Sophisticated Living Louisville Sept/Oct 2023

{Louisville’s Finest}

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Louisville: Jim Patterson wins the coveted 'Best of Show' award for the third time at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on Sunday, August 20. He won with a MercedesBenz 540 K Special Roadster restored by RM Auto Restoration. Lexington: Flowers in Basket by Henry Faulkner. Photo by M S Rezny Studio

Joanne J Owen

c. 502.648.5330

jowen@kyselectproperties.com

kyselectproperties.com

6706 Elmcroft Circle

Step into a world of timeless elegance with this $2.5 million historic manor. Dating back to 1855, the home whispers stories of the past, while meticulously integrated modern comforts ensure a lifestyle of unparalleled luxury.

Hardwood floors and reclaimed beams exude old-world charm, while the gourmet kitchen boasts custom cabinets, granite countertops, and impeccable Wolf, Viking, and Sub Zero appliances stand ready to transform your culinary visions into reality. The primary suite offers opulent “his and her” bathrooms, and upstairs, bathrooms adorned with new tile and vanities elevate your everyday routine into a spa-like experience. Beyond the main residence lies a guest house, a haven of privacy and versatility. A full kitchen, bedroom, and bath await, cocooned in the same elegance as the main home.

Embrace the allure of this historic masterpiece and indulge in the epitome of refined living.

EDITOR - IN - CHIEF

Bridget Williams

ASSOCIATE EDITOR EMERITUS

Kay Matton

ART DIRECTOR

Jason Yann

CONTRIBUTORS

Writers

Patti Bailey

Victoria Chase

Matthew Cottrell

Colin Dennis

Chloe Gellar

Elliott Greene

Ashley Gude

Andre James

Photographers

Tony Bailey

Robert Burge

Chad Henle

Andrew Kung

Rachel Lutz

Ashley Stinson

Bill Wine

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Claire Williams ADVERTISING

502.582.6563

CEO/PUBLISHER

Eric Williams

DJ Kool Herc brought hip-hop to life in the Bronx in August of 1973, just two months before I was born, giving new meaning to chillin’ in my crib. Since we’ve grown up together, the rhyme schemes of the Old School era undoubtedly influenced my affinity for alliterative authoring and more than a few regrettable attempts at breakdancing.

To underscore how old I am (but certainly not how I feel!), 1973 also saw the start of the Watergate hearings, the end of US involvement in Vietnam, The Godfather winning Best Picture at the 45th Academy Awards, Secretariat winning the Triple Crown, Billie Jean King defeating Bobby Riggs in The Battle of the Sexes , George Foreman scoring a TKO over Joe Frazier to win the heavyweight world boxing championship in Kingston, Jamaica, the opening of both The World Trade Center in NYC and the Sears Tower in Chicago, and the passing of the Endangered Species Act.

Birthdays, especially the “big” ones, frequently spur introspection. Among the souvenirs of my youth currently scattered around my house but most concentrated in my office are a Packers-yellow Kent No. 9009 football helmet, a gift from my dad for my first Christmas. During a recent visit with my father, a man of few words but many photographs, I took the helmet off the shelf and asked him to share its story. Not surprisingly, he relayed what I already knew about its origin. “But why did you give it to me, a two-month-old baby girl?” I prodded, hoping for some profound explanation. “I guess I wanted you to be a tomboy,” he answered succinctly. Ironically, when the time came for transitioning from playground football to the pee wee variety, he’d rethought some aspects of the whole tomboy thing and gave a firm and quick ‘no’ to the idea of his little girl taking to the gridiron.

Today, the helmet sits on a shelf among bric-à-brac serving as a microcosm of what’s made me ‘me’ for the past five decades: a cake topper from my first birthday, a Boy George Snoopy plush, a first place trophy my bulldog won at the “Running of the Bulls” at the Red Mile in Lexington, a pair of burlap horses festooned with Sophisticated Living ribbons, a handful of favorite photos from adventures with my fiancé, and a World’s Best Mom “Oscar” from my daughter. While these are all minor touchstones in my life’s story, the knickknacks’ nod to nostalgia never fails to tug at my heartstrings and fill me with gratitude for all I’ve experienced and accomplished in my first fifty years. As I blow out the candles this year, my wish will be that my proverbial shelves continue to runneth over for years to come.

Bridget Williams, Editor-In-Chief bridget@slmag.net

@SOPHISTICATED_BRIDGET

THE THIRD TIME IS JUST AS CHARMING

Jim Patterson wins a third coveted ‘Best

of Show’ award

at the storied Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

Written by Andre James / Photos courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

A prewar Mercedes-Benz roadster that was first owned by the Shah of Afghanistan—one of just three similar cars surviving in the world today—was awarded the top prize at the 2023 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

This year, 216 cars from 18 countries and 30 states pulled onto the competition field of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and the car named Best of Show was a 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster presented by Jim Patterson of the Patterson Collection in Louisville, Kentucky.

“This 540K balances strength with sweeping lines and style, and its history is unique,” said Concours Chairman Sandra Button in a post-event press release. “In talking with Jim about this car, I was impressed by the time and thought invested in this restoration. Every piece of this beautiful Mercedes-Benz was researched so carefully to honor its history.”

Before this win, the marques of Bugatti and Mercedes-Benz were tied with the most ‘Best of Show’ wins at Pebble Beach. The 2023 event puts Mercedes-Benz in the lead, with ten wins in total.

“In Kentucky, you know, we talk about winning the Derby. Well, there’s such a thing as winning the Triple Crown,” said Jim Patterson. “And so I’ve won this Concours twice before today. This is a Triple Crown for me.” Patterson’s two previous wins came in 2015 with a 1924 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A and in 2010 with a 1933 Delage D8 S de Villars Roadster.

Patterson paid $9.9 million for the Mercedes at auction during 2022 Monterey Car Week, marking just the fifth time the car has changed hands in seven decades. In the months following the auction, RM Auto Restoration restored the 540 K Special Roadster to the strictest standards of authenticity in close cooperation with the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center. Detailed documentation of the history of the royal sports car by the Mercedes-Benz Classic archives in Fellbach played a particularly important role. “We are proud to have contributed to this success story with the unique expertise of our Classic Center and the archives,” said Marcus Breitschwerdt, Head of Mercedes-Benz Heritage. “The intensive and good cooperation with RM Auto Restoration during the past months has made this success possible.”

Patterson wasn’t the only Louisvillian to make it to the podium. A 1961 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Pininfarina Coupe Aerodinamico, owned by Kevin Cogan/Cogan Collection, took second place in Class M-1: Ferrari Grand Touring.

The Pebble Beach Concours raised more than $2.68 million for charity this year, bringing the event’s total charitable donations to over $37 million to date. Through the Pebble Beach Company Foundation, the primary charitable partner of the Concours, these funds will benefit more than 90 local charities, impacting the lives of more than 10,000 children annually in Monterey County. sl

Jim Patterson (second from right). To his right is Marcus Breitschwerdt, Executive Vice President and Head of Mercedes-Benz Heritage. To his left are Rob Myers, Chairman CEO of the RM Group of Companies, and Patrik Gottwick, Executive Assistant to EVP Mercedes-Benz Heritage.

RANCH DRESSING

A 1960s-era home gets a modern mid-century makeover.

Written by Bridget Williams / Photos by Robert Burge

A by-product of the currently tight real estate market means that prospective buyers often must possess X-ray vision that enables them to see past décor decisions of days gone by to the potential of good bones. A perfect case-in-point is the transformation of a spacious but sleepy ranch-style home prominently positioned atop a verdant hillside parcel in East Louisville. The clients, who connected with interior designer Ron Wolz of Bittners via builder Keith Morley of Don Johnson Contractors, are transplants to the Bluegrass from New York City and enlisted Wolz to impart aspects of their Big Apple aesthetic into their Kentucky home.

While the children adjusted to new schools and ample elbow room, their parents got to work, leaving the original footprint

untouched while adding their own joie de vivre via new flooring, wallpaper, steel windows, paint, and fixtures. As the homeowners brought next-to-nothing from their New York apartment with them, Wolz was in the advantageous position of getting to start from scratch, following the couple's direction of "light, bright, and bold." "Almost everything he suggested got an immediate 'yes!' from me," said the wife.

The drama begins in the foyer, where hardwoods replaced the terrazzo-style tile. Accentuating the gentle curve of the rear wall is an ebonized wood veneer wallcovering punctuated by thick "cracks" of hand-applied gold leaf, recalling the art of Japanese wabi-sabi and whose organic lines repeat in the triple-arm chandelier.

Phillip Jeffries wall covering in the foyer.

A Bittners-made table is the focal point of the dining room. Phillip Jeffries wall covering.

Harmonious high-contrast gets top billing in the reworked kitchen with steel-colored lacquered cabinets, crisp white subway tiles, and a white oak island.

Wolz chose unique lighting fixtures throughout, such as the frosted glass linear chandelier suspended above the Italian-made surfboard table in the casual dining area.

The lacquered finish of the walls in the wife’s office took six weeks to complete.

The Mick Jagger artwork in the formal living room came from the Bittners showroom.

An abstract collage in shades of green enlivens the primary bedroom, with colors pulled from the print for the drapery and upholstery on the window seat.

A pair of black Barcelona chairs in the formal living room speaks to an overarching emphasis on mid-century styling.

A wide doorway beckons guests into the formal living room, a study in contrasts. Painted black, the wall surrounding the hearth highlights a pair of armchairs with lively orange upholstery and a punchy Warhol print depicting Mick Jagger. Procured from the Bittners showroom, the wife spied it reflected in a photograph of a mirror Wolz had sent her. Bridging the transition to the opposite wall, painted ecru, is a graphic black-and-white upholstered sofa. Built-ins on either side of the doorway, updated with white oak and black hardware, along with a pair of black Barcelona chairs, serve as threads in an overarching tapestry of mid-century design.

The graphic touch takes a softer turn in the dining room, with hand-painted wallcovering displaying watercolor-like strokes of pale blue. Providing seating for eight, the timeless lines of the Bittners’made rosewood dining table, commissioned by the husband, means that if the homeowners' style changes, their table won't have to.

Harmonious high-contrast gets top billing in the reworked kitchen and casual dining area, with steel-colored lacquered cabinets, crisp white subway tiles, and a white oak island. Each room's light fixtures serve as conversation starters, particularly the popsicle-stick-shaped pieces of frosted glass that comprise the linear chandelier suspended above an Italian-made surfboard-style plinth dining table and wishbone chairs in the dining area.

Wolz added smoked glass mirrors to the upper cabinets in an existing wet bar, bridging the space between the kitchen and the family room. In the latter, a generous slab of richly veined marble surrounds

the fireplace and splits sections of white oak paneling. A round plinth table pulled up to an existing window seat updated with blue velvet upholstery is ideal for family game night. A sectional with linen-colored upholstery offers seating without detracting from the etherealness. The wallcovering Wolz selected for a pair of powder rooms and the primary suite answers the homeowners' call for drama. An abstract collage in shades of green enlivens the primary bedroom, with colors pulled from the print for the drapery and upholstery on the window seat. The spa-like primary bath turns down the volume with a palette limited to shades of white and grey and accentuated with gold hardware and fixtures.

Just as the wife knew she wanted high gloss cabinets in the kitchen, she also opted for the labor-intensive finish in her office, which took six weeks to execute, finishing the day before Christmas Eve. The family had become so accustomed to having the painter in their home that the wife joked about adding a stocking for him on their mantle. The curves of an existing spiral staircase that leads to a sitting loft are echoed in a lacquered Italian-made desk and tub chairs separated by a tulip-style side table.

