Sophisticated Living Chicago March/April 2019

{Chicago’s Finest}

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Mar/Apr 2019

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{Chicago’s Finest}

Mar/Apr 2019

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Mar/Apr 2019

on the cover: After more than two decades on Rush Street, Le Colonial takes its passion for French-Vietnamese cuisine to a new, larger location on Oak Street. Shown here: Le Colonial’s Eternal Spring cocktail made with Grey Goose La Poire vodka, Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur, cucumber, basil and pear. Background: A tray of Saigon Slings.

Photo by Anthony Tahlier

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HIGH GLOSS A first look at Chanel’s new Oak Street boutique and Lagerfeld’s sublime spring/summer 2019 ready-to-wear collection

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BOLD “BEGINNINGS” From poppy-printed windbreakers to monogrammed bags, Virgil Abloh’s first men’s collection for Louis Vuitton makes a cutting-edge statement

22

WORK IT Christian Siriano takes a timeout from New York Fashion Week to chat with SL about confidence, Chicago and his return to Project Runway

26

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE Artist Lonney White takes us on a tour of his Bridgeport studio space turned events venue and shares the scoop on his Hamptons collab with Michael Del Piero

28

ART AND SOUL With a uniquely modern aesthetic and a commitment to client relationships, Andersonville’s Norcross and Scott is the design team to watch

33

MI CASITA ES SU CASITA Experience sunny SoCal hospitality at Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, the only Relais & Châteaux property in Southern California

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ROCK ON From rugs and rocking chairs to lamps and side tables, our favorite furniture and home decor gets hard-core (literally) in granite, stone, concrete and more

Virgil Abloh’s premiere men’s collection for Louis Vuitton—the men’s spring/summer 2019 collection—makes its way to Michigan Avenue. Shown here: Monogram canvas mini soft trunk, $2,810, available at Louis Vuitton Michigan Avenue.

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ALL THINGS GREAT AND SMALL A selection of tony tomes inspired by Lilliputian pursuits (think a guide to small talk and a picture book blooming with petite gardens)

42

BELLS & WHISTLES The future is now! Highlights from the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show

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MAISON + MODE Our must-see roundup of the latest home and haute couture trends coming out of Paris

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GOOD VIBES ONLY Our intrepid traveler feels the love at L’Auberge de Sedona, a four-season playground for art and adventure

54

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE Sofia Torres McKay, co-owner of Cramoisi Vineyard in Oregon, recounts the love story behind her biodynamic vineyard

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A bold blue couch from ModShop, Los Angeles, pillows and blankets by Missoni and accessories from Houzz make for a cozy nook in Lana Bramlette’s Lincoln Park living room.

For more pics of the Lana Jewelry designer’s Chicago abode, turn to “Sparkle and Posh.”

Photo by Anthony Tahlier

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LA MECCANICA DELLE EMOZIONI A look back at Alfa Romeo, the Italian auto manufacturer that’s been packaging pulchritude and performance for more than 100 years

60

THE EYES HAVE IT From fine jewelry to funky fashion baubles, designers like Jade Jagger, Temple St. Clair and more find inspiration from the window to the soul

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OFF THE CUFF SL’s personality-packed list of watches and cufflinks for the sophisticated man

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SOPHISTICATED SOURCE Eight pages of the season’s hottest fashion, art and interior design finds for living your best-dressed life

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SPARKLE AND POSH Lana Jewelry designer Lana Bramlette takes SL on a tour of her fashion-forward Lincoln Park home—and models looks by Halpern, Monique Lhuillier and more

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ALL ACCESS Chicago lifestyle and fashion blogger Janet Mandell makes unforgettable fashion moments accessible to all with By:Fashionaholic in River North

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PASSION PLAY After 22 years on Rush Street, Le Colonial makes a big move to Oak Street, bringing its passion for authentic French-Vietnamese cuisine to a new, luxe location

94

YOU, OPTIMIZED The Pazio Institute in the West Loop makes a case for why transformative wellness is the next big thing

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WHEN ONE DOOR OPENS Chicago org Doors Open Dishes connects local chefs with adults living with disabilities to support the group homes and programming they need

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CALENDAR SL’s list of not-to-miss events for giving back and good times

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SOPHISTICATED SOCIETY Chicago’s chicest parties, from philanthropy to fashion

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SOPHISTICATED WOMAN Shelley Patenaude, president of the Founders’ Board of the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, talks passion projects and personal growth

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TURNING DREAMS INTO REALITY One kitchen at a time.

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PUBLISHER Alison Victoria CREATIVE DIRECTOR Bridget Daley EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Elise Hofer Shaw DIRECTOR OF LUXURY BRANDS Sarah Kahi-Goitz ——————————————— ART DIRECTOR Jason Yann CONTRIBUTORS Writers Victoria Chase Ruth Crnkovich Colin Dennis Allison Duncan Chloe Geller Anita Heriot Joel Hoglund Korey Huyler Andre James Caylee Matthews Sally Meyer Taylor Morgan Marissa Nelson Lisa Shames Ceta Walters Bridget Williams Photographers James Gustin for Fig Media Rett Peek Nikko Salgado Alan Shortall Anthony Tahlier Y.O! Photography Photo Editing Stephen Luxem ADVERTISING SALES OFFICE 937.672.6448 ——————————————— SOPHISTICATED LIVING MEDIA Eric Williams - CEO Bridget Williams - President Sophisticated Living® is published by AVMM Media Group, 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 AVMM Media Group, 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. Address all subscription inquiries to the website slmag.net. Telephone 937.672.6448.

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From the Publisher

Portrait by Anthony Tahlier

Let’s hear it for the girls! Our spring issue is packed with dynamic Chicago ladies who, as the Eurythmics/Aretha Franklin song says, truly are doin’ it for themselves.

In November, I met Janet Mandell for the first time when she outfitted me for my feature story and cover for our last issue. I knew her name as a Chicago lifestyle and fashion blogger, but I never knew what an accomplished businesswoman she is. With her latest venture, By:Fashionaholic, Mandell is making unforgettable fashion moments accessible to all. Her business model is centered on the premise that renting often makes more sense than buying when it comes to couture. Instead of paying big bucks for a designer dress or handbag that you may only wear once to a special event, Mandell rents out couture from her Voguecloset-rivaling collection—think gowns by Dior and Balmain, bags by Hermès and Chanel, and sky-high stilettos by Fendi and Valentino. And with an hour of complimentary styling for every client, even the most sartorially challenged Chicagoans can look like Carrie Bradshaw.

Also in this issue is a profile, home tour, and fashion spread featuring Chicago jewelry designer Lana Bramlette and her gorgeous home in Lincoln Park. Lana is my spirit animal.

She’s a badass Chicago woman who built her business, Lana Jewelry, from the ground up and now counts Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna and Bella Hadid as clients, and her line is sold at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. I can’t wait to get my hands on some 14K gold hoops, chains and bangles from her new Casino collection!

And last, but definitely not least, is the amazing Shelley Patenaude, the subject of this issue’s Sophisticated Woman profile. Her work as president of the Founders’ Board of the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, ensuring that all children get the care they need regardless of whether or not the family can afford treatment, is remarkable. And she has been an unbelievable cheerleader for my friend (and our audio technician on Windy City Rehab) Tyler Lang and his wife Pricilla, whose 2-year-old baby girl, Opal, is awaiting a heart transplant at Lurie Children’s Hospital. I’m happy to report that Opal is doing great, getting stronger every day, and just celebrated her birthday surrounded by her family and the loving team at Lurie Children’s… and lots of unicorns! And I know that I’m speaking for the entire Windy City Rehab family when I say thank you to the 105 active members and approximately 50 associate members on the Founders’ Board at Lurie Children’s who tirelessly advocate, educate and fundraise on behalf of children like Opal. God bless you.

As for me, I’m taking a self-imposed, monthlong hiatus from filming Windy City Rehab to rest and recharge before we start demo on our next round of properties for Season 2. And this month, Creative Director (and my other spirit animal) Bridget Daley and I are heading to my second home in Sin City to shoot the cover for the very first issue of the newest magazine under the SL umbrella: Sophisticated Living Las Vegas.

So here’s to all the women out there kicking ass and taking names, supporting causes and giving hope… and creating a world that’s more civilized and, well, more sophisticated.

Alison Victoria Owner & Publisher alison@slmag.net

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From the Editor-In-Chief

Portrait by Y.O! Photography

Chicagoans are creatures of habit. We have our favorite neighborhood hangouts. We expect the seasons to change like clockwork (even when they don’t). We like our corner coffee houses where the baristas know our name and how we like our latte. And sure, we line up to try out the hot new restaurant, but by the next week we’re back at our tried-and-true eateries for dishes that fill our bellies with comfort and our hearts with nostalgia.

Which is why when I heard that Le Colonial restaurant was moving from its home on Rush Street, where it has been for the last 22 years, my heart felt heavy. There are a lot of restaurants in Chicago that hold sentimental value for me—Topo Gigio Ristorante because I fell in love over their conchiglie alla sarda, and Wishbone because my daughter has grown up on their crispy French toast—but Le Colonial tops the list. I moved to Chicago in 1996, and Le Colonial opened shortly thereafter. It has been a constant, from the authentic FrenchVietnamese menu (no joke, the menu hasn’t changed in 22 years) to the lychee Martinis and the massive palm fronds you’d have to duck past to find the perfect spot in the candlelit upstairs lounge. I would always order the same things: the goi cuon soft salad rolls with shrimp, rice, vermicelli, bean sprouts and herbs (and that heavenly plum-peanut sauce for dipping), and the mi xao don chay, stir-fried mixed vegetables and tofu over crispy egg noodles with a light garlic-oyster sauce.

My husband and I have had countless dates at the Rush Street location, and there have been annual holiday celebrations with friends and family around the white-cloth-covered tables that lasted well past our Vietnamese coffees. And oh so many laughter-filled birthday lunches with girlfriends. I was worried that the new location, albeit a stone’s throw away, just wouldn’t be the same. I was wrong. A few weeks before its official opening, co-owner Joe King invited me in for a preview lunch to check out the Oak Street space and sample the menu. Everything felt familiar—only bigger and better. We hugged, we laughed, and we talked about how important it was to the Le Colonial crew to keep their regulars happy while focusing on updates to the decor and art, and new plating presentations courtesy of Executive Chef Quoc Luong that only amplify the flavors you know and love.

Well, Joe, mission accomplished. For all the sweet and savory details on the new location and culinary lineup, check out contributing writer Lisa Shames’ feature, “Passion Play.” And when you finally do get a chance to go, do yourself a favor and try the new duck noodle soup (mi vit quay) with sliced roasted Long Island duck, egg noodles, duck consommé, bok choy, shiitake and beech mushrooms, and scallions. It’s divine. And raise your glass to making some new memories at the new Le Colonial. I know I will. Happy spring, everyone. I have a good feeling about this one.

Elise Hofer Shaw Editor-In-Chief elise@slmag.net

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Contributors “When I was choosing this issue’s Sophisticated Woman, I knew I was looking for someone who is a leader among all of the charitable individuals in our city,” says Creative Director Bridget Daley, who interviewed Shelley Patenaude, proprietor of Shelley Patenaude Interiors and president of the Founders’ Board of the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, for this issue.

“What I didn’t know is that I would find a woman who is as strong as they come, and a role model for all women trying to find joy and create a new path for themselves.”

“I had so much fun chatting with Lana Bramlette about her stunning home in Lincoln Park,” says new contributing writer Allison Duncan, who interviewed the Lana Jewelry founder for this issue (“Sparkle and Posh”). “Thanks to Lana, I’m now seriously contemplating investing in a Missoni pillow collection and obsessively watching Cameron Diaz movies to spot her wearing Lana’s Blake necklace.” As a freelance journalist, Duncan regularly contributes to publications like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Vogue and Architectural Digest.

“Every Sophisticated Living Chicago photo assignment is an adventure,” says photographer and Fig Media owner James Gustin, who captured artist Lonney White at his studio in Bridgeport for this issue (“Artist in Residence”). “White’s large-scale encaustic wax panels, enshrined in his impeccable live/work studio space, captured my full attention as my team was tasked with shooting the artist’s portrait in front of a 17-by-12-foot piece. It was a super-challenging shoot but, as always, with the help of Editor-In-Chief Elise Hofer Shaw and Creative Director Bridget Daley, we made magic.”

“Norcross and Scott is a little shop that packs a big creative punch,” says contributing writer Joel Hoglund, who wrote about the Andersonville home decor shop and interior design practice (“Art and Soul”). “I live nearby and can’t help popping in each time I walk past to see what’s new. The owners, Amanda Norcross and Scott Paterek, obviously put a lot of thought into every single thing they carry. In speaking with a couple of the clients who’ve hired them for interior design services, it’s clear they bring the same consideration and attention to detail to every inch of the homes they decorate.”

For this issue, photographer Anthony Tahlier took on two big assignments: an interior design/ fashion spread featuring Lana Jewelry founder Lana Bramlette (“Sparkle and Posh”) and our restaurant feature spotlighting the new menu and location of Le Colonial (“Passion Play”). “I have admired Bramlette’s jewelry for years and it was great to get to shoot with her again,” says Tahlier.

“She has great energy and was open to my suggestions, which made the shoot go really smoothly.

And Le Colonial… I have so many awesome memories of going there with my wife and am excited to see it reborn. Looking forward to our next date night at the new location!”

“I fell in love with Christian Siriano the minute I saw him on Project Runway in 2008,” says Ceta Walters, the Chicago-based fashion and lifestyle blogger behind Clark and Stone (clarkandstone.com), who interviewed the designer for this issue (“Work It”). “It’s pretty impossible not to love a man that loves the word fierce!” Walters also admires how inclusive Siriano is with his line. “He dresses women of all shapes and sizes, and his fashion shows are always off the hook. If you are planning a trip to New York, definitely make time to visit his concept store The Curated NYC for a well-edited mix of womenswear, accessories, fragrances and more.”

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be kind. be fair. be ямБerce.

INTERIOR DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE

Chicago’s new Chanel store on Oak Street

HIGH GLOSS

Chanel’s new Oak Street boutique plays to Chicago’s rich history of design and the heritage of the beloved brand.

By Elise Hofer Shaw After 21 years at its Michigan Avenue location at the base of The Drake hotel, Chanel has made a big move (albeit a short distance) to Oak Street. And the new, 8,000-square-foot location is larger and more luxurious than ever, showcasing expanded collections of the iconic French fashion house’s readyto-wear, handbags, shoes and costume jewelry by Karl Lagerfeld, as well as a selection of watches, fragrances and beauty. (At press time, Virginie Viard had been announced as Lagerfeld’s successor after his passing on Feb. 19.)

