PARK with Judge Glenda Hatchett

GlendaJudgeA. Hatchett

TIPS THE SCALES WHEN IT COMES TO CHANGING THE WORLD

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Julie Sagoskin

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Editor-inChief’s Letter

TThe time has finally come for beach days and summer soirees as we bid adieu to an eventful spring season which culminated with the most fashionable event of the year – the Met Gala. As editor-in-chief of a luxury magazine which regularly features some of the world’s top fashion brands and designers, I can’t help but channel my inner Miranda Priestly – in my daydreams, at least. We might not be the fabled Runway Magazine, but we hope you enjoy your backstage pass to the biggest social galas, as well as our favorite travel spots, and the who’s who of art, fashion, and beyond. Now that you can put away your groundbreaking florals for spring (hey, Miranda said it), you can start putting your summer wardrobe together.

You know her from her courtroom TV shows, but Judge Glenda Hatchett is much more than a famous personality – she is making real social changes throughout the country. Originally from the South, Judge Hatchett grew up witnessing and being the victim of racist and sexist behaviors, inspiring her to make a difference for not only for herself, but also for others. This just judge has turned her courtroom into a space for change that has already rippled through generations, and she has no plans to slow down – you’ll even be able to catch her on another season of The Verdict with Judge Hatchett. An advocate and author, Judge Hatchett has been breaking barriers since the start of her illustrious career. She not only served as the first Black woman leading attorney at Delta Airlines, but has even been a part of history along the way. Making it her mission to help inspire the next generation, her latest children’s book shows girls how they can aspire to be anything they can dream up.

Celebrity board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Stephen T. Greenberg has been beautifying everyone from royals to the soccer mom next door for the past few decades. With practices in New York, the Hamptons and Florida, over 100,000 patients have been going to the acclaimed surgeon for all of their nip and tuck needs. You have most likely seen his work on some of the world’s most famous faces as this trusted surgeon is your one stop surgical shop.

If you are still looking to add nearby travel destinations to your summer itinerary, I highly recommend checking into The Roundtree Amagansett for a charming and historical stay. Just a short trip from Manhattan, guests will enjoy plenty of fun perks including ice cream happy hours, tea time on their lush lawn, and cozy rooms situated in a 100-year-old barn. Just in time for summer, they recently introduced a brand-new wellness-centric restaurant, Nourish by The Roundtree, in nearby Bridgehampton. If you really want to celebrate America’s 250th birthday in posh patriotic style, a visit to the world’s oldest seaside resort, Congress Hall, in Cape May, New Jersey is a must. With special events lined up over the week of July 4th, plus luxurious rooms with ocean views and plenty of dining options to choose from, you will be a part of history – some of the nation’s presidents have even stayed in this large yellow resort which also has its own spa.

Make sure to soak up every moment of sunshine and tag us @parkmagazineny!

Julie Sagoskin Editor–in–Chief

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TEditor’s Letter

he spring season has arrived and reminds us of life’s remarkable beauty and the promise of new beginnings. The blooming flowers and foliage suggest a renewed sense of inspiration and convey an unmistakable feeling of optimism and possibility. This issue features a collection of talented innovative individuals each an expert in their respective fields.

On the cover of this Spring issue is dual board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Greenberg, widely recognized for his contributions to both aesthetic and reconstructive surgery. With years of advanced training and extensive clinical experience, he has performed thousands of procedures, earning a reputation for precision, safety, and natural-looking results. Beyond the operating room, his expertise has been showcased in national media and professional circles, where he continues to help shape the evolution of modern cosmetic techniques.

Also, inside the pages of this issue is renowned author, historian, and cultural leader Rachel J. Lithgow. A New York–born mother of two now based on Long Island, Rachel has spent more than three decades leading some of the world’s most prominent cultural institutions. A celebrated writer, she brings a unique perspective to her dating memoir, My Year of Really Bad Dates Formerly the daughter-in-law of iconic actor John Lithgow, Rachel writes with a voice that is both self-aware and refreshingly unguarded. Be sure to check out her compelling feature article.

Tara Zimmerman consistently demonstrates that in the

high-end real estate market, the most valuable asset isn’t the property, it’s trust. This guiding belief has earned her a respected and highly sought-after reputation in Long Island’s luxury real estate industry, whether representing buyers or sellers.

A Long Island native with deep roots in the North Shore Gold Coast community, Tara brings a rare combination of hyper-local expertise and a refined global perspective to her work. She is a topproducing Associate Broker at Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty

From custom homes to full-scale renovations, many luxury readers will be interested in learning about Pete Donohue, founder of Sandbar Builders. Sandbar Builders is a trusted name across Long Island, recognized for creating exceptional, safe, and thoughtfully designed living spaces that reflect modern luxury lifestyles while emphasizing long-term durability. At the core of Sandbar Builders’ philosophy is the belief that a home should be as resilient as it is beautiful.

I hope you continue to enjoy the remainder of the spring season. Soon, summer will be upon us, and I look forward to connecting with you again here, inside the pages of Park Magazine

Christine Montanti Senior Editor

GlendaJudgeA. Hatchett

TIPS THE SCALES WHEN IT COMES TO CHANGING THE WORLD

BY JULIE SAGOSKIN

millions of people have seen her wield her gavel on her two-time Emmy-nominated nationally syndicated series, Judge Hatchett, as well as her current series, The Verdict with Judge Hatchett. But, as this practicing attorney, advocate and author reflects on her own life, the biggest thing she judges is what more she can do to inspire and empower others – and she has already done a lot.

Before becoming a household name, Judge Hatchett, a graduate of Mount Holyoke College and Emory University School of Law, where she was an Earl Warren Scholar, was already making her mark and balancing the scales of justice while breaking barriers. While serving as a Senior Attorney at Delta Air Lines, this global speaker and famed legal commentator became the highest-ranking woman of color worldwide. Judge Hatchett even completed a prestigious federal clerkship in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, later serving as Chief Presiding Judge of the Fulton County Juvenile Court, where she led one of the largest juvenile court systems in the country. As a practicing attorney whose passion is fighting for the rights of others, she has handled many high-profile cases and even became a part of history along the way.

The first inspiring story she can recount is that of her parents, who she credits with helping give her the support she needed to reshape a world that didn’t always treat her fairly. While her mother, Clemmie Barnes a teacher from Florence, South Carolina, was spending a summer in Atlanta to earn her Master’s in childhood education, she met Paul Lawrence Hatchett, who was working on his MBA. Hatchett was immediately smitten and one fateful Sunday, asked Clemmie to read a newspaper with him – she was studying to be a teacher after all –followed by church. This became their routine, and the rest was history.

Even when Clemmie wound up going back to Florence every Sunday, Hatchett would make sure to deliver a love letter. They

eventually got married, and Atlanta became home to Judge Hatchett and her two younger brothers.

“I get a little emotional, because it reminds me of what I said when I raised my hand take the oath of office,” said Judge Hatchett. “I was sworn in to be a judge. I said I come from a wealthy family, not that you can measure by money, but because of the wealth of the love and the support that I had going on.”

There is no one more surprised at her own success than herself. “I grew up in the time in the Deep South when the world didn’t expect really anything from a little ‘colored’ girl, my parents really sacrificed for me. They loved me. They encouraged me. My father told me I could be anything in the world that I wanted to be, anywhere I wanted to be, and I believed him. I absolutely believed him.”

She has also seen her own family fighting for social justice. “I didn’t get new things for Easter and one time we didn’t get new stuff for Christmas because my parents wouldn’t cross the picket lines. You know, they believed in it. They believed in supporting the boycott nation, and they believed in the efforts to desegregate the systems in the Deep South.”

One memory, from when she went to run errands with her grandmother at Sears in South Carolina, is still seared in her mind. Upon noticing that the water fountain for coloreds – one of the first words she ever learned to read - appeared more “rickety raggedy” than the fountain reserved for whites, she wanted to see just why the white water tasted differently. While her grandmother’s back was turned, she went up to the fountain, but not before she was thrown to the floor. She knew her grandmother was a strong woman, but she wouldn’t have been able to retaliate without severe consequences. And that wasn’t the only experience that she knows helped set the course of her life as she wanted to focus on groundbreaking change.

Despite begin in a desegregated public school, her elementary school didn’t have any books, and her chair always seemed old and unstable, making her time there “miserable.” Before entering first grade, a little Glenda already knew big words and was ready to take on the world. The book torn book with missing pages, however, was not going to get her anywhere any time soon. Upon asking the teacher for a new book, in her most polite Southern accent, as she didn’t want to put what she recalled as a “nasty” book in her bag, she was told that “colored children don’t get new books,” something that is still etched in her soul.

She later learned that the books, as well as other items, such as her worn out chair, were given to colored children after being thrown out in the trash by the white schools. “The garbage men would not pick them up, but rather, they would just leave them in these big barrels all summer long, in the rain, in the heat, with the mildew, and they were just trash. That’s why my chair didn’t fit, because it was trash.”

Her father, who was her hero, worked at night so he could be home during the day as they couldn’t afford childcare. While he might not have been able to change the world they were living in, her father was able to encourage the determined daughter he was raising, even suggesting she write her own story instead of worrying about old, used books. She refers to this story as the foundation for how she would set about living her life.

“It was this lesson that you can’t focus on what you don’t have. You can’t live in the framework of being a victim. And that I really saw that because of my father, I saw that being a Black girl was not a curse, but a gift, because my daddy told me I could be anything, so these lessons were very important to me, you know, which is heavy duty for, you know, a kid who’s a first grader, but that’s the love and the environment and the support and the lessons I grew up with.”

Despite working on his master’s in business, her father worked most of his life in the post office under a white supervisor. “He was an avid reader and brilliant man who would have most likely become a Supreme Court justice if he had been given just a fraction of the opportunities I was allowed,” she said.

She realized she was just going to have to work “100 times harder,” and was up for the challenge. For every story of racism and sexism she has, she now also has an even more powerful tale of how she inspired or empowered someone else due to everything she has faced. Would she change who she is? Never.

“This is who I am. I appreciate the lessons. I appreciate my culture. I appreciate my history.”

That tenacity is what allowed the future Judge Hatchett come such a long way, including becoming one of the first Black women in Georgia to study law. “I was part of the generation where there was a push to integrate institutions of higher learning. I came; I worked for a year, and then went back to law school. I had two younger siblings, and I felt like I needed to be independent financially and not put more on my parents.”

She would go on to clerk for the first Black federal judge in the Deep South, an experience which became a pivotal point in her career.

That judge was Judge Horace Ward, who became the first person to try to integrate to the University of Georgia. She explained how in 1951, he applied to the University of Georgia’s law school, and they didn’t admit him. “He said, ‘Wait, I’ve been a lifelong resident of Georgia.’ He had gone to Morehouse. He was a Phi Beta, Kappa key recipient. He then went and got his master’s from Atlanta University.”

Despite being overly qualified, Judge Ward was shut out as Georgia had still not integrated by that time.

None other than Thurgood Marshall represented him in a lawsuit that went on for six years. They even went so far as to mysteriously drafted him into the army at a time when the country wasn’t even at war. After the six years, Judge Moore ruled against him, still denying him entry to the University of Georgia Law School.

“But that wasn’t the end of his story. “He then goes away to law school, comes back, becomes a civil rights attorney, and represents Dr. Martin Luther King in a number of situations.” She still finds the situation surreal, all these years later.

“So, then he gets appointed as the first Black federal judge in the Deep South, and I’m his law clerk, right? So, I’m there. It was a ceremony, and we’re in the huge ceremonial courtroom in the federal courthouse, and the place is packed. There are all these civil rights leaders, I mean, everybody came to witness this swearing in ceremony, and he’s hired me as his first clerk.

He raised his right hand and put his hand on the Bible and took the oath of office in this very same courtroom where, decades before, Judge Moore had denied him admission to the University of Georgia’s Law School.”

She wasn’t just writing her own story, she was becoming a part of Black history, including when she became the first ever Black leading female attorney for Delta Airlines.

During her almost ten years with the airline, she had been promoted twice, and never lost a case, but in true Glenda style, she was already gearing up for her next chapter. This time, as judge. She took her father’s advice and prayed on it, something she does in critical moments of her life. “I mean, God rested with me the night before, the night before the deadline for the applications to be turned in. I turned it in. I flew to Chicago and then I get a call at about one o’clock in the morning, that I had been appointed. That was a life changing experience, but that is where I found my purpose and my passion.”

She became the Chief Judge of the juvenile court for Fulton County in 1990, which was one of the largest juvenile court systems anywhere in the nation, though she described as a “hot mess” at the time. She certainly recalls how they didn’t even have computers. “I thought it was a joke, but they pulled out these ledgers. I really did my best to fight, to really upgrade the system, to make changes, to really bring in the whole notion of how we keep kids out of the court.”

Before this, there had never been a Black man or woman chief judge of a state court anywhere in Georgia.

She also never thought that she would be taking her litigation career into people’s living rooms, but that’s exactly what happened when Sony approached her about doing a show, which happened to be at the same time she had decided to take time off to be with her sons. The only way the show was ever going to happen was if it was on her own terms.

“One of the things that I did in my real court in Atlanta was I got my recidivism rate down. That’s unheard of because I worked on really trying to keep kids from coming back to court. And that was super, super, super important to me, and I took that to television, and that was a deal that I cut with Sony.

“I was clear that they would have to pay for rehabilitation, and for counseling of the people coming to my courtroom. They brought in the president of Sony television in at the time, and he sat there and agreed to everything I asked for. Before that, I really didn’t think I was going to do it.”

She took her massive platform and turned it into a mission for creating even more social change. Some moves even had her own team thinking she was “crazy,” but as always, Judge Hatchett had hatched an unstoppable plan. “We did some groundbreaking stuff on television,” she said.

Not everything in her courtroom is clear cut, as she knows that some people need different methods of help. She even brought

on celebrities and mentors to help those who she knew were struggling in ways that the justice system couldn’t repair.

While she is now a counselor at the law firm, Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys, she previously had her own law firm, which also took on some of the nation’s most high-profile cases, including representing the family of Philando Castile. “There are so many Black men murdered, and Philando was the one that his girlfriend live streamed his murder in Minnesota. This is the precursor to George Floyd.”

At one point, Hatchett even represented the estate of Whitney Houston’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina. While her death was originally ruled a suicide, they were able to prove, on the civil side, that her boyfriend was responsible for murdering her. This led to $33.5 million dollars being awarded for wrongful death. “I kept telling them that Bobbi Kristina didn’t kill herself, and her father, Bobby, hugged me and literally just wept in my arms. It was very, very emotional.”

Judge Hatchett, who has appeared on Oprah and served as a keynote at major conferences across the country, has also championed numerous causes that she knows deserve to recognized. This includes her long history with Casa Court Appointed Special Advocates, which helps train

volunteers to work with children in foster care, to find permanent placements for them. “That is a huge concern for me, and I’ve done a lot of work, and I will continue to do a lot of work around that, because we have got to do that.”

She has also done a lot of work surrounding after school programs, as she knows how they can shape lives. “If a child is truant, they are three and a half times more likely to have a criminal record. I’ve done a lot of work around truancy and getting kids back in school. I’ve been involved with historically Black colleges, because these institutions are very important.”

Following her own personal tragedy when her daughter-in-law died ten years ago after childbirth, she knew something had to be done when it came to the disparity among Black and Brown in regard to maternal deaths and healthcare.

“More than 80% of these women died in situations that were preventable.”

This trailblazer also put her insights centered around parenting into a book called Say What You Mean, about practical things parents need to think about. She explained how after the success of the book, people were asking for another book written for “grownups.” This led to her second book called Dare

to Take Charge, which goes back to the core of her beliefs, which is that nothing is off limits for anyone.

“No matter who you are, you can be a CEO of a major company. This book was really written to cut across all class economic situations, educational backgrounds.”

Judge Hatchett wants to get her message across to young minds as well, which is why her new children’s book, Goal Girls™, inspires young readers to dream boldly and believe in what’s possible. Goal Girls is also a movement, one that calls forth a generation of girls who know their worth, embrace their dreams, and step into a future they choose for themselves. The last page even features a little picture of scissors with dotted lines, intended to encourage parents to cut out the page and to allow their kids to draw or paint whatever their dreams are, and then post it on the ceiling above their bed. The preorders for the book all went to support the Boys and Girls Club.

Part of helping others process their trauma has been sharing her own personal stories, including when she was sexually assaulted by a sheriff in rural Georgia, as well as when her father passed away suddenly.

“I never thought I’d be on that side of this conversation, but I am taking on cases of people who’ve been sexually assaulted, and now, most recently, our firm is being very aggressive in taking on cases of sex trafficking. These hotels that are harboring these people and know this is happening. We’re going after them, and we’re taking cases all of the country. I do serious wrongful death cases all over the country.”

