The Travel Issue - Volume II 2022 by The House of Perez

VOLUME II

THE TRAVEL ISSUE featuring Jessica Michel

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THE HOUSE OF PEREZ WEDDINGS

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COMING SOON The latest place for luxury wedding inspiration. Follow along for the latest trends in wedding fashion, design, beauty and tips and tricks from the best in the industry.

Photography by Jana Schuessler | @janaschuessler | www.janaschuessler.com

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CONTENTS February 2022

8 Editor’s Letter

BEHIND THE SCENES 10 Styling the Cover A moment with Oretta Corbelli, styling maven behind the fashion in the cover story

12 Ask Nathalie Life coach Nathalie Bernier shares advice on how to avoid sweating the small stuff

BEAUTY & WELLNESS 14 The Beauty Edit Tips and product picks from Beauty Director, Frankie Sanderson

16 Aida's Picks Take a look at what Editor at Large,, Aida M. Toro would pack in her bag

18 Melissa Wood Connecting Physical and Mental Well-Being

19 Kirk Myers Bringing Fitness and Philanthropy to the World

FASHION 22 Cynthia Rowley Traveling Through Fashion and Creativity

24 Resort Fashion Fashion Director Connor Duszynski takes us through Virginia resorts and which runway looks to pack

MUSIC 28 Kids Return A new nostalgic sound from France O N T H E C O V E R : P H OTO G R A P H Y B Y J A N A S C H U E S S L E R , M O D E L : J E S S I C A M I C H E L , S T Y L I N G B Y: O R E T TA C O R B E L L I , M A K E U P : N O VA K A P L A N , H A I R : J E N N L A G R O N . TO P R I G H T: O I L PA I N T I N G B Y E L L A D U N N . B OT TO M R I G H T: P H OTO G R A P H Y C O U R T E S Y O F S H E R I D A N C O U N T Y T R AV E L A N D TO U R I S M .

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FOOD 32 Greenleaf New England Brings Sustainable Dining and Culture to the Dining Table

34 Blue Steel Pizza Company A New Jersey Innovative Scratch Kitchen Takes Fort Lauderdale

TRAVEL 36 The Carlyle, Dowling's and Bemelmans This Upper East Side iconic hotel and it's restaraunts are the ideal destination for expressing the written word and yourself as a whole.

42 Tampa EDITION EDITION hotels chooses Tampa as the destination for their fifth U.S property.

44 Mountain Town Sheridan, Wyoming is a quaint mountain town that boasts seasonal site seeing

ART 48 Ella Dunn Australian painter portrays the heart of storytelling in her new collection, Deeper Water

FEATURES 58 On the Cover Jessica Michel shares her journey through her modeling career and details about her move into acting

78 Jetsetting with Crypto Peter Klamka elaborates on crypto’s travel benefits

80 The House List Everything you need for the travel season or your next epic staycation

79 Final Notes COVER LOOK: Jessica Michel wearing hat by GUNIA Project and Jewelry by Elena Braccini Jewelry. Makeup products MAC Cosmetics.

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The Art of Movement Van Cleef & Arpels

From December 24, 2021 to February 28, 2022, the Maison will be presenting its new exhibition “The Art of Movement. Van Cleef & Arpels, living moments, eternal forms” at the Sea World Culture and Art Center in Shenzhen, China. Featuring more than 80 creations from its patrimony collection as well as numerous archive documents, this selection illustrates the Maison’s constant quest to impart movement into precious materials. Since its foundation in 1906 in Paris’ Place Vendôme, Van Cleef & Arpels has blended the excellence of its High Jewelry savoir-faire

with great delicacy of vision in order to imbue the most precious materials with lightness and dynamism. Notable for their motifs, their three-dimensional volumes and their composition, the creations stand out as manifestos of the art of movement. The adventurous spirit of the early modern period – followed by the industrial era of the 19th century – gave rise to ever more sophisticated machines for exploring the world. Since its foundation in 1906, Van Cleef & Arpels has used its creations to accompany that bold human odyssey of wanderlust.

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Letter from the Editor

Moving Forward

meeting new people, listening to their stories and experiencing their culture. It's these moments that push me out of my comfort zone, but they also bring forth new perspectives that I treasure after returning home. In honor of the act of traveling, even though it may look different for many of us, we have dedicated this issue to it. We shared and exchanged our favorite travel memories with many of our features and took a virtual visit to France while visiting with musicians, Kids Return. This issue also virtually took us to Australia for our interview with Ella Dunn as she told us more about her most recent show at Saint Cloche art gallery in Melbourne. Our team found great pleasure in reminiscing about our time abroad, or thinking about our travels together while on The House of

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PA I N T I N G B Y E L L A D U N N - C E V I L O R A N G E S , O I L O N C A N VA S . J E S S I C A M I C H E L F O R T H E C O V E R - P H OTO G R A P H E D B Y J A N A S C H U E S S L E R .

TRAVEL IS SOMETHING SO MANY OF US HOLD NEAR and dear, which made it a hard pill to swallow during the pandemic as it disrupted the industry. Many business and leisure plans have been canceled over the last couple of years, but we have adapted and are starting to move forward as we embrace our new normal. We associate travel with memories and experiences that have changed our lives. For me, connecting with people outside of my "circle" has been one of the most important aspects of my time spent traveling. I learn the most when I am on the road,

Perez journey and we would love to hear about yours as well. Drop us a DM on Instagram with an experience, memory, favorite place or dream destination and we would love to share it with our audience. As always, we hope you enjoy this issue and travel safely as you partake in future adventures.

Editor in Chief KACEY PEREZ Creative Director at Large NATALIE STEGER Editor at Large AIDA M. TORO Managing Editor CAROLINE COTTEN Visual Director JANA SCHUESSLER Visual Director FILBERT KUNG Fashion Director CONNOR DUSZYNSKI Beauty Director FRANKIE SANDERSON Features Editor JENNIFER STRIEGEL Social Media Manager CLAIRE GRISOLANO

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Oretta Corbelli Italian styling maven creates a name for herself in the publishing world WR ITT EN BY: CARO LINE COTTEN PHOTO G RAPHY: COU RT ESY OF ORETTA CORBELL I

IT’S HARD NOT TO FALL IN LOVE with someone like Oretta Corbelli. Her sweet smile and contagious passion are magnetic to anyone around her. Corbelli, a fashion consultant, creative director, and stylist, has a work ethic that has brought her well-deserved success. She is kind and charming, yet, she means business when it comes to seeing her visions fulfilled. Corbelli knows how to command a set, a trait that was undoubtedly developed at a young age while staging fashion shows at her parent's home. In these early teen years, Corbelli was styling out of her own wardrobe; likely managing to put together looks we’d still be captivated by. Her entrepreneurial personality was only just beginning to surface. She has been all over the world and makes a lasting impression on anyone who meets her. Originally from Rome, Corbelli made a big decision following University to move to New York for an internship with Giorgio Armani. It was here that Oretta confirmed fashion could be realized into a career. While New York may not have stolen her heart, fashion definitely did. As many of us know, fashion can be cut-throat, but with her engagingly kind personality, Corbelli found people she could look up to. In any career, finding someone to help bond with and navigate the path can make all the difference. For Corbelli, that was French stylist Veronique Droulez. When speaking of Veronique, Corbelli affectionately remarks, “she is my mentor, my sister, and my inspiration”. After spending 15 years in the world of corporate fashion, Corbelli branched out into her own fashion consulting endeavors. She attributes the corporate world to providing a foundational understanding of the ecosystem of teams involved in fashion

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ranging from buying, merchandising, marketing, and creatives; however, Corbelli needed the freedom to put these skills into her own practice. Fashion is her life and soul, and she needed to live and design it her way. Corbelli's exuberant excitement for existing can certainly be traced to her Italian culture. She currently resides in her home in Los Angeles and absolutely loves it, but of course, there are things she misses about her time in Italy: her Mom, family, and culture

to name a few. When asked to share about her time spent in Italy, Corbelli pinpoints exactly where her contagious gratification comes from, “Italy is the country where you can really enjoy the time, USA is the country where you can reinvent yourself and realize your dreams. My time in Italy was enjoying life a lot!” A lesson we can all learn from her, to live with joy will bring you prosperity and make work feel a lot less like work. The contrast in cultures is not just exemplified in

our approach to being, but our approaches to fashion. Corbelli details her observation of the two different worlds of LA and Italy for “lifestyle, taste, sense of fashion and people’s mentality. I like the mix! Mixing the Italian and sophisticated touch with the LA relaxed vibe,” and she has certainly inherited the best of both worlds to create the beautiful person that she is inside and out. Whether for work or play, Corbelli has been all over the world. LA has clearly made a lasting impression on her, as she has

resided here for the last 10 years. We, of course, had to ask a few travel questions. When it comes to shopping, London was the clear winner, however, LA was runner up for it’s collection of vintage shopping. Her favorite city to visit in Europe is Istanbul. For a visit in Italy, she loves Catania, a city in Sicily that lies along the Ionian Sea and under the shadows of Mount Etna. Work has taken her across the states, but most memorable to her was Nashville. It makes sense, as the city is filled with lively character and culture ranging from historic music venues and vintage shopping offering endless stimulation while shooting a campaign. Oretta has made a well established

name for herself in the industry. Her work has appeared in Harpers Bazaar, Elle, Grazia IT, and more. It is an exciting and innovative time to be in the industry. Corbelli more than just respects the forward momentum and changes in the way the fashion system works, but embraces them, “Finally, brands, magazines, and the fashion world require talent with real skills. I love the top model from the 90’s, but I also love the fact that today the fashion system works with actors, musicians, TV talents, inclusive talents, etc.” Corbelli describes working with such creatives as

Bella Thorne, admiring her ability to be “fun, fast, and focused” all the while maintaining the same professional no-nonsense efficiency that Corbelli presents. Similarly, she details that working with Mike Tyson was enjoyable due to his “real and human-side.” When it comes to inspiration, Corbelli is never without it. In fact, she is quite the opposite as she energetically declares she is inspired by life itself. If you are familiar with her work, she is always on point and manages to capture a simplistically bold aesthetic. Nothing is too little or too much, always feeling just right, regardless of which end on the creative spectrum she lands. The balance she captures in her creative direction and stylistic pulls is a direct reflection of the balance she draws inspiration from as noted from the mix of her love of both new and old

generations of photography and both digital and print magazines. Her ability to embrace the two worlds is a testimony to the challenges she sees in fashion. When asked what the biggest challenges the industry faces are, Corbelli answered, “to be open all the time.” For her, this means that she is constantly meeting and working with different people and different ideas, pushing her desire to learn more and more. Simply stated in her own words, “I think the creative process is never-ending and never stops,” is a belief that she clearly lives by and has been the northstar to her fearlessly pursuing her authentic initiatives. Corbelli has an ease when it comes to building relationships that goes a long way. As a stylist, her clients and her are trusting in one-another, allowing room for Corbelli’s creativity to be centered around her client’s needs. The organic process she follows when it comes to both styling and creating visuals comes from her professional principle of respecting who she works with, which builds a foundation for collaboration and results in complete fashion excellence. The basis for her creative process is to tell a story. She begins with mood boarding, typically alongside a photographer, then goes off to conduct her own runway research and pulls it all together with masterful ease and creativity. She navigates with an eye looking for an essence of beauty that she can portray to tell her stories through pictures. Telling stories is a theme that emerges in conversation with Corbelli. Whether it’s her own or others, she is clearly fascinated by the ability to translate both history and future into snapshots portraying it all. We probed her on her dream, a question not easily answered, and she gracefully responded that her dream is a wish to pursue her passion of focusing solely on portrait shoots. “Portraits are my passion, because any face and expression represents a life and a story.” Corbelli’s story is not one to miss and we can’t wait to follow her along as she heads down her path of accomplishments that will lead her to realize this dream of capturing moments of life into personal style. To see more of Corbelli's work visit her website orettacorbelli.com, or follow her @ orettac.

