The Face of America Magazine 2017 - Vol. 1 Issue 1

The Face of America

2017 Vol. 1 Issue 1

Biannual magazine published in New York City

US $19.00

TAMARA SANTIBANEZ INSTALLATION AT SPRING/BREAK ART FAIR

HUDSON VALLEY THE SPIRIT OF EDWARD HOPPER + BEST BBQ EVER

50 U.N. PLAZA TOP FLOOR PENTHOUSE WITH PRIVATE POOL OVERLOOKING NEW YORK

THE FACE OF AMERICA MAGAZINE PUBLISHED BY CHINA ELITE FOCUS MAGAZINES LLC, DBA LEGIT PRODUCTIONS 147 PRINCE STREET, BROOKLYN, NY 11201 FOUNDER AND PUBLISHER: PIERRE GERVOIS CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER: EFDLT STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHER:JASON BERGER PHOTOGRAPHER:DEBBIE-JEAN LEMONTE PHOTOGRAPHER: LOUIS DAVID PHOTOGRAPHER: HUGH APPLEWHAITE MEN’S FASHION EDITOR: TYRON M.CUTNER WEBMASTER: SIV SKOV SENIOR TRAVEL ADVISOR (SHANGHAI): ELAINE KE FOOD EDITOR: CONSTANCE’S CUPCAKES LOS ANGELES EDITOR: ANGELINA FREITAS CONTACT: PG@LEGITPROD.COM YOUTUBE @THEFACEOFAMERICA TWITTER @TFOAMERICA INSTAGRAM @TFOAMERICA FACEBOOK @THEFACEOFAMERICA ISSN 2690-2338 PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA The Face of America Magazine

THE FACE OF AMERICA MAGAZINE 2017 VOL.1 ISSUE 1 CONTENT TAMARA SANTIBANEZ

13

NYC

MICHEL HOUELLEBECQ

18

Paris/NYC

JENNIFER FAMERY MARIANI

22

NYC

JOSEPH WALSH

26

NYC

NEW YORK WEIBO

31

Shanghai / NYC

TWA HOTEL

41

JFK Airport

HUDSON VALLEY ROAD TRIP

46

Hudson Valley, NY

DIPLOMATIC VIEWS

73

NYC

MUSIC AND WINDOWS

77

NYC

ALEXANDRE MEERSON WATCHES

83

Everywhere

MOYNAT BAGS

87

Everywhere

BM FRANKLIN

92

NYC

ALBERT LUKONGA

96

Kentucky

PARKER DUSSAU

99

San Francisco

CHEF ASHFER BIJU

104

The Pierre, NYC

CITY WINE TOURS NYC

109

NYC

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Photography: Jason Berger

Editorial I won’t inflict you the intellectual pain to read an editorial as I never read them in other magazines.

Pierre Gervois

Publisher and Editor-In-Chief

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Complimentary distribution in selected hotels Worldwide

ART

THINKING ABOUT EVERYTHING, BUT THEN AGAIN, I WAS THINKING ABOUT NOTHING TAMARA SANTIBANEZ

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Thinking About Everything, but Then Again, I was Thinking About Nothing “For this solo installation, I recreated a teenage bedroom and its contents. Reimagined in all white, the posters, records, zines, and other media are reproduced as ballpoint drawings and the studded belts and bracelets are sculpted from clay.

The room is simultaneously semiautobiographical, including items I can remember owning throughout my life, and generalized, allowing viewers to recall their own experiences in relation to the space. The audience is invited to speculate as to the identity of the room’s inhabitant, reading cues from its contents as to their age, gender, race, and interests. The room functions as both archaeological site and memory made real. The items can be read as fossils or as props in a dream state. In painstakingly redrawing these items from my youth, I pay homage to them and revisit their

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meaning to me as an adult. I apply the medium of ballpoint pen and the use of white as a backdrop as a way to reference devotion, traditional Chicanx art mediums, high school notebook doodles born of boredom, and my early experiences encountering punk as a space of whiteness. In this process I am attempting to reconcile my identity as a Chicanx raised in the Southeast with the profound impact punk had on my politics and way of life. Named after a lyric from a song by Suicidal Tendencies, the show title references the space young punks inhabit between juvenile ennui and the very real sense, subconscious though it may be, of the oppressive forces that shape our worlds.�

Tamara Santibanez Solo installation with Castor Gallery, Spring/Break Art Fair 2017

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Tamara Santibanez Tattoo Artist @ Saved Tattoo (Brooklyn) & Multimedia Artist

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Michel Houellebecq, France #016, 2016, pigment print on Baryta paper mounted on aluminum, 19 1/2 x 28 3â „4 in (49.5 x 73 cm), courtesy the artist and VENUS, New York.

