Venu #49 Holiday/Winter 2022/23

“DILLON’S WORK IS THOUGHTFUL, PROVOCATIVE AND SOULFULLY EXECUTED.” JON LINTON

STEPHANIE_DILLON@HOTMAIL.COM

Images courtesy of: Joan B Mirviss LTD, Didier Ltd, and Maison Gerard

Have you ever wondered why it is that the more time passes, the faster it goes? There are many di erent theories about this, but we have our own view here at Venü and it has more to do with the wise adage, time flies when you’re having fun, rather than explanations about age or perspective.

As a contemporary lifestyle publication enamored with the arts, we are fortunate to sponsor, host and attend some of the most amazing events of the season, from the Hamptons and the tri-state area to Miami, Palm Springs, Napa and beyond. Along the way we are fortunate to meet and mingle with visionaries who never fail to inspire us with their creativity and passion. No matter the time or place, how busy our schedule is and how often we are out on the town, we always find ourselves fascinated with the conversations we have and invariably want to linger longer, slow down time, and learn more. Which, when you think about it, is what we do in the magazine.

The features you’ll read in Venü, about the artists who impressed us, the winemakers who wooed us, the innovative architects and designers who define the future, the spas and hotels that are dedicated to our well-being, and the photographers who painstakingly chronicle our world, o er you a timeless glimpse into lives on the move. Every one of

PUBLISHER’S LETTER

them has an amazing story to tell and we are delighted that we can continue the conversations we started with them, without time constraints rushing us along.

It seems every time we run into our cover artist Nancy McTague-Stock, she has a new project in the works. She’s an artiste extraordinaire and she’s unstoppable in her mission to create things of beauty for our world. Our interview with her grazes the surface of her accomplishments and accolades and had us wondering just how many artists were in the studio with her. So multi-talented is she that we awarded her our first ever Creative Visionary Award. We presented it to her at AMSE NYC, a visually engaging multisensory event that showcases music, art, wine, spirits and gourmet food. It was the perfect place to honor Nancy’s stellar work. AMSE NYC events are known to turn heads while nourishing body and soul and we are proud to partner AMSE with its founder, Wei Liu.

This past summer we were thrilled to be a media partner with the animal rescue fundraiser WineaPAWloozaa, in support of California’s Jameson Humane. Founded by Monica Stevens and attended by Napa Valley’s most acclaimed winemakers, including guest speaker Christie Brinkley, this weekend event was over the top in every way. From

the hilltop settings to the expert speakers, premier wines and pet parade that stole our hearts to the record-setting $2.2 million donations it raised, it was a stunning success.

We are also proud to be a media sponsor for the book signing event at Southport, Connecticut’s designer showcase, Rooms with a View. The books are a great way to see what inspired some of the most famous architects and designers in the industry and are an invaluable way to get inspired yourself if you couldn’t attend the event! Other events we are partnered with include Art Miami, Context and Aqua art fairs during Art Week/Basel in Miami; The Winter Show at the Park Avenue Armory, January; and Modernism Week in Palm Springs in February.

In this issue, we are also excited to introduce the collaborative innovators behind Fort Lauderdale’s art-centric technologically oriented FATVillage; and the visionary artists, including neuroscientist and sculptor Kamran Fallahpour, Ph.D.; public space artist Norie Sato and architect Madi Chanyshev; composer and audiovisual artist Ben Heim and founder of guardDog.ai, Peter Bookman, whose discussions shed light on the interconnectedness of our world and their works. Fascinating topics all that underscore the passions of dreamers who dare to make their visions a reality.

Artist Stephanie Dillon takes us on an introspective journey through her novel work, a blend of pop culture and protest art. And photographer Jon Linton gives us a unique and first look at his compelling pictures of the Ukrainian invasion and other telling pictures, some hard to look at, but always di cult to turn away from.

And looping back to our opener on the speedy passing of time, check out our story about The Bridge VI, where some of the fastest cars in the world made our hearts race in the Hamptons. All in all, a fun read and another reason to pause and take it all in at your leisure.

And while we would love to see you at our favorite events, we’re very happy that you are here now!

Cover Story: Nancy McTague-Stock

PRISENGRACHT XI Archival Pigment Print on Handmade Paper POR

Cover story on page 102

Tracey Thomas Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

FEATURING

12 VIGNETTE DESIGNERS

Class 0 f 2022

Amy Andrews | Prudence Bailey

Elizabeth Bolognino | Benjamin Deaton

Christin Engh | Erick Espinoza

Sydney Frazier | Isabella Hamilton Darren Henault | McGrath II Doniphan Moore | Elena Phillips

ART INSTALLATION BY ARC FINE ART

Featured work by Perry Burns, Idoline Duke, Meghan Gerety, Janet Jennings, Alyse Rosner, Gustavo Ten Hoever

POP UP CAFE - THE HADLEY Designed by Alchemy

SPECIAL EVENTS

RWAV Lecture Series Book Signing Event with 8 Authors Wine & Spirits Tastings

Moshin vineyards

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Tracey Thomas ART DIRECTOR

Denis Oproiu

MANAGING EDITOR

Kamitha Sloan

FEATURES EDITOR

Cindy Clarke

WEST COAST EDITOR

Robin H. Philips

EDITORIAL & MARKETING

Lisa Mikulski

FOOD EDITOR

Fred Bollaci

FILM & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Peter J. Fox

EDITORIAL & MARKETING Lisa Mikulski

DECORATIVE ARTS EDITOR Matthew Sturtevant

THE SMALL PRINT: No responsibility can be taken for the quality and accuracy of the reproductions, as this is dependent upon the artwork and material supplied. No responsibility can be taken for typographical errors. The publishers reserve the right to refuse and edit material as presented. All prices and specifications to advertise are subject to change without notice. The opinions in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. Copyright VENÜ Magazine LLC, All rights reserved. The name VENÜ Magazine is copyright protected. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted without written consent from the publisher. VENÜ Magazine does not accept responsibility for unsolicited material. This is a quarterly publication and we encourage the public, galleries, artists, designers, photographers, writers (calling all creative’s) to submit photos, features, drawings, etc., but we assume no responsibility for failure to publish submissions.

Historic New England Reimagining Preservation and Revitalizing Communities

By Dorothy A. Clark

Historic New England has always been on a mission. As the nation’s oldest and largest regional cultural heritage organization, it has built a highly respected presence during its 112-year history of gathering the stu of the past—large and small, from houses to jewelry—to advance the understanding and appreciation of earlier lifeways. With a new charge that expands on its work of protecting historic resources and gives attention to supporting neighborhood livability, Historic New England held its first major conference in October. Designed to reflect the interdisciplinary

1. The Gothic Revival style Roseland Cottage (1846) in Woodstock, Conn., was the summer retreat of the Bowen family. Photo by Eric Roth.

2. The China Trade Room at Beauport. Photo by Eric Roth.

3. After becoming a successful businessman in New York City, Henry Bowen and his wife returned to Woodstock where he built a summer home for their young family. Photo by Samantha Nelson.

4. View from the second floor of the Eustis Estate looks onto an allée. Photo by Eric Roth. Renowned Boston architect W. Ralph Emerson designed the mansion.

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more dynamic and comprehensive period in its history. “There couldn’t be a better time for this convening, and after 112 years, we’ve earned the opportunity to host something of this scale,” said Vin Cipolla, President and CEO of Historic New England. Held at historic Mechanics Hall in Worcester, Massachusetts, future Summits will be held at select sites that promote the region’s storied past.

Indeed, it is incumbent upon Historic New England to provide a forum such as the Summit. The umbrella of preservation integrates past and present, a fusion that has the potential to inform the future by creating better places to live and work. A cornerstone of creating better places to live and work includes the concept of social equity to ensure that fairness and justice are extended to all communities. Being an interdisciplinary organization, Historic New England is well suited to forging a transdisciplinary thought leadership framework to create new, holistic perspectives on and approaches to solving shared problems. The purpose of the Summit is to bring together preservationists, conservationists, educators, civic and municipal leaders, urban planners, arts and culture organizations, philanthropists, community advocates, engaged citizens, and students to share in open dialogue about what we know, along with what we need to learn and the actions we can take. Although the focus of the Summit highlights the region, the content presented has national and global applications.

Cipolla said that preservation holds solutions to several issues that have beset many areas. “Our commu-

character of the organization, the Historic New England Summit presented two days of conversations exploring how 21st-century challenges and opportunities are transforming the fields of historic preservation, architecture, urban planning, conservation, arts and culture, museum studies, collections management, public history, and education.

The Historic New England Summit, which will be an annual event, marks the organization’s transition into a

nities are under enormous pressure everywhere you look. Poor zoning regulations. Misplaced development incentives. An extreme lack of a ordability. Displacement. A ‘tear-down’ craze in many areas. Sustainability threatened due to climate change. Historic preservation o ers many solutions for these issues,” he said.

Even though historic preservation can solve many ongoing and growing problems, its solutions have often been unevenly applied and poorly used, Cipolla said. “Historically, we have not been an inclusive movement,” he said of the field as a whole. “That is changing. We all benefit from the conversation a convening like the Summit facilitates.”

Historic New England has a well-stocked toolbox for protecting history, buildings, and landscapes, as well as a solid track record of using it. Founded as the Soci-

1. Vin Cipolla, President and CEO of Historic New England, on the grounds of the Lyman Estate in Waltham, Massachusetts. Photo by Anthony LeDoux, Red Eye Photography.

2. The living room at Gropius House. Photo by Eric Roth. 1

ety for the Preservation of New England Antiquities in 1910, Historic New England has 38 house museums and landscapes—several coastal farms among them—that are open to the public. It holds the largest collection of New England artifacts in the world, numbering more than 125,000 objects and works of art and 1.5 million archival documents. While many of these prized objects and artwork provide the furnishings for the house museums,

others are maintained in a vast collections and archives repository, the Historic New England Center for Preservation and Collections in Haverhill, Massachusetts.

Besides housing Historic New England’s material culture collections and archives, the center stands to make a meaningful contribution to the city of Haverhill. An eight-story, concrete building constructed in 1911-1912 for use as a factory to support Haverhill’s prosperous

3. A room inside Bowman House. Photo by David Bohl.

4. The Eustis Estate Museum (1878), located at the base of the Blue Hills, in Milton, Mass. Photo by Eric Roth. 5. The oldest dwelling in New Hampshire is Historic New England’s Jackson House (c. 1664) in Portsmouth. Photo by Olivia Gatti.

shoemaking industry, the spacious structure presents a prime opportunity for engagement on many levels with the host community, from residents to public servants to advocates for economic revitalization. Haverhill is designated a Gateway City—“gateway” being access to attaining the “American dream.” It was among the first 11 Massachusetts municipalities identified as such because they flourished as manufacturing centers in the late 19th and early- to mid-20th centuries, boosting regional economies. The decline of manufacturing industries beset these mid-size cities with socioeconomic challenges; however, the communities are recognized for retaining comeback potential with the aid of innovative investment. Massachusetts currently has 26 Gateway Cities. Being in Haverhill positions Historic New England to collaborate with the community on the city’s continued economic revitalization in a number of ways, such as engaging its mission to serve as a cultural catalyst and establishing itself as a vibrant, contributing presence.

Historic New England has long been known for the house museums to which it invites visitors. These properties, a number of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, include colonial-era dwellings, Federal-period mansions, and the house that Walter Gropius, founder of the Bauhaus design school in Germany, built in 1938 in Lincoln, Massachusetts, as his family residence shortly after immigrating to the United States. In building upon the New England landscape, the influential Gropius employed the philosophy that gained the Bauhaus fame during its operation from 1919 to 1933—simplicity, functionality, economy, geometry, and aesthetic beauty determined by the materials used. The result is a mid-20th-century structure that incorpo-

rates features such as climate control, green or sustainable design, and resource conservation, which have become important design strategies in the 21st century.

Historic New England’s engagement with audiences is wide ranging, o ering education and entertainment. With school programs and camps, exhibitions, publications, and a host of in-person and virtual o erings, the organization appeals to a variety of interests. The school and youth programs use historical resources in multidisciplinary ways that are fun and consider di erent mastery styles to enrich and reinforce students’ learning. Exhibition space at some of the house museums is used to display objects from the organization’s collection as well as to share the work of contemporary artists and other creative makers. The eponymous member magazine is published three times a year and takes readers behind the scenes (and often beyond), highlighting Historic New England’s properties and the historical figures associated with them; the preservation and conservation work it does; programs, events, and webinars o ered; and general historical research and its relevance today.

Concerning history and its current-day role, Historic New England is taking another look back in order to

1. Beauport, the Sleeper-McCann House (1907), in Gloucester, Mass. It was designed and served as the summer home by Henry Davis Sleeper, one of the first professional designers in the United States. Historic New England has owned this property since 1942. Photo by Eric Roth.

2. Objects in storage at Historic New England’s Center for Preservation and Collections in Haverhill, Massachusetts.

move forward with its Recovering New England’s Voices initiative. This multiyear research e ort takes a more inclusive approach to studying the region’s history with the purpose of finding stories that have been minimized or ignored in the telling of New England’s past. Launched in September 2021, Recovering New England’s Voices has far exceeded the organization’s initial expectations for its findings. To conduct the first phase of the initiative, Historic New England hired four historians for a term of one year to exclusively research archives, libraries, and collections around the region to discover new stories and recover the fullness of others barely known about the lives of enslaved people, LGBTQ+ people, Indigenous people, workers and laborers, di erently abled individuals, women, and many more.

These stories give more accurate, truthful accounts of the people who had a presence at the properties the organization now stewards as well as in the larger communities where these sites are located. One of the major successes of the scholars’ work was revealing the identities of about 30 people who were enslaved at the properties; their existence was previously unknown because of erasure and oppression by dominating narratives that centered white ownership and residency.

Having laid a foundation for narrative reexamination,

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3. Bowman House (1762) in Dresden, Maine, sits on the banks of the Kennebec River. Photo by David Bohl.

4. The house that Walter Gropius built in Lincoln, Mass., in 1938. Photo by Eric Roth.

Historic New England began the second phase of the Recovering New England’s Voices initiative in the fall. Last year’s findings will be expanded upon and used to make the organization’s sites catalysts for transformative conversations and environments for socially driven structural change.

Like Recovering New England’s Voices, the Historic New England Summit is aligned with the organization’s 2021-2025 strategic agenda. Called The New England Plan, it is a dynamic course of action that heightens and broadens the organization’s influence and positions it to have an even greater impact in delivering on its mission. Cipolla said Historic New England’s hope is that the initiatives and plans of its peer organizations and advocates will greatly benefit from their participation in the Summit.

“The Summit is a provocation in real time to spark new ideas, partnerships, and action,” he said. ☐

Dorothy A. Clark is a journalist and historian who has extensively researched forgotten histories of the American past as well as buildings in Massachusetts. She has presented on several occasions at the annual Black New England Conference. Dorothy is editor of Historic New England magazine and an adjunct faculty member at the Boston Architectural College, where she teaches a survey course on world history and modernity

WineaPAWlooza Weekend

BY TRACEY THOMAS

Picture this. A sun-dappled afternoon at the Montagna Estate on world-renowned Pritchard Hill in Napa Valley, graciously hosted by Bob Long and Nancy McIntosh. A privileged perch located at the edge of the Vaca Mountain Range, where the views and the vines take your breath away. A gathering of some of the greatest names in California wine, donned in Napa chic attire. An agenda of champion speakers, notable all and actionably committed to sustainability. And conversation, intimate and engaging, that inspires your passion for

pets of all size and pedigree, hoofed, horned, feathered and furred – and not a few glasses, filled to the brim, of handcrafted estate vintages, perfectly poured, highly rated and exceptionally easy to drink.

The setting and the scenery paid homage to an event that Wine Spectator magazine named “One of the top ten wine events in the country.” Ven ü was there to support a cause dear to our hearts, the annual WineaPAWlooza fundraiser for Jameson Humane, a Napa Valley rescue sanctuary for homeless companion

Photo by Emma K. Morris

Photo by Emma K. Morris

and farm animals. Their tag line “connecting animals, humans and our planet” was a unifying theme of this year’s event, underscored by a line-up of experts who know a thing or two about inspiring change for the benefit of all life.

This heartfelt annual event wouldn’t happen if not for the vision and passion of Monica Stevens, Co-Founder and president

of Jameson Humane, and a rock star in every way. A dedicated animal welfare advocate, she is all about making the world a better place for people and their pets, along with rescued pigs, goats, cows and more saved from a devastating fate. Nurturing a healthy and sustainable environment for animals of all kinds is also critical to her mission and plays out in the disaster recovery aid Jameson Humane provides, including a pet food pantry! From killer wildfires to COVID hardships, animal abuse and neglect, Monica makes sure pets and their people are protected. Since she founded her non-profit organization in 2014, she has inspired collaboration and

change in both local and global communities, o ering education and intervention solutions that foster lasting harmony between animals, humans and the environment. So how does wine fit into her humane mission? Turns out she and her husband have been pioneers of the Napa Valley Wine Industry for decades, launching 750 Wines to o er high end limited production boutique wines to customers through elevated retail and tasting experiences. Their longstanding relationships with the top Napa Valley vintners and winemakers

Photo by Emma K. Morris

Photo by Emma K. Morris

Photo by Sally Seymour

Photo by Emma K. Morris

Photo by Emma K. Morris

are a win-win for everyone, animals included. Monica was on hand to share updates about Jameson Humane’s projects and to introduce the speakers each night.

The first program of the event, Innovations in Food and Solutions for Impact, featured a talented trio of knowledgeable panelists dedicated to a more compassionate vegan lifestyle, moderated by Brian Cooley of CNET. Maia Keerie, an ambassador for the alternative protein section and communications manager for The Good Food Institute, a nonprofit thinktank working to make the global food system better for the planet, people and animals, talked about e orts underway to initiate positive change in the food industry. Erin Gort, social media and community manager for

Miyoko’s Creamery, who represents celebrity chef and artisan vegan cheesemaker Miyoko Schinner, shared insights about the animalfree transformation of the dairy industry. Chef Tamearra Dyson, renowned for her Souley Vegan cooking and soul food restaurants, talked about her experiences cooking for a line-up of stars like Stevie Wonder and Eric Benet, and her passion for vegan dining.

Christopher Jackson, the son of Barbara Banke and Jess Jackson, kicked off the second half of the program, Innovations in Wine and Solutions for Climate and the Industry, which was moderated by Sommelier and wine personality, Amanda McCrossin, also known as SommVivant.

Christopher grew up surrounded by wine and naturally cultivated a deep respect for the challenges and unique rewards of high-elevation winegrowing. He talked about his family’s 10-year sustainability and climate action plan, Rooted-for-Good, A Roadmap to 2030, with goals and initiatives designed

Photo by Sally Seymour

Photo by Sally Seymour

Photo by Sally Seymour

Photo by Emma K. Morris

Photo by Emma K. Morris

to lead climate solutions, create a positive social impact, and support the Jackson family’s long-term vision for a sustainable future. Additionally, he shared details about the Jackson family’s International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA), cofounded in 2019 with Spain’s Familia Torres to galvanize the global wine industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate impacts in vineyard and winery operations.

Molly Sheppard, Educational Winemaker for Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery, helped turn Spottswoode into one of Napa Valley’s most iconic and respected wineries. In 2020 Spottswoode became the first Napa winery to achieve rigorous B Corp certification, which measures both a company’s environmental impact and what it is doing for workers and the community. Molly spoke eloquently about what it takes to steward meaningful change in the industry.

Carlo Mondavi, grandson of Napa’s Robert Mondavi, and today the proprietor of RAEN Winery, and Co-Founder of Monarch Tractor, focused on clean farming and explained how his driver-optional electric tractors help increase profitability, lessen harmful practices and enhance the farm’s ecosystem on the whole.

Celebrity guest Christie Brinkley wowed the crowd at the end of the evening by sharing stories about the organic, certified-vegan wines she produces with her Italian partners, including Bellisima Prosecco and her five still wines, all zero-sugar. A classic beauty herself,

of the top ten wine events in the country.”

