{Nashville’s Finest}
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Mar/Apr 2015 five dollars
THE ART OF LIVING Explore our selection of extraordinary homes currently for sale in Middle Tennessee and around the world. thelipmangroup.com
823 TYNE VALLEY COURT | NASHVILLE, TN
3005 FLAGSTONE DRIVE | FRANKLIN, TN
Sophisticated living at its fnest. This home is nestled on 2 acres and features: an exquisite gourmet kitchen, 2 master suites with sitting areas and luxury baths, screened-in porch with freplace and in-ground pool with pool house and kitchen. Custom limestone facade & true stucco. Entertainer’s dream home. Retreat to your private oasis. $3,250,000 | 7 Bedrooms, 6 Full Baths, 1 Half Bath Anne Ruark, 615.210.6966
Custom fnishes exceed all expectations for comfortable family living including; elaborate crown molding & trim, limestone freplace and other features. Gorgeous kitchen - perfect for entertaining. Lower level apartment with private entrance. Screened-in outdoor living room with foor-to-ceiling gas log equipped freplace overlooking fullyfenced, level backyard. Laurelbrooke. www.3005Flagstone.com $1,275,000 | 5 Bedrooms, 5 Full Baths, 2 Half Baths Donna Tisdale, 615.202.8799
1100 RUSSELL STREET, #104 | NASHVILLE, TN
1062 HIGHWAY 70 | PEGRAM, TN
Located on the sidewalk-lined Russell Street in quaint East Nashville. This modern oasis is just a stones throw from East Nashville’s famed 5 Points and a few minutes drive to Downtown. This amazing townhouse features a private garage, stunning hardwood foors, Bosch appliances, quartz countertops and an open foor plan; this abode is simply everything you’re looking for. $359,900 | 2 Bedrooms, 2 Full Baths, 1 Half Bath Angela C. Wright, 615.406.3212
Beautiful acreage in Tennessee. This charming log home is situated on 66.5 gently rolling acres and is only 23 miles from Nashville. The rustic, yet luxurious 4,976 square foot main house is constructed of hand-hewn western cedar logs and cedar siding, with metal roof, copper gutters, stone freplaces and chimneys, and stone steps. Stunning views. $1,500,000 | 4 Bedrooms, 4 Full Baths, 1 Half Bath Pat Heckman, 615.426.0397
S O L D 504 RUSSELL | NASHVILLE, TN (Historic Edgefeld) Historic charm updated with the latest modern technology and conveniences. Respectfully & beautifully transformed into a one of a kind. Soaring ceilings, original and reclaimed hardwoods, incredible tile detail, spectacular embellishments with lighting, wood and a view of downtown to die for! www.504Russell.com | List Price: $875,000 Jackie Roth Karr, 615.330.9779
23 PARK MEADOWS | NASHVILLE, TN Eye catching and intricate detail supply this home with warmth and character throughout. Gorgeous hardwood foors, plantation shutters, wainscoting, recessed lighting, granite and marble encased freplaces, decorative windows and a feeling of openness. This home rests on over 1 acre of beautiful, gently sloping land. $1,150,000 | 5 Bedrooms, 5 Full Baths, 2 Half Baths Lawrence M. Lipman, 615.364.3333
2002 Richard Jones Road, Ste C-104 | Nashville, TN | 615.463.3333 Each ofce is independently owned and operated.
Nashville is home to Privileged Journeys, your inside connection to the world of luxury travel. Our VIP advisors will orchestrate a personally crafted vacation in harmony with your desires ensuring your valuable down time is carefree and well spent. Personally crafted vacations for discerning travelers
Contact us today and let our connections help you make yours.
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Marlon Brando’s Private Oasis in the South Pacifc Awaits Your Arrival Paradise has truly been found at The Brando. I do love Hawaii and it is often referred to as paradise, but this island is an elite resort of incomprehensible beauty. I couldn’t wait to tell you about this amazing retreat and yet I struggle with adjectives to fully describe the experience for you. I can say that in all our years of fve star travels, we have never been pampered so highly nor felt such serenity. The Brando is an exquisite luxury resort on French Polynesia’s breathtakingly beautiful private atoll of Tetiaroa, just 30 miles north of Tahiti. Tetiaroa is comprised of a dozen idyllic islands surrounding a spectacular lagoon and has always been a place of stunning beauty, tranquility and rejuvenation — frst for Tahitian royalty and later for Marlon Brando who chose it for his personal sanctuary. We arrived to a greeting of traditional south pacifc music as the beautiful staff escorted us through the lush tropical vegetation to our soon to be home away from home. We drank in the sweet, intoxicating fragrance of the native Frangipani fowering plants as we made our journey to The Brando and the relaxation of mind and body had begun. The all-inclusive resort features 35 deluxe villas each with its own private beach area and plunge pool, restaurants showcasing Polynesian and French cuisine, a luxurious Polynesian spa, a lagoon-view bar, beach bar, pool, organic garden, library, boutique, and water sports. As we toured our private villa, the staff was quick to point out some of the unique touches of the property. The powder white sand is constantly groomed. There is excellent high speed Internet Photo Credit: tim-mckenna.com so you can stay as connected with the outside world as you want or need to be, but we highly recommend you completely unplug from your everyday tech and simply enjoy being a world away. Other guests are completely concealed from view and the coastline surrounding the island is so meticulously planned and designed the aerial view doesn’t suggest the presence of such a manicured resort. Eco-friendly is a common term today, but when Marlon Brando decided he wanted to incorporate sustainability into the resort, he searched and read everything he could to support his unique concept, without compromise. Today, his dream has become a reality and is unique in the world, combining stunning environmental purity, luxury, and sustainability. The Brando is endeavoring to operate exclusively with renewable, nonfossil energy sources drawn from the sea, the sun, and other
renewable resources, with no sacrifce to luxury and comfort. The entire island is carbon neutral, our air-conditioned villas feature deep seawater air-conditioning and utilize renewable energies such as solar energy and Photo Credit: Bernard Rickenbach coconut oil. There are two restaurants the Beachcomber Cafe′ and Les Mutinés featuring the award winning cuisine of Chef Guy Martin of the two star Michelin restaurant Le Grand Véfour in Paris. The food is as magical as the service and setting. The casually welcoming Bob’s Bar is on the beach and the Te Manu bar, almost hidden in a canopy of trees, has spectacular views of the lagoon and sunsets. Both bars offer a wide variety of specialty drinks using local honey and coconut milk as well as all your traditional favorites. Of course, there is room service whenever you wish in your villa or your personal outdoor dining pavilion. The entire resort is very casual so it is possible to pack lighter for this vacation than almost any other in the world. The Brando has two extremely comfortable catamarans and a wealth of water toys for high-energy adventure. A highlight was the boat trip to Bird Island and an excursion around the atoll. You might even encounter the lovely and charming, Tumi, granddaughter of Marlon, as a part of your boat crew. We were smitten. The ftness center, not surprisingly, is outftted with top of the line exercise equipment and the spa is set in a quiet lagoon with men’s and women’s changing rooms designed to look like birds’ nests. The attention to detail in the construction of every part of the resort is impressive and so natural it adds to the sense of place that is rarely achieved even in the most award winning luxury resorts. We can certainly say without hesitation that The Brando is as luxurious yet secluded a property we have experienced. On the fnal night of our stay we were treated to dinner under the stars followed by a delightful Polynesian show created and performed by the enthusiastic staff revealing aspects of a fascinating culture. My words here cannot adequately describe this dreamy destination. When it is hot and muggy in July and August in Nashville, the trade winds make Tahiti a lovely place for a summer holiday. Give me a call and I will be delighted to ensure you fnd paradise! For more pictures and videos please visit our blog at enroute.privilegedjourneys.com
Written by Linda M. Raymer, CTIE, President, Vacation Division
Brandon Jenkins (615) 642-9992
www.GroveParkConstruction.com 615-678-7963 - Office
THE
LEADER IN HOMES
Grove Park works with customers from the selection and purchase of a lot through the design, sourcing of materials and construction of the home. The company tailors solutions to each client, helping to guide them through this new era in the housing industry.
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Through May 10 Houghton Hall: Portrait of an English Country House invites you to immerse yourself in Old World opulence through a curated collection of paintings, furniture and other treasures from the meticulously designed early-1700s home of England’s first prime minister, Sir Robert Walpole. Next, explore the visual richness of aristocratic living in Tina Barney: The Europeans, a collection of the renowned American photographer’s journey through the elite inner circles of Austria, England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
H O UG H T ON H AL L P L AT I N UM S P O NS OR
H O U G H TO N H A L L H O S P I TA L I TY S P O NSO R
TI NA BAR NE Y P R E S E NTI NG SP ON SO RS
TH E F RI ST C EN TER FO R T HE V ISU AL ARTS I S SU PP O RTE D I N PA RT B Y
ROBIN AND RICHARD PATTON D OWN TOW N NA SH V ILLE Houghton Hall: Portrait of an English Country House was organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, in collaboration with Houghton Hall. An indemnity has been granted by the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities | Tina Barney: The Europeans was organized by the Frist Center for the Visual Arts.
919 BR OAD WAY FR IS TCE NTE R . O RG
Tina Barney. Father and Sons, 1996. Chromogenic color print. Courtesy of the artist. © Tina Barney
EVENTS / WEDDINGS / PARTIES / PERFORMANCES 1120 MCGAVOCK STREET / NASHVILLE, TN
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{Nashville’s Finest}
Mar/Apr 2015
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Castles to Caddies
Te karst landscape of the Burren region is home to 70% of Ireland’s wildfower species.
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Mar/Apr 2015 five dollars
on the cover: Above Expectations: Andrew Bettis Andrew Bettis, Founder and Co-Owner of AB Jets
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Decanted: Piedmontese White Wines
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Curating a Lifestyle: Into the Woods
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Bibliotaph: Child’s Play
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Punched Up Powder
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Art: The Exhibiit that Changed
the Art World
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Of Note... Gray Matters
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Arizona Auto Week Glistens,
Glitters and Gleams
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Who, What, Wear. Designers to Watch
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Castles to Caddies
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Moto Cucina + Enoteca
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One of a Kind
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Above Expectations: Andrew Bettis
Mar/Apr 2015
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Society Calendar
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A Pearl Anniversary
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Gentlemen’s Breakfast, Southern Style
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A Jewel of a Jewel
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An Evening of Glamor and Sophistication
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An Evening With Style
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Beards for Beard
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LA BELLA NOTTE,
An Evening Of Song & Dining
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Leadership by Example
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Red Grooms
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Sunday Afternoon Tea
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Wine, Women and Shoes
36 Bibliotaph: Child’s Play Hands, a depiction of an artist’s worst nightmare. Reproduced from Te Art of the Brick: A Life in LEGO, with the permission of No Starch Press. © 2014 by Nathan Sawaya. Photograph by Erica Anne.
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Louisa • oil on canvas • 14 x 11 inches
PUBLISHER Fabrizio Venuta ______________________________________________ EDITOR - IN - CHIEF Britt Steele ______________________________________________ CONTRIBUTORS Writers Dr. Matthew Bessen Ellana Bessen Scott Harper Veronica Hawbaker Leigh Hendry Gloria Houghland Amelia Jefers Jef Jefers Craig M. Kaminer Bambi Karr Austin Pembroke Dorren Robinson Photographers Tony Bailey Allen Clark Kathleen Cofeen Andrew Kung Social Editor Ted Clayton COPY EDITOR Jennifer Newton Michael Parker ADVERTISING SALES OFFICE 1.615.509.1602
______________________________________________ SOPHISTICATED LIVING MEDIA Eric Williams - CEO Bridget Williams - President Michele Beam - Vice President Greg Butrum - General Counsel Jason Yann - Art Director Sophisticated Living® is published by Straightforward 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 Straightforward Media, LLC. and cannot be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission.
SLMAG.NET
From the Editor-In-Chief “If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always ‘no.’ If you don’t step forward, you are always in the same place.” Tis quote by Nora Roberts recently inspired me to refect on my life and the magazine. Taking on the role of editor and going to work with my husband was not a choice I took lightly, especially since I was living in Italy at the time and have a young child. But I have always wanted to write. I am fascinated by art, enamored by good food and passionate about curating and sharing new things. Starting anything from scratch is daunting, especially a publication. Statistically one in three fails. I did not want to be that one. From the start, I asked questions, pored over research and fai read every local and national publication I could get my hands on. Ten I gave the stack to my rea husband. I questioned myself if the choice was right, if my timing was wrong, if the market was hu right and most importantly, if Nashville was ready. Ten, I did more research to fnd the answers rig In needed in order to take that step forward. Now, with this, the fourth issue of Sophisticated Living, I have courageously chased down – and attained my dream. I have proven to myself that taking risks is well worth the risk. We have an featured some of the fnest establishments the area has to ofer and taken readers inside homes fea that are both historically and architecturally magnifcent and signifcant. And I couldn’t have tha done any of it without you, the reader, as you are truly what inspires me and makes this dream do possible and this risk worth taking on a daily basis. po Flash back 10 years ago, and while I was the woman reading publications like this, I was not adept at market research, nor up on current events or social issues. But I was always a woman who knew what she wanted. My father saw the business savvy in me. He told me to read, to read everything I could. It has served me well. He taught me to run a business, even a start-up like this, in a professional way. He taught me to surround myself with knowledgeable people. He taught me to take risks and take that step forward. Flash forward to now, and I couldn’t be happier or more proud of the huge accomplishment of Sophisticated Living Magazine and the extremely warm welcome we have received. Now, with both a young business and a young child I am learning to let each one grow, but I am guiding both. I want to ensure my daughter is exposed to the absolute best education, and not solely in the scholastic sense, and meets the right people to help her grow into the most magnifcent person she can be. I want the magazine to highlight the fnest in luxury whether it’s in Dubai – as was the case in the last issue or right here in Nashville. I want our readers to be surprised by the lengths we will go to inform and enhance their lives. I want both my daughter and the magazine to become curators. I want my daughter to be curator of her own knowledge seeking out all there is for her to learn. I want Sophisticated Living to cultivate a readership well versed in art, food and architecture across the globe. I want it to be a resource, turned to again and again for the photography as well as the words. I want it to be a curator as Dottie Frist is in this issue. Frist has traveled extensively and brought beauty back from her travels to adorn her home. She has an eye for luxury and a heart for the sentimental. I want both for the magazine too. Going back to that quote: “If you don’t go after what you want, you will never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always ‘no.’ If you don’t step forward, you are always in the same place.” Tis embodies what I feel this publication stands for as it is my great pleasure to bring to you, the reader, that which you need to be inspired to ask that question, take that step forward and go after it all.