MICHEL HOUELLEBECQ FRENCH BASHING

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Michel Houellebecq, France #035, 2016, pigment print on Baryta paper mounted on aluminum, 19 1/2 x 27 3⁄4 in (49.5 x 70.5 cm), courtesy the artist and VENUS, New York.

“French Bashing” exhibition Beginning June 2, 2017, VENUS presents French Bashing, an exhibition of photographs, photomontages and related work by best-selling French novelist Michel Houellebecq, one of Europe’s most controversial cultural figures. Comprising two distinct environments conceived specifically by Houellebecq for VENUS, the show is his first in the United States. It will remain on view through August 4th.Although Michel Houellebecq (b. 1958, La Réunion, France) has taken pictures for decades, he began exhibiting these images only a few years ago.

Houellebecq’s photography is intimately linked to his writing practice, and he often composes scenes in his books while looking at a photograph he shot.

French Bashing provides two visions of Western Europe as expressed by Michel Houellebecq. On view in the first room at VENUS is a set of photographs that variously depict train stations, tollbooths, apartment buildings, and movie theaters.

Hung on darkly painted walls and individually lit with framing projectors, these images assemble a dystopian vision of France familiar from Houellebecq’s novels. Bleakly desaturated, the photographs capture the atmosphere of what Houellebecq calls “periurban” zones: despondent suburban areas surrounding larger cities where homes are valued according to their proximity to arteries of public transportation. Houellebecq superimposes lines from his novels and poetry onto some of these photographs. The first image visitors encounter in the exhibition bears the sentence, “It’s time to place your bets,” a quotation from Houellebecq’s poem “The Memory of the Sea;” the right panel of a large triptych bears a phrase from Houellebecq’s 2015 novel, Submission: “I had no more reason to kill myself than most of these people did.” In concert with Sohier’s ambient soundtrack, these enigmatic and provocative bits of language contribute to an ominous feeling throughout the space. Houellebecq’s point is driven home by the image of a crumbling concrete sign of the word “EUROPE,” suggesting a vision of a continent on the verge of decomposition.

In the next room, Houellebecq has produced an environment of a distinctly different nature. Here the

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floor is covered with garish laminated placemats advertising such tourist destinations as St. Tropez and Port-la-Nouvelle. Hung on bright white walls with fluorescent lighting, a group of photographs converge around visions of tourism. Heavily saturated images depict kitschy tour buses, coastal views, and beachside condos in France and Spain. One of these offers an aerial view of a Leader Price discount store that appears wedged into the side of a mountain. Like the images in the first room, the scenes Houellebecq shows here are eerily uninhabited. But in this well-lit space, elements of the natural world seem to encroach upon disused manmade structures. A brighter soundtrack, also composed by Sohier, fills the space with the sounds of vacation towns: children playing, people laughing, and the audio evidence of merriment in the distance.

Michel Houellebecq’s reputation as one of France’s most provocative cultural figures has grown over the course of his nearly three-decade career, through a series of novels that address subjects as varied as Islam, sexual tourism, and contemporary art. Widely discussed and often hotly contested, Houellebecq is also one of France’s most critically acclaimed novelists.

VENUS 980 MADISON AVENUE NEW YORK, NY 10075

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Michel Houellebecq, France #017, 2016, pigment print on Baryta paper mounted on aluminum, 19 1/2 x 28 3â „4 in (49.5 x 73 cm), courtesy the artist and VENUS, New York.

Michel Houellebecq, Inscriptions #006, 2016, pigment print on Baryta paper mounted on aluminum, 29 5/16 x 19 7/8 in (74.5 x 50.5 cm), courtesy the artist and VENUS, New York.