“One

—Wine Spectator Magazine

Remy Elysee Photography

Photo by Emma K. Morris

Photo by Emma K. Morris

Christie puts her ideals behind her brands, celebrating friendships, fun and festivities with pourable products that are true to her vegetarian beliefs and taste great too. Even the wine’s labels are beautiful to behold, depicting Botticelli’s Venus with grace and style. Christie also has a shelter pup at home that only further endeared her to us all.

We enjoyed premium Pritchard Hill wines, Billecart-Salmon Champagne and hors d’oeuvres by plant-based restaurant Little Saint, overseen by a three-time Michelin-starred chef, Kyle Connaughton with his wife, Katina, just as the sun set over the valley. And this was only day one of the event.

The hosts for our next night in Napa were none other than Andy and Betty Becksto er at their Becksto er Farm Center. Becksto er Vineyards owns and farms over 3,600 acres of the highest quality grape growing properties in Napa Valley, Mendocino County and the Red Hills of Lake County. Andy is as down to earth as his land is but his wines sent our taste buds soaring, they were so good. He and his wife were presented with a Lifetime Philanthropic Achievement Award for all the good they spread around California’s northern wine country.

Christie Brinkley treated us all to her signature vegan Bellisima Prosecco, made with

Photo by Emma K. Morris

Photo by Emma K. Morris

Photo by Emma K. Morris

Photo by Sally Seymour

Photo by Sally Seymour

organic grapes and sparkling with the e ervescence Christie is known for. And artist Amy Burkman showed us how to turn it around with her amazing style, painting upside down during her live art show, revealing a perfect portrait of a horse upon completion in record time, what a motivational story she has too. We want to know more about her for a future feature.

The evening included a Vintner Grand Tasting that was truly over the top. We sipped and savored some very special wines, from a velvety Bevan Cellars Sauvignon and Raen’s Sonoma Coast’s Pinot Noirs to Paula Kornell’s sparkling wine, Pulido Walker’s Cabernets, Dakota Shy’s Cabernet Sauvignon, Detert Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Aperture Cabernet Sauvignon and many more delectable, locally grown wines. Check out the sidebar for a complete list of participating vintners featured this year.

A surprise highlight for everyone was the

adorable animal parade, with pigs, goats, and puppies stealing our hearts away. Their love for the animals manifested money in the auction tent where they raised a record-setting $2.2 million for Jameson Humane’s programs, including their Vet Mobile and Animal Assisted Healing programs. Well deserved!

Top winning lots included "TOR'S" Cut of Becksto er To Kalon, a 10-case lot of 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon at $200K, the largest winning bid on a single lot in WineaPAWlooza’s history; A Barrel of Bevan, 25 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon from the Phelan Vineyard, garnered $80K and doubled to $160K; and Tusk and the Masters, a four-night stay in Augusta for four, with lodging, TUSK wine and a hosted dinner which went for $100K.

I can’t say enough about the hospitality that poured out all night, with vintners and a cionados bonding over bottles I won’t soon forget, and animal lovers happily lending their support to initiatives well-executed and sorely needed.

Wow, what a weekend indeed! ☐

Photo by Emma K. Morris

Creating a new FATVillage in the Real World and in the Metaverse

By Doug McCraw

While under construction for the next three years, FATVillage has partnered with Hines and Urban Street Development in cultivating more than 900,000 square feet of brandnew and exciting space at the current location on NW 1st Avenue.

A community staple in Fort Lauderdale, FATVillage is further expanding our brand identity with the integration of emerging and renowned artists that engage the web3 experience in a virtual world that resembles the village’s loved warehouses in the Metaverse.

As a new creator economy, these opportunities are a natural evolution for enterprising experiential markets that are accessible to everyone by means of a web server.

This natural progression aligns with our current market direction and community engagement that continues to bring innovative and real experiences to life both in the now and beyond. Partners and curators Leah Brown and Peter Symons of ART + LIGHT + SPACE will oversee new project developments.

Leah mentions, “In the FATVillage Metaverse, we are connecting artist-created spaces to form an art district of the future.

Even the act of exploring these spaces will be an adventure.”

After a successful inaugural art walk in September, we plan to host monthly art walks and artist talks. The FATVillage Metaverse will comprise of interactive galleries, events, and traditional programming that will be uniquely experienced. You’ll be able to come and hear a panel of artist discussions and purchase art or NFTS from local and emerging artists.

“As an artist who works primarily in sculpture and installation, the presence of a work of art that can exist in a shared occupancy is in my belief the best way to experience art. The exploration of the Metaverse becomes

the destination to remotely experience art in a distinctive way. In addition to its powerful capacity to represent an experience, virtual and augmented reality allow for the creation of art untethered to real life actuality. In a sense, the METAVERSE lets the viewer step into the mind and imagination of the artist”, says Symons.”

“I think it’s important for our audience to understand that what we are creating is accessible to all, not just people who are particularly technologically literate or have special equipment. You don’t need a headset to attend any of our events or visit us in the MetaVerse, although if you do have one, it will make the experience more immersive and experiential”, comments Leah.

We look forward to you joining us in this new direction which will continue to bring these original real-life experiences to the masses that FATVillage will provide for the future. ☐

Visit www.fatvillage.com or send an email to info@fatvillage.com to receive the latest updates on our programs and events.

Images courtesy, FATVillage

Artist Peter Symons

Doug McCraw

POWER IN

Partnerships

Story of the People…

BY WEI LIU | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN SPURR

Susan Vanech, founder of Susan Vanech Properties and COMPASS Coastal; Nancy McTagueStock, MFA, BFA and Venü Artistic Visionary Award Recipient; AMSE NYC founder Wei Liu; and Tracey Thomas, Founder & CEO of Venü Models Kaitlyn Owings & Kara Kirkland

Model/Singer Will Stokes and artist Mr. John H. Wright

Artwork by Fernando Silva and artisanal bites by Mariah Bryand

AMultisensory Experience (AMSE NYC) project was a vibrant platform that conceptually incorporated multiple areas into one experience. Ideas flow and opportunities arise when you start acting. On January 1st, 2022, I began the process of bringing an outline and sketch of a project into reality. Despite the intensity of creating something from scratch, I was energized, inspired, and satisfied at the same time. In the lead up to the March 20th event, I overcame a number of obstacles, through robust collaboration and partnership e orts. The vision of this project was realized because of power in partnerships, which made it all possible.

The second edition, held on September 25, 2022, encompassed a multitude of human manifestations, integrating multiple areas conceptually in a meaningful way. It entailed a collaboration with Venü Magazine and brought together music, fine wines & spirits, fashion, and visual artists.

We do not wish to display artists’ works on the walls, but it is more about making them the focal point. An impressive line-up of artists was on display, including Nancy McTague-Stock, Beatrice Jousset Drouhin, a half-figurative artist; Fernando Silva, a contemporary impressionist; and Mr. John Wright, a neo-expressionist. In collaboration with Designer Karli Shea from the Jason Wu House, we created clothing as canvases worn by models, and invited Artist Fernando Silva and Mr. John Wright to paint on these fashion canvases throughout the evening to create wearable, one-of-a-kind art pieces.

Philosophic Focus

In creating this multisensory event, we strived to embody the philosophy of “Peak Experiences.” Peak Experiences add to the sense of fulfilment, connectedness, and meaning. It occurs when our minds, bodies, and senses are fully engaged. This is similar to the flow state experienced during the creative process or while consuming art.

The poet Fernando Pessoa said, “the value of things is not the time they last, but the intensity with which they occur.” According to Maslow, peak experiences are what make life worthwhile by their occasional occurrence, so an engaging sensory exploration of haute-art can definitely produce peak experiences. Our goal was to capture a rare and precious NY moment for our partners and attendees.

Success

Driven by Collab- oration

AMSE-NYC is the result of collaboration and partnership. This novel vision was also characterized by inclusivity and fluidity in the group of diverse people associated with it. Venü magazine became the o cial media partner, and Tracey Thomas, its founder and CEO, played a large role in the event’s success. “As one of my most successful business mentors once told me, THERE’S POWER IN PARTNERSHIPS. I’ve never forgotten the wisdom of his words. In 2010, Venü Magazine was founded by strategic partnerships with like-minded individuals and organizations, and they continue to provide the foundation for all we do now and in the future. Wei Liu’s vision for creating artistically inte-

grated events captured my attention after attending AMSE NYC this past Spring. I immediately embraced her goals. Through our partnership, we will be able to bring high-profile visibility to the arts, a common mission both Venü and AMSE NYC take great pride in championing,” explained Tracey Thomas. The partnership contributed to increased visibility for the event, enabling us to reach a broader audience and influence the general discourse, with a voice that perfectly resonates with our vision.

The success of our endeavour is largely

Attendees Este any Soto & Carlos Hernandez with Penfolds Global AmbassadorZöe Warrington

The Macallan Scotch Senior Brand Ambassador Nico Szymanski with AMSE NYC founder Wei Liu

attributed to our collaborations, of which partnerships are just one aspect. Our sponsors contributed to the realization of the vision such as Compass Coastal, Barrett School of Music, The Macallan Scotch, Penfolds, Glen Arbor GC, Eleven Wine Group, Marshallberg Farm Caviars, Master Ham, Fermint, Shemere, BE Chocolate, Bodega Rolland, Joseph Drouhin, Drappier, Cork Rules, Playa Rosé,

and Golf Kitchen Magazine to contribute to the event’s mission.

COMPASS Coastal founder, Susan Vanech was the Premier Sponsor and was instrumental in bringing the vision to life. “The inaugural Spring AMSE event gathers a passionate group of talented and like-minded individuals and groups under the same roof, creating an environment of true collaboration. Participants will develop new relationships and deepen existing ones while participating in a provocative evening that stimulates all the senses,” she shared.

“Our approach to networking and marketing is very similar, so being invited as a premier sponsor is exciting. As a lifestyle brand with no ego, COMPASS Coastal curates experiences within the spheres of luxury real estate, water, vehicles, as well as elevated art and cuisine for its clients. As a result of our natural synergy between AMSE NYC and COMPASS Coastal, our messaging will reach a broader audience and our clients will enjoy a more robust experience. Now more than ever, our world needs to feel good. Positive and profound sensory engagement gets us there!”

Reward in the Award: Launching Venü’s Artistic Visionary

Award

As a platform, ASME NYC created opportunities for unique, first-of-a-kind experiences. By leveraging this incredible space, Venü launched a brand-new award and created a legacy. Tracey Thomas was thrilled to announce Nancy McTague-Stock as Venü’s

Lauren Kenworthy of Eleven Wine Group Imports featuring Corteaura Franciacorta Sparkling Rosé & Theresa Eccher Ariel Etna Rosato

AMSENYC.com

Matt Sturtevant, Wine collector Enoch Hsieh, Master Carver William Garcia of Master Ham

Louis Kressmann of Drappier Champagne and Chef Daniel Hess of Westchester Hills Golf Club showcasing the Marshallberg Farm Osetra Caviar

first Artistic Visionary Award recipient during AMSE NYC. “In establishing the criteria for this award, we set a very high bar. The individual must have made a unique and distinctive contribution to the arts, exhibit creative thinking, demonstrate leadership, dedication, advocacy and innovation, while exemplifying a positive influence among their colleagues and community. As a dedicated teacher, award-winning artist of many mediums, dedicated environmentalist and catalyst for encouraging creativity and innovation among her peers and students, Nancy has been awarded fellowships and travel grants, she has been selected for prestigious international art exhibitions, juried shows and is a sought-after speaker, among other significant achievements. We are beyond proud to present our award to her,” Tracey announced.

Successful Second Event

The launch event on March 20th, 2022 focused on the Impressionism Era, wherein artists painted scenes based on real life, but as if they only glanced at them for a moment. Through disproportionate sizes, odd angles, and vivid and intense colors, the Expressionism era directly expresses the artist’s emotional response to the real world. The Expressionism movement began around 1905-1920 in Germany and spread throughout Europe: Edvard Munch and others. This was the focus of our second event, conducted on September 25th.

A Toast to the Wine Connoisseurs

This event was characterized by carefully curated wine collections and expertly guided tastings. During the VIP hour, a delicious Drappier Zero Dosage Champagne toast was given by the brand’s very own Louis Kressmann, followed by a caviar service by talented Chef Danial Hess, Westchester Hills Golf Club, featuring pristine Marshallberg Farm Osetra Caviar.

We decided to raise a glass (or several) to the world of wine collectors, and invited them to share in on back vintage bottles from the 70’s, 80’s, or 90’s. I selected a few bottles from my own collection to share, such as 1983 Clos Du Val Cabernet Sauvignon, 1998 Renato Ratti Conca Barolo, and 1986 Palhmeyer. There were a few highlights that stood out for me: 1990 Chateau Montrose, 1977 Garofoli Vigna Biancardo, and a very cool rule breaker bottle of 1968 Chateau Latour by Robert Tas, the founder of Corkrules podcast. During this time, the master carver William Garcia, owner of Master Ham, artfully carved away at a leg of Fermin Jamon Iberico. A toast to the arts and all things in good taste was kicked o by champagne, Jamon Iberico, Osetra caviar, and vintage wonders from the past.

Enhanced Chronological Pairings: Expressionist Era to Period.Contemporary

It would be remiss not to recall the entrancing music which accompanied wine and food. It was great to see the AMSE NYC musicians back in action. It took a great deal of

planning and research for each stage of this event to capture the multifaceted nature of the AMSE NYC experience. This is another great example of the power in partnerships. The experience of bringing together such an amazing group of musicians and challeng-

Vintage

Laurent Drouhin of Maison Joseph Drouhin, Artist Fernando Silva, Milan Milisavljević of Metropolitan Opera, Wei Liu AMSE NYC Founder, Artist Beatrice Jousset Drouhin, Joy Gregory Owner of GlenArbor Golf Club

selections from the wine collectors' VIP hour: 1990 Château Montrose Bordeaux, 1977 Garofoli Vigna Biancardo Rosso, 1983 Clos Du Val Cabernet Sauvignon, 1970 Vino Spanna Cantina, 1998 Ratti Barolo Conca, and 1968 Château Latour Bordeaux

ing them with song selections and mixes that made sense chronologically and conceptually, as well as with wine pairings, was an intoxicating experience. Laura Hollis, owner of Barrett School of Music, who led the e orts said, “there’s something special when a meaningful personal relationship has the bandwidth to also grow into a meaningful professional relationship. I love putting in the time and work for AMSE NYC because not only does it strengthen my music school in New York, but it strengthens the brand of one of my dear friends. The professional element brings even more depth and structure to the friendship, and the friendship brings a level of trust that is di cult to attain professionally.”

The main event began with the German “Das Verlassene Mägdlein” (1880) - By Hugo Wolf, sung by Laura Hollis with Ling Ling Chen on the piano. Next, Erin Pitts played the Viola and Ling Ling played the Piano to perform the piece “Sospiri” by Edward Elgar (1914).

In terms of the wines, fuller body styles were embraced to complement the darker days and richer flavors that accompany the fall and winter months. These German music compositions were paired with Alsatian wines led by Chris Dooley of Restaurant Daniel.

“Elle a Fui, la Tourterelle!” (1880) from Les Contes D’Ho mann was then followed by “Noël des Enfants qui n’ont plus de Maisons” (1915) by Claude Debussy, which beau-

tifully pairs with the expressionism movement in France; we selected Maison Joseph Drouhin Burgundy the Chablis and the Côte de Beaune to pair these two beautiful and melancholic pieces that exemplify depth and meaning. In a personal address to the audience, Laurent Drouhin disclosed his thoughts on the pairing as well as the tasting elements of his wines.

Introducing the science-based Sonic Seasoning experience to enhance the flavor experience, Violinist Qenu Sampson musically interpreted the wine profile for the audience, demonstrating the discoveries by scientist Charles Spence of Oxford University to connect our ears to our palates.

The fifth song that was chosen was “Orpheus with his Lute” by William Schuman. We chose this piece to commemorate the Rosh Hashanah Manhattan holiday weekend by celebrating the Jewish composer William Schuman, who lived in Manhattan at the time

this piece was composed.

The sixth song that consumed us was “Burn,” Hamilton, by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Who doesn’t love Hamilton! An emotional piece with depth and touches of melancholy, paired with Penfolds 389 by Zöe Warrington, Penfolds Australian Global Ambassador.

As a final note, we concluded with “Grand Finale Style Medley.” It was a medley of contemporary vocal hits created in collaboration with designer Karli Shea to show o the fall fashion lineup. Models Will Stokes, Nancy Patricia Wright, Kaitlyn Owings, Kara Kirkland, and Julia Rickert brought each look to life with their fierce confidence. Julia Rickert, Model, Beverage Director, and Journalist, was the partner in coordinating and choreographing the models, and reflected her thoughts about the event, “I was first excited to join this project when Wei described to me the initial concept of combining the senses into one moment. I thought, ‘What a neat

Opera Singer Laura Hollis, owner of Barrett School of Music

Model Julia Rickert and Artist Fernando Silva

idea, why hasn’t anyone done this before?’

As someone who works in the Hospitality industry, my mindset is hyper-focused on providing great service but also leaving a lasting impression. Wei was the facilitator of bringing together like-minded creative individuals who got to thrive o each other and with each other to build something one-of-a-kind... and then she did it twice! While following a similar format, the two events resulted in completely di erent artistic outputs, with everyone on the team bringing their unique backgrounds of expertise together to enhance the overall

celebration of the senses. My career and passion is in the wine industry, but as a model, my background pulls from the fashion industry, and it was incredible to connect with these two worlds simultaneously and combine both of my interests through this event - an overlap that I never really thought was possible, let alone one where I could contribute creatively. No one in this experience brought just one thing to the table; the collaboration overlapped and intertwined.”

Penfolds 600 was a great choice as our final pairing, and it showcased contemporary

flair with a style that echoes the old school. During the introduction of the final performance, our talented Sommelier Chris Dooley decanted the wine brilliantly on stage before it was served to the audience during the closing performance, while the models showcased completed, one-of-a-kind wearable art pieces.

Until Next Time

A unique conceptual event like AMSE NY would not have been possible without a team e ort. We feel immense gratitude towards our partnership with Venü Magazine; the sponsors; and the multitalented, and extremely organized Lindsay Harris and Mariah Bryant. Everyone was an active participant in this installation experience piece. Guests were left wanting more after enjoying the wine, sophisticated cuisine, and music played by skilled professionals. The collaboration among diverse individuals with a focus on one magnificent vision was critical to the success of these two events. This serene yet vibrant space brought together people from all walks of life. Artists and professionals contributed their unique expertise to make the events come to life. The vision of this remarkable, cathartic experience was realized only through the Power in Partnerships. Such partnerships will enable us to scale this concept further.

Until next time… March 26th, 2023. ☐

Violinist Qenu Sampson

Pianist Ling Ling Chen

Sweet finish by the BE Chocolat chocolate experts

Julia Rickert, Kaitlyn Owings, Tracey Thomas, Susan Vanech, Wei Liu, Laura Hollis, Ling Ling Chen, Karli Shea, Erin Pitts, Will Stokes, Nancy Patricia Wright, and Kara Kirland

Club Chefs shine at GlenArbor Golf Club

BY DIANA DELUCIA

The fourth annual Golf Kitchen Culinary Excellence Awards and the first Golf Kitchen Invitational sponsored by The National Golf Course Restaurant Association (NGCRA) at the prestigious GlenArbor Golf Club, Bedford Hills, New York, was a sell-out event and enjoyed by all on September 8th, 2022.

Competing teams arrived at the GlenArbor clubhouse at 11 a.m., built on the White Estate site, one of the largest historic estates in the Town of Bedford. Designed by Mark Finlay of Fairfield, Connecticut, the 30,000 square feet clubhouse is situated on a commanding site overlooking the golf course and provides countless amenities in an intimate and comfortable environment.

