate Cancer Foundation after seeing the passion her family friend and founder, Michael Milken, displayed towards the cause. “The foundation's hard work and progress in the fight to beat prostate cancer is a true inspiration. I commend their support of cutting edge medical research and groundbreaking technological advancements, such as training dogs to detect certain cancers.”

She hosts events for the foundation designed to get her generation involved. Raising awareness and educating the younger generation is, to her, paramount to prevention. “At the luncheons, materials with key steps of prevention will be a part of the table setting so everyone leaves, at the very least, learning something. I’ll also point out why it is important to get involved and how they can donate.”

Her mother, step-father, brother and sister, Renee Willett, are all supporters of United Hatzalah, which provides “specially equipped motorcycles in Israel. These ambucycles allow a trained medical professional to get to an emergency situation in 90 seconds. They end up saving on average 100 lives a day by responding to calls that range from a bomb going off to a car accident to even a mother giving birth,” says Roni.

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She helps organize fundraising events and solicit speakers to raise awareness among Americans for the Israeli organization. In February, Roni and her family threw a small event in Miami, the same week we spoke for this article. “We weren’t expecting it but it was a wonderful surprise that a lot of guests ended up donating to the cause.”

Roni is helping to promote the CFDA, particularly in L.A., to create a buzz amongst her peers. One recent event she worked on featured a Q&A with fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg, who is the president of the CFDA, for a small group of about 100 people.

Africa House pop-up In September, Roni helped to establish Africa House, a pop-up members club for the African Delegation during the 2018 UN General Assembly.

The week-long event took place in a 5th avenue townhouse owned by Carlos Slim. It gave the African Delegation a space to hold important meetings and discussions during the busy week.

Highlights included several panels that took place at and were put on by Africa House. The variety of panels focused on the past, present and future of the relationship between African countries and the rest of the world. One panel included talks with several first ladies from different African countries.

Another panel, sponsored by ARTnews, included discussions between a young woman from the first graduating class of Oprah’s school in South Africa and other influential professionals well-versed in African art. While another panel spoke about Africa’s representation in Hollywood.

Roni’s friend, a Moroccan artist, enlisted her to help set up the project. The two curated the space like an art exhibit featuring contemporary artists that

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were African or of African descent. Roni says, “curating the space was challenging and fascinating.

I previously had limited knowledge about African art but enjoyed exploring and learning about the different perspectives and identities Africa and African artists have to offer. We successfully accomplished our goal of exploring the power in the multiplicity of identities across the African continent and giving a voice to these artists as individuals from independent countries. We wanted to begin a dialogue that would transcends borders from the viewpoint of each African country rather than looking at Africa as one entity with only one voice.”

Africa House became an opportunity for emerging African artists to showcase their work on a global stage. The exhibit included the works of emerging and non-emerging artists from 15 different African countries. The works of the emerging artists were displayed next to works of renowned artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Kehinde Wiley.

Africa House drew numerous African heads of state, ambassadors, business and art world leaders and luminaries, and even a few celebrities like Naomi Campbell. The duo hopes to do more such events in the future.

Financial analyst, graduate studies Roni’s day job is as a financial analyst working with high-yield and distressed assets. So how did she get into that field after majoring in art history and French at USC? “I gravitated towards finance because I see the importance of having a business mindset,” she says.

She had to study for the tough Series 7 and Series 63 exams, which are required to obtain a license in her industry. “The industry can be challenging at times but that is what I love most about working

in the field. I am determined to continue learning and building my business skill set.”

She places great value on the fact that business can be applied to her other pursuits such as collecting art and philanthropy. She believes this so much that she took up night school with the University of Southern California’s highly selective Iovine Young Academy created by music industry moguls Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre. “The program is extremely innovative. It teaches us to make important connections between creative ideas and business concepts. The deep learning experience can be applied to any subject matter and enables us to solve high-level problems through processes such as ideation, humancentered design and product development. By mixing business, entrepreneurship, technology and design we are learning to become disruptors or create disruptive businesses.” Roni graduates in May. Interviewing Roni was a delight. She is a bright, affable and warm individual. At the young age of 23, Roni wears many hats. She is ambitious, motivated and a role-model to her peers. Roni has a strong work ethic, actively makes the world a better place through the many philanthropic causes she is involved with and inspires others to pursue their passions.

Her breadth and depth of knowledge for contemporary art and art collecting is outstanding. Africa House and the various fund raising events she has coordinated have been rather impressive, successful and tend to draw in prominent attendees. Roni accomplishes all of this while maintaining a career in finance and pursuing an entrepreneurial graduate degree at night. I look forward to seeing the new and exciting projects that she is currently working on come to fruition. instagram.com/roniwillett

cover Fur Jacket: Son Jun Wan Tee shirt: Emporio Amani Leather pants: Jitrois

ALEXANDER DREYMON

Diving into the Depths of Fame, Fashion and Future Projects

By Julie Sagoskin Photographed By UDO SPREITZENBARTH Produced by Hillary Latos

Photo Assistants| Richard Baranyai & Joey Wang Imaging | Lorraine Baker Producer LA | Melissa Kurland

W

ith Old Hollywood good looks, charisma and down to earth charm, Alexander Dreymon, star of The Last Kingdom, is indeed the last of his kind. Born in Germany, Dreymon, born Alexander Doetsch, grew up in France, Switzerland and the United States. The dashing Dreymon is not just a pretty face – he’s fluent in English, French and German – let’s face it, he looks good no matter what he’s saying or which language he’s saying it in! The actor studied his craft in Paris as well as at the Drama Centre London.

Stylist | Steven Lassalle Groomer | Tania Guerra Location at Got Light Studio Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Dreymon can go from refined to rugged, and definitely pulls off the latter ridiculously well with his rough and ripped appearance on the set of his hit show, The Last Kingdom, which is based on historical fiction. His character, Uhtred of Bebbanburg, might be a tough warrior, but Dreymon, who grew up riding horses and was never afraid to get dirty, was prepared for the role. He might have moved around a lot as a kid, but the 36-year-old found where he truly belonged in the acting world. While some of the elements of the story of Uhtred, the son of a Saxon lord who was captured by the Danes

might be fictional, Dreymon is very real, both on and off set.

Before his mega breakthrough role in The Last Kingdom, Alexander appeared in American Horror Story: Coven, and is looking forward to the next chapter of his life, both personally and professionally.

In addition to acting, he’s also passionate about the foundation he founded with a close friend called Tiger Burning Bright. The organization aims to help others find ways to donate to the conservation of tigers and gives an understanding of where the donations are going and exactly how they are helping.

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Suite Jacket: Tom Ford Shirt: Theory Pants: Sandro Shoes: Prada

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What do you like best about being a part of The Last Kingdom?

Working with the local crew in Hungary and the rest of the cast. We’re incredibly lucky to get along so well. Every day is just like going out to play with your friends. I also love that most scenes are shot on location out in the countryside and so much of it involves working with horses. We do long hours but riding and being outside is truly invigorating and always makes me happy.

What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced in this role?

As fun as it is, the schedule, cold, and amount of work on the show is pretty demanding. So managing to get enough rest and avoiding getting sick becomes an important part of my life while we’re shooting.

What’s your favorite place to travel?

I’ve been lucky enough to do quite a bit of traveling in my life, but one of my favorite places to go is the south of France, where a lot of my family lives.

The smells, sounds - especially in summer–are the best way to replenish my energy levels.

How do you decompress?

Since my job takes me all over the globe, one of the most grounding elements in my life is being able to catch up with my friends and family over a long phone call or video chat. I don’t technically have a home base, so the people in my life have become representative of the idea of home.

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Cover Tuxedo: Hugo Boss | Shirt: Emporio Armani | Pants: Tom Ford Inside Cover Vest: All saints | Sweater: Rag and bone

How did you get your start in acting?

That was pretty early on- actually from as early as I can remember, I was putting on plays with my cousin which eventually turned into little movies the day we managed to get a camcorder from a family friend. After high school, I took acting classes in Paris and worked at the theatre there for three years, then went on to get proper training in London.

Coat: Scotch & Soda

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Do you have any unusual talents/habits?

I have a fast metabolism so I’m constantly eating.

And not just regular-sized meals – while I’m shooting I usually have three meals for lunch.

What are your favorite types of roles?

I am drawn to a challenge. So, if there’s a character that feels very different from me, I love the idea of trying to figure out how to bridge that gap. I’m also drawn to projects that have a larger message. In that case, as always, the character is important. But the role becomes one element of a larger goal of making a statement. I guess the perfect role would be one where I’m playing someone challenging that exists within the realm of a project that will make people think.

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Any upcoming projects on the horizon?

I am currently finishing up filming a movie called HORIZON LINE. We’ve been working since the end of January. It’s been an epic adventure and a challenge in so many ways that are different from the challenges that TLK presents, but it’s been a blast. A day after we wrap on this movie, I head to Hungary to begin filming Season 4 of TLK. It’ll be quick transition, but I’m looking forward to being back with my TLK family.

Where are you based?

Los Angeles.

Where is your favorite place to live?

I’ve moved around quite a bit in my life, so there are many places that have become home to me.

I’m about to return to Budapest for almost 8 months and love it there. It’s a city with a lot of character, and you can literally see the history on the walls of the buildings. Lots of good memories.

What can you tell us about your role in the thriller Horizon Line?

I play Jackson, who is a dive instructor in Mauritius.

I’ve been incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to learn how to dive in preparation, and I definitely got the bug. He’s very different from Uhtred, which is one of the things that drew me to it in the first place.

How would you describe your fashion sense?

Jeans, t-shirt, boots. That’s kind of it!

Suite Jacket: Hugo Boss Shirt: Emporio Armani

dining

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YARA Yearning for Authentic Lebanese Food? Yield to Yara

By Julie Sagoskin

H

e might have been an executive at Porsche, but Jacob Harb is now in the driver’s seat at Yara, his authentic Lebanese restaurant in Midtown Manhattan. Harb yearned to introduce his own version of friendly hospitality and upscale cuisine, so he went full-speed ahead and opened Yara, which serves up scrumptious dishes and attentive service.

Feeling fulfilled by his successful career in the automotive industry, this entrepreneur decided to embark on a new adventure and was able to foresee a food-inspired future. The restaurant is a true passion project Jacob, who was born in Lebanon before leaving during the Civil War and coming to the US. He now brings the flavors and smells of his homeland to life with every bite of baba ganoush. All the dishes on the menu are things that his mother and grandmother would make for him growing up, such as the pumpkin kibbeh, which you won’t find anywhere else.

“Food has always been a passion of mine—I consider myself a foodie. That coupled with the opportunity to be a tastemaker was what led me into the restaurant business.

Lebanese cuisine to me is all about hospitality, vitality and community. All the food is healthy, meant to be shared and flavorful; it’s the ideal way to eat. I decided to launch with a Lebanese restaurant because I wanted to share all those wonderful traits with the world.”

Jacob might have put the menu together, but Michelinrecognized Chef Refeat Husseini is the one in the kitchen making everything from scratch, from the hummus, which incorporates a 3-day process, to the fresh salads, and more. You can even enjoy Yara’s expansive and eclectic menu regardless of dietary restrictions. Whether you’re looking for vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free or keto-friendly items, they have something for everyone in your party. With so many vegetarian dishes and mouthwatering meat items on the menu, the only trouble you’ll have is picking which plate to please your palate.

With a recently-launched happy hour and a three-course, pre-fixe lunch menu, you can enjoy Lebanese cuisine all day and all night. From beef shawarma to beet falafel, you’ll be falling in love with every bite. Jacob explained that he loves Mediterranean cuisine “because everything is made with simple, clean ingredients. At Yara, we have 18 vegan dishes, which are authentically Lebanese.”

Lunch, which will be served daily, features kefta, labneh, fish and fattoush, and is available from 11:30AM to 3:30PM before the restaurant reopens at 5:00PM for dinner service. Come by and sip on a specialty cocktail during Monday to Friday’s happy hour, where you can unwind with a Moscow Mule or Tequila Honeysuckle.

The bi-level space is swanky and sophisticated, with décor that matches their deliciously decadent dishes.

According to Jacob, “Yara’s brand is about a healthy vitality and bountiful hospitality which is purely Lebanese.

The design embodies that—it is both chic and inviting.”

This Mediterranean-inspired mecca will transport you to Lebanon—a dimly-lit version with posh surroundings and a truly craft cocktail experience with all juices, syrups and infusions prepared in-house daily. You can feel like a real foodie with their traditional and innovative spices, skewers and sautéed okra. Their grilled lamb chops will have you licking your chops, while the Mulukhia, a mallow stew with chicken and rice, will have your mouth watering. Harb’s mission—“to share the incredible food I was raised on in a wonderful environment”—comes to life in every aspect of Yara.

Jacob is proud of all the dishes at his restaurant, which are made from scratch, but he admits that when it comes to picking his favorite dish, he “has to start with the hummus! This is made in a traditional batch method that is completed over three days delivering a uniquely rich and creamy hummus. This is the hummus I grew up with. Next, I would go with the baba ganoush. We grill fresh eggplants in house for the foundation; this provides a hearty and flavorful depth to the dish. Lastly, I would highlight the kibbe. This is a traditional Lebanese dish that I would describe as a croquette. At Yara, we offer beef and pumpkin kibbe. The pumpkin kibbe is vegan, and both are extremely tasty.”

Whether you want to get cozy by their fireplace, relax in the lounge with a carefully crafted cocktail, or simply savor the smells and sights of this tasty and tastefully done space, Yara will be your favorite foodie destination.

319 E 53rd St. New York, NY 10022 646.476.7592 yaranyc.com

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dining

Tuscany Steakhouse

DINING OUT: NYC The Modern Steakhouse and Seafood Dining Experience By hillary latos & simon Gusev

T

hough culinary trends may come and go in NYC, the great American steak and seafood house has remained a staple amongst the discerning palates of New Yorkers.

Though they have evolved over the years to include more seafood, Asian or Italian options and variations, there is something satisfying about devouring a juicy aged cut of beef. Here are some of our favorite steakhouses in the city.

Tuscany Steakhouse Tuscany Steakhouse is Manhattan’s newest midtown steakhouse helmed by Steven Palm, an owner at the Upper East Side’s Italian staple, Il Munello, and chef Jamie, who has experience in some of New York’s premier Italian restaurants and top steakhouses. The dining space has a cozy Italian trattoria vibe with arched bleached exposed brick walls, tufted dark leather chairs, terracotta tiled floors, and a painted bucolic mural of the Italian countryside as a backdrop. Melding their culinary

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experience, the menu features traditional Italian dishes and classic steakhouse favorites. Choose from expertly prepared old-school gems such as sizzling extra-thick bacon, baked clams oreganata, Caesar salad, classic steakhouse wedge, or a cold seafood tower to start. Authentic Italian pastas round out the menu with delicious choices, such as linguini fra diavolo with lobster, linguine seafood with spicy marinara sauce, or linguine alla vongole. The specialty of the house is the selection of succulent dry-aged USDA steaks ranging from bone-in ribeye steak to a porterhouse or a veal chop that has been dried in their signature aging box. Tuscany Steakhouse is a testament to the appeal of the traditional steakhouse to multigenerational patrons who are looking for crowdpleasing favorites executed to perfection in a convivial atmosphere with excellent service.

117 W 58 St. New York, NY 10019

212.757.8630 tuscanysteakhouse.com Reserve Cut Opened in 2013 in the Setai Hotel by Albert Allaham is Reserve Cut—a modern kosher steakhouse.

As a fourth-generation butcher, Allaham is driven and dedicated to bringing his customers only the finest quality meats using innovative techniques and fresh ingredients. This five-star dining experience has earned Reserve Cut a steady clientele who not only come here for the unparalleled and elevated cuts of beef but also for the fine selection of sushi rolls and Asian culinary delights. The beautifully designed dining room features soft amber-hued lighting, plush leather banquettes, rich dark wood walls, and a floor-to-ceiling window to the kitchen so diners can be part of the action.

Whet your appetite with the signature tuna and black truffle roll, seared Hamachi two ways, or grilled Chilean sea bass. Other delectable appetiz-

Reserve Cut ers include the spicy tuna atop crispy rice, yellowtail carpaccio with jalapeno, Applewood smoked wagyu steak tartare and wagyu short rib tacos with a grilled pineapple relish. For the main attraction, carnivores will appreciate the specialty A5 Grade Kosher Kuro wagyu steak exclusive to Reserve Cut with hearty cuts such as the 28 oz bone-in Cowboy Steak or 42 oz Allaham Tomahawk for two. All steaks are dry aged for a minimum of 36 days in their private dry-aged steak room. Pair with wines from their extensive wine list including the largest kosher reserve wines in the country. If you still have room for dessert, indulge in the decadent chocolate tasting with a caramel chocolate tart, peanut butter ice cream, and molten chocolate cake for a sinfully sweet ending.

40 Broad St. New York, NY 10004 212.747.0300 reservecut.com Cut by Wolfgang Puck Located in the Four Seasons Downtown Hotel is Cut by Wolfgang Puck, the famed celebrity chef’s first Manhattan outpost of many that span the globe. The modern interior was designed by modern French designer Jacques Garcia in partnership with Kimberly Brown and STRATA architects to reflect a contemporary aesthetic that melds the posh neighborhood of Tribeca with the urban landscape of the Financial District. More than just a steakhouse, one of the best ways to experience the gastronomic talents of Wolfgang Puck is to order the 4- or 6-course tasting menu.

Choose from delicious mouthwatering starters with an Asian flair such as big-eye tuna with togarashi, bay scallops with yuzu Kosho or Maine lobster and blue crab Louis with a spicy tomato horseradish. Or select classic starters such as the smoked bone-in bacon, tortelloni with black truffle, chopped Caesar or Italian burrata with truffle. For the main course, whether you choose a succulent steak or expertly prepared seafood, you can’t go wrong.

Seafood specialties include a roasted lobster paired with a French black truffle sabayon, or grilled Za’atar prawns with a Southern flair and a kick. For steaks, choose from a wide selection of cuts including the USDA Tomahawk, Japanese or American wagyu sirloin, or pure wagyu beef from the Miyazaki Prefecture that are grilled to perfection over hard white oak and mesquite charcoal. For the epicurean with a sweet tooth, indulge in one of their signature desserts, including the rich Guanaja chocolate soufflé, salted caramel tart, or deeply satisfying yuzu key lime pie with a brown sugar meringue.