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Photography: George Evan Andreadis

JENNIFER FAMERY MARIANI TRIBECA’S MUSE The Face of America Magazine

Photography: George Evan Andreadis

Connecting the dots “Connecting the dots is what drives me. I am an independent curator, entrepreneur, strategy consultant and philanthropist with global interests in art & culture, health, entertainment, urban development, and social behavior. My passion is to design experiences that build community, inspire and educate people. One dimension I enjoy particularly about my work is developing relationships with and fostering interactions between people of dierent talents - painters, entrepreneurs, curators, magicians, scientists, non-profit founders, chefs, musicians, authors, perfumers, explorers, mixologists, wellness specialists, dancers, philanthropists, and thought leaders.

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In all my involvements, I aim to create positive impact. I produce events across all disciplines, built to catalyze the diversity of creative expression, push boundaries and make art accessible. These include neighborhood festivals, city salons, and event series. My next event is a local festival on June 21, called Tribeca Art Night. It is located in the 20+ participating Lower Manhattan venues, including outdoor and indoor spaces such as art nonprofits, fine-art, design and university galleries and parks.

The event features a program of exhibitions, tours, performances, talks and workshops.�

Jennifer Famery-Mariani Founder & CEO Tribeca Art Festival, NYC

Photography: George Evan Andreadis

Hair (detail)

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JOSEPH WALSH OBJECTS OF DESIRE

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Joseph Walsh’s curves Joseph Walsh (born in 1979) founded his Studio and workshop in 1999 in County Cork, Ireland. He is a designer maker, realizing One-of-a-Kind and limited edition pieces. Walsh’s creative approach reflects his appreciation of nature and also his desire to engage the user with visual and tactile forms.

The great understanding and sympathetic use of the material, the intimate relationship between the process of finding forms and creating structures, and the continuity and resolve from the concept stage to the making process define his Studio and work today. Walsh's workshop, employing an international team, engages in resolving technical challenges as his work becomes more complex. They explore new materials while continuing to further the possibilities of engaging with wood. The work of the Studio continues to advance skills, inspire an innovative response and challenge existing practices in achieving the ambitious pieces realized.

Joseph Walsh was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by University College Cork in 2015 in recognition of his contribution to design. Joseph Walsh’s work can be found in many significant international Museums and Private Collections and is regularly exhibited at major art and design fairs.

Joseph Walsh established his Studio in 1999 on his family’s farm, a 18th century

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agricultural concern on which the original Walsh Farmhouse still stands. His innate relationship with landscape and rural life dictated by the seasons continues to inform Walsh’s response to nature, to his consideration of the effect of the environment on materials which fires his imagination, inspiring his unique creations.

Joseph Walsh recently opened its “Reveal” exhibition, a unique opportunity to view important unseen works and private commissions, as well as some of the Studio's past work, typically destined for collectors' private residences. The exhibition has been held at American Irish Historical Society (AIHS), located on Manhattan’s Museum Mile, and includes a selection of free form chairs, part of a collection of 24 individual and unique chairs developed for Chatsworth House's private dining room, a bespoke watch cabinet and seat created for the private collection of a father and his son, as well as a series of scale models and sketches of Walsh's recent commission for the National Gallery of Ireland, a 7-meter high public sculpture commissioned by the Office of Public Works (OPW) on behalf of the National Gallery of Ireland under the Per Cent for Art Scheme.

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Complimentary distribution in selected airlines

TRAVEL

NEW YORK WEIBO NYC SEEN FROM SHANGHAI

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TWA HOTEL @JFK

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Built by world-renowned architect Eero Saarinen, the TWA Flight Center opened in 1962, ushering in a new era of jet air travel. After TWA ceased operating, the terminal was closed in 2001 and has remained dark for the last 15 years. The terminal was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the New York State Register of Historic Places in 2005.

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The TWA Hotel at JFK International Airport will preserve the iconic Eero Saarinen terminal, restoring the landmark to its Jet Age splendor for generations to enjoy. Designed to defer to the landmark, the new hotel structures will be set back from the terminal.

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Complimentary distribution in selected cruise ships

Complimentary distribution in official organizations

HUDSON VALLEY ROAD TRIP PHOTOGRAPHY: EFDLT STUDIO

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Photography: PG /EFDLT Studio NYC

“We have partnered with Hudson Valley Adventure Tours, the most reputable travel agency in the area, to better understand the geographical and historical aspects of the Hudson Valley, a perfect getaway destination less than one hour away from New York City. Here is the story, from Fink’s restaurant fine dining quality BBQ to the mystical light and atmosphere in Edward Hopper’s home in Nyack. (And the vintage cars & great people we have met in between)”

Benny Everheart, CEO Hudson Valley Adventure Tours

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Photography: PG /EFDLT Studio NYC

Somewhere on the Interstate I-87, en route to Nyack.