“It took me a while, but I was very transparent about sharing my journey of grief, because I think it would help other people.”

She also believes that her job is not to fix people, but to empower them. “That’s the only way that change is lasting and sustainable,” she said.

She has certainly inspired her children, including one son who is also a lawyer, and four grandchildren.

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The only thing she does better than give out verdicts is looking stylish while doing it. If you’ve noticed some of her chic accessories poking out from her judicial robe, you know that she’s a fashionista, as well as selfproclaimed show addict. She recalls how she

used to make all her own clothes when she was a “poor student.” She even wound up walking the runway in a Philip Bloch show during Fashion Week this past year.

She might receive recognition for her

community impact including her work with domestic violence victims and marginalized communities, but Judge Hatchett cares only about the lasting difference she is making. A formidable business leader, who has received dozens of awards from social justice organizations including the 100 Black Men, Judge Hatchett has served on the boards of directors of three Fortune 500 companies, including The Gap, Hospital Corporation of America, and ServiceMaster. A fierce advocate for children and families, Judge Hatchett has served on the National Board of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and was a national spokesperson for CASA. Most recently, she received the Trailblazer Award from the Urban Resource Institute, the nonprofit New York-based domestic violence shelter system dedicated to helping survivors of domestic violence thrive with the resources they need to move forward with their lives.

“I received the highest honor that the Urban Resource Institute bestows. They’re the largest organization that deals with domestic violence, and they have done an incredible job. And this is such an important issue because I saw so many of the problems with this when I was in court. And I’ve done a lot of work in advocacy around this issue, and I’ve actually done some training around the issue of domestic violence. People must understand that this has generational implications for children who are living in homes where there’s domestic violence, where women who are pregnant had complications because they were beaten, and that, you know, there are men who are victims of domestic violence as well.”

And finally, Judge Hatchett is a fashionista. She is the muse to designer Cesar Galindo, and walked in celebrity stylist turned fashion designer Phillip Bloch’s show during New York Fashion Week last February, modeling designs inspired by the fight for equal justice.

For all her accomplishments and achievements, we say, a job well done, Judge! P

Cesar Galindo

Fashion’s Creative Genius

BY RYANN REYNOLDS

Cesar Galindo, a fashion architect who embodies style, understands that design is deeply influenced by lived experience. For Galindo, fashion development is rooted in family, work ethic, and his Mexican Heritage – all things that tell the personal story of him growing up in Houston as the youngest of 11 children. Raised in a house full of women, creator energy swarmed Galindo. His mother and five sisters operated as creative generators always bringing ideas to life, their influence on him left a strong impression. From an early age, Galindo understood style not as something that should overpower a person, but as an extension of individuality. It’s a philosophy that continues to guide his design approach: the person wears the clothes, never the other way around.

At the same time, Galindo watched his father build a successful business empire of nine meat markets across Houston, giving him an early understanding of discipline and entrepreneurship. Those two influences, artistry and business, became the foundation of the successful designer he would grow to become.

Galindo, who is entirely self-taught, established himself through observation and creative instinct rather than formal training. As early as junior high, he was creating and selling one-of-a-kind designs, already learning to trust the intuition that continues to shape his work today. That same instinct ultimately pushed him to fully commit to fashion during his senior year of high school. After receiving an invitation to show his designs at a Texas designer showcase held at the infamous Danceteria, the legendary New York nightclub where Madonna once worked

coat check before becoming a cultural icon, Galindo dropped out and never looked back.

Fashion was less of a career decision for Galindo and more of a natural extension of who he already was. While fashion feels embedded in his DNA, he admits the journey came with “many leaps and bruises along the way.” His approach to style mirrors the unpredictability of life itself, constantly evolving, editing, and reassessing. When a look feels like too much, Galindo believes in stripping one thing away and reevaluating. When it feels incomplete, he encourages experimentation and adding something bold into the mix. To him, accessories can either make the look or completely break it.

Galindo’s Mexican-American heritage continues to play a major role in his work. His collections often feature bold color, rich textures, dramatic prints, and subtle references to folklore and tradition. Rather

than forcing those influences into his designs, he says they naturally appear because they are simply part of who he is. That authenticity gives his work its signature energy, glamorous, expressive, and unapologetically vibrant.

At the center of Galindo’s philosophy is the belief that fashion should feel personal and lasting. He creates pieces he hopes women will hold onto for years, not trends that disappear after one season. Quality and purpose matter to him, and he designs with a wide range of women in mind. Growing up surrounded by sisters and a strong mother shaped the way he understands women and how differently they want to feel in clothing. His pieces are designed for different personalities, body types, and generations.

Galindo encourages women to trust their own instincts when putting together a look. The “Cesar Galindo woman” is someone who embraces individuality. She is confident, fearless, and willing to stand out. But Galindo resists limiting her to one specific age or lifestyle. His customer can be anyone from a young daughter experimenting with fashion to a grandmother who still wants to make an entrance. What connects them is attitude rather than age.

That sense of confidence carries into his upcoming fall collection. This season, Galindo is focused on evening separates that can be mixed, layered, and styled in multiple ways. Structured hourglass blazers, dramatic wide-leg trousers, and standout blouses form the backbone of the collection, while periodinspired corsets add a strong finishing touch. Dresses, always one of his signatures, remain a major focus as well. One of the collection’s highlights is a floral print developed on textured brocade fabric and used throughout

gowns and separates. Fuchsia leads the palette this season, accented with touches of Chantilly lace that soften the tailoring with romance and femininity.

Outside fashion, Galindo devotes much of his time to philanthropy. In New York, he serves on the advisory board of Housing Works and supports Bottom Line’s scholarship efforts for low-income students. In Texas, he partners with the Make-A-Wish

Foundation to grant fashion-related wishes for children and launched a fashion design scholarship program at Houston City College for aspiring young designers.

For Galindo, fashion has always been about more than clothing. It is storytelling, self-expression, and creating something lasting; weaving together the threads of family and lived experiences that shaped him from the beginning. P

E N N A N

Finds Beauty in a World of Chaos

BY CHRISTOPHER A. PAPE

Recently, PARK had the very fortunate opportunity to sit down with one of Ireland’s rising stars in the art world, Ian Brennan. This man of many fascinating facets was a pleasure to speak to and what results is an in–depth look at his life and his inspirations. I hope you will be as inspired as I was.

PARK: Tell us about your personal and educational background.

Ian Brennan: I’m Irish and was born only a 10–minute drive away from one of the world’s most famous Irish rock bands (The Cranberries) in Co. Limerick. I grew up in a small village called Caherconlish, with a very modest population at the time of only 2000 people. This had its advantages and pains. Living in a small village meant that everyone knew everyone’s business and there wasn’t much room for privacy. Even at home I grew up in a modest semidetached and shared a bedroom with my brother until I was 18. I hid the fact that I could paint from just about everyone – including myself.

Art was not encouraged as a career in Ireland in the 80s & 90s and to be honest it is still discouraged. There comes such fear and judgement towards the arts, despite Irish people being so artistically rich. Be it music,

writing, acting, visual arts etc. In a weird way, you must “make it” outside of Ireland to be considered a successful artist (and I have done just this).

As a nation we were suppressed by the British for 800 years and our culture and language and food was taken from us. This is one of the main reasons why so many Irish emigrated to America during the “Great Famine”

I’ve no doubt that there are still traces of transgenerational trauma in my psyche from this, but I don’t hold any resentment towards the English – in fact London has been very kind to me over the past few years. It was my invitation into the art world. And like in America, so many Irish immigrated to the UK. It’s great when I meet someone who has Irish ancestors and shares their story. It’s like there is an instant connection and mutual trust. We are a very trusting nation, and I think that comes across in my work.

I am a damaged soul and life has given me its fair share of challenges – but show me someone who is not broken… you won’t find that person.

I am half a twin; I have a twin sister. So, I tell people that I was in a relationship long before I came into the world. The Creator

(for whichever higher power you believe in) decided that I was to exist in relationship. I spent almost nine months cocooned in my mother’s womb with my sister.

I believe that this fundamentally shaped how I approach my work and my relationship with my sitters. I’ll come back to this later when I explain my artistic process.

In primary school I remember drawing with big thick crayons for the first time. I was mesmerized by such phallic objects! I have memories of drawing circles with different colors, almost Kandinsky like when I look back. I loved scraping the crayons with my fingernails once I had laid down the colors on the paper and then picking the shavings from under my nails for hours. I loved how they smelled, the waxy sensation and can even remember trying to eat them!

Growing up in rural Ireland in the 80s and 90s was tough. There was no money. We were in an economic recession and in my home, there were no such luxuries as paints or canvases. I do remember when my father would bring home A4 paper sheets from work and I would sketch with coloring pencils on these. It was such a good feeling to see an inch thick of paper sheets arriving when he would return home from work. It felt like all my Christmases came at once!

I hated secondary school – despite doing well. The only subject I wanted to do was art – and guess what? I didn’t get to do art because everyone wanted to do it. Names were put into a hat on a sheet of paper and unfortunately my name was not pulled out. Welcome to the Irish education system! Even the fact that everyone wanted to do art speaks volumes. It was considered a “fun” subject and in Ireland we like ourselves some misery! Here’s another example of the transgenerational impact of 800 years of suffering and a good teaspoon of the influence of the Catholic Church has on the education system. Fun was forbidden! How dare we give ourselves permission to have fun. I digress!

So, I didn’t get to study the one subject I had any interest in whilst in secondary school. I pretty much abandoned my creative part when this happened and just tried to fit in in an all–boys school for 6 years. I hated it. I hated having to wear a uniform and look like everyone else. Individualism as prohibited. I hated having to conform, but I kept quiet. Inside I was a very angry young

man. I resented the school principal for not pulling my name out of the hat. I knew I was good at art but now didn’t have an outlet to make work, so I continued to keep this part of me a secret.

I went on to study International Trade after I left secondary school and worked in Global Supply Chain and Procurement for 17 years.

I was deeply unhappy for pretty much all my time in corporate world and in my late twenties I did something for myself that changed my life.

I went back to university as a mature student to train as a psychotherapist. This profoundly changed me as a human being. At the beginning of my psychotherapy studies, I wanted to save broken people like me. But after about two years into the course, I realized that I needed to save myself. I realized I had needs.

My entire existence and my relationship with myself changed dramatically. I spent

hundreds of hours in therapy (both group therapy and one–on–one). Again, I’m coming back to the word “relationship”, but this time the relationship with myself, not the relationship with my sister, nor my family, nor my job. For the first time I started making decisions for my Self.

I bought myself a canvas and some oil paints as a gift to myself and I started painting cows (very Irish I know!) I just abandoned any sense of wanting to please anyone and I painted cows. I laugh when I look back on it now. I loved the paintings and fortunately others did too and so they sold very fast. I then wanted to paint dead fish and so I did. Then I wanted to paint people and so I did.

PM: When and why did you get into art? Why painting?

IB: basically got into art to save myself, as corny as that sounds.

Having trained as a psychotherapist (I don’t practice as one) I was fortunate enough to peel back all the layers of conditioning that both society and my family of origin

placed on me. I think the question “why did I not start painting until I was 35?” is more interesting.

Art is in my bones. It’s the only thing I can do without having to think “how” or “why”. It just flows through me. I didn’t know I could make paintings to the level that I create now. It’s a seed I didn’t sow and nurture. I remember thinking to myself in my 30s that if I put my energy into something that I loved that I couldn’t fail. It wouldn’t be an option. Ultimately, I make the work for myself so what someone else says about my work is none of my business.

Why painting? Because I love moving slurpy colors around a canvas and creating textures and shades and tones that come to life and sing the song of what it is to be human. Some people play music, write poetry to do this. I paint, I paint human feelings covered in flesh and I do it unapologetically. In a way I become full of my Self when l paint. To consider oneself as “full of yourself” in Ireland is interpreted as a negative. It’s something that is said with a sting, but I’ve reclaimed myself and I love doing what I do. This is why I paint.

PM: What are your inspirations?

IB: My inspiration is “the relationship.” There’s only one thing that drives my work, and it’s the “relationship” – it’s a lived experience. Each piece I create is a response to a lived experience. Be it from a childhood trauma or an explosive relationship with someone in my daily life. Or from my experience of being in nature, a storm, a swim in the ocean, winter, autumn, the stars.

I don’t reveal the narratives behind my work. That’s for you to decide. I guess my pieces are all invitations for the viewer to see themselves. That’s the true beauty of art. If you see something in my work, then it’s something that already exists inside of you. Every piece I have ever created is a relationship of sorts. It can be my relationship with my sitter, my relationship with a lover, my relationship with my family, my relationship with myself.

As I mentioned I have a twin sister and was cocooned in a relationship at the very point of conception. I only know relationship. I only exist in the world in this way. It’s a bit mind blowing when I really think about it. So, I only know how to paint from the essence of how I was created, so I paint the relationship.

PM: Why the human form and why nudity?

IB: Why not?!

We are all human and most likely we were created in an act of lovemaking that involved our parents being naked. It’s the most beautiful form of art in the world being in relationship and being nude and I celebrate this in my work. Each one of us are a piece of art. We are created uniquely, and I want to capture this beauty in my work. It pisses me off big time when people do something “different” to how I intended on creating a piece. Often people will project their shame or insecurities onto my work.

My work is confrontational for sure. I don’t deny this. It’s also an invitation to see yourself. So, if your reaction to a human body is from a place of shame then this a part of you that is needing healing. My work is a mirror for what

you don’t want to see in yourself.

PM: What is the process (technically, emotionally, logistically, etc) that goes into making a piece?

IB: When painting people, I create a safe container for the sitter to be wholly themselves. They generally tell me things that they have not confided in anyone else. This becomes part of the work. I then guide them through a body scan and invite them to

engage in a witnessing exercise. This means that we stare into each other’s eyes with no spoken word for a non–specified amount of time. Either the sitter or I can say when it’s too intense and we stop. Tears are often shed, by both me and the sitter. It’s a sacred thing we co–create. It’s beautiful, it’s painful –there’s that contradiction again.

I then take photos and work from photo. The photo emerges exactly as it is meant to.

They are never contrived and neither I nor the sitter know what the outcome will be. There’s a massive amount of trust in the container at this stage.

PM: Tell us about some of your career achievements?

IB: If you told me four years ago that I would represent Ireland twice at the London Art Biennale, win an award at one, exhibit in Italy, have a plethora of celebrities and people in

high profile commission pieces, walk barefoot on Lucian Freud’s floorboards, have the world’s most famous muse, Sue Tilley, sit for me, exhibit my one million pound painting in Saatchi Gallery, have my art sell under the hammer at Bonhams Brussels for more than a Dalí (Male Form Sales 2024) and get to sit face to face to chat with Tracey Emin, I would not have believed you!

My recent achievement is finishing a piece that took me three long months to complete. It was a painful piece and took a lot out of me emotionally. It captures a fading light in our hearts when we are in our darkest of days. But it’s also a painting of hope, despite its harshness. It’s a reminder of resilience and just getting up each day and showing up for us, in whatever little capacity we may have to do that. It’s a battlefield of a painting and I bruised my way through it, sometimes taking to the bed for days. But I finished it, and I showed up for myself. It holds a poignant message, and I can’t wait for the world to see it. I called it “When Did the Light Die” inspired by Sinéad O’ Connor’s hit “Troy” from her album The Lion and the Cobra.

When I exhibited in Marylebone in London last year, Boy George came to see my work. He shared some words of wisdom with me that were invaluable, and he showed me his self–portrait with Sue Tilley. He told me that he “knew I was an Aries as I was very argumentative” – naturally I disagreed!!!

Hahaha

I’ve also been fortunate enough to raise a five–figure sum for Cancer Research charities both in Ireland and in the UK. It’s very important to me to give back in some way. I have received so much support and love and kindness on this wild ride and the energy must be shared. This is just a small way for me to do that. This is the true power of art. P

ian_brennan_artist ianbrennanart.com

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER/ CREATIVE DIRECTOR

CHRISTINE MONTANTI

PHOTOGRAPHY

MIKE RUIZ

PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT

DANI SAX

CLOTHING STYLIST

MEAGHAN O’CONNOR

HAIRSTYLING & MAKEUP ARTISTRY. SUSAN COHEN

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT/PA GIORGIOS KONTOGIANNIS

SET CATERING

VADIM OF THE BAGEL MASTER

RACHEL J. LITHGOW’S Unapologetic Reinvention After Hollywood: Author

BY CHRISTINE MONTANTI

New York–born author, historian, and cultural executive Rachel J. Lithgow has built a life defined not by a single chapter, but by her remarkable ability to reinvent herself. A mother of two and a seasoned leader in the global cultural sector, Lithgow now brings her sharp wit, emotional honesty, and lived experience to the page in her candid and often laugh-out-loud memoir, My Year of Really Bad Dates.