99 Church St. New York, NY 10007 646.880.1995 wolfgangpuck.com

Reserve Cut

Cut by Wolfgang

dining Catch NYC

Ocean Prime Created by restauranteur Cameron Mitchell, Ocean Prime is a contemporary American steak and seafood restaurant and lounge with 16 outposts, including one located in the heart of Rockefeller Center. The inviting space has a congenial yet airy ambiance highlighted by sumptuous banquettes, illuminated wine walls, and warm lighting, making it a perfect pre-theater or after-work spot to socialize, indulge, and celebrate New York City living. The menu features an impressive array of seafood and steak options, as well as different cocktails and an outstanding selection of wine. Even if you’re in the mood for sushi, Ocean Prime is rolling it. Try one of their specialty rolls, including the prime roll with tempura shrimp and beef carpaccio, or the lobster roll with poached lobster, kiwi and pickled serrano, topped with a spicy mango puree. If not ordering a succulent steak, opt for a fish or chop dish. Or, opt for the best of both worlds with the Surf ‘n’ Turf option featuring an 8 oz filet and butter poached lobster tail with a Cabernet truffle reduction. The mouthwatering seafood menu also includes a delicious jumbo lump crab cake or sea scallops served with Parmesan risotto, English peas and citrus vinaigrette. Pair any dish whether meat or fish with the savory Parmesan truffle fries, which will without a doubt make your taste buds tingle with joy. Besides the typical dinner and lunch menus, Ocean Prime also offers a young adults and gluten-free menu. Be sure to leave room for the crave-worthy

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warm butter cake served with ice cream that will have you yearning for more.

123 West 52 St. New York, NY 10019 212.956.1404 ocean-prime.com Catch NYC Since its opening, Catch NYC has been a Meatpacking District hotspot courting celebs and locals who come for their mouthwatering globallyinspired seafood fare. Dishes are sophisticated and unique and bring together an extensive dining menu in a chic and trendy environment. This 400seat tri-level complex offers different settings that cater to a diverse clientele who visit from brunch to dinner or for late-night cocktails. This is one of those rare hospitality successes where the food is as great as the scene. Some of the signature highlights from the menu include a selection of cold and warm specialties, such as the tartare trio with salmon, Hamachi and tuna, crispy shrimp with spicy mayo, bourbon miso cod lettuce wraps, baked king crab hand rolls, and crispy chicken bao buns.

There’s also a wide range of signature sushi rolls to choose from, including the MRC roll with seared tuna, shrimp and ponzu brown butter, or the spicy tuna two-ways roll. Luckily, family-style sharing is encouraged so guests can indulge in a wide range of delicacies. One of the best dishes to share is the 2.5-pound Cantonese lobster with sake, oyster sauce, garlic and scallions, which is pure shellfish

heaven. In warmer weather, make a night of it and cap off the evening with a cocktail in their alfresco landscaped rooftop under the stars.

21 Ninth Ave. New York, NY 10014 212.392.5978 catchrestaurants.com Home Base Bistro Imagine a spot where exquisite cuisine, handcrafted cocktails, intricate contemporary beats and New York sports collide under one roof. Now, open your eyes, and you’ll see Homebase Bistro, a rightful inheritor of RAISE New York that will bring the kingdom of entertainment to the next Golden Age. Sample the array of delicious shareable plates you have no chance of finding anywhere else in the city. The restaurant’s experiment with blending the flavors from all over the world with New American culinary approach results in eclectic and diverse dishes such as General Tso’s Cauliflower, Sweet Pancake Tacos, and Blueberry Muffin Donuts.

Make sure to sample piquant appetizers, especially deep-fried Oreos and buffalo wings, and take a sip of refined margarita or keen mule, while watching live games of your favorite team. Eat, listen, watch, drink and dance in style with Homebase Bistro.

416 3rd Ave. New York, NY 10016 212.481.1712 homebasebistro.com

Packed with Flavor.

Not Artificial Ingredients.

The perfect balance of hand-crafted caramel with the spicy flavor of our Chopin Rye Vodka and a touch of Maldon sea salt flakes.

Also available in Double Chocolate.

www.DordaLiqueurs.com

Please Drink Responsibly. 18% Alc. by Vol., Product of Poland, Imported by Chopin Imports, Wilmington DE.

@DordaLiqueurs

dining Hortus NYC

Ornella Trattoria Italiana

Atlantic Grill

Hortus NYC New Asian cuisine with upscale American Twist is in town. An appealing dining destination by Suhum Jang and executive chef Seungjoon Choi, Hortus, Latin for “garden,” fuses a botanical-inspired theme with sophistication and excellence of luxurious ambiance. The restaurant features an outdoor garden upstairs and open-kitchen for a more intimate experience downstairs. Chef Choi expands the limits of Asia and American cuisines, showing off bold flavors with surprising ingredients. The dish that deserves your taste buds is Yuzu Tare Angel Wing, pork stuffed with glass noodles in a yuzu sauce, and Bone Marrow Mussels. For a drink, sample soju mixed with mango tonic and lavender salt, or thyme and lime. Hortus NYC aims to alter your perception of Asian flavors, blending New American cuisine and an exceptional dining flair with oriental charm.

271 5th Ave. New York, NY 10016 646.858.3784 hortusnyc.com Ornella Trattoria Italiana Why keep your family home if you can go out to the place with the same warm fireside feeling and,

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most importantly, great food? Located in Astoria, Ornella Trattoria Italiana is an intimate familyowned restaurant that aims to serve traditional dishes using the finest organic ingredients. The Chef Giuseppe Viterale, named one of the Best Chefs in America, has developed a well-rounded menu that will meet a full range of gastronomic preferences. Recently, the restaurant introduced excellent vegetarian dishes to the delight of nonmeat eating patrons. For those carving for a juicy steak, the restaurant offers an extensive meat list.

But the gem of the menu is undoubtedly pasta.

Sample, rich on seafood and flavor, risotto di mare and unique chestnut pasta. Enjoy the fantastic meal with your beloved ones and, remember, “tutti a tavola prima che si fa fredda la pasta.”

29-17 23rd Ave. Astoria, NY 11105 718.777.9477 ornellatrattoria.com Atlantic Grill Atlantic Grill is an Upper West Side staple for the last 18 years, and it is part of the BR Guest Hospitality Group. Since its opening, locals and patrons of Lincoln Center have been flocking to Atlantic Grill for their delicious and extensive selection of contem-

porary American fare that specializes in seafood.

The warm and inviting dining room features exposed brick walls and plush red banquettes that are perfect for groups. Some of the mouthwatering signature dishes include the shrimp and lobster spring rolls, shrimp dumplings with sake plum sauce, charred octopus with piquillo peppers and the kale and charred brussels sprouts Caesar salad. Be sure to try some of their delicious specialty sushi rolls with unique combinations, such as the fiery lobster roll with salmon and a blazing shiso sauce or the tiger’s eye roll with tiger shrimp and Hamachi paired with a raisin pistachio sauce. Other fresh dock-to-dish highlights from the menu include the melt-in-yourmouth Hunt’s Point fish market scallops with roasted corn and Thai coconut curry sauce or the simply roasted chicken with ricotta gnocchi and rosemary cream. Whether you are catching a performance at Lincoln Center or simply craving deliciously prepared seafood, it is worth a trip to the Upper West Side to satisfy your culinary obsessions.

49 West 64 St. New York, NY 10023 212.787.4663 atlanticgrill.com

Ocean City’s Most Historic & Prestigious Luxury All Suites Boardwalk Hotel Luxury Suite Accommodations · Million Dollar Penthouses · Elegant Banquet & Conference Center · Outdoor Heated Pool · Full Service Restaurant · Three Unique Boutiques · Divine Images Salon & Spa · Coffee Shop · And More!

719 East 11th Street, Ocean City, NJ 08226

609.399.1000 www.TheFlandersHotel.com

dining

DEMARCHELIER Authentic French Fare Meets Fine Art

By Harry Brads

A

uthentic French Bistro Demarchelier, owned by artist Eric Demarchelier (brother of famed fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier), celebrated its 25-year anniversary in 2017. Eric opened the very first location of his eponymous restaurant the same year he first moved to New York City, in 1978. After having moved from its original location on Lexington Avenue, Demarchelier re-opened in 1992 on 86th street, still frequented by its regular diners. More bourgeois than bohemian, Demarchelier’s lively and cozy locale also showcases a rotating collection of paintings by the owner.

Demarchelier brings a little piece of France to New York City. Every meal that leaves its kitchen aims to capture the essence of authentic French bistro fair. The family owned and run Upper East Side restaurant radiates a comfortable, colorful, warm and familial spirit that has made it a neighborhood fixture for a quarter-century. Ideal for a quick bite to eat, a romantic rendezvous, or a simple family meal. The traditional French menu

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is paired perfectly with a wide range of predominantly French wines.

Diners will find many familiar dishes on the classic bistro fare menu, which are coupled with daily organic selections. Demarchelier provides an array of all natural, grass-fed, organic options brought directly from nearby farms, which are sure to suit even the most health-conscious diner.

Signature dishes include the Moules Mariniere au Vin Blanc served in a rich broth; Duck Confit served over a hearty mix of tomato and tarragon scented flageolets; and Sole Meuniere, flour covered and pan-fried in butter, accompanied by a grilled lemon half and wedges of boiled potato, tossed in a mix of butter and chives. Demarchelier’s decadent dessert menu features flavorful dishes such as Tarte Fine Au Pommes, a flaky tart filled with warm apples and served with fresh vanilla ice cream; and Crepe Suzette, a classic French pancake drizzled with Grand Marnier.

On the weekends, diners can enjoy a classic French

a la carte brunch. Dishes include Organic Eggs Benedict with Hollandaise sauce served with a choice of ham or salmon; Pancakes served with maple syrup and a choice of blueberries; and Steak Tartare with a side of pommes frites.

Born and raised in Normandy, Eric Demarchelier has received additional recognition as a painter.

Eric’s artistic style encompasses figurative, geometric abstraction and abstract expressionism, as well as landscape and portrait painting. He began painting in the 1990s and has been rotating the art exhibited in the restaurant every year since. Aside from the rotating artwork, Demarchelier has remained consistent throughout the years, both in terms of ambiance and menu, though part of the responsibility of running the restaurant has been pledged to Eric’s daughter Emily Demarchelier.

50 East 86th St. New York, NY 10028 212.249.6300 demarchelierrestaurant.com

P OO L S I D E . L AK E S I D E .

ALL YOUR TROUBLES ASIDE .

There’s no better place to beat the summer heat than the Pocono Mountains. Whether you’re after high-energy adventures or just want to kick back and recharge, we’ve got a vacation that’s just your speed.

Visit PoconoMountains.com to plan your perfect family getaway now.

#PoconoMtns

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RED RABBIT Nocturnal Wonderland By simon gusev

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he ever-dark and freezing ambiance of the winter is finally gone. The perfect time to try something new is upon us.

Blooming nature and gentle sunrays grant us energy for much-needed thrilling adventures. Breathe some fresh air into your nightlife with Red Rabbit Club. We encourage you to go down this new fancy rabbit hole.

Located in the heart of the trendy Meatpacking District at 408 West 15th Street, the 4500-square-foot gold-dusted club is the newest addition to high-end New York City nightlife. The club preaches exclusivity, offering just 17 tables ranging from $2,000 to $20,000 for bottle service and aiming to immerse its clientele in a genuinely unique, multi-sensate experience with lavish design elements and progressive technology, such as a state-of-the-art sound system that broadcasts hip-hop and disco, smart lighting and LED screens on the walls and ceilings. Plush leather golden booths inhabit the edges of the dance floor, offering guests a chance to bloom amid the feast.

A series of stairs will lure you down the rabbit hole and into the subterranean club, where patrons are courted by elaborate magicians and tempting dancers in a wonderland realm of luxurious entertainment.

Pamper yourself at the golden-plated bar with the extensive cocktail list and over 45 different bottles to taste. From Captain Morgan rum to Johnnie Walker Black whiskey, you’re sure to be amazed. The cocktail staff will assist you with anything you may need on your nocturnal journey. Solo drinks at the bar will cost you $10-15, and bottle service at Red Rabbit Club is priced from $200 to $3,000, which is very reasonable compared to other clubs in New York City. Prices may vary depending on the type of the reservation. But whether you pick a bar package or a VIP table, you won’t be disappointed. If you haven’t booked a table, you will need to meet the doorman’s discretion. The swanky club has a dress code that is strictly enforced by the bouncers. Worried about not making it into the rabbit hole? For men, we recommend wearing collared shirts.

For ladies: heels and chic night-out dresses fused with latest trends are encouraged! Dress to impress and charm your way in with quintessential Manhattan elegance.

Browse the website for the upcoming events to meet face to face with your favorite singers in the intimate luxury of the Red Rabbit Club. 50 Cent, Future, Travis Scott, Jonathan Cheban and many other celebrities have already gone down this fancy rabbit hole.

Bloom with a season of new beginnings with the latest fabled adventure in the midsts of the New York City nightlife at the Red Rabbit Club.

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IL BORRO “Divine Wine” by Ferruccio and Salvatore Ferragamo By simon gusev

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nce upon a time, there was a land with superior views, where fine wine flowed like water and nature was boasting with unthinkable colors. Many embarked on a quest to find a long-forgotten site, the origin of preeminent wine tasting. Those few who succeeded, unwilling to reveal the location, kept the Holy Grail of hedonism for themselves. But we decided to put the kibosh on secrecy and unveil the sacred place for you. At the foot of the Pratomagno Mountains, on Valdarno Hills, rests the vineyard owned by Ferruccio family, where you can experience the miracle of the birth of fine wines.

Take a tour of the Il Borro cellar. Marked by centuries and surrounded by Tuscanian nature, the cellar is at the heart of the Ferragamo estate. Here, in the ancient structure buried below ground level, in one of the oldest cellars in Italy, the first ever Chianti wine was produced. Since then to the present day,

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the enchantment of wine-making continues to prosper.

On your voyage to the origins of Tuscan wine accompanied by experts, you will be able to learn not only stages of turning grapes into world-class wines but also vats, barrels and barriques that make production possible. The tour concludes with wine sampling, where you can savor hundreds of years of history.

The Ferragamo family, the owners of Il Borro, produce and sell astonishing biological wine for a reason. Located in a unique corner of Tuscany with fertile land, precious terroir and an ideal climate with mild winters, the vineyards were prophesied to blossom with grapes that make a unique and original wine. Growing side by side, indigenous Sangiovese and those of Tuscan tradition, such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, give birth to the product of harmony between nature and human endeavor.

The wine that deserves special recognition is “Il Borro” IGT Toscana, a blend made with 50% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah. This wine has a clear ruby color, with a purplish finish. The bouquet of flavors is rich and intense, concentrated, with notes of underbrush and with spicy scents. The taste is dry, with a good body and soft tannins, a good consistency, well integrated and persistent.

“Il Borro” wine pairs perfectly with hare, wild boar, Chianina and Cinta senese meat, with some Asiatic dishes and even hamburgers.

The fusion of the fabulous cellar, the picturesque vineyard and the diligent teamwork spawns highquality goods for you to sample and enjoy over the meal. Don’t call them producers, simply winelovers.

Sip inspiration all ye who have a privilege to taste Il Borro wines. Follow @ilborrowines

Welcome Home to

Great food, Friendly people, Family Fun

SeaGarden Beach Resort ‌ Jamaica Home to spacious rooms with handcrafted furniture and unrivalled views. The allure of turquoise waters bordering a private white sand beach. An array of exciting daily activities and onsite amenities. True Jamaican cuisine and culinary treats. Tropical destination weddings. Events with a personalized island flare.

An all-inclusive package that adds comfort to your holiday.

Come home to SeaGarden Beach Resort.

To view all special offers / seasonal packages, all-inclusive amenities, and to book your next trip to Island Paradise visit www.seagardenjamaica.com or call us toll-free at 844-742-7778

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TAIWAN A Culture Unto Its Own By christopher A. pape & simon gusev

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here legacies are as diverse as the scenic landscapes and vivacious traditions thrive side by side with Asian sophistication, Taiwan, also known as the Republic of China, resides on the breathtaking island of Ilha Formosa. This land of soaring sea cliffs, marble-walled gorges and tropical forests is an ideal destination for those who love exploring natural wonders. But don’t leave indoor activities out of the picture. With its unique fusion of cultures and well-developed hospitality industry, Taiwan offers once-in-a-lifetime dining experiences, a diverse set of attractions, and adventurous entertainment.

TAIPEI Things to do Start your journey at the capital of the “beautiful island.” For those who love high-end shopping and crave astonishing views, Taipei 101 is the ultimate “yes.” Formerly known as the Taipei World Financial Center and the world’s tallest building, observe urban sights from a bird’s-eye view or shop in one of the boutiques on the 5th floor. Visit Beitou Hot Spring Museum to warm up. Based on the Mount Izu Hot Spring Bathhouse in Japan, the museum offers visitors a chance to experience the

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amazing history of hot springs. Another option for hot springs is to stop by 32 Villa, which is truly the gem of the flourishing hot spring tourism industry situated in the shades of lush greenery and streaming waterfalls. Another must-see sight is the Taipei National Palace Museum. Designed in the style of a Northern Chinese palace, this world-class museum hosts hundreds of thousands of historical relics and ancient Chinese artifacts, including those from the Forbidden City.

Covering 5,000 years of China’s historical and artistic achievements, the permanent collection is a massive bulk of cultural heritage.

Where to Eat Indulge in a luxurious traditional dining experience with Songhe Restaurant in the Grand Hotel. With a choice of more than one hundred dishes in the restaurant’s buffet, you will have a chance to sample Chinese, Western, and Japanese delicacies for breakfast, lunch, dinner or afternoon tea. The ingredients are fresh, the dishes are toothsome, and the service is warmer than hot springs. For the taste of affordable local street food, head to Shilin Night Market, one of the largest and most famous night markets in Taipei.

This night market is a wonderland of Taiwanese

cuisine with myriads of vendors serving endless feasts of snacks, including stinky tofu, deep-fried chicken steaks, oyster omelets, stir-fried cuttlefish, shrimp rolls, shaved ice, and many more. Thirsty?

