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{St. Louis' Finest}

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Jan/Feb 2018 five dollars

Phot o by Ali se Oâ€™B ri en Photography

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LOVE YOUR KITCHEN

{St. Louis' Finest}

Jan/Feb 2018

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Jan/Feb 2018

on the cover: Sorrento Serenade

The Amalfi Coast town of Positano. Photo by Bridget Williams

Ben Poremba, Nixta and Change

A Change of Plans

Shaken and Stirred

Itâ€™s Good to be the Fan

Bibliotaph... Snow Business

Of Note... Let it Glow, Let it Glow, Let it Glow

Sorrento Serenade

Curating a Lifestyle: Destination Nashville

Far East Movement

Adding by Subtraction

No Shell Unturned

Sophisticated Littles

The Most Hospitable Burger in St. Louis

44 Let it Glow, Let it Glow, Let it Glow

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Sophisticated Society

St. Louis Jewish Book Festival

Wild Earth Allies

Join The Journey

Whose Line Is It Saint Louis!

Whitaker Saint Louis International Film Festival

CUREiosity

Bucking For Babies

The Champions Chat

Starry Starry Night

Great Futures Gala

Blues And Bites

A Winter’s Dinner

PALM Health’s Charity Gala

Snow Ball

10-Can’t-Live-Withouts

Far East Movement

A design sketch of a woman’s double coil bracelet from John Hardy’s new Legends Naga Collection (johnhardy.com)

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PUBLISHER Craig Kaminer EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Carrie Edelstein ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Cortney Vaughn SALES Debbie Kaminer ______________________________________________ CONTRIBUTORS Writers Neil Charles Johnny Fugitt Scott Harper Amelia Jeffers Christy Marshall Bridget Williams Photographers David Anderson Diane Anderson Tony Bailey Jeannie Casey Jeremy Daniel Gina Garfos Adam Gibson Chad Henle Andrew Kung Angela Lamb Patrick Lanham Barbi Macon Mark Bradley Miller Alise O’Brien Brandon Sloan Carmen Troesser ADVERTISING SALES OFFICE 314.82.SLMAG ______________________________________________ SOPHISTICATED LIVING MEDIA Eric Williams - CEO Bridget Williams - President Greg Butrum - General Counsel Jason Yann - Art Director Sophisticated Living® is published by High Net Worth Media, LLC and is independently owned and operated. Sophisticated Living® is a registered trademark of Williams Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Sophisticated Living® is published six times a year. All images and editorial are the property of High Net Worth Media, LLC and cannot be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission. Annual subscription fees are $25.00; please add $5 for subscriptions outside the US. Single copies may be purchased for $5 at select fine retail outlets. Telephone 314-82-SLMAG.

SLMAG.NET

From the Publisher Over the Thanksgiving weekend, I bumped into dozens of friends who went out of their way to tell me how much they love receiving and reading Sophisticated Living and our annual charity register Sophisticated Giving. They said they love the quality, the positive point of view, and the balance of local and international content. It was great to hear this feedback especially at a time when it’s getting harder to be in the media business. While there is more and more money being spent on advertising nationally, the increase in advertising options, especially social media and “fake news,” has caused local media like us to find the number of advertisers and margins declining. Despite this, we mail to more readers now than we did five years ago when we started. And, we have substantially grown our online outreach (now more than 10,000 monthly) through our blog, sophisticatedstlouis.com, and our social media accounts. We increased distribution at retail outlets and now reach more than 120 specialty businesses, shopping malls, hotels, condominiums, and coffee shops. Luckily, the future of luxury media is bright, and the desire for a well-done magazine – one that is tangible – is still there. Beautiful images, thoughtful writing, and the smell and touch of great paper is a breath of fresh air from the digital world, which increasingly interrupts our lives with what I call “disposable content.” Cuddling up with Sophisticated Living at home, by the pool or on a plane as you head to your second home or vacation destination is still a great pleasure for most, and I think the new print magazine launched by Airbnb – a web-based business – is a sign of good things to come. If you have not been to one of the events we sponsor, we hope you will make it a point to attend one in 2018. We have held events for nationally acclaimed designers like Marshall Watson, who shared his love of St. Louis to a room full of readers and designers passionate about the art of elegance. We have sponsored the rare opportunity to see and touch a $3.7 million Bugatti sports car, which was purchased on the spot by a well-heeled collector. And we have promoted dozens of nonprofit events and galas including one for Cancer Support Community, which have attracted new audiences and revenue to make St. Louis one of the most charitable cities in America. Our editor-in-chief, Carrie Edelstein, has added new features including “Sophisticated Littles,” which spotlights the children and grandchildren of our readers. She is planning more stories about the arts, pets, and the start-up community in the months ahead. We are also getting more digital with daily blogs and social media updates, reaching new audiences with each post, and in turn adding more value to our advertisers. Perhaps it goes without saying, when you like what we do, let us know. Write, email, comment, share, etc. We love to hear your thoughts and it helps bring new people into our community and interesting content to our pages. If you like our advertisers, let them know when you’re visiting their businesses or inquiring about their services. If you see someone who is not a part of our world, tell them about us and encourage them to spread the word. Our third year publishing Sophisticated Giving was a record for us. More readers requested it, more nonprofits were featured, and there was more corporate sponsorship and more angel sponsors who made it possible for nonprofits to participate. We will continue to work with nonprofits throughout the year to help them raise money and ensure we have an even bigger Sophisticated Giving next year. Starting with our next issue, we are going to refresh our mailing list. It has been the same list for five years and it’s time we update things. The list will be based on household income, home value, credit card spending, and engagement with us. If for some reason you do not receive your copy by the first week in March and you still want to get the publication, please email me at craig@slmag.net. I will make sure you are on the list for as long as you want to be. If there is someone you know who does not get it but should, let me know that too so we can add on to our circulation. We look forward to a great 2018 and wish you and your family a healthy and happy new year. Stay safe, stay sophisticated, and continue to do everything you can to make St. Louis a great place to live and work. We will be moving our office to Cortex so we can be close to a growing, creative, and innovative group of people, and we hope you will visit us there in January.

Craig M. Kaminer, Publisher craig@slmag.net 10 slmag.net

BEN POREMBA, NIXTA AND CHANGE Written by Johnny Fugitt / Photography by Carmen Troesser

Food brings change. It changes our bodies – as we know all too well - but it also changes our inner being, our community and our culture. Chef Ben Poremba’s modern Mexican concept, Nixta, is changing us. Poremba is best known for opening Elaia and Olio in the Botanical Heights neighborhood, just across Tower Grove Avenue from where Nixta now stands. Considered one of, if not the, preeminent restaurant in town, Elaia continues to raise the bar for fine dining in St. Louis. Poremba is also the driving force behind the lovely La Patisserie Chouquette and Clayton’s upscale Italian concept Parigi. This budding portfolio has thrice earned Best-Chef Midwest semifinalist placing at the James Beard Awards. “About 10 years ago, when I started Salumi Beddu,” says Poremba, “my partner and I had a kitchen on Cherokee Street. We used to do farmer’s markets every Saturday and we’d get there at 5 AM. Next door there was a place called Diana’s Bakery, and, on cold days, you could smell the amazing smells. They sold green and red tamales and Atole [warm cinnamon drink].” This sunrise sustenance carried him through long days of service. The smells and spices from those musky mornings on Cherokee Street made an impression. A decade later, Nixta combines the traditional and familiar with the modern and novel.

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In naming Nixta one of America’s ten best new restaurants of 2017, Bon Appetit gushed over the octopus plate. The complex mole has received much praise, as has the ceviche. With a marinade known as leche de tigre coming from a Peruvian family friend, Poremba says the ‘tiger’s milk’ “creates layers of flavor” within the dish. Outside these oft-celebrated plates, what menu item does Poremba believe flies under the radar? “One of my favorite new dishes is the enfrijolada,” he says. “It is a tortilla that’s bathed in black beans, and topped with sour cream traditionally. With ours, we hide a piece of meat like braised beef cheeks or pulled lamb, and our beans are incredible. We’re also making crème fresh and top it all with spicy salt. It’s rustic and the flavors are so good.” “We want everyone to come enjoy Nixta, and this has included appreciation by the Hispanic community,” says Poremba. “People of Mexican origin have said that the flavors remind them of what they grew up with.”

Fermented Mushroom Mole

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Muk-bil Pollo: a Yucatecan tamal pie, filled with seasoned turkey and cooked in a banana leaf

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Salmon Tostada: pumpkin â€œchorizo,â€? pipian, pepitas

Ceviche: sweet potato, yuzu-rosewater, lime-pickled onions, cilantro

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For some, the flavors of the enfrijolada might transcend decades and borders to reach grandmother’s kitchen. For others, it’s something completely new, pushing the notions of Latin food. “People are very receptive to changing very familiar things,” continues Poremba. “The majority of people really welcome the idea of doing Mexican food, but more elevated and more composed… and really more authentic. The more interesting and authentic we go, the more people like it.” Nixta’s menu also continues to change. “We continue to explore new areas of the world to draw new cuisine inspirations. For instance, our menu was originally heavily influenced by the Oaxaca region of Mexico and we are currently exploring cuisine inspired by the flavors of the Yucatán Peninsula on our new fall and winter menu. We always want the menu to be evolving and highlighting new flavors, textures and overall culinary experiences.” The peacockishly-painted interior creates an intimate dining experience. “Nixta is small and the seating is really tight,” Poremba explains. “People essentially sit together, eat together, and enjoy together. Also, the way we present food, instead of coursing it out, we suggest people share everything so it’s more interactive. The bright colors and loud music also loosen people up, which all lends to a collective dining experience.”

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Chiles Rellenos

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Nixta transforms itself into Bar Limon on Friday and Saturday nights as a themed destination for south-of-the-border tipples. The traditional margarita is, of course, quite popular. For the more culinarily curious, Bar Manager Lucas Ramsey recommends surveying the selection of mezcal – the trendy cousin of tequila. “We have a great selection, including some harder to find and limited release bottles. These are served neat with an orange slice, and Sal de Gusano, a traditional spiced salt made with roasted and ground agave worms, and dried chile.” Many cringe at the very notion of change, but without change there is no growth. Not long ago, Poremba’s pocket of Botanical Heights had more shuddered buildings than functioning businesses. As he says, “Our restaurants played an integral role in evolving the Botanical Heights neighborhood into the dining destination within the city that it is today.” With change in the neighborhood, St. Louis’ dining culture, and Nixta itself, Poremba isn’t the same restaurateur and chef he was during those early mornings on Cherokee Street. “I’ve opened and closed restaurants and I’ve learned a lot since then. I will say I am just as ambitious as I was ten years ago, humbled, with greater responsibilities, but my level of ambition is still consistent. I am excited to build on this ambition as I continue to explore opening new restaurant concepts in St. Louis.” sl Johnny Fugitt is the author of The 100 Best Barbecue Restaurants in America.

