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PUBLISHER’S LETTER
A SEASON OF RENEWAL
arch has always carried a certain energy in New York. It’s that unmistakable moment when winter begins to loosen its grip and the city collectively exhales. The days stretch just a little longer, sunlight lingers on glass towers and brownstone stoops alike, and suddenly there’s movement again — in the parks, along the avenues, and in the spirit of the people who call this region home.
Spring in New York is less about a single dramatic change and more about a steady awakening. Outdoor dining spaces come back to life, neighborhood sidewalks grow busier, and cultural calendars fill quickly with exhibitions, performances and events that remind us why this area remains one of the most vibrant places in the world.
This month’s issue celebrates that sense of renewal and exploration. From hidden museums tucked quietly throughout the boroughs to fresh seasonal experiences just beyond the city limits, we’ve curated stories that encourage readers to rediscover the places, traditions and moments that make this region so unique. Whether it’s stepping into an unexpected cultural treasure, planning a weekend outing with family, or simply finding new inspiration close to home, spring offers endless opportunities to reconnect with the world around us.
Of course, March also marks a transition in lifestyle — lighter wardrobes, brighter colors, and a renewed focus on wellness and outdoor living. As always, our goal is to reflect that shift by bringing you features that highlight style, travel, real estate and community with a distinctly New York perspective. At New York Lifestyles Magazine, we’re continually inspired by the resilience, creativity and forward momentum of this region. No matter the season, New Yorkers find ways to adapt, innovate and embrace what comes next. Spring simply makes that spirit more visible — and more contagious.
As we move into the warmer months ahead, we hope this issue encourages you to explore more, experience more and enjoy the many facets of life that make this city and its surrounding communities extraordinary. Warmest regards,
-Bill Mason Publisher
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OUR CONTRIBUTORS
JENNY PETERS
Jenny has covered the entertainment, lifestyle and travel worlds as a freelance journalist for many years. Her credits include writing on film, celebrities, and lifestyle for USA Today, AARP.com, Variety, New York Magazine, to name a few. She is the former editor-in-chief of Brentwood/ Distinctive Living magazines and held the same post for Scene magazine. She is a founding and voting member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, who present the Critics’ Choice Awards every January honoring the previous year’s finest in cinematic achievement. Her favorite places to be: sipping wine in the middle of a vineyard or simply strolling the streets and soaking in the atmosphere of one of the world’s great cities.
Mindie Barnett
Vol. 12 #3 | MARCH 2026
President / Publisher BILL MASON
Editor In Chief KARL KIRCH
Entertainment Director
Jenny Peters
Mindie Barnett is a licensed psychotherapist. Her approach to therapy is humanistic which affords her clients a safe place to explore their inner most feelings. She promotes growth with newfound skillsets, confidence, and resilience. Mindie is experienced treating adolescents, families, and couples and is trained in a variety of therapy modalities including Psychodynamic Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectal Behavior Therapy (DBT) . She is experienced in treating mood disorders, anxiety, depression, and grief. She is a two-time self-help and leadership published author, and mental health news contributor. Mindie is a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) with an MA in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University and received her BA in journalism from Hofstra University.
JEFF & STEPHANIE SYLVA
Contributors
Art Director SCOTT CUOLLO
Special Projects Director Norah Lawlor
Ruth J. Katz, Jenna Guarneri, Elizabeth Darwen, Norah Bradford, Peter Elston, Lillian Langtry, Stacey Zable, Irvina Lew, Jeff & Stephanie Sylva, Grant Ellison, Anne Raso, Clara Morgan, Melissa Billie Clark, Lori Dover, Michael McKensie
Columnists
Melanie Carden - Curated By Mel
Jon Salas - Le Haute Trend Report
Mindie Barnett - The MINDIE Method
Robert Massimi - On Broadway
Internet Presence
Michael McKenzie
New York Sales Office (646) 259-2651
Event Photography
Annie Watt Photography.com
Editorial/Sales Fax (212) 202-4888
Sales
Bill Mason Sr. - Director of New Business Development
Don Fetherman - Director of Travel
Travel enthusiasts Jeff & Stephanie have been freelance travel writers for over 30 years. Much of their writing reflects their love of the outdoors and their active lifestyles. Some of their favorite travel experiences include a trek across the Kilauea Iki Crater on the Big Island of Hawaii, and snorkeling with penguins and white-tipped reef sharks in the Galapagos Islands.
The New Jersey couple have written regularly for several local newspapers in addition to Hospitality 21, Family Travel Network, Family Travel Forum, The Parent Paper, Bergen County: The Magazine, Bergen County Kids Magazine, and Family Destinations.
For advertising inquiries, subscriptions, address changes or back issues, call: (646) 259-2651
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Jean Shafiroff, the fashion icon and international philanthropist, recently listed on Tatler Magazine’s Most Glamorous International Gowns List of 2025, is a living example of how fashion and philanthropy can go hand in hand. Known for her spectacular style, this focused philanthropist, author, and TV host serves on multiple charity boards. Her love of fashion almost equals her love of philanthropy.
Author of the book, Successful Philanthropy: How to Make a Life By What You Give, Jean Shafiroff is often called the “First Lady of Philanthropy” by both the international and local press because of her generosity and hard work in the charitable world. Each year she chairs between 8 to 10 different charity galas. She also hosts and underwrites many large cocktail parties in her homes for both local and international charities. Jean Shafiroff has the ability to fuse fashion and philanthropy, making both subjects most appealing to those she encounters and those who follow her.
Chairing, underwriting, buying tables, hosting in her homes, ensuring a nonprofit’s message is delivered—this is the cadence of Jean Shafiroff’s days. Her fashion and philanthropy have spanned many years. She has appeared on multiple magazine covers and in fresh editorial features both in the United States and globally.
“My philanthropic work is a full-time job, and I love it! I am most fortunate to be able to do it.” In mid-October 2025, she was honored by the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation and received the Philanthropist of the Year Award. This is just one of the many dozens of charities that have honored her over the years.
Her leadership and full-time volunteer workload allow her to live up to her title as “First Lady of Philanthropy” on all accounts, and, in 2022, the New York State Assembly officially named her the “First Lady of Philanthropy.” The title remains.
Jean Shafiroff sits on the board of Southampton Hospital Foundation, NY Women’s Foundation, French Heritage Society, The Couture Council of the Museum at FIT, Mission Society of NYC, Casita Maria, and Global Strays. In addition, she serves on the honorary board of the Historical Society of Palm Beach County and Ballet Palm Beach.
A Catholic, Jean Shafiroff served on the board of the Jewish Board for 28 years and is now an honorary trustee. During the pandemic, she served on the board of the American Humane and was their national spokesperson for their “Feed the Hungry: Covid-19 Program,” an initiative that raised $1,000,000 to feed 1,000,000 animals in shelters across the United States.
The scope of her philanthropic work continually expands. Although her New York and Southampton homes remain her base, she is slowly transitioning a good deal of her work to Southern Florida, specifically to the Palm Beach area. Jean owns a spectacularly modern home in Manalapan, Florida (an exclusive town considered part of Palm Beach) that is the perfect backdrop for her philanthropy and fashion.
Ask Jean Shafiroff which causes she loves, and she answers without hesitation: “helping underserved communities, women’s rights, health care, and animal welfare.” In addition, she supports the LGBTQ community and the arts. Jean also loves fashion—and has been a great supporter of it with an emphasis on helping emerging and independent designers.
In many ways, she treats her support of young fashion designers with the same seriousness as any nonprofit board. “I love the fashion industry … and make a big effort to support the lesser-known fashion brands,” she says. It’s not a hobby; it’s a mission with measurable outcomes: opportunity, exposure, and work for creative people building their names in a tough industry.
Regarding her love of fashion, Jean Shafiroff has long loved the styles of fashion designers such as Oscar de la Renta, Chanel, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, Balmain, and Carolina Herrera, but she’s equally animated by less well-known names. Designers such as Victor de Souza, Malan Breton, Ese Azenabor, B Michael, Ron Dyce, and Frederick Andersen are just a few of those names.
What Jean Shafiroff understands—and what sets her apart in a world crowded with people and events—is that taste can be a tool for public good. Not a substitute for writing checks, not a distraction from the hard work of chairing a gala, serving on boards, giving knowledge and expertise, but a tool nonetheless.
In a culture quick to dismiss fashion as frivolity, that argument has weight when it arrives, as it does with her, dressed in discipline. She is not merely “supporting” designers with a tag on a post; she is commissioning work, paying for pieces by wearing them to rooms where patrons, editors, donors, and other decisionmakers gather.
She is, in a word, a patron of the fashion world, a world that employs millions of people globally. She is an international philanthropic leader as well.
Dress: Oscar de la Renta Hat: Kokin Hats
Photo: Michael Panccia
Philanthropy is not occasional work — it is a lifelong commitment.
Gown: Ese Azenabor
Photo: Michael Paniccia
Fashion and philanthropy can go hand in hand.
Vinyl Jacket and Skirt: Courreges, Paris
Photo: TIMUR
Jean Shafiroff owns a very large ballgown collection which she plans to donate to a museum one day. Her ballgown collection has earned her a place on a number of “best dressed” lists around the world. It is also the subject of countless conversations.
In addition to all of this, Jean Shafiroff manages to host a TV show entitled “Successful Philanthropy.” which airs on LTV East Hamptons many times each week. The show serves as a platform to give celebrities, politicians, fellow philanthropists, and executive directors of different charities the opportunity to discuss their charitable work—and to help motivate others.
Jean Shafiroff also has a very large social media platform reaching people across the globe. Her Instagram account @Jeanshafiroff has over 1.2 million followers, with the message of philanthropy, fashion, and positivity at its core.
Jean Shafiroff’s background in healthcare and finance adds weight to her advocacy. She holds a B.S. in Physical Therapy from Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons and began her career treating patients at St. Luke’s Hospital. After a short career as a physical therapist, she returned to Columbia and earned an MBA in finance from the Graduate School of Business at Columbia University and then worked as an investment banker on Wall Street.
If all of this sounds glamorous, it is. But it’s also work—the exacting kind that requires phone calls and emails answered, calendars managed, budgets committed, and a public presence maintained without letting the persona eclipse the purpose.
Jean Shafiroff is pragmatic about the demands, particularly in the days leading up to a major event. “If I did not believe in the importance of philanthropy—the need to reduce the divide between those that have and those that do not have—I could never maintain my demanding schedule. I serve a purpose to society and that is a good thing. I plan to continue my work in philanthropy and nurture my love of fashion for the rest of my life.”
Gown: Malan Breton
Photo: Michael Paniccia
CURATED BY MEL
MANIFESTING SPRING’S VERDANT HUES
By Melanie Carden
Green grass is starting to show through the mud battered snow, a sign that spring is around the corner. Admittedly, March is my least favorite month with its all-over-the-place forecasts that swing like a pendulum between winter and spring. I find myself craving fresh asparagus and the smell of fresh cut grass. So, this month, I’m manifesting green in every imaginable shade— from St. Paddy’s Day cocktails to pistachio-hued Dutch ovens and the perfect travel sneaker for men—in a versatile moss color. In the meantime, keep your binoculars nearby. The birds that flew south are meandering back to help us usher in warmer weather.
FROM VERDANT CHARLEVOIX
I loved visiting Charlevoix region of Quebec, with its glacial fjords, boreal forests, and endless adventure. Sans Savon—a soap free brand inspired by and made in Charlevoix—channels the feeling of forest bathing, literally. Its delicate balsam fit and spruce scent paired with the skin benefits of soap-free cleansers makes it a great choice for sustainable skincare. Info: sanssavon.com
At the heart of LAFCO New York’s origin story is lawyer turned founder and nose, Jon Bresler. He learned the art of perfumery with the help of Italian perfumer Lorenzo Villoresi and launched the NYC shop in 1992. As most brands downgrade to cheap plastics, LAFCO’s candles are poured into hand-blown glass vessels. The Star Jasmine Signature Candle is perfect for March, with uplifting notes of bergamot, jasmine, and rhubarb. Info: www.lafco.com
BIRDS KNOW BEST
As we eagerly await spring’s arrival, birds keep our spirits up. Even when the air still brisk, the spring-loving birds start to make their way back. Keep a pair of Nocs Provisions binoculars near a window, or better yet take them on a walk. The brand offers Standard, Field, and Pro issue models, ranging from 25-42mm in cool matte hues. The textured material provides excellent grip, even during spring showers.
Info: www.nocsprovisions.com
BANISH WINTER DOLDRUMS
We’re in the final stretch of dirty snow and the winter blues, but if you need a little pick-me-up, the folks at Gallison do not disappoint. The brand’s Drawing from Memory Game is as simple as the name suggests. Players make drawings based on prompts like the tooth fairy or grumpy cat. There’s a secret, random judge who doles out bragging rights in categories including The Most Wildly Inaccurate Info: brassmonkeygoods.com
LAWYER TURNED NOSE
CUE THE VANILLA MATCHA GREEN TEA
I keep a two-level lazy Susan in the kitchen—filled with embossed jars of loose tea and dried, medicinal plants. The World of Tea Gift Sampler from Vahdam Teas is a great way to dabble in next-level tea. It includes 20 loose leaf teas—from Himalayan Green to Blooming Rose Black, and Vanilla Matcha Green Tea. Behind every cup there’s 90 years in the Indian tea industry, and I’ll sip to that!
Info: www.vahdam.com
THE TRAVELING MAN
Whether you’re escaping our end-of-winter forecasts abroad or heading across the town, TOMS TRVL LITE Retro Runner Sneaker is up to the challenge. This under $100 sneaker is offered in men’s sizes 7-14 in five colorways, including Canteen Green. I’ve had the women’s version for a few years, and it’s as comfortable as it is good looking. I love the green, black, and navy for travel scenarios. These colors hide any scuffs, so you can go from a light hike to dinner.
Info: www.toms.com
EPHEMERAL FLORENCE
Wild bergamot is closely related to good ol’ beebalm, and it’s scent channels a coziness, whether in tea form or, in this case, a magnificent hand cream. TOCCA’s Luxe Florence pairs bergamot with pear and gardenia in a coconut oil and shea enriched lotion that might as well be a potion the way it banishes dry, winter skin.
Info: www.tocca.com
GO PISTACHIO
March always offers glimpses of both winter and spring, so dive headlong into that theme by making a hearty dish in one of these Staub Pistachio collection cookware staples. I’m envisioning short ribs with pesto gnocchi—a wink to heavier winter fare with a hopeful nod to fresh spring garden goodies. Grab a joyful pistachio green Dutch oven at Sur La Table, and sear and braise your way into spring.
Info: www.surlatable.com
A PRE-SPRING FLING
This easy-to-fling over your shoulder handbag from Leatherology proves endlessly versatile—from dinner to games and the theater. The Greta Chain Small Pochette is small enough to tuck next to you while in a full theater, but large enough to carry all the essentials. Snag it in this limited-inventory Juniper Suede or choose from nine other colors like moss, black, camel, or even clementine.
Info: www.leatherology.com
ST. PADDY’S SAIL BAG
I’ve known about the beloved Maine brand, Sea Bags, for years, but was still floored when I saw the brand for sale on an Antarctica expedition ship. Made from durable sail cloth, these bags have attracted a cult-like following over the past two decades. The large tote measures two feet across, and the shamrock is a deep Kelly-green color—perfect for St. Patrick’s Day.
Info: seabags.com
PEACOCK ALLEY
The brand Peacock Alley started as a DIY hobby in 1973 when Mary Ella designed a quilt-style boudoir pillow, inspired by her Pennsylvania Dutch-country childhood. It caught the eye of a dinner party guest, a Neiman Marcus buyer, and the rest is history. The brand is about to launch a collaboration collection with interior designer, Caitlin Wilson, and the Highgrove Toile pattern will surely steal the show.
Info: www.peacockalley.com
GLENDALOUGH SHAMROCK
Sticking with the St. Patty’s Day theme, set aside time to make a Glendalough Shamrock this month. Shake up the following: 1⅓ parts Glendalough Double Barrel Whiskey, 10–15 sprigs fresh Irish mint & basil (muddled), ⅓ part French herbal liqueur, ½ part simple syrup, ⅔ part fresh lemon juice, and ⅓ part strong brewed verbena tea (cold). Finished in Spanish Oloroso, Glendalough Double Barrel Whiskey—with its deep forest green label—channels the luck o’ the Irish this March and beyond.
Info: us.glendaloughdistillery.com
LE HAUTE TREND REPORT
LATEST NEW YORK FASHION WEEK IS LOVE LETTER TO THE CITY
By Jon Salas
Every February, fashion’s most influential descend on the Big Apple to reveal the season’s latest trends – this gathering of creative minds is known as New York Fashion Week (NYFW). The collections displayed reveal months of meticulous planning, avant garde style forecasting and endless creative sources of inspiration, and this season revolved around one muse – the city that never sleeps.
NEW YORKERS ARE A CULTURAL ICON
Resilient, direct, ambitious, diverse – we New Yorkers are a unique breed whose blend of strength, heart and creativity shows in how we dress and carry ourselves in our day-to-day. Designers have taken notice and nowhere was this better seen than at the Fall/ Winter runway of Carolina Herrera who brought their show back after showing overseas last season. Under the creative direction of Wes Gordon, his collection drew inspiration from real New Yorker creatives, gallerists and entrepreneurs from past and present, whose world and influence have shaped the city’s art scene, and they weren’t just muses, they were also models who walked the show carrying the pieces they inspired.
The looks displayed included an array of power suit staples from button-up dresses, structured coats, high shoulder blazers to monochrome boardroom pairings, vibrant evening dresses with pops of print and the brand’s signature shade of red that screams personal expression. Because after all, if there’s one thing that characterizes us New Yorkers, it’s our unique sense of personal style.
Blue is to Yves Klein what black is to New York – it’s an emblematic color that represents power, elegance, sophistication and is a staple in every New Yorkers’ wardrobe. It’s functional, easy to combine and instantly elevates any outfit – it’s practical for going from office to evening. Designers understood the assignment and everyone from Michael Kors, Sergio Hudson and even more whimsical names like Cult Gaia and Alice + Olivia had a variety of black and dark-toned offerings on the runway. Via voluminous shapes, dramatic lengths, fine tailoring, and textiles that included leather, fringe and other fine woven blends - black was a dominant theme this NYFW. For men we saw oversized coats, the return of the bomber jacket which if you saw our January issue, we’ve been predicting this to be one of 2026’s biggest trends, and we also saw relaxed-fitting pants. For ladies, flowy skirts and dresses, along with tailored top silhouettes were on the menu for what’s haute next season.