Best known today for her fearless storytelling, Lithgow’s journey has been anything but direct. Her latest work explores the unpredictable terrain of post-divorce dating with humor and vulnerability, chronicling a deeply personal

transformation shaped by loss, selfreckoning, and renewal. What begins as a series of awkward, humbling, and sometimes bizarre dating encounters ultimately becomes a larger reflection on identity, resilience, and the courage it takes to begin again particularly in midlife.

Residing on Long Island, Lithgow has spent more than three decades at the reins of prominent cultural institutions around the world. A distinguished historian and museum executive, she has dedicated her career to public education, historical scholarship, and cultural preservation. Her voice both authoritative and comprehensible has reached a wide audience through essays and commentary published in major national and international outlets, including The New York Times, The Daily News, The Los Angeles Times, The Huffington Post, The Advocate, The

“BEING SURROUNDED BY BEAUTIFUL BOOKS AND ICONIC AUTHORS LIKE SUSAN ORLEAN WAS SURREAL. I KNEW IT WOULD BE EXCITING, BUT I HAD NO IDEA HOW MAGICAL THE EXPERIENCE WOULD BE UNTIL I WAS THERE.”

– Rachel J. Lithgow

Jerusalem Post, and The Times of Israel, among many others.

Lithgow’s decision to step away from her successful executive career was catalyzed by a series of life-altering events. Following the loss of her father and the end of her marriage, she chose to leave institutional leadership behind and devote herself fully to writing embracing both the uncertainty and the possibility of starting over, personally and professionally.

Her story is shaped by years spent within a prominent Hollywood family. As the former daughter-in-law of iconic actor John Lithgow, she navigated the complexities of maintaining her own professional identity while living adjacent to public fame. That experience, layered with the challenges of divorce and reinvention, enlightens her perspective with a rare nuance. In My Year of Really Bad Dates, Lithgow reflects not only on romance and relationships, but on the ways women particularly those in midlife can reclaim their voices, redefine self-worth, and rewrite the narratives they have inherited. The audiobook adds an extra layer of nostalgia and pop-culture appeal with narration by actress Jodi Sweetin, best known for her role as Stephanie Tanner

on Full House and Fuller House.

While the memoir is rich with humor and first-date disasters, its emotional core lies in honesty. Lithgow writes with disarming candor about grief, aging, vulnerability, and the quiet bravery required to be open again. That authenticity has resonated strongly with readers and critics alike. Early praise from Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly, along with enthusiastic responses on NetGalley, has marked the book as both entertaining and deeply affecting.

“I’m overwhelmed by the response,” Lithgow admits. “The reviews were so positive and encouraging. As a first-time author, I was stunned. Readers appreciate the humor, but they also recognize the deeper layers of pain and vulnerability that went into the work.” One reader wrote: “This was such an enjoyable read. I think it will resonate with anyone, regardless of age or situation, while staying deeply relatable. Rachel teaches powerful lessons that are much easier said than done. I would recommend this book to anyone.”

Reflecting on a pre-launch bookplate signing at Zibby’s Bookshop in Santa Monica, she shared, “Being surrounded

by beautiful books and iconic authors like Susan Orlean was surreal. I knew it would be exciting, but I had no idea how magical the experience would be until I was there.”

As she tells the story of a year filled with romantic train wrecks, she also reveals what she believes truly broke her marriage in the first place. According to Rachel, life inside the Lithgow family was rigid from the start. The tension she felt with her very famous father-in-law John Lithgow, and his wife Mary Yeager, her then-husband Ian’s stepmother was profound. She recounts feeling distinctly unwelcome in their presence.

Rachel writes that her ex-husband Ian Lithgow, known for starring in 3rd Rock from the Sun and currently appearing in the fourth season of Godfather of Harlem felt similarly dismissed by his father and stepmother, and at times even by John himself. She describes a dynamic in which both she and Ian felt alienated and isolated from the family she was supposed to be joining. That sense of quiet hostility, Rachel says, seeped into her marriage with Ian, eroding its foundation and ultimately contributing to its collapse. “I felt caught between trying to please and prove myself to my in-laws, who most certainly and in no uncertain terms disapproved of me and our marriage, and to stand with my husband, whom I loved so much it hurt. It got progressively worse over time, and it added layers of trauma to an existing layer cake of trauma. It became quite a large cake by the time I got divorced.” Ian confesses,

“I read Rachel’s book and I stand behind her truth. I’m proud of us and what we’ve been able to overcome in our lives as individuals and parents to two almost grown great kids.”

“I FELT CAUGHT BETWEEN TRYING TO PLEASE AND PROVE MYSELF TO MY INLAWS, WHO MOST CERTAINLY AND IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS DISAPPROVED OF ME AND OUR MARRIAGE, AND TO STAND WITH MY HUSBAND, WHOM I LOVED SO MUCH IT HURT.”

As Lithgow continues to host book events across the country, she has also become a sought-after voice on local and national television, where she offers thoughtful, emotionally intelligent dating advice grounded in lived experience rather than clichés. She will serve as the keynote speaker at a celebrity hosted charity event this summer 2026 in the Hamptons, benefiting autism. Litghow will speak about her work with global charitable organizations and her commitment to raising awareness around autism and human trafficking. Through her advocacy and leadership, Lithgow continues to drive meaningful conversations and inspire action on critical humanitarian issues.

In Rachel’s current chapter, she has written several screenplays and is actively working across multiple formats. Rachel is developing two completed, market-ready books, along with scripts intended for television and

streaming platforms, establishing herself as a versatile television writer. Her projects include two screenplays and a historical fiction novel, King David, set in Queens between 1957 and 1977. She is continuously developing works of fiction that are being adapted into a serialized television concept.

After spending the first half of her life under the burden of labels and responsibilities for others, Lithgow’s future seems limitless. Age and gender are never a barrier for entry, and Lithgow hopes, in some small measure, that her book can help guide the way for others in similar situations. P

My Year of Really Bad Dates is available for purchase on Amazon. amazon.com/dp/B0DXD6FLJF?tag=kirkus20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1 Instagram: @iamrachellithgow Website: www.racheljlithgow.com

Stephen T. Greenberg The Art of Transformation: Inside the World of

MD, FACS

BY W.A. MULLER

There is a certain kind of confidence that cannot be manufactured, only revealed. It’s the kind that walks into a room quietly and leaves an impression long after. For decades, that subtle alchemy has been the signature of Dr. Stephen T. Greenberg, the award-winning, double board-certified, celebrity plastic surgeon whose work lives at the intersection of refinement, rejuvenation, and reinvention.

From Manhattan to the Hamptons and across the globe, his name circulates in the kinds of conversations that begin in private and end in transformation. Not because he promises change, but because he understands it.

A Surgeon, But Also an Architect of Identity

Spend even a few minutes observing Dr. Greenberg, and it becomes clear: this is not a practitioner chasing trends. This is a surgeon who has outlasted them.

“I’m not here to change who someone is. I’m here to bring them back to themselves.”

With over 30 years practicing the art of plastic surgery, he has witnessed the evolution of beauty, from the exaggerated to the imperceptible and has positioned himself ahead of both. Where others once leaned into dramatic alteration, Dr. Greenberg refined a philosophy rooted in subtlety.

“I’m not here to change who someone is,” he has said. “I’m here to bring them back to themselves.”

It’s a perspective that resonates deeply with today’s patient, one who is less interested in perfection and more invested in authenticity.

The Celebrity Surgeon Who Doesn’t Need to Say It

The term “celebrity plastic surgeon” is often overused, but in Dr. Greenberg’s case, it feels less like branding and more like an inevitability. His clientele includes high-profile figures, industry insiders, and those who simply expect discretion as part of the service.

Yet what defines his presence is not who he treats, but how he treats them.

There are no theatrics. Instead, patients describe a sense of calm precision, a surgeon who listens as carefully as he operates. In an

industry that can sometimes feel transactional, this level of attentiveness is its own form of luxury.

The New Language of Beauty

Aesthetic ideals have shifted. The aspirational faces and bodies of today are not obviously sculpted; they are quietly optimized.

Dr. Greenberg has been a key voice in this transition, advocating for results that are undetectable yet undeniable. A lifted jawline that doesn’t announce itself. A refined silhouette that feels earned, not engineered.

It’s a philosophy that aligns with a broader cultural moment, where beauty is no longer about looking different, but about looking confident.

And in that nuance lies his expertise.

Where Medicine Meets Experience

Step inside one of his practices, and the environment tells its own story. These are not clinical spaces in the traditional sense; they are curated, intentional, almost cinematic.

From New York City to Florida, each location reflects a commitment to what can only be described as approachable luxury, an

experience designed to reassure without intimidating.

Patients are guided, advised, not persuaded.

In a world saturated with options, this level of trust has become one of Dr. Greenberg’s signature trademarks.

Beyond the Operating Room

Dr. Greenberg’s influence extends far beyond his surgical suite. A familiar face across major media platforms, he has become a cultural translator of sorts, explaining, contextualizing, and occasionally challenging the narratives around plastic surgery.

His voice carries authority, but also accessibility. He doesn’t mystify the process; he demystifies it.

And in doing so, he has helped reshape public perception, moving aesthetic medicine from taboo to thoughtful consideration.

The Enduring Appeal of Subtle Power

What ultimately sets Dr. Greenberg apart is not just his technical skill, but his understanding of restraint.

In an age of overexposure, where everything is filtered, edited, and amplified, his work feels almost radical in its discretion. It whispers where others shout.

Patients don’t leave looking like someone else. They leave looking like themselves, only clearer, more rested, more aligned with how they feel inside.

And perhaps that is the real transformation.

Luxury, at its highest level, is not about excess, it’s about precision. About knowing exactly what to do, and just as importantly, what not to do.

For Dr. Stephen T. Greenberg, that balance has defined a career, and continues to shape the future of aesthetic medicine.

Because in the end, the most powerful results are the ones no one can quite put their finger on… no one knows, but everyone notices. P

Request your personal consultation, call 844-486-0005 or visit

GreenbergCosmeticSurgery.com

A Call From London

Meera Gandhi remembers the phone call vividly. It came from London, from the celebrated fashion photographer and professor Dr. Ram Shergill, whose work often blurs the line between art and social commentary. He was planning a conceptual shoot – something rich with history and symbolism – and he wanted her to be part of it. The project, The Hatted Woman and Her Unhurried History in Early Modern Ballads, drew from the writings of New York scholar Professor Elizabeth Mazzola, who explored the Hatted Woman as a timeless symbol of liberty, resilience, and practical wisdom. “Ram said, ‘Meera, every time I see the work you’re doing, you remind me of that paper – you’re the modern version of her,’” Gandhi recalls with a smile.

Fashion, Philosophy, and a New Archetype

She agreed immediately, and the two met at London’s Mayfair Hotel for the shoot. “The theme fascinated me,” Gandhi says. “It connects fashion, philosophy, and history in a way that feels very relevant to women today.” Shergill, known for his portraits of royalty and cultural icons, wanted to reimagine the Hatted Woman through a modern lens – a figure at once elegant and fearless, strong and serene.

Couture Meets Intellectual History

The session brought together an extraordinary team of designers, including Elizabeth Emanuel, who famously designed Princess Diana’s wedding gown. “We had some very big names who were excited to show their clothes for this shoot,” Gandhi recalls. “It became this incredible collaboration between art, intellect, and couture.”

The images will appear in his upcoming academic paper, which examines the role of women in modern society and how archetypes like the Hatted Woman continue to resonate. The photographs will also appear in Mayfair Magazine and in publications in India and Turkey. “The editor of Mayfair, Selma Day, was actually with me the night before the shoot,” Gandhi says. “She was so excited about it. And Hello Magazine Turkey also loved the concept. A lot of people connected to it because it’s playful on the surface, but very deep underneath.”

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SHOES: NICHOLAS KIRKWOOD (@NICHOLASKIRKWOOD)

HAT: PIERS ATKINSON (@PIERSATKINSON)

EARRINGS: PK BIJOUX (@PKBIJOUX)

Meera Gandhi

The Hat as Armor

For Gandhi, the experience became much more than a fashion editorial. It became an exploration of identity, strength, and endurance. “When I came back, I actually studied the original research,” she says. “I was intrigued to learn that Henri Matisse had done so many portraits inspired by the same theme. Over time, humans and environments change, but women remain the central force – keeping society stable, nurturing families, and holding things together.”

She reflected on how the hat, in both historical and contemporary terms, serves as a kind of armor. “It reminds me of times when I’ve had to just buckle down and do things,” she says. “I put my hoodie on and work. My daughter, Madame Gandhi, is similar – when she needs to get things done, she ties her hair up in a top knot. The hat, the bun, the hoodie – it’s all a kind of armor. It’s symbolic of focus and resilience.”

Service as Strength

That idea of the hat as a metaphor for strength resonates deeply with Gandhi’s own work. Through The Giving Back Foundation, which she founded, she has long been an advocate for compassion, education, and spiritual awareness. Her life is an ongoing intersection of philanthropy, mindfulness, and service. “As women today, we juggle so much,” she says. “We handle our children’s lives, our own lives, and our work. I want to help others – especially those who are distressed – find calm and focus through yoga and meditation. That’s why I’m doing Uplift New York.”

At the end of the London shoot, Shergill suggested they take one more image –something reflective of Gandhi’s growing role in global wellness advocacy. “He said, ‘Let’s do another yoga shot, because you’re doing Uplift New York 2026 and you’ll need a fresh picture.’ That was his way of supporting it.” The resulting photograph will be used to promote the upcoming event, which will take place on June 21, 2026, at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park.

The Hatted Woman

BY JEREMY MURPHY

UpliftNY26: Stillness in a Noisy World

UpliftNY26 will be a daylong celebration of yoga, meditation, and mental wellness, timed to the summer solstice. Gandhi envisions it as a sanctuary of spirit, a reminder that uplifting others is the truest way to uplift ourselves.

“We’re definitely doing the spiritual and mental wellness day in Central Park,” she says. “It’s something that I feel is so needed right now. The role of yoga and meditation has become crucial because there’s such an overload of information and stress. People need a way to still themselves.”

Her reflections connect centuries of women’s experience with the modern need for balance and inner peace. “In the time of the ballads, people relied more on the Bible,” she notes. “While I love the Bible and the Gita, I find that yoga and meditation are essential now. Reading them is calming, but the practice of stillness is what allows us to center ourselves amid all the noise.”

UpliftNY26: Stillness in a Noisy World

For Gandhi, the Hatted Woman is more than a character in a poem or painting – it is an enduring symbol of how women move through life with both grace and strength. The archetype’s evolution mirrors her own journey, bridging continents and cultures, uniting art, philosophy, and service. Whether leading a yoga circle in Central Park or standing before Shergill’s lens in Mayfair, Gandhi embodies the same timeless qualities: independence, compassion, and an unshakable sense of purpose.

“She’s swift, capable, and her hat becomes a kind of armor – sealing her in, keeping her safe, and guiding her forward,” wrote Professor Mazzola. Gandhi’s participation in the project brings that idea into the present moment, translating history into action. In her life, as in her portrait, the hat is not just an accessory – it is a declaration. It represents focus, dignity, and resilience.

As the world anticipates UpliftNY26, the spirit of The Hatted Woman endures, reminding us that style and substance can coexist, and that the truest power lies in steadiness. Meera Gandhi has taken an image from centuries past and made it vividly alive today, embodying a message that is as relevant now as it was in the ballads of early modern England: that strength, grace, and purpose are never out of fashion.

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CHOKER: KATHERINE

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JEWELLERY: MEERA GANDHI’S OWN JEWELRY

Meera’s New Book

“Three Tips: The Essentials for Peace, Joy, and Success”

That same philosophy does not end with imagery or symbolism – it extends into how Gandhi lives, works, and teaches. Beyond the portrait and the archetype, she has translated those enduring values into words, practices, and guidance meant for everyday life. Her book, “Three Tips: The Essentials for Peace, Joy, and Success,” is built not on lofty abstractions or spiritual jargon, but on lived experience, hard-earned lessons, and a belief that peace is not accidental – it is practiced.

Gandhi wrote the book after years of learning “how to take the long way home…” based on the Supertramp song from 1979. As she explains, she had made mistakes, hit

roadblocks and gathered wisdom she felt compelled to pass on – “in an easy, sort of non– preachy - but feel-good way.” The goal was never to lecture, but to offer guidance that people can actually use. “Sometimes when we find ourselves hitting problems,” she says, “then we need to take some time to dig deeper, do some soul-searching, and accept situations and move onto positive solutions.” That acceptance, she believes, is where clarity begins.

One Week at a Time

The structure of “Three Tips” is deceptively simple – and that’s its power. The book contains 52 chapters, one for each week of the year. Each chapter centers on a specific life theme and offers three concise, actionable tips. Readers are encouraged to slow down and meditate on just one set of ideas per week, allowing each lesson to integrate gradually rather than overwhelm. “If you meditate on one tip a week,” Gandhi says, “I think you can invite a lesson.”

