New York Lifestyles Magazine June 2026 | Summer Issue

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....

Set along the pristine shores of Ambergris Caye, Xanadu Island Resort is a private sanctuary where lush tropical beauty meets refined comfort.

Renowned for its intimate destination weddings, Xanadu offers a breathtaking setting for life's most meaningful moments from oceanfront ceremonies to tailored celebrations surrounded by family and natural island elegance.

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Jon Salas

Jon Salas is a professional trend forecaster and onair fashion and lifestyle correspondent. He can regularly be seen on both English and Spanish language TV, sharing the latest trends from fashion and beauty to what’s viral and shaping broader culture.

Tapped into New York’s fashion and haute lifestyle scene, you can follow him at @hellojonsalas to keep up with his latest.

Mindie Barnett

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.

Vol. 12 #6 | JUNE 2026

President / Publisher BILL MASON

Editor In Chief

KARL KIRCH

Entertainment Director

Jenny Peters

Jeff & Stephanie Sylva

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.

Art Director SCOTT CUOLLO

Special Projects Director Norah Lawlor

Contributors

Ruth J. Katz, Jenna Guarneri, Elizabeth Darwen, Norah Bradford, Peter Elston, Lillian Langtry, Joan Cian, Stacey Zable, Jeff & Stephanie Sylva, Anne Raso, Clara Morgan, Irvina Lew

Scott Cuollo, Michael McKensie, Grant Ellison, Stacey Keys

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

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All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material from this issue is expressly forbidden without written permission of this publisher. Printed in the USA. New York Lifestyles is published 10 times a year. ©2015 - 2026 New York Lifestyles Magazine.

PUBLISHER’S LETTER

SUMMER IN THE CITY

ummer has a way of transforming New York. The pace changes, the light lingers longer, and the city seems to open itself to new possibilities. Sidewalk cafés fill, rooftops come alive, parks become gathering places, and weekends begin to stretch toward beaches, music, travel, and the surrounding destinations that make this season feel so distinct.

This issue of New York Lifestyles Magazine celebrates that spirit of summer in the city and beyond. It is a time for discovery, whether that means exploring a new neighborhood restaurant, planning a coastal escape, attending an outdoor concert, or simply seeing familiar places with fresh eyes. From Manhattan evenings to seaside weekends, summer reminds us why New York remains one of the most exciting places in the world to live, visit, and experience.

Our feature story spotlights Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin, a woman whose name carries history, elegance, and cultural resonance, but whose story is very much her own. As an entrepreneur, performer, and creative force, she continues to build a life defined by individuality, ambition, and reinvention. Her journey reflects the balance of heritage and modern vision, reminding us that legacy is not only something we inherit, but something we shape.

We also turn our attention to one of the season’s great escapes: the Barefoot Country Music Festival in Wildwood, New Jersey. Set against the backdrop of the Jersey Shore, the festival has become a summer destination for music lovers who want more than a concert. It is beach days, boardwalk nights, country stars, ocean air, and the kind of shared experience that makes summer memories last long after the final song.

Throughout this issue, we look at the many ways New Yorkers make the most of the season. Our travel features explore nearby getaways and destinations worth adding to the summer calendar. Food & Drink celebrates the restaurants, chefs, cocktails, and dining experiences that make warm-weather entertaining so inviting. Arts & Entertainment highlights the performances, exhibitions, events, and cultural moments that keep the city moving.

Summer in New York is never one-dimensional. It is glamorous and casual, fast-paced and relaxing, familiar and unexpected. It is the energy of the city, the pull of the coast, and the joy of stepping into a season filled with possibility.

As summer begins, we hope this issue inspires you to get out, explore, celebrate, and make the most of everything the season has to offer.

See You Next Issue,

-Bill Mason Publisher

FEATURES

CONSUELO VANDERBILT COSTIN

REIMAGINING AN AMERICAN LEGACY FOR A NEW GENERATION

By Norah Bradford

For Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin, legacy is not something to be admired from a distance. It is something to be put to work.

The entrepreneur, singer-songwriter, founder of SohoMuse and founder of House of Vanderbilt has spent much of her career at the intersection of culture, creativity and commerce. Now, through a growing series of speaking engagements and public programs, she is bringing that message to a new audience: that heritage matters most when it is used as a springboard for action, innovation and opportunity.

It is a fitting chapter for a woman whose name carries unmistakable historical weight, but whose work is focused squarely on the future. Vanderbilt Costin understands the fascination that surrounds the Vanderbilt legacy, but she also knows the danger of allowing history to become decorative. Her current mission is not to preserve a family name behind glass. It is to place that name back into active conversation with the worlds of entrepreneurship, education, philanthropy and culture.

That message has shaped her recent public engagements. On March 5, 2026, Vanderbilt Costin brought her leadership platform to Miami, where she helped launch the Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin Girls Leadership Outreach Program at B. Wright Leadership Academy, a yearlong initiative designed to expose students to mentorship, confidence-building, communication skills, wellness, service and real-world leadership experiences. The program reflected one of the clearest expressions of her current work: using access, history and professional networks not as symbols of privilege, but as tools that can be shared with a rising generation.

In Miami, Vanderbilt Costin spoke with students about confidence, character and presence, connecting the values behind SohoMuse and House of Vanderbilt to the everyday skills young women need to be heard, seen and prepared for opportunity. The engagement also included a visit to the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center, where the conversation around etiquette and leadership broadened into a larger discussion of cultural identity, self-possession and possibility. From there, the students participated in a healthy cooking class at The Real Food Academy, turning the day into a hands-on experience that blended mentorship, wellness and community.

Her most recent appearance in Chicago built on that momentum. During a multi-part program held May 5-6 in collaboration with Columbia College Chicago, Vanderbilt Costin returned the Vanderbilt name to a city with deep ties to American industry, architecture, transportation and reinvention. The visit brought together legacy, education and cultural institutions in a setting that reflected both the weight of history and the urgency of the future. Taken together, Miami and Chicago illustrate the arc of Vanderbilt Costin’s current public work: one engagement rooted in girls’ leadership and mentorship, the other in heritage, entrepreneurship and culture, both connected by a belief that legacy matters most when it is put into motion.

That belief sits at the heart of House of Vanderbilt, the modern platform she founded to explore the intersection of family heritage, business, philanthropy, media and cultural influence. It is a contemporary answer to a historic question: What does a great American legacy become when it is no longer confined to the past?

For Vanderbilt Costin, the answer is not nostalgia. It is relevance. The renewed fascination with the Gilded Age has brought the Vanderbilt name back into popular conversation, but her work resists the easy glamour of costume drama. She is reframing the story as one of enterprise, risk, public imagination and responsibility. The Vanderbilt name, in her telling, is not merely about mansions, marriages or mythology. It is about what can be built, supported and passed forward.

Before House of Vanderbilt, there was SohoMuse, the member-driven platform she co-founded to connect creative professionals across industries. Created for artists, designers, filmmakers, musicians, writers, producers and cultural tastemakers, SohoMuse was conceived as a digital home for the creative class, a place where collaboration could move beyond geography and traditional gatekeeping. Long before the creator economy became a boardroom phrase, Vanderbilt Costin understood that creative professionals needed infrastructure, access and community.

That instinct for connecting people has become a through line in her public life. SohoMuse speaks to the future of creative work. House of Vanderbilt speaks to the future of heritage. Together, they form a portrait of a founder who understands that influence today is less about exclusivity than alignment: aligning people, ideas, institutions and history around a larger purpose.

In person and on stage, Vanderbilt Costin occupies that duality with ease. There is polish in the presentation, certainly, but there is also pragmatism. She has moved between music, fashion, media, technology and philanthropy, building a career outside the narrow frame often assigned to historic families. That versatility gives her current chapter its texture. When she speaks about legacy, she does so not as an abstract concept, but as lived material.

The glamour is there, but it is not the argument. The argument is usefulness.

Her philanthropic and cultural commitments add another dimension. Her connection to the Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium, Eagle’s Nest, the historic Long Island estate of William K. Vanderbilt II, reflects a personal and symbolic tie to preservation, education and public engagement. Like her work with students in Miami and her programming in Chicago, it underscores a larger philosophy: history is most meaningful when it becomes accessible.

There is a Town & Country quality to the arc, of course: an American family name, a woman at the center of a new chapter, the elegance of heritage meeting the velocity of contemporary life. But Vanderbilt Costin’s story is compelling because it does not rest on society-page shorthand. The glamour is there, but it is not the argument. The argument is usefulness.

In the coming months, her speaking engagements are likely to continue positioning her as a voice in conversations about family enterprise, women’s leadership, creative entrepreneurship and legacy stewardship.

These are not separate themes in her world. They are interconnected.

For Vanderbilt Costin, the next chapter of the Vanderbilt name will not be written solely in archives, ballrooms or biographies. It will be written in classrooms, cultural forums, business conversations, philanthropic partnerships and creative collaborations. She is not asking what the Vanderbilt name once meant. She is asking what it can do now.

lead the 2026 festival, joined by more than 40 artists across five stages. It is country, crossover, classics, rising stars, and beach-town escapism all rolled into one long weekend.

SHORE TRADITION IN THE MAKING

Barefoot Country Music Festival launched in 2021 with a simple but powerful premise: take the energy of a major country festival and place it directly on the beach one of New Jersey’s most iconic summer destinations. The result was not just a concert series. It was a new kind of Shore weekend.

COUNTRY HITS THE SAND FEATURES

Wildwood proved to be the right home. Its wide beaches, legendary boardwalk, neon-lit amusements, retro hotels, casual restaurants, and built-in summer crowd created a backdrop that felt both nostalgic and fresh. Fans could spend the day in the sand, walk the boards, grab a drink, and then return to the beach for a night country music under the open sky.

BAREFOOT COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL RETURNS WITH ITS BIGGEST LINEUP YET

There is something about the Jersey Shore in summer that already feels like music. The boardwalk hums, the ocean rolls in, the air smells of salt, sunscreen, and something fried, and every evening seems to arrive with its own soundtrack. In Wildwood, New Jersey, that soundtrack has become louder, bigger, and unmistakably country.

SHORE TRADITION IN THE MAKING

just a few years, BCMF has grown from a promising newcomer into a major festival presence. It now draws fans from across New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, and beyond. For country fans in the Northeast, it has become something rare: a destination event that feels big enough to matter, but close enough to make practical. This year, BCMF arrives with a lineup that reflects just how wide country music has become. Post Malone, Eric Church, Kelsea Ballerini, and Miranda Lambert lead the 2026 festival, joined by more than 40 artists across five stages. It is country, crossover, classics, rising stars, and beach-town escapism all rolled into one long weekend.

Barefoot Country Music Festival launched in 2021 with a simple but powerful premise: take the energy of a major country festival and place it directly on the beach one of New Jersey’s most iconic summer destinations. The result was not just a concert series. It was a new kind of Shore weekend.

Wildwood proved to be the right home. Its wide beaches, legendary boardwalk, neon-lit amusements, retro hotels, casual restaurants, and built-in summer crowd created a backdrop that felt both nostalgic and fresh. Fans could spend the day in the sand, walk the boards, grab a drink, and then return to the beach for a night country music under the open sky.

just a few years, BCMF has grown from a promising newcomer into a major festival presence. It now draws fans from across New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, and beyond. For country fans in the Northeast, it has become something rare: a destination event that feels big enough to matter, but close enough to make practical.

From June 18th through 21st, 2026, Barefoot Country Music Festival returns to Wildwood Beach for four days of music, sand, sun, and full-scale Shore energy. What began only a few years ago as a bold idea—bringing a major country music festival to the beach—has grown into one of the East Coast’s most anticipated summer events.

This year, BCMF arrives with a lineup that reflects just how wide country music has become. Post Malone, Eric Church, Kelsea Ballerini, and Miranda Lambert lead the 2026 festival, joined by more than 40 artists across five stages. It is country, crossover, classics, rising stars, and beachtown escapism all rolled into one long weekend.

A SHORE TRADITION IN THE MAKING

Barefoot Country Music Festival launched in 2021 with a simple but powerful premise: take the energy of a major country festival and place it directly on the beach in one of New Jersey’s most iconic summer destinations. The result was not just a concert series. It was a new kind of Shore weekend.

Wildwood proved to be the right home. Its wide beaches, legendary boardwalk, neon-lit amusements, retro hotels, casual restaurants, and builtin summer crowd created a backdrop that felt both nostalgic and fresh. Fans could spend the day in the sand, walk the boards, grab a drink, and then return to the beach for a night of country music under the open sky.

In just a few years, BCMF has grown from a promising newcomer into a major festival presence. It now draws fans from across New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, and beyond. For country fans in the Northeast, it has become something rare: a destination event that feels big enough to matter, but close enough to make practical.

POST MALONE TAKES COUNTRY TO THE BEACH

The most talked-about name on this year’s bill may be Post Malone. Already a global superstar, he has built a career on crossing musical borders. Hip-hop, pop, rock, and now country have all found a place in his sound, and his recent move into country has felt less like a detour and more like a natural arrival.

Post Malone’s music has always carried the ingredients country fans understand well: heartbreak, melody, late-night reflection, rough edges, and big emotional hooks. His presence at BCMF brings a different kind of excitement to Wildwood. He is not simply a pop star dropping into a country festival; he is an artist helping prove that modern country has room to stretch.

On a beach stage, with thousands of fans singing along from the sand, Post Malone could easily become one of the defining moments of the weekend. His set promises the kind of crossover energy BCMF has increasingly embraced—wide-open, unpredictable, and built for a massive crowd.

ERIC CHURCH BRINGS THE EDGE

If Post Malone represents country’s expanding reach, Eric Church brings its rebel heart. Church has spent his career walking his own road, building a catalog filled with grit, defiance, memory, and arena-sized emotion. He is the kind of artist who can make a festival field feel like a backroom bar one minute and a stadium the next.

Church’s music is made for crowds that want to sing loudly and stay late. Songs like “Springsteen,” “Drink In My Hand,” “Record Year,” and “Smoke A Little Smoke” have become part of the modern country language, but his appeal goes deeper than hits. He carries the credibility of an artist who has never seemed interested in sanding down his edges for easy approval.

At BCMF, that edge should land perfectly. Wildwood gives him the kind of setting where country music can feel raw, communal, and larger than life.

KELSEA BALLERINI’S MODERN COUNTRY MOMENT

Kelsea Ballerini brings polish, personality, and contemporary star power to the festival. She has become one of country music’s most visible modern voices by blending sharp songwriting, pop-country sparkle, and emotional honesty in a way that feels completely current.

Ballerini’s appeal is especially strong with fans who discovered country through streaming, playlists, and genre-blended radio. Her songs are stylish and accessible, but also personal enough to connect beyond the surface. She understands the power of a bright hook, but she also knows how to tell a story.

Her BCMF appearance should add a fresh, glamorous lift to the weekend. Against a beach backdrop, Ballerini’s set has the potential to be one of the festival’s most crowd-friendly performances: upbeat, heartfelt, and ready-made for a summer night.

MORE THAN HEADLINERS

MIRANDA LAMBERT: FIRE, HEART, AND COUNTRY ROOTS

Miranda Lambert gives BCMF 2026 one of country music’s most respected and enduring performers. Lambert has built her career on strength, wit, heartbreak, independence, and a refusal to become anyone other than herself. She can deliver a tender ballad, a sharptongued anthem, or a full-throttle country rocker with equal force.

Her music has always felt lived-in. It carries the voice of someone who knows where she comes from and does not need to apologize for it. That authenticity has made Lambert a favorite across generations of country fans, from longtime listeners to younger audiences discovering her catalog for the first time.

On Wildwood Beach, Lambert brings tradition without feeling oldfashioned. She is the reminder that while country music may be expanding in every direction, its strongest artists still know how to bring fire, heart, and a little trouble to the stage.

The headliners may be the marquee draw, but BCMF’s strength has always been the depth of its lineup. The 2026 roster includes Shaboozey, Tucker Wetmore, Cole Swindell, Ty Myers, The Fray, Chase Rice, Tracy Lawrence, Ashley Cooke, Chase Matthew, Dasha, Chris Lane, Colt Ford, The Wilder Blue, Emily Ann Roberts, Braxton Keith, Laci Kaye Booth, Graham Barham, Jake Worthington, and many more.

That range matters. Country music today is not one lane. It can be traditional, polished, rowdy, soulful, pop-forward, rock-influenced, or genre-blending. BCMF seems to understand that its audience is just as varied as the music itself.

There are fans who will come for Miranda Lambert’s country authority, fans who want Eric Church’s grit, fans drawn by Kelsea Ballerini’s modern style, and fans who may be seeing Post Malone as part of their first major country festival experience. The supporting lineup fills in the rest of the picture, giving the weekend both familiar names and new discoveries.

THE VIP SIDE OF THE FESTIVAL

While the music is the center of BCMF, the experience around it has become a major part of the festival’s identity. General admission offers the full beach-festival atmosphere, but BCMF has also built a strong reputation for upgraded VIP options.

For fans who want comfort with their country, VIP and Super VIP packages can provide closer viewing areas, dedicated spaces, premium amenities, better access, and a more relaxed way to experience a long festival weekend. At a four-day beach event, those details matter. A little shade, a shorter line, a better view, or a private area to recharge can make the difference between simply attending the festival and truly enjoying it.

That is especially appealing for New York-area fans who are used to premium hospitality at concerts, sporting events, and cultural experiences. BCMF gives them the chance to embrace the fun of a beach festival without giving up every convenience.

THE SHORE SETS THE STAGE

Wildwood is not just the location of BCMF. It is part of the personality. The festival works because the town already knows how to host summer. The boardwalk, the motels, the food stands, the rides, the beach bars, and the steady flow of vacationers all become part of the weekend.

During BCMF, the town shifts into country mode. Cowboy hats appear on the boardwalk. Restaurants fill with festivalgoers. Hotels book up. The beach turns into a concert venue, and the entire town seems to move to the same beat.