For those who want to add a little color, other honorable mention hues seen on the runway also include aubergine, purple, and various expressions of brown.
In a sea of winter coats and dark tones, an easy way to stand out is through incorporating accessories that provide contrast and tease a peek into the wearer’s personality. Accessories were an integral part of this past NYFW where specifically we saw ‘hatmaxxing’ in full effect, a focus on placing emphasis on headpieces where they are the center piece of the outfit rather than playing a supporting role. Pharrell Williams circa 2014 Grammys was ahead of his time.
This season we saw designers like Bronx & Banco and Aknvas who paired outfits with oversized fur ushankas that matched XL fur-covered bags. Seeing how NYC has recently become a tundra during winter, these hats have dual purpose outside of style, they’re ripe for braving those single digit frigid days. We also saw smaller bold handbags where it was more about quality and design than about size, as seen at both Coach and Tory Burch where handheld clutches are officially the new tote.
STREETWEAR WAS BORN IN NYC
Another popular trend on the runway was the continued appreciation for streetwear and pairing traditionally elevated pieces with more casual, day-to-day items. This high-low effect creates visual contrast and instantly exudes personal style and has become a signature component of any NYFW. Streetstyle is quintessential NYC, the same way we invented the ‘hold and fold’ for a slice on the go. No one perhaps played with this more than Coach, who took office staples like A-line skirts and trousers and paired them with sporty motif long-sleeved shirts and playful sneakers. The result was a comfortable mix of looks that anyone could wear grocery shopping, to hair appointments or to an evening night out at The Polo or Monkey Bar.
Overall, the takeaway for this season is rooted in one idea, New York is still very much the epicenter for fashion, whose charm captivates all those who come. While some designers may go and show elsewhere, they eventually find their way back. The city is an endless fountain of inspiration shaped by those of us who are lucky to call it home. Our unique backgrounds, point of views and creative ideas for expression are what give the city its zest. This vibrant medley, which you can only see here is still very much fueling and inspiring the fashion world, and this season proved that with a love letter that reads ‘New York, I love you.’
ARABIAN OPULENCE AND FRENCH ELEGANCE REDEFINE NYFW STYLE
By Clara Morgan | Photos: AP / Dave Warren, Tom Concordia
Blending Old Hollywood drama with contemporary edge, designer Diana Mahrach unveiled a striking new collection during New York Fashion Week that celebrates her 30-year milestone. Rich fabrics, intricate detailing, and cinematic silhouettes came together in a runway story that fused Arabian opulence, French elegance, and unmistakable Manhattan attitude.
Fashion designer Diana Mahrach marked a milestone moment during New York Fashion Week, presenting her Autumn/Winter 2026–27 collection in celebration of her brand’s 30th anniversary. The runway show revealed a bold new chapter for the designer, where vintage glamour meets modern sophistication in a cinematic fusion of global influences.
Inspired by iconic Hollywood hair and makeup, the collection reimagined Old World silhouettes through a contemporary couture lens. Dramatic puff sleeves, shimmering paillettes, and richly layered textures defined the presentation, while a refined color story of black, blush pink, golden tones, and soft pewter accents created a palette both regal and modern.
Mahrach’s signature artistry was evident in every detail. Luxurious fabrics, intricate hand embroidery, and opulent embellishments reflected her devotion to craftsmanship, while sleek, structured tailoring introduced an urban edge. The result was a collection that balanced heritage with evolution — honoring timeless elegance while embracing a fresh, forwardthinking aesthetic.
Adding another dimension to the presentation, Mahrach introduced a menswear line rooted in classic Hollywood style. Clean tailoring, refined textures, and modern silhouettes brought a polished yet contemporary sensibility, reinforcing the designer’s cinematic point of view while expanding her couture vision into new territory.
Beyond the surface glamour, the collection spoke to transformation — a designer reflecting on three decades of creative evolution while remaining firmly rooted in her aesthetic DNA. There was a sense of storytelling woven into each look, from sculptural evening gowns that evoked red carpet grandeur to sharply tailored pieces designed for a modern woman navigating city life with confidence. The interplay of structure and softness, shimmer and restraint, gave the runway an emotional rhythm that felt both nostalgic and unmistakably forward-facing.
The presentation drew a notable crowd that included Consuelo Vanderbilt-Costin, Prince Mario Max, and journalist Michael Musto, among other fashion and cultural figures. The event was produced and designed by Mahrach herself, with runway direction by Chris Avery Bennet, musical performances by Maria Ellis, and styling support from House of Annex.
For more than a decade, Diana Mahrach Couture has been defined by meticulous detailing and timeless sophistication. Each piece reflects the designer’s commitment to artistry, combining sumptuous fabrics with innovative silhouettes that flatter and inspire. Today, her Midtown showroom continues to serve as both a creative hub and a showcase of her refined vision of modern elegance.
For more information, please visit: www.dianamahrachcouture.com
IG: @dianamahrachcouture | F: dianamahrachcouture
hiTechMODA REDEFINES THE RUNWAY
GLOBAL DESIGNERS, TECH INNOVATION, AND INCLUSIVE VISION POWER NYFW’S BOLDEST SHOWCASE
By Clara Morgan
At New York Fashion Week this February, hiTechMODA once again proved that the future of fashion is global, inclusive, and driven by innovation—delivering a two-day spectacle that blended cutting-edge technology with cultural storytelling on the runway.
New York Fashion Week has long been synonymous with glamour, prestige, and forward-thinking design, but hiTechMODA’s February 2026 showcase pushed those expectations even further. The award-winning production company returned to the city with a dynamic two-day presentation that highlighted international talent, emerging voices, and an unprecedented interactive runway experience—one of only three of its kind in the United States and the first ever incorporated into a major fashion show.
Known for championing diversity, sustainability, and innovation, hiTechMODA continues to distinguish itself as a global platform for designers who challenge traditional fashion norms. This season’s shows brought together creators from around the world, presenting collections that ranged from sophisticated ready-to-wear to avant-garde couture and conceptdriven design. The result was a sweeping vision of where the industry is headed—one that embraces both artistry and social responsibility.
Sustainability and inclusivity remained central themes throughout the presentations. Many designers incorporated eco-conscious materials, ethical production practices, and culturally inspired storytelling into their work. The runway became not just a showcase for style, but a space for dialogue about identity, representation, and the evolving role of fashion in a globalized world.
The roster of participating designers reflected the event’s international reach and creative breadth. Highlights included Pamela Privette, Jus10n by Justin Hayes, CAROZ by Eddie Carbajal, Omar Mansoor, Marc Defang, Suave Suits by Wajahat Mirza, Raluca Vlasceanu, and Carl Andrada, among many others. Each brought a distinct perspective, collectively creating a vibrant tapestry of design influences spanning continents and cultures.
Since its founding, hiTechMODA has grown into a recognized force within New York Fashion Week, attracting media attention, industry leaders, and buyers while providing professional staging for designers at every stage of their careers. The February 2026 edition followed a series of international showcases in Paris, Milan, Tokyo, and Cannes, reaffirming New York City as the brand’s creative anchor.
Founder and executive producer Pamela Privette emphasized the company’s mission, noting that hiTechMODA was created to “expand the definition of who belongs on the runway.” That philosophy was evident throughout the event, as the shows celebrated fashion as a universal language—one that transcends borders and unites creators through shared passion and vision.
With its blend of technological innovation, global representation, and forwardlooking design, hiTechMODA continues to reshape what a modern runway experience can be—ensuring that each season leaves an indelible mark on New York’s fashion landscape.
For more information, please visit: www.hitechmoda.com IG: @hiTechMODA
MRUNWAY IN THE VERTICAL AGE
MARC BOUWER DEBUTS FALL 2026 AS A SIX-PART MICRO-DRAMA
By Clara Morgan | Photos: AP / Dave Warren, Tom Concordia
arc Bouwer reimagined the runway for Fall 2026 with “Some Like It Haute,” a six-episode vertical micro-drama unveiled at The Eighth in Chelsea. Designed specifically for the 9:16 screen, the collection embraced mobile-first storytelling while continuing the designer’s legacy of fashion innovation.
Fashion designer Marc Bouwer once again positioned himself ahead of the curve with his Fall 2026 presentation, unveiling an original six-episode vertical micro-drama titled Some Like It Haute. Presented at The Eighth, Chelsea’s newest cocktail destination, the collection unfolded not along a traditional runway, but through a cinematic format created exclusively for the 9:16 screen.
Directed by Amber Gray, the episodic series blended fashion, narrative, and character development into a tightly paced digital experience. Each installment was crafted with the velocity and cliffhanger rhythm native to mobile viewing — a format that has rapidly become one of the most engaging storytelling models in global entertainment.
Rather than adapting a traditional show for social platforms, Bouwer built the collection around the medium itself. Vertical drama, designed for smartphones, is engineered for immediacy, emotional hooks, and repeat viewing. In doing so, Bouwer embraced the cultural shift toward mobile-first consumption, aligning fashion presentation with how audiences now experience content in real time.
Innovation has long defined Bouwer’s trajectory. In 2009, he became the first designer to place a virtual show on the New York Fashion Week calendar — a move that anticipated the digital transformations that would later reshape the industry. With Fall 2026, he once again demonstrated his instinct for forward momentum, fusing couture craftsmanship with contemporary distribution.
Beyond the technological format, the collection itself delivered Bouwer’s signature elegance. Sleek silhouettes, sculpted tailoring, and dramatic eveningwear pieces reinforced his reputation for refined glamour. Presented within a story-driven framework, the garments gained narrative context, allowing viewers to connect not only with the designs but with the personalities inhabiting them.
The intimate setting at The Eighth underscored the experiential nature of the presentation, drawing a notable crowd that included Haley Kalil, Gina Gershon, Yolanda Adams, Denise Bidot, Consuelo Vanderbilt-Costin, Dania Ramirez, Instagram personality Tika The Iggy, and Bouwer’s Fall 2026 cast.
With Some Like It Haute, Marc Bouwer reaffirmed that fashion’s future is not merely about what is worn — but how it is seen, shared, and experienced.
For More Info Visit: www.marcbouwer.com
WINTER SIREN AT NYFW
MALAN BRETON CHANNELS NOIR GLAMOUR FOR AUTUMN/WINTER 2026
By Clara Morgan
At New York Fashion Week, Malan Breton unveiled “Song of the Winter Siren,” an Autumn/ Winter 2026 collection inspired by the glamour and quiet tension of the late 1920s and 1930s. Presented at the Leman Ballroom, the coed lineup balanced sculpted tailoring, cinematic color, and narrative elegance in a show that felt both nostalgic and unmistakably modern.
Malan Breton returned to New York Fashion Week in February with “Song of the Winter Siren,” an evocative Autumn/Winter 2026 collection presented at Manhattan’s Leman Ballroom in the Financial District. Set against the venue’s Art Deco architecture, the show unfolded like a scene from a classic film, drawing upon the glamour — and subtle tension — of the late 1920s and early 1930s.
Breton, whose career spans fashion, film, and music, approached the season with a deliberate focus on silhouette and storytelling. Trained on Savile Row, he is known for tailoring that feels precise yet expressive, and this collection was no exception. Structured coats, fluid gowns, and sharply defined suiting moved with intention, each look conveying a distinct character rather than simply an outfit. The result was a runway that felt cinematic in both mood and execution.
A nocturnal palette anchored the collection, with inkwell black, bone white, champagne gold, garnet, and smoke silver reinforcing the atmosphere of vintage drama. Beauty by Odilis and hair styling by Vivienne Mackinder complemented the aesthetic with polished, era-inspired glamour, lending cohesion to the narrative Breton constructed on the runway. Select looks featured King Seiko VANAC watches, subtle accents that underscored themes of precision and inevitability woven throughout the presentation.
The evening concluded with a musical performance by Sorana, whose global following and chart success brought an added dimension to the event. Her appearance underscored Breton’s multidisciplinary approach — fashion presented not in isolation, but as part of a broader creative conversation.
Among the notable attendees were Alex Garfin, Jessica Pimentel, Crystal Waters, Baayork Lee, Dave Davies of The Kinks, Peppermint, Stephanie Simon, Michael Musto, and Consuelo Vanderbilt-Costin, reflecting the designer’s wide cultural reach.
Recognized by British Vogue as “The Most Influential Designer You’ve Never Heard Of,” Breton continues to operate at the intersection of design and storytelling. With “Song of the Winter Siren,” he delivered a collection that honored the elegance of another era while remaining firmly rooted in contemporary craftsmanship — a reminder that fashion, at its best, is both memory and momentum.
For more information, please visit: www.malanbreton.com IG: @malanbreton | P: @malanbreton | X / T: @themalanbreton
TRAVEL CHICAGO
NOBODY’S SECOND BANANA!
By Ruth J. Katz
When discussing a Broadway show, a source of inflated bragging rights is being able to declare, “Oh, I saw that in London.” Well, I can best that with, “Oh, I saw that show in Chicago.” Such is the star power of Chi-town’s celebrated Steppenwolf Theatre, which has transferred many of its productions to Broadway.
In this particular instance, I am referring to the Broadway hit “Little Bear Ridge Road.” The highly acclaimed Steppenwolf has commissioned and produced countless plays that have migrated eastward to the Great White Way, including “The Minutes,” “Purpose,” “August: Osage County,” and “Mary Page Marlowe. It is abundantly clear that the epithet “Second City” isn’t accurate in defining the city’s place in the hierarchy of theatre in America’s cities.
This metropolis also offers first-class attractions, sites, culture, and experiences to cunningly dazzle and captivate. The city’s 24-acre Millenium Park features the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Cloud Gate, the Crown Fountain, and the Lurie Garden, among the attractions. The Cloud Gate, popularly known as “The Bean,” is a high-gloss, amoebic, and amorphously shaped stainless-steel sculpture, one of the first public art works by Anish Kapoor.
MORE SIGHTS AND SITES
If Chicago architecture is your jam, then a must is the Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise aboard First Lady; it offers a bird’s-eye view of the city from quite another vantage point. If you know nothing about architecture, you’ll certainly learn to recognize the hallmarks of Historic Revival, Post-Modernism, Art Deco, Neo-Classic, and Beaux Arts, for starters: Among the skyline’s bountiful offerings, catch a glimpse of Aqua by Studio Gang, with its undulating wave-like shell; the famed Merchandise Mart with its pyramidal towers; the AMA Plaza, Mies van der Rohe’s last building.
If you’d rather do a romantic river cruise, opt for a premier dinner cruise, a two-and-a-half hour leisurely excursion on the Odyssey, one of the vessels owned and operated by City Cruises, embarking from the famous Navy Pier. Sumptuous fare is offered alongside the dazzling scenery. Or, for quite another view of the city, choose Flyover Chicago, also located on Navy Pier (which, parenthetically is 3,300 feet long, covers 50 acres, and is dotted with theatres, amusements, restaurants, food stands, family attractions, a park, and gardens). This is an immersive, multi-sensory attraction, offering—via the wizardry of video and cutting-edge technology—a chance to feel as though you are zooming over the city like Superman.
In the Evanston area is the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, well worth the short trip there. The 65,000 square-foot building features an authentic German rail car and other artifacts that will likely affect the viewer profoundly. One recent exhibit showcased the famed Kinder Transport, and while geared to a younger audience, it highlighted a large selection of individual ID tags that each child wore, which inspired British author Michael Bond to put such an ID tag on his creation, the lovable “refugee” Paddington Bear.
MUSEUM MAGIC
For calmer experiences, head to several of the more than 60 museums in the Greater Chicago area. Of course, no trip to Chicago is complete without a visit to the extraordinary Art Institute of Chicago. Consistently rated among the world’s top museums by TripAdvisor travelers, the Art Institute is home to the greatest collection of Impressionist paintings outside of Paris, including works by Monet, Renoir, Seurat, and Van Gogh. Explore the Renzo Piano–designed Modern Wing and its extraordinary collection of works by Chagall, Dalí, Matisse, Picasso, and Pollock. Do not miss the Hartwell Memorial Tiffany Window, the Chagall America Windows, and the astonishing Thorne Miniature Rooms, featuring dozens of stunning period rooms, to scale at 1:12; the details are mind-bending. The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago offers visual counterpoint and its exhibits are a delight to savor; the core collection contains more than 2,000 works). Save time to grab a bite in the wonderful Marisol Restaurant.
Another fun museum to visit, a bit off most radar screens, is the American Writers Museum, in the heart of downtown—and the only museum of its type in the States. It features interactive exhibits, immersive displays, and one-of-a-kind stories that celebrate the past, present, and future of American writing. Yet, one more museum I loved: The International Museum of Surgical Science, a division of the International College of Surgeons (ICS), which maintains over 10,000 square feet of public galleries committed to the history of surgery.
MORE CULTURE… AND CREATIVE PURSUITS
Additional culture should include theatre, comedy clubs, opera (the Lyric Opera of Chicago is among the country’s finest), and local shows/symphonic presentation/music at the celebrated Auditorium Theatre. In addition to the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation’s premier ensemble theatre, carve out time to go to the renowned Goodman Theatre, Chicago’s oldest and largest not-for-profit.
I have, also, enjoyed the amazing Auditorium Building, which opened its doors in 1889; Frank Lloyd Wright actually worked as a draftsman on the plans. Originally conceived as an opera house, today, the building hosts several hundred events annually, from rock to classical presentations.
STOP TO REST AND DINE
While on the Navy Pier, I would recommend Chef Art Smith’s Reunion restaurant, featuring a robust menu of the chef’s well-known comfort food, but prepared with a “twist of healthy.” This is a perfect venue for dining after Flyover Chicago. Around The Loop area is The Dearborn, a wonderful, Irish-rooted taverna. Sisters Amy and Clodagh Lawless, the team behind the name, work to make you feel at home, with family- and Irish-inspired fare, which includes one of Chicago’s best burgers, and their beloved fish ’n’ chips, the very dish that beat Bobby Flay on the Food Network.