The topics themselves span the full spectrum of modern life. There are chapters devoted to education, leadership, entrepreneurship, relationships, conflict resolution, balance, abundance, rebuilding, reconciliation, and personal growth. Rather than isolating spiritual wellness from professional ambition, Gandhi insists the two must coexist. One cannot thrive without the other.

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Lessons in Bias, Pace, and Perspective

Take her chapter on overcoming bias – one of the most resonant examples of the book’s tone. Gandhi doesn’t moralize; she reflects. She acknowledges her own misjudgments and how they backfired. Her three tips are direct: don’t prejudge, always be courteous and respectful even when reservations exist; look deeper, remembering that “the cover is not the book”; and celebrate differences, because they add texture and richness to our lives rather than detract from them.

Another widely embraced section focuses on pacing ourselves through life – an urgent message in a culture addicted to speed. “Slow down,” she urges. “Just a little bit. Please breathe.” The second tip is to stay present, because the past no longer exists and the future is being shaped right now. The third is to consciously set your own pace. “After all,” she says, “we can only live one moment at a time, and that moment is ours.”

From Rejection to Reinvention

The book’s clarity was hard-won. Gandhi initially wrote a much longer manuscript and brought it to a publisher in India. The response was blunt. The editor liked her ideas and her honesty – but told her the book wasn’t publishable. “Come back to me when you have something I’m able to publish,” he said. It was humbling. But before she left, he offered

one crucial piece of advice: back up what you preach with real-life anecdotes.

She took that advice seriously. Gandhi rewrote the book from the ground up, weaving in personal stories and reshaping the structure into the three-tips format. When she returned with the revised manuscript, the reception was entirely

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different. The publisher immediately recognized its clarity and warmth – and the book deal followed.

Mental Wellness as the True Measure of Success

The deeper motivation behind “Three Tips” emerged during the pandemic. Gandhi witnessed friends – many outwardly successful – struggling behind closed doors. “We assumed that wealth would shield people from mental distress,” she says, “and it didn’t.” That realization shifted not only her writing, but the direction of her philanthropic work toward mental wellness. “If we don’t have our mental health,” she says simply, “we don’t have anything.”

Gandhi is candid about her belief that America is facing a mental health crisis. Stress levels are at historic highs, social connection is eroding, and the pressure to constantly perform is relentless. Yet she also sees hope. Meditation is on the rise. People are redefining success. Some are turning away from corner offices rather than sacrificing their health. “People are waking up,” she says.

What Gandhi hopes readers take away from “Three Tips” is not perfection, but perspective. “If they can be even a little shifted,” she says, “sometimes that’s all it takes – to look at your situation differently and find hope.” In a world obsessed with more – more money, more speed, more achievement – her book offers something radical: enoughness, one week at a time.

“Three Tips” is available to purchase on Amazon. P

thegivingbackfoundation.net Instagram: @MeeraGandhiGBF

NATIONAL

NATIONAL FOOTBALL

FOUNDATION

BY W.A. MULLER/ADD

About the National Football Foundation:

At the heart of the Suffolk County Chapter of the National Football Foundation is a group of leaders united by their passion for the game and their commitment to the young people it serves. Chapter namesake and philanthropist James C. Metzger, Chapter President Len Genova, Board Member and Director of Sports Medicine Development for Orlin & Cohen, Ray Nelson, and Newsday High School Sports Editor Gregg Sarra represent the diverse leadership driving the chapter’s success. Together, their influence spans philanthropy, medicine, media, and community service – a reflection of how deeply rooted the game of football is on Long Island and how powerfully it can shape lives. That local dedication mirrors the broader mission of the National Football Foundation at the national level.

Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, Army coach Earl “Red” Blaik, and journalist Grantland Rice, the National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Football Hall of Fame is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to promoting academic excellence, citizenship, and athletic achievement through amateur football. At the national level, the NFF oversees the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta and administers the annual Hall of Fame nomination, election, and induction process. The organization also manages the William V. Campbell Trophy

and National Scholar-Athlete Program, awarding more than $1.3 million annually and nearly $41 million since 1959, highlighted by the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards presented by Fidelity Investments and the Campbell Trophy, widely regarded as the “Academic Heisman.”

What truly makes the organization unique, however, is the NFF Chapter Network. It provides those who love the game an opportunity to stay involved and give back to future generations by replicating the national efforts at the grassroots level. There are currently 120 chapters in 47 states, with over 14,000 members, all of whom are volunteers and participate because they love the game and believe in the positive role it plays in the development of our youth. The chapter in Suffolk County has been in existence since 1995 and during that time has recognized over 1,000 student-athletes for their academic and athletic excellence. The chapter’s mission is to promote the power of amateur football in developing leadership, sportsmanship, and academic excellence throughout the Suffolk County football community. This is accomplished by recognizing student-athlete achievement, supporting youth programs, and hosting events that highlight the game and the young men who represent it on Long Island.

The Genesis of the Suffolk Chapter: Chapter President Len Genova is a two-time All-Ivy (Honorable Mention as a junior and First Team as a senior) and AP All-American (Honorable Mention) football player who

“WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE COACH’S ASSOCIATION, THE CHAPTER NEVER BECOMES A REALITY.”

captained the 1984 Columbia University team. Further, Genova coached at his alma mater, coaching the defensive line on the freshman team in 1989. Given Genova’s interest in working in the sports field, Columbia Head Coach Ray Tellier, introduced Genova to Bob Casciola, the President of the NFF’s national office. Casciola was a former Long Island native (Mineola High School) who played collegiately at Princeton University before embarking on a very successful coaching and business career. Casciola encouraged Genova to start a chapter on Long Island and after repeated attempts to register the necessary members to secure a charter, Genova was fortuitously approached at a clinic he was hosting by Nick Schroeder, the Section XI Football Chairman and then Athletic Director for the Smithtown Central School District. “Nick approached me at a coach’s clinic I was hosting. Our national president, Bob Casciola, gave an overview of the organization hoping to spur interest in the chapter, and Nick asked if we could get together for lunch,” Genova said. Shortly after that, Genova met with Schroeder and Pete Blieberg, the President of the Suffolk County Football Coaches Association and Athletic Director at Kings Park at the time. “I’ve referenced that meeting many times through the years, as a matter of fact, I bring it up each year at our scholar athlete brunch when I talk about how the whole thing started and talk about meeting Nick and Pete at a Friendly’s restaurant in Commack. By the end of the meeting, both committed the full support of the coach’s association and agreed to sponsor membership for all the coaches in the county, which gave us enough members to officially receive our charter from the national and become a functional chapter,” Genova said. According to Genova, “without the support of the coach’s association, the chapter never becomes a reality.” That support and relationship continues today. The chapter works very closely with current coaches’ association president Steve Fasciani on several initiatives throughout the year and has fostered a terrific working relationship with all the coaches in the county. “The coaches are our constituency, and we’re here to support them and help promote the sport at the grass roots level. I’ve gotten to know so many of them and I can’t say enough about their commitment to their athletes. The young men and women who play in the county are blessed to have such dedicated coaches in their corner,” according to Genova.

TMEET THE BOARD

he National Football Foundation’s Suffolk Chapter is guided by a uniquely talented board that blends coaches, athletic directors, administrators, officials, and prominent business leaders, all united by a shared passion for amateur football. The chapter is fortunate to have leading athletic administrators such

as Pete Blieberg, Assistant Executive Director of Section XI, and Tim Horan, Section XX Football Chairman and West Islip AD, along with founding members Lou Bonnanzio and Paul Mastronardi, whose energy and institutional knowledge provide invaluable leadership. The board also includes Suffolk

County Officials Association President Marc Negrin, who, alongside Advisory Board member Carl Superina, coordinates officials for numerous NFF events. Prominent business leader Ray Nelson, Director of Sports Medicine Development (Orlin & Cohen), has been a cornerstone since 1997, offering

exemplary leadership in fundraising and sponsor engagement. The advisory board was strengthened in 2025 with the addition of David Gardi (Sr. VP, Washington Commanders) and Dave Howard (former New York Mets VP and Madison Square Garden President), both bringing deep sports business expertise. Smithtown West Head Coach Craig Perrino, who joined in 2023, has been instrumental in spearheading the Lineman Challenge. At the operational core is Director of Operations Alexandra Rosenberg, whose leadership has transformed the chapter since joining in 2021. Rosenberg has elevated event execution, expanded the chapter’s social media presence, and infused youthful energy and professional skill into every initiative, earning high praise from Chapter President Len Genova. Collectively, this diverse and dynamic board has built one of the nation’s most active and impactful NFF chapters, setting the standard for excellence by prioritizing the mission of the organization above individual goals.

The James C. Metzger Connection: In 2019, NFF Board Member Ray Nelson suggested that Genova reach out to wellknown Long Island sports philanthropist James C. Metzger for support. Genova subsequently connected with Metzger through an introduction facilitated by Hofstra Men’s Lacrosse Head Coach Seth Tierney. “Jim’s athletic and business success is well documented and his philanthropic work on Long Island, especially in the youth and high school sports areas, is unparalleled. I coached Seth’s son, Ryan Tierney, in youth football and got to know coach over the course of several years. I asked if he could make the introduction to Jim and Seth immediately reached out and scheduled the meeting for me,” Genova said. “From my first meeting with Jim, it was readily apparent how much his high school football career meant to him. He recalled with vivid detail so many memorable moments and games, it seemed like they happened last week,” according to Genova. “Jim Metzger’s unwavering commitment to youth and high school sports, combined with his lifelong love for the game, made it clear to our board that dedicating this chapter in his honor was both fitting and

deserved,” Genova said. Each year the top scholar athlete for the public and private schools in Suffolk County receives the James C. Metzger Top Scholar Athlete award. In addition, in 2024 the chapter became the first in the country to host a scholar athlete brunch exclusively for girls’ flag football. The Top Scholar Award for girls’ flag football is also named after Metzger.

Metzger is a former star athlete at Half Hollow Hills East high school and Hofstra University and a unique benefactor who scored an unusual double play by being inducted into the athletic hall of fame for both Nassau and Suffolk County. Metzger is the founder, chairman, and CEO of the Whitmore Group, Ltd. (now the Whitmore Agency in Garden City and associated with Acrisure, the world’s eighth-largest brokerage), one of the most successful independent brokerage firms in the New York metropolitan area. Metzger has been inducted in the Half Hollow Hills Hall of Fame for his football and lacrosse records and at Hofstra University for his All-American career in lacrosse and his ongoing contributions to the sport.

Jim Metzger’s impact on youth and high school sports has never been about personal recognition–it has always been about what his support makes possible for others. Time and again, he has stepped forward to ensure that young athletes and their families can experience the joy, pride, and lasting memories that come with being part of the game. As Genova explained, “Jim never wants the credit–everything he does is for the good of the game and to create lasting memories for the athletes and their parents. It’s that selfless commitment, rooted in both his love for the sport and his belief in its ability to shape lives, that has left such a powerful legacy in our community.”

The Gregg Sarra Trophy:

Arguably the most prestigious high school award given out each year, the Gregg Sarra Trophy was created by the Suffolk chapter in 2022. The board decided to name an award after longtime Newsday high school sports editor Gregg Sarra. The Gregg Sarra Trophy is awarded

annually to the top offensive and defensive high school football players on Long Island. Sarra has overseen the growth of the Newsday high school sports department and its multiplatform high school football coverage. Under his stewardship, Newsday produces an annual preseason list recognizing the top 100 football players on Long Island, a 28-page preview section, weekly game coverages and features, weekly “Gridiron Greats” highlighting the top individual performances of the week and a weekly highlight show produced in Newsday’s television studio. “There is no person more deserving to name this award for,” Genova said. “Gregg has done more to promote high school sports on Long Island, especially for the girls, than anyone and it was fitting to name the award after him,” according to Genova. The inaugural honorees were Dante Torres of St. Anthony’s, recognized for his excellence on offense, and Trevor Gayron of Farmingdale, honored for his defensive prowess. In 2023, the awards were bestowed upon K.J. Duff of St. Anthony’s (offense) and Sebastian Regis of East Islip (defense). Most recently, in 2024, the distinction was earned by Joseph Filardi of Hills West for offense and Michael Sands of Sayville for defense. Gregg’s steadfast support of the chapter has been foundational to its continued growth, elevating the visibility and credibility of its mission across Long Island. Through his leadership and influence, the NFF’s efforts to promote the game of football and honor its most deserving student-athletes have gained meaningful recognition and lasting impact within the community.

Chapter President Genova:

Len Genova has dedicated his life to the intersection of athletics, academics, and leadership. He is currently pursuing his doctorate in Sport Management & Policy at the University of Georgia, where he has served as an instructor in the Department of Kinesiology for the past four years. A former All-Ivy and All-America football player at Columbia University, Genova’s career has spanned roles as a high school and collegiate coach and more than three decades leading the Suffolk County Chapter of the National Football Foundation. His commitment to mentoring young athletes began in the mid-1990s with the founding

of Academics and Athletics Equal Success (AAES), a nonprofit that helped New York City football players navigate the college recruiting and admissions process. Nationally, he played a key role in launching the Play-It-Smart Program, which placed academic coaches in New York City high schools before expanding

nationwide, and worked with the NFL and the NFF to spearhead the NFL Coaching Academy, organizing clinics with franchises across the country. Today, Genova remains deeply committed to the growth of the Suffolk Chapter while balancing his academic pursuits and family life. He credits much of his success

to his wife, Gemma, whose steadfast support –beginning with her volunteering alongside him at the Long Island QB Challenge the day after their engagement – has been instrumental. Together, they share a blended family of five children, all of whom are actively involved in supporting the chapter’s mission.

THE ORLIN & COHEN IMPACT

"The NFF has been fortunate to receive strong sponsorship support over the years, but none more impactful than Orlin & Cohen,” Genova said. Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Group delivers elite sports medicine care across Long Island, providing advanced treatment for athletic injuries and immediate, in-season access through its Walk-In Sunday Clinics with on-site MRI and digital X-ray services. The group also offers free recovery and injury screenings for student-athletes in Nassau and Suffolk Counties and operates specialized programs to ensure safe returns to play. Deeply embedded in the community, Orlin & Cohen serve as official sports medicine partners for organizations including the New York Riptide and LIU Athletics while supporting youth events such as Long Island’s first Girls Flag Football Tournament.

While the partnership with Orlin & Cohen and the NFF dates to 2019, Genova explained the foundation of the partnership extends back to 1997 and is between him and Director of Sports Medicine Development Ray Nelson. According to Genova, “Ray Nelson has been the heart and soul of our chapter’s operations. His steady counsel and unwavering support have not only guided our work but have also inspired those around him to give their very best. Ray’s vision and determination were instrumental in securing the vital support of Orlin & Cohen, a partnership that has strengthened our ability to fulfill our mission. His unparalleled dedication to amateur football and his tireless efforts to promote the sport in our county have brought our chapter to new heights. On both a personal and professional level, I have relied on Ray’s friendship, wisdom, and expertise, and it is no exaggeration to say that his contributions have shaped the very success of our organization.”

Since 2019, Orlin & Cohen has served as the presenting sponsor of the NFF Player of the Week program, recognizing one standout football player countywide each week during the regular season and playoffs, with honorees celebrated annually at the Scholar Athlete Brunch. The group has also been the presenting sponsor of the Long Island QB Challenge since 2022, a skills competition

for the Island’s top returning boys’ and girls’ quarterbacks. What began as a local event has quickly evolved into one of the region’s premier showcases, becoming a benchmark of achievement for aspiring quarterbacks across Long Island. “None of that would have been possible without Orlin & Cohen, and we are eternally grateful for their support and belief in our mission,” Genova said. P

Herb Karlitz

Herb Karlitz has spent more than three decades creating experiences that people talk about long after the event is over.

“When I look back, the through line is entertaining the customer,” Herb said. “Whether it was music and concerts, chefs and restaurants, it was always about creating something that would entertain and be memorable.”

In the late 1980s, Herb was a pioneer in entertainment and music marketing, creating sponsorships with artists including Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, Gloria Estefan, Bon Jovi, and others. A drummer by passion and a lawyer by training, his passions were food and wine, inspired by his parents who owned restaurants where he honed his cooking skills and enjoyed alongside his wife, strap-its designer, Julie Karlitz.

“Breaking bread together is how you build relationships,” he said. “That’s really what it comes down to.”

Herb began to see chefs and restaurants as another form of entertainment, with dining rooms as stages and chefs as performers. “If you go to a restaurant and you don’t have a good time, you’re not going back,” he said. “It’s that simple.”

Karlitz & Co. @ Windows on the World

His first major culinary event took place in 1994 at Windows on the World, featuring celebrated chef Michael Lomonaco and Master Sommelier Andrea Immer Robinson. “It sold out,” Herb said. “That paved the way for thousands of experiences.”

