August 2012
Double-take
Estrada brothers make fashion waves In the key of life
Tony Award winner Ted Sperling
Those lips, that strut‌ Must be Mick
TV’s money man Adam Johnson Virginity as a good thing? Tom Beebe makes you wanna look Swinging on Kiawah Island
we love
MICHELE
August 2012
Men we love, WHO ARE: Charismatic, see Adam Johnson, page 20 Naughty, see Mick Jagger, page 22 Versatile, see Ted Sperling, page 26 Joyful, see Marc Happel, page 29 Pioneering, see Asa Jackson, page 34 Flexible, see Tom Beebe, page 36 Passionate, see Roberto Dutesco, page 39 Puckish, see the Estrada twins, page 41 Crafty, see Jeff deJong, page 50 Searching, see Matisyahu, page 62 Philanthropic, see Malcolm Pray, page 68 gutsy, see Ryan Fibiger, page 70 Creative, see François Kwaku-Dongo, page 72
Just two days after Brian Jones’ mysterious death in July 1969, Mick, wearing his “party dress,” performed with the other surviving Stones at a free Hyde Park memorial concert that drew a crowd of more than 250,000. Image courtesy of Gallery Books.
Greenwich hospital has earned the top Grade in patient s fety At Greenwich Hospital, we established a goal of having the safest hospital possible. And we’ve been working toward that goal diligently and fastidiously. So when the Leapfrog Group surveyed over 2,600 hospitals nationally, they recognized us with an “A”— the top rating for safety—we felt elated. This score is recognition that the culture of safety we have established is working as intended. Of course, we never get complacent; this is an on-going effort. We have more than 130 employee “safety champions” who continuously promote state of the art safety and hygiene, and we have a leadership team that conducts weekly visits to evaluate current procedures and design further innovation.
For more information about the Greenwich Hospital Safety Score, visit www.greenwichhospital.org/news
Greenwich_A Rating AD_8.437x11.125.indd 1
7/18/12 10:21 AM
August 2012
Features 45 way
Living the good life.
52 whims
Les nouvelles.
54 wear
Accessories make the man.
56 wear Man up!
60 wear
More than 50 shades of gray.
64 wagging
Male or female? The art of picking a pet.
65 wanders Turf and surf.
68 wheels
Vehicle to motivate.
71 wine&dine
Real men drink Rosé.
75 well
When the cure is worse than the disease.
76 well
Guys are getting Botox and more.
77 worthy
Where to find menswear.
78 when&where Upcoming events.
79 wit
We wonder (of men): What’s the one thing a woman ought to know about a man?
80 wit
We wonder (of women): Who are the men you love (historical or otherwise)?
81 watch
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When I was 4 years old, I fell in love with Perry Como. There was something about his smooth crooning, the soothing, kindly way he came into your home each week via the tube and his devotion to faith and family that made the singer irresistible. Being too young to grasp my ardor fully, I did the only thing I could do: I named my toy cash register Perry. Como was the first in a long line of PBs – Pretend Boyfriends – whom I’m sure would be horrified to know of my admiration. Indeed, our beloved Waggers can attest that many of my PBs have found their way onto the Wall of Inspiration that is the backdrop to my computer, my thinking and my writing. They range from the dead but still vital, like the Greco-Macedonian conqueror Alexander, to the very much alive, like Peruvian tenor and bel canto specialist Juan Diego Flórez. This past season, my friend Barbara Nachman, the fashion-mystery novelist, and I had the pleasure of hearing his Nemorino in The Metropolitan Opera’s “L’Elisir d’Amore,” a role that has rich associations with tenors ranging from Caruso to Pavarotti. To hear Juan Diego sing the aria “Una furtiva lagrima” was to understand the meaning of the expression “You could hear a pin drop.” After, the hushed audience burst into such a sustained ovation that he repeated the aria. And the audience would’ve wished him to do so again, but ever the gentleman, Juan Diego indicated that the leading lady, the great coloratura soprano Diana Damrau, was graciously waiting for her cue. This will, however, always remain for me a magical moment. What is it about men, and why do we love them so? Part of it is that they are for us – as we women are no doubt for them – an uncharted country, an often rugged, ripped uncharted country. Nature has ordained the male to be the prettier of almost every species. We have a little fun with that in this issue, wondering what it would be like if men, and not women, were the primary sex symbols in our culture. (Don’t hold your breath waiting for that to happen anytime soon.) Part of the fascination is that of the traditionally powerless for the powerful. Throughout history, men have held the cards of freedom and control. And yet, that very position has often hemmed them in and forced them to give up an idiosyncratic expressivity that no woman would relinquish, as you’ll see in our essay on male virginity. At times boxed and brutalized, men
have not always been compassionate toward women. And yet, we retain compassion for them, perhaps never more so than in the economically recessed present, when they seemed to have momentarily lost their way as leaders and breadwinners. Still, they’ve had the confident courage of their convictions. In these pages, you’ll meet many of the men we love, guys like hedge-funder turned Bloomberg anchorman Adam Johnson, financial consultant turned specialty butcher Ryan Fibiger, car dealer turned philanthropist Malcolm Pray, male virgin Chad David (32 years and counting), New York City Ballet costumer Marc Happel, Joseph Abboud’s righthand man Tom Beebe, African foodie turned Greenwich chef (by way of Wolfgang Puck) François Kwaku-Dongo. They’re all unique, of course. But what they have in common is a willingness to imagine a better self and to be catalysts of that change for civilization’s sake. It’s not that we women haven’t had great accomplishments. But we haven’t always been big risk-takers. (And let’s face it, society hasn’t let us.) This kind of brass is something we ladies can learn from men – just as we know there is plenty they can learn from us.
OOPS
In our July issue, we went for the gold with our cover profile of swimming legend Donna de Varona, but we get no medal for misidentifying track and field great Edwin Moses, seen with her on page 46. Boy, talk about missing a hurdle. Our apologies to both stars.
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An Asian Indian peacock.
“Peace Fountain” by Greg Wyatt, The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in Manhattan.
I
n the deliciously provocative “Male Trouble,” art historian Abigail Solomon-Godeau takes us back to a time when men were the primary sex symbols in visual culture – heroic, revolutionary turn-of-the-19th century Paris. Since Solomon-Godeau’s book was published 15 years ago, it has been fashionable in certain art historical circles to suggest that men had always been the sex stars in art until the rise of bourgeois domesticity in the mid-19th century, when they were eclipsed by women, who’ve played the roles ever since. Tantalizing, but perhaps not. Certainly, anyone who’s ever visited a major museum can make a case for the celebration of both the male and female nude in every period. But revisiting Solomon-Godeau’s work does raise an intriguing question for our time: What if men were the primary sex symbols in our culture? Would it make a difference? Nature surely intended it thus. Consider Asian Indian peacocks. When they display, either to attract females or ward off male rivals, they reveal a fanning plumage of such blue-green iridescence that it has inspired everything from representations of St. Michael to erotic Indian literature. And what of peahens, the female counterparts? Well, they’re kind of brown and/or gray. They do display to serve notice to other females or protect their young. Still, we’re not talking Technicolor here. So it is with species after species. Lassie, the beloved Rough Collie of the big and small screens, was always played by a male, beginning with Pal in the 1943 tear-
By Georgette Gouveia jerker “Lassie Come Home,” because males have thicker, shinier coats that are more photogenic than those of females, who are nonetheless reportedly easier to train. (See Wagging in this issue.) Yep, the guys are just prettier in every species – except one. But that’s because we have evolved beyond what nature intended. Or have we? Testosterone may have given men remote control-itis but it has also endowed them with long, curling eyelashes, beautiful legs and muscles that beg for chiaroscuro. I remember once asking Greg Wyatt – the Grand View-on-Hudson-born sculptor-in-residence at The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in Manhattan – which was more interesting to sculpt, the male or the female body. Without hesitation, he said the male body. “More points of entry,” he added, by which he meant a skeletal and muscular structure that allowed for greater contours, contrasts and challenges as opposed to the female body’s pleasing but simpler curves. Even rendered in two dimensions, men tend to be more dramatic-looking, thanks to hirsuteness and large, lush features. From an art historical viewpoint, men just make better objects. But there’s the rub: When you objectify something or someone, you rob the object of its power and take it for yourself. Men long ago learned to play that game. Whether they put women on pedestals or in Playboy, it’s still the same game, one in which men derive the social benefits of beauty and sex appeal without necessarily having to put in the hard work and risk the vulnerability that
would come with being beautiful and sexy themselves – male stripper-turned movie star-turned male movie stripper Channing Tatum notwithstanding. (See the countless society photos of short, unattractive power-brokers with their tall, beautiful or sexy wives/girlfriends.) So the question remains: Would society be better off if men were the primary sex symbols? It would certainly take some of the pressure off women and put it squarely on men. There would be less anti-aging this and dieting that. And fashion would probably become less detailoriented, because, let’s face it, men are just not as into fine-tuning as we women are. None of this would matter, of course, unless women also achieved – at long last – financial, legal and political parity with men. But even if there were true equality between the sexes, it’s doubtful that women will ever cede their roles as objects of desire, for just as men turned objectification into a power game, women have learned to play the game to their advantage. Not many years ago, I was ordering lunch in a cafeteria where one of the workers handed me free chocolate-chip cookies for no other reason than he found me physically appealing. I’m a proud feminist who came of age in the 1970s at Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers where I took part in one of the first women’s studies programs in this country. I took the cookies. And so we’ll remain locked in our beauty-power game. Because we all want the cookies. n 13
Dr. Michael A. Werner and Bat Sheva Marcus, the medical and clinical directors respectively of The Medical Center for Female Sexuality in Purchase.
Limp libido? Tune it up! Photograph and story by Georgette Gouveia
C
heck out any of the men’s magazines and you’ll see that in addition to ads for watches and cars, they’re filled with articles on how to pleasure a woman. Similarly, women’s magazines regularly take up the issue of how to please a man. Which leads us to wonder: Since when do men’s and women’s bodies require user manuals? One answer may lie in their sexual fragility. About 43 percent of women say they are dissatisfied with their sex lives at some point, while 30 percent of men suffer from premature ejaculation. And that’s just for starters. For those experiencing sexual dysfunction, there’s no need for embarrassment or despair. Help is available to men and women at The Andropause Center and The Medical Center for Female Sexuality respectively, under the medical direction of Dr. Michael A. Werner in Purchase. “The most important message is that whatever the sexual problem, we can start tackling it,” says Werner, a urologist whose practice is limited to male infertility, sexual dysfunction, microsurgery and no-scalpel, no-needle vasectomy. Werner – who has additional offices and laboratories in Norwalk, Manhattan and Clifton, N.J. – also reviews the charts of the female patients. They are treated by the professional staff of The Medical Center for Female Sexuality, led by clinical director Bat Sheva Marcus, who holds master’s degrees in social work and public health and a
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Ph.D. in human sexuality. For all the complexity of human sexuality and all the modernity of Werner’s practice – it’s also home to the 15-year-old M.A.Z.E. Laboratories, providing state-ofthe-art semen analysis, sperm processing, sperm banking and cord blood banking – what’s most striking about the Purchase office is its homeyness. The wood furnishings are complemented by stained-glass lamps, maps of New York state, National Geographics and globes. Mosaic paintings, paperweights, botanical prints and neoclassical cameos fill the spaces. “Dr. Werner loves buying art,” Marcus says, nodding to two small vibrant canvases that he just acquired for her office. The effect is both unexpected and relaxing. Adding to the welcoming atmosphere is Marcus herself, a warm, sympathetic woman in flowing floral silks and a complementary crocheted magenta bolero. Noting that her name is derived from the biblical bathing beauty, Bathsheba, who had an adulterous affair with King David before becoming his wife (and the mother of King Solomon), Marcus says “that’s probably appropriate,” given the nature of her work. Such humor must go a long way in easing the anxiety of patients who seek out the office for everything from painful intercourse to infertility. One of the most compelling problems engulfing couples is low libido, which often has underlying physical factors, including hormonal imbalance, age and stress. Marcus and her team work with women suffering from low desire to address the issues and assure them that they
haven’t done anything wrong. At the same time, she says, “I try to explain to women what it would feel like if their husbands didn’t want to have sex with them. They’d feel that they were not desirable. It would be incredibly painful.” Indeed, Werner says it’s worse if a man has low libido, because of the norm and cultural expectations that men are simply hotter to trot. “(The woman) feels so rejected,” he says. Men with low libido may have to be put on testosterone, Werner says. But testosterone introduced into the body shuts down sperm production, so an alternative treatment may have to be used. It is a delicate physical balance. But also a delicate psychological one as well, wrapped up in male and female ambivalence toward their own bodies and a misreading of sexual desire. Men need to understand, Marcus says, that for women, “so much that happens sexually doesn’t just happen when (the couple) jumps into bed. Wooing a woman happens hours before.” Women, on the other hand, must also realize that for men sex isn’t just physical either. “Men want to have sex with their partners not to get off,” Marcus says. “They could just masturbate. They want to have sex, because that’s how they connect. Men are doers. That’s how they connect emotionally.” For more, visit WernerMD.com, AndropauseSpecialist.com and CenterForFemaleSexuality.com. n
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Virgin territory Male purity touches a nerve By Georgette Gouveia
“Siegfried” by Arthur Rackham.
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Tim Tebow had no sooner set a sneakered toe in New York than the media reported that Virgin Atlantic Airways would give the Jets’ backup quarterback a free ride from the Big Apple to London for as long as he keeps his V-Card intact. And by V-Card, they weren’t referring to Valentine’s Day. Tebow’s much-vaunted virginity has been public knowledge since he was asked about it during his University of Florida days. But there’s no doubt that his arrival on a larger stage has put the devout Christian’s chastity in a bizarre limelight. Tight end Rob Gronkowski of the archrival New England Patriots has said he would do Tebow “just to take his virginity” – although given that this was a response to a vulgar parlor game and that Gronk seems to be a few floors short of an observation deck, it’s hard to take such a wholesome proposal seriously. Speaking of crass, cheaters’ website Ashley Madison is offering $1 million to any woman who can prove Tebow is not a virgin. Even other virgins are getting into the
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act. Olympic hurdler and self-proclaimed virgin Lolo Jones has made her romantic interest in the Teebster clear, prompting some of the Jets to chant “Lolo, Lolo” in the locker room or try to pair up the two, while comedian Louis C.K. suggests they make a sex tape. Clearly, male virginity touches a nerve in a way that female virginity doesn’t.
An unmarried woman
It’s no surprise. In ancient times and in many non-Western cultures today, female virginity has been prized, even required, in large part because you could not always correctly answer the question, “Who’s your daddy?” But you always knew who your mama was. So it was essential that mama was pure before marriage and faithful after it. Even in the age of DNA testing, men still have not lost the atavistic fear of supposedly insatiable female sexuality and thus, the desire to control it. And so we’ve had a parade of ancient virgin goddesses like Athena, Artemis and Hestia, who gave way to the Virgin Mary and a host
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of female saints like Catherine of Alexandria and Maria Goretti, who gave up their lives rather than their integrity and who in turn yielded to the quivering ingénues and spinsters of ’50s dramas and modern-day romances, waiting to have their symbolic chastity belts unlocked by the misunderstood bad boys they would tame in return. What are “Twilight” and “Fifty Shades of Grey,” with their plucky virginal heroines and their damaged James Deans and brutal Brandos, but variations on this theme? Although writers may not know their Greek mythology as well as they think they do. In all those tales celebrating the “virgin” goddesses, the word “parthenos” simply means “an unmarried woman.” Today, women still cannot do too much loosening of their chaste treasures, to borrow from the Bard, lest the Rush Limbaughs start hurling the s-word at them. No such strictures apply to men. Given their anatomy and status since prehistoric times, they’re expected to be out there on the hunt. Unless a man has made a religious commitment – as is the case with Tebow and the Rev. Chad David (see related story) – virginity doesn’t apply and indeed might call his masculinity into question. Perhaps that’s why artists and writers have struggled for centuries to depict a Jesus – the central figure in Western culture – who is both virile and chaste (a
combo that has made Tebow catnip to so many women).
Waiting on love
Apart from traditional interpretations of Jesus – and certain allegorical ones, like The Unicorn Tapestries at The Cloisters, The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s medieval branch in northern Manhattan – there are few works celebrating male virginity. One that does is the Arthurian legend of Sir Galahad. Conceived out of wedlock through subterfuge by Elaine of Corbenic, this son of the adulterous Lancelot nonetheless is the one who at last attains the Holy Grail, said to have held the blood of Jesus. Why is Galahad alone of all the Knights of the Round Table, including fellow seekers Perceval (Parsifal) and Bors, given this honor? In his poem “Sir Galahad,” Alfred Lord Tennyson offers the answer: “My good blade carves the casques of men, My tough lance thrusteth sure, My strength is as the strength of ten, Because my heart is pure.” But such purity is not made for this world. In drinking from the cup, Galahad beholds a vision that leads his soul and the cup to ascend to Heaven. The more likely male virgin scenario involves the hero’s loss of innocence in a coming of age story, as in the movies
“The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and “Summer of ’42” or Richard Wagner’s “The Ring” cycle. There Siegfried goes down, down, down into the burning ring of fire – thank you, Johnny Cash – to rescue the maiden warrior goddess Brunnhilde and awaken them both to love. “Loss of virginity is a significantly differ-
Even in the age of DNA testing, men still have not lost the atavistic fear of supposedly insatiable female sexuality and thus, the desire to control it. And so we’ve had a parade of ancient virgin goddesses like Athena, Artemis and Hestia... ent psychological experience for a woman than a man,” the Jungian psychiatrist Jean Shinoda Bolen writes in “Ring of Power.” “It is an initiatory experience that happens in her and that leaves her vulnerable. For many women, it is also an emotionally bonding act that in-
“Sir Galahad” by George Frederick Watts.
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creases their vulnerability.” Whereas, she writes, “Loss of virginity for Siegfried and men like him is an experience of mastery rather than vulnerability. When Brunnhilde responds to him passionately, Siegfried notes, ‘My fear, I find, has faded and gone like a dream.’” But according to sociologist Amy T. Schalet, fear – of making a mistake that may alter their lives forever – is one reason that more teenage boys are holding on to their virginity nowadays. Writing in the April 7th edition of The New York Times, Schalet cited a survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which found that less than 30 percent of 15- to 17-year-olds have had sex – down from 50 percent of boys and 37 percent of girls in 1988. Fear of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases was only one factor in the decline among boys, however. The other was the desire for love
“Siegfried Awakens Brunnhilde” (1892)
and a real romantic relationship. And why shouldn’t males as well as females have this option? Whether as a lifelong commitment or a station on the way to a meaningful relationship, virginity, experts say, has its uses, particularly as a metaphor for psychological self-possession and integrity, a word that means wholeness. The Jungian analyst M. Esther Harding, in her book “Women’s Mysteries,” could just as well have been speaking of men when she wrote: “The woman who is virgin, one-in-herself, does what she does – not because of any desire to please, not to be liked, or to be approved, even by herself; not because of any desire to gain power over another, to catch his interest or love, but because what she does is true.” In other words, the male virgin doesn’t have to say with Jerry Maguire, “You complete me.” He’s complete in himself. n
The 32-year-old virgin
The Rev. Chad David, author of the new “Emotional Sex.”
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The Rev. Chad David, a stand-up comedian turned minister, has never had sex and lives with his mother. And no, that’s not a sitcom concept or a treatment for a Steve Carell movie. David, a youth minister and pre-marriage/marriage counselor with a nondenominational church in Ontario, Canada, believes that sex should be reserved for a man and a woman united in holy matrimony. “I believe God gave us marriage as a framework for understanding all kinds of relationships,” David says. Yes, he knows what you’re thinking. (That’s the funny thing about comedians. They always beat you to the punch line.) But you ask the question anyway: How can a guy with little or no, um, “swimming experience” counsel couples who are either about to take the big plunge or find themselves barely treading water? “I counter with the line ‘Those who can’t do, teach,’” David says with a laugh. “Those who aren’t having sex tend to talk about it a lot.” He’s like that – a self-deprecating charmer with an easygoing warmth. It’s not surprising that he should be good at the give-and-take of counseling. He holds master’s degrees in theology and education and is working on one in spiritual care and psychotherapy. Yes, he’s heard it all before: He must be deeply closeted or deeply repressed or deeply tied to his mother’s apron strings or deeply something. But what he is, he says, is a man who’s comfortable in his own skin and has been in a relationship with a woman for six years. “The young guys I counsel say, ‘No way, no way.’ But I have no problem saying to young people, ‘I’m a virgin.’”
It was stand-up that gave him the courage to be himself. If you think virginity is hard – and David acknowledges that it is – try getting up in front of a tough audience to tell jokes. “When I started loving myself, I didn’t need to be on stage,” he says. “I didn’t need the approval. But I’m grateful for the experience and use humor in my teaching.” Humor also plays a role in his new book, “Emotional Sex” (Balboa Press/ Hay House), about making psychological, intellectual and spiritual connections with a partner beyond the mere physical. David is not one of those spiritual types who sets impossible goals for couples. He understands that you don’t lack a sexuality just because you’re not having sex. Single people and unmarried couples have to express it in some way. “Even the Bible has gray areas….I encourage kids to make wise choices. But I don’t say follow my path.” He also understands that even good kids eager to make smart choices might rush into marriage just to have sex. “Christians tend to get married younger.” That’s not a trap David and his girlfriend want to fall into. Faced at the moment with financial concerns and her sorting out a career path, they’ve decided to wait. “If I had sex, I don’t think I could refrain from it,” he says. “It’s easier to not do something when you haven’t tried it.” In the meantime, there’s the pleasure of anticipation. “You still have something to look forward to, and that’s exciting.”