WHERE TO STAY: COMFY, CONVENIENT LODGING
I chose the Sophy Hyde Park Hotel, an upscale, four-diamond boutique property, holding LEED silver certification. Located in the historic Hyde Park neighborhood, nestled in the South Side, an area made more popular by the Obamas (look for the stunning portrait of Obama in the lobby), the hotel feels “residential,” given that the nabe is a charming mix of stately mansions, modern condos, and vintage apartments along tree-lined streets. Details matter here, so look for the charming tchotchkes in the lobby (Scrabble tiles in a glass jar) and the thoughtful touches in your room—like a black washcloth for make-up removal. At least one night, dine at the hotel’s Mesler Kitchen, with its wide and toothsome offerings.
Additional Information Visit: choosechicago.com
Photos Ctsy: Choose Chicago
SHAWANGUNK WINE TRAIL
VITICULTURE THRIVES IN THE HUDSON RIVER VALLEY
By Jeff & Stephanie Sylva
Scenic country roads, beautiful landscapes, rich history – oh, and a diverse collection of awardwinning wineries to explore and experience. And this is all just a little over an hour’s drive from New York City? Take us there; we’re ready.
We’re talking about the scenic Hudson Valley and its rich winemaking roots which date back to the 17th century when French Huguenots first planted grapevines. And the best way to experience this wonderful wine destination is by traveling the Shawangunk Wine Trail.
WINE IN “THE GUNKS”
Established in 1984 to celebrate the distinct character of the land and the region’s rich history of winemaking, the Shawangunk Wine Trail has become a premier wine destination. This area of the Hudson Valley is home to some of oldest vineyards in the country. The Wine Trail’s founding members believed that a wine trail is best established if it can focus on a specific geographic area (like the Finger Lakes in NY and Napa Valley in California). The focus for this Hudson Valley Region wine trail is the Shawangunk Mountains. Affectionately known as “The Gunks,” the mountains are a ridge of bedrock extending from the northernmost point of New Jersey to the Catskill Mountains. Shawangunk comes from an old Lenape word meaning “smoky place.”
The Shawangunk Wine Trail, located between the magnificent Shawangunk Mountains and the majestic Hudson River in Ulster, Sullivan, and Orange Counties, is a collective of 13 member wineries offering award-winning wines, hard ciders, and crafted spirits, along with cozy tasting rooms, vineyard picnics, unforgettable views and some creative, enjoyable special events.
SPECIAL EVENTS ALONG THE WINE TRAIL
After a long winter you’ll be eager to celebrate the coming of spring in the Hudson Valley with a day of wine tasting, scenic views, and seasonal vibes. The weekend of April 18-19 features Earth Day at the Wineries.
As the weather heats up and summer is in full swing, take the whole family to Summer Sip, the Wine Trail’s great family-friendly event at City Winery in Montgomery, NY. It’s a fun-loving summer afternoon featuring live music, lawn games, great food, laid-back summer vibes, and, of course, some great wine. All of the Trail’s member wineries will be there for sampling. Admission is free for all – and wine lovers can upgrade with a VIP Wine Tasting Ticket. Advance discount tickets go on sale March 2026.
September 14-30 the Trail’s member wineries celebrate the fall harvest with their Harvest the Hudson event. This 17-day event invites you to truly taste the harvest. From bold Cabernet Franc to crisp Riesling, refreshing Seyval Blanc, and more, every tasting showcases the flavors that shine in the cool-climate vineyards of the Hudson Valley
At the year’s end everyone is looking for festive ways to get them into the Holiday mood. So, the Wine Trail has two events to get you ready for the holidays. The always popular Holiday Fineries at the Wineries will be held on November 21 & 22 and December 5, 6, & 12. All of the wineries are decked out in their most festive décor and twinkling lights, and they’re ready to serve their holiday wine and cider flights.
Then on Sunday, December 13, the Wine Trail’s Sip & Shop Holiday Market returns to City Winery Hudson Valley. Browse through the craft tables of local artisans and find some great holiday gift ideas. Food will be available for purchase from City Winery, and once again, wine lovers can upgrade to a VIP Wine Tasting Experience. Enjoy the sounds of some great local artists with live music all day.
From January through August you can enjoy a tasting flight at each of the Shawangunk Wine Trail’s 13 member wineries at your own pace. The Hudson Valley Wine Tasting Passport gives you a chance to explore new releases, rare vintages and awardwinning favorites anytime – one visit to each member winery. (It’s a good idea to call ahead in case reservations are needed.)
A perfect complement to good wine is good food, and a number of the Trail’s wineries feature full service restaurants, such as City Winery, Magnanini Winery, and Brotherhood Winery. Many of the other wineries offer a more limited selection of food choices.
Some of the wineries distill spirits, such as Warwick Valley and Applewood. Magnanini produces a line of grappas. And Stoutridge crafts its own brandies and a single-malt whiskey using a traditional Scottish style kilning floor, the only one of its kind in the U.S. In addition to wine and spirits, some of the wineries produce hard cider. Angry Orchard in Walden crafts the #1 hard cider in America – its Crisp Apple brew – in addition to a variety of other styles. Quartz Rock Vineyard in Marlboro offers a hard cider crafted from its own estate-grown apples. Applewood and Warwick Valley, the oldest cidery in New York State, also feature hard ciders.
THE WINERIES AND THEIR OFFERINGS
Travelers on the Shawangunk Wine Trail will find a variety of wines - and a variety of wineries. A recurring theme at a number of the wineries is history, such as Brotherhood Winery in Washingtonville, which boasts the distinction of being America’s oldest winery. Benmarl Winery in Marlboro lays claim to the oldest vineyard in America. Stoutridge Distillery & Vineyard in Marlboro was built on the historical foundations of a turn of the century winery and prohibition era distillery.
Many of the wineries feature live music, usually on weekends. Applewood Winery, Warwick Valley Winery and Distillery, and Clearview Vineyard, all located in Warwick, and Magnanini Farm Winery in Wallkill feature live music. City Winery Hudson Valley in Montgomery presents a full calendar of live music, comedy and entertainment throughout the year. A number of other member wineries have live music during their special events.
Many of the wineries are proud to say they are family-owned and operated, including Whitecliff Vineyard in Gardiner, Robibero Winery in New Paltz, and a newcomer to the Wine Trail, Christopher Jacobs Winery at Pennings Vineyards in Pine Bush.
The individual wineries of the Shawangunk Wine Trail are as diverse as the wines themselves. Many offer spectacular vistas. All provide a friendly welcome and an enjoyable, informative tasting experience designed to introduce visitors to the unique wines of the Hudson River Region.
For more information on the Shawangunk Wine Trail, visit: www.shawangunkwinetrail.com
APRÈS NORDIC IN VERMONT
PAIR A GILDED-ERA MANSION WITH AN INDOOR NATURE WONDERLAND
By Melanie Carden
Lately, I’ve been upgrading the traditional three-day weekend to a four-day meander, and it feels somewhat revolutionary. Day one’s agenda includes a leisurely drive to my destination and no other plans whatsoever, other than an arrival cocktail—preferably next to a woodburning fireplace. The Inn at Burklyn has a few such fireplaces at their meticulously maintained Neo Classical-style mansion, and they tend to the embers and visitors with equal care.
THE INN’S HOSTING HERITAGE
Set amidst the rolling hills in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, The Inn at Burklyn offers its guests leisure, adventure, and luxury. From the time your vehicle arrives under the inn’s grand porte-cochere until the moment you savor a decadent dessert, warm hospitality is the inn’s signature offering.
These tenets are part of the inn’s heritage, after all. Local hotelier Elmer Darling designed and constructed his early 1900s home with guests in mind—from the still-in-use clubhouse, strategically set alongside the porte-cochere, to the sweeping views of the Green and White Mountains, framed in by the area’s bucolic farmland.
WINTER ADVENTURE IN VERMONT’S NORTHEAST KINGDOM
As if plucked from a historic postcard, the inn’s same idyllic highlights await modern-day guests as well, plus the surrounding area now quietly offers some of the best adventures in the northeast.
The Inn at Burklyn’s breakfast fare was one of the most surprising highlights of my stay. Each plate is a little masterclass on farm-to-table elegance, with fresh, edible garnishes like micro-carrots with their delicate greens still attached. The food? Spot-on, and hearty, enough to fuel plenty of snow-day fun or exploring the local area.
Guests enjoy direct access to Northeast Kingdom Trails, a 100+ mile network of non-motorized multi-use trails, hailed as one of the top winter fat tire biking networks in the country. Intrepid travelers can also toggle between Nordic skiing and hiking—or even borrow from the inn’s supply of complimentary snowshoes.
Looking for more? The area also offers plenty of ATV and snowmobiling experiences and even sleigh rides at Rainbow Edge Farm. As you head out for the day, grab some piping hot lattes from Cafe Lotti, where you’ll find local goodies and top-notch ambiance. Or skip driving altogether and grab a seat on the inn’s shuttle to Burke Mountain (an Olympic training area) and Dashney Nordic Center.
WHEN IT’S TIME TO WARM-UP, EXPLORE ST. JOHNSBURY
Just down the road, St. Johnsbury offers an eclectic roster of intriguing gems— from the $5 St. Johnsbury Athenaeum experience to the free trails-meets-dog chapel-meets-art gallery at the area’s beloved Dog Mountain (of course dogs are welcome!). And Catamount Arts remains St. Johnsbury’s go-to for all things art and culture, including shows, film screenings, and classes.
I’d planned on visiting these local attractions, but all that changed when I walked into Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium, a cabinet of curiosities so expertly curated that I abandoned my itinerary to explore its wonderful exhibits. Everything there skews slightly fantastical—from the architecture to the planetarium talks and 1800’s fine art made from taxidermy beetles.
There are hands-on exhibits, naturalist wonders, and an ever-rotating lineup of daily talks on everything from butterflies to the night sky.
Leave time to grab lunch at The Buttery—a cozy nook of a bistro with rows of local wines, tinned goods, and locally roasted coffee. On the menu, you’ll find tasty bites including grilled halloumi, white bean tartine, dijon artichoke aioli, and plenty of craveworthy combinations. For just $11, you can score a radish, butter, and baguette plate to pair with one of their many local brews. Better yet, indulge in the homemade Pistachio Pesto Gnochetti.
Though I relished early mornings at the inn—reading by the fireplace, a mug of local maple sugar-infused coffee in hand—the evenings were especially lovely. Guests would trickle in, back from the trails and antique shops, and the cozy hum of chatter filled the sitting rooms. The bartender shakes up seasonal cocktails and folks settle into the dining room for a dinner better described as a petite feast.
Here, the daily soup is a meditation on harmony, and the menu includes riffs on regional classics and family recipes worthy of the mansion’s cozy grandeur. In a word: marvelous.
After dessert, my 22-year-old niece and I sipped espresso martinis in our suite and played Yahtzee long into the night. Just outside our room, on the third floor, is an impressive sitting area, surrounded by wall after wall of color-curated books and soothing, minimalist objet d’art—a really lovely spot for reading, journaling, or savoring a mug of herbal tea or hot toddy before bed.
If you’re more of a winter-loving night owl, the innkeeper can set up a bonfire, complete with s’mores kits. In fact, the inn goes all out for each season—from hundreds of pumpkins in autumn to cozycentric offerings each winter, including seasonal packages and discounts.Check the website for winter and romance packages, including details on a 30% discount.
The Inn at Burklyn is one of two Select Registry properties I’ve visited this past year. This—an opulent wink to a bygone era of gilded opulence—and the other, a secluded lakeside retreat in Poland, Maine. On paper, they’re quite different, but both deliver on the collection’s promise of one-of-a-kind hospitality—from Poland, Maine’s most sought-after lakeside sauna and boat house dinner to East Burke, Vermont’s maple sugar and grandest manor.
For More Invormation Visit: www.theinnatburklyn.com www.discoverstjohnsbury.com selectregistry.com www.thebutteryvt.com fairbanksmuseum.org www.kingdomtrails.org
The Flanders Hotel Ocean City’s most historic and prestigious boardwalk hotel, known as “The Jewel of the Southern Shore”, was built in 1923. This serviceoriented Ocean City, NJ hotel, which was placed on the Nation Register of Historic Places in 2009. The Flanders combines the elegance and hospitality of yesteryear with modern amenities to offer the finest in luxury accommodations. All suites in our Ocean City hotel have private bedrooms and full kitchens, equipped with refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves, coffee makers and stove tops, along with irons and ironing boards.
Located on the Ocean City Boardwalk, our full-service NJ beach hotel is a seaside destination that provides the following amenities:
• Spacious Banquet and Meeting Space
• Emily’s Ocean Room (featuring family friendly dining)
• The Shoppes at The Flanders (featuring clothing, jewelry, accessories)
• Divine Images Salon & Spa
• Outdoor heated pool (largest in Ocean City)
• Fitness Center
• 24-hour business center
Ocean City, known as America’s Greatest Family Resort, is one of the best beach towns in South Jersey. The Flanders, with its premier accommodations and prime location, is a landmark known throughout the region, state and nation. Vacationers have marveled at the towering structure as one of the great hotels along the Jersey Shore while local residents and business owners are reminded of the glory and memories provided by the resort. Because of its status as the grandest of Ocean City, New Jersey hotels, the community is fortunate that this architectural gem has survived to the present and continues to remain an important part of Ocean City’s past and future.
THE SUITE LIFE IN BEVERLY HILLS
AT THE FOUR SEASONS HOTEL LOS ANGELES AT BEVERLY HILLS
By Noah Bradford
Atrip to Southern California feels complete when booking accommodations at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. Positioned in the sophistication of the iconic zip code, this urban resort allows the guest to experience true luxury in a legendary Los Angeles hideaway.
From business trips to weekend getaways, the offerings of the property are the perfect blend of Hollywood glamour and laid-back California charm. Unwind in style at one of the most exclusive destinations in Los Angeles. Discover a serene, palm-lined escape with elevated dining, world-class suites, exclusive wellness opportunities perfectly blended with the city’s signature sunshine all year round.
At Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills all rooms showcase the comfort of homes in a lavish presentation that is unique to the brand which carries a distinctive reputation across the globe.
Culinary experiences additionally prove to be divinely unique for the property. This winter, Veil & Velvet makes a return through April 30. It transforms The Lounge — Hollywood’s living room — into a seductive retreat evoking the Golden Age.
Looking ahead, the Vitality Experts Program returns in 2026, anchored by a partnership with Immortelle Integrative Health. The program is positioned to help guests gain clarity around energy, balance, and overall well-being, bringing a clinical caliber of support into a hospitality setting. The Immortelle team is trained in both clinical excellence and Forbes Five Star service standards, with partnerships that include Cedars-Sinai, UCLA Health, Keck Medicine of USC, and Providence Saint John’s Health Center.
Functional Frequency Reset Fridays is a one-day program designed for Angelenos and hotel guests alike, blending testing, food as medicine breaks on the pool deck, spa treatments, and full access to hotel wellness amenities. Flight Check is another recommended service, designed for frequent travelers seeking a 60-minute reset to help restore energy and recalibrate the body after constant motion. Add on enhancements such as Gut Zoom Testing, 3X4 Genetic Analysis, and Stem Cell Therapy create deeper personalization for those pursuing advanced regenerative and digestive support. The Gut Health Optimization Reset extends the concept further as a threemonth program that uses advanced microbiome and genetic testing alongside targeted therapies to help address the root causes of digestive dysfunction.
Dark wood, plush velvet, and timeless cocktails set the scene for an intimate speakeasy inspired by old-school piano bars and private Hollywood dining clubs. The menu reimagines American classics including steak tartare and a special wagyu smash burger cheekily dubbed the “Royale with Cheese,” alongside golden chicken nuggets and petit lobster rolls. Not to be missed is the signature on-demand Caviar Service.
At each table sits an elegant antique jewel box housing the Press for Caviar button – a theatrical touch that summons elite roe, accompanied by house-made red fife blinis and traditional garnishes, directly to your table. Guests may indulge in three tiers of caviar service, savor a classic caviar bump, or upraise any dish with a decadent dollop — infusing every evening with a touch of Hollywood glamour.
All year round, the property also showcases a wealth of wellness as well. Situated on the fourth-floor pool terrace, the celebrated Fitness Centre is open 24 hours and offers an open-air venue to capitalize on the city’s sunshine. Personal training sessions are available with bookings from the spa, which guests overall love for exquisite services.
For travelers who love a polished perk with their five-star stay, the hotel’s current special offers add real value. The Experience More offer includes a spending credit per stay, with USD 100 for guest room bookings and USD 250 for suite bookings, with a two-night minimum. The Stay Longer offer provides a complimentary fourth night when booking four nights, an easy win for guests building a longer Beverly Hills itinerary.
Families can lean into the Hollywood theme with a package that includes a USD 150 breakfast credit, valet parking, one in room family friendly movie per day, and up to four tickets to Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, subject to availability and advance reservation requirements. For planners, Advance Purchase offers up to 20% off when booking at least seven days ahead, with nonrefundable terms. And for classic city break pacing, Bed and Breakfast includes a daily full American breakfast for two served via in room dining or at Culina Ristorante and Caffé, up to a USD 90 daily value, for select dates.
Experience Los Angeles’ vibrant energy with exceptional hotel offers such as these and exceptional packages at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. The property caters to diverse interests with experiences like no other.
For more information, please visit: www.fourseasons.com/losangeles
ONE WITH HISTORY AND ONE WITH HISTRIONICS…WELL, THEATRICS (TO SAY THE LEAST)
By Ruth J. Katz
ST. ERMIN’S
THE HOTEL THAT HAS SECRETS TO KEEP (AND GUESTS TO PAMPER)
At the risk of sounding flagrantly politically incorrect, I wanted to be, just for a day, a “Bond Girl.” Better yet, forget being 007’s gun moll or mere sidekick, what I really wanted to be, was an actual spy!
I had just come from the illuminating, behind-the-curtain exhibit at the National Archives in Richmond (a short tube ride to Kew Gardens on the District Line), MI5: Official Secrets, and I was feeling the urge to traverse London, cloak-and-dagger style, visiting secret haunts and hangouts of the dramatis personnae of the Cold War. So, steeling myself under a Fedora and cape (well, not exactly), I checked into the hotel with real spy history, St. Ermin’s in St. James’s.
SPY STORIES
This charming, four-star property (now part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection) is utterly drenched in the annals of espionage. Its location, a stone’s throw from Parliament, has likely helped cement its place in spy lore. During the 1930s, the hotel and the adjacent building were used by the officers of the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS or MI6), as a rendez-vous lair for agents, given that the Special Operations Executive (SOE), whose cover was the Statistical Research Department (wink, wink), had offices here. Fact: Ian Fleming and Kim Philby worked from here. During the Second World War the building functioned as an annex for SIS, with other offices for MI8 and MI9 nearby. The hotel and its comfy Caxton Bar were regularly used by agents (think: the very British spy drama, Spooks, all about MI5); MI6 ran guerilla warfare classes here and among the students were Noel Coward and Anthony Blunt.