Conceived by the prolific, New York-based architect and frequent Chanel collaborator Peter Marino, the new, two-floor boutique makes quite the modernist statement, beginning with its glossy black granite and white stone facade. Inside, custom-commissioned artwork by Wang Ningde, Anthony Pearson, Michal Rovner, Agnes Martin, Idris Khan and Pascale Marthine Tayou captivates from the handbag salon to the knitwear nook, and the natural-lightenveloped, white marble staircase takes the elegance factor over the top.

This month, Lagerfeld’s sublimely chic spring/summer 2019 ready-towear collection gets top billing, and fashion-forward Chicagoans are already lining up for the recently released Chanel 31 handbags. So go for the fashion, stay for the art. And linger for the glamour of it all. sl Chanel, 65 E. Oak St., 312.787.5500. chanel.com

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Looks and accessories from Chanel’s spring/ summer 2019 ready-towear collection

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BOLD “BEGINNINGS”

Virgil Abloh’s premiere men’s collection for Louis Vuitton teases what’s to come for the 165-year-old fashion house.

By Elise Hofer Shaw

Clockwise from top left: Signature 35MM monogram canvas belt, $990. Denim oversize shirt, $2,530. Prism keepall, $3,850. Poppies Dorothy graphic windbreaker, $3,850. LV trainer sneaker boot, $1,600. And ribbed utility gilet, $3,350. All by Virgil Abloh for Louis Vuitton and available at Louis Vuitton Michigan Avenue.

Virgil Abloh has been on everyone’s lips ever since he burst onto the scene as Kanye’s creative director in 2010. And his Off-White label has shot him further into stratospheric fame for his ability to mix luxe details with a distinctively downtown vibe. So it comes as no surprise that Louis Vuitton tapped the Chicagoan to be its new men’s artistic director in March 2018, tasking the designer with breathing new life into the French fashion house’s multicategory menswear offerings. Entitled We Are The World, Abloh’s premiere collection for Vuitton—the men’s spring/summer 2019 collection—debuted at Paris Fashion Week this past summer.

Abloh sent the models, including artists and friends like Kid

Cudi and Playboi Carti, down the runway at the Palais Royal in a prismatic rainbow of looks ranging from tailored to casual ready-to-wear. The buzz surrounding the collection’s release is big, and Louis Vuitton’s Michigan Avenue location is among the first of the brand’s stores to showcase the line. And since the highly anticipated pieces—think poppy-printed windbreakers, chic-yetstreet high-top sneakers and hoodies, and monogrammed bags boasting plastic chains in an attention-grabbing orange—will be available only in select North American stores, our advice is to get ’em while they’re “hot.” sl Louis Vuitton Michigan Avenue, 919 N. Michigan Ave., 312.944.2010. louisvuitton.com

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WORK IT

Christian Siriano continues his fashion-forward trajectory right into our hearts with his all-inclusive collections and a return to Project Runway.

Christian Siriano is quite possibly the hardest working designer in New York. Last year, the CFDA member celebrated his 10-year brand anniversary, dressed 17 celebs at the Academy Awards and nine women at the Emmy’s, and unveiled a multi-brand retail store in New York called The Curated NYC. And in April, Siriano was announced as one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential pioneers, leaders, titans, artists and icons of 2018 for being at the forefront of the body diversity/positivity movement on the runway and red carpet.

And he’s got a powerhouse celeb clientele in his corner, including former FLOTUS Michelle Obama, Angelina Jolie, Ariana Grande, Julianne Moore, Lady Gaga, Tiffany Haddish, Lena Dunham, Cardi B and Scarlett Johansson, just to name a few.

And now, the 33-year-old wunderkind is bringing it all full circle. This month, Siriano is headed back to Bravo to mentor Project Runway Season 17’s competing designers alongside supermodel host Karlie Kloss. (In case you forgot, Siriano won Project Runway Season 4 back in 2008—and the hearts of an industry that isn’t easily impressed.) What we do know is that the pair have undeniable chemistry. But you’ll have to tune in March 14 at 8PM on Bravo and follow along to find out whom the judges crown the next designer to watch.

Siriano took a break from New York Fashion Week to talk to SL about confidence, strong women and his fave Chicago hangouts.

What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?

Snuggle with the puppies and check my email.

Name one thing that you can’t live without.

I cannot live without my dogs, Topper and Bear.

What is your favorite piece in your closet?

My Common Project shoes and any of my Comme des Garçons pieces.

What is the most elegant gift to give or to receive?

I think a four-stem orchard is one of the most elegant gifts you can give.

And anything from Hermès.

Who or what inspires you?

So many things inspire me, everything from architecture, art and furniture to the women in my life.

Who is your muse?

My muse is my customer—anyone from my mother to my sister to a famous actress to a woman walking down the street.

Most sophisticated person ever?

Michelle Obama and my mother.

Proudest career moment?

I’ve had a lot of proud moments in my career ranging from opening my newest store, The Current NYC, to being named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world to becoming a CFDA member and dressing an iconic first lady.

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By Ceta Walters

What are you reading right now?

Becoming by Michelle Obama and More Than Enough by Elaine Welteroth.

What is your favorite cocktail?

I love a classic Cosmo.

Coffee or tea?

I like a caramel latte, but I don’t drink coffee or tea very often.

Guilty pleasure?

Any pop princess and a late-night drag show.

What’s your favorite country to visit?

France because I love Paris so much.

Most sophisticated city?

New York City because of the diversity of cultures.

Place you go for utter peace?

My country house in Connecticut is my favorite escape.

Name your top three vacation must-haves.

An oversized amazing beach tote, Air Control hairspray by Aveda and the latest issue of Architectural Digest.

Most sophisticated structure or building?

30 Rock Top of the Rock.

Where is your favorite place to go when you come to Chicago?

Luxbar for brunch and mimosas, and Wang’s for cocktails at night.

No one should ever wear…

Athleisure for an evening event.

Everyone should own…

A piece of Christian Siriano in their closet.

Most universally flattering color?

A lot of people think it’s black, but I also think white is a beautiful shade on everyone.

Current must-have from your collection?

From my recent pre-fall collection, anything in lavender and a wide-leg stripe pant and top.

Describe your line in three words.

Elegant. Powerful. Modern.

How do you define ‘sophistication’?

I think a lot of things can define sophistication. I think it’s about being confident and how you carry yourself. No matter what you wear, where you come from, how old or what size you are, you can still be sophisticated if you believe in yourself.

Christian Siriano is available at Neiman Marcus Michigan Avenue and Chalk boutiques. christiansiriano.com

CHRISTIAN SIRIANO

Looks from Christian Siriano’s spring 2019 collection

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ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

From multimedia art and furniture design to launching an in-demand events venue, Bridgeport artist Lonney White is one to watch.

By Elise Hofer Shaw / Photography by James Gustin for Fig Media Artist Lonney White loves balance. And minimalism and order.

“I’m constantly thinking about depth, composition, texture and the use of light,” he admits during our tour of his 7,800-squarefoot live/work studio in Bridgeport. The space emotes strength courtesy of its industrial bones yet oozes elegance thanks to its open, monochromatic design. In fact, the only things that haven’t been carefully curated and put in their place are the two Brussels Griffons, Lulu and Lala, that loyally follow White around from his studio to the gallery to the offices, all of which he shares with his partner, interior designer Lukas Machnik. A dream pop ballad by Swedish singer-songwriter Lykke Li is playing softly in the background. It’s an unmistakable—and intentional—vibe, and modern to the core.

“It was really about seeking out a building that could house our work and be a showroom, where we could also live and entertain clients,” says White, who closed on the building in 2015, christening it LW Studio. “We knew it had to be a space with mega square footage, and we wanted an outdoor space for building frames and structures—and, of course, for the dogs.” White, 36, spent the better part of the last three years building out the space with Machnik (the founder of Chicago-based Lucas Machnik Design and the maverick designer who won the Nate Berkus-hosted NBC reality show American Dream Builders in 2014). They did the majority of the construction and finishes themselves. White took on the metaland woodworking—think massive Venetian plaster and patinated steel sliding doors, and farm tables stained jet black—while Machnik handled the interior design. He appointed the space with significant statement pieces like a 10-foot modular black leather sofa by White, stools and vessels from Rick Owens Furniture, and antiques and ancient pottery from sourcing trips to Marrakech, Paris and, most recently, Japan. Although, it’s all constantly being rotated in and out depending on how the pair choose to define and decorate the openconcept floor plan on any given day.

But it’s White’s artwork that steals the show, in particular a 17-by-12-foot black, gray and ivory encaustic wax-on-canvas piece that’s hanging on the main room’s soaring south wall. While the scale of his paintings will stop you in your tracks, it’s the hypnotizing textures that draw you in like a Rorschach test. This painting is from White’s ongoing Metamorphic series that was born out of his 26 slmag.net

Lonney White at his studio in Bridgeport

fascination with finding new ways for materials to express themselves.

“Like any series I work on, it all starts with experimentation and trying to discover something new with a material through process,” explains White, who cites the work of avant-garde artist/designer/ architect Vincenzo De Cotiis and minimalist interior designer Axel Vervoordt as constant sources of inspiration. “For Metamorphic, I started playing with the materials as if I had never met them before, manipulating the beeswax and tree resin with different heat sources for different effects, to move the materials almost like with an airbrush, and the process revealed itself to me. When you fight against the process or the material, it’s never right.”

But White, as it turns out, is quite the enigmatic artist. In addition to experimenting with encaustic waxes, he frequently works with metal alloys, bronze and steel, as well as felt and wood.

His globulous, suspended bronze sculptures and installation pieces are also tastefully peppered throughout the gallery. And he’s currently hard at work on a furniture series, a collection of highly sculptural, hand-smithed bronze and scorched-ash wood chairs that he hopes to release this fall. “The common thread is that I never force the materials to do something they would have an aversion to,” says White, referencing how the waxes bleed across the canvas. “I want the material to react as it would naturally. It excites me not knowing what to expect from the process—the materials then have a kind of honesty. Intuition, composition and scale are my limits of control.”

Untitled encaustic painting from the Metamorphic series (11’7” x 4’4” with steel frame), price and commission upon request at lonneywhite.com.

Born and raised in Billings, Montana, White moved to Missoula shortly after high school, where he studied sculpture and foundry at Missoula College. It was there that he met and apprenticed under designer Ty Best of CASTE Design. “My grandmother on my father’s side drew and painted, and fostered my artistic interests from a very young age,” says White. “But it was Best who gave me a higher education in refined sensibilities.” In 2008, White made the move to Chicago to study interior architecture at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. That same year he introduced himself to Machnik at a gallery opening for CASTE—and they’ve been collaborators in life and art ever since.

Last year, the majority of White and Machnik’s energy and art went into a collaboration with beloved Chicago interior designer Michael Del Piero. For the new shop Michael Del Piero Good Design Hamptons with Lucas Machnik (MDPGDH, for short) in Wainscott, East Hampton—White is a co-owner—the duo manned the renovation and buildout of the barn turned 3,700-square-foot bi-level retail space and interior design studio, while Machnik and Del Piero curated the collections (hamptonsgooddesign.com). “We opened with my Metamorphic series,” says White, who plans to make frequent trips to Wainscott for work—and some much-deserved downtime. “And this spring I will be hanging my new 3-D wax encaustics series that I’m working on now. I’m excited to see how these raw pieces will complement Michael’s earthy, textural vibe.”

But back at home in Bridgeport, for the time being, White is determined to hunker down. He’s currently working on a commission for a private client in the Hamptons, new pieces for Holly Hunt’s showrooms, and that aforementioned collection that he plans to install at MDPGDH this month. He’s also managing bookings for LW Studio as a design-forward events venue. Complete with a chef ’s kitchen boasting black leathered-granite countertops, a concealed catering space, a 46-foot dining table that seats 50 comfortably (capacity is 100 people for standing events) and 30 feet of accordion windows that open onto the lush outdoor space, it’s already in high demand. Recent bookings include a private collector’s dinner for Carpenters Workshop Gallery, a Vic Mensa listening party hosted by Kitchen Toke magazine, a Holly Hunt photo shoot and a baby shower for Michael Jordan’s daughter.

After spending several hours at LW Studio, it’s clear that the beauty of it all is how White blurs the lines between art, architecture and interior design. “It’s a common vocabulary,” adds White. “Art, design and architecture can—and should—be breathed in the same breath. This space, its design, my art… there’s honesty, integrity and beauty in the simplicity. Nothing is concealed or covered up. And it’s that integrity and honesty that translates into what is truly luxury—the luxury to enjoy moments that are special with your family and friends surrounded by beauty that enriches the experience.” Well said, indeed. sl LW Studio, 3845 S. Winchester Ave., 312.810.1011. lonneywhite.com

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ARTAND SOUL

With a popular brick-and-mortar store and a growing list of interior design projects, Norcross and Scott is garnering buzz for its uniquely modern aesthetic and commitment to meaningful client relationships.

By Joel Hoglund Norcross and Scott is a store that is hard to walk past—as I often do on my way to the bustling stretch of shops and restaurants in Andersonville—without coveting something new in the window.

Today, it’s the snow-white ceramic vessels by Minnesota-based artist Cym Warkov. Sensual and elegantly imperfect, they’re not something I would find anywhere else in town. Nor is anything else inside. Like the colorful hand-built pottery by Japanese ceramicist Shino Takeda, large-scale minimalist oil paintings

by Michigan artist Kate Marshall, or an attention-grabbing Kirk Nix lounge chair made of hand-woven seagrass and lampakanai rope. Always something new to find.

Owners Amanda Norcross and Scott Paterek plan to keep it that way.

“We always wanted people to walk into the store and see things that they wouldn’t see anywhere else in Chicago,” says Norcross. “We’re constantly changing,” adds Paterek. “We’re in a neighborhood where there’s a lot of repeat clientele, so we have to stay on our toes to keep things fresh and find new artists and designers all the time, or it can become stale.”

The pair has meticulously curated art, furniture, lighting and accessories with a clean, modern aesthetic that’s unique among the clutch of vintageleaning shops in Andersonville. “Our plan was always to carry new things in our store, to focus on small designers and artists who were creating unusual, special things,” says Norcross.

That plan was hatched over a family vacation in northern Michigan in 2014.