One for the money Adam Johnson brings financial savoir faire to TV By Georgette Gouveia The name Adam means “first man” and it fits Adam Johnson, a guy-guy, to a T. A self-described Connecticut country boy – by way of Greenwich and Washington in Litchfield County – he likes to hunt and cook pheasant and accounts himself a good shot. He also likes to paint. More to the point, he’s a star in a place that is still in many ways a man’s world – the financial industry. Instead of trading on Wall Street as he did for 20 years, he’s now reporting on it. You can see him at noon weekdays on Bloomberg Television’s “Lunch Money” and then from 3 to 5 p.m. as co-anchor of “Street Smart,” which covers the end of the trading day in the U.S. as well as global markets. Johnson anchored Bloomberg TV’s special coverage of the S&P U.S. debt downgrade and special live coverage of the European credit crisis. Last year, he went to China for a five-part series on the sec20
ond-largest economy. His big interviews include former AIG CEO Hank Greenberg, Newmont Mining President and CEO Richard O’Brien, investment god Leon Cooperman and former Shell Oil President John Hofmeister. It’s all in service of Bloomberg L.P., the 31-year-old company started by New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who has obviously moved on but remains the majority stockholder. The company’s Bloomberg Professional Service – or Bloomberg Terminal – supplies financial data and information to more than 300,000 subscribers worldwide. Johnson is more than happy to show you how it works on the bank of computer screens on his spare white desk. “Whatever you want, you can get it,” he says. Whether it’s the price of copper in Chile per metric ton (about $55,000) or the latest retail sales figures from France (up 2 percent) or the recent trajectory of oil prices (down but bouncing back
thanks to the sanctions against troublesome Iran) or the number of Indonesian rupiah that make up a dollar. (That would be 9,400.)
Camera-ready
But it’s not just facts and numbers. There are interpretive articles from anyone who’s anyone on The Street. “My job,” Johnson says, “is to take this to the next step by giving the viewers access to the smartest people on Wall Street and in academia.” For that, you need transparency and Bloomberg is all about transparency. Start with its headquarters on 29 floors of a sleek, modern, glass skyscraper in midtown Manhattan. (There are also 146 news bureaus in 72 countries.) Bloomberg L.P. looks like one of those places the superhero in the Marvel Studios actionadventurer either owns or has to break into. (Think Stark Industries in “The Avengers” or Oscorp in “The Amazing
Spider-Man”.) There are no walls, except the support structures, and no cubicles. Just lots of sleek gray chairs at lots of sleek white desks topped with lots of sleek black cameras and computer screens. The common area on the TV floor is dominated by a curved escalator that is one of only seven in the world, floor-to-ceiling windows, a wall of orchids, a huge fish tank, contemporary art, an outdoor lounge with wire furnishings and a spectacular view of the 59th Street Bridge and a nonstop free snack bar that fuels the many people who are meeting at their desks, kibitzing in the hallway, checking info on their computers, reporting on camera or scurrying to and fro. Bloomberg employs roughly 13,000 people, and all of them seem to be there the day WAG drops by. It’s all a little overwhelming to us Jane Austen types until a savvy marketing person remarks that Austen was interested in money, too.
If Bloomberg L.P. looks like a movie set – the company has appeared in some form in such flicks as “Arthur,” “Margin Call” and “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” – Johnson, or A.J. to the team, looks like a movie star. The brunet locks are coiffed just so. (Someone even teases him about it.) The on-camera makeup subtly underscores the chiseled bone structure. On this day, he is dressed impeccably in a blue suit, a lighter blue monogrammed shirt with a white color and French cuffs with gold studded cufflinks, a purple tie and polished black lace-up shoes. He looks like a Wall Street guy. Which is what he was.
The money guy
In truth, Johnson was destined for business. Growing up in Greenwich, where he attended the Brunswick School, this native Chicagoan mowed lawns, painted houses and worked for a caterer, earning $6,000. As a 16-year-old in 1982, he says, “I felt pretty flush.” Still, he was pre-med at Princeton University until economics professor Alan Blinder convinced him that he should switch to his specialty. “He was just so persuasive. And I didn’t just want to fix people. I wanted to do something broader. Business is about interacting with people.”
“Morning Walk” by Adam Johnson.
That drive led to an impressive résumé in the financial sector – analyst at Merrill Lynch Capital Markets, trader at Louis Dreyfus Energy Corp., founder of TheIndependentTrader.com and the biggie, co-founder and co-portfolio manager of MLH Capital L.L.C., which shut
down in 2008. What was it like helping to run a hedge fund? “Stressful, in a word. Lots of fun. But you can only do it for so long. It’s boring to sit in a room looking at screens and all you do is buy and sell. I felt it was not using enough of me.” One day he was running in Central Park when he saw Dylan Ratigan, then of CNBC, and made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. “I said, ‘You should have me on your show.’ I told him, ‘I’ll make you look good and make your viewers money.’” What Johnson told viewers was to get in on a little something called Google. Needless to say, that led to return visits, which led to Fox appearances, which led to Bloomberg, where he’s been since 2009. “It’s luck, but you have to prepare yourself for the right moment.”
It helps if you’re that perfect blend of style and substance, too. A true journalist, Johnson understands he is one of those Bloomberg windows, not the view. So when he responds to a question about the stubbornly sticking recession – there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, he says, but hey, it’s a long tunnel – he makes it clear that viewers aren’t interested in his opinions. They’re interested in him asking the sharp questions of the experts. Clearly, Johnson is a commanding, confident guy. But is he ever overwhelmed by the Bloomberg-ianess of it all? He sighs, “No, I don’t let that happen. I traded for 20 years. I managed money.” He knows how to separate the financial wheat from the fiscal chaff. And when he needs a break, this single Manhattanite knows he can escape to St. Barts for a little artistic R & R. Did we mention that he’s sold a dozen of his landscapes for thousands of dollars each? “It’s nice to get paid for your hobby.” Still, this money guy won’t be quitting his day job. Catch Adam Johnson from noon to 1 p.m. weekdays on Bloomberg Television’s “Lunch Money” and from 3 to 5 p.m. on “Street Smart” via Cablevision 105, AT&T U-Verse: 222, Verizon FiOS 104, DIRECTV 353 and DISH NETWORK 203. n
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Rock god No stone unturned in new bio on Mick
A
re you a lover of The Beatles or the Rolling Stones? It doesn’t matter. Tongues will be wagging about “MICK: The Wild Life and Mad Genius of Jagger.” The latest biography on one of the world’s greatest performers comes from Christopher Andersen, the writer of bestsellers on the Kennedys, Clintons and royals. Jagger’s talent, smarts (he attended the London School of Economics), 50-year career and lifestyle of the rich, famous and decadent have long been documented. Still, “MICK” is a wellbalanced, addictive read that makes you wonder how he has survived it all 22
By Zoë Zellers Images courtesy of Gallery Books – as well as how his circle has managed to survive a man who sometimes thinks and acts like a god. The book gets into Jagger’s complex relationship with “Glimmer Twin” (and Connecticut resident) Keith Richards, with whom he composed some of rock ’n’ roll’s most indelible songs, including “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” “Street Fighting Man,” “Sympathy for the Devil” and “Tumbling Dice.” The Glimmer Twins’ sib rivalry played out in many of those songs and in the press. “When are you two going to stop bitching at each other?” a reporter once asked of Richards, who responded, “Ask the bitch.”
Less funny, though, are details of Jagger’s relationship with his second wife (after Bianca), model and actress Jerry Hall. He would tell the woman who gave him four children that she couldn’t feed her babies in bed at night because the smell of her breast milk made him nauseated. Meanwhile, the Texas-born Hall would tell her husband’s suitors, like supermodel Janice Dickinson, “I’ve got a gun in my purse and know how to use it.” The couple’s relationship began in the limelight with outings at Manhattan’s Studio 54 and 21 Club and turned into more than a dozen years of her begging him to marry her and settle down. Marriage “gives me claus-
Their marriage allowed Jagger to club and flirt with island girls at Basil’s Bar in Mustique and carry on notso-clandestine love affairs with famous faces like Carla Bruni, the singer and wife of ex-French president Nicolas Sarkozy. Jagger stole Bruni away from his good friend, rock-guitarist Eric Clapton.
Marianne Faithfull
Bianca Jagger
Jerry Hall
Just a few of the 4,000-plus women Mick has reportedly slept with (clockwise from top left): Janice Dickinson, Angelina Jolie, Luciana Morad and Sophie Dahl.
trophobia,” Jagger said. After she sufficiently threatened to leave, he finally married her on Nov. 21, 1990 in an unofficial Balinese ceremony with a Hindu priest dabbling saffron on their foreheads. And then, as Hall slipped into nightwear on their wedding night, Mick reportedly “jumped” their host’s wife. Their marriage allowed Jagger to club and flirt with island girls at Basil’s Bar in Mustique and carry on not-soclandestine love affairs with famous faces like Carla Bruni, the singer and wife of ex-French president Nicolas Sarkozy. Jagger stole Bruni away from his good friend, rock-guitarist Eric Clapton. (Bruni was, at the same time, the headache affair that Donald Trump couldn’t shake. “She was using every psychological trick in the book,” Trump is quoted as saying.) Apparently, stealing friends’ girlfriends was quite the Mick M.O. The
book even delves into his attraction to Mackenzie Phillips, daughter of New York neighbor John Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas. Jagger had been interested Mackenzie since she was 10, but “waited” for her to reach legal age. (Maybe he just wanted to be thorough: Jagger had slept with Michelle Phillips, John’s second wife and Mackenzie’s stepmother.) “MICK” also broke the news that’s been making headlines, unearthing his longtime obsession with Angelina Jolie, which was allegedly encouraged by the actress’ late mother. The book also highlights his bisexuality (hello, David Bowie) and love of dressing in drag, even at the dinner table. “MICK” does, of course, get into the icon’s musical journey through his collaborations, relationships with band mates and tension over the launch of his solo career. Andersen tells the story 23
Network censors bleeped some Stones lyrics, but Mick still thrilled the TV audience of 111 million that tuned in to watch the Super Bowl in 2006.
of a collision of supernovas when Jagger teamed with Michael Jackson on “State of Shock.” Jackson was seeking street cred and cool style, writes Andersen, but at the end of the day, he blamed Jagger for singing off-key and asked, “How did he ever get to be a star?” Meanwhile, Jagger said Jackson’s capability was “very lightweight – like froth on a beer.” Throughout the book, Jagger comes off as a waggish, unstoppable force, who never took “no” for an answer and pioneered his way through the music, celebrity and fashion worlds to become a lasting fixture. The back cover shows a grainy black-and-white photograph of Jagger in a subway looking high and mighty, slightly mysterious and perhaps still up to no good but a hell of a lot of fun. The quote next to the image reads, “Obviously, I’m no paragon of virtue.” Or as Andersen writes, “More than anyone, Mick had made shock chic.” “MICK: The Wild Life and Mad Genius of Jagger” by Christopher Andersen (Simon and Schuster/Gallery Books, 328 pages, $27). n
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Music from all sides
In the pit, at the lectern, even behind the camera, Ted Sperling does it all By Georgette Gouveia Photograph by Laura Marie Duncan
Most serious musicians concentrate on one or two instruments or disciplines within the musical realm. Not Ted Sperling. The Tony Award winner – perhaps best known for his work on the Broadway revival of “South Pacific” and “The Light in the Piazza” – has won acclaim as a conductor, music director, arranger, singer, pianist and violinist. As if that weren’t enough, he’s even directed musicals and a short film as well as conducted the scores for such movies as “The Manchurian Candidate” remake and “Everything Is Illuminated.” It’s a sign not only of his many gifts, but of a questing spirit. “I started very young (musically),” says Sperling, who’ll return to the Westchester Philharmonic Dec. 16 to conduct “Winter Pops: A Broadway Romance.” “I’m sort of 26
a restless soul. I like to keep challenging myself.”
Sundays with Sondheim
Given his talents and temperament, Sperling probably could not have grown up in a better place than New Rochelle, a city famous for its commitment to all the arts. As a youngster, he studied piano and violin and was introduced to conducting, attending the New Rochelle public schools until the superb music programs of Horace Mann School in Riverdale and Yale University in New Haven beckoned. “I grew up with a love of Baroque music. It was the ’70s, and there was a renaissance of early music….I had always been attracted to Bach and his music. There’s a certain science and mathematics in the way he approaches ‘The Well-Tempered Clavier,’ with pieces in every key. There’s also something about Baroque music that makes
you want to dance.” Sperling was probably the only bar mitzvah boy who asked his parents for the gift of a harpsichord kit. He assembled it himself and the instrument is still in his parents’ New Rochelle home. Classical music, then, was a pull. But there was something else tugging at his heartstrings. “All through school I pursued (classical and Broadway music). When I got out of college I was still unsure of which I wanted to pursue.” The turning point came in 1984 with the original Broadway production of the groundbreaking musical “Sunday in the Park With George.” Sperling played synthesizer in the orchestra pit and served as rehearsal pianist. Yet the experience was so much more than that. “(Composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim) took a very
avuncular interest in me,” he remembers. “He had assisted Oscar Hammerstein II on ‘Allegro,’ and I think he drew parallels to me on ‘Sunday’ and his experience on ‘Allegro.’” The young musician played through the score with Sondheim, four-hand piano, for the cast and even played a new song at Sondheim’s apartment. “He was very kind,” Sperling recalls. “I had a lot to learn. I was very naïve, particularly when it came to the interpersonal dynamics of working with stars. Working on a Broadway show is a collaborative experience. You have to be a master at working with big personalities.” Sperling mastered those dynamics. A partial list of his credits as music director/conductor/pianist include “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” “The Full Monty,” “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” “Angels in America,” “My Favorite Year,” “Falsettos,” “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” “Les Misérables” and “Roza.” In 2005, he won Tony and Drama Desk awards with Adam Guettel and Bruce Coughlin for the orchestrations of “The Light in the Piazza,” on which he also served as music director. Sperling was music director and conductor for the 2008 revival of “South Pacific,” which won seven Tonys and packed Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theater, as well as for the 2009 Tony-nominated revival of “Guys and Dolls.”
Same thing, only different
This winter Sperling brings the Great White Way to Purchase College’s Performing Arts Center in a pops concert that is still being fine-tuned. “I did a concert with the New York Philharmonic that was very well-received, a program of Broadway music
from the golden era of the 1940s.” That led to a call from Joshua Worby, the Westchester Philharmonic’s executive director, and an appearance last year. Now he’s gearing up for another. Conducting a Broadway orchestra and a symphony orchestra is “both different and the same,” he says. “Most of the great players play every kind of music.” The difference is perhaps one of emphasis, with the
Sperling was music director and conductor for the 2008 revival of “South Pacific,” which won seven Tonys and packed Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theater, as well as for the 2009 Tony-nominated revival of “Guys and Dolls.” rhythm section of the Broadway orchestra, front and center, laying down the beat and taking the lead. In the symphony orchestra, the strings dominate with the rhythm section in the back, and there’s more give-and-take between the conductor and the musicians, Sperling says. Both are vastly different experiences from conducting an orchestra on a movie soundtrack. “That’s a very interesting process. You record a movie score at the end of the picture and people expect it to knit all the elements together.” The movie conductor and orchestra have to hit certain
The Masters School
cues. On the 2004 remake of “The Manchurian Candidate” – which featured the biggest orchestra Sperling ever conducted with more than 100 players – Oscar-winning composer Rachel Portman was less interested in lining up certain elements than in achieving a particular romantic, emotional effect, he says. With such a background in theater and film, it was perhaps inevitable that Sperling should try his hand at stage and film direction. He’s done “See What I Wanna See” in Williamstown, Mass., and at the Public Theater in Manhattan and “V-Day” at the New York Music Theatre Festival. His musical short, “Love Mom,” has generated buzz on the film festival scene – no small feat considering the movie had a $100 budget that Sperling says went for pizza. “I love working with actors and have a great interest in art and design.” Can opera – which Wagner said encompasses all the arts – be far behind? Funny you should mention that. Sperling did a concert version of Ricky Gordon’s opera “The Grapes of Wrath” at Carnegie Hall. It was narrated by Jane Fonda, in tribute to dad Henry, who played the iconic Tom Joad in the 1940 film. Sperling’s in discussion to do more opera. While the New York City resident is weighing those options, he and partner Noah are busy running after their fraternal twin girls, who are just over a year old. The dads get a kick out of the pair, who mimic playing the piano on their highchair trays. To Sperling, it’s beautiful music. For more on Ted Sperling and the Westchester Philharmonic’s upcoming season, call (914) 682-3707 or visit westchesterphil.org. n
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Designing for a big, big night By Zoë Zellers Photograph by Paul Kolnik
“I
f you can find that joy in your life where you wake up in the morning and you go in and you just absolutely love what you do every day, that is one of the best things in life,” says Marc Happel, director of costumes at New York City Ballet. Happel lives by this rule, having early nurtured his passion for costuming in musical theater, film and at The Metropolitan Opera’s costume department before assuming the role of director of costumes at City Ballet nearly six years ago. This summer he’s hard at work supervising close to 20 people in the costume shop besides overseeing the wardrobe, wig, hair and shoe departments as City Ballet preps for its Sept. 20 gala, which will be co-chaired by Maria Bartiromo, Giancarlo Giammetti, Pamela J. Joyner and Sarah Jessica Parker. The evening will celebrate the legendary Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani who, with Happel’s help, has created extravagant costumes for four works, three by Ballet Master in Chief Peter Martins and one by Christopher Wheeldon. “Valentino and Peter Martins have been very good friends for something like 30 years and they have always in some way thought about at some point working together and it took until now to make that happen,” Happel says. “It will certainly bring the attention of the fashion world once again to City Ballet. We don’t seem to have too much trouble with that lately because we’ve had a
Valentino Garavani and Marc Happel
lot of fashion designers,” he adds, referring to collaborations with Stella McCartney, Rodarte and Gilles Mendel of J. Mendel. “But you know, Valentino is kind of the top, and he’s the last really of the great couturiers so it will bring a whole different level of attention.”
Working with Mr. V
Happel says the design team has been working hard since April to complete pieces in time for upcoming photo shoots and rehearsals. Audiences should expect “very ball gown-oriented, very black, white and red, very large (and full) dresses and men in tuxedos” from one Martins piece. Meanwhile, City Ballet will pay tribute to the signature Valentino red with a performance of George Balanchine’s “Rubies,” set to Igor Stravinsky’s Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra with costumes by City Ballet’s previous costumer, Barbara Karinska. “You know, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” Happel says. “I just have such admiration for him, especially now that I’m starting to work for him because unlike many designers, both theatrical and fashion, he knows exactly what he wants and you understand why he became what he became because he zeroes in on exactly what he wants very quickly. When he makes a decision, you kind of look at it and just go, ‘That’s exactly right.’ Not right in that he made the correct decision, but just that it makes sense and works perfectly with the scheme
of everything else.” Happel says the two share a “great working relationship.” “He comes dressed in either a suit or a jacket and a pair of pants and a tie. He’s very well-dressed and put together every day, and,” Happel adds, laughing, “I’m usually standing there in a pair of shorts and a shortsleeved shirt, because that’s what I wear to work. So it’s quite a contrast, the two of us.” Happel describes Valentino as “very hands-on, which is amazing. Especially with fashion designers, although he’s retired, it would still be the kind of thing where you’d almost think he might just do the sketches and send them in and say, ‘That’s it.’ But he’s very much a part of what’s going on. He loves to be involved. He loves to be in the fittings and he loves to be a part of all the changes or decisions that have to happen.” Heady as it all is, City Ballet has kept an eye on the bottom line, Happel assures. “We did have to work within some kind of budget. It’s not just a blank check.”
Suiting the performer
“Because fashion designers are very much about a model or a dress that is just a few feet away from them, I have to, many times, get them to be conscious of the fact that what they’re designing is 40, 50, 60 feet away from them. 29
“You have to think about scale differently. You have to approach things in a larger house in a more graphic way….I’m not saying you compromise anything … but at the same time you just have to know where to place your attention because there are details that will just get lost on stage. “You have to really be careful with color, especially in ballet because it can be very distracting…. That’s why many times some of the ballets we have are in black and white… and many people will say, ‘Well that’s not a costume,’ but in actuality, it is a costume, because someone made a conscious choice that these dancers would be wearing that white leotard.” Happel’s experience in various arts helps him understand the different aesthetic and physical needs. “With opera it was always about the diaphragm, the throat, can they breathe? ….Then with dance it’s all about pure movement….Musical theater and film is so much about character. You have actors that will many times deal with almost anything.” Happel’s comprehension of the role of costumes on stage and in film began at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. Pluck and luck brought him to New York City at 24. “A friend of mine told me that Bob Fosse was doing this production called ‘Dance on Broadway’ and they were looking for people to come in and work on it and was I interested? And we packed up our station wagon and drove to New York thinking, ‘Well, let’s go for it and see if this works.’ I immediately got a job and from there it’s just been a rollercoaster ride.” Today Happel lives in Long Island City with his partner of 30 years, Herby, a fine artist. It’s a far cry from his
first days in New York where he knew just “one other person at the time” and was living in the Meatpacking District. “It was a totally different world. It was a meatpacking district,” he says with emphasis. “I lived on Jane Street and I would walk out of my apartment and more often than not, I would turn the corner and there would be
“He comes dressed in either a suit or a jacket and a pair of pants and a tie. He’s very well-dressed and put together every day, and,” Happel adds, laughing, “I’m usually standing there in a pair of shorts and a shortsleeved shirt, because that’s what I wear to work. So it’s quite a contrast, the two of us.”
ing Things,” “Kiki & Herb Alive on Broadway” and a Rufus Wainwright tour. Yet his ascension to the classical music world was “a bit of chance,” he admits, explaining that his introduction to ballet and opera costuming was facilitated through his work at costumer Barbara Matera Ltd. After Matera passed away, The Metropolitan Opera offered Happel a position. “I worked with some amazing singers. Working with Debbie Voigt was amazing. She’s one of the sweetest people I’ve ever been around. Many of the tenors and baritones were great, too. You had access to a very different kind of designer there, because we worked with so many European designers who would come in and just the scale of the productions is so different.” But after a while, “I was becoming increasingly unhappy,” Happel confesses. “And one day I just stood at Columbus Circle and I just kind of said out loud, ‘I need to change my life. I’m not happy about it anymore. I need something to happen to make my life the way it was.’” Two blocks later, his cell phone rang. It was a voice mail from the City Ballet about the director of costumes position. “It was a total turnaround for me and after I started here, I couldn’t have been happier – all over again.”
a large Dumpster filled with meat parts, baking in the summer sun. It always smelled like barbecue.” With quick hands and a natural eye for showbiz, Happel’s credits grew to include musical theater productions like “Kitty Killer,” “Charlie,” “Tell-Tale,” “See-
Benefit-priced tickets for the New York City Ballet’s Sept. 20 gala, which include the performance, a preperformance reception and black-tie supper ball, are available through the NYCB Special Events Office at (212) 870-5585. Tickets to the performance start at $29 and go on sale Aug. 6. Visit nycballet.com or call (212) 496-0600. n
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Portrait of an artist as a young man By Zoë Zellers Images courtesy of Asa Jackson
Asa Jackson stands before his artwork wearing his own designs.