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Meet Nathalie Bernier

Models, actors, musicians, and other major players have been part of Nathalie Bernier's world. Bernier is a life coach based out of Paris, France who began her quest in assisting people when she acted as an agent at Wilhelmina Models, which is one of the world's leading modeling and talent agencies. As she progresses in her career at other prestigious modeling agencies and traveled, she realized her job wasn’t fulfilling anymore, even though she still enjoyed the fashion industry. Bernier was then wondering what she could do to change gears in terms of her career. She then recalled that many people in her life would remind her of how she contributed to changing their lives for the better. With this in mind, she considered becoming a life coach, a role where she provides her models, people in her personal life, among others with an ear and empathy in order to cultivate constructive solutions. We are honored to share some of these solutions with our readers in Berinier's new monthly column:

Ask Nathalie

I N TRO BY: AI DA M. TORO | PHOTO G RAPHY: COU RT ESY O F NATHALIE BERNIER

QUEST ION FROM A REA DER:

At times, I tend to think about things I cannot control while I am working on important things or just doing things for myself. What advice can you give to flip the script and not allow certain thoughts get in the way of your hustle and grind?

Hello! It's human nature in general to be stuck with an ongoing situation that we can not control, in part because unconsciously it takes us back to our failures. If you keep thinking about those issues, it is definitely because there is a small part of you that believes that you can find a solution, therefore you are not able to let go. Events don’t control you, they have nothing to do with you. Let me illustrate with an example that I use often. A woman planned a picnic with all her family during the weekend, the day arrives but it is pouring rain, and right away she gets really upset because it is ruining her plan. She carries this anger all day, preventing her from having a great day. How can we blame the weather? There is nothing we can do about it. The better reaction would have been for her to say, “Ok I can not do anything about it, I have to let go and focus on reorganizing the day at home with the family and being joyful about spending time with her loved ones. We often have a tendency to get caught up on external events, when we should let go. You are not the stress you feel in your personal or professional life. Your focus is your engine, so you have to focus on the good and also the things you can control. LET GO!! Final advice - practice mindfulness, try to close your eyes, meditate, and breathe daily for a few minutes. You will be amazed how it will change your approach to life. Be more in the present, you can do it! Good luck! Reach out to Nathalie at www.nathalie-bernier.com, or email her at nberniermgt@gmail.com

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On the

HOUSE

A MUST-HAVE travel item from THE EDITORS of THE HOUSE OF PEREZ

the OFFTHECLOCK THE PERFECT LOAFER FOR THE FUN-FIRST TRAVELER. The name speaks for itself - the Offtheclock luxury slipper created by Zachary Weiss and Stubbs & Wootton is the perfect statement maker for the girl that just wants to have fun! Presented in collaboration with St. Regis Hotels, this collection pays homage to the elements of travel and hotel living that Weiss loves so much. Stubbs and Wootton's slippers are made-to-order, meticulously hand-crafted in Spain and easy to pair with both your laid back and luxury travel looks. HAVE THESE SLIPPERS IN YOUR TRAVEL BAG IN NO TIME. SHOP WITH EASE BY SCANNING THE CODE WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE.

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the beauty

EDIT

W R I T T E N B Y: F R A N K I E S A N D E R S O N P H OTO G R A P H Y: CO U R T E S Y O F B R A N D S

RESORT SEASON IS HERE and brought with it is some new, fresh ideas. After hibernating for two years thanks to (shall I even speak its name), Covid, we are ready to travel, dine, lounge and look great while we’re doing it! Let’s kick it off with luminous skin from this new number by GUCCI, Éclat De Beauté Effet Lumière ($33). This is a gorgeous gloss that glides on smoothly and can be worn on the eyes, lips and cheeks. Wear it alone or pair it with your usuals to add that saught after sheen for your skin. Second on our skin voyage is bare skin. We’re seeing less foundations and powder adorning our faces. This is something we can all get into to give our skin a little breather. To complete this, lessis- more trend, you’ll want this NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer ($30) in your makeup bag. It just so happens to be the number one concealer in the US. It brightens, corrects, and perfects with rich, creamy, medium-to- full coverage leaving a natural, yet radiant, finish. Next on the trending list is over lined lips. A 90’s inspired look celebs like Jennifer Lopez, Addison Rae, and Megan Thee Stallion are wearing. I love a well defined nude lip and lip color. Try DIOR’s Beige Couture Velvet ($38), a matte veil Pencil in Buff, a warm nude velvet beige-nude lipstick and paired it with Pat McGrath’s Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil in Buff ($28). The secret to a perfect 90’s pout! Hair in 2022 is so fresh and new but also reminiscent of retro trends! We couldn't be more excited to see these refreshing looks. Nineties bobs, crops, bangs, voluminous waves, blowouts and extensions are making a comeback. The 90’s bobs are snipped just above the shoulder and chin, but not stacked. These new school bobs are meant to reflect the famous bob, a la Kourtney Kardashian complete with a clean center part or a bold far part. Here we go again with the flashback to the 90’s, but it was just that good; how could we not bring back the mid-long length with plenty of face framing layers? Think classic long hair, but full and voluminous. If your hair isn’t naturally full don’t worry, extensions from ManeEvent by Frankie Sanderson can add some length to your challenged locks. Finally, we’re admiring an extra long and extra sleek look. Break out that Dyson Flat Iron ($499) girls! Don’t forget to use some Davines Blow Dry Primer ($33), Davines Volumizing Mousse ($31), and spray some Thermal Heat Protectant from Sascha Juan ($35), to protect your hair from the elements while maintaining a chic ironed out look.

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7. 1 . G U C C I É C L AT D E B E AU T É E F F E T LU M I È R E 2. NARS RADIANT CREAMY CONCEALER 3 . D I O R B E I G E C O U T U R E V E LV E T M AT T E P E N C I L 4 . PAT M C G R AT H P E R M A G E L U LT R A LIP PENCIL 5 . DY S O N F L AT I R O N 6 . D AV I N E S B LO W D R Y P R I M E R & D AV I N E S V O LU M I Z I N G M O U S S E 7 . S A S C H A J UA N T H E R M A L H E AT P R OT E C T I O N

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must have

TRAVEL ITEMS SELECTED BY OUR EDITOR AT LARGE W R I T T E N B Y: A I D A M . TO R O P H OTO G R A P H Y C O U R T E S Y O F B R A N D S

FEBRUARY, SIMPLY PUT, IS ONE OF THE COLDEST MONTHS of the year where winter blues knock on the door and take over your whole being. Add on the COVID blues that have been on the radar for the past two years, and we have inadvertently created a “stay at home” vibe. Whether it be to an all inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic, the Phi Phi Islands in Thailand, a ski resort in Park City, Utah, a weekend getaway to Mystic, Connecticut, or wherever you’ve been wanderlusting, we are all understandably seeking a getaway. So, if you are planning on traveling, self-care should still be a priority. Before packing up your luggage or weekender bags, The House of Perez has rounded up a couple of beauty products and other essentials that you won’t regret sparing the extra bag space for your travels. 1. The Apple Cider Detox collection is brought to you by world-renowned hair stylist Frédéric Fekkai which welcomes the return of a fan-favorite ingredient, apple cider vinegar. This collection consists of a newly reimagined threestep clarifying, purifying, and nourishing system created with clean, sustainably sourced ingredients. If you are headed to a destination where you will find yourself jumping into the pool or hot tub, products from the Apple Cider Detox collection will assist with removing any residue in the hair arriving from sand, ocean water, or chlorine. This special line takes away any build up in the hair and will keep it looking shiny and healthy. 2. Adding some glitz and glam to your hair isn't a bad idea, especially when you are on vacation. Get your hair ready for dinner by placing these beautifully crafted Hair Jewels by Nicole Cyrese, a fashion editorial hair stylist. Hair jewels all the way from headbands, clips, barrettes, and more are ethically sourced and sustainable for all hair textures. The designs offered within Cyrese’s brand are all unique, making each hairstyle for every woman memorable, especially on a beautiful dinner while on vacation.

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3. Giving your outfit a pop, whether you’re poolside, dining, or perusing city streets on your travels, is a must. Pattern Village has you covered. Brought to you by New Yorker Aundrea Kudma, a marketing leader and innovator specializing in the creation and launch of global hospitality, travel, and eco fashion brands, Pattern Village provides pieces that’ll have you looking like the next big thing with a side of comfortability during your trip. The opaline green and sapphire colored Water Crush Dressing Gown is ideal for any vacation occasion with functional features such as the plunge neckline with snap button closure and two hidden pockets with invisible zippers. 4. Moisturizing is key all year long; it’s the barrier between your skin and the climate, including cold, dry air that can further dry out skin. Your skin will appreciate an application of Supergoops! Superscreen Daily Moisturizer SPF 40. The product is great to pack in your bag, as it is one of the best moisturizers in the game. This moisturizer hydrates the face, ergo assisting with protection against UVA/UVB rays and pollution; a triple threat! It is made by a first-of-its-kind formula supplying a culmination of intense hydration and SPF 40, while protecting your skin from the everyday hurdles such as: UVA (aging) rays, UVB (burning) rays and more. Not to mention, the moisturizer’s formula is lightweight, bouncy, and looks flawless under your makeup application. 5. When traveling, keeping it to a bare minimum with makeup application is key for relaxation and right on trend. The Nudestix Concealer Pencil is the perfect item to bring on your vacation; the simplicity it provides is ultimate bliss, providing a rapid and easy natural look effect on your face. This soft, matte, creamy like concealer is an all-in-one with the bonus of excellent, long-wearing, blendable coverage for under-eye darkness, blemishes, marks, and spots. The fact that the concealer is considered a “touch-and-go” pencil is the cherry on top. Plus, if you weren’t already sold, the concealer consists of skin-condi-

tioning and moisturizing ingredients such as shea butter and vitamin E. 6; Travel tip: don’t walk barefoot in hotel rooms, no matter how luxurious and clean they are. Teddy Slippers by Cravings, a brand by Chrissy Teigan, are great to pack in your bag. These faux sherpa slippers come in muted pastels and make stepping out of the shower feel like a Four Seasons Spa. Padding around the hotel room brings the everyday luxury to your feet in these soft, plush slippers all with the added benefit of keeping your feet clean. 7. You can never pack enough beauty products for a trip. With this being said, the Girlie Fragrance Roller Ball is a perfect light and easy scent for your trip. Pure notes of Jasmine delicately intersect with sensuality in a fresh concoction of florals and skin-like musk. All you have to do is roll a bit on your skin and voila!

SHOP THE ROUNDUP 1 . F E K K A I A P P L E C I D E R D E TOX C O L L E C T I O N 2. HAIR JEWELS BY NICOLE CYRESE 3 . PAT T E R N V I L L A G E R O B E 4 . S U P E R G O O P ! S U P E R S C R E E N D A I LY MOISTURIZER SPF 40 5. THE NUDESTIX CONCEALER PENCIL 6 . T E D DY S L I P P E R S B Y C R AV I N G S 7. GIRLIE FRAGRANCE ROLLER BALL

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Melissa Wood

Connecting Physical and Mental Well-Being WRITTE N BY: CAROLINE COTTEN | PHOTO GRAPHY BY: SARAH O RBANIC

THE CONCEPT OF WELLNESS has seen an evolution over recent years. The lines are increasingly blurred between health, diet, and fitness. Opinions and advice has become increasingly hard to navigate. A new addition to the mix is the concept of wellness. The wellness concept has managed to develop the idea of living a lifestyle and a mindset, rather than a series of temporary choices, suited towards well-being. Wellness has seeped its way into all aspects of our life going beyond just our physical well-being to include mental well-being, the key to finding true fulfillment in ourselves. Trailblazing this movement of establishing the connection between our mind & bodies is Melissa Wood Tepperberg. Her brand, Melissa Wood Health, developed organically out of dedication to her personal wellness journey. Melissa has undergone a transformation from an insecure model to a defiantly confident influencer in the wellness world. The Melissa Wood Health brand covers everything from meditation, plant-based diet tips, and most importantly online workouts. Her workouts, recognizably coined as the Melissa Wood Method, can be found on her app “Melissa Wood Health”. The workouts are low-impact, time-efficient, and sculpting in all the right spots. What makes her work-

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outs unique is that Melissa puts her own spin on the style of the yoga flows and blends of pilates; the end result is like a meditation for both your mind and body.

Melissa’s content is refreshingly cheerful and a testimony to her faithfully living out her message; choosing to be consistent for yourself is choosing to start thriving in your relationship with your body and soul. So, in the spirit of adopting wellness as a lifestyle, our routines should be flexible and portable for wherever life takes us. Travel doesn’t have to be an exception to feeling your best.

