Sophisticated Living St. Louis March/April 2015 by Sophisticated Living Magazine

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Mar/Apr 2015 five dollars

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Philip Slein Gallery 4735 McPherson Avenue Saint Louis, Missouri 63108 p 314.361.2617 f 314.361.8051 www.philipsleingallery.com Arthur Osver, Aria, 1983, oil on canvas, 54 x 52 inches

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{St. Louis' Finest}

Mar/Apr 2015

Mar/Apr 2015 five dollars

Castles to Caddies

Te karst landscape of the Burren region is home to 70% of Ireland’s wildfower species.

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on the cover: Perfect Vision Antonio Douthit-Boyd and Kirven Douthit-Boyd

House Blend

Decanted: Piedmontese White Wines

Curating a Lifestyle: Into the Woods

Bibliotaph: Child’s Play

Punched Up Powder

Art: The Exhibiit that Changed

the Art World

Of Note... Gray Matters

Arizona Auto Week Glistens,

Glitters and Gleams

Who, What, Wear. Designers to Watch

Castles to Caddies

Dancing All the Way Home

Perfect Vision

Stand Up… and Paddle, Pose, or Fish

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Mar/Apr 2015

Society Calendar

Nelly’s Black and White Ball Links

Up with Lindenwood

The Fleur de Lis Ball Debutantes

Arts and Education In the Spotlight

Journey to the Stars

Treasures Found for Children in Need

The Cardinals Team Up with the

National Children’s Cancer Society

A Bridge to Better Care

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Ballyhooing Hollywood

102

Man’s Best Friends get a Helping Hand

from Tony La Russa

104

Dance the Night Away

106

Sprinkle Some Magic for Kids

36 Bibliotaph: Child’s Play Hands, a depiction of an artist’s worst nightmare. Reproduced from Te Art of the Brick: A Life in LEGO, with the permission of No Starch Press. © 2014 by Nathan Sawaya. Photograph by Erica Anne.

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Mitchell Wall

architecture and design

WWW.MITCHELLWALL.COM | 314.576.5888 | 2 THE PINES COURT, ST. LOUIS, MO 63141

Sophisticated Living. Sophisticated Marketing. PUBLISHER Craig Kaminer

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Sophisticated Living® is published by High Net Worth Media, LLC and is independently owned and operated. Sophisticated Living® is a registered trademark of Williams Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Sophisticated Living® is published six times a year. All images and editorial are the property of High Net Worth Media, LLC and cannot be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission. Annual subscription fees are $25.00; please add $5 for subscriptions outside the US. Single copies may be purchased for $5 at select fine retail outlets. Address all subscription inquiries to: Sophisticated Living®, 6244 Clayton Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63139. Telephone 314-82-SLMAG.

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S P R I N G

CO L L E C T I O N

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ST. LOUIS | MGBWHOME.COM FEATURING: BENNET SOFA, DIRECTOIRE CHAIR, MANNING SQUARE COCKTAIL TABLE, SIDE TABLE AND MEDIA CONSOLE WITH BOOKSHELF, TRAVERSE LAMP, TRUMAN CAPOTE VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPHY, INDIGO RUG, OURAY SCULPTURES, HORN BOWLS, AGATE BOOKENDS

From the Publisher It’s challenging to write about spring in the middle of January, to capture the spirit of renewal when it’s cold, damp, and dark outside. But when I thought about the new things on the horizon for Sophisticated Living St. Louis and the stories we are featuring, I had no loss for words. I started off the year meeting Antonio Douthit-Boyd and Kirven Douthit-Boyd who are featured on our cover and whose story by Veronica Teodoro is a perfect way to celebrate spring. It’s proof that the arts bring people together, change lives, and have the power to move us to tears. Seeing Antonio and Kirven on stage together, speaking to a group of patrons and students from COCA, and sharing their vision for St. Louis as ground zero for the best pre-professional dance education in the country left me speechless. Moments later Alison and John Ferring announced a $5-million donation to COCA to support Antonio and Kirven, as well the many world-class programs COCA produces year-round that have caught the attention of the National Endowment for the Arts, the White House, and countless dance students and enthusiasts around St. Louis. Tey all recognize that something unique is happening in St. Louis and specifcally at COCA. Te Ferrings’ generosity and commitment to St. Louis sent chills up my spine. Days later, I watched Ezekiel “Zeke” Elliot lead Te Ohio State University to the National Championship by scoring four touchdowns, breaking all-time rushing records, earning the game’s MVP, and being featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated for the world to behold. To watch Zeke, a kid who grew up at our house and played football side-byside with my kids at John Burroughs, was one of the most awe-inspiring days of my life. And just as I returned from one of the best sailing trips of my life, I sat down with Christy Marshall—whose illustrious career I have followed for years—to discuss what we have accomplished in the frst two years of Sophisticated Living St. Louis, and where we want to go in the future. It was love at frst meeting, and I am thrilled to announce that Christy has been named Associate Publisher and Editor-in-Chief. Oliver Muenz-Winkler has also joined Sophisticated Living St. Louis as a Luxury Brand Manager. Oliver will bring a new level of expertise to our advertisers as we look forward to growing by 50 percent in the year ahead. I am just beginning to imagine what we can accomplish together and I couldn’t be more excited. I hope you are too. So what do all these things have to do with each other, let alone the March/April issue? Tey all have to do with thinking big, pushing ourselves and our institutions to go beyond what we thought was possible, and never losing sight of the fact that St. Louisans not only have the power to change the world, but also St. Louis. Not all the talent that is nurtured here will leave. Some, like Antonio Douthit-Boyd, will leave their mark on the world and return. Others will come here and make St. Louis home as Alison Ferring did. And no matter where Zeke goes in the world—and undoubtedly he will go far, I know St. Louis has made as big an impact on him as he has on us. Tink big St. Louisans! Tis is our time.

Craig M. Kaminer Publisher craig@slmag.net 24 slmag.net

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HOUSE BLEND Written by Veronica Teodoro Photography by Alise O’Brien Te designer and the homeowners questioned the purpose of a Victorian era freplace mantle in the living room of a 1920s house. “Tere must be a reason for it, so it would be wrong to take it out,” says the designer.

Te interior designer David Kent Richardson loves everything, from the elegant to the everyday. “I have good stuff, bad stuff, indifferent stuff,” he says. “Why do I have this stuf, stuf?” His DKR Shop (1923 Marconi, 314-401-1333, dkrinteriors. com) on Te Hill is a visual tribute to Richardson’s love of the chase and thrill of discovery. Items for sale include everything from Tifany candlesticks circa 1920, to Parisian gypsy fortuneteller tables and stacks of silver, both polished and not so much. He also custom makes and sells his VIPs, Very Important Pillows. Spying an architectural window from a 19th century Midwestern farmhouse, Richardson exclaims, “God, give me the chance to use that in someone’s house.” Te designer’s exuberance for all things is apparent to this home in Clayton. He has known the wife for the past 20 years and has designed two of her homes and three of her businesses. Richardson praises her for helping him beat the blues three years ago when the recession almost put him out of business. 26 slmag.net

“She energized me, brought me back to life,” he says. “She is my patron.” Tey also share a passion. “She loves the pursuit as much as I do,” Richardson says. “Tere’s nothing to describe what it’s like when it works. It’s like you’ve hit the jackpot in Vegas!” Te home belonged to the husband and it was a tastefully designed shrine to his bachelorhood. Then he married Richardson’s long-time client. “It was a huge efort to compromise and blend,” Richardson says. “I needed to make everyone happy, keep it serene, and blend the two personalities. What she liked, he had to love too.” For both designer and patron, the frst major victory came at the defeat of a large mahogany breakfront in the dining room loaded with Flow Blue china. It was replaced with a subdued, yet sublime, Swedish bench upholstered in silk. Te Chippendale chairs were slipcovered in white and the table, conservative in its design, got a heavy dose of style when paired with Richard Serrin limited-edition prints.

A spiral motif runs throughout the entry way, from the artwork to the staircase. In the background, the door to the powder room is kept open, which Richardson says makes guests feel more relaxed and at home.

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A Richard Serrin painting hangs at the head of the dining table. Te same artwork is positioned directly across from it in the living room, creating a mirror refection of the pieces.

In the kitchen, Richardson favored white marble countertops over butcher block, the husband’s preference and what was installed. “It’s all about the dance,” says Richardson. “Tat’s what makes it interesting. It’s about the homeowner and not about me.”

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Tere are no window treatments on the frst foor of the house. Te exception is the outdoor terrace.

“St. Louis is a mahogany town,” says Richardson. “Brown furniture can be boring—but we made it sexy!” The kitchen is just beyond a small hallway covered in intricately designed moldings. Richardson loves that feature so much, he says he would have bought the house based on those moldings alone. Te kitchen needed an update, including new splashbacks and marble surround. Richardson’s preference was to install white marble countertops but he compromised on the butcher block, which was the husband’s frst choice. “It’s not about me,” he says. “It’s about the client. If I can’t make my clients happy then I’m failing.” A center island was removed and replaced with a table from Williams-Sonoma, which Richardson bought for its base and discarded its original glass top. He loves this kind of design tinkering, fnding the right piece and having it repaired or reupholstered. “I do this all the time. I can get a look and save money.” On the other hand, he adds, custom-designed furniture is expensive and usually on back order. From the outside the house is deceiving in its approachability. “When you pull up to it you don’t know what you’re about to walk into,” says Richardson. Te home was originally built for Jerome “Jerry” Berger. (No, not that Jerry Berger but a noted

urban planner credited with the development of LaClede Town, an experimental, counterculture housing development in St. Louis that attracted national attention as a model of racial integration and mixed-income housing.) “Te architect used impeccable restraint when he designed the house,” Richardson says. “Te scale and proportion are incredible.” However in the entry foyer, previous design selections kept the home’s architecture from shining through. A round table hid the spiral, hand-forged iron staircase and an oval bench clashed with the shape for the room. Richardson eased out those pieces and introduced a chest from his store, accessorizing it with a pair of epaulettes and a French ofcer’s hat from the husband’s private collection. Te husband’s vast collection of Richard Serrin works gave Richardson plenty of art to curate. Six of the pieces are now hanging as a collection in the entryway. In the living room, the couch is covered in white felt during the winter months and slipcovered in sailcloth for the summer. On opposite ends of the room, Richardson placed a Swedish chest and two leather French campaign chairs to create conversation-worthy vignettes. “I don’t like houses where people don’t live. I don’t like things that say, ‘Don’t touch.’”

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Richardson describes the master bedroom as looking like the perfect wedding cake.

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Te clothing racks in the dressing room are made of iron and painted white. Two Barcelona chairs by Mies van der Rohe provide easy comfort and a Swedish midcentury chest ofers storage space.

The wife’s dressing room on the second floor is another conversation starter. The clothes racks were custom-designed and built by Richardson and Shannon O’Dougherty, owner of Sambeaus Ltd., a custom iron furnishings business that is located in the DKR Shop. Richardson took great care to ensure the hangers were placed at just the right height, measuring them at various angles to get them exactly right. Te room is as well edited as the client’s wardrobe. It’s an aesthetic that aims for quality over quantity, with everyday items displayed in an easy and convenient fashion. The moldings in the master bedroom are breathtaking. “If I lived here I’d put a mattress on the floor and that’s it!” Richardson says. Te custom-made bed is dressed in Greek Key linens from Williams-Sonoma and paired with nightstands from Legacy Antiques in Dallas. Te owners are replacing the current sofa with an early 19th century French recamier.