The I-87 (assigned on August 14, 1957) is a 333 mile long Interstate Highway located entirely within the state of New York.

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Photography: PG /EFDLT Studio NYC

Extremely warm and professional welcome by Shai Amar, General Manager, Brickhouse Food & Drink restaurant.

Beautiful tattoo on her shoulder.

The food is as good as her tattoo (meaning great).

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Photography: EFDLT Studio NYC

Talking about the road trip’s details for the two days to come, over a draft beer selection.

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Photography: EFDLT Studio NYC

Checking-in in style at the Time Hotel, Nyack, with our Away suitcase, global travelers’ new sign of recognition.

By the way, apart from being a social status symbol, it’s also a very sturdy suitcase.

We love the integrated phone charger and the laundry bag.

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Photography: EFDLT Studio NYC

Room 419 Industrial feeling & classy wallpaper.

Pierre Gervois is wearing a camouflage OppoSuit The Face of America Magazine

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Photography: EFDLT Studio NYC

Playing with the reflections in Room 419

Photography: EFDLT Studio NYC

The eShave Travel Razor and its polished metal canister, like a James Bond Gadget, ready for a safe travel, with no risk of being crushed.

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Photography: PG /EFDLT Studio NYC

Our Director of Photography wearing her favorite Jemma “Birdie” Bag, very convenient with the smart sneakers compartment (Works also for photographic equipment).

Hat by BM Franklin.

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Photography: PG /EFDLT Studio NYC

A 1981 Chevrolet Monte-Carlo coupe, on the parking facing the river.

Behind the car, a woman walking a huge friendly dog (looking like a wolf with long hair) talks to us: “It’s my sister’s dog”, she says.

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Photography: PG /EFDLT Studio NYC

Sophia Ng welcomes us at Edward Hopper’s House in Nyack.

She shares with us her passion and deep understanding of the genius of this American painter The Face of America Magazine

Photography: EFDLT Studio NYC

Edward Hopper’s bedroom, left untouched.

Here is the exact corner where he painted.

We can distinctively feel the artist’s presence and connect with his paintings.

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Photography: EFDLT Studio NYC

We barely dare to walk into Edward Hopper’s bathroom and see his bathtub.

So much emotion and a feeling of weird intimacy with the artist.

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Photography: PG /EFDLT Studio NYC

David Finkelstein, Owner & Chef Fink’s BBQ & Cheesesteak Roadhouse (Suffern, NY) “This his just the best BBQ I have ever eaten. ABSOLUTELY INSANELY DELICIOUS. It worth a trip to the restaurant”

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Photography: EFDLT Studio NYC

Still dreaming about the delicious Fink’s BBQ.

Photography: PG /EFDLT Studio NYC

Mike Maldonado, Biker Perkins Memorial Drive, Bear Mountain

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Photography: PG

The crackling and crunching noise of the feet on the forest floor

Photography: PG /EFDLT Studio NYC

We have been granted special access to the United States Military Academy (West Point) thanks to Benny Everheart’s Army Veteran status.

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Photography: PG /EFDLT Studio NYC

Feeling the cold and smooth bronze surface of a cannon seized to the British army during the American Revolutionary War.

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Photography: PG /EFDLT Studio NYC

We have a long talk with Nelson Diaz, Painter and co-owner of the inspiring Casa Hudson B&B, in Haverstraw, NY. “My mother immigrated to America from Cuba with 10c in her pocket.�

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Photography: PG /EFDLT Studio NYC

Nelson’s 1976 Alfa Romeo Spider, parked in the garden as as a sculpture and hommage to Italy (Note the “I” sticker)

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Photography: PG

The smell of the car is a mix of burned oil, gas, and leather.

Love the “Fasten Seat Belts”, “Brake”, “Hazard” and “Throttle” indicators.

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Photography: PG /EFDLT Studio NYC

Packing our Jemma Bag, Time to leave Casa hudson, after a delicious breakfast (Including Mexican tamales coming from a local market) prepared by Andrea Caccuro, co-owner.