Over 35+ years, Herb has produced more than 13,000 events worldwide, growing Karlitz & Co. from roughly ten events a year to nearly 400 annually. He’s partnered with dozens of global brands including American Express, Resy, EY, Merrill Lynch, The

is Bringing Intimacy Back into the Food Industry

BY JEREMY MURPHY

Breeder’s Cup, and also has produced many significant concerts, food and wine festivals.

But his formula is intentionally antiformula. “Anybody with money can buy a ticket,” Herb said. “But if you create something people can’t do on their own, that’s when it matters.”

He never wanted chefs as clients, although many asked him to represent them. “I could never take money from a chef; they work too hard. Chefs are my friends. I knew most of them back when they were just called cooks.” There’s no hidden agenda and they trust me.

With just about every celebrity and Michelin chef on speed-dial, that trust has

allowed him to create unique experiences that feel intimate rather than transactional: making pasta with a chef, hunting truffles in Italy, or sharing a simple pizza that becomes unforgettable because of who’s at the table.

“Not everything is about caviar or expensive wine,” Herb said. “People are passionate about pizza. They’re passionate about burgers, or a $50 hard-to-get wine that tastes like a $500 bottle only ‘insiders’ know about. It’s about what money can’t buy, and people’s ability to tell the story someone else can’t.”

Chef Marcus Samuelsson & Harlem EatUp!

That philosophy has carried through some of his most impactful work, including Harlem EatUp!, which he created with his dear friend celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson. “That festival brought national attention to Harlem’s culinary and cultural history. We wanted to tell a story,” Herb said. “More than 90 percent of the people who came had never been to Harlem before.” Even rain couldn’t stop it. “People showed up in galoshes, umbrellas and plastic bags over their shoes,” he said. “That’s how you

“I COULD NEVER TAKE MONEY FROM A CHEF; THEY WORK TOO HARD. CHEFS ARE MY FRIENDS. I KNEW MOST OF THEM BACK WHEN THEY WERE JUST CALLED COOKS.”

knew it mattered, we also involved the charity, “City Meals on Wheels,” which delivers meals to the elderly in Harlem.

Giving back is woven into Herb’s work he also does throughout the year, supporting City Harvest. His annual Celebrity Chefs & Friends Golf, Tennis and Pickleball Tournament, was described this past year “…more like an over-the-top food and wine festival with 120+ celebrity chefs and iconic restaurants,” which has provided more than five million meals to date.

“I can’t wrap my head around kids going hungry,” Herb said. “Not when we live in a world where people can spend millions to go into space just for the fun of it, but 4 in 10 families today are facing food insecurity.

At home, Herb’s philosophy is just as personal. He hosts annual dinners, inviting chefs, sommeliers, and friends to share wines from his cellar. “They are meant to be shared around a good meal. That’s the bonding experience that resonates long after the plates are cleared and the wine

glasses are empty,” he said.

Next up for Herb is “EATUP!,” an ABC7 special he is co-producing with Celebrity Chef Marcus Samuelsson. The special, released on February 14th, highlights African American chefs and small business owners for Black History Month, starting with beloved spots including Sylvia’s Restaurant, Evelyn’s Kitchen and Bar Kabawa. P

karlitz.com

Strap-its founder Julie Karlitz never set out to revolutionize women’s fashion, she simply wanted her daughters to express themselves while looking pulled together. The result was a stylish, seamless solution to one of fashion’s most overlooked details: the bra strap. What started as a creative way to elevate a basic undergarment has become a global brand and a wardrobe essential for women everywhere.

The concept is deceptively simple but completely fresh. strap-its is a collection of seamless, supportive bras with interchangeable straps that can be swapped, styled, or attached to strapless bras. They’re chic, comfortable, and meant to be seen, whether under an off-the-shoulder blouse, a sundress, or a tank. “It started because my daughters were always dressing creatively, but I didn’t love seeing their bra straps showing,” Karlitz explained. “I told them, ‘Be expressive, but let’s do it in a different way.’ So I came up with the idea for stylish straps.”

Julie Strap-its Founder Karlitz

Reimagines the Simple Bra Strap

BY JEREMY MURPHY

Originally, Karlitz imagined the brand for teens, inspired by her own daughters. But after friends began requesting more sophisticated designs, she saw an opportunity to broaden her market. The turning point came when the Home Shopping Network reached out after seeing her straps. “They called and asked if we had bras to go with the straps,” she recalled. “We didn’t – but I quickly designed some, and it just took off from there.”

The formula worked. strap-its are now carried in more than 2,000 boutiques across the U.S., Canada, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, as well as in resorts and spas like Canyon Ranch, Miraval, and Pebble Beach. The line has also become a favorite among celebrities and reality stars including Joan Vassos, Lisa Barlow, Gina Kirschenheiter, Patti Stanger, Luann de Lesseps, and Jennifer Pedranti. With their sleek design and versatility, the bras have been embraced by women of all ages and lifestyles – from the fitness enthusiast who goes from barre to brunch, to the fashion-forward professional who wants comfort without compromise.

Karlitz attributes much of strap-its’ success to word of mouth rather than heavy marketing. “We’ve really stayed under the radar,” she said. “People Magazine did a piece calling us the ‘strap of the festivals’ at Coachella, but mostly it’s been organic. Someone from Canada sees them in Miami, tells their local boutique, and then that boutique calls us to carry the line.”

Behind the effortless appeal is serious thought and craftsmanship. Each bra is made from smoothing stretch fabric that

provides support without underwire, while the interchangeable straps come in an array of styles – from boho floral and vegan leather to studded suede and plaid. Karlitz keeps the line on trend by paying close attention to what’s happening in fashion. “Plaids are popular right now, so we made plaid straps. Denim is big again, so we created a denim collection. We like to enhance an outfit, not distract from it.”

Her agile production model allows her to move quickly. Unlike traditional fashion cycles that can take a year from concept to store, strap-its can go from design to shelf in about two and a half months. “We work with an amazing warehouse and factories, so our turnaround time is fast. It lets us stay current and responsive to what women want.”

But perhaps the most meaningful part of the business for Karlitz has been hearing from women whose lives her product has impacted. “During the pandemic, store owners told us we were one of the reasons they were able to stay open,” she said. “And we’ve had women who’ve gone through mastectomies or lumpectomies tell us it’s the only bra they can wear comfortably. That’s very gratifying.”

Comfort, inclusivity, and empowerment have always been at the heart of her vision. “Our theme – ‘meant to be seen’ – isn’t just about our straps,” she said. “It’s about women being seen and heard for who they are. I want my daughters, and all women, to express themselves and be confident in that.”

Before launching strap-its, Karlitz spent years in event planning at Burson Marsteller, organizing major events for icons like Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Bon Jovi. That experience, she said, helped her build the discipline and creativity needed to run her own brand. “Coming up with event concepts isn’t that different from launching a product,” she explained. “You need a vision, a plan, and an eye for detail.”

“IT STARTED BECAUSE MY DAUGHTERS WERE ALWAYS DRESSING CREATIVELY, BUT I DIDN’T LOVE SEEING THEIR BRA STRAPS SHOWING.”

That mix of creativity and precision has paid off. What began as a mom’s clever solution for her daughters has become a nationwide sensation. And for Karlitz, success is defined not just by sales or celebrity fans, but by the confidence her designs inspire. “Every woman deserves to feel good about what she’s wearing,” she said. “If we’ve made that a little easier, and more stylish, then we’ve done our job.” P

strap-its.com

Passion and Power

Harriet Newman Cohen

BY JEREMY MURPHY

At 92 years old and still a formidable presence in New York’s matrimonial courts, Harriet Newman Cohen embodies what she calls the “three lives” of her career –and now, in her forthcoming memoir, she chronicles them all. Her book, Passion and Power: A Life in Three Worlds, published by Bloomsbury and out February 19, 2026, is at once a professional autobiography, a portrait of changing social mores around marriage and divorce, and a deeply personal

reckoning with the legal system’s role in the most intimate corners of our lives.

Cohen’s story begins with discipline and determination. She entered Barnard College at 16, graduating in 1952 with a degree in Latin and a minor in music. After earning a master’s degree from Bryn Mawr College, she devoted herself to family life, raising four daughters in an era when educated women were expected to focus on the home. But when her marriage ended, she decided to rewrite her own story. At 38, she enrolled in

Brooklyn Law School, where she earned her J.D. with honors and joined the Law Review – all while sitting at the dining room table doing homework alongside her children.

It was the 1970s, and divorce law in New York was still very much a man’s world. “When I walked into the courtroom after graduating, I’d be mistaken for the client, and my client – usually a man – would be mistaken for the lawyer,” she recalled. “There were no women in the courtroom.” Her new memoir explores that era’s gender barriers

with frankness and humor, tracing her evolution from housewife to advocate. “I wanted to tell my story because the world I grew up in doesn’t exist anymore,” she said. “And I remember it all.”

Cohen rose quickly in her field, helping shape modern family law as the state moved toward equitable distribution and new standards for child support. By the 1980s, she was one of New York’s most sought-after matrimonial attorneys, working on highstakes cases involving powerful, wealthy, and often famous clients. Her firm, Cohen Stine Kapoor LLP, remains a fixture in the city’s legal landscape, handling the kind of complex divorces that make headlines but require discretion.

Her book is anything but dry legalese. It pulses with human drama and hard-won insight. She examines three cases in detail –“almost like novels,” she said – that reveal both her intellect and empathy. The most famous is the so-called “Case of a Lifetime,” which inspired HBO’s Nuclear Family documentary series. It centered on two lesbian mothers whose family structure was threatened when one of the sperm donors sued for custody. “We changed the law at that point,” Cohen said. “Biology is not destiny. Family is what you make it.”

The second case involves a contentious prenuptial agreement that revealed the real power players weren’t the young couple but their fathers. The third, about a long-term couple who may or may not have been legally married, explores the gray areas of family law. Each story underscores the human complexity behind the courtroom battles. “Stories are what the world is about,” she said. “My memoir is full of stories.”

The book’s title refers to the “three worlds” Cohen has lived in – the domestic world of marriage and motherhood; the professional world of the courtroom; and today’s world, reshaped by technology, social change, and COVID. “After the pandemic, everything changed – the way we live, the way we work, even how we think about family,” she said. “We’re re-fighting some of the same battles I fought in the seventies.”

Now in her nineties, Cohen still practices law and mentors younger attorneys. She

co-founded her current firm during the pandemic, embracing remote work before many of her peers. “I had never even heard the word Zoom before March 2020,” she laughed. “But here we were, working eight-hour days from our bedrooms, adapting to a new world.” Her partner, an Indian-American former police officer named Ankit Kapoor, impressed her from their first meeting. “I asked what his goal was, and he said, ‘I want my name on the door.’ I said, ‘Then you’re hired.’”

For all her toughness, Cohen doesn’t shy away from vulnerability. She speaks openly about her first marriage ending after 21 years. “I said, ‘What am I going to do with these four girls?’ And he said, ‘You’ll be fine,’” she remembered. “It was awful.” A year later, she met the man who would become her second husband, Dr. Arthur Feinberg, whom she calls the great love of her life. “He married me with four children and made me believe in myself again.” His death years later inspired one of her memoir’s most moving chapters, titled Kaddish. “I wrote it, but I can’t bear to read it,” she admitted. “It’s about the people who shaped me.”

Over her long career, Cohen has represented governors, Broadway stars, and

titans of industry, always guided by empathy and rigor. “I fall in love with my clients,” she said. “I have to. Their story becomes my story.” Her approach blends strategy and intuition – part general, part therapist. “When the seas are rough, I can’t break down. I have to keep the ship moving.”

At a time when many would retire, Cohen sees her age as an advantage. “People ask how I do it,” she said. “The truth is, I live so many different lives every day.” Her passion for the law and belief in justice remain as fierce as ever.

With Passion and Power, Cohen offers more than memoir; she offers a map for resilience. Her life bridges eras – from the “man’s world” of the 1950s to a present where the definition of family keeps expanding. It’s both an extraordinary legal history and a deeply human story of strength, humor, and transformation. For anyone who believes it’s too late to begin again, Harriet Newman Cohen stands as living proof that the most remarkable chapters can come in your ninth decade. P

csklawny.com

“AFTER THE PANDEMIC, EVERYTHING CHANGED – THE WAY WE LIVE, THE WAY WE WORK, EVEN HOW WE THINK ABOUT FAMILY.”

Nancy Davis is a powerhouse. The Denver native and Beverly Hills local has faced challenge after challenge and hasn’t backed down; in fact, these hardships have only fueled her. Motivated by her battle with MS and her son’s struggles with drug use, Davis founded two charities, Race to Erase MS and Cure Addiction Now. Since their inception, Race to Erase MS has raised over $51 million to find a cure, while Cure Addiction Now has made significant progress reducing drug addiction stigma and furthering long-term recovery therapies. Ever-driven, Davis also authored Lean On Me, a guide to navigating and overcoming an MS diagnosis, and launched Peace & Love by Nancy Davis, a jewelry line that donates a portion of its profits to her MS Center Without Walls.

Charity Runs in Her Blood Entrepreneurial spirit and a drive to create a better future are in Nancy Davis’s DNA. Her father, the late billionaire Marvin Davis, was the chairman of Davis Petroleum and owned 20th Century Fox, the Beverly Hills Hotel, the Pebble Beach Corporation, and the Aspen Skiing Company.

While Davis got her ambition from her father, her generosity comes from her mother, Barbara Davis. She has been the mastermind behind the Carousel of Hope Ball in Beverly Hills since its founding in 1978. Her efforts have not gone unrewarded; the annual event has attracted every major Hollywood star from Beyoncé to George Clooney and raised millions of dollars toward research on juvenile diabetes and ensuring people with the disease can access the best possible clinical and educational programs.

Davis raised five beloved children, Brandon, Alexander, Jason, Mariella, and Isabella, who have gone on to make their own mark on society.

Her Race to Erase MS Race to Erase MS remains the cornerstone of Davis’s philanthropic life. She founded

Philanthropist Nancy Davis

the organization in 1993, just two years after receiving her multiple sclerosis diagnosis at age 33. At the time, MS research offered little reassurance; there were no FDA-approved drugs, no clear understanding of the disease, and few reasons for optimism.

“I was told I’d be lucky to operate the remote control on my television,” Davis recalled. “I had three young children and was basically told to go home and go to bed.”

Instead, Davis sought second opinions, and then a different solution altogether. She recognized that many of the world’s most brilliant scientists were working in isolation, often duplicating each other’s efforts without realizing it. Race to Erase MS was built to change that model.

Through its Center Without Walls, the foundation requires leading MS researchers to communicate openly about both successes and failures. That structure, Davis believes, accelerated progress that might have otherwise taken decades longer.

When Race to Erase MS launched, there were no MS drugs on the market. Today, there are more than 25 FDA-approved treatments.

“For someone being diagnosed today, especially young women in their twenties and thirties, there is so much more hope,” Davis said. “That didn’t exist when I was diagnosed.” erasems.org

Her Fight to Cure Addiction Now

Inspired by her late son, Jason Davis, Nancy Davis founded Cure Addiction Now in 2018. While Jason Davis passed away in 2020, his

Peace & Love

BY GWEN KOZLOWSKI

influence remains central to the organization’s mission. Cure Addiction Now focuses on funding basic science research into substance use disorder, an area Davis says has been overlooked despite the scale of the crisis.

“People assume addiction treatment is solved because we’ve had the same system for 80 years,” Davis said. “But the reality is that it only works for a very small percentage of people.”

Cure Addiction Now supports research into medications and therapies that address addiction as a biological and mental health

condition – not a moral failing.

“Addiction doesn’t just shame the person suffering,” she said. “It shames their families, and even the doctors who work on it.”

That belief is embedded in Davis’s jewelry designs as well. Her Peace & Love Jewelry line was born during an early Race to Erase MS gala, inspired by a desire to communicate hope during uncertain times. One recurring symbol, the teddy bear, became closely associated with Cure Addiction Now and Jason’s legacy. “The message is simple,” Davis said. “Instead of pushing people away, we embrace them.” cureaddictionnow.org

Celebrating Success and Looking Ahead

To commemorate her charities’ achievements, Davis teamed up with high-end jeweler, Michel Piranesi, in New York City to plan a spectacular fête at Piranesi’s shop in Aspen, Colorado. The Aspen boutique was transformed for the evening into a warm, candlelit setting designed for conversation and browsing fine jewelry. Rather than a formal program, the evening was intentionally relaxed; there were no speeches or stage moments, just conversation, shared purpose, and the understanding that a portion of every purchase made throughout the night would directly support both Race to Erase MS and Cure Addiction Now. For Davis, bringing Race to Erase MS back to Aspen is both symbolic and practical.