“I can see what’s going on in the world by looking at myself.” That’s Asa Jackson’s take on his evolving artwork. Asa is a 23-year-old painter from Hampton Roads, Va., but recently he could be found on Greenwich Avenue where he held a solo exhibit of his large-scale, Expressionistic portraits at the Samuel Owen Gallery. Among the diverse, enthusiastic art aficionados at the exhibit’s opening reception were Asa’s aunt and uncle, Tamara and Allan Houston – he’s a former star and now assistant general manager of the New York Knicks – who proudly display their nephew’s work in their Greenwich home. “I didn’t go to art school, so I really am not prohibiting when it comes to my work,” says Asa, who
Among the diverse, enthusiastic art aficionados at the exhibit’s opening reception were Asa’s aunt and uncle, Tamara and Allan Houston – he’s a former star and now assistant general manager of the New York Knicks – who proudly display their nephew’s work in their Greenwich home.
“The Gold Machine” by Asa Jackson.
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majored in sociology at Boston University. “I do what I want and if I have an idea, I’m not afraid to try it out. “When I paint I’m not necessarily going for a specific picture in mind, but I know I’m intending to make a good picture. …I’ve found over time that it’s better for me to work on a larger scale, because I can really get out what’s inside of me.” Asa paints self-portraits, portraits “loosely based” on family members and images of the face of vanity and
the “Elemental Man” who encompasses all natural elements. “When ‘Elemental Man’ came about, I started to think of a grand figure that would embody all of the elements of the earth and what it would look like if somebody had volcanic energy with the energy of the air and trees. Basically in that picture you see fish in one eye, man in another part and beast in another to show that this guy is encompassing everything. It’s a double meaning, because man does encompass everything. Our bodies are like a smaller form of the universe. “The paintings are not realistic portraits that anybody would identify with and in actuality, if they saw something like that in real life, they’d probably get freaked out,” Asa says, joking. For him, art has always been the answer and his dream has been to be a full-time fine artist. (He says sociology comes into play when he observes but won’t be his career.) When the constant traveler hangs out with young artist communities in New York, Boston and Virginia, he’s almost guaranteed to be the youngest in the room at major art events. Of his young artist comrades, Asa says, “There’s no one really doing it like this yet. I’m kind of like the pioneer of the group and not in an arrogant way, but I am kind of taking the first big steps,” and those steps involve a tremendous level of responsibility, production, organization, networking, pressure to sell and business know-how. Asa also talks about the artist’s dilemma of “making it” with one style and then taking his work in a new direction and hoping the audience will follow. His new body of work focuses on “the story of temptation and
arrogance and virtue.” He acknowledges it’s “actually really different than what people are used to from me,” but adds, “I don’t think for the artist it’s right to hamper the creative flow, because it comes out so naturally that you don’t want to stop that flow for somebody’s opinion, you know what I mean? If people like your old work, maybe you might do something similar to that, but you want to keep growing.”
Rooted in art
“It doesn’t feel weird to get paid to do what I love, because I knew I wanted to do this since I was little,” he says. He grew up in a house that served as a gallery for the work his mother collected from her travels plus her own creations and his grandfather’s art, which ranged from oil paintings to woodcarvings to watercolors. Asa remembers his grandparents taking him to museums and a class field trip to the Rodin Museum in Philadelphia where he fell in love with the sculptor’s works. “I had this weird thing,” Asa says, pausing to let out a good laugh. “When I was really young in elementary school I didn’t think that I was a great artist per se. But I would really get jealous of all the kids in class who teachers would call ‘good artists.’ And that ‘thing’ stayed with me until high school. My a-ha moment came in ninth grade when one of my art teachers saw me drawing one day and told me I should sign up for a class and I did. From then on my love with art was crazy.” But he’s quick to add that, “I was an athlete in high school….I played football, basketball and ran track. I
Laying the Groundwork for Success
was the captain of all the teams, so I was really into it.” He never spent much time shooting hoops with his uncle but remembers an exciting game of Horse the two played when Asa was 9. “I won on a three-pointer and he bought me a pair of kicks.” With a demanding sports schedule in high school, “I would always go to practice with my team every day. But when I came home, I was painting for the rest of the night.” He became such an art fanatic in high school that at 16 running out of canvases became a common problem. “And canvasses aren’t the cheapest thing in the world so I would paint on scrap shoe boxes, whatever I could find, and eventually the last thing I had left to paint on was my own clothes. So I started painting on my clothes, not really in an attempt to wear them either or to look at them as clothing. But after I painted them, I wore them one time and people liked it, so I started doing it here and there and in college my buddy started to like it a whole lot so I gave it a name.” Asa’s clothing line, “True Face,” is a project he’s constantly working on, mostly in fall and winter with heavier sweaters. He’s building a website with the goal of eventually offering his art-driven fashion to the public. And he hopes to put together another show later this year. But for now, Asa’s back at it in his studio in Virginia, delving into a fresh creative direction. “I actually did a new self-portrait and I did it realistically and it came out really nice. But it kind of freaked me out a little too much and I had to paint over it.” n
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Eye-candyman Tom Beebe puts the ‘v’ in visual merchandising By Zoë Zellers “I always wear rubber bands. I usually have like 20. These are my jewelry,” says Tom Beebe, vice president of creative services at HMX Group, the holding company behind major retail brands such as Hart Schaffner & Marx, Hickey Freeman and Bobby Jones. You can also call him the right-hand man to designer Joseph Abboud, who serves as president and chief creative officer of HMX. Beebe’s rubber-band ritual began when he was working as the East Coast regional manager of Neiman Marcus in the early 1980s. At that time he was still something of a hometown boy, having grown up in a large family in nearby Mamaroneck. Beebe would travel from White Plains to Bal Harbour in Florida to supervise visual merchandising and store window display. “I used to wear one and it was a constant reminder to be flexible when I’d go to meetings,” says Beebe, whose casual-cool, all-black ensemble contrasts with the sharp blue sky framed by the windows behind him in the bustling common area of HMX’s Park Avenue offices. He also always wears a pin on his shirt. “It’s a constant reminder to me that it’s display. We’re not saving lives. It’s not to be taken so seriously,” he says. “And it’s a reminder to stay focused and if you give me pins, threads and wires, I can do anything. And I’ll make it move as much as I can. And that’s basically what Tom Beebe is about.”
ting in beautiful wood floors. Joseph is a master at framing, and the mattes are all done in cashmere. The furniture is all done in men’s suiting fabrics. That’s what you’re going to see at Hickey Freeman, because you know you’re in a man’s world.” Beebe’s own enchanting displays showcase his sense of whimsy and resourcefulness. He’s made cufflinks out of metal wires, shoes out of suit fabric, and once told a mask-maker, ‘I want you to make me a piece out of leather that looks like the wind,’ and this is one of my all-time favorite windows.” Last Christmas, he constructed Christmas trees out of layered flaps of men’s suit fabric. Last month, he was already planning this Christmas. In his windows, Beebe points out, “Movement is my signature, because it gives it a spirit. Life’s too confusing to be serious. It’s about being entertained and bringing the magic.”
“Life’s too confusing to be serious. It’s about being entertained and bringing the magic.”
Working with Abboud
Bringing the magic
Knowing exactly what he’s about is a quality that has allowed Beebe to develop a signature style in window display and store design, rising to the rank of industry vet in a small, competitive and highly specialized field. After an exodus from visual merchandising following a 14-year career doing windows at Paul Stuart, Beebe shifted gears and worked as creative director at DNR, the now defunct trade publication for men’s wear, doing styling and trend reporting and attending industry parties with “everybody – Armani, Donatella, Tom Ford, Thom Browne, Dolce and Gabbana, everybody in the business, oneon-one conversations sitting at tables. It was really fun.” When the 116-year-old publication closed in 2008, Beebe saw the opportunity to get back into the visual world, “and that’s really me and that’s really 36
full-circle.” Two years later, he was recognized with the prestigious Markopoulos Award for outstanding lifetime achievement in the visual merchandising industry. “For your peers to recognize you is the highest accolade. …And the thing is, I had left the business for eight years, too, and when DNR closed, I got nominated, so for me it was like a real coming back.” Market trends, the hit of the recession and the rise of the cookie-cutter retailer over the past 15 years have trimmed budgets set aside for extravagant visual merchandising. Now Beebe sees the pendulum swinging back with retailers like Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters and Macy’s embracing arts and crafts, paper art and repurposed materials like
wine-cork beaded curtains in windows – “You need artsy-craftsy people to do these things,” he says. “I teach all the young kids to just get in the window. It’s still one of the only creative fields that you don’t have an editor and all these people standing over you. If you can get in the window and just do your thing, you become the next Simon Doonan (of Barneys), you become the next Candy Pratts (formerly of Bloomingdale’s), you become the next Christine Belich (formerly of Sony), the next Tom Beebe, you never know. People want theatre.” Beebe says that visual merchandising is central to defining and maintaining a brand and with this in mind, he’s busy renovating the Madison Avenue Hickey Freeman store. “We’re taking out the carpet, put-
Beebe, who joined the HMX Group two years ago, has known Joseph Abboud “forever from past lives,” but the two met at a funeral crowded by men’s wear professionals and started to talk. “This gig lets me do everything – store windows, the showroom, styling the 100 forms in the showroom, sticking right by Joseph and shooting the photo shoots, look-books, the ads, the catalogs and opening the stores. …What you do every day is a lot of putting out fires. … But it’s a creative fire and that’s a good fire because it’s all based on passion. And Joseph is based on passion, too… I stick right on top of him like a shadow.” “Tom has the magic of really knowing our industry and he’s always been thinking outside of the box,” says Abboud as he cuts from the elevator looking bronzed and summery in a fitted dusky indigo T before going to get suited up.
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An example of Tom Beebe’s styling from Menswear magazine.
He briefly rests his hand on Tom’s shoulder and continues with Beebe nodding in agreement. “I think what’s been great about our relationship is that we can speak in shorthand so we both know what we’re talking about. We both get it. And more than that, Tom has such amazing, positive energy. That’s the most important thing in this creative world. If you don’t have positive energy, creativity tends to knot up like a muscle. You have to be very positive and always find ways around doing things if you don’t have a budget or have to do things efficiently. He’s the best at it. “We have this thing. We have more of an artist’s color palette than a fashion color palette. We really approach men’s fashion as wearable art. We always try to find something that evokes an emotion,” says Abboud. Another connection Abboud and Beebe share is Westchester County. Abboud calls Pound Ridge home and Beebe frequents Mamaroneck, a place that holds a lot of family history for him and his seven brothers and sisters, many of whom still live in the area. “My grandfather Everett Smith was the mayor, and my grandmother Jane Baxter Smith goes back to a relative, Griffin, who was the interpreter when
Mamaroneck was bought from the Indians. A painted mural of the scene is on the walls of the newly remodeled Mamaroneck Library,” Beebe says. For the past 20 years, he’s lived in the West Village and has cleverly furnished his rooftop apartment with outdoor furniture from his family’s homes in Mamaroneck. Essentially, Beebe is bringing the country to downtown New York and rarely flees the city except for off-season trips to his favorite spot, Montauk. Beebe says Mamaroneck really is the friendly village and he laughs as he talks about his childhood nickname, Buzzy. “Locals will know me when we walk around. I like that you can walk through the town and people still say ‘hello’ to you. And I always walk up the main street and walk by where my great aunt and grandparents lived.” The houses remain in the family, which has always been supportive of Tom’s dedication to his demanding and exciting field. “I’ve taken spools and spools of ribbon and said to my brothers and sisters, ‘OK, everybody we’re makin’ bows tonight,’” Beebe shouts, throwing his arms in the air. “‘Actually, for the whole weekend we’re makin’ bows,” he laughs, adding, “It was for Neiman’s, and oooh, we had to make so many bows.” n
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Dutesco’s muses, the wild horses of Sable Island.
Unbridled passion Roberto Dutesco captures the untamed beauty of Sable Island By Zoë Zellers Images courtesy of Dutesco Art Gallery photograph by Zoë Zellers
“I
did not go there with the idea that I was going to photograph pretty pictures or take only a certain type of photograph, you see?” Roberto Dutesco says. “My travels to Sable Island were really a true exploration of a place without prejudice towards it.” A prolific artist, Dutesco, stepped away from his role as an in-demand fashion photographer to dedicated 18 years of his life to photographing the legendary wild horses of Sable Island, a pristine place some 190 miles off the coast of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Although Sable Island is sometimes referred to as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic” – it’s the site of about 350 shipwrecks – Dutesco embarked on a mission to document this wilderness and in turn discovered living beauty and a new home.
Where the heart is
The charismatic photographer, who also counts sculpting, painting and poetry among some of his many interests, is preparing to release “The Wild Horses of Sable Island,” a limited edition, 14-pound book of his experience. In the book, Dutesco offers his poignant musings on the island, nature, art and humanity, including the meaning of home. “Home is a feeling. You cannot really pinpoint it. You cannot grasp it. If somebody tells you that it’s home,
you either feel that or you don’t,” he says. Leaning into a brown leather chair, Dutesco sips lemonade as he fights jet lag after just arriving from Brazil to entertain celebrities in his new gallery at 64 Grand St. in SoHo. Brazil is the birthplace of his beautiful wife and they, with their two young children, split their time between their West Side dwellings and São Paulo. But is Brazil home to Dutesco yet? “Yes, Brazil is home but I am not talking so much about the country. I mean, I can tell you, for example, Rio felt like home immediately, São Paulo did not. It is becoming home, because we live in it and it’s a different type of nuance. But the feeling of Rio was very much there when I saw it for the first time. “We talk about large places or large countries or large continents, is that home or is this home? I do not know. I’m more specific in terms of which routes you’re going to take, what streets you’re going to walk on and some, perhaps, will remind you of something that brings you closer to the place that you call home originally.” It was in his homeland of Romania that Dutesco took his first photograph – a family portrait – at age 6 in 1967. The juxtaposition of the cosmopolis and the wilderness would become a theme in his personal story and his professional work. “I’ve been fortunate to be touched by two different types of places. Bucharest, being the capital of Romania, is a beautiful city. They called it for many years, ‘the Small
Paris.’… In Romania, we had quite an affluent lifestyle and that was my fortune to be part of a family that had traveled and had a lot of curiosity towards many areas of life, not just one….The other side of Romania was very much about my grandparents’ place, which was quite raw, wild and extremely beautiful with nature undisturbed by man in the forests that have been growing there for hundreds of years.” Later, Dutesco would explore another form of beauty – models and high fashion – when he moved to New York City and earned industry attention with his spreads in Elle, Vogue, Flare and Rolling Stone. But there was still that natural beauty tugging at his sleeves and after watching a TV program on Sable Island in 1994, he prepared to enter the unknown. “It’s simple. Cities of the world, as much as you get inspired, also make you spend a lot of energy. True inspiration, from my perspective, comes very much more from nature than from walking the streets of New York. “But, of course, inspiration exists everywhere. …When I think about inspiration and creativity, it’s a space that exists in between things and it’s unseen but it’s very much there and that’s where everything resides.”
Sharing with the world
Dutesco said he sees creation in a way where “it has its own mind, too.” Of his book, 15 years in the making, he 39
A view from the recently opened The Wild Horses of Sable Island Gallery.
Photographer Roberto Dutesco.
says, “We have arrived at the book that basically wanted to exist in its own way… Ultimately, the journey to Sable Island was more than just a photographic journey. It was an exploration.” One that continued to lure him back for years as he found familiar faces in the horses he encountered and named, sometimes after supermodels like Naomi. “Home,” he decides, “is like love, or like and dislike. It’s one of those things where the feeling, if it’s genuine, comes before your thought.” “I think that nature in its naked self… is very kind. It’s very precious and attractive and it welcomed me into that world. I think that at that level, nature is very much aware that it’s being explored or documented or photographed.” Dutesco is determined to share his special love of Sable
Island – in celebrities’ homes, galleries like Greenwich’s Samuel Owen, major retail spaces like Sony and Ralph Lauren, and such international venues as the United Nations and the World Expo in Japan. “I’ve seen all kinds of reactions. I’ve seen a lot of silence. I’ve seen a lot of laughter. I’ve seen a lot of crying. I’ve seen a lot of exuberance. So, whatever you think of emotion to be, I’ve witnessed it in the gallery.” Dutesco is also happily consumed with creating a mobile museum about Sable Island for an atypical crowd, now already three years in the works. Actually, his next international audience will be primarily kindergarteners, whom he wants to encourage with his images of natural beauty – horses with flowing manes, exotic sandscapes, dreamy oceans and full moons uninhibited by city lights. The project was partially inspired by his partnership with
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supermodel Petra Nemcova, a friend, and her Happy Hearts Fund organization. In 2007, his wild horses were printed on surfboards that were auctioned off, with the money used to build the Sable Island kindergarten school in Indonesia. “It’s kind of interesting to have kids going to school because of a place that exists on the other side of the world, Sable Island. “With that idea in mind, that’s the future of the Sable Island Project and the Sable Island Museum – to take what I have found on Sable, which is unique and precious in so many different ways and to share it with the world in a truthful way.” For more on The Wild Horses of Sable Island Gallery, 64 Grand St. in Manhattan, call (212) 219-9622 or visit dutescoart.com. n
Double exposure Fashion twins Jesus and Antonio Estrada are poised to take off By Olga Loginova Photographs by Sinead Deane
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M Antonio, above, and Jesus at age 2 in Mexico.
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eeting the Estrada twins, fashion designers and reality TV personalities, for the first time produces a kind of “Alice in Wonderland” sensation: You’re not sure which is which or who is who. Jesus and Antonio are both very wow – sleek, wellgroomed, well-dressed and with those oh-so-equallyperfectly plucked eyebrows that make you wanna cry. They look alike, they talk alike, and I strongly suspect some sort of invisible connection in their brains’ creativity centers that has destined them for success. At 24, the twins have traveled both Americas, starred in major TV shows, rocked the New York runway, planted a flag in WAG country with their first boutique in Scarsdale and are launching their new store, Marteal & Estrada, in White Plains next month. It’s named in part for new team member Marteal Boniello, a talented Syracuse University graduate, whose gentle and feminine vision is a nice counterpoint to the punk-rock aesthetic of the Estrada brothers. But no more wagging around. Since this issue is dedicated to men, it’s time to tell the story of these young bros, whose life motto is honest and simple: Veni, vidi, vici.
The Estrada’s mother. Photograph by Olga Loginova.
Living the dream
Antonio and Jesus Estrada were born appropriately enough under the sign of Gemini – the twins – May 23, 1988 in the picturesque, palm-lined city of Mazatlán on Mexico’s Gold Coast. Their mother, Antonia Martinez, was a model and muse for fashion designers. But being a single mom there was an everyday struggle for Antonia, who decided to pursue the American dream. So when the boys turned 4, the family moved to San Diego. Like many immigrants, Antonia had to put her own career on hold and work night and day to put food on the table. Those first years were not easy, but seeing the sacrifice their mother made left the boys with a deep feeling of gratitude and a wish to succeed and make Antonia proud. Jesus remembers that he and his brother always liked making clothes. First, they made dresses for Bar-
bie dolls and later on for their little sister, Sarabi, who was born in San Diego. “We have such a huge family, and everybody is into fashion,” recalls Jesus, who is five minutes older than Antonio. “When we would get together, everybody would be dressed up. It was always a competition.” The decision to become fashion designers, however, did not come easily, at least for Jesus. He tried media art and animation, but as he says, “Sitting behind the desk, I realized I was more interested in what people wore, not what the professors were teaching.” He quit the program and enrolled in Fashion Careers College in San Diego. Unlike Jesus, Antonio never got a degree in fashion design. Everything he knows he learned from his brother, he says jokingly, thus saving 14 grand a year. He would read Jesus’ textbooks, prop the dresses for fittings and attend all the fittings. Stitch by stitch and measure after measure, he mastered the craft of tailoring and sewing. They always wanted more – more knowledge, more opportunities, more recognition. “Project Runway” – the Lifetime fashion design reality show, hosted by Heidi Klum – looked like the ticket to all three. When Jesus turned 21, he applied and passed the auditions for the show’s seventh season. This changed everything for him. “It was crazy. You were in the room with 15 other designers. Everybody was so talented and we all competed for first place. Maybe I was not ready for that experience. But this is how I learned who I wanted to be for the rest of my life.” Antonio got equally lucky. He auditioned successfully for the Discovery en Español documentary project “Norte a Sur” and traveled North and South America for 30 days with four other talented contestants. Meanwhile, Jesus was the fourth designer to hear Klum’s infamous “You’re out.” Although he was pretty upset, he was not heartbroken.