From Tursday through Saturday, you can fnd Richardson in his shop on Te Hill, chatting up his customers. Tree times a week he visits his favorite local antique shops. Twice a month, he takes of in his black pick-up truck and drives two to three hours outside of St. Louis in search of everything and anything. “I love road trips, truck stops, the country, the back roads,” he says. “I am inspired by the world.” But to be clear, he’s defnitely not a diva designer. “I’m not a dictator. Most of those were overthrown. I am fexible, versatile. It’s like life. Full of highs and lows.” sl You can follow David Kent Richardson as he muses about design and life on his blog, Te Rantings of the Red Neck Decorator, dkrinteriors.blogspot.com, launching this month. Richardson’s Five Favorite Local Antique Stops - R. Ege Antiques, 1304 Sidney, 314-773-8500, regeantiques.com. Robert Morrissey Antiques and Fine Art, 132 N. Meramec, 314-725-2695, robertmorrissey.com. Shelton Davis Antiques, 4724 McPherson, 314-361-2610, sheltondavisantiques.com. Treasure Aisles Antique Mall, 2317 S. Big Bend, 314-647-6875. In the Warson Woods Antiques Gallery (10091 Manchester, 314-909-0123, missouriantiquemalls.com/warson-woods-antique-gallery), Richardson’s favorite booths are owned by Mark O. Howald and by Kathleen Mack.

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Decanted: Piedmontese White Wines When thinking of Italian wine, the great regions of Tuscany and Piedmont are often top of mind. Collectively, these two regions have more wine classified under Italy’s strictly controlled Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) category than any other region. Seeing DOCG or the more common Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) designation on an Italian wine bottle label means that the wine producer has adhered to specific regulations that guarantee geographic authenticity, grape varieties, production methods, style and quality. If I were forced today to make a choice between Tuscany and Piedmont for wine, I would choose the latter. Justly, it’s a tough call, and on another occasion I may do a 360-degree shift and say Tuscany. But for now, the delicious white wines of Piedmont stand out as the determining factor that diferentiates these two great red wine regions. Piedmontese whites are certainly in the shadow of the truly great reds of Barolo and Barbaresco. They will never have the claim to fame of this region; after all, Barolo is said to be the king of wines and the wine of kings, with Barbaresco its regal sibling. Some of the best wines I have ever tasted have been based in the Nebbiolo grape of Barolo and Barbaresco. Located adjacent to one another, both regions produce long-lived wines, but Barolo tends to be a fuller, more tannic wine, while Barbaresco is still full and tannic, but slightly less so. If you are lucky to fnd older bottles, you will discover that both wines will beneft from bottle age of approximately six-to-10 years and many bottlings much longer. But wait, the delicious, fresh and energetic whites from this red wine region require no ageing, and as is the case with most white wines, should be consumed between one and three years of age. Piedmontese whites are certainly worthwhile, unique and nothing like the ubiquitous quafng Pinot Grigio, which is Italy’s most popular exported white grape. While there is Chardonnay produced, most white wine made in Piedmont comes from indigenous grapes. Tey ofer characterful wines typically without the use of oak, which are crisp, fresh and accompany food efortlessly. Te most famous white wine of the area is Gavi, sometimes called Gavi di Gavi or even Corteses di Gavi. Located in southeastern region of Piedmont, Gavi is made from the Cortese grape and is a delightful wine. The lesser-known wine of the Roero area of Piedmont is made from the Arneis grape. Roero is in south-central Piedmont just north of Barolo and Barbaresco. Arneis in the Piedmontese dialect translates to “little difficult one” because of its difculty to grow, but I have found that it also makes an excellent nickname for people with similar personality characteristics. Both Gavi and Roero Arneis are categorized as DOCG and are best consumed chilled at about 50-55°F. A top producer of Gavi is Broglia and of Roero is Arneis Malvira.

Written by Scott Harper, Master Sommelier

Secondary Piedmontese grapes to look for, but may be quite challenging to find, are Favorita and Erbaluce. If you happen upon these wines at an excellent wine shop or Italian restaurant, give them a go as they are favorful revelations. In the meantime, the two wines below, while not super easy to fnd, are certainly obtainable and well worth the efort.

Villa Tiboldi

Malvira Arneis Roero 2013 Tis is a delicious medium-bodied wine that is crisp and refreshing with the favors of slightly under ripe pear and apple and a touch of Mandarin orange, orange zest and ginger. Copious wet stone and minerals with spring fowers help make this wine fresh and inviting. Arneis pairs well with oysters, clams and mussels, as well as fried vegetables. Founded in the 1950s, the estate is now run by the founder’s two sons, Massimo and Roberto Damonte. Malvira in Piedmontese dialect means “badly situated.” Te name refers to the original winery facing north, instead of south, with south being the typical positioning of the period. If you are visiting the area, Malvira has a 13-room luxury hotel and restaurant on the property called Villa Tiboldi (villatiboldi.com/en/). Broglia Gavi La Meirana 2012 A light straw-colored, mediumbodied wine that is broader in texture than most Italian whites. It is fresh with the favors of ripe apple, lemon, almonds and light minerals. Enticing fresh white flowers and citrus in the nose help create this wine’s vivacious and persistent quality. Gavi is an absolutely delightful pairing with roasted pork, seafood or pasta, or as an aperitif. Broglia Winery is family-owned and currently run by brothers Gian Piero and Paolo Broglia. While the family acquired the estate La Meirana in 1972, it is of historical importance with written references dating back to 971 AD. sl A Certifed Wine Educator, Scott is one of 140 professionals in North America and 219 worldwide who have earned the title Master Sommelier.

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Curating a Lifestyle: Into the Woods

Written by Amelia and Jef Jefers

At nearly six feet tall, this early 20th century folk art silhouette, cut from a iron sawmill blade, was found on Martha's Vineyard. Sold, $940.

An exquisitely hand-decorated Asian garden seat in brilliant colors, featuring peacocks and the eight Taoist symbols. Sold, $2,820.

Creating a beautiful environment in which to live and entertain should not be limited to inside your home. Allow inspiration to blossom beyond four walls and expand your design aesthetic outdoors by incorporating art and antiques in your landscape design to give your guests (and yourself ) an unexpected dose of warmth and sophistication. Te most common material found in outdoor antiques is undoubtedly iron. In the 16th and 17th centuries, blacksmiths worked iron by hand and anvil to create fencing, gates, doors and window coverings that were as secure as they were aesthetically beautiful. When sealed to hedge against rust, iron was a great choice for architectural elements that were long lasting, with many items from that period surviving today. During the Industrial Revolution, new technologies led to casting iron into molds, which made cast iron ornamentation a more afordable alternative to wrought iron. As a result, the Victorian era saw great demand for decorative elements such as lawn furniture, fower urns and fgural objects. Unlike most antiques, the repainted surface of an outdoor iron object does not usually detract from its value; in fact, oil-based paints provide important protection against rust and the resulting deterioration it can cause. Often painted white, iron furniture and accessories create a stunning and elegant contrast against a backdrop of green. Cast iron benches, chairs and tables are readily available at auction and estate sales in the low hundreds of dollars for common varieties, and into the thousands for more special or ornate objects. Large, early urns with impressive handles, bases and ornamentation command the highest price in this category, although very small and special examples can also be rare. Restoration of iron is best left to professionals as

proper removal of any traces of rust can go a long way toward extending the life of a piece. Beyond iron, outdoor antiques and vintage objects may be found in an assortment of materials. Bronze, zinc and copper architectural elements and statuary tend to develop a wonderfully warm and natural patina over time. Of course, collectors will pay the most for bronze items, and generally the quality of casting and design will be superior to less expensive materials. Copper is soft and prone to damage, so look for smaller objects or items with a forgiving hand-hammered fnish. Zinc is an interesting, dull grey surface that takes a casting remarkably well and suggests a bit more of an industrial style. For those who prefer a more whimsical design, porcelain objects can bring a colorful juxtaposition to an otherwise organic setting. Asian garden seats in the form of a barrel are often elaborately decorated with exotic patterns. Flowerpots, fgural objects and vases may also fnd their way outsideâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;particularly if nicked or chippedâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;as the perfect spot in the garden may hide a few faws. When using porcelain or glass objects, be certain they are drilled for drainage or kept out of direct rainfall. Do you prefer that your garden accoutrements blend a bit more organically into the plan? Stone or concrete statuary and birdbaths can provide just a touch of classical architecture. Hand-chiseled examples will naturally be pricier, but MidCentury cement castings are remarkably detailed and provide just the look at a reasonable price point. If warm spring days beckon your inner gardener, get a head start on summer blooms by brightening up the garden with an array of interesting and beautiful outdoor antique objects. sl

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Amelia and Jef Jefers are the co-owners of Garth's Auctioneers & Appraisers, an international frm located outside Columbus, Ohio.

Mid-20th century concrete garden urn along with a very large casting of a nymph (Sold, $470), an art pottery vase atop a neoclassical marble pedestal and a carved statue of Venus (Sold, $999).

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Bibliotaph: Child's Play

Written by Bridget Williams

Captured through the lens of photographer and journalist Gabriele Galimberti over the course of three years, the images of children from around the globe with their most prized possessions provides a glimpse of the world into which each was born. Te array of imagery from more than 50 countries enables the reader to glean a great deal about the hopes and ambitions of the people who bestowed each child with their vastly varied playthings. Gabriele Galimberti - Toy Stories: Photos of Children from Around the World and Teir Favorite Tings - Hardcover, 112 pages, Abrams Books (abramsbooks.com). Since 1997, Wim Pauwels, founder of BetaPlus Publishing, has printed more than 250 titles highlighting 100 of the best project designs based on a particular theme. Tis edition focuses on a compilation of the most beautiful and inspirational children's rooms from the past ten years. Wim Pauwels - Te 100 Best Children's Rooms - Hardcover, 224 pages, Beta-Plus Publishing (betaplus.com/en/).

Renate MĂźller began designing and producing toys in the early 1960s as part of an endeavor launched by Helene Haeusler at the Sonneberg Technical College for Toy Design in Sonneberg, Germany. Te toys were used for balance training and orthopedic exercise as well as for sensory exercises and hand-eye coordination. Tis book is the frst English-language monograph on her work, published on Te second book by Paul Budnitz, founder of designer toy powerhouse Kidrobot, serves as a the occasion of a solo exhibition at R 20th compendium of the newest, rarest and most coveted limited edition art toys created by more Century. Evan Snyderman and Zesty Meyers than 140 artists and companies across six continents. Paul Budnitz - I Am Plastic, Too: Te - Renate MĂźller: Toys+Design - Hardcover, 80 Next Generation of Designer Toys - Hardcover, 368 pages, Abrams Books (abramsbooks.com). pages, R & Company (r-and-company.com).

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Refecting the growing trend to reverse over-scheduling and too much screen time, this book provides a glimpse into 12 homes purposefully designed to embrace and inspire children's interests and activities without sacrifcing style. Andrew Weaving (Author) and Andrew Wood (Photographer) - Playful Home: Creative Style for Living with Kids Hardcover, 240 pages, Rizzoli Universe (rizzoliusa.com).

Te most extravagant volume to date in teNeues' ongoing series of luxury publications, this hefty tome highlights the world's most lavish and discerning array of toys for big boys. Luxury Toys for Men: Te Ultimate Collection - Hardcover, 304 pages teNeues (teneues.com).

A staple of childhood play, Nathan Sawaya elevates the humble Lego brick to an awe-inspiring art form through his larger-than-life sculptures, featured in hundreds of photographs with behind-thescenes details. Nathan Sawaya - Te Art of the Brick: A Life in LEGO - Hardcover, 248 pages, No Starch Press (nostarch.com).

Encompassing everything from toys, home accessories, lighting, footwear, photography and artwork to playgrounds and architecture, the 100 designs and art projects highlighted in this book are all infused with the essence of play. Victionary - Just Kidding! A to Z Designs for Kids & Kidults - Hardcover, 240 pages, Victionary (victionary.com).