For New Yorkers, that is a major part of the appeal. Wildwood is reachable by car, ferry, or group trip, making it a convenient escape without the complications of long-distance travel. It is close enough for a long weekend, but once you arrive, it feels like a different world.

A COUNTRY ESCAPE FOR CITY FANS

Country music has been growing across the New York area for years. It shows up in playlists, bars, rooftop parties, weddings, gyms, road trips, and summer gatherings. The idea that country belongs only in the South has become outdated. BCMF proves that point every year.

At Wildwood, cowboy boots mix with flip-flops. Yankees caps meet straw hats. City fans, Shore families, college crowds, longtime country listeners, and curious newcomers all end up in the same place. That mix gives the festival its energy.

BCMF is not trying to turn New Jersey into Nashville. It is doing something more interesting. It is creating a Northeast version of the country festival experience—one with salt air, boardwalk lights, beach sand, and just enough Jersey attitude to make it its own

PACK THE BOOTS AND THE BEACH BAG

Barefoot Country Music Festival 2026 feels like a statement year. With Post Malone, Eric Church, Kelsea Ballerini, and Miranda Lambert at the top of the bill, the festival is presenting country music as it exists right now: rooted, restless, stylish, emotional, and open to new directions.

For four days in June, Wildwood Beach will become country music’s Northeast home once again. Fans will come for the headliners, stay for the atmosphere, and leave with the kind of summer memories that only happen when music, ocean air, and a packed beach all meet at the right time.

So pack the boots, grab the shades, and make room for beachwear. BCMF is back, and this year it is arriving bigger, broader, and louder than ever.

To learn more, please visit barefootcountrymusicfest.com

THE SANDS OF TIME

A WILDWOODS FAMILY REVIVES A SHORE CLASSIC FOR A NEW GENERATION

By Karl Kirch

There is a moment on every good Shore vacation when the trip stops feeling like travel and starts feeling like summer. The bags are in the room. The kids have already found the pool. The boardwalk is close enough to smell the pizza and hear the distant bells from the arcade. The room key is on the dresser, the towels are still folded, and for a few days, life gets smaller in the best possible way.

That is the feeling the Sands wants families to find again. Not just a place to sleep. Not just a hotel near the beach. A place that becomes part of the ritual. The hotel your children remember. The lobby where someone recognizes you. The pool you can picture in February. The spot you book again before you have even unpacked from the trip you are still on.

For the Tenaglia family, that kind of hospitality is not a strategy. It is inheritance.

A FAMILY STORY WRITTEN AT THE SHORE

The Sands story begins long before the current property. It begins with parents who came from Italy, built a life in the Philadelphia area, and discovered hospitality almost by instinct. Their mother was a hairdresser. Their father worked as a foreman in a Formica factory. They were not born into the hotel business. They found their way into it the way many family stories begin: through work, risk, and the belief that something small could become something lasting.

An apartment house in North Philadelphia was the first step. Then came vacations down the Shore, first to Atlantic City and then to The Wildwoods. The pull of the island grew stronger. Eventually, in 1976, the family moved to The Wildwoods permanently and bought a small hotel called the Viking. In 1980, they purchased the original Sands Motel.

For Vince, Joe & Mario, the three brothers who now carry the business forward, the old Sands was not simply where their parents worked. It was where they grew up. Guests watched them become teenagers, then adults. Families returned year after year, and the line between customer and friend became wonderfully blurry. In a place like The Wildwoods, that matters. Summer has a way of turning strangers into familiar faces.

All three brothers eventually went to Villanova. They studied different things, built different skills, and could have gone in different directions. But family businesses have their own gravity. One by one, they came back. Now, the next generation is beginning to do the same.

THE NAME THAT FOUND ITS WAY HOME

When the family took over what is now The Sands, they were not simply purchasing another property. They were bringing back a name that still carried emotional weight.

The hotel itself had once been two separate properties. One faced the ocean, the other leaned toward the pool. Together, they offered something that fits the reality of a Wildwoods vacation: space. Larger rooms. Multiple beds. Pull-out couches. Enough room for parents, children, beach bags, snacks, wet towels, sandy sandals, and everything else that comes with a family trying to relax without pretending life is perfectly tidy.

That practicality is part of the charm. A Shore hotel does not need to feel precious. It needs to feel easy. But the family added something more personal: the Sands name, the sunshine logo, and the quiet return of a legacy their parents had started decades earlier. Once the logo went up, people noticed. Former guests recognized it. Some walked in asking whether this was the same family from the original Sands. Others remembered the brothers as children.

Imagine that for a moment. You spend your childhood running around a hotel your parents built into a life. Decades pass. Then someone walks through the door and remembers you from when you were five.

THE HOTEL AS A FAMILY ALBUM

There are places that become important not because they are grand, but because they keep showing up in the background of your life.

A child in the pool. A father carrying too many bags. A mother trying to get everyone sunscreened before noon. Grandparents sitting outside the room with coffee. Teenagers wandering back from the boardwalk with fries. A family photo taken quickly before dinner, everyone sunburned, happy, impatient, and half-looking in different directions.

That is the kind of vacation The Wildwoods has always understood.

The Tenaglia family speaks about guests in a way that makes clear they are not chasing a luxury-resort fantasy. They know many families who come to The Wildwoods are not taking three or four vacations a year. For some, this is the vacation. The one week they work toward. The week the kids talk about. The week that has to count.

That changes the responsibility of the hotel.

A room is no longer just inventory. A check-in is no longer just a transaction. The stay becomes part of someone’s annual tradition, and if you do it right, they come back—not because they forgot to look elsewhere, but because elsewhere would feel wrong.

THE WILDWOOD’S OLD SOUL

The Wildwoods has always had a different personality from other Shore towns. Cape May has its Victorian romance. Asbury Park has its redevelopment edge. Other coastal towns lean into polished luxury or high-rise reinvention.

The Wildwoods remains wider, brighter, louder, more colorful, and more forgiving. It has doo-wop lines, neon memories, boardwalk noise, amusement rides, family restaurants, beach carts, motel balconies, and that particular kind of organized chaos that only a true family resort can make beautiful.

The Tenaglia family has watched the island shift over the years. They remember when The Wildwoods was firmly rooted in family vacations. They also remember periods when the town leaned harder into nightlife and a younger party scene. But they believe the island is returning to its center.

You can see it in the events that now stretch across the calendar: cheerleading weekends, beach soccer, conventions, music events, polar plunges, winter programming, and conversations about holiday attractions that could bring even more life to the off-season. The Wildwoods is not trying to become something else. At its best, it is becoming more fully itself.

That is what makes the Sands feel timely. It is not a hotel trying to escape The Wildwood’s past. It is a hotel trying to honor it, brighten it, and make it comfortable for families today.

RETRO, BUT NOT STUCK IN TIME

The balance is delicate.

The Sands is walking that line intentionally.

Guests want nostalgia, but they do not want old mattresses, bad lighting, or outdated conveniences. They want the feeling of the Shore they remember, but they also want the comfort of the world they live in now.

The Wildwood’s doo-wop spirit: the playful mid-century look, the colors, the sense of fun, the almost Jetsons-like optimism that once imagined the future as bright, cleanlined, and family-centered. But they are not trying to create a museum. They are updating rooms, adding modern appliances, improving lighting, and choosing furnishings that feel current while still nodding to the island’s retro personality.

That is the right kind of preservation. Not frozen in amber. Not stripped of character. Just renewed.

A family can walk into a room and feel the Shore mood immediately, but still have the things they need to make the week work. A refrigerator. A microwave. A comfortable place to spread out. A pool nearby. The beach within reach. The boardwalk waiting.

It is a simple formula, but simple is not the same as easy.

THE PEOPLE MAKE THE PLACE

One of the most important things the family does may also be one of the least flashy: they try to keep familiar staff. That matters more than most hotels realize.

A returning guest knows when a place feels different. They know when the people have changed, when the warmth is missing, when the front desk feels like a counter instead of a welcome. At a family hotel, recognition is part of the experience. Seeing the same faces tells guests they are not starting over every year.

It also gives the property continuity. The family is present. The staff is familiar. The atmosphere becomes personal. You are not being processed. You are being received.

That is the difference between staying somewhere and coming back somewhere.

THE ISLAND BEYOND THE ROOM

The Sands also understands that a hotel stay is only one part of the vacation. Families need dinner plans. They need advice. They need someone to say, “Try this place,” or “Go there with the kids,” or “If you want something different tonight, here is where we would go.”

The family personally tests the restaurants they recommend. That detail says a lot. It means they are not handing guests a generic list. They are sharing their Wildwoods.

Even when the hotel is full, they try to help people find somewhere else to stay. That may seem small, but it reveals a larger philosophy: if someone has a good experience in The Wildwoods, that is good for everyone. Maybe they come back. Maybe next time they stay at the Sands. But even if they do not, they leave with the feeling that the island treated them well.

That kind of hospitality cannot be faked for long. Guests know the difference.

WHEN A PLACE BECOMES YOUR PLACE

Perhaps the most revealing moment came from the youngest generation. Isabella, recently graduated from Florida State University and now back in the family business, described a vacation her own family took in Orlando. They usually stayed at the same hotel. On one trip, they stayed somewhere else. The new property was beautiful. There was nothing wrong with it. But it was not home.

It was not the pool they knew. It was not the hammock she always sat in. It was not the familiar layout, the familiar rhythm, the place where everyone instinctively knew where to go.

That is exactly what the Sands wants to become for its guests.

A hotel can impress you and still not belong to you. A place becomes yours when you know where your favorite spot is. When your children ask if you are going back next year. When the staff remembers your family. When the first walk to the pool feels like picking up where last summer left off. That is the deeper promise of The Sands.

Not perfection. Belonging.

A SECOND HOME BY THE SEA

When asked what they wanted guests to take home. The easy answer would have been memories. Or great service. Or a wonderful vacation.

But the real answer was more emotional than that.

They want guests to feel that they have taken a piece of the Sands with them. They want them to leave with the feeling that the hotel has become part of their family’s story. They want guests to return not just because the room was nice, but because the place now means something.

That is why “second home” feels like the right phrase.

Not in the overused brochure sense. In the deeply human sense. The place where your family returns. The place that holds your summer. The place that watches your children grow and, if everyone is lucky, welcomes them back one day with children of their own.

That is what the original Sands did for a generation of guests. That is what the Tenaglia family is trying to revive now at the Sands.

A name has come back. A family has come full circle. And on a stretch of The Wildwoods where the boardwalk still glows and the ocean still calls people back, the Sands is offering something both old and new.

A room, yes.

But more than that, a return.

A place to unpack, exhale, and remember why families keep coming back to the Shore in the first place.

For more info or to book your stay visit: www.sandsmotelww.com

CURATED BY MEL

SAVOR EVERY MOMENT--SUMMER’S HERE!

By Melanie Carden

Pour me a glass of rosé and just let me enjoy the gentle summer breeze. This past winter felt like a wild tale that beloved elders share during holiday gatherings—epically cold and snowy. So, I’m especially grateful for summer’s arrival, and I fully intend to savor every sunbeam, seaside getaway, and al fresco soiree. It’s also a season of celebrations spotlighting dads, grads, and newlyweds, so here are twelve discerning picks for June and beyond.

SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER PREP

Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster retelling of The Odyssey lands on the big screen on July 17. The book and movie tell the epic tale of Greek hero Odysseus’ desperate 10-year effort to return home after the Trojan War. Give dads and grads this gorgeous, illustrated copy of the grand tale to help them get ready for what’s sure to be the most talked about movie of the summer. Info: www.hachettebookgroup.com

LEAVE A MESSAGE

Weddings, graduation parties, and celebrations of all kinds just got a quirky upgrade that none of us saw coming. The audio guestbook service After The Tone ships you a retro-style phone for use at your event. Guests leave voice messages, which are consolidated and delivered back to you to keep for years to come. All the laughs, emotions, and heartfelt wishes preserved in your loved ones’ own voices—brilliant!

Info: www.afterthetone.co

CELEBRATION TIME

As timeless of a time piece as ever created, the Tissot PR 100 hit the scene in the 80s and was an immediate classic. Its attributes are hiding in plain sight; it’s precise (P), robust (R), and water resistant. Among its features (40mm, 316L stainless steel case, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal), its beauty is driven by its simplicity, and its ocean blue hue makes it a natural fit for summer gifting.

Info: www.tissotwatches.com

CARDS WITH CHARISMA

I know I’m not alone when I say that a good card is more than a greeting. A good card can elevate the gift or entire occasion. The handcrafted three-dimensional cards from Paper Love are pure joy—colorful, imaginative, and full of personality. Father’s Day themes include everything from fishing bears to beers and beyond. Whether you need a wedding, birthday, congratulations or thinking of you card, Paper Love’s website has an endless inventory of 3-D inspiration. The Wisteria tree cards are stunning. Info: paperlove.cards

SUNLIT SALTWATER

The faint smell of the blazing sun on salty, sea-soaked driftwood—bottled. Glasshouse Fragrances—of NY origins— just launched its new Paradise Screensaver Collection, and it’s channeling the swoony, elated emotions of summer: warmth, freedom, and a romantic sense of timelessness. The Sunlit Saltwater Eau de Parfum is less than $100 and it’s got perfume aficionados clamoring for its 8-hour longevity. Info: www.glasshousefragrances.com

WEDDING SEASON AGLOW

Allow me to present the wedding find of the season. In a time when high-quality candles can exceed $60 or even $100, this stunning sculptural peony candle is just $6. It’s a lovely addition to a wedding gift or, if you order ten or more, can be customized for a shower, wedding, or other celebration. Handcrafted in Hudson Valley, NY, the candles are available in three colors and six scents, including peony rose and jasmine lemongrass. Info: midnightemberscandleco.com

THE ITALIAN COAST, CANNED

I typically avoid ready-to-drink cocktails. They’re often cloyingly sweet and just not very good. So, I’m delighted to find an exception—Saint Spritz—a brand that puts all its energy into capturing the flavors of the Italian coast. The Amalfi bittersweet orange spritz is gorgeous, but the Sicily inspired lemon basil is summertime personified—perfect for sitting outside on a warm night, paired with an evening of seaside rejuvenation, or hunkered down at a lake house playing boardgames. Zero-proof varieties? Absolutely.

Info: saintspritz.com

REFRESHING ROSÉ

If you’re looking for a seasonal hobby, consider sipping your way through Barton & Guestier wines, starting with the Rosé d’Anjou. Those who’ve followed this column over the years know that I love finding accessible, versatile wines that lend themselves to by-the-case splurges. This under $20 bottle is ready for al fresco soirees, graduation parties, and elegant evenings of summer ceviche. The name is a nod to French queens’ gardens in the Anjou district in the Loire Valley of France, and every sip is equally lush and refreshing. Info: shop.bgpl-usa.com

URBAN OUTFITTERS SUMMER

Urban Outfitters has quietly become a mecca of vinyl unicorns— records galore and plenty of exclusives, including live Fleetwood Mac recordings on teal vinyl. Noah Kahan’s The Great Divide Double LP and a pair of classic Vans is more than a mood, it’s my new June through August personality. Treat yourself to a pile of vinyl and some fresh kicks, then kick back, relax, and soak in the season’s fleeting joys.

Info: www.urbanoutfitters.com

HEARTFELT MILESTONES

A clean design and fast delivery? Positive Prints offers both, plus a slew of fresh riffs on celebratory print gifts. Choose from over a dozen categories, including baptism, Father’s Day, housewarming, wedding, and more. From there, decide whether you’d like a fine art poster, framed poster, stretched canvas, or a digital file to use in a DIY project. The brand also specializes in custom watercolor house portraits, soundwave art, pet portraits, and vinyl art (think: your wedding song lyrics gently spiraling around a favorite photo).

Info: positiveprints.com

SLOW SUNDAYS

Some say that nostalgia is “trending,” but I believe it’s simply the foundation for holistic joy. Think: vacations that reconnect with childhood memories, meals that have been handed down for generations, and curling up with a slow read on a Sunday—like we did before all the technological pings and beeps that drain our energy. Mountain Gazette has been described as the “craft brewery” of outdoor media and it focuses on long-form literary journalism, art, and take-your-breath-away photography. It’s the publication’s 60th anniversary, and the Print Ain’t Dead: A Mountain Gazette Anthology is the perfect gift for the outdoorsy dad.

Info: mountaingazette.com

SEA BAGS GALORE

“You get a Sea Bag; and YOU get a Sea Bag.” There are so many graduations, weddings, and celebrations over the next few months, so I’m employing Oprah’s delightfully famous gifting approach where everyone in the audience gets the same gift. Of course, the “audience” in question are the dads, grads, newlyweds, and hosts, but the efficiency and wow factor remain the same because recycled sail cloth totes from Sea Bags of Maine are available in endless themes and custom motifs. I’ve had the same lobster claw bag for five years; it’s indestructible.

Info: seabags.com

LE HAUTE TREND REPORT

HAUTE TRAVEL – THIS SUMMER’S ULTIMATE ‘SEE AND BE SEEN’ DESTINATIONS

By Jon Salas

Similar to cuisine and fashion, travel also has new and trending can’t miss destinations every summer – some inspired by film, others by books, and even some shaped by what we see online on social. After what seems like ten arduous months of winter, summer is here and we’re by no means being shy about it. We’re pulling out the polos, sporting shorts and backing extra sunnies and spf because we’re unapologetically going to enjoy it. And a fundamental part of any summer plan is ‘the getaway,’ and this year there are few popular hotspots, tailor made to see and be seen.

SPAIN – FOR A ‘HAUTE’ EURO SUMMER

Sunshine, great weather, world-class gastronomy – there is no shortage of reasons to visit Spain anytime of the year but this summer, its capital city and Balearic shores are giving us a reason to pack our favorite espadrilles and book that flight today. From the masterminds behind the Tulum jetset favorite, Nômade, come two new properties: Nômade Temple Madrid and Nômade Temple Ibiza, which undoubtedly will be the go-to destination ‘for those who know.’