Of course, vacation is a time to relax, but fitting in a 20-minute flow can help keep you feeling centered and rejuvenated without leaving you exhausted for what your day has in store. Seen recently in Miami over the holidays, Melissa highlighted stories of her kids popping in and out of her workouts, managing to capture real-life, and a reminder to enjoy the youthful interruptions. To quote a caption “chaos is where I discover my strength” is the key to accepting that no matter where we are, what we’re doing, or who we’re with, we can always find growth in situations where we may not have full control. The Melissa Wood Method has options ranging from 10, 20, and 30+ minutes, always equipment optional. These are designed for our busy lifestyles with the intent to acknowledge time to slow down and be in tune with our body's physical and mental needs; it all comes down to our daily habits. Prioritize your peace, find your energy, and indulge in your day. So, if you’re taking things on the go, take some notes on Melissa’s lighthearted attitude towards moving your body. Discover your favorite under 20-minute workouts to squeeze in during your busy travels, all of which can be found on her app “Melissa Wood Health”.

Kirk Myers

Bringing Fitness and Philanthropy to the World WRITTE N BY: AIDA M. TO RO | PHOTO GRAPHY BY: NIGEL BARK ER

FITNESS PLAYS A MAJOR ROLE in today’s society thanks to a plethora of celebrities, creatives, and artists taking pride in their overall health and image. Kirk Myers is one of the masterminds behind the cultivation of the fitness, health, and wellness spaces nowadays. Myers is the CEO and Founder of DOGPOUND, the creme-de la creme of fitness facilities where celebrities, models, creatives, and artists train. He’s had the pleasure of training Victoria's Secret Angels, top Wall Street bankers, celebrities such as Hugh Jackman, Ashley Graham, among others. Not to mention, he has traveled around the world hosting fitness pop-ups in locations such as Dubai, Miami, and more. On top of playing a major role in fitness and cultural spaces, DOGPOUND made a recent fashion debut participating in a special sneaker collaboration with Balmain in November of 2021. Myers and I took the time to discuss all things DOGPOUND, his overall mission, projects, and more. Kirk, where are you originally from? If not from NYC, what drove you to come to the Big Apple? I’m originally from Kansas City and moved to New York a little over 10 years ago after recovering from congestive heart failure for the second time. In high school, I

weighed over 300 pounds and when years of an unhealthy lifestyle landed me in the hospital, I knew I had to make a drastic change. In about two years I lost 130 pounds, which led

me to my love of fitness and thus, I became a trainer. What inspired you to delve into the fitness industry and did you always want to be a trainer? For the last 17+ years, my passion to help others achieve their own fitness goals and live a healthier life has been my motivation. I realized if I could help myself, then I could

help others. When I began as a trainer, I wanted to help people. My initial goal was to have ten clients and through fitness, help them change their lives the way I had mine. But I started to realize that many people came in to not only get “fit” but also to talk about their lives and find genuine friendship and support. This led to DOGPOUND – which is not just a gym, but also a community of friends that want to see each other succeed, uplift each other, and help one another grow. As the company grew, we developed the five pillars of our brand - Teamwork, Passion, Authenticity, Positivity and To Giveback – all of which we believe has really led the vision to grow and helps define our purpose. What are some challenges you’ve experienced throughout your journey as a personal trainer? The biggest challenge in recent memory has to be the pandemic. I don’t think anyone will see the last 2.5 years as anything but a challenge, regardless of the industry. We’ve had to roll with things that have come at us like closing the gym for a certain amount of time in 2020 during lockdown. But, as a team, the company was able to work together to not only bring back our business, but bring it back better! We were able to introduce our virtual training which makes me happy because we are able to help people stay in shape, wherever they are! How did you get into training celebrities

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and who was the first celebrity you’ve ever trained and how did you stumble upon this opportunity? While still working out of other gyms, I landed Hugh Jackman as a client. I truly believe that I manifested this and everything else that has happened. By surrounding myself with positivity, the right people and hard work, I was able to change my company into something more than just a gym, but a lifestyle brand. Fabian Baron was key in this move as well, as he was also one of my first clients and we started talking about what it was like to build a brand - he still works with us today to ensure our brand standards are everything they should be. Jasmine Tookes was also an early client, and from there the buzz just grew. When did you first open the doors to DOGPOUND and what inspired you to call your business DOGPOUND? When I first started, our client, Hugh Jackman would bring his dog in with him and it just became the theme of the gym as others would then bring their dogs, so it made sense to call it

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DOGPOUND, and to this day, we usually have one to two dogs in the gym most of the time! Where did you first open your first DOGPOUND location and why this specific city? New York City because this is where most of our clients were originally based. We opened Los Angeles in 2019 as it made the most sense geographically with our client base. Tell me about DOGPOUND collaboration with Balmain. Who approached DOGPOUND for this collaboration? We have been fans of Balmain and Olivier’s work forever. Luckily, we were able to make it happen in a truly organic way. We had a lot of fun launching the collaboration and are so appreciative for the opportunity to work with such a high fashion and credible design house. If you had to do a staycation in the New York area, where would it be? I would probably go to a spa/hotel right in the heart of NYC for a staycation/weekend. I love massages, sauna, manicures, pedicures, meditation, and just getting to relax in a quiet space.

Are there any upcoming collaborations for DOGPOUND? If so, would you be able to give us a sneak peak of what’s in the works? We are always working on new projects and partnerships. Follow our social media for all of our news! Instagram: @dogpound. Indeed, this candid conversation with Myers is one to impact society. Although he continues to gain accomplishments in the fitness and wellness spaces, as well as work with major players in high profile industries, Myers remains kind and serves pieces of his humble pie to continue uplifting society. Want to keep up with Myers and DOGPOUND? Follow him and the gym on Instagram via the following handles: @ kirkmyersfitness and @dogpound.

Cynthia Rowley Traveling Through Fashion and Creativity WR I TT EN BY: AIDA M. TO RO PHOTO GRAPHY BY: NIGEL BARK ER

“When I come to work everyday, it is a highlight for me,” said New York based Fashion Designer, Cynthia Rowley. With New York Fashion Week on the horizon, designers are launching their new collections left and right. Rowley, a designer and trailblazer in the fashion industry, has walked the fashion landscape in her own unique direction. Many of you may have seen Rowley strolling the streets or riding her bike on the picturesque streets of the West Village and TribeCa, with a pop in her outfit, ready to tackle her day at her studio. “Coming to New York was my dream, so I packed a U-Haul and drove here myself after being discovered,” said Rowley. “I started my company and really didn't know anything about fashion…I was really naive at the time.” Rowley is originally from Illinois and the daughter of an artist and science teacher. She was attending the Art Institute of Chicago, so naturally, she thought she’d become a painter; little did she know she’d find herself becoming a famed fashion designer. Painting and sewing were true passions for her during her time at school. Sewing turned out to play a key role to her discovery by a buyer who worked for a major retail store in Chicago. Rowley was on her way to school sporting a jacket she made when the buyer approached her and asked her to stop by the office due to her interest in viewing her collection. “I didn’t have a collection and didn’t

even know what a collection was, so I sewed five things over the weekend and brought them into her office,” she said. “She asked me about one of the pieces and thought it was cute.” Rowley detailed that the buyer ordered pieces of the collection, noting that they

“As a team, we started really just doing what was right for the brand as well as for our audience, and that was creating optimistic and colorful pieces that made people happy, which was an important pivot for us as a brand to not listen to trends” sold immediately in the department store. Nowadays, her experiences with selling her collections are similar to her first ever sale. Rowley considers fashion design and business as common sense and the same basic process in a most rudimentary form. “What’s hard about fashion is staying original, relevant, excited, curious, and working really hard for a really long time,” she said. Rowley has developed her name into a leading global lifestyle brand, created

successfully on the philosophy where fashion should be an adventure. The brand has always been known for launching the season's best dresses for every occasion, ready to wear items, accessories, and home decor. Most recently, surf and snow collections have been incorporated. The intersection between the dresses, ready to wear pieces, surf, and snow collections, is where the originality of the brand arrives from, Rowley comments. Sustainability also plays a key role in Rowley’s brand production process by paying close attention to not over producing, selling out, and reproducing, since small amounts of product are created. During the pandemic, the brand didn’t experience much of a hardship, as the team adapted by doubling down on direct consumer business, truncating delivery times, and producing smaller quantities of product. She created desire within the limit. “People know that if you want something, it may not be there tomorrow because stuff sells out fast,” she said. “As a team, we started really just doing what was right for the brand as well as for our audience, and that was creating optimistic and colorful pieces that made people happy, which was an important pivot for us as a brand to not listen to trends.” Even though a variety of Rowley’s pieces are on trend, she believes having a successful brand is based on listening to

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the audience rather than being distracted by industry influences. With activities such as skiing and surfing being in high demand, Rowley’s collections for both activities have been a hit. The surf collection was recognized as the pioneer of “surf-leisure” by Vogue, as the brand's signature wetsuits and neoprene swimwear are manufactured utilizing recycled materials and green technology for a softer and more sustainable environmental impact. Surfing has been an activity near and dear to Rowley’s heart as she recognized the activity changed her life in a plethora of ways, from conquering her fears, savoring mother nature, meditating and more; She even launched surf camps four years ago as a passion project. “It’s scary as hell, but very fun for me,” she said about surfing. “I like to be a little scared rather than complacent with things.” Rowley began surfing in Montauk, New York and recently surfed at the American Dream Mall in Rutherford, New Jersey alongside her daughters and professional big wave surfer and extreme waterman Garrett ‘GMAC’ McNamara. Most importantly, surfing has provided Rowley with the gift of more family time. “I wanted to introduce women to surfing because it changed my life and I wanted people to experience that joy without having to be a shredder,” expressed Rowley. “I encourage people to go out there and have fun and anyone can do it.” Family time has taken a priority in her life, evident in the fact that Rowley now hosts a podcast with her daughter Kit Keenan titled “Ageless”. The podcast explores conversations surrounding fashion, business,

wellness, and motherhood through the lens of the duo’s adventures around the world. “It’s really fun and it started with Kit and I just sharing ideas and talking,” said Rowley. “I love podcasts because I consider them great multitasking friends to have because it feels like you have somebody there with you.”

For the upcoming fashion week, Rowley decided to hold off until March due to COVID, however, the brand has something great planned. Rowley mentioned she and her team continue to work on products as they are closer to the season. Therefore, the brand drops items once or twice a week, luring us all in with the tease as something to look forward to. “This time we are showing some things that’ll be the next thing people are talking about,” she said, “Things will ship from March to June and will only try to work three months out because that gives us the

ability to really listen, learn as we go, and see what is working and reimagine it.” As for recent projects, she recently partnered with the W Aspen, a high end ski-in ski out hotel, located at the base of the world-renowned Aspen Mountain. The boutique has been open to the public since December and will run until the end of April. The partnership transpired after the release of Rowley’s skiwear collaboration with activewear brand, ROXY/ QUIKSILVER, which was worn by Olympic snowboarding gold medalist, Chloe Kim, for the photoshoot. “I always felt that Aspen was a perfect market for my ‘prettymeets-sporty’ brand, and with the launch of ski wear it was a no-brainer,” said Rowley. “My recent trip was amazing and filled with excitement and the store crafts an atmosphere that communicates the brand’s versatility.” Rowley looks forward to creating and being original every single day with an authenticity that she has maintained and is an inspiration to all. For her, it is an ultimate gift to be able to cultivate ideas and make them a reality. To keep up with Rowley, her upcoming collections, and more, follow her on Instagram over @cynthiarowley. You can also listen to her podcast “Ageless” on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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The Omni Homestead Resort

Hot Springs, Virginia

Shop the look D R E S S L E F T: C A R A C A R A FA I R Y TA L E MUSHROOM IVORY DRESS D R E S S R I G H T: E R D E M PAT M O S F LO R A L TIERED MIDI DRESS H AT: E U G E N I A K I M - VA L E N T I N A W I D E B R I M S T R AW S U N H AT

W R I T T E N BY: C O N N O R D U S Z Y N S K I P H OTO G R A P H Y: C O U R T E S Y O F B R A N D S A N D R E S O R T S

AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE arrival of springtime, we’re certain that just like us, you and your loved ones have already begun (or completed) planning your spring break vacations, weekend getaways, and road trips for the upcoming spring season. Perhaps we’re getting ahead of ourselves

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given the recent snowstorms that have swept the Mid-Atlantic, but our Fashion Director Connor Duszynski thinks Jason Wu’s recent Look #16 from his Resort 2022 collection is a perfect ensemble to recreate for the springtime at The Omni Homestead Resort. Providing its guests with world-class accommodations since 1892, the resort has welcomed twenty-three presidents since its establishment, boasts over two-thou-

sand acres of idyllic Virginia landscape, and features a world-renowned spa that utilizes the same local mineral waters that Thomas Jefferson first experienced in 1818. Considering The Omni’s picturesque location and integration into the unparalleled local landscape, Jason Wu’s dreamy, vibrant, and flowing garment in Look #16 is a perfect fit for warmer weather.