“Everybody wanted to shine,” he says. “Everybody wanted to take home the crown. I think being let go from the ‘Project’ was the best thing that could ever happen to me. I matured as a personality, I met new friends and I made so many connections. And as you know, it is all about who you know in this industry.” Antonio was the first of the twins to move to New York City and open his studio. Jesus returned to San Diego where he became a local celebrity, giving motivational speeches and serving as a guest judge at different competitions. He still dreamed of a career as a couturier, though. One day he received a call from Antonio, who had so many customers, he could not cope with the workload. Without delay, Jesus packed two suitcases and moved to New York City, laying the foundation for the House of Estrada, a studio and a store where the twins have created their collections as well as affordable and chic ready-to-wear clothes for their clientele. In February of this year, the twins showed their fall collection, “Back from the Dead,” at Fame Rocks Fashion Week in downtown Manhattan. A punk-rock aesthetic and fresh tailoring tricks – the brothers used safety pins instead of sewing in some garments – garnered both praise and criticism from the public. The Estradas, however, prefer not to stress out about the criticism and just move on. “We are happy to be designers who always create what we want,” Jesus says. “We had so much positive reaction from the people. They call us creative and innovative. And this is true, we are fresh, and we are trendsetters, and people have to if not like, then respect this.” And they do have a lot of followers – men and women of all ages and styles. Business has been so good lately that they decided to open a boutique at 512 Mamaroneck Ave. in White Plains on Sept. 8. “We are only 24 and we already own our business.
Of course, we are excited,” Jesus says. “We hope our mom is really proud of what we have achieved.”
Family guys
For the Estradas, family is everything. Their mother comes to all their shows, no matter the distance she has to travel. “I’ve always known they were going to be fantastic and creative,” she told me at the Fame Rocks Fashion Week gala. Mom has turned out to be a walking advertisement for her twins. “She always wears our clothes,” Jesus says. “For years she hasn’t bought a new dress, because she doesn’t need to.” Like most twins, he and Antonio share a bond that is unbreakable, complementary and ineffable. “We are a real team,” Jesus says. “We do not even need to talk to each other to know what we mean. We just want to make each other proud.” The Estradas often ask themselves how they can be so similar yet so different. They share similar tastes in art, fashion and music, with Alexander McQueen being their favorite designer, Lady Gaga a music guru and Victoria Beckham a fashion icon. They take their inspiration from everyday life and arts. They admire bold European fashion and are set to bring more of that into their designs. “We are edgy and we are always ready for experiments,” Antonio says, sending an email, tweeting and sketching a skirt at the same time. Antonio is the more social-media savvy and PRconscious of the two. He responds to emails and keeps all the schedules and paperwork in order. Jesus is more fluent in tailoring and sketching. “As individuals we have our strengths and our weaknesses, but as a team we are invincible,” Jesus says, adding with a giggle, “well, almost.” n 43
Fall collection, “Back from the dead.” Photography by Ricky Restiano.
Estrada’s fall outlook 44
way
Living the good life Story by Houlihan Lawrence Photographs by Tim Lee
Presented by Houlihan Lawrence
DEVONSHIRE at a Glance • Bedford Estate Area • 21,000 square feet • 101.6 acres • Bedrooms: 8 • Baths: 8 full, 2 powder rooms •Amenities: Total privacy, gated entry, pool, tennis court, caretaker’s house, guest house, substantial equestrian facilities. • Price: $25,500,000
F
ew properties share the grandeur and provenance of Devonshire, a vast Gilded-Age estate that has been home to several of America’s most prominent families over its rich history. Set on more than 101 acres of natural splendor, the home was built in 1901 for financier J. Borden Harriman and his wife, Florence, who later became the U.S. ambassador to Norway. Members of New York’s social aristocracy and part of the era’s “hunting set,” the Harrimans and their equally prominent industrialist neighbors came to this area of Westchester at the turn of the last century to build their grand country estates. Many of these homes were set atop the area’s rolling hills, and their owners, primarily notable New Yorkers seeking a country refuge, became known as “hilltoppers” among the locals. Later residents of Devonshire included Vanderbiltfamily descendent William M. Burden, who resided here with his family into the 1930s. Like Florence Harriman, his predecessor at Devonshire, Burden held several government posts and later served as U.S. ambassador to Belgium. Since the Burdens, Devonshire has been home to only three families. At Devonshire, esteemed architects L. Henry Morgan, John Galen Howard and D. Everett Waid created the quintessential English-style country house complete with the stately proportions and resplendent detail that were typical of the great houses of the era.
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Built of handsome brick and trimmed with limestone, the home continues to evoke the opulence of the Gilded Age with its timeless Georgian design, remarkable details and wealth of special flourishes. Antique fireplaces imported from Europe, handcrafted oak paneling, ornate moldings, carved woodwork, gleaming marble floors and a grand staircase capped by a domed skylight attributed to Tiffany Studios. are just a sampling of the irreplaceable artistry displayed throughout the home today. Surrounded by a number of very large estates, Devonshire’s expansive park-like property provides supreme privacy in one of Westchester County’s most exclusive locales. An idyllic blend of breathtaking vistas and intoxicating natural beauty, the gated grounds are surrounded by stone walls and offer superb recreational amenities and substantial outbuildings, including extensive equestrian facilities and staff and guest quarters. Resplendent in grandeur and unrivaled in scope and privacy, Devonshire provides an unforgettable backdrop for grand living and entertaining in one of the region’s most beautiful settings – just 45 minutes from Manhattan. For more information, contact Anthony Cutugno at Houlihan Lawrence Luxury Country Properties at (914) 234-0308 or acutugno@houlihanlawrence.com. n
mantastic
Mantiques is
By Mary Shustack Photographs by Sinead Deane and Mantiques Modern
Cole Ramstad is the gallery 47 manager of Mantiques Modern.
Rare custom safe features five-pin combination.
A man’s interests can be varied. And sometimes the more varied those interests are, the more intriguing he becomes. Apply that same thinking to a shop that caters to men and their passions and you’re in for a treat when considering Mantiques Modern. The Manhattan gallery is jam-packed with a wildly eclectic mix of antiques and collectibles that appeals to a broad range of traditionally male interests. “That’s our specialty – our breadth,” says gallery manager Cole Ramstad. “There’s definitely not anybody in the United States that buys in as many categories.” He estimates those categories range from 600 to 700, and “What we buy is basically what we like.” The “we” includes the shop’s owners – Kenny Felberbaum, Cory Margolis and Steven Perelman – and what they like includes everything from antique and vintage barware to luxury-brand travel pieces, from mantel clocks to kinetic sculpture, from sporting trophies to quirky advertising pieces and from sleek furniture to just about anything that’s encased in Lucite. Indeed, the artfully cluttered shop features an eyecatching 3-D Lucite square filled with palm-sized car models. “We love things in Lucite as you can see, and we love Ferraris because we’re dudes,” Ramstad says with a laugh.
Something for every man
Mantiques Modern got its start in the 1970s. Back then, Margolis was a picker, a source of items, for the shop. He went on to buy the business and has expanded it ever since. Its latest incarnation, on West 22nd Street, is quietly tucked behind a sleek façade that doesn’t quite convey the treasures within some 4,500 square feet. It’s an inventory that’s ever-changing, Ramstad says, which adds to the fun. “Literally, we get stuff in every single day.” On a recent morning, it was finds they uncovered on a buying trip to the famed antiques market in Brimfield, Mass. Other days, it’s items arriving from purchases made at flea markets, auctions and estate sales around the world or even walk-ins. But no matter what it is, those at Mantiques Modern can tell you something, if not everything, about it. “The name of the game in the antiques business is knowledge,” Ramstad says. And he’s got plenty of details on most everything in Mantiques’ inventory, which has an incredibly strong sense of design threading through it. It’s a big part of what makes it appeal to its primary audience, interior 48
Kirby Beard & Co. weather-station clock
designers and other dealers. “The majority of our business is done with people in the trade,” Ramstad says, pointing to an oversize model of a training gun. “Imagine you’re an interior designer, where do you get that? You need that final touch, that piece to put over the mantel in a hedge-fund guy’s apartment.” But Mantiques Modern is also a destination for collectors who like nothing more than spending a quiet hour or two exploring the two floors of finds. The gallery is almost a secret source, though Ramstad confirms Mantiques Modern has clients from both Westchester and Fairfield. The owners, he added, also have ties to the area. One is a former Scarsdale resident, while all have countless friends and family living here. The shop is the place where you can easily stumble upon a rare 1928 Meriden cocktail shaker in the form of a lighthouse or an Art Deco Gucci ashtray, a floral shape where each petal comes apart to create a personal space to park your cigarette. “A lot of these companies, they made these incredible objets de vertu,” Ramstad says of the many pieces in metals. Then, there are oversize magnifying glasses and World War II field desks, polished to a gleaming new look. “Once it’s polished, it takes on a whole new life,” he says, adding that the choice of restoring is often left to the potential buyer. Travel cases, from trunks to suitcases to duffels, are another popular segment. “Vintage Gucci and Hermès are always strong for us,” he says. A glance across the collection shows there are themes that continue to appear. “We like cars. We like sports. We like girls,” Ramstad says.
One of a kind
And they definitely like quirky, exemplified by the one-of-a-kind chair made from 1920s propellers created by Rolls-Royce. “You’ll never see another one like it in your life,” he says, explaining it was commissioned for an aircraft club. “We had to step up and buy it.” There’s the occasional decoupage pinup piece and plenty of flasks and wine openers, canes and globes, intricate watercolors and bold contemporary paintings, such as those scored at the auction of Dennis Hopper’s art collection. A foam coat rack in the shape of a cactus, a Guido Drocco creation from 1960s Italy, stands amid it all.
Giant Lucite cube with Ferrari images.
Clearly, there’s an artistic sensibility on hand, but one that welcomes the unusual. “There are a lot of shops that are very stuffy,” Ramstad says. “You feel very nervous.” But not at Mantiques Modern. “It’s a junk shop that’s full of winners,” he says. Those winners go on to also include a Jacques Adnet black Deco rocking chair, a 19th-century carnival wheel and a Clemente Spampinato maquette for a bronze of Bobby Jones that stands outside the PGA Hall of Fame. There are elegant shagreen boxes and an intricate old safe; a Margaret Bourke-White photograph of a zeppelin, framed within a duralumin frame (the same material as the object pictured); and a movie camera that looks like something used for a silent film. A closer look, though, proves it is actually wooden and an advertisting item: “Mitchell was like the Rolls-Royce of cameras,” Ramstad says. Favorite pieces of Ramstad’s are the 1960s puzzle sculptures from Spanish artist Miguel Berrocal, intricate creations in bronze and nickel. “He was a big deal, very inspired by Picasso.” But sometimes the unheralded is equally attractive, such as a piece that spells out the word ‘love.’ “These ‘love’ motorcycle chains are completely anonymous. We don’t know who made them. We don’t care. We just buy what speaks to us.” No matter the size. “We like giant things here, that’s for sure,” Ramstad continues. “We like miniatures. We like weird stuff.” Not surprisingly, Ramstad shares that the shop has had offers to replicate and mass-produce their distinctive finds. “That’s where the big money is at, moving units, units, units. We’re not about that.” Instead, they prefer to deal in the original work. “We find a lot of cool objects and put them on a stand and all of a sudden, they’re sculpture,” he says, pointing out examples ranging from a collection of wooden family crests to some flat metal pieces that depict automobile or airplane themes. Throughout, prices start at $75 and reach up to about $35,000. While Ramstad says, “The market’s softer than it’s ever been,” he notes, “Our business is better than it’s ever been.” At Mantiques Modern, it’s easy to see why. For more information on Mantiques Modern, at 146 W. 22nd St. in Manhattan, call (212) 206-1494 or visit mantiquesmodern.com. n
WESTCHESTER’S OLDEST & LARGEST COIN AND CURRENCY BUYER Neil S. Berman Inc.
Author of “Coin Collecting for Dummies” and “The Investor’s Guide to United States Coins”
Buying coins and currency since 1968 American and Foreign Gold, Silver, Jewelry and Watches ESTATES PURCHASED
(914) 441-6377
Call for an Appointment 1 Holiday Inn Drive, Mt. Kisco New York 10549 www.neilsberman.com Westchester License #350
It’s all in the details for Jeff deJong By Mary Shustack Photograph by Sinead Deane
I
f you want to get an idea of the artistry of custom carpenter Jeff deJong, simply glance around his Brookfield home. There is that dramatic staircase, a study in geometrics and mahogany that captures the imagination the moment you walk in the front door. As you perch on a tall chair at the island in his fully redesigned kitchen, your eyes can’t help but wander over deJong’s shoulder to the sleek cabinets with beveled glass. He hops up to demonstrate another of his unique creations, pulling out one of several pocket doors inset with glass. It’s an unexpected touch that allows for a quiet space in the living and dining rooms without interrupting the visual flow of the rooms. “A lot of times people pull the doors and boom, you’re in a box,” he says of the isolation often created by traditional wooden pocket doors. And even more details are on the way, as deJong continues to juggle his own renovations with his business. “It’s a typical carpenter’s house,” he says with a laugh. “Everyone’s project gets done first.” But it’s those projects – works of custom and finish carpentry completed through his 10-year-old company, Angle & Square – that have made his name in the greater Danbury/Westchester area. DeJong came to America from the Netherlands 23 years ago when he was in his late 20s and has since carved out a niche for his skills. The company’s evocative name is thanks to deJong’s wife of 10 years, Terry Callaghan. “My wife came up with that,” deJong says. “We were looking for catchy things, and I always hated ‘Joe’s Carpentry’ … I hated it.” Angle & Square puts the focus on the aspect of carpentry he finds most rewarding. 50
“What I want to do is the custom work. I like to design things and create them.” When customers hire deJong, they know they have found someone who not only brings a European tradition and sensibility but also offers the latest in design. Today, his signature work includes coffered ceilings and “floating” bookcases, intricate wainscoting and elaborate profiles over doorways. But for every highly detailed project he completes, deJong is equally at ease on more workmanlike jobs, ranging from siding to crafting mudrooms or carving out storage space. It took deJong a while to find his calling, though. Born to a prominent pastry chef in the Netherlands, the middle of three sons, deJong first felt the lure of the sea. Unlike his brothers, who initially went into the baking business, deJong attended a technical school (where his love of woodwork was encouraged). He went on to pursue engineering and training to operate ships and by 18 was a commercial fisherman on the Atlantic Ocean and Irish and Baltic seas. His time in pursuit of mackerel and herring, he says, was a family tradition of sorts, as his great-grandfather was a steamship captain. “It’s a hard life,” deJong says of his days on the water, though he seems to have enjoyed them. Five years later, quotas enacted to stop overfishing basically ended deJong’s career. After a year as a draftee in the Dutch Army, deJong came to America and joined his brothers, who had opened a bakery in Mount Kisco. DeJong worked in the bakery, teaching himself English along the way and once he felt established, pursued jobs in woodworking. While working for a construction company, he found a mentor in one of the skilled carpenters. When others would end their day and go home, “I
stuck around to pick up the tips,” he says. “That’s important to me.” It was on construction that he built up his expertise in everything from foundations to framing, trim details to kitchen installations. Through trying a bit of everything, deJong came to realize his love of the skilled or custom, work, where an eye for precision and angles is needed. DeJong may have taken a roundabout route to reach his rewarding career, but each step of the way has had an effect. From his family’s influence to tips picked up at sea, deJong brings an added level of expertise to kitchens. He is able to go beyond what might at first look great. “A lot of times they’re not functional,” he says. “With that background of cooking, I kind of know what works.” He helps clients design kitchens “around their lifestyle.” His background further helps in how he approaches many jobs. “In Holland, the houses are small.” He was brought up with the idea of maximizing space, especially to create unique storage. Today, no matter the size or scope of a project, deJong says he is ready to dive in. “I see every potential when you walk in a house, what can be done in it.” The goal, he says, is being able to help a client envision a project and then complete it in a timely, artistic and professional manner. After all, that’s what deJong is about. “A lot of people don’t have the pride anymore in what they’re doing, and that’s sad.” For more on Angle & Square, visit angleandsquare. com or call (203) 948-2406. n
Lilies & Lace
the finest in Swimwear & Lingerie
All Swimwear 30% Off 480 Main Street Armonk, NY 10504 914-273-2253 www.LiliesandLace.net 88th Annual
Yorktown Grange Fair
enjoy a customized 50-minute signature facial for $59 on your first visit
September 6 — September 9
Grange Fairgrounds • 99 Moseman Road, Yorktown Heights
Rides ~ Exhibits ~ Livestock ~ Contests Live Music with Local Favorites!
Services include signature facials, elite facials, waxing, peels, advanced skincare, cosmetics, massage and reflexology. Gift cards and memberships available.
Exhibits & Contests
Produce ~ Flowers ~ Art Baking ~ Needlework Photography ~ Legos
First visit only. Not valid with any other offer. Independently owned and operated.
59 Stunt le Bicyc s Show Antique Tractor Parade Saturday at Noon
Audience Participation Contests For the Kids
Annie & the Natural Wonder Band Magic with The Great Charlini
www.yorktowngrangefair.org
Call to schedule an appointment:
914.241.3223
145 Kisco Avenue, Mount Kisco, NY 10549
www.facelogickisco.com FA C E L O G I C S I G N AT U R E | P E T E R T H O M A S R O T H | M D S K I N C A R E | G L O M I N E R A L S
les nouvelles by
Zoë channels Ernest Hemingway in the Zellers’ library in Stamford with a vintage zebra skin rug and assorted books from the family’s antique collection. She wears a modern French safari jacket by Club InterChasse, Ralph Lauren Oxford shirt, Zara khakis, Hermès scarf and traditional German Alpine safari-style hunting hat by Lodenhut. Safari gear available at EuroChasse, 398 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich. Photograph by LYONS.
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Alexander Wang $425
Givenchy $2,405
Chanel $1,495
Scott Schuman, the street style spotter who Kanye West named a “historian marking the feeling of this generation one photo at a time,” releases his much-anticipated book, “The Sartorialist: Closer” (a Penguin Original) on Aug. 28.
Strong writers need strong style. Ernest Hemingway, a real man’s man, could work his wardrobe on any turf, from African safaris to Spanish war-fronts to Key West porches to Parisian cafés to Cuban cabanas. His dressed-up and dressed-down versatility and love of mixed textures and earthy colors inspire my fascination with boyish accessories this fall. You can also take outfit cues from the HBO movie “Hemingway & Gellhorn,” with Clive Owen and Nicole Kidman as the novelist and his third wife, journalist Martha Gellhorn, the inspiration for his “For Whom the Bell Tolls.”
Chanel $3,500
Chanel $975
Christian Dior $1,300 Prada $1,350 Judith Leiber $3,995
Marni $680
Alexander Wang $545
Prada $3,200
Valentino $795
Stuart Weitzman $595 Marzi $375
Yves Saint Laurent $1,990
Valentino $1,295 Lanvin $770
Tory Burch $650 Merchandise available at Neiman Marcus and Tiffany & Co. at The Westchester in White Plains, and at neimanmarcus.com, tiffany.com and valentino.com.
Valentino $265 Tiffany & Co. $13,500
wear
Accessories make the man By Debbi O’Shea
I thought I landed my dream job when I got out of college. Always outgoing, I imagined a job in human resources would be a perfect fit for me. The fact that I would be working for a world-renowned cosmetic company made it even sweeter. What I hadn’t anticipated was being buried in the benefits department under piles of health claims. The highlight of my day became spending every nickel I was earning at the “company store.” which provided a generous discount. It was soon time for a Plan B. I decided to take a second job, working Saturdays in the men’s accessories department at Paul Stuart, the luxe emporium of traditional men’s and women’s clothing. At this time, Barney’s was downtown and Bergdorf’s men’s store had not even been conceived. Basically, Paul Stuart owned Madison Avenue and every day was a party. After one last visit to the “company store,” (where I stockpiled a year’s worth of cosmetics), I handed in my resignation and went to work for Paul Stuart fulltime. It was there that I learned about collar and tie widths, how to fold a pocket square and the difference between an alligator and a crocodile belt. (Alligator tends to be thicker, softer and more symmetrical in pattern). Years later, I work for Richards of Greenwich, another spectacular retailer, as their women’s personal shopper. Of course from time to time, I still dabble in men’s wear. Interestingly, almost all the same finishing touches still apply: • Shoes and belts need to align. What looks best is to wear them in similar colors and textures and preferably in the same material or skin. • Quality is a wise investment. An expensive but well-crafted shoe can last for years with a little care and maintenance. • Elegant accessories will notch everything else up. A classic offthe-rack suit will look instantly more expensive when paired with an Hermès tie and a toffee-colored Santoni cap-toe shoe. • Socks matter. Most men prefer mid-calf socks. The best rule of thumb is to match the socks to the trousers, rather than the shoe, (though warm weather fashionistos may choose to go without). • Ties are a great way for a man to express his individuality. Widths vary only by millimeters through fashion cycles. The current standard is 3 ½ inches. Rich-hued, silk knits are again having a moment. • Pocket squares have spawned a hybrid, the pocket round. Either will add a pop of polish to a suit or sport coat. Simply lay it unfolded, pick it up from the center and stuff. • A trend in custom shirting that is starting to translate over to traditional dress shirts is the convertible cuff that can button or be used with cufflinks. Beautiful antique or mother-of-pearl cufflinks are a timeless investment. (They also make for wonderful gifts.) • Tie bars are having a renaissance on the strength of the influence of Don Draper, “Mad Men”’s fictional protagonist, who epitomizes ’60s chic. Apparently, men’s fashion evolves in a slow circle, and if you make the right choices, they will hold you in good stead. My life is a bit like that, too. I still enjoy dressing my clients and as a beauty blogger, I get to sample, buy and try cosmetics nearly every day. It’s all good. 54
Diva Debbi’s model sports Zegna. Photograph by Sergio Kunajec for Richards of Greenwich.