For those craving big city energy, Rising within the historic buildings on Madrid’s most famous avenue, the Gran Vía, Nômade Temple Madrid offers a contemporary gathering place created for those seeking culture, connection, and a different rhythm of travel. Conceived as a Bohemian Bonding Temple, the property blends immersive sound, gastronomy, wellbeing, creativity, and meaningful human interaction into one living experience. From the sensory atmosphere of its spaces to the restorative rituals of Gön House of Healing, Nômade Temple Madrid invites guests to experience the city through art, conversation, music, and a more conscious way of coming together.

If a sea breeze is more your style, on the untouched northern coast of Portinatx, Nômade Temple Ibiza reimagines the island’s original free-spirited soul through nature, celebration, and restoration. Nestled between pine forests and crystalline coves, the property embraces the philosophy of “Joyful Healing” — where wellbeing and joy coexist naturally. Through immersive rituals, Mediterranean flavors, music, movement, and community, Nômade Temple Ibiza offers a place to slow down, reconnect, and experience a more soulful side to the island.

TANZANIA – FOR AN ‘OUT OF AFRICA’ EXPERIENCE

For a ‘once in a lifetime’ safari experience straight out of the 1985 classic starring Meryl Streep and Roberrt Redford, there’s only one place to go – Tanzania. Who can forget the majestic landscape scenes of endless lush terrain, vast grasslands and the ‘Big Five’ who made this a bucket list adventure for many. In 2026, that dream journey has evolved to blend five-star hospitality as seen at the Four Seasons Serengeti and introduced us to Tanzania’s world class beaches as seen at the Zuri Zanzibar.

Located in the heart of the Central Serengeti, the Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti is the ultimate way to experience the African savannah blending luxury amenities, white-glove service

TÜRKIYE – FOR A CULTURAL ADVENTURE

attention to detail, with authentic culture and a front-row seat to nature. The lodge offers year-round access to the Great Migration and features an active animal watering hole right in front of the lodge’s iconic infinity pool. Also offering standard game drives with expert Maasai guides, sunrise hot-air balloon safaris, and sunset hilltop meditations, this is a stay that will be tattooed in memory for infinity.

After a few days of animal watching you’ll want to recharge and what better way to relax than on Zanzibar’s white soft-sand beaches. Located on the northwest coast of the island on Kendwa Beach you’ll find the five-star luxury eco-resort Zuri Zanzibar, renowned for its non-tidal, swimmable shores, stunning sunsets, and sustainable design. Boasting 56 private bungalows, suites and villas, it’s the perfect tropical getaway for travelers seeking a balance of relaxing wellness, cultural exploration, and high-end hospitality. Zanzibar’s blend of Arabic, Indian, African and European influences make this a one-of-a-kind destination that you can experience nowhere else.

More commonly known as Turkey, the Europe-meets-Asian nation has become one of the most trending destinations. From the breathtaking, sun-drenched Mediterranean coastlines to the fairytale chimineas of Cappadocia, to the Ottoman and Byzantine architecture of Istanbul, Turkiye has no shortage of offerings for thrill seekers looking to enjoy culture, history, and world-class amenities.

The obvious point of exploration begins in the city by the Bosphorus, Istanbul, specifically at the Pera Palace Hotel. Built in 1892, this Belle Époque landmark was established to accommodate passengers of the Orient Express arriving from Paris. This later became the former headquarters of the founder of the Turkish Republic, Atatürk, and became a go-to home-away-from-home for notable names including Greta Garbo, Alfred Hitchcock, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Ernest Hemingway, Agatha Christie and many more. The property feels like a step back in time, almost like a confluence of museum meets luxury hotel.

Centrally located, you’re steps away from Taksim Square or the Hagia Sophia making it the perfect check in destination when exploring the city.

When your sight-seeing is complete, a journey to Turkiye’s turquoise coast is a must, specifically the seaside town of Bodrum. For the general public there is Mykonos and Cannes but for the jet set truly ‘in the know’ crowd there is Bodrum. At the heart of the north side of the city lies The Bodrum EDITION, a premier luxury destination on the Turkish Riviera known for its minimalist elegance, stunning Aegean views, and vibrant atmosphere. It is the perfect blend of a serene beachfront escape and a high-end lifestyle resort. The property features a snowy-white sand private beach, an exclusive jetty, and an infinity pool where guests can relax with live DJ beats and views of the turquoise water. On brand with other EDITION properties, you can expect their signature Le Labo amenities, sleek and opulent aesthetic design and a crowd of international travelers who make people-watching part of the attraction when checking in. Situated just minutes from the vibrant dining, upscale shopping, and nightlife of the bustling Yalikavak Marina, The Bodrum EDITION is how you close out a dream trip to Turkiye.

FROM HAMPTONS TO MIAMI –A LOCAL GETAWAY

Stateside we have no shortage of idyllic destinations, and the best part is that many are less than three hours away from the city either by plane, train or car. Furthermore, this summer the World’s biggest tournament descends upon some of our favorite cities including New York City and Miami. Both will be central hubs for this year’s World Cup with NYC hosting the final and the sunshine state gathering fan favorite matches including Brazil, Colombia, Portugal and Uruguay.

In between those matches there’s a chance for some ‘R&R,’ and if you’re staying in the city, a weekend getaway to the Montauk Yacht Club is in order. Home to the Hamptons’ largest marina, this historic lakefront resort on Star Island is open for the season. Known for its casual elegance, luxury amenities and premier access to Lake Montauk and the Atlantic, this is a seasonal favorite of NYC’s social shakers and movers. The Spa at Montauk Yacht Club is also a destination in and of its own featuring over-water wellness

cabanas offering treatments by La Prairie and Sisley Paris. Do yourself a favor and plan for an extra day on top of your stay - this is one of those places where you instantly forget that you eventually have to check out.

If you find yourself in Miami where the soccer fever is heating up, you’ll want to check into The Biltmore Hotel in the city’s Coral Gables neighborhood. The property is a national historic landmark from the 1920’s where mediterranean architecture, historic legacy and lavish amenities come together to create an exquisite experience for guests. Whether you’re lounging by its legendary 600,000-gallon swimming pool or playing a round on the property’s 18-hole, par-71 golf course, there’s no shortage of offerings to partake in, in between matches. And if you’re looking for a Fourth of July to remember, no one does it better than The Biltmore. An elevated barbecue experience, a fireworks extravaganza, a symphonic band concerto and aerial drone light show, need we say more?

Other honorable mentions include a visit to the beaches of Leblon in Rio de Janeiro at the Janeiro Hotel, where the hotel’s proximity to the water will make you never want to leave the neighborhood. And for those who can’t resist visiting the city by the Seine, the Hotel des Grand Voyageurs in the city’s Latin Quarter offers an intimate experience that exudes romance. Designed by Milanese interior designer Frabirzio Casiraghi, you’ll instantly feel you’ve checked into a Wes Anderson film. And for those that are craving a relaxing culinary escape, the Ritz-Carlton in Grand Cayman has become a can’t miss destination that has been attracting the world’s A-List for more than two decades, continuously ranking as the Caribbean’s best cuisine.

This winter was insufferably long, and we’ve earned every moment of this summer. Whether you’re craving something far or near, adventurous or low key, there’s no shortage of destinations to visit this summer. Sort the attire and pack those bags because this summer is one to remember, and after hibernation, it’s one for us to see and be seen.

ABOUT JON SALAS

Jon Salas is a professional trend forecaster and on-air fashion and lifestyle correspondent. He can regularly be seen on both English and Spanish language TV, sharing the latest trends from travel, fashion and beauty to what’s viral and shaping broader culture. Tapped into New York’s fashion and haute lifestyle scene, you can follow him at @hellojonsalas to keep up with his latest.

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...

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Unprecedented Destination Wedding & Anniversary Getaways

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PRESIDENTIAL PENTHOUSE |

CAKE AND COUTURE

EMANUEL NEW YORK MARKED ITS FIRST ANNIVERSARY WITH FASHION

AND FRAGRANCE

VBy Norah Bradford

ictor dE Souza and Dustin Lujan welcomed guests to Emanuel New York for an intimate Midtown celebration honoring the boutique’s first year as a destination for couture, fragrance, skincare, and personal luxury.

Emanuel New York celebrated its first anniversary with the kind of intimate, stylish gathering that reflects the boutique’s growing place in Manhattan’s independent luxury scene. Held Friday, May 1st, 2026, at the Midtown shop on West 39th Street, the evening brought together fashion, fragrance, beauty, and New York society for a toast to the boutique’s first year.

Fashion designer Victor dE Souza and co-founder Dustin Lujan, a longtime beauty industry veteran, welcomed VIP guests and industry friends for a festive evening that blended cake, couture, fragrance, and celebration. Located at 329 West 39th Street, Emanuel New York has quickly positioned itself as a destination for those drawn to highly personal luxury: niche fragrance, skincare, clothing, accessories, and a retail experience shaped by taste rather than trend.

The anniversary event honored Emanuel’s first year as a Midtown boutique with a celebratory cake, brief remarks, and a special presentation marking the milestone. A citation from New York State Assemblywoman Rebecca Seawright was presented to Emanuel, recognizing the boutique’s contribution to New York’s creative and retail landscape.

For dE Souza, whose design work is known for couture craftsmanship and a dramatic New York sensibility, the evening reflected the natural connection between fashion and fragrance. Emanuel New York is not simply a store, but an extension of a point of view—one that treats scent, beauty, and clothing as parts of the same personal language.

That identity has helped the boutique stand apart. Emanuel New York highlights itself as “the home of ultra niche,” offering a curated mix of distinctive fragrance houses, fashion-forward pieces, skincare, and accessories. It is also the exclusive New York City home of City Rhythm perfumes, giving fragrance lovers another reason to seek out the Midtown address.

A highlight of the anniversary celebration was the debut of the boutique’s signature fragrance, “Emanuel New York,” created by Niles Ramadhin in collaboration with City Rhythm Perfumes. The scent was introduced alongside two complementary creations: a matching body oil crafted by sKIn and a hand-poured candle by Beyond the Light Candles. Together, the trio extended the fragrance experience beyond perfume alone, turning it into something more personal, tactile, and atmospheric.

In a special anniversary gesture, Boutique Italiano also produced an exclusive commemorative candle gifted to attendees, adding another thoughtful detail to an evening centered on craft, collaboration, and community.

Notable attendees included Victor dE Souza, Dustin Lujan, Niles Ramadhin, Heilei Sahar, Jessica Moore, and New York State Assemblywoman Rebecca Seawright.

At its heart, Emanuel New York’s first anniversary was more than a retail milestone. It was a statement of momentum for a boutique building its own identity in the heart of Manhattan—one rooted in couture sensibility, niche fragrance, personal luxury, and the kind of creative energy that continues to define New York style.

For more information, visit www.emanuelnewyork.com

THE COMFORTABLE CONRAD LONDON ST. JAMES HOTEL

By Ruth J. Katz

There are times when you lose something, and your heart does an elevator plunge to your feet. Like when you watch one of your earbuds fall out of your ear, as you helplessly stare at it, cascading headlong into a grate on the sidewalk—and you realize it has started a long transmigration to a place you’ll never go, and that the two of you will never be reunited. And then there are times you don’t even know you’ve lost something for a day or two—when you discover the loss when you need that item, and it’s g-o-n-e.

Well, that is what happened to me, when I went to plug in my phone, to charge it overnight, in London...and ooops, I realized, I must have left the ten-foot-long charging cable at the Conrad London St. James. That was a big oops; I saw myself heading to the Apple store or Currys the next morning to get a replacement…but, for certainty’s sake, I immediately called the Conrad’s front desk, ready to deliver a litany of facts—when I checked in/out, my room number, a description of the cord and so on… when the gentleman at the front desk said he just needed my name. And, then, almost miraculously, he was able to spout all that data back to me, and told me that my cable was sitting, wrapped up, in a shopping bag, and all I had to do was come to claim it.

Given the level of efficiency he displayed, I was surprised he had not asked me my present location and then said he’d hop into an Uber and be there in five minutes with the cord!

Such was the service delivered at the gracious Conrad London St. James. Conrad Hotels are named for the Big Honcho Himself—founder Conrad Hilton—by his son, Barron Hilton. When the first Conrad Hotel was built, along Australia’s Gold Coast in Jupiters, in 1981, the Hilton Hotel brand was a separate company from Hilton International, and could not operate hotels outside the United States under the Hilton flag. The newly minted Conrad appellation solved that problem, and also bestowed upon the company the inaugural property that would remain the ultra-luxurious branch of the chain. In 2006, the two Hilton halves were “reunited,” but the Conrad brand, by then well established, remained the luxury division of Hilton (until it was eclipsed by the Waldorf-Astoria Collection in 2006, now known globally as Waldorf Astoria Hotels &Resorts). The Conrad Hotels & Resorts, with 50 properties across the continents, remains a luxury product and can be found in far-flung settings—like Rabat Arzana, Morocco; Bengaluru, India; Altay Hemu, China—and more popular places, like Hamburg, Athens, and Sardinia.

But, for the nonce, forget those distant destinations, because the one destination you’ll love having at your fingertips is this hotel’s footprint in its London postal code…because you are dead across the street from the tube station. What a joy! Another plus: You are but a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and Big Ben. Yet you might not even need to head outside, given that two wonderful restaurants–The Pem and the Blue Boar—are at your fingertips here. (And you can take advantage of in-room dining with the Pem in Bed, a cossetting experience, savoring the restaurant’s elegant service and creative cuisine in the privacy of your room.)

Under the whisk of head chef, Daniel Winser, The Pem serves up modern British cuisine with a contemporary flair; thus, classic Pomme Anna is not presented as a wedge of a layered potato tarte, but rather as neat, squared-off rectangles, comprised of layers of ambrosial, locally grown potatoes. For my starter, I delighted in heritage carrots, accompanied by goat curd, pistachio, and wild herbs; for my main, I chose succulent corn-fed chicken, awash in spring mushrooms, hazelnuts, and capped off with a saintly Madeira sauce. Dessert presented too many choices, and I “settled” on heavenly macerated strawberries, in an iced parfait, with milk ice cream. What you will love at The Pem is the table service when you arrive: The snow-white linen napkin is covered with a golden plume, and that feather motif is carried out throughout your meal, so that after dinner, when delicate miniardises are offered, they are presented in a feathershaped ceramic dish, along with another gilded feather.

For lighter fare, the Blue Boar Pub offers all the classics, again, with an updated twist. Here you’ll be embraced by the casual atmosphere, in a predominantly Navy blue palette—with blue-and-white gingham napkins, a checked-motif carpet, all matching. The walls are adorned with fun drawings and cartoons, and greeting you, at the entry, is a life-size ceramic Corgi, a “replica” of one of Queen Eliabeth’s favorite dogs—we are led to believe—named Whisky. He is sporting a ceramic coat, featuring the Union Jack. It’s a very “pubby” place. And do not, my waitress admonished me, leave there without having a go at the more-thangenerous portion of the restaurant’s renowned sticky toffee pudding—it’s the best in London, she told me, and she may well be spot-on about that. My advice? Save room for it.

For additional info: hilton.com/en/hotels/loncoci-conrad-london-st-james All photos: Courtesy of Conrad London St. James Hotel

TRAVEL

PARIS

A PARIS SPRING ESCAPE FILLED WITH MARKETS, MUSEUMS, FINE DINING, AND GRAND VIEWS

By Irvina Lew

Aspring return to Paris becomes a richly layered journey through riverside neighborhoods, lively markets, beloved museums, memorable meals, and the timeless elegance that keeps travelers coming back to the City of Light.

Gastronomy, glamour, grandeur. The words evoke visions of Paris, the cultural capital that has lured Americans for almost 200 years. David McCullough’s book  The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris describes determined Americans including author James Fenimore Cooper, artist Samuel F.B. Morse, physician Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr., and feminist educator Emma Willard, who braved the Atlantic in the 1830s seeking an enlightening experience in Paris. Artists, and writers; debutantes and divorcées, performers and poets; students and flaneurs followed. Most are unabashedly enthralled by the city’s stellar art, food, fashion and the beauty of Haussmanian-style architecture, tree-lined boulevards and historic riverbanks. I’ve been enticed by Paris since I was a 19-year-old student at the Sorbonne, and on dozens of subsequent forays, including this past March. Spring was in the air, and the mild weather encouraged trees to bud, flowers to bloom, and young people to lounge on the green grass.

WEEKEND A LA PARISIENNE

On weekends, Parisians head to a market, wander, linger in a café and people watch; that’s exactly what my daughter, Alison, and I chose to do. We chose a route through the oldest, riverside neighborhoods that I had discovered during a Market-to-Meal cooking class at La Cuisine Paris. On that October morning, in 2021, when Paris had just opened after a Covid shut-down, a small group of foodies met Chef Cyril at the Marché Maubert on Boulevard Saint Germain and—after voting for what we wanted to prepare and eat for lunch—we followed the chef as he purchased the duck breasts, fresh garlic, asparagus, and a selection of cheese and bread at his favorite artisanal food stalls. With students carrying some of the precious ingredients, we set out off, swiftly, down narrow streets to the nearby Seine and across pedestrian bridges to the cooking school kitchen on the Right Bank.