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Be Proactive About Your Health A Q& A SESSION WITH L AUREN MUNSCH DAL FARR A , MD

Q: What is the first step to preventative health?

C ARDIAC

A: Know yourself! Have you ever taken time to have a comprehensive review of your personal health risk factors? There is no single diet, exercise program, or stress management formula that works for everyone. We are each unique in our genetic makeup, family history, environmental exposures to toxins and pesticides, lifestyle habits such as nutrition, sleep, and exercise, and levels of stress, inflammation, positive emotion, and hope.

F O O D A L L E R G Y T E S T I N G A N D N U T R I T I O N CO U N S E L I N G : We can help you identify triggers and reduce foods that contribute to inflammation such as corn and soybean oils, pasteurized dairy, refined carbohydrates, conventional meat, sugars, and trans fats.

At PALM Health, we take a whole person approach to assess your individual health risks and protective factors. We then develop a comprehensive health plan for you. Q: Do you have primary care doctors at PALM and offer annual preventive health exams? A: Yes. All of our primary care doctors are board-certified in Internal Medicine or Family Medicine. Plus, they have additional specialty training in Functional Medicine. Functional Medicine utilizes a complex, systems biology approach to help our doctors determine how and why illness occurs and restores health by addressing the root causes of disease for each individual. Q: What is a key factor in preventing illness? A: Reducing inflammation. Arthritis is inflammation of the joints. Heart disease is inflammation of the arteries. Inflammation has long been known to play a role in allergic diseases like asthma and arthritis. We also know that it is a catalyst for many illnesses, such as anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, weight gain, and memory loss. A poor diet, stress, minor food allergies, a sedentary lifestyle, or inadequate sleep can contribute to chronic inflammation. Instead of taking medication to reduce joint pain or lower cholesterol, we are often better served by reducing inflammation in the body through a whole person mind-body approach. Q: I am motivated to reduce stress and inflammation this year. What does PALM Health offer? A: At PALM, we have a myriad of services and amenities that focus on stress reduction. A few key services include: M E D I TAT I O N C L A S S E S : Our classes rotate through practices that

focus on intentional meditation, mindfulness, and contemplative approaches. Our techniques allow you to calm the tensions and struggles in your thoughts, become more aware of your senses, and help you to experience an increased sense of well-being.

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CO H E R E N C E B I O F E E D B A C K S E S S I O N S : These sessions teach you breathing techniques to balance the autonomic nervous system. The result is better emotional control, decreased stress and anxiety, and enhanced healing.

PA L M S I G N AT U R E S T R E S S R E D U C T I O N M A S S A G E : We use a combination of deep tissue massage, myofascial release, gentle strokes, and stimulation of acupressure points. This assists in letting go of tension and helps regulate your energetic balance. S A LT R O O M : Our Himalayan Salt Room is infused with purified

ionized salt particles. Studies show this promotes relaxation and may reduce inflammation and mucus in the lungs, improving respiratory conditions such as asthma, allergies, bronchitis, sinus congestion, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

C R YO T H E R A P Y: This rejuvenating cold therapy safely provides ultimate anti-inflammatory properties for the skin, joints, and body, releases endorphins, and increases metabolism. Elite athletes and professional sports teams regularly use cryotherapy for recovery and joint pain. F I T N E S S : Personal training and classes offer a variety of strength,

cardio, Pilates, yoga flow, and deep stretching options.

We also offer intensive 8-week programs focused on stress reduction and inflammation. The R E S O LV E I N F L A M M AT I O N P R O G R A M is designed to help individuals resolve conditions linked to inflammatory processes (i.e. digestive issues, fatigue, autoimmune disorders, skin conditions, etc.). The S T R E S S M A N A G E M E N T P R O G R A M helps individuals work towards their mental health goals (i.e. reducing anxiety, managing depression, decreasing fatigue, improving calmness). Q: I am ready to focus on my own wellbeing this year. How do I get started at PALM Health? A: Call 314-801-8898 or stop by and take a tour with one of our Navigators. Our Navigators are here to understand your goals and find a program thatâ€™s right for you. DR . L AUREN MUNSCH DAL FARR A Founder and CEO PALM Health

Address for Success.

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A marble-floored gallery faces the foyer and runs past the front double-sided fireplace.

A CHANGE OF PLANS Written by Christy Marshall / Photography by Alise O’Brien

Barb and Bill Dowling were happily ensconced in the Oakville abode where they had raised their son and daughter. Now enjoying their retirement, they had no notions of moving out of South County. But on one fateful December night, Barb drove over to Frontenac to attend a Christmas party, hosted by one member of her tennis group. The street was pitch dark; her friend’s house was a stunner. Days later, she and Bill were in the same area and she suggested they drive by so he could see it for himself.

On the same lane, they spied two lots with for sale signs staked in the front lawns. “[Bill] said we ought to call just for fun to see what they are asking,” Barb recalls. “‘Just for fun’ turned into ‘Maybe we should do this.’ We do a lot of babysitting and we would be closer to the kids. We started talking about it and it got real.” “It is truly our dream house,” she adds. “It is everything we could possibly want in a home. We thought we were set where we were. A lot of our friends thought we were crazy for upsizing.”

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To add interest, Srote added box beams to the ceiling. The first plans neglected to add a window over the sink. The final plan added the window and made the garage detached.

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“Another design element was the addition of the wet bar that connects to the grand salon and kitchen/ hearth room,” Srote says. “That addition allows for smooth flow when they are hosting parties.”

But then again, there are probably people who think working shifts at McDonald’s isn’t an ideal route to corporate success. Bill Dowling has proved them wrong. When he was 16 years old, he went to work at the fast food chain earning $1 an hour. Ultimately, he worked to put himself through Saint Louis University. Then he stayed with the restaurant giant, working his way up the corporate ladder to management. He even graduated from Hamburger U. After a number of years, he decided to switch over to the distribution side, first with PFD Supply, a subsidiary of Prairie Farms Dairy. Eventually he bought the division devoted exclusively to McDonald’s distribution, renamed it Gateway Distribution, and then sold it five years ago. An interior designer, Laurie Dowling LeBoeuf inherited her parents’ work ethic. When they decided to build a new house, she respectfully declined the job. Already laboring 50-to-60 hours a week at Spellman Brady & Company, she knew she couldn’t add

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another major project to her workload. She recommended Emily Castle of Castle Design. “They signed a contract with her,” LeBoeuf says. “I attended a few meetings and was doing some things, like the lighting. Then Emily called me up and asked me to come in for an interview.” Castle offered LeBoeuf a position and now she is on staff at the firm. Her first assignment was, predictably, her parents’ brandnew 9,000-square-foot house. “There was some collaboration but [Castle] pretty much said, ‘Here you go,’” LeBoeuf says. “I hit the ground running. It was so different from my background in hospitality and senior living design. There was a learning curve, which was mostly learning the players in town in residential design.”

Another item on Barb’s wish list was window seats. The rug and sectional came from KDR.

Robert Srote of Schaub & Srote Architects designed the house; St. Albans Construction built it. “One of the early requests was to have a turret on the front elevation,” Srote says. The Dowlings had a list of dos and don’ts that started with no white (Barb, a now-retired registered nurse, says she spent too many hours in operating rooms to enjoy the sterility of white walls), traditional architectural features (i.e. groin vaults, boxed ceilings, exposed beams), abundant storage, and a smattering of hidden rooms. Also, they did not want to see directly through the house from the front door. They don’t. The foyer faces a double-sided fireplace with a soaring staircase off to the right. “There is so much interest at every angle,” LeBoeuf says. “You look straight and you see the fireplace, you turn and you see

the stairwell.” To the right and left runs a hallway or gallery with vaulted ceilings. The design scheme pairs traditional architectural features with a more modern, clean-lined transitional look. The color palette in the house stems from the Diana Royale marble that snagged Barb’s eye—and heart. The marble starts in the entry where LeBoeuf drew an intricate design for the floor—a design that required 900 cuts of marble. She handed the assignment to tile cutter, Piero Vito. His cousin trekked to St. Louis from Italy to help complete the job. On the other side of the fireplace stands the grand salon, an open-air take on the traditional living room. The room leads on to the kitchen and hearth room, the area where, like most families, the Dowlings spend nearly all their time.

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The bedroom is a sanctuary of serenity. â€œThere is an octagonal sitting room off the master bedroom that overlooks the pool in the backyard,â€? Srote notes as yet another interesting architectural element in the house.

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“Barb’s a storage nut,” LeBoeuf says. “And I fill it up,” Barb replies, laughing. A splash of gold and sparkle, LeBoeuf notes that the vanity comes from Cole & Co.

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“A lot of the palette came from the marble in the front,” LeBoeuf says. Designed by New Space, the walk-in closet has a place for everything. The Dowlings love stone countertops so here they used Blanc du Blanc suede granite.

Taking note of the Dowlings’ Irish heritage, LeBouef added such native touches as Celtic knots and shamrocks carved into the wood of the bar. Not seen is a playroom for their granddaughter, Charlotte. It’s hidden behind a secret door.

“I wanted a big open kitchen so when we have people over, we can all be around the same area,” Barb says. “I wanted a big island with lots of space in between because no matter what happens, everyone is always hanging around the island.” Barb has a strong yen for lots of storage spaces and a deep affection for hidden spaces. The double full-length cabinet doors open into a walk-in pantry. The cabinetry came from Karr Bick Kitchen and Bath. Barb also loves nail heads, as seen on the barstools, on the sectional in the hearth room, and even the bed in the master bedroom. “Overall, we carried the champagne tones throughout,” LeBoeuf says. “A lot of the neutrals were very, very similar.” However, splashes of color crop up throughout. “The salon has a pop of the turquoise, the dining room is a little more

subdued with the blue; the hearth room and kitchen are very monochromatic,” she adds. With the exception of a sectional reused in the lower level, the Dowlings bought everything brand new. There was one basic element LeBoeuf deemed worth a significant investment. “Lighting was really important,” she says. “That was one element that really needed to be special. We shopped all over. Most of the lighting came from Wilson [Lighting], Metro [Lighting] but a lot of the lighting is from Visual Comfort [Lighting].” The result of the collaboration of LeBoeuf/Castle/Srote/ Dowlings is, to put it simply, a dream house. “It is very different from the house I grew up in but it still feels like them,” LeBoeuf says. And if it weren’t for a holiday soirée hosted by a friend, the Dowlings would still be residing on the south side of the city. sl

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SHAKEN AND STIRRED SoCal provides the ultimate opportunity to experience the new power plant in Aston Martin’s acclaimed DB11 Written by Andre James