Where Experience and Vision Blend Beautifully
The Institute for Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery at Hudson Valley Hospital Center keeps growing, adding more talented, board certiďŹ ed cosmetic surgeons and more innovative treatments. Drs. C. Andrew Salzberg and R. Michael Koch who developed a reputation for excellence as members of the New York Group for Plastic Surgery have been joined by Dr. Jordan Jacobs. The Institute for Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery team also welcomes Drs. Kayvan Keyhani, William Losquadro, Dennis Pastena. These doctors add new capabilities to the wide range of reconstructive and aesthetic surgeries and non-surgical cosmetic treatments already offered. Every procedure is performed in our state-of-the-art private surgery suites, in a comfortable, technologically advanced new facility. It’s a beautiful thing. A partial listing of our many services offered:
Cosmetic Surgery Breast Augmentation One-Step Breast Reconstruction Tummy Tuck Face Lift Liposuction BOTOX Injectable Fillers
Oculoplastic Surgery Rhinoplasty Nasal Reconstruction Hand Surgery
Institute for Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery
For more information, please call 914-293-8700
hv
g r o . hc
*Model featured is not a patient.
1980 Crompond Road Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567
Man up! Men’s style for women Story and styling by Zoë Zellers Photographs by Sinead Deane Modeling by Erin Anastos
Women wear the pants around here. So we’re delighted to report that this fall, Prada, Vince, Rag & Bone and Cucinelli are giving girls standout style inspired by their male counterparts. Autumn is in the air with a cool stew of leather, suede, fur, tweed and cashmere in shades of gray (ha!), emerald, mustard, burgundy and brown. Get ready to swap your bikini for a Cucinelli cashmere sweater.
The Power Purse
Conquer the boardroom in Cucinelli with luxurious trousers, $775, and an ultra-soft sweater, $995, and hat, $330, plus Fendi’s knock-out bag, $2,260, and 56Marni bangles, $350 and $420.
Creatures of Comfort
Ladylike Meets Men’s wear
Erin takes a walk on the wild side in a fall-ready emerald fur vest, $1,795, cashmere and wool sweater, $295, and leather leggings, $1,150, all by Vince; a Gucci satchel, $2,650; and Kara Ross bracelet, $195.
Erin puts a perfectly Parisian twist on her men’s wearinspired ensemble. She taps her toes in fabulous silver and patent leather loafers by Lanvin, $770, which accent her Rag & Bone jacket, $535; blouse, $350; and pants, $290; and Kara Ross bracelet, $195.
Shades of Gray Prevail
Boyfriend Sweater = Closet Staple
Comfort meets couture with Burberry Prorsum’s stretch tweed dress, $2,995, with Christian Louboutin’s gorgeous burgundy suede booties, $995, and Celine’s coveted, structured doctor bag, $2,300.
Pair one of fall’s favorite trends, leather leggings, with a slouchy boyfriend sweater for the full effect. Erin – photographed at The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester in White Plains – wears Vince leather leggings, $1,150, with a mustard Diane von Furstenberg sweater, $465, and Jimmy Choo studded smoking slippers, $650.
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Sporty, Sexy Style
Erin balances the sportiness behind Stella McCartney’s scuba dress, $845, with the sexiness of her Jimmy Choo mesh booties, $995, and Herve Van Der Straeten earrings, $425.
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Merchandise provided by Neiman Marcus at The Westchester in White Plains Makeup by Sabrina Autera at Le Métier de Beauté. Shot on location at The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester in White Plains
GUESS WHAT WAG’s CLASS & SASS GALS ARE UP TO AT BLOOMIE’S?
Sponsor by
SEPT. 13 BLOOMINGDALE’S WHITE PLAINS 175 Bloomingdale Road, White Plains 5:30 P.M.
Save the date. You won’t want to miss this unique fall fashion event complete with hors d’oeuvres and beverages. RSVP (914) 684-6306, seating is limited.
Styling by Sandy Hapoienu
wear
More than 50 shades of gray
M
By Zoë Zellers Images courtesy of HMX Group
NEW YORK HICKEYFREEMAN.COM
men’s wear famously operates a season behind women’s ready-to-wear and has at times been regarded as “safe.” But as we transition from summer to fall, men’s fashion is decidedly making bold strides – in color, texture and silhouette – even influencing women’s wardrobes. For the most part, fall runway presentations offered a tour de force of American designers, overshadowing their European counterparts. Case in point – the sporty, concise collection presented by Tommy Hilfiger. This summer, the designer, a Greenwich resident, was honored at the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s awards ceremony with its prestigious Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award for his ongoing contributions to American style. “Tommy Hilfiger is bigger than ever, bigger than Europe,” says Tom Beebe, vice president of creative services at HMX Group, which represents American heritage men’s fashion lines, including Hart Schaffner & Marx, Hickey Freeman and Bobby Jones. This fall, men’s fashion is not just red, white and blue – though it’s that, too. There are moody wine hues for slimmer-than-ever pants and color and texture richly layered 60
on top. This is coming off the trend that’s had staying power in women’s wear the past few seasons. Alexander Wang is embracing it, with hot red from shoes to pants to jackets, pairing it cleanly with crisp white button-downs and black accessories. Denim also steps it up in refined, polished indigo rinses. At Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, James Perse and Brooks Brothers (which is enjoying a successful run right now), khaki-toned bottoms get cool with safari-inspired side cargo pockets. (Also see mod-fit safari jackets by Paul Stuart.) On top, men should turn to Hilfiger and Thom Browne for bold chest-striped sweaters. Or pair those earthy, structured pants with a sharp, tipped navy blazer or cashmere and wool knits in navy, olive, mustard, brown, burgundy and charcoal. These are what fashion designer Joseph Abboud calls “spicy colors.” (Check out pinks and sea greens, too). Beebe says this fall men should anticipate the introduction of “colors you’ve never seen before and it’ll be interesting to see how that goes.” Taking a hint from the Ivy Leaguers, shades of gray will be key to every man’s casual and professional wardrobe. Opt for tweed or flannel charcoal suits from the
Canadian hockey player Sean Avery was tapped in to be the face of Hickey Freeman’s fall campaign.
chic Thom Browne or from Joseph Abboud’s “Sinister” line within the Hickey Freeman brand. With accessories earning the attention of guys, spruce up the gray with colorful bowties and printed socks from the likes of Hugo Boss. And don’t forget the basics done well (with an emphasis on potent colors) at Paul Stuart, the true gentleman’s store. From Japan’s Junya Watanabe’s fall/winter collection for cult brand Comme de Garçons offers a sweet dose of progressive work-wear-inspired clothes with great pockets; layered, printed knit sweaters with suede elbow patches; crisp, cuffed pants; red shoes; and tons of gray and beige outerwear with accessories like prepster gray flannel baseball caps. Starting this autumn, look forward to the relaunch of “Argyleculture.” That’s Abboud’s collaboration with hiphop mogul Russell Simmons. The edgy-preppy sportswear line, which targets the “urban graduate,” is big on, you guessed it, argyle sweaters; herringbone and plaidprint button-downs and vests; trim pants in stone, navy and red; and fun bowties and ties in bright hues like oranges, reds and blues. It’s a texture-rich fall with a lush mix of leather, suede, corduroy, wool and knits in exciting
silhouettes. For the fashion-driven executive of any age, let it be known: The crisp white shirt reigns supreme and the pinstripe is back. “For fall, suits are going to be big. Tailored clothing is going to be huge and pinstripe is going to be huge,” says Beebe. “Pinstripe looks fresh again and it’s going to be really good.” And on that note, slim-fit is king. “Now we’ve watched men get so into fit and a lot of these guys, their legs are actually thinner than girls’, and they wear (slim pants) really well,” Beebe says. Jackets that embrace a fresh silhouette are a must-have. Armani presents men with special wardrobe pieces this fall, like the luxurious fitted black leather blazer, which he showed with trousers with four fulsome pleats and tapered ankles (not exactly office material, but impressively revolutionary). Still, Beebe says, men’s wear remains about the essentials. “It’s just the basics, the basics of fit, of style, of fabrics, and the tailors and craftspeople are my favorite. For me,
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men’s is very focused with a different heritage. If you talk to Donna Karan or Richard Tyler, Narcisco Rodriguez, these other designers, they’ll all tell you that they love men’s wear and that it’s their thing. They would kill to cut a men’s jacket. “Men’s wear is not trendy come-and-go style. The young kids don’t know it, but they love having a tie.” That last point is something that so many retailers like Brooks Brothers and Hugo Boss are attempting to hone in
on with greater focus on the young executive’s wardrobe. The fashion community’s ultimatum sees men rethinking the basics and predicts it will have an even edgier spring with colors and prints that will continue to push the envelope. Guys, just wait till you see Armani’s take on Bermuda shorts. n
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Following his inner
spark
Former Hasidic rapper Matisyahu takes a pop turn By Zoë Zellers
The phrase “Hasidic rapper” would seem to be a contradiction. But for years, the description helped the media and the public to define Matisyahu (née Matthew Paul Miller) – a performer/songwriter whose musical and spiritual quests defy easy definition. Matisyahu embraced Hasidism when he moved to the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn after growing up in the Westchesters (as in West Chester, Pa., and Westchester County’s White Plains). But a deep-rooted Judaism wasn’t the only influence on his life. Jamaican reggae beats executed in a dance-hall style underline his 2005 single “King Without a Crown.” Blending Jewish spirituality, reggae, rock and hip-hop, the record went on to sell more than 700,000 copies and marked his introduction to the mainstream. Matisyahu’s albums, including the debut, “Shake Off the Dust…Arise,” the Grammy-nominated “Youth” and “Light,” have sold more than 2 million copies. Yet in a world where so many artists either stagnate or commit pop-culture suicide by trying too hard to incorporate today’s trends, Matisyahu has evolved while staying true to his roots. His latest album, “Spark Seeker” (Fallen Sparks Records) – which he’s promoting on a national tour that included a performance on Stamford’s Alive@Five concert series – takes him in a new, decidedly pop direction. It also goes hand in hand with his lifestyle and spiritual changes. Late last year, the musician – who lives in Los Angeles with wife, Talia, and their three boys – tweeted a 62
controversial picture of himself with his beard shaved, formally announcing an end to the Hasidic chapter of his life. Now, Matis, as he’s known to friends and fans, is focusing on the music while maintaining the spirituality and sense of humanity that are central to his life and beats. While the abandonment of Hasidism might’ve cost him some of his more traditional fans, it was a move that has helped Matisyahu explore his inner spark more honestly. The introspective, thoughtful “Spark Seeker” explores the idea that life, like music, is about blending, fluidity and living not in extremes, but in the patches of gray. “For me, it’s this common theme throughout all my music, because of what it did for me in my life,” Matisyahu says. “I always thought it to be a channel for spiritual self-expression and also a way to kind of wake yourself up through the music.” Matisyahu is as awake as he is aware in his high-energy grooves like the warmly received “Sunshine.” He attributes the fresh sounds on the 13-track album to his connection with producer Kool Kojak (Allan Grigg), well-known for his work with such stars as Nicki Minaj, Travis Barker and Ke$ha. “We met to work on a song and just hit it off and whenever I’d be in L.A. we’d get together and work together, just the two of us, and we were doing great material so most of the album was made between the two of us.” Although Matisyahu travels frequently, he says, “I’m not sure exactly how (travel) affects the songwriting. I tend to be in one place when I’m writ-
ing,” although he works well on planes, he laughs. After Matisyahu and Kojak wrapped in L.A., they decided to make a symbolic trek to Israel to work with other artists. The destination was not Matisyahu’s own idea. “To be honest with you, my producer had never been and really wanted to go to Israel.” “When we went to Israel, we really opened up and brought in a lot of musicians – 10 or 12 amazing musicians,” he says, slowly drawing out the word “amazing.” “It was our first live instrumentation, and then we blended that into the record and that gave it a world music feel.” Some studio collaborators include Zohar Fresco, Daniel Zamir, Ravid Kahalani and rapper Shyne, who offer strong versatility in vocal styling. But Matisyahu is aware of the double-edged sword of that eclecticism. Like such out-of-the-box artists as Prince and Lenny Kravitz, he knows he runs the risk of defying categorization, which affects radio play. “It’s a little bit of an issue, because it doesn’t really fit into one format so I feel like it’s more of a pop record or Top 40,” he says, adding knowingly, “it is harder to get on those stations, though.” While Matisyahu says, “I most certainly think that there is a Jewish influence in this record, because spiritually is so tied to my songwriting,” he prefers to avoid not only music-genre labeling but also specific religious labeling. “I never like to be put in boxes. I would say that it’s not necessary to be
any one thing….” And so he has no single type of listener: “I think my fan base is always growing or changing and some have been along the whole ride and there are some fans that aren’t so into it now, but… that’s their own thing. It doesn’t have to do with me.” The support of pure music lovers reigns supreme for Matisyahu. “It really depends on the night, but sometimes I’ll go and meet fans after the show. “ And depending on the city he’s in, he’ll reach out and invite artists to perform alongside him and his Dub Trio band-mates. Those cities have ranged from Austin, Texas, where he appeared at Stubb’s, to Las Vegas (Hard Rock Hotel) to Stamford. Matisyahu spent time in Connecticut as a teen. His parents still live in Westchester and attended his July 12 Alive@ Five concert in Stamford. One highlight of living in Westchester was studying at Purchase College. “I didn’t enroll,” he’s quick to clarify. “In high school, I was actually in a program for advanced acting, two times a week every week.” He says he’s always had a flair for the dramatic, first fostered in this area. Now the busy entertainer can be seen in the movie “The Possession,” which will be released this month. Matisyahu describes the process of making the film as “very intense.” “I play an exorcist,” he adds in an Ikid-you-not manner. For more, visit matisyahuworld.com. n
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wagging
Male or female? The art of picking a pet By Sarah Hodgson
W
hen I conduct a pre-puppy consultation, one of the most common questions is about sex: Which is better? Whether you’re considering a dog or cat, does sex matter? My professional, definitive answer? Sort of. Why so vague? Because I feel strongly that whatever decision you make, the love you feel for your pet will be blind to all but the relationship you’ve fostered. Male or female, you’ll soon forget all the practical and impractical reasons for your choice and see your pet as an extension of yourself. Of course, there are some key differences between males and females. There are the obvious anatomical differences, but go below the surface – to the hormonal modifications – and you’ll find that chemicals make the difference. Basically, males produce testosterone and
develop a drive to procreate. Females produce estrogen and feel compelled to nest. Add to this some distinct species characteristics and inborn personality traits that define every one of us, no matter the number of legs we walk on or the type of skin we wear. Here is what we know of mammals, humans included. We all go through a variety of developmental phases. Infancy is a dependent time in which all creatures live in the shadow of their parents. The early separation and developmental stages mark the onset of hormonal differentiation. This phase is easily recognizable: Kids stop listening, puppies run off and cats destroy the furniture. Then comes sexual maturity. Males get a hormonal surge that results in a drive to confront authority and a growing preoccupation with the opposite sex.
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with people. Nevertheless, the behavioral impact of testosterone and estrogen can be significant. If a dog is from a rescue organization, I try to learn when the animal was altered or if a female has had a litter of puppies. If you’re choosing a specific breed, speak to several breeders about sexual differences. Ask me and I will tell you that what matters most is a dog’s pastlife experiences and innate personality.
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Females may be more confrontational in their interactions or just the opposite, overly friendly, modifying their personalities to stand out to potential suitors. Then voilà – mature adults, ready for reproduction. Altering your pet does arrest some muscle development and inhibit sexual and emotional maturity, but a pet’s attitude will still shift as he or she ages. The sexual differences come down to this:
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Red Lion Inn
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Turf and surf
On the Ocean Course, pros vie with spectacular views By Kim-Marie Evans 65
T
he battle for the Wanamaker Trophy will take place at the 94th PGA Championship this month on Kiawah Island, S.C. The world’s best players will duke it out on the Ocean Course, which has been called the “toughest course in America.” Boasting the most seaside holes of any course in the Northern Hemisphere, the view will undoubtedly put up its own competition. We’ve got the inside scoop for players and hackers alike looking to take part in this epic event. Whether you’ve already bought your tickets or are thinking about booking a trip after the tournament, this guide is for you. Getting there: It’s a quick two-hour flight from New York City to Charleston. Kiawah is just 30 to 45 minutes from the airport. Seeing the tournament: There are still very limited single-day tickets and grounds passes available through the PGA. Of course, StubHub can practically get you into the locker room, for a price. Where to stay: The PGA booked the entire five-star Sanctuary Hotel more than a year ago. Thinking of flying down after the tournament to try your luck on the “Sea Monster” Ocean Course? A standard room will average $400 a night. You can also book anything from an ocean-
front mansion to a budget-conscious condo through Kiawah Resort, (800) 576-1570. If you’re coming for the tournament, you can still find accommodations by visiting explorecharleston.com. Getting in a round: Watching the pros play is great, but it’s no fun if you don’t get a chance to work on your own game. In addition to the Ocean Course, there are four other award-winning courses on the island: Cougar Point, designed by Gary Player; Oak Point, designed by Clyde Johnston; Osprey Point, designed by Tom Fazio; and Turtle Point, designed by Jack Nicklaus. All have limited tee times available during the PGA Championship. If you don’t find the time you’re looking for, visit charlestongolfguide.com for plenty of courses nearby. Where to eat: The restaurants at the Ocean Course are for players only, but rumor has it the pros will be all over the island, so you’ll get your chance to have your hat signed. Keep your Sharpie handy and check out these spots: • Mingo Point Oyster Roast – This traditional Low Country oyster roast is usually a once-a-week affair, however, during the tourney, it’s on for several additional nights. Bring your appetite to this oceanside event because the sheer amount of real barbecue and sweet tea could put even the hungriest man in a food coma.
The oysters are roasted over an open fire and delivered to your table by the shovelful. Enjoy live bluegrass music and a cigar while relaxing around the open campfire. • Ocean Room Lounge – The Ocean Room is an elegant jacket-and-tie, reservations-required restaurant. For those who prefer a less formal setting, you can enjoy the same menu, without reservations or jacket, in the lounge. Sushi is the newest menu offering. • Lobby Bar –This is the most likely spot to spy a pro during the tournament. Grab a cocktail, buy a cigar. Enjoy them both on the outdoor patio, which features rocking chairs and magnificent views of the Atlantic.
• Cherrywood BBQ & Ale House – The newest addition to the Osprey Point clubhouse is a huge hit with golfers. Low Country barbecue and an extensive selection of local ales make this casual spot a great place to stop either on the way to or from the Ocean Course. Oh, and you can enjoy your cigar outside on the patio. • Red’s Ice House – Move off property and get your hands around a fried oyster po’ boy. Red’s is just minutes from the Kiawah gate at Bohicket Marina. You’ll find tourists and locals all at the water’s edge every night for the spectacular sunsets. Stuff to Do – The beach at Kiawah Island is a 10-mile stretch of hardpacked sand. It’s the perfect spot for a long bike ride or a morning run. Surprisingly, the waves are big enough to surf or just paddle-board for the non-Laird Hamilton types. Lessons are available. The waters are famous for sharks, but most people don’t know that you can spy pods of dolphins just offshore. Take a sea kayak out and get closer than you would at Sea World. Make your own legend and book a round at the Ocean Course, featured in “The Legend of Bagger Vance.” Reservations for tee times start Aug. 15. The 18th hole can tell tales of the legendary battle for the Ryder Cup in 1991, the Wanamaker in 2012 and (apologies, Mark Twain) your own good walk spoiled. For more, visit kiawahresort.com. n
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The 18th hole at the Ocean Course.
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67
wheels
Vehicle to motivate Malcolm Pray inspires kids with his cars By Patricia Espinosa
O
wning a luxury car or two in tony Greenwich is not exactly unique. But amassing a collection of more than 50 automobiles, spanning 100 years is, well, extraordinary. Especially when you use it to inspire thousands of underprivileged kids to work hard to realize their potential by daring to dream. The man behind the mission and the impressive collection is longtime Greenwich resident and philanthropist Malcolm Pray. For more than 40 years, Pray owned car dealerships in the Greenwich area – a golden stable that included VW, Porsche, Saab, Nissan, Infiniti and Audi (the first Audi dealership in the U.S. and the largest – until he sold the business in 1999 to devote himself to his children’s foundation.) About 100 feet from the border of Greenwich on Bedford Banksville Road in Bedford is the Pray Achievement Center.