While the wife remarked that adjusting to some aspects of a slower pace of life in Kentucky has been easier than others, she quickly cites one bucolic bonus. "This city girl has already made friends with the wildlife," she remarked. To underscore her point, she laughed while acknowledging that she knows the food preferences of a finicky raccoon who stops by daily for table scraps. sl

In the family’s “hangout room” just off the kitchen, a generous slab of richly veined marble surrounds the fireplace and splits sections of white oak paneling.

ARTISTRY IN ENGINEERING

Written by Elliott Greene

In September, the eyes of the interior design world collectively cast its discerning gaze on Paris for the Maison&Objet show and Paris Design Week. With Vivant, Vivants, which translates to 'alive, living' as the theme of the fourth edition of Paris Design Week and "quest of pleasures," the stated mission of Maison&Objet's fall edition, we're singling out a pair of designers who embody these concepts by marrying an adherence to time-honored techniques with forward-looking idealism.

Franco-Swedish and a École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Paris-La Villette graduate, Bina Baitel is both an architect and a designer. Baitel's youth in the Middle East imbues her work with multiple influences, enabling her to explore the question of cultural interpenetration on formal, functional, and symbolic levels.

After founding her design and architecture studio in Paris in 2006, Baitel's creations have made their way into museums and international fairs (Milan, Dubai, Paris, New York, Venice, Basel) and

have been snatched up for public and private permanent collections. At Paris Design Week, she will unveil the Bina Baitel Collection, showcasing 30 pieces characterized by an invitation to contemplative and interactive experiences.

Baitel says that each piece, developed through proprietary manufacturing processes and technologies in collaboration with the finest artisans in Europe, “tells a story materialized through a dedicated plastic expression, generating new typologies of objects.” The designer prompts us to question our relationships and interactions with the things surrounding us while she explores their common codes to propose concepts with strong inspirations. Her innovations include a lamp made entirely of flesh-colored leather, an interactive circular wall light ringed with fur, a stool inspired by the world of haute joaillerie, and a sofa inspired by the fluidity of maritime landscapes. These highquality creations express the artist's embrace of a constant dialogue between traditional craftsmanship and innovative experimentation.

Parisian designers and artisans Franck Genser and Bina Baitel employ a transdisciplinary approach to bring elegant and exciting interiors to life.

Architect and designer Bina Baitel.

Photo by Didier Delmas.

Photo of Franck Genser by Vincent Leroux.

Furnishings from Bina Baitel’s new 30-piece collection.

Photo by Didier Delmas.

Fur-Light, by Bina Baitel is an interactive luminaire. Its sensitive fur, embedded with invisible sensors, reacts to the user's caresses to turn on and adjust the light as desired.

The PAD Lamp from Bina Baitel is made entirely of flesh-colored leather.

Photo by Florian Klein.

The Naïa sofa by Bina Baitel.

Photo by Stéphan Briolant

Oniski coffee table by Franck Genser

Since 2015, Franck Genser, an engineer-turned-entrepreneur, has turned out extraordinary pieces from his Paris atelier. Cabinetmaking, tapestry, art foundry, and alabaster work are among the skillsets he calls upon to breathe life into his sculptural pieces, combining exceptional craftsmanship with timeless elegance. As a Gestalt therapist (a form of psychotherapy that emphasizes personal responsibility and focuses on the individual's experience in the present moment), Genser says he remains fascinated by the essence of objects, their impact on individuals, and the constant interaction between humans and their environment.

At the heart of the Franck Genser workshop, the art of lacquer takes center stage, inspired by his extensive journeys and encounters with gifted artists. Among them, the revered lacquer master Nagatoshi Onishi profoundly impacted Franck Genser's work. Fueled by infinite patience and an unwavering quest for perfection, Onishi's influence is unmistakably evident in Genser's exquisite creations.Among these exceptional works, the Onishi coffee table is a testament to the rich legacy of Japanese vegetable lacquer. Painstakingly crafted using the Urusgi technique, the table undergoes more than 24 meticulous lacquering stages, each separated by precise sanding to achieve an impeccable finish. The result is a masterpiece that boasts sleek lines, sophistication, and a profound tribute to the art of Japanese lacquerwork.

Woodworking is another of Gesner's cherished traditions, bringing forth remarkable pieces that embody the essence of exceptional furniture. Under the skilled hands of master craftsmen,

rough wood transforms into exquisitely curved forms, reflecting the designer's vision. Merging the best of modernity and tradition, the iconic Décision chair, inspired by Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann, a French furniture designer and interior decorator who was one of the most influential figures in the Art Deco movement, balances two finely sculpted solid American walnut volumes with four elegantly designed legs.

An ongoing affinity for the delicate art of alabaster and Ruhlmann's legacy prompts Genser's team to hand-select some of these precious stones from the same deposit once mined by Ruhlmann in the 1920s. The workshop's Toutaime lamp enhances alabaster's natural transparency and facets while bathing interiors in a soft, diffused light.

The Piscine coffee table is a key piece in the atelier's table collection that demonstrates the workshop's skill in bronze with a whimsical touch. The table's ladder-like base is waxed brass, while the deep blue bronze tabletop is achieved through the hot patina technique.

Looking to the future by taking innovation to new heights, Gesner's studio is a pioneer in fusing traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology. Engineers within the workshop focus on robotics projects, giving rise to imaginative creations, from touch-activated lamps to dome-shaped wall screens and even a serving droid for champagne glasses and bottles. Gesner says that these technical innovations, combined with human artistry and inspiration from his imagination, will continue to result in functional, artistic, and emotional furniture pieces. sl

Piscine coffee table by Franck Genser

ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Porsche Commemorates the 60th Anniversary of the 911 with the 911 S/T

Written by Andre James / Photography courtesy of Porsche Cars NA

Porsche is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the 911 with a special edition built for maximum driving enjoyment. With a limited run of 1,963 examples, the Porsche 911 S/T offers a lightweight design and a purist driving experience. An optional Heritage Design Package, which will appeal to Porsche collectors and those with an affinity for nostalgia, draws inspiration from the racing version of the 911 S from the late 1960s and early 1970s.

As the name identifies, the 911 S/T is the descendant of a particularly performance-focused version of the first 911 generation. From 1969, Porsche offered a special race version of the 911 S, internally called the 911 ST. Modifications to the chassis, wheels, engine, and body significantly improved acceleration, braking, traction, and cornering grip. Large spoilers and other aerodynamic aids were not yet used in these models. The new 911 S/T takes up the spirit of the original 911 S (ST) and transfers it to the current model generation.

Weighing in at just 3,056 pounds, this exclusive model, the lightest of the 992 generation, unites the strengths of the 911 GT3 with Touring Package and the 911 GT3 RS to deliver a unique combination of agility and driving dynamics. For the first time, it combines the naturally aspirated, 386 kW (525 PS) 4.0-liter high-revving boxer engine from the 911 GT3 RS with a manual gearbox and lightweight clutch. The compelling soundscape of the standard lightweight Sport Exhaust system heightens the exhilarating driving experience.

The 911 S/T's particularly nimble and agile handling, designed for maximum driving enjoyment on winding country roads, reflects a focus on GT and motorsport expertise. Unlike the 911 GT3 RS, the direction of the development of the 911 S/T has been not on track use but rather for journeys on public roads. Every steering

movement and every ounce of pressure on the accelerator or brake is implemented immediately and precisely. The 911 S/T is the only 911 of the current generation to combine a double-wishbone front-axle design with a multi-link rear axle without rear-axle steering.

Among other measures, the 911 S/T achieves its particularly agile and direct handling through consistent lightweight design. The hood, roof, front fenders, and doors, with their striking inlets, are made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), as are the rear axle anti-roll bar and shear panel (stiffening element on the rear axle).

Porsche also fits the anniversary model with magnesium wheels, the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) system, a lithium-ion starter battery, and lightweight glass, all as standard.

A new exterior color, Shore Blue Metallic, and Ceramica wheel rim color are exclusive to the optional Heritage Design package. Upon request, a starting number from 0 to 99 and decorative foil can be applied to the doors. The classic-style Porsche crest from the original 911 that adorns the front, the center caps of the wheels, the steering wheel, the headrests, and the car key underscores the historical roots of the 911 S/T. The interior also features cloth seat centers in Classic Cognac with black pinstripes, which are another homage to heritage. Two-tone semi-aniline leather trim in Black/ Classic Cognac with extensive leather surrounds, a roof lining in perforated Dinamica, and other elements from Porsche Exclusive Manufacture round out the package. The Porsche logo and the 911 S/T model designation on the car's rear are in gold.

The new Porsche 911 S/T carries an MSRP of $290,000, excluding $1,650 for delivery, processing and handling. U.S. deliveries are expected to begin in Spring 2024. sl

ALRIGHT ALRIGHT MALACHITE

Compiled by Bridget Williams

Kavant & Sharart Talay Wave Flow earrings ($3,260; kavantandsharart.com). 70s bangle from Jenna Blake ($23,200; jennablake.com). Pebbles

Opposite page, clockwise from top left: Lariat Lapidary ring from TEJEN ($3,200; tejen-collection.com). Award-winning one-of-a-kind gold, malachite and diamond necklace by Aletto Brothers. Available through Elleard B. Heffern in Clayton, MO and alettobrothers.com. Nak Armstrong small Elliptic bracelet ($1,675; nakarmstrong.com). Piaget Possession watch with natural malachite dial ($21,900, piaget.com). Bowen NYC malachite hearts necklace ($2,750; bowennyc.com). Sig Ward malachite and lapis inlay horseshoe necklace ($8,500; sigwardjewelry.com). Emily P. Wheeler Scarab necklace ($10,400; emilypwheeler.com). Malachite and diamond door knocker earrings from Mateo ($1,370; mateonewyork.com). State Property Allegory pavé tsavorite and malachite stud earrings ($1,920; thisisstateproperty.com). Sweet Dreams ring from Aisha Baker ($6,150; shop.aishabaker.com).

ring from Vendorafa (vendorafa.net).

FRINGE BENEFITS

Compiled by Bridget Williams

MAREI New York Alexandria tassel earrings ($4,000; mareinewyork.com). Alison MacLeod Catkin Gossamer Web Earrings ($3,676; alisonmacleod.com). Nikos Koulis Jewels Together earrings (nikoskoulis.com). Reza Corne D’Abondance earrings ($256,000; worldofreza.com). Sia Taylor Sunrise earrings ($6,000 siataylor.com).

Opposite page: Connexion diamond and chain earrings from Jemma Wynne ($27,300; jemmawynne.com). This page, clockwise from top left: Jade Ruzzo Tennessee drop bangle ($24,000; jaderuzzo.com). Anita Ko diamond and gemstone Shaker choker ($35,650; anitako.com). Broken English Taylor No3 necklace ($496; brokenenglishjewelry.com). Pink tourmaline and diamond shaker ring from Jacquie Aiche ($6,500; jacquieaiche.com). Emily P. Wheeler fringe earrings ($12,900; emilypwheeler.com). Albarré Jewelry ruby and diamond dangle earrings ($2,200; albarre.com). Earth Goddess Teak Chandelier Earrings from Capucine De Wulf Jewelry ($135; juliska.com/collections/capucine-de-wulf-jewelry). Nadine Aysoy Catena briolette emerald earrings ($6,020; nadineaysoy.com).

ISLAND IDYLL

Written by Bridget Williams

"If you want to really get away from it all where no one can find you, then you're heading to the right place," remarked my Uber driver as we set off from the terminal at the Savannah airport to the private embarkation dock on Hilton Head to catch one of 18 daily round-trip ferries to Daufuskie Island's Haig Point. A strict no phones policy inside the ferry boat for the duration of the 30-minute voyage helped ease me into a more chill state of mind and make my acquaintance with the first of many locals who were all quick to extol the benefits of living in the car-free development.