“Potentially over too many margaritas,” Norcross quips. Her cousin is Paterek’s partner, so the duo has been like family for more than a decade. A Michigan native, Norcross studied art history and worked for a commercial kitchen designer for years before getting a master’s in historic preservation from the School of the Art Institute and working as a consultant on adaptive reuse plans. Paterek worked in interior design in his home state of Arkansas for 20 years. Both were ready for a career shakeup on that fateful vacation when the conversation turned to teaming up for a full-service interior design practice based out of their own brick-and-mortar home decor shop. “We said yes in a minute—it was all instinct,” says Paterek.

That was in August. By the end of the year they were working with design clients, and in March 2015 Norcross and Scott opened its doors on Berwyn Avenue. “The attraction to Andersonville was that old-school neighborhood feel,” says Norcross. “People put their phones down and walk around, spending a Saturday visiting the restaurants and stores.”

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Selecting the perfect mix of art and objects is Norcross and Scott’s speciality. (Sculptural concrete pod by Souda, ink drawing by artist Michael McGuire of Las Manos Gallery) Photo by Alan Shortall

For this living room in Little Rock, Ark., Norcorss and Scott selected Barcelona chairs in white and a bookcase from Four Hands.

Photo by Rett Peek

The Norcross and Scott shop in Andersonville

For the master bath inside a recent home project in the South Loop, Norcross and Scott chose handformed ceramic tiles for the walls, a soaking tub

by MTI, a vintage Turkish rug and art by Michelle Peterson of Las Manos Gallery.

Photo by Alan Shortall

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This South Loop master bedroom by Norcross and Scott boasts an oil-andpencil piece by artist Kate Marshall and a custom sisal rug by Merida.

Photo by Alan Shortall

For this bold bedroom design, Norcross and Scott flanked a canvas-covered bed by Four Hands with vintage wooden bedside tables topped with lamps by Pablo Designs.

Photo by Rett Peek

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For the dining room of a design project in Little Rock, Ark, Norcross and Scott paired a vintage wooden dining table with white chairs from Cassina, a statement-making light fixture from Ian K. Fowler, and a coordinating tray by Tina Frey Designs.

Photo by Rett Peek

That first year, almost all of their interior design clients were walk-ins.

After spending a few minutes admiring their well edited wares, who wouldn’t want to hand them the keys to decorate their whole house? “The shop gave people a place to walk into and say, ‘This feels comfortable, I relate to the aesthetic,’ and then they’d invite us into their homes,” says Norcross. “It was a huge compliment that someone would just walk into the store and say, ‘Do you do interior design?’” Paterek adds. “It affirmed what we tried to create.”

Their client roster has grown exponentially each year, with 60 to 70 percent of their new design relationships now coming from word-of-mouth referrals, Norcross estimates.

When Kathy and Dave Schuurman were looking to redo the master bathroom of their South Loop condo, Norcross and Scott came recommended by friends at Gold Coast boutique space519. By the time they were finished, they had remodeled most of the condo. “We bonded with Scott and Amanda immediately upon meeting them and loved the suggestions they were making for our place,” says Dave. “They made the remodeling process as painless as a remodeling process can be,” adds Kathy. “They would show up at the condo when pieces of furniture arrived and we were not home, and arrange books and accessories on matching bookshelves in a way that was perfect and a delight to come home to. They are now more to us than designers—they have become our cherished friends.”

For Sherry Worthen of Little Rock, Ark., it’s a relationship that has spanned decades—and hundreds of miles. She first hired Paterek to remodel her house in 2003. When she purchased a three-story townhouse on the Arkansas River in 2014, she enlisted him again for a 15-month top-to-bottom remodel that transformed the traditional space into a contemporary showplace for her art collection. “I adore Scott,” says Worthen. “Because he is a joy to work with, all the tearing out and moving of walls and plumbing was a fun experience for me. He is so knowledgeable about the mechanics of what and how to build and could communicate that to my builder.” Now Worthen says everyone who walks in the door to her new home is amazed—even from the garage, where everyday comings and goings are elevated by zinc wall lights and planters with green topiaries lining the way to a striking wood and glass door.

All the way from Arkansas, Worthen continues to follow the latest at Norcross and Scott from the plentiful offerings in their online store, and she has already tapped Paterek to design an art studio on her family farm.

With a growing assortment of projects, Norcross and Paterek enter their fifth year in business together with more enthusiasm than ever, for their shop—where new staff, new events and new artists will maintain that ever-important freshness— for their design clients, and for each other. “One of the real joys for me in this business is working together with someone from a different background who brings a different point of view to the table and enhances the process for me and for our clients,” says Norcross. Paterek agrees. “It’s rewarding that our instincts were correct,” he says. “We followed our gut, and our intuition was so dead-on.”

Sometimes, plans hatched over margaritas really do work out. sl Norcross and Scott, 1476 W. Berwyn Ave., 773.564.9533. norcrossandscott.com

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Serenity Yoga Pavilion

MI CASITA ES SU CASITA Experiencing sunny SoCal hospitality at Rancho Valencia Written by Caylee Matthews “Welcome to our home,” said the lovely attendant who greeted me by name as he offered me a blood orange iced tea in the courtyard of Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, the only Relais & Châteaux property in Southern California. I could hardly imagine a better setting to call home for a few days: 45-acres that were once part of a 1,000-acre orange grove in the midst of a high-end residential neighborhood just 25 miles north of downtown San Diego.

Originally opened in 1989 and owned by an adroit and wellness-oriented San Diego-based investment group since 2010, the resort closed for 10 months as part of a $30 million property-wide refresh completed in October of 2012. Even with the opulent upgrades, the new owners worked with the original architect to ensure that the buildings and grounds remained quintessential Southern California, from the Spanish Colonial architecture to the abundant bright pink bougainvillea.

Meshing well with the surrounding residential area, the 49 allsuite casitas average a generous 1,000 square feet, and have either a private garden patio or outdoor spa patio with a jacuzzi. The interiors of the guest rooms boast bespoke rustic-style furnishings, vaulted beamed ceilings, brightly hued commissioned artwork from Mexico City that pops against the warm vanilla-colored walls and wood tones, sumptuous bed linens, walk-in closets, and enormous bathrooms with deep soaking tubs.

My favorite design feature, which I came to appreciate on my very first morning, was a console table outside the front door of my casita, which facilitated daily delivery of sunshine in a glass—aka freshly squeezed orange juice— along with my newspaper of choice. Call me old fashioned, but I relished in what I saw as an invitation to ease into each day.

Activities and amenities at Rancho Valencia embody the “work hard, play hard” ethos. For instance, I had no qualms about indulging in a Baja chorizo and egg burrito at breakfast, a signature Rancho burger at lunch (they had me at black truffle aioli), or a bite or two of dessert at dinner, knowing that I’d need plenty of fuel to power me through each day’s packed itinerary.

With 95 complimentary fitness classes each week, ranging from hard-core cardio to yoga for beginners, fitness junkies will think they have found heaven-on-earth. An offering of an aprèsclass cold-pressed juice or protein shake is a nice reward and serves as a little extra motivation for those who aren’t as keen on exercising. For a more freestyle calorie burn on property, guests can partake in biking (the resort has a partnership with Italian bike manufacturer Pinarello), hiking, croquet, and bocce ball. A tee time at one of five nearby country clubs can be arranged by the concierge. slmag.net

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The resort offers 18 tennis courts, including a "main stage" center court with seating, and two new courts with red ClayTech finishing.

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The Pony Room

Reflecting the passion of its original owner, the property debuted in 1989 with 18 tennis courts, a huge number for a resort with just 50 rooms. The resort has retained its draw as a haven for tennis enthusiasts as reflected in its rating by Tennis Magazine as Southern California’s No. 1 tennis resort each year since 2008. The new owners added two European clay courts and refurbished the 16 plexi-pave championship courts, tennis clubhouse and pro shop.

Court time and use of a ball machine are included amenities that fall under the $35 daily resort fee.

Robin White, a two-time U.S. Open Women’s Doubles Champion who played professionally for twelve years, used to train at Rancho Valencia in the 1990s. Today, “Rockin” Robin is back at the resort as its Tennis Director, leading an esteemed team of tennis professionals. Her passion is as palpable as her patience while instructing newbies, and in short order she had me feeling relatively comfortable on the court.

I was ready for a reprieve after working up a sweat on the tennis court, and the spa at Rancho Valencia offers up ample opportunities for relaxation. Finding a quiet nook and soaking up the sun in the spa gardens or seeking shade and solace inside a cabana next to the lap pool is a restorative exercise in and of itself. Spa treatments incorporate Natura Bissé and ISUN skin and body care products.

During my blissful 90-minute facial, which included the trifecta of a scalp, foot and hand massage as part of the service, the products that were applied to my face smelled good enough to eat!

Dining is a delight, whether you are inside one of the exquisitely outfitted dining rooms, or al fresco, where you can frequently spot hot air balloons dotting the sherbet-colored sky at sunset. While each on-site dining destination has its own distinct personality, they share a conscientious commitment to utilizing the best of what’s freshest according to the season, as well as sourcing as locally as possible, including the resort’s own gardens. slmag.net

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Spa pool

Entrance courtyard

Seating areas outside The Pony Room

Spa gardens

Veladora

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The Wine Cave

With servers attired in riding-inspired uniforms, The Pony Room pays homage to the area’s rich equestrian heritage (Del Mar racetrack is only 10 minutes away). While the vaulted ceiling calls to mind the airiness of a barn, the reclaimed wood floors are more literal: barn wood from a Tennessee farm. Serving lunch and dinner, there are 150 varieties of tequila behind the bar (I preferred to enjoy mine in a spicy margarita).

Across the courtyard is Veladora, which has similar ceiling architecture as its neighbor, but in a darker hue that adds gravitas apropos for this finer dining destination. A largely monochromatic color palette enables the room’s two focal points—a large artwork by Damien Hirst comprised of thousands of butterflies, and a fireplace surround executed in Venetian plaster tinted a vibrant royal blue—to take center stage. The Mediterranean-inspired dishes are tantalizingly plated, allowing you to discern the freshness of the ingredients even before the first bite crosses your lips.

A private dinner in the Wine Cave is a delight for both foodies and oenophiles. Substantial wood doors open to reveal

a long, barrel-vaulted room clad in brick from floor-to-ceiling.

Displayed behind a wall of glass is a collection of 250 of the resort’s most prized vintages (from micro-producers in California all the way to Tasmania), along with five full-sized oak barrels filled with the resort’s own private blends.

Dan Chapman, an advanced sommelier and champion of boutique producers, said that Rancho Valencia goes to great lengths to get their hands on outstanding and hard-to-find wines, some of which are offered by the glass. If you happen to be on property during the weekend, join Chapman for sabrage demonstration and chat about all things bubbly.

While there is certainly enough to keep one sufficiently busy on property, complimentary use of a Porsche Cayenne or Boxster convertible makes it easy to hit local highlights, including Torrey Pines State Reserve, the Flower Fields of Carlsbad and LEGOLAND California. Just be sure to make it back by sunset, as Rancho Valencia has some of the best views around. sl Rates at Rancho Valencia start at $650, per night. For more information or reservations, RanchoValencia.com or call (800) 548-3664.

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Of Note... Rock On

Compiled by Colin Dennis

This page top to bottom: The Stonehenge Bar set from Paradigm Trends resembles stone but is made from practical resin ($185; paradigmtrends.com). Hancock & Moore Noble chairside table (to the trade; hancockandmoore.com). Black stone floor lamp from Damon Art (price upon request; damonart.eu). Taylor King Mitchell dining chair (to the trade; taylorking.com). NativeStone 72" Avalon tub in a slate finish (price upon request; nativetrailshome.com). Jonathan Charles two-piece faux marble drinks table (to the trade; jonathancharlesfurniture.com). Maison Valentina Diamond towel rack of polished brass and nero marquina marble (price upon request; maisonvalentina.net). Resin gold Rock On! hand from Audenza ($20; audenza.com). Opposite page: Think Thin is composed of natural stone panels cut at a delicate 1/2-inch thickness, which dramatically decreases the cost and manpower required for both shipping and installation (price upon request; nemotile. com). The Equilibriste sofa by Patrick Knoch for Extranorm rests on a rocking stainless steel base ($6,765; extranorm.com). First rocking chair designed by Muller Van Severen for Valerie Objects ($2,760; valerie-objects.com). Knife set designed by Sylvia Pauliac ($2,390/set; creations-pauliac-mousseau.com). Sagaform rocking whisky glasses ($49.95/6; gyrofish.com). Handmade Rocca bath mat from Aquanova with a pebbled effect ($236; aqua nova.com). Mosaic tile from Artaic's ReSalvage Collection in a Corcabo Ash pattern (price upon request; artaic.com).