At the market, Alison and I watched chickens turn on the rotisserie, sampled foie gras and shared a pain au chocolate; then, we took a similar route across the river, but at a snail’s pace and with a different destination: the shops and bistros in The Marais. We strolled by the tiny boutiques and art galleries that line the streets to the quai and across a pedestrian bridge behind Île de la Cité, it’s my favorite view of Nôtre Dame and adjacent to the garden above the Memorial des Martyrs, dedicated to the 200,000 French deported to Nazi concentration camps during World War II. A second short bridge reaches the ancient Île Saint Louis, where the cobblestone streets are lined with shops and cafés and head towards the bridge to the Right Bank, where there wasn’t another person inside the pocket garden bordered by blooming yellow daffodils. We continued block by block, and shop by shop past a busy market and through the Marais to a tiny outdoor café, in the miniscule Place Sainte Catherine, hidden behind rue de Jarente. Our walk—like hundreds of magical strolls through Paris—was as joyful as opening a surprise gift.

MUSEUMS

I always reserve timed museum tickets for weekday mornings at 10 am and on this trip, we spent hours at The Louvre, checked out the Van Gogh room at The Musée d’Orsay, saw the extraordinary Matisse exhibit at the Grand Palais. Among the jeweled treasures at The Musée des Arts Decoratifs, there was an entire parlor car from VSOE Orient Express, which I once traveled from Venice to London, on display. I wanted to return to L’Orangerie for Monet’s Water Lillies, the newly renovated Picasso Museum and the fabulous Fondation Louis Vuitton--Frank Gehry’s soaring ship-shaped opus in the Bois de Boulogne, which reinterprets 19th century glass garden buildings (and where some of the terraces view the Eiffel Tower). But, I reminded myself why I titled my first book You Can’t Do It All; you can’t, so I didn’t.

RESTAURANTS

In the City of Light, none twinkle more brightly than those that appear on the hour at the Eiffel Tower; they light up the sky—and everyone’s mood—for five solid minutes. Those lights forever thrill me so I choose restaurants with that view: Les Ombres, Giraffe, Carette Trocadero and Margaux, where the onion soup is topped with a puff-pastry so high that it’s called a Hot Air Balloon and where they happened to flambée my Crepes Suzette, just as the tower lighted. On this trip, I decided to splurge on a gastronomic lunch on the second level of the Eiffel Tower, at Le Jules Verne. The two Michelin-star restaurant is reached by an exclusive-to-guests, six-person elevator which ascends sideways and views Paris through the steel skeleton. The three course (least expensive) meal features about ten extravagant items, including a truffle studded one: two amuses, a crab starter, a main dish with langoustines, each with a foamy side dish, a sorbet palate cleanser, two pre-desserts, a dessert and a take-home chocolate biscuit. Our other meals were in museums or at traditional bistros: the teeny Le Bon Georges, with the best purveyors of beef, which most guests share; Le Perraudin, with owners from Alain Ducasse’s kitchen and Chez Denise, with its vast chalkboard menu.

HOTEL

We stayed at the Hotel Norman, a boutique hotel on rue Balzac, where the author once lived just off the mile-long Champs Élysées. The five-star hotel boasts a stylish modernist vibe by architect and interior designer Thomas Vidalenc and houses the popular Vietnamese restaurant named Thiou. The restaurant, which is adjacent to the lounge and bar, reflects the nickname of its famed and much appreciated Chef Apiradee Thirakomen. Our minimalist junior suite had a full-length sofa in the seating area, well executed woodwork throughout including the well-designed closet and two little balconies facing the rooftops of Paris. The hotel is very near the Arc du Triomphe at the Étoile, where twelve main avenues converge, including Boulevard Haussman, adjacent to the hotel, so it’s a short walk to the stunning house museum: the Musée Jacquemart-André. Instead of returning there after an all-night flight, I relished a relaxing hour in the small subterranean spa, where I received a hydrating Omnisens facial.

ABOUT IRVINA LEW

Irvina Lew is the author of Forays in France: A Flavorful Memoir, with engaging vignettes reflecting years of travels to Paris, the Riviera and Wine Regions. The culinary travelogue is available at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and, for signed copies, visit: foraysinfrance.com

SWITZERLAND’S STUNNING RIVIERA

SUMMER FUN IN VAUD WITH MUSIC AND WINE

By Jenny Peters

You might only think of Switzerland as winter wonderland, centered on the Swiss Alps where amazing snowy adventures abound. But we’ve got another idea for your bucket list, especially if gorgeous warm weather, wonderful wines and a legendary music festival are on that agenda

We’re talking about Vaud, the western Swiss canton (state) that includes a long stretch of Lake Geneva’s shoreline as well as the Vaud Alps and the Jura mountain range, which forms the natural demarcation between Switzerland and France. It’s a beautiful place where everyone speaks French (and usually English as well) and summers are sunny and temperate.

The canton stretches around the lake from west of Lausanne to the northern lake shores of Lavaux, where ancient walled terraces form the largest vineyard area in Switzerland, and extends past Veytaux and Vevey, and on to Montreux, the places nicknamed the “Swiss Riviera.”

It’s a place where natural beauty meets refined gastronomy, lakeside beaches, mountain vistas and much more. Here’s our idea of a perfect visit to this Swiss gem.

STAY

For a five-star luxury experience in Vaud, the Fairmont Le Montreux Palace is a legendary place to call home. Built in 1906, it’s been a hotel, a hospital during both World Wars, and ever since it’s been a landmark of the Swiss Riviera. Set right on the lake, with an imposing exterior and sophisticated interior, the Palace is a place where people gather all summer long at La Terrasse du Petit Palais, for fantastic views of the lake and the Alps beyond, to dine on seafood and other seasonal delights.

SIP

The Lavaux is a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Site because of the stone terraces built by monks in the 11th century, creating a grape-growing hillside region that stretches for almost 20 miles. Take a walking or bicycling tour to learn more about the history of this region that’s been famed for world-class wines that are not often exported (as the Swiss say, “Why export it? We drink it all here!”).

Stop into wineries along the way, like Domaine Bovy, a family-run place with a lovely wine-tasting patio overlooking Lake Geneva and incredible, massive painted wooden casks that have been used for generations. Bovy produces familiar wines using grapes like Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, as well as varietals like Chasselas, Gamaret and Diolinoir, so settle in on the winery’s beautiful terrace, soak up the views and taste them all.

SAVOR

The Gallic influence is felt in the cuisine of this area, from the Michelin-starred Stéphane Décotterd, which serves up delicate bites of contemporary French tastes accompanied by a spectacular view, to the classic French fare found at Emotions by Guy Ravet. The Montreux Jazz Café features more international choices in a setting dedicated to music, while the beloved La Museum (since 1965) is the place to indulge in Swiss classics like fondue, raclette and charcoal-grilled meat done right on your table

SEE

There are castles and estates to visit in this part of Vaud, including the famed Chateau de Chillon fortress, constructed in the 12th century and the Manoir de Ban, Charlie Chaplin’s longtime home, which now is part of a museum complex called Charlie’s World. Don’t miss the Freddie Mercury statue overlooking the lake in Montreux; the Queen singer-songwriter lived here for many years.

SINGALONG

Summertime means the Montreux Jazz Festival, which is celebrating its 60th year this July. The festival typically runs for the first two weeks of the month (in 2026 it is on from July 3-18), with numerous free stages both outdoor and inside, and two main indoor stages offering night shows. The music ranges from rock to reggaeton, pop to techno, with some jazz also thrown into the mix. It’s tons of fun and draws thousands of music-loving people every year to the banks of Lake Geneva for tunes, food and plenty of libations.

For this sublime summer experience, we chose Audley Travel, the Boston-based bespoke travel company, that creates trips specifically designed to make everything easy. They plan your transportation, hotels, itineraries and even set up private guides, if that’s your jam.

GREENPORT GETS ITS GROOVE

ZEY HOTEL BRINGS BOUTIQUE STYLE AND MEDITERRANEAN FLAVOR TO THE NORTH FORK

By Elizabeth Darwen

ZEY Hotel, ZErdem Restaurant, and Zey Cafe are giving Greenport a fresh East End hospitality destination, blending boutique accommodations, Mediterranean dining, and relaxed cafe culture in the heart of the village.

Greenport has always had its own rhythm. Part working harbor, part weekend escape, part North Fork village with an easygoing creative spirit, it offers a different kind of East End experience—less polished than the Hamptons, but no less appealing. Now, ZEY Hotel is adding a stylish new note to that mix.

Located on Main Street, ZEY Hotel brings boutique energy to the center of Greenport, placing guests within easy walking distance of shops, galleries, restaurants, the waterfront, and ferry connections to Shelter Island and beyond. The property is designed for travelers who want the charm of a seaside village without giving up contemporary style, comfort, or a sense of scene.

With eight rooms and two suites, ZEY Hotel offers a more intimate alternative to the traditional East End stay. The interiors are colorful, modern, and relaxed, with thoughtful amenities that make the experience feel polished without being overly formal. Guests can expect comfortable accommodations, sumptuous bedding, indulgent minibars, Egyptian cotton bathrobes, and complimentary wireless internet—details that give the property its boutique appeal.

The concept comes from owner Zach Erdem, the restaurateur behind 75 Main in Southampton, who has brought his signature hospitality sensibility to the North Fork. With ZEY Hotel, ZErdem Restaurant, and Zey Cafe, Erdem has created a connected destination that speaks to the way people like to travel now: stay somewhere stylish, eat well, linger over coffee, explore on foot, and feel plugged into the energy of the place.

At ZErdem Restaurant, located at 314 Main Street, the focus is Mediterranean-inspired dining in a warm, bistro-style setting. The menu features vibrant dips, shareable plates, kebabs, seafood, and flavors designed for an easy, social meal. Chef Elran Shrefler leads the kitchen, bringing a welcoming approach to a restaurant built for both locals and visitors looking for a relaxed but elevated dining experience.

Zey Cafe adds another layer to the destination, bringing casual cafe culture into the mix. Together, the hotel, restaurant, and cafe create a hospitality hub that feels especially suited to Greenport’s personality: stylish, walkable, social, and connected to the water.

For visitors, the location is a major part of the appeal. Greenport offers access to the North Fork’s wineries, farm stands, beaches, and harbor life, while the ferry makes Shelter Island and the Hamptons feel close enough for an easy day trip. ZEY Hotel positions guests right in the center of it all, offering a base that is both relaxed and well-connected.

With its port-town charm, contemporary design, and Mediterranean flavor, ZEY Hotel gives Greenport a fresh hospitality address for the season. It is an inviting option for travelers looking to experience the North Fork with a little more style, a little more flavor, and a very walkable sense of place.

Zey Hotel and Zey Cafe www.zeyhotel.com

Tel: (631) 477-4000

Zey Hotel and Zey Cafe www.zeyhotel.com Tel: (631) 477-6540

A SAG HARBOR WATERFRONT STATEMENT

2 WEST WATER STREET, MODERN DESIGN MEETS MARINA LIVING

By Grant Ellison

Anewly constructed waterfront townhouse on Sag Harbor Cove brings together architectural pedigree, private marina access, and village convenience in one of the Hamptons’ most desirable settings.

A SAG HARBOR WATERFRONT STATEMENT

At 2 West Water Street, modern design meets marina living.

In Sag Harbor, waterfront living has always carried a particular kind of allure. It is not simply about the view, although the view certainly matters. It is about the rhythm of the harbor, the ease of village life, and the rare ability to move from quiet cove frontage to restaurants, galleries, boutiques, and Main Street energy in just moments.

At 2 West Water Street, Residence B, that lifestyle has been reimagined on a grand and contemporary scale.

Priced at $17,900,000, the newly constructed four-level waterfront townhouse offers more than 11,700 square feet of state-of-the-art living directly on Sag Harbor Cove. With approximately 250 feet of water frontage, a private beach, and an exclusive deep-water marina with two slips capable of accommodating 50-foot boats, the residence is designed for those who want the Hamptons as a complete way of life.

The home is the result of a collaboration among architect Andre Kikoski, interior designer Sofia Joelsson, and landscape architect Ed Hollander, a team whose work gives the property its balance of architecture, interiors, and landscape. The result is a residence that feels expansive yet carefully controlled, dramatic yet livable, and unmistakably connected to its harborfront setting.

Inside, the home includes eight bedrooms, nine full bathrooms, one half bath, elevator access to all levels, floor-to-ceiling glass, and secure underground parking for four vehicles. Wideplank wood floors, a sculptural central staircase with floating treads, and full-height glass walls establish a sense of openness from the moment one enters. The double-height foyer leads to a light-filled sitting room, where glass doors open directly to a covered terrace overlooking the water.

The first level includes four en-suite guest bedrooms, two with walk-in closets and private deck access, along with an additional full bathroom. Frameless glass railings and outdoor seating areas maintain a visual connection to Sag Harbor Cove throughout the home.

The second level is anchored by the primary suite, a calm retreat with dual walk-in closets, a private foyer, and direct access to a waterfront terrace with panoramic views. The primary bath continues the home’s refined material palette, with a freestanding soaking tub, Fior di Bosco tile, a glass-enclosed shower, dual Gessi washbasins set on Black Cosmic granite, and an Abonos oak-finished vanity. Two additional en-suite guest bedrooms and a home office with terrace access complete the level.

The third level is designed for entertaining. An open living and dining area flows into a luminous eat-in kitchen with charcoal Ecolak cabinetry, an AMX glass hood, white Calacatta marble countertops, a large center island, and appliances by Miele, Sub-Zero, and Gaggenau. Sliding glass walls open to an expansive rooftop terrace, where an outdoor kitchen, built-in barbecue, Taj Mahal stone countertops, bar seating, and a separate dining area create a rare rooftop setting above the cove. The terrace also offers the potential for a private pool.

The lower level includes a full laundry room, a guest suite with an egress window, a full bathroom, and a four-car garage with a wellequipped Technogym fitness area. A Rolls-Royce-engineered backup power system adds another layer of functionality to the home’s luxury credentials.

Outdoors, Ed Hollander’s landscaping frames the waterfront with specimen trees and manicured greenery, while the private marina, boardwalk, beach, and deep-water slips reinforce the property’s rare connection to the harbor. Offering modern design, full-service marina amenities, and immediate access to Sag Harbor’s restaurants, boutiques, galleries, and harborfront attractions, 2 West Water Street, Residence B is more than a luxury townhouse. It is a legacy waterfront home designed for the next generation of Hamptons living.

For More info contact: Shawn Elliot at www.nestseekers.com/Sales/new-york-state

Turks & Caicos Islands

RESORTS

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS IS 192 SQUARE MILES. WHY GO TO TEN DIFFERENT WEBSITES, WHEN YOU CAN FIND WHAT YOU NEED IN ONE?

LUXURY VILLAS

REAL ESTATE

With over 25 years of experience in the travel, hospitality, and tourism industries we know our local presence and knowledge will be instrumental to you, your family, and clients in creating a seamless experience for booking your accommodations, activities, private jet services, and sourcing your real estate options. We collaborate with professionals in all areas and assure you that in one call, we can coordinate your entire Turks and Caicos experience. Let us make your arrangements from your first steps in the islands, to stepping back on your private jet or flight out of the islands.

website: theturksandcaicoscompany.com email: reservations@theturksandcaicoscompany.com

A LANDMARK LIFESTYLE AWAITS

PALATIAL ROOMS & PRE-WAR DETAILS DEFINE THIS ELEGANT HOME

By Stacey Keyes

Step off a semi-private elevator landing into a 2800 square foot, pre-war classic 7 at the beloved Beresford. The gracious, 28-foot-long entry gallery at Residence #3K features a walk-in closet, which is perfect for displaying art or a fantastic addition to your living space! The gallery leads to the palatial living room, complete with a wood burning fireplace and tranquil views of the historic townhouses and trees on at 211 Central Park West.

ELEGANT ENTERTAINING SPACES

On the other side of the gallery is the regal dining room, which is currently being set up as both a den and a dining room. The large, windowed kitchen features restored, original St. Charles metal cabinets, a signature of Emery Roth, and plenty of storage space and room to create a seating area. Adjacent to the kitchen is a sizable staff room with a full bathroom.

Nicely tucked away from the entertaining area, the bedroom wing of the home is pin-drop quiet and boasts two secondary bedrooms, both with generous storage space and sharing a windowed bathroom. The primary bedroom has two windows facing onto 82nd street, three large closets along with a wall of built-in closets and a windowed, en-suite primary bathroom.

Additional features of this lovely home include gorgeous, original wood floors, lofty ceilings, and a washer/dryer.

LIFE AT THE BERESFORD

Beresford is one of the most elegant and coveted prewar landmark buildings on Central Park West. Designed by famed architect, Emery Roth, it was constructed from 1928 - 1929 and was converted to a cooperative in 1962. The staff is incomparable in their service.

Amenities include a state-of-the-art fitness center, bike storage, storage by availability, and an on-site managing agent. Pets are welcome. There is a 2% flip tax.

Info: Asking price: $3,450,000.

Contact Brown Harris Stevens at bhsusa.com

A RETURN TO THE GILDED AGE

THIS HISTORIC CARRIAGE HOUSE WILL STOP YOU IN YOUR TRACKS

By Stacey Keyes

Just steps from the bright lights of Broadway, 422 West 46th Street is unlike anything else Manhattan has to offer. This extraordinary 1850s carriage house is steeped in history and rich in character — a portal to the romance and elegance of New York’s Gilded Age, when horsedrawn carriages clattered across cobblestones and the city’s artistic identity was still being written.

IT WILL TRANSPORT YOU

Enter Residence #2R through the original horse passageway from the street and step into another world entirely: a sun-drenched, mid-block private courtyard that feels a thousand miles from the chaos of Times Square. With the unhurried charm of New Orleans’ French Quarter, this rare urban oasis sets the tone for everything that follows. A video intercom with remote gate access ensures the sanctuary stays entirely your own, while a secondary entrance through 424 West 46th Street offers added convenience — the property sits within both the 420 and 424 W 46th Street co-ops.

The building’s creative pedigree runs deep. It was once home to the Menconi brothers — celebrated sculptors responsible for the iconic flagpole bases at the New York Public Library — and its cinematic bones have drawn filmmakers for decades. Bullets Over Broadway, Deconstructing Harry, Law & Order, and Blue Bloods have all used it as a backdrop, and it’s easy to see why.