In 1940, Sir Winston (Churchill, of course) called a historic meeting at the hotel, asking a group of remarkable people to join him in “Setting Europe Ablaze”; the members of this plucky powerhouse were to become the seminal members of SOE, referred to colloquially as Churchill’s Secret Army, and they ultimately formed the basis of the SAS and took over an entire floor of St. Ermin’s Hotel as its headquarters during WWII, while MI6 was stationed two floors above! Caxton Bar figured into the lives of this group and Churchill was known to have a leisurely glass of bubbly in the bar.
After WWII, St Ermin’s was again in the clandestine crosshairs of spies: Double agent and eventual defector Guy Burgess frequently met his Russian counterpart here, surreptitiously handing over topsecret government files to his handlers in Caxton’s. The hotel has also been used as an MI5 safe house. More intrigue: The hotel was used regularly by SIS, MI5, and Naval Intelligence Division case officers to meet their agents. Rumor has it that a tunnel runs from underneath the grand staircase to the Houses of Westminster. And to add credence to the chatter, there is a Division Bell, once used to alert lollygagging Members of Parliament that they had but eight minutes to get out of their cozy couches in the hotel and get to Parliament Square.
WHAT TO EXPECT TODAY, WITHOUT THOSE SPIES
All of this is to say, that you will revel in the small, but smartly exhibited and well-documented display in the hotel’s lobby, a part of the London Clandestine Warfare Collection. It’s assuredly a unique asset to this charming hotel, laced with graciousness, which will strike you when you first lay eyes on the driveway: A U-shaped entryway, set back from the roadway, and awash with verdant and flowering foliage, provides a dreamy pick-up and drop-off spot. And the porch in the front of the hotel—it may as well have borrowed a few hundred feet from the legendary Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island in Michigan—invites loafing and people-watching. You expect picturesque, white rocking chairs to line the porch, as the scent of fragrant magnolias washes past you.
Inside, more splendor awaits. Bolstered by Grade I-listed architecture, the extraordinarily sumptuous Rococo plasterwork—a corona on the ceiling—is gobsmackingly gorgeous, and it is all accented by elegant Art Nouveau styling; and, as a theatrical touch, surrounding the second level is a graceful balcony, with shapely, curvilinear lines, that embraces the walls stylishly. The furnishings are accented with antiques, curated carefully, standing proudly next to modern pieces, so that there are touches of Vivienne Westwood and Porta Romana next to cherished finds from the Bermondsey Antique Market.
AND EXPECT MORE
You’ll not want for fulfilling fare at Caxton Restaurant & Bar, with everything from beer-battered haddock, triple-cooked chips, and minted peas to marinated butternut steak, smoked garlic chimichurri and corn puree, and salted granola, to vegan fare and even a children’s menu. The restaurant has a casually elegant feel and is a welcoming dining spot all day long.
And speaking of kids, if you have come with the wee ones, ask for the kids’ Spy Pack and Spy Quiz. There is also a doggie concierge, and ask about the hotel’s proprietary rum and gin. Until recently, an apiary called the third floor terrace home; the bees have now, at least temporarily, decamped to the country. Not coincidentally, St. Ermin’s has garnered many industry accolades, including a nod as a Top London Hotel in Condé Nast Traveller’s Reader’s Choice Awards and it has also claimed major accolades as the UK’s top hotel; second-best hotel in Europe; and sixth-best hotel in the world in the 2025 Tripadvisor Travellers Choice Awards.
I never got to play Mata Hari while in residence at St. Ermin’s, but I am angling to return, to just lounge on that beckoning front porch, maybe with an oversize pair of sunglasses covering my face, as I wait for a “drop” from a mysterious, foreign stranger.
For additional Info: sterminshotel.co.uk
All photos courtesy of St. Ermin’s Hotel
LONDON’S REMARKABLE NHOW
A
HOTEL THAT KNOWS HOW TO MAKE YOU SMILE
A sensory blitz overtakes me as I shamble (yes, the result of that red-eye, early-morning arrival at Heathrow, so I am a little beleaguered) into the very groovy nhow Hotel lobby in Shoreditch, a London neighborhood that has (to quote Wikipedia) “become synonymous with the concept of contemporary ‘hipsterfication’ of regenerated urban areas”.
Is it too ‘50s or ‘60s to describe the lobby as very kitsch? The brainchild of James Soane of the very forward-, out-of-the-box thinking of Project Orange, the hotel’s lobby readily invites countless choices upon entry: Should I have a welcoming limeade and biscuits from the “sweets” buffet? Or go over to the sevenfoot-tall, cuddly teddy bear (seated in a peacock-back chair), with a big sign around his neck: “Free Hugs?” Do I go to the funky gumball machine and get a few jawbreakers, or waltz into the black London telephone booth, adrift in the middle of the lobby, pretending I’m Superwoman, about to transform my outfit?
Located in a district marked by an industrial past and a technological future (think Silicon Valley, but across The Pond, in a nabe that is a mix of art and tech galleries, artsy and dot-com businesses, and a bustling gentrification of industrial areas), the nhow embraces traditional design touchstones, metabolizing them with gusto and regurgitating them in an unconventional and disruptive way. Here, tradition and innovation collide.
When I get to my room, I see that the reading lamp above a comfy wing chair (upholstered, it would seem, by Jackson Pollack), is a black-metal bowler hat suspended from the ceiling. Punk graffiti adorns the walls of the 190 unique guest rooms, and towels are emblazoned with “King” and “Queen.” The obligatory amenity slippers are flipflops, embellished with a design pattern of neoncolored, geometric shapes. In the loo is the pièce de resistance: On the wall, facing the commode is a larger-than-life portrait of Louis Quatorze, with his entire groin pixilated, as if he were naked, and the artist wanted to spare the hotel guest the shock!
DELIGHTFUL COMFORTS AND
AMENITIES ABOUND.
The nhow has more room amenities and toiletries than a posh, five-star property—bath salts, lip balm, and even little packets of throw-in-your-pocket tissues. And lest I forget: The “Do Not Disturb” door-hanger features a somewhat digitized picture of Queen Elizabeth, and alerts housekeeping: “I’m absolutely cream crackered.” (Yes, it means you’re exhausted, so Do Not Disturb.)
The breakfast buffet in the lobby, at the hotel’s open-plan restaurant, Guilty by Olivier London, is also a treat. There is a picture of Winston Churchill at the juice bar, but he’s wearing cat-eye glasses, also pixilated. The dinner menu suggests “less guilt and more foodporn,” and offers up many traditional items—whether tacos, nachos, or a Zen garden bowl, with a sneaky, tasty twist. You will find the staff helpful, eager, and knowledgeable. Yes, these histrionic décor touches also come with hand-holding. Convenience matters, as well: Tube stops for Angel and Old Street are but a ten-mintue walk away. A perfect slice of new age heaven in Shoreditch.
All photos courtesy of nhow Hotel
PASSPORT POWER: 2026’S GRAND TOUR
SIX DESTINATIONS FROM PALM BEACH TO PARIS, WHERE THE NEWEST STAYS AND HOTTEST TABLES SET THE PACE
By Norah Bradford
In 2026, the travel flex is not distance. It is discernment. The new luxury is arriving somewhere iconic and feeling, almost immediately, that the place has been edited in your favor. Not louder. Not busier. Just better tuned.
Across six destinations that rarely share the same suitcase, Palm Beach, Aspen, St. Barths, Montreal, London and Paris, the through line is intentional living. Hotels are leaning into experiences that calm the nervous system without dulling the fun. Dining rooms are chasing precision over spectacle. And the best itineraries are built on one simple rule: you do not have to do everything to feel like you did the trip right.
Start with the idea of contrast. Sunlight, snow light, candlelight. Beach, mountain, island, city. Then let the details do the work: a new table with a view, a room key that opens more than a door, a late-night bite that becomes the story you tell first.
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA:
Polished classics, plus a new waterfront appetite Palm Beach does not need to prove it is glamorous. It simply continues, year after year, to look like itself in the best possible light. What feels fresh in 2026 is the confidence to add new moments to the old rituals.
The days still start with a slow drift between ocean air and boutique windows, where “just looking” becomes an afternoon. But now there is a new culinary reason to change gears. Tutto Mare has opened at Royal Poinciana Plaza, billed as a waterfront Mediterranean destination with Intracoastal views, instantly shifting the center of gravity for long lunches and golden hour dinners. It arrives with the kind of name that signals exactly what you are here to do: order seafood, linger, and let the room take its time.
The new headlines here are The Vineta Hotel, slated to reopen as part of Oetker Hotels, just two blocks from Worth Avenue, a storied property returning with a “heritage restored” premise and modern amenities, positioned as Oetker’s first U.S. hotel. Palm House brings a bold, modern jolt to Palm Beach’s classic hotel circuit, reopening on Royal Palm Way after a long closure with a boutique feel that leans into the town’s signature pastel polish. The property is part of Iconic Luxury Hotels and has been restored and reimagined with an airy, living room style lobby and a scene set pool courtyard that feels designed for lingering.
Best kept secret is The Canopy Hotel in West Palm Beach blending location with modernity. Make Palm Beach a lesson in pacing. Keep the morning clean. Save the main event for later. A table at Tutto Mare is best when you dress up just enough to feel like you are participating. The glow here is not accidental. It is curated.
ST. BARTH’S:
The island that turns dinner into a destination
St. Barth’s is small enough to feel like a private club and global enough to remind you that everyone had the same idea. In 2026, the island’s newest pleasures are rooted in one of its oldest truths: the reservation is the itinerary.
A major addition to the dining landscape is Bar des Prés, chef Cyril Lignac’s Franco Asian concept, which has opened a St. Barth’s outpost in Gustavia. It gives the island a new reason to dress up, and a new room where the night feels like it has a soundtrack.
Here, your days can be deliberately simple. Beach. Swim. A late lunch that turns into a nap. Then the pivot, showered and ready, heading into Gustavia as the light changes. St. Barth’s thrives on that moment when the heat finally eases, and the island looks like it is preparing for its close up.
ASPEN, COLORADO:
New keys, sharper dinners, and the mountain doing what it does best Aspen’s magic has always been that it delivers two versions of luxury in one town. There is the obvious version, the mountain, the powder, the crisp air that makes even your phone feel quieter. Then there is the insider version: the restaurants, the lobby scenes, the apres-ski drift where you promise yourself “one drink” and end up with a night.
Aspen’s newest story lines fit the 2026 mood: comfort that still feels cool. Fresh hotel inventory is on the horizon, and the dining cycle continues to evolve, with the kind of openings and pop ups that make Aspen feel like a small town that thinks like a capital.
MOLLIE Aspen is the hot key in town right now, a boutique property that opened in late 2023 and quickly became the stylish base for travelers who want Aspen’s energy without the fuss. Designed with a calm, modern sensibility, it pairs an intimate scale with a strong sense of place, the kind of hotel where the lobby feels like a living room and the day can start slowly before you step back into the mountain buzz.
In downtown Aspen, a best kept dining secret right now is Aosta, an Alpine Italian hideaway known for a cozy room and mountain forward plates that feel both rustic and polished, the kind of reservation locals try to keep to themselves.
For an under the radar social play, Caribou Club remains the insiders’ move, a private, members only club that has long been part of Aspen’s discreet nightlife circuit, blending dining, an elite lounge atmosphere, and a late-night scene that tends to stay out of the spotlight. It is the sort of place where the room does not need to announce itself, because the guest list does it for them.
Aspen’s best trick is the reset. You ski early, then you stop. You take the afternoon seriously. You shower like it is an event. And then you go out as if the day never asked anything of you. The ideal Aspen dinner is one where the room is warm, the menu is confident, and you are just tired enough to say yes to dessert.
MONTREAL, CANADA:
The city stay, upgraded, at Four Seasons Hotel Montreal Montreal is the sleeper power move of this six-stop circuit because it delivers culture and food with a confidence that feels effortless. For 2026, make the trip revolve around one address: Four Seasons Hotel Montreal
This is a hotel that understands the modern traveler’s real wish list: seamless service, a sense of calm in the middle of the city, and dining that can carry an entire weekend. Its programming has leaned into experience driven luxury, including new seasonal initiatives spanning wellness and gastronomy, and a refreshed approach to daytime dining that makes lunch feel like a legitimate event, not a rushed necessity.
At Four Seasons Hotel Montreal, the day can be built from the inside out. Start with a slower morning. Give the city the afternoon. Then return for the kind of dinner and cocktail rhythm that keeps you in the building by choice. Montreal is a walking city, but it is also a linger city. The hotel becomes your anchor, the place where you reset before you go back out, and the place you are happy to come back to at the end of the night.
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM:
Two headline stays, two very different moods London in 2026 is not asking you to choose between history and modern luxury. It is offering both, in properties designed to make the city feel easier to live in.
Raffles London at The OWO is a statement stay, set within a landmark building on Whitehall, with a strong focus on wellness and a deep bench of dining venues. The property opened in late 2023, and it has positioned itself as a place where the spa is not an afterthought but a core part of the experience.
Then there is The Chancery Rosewood, the rebirth of the former U.S. Embassy in Grosvenor Square, reimagined as a new luxury hub with a design pedigree and a sense of arrival that feels cinematic. It opened in September 2025 and entered the conversation immediately as one of London’s most talked about hotel transformations.
Choose based on your London mood. Raffles is for the traveler who wants ritual: morning steam, a polished breakfast, then the city. The Chancery Rosewood is for the traveler who wants energy: art, rooms that feel like a new chapter, and the thrill of staying somewhere that still has first year buzz.
PARIS, FRANCE:
The Belmond stay, reimagined, as a hotel on rails
Paris does not need a new hotel opening to feel new. It only needs a new point of view. In 2026, make Belmond the centerpiece of your Paris stay by treating the Venice Simplon Orient Express as the destination in itself.
Belmond’s Venice Simplon Orient Express operates journeys that begin or end in Paris, turning the city into the glamorous threshold for a travel experience that feels like cinema. The train is designed as an overnight world, private cabins, formal dinners, and the kind of old-world ritual that makes time slow down on purpose.
This is the Paris move for travelers who have “done” Paris but want it to feel like a first time again. You spend the day in the city as usual, a museum, a long lunch, a walk that ends in a boutique you swore you would not enter. Then you change for the evening as if you are going to a party, because you are. You board. The city lights slip away. And suddenly Paris is not just where you stayed. It is where the story began.
The takeaway: Six destinations, one theme Palm Beach shows how classic places get sharper without losing their soul. Aspen proves that contrast is the point, cold air, warm rooms, late dinners. St. Barths reminds you that joy can be scheduled, and that a great table is its own kind of luxury. Montreal delivers the modern city break, grounded by Four Seasons Hotel Montreal’s experience driven approach. London offers two best in class addresses that let you choose your mood. And Paris becomes a stage for Belmond’s most romantic idea: travel as theater.
MANALAPAN, FL
MLS# RX-11062637 | $135,000,000
Jack Elkins, 561.247.2165
FAIRFIELD, CT
$7,495,000 Team AFA Suzy Ryan, 203.952.8909
NAPLES, FL
JUPITER ISLAND, FL
MLS# A11763421 | $49,000,000 Adrian Reed, 772.263.2699
JUNO BEACH, FL
MLS# RX-11085422 | $2,995,000 Michelle Noga, 561.801.3885 Paula Wittmann, 561.373.2666
MLS# 225073038 | $2,899,000 Dawn Stuttig, 203.637.4040 POUND RIDGE, NY
MLS# 24126867 | $1,499,000 Linda’s Team Paige Slocum, 203.285.5118
WATERFRONT PERFECTION
488 SOUTH BEACH RD, JUPITER ISLAND, FL
By Grant Ellison
Along one of Florida’s most coveted stretches of coastline, a newly completed estate known as Tranquility redefines the meaning of waterfront luxury. Situated on Jupiter Island — a destination synonymous with privacy, prestige, and natural beauty — this extraordinary residence offers a rare dual-waterfront lifestyle framed by both the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean.
Commanding an impressive 180 feet of direct Intracoastal frontage, the property provides deep-water yacht access at every tide, including private docking accommodations for yachts up to 160 feet, making it an ideal haven for boating enthusiasts.
The vivid Bahama-blue waters create a striking visual backdrop, transforming everyday moments into postcardworthy scenes of coastal serenity.
Equally remarkable is the estate’s private, deeded walkway leading directly to the Atlantic shoreline.
Here, mornings begin with golden sunrises over the ocean and quiet walks along pristine sand. Residents can enjoy simple pleasures — collecting shells, spotting sea turtle nests during nesting season, or listening to the rhythmic sound of waves — experiences that bring a profound sense of connection to the natural world.
Inside, the home reflects a masterful blend of craftsmanship and innovation. Every detail has been thoughtfully curated, with finishes sourced from the finest materials across the globe. Cutting-edge technology is seamlessly integrated throughout, ensuring modern convenience without disrupting the home’s serene aesthetic.
The residence was designed with both entertaining and everyday living in mind. Expansive indoor and outdoor gathering spaces allow for effortless hosting, whether for intimate family celebrations or larger social occasions. Generous sightlines and open layouts create a sense of flow, while natural light pours through the home, emphasizing its tranquil atmosphere.
Practicality accompanies luxury at every turn. An oversized four-car garage and ample guest parking provide exceptional convenience — a rare feature even among elite island properties.
The home’s brand-new condition further distinguishes it, offering buyers a pristine, never-lived-in environment that awaits its first owners.
What truly sets Tranquility apart, however, is the emotional experience it offers. The home lives up to its name, presenting an environment where elegance, comfort, and natural beauty exist in perfect harmony. From sunrise over the Atlantic to sunset reflecting across the Intracoastal, the property provides a daily rhythm shaped by light, water, and peace.
In a market defined by exclusivity, opportunities like this are exceedingly rare. Tranquility represents not just a residence, but a lifestyle — one centered on privacy, coastal grandeur, and the timeless allure of Jupiter Island living.