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Photo by Zach Mahone

Punched Up Powder Te White Glove Experience at Beaver Creek Written by Victoria Chase I wasn’t certain whether it was the altitude or the champagne served on a silver platter as I exited the helicopter that transported us from the airport in Vail to the base of the mountain that had me in a state of euphoria, but one thing I knew for certain: Beaver Creek’s exclusive White Glove Winter Getaway Package takes the concept of a Rocky Mountain high well into the stratosphere. “It is the ultimate luxury experience for serious skiers, but the range of fexible amenities available through the White Glove package makes it ideal for families or a small group of skiers with varying abilities,” said Jen Brown, Senior Manager of Public Relations for Beaver Creek. An area of immense natural beauty, particularly in winter when the brilliant white bark of bare Aspen trees stands proud against an expanse of bluer-than-blue skies, the 1,832 skiable acres that comprise the well-groomed and uncrowded trails of Beaver Creek amply accommodate shushers of all abilities. Even more prestige was added to the powder this past February when the site played host to some 700 athletes from more than 70 nations as part of the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. 38 slmag.net

Fresh on-mountain amenities for the 2014/2015 ski season include 24 new state-of-the-art snowmaking guns to provide fresh snow atop the smooth corduroy on the popular Gold Dust trail several nights a week; a new high-speed Centennial Express Lift that can carry 3,400 people per hour via a combination of alternating six-passenger chairs and 10-person gondola cabins (the latter of which are particularly kid and beginner friendly); and a cozy “Candy Cabin” located at the top of the Strawberry Park Express Lift and Upper Beaver Creek Mountain Express Lift that is reminiscent of candy stores from a bygone era, complete with vintage soft drinks (the kind with real cane sugar) and custom chocolates from Colorado-based Mootz Chocolates. Champagne and cookies in hand, our personal Ski School Ambassador transported us to The Osprey, a ski-in, ski-out boutique hotel that has the distinction of being the closest hotel to a chairlift in North America, just 26 feet, and whose interior design provides a contemporary twist on Alpine decor. While relaxing in front of the fre, representatives from RentSkis Gold provided a private equipment ftting.

Te Osprey, a ski-in, ski-out boutique hotel, has the distinction of being the closest hotel to a chairlift in North America.

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As part of Beaver Creek's White Glove experience, a "Cabin Keeper" provides expert concierge services.

Trapper's Cabin

SaddleRidge Restaurant

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Helicopter transfer from the airport in Vail to Beaver Creek provides breathtaking vistas. Photo by Bridget Williams.

Living room in Trapper's Cabin.

As part of the White Glove Winter Getaway Package, which is valued at $50,000, travelers are treated to fve nights in Trapper’s Cabin, a luxurious four-bedroom, three-level mountaintop home near Bachelor’s Gulch boasting panoramic views of the ski area. Even though the property is located near many popular runs, it feels quite secluded. After the slopes have closed for the day, it’s not uncommon for some of the “locals,” including black bear and elk, to drop by for an unannounced visit. Amenities of the cabin include a cozy living room with freplace, a game room with a pool table, a large deck with a hot tub, access to a SnowCat for transport to the village, and all of the amenities one would normally associate with a luxury hotel from technology to toiletries. A “Cabin Keeper” provides attentive and expert concierge services, which includes arranging gourmet in-house meals prepared by David Sanchez, executive chef at the Osprey. Sanchez’s less-ismore philosophy highlights his unique ability to coax vibrant favors from simply, yet beautifully prepared dishes. I developed a particular penchant for his ghost pepper breakfast omelet during my stay. Once settled into our respective rooms we dove into Helly Hansen goody bags stuffed with a “welcome to Beaver Creek ski apparel package” that also included the most important accessory of all: an Epic Pass, which not only allowed unfettered access to the slopes during our stay in Beaver Creek, but could be used throughout the season at any of Vail Resort’s 22 resorts located in four countries, including Nieseko in Japan and Verbier in Switzerland. For our frst full day on the mountain, the experts among us took advantage of the White Glove First Tracks program, which provides sunrise access to the slopes before the lifts open to the public, as well as a hearty breakfast at the private on-mountain

Allies’ Cabin. Te beginners, myself included, were taken by our Ski Ambassador to meet our instructor for private lessons. Ski school clients and White Glove participants can take a midday break for lunch at SaddleRidge, which was originally built to the tune of $27 million by the Shearson-Lehman Corporation as a retreat for its clients and executives. Boasting one of the largest private collections of American Western artifacts and art in the US outside of a museum, you can enjoy a Colorado craft beer while ogling checks signed by Wells Fargo himself or sit behind a desk that belonged to Bufalo Bill. Beaver Creek was purpose-built with meticulous attention to minute details that enhance the guest experience, which means that the White Glove experience is infnitely customizable depending on the interests and abilities of the group. Following a day on the slopes, the White Glove experience includes spa services at the Allegria Spa in the Park Hyatt. Be sure to arrive early to indulge in the Aqua Sanitas, a self-guided fve-step water ritual modeled on ancient Roman baths. Snuggle under a warm blanket and admire the vastness of the starry skies during a SnowCat tour up the mountain to a gourmet dinner at Beano’s Cabin. Elevate your heartrate, or not, during a private snowshoe tour and picnic in McCoy Park, one of North America’s premier lift-accessed trail systems, where running “of-piste” down a hill is sure to leave you feeling like a kid again, particularly after downing one of the aforementioned cane sugar soft drinks! Te 2015 ski season Beaver Creek runs until April 12. For more information about all of the amenities included as part of the White Glove Winter Package visit Beavercreek.com/whiteglove or call 877.774.6223. sl

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Art: Te Exhibit that Changed the Art World

Written by Anita Heriot

Scene from the 2014 Armory Show. Image courtesy of Roberto Chamorro for Te Armory Show.

One hundred and one years ago, a group of 300 artists from Europe and the United States exhibited 1,250 paintings, sculptures and works on paper in the 69th Regiment Armory in New York City. Referred to as the Armory Show, the exhibit drew more than 70,000 attendees in one month, and after traveling to Chicago that figure exceeded 180,000. Notable American artists such as George Bellows, John Sloan and Arthur Davies were exhibited side by side with the kings of the modern art world: Picasso, Duchamp and Braque. In 1913, the United States was on the cusp of becoming the most important industrial power globally and increasingly the strongest military power. The Woolworth Building, constructed in 1913, was the tallest in the world. Grand Central Station, reopened in 1913, was the largest train station in the world. Tat same year the Ford Company introduced the frst automotive assembly line. Yet for all of the major economic, military and industrial developments, America lagged behind Europe culturally. American artists, such as Mary Cassatt, Maurice Prendergast and many others, focked to Europe to learn from the masters of the time, namely Matisse, Renoir and Seurat, yet Americans continued to be seen as merely imitators of European style. However, within 50 years, the tables had turned. American artists such as Jackson Pollock, Robert Rauschenberg and Mark Rothko became dominant Modernist forces. No doubt there are many factors that contributed to the sea change in the development of Modern Art, such as the New Deal program for American artists. However, the Armory Show of 1913 was a watershed moment for the development of American artists, and by 1914 American art was forever changed. Critic and collector Gertrude Stein attended the exhibition. Other infuential tastemakers such as Albert Barnes and Henry Frick purchased works for their collections.

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According to Jerry Salz, art critic for Te New Yorker, “the founding of MoMA, the Whitney and much else stems directly from those 27 earth-shattering days.” With the Armory Show, American artists were exposed to the European avant-garde on a large scale, which no doubt had a direct infuence on the development of American Modernism. One painting, which became almost synonymous with the uproar over the Armory Show, was Marcel Duchamp’s Nude Descending the Staircase No. 2. Art critics blasted Duchamp’s work among other Cubists. A Chicago Tribune editorial titled “The Cubist Art” said, “The nudes pervert the ideal of physical perfection, obliterate the line which has heretofore distinguished the artistic from the lewd and obscene, and incite feelings of disgust and aversion.” Marcel Duchamp’s work directly infuenced the likes of Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg and Andy Warhol. Even negative response to the show inspired the development of Modernism in the United States. American artists purposefully choose to reject Realism and Romanticism and embrace avant-garde artistic styles. Having received a record number of gallery applications, the 2015 Armory Show, March 5-8, will host 199 of the world’s premier galleries from 28 countries across North and South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Noah Horowitz, executive director of The Armory Show remarked: “It is a very exciting moment for Te Armory Show with this year’s fair marking the most focused and highest caliber edition in my tenure. The selection process for the upcoming edition was particularly rigorous, and I am thrilled to see a number of notable galleries returning to the fair, as well as a strong presence of young, geographically diverse galleries who have chosen to show with us for the frst time." For more information visit thearmoryshow.com. sl Anita Heriot is president of Pall Mall Advisors and a member of the Appraisers Association of America and is USPAP certifed. She can be reached at aheriot@pallmallartadvisors.com.

Scene from the 2014 Armory Show. Image courtesy of Roberto Chamorro for Te Armory Show.

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Of Note...Gray Matters

Compiled by Bridget Williams

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1) Monica Rich Kosann wide sterling silver foral cuf bracelet with black onyx push-button ($1,595; monicarichkosann.com). 2) Te Classic Fusion Aeromoom from Hublot is a skeleton watch featuring contemporary architecture and a full calendar displaying the moon phases, as well as simple date and day and month indications (price upon request; hublot.com). 3) Luxe Cashmere Hawk Hooded Robe from Calvin Klein Home ($745; calvinklein.com). 4) Te EDIE shoulder Bag in ivory python from MARYLAI New York ($578; marylai.com). 5) Mitchel Primrose Small Julie Bag in Lizard ($1,850; mitchelprimrose.com). 6) Salvatore Ferragamo Stephen 2 Calf-Hair High-Top Sneaker in Multi from Neiman Marcus ($680; neimanmarcus.com).

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7) Te Boden Low Chest from Tomas & Gray (price upon request; thomasandgray.com). 8) Pal Barstool in Gray by Hallgeir Homstvedt for Hem ($199; hem.com). 9) A band of polished stainless steel outlines the facing edges and top of the 90â&#x20AC;? Odile sofa from J. Robert Scott, which is upholstered in Velvet Soire from the Quail Collection. (price upon request; jrobertscott.com). 10) From Lalique, the Bacchantes vase in grey crystal is a numbered edition from the RenĂŠ Lalique re-editions collection ($7,500; lalique.com). 11) Te Serie Up 2000 Chair in silver was designed by Gaetano Pesce for B&B Italia (price upon request; bebitalia.com).

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1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster. Photo courtesy of Russo & Steele.

Arizona Auto Week Glistens, Glitters and Gleams Written by David M. Brown Arizona Auto Week, January 11 through 18, was high performance from start to fnish. Concluding the second annual Arizona Concours d’Elegance on Sunday, January 11 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort, a magnifcent 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Sport Cabriolet A won Best of Show. In addition, the cars of America’s greatest architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, were honored. An automotive lover, Wright consulted in the design of the great resort in the mid-1920s. Six auctions took place in the Phoenix metropolitan area: Silver and RM, which were also held at the Biltmore; Bonhams, at the Kierland Westin Resort; Gooding & Company, at Scottsdale Fashion Square; Russo and Steele, in North Scottsdale; and, at WestWorld, Barrett-Jackson, where the world-famous Ron Pratt Collection sold for $40.44 million, including automobilia. At Russo and Steele's 15th annual auction event, European classics and American muscle combined for the high-dollar 46 slmag.net

cars. These included a 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster, $1,430,000; the extraordinary 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe, one of only 69 made, $335,500; and another street/track legend, the 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback, $330,000. Russo and Steele posted the highest selling Porsche 911 of all the events at Arizona Auto Week with a 1974 2.7 RS, which hammered down at $305,500. “We really had an incredible event from beginning to end. We experienced record crowds throughout the week and harnessed that energy into fantastic results,” said Drew Alcazar, founder of Scottsdale-based Russo and Steele. “All in all, it was a wonderful event, and it absolutely reinforced why we get so much enjoyment out of putting on these events. Cars and camaraderie – It’s Russo and Steele in Scottsdale!” At the Gooding & Company auction, 11 cars broke the $1 million level, and 25 new auction records were set for a fnal tally of more than $51.5 million.