When James Bond is in a bind, more often than not he has relied on an Aston Martin to make his getaway. The quintessential Bond car, the 1963 DB5, debuted in Goldfinger (1964), came back the next year in Thunderball (1965), and made a triumphant return for both Casino Royale (2006) and Skyfall (2012); a testament to the lasting appeal of such a beautifully designed automobile. While other brands have found their way into 007’s repertoire from timeto-time, it is the Aston Martin to which he is inextricably linked. After spending a few days in sunny Southern California putting the new V8 variant of Aston Martin’s DB11 through its paces, I’d suggest that Mr. Bond add the luxury grand tourer to his stable for those days when he’s not thwarting the sinister plans of a multinational terrorist organization, but still wants to get back and forth to the grocery in suitable style. Embarking from our home base at Rancho Valencia Resort, we warmed up by meandering past the polo fields and horse

ranches of the San Dieguito Valley on our way to one of the country’s most scenic stretches of pavement: the Pacific Coast Highway. Being driven to distraction takes on a whole new meaning when you are behind the wheel of such an achingly beautiful coupe. As many Americans will concur, everything sounds better conveyed with a British accent, including the sound of the DB11’s AMG engine (Daimler AG, Mercedes’ parent company, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, owns five percent of Aston Martin). The engineering team at Aston Martin tailored the V8 engine perfectly for its application in the DB11, including new ECU software, reprogrammed throttle mapping, and bespoke air intake, exhaust and wet sump lubrication systems, so that the sounds emanating from the engine are the sweet midrange and high tones recognizable as an Aston, rather than the bass tones associated with AMG. slmag.net

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Producing 503BHP and 498 pound-feet of torque, 4.0-liter twinturbocharged V8 engine is able to propel the DB11 from 0-62mph in just 4.0-sec before topping out at 187mph (nearly identical with the V12). Modifications to the engine have resulted in a noticeable weight reduction over the V12, an optimized center of gravity, and greater mass centered within the wheelbase, all of which serve to enhance the GT’s feel of sporty agility and improve fuel efficiency. Cruising along at various speeds, the throttle response was immediate, gear shifts were expeditious, and in the Sport+ mode we were able to revel in the lovely engine sounds while the car remained in the lowest gear possible for extended periods. In spite of the sportiness, this is a car that still provides the comfortable ride indicative of a true grand tourer. Aston Martin Chief Technical Officer, Max Szwaj, commented: “As an engineer I find the DB11 a fascinating car. One with great depth of character and ability. I’m particularly proud that this car is the first to receive an engine supplied by our technical partner, Mercedes-AMG. Not least because thanks to the nature of our relationship with AMG, we have been given complete freedom to tailor this exceptional power unit so that it meets the particular needs and demands of an Aston Martin.” There are subtle visual differences between the V12 and V8 variants: a unique alloy wheel finish, dark headlamp bezels, and

a pair of bonnet vents instead of the quartet featured on the V12. These vents come in a choice of black or titanium-finish mesh, again different from that fitted to the twelve-cylinder variant. Inside, both V8 and V12 customers have the same standard equipment levels and the same dizzying array of color and trim options. One can also elect to enhance the specification of their car via the same Option Packs and Designer Specification packages offered for the V12, plus a suite of Q by Aston Martin Collection options. Aston Martin President and CEO, Dr. Andy Palmer said of the V8-engined DB11: “The DB11 is the most complete and sophisticated car Aston Martin has ever made. Now, with this new V8 engine option we have broadened its appeal by offering a car that will bring the DB11 to more customers around the world while still blessed with the exceptional performance and memorable character that sets Aston Martin apart from its rivals. Having driven the car during its development phase, it is not just the engine that has changed the character of the car, but also the resulting dynamic changes to create a remarkable GT car with its own distinct personality from the V12.” The V8-powered DB11 is on sale now with a recommended retail price from $198,995. sl slmag.net

Dustin Johnson teeing off on the 17th hole during the third round of THE PLAYERS Championship on THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at Sawgrass (May 13, 2017).

IT’S GOOD TO BE THE FAN From food trucks to luxe wine lounges, THE PLAYERS Championship is golf ’s coolest party. Written by Elise Hofer Shaw On May 9, 2017, more than 30,000 golf fans and their families gathered excitedly on the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., for THE PLAYERS Championship’s Military Appreciation Ceremony. After standing for the National Anthem and a flyover by the 125th Fighter Wing of the Florida Air National Guard, a kickoff concert by Grammy Award-nominated and American Music Award-winning country crooner Sam Hunt set the tone for golf ’s unofficial fifth major that’s earned a reputation for being a cool experiential party—less golf clap and more thunderous applause. There literally isn’t a bad seat (or standing space) anywhere at TPC Sawgrass, and that’s the sheer genius of THE PLAYERS Stadium Course. When the course debuted in 1982, it was unique in the world of golf, having been exquisitely built by Pete and Alice Dye with the spectator in mind. In many ways, it was way ahead of its time, and improvements since have raised the bar on the PGA TOUR’s fan experience. In fact, consistent mounding renovations have been ongoing since 2006 and, in 2016, THE PLAYERS enhanced viewing with new mounds on 11 green, 12 tee, 15 green and a lowered mound on 4 tee. Better 38 slmag.net

still, the hospitality venues on the infamously challenging 17th hole became two-storied, creating yet another level of ticketed hospitality spaces for prime player viewing. As for the party scene, well, that’s evolved, too. In 2017, trend-forward food and beverage options abounded, and all with distinctive vibes. The Wine Lounge presented by William Hill Estate on 8 green had a Napa Valley-tasting-room feel for sophisticated palates, whereas the Blue Room VIP Lounge presented by Michelob ULTRA brought more of a nightclub energy with live DJ sets. A similar spectrum existed for dining: Located behind 11 green and 12 tee, Taste of JAX offered family-friendly flavors from four local Floridian restaurants (think Southern fusion and street fare), while Wine & Dine on 9 featured gourmet small plates prepared by Matthew Medure, one of Northeast Florida’s most renowned chefs. And then there was Trucks on 10, where five different food trucks convened for samplings of everything from brick-oven pizza to smokehouse-style ribs; Tacos on 12, for local restaurant Taco Lu’s tasty tacos; and even a smoothies station behind 17 green. But for a truly first-class experience all the way, THE PLAYERS Club access was the hot ticket.

THE PLAYERS Club is a highend, all-inclusive experience with private space on-site in the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse (shown here), on 17 tee and 18 green.

Premium cocktails, including the signature Sawgrass Splash, are served throughout the course.

The Wine Lounge presented by William Hill Estate

Fresh-rolled sushi is available daily in THE PLAYERS Club.

Grammy Award-nominee Sam Hunt preforming at the 2017 Military Appreciation Day ceremony.

During the tournament, the back lawn of the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse is reserved for THE PLAYERS Club ticket holders.

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Si Woo Kim of Korea teeing off on the 18th hole during the final round of THE PLAYERS Championship (May 14, 2017) Photo by Stan Badz/PGA TOUR

At last year’s championship, as the young South Korean Si Woo Kim shot 69 on the final day for 10-under 278 to win by three over Louis Oosthuizen and Ian Poulter, the crowd erupted from the most famous finishing stretch in golf: the Island Green 17th and the daunting par-4 18th. But if you were fortunate enough to have a PLAYERS Club ticket, vantages from private venues boasted the best views of the action. “THE PLAYERS continues to grow in stature for both our players and our fans. We strive to make our Stadium Pass the best value in golf, but in the past we lacked an ultra-high-end experience,” says Jared Rice, executive director of THE PLAYERS. “Two years ago we developed THE PLAYERS Club, an all-inclusive experience inside the clubhouse at TPC Sawgrass as well as private venues exclusively for THE PLAYERS Club ticket holders on 17 tee and 18 green. Since its inception, THE PLAYERS Club has become extremely popular for businesses development and those seeking a best-in-class experience. “THE PLAYERS Club combines spectacular on-course views of golf and exceptional customer service,” adds Rice. “Clients have access to delicious food, prepared by award-winning chefs, top-shelf 40 slmag.net

beverages and customizable RFID [radio frequency identification] tickets. The RFID tickets provide THE PLAYERS Club staff with information on each guest’s favorite foods and beverage items, as well as their favorite PGA TOUR players, allowing our team the opportunity to tailor the experience for every guest in the Club.” THE PLAYERS Club tickets cost $5,000 per person and are purchased on a weekly ticket basis—each weekly ticket consisting of individually issued tickets by tournament day and including a ticket Tuesday-Sunday. Tickets can be transferred each day to another individual. The best part about having THE PLAYERS Club access? Aside from being able to mingle with competitors in the tournament and their families? You can feel really good about shelling out $5K for the royal treatment: Proceeds from THE PLAYERS benefit Northeast Florida charities and have totaled more than $92 million since the event moved to Ponte Vedra Beach in 1977, including a record $8.7 million generated in 2017 and a goal to generate $50 million for youth-related charities by 2021. sl For more on THE PLAYERS Championship 2018 (May 8-13) and the surrounding area, visit theplayers.com or floridashistoriccoast.com. For THE PLAYERS Club 2018 tickets, visit pgatour.com/theplayersclub.

Peeking into The Collector Luxury Inn & Gardens in St. Augustine.

Gourmet, all-natural ice pops from The Hyppo

St. Augustine Distillery is where in-the-kmow locals go for super premium, small batch spirits

MAKING THE MOST OF THE HISTORIC COAST After four days of championship golf—or for a fun break from the action—head down A1A to St. Augustine for some Spanish colonial charm. Here, tips on where to eat, stay and play in the oldest city on Florida’s Historic Coast.