Listed at $44,950,000
To schedule a private tour or learn more, contact: Brad Bermes, 260.312.1910 William Raveis Luxury Properties | raveis.com
6 HOYT ROAD, SHERMAN, CT
A STORYBOOK ESTATE ALONG THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL
By Grant Ellison
Tucked into the quiet pastoral beauty of Sherman, Connecticut, Black Dog Farm is far more than a historic residence — it is a living work of art. Owned by artist Elaine Voghelle, this extraordinary estate blends early American heritage with meticulous craftsmanship, resulting in a property that feels both timeless and deeply personal.
At the heart of the 4.6-acre property stands a fully restored 1803 Antique Eyebrow Colonial farmhouse, a rare architectural style known for its distinctive low-sweeping roofline and charming proportions. Painstakingly renovated to the highest standards, the home reflects a reverence for history while seamlessly incorporating modern comfort and innovation.
Every detail tells a story. Inside, white oak hardwood floors — sourced from the Museum of Modern Art — anchor the interiors with quiet elegance. Custom handmade mahogany windows, fitted with imported wavy German glass, filter natural light in a way that evokes centuries past. Advanced argon gas insulation discreetly ensures the home meets contemporary efficiency standards without compromising its historic character.
The chef’s kitchen is a showpiece of artisanal design, where leathered limestone marble countertops meet handcrafted tilework and sculptural brass hardware. Each element was thoughtfully selected to balance function with artistic expression, creating a space equally suited for intimate family gatherings or elegant entertaining.
Beyond the main residence, the estate unfolds into a remarkable collection of outbuildings that elevate the property into a true compound. A three-level cottage offers additional living space, while a detached two-car garage provides practicality without sacrificing architectural harmony. A sauna and spa room create a private wellness retreat, and a beautifully preserved tobacco barn stands as a nod to the region’s agricultural past.
Equestrian enthusiasts will find particular appeal in the expansive horse barn and fully operational paddocks, complete with water and electricity — a rare turnkey amenity in this idyllic setting.
Throughout the property, craftsmanship remains paramount. Stone walls and pillars constructed from Pennsylvania Lichen Stone replicate centuries-old masonry techniques, lending the grounds an authentic historic presence. Bronze metal seamed roofs, accented with cupolas and snow guards, crown each structure with both durability and architectural distinction.
The surrounding landscape is equally captivating. Rows of English dwarf boxwoods frame the grounds, while the estate’s proximity to the Appalachian Trail offers an unparalleled connection to nature.
At Black Dog Farm, history, artistry, and refined country living converge. The result is a truly museum-quality residence — one that offers not simply a home, but an immersive experience in beauty, heritage, and craftsmanship.
Listed at $3,900,000.
To schedule a private tour or learn more, contact: The Gulino Team | Eric Bergers, 860.770.3835 William Raveis Luxury Properties | raveis.com
252 RIVER ROAD, DEEP RIVER, CT
A PRIVATE RESORT ESTATE IN THE CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY
By Grant Ellison
Nestled behind a gated entry and set across more than nine meticulously landscaped acres, this extraordinary estate in Deep River offers a rare combination of privacy, architectural elegance, and resort-style living. Designed as a luxury compound rather than a single residence, the property unfolds across five distinct structures, creating a secluded enclave where sophistication and tranquility coexist seamlessly
A winding approach leads visitors through curated grounds defined by stone pathways, terraces, and professionally designed landscaping. Stucco exteriors, cedar shake roofs, and copper gutters create a cohesive architectural palette, blending European-inspired aesthetics with timeless New England craftsmanship.
The main residence, completely rebuilt and finished in the mid-2010s, stands as the centerpiece of the estate — a masterclass in both quality and livability. Interiors immediately convey refinement through rich millwork, custom cabinetry, radiant-heated hardwood floors, and abundant natural light filtered through transom windows and skylights.
The home’s kitchen serves as a dramatic focal point, combining high-gloss bespoke cabinetry with sculptural design elements and chef-grade appliances from Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Miele. A substantial Calacatta marble island anchors the space, while French doors open to a stone patio overlooking a spring-fed pond, creating a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor living.
Throughout the residence, spaces are designed to balance grandeur with comfort. A living room with a graceful barreled ceiling and fireplace offers panoramic water views, while a sunroom with vaulted ceilings and skylights provides a serene retreat filled with natural light. The sunken dining room makes a striking impression with travertine flooring and floor-to-ceiling windows, and a club-style bar and lounge introduces an atmosphere of classic sophistication.
The primary suite functions as a private sanctuary, complete with dual marble bathrooms, custom walk-in closets, and direct access to outdoor patios. Additional living spaces — including a media room, library, and lofted retreat — further enhance the home’s versatility.
Beyond the main residence, the estate continues to impress. A dedicated billiards house serves as a guest residence and entertainment pavilion, while a separate pool house overlooks a spectacular outdoor environment featuring a heated pool, waterfalls, fire features, and expansive flagstone terraces. A climate-controlled wine cellar, complete with tasting rooms and dramatic architectural details, adds yet another layer of luxury.
Additional amenities include a glass greenhouse, bocce court, outdoor kitchen, and a secondary upper house offering flexible living space for extended family or guests.
Rarely does a property combine this level of privacy, scale, and craftsmanship. This Deep River estate is not simply a home — it is a fully realized lifestyle retreat, offering an unparalleled sanctuary within the Connecticut River Valley.
Listed at $6,500,000.
To schedule a private tour or learn more, contact: Kiara Rusconi, 860.573.3382 William Raveis Luxury Properties | raveis.com
THE MINDIE METHOD
WARMTH MEETS EMOTIONAL DISTANCE
By Mindie Barnett
Psychotherapist, wellness coach, author, and speaker Mindie Barnett answers your questions about life, navigating these stressful and uncertain times, and steering you down a more straight forward path. We welcome your questions and invite you to contact Mindie at: mindiesmusings1@gmail.com
Mindie is available for in-person and virtual psychotherapy sessions via her Executive Health by Mindie Barnett Psychotherapy practice. Her expertise is in interpersonal relationships, overcoming depression, coping with anxiety and avoiding and overcoming burnout among many other wellness areas. Life coaching and career coaching are also areas she excels in. For more information or to schedule a session visit mbexecutivehealth.com
Dear Mindie,
I have a very “golden retriever” personality, and my friend has very “black cat” energy. That difference in temperament often leads to arguments and a lot of self-doubt on my end. When I don’t receive a response that validates what I’m thinking or feeling, I tend to spiral into extreme wondering if they like me, if they still want to be friends, or if I’m somehow annoying.
That pattern creates strain in our relationship. I’m trying to figure out how to improve our communication, so it feels easier and more secure for both of us, while also making sure there’s a compromise on both sides.
Sincerely, Goldie
Dear Goldie,
It sounds like you both have vastly different attachment styles. We learn these patterns of attachment from the way we are raised and how our caretakers tended to us. It sounds like you may have what is called “anxious attachment style” and your friend may be more “avoidant” in their relationships. This is not necessarily a problem. You both just need to be tuned into your needs and styles as well as respective of others.’
Let’s start with a quick 411 on what I’m talking about: Anxious attachment styled people tend to need regular validation and seek attention, crave intimacy (or contact if we are speaking about a platonic relationship) and fear abandonment or rejection. Therefore, it makes sense that you would be more hypersensitive to your friend’s mood and demeanor.
Your friend, however, is likely skewed avoidant and values independence, tends to suppress emotions and can be uncomfortable with emotional intimacy or vulnerability. These traits can make the person appear cold or distant, which in turn activates the anxious attachment style you likely possess.
It’s a perfect storm and typically anxious and avoidant personalities attract!
The best advice I can offer you is to express your needs in an honest, sincere, and non-accusatory way. Explain why you feel the way you feel when your friend behaves in a “black cat” fashion. Then, ask your friend how they feel when you behave in a “golden retriever” fashion. If your friend is fully aware of your needs and you theirs, you may have less strain and more harmony. But be mindful, you’re both human and humans make mistakes! So, if your friend “slips up” and leans farther into their “black cat” territory, simply remind them of your feelings and gently steer them back into the dog park!
Love
and Light, Mindie xo
TOWN & COUNTRY
WHERE WELLNESS MEETS WANDERLUST
By Joan Cian
In a world that never stops, it’s a rare luxury to truly disconnect: to breathe deeply, let your shoulders drop, and for at least a moment, forget everything that buzzes and beeps in daily life. These four spas— each distinct in character and setting—offer that kind of escape, whether you’re craving the restorative calm of the mountains or the chic serenity of an elite city hotel.
THE SPA AT MOHONK MOUNTAIN HOUSE
Catskills
Crafted Calm
There’s something almost elemental about the moment you step onto the grounds of Mohonk Mountain House in the Hudson Valley. Nestled high on the Shawangunk Ridge, this sprawling Victorian resort has been a refuge from urban stress since the 19th century—and its spa continues that tradition with genuine heart.
Here, the wellness isn’t just a wind-down; it’s woven into the landscape. The spa’s newly renovated spaces include warm eucalyptus steam rooms, dry saunas, and outdoor heated mineral pools where you can soak under open skies before or after treatment. There’s also a solarium with a stone fireplace and glass-enclosed verandas overlooking forested hills—perfect for lingering with herbal tea between treatments.
Signature experiences range from classic massages to natureinspired therapies, such as lakeside cold-therapy immersion, to holistic seasonal offerings that combine movement, mindfulness, and spa rituals. Day passes let non-overnight guests enjoy thermal amenities and the spa’s treatment menu, while multinight packages bundle spa credits with meals, hikes, and access to 85 miles of trails.
Mohonk’s appeal lies in its gentle insistence that true relaxation comes when you slow down—when you let fresh mountain air and forest silence do their work alongside expert therapists’ hands. It’s less about glamour and more about grounding, a reminder that wellness is as much a state of mind as a spa treatment. Info: mohonk.com
GURNEY’S SEAWATER SPA Marine-Infused Elegance
At the far eastern edge of Long Island, where the Atlantic stretches wide and untamed, Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa offers a restorative experience shaped entirely by the ocean. Here, wellness begins with the rhythm of the waves and the mineral scent of salt in the air, a sensory reset that happens almost instantly upon arrival.
The heart of the experience is the renowned Seawater Spa; a sprawling sanctuary built around its signature ocean-fed indoor pool. Filled with real Atlantic seawater, the pool delivers a buoyant, mineralrich immersion that feels deeply soothing to muscles and joints. It’s hydrotherapy in its most elemental form—simple, grounding, and remarkably effective.
Beyond the pool, the spa unfolds in layers of warmth and calm. Eucalyptus steam rooms, contrast bathing areas, and expansive relaxation lounges invite guests to move slowly, following the natural rhythm of heat, water, and stillness. Large windows frame endless ocean views, making the landscape itself part of the treatment.
Services focus on full-body renewal. Therapeutic massages, advanced skincare, and hydrotherapy rituals are designed to restore circulation, release tension, and support deep relaxation. Many treatments draw inspiration from the surrounding environment, incorporating movement, warmth, and the healing qualities of water.
Wellness here extends beyond the treatment room. Guests can join fitness classes, work out in ocean-view studios, or simply walk along the resort’s private stretch of beach—an experience that feels meditative in any season.
Gurney’s is more than a spa destination. It is a coastal refuge where the power of the sea shapes every moment—a place where restoration feels natural, effortless, and deeply complete.
Info: gurneyresorts.com/montauk
YO1 LONGEVITY & HEALTH RESORT
Ancient Healing Traditions
Set amid the quiet beauty of New York’s Catskill Mountains, YO1 offers a retreat devoted not simply to relaxation, but to renewal with intention. Spread across more than a thousand acres of rolling hills, reflective water features, and open sky, the setting feels deliberately removed from the pace and pressures of everyday life—a place designed for recalibration.
From the moment you arrive, the atmosphere is serene yet purposeful. Sunlit interiors, clean architectural lines, and expansive views of nature create a sense of calm that feels grounding rather than indulgent. This is not a traditional spa experience built around occasional treatments. At YO1, wellness unfolds through carefully structured programs tailored to individual needs.
The resort’s philosophy draws from time-honored healing traditions, particularly Ayurveda, naturopathy, yoga, and acupuncture. Each stay begins with a comprehensive consultation, followed by a personalized schedule that may include therapeutic bodywork, hydrotherapy, meditation, breathwork, and guided movement. The goal is not simply to relax, but to restore balance— physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Nutrition is central to the experience. Meals are thoughtfully prepared, plant-forward, and designed to support the body’s natural healing processes. Dining becomes part of the wellness journey, reinforcing mindful habits that extend beyond the retreat itself.
Nature plays a quiet but constant role. Walking trails wind through peaceful landscapes, reflection spaces invite stillness, and the gentle rhythm of the surroundings encourages a slower pace. Days feel structured yet spacious, offering time to fully absorb each experience.
YO1 presents a different vision of luxury—one rooted in transformation rather than indulgence alone. Guests leave not only rested but equipped with practices and perspectives designed to support long-term well-being long after the mountains fade from view. Info: yo1.com
THE SPA AT MANDARIN ORIENTAL Refined Rituals, Remarkable Views
Perched high above Columbus Circle, with sweeping views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline, this oasis offers a wellness experience that feels both elevated and deeply grounding. Suspended between sky and city, it creates a sense of serene detachment—as if the noise and momentum of Manhattan exist somewhere far below.
From the moment you arrive, the atmosphere is calm, luminous, and quietly refined. Soft light filters through expansive windows, and the design draws subtle inspiration from Asian traditions of balance and harmony. The space feels open yet intimate, encouraging a slower pace from the moment you enter.
Treatments here are rooted in a holistic philosophy that blends Eastern healing practices with modern therapeutic techniques. Signature therapies focus on restoring balance—physically, emotionally, and energetically. Expert therapists tailor each experience, whether through tension-melting massages, advanced skincare rituals, or treatments that incorporate aromatherapy and mindful breathing. The emphasis is not only on relaxation, but on realignment—helping the body return to its natural rhythm.
Water plays a vital role in the spa journey. The vitality pool, infused with gentle jets, soothes tired muscles while floor-to-ceiling windows frame breathtaking city views. Crystal steam rooms provide warmth and quiet purification, while relaxation lounges invite guests to linger in a state of deep calm before returning to the world outside.
What makes this spa particularly distinctive is its sense of perspective. Looking out over Central Park from such height creates a feeling of spaciousness, mental as well as physical. The city becomes something to observe rather than absorb.
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental is more than a luxurious retreat; it is a sanctuary in the sky. Here, restoration unfolds with grace and intention, leaving guests refreshed, centered, and quietly renewed above the rhythm of New York. Info:mandarinoriental.com
THE DEAD RABBIT
WHERE IRISH SPIRIT MEETS MANHATTAN ENERGY
By Joan Cian
In a city where new restaurants arrive daily and disappear just as quickly, The Dead Rabbit has done something rare: it has become an institution. Located in Lower Manhattan, just steps from the Financial District’s polished towers and historic streets, this Irish pub manages to feel both deeply rooted in the past and unmistakably alive in the present.
More than anything else, this is a place where storytelling, hospitality, and craftsmanship meet— sometimes over a pint of Guinness, sometimes over a meticulously constructed cocktail, and always with a sense that you are somewhere genuinely special.
STEP INSIDE HISTORY
From the outside, The Dead Rabbit looks modest, even understated. Step inside, however, and the atmosphere shifts immediately. The space hums with energy—laughter, conversation, clinking glassware, and the low murmur of music create a warmth that feels closer to Dublin than downtown Manhattan. The interior blends old-world charm with deliberate detail: dark wood, vintage prints, worn leather, and subtle historical references give the room character without turning it into a theme. It feels lived in rather than staged, the kind of place where you can settle comfortably whether you’re staying for one drink or an entire evening.
The name itself carries history. The Dead Rabbits were a 19thcentury Irish American street gang in New York, and while the pub doesn’t romanticize the nitty-gritty rough edges of that era, it embraces the spirit of immigrant resilience and cultural identity that helped shape the city. That sense of heritage is woven into everything—from the menu to the service to the overall energy of the room. It is a tribute not just to Ireland, but to the Irish influence that has long been part of New York’s story.
Much of the pub’s reputation, of course, comes from its bar program. The Dead Rabbit has been internationally recognized for its cocktails, and the acclaim is well deserved. Drinks here are crafted with precision and imagination, often inspired by historical recipes or classic techniques but presented with modern refinement.
The bartenders work with quiet confidence, moving efficiently even when the room is packed. Watching them is part of the experience; there’s an artistry to their rhythm, a sense that each drink matters. Always popular is the Bloomsbury Garden, a mix of gin, cucumber vodka, elderflower, and lychee for a bright, floral, refreshing profile. Also on the menu is The Dead Rabbit Irish Coffee. What could be more perfect after a day at the St. Patrick’s Day parade then this crowd pleaser.
While cocktails often get the spotlight, the beer and whiskey selections are equally impressive. Irish whiskeys range from approachable to rare, and the draft list honors tradition with perfectly poured Guinness and other carefully chosen brews. Whether you’re a seasoned whiskey enthusiast or simply in the mood for something comforting and familiar, the bar staff are happy to guide you.
But The Dead Rabbit is not just about what’s in your glass. The food stands firmly on its own, elevating what many people expect from pub dining. The menu draws from Irish culinary tradition while embracing contemporary influences, resulting in dishes that are hearty, thoughtful, and deeply satisfying.
The Scotch Egg is a standout—crispy on the outside, perfectly cooked within, and served with just the right balance of seasoning. Fish and Chips arrive golden and crisp, the batter light rather than heavy, paired with thick-cut fries that deliver exactly the right amount of indulgence. Shepherd’s Pie offers comfort in its purest form, rich and savory, the kind of dish that feels especially welcome any time. Even smaller plates show care and intention, each one prepared with attention to flavor and texture rather than treated as an afterthought.
One of the most appealing aspects of The Dead Rabbit is how effortlessly it balances different moods. During the day, it can feel relaxed and inviting, a place to meet friends for lunch or enjoy a quiet drink. By evening, the energy builds. The room grows lively, voices rise, and the atmosphere takes on the vibrant social quality that defines a great pub. Yet even at its busiest, the place never loses its sense of warmth.
Irish hospitality is genuine and attentive without being intrusive. Staff members are knowledgeable and enthusiastic, happy to share recommendations or explain the inspiration behind a particular dish or drink. There’s an ease to the interactions—friendly but never forced—that makes guests feel welcome.