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Photography: PG /EFDLT Studio NYC

This is the view by the window of the “76 House” (Tappan, NY), New York’s oldest tavern (1755), restored with love and passion

by Robert Norden.

We had lunch at George Washington’s table.

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HOMES

DIPLOMATIC VIEWS

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Vast expanses of glass, warm gold bands and stainless steel detailing distinguish this new architectural statement for the city, always at home in the world. Global architects Foster + Partners have custom-designed every detail of 88 spectacular condominium residences. The quality of space, light and views is unprecedented, creating the truest sense of arrival and the modern and timeless luxury of New York living.

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Foster + Partners is one of the most innovative architecture and design practices in the world—and 50 United Nations Plaza is its first residential building in the U.S. The London-based company, founded by Norman Foster in 1967, now has project oďŹƒces in more than 20 countries and buildings on six continents.

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$70Million

Providing an extraordinary level of privacy, security and serenity, 50 United Nations Plaza features such rare amenities as gated entry, a landscaped motor court, residents-only valet parking and a fitness center with a 75foot swimming pool.

The featured top floor Penthouse is probably the most prestigious NYC property currently for sale.

50 United Nations Plaza New York 345 E 46th St, New York, NY 10017

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Photography: Evan Joseph / Corcoran

MUSIC AND WINDOWS

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Photography: Evan Joseph / Corcoran

Located in the House section of 15 Central Park West, this expansive duplex penthouse offers 140 feet of park frontage on two floors, and interiors

by Lee F. Mindel of Shelton, Mindel & Associates in Robert A.M. Stern’s iconic limestone-clad residence directly situated on Central Park. Penthouse 16/17B offers spectacular Central Park and city views from grand windows on two levels and a sprawling terrace of approx. 396 SF.

The Face of America Magazine Photography: Evan Joseph / Corcoran

15, Central Park West, New York, NY 10023 Presented by Corcoran

Photography: Evan Joseph / Corcoran

$56Million The Face of America Magazine

15 Central Park West is a coveted white-glove condominium located at the corner of West 61st Street and Central Park West.

Residents enjoy extensive amenities including a full sta, landscaped motor court, garage, 14,000 sq. ft. fitness center, 75 ft. sky-lit lap pool, steam & sauna, screening room, private restaurant/ catering, wine rooms, library, business center, 1,400 SF meeting space, game room, outdoor terrace and playroom.

FASHION

ALEXANDRE MEERSON WATCHES

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“I have met Alexandre Meerson at the bar of the NoMad hotel, NYC. He ordered a Veggie Burger and extra fries.

I ate a few of his fries.

Alexandre Meerson is a visionary London-based French entrepreneur, obviously very talented and also surprisingly humble.

In 2017 he started a revolution in the world of watchmaking: The Meerson Mutiny watch, the first bespoke swiss watch, entirely customizable by the future owner.�

-PG

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The Mutiny exudes three things (in order): 1-Sensuality 2-British coolness and understated luxury 3-You have reached a point in your life where you don’t need to try to impress anyone anymore.

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You can entirely customize your Mutiny watch through a one to one consultation with Alexandre Meerson himself and choose: 1. The Case: Stunningly polished steel, can be finished in dierent ways, as well as treated to a superb black shade. Special versions can be made to order in silver or even vermeil.

2. The Dial: pick any colour, design a pattern or symbol. The chronograph sub-dials lend themselves beautifully to contrasts and patterns.

3. The bespoke Straps: made to your exact measures: pick the leather or fabric you love, from our extensive selection or from your own wardrobe. Sign your style with matching or contrasted stitching.

4. The Hands: they are subtle details, several colours are available, as further accents of your style.

5. Engraving: each watch is individually numbered. Make your watch even more personal, by drawing a pattern on the case or designing a symbolic message in the case-back. Or keep it secret on the inside, as a locket.

6. The travel pouch: personalize it to match the bespoke strap, and add the owners name or initials.

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Photography: Courtesy of Moynat

MOYNAT

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Photography: Courtesy of Moynat

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Photography: Andy Julia / Courtesy of Moynat

Photography: Courtesy of Moynat

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Moynat is a personal project of Bernard Arnaud, LVMH’s CEO. Founded in Paris in 1849, Moynat closed its boutique in 1976 and the brand nearly disappeared forever.