Photo courtesy of Barrett-Jackson.

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1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Series I Coupe Aerodinamico. Photo by Brian Henniker for Gooding & Company.

A highly original, low-mileage, pristine condition 1964 Shelby 289 Cobra sold for $1,155,000 at the Gooding & Company Auction. Photo by Brian Henniker for Gooding & Company.

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Barrett-Jackson's sale of Ron Pratt’s 1950 GM Futurliner Parade of Progress Tour Bus raised $4.65 million to beneft the Armed Forces Foundation.

1974 Porsche 2.7 RS. Photo courtesy of Russo & Steele.

Among the new world auction benchmarks was a 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Series I Coupe Aerodinamico, $4,070,000, and a 1966 Porsche 906 Carrera 6, $1,980,000. The auction highlight was the personally hosted sale of Jay Leno’s 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8. Te comedian and car lover was accompanied by USO CEO & President J.D. Crouch II, and 36th Chief of Staf of the U.S. Army and USO board member General George Casey. Dramatically, the car generated $565,625 for the USO. Similar commitment to the troops came at Barrett-Jackson with the sale of Ron Pratt's 1950 GM Futurliner Parade of Progress Tour Bus, which raised $4.65 million to beneft the Armed Forces Foundation. Tese bus museums toured America in the ‘40s and ‘50s to celebrate the future of automobiles and technology. “Te Futurliner moment was one I will always remember, as the outpouring of support for our veterans made me extremely proud,” said Pratt, a Valley resident who acquired many of his collector cars at former Barrett-Jackson auctions. “It took a monumental efort by the Barrett-Jackson team to execute this auction successfully. I am extremely satisfed by the results and

want to thank all those on the Barrett-Jackson team that helped make this happen.” There were other stars from the Pratt Collection, which totaled $40.44 million in sales. The 1955 Pontiac Star Chief Convertible from I Love Lucy sold for $220,000; a custom truck from Te Beverly Hillbillies gaveled down for $275,000; and, the 1958 Plymouth Fury “Christine” from the eponymous Stephen King movie brought $198,000. Owned by the great driver and racing team owner Carrol Shelby, a 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake, just one of two made, brought $5.1 million. Altogether, Barrett-Jackson sold 1,611 vehicles for more than $130 million (unaudited), a record for the company during its 44-year history. Troughout the week, Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2015 raised $8.6 million for local and national charities. "Tis year’s Scottsdale auction was on a scale unlike anything in our history,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Scottsdale-based Barrett-Jackson. “From sales and consignments to our ratings on Discovery and Velocity, we smashed records at every level. Everyone who attended this year’s Scottsdale auction was a part of automotive history.” sl slmag.net

Who,What,Wear Designers to Watch Written by Abigail Hamilton

Who,What,Wear Designers to Watch

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J. Benzal West African-born and Indianapolis-based fashion designer and entrepreneur Mamadou "Ben" Diallo studied textiles and business in Morocco before deciding to make the leap to the fashion scene in New York City. His studies led him to Butler University, and although he moved back to the Big Apple after graduation, thanks to his wife, an Indianapolis native, he found his way back to the Midwest. And while he enjoyed the family-friendly quality of life in the Hoosier State, he missed the options in men’s fashion ofered in the big city. Having his own label had always been a dream for Diallo, so in 2008, despite the recession and believing he could fll a niche in the market, he opened J. Benzal in downtown Indianapolis. Te shop’s name is a derivative of Diallo’s nickname and that of two close friends who worked with him in the industry. Populated exclusively with merchandise bearing the J. Benzal label, nearly everything in the store is Italian made. Te boutique’s success prompted him to open a second suburban outpost in the Carmel City Center and eye further brick-and-mortar expansion in neighboring states. Diallo is a stickler for details and ft, and his suits are noted for contrast stitching on the lapels, colorful, high-quality fabrics, and European-style cuts. Most recently Diallo has expanded his repertoire to designing footwear in a range of styles, from classic wingtips and loafers to more fashion-forward professional work boots. “I was tired of getting asked the same question over and over by my customers after we helped them pick a great outft, ‘where can I get some nice shoes?’ With the addition of our shoe collection, we hope to make J.Benzal, a one stop destination for the stylish man,” he remarked. For more information and stockists visit jbenzal.com. slmag.net

Madiyah Al Sharqi Born into the royal family of Fujairah, one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, Sheikha Madiyah Al Sharqi was exposed to fne tailoring from a young age. After graduating from the private Parisian fashion school Ecole Superieure des Arts et techniques de la Mode (ESMOD), she apprenticed under Lebanese designer Abed Mahfouz before launching an eponymous collection in 2012. Te Middle Eastern designer’s creative manipulation of vibrant fabrics and employment of sophisticated needlework earned her a spot as a fnalist for the 2013/2014 International Woolmark Prize, a highly coveted designer award, as well as being named “one of the most exciting and promising designers to come out of this region” by Harpers Bazaar Arabia. As a young royal, Madiyah is in a unique position to juxtapose traditional imperial grandeur with the perspective of a modern discerning woman. Her delicate design aesthetic is consistent throughout each collection, while her creative inspirations shift from season to season. Madiyah describes her clientele as a “woman who is graceful and timeless, with a passion for opulent design. She appreciates intricate embroideries and subtle color palettes, and makes bold statements with her choice of silhouettes. Her conservative nature lies in the delicate fabrics that accentuate her femininity.” For more information and stockists, visit madiyahalsharqi.com. 52 slmag.net

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Mathieu Mirano Talent and tenacity are two words that could be easily bantered about to explain the driving force behind emerging designer Mathieu Mirano’s upward career trajectory. Just 23 years old, the Long Island native and Parsons drop-out already has fve shows at New York Fashion Week under his belt, through which he was bestowed the title of the ‘Mad Scientist of Fashion’ by ELLE Magazine for his utilization of motifs ranging from robots to ancient creatures. Tough already garnering buzz among fashion industry insiders for several seasons, his work reached a more mainstream audience after Lady Gaga made an appearance on Good Morning America in late 2014 wearing a custom paper ensemble he designed specifcally for the singer. Since then his tailored pieces, which strike a delicate balance between constructed shapes and soft femininity, have graced the likes of Nicole Ritchie, Julianne Moore, Gabrielle Union and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Inspired by his fascination with science and nature, Mirano’s spring 2015 ready-to-wear collection features a heightened focus on silhouette, with separates and dresses sporting details such as pleats and peplums that play with asymmetry and volume in a modern way. Trailblazing fabrications, including rubberized cottons in laser grid patterns and other manipulated materials allow the collection to transcend from casual sophistication to full-on glamour. Said the designer: “Te Mathieu Mirano woman is extremely thoughtful in regards to her fashion choices. She pays attention to the detail, to the cuts, to the treatments and to the high level of craftsmanship. She isn’t living to work. She’s living every day to live. But most importantly, she has a sexiness that is never vulgar.” For more information and stockists visit mathieumirano.com. 54 slmag.net

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Castles to Caddies Enjoying Royal Treatment in Ireland Written by Bridget Williams

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Five star Ashford Castle is surrounded by 350 acres on the shores of Lough Corrib in County Mayo.

Perhaps I was subjected to one too many knight in shining armor tales at bedtime as a youngster, but I feel fairly confident in my assertation that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not alone when it comes to having developed a girlhood fascination with castles and the romanticized notions of life within their stone walls. Learning the true realities of medieval life â&#x20AC;&#x201C; leprosy, dysentery, the plague, a lack of indoor plumbing and having to consume mead on a regular basis, among other maladies â&#x20AC;&#x201C; certainly tarnished a bit of the shine I took to castle living, but not

enough to entirely dissuade my interest. My own teenage daughter was not immune from such musings, which served as the impetus for a recent trip to Te Emerald Isle focused on the Counties Clare, Galway and May in the west of the country. En route from place to place, we traveled roadways in the bucolic countryside that seemed snug even for our micro rental car and had us wondering more often than not if we were lost, but with scenery so picturesque, we hardly minded a few errant wrong turns.

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Sunset at the Trump International Golf Links & Hotel

Trump International Golf Links & Hotel, Ireland Traveling under the cover of darkness following a pre-dawn arrival at Shannon Airport, when the robotic voice of our GPS system confdently announced that we had arrived at Te Trump International Golf Links & Hotel, I was certain there must be some mistake as dawn’s frst light revealed only modest farmhouses set against a backdrop of gently undulating mossy green hills. Scanning the horizon, we spied a cluster of buildings in the distance and headed in that direction. As we drew closer, the form of an impressive stone lodge and detached cottages that comprise the 185-room resort fully revealed themselves from their perch above the rugged Atlantic coastline in crescentshaped Doughmore Bay. Opened in 2006 as Doonbeg, the Trump organization acquired the property – the only five-star luxury resort on the coast of County Clare – in 2014. Te juxtaposition of the refined architecture against an untamed expanse of coastline painted a breathtaking scene. As I surveyed how the Greg Norman-designed links course rambled along the cliff ’s edge, I wished, even if just for a split second, that I had eschewed the notion of ever becoming a golfer. 58 slmag.net

Resisting the urge to bask in the sun while walking barefoot across the spongy golf green laid out behind the lodge, we instead explored our ocean-view, two-story, two-bedroom suite, which was outfitted quite luxuriously in classic hunt country style with natty tweed upholstery, bespoke furnishings and antiques, reclaimed woods, baths with honed marble, tumbled stone and plant-based toiletries made at the nearby Burren Perfumery, vintage-style hardware and light switches, roughhewn ceiling beams, crewelwork drapery, a small kitchen and dining area, and a sitting room with gas freplace. With the majority of guest suites averaging 1,000-square-feet or more and 17 Links Cottages spanning nearly 3,000 square-feet, the property is ideal for family travel and those not willing to forgo the comforts of a wellappointed home while abroad. It wasn’t long before we succumbed a little to jetlag by starting up the fire and settling in at opposite ends of the window seat to listen to the rhythm of the waves as they rolled and tumbled the stones along the shore to a polished fnish that proved to be ideal for a subsequently idyll afternoon of skipping rocks. Further down the beach our gazes transfxed

View of the lodge from Doughmore Bay.

Native grasses are used for the the golf course at Trump International Golf Links & Hotel. Photo by Bridget Williams.