Britt Steele Britt Steele Editor-In-Chief
britt@slmag.net 30 slmag.net
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Decanted: Piedmontese White Wines When thinking of Italian wine, the great regions of Tuscany and Piedmont are often top of mind. Collectively, these two regions have more wine classified under Italy’s strictly controlled Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) category than any other region. Seeing DOCG or the more common Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) designation on an Italian wine bottle label means that the wine producer has adhered to specific regulations that guarantee geographic authenticity, grape varieties, production methods, style and quality. If I were forced today to make a choice between Tuscany and Piedmont for wine, I would choose the latter. Justly, it’s a tough call, and on another occasion I may do a 360-degree shift and say Tuscany. But for now, the delicious white wines of Piedmont stand out as the determining factor that diferentiates these two great red wine regions. Piedmontese whites are certainly in the shadow of the truly great reds of Barolo and Barbaresco. They will never have the claim to fame of this region; after all, Barolo is said to be the king of wines and the wine of kings, with Barbaresco its regal sibling. Some of the best wines I have ever tasted have been based in the Nebbiolo grape of Barolo and Barbaresco. Located adjacent to one another, both regions produce long-lived wines, but Barolo tends to be a fuller, more tannic wine, while Barbaresco is still full and tannic, but slightly less so. If you are lucky to fnd older bottles, you will discover that both wines will beneft from bottle age of approximately six-to-10 years and many bottlings much longer. But wait, the delicious, fresh and energetic whites from this red wine region require no ageing, and as is the case with most white wines, should be consumed between one and three years of age. Piedmontese whites are certainly worthwhile, unique and nothing like the ubiquitous quafng Pinot Grigio, which is Italy’s most popular exported white grape. While there is Chardonnay produced, most white wine made in Piedmont comes from indigenous grapes. Tey ofer characterful wines typically without the use of oak, which are crisp, fresh and accompany food efortlessly. Te most famous white wine of the area is Gavi, sometimes called Gavi di Gavi or even Corteses di Gavi. Located in southeastern region of Piedmont, Gavi is made from the Cortese grape and is a delightful wine. The lesser-known wine of the Roero area of Piedmont is made from the Arneis grape. Roero is in south-central Piedmont just north of Barolo and Barbaresco. Arneis in the Piedmontese dialect translates to “little difficult one” because of its difculty to grow, but I have found that it also makes an excellent nickname for people with similar personality characteristics. Both Gavi and Roero Arneis are categorized as DOCG and are best consumed chilled at about 50-55°F. A top producer of Gavi is Broglia and of Roero is Arneis Malvira.
Written by Scott Harper, Master Sommelier
Secondary Piedmontese grapes to look for, but may be quite challenging to find, are Favorita and Erbaluce. If you happen upon these wines at an excellent wine shop or Italian restaurant, give them a go as they are favorful revelations. In the meantime, the two wines below, while not super easy to fnd, are certainly obtainable and well worth the efort.
Villa Tiboldi
Malvira Arneis Roero 2013 Tis is a delicious medium-bodied wine that is crisp and refreshing with the favors of slightly under ripe pear and apple and a touch of Mandarin orange, orange zest and ginger. Copious wet stone and minerals with spring fowers help make this wine fresh and inviting. Arneis pairs well with oysters, clams and mussels, as well as fried vegetables. Founded in the 1950s, the estate is now run by the founder’s two sons, Massimo and Roberto Damonte. Malvira in Piedmontese dialect means “badly situated.” Te name refers to the original winery facing north, instead of south, with south being the typical positioning of the period. If you are visiting the area, Malvira has a 13-room luxury hotel and restaurant on the property called Villa Tiboldi (villatiboldi.com/en/). Broglia Gavi La Meirana 2012 A light straw-colored, mediumbodied wine that is broader in texture than most Italian whites. It is fresh with the favors of ripe apple, lemon, almonds and light minerals. Enticing fresh white flowers and citrus in the nose help create this wine’s vivacious and persistent quality. Gavi is an absolutely delightful pairing with roasted pork, seafood or pasta, or as an aperitif. Broglia Winery is family-owned and currently run by brothers Gian Piero and Paolo Broglia. While the family acquired the estate La Meirana in 1972, it is of historical importance with written references dating back to 971 AD. sl A Certifed Wine Educator, Scott is one of 140 professionals in North America and 219 worldwide who have earned the title Master Sommelier.
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Curating a Lifestyle: Into the Woods
Written by Amelia and Jef Jefers
At nearly six feet tall, this early 20th century folk art silhouette, cut from a iron sawmill blade, was found on Martha's Vineyard. Sold, $940.
An exquisitely hand-decorated Asian garden seat in brilliant colors, featuring peacocks and the eight Taoist symbols. Sold, $2,820.
Creating a beautiful environment in which to live and entertain should not be limited to inside your home. Allow inspiration to blossom beyond four walls and expand your design aesthetic outdoors by incorporating art and antiques in your landscape design to give your guests (and yourself ) an unexpected dose of warmth and sophistication. Te most common material found in outdoor antiques is undoubtedly iron. In the 16th and 17th centuries, blacksmiths worked iron by hand and anvil to create fencing, gates, doors and window coverings that were as secure as they were aesthetically beautiful. When sealed to hedge against rust, iron was a great choice for architectural elements that were long lasting, with many items from that period surviving today. During the Industrial Revolution, new technologies led to casting iron into molds, which made cast iron ornamentation a more afordable alternative to wrought iron. As a result, the Victorian era saw great demand for decorative elements such as lawn furniture, fower urns and fgural objects. Unlike most antiques, the repainted surface of an outdoor iron object does not usually detract from its value; in fact, oil-based paints provide important protection against rust and the resulting deterioration it can cause. Often painted white, iron furniture and accessories create a stunning and elegant contrast against a backdrop of green. Cast iron benches, chairs and tables are readily available at auction and estate sales in the low hundreds of dollars for common varieties, and into the thousands for more special or ornate objects. Large, early urns with impressive handles, bases and ornamentation command the highest price in this category, although very small and special examples can also be rare. Restoration of iron is best left to professionals as
proper removal of any traces of rust can go a long way toward extending the life of a piece. Beyond iron, outdoor antiques and vintage objects may be found in an assortment of materials. Bronze, zinc and copper architectural elements and statuary tend to develop a wonderfully warm and natural patina over time. Of course, collectors will pay the most for bronze items, and generally the quality of casting and design will be superior to less expensive materials. Copper is soft and prone to damage, so look for smaller objects or items with a forgiving hand-hammered fnish. Zinc is an interesting, dull grey surface that takes a casting remarkably well and suggests a bit more of an industrial style. For those who prefer a more whimsical design, porcelain objects can bring a colorful juxtaposition to an otherwise organic setting. Asian garden seats in the form of a barrel are often elaborately decorated with exotic patterns. Flowerpots, fgural objects and vases may also fnd their way outside—particularly if nicked or chipped—as the perfect spot in the garden may hide a few faws. When using porcelain or glass objects, be certain they are drilled for drainage or kept out of direct rainfall. Do you prefer that your garden accoutrements blend a bit more organically into the plan? Stone or concrete statuary and birdbaths can provide just a touch of classical architecture. Hand-chiseled examples will naturally be pricier, but MidCentury cement castings are remarkably detailed and provide just the look at a reasonable price point. If warm spring days beckon your inner gardener, get a head start on summer blooms by brightening up the garden with an array of interesting and beautiful outdoor antique objects. sl
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Amelia and Jef Jefers are the co-owners of Garth's Auctioneers & Appraisers, an international frm located outside Columbus, Ohio.
Mid-20th century concrete garden urn along with a very large casting of a nymph (Sold, $470), an art pottery vase atop a neoclassical marble pedestal and a carved statue of Venus (Sold, $999).
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Bibliotaph: Child's Play
Written by Bridget Williams
Captured through the lens of photographer and journalist Gabriele Galimberti over the course of three years, the images of children from around the globe with their most prized possessions provides a glimpse of the world into which each was born. Te array of imagery from more than 50 countries enables the reader to glean a great deal about the hopes and ambitions of the people who bestowed each child with their vastly varied playthings. Gabriele Galimberti - Toy Stories: Photos of Children from Around the World and Teir Favorite Tings - Hardcover, 112 pages, Abrams Books (abramsbooks.com). Since 1997, Wim Pauwels, founder of BetaPlus Publishing, has printed more than 250 titles highlighting 100 of the best project designs based on a particular theme. Tis edition focuses on a compilation of the most beautiful and inspirational children's rooms from the past ten years. Wim Pauwels - Te 100 Best Children's Rooms - Hardcover, 224 pages, Beta-Plus Publishing (betaplus.com/en/).
Renate MĂźller began designing and producing toys in the early 1960s as part of an endeavor launched by Helene Haeusler at the Sonneberg Technical College for Toy Design in Sonneberg, Germany. Te toys were used for balance training and orthopedic exercise as well as for sensory exercises and hand-eye coordination. Tis book is the frst English-language monograph on her work, published on Te second book by Paul Budnitz, founder of designer toy powerhouse Kidrobot, serves as a the occasion of a solo exhibition at R 20th compendium of the newest, rarest and most coveted limited edition art toys created by more Century. Evan Snyderman and Zesty Meyers than 140 artists and companies across six continents. Paul Budnitz - I Am Plastic, Too: Te - Renate MĂźller: Toys+Design - Hardcover, 80 Next Generation of Designer Toys - Hardcover, 368 pages, Abrams Books (abramsbooks.com). pages, R & Company (r-and-company.com).
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Refecting the growing trend to reverse over-scheduling and too much screen time, this book provides a glimpse into 12 homes purposefully designed to embrace and inspire children's interests and activities without sacrifcing style. Andrew Weaving (Author) and Andrew Wood (Photographer) - Playful Home: Creative Style for Living with Kids Hardcover, 240 pages, Rizzoli Universe (rizzoliusa.com).
Te most extravagant volume to date in teNeues' ongoing series of luxury publications, this hefty tome highlights the world's most lavish and discerning array of toys for big boys. Luxury Toys for Men: Te Ultimate Collection - Hardcover, 304 pages teNeues (teneues.com).
A staple of childhood play, Nathan Sawaya elevates the humble Lego brick to an awe-inspiring art form through his larger-than-life sculptures, featured in hundreds of photographs with behind-thescenes details. Nathan Sawaya - Te Art of the Brick: A Life in LEGO - Hardcover, 248 pages, No Starch Press (nostarch.com).
Encompassing everything from toys, home accessories, lighting, footwear, photography and artwork to playgrounds and architecture, the 100 designs and art projects highlighted in this book are all infused with the essence of play. Victionary - Just Kidding! A to Z Designs for Kids & Kidults - Hardcover, 240 pages, Victionary (victionary.com).
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Photo by Zach Mahone
Punched Up Powder Te White Glove Experience at Beaver Creek Written by Victoria Chase I wasn’t certain whether it was the altitude or the champagne served on a silver platter as I exited the helicopter that transported us from the airport in Vail to the base of the mountain that had me in a state of euphoria, but one thing I knew for certain: Beaver Creek’s exclusive White Glove Winter Getaway Package takes the concept of a Rocky Mountain high well into the stratosphere. “It is the ultimate luxury experience for serious skiers, but the range of fexible amenities available through the White Glove package makes it ideal for families or a small group of skiers with varying abilities,” said Jen Brown, Senior Manager of Public Relations for Beaver Creek. An area of immense natural beauty, particularly in winter when the brilliant white bark of bare Aspen trees stands proud against an expanse of bluer-than-blue skies, the 1,832 skiable acres that comprise the well-groomed and uncrowded trails of Beaver Creek amply accommodate shushers of all abilities. Even more prestige was added to the powder this past February when the site played host to some 700 athletes from more than 70 nations as part of the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. 38 slmag.net
Fresh on-mountain amenities for the 2014/2015 ski season include 24 new state-of-the-art snowmaking guns to provide fresh snow atop the smooth corduroy on the popular Gold Dust trail several nights a week; a new high-speed Centennial Express Lift that can carry 3,400 people per hour via a combination of alternating six-passenger chairs and 10-person gondola cabins (the latter of which are particularly kid and beginner friendly); and a cozy “Candy Cabin” located at the top of the Strawberry Park Express Lift and Upper Beaver Creek Mountain Express Lift that is reminiscent of candy stores from a bygone era, complete with vintage soft drinks (the kind with real cane sugar) and custom chocolates from Colorado-based Mootz Chocolates. Champagne and cookies in hand, our personal Ski School Ambassador transported us to The Osprey, a ski-in, ski-out boutique hotel that has the distinction of being the closest hotel to a chairlift in North America, just 26 feet, and whose interior design provides a contemporary twist on Alpine decor. While relaxing in front of the fre, representatives from RentSkis Gold provided a private equipment ftting.
Te Osprey, a ski-in, ski-out boutique hotel, has the distinction of being the closest hotel to a chairlift in North America.
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As part of Beaver Creek's White Glove experience, a "Cabin Keeper" provides expert concierge services.