The Golf Kitchen Invitational kicked o at 11:00 a.m. with well wishes via video from Rob Labritz, Tour Champion and Director of Golf at GlenArbor. A continental breakfast and a Transfusion station supplied by Fred Evanko, Owner of Links Drinks, and practice

shots at the driving range started the day. At 12.30 p.m., foursomes enjoyed a shotgun start by GlenArbor Starter Keith Hernandez and the entire Golf Shop and Outside Service Sta proceeded their day on the renowned Gary Player-designed golf course.

Local area club chefs were stationed out on the course and served up a mini feast that was enjoyed by participants and members of the prestigious club. Matt O’Connor, Director of Culinary Operations at Wee Burn Country Club, Darian, Connecticut, served up first-class course cuisine and signature cocktails including Citrus Cured Ahi Tuna with Avocado Terrine, Imperial Caviar, Yuzu Scented

1. Designed by Mark Finlay of Fairfield, CT., the GlenArbor clubhouse is situated on a commanding site overlooking the golf course

2. Chrissie Bennett, Executive Chef at Winged Foot Golf Club

2

with lots of add-ins and paired a classic Azalea cocktail. Kelly Morrow, the Executive Chef at Tavistock Country Club in Haddonfield, New Jersey, served Tennessee Hot Chicken Sliders with Pimento Cheese, Habanero Hot Sauce, and Spicy Pickles and then packed a burning hot taste with his Cherry Moonshine Lemonade!

Winners of the Invitational were announced during the awards dinner; Gross Winner: Warren Burdock, Brian Conroy, Chris Meringolo, and Philip Manceri of Wee Burn Country Club, Net Winner: Matthew Mosebrook, Branden

3

3. Brown Butter Hazelnut Cake, recipe by Marisa Hernandez 1

Crème Fraiche, Poppadom Crisps and Cilantro paired with a Tequila Lime Sparkler. Matthew Norman, Sous Chef at Pine Orchard Yacht Club, Branford, CT served Seared Diver Scallops with Native Corn, Chili Infused Tomato and Cucumber Froth paired with a Basil Cucumber Gin Fizz; Daniel Hess CC. CHS Chef de Cuisine at Westchester Hills Golf Club in White Plains, New York created a Street Taco Station with Pulled Pork, Shibazi Chicken and Duck Tacos

Komm, Tim Hughes and Tim Mullen of Chefs Warehouse, Closest to the Pin on Hole #11: Patrik Waxin of the National Golf Course Restaurant Association and Longest Drive on Hole #15: Scott Vallary, Business Development, DE Title.

Members of GlenArbor, Invitational participants, and guests began arriving at 6:30 p.m. for this annual event’s cocktail hour on the Lakeview Terrace. Michael Ruggiero, Executive Chef, and his sta at GlenArbor provided a unique experience with passed hors d’oeuvres and a fantastic live-action station consisting of Veal Breast, Wild Mushrooms, and Butternut Spaetzle. Zouhair Bellout, Executive Chef at Reynolds Lake Oconee, Greensboro, Georgia, delivered his live-action station of Black Garlic Macarons, Kabocha Squash, Cured Duck, Rosewater Pickled Onion Jam, and Micro Mustard Greens, and his action station Crispy Rice, Tuna, Chili Garlic, Spicy Mayo with Caviar, Green Onions, and Micro Greens.

The Macallan provided cocktail hour tastings, Wines were supplied by Caymus and Martinis by Lucinda Sterling, Managing Partner at Middle Branch cocktail lounge in Manhattan. A cover band led by Johnny Bliss entertained with classical jazz and Spanish music fitting for the occasion.

“It was a great experience; cooking with all the di erent chefs and meeting other industry individuals is always fun. Needless to say, being a part of the movement of showcasing the high level of culinary talent at golf clubs

4 5 6

is a great honor,” said Zouhair Bellout, Executive Chef at Reynolds Lake Oconee.

The weather was perfect from start to finish, and at 7.30 p.m., guests were ushered to the main dining room for more culinary adventures.

Fernando Silva, Wine Director, Sommelier, and Wine Critic, at GlenArbor, was the evening’s MC and opened the dinner with an entertaining speech for which he is renowned, followed by Golf Kitchen’s President Diana DeLucia. Delucia discussed the event’s development and purpose and future initiatives and introduced Steve Cohen, President of NGCRA, the event’s Lead Sponsor.

4. L-R: Hannah FloraMihajlovic, Zouhair Bellout, Anthony Capua, Dwayne Edwards, and Shawn Olah Image by Wei Liu

5. Herb Crusted Loin of Domestic Lamb, recipe by Shawn Olah

6. Daniel Hess, Chef de Cuisine, Westchester Hills Golf Club, NY

The first course was a Korean Braised Pork Belly with Red Beet Gnocchi, Yuzu Compressed Melon, Chipotle Honey Gastrique, Pork Fat Crumb, Strawberry Fluid Gel, Carrot Ginger Silk, Upland Cress, Basil Crystal, and Finger Lime created by Hannah Flora-Mihajlovic, Chef de Cuisine at Addison Reserve Country Club and the 2021 Golf Kitchen Rising Star awardee. Silva paired the dish with Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc, Fairfield, California, 2021.

The first awardee of the night in attendance was Chrissie Bennett, Executive Chef at Winged Foot Golf Club, Mamaroneck, New York. DeLucia presented Chef Bennett with the 2022 Rising Star Award with a heartfelt statement about her journey to one of the industry’s finest golf establishments.

The second course was served by Wes Tyler CEC, CCA,

WCMC, Executive Chef at The Club at Carlton Woods, The Woodlands, Texas. His Epigrammes de Filet de Sole au Grand-Duc with Poached Crayfish Tails, Buttered Asparagus Tips, Sliced Autumn Tru es, Mushroom Liquor, and Soft Herbs was a hit and was paired with Mer Soleil Chardonnay, Saint Lucia Highlands, California 2020.

The Purveyor of the Year award was presented to Natalia Cabrera, President of Khayyan Specialty Foods, who has been a strong advocate for Club chefs and continuously brings superior products from Spain and Italy to the industry. Next, The Culinary Excellence Award for an Outstanding Private Golf Club or Country Club was presented to Wes Tyler on behalf of The Club at Carlton Woods.

The third course was Herb Crusted Loin of Domestic Lamb, Cauliflower Cream, Golden Raisin, Parisienne Potato, Maitre D, Natural Ash and Griotte Cherry Glace presented by Shawn Olah, Executive Chef at Highlands Falls Country Club in Highlands, North Carolina, paired with Caymus, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California 2020.

Marisa Hernandez, the Executive Pastry Chef at GlenArbor Golf Club, ended the dinner flawlessly with a Brown Butter Hazelnut Cake with Lemon Mousse, Grapefruit, and Poached Red Wine Pears, paired with Peyraguey, Premier Cru Classe de Sauternes, Bordeaux, France 2009.

Fernando Silva presented the second annual Golf Kitchen Wine Program Award to Alfredo Hildebrandt, Assistant General Manager at Sycamore Hills Golf Club, Fort Wayne, Indiana.

“After an exhaustive review of Wine Lists and Wine programs from all the Private Clubs, I found that the most suitable candidate for this prestigious award was definitely Alfredo Hildebrandt at Sycamore Hills Golf Club”. “The

7. The National Golf Course Restaurant Association team!

L-R: Kip Mewborn, Senior Vice President, Faith Mewborn, Administrative Director, Patrik Waxin, Chairman/ Co-Founder, Peter Fischbach, Regional Director of Business Development, Steve Cohen, CEO/ Co-Founder, Tory Eulenfeld, National Director of Member Services and Programs Oliver Schindler, Executive Vice President

Bellout

passion and sincere thirst for knowledge is key in defining the role of the Modern-day Sommelier or Wine Director! It was a great Honor to discover such talent and qualities in an individual like Alfredo.” expressed Fernando Silva.

“The Golf Kitchen Invitational and Culinary Excellence Awards dinner is a truly spectacular event that showcases the work of great Chefs from around the country. The planning, networking, and passion that went into every aspect of the day exceeded all expectations. The NGCRA was proud to be the Lead Sponsor!” Steven Cohen, CEO, National Golf Course Restaurant Association.

Silva and DeLucia closed the event with a tasting of The Macallan, tea, and co ee; guests signed the traditional aprons and collected gift bags.

www.NGCRA.com

Dry Creek Kitchen

Progressive American Wine Country Cuisine by Legendary Chef Charlie Palmer

By Fred Bollaci

Dry Creek Kitchen by Chef Charlie Palmer is set on Healdsburg’s historic tree lined Plaza at the Hotel Healdsburg that combines vibrant American cooking and world class bottlings with the intimate charm of a small town and true wine country hospitality.

Palmer brings his signature style to Sonoma County with ingredients grown and raised by farms up the road and wines by local vintners. Chef Palmer was drawn to Healdsburg for its incredible produce, world-class wines, and a sense of community. The inviting dining room is punctuated by sculptural floral arrangements,

floor-to-ceiling windows and oversized doors which open to a lovely patio, evoking wine country’s indoor-outdoor lifestyle.

Palmer received critical acclaim for his signature Progressive American cooking, a style built on rambunctious flavors and unexpected combinations with a deep and lasting infusion of classical French technique. Born and raised in upstate New York and classically trained at the Culinary Institute of America, Charlie Palmer started his Executive Chef career at The River Café in Brooklyn, NY. In 1988, Palmer made a landmark commitment

to creating dishes featuring regional American ingredients at the sublime Aureole, at the time situated in a 19th century town house o Manhattan’s Madison Avenue. After two decades in its landmark location, Palmer’s flagship restaurant took up residence in the spectacular One Bryant Park in Times Square, one of the world’s most environmentally advanced skyscrapers, where it continued its culinary legacy of intense flavors and unexpected combinations matched by an award-winning wine list. In 1999, Palmer opened Aureole in the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, and his

modern American steakhouse, Charlie Palmer Steak in The Four Seasons. Over the next 20 years, Palmer combined his creative cooking spirit and flair for business into 15 notable locations spanning the country and a growing collection of boutique hotels.

A frequent guest on NBC’s Today Show, Bravo’s Top Chef, The Rachael Ray Show and more, Palmer is also the author of six cookbooks. He and his family live bi-coastally between New York and Healdsburg, CA, also home to his vineyards—the foundation for Charlie Clay Pinot Noir, a joint venture with

vintner Clay Mauritson, now in its tenth vintage.

Chef Wyatt Keith worked at Palmer’s Harvest Table in St. Helena, and quickly climbed the ranks at Dry Creek Kitchen, becoming Executive Chef in 2021. Wyatt’s skill, respect for ingredients, and passion for his craft make him a natural fit for Dry Creek Kitchen. Chef Palmer says, “It’s been great watching Wyatt work hard and grow into the role of Executive Chef. His kitchen and cooking style lends itself naturally to DCK and I’m thrilled to have him as a leader in the kitchen.”

We were treated to an exquisite pairing of Dry Creek Kitchen’s signature dishes with local wines, chosen by Sommelier Erin Miller. While many sommeliers have shifted course to become winemakers, Erin has the rather unusual distinction of coming to her new role as a veteran winemaker rather than as a sommelier, and feels that her passion and expertise for making wine will provide restaurant guests with a di erent perspective. Initially planning to become a doctor, Erin’s path led her to become a vigneron, developing an understanding of the grape growing process and how every decision made in the vineyard affects the final product fueled her passion. Prior to joining the Dry Creek Kitchen team, she worked with Evening Land Vineyards, Twomey Cellars, and Provingage Wine Associates, and continues to make wine with grower friends. We enjoyed her enthusiasm and passion in helping deepen guests’ experience and apprecia-

tion of their wine selections by sharing details of the journey of the grape from the vineyard to the table. For an aperitif or night cap, don’t miss Spirit Bar in the adjacent Hotel Healdsburg’s stylish Fireplace Lobby Lounge.

Our beautiful dinner began with a toast and a sampling of signature appetizers, including local Highway 12 Heirloom Melon with Romano-Palmer Coppa and Castelvetrano olive crumble, Belfiore Burrata with summer squash escabeche and heirloom tomato and petite basil, Seared Spanish Octopus with heirloom cucumber, cherry tomato, avocado, pickled Fresno chile, and fingerlime, Palmer Estate Tomato Salad with charred Dry Creek Peach, pistachio, golden balsamic vinaigrette, and toasted focaccia, Forever Oceans Kanpachi Crudo with watermelon, Bricoleur serrano, and petite mint, a feast for the senses! For entrees, we enjoyed Wild Mushroom Rigatoni with toybox tomato, sweet corn, and Bricoleur marjoram, Roasted Mary’s Chicken with caramelized garlic, herb butter, charred lemon, and wilted greens, Seared Liberty Duck Breast with Dry Creek yellow peach, Fregola Sarda, and friseé, Painted Hills Prime New York Strip with potato pave, Bricoleur Vineyards braised radish and leek, and Big Glory Bay Salmon with nardello pepper, fennel dashi, and crisp caper. Last but certainly not least were a dazzling array of desserts: Meyer Lemon Bar with toasted meringue and blueberry-passionfruit coulis, Dry Creek Olive Oil Cake with citrus curd, caramelized pineapple, and mint, Strawberry Shortcake with strawberry mousse, lemon buttermilk cake, and vanilla Bavarian Cream.

The Matheson and Roof 106 by Chef Dustin Valette:

A

Love Letter to

Sonoma County

The Matheson, in the heart of Healdsburg, with two unique restaurant concepts under one roof, is the most talked about restaurant opening in Sonoma this past year! Chef/ Owner Dustin Valette was recognized as one of VENÜ’s esteemed Fearless Chef’s in our Spring 2018 issue after dining at his first Healdsburg restaurant, Valette.

The Matheson is stunning—the same century old building that housed his great

grandfather’s bakery was transformed into a gorgeous multi-level restaurant—incorporating elegant contemporary décor while paying homage to the history of the building, and the family’s long legacy in Sonoma County.

Dustin Valette honed his craft in some of the most celebrated restaurants on the West Coast, including the Michelin-starred Aqua in San Francisco and Napa Valley’s Bouchon. Additional credits include Hokus at the Manda-

rin Oriental Hotel Honolulu, a five-star, five-diamond property; the exclusive North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village, California; and VOX Restaurant & Wine Lounge in Henderson, Nevada. Most recently, Valette spent six years as Executive Chef at Dry Creek Kitchen, a Charlie Palmer restaurant in downtown Healdsburg. At Dry Creek Kitchen, he gathered great acclaim for the strong relationships he cultivated with local farmers and purveyors in order to provide the restaurant with the area’s freshest and most unique ingredients. Valette was known for his exceptional ability to pair some of the country’s best wines with his intense, flavorful and dynamic cuisine. In 2015, along with his brother Aaron Garzini, Dustin opened Valette Restaurant, showcasing 47 years of combined restaurant experience, and a deep passion and dedication to Sonoma Country and its food and wine purveyors and producers. Originally from Sonoma County, Valette is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. He currently resides with his wife, their two young daughters and two dogs in Downtown Healdsburg, a block away from the restaurant. The Matheson opened in September 2021 to rave reviews!

Executive Chef Matt Brimer’s menu is progressive American and hyper-local, featuring ingredients like locally foraged fungi from a secret stand on the slopes of rolling forest, or a Purple Heart tomato cultivated from a farm within walking distance of the restaurant. Start with some vino at the legendary wine

wall, featuring 88 global selections available by taste, sip, or glass and proceed to dine in the gorgeous main dining room with soaring ceilings, colorful murals, and open kitchen, or upstairs at Roof 106, the stylish rooftop bar and sophisticated al fresco seating area where guests enjoy handcrafted cocktails made with seasonal fruits, flowers, and herbs, pizza and small plates from the Mugnaini wood-fired oven that tends to spark the palate (and conversations). The stylish setting, with comfortable seating perched high above Healdsburg amidst planters and fire-pits reminded me of a hip restaurant in the Parioli neighborhood of Rome!

To do this story justice (and because we couldn’t resist), we ate here two times during our visit to Healdsburg—the first night at The Matheson’s main dining room, and another evening, we stopped in to unwind after a long day of wine tasting and enjoyed a casual, yet celebratory meal upstairs at Roof 106!

At The Matheson, we enjoyed the Bread & Butter (with house made butter), Osetra Caviar with shiitake mushroom “XO”, yukon potato, and cured egg yolk, Duck & Shrimp Shumai with foie gras, kimchee, and scallion, Mt. Lassen Trout with horseradish yogurt,

cucumber, caraway, and dill, Summer Melon with cured salmon belly, kohlrabi, gochugaru, and mint, Heirloom Tomatoes with brokaw avocado, sesame, nori tapenade, and shiso, and Brentwood Corn Soup with queso de oaxaca, and squash blossom flowering cilantro for starters.

For entrees, we enjoyed Alaskan Halibut with pole beans, apricot, red curry, and Monterey squid, Wild King Salmon with baby eggplant, zucchini, sauce Charon, and Monterey squid, Aged Sonoma Duck with brassicas, stone fruit, peanut, and basil, Fried Green Tomatoes with succotash, mole verde, and gooseberry, Corn Finished American Beef with yellow corn, porcini, and alliums fermented garlic. For dessert, the Central Coast Strawberries with vanilla pudding, pistachio cake, and granola was the perfect ending!

At Roof 106, we started with Orange & Rosemary Crusted Marinated Olives, Blistered Shishito Peppers, Marcona Almonds, and house made Chorizo, and Warm Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna Tataki with Kombu emulsion, barrel aged soy, pu ed rice, and sesame snow. We couldn’t wait to try the pizzas—we got one with Broccolini, Charred Onion & Calabrian Chile, Feta, Preserved Lemon, a second with Summer Tru e & Mushroom, Lomo, Buratta, Local Mushrooms, Crispy Shallots, and Porcini Crema, and my favorite, the Smoked Salmon, Roasted Garlic, Preserved Lemon, Red Onion, Dill, and Capers with the addition of an order of Valette Osetra Caviar & Creme Fraiche per person to decadently decorate our pizza!

Two other “must’s” were the Burrata + Grilled Peach “Salad” with shishito, arugula, mint, peach-balsamic gastrique, and focaccia, and the gorgeous Whole Roasted Branzino with warm farro salad, asparagus, pickled vegetables, and piquillo pepper vinaigrette.

For sweets, we balanced the decadent with the refreshing: Hazelnut Panna Cotta with white chocolate feuilletine, Volo Chocolate S’mores, and the Peach Sorbet with Lemon Gelee Push-Pop. Oh What a night! ☐

Santé at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn:

California Fusion With A Sonoma Passion

Santé at the beautiful, luxurious, historic Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn showcases an enviable number of regional artisans and producers. With a reverence to fresh, simple preparation and the use of local and sustainable ingredients whenever possible, the culi-

nary team presents an approachable menu that includes flavors, techniques and recipes from several cultures. Seasonal ingredients from regional producers (which include wineries, breweries, ranches, fisheries and farmers) are always center stage. Santé serves

breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and is a favorite among locals as well as guests who are invited to relax, share a thoughtfully prepared meal accompanied with a locally-sourced glass of wine or cocktail.

We were fortunate to dine al fresco on a gorgeous evening, overlooking the Olympic sized pool, gardens, and historic water tower and enjoyed a multi-course menu, expertly paired with local wines, including some special collections by Marla and Geo Bedrosian of Domaine de la Riviere in the Russian River Valley. We began with Tsar Nicolai Select Caviar and house made potato crisps, and Pacific oysters. For the next course, we

enjoyed local Halibut Crudo with smoked trout roe and wasabi, salt roasted baby beets with macadamia tofu and sorrel, BBQ Spiced Heirloom Carrots with “Ranch” and pickled mustard seeds, Belfiore Burrata with grilled peach, pistachio, and burnt honey, Bison Carpaccio with Vella Dry Jack, shaved artichoke, parsley aioli, and rocket, and Grilled & Glazed Quail with charred grapes and fennel pollen, which reminded me of a dish I enjoyed in Tuscany.