The Greenbrier White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia

Shop the look TOT E : L E AT H E R O LO G Y B E L M O N T TOT E J A C K E T: T H E O R Y C L A I R E N E J A C K E T S A N D A L S : M A R G AU X W R A P S A N D A L

The Greenbrier is a destination that truly needs no introduction. A favorite not only amongst regional travelers, The Greenbrier, also known as “America’s Resort,” has been pampering its guests since 1778. Similarly to The Omni Homestead Resort, The Greenbrier’s roots can be traced back to the local White Sulphur Spring, which drew travelers near and far for its restorative healing properties nestled within the Allegheny Mountain Range. Also housing countless American

presidents, U.S. diplomats, world leaders, and celebrity guests, the resort even boasts an emergency bunker and relocation center for American members of Congress in the event of war, which was used for over thirty years before its declassification in 1992. While The Greenbrier’s history in and of itself is impressive, the resort is also home to the championship-level Greenbrier Course, redesigned by golf legend Jack Nicklaus, as well as The Casino Club at The Greenbrier, and

countless other notable accommodations. A destination as timeless as The Greenbrier calls for resort wear that is equally inspired. Reminiscent of an updated and contemporary ensemble that the likes of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onnasis might wear, Max Mara’s Look #6 from the recent Resort 2022 collection is a match made in heaven, whether you’re exploring the resort’s historic halls or looking to be seen in the lobby.

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Salamander Resort & Spa

Middleburg, Virginia

Shop the look B A G : PAT R I Z I A P E P E F LY B A G H AT: R A G & B O N E K A C Y F E D O R A S K I R T: M Y T H E R E S A Z I N N I A C OT TO N M I D I S K I R T S H O E : TO R Y B U R C H G E O R G I A S A N D A L

Elevating the equestrian lifestyle in the heart of Virginia’s Hunt Country, the Salamander Resort & Spa, founded and owned by philanthropist and businesswoman Sheila C. Johnson, balances the line of honoring the community’s equestrian heritage while also providing its guests with contemporary accommodations, an abundance of

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family-friendly activities, and regularly hosts community events on its sprawling property. For a stay at Salamander, a wardrobe that is as comfortable as it is sophisticated is a must. While Valentino’s Resort 2022 collection offered a array of bold choices to recreate for one’s stay at Salamander, Look #56 hits the nail on the head. It’s an ensemble that’s

movable and breathable enough for a stroll around the property, appropriate for a tour of the resort’s impeccable equestrian facilities, but also chic enough for a leisurely lunch at the Gold Cup Wine Bar or at the resort’s Market Salamander in the heart of the town of Middleburg.

The Inn at Little Washington Washington, Virginia

Shop the look PA N T: K E N ZO C R O P P E D T R O U S E R S B LO U S E : AT U B O DY C O U T U R E S H E E R P L E AT E D B LO U S E J A C K E T: LO V E A N D L A B E L S BLAZER S H O E : C O A C H WAV E R LY P U M P

To those who have stayed at The Inn at Little Washington, the historic inn can only be described as perfection. A dream destination for travelers around the country, The Inn at Little Washington is not only known for its world-class service and twenty-three exclusive suites, but perhaps most notably for boasting the longest tenured Forbes 5 Star and AAA Five Diamond restaurant in the

world. Its restaurant is also the first and only 3 Star Michelin restaurant in the D.C.-metropolitan area. For an establishment as impressive as The Inn at Little Washington, you’ll be needing a wardrobe that lives up to the grandeur of the inn. Frankly, while most of Ralph Lauren’s Resort 2022 looks would suffice, Look #1 makes the greatest impact. The bold emerald green Ralph Lauren blazer

paired with the highwaisted, pleated, royal blue pants not only conveniently matches the Inn’s logo, but perfectly embodies the preppy equestrian culture of the region. Perfect for an afternoon stay at The Gamekeeper’s Cottage or lunch at the restaurant, this ensemble is bound to impress.

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Kids Return

A new, nostalgic sound from France WR I TT E N BY: N ATALIE T. ST E GE R P H OTO G RAP H Y BY: ELLA HERM Ë / COPYRIGHT KIDS RETURN

The sounds of Kids Return takes you back into the feelings of the 70’s era and falling in love If you had the pleasure of discovering this Paris-based band of two, you will also quickly find yourself falling in love with their melodic voices and instrumentals, much like the way the world fell in love with the Beatles. Music of this caliber is rarely found, and when you come across it, you can’t help but listen and become a major fan. The thoughtful process and energy behind their music is remarkable, and we expect great things from them as they embark on their musical tour. That is precisely what we did, fall in love with the music. We had the pleasure of interviewing this musical duo and had the opportunity to dig a little deeper to get to know them and learn about their beginnings, inspirations, and dreams. What was your early beginning like and how did it start? We were confined together in April 2020, we played a lot of music together and watched a lot of movies. One day, after watching the movie "Kids Return" by Takeshi Kitano, we had a revelation and we said to ourselves that we had to make a band together with this name. Can you tell us how your friendship and working relationship began? We’ve been friends since we were 13. We have always shared a passion for music. We went together to buy cd's of the beatles, the kinks, the strokes etc. Then we played in the same band, Clement on drums and Adrien on keyboard, to finally decide to leave that band and start our own band Kids Return. The sound of your music is unique, where do the musical influences come from? Thank you! We like a lot of things but if we have to name a few artists we would say Burt Bacharach, The Beach Boys, Ennio Morricone and Air. Can you tell us about your latest songs, and the inspirations behind the few you released so far? Orange Mountains is a piece we composed while lost in a house in the mountains when the trees were losing their leaves and turning orange. We were inspired by the western movies we love, but also by Michel Legrand for the harpsichord descent. Everything is recorded in analog, with a real harpsichord, a quartet of violins etc. If you had to describe your sound or the genre/mood of your music what would it be? Very complicated question! People say it sounds like nostalgic pop.

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Walk us through your creative process when writing music and/or working on an album? We both compose, produce, and arrange. We play everything, but for the recording we took a great drummer, a great bass player and a string quartet! In general, Adrien proposes several melodies and together we decide. The melody is the base of all our songs, if a melody gives us emotion that's the main thing, then we'll make sure to produce and arrange the song as well as possible. The production is very important for us. What are some of the challenges you find as musicians? How do you overcome creative challenges? The day we were offered our first gig, we were not ready at all, we did not expect it. We accepted the challenge and in one week we rehearsed day and night to be able to do it. For example, when we decided to create the group, we didn't really know who would sing. Since the beginning we just try to outdo each other. We believe that it is the passion and the desire to do things that allow us to do this. What is the meaning behind “Kids Return”? Two best friends from childhood whose destiny was to make this adventure together. To create a music that looks like us, a music inspired by emotions linked to childhood. To create a music where we assume a form of naivety and a purity in the emotion. What does your 2022 look like? Anything planned that we should know about? A first album is planned for 2022, many concerts, including a tour in the United States in June. Film music, new videos, live sessions etc. Otherwise we're in Mexico right now working on new songs for a second album! We never stop, but we often change places. Maybe that's the secret. We know you have a concert in March in Paris, any other tour dates? Yes, we play at La Maroquinerie (March 10) and it will be with a backing band. It's going to be magical, we can't wait! Otherwise we play in Germany, in the United States, in Switzerland etc.. New dates in France are coming up too. What city/country would you like to perform in and why? We would love to play in Tokyo, Japan. It is a country where we have never been. The movie « Kids return » is shot there, it's very inspiring. Also, you were invited by YSL/Anthony Vaccarello to Miami in Nov 2021? Tell us more about that and how the invitation was extended. He invited us to this party in Miami on the occasion of Art Basel. He likes our songs and wanted us to do the show. They lent us great clothes! It was really cool, we had a lot of fun, met other great artists. Give us your inspiration behind your videos. We see you use film for some of yours. We think that film brings more magic than digital. To make live sessions we shoot with a film so we have only three chances. It's a sequence shot. Our friend Tara-Jay Bangalter shoots all our videos. For the video of Our Love, we were inspired by the film One + One by Jean- Luc Godard when the Rolling Stones are in the studio. For Melody, we wanted a cozy and friendly atmosphere a bit like Rohmer. And for the video clip of Orange Mountains co-directed with our other friend Luca Lellouche, the inspiration was Stand By Me, we loved playing the actors. The goal was to make it like a small movie. Keep up with Kids Return on Instagram @kidsreturn_

“Two best friends from childhood whose destiny was to make this adventure together. To create a music that looks like us, a music inspired by emotions linked to childhood. To create a music where we assume a form of naivety and a purity in the emotion.” N O RT H A M E R I C A N T O U R D AT E S O P E N I N G AC T S : 01/05/22

DENVER

HI-DIVE

02/06/22

LO S A N G E L E S

THE ECHO

03/06/22

S A N F R A N C I S CO

P O P S C E N E @ R I C K S H AW S TO P

05/06/22

S E AT T L E

T H E C R O C O D I L E S E C O N D S TA G E

06/06/22

VA N CO U V E R

B I LT M O R E C A B A R E T

08/06/22

CHIC AGO

SLEEPING VILLAGE

09/06/22

TO R O N TO

T H E A X I S C LU B

10/06/22

MONTREAL

L A S O C I E T E D E S A R T S T E C H N O LO G I E S ( S AT )

11/06/22

B O S TO N

B R I G H TO N M U S I C H A L L

13/06/22

B R O O K LY N

ELSEWHERE HALL

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Greenleaf New England Brings Sustainable Dining and Culture to the Dining Table W R I T T E N B Y: A I D A M . TO R O P H OTO G R A P H Y C O U R T E S Y O F G R E E N L E A F

BRAVO TOP CHEF CONTESTANT, CHRIS VIAUD, inspires cuisine through the seasons of the year with local ingredients at Greenleaf, including Ansamn, a popup concept surrounding Haitian culture. Locally sourced meals at restaurants are all the rave nowadays, as ingredients of such a calibur are fresher, healthier, and tastier. Plus, utilizing local produce is philanthropic as it allows restaurateurs and chefs to showcase seasonal menus while giving back to the local community. Chef Chris Viaud, a contestant on Bravo’s Top Chef season 18, is inspired by the changing seasons of New England and the local area farms, foragers and fishmongers, as they are fundamental to his restaurant. Greenleaf, located in Milford, New Hampshire, will give you a taste of history prior to a taste of the menu items, as the restaurant lies on the historic Souhegan National Bank, which dates back to 1865. The building was renovated in 1907 by Luther Greenleaf, who the restaurant was named after. The Boston based architect added a variety of elegant renditions to the space, which placed the bank on the map as it became well known across New Hampshire. The bank’s old vaults were converted into private dining spaces for an intimate dining experience. One of the old vaults located in the kitchen is reserved as the pantry. Original blueprints of the bank by Greenleaf himself are mounted on the walls, including an authentic aerial shot of Milford that was once in the bank. The decor is simple and light, but personalized with art created by Viaud’s family members. Most importantly for the restaurant's extravagance are the beautiful tall glass windows providing expansive views as well as high ceilings, giving you a fancy ballroom feel. Now that you’ve walked through history and are sitting down in the elegant space, the time to look over what the ever changing menu has in store for the evening. At times, certain dishes are removed for seasonality… such as the Greenleaf Burger. The burger was once removed from the menu to make room for a new dish, however, due to its popularity, customers insisted it stay on the menu for good. The Greenleaf burger is made from Northeast Family Farms Tenderloin and