Trapper's Cabin
SaddleRidge Restaurant
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Helicopter transfer from the airport in Vail to Beaver Creek provides breathtaking vistas. Photo by Bridget Williams.
Living room in Trapper's Cabin.
As part of the White Glove Winter Getaway Package, which is valued at $50,000, travelers are treated to fve nights in Trapper’s Cabin, a luxurious four-bedroom, three-level mountaintop home near Bachelor’s Gulch boasting panoramic views of the ski area. Even though the property is located near many popular runs, it feels quite secluded. After the slopes have closed for the day, it’s not uncommon for some of the “locals,” including black bear and elk, to drop by for an unannounced visit. Amenities of the cabin include a cozy living room with freplace, a game room with a pool table, a large deck with a hot tub, access to a SnowCat for transport to the village, and all of the amenities one would normally associate with a luxury hotel from technology to toiletries. A “Cabin Keeper” provides attentive and expert concierge services, which includes arranging gourmet in-house meals prepared by David Sanchez, executive chef at the Osprey. Sanchez’s less-ismore philosophy highlights his unique ability to coax vibrant favors from simply, yet beautifully prepared dishes. I developed a particular penchant for his ghost pepper breakfast omelet during my stay. Once settled into our respective rooms we dove into Helly Hansen goody bags stuffed with a “welcome to Beaver Creek ski apparel package” that also included the most important accessory of all: an Epic Pass, which not only allowed unfettered access to the slopes during our stay in Beaver Creek, but could be used throughout the season at any of Vail Resort’s 22 resorts located in four countries, including Nieseko in Japan and Verbier in Switzerland. For our frst full day on the mountain, the experts among us took advantage of the White Glove First Tracks program, which provides sunrise access to the slopes before the lifts open to the public, as well as a hearty breakfast at the private on-mountain
Allies’ Cabin. Te beginners, myself included, were taken by our Ski Ambassador to meet our instructor for private lessons. Ski school clients and White Glove participants can take a midday break for lunch at SaddleRidge, which was originally built to the tune of $27 million by the Shearson-Lehman Corporation as a retreat for its clients and executives. Boasting one of the largest private collections of American Western artifacts and art in the US outside of a museum, you can enjoy a Colorado craft beer while ogling checks signed by Wells Fargo himself or sit behind a desk that belonged to Bufalo Bill. Beaver Creek was purpose-built with meticulous attention to minute details that enhance the guest experience, which means that the White Glove experience is infnitely customizable depending on the interests and abilities of the group. Following a day on the slopes, the White Glove experience includes spa services at the Allegria Spa in the Park Hyatt. Be sure to arrive early to indulge in the Aqua Sanitas, a self-guided fve-step water ritual modeled on ancient Roman baths. Snuggle under a warm blanket and admire the vastness of the starry skies during a SnowCat tour up the mountain to a gourmet dinner at Beano’s Cabin. Elevate your heartrate, or not, during a private snowshoe tour and picnic in McCoy Park, one of North America’s premier lift-accessed trail systems, where running “of-piste” down a hill is sure to leave you feeling like a kid again, particularly after downing one of the aforementioned cane sugar soft drinks! Te 2015 ski season Beaver Creek runs until April 12. For more information about all of the amenities included as part of the White Glove Winter Package visit Beavercreek.com/whiteglove or call 877.774.6223. sl
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Art: Te Exhibit that Changed the Art World
Written by Anita Heriot
Scene from the 2014 Armory Show. Image courtesy of Roberto Chamorro for Te Armory Show.
One hundred and one years ago, a group of 300 artists from Europe and the United States exhibited 1,250 paintings, sculptures and works on paper in the 69th Regiment Armory in New York City. Referred to as the Armory Show, the exhibit drew more than 70,000 attendees in one month, and after traveling to Chicago that figure exceeded 180,000. Notable American artists such as George Bellows, John Sloan and Arthur Davies were exhibited side by side with the kings of the modern art world: Picasso, Duchamp and Braque. In 1913, the United States was on the cusp of becoming the most important industrial power globally and increasingly the strongest military power. The Woolworth Building, constructed in 1913, was the tallest in the world. Grand Central Station, reopened in 1913, was the largest train station in the world. Tat same year the Ford Company introduced the frst automotive assembly line. Yet for all of the major economic, military and industrial developments, America lagged behind Europe culturally. American artists, such as Mary Cassatt, Maurice Prendergast and many others, focked to Europe to learn from the masters of the time, namely Matisse, Renoir and Seurat, yet Americans continued to be seen as merely imitators of European style. However, within 50 years, the tables had turned. American artists such as Jackson Pollock, Robert Rauschenberg and Mark Rothko became dominant Modernist forces. No doubt there are many factors that contributed to the sea change in the development of Modern Art, such as the New Deal program for American artists. However, the Armory Show of 1913 was a watershed moment for the development of American artists, and by 1914 American art was forever changed. Critic and collector Gertrude Stein attended the exhibition. Other infuential tastemakers such as Albert Barnes and Henry Frick purchased works for their collections.
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According to Jerry Salz, art critic for Te New Yorker, “the founding of MoMA, the Whitney and much else stems directly from those 27 earth-shattering days.” With the Armory Show, American artists were exposed to the European avant-garde on a large scale, which no doubt had a direct infuence on the development of American Modernism. One painting, which became almost synonymous with the uproar over the Armory Show, was Marcel Duchamp’s Nude Descending the Staircase No. 2. Art critics blasted Duchamp’s work among other Cubists. A Chicago Tribune editorial titled “The Cubist Art” said, “The nudes pervert the ideal of physical perfection, obliterate the line which has heretofore distinguished the artistic from the lewd and obscene, and incite feelings of disgust and aversion.” Marcel Duchamp’s work directly infuenced the likes of Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg and Andy Warhol. Even negative response to the show inspired the development of Modernism in the United States. American artists purposefully choose to reject Realism and Romanticism and embrace avant-garde artistic styles. Having received a record number of gallery applications, the 2015 Armory Show, March 5-8, will host 199 of the world’s premier galleries from 28 countries across North and South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Noah Horowitz, executive director of The Armory Show remarked: “It is a very exciting moment for Te Armory Show with this year’s fair marking the most focused and highest caliber edition in my tenure. The selection process for the upcoming edition was particularly rigorous, and I am thrilled to see a number of notable galleries returning to the fair, as well as a strong presence of young, geographically diverse galleries who have chosen to show with us for the frst time." For more information visit thearmoryshow.com. sl Anita Heriot is president of Pall Mall Advisors and a member of the Appraisers Association of America and is USPAP certifed. She can be reached at aheriot@pallmallartadvisors.com.
Scene from the 2014 Armory Show. Image courtesy of Roberto Chamorro for Te Armory Show.
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Of Note...Gray Matters
Compiled by Bridget Williams
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1) Monica Rich Kosann wide sterling silver foral cuf bracelet with black onyx push-button ($1,595; monicarichkosann.com). 2) Te Classic Fusion Aeromoom from Hublot is a skeleton watch featuring contemporary architecture and a full calendar displaying the moon phases, as well as simple date and day and month indications (price upon request; hublot.com). 3) Luxe Cashmere Hawk Hooded Robe from Calvin Klein Home ($745; calvinklein.com). 4) Te EDIE shoulder Bag in ivory python from MARYLAI New York ($578; marylai.com). 5) Mitchel Primrose Small Julie Bag in Lizard ($1,850; mitchelprimrose.com). 6) Salvatore Ferragamo Stephen 2 Calf-Hair High-Top Sneaker in Multi from Neiman Marcus ($680; neimanmarcus.com).
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7) Te Boden Low Chest from Tomas & Gray (price upon request; thomasandgray.com). 8) Pal Barstool in Gray by Hallgeir Homstvedt for Hem ($199; hem.com). 9) A band of polished stainless steel outlines the facing edges and top of the 90� Odile sofa from J. Robert Scott, which is upholstered in Velvet Soire from the Quail Collection. (price upon request; jrobertscott.com). 10) From Lalique, the Bacchantes vase in grey crystal is a numbered edition from the RenÊ Lalique re-editions collection ($7,500; lalique.com). 11) Te Serie Up 2000 Chair in silver was designed by Gaetano Pesce for B&B Italia (price upon request; bebitalia.com).
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1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster. Photo courtesy of Russo & Steele.
Arizona Auto Week Glistens, Glitters and Gleams Written by David M. Brown Arizona Auto Week, January 11 through 18, was high performance from start to fnish. Concluding the second annual Arizona Concours d’Elegance on Sunday, January 11 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort, a magnifcent 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Sport Cabriolet A won Best of Show. In addition, the cars of America’s greatest architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, were honored. An automotive lover, Wright consulted in the design of the great resort in the mid-1920s. Six auctions took place in the Phoenix metropolitan area: Silver and RM, which were also held at the Biltmore; Bonhams, at the Kierland Westin Resort; Gooding & Company, at Scottsdale Fashion Square; Russo and Steele, in North Scottsdale; and, at WestWorld, Barrett-Jackson, where the world-famous Ron Pratt Collection sold for $40.44 million, including automobilia. At Russo and Steele's 15th annual auction event, European classics and American muscle combined for the high-dollar 46 slmag.net
cars. These included a 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster, $1,430,000; the extraordinary 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe, one of only 69 made, $335,500; and another street/track legend, the 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback, $330,000. Russo and Steele posted the highest selling Porsche 911 of all the events at Arizona Auto Week with a 1974 2.7 RS, which hammered down at $305,500. “We really had an incredible event from beginning to end. We experienced record crowds throughout the week and harnessed that energy into fantastic results,” said Drew Alcazar, founder of Scottsdale-based Russo and Steele. “All in all, it was a wonderful event, and it absolutely reinforced why we get so much enjoyment out of putting on these events. Cars and camaraderie – It’s Russo and Steele in Scottsdale!” At the Gooding & Company auction, 11 cars broke the $1 million level, and 25 new auction records were set for a fnal tally of more than $51.5 million.
Photo courtesy of Barrett-Jackson.
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1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Series I Coupe Aerodinamico. Photo by Brian Henniker for Gooding & Company.
A highly original, low-mileage, pristine condition 1964 Shelby 289 Cobra sold for $1,155,000 at the Gooding & Company Auction. Photo by Brian Henniker for Gooding & Company.
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Barrett-Jackson's sale of Ron Pratt’s 1950 GM Futurliner Parade of Progress Tour Bus raised $4.65 million to beneft the Armed Forces Foundation.
1974 Porsche 2.7 RS. Photo courtesy of Russo & Steele.
Among the new world auction benchmarks was a 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Series I Coupe Aerodinamico, $4,070,000, and a 1966 Porsche 906 Carrera 6, $1,980,000. The auction highlight was the personally hosted sale of Jay Leno’s 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8. Te comedian and car lover was accompanied by USO CEO & President J.D. Crouch II, and 36th Chief of Staf of the U.S. Army and USO board member General George Casey. Dramatically, the car generated $565,625 for the USO. Similar commitment to the troops came at Barrett-Jackson with the sale of Ron Pratt's 1950 GM Futurliner Parade of Progress Tour Bus, which raised $4.65 million to beneft the Armed Forces Foundation. Tese bus museums toured America in the ‘40s and ‘50s to celebrate the future of automobiles and technology. “Te Futurliner moment was one I will always remember, as the outpouring of support for our veterans made me extremely proud,” said Pratt, a Valley resident who acquired many of his collector cars at former Barrett-Jackson auctions. “It took a monumental efort by the Barrett-Jackson team to execute this auction successfully. I am extremely satisfed by the results and
want to thank all those on the Barrett-Jackson team that helped make this happen.” There were other stars from the Pratt Collection, which totaled $40.44 million in sales. The 1955 Pontiac Star Chief Convertible from I Love Lucy sold for $220,000; a custom truck from Te Beverly Hillbillies gaveled down for $275,000; and, the 1958 Plymouth Fury “Christine” from the eponymous Stephen King movie brought $198,000. Owned by the great driver and racing team owner Carrol Shelby, a 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake, just one of two made, brought $5.1 million. Altogether, Barrett-Jackson sold 1,611 vehicles for more than $130 million (unaudited), a record for the company during its 44-year history. Troughout the week, Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2015 raised $8.6 million for local and national charities. "Tis year’s Scottsdale auction was on a scale unlike anything in our history,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Scottsdale-based Barrett-Jackson. “From sales and consignments to our ratings on Discovery and Velocity, we smashed records at every level. Everyone who attended this year’s Scottsdale auction was a part of automotive history.” sl slmag.net
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Who,What,Wear Designers to Watch Written by Abigail Hamilton
Who,What,Wear Designers to Watch
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J. Benzal West African-born and Indianapolis-based fashion designer and entrepreneur Mamadou "Ben" Diallo studied textiles and business in Morocco before deciding to make the leap to the fashion scene in New York City. His studies led him to Butler University, and although he moved back to the Big Apple after graduation, thanks to his wife, an Indianapolis native, he found his way back to the Midwest. And while he enjoyed the family-friendly quality of life in the Hoosier State, he missed the options in men’s fashion ofered in the big city. Having his own label had always been a dream for Diallo, so in 2008, despite the recession and believing he could fll a niche in the market, he opened J. Benzal in downtown Indianapolis. Te shop’s name is a derivative of Diallo’s nickname and that of two close friends who worked with him in the industry. Populated exclusively with merchandise bearing the J. Benzal label, nearly everything in the store is Italian made. Te boutique’s success prompted him to open a second suburban outpost in the Carmel City Center and eye further brick-and-mortar expansion in neighboring states. Diallo is a stickler for details and ft, and his suits are noted for contrast stitching on the lapels, colorful, high-quality fabrics, and European-style cuts. Most recently Diallo has expanded his repertoire to designing footwear in a range of styles, from classic wingtips and loafers to more fashion-forward professional work boots. “I was tired of getting asked the same question over and over by my customers after we helped them pick a great outft, ‘where can I get some nice shoes?’ With the addition of our shoe collection, we hope to make J.Benzal, a one stop destination for the stylish man,” he remarked. For more information and stockists visit jbenzal.com. slmag.net
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Madiyah Al Sharqi Born into the royal family of Fujairah, one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, Sheikha Madiyah Al Sharqi was exposed to fne tailoring from a young age. After graduating from the private Parisian fashion school Ecole Superieure des Arts et techniques de la Mode (ESMOD), she apprenticed under Lebanese designer Abed Mahfouz before launching an eponymous collection in 2012. Te Middle Eastern designer’s creative manipulation of vibrant fabrics and employment of sophisticated needlework earned her a spot as a fnalist for the 2013/2014 International Woolmark Prize, a highly coveted designer award, as well as being named “one of the most exciting and promising designers to come out of this region” by Harpers Bazaar Arabia. As a young royal, Madiyah is in a unique position to juxtapose traditional imperial grandeur with the perspective of a modern discerning woman. Her delicate design aesthetic is consistent throughout each collection, while her creative inspirations shift from season to season. Madiyah describes her clientele as a “woman who is graceful and timeless, with a passion for opulent design. She appreciates intricate embroideries and subtle color palettes, and makes bold statements with her choice of silhouettes. Her conservative nature lies in the delicate fabrics that accentuate her femininity.” For more information and stockists, visit madiyahalsharqi.com. 52 slmag.net
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Mathieu Mirano Talent and tenacity are two words that could be easily bantered about to explain the driving force behind emerging designer Mathieu Mirano’s upward career trajectory. Just 23 years old, the Long Island native and Parsons drop-out already has fve shows at New York Fashion Week under his belt, through which he was bestowed the title of the ‘Mad Scientist of Fashion’ by ELLE Magazine for his utilization of motifs ranging from robots to ancient creatures. Tough already garnering buzz among fashion industry insiders for several seasons, his work reached a more mainstream audience after Lady Gaga made an appearance on Good Morning America in late 2014 wearing a custom paper ensemble he designed specifcally for the singer. Since then his tailored pieces, which strike a delicate balance between constructed shapes and soft femininity, have graced the likes of Nicole Ritchie, Julianne Moore, Gabrielle Union and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Inspired by his fascination with science and nature, Mirano’s spring 2015 ready-to-wear collection features a heightened focus on silhouette, with separates and dresses sporting details such as pleats and peplums that play with asymmetry and volume in a modern way. Trailblazing fabrications, including rubberized cottons in laser grid patterns and other manipulated materials allow the collection to transcend from casual sophistication to full-on glamour. Said the designer: “Te Mathieu Mirano woman is extremely thoughtful in regards to her fashion choices. She pays attention to the detail, to the cuts, to the treatments and to the high level of craftsmanship. She isn’t living to work. She’s living every day to live. But most importantly, she has a sexiness that is never vulgar.” For more information and stockists visit mathieumirano.com. 54 slmag.net
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Castles to Caddies Enjoying Royal Treatment in Ireland Written by Bridget Williams
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Five star Ashford Castle is surrounded by 350 acres on the shores of Lough Corrib in County Mayo.