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Bibliotaph... All Things Great and Small

Compiled by Victoria Chase

This one-of-a-kind, freshly photographed recipe collection presents portraits of America's foremost food personalities and their intimate stories about food, family, and their passion for cooking — each accompanied by one or more of their personal signature dishes and family favorites. Joe Yonan (Editor)—America The Great Cookbook—hardcover, 482 pages, Weldon Owen (weldonowen.com)

In an era of technology and digital communication, many of us find ourselves a bit out of practice when it comes to engaging in face-to-face small talk. Author Melissa Wadsworth provides simple advice, engaging visuals, and brief exercises to learn the art of small talk in a variety of situations. Melissa Wadsworth—How to Make Small Talk: Conversation Starters, Exercises, and Scenarios— paper over board, 160 pages, Adams Media (simonandschuster.com)

Perfect for any Jane Austen enthusiast, this pocketsized book is packed with memorable quotes from one of the most influential writers of all time. The Tiny Book of Jane Austen—hardcover, 192 pages, Insight Editions (insighteditions.com)

Spanning nearly a century and encompassing everything from bouts on the turf to the hardwood, this book is a compilation of essential columns from more than three dozen masters of the pressbox craft, written with passion, spontaneity and humor. John Schulian (Editor), Charles P. Pierce Melding history, psychology, art, and obsession, bestselling (Foreward)—The Great American author Simon Garfield presents an intriguing look at humans' fascination with small things, and what small things tell us about Sports Page: A Century of Classic Columns from Ring Lardner to our larger world. Simon Garfield—In Miniature: How Small Sally Jenkins—hardcover, 421 pages, Things Illuminate the World—paper over board, 336 pages, Atria Library of America (loa.org) Books (simonandschusterpublishing.com)

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bib 'li' o 'taph, [bib-lee-uhtaf, -tahf ]: a person who caches or hoards books With expert guidance for projects ranging in scope from hanging baskets to flower beds, you'll be able to turn your backyard into a bright summer paradise. Emma Hardy—Small Summer Gardens: 35 bright and beautiful gardening projects to bring color and scent to your garden—paper over board, 144 pages, CICO Books (rylandpeters.com)

A guide for living small in the big world, the book's references to pioneering projects from the early 20th century provides perspective for modern living concepts. Dr. Klaus Kemp, Tessa Pearson (Editor)—Petite Places: Clever Interiors for Humble Homes—hardcover, 256 pages, Gestalten (us.gestalten.com)

Author Will Friedwald sketches the history of the greatest jazz singers—including the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Sara Vaughan—by dissecting their finest albums. Will Friedwald—The Great Jazz and Pop Vocal Albums—hardcover, 432 pages, Pantheon Books (knopfdoubleday.com)

Travel writer and photographer Mark Bedor showcases twenty-six horseback rides across the United States. Mark Bedor—Great Rides of Today's Wild West: A Horseman's Photographic Journey Across the American West—hardcover, 240 pages, Skyhorse Publishing (skyhorsepublishing.com)

Photographer Derry Moore and interior designer David Mlinaric offer a panoramic tour inside some of Britain’s finest manor houses, halls, castles, and public buildings built between the 18th and the 20th centuries. David Mlinaric (Writer), Derry Moore (Photographer)—Great English Interiors—hardcover, 224 pages, Prestel Publishing (prestelpublishing.randomhouse.de/)

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Bell Nexus air taxi concept

BELLS & WHISTLES

Transportation highlights from the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show Written by Andre James Serving as the first major car show of the calendar year, the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas also provides a barometer for both the progress of electric vehicles and how close we are to fully autonomous vehicles. Automotive companies are increasingly utilizing the CES to showcase concept cars of the future along with more ready-for-market leading-edge technology. We rounded up a few notable launches and lurches toward a future where a driver (and in some cases the road itself) are optional.

AUDI Audi’s booth at the CES was designed around the motto "from driving experience to digital driving adventure,” and placed the spotlight of two technologies for the in-car entertainment of the future. In the “Audi Experience Ride,” backseat passengers can experience movies, video games, and interactive content even more realistically using virtual reality glasses. The “Audi Immersive In-Car Entertainment” project takes up the action in movie scenes

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and translates it into real vehicle movements. In order to establish this new form of entertainment on the market as quickly and comprehensively as possible, a subsidiary of Audi, Audi Electronics Venture GmbH, has co-founded a startup named holoride GmbH, in which it holds a minority interest.

Also available for ogling was Audi’s four-door Aicon, a sleek autonomous vehicle designed for fully electric operation, and engineered to cover distances up to 500 miles on a single battery charge.

BELL Resembling a drone with seating for four, the full-scale Bell Nexus air taxi concept unveiled at CES aims to begin test flights in early 2023. The vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) vehicle will be powered by a hybrid-electric propulsion system, with six 8-foot tilting ducted fans that enable Nexus to go from vertical liftoff to horizontal flight.

Audi Aicon

Audi e-tron equipped with the "Audi Experience Ride"

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BMW Vision iNext display

BMW Motorrad's self-riding BMW R 1200 GS motorbike

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BYTON M-Byte SUV prototype

Nissan LEAF NISMO RC

BMW The focal point of the BMW’s CES stand was Vision iNEXT, and the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, which constitutes the central element for interaction between the driver, their vehicle, and their digital world. The BMW Vision iNEXT formed the optical highlight of the exhibition stand, which also showcased the interior design principle “My Favorite Space” with harmonious, natural surfaces and technology that is kept discreetly out of sight and only becomes visible and operable when required by the driver or passengers.

Stealing headlines outside the show floor was BMW Motorrad’s self-riding BMW R 1200 GS motorbike, which wowed onlookers as it steered itself around the convention center’s parking lot without falling over. Development of this test vehicle, with its comprehensive understanding of ideal lines and perfect cornering, correct braking point, and traction-optimized acceleration, can help the driver constantly improve their skills.

BWM Group subsidiary Designworks unveiled a camper concept in partnership with The North Face to showcase a new fabric from The North Face called FUTURELIGHT, which uses nanospinning technology to create the world’s most advanced, breathable, waterproof material.

BYTON The Chinese electric car startup previewed the digital cockpit of the production version of its M-Byte SUV. BYTON’s 48-inch, curved Shared Experience Display (SED) remains the world’s largest in-car display for a production automobile. The user can interact with the SED via a seven-inch Driver Tablet positioned at the center of the steering wheel or an eight-inch Touch Pad between the driver and front passenger seats. The production version of the BYTON M-Byte is slated to debut in mid-2019, with massproduction starting at the end of the year.

Mercedes-Benz Vision URBANETIC

Toyota TRI-P4 automated driving test vehicle

MERCEDES-BENZ The first Mercedes-Benz vehicle from the EQ brand—the EQC crossover SUV— celebrated its U.S. premiere. A pair of electric motors at the front and rear axles provides a combined output of 402 horsepower. The watercooled onboard charger is suited for AC charging at home or at public charging stations. The MBUX Interior Assistant makes various comfort and functionality tools simpler and more intuitive.

Making its first North American appearance, the MercedesBenz Vision URBANETIC concept is a driverless vehicle aimed at ride-hailing and delivery fleets. Switchable bodies on the autonomous driving platform can accommodate up to 12 passengers; in cargo configuration it is able to transport items on ten 40-by-48-inch pallets.

NISSAN The all-new Nissan LEAF NISMO RC, an electric race car with more than double the maximum power and torque output of its predecessor, made its North American debut at Nissan's CES display. Two electric motors at opposite ends of the chassis, a new all-wheel-drive system, and a full carbon-fiber racing monocoque structure creates an optimal power-to-weight ratio with an impressive performance of zero to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds.

TOYOTA The Toyota Research Institute introduced the TRI-P4 automated driving test vehicle, which is based on the fifth-generation Lexus LS flagship sedan. In a press release, Toyota stated that the P4 is a much smarter research vehicle than its predecessor, thanks to greater computing power, allowing its systems to operate more machine learning algorithms in parallel for faster learning. All computing system power is drawn from the vehicle’s hybrid battery, with the 12v battery now serving only as a backup. sl slmag.net

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Romantic Story wallpaper from Londonart (londonart.it)

MAISON + MODE Home and Haute Couture Trends from Paris Written by Bridget Williams Designing eyes were turned to the ‘City of Lights’ during the latter part of January as interior aficionados assembled at the Parc des Expositions for the Maison+Objet tradeshow, and fashionistas flocked to runways staged around the city for Haute Couture Fashion Week. We consulted experts at Maison + Objet for insight on what’s new and next in the realm of home decor, and found that complementary themes could be culled from the runways.

Veteran interior design and trend hunter Elizabeth Leriche curated 500 pieces for “What’s New” in the Décor Zone at Maison+Objet. She grouped her selections around three different themes: Minimal Brutalist referred to almost monastic minimalism, offering variations on pared-back pieces and raw materials and

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lines; Luxury Graphic was inspired by the decorative arts of the 1930s to the 1970s, and featured luxurious pieces executed in marble, brass and velvet; and, Ethnic Arty, which celebrated the fusion of cultures and the blending of traditional savoir faire revisited by contemporary designers. “These diverse and, at times, opposing themes bear witness to the fact that we live in a society full of paradox where absolutely anything goes,” said Leriche.

She noted a rise in the application of concrete, both the actual material and imitation versions in wallpaper, paint, lights and even seating. She also pointed out a new approach to decorating walls using rugs as a wallcovering, and said that electric blue is making a comeback.

Blue butterflies under glass from Objet de Curiosité (objetdecuriosite.com)

Trink bar cart by KANN DESIGN (kanndesign.com)

Ceramic Paris plate from faïencerie Georges (faienceriegeorges.com)

Mappemondes chandelier from Benoît Vieubled (benoit-vieubled.com/en/)

One Minute Mickey

by Marcel Wanders for Leblon Delienne (en.leblon-delienne.com)

Ceramic pieces from ChoufMoi (choufmoi.be)

New Marble tableware from BORNN Enamelware (bornn.com.tr)

Oscar rug from Rug Society (rugsociety.eu)

Geode concrete pendant light

by Natalie Sanzache (nataliesanzache.com)

Swivel velvet armchair from Ethnicraft (to the trade; ethnicraft.com)

Akonandi Human Indigo pillow by ArtPILO (artpilo.com)

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Ziad Nakad s/s 2019 Photo by Isidore Montag/imaxtree.com

Temple II cabinet from Malabar (malabar.com.pt) Sky Blue pleated paper lampshade from Ian Snow (iansnow.com)

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Alin Le Kal s/s 2019 Photo by Carlo Scarpato/imaxtree.com

Inresse side table from BIPOLART (bipol.art) ASTAIR chair from Ligne Roset (ligne-roset.com)

Adeline Ziliox s/s 2019 Photo by Carlo Scarpato/Imaxtree.com

Bongรณ bar cabinet from Green Apple (greenapple.pt) FUNGO marble table lamp

by UP Group (ungroup.it)

Patrick Pham s/s 2019 Photo by Salvatore Dragone/imaxtree.com

Alin Le Kal s/s 2019 Photo by Carlo Scarpato/imaxtree.com

François Bernard, director of Paris-based trend consultancy agency Croisements, used tastes—savory, sweet, bitter, acidic, and spicy—for the starting point of his top trends in the Share Zone, which focused on tableware. Sweet celebrated pastel tones.

Savory embraced whites, greys, blacks and sometimes bluish blacks like volcanic salt. “It is all about rough materials, creating a warm and contemporary rustic feel,” he explained. Bitter turned the spotlight on the green color palate, offering a fresh take on traditions. Acidic showcased yellows and yellowy-greens in all their glory, perpetuating the vintage trends of the 1950s and 1960s. Spicy brought about a riot of red and terracotta. “It’s all about embracing the outdoors, street food, global cultures.”

Bernard singled out the commingling of contemporary design with 18th century aesthetics; a rise in popularity of the color red; an increasing use of burnt wood; marbled effects on crockery and platters; and, the “molten” trend, with mirrors and lights flaunting oozing, drip-like silhouettes.

In the Leisure Zone, which showcased travel and fashion accessories, stationery, games, connected objects and souvenir gifts, stylist François Delclaux focused on the concept of travel, and the notion of whisking visitors off to three fictitious

countries. Wood Land celebrated wood and all things hipster and natural; Ice Land turned the spotlight on shiny and metallic pieces; and, in Sun Land, all the items exuded a summery vibe and a colorful punch. “These themes also allowed me to make the whole space revolve around nature, which is an extremely vibrant subject,” explained Delclaux.

Delclaux pointed out that wood has started popping up in the most unexpected places, including iPhone covers, perfumed candle holders, spectacles, and even technological devices. He noted that nautical motifs can be found in abundance, adorning trays, jewelry, coasters, embroidered patches and even snowballs. “A very 1950s Miami-esque vibe puts coral pink center stage – Living Coral has even been elected color of the year by Pantone,” he added.

For each session of Maison+Objet, Paris-based forecasting agency NellyRodi analyses the latest consumer trends and sociological phenomena, and groups them into a theme. The topic chosen for 2019 was Excuse My French!. “There’s a renewed curiosity about the French abroad, a sort of fascination at the moment,” said Vincent Grégoire of NellyRodi. For Grégoire, the movement is linked to globalization: “In a world where things are becoming standardized, people are looking for something different.” sl slmag.net

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Sunrise at Airport Mesa.

Photo by Bridget Williams.

GOOD VIBES ONLY Feeling the Love in Sedona Written by Bridget Williams Sedona, Arizona is a curious creature. I cannot think of another place where you can be standing in the parking lot of a CVS at sunrise and be absolutely gobsmacked by the view, as I was during a visit last summer.

As part of a pre-dawn run, I’d made my way from the verdant valley oasis of L’Auberge de Sedona, an 11-acre resort nestled beneath a canopy of trees on the banks of Oak Creek, and up into the high desert to reach Airport Mesa, the site of one of Sedona’s four main natural vortices. For the uninitiated, a vortex is a place where concentrated energy radiates from the earth’s surface, and is purported to facilitate balance, prayer, healing, and intuitiveness. This cosmic presence also helps to explain the surplus of soothsayers, alternative healers, and “magic” crystal shops in Uptown Sedona.

After stopping to catch my breath in the aforementioned parking lot, I joined a hoard of people speaking a multitude of languages who’d assembled to patiently wait as the sun’s rays slowly animated the panorama of anthropomorphic and kaleidoscopic red-rock peaks. I can’t say whether I benefitted from the “masculine” energy said to be present there, but based on 50 slmag.net

the expressions of awe plastered on the faces of those around me, there was definitely something powerful about the majestic sight.

Situated at an elevation of 4,326 feet, Sedona is a town of 10,000 residents surrounded by more than 1.8-million acres of stunning scenery. A 90-minute drive north of Phoenix, 30 miles south of Flagstaff and just two hours from the Grand Canyon, the area is a four-season playground, complete with seven golf courses; hundreds of hiking and biking trails in the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness Area, the Munds Mountain Wilderness Area and the Coconino National Forest; 80 art galleries with 200 local artists represented in local shops and galleries; the Verde Valley Wine Trail; and a host of tour operators offering everything from off-road jeep excursions to hot air balloon rides.

It was easy to forget that we were still in the desert as we turned off of bustling Highway 89A and into the valley where L’Auberge de Sedona, A Destination Resort, is located. The grounds are lush, green, and dotted with mostly single-story cottage-style structures. If it weren’t for the famed red rock buttes crowning the treetops, it would be easy to envision this as an upscale camp in the Northeast.

The terraced hillside above L’Auberge de Sedona offers prime red rock views.

Cress restaurant on Oak Creek

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Vista Cottage

Creekside Cottage

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Chapel of the Holy Cross Photo by Bridget Williams.

Cathedral Rock trail

Lodging options encompass 62 luxury cottages (many with an outdoor, open-roof cedar shower), 21 traditional lodge-style guest rooms, or a stand-alone five-bedroom Creek house. The recently renovated rooms, suites and cottages rely on a muted color palette to reinforce an aura of tranquility.

Oak Creek is the property’s main attraction, and the sound of water rushing over smooth stones in the creek bed provides a constant calming soundtrack audible throughout the property.