Look forward to local craft beer, juices from the freshest local fruits, aromatic teas and Asia’s best gourmet coffee.

Where to Stay Reside in luxurious accommodations of Le Meridien Taipei, a 5-star property with panoramic city views and exquisite amenities, such as indoor and outdoor heated pools, large fitness center and saunas. Located in Xinyi District, the hotel is in a 50-minute drive from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and an ideal option for travelers interested in city trips, culture and gourmet food. But the best dining is at your doorstep. With a total of five onproperty dining options, you won’t stay hungry.

Start your day with international buffet breakfast, have Cantonese delights at My Humble House for lunch or dinner, enjoy hand-crafted cocktails at Latitude 25 lobby lounge, and visit ChocoArt for chocolate-inspired dishes.

TAICHUNG Things to Do The gorgeous city of Taichung is the next destination to visit on our list. For the sophisticated entertainment, listen to the sweet sounds of powerful singing in National Taichung Theatre, a “cave of sound” for opera performances. Designed

by Japanese architect Toyo Ito, the opera house is truly a landmark that features a restaurant and a roof terrace to relax, enjoying picturesque city views. To see the most colorful houses in Taiwan, visit Rainbow Village, where animals, dolls, and airplanes are painted side by side with manga characters on the house walls and alleys. You may even have a chance to meet Huang Yungfu, Rainbow Grandpa, who is responsible for vibrant decorations and who still resides in one of the beautiful houses. Eager to learn more about Taiwanese culture? Take a day trip to Lukang, a sleepy yet fascinating town featuring some of the most magnificent temples in the country, curiously curved streets, traditional buildings and dusty old shops full of outlandish goods. Don’t leave Lukang without visiting Mazu Temple, the sacred shrine dedicated to worshipping the sea goddess.

Built in the eighteenth century, the temple shocks visitors with its intricate stone carvings that depict the stories of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, an ancient Chinese historical novel. From the first to the third lunar month, myriads of pious worshippers celebrate Mazu’s birthday, bringing happiness and life to narrow streets of Lukang.

Where to Stay Stay in chic rooms and suites at the Millennium Hotel Taichung, the first global hotel in central Taiwan. Located in Shih-Jen center, the hotel is a luxurious outpost for raiding nearby cultural attractions and shopping destinations. Millennium Hotel Taichung boasts a wide range of amenities including a gym, a pool, garden settings, and spacious venues for business meetings. For dining and drinks, choose between classic afternoon tea at Limi Bar, a high-quality steak at the Prime, or rooftop based Moonlight - Skybar for exclusive views and fabulous cocktails.

SUN MOON LAKE Things to do Start your acquaintanceship with Sun Moon Lake by visiting a local tea farm. A fantastic find for tea lovers, Antique Assam Tea Farm is located in Yuchi Township of Nantou, a picturesque place with perfect temperatures for tea leaves to thrive.

Don’t miss a chance to visit the unique farm as it is the only establishment producing black tea in a region of green tea farms Taiwan. For stunning

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views, head to Sun Moon Lake Ropeway. The ticket for the 7-minute-long voyage also includes entry to the Ita Thao and Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village amusement park—nice additions to brighten your day. Hop up on one of the most popular things to do at Sun Moon Lake, ‬with boat rides across Taiwan’s largest lake, Nantou. The wisest option for nature lovers would be to buy an all-day boat pass on Klook for NT300, which gives you unlimited rides between the three main piers‬ (‬Shuishe‬, ‬Ita Thao‬, ‬Xuanguan‬) ‬on an ecofriendly electric boat.‬‬ Where to Eat Discover the absolute best affordable Chinese food at Lake View Chinese Restaurant. Having always taken pride in promoting Chinese cuisine, the restaurant serves traditional dishes with homemade sauces. For those who miss home or who are still adjusting to local flavors, Lake View Chinese Restaurant also offers an array of Americanized Chinese cuisine with a healthy

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dining concept. Don’t let simplistic design and low prices fool you. The restaurant is indeed a landmark of Sun Moon Lake.

Where to Stay Unwind in one of the 5-star spacious villas with panoramic views or elegant suites with an artistic vibe at Sun Moon Lake’s historic luxurious Lalu.

Built with relaxation in mind, the hotel features Zen architecture, the largest swimming pool in Taiwan, a fabulous spa and tea house. Onproperty restaurants serve Italian, French and Asian dishes. Fifteen minutes away from the Sun Moon Lake Bus Terminal and a 1-hour drive from Taichung Train Station, the hotel is a perfect choice to settle down and contemplate virgin nature while relaxing in a chic setting.

TAINAN Things to Do To contemplate a unique fusion of history and music, check out Ten Drum Rende Creative

Park. Once a Japanese colonial era sugar mill that was left abandoned for years, it is now a rehearsal space for the local drumming troupe Ten Drum Art Percussion Group. Visitors are allowed to peek into the former thriving sugar industry and enjoy an authentic musical performance.

The area with most attractions is Anping District located within the city of Tainan. Stroll through Anping Old Street, which is lined with traditional rammed earth houses that coexist with low brick houses as well as Western-style mansions. The street boasts all kinds of old stalls and shops, filled with local souvenirs and Asian goods. Don’t forget to explore alleys such as Jasmine Alley or Rouge Alley, where time flows backward. Visit Taijiang National Park to enjoy nature, learn more about fishing traditions, and stop by Qigu lagoon, the hometown of the oyster industry. You can taste fresh and delicious local oysters throughout the year at the village’s belief center, Longshan Palace. To get inspired by the militaristic heritage

of the town, visit Fort Zeelandia, a Dutch colonial defensive stronghold; the Eternal Golden Castle, an ancient structure built to resist the Japanese troops; and Anping Tree House, a former warehouse covered with living banyan roots and branches.

Where to Stay Explore Tainan from Tayih Landis Hotel Tainan, the luxurious 5-star hotel with posh accommodations and great amenities including an indoor pool, state-of-the-art fitness center, a spa and sauna facilities. Located amid Tainan’s most popular attractions, the hotel has a tour desk designated to assist with travel arrangements.

Food lovers are especially welcome at the hotel since it boasts a variety of culinary options. The Market Place Buffet Restaurant offers Italian, Asian and Western cuisines. For a quick bite, come by La Moda Café, which serves handmade desserts, sandwiches, freshly brewed coffee and tea. Japanese cuisine can be tasted at the

Takegawa Japanese restaurant. Cantonese and New Asia Teppanyaki restaurants are also tasty options to consider.

KAOHSIUNG Things to Do For a dose of awesome feelings, head to Pier 2 Art Centre. The seaside location of Pier 2 Art Centre used to be a deserted place full of abandoned warehouses. Now, it is a set of artistic warehouse clusters and diverse types of artworks made with happiness and joy in mind; it is teeming with locals and tourists eager to contemplate the urban canvas. The next cultural stop is the National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts that symbolizes the transformation of Kaohsiung. Once a major commercial harbor, it is now a contemporary, diverse city with a vibrant artistic climate. Here, you have a chance to see formal and informal performances in virtue of the seamless flow between the interior and exterior designs. After a culturally-saturated day, take a stroll at Kaohsiung

Liuhe Night Market, a tourist night market in Xinxing District. Treat yourself at one of the most popular markets in Taiwan, offering seafood, handicrafts, clothing, knives, cameras and live animals for sale.

Where to Stay Take a cover in one of the spacious accommodations at Grand Hotel Kaohsiung, the luxurious asylum surrounded by evergreen nature, possessing amazing views of Cheng Ching Lake. The service is excellent with amenities such as a fitness center and a year-round outdoor pool, to name few. Ideal for couples, the hotel preaches an atmosphere of romance and Eastern aesthetics. A stone’s throw access to all major attractions, the hotel is also perfect for the hunters on culture. Dine at your doorstep with four on-property restaurants that are splendid even for the most sophisticated guests whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner. Grand Hotel is an evergreen piece of the urban cake called Kaohsiung.

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DISCOVERING LAOS WITH AUDLEY TRAVEL The Land That Time Forgot

By Hillary Latos

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s Southeast Asia’s only landlocked country, Laos has a rich history spanning 10,000 years, yet it has remained largely undeveloped as a tourist destination. Its magical

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yet unexpected charm has lured many travelers passing through on a Southeast Asian sojourn who ended up staying years later and now call it home.

It’s easy to see why they haven’t left after being

touched by the genuine warmth and hospitality of the Laotians with a lush natural landscape defined by mountains, waterfalls, jungles, and scenic rivers.

Luang Prabang Start your trip in Luang Prabang, a beautifully preserved UNESCO World Heritage City that was once the historic capital of Northern Laos.

This spiritual center has more than 30 gilded Buddhist temples, including Wat Xieng Thong dating back to the sixteenth century. These temples are nestled between historic French colonial architecture in narrow winding streets.

Stroll the colorful night market to discover Laotian street food where vendors prepare local delights in front of you. Pick up some beautiful local handicrafts, clothing and artwork and experience Laotian culture. Enjoy the slow pace of the town and the idyllic scenery at a riverfront cafĂŠ, or enjoy the sunset from a long boat ride on

the Mekong as you bathe in the beauty of nature.

At dawn, watch the saffron-robed monks line the streets to collect alms from local businesses. This daily ritual is a beautiful and powerful symbol of Buddhist culture and demonstrates the spirituality of the Laotian culture.

For delicious authentic Lao cuisine, dine at the Three Nagas Restaurant located in the boutique hotel of the same name managed by M Gallery Sofitel. Bathe in the soft moonlight as you listen to the gentle sounds of traditional folk music in this stylish and intimate indoor and alfresco restaurant that epitomizes the colonial charm of this beautiful city.

About 45 minutes outside of Luang Prabang is the famous Kuang Si Waterfalls, which are best explored in the early morning before the throngs of visitors. Feel one with nature as you experience these cascading aquamarine pools nestled amongst a bamboo forest, and hike through the lush jungle to discover pools that are more beautiful than the last. Admire the serene beauty of the environment, and pack a picnic breakfast while overlooking the gentle falls with the sounds of nature. Within this park is the bear sanctuary that is home to 25 Asiatic black bears that have been rescued from poachers who hunt the bears for their bile, which is used in Chinese medicine.

On the way back to town, stop by the Lao Buffalo Dairy Farm—the only buffalo dairy farm in Laos.

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It was started by two expat families who wanted to give back to the community. Through sustainable farming, they support the renting of the buffalo, which gives Lao families an extra income stream, while providing proper veterinary care, and producing a wide variety of buffalo cheeses and ice cream to sustain the farm’s economic activities.

Get up close with wildlife at the Mandalao Elephant Sanctuary in the traditional village of Xieng Lom where elephants are treated with respect and care without rides or elephant “tricks.”

Learn about ways to bond with these gentle giants

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and why you should never ride an elephant, as it damages its internal reproductive organs that are located on the top of their backs. Enjoy a peaceful half-day morning trek alongside the elephants through the rice fields and forested jungle. Cross through cool waters while the elephants bathe.

After the trip, you will get a deeper understanding and respect for these amazing creatures.

Vang Vieng Halfway between Luang Prabang and the capital of Laos is Vang Vieng. Long regarded

as a backpackers paradise loaded with outdoor adventure activities is the picturesque Vang Vieng, which is divided by the Nam Song River with a misty mountain range in the background.

Enjoy adrenaline-induced water activities such as tubing, rafting or kayaking, or trek up the mountains for panoramic views of the valley.

One of the most peaceful and exciting ways to enjoy beautiful views of Vang Vieng is on a hot air balloon ride, reaching up to 3,000 feet above ground. The hour-long rides are done during sunrise or sunset as you slowly glide upwards like

a slow elevator in the open air above Nathong with vistas of the dramatic Karst cliffs. While there are numerous hot air balloon operators to choose from, the best one by far is Above Laos. The pilots hold international licenses, and their safety practices are held to the highest standards with French ballooning equipment.

How to Get Around One of the best ways to discover Laos is with Audley Travel who caters to the discerning guests. Experts who have years of experience in

the destination will create a tailor made itinerary for each of their guests needs surrounding their individual tastes, interests, and budget which will showcase the destination through a local’s eyes.

Audley Travel also vets all its attractions to avoid the tourist traps and only works with businesses that are motivated to preserve the culture and promote sustainability for the most authentic experience for each client.

evolution since its independence. A former monk with a colorful past, he gave us an introduction to the local culture and knew the best times to visit popular destinations to avoid long lines or throngs of tourists. From the time we arrived in Laos until we departed, Audley Travel took care of our needs and gave us an enriching experience we will never forget as we had a chance to get up close and personal with the land and the people.

For our trip to Laos, our Laotian guide gave us an insider’s view of Laos with its rich history and

audleytravel.com

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ROSEWOOD LUANG PRABANG In Pursuit of Culture

By Christopher A. Pape & simon gusev

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ulture is the blood of a social organism.

Expressed in many ways, culture defines our past, present and future. Stories we tell, traditions we celebrate and deeds we do are outlined by our cultural heritage we carry in our DNA. In the age of globalization, the world has become a melting cultural pot. Learning about others is both useful and interesting. One of the few remaining places in Southeast Asia that preserves

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its historical connection to the past is the ancient town of Luang Prabang, located in northern Laos.

It was assigned as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. With its royal palaces and over 33 wats, types of Buddhist or Hindu temples, many consider the town, surrounded by mountains and at the confluence of the Nam Khan and Mekong Rivers, the heart of Laotian culture. Located on the edge of town, Rosewood Luang Prabang is

a luxurious outpost for exploring historical sights and ravaging authentic eateries.

Rosewood Luang Prabang encourages you to hop up on the cultural adventure. Guests are welcome to book private excursions such as trekking, mountain-biking and Mekong river cruises, all available to be booked through the property. The hotel is within a 10-minute drive from most of the

delights of peace and solitude with French colonial chic, we recommend you stay in one of the waterfall pool or riverside villas that emphasize Luang Prabang traditions. But our favorite room category and one inspired by the indigenous hill tribes of the area are hilltop luxurious tents, which are the ultimate option for those who seek to be truly immersed in a natural setting.

While listening to sweet sounds of a bird orchestra from your cozy bed with snowwhite Frette Italian sheets, don’t forget about the hotel’s exclusive amenities. Visit Sense, A Rosewood Spa where traditional Laotian healing remedies fuse with Western techniques to provide customers with divine relaxation.

Easy to find, three separate tented spa villas are nestled along the hillside. Check out their luxurious, oval-shaped pool, with poolside bar service and tent roofed cabanas, featuring large day beds to enjoy the view. The pool is a

perfect place to drop exhaustion after treks and excursions in “the abyss of the unconscious mind” surrounded by wild, exuberantly growing exotic plants and trees.

Indulge in a vibrantly flavorful dining experience at the Great House. This onproperty restaurant offers a seasonal, daily changing menu, embracing local culture with a “farm-to-table” dining concept. We promise the mysterious combinations of ingredients will thrill your taste buds to an orgasmic state of pleasure. Stop by Elephant Bridge bar to sample traditional Laotian snacks and handcrafted cocktails created with local herbs and spices grown in the hotel’s organic garden.

Live in luxury, inhaling culture vapors of an ancient royal town, with Rosewood Luang Prabang. rosewoodhotels.com/en/luang-prabang

local attractions, including wonderful Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden and stunning Wat Manorom, while Luang Prabang International Airport is 4.3 mi from the property.

Choose from one of 23 individually designed riverside rooms and suites, featuring private terraces, villas with private pools, or canopied accommodations overlooking oriental landscapes. To imbibe all

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AVANI+ LUANG PRABANG A Luxurious Shrine By simon gusev

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eligion is an integral element of the polyhedral human nature. Religion helps us get through tough times, but religious practices serve as more than just therapy for our souls and minds. They shape the cultures of communities, nations, and entire civilizations. Buddhism is widely spread in Laos, giving a purpose and rhythm to natives’ lives, and Luang Prabang is a remarkable place to experience the essence of Lao Buddhist traditions. The name of this enchanting town means “Royal Buddha Image.” Explore ancient goldenroofed temples, quaint mosaics, and murals of the life of Buddha in a luxurious setting with Avani+Luang Prabang—your shrine for serenity with exceptional service for a royal stay.

First-time visitors of the holy town won’t find a better outpost for attractions than Avani+Luang Prabang.

Situated in the center of Luang Prabang, the hotel is within walking distance from a dozen beautiful temples and historic sites, including the gold-walled Wat Mai, the Royal Palace, and the Mount Phousi viewpoint. The night market, where you can find anything from wooden handicrafts to locally-woven fabrics and traditional paintings, is right across the street. The most pleasant surprise is the property is only in a 15-minute drive from the airport.

To truly immerse in oriental ambiance, we recommend you take advantage of the hotel’s special offers. “Unveil the Mekong” with Avani+Luang Prabang by making a terrific 9-night journey through the Golden Triangle, Thailand and Laos along the Mekong River in hand-picked chic accommodations accompanied by uniquely-designed excursions, with on and off-board activities on this cryptic route. Or reserve the Lanna Circuit tour and travel along the Mekong River through the ancient Lanna Kingdom, including Chiang Mai and the Golden Triangle in

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Thailand, and then sneak into the pristine Lan Xang Kingdom in Laos.

Formerly the site of French officer quarters, Avani+Luang Prabang Hotel is now a contemporary boutique hideaway, where each of the 53 rooms and suites offers a luxurious cocoon composed of premium woods with an air-conditioner, a flat-screen TV, an electric kettle, a mini-bar and tea/coffee making facilities. Find your Zen in one of Avani suites that ease you into a sense of tranquility, with teak flooring, local

fabrics, creamy soft furnishings, simple Hmong artwork and a private balcony or terrace with French-louvered doors opening to picturesque views of wild, ever-verdant jungles and crystal blue pool waters.

Don’t forget to check out the hotel’s excellent amenities. Cycle through chaotic and colorful streets full of cafes, temples and artisan stores with complimentary bicycles, available from the reception desk. Upon your return, recharge at the poolside bar with a freshly-squeezed juice or

a cool tropical smoothie. Dive into the 100-footlong swimming pool, relax on a sun-lounger, stroll around the central garden or visit the excellent spa for a traditional Laotian deep-tissue massage. At any on-property facility, you will get the warmest service possible whether you encounter eversmiling reception staff, the cheerful housekeepers or soothing spa therapists.