A PLACE TO BELONG
What makes The Dead Rabbit truly memorable, though, is its sense of identity. Many establishments attempt to recreate the feeling of a traditional Irish pub, but few succeed in capturing its emotional core. Here, the experience feels authentic—not because of decorative touches alone, but because of the way the space encourages connection. People gather, talk, linger, and return. It is a place built for conversation, for shared moments, for the simple pleasure of being present with good company.
In a city defined by constant change, The Dead Rabbit offers something enduring. It honors history without feeling frozen in time. It delivers excellence without sacrificing warmth. And it reminds visitors why the idea of the neighborhood pub—welcoming, lively, full of character—continues to resonate across generations.
Whether you arrive for a carefully crafted cocktail, a comforting plate of Irish fare, or simply the pleasure of spending time in a room filled with life and laughter, The Dead Rabbit leaves an impression that lasts well beyond the final sip. It is more than a bar, more than a restaurant—it is a living piece of New York’s cultural fabric, infused with Irish spirit and sustained by the timeless art of hospitality. To all Céad míle fáilte (A Hundred Thousand Welcomes). Info: deadrabbit.com
ronx Little Italy is a vibrant pocket of old-world charm tucked inside the much-storied Belmont neighborhood, where the scent of simmering Sunday sauce and baking bread seems to drift through the streets year-round. At its heart lies Arthur Avenue, a bustling main street lined with specialty shops, bakeries, and family-run eateries that have carried recipes across generations. Walking down Arthur Avenue feels like stepping into a living culinary archive—you’ll see fresh mozzarella being pulled behind glass counters, bread emerging crackling from ovens, and espresso machines humming steadily as both locals and visitors gather for conversation. The atmosphere is warm and unpretentious, shaped by decades of immigrant tradition and a deep respect for handmade food. The neighborhood is very diversified these days (with less than a 20 per cent Italian-American population) but the stores are run by Italian families who do things the time-honored way. Bronx Little Italy is New York’s real Little Italy—Arthur Avenue makes Mulberry Street seem very watered down and touristy.
This Bronx dining scene mixes authenticity with abundance and it goes without saying that food is priced are much more reasonable than in Manhattan’s Little Italy and portions are shareable. At Mario’s Restaurant, plates arrive overflowing with classics like veal parmigiana and linguine in clam sauce, prepared with the kind of confidence that comes from nearly a century of service. Across the street, Enzo’s of Arthur Avenue offers rustic dishes—think slow-braised meats and house-made pastas—that make guests think of old school Sunday dinners that used to bring extended families together. No visit feels complete without a stop at Mike’s Deli inside the famed indoor market, where towering sandwiches and imported cheeses remind visitors that simplicity, when executed expertly, is the essence of Italian cooking. Together, these establishments create a destination where food is more than nourishment—it is heritage, hospitality, and celebration served on every place. The staff at each restaurant or store feel like people that you’ve known your whole life and are usually generous with sampling products before you buy them.
BREAD STRAIGHT FROM HEAVEN
Madonia Bakery has long been one of the culinary anchors of Bronx Little Italy, drawing locals and visitors alike to its Arthur Avenue storefront with their remarkable old-world baking traditions. Founded in 1918 by Sicilian immigrant Mario Madonia, the family-run shop has remained a neighborhood staple for more than a century, passing through multiple generations (one member of the family was even born in the store in the back by the ovens)! Over a century after it’s opening, Mario Madonia’s great-grandson, David Calano-Moore, and his business partner Charlie LaLima are carrying on the Madonia Bakery’s legend of greatness. Over the years, it has built a reputation for classic breads and pastries while continuing to evolve with new creations, a balance that has helped it remain relevant as tastes change. They’ve got more types of bread than you can shake a mozzarella stick at and you can take fresh pizza dough home from their refrigerator for only $2.50. The colorful cookies and biscotti have people both lined up (and double parked) but Madonia is run like a well-oiled machine so you can get in and out fast. This bakery is often described as the ultimate symbol of the Arthur Avenue community, welcoming both regulars and curious food lovers eager to experience authentic Italian flavors. Try the prosciutto bread because it is hard to come by anywhere else and a slice is a meal by itself!
What truly sets the Madonia Bakery apart from even the most celebrated New York bakeries is its breadth of handmade offerings, ranging from traditional pane di casa and ciabatta to inventive specialty loaves featuring ingredients like olives, fennel, jalapeño, or cheese. Signature items such as olive bread, biscotti, cannoli, and taralli highlight the Sicilian roots that still guide the kitchen today. Despite its longevity, the focus has never been on large-scale wholesale production; instead, the bakery emphasizes neighborhood connection and customer interaction, reinforcing its role as a warm, everyday gathering spot. More than just a place to buy bread, Madonia Bakery represents generations of craftsmanship and the enduring spirit of Italian-American food culture in the Bronx. Check out the website, www.madoniabakery.com
AN UNBEATABLE SELECTION OF ITALIAN SPECIALITIES
Tino’s Delicatessen, owned for the past 20 years by Rosa and Giancarlo Paciullo, is an over 50-year-old Arthur Avenue staple, known for blending the spirit of a traditional Italian deli with the variety of a casual neighborhood restaurant. With a strong 4.5-star rating from hundreds of Yelp reviewers and a price range that typically falls between about $10 and $20 per prepared dish, it has become a serious “go to” spot. The space functions as more than just a sandwich counter—it spans categories from pasta shop to pizza takeout, giving it the feeling of a one-stop destination for the best of Southern Italian classics including salumeria items. Tino’s hot foods are “off the chart”—they have their own famous chicken, sausage and peppers dish as well as the best eggplant parmigiana in Bronx Little Italy (the rich homemade sauce and mozzarella are mouthwatering).
What draws many people in is the sheer breadth of choices. Tino’s offers everything from extra-long sandwiches (including six footers made for parties) to salads to pizza to unique pasta dishes, making it easy for groups with different tastes to find something satisfying. Its identity as a family-style Italian eatery is reflected in the approachable menu and relaxed atmosphere, ideal for a quick lunch while strolling Arthur Avenue or a casual meal that captures the neighborhood’s culinary heritage. You can actually sit at a table next to the glass display cases and tell the staff what you want brought over! They’ve got an amazing array of wine and imported Italian soft drinks as well. Consistently busy but always welcoming, Tino’s represents the kind of everyday spot where classic deli traditions meet modern convenience. Learn more at www.tinosdeli.com
A PASTRY LOVERS’S PARADISE
Artuso Pastry Shop is a beloved fixture of Bronx Little Italy, located on East 187th Street and serving the neighborhood since 1946. Founded by Vincent F. Artuso, an immigrant from Calabria who discovered his passion while working at a bakery during the Great Depression, the shop grew from humble beginnings into one of Bronx Little Italy’s most endearing family success stories. Today, Vincent’s son Anthony is overseeing daily operations with the help of his children, two sons-inlaw and a longstanding loyal assistant; they’re preserving the bakery’s reputation as a warm, community-centered destination enjoyed by thousands of customers each day. With a solid reputation and steady following, it reflects the kind of generational craftsmanship that defines Arthur Avenue’s food culture. Artuso creates all the classic Italian pastries like St. Joseph’s sfingi and zeppole, cannoli, sfogliatelle and Italian style birthday cakes with custard or cassata filling—however, they have plenty of all-American items including themed cakes that kids love and their giant Lobster Tails which are half dipped in dark chocolate. In the summer, Artuso is also the go-to place for Italian ice.
Moderately priced and known for dependable quality, Artuso remains the kind of bakery where classic recipes meet festive innovation— it’s an inviting stop whether you’re picking up pastries for a gathering or simply indulging in a sweet taste of Bronx Little Italy as you mosey about from place to place on a leisurely Sunday afternoon. See the incredible line of bakery products and learn more of the Artuso story at www.artusobakery.com. (By the way, their items are available on www.goldbelly.com for national shipment.)
THE PERFECT SLICE & MORE
Mezza Luna Pizza is a well-known pizza spot (located at 600 East 187th Street), recognized for delivering classic New York–style slices. With a strong reputation reflected in its 4.4-star Yelp rating, the pizzeria has become a reliable stop for both locals and visitors looking for something quick, flavorful, and satisfying while exploring the Arthur Avenue area.
The setting is straightforward and casual which makes it ideal for grabbing a slice during a foodfocused stroll through the neighborhood. The prices here are ultra reasonable and a small plain pie has six giant slices (perfect for three people to share)! Mezza Luna is also known for remarkable pasta dishes, several chicken and sausage entrees (including a killer Chicken Scarpiello), and Eggplant Parmigiana. Their sandwiches including the popular Veggie & Mozzarella Wrap; the Mezza Luna wraps and heroes have a great reputation and people line up for them, especially on weekends.
Open for lunch and dinner hours, the restaurant focuses on approachable comfort food that appeals to a wide audience. Its consistency in quality keeps customers coming back. In a district celebrated for generational eateries, Mezza Luna Pizza stands out as an easygoing, dependable choice. This is a 50-year-old establishment (originally called Full Moon Pizza) but for the past three years it has been run by the affable and talented Joe LoPresti. Be sure to visit www.mezzalunapizza.com to get the whole story of this fabulous corner spot with ultra-speedy service!
For general information on planning a trip to Bronx Little Italy, visit: www.bronxlittleitaly.com
NOMAD DINER
RETRO VIBES & CUTTING-EDGE COMFORT CUISINE
By Anne Raso
NoMad Diner is situated inside the very back of the lobby of the Arlo Nomad Hotel at 11 East 31st Street, placing it smack dab in the middle of the city’s dynamic and diversified NoMad neighborhood. The restaurant touts itself as a warm, “go-to” spot from morning through late evening, offering food an elevated interpretation of familiar comfort dishes. Its hotel setting adds a “very Manhattan” edge, attracting both tourists and locals seeking a polished yet welcoming meal experience.
The main idea behind the diner is blending retro vibes (which includes the somewhat 50s space age décor) with modern sensibilities. Called a “culinary haven” by foodies and food critics alike, the NoMad Diner hones in on classic comfort foods with fun twists. This balance between classic diner heritage and reinvention mirrors the neighborhood, where historic buildings have trendy storefront operations, from bars to wholesale boutiques to salons.
ALL DAY MENU
Guests can drop in throughout the day, with service spanning breakfast, lunch, dinner, and cocktails. The all-day menu features breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner items and the staff does not flinch if you ask for a signature cocktail along with a large stack of pancakes, LOL. The service is attentive without being overbearing—the staff puts friendliness first and they are happy to customize dishes to dietary needs or preferences.
It’s incredible how the kitchen takes old school diner favorites and elevate them beyond standard diner fare. This approach makes the restaurant perfect for guests craving familiarity but intriguing enough for those seeking something more refined than a typical neighborhood hangout. Happy hour offers great drink and meal items that hotel guests love—some hotel guests admit that the NoMad Diner is the main reason why they book stays at the Arlo NoMad even though the hotel itself is well regarded, drawing thousands of positive Yelp! reviews and offering very fair room rated . The synergy between hotel and restaurant is very noticeable—staff seems to easily remember the regular orders from hotel guests.
FROM BABKA FRENCH TOAST TO EGGS BENEDICT
Breakfast and brunch items lean heavily into hearty classics with personality. Standouts include Cornmeal Pancakes topped with butter, maple syrup, and fresh berries, as well as shrimp and grits and vegan biscuits with gravy. For those seeking a more indulgent weekend start, Babka French Toast arrives with chocolate crumble and maple whipped cream, while a creative Eggs Benedict swaps the traditional muffin for a crispy celery-root latke that earned praise as “Best Latke in Town.” (Yes, you can get these breakfast and brunch items all day long which is great for “breakfast for dinner” folks!)
To say that NoMad Diner’s appetizers are like no others in town is an understatement. You can order Deviled Eggs enhanced with togarashi, furikake, and trout roe deliver a punch of umami, Disco Fries layered with creamy Fontina cheese, chicken gravy, and chives, and Crab Cakes with Kataifi, crème fraiche, trout roe and dill.
When I visited recently, I started my meal with the incredible Gem Caesar Salad with homemade croutons, red onion, vegetarian Caesar dressing and Grana Padano (anchovies are optional). The tender leaves and creamy, flavorful dressing was a heavenly combo. I also was impressed with the Tahini Hummus Plate featuring warm house made pita bread, green olives and fresh veggie sticks. This is possibly the freshest tasting hummus that I have ever eaten in the city—it even beats the hummus at the legendary Mediterranean restos in town!
DIGGIN’ THE DOGS
NoMad Diner has popular handhelds and the most famous one is the Arlo Dog—a pork hot dog piled high with crispy shallots, kimchi, and kewpie mayo on a brioche bun. Vegans line up for the Vegan Sloppy Joe made with vegetarian chorizo, pickled onion, and queso fresco. The Grilled Cheese with caramelized onions paired with steaming Tomato Bisque offers a superior take on the classic “sandwich and soup” lunch pairing, proving the kitchen excels at making simple comfort dishes into memorable plates.
For heartier appetites, entrées showcase a more sophisticated side of the menu. Options such as Half Roast Chicken with Swiss chard, Steelhead Trout in beurre blanc, and a classic meatloaf with mashed potatoes demonstrate the restaurant’s balance between homestyle cooking and restaurant polish. Seasonal additions like a Brussels Sprouts, Prosciutto, and Gruyère Quiche or a bold Chicken Parmesan in Calabrian vodka sauce further highlight the kitchen’s focus on comfort cuisine brought up a few notches
PASTA PERFECTION
I tried the Rigatoni A La Vodka with creamy tomato sauce, basil and prosciutto and was dazzled—be aware that this is extremely filling and is better off shared—and then moved on to the incredibly tender Hanger Steak with fries with were thin cut and perfectly golden brown. I asked that the steak get topped with Au Poivre sauce and was completely awestruck but its creaminess and small flecks of freshly grown peppercorns.
For dessert, there are usually six offerings, and one of them is a mysterious Blue Plate Special that changes every night (you have to ask your server what’s in it)! The Carrot Cake with toasted coconut and a super generous spread of cream cheese frosting is exceptional; it also is a generous portion making it great for two or three diners to share. I took half of my piece home but it was so good that it was gone before the night was over! I also salivated over the Warm Apple Crumble featuring cider poached apples, brown butter crumble and salted caramel. This is a “dream come true” kind of dessert for Apple Crumble and Brown Betty lovers! In keeping with classic diner tradition, pie and ice cream is always available and has quite a big following here.
NoMad Diner’s highly created signature cocktails include The Green Door, concocted with honey vodka, pistachio orgeat, rosewater, orange blossom, lime, and egg white, as well as Mack The Knife, a parmesan-infused dirty martini featuring vodka, caper brine, and dry vermouth. Another stellar drink is Around The Clock, a rich mix of brown-butter-washed bourbon, chocolate bitters, and maple syrup. Seasonal additions include Sweet On You (vodka, orgeat, milk, whipped cream, and chocolate drizzle) and the Fireside Old-Fashioned infused with spiced chai syrup. Lovers of herb-driven cocktails will love Blush Crush made with mezcal and ginger liqueur and Leaf Me Alone, a creation made with gin, cucumber, and Thai basil.
In a nutshell, NoMad Diner provides guests with a comforting, city-inspired menu in a setting that feels both familiar and futuristic—an irresistible combination. There are checkerboard floors and mini jukeboxes stocked with oldies at every table but in contrast, there in general there is a medium blue and cream color palate that is more in keeping with current resto decor trends. Prices are very reasonable and families are welcome.
For more information on NoMad Diner, visit: www.nomaddinernyc.com
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
PURVIS YOUNG’S ANGELS IN TRIBECA
ONE
ART
SPACE DEBUTS UNSEEN WORKS HONORING HOPE, HEALING, AND LEGACY
By Norah Bradford
Apowerful new exhibition at One Art Space in Tribeca celebrates the work of acclaimed artist Purvis Young during Black History Month 2026. Featuring several paintings never before shown in New York, the show highlights Young’s deeply emotional style and enduring themes of hope, compassion, and social awareness.
One Art Space in Tribeca is marking Black History Month 2026 with a significant exhibition honoring the life and legacy of renowned artist Purvis Young. The February showcase features a collection of Young’s expressive paintings, including several works being presented in New York for the first time.
Curated by MaryAnn Giella McCulloh, the exhibition focuses on the deeply emotional and socially conscious visual language that defined Young’s career. His art is widely recognized for its raw immediacy and powerful symbolism, often reflecting themes of resilience, spirituality, and the human condition. According to McCulloh, Young’s work embodies messages of hope and healing, shaped by his visionary perspective and his desire to bring empathy and joy into a complex world.
Young, who lived from 1943 to 2010, rose from humble beginnings in Miami to become one of the most influential self-taught artists of his generation. His paintings—often filled with angels, figures in motion, and layered textures—address issues such as social injustice, community struggles, and spiritual redemption. Over time, his work gained widespread acclaim and entered the permanent collections of major institutions including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Founded in 2011, One Art Space has become a distinctive venue in the Tribeca arts scene, known for presenting both established and emerging artists. Its light-filled gallery at 23 Warren Street regularly hosts exhibitions that bridge art history with contemporary innovation, creating a platform where influential voices and new talent intersect.
Running throughout February, the Purvis Young exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to experience a compelling body of work that continues to resonate decades after its creation—reminding audiences of art’s enduring power to inspire, uplift, and provoke reflection.
For more information, please visit: www.oneartspace.com IG: @oneartspace | F: OneArtSpaceNYC | X/T: @oneartspace
ON THE BIG SCREEN
By Jenny Peters
SCARY NIGHTS
THE BRIDE!
R Maggie Gyllenhaal takes the helm of this reimagination of “The Bride of Frankenstein,” writing and directing this version set in the gangster era of the 1930s. Jesse Buckley’s got the leading role, with Christian Bale as her Frankenstein, as they go a bit wild and remind us of a living dead Bonnie and Clyde. Gyllenhaal makes this a family affair, casting husband Peter Sarsgaard and brother Jake in her eye-popping, fast-paced horror flick. Penelope Cruz and Annette Bening round out the talented cast.
THEY WILL KILL YOU
R
PROJECT HAIL MARY
Not Yet Rated
Reluctant astronaut Ryan Gosling is the only thing that stands between the earth and the sun’s implosion in this dark comedy-drama, as our galaxy faces the extinction of the sun’s life-giving forces. He’s on his own in this mission, in a frightening tale of the end of life as we know it. created by writer Andy Weir (“The Martian”). Brilliant science-fiction space scenes scream for seeing this one on the big screen, as Oscar nominee Sandra Hüller holds down the fort on earth when Gosling attempts his “Hail Mary” action to save the world.