Perhaps I was subjected to one too many knight in shining armor tales at bedtime as a youngster, but I feel fairly confident in my assertation that I’m not alone when it comes to having developed a girlhood fascination with castles and the romanticized notions of life within their stone walls. Learning the true realities of medieval life – leprosy, dysentery, the plague, a lack of indoor plumbing and having to consume mead on a regular basis, among other maladies – certainly tarnished a bit of the shine I took to castle living, but not
enough to entirely dissuade my interest. My own teenage daughter was not immune from such musings, which served as the impetus for a recent trip to Te Emerald Isle focused on the Counties Clare, Galway and May in the west of the country. En route from place to place, we traveled roadways in the bucolic countryside that seemed snug even for our micro rental car and had us wondering more often than not if we were lost, but with scenery so picturesque, we hardly minded a few errant wrong turns.
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Sunset at the Trump International Golf Links & Hotel
Trump International Golf Links & Hotel, Ireland Traveling under the cover of darkness following a pre-dawn arrival at Shannon Airport, when the robotic voice of our GPS system confdently announced that we had arrived at Te Trump International Golf Links & Hotel, I was certain there must be some mistake as dawn’s frst light revealed only modest farmhouses set against a backdrop of gently undulating mossy green hills. Scanning the horizon, we spied a cluster of buildings in the distance and headed in that direction. As we drew closer, the form of an impressive stone lodge and detached cottages that comprise the 185-room resort fully revealed themselves from their perch above the rugged Atlantic coastline in crescentshaped Doughmore Bay. Opened in 2006 as Doonbeg, the Trump organization acquired the property – the only five-star luxury resort on the coast of County Clare – in 2014. Te juxtaposition of the refined architecture against an untamed expanse of coastline painted a breathtaking scene. As I surveyed how the Greg Norman-designed links course rambled along the cliff ’s edge, I wished, even if just for a split second, that I had eschewed the notion of ever becoming a golfer. 58 slmag.net
Resisting the urge to bask in the sun while walking barefoot across the spongy golf green laid out behind the lodge, we instead explored our ocean-view, two-story, two-bedroom suite, which was outfitted quite luxuriously in classic hunt country style with natty tweed upholstery, bespoke furnishings and antiques, reclaimed woods, baths with honed marble, tumbled stone and plant-based toiletries made at the nearby Burren Perfumery, vintage-style hardware and light switches, roughhewn ceiling beams, crewelwork drapery, a small kitchen and dining area, and a sitting room with gas freplace. With the majority of guest suites averaging 1,000-square-feet or more and 17 Links Cottages spanning nearly 3,000 square-feet, the property is ideal for family travel and those not willing to forgo the comforts of a wellappointed home while abroad. It wasn’t long before we succumbed a little to jetlag by starting up the fire and settling in at opposite ends of the window seat to listen to the rhythm of the waves as they rolled and tumbled the stones along the shore to a polished fnish that proved to be ideal for a subsequently idyll afternoon of skipping rocks. Further down the beach our gazes transfxed
View of the lodge from Doughmore Bay.
Native grasses are used for the the golf course at Trump International Golf Links & Hotel. Photo by Bridget Williams.
Entrance to the Lodge at the Trump International.
on a couple galloping astride horses whose color mimicked the foamy whitecaps. Refreshed from a brief catnap, we decided to walk the par72 golf course, which plays 6,885 yards from championship tees and boasts ocean views from 16 of its 18 holes. Te frst course in Ireland or Great Britain designed by Greg Norman, the layout follows nature, with native grasses simply mowed on 14 greens and 12 fairways. Varying ocean breezes ensure that no two rounds will ever play the same. A total of 51 acres of grey dunes are permanently fenced of for preservation, while the remainder of the site, including the course, is designated as a proposed Natural Heritage Area. Te 400-acre resort also includes a frstrate pro shop, a practice facility with driving range, putting green and chipping area, and caddies trained to U.S. standards. Under the direction of Executive Head Chef Greg Budzyn, guests at the property can savor both traditional and international cuisine prepared with locally sourced ingredients at two full-service dining options: casual, bistro-style fare in the Trump Bar and Restaurant or fine dining accompanied by an impressive global selection of wines in the Ocean View Restaurant. Afternoon tea is
Lodge suite living room at the Trump International.
served daily by the freplace in the lounge, and in-suite dining is available around the clock. Smitten with the scent of the Burren Perfumery toiletries in our room, we obtained directions to the company’s manufactory where we perused their entire product line, picked up souvenirs and enjoyed afternoon tea and scones from their on-site tearoom (burrenperfumery.com). The sparsely populated scenery of the limestone upland en route was quite arresting, and we made multiple stops just to admire the desolately beautiful karst landscape, where 70 percent of Ireland's wildfower species can be found. Sensory indulgence also abounds at the Trump International’s subterranean White Horses Spa, located beneath the main lodge and outfitted in the same warm and welcoming country chic environment that permeates the upper floors. Laura Ryan, my massage therapist, was honored as “Best Spa Terapist of the Year" 2013 by Irish Tatler magazine and for good reason: my blissful 90-minute Burren Wilderness Massage seemed to be over in the blink of an eye! For more information or reservations at the Trump International Golf Links & Hotel, Ireland visit trumphotelcollection.com/Ireland. slmag.net
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Dromoland Castle at dusk.
Dromoland After a few days of visiting castles, we were ready to live like royalty by checking into one, and Dromoland, a 16th century baronial castle located in Newmarket-on-Fergus, proved to ft the bill quite nicely. Literally minutes from a major thoroughfare and less than a 20-minute drive from Shannon Airport, once you pass through the gateway you are enveloped by 450 acres of lush, rolling hills. An 18-hole championship parkland golf course is laid out on either side of the narrow lane leading to the stoic limestone castle, complete with four castellated turrets. Te castle is strategically positioned atop a knoll that provides a “wow” moment the frst time it comes into view. As the ancestral home of the O’Briens, Barons of Inchiquin, one of the few native Gaelic families of royal blood, the richly appointed interiors of Dromoland Castle beft their noble legacy. Portraits of ancestors are hung along paneled corridors; windows are dressed with lavish tasseled drapery; and, light emanating from sparkling crystal chandeliers dances across coats of armor and gold cornices. Noted interior designer Dorothy Draper was retained when the property was renovated in 1962 to emerge as a luxury hotel; the guest rooms were refreshed two decades later by Draper’s protégé, Carleton Varney. Each category among the 85 guest rooms and 14 suites have been recently refurbished 60 slmag.net
with touches such as bespoke, 19th-century Empire-style and Louis XV-style furnishings and specially commissioned fabrics by Manuel Canovas, Colefax & Fowler and Pierre Frey. My favorite room was Te Cocktail Bar, an octagon-shaped space that was the former study of Lord Inchiquin, and where we would retreat each evening to claim a corner table near the fre to enjoy a pint and a sing-along of Irish ballads. Red and gold foil damask wallpaper accentuated the soaring height of the room’s ceiling; dark wood bookcases not utilized to highlight spirits for the bar housed a whimsical collection of Toby jugs. A pack of Stafordshire spaniel fgures sat obediently from individual halfround shelves scattered around the room. Dromoland’s fne dining option, the Earl of Tomond, was awarded a Michelin star in 1995 under Head Chef Jean Baptiste Molinari. Current Executive Chef David McCann has taken great pains to ensure that the culinary delights revealed when the polished silver domes presented to the table are lifted in unison are truly worthy of such pageantry. À la carte, fve-course table d’hôte and vegetarian menus are available. More casual dining from noon to late evening is ofered at the Fig Tree Restaurant, located in the Golf & Country Club building and just a short walk from the castle. Both the facilities and menu were revamped in 2012. A traditional daily tea is
Te Cocktail Bar at Dromoland Castle.
Te karst landscape of the Burren region is home to 70% of Ireland's wildfower species. Photo by Bridget Williams.
served from 3:00-5:00 in the Drawing Room. For the active or romantically inclined, a special picnic basket can be prepared for a day outing or a relaxing lunchtime stroll to a secluded spot on the grounds. A full complement of indoor and outdoor activities makes Dromoland a year-round destination. Opened in 2007, Te Spa at Dromoland features an outdoor hydra spa sheltered by a gazebo and ornamental courtyard, six luxury treatment rooms, and two product ranges, Pevonia Botanica and Voya, the latter of which is an organic seaweed beauty product manufacturer based on Ireland's Atlantic coast. Dromoland’s 18-hole championship golf course was re-designed by Irish golfng legend J.B. Carr and American Ron Kirby. Te afliated Golf Academy boasts 10 fully automated driving bays, putting greens and a bunker, including a rivetedface-links-style bunker modeled on the famous “Road Hole” bunker on the 17th at St. Andrews. Lake Dromoland is well-stocked with trout, perch and other coarse fish, and guests may fish from the banks or one of the estate’s small boats. Two all-weather tennis courts, a dedicated shooting range, archery instruction, horseback riding, falconry “Hawk Walks,” complimentary mountain bikes for use on the estate, an indoor swimming pool, sauna, steam room and ftness
Te Clifs of Moher. Photo by Bridget Williams.
facility, and ample acreage for hiking, walking and jogging ensure there’s always plenty to do. Easy day trips from both Dromoland and the Trump International Golf Links & Hotel include hiking the spectacular pathways that snake along the precipitous edges of the Cliffs of Moher (cliffsofmoher.ie); visiting Bunratty Castle and Folk Park where you can stroll through a village constructed to resemble life in Ireland a century ago, followed by dining Medieval style in the 15th century Bunratty Castle (shannonheritage.com/BunrattyCastleAndFolkPark); marveling at the lunar-like landscape found in The Burren National Park (burrennationalpark.ie); and, simply wandering through charming towns sprinkled throughout the countryside and popping into a local pub where hospitality flows as freely as the Guinness on tap. We were particularly fond of Morrissey’s Seafood Bar & Grill in Doonbeg (morrisseysdoonbeg.ie) and Te Locke Bar in Limerick, which had excellent traditional Irish music (lockebar.com). Further afeld but still reachable in a day is Blarney Castle. While kissing the famed Blarney Stone is a must, the gardens that surround the 600-year-old castle are quite exquisite and worth a leisurely stroll (blarneycastle.ie). For more information or reservations at Dromoland Castle, visit dromoland.ie. slmag.net
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Kylemore Abbey. Photo by Bridget Williams.