The most covetable rooms, in my opinion, are the Creekside Cottages with a covered porch, which deliver a dry front-row seat for enjoying fleeting desert deluges during monsoon season (June-September).

Even if you aren’t staying creekside, you can dine next to the water’s edge at one of two recently renovated restaurants on property. Cress on Oak Creek is a fine-dining destination that pairs informed and attentive service with a constantly changing prix fixe dinner menu built around locally sourced seasonal ingredients that meld Southwest culinary traditions with French cooking techniques. More casual in concept, ETCH Kitchen & Bar complements its cuisine with a creative and comprehensive beverage list, including custom wine labels created in partnership with local Verde Valley winery Page Springs Cellars.

While Sedona’s beauty sells itself, L’Auberge de Sedona’s healthy lineup of on-property amenities and activities enhances the destination’s healing heritage. In the L’Apothecary Spa for instance, guests can concoct their own bath soaks and body scrubs using fragrant local plants and herbs such as rosemary, piñon pine, juniper.

A daily schedule of events encompasses activities such as lectures on local geology and history, guided photographer’s walks, Forest Bathing (a practice that originated in Japan, and is focused on soaking in the essence of the forest rather than taking a literal bath there), guided meditation, interacting with local artists through an artistin-residence program, fitness hikes and yoga classes, and seasonal offerings. The recently completed Vortex Treehouse offers a reflective space for private meditation sessions and wellness experiences.

After a creekside coffee each morning, we never drove more than a few miles in either direction to reach a trailhead. While the most popular routes are heavily trafficked during high season, it takes minimal effort for those craving solitude to find roads less traveled (visit sedonasecret7.com for tips). If you are looking for greasy-spoon goodness, head over to the famous Coffee Pot restaurant (coffeepotsedona.com), which literally offers 101 omelet choices (don’t even think about asking for any substitutions). For a more elevated experience, time your dinner for sunset at Mariposa (mariposasedona. com), where the views are as delectable as the Latin American cuisine prepared by Chef/owner Lisa Dahl. Guacamole greatness and 89 different tequilas can be found at 89Agava Cantina (89agave. com), a lively bar and Sonoran-style Mexican restaurant operated by L’Auberge and located just above the resort on Highway 89A. From the time that dawn’s first light tickles the trickles of Oak Creek, through guided stargazing with an astronomer, staying at L’Auberge de Sedona makes it even easier to feel the love for Sedona. sl Rooms at L’Auberge de Sedona, A Destination Hotel from $305/night.

For more information or reservations visit lauberge.com.

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MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE The story of Cramoisi Vineyard

Written by Sofia Torres McKay / Photography by Ingrid Moriarty I am a proud native of Mexico. In 2002 I moved to San Francisco to further my career in the IT industry. A one-year contract turned into three, and during that time I met Ryan McKay, a native of Eugene, Oregon and a wine enthusiast who worked three cubicles from me. We married after two years of dating.

Ryan’s passion for pinot noir began while working as a wine buyer in his early 20s. When we started dating, he shared with me his passion for wine and cooking (he is a great cook!). I met pinot through Ryan and fell in love with both, leading me to learn more about wines from Oregon and the different AVA’s there. We started traveling together to wine country, and he expressed his desire to one day grow grapes and make wine as a little home family experiment.

At the time I thought it was a nice idea to own our own vineyard, but we did not know anything about wine growing, and we did not have money to invest in one, so we left it as a lofty dream.

After our first son Mateo was born in 2005, I took a break from my career, while Ryan accepted a promotion that took us from San Francisco to Toronto, Canada. I was excited for the two of us to share in the experience of being immigrants. After the birth of our second son Jonathan, we relocated to Vancouver, BC. In Vancouver, I resumed working for my previous employer, and discussions during family dinner time increasingly focused on buying a vineyard. Ryan wanted to go back to his roots in Oregon, an idea

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that appealed to me as I wanted our boys to grow up surrounded by family. In 2010 we started formally looking for a small place where we could develop our dream and passion for wine growing.

After several trips to Oregon, we spied a “For Sale” sign on a 10-acre farm on Worden Hill Road in the Dundee Hills overlooking the Willamette Valley. The Dundee Hills are special because they offer optimal cold air drainage during the colder fringes of the growing season in spring and fall. We closed on the property in 2011, and in 2012 we began planting at an elevation of 500-to-600 feet. Since we did not have the money to plant our land all at once, we started little by little, which gave us the opportunity to research what clones and rootstock have the best potential to grow phenomenal wines.

Today, five acres are planted to pinot noir, all of which are unique soil and clone/rootstock combinations. Our clones are a mix of the best clones from Oregon’s first pinot plantings (Pommard), Dijon clones imported from Burgundy (667, 777) and rare clones such as 122 from Vosne-Romanée, a ‘Grand Cru’ vineyard in Burgundy. Our one-acre of chardonnay had its first harvest in 2018. To honor the heritage of our grapes, we decided to name our place Cramoisi, which translates to “crimson” in French.

Ryan continues working his day job and helps at the vineyard as his schedule permits. In 2017, I left the IT world to devote all

of my efforts to our family venture and raising our two sons. I am proud to say than I am one of the few Hispanic women vineyard owners in the Willamette Valley.

Cramoisi Vineyard is farmed biodynamically; we believe than if you take from Mother Nature you need to give back to her.

We are not yet certified but looking to do so in the next two years.

Our wine maker is Drew Voit, who has produced some of the most esteemed and highly rated wines in the Willamette Valley.

Drew asks lots of questions about the style of wines we want to make, so it is about our own style and not his style.

In 2014, our vineyard produced enough to make one barrel (25 cases) of wine. The following year, the first formal vintage, we produced 200 cases. Production increased to 300 cases in 2016 and 600 in 2017. Our goal is to top out at 1,000 cases by 2022.

We are focused on quality versus quantity, so that we can grow one of the best wines in the Dundee Hills AVA. Since the business is very small, I perform numerous roles in the vineyard, including vineyard management, marketing and sales, event planning, relationship building and management, and administration, among others.

Being a Latina woman in this business is not always easy, and potential clients often ask me about my origins. Some verbalize their surprise that I am Mexican woman who owns

a vineyard rather than simply working in one. While these remarks are exasperating and frustrating, eventually I learned to embrace my unique perspective, life experiences and heritage, which includes the color of my skin and my accent, and I now feel happy that people continue to be interested in my unique story.

Because there are not many people like me in my position, being able to turn the tables and use my background as a positive virtue allows me to view myself as a channel to help others and work together as a community. This work includes being active with ยกAHI VOY! and ยกSalud!, two non-profit organizations dedicated to supporting the education and ambitions of winery and vineyard laborers, with a wide range of programs from English-language classes to cellar training.

When I came to this business and committed myself 100% to my family venture, I was looking not only to grow grapes and sell wine, but also to tell the story about what is behind the bottle and the years of work that come before the first bottle is even filled. Cramoisi wines have a body, a soul, and a different energy that tells you a story. That story is not only about the owners and the wine maker, it is also about the vineyard stewards who spend the time in the vineyards, rain or shine, hot or cold, up or down, early or late, to complete the story. sl

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2019 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider

LA MECCANICA DELLE EMOZIONI

Alfa Romeo packages pulchritude and performance using Italian panache.

Written by Andre James / Photos courtesy of FCA While the flashier fronds on the family tree of Italian automobile manufacturers often garner the lion’s share of attention, brands with deeper roots—Fiat, Maserati and Alfa Romeo—have been turning heads and amassing accolades for more than a century.

The first Italian car, essentially a petrol-powered tricycle, was built in 1884. A little more than a decade later, Fiat was founded and produced its first model, a FIAT 4HP, which had a a top speed of 22 mph. Alfa Romeo wasn’t far behind, tracing its roots to the Società Anonima Italiana Darracq, established in 1906

by Frenchman Alexandre Darrracq with backing from Italian investors. Three years later, after a slow start to sales and economic hardships, managing director and Italian aristocrat Ugo Stella acquired the company and relaunched the plant under a new name: Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili (ALFA).

Designed by Giuseppe Merosi, the 1910 24 HP was the first car to come off of the production line at Portello in Milan under the Alfa name; the 4.1-liter engine could reach speeds up to 62 mph. In 1911 ALFA made its foray into motor racing, beginning a long and storied run as a constructor and engine 56 slmag.net

supplier in Grand Prix motor racing, Formula One, sportscar racing, touring car racing and rallies. Enzo Ferrari drove Alfas in the 1920s before striking out on his own.

ALFA faced financial challenges during WWI and was acquired by Nicola Romeo, a successful electrical engineer from Naples, Italy. While automotive production ceased during the war, the company continued to prosper by making airplane engines and portable compressors. Investors took the company public in 1918 under the new official name of Alfa Romeo, and resumed building and designing automobiles at the end of WWI. The marque’s four-leaf clover “Quadrifoglio” logo first appeared in 1923 on an RL Targa Florio. It was painted on the front by legendary driver Ugo Sivocci, who was looking to break a string of runner-up finishes. While he went on to win the Targo Florio race in Sicily, Sivocci later perished in a crash while testing a new race car that did not bear his lucky clover. From that point on, all Alfa Romeo race cars featured the four-leaf clover on a white triangle, with a missing corner symbolizing the loss of Sivocci.

1910 24 HP

A race version of the 8C 2900 earned three wins at the 1938 Mille Miglia.

1952 Alfa Romeo Disco Volante Spider

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Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio in Misano Blue, Rosso Competizione and Trofeo White

In spite of their laurels, financial woes plagued the company over the decades. Fiat Group Automobiles acquired the brand in 1986, beating out the likes of Nissan and Ford to keep it under Italian control. The 1995 Alfa Romeo 164 was the last Alfa sedan sold in the United States before the brand returned to North America two decades later. By 2018, Alfa Romeo’s annual sales in the United States reached a record 23,820, nearly doubling sales from the previous year.

Current Alfa Romeo models available in the United States include the Stelvio SUV, the Giulia sports sedan, and the 4C Spider, with powerful Quadrifoglio versions of both the Stelvio and Giulia representing the cutting edge of Alfa Romeo design and performance.

Named for the Stelvio Pass, a mountain pass in northern Italy, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio (MSRP from $73,700) holds the

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Nürburgring record for the fastest production SUV, making it the fastest production SUV in the world. Available in six models, Stelvio (MSRP from $40,195) is well-equipped with standard premium features including a direct-injection 280-horsepower turbocharged and intercooled 2.0L engine delivering 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds, DNA drive mode selector, genuine leather interior, remote start with passive entry, bi-xenon headlamps, dual exhaust, class-exclusive carbon-fiber driveshaft, and a flatbottom Formula One-inspired steering wheel. The Quadrifoglio variant boasts an all-aluminum, 2.9L, twin-turbo V6 engine with 505 horsepower, completing the 0-60 mph sprint in 3.6 seconds and able to reach a top speed of 176 mph.

In 2018, the Alfa Romeo Giulia won the 25th edition of the “Compasso d’Oro ADI,” the most prestigious world design award. As the first of a new generation of vehicles on an all-new

2019 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider

2019 Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti

platform, the Alfa Romeo Giulia (MSRP from $38,195) and Giulia Ti (MSRP from $40,195) models embody Alfa Romeo’s "la meccanica delle emozioni" (the mechanics of emotion) spirit, delivering race-inspired performance with a class-leading 280 horsepower and available Q4 all-wheel-drive system. Standard accoutrements in the mid-size sedan include leather seating, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, passive entry, remote start, bi-xenon headlamps with LED Daytime Running Lights and LED taillights, DNA Drive Mode selector and back-up camera with rear park sensors.

The Giulia Quadrifoglio (MSRP from $73,700), highlights Alfa Romeo’s exclusive motorsports expertise with a best-in-class, Ferrari-derived, 505 horsepower, 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 engine with a 3.8 second 0-60 mph time and a top speed of 149 mph. Also notable on this variant is its carbon fiber hood,

roof and rear spoiler; adaptive performance suspension; DNA Pro with Race Mode; torque vectoring; carbon fiber active aero front splitter; Harmon Kardon Premium Audio System; carbon fiber interior trim; full-speed Forward Collision Warning-Plus; and 3D Navigation.

Handcrafted in Modena, Italy, the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider (MSRP starting at $66,900) offers a state-of-the-art Formula 1-inspired ultralight carbon fiber monocoque chassis that enables a 10.4 power-to-weight ratio. Advanced technologies include the all-aluminum 1750cc turbocharged engine with direct-injection, dual intercoolers and variable-valve timing, enabling supercarlevel performance. The 4C Spider delivers 237 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, powering it from 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds with a top speed of 160 mph. sl For more information visit alfaromeousa.com.

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This page top to bottom: Joy Reign Protected Heart necklace ($195; joyreign.com). Aaron Basha floating charm ($1,650; aaronbasha.com). Anne Sisteron necklace ($640; annesisteron.com).

Cadar Reflections chandelier diamond necklace ($196,000; cadar.com). Opposite page: Neelu Fine Jewels Blessed bracelet ($1,350; neelufinejewels.com). Luis Morais stud earrings ($550; musexmuse.com). Be Loved Evil Eye Eyelash Bangle ($2,400; beloved-jewelry.com). Photo by Sam Lee Photography. Suzanne Kalan Fireworks pendant ($3,200; suzannekalan.com). Jennifer Meyer inlay drop earrings with diamonds ($8,250; jennifermeyer.com). Yvonne Leon Bo Surf Ăˆme Earrings ($2,300; yvonneleon.com). Temple St. Clair drop earrings ($3,.500; templestclair. com). Michelle Fantaci Nomad ring ($1,525; michellefantaci.com). Jade Jagger 5th Dimension ring ($2,250; jadejagger.co.uk). Holly Dyment ring (price upon request; hollydyment.com).

Sydney Evan ring ($3,190; sydneyevan.com). Ilona Orel Third Eye ring ($7,710; ilonaorel.com).