An unsuspecting maid (Zazie Beetz) takes a cleaning job at an exclusive Manhattan building in this action-packed horror flick. For it seems the building is actually evil incarnate and needs human sacrifices to keep it satisfied, and she’s the next victim. It’s a wild and extremely bloody cinematic ride to see who wins out, with Patricia Arquette and Heather Graham adding some scenery chewing weirdness along the way.
HOPPERS
PG
AND FUNNY DAYS
THE BREADWINER
Not Yet Rated
Comedian Nate Bargatze penned and stars in this Dad-is-an-idiot comedy as a car salesman who takes a hiatus to be a stay-at-home father when his wife (Mandy Moore) snags a “Shark Tank” deal for her product invention. As she’s off making the magic happen, he’s struggling to keep their three daughters alive and their house in one piece. Colin Jost, Kumail Nanjiani, Zach Cherry and Will Forte are along during this silly family comedy.
Pixar’s latest animated comedy is designed to delight cartoon lovers of all ages, with a comical tale of a technologically savvy teenager whose brain ends up in a robotic beaver’s body. Suddenly, she’s privy to the language of all the critters on the planet and soon realizes that understanding the ways of the animals might not be a skill humans should have. Piper Curda voices Mabel the beaver, along with an all-star vocal cast including Meryl Streep, Jon Hamm, Sam Richardson, Dave Franco and Kathy Najimy in this Pixar comedy with a slightly serious side.
ON THE SMALL SCREEN
By Jenny Peters
OSCAR WINNERS IN PRIME TIME
SCARPETTA
Prime Video
After 30 novels, dating back to 1990, Patricia Cornwall’s “Scarpetta” is finally coming to life on the small screen, and the cast is stacked with Oscar winners. Nicole Kidman plays forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta, along with Jamie Lee Curtis and Ariana DeBose in support; three Academy Award honorees together solving mysteries makes this one worth the long wait. Plus Bobby Cannavale and Simon Baker add some male eye candy to the muchanticipated procedural series.
VLADIMIR
Netflix
Steamy scenes and inappropriate relationships make “Vladimir” a showcase for Oscar winner Rachel Weisz, who proves that women in their 50s can still be sexy as hell. Problem is, she’s proving it as a married college professor obsessed with a younger man, which means loads of trouble follows her, in this adaptation of Julia May Jonas’ novel. Leo Woodall is the object of her affection, with John Slattery as her unhappy husband.
MARSHALS
CBS
YOUNG SHERLOCK
Prime Video
It took director-producer Guy Ritchie 15 years to circle back to Sherlock Holmes (after making two films about the master detective starring Robert Downey Jr.) with this series devoted to the sleuth’s origin story. Starring Hero Finnes Tiffin as a college-aged Holmes, along with Max Irons as his brother Mycroft, Tiffin’s real-life uncle Joseph Finnes and Oscar winner Colin Firth in the mix. Expect the action-adventure version of Holmes in this eight-part series, and no John Watson, as he comes along later in the canon.
THE MADISON
Paramount+
Taylor Sheridan is the most prolific (and successful) writer-producer and sometimes actor working in Hollywood today, which he’s proving again in March 2026 with the release of two new spinoffs to his “Yellowstone” sagas. “The Madison” pushes that envelope a bit, as it isn’t about members of the Dutton family; instead he’s framing it as part of the overall gestalt of Montana living. With Michelle Pfeiffer, Kurt Russell and Matthew Fox leading the cast of the Clyburn family who have migrated from New York City to Montana, Sheridan’s likely to have another hit on his hands.
Sheridan’s other March spinoff springs directly from the “Yellowstone” cinematic universe, as Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) ends up joining the U.S. Marshals Service. He’s still got his son Tate (Brecken Merrill) at home, but his wife Monica is gone. But still in the mix are the Native Americans from the original series, including actors Gil Birmingham and Mo Brings Plenty. Still set in the Montana wilderness, this one’s chockablock with action as the marshals go after the bad guys using the woods as their hideouts.
MORE TO THE “YELLOWSTONE” SAGA
CANNES FILM FESTIVAL
By Irvina Lew
The 79th Festival de Cannes will take place from the 12th to 23rd May 2026 in and around the Palais des Festivals, on La Croisette, the city’s broad tree-lined seafront boulevard. Better known to Americans as the Cannes Film Festival, it is one of the most prestigious movie industry events in the world.
Starlets and stars pose for photographers on the impressive red carpet leading up the 24 stairs that front The Palais; celebrities appear in the grand hotels that line La Croisette, on exclusive restaurant rooftops and on board an international array of mega-yachts that stud the scenic Mediterranean harbor. As a professional occasion, the festival showcases multiple genres of films from dozens of countries; “head-hunters” search worldwide to find the most promising directors and support fledgling talent. More than 4000 journalists representing some 1800 media organizations from nearly 90 countries widely publicize its glamour.
The much-coveted Palme d’Or, the highest award at the Cannes Film Festival, honors the winning film and is presented to its director. Among the other top markers of excellence, actors are recognized with The Best Actor award; the Grand Prix, the Jury Prize; there’s the Honorary Palme and the Caméra d’Or, which awards the best début film across all categories. Plus, there’s the Short Films Competition and a group of initiatives considered under the name Cinéma de Demain (film of tomorrow).
Not every film is eligible for an award. Out of Competition films show projects that have a big impact on the cinematic calendar; Cannes Première features silver-screen legends and Cannes Classics shine a light on restored copies of old favorites and recognize filmthemed documentaries. Since 2018, when “Three Days in Cannes” was launched, thousands of young people aged between 18 and 28 flock to the beginning and end of the festival to discover films from the Official Selection. Plus, there are masterclasses, tributes, exhibitions, training courses, initiation workshops, youth programs and “Rendezvous with” sessions with film icons. Special Screenings and Midnight Screenings add to long, event-filled days.
The film festival does more than shape cinematic discourse, it proactively supports environmental efforts and has championed global issues since its inception. In fact, the festival was launched for a noble purpose: to free film-making from all political influence in a “spirit of friendship and universal cooperation” and as a reaction to the fascist influence at the Venice Mostra Film Festival, in 1938, when Hitler awarded the Mussolini Cup to a propaganda film
In response, French diplomat Philippe Erlanger initiated an an international event as an impartial alternative that honors artistic cinema. His group chose the Municipal Casino in Cannes and Louis Lumière, the father of cinematography, as honorary president. The occasion, which was scheduled for September 1, 1939, the very date Germany invaded Poland, was cancelled due to World War II, a devastating era on The Riviera. (Locals were deported, some died of starvation, and after the Liberation of France in 1944, others were wrongly accused of collaborating with Nazi occupiers—including Emmanuel Martinez, the founder of the Hôtel Martinez in Cannes.)
The first festival eventually took place September 20 to October 5, 1946, in Cannes, after the war. In 1959, the Marché du Film was launched during the festival; it has become the largest film market in the world and integral to the festival’s prominence in the cinematic sphere. In 2026, the marketplace expects 15000 buyers, directors, distributors, financiers, producers and promoters to gather privately and at some 250 events, to make deals to acquire, finance, preview, sell and promote as many as 4000 films and projects from 140 countries.
Today, the festival is a cultural and economic phenomenon on the Cote d’Azur. Le beau monde, the jet set, the international elite, the models, magnates and moneyed folks and their entourages assemble in Cannes, where the joie de vivre spirit thrives. The privileged vie with the celebrity glitterati to stay in leased Art Deco villas or in the Grand Dame Belle Epoque hotels, including The Carlton Cannes, A Regent Hotel; The Majestic Barriere and The Martinez. They shop at the adjacent fashionable boutiques, such as Chanel, Dior, Prada and Vuitton; sip champagne on lawn chairs fronting The Mondrian and dine on adjacent beachfront terraces, at sidewalk cafés, in hillside eateries and at rooftop restaurants atop Five Seas Hotel and the JW Marriott, on La Croisette, which hosts a culinary pop-up, which I attended in May, 2025. Dubbed: La Terrasse by Albane, it’s a festivallong collaboration between Albane Cleret, the “highest profile party planner in France,” and Michelin three-star chef, Mauro Cologreco, from Mirazur in Menton.
Down-to-earth visitors join distinguished guests during the 12-day happening. The public is welcome at Cinéma de la Plage, open-air screenings that present a different film nightly and concerts. And, the residential small city offers a plethora of walkable pleasures: two daily markets, real-world prices at Gant, Zara, and Sephora on rue d’Antibes, exhibits at the Napoleonic era Malmaison Art Center, mom and pop cafés on side streets, and fast-food kiosks along the wide beachfront promenade where crèpes and jambon-beurre (ham and cheese on a baguette) cost a fraction of the menu items listed at the haute beachfront terrace cafes, just footsteps from them.
What’s more, the architecture-enhanced destination is steeped in history. The Old Port, adjacent to the Palais, is just a few footsteps from the pedestrian-only, cobblestone streets lined with medieval buildings on the adjacent sloping hillsides of the former fishing village, Suquet, in Old Town. (Among the teeny cafés, my favorite is Le Maschou.) Nearby, near City Hall, rue du Bivouac Napoleon reveals history from 1815, when the general, who landed six miles away at Golfe-Juan after escaping from Elba, spent the first night of his Hundred Day journey to Paris. In 1865, Notre Dame de Bon Voyage or Our Lady of the Good Voyage church was constructed on that land.
Cannes is located 40 miles west of Nice; the highspeed TGV train connects it with Paris in about five hours; regional trains and public buses link it with Cote d’Azur locales, and the small bus that circumnavigates the city costs one Euro. Multiple daily, yearround ferries shuttle to Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat, in the magically natural Lérins Islands, in 20 minutes and seasonal ferries link St. Tropez in 75 minutes. The small city, the “Sister City” to Beverly Hills, is a magnet worth visiting at any time of year.
PAWFECT MATCHES, REAL IMPACT
NATURVET EVENT HELPS 150+ TAMPA BAY PETS FIND HOMES
By Michael McKensie
More than 150 shelter pets found loving homes during NaturVet’s inaugural “Pawfect Match” adoption event in Tampa Bay. Partnering with Second Shot and the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, the initiative combined professional photography, community support, and adoption incentives to help animals take the next step toward permanent families.
A weeklong adoption initiative in Tampa Bay proved that the right combination of visibility, community collaboration, and heart can transform lives — both animal and human. NaturVet’s first-ever “Pawfect Match” adoption event helped more than 150 shelter pets find permanent homes, while also raising critical support for local animal welfare efforts.
NATURVET
Held in partnership with Second Shot and the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, the program brought a fresh approach to adoption outreach. NaturVet pledged $100 for every successful adoption, ultimately contributing $15,000 toward the shelter’s lifesaving mission.
A key element of the event’s success was the power of professional storytelling. Second Shot founder and photographer Adam Goldberg provided portrait sessions designed to capture each pet’s personality, replacing standard intake photos with compelling images that better connect with potential adopters. Select sessions even featured NaturVet brand ambassador Mario Lopez, helping bring additional attention to the adoptable animals.
The Second Shot initiative has long focused on transforming how shelters present pets, pairing skilled photographers with dogs and cats to showcase their unique traits and increase adoption chances. NaturVet previously sponsored more than 100 professional pet portraits and plans to expand the collaboration to additional cities in 2026.
Beyond the immediate adoption results, the event reflected a broader mission centered on wellness and community engagement. By combining financial support, visibility initiatives, and partnerships with local organizations, NaturVet aims to help more animals transition into stable, healthy homes while strengthening connections between shelters and the communities they serve.
The event also served as an educational platform, helping new pet parents understand the importance of long-term wellness. NaturVet representatives were on hand to discuss nutrition, preventive care, and supplements designed to support common health needs throughout a pet’s life. Attendees received product samples and guidance tailored to their newly adopted companions, reinforcing the company’s broader mission of supporting pets beyond the moment of adoption. Shelter leaders noted that initiatives like Pawfect Match not only accelerate placements but also improve long-term outcomes by ensuring adopters feel prepared and confident. As similar events roll out nationwide, the program aims to create a replicable model for community-driven, wellness-focused adoptions.
As the “Pawfect Match” program prepares to expand nationally, its Tampa Bay debut stands as a powerful reminder: sometimes the right photo — and the right partnership — can change a life forever.
For more infrmation about Naturvet visit: naturvet.com For more information about Pawfect Match visit: naturvet.com/pages/pawfect-match
HEALTHY SMILES, HEALTHIER PETS
PETLAND HIGHLIGHTS DENTAL CARE DURING AWARENESS MONTH
By Michael McKensie
In recognition of National Pet Dental Health Month, Petland is encouraging pet owners to prioritize oral care as a key part of overall wellness. Veterinarians stress that simple at-home routines and regular checkups can prevent one of the most common — yet often overlooked — health issues affecting pets.
February’s designation as National Pet Dental Health Month serves as an important reminder that oral care plays a critical role in a pet’s overall well-being. According to veterinary experts, dental disease remains one of the most widespread health issues among companion animals, often developing silently before owners notice visible symptoms.
Pet Dental Care
Studies cited by the American Veterinary Medical Association show that by age two, nearly 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats display some signs of periodontal disease. Left untreated, plaque and tartar buildup can lead to gum inflammation, infection, pain, and eventual tooth loss — conditions that may also affect the heart, liver, and kidneys if bacteria enter the bloodstream. What begins as minor buildup can quickly escalate into more serious systemic concerns.
“Dental disease is incredibly common, but it’s also very preventable,” said Petland veterinarian Dr. Sarah Hettinger. “With consistent care at home and regular veterinary visits, pet owners can significantly reduce their animal’s risk and improve long-term quality of life.”
Veterinarians emphasize that daily toothbrushing remains the most effective at-home preventive measure. Routine wellness exams that include dental evaluations are equally important, helping detect early signs of disease before more serious complications develop. Experts also caution against using human dental products for pets, as many ingredients — including fluoride and certain sweeteners — can be harmful to animals.
Pet dental problems often develop quietly, but early warning signs can help owners act before serious issues arise. Veterinarians recommend watching for these common symptoms:
• Persistent bad breath — More than just “dog breath,” strong odor can signal infection.
• Red or swollen gums — Inflammation may indicate early periodontal disease.
• Difficulty eating or chewing — Pets may drop food or favor one side of the mouth.
• Yellow or brown tartar buildup — Visible plaque along the gumline is a key warning sign.
• Excessive drooling or pawing at the mouth — Often a sign of discomfort or pain.
Regular brushing, veterinary dental exams, and approved dental products can help prevent these issues and support long-term oral health.
When selecting dental care items, professionals recommend looking for products carrying the Veterinary Oral Health Council Seal of Acceptance, which indicates proven effectiveness in controlling plaque and tartar. Petsafe toothbrushes, enzymatic toothpaste, dental chews, and water additives can all support a healthy oral care routine tailored to a pet’s age, size, and specific needs.
Establishing these habits early can make a lasting difference. Introducing brushing gradually, pairing it with positive reinforcement, and making dental checks part of regular grooming routines can help pets become more comfortable with oral care over time.
As awareness continues to grow, veterinarians and pet care professionals hope National Pet Dental Health Month encourages owners to view dental care not as an occasional task, but as an essential investment in lifelong pet wellness — one that helps ensure healthier smiles and happier years ahead.
To learn more about the importance of your dog’s dental health visit: petland.com/information-center/are-dental-treats-and-toys-a-good-idea
THROUGH THE LENS
Photography By Annie Watt.com
CONNECT, SIP, AND LEARN ABOUT PINK AID, PALM BEACH
Lauryn Koke, Amy Katz
Alexandra Dana Gusita, Barbara Lewis, Jackie Higgins, Lisa Lazzara, Eileen Kathryn Boyd
Lisa Carpenter, Stephanie Harnisch, Al Filippone, Jenny Bernard, Michael Harrison, Niles Parker, Stacey Stuart, Bill Richards
NBD Co-Chair Bill Richards, NHA Board President Lucinda Ballard, NHA Executive Director Niles Parker
William Carpenter Jr, William Carpenter
Bernice Rodriguez (Pure Insurance) and Lisa Carpenter (William Raveis)
Gary McBournie, Paige Richards, Kevin Braxton, Hayley Richards, Cristin Barth
Andrew Mandell, Brooke Ackerman, Barbra Mandell
Former NHA Board member Janet Sherlund and NHA Board President Lucinda Ballard
Ellie Merrill and Arianne Elmy
Stephanie Harnisch, Al Filippone, and April Kaynor
NHA Obed Macy Research Chair Michael Harrison
Nantucket Historical Association Executive Director Niles Parker Guests
NICK MELE, DONALD ROBERTSON
PALM BEACH
Nick Mele, Donald Robertson
Harrison Morgan, Harry Cooper, Valerie Cooper, Cat O’Neal, Donald Robertson
Nick Mele, Jean Shafiroff, Patrick McMullan
Tiffany Isaacs, Skyla Isaacs
Larry Gordon, Joseph Rokacz, Beth DeWoody, Donald Robertson, Nick Mele
Cat O’Neal, Susan Magrino, Beth DeWoody
Krystian von Speidel, Nick Mele, Nathan Frank
Alexandra Dana Gusita, Shawn Cherry
Glen Sutton, Kate Lubin
Christina Moens, Jason Maison
Arvo Katajisto, Ken Karakul
Nicole Gavigan, Donald Robertson, Jamie Gavigan
MY NEW YORK STORY
FIVE BOROUGHS,
ENDLESS WONDERS
By Joan Cian
Ithought I knew New York. Born here, raised here, shaped by its noise and rhythm, I’ve walked these streets for decades believing there were very few surprises left. The skyline changes, restaurants come and go, neighborhoods reinvent themselves… but the city itself? I assumed I had figured it out. I was wrong!
Somehow, tucked between familiar avenues and just beyond the rush of everyday life, entire worlds have been quietly waiting—small museums I’d never heard of, let alone visited. Places filled with history, oddities, beauty, and stories so specific and unexpected they feel almost secret. How had I missed them all these years?
BEYOND
THE FAMILIAR
New York City is the undisputed bastion of museums — a place where every borough offers worlds waiting to be discovered. While the Met, MoMA, and the American Museum of Natural History draw crowds from across the globe, the city’s true magic often lies in its hidden museums: intimate spaces that reveal stories of history, creativity, and community you can only experience here. Step beyond the familiar streets and landmarks, and you’ll find New York in layers — small, surprising, and endlessly compelling.