Wake up to chia puddings and freshly-baked toasts with avocado at the Main Street Bar and Grill as saffron-robed monks pass by in the early

morning light. Besides serving a pleasant buffet of tropical fruit, pastries, cold cuts, and hot dishes, this restaurant is a great place both for French or Laotian cuisine. Make sure to sample lunch specialties such as grilled buffalo burgers and spicy Laotian dishes. The Main Street Bar and Grill dinner menu boasts modern French fare and an extensive wine list. Those craving for a dose of delicious handcrafted cocktails infused with traditional Laotian spirits and stunning nocturnal views of street life should come by the upperfloor Main Street Bar. Or, trade your restaurant

evening on a glass of wine by the fire, lit daily in the courtyard.

Before big chains disturb the eremitical ambiance of golden temples, you’ve got to experience Luang Prabang. With its unusual position upon the imperious flow of the Mekong River, its romantic sunsets, its ancient structures fused with colonial charm and its authentic Laotian cuisine, this royal town is a mustvisit, and Avani+Luang Prabang is a must-stay. avanihotels.com/en/luang-prabang

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SOFITEL LUANG PRABANG HOTEL Colonial Chic at Its Finest By simon gusev

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e can debate for hours over the concept of colonialism, and its positive and negative impacts on the colonized countries. Or, we can take a look at the majestic city of Luang Prabang—a perfect example of the fusion of traditional architecture and Laotian urban structures with those of the colonial era. The exceptional, astoundingly wellpreserved Sofitel Luang Prabang is a historic luxury hotel located in central Luang Prabang. It accurately epitomizes the mixing of these distinct

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cultural traditions. Formerly a French governor’s mansion, the hotel is now a shrine to luxury that offers extremely spacious suites and villas with excellent service and superb amenities.

The Sofitel Luang Prabang provides its guests with five different types of accommodations tailored for a variety of preferences. Almost large enough to get lost in, all of the clay-roofed suites with high ceilings and chicly-crafted furnishings feature giant flat-screen TVs, extremely large backyard

patios with lawn spaces, outdoor bathtubs, safe boxes, minibars with free beverages, robes and slippers, plush beds with dramatic wood frames, and electric hot water kettles for making coffee and tea. But the highlight of all the available options for your stay is unreservedly a villa with a private pool, in a roaring yet soigné natural setting. Choosing to reside in a suite, you will still have the pleasure of basking in a large swimming pool, full of water lilies and surrounded by large shady poinciana trees.

In your leisure time, when you are free from local adventures, enjoy the broad range of onproperty amenities. If jumping to conclusions is not your only exercise, pump and sweat in the gym, which offers a unique fitness experience. For those looking to relax, the spa is located nearby in the traditional stilted Laotian house. With the free bicycle service provided by the hotel, we encourage you to explore the royal city of Luang Prabang with its majestic museum and temples.

Last, but not least, Sofitel offers cooking classes at

the KaToke Cooking School, where you can learn Laotian culture, literally, through your taste buds.

Indulge in an exclusive dining experience in the romantic safari pavilion of the Governor’s Grill, which overlooks the Sofitel botanical garden. The restaurant makes the most of its startling heritage setting, serving well-executed premium steaks and undecayed Western-leaning Asian dishes with oriental spices. The Sabai Library Lounge is a lushly sophisticated space with floor-to-ceiling

bookshelves, and you can savor cocktails and the traditional Laotian menu filled with a bright palette of exotic flavors while scrolling through your favorite memoirs or novels.

Still can’t believe how lucky you are to discover the Sofitel Luang Prabang? See for yourself and be colonized by the ancient royal city and its countless sights, scattered throughout jungles like treasures of unspeakable beauty, waiting to be found.

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BREAK FREE OF FROZEN CHAINS Gabbiano Azzurro & Villa del Golfo Lifestyle Resort

By Kenza Salahdine

T

he fresh, cooling flows of air are filled with sounds of tweeting birds, the sun rays pierce the crystally blue, cloudless sky…. This is what the phenomenal season of spring would feel like if it were not for winter storms and the aftermath of roaring blizzards in the form of slush and dirt on your newly-acquired leather shoes. Unfortunately, we cannot change the weather or buy you a new pair of shoes, but we know just the right places to find “real” spring.

Located in one of the most picturesque places in northeast Sardinia, the scenic gulf town of Golfo Aranci, Hotel Gabbiano Azzurro Hotel & Suites and Villa del Golfo Lifestyle Resort, situated in the town of Cannigione overlooking “La Maddalena Arcipelago National Park” and its “Caprera” island, are the ultimate saviors of your spring expectations.

Up to relaxing under the Italian sun? Offering direct access to a white sandy beach, Gabbiano Azzurro Hotel & Suites is located on the seafront of Sardinia’s famous Emerald Coast. A leisurely stroll along the cozy fisherman village, a 5-minute walk from the hotel property, offers an entertaining shopping experience called La Dolce Vita Golfo Aranci. The hotel is a 20-minute drive from Olbia Airport and within a stone’s throw of the most stunning beaches of the Golfo Aranci that can be

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reached in just a few minutes. Keep in mind, Sardinia is an island that strikes its visitors with wild and pure nature. Explore Sardinia by visiting the Maddalena National Park that encompasses the Maddalena Archipelago and its “seven sisters,” with its lively seabeds that provide an incredible scuba-diving experience. Fortunately, you can easily access Villa del Golfo Lifestyle Resort’s BonAriA private sailing yacht excursion and romantic dinner on board that leaves from Cannigione harbor, sailing towards “La Maddalena Arcipelago National Park” and Costa Smeralda coasts.

We also recommend you visit Archeologic Park of Arzachena, where you can follow the steps of the ancient past of Sardinia’s Nuraghe, the primary type of ancient megalithic edifice found on the island, and Tombs of the Giants, a gallery grave built during the Bronze Age by the ancient Nuragic civilization. Finally, don’t miss out on wine tasting at one of the local wineries.

Guests are welcome to choose from the extensive range of rooms with fantastic views of the Mediterranean and Tavolara Island; it seems like a massive limestone is springing out of the sea. Boasting furnished balconies or patios, rooms and suites are charming and come with 4-star superior amenities such as a flat-screen TV with international satellite channels, WIFI access, and a minibar. The interi-

or design may look too old-fashioned, but remember, Sardinia is a gemstone of Italian traditions.

Radiating a romantic vibe, the property is ideal for couples. Gabbiano Azzurro Hotel & Suites offers a wonderful pool filled with sea water and decorated with natural rocks to blend into the ambiance.

The poolside bar service allows guests to enjoy a glass of excellent wine such as Vermentino di Gallura or Cannonau without leaving the smooth, flowing waters. Don’t forget to rent beach loungers and umbrellas to enjoy the warm weather and not burn to a crisp.

Sardinian food is as historical as the island itself.

Flavorful cuisine will surely satisfy the most demanding palates with its fresh, natural ingredients and delicious recipes brought to life with local products. Mediterranean and Sardinian cuisine traditions are mixed together by Chef Daniele Sechi to create a signature menu for the on-property eatery, Blù Restaurant. The majestic, fairy location, only three meters above the Sardinian sea, is a prologue to an unforgettable symphony of an Italian gourmet experience with the sound of waves. The menu always changes, but one indispensable dish is still available for customers: La Fregula Nera, a unique Sardinian pasta plate at Blu Restaurant.

Managed also by Chef Daniele Sechi, the White Restaurant offers daily a la carte offerings with a

focus on well-balanced cuisine of Italian and Mediterranean traditions, especially Sardinian specialties. We recommend you book tables in advance to enjoy the 180-degree stunning panoramic view from the restaurant’s large windows.

For those who prefer nightlife to serenity, Golfo Lifestyle Resort is the place to stay. Located a few steps from the most important centers of the Costa Smeralda, the hotel is a perfect outpost to hit trendy clubs, discos, restaurants and social events of all kinds. Don’t worry about spending more time on the road because Golfo Lifestyle Resort is situated about the same distance from the local airport as Gabbiano Azzurro Hotel & Suites. Although the property has no private beach, a wooden deck by the sea, well-equipped with loungers, sun umbrellas, and beach towels, is available for hotel guests’ convenience.

At the arrival, guests can contemplate the winding architecture of the hotel building that imitates the soft outlines of the hill where it is located. Absorbed by the blooming nature and the scents of wood and myrtle, the hotel possesses superb views of the azure waters and islands of La Maddalena Archipelago. The inner interior boasts exquisite furnishings, the pride of authentic local craftsmanship.

The hotel offers quite a few options of gorgeous

accommodations. Whatever choice you make, you will experience amazing panoramic views and spacious outdoor spaces. Classic Deluxe or Superior Deluxe sea view rooms, finished in soft colors and characterized by traditional designs, are charmingly cozy, which is perfect for a casual escape. Located in a more irrespective area of the main building to assure a pleasant feeling of privacy, Suite Sea View, with its much-needed extra space, is an ideal choice for a family getaway. For a luxurious stay, consider Superior Suite Sea View, a property fully independent from the main building, featuring a private pool, a large outdoor area, a porch, and a private garden. For those seeking a romantic retreat, the ultimate option is Luxury Suites Sea View with private pool; its exclusivity of services will ensure the success of yours and your beloved’s dream holiday.

The service is personalized and attentive yet not annoying. Available at the earliest convenience, a butler is at your complete disposal.

Taking care of your soul and mind, don’t forget about your body. Indulge in meditative activities at the Beauty Centre and Spa Armonia; both are innovative in the use of local materials such as cork, mastic oil, extract of myrtle and arbutus honey.

Choose between emotional showers, sauna, Turkish bath, whirlpool, heated indoor counter-current pool, and many other amenities to treat yourself.

Don’t even think about leaving the island without dining at the hotel’s gourmet restaurant, MiraLuna, renowned for its grill and excellent Mediterranean cuisine. The restaurant is ideal for any time of day: celebrate your morning with a rich breakfast buffet, hide from the scorching sun with the lunch menu in the afternoon, and fall in love with dinner plates during a romantic evening. Attention to even the smallest details can be seen in the eatery’s interior. The gradient of color is the central concept in the restaurant’s design, and the menu ultimately guarantees a multisensory, unique and exclusive dining experience. Make sure to sample the zero-kilometer Sardinian sandwich, pane Carasau stuffed with bacon, cream cheese, and grilled vegetables. Toasted and served warm with fruity olive oil and rosemary, the sandwich is indeed a flavorful highlight of the daily menu.

With its fabulous cuisine, ancient historical sights, and scenic views, Sardinia is a must-visit, especially in spring when the island pampers travelers with warm temperatures and caressing sunrays.

Embrace the season of new beginnings without heavy coats and dirty leather shoes, but with Gabbiano Azzurro Hotel & Suites and Villa del Golfo Lifestyle Resort, blooming opportunities in the firmament of the New York City brumal fairytale.

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FORT

LAUDERDALE Exploring the Cultural and Culinary Side of Fort Lauderdale

By Hillary Latos

T

hough Fort Lauderdale gained its fame as a spring break destination, this tiny beachside city offers much more than just expansive white sand beaches and a hopping bar scene. Although Miami has held the spotlight as the cultural and design hub of South Florida, Fort Lauderdale has recently emerged as an up-and-coming art and cultural mecca with its burgeoning street art, edgy contemporary galleries, and international culinary scene.

Exploring the Art Scene In its third consecutive year, Art Fort Lauderdale has emerged as one of Fort Lauderdale’s premier art fairs, spanning 4 days at the end of January. Attendees enjoyed contemporary art curated in multi-million dollar waterfront properties on the market that line the famed Intracoastal Waterway. Each home reflects a different theme and body of artwork. This unique setting brings the art world to life; art aficionados and collectors can purchase art and interact with the galleries and artists in an interactive and engaging way. artftlauderdale.com Miami has the Wynwood Walls and Hollywood has the Downtown Hollywood Mural Project. Presented by the Hollywood Community Redevelopment Agency, these contemporary outdoor murals, strategically placed in downtown Hollywood, were created by local, national and internationally recognized artists who redefine street art. The best way to experience these massive works of art is to stroll the streets and appreciate the cultural fabric of the neighborhood. hollywoodfl.org/989/downtown-hollywood-mural-project Celebrating its 60th birthday is Fort Lauderdale’s Nova Southeastern University Art Museum, which houses a diverse collection of innovative exhibitions. Housing the largest body of William J. Glackens work, their current exhibition explores the affinities and distinctions between Glackens and Pierre-Auguste Renoir and the influence he had in shaping Glackens’ style. This exploratory view is a provocative look at the techniques that shaped French and American Impressionism. nsuartmuseum.org

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Where to Dine Satisfy your cravings for authentic Italian cuisine at Pizza Craft Artisan Pizzeria & Cocktail Bar. The specialty of the house is the creative wood-fired pizza, featuring “00” flour, imported tomatoes, homemade mozzarella and flavorful toppings such as spicy sopressata, hot honey, and other farm-to-table ingredients.

Other mouthwatering options include homemade pastas, such as cavatelli braised oxtail, and the meat-centric Nonna’s Sunday Gravy with fennel sausage, pork ribs, stewed beef, meatball-laden rigatoni. Afterwards, grab a drink at Apothecary 330, their speakeasy style bar next door, which offers bespoke elixirs in a cozy vintage setting. pizzacraftpizzeria.com Enjoy Baja-style contemporary Mexican fare at El Vez, a chic taqueria created by acclaimed restaurateur Stephen Starr. Enjoy a relaxing alfresco lunch overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in a vibrant and lively setting with delicious options such as ceviche, guacamole, crispy Mahi Mahi tacos, and queso fundido.

Starr. Not only is the restaurant known for its succulent cuts of dry aged steaks, but it also offers a range of other expertly executed seafood, such as seared scallops or yellowfin tuna, and foie gras tacos served in a luxurious and elegant setting. The centerpiece of the sexy dining room is their mesmerizing glass wall of glowing jelly fish gracefully gliding across the aquarium.

Florida from the dockside patio lounge overlooking the scenic intracoastal views or dine inside their nautically-inspired dining room. Enjoy contemporary American style cuisine prepared with fresh locally-caught seafood along with an extensive raw bar and wood-fired, dry aged steaks.

steak954.com

Where to Stay Combining style with beachfront views is the stylish W Fort Lauderdale, which recently underwent a $55 million renovation. Centrally located in the epicenter of the “Venice of America,” these stylish and pet-friendly hotel rooms and suites offer luxurious comfort with panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean. There are plenty of amenities to keep you entertained from day to night. Spend the day relaxing by the expansive WET pool while soaking up some rays or dine at Stephen Starr’s Steak 954 and Mexican hotspot El Vez. Detox and rejuvenate at the new AWAY spa, or take a complementary workout class on the beach or at the gym. Start your evening in the Living Room, which offers a revolving program of nightly entertainment that showcases local artists and DJ sets.

As one of Fort Lauderdale’s premiere hospitality groups, The Restaurant People, TRP Taste pushes the boundaries to culinary heights with their experimental pop-up venue.

This intimate 26-seat kitchen and dining room offers a rotating and evolving schedule of unique culinary-driven, multi-course experiences that offer exclusive pairings with different liquors and wines. Diners have a chance to interact and converse with the chef and liquor brand ambassadors as they watch their culinary masterpieces get prepared in front of them. trptaste.com

elvezftlauderdale.com Redefining today’s modern steak house is the wildly popular Steak 954, created by Stephen

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Experience luxurious waterfront dining at Boatyard, located in the Fort Lauderdale marina. Admire the superyachts of South

boatyard.restaurant

wfortlauderdale.com

Now!

The Best Time for New Beginnings is

#1 Family Resor t in America Woodloch provides unrivaled hospitality, engaging activities, countless amenities and enter tainment, and a contagious spirit of fun and togetherness all year round.

WOODLOCH.COM | 800.WOODLOCH

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escapes Four Seasons Los Angeles

YOUR NEXT SPRING BREAK

By Norah Bradford

S

pring is in full swing, and escaping to a new paradise is closer than ever before. As vibrant colors break through the grays of winter, and temperatures begin to rise to balmier Heights, there is nothing like looking forward to some fun in the sun. Here is a list of the key destinations for exotic getaways, beach excursions, and popular city destinations for Spring 2019.

Four Seasons Los Angeles Given the diverse nature of Los Angeles it makes perfect sense to experience it from a luxury hotel located centrally. The newly-renovated Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills is hidden in plain sight offering a glamorous, while low-key oasis at the heart of the City, with the addition of new Wellness Rooms. Culina restaurant offers a wide menu of culturally inspired dishes and a sumptuous Sunday brunch.

The Vinoteca lounge is an Italian inspired wine and espresso bar ideal for either a fine coffee experience to start the day or a sensual glass of wine to end one. fourseasons.com/losangeles‎

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Hotel Jerome, Aspen Originally built in 1889, Hotel Jerome, an Auberge Resort, is a 10-minute walk to the Little Nell and the Silver Queen Gondola ski elevators.

Guests can take advantage of an outdoor pool, spa services and on-site gourmet restaurants.

The area surrounding the Hotel Jerome is filled with endless activities. In summer months enjoy golfing, cycling, fishing and more. The winter months allow for skiing, dog sledding and ice skating. Hotel Jerome added to the Aspen nightlife scene with its glossy new bar, Bad Harriet.