Being Italian, I can’t shy away from a pasta course—if you put them on the menu, I’m going to try them! The Squid Ink Linguine with mussels, shrimp, and sea urchin butter and the Sweet Corn Ravioli with blistered tomato, Romano beans, lobster mushroom, and basil were delizioso!

For entrees, we enjoyed the Seared Black Cod with green garbanzo, sprouted cauliflower, and mole beurre blanc, 7-Day Dry Aged Duck Breast featured a confit duck leg, wild rice, fig, and brandy jus, and the Llano Seco Pork Chop with red flint polenta, fermented blueberry jus, and dandelion, which lent a light, luscious summery touch. The Violet Mustard Crusted Lamb Rack with Duck Fat Potatoes and the Westholme Wagyu Chateaubriand with Meyer Lemon & Poblano Béarnaise were definitely highlights of a superb meal—cooked to perfection!

Save room for dessert! Choose from Chef’s Favorite Local Cheeses with fresh apple, Marcona almonds, and date jam, Strawberry

Shortcake with white chocolate mousse, biscuit crumble, and basil, Chamomile Panna Cotta with fresh blackberry and local honeycomb, Yellow Peach, Thyme & Almond Tart with brown butter and sage ice cream, or a S’mores Kit with toasting fork for the fire.

Adjacent 38° North Wine Bar at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn is wine country’s hottest lounge. The venue’s sleek design respects the property’s minimalist aesthetic while maximizing the historic nuances and mission-style architecture of the storied Inn. The inspiration for the unique Wine-centric lounge is the temperate latitude of the 38th parallel, along which the world’s most iconic wine regions sit including Spain’s Alicante, Italy’s Calabria, New Zealand’s Hunter’s and Hawke’s Bay and of course Sonoma Valley.

In addition to the wonderful cuisine, The Inn boasts geothermal fed mineral pools, a world class spa, and access to championship golf at the neighboring Sonoma Golf Club. The iconic AAA Four-Diamond Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa provides an impeccable setting to relish the enviable Sonoma lifestyle. Like the Native Americans who revered the site as a sacred healing ground, you’ll live in harmony with nature through vast open spaces, beautifully landscaped grounds, majestic redwood trees and inspiring sunsets.

“I bring passion, creativity, and high energy to the kitchen. I’ve an eye for local and sustainable produce. Along with my talented team,

we provide a thoughtful dining experience for our modern yet humble guests and focused on the amazing flavors in Sonoma’s bountiful harvest. I’m overwhelmed by all that Sonoma has to o er, from the fruits and vegetables at roadside stands or crab and salmon from the Pacific. Local cheese makers provide the perfect accompaniment to Sonoma’s greatest produce, its stunning wines. Sonoma is a chef’s dream locale, and I’m proud to call this area my home.”

—

Spa. ☐

Jared Reeves, Executive Chef at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn &

CALIFORNIA

Where to Wine and Dine in America’s Most Renowned Wine Region Napa and Sonoma

By Fred Bollaci

This past June, my friends, Tracey Thomas, Owner/Publisher of VENÜ Magazine, her husband, Matthew Sturtevant, and I enjoyed our first visit to California wine country since COVID. It was wonderful to see old friends and to make wonderful new friendships. As excited as we were to be in wine country, it was bittersweet. We couldn’t help but notice mile after mile of devastation from the wildfires that have ravaged the area. There literally was not a person we met that wasn’t personally a ected by the fires or the pandemic.

Sonoma

We began our adventures in Sonoma, starting in Healdsburg, a storybook town in northern Sonoma County. It has an air of sophistication yet does not lose the fact that its main industry center around winemaking, which, as all the winemakers told us, is farming—growing and nurturing the grapes that are crafted into the next great vintage. Napa and Sonoma welcome visitors from

Sonoma

around the world to experience not only the wines, but the food—which reflects the local bounty. Napa and Sonoma have given birth to and attracted some of America’s finest chefs, who proudly pay homage to this region.

In Healdsburg, we stayed with friends Marla and Geo Bedrosian at their gorgeous 25-acre estate in the heart of Russian River Valley’s Middle Reach, where the grapes are home-grown and crafted into Domaine de la Rivière wines. The Russian River

Valley is a narrow stretch of land that runs along the Russian River’s banks, known for its mix of fog and sun, promoting a long, well-balanced growing season and wines with rich, velvety fruit flavors. The Bedrosians fell in love with the area after many visits, and purchased their property in 2011, selling their grapes at first, but after a few years and extensive involvement nurturing the vines, they began creating their own wines, employing the expertise of vineyard manager Matt Reilly and winemakers Kale Anderson and Erin Miller from Twomey Cellars. Their boutique wines include luscious Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Rosé. While the wines were phenomenal, it’s all about the people—being guests at our friends’ home, playing with their Labrador puppies Windsor (named after the nearby town) and Bear while sipping wines on the sun-drenched back terrace overlooking the shimmering pool, golden vineyards, and setting sun was magical!

It helps to know Shari Gherman, President and Co-Founder of the American Fine Wine Competition in South Florida, of which we are a media partner. Shari helped us organize our winery visits, seamlessly blending the best wines in

Napa and Sonoma with our dining plans.

We enjoyed visiting the following wineries and meeting many passionate folks behind these excellent wines. J. Cage Cellars in downtown Windsor, is a true family a air by Roger and Donna Beery, transplants from Austin, Texas. For the Beery’s, winemaking is their “second act,” Donna a “recovering CPA” and Roger involved in radio and a well-known wine blog. The couple started visiting Sonoma in the 1980’s and fell in love. Their passion for wine rubbed o on their kids—son Conch came in 2015 as their winemaker, while the Beery’s began by consulting with Adam Lee of Siduri. 2022 marks their 14th vintage—like many, they became captivated by Sonoma and never left. We enjoyed Sauvignon Blanc, which mimicked a French Sancerre from grapes which pre-date prohibition. The Van Der Kamp Pinot Noir from 1,600’ elevation on Sonoma Mountain highlighted juicy black fruit, rose petal, and forest floor on the palate—a Pinot lovers Pinot!

Papapietro Perry, in the heart of Dry Creek Valley was founded in 1998 by Ben and Yolanda Papapietro and Bruce and Renae Perry. Like many successful ventures,

Sonoma

Papapietro Perry Winery was hatched in a garage, producing wine for a handful of friends and having fun. Word spread and both embraced that this should be more than a hobby. Ben and Bruce took jobs at area wineries and learned all they could; they soon realized the wines they were making could compete with other premium California Pinot Noirs. They purchased a production facility in Sonoma and Papapietro Perry was born. Their approach to winemaking was and remains minimalist. “We make wine that we want to drink. We take our wines seriously but not ourselves,” said Ben. Sadly, Bruce passed away earlier this year, but the proud legacy of Papapietro Perry continues in the wine, food, and hospitality, right down to a delightful tasting with Ben and being greeted by Nola, the Perry’s winery dog.

Wilson Family, also in Dry Creek, was founded in 1993 by Ken and Diane Wilson. The winery’s barn is one of the oldest structures in Dry Creek Valley, and has been lovingly restored to provide a state-of-theart venue for their award-winning winemaking. Diane Wilson started her winemaking career by winning Best of Class for her wine. The instant success she experienced

with her first vintage has continued for over twenty years, resulting in dozens of medals. Although she learned the basic elements of wine chemistry as a Biochemistry major in college, she credits her hands-on learning along with relying on her senses during the production process to know when it’s time to blend or bottle. The family planted their first vineyards high in the mountains of the northern part of Dry Creek, naming their vineyards after their children. Today, each of their children has a role in the business.

Ferrari-Carano Winery is one of Sonoma’s most recognized producers. Located in Dry

spired menu featuring dishes prepared with ingredients from the estate gardens.

Creek Valley and home to Ferrari-Carano’s Villa Fiore Wine Shop & Tasting Room, the Estate Winery was built in 1981 and focuses on producing Ferrari-Carano’s stellar white wines. The grapes are harvested at night, when temperatures are the coolest, resulting in crisp and intense fruit flavors. Ferrari-Carano has two acclaimed winemakers—Sarah Quider oversees whites and Rebecka Deike oversees reds. I highly recommend enjoying “La Colazione Italiana” (Italian-style Sunday Wine Breakfast/ Brunch)—sit outside on the lovely Sycamore Grove terraces overlooking gardens and beautiful estate and enjoy a flight of the reserve wines with a seasonal, Italian-in-

Williamson Wines in downtown Healdsburg is known for their full flavor due to the exceptional fruit grown in their twenty-plus vineyards located in specific sites across Napa and Sonoma, as well as their passion for pairing food with wine. The winery and vineyards are sustainably managed to minimize chemical use so these natural wines are produced with minimal intervention retaining the integrity of flavor and sense of place. Bill and Dawn Williamson are 4th generation winemakers whose family established their own vineyards in Australia in 1919. In 1980, the couple came to California for a business trip, visited Sonoma, and decided to stay! Sam Williamson (their son) is the winemaker, who produces wines from sustainably farmed vineyards without additives. Their low sulfite content reduces the risk of histamine headaches, and not using any animal products qualifies them as vegan. The most unique wine in the Williamson portfolio is the Sparkling Shiraz, with deep purple color, made in the traditional Méthode Champenoise.

Moshin Vineyards, in the heart of the Russian River Valley was founded by Rick

Moshin, a San Jose State University math instructor who built Moshin from the ground up. Today, you can still find Rick tending vineyards, tasting barrels in the cellar, conducting virtual wine events, building furniture for the tasting room, or making repairs. Since 1989, Rick has been producing natural terroir-driven and delicious wines, focusing on sustainable vineyard practices followed by light-handed fermentation techniques—utilizing native yeasts, no additives, and the gentle movement of gravity from the tank to the barrel and bottling line. The early 1990’s found Rick teaching mathematics at San Jose State during the week and farming his 10-acre Pinot Noir vineyard on the weekends, connecting with local winemaking icons and grape growers such as Davis Bynum, Gary Farrell, and Joe Rochioli, gleaning knowledge, grape cuttings and even selling some of his own grapes to Davis Bynum for a Bynum-Moshin bottling. These deep roots have built a solid foundation upon which Moshin Vineyards has grown to 25 acres and garnered critical acclaim.

Next on our Sonoma itinerary was a visit to the town of Sonoma and the Carneros

district, at the southern end of Sonoma County before heading to Napa.

Fulcrum, whose tasting room is in downtown Sonoma began in 2006 as a hobby by David Rossi from New Jersey, who attended UC Davis to study winemaking. Fulcrum’s focus is on Pinot Noir, currently producing 2,000 cases, and sourcing grapes from all over California. We tried the 2020 Brut Rosé of Pinot Noir, which features notes of melon, white pepper, and strawberries. The 2019 Pinot from Petaluma Gap, which is known for onshore wind which nails the vineyard, stressing skins, allowing grapes to thicken and have a longer hang time, more fruit, and darker, bolder fruit was light and luscious. Pinot Noir is considered the toughest grape to grow, preferring short warm days and cool nights to ripen and preserve the fruit.

Schug Carneros Estate began by Walter Schug in 1980 and spans 50 acres of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Carneros is located just north of San Pablo Bay and is known for its breezes—the only AVA which spans both Sonoma and Napa Counties. The adjacent

hillside acts as a wind tunnel, which cools and stresses the grapes, resulting in thicker skins and more full-bodied wines. Walter Schug was the founding winemaker for Joseph Phelps before starting his own winery. Today, the family is in its third generation, with Walter’s son, Axel Schug as Managing Partner, and his wife Kristine, a graduate of the CIA at Greystone whose cuisine pairs exceptionally with the family’s wines. German-born winemaker Johannes Scheid was handpicked for a 2009 internship at Schug by Walter, eventually becoming head winemaker, and is dedicated to preserving the legacy of terroir-driven European-style Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The 2021 White Pinot, Ricci Vineyard was one of the most unique wines we tried all week, where grape skins were briefly put in the barrels to add complexity, resulting in a bright, delicate wine with stone fruit flavors and honeysuckle nuances. Both the 2019 Heritage Chardonnay and the Heritage Reserve Pinot Noir with its rose and quince quality, paired beautifully with Chef Kristine’s charcuterie.

Moshin Vineyards

Napa

Continuing through Carneros, we crossed into Napa County.

Our first stop, Domaine Carneros is known as a small grower-producer of Méthode Traditionelle sparkling wine, Pinot Noir, and their breathtakingly beautiful Château overlooking the sun-drenched vines of Carneros. Founded by the noble family behind Champagne Taittinger, Domaine Carneros was established in 1987 when Claude Taittinger selected a 138-acre parcel in the heart of Napa’s Carneros district, wisely choosing Eileen Crane-often referred to as America’s doyenne of Sparkling Wine, to oversee the development of the Taittinger style in Carneros. Eileen Crane spoke of the estate’s wines in terms of “balance, depth of flavor and wonderful finish; great aroma, elegant style and little, tiny bubbles. Classic. Sophisticated. Timeless. Think Audrey Hepburn in a little black dress.” In 2020, after 33 years, Crane passed the torch to a new CEO, Remi Cohen, who brings two decades

of experience in all facets of the wine industry to Domaine Carneros. Their sparkling wines range from the classic vintage-dated Brut cuvee to the luxury Le Rêve Blanc de Blancs. All the fruit comes from their six estate vineyards comprising 400 acres in Carneros.

Carneros della Notte was founded in 2003 by wine.com founder David Harmon, whom we met years ago at Florida Winefest in Sarasota. His Pinot vineyard is chemical free and the grapes are harvested by hand and exclusively at night while the juice chemistry is more stable. Carneros della Notte uses a glow-in-the-dark wine label to further articulate the winery’s unique approach to Pinot Noir production. Engaged in viticulture and hands-on farming, Dave commits himself to the vines throughout the growing season, doing labor-intensive management and timely harvest. The result is balanced, fruit and spice-based wines with the structure and depth to age gracefully. David Harmon is also the founder of Own a Napa Vineyard, where you are invited to purchase your own vine(s) for the year, attend a harvest party, and have bottles made with your own labels with grapes from the year’s harvest.

Shadowbox Cellars in downtown Napa began as a passion project for Founding Vintners Monty and Sara Preiser and Ira and Eydie Holz. Today, Shadowbox is known for age worthy Cabernets, Bordeaux Blends, Chardonnay, Sémillon, and more, producing small lots of acid-driven and food friendly wines made from grapes sourced from vineyards in Napa and Sonoma counties as well as Lodi, Paso Robles and the Sierra Foothills. Monty Preiser is a well-accomplished trial lawyer, Sara a spokesperson for DuPont and women’s fashion. After they became empty-nesters in South Florida, they decided to write about food and wine, which led them to Napa, becoming recognized wine writers and founders of The Preiser Key, the most complete guide to Napa wineries and restaurants. Ira and Eydie Holz share this love and appreciation for wine. Eydie works in interior design and Ira was a longtime member of the Chicago Board of Trade and The Chicago Board Options Exchange before joining the Preisers in 2009 to create Shadowbox. Justin, Monty and Sara’s son was Director of Operations for The

Preiser Key before becoming winemaker at Shadowbox. His philosophy is “Begin with fantastic vineyards that display the best characteristics for a particular variety, then, don’t screw it up.”

PEJU Winery in Rutherford began in 1983 when Tony Peju and his wife Herta bought a 30-acre property in Rutherford and moved to Napa Valley to raise their two daughters. Peju began selling wines in the garage at their vineyard estate—a lengthy legal battle ensued and Peju prevailed, leading to Napa County creating the legal definition of what constitutes a winery. The Peju’s pioneered direct to consumer selling and worked to see their dream come true with completion of the iconic PEJU tower in 2003.

Today, Winemaker Sara Fowler oversees five vineyards comprising 515 acres. PEJU winery is situated in the heart of the famed Rutherford appellation. The 30acre certified organic vineyard is planted to five Bordeaux varietals. Rutherford is famous defined by the phrase “Rutherford Dust” which lends notes of cocoa, chocolate and co ee to Cabernet Sauvignon. Our tasting at PEJU unexpectedly turned into THE most entertaining wine tasting any of us have experienced. Enter “Vintertainer” Alan Arnopole, a long-time area musician and regular entertainer at PEJU—we were treated to a private performance of his iconic Napa Rapa, a rap song inspired by the history and winemaking culture of Napa Valley!

Caymus Vineyards, part of the Wagner Family of Wines, started in 1972 by Chuck Wagner and his late parents, Lorna and Charlie, a family of farmers whose roots in

Napa dated back to the 1850’s. Today, the family’s two Cabernet Sauvignons, Caymus Napa Valley and Caymus Special Selection, are among the region’s most celebrated wines. Chuck now works alongside two of his children, Charlie and Jenny, and the family produces diverse wines from Napa Valley, other parts of California and beyond. Charlie Wagner now leads Conundrum, showcasing some of the best wine regions California has to o er, as well as Mer Soleil Chardonnays from the Santa Lucia Highlands and Monterey County, as well as Red Schooner, a rich, dark Malbec made from grapes grown in the Andes Moun-

tains of Argentina, shipped chilled to Caymus and produced in the supple Caymus style. The newest addition to the Wagner Family of Wines is Caymus-Suisun. Only 30 minutes from Napa, Suisun Valley is still largely undiscovered. We enjoyed the 2019 Caymus-Suisun Grand Durif, a Petite Sirah, the most widely grown grape in Suisun. Jenny, Chuck’s daughter, is winemaker for Emmolo, which is named for her maternal side of the family, and o ers a fresh take on Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot, as well as Emmolo Sparkling, a wine worthy of celebrating that is serious, fresh and creamy.

Frog’s Leap, now in its fourth decade, is located in the heart of Rutherford, and is the life’s work of John Williams. While an undergrad at Cornell University, he made the trip to Napa via Greyhound Bus where he met

Photo by Emma K. Morris

Larry Turley while camping on his property, a former frog farm. John went to work at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and helped bottle the ’73 Stag’s Leap Cabernet, which won the famed Paris Tasting! John and Larry coined the name Frog’s Leap and sold their motorcycles to raise the cash to launch their winery. Frog’s Leap began in 1981, producing Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel. In 1993 Larry sold his interest in Frog’s Leap to the Williams family to start Turley Wine Cellars. John and wife Julie found a new location for the winery, at the current 40-acre site with its historic Red Barn in Rutherford. Over the years, Frog’s Leap has become a favorite among wine enthusiasts, and one of the most recognized wine labels.

Reynolds Family Winery in the Stag’s Leap District began when Steve and Suzie Reynolds purchased a chicken farm in 1995 after relocating to Napa from Stockton, CA. Steve continued his work as a dentist, initially planting the property with Cabernet Sauvignon hoping to make a few cases and sell some fruit. It wasn’t long before the couple decided to go all in. Steve sold his dental practice and they began sourcing fruit and started construction on the winery. In 1999, they released their first vintage. In

2011, their Cabernet Sauvignon was named #10 wine in the world by Wine Enthusiast!

Ballentine Vineyards in St. Helena has been family-owned since 1906, representing four generations. As a winery with deep roots in Napa, Ballentine is a farm-to-bottle winery, growing all of their own grapes to

make limited truly exclusive Napa Valley wine on 80 acres, specializing in Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon. The winery was designed to collect the rainwater from the rooftop and be used for both frost protection and irrigation. The story of the Ballentine and Pocai Families began in Lucca, Italy, and Omagh, County Tyrone, Ireland. The families

married, combining their vineyards. Today, Betty Pocai Ballentine along with son Frank Ballentine continue to produce delicious award-winning wines. Along with winemaker Bruce Devlin, they constantly experiment with their 100+-year-old vineyards to discover their ever-evolving potential to create new gems from each vintage.