The architecturally unique array of homes, cottages, and townhomes within Haig Point (boasting some of the highest average home prices in South Carolina) are carefully positioned among 1,100 acres on Daufuskie Island, a mixture of waterfront, woods, and manicured golf greens that are bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Caliboque Sound, and the Cooper River. From Haig Point's 150-year-old Lighthouse, you can spy Hilton Head's red-and-whitestriped Harbour Town Lighthouse (an eight-minute boat ride away).

With a fascinating history of human habitation dating back 9,000 years, the entirety of Daufuskie Island, whose name comes from the Muscogee language, meaning "sharp feather," has been named to the National Register of Historic Places. Spain claimed the Island in 1521 and enlisted the Native American population to fight off advances by the French and Scotts. Daufuskie's "Bloody

Point" is named after a trio of brutal battles between 1715-1717. Occupied by Union soldiers during the Civil War, the Gullah people (freed enslaved people) returned to work in the oyster and timber industries. The Gullah population of 2,000 dwindled to roughly 60 after the Island's economy gradually declined. Still, Daufuskie's remoteness allowed the language and customs of the Gullah people to remain well-preserved.

Since the beginning, Haig Point has been committed to the preservation of the Island's history. After purchasing the land in the 1980s, the original developers hired an archaeologist and historical architect to locate and restore sensitive sites. In conjunction with the Daufuskie Island Historical Foundation, in 2014, Haig Point, whose ownership was transferred to the members in 2001, restored a trio of former slave quarters dating back to the 1820s. Located near the ferry dock and the Strachan Mansion, a circa 1910 home barged to the site from St. Simon's Island in 1986, the ruins are a fine example of Tabby homes, a building material comprised of burned oyster shells, lime, sand, and water. Careful attention has also been given to preserving "Constitution Trees," massive twohundred-year-old Southern Live Oaks surrounding a fountain and dwarfing the 40-foot tower of the nearby Lighthouse. The tree's graceful, outstretched branches, festooned with resurrection ferns and Spanish moss, recall Charleston's famous Angel Oak.

Haig Point is easy to define by what's missing, and how that enhances life in the Lowcountry.

The Haig Point ferry makes 18 roundtrips daily from a private dock on Hilton Head.

Haig Point's 150-year-old Lighthouse

The Strachan Mansion is a circa 1910 home that was barged to Haig Point from St. Simon's Island in 1986.

Morning sun coming through the branches of a “Constitution” oak tree.

The Strachan Mansion is a hub of community life, with a coffee house, souvenir shop, a small grocery and meeting areas on the first floor and guest accommodations on the second floor. A large waterfront lawn with croquet and bocce areas is also a popular site for wedding receptions and special events. The Haig Point Club facilitates a strong sense of community, and homeowners are offered two levels of membership: the highest tier provides unlimited access to 29 holes of golf. Designed by Rees Jones, the 20-hole, par 72, 7,380-yard Signature Course has made Golf Magazine's list of "Top 100 in the World." For those new to the game or don't want to commit to a full day of play, the par 36 9-hole Osprey course is an ideal option.

Tennis pro Ron Gwyn provides regular clinics at the Haig Point Tennis and Pickleball Center, which has received an Outstanding Facility award from the USTA. Two of the six HarTru® courts are lighted, and the site plays host to the Daufuskie Island Adult Championships, featuring amateur play for men and women in both singles and doubles, with divisions for adults aged 35 and older.

Adjacent to the tennis center, a large fitness center overlooks a five-lane lap pool reserved for adults. The Beach Club at Calibogue Club, which overlooks the beaches of Calibogue Sound, is the site of a second family-oriented pool.

A private equestrian center with a 12-stall barn supported by an accomplished team of equestrians offers members every service from grooming and boarding to lessons and trail rides.

With no grocery store on the Island, I'd be tempted to rely on the culinary team at Haig Point's various dining options for sustenance. Sourcing locally from land and sea, the dining outlets offer everything from elevated Lowcountry fare to tried-and-true favorites to satisfy even the finickiest eater. Even though I was visiting solo, in the spirit of Southern hospitality, I never dined alone as current homeowners invited me to join them each meal. Everyone seemed genuinely interested in knowing what brought me to the Island and sharing the unique path to what drew them there.

However, even with all the human-made amenities, I quickly found that my favorites were those offered by Mother Nature. Early risers who take to traversing the one-mile-long Beach Road are rewarded with spectacular sunrises. Low tide provides DIY oyster harvesting and sand dollar gathering. Constant coastal breezes are ideal for kite flying.

Between 500-600 people live on Daufuskie Island full-time. Outside the gates of Haig Point lies a tight-knit and surprisingly rich and resourceful cultural community. Tour Daufuskie (tourdaufuskie.com) offers a guided History & Artisans tour led by an island resident, providing a historical overview and a fascinating

The Calibogue Club at dusk.

The Daufuskie Community Farm is committed to bringing sustainable and organic farming to the island.

Daufuskie Island residents Leanne Coulter and Rhonda Davis run Daufuskie Blues, an indigo dying company.

insight into what it's like to live in a teeny, isolated town. We ogled the quirky artworks at Iron Fish Gallery & Studio (ironfishart.com), where customers pay on an “honor system” and learned how the beautiful natural indigo-dyed textiles are made at Daufuskie Blues (daufuskieblues.com), which operates out of the Maryfields School, made famous by Pat Conroy in his book, The Water is Wide Always keen to converse with a fellow Kentuckian, I hopped on a beachcruiser to visit Daufuskie Island Distillery (daufuskierum.com). Tony Chase, a long-time resident of the Bluegrass and a former pharmacist, perfectionist, and serial entrepreneur, retired to Haig Point with his wife Christy, only to "unretire" a few years later by opening a distillery on a 12.5acre site in 2015. Obsessed with quality and being as hyper-local as possible, the business launched with 54 barrels of rum and has since added flavored vodkas and rums, infused simple syrups and ready-to-drink cocktails. At the time of my visit, several barrels of bourbon were aging in the warehouse, created using a mashbill recipe shared by legendary distiller Lincoln Henderson. In a nod to Kentucky's claim that there are more barrels of bourbon aging than people, Chase remarked that he'll have a far easier time reaching that mark on Daufuskie, where bourbon ages differently due to the climate. "There's no cold season to stall the aging, so a four-year aged bourbon tastes like an eight-year," Chase explained.

Hugely successful from the get-go, Chase has added a food truck, serving as many as 200 "smash burgers" on their busiest days. For the high-octane entrepreneur who has owned 61 different companies, Daufuskie's business environment is a horse of a different color. Staffing and affordable housing remain a constant struggle, so he's establishing a nonprofit dedicated to building and renting affordable housing for Island workers. "Daufuskie is black or white, which you either love or hate," Chase said. "I've definitely learned to be a little more laid back."

On my way back to the airport after my stay at Haig Point's Strachan Mansion, I shared the ferry with a group of teens heading to school on the mainland. Typically, when I come across a pack of kids this age, they all have their heads buried in their phones, but here, where it's not allowed, some chatted and laughed with youthful exuberance, others found a quiet corner to read; and, procrastinators after my own heart found a space to spread out and frantically work to finish up homework. It was a refreshing change of pace that recalled a line from Haig Point's marketing material: "It is not an escape from life, but a deeper immersion into it." sl

Non-members wanting to experience the Haig Point homeowner lifestyle can register for the Daufuskie Island Marathon on January 13th, 2024; the annual Haig Point Foundation Golf Tournament in the spring; or book a Discovery Visit at haigpoint.com/discovery-visits/.

For two decades, The Iron Fish Gallery has operated on an honor system with customers signing in, noting the piece they took and whether payment was left in the honor box or if they want a call to pay via credit card.

A horse at Haig Point's private equestrian center.

Bourbon aging at Daufuskie Island Distillery

Bibliotaph...

Compiled by Victoria Chase

Using narration adapted from Davis’ own words and a unique undulating visual style that reflects Davis’ constant musical changes, this graphic novel follows Davis through four decades of musical innovation centered around his quest to find a mysterious sound he heard on a moonlit country road as a child. Dave Chisholm (author & illustrator) — Miles Davis and the Search for the Sound, hardcover, 150 pages, Z2 Comics (available September 26)

Rick Rubin, a nine-time GRAMMYwinning producer, named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time and the most successful producer in any genre by Rolling Stone, shares the path of the artists as a road we can all follow. “I set out to write a book about what to do to make a great work of art. Instead, it revealed itself as a book on how to be,” says Rubin. Rick Rubin—The Creative Act: A Way of Being—hardcover, 432 pages Penguin Press

Bobby Berk, a design expert and Emmynominated TV host of Netflix’s Queer Eye, shows you how designing your space, no matter what size home you have, has an immediate, visceral, and undeniable impact. Bobby Berk — Right at Home: How Good Design is Good for the Mind — hardcover, 304 pages, Clarkson Potter (available September 12)

From ancient castles to sturdy Georgian manors and modest farmhouses, the rich history of the 15 homes featured here offers a unique insight into the Irish temperament and an exploration of a style of decoration that, while adapted to meet 21st-century demands, still retains historical integrity. Robert O’Byrne—Romantic Irish Homes— hardcover, 176 pages, CICO Books

A look at thoughtfully matched, excessive, but on-point, more-is-better spaces worldwide and the passionate creators behind them. Living to the Max: Opulent Homes and Maximalist Interiors—hardcover, 256 pages, gestalten; us.gestalten.com.

hoards books

As the first-ever account of how the Popes’ presence has shaped the history of Rome, this book illuminates the lives of the men who have sat on the throne of Saint Peter, alongside the bold and curious actions of the men, women, and children who have shaped the city with them, from antiquity to today. Jessica Wärnberg—City of Echoes: A New History of Rome, Its Popes, and Its People—hardcover, 448 pages, Pegasus Books (available September 5)

Looking to literature, film, architecture, and art history, artist Noah Davis, who died from cancer in 2015 at 32, permeated his paintings with emotion and imagination. This book delves into the Los Angeles-based artist and activist’s impact and legacy. Noah Davis, Helen Molesworth, Franklin Sirmans, Lindsay Charlwood, Thomas J. Lax, Glenn Ligon, Julie Mehretu, and Fred Moten—Noah Davis: In Detail —hardcover, 208 pages, David Zwirner Books (Available September 12)

A celebration of German home baking from Jürgen Krauss called "possibly the best-loved contestant in Great British Baking Show history." A self-taught baker, Jürgen draws on the flavors, techniques, and memories from his childhood, his European travels, and his wife's Jewish heritage to create this collection of authentic German baking recipes. Jürgen Krauss—The German Baking Book: Cakes, Tarts, Breads, and More from the Black Forest and Beyond— hardcover, 208 pages, Weldon Owen

This book is a vivid chronicle of a couple’s four-year, 40k journey across several countries and continents via bicycle. Olivier Van Herck & Zoë Agasi—Leaving the Comfort Zone: The Adventure of a Lifetime—hardcover, 320 pages, gestalten; us.gestalten.com.

Recreate recipes from the hit series as prepared by "Gator," the on-set caterer for the Paramount Network show's cast and crew since season one. Gabriel "Gator" Guilbeau—Yellowstone: The Official Dutton Ranch Family Cookbook—hardcover, 176 pages, Insight Editions (available on September 12)

'li' o 'taph, [bib-lee-uhtaf, -tahf]: a person who caches or

Written by Bridget Williams / Photos courtesy of McLaren

After exhausting my arsenal of automotive knowledge in conversation with Roger Ormisher, Vice President of Communications and PR for McLaren in The Americas, at an exquisite lunch at Aperture Cellars served on a table embellished with bright orange flowers that recalled the head-turning McLaren Artura parked nearby, our table topic took a philosophical turn. Roger asked me and my tablemates if our minds would be at ease if today were our last. Had we gotten everything out of life we wanted up to this point? It was a poignant reminder of why moments matter. Just an hour before, I was behind the wheel of an Silica White Artura, enjoying a windows-down driving experience that allowed the intoxicating scents of redwood and sea air to commingle, feeling the pulse-quickening acceleration, and noticing how certain exhaust notes made the hair at the back of my neck stand on end. It was one of the rare instances where I enjoyed being fully present to live in the moment. And, though I'm not quite ready to punch out on my life's time clock, a lifelong chase after carpe diem, which on this day included thoroughly testing the Artura's cornering capabilities, means that, like my delicious lunch that day, nothing is left on the table.