Paying homage to the wife of the hotel’s original proprietor, Jerome B. Wheeler, Bad Harriet is a speak easy adjacent to the Hotel Jerome serving craft cocktails & small bites. aubergeresorts.com/hoteljerome Four Seasons Palm Beach Experience absolute serenity at Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach. Inspired by Palm Beach’s relaxed yet glamorous resort style and the heritage of the famously elegant island, the fivestar, AAA five-diamond awarded beachfront

Resort combines the allure of Palm Beach with the easygoing pace by the water. While relaxation is a natural pastime with their Five Star Spa and two pools including an adults-only offering, adventure also awaits with infinite ways to enjoy the Resort by land or by sea. Dine at Florie’s, the first restaurant and bar in the U.S. in partnership with three-star Michelin Chef Mauro Colagreco. fourseasons.com/palmbeach Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park London One of London’s iconic hotel experiences is now fully restored after a fire disrupted an extensive modernization of the property. Whilst restaurants Bar Boulud and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal (of The Fat Duck fame) and spa re-opened early (experience the Bastien Gonzalez Pedi:Mani:Cure Studio) guests can now return to the 5 star London hotel experience they have missing – book now! mandarinoriental.com/london Hotel Vernet, Paris by b signature hotels The hotel Vernet is a Parisian building in the

Hôtel Byblos Saint Tropez

OPUS Vancouver

Hôtel Juana, Antibes, France

purest Haussmann style, a place that has passed through the centuries, an address ideally located between the Golden Triangle and the Place de l’Etoile. Located a few steps from the famous Champs-Elysées, between the Golden Triangle and the Arc de Triomphe, stroll from the hotel to the avenues of Montaigne and Georges V avenues. Under the monumental glass roof made by the master glassmaker Charles Champigneulle, on a frame by Gustave Eiffel, the restaurant of the hotel Vernet is dedicated to the pleasure of the senses. hotelvernet-paris.fr Hôtel Byblos Saint Tropez The Byblos Hotel welcomes you in a luxurious setting in the heart of the village of Saint-Tropez.

Nestled between the Citadelle and Place des Lices, the hotel is open from April to October for the greatest pleasure of its guests from all over the world. The colors of the Mediterranean are reflected in the 90 rooms and suites of the hotel. The Tropezian Palace has a Spa by Sisley Cosmetics, and a poolside restaurant, the ‘B.’. Its restaurant ‘Cucina’ by Alain Ducasse will offer an Italian cuisine and will introduce new executive chef, Rocco Seminara.

Hotel Christopher Saint-Barth North on the island of St. Barthelemy in the French West Indies, a road plunges into an invisible bay facing the sea. It is in this unique environment that the hotel Christopher was created. Nestled between crystal clear water and Pointe Milou, protected by the trade winds, this intimate setting offers breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea and nearby islands. 42 rooms and suites with a contemporary and refined design overlook the sea and offer breathtaking views of the bay. Whilst there is no beach one of the largest infinity pools on the island can be enjoyed.

Perched above the sea, you indulge on the outer beds facing the sunset and let yourself be won over by the charm of the place and the indolent sweetness of St Barth. hotelchristopher.com OPUS Vancouver The Vancouver luxury boutique hotel is located in the Yaletown neighborhood, 150 feet from Yaletown-Roundhouse Canada Line Station.

Yaletown is home to over 60 of the city’s most stylish restaurants, boutiques, art galleries, spas and cafes. OPUS Vancouver is a center piece of all the action. OPUS Vancouver hotel rooms feature spa bathrooms with heated floors, all in

vibrant colors, with contemporary furniture, iPads in all guestrooms and suites, Frette bathrobes and Herman Miller ergonomic chairs. A perfect urban retreat for business or pleasure. Opus Hotel Vancouver is home to La Pentola restaurant, serving North Italian cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner. After dinner, guests can enjoy cocktails and music in Opus Bar. vancouver.opushotel.com Hôtel Juana, Antibes, France Listed as a historic monument, the 5-star hotel Hôtel Juana is located in Juan-les-Pins, 850 feet from Belles Rives Beach. Urban and ArtDeco, the Hotel Juana combines the unique atmosphere of the 30s with a “Picasso inspired” soul. The hotel features an outdoor swimming pool with solarium, a fitness center and a sauna.

The balconies offer views of the Mediterranean and the pine grove, and some rooms have views of Juan les Pins. Traditional French cuisine is served at the Bistrot Terrasse restaurant, which is decorated with chandeliers and features local products. Juana Hotel is a 20-minute drive down the coast to Cannes, making it an ideal location to stay during the Cannes film Festival. hotel-juana.com

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ALIZ HOTEL TIMES SQUARE The Time Has Come to Stay and Play

By Julie Sagoskin

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ou’ll be living the high life during your stay at Aliz Hotel Times Square, a boutique hotel near the High Line and Hudson Yards. With high-end amenities and luxury bedding, you’ll have sweet dreams at Aliz the moment your head hits the pillow! Their 287 rooms will wrap you in luxury and are designed to offer a stylish sanctuary amidst the hustle and bustle of the city. This high-end yet homey feeling hotel, managed by Crescent Hotels and Resorts, welcomes guests to West 40th Street with flair and a farm-to-table restaurant. Located at one of the most recognizable intersections in the world, you will find everything you could want both in and out of the hotel.

With tall ceilings, an imposing lobby chandelier, and leather, suede and chrome décor and details throughout the hotel, you will be surrounded by sophistication. Each carefully appointed and couture chic room features marble bathrooms

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and hardwood floors so you can sit back, relax and rest in your serene setting.

Toast to your sophisticated stay and sweeping views with a Manhattan at Dear Irving on Hudson, located on the hotel’s 40th and 41st floors, which is the largest open air bar and lounge in all of Manhattan. With a swanky scene and James Bond inspired interiors, and with master mixologist Meaghan Dorman at the helm, it’s the perfect spot to sip carefully crafted cocktails while savoring the views and light bites. Every experience and space within the hotel is intended to look and feel sleek, sexy and modern. Their casual but upscale Farm to Burger restaurant sources meat from grass-fed producers and also serves up organic vegetables and local bread all day and all night.

With a Cycling Studio by Peloton, which offers 24hour cycling, valet parking, pet-friendly policies, business center, accessible rooms for those with

disabilities and a personalized concierge service to assist with ensuring you get the most out of your stay, Aliz is your home away from home, which has all the comforts of home and very chic comforts!

Crescent Hotels & Resorts manages ultra-luxury properties throughout the United States and Canada. The portfolio is comprised of full-service premium branded hotels within the Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt brands, as well as high-end independent and lifestyle hotels within the Latitudes by Crescent collection.

With personalized attention, swanky surroundings and an iconic location, Aliz attracts those looking for a diverse, comfortable and stylish stay. From enjoying a drink with sweeping views to relaxing in your chic room, you can stay up all night, or get a good night’s rest, or both!

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Let our knowledgeable team help you spend more time in the place you love the most, contact us today! Interested in buying or selling real estate on the OBX? Let our full service Sales Team at Joe Lamb Realty assist you with all your buying and selling needs! Contact one of our sales agents today!

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escapes

THE AMASERENA Sailing the Danube on The AmaSerena

By Nava and Michael Raviv

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ne of the best ways to explore Europe’s legendary cities and countryside is by cruising along one of the rivers that cross the continent. We recently sailed with AmaWaterways’ luxurious ship, AmaSerena on their “Melodies of the Danube” cruise.

Come join us.

The Ship The AmaSerena is a beautiful three-story ship designed to navigate Europe’s low bridges, undulating rivers and tight locks.

On the ship’s sprawling top deck, you can take in the sun, dip in the refreshing pool, power-walk around the track or just unwind with a drink and watch rolling green hills, postcard-perfect villages and soaring church steeples.

The epicenter of life on board is the Lounge, a large glass-walled space with a circular bar and living-room style furniture. Here you’ll listen to daily port talks, enjoy shows, sip cappuccinos and cocktails and dance the night away with your loved one.

Accommodations include 81 luxurious rooms and 4 suites, most featuring the AmaWaterways signature “twin balconies” — an open terrace and a separate floor-to-ceiling French balcony.

The beautifully decorated guestrooms offer fine amenities such as lush Egyptian linen, down duvets and pillows and a state-of-the-art entertainment system. The spacious white-marble

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bath features a large glass-enclosed jet shower.

But you won’t spend much time in your room.

Europe is waiting.

The Itinerary The “Melodies of the Danube” cruise starts in Budapest (Hungary), sails up the Danube River with stops in Bratislava (Slovakia), Vienna, Durnstein, Linz, (Austria), and ends in Passau (Germany).

In every port you can join complimentary guided tours or explore on your own. Excursions are designed for different fitness abilities, from gentle walks to vigorous hikes and bicycle tours.

We visit Mozart’s birthplace in Salzburg, meander through the regal city of Vienna and roam the cobblestone alleys of Bratislava and Lintz.

In Austria’s picturesque Wachaw Valley we taste local wines and apricot liqueur and in Switzerland we pass by the idyllic village where “Sound of Music” was filmed.

We also tour medieval cities, legendary castles, grand abbeys and learn about the area’s rich history.

The cuisine AmaWaterways was inducted in La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, one of the world’s most prestigious gastronomical organizations, an honor bestowed only for the highest culinary achievements.

The AmaSerena features breakfast and lunch buffet and a-la-carte dining, offering American and International cuisine along with typical local specialties.

Dinner is an elaborate multi-course menu with delicious and artistically presented dishes often inspired by the destinations. We enjoy Viennese Schnitzel, Hungarian Goulash, grilled River Char, local fish and vegetarian entrees. Caesar salad, grilled salmon, chicken and steaks are always available. Delicious European cakes, pastries and ice cream complete every meal. Complimentary white and red wine pairings, as well as beer and soft drinks are served at lunch and dinner.

Melodies of the Danube and special events The theme of our cruise is “Melodies of the Danube,” and throughout the week we sample the music and folklore of the visited lands: Gypsy melodies and Hungarian dances in Budapest, classic and popular music in Austria, and familiar folk songs in Linz. During our visit to Greinburg castle, a local troupe entertains us with popular dances, and in Vilshofen we all celebrate Oktoberfest with Pilsner Beer, pretzels, Bavarian music and lederhosen-clad dancers. In Vienna we enjoy (for a fee) a delightful concert of Strauss and Mozart music performed in an elegant palace.

So, if you’re looking for a superior travel experience check out AmaWaterways. It is one of the highest ranked cruise lines in the world.

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SOFITEL NY Step into the Golden Age

By Julie Sagoskin

F

or a stylish and sophisticated stay, check into Sofitel, which checks all the boxes when it comes to a modern and luxurious hotel and dining experience. The conveniently located Midtown Manhattan hotel features almost 400 relaxing and roomy rooms, including 52 spacious suites with sweeping views of the city’s most famous sights. Regardless of which room or suite you stay in, you’ll be sure to get a serene Sofitel night’s sleep with the hotel’s own luxurious feather-top and duvet sleep system—the SoBed. Whether you choose to stay, play, or both, this elegant 30-story hotel, part of the Accor Hotels brand, makes a statement with its striking surroundings and décor, which blends French Art Deco design with a contemporary vibe. They might be just steps away from Fifth Avenue as well as some of the city’s most recognizable buildings, skyscrapers and restaurants, but they are also home to their own renowned restaurant, Gaby Brasserie Francaise, named for a French model who found her milieu in New York during the 20s. Gaby, which serves up fine French fare, also features pretheatre menus so you can grab a bite before heading to see a Broadway show, which is also conveniently located near the hotel. The Sofitel is even the official partner of the Tony Awards and offers Broadway-themed suites, so the ultimate Broadway buff can experience a thrilling theatre experience without even leaving their room. AWaitress the Musicalthemed suite featuring memorabilia, signed pictures and original clothing worn by the cast, will give you sweet dreams, while you’ll feel like you’ve won the award for booking the best room in Manhattan when you stay in the Tony-themed Terrace Suite with scripts, songbooks and additional special items from the theatre world.

The sophisticated Sofitel offers an elevated experience, so you’ll be sure to have an enjoyable stay, whether you’re staying for business or pleasure.

With cozy comforters and all the comforts of home, as well as zebra print chairs in every room, your stay will be wildly chic! With gourmet dining and room service, as well as their modern yet traditional approach, you’ll be immersed in the Sofitel’s signature “art de vivre” experience.

Meet your colleagues in one of the hotel’s nine meeting rooms, or host an elegant affair in their ballroom infused with French flair.

From weddings to banquets, you’ll be sure to have a ball! Their private dining space is also perfect for those looking to host a special occasion, business meeting or intimate affair while the Gaby Bar is a sophisticated spot to sip on a cocktail in this oasis just steps away from the bustle of the busy city.

With detailed décor including a gilded dome, intricate murals, and abstract sculptures, the hotel is reminiscent of the brand’s European heritage, especially with their mahogany furnishings and artwork. You might even think you’re experiencing two vacations in one. After all, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into the golden age of Paris right in the heart of New York at the Sofitel, which you’ll want to tell everyone about!

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WELCOME TO

TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS Providenciales, #1 Island in 2015 | Grace Bay Beach, best beach in the world, 2016

Luxury, tranquility, excitement, romance, family-fun, endless activities, and with direct/non-stop daily flights from New York, isn’t it time you’ve experienced The Turks and Caicos Islands?

/tcitourism Turksandcaicostourism.com

escapes

TIMES SQUARE EDITION HOTEL A Chic and Whimsical New Addition

By Julie Sagoskin

T

he Times Square EDITION Hotel is the latest, most luxurious addition to the Crossroads of the World. Ian Schrager, along with Marriott International, is officially introducing the first luxury hotel as well as the first Michelin star chef to Times Square. The hotel is aiming to bring locals back to the most touristy area of Manhattan with its chic dining experiences, the creation of a new form of cabaret theater and a complete reinvention of billboard art. Schrager, the famed co-founder of Studio 54 and the father of the boutique hotel space, tells a story with each of his properties. The latest hotel is already saying a tale, featuring culture, art, fine dining and whimsicality.

Arne Sorenson, President and CEO of Marriott International explained that this hotel is “an entirely new lens on Times Square. From an aerie above to the hubbub below, you can engage, observe or withdraw. The hotel is an oasis of sophistication brought to you through the insight of the incomparable Ian Schrager, my friend and partner. There is simply nothing like it.”

Dive into oasis of entertainment in the busiest part of Manhattan, The Paradise Lounge. Spearheaded by the creators of House of Yes in Bushwick, the lounge will feature creative contemporary cabaret performances with all-around menu. The shows will be part theater and part performance art with talent across many disciplines including dance, voice, costume design and even magic.

This one-of-a-kind space which features the most

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immersive, colorful and kinetic lighting effects designed by Tony and Academy Award-winning Fisher Marantz of Studio 54 fame, inspired by a Lenny Kravitz video, as well as bespoke hand painted murals by Bosch and Dali. Perhaps the most spectacular element of the club is the full-blown production studio and control center that allows for live simulcasts and broadcasts both locally around the world, with a jumbotron outside of the building and a high definition digital screen on the stage.

Ian Schrager, the king of nightlife, believes that room services are going to be a thing of the past, said that “the Golden Age of Times Square elicited the feeling that anything was possible. The Times Square EDITION is the embodiment of this storied past, resurrected for the present and providing hope for the future of this most beloved neighborhood.”

The first Michelin-starred chef ever in Times Square, John Fraser, is creating a culinary experience as you’ve never seen or tasted before. Inspired by classical French, Asian, and Latin fare, Chef Fraser has put his signature mark on the lobster veloute with truffle, and champagne float along with sweet potato baked in seaweed bread. The Terrace and Outdoor Garden spaces will serve more casual dining options and the Lobby Bar won’t features finger food.

With palm trees and plants, you’ll feel like you’re in a secret garden on the hotel’s expansive terraces which were inspired by the L’Orangerie at Jardin des Tuileries in Paris. Designed by Madison Cox, this indoor landscaping effort, featuring multi-level gardens in the sky, is perhaps the largest undertaking

of its. The public space interiors with their rich woods, lush velvets, waxed leathers, polished marbles and smooth metals are combined to create a luxurious setting, providing an escape from the hustle and bustle just outside the hotel’s doors.

The works of renowned photographers including Helen Levitt, Elliott Erwitt, Bruce Davidson, to name a few, are on display in the entryway to The Terrace. The photographs feature honest portrayals of “the real New York City,” just another way for guests to gain a glimpse into the dynamic and differing parts of the city. The place will continue to house rotating photography and art exhibits by various well-known photographers and artists.

With its cozy yet chic spaces and personalized attention, the hotel feels intimate with its 400 rooms that feature light wood interior, sweeping views from floor to ceiling windows, Playbill imprinted soaps and high-end toiletries. From handpicked tiles and marble throughout the hotel, the project is a labor of love. You will be inspired to hit the gym seeing the incredible views from the fitness center.

Conceived by Ian Schrager in a partnership with Marriott International, EDITION combines the personal, intimate and individualized experience of Schrager. This lifestyle approach to the hotel sphere coupled with the global reach of Marriott International sets it apart from any other hotel brand in the world. Experience the luxury of the newest edition of luxurious brand.

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The Quiet Side of Florida DISCOVER USEPPA ISLAND Southwest Florida's Paradise Coast provides a stark contrast to the I-95 corridor and high rise beach development of some of the more populated areas of Florida's east coast.

Just imagine, 25-miles of pristine barrier islands, from Sanibel north to Boca Grande, with a 3-story height limit, and an ecosystem largely preserved as it was 100 years ago. Now, imagine forever views of sea, sky and foliage, to the north and south along Pine Island Sound. A protected area where future development will be so limited that new rooftops will be rare.

The Pine Island and Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserve nurture a rich habitat, as a fishery and home to numerous water mammal and avian species. Separated from the Gulf of Mexico by the sparkling strand of Captiva, Sanibel, Cayo Costa and Gasparilla Islands, this locale is the home of Useppa Island, a unique and unpretentious Old Florida style village with historic roots. Accessible only by water or air, there are no cars and no tra�c lights.

This hidden gem is lush and tropical, with 300-year- old Live Oaks, Mahogany trees, colorful flora and fauna.

Useppa's protected location sits 40 feet above sea level and provides an unparalleled sanctuary.

Caressed by Gulf breezes and the embrace of undeveloped preservation lands and waters, Useppa is a true private island and club, where residents and members enjoy boating, water recreation and exploring.

Club amenities include tennis, bocce and croquet courts, a fitness center, dining and a marina that can accommodate up to a 100-foot watercraft.

Useppa attracts residents from around the country. Longing for a quiet location to enjoy the treasures of nature, many Floridians have discovered this hidden gem, along with those from as far away as Canada.

Most homes, that dot the island, were built at the water's edge, many with private docks. Waterfront attached townhomes start in the low $400s and single-family homes range from $1M to over $2M. The Useppa People, Brian and Mary McColgan, Useppa Realtors with Premier Sotheby’s International Realty, and residents for over 30 years, determined the Secret of Useppa was far too well kept. For the last six years, they have worked to share their love for the Island Life, welcoming each potential buyer as a future neighbor.