Chase Cellars in St. Helena has been in the Chase family for five generations. In 1849 Captain George Chase sailed to San Francisco in search of gold. When he came upon shore, George wrote to his friend and business partner William Bourn, saying “San Francisco promises to be a most lucrative center for men of imagination and business enterprise.” William, who had an eye for good deals and ventures, couldn’t refuse and traveled west to work with George, and became a successful banker. He was so successful that the business community coined the phrase “Bourn Luck.” The property, now known as Hayne Vineyard, was purchased in 1872 by William Bowers Bourn and his

wife Sarah Esther Chase Bourn. Today, the winery is run by Katie Hayne Simpson, Vintner (great-great granddaughter of William and Sarah). Over 115 years old, Simpson says their vines “are wise and storied—they are the heartbeat of Hayne Vineyard, and the soul of the wines we produce.” Russell Bevan, winemaker at Chase Cellars has a countless number of 90-to-100-point scores from the world’s most respected critics.

Pride Mountain Vineyards, a 235-acre estate with 85 vineyard acres is located some 2,000 feet above the floor of Napa Valley on Spring Mountain—one of the most unique winery locations in both Napa and Sonoma (it spans both counties, with a line of demarcation through the parking lot), an estate previously named “Summit Ranch.” Due to their elevation and exposure, these vines receive roughly 27% more ultraviolet light resulting in tannin and phenolic antioxidant levels in their red grapes that are measured to be roughly 25% higher than on the valley floor, lending to the “mountain character” of Pride’s red wines. It is also cooler than on the floor, meaning the fruit does not ripen as fast, allowing for nice acidity levels. Founders Jim and Carolyn Pride met in high school, and after Jim’s successful career as a dentist and founder of The Pride Institute, which teaches dentists how to manage and build their practices, the couple purchased the historic Summit Ranch and began restoring the estate and making wine until Jim passed away in 2004. Since, their children stepped in making Pride a true family winery.

We are thankful for the wonderful friendships we made in our travels through Napa and Sonoma, and look forward to returning to discover and enjoy more great wineries, restaurants, and places to stay. We raise a glass and toast the amazing folks whose hard work and dedication make Napa and Sonoma among the top wine destinations in the world. These great folks have

endured a lot lately, between the fires and COVID, and are ready to welcome you!

Bon Voyage et Santé! ☐

Recommended Wine Country Restaurants

Bistro Jeanty (Yountville)

Bottega Napa Valley (Yountville)

Bravas Bar De Tapas (Healdsburg)

Brix (Napa)

Bouchon (Yountville)

Celadon (Napa)

Cole’s Chop House (Napa)

The Girl and The Fig (Sonoma)

Gott’s Roadside (Multiple locations)

La Toque (Napa)

Mustard’s Grill (Napa)

Oakville Grocery (Oakville)

Rutherford Grill (Rutherford)

The Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil (Rutherford)

Single Thread (Healdsburg)

Valette Restaurant (Healdsburg)

Willi’s Seafood & Raw Bar (Healdsburg)

Photo by Brian T. Liu

BY MEGAN REILLY

DESTINATION

Palm trees, pools, desert wellness, and, of course, mid-century modern glamour & style! Hollywood A-listers made Palm Springs their weekend retreat as far back as the 1930s (apparently the Hollywood studios stipulated that while under contract, actors had to stay within two hours of Los Angeles so they could quickly get back to set for last minute film shoots). Had the rules been di erent, Palm Springs might not have become the “it destination” that it was then and still is today. While Palm Springs has evolved throughout the years, its attraction remains strong as a place where past meets present, and style, glamour and wellness are plentiful. Although just a couple of hours from LA (depending on tra c), this desert oasis feels like a world away.

If you’re looking for a winter escape, add Palm Springs to your list! While much of the country is talking about chill factors in February, the desert sun o ers the perfect escape to

refresh and renew, surrounded by a plethora of natural beauty. February also happens to be the timing of Modernism Week, the 11-day extravaganza of mid-century modern design and celebration of Palm Springs' noted history as the birthplace of American Modernism. If you are a design lover—and especially a fan of mid-century modern design and architecture, this is your chance! Modernism Week takes place February 16-26 and o ers hundreds of events including home tours, architectural walking, biking and double-decker bus tours, tours of the historic Annenberg Estate at Sunnylands, a classic car show, garden tours, the Modernism Show at the PS Convention Center, a 2-day vintage trailer show, nightly parties, and a series of educational programs and talks. The list goes on.

I recently sat down with my fellow NY to CA transplant and designer friend Jon Call who now calls Palm Springs home to get his take on the ideal Palm Springs visit.

Jon has been heralded as both the past and the future of interior design. The name of his firm, Mr. Call Designs, is actually a cheeky reference to the days of past when designers were known by Mr. or Mrs. But Jon’s energy and panache for creating fun and fresh interiors that exude modern comfort is anything but outdated.

Megan Reilly: Why Palm Springs? What sparked your move here?

Jon Call: I had been in New York for twenty years and was looking for a change. My checklist was clear: I wanted to live in a community that valued creativity, had a fabulous year round climate, and was near a good airport. Palm Springs checked all three of these boxes for me. It has been a great adventure ever since.

MR: The Palm Springs demographic seems to have shifted younger over the last decade, both as a result of all the festivals and life-

style events that have popped up over the recent years (Coachella, Stagecoach, etc.) and, more recently, as a result of the Pandemic migration with remote working. Have you noticed this demographic shift and influence?

JC: There’s this sense you get when you’ve arrived somewhere and can feel a specific vibe. Palm Springs feels on the verge of a renaissance right now. It’s become a convergence zone for people that are looking to get more out of their lives. In our own way, we are seeking a renewed modernism for our generation.

MR: Let’s talk about modernism. Your home has been featured as part of the Modernism Week tour and so many mid-century modern fans descend upon Palm Springs each February for all those festivities and events. Ant tips to navigate Modernism Week or must-see spots that pay homage to the mid-century modernism history of the area?

JC: The one thing to keep in mind, especially about the older modernist architecture in Palm Springs, is that it was all an experiment. No one knew where it would stand let alone that people would be touring these designs 80 years later! So before walking into any project, ask yourself “what problem was this architect trying to solve?” or “what questions were they trying to find answers for?”.

The definition of “modernism” is “to question”. Modernism Week is a good reminder of that, and if other guests also start questioning things, they are truly going to feel the spirit of this historic movement.

MR: Ok let’s talk about Palm Springs musts when planning a visit… Palm Springs has no shortage of stylish boutique hotels. What are a few of your favorites?

JC: I love the hotels in town. You really get a broad spectrum, each catering to a unique personality or vibe. For classic 1940’s Hollywood glamour, you can’t beat The Colony Palms. Then there is Sparrows Lodge, which is its own unique experience. It’s on acreage filled with log cabin bungalows, gardens, a killer art collection and a barn. It’s all very eclectic but it works. I love it there.

MR: The must-get dinner reservation?

JC: Bar Cecil reinvented the game out here restaurant-wise. It’s decorated in homage to Cecil Beaton in this quirky upbeat manner. They serve simple bistrot fare: the perfect steak frites, one of the best butter lettuce salads I’ve ever had, and the chocolate chip cookies... Warm from the oven. You can’t go

Jon Call is the founder of Mr. Call Designs, a nationally recognized, award-winning luxury Interior Design firm based in Palm Springs. For more insider tips to help plan your perfect Palm Springs getaway, check out www.mrcalldesigns.com/ palmsprings.

Christopher Kennedy Show House

wrong. If you buy ten martinis, they create a brass plaque and place it on the wall permanently. It’s amazing.

MR: Best spot for more cocktails before (or after) those ten martinis?

JC: Tailor Shop. Hands down. It’s a newer venue. Seats about 50. They focus on craft cocktails and absolutely perfect service. It has a certain moody, dim, sexy interior that is quite intoxicating itself! Be sure to make a reservation.

MR: How about your favorite hidden gem for a casual meet-up?

JC: French Miso. Get the Eggs Benedict. Run, don’t walk. It will change your life. It’s located right downtown but on a pedestrian path between buildings. It’s hidden. The garden is gorgeous. I can’t say enough good things.

MR: How about shopping?

JC: Thick As Thieves is my perennial favor-

ite. It’s a mixture of home goods, fashion and lifestyle that has a certain Joshua Tree chic quality to it. The products I can’t do without are their hand-crafted face oils, soaps, balms and creams. They smell the way you imagine Palm Springs deserts would. They also make great little gifts. Also check out Mojave Flea

MR: Your favorite way to spend a Palm Springs weekend?

JC: Colony Club cocktails by the pool. I could chill here with a good friend and proper cocktails for hours. It’s the reward I look forward to at the end of a long week and an antidote to everything and anything that ails you.

MR: Any other things we should consider adding to our itinerary?

JC: Take a trip to Pioneertown! It is only about a 30 minute drive away, but is so cool. Catch some live music at Pappy & Harriet’s or get a drink and food at the nearby Red Dog Saloon

Thanks for these insider tips Jon. We can’t wait for our next visit in February! ☐

Megan Reilly covers interior design, lifestyle and travel, and is based in Los Angeles. She is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of WestEdge Design Fair, a tradeshow and lifestyle event that takes place in Los Angeles and Dallas.

Barns Kitchen at Sparrows Lodge

Christopher Kennedy Show House

Modernism Week

BOOKS AUTHO R S AND THE BEAU T IFUL HO ROTE THEM W

Venü Sponsors the Book Signing at Rooms with A View

BY CINDY CLARKE

We are excited to be a sponsor of a very special book signing at this year’s Rooms with a View. Always an amazing showcase of some of the most beautiful interiors – and design talents – in the area, this annual event includes opportunities for you to see the latest trends in interior design and learn tricks of the trade from the best in the business. Complementing the designer vignettes you’ll see on display are co ee table books that allow you to bring their expertise home with you. The authors will be signing copies of their books at the show, giving you the unique opportunity to purchase one dedicated to you or someone you might wish to gift a book to.

Included in the look-book signing lineup

are Bryan Hu man and Thomas Lloyd, two of the co-authors of Bunny Mellon Style. Bunny Mellon was an acclaimed American horticulturalist, gardener, philanthropist, and art collector. She designed and planted a number of famous gardens, including the White House Rose Garden. The authors’ new book o ers a personal perspective on this influential, but very private designer through in-depth original research and countless conversations. They gleaned intimate insights from Mrs. Mellon’s personal writings and correspondences and talked with people lucky enough to know and work with her. In the book, they share stories about her personal relationships and friendships with Jackie Kennedy Onassis, designers Billy Baldwin, Balenciaga, Givenchy, and more

© 2021 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris. Used with permission of Isabelle Rey @isabellereytheartist

to give readers an unforgettable look at the life and design loves of this very special lady. Photos provide a fascinating look at her design style, from her private home, furnishings and gardens to some of her most beautiful projects.

Going from waiter to writer of his own high-profile design book, Billy Cotton made his debut on the design scene in 2011, quickly attracting the attention of star-studded and art-savvy crowds who relished his easy on the eye decorating style. His first project sealed the deal for him as he transformed a summer house for singer/songwriter Jenni Muldaur, who housed him in an unused South Hampton shed while he worked for her. His genius opened up the doors of other major stars and luminaries who wanted him to design their homes too. Often using flea market finds that speak to his Vermont upbringing, he deftly mixes historical and modern-day styles together, weaving in bold touches of color, custom-designed furnishings and lighting, and then he adds art and artifacts that speak volumes about his on-the-mark sensibilities. He has just written a book, published by Rizzoli, about his rising star and his breakout career, along with personal stories about his projects. He will be on hand to personally sign his book, Billy Cotton, Interior

& Design Work, at the show.

While we may not admit it out loud, we all love great bathrooms. After all, they are our go-to for primping and pampering as well as other necessities. Who better to talk bathrooms than Barbara Sallick, co-founder of Waterworks. She has curated a collection of dream bathrooms designed by top architects and interior designers in her book, The Ultimate Bath, that is a must-have for any bathroom reading. Responsible for some of the most beautiful faucets in bathrooms and kitchens across the US and beyond, Waterworks, a company she

and her husband founded in 1988, began a new revolution in the American bath industry. Using the elegant European bath experience as a guide, they imported and created the finest products available, bringing unprecedented performance and style to what had been an overlooked, but necessary, area of the home.

Immortalized for their historic beauty, the 18 private homes in Marc Kristal’s book, The New Old House, are especially relevant to Connecticut, where we take great pride in our historic houses. In his book, Marc traces the

SARAH BLANK COMES FROM A 35+ YEAR BACKGROUND IN KITCHEN DESIGN AND HAS WORKED ON A MULTITUDE OF PROJECTS.

ingenious ways architects have revitalized and refreshed historic properties for the next generation, paying attention to sustainability, preservation and style. It’s been praised as a best of both worlds approach to tasteful renovations, which is brilliant by our book!

See what’s cooking in Classic Kitchens for

Modern Living by the award-winning Sarah Blank Design Studio. Sarah Blank comes from a 35+ year background in kitchen design and has worked on a multitude of projects in Connecticut, New York, Palm Beach, Houston, and Los Angeles. Her firm specializes in creating the finest kitchens in the area, known for being as

functional as they are beautiful. Her book takes readers through the whole design process as the firm’s designers share their expertise in creating a classic kitchen for today’s lifestyles.

Designer Philip Mitchell tells stories about stunning rooms in his book Collected Interiors Writes publisher Rizzoli, “Modern maximalist designer Philip Mitchell reveals his talent for blending collections, family heirlooms, contemporary art, and accessories in visually creative environments that are brimming with personality, color, authenticity, and warmth.” The author takes readers on a 9-home narrative of homes, apartments and cottages across North America as he helps readers learn how to blend old with new, mix colors and patterns and make their homes their own.

Collaborations: Stephen Chrisman and Tom McManus Architects by Margaret Russell, editor in chief of Architectural Digest, Galerie, and Elle Décor, takes readers outside to country estates and urban dwellings renowned for their classic style

Slim Aarons

and attention to detail and includes works by Bunny Williams and others. The captivating stories behind the homes featured in the book are revealed through gorgeous photography and texts narrating the genesis and evolution of each property.

Slim Aarons: Style by Shawn Waldron and Kate Betts showcases the photographs of Slim Aarons in a parade of fashions, high profile personalities and places he captured during his 50-year career. Although his work was indelibly tied to fashion, Slim Aarons, at least according to the man himself, did not photograph fashion: “I didn’t do fashion. I did the people in their clothes that became the fashion.” Featuring black-and-white fashion photography and portraits of the fashionable elite and the designers behind the clothing, this book includes never-before-seen images and detailed captions written by fashion historians and is a compelling compendium of the photographer’s most stylish work. Author Shawn Waldron is an archivist and curator who specializes in photography and he oversees the Slim Aarons Archive. Kate Betts served as an editor at Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Time magazines and is also the author of My Paris Dream and Everyday Icon: Michelle Obama and the Power of Style. Their collaboration is brilliant, making this book pure pleasure to look at and read. ☐

Rooms with a View show days, November 11-13, tickets start at $30. Opening night gala, November 10th. For book signings, lectures, demonstrations, and to purchase tickets visit: www.roomswithaview.org

“I DIDN’T DO FASHION. I DID THE PEOPLE IN THEIR CLOTHES THAT BECAME THE FASHION.”

BY KAMI SLOAN

As humans, we’re part of the connection between the built and natural world. We tend to ignore this interrelation primarily due to how quickly we operate and disembody ourselves from something that’s not within our reach of understanding or attainable to the eye. Public Space artist Norie Sato and CGI Artist and Architect Madi Chanyshev exchange relatable design ideologies about the behavioral contexts of form and their inseparable relationship amidst humanity, structure, and the ecosphere.

VENÜ: What about the shape of triangles transcends a point of connection for you? Can humans cohabitate well in triangular structures?

Norie Sato: Triangles are ubiquitous – they hold an endearing meaning for me. Triangle Studios was an influential group of artists with whom I used to share a space. I use triangles in several ways in my work as they help create appropriate and inappropriate shapes. Triangular shapes are often found in 3D renderings as they allow us to imagine things when they don’t exist in reality and help us get into a space.

Madi Chanyshev: I often use sharp angles and triangle shapes in architecture – as architecture is an expression of emotion, and a triangle expresses character with a desire for the future.

NS: Triangles have a duality – they can be constraining, yet they have a stable shape. The corners of a triangle are disproportionate to our bodies. Triangular structures house forms and reflect mountain peaks.

MC: I’m interested in knowing what inspires you and how you visualize your ideas into reality. Please elaborate.

NS: Each project has an entirely di erent context, but the mainstay within the realm of the entire scope of my work is that I try to elevate the interaction between humans, nature, and technology in some way. The balance between the three variables in each project is not always the same: at times, it’s more subtle, and at others, more profound. The connective aspect is essential to me. E.g., “In the Fold,” the Garry oak tree directly behind the artwork becomes very prominent with images and patterns. The human aspect is not visible except in the materials and how the art components are put together. However, in “Meet Me at The Triangles,” the artwork focuses on human life in Wheaton. MD, where the installation is permanently located. – A lot less on the natural.

VENÜ: How do you intertwine the articulation points between humanity and Nature so seamlessly? What is the importance of that in your work?

MC: I believe any idea that’s arisen among people is borrowed from Nature. We are obliged to adjust the architecture to the landscape, the landscaping palette, and the shape of the environment. It is in this combination that Nature + architecture will be a masterpiece.

LOOP ©Chanyshev Architect

METRO STATION

Objet d’ art - Architecture as a contrast in materials and forms.

©Chanyshev Architect

NS: Nature has the ability to break through what we do as human beings; it’s determined to live even in the most hostile environments. Nature commands us to find unity out of discord; even when it’s most uncontrollable, there’s a natural selection and balance in the process. I learn from Nature and implement this in my work, reflecting that our ecosystem has longevity, no matter the consequences, it endures, and we find strength in its beauty. I’m also inspired and in awe by seagulls and the shapes of their wings. Although they tend to be nuisances, they are intelligent and resourceful creatures.

NS: You tend to put a lot of elements of surprise in your work. You can see it in “THE LOOP” cocktail bar and “Metro Station.” Is that purposely done?

MC: In general, I am madly in love with the combination of contrasting shapes, colors, lighting, and design. In the “Metro Station” project, you can immediately see a mix of cold and heavy concrete with light, airy, bright, and warm acrylic balls. And in the scheme of the bar, we see the same technique of combining a concrete finish with warm lighting and a neon loop throughout the ceiling. As a result, people feel this contrast and can feel di erent emotions.

VENÜ: As an installation artist, your work is demonstrated in digital and physical planes. How does one attain a sense of tactility in each of these environments?

NS: The di erence between the analog and digital worlds is how we interpret them. Analog relates signals or information by a continuous variable, whereas on the contrast,

digital relates information through a brain-computer interface. We certainly can view something perceptible by touch and be deceived. On the other hand, we can translate something magnified that isn’t tangible at all through the lens of a James Webb Telescope, and it’s authentically felt. There’s an ambiguity in my approach and duality between these emerging worlds. Tactility is something that is thought through the gesture of materials as well as emotions. My work is meant to provoke a feeling. I take a broader idealistic approach in my projects that I want the partaker to arise at what their own sense of reality is. I pay close attention to these details.

VENÜ: Is typography an essential element for you in your architectural statements?

MC: Typography is a critical component of capturing beauty for me if I put it correctly. So yes, this is important to me.

NS: The way you create the interaction between railings and walls is an interesting geometry. Are they curved, flat, or straight?

MC: The railing elements are not only a functional component but also a design element. I enjoy working with straight forms and find straight railings are more attractive and appealing to the eye.

HELICAL TANGO

©Norie Sato

Aluminum coil mesh, stainless steel, sandblasted “eco-etched” glass Sculpture: 75’ x 5’6” x 5’6” , Glass Curtainwall: 96’ x 18’4”

“I think the city of the future is a city in the sky and cities in the depths of the earth.”

Madi Chanyshev

IN THE FOLD

©Norie Sato, Corten Steel (Solanum) and Anodized aluminum, 70’ x 7’ x 2’, Photo by Kevin Shea

DESERT TRACERY

©Norie Sato, Cut steel, stainless steel, glass with silkscreened interlayer, Varied dimensions, Max Height of 20 ft.