ABOVE

ALL: OUTDOOR LIVING

Granite steps lead from the courtyard to a charming front porch and a private roof terrace perched above the original stables — an ideal perch for an herb garden, a morning coffee ritual, or a quiet evening under the open sky. Prime Broadway theaters and acclaimed restaurants are just around the corner, yet here, the city feels blissfully far away.

INTERIORS THAT TELL A STORY

Inside, a vestibule with stained-glass windows washes the entry in warm, jewel-toned light. From here, the layout unfolds with effortless flexibility across three bedrooms and three full bathrooms: a self-contained auxiliary suite — perfect as an office, guest room, or studio — branches off to one side, while the grand living room anchors the main floor with soaring ceilings and a wood-burning fireplace.

A generous dining area flows naturally into the thoughtfully designed kitchen, where glasspaned doors and a clever pass-through — concealed, when closed, by a stunning stained-glass panel — marry historic detail with modern livability. Bespoke architectural details and stainedglass accents carry throughout, ensuring no corner of the home feels ordinary.

WARMTH IN EVERY SENSE

Upstairs, the primary bedroom is anchored by a second wood-burning fireplace and served by a windowed bathroom with a soaking tub. A second bedroom with corner windows, a third bathroom with a walk-in shower, and a dedicated washer/dryer closet complete the upper level — two fireplaces in all, and warmth in every sense of the word. What makes this home truly singular, however, is its architecture. A freestanding, interior-block structure with windows on all four sides, it delivers something almost impossible to find in Midtown Manhattan: an abundance of natural light and a genuine sense of privacy.

This is more than a home. It is a living piece of New York history — a singular sanctuary tucked between the timeless allure of the Broadway stage and the ever-evolving pulse of Manhattan. Info: Asking price: $2,650,000. Contact Brown Harris Stevens at bhsusa.com

THE MINDIE METHOD

WHEN THE NEST WON’T EMPTY

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 am feeling frustrated that my girlfriend’s adult son will not move out of our house. I have tried to talk with her and him calmly, with a more direct approach and even have given both the silent treatment in protest but nothing seems to work. He loafs around the house all day, eats all the food we pay for and makes absolutely no attempts to try and find a job. It makes me so angry and what’s worse, my girlfriend seems fine with it. This is not a phase. The situation has gone on for at least two years. He has very few friends and never goes out either! Will I ever have the empty nester life I’ve been dreaming of? I don’t know what to do. She won’t even talk about this with me anymore. Any advice you can give, would be great.

Thank you, Mitch

Dear Mitch,

What you’ve described seems like a very difficult dynamic! I can empathize that having an adult child living with you who seems to not be motivated to better his situation and embrace autonomy is most frustrating. This is especially true if you have been raised to stand on your own two feet, which I would assume you have. I think you have two separate issues going on here, however.

First, the gridlock you seem to be in with your girlfriend: the two of you do need to talk about your differences and if she is unwilling to do so with you at home, I would recommend the two of you see a couple’s counselor. There are likely underlying issues regarding why you are eager to.

Embrace being an empty nester while she feels the need to still provide a home and necessities for her son, even as an adult. I also believe the exercise will serve you well with future conflicts as communication is key in keeping relationships intact and it’s important that you both have the skillset to communicate effectively and gently.

Secondly, and perhaps the most important issue to address is why her son is lacking motivation and seems disinterested to socialize with friends. That is most concerning to me. It’s hard to know as I do not have a great deal of details about his behavior as well as his mental health history, but I would presume he is depressed, possibly severely.

That issue really needs to be evaluated by a professional and addressed as soon as possible. If he is suffering from depression, he will need help from a mental health professional and possibly also medication so that he doesn’t fall further into depression. If he’s not suffering from depression, the mental health expert will be able to uncover the root of his issue about getting a job and his desire to remain in the care of his mother and you, and hopefully, through psychotherapy, work to heal any issues which are in need of repair. Either way, this direction seems necessary.

I wish you the best of luck and would also suggest you allow time for both scenarios to play out as it seems both situations will be more of a marathon than a race.

Love and Light, Mindie xo

FASHION FOR A CURE

THE 12TH ANNUAL WAXMAN LUNCHEON RAISED NEARLY $250,000 FOR CANCER RESEARCH.

By Lillian Langtry

The Samuel Waxman Institute for Aging & Cancer brought philanthropy, fashion, and science together at Riverpark, honoring Alexandra Adame and Mary Slattery while raising vital support for cancer research.

Fashion and philanthropy came together in elegant form at the 12th Annual Waxman Luncheon, held at Riverpark in New York City in support of the Samuel Waxman Institute for Aging & Cancer. The afternoon gathered philanthropists, fashion leaders, advocates, and longtime supporters for a cause with urgent human purpose: advancing cancer research by better understanding the connection between aging and cancer.

This year’s luncheon raised nearly $250,000, with that total expected to double through a matching contribution from The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research. The result brings the event’s impact to nearly half a million dollars, making it the most successful Waxman Luncheon to date.

The Samuel Waxman Institute for Aging & Cancer, an affiliate of The Mark Foundation, was created to focus on one of the most significant risk factors in cancer: aging. By bringing together scientists who study aging biology with those focused on oncology, the Institute supports research aimed at uncovering how aging contributes to cancer development, progression, treatment response, and prevention. It is a mission rooted not only in scientific discovery, but in the hope of creating more effective therapies and strategies for patients and families facing cancer.

The luncheon honored fashion entrepreneur Alexandra Adame and Corcoran real estate broker Mary Slattery for their commitment to advancing cancer research. Their recognition reflected the spirit of the afternoon, where personal dedication, community leadership, and charitable giving all played a role in supporting the Institute’s work.

Adding a refined fashion moment to the program, Safiyaa served as the event’s fashion presenter. Known for polished silhouettes and modern eveningwear, the brand brought a sense of sophistication to an afternoon that has become a notable fixture on New York’s philanthropic calendar.

Fashion and philanthropy came together in elegant form at the 12th Annual Waxman Luncheon, held at Riverpark in New York City in support of the Samuel Waxman Institute for Aging & Cancer. The afternoon gathered philanthropists, fashion leaders, advocates, and longtime supporters for a cause with urgent human purpose: advancing cancer research by better understanding the connection between aging and cancer.

This year’s luncheon raised nearly $250,000, with that total expected to double through a matching contribution from The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research. The result brings the event’s impact to nearly half a million dollars, making it the most successful Waxman Luncheon to date.

The Samuel Waxman Institute for Aging & Cancer, an affiliate of The Mark Foundation, was created to focus on one of the most significant risk factors in cancer: aging. By bringing together scientists who study aging biology with those focused on oncology, the Institute supports research aimed at uncovering how aging contributes to cancer development, progression, treatment response, and prevention. It is a mission rooted not only in scientific discovery, but in the hope of creating more effective therapies and strategies for patients and families facing cancer.

The luncheon honored fashion entrepreneur Alexandra Adame and Corcoran real estate broker Mary Slattery for their commitment to advancing cancer research. Their recognition reflected the spirit of the afternoon, where personal dedication, community leadership, and charitable giving all played a role in supporting the Institute’s work.

Adding a refined fashion moment to the program, Safiyaa served as the event’s fashion presenter. Known for polished silhouettes and modern eveningwear, the brand brought a sense of sophistication to an afternoon that has become a notable fixture on New York’s philanthropic calendar.

“What I discovered at Woodloch is what I want for my own family, and why we keep coming back, it’s that magic of together.”

- Meagan’s My Woodloch Story

ANDREW STEAK SOCIETY

A CLASSIC STEAKHOUSE WITH AN EAST VILLAGE VIBE

By Anne Raso

Andrew Steak Society has quickly become one of the more talked-about new steakhouses in the East Village, blending classic New York steakhouse traditions with a more modern yet retro downtown atmosphere (complete with flocked wallpaper). Having just opened on April 30th, the restaurant focuses heavily on dry-aged beef, wood-fired grilling--with a wood fire pit right in the dining room which guests love to observe--and an upscale presentation without feeling stuffy. The interior combines warm lighting, plush seating, and a polished but relaxed vibe designed for both date nights and group dinners.

SIGNATURE SELECTIONS

One of the restaurant’s biggest selling points is its commitment to dry-aged steaks. According to the restaurant’s official materials, many of the cuts are aged for at least twenty-eight days to deepen flavor and improve tenderness. Signature selections include the Tomahawk, Porterhouse, Ribeye, New York Strip, and Filet Mignon, all prepared over a wood-fired grill that gives the meat a smoky finish associated with traditional steakhouses.

The menu goes beyond steak and includes seafood and classic steakhouse appetizers and desserts. Diners can order dishes such as Steak Tartare, Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, Shrimp Scampi, Chilean Sea Bass, and Maine Lobster. Side dishes stay true to steakhouse standards with options like Truffle Fries, Creamed Spinach, Mashed Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus, and Sautéed Broccolini. Dessert offerings include New York Cheesecake, Crème Brûlée, and Chocolate Lava Cake.

No doubt that Avenue B is an odd spot for a steakhouse (they’re usually placed in the business-oriented parts of town). Andrew Steak Society positions itself as a contemporary alternative to older Manhattan steakhouses. Instead of the dark corporate feel associated with some Midtown establishments, the East Village location gives it a younger and more nightlife-oriented energy. The restaurant markets itself as a place suitable for celebrations, romantic dinners, and social outings while still emphasizing premium ingredients and attentive service.

The restaurant’s online reviews and testimonials emphasize consistency in service and presentation. Customers frequently mention the Tomahawk steak, Truffle Fries, Ribeye, and Porterhouse as standout items. Several testimonials on Yelp! mention that the service as attentive without being intrusive, which is often a major factor in the success of upscale dining establishments in New York City—and I could not agree more. The waitstaff feels like friends by the end of your meal!

LOOK OUT, PETER LUGER!

It goes without saying that Andrew Steak Society enters a highly competitive New York steakhouse scene that already includes legendary names such as Keens Steakhouse and Peter Luger Steakhouse. Online food discussions frequently compare modern steakhouses with classic institutions, with many diners debating atmosphere, steak quality, and overall experience. Reddit discussions about New York steakhouses show that diners increasingly value ambiance and hospitality as much as the steak itself. The restaurant also appears designed to appeal to social media culture and influencer-style dining trends. A great Instagrammable moment is sticking your head into a photo as affable Chef Niklas Lucich--who is an alumni of both Jean Georges Vongerichten and Thomas Keller restos--throws another Tomahawk on the fire!(There also seems to be a second area in the back room where steaks are flame grilled.)

DRAMATIC PRESENTIONS

At Andrew Steak Society, the most talked-about menu items are the restaurant’s dry-aged steaks, especially the Tomahawk, Porterhouse, and Ribeye. The Tomahawk is considered the signature centerpiece of the menu, aged for an extended period and cooked over a wood-fired grill that gives the steak a smoky finish. The dramatic presentation of large-format steaks like the Tomahawk, combined with stylish plating and upscale interiors, makes the venue particularly photogenic. That approach mirrors a broader trend among newer Manhattan restaurants that aim to combine traditional dining with visual appeal for Instagram, TikTok, and nightlife-oriented audiences.

The Porterhouse appeals to diners who want both Filet and Strip Steak in one cut, while the Ribeye is known for its rich marbling and deep flavor. The restaurant emphasizes traditional steakhouse preparation with modern presentation, making these cuts the stars of the dining experience. I did grab a bite of a Porterhouse that a food journalist friend across the room was eating, and it was at least as marbled as the Tomahawk!

Several appetizers and side dishes have also become standout favorites. Steak Tartare and Jumbo Lump Crab Cake are frequently highlighted as popular starters because they balance the richness of the heavier entrées. Among the side dishes, Truffle Fries are especially prominent, pairing crispy texture with black truffle and parmesan flavors. Creamed Spinach, Mashed Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts, and Grilled Asparagus continue the classic New York steakhouse tradition while complementing the wood-fired steaks. (Let me add right here that the Creamed Spinach is off the charts—you might think that all creamed spinach is the same but this is the creamiest that you will ever have.)

restaurant also attracts diners who prefer seafood or lighter entrées. Maine Lobster and Chilean Sea Bass are among the most recognizable non-steak options on the menu, offering a more refined alternative while still fitting the upscale steakhouse atmosphere. Guests can also customize steaks with additions such as Butter-Poached Lobster, Shrimp Scampi, Bone Marrow, and specialty sauces including Black Truffle Butter, Au Poivre, and Chimichurri, creating a more personalized dining experience.

On my visit, I shared a Tomahawk with the other food journalists at my table and the buttery taste of the meat done medium rare made us all sigh. This coveted cut of prime steak is big enough for a table of six adults with hearty appetites.

Desserts at Andrew Steak Society follow a classic steakhouse approach with familiar desserts with added modern flair. The Chocolate Lava Cake stands out because of its warm molten center and rich chocolate flavor, making it one of the most visually dramatic desserts on the menu. The New York Cheesecake (which I tried on my visit and loved) reflects traditional Manhattan steakhouse culture with a dense and creamy texture, while the Crème Brûlée adds a lighter finish with vanilla custard and a caramelized sugar crust. These desserts are designed to provide a classic ending to a heavy steakhouse meal but if you want to end on a light note, you can get fresh berries or sorbet even if they do not appear on the menu.

Andrew Steak Society is located at 51 Avenue B in Manhattan and accepts reservations through its website and Resy. The restaurant offers both dinner and limited lunch service depending on the day of the week, with extended weekend hours. Its official website depicts the idea of delivering a classic steakhouse experience with a more modern East Village identity (there are plenty of dramatic food and atmosphere shots).

For more information on ANDREW STEAK SOCIETY, visit andrewsteaksociety.com

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AVRA ESTIATORIO 33 RD & NINTH

ELEVATED GREEK CUISINE IN A MYKONOS INSPIRED

By Anne Raso

Avra Estiatorio on the SE corner of West 33rd Street and Ninth Avenue brings the polished style of the Avra restaurant group into the Hudson Yards and Penn District area. The restaurant has quickly become one of the more glamorous Greek dining destinations on Manhattan’s West Side, attracting theatergoers, business diners, visitors staying nearby, and locals looking for a sophisticated seafood dinner. The atmosphere feels upscale without being stiff, and the restaurant balances modern Manhattan energy with a Mediterranean island sensibility. An added plus is that since they’re located at the back of Moynihan Hall, it’s an ideal location for anyone traveling in from the tristate area.

The decor is one of the first things people notice when they walk inside the Avra 33rd & Ninth location. The dining room combines pale stone tones, greenery, glowing lighting, and natural wood accents that create the feeling of a luxurious coastal retreat. A dramatic central olive tree anchors the space, while high ceilings and sleek contemporary furnishings keep it firmly rooted in modern New York style. The room feels bright and airy during lunch, but at night it shifts into something moodier and more romantic with warm lighting reflecting off marble and glass surfaces.

FISH FRESH FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN

Seafood is the main focus of the menu, and many diners come specifically for the fresh whole fish presentations. Branzino and Lavraki are especially popular, often grilled simply with olive oil, lemon, and herbs so the flavor of the fish remains the centerpiece. The restaurant also offers seafood sold by the pound, reinforcing the market-style Greek tradition where guests choose pristine fish and have it prepared to order. Fried Calamari and Grilled Calamari are among the best-known appetizers and reflect the kitchen’s preference for clean Mediterranean flavors rather than overly heavy sauces.

I asked Avra Group co-owner Nick Tsoulos about his part in the day-to-day business of running a successful Greek restaurant group and he explained, “We are three main partners—one is my cousin Nick (Pashalis) and the other is Marc (Packer) who handles the day-to-day business such as the design of each restaurant. I have my hands on the culinary side and have the lucky job of testing the dishes. But the most fulfilling part has been watching us grow from a single location into a national brand people recognize and tell us they love from all over the world.”

I was curious about Nick’s background in hospitality since the Avra Group has been so wildly successful: “I came to the U.S. in 1960s and got my start by opening a deli. From there, I went on to open a supermarket and then eventually Italian restaurants. In the 1990s, I had multiple spots and eventually partnered with my cousin Nick to open our first Greek restaurant. We’ve scaled up ever since.”

The appetizer selection includes many classic Greek mezze dishes elevated with refined presentation. Diners often begin with spreads such as Tzatziki, Tarama, or Melintzanosalata served with warm pita. Gigantes Beans, Grilled Oyster Mushrooms, and Zucchini Chips also appear on the menu and give the meal a strong traditional Greek identity. Truly authentic Halloumi squeaks when you eat it, and that’s quite a surprise if you weren’t knowing what to expect, LOL! At Avra, even familiar dishes feel more luxurious here because of the careful plating and premium ingredients.

Raw bar offerings add another layer of sophistication to the experience. Shrimp Cocktail, Lobster Cocktail, Crab Cocktail, Sushi selections, and Tuna dishes give the menu a contemporary Manhattan feel while still blending naturally into the Mediterranean concept. My guest and I dove into a dozen oysters—as many regular guests do, we chose six of the oysters from the Eastern US and six from the Western US! The crispy Rice Tuna and Nigiri platters have become especially popular among diners who want lighter seafood options or a more modern fusion element during their meal. (Don’t worry, if you are a landlubber, you can order incredibly juicy Roasted Chicken, Filet Mignon or New York Strip).

SALADS FULL OF GARDEN FRESHNESS

Salads at Avra are large, colorful, and built around premium produce. The Greek Salad is especially striking, loaded with tomatoes, cucumbers, feta, olive oil, and herbs in a presentation that feels far more elegant than the casual tavern version. Beet Salad, Israeli Salad, and Avra Champagne Salad add freshness and brightness to meals that may otherwise center around seafood and grilled dishes. I personally ate the Avra Champagne Salad and the dressing had a beautiful citrusy kick; it was light yet flavorful and you could really taste the champagne! These lighter items help the restaurant appeal equally to wellness-conscious diners and people looking for celebratory dinners.