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OFF THE CUFF 62 slmag.net

Onirikka frog cufflinks ($125; onirikka.com)

PICCHIOTTI 18K white gold and diamond cufflinks ($34,000; picchiotti.it)

Juste un Clou cufflinks from Cartier ($4,000; cartier.com)

Terrapin cufflinks from Anthony Lent ($4,600; anthonylent.com)

Patek Philippe Calatrava cufflinks in rose gold ($5,220; patek.com)

Baume et Mercier Clifton Baumatic M0A10470 QP perpetual calendar (price upon request; baume-et-mercier.com)

Konstantino sterling silver, 18K gold and lapis Infinity cufflinks ($1,600; konstantino.com)

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18K gold rotating fishing reel cufflinks from Deakin & Francis ($7,000; dealinandfrancis.co.uk)

18K gold cufflinks with enamel, crystal and rubies from Deakin and Francis ($5,552; deakinandfrancis.co.uk)

Engraved 18K gold engine-turned oval cufflinks from Tiffany & Co. ($3,400; tiffany.com)

Burger & Fries cufflinks from Nadine Ghosn ($880; nadineghosn.com)

Skull and cross cufflinks from Adam Foster Fine Jewelry ($1,600; fosterjewelry.com)

Benedictine cufflinks from Luca Jouel ($525; lucajouel.com)

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Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Date ($7,500; jaeger-lecoultre.com)

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photo production: Schawk Studios Account Director: Tearle Calinog Photographer: BETHANY PUTERBAUGH Styling: Aimee Ventura / Maggie Jarecki Art Director: Tomoko Nagle Model: Colleen Kloster -- Factor Chosen

SOPHISTICATED SOURCE Spring’s chicest fashion, art and home design is a mix of textured colors and unforgettable statements.

by Elise Hofer Shaw

From top: 1925 ring in clear crystal, $335, bracelet in cap ferrat resin and clear crystal, $370, and large earrings in cap ferrat crystal, $295, all at Lalique, 312.867.1787.

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Strapless floral brocade full-skirt gown, $4,690, by Lela Rose at Neiman Marcus Michigan Avenue, 312.642.5900.

PH5 Mini pendant light, $680,

by Louis Poulsen at Design Within Reach, 312.585.9600.

Jaipur earrings with embroidered flowers and glass bead detailing, $275,

by Mignonne Gavigan at olivela.com.

Coral Gables wool and silk hand-knotted rug from Pakistan, $120/foot (available in multiple sizes or custom), at Organic Looms, 312.832.0900.

Vadati bolster (17” x 32”), $269 (insert included), by John Robshaw Textiles at Bedside Manor Ltd., 773.404.2020.

Vogue Living: Country City Coast, $100, at Jayson Home, 773.248.8180.

Moët & Chandon c/o Virgil Abloh limitededition Nectar Impérial Rosé, $60, at clos19.com.

Piña armchair, $1,112, by Magis at Orange Skin, 312.335.1033.

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Master bath in Iceberg Quartzite design by Mick De Giulio at de Giulio kitchen design at LuxeHome in theMART, 312.494.9200. Photo by Dave Burk

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Short-sleeve “Guccy” logo Maison de l’Amour T-shirt, $590, by Gucci at Neiman Marcus Michigan Avenue, 312.642.5900.

18K yellow gold ring with brilliant-cut diamonds and fired enamel, price upon request, by Masriera at Razny Jewelers, razny.com.

Suit jacket, $2,095, and python pants, $950, by OffWhite c/o Virgil Abloh at VMR, 312.330.3778.

Snake earrings in 18K gold, $2,200, by Elsa Peretti at Tiffany & Co., 312.944.7500.

Brass snake sculpture, $198, at Jayson Home, 773.248.8180.

U necklaces in sustainable snakeskin with suede tie, $250 each, by Kingsley, kingsley-design.com.

Tatouage Couture Metallics Liquid Matte lip stain, $37, by Yves Saint Laurent Beauté at Neiman Marcus Michigan Avenue, 312.642.5900.

35mm Serpenti Tubogas diamond coil watch, $30,800, by Bulgari at Neiman Marcus Michigan Avenue, 312.642.5900.

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Dapper Dan’s Harlem, a new limited-edition book by Ari Marcopoulos for Gucci, $200, at gucci.com.

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Scrunch-dye reverse hooded sweatshirt, $75, by Champion at Nordstrom stores.

Extra small Ville calfskin satchel, $1,850,

by Balenciaga at Nordstrom stores.

Vedere mirrored glass tile collection in Luna, price upon request, by Ann Sacks at LuxeHome in theMART, 312.923.0919.

Limited-edition Lucite “Love� tray, $425, by artist Kristi Kohut, kristikohut.studio.

70mm rimless shield sunglasses, $445, by Givenchy at Nordstrom stores.

Graffiti Knife pointed pumps, $995, at Neiman Marcus Michigan Avenue, 312.642.5900.

Velvet cushion with star and eye embroidery, $1,150,

by Gucci at gucci.com.

Spun chair by architect Thomas Heatherwick, $772, at Orange Skin, 312.335.1033.

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60mm heart sunglasses, $580,

by Gucci at Nordstrom stores.

Loulou 55mm heart-shaped sunglasses, $490, by Saint Laurent at Nordstrom stores.

Top: Floral Fantasy wallpaper made from fine art giclĂŠe prints, $65/yard, by artist Kristi Kohut, kristikohut.studio.

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Stone-washed denim jacket with NY Yankees MLB patch, $3,500, by Gucci at Neiman Marcus Michigan Avenue, 312.642.5900.

Wool and silk rug hand-knotted in India (11’ x 14’ x 1”), $16,500, at Oscar Isberian Rugs, 312.467.1212.

Lindya patchwork denim jacket, $545, by Isabel Marant at Nordstrom stores.

Mill ottoman, $995, at Jayson Home, 773.248.8180.

Felina mini patchwork jeans crossbody, $795, by Elena Ghisellini at Neiman Marcus Michigan Avenue, 312.642.5900.

BB Knife denim mules, $950, by Balenciaga at Neiman Marcus Michigan Avenue, 312.642.5900.

Tulle-back washout denim skirt, $835, by Unravel at Neiman Marcus Michigan Avenue, 312.642.5900.

Denim stonewash shirt, $820, by Unravel Project at VMR, 312.330.3778.

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SPARKLE AND POSH

Lana Jewelry designer Lana Bramlette takes us on a tour of her fashion-forward home in Lincoln Park— and models some of the season’s chicest looks.

By Allison Duncan / Photography by Anthony Tahlier Lana Jewelry’s trademark slogan turned brand philosophy, “Luck n’ Love,” permeates everything they do, from beautiful 14K gold hoop earrings and chain-link bracelets to pretty necklaces and diamond-studded rings. “After all,” says founder Lana Bramlette, “the company was started on a little bit of luck and a whole lot of love.”

Here’s how the story goes: Bramlette and her husband, Rob, met 17 years ago on a blind date, moved in together a week later, and have been inseparable ever since. “He was cleared by the Secret Service because he used to work for a vice president,” laughs Bramlette. “That’s how I justified us moving in together so quickly and how I sold him to my parents. He was already vetted by the best!”

Crazy in love, definitely, but they weren’t quite ready to get engaged. However, Bramlette wanted the world to know she was off the market, so she designed and created a nameplate necklace inscribed with Rob’s name and paired it with a hanging heart on a single chain that she could proudly (and publicly) wear.

Keep in mind that the year was 2002, and that nameplate necklaces were all the rage courtesy of small-screen style icon Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw on HBO’s Sex and the City, who donned her now famous “Carrie” necklace for multiple episodes, singlehandedly bringing back yellow gold and launching the trend into the stratosphere.

It didn’t take long before family, friends and even strangers all were requesting their own versions of Bramlette’s love necklace, so Rob encouraged her to start taking private orders and, after seeing that she was on to something, to take her fledgling line to Los Angeles.

“He told me, ‘You’re going to walk into Fred Segal and pitch your line,’” says Bramlette. “I told him, ‘Nobody does this,’ and we argued in the parking lot. But Rob has always been the person who’s like, ‘I don’t care how it was done yesterday, we’re going to do it this way today.’”

The rest, as they say, is high-fashion accessories history. Today, Bramlette’s fine jewelry collections are carried at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom, just to name a few of her myriad retail locations (lanajewelry.com). And it’s Bramlette’s background as a designer that has brought everything full circle in the form of the couple’s latest passion project: the redesign of their family home in Lincoln Park.

Opposite page: Lana Bramlette at her home in Lincoln Park. On Lana: Dress, $2,895, by Monique Lhuillier at Neiman Marcus Michigan Avenue. Shoes, $925, by Giuseppe Zanotti at bergdorfgoodman.com. Jewelry by Lana Jewelry. Home: Couch by Room & Board. Pillows by Missoni. Statuary Venato marble coffee table custom designed by Lana. Candles by L’Objet. Art: Lana Jewelry ad for Neiman Marcus enlarged by iCanvas.

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Like her jewelry, Bramlette knew she wanted the setting to be bright and simple with a Miami vibe—Lana’s favorite place to escape and design— so that the furniture and accessories could shine centerstage like a flawless diamond on a solitary gold band. Architecturally speaking, the home’s lines are contemporary, with white walls and white marble throughout providing a clean canvas for her decor. The kitchen, for example, Bramlette’s favorite room in the house, is floor-to-ceiling marble.

“I love marble, and through the entire design process, my biggest fight with Rob was about how much marble we brought in,” says Bramlette. “My husband was 100 percent against it, but I always win. It’s not practical, but it’s beautiful. I get kind of crazy when anyone touches my island, though, so I don’t recommend it because you’ll piss people off.”

Bramlette avoided another argument by having the entire house painted while Rob was out of town. She chose a shimmering white with hints of glitter. The painters, who are friends of Rob’s, asked if he knew about it, and Bramlette confirmed that he did. “No, he didn’t,” she laughs now. And as you walk throughout the house, the walls do indeed seem to sparkle, an effect that complements the custom glass staircase and balcony off of the living room.

The abundance of glass, Bramlette acknowledges, isn’t super-practical for children—the couple has a 9-year-old daughter named Blake—or for pets. In fact, as a puppy, their Golden Retriever, Rebel, slammed right into their glass partitions more than once. But the home’s basement is where the family can let loose and, according to Bramlette, looks like “an L.O.L. Surprise! factory exploded down there.” But because Blake is following in her mother’s entrepreneurial footsteps— she designs Lana Girl, the kids line of fine jewelry for Lana Jewelry, and has her own YouTube channel devoted to reviewing her toys—she lets it slide.

But don’t expect to see family photos peppered throughout the house. While they do display a lot of photography—mostly celebrity fashion and rock ’n’ rollthemed pieces sourced from Sonic Prints and Getty Images—Bramlette purposely chose pieces that reflect who the family is without invading their privacy. “I don’t see the point in looking at pictures of myself or of my family when we’re literally looking at each other all the time,” explains Bramlette. “I also don’t want everyone who comes to my house to be staring at my heritage. The photography we do display speaks to both my husband and I, and to Blake, in a cool, more conceptual way.”

Opposite page, top: On Lana: Dress, $3,700, by Halpern at bergdorfgoodman.com. Shoes, $960, by Alexander McQueen at Nordstrom stores. Jewelry by Lana Jewelry. Styling by Marta Cebrat/Distinct.

Makeup by Shannon O’Brien. Hair by Gia Tovar. Home: Couch by Room & Board. Pillows by Missoni.

Marble tables custom designed by Lana. Bottom left: For the family’s dining room, Lana opted for glam in the form of a Schonbek chandelier and a custom neon sign illuminating the Lana Jewelry slogan: “Luck N’ Love.” Bottom right: A bold blue couch from ModShop, Los Angeles, and pillows and blankets by Missoni make for a cozy nook in the living room. Marble trays/accessories from Houzz. Art: Framed fashion and music photography from Sonic Prints and Getty Images.

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There’s a stunning photograph in the dining room of Lauren Hutton wearing a dress by Halston because the designer is a major source of inspiration for Bramlette. Next to it is a shot of a race car driver yelling. In his spare time, Rob is a semi-professional race car driver, so the juxtaposition is, in Bramlette’s artful way, a perfect representation of their personalities and proclivities. In the living room, an advertisement Lana Jewelry created for Neiman Marcus is blown up to epic proportions, showcasing one of the brand’s best-selling collections of all-time, the Gloss collection. There’s also a pink neon sign of the Luck n’ Love slogan on a wall in the dining room that reflects onto the Swarovski crystals of an opulent chandelier.

“Everything in the house is a reminder of what my family has built together,” says Bramlette. “It’s a global brand that was started from scratch by two people who fell in love. But I also like to look at pretty things at all times, otherwise I get a bit depressed.”

Said pretty things include a modular tufted royal blue sectional in the family room from ModShop in Los Angeles that’s covered with a rainbow of Missoni pillows—“I definitely have a Missoni pillow problem. It’s become an addiction,” laughs Bramlette—an impressive collection of coffee table tomes from Assouline and Taschen, high-back royal blue velvet chairs in the kitchen, and marble trays she scored from Houzz.

“You can always look perfect in a pair of jeans, a black tee and booties, but once you start adding jewelry, that’s when you’re differentiating yourself,” says Bramlette. “It’s the same in a home: The accessories are the stars.” sl This page: Pieces from Lana Jewelry’s spring/summer 2019 Casino collection: 14K gold Royale hoops, Royale bangles, Liquid Gold chains and Nude chains, $1,800-$8,320, all at lanajewelry.com. Opposite page, top: The marble-clad kitchen, custom-designed by Lana and her husband Rob Bramlette, boasts bar stools from Houzz and top-of-the-line appliances from Abt and Grand Appliance. Bottom left: On Lana: Dress, $3,700, by Halpern at bergdorfgoodman.com. Shoes, $960, by Alexander McQueen at Nordstrom stores.

Jewelry by Lana Jewelry. Art: Framed photography from Sonic Prints and Getty Images. Bottom right: For the light and bright living room, Lana chose oversize couches from Room & Board, accent pillows by Missoni for pops of color, and coordinating white marble tables that she custom designed herself. Candles

by L’Objet. Art: Lana Jewelry ad for Neiman Marcus enlarged by iCanvas.

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ALL ACCESS

By:Fashionaholic owner Janet Mandell

Thanks to By:Fashionaholic’s couture-for-rent business model, Chicago women can have their Cinderella moment without breaking the bank.

By Elise Hofer Shaw / Photography by Nikko Salgado

Janet Mandell is on to something. At her By:Fashionaholic showroom in River North, the fashion and lifestyle blogger turned retail renaissance woman has amassed a collection of couture that will knock your Manolos off—and it’s all available for rent.