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MEERA GANDHI Superhuman Humanitarian

By Julie Sagoskin Photographed By JAIME PAVON

W

ith a heart of gold, or maybe platinum, Meera Gandhi wants to spread joy from Park Avenue to Puerto Rico with her Giving Back Foundation, which combines her love of community service and her commitment to enhancing the lives of others. From volunteering her time as a teenager helping handicapped kids to now providing educational programs and platforms for people around the world, Meera Gandhi is giving back in more ways than one – or a million!

As a teenager, Meera had the chance to meet Mother Teresa while volunteering at the Saint’s Asha Daan House in Mumbai, and it was this encounter that encouraged the teenager to also fashion herself after the ultimate mother of philanthropy,

and she has since helped propel others around the world to achieve great things through her unparalleled efforts. Asha Daan means “a gift of love,” and “according to Mother Teresa, when giving, you’re even receiving love, and I think that was the beginning of my journey.” At just sixteen years old, she felt so much joy while working with disabled babies and children who needed help being fed and bathed that Meera, further encouraged by her own mother, wound up going back to Asha Daan every Saturday for the last two years of high school – and when it comes to helping others, she hasn’t looked back since!

This experience continued to influence Meera, especially when she won a scholarship to the United

World Colleges in Canada, where she chose to pursue community service and became a ring leader for recruiting students who could dance or play an instrument to perform at the home for the elderly she visited. She even appeared on Canadian TV and had just started going out in the world while already doing something to change it.

The dedicated and mega-talented Meera also realized that “there are different kinds of needs. Maybe in India, the need is more basic for food and water, and in North America, there’s a need to be of service to the older community.” After having been involved in the ballet and Asian Society as well as 75 charities, Meera began to feel a void upon moving to Hong Kong in 2007. She missed being

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Blue dress with silver hand embroidered gotapatti work by Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT Timur Gorin: Model, wearing Anita Dongre Angela del Sol Varela: Founder of Solare Creative, wearing Arielle Crawford, a NYC designer that focuses on sustainable fashion Sofia S. Sofferman, Esq: Entertainment Attorney Heather Randall: Broadway Producer (Tony Randall) Jaswant Lalwani: Global Real Estate Advisor Barbara Ellsworth-Robinson: Businesswoman and co-creator of Medi-Spa concept

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in New York and helping her committees, so she decided to found her own foundation.

“I thought, why not start a foundation where I can hands-on help people. The Giving Back Foundation (TheGivingBackFoundation.net) is an extension of my desire to be more connected to the lives of the people I have attempted to impact. I started the foundation at the end of 2009 and registered it in 2010. We put family money into it, and then I started identifying projects where I wanted to be involved. The first project was a school and hostel in Delhi, so we took it over and we still pay for all the students’ uniforms, food, tuition and board. We have a minivan to take them to school, plus I put in gardens which are equivalent to those you would have in any upscale home in India. That was the first mandate in education, and the second mission was to be a platform for positive debate. I would speak at debates or provide platforms for Millennials to perform, and I also bring different charities together. My last mission, which I started in 2013 when I came back to New York, has been to create happiness and joyfulness, because I started to see a lot of my friends who were well-off become very discontent, and I started wondering, why are you unhappy? That same time, I started following a spiritual leader, Sadhguru, who explained that happiness is a muscle. Happiness is not endowed, it’s a mindset, and you have to recognize a happy moment, and if you live in the present moment, everything is happy.”

This fierce philanthropist’s foundation is aimed towards the development of women and children through education, and it supports charities with strong female leadership programs and workshops including the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and the Eleanor Roosevelt Leadership Centre, for which the foundation provides awards and honorariums to teenage students on an annual basis. They also provide grants to South Asian college students for their studies at Baruch College in New York City.

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The talented Meera brought her talents to TV with The Meera Gandhi Show on B4U TV Network, which aired in over 100 countries and eventually went into re-runs and can now be viewed on YouTube.

Meera brought a diverse range of people on the show, from DJs to doctors to diplomats, with talks about health and happiness and being mindful even when you go out to have fun. The series was intended to re-discover tools to de-stress and to live a more joyful, positive life.

“People enjoyed the simple philosophy we were offering and appreciated us bringing people of all backgrounds and interests on. The truth of life came out on the show when we talked about different experiences. I took the series and turned it into a book, which is close to going to print.”

The Giving Back Foundation is the foundation that keeps on, well…giving! From Meera’s coffee table book called Giving Back to a film featuring stories of her friends who are helping to change the world to the Giving Candle and Giving Fragrance, all proceeds are given to charity. With decades of projects under her belt, which she has dedicated her time and money to, what more can Meera do?

According to this humble humanitarian, she is just going to keep on helping however she can!

“We are at a point where we are influencing the landscape. I’ve come out with a product and one hundred percent of the profits are going to the foundation because there’s so much that needs to be done. These projects will have a big social outcome.

Many people work with us, but it’s a very personal foundation. I direct it, I live it, I thrive from running it and I’m constantly learning. We just have to be happy; it’s one journey, and before we know it, we’re in our eighties. We need to understand that giving is actually the largest form of receiving. When we provide happiness to another, in any way, big or small, happiness comes back to us in the satisfaction that we have contributed to making someone’s life

better. We are to the universe only as much as we give back to it.”

When she’s not traveling or meditating, which she credits her heightened sense of awareness to, she’s mentoring her three children – or rather, she’s taught them so much that they’re starting to mentor her! Her daughter, Kiran, a musician and activist who goes by Madame Gandhi on Instagram and was the drummer of M.I.A., is already a spokesperson for big brands including Starbucks and Adidas, and she recently told her mom that while she can keep on doing more and making more money, she came to a point where she said, “I have enough.”

“She’s right. We have to realize when enough is enough. In America, we’re taught that we always need more.”

Whether it’s through music, food or living healthy, her children are all starting to make their own mark on the world, in their own way. Her middle daughter is working for a huge lobbying firm in DC while also growing her own vegetables in an urban garden, while her Harvard-graduate son is taking a hard look at the world of capitalism and how business is being done – you can thank him if you wind up being able to work from home, or on the beach one day, instead of in your office, which he thinks is becoming an outdated expectation.

“I have always thought the concept of legacy is self-defeating to my motto in life, which is to live in the moment. When we leave a legacy, the burden to continue falls to the next generation. I think every generation should write their own book of life and not carry on the previous generation’s dreams and goals.”

When it comes to the future of education, Meera believes everything is going to go the digital route.

From Harvard to Yale, online course and digital classrooms will give everyone the chance to be educated. After all, anyone can go on Google or YouTube and learn about anything and everything

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they want. She also believes that at the end of the day, “people want to do good.”

“Millennials want to help; they’re rewriting dialogue, and so is Generation Z. I’m proud that we bring people of all ages together for dialogue and debate, in addition to sponsoring music and art shows. In keeping with the second part of our mission, we just sponsored something Upstate, a summer camp for children, which lasted over a week, and 500 kids from all walks of life came each and every day. We are able to enable other people to do things, and we can send them a check to get started.

I get a good feeling if a project is worthwhile, and I love helping charities around the world. We even support Marc Anthony’s charity, Maestro Cares, by helping to open schools in Columbia and Mexico.”

While most people look at Meera as an inspirational figure, Meera has always been inspired by Eleanor Roosevelt, so it’s no surprise she lives in a famous historic house, which was the former home of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt on the Upper East Side.

“All the people around me motivate me to take up a new initiative towards giving back, and Eleanor is one of those special people who encourages me and keeps me motivated.”

In addition to helping and caring for others, this Meeraculous giver believes that “to love others we must love ourselves, so we should pamper ourselves. I see loving myself as the action of self-love and self-care in my everyday life, from deciding what to eat to who and what I surround myself with. Giving Back is also my way of doing something for myself, as the joy of it is incomparable. Loving yourself is the practice of self-love, and it’s ongoing.”

To fully grasp all that she does to help others, you’d have to walk a mile, or rather a million miles, in Meera’s shoes! This superhuman humanitarian believes that giving back doesn’t merely mean giving money, but also time and emotional support, and that the more she gives, the more she receives, which means she already has more love and gratitude than most of us could handle, but Meera handles it with grace and style. After all, she just wants everyone to be happy, one helping hand, or heart, at a time.

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Meera with her yoga instructor Ingrid

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DR. ALEXANDRE SCHEER Showing That Stem Cell Research Stems More From Science Than Fiction

By Julie Sagoskin & Tyrice johnson Photographed By thebelvedere agency

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r. Scheer, the director of The New York Stem Cell Institute which he founded in 2015, remains devoted to making strides in the stem cell stratosphere because he is devoted to the idea that the future of medicine is NOW! We have the weapons to fight inflammation, which is the cause of most disease. Although it’s still in the research phase, Stem cell science and cellular injection has been found to help various medical conditions such as orthopedic injuries, hair regrowth, neurological diseases, erectile dysfunction, and a host of other medical ailments.

This dedicated doctor, who didn’t know how to speak English until the age of 13 years old, grew up in Paris, France, before moving around Europe for a brief period before settling in Los Angeles with his parents and three younger siblings. Although

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his father worked in the movie business, early on Dr. Scheer realized he had stem cells, not show biz, in his blood. Growing up, Dr. Scheer listened to his parents and grandparent’s stories and knew that he would make a mark in the medical field. He credits his family with showing him how amazing helping others could be. It’s not hard to see where Dr. Scheer’s sheer determination to revolutionize medicine comes from!

While stem cells science might have the ability to change the future of medicine, Dr. Scheer explained that “we’re in the infantile stage of stem cells, we’re really at the beginning. We’re finally starting to understand how these cells are working. Once you get rid of inflammation, disease goes away. There has been a lot of research over the last decade - forty times more research being done than ever before

and it will probably be a $200 billion plus business by 2020. It will have a major impact on the world, especially with tissue engineering, which is when you use the body’s own stem cells to repair, replace or augment diseased tissue to suppress and regenerate tissue. With stem cells, we’ll be able to implement stem cell engineering and bio-engineer living organs, and it’s already in the process.”

While everything is still in the research phase, the services are becoming very prominent, and Dr. Scheer is at the forefront of the future of stem cell science cellular injections. He is already in the process of expanding within his current building to a 10,000 square foot space with additional square footage for the actual lab. The doctor, who is diving into new depths of stem cells, said that “we focus on sports injuries, or orthopedics. The reason is

because we have clinical studies that have shown which stem cells are beneficial to treating bone disorders. We also deal with hair regrowth and erectile dysfunction, but we still need more work.

Right now we’re seeing this work in about fifty percent of patients who come in with ED. People need to know that as human beings we come to the notion that we’re all going to die and the key to this is that our longevity and our health might lie in our source code, our DNA. Now we can harness this power and use it to live longer, healthier and better lives. In the next two decades it will extend and save your life. It’s really the most exciting time in human medical history. It’s as if we’ve found The Fountain of Youth. We say that God is within you and well, he kind of is. There are studies out of Stanford, and the findings are incredible, especially with stroke victims who agreed to take stem cell cellular injections and a lot of them showed improved motor function.”

When it comes to potential medical breakthroughs, you can bank on stem cell banking, which is where you’re storing your own stem cells. According to Dr. Scheer, “we’ll be able to take our own CD34+ stem cells and bank them in a regular banking pool, and if we ever need anything, we can take it and replicate it there and use it for whatever disease you have – for your cartilage, joints, eyesight, etc.”

While everything is still in the research phase, the possibility of prolonging life is looking promising.

“It’s real science and clinical trials going on are showing that stem cells are rejuvenating cells – there are people who are even able to walk an extra 80 meters by the time they’re 92 years old,” explained the boundary pushing doctor who is just getting started and doing things his way, one stem cell at a time.

“I founded the New York Stem Cell Institute to bring a multi-specialty practice together. Everybody thinks you have to compartmentalize everything, but you have to service the entire person. Your entire body matters, from your emotions, to knee pain, and everything else. I think of stem cells as a white canvas. When you’re born, you get three particular cells which come in and build who you are as a person, including your legs, your arms, your eyes, and even your personality. Those cells wind up in your teeth, umbilical chord, etc., and become dormant, and then when you’re older, we can extract them and use those cells to treat diseases. They’re an anti-inflammatory, and inflammation is the number one source of disease. If we can get rid of inflammations,

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which include everything we inhale, the disease goes away. We will most likely be able to use stem cells to stop the progression of a particular disease or reverse it. Other countries, such as China for example, are 50, 60 years ahead of us. Athens is like 50 years ahead of us because they don’t have the regulations so they’re doing more trials.”

This pioneering physician is helping to pave the way to a Brave New World. Dr. Scheer believes that “we’re being taught medicine from a hundred years ago, that’s a fact, because medicine works very slowly. You don’t want to emerge and grow until you have scientific evidence for 30 years. I want my kids and grandkids to have the right medicine, and the right medicine is not from 30 years ago, it’s from now. Stems cells will be the gold standard for them. I care most about doing the right thing for the patient, it’s not about getting paid. I lose money every single day, but my patients come first.”

The dedicated doctor explained that “regenerative medicine services also tend to be very expensive because they often need special production facilities and highly skilled staff. With health budgets squeezed in many countries, high costs are a barrier to making such therapies a reality. To move regenerative medicine into the realms of mainstream medicine, better science and better regulation must be integrated with both innovative manufacturing methods that make services affordable, and a way to show how they ultimately benefit the patient and society as a whole.”

With Dr. Scheer leading this medical revolution, however, the future of medicine is looking pretty miraculous, with regenerative medicine and cellbased services having the biggest impact.

“The immune system can powerfully mobilize inflammatory cells to combat invading organisms, such as bacteria or viruses, but can also orchestrate the right balance of inflammatory components

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required to initiate tissue repair and regeneration following injury. Inflammatory responses have a finite initiation and to prevent ongoing host tissue damage, a finite resolution. However, there are instances in which such inflammation continues unabated, such as the non-healing wound, chronic rejection of a transplanted organ or tissue, or the ongoing tissue destruction observed in autoimmune diseases. Recapitulating the body's own method of ending the inflammatory process has been the foundation of a number of strategies involving the regeneration of the immune system. These strategies can be divided by their cell of origin, stem cells which are progenitors of all the cells of the immune system or nonhematopoietic stromal-type cells, which intimately interface with hematopoietic cells and provide regulation of the immune system.

Cell services and regenerative medicine, with their potential to improve the health of patients, represent a structural shift in healthcare by focusing on the underlying causes of disease by repairing, replacing, or regenerating damaged cells in the body.”

When he’s not trying to find ways to cure cancer and eradicate diseases, the good doctor is the quintessential family man – after all, all his hard work is meant to ensure his family has the best medical services possible - and spends as much time as he can with his daughter and significant other. Dr. Scheer also does pro-bono medical work for people who cannot afford stem cell therapy and travels hours on his days off to offer services in remote areas of the state, even Staten Island!

This physician is taking his cause to conferences around the world where he speaks on stem cell injections and is continuing to grow his multispecialty practice, and eventually those organs which might even save lives.

22 West 48th St. New York NY 10036 nycstemcells.com

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STEVE COHEN Experience a Magical Evening

By Julie Sagoskin

A

fter over a decade performing his Chamber Magic show at The Waldorf Astoria in a private suite, Steve Cohen, known as the Millionaires’ Magician, is now mesmerizing audiences at the Lotte New York Palace. Guests, who are required to wear cocktail attire for the show which takes places in a regal room of the hotel, are in for a magical evening with Steve’s showmanship and enchantments which include card tricks, telepathy, and of course, his famous Think-a-Drink! His upclose parlor tricks, which he performs for sold out audiences who mostly hear about the show by word of mouth, will make you see – or perhaps not see things – in a whole new light! This Millionaires’ Magician, who has indeed entertained many millionaires as well as billionaires and royalty, including the Queen of Morocco and Warren Buffett, now enchants both tourists and locals alike in an upscale and intimate environment, reminiscent of the pre-technology era, when wealthy patrons would invite entertainers into their homes – you will indeed be transported to another place in time – and reality!

You too can experience Steve’s Chamber Magic which takes place five times every weekend - Fridays and Saturdays at 7 pm and 9 pm, and a matinee at 2 pm on Saturdays. Ticket prices are $250 for front row center seats, $170 for first row, $145 for second or third row, and $125 for general admission.

For more information and to purchase your tickets, visit www.chambermagic.com. Steve’s graphic novel, The Millionaires’ Magician, is available as

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a trade paperback; check your local comic book shop, or find it at themillionairesmagician.com.

Did you always know you would make a career out of magic or did you ever have a less magical path laid out?

Ever since I was six years old, I knew I would become a magician. I ran my own business from age ten to eighteen, performing magic at children’s birthday parties in Westchester County. I was hardly older than the children in the audience! By the time I graduated high school, I had already performed over three hundred shows.

My parents saw to it that I would receive a proper education, and I enrolled at Cornell University and studied abroad at Waseda University in Tokyo.

The rationale was that “if magic didn’t work out” I would still have a solid foundation that could take me in other directions.

After graduating from Cornell, I briefly worked as a Japanese language translator, and in a fashion design company that dealt with Japanese clientele.

But those jobs were deathly boring due to the restraints on my creativity. I was meant to be a magician, and have been training my entire life.

The Lotte New York Palace is a special place to host your show – does the atmosphere – and cocktail attire required of your audience add a different dimension?

Most magic shows are hokey, performed at shopping malls or Cub Scout dinners. I wanted to recreate

the elegant salons popular in 19th century Europe.

By placing the show in an ornate setting in modern New York, I figured it would receive more credibility.

I was right. Affluent people started to consider attending a magic show instead of the ballet or opera.

The show became a hit at the Waldorf Astoria hotel, where it ran for nearly seventeen years. When the Waldorf closed for renovations, I moved the show to the Lotte New York Palace. My showroom is stunning, like a room in Versailles. Audiences know that they are going to see something special because the venue demands it.

Most famous or craziest audience member?

The showroom is so intimate, you never know who you are going to be sitting next to. Many extremely famous audience members have attended over the years: movie stars, royalty, musicians, athletes, scientists, and billionaires. I remember when Phil Jackson (Los Angeles Lakers) came to the show.