Relaunched in 2011 with Ramesh Nair as Head of design and Guillaume Davin as General Manager, Moynat is on the path of becoming a competitor to Hermès, as the LVMH group could not (yet) purchase this iconic brand. We love the extreme elegance of Ramesh Nair’s creations. The quality of Moynat products is regularly improving as hiring former Hermès employees is not sufficient in itself to obtain the same quality, and the first Moynat creations in 2011/2012 were not technically perfect. But these issues are solved now and the quality is now impeccable. Wearing a Moynat product says a lot about a traveler, who has already plenty of Louis Vuitton and Hermès bags, and wants to show his social power and status in an understated manner.

The service at the Paris flagship store is excellent, but their New York City store should improve the customer service. The so called Parisian arrogance is not cool in NYC.

www.jemmabag.com

Photography: EFDLT Studio NYC

BM FRANKLIN NEW YORK CITY MASTER HATTER

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“I have always been inspired by fashion; the ability to express yourself by wearing something has always been an interest of mine. My mother was a fashion model and being around her and her friends exposed me to the industry. As I grew older I used fashion as my way vehicle of selfexpression and continue to do. When I was old enough to start working I knew I wanted to do something within the fashion industry but didn't know what, I just knew it had to be creative and that I might have to carve out a space for myself.

The quality, details and craftsmanship of any piece force you to ask or at least have questions. When I started working for Ralph Lauren I was exposed to quality, details and craftsmanship. Because it’s such a large brand with a wide range of offerings I was afforded the opportunity to learn about touch, feel and learn about a number of techniques, garments, history and most importantly expression. After sometime of working at PRL, I developed a hunger for wanting to make the things that were circulating through the collections and stores. I left in search of a craft and it first came in the form of tailoring and shortly after that I met one of the best hatters in New York City. He owned one of the oldest hat shops in the country and studied the craft under masters in Italy; we met through mutual friends and instantly clicked. I worked, studied and developed my love for the craft for over 6 years. From the history to the age-old tools and

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techniques we use to create our product I began to fall in love with it all. I decided to start my own brand and business built around my love appreciation for hatmaking.

Our pieces are made to last and to be passed down from one generation to the next. There is always a little bit of the past that makes us who we are. I believe the future generations who don an original, one of a kind piece either passed down or new will continue to spread the same passion for quality and craftsmanship we possess.”

Brandon Franklin Founder B.M. Franklin, New York City

Photography: EFDLT Studio NYC

B.M. Franklin / Master Hatter

The Face of America Magazine Photography: EFDLT Studio NYC

The Face of America Magazine Photography: EFDLT Studio NYC

Photography: Courtesy Albert Lukonga

ALBERT LUKONGA IS THE AMERICAN DREAM

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Photography: Courtesy Albert Lukonga

The story behind Ambassadeur Co. Shirts “My name is Albert Lukonga and I was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the country’s political crisis that made life a little hard to survive. My mother, (a tailor and designer), worked hard in the fashion industry to put food on the table for ten of us (Yes all from same father and mother). Eventually, this became impossible for my mother to take care of everyone in the family. So we decided to flea from Congo and ended up in a refugee camp located in Zimbabwe where we lived until June of 2006 when we were chosen for resettlement to come to the United States. This was not just a dream come true, but it was something unexpected to me. Once settled in Lexington, Kentucky, I attended school and play soccer at Henry Clay high school. This is when I met Mrs. Jones (my soccer mom that took care of me as her own son), she taught me a lot about the country, helped me with school work, and improved my English.

While doing this I was also doing side jobs in MLM companies, insurance companies, selling vacuum machines door-to-door, and other sales jobs.

Unfortunately the day before my high school graduation, we lost Mrs. Jones to breast cancer, this is when I started putting everything she ever taught me to work. I moved on and ended up attending college at Eastern Kentucky University. Trying to keep up with the Jones I decided to major in Biology and the plan was to go to med-school. But

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after a couples years at University of Kentucky I decided to drop-out to fully pursue my childhood dream (building Ambassadeur Co.). With all the money I had saved for school I invested it all into the company.

My brand provides high-quality clothing to a modern men who wants to take their style beyond their means.