But By:Fashionaholic isn’t your average rent-wear-return outfitter. Here’s the difference: Everything, from the Chanel Gabrielle handbags and Hermès Collier de Chien bracelets to the gold-button-studded Balmain dresses and mesh Fendi slingbacks, is from the latest collections by A-list designers. And they offer only one of every look in just one size (ranging from 0 to 10), meaning you’ll never show up to a high-profile event to find someone else rockin’ your same ensemble. Each rental—which starts at $100 for accessories up to $600 for, say, a hand-beaded couture gown—equates to a seven-day ownership period and includes a one-hour styling session with a By:Fashionaholic stylist, pickup and drop-off services, and dry cleaning.

“I wanted to be able to create something that fills a void,” says Mandell. “I love Rent the Runway. They’re genius. But they aren’t a fashion company. We are, and we’re full service.” And by fashion company she means that only the best of the best are on her racks (think luxury labels like Gucci, Saint Laurent, Roksanda and Roland Mouret, as well as a mix of interesting contemporary brands like Johanna Ortiz, Magda Butrym and Alessandra Rich).

It’s not hard to wrap your head around the savings if you do the math: Most high-level stylists charge about $150 an hour, and then you have to actually buy the bag, the shoes and the dress that you’ll likely wear only once or twice, especially if the look is for a seeand-be-seen event or special occasion like a wedding. For an entire formal look, you’re looking at upwards of $4,000 if you’re shopping the designer labels at the department stores. And when you want to update your look, that’s another big hit to your wallet all over again.

And there’s no pressure to do the whole shebang. If you want to pop in just for accessories to update a dress you already own, By:Fashionaholic can accommodate that, too.

“For seven days you get to own a handmade piece of couture or one of the world’s most covetable handbags like a Birkin bag—it’s yours. And if you don’t know what you’re looking for or what will flatter your figure, my team is happy to help and is always genuinely excited about where you are going and making you look your best,” says Mandell. “Our clients not 82 slmag.net

only get access to this one-of-a-kind closet, they become part of the By:Fashionaholic family.”

“For whatever reason, people tend to have a negative association with the word ‘rental,’” adds Mandell. “At By:Fashionaholic, we’ve flipped that notion on its head. It’s not just about renting; it’s about having access to something that most people don’t have access to unless they save up for months and months—and the flexibility to change it up on a whim. Having that access, and that sense of satisfaction that makes you feel happy and confident, is really what it’s all about.”

In February, Mandell updated the By:Fashionaholic website to feature the more than 1,800 pieces rotating through the showroom so you can browse before you rent. And coming soon, the company will be taking its glamour on the go, offering at-home styling where they bring the designer goods to you (expect a $100 up-charge for at-home service). “People are busy, and a lot of our clients are working moms,” says Mandell.

“Time is the one thing we don’t have the luxury of. Our stylists will come to you with a package of dresses and coordinating accessories and help you pull it all together. Uber, Postmates, Glam on the Go… and now By:Fashionaholic!” sl By:Fashionaholic, 311 W. Superior St., Suite 216, 312.624.8803. byfashionaholic.com

Complete your look with designer shoes by Fendi, Valentino and more in sizes 5-11.

One of ByFashionaholic’s chic (and spacious) fitting rooms. Every client receives one hour of styling services from their on-site stylists.

From quilted crossbody bags

by Chanel to covetable Birkin bags by Hermès, By:Fashionaholic’s accessories vault is a label lover’s dream.

The ByFashionaholic showroom in River North

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Maître d’ and Partner Raphael Lopez in the Monkey Parlour, which features a striking wall mural by Swedish artist Jonas Wickman.

PASSION PLAY

Beloved Gold Coast restaurant Le Colonial changes its address— but not its passion for authentic French-Vietnamese cuisine.

By Lisa Shames / Photography by Anthony Tahlier On paper, a tenth of a mile doesn’t sound like a great distance. But when it involves moving an iconic Gold Coast restaurant with a devoted local following, that number takes on greater significance.

It’s a notion that wasn’t lost on the operating partners of Le Colonial, Rick Wahlstedt and Joe King, as they prepared to move their beloved restaurant after 22 years from its original home at 937 N. Rush St. around the corner to 57 E. Oak St. “When you have something that you’ve become used to for so long and you love, to think of it changing is hard,” says Wahlstedt. “We’ve tried to instill the fact that we’re not going away; it’s just a new evolution.”

That evolution was first put into motion when the restaurant’s landlord announced their rent would be going up substantially. With the decision made for them that a new location was needed, the plans began to take shape with one item that wasn’t negotiable. “What was brutally important to us

was that we stay as close as possible to the existing Le Colonial,” says King. “Our customer base is here.”

When that clientele includes a lengthy list of Chicago’s movers and shakers who dine at the restaurant on a weekly basis, at their usual tables, with their favorite dishes placed in front of them by their favorite servers, the stakes become even higher.

And herein lies the magic of Le Colonial. While it’s never been the trendiest restaurant in town or served hyper-cuttingedge food made with fancy culinary techniques, it has always been consistent—with the quality of its French-Vietnamese cuisine, heartfelt service and warm ambience. Other Chicago restaurants have come and gone, but Le Colonial has remained, providing more or less the exact experience it first created in 1996.

At its new location, scheduled to open in late February at press time, much of what has made Le Colonial great will make the move with some twists added in to keep things interesting. slmag.net

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Duck noodle soup with sliced roasted Long Island duck, egg noodles, duck consommé, bok choy, shiitake and beech mushrooms, snd scallions

For the menu, Executive Chef Quoc Luong, who worked at Le Colonial for seven years when it first opened before coming back in 2015 to take on the head kitchen position, will include many of the restaurant’s signature dishes, such as shrimp and pork spring rolls (cha gio), monkfish on sesame crackers (ca bam xuc banh trang), grilled scallop salad with garlic noodles (goi bun so), and lemongrass chicken with crispy shallots and cabbage (banh uot). “In the past, we’ve gotten resistance when we’ve taken some dishes off the menu,” says King. “Our regulars are very vocal about what they love.”

But don’t expect a carbon copy of the old menu, says Luong, who has updated the plating of dishes as well as introduced items that tap into his Vietnamese heritage. (Luong moved from Vietnam to the U.S. when he was 9 years old.) The chef has 86 slmag.net

also collaborated with Le Colonial’s Culinary Director Nicole Routhier, the country’s foremost expert in Vietnamese cuisine, who worked with Wahlstedt on the original menu in the early 1990s for the first Le Colonial in New York. (There are also Le Colonial locations in Houston and San Francisco, as well as a fifth location that’s opening in Atlanta in May.) “We’re sticking with the classics, but we also wanted to make the food a bit more up to date,” says Wahlstedt. To go along with the new presentations, the plates and silverware have been upgraded. New menu highlights include a spicy beef carpaccio salad (goi bo), a duck noodle soup with bok choy, shiitake and beech mushrooms, and scallions (mi bit quay), and a new presentation for the crispy whole red snapper with a spicy garlic glaze that’s served head-on and filleted table side (ca chien Saigon).

Crispy whole red snapper with spicy garlic glazeÂ

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The fireplace nook in the lounge is chicly appointed with an eye-catching photo of a Vietnamese woman as well as artifacts and collectibles. Â

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Top: Spicy beef carpaccio salad with Heritage Angus prime beef tenderloin, farm greens, sweet chili and agave dressing. Bottom: Vietnamese shaking beef with farm greens, caramelized filet mignon, sweet onions, watercress and a lime-pepper vinaigrette

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Top: Chilled shrimp roll with rice noodles, lettuce, bean sprouts, aromatic herbs and peanut sauce. Bottom: Panseared chicken dumplings with Miller Farms chicken, scallions, ginger and black vinegar sauce

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Le Colonial Chicago Executive Chef and Partner Quoc Luong

Eternal Spring cocktail (foreground) and a tray of Saigon Slings

Spicy yellowfin tuna tartare with Hass avocado, sweet chili, cucumber, red shiso, soy caviar and taro chips

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Caramelized lemon tart with a shortbread crust and fresh fruit

For architect Mark Knauer, finding that balance between the old and new was never far from his mind when he took on the project of transforming the third floor of a new building, situated above Chanel’s recently opened flagship, into Le Colonial’s new home. “Part of the charm of Le Colonial is that historic environment that takes you to a different place and time,” says Knauer. “In the new space, we tried to create some of that patina without overdoing it and making it look fake.”

Part of that was achieved by incorporating items that were actually made in Vietnam, including some of the furniture and millwork. The black-and-white photos that hung in the original location have been reframed and rehung. Also helping to recapture the 1920s French Colonial Vietnam ambience the restaurant has become known for are expansive murals, paintings and wall finishes indicative of that time period created

by Swedish artist Jonas Wickman.

With the new location came the opportunity to create things they didn’t have previously. There’s now a spacious bar and lounge area seating 60 that includes cushy red booths, a fireplace and a wood-topped bar sure to attract a whole new set of regulars.

(Look for Le Colonial’s monthly Tuesday-night guest bartending event benefitting a local charity to resume soon.) Nearby a private tasting room for 10 is enclosed by French doors and decorated with colorful floor-to-ceiling, jungle-inspired murals. In the main dining room, which seats up to 80, a beautiful decorative tiled 92 slmag.net

floor is underfoot. Then there’s the all-season terrace overlooking Oak Street. The space, dubbed the “bird’s nest,” can seat up to 55 and when its accordion windows are open, guests will feel like they’re sitting outside, perched above Oak Street.

But Le Colonial has always been more than just its food and interior design; the people who work there have always been a big part of its allure, too. That includes Maitre d’ Rafael Lopez, who has been a fixture at the restaurant for most of its 22 years. (Lopez and Luong recently were made partners at Le Colonial.) His old-school style of hospitality—“We never say no and we always try to make it happen,” he says—has endeared him to the thousands of guests who have walked through the restaurant’s doors, including celebrities such as Mick Jagger, Billy Joel, Sting and Eric Clapton. Clapton once came in for three consecutive meals, recalls Lopez proudly.

The importance of the staff, some of whom have been at the restaurant for decades and have brought on their children to work alongside them, was a big part of King’s and Wahlstedt’s decision to have the original location remain open three weeks beyond its original closure date.

“We saw this move as a great opportunity to bring us forward for the next 20 years, but in doing so we wanted to make sure we didn’t lose what made Le Colonial successful in the first place: its warmth, romance, soul and food,” says Wahlstedt. “It’s been a great journey for us.” And for us, too. sl Le Colonial, 57 E. Oak St., 312.255.0088. lecolonialchicago.com

JOIN THE COSTUME COUNCIL OF THE CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM FOR

SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2019

THE OPENING NIGHT OF OUR LATEST EXHIBITION

More information and tickets at chicagohistory.org/event/costumegala Or Contact Ishan Johnson at ijohnson@chicagohistory.org

Sponsored by

Presenting Sponsor

Liz Stiffel

Dr. Alexander Paziotopoulos

YOU, OPTIMIZED

In-the-know Chicagoans are turning to The Pazio Institute for the fountain of youth.

Here’s the lowdown on how it works—and why transformative wellness is the next big thing.

By Korey Huyler / Photography by James Gustin for Fig Media Posture. Hormones. Supplements. Yoga. Neurofeedback. Spiritual work. Optimization. Medical engineering. These are just a few of the words you hear in the hallways of The Pazio Institute.

The Institute, which opened a sleek new street-level location in the heart of Fulton Market in November 2018, offers a wide range of specialized services designed to analyze a client’s unique physiology. The Institute looks at patients’ whole health—the intake process includes genetic and metabolic testing as well as cognitive and emotional assessments—before creating a comprehensive plan of attack. The goal? Lifelong health and a complete transformation for every client.

“The reason we call ourselves an institute, not a clinic, is because we’re trying to do medical engineering,” explains founder Alexander Paziotopoulos (known as Dr. Alex to his clients).

“Engineers don’t like fixing broken things, they like optimizing systems so things don’t break. We don’t really get a chance to do that as regular physicians. By being able to do it this way, in this setting, I get to spend a lot of time with people, and I get to work on optimization. This is a place of lifelong learning and advancement for our members.”

From diet to strength training to hormone replacement, The Pazio Institute touches on all aspects of a patient’s life and longevity. Paziotopoulos and his team achieve this by providing plenty of personal attention—the average American doctor sees

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30-50 patients per day; Paziotopoulos typically sees six—along with a customized combo of supplements, injections and the latest age-reversal innovations.

HOW IT WORKS…When patients start working with The Pazio Institute, they first complete an in-depth online form with questions on everything from sleep patterns to stress levels to weight goals. They then undergo a full round of lab tests on-site (there is a phlebotomist on staff ). Patients next meet with Dr. Alex to go over their questionnaire in person.

Last but not least, Paziotopoulos creates a customized “medical engineering” plan for each patient—think a detailed schedule of supplements, peptide injections, yoga, fasting, infusions, even neuropsychology—geared toward helping people achieve ultimate health, aka optimization.

Paziotopoulos says he gets unparalleled results from his comprehensive approach. “What people usually experience is that they have better energy, their memory is better, they sleep better, they aren’t as stressed, their sexual life is better, their diet gets better and their relationship with food gets better,” he says.

And unlike all those functional-medicine clinics out there, nothing at Pazio is offered a la carte. All patients pick a level of plan to follow (usually based on what they can afford) and they stick with it through its entirety. And, one more thing to mention:

“We work to heal our patients physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally, while employing the latest breakthrough technology and science healthcare has to offer,” says Dr. Alex. “It’s you, perfected.”

The Pazio Institute doesn’t take insurance. Patients pay in cash.

This allows Paziotopoulos to spend the proper time with patients and order the most advanced tests, as well as deliver customized protocols designed to ultimately change his patients’ lives.

“The main thing that makes us different from everyone else is that we’re trying to make you the best version of yourself you can be,” says Paziotopoulos. “Tools are always going to change, so right now we are using a multitude of tools. For example, we’re seeing great results right now from peptide therapy. There are so many ways to use this… and it’s safe.”

FIGHTING AGING Paziotopoulos says that the biggest developments right now are in Age Reversal Medicine, which is new to the forefront of anti-aging medicine. The Pazio Institute is one of the few clinics in the country pioneering this movement, focusing on anti-aging (mitigating decrepitness, extending life by 10-15 percent) and age reversal (actually turning back the clock on aging).

“The average American spends the last 10 years of life in a decrepit state, whether you’re in a wheelchair, have some type of dementia or are in a nursing home. It’s not a very good decade,” says Paziotopoulos. “If you do regular functional, regenerative anti-aging work and get your hormones done, you can compress that down to one or two years. Along with that, you could get a better quality of life and get to live 10 percent longer.”