While I would have accepted an offer to pilot the Artura down my street, given the opportunity to do so through the varied terrain of California's Sonoma County, starting from the Montage in Healdsburg was a no-brainer. The evening before our drive, we took a deep dive into the McLaren culture during an alfresco dinner at

the Montage. As the last rays of sunlight cast a golden hue on the vineyards weaving through the luxury wine country hideaway, an A-list team of Ormisher, Nicolas Brown, President of McLaren Americas, Jo Lewis, McLaren's Head of Color and Materials Design, and Nolan Gray, Product Pricing and Fleet Specialist, shared the story of the world's last independent small volume manufacturer of high-performance vehicles.

"Motorsports are the core of our DNA," explained Brown. He went on to illuminate how the Artura, McLaren's first-ever seriesproduction High-Performance Hybrid (HPH) supercar, represents the distillation of more than a half-century of McLaren's expertise and experience in race- and road-car engineering. Artura, the name for this "clean sheet" design, comes from combining "art" and "future."

Extremely lightweight even with the battery, McLaren engineers employed a 'form-follows-function' design philosophy in devising the all-new McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA), uniquely optimized for HPH powertrains and built in-house. A single MCLA tub is strong enough to withstand the weight of 15 Arturas stacked on top of it. Audiophiles will appreciate the tubmounted subwoofer's clean, crisp sound free of vibrations. Sexy and supercar go hand-in-hand, and the exterior's super-formed aluminum panels perform like Spanx in accentuating Artura's sinuous curves with a functional 'shrink-wrapped' look.

A pair of Arturas parked outside Aperture Cellars

A dinner party celebrating Artura at Montage Healdsburg

Winemaker Jesse Katz of Aperture Cellars oversees Montage Healdsburg’s 15.5 acres of vineyards.

Designed around the driver, "it's all about having fun behind the wheel at any speed," remarked Brown. And, with an all-new twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 petrol engine with an E-motor and energy-dense battery pack, producing combined outputs of 671bhp and 530lb-ft, there's plenty of fun to be had. Rather than just becoming a garage trophy, McLaren owners put three times more miles on their supercars than other top-tier manufacturers in this realm.

A mandate to cut weight without cutting corners resulted in several innovations, including a first-to-market domain-based ethernet electrical architecture that's twenty-five percent lighter and allows for over-the-air updates. Not only are the Pirelli P ZERO™ CORSA tires extra grippy, but their innovative Pirelli Cyber Tyre® technology allows for real-time data collection resulting in improved handling.

While all the engineering and performance aspects are undoubtedly important and exciting, if the package isn't captivating, then it's all for naught. That's where Jo Lewis comes in. A master’s graduate of the Royal College of Art specializing

in textiles and technology, Lewis worked for Stella McCartney before moving to the automotive industry. Her involvement with Artura stretches back to 2016. "Design is cross-functional with engineering," explained Lewis, who added that McLaren's small volume means that customers get closer contact with corporate in the bespoke realm via McLaren Special Operations.

Applying NASA-level knowledge to her craft, Lewis’ portfolio of innovations is quite impressive. A newly developed method for leather interiors leans on her aerospace experience to deliver thirty-percent weight savings. She's devised ways to make cashmere applicable in an automotive setting, taking advantage of its wicking abilities. "Slip and grip" embossing in key touchpoints makes getting in and out of a McLaren easier. Ultrafabric, derived from the yachting sector, is durable, lightweight, and weather-resistant. If seeing your name in lights is insufficient, Lewis has found ways to weave it into your carbon fiber dashboard (even using 24-karat gold). Available contour paint jobs highlight the Artura's aerodynamics akin to contouring cheekbones with bronzer.

Chef Jamil Peden during lunch at Aperture Cellars

Lunch setup at the Aperture Cellars' tasting room.

Fog shrouded the Healdsburg hillsides on the morning of my drive. Nolan Gray escorted me to my Silica White Artura with a sumptuous all Alcantara interior, including the steering wheel, making it feel so luxurious in my hands. The scissor doors opened effortlessly, and a single finger provided enough force for closing. I sank into the Clubsport bucket seat, and at the push of a button, the Artura started in EV mode, and I set off like a silent assassin buzzing through the vineyards.

Knowing that 0-60mph straight-line acceleration is achievable in 3.0 seconds, I anxiously looked for a wide-open straightaway to switch the powertrain mode into Track to test the stat. As soon as I pressed the accelerator, the back of my head pressed into the seat, prompting me to yell "woohoo!" out of the open windows. In the interest of safety (and not wanting to go to jail!) I resisted finding out if sprinting 0–186mph takes a reported 21.5 seconds, so I'll have to take McLaren's word for it.

Throughout my roughly 50-mile journey over varied terrain, I switched between Artura's four powertrain modes: E-mode,

Comfort, Sport, and Track. Artura can drive up to 11 miles on battery power alone, and when I found I'd nearly exhausted its EV range, I switched to Sport mode to replenish the battery. I became giddy when a "Curves Ahead" road sign popped up, knowing that I'd be able to hug them as tightly as an old friend. At the halfway point, our driving group convened at The Birds Café in Bodega Bay, and our tricked-out Arturas in hues ranging from lowkey to lookat-me created quite a stir. "I guess I'm a car girl now!" exclaimed one of my colleagues from New York City, who said she "didn't get car people" until she got acquainted with Artura.

Truth be told, no one needs to own a McLaren, but at the end of the day, getting from point A to B is entirely more exhilarating for those wanting to squeeze every last drop out of life.

Artura is priced from $233,000 for the standard specification. Every McLaren Artura comes as standard with a five-year vehicle warranty, a six-year battery warranty and a 10-year body perforation corrosion warranty. More information is available at https://cars.mclaren.com/en/artura. sl

Pieces from the Tumi x McLaren capsule collection with carbon fiber accents.

SECRETS OF A WINE SELLER'S CELLAR

Written by Claire Williams

While he doesn't have a flickering cigarette sticking out of his mouth and isn't sporting a marinière, (the classic French striped shirt), Jérôme Peter does embody the essence of a true Frenchman and wine aficionado. With family hailing from Corsica and Alsace, Jerome's upbringing educated his palette with tastings from acidic Rieslings to crisp Rosés. In his 20s, an internship in the wine industry with his stepfather in the mid-90s allowed Peter to take a deep dive into wines of the world, meeting winemakers and discovering varietals from South America to China. In the process, he found a new love and passion for wine. Peter equates the feeling of finding a wine you love to "clicking" with a newfound love interest, saying, "When you know, you know that there's an instant chemistry."

After his stepfather's passing just a few years later, Peter decided to honor the man who introduced him to his newfound amour by embarking on what would turn out to be a lengthy career in the wine world.

Like a faithful partner, he has spent over 20 years working in the wine industry for Carrefour, the eighth-largest retailer in the world by revenue, following trends and selecting wine for its outlets year after year. Peter says his tenure is long enough that he was there when premium bag-in-box wine was a foreign concept and continues with him navigating the current biodynamic revolution. Peter's longevity in the French wine trade has made his name uttered in the same breath as renowned stars of the industry he frequents, such as winemaker Gérard Bertrand (well known for his collaboration on Hampton Water Rosé with Bon Jovi) and

sommelier Gérard Margeon. Over the past two decades, Peter has encountered specific wines that have stood the test of time to remain among his favorites in a market where tastes, flavors, and trends evolve more rapidly than we realize.

Peter says that for him, tasting wine is a spiritual experience, something he calls "tasting the blood of the land," with each bottle bringing out a different emotion while telling the story of the winemaker and the terroir. Peter says Salvador Dali said it best with his maxim, "The connoisseur does not drink wine but tastes its secrets." Peter will take hours to make sure his roti de porc is the perfect complement to his bottle, not the other way around (and if there's no wine on the table, he says it's not a meal).

As a youthful wine drinker, Peter gravitated towards bold and fruity wines and still enjoys them today. Gérard Bertrand's Cigalus wine from Pays d'Oc (the southern coast of France) is a wine he says everyone likes. It comes from a region with plenty of sunshine, and the wine boasts a balance of ripe black fruit such as blackberries, black cherries, and plums with grilled spice and toasted oak, imparting flavor that even the most stubborn wine drinker will enjoy.

Made from Gamay grapes, Henry Marionnet's Tourraine Gamay 1ère Vendange (hailing from the Loire Valley region) is a lesser-known variety that is the cousin of pinot noir and with whom it shares similar tasting notes. Peter says he opens a bottle almost every evening at dinner with his wife, and it's worth noting the wine contains no sulfites, which, according to some reports, should give you less of a hangover and headaches after drinking, hence the easy drinking quality of the wine.

French wine connoisseur Jérôme Peter shares a few of his favorites.

For those more inclined to white wines, Peter enjoys Domaine Grist's Cotes d'Auxerre Chardonnay, sharing the taste of Burgundy without breaking the bank. It's a toasty wine with ripe fruits that pairs well with chicken and seafood, and if you're feeling like embracing the art de vivre of the French, foie gras. “A tremendous value for the price, finishing with pleasure and soul,” remarks Peter.

If you're lucky enough to get your hands on a bottle, one of Peter's favorite big, sunny, and fruity wines is from critically acclaimed Domaine Peyre Rose. Marlène Soria founded the estate in the late 1990s in the village of Saint-Pargoire in the south of France, where her plan to make wine for herself and friends resulted in international success and even attention from Robert Parker. Peter says the small size of their operation means they only produce around 30,000 bottles a year, and they age them for up to a decade to let each bottle reach its full potential before they're sold. Peter still has a bottle of 2003 in his cellar, and he describes the flavor as "bold and balsamic."

For those looking for something other than a fruit-forward wine, Peter recommends Chateau Rayas, started by the godfather of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Jacques Reynaud; their wines are some of the most sought-after in the region. The wines are aromatic and complex, and Peter singles out their herbaceous character.

Moving outside of France, Peter gravitates to Italian wines. Among his favorites is an expressive Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino that's intense with ripe red fruit combined with more complex notes of licorice and pipe tobacco.

To finish his evening on a sweet note, Peter enjoys the awardwinning Château la Varière's Bonnezeaux, Les Melleresses, a sweet

wine that combines citrus fruits, sweet spices and tropical fruits. And when it comes to bubbly, Peter says you can't go wrong with the classics: Krug champagne delivers rich and layered baked bread and brioche notes, while one of his other favorites, Taittinger Champagne, has ripe fruit, honey, and brioche aromas but is rich and creamy on the palate. During his career, Peter has been lucky enough to drink all the terroirs of France and even some of the rarest, such as Romanée Conti, which he says you should not pass up if given the opportunity to taste it. Not averse to change, Peter constantly discovers new wines to add to his favorites list. As the climate, trends, and even our palates evolve, there's a never-ending list of wines to choose from, and there are always new gems to unearth. sl

Jérôme’s Cellar Standouts

• Gerard Bertrand Cigalus Pays d’Oc

• Henry Marionnet’s Tourraine Gamay Première Vendange

• Goisot Côtes d'Auxerre

• Domaine Peyre Rosè Languedoc Roussillon

• Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape

• Sauternes Château d'Yquem 1989

• Grange des Péres Languedoc Aniane Vin de Pays

• Domaine LeFlaive Puligny-Montrachet

• Domaine Jean-François Ganevat, Jura

• Taittinger Champagne

• Krug Champagne

• Château la Varière Bonnezeaux Les Melleresses

• Brunello di Montalcino Castello Banfi

French wine connoisseur Jérôme Peter

TOWN & COUNTRY

Written by Bridget Williams

Leprechaun lore aside, I've always found Ireland to be enchanting, particularly the myriad green hillsides of the rural countryside that stand in contrast to skies that are shrouded in clouds roughly half of the time, and which make the occasional pop of sunshine seem all the more magical.