“If we can keep people talking, collaborating, and caring,” she said, “we get closer. That’s how this started. And that’s how we’ll finish it.” P

piranesi.com

A.L.C ELIZA ELIZA TRIMMED CAMISOLE TOP & SOPHIE HIGH RISE FLARE PANTS

TARA Zimmerman

Redefining Luxury Real Estate on Long Island

BY CHRISTINE MONTANTI

Real estate has never been just about houses for Daniel Gale Sotheby’s Associate Broker Tara Zimmerman, it has always been more about people. Raised in Great Neck, New York, Tara has consistently demonstrated that in a high-end market, the most valuable asset isn’t a property; it’s trust. That belief has made her a respected and soughtafter name in Long Island’s luxury real estate industry, whether she is representing buyers or sellers. The Long Island native who has deep roots in the North Shore Gold Coast community, brings a rare combination of hyperlocal knowledge and refined, global perspective to her work. As one of the top-producing Associate Brokers at Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty, she approaches every transaction with the understanding that luxury estates require thoughtful presentation. Her signature approach blends style, strategy, and integrity.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER/ CREATIVE DIRECTOR

CHRISTINE MONTANTI

PHOTOGRAPHY MIKE RUIZ

PHOTOGRAPHY

ASSISTANT DANI SAX

SET HAIRSTYLING

NIKKI JAEGER OF NUBEST

SALON & SPA

MAKEUP ARTISTRY

MELISSA LUX BEAUTY

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT/PA GIORGIOS KONTOGIANNIS

SET CATERING

VADIM OF THE BAGEL MASTER

“THEY’RE BUYING INTO A COMMUNITY. I REPRESENT MY CLIENTS THE WAY I WOULD WANT TO BE REPRESENTED, WITH HONESTY, PRECISION, AND RESPECT FOR WHAT’S AT STAKE.”

– Tara Zimmerman

Before entering real estate, Tara developed a strong foundation in the high-end fashion industry, where attention to detail, aesthetics, and branding are everything. She brings that same discerning eye and creative strategy to her listings, enabling her to present homes not just as properties but as aspirational lifestyles. Every home she represents is marketed with grace and a personalized approach that elevates its unique features. Whether you’re buying, selling, relocating, or investing in Long Island’s North Shore, Tara Zimmerman brings unmatched expertise, a refined eye for design, and a passion for exceeding her clients’ expectations.

Tara is a distinguished member of the Lois Kirschenbaum Team, consistently ranking among the top-performing teams both in the Wheatley Office (#1 Team 2019–2025) and company-wide. Her numerous accolades reflect not only her skill but also her relentless dedication: After quickly earning her real estate license she interviewed with several firms before aligning herself with her highly respected mentor, Kirschenbaum, who is known for her integrity and longevity in the industry. “Lois gave me something you can’t learn in a classroom or on Zoom,” Zimmerman says. Amazingly, Tara’s total sales volume this past year, reached 36 million, making it her best year yet.

The very first year of being an associate real estate broker, Tara earned Rookie of the Year an early validation of her work ethic and drive. Under her mentor’s guidance, the Daniel Gale associate learned one of the most important lessons of her career: you must experience a home to truly understand it.

Photos can be manipulated, but space, light, and energy cannot.

“You have to walk the house,” Tara explains. “You have to feel whether it aligns with your buyer.” That philosophy now defines her approach to the luxury market on Long Island’s North Shore. What draws her to luxury real estate isn’t the price point it’s the complexity. “No two homes are the same. No two clients are the same,” she says. “Luxury requires a higher level of care, discretion, strategy, and attention to detail.”

One of Tara’s notable luxury home sales is a now, fully renovated Oyster Bay Cove estate that sold for $7.5 million, the same property featured in this magazine’s cover photoshoot. The sale exemplifies her ability to recognize value, potential, and market timing. She is equally passionate about guiding buyers through properties with untouched promise. For one client who loved swimming, she immediately recognized that a neglected outdoor lap pool was not a liability but an emotional anchor helping the buyer envision the home’s future.

“Buying a home is emotional,” Tara explains. “You’re building a foundation for the next chapter of your life whether that’s raising a family, starting over, or creating peace during a difficult time.” Listening, she believes, is her greatest asset. Over the past decade, she has learned that patience and understanding far outweigh fast talk and quick transactions. Many of her clients become long-term relationships built on trust and mutual respect.

Tara’s outstanding performance and insights have

A.L.C. GREEN PANTSUIT

developed in to being a featured expert on New York TV news networks, newspapers and online as a leader and trusted advisor in the real estate industry. Clients often praise her integrity, patience, and strong negotiating skill ethical and client-first philosophy she lives by. In addition, Tara’s commitment extends beyond real estate. She actively supports organizations such as the Children’s Medical Fund and Sunrise Day Camp, reflecting her belief in giving back and making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

What truly sets Tara Zimmerman apart is her hyper-local expertise. Having spent her entire life on Long Island, she offers something no system can: intuition. She knows which streets matter, which school districts drive demand, and how a neighborhood feels on an ordinary Tuesday afternoon. She knows the local bakery, the trusted tailor, and the quiet luxuries that turn a location into a lifestyle. Her strategic approach to buying and selling homes, coupled with her empathy, understanding, and attentive listening, empowers both buyers and sellers to achieve their goals with confidence. Tara Zimmerman’s strategic approach to buying and selling homes, coupled with her empathy, understanding, and attentive listening, empowers both buyers and sellers to

“LUXURY

– Tara Zimmerman

achieve their goals with confidence.”

“People aren’t just buying homes here,” the Daniel Gale Associate Real Estate Broker reveals. “They’re buying into a community. I represent my clients the way I would want to be represented, with honesty, precision, and respect for what’s at stake.” P

tarafox@danielgale.com

Pete Donohue

Redefining Luxury Custom Homes on Long Island

BY CHRISTINE MONTANTI

Pete Donohue founded Sandbar Builders from a deep passion for architectural innovation and dedication to quality craftsmanship. Over the past decade, Sandbar Builders has become a trusted name across Long Island, recognized for creating luxurious, exceptional, safe, and thoughtfully designed living spaces that reflect both luxury modern lifestyles and long-term durability.

From custom homes to full-scale renovations, Donohue’s vision has always extended beyond aesthetics. At the core of Sandbar Builders’ philosophy is the belief that a home should be as healthy and resilient as it is beautiful. This commitment has positioned the company at the forefront of responsible construction practices, particularly in the careful selection of safe and sustainable building materials.

For more than ten years, Sandbar Builders has proudly served the Luxury Long Island community, navigating the region’s unique environmental challenges from coastal conditions and humidity to evolving building codes. Under Donohue’s leadership, the company has consistently delivered projects that balance innovation with practicality, ensuring homes are built to last while prioritizing occupant safety and comfort.

Clients often cite Sandbar Builders’ attention to detail and transparent luxury building process as defining strengths. Every luxury custom home project reflects a hands-on approach, where materials, methods, and design decisions are carefully evaluated for both immediate performance and long-term impact.

A key differentiator for Sandbar Builders is its proactive approach to safe building material options, an area that has become increasingly important to homeowners. Sandbar Builders emphasizes the use of low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints, finishes, and adhesives to improve indoor air quality. These materials reduce harmful off-gassing, creating healthier living environments especially important for families and individuals with allergies or respiratory issues.

Given Long Island’s luxury coastal climate, Sandbar Builders prioritizes materials designed to resist moisture intrusion and mold growth. Advanced insulation systems, weather-resistant barriers, and proper ventilation strategies all contribute to safer,

more durable homes. Energy efficiency is another cornerstone of safe construction. High-performance windows, efficient HVAC systems, and well-sealed building envelopes not only reduce energy costs but also support consistent indoor temperatures and improved air quality.

Pete Donohue’s leadership has helped Sandbar Builders evolve alongside the needs of luxury modern homeowners, blending craftsmanship with forward-thinking construction practices. By integrating safe materials, sustainable solutions, and innovative design, Sandbar Builders continues to shape homes that stand the test of time both structurally and environmentally.

As Long Island grows and changes, Sandbar Builders remains committed to building spaces that protect, inspire, and enhance the lives of those who live in them, reinforcing Pete Donohue’s original vision: luxury custom crafted homes built responsibly, without compromise. P

sandbarbuildersny.com

A Luxe Escape in

BEVERLY HILLS

BY LISA LOVERRO

There’s a certain presence to Beverly Hills. Palmlined streets, polished boutiques, and an easy yet refined rhythm all speak to its enduring allure. Over one long weekend, this small city proves why it remains the benchmark for modern luxury.

After landing at LAX, the drive into Beverly

Hills offers an easy transition from airport bustle to sophisticated calm. Checking in at SIXTY Beverly Hills, a contemporary boutique hotel just off Rodeo Drive, sets the tone for the trip. The property blends clean lines and dark wood accents with a rooftop pool that looks out over the city. It’s stylish without being showy, and the staff makes it clear that comfort and service come first. The rooms are artfully designed for both style and comfort. Many rooms open onto French balconies, offering a touch of West

Coast charm. The bathrooms are clad in black marble and mosaic tiles, with walk-in showers or tub options, lighted vanities, and luxury Ren toiletries.

Lunch at Bacari Beverly Hills follows. It’s a local favorite known for Mediterranean small plates and a laid-back outdoor patio. Dishes like grilled lamb chops and roasted Brussels sprouts are paired with a crisp glass of wine for a great introduction to my stay in Beverly Hills.

Later that afternoon, a short property tour led by the hotel’s team highlights SIXTY’s easy sense of place; more neighborhood retreat than tourist stay. Dinner that evening at Marea Beverly Hills continues the theme of understated excellence. The seafood-focused coastal Italian menu is sophisticated but unfussy, with standouts like fusilli with octopus and bone marrow. The room feels intimate, the service polished but personable.

ESCAPES

Saturday kicks off in style with brunch at The Rooftop at the Waldorf Astoria. Perched high above the city, it’s the kind of spot that begs you to linger for hours with skyline views, sunshine, and all the brunch favorites you could dream of. Add a glass of champagne, and you’ve got yourself the perfect LA morning.

From there, a visit to the Mr. Brainwash Art Museum offers a shift in energy. The space bursts with color and creativity, a reminder that Beverly Hills’ cultural side runs just as deep as its fashion roots. Housed in the former Paley Center for Media, a massive, mask-wearing Mona Lisa is splashed across its exterior and sets the tone: art meets optimism with a wink. Inside, you’ll find a wild mash-up of street art, pop culture, and pure feel-good energy. It’s impossible not to smile as you wander through Mr. Brainwash’s playful world, and whether you’re an art lover or just a curious

observer, this pop-up proves that life, indeed, is beautiful.

Lunch at The Hideaway brings you back to the heart of the city. Tucked inside the iconic Rodeo Collection on Rodeo Drive, this Mexican steakhouse brings bold flavors and Beverly Hills flair to every bite. Think sizzling premium steaks, vibrant Mexican spice, and an atmosphere that’s as chic as its address. It’s where Rodeo Drive meets real flavor. Dinner that night at Costa Cova Osteria inside L’Ermitage Beverly Hills provides a fitting close to the day. The hotel’s calm, European feel extends into its restaurant, where house-made pastas, seafood, and a perfectly curated wine list create a sense of slow enjoyment.

Sunday begins with a classic: brunch at The Polo Lounge in The Beverly Hills Hotel The setting is instantly recognizable with striped canopies, pink walls, and the quiet buzz of conversations that could only happen here. The food is timeless, the service seamless. It’s easy to see why this spot has held its reputation for decades.

Next, lunch at Dante at The Maybourne continues the city’s streak of refined dining. The Italian-inspired menu is fresh and seasonal, the space bright and elegant. Afterward, time to digest back at SIXTY,

where the rooftop pool allows you to unwind with a view that stretches across the city.

Dinner at Ella, also on SIXTY’s rooftop, wraps up the weekend. The restaurant’s relaxed open-air setting and modern California menu make it an easy choice for the final evening. Plates of grilled fish and farm-fresh vegetables are served simply, yet delicious.

By Monday morning, it’s time to head back to LAX. Leaving Beverly Hills. For all its reputation for glamour, what stands out most is its balance; elegance without excess, hospitality without fuss. Within just a few square miles, Beverly Hills offers a complete escape: one that feels polished, personal, and quietly unforgettable P

sixtyhotels.com/destinations/california/ sixty-beverly-hills lovebeverlyhills.com

Scribner’s Catskill Lodge

Experience reimagined rustic charm in the heart of the Catskill Mountains at Scribner’s Catskill Lodge which offers a stylish stay for any season. Since reopening in 2016, this eclectic property, which in addition to their 38-room lodge also offers 11 cabins as part of their newly added Rounds retreat, is a welcome respite for travelers looking to enjoy the natural beauty of the area amidst a carefully designed lodge. Originally built in the 1960s, Scribner’s is the epitome of the Catskills experience, incorporating scenery, nostalgia, local craftsmanship and

Reimagined Rustic Charm Amidst the Mountains

BY JULIE SAGOSKIN

farm-to-table offerings. Just two hours from New York City, this luxe lodge, which sits on a hilltop at the threshold of the town of Hunter, New York, is an easy and accessible escape to nature.

To ensure that the property would retain its historical heart and soul while gaining an innovative, modern feel, the Brooklyn-based

Post Company designed each space so that the original charm and character wouldn’t be lost. The cozy Library, where the theme of Americana prevails, is the perfect place to unwind by the circular fireplace, play a boardgame, read a book, or shoot some pool. To give a more private experience, in 2024, they added The Rounds and Apex Lodge. Each cabin, set on the edge of the woods, features light wood and minimalist interiors to make you feel as if you are part of the nature that surrounds you. The Rounds include a mix of suites and standard designs – here you will find a Japanese cedar soaking tub, marble pedestal sink, 360-degree outdoor terrace and an oculus for stargazing – we’re not in the city anymore, Todo! The

suites even offer a wet bar and sunken linking room with a round sofa which anchors the cabin, truly letting you relax in a calm setting that takes you away from the regular pace of life.

The Apex Lodge serves as the anchor of The Rounds – grab a cup of coffee, or take a midday break in the light-filled heart of the space. They also have additional rooms for hosting events, and corporate meetings, while the adjacent Apex Studio is ideal for private dining experiences and wellness activities.

In accordance with keeping with their quirky charm, the lodge rooms include furniture and décor from local artisans –think vintage rugs, built-in custom seating, and terracotta shower tiles. Some rooms even feature high-peaked ceilings or lofted spaces.

Set on over twenty acres of land, there is something to suit everybody, all year long. From hiking to fly fishing, each season offers its own wonder. Once the snow falls, nearby Hunter and Windham Mountains make for the perfect winter sport retreat, with everything from skiing to snowtubing. Their heated pool is also a welcome respite in the summer. Overlooking the mountains, the pool features a tiered deck for daybeds, while their sauna can be easily reserved. And the outdoor activities don’t stop there – enjoy s’mores on the West Deck, and sip ciders during the fall months, when the area is transformed into a colorful postcard. The property also offers an on-site ‘Glice’-Skating Rink, and cozy fireplaces throughout. The Garden is tended to by their hands-on gardener who ensures that each season is fully in bloom – they even harvest their own honey. The Garden can also serve as a special

backdrop for dinners, cocktail receptions, and events.

For a midday drink, breakfast, brunch, lunch, or sumptuous dinner, their American fare focused restaurant, Prospect, focuses on local purveyors and fresh produce from their own garden. Groups can also connect in their intimate yet spacious areas including the Library connected to the West Deck, a private multi-purpose studio, while their Bluestone Patio can host a wedding reception for up to 160 guests. The nearby town also has quaint stores and restaurants, plus plenty of trails and winding roads to explore. P

scribnerslodge.com

LADERA

There are hotels with views you admire. And then there is Ladera Resort in Saint Lucia. The kind of place that interrupts your sentence and leaves your jaw parted.

You arrive, set your bag down, and look up. There is no fourth wall. You scan for glass, some polite boundary between you and the elements, but there is nothing separating the room from the awe-inducing backdrop. Air moves freely. Light pours in. The Pitons are

The Crown Jewel of Caribbean Resorts

BY RYANN REYNOLDS

more than a view. They rise straight from the sea, asserting their presence. The scale registers in your body before you can find the language to describe it. For a moment, you are not reaching for your phone to capture a view. You are simply inside it.

With just 37 suites, privacy is not a tagline. Each room is angled deliberately, creating the quiet illusion that the mountain belongs solely to you. Even at full capacity, the property feels secluded, suspended between rainforest and sea.

The open-air design is bold. Three walls instead of four, one side entirely open to the landscape, framed by green peaks and the Caribbean beyond. In one of the Caribbean’s rainiest corners, the architecture feels less like a risk and more like a commitment. Two

solid walls ground the space. A third filters breeze through wooden slats. The fourth dissolves into horizon.