IN GOOD SPIRITS Housed in a beautifully restored historic Ice Plant, St. Augustine Distillery’s handcrafted, small-batch spirits capture the taste and flavors of Florida. Whet your whistle with a Florida Mule and stay for a bite at the Ice Plant Bar. staugustinedistillery.com

STAY AWHILE With its wrought-iron finishes, fountains and period details, The Collector Luxury Inn & Gardens blends contemporary luxuries and amenities with quaint touches and the personal service of a bed-and-breakfast. thecollectorinn.com

KEEPIN’ IT COOL No stroll through downtown St. Augustine is complete without popping into The Hyppo for one of its all-natural, gourmet ice pops. As the seasons change, so do the flavors, but all are made with fresh fruits, herbs and spices. Try the Strawberry Datil pop that gets its kick from the small hot pepper that’s indigenous to the area. thehyppo.com

LOCAL FLAVOR Billed as “innovative Southern fare for omnivores, herbivores and locavores,” The Floridian’s menu stars include Creole comfort foods and vibrant bowls like the Elton Salad (all-natural grilled chicken or the local fresh catch with roasted sweet potatoes, shredded carrots and sweet onions, zesty cabbage slaw, green beans and green-tomato salsa served over local lettuces and topped with a fried green tomato). thefloridianstaug.com

HISTORY CLASS A tour of the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States, the Castillo de San Marcos, is a must. The large Spanish stone fortress was built more than 315 years ago to protect and defend Spain’s claims in the New World. It’s a National Monument and the oldest structure in St. Augustine—and the weaponry demonstrations are wicked cool. visitstaugustine.com

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Bibliotaph... Snow Business

Compiled by Victoria Chase

French photographer Laurent Baheux utilizes stunning black-and-white images to depict the world's most beautiful icy landscapes and the animals that inhabit them. Laurent Baheux - Ice is Black - hardcover, 192 pages, teNeues (teneues.com) Focusing on destination ski resorts in New England, the Rocky Mountains, the Far West, and southern Canada, this book examines the architecture of recreational skiing from the 1930s to 1990, showing how small, family-operated businesses evolved into the massive, theme-oriented, multipurpose ski establishments of today. Margaret Supplee Smith - American Ski Resort - Architecture, Style, Experience - hardcover, 352 pages, University of Oklahoma Press (oupress.com) Powder is the definitive guide to the best and most feared ski and snowboard runs on the planet, from classic runs in Chamoix, Whistler and Jackson Hole to more exotic locales like the Himalayas, the Altas Mountains and Sochi. Patrick Thorne - Powder: The Greatest Ski Runs on the Planet hardcover, 224 pages, Quercus (quercusbooks.co.uk)

Author Gabriella Le Breton has skied at more than 130 resorts around the globe. She takes readers on a nostalgic journey through the sport of skiing, from its founders and superstars and their equipment, to its influence on design and entertainment. Gabriella Le Breton - The Stylish Life: Skiing hardcover, 176 pages, teNeues (teneues.com)

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bib 'li' o 'taph, [bib-lee-uhtaf, -tahf ]: a person who caches or hoards books Detailed, in-depth chapters cover more than 100 seasonal recipes for cold-weather cocktails. Stepby-step photos explain essential techniques like muddling, prepping garnishes and making ice molds. Maria Del Mar Sacasa - Winter Cocktails: Mulled Ciders, Hot Toddies, Punches, Pitchers, and Cocktail Party Snacks - hardcover, 160 pages, Random House (penguinrandomhouse.com)

A comprehensive look at snowboarding in the late 80s and early 90s, this book uses work from the best photographers of the era to document the lifestlye, fashion, and feats of athleticism that defined the decade. Alex Diamond Snow Beach: Snowboarding Style 86-96 - Hardcover, 176 pages, powerHouse Books (powerhousebooks.com)

With 125 recipes ranked by difficulty, 50 full-color photographs, and highaltitude cooking tips, this book is your go-to guide for making easy, satisfying and comforting winter meals, whether you're hitting the slopes or just dreaming of days in the lodge. Tina Anderson and Sarah Pinneo - The Ski House Cookbook: Warm Winter Dishes for Cold Weather Fun - hardcover, 192 pages, Clarkson Potter (crownpublishing.com)

A 2016 James Beard Award nominee, 2016 International Association of Culinary Professionals nominee for Best International Cookbook, and 2016 Arts of Eating Prize longlist finalist, this cookbook explores the rich cultural history and culinary traditions of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. Dare Goldstein - Fire + Ice: Classic Nordic Cooking - hardcover, 304 pages, Ten Speed Press (crownpublishing.com) Jeff Curtes is one of the world's most prolific snowboarding photographers, spending 20 years as Burton Snowboards' principal photographer. Curtes' compositions emphasize the lone individual soaring across awe-inspiring landscapes in an almost surreal and sometimes abstract figure/ground/sky relationship. Jeff Curtes, with introduction by Jake Burton - Chasing Epic: The Snowboard Photographs of Jeff Curtes - hardcover, 96 pages, Ammo Books (ammobooks.com)

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Of Note... Let it Glow, Let it Glow, Let it Glow

Compiled by Colin Dennis

Clockwise from top left: Preserved rose petal lamp ($550; rosemarie-schulz.eu), Crafted from non-flammable synthetic paper, the birds on Moooi's Perch Tree chandelier are illuminated by an LED light source ($28,630; moooi.com), Stray Dog Designs Serena chandelier in Bahaman Sea Blue ($1,200; straydogdesigns.com), Pakai table lamp from L'Objet ($750; l-objet.com), Herman Miller Nelson Pear Lotus Floor Lamp ($670; store.hermanmiller.com), Worlds Away Bridget green table lamp ($450; worlds' away.com), Pacific Beach table lamp from Bradburn Home ($685; bradburnhome.com), Besselink & Jones library light in distressed brass from Tod Carson Antiques and Lighting (price upon request; todcarson.com).

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Clockwise from top left: Innermost Beads Octo pendant light ($1,839; designmyworld.net), Uplight Group’s Metal Lux honors Murano’s craftsmen with its collection of chandeliers that have the same traditional lines and curves – but instead of glass, they’ve used metal. DEDALO is available in chrome, satin gold or white and as a chandelier, sconce or table lamp (price upon request; uplightgroup.com), Vixen jewelry chain chandelier from Corbett Lighting ($2,481; corbettlighting.com), Crafted of fiberglass with three projectors, the Acacia sculptural lamp by Albino Miranda is 15-feet-tall (price upon request; albinomiranda.pt).

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The ruins of a Roman pool are visible near the present day version at Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria.

SORRENTO SERENADE Living La Dolce Vita at the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria Written by Bridget Williams Nearly everyone can cite an experience so sublime they are certain the vivid vignette will be permanently etched into their memory, and serve to warm the cockles of the heart whenever something triggers its happy resurgence. Forevermore, the bellowing chorus of O Sole Mio will bring forth goosebumps along with the remembrance of a magical early summer evening at the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria in Sorrento, Italy. From our balcony of the Caruso Suite (named in honor of famed Italian tenor Enrico Caruso, who spent the last days of his life there in the spring of 1921), we admired the Gulf of Sorrento and beyond to the Bay of Naples, set ablaze from yet another spectacular sunset. Below us on the celebrated Vittoria Terrace–dramatically perched on the cliff’s edge, so that nothing stands between you and endless vistas of sea and sky–welldressed guests noshed canapés and sipped apéritifs. Suddenly, the clinking of glasses and the sullen siren-song of seagulls was usurped by the sound of music: the aforementioned and muchbeloved Neapolitan song, originally penned in 1898. At the urging of Guido Fiorentino, the hotel’s fifth-generation president, Marco Gargano, the front office manager, moved us to tears with his powerful rendition, which drew thunderous applause from everyone on the terrace, who were visibly craning their necks to discern the origin of the dulcet tones.

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Since 1834, the Fiorentino family has been providing oncein-a-lifetime experiences in what is (in my humble opinion) one of the most magical regions in Italy. There is a distinct sense of arrival once you leave the bustling city center at Piazza Tasso in Sorrento (as much a living and breathing city as tourist destination), and pass through the Art Nouveau entrance gate. A long allée of trees, some with sinewy branches drooping from their burden of ripe citrus fruits, terminates at the stately hotel. Surrounded by five-acres of lushly manicured gardens, the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria is comprised of a trio of distinct interconnected buildings resting atop Roman ruins (purported to be a villa belonging to Emperor Augustus). The hotel’s original building, Vittoria, was constructed in 1834 to accommodate Grand Tour travelers; it was the first modern hotel in the area and offered private bathrooms, a link to the harbor via a funicular railway created in a Roman tunnel, and electric lighting. Constructed in the second half of the 19th century and calling to mind a Swiss chalet, the design of the La Favorita building is an homage to Princess Maria Sofia of Wittelsbach, who married Francesco II of Borbone in 1858. It became known as Favorita after Maria Sofia’s sister, Elisabeth, the Empress of Austria (better known as Sissi), deemed it her favorite wing of the hotel.

The three-building layout of the hotel is most discernable from the water. Photo by Bridget Williams

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Deluxe Suite

Inside, public and private spaces demonstrate the familiar hallmarks of opulent elegance common among beloved grand hotels throughout Europe: wood parquet and gleaming marble floors; paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries; fine furnishings from the Louis XVI, Arts and Crafts, Victorian and Biedermeier eras; finely executed frescoes and friezes; and ornate tapestries. The air may seem rarified, but the aura is much more relaxed. In the Art Nouveau-style Winter Garden for instance, you can sit on chairs designed by famed Italian architect Ernesto Basile (1857-1932). The same chairs can be found on display in the Musée D’Orsay in Paris, where they most definitely may not be sat upon. My room, No. 114, boasted a massive terrace with balustrade overlooking the water. Hand-painted walls and a perfect hodgepodge of antique furnishings lent the impression that I was lodging at the home of an affluent, eclectic nonna rather than a hotel, which is a purposeful intent. “When guests arrive, there is a strong feeling of being welcomed into a family home, because we treat each salon and bedroom as if it were a room in a house,” said Fiorentino, an affable and approachable host who took the reins of the family business in 2010. Since then, he has set forth on an ambitious plan to further elevate the property’s stature by obtaining a Michelin star, adding a new poolside restaurant and champagne bar, reducing the number of hotel rooms from 97 to 84, adding

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serviced garden apartments for extended stays, and converting a 19th century greenhouse on property to La Serra Spa. Of the 84 rooms, 42 are suites, with six of those being oneof-a-kind accommodations. The Caruso Suite has been maintained in the style of the 1920s, and retains Caruso’s piano, photographs and writing board. Other suites are either named for famous guests– Princess Margaret, Luciano Pavarotti and Italian singer-songwriter Lucio Dalla–or have had famous guests (Sophia Loren stayed in the Aurora Junior Suite in 1984 while filming Qualcosa di Biondo). While posh enough for a princess, the true heart and soul of the property is its top-notch staff. Serving as a figurehead of sorts is head concierge Antonio Galano, who, although he doesn’t look it, has been employed by the hotel for forty years. His friendly “ciao bella” sendoff as I left for my excursions each day never failed to put a little extra pep in my step. The dining experience at Excelsior Vittoria is a thing of beauty, beginning with breakfast, which is served American buffet-style beneath a 19th century frescoed ceiling, which makes you feel as though you are dining in the nave of a basilica. You can enjoy pizza perfection poolside at The Orangerie bar and restaurant (open April-October). At night, the spot transforms into a chic tapas-style dining concept with specialty cocktails and an energetic soundtrack.