My Irish eyes were smiling during my most recent visit, which began with a whirlwind two nights in Dublin at The Merrion Hotel (merrionhotel.com), followed by another three at Sheen Falls Lodge (sheenfallslodge.ie), situated along the famed Wild Atlantic Way. But honestly, how could I not love a place where, after introducing myself, the locals are quick to remind me that my name is indicative of a strong woman and the name of one of three of the country's national saints?

Located in an upscale neighborhood steps from the National Gallery, The National Museum of Ireland, and the "golden mile" around St. Stephen's Green, the five-star The Merrion represents a triumph of thoughtful historic preservation. The hotel comprises four Georgian townhouses, the oldest dating to the era when American Colonists were busy tossing tea into the Boston Harbor. The two-year restoration commenced in the mid-1990s, resulting in interiors that mirror the handsome exterior: elegantly understated and dignified.

The present owners claim one of the largest collections of 18th and 19th-century art in Ireland and generously share it with hotel guests in public and private spaces. Art enthusiasts will want to avail themselves of a self-guided audio tour and partake of a whimsical afternoon Art Tea, in which the accomplished pastry chefs create edible works of art inspired by works in the hotel's collection.

The wings of the hotel envelope a beautifully landscaped garden with water features and a glass-enclosed walkway leading from the historic structures to the modern wing, which includes a large spa complex with an indoor pool. Accordion doors along one wall of the aptly named Garden Terrace restaurant bring the outdoors in; the elevated environs draw in stylish local "ladies who lunch" like bees to the hives on The Merrion's rooftop.

The labyrinth-like cellar bar is housed in the property's original wine cellar, offering plenty of cozy nooks for a candlelight dinner. Waterfall-inspired stained-glass windows, an homage to the cascades dotting the famed Ring of Kerry, are inset among the thick stone walls. In a city with no shortage of pubs, this watering hole is popular with locals who come to imbibe its two bespoke ales, lemon gin, and listen to traditional Irish music on Thursday evenings.

When the calendar flips to March, everyone purports to be Irish, a claim that's partially attributable to the fact that some 10 million Irish have left their homeland since the 1800s. It's mind-boggling that today, 70 million people claim Irish heritage, more than ten times the country's total population, which makes ancestry tourism a big deal. Dublin's subterranean Epic Museum (epicchq.com), the world's first fully digital museum, traces 1,500 years of Irish immigration, including the accomplishments of some of its most famous (and infamous) sons and daughters, who I was surprised to learn include Che Guevara, Muhammad Ali, Gene Kelly, Walt Disney, Tom Cruise, Robert DeNiro, and Barack and Michelle Obama, among many others.

A City-to-Countryside Tour of the Emerald Isle

Guests rooms have covetable views of Sheen Falls.

The Garden Terrace Restaurant at The Merrion

The cellar bar at The Merrion Front hall at The Merrion

French chocolatier Benoit Lorge at his eponymous shop in Kenmare.

Accessible only by ferry, the 37-acre Garnish Island in Bantry Bay boasts extensive gardens with several unique structures.

A feast of locally sourced Kenmare delicacies at Heidi Ryan's Wholesome Food, organize.d by Kenmare Foodie Tours.

Bill Sheppard and Aileen Crean O'Brien, owners of the Tom Crean Brewery.

Dublin is a great town for wandering. If you're a James Joyce fan, you must stop into Sweney's Pharmacy (sweny.ie), whose lemon soap is famously featured in Ulysses (and still available for purchase today). With disheveled gray hair that calls to mind Einstein's coif and a silk tie peeking out from his down jacket that lends the air of eccentric aristocrat, owner and polyglot J.J. Murphy preserves the tiny shop as it appeared in Joyce's time. Smelling of stale tobacco and dusty old books, Murphy is quick to pick up his guitar to serenade visitors and invited us to return for a scheduled reading of Joyce's works.

If music history gets your heart racing, you'll want to arrange a tour of Windmill Lane Studios (windmilllanerecording.com). Rather nondescript from the outside, Brian Masterson and James Morris opened it in 1978, and it remains one of Ireland's largest recording studios. U2 was famously the first Irish band to record there, becoming part of a motley mix of bands and artists that includes Simple Minds, Kate Bush, AC/DC, Hozier, The Spice Girls, Kylie Minogue, Niall Horan, Lewis Capaldi, Van Morrison, and Ed Sheeran. Their studio tour allows you to mix a session with their virtual band and receive the MP3 file as a one-of-a-kind souvenir or, in my case, a painful reminder that even though I love to sing, I can't carry a tune.

No visit to the capital of the Republic of Ireland would be complete without a pub tour. During ours, led by Perfect Pint Tour (theperfectpinttour.com), we visited both well-known and local's only watering holes and learned all about the letters and numbers

found on a Guinness pint glass; that a good Irishman (or woman) finishes a pint in seven sips or less; and, that foamy rings from topto-bottom evidence a perfect pour. We even went behind the bar to learn from time-tested pint perfectionists who seem to eschew any interest in crafty cocktails.

The concierge at The Merrion can arrange a guided hike along the Cliff Path Loop that follows the contours of the wildflowercovered cliffs of the Howth Peninsula, just east of central Dublin. Ideal for a day trip; even though it's just a short drive from the bustling city, it feels worlds away.

After a few days exploring Dublin, we hit the M7 to Sheen Falls Lodge in County Kerry. En route, we enjoyed a thoroughly entertaining rest stop at the Barack Obama Plaza, located next to the village of Moneygall. Essentially a fast-food-laden truck stop, a small second-floor museum highlighting US Presidents with Irish heritage is surprisingly well executed.

Sheen Falls Lodge, nestled amid the gently undulating landscape next to its namesake falls and overlooking Kenmare Bay, was built in 1765 as a private country house and debuted as a 72-room resort in 1991. Later additions to the original structure kept the same Irish plaster exterior and steeply pitched roof as the original home, which belies its grandiose scale, including a large Easanna Spa wing with a massive indoor pool. Spa treatments incorporate VOYA products, made with sustainably-harvested wild seaweed from Ireland's west coast.

The Baily Lighthouse sits on the southeastern part of Howth Head in County Dublin.

All the guest rooms at this rural retreat, a Relais & Chateaux property, provide a view of the falls, Kenmare Bay, or both. Lodge guests are privy to 15 miles of private fishing on the river, and Sheen Falls has a strong commitment to conservation, ensuring that the native Wild Atlantic salmon who have inhabited these waters since the last Ice Age will continue to do so for generations to come.

Not wanting to squander a moment of the views afforded by the large terrace of my sprawling Signature Suite, I indulged in an elegantly presented alfresco breakfast each morning, allowing the soothing sounds of the falls to have my full attention. In addition to nine distinct room types, the property boasts a trio of storybook thatched roof cottages and a pair of bayfront villas for rent, each beautifully, uniquely, and luxuriously outfitted.

In addition to fishing, Sheen Falls offers scores of activities such as horseback riding, tennis, bike riding, sporting clays, guided walks and hiking, archery, kayaking and paddleboarding, golf, photography excursions, and falconry. Liam Regan, a licensed falconer and wildlife biologist from Killarney leads the falconry program. His calm demeanor makes even the most reluctant ornithologist comfortable as he demonstrates the skills of the forest's apex predators.

Dining options on the property include the newly opened Stables Brasserie & Bar, housed in the property's original horse stables. Casually elegant, it's quickly become a favorite of locals from the nearby town of Kenmare. The Falls offers a more elevated dinner experience. A recent addition is the Mediterranean-influenced Nua Vista Restaurant, located at the Lodge's sister property, Ring of Kerry Golf Club (ringofkerrygolf.com). For a more bespoke experience, private dining is available in several unique spaces, including the candlelit wine cellar, one of the largest private cellars in Ireland. Take advantage of a G&T in the cozy Sheen Bar, made with seacentric gin custom-blended by the nearby Isle of Barra Distillers specifically for Sheen Falls Lodge.

Sheen Falls has a symbiotic relationship with the quaint town of Kenmare. A local artist created the whimsical mural behind the reception desk; local products are among the gratis goodies in the minibar; the stoneware coffee set hails from Killarney; and a local wine shop selects the Lodge's wine of the month. Kenmare locals, a surprisingly cosmopolitan bunch for a city of just 2,300 residents, are proud that their village was awarded a gold medal in the 2022 TidyTown annual nationwide competition.

Liam Regan, a licensed falconer and wildlife biologist from Killarney leads the falconry program at Sheen Falls.

The Oscar Wilde monument in Dubin’s Merrion Square Park.

At Sweney's Pharmacy, made famous by James Joyce, proprietor J.J. Murphy is keen on entertaining visitors with a song.

Guests of Sheen Falls Lodge enjoy exclusive access to 15 miles of private fishing on the river.

We enjoyed a half-day walking tour led by Kenmare Foodie Tours (kenmarefoodies.com), during which we sampled authentic French pastries at Maison Gourmet (maisongourmetkenmare. com), where the husband-and-wife owners hail from the Pyrenees; farmhouse cheese and charcuterie at Heidi Ryan's Wholesome Food, and award-winning, handmade chocolates from Lorge Chocolatier (lorge.ie), whose affable owner Benoit, a native of France, moved to Kenmare twenty-five years ago. Those with an adventurous spirit or just a fondness for craft beer will want to stop for a pint at the Tom Crean Brewery (tomcreanbrewerykenmare.ie). Another husbandand-wife enterprise, the duo are as passionate about their craft as they are about exploring the far corners of the globe. "We aim to produce a pint that doesn't cost the earth," explained Bill Sheppard, a former fireman from England who met his wife Aileen Crean O’Brien, a Kenmare native, while traveling in Goa, India. The couple worked with Dutch scientists to build a biodigester that converts the spent grain from distilling into high-protein silage to feed sheep. While sipping a St. Bridget Irish Lager, I learned that the patron saint was a brewer and several of the miracles attributed to her involved beer.

Garden enthusiasts should plan to visit Garinish Island (garinishisland.ie), accessible by ferry in the sheltered harbor of

Glengarriff in Bantry Bay, where languid seals blend in with rocky outcroppings. John Annan Bryce purchased the 37-acre island, which boasts a unique micro-climate, from the War Office in 1910 and tasked Harold Peto to execute extensive gardens with structures that include a clock tower, Grecian temple, Italian casita, and a Martello tower that dates to the Napoleonic Wars. Today the parklands are maintained by the Office of Public Works. After the tour, drive along the breathtakingly beautiful Healy Pass in the Beara Peninsula, dotted with solitary sheep whose wool bears colorful dots indicating its ownership, before stopping for super-fresh seafood lunch with the locals at Helen's Bar in Kilmackillogue Harbor.

Marveling at the moodiness of the Emerald Isle's landscape always evokes introspection for me. In-between songs at Sweney's Pharmacy in Dublin, Mr. Murphy recited a quote attributed to G.K. Chesterton: "The great Gaels of Ireland are the men that God made mad, for all their wars are merry, and all their songs are sad."

I'd argue that the scenery, well suited to wide panoramic shots that beg for a dramatic orchestral accompaniment, is more winsome than weary, particularly when combined with Ireland's enduring culture of hospitality consistent from city to countryside. sl

A suite at Sheen Falls Lodge

The lobby at Sheen Falls Lodge

A tour of Kenmare in Sheen Falls’ 1936 Buick is a popular among guests.