And yet the suites feel intimate. Plush beds draped in gauzy mosquito netting soften the drama. Stone floors stay cool under bare feet. Bathrooms feature intricate woodwork and thoughtful design. Each suite includes a private plunge pool, gently heated and stretching toward a dreamlike view. Sunset from your own pool feels unreal and cinematic.

No air conditioning, on paper, seems daring. In reality, you do not miss it. Ceiling fans turn softly overhead while a steady mountain breeze does most of the work. Nights settle into a surprising coolness, and a light comforter feels exactly right. Before dinner, staff quietly light mosquito repellent incense so you return to a room that feels calm and clear.

It is not silent here. Rain moves across the ridge in sheets. Tree frogs call after dark. Wind threads through palms. The open design lets

nature speak, sometimes loudly but never harshly. It feels alive rather than chaotic, something like glamping if glamping came with impeccable housekeeping and a Nespresso machine waiting at dawn.

Service is where Ladera excels. Staff greet guests by name without sounding rehearsed. Each guest is provided with a mobile phone for the duration of their stay, allowing effortless communication for dining, spa treatments, or transportation. The device functions across the island, a quiet

convenience that makes even spontaneous plans feel seamless. A quick call arranges transport to the Sulphur Springs for volcanic mud baths. Shuttles glide to nearby beaches within minutes. Excursions are handled seamlessly. Mornings in the mountains give way to afternoons by the sea without friction in between.

Dining follows the light. Mornings begin with coffee, strong, dark, necessary, and papaya, mango, pineapple still warm from the sun. Breakfast is simple and unhurried, taken with the Pitons already present before you finish your first cup.

By midday, the ease drifts to the Pool Terrace, where an intended hour becomes three. Grilled local fish bright with citrus, fresh seafood, crisp salads, a chilled glass in hand, rainforest rising behind you and sea stretching far below.

When you want to reset, JAKO Wellness Café shifts the rhythm with cold pressed juices, thick tropical smoothies, and vegetable forward plates built around what is growing steps away in the garden.

Dinner at Dasheene is where things sharpen. The room glows after dark, candlelight set against a now familiar backdrop. The air remains open, the mood more intimate. Saint Lucian ingredients are treated with care and precision: line-caught fresh fish, garden-grown vegetables layered

with spice and restraint. Plates feel elevated and well-balanced. Cocktails are structured. Wines are chosen with intention. The Pitons remain steady in the background, woven into the design rather than simply framing it.

For guests curious about the resort’s culinary secrets, local Chef Nigel Mitchell invites you into his world. The Farm to Table experience begins in the garden with Ladera’s head gardener, gathering fruit, herbs, and vegetables that will soon create your meal. Back in the kitchen, those ingredients transform under his guidance. You sip a cocktail made from what you just harvested. You watch. You participate. When you finally sit down to eat, the meal feels personal.

The onsite wellness spa, lévé, overlooks the island’s volcanic side, the view moodier yet equally striking. A full day here feels well spent. Deeply relaxing offerings pair massages with a private soaking tub, champagne, and

chocolate covered strawberries. The experience finishes at the main spa pool, inviting guests to linger. From first greeting to final tea, the service remains attentive.

The property unfolds in layers. A nature trail climbs through thick greenery toward a treehouse perched in the canopy. Walk it slowly and it becomes meditation. Labeled plants. A greenhouse feeding the kitchen. Fruit trees heavy with color. A three hundred year old mango tree standing wide and grounded like a quiet elder. There is a yoga platform overlooking the Pitons, rum tastings tucked inside the Hideaway Rum Bar, art sessions, sunset sails, and ziplines threading through treetops. Immersive without feeling programmed.

At the center of it all is Eustace Augustine, who has devoted more than four decades to Ladera. Raised two miles away, he grew up fishing between the Pitons with his father.

For him, this is not simply work. It is home. Guests return because they are treated like family, with genuine respect rather than performance.

There is a phrase you hear often on island. Give us your body, and we will give you back your mind. It sounds poetic. It feels accurate. Shoulders drop. Sleep deepens. The nervous system softens.

The Pitons shift color throughout the day, sometimes wrapped in mist, sometimes sharply outlined against blue. They demand nothing and still command attention.

Ladera is not designed for spectacle. It is for intimacy. For couples, families, and solo travelers willing to slow down long enough to feel something real again. P ladera.com

Most of the dining rooms that cross my desk for PARK sit neatly in Manhattan, polished and preening, eager for applause. Then a whisper arrives about a place on the outer edge of Williamsburg, slightly off the fashionable bull’s-eye, a restaurant hiding in plain sight. I hear the name Fandi Mata and, having happily eaten my way through that neighborhood’s past triumphs, I am all in.

What I don’t expect is to be disarmed.

Through the doors, the city loosens its collar. There is a transportive quality to the room- expansive, vaguely nomadic. One could be in Tulum, Tel Aviv, a beach town that exists only in memory. It is not theatrical; it is atmospheric. You feel you are somewhere else, yet entirely at ease.

And then the plates begin to land.

A parade of mezze arrives first, a cartography of the Mediterranean that refuses the usual borders. Spreads swoop and swirl. Olives gleam. Flatbread tears open like a warm invitation. Flavors travel from North Africa through the Levant, flirting with Southern Europe, unburdened by dogma. Nothing shouts. Everything speaks.

The Mediterranean Cigars crackle with spiced beef and feta, herb tahini trailing behind like perfume. A risotto, lush and earthy, carries roasted mushroom and brown butter in a way that hushes the table. The braised lamb shank-oh, that lamb-falls into cannelini beans and harissa-laced yogurt with the authority of a grandmother who knows exactly what she’s doing and has nothing left to prove.

And the Dorade. Whole, gleaming, unapologetic. Salsa pique and samoriglio spark against the delicate flesh; cilantro and lime lift it skyward. For a moment I am back in Greece arguing about which seaside taverna did it best. This one would win.

What strikes me most is not flourish but feeling. These are dishes with depth, generosity, memory. They are not engineered for spectacle or social media martyrdom. They are meant to be eaten, passed, argued over, remembered. You taste care. You taste restraint. You taste someone cooking from conviction rather than trend.

I have met food like this in Sicily, in small towns where lunch becomes the entire afternoon. I have chased it through North African markets and along Middle Eastern coastlines. Too often in New York, ambition can bully pleasure. Here, pleasure reigns.

Fandi Mata

So naturally, I need to know: who is responsible?

The answer is Chris Cortez, Pennsylvaniaborn, sharpened in serious kitchens, fluent in the grammar of haute cuisine. He has done the formal dance, cooked under bright lights, mastered precision. Yet what emerges at Fandi Mata is something far more personal.

Pressed to define it, he might say Mediterranean. But that word, in lesser hands, can shrink into cliché-Italy, Greece, a predictable parade. Cortez expands the map. His Mediterranean stretches south and east, braiding spice routes and family tables,

BRINGS HAUTE ISRAELI TO BROOKLYN

BY DON WINTER

pulling together flavors that feel both ancient and immediate.

Most tellingly, the ego never arrives. This is a chef who loves to cook, yes, but more than that, he loves what cooking does. It gathers. It softens. It invites strangers to become co-conspirators. The menu reads like a manual for communion: tear, dip, pass, taste, repeat.

In an era when restaurants often resemble performance art, Cortez is building a living room.

Friends lean in. Wine disappears. Someone reaches across you for the last bite and you forgive them. Conversation grows louder, then warmer. The outside world, with its deadlines and discontents, slips away. You are relaxed but awake, comforted yet curious, traveling without luggage. It is the rare alchemy of hospitality: to feel entirely at home while discovering somewhere new.

I left dazzled, yes, but also grateful. Grateful that beyond Manhattan’s bright stage, a kitchen hums with this kind of sincerity. Grateful that a chef with the résumé to intimidate chooses instead to embrace.

Some meals impress. Some meals linger. And some send you searching for the person who made them possible.

At Fandi Mata, I found him. P

fandimata.com

Tucked along Charlton Street in the heart of South Village, House of Domes is an inviting escape where Tuscan warmth meets downtown ease. Conceived by restaurateur Sammy V. Gashiand, of the AMZ Group, the restaurant blends relaxed charm with polished detail from the moment you arrive.

Guests first encounter a glass-domed terrace bar, an airy, light-filled spot ideal for a spritz, a small plate, or an unhurried meal. Step inside and the dining room reveals itself as a serene retreat: forest-green seating, dark wood accents, and a glowing central dome cast a soft ambiance reminding us of a golden afternoon in Tuscany.

At the culinary helm is Executive Chef Vilfred Hodoj, whose résumé includes Florence’s storied La Giostra. His cooking reflects that heritage: it’s simple and rustic yet refined in execution. The appetizers are the perfect starter to whet your appetite for what’s to come. If you’re a seafood lover, their Fritto Mare E Terra, with fried calamari, shrimp, zucchini slices, and shishito peppers is a can’t miss. Pastas are made fresh daily. Be sure to indulge in the Pistachio pesto e Funghi with fusilli, or the octopus carpaccio brightened with lemon and olive oil to begin your meal.

For the main event, a sliced prime strip steak arrives draped in truffle-mushroom sauce, while grilled salmon sourced from

House of Domes

TUSCAN SOUL, DOWNTOWN COOL

BY LISA LOVERRO

the Faroe Islands pairs clean flavors with seasonal vegetables. Even the classic veal Milanese feels elevated, topped with peppery arugula and shaved cheese. For those of you who can’t get enough truffle (and, let’s face it, who can’t) there’s a dedicated truffle menu that offers eight different dishes including an indulgent risotto layered with aged Parmigiano and shaved black truffle.

Desserts ends the perfectly crafted menu with spanna cotta, brûléed custard, or ricotta cheesecake, especially when paired with a thoughtfully curated wine list highlighting Italian and Californian bottles. Classic cocktails and playful signatures round out the experience, reinforcing the restaurant’s easy sophistication.

Open from breakfast through weekend brunch, lunch, and dinner, House of Domes isn’t just another Italian spot. It’s an atmosphere, a mood, and a welcome reminder that the most memorable meals aren’t rushed, they are savored course by course, conversation by conversation. P

houseofdomesnyc.com

In the ever-evolving culinary scene of Manhattan, few arrivals feel as quietly confident as CHADA Restaurant & Bar. Set within the former home of Da Silvano in the West Village, the restaurant introduces a refined vision of regional Thai cuisine that balances heritage and contemporary elegance.

Named for a traditional ceremonial headdress symbolizing grace and lineage, CHADA is the collaboration of chefs Jade Thipruetree and Siripat Khaengkarn, two culinary forces whose reputations stretch far beyond Thailand. Their approach centers on labor-intensive techniques resulting in dishes that feel both rooted in tradition and distinctly modern. Even the dining room

reflects this ethos: every design element was crafted in Thailand and transported to New York, creating a space that feels immersive rather than themed.

Chef Jade, who grew up in Khon Kaen, trained in some of his homeland’s most esteemed kitchens before relocating to the United States and earning recognition at Tong in Brooklyn. Chef Tom, raised in Bangkok, brings more than two decades of international experience, having led celebrated kitchens including Soothr, Sappe, Somtum Der, and Spice. Together, they’ve created a menu that reads like a culinary map, highlighting regional specialties while adapting them for a cosmopolitan palate.

The opening selections set the tone: marinated raw shrimp bright with chili and lime; pandan-wrapped folded dumplings enriched with coconut milk; and crisp Sai Ua croquettes perfumed with kaffir lime and turmeric. Salads such as Yum Nam and papaya with raw crab deliver the punchy, textural contrasts Thai cuisine is known for, while signature mains showcase the chefs’ finesse with spice and balance…don’t miss the braised short rib Panang! Even comfort classics, from khao soi to crispy pork with chili and garlic, arrive with polished presentation.

Desserts remain intentionally simple, spotlighting house-made gelatos in flavors like Thai iced tea and lychee yuzu. Meanwhile, cocktails by Jan Sitthayangkun echo the kitchen’s flavor philosophy, incorporating citrus, and spice into each glass.

With its meticulous attention to authenticity and detail, CHADA elevates the dining downtown scene, offering an experience that feels intimate, vibrant, and global. P

chadanewyork.com

CHADA

BY LISA LOVERRO

INDN

SMALL PLATES & COCKTAILS SHAKES UP NOMAD NIGHTS

BY LISA LOVERRO

INDN Small Plates & Cocktails arrives as something genuinely new: New York’s first all-Indian cocktail bar. Newly opened in NoMad, the venue pairs inventive drinks with regional street food, offering a sensory journey rooted in heritage yet shaped for a modern audience.

At the heart of INDN is a deeply personal story. Husband-and-wife founders Simran Bakshi and Kanika Vij draw on family legacy as much as culinary ambition. Kanika’s father, Vicky Vij, established Bukhara Grill, long considered a cornerstone of the city’s Indian dining scene. With INDN, the next generation expands that foundation into nightlife, crafting a concept that feels both culturally grounded and unmistakably contemporary.

The cocktail menu, curated by Sim, is the centerpiece. Rather than simply infusing drinks with spice, he reconstructs beloved dishes in liquid form. The Butterface, for instance, is a clarified mezcal cocktail layered with fenugreek, garam masala, and

citrus to evoke the creamy warmth of butter chicken. Paneer Panic channels the savory profile of saag paneer through herbaceous notes and a playful paneer garnish, while the Chaat Margarita captures the tangy brightness of street-side chaat with yogurt, tamarind, and cilantro accents.

The kitchen complements the bar with dishes designed in the tradition of chakhna, snacks meant to accompany drinks. A culinary team trained in luxury hotels across Uttarakhand prepares regional specialties inspired by northern India, particularly Punjab and Kashmir. Standouts include seekh kebabs marinated for three days, keema pao rich with slow-cooked spiced lamb, and Amritsari fish fried in a delicately crisp chickpea batter. Even vegetables receive star treatment, as seen in smoky tandoori mushrooms brightened with raw mango.

By translating iconic flavors into cocktails and pairing them with authentic regional bites, INDN creates an experience that feels

at once transportive and distinctly New York. In a nightlife landscape often driven by novelty alone, INDN offers something rarer: innovation with roots. P

indnnyc.com

Bella Luna

AN UPPER WEST SIDE CLASSIC, REIMAGINED

BY LISA LOVERRO

Afan favorite of the Upper West for more than three decades, Bella Luna is the kind of neighborhood restaurant that feels less like a reservation and more like a return home.

Founded in 1988 by veteran restaurateur Turgut Balikci, opening his first Italian restaurant in the Theater District in 1984, Bella Luna, has remained his most enduring expression of an intimate, welcoming spot

where regulars are greeted like family.

In 2016, the restaurant moved one block from its original address into its current home, allowing for a refreshed layout while preserving the spirit that made it beloved. That spirit is shaped by Balikci himself. An avid cyclist who logs up to 70 miles on weekend rides, he also tends to fresh herbs at his Connecticut home, bringing a literal taste of his garden to the kitchen. It’s a hands-on approach that underscores his commitment to quality and authenticity. The dishes are consistently well prepared, especially my favorite, Chicken Piccata with linguine. It never disappoints.

As Bella Luna marks its 35th anniversary, the restaurant is embracing a thoughtful new chapter. Consulting Chef Cesare De Chellis, executive chef at Drumthwacket Estate, the New Jersey governor’s residence, has been tapped to refine the menu. His updates honor the restaurant’s original philosophy; simple preparations and fresh ingredients, while elevating long-standing signature dishes that generations of diners have come to love.

In collaboration with Turkish-French designer Pascale Azar Chane of Azar Durand Behar Architects, Bella Luna has unveiled a refreshed interior. Forest green velvet banquettes and bronze sconces create a warm, polished glow, complemented by table bases designed by the late sculptor Arturo Di Modica, best known for Charging Bull on Wall Street. A long-hidden mural depicting Central Park in autumn, believed to date to the 1930s, has also been revealed–an evocative nod to the neighborhood’s history.