Ashford Castle Nudging the bar even higher on luxury lodging in Ireland is Ashford Castle. While the presence of a friendly ghost purported to make herself known from time-to-time in the oldest section of the castle is debatable, what is absolutely irrefutable is the property’s rich legacy, preserved and enhanced under the tutelage of Bea Tollman, founder and president of the Red Carnation Hotel Collection, who, after acquiring the property and saving it from a pedestrian fate, set upon a meticulous and ambitious renovation and restoration project during which no expense was spared. Positioned prominently on the shores of Lough Corrib, the second-largest lake in Ireland, the oldest section of Ashford Castle dates to 1228. Subsequent owners, including Lord and Lady Ardilaun of the Guinness family (whose legendary love story is fairy tale worthy), expanded the existing structure in a neo-Gothic style and extended the estate to an eventual 26,000 acres (it stands today at a more manageable 350 acres). The property opened as a hotel in the early 1940s; when John Mulcahy acquired the property in 1970, he nearly doubled its size with the addition of a new wing. Red Carnation purchased the property out of receivership in 2013. “We haven’t seen an investment of this scale in both the property and the local community since the legendary
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Joyce County sheepdogs provides visitors a glimpse of a rapidly disappearing way of life in the Connemara region. Photo by Bridget Williams.
benevolence of the Guinness family in the 1800s,” said General Manager Niall Rochford, who was named Hospitality Manager of the Year 2013 by Te Irish Times. “Te Tollman family wants to preserve and enhance the story of Ashford, and the sense of style, time and place they have created is truly wonderful.” The heart of hospitality beats strong at Ashford, where children of long-time employees often follow in their parent’s footsteps generation after generation and pridefully regard the castle as their home away from home. I have to say, in all my years of traveling, I’ve yet to stay at a property whose staf are so fully in-sync with and vested in a company’s ethos as those at Ashford. Tollman maintains an intensive personal level of involvement in each of Red Carnation’s 17 four- and five-star boutique hotels around the globe that is dually admirable and mind-boggling, leaving me to wonder if she ever sleeps! Tis is worth mentioning quite simply for the fact that happy employees create optimal guest experiences at even the most mundane level of interaction. Bea Tollman and her daughter Toni headed up the design team that created uniquely opulent environs in each of the castle’s 68 guestrooms and 14 staterooms; Ashford is the only property of its size in Ireland to boast completely individualized guestrooms. The final renovations will be unveiled when the
Te new Billiard Room at Ashford Castle.
Ashford Castle is home to Ireland's frst School of Falconry. Photo by Bridget Williams.
property reopens on March 28 after a winter hiatus. Even in her 80s, Bea logs some 300,000 travel miles annually and is constantly acquiring antiques and art for her company’s hotels, sometimes squirreling pieces away in storage until the “perfect” opportunity presents itself. I had the privilege of lodging in stateroom 326, which overlooks the lake and formal garden and is resplendent in a predominant palette of regal red and royal blue, with upholstered silk walls (a design hallmark of Red Carnation properties); a fush mount ceiling draped bed with a scalloped crown and tassel trim that matches the drapery; Venetian mirrors; a blue Murano chandelier; original oil portraits; a spacious bath with a one-ton marble soaking tub, an Empire-style crystal chandelier, iridescent wallpaper and a walk-in shower so spacious, it brings a concerthall setting to singing in the shower; and, the latest in high-tech in-room amenities. Common areas of the hotel have been refreshed as well, with windows added and doorways widened to allow more light into rooms that had previously seemed slightly somber. “Te Tollmans have maintained what should be and removed what’s not important, and that has added to the high-level experience,” said Paula Carroll, who heads up Ashford’s sales and marketing department.
George V. dining room at Ashford Castle.
Recently added amenities include a posh 32-seat cinema, children’s game room, a billiard room and a pair of outdoor roof terraces, one of which will serve fne cigars, some of which will be exclusive to Ashford. Future plans include transforming the recently rediscovered escape tunnel into a wine cellar with private dining rooms and creating a secluded lakefront honeymoon suite from an old boathouse on the grounds. Further in the offing, pending regulatory approval, is a renovation and expansion of the on-site spa to include an indoor ozone-fltrated pool and state-ofthe-art ftness center. Te afable and seemingly omnipresent Robert Bowe heads up the restaurant and wine program and will gladly spin a good castle ghost yarn if you inquire. For breakfast each morning in the George V Dining Room, so named to commemorate a visit by the then Prince of Wales, scrambled eggs with shaved black trufe seemed ideally suited for the elegant environs, illuminated by nine grand Waterford chandeliers. Dinner is a formal afair, where a seasonal menu highlights the best local meat, fsh and produce. Te intimate Connaught Room, considered one of the fnest in the castle, provides dinner service from May through September. Cullens at the Dungeon Bar and the seasonal Cullens at the Cottage ofer more casual fare. You can immerse
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Stateroom 326 in Ashford Castle.
Te Presidential Suite at Ashford Castle.
yourself in the art of appreciating fne and rare Irish whiskeys at the Prince of Wales Cocktail Bar or survey the rapidly changing skies over the lake from a plethora of windows in the Drawing Room, which makes daily afternoon tea quite a treat (the Irish Whiskey Cream tea blended just for Ashford is a must-try). Activities on property include fshing for brown trout and Atlantic salmon in Lough Corrib, considered one of the best fsheries in Europe for both species; falconry lessons at the School of Falconry (Ireland’s frst); indoor archery; tennis; cruising the lake aboard the M.V. Lady Ardilaun; jogging/walking an extensive network of routes from 20 minutes to two hours in duration that traverse everything from mossy forested paths to winding country roads; golfing the onsite nine-hole, par 35 parkland course designed by Irish golf architect Eddie Hackett (fve notable courses are located within close proximity of the castle); choosing from a dozen available horses to ride at the equestrian center; and, shooting sporting clays at a designated range with expert coaching from Tom Clesham, who has literally grown up on property (his parents operate the equestrian center). Just outside the castle gates is the village of Cong. Founded in 623AD as a monastery, today the tiny hamlet is a postcardperfect assemblage of tidy buildings housing a number of restaurants and shops. Te village served as the backdrop for John Ford’s 1951 flm “Te Quiet Man,” starring John Wayne 64 slmag.net
and Maureen O’Hara. Te movie is screened daily in Ashford Castle’s cinema. Myriad day trips abound throughout the Connemara region (connemara.ie/en/), whose raw and rugged beauty proved to be infnitely intriguing. Te area is distinguished by some 7,000 miles of dry stone walls that scale over and around the steep hillsides and contain herds of sheep whose wooly coats sport bright painted markings to signify their ownership. During our visit, the weather seemed to change on a dime and subtle shifts in sunlight caused the mood of the steep hills, bogs, lakes and golden beaches of the Atlantic shoreline to seesaw between ethereal and eerie. Noteworthy places to visit include Kylemore Abbey (kylemoreabbeytourism.ie), a monument to love and loss that is now home to a group of Benedictine nuns and the largest Victorian walled garden in all of Ireland; the town of Westport (destinationwestport.com), a small community with a large number of fne restaurants and pubs and recently named the best town to live in Ireland; Joyce Country Sheepdogs (joycecountrysheepdogs.ie) where a sheepdog demonstration provides a glimpse of a rapidly disappearing way of life; and Burke’s Bar and Restaurant in the village of Clonbur (burkesclonbur.com) for an authentic Irish pub experience. For more information or reservations at Ashford Castle visit ashfordcastle.com. sl
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MOTO CUCINA + ENOTECA Te latest addition to Chris Hyndman’s M Street Empire Written by Leigh Hendry and Gloria Houghland Photography by Allen Clark If you’ve had the pleasure of dining at Nashville’s relatively new Moto Cucina + Enoteca, nestled in the groovy Gulch, then you already know that it’s got some culinary mojo working. If you haven’t been there yet, then get into motion and scoot on down. And, if you happen to own a peppy little Italian Vespa, you’ll feel quite in vogue upon arrival there. For those who have resided in Middle Tennessee for a lifetime, it’s quite a stroll down Memory Lane to recall what could loosely be termed the “food scene” here in the days of yore. Natives may remember cruising Shoney’s, eating barbecue at Nick’s, waiting through the bufet line at B and W Cafeteria, and, on those rare, special occasions, devouring a filet mignon and Faucon salad at the venerable Jimmy Kelly’s. Not so long ago it wasn’t uncommon to hear friends lamenting the proliferation of national chain restaurants popping up in Music City like so many mushrooms in a feld after a steady spring rain. While Southern cities all around us were ripening and bursting with a smorgasbord of forward-thinking, epicurean eateries, there were few notable new entries to squawk about here. But then, we ushered in the 21st century and Music City, seemingly overnight, was flush with award-winning, palatepleasing plate palaces. Talk about a transformation...it was as though our local, but collective, food consciousness was suddenly awake and aware that, yes, there was a diference between partially hydrogenated vegetable oil and extra virgin olive oil. Many long-time area residents might also remember when the Cool Springs area was still little more than acres of rolling pasture land and most serious shopping occurred primarily in downtown Nashville at Harvey’s and the Cain-Sloan department
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stores. In those days, the Gulch was more a wasteland of industrial train tracks and dingy warehouses than the future epicenter of Nashville’s new social universe. Fast forward to a decade-and-a-half ago when the millennials began coming of age: Tis newest generation was technologically adept, confdent, undaunted by risk, ethnically diverse, highly socially attuned and exceptionally communicative. But, more importantly, they were hungry. And that was a state from which everyone would ultimately beneft. Nashville native and now barely forty-something Chris Hyndman has had an infuence on the restaurant industry and the city in general that is incredibly signifcant. Amidst the high-style, high-rise condominiums, apartments, and bevy of bars which were emerging almost quarterly from the curtain of construction dust blanketing the Gulch, restaurant veteran Hyndman (initially as an employee at area restaurants and then later as Virago’s founder) decided to relocate his already immensely popular sushi salon from the edge of Music Row down to ground zero of the new Nashville. With Virago already anointed as the city’s standard bearer for Asian fusion cuisine, Hyndman was perfectly poised to develop a commanding, all-encompassing, Gulch-based food empire. Like an assiduously tended garden of goodness, Hyndman’s M Street Entertainment Group would prosper and spread, Kudzustyle, along McGavock Street to include: Whiskey Kitchen, an emporium of the city’s grandest collection of world-class whiskeys; Saint Anejo, a mezcal/tequila-focused Mexican cantina; Kanye Prime, a much-heralded American Steakhouse; The Rosewall, a special event space, and Moto Cucina + Enoteca, the group’s ultra-chic Italian sibling.
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Te diversity of Hyndman’s food operations could be traced to his generation’s multi-faceted areas of interest, but it was his fondness for travel which seems to have most infuenced and honed his palate while broadening his world view. A razor-sharp focus, genuine attention to detail and a defnitive personal style have also contributed to this visionary entrepreneur’s sweeping success. On the day we met, he looked efortlessly urbane wearing a checked jacket (collar popped) complemented by a polkadotted pocket square. Instead of sporting the predictable, baby boomer choice of sleek Italian loafers, Hyndman wore sneakers, a selection more refective of his generation’s lifestyle. Clearly, his timing in developing a series of restaurants during the explosion of Nashville’s most recent renaissance could not have been more fortuitous. Each of Hyndman’s properties is branded with M Street’s inherently hip, innovative, friendly stamp. His establishments are places where diners can expect excellent food, adept service and creative mixology at the bar, all neatly wrapped in a casually sophisticated ambiance. Te crowd will also generally be populated by a core group of devoted, Millennial-aged patrons. Moto Cucina + Enoteca, positioned next to Te Rosewall and Saint Anejo at 1120 McGavock Street, arrived on the Gulch food scene early last winter in zesty scooter-like fashion. Metaphorically speaking, Moto darted in and around the city’s more established
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Italian eateries, zipped up to the curb, and wedged itself into a spot where most restaurants wouldn’t think of squeezing in. It was quickly lauded by hordes of Millennials waiting to say “Buonasera” (“Good evening” in Italian) while balancing one of Moto’s marvelous limoncello martini’s in one hand and a mobile phone in the other. Moto, the term commonly used for motorcycles in Italy, pays homage to the site’s former incarnation as a mechanic’s workspace while cucina translates to kitchen and enoteca denotes wine room or bar. Tose three words aptly sum up the Moto concept. M Street Marketing guru Jen McMakin introduced us to Dallas native and former Aspen resident Chef de Cuisine Luke Senderling. Together, they kindly guided us through the small, but efcient kitchen, a space so organized and compact that the staf can expertly plate 400-plus meals there during its fve-hour dinner service run. On this day, there were three people working on the hot line, two on expediting and two on the garde manger, prepping locally grown vegetables. Pastry chef Daniela Fernandez-Jones, who originally hails from Mexico, was busy in her own diminutive prep space creating such mouth-watering specialties as her feather-light tiramisu with espresso ganache, fve-layered chocolate mousse cake with a crispy hazelnut crunch and luscious lemon cream, and homemade sorbets and Gelatos, not to mention her irresistible Meyer Lemon Budino (that’s custard in Italian).
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Senderling explained that Moto makes seven unique homemade pastas each day and has a separate fire-pit where diners can observe the fresh pizzas (four vegetarian options are available nightly) as they’re being grilled. We sampled the signature Blueberry Lasagna (a vegetarian stand-out, frequently celebrated as one of Nashville’s tastiest vegetarian dishes), which is created using whisper-thin sheets of lasagna pasta layered with an earthy, wild mushroom Duxelles, topped with a healthy drizzle of blueberry balsamic. Both sweet and savory, it was absolutely fantastico, as was the Brussels sprouts side dish with pancetta and apple agrodolce, a favored type of southern Italian sweet and sour sauce (this one has a bit of zing to it). Tere’s usually a fsh special available, too. If you’re lucky when you visit, Moto will be serving the same sublime grouper entree that made our trio literally swoon with delight. Another spicy ofering is the black spaghetti, which features a squid ink-dyed pasta with lobster morsels and Calabrian chiles. Regarding pizza: Te tomato, mozzarella and basil pie, Moto’s version of the classic margherita, is hands-down the crowd favorite and a menu mainstay. For a contemporary spin on the tried-and-true pizza pie, don’t hesitate to step outside the circle and give the porchetta, kale pesto and mozzarella combination a taste test. It is simply unbeatable or imbattibile, as the Italians might say.