Private dining in the wine cellar at Sheen Falls Lodge

($120) and printed skort ($95; fila.com). Vinglacé limited edition pickleball wine set in white ($149.95; vinglace.com). Anyone for Tennis biscuit box from Biscuiteers ($58; biscuiteers.com). Palissade bench from Hay ($1,045; us.hay.com). Spinshot player Pickleball machine (from $1,979; spinshotsports.com).

Brilliant tennis bracelet from Uniform Object (from $22,500; uniformobject.com). Clare V. tennis ball collar necklace ($145; clarev.com). India Hicks x Recess Pickleball paddle ($98; recesspickleball.com). Alpha tennis bag from Tumi ($650; tumi.com). Le Duffle à La Tennis from Clare V. ($295; clarev.com). Cassanova Monogram tennis bag from Court Couture ($329; courtcouturetennis.com). Alice + Olivia Cindy Pickleball cropped tee ($195; aliceandolivia.com). Alice + Olivia Blaise Pickleball cropped skort ($265; aliceandolivia.com). Del 4-pack Pickleball set from Nettie ($289.99; playnettie.com). Fila x Brandon Maxwell 2-piece polo tank

AUTUMN IN NEW YORK

There are many reasons to visit New York City, and I have two: Amateur Night at the Apollo and Central Park. For my most recent sojourn, which included a stay at The Lowell (lowellhotel.com), I couldn't have gotten much closer to Central Park than if I pitched a tent under one of its 18,000 trees. And, if perks rather than parks are more your thing, you're a Birkin's-throw away from Hermès' Madison Avenue flagship. Walk just a little further for an actual breakfast at Tiffany’s at Daniel Boulud’s Blue Box Café on the fourth floor of the exquisitely renovated Landmark building on Fifth Avenue, which reopened to great fanfare this past April. Waiting to be discovered among its ten floors are a high jewelry workshop and an Audrey experience, where you can marvel at how teeny tiny Ms. Hepburn’s waist had to be to fit into that iconic Givenchy gown.

Nestled on a tony tree-lined Upper East Side block dotted with brownstones and offering the chance to rub elbows with neighbors counted among the world's wealthiest (a nearby ninebedroom townhouse was on the market for $28 million), the Lowell, one of the last privately owned hotels, was practicing stealth wealth long before it became a buzzword.

Stepping down into a small marble-floored vestibule that provides access to the chic Jacques Bar on the left and the hotel's reception room on the right, we were immediately entranced by the aroma of fresh flowers. Purpose-built as a 17-story hotel that opened

in 1927, notable features of the 74-room property include rooms with wood-burning fireplaces and furnished terraces, a rarity among NYC hotels. The Lowell's most recent $25 million renovation, overseen by current owner Dina De Luca Chartouni, and unveiled in 2017, cemented its consistent placement atop major travel magazines' lists of the world's best hotels.

Los Angeles-based interior designer Michael S. Smith devised the property's eclectic interior design scheme, imparting a uniqueness that looks like it was collected over time. Though it is as impeccably and elegantly outfitted as the rest of the property, guests generally don't linger long in the small lobby, preferring instead to seek repose in large and luxurious guest rooms and suites boasting loads of natural light and upscale amenities, including Chartouni’s own DDC28 bath amenities. The hotel’s residential feel made it fun to ponder living in the city for a hot second.

The army of attendants at the front desk projected the care and confidence of a team that's been at the helm for decades. The casual mention of a birthday resulted in the prompt delivery of a lovely card, a bottle of Cava, and a glass jar of colorful macaroons.

By and large, rooms at The Lowell are as much as 100 square feet larger than venerable peers like The Carlyle and The Pierre. Our 15th-floor suite boasted a separate living room with plush upholstery and an abundance of windows to admire the view of neighboring rooftop gardens, a Carrera-clad bathroom with a separate tub and

Written by Bridget Williams

The Lowell makes it easy to take a juicy bite from The Big Apple’s best offerings.

shower, and an elegantly understated bedroom so quiet that each morning, we remarked that for the first time, the sounds of the city didn't suspend our slumber. Not having read a physical newspaper in years, I looked forward to the daily doorknob delivery of the New York Times and the luxury of time and comfort to engage in an activity that felt akin to firing up a record player.

Throughout our stay, I gravitated to the first-floor Club Room at the rear of the property, which is reserved exclusively for guests. Deftly toeing the boundary where gilt and mirrors traipse from gobsmacking to gaudy, I relished concocting my vision of who'd live in such a place. Classic design elements culled from Greek and Roman influence spoke to someone well-versed in history; a plethora of coffee table books hinted at continuous curiosity; art spanning the centuries signaled an openness to beauty in all forms; and a series of photographs of Marilyn Monroe surmounting a pair of leopard-print upholstered slipper chairs added just a touch cheekiness to indicate someone who didn't take themselves too seriously.

It's always a treat when I can share something new with friends who live in the city, and it was fun to invite them for a private apéro in our temporary haven. "How did we not know about this gem?" they exclaimed while surveying the space.

Arched French doors at the rear of the Club Room provide a view into the glass-ceiling orangery at Majorelle, The Lowell's elegant French/Mediterranean restaurant. Resplendent with a groin vault

ceiling accentuated by French Art Deco pendant chandeliers and a graphic black-and-white marble floor, the space is punctuated by monumental and fragrant floral arrangements.

The lobby's grand marble staircase leads to the Pembroke Room, another of NYC's best-kept secrets. In this opulent, Europeaninspired salon, white-jacketed servers serve daily breakfast and weekend brunch for hotel guests. Also on this floor is a very wellequipped fitness room, which is quite large for a boutique city property.

With The Lowell located one-hundred-fifty feet from Madison Avenue and slightly more than one thousand feet from Central Park, we amply occupied our days by shopping and strolling, even walking all the way through the park to Harlem for our pre-show dinner at Vinateria (vinaterianyc.com), a lively Black-owned restaurant serving solid Italian and Spanish-inspired food without pretense.

While it's been a staple at the historic Apollo Theatre since the 1930s, I have been a fan of Amateur Night since college, when it would air on network television in the late night/early morning timeslot. I've attended in person four times, and I never fail to be entertained by the crowd and the rookie performers willing to go up against a "be good or be gone" audience whose display of dismay gets contestants promptly escorted by a tap-dancing "executioner" off a stage that's launched the careers of legends like Ella Fitzgerald and James Brown. For $30 a ticket, it's some of the best fun you can have on the cheap in the Big Apple.

Jacques Bar at The Lowell

The Hollywood Suite at The Lowell.

The dining room at Majorelle The Garden Suite terrace at The Lowell

Here Lies Love sits at the opposite end of the entertainment spectrum (herelieslovebroadway.com). We were introduced to this new David Byrne and Fatboy Slim musical by dear friends who helped bring the disco-bio about Imelda Marcos to Broadway. Flirting with being among the top ten highest-grossing shows since opening in July, we celebrated the show's success and a pair of milestone birthdays with a prix fixe French/Korean feast at LittleMad (littlemadnyc.com). The restaurant's austere interiors, with overhead linear suspension lights casting an LED glow above chunky concrete tables with bench seating, belied the nuanced

flavors and beautifully presented dishes from Korean-born and New York-raised chef Sol Han's kitchen.

While NYC has long been known as "The City that Never Sleeps," it seems that COVID has left a melatonin-like effect on the fine dining scene. Running a little late for our 8:30 reservation, we sat down and found that we had mere minutes to submit our order to the kitchen at LittleMad before the cutoff. And even though we were the last to leave, we were happy knowing that our somewhat abbreviated evening could continue back in the comfy confines of the Club Room at The Lowell. sl

An amateur vocalist performing during Amateur Night at The Apollo.

The Landmark, Tiffany's 5th Avenue flagship store.

The “Audrey Experience” on the fifth floor of The Landmark, Tiffany's 5th Avenue flagship store.

Photo courtesy of Tiffany & Co.

MOOD INDIGO

Interior designer Tate Reynolds helps a newly built pool house blend seamlessly with its surroundings.

Written by Bridget Williams / Photos by Rachel Lutz / Andrew Kung Group

Already resplendent with acres of lush lawns purposefully interrupted by carefully manicured terraced gardens surrounding the Tudor-style home and pool, the recent addition of a spacious one-bedroom pool house is the cherry on top. Interior designer Tate Reynolds worked with builder Doug Amlung to ensure continuity between the home and its mini-me, connected via a covered breezeway, going so far as to clad the new build in custom-colored bricks to mimic an aged patina.

A large, covered terrace outside the pool house boasts a finished wood plank ceiling with integrated heaters and a fireplace. Several sets of French doors open into the kitchen, living, and game rooms. A vaulted ceiling with exposed beams adds to the feeling of spaciousness. Resisting the usual beachy and sometimes kitschy vibe typically bestowed upon these auxiliary structures, Reynolds leaned on a subtle Provençal theme inspired by the homeowner’s lavender cutting garden and a coffee-table book about France’s famed southeastern region. Reynolds remarked that the wife has a design background and was actively involved in the project. “It was fun to collaborate,” he added.

While the color palette falls largely into neutrals and shades of blue, including the up-cycled and eco-friendly textiles from the non-profit Anchal Project, Reynolds injected a big burst of energy in the “drop zone” by covering the walls and ceiling in a Fiddle Leaf Fig wallpaper from Ferrick Mason.

Tate Reynolds in the pool house kitchen

In the kitchen, with cabinetry by Jim Chambers, the showstopper is the“Silk Road” smooth-glaze ceramic tiles from Arto that adorn one wall. Open shelving accessorized with artisanal East Fork Pottery and opting for an Advantium oven in lieu of a full-size version speaks to the more casual function of the space. Aged olive jars placed atop the honed countertop are ideal for displaying blooms from the nearby gardens. A pair of large wrought iron castile chandeliers accentuate the ceiling height.

Subtly reminiscent of a chic coastal California retreat, the bedroom and full bath are simply and elegantly outfitted, significantly elevating the appeal of a staycation. sl

ABOUT FACE

Compiled by Bridget Williams

The latest in beauty and skincare for the “Big Day” or every day.

Top row, left to right: John Masters Organics Hair Milk with rose and apricot is a silicone-free leave-in treatment and styler that delivers major moisture and shine ($30). RevitaLash’s Volume Enhancing Foam is a Dermatologist-developed unisex, hair enhancer designed to address the needs of fine and thinning hair using a proprietary BioPeptin Complex® and an easy-to-follow, once-a-day regimen ($150; revitalash.com). Reverse the damage from too much summer sun with RescueMD's DNA Repair Complex. Packed with the exclusive, patented ingredient Lapachol, derived from the inner bark of the Lapacho tree, this serum works wonders to dramatically improve the appearance of skin damage and scars, leaving you with smoother, more rejuvenated skin (15ml, $88 and 120ml, $388; rescuemd.com). Derived from marine-sourced ingredients, Phyto-glow from OCEANLY by ATTITUDE the first EWG VERIFIED™ skincare line, allows the skin to glow while stimulating its natural hydration processes. ($45; attitudeliving.com). The BIOJUVE skin-biome regimen’s patented Xycrobe technology counters the effects of UVA radiation exposure by harnessing the power of beneficial microbes to produce and deliver potent bioessentials to the skin such as proteins, polypeptides, and antioxidants. BIOJUVE is clinically proven to improve texture, tone, fine lines, wrinkles, and photodamage with results. The Living Biome Essentials Duo consists of the Living Biome Essentials Serum with living xycrobe technology and the Activating Mist that activates the serum ($225) Middle row, left to right: At just 0.65 lbs, GAMA’s iQ Perfetto Hairdryer is the world’s lightest. Now available in rose gold, the iQ Perfetto is equipped with an intelligent brushless motor that allows hair to dry 30% faster than it competitors ($399; gamaiqdryer.com). Launching with 20 inclusive shades, the Hueskin Serum Concealer is a full-coverage, lightweight concealer that instantly evens out dark circles, spots, and blemishes while key ingredients fade and brighten hyperpigmentation for a your skin but better finish ($26; livetinted.com). Brynn gown from Alyne by Rita Vinieris. Available through Adorn Bridal. Organic to Green’s Jade Crystal Gem face mask kit is handcrafted from more than 350 premium-grade Jade stones to help cool, calm, and sooth the skin from puffiness and inflammation as it “pushes” your favorite serums, creams and oils into the skin. And unlike all those disposable beauty products, it will last forever ($466; organictogreen.com). Designed for daily use (and smelling good enough to eat!) this scrub combines the anti-bacterial and moisturizing antioxidants of honey, the gentle exfoliation properties of amber, and the skin polishing benefits of bamboo ($28; avyaskincare.com). This AHA + C Serum Treatment from Bakery Beauty is a multi-action, gentle, rub-in + leave-on exfoliation + brightening serum treatment for head to toe ($39; nakerybeauty.com). Bottom row, left to right: Organic to Green’s Jade Crystal Gem face mask kit is handcrafted from more than 350 premium-grade Jade stones to help cool, calm, and sooth the skin from puffiness and inflammation as it “pushes” your favorite serums, creams and oils into the skin. And unlike all those disposable beauty products, it will last forever ($466; organictogreen.com). Vitabrid C12 Dual Drop Serum is infused with a potent line smoothing Peptide Complex and six layers of moisture-binding Hyaluronic Acid Complex to lock in moisture, supporting a youthful-looking and glowing complexion ($62; vitabrid.com/products/dual-drop-serum).