FUTURE HOUSES ©Chanyshev Architect

MC: What comes out of your subconscious when you design? Is there a strong narrative you want to tell that gets embedded in your story?

NS: Working in the public space comes with constraints, especially in an exterior environment. Longevity and durability are pivotal components of the structural elements. “The magic begins with the treatment of materials as they help manifest concept, and it unveils into a story.” Some of the things I think about is how people will interact with the textural component. There’s a palette of materials I enjoy working with to create that human touch.- Fine-grained mosaic for its permanence and softness, wood and glass for fragility, and steels, aluminum, and bronzes for their strength and to avoid rust. I see materials in an unconventional way in which vicissitude changes our perception, and that movement creates emotional value for the co-participant – creating hidden subtleties and whispering secrets.

NS: Given the opportunity to rethink or reimagine what the new cities of the future would

look like, what would you do di erently in the built environment? What would we encounter when we inhabit them?

MC: Cities of the future are a prevalent issue in the society of architects. The main problem that threatens us is the lack of land in the future and, consequently, the lack of living space for people. Now, cities are streaming horizontally. I think it is worth paying attention that we also have a vertical space; this is the sky and the depths of the earth. ☐

www.chanyshevarchitects.com | www.noriesato.com All images courtesy of Chanyshev Architects and Norie Sato.

IMAGILAND FAMILY CENTER

©Chanyshev Architect, in collaboration with the French studio AXYZ

AIR OVER UNDER

©Norie Sato, The façade is comprised of a grid of 120 pieces of laminated glass panels 4’ x 10’ each covering two 16’ x 150’ areas, 2 parts, each 16’ high x 150’ long, Hand painted and silk-screened glass enamel on float glass and laminated.

“ART is the substitute to engage with people.”

Norie Sato

As we’ve evolved through time as a human species in society, our comprehensive understanding of the world has shifted our mindset away from objects and things, and we’ve become engaged toward future ideologies and data. This process pushes the boundaries of the brain to develop views of abstract perceptions, where transpersonal communication exists between form and aesthetics.

Neuroscientist and sculptor Kamran Fallahpour, Ph.D. dialogues with Nuru Karim, Founder & Principal at Nude O ces, about the periodicity of parametric design, its attenuation and developmental role it plays on civilization and our psyche.

KAMRAN FALLAHPOUR: As the industrial revolution sets out to architect human intellect, how do these digital processes impact design?

NURU KARIM: Each age was marked by the evolution of technology and materials; the Stone Age, Bronze Age, the Iron Age, etc. A century of experimentation was necessary, and the progress in the use of technology was slow. Never before the 20th century has mankind seen technological advancements’ evolution so accelerated. While the Industrial Revolution produced tools to augment the Body [steam engine, automobile . . .], the information revolution has made tools to extend the “Intellect.” The Digital Revolution combined with digital production (argued as also the third age of the Industrial revolution) has much delight to o er in the future.

KAMRAN FALLAHPOUR: Our ability for survival was once defined by our physical strength, and today the true testament of our endurance is the maturation of our brain’s mental capacity to discover new technological frontiers.

VENÜ: Can parametric architecture foster sustainable interaction between nature and the built environment?

NK: Nature is a vast source of inspiration. In the 1997 book Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature, Author and biologist Janine Benyus argues using nature as a mentor, model, and measure “because animals, plants and microbes are the consummate engineers. They have discovered what works, fits in, and lasts here on Earth. After 3.8 billion years of R&D, failures are fossils, and what surrounds us is the secret to survival.” Parametric tools based on algorithmic models of computation have the capacity to co-relate the relationship between mathematics and nature beyond traditional models of exploring architectural space production merely as “metaphors.” These relationships between the built environment and nature have been manifested through biomimetic technologies and biophilic designs, arguing for a more profound connection with nature, especially in the post-pandemic world.

KF: Parametric architecture and design transcend how nature allows life forms to unfold naturally and organically in the most sustainable and e cacious way. This type of design borrows from nature to derive maximum e ciency and strength with a minimum number of variables and resources. That’s where the true magic is!

KF: What are some of the problems that parametric design can help us overcome?

NK: We understand parametric design tools as a “systems” approach that empowers architects to explore and investigate design as a “bottom-up” process. We clearly don’t see it as an architectural style but as a highly e ective collaboration to explore new paradigms of “seeing” & “observing.” These models are no longer about form generation but are data-driven. Design systems have an enormous

“Baori” | Water Well ©NUDES

impact across the entire pipeline of a project, including concept design, concept validation, design development, fabrication, and construction administration. Our design studio has been deploying the usage of parametric tools to address issues such as climate change, social impact and sustainable technologies. While our “Book Worm Pavilion” addresses the role of “education as empowerment,” project “Rain Water Catcher” critiqued iconic monumental symbolism of the past and conveyed a powerful message “water is life!”

KF: In neuroscience, we look for the minimum number of variables within a brain network that can provide an explanation for the principles of neuro-dynamic programming and its expansive complex task sequences. Examining the most tangible and concrete things, such as how colonies and buildings are built, our living spaces mimic the construction of ideas on a social and philosophical level. Art is the pipeline to our humanity, indelible to how curiosity makes up our fundamental characteristics that contribute to our actions and, ultimately, our future!

VENÜ: From a sculptural perspective and in your opinion, what will be the most stable and self-containing shapes of building in our future cities to engage healthier social and environmental relations that help to achieve a net-zero environment?

NK: Shapes” of future cities/buildings will be governed by “Circular” economies, exploring “cradle” to “cradle”

networks. Designs that produce from waste and also produce very little will be cornerstones of this philosophy, including impact on the earth’s resources and combating climate change. Architects have a moral and ethical responsibility to spearhead this revolution.

KF: Neuroscientific shapes that are sustainable in design don’t feel intrusive or integrative; they denote a feeling of a cohesive network that’s reciprocal at various levels to achieve a message of stability. At the same time, this leaves room for perpetual development that’s in line with its core and essential elements.

VENÜ: Is parametric acoustics important in your practice? If so, what kind of tonalities are you implementing in your work. In the project with FLY RANCH?

NK: As discussed, parametric design is a tool that empowers designers and is clearly not an “architectural style.” Where the “Solar Mountain” is concerned, parametric design tools were deployed to explore the relationship between sustainable land, art, architecture, and technology. These tools also have a great deal to o er where design optimization is concerned, leading to the fabrication and installation process.

KF: As our understanding of ourselves and our immediate environment becomes more expansive, we become more mindful of how sound impacts our physical body,

“Reclining Figure” ©KFALLART

“Infinite Gaze” ©KFALLART

“Rings of Proximity” ©KFALLART

emotions, psyche and brain states. When designing spaces and environments such as hospitals and schools, where these factors are heavily taken into account and tonality is not an entirely new concept, technological tools have become more advanced to design environments for sound consumption and specification.

KF: Do you believe that form follows function or is it that functionality is only limited by our constraints?

NK: We define “function” as a verb best served to positively impact the planet and influence social change. A building needs to perform its primary purpose, which matters are governed by socio-economic forces; however, architects and designers have a much greater responsibility spanning over generations. Architecture’s actual “function” needs to be re-addressed in this context as a primary ethical responsibility.

KF: Form has its own function; forms and design structures emotionally and physiologically impact us; and therefore, they have their own function.

Images courtesy of Nudes & Kamran Fallahpour www.kfallart.com | www.nudeo ces.com

Burning Man Project and the Land Art Generator Initiative collaborated to create the LAGI 2020 Fly Ranch design challenge, inviting innovators and creatives to propose regenerative projects for Fly Ranch, an o -grid 3,800-acre ranch in the Great Basin. The objective is to build the foundational infrastructure for Fly Ranch to support Burning Man Project’s 2030 sustainability goals that engage a global audience

to work together towards systemic transformation, serving as an inspiration for the developing field of regenerative design.”

“Solar Mountain” has been selected to move on to the prototyping stage, designed to be an interactive installation on the land of Fly Ranch, which is home to dozens of hot and cold springs, three geysers, hundreds of acres of wetlands, dozens of animal

species, and more than 100 types of plants. The mountain blends into the landscape, seamlessly resonating with the idea of a unified community and a space for people to connect. The narrative has been divided into three parts of “Grow Energy,” “Interact” and “Play.” The fabrication uses recycled wood for net-zero principles to address more significant issues such as climate change and global warming.

Ease yourself in layers of comfort with the latest ensembles of this season’s accoutrement of grounding shades and hues.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JUAN CARLOS ARIANO PRESENTING JULIA SCHNEIDER

Capelette Trench in Smoke Blue w/ Navy KZ_K Studio New York

Long Sleeve Powder Blue Ru e Cardigan

Anne Fontaine Boca Raton

Tuxedo-inspired jacket with pleated cu sleeves | Voluminous ru ed & ribboned long skirt

Anne Fontaine Boca Raton

Model Agency | Front Management

Stylists: Joey Rolon & Kami Sloan

Art Director: Juan Carlos Ariano

MUAH: Sandy Maranesi | East Coast Makeup

Photography Asst: Edward Perdomo

Loulou Reversible Jacket w/ matching button front skirt

KZ_K Studio New York

Olive Leopard Print Scarf Isabella Kron

T HE NEW FATVillage

THE ART OF REIMAGINATION T3 TECHNOLOGY

BY KAMI SLOAN

FORT LAUDERDALE’S NEW UPTOWN

FATVillage is the location of an exciting and vibrant mixed-use project that’s being developed by Hines, in partnership with Urban Street Development. Due to the culmination of years that FATVillage has created a staple in the arts scene, the partnership has evolved to expand the 24-7 art-centric tech, food and creative environment. The synthe-

sis of these components brings a new stateof-the-art experience to the FATVillage community including a creative o ce building built from timber known to the market as T3.

Under the leadership of Alan Kennedy, Managing Director of Hines, the global real estate investment, development, and management firm, and Fort Lauderdale-based

Urban Street Development, the team plans to deliver a product that marinates the community’s artistic vitality with a new infrastructure to mature the city. “The recipe of FATVillage is to provide a personable space with a winning edge complexion,” says Alan Kennedy. “A place where you can “Eat like a Local” and “Feast on Imagination” with the “Modern Masters of Art & Design.”

Creating value through innovative real estate strategies for over 65 years, Hines’ unparalleled expertise, operational skill set, and local market knowledge allow them to capitalize on opportunities with expediency.

Centered on the main street of (NW 1st Ave), there will be 900,000 square feet of curated uses including residential apartment units, o ce buildings, restaurants and bars, entertainment, art galleries and boutiques that embrace the site’s character. Largescale art displays and public installations will create a place of immersive experiences that engage social interaction and facilitate a cohesive and collaborative working and living environment “where ideas and creativity can flourish.”

What di erentiates this wonderful neighborhood from others is that it’s kept the “soul” of its identity at the heart of its core. The city’s warmth arouses wonderment and brings an air of mystery with a personal touch that provides a “sense of place” to work, live and play.

To empower a more sustainable and creative ecosystem, FATVillage is easily accessible downtown and the balance of the South Florida Region via the Brightline; I-95 via Sunrise and Broward Boulevards, the LauderTrail, and is a short walk to Las Olas.

Dedicated to crafting unique and responsive buildings and spaces that go beyond the standard o ce building experience, the T3 concept (Timber, Transit, and Technology) came from Hines’ recognition that in some markets, o ce tenants flock to older authentic brick-and-beam industrial buildings in emerging neighborhoods that are surrounded by amenities. Planning for the future while keeping an eye on the past, and using bio-

philia to mellifluously integrate the elements of nature into human habitation T3’s wooden structure and natural light promote the dialogue between the environment and the space with a keen eye for the contemporary.

The overarching mission for T3 buildings is to provide a superior work ambiance where tenants can recruit and retain the best talent through modern design and sustainability. To meet and appeal to the needs of each company’s and individual’s lifestyle and work styles, Hines has created a “mercantile feel” in a comfortable and highly adaptive framework that reinforces connections and promotes healthy collaboration. By exposing

— Alan Kennedy

the beams, you not only have a space that feels light and airy, but you also see the opulence of its sacred sensibilities.

Certified by the Green Building Council, the T3 system is deeply ingrained in the structure of its techniques that advance progression with performance. Timber is sustainably sourced from managed forests in Europe or the Pacific Northwest to remove the e ects of carbon dioxide from the environment. By lessening the carbon footprint, e cient and cleaner construction creates a flexible and configurable habitat that eliminates 1,500 tons of caustic emissions.

Dubbed the “revitalizers,” Fort Lauderdale’s prominent Urban Street Development team of South Florida contractor and real estate developer Alan Hooper and restaurateur and developer Tim Petrillo are renowned for creating communities with the “simplicity” of a metropolitan lifestyle that conforms to a unique experience. Together, they’ve had tremendous success with many real estate and restaurant ventures.

Rooted in their design disciplines, the ambitious project carries the property’s wholeness with the attention of customized detail that promotes a unified aesthetic and integrates the thoughts of their tenant’s pragmatic desires into an organic art form.

Hospitality-quality management provides creative programming incentives for tenants and customers of all mixed-use components. There will be 602 multi-family residential units across two buildings, 340,00 square feet of creative o ce space in two T3 o ce buildings, approximately 1,300 parking spaces and art space amenities.

Founded by owner Doug McCraw in 2000, FATVillage has become Fort Lauderdale’s Creative Enclave. “This project conveys one of the most transformative in technology, dining, living, and art spaces that the city of Fort Lauderdale has ever experienced,” shares Doug.

FATVillage was developed with the premise that food, art, and technology could

thrive in this collaborative environment. What was once a neglected 1950s warehouse district has not only made an indelible footprint on Fort Lauderdale’s downtown cultural explosion but rapidly has become one of the area’s most acclaimed hot spot South Florida destinations.

Along with the spur of economic growth and the Brightline railroad system, McCraw’s out-of-the-box think-tank of art leaders -Business and development partner Lutz Ho auer and the curatorial team of ART + SPACE + LIGHT Leah Brown & Peter Symons are the innovators that attracted the vibrant demographic of millennials and savvy tastemakers to its doors.

A renascence of this vibrant community is underway that will celebrate the history of its origins and the flavor of its cool vibes with its accelerated focus on wellness, new artist studios, exhibition spaces and an outdoor plaza for new art activities.

FATVillage - An inspiring place where dreams come true.

www.hines.com | www.fatvillage.com Images Courtesy of Hines

SOUND semantics

Art as a public practice of

generative code

BY KAMI SLOAN

world has to be changed by humans, and art is uniquely situated to interface with people’s minds, inspire, align and promote unity through a common set of goals that positively a ect our reality. Our technological tools provide us with the aptitude to solve complex problems, and art helps us do it with humanity” – BEN

HEIM

“The

n the expressive sense of the word, Artificial Intelligence’s more authentic meaning is creative information. As an art form, it gives us a deeper perspective about ourselves and the world around us -exposing and uncovering the most important qualities of our vulnerabilities to seek and overcome obstacles that provide solutions permitting deeper and genuine connections. Coding is an integral counterculture of this technology as humans become the behavioral narrators of its programs and operating systems. The symbiotic relationship between man and machine enables people to foster ideas toward more sustainable communities and a healthier planet, as AI has the infrastructure to take our world issues and recast them beyond the limitations of our capacities. The question isn’t whether technology can prevail; the question is, are we humane enough to weigh the brevity of our choices and the culpability they have and will continue to have on our society if we’re not equitable with our programming decisions? Generative designers and artists believe art is a treasure trove of hope to shift a new paradigm for compatibility.

VENÜ welcomes composer and Audiovisual Artist Ben Heim and Founder of guardDog.ai, Peter Bookman, to discuss the genesis of AI, overcoming adversity and the motivator that art and music have on our human existence.

VENÜ: Can code help to create a more empathetic universe?

Ben Heim: I have great faith in the ability of code to usher in a new and brighter future. Through automation and trustless transactions, the dual technologies of blockchain and neural networks have incredible power to eliminate bureaucracy, where much corruption occurs,

and free people to engage with each other directly. I believe the more direct communication between people we can foster, the better, allowing natural human empathy to take over. I can imagine a world where our institutions and systems are entirely transparent, and we are no longer worried about whether someone is trying to scam them or lie to them under the shroud of an obsolete system. This trust between people, institutions, and the tech-

nology that powers them is vital for fostering empathy and creating a more harmonious society. Code is, of course, still merely a tool that we can use to shape humanity, so we must be sure it’s applied by positive actors to promote good rather than evil.

VENÜ: What projects are on the horizon for you?

BH: I am very excited by the current climate and what it means for my work. The initial NFT hype has receded, leaving digital artists a new

TALKING IN COLOR

and incredible technology to sell digital assets and the time to develop and position ourselves before NFTs become fully mainstream. My upcoming projects focus on combining digital and physical worlds into synergistic experiences. These projects are rooted in real-time interactive artworks which combine sound, design, and generative visual systems into fully immersive experiences where the audience can fully participate and engage with my artistic vision. On top of this real-world manifestation of layered digital integrations, people

can generate NFTs in real-time and own them forever on blockchain as keepsakes or mementos and automated documentation of the art event itself and my process. I can’t reveal too much about many of these projects. Still, in December, you can catch my work in an all-new audiovisual installation during ART BASEL week in Miami.

Peter Bookman: In your opinion, what is the correlation between commerce, the climate crisis, food shortages, and communication breakdown? As an artist who works with generative code, how do you plan to impact the world positively?

BH: As an artist, my work is about creative, generative systems where many forces and rules interact to create a final audiovisual experience. The world’s systems are similar to these designs on a larger and infinitely more complex scale. I believe commerce,

the climate crisis, and food shortages are all interlinked, linked to our institutions, and ultimately networked down to each human mind and our shared unconscious. It is clear that change is needed in many areas of our society and institutions to combat these crises, and I believe the root of that change must come from within each human mind. While it may seem trivial to some, I believe beauty to be a potent tool to motivate, educate and foster empathy in people. I hope my artworks might give people glimpses of how all of humanity is interconnected, the incredible beauty of a complex system that works in synergism to create impactful art, and the possibility that we could leave our infighting and negativity behind and work together to produce incredible things.

VENÜ: We care about the most wasted human endeavor on earth – Energy and Climate Change. Data breaches and cybercrimes are not only the result of the loss of critical equipment failures but are at their highest potential of harm to our human health and a deepening caustic environment from energy waste discharges, air emissions, and catastrophic spills. What proactive measures are in place to help delineate an entirely new set of challenges arising from more data to e ectively secure the unique landscape of robotics and the metaverse to reduce the plight of financial and economic impact due to global warming?

BH: That is a vast topic, and I’m not sure I’m the one to comment on it. I do hope that we can build an ethical framework for the use of AI because it is such a powerful tool if harnessed correctly. Ultimately, I think this is more a human problem than a technological

Ben Heim

one. We already have so much power to do good and evil, and AI further enhances our capabilities in both domains. We must have a universal conversation about ethics, morality, and how technology is harnessed to impact the world positively. Still, this is a conversation we’ve already been having since the beginning.

PB: Dropping titles, we are both creators and innovators of our crafts. guardDog.ai is based on the morals of ethical connectivity. In the industry, we refer to this as cyber wellness. Do you find that the artistic elements of working with code extend an outward reach that engages us to uplift each other, celebrate our di erences, and see our strengths in a non-threatening or rewarding way? Is this the primary reason why you enjoy working with generated data?

BH: To me, generative systems are the artform that most closely mirrors reality itself, even now when we are really in the infancy of what we can create with them. Sunsets, human bodies, plants, and mountain ranges are all developed through a complex set of interlocking rules and generative processes. Code is a tool that empowers me to define my own rules and mechanisms to create the complex, evolving systems that are my artworks. Since this form of art mirrors reality so clearly, I believe it is an excellent vehicle to explore interpersonal relationships, our similarities, and di erences through a medium that mimics reality but on a smaller, less complex, and, therefore, more manageable scale.