He sat in the second row, but his legs were so long that they stretched out to the front row and I almost tripped a few times.

My favorite private show was for Warren Buffett in Omaha, Nebraska. He flew me out for his best friend’s birthday, andhad so much fun that he sends friends to see me when they visit New York. I know this because they come up to me after the show and whisper, “Warren sent me.”

Do you plan on passing on your tricks to your children?

I have taught my children some magic, and we have performed those acts together at my Father’s Day performances. Seeing the audience respond to my own children is incredibly rewarding! While neither of them are likely to become magicians, they have a good eye for magic. In fact, I always show them my newest tricks, and they act as a sounding board. If I can fool them, I know it’s ready for the public. Most of the time, though, they bust me hard. And it’s back to the drawing board.

How do you remain energized to perform three shows a day?

Does it still feel new and exciting?

I play a mental game with myself. In every audience, I imagine that there is a person who is seeing a magician for the very first time. That person could have visited a museum, an art gallery, or a concert but instead, they have chosen to spend their most precious commodity—their time—with me. This helps keep the show fresh, even after five thousand performances.

Upcoming projects or TV specials?

My latest project is a 110-page graphic novel that chronicles my adventures as a magician. It’s a full color comic book, drawn by artists who work at Marvel and DC. The book is titled The Millionaires’ Magician and is a backstory of my performing character. People who read the book want to see the show, and people who see the show want to read the book. It’s a companion piece, and I’m really proud of it. Legendary magician David Copperfield wrote the foreword.

I am currently working on adding new magic to the live show. One trick is based on the act I performed on Late Night with David Letterman. Another trick is over two hundred years old but hasn’t been seen for centuries.

Did you ever imagine the show would last for so long?

Yes, I actually did! My original plan was to make the show run for twenty years. I felt that I would be a success if I could keep the show running that long in New York City. I’m now in that twentieth year and have no intention to stop.

Do you have any new tricks up your sleeve?

Almost all of my tricks are old, not new. I thoroughly research tricks that entertained audiences in previous centuries, and then add new techniques to make them palatable to audiences today. I enjoy researching periodicals with exotic titles like, The Sphinx, The Phoenix, Mahatma, The Jinx, Hugard’s Magic Monthly, and The Magic Wand. There are so many secrets buried in print that even magicians don’t know where to look.

What inspired your crowd pleasing Think-A-Drink?

The Inexhaustible Bottle, or “Any Drink Called For” has been a popular magic trick for centuries.

A popular 1930s nightclub performer named Charles Hoffman took the trick to a new level when he told audience members to merely “think” of their drink, and he would still be able to pour it. Naturally, his showbiz name became “Think-a-Drink Hoffman.”

I began performing my version of the trick eighteen years ago, and it has become my trademark routine.

When did you get the Millionaires’ Magician nickname?

In 2002 an upscale magazine called me the Millionaires’ Magician because my guest list is a combination of Hollywood moguls and country-club bigwigs.

About that time, I performed a run of shows in London, and the British media loved this nickname.

When I returned to New York, I had a dozen articles calling me the Millionaires’ Magician and it kind of stuck. No matter your net worth, everyone is welcome at Chamber Magic. And when you leave, you feel like a million bucks.

Hobbies outside of magic?

I am an avid runner. I recently completed my first New York City Marathon, and that inspired me to keep training for half marathons and other races.

I also enjoy reading Japanese short stories in the original Japanese.

Favorite magician?

My favorite magician is the legendary performer Max Malini. He performed at the Waldorf Astoria hotel back in the 1920s, and I’ve modeled my career after his. Malini circled the globe performing for royalty, business tycoons, and even for the U.S. President in the White House. I have a large collection of brochures, clippings, and photos hand-signed

by Malini. They are extremely rare today, and are among my most prized possessions.

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EVI KOKALARI-ANGELAKIS Work with the Best, Learn from the Best and Succeed with the Best By w. a. muller

When did you get started in commercial real estate?

I began my career in real estate in the summer of 1999. Initially, I worked for a local brokerage firm that focused on residential sales and didn’t have much to offer when it came to commercial real estate training or experience. In the early 2000s, without anyone’s guidance, I started selling small investment properties, such as 6 family and mixeduse properties, and I loved it. At one point, I was being referred to as the “Queen of 6s.” It took years before I was ready for larger transactions.

What is it like working in a male-dominated sector of the real estate world?

It certainly has its challenges. Women comprise at least 50 percent of the work force when it comes to residential real estate, but that percentage drops ridiculously low when it comes to commercial real estate. We represent less than five percent of the workforce in the commercial real estate industry.

Starting a commercial real estate office in this maledominated environment may sound like career suicide. But honestly these first two years have been phenomenal for us. We’ve had excellent support from our clients and customers. Their trust in me has been empowering, to say the least.

I know I’m the underdog here and I have a lot of work to do, but I’m okay with that. As long as you keep it kosher and you’re loyal and trustworthy, business comes to you. I’m here for the long run,

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so building relationships based on mutual trust is key.

How did you end up in this line of work?

I watched a TV commercial once on how to flip houses. I ordered the books and the CDs and went for my real estate license immediately afterward.

Although I always say I was a victim of that TV commercial, it did jump-start my career. I flipped my first property in 2006, some seven years into the business. By then I’d gained enough knowledge and confidence to get into the buying, selling and flipping side of the business, instead of just being a broker.

In the meantime, the need for bigger challenges got me into commercial real estate. Brokering large deals gives me the opportunity to work with some of the savviest investors and developers in the city.

I get to work with the best, learn from the best and succeed with the best, and I’m extremely appreciative of these opportunities every day.

What is the biggest current problem in New York real estate?

Probably the interference from local and state government. The city is currently trying to cap broker’s commissions on rentals, remove vacancy decontrol on multifamily buildings and introduce commercial rent control for retail units. All three proposals will be disastrous if implemented.

The topic at the top of people’s minds in metropolitan real estate is affordability. What’s the killer policy that could make a city like New York affordable for regular people? Is it even possible or desirable to do so?

Probably removing the cap on the FAR (floor area ratio) on new construction. The Regional Plan Association has called on the New York State legislature to lift the cap, which is set at 12 right now. We need to build more livable square footage in order for the housing to become more affordable.

Mayor Bill de Blasio has indicated he may be in favor of this plan, however we haven’t seen much enthusiasm in Albany on this issue.

What are your immediate plans for Golden Key Realty?

Our first priorities are expanding our team and opening offices in the city. I initially opened my office in Astoria out of convenience, and chances are we will always have an office in Queens. However, we’ve been constantly identified as “Queens brokers.”

That’s not the case at all, as we do work in all five boroughs and we’re working on a few deals outside of New York State as well. Realistically, there’s no geographic boundaries when it comes to the deals we go after. Also, I may consider bringing in a partner at some point. We are growing way too fast and I’d love to have a strong partner I can count on.

Where would you like Golden Key Realty to be in 5, 10, 15 years?

Ideally, I’d like Golden Key Realty to be among the top 20 firms in the country by sales volume. Earning a spot on that list as a company fully owned and operated by a woman would be an awesome achievement on a personal level.

You recently came out against the anti-Amazon fervor that caused the tech giant to cancel its plans for a New York headquarters. Do you understand the perspective of Amazon’s critics here? Are some of their points valid, or do you think they’re totally misguided?

They weren’t misguided. State Senator Michael Gianaris went to Harvard, so I’m assuming he understands Economics 101. He understood the importance of the deal, he understood what 25,000-75,000 jobs in Long Island City would have meant for Queens and the rest of the city. He also understood that his concerns about infrastructure and schools not being able to handle the influx of people in the area could have easily been resolved with the $27 billion the city and state would have collected in tax revenue. We can build the Hudson Yards all over again with that money, and that’s 18 million square feet of residential and commercial space, plus parks, a subway and a school.

Evi Angelakis is the Founder of Golden Key Realty Group, a company she started a few years ago, with a focus on Multi-Family Properties, Shopping Centers, Office Buildings and Development Sites.

Evi Angelakis has almost two decades of experience in new development, closely collaborating with developers in the planning, marketing, and sales of new residential buildings throughout the city. She is very familiar with all the phases of development as she served as the controller for a large construction company focusing on DEP, Port Authority, MTA and SCA projects.

About Evi Evi Angelakis is a member of the Real Estate Board of New York and ICSC. She is also a member of REBNY’s Queens Commercial Committee. Evi Angelakis is the Founder of Golden Key Realty Group, a company she started a few years ago, with a focus on Multi-Family Properties, Shopping Centers, Office Buildings and Development Sites.

Evi Angelakis has almost two decades of experience in new development, closely collaborating with developers in the planning, marketing, and sales of new residential buildings throughout the city. She is very familiar with all the phases of development as she served as the controller for a large construction company focusing on DEP, Port Authority, MTA and SCA projects.

Evi Angelakis is a member of the Real Estate Board of New York and ICSC. She is also a member of REBNY’s Queens Commercial Committee.

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PLAYBOY CLUB Behind Every Bunny is a Boss Lady

By Julie Sagoskin Photographed By Jaime Pavon

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he parties at the Playboy Mansion might be long gone, but the boss ladies running the Playboy Club which opened last fall are bringing the bunnies back to life – and they’re better than ever! From brand marketing to press relations to programming, Nicole Levinson, Heather Grabin and Diana Garcia are ensuring that the brand remains relevant amongst those of all ages and demographics.

With backgammon Tuesday’s, upcoming Playboy Live with Broadway stars, world class cuisine and tiered membership levels which grant access to some of the most well-known Playboy parties, there is something for everyone thanks to these girls who are running the Playboy Club World!

Senior Vice President of Brand Marketing and Partnerships, Nicole Levinson, Director of Programming Diana Garcia and Head of Public Relations Heather Grabin, talk about how they are keeping the brand alive with unique cultural, dining and networking experiences as well as what it feels like being at the wheel of what some would consider a big boys club.

It’s no surprise that with these three ladies in charge, their membership is over fifty percent female.

Memberships range in price from $5,000-$100,000 while some experiences are open to non-members.

What was your vision for the Playboy Club post-Playboy Mansion with Hugh Hefner at the helm?

Nicole: The vision was always to do something in the arts. Art and music are at the core and have always been key brand pillars to Playboy and they were pillars we felt strongly about as well. The individual ideas that happen in the club are not necessarily ideas that go in the magazine, but they are ideas which we think will resonate with a high net worth individual who enjoys music – think opera done in

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a hybrid way or classic rock. These are all timeless mediums that have lasted, so whether it’s singing or the fine arts, we’re always talking about the content while also telling a bigger brand story about Playboy.

Diana: I like to say we do things with a Playboy twist. For example, we did our own movie night a few weeks ago, and our idea was to have one of our members host it along one of our bunnies, Nicole Patrick, whose family is involved in film production. We always make sure to have a cocktail hour first so everyone can socialize and network.

businesswomen. A lot of them are entrepreneurs who run their own companies, who oversee tech, HR, and real estate companies. They’re not joining the club just to eat but to network, to come up with new ideas, do business deals, and the women see that as a value as much as the men do. We’re not in the same category as other private clubs out there because we have the Playboy brand and there’s really nowhere else today where you can go and exchange ideas. We want millennials to come but also those in their 40s, 50s and 60s. We all want to walk away from an experience feeling like we’ve had a valuable conversation.

Who are your members and what are you offering that’s missing in the current club climate?

Nicole: Our women members are all powerful

What’s it like working together and being the women running the Playboy world?

Diana: In my twelve years in hospitality, I’ve never

worked with any other women. When I first came to meet Nicole, I was a little bit hesitant and after I met her I was very pleasantly surprised because most men are more catty than the females. I felt like I was actually working with her rather than feeling like I was pigeonholed or having a weird competitive nature which I feel more with men.

Nicole: I didn’t go in feeling like I wanted an all women’s team. I interviewed all candidates equally, it just happened to be that Diana had the right criteria which is creativity. You can teach people to be inspired, but not natural creativity. She’s genuinely a creative person and had the right contacts, and Heather too had to fill all the boxes of what we needed from a PR perspective, and she had the contacts and really got the brand very quickly. We all come from different perspectives and different careers and it’s fun to have

this all-girl A-team, and people really say it’s inviting to women. Going back to hospitality, people sometimes say a hotel isn’t built for a woman, but I think everything we do at the club comes through and women feel comfortable because of the programming and the way the brand is presented. I’m not sure it would be so authentic if you had five guys doing our jobs, in my opinion.

Heather: Everyone is extremely talented and we literally build each other up constantly. If Diana has an idea for an event we all pull our resources to make it the best event possible. If I have an idea for a PR strategy everyone comes together and pulls who they know or what they know to really make the campaign go to the next level. If Nicole has a goal she has set, between everyone here and our resources I am always confident we will make it happen.

What makes it all work?

Heather: We’re really having even better results than we expected, we have a great camaraderie, we all just clicked. We all complement each other and it’s really a strong team and that resonates with our members and clientele. I think the Playboy Club runs the way it does because of our women A-team, but also because of our president, Richie Hosein. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Richie over the past couple of years and the way he leads the team and runs a business is unlike anyone I’ve worked with in the past. He really knows how to handpick and grow a strong ream. He allows you use your strengths sand go with your vision. I love working here because of my team.

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THE 3RD ANNUAL CHITA RIVERA AWARDS Presented by NYC Dance Alliance Foundation, Inc.

By Elizabeth Darwen

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he 3rd annual Chita Rivera Awards will take place on Sunday, May 19 at the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts (566 LaGuardia Place off of Washington Square Park), it was announced by Joe Lanteri, Founder and Executive Director of the New York City Dance Alliance Foundation, Inc. Lanteri produces in conjunction with Patricia Watt.

The nominations for the 3rd annual Chita Rivera Awards will be announced April 26.

Carrying the namesake of one of the great dance icons of the American musical theater, the mission of the Chita Rivera Awards is to celebrate dance and choreographic excellence - past, present and future. The awards will honor the superb achievement of each nominee, while recognizing the immeasurable

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talents and passion of every theatrical choreographer and dancer. Additionally, through education and scholarships, the awards are committed to nurturing future generations, as well as preserving notable dance history.

Nominators will consider outstanding choreography, featured dancers and ensemble in shows on Broadway and Off Broadway, as well as, outstanding choreography in film, that opened in the 2018-2019 season.

Nominations for the productions under consideration this season will be determined by the designated nominating committee. There are separate nominating committees for Broadway, Off Broadway and Film.

There is also an awarding committee for Broadway, which determines the final nominations that are received from the Broadway nominations committee.

Honorees of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theater Award, and a special Ambassador for the Arts Award will be announced in the coming weeks.

Tickets are currently available on www. chitariveraawards.com.

The NYC Dance Alliance Foundation College Scholarship Program will be the beneficiary of the event. Since the inception of the NYC Dance Alliance Foundation, 2.5 million dollars have been awarded to over 200 dancers represented in 42 of the most prestigious college dance programs in the country. chitariveraawards.com nycdafoundation.net

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KELLY FISCHER Artist Charms the World

By Bennett Marcus SCOPE New York & Jackson Hole Fine Art Fair Artist Kelly Fischer has shown her latest body of work, her Street Art Series, at prominent venues, including SCOPE New York in March. Next will be a solo show at the Cultural Center in Mijas, in Malaga, Spain in May. She will also have two solo exhibitions at ANF Gallery in Memphis, TN in July and Jackson Hole Fine Art Fair in September.

Fischer is represented by HG Contemporary Art Center. hgcontemporaryart.com In her semi-abstract expressionist work, Fischer adds textures and colors layer by layer to tell a story which is driven by her creative impulses. In her latest pieces, she invites the audience to experience two cities that she loves – Bern, Switzerland, where she resides and works, and New York City, where she loves to visit.

Though she visits New York often, her latest stay in the city was a revelation in a way. “I had a solo exhibition there last May, and I stayed in the East Village, on Avenue B for a month,” Fischer explains.

She had never stayed in that area before, and there was so much going on. “Just the people – there were a lot of schools in the area, a lot of children walking around, as well as older people, there was a lot of street art, lots of cars. Really pretty much everything you can imagine on one street.”

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“Street Art” Series The New York series is perhaps the biggest among Fischer’s many street art series. That bustling scene spoke to her particularly because she is adamant about including people in her work. “I’m the youngest of nine, and the idea of somehow having people in my artwork is just very important to me,” she says. “The circles in my street art represent people.”

The hectic urban atmosphere also affects her use of colors, which she chooses depending upon what is happening in the scenes she portrays. “My Street Art Avenue B series is, obviously, quite busy artwork, because there’s a lot going on over there.”

While Switzerland is her home, she now splits her time between Bern and Memphis, Tennessee, where she grew up. Over the past five years, Fischer has been exhibiting throughout the U.S. so extensively that she decided to buy a condo/studio there as a base where she can paint and visit family.

Shelby Farms, Memphis Tennessee “I’m inspired by pretty much everywhere I go,” says Fischer, who is currently working on a street art series based on Shelby Farms, an area in Memphis where she ventures every morning.

At age 22 the Tennessee native went to study in Europe, and there she met and later married a Swiss man. She founded a Montessori School in

Bern, but was always an artist. “Even when I ran my school, I was teaching art, and I’d put on art shows for the kids. I was always doing a little bit of writing and painting on the side,” she says.

“The Most Beautiful Color of All ” Fischer has also published 12 children’s books, which she tries to work in with her art exhibits. The Santa Fe Children’s Museum sponsored a special edition of her book, “The Most Beautiful Color of All,” and she visited and painted murals of the children. She works with Miami Dade University’s children’s program, and they’ve given her solo exhibitions for her art. “I try to combine these [interests] the best I can.”

Two other upcoming projects are especially meaningful to Fischer. Memphis gallery ANF Architects just offered her a two-month solo exhibition this summer.

“I have a powerful feeling that you need to be successful in your hometown, and that for me is both Memphis and Bern,” she says.

And in September she’ll mount a solo show at the Swiss Consulate in New York City. “You have to be a Swiss citizen for that, so that means the world to me because I’ve been a Swiss citizen, as well as an American one, for over 30 years.” kelly-fischer.com

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After another. So come, park yourself at any Sanibel Captiva Beach Resorts or Vacation Rentals. It’s all here, wherever you may stay.