In the kitchen cooler, nestled not far from the precisely prepared vegetables and homemade pastas, was a large pig head, which had been resting in brine for several days. Moto, with a nod to traditional Italian fare, consciously sources from such area purveyors as Chris Carter of Porter Road Butcher, Kathleen Cotter’s Bloomy Rind Artisan Cheese, Bobby John Henry Bakery on Music Row, and Sunburst Trout Farms (there is a Trout Crudo with orange, fennel and benne seeds on the menu that is not to be missed) in Canton, N.C., in a concerted efort to provide guests with the freshest possible cuisine. Te requisite, premium Italian ingredients are imported direct from the mother country. Moto, thoroughly Italian in principle and restraint, ofers portion-controlled servings with limited, just-picked ingredients. Porter Road Butcher is the local source for David Byler’s Amish Hog Farm animals, which are pasture-raised in Ethridge, Tenn. Tey are considered such a delicacy that Moto employs a “snoutto-tail” philosophy of using every part of the pig for its sausages, pork cheek terrine, Duroc porchetta, and for the crispy pig ears which garnish the exquisite butter lettuce beet salad. For its baseball-sized Wagyu beef meatballs with ricotta cheese and verdant basil (which are already enjoying a serious cult following), Moto uses the same steaks as its nationally recognized sister restaurant, Kayne Prime, which is just down the block. slmag.net
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A private dining area for small parties of 16 or less (or even for celebrity privacy when required, according to afable general manager Antonio Difatta) boasts a wall adorned in period ‘60s black-and-white photos of such screen stars as Marilyn Monroe, Brigitte Bardot and Italy’s Marcello Mastroianni, as well as images of the paparazzi taking pictures of themselves (early selfes!). Te advent of freelancers stalking celebrities like buzzing mosquitos originated in Italy more than six decades ago, so Moto’s images from that defning era make for intriguing conversation pieces. Te back of the restaurant, an alternative space available for larger special events and weekend overfow, features a substantial white marble-topped bar, and an antiqued mirror, refecting the faux, half hedge-covered brick walls and an oversized, blackand-white canvas print of a sultry “Miss Moto,” shown leaning languorously against a motorcycle, Italian-style. A freplace graces the main dining area with an eye-popping, glass-walled wine cellar taking center stage up front. More than half of the restaurant’s wine list’s 250 labels are, not surprisingly, Italian. The glass enclosure showcasing the bottles looks so enticing that customers regularly inquire if they might step inside for a quick photo. We did, and can report that it was molto imponente (very impressive). Attentive associate general manager Ben Lowe said we were not alone in our desire for this particular experience. Te highly accommodating Moto management team fulflls requests with absolute pleasure. Directly across from the wine cellar is the restaurant’s main bar area with its white marble top, punctuated by an all-over, hexagonal
design executed in miniature charcoal-colored tiles. Oh, and the curvaceous wooden barstools lining the length of the bar have backs (yes, backs!) on them; these chairs were purposefully selected for keeping patrons comfortable and in fne spirits while lingering late into the evening over a tall glass of Sicilian sangria (a tasty concoction of Lambrusco, fresh orange juice, blood orange and prosecco) or the stout South of Manhattan cocktail (Four Roses bourbon, Amaretto, maple syrup and Solerno blood orange). The restaurant’s glamorous vibe oozes with overtones of famed Italian director Frederico Fellini in La Dolce Vita-mode meets gracious Southern hospitality. With an interior aesthetic that melds downtown sophistication with pure sex appeal, and rustic chic with an industrial edge, Moto still retains an overall classic Italian style. Its expansive leather banquettes beneath the huge front wall of windows are so inviting that if you’re dining there with a large group of amiable friends, you might possibly feel so at home that you’ll still be there at closing time. With the arrival of Moto, McGavock Street finally has a tempting Italian trattoria as part of the Gulch dining mix, as well as a place where saying “Arrivederci” is distinctly bittersweet. And, in case you’re still thinking about the aforementioned limoncello martini (we certainly are), crafted with the correct proportions of Stolichnaya Citron, Caravella Limoncello from the Amalf coast, fresh lemon and Sprite, rest assured that sipping one of these cocktails is much like a long-awaited journey to Italy---you will continue to dreamily muse about going there again and again as one Roman Holiday is simply never enough. sl
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ONE OF A KIND A Truly Magnifcent Home by Nashville’s Landy Gardner. Written by Leigh Hendry and Gloria Houghland Photography by Allen Clark Dottie Frist is such an incredibly inveterate collector that it took Nashville interior designer Landy Gardner and his assistants from Landy Gardner Interiors more than six months to unwrap (at a rate of some 50 boxes per day) Frist’s extensive collections of objects when she purchased and renovated a Forest Hills home several years ago. Frist, daughter of the late Dr. Tomas F. Frist, Sr. and his wife, the late Dorothy Harrison Cate Frist, has such a compelling passion for porcelain, crystal and art glass that viewing her collections is akin to an abbreviated tour of the fnest makers of objets d’art in the world, from Baccarat, Limoges and Daum in France to Waterford in Ireland to LLadro in Spain to Herend in Hungary to Giuseppe Armani in Italy and back to the continental United States to Boehm in New Jersey and Stephen Schlanser in southern California. And, that’s without even mentioning her exceptional antiques or her notable assortment of Chinese artifacts or her collection of signed Fabergè eggs. Tis philanthropist and avid community supporter has also spent plenty of time amassing frequent flyer miles in search of unique treasures to grace her cabinet of curiosities-like manor houses over the years. In the spirit of the founding of the great library in Alexandria, Egypt, where scholars gathered hundreds of thousands of scrolls in establishing a new world center of knowledge, and the Medicis of Renaissance Florence, who initiated the tradition of private patronage of artists, Frist has diligently developed her own modern-day, museum-like environment, albeit on a much smaller, far more individualistic scale. She has clearly been a devoted hunter/gatherer, a role surely made more enjoyable through her association with Gardner. She was completely confdent that he would employ a deft touch in collectively arranging the objects in groupings, which lent them a gravitas that further enhanced their overall artistic qualities. His Aristotelian approach (using the concept that “Te whole is greater than the sum of its parts”) was the perfect foundation for crafting a cohesive design scheme for Frist’s new abode. But, then, this wasn’t their frst interior journey together, so Gardner
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was already well-versed in the breadth and depth of Frist’s everevolving collections, as well as highly attuned to her personal, traditional style. He also understood that she characterized herself as “so sentimental,” as she says and that everything in her home meant “something special” to her. An ensuing health crisis, which required Frist’s full attention just after her purchase of the 7,000-square-foot property, convinced her to take a dramatic leap of faith. “I told Landy: ‘Just do it and that I didn’t even want to see it until it was fnished.’ “Interestingly, Gardner’s long-established career in Nashville, his multiple awards for design, his work around the country and in the Caribbean, his designation as the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center’s “Southeast Designer of the Year” in 2001, a feature story in Veranda magazine’s 20th anniversary issue, and his appearances on HGTV were not even integral factors in Frist’s decision-making process. As she explained, he’d been instrumental in the interior design of several of her previous homes, so when she bought this one, Gardner was actually the very frst to know. “In my opinion, he’s one of the best designers in Nashville,” she said. And, so it was that Gardner was given carte blanche to imprint his artistic vision and oversee the home’s sweeping renovation, while also managing the Herculean task of reviewing and unpacking the furnishings and contents from Frist’s former Hillwood Boulevard home. He began the transformation by removing interior walls, installing wide, dark walnut-stained plank foors, painting a more substantial base molding black and raising the height of the home’s closet doors to the ceiling. All of the baths, each crisply renovated in white, boast an abundant use of tumbled Calcutta and Carrara marbles, along with double vanities and oversized beveled mirrors. Te kitchen has distinctive, leathered marble countertops, stainless steel appliances and an impervious, cofee-stained butcher block island with captivating Italian pendant lights providing the overhead task lighting. No high-tech or modern convenience has been overlooked in this top-to-bottom renovation.
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Frist said that when she began searching for a new location in which to create the next chapter of her life, that she felt unequivocally that the space she needed should be private but, yet, still open. “I knew the minute I stepped in the front door, that this was it,” she said emphatically. From the grand slate entrance hall, which is fanked on both sides by gilded marble urns on pedestals, guests are greeted with an expansive view of the living, dining and music rooms, along with the kitchen and outdoor terrace. Tis is also where Gardner began to showcase Frist’s prized family heirlooms, as well as the souvenirs from her considerable international travels. Zeroing in on her numerous visits to China and her fascination with all things Asian, Gardner found ample inspiration among the multitude of objects which had made the arduous voyage from the Orient to Middle Tennessee. Like a master weaver, he began to incorporate the many diverse elements into a unifed whole. A baby grand piano, placed in the music room on the right as guests enter, takes center stage there. Frist originally purchased it for Sai Sai Song, a houseguest from China who lived with her while attending school in America. Frist had met Sai Sai’s parents, who are diplomats, during a dinner in China with the Premier of the State Council (sometimes referred to more informally as the Prime Minister). Since that time, the couple has visited the
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Volunteer State on many occasions; the gifts they brought Frist as tokens of gratitude are displayed prominently in most every room. A stone Francois mantle surrounding the music room’s freplace is complemented on either side by Regency walnut bookcases. But, the room’s most unusual piece is a 15th century Italian sofa, which Gardner updated with contemporary velvet fabric. A sublime still life by Chinese painter Yin Yong Chun, spied at Nashville’s Haynes Gallery, so completes the room that one might imagine that the space was designed around the work of art itself though it was actually added to the mix after the fact. Down the hallway, an antique cabinet which Gardner retrofitted with glass shelves beckons guests forward with its glistening collection of Frist’s breathtaking collection of Baccarat crystal. Sparkling overhead, lighting the hallway from above, is a trio of one-of-a-kind French Empire (c. 1900) gilded bronze chandeliers with cobalt blue glass. Te open dining room’s fat gold metallic plaster ceiling and its geometric gray and goldpainted grasscloth complements the bronze and marble used throughout the home, but also provides a more modern backdrop for Frist’s magnifcent collection of Herend dinnerware. In fact, her 48 place settings of Herend “Queen Victoria” china (a lively, gilt-edged pattern of blossoms and butterfies which debuted at the 1851 World’s Fair in London) might just be enough to serve a
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formal holiday dinner to the entire extended Frist clan. And, there is certainly Waterford glassware galore for making multiple toasts without running short of stemware. With its Hungarian-made china, its Louis XVI gilt and crystal chandelier sourced from Italy, its verre eglomise paintings from China, 19th century French chairs from New York, an 1830s-1840s marbled-topped Scottish mahogany sideboard and an Oriental screen, the dining room is another example of Frist’s preference for home furnishings with an international overtone. She noted that her favorite room is, undoubtedly, the library with its restored paneling and bookcases featuring a favored selection of Lladro, Daum and Herend collectibles. Te contents of more than 50 boxes in storage were unpacked and specifcally designated for this room where a demilune desk centers the congenial space. An early 20th century bronze chandelier with hand-blown milk glass shades (salvaged from a church in eastern Pennsylvania) ofers additional desk lighting while a Palladianstyle window, accented with voluminous, textured drapes lined in a coordinating hound’s-tooth pattern, frame a vista of the property’s mature trees. A sentimental favorite artwork here is an etching of her dad, Tomas, Sr. and brother, Tommy, Jr. with Jack C. Massey (the three founders of Nashville’s legendary Hospital Corporation of America, the nation’s first for-profit hospital system), along with a leather-bound book tracing the history of
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the Frist family and its descendants, beginning with Henry and Elizabeth Garrettson Frist in 1852. Te most commanding view in the house is reserved for, of course, Frist’s spacious master bedroom where her half-canopied bed and an oversized daybed have been positioned directly in front of the home’s second Palladian-style window. The bed, desk and a round side table are all part of her family collection of antiques. With one of the largest Lladro collections in the country, Gardner, who knew that Frist would enjoy waking up to these each morning, placed many of the delicate porcelains here. One piece was even a gift from Frist’s friend, country songstress Crystal Gayle, who formerly owned a Belle Meade gift store bearing her name. Designer Gardner says that one of the spaces he considers a standout is the one done for Sai Sai, a bedroom refecting her heritage, where the walls are covered in an Asian-inspired, sherbet toile with matching drapes and bed linens. Te overall efect reads as enveloping, monochromatic and quite soothing; not at all overpowering as one might expect. Frist’s granddaughter, Ashley chose the gray-blue shade used in her room, which has an antique sleigh bed as its focal point. Another guest room has twin beds and a dresser inherited from Frist’s grandmother, along with her encyclopedic collection of Limoges boxes. In the collecting world, Frist would be cited as a “completist,” as her wondrous collection has an example of every Limoges box ever created.