Built in 2000 with the purpose of teaching entrepreneurship to young people and inspiring careers, Pray uses his distinguished collection as a vehicle to motivate kids, just as a Delahaye motivated him when he spied the French auto as an 11-year-old visitor to the 1939 New York World’s Fair. “This was a moment that changed my life. I wanted that car more than anything. In 1964, I bought that very car, which gave birth to the Pray Automobile Collection.” Since opening its doors, the Achievement Center has played host to more than 7,000 students and hundreds of “Cars and Cocktails” events to benefit numerous charities, including the Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich and the Boy Scouts, an organization near and dear to the Life Scout’s heart. He uses many of the guiding principles he learned as a Scout in a booklet he hands out to young visitors titled “How to Be a Millionaire,” which teaches such concepts as valuing your reputation, trustworthiness and pride in
your conduct. Tragedy struck in 1986 when the father of four’s youngest child, Malcolm III, died shortly after the car he was driving crashed into a stone wall on North Street about a mile from the Pray Achievement Center. The accident became the impetus for helping children. Pray credits his son for the decision to build the center. “I got a message from Malcolm and God to sell the business and do this. Malcolm is up there directing with God,” he says with a smile. With a burgeoning business, Pray was able to fuel his passion for collecting cars. So much so that at one time he owned more than 80 automobiles. “To be a collector you need three things – money, space and passion.” They’re three of the things the auto aficionado has in spades.
A French “mistress”
Today the collection has been edited
Top, a 1935 Amilcar Pegase Roadster. Malcolm Pray’s crown jewel, a stunning 1937 Delahaye type 135M Figoni et Falaschi Cabriolet. Photographs Courtesy of Pray Achievement Center.
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down to 50 works of automotive art, because that’s truly what they are. The most significant is his crown jewel and first love, a 1937 Delahaye Type 135M Figoni et Falaschi Cabriolet. As a tribute and gift to her husband, wife Natalie wrote a book, “Malcolm’s French Mistress,” about the car and their adventures together. It includes the time in 1994 when the pair literally took the show on the road, winning awards at Concours d’Elegance events throughout the United States and appearing in England, Scotland and France. Written tongue-in-cheek, Natalie describes the car as having “...a fabulous body, and sweeping fender skirts that flirt with the road. Her flawless ivory skin shines like satin. Deep blue brushstrokes contoured over covered wheels give the illusion of sensuality in motion. “She went to Palm Beach in the winter and breezed along Round Hill Road in the summer, to polo and to parties. A topless lady, the Delahaye likes sunshine and fair weather.” And so does his 1953 Sunbeam Alpine, which was famously featured in the Cary Grant and Grace Kelly movie, “To Catch a Thief.” Indeed, the majority of the collection contains some of the most coveted “topless ladies,” including a 1937 Bugatti Type 57C bodied by Van Vooren, a 1935 Amilcar Pegase Roadster, a 1957 BMW 507 Roadster, a 1957 Porsche Speedster, and a 1961 red (is there any other color?) Ferrari. Though the collection is an eclectic mix, each car is significant to Pray, either because of a personal connection or from a historical perspective. His purchase of a revolutionary 1909 Ford Model T was inspired by Henry Ford’s story of going broke several times before he succeeded. Sometimes, however, it simply comes down to sheer beauty. “It’s chemistry, just like when you go to a cocktail party and meet somebody. I go to auctions and I see something, I’m like a little kid in the candy store.” Born in Manhattan and raised in Greenwich, the 84-year-old spent much of his youth hearing stories about what a wonderful life his family used to have before losing a fortune in the Great Depression. Perhaps it was that experience that
instilled in him a great desire to achieve the success and financial rewards that had eluded his family. But the young boy struggled in school and wasn’t particularly athletic. With a less than stellar education and no money, the young man, straight from Air Force duty, began his career as a car salesman in 1955 in a small foreign car dealership on Greenwich’s Boston Post Road. A born salesman, it wasn’t long before Pray was sales manager, and in 1964 he founded the first of what would be many dealerships, selling Volkswagens. It’s that drive and passion that Pray is trying to impart to young visitors at his Achievement Center. “The cars are a way for me to prove to these kids that I have become an achiever on my own, and they can, too.” Pray greets every visitor that walks through the door with a firm handshake and a warm hello, including visitors like student Shiann, who’s been inspired by him. As she wrote to him, “You opened my eyes to the endless opportunities that may come my way if I try, always believe and do my best.”
The “Fall Guy”
A longtime Republican, Pray has raised funds for former Gov. John Rowland, for-
mer Congressman Christopher Shays and now Mitt Romney in his presidential bid. In June, Pray was one of 800 top donors invited to a three-day retreat at the Chateaux at Silver Lake in Deer Valley, Utah, where he mingled with the candidate. But it’s not all fundraising and mentoring kids for this bon vivant. Known for his lavish parties – he once hosted a sit-down, black-tie affair for 900 in his backyard – the connoisseur knows how to have a good time. This year, The Harpoon Club (a byinvitation-only Greenwich men’s club whose sole mission is “to preserve the sense of humor of the people of Greenwich”) chose Pray as its “Fall Guy.” Last month, more than 200 men gathered at Greenwich Country Club to roast, or more appropriately, “harpoon,” Pray. As is customary, after the harpooning is done, the recipient is presented with the signature harpoon, and then it’s time for the rebuttal. The moment of truth comes when all wait to see just how funny the chosen Fall Guy is. The consummate salesman didn’t disappoint with his humorous response and surprise ending that had stunning USO Girls singing patriotic songs. It’s creating those kinds of special moments, whether for his friends or deserving kids, that make Pray’s motor run. n
Malcom Pray. Photograph by Sinead Deane.
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Meaty matters Butcher shop embraces nose-to-tail concept By Mary Shustack Photograph by Sinead Deane
R
yan Fibiger stands behind the counter of Saugatuck Craft Butchery, chatting away as he forms the most generous of burgers, by hand, one at a time. He eases each one onto the scale before wrapping the lot in paper for a patiently waiting customer. It’s all completed without a shred of Styrofoam or a stretch of plastic wrap in sight. This easygoing transaction on a random summer afternoon is typical of how things go at this Westport shop, which opened this past November as an “old-fashioned butcher shop with modern-day ideals.” Saugatuck Craft Butchery, a bright and airy destination along the Saugatuck River, is as far from the typical supermarket experience as you can get. Discerning customers will find custom cuts of meat sourced from small local farms where animals are pastureraised and 100-percent grass-fed. Nothing sold here will ever contain antibiotics, hormones or pesticides. It’s all part of a concept that emphasizes whole-animal butchery, education and the creation of community. In addition to the meat, the shop offers prepared foods, does wholesale for restaurants, catering for private customers and even classes. It’s all quite a ways from where Michigan-raised Fibiger was a few years ago – in the heart of Manhattan’s financial industry. Fibiger and his wife, Katherine, moved to her native county four years ago from the city. Settling into Bridgeport’s Black Rock neighborhood, Fibiger was commuting to Manhattan. “It was a lot,” he says. “I was kind of part of the rat race for a long time.” Considering a career change, Fibiger found the food industry drawing his interest. “My wife, who is smarter than I am, said, ‘There’s no way we’re opening a restaurant,’” he says with a laugh. Having been “reading and exploring just to educate myself,” Fibiger says he decided to look into opening a butcher shop but to “do it in a way that makes sense.” And that meant studying at Fleisher’s Grass-Fed & Organic Meats in Kingston. When friends were taking vacation to the islands, Fibiger says, “I was going upstate to learn to be a butcher.” But it proved the right move. “I really wanted to work with my hands again,” he says. “It doesn’t seem like it is, but there’s a lot of creativity in this busi70
ness.” Fibiger’s friend Paul Nessel also began training and the two began to talk about opening a shop. Today, they are partners, with Nessel serving as head butcher. They are joined by chef Mark Heppermann who handles the prepared foods. “We were just looking for kind of a neighborhood that felt right,” says Fibiger, who now lives in Norwalk. “I like to think of Fairfield County as pretty progressive when it comes to food, but it was a big gamble.” Westport, he says, with an influx of restaurants and gourmet destinations such as Tarry Lodge, is really developing. “We’d like it to be kind of a food mecca,” he says. “When I first moved to Fairfield, I was honestly appalled by the food industry,” he says. In the past few years, Fibiger says he has seen change in both options and attitudes. “We rarely have to talk about price,” Fibiger says. Customers understand what they are paying for here. “I would say the value is significantly higher.” As Fibiger says, a big part of the job is educating customers about the finer points of what the shop does. “Most people can name probably three steaks. We cut, at any point in time, 20 different kinds of steaks.” He says people are starting to understand, for example, that there will only be so many rib-eye steaks each week. “When those are gone, it’s sold out.” The shop sells a steady amount with the weekly sales accounting for the waste-free use of “two full steer, three to four pigs, four to five lambs and dozens and dozens and dozens of chickens and ducks.” And when that is gone, it’s time to head back to one of the sustainable farms that Saugatuck does business with, most within 100 miles. “We pick it all up ourselves,” Fibiger says. That means driving to farms ranging from Meiller Josef in Pine Plains to Millstone Farm in Wilton, from Ox Hollow Farm in Roxbury to River & Glen in Warminster, Pa. “We’re always looking for more,” he says. “You can never have enough sources.” Or advice. An unofficial rule is that anyone who approaches the counter to serve a customer has to have “three recipes for every item,” he says. “It’s a really big reason why people shop here instead of the supermarkets, because you can ask questions.” Though Fibiger says he is partial to
Ryan Fibiger is an owner of Saugatuck Craft Butchery.
kalbi, Korean-style beef short ribs, his personal favorite in the shop is pork cheeks. “Anything pig-related is my favorite,” he says. “Beef is fine. Beef is beef. Beef is the American meat. That’s been the other challenge, getting people who come in for a steak, getting them to leave with a pork chop.” The shop is the place to find the unique, from lamb loin chops to ground beef and bacon to Irish bangers to pork brisket. Prepared foods such as cowboy chili join local artisanal cheeses, charcuterie, organic vegetables, eggs and products such as poultry rub. “I had a lot of trepidation about opening this kind of business outside the city,” Fibiger says, though he knew the concept was viable. “It’s worked in New York, in Chicago. It’s worked in San Francisco and it’s worked in Los Angeles.” And so far, the early success, Fibiger says, is proving that “people get it… I think the best part is the positive way we’ve been embraced by the community.” And part of that community is Amanda
Cooley of Black Rock, a customer “since the day it opened.” She’s here on a recent afternoon for some supplies, including ground lamb to make meatballs for her 11-month-old son again. “It’s not your typical meat shop,” she says. “I love the concept of nose-to-tail and responsible raising and processing and butchering.” And she has been continually impressed by the way Fibiger and Nessel approached their new venture. “They really committed to learning a craft, which is admirable,” she adds. Embracing the principles behind the shop is important, but it’s also about what Saugatuck Craft Butchery enables Cooley to put on her table that keeps her – and many others – coming back. As she says, “You can taste the difference.” For more information on Saugatuck Craft Butchery, at 575 Riverside Ave. in Westport, call (203) 226-6328 or visit craftbutchery.com. n
wine&dine
Real men drink Rosé By Geoff Kalish, MD
Men drinking rosé at a festival on Newport, R.I. Photograph by Carlene Hastings.
Do real men drink pink? Apparently, yes. Retail shops in Westchester and Fairfield counties are reporting a dramatic rise in the sales of Rosé. When shopkeepers are asked who’s drinking all this wine, the answer is uniformly “everyone” – though they’re quick to point out that what’s primarily being purchased are not sweet, fruity white Zinfandels from California but dry, fragrant thirst-quenchers from Provence. That observation is bolstered by a 62-percent increase in exports of these wines to the United States in the past year. “What we’re seeing in the U.S. market reflects a global trend,” says Julie Peterson, a spokeswoman for the U.S. office of the Vins de Provence trade group. Among the reasons is the realization that pink drinks aren’t only for women, with Rosés offering a welcome alternative to other warmweather quaffs. It’s a message that the males of the species have taken to heart. At a recent tasting of more than a dozen Rosés from Provence – conducted at my home among five married couples – the men seemed more responsive to these wines than the women, noting that the vintages were perfect to mate with a wide range of fare or to sip alone on the back porch on a hot summer day instead of a gut-busting beer. Indeed, some informal surveys reveal that a major driving force behind the sales increase of Rosés from Provence is the association of these wines with a healthy Mediterranean lifestyle and diet – a concept that has caught on particularly with men who strive to be physically fit. So how are these wines from Provence produced to differ so markedly from the syrupy stuff from California? Most commonly, Rosé is made from red grapes by letting the skins have very brief contact with the juice before fermenting so as to pick up a bit of color and flavor, but not astringent tannin. It can also be produced by mixing red and white wine, but this process is thought of as inferior and illegal in Provence. The degree of sweetness is determined by the ripeness of the grapes at the time of harvest – the riper the grapes the more natural sugar they contain – and the extent to which fermentation with yeast converts the natural sugar to alcohol and water. Very ripe grapes and/or incomplete conversion leave more than a touch of residual sugar –
a frequent finding in white Zinfandel, but not so with most Rosés from Provence. A major factor in the production of the fragrant bouquet and crisp taste of rosé is controlling the temperature of the fermentation process, usually accomplished by the procedure taking place in large stainless steel tanks fitted with special equipment to run coolant around the outside surface. Following fermentation, the wine is usually treated like a white with some amount of time generally spent in stainless steel or concrete tanks to allow for the particles to drop to the bottom of the tank (clarification). Bottling generally takes place within a year of the harvest. Because they are quite sensitive to heat and light, Rosés from Provence, once bottled, should be consumed young. In fact, bottles on store shelves more than three years from vintage date rarely show the optimum fruity bouquet and taste and crisp finish so characteristic of these wines. Also, over-chilling causes a masking of the flavor of these wines with a resultant tartness. As to mating with food, try them with mild cheeses, any of an array of hors d’oeuvres, including pigs-in-a-blanket, mini quiches and spanakopita; appetizers like shrimp, oysters and Caprese or Caesar salads; and main-course fare like cold-poached salmon, barbecued chicken and even veal chops. However, Rosés make poor matches for beef, lamb and sweet desserts.
Wine notes
Based on two recent tastings among knowledgeable consumers, the following were the half-dozen most popular Rosés from Provence (in alphabetical order) from a total of 18 locally available brands. Of note, all showed a pale pink hue, the bouquet and taste of strawberries and ripe peaches and a crisp finish. What set the favorite brands apart was a good balance of fruit and acidity as compared with those less preferred, which seemed to lack either adequate fruit and/or acidity so that they seemed dull on the palate. Typical retails prices for 750ml bottles are provided. 2010 Chateau d’Escalans ($16) 2010 Chateau Sainte Marguetire Grande Reserve ($26) 2010 Domaine Houchart ($10) 2010 Domaine Ott Les Domaniers ($16) 2010 L’espirit de Sainte Marguerite ($16) 2010 Whispering Angel ($14) n 71
Culinary kick By Zoë Zellers Photographs by Thomas McGovern
F
eleven14’s executive chef Francois Kwaku-Dongo at work.
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rançois Kwaku-Dongo – the man behind the seasonal American menu at the eleven14 Kitchen at Greenwich’s new J House hotel – is a French-influenced chef who grew up on a cocoa farm on West Africa’s Côte d’Ivoire and climbed the culinary ladder under the watchful eye of Wolfgang Puck. Yet despite creating an inspired cuisine drawing on his childhood home, travels and stints at marquee restaurants in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Greenwich, François still insists the food he has best mastered is homemade pasta. Go figure. Prior to taking up the whisk at eleven14 Kitchen, the James Beard-nominated chef served as executive chef at another French-based Greenwich restaurant, L’escale. At both restaurants, he has maintained the same philosophy of pure basic cooking that relies on high-quality, sustainable, seasonal ingredients; locally sourced meats and intriguing spices. Expect rarefied versions of marinated tuna carpaccio, spicy prime beef tartare, roasted local beet and artisan Burrata salad, flat noodle pasta with lobster, duck sausage pizza, roasted smoked pork chop and simple roasted chicken. Though he came to New York in 1981 at age 23, François has stayed true to the food lessons first learned in his native country. Growing up, he says, “My mother was the greatest influence in my life as far as a cook.” He remembers eating “mostly West African staples – a lot of stews, what they call here surf and turf, a lot of meats and shellfish cooked together, served with either a bowl of rice or pounded root vegetables like bananas and yams. …We eat very seasonal stuff and the emphasis is less on cooking technique and more on the influence of spices,” he says, listing curry, chili paste, wet chili and ground peppers as standards. The Greenwich resident, who continues to make trips with his wife and two children to his homeland, recalls going to the market where vendors would offer all kinds of new foods to try. He still appreciates growing up close to the farms his dinners would come from. Yet despite his young foodie fascination, François’ cooking experience didn’t take off till he crossed the Atlantic. “When I moved here, I had never cooked professionally before and my first job was actually working in an Italian restaurant on the Upper East Side. A friend of mine had a connection with a chef named Francesco Antonucci, who had Remi restaurant. I started with him as a night cleaner.” “Francesco gave chances to a lot of people in the kitchen, and I was one of the lucky ones who got connected to the young chef he brought from Italy, and he showed me how to make sauces and eventually I learned to cook pasta the way Francesco wanted to have it,” says François, who ultimately became sous chef at Remi. While working at Remi, François befriended a coworker named Klaus, who was studying hotel management at Cornell University. “We became very, very good friends and he started telling me about his brother in Los Angeles, Wolfgang Puck,” says François, laughing, “I didn’t know who Wolfgang was or who Julia Child was. I was just a young African guy who was making spaghetti in New York so I didn’t really worry about who these people were.” Yet in 1988, François was sent to Los Angeles to meet with Wolfgang and work as a trainee on what just hap-
pened to be the night of the Academy Awards. “So I get to Los Angeles and it’s 80 degrees and there are palm trees everywhere – such a contrast from New York – and at the time I said, ‘Okay, for a young African kid this is where paradise is.’” Soon after, Francesco gave his consent to let the young François move to Los Angeles to work as a pasta cook at Spago. For the record, critic Ruth Reichl, editor-in-chief of the late, lamented Gourmet magazine, credits François with introducing California to artisan pasta. “Wolfgang would come to me and he’d say, ‘Okay, Francois, will you make a little risotto for Sean Connery? Will you make a little risotto for (Sidney) Poitier?’ (Celebrities) would come say ‘hello’ to me and I got to know a lot of them. After I worked at Spago for three or five months, I became the sous chef. “In that process, the chef that Wolfgang had, had to be moved to another restaurant and so then within six months, I became the chef of one of the best restaurants in America. But before I took that position Wolfgang sent me to France.” It was François’ three-month-long formal traveling and cooking education that would have a lasting effect on his cooking methods and presentations. “Because I spoke the language before, it was easier for me. But as a culinary professional, it was very, very eyeopening, because what I’m trying to do here (at eleven14) is about finding the best ingredient and doing the least with it, and that’s what I learned in France. They don’t transform the product. The technique that they have keeps the integrity of the product and gives you the best dishes they can find with the product.” Soon after, François was named a partner and opened Spago in Chicago, which he ran for eight years. “It was the first time I was away from L.A. and repre-
senting Wolfgang away from him. It was tremendous responsibility. I was probably 36 or 37. I became the Wolfgang Puck of Chicago and there I got to meet Oprah, Michael Jordan and all these people who’d come and patronize me. They were proud to see me in the position I was in with Wolfgang trusting me.” With the face of the game changing in the restaurant industry, François grins as he talks about his unique experience of being an African chef getting the thumbs-up from African-American legends like the late Whitney Houston and
eleven14’s spicy prime beef tartare with quail egg.
Miles Davis throughout his career. (Davis loved his pasta so much that he presented François with five sketches). Despite his prominence at Wolfgang Puck, a personal mission and business plan inspired him to break away – “I started a chocolate company.” It’s called Omanhene, which means “paramount chief.” “He’s the person who decides what is right and what is wrong. He is the depositor of the truth.” “A friend of mine built a factory in Ghana where they use the cocoa from the farm and transform it into chocolate in the country of origin. It’s important, because I grew up on a cocoa farm. My grandfather had the cocoa farm and I picked cocoa growing up and we turned it
into dried cocoa beans. But I never knew what became of the bean, because we were exporting it overseas to America, France or Belgium to turn into chocolate. “When I was with Wolfgang in L.A. during the Academy Awards, they would do a statue in chocolate and Wolfgang would buy probably $10,000 worth of chocolate to melt into the mold. So I thought, if I were to build a chocolate company and make my own chocolate and it was good enough, maybe Wolfgang and all the chefs in America would buy my chocolate. I didn’t want it to just benefit me but the farmers who grow the raw material, with no middleman.” This goal remained key in François’ decision to become eleven14’s executive chef. Omanhene supplies J House’s kitchen and forthcoming Chocolate Lab. “The emphasis is on quality rather than quantity. And the star is the person who grows and takes care of the beans,” he says, adding that at eleven14 he aims to “show where cocoa was picked, how it is transformed into chocolate blocks and then how it comes here and is served in Greenwich as a chocolate dessert.” He motions toward the exposed pastry station beside the bar, giving a friendly wave. Pastry chef Didier Berlioz uses cocoa sourced from Chef François’ farm to create wonderful spins on desserts like the eleven14, a knock-your-socks-off layered chocolate cake, velvety truffles and chocolate coffee chiffon, in addition to novelties like goat cheese pink peppercorn gelato and zucchini flower napoleon. “Joining J House was about being able to create a restaurant with great food the way that Wolfgang and Francesco taught me,” François says. “But I wanted to add a chocolate element because of where I came from.” Try Chef François Kwaku-Dongo’s menu at Eleven14 Kitchen at the J House, 1114 E. Putnam Ave., Greenwich. Call ( 203).698-6999 for reservations. n
The food, the feeling, the flavor of Provence. For 25 years, La Panetière has been celebrated as Westchester’s premier French restaurant. From outstanding Zagat and New York Times reviews, to recognition by dining critics and patrons. Outstanding cuisine, impeccable service, the charming, flower-filled ambiance of our 1800’s house, our quintessential wine cellar – La Panetière is truly representative of the renowned restaurants and inns of Provence. Enjoy a memorable dining experience with us. Or let us help you create an elegant private or corporate affair, either at our restaurant or off-site.