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Brookford Farm Pork topped with a housemade bacon jam, cheddar cheese, pickles, dijon aioli, on a housemade seeded brioche bun. Of course, a burger isn’t complete without sides; options include savory hand cut fries or a side salad. Other popular items are: ROASTED CAULIFLOWER The Roasted Cauliflower is a meat free small plate topped with pickled fennel,toasted sunflower Seeds and sage aioli. This small plate is ideal to order prior to your main course; it’s light while managing to reach a rich and nutty flavor thanks to the crisp golden brown edges. ROASTED SALMON The Roasted Salmon is packed with flavor, paired with toasted grains, quinoa, beets, juicy blood oranges, and a charred shallot aioli. A savory and tart taste goes a long way with this dish thanks to the blend of blood oranges and quinoa. The fattiness of the salmon gives the dish a balanced and delectable taste with the bonus of a high nutritional value. HAND CUT TAGLIATELLE The Hand Cut Tagliatelle will make your pasta dreams come true as this dish. Parsnips, arugula pesto, squash, brussel sprouts, and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese add the perfect substance to cover the thick noodles . You can’t go wrong with a pasta dish containing cruciferous vegetables and the iconic pesto sauce we love to slather on pasta dishes. Of course, a nightcap is a must. Each cocktail at Greenleaf is crafted by Beverage Director, Jillian Bernat. When it comes to inspiration she pulls from all sorts of methods and ingredients. The most popular cocktail is the “Pam & Eric”, which isn’t on the current menu, but take note as it will certainly make a comeback. This special cocktail is made up of Hornitos Plata Tequila, Ancho Reyes, housemade roasted pineapple, bourbon vanilla syrup and lemon. This cocktail’s name is derived from a review Bernat read where a guest referred to her as Pam and her coworker Gregg as Eric. In addition to Greenleaf, Viaud is also the proud owner of Ansanm; a weekly pick-up-only meal service run by the chef and his family. At Ansanm, Viaud celebrates his Haitian culture while highlighting French and Caribbean influences in every monthly-changing menu. Beginning next month, Viaud will be relaunching his monthly dinner series titled Ansanm Sunday Dinner, which is a ticketed evening that will take place in Greenleaf and allows the community to come together to enjoy the pop-up’s cuisine alongside Viaud and his family. | www.greenleafmilford.com Instagram: @greenleafmilford

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Blue Steel Pizza Co. A New Jersey Innovative Scratch Kitchen Takes Fort Lauderdale W R I T T E N B Y: A I D A M . TO R O P H OTO G R A P H Y C O U R T E S Y O F B LU E S T E E L P I Z Z A C O.

BLOOMFIELD’S BLUE STEEL PIZZA CO., BRIAN COSTELLO AND LOU NARVAEZ’S hotspot, is bringing its state of the art menu to Fort Lauderdale with a twist. When Brian Costello and Lou Narvaez opened Blue Steel Pizza Co. in Bloomfield, New Jersey in August 2020, it was a win and a culinary escape from the global crisis of Covid-19. In case you haven't visited, this locale offers a vibrant scene, like its Rab•Bit Hole Speakeasy on Instagram, where one feels as though Alice, the Madhatter, Cheshire Cat and friends could be seated right by them for unique cocktails and distinctive menu items. But what many aren’t aware of is the innovation behind all areas of Blue Steel Pizza Co., all the way from the menu to the decor. The restaurant name comes from the term ‘blue steel’, which was steel utilized in general motors back in the day from car companies in Detroit. Coincidentally, pizzerias also used this steel for their pizza pans. Fast forward to 2020, and here we have Blue Steel Pizza Co, a scratch kitchen, cocktail and pizza parlor. The mastermind behind the menu is Executive Chef Lawrence Talis, who opened Blue Steel Pizza Co. with the idea of curating a unique menu featuring an array of items to satisfy all foodies and patrons. Items such as mouthwatering chili lime shrimp, classic meatballs, signature spinach and ricotta dumplings, Detroit-style pizza, ramen made from scratch, and handmade pasta, keep things interesting and make narrowing down an order near impossible. The success of Blue Steel Pizza Co. has caught the attention and palates of many, opening the gate for a second location in Fort Lauderdale, Florida to welcome dining aficionados and foodies alike. To keep things interesting, this new location will differ slightly in terms of food and beverage as well as in general design. Blue Steel Pizza Co. in Fort Lauderdale isn’t giving up all the staples Blue Steel Co. customers know and love from the Bloomfield location, however, there will be a plethora of exclusive dishes offered that will only be available at this location. The cocktail list will also be obscure and tasty. As for the design, Blue Steel Pizza Co. in Fort Lauderdale will not have a Rab•Bit Hole Speakeasy, but will have a similar modern rustic design in addition to a unique variety of pop art by local

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Floridian artists. This second location will replicate the recognizable Rab•Bit Hole’s color scheme and dark contrast of Blue Steel Pizza Co.’s dining rooms in Bloomfield. For a taste of Blue Steel Pizza Co.’s Fort Lauderdale menu, I’ve rounded up my top three must haves that’ll have you booking a flight to Fort Lauderdale in no time: THE RICOTTA & SAUSAGE PIZZA. This is the locale’s signature Blue Steel Detroit-style pizza, which is layered with mozzarella cheese, brick cheese, sausage, vodka sauce, dollops of whipped ricotta, and garnished with a sweet and spicy cherry pepper relish. This pizza hits all the pizza necessities and will no doubt have you going for seconds, or thirds. CRISPY COLA WINGS Wings are always a great idea, especially when paired with a pizza pie. At Blue Steel Pizza Co., the Crispy Coca Cola Wings are the epitome of a sweet deal. These wings are coated with a coca cola bbq sauce, toasted onions, pink peppercorns, and come with a side of pickled celery and gorgonzola dressing. Since Coca-cola contains more carbonation, the wings provide your palate with a unique taste and distinctive crisp. Your first bite will identify the crisp flavor but after leaving the bone bare you’ll notice a sweet ending as your tongue picks up the lasting sugar from the Coca-cola. DUCK RAMEN Even though the weather is at a high warm peak in Fort Lauderdale the majority of the year, a bowl of Blue Steel Pizza Co. 's comforting Duck Ramen is a must order and you’ll enjoy it regardless of the heat. This eclectic ramen bowl is made of roasted chicken broth and spicy miso topped with duck confit, caramelized onion, braised bacon, poached egg, and pickled chiles. The warm spice trickles down the throat when slurping on this specific ramen bowl, however, the tenderness, moistness, and fattiness of the duck is what makes this bowl to die for. You’ll want to pair these items with cocktails when dining here, as . Blue Steel Co. is known for its state of the art cocktail program, which was created by Narvaez. He created an elevated cocktail program reflecting bold and fun takes on classics, alongside brand-new cocktails with elements that are out-of-the ordinary. To refresh yourself in the Floridian heat, Blue Steel Pizza Co. has the beverages to extinguish your thirst. The Drink menu is still in the works for Blue Steel Pizza Co. Fort Lauderdale, so cocktails from the Bloomfield menu such as the Sunset Durango, 12 Daq Commandements, and L’albero L’italia will most likely make an appearance. SUNSET DURANGO Sunset Durango is a refreshing mezcal cocktail containing Campari and fresh pineapple, which is the perfect sweet yet smoky cocktail to have in the heat.

12 DAQ COMMANDMENTS The 12 Daq Commandments is Blue Steel Pizza Co.’S seasonal spin on a Daiquiri and is worth the slurp. It consists of 12 Year Dark Rum, sweet coconut, and fresh lime juice. L’ALBERO L’ITALIA The L’albero L’italia is light and bright and tastes like summer. This cocktail is a spin on the classic aperol spritz ; made with prosecco, sparkling lemonade, and butterfly pea infused aperol, which gives it a beautiful purple and pink hue.

Blue Steel Pizza Co. is set to open the doors to its Fort Lauderdale location the first week of March. If you’re ready to jetset down to Fort Lauderdale for some out of this world grub, cocktails that’ll turn your world upside down, and warm weather, then this special scratch kitchen and cocktail parlor is the place for you. www.bluesteelpizzaftl.com Instagram: @bluesteelpizzaftl www.bluesteelpizzaco.com Instagram: @bluesteelpizzacompany

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Carly

the

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yle:

WR ITT EN BY: AIDA M. TO RO PHOTO GRAPHY: CO URTESY O F THE CARLYLE HOTE L

A magical place for storytelling.

This Upper East Side iconic hotel is the ideal destination for expressing the written word and yourself as a whole. When folks travel to Manhattan, the majority enjoy staying in Midtown, as it is closer to landmarks such as Time Square, Rockefeller Center, Central Park, among others. As a person who was always fond of the hospitality industry and its offerings, I love a good Manhattan staycation. I live right across the Manhattan skyline in Hudson County, New Jersey, which is why I define city hotel stays as staycations. With this in mind, The Carlyle hotel is the ideal place to staycation for those that are local to the Big Apple…even better, the ideal place to stay for those who are visiting. Many who travel nowadays are either writers, photographers, fashion designers, or a creative of some sort, since many have a special story to tell. As a person who has been writing for more than

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half her life, The Carlyle hotel is the place I’d stay at. Many may know the hotel to be a place where the sparkle of elegance and loyalty has been built up over decades, in addition to it being the destination for getting Met Gala ready for celebrities such as Rihanna, Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Priyanka Chopra, among others. Although The Carlyle is recognizably glamorous and iconic, the 35-story hotel received its name in honor of British essayist Thomas Carlyle, whose major works include The French Revolution, 3 vol and more. The hotel was designed by Bien & Prince and was completed in 1930, which was considered to have a design in a”diversified setback style”, according to a newspaper of the era. When walking in, kind doormen will open the door for you into an alluring lobby with yellow furniture, chandeliers hanging from the high ceilings, along with paintings created by Austrian-American writer and illustrator, Ludwig Bemelmans, who is best known for the Madeline picture books. Once you hop on the vintage looking elevator and head up to a suite, you’ll feel like Holly Golightly or Truman Capote, the writer who brought Golightly to life. The Carlyle provides private terraces for certain guest rooms and suites, where one can sit out and absorb the city’s fresh air. Overall, there are 189 rooms; 155 of thethe rooms and suites were recently designed by New York-based, award-winning design practice tonychi studio. When entering The Carlyle’s newly refreshed guest rooms, you’ll be inspired by the beauty and charm of the Big Apple’s pre-war era, the Upper East Side, and the fashionable society who have set foot and graced the halls of this classy hotel residence. Depending on the floor you’re on, have expansive views of the whole city. The Carlyle is the epitome of archetypal New York City apartment living meets contemporary living, as high end fixtures and furnishings, black-and-white lacquered panelings, illustrated wallpapers of quaint silhouettes from Central Park - reverberations of Bemelmans and Vertès - and mindful curations of artwork, books, and other decor are present, which all define a creative, homelike, and residential look along with the worthiness of the hotel. Not to mention, fine art deco inspirations are also all around, which pay a tribute to The Carlyle’s original designer, Dorothy Draper. The hotel is also a cooperative building with 32 owned residences where shareholders have access to a plethora of hotel amenities, in addition to daily housekeeping. Of course, The Carlyle includes dining locales such as the newly opened Dowling’s, the enigmatic Bemelmans Bar, the classic Café Carlyle providing a characteristic cabaret experience, and The Gallery which is considered to be The Carlyle’s “living room”. Lastly, the hotel houses The Yves Durif Salon on the third floor and recently debuted The Valmont Spa this past fall. For a productive vacation, staycation, or creative retreat, The Carlyle is the place to be. All creative ideas for your story will come to fruition - just mindfully ask Ludwig Bemelman and Thomas Carlyle. https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/the-carlyle-new-york Instagram: @rosewoodthecarlyle

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A taste of Dowling's at the Carlyle

Before getting to the tasty part, let me introduce Downling’s, The Carlyle Hotel’s famed restaurant. Dowling’s at The Carlyle is named after Robert Whittle Dowling, the former owner of the hotel and a prominent urban planner known for his fervent efforts to revitalize Manhattan decades ago. In the 1940’s, Dowling acquired the hotel and converted it into the place it is today as well as placing it on

the restaurant. The menu is brought to your palate by Executive Chef Sylvain Delpique, formerly of 21 Club. Delpique curated a menu showcasing his own twist on contemporary staples of iconic New York favorites, while at the same time including throwback dishes from other eras. In the menu, you’ll find mouthwatering American and European-style cuisine items with the sophistication of tableside preparations. If attending for breakfast, you can order items such as a Truffle Eggs Benedict or Brioche French Toast, a variety of salads, a Fontina and Heritage Bacon Sandwich, and a Roasted Eggplant with Romanesco Cauliflower for lunch. As I attended the dinner service, my options were endless and my decision was difficult. The dinner service menu contained items such as tasty East Beach Blonde oysters with a ginger-sake mignonette, Tuna Tartare with whipped crème fraiche and sauce gribiche, the immortal Wedge salad with blue cheese, among other items. With Wojciechowski being the Captain for dinner, candid and entertaining conversations occurred with him while he explained every detail of items on the menu. Wojciechowski has been working at The Carlyle since the 1980’s and is one to charm every patron with his knowledge on all things food and beverage and most importantly, his hospitality.