PB: When viewing your work, I see your configuration of code sequences composed in the same way the divine universe creates a piece of quartz. These “MODERN JEWELS” not only gesture materiality but also help shape a parallel universe. Do you consciously take a holistic approach in your syncopated process to promote unity, or does this happen fortuitously?

BH: I believe this unity is innate to generative

systems, or at least the types I create. I often find myself employing processes that could be considered “fractal” in that they can shape another reality on many di erent levels. For example, feedback is a tool I often employ in my work, taking an image, making a minute change to it, then repeating that process many times per second to create an evolving, grow-

Peter Bookman

ing work. These processes remind me of how erosion shapes a valley, the movement of sand on a beach, or the physical laws that govern how clouds form. These progressions can be found at every level of my works, just as they can be found at every level of the universe, each microcosm containing the whole. While I sometimes don’t think about employing these techniques consciously, time and again, they become the tools I innately gravitate towards to achieve my artistic goals.

PB: Coding is a language that I tend to correlate closely with the universal language of music. To get into an easy headspace when coding, I often enjoy groovin’ to music and strumming my guitar to one of my favorites - Johnny Cash and Joe Strummer’s cover of Redemption Song by Bob Marley. The sound resonates deeply into our minds and bodies. What is your process of selecting music, knowing you must curate the projects carefully?

BH: I have no formal training in visual art, code, or technology, as I’m entirely selftaught in these areas; however, I stem from a background in music. I’ve studied music since I was a child, so it forms an integral part of everything I do. One of my key goals as an artist is to e ectively marry the audio and the visual so that neither the musical composition nor the optical component is compromised. Sometimes this is through creating a generative system that reacts to live performances in real-time, translating harmony to color and dynamics and articulation to form and motion. Other times I have made purely visual systems, then sought for ways I can pull data about its motion and progression to drive auditory systems, perhaps tying a specific color scheme to a certain tonality or a brush stroke to generate a new musical note. I find that these connections between music and visuals greatly heighten the experience for audiences, which is the area I spend most of my time honing and perfecting.

PB: There’s a very narrow separation between disciplines. Typically, we ask industry experts who work with code- whether an artist who understands blockchain or NFTs, an “ethical actor,” or an IT expert to run penetration tests. These tests give us the training prowess to deter and eliminate a breach before it reaches impact. Have you ever created artwork from a penetration test?

BH: While I often create works derived from data sources, I can’t say I’ve made one from a penetration test. The idea appeals to me; not only would a penetration test generate a highly engaging set of data to work with, but I also enjoy the philosophical implications, a kind of “holy war” waged in the service of good.

PB: There are three significant roles in having positive cyberhealth that guardDog.ai addresses. In actuality, there are four – which

“I thrive on empowering the creation of dreamsmine and others.”

–

is Complacency is the Mindset of Vulnerability. As an artist who works with code, what are the three policies you live by so that the powerful tools you work with continue to heal people and the nature between the physical and digital world doesn’t get blurred?

BH: My primary tenet in creating art and life is to understand my role as a human and primarily sow positive things for the common good into the future. - My reverence for inspiring and pioneering new technologies or generating impactful experiences allows people to examine themselves and how they relate to others. I believe that all we do, we do in the service of the human race. In a way, my second policy stems from the first: always maintaining humility. To me, pride gets in the way when we lose sight of working for the good of humanity and work for our self-aggrandizement. This is an essential rule for all creators, especially those working with generative systems. Finally, I try to seek beauty in all I do. I believe evolution has equipped us with powerful observational tools, informed by millions of years of development, intended to discern between what is good for humanity and what is bad for it. I believe trusting in my innate sense of what is a beautiful result will guide me toward the betterment of humankind. ☐

All images courtesy of Ben Heim www.benjaminheim.com www.guarddog.ai www.artrepublicglobal.com

UNTITLED (oil painting simulation)

“I see beauty in loneliness, I see beauty in darkness.”

- JON LINTON

BY KAMI SLOAN

JON LINTON’S EMOTIVE FRAMES

on Linton’s iconic landscapes and portraits find beauty in the most displaced of people and intractable places. Whether a photograph of an abandoned village, grief-stricken- face, daunting mountain top, a sole prickly cactus, somber graveyard, weeping willow tree, or winding dirt road, Linton’s compelling narrative reveals the inner secrets of the forgotten, impoverished, lonely-hearted, and misguided with a sense of heroic humanity.

Inspired by fabled photographers Ansel Adams, Diane Arbus, Robert Frank and Vivian Maier, Jon describes his process as “walking on a tight rope to capture images that are painful to look at and then shows them to the world as a form of reconstitution.”

Linton’s photography began on the streets after losing a dear friend to a drug overdose. Jon recalls, “His death impelled me to take photographs of the unseen as a way to pay honor to his memory.” The juxtaposition of his

work is interwoven through stories of misery and mystery by the endless voices whose scents of obscurity are carried on a breeze like poison to the soul. Linton adds, “I wear the despondency home, and in my own e orts to find restoration, I seek out quiet places to be still my balance.”

Immersed in the art world for more than two decades, Jon wants the work he creates to find resonance with its viewer, “A good photograph is seen with the eyes, but a great photograph is felt in the soul.”

VENÜ gets first field of Linton’s captures on film of the Ukrainian invasion to share

“Lone Tree” Monument Valley, Utah

“The Road I Walk”

Saguaro National Park, Arizona

with our audience and the collective will be exhibited at The National Museum of the Przemyśl in Poland.

Joining fellow activist, friend and Artist Roberto Márquez, who was painting antiwar art in Ukraine, Linton went to chronicle the abyss of war. “Appalled that one person can make a decision that left so many people deceased and fallen to the unjust tyranny of one’s political agenda has made me realize how small our problems in our own country really are.” “Women who lost husbands in combat, mothers who lost their sons, and people’s lives who have been turned inside out. The entire time I was in Ukraine, I got an actual bird’s eye view of the evil mankind is capable of. We are truly the most dangerous species on this planet.”

The contiguity in Jon’s works displays endurance through su ering, grace in frailty,

“Abandoned Church”

Taiban, New Mexico

“Shiprock”

Navajo Nation, New Mexico

quietude in turmoil and love from indi erence through the silent lens of his lucidities. – Yet, the allure of his arresting addictions is our connection to the outside world.

We are bound together by Linton’s captivating frames of insight.

ARTIST STATEMENT

Jon’s first experience with a camera came around the age of 12 or 13. Jon fondly recounts, “I used to borrow my mother’s 35 mm Minolta and take photographs around the neighborhood. I’d snap pictures until the film ran out.”

After graduating from Eastern Illinois University with a liberal arts degree in 1987, Jon worked for Ralph Lauren in NYC. A colleague from Polo had left the fashion industry for a life in the gallery business and urged Jon to follow. Linton would start an

Russian artillery fire in Moschun

art magazine in Arizona in 1998, for which he published for a decade. His publishing concern has also been responsible for creating exquisite books of art for many accomplished artists through the southwest and beyond.

The displaced Chicagoan has called the desert home for decades. In recent years his days have been spent making pictures, helping the voiceless, or publishing art. Linton shares, “I am a man of deep passions and have various interests. I never feel like anything that I do is necessarily work. For this, I’m truly blessed.”

In 2012, Jon unveiled a robust body of street photography that captured the public’s attention, and an exhibit called ‘I Have a Name’ followed. A book showcasing the work was published and the heartrending exhibition traveled through the west for several years. “I had always enjoyed landscape photography, but only after the street portraits did I truly

understand how deeply meaningful work in nature would become. Refuge from the painful images of the street has helped deliver photography that moves the heart in di erent measures. “The desert has a quiet sense of calm. The pale blue sky, indigo mountains, and majestic sunsets have a way of stealing your heart.”

For our art enthusiasts, Linton’s works are shown at the Gallery of Fine Art in Scottsdale annually, Hidden in the Hills, a twenty-fiveyear-old show in Cave Creek, Arizona and the Galisteo Studio in New Mexico.

www.jonlintonphotography.com www.letsbebetterhumans.org

Vehicles that were destroyed by Russian troops during the Battle of Irpin

War Angel

The Art of Nancy

McTague-Stock

BY CINDY CLARKE

ShePages 64-65

1. Sunlit Dance, Oil on Belgian Linen

2. Charter Oak, drypoint, excerpt from LandSpeak, in The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Collection, Yale University

grew up in a family of predominantly medical professionals whose sole mission, as one would expect, was to make life better for their patients. And while artist Nancy McTague-Stock didn’t grow up to become a surgeon like her sister did, she, too, followed a natural calling that makes others feel better too.

Nancy is a born artist and an award-winning one at that. By her own admission, she is a maker, a gifted artisan who creates perfection with pencil, paint, jewelry, photography, prints and just about every art material and medium she can get her hands around. Take a peek inside her Connecticut studio where her many talents are on display and you may wonder how many artists are at work here. There’s only one and there’s no other artist quite like her. Nancy has mastered countless art forms with the signature expertise and finesse that defines all of her work, and she continues to raise the bar in the art world.

3. Prisengracht V, Archival Pigment Print on Handmade Paper, 20"h x 16"w 4

She started her lifelong career at the tender age of eleven when, as an aspiring young artist, she strung seashells by the seashore on a Virginia beach and debuted her collection of handmade puka shell necklaces at the Hilton Hotel at the same time they became all the rage in the fashion world. Her jewelry is still being sold in Virginia Beach, today at a fashionable boutique, testimony to the lasting allure of her work.

“I remember my grandmother, who was a nurse, advising me to follow my passion in my university studies, because she said, if you love what you do, you will be content your whole life.” She was right, of course, because by all accounts Nancy’s chosen career has made everyone happy.

Her mother is an interior designer, sharing her creative influence with her daughter at a young age. Nancy attri-

5

4. Still Life with Nectarines, Colored Pencil on Canson Me-Teintes Paper, Private Collection

5. Fury, Oil on Belgian Linen, 48"h x 72"w

butes her artistic nature to growing up in a very creative time as well. In high school, she and her friends were “embroidering their jeans, putting inserts in with other fabrics, painting their sneakers and designing signage for school events.”

“I took classes at the local community college when I was still in high school because I wanted to keep learning more about art. I went o to college at seventeen and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in textiles and metalsmithing at the time,” she told us. “The textile coursework in college was really interesting to me. We worked with a lot of natural materials, using vegetables to dye our handspun yarn that we had taken from bags of sheared wool right o the farm. We had to clean, card and spin it and it was all so exciting. It was not only tactile, it was visual and very process heavy.” And process is something else Nancy is

passionate about. Not content to put paint to picture in a fast ten-minute acrylic whirl, (the one medium she does not use), Nancy likes to take her time. She thinks, studies, builds and refines before she creates a finished product, often replicating it in di erent mediums before her work is done. And she does that with all the media she works and teaches in.

“Unlike some artists, I work in a series. I create parameters for myself, laying out a particular paradigm that I want to accomplish, which I realize is kind of antithetical to the freer and ‘in the moment’ methodology adopted by many artists. For me, the other side of my brain kicks in when I am working too, the side that says ‘we're going to be a lot more scientific about this, and so, my processes begin.”

She added that “I’ve always enjoyed that journey of exploration, learning and trying di erent things. I am keenly interested in the historical, cultural and artifacts and writings reflective of that. As an artist who is also an educator, I’m happy to impart to people the reality of process, so that people really understand what it is to buy an original piece of art.”

6. Blue Topaz with 18k gold, Private Collection, Connecticut

Later, Nancy’s MFA was achieved in Boston, in Visual Studies, a culmination of all of her media. She excels in all drawing media. Nancy works as a printmaker, primarily in monotype and intaglio including solar intaglio, a non-toxic mode of creating etchings. She creates watercolors and mixed media pieces. She paints in oil, pastel and pen and ink, works outside en plein air as well as in her studio, using as many non-toxic products in her pieces as she can. She sketches, etches and photographs too. And she continues to make jewelry, eye-candy concoctions that sport gemstones, minerals and found objects from her travels all over the world.

She also studied glass blowing, earned two fellowships for an Artist in Residence in France, was a recipient of a travel grant to Italy and Berlin, as well as a fellowship to the famed Slade School of Art at the University of London and was part of a 40-artist collaboration that exhibited at the prestigious Venice Biennale in 2022 - all while curating

and jurying shows, creating and teaching artists inspired by her work. Her work, along with dozens of awards, international gallery exhibitions and periodic lectures make her Venü’s choice for our first-ever Artistic Visionary Award.

Her focus is in environmental imagery, often highlighting the fragility of nature through paintings, printmaking and photography. Her interest in environmental concerns began in high school when local beach erosion and water pollution issues came to light. She has always lived near nature preserves, from her childhood in Virginia Beach to her children’s childhood home in Connecticut. Nancy’s interaction with nature gives color and voice to many of her works, but she also finds inspiration in the urban landscape as well. Her Prisengracht Series, a portfolio of photographs she took on location in Amsterdam, is a study in urban environmental observations. As she describes it, “Perceptual illusions through movement, pattern and light are a continuum in my paintings, drawings, print work and photographic studies.”

An astute observer, Nancy notices details others may miss, especially when it comes to protecting the landscapes she so loves to paint. A Connecticut resident

Nancy’s interaction with nature gives color and voice to many of her works, but she also nds inspiration in the urban landscape as well.

10

since 1989, she lived on a dirt road when she first moved to the tiny hamlet of Weston. Back then, her neighbors would safely ride their horses up and down the roads on Sundays. But before she knew it, there were cars speeding down the country lanes, many crashing into the stone wall in front of her house, ultimately signaling a condensed time of rapid change similar to what we are experiencing now.

“Increasingly, I was noticing the encroachment on properties that previously had been somewhat loosely protected, so I began to work with The Nature Conservancy to discover which properties were at risk for development. I would drive to the locations they told me about, dismayed at the thought of someone building townhouses on the properties I saw. Many of them

10. Vibrations, Mixed Media on Birch Panel, 16" h x 128" w

were natural habitats for certain native species of plant and animal life here in Connecticut and I couldn’t imagine seeing them destroyed. To bring awareness to this damaging progress, I created a series of drypoints of those properties and featured them in an exhibition called ‘Eden At Risk’.”

That exhibition garnered northeastern acclaim and served as the impetus for a book she collaborated on with friend Elizabeth Egan Cleary, who is an accomplished poet and English teacher. Entitled LandSpeak, the limited edition book is a masterpiece of word and image, a pictorial showcase of endangered properties and other vistas inspired by Nancy’s travels to Wyoming, Ireland and more, set to prose and exquisitely hand printed and boxed in Italian linen like the uniquely created handscripted books of old.

“I had this vision that I really wanted this book to be crafted on handmade paper and I wanted to feather deckle the edges. I eagerly embarked upon this (again) overly process-centric project that involved original handmade plates, a one of a kind printing and then, hand-feeding the sheets of handmade paper into the printer to preserve the lovely velvety lines of the dry points. It took 18 months to print just twelve books before life events happened and we had to stop the presses.”

Breakneck schedule notwithstanding, we hope she finds the time to continue the process, however multi-layered, and create more books that make the world a better place and us a whole lot happier because of them. With that in mind, we posed one last question to this multi-talented artist, wife and mother of two grown children, all three creatives in their own right.

What does your perfect day look like?

“The perfect day is waking up and the sun is out. I don't have any other obligations and my phone is shut o . I have a great cup of co ee and walk out in nature or putter in the garden. I can go to my studio and just work- without thinking that I have to be somewhere or answer lots of emails. I love teaching, so I could be doing that as well. To me, being an artist feels like you’ve been given a gift and it’s very important to pass that on to anybody who might be interested in it.

12

12. Jaipur Dusk, Unique Multiple Plate Solar Etching with Monotype on Fabriano Paper, 30"h x 22"w

perfect day is waking up and the sun is out.

any other obligations and my phone is shut o .”

I could be in Italy, one of my favorite places, sitting in a chair looking over the Tuscan hills, ruminating and thinking. One thing I think that people don't realize about the type of art that I make is that it is an interpretation of where I have been, what I have felt, what I've seen, and what I have smelled – a sensorial expedition. What were the environmental conditions, and were they a ecting people or animals or was it something that was just atmospheric? Was it nighttime or daytime? There's a lot of thinking and contemplation time that goes into my pieces. If I'm working on an oil painting in the studio, I've more than likely done a couple of sketches or taken some pictures or written a poem about the place. I have a wide variety of series in my head and I want to create work from many of the experiences I have not been able to bring forth yet. And, so just to be able to have a quiet day in the studio when I can actually start to think about these things in a more formal way is an amazing day indeed.”

There is no end to all the possibilities in her role as a maker; “I just need more hours in the day. And if I make something that makes somebody else happy, or it resonates with them, or invokes memories of something that they have done or loved or whatever, then that's a real bonus.”  ☐

www.nancymctaguestock.com | IG: @nmsstudio1 www.studiominerale.com | IG: @studiominerale

“The

I don’t have

The Invisible TOUCH of VISIBILITY BEAUTY REDACTIVE

BY KAMI SLOAN

“Stephanie’s art exudes creativity and innovation at its finest while delivering a powerful voice for change.”

Emily Burnett, CEO of MetaBurnett

Japan #2 - Acrylic, 30x40

Perpetually fluctuating between pop culture and protest art, Stephanie Dillon’s works are like an ongoing novel brought together by a bricolage of expressions that leads to a vocabulary configurated by her pursuits to consistently challenge herself as a painter. Her alchemy emphasizes the flexibility and tension in her work with undertones that are purposely meant for her self-discovery as a way to arise at a solution and other times, meant for the beholder to discover things for themselves.

In the void of these decisions, abstractionism and Buddhist philosophy are fluid in the canvas of Dillon’s techniques which not only deepen the artistic elements of her process but enhance the meaning of her commentary in each composition - conveying what she wants to be revealed and simultaneously concealing the message.

These complexities are the “planted seeds” out of Stephanie’s Garden. “The canvas is what I use to share with people, what I think and how I feel about everything. I think my Art reflects this.” Just like the rose before its bloom, there’s a mystery and allure in the intent of the “harvest of hidden secrets” before it unveils the radiance of its petals. The magnificence of Dillon’s artistry is for the beekeeper to detect the metaphorical mirrors and seek the epiphany of its nectar.

Instead of hiding behind the esoteric wall of aesthetic

Abstract #9192 - Digital

“As long as you have a garden you have a future and as long as you have a future you are alive.”

Abstract #82 - Acrylic, 36x48

Abstract #101 - Acrylic, 36x48

theory, Dillon takes risks and utilizes her voice for “a unifying gesture” to create a balance between humanity and nature. When queried about the connection between her narrative and activism, she responded, “Art is activism in that it’s an act of courage, and for the artist, it’s their mode of communicating. The personal is political that I don›t take for granted.”

Working in all di erent mediums, from oil paintings to collaborating on a fashion line with Fashion designer Emily Burnett, Stephanie enjoys using discarded garments, canvases and frames and turning them into pieces of joy and beauty. “What is old is still beautiful. The canvas that exists is enough for me to paint on because Art truly can be made from anything everywhere.”

As a breast cancer survivor, Stephanie couples her passion for the conservation of the environment with learning how to reshape our social interaction with nature. Recurring themes that embody the presence of her canvas are the charm of imperfections and the flaws of overconsumption. What started as an outlet for the rollercoaster ride of enduring emotions - grief, disappointment and pain, Dillon sought shelter in the grit and unwanted, and in turn, she founded “Walls for Change,” which centers around healing the planet.

What’s been the most laborious task mentions Dillon is “Getting over myself. I don’t see myself as an agent of change; I see the world as needing to change and as a person responsible for doing what I can. My inspiration is more infinite than finite. I’m a student who is learning from my experiences and the blessing is that I get to share this with others.”  ☐

stephanie_dillon@hotmail.com | www.metaburnett.com

Abstract #83 Acrylic, 36x48

Solage, an Auberge Resort

WORLD CLASS LUXURY AND PURE BLISS IN NAPA VALLEY—DETOX, RECHARGE, AND REPEAT!