My company (Ambassadeur Co.) represents and speak all essentials that are needed and required in our 21st century to stand out, build character, and be confident in what you are wearing. Along with this, I do not only want you to feel like all you have on is just another logo, but understand the story behind the logo itself, how it makes you feel, and what it truly stands for.

Wearing our elegant shirts in public shows great character and truly represents what it means and feels to be a gentlemen, but most importantly our logo represents something bigger than just you and me. I decided to first start with shirts as my main product because i wanted the company to focus on one product for better execution and also I just did not have the finances to branch out into other products. But Ambassadeur Co. will soon be launching more items for our everyday unique clients that wants to stand out and also be part of something bigger than just themselves. For every item purchased by our customer we automatically donate two percent (2%) to a chosen charity to help feed a child in need on your behalf because as the CEO and Founder of this company I remember the days I spent being

hungry in the refugee camp for 2-3 days. By giving back this percentage, I will be able to help others who are still in the place where I used to be in(world of hunger). I want to do something for them that no one has never done for me when I was trying to survive back then, this also gives my brand a true organic experience of how we can affectively execute this hunger crisis by hearing directly from me and the types of experiences I encountered. Finally, I also know that to execute this I will need all men to come in and join my mission to dress well while making a huge impact in the world we live and also to built a community of men who wants to make a difference. This is why I chose to focus on serving my clients with great products combined with a one of a kind service (rolling my own sleeves to help meet my customers needs ad wants). Now gentlemen, the time has come for you to make a difference and also wear something that not is made with good quality but has a true meaning behind it, we believe that not all shirts are made the same.”

Albert Lukonga Founder & CEO Ambassadeur Co. Shirts

PARKER DUSSAU

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Parker Dusseau was started in the Fall of 2012 with a mission to create apparel for men who wanted the functionality of outdoor garments in a modern, urban aesthetic.

For inspiration, Founder Vaughn Brown drew on his Idaho and Utah roots plus time spent in dense cities around the globe. Early 80's images of his uncle (the brand's namesake) focused him on a clean aesthetic and timeless menswear staples of the day: well constructed tees, chinos, collared shirts, blazers and suits.

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Parker Dusseau designs, develops and manufactures all product in San Francisco.

The factory is located on Mission Street, right in the heart of San Francisco's apparel design and manufacturing district.

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FOOD

HOW CHEF ASHFER BIJU SAVED THE PIERRE HOTEL’S FOOD SCENE The Face of America Magazine

Photography: EFDLT Studio NYC

We used to be unimpressed by the Pierre Hotel’s restaurant over the last years.

(Just “Okay” food) Since Chef Ashfer Biju took over the new restaurant “Perrine”, things have changed for the good.

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A special mention for Executive Pastry Chef Michael Mignano’s desserts, made with love and authentic emotion.

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Photography: EFDLT Studio NYC

We have been impressed by Chef Biju's clear vision and precise execution of his food.

He is obviously a happy Chef, entirely free from any corporate pressure and expresses himself with his natural elegance. We understand perfectly what he wants to convey in his food: a strong classic, French inspired technique infused with a subtle Indian sophistication and refinement.

The Pierre’s glorious heritage of culinary perfection is back with Chef Biju.

Photography: EFDLT Studio NYC

From left to right: Executive Chef Ashfer Biju, Pierre Gervois (wearing an Oppo Tie), Executive Pastry Chef Michael Mignano at Perrine, The Pierre Hotel, NYC The Face of America Magazine

Photography: EFDLT Studio

CITY WINE TOURS NYC Aimee Little, Wine Ambassador

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City Wine Tours Co-founder and CEO Daniel Andrew, inspired by a wine tasting he enjoyed in Boston’s North End, sought to create a wine tour experience that anyone could access and enjoy.

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Photography: EFDLT Studio

A friendly, charismatic wine ambassador leads you to hot spots, where you’ll be welcomed to a reserved table, with wait sta standing by, ready to serve pre-selected wines. Learn how to taste, pair and buy with an intimate group.

Enjoy six wines over the course of two hours.

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Tours run at 3pm every saturday.

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Photography: EFDLT Studio

The Upper West Side tour starts at Burke & Wills, a modern Australian bistro featuring a raw bar and a rotisserie menu. The second stop is Spring Natural Kitchen, serving entirely homemade food.