It probably comes as no surprise that a lot of recipes come straight from Tsoulos’ family and that he’s a stickler for the freshest, finest ingredients. He reveals, “The family recipes go back centuries, and I also travel to Greece and spend several months there every summer sourcing our products. I know the farmers who make our olive oil in the Peloponnese and the farm in the mountains where our oregano is grown.  I have my hand in everything we source, and that’s what keeps our food authentic.”

The restaurant’s overall atmosphere leans towards being glamorous and social rather than quiet or rustic. Tables are often filled with fashion industry guests, professionals from nearby offices, tourists, and groups celebrating birthdays or special occasions. Because of the sleek decor and lively crowd, the room can feel almost like a scene from a luxury hotel in Mykonos transplanted into Manhattan.

The service is friendly and attentive, with servers often presenting fish tableside and guiding guests through the seafood selections. Speaking of seafood, the centerpiece of the main dining room is a giant open-air showcase of all types of fish on ice. It’s a real thing of beauty and if one catches your eye, point it out to your server. These beautiful fish (that include Snapper and Dorado) are sold by the pound and can be custom prepared.

FROM BAKLAVA TO BUTTER CAKE

Desserts continue the upscale tone of the meal while mixing Greek tradition with American steakhouse-style indulgence. Baklava remains a staple, bringing honey, nuts, and flaky pastry to the table in a refined presentation. At the same time, the restaurant also serves dramatic desserts like a towering sixteen-layer Chocolate Cake, Butter Cake, Coconut Cream Pie, and elaborate dessert platters. This combination allows diners to choose between Mediterranean restraint and over-the-top celebratory sweets. I partook of one of the dessert platters with my dining guest, and I would like to point out that not only is the Baklava about the most authentic that you will ever have but the Orange Cake is one of the resto’s “sleeper hits”—this ultra moist orange cake with a hint of a sweet liqueur will have you fantasizing about getting to eat it again for weeks to come!

Cocktails and wine are also central to the Avra experience. Martinis, Mediterraneaninspired drinks, and extensive wine offerings help give the restaurant a nightlife energy after dark. Many guests begin with cocktails at the bar before moving into dinner, and the sophisticated beverage program complements the glamorous interior design. During brunch on weekends, one of the most popular bar offerings is the Bloody Mary cart (I had no idea that Bloody Marys could be made so many different ways)!

Compared with many traditional Greek tavernas in New York, Avra’s 33rd & Ninth Avenue location feels more modern, polished, and fashion-oriented. It keeps classic Greek culinary foundations—olive oil, grilled seafood, fresh vegetables, lemon, herbs, and Mediterranean simplicity—but presents them in a luxurious Manhattan setting. For diners looking for a restaurant that combines elegant decor, impressive seafood displays, lively energy, and beautifully presented Greek cuisine near Hudson Yards and Penn Station, Avra has quickly become one of the area’s standout destinations.

It’s obvious that co-owner Nick Tsoulos and his team know what they’re doing and then some. He says with a smile, “This is a growing neighborhood that had a gap for a restaurant like Avra. There are a lot of restaurants in that area, but none with anything like what we offer.”

For more information on Avra Estiatorio, visit theavragroup.com/avra-9th-avenue

ON THE BIG SCREEN

By Jenny Peters

SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER FLICKS

DISCLOSURE DAY

PG-13

Steven Spielberg may be turning 80 in 2026, but the three-time Oscar winner hasn’t missed a step yet, still making movies that we all want to see on the big screen. “Disclosure Day” is the famed director’s first science-fiction flick since “War of the Worlds” in 2005, and this time he’s the one who came up with the story. The plot is being kept under wraps, but we know that Emily Blunt, Colin Firth, Josh O’Connor, Eve Hewson and Colman Domingo star and that it’s a fast-paced tale of alien visitors being on planet earth.

SCARY MOVIE

Not yet rated

MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE

PG-13

Prince Adam/He-Man returns in this big-budget reimagining of the 1980s Mattel Masters of the Universe toys and the popular animated series that followed. Now the Gen X and Millennial generations have their chance to return to their childhoods (and take their own kids along) in movie theaters to see this nostalgic return. Starring Nicolas Galitzine as the young man living on earth who discovers he’s from another planet and must return there to save it from the evil Skeletor (Jared Leto). With Idris Elba, Alison Brie, Kristen Wiig and Camila Mendes along for the adventure, this one’s made as much for the parents as it is for their tweener kids

The Wayans clan is back, returning to one of their biggest hits – and even calling it the same thing. The first “Scary Movie” hit 26 years ago, followed by four sequels; this one’s a sequel, too, but with many of the original cast back, including Anna Faris, Anthony Anderson, Cheri Oteri and Regina King, plus Marlon, Shawn and Kim Wayans. It’s still the same formula, a horror movie spoof of all the most popular recent horror movies, centering around Ghostface, a very bad guy named Ghostface. If you loved the original, this one’s for you.

TOY STORY 5

PG

SUPERGIRL

Not yet rated “Supergirl” returns to the big screen this summer, as Warner Bros. and DC Comics keeps up their rebooting of the most popular superheroes of the DC Universe. Milly Alcock of “Game of Thrones” fame takes on the lead role, as Superman’s cousin from Krypton, whole life is very different than his. In this adventure, she’s roaming the galaxy with her dog Krypto, while celebrating her birthday. Not surprisingly, things go wrong and she’s forced to use her superpowers to fight an evil menace. Watch for David Corenswet as Superman, Jason Momoa as Lobo and David Krumholtz as Supergirl’s dad in this special-effects laden superhero flick.

This is the one we’ve all been waiting for, as the wonderful Pixar “Toy Story” saga continues, helmed by Andrew Stanton, the mind behind the beloved franchise. In this latest chapter about the toys who are led by Woody, Buzz Lightyear and Jessie, there’s a new danger to the toys keeping kids happy and imaginative. That’s an electronic pad known as Lily Pad (voiced by Greta Lee), who is luring attention away from the joy of simply playing. Brought to life by the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack and more (Keanu Reeves, John Ratzenberger, Wallace Shawn and Annie Potts, the toys must find a way to live with technology. We know they will succeed!

ON THE SMALL SCREEN

THE

By Jenny Peters

DRAGONS RETURN

HOUSE OF THE DRAGON HBO

The almost-two-year wait is over, as “House of the Dragon” is finally back, continuing the pre-“Game of Thrones” saga of the House Targaryen dynasty. There is so much intrigue, and incest, and other twists to this tale that you may just want to rewatch Season Two to remember it all. Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen returns, along with Emma D’Arcy as Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, both determined to rule the Seven Kingdoms. The machinations in this family are endlessly fascinating, plus those dragon-fighting sequences are fantastic.

FEAR-FILLED DRAMAS

I WILL FIND YOU

Netflix

Sam Worthington stars in this adaptation of Harlen Coben’s 2023 novel, in a thriller about an escaped convict searching for his dead son, who just might be alive. Britt Lower of “Severance” fame and Milo Ventimiglia join in the action as this complicated mystery unfolds. Created by “Gotham” and “Gossip Girl” writer Robert Hull, this one’s got twists and turns you’ll never see coming (unless you read the book)!

NOT SUITABLE FOR WORK

Hulu

CAPE FEAR Apple TV+

Author John D. MacDonald might be surprised to discover that his brilliantly creepy 1957 novel is once again the subject of a Hollywood treatment, but as always, everything old is new again in Tinseltown. That’s why the story of a lawyer (Patrick Wilson), his wife (Amy Adams) and their maniacal ex-con stalker (Javier Bardem) is back as a series. It follows the 1962 Gregory Peck-Polly Bergen-Robert Mitchum film (our favorite) and the Nick Nolte-Jessica Lange-Robert De Niro 1991 movie version, this time told in 10 episodes. Leave the lights on while watching this one!

KOOKY COMEDIES

LIFE, LARRY AND THE PURSUIT OF UNHAPPINESS: AN ALMOST HISTORY OF AMERICA

HBO

Okay, who had Larry David and Barak Obama pairing up for a comedy series on their Bingo card? If you did, then you’re ready to watch this new sketch comedy show, filled with vignettes that focus on different moments of U.S. history (and how they would be perceived today). Obama produces, David stars, along with Jon Hamm, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Vince Vaughn, Bill Hader, Kathryn Hahn and a host of other famous faces along for the laughs.

Mindy Kaling seems to be the hardest working woman in show business right now, as the showrunner/writer of the hit HBO series “Running Point,” and doing the same for this new sitcom about a group of twentysomething friends trying to navigate work, life and love in New York City. If that sounds a bit like “Friends,” think of it as that, with people of color included and Mindy’s unique comedic flair. Ella Hunt stars, along with Avantika, Will Angus, Jack Martin and Nicolas Duvernay, while familiar faces like Victor Garber, Greg Germann, Constance Wu and Jay Ellis add to the mayhem.

BROADWAY BOB’S

THEATER REVIEWS

By Bob Massimi

THE RECEPTIONIST

“The Receptionist” by Adam Brock at the Signature Theatre tries to bring a different view on corporate America and really never gets going with any pace that makes it interesting.

The show features two time Tony winner Kate Finneran as Beverly Wilkins. Finneran is deft as the receptionist; she gossips, tells company secrets and is very upbeat and proud of her work area. The four character cast are all good at their roles and are not the problem with this show. It is Bock’s writing and Sarah Benson’s direction.

Other things make the show a bit of wonderment: the scenic design by dot is a 70’s design of an office. The furniture, the carpeting and the wall treatments scream 70’s and yet, the office has a fax machine, they talk about the internet and use various other modern equipment. The costumes too are confusing: Enver Chakartash has Beverly (Finneran) in 70’s clothes; Lorraine (Mallori Johnson) in 80’s fashion, and the men in 90’s wardrobes.

The monologue at the beginning of the play sets the tone of confusion right from the beginning; Nael Nacer as Edward Raymond, the head of the office, talks about hunting rabbits and fly fishing. It never makes sense to the audience. Why hunting and fishing? Why that speech; why this beginning? The ending with Beverly in the same box making a similar speech was equally as weak and confusing.

“The Receptionist” is a short play, 80 minutes; and with any real action in the play starting around 40 minutes into it, it made for a slow night at the theater! Bock would have been better off starting the play at a quicker pace, show the audience punishment for non conformity and then go from there. The writer gives us the plot which is about conformity way too late and way under delivered leaving the audience wanting much more to this play.

BECKY SHAW

Gina Gionfriddo writes a masterpiece in comedy with Broadway’s newest hit: “Becky Shaw” at The Hayes Theater. The laughs are abound in this two hour fifteen minute play which is directed by Trip Cullam and stars a host of great comedic actors.

Set in New York City, Boston and Providence, the action keeps taking on more comedy as the show goes on. From farce to everyday vernacular, the five actors deal with the absurd as well as problems that every audience member deals with or has dealt with. At times up is down and down is up and how the characters play it out through great direction is well worth the price of admission.

The staging was well thought out, the sets are creative (David Zinn). The play should have been on a turnstile, however. Some of the set changes were by stage hands as well as the actors and I thought it cheapened the play to some degree. Stacey Derosier’s lighting was done well. From the glam to the edgy, Derosier hits this play well and backstopped the mood excellently with the various changes given throughout the play.

In the riches to rags senerio, Susan Slater (Linda Edmond) has been left little money by her dead husband. Her adopted son, (well sort of adopted), tries to navigate her finances only to be questioned by his half sister Suzanna (Lauren Patten). Even her husband has an opinion on what should be done to salvage what the family has left. The husband, Andrew (Patrick Ball) wants to give up his job for his long reaching dream job.

It is when Becky Shaw (Madeline Brewer) comes into the play when the play takes on a whole new comedic take. Shaw is unorthodox, uncertain about herself and eager to get along with people. She has a penchant for getting under Max’s skin even though everyone else likes her, feels sorry for her. Brewer’s practical use of comedy is superb- it makes the show tick. As the spring season wraps up, “Becky Shaw” is one of the highlights of this season! The play has a terrific plot and the laughs make it that much brighter.

JOE TURNER’S COME AND GONE

When it comes to August Wilson I think more about “Fences” or “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” than I do about “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone”. Not that “Joe Turner” is a bad play, it just isn’t a stand out.

August Wilson wrote 10 seminal cycle plays which cover AfricanAmerican history and almost all take place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Wilson’s plays tend to get violent at some point of the play; “Fences”, “The Piano Lesson”... Here in “Joe Turner”, the plot in both acts tends to get slow at certain points.

The cast in this play is very good, from: Cedric as Seth Holly, Ruben Santiago as Bynum Walker and Taraji Henson as Bertha Holly. Under good direction by Debbie Allen, the play takes us back to 1911 in a segregated time where Negros take jobs in factories, they do what they can to survive; all the while keeping their traditions alive.

David Gallo may very well win best set at the Tonys this year. The set resonated, and had the audience in awe at this brilliant design. Gallo gave us the boarding house feel and the outside of where these characters went to work as well. The dual scenery made the play more interesting visually.

In other plays by Wilson, the story tends to flow a little better at the end. With “Joe Turner”, near the ending with Herald Loomis (Joshua Boone), where he goes into this trans that makes no sense, it is “The Binder”, Byrum Walker who saves him. At the very end of the play, the long winded speech by Loomis is not that inspiring, and it falls short of what could have been said.

The play for the most part does work. Several reasons why it has been acclaimed by critics and audiences alike is the feel to the play. As I mentioned the scenic design takes you back in time, but so does the lighting by Stacy Derosier, the deft costuming by Paul Tazewell. The costumes are on the money for the era; from the suspenders on Seth, to the overcoat on Loomis, Derosier is brilliant by the way the costuming is done. The lighting with the soft blues gives an era feel to the play, almost a soulful feel to the play.

What Wilson does best is certainly prevalent here; he makes us see what the characters are going through in their lives, in that period of time. He has been consistent in his seminal plays in that he creates the mood, the melodrama well. It is in this play, however, that I think he gets carried away with the climax, as well as the falling action.

THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW

“The Rocky Horror Show” has played at least three times. I say three times because I am sure it played in 1978, 2000 and now at Studio 54. In the 2000 rendition I saw Joan Jett as Magenta, and now it is being played by Hollywood actress Juliet Lewis.

“The Rocky Horror Show” is a cult classic; made so by the West Village in New York City in the mid 70’s. Playing around most Cities around the United States at midnight, the movie was a staple up until the mid to late 80’s around the country.

Originally written as a serious piece, writer Richard O’Brien was hurt that his movie became a less than serious body of work. He was dismayed that people would show up to “Rocky” and throw things at the movie screen and yell out obscenities at the actors. . Every Friday night people would dress up, wait in line to watch Brad, Janet, Rocky and Frank-N-Furter bandy about on the big screen.

For the people attending the “Rocky HorrorShow” at the legendary Studio 54, this musical is more than a musical... It was a way of life for most, and hearing a similarity between Luke Evans and Tim Curry’s voices, it gave pause to the old days of when Curry belted out the songs on the big screen, much to the audience’s satisfaction.

Studio 54 was dressed up nicely for this timeless classic; and what better theater than 54 for a show like this one! And the show did not disappoint either! From the choreography (Ani Taj) to the costumes (David I. Reynoso) and the direction of Sam Pinkleton, these three were the driving force behind the gitchy, glam musical, Dots would do the scenic design and it too was memorable. Dots captured the personality of this cult classic. The scenery was a huge part of this musical. Even more so, the lighting by Jane Cox was magnificent. Cox had the lighting in an almost carnival atmosphere also matching the personality of this upbeat show. Brian Ronan too with his sound design is very broad and creative.

“The Rocky Horror Show” is a fun show. The songs, the dancing and the narration will stick to you for a long time. Like the movie, this musical pokes fun at itself even if it wasn’t Mr. O’Briens Intention!

CHUCK CONNELLY’S COLISEUM RETURNS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

A MONUMENTAL 1994 CANVAS REEMERGES IN TRIBECA AFTER 21 YEARS IN STORAGE

By Lillian Langtry

One Art Space unveils Coliseum, a commanding large-scale work by the late American painter Chuck Connelly, offering New York audiences a rare encounter with one of his most powerful canvases.

After more than two decades away from public view, Chuck Connelly’s Coliseum has returned with the kind of force that only a monumental painting can command. Now on display at One Art Space in Tribeca, the 1994 oil on canvas measures an imposing 108 by 90 inches, surrounding the viewer not simply with scale, but with the emotional intensity that defined Connelly’s career.

For collectors, curators, and longtime admirers of American painting, the reemergence of Coliseum is more than an exhibition moment. It is a rare chance to stand before a major work that has spent 21 years in storage, unseen by the broader public and removed from the shifting conversations around contemporary art. Its return invites a fresh look at Connelly’s restless, expressive vision and the place his work continues to hold in the American art landscape.

Connelly, who died in 2024, was known for paintings that refused easy description. His work could be beautiful, unsettling, funny, dark, intimate, and theatrical—often all at once. That complexity is part of what made him such a singular presence. He painted with an urgency that seemed to turn the canvas into a stage, where color, gesture, and subject collided in ways that felt both deeply personal and defiantly public.

Coliseum captures that tension. The title alone suggests spectacle, history, conflict, and performance. In Connelly’s hands, those ideas become something visceral. The painting’s grand dimensions create a physical encounter, asking viewers to feel the weight of the image before they begin to interpret it. It is not a quiet work. It confronts, absorbs, and lingers.

The unveiling at One Art Space drew an audience that included Adrienne Connelly, MayAnn Giella McCulloh, Mei Fung, Sencheng Zhang, David Hochberg, Ford Crull, Alexander Von Busch, Charles Coleman, and Billy McCulloh, underscoring the continued interest surrounding Connelly’s life, legacy, and body of work.