By Fred Bollaci

Acentury ago, Calistoga was a town centered around its bubbling natural hot springs and the beautiful weather of the Napa Valley. Today, it’s a bucket-list destination for ardent wine lovers, foodies and wellness seekers for its particularly enviable version of La Dolce Vita, Napa Style!

Solage was created to reflect its hometown spirit, drawing visitors as well as area vintners who come here after a day in the vineyards to relax over a glass of wine or a craft cocktail and connect.

We enjoyed winding down our week in wine country at Solage Calistoga, a gorgeous,

exclusive resort at the north end of Napa Valley, near the charming town of Calistoga. Napa Valley is a World Class destination, and staying at Solage is the perfect way to experience the very best of what Napa has to offer, in a glorious setting, with unparalleled service and amenities which the Auberge Collection

of hotels and resorts is known for.

Staying at Solage gives guests the opportunity to custom plan their stay and incorporate personalized experiences like a Primordial Sound Bath Floating Massage or Signature Mudslide Treatment at the renowned spa, partake in in yoga classes, relax in a private poolside cabana, indulge in a private Chef’s Favorite Pizza Experience on your patio, a game of bocce, hike along historic trails, guided swim lessons and activities for kids, evening s’mores, a personal Peloton in your room, a hot air balloon ride, and much more!

Solage is geared to sophisticated, wellness and fitness-oriented travelers who appreciate a pampered, curated experience that can be tailored to their desires. Rooms and suites are among the most comfortable and inviting I have had the pleasure of experiencing. The resort was designed with a deep respect for nature and the place—putting a fresh spin on wine country style with clean lines, natural materials, and loft-like layouts ranging from 515 to 1,900 square feet. Guests will appreciate the thought that went into the design and décor—starting with the spacious feel of a vaulted ceiling, pebble-stone floor shower and furnished outdoor patio that opens out to all the secret gardens of Solage. Suites

emphasize casual elegance with their outdoor shower and soaking tub (or jetted hot tub), and cozy fire pit and comfortable seating, seamlessly integrating indoors and the outside.

The cuisine at Solage is a perfect comple-

ment to the lavishly appointed, yet totally relaxed resort and showcases the local bounty in a manner consistent with the splendor of the setting. Solbar, the signature restaurant, is a local favorite for craft cocktails or unwinding over a leisurely dinner. The restaurant features extensive outdoor seating overlooking the landmark pool, and is beautifully illuminated

at night with a 20-foot fire pit which beckons guests to enjoy the romantic ambience with a special someone, lively conversation with friends, or relaxing with after-dinner cordials. Executive Chef Gustavo Rios, is honored to be part of a “food culture that respects local produce, farmers and ranchers” at Solage. Chef Rios showcases that back-to-the-land

reverence with farm-fresh Napa Valley produce. While the sourcing may be local, the menu’s influences are global, resulting in flavorful, inventive border-crossing cuisine. Solbar divides its menu into light, delicate flavors to stimulate your palate, and bold, savory dishes to comfort and nourish your soul, all with ingredients that showcase the best of what’s fresh and seasonal in Napa Valley. Enjoy outdoor dining on the sunlit newly expanded Solbar patio, which has recently doubled in size. Solbar serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

After a long day tasting wine, nothing could have beat a leisurely dinner at Solbar. As the sun set and lights came on, the air cooled and the ambience became that of a lovely garden party. The cuisine was fresh, lively, and well-balanced. We started with the Crudo of Hamachi with aguachile, mint, avocado, Sourdough Parker House Rolls, Pacific Oysters, Roasted Cauliflower with Rancho Gordo chickpeas, garbanzo beans, cashew-tahini

Enjoy outdoor dining on the sunlit newly expanded Solbar patio, which has recently doubled in size. Solbar serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner

butter, mint, and cilantro, and Uni Carbonara with squid ink bucatini, kombu butter, calamari, Hobb’s pancetta, and furikake—a fabulous fusion of Asian and Italian! Entrees included Grilled Wild King Salmon with roasted baby squash, tomato chutney, charred baba ghanoush, and yellow curry sauce, Rockfish with coconut-lemongrass broth, red quinoa, clams, mussels, shrimp, and herbs, and Liberty Farms Duck with California pistachio porridge, Lacinato kale, duck butter, and cherry jus. For dessert, the Caramelized Apple Tart with Fuji

apples, cinnamon-Verjus syrup, and vanilla bean ice cream was a totally decadent, artisanal take on an American classic!

Needless to say, we didn’t want to leave Solage—and can’t wait to get back and enjoy one of the most indulgent, relaxing experiences in the heart of wine country, one that soothes the soul and leaves guests nourished and poised to re-enter the “real world.” ☐

www.aubergeresorts.com/solage

Photos courtesy, Auberge Resorts Collection

The Bridge VI

Cocktails and Coveted Cars

BY TRACEY THOMAS

What better way to spend a late summer afternoon than with 350 of the most coveted cars in the world in one of the most sought-after summer resort towns on the East Coast with an invited guest list that included some of the most beautiful people in the Hamptons who all rallied together at one of the nation’s most exclusive motorcar events. I’m talking about The Bridge VI, where the rare and the priceless show o their stu on the fairway of a golf club where the rich and famous play.

And Venü was there to take it all in, one amazing vehicle at a time.

Bridge VI, a collaboration between Robert Rubin, who has owned the Bridgehampton Race Circuit since 1981 and founded The Bridge golf club in 2002, and the event’s organizers: Shamin Abas, President of Shamin Abas Ultra-Luxury Communications, Brand Marketing & Business Development; and Je rey Einhorn, a Manhattan-based attorney

1959 Citroën Squal Geneva show car photo by Kieran Buttrick

and enthusiast, aptly took place on former racing grounds, just the setting for cars that can clock speeds never before seen in passenger automobiles. We’re talking about Czinger 21C V Max and its 21C high downforce version, beauty meets brawn with a serious need for speed.

The race course is now a golf course, presided over by The Bridge, the golf club built on the site of the former Bridgehampton Race Circuit, hence the name of this highly anticipated event.

For its fifth consecutive year as presenting sponsor, Richard Mille showcased some of its most exceptional timepieces, notably, the new limited-edition RM UP-01 Ferrari, the first watch born of Richard Mille’s partnership with the automaker. At just 1.75 millimeters thick, it’s a triumph of technical prowess and exemplifies a new approach to watch mechanics in which technicity dictates aesthetics.

Returning automobile partners Lamborghini, Bentley, Aston Martin, Rolls-Royce, McLaren, Bugatti, Koenigsegg, and Pagani each showcased a dynamic collection of vehicles, while Bonhams displayed five vintage automobiles, all scheduled for their upcoming

auction, including a 1957 BMW 507 Series II Roadster with Hardtop.

Over in the designated Bridge Next area, Rimac, Delage, Hennessey and Guntherwerks each made their event debut showcasing their small production vehicles. Lift Foils, the original creator of the eFoil and global leader in

sales, joined as a first-time partner. To mark the occasion, they created a special edition fullrange LIFT3 board featuring the iconic logo of The Bridge. It was auctioned to benefit The Bridge Golf Foundation - one lucky winner took home the board.

This year, The Bridge premiered, either

Je rey Einhorn, Bob Rubin, Shamin Abas / Photo by Christopher Jeyes

Photo by Christopher Jeyes

Photo by Tracey Thomas

worldwide or on the East Coast, a series of vintage prototypes and show cars feared lost or hidden from public view for many years. The remarkable lineup included the 1967 Ferrari Dino Shooting Brake Prototype by Pininfarina, which made its first public

appearance since 1968. Of similar note was the 1968 Monteverdi High Speed Pietro Frua Prototype -- previously owned by Gunter Sachs and Brigitte Bardot, the car has never before left Switzerland. Also on display was the 1959 Citroën Squal Geneva show car -- a

wild design commissioned by Citroën for the 1960 Geneva salon as the company’s answer to Alfa Romeo’s BAT aerodynamic studies.

Of course, the event also featured some of greatest sports and sporting cars of all time, both modern and vintage, with highlights including a 1932 ex-works Talbot built for the Fox and Nicholl racing team, multiple Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytonas, the 1962 Ford / Holman Moody Challenger III, a 1967 Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada, Porsches developed by the brand’s in-house GT department and the best of Lamborghini from Miura through Aventador.

As you might imagine, we were wined and dined as we strolled past the cars of our dreams, along with exhibitors who wooed us

Lukas and Kevin Czinger

Photo by Tony Laicona

Photo by Tony Laicona

Photo by Tracey Thomas

with their luxury goods, from NetJets full-sized Cessna Citation mockup, Technogym’s their latest equipment, designed to perfect one’s swing and maximize performance in their golf game and Hästens Beds, who presented one of their finest hand-crafted models, the 2000T, for guests to test out. We were tempted to put our feet up but those cars kept calling our names.

As we left the festivities with our own car keys in hand, hearts racing, we stopped to catch our breath, practicing I think for the next

time we made the circuit with some of the most technologically advanced and rare cars we have ever seen. We also made a mental note to save the date for next year as this is one event we wouldn’t want to miss. ☐

www.thebridgehamptons.com

Photo by Tony Laicona

Photo by Tracey Thomas

Photo by Tracey Thomas

Photo by Christopher Jeyes

The beauty of the wellness space is that spas are continually reimaging ways we can relax, restore, and remedy our modern lifestyles. High-performance massages are non-negotiable as are those that provide true tranquility. Soulful treatments that ground and help us reconnect are sought-after as are those that expand our sense of peace.

BY JUDY CHAPMAN

Recently, the birth of ‘Biohacking’ treatments is moving into spas across the world. Biohacking is defined as a ‘do-it-yourself biology aimed at improving performance, health and wellbeing through strategic interventions.’ Biohacking treatments are radical innovations that rewire the brain, reset the body, and accelerate our healing process.

According to Kris Abbey, founder of Spa

& Wellness (spaandwellness.com.au), while biohacking might be a new(ish) word, the practice of changing our body’s biology for optimal health has been going on for centuries.

She explains that human optimization, also referred to as biohacking, sees the body as a system and improves the whole system for optimal wellness.

Says Abbey: ‘As we age the body’s

cycling of cells starts to slow down meaning muscles start to naturally waste, bone density reduces, cognitive functionality slows, and those niggling injuries start to appear more often. After the age of 30 ageing starts to take control and rapidly increases and the years stack-up, marking the shortening of your healthy lifespan.’

‘However, this doesn’t mean we need to give into our body’s degenerative process. With a combination of modern science and age-old practices such as meditation, cold therapy or fasting, you can short-circuit the process. Or as the modern antiager calls it –Biohack your body.’

The exciting news is there is an increasing choice of euphoric, immune boosting and cell regenerating treatments available to upgrade our brain, body and being. Judy Chapman explores New York’s boutique Biohacking movement…

Modrn Sanctuary offers a trilogy of advanced technologies to slow down aging and short circuit the body’s repairing process. These include the ‘ Himalayan Salt Room’ (Halotherapy) and ‘ Oxygen Bar’ for boosting oxygen health, ‘Infrared Salt Sauna’ to fast-track detoxification and the ‘Somadome

Meditation Pods’ for speedy zen time. A hero experience is the ‘Full Body Red Light LED’ where wavelengths of healing light penetrate the body’s tissues trigger circulation, skin cell growth, collagen production and so much more. Red Light treatments are used to reduce inflammation, accelerate body repair and recovery, and increase energy and endurance. Alternatively, raise your vibration with sessions on the ‘Sensory 7 Crystal Chakra Bed’, a powerful immersive experience where your energy field is bathed with healing colour

and light to bring you into divine alignment. www.modrnsanctuary.com

Kollectiv is a well-regraded refuge for recharging our physical, emotional, and spiritual selves. Their innovative menu includes the ‘Tesla Electromagnetic Therapy’ known to recharge at a cellular level that in turn helps to fight o many lifestyle diseases. This innovation is inspired by the work of Nikola Tesla and activates the parasympathetic nervous system to bring the body into a desired ‘rest and digest’ state where true healing can happen - fast. Reap the rewards of reduced pain and inflammation, more focus and vitality. Other biohacking therapies at Kollectiv include the ‘Anja Light Therapy’ where light is used to stimulate the pineal gland to induce one into a deep mediative state within minutes. The ‘Normatec Compression Therapy’ is popular with athletes, trainers, and coaches for activating lymphatic system, circulation, blood and oxygen flow. kollectiv.com

The Fuel Stop is an urban ‘bionic’ advanced wellness brand with locations in both New York and Miami. It’s one of the few wellness spas in the city o ering the highlevel double chamber natural air full immersion ‘ Cryochamber’ considered the best model on the market. Cryotherapy essentially involves exposing the body to short bursts of sub-zero temperature that pushes the body

CRYOTHERAPY at Restore

KOLLECTIV - Tesla Electromagnetic

Modrn Sanctuary Sensory Seven Chakra Bed

into a fight or flight mode. This in turn accelerates the body’s response to fight inflammation and other dis-ease. Cryotherapy is highly e ective in treating a multiple range of issues – reducing cortisol, balancing the nervous system, burning fat, and boosting collagen production. Another recommendation at The Fuel Stop is the ‘OCI-10 Ozone Infrared Sauna Pod’, a powerful detox therapy used to eliminate viruses, parasites, and imbalances. www.thefuelstop.com

Cryotherapy can also be experienced at the spa at the new Aman hotel which recently opened in the 100-year-old historic Crown Building. The Cryotherapy treatment here is also a next-level full immersion chamber that works works to naturally promote health, performance, and recovery by stimulating the body’s natural response to cold. Aman translates as ‘peace’ in Sanskrit and the spa here spreads over three floors and features many wellness technologies as well as a 20-meter indoor pool and terrace full of greenerybringing Eastern tranquilly to the city. www.aman.com/hotels/aman-new-york

Athlete’s, marathon runners and healthminded folk also head to Restore Hyper

IV Therapy at Restore Hyper Wellness

Wellness for high doses of recalibrating wellness. The menu here includes Infrared Sauna , Red Light Therapy, and Compression with Cryotherapy and IV Therapy that are the most sought-after treatments. IV therapy is essentially an infusion of fluids with essential vitamins, nutrients, minerals, and amino acids that helps to combat internal diseases. The ‘Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber’ is a pressurized chamber where high amounts of oxygen penetrate the body’s tissues, blood, and brain. Recently, this has become very popular for treating

Long Covid-19 as it is e ective for boosting cognitive health and fighting inflammation. www.restore.com

Facials that bio hack the skin’s potential are also a rising trend. A well-regarded spa for these is Chill Space where the entire menu is themed around a ‘science meets wellness’ treatments to promote emotional, mental, and physical longevity. Their menu comprises ‘ Cryo Sauna’, ‘Infrared Sauna’, ‘Sensory Float Tanks’, ‘Salt Room’ – as well as next-level facials using Red Light and Cryotherapy. The Cryotherapy Facials provide immediate results in plumping the skin and reducing fine lines while Red Light Facials are recommended for rejuvenation, collagen, and skin radiance. www.chillspacenyc.com

Clean Market is an upscale brand regarded for doctor-led Drips, Sweat, and Chill therapies. The ethos here is treatments that help one ‘feel better, live better, compete better, and look better – with the ultimate goal of living to the fullest.’ Rather than one-o

OmLife Zero Gravity Floatation Therapy

Clean Market New York

sessions, everything at Clean Market is thought-out and pesonalised. Set your goals and the doctor-led teams will co-create programs to get toxicity out of the body and help boost your metabolism, immunity, and energy. From tailored ‘IV Nutrient Therapy’ protocols to ‘Cryotherapy’ and ‘Infrared Saunas’, begin your journey to live and function at your optimum today. They also provide iLa ONLY SPA concierge service where the NutriDrip nurse comes to you! www.cleanmarket.com

Plant-powered CBD treatments are also part of the biohacking movement. Top level CBD healing can now be experienced at the newly opened ILA ONLY SPA at Lotte New York Palace. The renowned Ila-Spa brand is popular in the East –found in the most incredible spas in exotic Asian destinations such as Bali and the Maldives. At this iconic New York location, you are invited to explore memorable treatments including the ‘CBD Energy Balancing Massage’, an ‘Adreno Exhaustion Wrap’ and a ‘CBD Mini Massage’. Alongside this, yoga with sound healing to open your heart, enlighten and inspire. www.ilaspanyc.com

Equinox Hudson Yards is another destination o ering plant medicine CBD treatments for reducing inflammation, pain, and stress. The fitness brand is renowned for an ‘elevate your performance’ strategy with spa therapies. The spa here targets A type personalities, high-achievers, and athletes – o ering therapies that amplify one’s wellbeing status. Masterful massages and bodywork delivered with CBD Hemp Balm are performed by practitioner-level therapists. Another feature here is the HyperVolt enhancements that combines vibration and percussion to increase mobility, flexibility, relax and repair the muscles and joints. www.equinox.com

The concept of biohacking also can involve sensory deprivation in a Floatation Room, where the letting-go sensation of floating in a cocoon of warm salty water reduces blood pressure, calms the mind, and eases one

into a deep meditative state. A decompression with a plant-powered psychedelic edge can be experienced at Flolo Holistic , a boutique wellness destination located in midtown. They are developing a doctorfacilitated floatation therapy paired with safe doses of pharmaceutical FDA approved Ketamine. Flolo’s entire vibe is themed around innovative and meditative experiences where one can ‘find peace within the chaos’. Services include float, sauna, steam room, cold plunge, and salt cave as well as a unique sound float that immerses the body in sound vibrations and light frequencies Everything at Flolo is designed to reach deep into the body to elevate, recalibrate, and heal. www.floloholistic.com

OM Life Wellness Modern Recovery Spa in New Jersey is a sought-after venue for athletes and folk who value extreme wellness to reset the body, mind, and soul. Their suite of innovative modalities include everything from the Infrared Sauna, Whole Body Cryotherapy, Psychedelic Breathwork, HypnoReiki, CBD Oil Massage, Fascial Stretch Therapy, and BrainTap Meditation Experience. For a unique high-vibration experience try the ‘Sonic Vibration Plate Therapy’, a whole-body high treatment to exercise muscles, boost circulation and cell rejuvenation, strengthen bones, and stimulates organ tissue function. They are also big on the Alkaline Water Ionization system that is said to be one of the best biohacking devices of all - producing alkaline, antioxidant and micro-clustered (or restructured) water that can remove harmful pesticides, herbicides, hormones and bacterial o fruits and vegetables - all of which results in younger looking skin, higher hydration, and a balanced body pH! www.om.life Infrared Saunas are also considered part of the biohacking movement as they help fast track detoxification from the cells and body and reboot our cardiovascular and lymphatic system. Mounting research shows that regular saunas can also lower our risk of dementia and reduce heavy metals in the body. The

technology is based on wavelengths of light that internally heat up the body that stimulates sweating. This sweating detoxification process helps to release toxins stored at our deepest core including the kidney, livers, and skin. New York’s most popular Infrared Sauna brand is Higher Dose who are renowned for their serotonin-boosting saunas enhanced with high-vibration music and color therapy. www.higherdose.com

These are just a handful of boutique spas in the city o ering treatments to elevate our quality of life. Other biohacking trends include minimum e ective exercise, nootropic brain boosting supplements, hyper-customized nutrition alongside ancient practices like yoga and ‘bioharmonization’ - embracing natural

Judy Chapman is an International Spa Designer and consults for hotel, spa and wellness brands around the world including Menla Mountain Retreat in the USA. Judy also develops white label skincare products for spas and individuals. She is the former Editor-in-Chief of Spa Asia magazine and author of several books on wellness and spas. Judy is currently based in Byron Bay, Australia. www.judychapman.com.au

FloLoHolistic Eastern Medicine in Halotherapy Salt Room

“RAINBOW”

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TRACEY THOMAS

“Somewhe re o v e r the rainbow, ski are blue , a nd the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true .”

– E.Y. Harburg –

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“Bigger Boat”

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