the map as a fashionable destination for celebrities, politicians, royalty and tastemakers. When walking into the newly opened Dowling’s at The Carlyle, you’ll first enter an art deco style space containing red banquette booths, where one can sit and enjoy a cocktail prior to getting seated for dinner. After sipping the cocktail, you’ll enter a main dining room where you’ll be surrounded by an eclectic culmination of artwork punctuating the walls, delectable dishes, and most importantly, great service by longtime Restaurant Captain Charles Wojciechowski. The intimate 80-seat dining room space was designed by Creative Director William Paley of New York-based interior design firm tonychi studio, bringing the glamor and glitz of the 1930’s and 40’s eras to

Prior to ordering, Wojciechowski brought warm buttery Brioche bread and a side of butter to the table, which I ate while sipping on a freshly made hot latte. Since it was still restaurant week, I decided to order the three course menu, which had items that didn’t disappoint. It was cold out, so I was craving a bowl of soup to start. Therefore, I ordered a warm and creamy Lobster Bisque, which contained lumps of savory lobster. For my main course, I ordered a mouthwatering Steak Diane dish, which consists of the steak being flambéed with Remy Martin Cognac by Wojciechowski right in front of your very eyes. The steak comes with a side of whipped mashed potatoes where one can feel the butter and potatoes melting in the mouth. Of course, this menu came with a dessert. I went with the Creme Brulee,

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because you can’t go wrong with the creamy, pudding-like, baked custard. As mentioned, Dowling’s at The Carlyle is open for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner with Brunch services provided on Saturdays and Sundays. When coming by any time of the day at Dowling’s, make sure you ask for Wojciechowski.

A Nightcap at Bemelmans

You may have seen the beautifully painted murals of characters from the classic children’s books, Madeline, written by Ludwig Bemelman on the walls at a bar …that bar is Bemelmans Bar. Bemelmans is located right inside The Carlyle hotel and is a quintessiantial cocktail bar in Manhattan and such an iconic establishment that even Carrie Bradshaw, known to attend all the hotspots, took her assistant for cocktails in the first Sex and the City movie to Bemelmans Bar.

The bar opened its doors to patrons in 1947 and has been nothing but a major deal. Literally across from Dowling’s, one has the luxury to walk into Bemelmans Bar and witness a jam packed space due to the allure of the impeccable mixology program, tasty bites, and vibe it has to offer. Some of Manhattan’s best jazz pianists have gained the privilege to play the piano at the establishment, which continues to feature live music every single day by prominent performers such as Emmy Award winning composer Earl Rose, Rob Mosci, Loston Harris, David Budway, Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch. All musicians have made the rapport by playing classics from the Great American Songbook, however, patrons may hear songs from more contemporary artists too. Even though Bemelmans Bar was restored in 2002 by renowned

designer Thierry Despont, the bar kept its Art Deco aesthetic, captured by the chocolate-brown leather banquettes, nickel-trimmed black glass table tops, a dramatic black granite bar, and a beautiful 24-karat gold leaf-covered ceiling. At Bemelmans Bar, the world is truly your oyster, as one has a wide range of choices to choose from on the drink menu. Drinks such as specialty cocktails, martinis, wines, champagnes, classics, and more are available to enjoy for a nightcap. Of course, you can pair drinks with shared plates like a refreshing Octopus Carpaccio, juicy Prime Aged Beef Sliders, a crispy Croque Monsieur, among others. For my nightcap, I followed Carrie’s footsteps and had a Cosmopolitan, my favorite cocktail of all time. The Cosmopolitan was refreshing, strong, and delicately, whipped up to satisfy one’s cocktail craving. Bemelmans is open Monday to Saturday from 12pm to 1:30am and Sunday from 12pm to midnight. Patrons can savor classic cocktails while jamming to vivacious music, in addition to live solo performances by any of the performers above every Tuesday through Saturday from 5:30pm to 8:30pm, as well as a jazz trio every Tuesday through Thursday from 9:30 pm to 12:30 am, Friday and Saturday evenings from 9:30pm to 1:00am, and Sundays from 9:00am to midnight.

www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/the-carlyle-new-york/dining/dowlings-at-the-carlyle Instagram: @dowlingsatthecarlyle www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/the-carlyle-new-york/dining/bemelmans-bar Instagram: @bemelmansbar

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a look at the

Tampa

EDITION W R I T T E N B Y: C A R O L I N E COT T E N P H OTO G R A P H Y C O U R T E S Y O F TA M PA E D I T I O N

The pandemic has put quite a damper on traveling internationally and the unpredictability along with the logistics still forthcoming means many of us are finding it easiest to stay in the comfort of our cities and stick to domestic travel. However, splurging for some vitamin D is increasingly enticing in these cold winter months. While Miami is often the first to mind if you’re looking for a stateside beach get-away, Tampa has quickly captured a share of the Florida spotlight. The city has seen a flurry of economic growth in the last few years and is increasingly popular for young professionals looking for vivacious culture, an active lifestyle, and affordability. The gulf side beaches deserve their notable recognition. The restaurant scene is admirable and has a vibrant nightlife to accompany it. A well-curated trip to Tampa will certainly satisfy the desire for a luxurious vacation. With all this said, it’s no surprise that the EDITION hotels chose Tampa as the destination for their fifth U.S property. Slated for a Spring 2022 opening, the hotel will bring a vision of infusing luxury into lifestyle within every aspect of the check-in/check-out stays to Tampa’s first five-star property. EDITION properties are strategically placed in up-and-coming cities, purposely bringing their clients to an environment that reflects the brand’s values of immersion into exciting, forward thinking, yet sophisticated locations. Behind the concept of the EDITION hotels is the renowned Ian Schrager, who made a name for himself as a co-creator of New York’s famous Studio 54 in 1977; a fact that instills credibility into his ability to create a lavish scene. He is the mastermind behind bringing the concept of “boutique hotels” to life and his entrepreneurial spirit has carried him into his latest concept of hotels as a “luxury lifestyle brand”. The EDITION hotels have a signature modern and minimalistic look, but exude a welcoming atmosphere in their attention to providing personalized service. Details of elegant finishes and outdoor spaces bring the hotel to life. The 172 room hotel will offer a restaurant, rooftop bar, and terrace to enjoy the warm Florida air. An upscale spa, fitness center, and several event spaces will complete the building. The EDITION hotels are also known for their Michelin star dining; Tampa will uphold this expectation with Michelin starred and award-winning restaurateur, Chef John Fraser, overseeing the property’s dining experiences. The anticipation for this Spring’s grand opening is

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certainly appreciated. The Tampa EDITION will be located in the newly developed Water Street Tampa neighborhood situated just outside of downtown Tampa. Water Street Tampa is comprised of several restaurants, retail shops, hotels, and office spaces. The 56-acre public space has taken an innovative approach to a sustainable community; a revolution to community living that Tampa is on the pioneering cusp for. The neighborhood has boasting rights to being “The World's First WELL Precertified Neighborhood”, meaning they have created an urban community that holds to standards of positively impacting the health and well-being of individuals. This is evident in the green spaces, waterside walking paths, and more. The historic Water Street has been expanded to promote active recreation and broaden the connectivity across the city. The city of Tampa spreads far beyond the comfort of the EDITION hotel and the futuristic neighborhood. If you’re looking to venture out for a cocktail there are quite a few hotspots. Hotel Bar, situated at the heart of downtown Tampa, offers a menu of cocktails inspired by international hotels and a bright interior to match the cheer. In the mood for more ambiance? Ciro’s, a speakeasy-inspired cocktail bar located in the coveted historic Bayshore Royal Building, has you covered with a menu ranging from “alluring elixirs” to “classic favorites”. Tampa has also grown a culinary name for itself with many restaurants influenced by a blend of Tampa's prominent cultures. YBOR city, a historic yet lively neighborhood, is well known for its Cuban flavors. Newly opened, Flora Fina, has been receiving a lot of buzz in the area featuring dishes that effortlessly blend Latin, Mediterranean, and Gulf Coast flavors. Rome and Fig, located in North Hyde Park, is aesthetically pleasing with an open layout and coastal decor and a menu pulling from global cuisine that will satisfy all taste buds. While a booming restaurant and bar scene is enticing on its own, Tampa is also known for its stunning gulf coast beaches. The peaceful water and stretches of white sand are reminiscent of some of the most sought out tropical paradises. Spending an afternoon at Clearwater Beach may have you feeling as though you’ve jet-setted off to the Caribbeans; a dream come true after the last few years of restricted travel. Take note, a romantic sunset after a sun-kissed day is the perfect way to spend the early evening. Of course, these are only a few highlights of the city and a glimpse at what a weekend away could look like, but a reminder that luxury get-aways can be curated stateside. A little sunshine while sipping a margarita on the beach is just what the doctor ordered to temporarily forget those Covid-19 blues. Pack your bags and head to the sunshine state with Tampa on your mind!

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A look at Sheridan, Wyoming - a local's perspective. WR I TT E N BY: N ATALIE T. ST E GE R & J ENNIFE R ST RIE GEL P H OTO G RA P H Y: C OU RT E SY SHE RIDAN COU NTY T RAVEL AND TO URISM

MOUNTAI There’s always a reason, a specific season, or a special lifetime in everyone’s existence. Sheridan, Wyoming is the destination where people can have a taste of all three. Upon your arrival in Sheridan, you will feel like you’ve always belonged. This town is en route and central to many tourist destinations like Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, among other must-see historic or recreation-

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al sites in neighboring states. Whether you came because you were invited by someone or came across it by chance, you will always want to come back once you visit this cool cowboy town. Many ask: What and where is Sheridan? Sheridan is a city and county in northern Wyoming at the base of the Bighorn Mountains - the mountain range that connects to

the Rocky Mountains, which flows alongside Goose Creek. Founded in 1882 by John Loucks, according to the Wyoming Historical Society, he sat on a hill above Goose Creek and envisioned a town laid out in the valley below him. Loucks went to his cabin and sketched out the town site, giving it the name “Sheridan”, in honor of the Union general he had served under.”

IN TOWN The community grew from the reliable economic prosperity of the Mountain West - building a railroad, coal mining, providing opportunities for agriculture, then eventually tourism. Nowadays, Sheridan consists of a diversified economy set apart from the typical archetype of Wyoming communities, as it has expanded to innovators and creators seeking to maintain the community’s rich

history while embracing modern times and what the iconic mountain west can bring to new ideas and experiences, whether it is a destination to call home or a visit for adventure. All the while, the town neighbor’s cornerstones of America’s service in protecting our lands, such as Bighorn National Forest, which spans 1.1 million acres. Sheridan has something for everyone

throughout all seasons, not just because of the ever changing weather, but the yearly seasons provide an annual community celebration to commemorate a sign of the year’s time.