The Vittoria building

Art Nouveau entrance gates

Sunset on the Vittoria Terrace

The Winter Garden

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Well-preserved frescos in the Villa of the Mysteries, Pompeii

A monumental bronze by Igor Mitoraj on display among the ruins in Pompeii

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Maria Grazia restaurant in Nerano

Positano

Vittoria breakfast room

At Terrazza Bosquet, the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant (awarded in 2014), the service is as polished as the gleaming harlequin-tiled marble floors. A prime example of their ability to elevate the expected to the extraordinary is the “white glove” bread service. Resembling a giant jewelry box on wheels, the mirrored lid of the bread box is opened to reveal an arrangement to rival a still-life masterpiece. There is a discernable playfulness interwoven throughout the tasting menu, featuring dishes with names like La Dolce Vita (marinated local fish with a vegetable bouquet) and Childhood Memories (a confection of chocolate sponge cake, orange cremoso and fleur de sel inspired by the chef ’s favorite childhood dessert). Each kitchen on property utilizes produce and citrus fruit grown on-site, and the harvest from the garden’s grove of olive trees allows for production of a proprietary olive oil. Perfect wine pairings are culled from a tufa stone cellar with a 9,500-bottle capacity; an opening in the cellar floor that is covered with Plexiglass provides a peek down into an ancient Roman well. Sorrento is an ideal base from which to explore the region’s many sights: bucolic countryside to the south, the Amalfi Coast to the east, Pompeii and Naples to the north, and Capri offshore. The hotel’s concierge team is constantly striving to be innovators in providing unique experiences. A newly added tour of Naples, based on the books of Elena Ferrante, brings the pages of her hugely popular novels to life. Pompeii is a history and architecture buff’s dream; the scale of the ruins, the brilliant frescoes, mosaic masterpieces and bodies frozen in casts of ash are indelible sights. Skip the traffic along the circuitous and clogged two-lane road that lines the Amalfi coastline and explore by water; the hotel

maintains several motorboats for private charter to engage in sightseeing, diving and snorkeling activities. Having experienced the crush of tourists inching up and down the narrow corridors in Positano, I much prefer the placid way the terraced buildings appear from the water. Be sure to stop for lunch at Maria Grazia in Nerano (a smaller and less touristy town than Positano); it has been one of Guido Fiorentino’s favorite restaurants since childhood. Extolled for their pasta with zucchini, Maria Grazia’s house-made limoncello is among the best I’ve sampled. If summer had a flavor, it would be their dessert of freshly-picked wild strawberries simply dressed with a dollop of whipped cream. Exploring Sorrento is as easy as ducking into the narrow cobblestone alleyways that splay off of Centro Storico (historic center) in search of souvenir treasures, most notably examples of marquetry the town is known for. Other sites of interest include the Museum Correale di Terranova for a rich assortment of 16th-19th century Neapolitan art and crafts; the Musei Bottega della Tarsia Lignea, an 18th century palace with frescoes and a collection of marquetry and art representative of the era; and, Basilica di Sant’ Antionio, the oldest church in town, dating to the 11th century. There are also a number of hiking trails on Mount Faito, which rewards trekkers with spectacular views of the surrounding area. The fact that the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria has been family owned from its inception imparts a special sense of place to what is already a very special place. Having your name added to their registry places you among the ranks of an esteemed list of guests who have reveled in the mystique of this historic hotel for more than 180 years. sl slmag.net

Curating a Lifestyle: Destination Nashville

Written by Amelia Jeffers

Photo courtesy Jon Jenkins, The Nashville Show

Folk art, quilts, furniture, original painted surfaces, rich patina… if any of these things make you weak in the knees, then you are certain to fall in love at the 2018 Heart of Tennessee Antique Show, to be held from February 14 – 16, 2018 at the Wilson County Exposition Center in Lebanon, Tennessee, located just half an hour outside of Nashville. The Nashville area has long been a destination for history buffs and antique lovers with its museums, historic distilleries, rich musical heritage, and varied cityscape. There is something for everyone in this diverse region, including a burgeoning culinary scene, a plethora of local shops, and plenty of treasures to discover. The Nashville region’s central location and mild weather make it an ideal location to peruse hundreds of finds hailing from California to Maine. The 2018 Heart of Tennessee Antique Show brings together 54 exhibitors from over 20 states and Canada, and features an outstanding array of Americana, from jewelry to furniture and everything in-between. While only in its third year, this show has been growing rapidly under the careful guidance of organizer Kathy Bovard, who has transformed it

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from a simple show to a must-attend event that kicks off with an opening night including a cash bar and hors d’oeuvres for visitors to enjoy as they mingle with and peruse the offerings of exhibitors from across the country. Fresh from the Winter Antiques Show, Los Angeles-based Americana dealers American Garage will be exhibiting their carefully curated selection of dynamic folk art, including original trade signs. For paint enthusiasts, Jewett-Berdan Antiques from Maine will satisfy your craving for original painted surfaces in addition to fine folk art, textiles, and paintings. Midwesterners Tim and Charline Chambers of Missouri Plain Folk will be on hand to tempt you with their fresh folk finds, including an array of painted game boards (if you really want to be inspired, make sure to add their book, The Art Of The Game: A Collection Of Vintage Game Boards, to your 2018 reading list), finely woven baskets, painted signs, and folk art staples including firkins, mortars and pestles, and pantry boxes. The Heart of Tennessee Antique Show is the newest jewel in the trifecta of antique shows occurring in the Nashville

area during the second week in February, including the now venerable Nashville Show, held at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds (formerly the Tailgate-Music Valley Antique Show, tailgateantiqueshow.com), with a more than 30-year history delighting Americana collectors. Among the 140 exhibitors who will be on hand include Ted and Jennifer Fuehr of American Spirit Antiques, specializing in antique American furniture, folk art, leather bound books, and a fine assortment of decorative arts including boxes, ceramics, and glassware. Stephen Score, Inc. of Boston, MA specializes in 18th through early 20th century American Folk Art, offering original yet freshly contemporary paintings, furniture, sculpture, and textiles. The Nashville Show also boasts a Vintage Marketplace, showcasing contemporary artisans breathing new life into historical forms and designs and will be held from February 15-18, 2018. In Nashville’s spirit of abundance, collectors will delight in a third event, the Fiddlers Antiques Show, held at the Fiddler’s Inn, across from the Opryland Hotel in Nashville

(fiddlersantiquesshow.com/). The event features more than 50 exhibitors with a vast selection of Americana, including country, primitives, folk art, and traditional furniture and accessories, in addition to fine art, textiles, jewelry, collectibles, vintage goods, and more. Individual hotel rooms are transformed into antique suites, creating an immersive shopping experience. The Fiddler’s Antiques Show will be held from February 14-17, 2018, and is just a 15-minute drive to the Nashville Show and a 34-minute drive via I-40W to the Heart of Tennessee Antique Show. As the glimmer of the holidays begins to fade and winter’s chill seems unending, let the warm glow of Nashville’s soulful heart usher you into a new year as over 200 dealers descend upon this remarkable region to create a collector’s dream come true. In 2018, resolve to savor the details, connect with your passions, and surround yourself with beauty – there’s no better place to begin than Nashville. sl Amelia Jeffers is an nationally-known auctioneer and appraiser who has worked in the fine art, antiques and bespoke collectibles market for over 20 years.

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Far East Movement

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Clockwise from top left: 1.State Makal pump ($118; nordstrom.com), John Hardy men's Naga bracelet ($1,495; johnhardy.com), Marta Dress from Cinq Ă Sept ($465; cinqasept. nyc), Lydia Courteille koi earrings with rubies, yellow and blue sapphires, tsavorites, ice jade and hauynites (price upon request; lydiacourteille.com), Toile Indienne Mughal Florals Lattice silk cushion (toileindienne.com), Wendy Yue Haute Joaillerie ring (price upon request; wendyyue.com), Vince Camuto Savilla pump ($99; vincecamuto.com), Alex Solider Festive Drops earrings ($690; alexsoldier.com), Tamara Comolli Candy chandelier earrings in 18K gold with precious stones ($7,390; tamaracomolli.com), To commemorate the 10th anniversary of its Ginza boutique, this past October Breguet unveiled the first piece of a 10-piece series created for the Japan market. The Breguet 5176 "Ginza Anniversary" is presented in a 38mm diameter white gold case, blue "Grand Feu" enamel dial with platinum-coated numerals and rhodium-plated hands (price upon request; breguet.com), Lele Curio hand-painted silk jewelry box (lalacurio.com). Opposite page: Desigual spring/summer 2018 looks from New York Fashion Week (desigual.com).

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Clockwise from top left: Covet Amadeo Fleurier 39 "Blue Burdocks" Grand Feu Enamel (price upon request; bovet.com), Rare Gems of India carved jade, diamond and black onyx tassel necklace ($9,860; raregemsofindia.com), 18K white gold, sapphire and carved jade ring ($5,200; raregemsofindia.com), Noudar white gold and diamond earrings (price upon request; noudar.com), Louise et Cie Anyi mule ($110; louiseetcie.com), White jade and diamond earrings from the Echo collection by Karma El Khalil (price upon request; karmaelkhalil.com), Buddha Mama 20K Happy Buddha pendant with sustainably sourced rubies ($4,500; buddhamama.com), Koko python bag from Doris Dorothea with removable shoulder strap ($925; dorisdorothea.com), Orient candle from L'Objet ($145; l-objet.com), Creed Asian Green Tea perfume, 3.3oz ($315; creedboutique.com), Cirri 18K gold and diamond ring (price upon request; cirari.com), Michael Aram Butterfly Ginkgo cuff ($1,875; michaelaram.com). Opposite page: Desigual spring/summer 2018 looks from New York Fashion Week (desigual.com).