At 35, Bella Luna remains what it has always been: a celebration of timeless Italian cooking, thoughtful design, and the enduring power of hospitality. P

bellalunanyc.com

SOCIAL SAFARI

The Social Swim Kate, Princess of Wales, Prince Harry & Meghan Markle, Ricky & Ralph Lauren, John Paulson, Yoshiki, The Jonas Brothers, Brooke Shields, Mariano Rivera, Suzanne Somers & Alan Hamel

C ouri

Round Hill’s Sugar Cane Ball

BY R.COURI HAY

Matt Damon, his wife Luciana and their daughters, Isabella and Gia, joined a group of 280 swells, including Ricky and Ralph Lauren, at Round Hill in Jamaica. The exclusive resort opened in 1953 and has been a second home for everyone from Jackie and John Kennedy, Justin Bieber, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Selena Gomez, and Paul McCartney. The club held its annual Sugar Cane Ball, chaired for the fifth time by NYC shoe designer Vanessa Noel. This year’s event theme was “One Love Ball,” with all proceeds going to Hanover Charities, the oldest charity in Jamaica founded in 1957. Ralph and Ricky donated a shopping spree at their NYC Polo store, valued at $5,000, the night raised over $600k. Other guests included David Lauren and his wife Lauren Bush Lauren, Robert Pittman, Ambassador Brenda Johnson, Meghan Hearst the daughter of Christine Hearst Schwarzman, the wife of Blackstone’s Stephen Schwarzman, whose family owns a house at Round Hill, and Josef Forstmayr, the Honorary Consul General for Austria who has run the resort for the last 37 years. roundhill.com

John Paulson 70th Birthday

Secretary of Commerce, Amy and Bret Baier, the Fox News anchor, Andrew and Steve Wynn, the Las Vegas casino owner, and fellow billionaire couples Christine and Steve Schwarzman, Kimberly and Neil Bluhm, Karen and Richard LeFrak, Suzanne and Woody Johnson, who owns the New York Jets, Lynne and Steve Ross, who owns the Miami Dolphins, and Amy and John Phelan, who is secretary of Navy.

Kate,

the Princess of Wales Most Glamourous Woman of 2025

Kate, the Princess of Wales, in a gown by Jenny Packham at Windsor Castle, was crowned one of the 24 “most glamorous” women of 2025 by Tatler, an English magazine read by the rich and richer. Also making the magazine’s celebration of “The Best Gowns of the Year” were several Americans, including Emma Stone in a Louis Vuitton sheath at the Venice Film Festival, Millie Bobby Brown in an Annie’s Ibiza gown at the premiere of “Electric State,” and Florence Pugh in Elie Saab at the opening of “Thunderbolts.”

Billionaire John Paulson celebrated his 70th birthday at a party hosted by his fiancée, Alina de Almeida, who is also the mother of his 1-year-old daughter, Jacqueline. Although Paulson owns a $110 million, 10-bedroom, 30,000-square-foot oceanfront mansion in Palm Beach, Alina gave the party at P.F. Chang’s, the popular Chinese restaurant Paulson owns in Palm Beach Gardens. Among the 150 friends enjoying the Chinese feast and acrobatic dancers were Dana and Robert Kraft, who owns the New England Patriots, Hilary and Wilbur Ross, the former

Three prominent New Yorkers made the prestigious list: Broadway producer Jordan Roth in Miss Sohee, Paris Hilton in Vivienne Westwood, and New York City’s gown-loving philanthropist Jean Shafiroff in a pale pink gown by Victor de Souza at the NY Women’s Foundation Gala. Jean tells me that she is writing a book about her extensive ballgown collection and the different charitable events where they had made appearances. Rounding out the list was actress Amanda Seyfried and Princess Caroline’s daughter, Princess Alexandra of Hanover who is also the granddaughter of Hollywood legend Grace Kelly, who married Prince Rainier of Monaco and became Princess Grace. jeanshafiroff.com

YOSHIKI & The Jonas Brothers

The Jonas Brothers’ US concerts on their “Greetings From Your Hometown Tour” were punctuated with celebrity guests, including Demi Lovato, Hanson, and John Legend. For their recent final show at the Barclays Center the brothers invited international rock star YOSHIKI onstage to perform with them. The Japanese star, fresh off a flight from Tokyo, arrived mere minutes before his cue. He played a flawless piano rendition of the band’s hit “Fly with Me” as the brothers sang and danced alongside him while 18,000 fans cheered. The pop star, who has also collaborated with Bono, will.i.am, Queen, The Chainsmokers, and KISS, said, “This moment with the Jonas Brothers was pure magic and reminded me that music knows no borders.” Other musical guests included Norah Jones. yoshiki.net

his “WEN Hair & Body Care” line, which has made him a star on QVC, where he is a fan favorite on millions of TVs. Chaz’s talents don’t stop at hair. Chaz’s self-tanning bronzing mist has become a celebrity go-to, most notably for RHONY’s Kelly Bensimon, who trusts Chaz exclusively for her signature, streak-free glow. chazdean.com

Harriet Newman Cohen

The conversation surrounding GLP-1 “miracle” drugs like Ozempic has shifted from what happens on the scale to what happens in the courtroom. Case in point: Amy Schumer, who kicked off her 2026 “year of self-care” by revealing a 50-pound loss on Mounjaro alongside the announcement of her divorce from Chris Fischer.

Chaz Dean 25th Anniversary

Beauty star Chaz Dean, who has hair salons in Greenwich Village and Hollywood, is celebrating his 25th anniversary in the business. His clients have included Brooke Shields, Alyssa Milano, Jennie Garth, Tori Spelling, and Julianna Margulies. Over the years Chaz has had some hairraising moments like the time “Desperate Housewives” star Nicollette Sheridan raced to the American Music Awards and hit the red carpet with her then boyfriend, crooner Michael Bolton, with her hair still in mini curlers. It’s also a milestone for

From the physical deflation of the body to the total deflation of a marriage, rapid weight loss is proving to have consequences that extend far beyond a smaller waistline. Top divorce lawyer Harriet Newman Cohen of Cohen Stine Kapoor whose partners include her daughter Martha Cohen Stine, who is not involved with Schumer’s divorce, is seeing a recurring pattern. “When a spouse who was previously ‘invisible’ due to their weight suddenly becomes the center of attention, the marital power dynamic shifts. GLP-1s don’t just reduce appetite; they often boost mood and confidence, and a ‘new’ personality can feel like a stranger a long-term partner.” According to Newman Cohen, “I have been involved in more than one case in which the massive loss of weight and the transformation of the loser into a winner was the single most notable factor in causing the breakup.”

csklawny.com

Suzanne Somers & Alan Hamel

Suzanne Somers’ widower, producer

Alan Hamel, made a secret visit to her final resting place in Palm Springs bearing a bouquet of white peonies, the Three’s Company legend’s favorite flower, as the sun set on Valentines Day. Hamel confided, “Suzanne would have wanted to be with me on Valentine’s Day,” adding, “Years ago, I said that with Valentine’s Day coming up I wanted to give you a present, one that would be memorable. She responded, ‘I don’t really need anything, but something shiny and big would certainly be appreciated. I would love that’” Hamel laughed and said, “So I gave her a waffle iron, the shiniest and the biggest one I could find.” She first reacted by calling me a jerk and then laughed so hard she started choking. And for the next few years she loved telling that story. It always started with, “In case you have ever wondered who Alan Hamel is, let me tell you.” Somers and Hamel were together for 55 years from when they met in 1963 until she died in 2023. They famously never spent a night apart in 40 years, they were married in 1977. Hamel continues to run their popular company, Suzanne Organics. suzannesomers.com

Dominicans on the Hill

Actor Manny Perez of NBC’S Third Watch co-starring Bobby Cannavale joined Dr. Ramon Tallaj, the founder of SOMOS Community Care, to celebrate the achievements of Dominican Americans at the annual Dominicans on the Hill Conference as they rallied in Washington, D.C. last week. Tallaj, who regularly works with baseball legends Marino Rivera, David “Big Papi” Ortiz, and Sammy Sosa to raise money for their Bronx community, delivered the keynote speech. somoscommunitycare.org

Join me on the following pages for a look back at the season’s best parties.

The Event

HOW’S 24TH

“Time is of the Essence” Luncheon

The Story

Andrea Stark, Robbi Toll, Liz Feuer, and Wendy Topkis served as Chairwomen at Hearing the Ovarian Cancer Whisper’s (H.O.W.) 24th annual “Time is of the Essence Luncheon” at The Beach Club, Palm Beach. This year’s honoree and guest speaker was Gilded Age star Christine Baranski, whose mother is a cancer survivor. “I have watched my mother battle cancer three times, each time with extraordinary strength and grace. As women it is vitally important that we remain proactive about our health and give ourselves the best possible chance for early detection because this can truly save lives,” Baranski said. Guests, including Sharon Bush, Kimberly Paige Bluhm, Adrien Arpel, Louise and Joe Isidori, Laine Siklos, and HOW executive director, Jennifer McGrath, listened intently as Baranski did an on stage interview with former town and country editor Pamela Fiori, and Dr. Robert M. Wenham spoke about cutting edge ovarian cancer treatments. The major benefactors of the luncheon were Betsy K. Matthews and Eduarda “Eddy” Taylor, and the corporate sponsor was Inlet Private Wealth. H.O.W. raises money to support basic or translational research in ovarian cancer through the Dr. Robert C. Knapp Research Fellowship. ovariancancerpbc.org

Monrow, Beth Rudin DeWoody, Mera and Don Rubell

THE NORTON MUSEUM OF ART’S

Gala Art & Life in Rembrandt’s Time

The Story

Wealthy New Yorkers, including Julia Koch, whose net worth of over $81 billion makes her among the three richest women in the world, Tommy Hilfiger, Bret Baier, Hilary and Wilbur Ross and new Norton board member Kimberly Paige Bluhm and her husband Niel Bluhm were among the art connoisseurs who fled the freezing temperatures on Park and Fifth Avenues to fly to Florida for the Norton Museum of Art’s annual gala in Palm Beach. The exhibition, The Art & Life in Rembrandt’s Time: Masterpieces from the Leiden Collection, coincides with the 400th anniversary of New Amsterdam’s founding of the island of present-day Manhattan. The exhibition marks Florida’s first large-scale exhibition of Rembrandt’s paintings with over a dozen on display. Almost getting more attention than the Rembrandts were Donald Trump Jr. and his gorgeous fiancée, Bettina Anderson, seen talking to philanthropists Jean and Martin Shafiroff. Other art lovers in the room included Jane Holzer, Andrea Stark and Beth Rudin deWoody. NYC’s Audrey Gruss, Sue Kalisman were the gala’s co-chairs. norton.org

SOUTHAMPTON ARTS CENTER’S STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

The Story

The Southampton Arts Center held their inaugural student artist exhibition, First Light: Celebrating Student Artists of Southampton. Art is barely taught in many public schools, but the Southampton Art Center is stepping up to teach kids in grades K-12 about painting and sculpting. James Tisch, the CEO of Loews Corp., and his wife Merryl Tisch, the former Chancellor of the New York State Board of Regents, sponsored the program in collaboration with the local school district. An array of mediums are showcased in the exhibition, including photography, 3D designs, painting, ceramics, collage, multimedia, poetry, culture, and more. These works included contributions not only from students, but also their art teachers, including Andrew DeLeo, Jennifer Charron, Pamela Collins, and Justine Moody, and will be on show through May 3rd. Guests of the opening reception, including SAC Board Chairman Simone Levinson, Southampton Mayor William Manger, SAC Executive Director Christina Strassfield, enjoyed a variety of interactive activities, light refreshments, musical performances, and a children’s collage workshop led by Deborah Acquino. To continue their cultivation of young artists in the Southampton community, the museum will provide expanded workshops and membership cards to all the kids in the area. southamptonartscenter.org

ECO-PHILANTHROPIST & ENTREPRENEUR

Amy Green Debuts Giada

The Story

Amy Green, Aspen-based eco-philanthropist, entrepreneur, and Founder of The Green Vision Foundation, launched GIADA, a modern luxury, handcrafted mommy-and-me vegan leather fashion line at an exclusive VIP event Caviar Kaspia in The Jade Room at Jayma Cardoso’s Snow Lodge at The St. Regis Aspen. The night showcased the limited-edition, cruelty-free shearling-inspired vests for women, men, and children with 50% of proceeds benefiting The Green Vision Foundation and Green’s future philanthropic projects. Guests, including Bravo’s Married to Medicine, Kari Wells, Julie Macklowe, Renata Assis, Tatum Tran, Sandy Nielsen, Inna Campbell, Corinne Nevinny, Julie Tran, Pollyanna and Bella Bremen, Jessica Wildman, Jayne Banks, Kathy Bernsten, Caelynn Bell and Gary Green, sipped on Delphine RÉVILLON champagne, which was perfectly paired with artisanal truffles from local chocolatier Pollinator Chocolates and caviar from Caviar Kaspia. “GIADA is my love letter to my daughter and to the future,” said Green. “True luxury should never ask us to choose between beauty and compassion. Every piece is created with intention, artistry, and heart to show the next generation that elegance shines brightest when it’s kind.”

Aerin Lauder & Fabiola Beracasa Beckman

METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART

Ann Tenenbaum, Samantha Boardman Rosen, Aerin Lauder, Amy Griffin & Jordan Casteel

Vanessa Getty, Tory Burch, Annie Leibovitz, and Brett Heyman were among the esteemed guests at The Metropolitan Museum’s Art & Artists Gala. Overflowing with glamour, delicious cocktails, and stunning fashion keepsakes, the night celebrated the MET’s new artistic works, a 25-year old annual tradition. This year, the artistic addition that took center stage was Mexican architect Frida Escobedo’s new design for the Tang Wing which began construction this year and is projected to open in 2030. Made up of extraordinary contemporary art pieces, this is the first wing in the MET to be designed by a woman. The gala itself was also an artistic marvel, with the museum outfitted in iridescent fabrics, peacock feathers, and stunning florals. Guests, including The Met’s CEO and Director Max Hollein and Nina Hollein, Aby Rosen, Jon Batiste, Amy Sherald, Annie Leibovitz, Jeff Koons, Jamie Tisch, began their evening in the Great Hall, sipping champagne and snacking on hors d’oeuvres before heading to dinner in the Temple of Dendur which was specially outfitted in peacock feathers and florals for the occasion. The night came to a close back at The Great Hall where guests indulged in desserts, a hot chocolate bar, and an exclusive piano performance by Brandon Goldberg. The event was co-chaired by leading philanthropists from Ann Tenenbaum, Samantha Boardman Rosen, and Dasha Zhukova Niarchos to Aerin Lauder, Amy Griffin, and Jordan Casteel and sponsored by Tiffany & Co. Breaking last year’s record, the gala raised over $5 million for the growth of the museum’s ever-evolving collection. A standout event, the Art and Artists Gala is as elegant and enjoyable as it is conducive to the world of contemporary art. metmuseum.org

Nina Hollein, Dasha Zhukova & Max Hollein

Tory Burch

Jordan Casteel, Amy Sherald & Amy Griffin

THE WINTER SHOW

Elliot Hightower De Niro brought his father, Robert De Niro, to see his abstract painting “Caribbean Colors” at Isabelle Bscher’s Galerie Gmurzynska at The Winter Show hosted by the Park Avenue Armory. The two-time Oscar winning actor, whose parents were both noted painters, could not hold back his paternal pride, as he asked the gallery’s photographer to take a series of photos with his son’s painting. Elliot’s, who has been diagnosed with Autism, work was being shown alongside Wifredo Lam, Roberto Matta and Majorie Strider. He sold his first work at the preview party, which benefitted the East Side House Settlement. Now the De Niros have all been invited to Bscher’s Dan Basen show, “New York Underground in the 1960s” at Galerie Gmurzynska in the Fuller Building at 595 Madison Avenue. The show will be accompanied by the first academic monograph on Basen, who tragically took his own life in 1970 at the age of 30. The artist was a major part of the 1960s art scene. Basen moved between Happenings, Nouveau Réalisme, Pop, Assemblage, and Experimental Cinema while maintaining close ties with Beat poets and American Surrealists. The show will be on view through March 31st. Isabelle met with Grace Hightower and her son about giving Elliot his own show for some of his 200 colorful abstract works this Spring to announce the founding of The Helen and Elliot Hightower De Niro Foundation, which will provide a creative safe space for neurodivergent young adults 18 and older. gmurzynska.com

HOPE FOR

Depression Research Foundation’s HOPE Luncheon

The Story

Wealthy New Yorkers, including Julia Koch, whose net worth of over $81 billion makes her among the three richest women in the world, Tommy Hilfiger, Bret Baier, Hilary and Wilbur Ross and new Norton board member Kimberly Paige Bluhm and her husband Niel Bluhm were among the art connoisseurs who fled the freezing temperatures on Park and Fifth Avenues to fly to Florida for the Norton Museum of Art’s annual gala in Palm Beach. The exhibition, The Art & Life in Rembrandt’s Time: Masterpieces from the Leiden Collection, coincides with the 400th anniversary of New Amsterdam’s founding of the island of present-day Manhattan. The exhibition marks Florida’s first large-scale exhibition of Rembrandt’s paintings with over a dozen on display. Almost getting more attention than the Rembrandts were Donald Trump Jr. and his gorgeous fiancée, Bettina Anderson, seen talking to philanthropists Jean and Martin Shafiroff. Other art lovers in the room included Jane Holzer, Andrea Stark and Beth Rudin deWoody. NYC’s Audrey Gruss, Sue Hostetler, and Josephine Kalisman were the gala’s co-chairs. norton.org