The presentation also speaks to One Art Space’s role as a downtown gallery willing to give significant works the room and attention they require. In an art world often driven by what is new, the return of Coliseum offers a different kind of urgency: the rediscovery of a painting that has been waiting, quietly but not passively, to be encountered again. Its scale and intensity make it especially suited to a city like New York, where art is expected to hold its ground, provoke a response, and remain in conversation long after the first viewing

For New York audiences, the return of Coliseum is a reminder that important works do not lose their power in storage. Sometimes, they gather it. Seen now, decades after its creation, the painting offers not only a look back at Connelly’s artistic force, but also an invitation to reconsider how fiercely alive his work remains.

For more information, visit www.chuckconnelly.org

Photos: SIPA for AP Images / Dave Warren

ART TAKES THE WALDORF ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

MVVO ART BRINGS ITS 2026 SHOW TO THE WALDORF DURING ARMORY WEEK

By Lillian Langtry

MvVO ART will present its 2026 exhibition at Waldorf Astoria New York during Armory Week, creating a high-profile showcase for contemporary artists in partnership with the legendary hotel and Guerlain Wellness Spa.

New York’s art calendar is getting a new destination moment.

MvVO ART has announced that its 2026 show will take place at Waldorf Astoria New York from September 21st through 27th, bringing contemporary art into one of the city’s most storied hotels during Armory Week. Presented in partnership with Waldorf Astoria New York and Guerlain Wellness Spa, the exhibition will unite artists, collectors, cultural leaders, and visitors at a time when the city is already alive with international attention.

Timed to coincide with both Armory Week and the United Nations General Assembly, the MvVO ART SHOW 2026 is positioned to reach a global audience. The exhibition will feature artists from MvVO ART’s established creative community, along with new voices selected through an open call running from May 1st through June 27th, 2026.

For artists, the opportunity is significant. MvVO ART has built its reputation by presenting contemporary work in highly visible New York locations, placing artists not only in galleries, but in the cultural and commercial spaces where the city meets the world. Past exhibitions have appeared at Sotheby’s, Times Square, Powerhouse Arts, the Oculus at the World Trade Center, and the New York Stock Exchange, giving participating artists access to audiences that extend beyond the traditional art world.

Founded in 2018, MvVO ART has grown into a large and engaged creative platform, working with more than 500 artists across disciplines. Its mission centers on connecting people through art, while creating opportunities for artists, brands, collectors, and cultural partners to engage in meaningful ways. Through exhibitions, private events, and initiatives such as The Collector Circle, the organization has cultivated an ecosystem that brings together artists, curators, collectors, and business leaders.

The Waldorf Astoria setting adds a new layer of history and prestige to that mission. Long associated with elegance, hospitality, diplomacy, and cultural exchange, the hotel offers a dramatic backdrop for contemporary art. The partnership also signals the renewed cultural energy surrounding the Waldorf as it continues to reclaim its place as a gathering point for New Yorkers and visitors alike.

“Bringing a contemporary art exhibition to Waldorf Astoria New York reflects our commitment to serving as a cultural beacon for locals and travelers to the city,” said Luigi Romaniello, Managing Director, Waldorf Astoria New York. “The hotel has a longstanding history of being a place for connection and our partnership with MvVO ART will bring artists and audiences together at the hotel in dynamic and meaningful ways.”

The collaboration with Guerlain Wellness Spa, part of the LVMH portfolio, further deepens the cultural connection. Guerlain’s legacy of artistic patronage aligns naturally with an exhibition designed to elevate contemporary artists within a luxury environment, creating an experience that links beauty, wellness, hospitality, and visual culture.

The 2026 exhibition will include a curated selection of artists working across a range of mediums. Final selections will be made by the MvVO ART Selection Committee, composed of leading collectors and art professionals. For artists entering through the open call, the show offers the chance to be seen in a landmark venue during one of the most important art weeks in New York.

“This collaboration reflects our commitment to connecting people through art and presenting artists in environments that elevate both their work and the way it is experienced, while creating opportunities for direct engagement with a global, influential audience,” said Maria van Vlodrop, Founder and CEO of MvVO ART.

At its core, the MvVO ART SHOW 2026 is about more than a venue. It reflects a broader shift in how contemporary art is experienced in New York—outside of expected spaces, inside iconic environments, and in conversation with the people, brands, institutions, and audiences that shape culture.

For more information, visit www.mvvoart.com

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.

GLOBAL ART MEETS TRIBECA ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

ONE ART SPACE WELCOMED ARTIST TALK MAGAZINE’S INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION

By Lillian Langtry

One Art Space hosted Artist Talk Magazine’s New York exhibition in Tribeca, bringing international artists, collectors, and cultural tastemakers together, with a Times Square digital showcase extending the celebration across the city.

Tribeca’s One Art Space welcomed an international art crowd for the opening reception of Artist Talk Magazine’s New York exhibition, bringing artists, collectors, curators, and cultural supporters together for an evening of contemporary art and conversation.

Held at the gallery’s 23 Warren Street location, the exhibition featured work by 51 artists from around the world. The show reflected a wide range of contemporary practice, including painting, photography, abstraction, conceptual art, mixed media, and visual storytelling. More than a traditional gallery presentation, the exhibition was designed as a platform for creative dialogue, giving global artists a place to be seen within one of New York’s most active downtown art communities.

The collaboration between One Art Space and Artist Talk Magazine felt especially fitting. Artist Talk Magazine has built its platform around the belief that every artist has a story to share, while One Art Space has long served as a Tribeca venue where emerging voices and established names can meet. Together, the exhibition created a space where artists from different countries, backgrounds, and disciplines could enter into a broader cultural conversation.

The New York presentation also reached beyond the gallery walls. On May 7th, Artist Talk Magazine presented a Times Square digital showcase featuring work by 23 artists on a billboard at 1560 Broadway, between 46th and 47th streets. Measuring 31 feet high by 55 feet wide, the display ran four times per hour from midnight until 11:00pm, placing participating artists before one of the city’s most visible public audiences

Times Square moment gave the exhibition a distinctly New York energy. In Tribeca, guests experienced the work in an intimate gallery setting. In Times Square, the artists were projected into the movement and spectacle of the city itself, where art met public life on one of the world’s most recognizable stages.

Notable attendees included MaryAnn Giella McCulloh, Mei Fung, Grant Milne, Alexia Gaglia, Baskin Miyuki Nakajima, Rashmi Rao, Turner-Thomson, Marcia Bianchi, Joanna Koutsos, Rosemary Coan, Adrienne Connelly, and Billy McCulloh.

Opened in 2011, One Art Space has become a distinctive downtown venue led by co-owner and gallerist MaryAnn Giella McCulloh and Mei Fung. With its ground-level glass façade and versatile exhibition space, the gallery continues to support both museum-caliber and emerging artists while creating room for new artistic voices to enter the city’s cultural landscape.

For Artist Talk Magazine, the exhibition continued a mission rooted in visibility, storytelling, and artistic exchange. For One Art Space, it reaffirmed the gallery’s role as a place where the established figures of art and the visionaries of its future can share the same room.

For more information on One Art Space, visit www.oneartspace.com

For more information on Artist Talk Magazine, visit www.artisttalkmagazine.com

Photos: SIPA USA for AP / Dave Warren

A VIENNESE NIGHT IN NEW YORK

THE VIENNESE OPERA BALL MARKED 70 YEARS WITH MOZART, MUSIC, AND MAGIC

By Clara Morgan

New York stepped into old-world Vienna as the Viennese Opera Ball celebrated its 70th anniversary with Mozart, masquerade, debutantes, and a glittering tribute to Austrian culture.

For one evening, New York stepped into the dreamscape of old Vienna.

The 70th Viennese Opera Ball transformed Cipriani 42nd Street into a world of white-tie elegance, music, pageantry, and masquerade, celebrating not only seven decades of one of the city’s most enduring cultural traditions, but also the 270th anniversary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. This year’s theme, “A Magical Night, a Fairy Masquerade Ball,” marked the first time the New York gala embraced a masquerade concept, drawing inspiration from Mozart’s beloved opera The Magic Flute.

The result was an evening that felt less like a formal gala and more like a grand cultural tableau. Guests arrived in gowns, tails, masks, and jewels, entering a space where ceremony and fantasy met in true Viennese fashion. The Ball has long been known for bringing the refinement of 19th-century Vienna into the heart of New York, but this anniversary celebration carried an added sense of occasion. It honored history while allowing the tradition to feel newly alive.

Held under the auspices of the U.S. Austrian Chamber of Commerce, the gala was led by Gala Chair Jean Shafiroff, President and Executive Director Silvia Frieser, Artistic Director Daniel Serafin, and H.E. Petra Schneebauer, Ambassador of Austria to the United States. The evening also acknowledged the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States, framing the Ball as more than a social event. It was a celebration of the long friendship between Austria and America, a relationship expressed through music, diplomacy, philanthropy, and shared cultural appreciation.

At its heart, however, the Viennese Opera Ball remains a love letter to music. This year’s program brought together an extraordinary group of artists, including two-time Grammy Award winner Angel Blue, two-time Grammy nominee Lawrence Brownlee, Hera Hyesang Park, Adam Smith, and Golda Zahra. Their presence gave the anniversary evening a true operatic grandeur, reminding guests that beneath the glamour and spectacle lies the Ball’s deepest purpose: preserving and promoting Austria’s artistic legacy.

A special ballet performance by Liudmila Konovalova, principal dancer of the Vienna State Opera, added another layer of grace to the evening. The Viennese Opera Ball Orchestra, under the direction of concertmaster Maestro Rainer Sulzgruber, provided the musical foundation, surrounding the celebration with the sweep, romance, and precision that define the Viennese tradition.

One of the evening’s most anticipated moments was the formal presentation of the debutantes and their escorts. Choreographed by Sandra Stockmayer of Dancing School Svabek, the presentation upheld a tradition that has remained central to the Ball’s identity for generations. Among this year’s 16 debutantes were Miss New York Teen USA Ginger Ragaishis and Gabriela Ortega, whose poise reflected the elegance and discipline associated with the ceremony.

The Ball’s rituals continued late into the evening, from the formal dinner and dancing to the beloved Midnight Quadrille, a lively tradition that invites guests onto the floor and turns the room into a shared celebration. It is in those moments that the Viennese Opera Ball reveals its particular magic.

The evening may be formal, but it is never distant. It is glamorous, but not static. Its traditions are carefully preserved, yet they come alive through movement, music, and participation.

To mark the 70th anniversary, the Ball also revived a cherished Viennese custom by presenting commemorative fans to the ladies of the Ball. This year’s fan was newly designed by Austrian artist Pablo Meier-Schomburg, adding a special keepsake to an already historic evening.

The international guest list reflected the Ball’s unique role at the intersection of society, diplomacy, philanthropy, fashion, and the arts. Notable attendees included Jean Shafiroff, Silvia Frieser, Daniel Serafin, Ambassador Petra Schneebauer, Juergen Czernohorszky, Thomas Schlesinger, Susanne KepplerSchlesinger, Nicholas Harnik, Maribel Lieberman, Rebecca Seawright, Baroness Lulu Sezercan Dalkanat, designer Bibhu Mohapatra, Wolfgang Koechert, Thibaud Artur De La Villarmois, Ginger Ragaishis, Juliet Ragaishis, Sandra Stockmayer, Roman Svabek, Irwin Trester, Sylvia Hemingway, Joseph Fichera, Agnieszka and Wiltold Balaban, Juliana Dancanet, Kristin Beattie, Laine Siklos, Suzanne Amini, Stephen and Debi Harnik, Noreen Donovan, Fer Da Silva, Nicole Chessin, Christopher Leake, Emily Mohr, Diana Bocsha, Gabriela Ortega, and Marie Mannix.

Over its 70-year history, the Viennese Opera Ball of New York has supported numerous charitable and cultural organizations, including Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation, Carnegie Hall, Special Olympics, Ronald McDonald House, Feed Foundation, CARE, and SOS Children’s Villages. For this anniversary year, the Ball returned to its cultural roots with a renewed focus on Austrian heritage, Austrian American relations, young musicians, emerging artists, and cultural initiatives in both countries.

That mission gives the evening its lasting meaning. Beyond the gowns, waltzes, masks, and candlelit glamour, the Viennese Opera Ball continues to serve as a bridge between eras and continents. It connects New York City with Vienna, tradition with the present, and established artistry with the next generation of performers.

Seventy years after its founding in New York, the Ball remains a rare kind of cultural event: elegant without feeling merely ornamental, historic without feeling frozen in time. This year, with Mozart as its muse and The Magic Flute as its inspiration, the Viennese Opera Ball offered a reminder that beauty, ceremony, and music still have the power to transform a room—and, for one enchanted night, an entire city.

For more information, visit www.vienneseoperaball.com

YOUNG ANGELS TAKE FLIGHT

GABRIELLE’S ANGEL FOUNDATION GALA RALLIED YOUNG PATRONS FOR CANCER RESEARCH

By Clara Morgan

The 2026 Young Angels Gala brought New York’s next generation of philanthropists, tastemakers, and supporters together at Crane Club for an evening benefiting Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research

New York’s young philanthropy set stepped out with purpose for the 2026 Young Angels Gala, an evening that brought fashion, nightlife, and charitable giving together in support of Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research.

Held Monday, April 27th at Crane Club in Manhattan, the annual gala gathered the city’s next generation of supporters for a night of cocktails, music, passed appetizers, and celebration, all centered on a mission that has guided the Foundation for three decades: funding innovative cancer research and helping advance less toxic treatments for patients with leukemia, lymphoma, and related blood cancers.

Hosted by Bianca Peters, Emmy-winning news anchor for Fox 5 NY, the evening honored Elaine Chamberlain, founder and CEO of LÁYN and the Stay in Your LÁYN Foundation. With a whimsical black-tie dress code and a guest list that crossed philanthropy, fashion, entertainment, and social circles, the gala had the polished energy of a New York night out, but with a deeper sense of purpose behind every toast.

Presented by Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation’s Young Professionals Committee, the Young Angels Gala continues to play an important role in expanding the Foundation’s reach. By engaging younger donors, advocates, and cultural leaders, the event helps ensure that the organization’s work remains visible, vital, and supported by a rising generation of philanthropists

That mission is especially meaningful as Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation celebrates its 30th anniversary. Since its founding in 1996, the Foundation has awarded more than $47 million in grants, making it one of the largest non-governmental sources of support for blood cancer research in the nation. On average, eighty-eight cents of every dollar raised directly funds research, underscoring the Foundation’s commitment to moving resources where they matter most.

The evening also reflected the Foundation’s ability to bring serious philanthropic purpose into a contemporary social setting. Music by David Katz, Neil Jackson, Tokyo Rose, and Jordan Emanuel kept the atmosphere lively, while special contributions from Danielle Rose Fisher, Jorge Torrealba, magician and mentalist Nadav Roet, and Autumn Spiritual Solutions added entertainment throughout the night.

The event was founded by Ayaan Ahmed, with Andrew Warren, Becca Morris, Hugh Barton, and Louie Torrellas serving as founding chairs. Co-chairs included Adriana Ingenito, Alana Kramer, Aleksandra Sasha Tikhomirova, Alexandrea Lafata, Alex Pita, Anjali Peddanna, Anne Li, Catherina Davius, Christina Lo, Cody Chambers, Eric Lerner, Eugenia Bullock, Fer Da Silva, Francesca Minieri, Gabe Galper, Gabriella Oros, Isabella Sylvester, Jason Naylor, Julia Lindenthal, Kyle Persaud, Kseniya Shyrokava, Lauren Summa, Lidiya Oros, Lindsay Karp, Nancy Moeller, Nicoletta Kolpakov, Nicolette Cortez, Renato Ochoa, Ross Pino, Samantha Goldstein, Sarah Amster, Shirin Lofti, and Vikrant Patel.

Notable attendees included Denise Rich, Bianca Peters, Harvey Spevak, Elaine Chamberlain, Melissa Gorga, Joe Gorga, Mike Muse, Sabina Plestinova, Nicole Maddie, Noah Neiman, Brittany Allyn, Shermin Lakha, Mike Masco, Heloise Pratt, Jon Stevens, Millie Waislitz, and Alex Lundqvist.

Sponsors included Reve Travel, DCS Services, LVH, Muscari, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, LALO Tequila, HRLM Champagne, Apres Caviar, Lyre’s Mocktail, Happy Dad, Tres Chicon, Hamptons Muse, Spring 44 Gin, Jefferson’s Whisky, Pernod Ricard, and Treveri Cellars Prosecco. Sweets were provided by Rami Chocolates, Caffe Napoli, Baked by Melissa, and Let’s Sprinkle by MG.

At its heart, the Young Angels Gala is more than a stylish benefit. It is a reminder that philanthropy can be both joyful and powerful, especially when a new generation chooses to gather, give, and carry the mission forward.

For more information, visit www.gabriellesangels.org

BEAT THE HEAT

SPOT PET’S GUIDE TO SUMMER PET SAFETY AND HEAT EXHAUSTION

By Abby Hendrickson

Summertime brings plenty of opportunities for fun in the sun, but rising temperatures also introduce serious health risks for our furry companions. Pets don’t regulate heat the same way humans do, making them highly susceptible to heat-related illnesses. When a pet’s body temperature climbs too high, it can quickly escalate from mild heat stress to moderate heat exhaustion, and ultimately to life-threatening heat stroke.

Some pets are at an even higher risk. Brachycephalic breeds (like pugs and French bulldogs) face distinct challenges cooling down due to their short muzzles. Similarly, very young pups, senior pets, thick-coated breeds, or those managing conditions like obesity and heart disease require extra vigilance.