According to Paziotopoulos, regenerative medicine will go through many updates over the next few years and decades. “[It] allows us to stimulate the body to heal itself through the use of stem cells, protein-rich plasma and peptides,” he explains. “This has helped patients avoid surgery from damage to soft tissue or joints and has helped others to heal from systemic disease.”

WHO IS DR. ALEX? In addition to being a licensed physician, Paziotopoulos has a background in Ashtanga yoga and Shaolin kung fu. He received specialized training in neuroscience and has completed the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine Fellowship in Anti-Aging, Regenerative and Functional Medicine, as well as the Metabolic Medical Institute’s Advanced Fellowship in Stem Cell Therapeutics.

“You will find a handful of other practices in Chicago doing a variety of things we are doing, but not the same combination under one roof nor the same level of specialized care and forward-thinking vision,” explains Director of Operations Anna Fahrenhorst. “From simple to complex, we’re looking to educate and inspire. We want to ensure our patients are at their best health physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. We are helping people live better and longer by applying real science and medicine.” sl The Pazio Institute, 1019 W. Fulton Market, 844.734.3678. thepazioinstitute.com

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WHEN ONE DOOR OPENS

Avi’s Gnocchi, a dish by chef Todd Stein benefitting Keshet, will be available through the end of April at The Bristol.

Fledgling Chicago organization Doors Open Dishes fills hearts and bellies by connecting local chefs and adults with disabilities to support the group homes and programming they need to thrive.

By Marissa Nelson A good meal brings more to the table than just nourishment for our bodies and the satisfaction of our appetite. When shared with others, a meal creates a common ground that brings people together. Nicole Schnitzler, a passionate Chicago-based food writer, knows this well.

Schnitzler’s 42-year-old brother, Daniel, is autistic. So in 2017, faced with the fact that the budget crisis in Illinois was leading to deep cuts in funding for programming and local homes for adults living with disabilities, she had the bright idea to leverage food’s ability to build relationships in a way that would bring awareness to the need for private funding for Chicago’s disabled community. That’s how Doors Open Dishes (doorsopendishes.org), an organization committed to keeping the doors open to the group homes and workshops catering to individuals with special needs, was born.

“The project was really inspired by my brother Daniel and seeing firsthand, as a family member, how the budget crisis was affecting his workshop and group home situation, and the funding that these programs—vocational/life skills training, camps, experiential learning programs, personalized employment programs, instructors’ and coaches’ salaries—were receiving,” says Schnitzler. “That’s always been the driving force behind it—to create a fun way to engage with the community in Chicago that could also increase awareness of the need for funding for these services our disabled community so desperately needs.”

Here’s how it works: Doors Open Dishes connects food-loving adults living with disabilities and A-list chefs in Chicago for a oneon-one meeting. After spending time getting to know one another, 96 slmag.net

the chef is tasked with creating a dish that’s inspired by the client’s favorite foods. The dish is then added to the menu at the chef ’s restaurant for a limited run, and a portion of its proceeds goes back to the client’s local home or special education center.

“Neither party, the chef or the client, completely knows what to expect when they first meet, and that’s what I love about food.

It has a way of breaking down barriers, particularly social barriers, immediately,” says Schnitzler. “It’s a really rewarding experience to watch our clients’ eyes light up when they start talking about their favorite foods with the participating chefs. And so far the experience has been equally rewarding for the chefs involved, too, to be able to use their passion to give back to their community in such a meaningful way.”

To date, Doors Open Dishes has facilitated three partnerships.

In September 2018, Daniel Schnitzler and his workshop, Gateway to Learning, a special education and training center located in Lincoln Square, partnered with Executive Chef Christian Ragano of Cindy’s restaurant at the Chicago Athletic Association hotel. Ragano created a chicken Milanese dish with seasonal vegetables served over a corn puree—inspired

Chicago chef Todd Stein (left) and Avi Lesser, a longtime participant in Keshet’s programs—and a selfdescribed foodie

The Bristol chef Todd Stein (far left) joined a special drama class at Keshet’s GADOL program, where team members were practicing for an upcoming performance.

Personalized lockers courtesy of team members at Keshet’s GADOL program

by Daniel’s love for Birds Eye mixed vegetables sprinkled with parmesan cheese—and offered it at Cindy’s for one month, donating a percentage of the proceeds to Gateway to Learning.

Doors Open Dishes’ second partnership, which launched in November, paired a client from Rimland, a collaborative care facility in Evanston for individuals with autism, with chef Bill Montagne (formerly of Nico Osteria), to raise funds for Rimland’s residential living, health and wellness, and developmental training programs. The dish, a seafood flatbread, was served at Nico Osteria for the entire month of November.

And in January, Todd Stein, executive chef and partner at The Bristol, met with Avi Lesser, a client at Keshet, a Chicagobased organization that provides more than 1,000 people with disabilities tailored programming at more than 70 sites in the Chicago area. Lesser loves watching the Food Network and was thrilled to meet with Stein, who appeared on the network’s show Iron Chef America. During the duo’s time together, Stein and Lesser talked about all of his favorite foods: pancakes, pasta, burgers, hot dogs and cheesecake. They also talked about what he doesn’t like (spicy foods). In the end, Stein was

inspired by Lesser’s love for pastas prepared with creamy sauces, and created a gnocchi dish with garden spinach, English peas, asparagus and lemon cream. The dish will be available at The Bristol through the end of April, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Keshet.

“There was a tremendous amount of enthusiasm based on a lot of positive experiences he has had with food,” says Stein of Lesser. “A lot of things in my life were communicated through food, and I think that’s the case for a lot of people, and how we bonded. I think that today, sometimes this commonality gets forgotten. It was really enlightening to be reminded that something so simple—bringing people together at a table with a plate of food—can be such a powerful thing.”

While echoing Stein’s sentiments, Schnitzler has high hopes for the future of Doors Open Dishes—its second course, so to speak. “I think that oftentimes the community of adults with disabilities can be overlooked,” she says. “When Doors Open Dishes and Chicago’s top chefs work together, we can create a conversation, and hopefully an awareness—and break bread in support of an entire community.” sl slmag.net

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SOPHISTICATED SOCIETY Presented by

March 1-24 9 9 14 22-23 30-31

In the Tropics: The Orchid Show at the Chicago Botanic Garden, chicagobotanic.org Hope Through Caring Gala to benefit the Les Turner ALS Foundation, lesturnerals.org Giordano Dance Chicago Legacy Ball, giordanodance.org River North Design District presents Dering Hall Panel: Being a Design Risk Taker at Lightology (speakers include Steve Kadlec and Michael Del Piero), rivernorthdesigndistrict.com FamilyFarmed presents the 15th annual Good Food EXPO, goodfoodexpo.org Randolph Street Market, randolphstreetmarket.com

Silver Screen to Mainstream: American Fashion in the 1930s and ’40s Opens at the Chicago History Museum on April 8, 2019 The Chicago History Museum presents 30 ensembles that explore how the glamour of the silver screen influenced and shaped American fashion during an era that was bookended by two major crises: the financial crash of 1929 and the devastation of World War II. From dressmaking at home to haute couture, Hollywood’s reach projected an illusion of stability as the nation grappled with its reinvention. chicagohistory.org

Left: Gold lamé brocade evening dress with rhinestones, circa 1937, by Bergdorf Goodman Right: Evening dress, circa 1940, by Hollywood fashion designer Howard Greer

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Shall We Dance?, the Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum’s gala celebrating the opening night of the museum’s costume exhibition, Silver Screen to Mainstream: American Fashion in the 1930s and ’40s, chicagohistory.org The 11th annual Baconfest Chicago, baconfestchicago.com Randolph Street Market, randolphstreetmarket.com The Daisie Foundation Leading Ladies Luncheon, daisiefoundation.org

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The Woman’s Board of Rush University Medical Center’s 25th annual Spring Luncheon, thewomansboard.org

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Photos by Kasumi Chow

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THE 36TH BLACK CREATIVITY GALA

The Museum of Science and Industry (MSI) hosted its 36th annual Black Creativity black-tie gala with a night at the museum. The evening started with guests enjoying cocktails in the annual Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition, featuring more than 100 original works of art from AfricanAmerican student and professional artists. Later, guests headed to the museum’s Rotunda for dinner and music from Chicago Children’s Choir, DJ Nick “Nonstop” Nicholson and the Nanette Frank Jazz Orchestra. The gala raised $475,000 to support MSI’s annual Black Creativity program and its events, which pay tribute to the culture, heritage and scientific contributions of African Americans and help motivate youth in science, technology, engineering, art and medicine. –Taylor Morgan

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1) Emcee Demetrius Ivory 2) The Chicago Children’s Choir performing at the 36th Black Creativity Gala at the Museum of Science and Industry 3) Kristin Beal and Zeb McLaurin 4) Gala co-chair Cheryl Harris 5) Sherrie Fortson and Qiana Nelson 6) Leah Mabery and Samantha Johnson 7) Randy and Diona Melton

Photos by Michael Lim

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IGNASI MONREAL MURAL UNVEILING For the completion of Ignasi Monreal’s first mural in Chicago, Elevate 663, Chrome City hosted an exclusive evening packed with creative nods to the city’s vibrant art community and culture. The acclaimed Spanish painter, known for his Renaissance-style portraiture collab with Alessandro Michele for Gucci, painted a nine-story piece at 663 N. Michigan Ave. to the delight of Chicagoans.

The VIP reveal on the building’s eight floor featured art installations curated by Connect Gallery, cocktails from Deep Eddy Vodka and music by DJ Tess. –Elise Hofer Shaw

1) Sarah Myers, Desiree Velasquez, Emma Lenhart, Dani Sommerfeld, Margot Dayton and Megan Rogers-Reilly 2) Jessica Gillespie chatting with artists Czr Prz (left) and Nick Glazebrook (right), whose work was showcased at the event 3) DJ Tess 4) Caroline Dodd and Christian Robinson 5) Danielle Starkey 6) Anthony Ott and Bailey McGuire 7) Ben Cservenyek and Victoria Rose

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2019 JEAN BANCHET AWARDS

More than 400 culinary enthusiasts gathered at Venue Six10 for the 2019 Jean Banchet Awards. Presented by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the Jean Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence is the only Chicago-based awards ceremony that recognizes culinary originality and talent throughout the Chicago region. Guests were greeted with a Champagne reception followed by the award ceremony hosted by Michael Muser, former partner and general manager at Grace. Standout awards included George Trois in Winnetka for Restaurant of the Year and Jason Hammel of Lula Cafe and Marisol for Chef of the Year. –Sally Meyer 5

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1) Jay Kopp, Alex Powell, Estelle Nella and Donnie Madia (winner of the Best Restaurant Design award for Pacific Standard Time) 2) Aaron Gersonde, Belen Duran, Megan Wantz and Andrei Mikhail 3) Presenter Andrew Zimmerman with Chef of the Year winner Jason Hammel 4) Alisha Elenz, Joey Felix, Ben Hill and Archie Powell 5) The Temporis crew took home the award for Best Service. 6) Sinela and Sasha Sinela 7) Brad and Christina Erickson

Photos by Caitlin Lisa and Katie Coyle

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TEMPORIS TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY To mark the second anniversary of Temporis, Executive Chef Donald Young and proprietor Sam Plotnick transformed the 20-seat dining room of their Michelinstarred restaurant into a cocktail party for one night—the first opportunity for guests to experience Young’s progressive, award-winning cuisine on such an unfettered scale. From fermented matsutake crème fraîche to donuts wrapped in Mangalica ham with dill and yogurt, attendees enjoyed a tasting of Temporis past and present.

The restaurant, which recently was honored with the 2019 Jean Banchet Award for Best Service, donated half of the proceeds from the evening to the nonprofit Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center. –EHS

1) Josh Ferchau and Joseph Mohan 2) Sam Plotnik and chef Donald Young 3) Olivia Leigh and Michael Kilberry 4) Ernest and Shirley Christmas 5) Dylan Boehm and Simona Platukyle 6) Audrey serving Old Fashioneds 7) Katherine O’Harrow, Lucas Nelson, Badhaftu Nadir, Matt Hoffman, Andy Crank and Maddie Freeman

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SOPHISTICATED WOMAN

By Bridget Daley / Portrait by James Gustin for Fig Media

Shelley Patenaude, the proprietor of Shelley Patenaude Interiors and president of the Founders’ Board of the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, gets candid about authenticity, finding joy and the mission that’s closest to her heart.

How long have you been on the Founders’ Board of the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital? Close to 10 years, and this is my first year as the president of the board. This special board’s creation started with one woman’s dream. In 1882, Julia Foster Porter, a young widow who lost a child to disease, took bold steps to transform the future of children’s health in Chicago. Along with her Lady Board of Managers she created what is now Lurie Children’s. The rest is history and the mission has never wavered: to support the hospital’s mission of providing the most advanced and compassionate health care to every child and their family.

Julia also made a bold decision to extend care to children from all races and ethnicities whether they could afford it or not. The Founders’ Board holds true to supporting that mission today, and I am proud to be one of many leaders for this cause.

Who is your mentor or muse? The Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Have you read their book, The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World? They have taught me that joy is difficult to achieve for most, yet it’s the key to a long, healthy and happy life.

What sets your soul on fire? Laughter! Friends, family and yoga.

Name your No. 1 life-changing, aha moment… This is a difficult answer and very personal. Aha moment or not, it was when I watched my husband, DJ, pass away before my eyes. He was 53 years old. With no warning signs, he collapsed in my arms, and life changed for me then and there. He was my best friend and the love of my life. No one prepares you for what life has in store for you, but it is what you do with that moment that matters. We have to find the silver lining and then choose to make each day better than the one before.

When you look back on your life and career so far, what are the moments that you are most proud of? My three wonderful, unique and accomplished children, and owning my own design business. And now, I would add that each moment that I serve at Lurie Children’s is a moment of pride. Each and every day, I see the miracles that are occurring due to an incredibly vigilant and passionate leadership and amazing doctors, nurses and clinicians. I am honored to be a partner in that mission.

What is your biggest challenge (professional or personal) that you work on every day? On a personal level, it is waking up each day alone and ‘getting on with it.’ Professionally, it is giving each and all I can of my talents and time to help the mission of Lurie Children’s.

What is your favorite quote or motto? “One kind word can change someone’s entire day.”

Use three adjectives to describe the sophisticated woman you aim to be… Authentic, courageous and passionate. sl

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