Entrance to the Lodge at the Trump International.

on a couple galloping astride horses whose color mimicked the foamy whitecaps. Refreshed from a brief catnap, we decided to walk the par72 golf course, which plays 6,885 yards from championship tees and boasts ocean views from 16 of its 18 holes. Te frst course in Ireland or Great Britain designed by Greg Norman, the layout follows nature, with native grasses simply mowed on 14 greens and 12 fairways. Varying ocean breezes ensure that no two rounds will ever play the same. A total of 51 acres of grey dunes are permanently fenced of for preservation, while the remainder of the site, including the course, is designated as a proposed Natural Heritage Area. Te 400-acre resort also includes a frstrate pro shop, a practice facility with driving range, putting green and chipping area, and caddies trained to U.S. standards. Under the direction of Executive Head Chef Greg Budzyn, guests at the property can savor both traditional and international cuisine prepared with locally sourced ingredients at two full-service dining options: casual, bistro-style fare in the Trump Bar and Restaurant or fine dining accompanied by an impressive global selection of wines in the Ocean View Restaurant. Afternoon tea is

Lodge suite living room at the Trump International.

served daily by the freplace in the lounge, and in-suite dining is available around the clock. Smitten with the scent of the Burren Perfumery toiletries in our room, we obtained directions to the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s manufactory where we perused their entire product line, picked up souvenirs and enjoyed afternoon tea and scones from their on-site tearoom (burrenperfumery.com). The sparsely populated scenery of the limestone upland en route was quite arresting, and we made multiple stops just to admire the desolately beautiful karst landscape, where 70 percent of Ireland's wildfower species can be found. Sensory indulgence also abounds at the Trump Internationalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s subterranean White Horses Spa, located beneath the main lodge and outfitted in the same warm and welcoming country chic environment that permeates the upper floors. Laura Ryan, my massage therapist, was honored as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Best Spa Terapist of the Year" 2013 by Irish Tatler magazine and for good reason: my blissful 90-minute Burren Wilderness Massage seemed to be over in the blink of an eye! For more information or reservations at the Trump International Golf Links & Hotel, Ireland visit trumphotelcollection.com/Ireland. slmag.net

Dromoland Castle at dusk.

Dromoland After a few days of visiting castles, we were ready to live like royalty by checking into one, and Dromoland, a 16th century baronial castle located in Newmarket-on-Fergus, proved to ft the bill quite nicely. Literally minutes from a major thoroughfare and less than a 20-minute drive from Shannon Airport, once you pass through the gateway you are enveloped by 450 acres of lush, rolling hills. An 18-hole championship parkland golf course is laid out on either side of the narrow lane leading to the stoic limestone castle, complete with four castellated turrets. Te castle is strategically positioned atop a knoll that provides a “wow” moment the frst time it comes into view. As the ancestral home of the O’Briens, Barons of Inchiquin, one of the few native Gaelic families of royal blood, the richly appointed interiors of Dromoland Castle beft their noble legacy. Portraits of ancestors are hung along paneled corridors; windows are dressed with lavish tasseled drapery; and, light emanating from sparkling crystal chandeliers dances across coats of armor and gold cornices. Noted interior designer Dorothy Draper was retained when the property was renovated in 1962 to emerge as a luxury hotel; the guest rooms were refreshed two decades later by Draper’s protégé, Carleton Varney. Each category among the 85 guest rooms and 14 suites have been recently refurbished 60 slmag.net

with touches such as bespoke, 19th-century Empire-style and Louis XV-style furnishings and specially commissioned fabrics by Manuel Canovas, Colefax & Fowler and Pierre Frey. My favorite room was Te Cocktail Bar, an octagon-shaped space that was the former study of Lord Inchiquin, and where we would retreat each evening to claim a corner table near the fre to enjoy a pint and a sing-along of Irish ballads. Red and gold foil damask wallpaper accentuated the soaring height of the room’s ceiling; dark wood bookcases not utilized to highlight spirits for the bar housed a whimsical collection of Toby jugs. A pack of Stafordshire spaniel fgures sat obediently from individual halfround shelves scattered around the room. Dromoland’s fne dining option, the Earl of Tomond, was awarded a Michelin star in 1995 under Head Chef Jean Baptiste Molinari. Current Executive Chef David McCann has taken great pains to ensure that the culinary delights revealed when the polished silver domes presented to the table are lifted in unison are truly worthy of such pageantry. À la carte, fve-course table d’hôte and vegetarian menus are available. More casual dining from noon to late evening is ofered at the Fig Tree Restaurant, located in the Golf & Country Club building and just a short walk from the castle. Both the facilities and menu were revamped in 2012. A traditional daily tea is

Te Cocktail Bar at Dromoland Castle.

Te karst landscape of the Burren region is home to 70% of Ireland's wildfower species. Photo by Bridget Williams.

served from 3:00-5:00 in the Drawing Room. For the active or romantically inclined, a special picnic basket can be prepared for a day outing or a relaxing lunchtime stroll to a secluded spot on the grounds. A full complement of indoor and outdoor activities makes Dromoland a year-round destination. Opened in 2007, Te Spa at Dromoland features an outdoor hydra spa sheltered by a gazebo and ornamental courtyard, six luxury treatment rooms, and two product ranges, Pevonia Botanica and Voya, the latter of which is an organic seaweed beauty product manufacturer based on Ireland's Atlantic coast. Dromoland’s 18-hole championship golf course was re-designed by Irish golfng legend J.B. Carr and American Ron Kirby. Te afliated Golf Academy boasts 10 fully automated driving bays, putting greens and a bunker, including a rivetedface-links-style bunker modeled on the famous “Road Hole” bunker on the 17th at St. Andrews. Lake Dromoland is well-stocked with trout, perch and other coarse fish, and guests may fish from the banks or one of the estate’s small boats. Two all-weather tennis courts, a dedicated shooting range, archery instruction, horseback riding, falconry “Hawk Walks,” complimentary mountain bikes for use on the estate, an indoor swimming pool, sauna, steam room and ftness

Te Clifs of Moher. Photo by Bridget Williams.

facility, and ample acreage for hiking, walking and jogging ensure there’s always plenty to do. Easy day trips from both Dromoland and the Trump International Golf Links & Hotel include hiking the spectacular pathways that snake along the precipitous edges of the Cliffs of Moher (cliffsofmoher.ie); visiting Bunratty Castle and Folk Park where you can stroll through a village constructed to resemble life in Ireland a century ago, followed by dining Medieval style in the 15th century Bunratty Castle (shannonheritage.com/BunrattyCastleAndFolkPark); marveling at the lunar-like landscape found in The Burren National Park (burrennationalpark.ie); and, simply wandering through charming towns sprinkled throughout the countryside and popping into a local pub where hospitality flows as freely as the Guinness on tap. We were particularly fond of Morrissey’s Seafood Bar & Grill in Doonbeg (morrisseysdoonbeg.ie) and Te Locke Bar in Limerick, which had excellent traditional Irish music (lockebar.com). Further afeld but still reachable in a day is Blarney Castle. While kissing the famed Blarney Stone is a must, the gardens that surround the 600-year-old castle are quite exquisite and worth a leisurely stroll (blarneycastle.ie). For more information or reservations at Dromoland Castle, visit dromoland.ie. slmag.net

Kylemore Abbey. Photo by Bridget Williams.

Ashford Castle Nudging the bar even higher on luxury lodging in Ireland is Ashford Castle. While the presence of a friendly ghost purported to make herself known from time-to-time in the oldest section of the castle is debatable, what is absolutely irrefutable is the property’s rich legacy, preserved and enhanced under the tutelage of Bea Tollman, founder and president of the Red Carnation Hotel Collection, who, after acquiring the property and saving it from a pedestrian fate, set upon a meticulous and ambitious renovation and restoration project during which no expense was spared. Positioned prominently on the shores of Lough Corrib, the second-largest lake in Ireland, the oldest section of Ashford Castle dates to 1228. Subsequent owners, including Lord and Lady Ardilaun of the Guinness family (whose legendary love story is fairy tale worthy), expanded the existing structure in a neo-Gothic style and extended the estate to an eventual 26,000 acres (it stands today at a more manageable 350 acres). The property opened as a hotel in the early 1940s; when John Mulcahy acquired the property in 1970, he nearly doubled its size with the addition of a new wing. Red Carnation purchased the property out of receivership in 2013. “We haven’t seen an investment of this scale in both the property and the local community since the legendary

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Joyce County sheepdogs provides visitors a glimpse of a rapidly disappearing way of life in the Connemara region. Photo by Bridget Williams.

benevolence of the Guinness family in the 1800s,” said General Manager Niall Rochford, who was named Hospitality Manager of the Year 2013 by Te Irish Times. “Te Tollman family wants to preserve and enhance the story of Ashford, and the sense of style, time and place they have created is truly wonderful.” The heart of hospitality beats strong at Ashford, where children of long-time employees often follow in their parent’s footsteps generation after generation and pridefully regard the castle as their home away from home. I have to say, in all my years of traveling, I’ve yet to stay at a property whose staf are so fully in-sync with and vested in a company’s ethos as those at Ashford. Tollman maintains an intensive personal level of involvement in each of Red Carnation’s 17 four- and five-star boutique hotels around the globe that is dually admirable and mind-boggling, leaving me to wonder if she ever sleeps! Tis is worth mentioning quite simply for the fact that happy employees create optimal guest experiences at even the most mundane level of interaction. Bea Tollman and her daughter Toni headed up the design team that created uniquely opulent environs in each of the castle’s 68 guestrooms and 14 staterooms; Ashford is the only property of its size in Ireland to boast completely individualized guestrooms. The final renovations will be unveiled when the

Te new Billiard Room at Ashford Castle.

Ashford Castle is home to Ireland's frst School of Falconry. Photo by Bridget Williams.

property reopens on March 28 after a winter hiatus. Even in her 80s, Bea logs some 300,000 travel miles annually and is constantly acquiring antiques and art for her company’s hotels, sometimes squirreling pieces away in storage until the “perfect” opportunity presents itself. I had the privilege of lodging in stateroom 326, which overlooks the lake and formal garden and is resplendent in a predominant palette of regal red and royal blue, with upholstered silk walls (a design hallmark of Red Carnation properties); a fush mount ceiling draped bed with a scalloped crown and tassel trim that matches the drapery; Venetian mirrors; a blue Murano chandelier; original oil portraits; a spacious bath with a one-ton marble soaking tub, an Empire-style crystal chandelier, iridescent wallpaper and a walk-in shower so spacious, it brings a concerthall setting to singing in the shower; and, the latest in high-tech in-room amenities. Common areas of the hotel have been refreshed as well, with windows added and doorways widened to allow more light into rooms that had previously seemed slightly somber. “Te Tollmans have maintained what should be and removed what’s not important, and that has added to the high-level experience,” said Paula Carroll, who heads up Ashford’s sales and marketing department.

George V. dining room at Ashford Castle.

Recently added amenities include a posh 32-seat cinema, children’s game room, a billiard room and a pair of outdoor roof terraces, one of which will serve fne cigars, some of which will be exclusive to Ashford. Future plans include transforming the recently rediscovered escape tunnel into a wine cellar with private dining rooms and creating a secluded lakefront honeymoon suite from an old boathouse on the grounds. Further in the offing, pending regulatory approval, is a renovation and expansion of the on-site spa to include an indoor ozone-fltrated pool and state-ofthe-art ftness center. Te afable and seemingly omnipresent Robert Bowe heads up the restaurant and wine program and will gladly spin a good castle ghost yarn if you inquire. For breakfast each morning in the George V Dining Room, so named to commemorate a visit by the then Prince of Wales, scrambled eggs with shaved black trufe seemed ideally suited for the elegant environs, illuminated by nine grand Waterford chandeliers. Dinner is a formal afair, where a seasonal menu highlights the best local meat, fsh and produce. Te intimate Connaught Room, considered one of the fnest in the castle, provides dinner service from May through September. Cullens at the Dungeon Bar and the seasonal Cullens at the Cottage ofer more casual fare. You can immerse

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Stateroom 326 in Ashford Castle.