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Frist’s home office features one of her most cherished possessions: a corner cupboard crafted by her multi-talented, physician father, who, by all accounts, was a true Renaissance man. The heart of every home, the kitchen, which Gardner completely reconstructed, opens onto a sunken great room. A new banquette surrounds a square, custom-designed, Cote France wooden table with 19th century French, campaignstyle, bleached oak leather chairs. Tese are studded with metal nail heads for the ultimate punctuation point. But, it’s the bronze, leathered-marble countertops that are the eye-opening showstoppers here, whether Frist is entertaining multitudes of friends or plating a simple dinner for two. Gardner added a laundry room beside the kitchen while he designated a large pantry for storing Frist’s vast collection of crystal stemware. A previously unfnished attic has been converted into a bonus room with a cozy freplace, and is dressed with a high, scallopback settee, a wrought-iron console and a life-sized, papier-mâché “Alice in Wonderland” fgure, handmade by her granddaughter. A hidden storage room presided over by signed Giuseppe Armani fgurines and additional pieces of Daum and Lladro, now serves as a discreet overfow closet, where Frist’s stunning collection of handbags, belts and jewelry has been sorted and organized by color and texture; footwear and coats are in a separate room. In true Chinese tradition, shoes are removed upon entering Frist’s home and the last item to be donned upon departure, so Gardner created a space specifcally made for that task. Tere’s also an organized storage room replete with E. M. Boehm Studio porcelains,
numerous Lynn Haney Santa Claus fgurines, porcelain catering casserole dishes and dozens of signed, gold and silver glass vessels by California sculptor Stephen Schlanser. More collectibles fll a commodious bookcase in Frist’s family room, along with a pair of bronze zebras acquired during one of her trips and a custom-designed foor lamp, produced by Nashville’s Keith Merry, which incorporates an early 20th century industrial light fxture rescued from a Manhattan building. With a nod to his client’s China visits, Gardner had a Chinese chinoiserie box made to disguise the family room’s television, which Frist so appreciated that’s she’s commissioned one for every television in the house. Te windows are intentionally unadorned in this vast room, allowing the antiques and sumptuous fabrics to stand alone and shine while sunlight streams unimpeded through several pairs of French doors. When Frist invited us to come back again and said, genuinely, to “bring friends,” it occurred to us that both objects and people naturally gravitate toward the irresistible energy of this engaging, knowledge-seeking, worldly woman. One sees, despite the copious priceless breakables gracing every room here (though nothing is really too precious in Frist’s view), that Frist is actually quite casual and welcoming in her approach to life and all of its extraordinary experiences. And, she seems more than delighted to share her astounding collections with whomever might ring the doorbell at her around-the-world infuenced home, nestled comfortably in the rolling hills of Tennessee. sl Te Floral aggrangments seen in this feature were created by Perri Crutcher at Oshi Flowers.
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Above Expectations: Andrew Bettis Written by Gloria Houghland Portrait by Allen Clark High-fying, low profle, non-pretentious jet pilot and native Tennessean Andrew Bettis is a dead ringer for actor Chip Esten, who plays the fan favorite lead of “Deacon Claybourne” on ABC-TV’s Middle Tennessee-flmed series, Nashville. Bettis is also, without exception, the most mechanically adept guy you’re likely to meet in any room, anywhere here, particularly if you are interested in discussing private jets. Bettis is founder and co-owner of AB Jets, a privately owned and operated charter sales and management company, which expanded here 24 months ago after celebrating 14 years of business in Memphis. Te Nashville region, recently ranked at number fve on Forbes.com’s fastest-growing cities in the nation list and home to more than 40,000 businesses and 1.8 million residents, according to the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, is no stranger to any American “Boom Town” designation. It is no wonder then that after two years of carefully testing the waters, Bettis and his partner, pilot David Turner, the company’s Director of Operations, made the wisely calculated decision to soar into the clouds here. With Bettis on the ground in Middle Tennessee, AB Jets, which operates with eight jet aircraft out of Signature Flight Support at the Nashville International Airport, can more efciently serve the area’s southeast region by ofering more fight options and availability to clients. Te company’s focus, with two new Lear 60’s sporting upgraded interiors and complimentary Wi-Fi service, is on 24-hour operations with as little as two hours notice. Frequent customers can enjoy extra savings by purchasing an “A to B Jet Card” in increments of 15 hours of fying time, according to Bettis, who says he appreciates “the personal relationships that tend to develop with our Jet Card holders.” His down-home, easy going manner seems to have been a key factor in the 150 percent increase in business here in the past year. AB Jet’s extraordinary commitment to safety has earned the company the prestigious IS-BAO Stage II registration, as well as the coveted ARG/US Platinum certifcation, one of only 108 charter services out of 2044 nationwide.
Bettis, whose father worked for American Airlines, knows every aspect of this highly specialized business. While working as a Lear jet captain for an air charter company, Bettis was approached at the age of 30 to start his own air charter company. “I was just young and energetic enough to do it,” he says. “I quit my job and sold my motorcycle for start up money, and AB Jets became a company.” Bettis also adds, “during the economic downturn of 2008, when the prices of good, pre-owned airplanes were reduced by half, I saw an opportunity. By upgrading aircraft that still had a lot of life in them, and allowing someone else to absorb the initial depreciation costs, we could pass terrifc value onto our customers. Tat’s how our current business model was created,” he explained. AB Jets serves a niche group of individuals and companies which recognize how efficient use of time equates to adding intrinsic value to their lives and bottom lines. Trough personal service and in-depth knowledge of its customer base, AB Jets is able to determine clients preferences for each fight. Bettis likens the experience to working with a local bank versus a national or global fnancial institution. At a local bank, he says, the president of the bank most likely greets customers personally while at a national or global bank, top management almost certainly will not recognize you if you walk through their doors. Tough the charter jet business is an elite service, Bettis ensures that his company also provides a comfortable, concierge experience. His ultimate goal, of course, is cultivating clients who want to fy with him again and again. Round-trip, anyone? sl slmag.net
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The Diversification Challenge How business owners can avoid holding all their wealth in one enterprise
Savvy investors don’t put their entire portfolio in a single stock, yet owners of privately held businesses often keep the bulk of their wealth in one enterprise — their own. This concentration means that business owners face a myriad of financial risks that non-business owners don’t have to worry about. For one, if anything hurts the business’s revenue — such as an economic downturn, a natural disaster or a new competitor entering the market — the owner’s family finances and lifestyle may be exposed. As the business grows more valuable, it’s important for owners to consider diversifying their investments. Fortunately, business owners have a number of ways to reduce their financial risks that don’t necessarily involve forfeiting control of the business. Accumulating Personal Assets Business owners should start by ensuring they have a reserve fund by stockpiling cash from good business years in secure, short-term investments that can help them ride out inevitable market fluctuations and economic rough patches. They should also save money in retirement accounts that are invested in a portfolio of diversified securities. Business ownership is generally considered high risk because many outside forces can affect a company’s value. So business owners should consider putting their personal assets in lower-risk, less-volatile investments such as bonds and broad U.S. stock funds.
Lee Blank, Area Wealth Executive 615.748.6940 Lee.blank@regions.com
Selling Equity Another common diversification strategy used by business owners is monetizing the underlying value of their business. This can include selling equity to key employees, family members or third parties. One way to maintain some management continuity is to begin a
process for taking out a measured amount of ownership each year, formulating how the ownership would be valued, based on the previous year’s results, and selling a stake interest in the business a little at a time. Vested employees can buy shares outright at a predetermined price, be given shares as part of their compensation, or receive shares as part of a profit-sharing program or through a qualified retirement plan. The biggest drawbacks to selling equity, of course, are the potential of giving up future rights to any increased value in the company and sharing some of the current cash flow with other equity holders. Leveraging Value Business owners who aren’t ready to share ownership may have another option: recapitalizing the company using debt. Leveraging real assets or projected cash flow — or a combination of the two — allows owners to securitize a loan against the business and use the cash to invest in a diversified portfolio of securities. The portfolio could be held as a personal asset, while cash flow from the business is used to pay off the loan. Getting Guidance These are just a few of the options available to business owners for protecting and preserving their most vital asset. A good first step is for business owners to sit down with their financial advisor and have a candid discussion on options available. Our team of subject-matter experts stands ready to guide you through this often complicated environment. We look forward to working with you.
Regions’ advice and guidance give you the financial confidence to get where you want to go in life. And our banking solutions and services can help ensure each new transition is a smooth one. Ready to move your life forward? We can help.
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Telling Tales: Stories and Legends in 19th Century American Art, Frist, fristcenter.org/news/detail/2015-frist-center-exhibition-schedule Best Buddies Gala & Casino presented by DNI Corp., Omni Nashville Hotel, bestbuddiestennessee.org/site/c.uwI7LnN6IxF/b.5770055/k.6AEA/Upcoming_Tennessee_Events.htm Ballet Ball, Schermerhorn Symphony Center, nashvilleballet.com/ Pippin (TPAC), TPAC, patron.tpac.org/events/detail/pippin-2015-tpac Arts Appetizer: Pippin (TPAC), Polk Theater Lobby, patron.tpac.org/events/detail/pippin-arts-appetizer-tpac Beethoven and Thomas Hampson (Nash. Symphony), Schermerhorn Symphony Center, nashvillesymphony.org/tickets/concert/beethoven-and-thomas-hampson Main Street Brew Festival (Heritage fndtn.), Downtown Franklin (Main St), downtownfranklintn.com/events/brewfest/ Vienna Boys Chior (Nash. Symphony), Schermerhorn Symphony Center, nashvillesymphony.org/tickets/concert/vienna-boys-choir A St. Patrick’s Day Pop with Natalie MacMaster (Nash. Symphony), Schermerthorn Symphony Center, nashvillesymphony.org/tickets/concert/st-patricks-natalie-macmaster Boyz II Men (Nash. Symphony), Schermerthorn Symphony Center, nashvillesymphony.org/tickets/concert/boyz-ii-men Pied Piper, The Adventures of Young Amadeus (Nash. Symphony), Schermerthorn Symphony Center, nashvillesymphony.org/tickets/concert/the-adventures-of-young-amadeus Cheekwood in Bloom, Cheekwood, cheekwood.org/About/Press.aspx?p=1209
April 1-5 3 4 8 9-11 11 11 14 17 17-18 17 25 25-26 30-5/2
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Nashville Fashion Week (Fashion Forward Fund) Fashion Forward Gala - Oz Nashville, nashvillefashionweek.com/na/schedule/day/4/3 Spring Art Hop (Cheekwood), Cheekwood, cheekwood.org/Public_Programs/Spring_Art_Hop.aspx Cassandra Wilson (Nash. Symphony), Schermerhorn Symphony Center, nashvillesymphony.org/tickets/concert/cassandra-wilson?deeplink=buytix&prodid=4341&perfd=4342 Bernadette Peters (Nash. Symphony), Schermerhorn Symphony Center, nashvillesymphony.org/tickets/concert/bernadette-peters Pied Piper, The Magical World of Tchaikovsky (Nash. Symphony), Schermerhorn Symphony Center, nashvillesymphony.org/tickets/concert/the-magical-world-of-tchaikovsky Only in Nashville (Oasis Center), Oz Nashville, oasiscenter.org/2014/06/only-in-nashville-2014-photos.html Power of the Purse (The Women’s fndtn. / Community fndtn), Music City Center, cfmt.org/explore/initiatives/womens-fund/ Coffee and Classics: Guerrero Conducts Beethoven (Nash. Symphony), Schermerthorn Symphony Center, nashvillesymphony.org/tickets/concert/coffee-and-classics-guerrero-conducts-beethoven Guerrero Conducts Beethoven (Nash. Symmphony), Schermerthorn Symphony Center, nashvillesymphony.org/tickets/concert/guerrero-conducts-beethoven Highballs and Hydrangeas, Cheekwood’s Botanic Hall and Color Garden, highballsandhydrangeas.com/ Whiskey and Wine (Friends of Nashville Ballet), Martin Center for Nashville Ballet, nowplayingnashville.com/event/detail/441474800/Whiskey_and_Wine_A_Tasting_Benefting_Friends_of_Nashville_Ballet Main Street Festival (Heritage fndtn.), Main Street (Franklin), historicfranklin.com/events/main-street-festival Tchaikovsky’s “Pathetique” (Nash. Symphony), Schermerthorn Symphony Center, nashvillesymphony.org/tickets/concert/tchaikovskys-pathetique
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A PEARL ANNIVERSARY
What could be more appropriate to the fnale of the Nashville social season than the thirtieth anniversary celebration of the 2014 Symphony Ball? Te Laura Turner Concert Hall at Te Schermerhorn Symphony Center was a magnifcent sight to behold. Centerpieces overfowing with blush and cream roses and pearls, designed by Mark O’Brien of Te Tulip Tree, themed this milestone Symphony Ball event. Te Craig Duncan Orchestra played as the white-tied guests entered the hall. Te Symphony pipes and drums then followed with tunes of “Highland Cathedral” and “Sleigh Bells.” A lovely dinner was prepared by Kristen Winston Catering as well as Governor Bill Haslam presented the 2014 Harmony Award to Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. What a truly ftting and beautiful couple to recognize. Te Nashville Symphony is truly one of Music City’s greatest treasures, congratulations to 2014 Symphony Ball chairs Karlene Garrard and Anne Maradik for making this evening a Pearl Anniversary Celebration never to be forgotten.
Photography by Allen Clark
Symphony Ball Chairs Karlene Garrard and Anne Maradik
Sam and Beth Harwell, Martha Ingram and Gil Merritt
Gregg and Collie Dailey, Cathy and Clay Jackson
Ted Clayton, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw
Brian Vingelen, Karen, Bob, Albert Doochin, Tifany and Jason Ritchason
Te Honorable Winfeld and Betty Dunn, Janet and Jim Ayers
Richard and Ruth Manson 96 slmag.net
Eric and Barbara Chazen
Mary and Mike Spalding
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Frank and Julie Bohem, Alan Valentine
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GENTLEMEN’S BREAKFAST, SOUTHERN STYLE
When a gentleman receives this Christmas breakfast invitation, he quickly replies, as was the case for Gordon Inman’s 2014 Gentlemen’s Christmas Breakfast. For years, Gordon has hosted a breakfast for some of his closest 500 gentleman friends. Politicians, health care CEO’s, insurance CEO’s, music and television personalities, real estate executives, bank CEO’s – all movers and shakers of Middle Tennessee were in attendance for this grand early Saturday morn breakfast in December. Te event was held at the home of Shawn and Gordon Inman, which upon entering is like stepping into an authentic Italian villa. Te joy of Christmas was displayed throughout this massive home. Te seated breakfast under tent was wonderful, complete with a breakfast of eggs, ham, bacon, sausage and biscuits, all of which even Henry VIII would have enjoyed. As mentioned, this was a gathering of only men. And come to think of it, we men were most entertaining on our own, not that a lovely lady on our arm is not a great thing. I am so looking forward to receiving Gordon’s Southern invite for breakfast later this year.