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ADDING BY SUBTRACTION

The Range Rover Velar was designed and engineered with an unwavering belief that less is more Written by Andre James The original Range Rover was launched in 1970; 47 years later, the Velar, the fourth member of the Range Rover family, was unveiled. Derived from the Latin ‘velare’ meaning to veil or cover, the inspiration of the moniker dates back to the first Range Rover prototypes kept under wraps in the 1960s. “We call the Velar the avant-garde Range Rover,” said Land Rover Chief Design Officer, Gerry McGovern. “It brings a new dimension of glamour, modernity and elegance to the brand. The Range Rover Velar changes everything.” Created as a clean sheet utilizing Jaguar Land Rover's lightweight aluminum architecture, the mid-size SUV is designed to bridge the gap between the Range Rover Evoque and the Range Rover Sport. The Velar is defined by a visually reductive approach in its design; a continuous waistline rises through to the taut tapered lines of the rear, and a generous 113.15-inch wheelbase contributes significantly to both its elegant design and spacious interior. Pivotal to the contemporary design of the Velar are the full LED headlights (the slenderest ever to appear on a production Land Rover), flush deployable door handles, and

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available Burnished Copper detailing on the hood vents, front bumper blades, and fender vents. The spirit of reductionism also applies to the interior, which serves to create a streamlined sanctuary optimized for both operator and occupants. Integral to the enhanced driving experience is a suite of consumer technologies that work in tandem to function as a built- in technology butler. The nexus of the suite is an all-new, cutting-edge infotainment system called InControl Touch Pro Duo, featuring two 10-inch screens integrated seamlessly behind hidden-until-lit surfaces. Advanced consumer technology is also reflected in the use of trend setting materials in the cabin, such as an optional sustainable, premium textile seat material as an alternative to leather. The Dapple Grey material was developed together with Kvadrat, a leading manufacturer of high-quality design textiles in Europe, and is complemented with Suedecloth inserts available in Ebony or Light Oyster. Exceptional performance is delivered via three available diesel and gasoline powertrains, all matched to a smooth-shifting

ZF eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle-shift controls and all-wheel drive with Intelligent Driveline Dynamics. Offered for the first time on a Land Rover model is a fourcylinder Ingenium diesel engine that delivers high levels of torque from low engine speeds to ensure excellent on-demand responsiveness and acceleration. The model’s fuel efficiency leader, acceleration from 0-60mph takes 8.4 seconds. The Velar represents one of the first applications for the new Jaguar Land Rover 2.0-liter four-cylinder Ingenium gasoline engine, designed with an integrated exhaust manifold and a twinscroll turbocharger to deliver smooth, refined performance. This 247HP variant makes the 0-60mph sprint in 6.4 seconds. An even more powerful, 380HP supercharged V6 gasoline engine combines sports car performance with a unique soundtrack and enables the Velar to accelerate to 60 mph from a standstill in only 5.3 seconds before reaching an electronically-limited top speed of 155 mph. The Range Rover Velar and Velar R-Dynamic range is comprised of four selectively available specifications including Standard, S, SE or HSE, with three powertrain options depending

on trim. Customers can also specify Black and Premium Exterior Packs for an even more distinguished appearance. Most exclusive of all will be the Velar First Edition. Limited to approximately 500 units in the U.S. and available for one model year only, the Velar First Edition is powered solely by the 380HP 3.0-liter V6 gasoline engine and features a wealth of extra features as standard, including a full extended leather interior, as well as a copper weave carbon fiber trim finisher to complement the perforated Windsor leather seats finished in two tone Light Oyster/Ebony, a 1,600W Meridian Signature Sound System, and special 22-inch Split-Spoke wheels with diamond-turned finish. First Edition models are available exclusively in one of three colors; Corris Grey, Silicon Silver, or Flux Silver– a unique added cost satin finish exclusive to the First Edition, which will be meticulously hand-sprayed at Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations’ Oxford Road Technical Centre in the UK. “Velar is now the compelling, stand-out design in its class, showcasing perfectly optimized volume, powerful, taut surfaces and a stunning silhouette,” said McGovern. Pricing for the Velar begins at $49,900 (landroverusa.com). sl

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NO SHELL UNTURNED Exploring all that the island of Curaçao has to offer Written by Caylee Matthews

Beachfront pool suite at Baoase

Curaçao rewards the curious. Located in the Dutch Antilles, it is the largest and most rugged of the ‘ABC islands’ (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao). Some of its gems, such as the famed UNESCOprotected, pastel-hued colonial buildings that line the waterfront in its capital city of Willemstad, are easy to come by. Discovering others is a bit like hunting for treasure in an off-the-beaten-path antique store. If you are willing to put in the effort, there are scores of interesting personalities and places to be found. Tucked rather nondescript along a residential street just a five-minute drive from Willemstad, Baoase, the island’s only five-star resort, fits the theme of finding the extraordinary in the unexpected. Originally built by Ad Van Der Valk as a show of affection for his wife Bibi Rutten (the name ‘Baoase’ is a Dutch play on words to mean ‘B and A’s oasis’), the couple decided relatively quickly that the site was too special to be limited to a few get-togethers for family and friends throughout the year. They increased the number of guest accommodations to 23 luxury suites and villas and built an island to serve as a surf break, which created a tranquil private lagoon for swimming. 60 slmag.net

Jesse Zahn-Van der Valk, Ad’s daughter who now serves as Baoase’s co-general manager with her husband Jesse, said she and her siblings were initially skeptical of their father’s plans. “We called him the ‘cowboy of the Caribbean’ and thought he’d be better off throwing money into the ocean,” she said with a laugh. Possessing an ideal blend of genuine warmth with a perfectionist’s eye, Jesse has her sights squarely focused on catapulting Baoase into the ranks of the world’s top beachfront resorts. There is a discernable Balinese influence throughout the entirety of the property. Several guest rooms are oriented around a meandering freeform infinity pool; the remainder are free-standing oceanfront villas with private plunge pools. The lushly landscaped grounds are dotted with Asian art. Our beachfront pool suite presented an eclectic mix of old-meets-new: tall carved Balinese painted panels and doors with a lovely patina adorning the walls near the entry and bathroom were intriguingly juxtaposed with electric blue LED accent lighting on the ceiling above the bed. Both the shower and stone soaking tub were located in a walled courtyard; a covered patio with dining table and wet bar adjacent to the private plunge pool was an ideal site for a romantic multicourse hot stone dinner one evening.

Grote Knip Beach

Klein Knip Beach

The lagoon at Baoase

Beachfront Pool Suite outdoor bath

Interior of a Beachfront Pool Suite

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The UNESCO-protected waterfront in Willemstad

Lounge chairs and cabanas dot the white sand crescentshaped beach that rings the lagoon. Beach butlers are on hand to bring refreshments or assist with complimentary watersports and snorkeling gear. Spa services are available in a private beach gazebo or in-room. Serving three meals daily, Baoase Culinary Beach Restaurant is under the direction of Chef Rene Koop. Reflecting the property’s Far East bent, the menu is a melding of primarily French and Asian traditions, with a sprinkling of influences from other international cuisines. At dinner, both a la carte and chef ’s tasting menus are offered; Sundays are designated as Asian Night, with fresh sushi and Asian bites. For an extra-special dining experience, book a private candlelit dinner in a beachfront gazebo. Renting a car is a must to fully explore everything the island has to offer. In nearby Willemstad, top sights include the floating Queen Emma Bridge that connects the Punda and Otrobanda neighborhoods. Near the waterfront, the 19th century Rif Fort is now a shopping center. Vendors sail 42 miles from Venezuela to hawk produce and fish at the floating market. Sanctioned street art is prevalent and adds to the colorful cityscape. Grab a drink at Luke’s Bar (curacaotodo.com), the first establishment solely

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dedicated to craft cocktails, before heading to dinner and latenight dancing in the trendy Pietermaai Smal historic district. Further afoot, one of my favorite unexpected stops was a curious medicinal garden carefully cultivated in the arid environs by Dinah Veeris. Discouraged to see that herbal traditions were slowly disappearing on the island, she left her teaching job in the 1980s and devoted herself to herbal medicine, learning all that she could about local remedies and buying a one-acre parcel that is now home to 300 different plant species. The property was opened to the public in 1991 as Den Paradera, which means “the place where you feel at home.” Dinah, whose smooth skin and enviable cheekbones belie her 70-somethingness, is now a highly sought-after expert who maintains a rigorous schedule of speaking engagements around the globe, so it is a treat if you’re lucky enough to get a tour of the garden with her. A modern-day medicine woman, as we walked, she plucked off a leaf here or a twig there, while relaying stories of treating asthma or a toothache. Most interesting was her method of reviving ailing plants: she removes them from the earth and places them in a special hammock, where she will rock them while singing songs purported to nurse them back to health (dinahveeris.com).

Deconstructed gazpacho at Baoase Culinary Beach Restaurant

Dinah Veeris demonstrating the medicinal power of plants

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Beach butler at Baoase

Shete Boka National Park

Baoase Culinary Beach Restaurant

Upscale beachgoers congregate at Jan Thiel Beach, which offers four beachfront restaurants, beach tennis, scuba outfitters, shopping, and a lively nightlife scene (janthielbeach.com). Further afoot on the undeveloped western windward coast are the picturesque Grote Knip and smaller Klein Knip public beaches. Popular with locals, children often line the rocky cliffs that protect the coves, goading one another to take the plunge into the azure waters. There are scores of other beaches dotting the island, varying in terrain, size and available facilities, allowing you to spend a day scouting out your favorite. Also located on the island’s western side (about 40 minutes from Willemstad) is Christoffel Park, Curaçao’s largest national park (christoffelpark.org). Created by the government’s purchase of three former plantations, the site is home to wild orchids and other plant and animal species (such as the endangered Curaçao whitetailed deer) rarely seen elsewhere on the island. There are eight hiking trails, including one that leads to the summit of Christoffel Mountain. Topping out at 1,230 feet, it is the island’s highest point (allow a minimum of two hours and bring plenty of water). 64 slmag.net

Adjoining Christoffel Park, Shete Boka National Park (shetebokapark.org) is named for the dramatic coves sculpted in the limestone by the pounding surf along this six-mile stretch of rugged coastline. Hiking along the trail that follows the cliff line from Boka Tabla to Boka Pistol, the rocky landscape feels almost lunar, with the exception of powerful waves that make a thundering sound as they continue their work. There are various access points to explore caves and quiet inlets, the latter serving as sea-turtle nesting grounds. After you’ve worked up an appetite, Karakter Restaurant in the Coral Estates neighborhood (karaktercuracao.com), Landhuis Daniel, located in one of the oldest plantation houses of Curaçao (landhuisdaniel.com), and Jaanchies Restaurant (in operation for 60 years and the best place to try iguana), are all worthwhile stops for lunch or dinner. My stay on Curaçao was unlike any other island sojourn in recent memory. From the polished perfection of a private toes-inthe-sand dinner at Baoase, to sharing the sea and sand with locals at primitive Jeremi beach, our dedication to leaving no shell unturned allowed us to experience much of what the island has to offer. sl

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SOPHISTICATED LITTLES Written by Carrie Edelstein / Photography by Angela Lamb

LITTLE INFO Meet Lucy and Grace, the twin granddaughters of Ron Kruszewski, Chairman and CEO of Stifel Financial Corp. They posed with their grandpa and his daughter, Carrie, who is the proud mama, at Kruszewski’s Huntleigh home. The girls will turn “2” in April. LITTLE LOOK Lucy and Grace are fraternal twins, but they always are dressed identically, and if not the exact same, then they are at least matching with coordinating outfits. Mom says, “They prefer to dress the exact same or they get jealous of the other one’s stuff.” Their pink and grey dresses are by Splendid from Saks Fifth Avenue, and those little black bows to match are by St. Louis-based Wee Ones from Laurie’s Shoes. LITTLE LOVES The girls love to be together. “One of their favorite things is to play with their toy kitchen and pretend to cook and feed each other,” says their mom. Lucy and Grace also like to play outside, go swimming and go to gymnastics class. And they are already regulars at The Magic House and the Saint Louis Science Center. Mom says, “They are very interactive and hands on with all of the activities.” LITTLE LIT Lucy loves books with nursery rhymes. Her favorite one is the classic “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” Grace loves picture books. “She points at the pictures and says what they are or makes sounds to match if it’s an animal,” says Mom. LITTLE EXTRA Se habla español- Spanish is spoken! Lucy and Grace understand Spanish and speak as much Spanish as they do English. Their favorite words are “agua” for water, “rico” for yummy and “besos” for kisses. They also love to make Grandpa’s coffee and sit with him at the kitchen table and “talk” like they are in a meeting together. They even scroll through his phone and laptop during the “meeting.” Future CEOs maybe? sl

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THE MOST HOSPITABLE

Meyer, who resides in New York with his wife, Audrey, is planning on coming back to St. Louis more to visit Shake Shack. And while it’s still new, 12 “cross trainers” from Shake Shacks around the country will be working in St. Louis to help bring the new location up to speed.