LANDSCAPES OF BREATH, TIME, AND CHANGE

For its inaugural art exhibition, Bittners will showcase the biomorphic multi-media abstractions of visual artist

Sara Garden Armstrong at their downtown Louisville Design Studio.

Written by Bridget Williams / Photographs courtesy of Sara Garden Armstrong

Although she took a circuitous path to what would become a celebrated 40-year career in the visual arts, Birmingham-based Sara Garden Armstrong (saragardenarmstrong.net) has always forged her own path. Starting her career in elementary education and then science, when she opted to pursue an MFA at the University of Alabama, the wisdom that comes with age served her well. As a graduate student, Garden Armstrong explained that students were pigeonholed as either painters or sculptors. "Since I was told that I really wasn't either, I immediately wondered why all of the disciplines couldn't be combined together," she said. While being a multi-disciplinary artist was seen as atypical at that time, today, "doing it all" earns the common moniker of visual artist.

Her first big break came as part of a show at the Birmingham Museum of Art, during which she describes her conceptual installations as "Stonehenge-looking." As part of this installation,

she began experimenting with adding sound to her work, and when she couldn't find the right person to execute her vision, she figured it out herself. As technology has progressed leaps and bounds from where it was when she started, today, Garden Armstrong relies on a tech-oriented team in both Birmingham and New York City, where she lived for more than three decades, as her co-creators on sitespecific works that examine concepts of time and change.

Garden Armstrong has exhibited nationally and internationally for over 40 years. Her work is found in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, among others. Her decision to return to Birmingham after a prolonged stint in New York grew out of a desire to "do more in a smaller area and make a difference," she said. The luxury of space and staff, she says, makes for an ideal working environment to express her creative vision.

Visual Artist Sara Garden Armstrong

Most recently, Garden Armstrong received the 2022 Artist of the Year Award from the Birmingham Museum of Art Collectors Circle. Still speaking with a discernable and endearing drawl despite living away from Birmingham for so long, Garden Armstrong, who is actively producing new work, sounds almost giddy as she talks about her upcoming exhibition at the Bittners Design Studio from October 27 through November 17, 2023. This is the first art exhibition to be staged at Bittners, and several showrooms within the Design Studio will be emptied, providing the artist the rare opportunity to showcase the diversity of her portfolio, including works on paper, sculpture, and paintings-that-are-not-paintings. The multi-room layout will allow onlookers to experience the art from multiple angles. As they progress through the exhibition, some pieces will hint at what lies around the corner using sound, video, and light.

Common among Garden Armstrong's diverse body of work is the simultaneous investigation of organic transformation while exploring properties of materials, such as her use of pigmented fiber and acrylic stains to attain a painterly-like result. Her sprayed abaca sculptures combine to create a room-sized installation augmented with video projection. Her flat work ranges from large drawings with graphite and pastel to handmade paper experiments. "It is fun to have the opportunity to show my flat work and sculpture in close proximity as they are part of each other," said Garden Armstrong.

"I think this collection from Sara feels as if each piece has a soul within it," explained Douglas Riddle, President of Bittners. "They feel alive in a way that is peaceful and calming to me. This is why we decided on an October opening because I think the fall season makes us all feel like it's time to pause and relax a little and enjoy the beautiful colors that nature gives us." sl

Airplayer XII: Large leaf-like sprayed abaca and cotton forms, embedded with plastic hoses, connected to blower boxes or the floor. The boxes contain squirrel cage blowers, operated by a microcontroller that rhythmically gives movement to the forms, evoking plant life. Multiple video projections add dimension, shifting color, casting shadows upon walls and forms and even the viewer, who becomes an integral part of the piece. Ocean sound is layered in, mixing with the audible “breathing” of the blowers. Interior glow from LED lighting adds to the overall effect. Photo by Savannah Lowery

Breeder Box: Sensual animated breathing forms in sealed sound environment. Interior movement references the ocean and the body.

Photo by Savannah Lowery

Time Mapping: References the mirroring of organic processes, working with accidents and change. Pigment is used as a stain and poured on both sides of paper while watching for reaction as it dries. Change to the back side effects the front, one color bleeds into the next. Photo by Savannah Lowery

THE DISH

A brief look at what's new and notable in the Bluegrass F&B scene.

Decade & B-Side - Louisville

A long-awaited opening on the site formerly occupied by Butchertown Grocery Decade is led by veterans of the beloved NULU restaurant Decca, which closed in 2022. The menu centers on New American cuisine with Italian and French influences that leans heavily on what's available locally. The name "Decade" is inspired by the owner's obsession with time and desire to create a dining experience where guests can seize the moment and enjoy time with the people they love. Upstairs, B-Side is a flexible venue available for private events that operates as a bar on Thursdays thru Sundays.

Lost Palm – Lexington

Lostpalmky.com

A current social media darling, it seems that all of Kentucky has snapped a photo at The Manchester Hotel's indoor-outdoor rooftop lounge and bar. Conjuring up "exotic" South Florida vibes à la Novello's in White Christmas, Lost Palm serves classic American cocktails and tropical-inspired bites amid beautifully executed Art Deco-inspired interiors.

Proof on Main – Louisville

Proofonmain.com

Though it's an OG of the downtown fine dining scene, having opened in 2005 and whose roster of past executive chefs forms quite the family tree of influence on the culinary world in the Commonwealth and beyond, Proof's latest move returns to the beginning. Cody

Stone, who was part of the original sous chef team when the flagship property opened, has taken the helm in the kitchen. Having most recently served in the EC role at Decca, Stone's oeuvre is inextricably linked to sourcing ingredients from the Ohio River Valley, a starting point to reinterpret traditional Southern and Appalachian dishes. Stone's cuisine deftly defies categorization by imbuing these with Mediterranean and Italian techniques and philosophies.

Tartan House - Louisville

tartanhousebar.com

Located at the boundary of Louisville's NULU and Butchertown neighborhoods, Tartan House is a cozy cocktail bar that seeks to go beyond bourbon with a thoughtful collection of whiskies, both American and global, and with a particular emphasis on Scotch whisky. The cocktail menu, like the décor, is eclectic and enticing. The mixologist's use of liquid nitrogen to pre-chill glassware adds a theatrical touch.

Vallozzi's

– Versailles

vallozzis.com/versailles

The third outpost of the family-owned upscale Italian restaurant opened in Greensburg, PA, five decades ago, is in the former Versailles Police Department HQ. The high-ceilinged space, complete with a second-floor bar with private wine and bourbon lockers and a rooftop terrace, was scheduled to open a few days before our deadline, so it's high on our list to try in person. sl

Written by Bridget Williams

Octopus with potatoes, herbed labneh, pickled tomatoes, and mustard greens at Decade.

Photo by Tim Furnish.

Executive Chef Cody Stone of Proof On Main at 21C Louisville

Lost Palm at The Manchester

Hamachi Crudo with Crème Fraiche, Sungold Tomatoes, Thai Basil, Toasted Sesame at Proof on Main.Main at 21C Louisville

A LIFE IN TECHNICOLOR

The Headley Whitney Museum hosting a retrospective exhibit commemorating the 100th birthday of the late Henry Faulkner, a Kentucky artist, poet, and unapologetic bohemian.

Written by Bridget Williams / Photos courtesy of Headley Whitney Museum / M S Rezny Studio

During his prolific career, Henry Lawrence Faulkner, born in South Central Kentucky in 1924, created more than 5,000 works of art as colorful as his character. Orphaned at age two, Faulkner studied art at the University of Louisville and Los Angeles County Art Institute, followed by a period of prolonged travel around the United States. During a brief commitment in Washington, DC's St. Elizabeth Psychiatric Hospital at age 25, he befriended fellow patient and poet Ezra Pound. Shortly after, he settled in Lexington and exhibited his works more frequently, with critics comparing his vivid paintings to his contemporaries in the Surrealist and Colorist movements.

Faulkner's big break came in the spring of 1957, with his first sale to The Collectors of American Art co-op. Even though he culled inspiration from his travels around the globe, including Paris, Italy, San Francisco, Key West, and Palm Beach, where the artist introduced himself to a gallerist via letter writing, "My name is Henry Faulkner, and I have the gift of color." Faulkner's most endearing and popular pieces hearken back to the Bluegrass. His 1965 Still Life with Golden Slippers is in the Morris Museum of Art collection in Augusta, Georgia, the first museum dedicated to the collection and exhibition of art and artists of the American South, and his painting of Ernest Hemingway hangs in the Hemingway Museum in Key West. Celebrities of his era who acquired his paintings included Vincent Price and Bette Davis, who gifted animal-loving Faulkner with a Siamese cast that he named "Miss Davis."

As he gained ground as an artist, Faulkner also blazed a trail as an openly gay icon in 1950s Lexington. Whether he was playing the part of a cross-dressing blues singer, writing poetry, or bringing Alice a bourbon-swilling nanny goat to parties and art shows, in the words of painter and musician Rodney Hatfield, "Henry Faulkner's greatest work of art may have been being Henry."

By the 1970s, Faulkner's art and personality garnered wide acclaim, and his exhibitions became more theatrical. "He presented a folksy persona and exuberant behavior, all the while deftly navigating the gallery scene and elite social socials, befriending famous artists, writers, and dramatists," writes fine art photographer John S. Hockensmith for the exhibition’s

curatorial boards. Faulkner died in a car accident in Lexington on December 3, 1981, and is buried in Allen County beside his mother.

Opening on September 8 and running through November 12, HENRY FAULKNER: One Hundredth Birthday Exhibition at the Headley Whitney Museum will feature 100 paintings and drawings on loan from private collections. "My attraction to and appreciation for Faulkner's work goes back more than twenty years," says Christina Bell, Executive Director and Curator for the Headley Whitney Museum. "The Headley Whitney Museum is celebrating its 55th year, and it has been my goal for the past five years to honor Kentucky artists with retrospectives of their life's work. Henry is certainly an iconic Kentucky-born artist, and his one-hundredth birthday is a fitting time to honor his prolific career."

Bell said she was curious how people would react to lending their Faulkner works for the exhibition. "A fun part of this adventure has been hearing the stories about Henry or ways the painting came to them, including an original drawing for a ballet poster traded for a dozen cases of cat food," explained Bell. "Their remembrances of him portray his exuberant and irresistible personality."