Te Presidential Suite at Ashford Castle.

yourself in the art of appreciating fne and rare Irish whiskeys at the Prince of Wales Cocktail Bar or survey the rapidly changing skies over the lake from a plethora of windows in the Drawing Room, which makes daily afternoon tea quite a treat (the Irish Whiskey Cream tea blended just for Ashford is a must-try). Activities on property include fshing for brown trout and Atlantic salmon in Lough Corrib, considered one of the best fsheries in Europe for both species; falconry lessons at the School of Falconry (Ireland’s frst); indoor archery; tennis; cruising the lake aboard the M.V. Lady Ardilaun; jogging/walking an extensive network of routes from 20 minutes to two hours in duration that traverse everything from mossy forested paths to winding country roads; golfing the onsite nine-hole, par 35 parkland course designed by Irish golf architect Eddie Hackett (fve notable courses are located within close proximity of the castle); choosing from a dozen available horses to ride at the equestrian center; and, shooting sporting clays at a designated range with expert coaching from Tom Clesham, who has literally grown up on property (his parents operate the equestrian center). Just outside the castle gates is the village of Cong. Founded in 623AD as a monastery, today the tiny hamlet is a postcardperfect assemblage of tidy buildings housing a number of restaurants and shops. Te village served as the backdrop for John Ford’s 1951 flm “Te Quiet Man,” starring John Wayne 64 slmag.net

and Maureen O’Hara. Te movie is screened daily in Ashford Castle’s cinema. Myriad day trips abound throughout the Connemara region (connemara.ie/en/), whose raw and rugged beauty proved to be infnitely intriguing. Te area is distinguished by some 7,000 miles of dry stone walls that scale over and around the steep hillsides and contain herds of sheep whose wooly coats sport bright painted markings to signify their ownership. During our visit, the weather seemed to change on a dime and subtle shifts in sunlight caused the mood of the steep hills, bogs, lakes and golden beaches of the Atlantic shoreline to seesaw between ethereal and eerie. Noteworthy places to visit include Kylemore Abbey (kylemoreabbeytourism.ie), a monument to love and loss that is now home to a group of Benedictine nuns and the largest Victorian walled garden in all of Ireland; the town of Westport (destinationwestport.com), a small community with a large number of fne restaurants and pubs and recently named the best town to live in Ireland; Joyce Country Sheepdogs (joycecountrysheepdogs.ie) where a sheepdog demonstration provides a glimpse of a rapidly disappearing way of life; and Burke’s Bar and Restaurant in the village of Clonbur (burkesclonbur.com) for an authentic Irish pub experience. For more information or reservations at Ashford Castle visit ashfordcastle.com. sl

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Dancing All the Way Home Written by Veronica Teodoro Photography by Jacob Blickenstaf Photography Antonio Douthit-Boyd was 16 and hanging out with friends when the sound of drums drew them into a church near the corner of Compton and Washington avenues. Angela Culbertson, ATrek Dance Collective’s artistic director, was holding rehearsals in the church basement. “I stumbled into her class,” says Douthit-Boyd, now 34. “I just walked in of the street. We played around in the back of the studio during the rehearsal. She asked us if we wanted to dance and invited us to come back the next day. My friends ran in the other direction, but I came back.” After a few months of working with her new pupil, Culbertson reached out to Sally Bliss, then the executive director of Dance St. Louis and once a ballerina who had danced with the American Ballet, the Jofrey Ballet and as a principal dancer with the New York City and Metropolitan operas. Culbertson asked Bliss to introduce Douthit-Boyd to dance instructor Lee Nolting at the Center of Creative Arts (COCA). “I think I was a little intimidated at first,” Douthit-Boyd says, recalling his frst day of dance class at COCA. “I didn’t see a lot of kids from my neighborhood. Tey looked like they were from a diferent background. But Miss Lee was very open and so warm. We were all equals, and she cared so much about everyone. From that time on, I lived at COCA.” On Aug. 15, Douthit-Boyd will return home to COCA as co-director of dance with his husband, Kirven Douthit-Boyd. Tey are retiring as principal dancers with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York after a domestic tour that runs through May, two weeks of performances at Lincoln Center in New York in June, and a month of shows in Paris that culminates with their fnal performance on Aug. 1.

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“We’re back in rehearsals all week,” Antonio Douthit-Boyd says from New York just before departing on the domestic tour. “I’m dancing my legs of. Tey’re trying to get everything out of me before I go.” Even before he had any formal training, he loved to dance. At barbecues and family reunions, he loved to perform. “Mom would say to everyone, ‘Watch Antonio dance!’” Douthit-Boyd says. “I watched music videos and loved to dance to Michael Jackson. Whitney Houston is my favorite singer of all time.” As he prepared to enter high school, his mother worried for his safety. “She knew the neighborhood high schools were rough,” he says. “She thought if somehow she could get me into the lottery for Central, the school would be able to foster my talents.” He was accepted into Central Visual and Performing Arts, a magnet school, and entered the advanced dance program under the direction of Ray Parks, who became a mentor. “He didn’t let up on me,” Douthit-Boyd says. “He saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. He pushed me and pushed me and I’m so glad he did.” As Douthit-Boyd’s only male role model for dance during the early years, Parks played another important role. All the dance instructors at COCA were women: Parks taught Douthit-Boyd about being masculine on stage and about showmanship. It took time, however, for Douthit-Boyd’s mother to discover he was taking ballet, modern dance, and jazz classes at COCA. “I hid it from her for months,” he says. “Miss Lee would pick me up on Mondays or I would take public transportation to COCA. I think my mom thought maybe I was tap dancing or something.” “In the neighborhood I grew up in, it wasn’t considered a masculine thing to do. Men don’t take ballet.”

Kirven Douthit-Boyd and Antonio Douthit-Boyd

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A Historic Building Becomes a School for the Arts In 1985, developer Richard Baron began exploring the possibility of creating a visual and performing arts center for small arts organizations in St. Louis. Around the same time, he was approached by a board member of Congregation B’nai Amoona about selling its synagogue on Trinity Avenue in University City. “Te congregation was moving west,” says Baron, chairman and chief executive ofcer of McCormack Baron Salazar. “Tey wanted to know if I had use for the building, which had a wonderful space and design.” Te building, designed in 1950 by internationally recognized architect Eric Mendelsohn, was on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built by I. E. Millstone, a legend in the construction industry and among St. Louis’ most generous philanthropists. “I created a not-for-profit and approached others who were interested in the arts,” Baron says. He reached out to sponsors and discussed his idea for an arts center with Dorothy Dubinsky, a friend and local artist who needed studio space for a group of painters. “It would be a family-focused arts center that would bridge the city and the county,” he says. “We wanted to break down the distance between the two and create a place for families and children.” Baron asked good friend and architect Andy Trivers, chief executive officer of Trivers Associates, to work on the redesign

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of the interior spaces and a small garden. Baron and his former partner, Steven Stogel, and their associates oversaw the fnancing and construction. “People who were afliated with the arts tried to dissuade me from doing it,” Baron says. “Tey said it wouldn’t work in St. Louis. Others had attempted it, and 50 to 60 percent of the time they had failed. Tey said we wouldn’t get the community’s support. Of course that was the incentive I need to go ahead with it.” All this makes COCA’s recent announcement about Antonio and Kirven Douthit-Boyd, principal dancers with Alvin Ailey American Dance Teater in New York, that much sweeter. They are retiring from their dance careers to join COCA on Aug. 15 as co-directors of dance. “I wasn’t convinced I would ever see the day, so the fact that it’s a reality is remarkable,” says COCA Executive Director Kelly Pollock, calling the couple’s move to St. Louis the highlight of her career. “It is truly amazing that Antonio and Kirven are choosing to retire at the peak of their careers in order to devote themselves to educating the next generation of dancers at COCA.” “All of us believed in an urban arts program,” Baron says. “COCA has always been about community outreach, and Antonio came out of this. The teachers were overwhelmed by his natural ability. Tey emboldened him, supported him. It’s a wonderful development.”

Douthit-Boyd’s mother once found her son’s ballet clothes at home and threw them in the trash. “Miss A., my ballet instructor at COCA, left another set of clothes for me the next day,” Douthit-Boyd says. It took time and a lot of calls from the dance instructors and Stephanie Riven, COCA’s former executive director, to persuade his mother to attend a performance. “Tey called and called. Tey ofered her free tickets to come see me dance. But she didn’t come,” Douthit-Boyd says. “Until one day she showed up.” After the show, she stood in the lobby and cried. “I said, ‘Mom, you have to stop crying!’” he says. “But she was overwhelmed. She could see how passionate I was, how it had been the best thing to put me on the stage.” The Douthit-Boyds plan to transform COCA from the fourth-largest community arts center in the country into the premier dance educator in the Midwest. “We want to up the ante in terms of how we train the kids,” says Kirven Douthit-Boyd, 30. “It’s already rigorous but we want to give it more structure and a more enhanced conservatory-style training.” Teir decision to join COCA was years in the making. Te seeds of the idea grew over the past nine years, as they worked as visiting choreographers each January. Tey are young enough to continue to dance professionally, but they want to give back. “These are my people,” Antonio Douthit-Boyd says. “If I want to teach or to run a school, why wouldn’t I do it here? COCA gave me so much.”

For students who know that they want to make dance a career, the couple plans to develop a program similar to those at The American School of Ballet at Lincoln Center, the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of Ballet at American Ballet Theatre, and the High School for Performing Arts in New York City. “Our kids can compete with other schools,” Antonio Douthit-Boyd says. “But there are skills they need to know to make it in the dance world.” In addition to teaching, they will oversee COCAdance and Ballet Eclectica, two student companies. “We want to help fnd the next Antonio, the next Erin Moore, the next Baryshnikov,” Antonio Douthit-Boyd says. “Tere’s a lot of talent out there. It’s not about me anymore. It’s about the young people and making my life about them. “Miss Lee was my mom away from my mom. She’d give any of us the coat of her back. She was such a caregiver. She’d pick us up for class and stop and get you food if you hadn’t had lunch that day.” Te same was true of Indigo Sams, who worked in COCA’s front ofce. She was there for Antonio when his mother died, for his first performance with Ailey, and they often spend Tanksgiving and Christmas together. “She told me, ‘If you want to dance, you can do it. If you want help, we’ll make it happen.’ With that kind of backing, you just go for it. Tese are the kind of people COCA hired. I want to embody that.” sl

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PERFECT VISION Written by Judith Evans Photography by Carmen Troesser On every day, at every meal, with every dish, Jimmy Fiala aims for perfection. “We’re constantly trying to make every dish perfect,” says Fiala, chef/ owner of Te Crossing. “We make it better and better and better every day until we get it where we want. Our goal is that every bite is delicious.” And if practice makes perfect, Fiala has reason to aim for perfection. The Crossing opened in 1998 and has been in the city’s top tier of restaurants ever since. “My background is French and Italian cooking. I think of that as two of the greatest training grounds in the world for food,” Fiala says. Before opening The Crossing, he cooked at Spiaggia, a nationally acclaimed Italian restaurant in Chicago. He also owns Acero, an Italian restaurant in Maplewood that opened in 2007. “Food must be delicious first, and then we worry about beauty or creativity second,” he says. “Our goal is that every bit that they eat is delicious.” Although Fiala often cooks with luxurious ingredients such as trufes or foie gras, he especially appreciates the complexity of seemingly simple foods. As an example, he describes what happens when you bite into a perfect peach: “It grabs your attention, it stuns you. Tat is the essence of what we’re trying to do.” He ofers another example from his menu: tagliolini pasta with chanterelle mushrooms, parsley and Parmesan cheese. “It’s very straightforward,” he says. “I think it’s a perfect dish if done properly. I fnd that dishes that are simple can be way more complex.” Te Crossing is quiet and cozy, with white brick walls and dark wooden beams separating the booths. “I think of us as a neighborhood place for the whole city of St. Louis,” Fiala says. “Te customers’ perspective, as best as I can tell, is that they come here because they know they won’t have to worry about anything. The food is delicious, the service is great, it’s a perfectly cooked meal. It’s easy.” Many patrons are regulars, “but every day we have new customers come in.”