Written by Craig Kaminer / Photography By Glenn Reigelman

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BURGER IN ST. LOUIS You’d think you were dining next to your average guy – a 59-yearold man enjoying food we all know and love. But St. Louis native Danny Meyer is anything but average. Last month, the businessman/author/humanitarian/influencer opened his burger chain, Shake Shack, in the Central West End, and in addition to his mom, Roxie, sitting at the first table, dozens of the area’s top chefs were there to celebrate and welcome Meyer home with open arms. “[Sugarfire’s] Mike Johnson was there, the Vicia owners, Salt + Smoke, Gerard Craft, The Half and Half people, Sydney Street, Farmhaus, you name it,” Meyer says. He adds, “The food community in St. Louis has embraced Shake Shack and Shake Shack has embraced the food community unlike any other city we’ve been in.” Meyer says he had goosebumps on opening day as he shook hands with an overwhelming amount of customers, comparing it to the Cardinals opening the season “without spring training.” But with a resumé like Meyer’s, it’s sure to be a homerun in St. Louis. When he was just 27, he opened Union Square Café in New York, the first step to several decades in the hospitality industry, where he says it’s all about people wanting to be treated well. Meyer is the founder and CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group, which comprises some of New York’s greatest restaurants including Union Square, Gramercy Tavern, The Modern, Maialino, Blue Smoke and more. Together, Meyer and the group’s restaurants and individuals have won 28 James Beard awards. “When we opened Blue Smoke [our barbecue restaurant in New York] it was really the first time I played around with bringing some of the flavors I wanted from St. Louis. But that was also the first really casual place we did,” Meyer says. He adds, “We had just opened Eleven Madison Park on top of Gramercy

Tavern and Union Square and I said I’m never opening another restaurant again. And if I ever do it’s just going to be a joint and that became Blue Smoke.” The modern-day “roadside” joint known as Shake Shack became a public company in 2015. Meyer says, “It’s much more exciting– rather than try to invent something you’ve never had– I’m excited to have our team cook food you’ve had better than you knew it could be.” Meyer says he never could have predicted his success back in his high school days at John Burroughs School, but it’s his passion that is perhaps his secret weapon. “I’m tired after a day of work but I don’t actually feel like I went to work because I’m doing what I want to be doing.” He says, “It wasn’t considered a legitimate thing back in the 1970s to go into the restaurant business. I’ll never forget the day I told my parents, ‘You know that LSAT I took? I’m actually ripping it up. I’m going into the restaurant business instead of going to law school.’” Of Meyer’s own four children, he says his daughter, Allie, is a “fantastic cook.” She won two Iron Chef competitions during her time studying at Yale University. But she’s teaching right now, and Meyer is just fine with that. In terms of advice for graduates from his alma mater though, Meyer says, “It is a privilege to be in a position where one can actually follow their passion. I know for many people you have to just take a job to have a job. But I would say if you’ve had the advantage of an education like Burroughs and you’re in a position where you do have some choices, I would just encourage people to do the thing that you want to do not the thing that you’re supposed to do. And if you’re lucky enough to do that I think you actually increase the odds that you’re able to make the world a better place.” sl

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“PEACE,” atriumgallery.net Christine Corday, Spacewalker, projects-gallery.com A Century Of Japanese Prints, slam.org MadeinSTL: Saint Louis Fashion Fund Incubator Celebrates 1st Anniversary, saintlouisfashionfund.org An Evening Of Magic, Merriment and Mystery, rankenjordan.org Snow Ball, moonrisehotel.com Kinky Boots, peabodyoperahouse.com MLK Family Celebration, mohistory.org 12th Annual Loop Ice Carnival, visittheloop.com School of Rock, fabulousfox.com The Bad Plus, jazzstl.org Young Friends Of Mercy Masquerade, mercy.net Taste For Glennon, glennon.org The Sound Of Music, slso.org Tiffany Haddish, thepageant.com Dancing With The St. Louis Stars, independencecenter.org Mozart’s Magic, chambermusicstl.org Dining In The Dark, blindness.org

February 1-28 2 3 3 9-10 9-11 10-11 13-14 14-17 16 16 17 17 17 21 24 24 24 24

Give Your Heart To Pony Bird, ponybird.org Nite At The Race, nextstepforlife.org Heart And Soul, glennon.org Trivia Night, boyshopegirlshope.org Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story, peabodyoperahouse.com 11th Africa World Documentary Film Festival, africaworldfilmfestival.com “Love Stories,” touhill.org Brian Owens, thesheldon.org Alicia Olatuja, jazzstl.org Glennon Style, glennon.org Rufus Wainwright, slso.org 5th Annual “VooDoo In The Lou” Masquerade Ball, friendsofkids.org A Night For Newborns, nursesfornewborns.org Community Agriculture Conference, gatewaygreening.org 58th Anniversary Youth Trophy Showcase, mathews-dickey.com Blake Shelton, scottradecenter.com DRIVE Gala, camstl.org Music Trivia Night, thelittlebitfoundation.org Revealing The Faces Of Hope, havenofgracestl.org

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ST. LOUIS JEWISH BOOK FESTIVAL

The 39th Annual St. Louis Jewish Book Festival kicked off with keynote speaker Zac Posen. The world-renowned fashion designer and judge from “Project Runway” spoke about his book, Cooking with Zac. Saint Louis Fashion Fund’s Susan Sherman led a discussion held at the J’s Staenberg Family Complex.

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WILD EARTH ALLIES

It was a celebration of wildlife conservation as supporters of Wild Earth Allies collaborated with St. Louis’ Endangered Wolf Center, and welcomed Paul Newman’s daughter, Clea, to St. Louis. The Cambodian Program Director, Tuy Sereivathana, also flew into town for the evening, held at the home of Virginia Busch.

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St. Louis Jewish Book Festival 1) Susan Sherman, Zac Posen 2) Judy Berger, Julie Frankel, Jean Margul 3) Mueriel and Stanford Carp 4) Carole Levin, Sylvie and David Sherman, Kristin Johnson, Jean Grossman 5) Doris Alport, Bonnie Solomon, Mandy Rubenstein 6) Katje Hardie, Christy Macke Wild Earth Allies 1) Dr. Mary Noel George, Michael Powers 2) David Jackson, Virginia Busch 3) Tuy Sereivathana, Patricia and Joe Scott, Jr. 4) Kara Blackwell, Steve Brncic, Liz Blackwell 5) Majorie and Jeremiah Dellas, Clea Newman Soderlund 6) Katie Frohardt, Julie Voss Catron, Sheila Voss, Janet Langley

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JOIN THE JOURNEY

The Little Bit Foundation’s annual Join the Journey Gala was held at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis. Little Bit began in 2001 with a vision of breaking down barriers to learning for underserved students in the St. Louis region.

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1) Corey and Lindsey Poteet, Olivia Dazey, Trent Hillis 2) Sal Cusumano, Sarah Wahl, Emily Montgomery, Lesley Whittle 3) Maggie Honerkamp, Danielle Hartman, Laura Flickinger, Carin Croak, Julia and Kevin Hoffman 4) Elliot Glik, Jonathan Root, Debbie Zimmerman, Ben Hillman 5) Kristen Stengel, Ashley Duneske, Meghan Fritsche, Ashley Young 6) Nick and Lauren Williams, Cortney Vaughn, Matt Morris 7) Lisa Rose Koon, Brian Lyss, Maureen Bahn 8) Alexandra Bluth, Ryan Manse 9) Lindsay Bosworth, David Dempsey, Elizabeth and Kevin Glazer, Kate and Brad Eisel 10) Josh and Katie Miller

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WHITAKER SAINT LOUIS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

The 26th Annual Whitaker Saint Louis International Film Festival kicked off with a premiere of “Bad Grandmas” at The Tivoli in The Delmar Loop. The film was shot locally and stars Pam Grier and the late Florence Henderson. Grier attended the screening along with the rest of the cast and crew.

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WHOSE LINE IS IT SAINT LOUIS!

Sal Cusumano was crowned comedy master and Toni Ratteree was named judges’ choice. It was a night of improv and laughs at Majorette in Maplewood as local celebrities entertained guests to benefit Cancer Support Community of Greater St. Louis.

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Whitaker Saint Louis International Film Festival 1) Srikant Chellappa, Sharon and J. Kim Tucci 2) Chris Benson, Kristin Entrikin, Chris Clark 3) Lucie Dempsey, Jilanne Klaus 4) Rich and Judee Sauget 5) Pam Grier Whose Line Is It Saint Louis! 1) Julia Budde, Spencer Hilton 2) Robin McClanathan, Lee Reid, Peggy Nelson, Erin Cusumano 3) Craig and Debbie Kaminer, Pamela and Ken Lester 4) Rick Halpern, Nancy Green, Sherry Wolff, Karen Zorensky, Deby Halpern 5) Marty Oberman, Kathryn Jamboretz, Toni Rattere, Justin Fantroy, Sal Cusumano

Photography by Diane Anderson

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BUCKING FOR BABIES

Nurses for Newborns held its 4th annual Bucking for Babies event at PBR St. Louis in Ballpark Village in Downtown St. Louis. The event is hosted by the Young Professionals Board and raises money to help combat infant mortality in Missouri.

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CUREiosity

The 12th annual CUREiosity party celebrating the “Rock Docs” was held at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis. The event benefits the Siteman Cancer Center and the research being done to help fight cancer.

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Bucking For Babies 1) Matt and Jennifer Funk, Barb and Brian Satterthwaite, Nancy and Tom Oberle 2) Eddie, Charlotte and Ricky Vigil 3) Jennifer Funk, Christine Scheer, Stacy Shipman 4) Joel Davis 5) Jill Metherd, Mallory Take CUREiosity 1) Jane Blakemore, Penny Moskus 2) Pat Shannon, Lindsay Peterson, Albert Kim, David DeNardo, Erin Shannon, Julie Schwarz, Josh Rubin, Andrea Hagemann, Sarah Garlich 3) John Schaefering, Alex Petrou, Joe Benninger, Tyler Schaefering 4) Whitney Davidson, Taylor Mikell 5) Melissa Goone, Kerry Gibson, Jennifer Pestle

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THE CHAMPIONS CHAT

The Champions Chat, a benefit for Care to Learn, was held at the MOTO Museum in Midtown St. Louis. All stars like Isaac Bruce, Jim Edmonds, Brett Hull and Jackie JoynerKersee shared their stories with an intimate crowd. Care to Learn helps provide immediate health, hunger and hygiene needs to students across Missouri.