Premiering on September 7 at the Kentucky Theatre, the Museum has collaborated with FBN Motion Pictures to produce the 30-minute documentary Henry Faulkner: Poetry in Paint The film, which will play at the Headley Whitney Museum throughout the Faulkner exhibition, features interviews by some of those who knew Faulkner best, including artists Hatfield and Sheldon Tapley, John S. Hockensmith, and Kentucky's Poet Laureate, Silas House.

Special events related to the exhibition include a Happy Birthday Henry celebration from 5-7 pm on September 22 and a luncheon and talk about Faulkner led by John Hockensmith on Tuesday, October 3, from 11:30 am-1:30 pm. For more information, visit Headley-Whitney.org.

"Kentucky has an amazing wealth of creative talent living and working among us as well as those, like Henry, who are no longer with us but living on through the rich legacy of their work," said Bell. "It is important to me both personally and as a goal of the Museum, to honor them for their life's work and share it to foster a sense of community and appreciation for our artistic roots." sl

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SOPHISTICATED SOCIETY

FOUR DECADES OF

Carpet Specialists hosted a cocktail reception at their

since 1983.

CLUBS AND COCKTAILS

Photos by Bill Wine 3

Photos by Chad Henle

Four Decades of Fine Flooring 1) Donna & Pete Thieneman 2) Harry Lloyd, Terri & David Turner 3) Greg & Laurel Turner 4) Kate Mitcham, Kirsten Carrico & Mercedes Robinson 5) Tom Waller, Dawn Missi, Lauren Scott, Chad Turner Clubs and Cocktails 1) Liz & Drew Hershner 2) Timmy Hiack, Maddie Calzi, Jamie Calzi 3) Kelly Scott, Shaun Logsdon 4) Stephanie Renner, Akoy Agau, Jeff English, Morgan Tiemann 5) Katie & Shaun Siers, Sue & Jack Golden

FINE FLOORING

Stanley Gault Parkway showroom to celebrate their 40th anniversary. The company has been founder-owned and operated

St. Vincent de Paul Louisville held a dinner at The Olmstead on the eve of its 20th annual golf scramble at Hurstbourne Country Club.

GRAND OLE PAWPRY

The Kentucky Humane Society had a fantastic and wildly successful event, with more than 500 guests enjoying the live and silent auctions, costume contests, live performances, and a delicious dinner, all supporting its shelter animals.

VISITING ARTIST SERIES

As part of its ongoing Visiting Artist Series, Lenihan Sotheby’s International Realty hosted a cocktail reception for the opening of an exhibition featuring local artist Tyler Robertson’s paintings and mixed media works.

Photos by Bill Wine

Visiting Artist Series 1) John Lenihan, Tyler Robertson, Elizabeth Lenihan 2) Ben Kelly, Christy Emerson, Michael Tyriykos 3) Julie Beam, Rich Hornung 4) Tyler Roberson, Nancy Johnston 5) Katie & Chuck Pence

WESTERN & SOUTHERN OPEN

Coco Gauff’ clinched her first WTA 1000-level title at Cincinnati’s Western & Southern Open, besting Karlona Muchova 6-3, 6-4. It’s the second title this summer for the 19-year-old, who was the youngest women’s finalist in W&S Open history.

LOUISVILLE LŪ'AU

Photos by Chad Henle

Philip Sallee hosted a traditional poolside Hawaiian Lū'au at his home, perched above Cherokee Park. Guests came appropriately attired for the fête, which featured a signature pineapple martini and catering by Red Hog Butcher.

Louisville Lū'au 1) Jen Lilly, Nichole Haines, Tammy Hatcher 2) Jennifer Linden, Betsy Brill, Katherine Devins 3) Hadat & Jimmy Moorow 4) Billie Drexler, Nichole Haines 5) Jamie & Sammie Sanford, Kym Kuhns

Photos by Tony Bailey

For more than 19 years, the design team at LL&A

Interior Design has created award-winning residential and commercial interiors, perfectly blending passion and practicality.

SHELBYVILLE HORSE SHOW

Proceeds from the Horseman's Club Charity Gala at the Shelbyville Horse Show will benefit HorseSensing, a nonprofit organization that provides equine programs for veterans and people in recovery.

VIRGIL CHRISTIAN TRIBUTE POLO MATCH

Rain couldn’t keep polo fans away from Oxmoor Farm for tailgating fun as part of the 22nd annual Virgil Christian Tribute Polo Match to benefit Maryhurst.

Photos by Bill Wine

Photos by Chad Henle

Shelbyville Horse Show 1) Cambelle Montfort, Kerrigan Aldridge 2) Don Harris, Buddy Waggoner, Bill Wise 3) Dr. Sally Broder conducting the live auction. 4) Nikki Bedrick, Tara Knorpp 5) Chris & Jen Detore, Grace Gresick & Brendan Detore Virgil Christian Tribute Polo Match 1) Joe Weber & Sarah Provancher 2) Tate Austin, Terrell Kikis, Gracie Parish, Sarah Camp, Anna Parish, John Logan Bisig 3) Taylor & Katie Walker, Glavin Swain, Alivia Stewart 4) Caroline Mercer, Abigail Sutherland, Doe Woodward, Mae Woodward, Merry Doughtery 5) Crystal Ramsey, Ozair Shariff, Erik Furlan, Cathy Shircliff, Kenny Gray, Gary Palmisano, Jon Rauch

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BOOTS, BADGES & BIDS

Mr. and Mrs. Steve Humphrey generously opened up Lincliffe, their home and manicured gardens in Glenview, to the more than 500 guests who attended the annual Boots, Badges & Bids event to support the men and women of the Louisville Metro Police Department.

Photos by Chad Henle

1) Chuck Villaroel , Alan Wolf, LMPD Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel 2) Nathan Rausch, Chris Bond, Chris Watkins, John Sholar

3) Janice Carter Levitch Humphrey, Kathy & Will Cary, Terri & Steve Bass, Steve Humphrey 4) Dawn Watts, Ned Bass 5) Judge Angela McCormick Bisig, Arnold Rivera 6) Lane Levitch, Janice Carter Levitch Humphrey, Jen Mueller 7) Rachel Greenberg, Mike Schneider, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg

Field &Fork

Benefitting The Parklands of Floyds Fork

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HEAR ON THE RIVER GALA

Photos by Bill Wine

Held at the Louisville Boat Club, proceeds from the event will support the children who are deaf, hard of hearing, and have speech disorders who are enrolled at the Heuser Hearing and Language Academy.

1) Ralph & Kay Barringer 2) Brett Bachmann, Meagan Bachmann, Conrad Bachmann 3) Shannon Cogan, Conrad Bachmann, Joanne Heeter 4) Derek Hoppe, Meredith Boling 5) Cole Schwein, Ozair Shariff 6) Alex & Makenna Holley 7) Pat & Irv Stumler 8) Frankie & Josh Settle 9) John & Mary Smith

ANTHONY “TONY” S. ROBERTS, CHFC®, CSA is a nationally recognized Financial Educator, Author, Speaker and Retirement Planner, whom you may have seen on or in NBC, ABC, CBS, and FOX network affiliates and Bloomberg Business, Yahoo Finance, Investing Daily, Wall Street Select, Market Watch, The Louisville Courier Journal, Louisville TOPS magazine and others. As the CoAuthor of Retire Abundantly and the Creator of The Abundant Wealth Process™,

Tony and his team have been helping business owners, professionals and executives preserve, protect and pass on their wealth for over 30 years

products and services are offered through A. Roberts & Associates, Inc. Anthony Roberts and A. Roberts & Associates, Inc. are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other government agency. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be used to make any financial decisions.

SOPHISTICATED STARS

Written by Joy Yascone Elms MA

Happy Birthday Virgo and Libra!  As we move from hot summer nights into crisp, breezy fall days, the planets will evolve our life's seasons. Venus, which has been retrograde since July 22nd, finally moves direct on September 3rd, and Mercury, in retrograde since August 23rd, goes direct on September 15th. This migration means that the hurry-up-and-wait phase will end, and life will finally start to feel like it's progressing. Then, we enter eclipse season in October, with solar eclipses in Libra and a lunar eclipse in Taurus. Eclipses bring swift change. Keep reading to discover how these eclipses will affect your stars.

VIRGO

August 23rd - September 22nd

The new moon in Virgo on September 14th is your annual birthday gift from the Universe! This new moon is very friendly and will emphasize making exciting changes you have wanted to implement for some time. Sprinkle stardust on whatever part of life you want to nurture and grow—however, dear Virgo, plant seeds within ten days of this new moon for best results. At the new Moon Solar Eclipse in Libra on October 14th, you'll celebrate a financial win and new opportunities to boost your income. You may desire to travel overseas at the full moon lunar eclipse in Taurus on October 28th, but it's best to hold off until ten days after this eclipse.

LIBRA

September 23rd - October 22nd

The full moon in Aries on September 29th emphasizes your partner in love, business and marriage. You may take that next step if you desire to deepen your commitment in these areas. It may be when you move in with a partner or take a new and exciting path, such as purchasing a home together. If you are already partnered up, you may crystallize an exciting new project together. If you're single, this full moon may change your relationship status. At the new moon Solar Eclipse in Libra on October 14th, you'll draft a master plan to achieve your dreams and goals within the coming months. Be sure to do a vision board and be clear about your intentions. A sizeable financial bill may come due at the full moon lunar eclipse in Taurus on October 28th; alternatively, you may also get a large settlement. Regardless of the circumstances, remember that you have Jupiter, the planet of blessings and good fortune, transiting this same financial house, which can give you exceptional financial success until May 25th, 2024. Keep laying the foundation for your financial goals, dear Libra!

SCORPIO

October 23rd - November 21st

Dear Scorpio, your focus has mainly been on marriage, commitment, and partnership with Jupiter transiting the commitment part of your chart. The Libra new moon solar eclipse on October 14th will see you concentrate on your spiritual and wellness path. In contrast, the full moon lunar eclipse in Taurus on October 28th will highlight the partnership sector of your chart. At this time, you may deepen a commitment with a partner. If you are NOT happy or satisfied in your relationship, you may decide to end things to make room for a more effective partnership in the future. It's up to you, dear Scorpio, as you have the bonus of the planet of blessings in your house of love and marriage.

Darius Jewels Dendera Zodiac Diamond Libra charm ($6,950; dariusjewels.com)

Vram Chrona blue sapphire and diamond earrings (vramjewelry.com)

The Power of Divine Timing; an annual sign by sign guide based on astrological timing helping readers to find and nurture their blessings and starve their challenges! Joy also offers Divine Timing coaching programs that help clients stay accountable to manifesting their goals and dreams based on their personal divine timing. Visit

Gemella Intertwine ring ($4,780; gemellajewels.com)

Hannah Blount Jewelry Iris Raw Lightning Ridge opal cameo necklace ($1,980; .hannahblount.com)

Brent Neale large Magic Mushroom Virgo pendant ($8,950; brentneale.com)

The riskiest financial move is doing nothing.

Your wealth plan should keep up with the changing circumstances of your life, as well as with the cycles in the financial markets. A new career, a new grandchild, a new business, a significant shift in your portfolio — any of these events could necessitate a fresh look at your strategy.

As Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors we can work with you to develop a strategy and then help you manage your investments and assets through life’s changes. Call today to arrange an appointment. We’ ll work together to plan for what may come.

Photo Caption- Back row from left: Maria Anderson, Portfolio Associate; Jackie Weber, Client Service Associate; Bob Phelps ChFC®, CLU, Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor; Sarah Curtis, Financial Advisor; Front row: Beth Williamson, Senior Registered Associate; Rob Schenkenfelder CFP®, QPFC®, Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor; Dick Wilson, Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor CFP Board owns the marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the U.S.

will

on an investor ’s individual circumstances and objectives.