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Pan-roasted scallops with warm romaine lettuce and baby shittake mushrooms.

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Tuna with parsnip purée mixed with Missouri mushrooms and a port wine and Cabernet reduction.

Te dining room seats about 65. “I purposely looked for a restaurant where I could do what I wanted to do: Pay attention to the food, pay attention to the customer and make everything special without being overwhelmed.” Tat means the restaurant is small enough that the kitchen gives individual attention to each diner’s requests and requirements. “Because of the scope of this restaurant, we are able to make food for the tables,” Fiala says, rather than cooking dish after dish to infexible specifcations. “We’re cooking for people, we’re cooking for the people who are showing up at our restaurant: ‘What do you want?’ ‘Let’s make you happy.’ In my opinion, that’s what hospitality is, and we are in the hospitality business. Tat’s how it has to be. We never lose focus from that.” Fiala and The Crossing’s chef, Brad Watts, focus on local, wild, and organic meats, seafood and produce. Some signature dishes never leave the menu, he says, including beet salad with goat cheese and the warm blue cheese soufé delivered in ramekins to every table at the beginning of each meal.

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Jimmy Fiala, owner of Te Crossing in Clayton and Acero in Maplewood.

Te Crossing is located at 7823 Forsyth Blvd. in Clayton.

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Roasted beet salad with goat and mascarpone cheeses dressed with shallots, pine nuts, and a Sherry vinaigrette.

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Roasted New Zealand lamb with Moroccan spices. Green beans and local sweet potato purée, sautéed mushrooms, zucchini, and squash.

In addition to a lunch menu and a la carte dinner menu, Te Crossing ofers tasting menus each evening. Te menus change as often as daily and include a $35 four-course menu, a $50 four-course menu, and a grand tasting that contains at least seven courses and costs about $85, depending upon the ingredients. Fiala says the tasting menus are an affordable way to let people relax, take their time, and enjoy the food. “And you can get that cheaper than for an entrée,” he adds. Each course has at least two options, and the four-course menus are matched with fights of three wines, for $20 or $30 a person. “People who show up want to dine. Tey want to enjoy themselves,” he says, likening dinner at the Crossing to a mini vacation. And as a result, the staf enjoys themselves at well. In the front of the house, the servers appreciate customers who savor their meals. “From a cook’s point of view, we get to be creative,” Fiala says. “We get to invest in the equipment and tools to make our jobs better and easier. I’m having fun doing stuf. I love it, I love the guys in the back. I love the guys in the front. I love the customers. Every day, I get to do what I love to do, and in that regard, it’s so much fun.” sl

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STAND UP… and Paddle, Pose, or Fish Written by Veronica Teodoro Photography by Carmen Troesser

An afcionado, Ken Lester now owns a small feet of paddle boards.

Last summer while vacationing on Nantucket Sound, St. Louisan Davey Desloge decided on a whim to buy a stand-up paddle board. He was hooked the moment he paddled out into the calm and shallow waters of the North Shore. “It was so fun, so peaceful, and such a great workout,” he says. A lifelong angler, Desloge suddenly realized that unlike a twin-engine boat, the paddle board didn’t spook the fsh. “I had never heard of fishing off a paddle board. I didn’t know if anyone had done it. Blue fish are aggressive. They have sharp teeth and will eat anything. I didn’t know if it was a good idea,” he says, “but I decided to try it. I could see the fsh undisturbed in their environment underneath my paddle board.” Out on the water, Desloge could throw the lure in front of the fsh of his choice and reel it in. “I paddled in and paddled out the rest of the afternoon with each of my kids.” Desloge, a teacher at John Burroughs School, has three children, two boys and a girl. Back on shore, a crowd of beachgoers gathered to both congratulate him and ask him questions about what it’s like to fsh of of a paddle board. 78 slmag.net

Stand-up paddle boards can be used for far more than just reeling in the biggest catch. Others race with them or do their yoga on them. Shane Perrin, owner of SUP St. Louis (1234 Marshall, 636346-7473, supstlouis.com), operates a stand-up paddle board business at Simpson Park Lake in Valley Park. He ventured into the business in 2008 when he was doing stand-up paddle in a canoe. In 2011, he signed up for his frst ultra-distance race, 340 miles down the Missouri River from Kansas City to St. Charles. Te lone racer on a paddle board out of 117 participants, Perrin fnished in 34th place. More races followed, including the 179-mile La Ruta Maya in Belize, and grueling 260-mile Texas Water Safari. After his frst race, Perrin asked himself: “Where can I do this? Who is doing this? Why don’t I?” In 2012, he opened his business and operated it with fve boards. By the end of that season he owned 13. A year later, in 2013, the business doubled. “Ninety percent of our customers are women in their 30s and 40s,” Perrin says.

Shane Perrin, founder of SUP St. Louis, gets ready to launch a paddle board onto Simpson Park Lake.

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“Don’t get in over your head,” cautions Davey Desloge. “You don’t want to get on a moving river that’s going to launch you from point A to point Z in half an hour. Non-moving water is best for beginners.”

His successes have given him sponsorship deals with board and sunglass manufacturers and credibility in the paddling world. “I’ve been an athlete all my life but I’ve never had a sport,” he says. “Te human body fascinates me yet we only use 10 per cent of our true potential. How far can you push your body before it breaks? I haven’t found out. It’s about self-discovery, disproving the impossible, and pushing the human boundary that’s there.” Perrin is training for a 750-mile solo, self-supported race in June in the Alaskan Inner Passage. He will have no assistance during the 16 to 18 days he expects it will take him to complete the race. He’ll be the only paddler in a sea of sailboats and rowboats. “Tis is the biggest race I’ve taken on yet,” he says. Perrin will use two GPS systems with the towns marked where he plans to stop for rest and to re-load on food. Between stops, he expects to carry six days worth of food and supplies. “You can’t plan everything,” he says. “Tere will be on-thefy decisions.” Perrin’s ultimate goal is to introduce and spread his love of the sport to as many people as possible. SUP St. Louis ofers group and private lessons, yoga classes, and custom packages. “It’s 80 slmag.net

a sport that’s easy to catch onto,” Perrin says. “You get a full-body workout and you connect with nature.” Being in nature is one of the many reasons Holly Scholten is a SUP yoga devotee. “I love that you’re not looking at a wall, but rather at trees or the sunset or the water,” she says. Scholten moved from outside Chicago to St. Louis last spring. New to the city, she wanted to get involved in activities in the community. “Tere’s no way there’s going to be a large body of water in the area where I can paddle board,” she remembers thinking. “But I did some research online and came across SUP STL. You can do paddle boarding and yoga? I couldn’t believe it!” she says. “Tis is who I am.” Soon she was participating in the open paddle board sessions and late in the summer stepped in to teach SUP Yoga after an instructor moved out of town. Yoga poses on a board can be more challenging, but the board also makes it less threatening for people to step outside their comfort zones. “People tend to try poses on the water that they may not on land for fear of falling on a hard floor,” says Scholten, who hopes to teach SUP Yoga classes at SUP St. Louis

“I love the water. It’s my passion,” says Holly Scholten. Here she works three diferent poses, including “Wheel” (top left).

this summer and works at Lululemon in the Central West End. “Te water allows you to play around a little more.” For Scholten, the bridge pose on a SUP is particularly thrilling at sunset, and her most challenging pose is the headstand. “I’ve seen it done but I can’t do it myself.” Five years ago, Ken Lester, managing director of a large St. Louis asset management company and a former college wrestler, took up paddle boarding on Lake Charlevoix in Michigan. Today he owns a feet of boards ranging from 8-1⁄2to 14-feet long, and he often travels with a wet suit and paddle board. A few months ago, he was hoping to learn to paddle surf in La Jolla, Calif., when the 5-foot waves became an impediment. Te exercise is what Lester loves about the sport. “You can push yourself as hard as in a high-impact adrenaline sport,” he says “You get your heart rate up but it’s low impact.” Lester says it’s easy to be competitive with oneself on a paddle board. “You have your routes, just like a runner, and your times, which you strive to beat.” But being out in nature, sharing the sport with family and friends, is another reason to give it a try. “Tat’s what’s most unique about it,” he says.

Back East, after Desloge’s foray into the Sound, he decided to challenge himself a few days later with an adventure into the South Shore, which faces the Atlantic Ocean. He paddled about a mile of the beach to fsh. When the time came to get back in with a 12-pound blue fsh on deck, the 7-foot waves turned out to be an obstacle he couldn’t overcome. “I was underprepared,” he says. “All I could do was surf back in and wipe out. My stuf went everywhere, but luckily there were enough people on the beach watching that they helped me. Tat’s the part I haven’t perfected.” Perfect or not, SUP ofers the beauty of a natural landscape, a full-body workout and enough options to keep it interesting. For Desloge, that means targeting bigger, more exotic species of fsh. For Perrin, it’s about reaching goals, both physical and mental. Tis summer, Scholten might just conquer that headstand after all, and Lester hopes to get his shot at surf paddling in California. sl Attendees of the St. Louis Boat & Sportshow can try out the latest stand-up paddle boards and kayaks in a pool on the show foor. Water sports experts will also demonstrate the equipment for enthusiasts and novices. Bring your swimsuit or borrow a wetsuit at no charge. Te show takes place from March 4 to 8 at America’s Center in downtown St. Louis. Admission is $12; children 15 and younger get in free. Visit www.stlouisboatshow. com for more information.

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Central and South America, thesheldon.org COCAbiz bizLAB Intensive: Creative Leadership for Changing Times, cocastl.org 37th Annual Spring Art Fair at Queeny Park, artfairatqueenypark.com Giordano Dance, edisonwustl.edu “STOMP”, fabulousfox.com GO! St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend, gostlous.org Beyond Bosch: The Afterlife of a Renaissance Master in Print Exhibit, slam.org “I Love Lucy” Live on Stage, peabodyoperahouse.org Matsutoyo Kai Presented by UMSL International Studies and Programs, touhill.org St. Louis Symphony Concert: Forces of Nature, stlsymphony.org FIRST Robotics Championship, usfrst.org The Second City, touhill.org Fields and Farm Cocktail Party; 26: Clay Shoot and Awards Luncheon, havenofgracestl.org 26th Annual St. Louis Earth Day Festival, stlouisearthday.org St. Louis Storytelling Festival, stlstorytellingfestival.org

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NELLYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BLACK AND WHITE BALL LINKS UP WITH LINDENWOOD Grammy Award-winning entertainer and native St. Louisan Nelly hosted the Black and White Ball at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis. The annual party counted Nick Cannon, Lil Ralph, and Brett Hull among its celebrity guests. Nelly and Dr. Shane Williamson, Dean of First Year Programs at Lindenwood University, announced the launch of the Black and White scholarship program, which provides two students with full-tuition to the university. For 2014/2015, Savoy Smith III and Kalen Michael Grant are the award recipients.

Nelly

Nelly, Brett Hull

Will Smith, Mike Schafn, Jay Erving

Lil Ralph, Sheila Cunningham

Ashley Beleos, Mahesh Bagwe, Brett Hull, Kelly Bagwe

Jason Swoboda, Mandi Harrell

Jessica and Jacob Herschend, Lisa and Tom Carnahan

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Photography by Blacktie Missouri

Jami Dolby, Jeloni Hall

Shasta and McArthur Smith

Savoy Smith III, Shane Williamson, Kalen-Mikal Grant

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ÂŠ2014 Porsche Cars North America, Inc. Porsche recommends seat belt usage and observance of all traffic laws at all times. *911 Carrera model with PDK and Sport Chrono Package.