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Nick’s picks Bollettieri weighs in on the U.S. Open After a whirlwind fortnight at Wimbledon, legendary tennis coach – and onetime Pelham resident – Nick Bollettieri is back on this side of the pond with his predictions for the U.S. Open that begins Aug. 27: 1. Rafael Nadal (who went out in the second round of Wimbledon, due in part to tendinitis) will not ever do that again in a Grand Slam tournament. You can put all your possessions on the line that Nadal will be relentless and you will be watching him on the final weekend. 2. Novak Djokovic will not be able to continue winning from just the baseline. He must attack. 3. Andy Murray will have to be even more aggressive, including coming in whenever possible. Yes, he has a super return of a serve, can move beyond perception, and he is as steady as they come, but he must have more winners and come in whenever he can. 4. Roger Federer, what can I say to justify his talent and temperament? There is nothing I can say but I bet you will see him coming in more and more. 5. The rivalry of Nadal-Djokovic is a little out of whack right now because Federer has so much to work with that it lightens it. Possible upsets can come from: • Milos Raonic, although he must be healthy. • Kei Nishikori. I believe he can be in the top 10. • Ryan Harrison. First, he must block out all emotions
and then he will win. • Juan Del Potro, though he is still not 100 percent healthy. • Tomáš Berdych and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who are always dangerous. We Americans will be very keen to see if Andy Roddick and Marty Fish have enough juice to really go for it, and they both deserve it. What has happened to John Isner? He must be ready to erase his results of the past few weeks.
Sam Querrey seems to be getting it back and the time can be no better than the U.S Open. We can see a Serena Williams’ singles championship along with a Williams sisters’ doubles championship as well. Please don’t put aside Maria Sharapova. She is and always will be a player who can win the big ones. If Sabine Lisicki remains calm and not plagued by double faults and unforced errors she can beat the very best of all the players. n
SERVE IT UP. THE TENNIS & SQUASH CLUBS AT CHELSEA PIERS 7 tennis courts • 11 singles squash courts 1 hardcourt doubles squash court • member locker rooms Chelsea Piers Connecticut’s inaugural summer season features Fairfield County’s most extraordinary combination of tennis and squash facilities, programs and instructors. Led by former World #1 squash player Natalie Grainger and Tennis Hall of Famer Gigi Fernandez, members and non-members alike are invited to participate in this summer’s full schedule of programs and tournaments.
SUMMER EVENTS & PROGRAMS (Open to Members & Non-Members) The Tennis Club • 203.989.1800 Youth Summer Camps USTA Adult District Championships (August 3-5) 10 AND UNDER Tournament (August 12) USTA U12, U14 & U16 Tournament (August 18-19) Junior Kick-Off Tournament (August 25-26)
The Squash Club • 203.989.1600 Youth Summer Camps Adult Summer Camp with Natalie Grainger Tuesday ‘Drop In’ & Summer Pro League Matches Wednesday Shot-Gun • Thursday Mixed Socials Saturday Learn to Play Clinics
I-95, Exit 9 • 1 Blachley Road • Stamford, CT • www.chelseapiersCT.com CPCT WAG 8-12.indd 74
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7/20/12 3:08 PM
well
When the cure is worse than the disease Erika Schwartz, MD
T
he bane of all men is prostate cancer. More so than heart disease because of what happens once prostate cancer is suspected. Unfortunately, too often it is addressed with aggressive surgical methods. For the past 40 years, prostatectomies have been the leading method of treatment. These surgeries are not just plain barbaric in the operating room (I’ve seen too many performed), but their aftermath is devastating to the men. Advances in treatment have led to more conservative cyberknife procedures and radiation therapy. Still, the results cannot be measured just by statistical data that reflect long-term survival from prostate cancer; they must be measured in the quality of life for the victims and their families. And we don’t talk enough about that. Men of all ages who have had their prostates removed as soon as their PSA levels started to rise (as determined by a totally unreliable blood test), as well as men who have been subjected to biopsies of the prostate that are extremely painful and often confusing in results, leading to radical surgeries in the name of preventing spread, can attest to the devastation left behind. Incontinence and impotence occur in all cases to some degree. Men define themselves by the ability to perform sexually and the loss of this ability is nothing short of life-altering, leaving them in a deep and often permanent depression. Women whose partners suffer with the disease or worse, the side effects of the treatments, deplore the day they went along with the surgical approach as the best option. I cannot help but be reminded of the vibrant 43-year-old man who came into my office seven years ago with his young wife to consult with me on his situation. His father had died at 50 of metastatic prostate cancer and the man’s PSA had been slowly but consistently climbing over the previous two years. His urologist had seriously recommended he undergo a “prophylactic prostatectomy” so as to not follow in his father’s footsteps. The urologist had also reassured him that all the nerves to the penis would be spared during the surgery so as to prevent incontinence and impotence from being side effects. The man and his wife were in total panic mode and for good reason. They were very well-informed and knew the urologist may have been hoping to avoid
the consequences of potential cancer. But the chances were that the patient was going to sacrifice his quality of life to avoid the unknown. Nevertheless, fear led him. He had the prostatectomy and his pathology showed a mixed bag with parts of the prostate being atypical (not cancer) and other areas clear of any disease. When he emerged from the surgery, the urologist told the wife, all was clear, he had gotten all the prostate out and her husband was safe from prostate cancer. Unfortunately, he was safe from prostate cancer but was never the man he had been before. He did become incontinent and impotent. He wanted to continue having sex with his beautiful wife and had to learn to inject himself in the penis with Caverject as the only way to achieve an erection. You see, Viagra and Cialis work on functioning males. They don’t on postsurgical ones. In time, that procedure became unbearable and he had a penile prosthesis inserted, which made sex a little more spontaneous, though he had no sensation in his organ. Finally, with the passage of time, in spite of reassurances from his doctors that the nerves would heal and he’d be back to normal, the incontinence caused him numerous urinary tract infections and serious intestinal problems from all the antibiotics. He became depressed and had to go on antidepressants, which only served to make him feel even less virile. His doctors found his testosterone levels had plummeted, but told him taking testosterone would be dangerous. I wish this story were the exception, but unfortunately, it is the rule. This is a quiet, unspoken tragedy that occurs in thousands of households every year. Men don’t like to talk about these things and doctors don’t seem to pay them much attention. The goal in medicine is to rid the body of cancer or would-be cancer. The goal should be to keep the man healthy and happy but it isn’t. In 1939, an article published in a prestigious urological journal connected high testosterone levels to prostate cancer in one patient. It started a cycle of more than 60 years of mistreatment and misunderstanding of the role of testosterone in male and prostate health. Testosterone was perceived to be the
fuel for prostate cancer and drugs were developed to wipe out the juice of life from men suspected of having or being treated for prostate cancer. Aging men with flagging libidos and growing beer bellies, couch potatoes with low testosterone levels were prohibited from getting testosterone due to the fear of giving them prostate cancer. Although hundreds of studies following the 1939 report failed to find any connection between prostate cancer and testosterone, it wasn’t until 2007 when a distinguished Harvard professor of urology, Abraham Morgentaler, published an extensive review of all the studies that it became clear testosterone wasn’t harming men’s health. In fact, study after study has shown that testosterone keeps men feeling great, not just sexually but also physically, building muscle, protecting the heart, maintaining brain function and preventing frailty. It was only recently, then, that we realized giving testosterone to men may not only be good for them, but it may even prevent the dreaded prostate cancer. It’s just common sense that testosterone is a good thing for men. If it were the cause of prostate cancer, wouldn’t we see cancer rampant in the young men whose blood streams are overflowing with testosterone? In my practice, I have been treating men with testosterone for almost two decades. The results are amazing. Depressed, haggard, sad men turn into wonderful, happy, positive and loving partners. Maybe, progress is found in doing less, re-evaluating the information we have and turning to the young for some help. And one more thing: Prostate is a very slow-growing cancer. A great Westchester urologist told my 75-year-old dad when he developed prostate cancer that he wouldn’t treat him since his life expectancy was less than the time it would take for the prostate cancer to grow enough to spread. My father died at 76 of a heart attack. With what I know today, I do believe that if we had given him testosterone, it may have extended his wonderful life. Now to me, my father’s doctor was practicing good medicine. We certainly need more doctors to look at men, prostate cancer and testosterone through this empowered prism. For more information, email Dr. Erika at Erika@drerika.com. n
Advances in treatment have led to more conservative cyberknife procedures and radiation therapy. Still, the results cannot be measured just by statistical data that reflect longterm survival from prostate cancer; they must be measured in the quality of life for the victims and their families. And we don’t talk enough about that.
Men of all ages who have had their prostates removed as soon as their PSA levels started to rise (as determined by a totally unreliable blood test), as well as men who have been subjected to biopsies of the prostate that are extremely painful and often confusing in results, leading to radical surgeries in the name of preventing spread, can attest to the devastation left behind.
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well
Guys are getting Botox and more By Michael Rosenberg, MD
T
he latest and most exciting trend in plastic surgery is not a particular procedure or a new approach but a new de-
mographic. Men are beginning to embrace the concept of cosmetic surgery in numbers never previously seen, and the procedures they are interested in have started to change as well. Though women still dominate requests for plastic surgery in the United States, men had more than 1.1 million cosmetic procedures in 2010, including 203,000 surgical procedures and 918,000 minimally invasive procedures. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), men accounted for 9 percent of all procedures in 2010, up 2 percent from 2009. Men are clearly more interested in cosmetic surgery. So what are some of our motivations and what procedures are we most interested in? In the 17 years I have been in practice in Westchester, more men come in with a desire to look younger and fitter. With
But not every guy needs Botox... yet.
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the difficult economic picture we have experienced over the past years, looking less tired and younger is perceived as advantageous in the workplace. In our increasingly tech-savvy offices, the perception is that younger people have an edge, and more men are looking for a little help in this area. Many men are more active and are living longer and healthier lives and want their outside appearance to match the inner sense of vigor that they have as well. In addition, society as a whole has become more open about cosmetic surgery than ever before. With the multitude of media attention on this subject, men have been thinking about enhancing their appearance more. A recent study out of UCLA (yes I know, not far from Tinseltown) found that 23 percent of men were interested in plastic surgery, and recently, more of them are acting on this interest. Historically, the most common procedures in men were body-sculpting operations such as liposuction and excision of gynecomastia, with facial procedures such as eyelid surgery and hair transplantation also very popular. Newer and less invasive approaches have helped increase the breadth and range of procedures men undergo, and this trend is growing. For example, for men with excess breast tissue, often the extra skin would need to be excised and this would lead to more visible scars after surgery. With the advancement of techniques such as tumescent liposuction and combined laser and liposuction techniques such as SmartLipo, we can achieve better results with less extensive scars. In particular, the capability of SmartLipo to help contract the skin following liposuction has been particularly helpful in the treatment of male gynecomastia. The decrease in downtime following surgery is also an advantage for many men.
As for facial rejuvenation, eyelid surgery to remove the excess skin and prominent fat pads associated with a tired appearance remains the most common facial procedure in men in my practice. Following a seven-to-10 day recovery period, the dark, baggy eyelids associated with a lack of sleep are gone and patients are left with a refreshed appearance. Scars are hidden in the crease of the upper eyelids and in the shadow just below the lower eyelash line or, in some cases, can even be completely hidden on the inner surface of the lower lid. Over the past five years, however, more of my male patients are considering facial procedures beyond the eyelids, and this trend is confirmed by national statistics. The most commonly requested procedures are Botox and facial fillers, but facelifts are now also on the agenda for discussion. Botox and fillers provide excellent short-term results but need to be repeated periodically. With the availability of shortscar techniques and quicker recovery periods, facelift surgery has also been increasing in men, up 14 percent in the past two years, according to ASPS data. For many men, the key is being able to get back to work more quickly. For men considering facial surgery, be aware that the blood supply to the face in men is richer in vessels and there is an increased chance of postoperative bleeding. Also, any scarring after surgery can be more difficult to hide than in women, because men don’t wear makeup or style their hair over their faces the way many women do. As I have stressed in previous columns, if you are considering any type of surgery, do your homework and make sure your surgeon has experience with the surgical procedures you are interested in. Please send questions or comments to mrosenberg@plasticsurgeryweb.com. n
worthy WHERE TO FIND MENSWEAR 7 FOR ALL MANKIND The Westchester, 125 Westchester Ave. White Plains, NY 10601 (914) 949-4385 7forallmankind.com 20 PEACOCKS 20 Clinton St., New York, NY 10002 (212) 387-8660 20peacocks.com ASCOT CHANG 110 Central Park South New York, NY 10019 (212) 759-3333 ascotchang.com A/X ARMANI EXCHANGE 125 Westchester Ave., Suite 2330 White Plains, NY 10601 (914) 644-8113 armaniexchange.com BARNEYS NEW YORK 2151 Broadway New York, NY 10023 (646) 335-0978 barneys.com BEAU BRUMMEL 347 W. Broadway New York, NY 10013 (212) 219-2666 beaubrummelny.com BERGDORF GOODMAN 754 W. 58th St. New York, NY 10019 (212) 753-7300 bergdorfgoodman.com BLOOMINGDALE’S 175 Bloomingdale Road White Plains, NY 10605 (914) 684-6300 bloomingdales.com BOSS STORE The Westchester, 125 Westchester Ave. White Plains, NY 10601 (914) 681-1955 hugoboss.com BROOKS BROTHERS 100 Greyrock Place, Stamford, CT 06901 (203) 359-2300 181 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich, CT 06830 (203) 863-9288 136 Main St., Westport, CT 06880 (203) 226-7678 987 Boston Post Road, Darien, CT 06820 (203) 656-1825 brooksbrothers.com BURBERRY The Westchester, 125 Westchester Ave. White Plains, NY 10601 (914) 997-7770 burberry.com CALVIN KLEIN 650 Bluebird Court Central Valley, NY 10917 (845) 928-6550 calvinklein.com CLUB MONACO The Westchester 125 Westchester Ave. White Plains, NY 10601 (888) 733-6410 clubmonaco.com COLE HAAN The Westchester 125 Westchester Ave. White Plains, NY 10601 (914) 997-7480 colehaan.com DOLCE & GABBANA 843 Grapevine Court Central Valley, NY 10917 (845) 928-724 dolcegabbana.com
DOYLE MUESER 19 Christopher St. New York, NY 10014 (347) 982-4382 doylemueser.com
MITCHELLS OF WESTPORT 670 Post Road East Westport, CT 06880 (203) 227-5165 mitchellstores.com
EDWARD TUNICK, MEN’S CLOTHIER 340 Heights Road Darien, CT 06820 (203) 655-1688 edwardtunick.com
NEIMAN MARCUS 2 E. Maple Ave., White Plains, NY 10601 (914) 428-2000 neimanmarcus.com
FERRAGAMO The Westchester 125 Westchester Ave. White Plains, NY 10601 (914) 946-0604 ferragamo.com FREEMANS SPORTING CLUB 8 Rivington St. New York, NY 10002 (212) 673-3209 shop.freemanssportingclub.com GUCCI The Westchester 125 Westchester Ave. White Plains, NY 10601 (914) 683-1428 gucci.com JAMES PEARSE 60 Mercer St. New York NY 10013 (212) 334-3501 433 Evergreen Court Central Valley NY 10917 (845) 928-0601 jamesperse.com J. CREW 100 Greyrock Place Suite G117, Stamford, CT 06901 (203) 406-9673 jcrew.com JOS A. BANK 36 E. Main St., Mount Kisco, NY 10549 (914) 241-2701 64 Purchase St., Rye, NY 10580 (914) 967-2587 409 E. Putnam Ave., Cos Cob, CT 06807 (203) 869-6087 701 White Plains Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583 (914) 725-9855 osbank.com KENNETH COLE The Westchester, 125 Westchester Ave. White Plains, NY 10601 (914) 684-2653 kennethcole.com LACOSTE The Westchester, 125 Westchester Ave. White Plains, NY 10601 (914) 948-0971 lacoste.com LUCKY BRAND 244 Greenwich Ave. Greenwich, CT 06830 (203) 861-4039 luckybrand.com MARC BY MARC JACOBS MEN’S 382 Bleecker St. New York, NY 10014 (212) 929 0304 marcjacobs.com MEN’S WEARHOUSE 360 Tarrytown Road White Plains, NY 10601 (914) 328-0581 menswearhouse.com MICHAEL KORS The Westchester 125 Westchester Ave. White Plains, NY 10601 (914) 422-0000 279 Greenwich Ave. Greenwich, CT 06830 (203) 618-1200 michaelkors.com
NORDSTROM 135 Westchester Ave., White Plains, NY 10601 (914) 946-1122 nordstrom.com ODIN NEW YORK 328 E. 11th St., New York, NY 10003 (212) 475-0666 odinnewyork.com PAUL STUART 10 E. 45th St., New York, NY 10017 (212) 682-0320 paulstuart.com POLO RALPH LAUREN 265 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich, CT 06830 (203) 869-2054 ralphlauren.com RAG & BONE 100 Christopher St., New York, NY 10014 (212) 727-2999 rag-bone.com RALPH LAUREN 51 Elm St., New Canaan, CT 06840 (203) 972-3144 265 Greenwich Ave. Greenwich, CT 06830 (203) 869-2054 ralphlauren.com RICHARDS 359 Greenwich Ave. Greenwich, CT 06830 (203) 622-0551 mitchellstores.com ROBERTS DEPARTMENT STORE 342 Mamaroneck Ave. Mamaroneck, NY 10543 (914) 698-0969 SAKS FIFTH AVENUE 140 Atlantic St. Stamford, CT 06901 (203) 323-3100 saksfifthavenue.com TOMMY HILFIGER The Westchester 125 Westchester Ave. White Plains, NY 10601 (914) 428-4888 usa.tommy.com TRUE RELIGION The Westchester 125 Westchester Ave. White Plains, NY 10601 (914) 686-0896 truereligionbrandjeans.com UGG AUSTRALIA 600 Madison Ave. New York, NY 10022 (212) 845-9905 saksfifthavenue.com VINCE 125 Westchester Ave., No. 1310 White Plains, NY 10601 (914) 993-9339 vince.com VINEYARD VINES 145 Greenwich Ave. Greenwich, CT 06830 (203) 661-1803 Vineyardvines.com ZEMO MEN’S STORE 242 Bedford St. Stamford, CT 06901 (203) 323-0201 kpsearch.com
when&where THROUGH TUESDAY AUGUST 28 ‘ARTFULL LIVING DESIGNER SHOWHOUSE’
The showcase illustrates how art can be comfortably integrated into livable interiors; lunch and lectures with ArtFull Living’s interior designers every Tuesday, 12:30 p.m.; Glassbury Court in Cold Spring, 3370 Route 9, Cold Spring. $40. (845) 265-3618.
THROUGH SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 2 ART EXHIBIT
The Center for Contemporary Printmaking hosts its Third Biennial Footprint International Exhibition, gallery hours 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Sundays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays; Matthews Park, 299 West Ave., Norwalk. (203) 8997999, contemprints.org.
THROUGH SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 9 ‘GILDED AGE MAGIC’
An exhibit exploring the evolution of modern magic performances, museum hours noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays; Hudson River Museum, 511 Warburton Ave., Yonkers. $5, $3 seniors (62 and older) and youth (ages 5 to 16). (914) 9634550, hrm.org.
FRIDAY AUGUST 3 ‘TRIO CAVATINA’
Chamber music by Trio Cavatina in the Spanish Courtyard at Caramoor, 8 p.m.; 149 Girdle Ridge Road, Katonah. $35, $25, $15. (914) 232-1252, caramoor.org.
AUGUST 5 THROUGH SUNDAY AUGUST 26 SUMMER TUNES
SUNDAY AUGUST 12 ‘FAMILY DINNER WITH THE CHEF’
Empire City Casino hosts a concert series every Sunday at 5:30 p.m. opening acts, 6 p.m. main event; 810 Yonkers Ave., Yonkers. Tickets start at $22.50. (914) 968-4200, empirecitycasino.com.
Cooking demonstration and a three-course familystyle meal designed and hosted by chefs from Mario Batali’s restaurants, 5:30 to 8 p.m. Aug. 12, The New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx. $60, $30 children. (718) 817-8659, nybg. org.
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 8 ‘DANCING AT DUSK’
TUESDAY AUGUST 14 ‘BEER AND BARNACLES’
Grupo Ribeiro performs Brazilian music with a Bahia-themed show, Caramoor, Friends Field, 149 Girdle Ridge Road, Katonah. $10, $5 children. (914) 232-1252, caramoor.org.
Moderne Barn hosts its second annual reception featuring beer from The Peekskill Brewery paired with a variety of passed hors d’oeuvres and fresh raw seafood by executive chef Ethan Kostbar, 6:30 to 9 p.m., $55 (plus tax and gratuity). (914) 7300001, modernebarn.com.
‘WOMEN IN THE ARMY’
Tour 236 years of women’s service in the U.S. military with Dr. Morton Ender, professor of sociology at West Point, 1:30 p.m.; Hudson River Museum, 511 Warburton Ave., Yonkers. (914) 963-4550, hrm.org.
THURSDAY AUGUST 9 THROUGH MONDAY AUGUST 13 ‘CURATOR TOURS’
TUESDAY AUGUST 21 SILVERMINE SHOWCASE
An opening reception for the Silvermine School of Art Faculty Show, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; 1037 Silvermine Road, New Canaan. (203) 966-9700, ext. 22, silvermine.org.