Recognizing the Signs of Overheating

Recognizing the subtle, early signs of heat stress can save your pet’s life. Keep a close eye out for:

• Heavy panting or labored breathing

• Excessive drooling or thick saliva

• Dry or bright red gums

• Restlessness, frequent stopping, or lying down during walks

• Vomiting or diarrhea

• Lethargy, dizziness, or muscle tremors

If your pet collapses or shows severe distress, seek veterinary care immediately.

Tips to Keep Your Pets Safe Fortunately, a few simple precautions can ensure your pet enjoys a safe, happy summer:

1. Provide Constant Water and Shade: Ensure your pet always has access to ample drinkable water and a cool indoor area or shaded retreat. For an extra hydration boost, try switching your pet to wet food during the summer months.

2. Adjust Exercise Routines: Avoid strenuous exercise and limit outdoor activities to the cooler morning or evening hours. Avoid prolonged exposure to hot surfaces like pavement or sand, which can severely burn sensitive paws.

3. Never Leave Pets in a Parked Car: Even with the windows cracked, cars heat up dangerously fast. Leaving a pet in a parked car for even a few minutes can lead to fatal heat exhaustion.

4. Protect Their Coats and Skin: Never shave your pet’s fur; their coats have insulating properties that naturally slow down heat absorption. Instead, stick to frequent brushing. To protect against sunburn and skin cancer, apply pet-specific sunscreen to exposed areas like the nose and ears every few hours.

If you suspect your pet is overheating, move them to a cool area. Pour cool (not freezing) water over their head, stomach, and paws, offer water to drink without forcing it, and contact your veterinarian right away.

For more information visit spotpet.com

PAWS IN THE CITY

NEW YORK’S BEST HOTELS FOR PET TRAVELERS

By Stacey Keyes

New York City has a reputation for being demanding, expensive, and occasionally indifferent to outsiders. But here’s a secret the city’s millions of dog owners already know: New York is one of the most pet-welcoming metropolises in the world. Dog runs dot nearly every neighborhood, off-leash hours fill Central Park with gleeful chaos each morning, and an increasing number of the city’s finest hotels have decided that a guest’s four-legged companion deserves the same attentive hospitality as their human counterpart. Whether you’re visiting for a weekend or settling in for a longer stay, here’s where to book when you refuse to leave your pet behind.

LOEWS REGENCY NEW YORK HOTEL

No conversation about pet-friendly hotels in New York can begin anywhere but the Loews Regency. Perched on Park Avenue on the Upper East Side, just steps from Central Park, the Regency holds a singular distinction: it was the first national hotel chain to launch a dedicated pet program when it introduced “Loews Loves Pets” back in 2000. More than two decades later, that program remains one of the most comprehensive in the business.

Dogs and cats of any size are welcome to an array of special bedding, leashes, collars, water bowls, treats, and doggie pick-up bags. The real showstopper, however, is the gourmet in-room pet room service menu, prepared by the hotel’s own culinary team. Think beef with brown rice, peas, and carrots, or locally sourced fish with ground flaxseed, rolled oats, and carrots — restaurant-quality meals for your pup, delivered to your door. Pet-walking and pet-sitting services can also be arranged for those long days of meetings or sightseeing. Pet fees apply.

Info: www.loewshotels.com/regency-hotel

THE PLAZA HOTEL

If the Loews Regency is the pioneer, The Plaza is the icon. This 1907 landmark — beloved by everyone from literary character Eloise to the Beatles — sits at the southern corner of Central Park and recently earned a spot on USA TODAY’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards list of Best Pet-Friendly Hotels.

What makes The Plaza remarkable is not just its gilded chandeliers and crystal-adorned Palm Court, but its unexpectedly generous pet policy: two dogs of any size are welcome per room, and the hotel charges no extra pet fee — a genuinely unusual grace in a city where every amenity typically carries a price.

The Plaza’s Canine Companions Package includes food and water bowls and a plush dog bed, and the concierge can source forgotten leashes or treats at a moment’s notice. With Central Park’s morning offleash zones immediately outside, your dog will feel as well-catered as you.

Info: www.theplazany.com/pet-program

THE PIERRE, A TAJ HOTEL

At The Pierre, distinguished guests come in all shapes and sizes. Perched at the corner of Fifth Avenue and East 61st Street, The Pierre, A Taj Hotel, has long set the standard for New York luxury — and that extends to its canine guests. Dogs up to 15 lbs. are warmly welcomed with a pet fee upon reservation.

Arrivals are met with specialty dog beds, homemade treats, and custom food and water bowls, all provided at the front desk. In-room dining extends to pets too, with a personalized canine room-service menu — because of course it does. Guests are encouraged to call ahead so the team can arrange any additional needs before arrival.

Location may be the greatest amenity of all. Central Park sits at the hotel’s doorstep — ideal for morning strolls — and a dedicated pet relief area is within easy walking distance. Verified service animals are always exempt from fees. Dogs should not be left unattended in rooms.

KIMPTON HOTEL EVENTI

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants has long been celebrated for redefining what pet-friendly travel means in practice, and its Midtown property, Hotel Eventi, takes that philosophy to its logical extreme. The hotel charges no pet fees, imposes no weight limits, and places no restrictions on the number of pets per room — a policy as rare as it is refreshing. In-room water bowls and walking bags are standard; plush pet beds are available on request. The on-site concierge maintains a curated list of nearby dog-friendly spots, groomers, and parks, making it easy for you and your four-legged friend.

Info: www.hoteleventi.com/new-york-boutique-hotels/pet-friendly

ARTHOUSE HOTEL

For travelers who prefer a more intimate, neighborhood feel, the charming ArtHouse Hotel on the Upper West Side offers a thoughtfully designed pet experience through its exclusive “Arthouse Pooch Package.” Pets are pampered with dog beds and gourmet treats from Posh Pup Treats, and the hotel’s location gives easy access to both Riverside Park and Central Park — two of the best urban green spaces in the country for dogs. Info: arthousenyc.com

SONGBOOK BY THE SEA RETURNS

THE HAMPTONS CONCERT SERIES PREVIEWED ITS SUMMER SEASON IN NEW YORK

By Clara Morgan

Hamptons Summer Songbook By the Sea returned to New York City for its 3rd Annual Friendraiser, bringing cabaret, Broadway, and American songbook favorites to The Triad Theatre in support of LTV Studios.

Hamptons Summer Songbook By the Sea brought a touch of East End elegance to Manhattan with its 3rd Annual NYC Friendraiser, an evening of live music, celebration, and support for LTV Studios. Held at The Triad Theatre, the event offered guests a lively preview of the acclaimed concert series’ 2026 summer season while spotlighting the artists and supporters who continue to make the program one of the Hamptons’ most distinctive cultural offerings.

Hosted by co-producers Donna Rubin and LTV Creative Director Josh Gladstone, the annual friendraiser gathered leading cabaret artists, Broadway performers, music lovers, and longtime friends of LTV for an intimate evening rooted in performance and community. The event served as a prelude to the upcoming Hamptons Summer Songbook By the Sea season, scheduled to run from Sunday, June 28th through Saturday, August 29th at LTV’s Studio Three Theater in Wainscott.

The program opened with award-winning performer Barbara Fasano, whose “A Swellegant, Elegant Party” set the tone with polish, wit, and warmth. Laurence Maslon, host and producer of WLIW-FM’s Broadway to Main Street, continued the evening’s Broadwaycentered spirit, followed by journalist and broadcaster David Alpern, who introduced acclaimed singer-pianist Eric Yves Garcia for a Rodgers and Hart tribute. Lifestyle personality Pamela Morgan added a culinary-minded turn with “I Can Cook Too.”

Cabaret icon KT Sullivan, artistic director of The Mabel Mercer Foundation, spoke about the foundation’s enduring mission before joining Mark Nadler and Stephanie Pope for a spirited closing sequence. Nadler, an award-winning entertainer and pianist, and Pope, a Broadway veteran whose credits include Chicago, Fosse, and Kiss of the Spider Woman, helped bring the evening to a festive finish with selections spanning Sondheim, Kander and Ebb, Lerner and Loewe, and American songbook favorites.

Following closing remarks from Rubin and Gladstone, the cast gathered for a group photo before guests continued the celebration at a post-show reception downstairs. Notable attendees included Donna Rubin, Josh Gladstone, Laurence Maslon, Barbara Fasano, David Alpern, Eric Yves Garcia, Mark Nadler, Stephanie Pope, KT Sullivan, Jean Shafiroff, and Carmen D’Alessio.

Produced by Rubin and Gladstone, Hamptons Summer Songbook By the Sea transforms LTV’s industrial-chic television studio into an intimate performance venue with state-of-the-art lighting, superb acoustics, café-style seating, modular staging, and a Baby Grand piano. The series offers audiences a front-row seat to legendary music interpreted by today’s finest performers.

For more information, visit www.ltveh.org

A TOAST TO SOUTHAMPTON HISTORY

JEAN SHAFIROFF HOSTS A NEW YORK RECEPTION AHEAD OF THE HALSEY HOUSE GALA

By Clara Morgan

Philanthropist Jean Shafiroff welcomed supporters to her New York City home for an elegant reception celebrating the Southampton History Museum and its upcoming Halsey House Gala.

A TOAST TO SOUTHAMPTON HISTORY

Jean Shafiroff hosts a New York reception ahead of the Halsey House Gala Philanthropist, author, and television host Jean Shafiroff recently opened her New York City home for a private reception in support of the Southampton History Museum and its upcoming Halsey House Gala. The annual benefit, which Shafiroff will co-chair with Mary Slattery, will take place on July 3, 2026, at the historic Halsey

HOUSE & GARDEN IN SOUTHAMPTON

The evening brought together friends, supporters, civic leaders, designers, and members of New York’s philanthropic community for cocktails, conversation, and a celebration of Southampton’s enduring cultural heritage. The reception served as an elegant lead-in to one of the Hamptons’ notable summer benefits, while also drawing attention to the museum’s mission of preserving and interpreting the history of Southampton through its historic sites, collections, exhibitions, and educational programs.

Located in one of Long Island’s most storied villages, the Southampton History Museum plays an important role in connecting residents and visitors to the architecture, artifacts, and stories that have shaped the East End for generations. Its work is especially resonant as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, a milestone that will be reflected in this year’s Halsey House Gala.

The 2026 gala will be held on the grounds of Halsey House, one of the oldest dwellings in New York State. Guests can expect an evening of cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, a raw bar, live music, and support for the preservation of Southampton’s history. For Shafiroff, whose philanthropic work spans New York City, the Hamptons, and beyond, the museum’s mission reflects the importance of protecting local heritage while keeping it relevant for future generations.

During the reception, Jean Shafiroff and the Southampton History Museum were presented with Citations from the New York State Assembly by Jerry Kremer, recognizing their contributions to preservation, culture, and civic engagement.

Shafiroff has long been recognized as one of New York’s leading philanthropic figures. She is the author of Successful Philanthropy: How To Make A Life By What You Give and host of the television program Successful Philanthropy. A dedicated volunteer fundraiser and nonprofit leader, she serves on the boards of numerous charitable organizations and chairs multiple galas each year. Her charitable commitments include women’s rights, underserved communities, health care, animal welfare, cultural preservation, and the arts.

Her current board affiliations include the French Heritage Society, Southampton Hospital Foundation, NYC Mission Society, Couture Council of the Museum at FIT, New York Women’s Foundation, Casita Maria, Global Strays, and the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation Honorary Board. She also serves on the Advisory Board of the Historical Society of Palm Beach County and is an honorary trustee of the Jewish Board, where she served for 28 years.

Notable attendees at the reception included Jean Shafiroff, Sarah Kautz, Frederick Anderson, Kobi Halpern, Malan Breton, Victor dE Souza, Maurizio Mauro, Ron Dyce, Averitt Buttrey, Mary Slattery, Marc Rosen, Jerry Kremer, Suzan Kremer, Patrick McMullan, Marilyn Kirschner, Alex Hamer, and Margo Langenberg.

For more information, visit jeanshafiroff.com and southamptonhistory.org

THE NEW YORK WOMEN’S FOUNDATION

CELEBRATES LEADERS MOVING THE CITY FORWARD AT THE ANNUAL CELEBRATING WOMEN® BREAKFAST

By Clara Morgan

The annual event honored Valerie Jarrett, Jeannie Park, Leah Greenberg and The National Philanthropic Collaborative of Young Women’s Initiatives.

Park, Board Chair of the Korean American Community Foundation, with the Vision Award. Leah Greenberg, co-Founder and co-Executive Director of the Indivisible Project, and The National Philanthropic Collaborative of Young Women’s Initiatives received the Celebrating Women® Award.

For nearly 40 years, the Celebrating Women Breakfast has brought The Foundation’s community together in support of community partners and the ongoing work to advance gender, racial and economic justice. This year’s event reflected The Foundation’s continued commitment to women, girls, and gender-expansive people and the collective work advancing gender, racial, and economic justice across New York City and beyond.

“I need you to continue to show up. I need you to pick your fight and dedicate yourself. Fight to win. We fight to win,” said Ana L. Oliveira, President and CEO of The New York Women’s Foundation.

Established in 1987, The New York Women’s Foundation is a leading voice for gender, racial, and economic justice. Based in New York City, The Foundation invests in bold, community-led solutions that advance the power and well-being of women, girls, and gender-expansive individuals. Among the largest women-led grantmaking organizations in the world, The Foundation’s influence in shaping philanthropy reverberates far beyond the five boroughs. In its nearly 40-year history, The Foundation has awarded over $141 million to more than 500 organizations, supporting a vibrant ecosystem of grantees, philanthropists, advocates, and innovators committed to lasting, community-rooted change.

Notable Attendees included: Valerie Jarrett, Jeannie Park, Leah Greenberg, Ana L. Oliveira, Karen Choi, Juliana Pereira, Imara Jones, Helene Banks, Soffiyah Elijah, Mary Baglivo, Lola C. West, Jean Shafiroff, Narae Yun, Marielle Villar Martiney, Gloria Pitagorsky, Carrie Malcolm, Alison Overseth, Michèle Penzer, Margarita Rosa, and Maria Cilenti.

A NEW YORK MINUTE

SPRING BLOOMS,

CULTURAL

CELEBRATIONS, MOTHER’S DAY OUTINGS, AND MEMORIAL DAY TRADITIONS

By Michael McKensie

May brings New York into full bloom, with the city’s parks, gardens, museums, neighborhoods, and waterfronts offering every reason to step outside and celebrate. From thoughtful Mother’s Day escapes to lively food festivals, cultural parades, open-air performances, and Memorial Day tributes, the month offers a little bit of everything—beauty, remembrance, discovery, and the unmistakable energy of spring in the city

GOV BALL RETURNS TO QUEENS

Festival season hits full volume when Governors Ball returns to Flushing Meadows Corona Park from June 5–7. The threeday music festival brings a sprawling lineup to Queens, with headliners including Lorde, Stray Kids, and A$AP Rocky, plus a deep mix of pop, hip-hop, indie, and global acts. It is one of the city’s biggest outdoor music weekends, pairing big-stage energy with food, fashion, and the unmistakable feeling that summer has officially arrived.

Info: governorsballmusicfestival.com

TRIBECA TURNS 25

The Tribeca Festival returns June 3–14, marking its 25th anniversary with another citywide celebration of film, television, talks, games, podcasts, and live storytelling. Founded in the wake of September 11 to help revive Lower Manhattan, Tribeca has grown into one of New York’s signature cultural gatherings, blending red-carpet energy with independent discovery and industry conversation. This year’s milestone edition offers a full festival guide of screenings and events, along with single tickets and festival passes for those looking to build their own downtown itinerary

Info: tribecafilm.com

A NIGHT ON MUSEUM MILE

For one evening only, Fifth Avenue becomes New York’s most cultured block party. The 48th Annual Museum Mile Festival takes place Tuesday, June 9, from 6 to 9 p.m., with free admission at participating museums and outdoor programming along Fifth Avenue from 82nd to 110th Street. The event brings together more than 20 museums and neighborhood partners, turning the Upper East Side into an open-air celebration of art, history, music, and community.

Info: mcny.org/event/museum-mile-festival-2026

LINCOLN CENTER MOVES OUTDOORS

Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City begins June 10 and continues through August 8, filling the campus with music, dance, theater, film, opera, and community programming. The festival has become one of the city’s most welcoming warm-weather traditions, with free and choose-what-youpay events designed to bring New Yorkers together under the stars. The 2026 edition includes collaborations with resident organizations across the Lincoln Center campus, making it an easy anchor for summer nights on the Upper West Side.  Info: lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-the-city

CONEY ISLAND WELCOMES THE MERMAIDS

The Mermaid Parade returns to Coney Island on June 20 for its 44th annual edition, bringing sea creatures, glitter, costumes, floats, brass bands, beach weirdness, and old-school Brooklyn showmanship back to Surf Avenue. Produced by Coney Island USA, the parade has been drawing New Yorkers and visitors since 1983 and remains one of the city’s most joyful signs that summer is here. It is part art parade, part neighborhood celebration, and entirely Coney Island.  Info: coneyisland.com/mermaidparade

SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK RETURNS

The Public Theater’s Free Shakespeare in the Park continues at the revitalized Delacorte Theater with Romeo and Juliet, running through June 28. Directed by Saheem Ali, the production brings one of Shakespeare’s most enduring love stories back to Central Park, where summer theater has long been part civic ritual, part New York miracle. For those who prefer their culture outdoors, few evenings feel more quintessentially New York than Shakespeare beneath the trees.

Info: publictheater.org

PRIDE CLOSES THE MONTH IN COLOR

June ends with NYC Pride weekend, including Youth Pride on June 27 and the NYC Pride March on Sunday, June 28. The March begins at 26th Street and Fifth Avenue and remains one of the world’s largest LGBTQIA+ civil rights demonstrations. PrideFest also returns June 28 along Fourth Avenue near Astor Place, bringing a street-fair atmosphere to a day already filled with history, visibility, and celebration. Info: nycpride.org/events

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