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THE FLEUR DE LIS BALL DEBUTANTES Forty-three young women, also known as honorees, were presented to Most Reverend Robert Carlson, archbishop of St. Louis, at the 56th annual Fleur de Lis Charity Ball at Te Hyatt Regency Saint Louis at Te Arch. Te annual ball, which benefts SSM Cardinal Glennon Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Medical Center, has to-date raised more than $2 million for the hospital.

Giuletta Brunetto

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Photography by Robert George

Te honorees pose for a selfe.

Te honorees before being presented.

Natalie Buck, Joe Buck

Te escorts run down the ramp!

Lindsay Dames

Megan Bucol, Kevin Bucol

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Sophia Tomaso, Robert Tomaso

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ARTS AND EDUCATION IN THE SPOTLIGHT “Art, and support for the arts, is happening all around us,” said Cynthia Prost, president of the Arts and Education Council, during opening remarks at the organization’s St. Louis Arts Awards. The Arts and Education Council’s 24th annual awards ceremony honored jazz vocalist Denise Thimes, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis; Jim McKelvey and Doug Auer, Third Degree Glass Factory; Jill McGuire, Regional Arts Commission; Warner Baxter and Tom Voss, Ameren Corporation; Ken and Nancy Kranzberg, Excellence in Philanthropy; and Winifred Crock, Parkway Central High School, Art Educator of the Year.

Ken and Nancy Kranzberg, Kellie and Andy Trivers

Erin Prange, Brian Enos, Lana Pepper, John Russell

Jef and Becky Aboussie, Kelley McCarthy, Michael Kelley

Barbara Bridgewater, Bert Vescolani, Donna Wilkinson, Noemi Neidorf

Warner Baxter, Cindy Baxter, Carol and Tom Voss

Rick Dildine, Mont Levy, Tim Eby

Steve Swymeler, Terry Good, Jean Meyer, Michael Weisbrod

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Photography by Blacktie Missouri

Jay Nouss, Denise Times, Lisa Nouss

Michael Scully, Jill McGuire

Michelle and Denny Reagan, Deborah Patterson, Kelvin Carter

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Luxury has a new look.

2015 Audi A3

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JOURNEY TO THE STARS On January 20th, IWC Schafausen and around 800 prominent guests gathered to cele¬brate the 75th anniversary of the legendary Portugieser watch family at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in Geneva. Guests and brand ambassadors who attended the gala evening included movie stars Emily Blunt, Christoph Waltz, Zhou Xun and Moritz Bleibtreu, filmmaker and screenwriter Marc Forster, sports personalities such as Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Luís Figo, supermodels Adriana Lima and Karolina Kurkova and musicians Aloe Blacc, Ronan Keating and Mick Hucknall. Te latter was responsible for the evening’s musical highlights afer Marco Tempest had transported the guests to the infnite depths of the universe through his high-tech animations.

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Karolina Kurkova

Ronan Keating and Storm Uechtriz

Adriana Lima

Helen Svedin, Luis Figo

Emily Blunt

Jose Maria Manzanares and Luis Figo

James Marsden

Karolina Kurkova

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INVEST

INFLUENCE

INSPIRE

Sophisticated Living Magazine would like to thank you for your generous contributions and continued support of thriving non-profts in our community. According to Charity Navigator, local philanthropists have made St. Louis the top charitable city in the nation!

If you would like to connect your favorite charity with our 14,000+ other readers, Contact Cortney Vaughn or Oliver Muenz-Winkler at 314.82.SLMAG.

TREASURES FOUND FOR CHILDREN IN NEED Te World Pediatric Projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (WPP) fourth annual Treasures in Paradise held at the Danforth Plant and Science Center raised funds to support the organizationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission of providing critical healthcare to children regardless of culture or geography. Last year, WPP brought 76 children from Latin America to St. Louis to receive care. Te organization also sent 45 medical missions to its partner countries in Central America and the Caribbean to help on 782 surgeries and to provide 2,651 consultations.

Kate Corbett, Tom and Heather Hebson

Mark and Stephanie Schnuck

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Photography by Blacktie Missouri

Michael and Amy Stumpf, Peggy and Tom Gain

Catherine and Barth Holohan

Tony Orf, Katie Trout

Megan and Bill Rowe, Amanda Wellford

Rusty and Julie Keeley, Lee and Laurie Wielansky

Mary Mason, Michelle Bain, Viriginia McDowell, Michael Wendorf, Davon Cramer

Chip and Katie Lerwick, Meredith and Jim Holbrook

Matt Boland, Lesley Whittle, Laurie Tighe, Allison Amann, Ken Wilhelm, Sarah Wahl

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THE CARDINALS TEAM UP WITH THE NATIONAL CHILDREN’S CANCER SOCIETY It was a blast from baseball’s past at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel Doubletree as three baseball Hall of Famers appeared on stage together for the frst time at an Evening with the Cardinals, hosted by Te National Children’s Cancer Society (NCCS). Pitchers Bob Gibson and Steve Carlton, and broadcaster Tim McCarver shared baseball memories with the crowd. Te evening also included dinner and silent and live auctions featuring one-of-a-kind baseball memorabilia. Te NCCS provides emotional, fnancial, and educational support to children with cancer, their families and survivors.

Lauren Ashman, Justin Baker

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Photography by Blacktie Missouri

Paul Rothermich, Lauren Shea

Kerry and Dave Powers

Nina Martorano, Debbie Larkin

Kellie Hynes, Sharon John, Lisa Schoenecker, Lisa Greening

Julie and Dan Dunbar

Matt Masiel, Wes Mellow

Mark Slocomb, Deanna Miller, Matt Masiel

Bob Gibson

Steve Carlton

Bob Gibson, Tim McCarver

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discover St. Louisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Best Kept Secret where your second home will become your first love

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A BRIDGE TO BETTER CARE Te Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital Gala, “Journeys 2015,” celebrated children and their inspiring stories of recovery and journeys home. Held at Te RitzCarlton Hotel, the evening included a VIP reception, dinner and auction to raise funds for the hospital. Ranken Jordan is recognized for its program dubbed Care Beyond the Bedside, part of the hospital’s mission to provide a continuum of care for medically complicated children and their families.

Jean Bardwell, Lauri Tanner

Matt White, Tammy and Mike Higgins

Bill and Shannon Wilhite

Claudia and Mike Bush

Tom and Shelly Niemier

Rachel and Zack McClung

Tim and Wendy Decker

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Photography by Blacktie Missouri

Tracy Gonsior, Becky Williamson

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Liz and Bob Kijowski, Ryan and Tracy Kelly

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BALLYHOOING HOLLYWOOD At a black-tie ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills at the end of January, the Art Directors Guild presented its 19th Annual Excellence in Production Design Awards in 11 categories of flm, television, commercials and music videos. Te audience of more than 850 included stars, guild members, industry executives, and press. ADG President Mimi Gramatky and Council Chair Marcia Hinds presided over the awards ceremony with comedian Owen Benjamin serving as host.

Felicity Jones

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Loni Love

Julie Bowen

Eddie Redmayne

Mark Worthington, Lisa Edelstein

Jim Bissell, George Clooney

Christopher Nolan, Anne Hathaway

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Your Dreams, Your Desires, Your Dates. At On The Map Travel, we plan private, custom trips that are thoughtfully created and packed with personality. Our Private Travel Designers hand craft high-end, high-emotion travel, creating journeys flled with personalized adventures and activities that are nothing less than extraordinary.

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MAN’S BEST FRIENDS GET A HELPING HAND FROM TONY LA RUSSA Tony La Russa and the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) hosted Wine & Whiskers, a food and wine-tasting party at the Redbirds Club to celebrate La Russa’s 2014 Baseball Hall of Fame induction. Friends and fans gathered to celebrate the Cardinal former manager’s latest accomplishment and to sample wines and food from St. Louis restaurants. La Russa lauded the success of Pets for Vets, a Foundation program connecting shelter animals with military personnel acclimating to civilian life. For 24 years, ARF has rescued dogs and cats from high-kill shelters.

Photos by Blacktie Missouri

Jill Bertram, Mary Ellen Cremins, Tony La Russa, Carole Buck, Jacque Niekamp

Paul and Melissa Hughes, Trudie and Steve Asher

Drew Weisenborn, Stephanie and Dennis Weisenborn, Branden Weisenborn

Sean Fitzgerald, Steve and Marilyn Crimmins, Megan Mark

Libby Noonan, Beth and Dudley McCarter, Lindsey Rowntree, Logan Baseley, Kristen Krause, Kyle Mathias

Stephanie Kritchell, Allison Witt

Leon Corbin, Kent Mitchell, Kevin Corbin

Amy Erwin, Karen Wright, Katherine McCarter, Tyler Roussin and “Larry”

Tony Wright, Mike Danuser, Jim Wright

Lauren Lyons, Jeannie Woods, Sandy Lyons

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John Ross Key Louisiana Purchase Exposition 1904 ®

A family-run business for nearly 50 years, Kodner Gallery is St. Louis’ most trusted name in fne art services. Our expertise includes European and American Impressionism, American Western, Regionalism, WPA, Ashcan Group, Hudson River School as well as Post-War Modern and Contemporary paintings, drawings, fne prints and sculpture. Tomas Hart Benton Tobacco Drying

Kodner Gallery is proud to serve the St. Louis community through our Trash or Treasure fne art and antique appraisal events and free verbal consultations are ofered daily.

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DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY Pair six CEOs and civic leaders with professional ballroom dancers and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a party! Te annual Independence Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dancing with the St. Louis Stars gala raised $456,565 to support and help restore the lives of the mentally impaired. Dance partners Mark Trudeau and Lucy Fitzgerald raised $97,930, and were crowned champions of the evening. After a cocktail reception and dinner, guests enjoyed dance performances with attendees and celebrity judges voting for their favorite dance pairs.

Christina Altholz, Amy Altholz, Liz and Tony Arrow

Photography by Blacktie Missouri

Greg Keller, Sue McCollum, Carl Vouckaert, Suzanne Sitherwood

Ray and Diane Barrett

Robby and Norma McGehee

Marilyn Bush, Carol Bush, Julie Van Etten

Jose Paz, Katie Varner

Tim Jacobs, Emily and David Scherer

Kevin Roberts, Michelle Toma, Erin and Craig Gooch

Melanie Knirr, Barry Cervantes

Suzy and Ben Christian

Michael and Lucy Fitzgerald

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Photography by Matt Marcinkowski

SPRINKLE SOME MAGIC FOR KIDS Te Young Friends of Kids with Cancer Masquerade Ball sold more than 100 tickets to its second annual VooDoo in the Lou fundraising party at the Contemporary Art Museum. A fortune-teller provided the young crowd with a sneak peak into the future and Lola Van Ella and Company entertained the crowd with a burlesque show. Cajun hors dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;oeuvres and desserts plus live music rocked the museum until the early morning hours.

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Photography by Blacktie Missouri

Amanda Armfeld, Taylor Delgado

Amanda Edwards, Andrea Cruse, Jenny Dyson, Jesse Dyson, Annie Bishop

Clay and Lacey Savage

Maureen Cunningham, Brandon Wehking

Betty Breen, Katy Breen

Mike Vredenburgh, Rebecca Rubin- Schlansky, Matt Gross, Tracy Goldberg- Gross

Katie Kozarits, Steve Kozarits, Patty Kozarits, Jef Madden

Brianne Cummings, Bobby Heitz, Ray Breckenkamp, Madeline Triplett

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BREAK THE RULES OF ENTERTAINING.

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Sophisticated Living St. Louis March/April 2015

Articles inside

Caddies to Castles

Dancing All the Way Home