Harry Chapman, Chris Hope, Hope Hines
Tom Foster, Phil Pfefer, Nelson Sheilds
Winfeld Dunn, Mark Wright, Will Wright
Jon Ayers, Larson and Steve Hardwick
Clay Jackson, Dave Alexander
Kevin Sharp, Bob Echols
Lew Connor, Tim Pagliara, Joe Locke
Dave Ramsey, Jim Rinker
Alex Williams, David Ott
Bob Shell, Chris Holmes, Perry Moulds
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Photography by Allen Clark
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A JEWEL OF A JEWEL Ward-Potts Jewelers hosted quite the afair during the holidays - a customer-appreciation trunk show open house. A percentage of sales went to benefit the Nashville Wine Auction in its fght against cancer. Tis was such an extraordinary holiday shopping experience giving patrons the opportunity to view many wonderful lines of jewelry including Gurham, Heather B. Moore, Slane, Monica Rich Kosann and my favorite Elizabeth Locke. I realize the holiday season has passed, but Ward-Potts Jewelers is and will always be the social’s special and favorite place when it comes to fne jewels.
Photography by Allen Clark
David Hastings and Bill Sites
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Holly Whaley and Cindi Sites
Cindi Sites, Marjorie Feltus-Hastings, Ann Eaden
Jan Schweitzer and Frank Feild
Marty Lee and Bill Sites
Zuraja Aksabanovic, Susan Garrett, Barbara Palumbo
Teresa and Richard Call, Missy Ranney
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AN EVENING OF GLAMOR AND SOPHISTICATION
Not often is one invited for a glamorous evening held at a mega-music icon’s home. Tis was the case celebrating the 2014 Symphony Ball Patrons Celebration held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Grant Gill. Dr. and Mrs. Frank Bohem, Mr and Mrs. Jack Bovender, Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Moore, Mr. and Mrs. James Seabury were co-host Photography by along with Amy and Vince. Upon entering the most festive Christmas-decorated home, patrons were welcomed Kathleen Cofeen by a staircase lined with young musicians of the Symphony providing charming Christmas carols. Tese young, talented and gifted children will be tomorrow’s Nashville Symphony, I’m sure. Cocktails were served prior to the seated dinner under tent. It was a most glamorous evening full of sophistication and elegance, down to the last bite of my favorite desert, vanilla bean crème brulèe with fresh berries and chocolate trufes. Christmas with Amy and Vince only in Nashville and only for the Symphony Ball.
Frank and Julie Bohem, Laurie and Jim Seabury
Bruce and Karen Moore, Amy Grant and Vince Gill
Louis and Karlen Garrard, Anne and Rich Maradik
Betty and Marty Dickens, Ellen Lehman
Al and Sylvia Ganier, Governor Bill Haslam, Mary Evelyn and Clark Jones
Martha Ingram, Maestro and Mrs. Giancarlo Guerrero
Dana Goodman and Brad Tompson 104 slmag.net
Sandy and Jay Sangervasi
Robin and Richard Patten
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Sue and Douglas Joyce
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AN EVENING WITH STYLE
Te Antique and Garden Show of Nashville is the largest of its kind in the country. Combining spectacular gardens, fne antiques, and horticultural items into one outstanding mid-winter event. Founded in 1990 by Connie Cigarran and the late Sigourney Cheek, to date this event has raised over 6 million dollars on behalf of Cheekwood and The Economic Club of Nashville. Keynote speaker, award winning actress, Dianne Keaton opened the show with an outstanding attendance of Nashville’s interior designers, architects, landscape architects and Nashville’s taste makers. Tis year the theme was “Style” which was most ftting being that Annette de la Renta and the late Oscar de la Renta were honorary chairs. Te entrance garden by Cheekwood focused on a mannequin in an Oscar style gown made of greenery and fowers, quite spectacular. Congratulations on this yearlong volunteer job to the chairmen Julie Fleming and Kae Gallagher.
Photography by Kathleen Cofeen
Elaine and Ashley Sullivan, Andrew and Maryanne Byrd
Tom and Kae Gallagher, Julie and Richard Fleming
Spook and Felice Oldacre, Sandy and Jay Sangervasi
Glory Beall, Peggy Craig, Cathy Jackson, Libby Perryman
Connie Cigarran, Betty Hadley, Tom Cigarran
Elizabeth and Mark McDonald, Karin Eaton
Buddy and Debbie Best, Sally and Neely Coble
Landy and Joy Gardner
Hellie Luck and Jackie Hicks
Alice Broughton Cox, Dede, Alex and Mary Wade
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BEARDS FOR BEARD
Te second annual Friends of James Beard Foundation held the most unique whole-hog competition at Green Door Gourmet in late fall of 2014. Te month of November or “Movember” involves men growing mustaches and beards to raise cancer awareness, as was the case with the six prominent Nashville chefs competing in this year’s competition. Tey wore mustaches and beards, real and fake. “What a better way to celebrate Tennessee in the fall than with a whole-hog competition. Our Beards for Beard chefs are the cream of the crop in our area!” said Sylvia Ganier, owner of Green Door Gourmet. Indeed Sylvia, your chefs were the cream of the crop, I have never witnessed such creativity with a hog.
Photography by Allen Clark
Nick Howard, Brandon Frohne
Richard Jones, Sylvia Ganier, David Harris
Mary and Tim Schoettel, Cathy Altenburn, Angela Murphy, John Spence
Alice, Benno Albert Rolli, and Bob Collie
Bob and Gayle Patterson
Russ and Tifany Long, Stephanie and Reid Shippen 110 slmag.net
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Te Hog Slop Stringband
Vickie and Rick Horne
LA BELLA NOTTE, AN EVENING OF SONG & DINING At La Bella Notte Carnival, the attire was most imaginative with colorful, elaborate and detailed costumes fush with feathers, metallic cloth, gems and butterfies. Oh, and the performers and dancers looked swell, too. Tis was a knockout evening transforming the Downtown Hilton Hotel in to a festive Rio street parade. Kathleen Evers, Queen of Rio, did a splendid job chairing the event that benefted Te Nashville Opera Guild. Ann Marie and Martin McNamara served as honorary chairs. Te Francis Robinson Award was presented to Dr. Helen Brown. It was an extraordinary evening to remember, from the festive paper mâchè foral centerpieces to the creative face painting as seen on Anne Sheppard’s beautiful face, to the fnest in song and dining.
Jef and Ester Swink, Kathleen and Barney Evers
Phyllis Alper, Ed and Betty Taxston
Trey Moye, Roger Moore, Brian Jackson
Connie and Jason Bergeron with performer Corrick Jones
Te Glamorous Ann Sheppard
Andy Valentine and Nancy Coleman
Jamie Ford, Stacey Widelitz, Lynn Morrow
Ann Marie and Martin McNamara
Hunt and Debye Oliver
Doreatha and Andre Churchwell
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Photography by Allen Clark
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Rehearsal dinner, reception, engagement party, or brunch – whatever the event, Giovanni offers the perfect setting for your joyous occasion. Guests will enjoy a chic yet relaxed atmosphere and inspired Northern Italian cuisine. Call Giovanni himself to discuss your big day at this quaint midtown Nashville ristorante. 615.760.5932
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LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE
Nashville’s philanthropic leaders gathered late last fall for the Leadership by Example event, an exclusive celebration of the United Way of Metropolitan Nashville’s Tocqueville Society. Janet and Jim Ayers, Lisa and John Campbell and Lisa and Mike Shmerling were the 2014 Tocqueville Society Alpha Chapter Chair and Host couples. Tis impressive society was founded in 1981 by Dr. Tomas Frist Jr. and to date, its members have invested more than $117 million. Te society’s great showing placed it frst in membership and second in revenue among all cities similar in size. More than 200 philanthropic leaders gathered at the Belle Meade Country Club for the event.
Jim Ayers, Allison Halbrook, Janet Ayers
Alice Hooker, John and Lisa Campbell
Te original Society Founders
Bettye and Jimmy Perkins, Irene Wills
Brenda and Joe Steakley
Ben and Joan Rector
Bettye Sue and Robert McNeilley
Mary Lee Jackson, Tom and Katie Steele 116 slmag.net
Photography by Allen Clark
Cathy Brown and Tom Curtis
Rick Hart, Debbie and Fred Cassetty
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RED GROOMS
Te Douglas Henry State Museum Commission and the Board of the State Museum hosted an evening with Red Grooms. Te Blue and the Gray was a study of Grooms’ paintings of generals and the War Between the States. It graced the walls of this historic building. Cocktails and Southern hors d’oeuvres were served prior to the introduction of the artist, who gave his thoughts and knowledge of Te Civil War. Tis exhibit titled “What Is to Become of the People,” Te Civil War and Reconstruction in Tennessee was a great exhibit for Te Tennessee State Museum.
Robert Hicks and Red Grooms
Nancy Russell, Andrew Potts, Holly Hofman
Mary and Hank Brockman
Robert Hicks, Joanne and Gary Haynes
Juanita Cate, Tish Fort, Eleanor Willis
Buck Cole, Dorothy Earthman, Clare Armistead, David White
David White and Dianne Neal 120 slmag.net
Photography by Allen Clark
Betty and Ed Taxston
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Joyce and Steve Woods
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SUNDAY AFTERNOON TEA
Nashville Public Television hosted a brilliant afternoon tea to celebrate the new Season 5 of Downton Abbey. Guests arrived via motor coaches in Edwardian attire to enjoy tea, champagne, scrumptious English tidbits consisting of layered sandwiches, cakes and scones, teacakes, pastries and petit fours. Champagne was donated by Vicki Turner and the lovely English spread was compliments of Bacon and Caviar Gourmet Catering. I can almost imagine being a guest for tea hosted by Lord and Lady Crawley and fnding the latest issue of Sophisticated Living Magazine on the over-stufed tufted ottoman or cofee table. Lord Crawley, Earl of Grantham would be reading of Nashville’s most comprehensive dining experiences, while Lady Mary and Lady Edith would be glancing through the social society. Tom, the chaufeur who married into the family, would have been mad for the article on the L.A. Motor Show. Ah, yes, the Crawley family all would be enjoying our latest Issue!
Beth Curley, Rachael Jakubovitz
Michael and Martha Bess DeWitt, Grindle and Charles Sloan
Lyn and Hardin Patrick
Cynthia Trainer, Bill Murphy, Morgan Byrn, Lisa Rehs
Lori Murphy, Beth Curley, Jennifer Murphy
Richard and Teresa Call, Claire, Kristine and Mark Pierret
Laura Huie, Lyn Borges 124 slmag.net
Photography by Allen Clark
Candy and Scott Mertie
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Denise Alper, Lisa Ellis, Vickie Horne
Music usic City’s ity s
d n a B t Bigges
Your Nashville Symphony | Live at the schermerhorn
VIENNA BOYS CHOIR March 15
A ST. PATRICK’S POPS WITH NATALIE MACMASTER
BOYZ II MEN
EMANUEL AX
March 19 to 21
April 3 & 4
with the Nashville Symphony
with the Nashville Symphony
& the Nashville Symphony
March 17 These singers perform everything from waltzes to classical masterpieces to modern pop hits.
BERNADETTE PETERS with the Nashville Symphony
April 9 to 11
Celebrate St. Paddy’s Day with a night of toe-tapping jigs, reels and songs celebrating family, home and tradition.
Hits including “End of the Road,” “I’ll Make Love to You” and “On Bended Knee,” along with classic Motown soul.
FAMILY CONCERT
MICHAEL DAUGHERTY WORLD PREMIERE
THE MAGICAL WORLD OF TCHAIKOVSKY
GUERRERO CONDUCTS BEETHOVEN
April 11 at 11 AM
April 17 & 18
with the Nashville Symphony
The star of stage and screen sings Rodgers and Hammerstein, Sondheim and other Broadway hits.
Dancers and musicians bring classics from Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and Nutcracker vividly to life.
Amazing pianist Ax performs Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 14 and Strauss’ Burleske. Plus works by Haydn and Debussy.
KENNY G
with the Nashville Symphony
May 7 to 9
with the Nashville Symphony
Featuring Beethoven’s landmark Symphony No. 1., plus new American classics by Michael Daugherty.
An evening of smooth jazz as only this wonderful saxophonist can deliver — with your Nashville Symphony.
AEGIS
SCIENCES FOUNDATION EST. 2013
615.687.6400 | NashvilleSymphony.org
WINE, WOMEN AND SHOES
Sounds like an odd combination? Not at all in Music City where women love their wine and shoes and all other designer goods, not to mention a glamorous runway fashion show hosted by Chip Esten, star of the TV Series Nashville. Amanda Weeks-Geveden and Jessica Ralston were the lovely co-chairs of an event that indeed raised the bar for philanthropy and fashion to beneft the YWCA. For over a century the YWCA has been the place where the women of Nashville turn when in need. Fun, fashion, and wine- the three came together to create a great event for such a tremendous cause.
Susan Prespare’, Janna Landry, Karen McKutchen
Vesia Hawkins, Carrington Fox, Kasey Anderson
Christie Wilson, Beth Chase, Pat Shea, Carol Daniels
Amanda Weeks-Geveden, Jessica Ralston
Nina Kuzina and Lisa Hughey
Stormy Warren and Megan Alexander 126 slmag.net
Photography by Kathleen Cofeen
Debbie James, Ginger Jones, Karen Roach
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Original oil on canvas C
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for consultation (615) 456-8580
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