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Sheridan’s Seasonal Round Up IN WINTER Skiing or snowboarding at Antelope Butte: Skiing or snowboarding at Antelope Butte: Antelope Butte is a pretty small ski resort with just three ski lifts. It boasts 305 meters (1001 feet) of vertical descent and has over 250 acres of terrain over 19 trails with a total length of 5 kilometers (3 miles). It is a great way to avoid crowds where you can have a fun day skiing or shredding. There is terrain for all levels, all the way from beginners, advanced skiers, to snowboarders. Don’t care to ski? Then try some cross country skiing on the trails. Annual Skijoring America Competition Downtown Sheridan: Skijoring is an action packed winter competition where a horse and rider pull a skier at a fast pace through a course that includes gates, jumps, and rings. You can experience it in Downtown Sheridan, so be sure to bring your camera and get some great snaps of this Norwegian sport that found its way to America. Winter Stroll Downtown Christmas: Winter Stroll Downtown Christmas : Grab a cup of hot cocoa and peruse, while Downtown Streets are closed and shops are open. This is a fun opportunity for locals and visitors alike, where they can stroll downtown and shop to support small businesses. The best activity for some family fun is catching a ride in the horse drawn carriage. The stroll is a great way to start the holiday season!

gaining popularity and are here to stay. Once you try fat biking, you’re hooked. Fat bike riders can ride their bikes on Sheridan’s and Big Horn’s snow-pack trails. Eaton Annual Horse Drive: Eaton’s Guest Ranch is the oldest dude ranch in the nation open during the summer months for visitors who come nearly every year for the best of old western charm and seeking a bit of peace with some of the most breathtaking surroundings. Beyond just the ranch, one of our top annual events is Eatons’ Horse Drive. Each year they bring the horses and cowboys through the heart of Historic Downtown Sheridan. This event is one of the most picture worthy moments and a must experience, as you will witness a large herd of these majestic horses running through town and heading home to Eatons.

IN SPRING Spring is a unique season in Sheridan as you still feel the winter’s presence while the bloom is in the air. Snowmobiling in the Big Horns: Snowmobiling in the Winters feel long, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t fun. With this in mind, one can snowmobile through April, depending on how much snow comes. The Bighorn Mountains have been continuously rated in Snowest Magazine’s “Top 15 Places to Snowmobile” and were featured in a Boondock Nation episode in 2019. The Big Horn’s have over 318 miles of snowmobile trails in the National Forest and 250” of snowfall annually. These factors make it easy to see why you could really experience the Bighorn backcountry. We’ve chosen a few of our favorite and most scenic trails and spots to check out that you can ride in the Bighorns; Bear Lodge Resort, Elk View Inn, or Arrowhead Lodge. Fat Biking: Biking doesn't stop when the snow falls in Wyoming. The tires get a little bigger and temps when temperatures are a bit colder. Fat bikes are pretty new to many, however, they are

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IN SUMMER Polo: Relive that Pretty Woman moment stomping divots with spectacular Mountain Views. One can pack a tailgate or picnic and head to the base of the Bighorns to catch a game. Sheridan and Big Horn have been hosting chukkers since the 1890s, and are known to be one of the oldest active clubs in the United States. The tradition brings The Big Horn Polo Club and the Flying H Polo Club, where polo is played throughout the entire summer with some of the best polo players in all of America. Sheridan WYO Rodeo Week: Since 1931, the Sheridan WYO Rodeo is the event of the year and one of most anticipated by locals and visitors alike. WYO Rodeo brings in visitors and competitors from around the United States and the world. Many of the top cowboys and cowgirls head to the Sheridan WYO Rodeo from all over

the world to compete in four action packed rodeo performances. It is the true taste of the best out west from bucking broncs to bull riding, rodeo clowns and the hugely popular World Championship Indian Relay Races- a must experience to witness. The festivities run throughout rodeo week, starting with a Boot Kick-Off, pancake breakfast, bed races, parade, Pow Wows, carnival, street dances among other events. Concluding Labor Day Weekend: With Don King Days in its 34th Year— Don King Days are considered to be the grand finale of equestrian events in Sheridan/Big Horn area. Annually held Labor Day weekend, this grand celebration features championship steer roping, old style bronc riding, and polo. There is no arena nor fences, so it can be full of action as well as a unique experience. Followed by late night music and celebration. Don King Days symbolizes the true spirit and traditions of the west, much more open like rodeos of the past. In 1989, a group of ranchers, ropers and friends of Don King organized the event and named it in his honor. The King family name

is still known as the world-renowned saddle makers, Kings Saddlery. It is a time to celebrate the western way of living as well as Don King, who con tributed so much to the western culture and the community.

IN FALL Fishing: fun all year round. Fall brings its own unique rewarding experience. The autumn months on reservoirs or mountain streams, as water temperatures drop, trout become more active near the shorelines and shallower areas. Sometimes it’s pretty nice to just sit with a pole in hand and enjoy nature. A few spots to check out are: Park Reservoir, Tongue River or Sibley Lake. Also, be sure to head over to the Fly Shop of the Big Horn for tips, equipment and some of the best fly fishing guides in the region. Watch changing leaves in Tongue River CanyonAmazing trail: The views are incredible along the river, and if you hike in late September, the color changes the leaves and plants experience are stunning. Photos would not do this experience justice. The trail doesn’t have a specific end per se, but it leads you to a meadow with the most breathtaking views of the surrounding hills. Be sure to pack snacks, plenty of water, and camera in tow!

Koltiska Pumpkin Patch: Fall in Sheridan is never complete without a visit to the Koltiska Pumpkin Patch. The patch usually opens to the public the second week in September until the second week of October. It is a family fun event and also features animals to view and feed, picture areas along with snacks, drinks and some of the best pumpkins to celebrate the arrival of Autumn. Honorable Mentions: Check out these other activities Sheridan has to offer: Farmer’s Market, Celebrate the Arts ,Concerts in the Park, Tubing, Born in a Barn, Hiking Big Horns Trail System, Stay and Visit the Ranch at Ucross, where you can even plan a trail ride ATV/4-Wheeling on the trails, Camping in the Big Horn National Forest, Brinton Museum - Native American Art, Western Art along with the best mountain viewWYO Rodeo week, First Peoples’ Pow Wow, Trout Fishing with Rock Creek Anglers, from sun up on a bar stool to watch them rise, through to no closing time with poker and chatter at Rod & Gun Shop. Looking to finally savor western culture or do a photo shoot for your family or business? Fall arrives in the most beautiful way, as walking and hiking trails beneath the Bighorn Mountain range transition from red to white. The red arrives from bright red rock and the white from the snow. The range’s name was authored by Lewis and Clark, during their exploration of the Bighorn River, who fell for the bighorn sheep that occupied the space. Then, there’s the year round notables, such as Andi’s Bakery, where you can sip a spicy Turmeric Latte with a shot of espresso, visit the world famous King’s Saddlery shop and the Don King Museum on historic Main Street. You can then drive down the road on an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and visit Tom Balding Bits & Spurs. Sheridan is a community full of grit, ingenuity, heritage and true cowboy spirit. Beyond long standing businesses and old standards Sheridan has, growth has been expansive in spheres such as the culinary, fashion, among other departments. Below, you can find some of our classic favorites and new establishments in Sheridan: Birch, Market Hall, Mydland Market, Mint Bar, Silver Spur Cafe, Jackalope Mercantile Ranch, Java Moon, Sheridan Bicycle Company, and Kid Curious. How to get to Sheridan? Via Hwy 90, north, south, east or west. Additionally, by air. Sheridan’s commercial airport, operating since 1931, has flights daily through Denver. Nature, check. Wildlife, check. Sporting, check. Socializing, check. Cowboys, check. Culinary, check. Creativity, check. Interested in a reason for the season to last a lifetime? With a rich history referenced in film and an unwavering abiding by The Code of the West, we’d love to host you. | sheridanwyoming.org

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Australian painter, Ella Dunn portrays the heart of storytelling in her new collection, Deeper Water WRI TT EN BY: KAC EY PERE Z P H OTOG RA P H Y: C OU RT E SY OF SAINT CLOCHE ART GA LLERY

Hi Ella, we are glad to meet you and congratulations on your current show. We’ve read you are an emerging artist, how long have you been painting? I have been creating art for as long as I can remember, it has always been a way for me to make sense of my experiences and the world around me. I originally began my undergraduate in the drawing and printmaking department which gave me a strong appreciation for form, simplicity and immediacy as well as an understanding of the technical side of printmaking like etchings and lithographs. A regular component of the course was a life drawing class, this disciplined approach involved switching between drawing long and short poses. This taught me to see shape, form and line in a different way so the presence of the model could be felt in the drawing. In my first year of art school a housemate’s friend gave me an old wooden suitcase filled

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with half used oil paints, so I did a painting and fell in love with it as it offered a more malleable medium. So I’ve been painting ever since, I guess that’s coming close to ten years. What ultimately made you decide to study art? I have always been creating so it felt like a natural direction for me to go in. I am very aware of my privilege to be able to study art for four years and I understand that not many people get the opportunity or choice to do that. I am also very lucky to have had very supportive parents who always encouraged me on my artistic journey. From a young age they both made me aware of the significance the role of arts have in society. I grew up having this appreciation for artists and viewed it as a career option. What inspired you to develop a collection surrounding bodies of water? I grew up on a property that was ten minutes from the sea on the mid north coast of NSW. It was very much a part of my childhood and my teenage years. The sea has been a constant and a comfort throughout my life. Most summers I make the long drive up the east coast to my parents place. Here days are marked by swims in the ocean and in the estuary. Images and themes of water followed me home to inner city Melbourne and I began seeing the parallels between water and my life. Seeing water as a symbol of change, rebirth and the passing of time. The last couple of years I’ve noticed a shift in directions for both me and my friends. I’ve seen friends move away, new life come into the world, passing of loved ones and people finding themselves heading in a new direction. How Important is storytelling to you as a painter? Storytelling is at the heart of my art practice. I see the everyday as being embedded with endless stories. Whether it be peculiar, humorous moments that you catch between the people around you or stories set within domestic scenes that take on a particular feeling. My paintings are very much inspired by my lived experience and what happens when you manipulate memories with the medium of paint. We enjoy this collection - it has a certain care-free feeling to some of the pieces. How do you evoke certain feelings and emotions into your paintings? There is a fine line between wanting the painting to have a sense of its own agency and also holding a certain feeling or memory that I was intending on capturing. To evoke certain feelings and emotions is to not overwork a painting and to find out what is at the heart of the story or the experience. For example my painting ‘Floating down the estuary’ in my recent exhibition at Saint Cloche, I began painting over an old work, blocking in spaces of blue and sketching figures with charcoal. I chose not to paint over certain areas of the old painting so that there was a sense of transparency and fluidity like water. I was always going to continue painting but I decided to stop and let it rest in my studio for a few weeks then looking at it after some time I knew it was finished as it captured the soft slow feeling of floating down an estuary. When you put yourself into your “creative place”, what does that look like for you? What’s your process, what is the space like, how long does it take? My studio is in my shed in the backyard. I share this space with my partner who builds my frames. As soon as I walk into the shed I have entered a creative space, where my attention is given to a different way of thinking. A type of thinking that is a combination of

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“It amazes me how creatives can speak of challenging complex ideas, push boundaries, speak of the human condition time and time again in creative different ways. Art can be like magic, it can be irrational and can take you out of your comfort zone or fixed ways of thinking and I love that about it.”

daydreaming and critical thinking. There is a lot of time spent sitting in my chair thinking, drawing quick sketches, writing down thoughts, creating mind maps and words that come to mind. My studio starts off organised and when I get stuck into a new body of work it often gets quite chaotic, with paintings, photographs, drawings and words all around me like a bower birds nest. Drawings are a vital part of my practice, they are created from my day to day or where my thoughts have taken me, often from a recent experience or feeling I’ve had. They can range from quick loose sketches or to longer detailed drawings. These drawings help to build the scaffolding behind my paintings and the essence of what my body of work will be about. Whilst the drawing process goes on, I will always have a few paintings on the go. I like to bounce around from painting to painting as I find I often get ideas from one work that may help me to see another in a different light. The duration of a painting of mine varies drastically from being painted in a few minutes to being painted over many times and can take a year or more to complete. What has been the most challenging part about being an artist today? The challenge of balancing my time between paid work and my art practice. I feel like I am getting better at disciplining myself to be strict with my art days and turning down other plans and people in order for my painting to come first. For me one of the most challenging things has been learning to be selfish in order for the art practice to take precedence. What are your greatest sources of inspiration? Other than my day to day experiences with people and the natural world the arts in general are a huge inspiration including other artists, literature, theatre and music. It amazes me how creatives can speak of challenging complex ideas, push boundaries, speak of the human condition time and time again in creative different ways. Art can be like magic, it can be irrational and can take you out of your comfort zone or fixed ways of thinking and I love that about art. What are you most proud of thus far? I am proud that I have continued to prioritise my painting practice in my life. I am proud to have been invited to present my first solo exhibition in Sydney at the beginning of this year. Its always great to get my art seen by the public and to share with a wider audience, seeing other people have a response to my art inspires me and gives an additional motivation to my time in the studio. I like the fact that when my work is shown it is able to take on a new story as the viewers derive different meanings and interpretations. Where do you like to travel most, and do you find that travel inspires your work? I am a bit biased but I love to travel around parts of Australia. I find I am drawn and inspired by the diverse landscape that this country offers. This country has a long Indigenous history that stretches back over 65,000 years, long before white colonisation, their rich culture is very much present everywhere you go. So I definitely feel lucky to be able to be in this country and see places that were and are important for the traditional custodians of this land. I have done a lot of road tripping around Australia, the beauty is it allows for chance encounters with strangers, seeing the landscape change as you drive in different directions and be brought out of your usual day to day routine. Travel I believe allows for a heightened sense

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of awareness and you start to notice and observe minute aspects around you which can be very inspiring for creating ar1. Can you leave us with one of your favourite travel memories? One of my favourite travel memories is going to the Venice Art Biennale in 2015. It was organised as an optional field trip during my study at VCA. We stayed in a convent in a residential area a long walk away from the main Biennale. I would wake early to the sound of the nuns' hymns, walk

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the empty streets, grab a coffee at the same local café and watch the simple act of people rising and getting ready for the day. Whilst Venice is a visually captivating city with it’s beautiful old architecture and history I found myself drawn to the small moments of everyday life I encountered with the people that lived there. Follow Ella Dunn @ellardunn. Visit her website: www.ellarosedunn.com

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S WA N I N F O U N TA I N O I L O N C A N VA S

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CALIFORNIA DREAMING Model and actress Jessica Michel gracefully shows off her skills on set in Los Angeles. Dress KYHA STUDIOS. Hat GLADYS TAMEZ MILLINERY. Shoes LE SILLA. Bag LAURUS OFFICIAL. Makeup MAC COSMETICS.