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1) Brett Hull, Donn Sorensen 2) Ellen Heitzig, Mike Adam, Bethany Bonetti 3) Jeff Lowe, Sam Wiles 4) Jim Edmonds, Meghan King Edmonds 5) Mike Hannegan, Kelley and Keith Dacus 6) Lisa and Doug Pitt 7) Monique and Frank Cusumano 8) Annie Mayrose, Laura Hogan, Vicki Zuhone 9) Matt Phillips, Meaghan and Kevin Holliday 10) Jacob and Jessica Herschend, Kelly and Scott Rozier 11) Kelly and Dr. Mahesh Bagwe, Jen Cross, John and Kathy Carey

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STARRY STARRY NIGHT

Great Circle held its annual gala at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis, an evening to celebrate the children and families helped by the organization. Former St. Louis Cardinal family Marie and Allen Craig hosted the evening. Great Circle helps provide easily accessible mental and behavioral healthcare.

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GREAT FUTURES GALA

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis celebrated 50 years at their annual Great Futures Gala. The evening was held at the Chase Park Plaza. The Youth of the Year program was the focus, showcasing those who embody the ideals of the Club’s mission to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.

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Starry Starry Night 1) Allen and Marie Craig 2) Michelle Reagan, Ted and Kathryn Armstrong, Michelle and Peter DeSilva 3) Jennifer and Josh Schaefer, Shelly and Greg Reynolds 4) Amy Inman, Ann Regan, David and Jennifer Pisarkiewicz 5) CJ Beeson, Jingru Chen Great Futures Gala 1) David Stewart, Emily Fuhrman, Scott Stauffer, Derek Hartley 2) Eric Moore, Vanessa Davis, Peggy Guest, Frank Hamsher 3) Brian and Amanda Anderson 4) Shavonne Webb, Shevare Perry 5) Michele and Brad Sowers, Bill and Karen Jehling

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BLUES AND BITES

The St. Louis Area Foodbank partnered with The St. Louis Blues for an event to raise awareness and money in their fight against hunger. Guests mingled with Blues players Jaden Schwartz, Dmitrij Jaskin and Oskar Sundqvist, along with former players, while sampling bites from 15 local restaurants. The event was held at the Foodbank’s Bridgeton warehouse.

A WINTER’S DINNER

Winterfest at the Arch was celebrated at The Gateway Arch Park Foundation’s fundraiser at Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Downtown St. Louis. Their mission is to enhance and preserve the Arch and surrounding grounds.

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Blues And Bites 1) Oskar Sundqvist, Bobby Plager, Dmitrij Jaskin 2) Frank Finnegan, Tom Stillman 3) Judy Finnegan, Tom and Chris Eschen 4) Bridget Nations, Phil and Amanda Stemmler, James Mattz 5) Chris Zimmerman, Emily Burch 6) Carrie Edelstein, Cortney Vaughn 7) Casey Swircz, Seth Gordon A Winter’s Dinner 1) Brittany Dobler, Sasha Cook 2) Joel Aponte, Alicia and Tom Lantzy 3) Mike and Christy Howenstein, Ellen and Joe Mazur 4) Karen Baker, Missy Kelley 5) Scott and Melissa Kramer, Logan Jones

Photography by Diane Anderson

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PALM HEALTH’S CHARITY GALA

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The Roaring Twenties was the theme for the charity gala to benefit the Anthropedia Foundation. The event was held at PALM Health in Ladue and included a silent auction and live music all night.

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1) Carol Stratford, John Hall, Joan Berkman, Lewis Bettman 2) Liz Nesmith, Kendra Epstein, Angie Porter, Georgia Right 3) Diane Reed, Steve and Ann Desloge 4) Dixie and Sandy Deivel, Terry and Susan Block, Vicki Gelber, John Tramelli 5) Jessica Dycus, Gary and Sherry Wolff, Allie Griesedieck 6) Aisling Leonard, Laurie Lock 7) Sarah Lewis, Tracy Klebe 8) Sita Kedia, Kevin Cloninger, Dr. Lauren Dal Farra 9) Anney Perrine, Eric and Dani Schlottman 10) Ted Gottwald, Michelle Trulaske, Arthur Hailand

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SNOW BALL

The annual Snow Ball Gala for Mental Health America of Eastern Missouri was held at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis. Katie Schankman chaired the event with an afterbash from Stifel Financial Corp. Guests danced to music by the Fabulous Motown Revue.

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1) Matt Walsch, Debra Hollingsworth, Katie Schankman, Mark Utterback 2) Betsy and Dr. Kelly Johnson, Dr. Meredith Throop, Chris and Janet Sheban 3) Juanita and Jerome Pettiford 4) Pat Holterman-Hommes, Dr. Ron Margolis 5) Bill Siedhoff, Mary Ellen Cotsworth, Peggy Barnhart, Mike Newport 6) Ali McAtee, Ryan Walde 7) Judi Mattingly and Dr. Greg Mattingly, Dr. Pearl Serota, Dr. Ron Freilich 8) Adam and Jane Tenzer, Michael and Stephanie Sigmond, Jason and Rachel Schaaf 9) Dr. Michael Banton, Pat Banton, Maureen Miller, Susan Mathis

In Memory: Henry Rogers On October 9, I received a text from my son Bear, that Henry Rogers passed away in his sleep. He was 22 years old, the captain of the University of Pennsylvania rowing team, a great high school athlete at John Burroughs School, the brother and son of some of the greatest people I have met in St. Louis, and the first intern for Sophisticated Living when we were just starting up in 2013. I knew Henry because he was the younger brother of Bear’s friend, and a rising star on the Burroughs football team beginning his freshman year. One day his dad, Sandy, sent me an email, asking if there was something for Henry to do at our company. Typically we don’t hire summer interns who are still in high school as it is hard to figure out a role for them, but Henry fit right in from day one. Henry said he wanted to work on our marketing materials for the magazine, and without much direction he set out working on a PowerPoint presentation which he promised to show me one week later to get my input. As I passed his desk each day, I would look over his shoulder, and much to my amazement, Henry was putting together the best sales deck I had ever seen. I tried not to overreact, but just encouraged him to do what he thought was best, and we would discuss it at the end of the week. One week later, Henry presented the sales deck to me as if he were pitching a client. He started at the beginning and didn’t stop until he got to the end. I asked him how he came up with the ideas, the creative direction, and the words on the page, and then I asked how he felt about his first draft. I felt he nailed it, and his work was as good if not better than many employees I’ve had over the past 30 years. But Henry was very humble and said he thought it was “pretty good.” “Pretty good” I thought was actually pretty incredible. That was how the whole summer went. Henry worked with our staff and occasionally me, but I found myself drawn to Henry and his natural talents every day. I took him to lunch from time to time, asking him if knew how creative he was, and I remember him saying, “really?” I felt like I was in the company of greatness, and he didn’t know it or see it. What a breath of fresh air; most of my employees took every chance they could to tell me how great they were when I would ask the same question. When Henry was accepted to The Wharton School (class of 2018), I wasn’t surprised. It seemed like the perfect place for him. He was the quintessential scholar athlete who put 110% of himself into everything he did. His roommate at Penn shared his memories of Henry at the memorial service, and reiterated Henry’s drive for excellence and his lack of fear of hard work. Henry and his roommate spent several years creating and working on their own start-up, and last summer Henry worked at WeWork in New York City. I hope in some small way I helped excite him about entrepreneurship, as I am sure he was well on his way to success. There are many people I have worked with over the years who have impressed me. So many of them have gone on to do great things and I am reminded how lucky I am to have worked with what seems like a handful of the best. Perhaps the greatest though was Henry, and I struggle every day thinking the world will not know what he was going to do because I am certain it was going to be great. To honor Henry and his family, we are naming our summer internship in his memory: The Henry Rogers Sophisticated Living Intern. Please let me know if you know anyone who is interested in this internship and who can live up to Henry’s standard.

Craig M. Kaminer, Publisher craig@slmag.net

VIRGINIA BUSCH 10 Things I Cannot Live Without

Written by Carrie Edelstein / Photography by Diane Anderson “I went to Busch Gardens as a little girl, feeding hippos in Tampa and spending time in the nursery to see baby animals in winter time almost every weekend January to April,” Virginia Busch explains about growing up in the Busch family. She travelled with her dad, August Busch III, there for work. Her passion for wildlife was ignited, quickly becoming a way of life. “It was a very unique childhood and of course left a lasting impression on me,” Busch says. During the week, the family lived on a farm in St. Peters. She says, “Living out in a place where you have a lot of land and you’re kind of in nature I think that was definitely something important that speaks to me. I love to be out in nature and solitude. It’s my recharge.” After working with Anheuser-Busch SeaWorld and Busch Gardens and serving as a wildlife ambassador, traveling to zoos and animal organizations to talk about conservation, Busch established the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund. She spent years giving out grants across the nation before moving into her current role as executive director. Busch also volunteers as a board member for World Wildlife Fund and Wild Earth Allies, an organization that’s particularly hands-on with elephants and sea turtles. For someone who has devoted her 38 years to bettering the lives of animals, many of which would not exist without her support, we wondered what things Busch would miss if extinct! 1. Coffee. Coffee. Coffee. “I had the most amazing cup of coffee in Arusha, Kenya, and I’ve been seeking that same cup of coffee for about 15 years.” 2. Elephants (Of course wolves are right up there, too). “Going to Africa for the first time, seeing those elephants in the Maasai Mara [National Reserve in Kenya] move down from the hills and do their journey single file out in the fields and then go back up in the evening it’s this sort of natural rhythm… To see that it’s something that’s beyond society and it’s something we must preserve. 3. Life-long girlfriends. 4. Travel: “It’s what brings perspective into one’s life.” 88 slmag.net

5. Family: “I have two wonderful children, an amazing husband and a gaggle of furred and feathered family members.” Side note: She gets to take work home, sometimes in the form of Daisy the fennec fox. 6. Learning: “There is always one more topic, idea, or technique to learn.” 7. Hawaiian sunsets. 8. Wild places and wildlife. 9. Food: “I’m a bit of a foodie. I’m either wooing my husband at home with my cooking or we are out exploring the many culinary options that St. Louis offers.” 10. Laughter. Busch says it’s a cliché, but adds, “Life without joy and laughter would be a tragedy.” sl

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