Judith A. Pavelock, curator of Boscobel’s exhibition “Through the Cheval Glass, A Study of Form and Attribution,” provides an in-depth tour of the Federalist furniture in the Boscobel mansion, 10 a.m. Aug. 9 and Aug. 11, 2 p.m. Aug. 12 and Aug. 13; Route 9D, Garrison. (845) 265-3638, boscobel. org.
FRIDAY AUGUST 3 THROUGH SUNDAY AUGUST 5 ‘LEGALLY BLOND’
White Plains Performing Arts Center and Harrison Summer Theater present the musical “Legally Blonde,” directed by Jeremy Quinn with musical direction by Stephen Ferri and choreography by Lexie Frare, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. $23, $17 students. (914) 328-1600, wppac.com.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4 ‘BÉLA FLECK AND THE MARCUS ROBERTS TRIO’
Grammy Award-winning banjo player Béla Fleck performs with the Marcus Roberts Trio, which is known for its virtuosic style, 8 p.m.; Caramoor, Venetian Theater, 149 Girdle Ridge Road, Katonah. $52.50, $37.50, $20, $15. (914) 232-1252, caramoor.org. Judith A. Pavelock, curator of Boscabel’s “Through the Cheval Glass.”
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Albdenour
Dirusso
Gonzalez
Kaplan
Laitman
Long
wit wonders (of men): What’s the one thing a woman ought to know about a man?
“Surprises once in a while go a long way. For example, women could pick up the check at dinner every once and awhile to surprise their guy. It’s a nice thing to do and the guy will appreciate that.” – Morgan Albdenour Auditor, Westchester County, Somers resident “When we ask you to leave us alone, we mean leave us alone. If a guy doesn’t call you, he doesn’t like you. Men aren’t very deep. Women should know when to stop talking. We’re different from women. Not to say all women are the same, but they should give enough space. Relationships are useless in the suffocating, jealous mode.” – John DiRusso Account manager, HITLI, Queens, Hopewell resident “Men need their space. It’s important because if a relationship gets suffocating, it causes a lot of unnecessary fights. When and if they have problems, it’s best to give time before discussing them. Sometimes you need time to think things over.” – Nick Gonzalez Auditor, Westchester County, Yonkers resident “We’re a lot simpler than most women think. We just try to make you girls happy.” – Justin Kaplan Tattoo artist, Big Joe and Sons Tattoo,White Plains, White Plains resident
Miller
O’Dell
“One thing I know is men are worried about being liked in return.” – Joel Laitman Attorney, Cowen Milestone, Manhattan, White Plains resident “We get over things easier. Once the fight is over with, we don’t like to drag things out. We like to move on, not prolong the argument. Maybe at first looks are the most important. But for a long-term relationship, I want someone to be with, someone with an outgoing personality, someone who is kind and caring.” – Mike Long Lawyer’s assistant, district attorney’s office, Westchester, Westchester resident “When we’re out with guys, it’s guy time. Women need to respect that. Don’t call and text all the time.” – Mikkel Miller Security, The Ritz Carlton, Westchester, White Plains Resident “Women should know what their man’s aspirations are. They need to know where he’s going to be in 20 years.” – David O’Dell Intern, Westchester County Government, White Plains resident
Prince
Rakow
“Women need to know when to leave us alone when were watching TV. I like to be massaged. I’m a needy individual. When I say I’m going to do something, I’ll get it done. With that being said, I’ll do things for the woman if she earns it. If she treats the man well and respects the man, he’ll do things for her.” – Mark Prince Operations manager, Tri-State High Rise Services, Poughkeepsie, Poughkeepsie resident “I think the one thing a woman should know about her man is his handicap on the golf course.” – Rick Rakow Rakow Commercial Realty Group, White Plains, Pleasantville resident “Two words: net worth.”
– Phil Reisman Columnist, Yonkers resident
“Women should know that men aren’t always hard asses. They do have a sweet side. You just have to take the time to find it. Guys want to be loved as well as women do.” – Victor Sandoval Server, Elements Food and Spirits, White Plains, Mount Kisco resident
Reisman
Sandoval
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Bader
Carrol
Gonzales
Gordon
Hager
wit wonders (of women): Who are the men you love (historical or otherwise)?
“Well, this is an easy question to answer because this man will always be the man that I love the most and that is my father, Seth Bader. His kind heart, incredible work ethic and focus on family values are all things that I strive to keep with me as I venture into adulthood. I have incredible respect and admiration for how he was able to balance being a hands-on, involved and loving father while running his own law firm since he was only 28.” – Madelyn Bader Public Relations/sales coordinator, The Ritz-Carlton Westchester, New York City resident
“James Taylor for his sexiness, sensitivity and sound I never tire of. William Shakespeare for his genius with the English language. Jon Stewart for his intelligence and original humor. Colin Firth for his charm, ability to play diverse roles and his activism in African causes. Adalai Stevenson for his eloquence, liberal beliefs and guts. Too bad he’s not around now. They’re all either cute, funny or brilliant – and some are a little of each. And, of course, there’s my husband who has it all!” – Jill Gordon Artist, Westport resident
“John Legend has a good heart and good meaning with his lyrics. He is a great musician and you can really tell from his interviews and his performances that he’s a true gentleman. He represents himself well.” – Jessica Carrol General Manager, Blackbear Saloon, White Plains, Thornwood resident
“Well... let’s see. I’ve always been fascinated by Mahatma Gandhi. I remember seeing the movie starring Sir Ben Kingsley as a young girl and was devastated to know that he got killed for expressing his beliefs – love and kindness. Later on in life, I came upon one of his most powerful quotes: ‘An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.’ He wanted all of us to live in a loving and peaceful world and strive to accomplish this. I follow that quote to this day and hope that some day we will all be able to share that kindness and love. For the present man, I love and admire my father, John Hager.” — Daniele Hager Founder, We Sing For The World, New York City resident
“Ricky Martin. He’s secure of his sexuality. He’s a father of two children and an excellent dancer.” – Karina Gonzales Insurance department, Visiting Nurse Services in White Plains, White Plains resident
“I like Chris Hemsworth. He’s so attractive, and he’s really manly. Plus, anyone who can play a superhero that well, there’s something to be said for that.” – Alex Harris Server, Blackbear Saloon, White Plains, Katonah resident
Harris
Kavanagh
McColL
“My father and my two older brothers are amazing men. They have set the bar pretty high and influence many of the relationships I have with other men in both my business and social life. If Wikipedia had a category for my family, the description would read: ‘Kind, generous, loving, humorous and wonderful dinner and movie companions.’” – Linda Kavanagh Owner, MaxEx Public Relations L.L.C., Stamford, Stamford resident “James Dean. Because he’s the classic movie star that died too young. And Roger Federer because he is the greatest tennis player of all time. I just love him. It’s a combination of his personality, the fact that he’s so modest. He helps out so many charities and always gives back. He’s just gorgeous inside and out.” – Julie McColl Bartender, Elements Food and Spirits, White Plains, Yonkers resident “President Obama. I love him for the way he speaks. It doesn’t matter what he says, he can speak his way out of anything. I just like his personality. For looks, I like Paul Walker. He kills me with those eyes. I love him.” – Chanel Nichols Teller, Wells Fargo, White Plains, White Plains resident “Ryan Gosling. He just moved to Bedford Hills. I like those types of bad boys. On the other side, I feel like I should say an intelligent man, like Shakespeare. He writes love sonnets to girls, what else could you want.” – Lisa Summers Teacher, Bronx school district, White Plains resident
Nichols
Compiled by Alissa Frey. Contact her at afrey@westfairinc.com. 80
Summers
watch ‘Angels’ in America
The recent Holly’s Angels gala in memory of Holly Lind brought out some heavy hitters. The benefit for the Making Headway Foundation at the Big Apple’s Cipriani featured Bill Clinton as speaker, with “Saturday Night Live” star Seth Meyers providing the laughs for the throng of 700. Holly’s Angels is named for the late Holly Lind, who took inspiration from her “angels” – children with cancer she met during her treatment. Making Headway provides medical and social-service support for pediatric brain and spinal-cord cancer patients and their families. Photographs by Todd Shapera Photography.
Former President Bill Clinton
Khyati and Neil Desai
Maya and Audrey Manley
Edward Manley, president of the Making Headway Foundation, speaks at the Holly’s Angels gala.
Seth Meyers
Dana and Jesse Elhai
Elisa and Clint Greenbaum
Erin Andrews
Keith Lind’s daughter Avery speaks at the gala.
Dan O’Connor and Pam Otterson
Honoring community service
Kudos to the three recipients of United Hebrew of New Rochelle’s second annual Community Service Award – Simeon Schwartz, president and CEO of Westmed Medical Group; Marsha Gordon, president and CEO of The Business Council of Westchester; and Joseph M. Accetta, chief clerk of the Surrogate’s Court for Westchester County. The ceremony was held at United Hebrew of New Rochelle’s Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Pavilion.
Vivian Gallo, Jean Dunphy and Carolyn Murphy
Attorneys Kevin Cohen and James Staudt with honoree Joseph Accetta
Dave Morales, Mae Carpenter and Janet Weinstein
All identifications are from left unless otherwise noted. 81
watch 40 super-fit years
The Saw Mill Club in Mount Kisco marked its 40th year as a premier health, fitness and tennis facility with a evening bash that included a wide variety of foods and desserts as well as music and drinks. Photography by Bob Rozycki.
Chnoo Berlind, Myong
Callie and Rick Beusman
Alexa Feiner, Myong
Kevin Britt and Carla Gambescia, Tom Albano, Via Vanti! Britt’s Barbecue
Stephanie Arnold and Danielle Arena, Deutsch Family Wines
Megan Belickis, Sweet Chefs
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Kevin Kane and Donna Arena
Tori Quaranta and Jackie Colindres, Sweetooth
Alison Osorio, Bonnie Saran and Thiru Marin, Little Kabab Station
Betsy Hoagland, Flour & Sun Bakery
Luis Silva, Robert Trotta, Juan Carlos Atehortua and Sean McMullin, Teddy’s Ultra Lounge
Anthony and Maurizio Pelli, Gianfranco
Johanna Sanchez and Mariella Gerra, Mango Cafe
Karina Delarosa, F.A.B. Cafe
Jenny Ng of Jenny Ng Designs
Frank Zemba and Gilbert Banas, Applebee’s
Melinda Huff, Mirame
The evening featured models wearing Mirame swimsuits
Ana Maria Mirdita
Cleo Reiss
Donique Djurasevic
Elizabeth Dukaj
Phyllis Amicucci and Julianne Grillo
Carol Filorile, Lorraine Willms, Jessica Wright and Robin Cohen
Ed Gaynor, Infinity
Elizabeth Dukaj
Donique Djurasevic
Dawn and Jeffrey Rosen, Tanya Cooper MTK Tavern
Cleo Reiss
Donique Djurasevic
Dara Tyson, Phil Ciganer and Annie Kelly
Edward Reilly and Lisa Orro of Thomas Fox and Sons
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watch Midsummer night’s dance
The Pocantico Center of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund recently presented the first of three summer performances on the tennis lawn of Kykuit, the landmark Rockefeller family estate in Pocantico Hills. Tom Gold Dance kicked off the series with a program choreographed to Gershwin, Fauré and Satie. The finale was a witty and light-hearted piece, “Mad About the Boy,” set to music and lyrics by Noël Coward and Ivor Novella. Photographs by Todd Shapera Photography.
Dan Dutcher and Susanne Pandich
Abi Stafford and Jared Angle of the New York City Ballet
Russell Janzen and Gretchen Smith
Russell Janzen and Likolani Brown from Tom Gold Dance
Tom Gold on stage before the performance being photographed by Bill Cunningham
Laureen and David Barber
Vocalist Sasha Weiss on stage with Tom Gold Dance
Abracadabra!
Nearly 300 guests recently fell under the spell of the “Night of Illusion” benefit dinner at the Hudson River Museum in Yonkers. Museum trustees Eileen PriceFarbman and Barbara Eager, both of Chappaqua, chaired the enchanted evening, which benefited the museum’s exhibits and programs. Photographs by Lynda Shenkman Curtis.
Rosemary Plunkett and Elizabeth Bracken-Thompson
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Carol and Bruce Bernacchia with Steven Halliwell
Steven and Anne Halliwell with Laurie and Max Munn
Bill Mascetta with Frank and Janet Mascetta
Martin Ginsburg, Jim Foy, Irene Ginsburg and Linda Foy
County Executive Rob Astorino, Joe Apicella, Kevin Plunkett and Ned Sullivan
Maj. Gen. John Batiste and Alicia Erlich
Mark Erlich and Denise Torve
Dr. and Mrs. Paul Terracciano of Briarcliff Manor, Christopher Radko of Irvington, Lianne Hales-Shaw of Yorktown Heights and Sean F.X. Dugan of Sleepy Hollow
Italian sojourn
“An Evening of Food and Wine with Fine Friends,” the recent Phelps Memorial Hospital Center benefit at Abigail Kirsch Tappan Hill Mansion in Tarrytown, introduced some 140 guests to the wines of Friuli, Tuscany, Piedmont and Sicily. The event also featured foods of these wine-producing regions, plus a silent auction.
Colin Quinn, Eilhys Hackworth and Tommy Davidson
Todd Womack and Judy Kuriansky
Stand up for our troops
Stand For The Troops in Greenwich recently held a benefit performance at Gotham Comedy Club in New York City to raise awareness of combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and funds for the foundation’s You Are Not Alone PTSD initiative. Stand-up performers included Colin Quinn, Tommy Davidson, Pete Dominick, Todd Womack and Eddie Brill.
Soprano Alexandra Lang, tenors Tyler Lee and Justin Werner, mezzosoprano Chelsea Laggan
Honorees Ron Weissman, Michael Silver, Paul Pechman, Glenn Kaplan, Roger Madris and Roger Cappucci
Soprano Christine Lyons
An afternoon at the opera
White Plains Hospital President and CEO Jon B. Schandler, state Sen. Andrea StewartCousins, U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey, hospital Executive Vice President Susan Fox and board Chairman Mike Divney
Saluting docs and nurses
More than 300 people recently gathered at Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor for White Plains Hospital’s annual 1893 Society Dinner honoring physicians and nurses.
WSVI Artistic Director Sherry Overholt with vocal coach Joan Krueger
Artists from the Westchester Summer Vocal Institute concluded an intensive summer study program with a concert at Sarah Lawrence College’s Reisinger Concert Hall. Westchester resident and WSVI’s Artistic Director Sherry Overholt invited 25 opera singers from across the country to participate. The recital featured selections from Massenet, Mozart, Sondheim, Offenbach and Tchaikovsky. 85
watch One for the kids
Ossining Children’s Center recently held its Dine-A-Round cocktail reception fundraiser. The event raised $114,000 to support tuition assistance and enrichment programs at the center. Photographs by MaryAnn van Hengel.
Becky and Art Samberg and Cami and Marc Weinstein Jerome and Mary Lou Morrissy
Michael and Katherine Woloshin and Melissa and Joshua Frye
Bernard Nussbaum and Nancy Kuhn
Hugh van Hengel, Missy Murray, Lynn Puro and MaryAnn van Hengel
Joan McGinty and Carol Welsh
2012 Red Door Teen Award recipient Amanda Puglise
Jen Scully, William S. Null, Jon Schandler and Elizabeth Stuntz
‘It’s Always Something’
2012 Teen Essay Contest first-place winner Samantha Faith Ayala
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Gilda’s Club Westchester celebrated its first Teen Recognition Night, which included a reception for the winners of the “It’s Always Something” Teen Essay Contest, the Red Door Teen Award and a tour of Gilda’s Club Westchester’s newest “Teen Area.” The essay contest had nearly 70 entries from high school students who have been touched by cancer.
Actor Geoffrey Cantor, Heineken U.S.A. Senior Vice President Stacey Tank, Westchester Deputy County Executive Kevin Plunkett and Westchester County’s Director of Tourism and Film Natasha Caputo.
Heineken goes Hollywood
Heineken USA’s White Plains office was turned into an onthe-rise software development company and the White Plains backdrop became a quintessential New York suburb during the filming of “Bird People,” a French indie film by director Pascale Ferran. It stars Josh Charles of CBS’ “The Good Wife.” Photographs by Andrew Vitelli.
Garden politics
The home of Judith and Andrew Economos in Yonkers played host recently to an event honoring the Democratic Women of Westchester, sponsored by the Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Committee. The garden reception’s special guests included U.S. Reps Eliot Engel and Nita M. Lowey. Photographs by Sinead Deane.
Christina Blankenship and Judy Chriss
Naomi Seligson
Amy Paulin and Mary Jane Shimsky
Carol Casazza Herman and Fern Daves
Eliot Engel and Desiree Jordan
Sandra Sciortino and Beth Smayda
Brian Hegt and George Latimer
Lois Cowan, Ann Kaufman and Arlene Katz
Tim Idoni
Andrew Economos and Andrea StewartCousins
Kerry Kennedy
Naomi Matusow and Cindy Shenker
Michael Wolkowitz and Judith Economos
Want to be in Watch? Send event photos, captions (identifying subjects from left to right) and a paragraph describing the event to afrey@wagmag.com. 87
class&sass
By Martha Handler and Jennifer Pappas
Summer seems like the perfect time to talk about revving up the fireworks in the bedroom. Apparently this is spontaneously happening to women caught up in the “Fifty Shades of Grey” craze. No offense to the author, but I found the trilogy to be poorly written and highly improbable. The protagonist, 21, has never French-kissed, yet she hardly flinches when she discovers her paramour’s fully outfitted S&M chamber? When asked about this best-seller, Dr. Ruth Westheimer (who was recently part of The Harvey School’s gala and who, at 84, is still cuter than a bug’s ear and not much bigger than one) couldn’t explain the series popularity, but suggested that anything that’s increasing women’s sex drive is a good thing. I couldn’t agree more, but seriously, if you liked “50 Shades,” do yourself a favor and order “Best Women’s Erotica,” edited by Marcy Sheiner, which offers a much wider selection of well-written erotica. Or follow Dr. Ruth on Twitter, on her website, drruth.com (where she reviews sex toys and more) or visit her YouTube channel. Gotta love this woman who emerged from an orphanage to write more than 35 books and in the interim was a sniper in the Israeli army. better yet, why read about it when you can see J Or it? If you really want to rev up your engine, try a visit to the Museum of Sex (museumofsex.com). But be forewarned: Go there with someone you definitely want to get up close and personal with. It’s not for the faint of heart, but I highly recommend it for the perfect “date night.” And I would not plan on having dinner after your visit. Instead you’ll want to head straight to the nearest hotel (although there is a great Lebanese restaurant right across the street, ilili, with unisex bathrooms, if you are so inclined). They have a new exhibit at the museum now,
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exploring the sex lives of animals, from same-sex pairings to dolphin blowhole sex and panda porn. (Evidently, because pandas are born in captivity, they do not know how to have sex, so they are shown videos of other pandas doing the dirty deed.) This exhibit exposes how humans may not be the only species in the animal kingdom engaging in sex for the sheer pleasure of it. I love the Museum of Sex. It’s a true New York City M gem. It has everything you’d want in a museum – artifacts (e.g., sexual devices used through the ages), nature exhibits (as you mentioned) and even a bit of film noir. (Curious to see the Tommy Lee and the Paris Hilton sex tapes? This is your chance.) The only museum that comes close to this (and I speak from experience) is the Icelandic Phallological Museum, which houses the world’s largest collection of penises. (They have everything from a blue whale’s penis, weighing in at a whopping 150 pounds and measuring 67 inches, to a human’s, to a hamster’s, which requires a microscope to see.) But given this museum’s location, the former is a bit more geographically desirable. (My husband and kids got all the way to the Phallological Museum and then refused to enter. Think it might have had something to do with the giant phallic rock statue.) But back to sparks in the bedroom: Have you seen the wonderful new movie “Hysteria”? In a previous column, we mentioned that the vibrator had been invented in Victorian England as a way to cure women’s hysteria, and now they’ve gone and made a movie about it. Wish we could claim to be the inspiration for the movie, but I guess the timing doesn’t quite work. Back in the day, doctors did vaginal massages to J those “hysterical” women. So many a day and so popular was this treatment, that the tendons in their
arms became inflamed. The movie “Hysteria,” starring Rupert Everett, is about the inventor of the vibrator. He evidently hooked up a feather duster to a generator and tested it on street hookers. The home version of the vibrator soon became extremely popular – Gee I wonder why? – and could be ordered in the Sears and Roebuck catalog. Like the Museum of Sex, this movie is a mustsee. But while technology is wonderful, we don’t want to get to the point where we have desensitized ourselves to the intimacy of the human touch. As far as the celebrity sex tapes at the Museum of Sex are concerned, I was like a deer caught in headlights. I left hot and bothered. of deer, did you see the photo of the deer M Speaking engaged in a three-way at the museum? Sure did. You just can’t make this stuff up.
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Wag Up: • Kegel exercises. Don’t undervalue the integrity of your vaginal walls, ladies. (J) • The Eroscillator vibrator – the only sexual device that Dr. Ruth has ever endorsed, so you know it’s gotta be worth its weight in gold! (M) Wag down: • Cyberbullying, cyberstalking, sex tapes (sold to the media by exes).Poor Paris Hilton (even if you don’t like her). Ugh! (J) • Panty O – The panty with a one-inch extension to give you a “focus” point for your Kegel exercises! (For my money, a discreet Post-it note placed on my steering wheel is all the reminder I need to keep myself busy at stop lights.)
Email Class&Sass at marthaandjen@wagmag.com. You may also follow Martha and Jen on Facebook at Wag Classandsass or access all of their conversations online at wagmag.com.
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