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KEN JEWELL Top Divorce Lawyer

By Bennett Marcus New York Magazine’s Leader in the Law Ken Jewell is one of America’s most formidable matrimonial lawyers. He has been quoted extensively in the New York Times, Town & Country, The New York Post, and The New York Law Journal.

Divorce is an awful experience, highly emotional and painful for everyone involved. So why drag the process out, which only prolongs the agony and increases the cost?

Attorney Ken Jewell operates his matrimonial law practice, Jewell Law, PLLC, with that philosophy – resolving matrimonial disputes efficiently so clients can move forward.

Jewell Law “We pride ourselves on getting the job done, doing what’s necessary and expediting clients through the process instead of having their cases drag on unresolved,” says Jewell. “A happy client is a client who’s got whatever they need done,” he adds. “So if they’re looking to get divorced, they want to get divorced. They don’t want to go through years and years of agony; they want to get the job done sooner rather than later.”

Former clients include high-profile fashion models, performing artists, owners of renown business establishments, real estate moguls and other well-established professionals and business owners.

Why matrimonial law?

Before attending law school, Jewell spent ten years as a Supreme Court librarian in Nassau County, helping judges and lawyers with research. He was torn between becoming a psychologist or an attorney. Matrimonial law seemed a natural fit. “It hits the hybrid of being both a psychologist as well as being an attorney to help people.”

Started his own firm soon after law school Jewell worked for another matrimonial practitioner for a short period, but quickly realized that with years of legal research experience already under

Jewell tries to get his clients to see divorce proceedings in as positive a light as possible; as a way to move on from an unhappy situation. One of the biggest problems in matrimonial law is that everybody wants justice, Jewell explains, but marriage is one of the closest relationships anybody can have. It’s not the kind of relationship where justice is always available.

As little pain as possible “It’s only the two parties that are in the room and there’s no way of being able to prove what’s really happening unless someone shows up with bruises.” Given that background, he advises getting the divorce done smartly and sooner rather than later.

his belt, he could bring in business and help people in a way that he considered more appropriate. He opened Jewell Law in 2003.

It is with this philosophy that highly contested cases where the parties are fighting over every little thing might be in Jewell’s office for only two years.

“It’s figuring out what is driving the fight so that, once that is addressed, the case takes far less time to get done than it would with other matrimonial firms.”

Travel, family “I have a wonderful wife and two amazing kids, and they’re everything to me,” says Jewell. Travel is his favorite way of shaking off stress. “We do a lot of traveling. That’s the way that I relax.”

Privacy is paramount At Jewell Law, staff members refer to clients only by first name to maintain anonymity. Appointments are staggered and clients are immediately ushered to a private office.

555 5th Ave. New York, NY 10017 212.856.7273 kenjewell-law.com

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PAWS NY — Annual Spring Benefit Please join us for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and a silent auction!

Tuesday, May 14th at 6:30 PM Helen Mills Event Space — 137 West 26th St, N.Y. Tickets On Sale April 2nd Event link: http://bit.ly/PAWS2019Benefit

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THE MAGIC OF HOPE The New York Center For Children Spring Celebration Benefit 2019

By Elizabeth Darwen

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he New York Center for Children (NYCC) is hosting its 24th Annual Spring Celebration Benefit on Monday, May 6, 2019 between 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm at The Peninsula New York in New York City. The NYCC will celebrate 24 years of helping the most vulnerable children achieve their full potential. The Benefit helps raise funds for the Center’s work in healing, prevention and education. This year’s event will feature the theme of “The Magic of Hope,” which reflects the organization’s aim to bring about hope to victims of child abuse and help these children achieve their dreams. NYCC will honor Manhattan District Attorney, Cyrus Vance, Jr. with the Champions for Children - Innovation Award. The Benefit will feature live music by the Dennis Alan Jazz Trio, and a silent auction featuring exciting travel offers, fine dining, tickets to cultural performances, fashion accessories and more. Jeremiah Evarts, Director of the Di Donna Galleries, will be the Master of Ceremonies and Auctioneer for the event.

This year’s Benefit committee includes: Glenn Askin (Event Chair), Linda Schoenthaler, Betsy Hoover,

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David Hunenberg, Isabel Marçal, Meghan Pardi, Christine Rales, Barbara Rosen, and Lauren Vernon.

Founded in 1995, NYCC is the only independent Center in New York City to provide free, comprehensive evaluation and therapy services to children who have experienced physical and sexual abuse and their families, for as long as their healing requires.

NYCC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on donations to ensure it is able to provide these services.

To date, the Center has helped more than 15,000 families receive care. The NYCC also provides groundbreaking training programs on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of child abuse, attended by medical students, doctors, nurses and first responders worldwide. More than 20,000 professionals have been trained through NYCC’s educational programs.

Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served during the beautiful event at The Peninsula New York and all proceeds of the night will benefit the Center.

Tickets for the event include: SUPPORTER TICKET (One ticket to the Spring Celebration) for $350, ADVOCATE TICKETS (Two tickets to the Spring Celebration) for $650, DEFENDER SPONSORSHIP (Four tickets to the Spring Celebration & mention on website and event signage) for $1,250, PROTECTOR SPONSORSHIP (Six tickets to the Spring Celebration & mention on website and event signage) for $2,500, HERO SPONSORSHIP (Eight tickets to the Spring Celebration & mention on website and event signage) for $5,000, and VISIONARY SPONSORSHIP (Ten tickets to the Spring Celebration & mention on website and event signage) for $10,000. For Corporate Support, the levels include: $2,500 BRONZE (Six tickets to the Spring Celebration & mention on website and event signage), $5,000 SILVER (Eight tickets to the Spring Celebration & mention on website and event signage), $10,000 GOLD (Ten tickets to the Spring Celebration & mention on website and event signage), $20,000 PLATINUM (Twelve tickets to the Spring Celebration & mention on website and event signage). newyorkcenterforchildren.org

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PAMELA MORGAN An Enchanted Evening

By Lillian Langtry

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enowned cookbook author, lifestyle and entertaining expert Pamela Morgan has been tantalizing the taste buds of discerning New Yorkers and Hamptonites for more than a quarter of a century. Featured on the Food Network, Meet Bobby Flay and The Today Show, and Real Housewives of New York among many other places, Pamela’s special events and culinary company, Flirting with Flavors, creates a once in a lifetime experience for all those who attend her exclusive events at intimate, sophisticated venues in New York City and on Long Island’s East End. Along with her exceptional culinary career, she is also an accomplished singer and dancer. In fact, it was her dream of performing as a professional dancer and singer that initially brought Pamela to New York from Texas. On Tuesday, April 16th 2019, she’ll be returning to her musical roots where she will be performing exclusively at The Laurie Beechman Theatre (407 West 42nd Street, New York City).

Is it a festive party? Well, sort of. Is it a foodie extravaganza? That too. It will be a heady, seductive and flirty experience for all those who attend.

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Pamela toured the country starring in industrial shows written and directed as mini musicals, as well as appeared in national television commercials for Guess Jeans and Dr. Pepper. During that time, Pamela simultaneously began honing her cooking and catering chops at the New York Restaurant School. Her first business, Flavors Catering and Carry-Out, quickly became a neighborhood staple on West 18th Street in Manhattan’s Flatiron district.

Counting Martha Stewart Living, HBO, Harry Winston, and Chanel as among some of her regular clientele, it was one of the very first places in NYC to have an organic salad bar. Pamela also worked as the culinary consultant for the Neiman Marcus food catalogue where she created strategic partnerships with well-known chefs and premier food artisans.

The author of the bestselling cookbook Pamela Morgan’s Flavors (published by Viking Penguin), Pamela has accrued many years of experience catering a variety of affairs, including notable charity events, exclusive dinner parties and weddings.

world’s most acclaimed Broadway and cabaret performers of the last 30 years, includes selections from the Great American Songbook, classics from the iconic Carole King, as well as a couple of country tunes (after all Pamela is from Texas!).

She is also teaming up with local cabaret legends Mark Nadler as her director and Gregory Toroian as her musical director, plus she’ll be accompanied by a 3-piece band.

“I just wanted to get back to my singing roots and perform again, and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to do this show,” says Pamela, who is currently at work on a sequel to her first book, Flavors. “Catering is also a lot like performing. First, there’s all of the preparation work to get ready for a party. That’s the rehearsal part and the night of the event is the performance. I love the energy of doing both.”

Tickets are available at web.ovationtix.com/trs/ pe.c/10372470. flirtingwithflavors.com

Pamela’s repertoire for her new show at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, which has hosted some of the

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AVIATOR SPORTS AND EVENT CENTER

By Julie Sagoskin

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rom ice hockey to gymnastics, the sky is the limit at Brooklyn’s Aviator Sports and Event Center. Whether you want to be challenged or change things up with a wide range of activities and programming, there is something for everyone at New York’s largest sports and events venue.

From rock climbing to ice skating, as well as improv and acting classes, the center thrives on connecting the New York community. With diverse and inspirational activities they continue to work towards being a hotbed for youth and adult sports programming in Brooklyn.

Housed in four former airplane hangars, the facility, which features sports, recreation, meeting rooms and events spaces, lets your athletic and imaginative side take flight! The idea for the multi-sports complex center really got off the ground when The National Park Service conducted a study on how to rehabilitate the historic hangars of Floyd Bennett and concluded that it should be used for sports facilities. The space features soaring ceilings and of course a rich aviation history plus two multi-sport outdoor turf fields and even a full-service sports restaurant and snack bar as well as a catering service for birthday parties, weddings and other special occasions.

The engaging activities attract people from all five boroughs as well as those in the tri-state area as the center is suitable for children and adults of all ages who want a safe and fun place to partake in after school programs, play pickleball and even have picnics.

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You’ll be mesmerized by this massive multi-sports center which is still expanding their line-up of inhouse events and attractions so they can remain not only the biggest, but the best complex for family friendly fun. They currently attract thousands of people to their annual summer spectacles including the Rugged Maniac, Night Nation Run and Blacklight

Slide. They’ve also been expanding into the ever growing world of e-sports and video game tournaments with their recent Aviator’s Retro Video Game Tournament and Expo. This innovative and interactive center is excited about evolving with the industry as it starts integrating competitive video games into mainstream sports.

With so many programs and activities, you can practice your favorite pastime while also picking up a new sport, all within the same facility, making Aviator Sports one of the most accessible and convenient complexes in the area. After all, with 175,000 square feet of indoor space including two NHL-sized ice rinks, a gymnastic center, 35-foot climbing wall and indoor turf field, this is more like a city for all things fun and fitness friendly than a typical sports center. aviatorsports.com

River Run Estates

living

THE FARMSTEAD Discover The Farmstead at Homestead Village By w. a. muller

Y

ou’ve traveled the world: dined in Paris, danced in Rome, and climbed mountains in South America. You’ve enjoyed the sights and sounds of New York City. Now, what you really want is a beautiful, maintenance-free place full of caring neighbors to call home base. The Carriage Homes at Farmstead at Homestead Village provide an innovative, comfortable and plentiful space for residents to continue a full, active, and engaging lifestyle. Residents Rick and Judy chose their home at the Farmstead because it includes a two-car garage (standard), an upper level deck, and a lower-level patio (also standard on a premium lot), and the ability to finish their walk-out basement—all perfect for entertaining friends or having comfortable spaces to sit and enjoy some quiet time. The couple enjoys the timeless view of the Historic Lime Spring Farm from their patio, but they also enjoy the central location of the Farmstead—less than 3 miles from the thriving downtown of Lancaster, PA (one of America’s “Coolest Small Towns).”

“People want to continue their lives in a meaningful way,” says Judy, and “that means having the space to do that, but also not having to worry about maintaining it…” she continues. Since moving to the Farmstead, Judy has joined an exercise class, and is taking a spiritual and relational wellness course at a local counseling center, where she formerly served on the board.

Designed for residents 62+, Homestead Village’s one-of-a-kind and innovative program of “Thrive where you are” is based upon the idea that residents want to enjoy a lovely, inviting home and be able to receive services that promote their health and wellbeing in that setting. For residents who choose to downsize to an apartment, each of our 111 apartments is licensed for personal care, so when someone needs some extra help, they can enroll in Supportive Services without the extra move!

This is also a huge benefit to couples!

Homestead Village is also unique because of the resident involvement in leadership. Four residents sit on our board of directors. Over twenty residents serve as committee chairs for life enrichment committees—with even more residents serving as members at large, ranging from golf, to trips, to the HV Chorale. Other residents lead the new resident welcome committee. Monthly “coffee with the president” and resident council meetings also serve as sounding boards for achieving excellence.

Come see why US News and World Report voted Lancaster Pennsylvania the #1 destination for retirement, as well as one of the coolest small towns in the country.

717.397.4831 discoverfarmstead.org

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Just 3 hours South of New York City

Willow

Boxwood

$352,260

$352,260

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NEW YORK SOCIETY SCENE

By Clara Morgan

Prominent Businessman and American Film Distributor, and Producer Charles S. Cohen received Insignia Of Chevalier Of The Legion Of Honor, French Embassy, NYC ©StarPix

A night out with the Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation, NYC ©Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation

Denise Rich, LeRone Wilson, Elizabeth da Trindade-Asher Charles S. Cohen, Isabelle Huppert

Metrograph 3rd Anniversary Party at Metrograph in New York City ©Getty Images

Ian Schrager premiered The Times Square EDITION with high octane parties hosted at Paradise Club, and VIP dinners in The Terrace Restaurant, NYC ©Patrick McMullan

Marky Ramone of the Ramones

Ian Mellencamp, Jazmin Grace Grimaldi

Celebrity hair stylist of Angelo David Pisacreta of Angelo David Salon attends The International Beauty Show, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, NYC ©Angelo David Salon

Angelo David Pisacreta 130 | resident.com

Angelo David Pisacreta, Donald Scott

AddisonWolfe.com

RIVERSTONE LODGE Riverstone Lodge is an iconoclastic stone Riverfront home located in a highly desirable and prestigious area of New Hope Borough. The spectacular sprawling 6600+ sq ft home offers 6 bedrooms and 5 full baths.There is a first floor bedroom with full bath ideal for in-laws, au pair or a guest room.The sumptuous Master Bedroom and bath with sitting room and 2 gas fireplaces have amazing views of the Delaware river. Riverstone Lodge takes advantage of Pennsylvania stone both on the exterior and interior.Although the exterior depicts the proverbial Bucks County farm house the interior, with its open and continuous flow, has the sensibility of a mid century modern home.The expansive and open Kitchen and Breakfast area display high grade material and appliances.A blue tile accent wall with fireplace become the nucleus of the room.The adjoining Living room with wet bar flows into the Dining room and then large Family room with stone wall and woodburning fireplace. No matter where you look the views of the river are stellar and become the focal point of this home.The property is linear and therefore provides one of the longest riverfronts in town.The unusually large outdoor entertainment space comprised of a deck and blue stone patios can accommodate the largest of parties or family gatherings.The stone walls cascade down to the river offering private access and lounging. Riverstone Lodge is arguably one of the most sophisticated and aesthetically stunning properties to be offered for sale in generations. For a private tour, contact Art Mazzei 610.428.4885 or Nicole Curran 215.801.1935. $4,300,000

SKYEVIEW The exterior of SkyeView resembles the façade of a proper Bucks County stone farmhouse. However, the interior space reflects the sensibility that exudes the strategic use of materials for visual interest, texture and personality. Once you enter the front door, past the powder room, the expansive Great Room, with double height atrium, explodes in all directions. The large tile flooring, with radiant heat, makes the room feel even more majestic. The architectural design is flexible and it allows for a minimum of two bedrooms, a large office and a crafts room...but, can easily translate into four bedrooms when guests arrive. The master suite is smartly located off of the main level. This bedroom suite and the sumptuous master bath can accommodate all age groups, due to its location. A major “surprise” of the house, is the large and aesthetically pleasing, screenedin porch. This very special room, located contiguously with the kitchen, is sited, like the house itself, to enjoy the view of Peace Valley Park and Lake Galena. A three-car garage and heated workshop complete this incredible home. SkyeView is a home that has taken two distinct architectural vernaculars...stone and the modern design, and creates a fusion that transcends the expected into the exceptional. For a private tour, please contact Art Mazzei at 610.428.4885. $1,275,000

For more information on a property or to arrange a private tour, please call Art Mazzei at 215.862.5500 Addison Wolfe Main Office 550 Union Square, New Hope, PA 18938

Addison Wolfe by the Canal 30 West Bridge Street, New Hope, PA 18938

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SOCIAL SCENE

By Clara Morgan Pantone founder Lawrence Herbert’s elaborate Gatsby 90th Birthday party at Mar a Lago, Palm Beach, Florida ©Rob Rich/SocietyAllure.com

Lawrence Herbert with girlfriend Valentina Kraver, Loren Herbert

Alex Herbert, Cathy Fogel, Richard Herbert, Taylor Herbert

Forbes Travel Guide 2019 Star Awards with John Mahdessian of Madame Paulette receiving One of the Finest Properties in the World Award for Couture Cleaner, Beverly Hilton, LA ©Madame Paulette

John Mahdessian, Marisa Tomei

Kevin Frazier, John Mahdessian

In honor of the 2019 Academy Awards, GBK’s Luxury Gifting Lounge presented the hottest items & trips to Hollywood’s biggest names and rising stars, Beverly Hills, CA ©Maury Phillips

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Tanya Lee, Chaz Dean and Oscar Winner Spike Lee

Chill or Thrill... Lazy or Crazy... Mild or Wild In the Wildwoods, you can do as much, or as little, as you like so you can always have “Your Vacation, Your Way!� From FREE award-winning beaches and a world-famous boardwalk to great restaurants, amusements and shops, everything you could ever want in a family vacation is right here in the Wildwoods.

Win a Free Family Vacation!

WildwoodsNJ.com l 800.992.9732

THE ULTIMATE LUXURY ESCAPE

THE SPA AT GLENMERE MANSION (Hotel is One Hour from George Washington Bridge/NYC)

Spa menu: www. glenmeremansion.com / By Appointment / 845.469.1939

Hotel reservations: 845.469.1900 Glenmere Mansion / 634 Pine Hill Road / Chester, New York 10918 (10 minutes west of Woodbury Commons Outlet Mall/ Hudson Valley)