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GOING THE DISTANCE WITH

Jessica

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Today, the accessibility of being a creative is on a spectrum never seen before: ranging from actors, models, painters, writers, photographers and more. Why? Simply because their everyday life experiences, surroundings, and travels inspire them to create and polish their crafts with little inhibition. Actress and model Jessica Michel, is an avid traveler who gathers her wanderlusting along with life experiences to cultivate her path day after day. Michel is a mother, was a contestant on cycle 14 of America’s Next Top Model (ANTM), and starred on Amazon’s featured film with Ludacris, “The Ride”. Michel took the time to answer questions about her life, career, and future projects, where the model and actress provides us with an exclusive snapshot of her persona. Jessica, tell us about yourself. Where are you originally from, what did you do prior to what you do now, and more. I grew up in the South between Texas and Arkansas. I was homeschooled and the oldest of four siblings. Prior to getting into the entertainment business, I was a CEO of sorts. A real entrepreneur. When I was nine, I tried to dig my way to China until I got about a foot deep into the dirt and realized this was going to require a bit too much effort. I figured I’d put my time and energy elsewhere. The businesswoman in me decided to sift through my sister's belongings

in preparation to sell a thing or ten on the side of the road to make a few extra coins in my pocket. She wasn’t too happy about this. Luckily, no one stopped off at my side of the road sales. It was at this point that I realized I needed to move into the lemonade business, where I made a living on a golf course and everything was quite profitable. I resigned from my position as CEO of the Green Acres lemonade stand and started taking pretty pictures… professionally. The rest is history and here we are. How did you get into modeling and what do you love about it? I started modeling around 14 for the only company that shot in Arkansas, Dillards. When I turned 18, I auditioned for America’s Next Top Model and that’s when I moved to Los Angeles.

Tell us about your experience on America’s Next Top Model. I couldn’t have been on a more fun reality show! Having 14 girls in a house was chaotic, but I lived for the competition and it was easy for me to lighten up any mood when tensions rose. Tyra was fun and easy to connect with behind the scenes. You have also started acting. What do

you like about acting and how did you get into acting? I started writing short scripts for the neighborhood kids to perform when I was 12. I always had a passion for it and that was the real reason I moved to Los Angeles. It just took me a while to get centered and focused because there were so many damn cute boys in the town. What can you say has been your favorite acting project thus far and why? I loved being on the set of The Ride. We were a bunch of kids playing at the skate park everyday. Chris Bridges was great to work with, and getting to know him outside of Ludacris. Shane Graham took dedication to another level. We rarely saw him at dinners after the set. He was always extremely focused. I learned a thing or two from him. The whole cast and crew were on another level of fun. Tell us about motherhood. How do you balance being a mother and a model, and how do you encourage models who want to have children to continue in the field? My son is now 13, which makes all the difference in the world. It’s finally getting easy! He is with me full time, but he’s a very independent child. Great kid. I’m like, I DID THAT. He never complains when I have to fly and shoot somewhere. Thankfully, my sister lives close by and is a tremendous hand when I’m gone. But hats off to all mothers out there raising children. Even if you have a partner who helps, it’s hard to balance your time and not feel selfish for wanting well deserved “me time”. This is a full time job in itself. You are their physical and emotional support system. It’s always a learning experience. But I will say I’ve now gotten to the point where things are coming easier. IT DOES GET EASIER PEOPLE. What are some challenges you’ve faced in life and in your career and how did you tackle them? Having a child while I was still a child was not exactly a walk in the park. Having no money sure didn’t help. Battling with his father in the public eye was horrible. It was my biggest nightmare and brought on many years of anxiety and a panic attack or even

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“Humans are delicate and our psyche isn't trained for that level of public speculation and ridicule. The media lies and it's damaging to not only one's reputation, but their psychological being. Fighting in silence and coming out on top through love was my greatest challenge ever tackled.” 62

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10. I never spoke nasty about my son's father during the time he had our son. I didn’t feel it was honorable or progressive. I took the brunt of what he said to the media, but the truth always comes out in the end. God blessed me and I finally won my son full time. Doing this with the media covering our personal life was something I never expected, and you can’t prepare a person for it. This is why so many celebrities lose themselves, take pills, shave their head, and go crazy! Humans are delicate and our psyche isn’t trained for that level of public speculation and ridicule. The media lies and it’s damaging to not only one's reputation, but their psychological being. Fighting in silence and coming out on top through love was my greatest challenge ever tackled. I see you are quite the traveler. What do you love about travel and what is your favorite destination thus far and why? You’ll never understand people fully if you don’t experience other cultures. It expands your perspective. It helps open your mind. You realize that there isn’t one way to live life. You can’t imagine how different life is in another place until you see for yourself. By being exposed to new places, people, and other cultures,

you’ll develop a wider world view. That will make you a better-rounded global citizen. I have traveled enough for many lifetimes, however, enough is never really enough. Any upcoming projects? If so, would you be able to provide us with some details? I am going to start writing my first book at the end of March, with the intention to turn it into a TV series. This will be my most precious work to date…my baby. It’s safe to say, Michel will continue to offer invaluable positivity through her work. Keep a lookout for more updates on Michel, her upcoming book, and more by following her on Instagram @jessicamichel.

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MORE Jetsetting with Crypto WR I TT E N BY: AI DA M. TORO I MAG E S: C OU RT E STY OF MORE MANAGEM E NT

Cryptocurrencies are the talk of the planet. For those of you who don’t know, a cryptocurrency (crypto), is a method of payment that can flow without requiring central monetary authority such as a government or bank. These methods of payments are cultivated by utilizing cryptographic techniques which authorize consumers to buy, sell or trade them safely. Crypto can be swapped for goods and services, although for a majority of the time they are treated as an investment vehicle.. Nowadays, crypto spans a range of categories, such as: DeFi, NFT, utility tokens, value tokens such as bitcoin and litecoin, among others. Importantly,investing in crypto can be beneficial for travelers, mentioned Peter Klamka, Founder and CEO of MORE Management LLC. Klamka, who launched MORE in 2016 in New York City, operated bitcoin ATMs in the five boroughs alongside his business partner. The duo converted a Chinese restaurant on 34th Street in Manhattan, which hosted one of their bitcoin machines, into an unofficial crypto nightclub on weekends. Admission for the party entailed purchasing a bitcoin. These weekend parties were a grand success, so Klamka decided to find a new home for MORE. In 2017, MORE Las Vegas opened its doors, followed by a location in Hollywood in 2018 and the list goes on. Klamka, along with many others, considered 2020 a research year due to the global pandemic. By late 2020, MORE was making inquiries with agents, brands, and various other celebrities. I took the time to speak with Klamka further on how MORE provides an exclusive travel experience for members through crypto. Where do most of your travelers arrive from for MORE events? Owners come mostly from the East Coast. Have had members from Asia, Europe and Australia. What can travelers experience at the events? Events vary. Sometimes we do pop ups at crypto conventions. Usually with a celebrity or special guest and members get some meet and greet time, photos, or some amazing seats like in the DJ booth or backstage. Do you plan to expand to other locations? If so, which ones? We have relationships in Miami and also expect to resume operations in New York at some point…hopefully by the summer. We also have a partnership with a club in London.

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What are your thoughts on crypto’s future? Crypto rewards and payments as well as other contactless solutions are here to stay as we move into the post pandemic world. What is your goal for traveling with MORE? Travel is part of the services for our crypto lifestyle members. We speak crypto. No one needs to explain it and it is in our DNA. Other venues might say they "accept bitcoin" but have no idea how it really works or what to do with it. Our expertise is in seamlessly blending real world hospitality with the emerging crypto community.

What are some of your upcoming packages for members who are traveling? We have Super Bowl packages available for members in Feb. We often arrange travel for our crypto members. Sometimes due to our relationships we are able to offer special pricing and/or events and experiences. To look into membership options at MORE, visit: https://www. morebrand.co/store and follow the Instagram account over @more_ coin for a snapshot of the crypto experiences offered, especially if you are planning to travel. THEHOUSEOFPEREZ.COM

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last look 2.

TRAVEL WELL Whether you're traveling abroad or enjoying a staycation, this curation makes it easy to stay fabulous at home or after you land.

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1. CYNTHIA ROWLEY DINNER NAPKIN

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6 . D I N N E R PA R T Y I I PA I N T I N G B Y LU C Y S H E R S TO N

3 . H A N D B LO W N D R I N K I N G G L A S S B Y T H E G L A S S S T U D I O

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On the

HOUSE

A staycation favorite FROM THE EDITORS of THE HOUSE OF PEREZ

the COOLER BAG BE COOL AT YOUR NEXT STAYCATION WITH THIS L/UNIFORM COOLER BAG. If you're more about staying close to home but want to bring all the right vibes to your next staycation, then opt for the small cooler bag made by L/UNIFORM. Simple designs and made with utility in mind, it's the only cooler bag you will ever need for your favorite cans of wine, spritzers and shooters. Also, these bags are made in France - bring a little bit of that dreamy country into your staycation planning. HAVE THIS COOLER IN YOUR TRAVEL BAG IN NO TIME. SHOP WITH EASE BY SCANNING THE CODE WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE. ->

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final notes FROM THE HOUSE WRITTEN BY: JENNIFER STRIEGEL IMAGES FROM: RCA ARCHIVES AND BRANDS

AFTER HOURS, THE WEEKND. WEEKENDS. What are weekends nowadays? Time to travel, time to start work? Time to continue in the work of not working? For many of us, not just artists, yet artists certainly, weekdays and the weekend blur. We are beholden to when the work needs to be done, whether on a weekday or a weekend. And often our work, Eight Days a Week, The Beatles, takes us outside of where we reside. We travel to the work, for the work, because of the work, why we work. And when we travel we need a carrier with us to carry all of our essentials. Or at least we define these inclusions as essential when we are preparing to go to where we need to be next. What size does our satchel need to be? Determined not just by what we put in it, but how we are going to get to where we need to go.

Long time passed, packing was into a trunk. Of all sizes dependent upon how long the journey. Referred to as a travel chest or a steamer trunk. Today, some trains and planes don’t even provide allowances for every traveler to have a satchel larger than what can reside on their lap. This issue we shared with you places to go, things to wear, stuff to splurge on, how to adorn ourselves. What is a bag of essentials when comprised of what we read? In this instance about going places? We tried it to find out :). And yes, we definitely need to bring back those trunks. Listen to music while you pack. Leaving, on a Jet Plane. John Denver. Pick up a childhood book to walk down memory lane of the time passed. Oh The Place You’ll Go. Dr, Suess. Share with us your journey of packing to travel. We always love to hear from you.

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