From Manhattan to Staten Island, New York City’s hidden museums reveal a side of the city often overlooked: intimate, surprising, and deeply rooted in local culture. Each borough holds its own story, and each museum — big or small — offers a doorway into New York’s rich, layered, and endlessly fascinating world. So, let’s go! Trust me… you’re going to be amazed.
MANHATTAN
From Lower Manhattan To Fort Tryon Manhattan’s hidden museums are more than buildings — they are living stories, revealing the city in intimate, surprising, and endlessly compelling ways.
Start in Lower Manhattan, where history hums quietly beneath the skyscrapers. The Tenement Museum on Orchard Street immerses visitors in the lives of immigrant families who built the city from the ground up. Nearby, the City Reliquary celebrates overlooked fragments of civic life — subway tokens, old signage, and forgotten memorabilia — tiny objects with outsized stories. The New York Earth Room, an entire loft filled with sculpted soil, offers a meditative pause from the city’s unceasing rhythm. Don’t miss the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) which preserves generations of immigrant stories, letters, and photographs. The Merchant’s House Museum, dating from 1832, preserves furniture, china, and wallpaper — a glimpse of Manhattan life long before skyscrapers dominated the skyline.
Rising toward Midtown, the Society of Illustrators Museum brings graphic art to life, while the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology blends fashion history with immediacy and intimacy. Yes, The Museum of Sex boldly explores culture, history, and creativity, turning provocative ideas into a playful, thought-provoking experience.
The Upper East beckons with the Neue Galerie which offers German and Austrian art, while the Wallace Collection charms with decorative arts that feel like a private home.
Finally, at the northern tip, The Cloisters transports visitors to medieval Europe. Part of the MET, you’ll be transported to another era.
BROOKLYN
From Williamsburg To The Harbor Brooklyn is a city within a city, where smaller museums reveal the borough’s layered identity. The borough’s hidden museums are intimate, surprising, and entirely unique, capturing eclectic energy.
Begin in Williamsburg, where you’ll find the City Reliquary displaying vintage signs and tokens, offering glimpses of folk history and everyday New Yorkers. Then, head west to Boerum Hill, where the Invisible Dog Art Center transforms an old factory into a space for performance, visual art, and experimental exhibitions. Coney Island Museum preserves vintage boardwalk memories and seaside ephemera, while the Jewish Children’s Museum in Crown Heights celebrates heritage through playful, interactive experiences.
Near Prospect Park, the Lefferts Historic House preserves an 18th-century homestead with period furnishings, and in Bay Ridge, the Harbor Defense Museum tells the story of New York’s coastal fortifications. Brooklyn’s hidden museums are intimate, surprising, and entirely unique, capturing the borough’s eclectic energy.
QUEENS
From Astoria To Flushing
Queens’ hidden museums reveal a borough of diversity, history, and creativity, offering stories that are intimate, unexpected, and thoroughly rooted in local life.
Queens is full of quiet treasures, where every neighborhood offers discovery. Start in Astoria, home to the Museum of the Moving Image, which celebrates film, television, and experimental media. Just steps away, Socrates Sculpture Park turns outdoor space into a living gallery of rotating installations.
In Long Island City, the Noguchi Museum offers meditative sculptures and garden spaces that invite quiet reflection. Further east, the Queens Museum in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park presents its iconic Panorama of the City of New York and rotating exhibits celebrating local artists and immigrant communities. The New York Hall of Science, also in Flushing, brings interactive, quirky exhibits to life for children and the curious alike.
Nearby, the Louis Armstrong House Museum preserves the home of the legendary jazz musician, while the Bowne House Historical Society tells the story of John Bowne’s fight for religious freedom in colonial New Amsterdam. Farther east, the Queens County Farm Museum spans 47 acres of farmland, orchards, and historic buildings, while Queens’ hidden museums reveal a borough of diversity, history, and creativity, offering intimate, unexpected stories that are thoroughly rooted in local life
Ctsy: Peter Aaron Esto Momi
THE BRONX
From Van Cortlandt Park To The South Bronx
The Bronx is where history, music, and creativity converge. Its hidden museums offer a rich, layered portrait of a borough that pulses with history and creativity.
Start near the southern Harlem River with the Bronx Children’s Museum, where interactive exhibits encourage playful learning. The Bronx Museum of the Arts highlights contemporary works rooted in the borough’s diverse communities.
Further north, the Museum of Bronx History in a colonialera home preserves local heritage, while the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage offers a quiet glimpse into the poet’s final years. The Van Cortlandt House Museum, in Van Cortlandt Park, presents 18th-century life, and the Derfner Judaica Museum in Riverdale celebrates Jewish ceremonial art.
Finally, the Hip Hop Museum (opening permanently in 2026) will honor the Bronx as the birthplace of hip-hop, celebrating music, dance, art, and global culture in an immersive new space.
STATEN ISLAND
From South Shore To Mid-Island
Staten Island may be quieter, but its museums are full of surprises. Start with the Alice Austen House Museum on the North Shore, which preserves the home and work of a pioneering photographer. The Staten Island Museum at Snug Harbor blends natural science, art, and local history, while the surrounding Snug Harbor Cultural Center houses the Chinese Scholar’s Garden and other intimate museums.
Further south, Historic Richmond Town is a living historical village featuring period buildings, craftspeople, and interactive exhibits. The Garibaldi-Meucci Museum celebrates Italian American heritage through the preserved home of Antonio Meucci and Giuseppe Garibaldi. Staten Island’s museums offer quiet, immersive stories that invite visitors to discover the borough at a human pace.
HIDDEN MUSEUMS OF NYC
The Bronx
· Bronx Museum of the Arts: bronxmuseum.org
· Bronx Children’s Museum: bxcm.org
· Museum of Bronx History: bronxhistoricalsociety.org
· Edgar Allan Poe Cottage: bronxhistoricalsociety.org
· Van Cortlandt House Museum: vchm.org
· Derfner Judaica Museum: derfner.org
· Hip Hop Museum: thhm.org
Manhattan
· Lower East Side Tenement Museum: tenement.org
· City Reliquary: cityreliquary.org
· Merchant’s House Museum: merchantshouse.org
· Society of Illustrators: societyillusrators.org
· Museum of Sex: museumofsex.com
· Neue Galerie: neuegalerie.com
Bronx Manhattan
Queens
Brooklyn
· Brooklyn City Reliquary Museum & Civic Organization: cityreliquary.org
· Invisible Dog Art Center: invisibledog.org
· Coney Island Museum: coneyislandmuseum.org
· Jewish Children’s Museum: jcm.museum
· Harbor Defense Museum: prospectpark.org
StatenIsland
Staten Island
· Staten Island Museum: www.statenislandmuseum.org
· Alice Austen House Museum & Garden: aliceausten.org
· Louis Armstrong House Museum: louisarmstronghouse.org
· Bowne House Historical Society: bownehousehistoricalsociety.org
· Queens County Farm Museum: qzueensfarm.org
SPRING SOARS AT ADVENTURE PARK
ZIP, CLIMB AND EXPLORE AS LONG ISLAND’S TREETOP PARK REOPENS
By Michael McKensie
Long Island’s favorite aerial adventure destination reopens March 20 with 14 treetop trails, 49 ziplines and special spring programming for families and thrill-seekers alike, including extended Spring Break hours and the return of its festive Easter Egg Hunt in the Trees.
Adventure season officially returns to Long Island on Friday, March 20, as The Adventure Park at Long Island kicks off its 2026 season in Wheatley Heights. Set high among the trees at the Henry Kaufmann Campground, the popular outdoor destination invites guests of all ages to climb, zip and explore its 14 aerial trails and 49 ziplines.
A longtime spring tradition for families, teens and anyone craving a little fresh-air excitement, the Park transforms the forest canopy into a playground of bridges, tightropes, ladders and zip crossings. Participants move from tree to tree on self-guided trails while secured in a harness system that keeps climbers continuously connected to the course from start to finish.
“We’re excited to kick off another season of outdoor adventure and welcome both returning climbers and first-time guests,” says Park Manager Phil Insalaco. “After a long winter, there’s nothing better than getting outside, challenging yourself and having fun in the fresh air.”
The main aerial trails are designed for ages seven through adult, with varying levels of difficulty that allow beginners to build confidence and seasoned climbers to test their limits. For the youngest adventurers, ages three to six, the Adventure Playground offers a lower-to-theground experience that introduces little climbers to the thrill of navigating obstacles in a safe, age-appropriate environment.
To celebrate the season, the Park will offer special Spring Break hours from April 2 through April 12, operating daily from 10 am to 7 pm. It’s an ideal outing for families looking to unplug, burn off energy and embrace the longer daylight hours that come with the arrival of spring.
Adding to the seasonal fun is the return of the Park’s popular Easter Egg Hunt in the Trees. As guests climb through the trails, they can search for hidden “eggs” tucked along the course. At the end of their adventure, participants can redeem their finds for a sweet treat from the Park Store. The Easter Egg Hunt is free to join with the purchase of a climbing ticket, blending classic holiday fun with an active, elevated twist.
Beyond the trails themselves, the property offers nature paths and picnic tables, making it a welcoming spot for groups and spectators alike. Non-climbing guests are admitted free of charge and can enjoy the outdoor setting while cheering on friends and family from the ground.
Located at 75 Colonial Springs Road (East Gate) in Wheatley Heights, The Adventure Park at Long Island is open to the general public. Guests are encouraged to book ahead online or by phone to secure preferred time slots, especially during peak spring weekends and school breaks.
Designed, built and operated by Outdoor Venture Group, The Adventure Park continues to provide a safe, engaging environment where physical challenge meets outdoor discovery. Whether it’s a first zipline ride, a birthday celebration or simply a spontaneous afternoon of climbing, the 2026 season promises another year of high-flying memories.
For full details, hours and reservations, visit: myadventurepark.com/location/ wheatley-heights-ny
Imagine yourself reclining on the sandy white beaches, soaking in the volcanic mud baths of Soufrière, ziplining through lush rainforests, indulging in authentic island food, club-hopping on the Rodney Bay strip, and riding ATVs through the countryside. Envision exploring abandoned sugar plantations, snorkeling in crystal clear waters, chasing brightly colored fish in the shadow of the Pitons, or experiencing a live sea turtle hatching in the last light of dusk.
Equal parts beauty and mystique, Saint Lucia captivates anyone who sets foot on her coastline. Always evocative, she welcomes visitors with her soothing waves, warm beaches, and hospitable people. The only sovereign nation to be named for a woman, the island personifies adventure and inspiration. Her visitors invariably find themselves reluctant to leave and eager to return. Your Next Adventure Awaits....
A NEW YORK MINUTE
THE
SPIRIT
OF
MARCH IN NEW YORK CITY
By Michael McKensie
This month offers a perfect balance between festive tradition and early-season exploration. From historic Irish pubs and world-class cultural institutions to scenic waterfront walks and seasonal dining experiences, March invites New Yorkers and visitors alike to rediscover the city in fresh and memorable ways. Whether celebrating heritage, gathering with friends, or simply enjoying the first hints of warmer days ahead, these curated destinations capture the spirit of the season.
NEW YORK CITY ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE
No March celebration in New York is more iconic than the St. Patrick’s Day Parade along Fifth Avenue. As the largest and oldest parade of its kind in the world, it draws thousands of participants each year, including marching bands, cultural organizations, and community groups. The parade’s energy is both festive and deeply rooted in heritage, reflecting generations of Irish influence woven into the city’s history. For many New Yorkers, attending — whether along the route or from nearby cafés and restaurants — is an annual tradition that marks the emotional turning point from winter toward spring. www.nycstpatricksparade.org
MC SORLEY’S OLD ALE HOUSE
Few places in New York embody history and authenticity quite like McSorley’s Old Ale House. Established in 1854, this East Village institution remains one of the city’s oldest continuously operating bars, offering a glimpse into a bygone era that feels remarkably preserved.
Inside, the atmosphere is simple yet deeply character-rich — sawdust floors, vintage photographs, and memorabilia covering every inch of the walls. The menu remains famously straightforward, with patrons choosing between “light” or “dark” house ale, served two mugs at a time.
During March, McSorley’s becomes a centerpiece of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, attracting both longtime regulars and first-time visitors eager to experience a genuine slice of New York history. It is not a place for luxury or spectacle, but rather for camaraderie, tradition, and timeless charm.
www.mcsorleysoldalehouse.nyc
THE PARLOR AT FRAUNCES TAVERN
Located in Lower Manhattan, Fraunces Tavern blends historic significance with refined hospitality. Dating back to 1762, the tavern played a pivotal role in early American history and today houses both a museum and a welcoming dining space.
The Parlor, its elegant second-floor dining room, offers a sophisticated yet comfortable setting that feels particularly fitting for March gatherings. Seasonal menus incorporate classic Irish influences alongside contemporary American cuisine, making it an ideal destination for those seeking a festive yet elevated St. Patrick’s experience.
Dining here feels like stepping into a living piece of New York’s past while enjoying modern culinary craftsmanship. www.frauncestavern.com
THE SMITH – NOMAD
For those seeking a lively dining destination that captures the social energy of early spring, The Smith in NoMad delivers a welcoming and vibrant atmosphere.
Known for its approachable comfort food, extensive brunch offerings, and energetic ambiance, it has become a popular gathering place for both locals and visitors. During March, its bustling dining room reflects the city’s shift back toward social dining and celebration after the quieter winter months.
It’s particularly well suited for groups looking to enjoy festive meals before or after attending seasonal events. www.thesmithrestaurant.com
THE IRISH REPERTORY THEATRE
For a quieter and more reflective celebration of Irish culture, The Irish Repertory Theatre offers a uniquely intimate experience. Located in Chelsea, this respected institution is dedicated to showcasing Irish storytelling through plays, musical performances, and literary adaptations.
March programming often highlights works that explore Irish heritage, folklore, and contemporary voices. The theater’s small scale creates a deeply engaging atmosphere, allowing audiences to feel closely connected to the performances.
It’s an ideal complement to the city’s more energetic festivities — offering cultural depth and artistic excellence in equal measure.
www.irishrep.org
BROOKLYN BOTANIC GARDEN – SIGNS OF SPRING
While March weather can still be unpredictable, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden offers one of the city’s earliest glimpses of seasonal renewal. As winter fades, early blooms begin to emerge, creating a peaceful landscape that feels quietly hopeful.
Walking through the garden during this transitional period offers a calming contrast to the city’s busy streets. It’s a reminder that even in a fast-moving metropolis, moments of natural beauty remain deeply accessible.
www.bbg.org
BATTERY PARK CITY ESPLANADE
As temperatures begin to rise, New Yorkers eagerly return to waterfront spaces, and the Battery Park City Esplanade is among the most scenic. Stretching along the Hudson River, it offers sweeping views of the Statue of Liberty, passing boats, and the Lower Manhattan skyline.
March sunsets here can be particularly striking, and the pathway provides an ideal setting for both reflective solo walks and relaxed gatherings with friends.
It represents one of the simplest yet most rewarding ways to experience the city’s seasonal transition. www.bpca.ny.gov
THE ROOF AT PUBLIC HOTEL
For a modern contrast to traditional Irish venues, The Roof at Public Hotel offers one of the city’s most stylish rooftop experiences. As March brings milder evenings, the space begins to fill with guests enjoying skyline views, creative cocktails, and a lively social scene.
It captures a different side of the season — one that reflects New York’s constant evolution and its embrace of contemporary nightlife. www.publichotels.com
THE MERCHANT HOUSE MUSEUM – IRISH NEW YORK HISTORY
For a deeper historical perspective, the Merchant’s House Museum offers a fascinating look at immigrant life in 19th-century New York. During March, the museum often highlights the experiences of Irish immigrants who played a vital role in shaping the city.
Guided tours provide insight into daily life, social conditions, and cultural contributions that remain woven into New York’s identity today.
It’s a thoughtful destination for those interested in connecting celebration with historical context. www.merchantshouse.org
ST. JOSEPH’S DAY TRADITION AT BAMONTE’S
In Williamsburg, Bamonte’s has been serving old-school Italian comfort food since 1900. With tuxedo-vested waiters, red-sauce classics, and walls steeped in family history, stepping inside feels like stepping back in time.
Each March, the restaurant takes on special meaning for many Italian-American New Yorkers celebrating St. Joseph’s Day — a tradition centered on family, gratitude, and sharing a meal together. While you won’t find a flashy holiday menu, you will find exactly what the occasion calls for: baked clams, hearty pasta, chicken parmigiana, and the warm, timeless atmosphere that has defined generations of celebrations.
Because in New York, traditions aren’t just remembered — they’re served at the table. www.bamontes.com
A CITY IN TRANSITION
March in New York is defined not only by celebration, but by transformation. It is a time when traditions feel especially meaningful, communities gather more freely, and the city’s energy begins its annual climb toward spring.
Whether through historic institutions, cultural experiences, or simply enjoying the outdoors once again, this month offers countless ways to reconnect with the rhythm of the city — reminding us why New York remains endlessly compelling in every season.
The resort sits on a lush tropical estate featuring dramatic caves along the water’s edge in Bailey’s Bay. Scattered over 21 acres and sloping down toward two private beaches are 11 colorful cottages in traditional Bermudian architecture overlooking the clear turquoise waters dotted with small islands.
Swim in the shallow waters off our private beach, in the fresh water pool, or languish in the outdoor Jacuzzi situated among a garden overlooking the bay. Sail, snorkel, paddle board, dive ancient wrecks or explore the delicate coral reefs. Grab an early morning fishing charter, take a cruise on a sunny afternoon or a glorious sunset sail right from our dock.
At Grotto Bay Beach Resort & Spa our extensive list of amenities and activities ensures there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Welcome To An Enchangting, Exclusive And Unparalleled Island Escape To Anguilla
The Manoah
SHOAL BAY EAST IS AS PRISTINE AS EVER
Spotless beach, no seaweed, white sand, clear and warm water, mild waves, pollution free...
Idyllic Shoal Bay East – a shimmering, nearly deserted stretch of brilliant white sand strewn with tiny crushed shells – is still miraculously blight-free. There's a handful of small-scale resorts and villas as well as a string of laid-back beach bars along the sand, but it's surprisingly quiet, even in high season. Bring your snorkeling gear (or rent some on-site), as the glassy turquoise waters are perfect for underwater observation.
