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{Cincinnati’s Finest} slmag.net
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Jan/Feb 2010 five dollars
18
Gansters & Gamblers Gala
19
Zoo Brew
20
Football 101
21
Red Tie Gala
22
Blessing of the Hounds
33
Sunshine Status
46
Chilean Wine
60
Bibliotaph
62
Of Note... Animal Attraction
64
Veneer
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From the Editor-In-Chief The afternoon of April 5, 2005 stands out in my mind as the last time I can remember feeling totally and completely relaxed. I was lounging poolside at a resort in Naples, and while this activity (or lack thereof ) is enough of a trigger for almost every other person in the world to unwind, my mind is constantly preoccupied by thoughts of what’s to come in the next hour, day or week. Short of an unbeknownst lobotomy, I have no idea what magical combination of events occurred on that particular day to leave me in a tingly state of mindless bliss. The ability to revisit that moment has become a personal Holy Grail of sorts, as well as a Catch 22: the effort I expend trying to relax actually inhibits my ability to do so. A recent visit to The Ritz Carlton, Palm Beach (see related story beginning on page 33) triggered memories of that aforementioned afternoon. I was having lunch with Jacqueline Pfeffer, the resort’s PR coordinator, and a passionate yoga instructor. Having seen scores of yoga materials, the majority featuring a lithe model in a scorpion pose or some other contortion that seems to defy the laws of gravity, I told her that I always wanted to try yoga but never had because I have the flexibility of a two-by-four. She replied that flexibility (or lack thereof ) is unique to each individual and that a person’s range of motion can change on a daily basis. After lunch, I ventured down to the beach and reflected on our conversation: Could the same principle of uniqueness apply to a person’s ability to relax? Given the choice to spend an active afternoon or lounge in a cabana, I’ll always happily choose the former. I concluded that afternoon all those years ago must have been a fluke, and rather than apply my New Year’s resolve trying to “relax” more, I decided to accept the fact that I thrive in a state of perpetual activity. As we are in the heart of resolution season, I’ve decided to take the relaxation quest off of my annual list. While I’m at it, I thought I’d go ahead and make and break two of my other oft made resolutions in order to banish the guilt that comes with broken promises and free up time to focus on more worthy pursuits. 1. Lose 10 pounds The perpetual desire of women everywhere, I’ve yet to decipher just how the accomplishment of this seemingly daunting fete will prove to dramatically alter the course of my life. Goodness knows that the 10 pounds I’ve been trying to shed since high school have undoubtedly taken up permanent residence, so I think I’ll just be happy with the fact that I can still run six miles without too many aches and pains and hope that skinny jeans go out of style soon. 2. Spend more quality time in the kitchen I truly enjoy cooking and have for many years. While the results aren’t always worthy of a Michelin star – ask my mother and sister and you’re likely to believe that my tombstone will read, “here lies the instigator of the great ‘meatloaf on a cloud’ debacle,” – nine times out of 10 (well, maybe eight of 10) the result is palatable. Despite my best intentions, long hours in the office, combined with a bevy of afterschool activities means that home-cooked meals often involve reading the instructions on the back of a box rather than a dog eared recipe from a back issue of Saveur. However, before I throw in the spatula, I’m looking forward to spending some quality time with a recently acquired copy of The Blackberry Farm Cookbook (see Bibliotaph on page 58). Instead of resolutions, this year I’ve decided to think bigger and adopt an approach proposed by Dr. Geoff Tabin, a world-class mountain climber and medical crusader dedicated to treating preventable blindness in the developing world. In a recent issue of National Geographic Adventure, which chronicled his herculean physical and medical feats, he was quoted as saying “I try to take the golden retriever approach to life. Try to be friendly to everyone. You get more done that way.” By adopting this positive outlook, I surmise that even if my epicurean efforts fall short, at least I can serve Hamburger Helper with a smile. sl 14 slmag.net
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EDITOR - IN - CHIEF Bridget Williams ______________________________________________ ASSOCIATE EDITORS Kay Matton Jen Dotson ART DIRECTOR Jason Yann
even more of the luxury lifestyle slmag.net
CONTRIBUTORS Writers Patti Bailey Dr. Matthew Bessen Ellana Bessen Bob Beggs Kirby Camm Matthew Boone Gardiner Scott Harper Rex Lyons Photographers Tony Bailey Chad Henle Tyler Pelan Neil Sulier Andrew Kung COPY EDITOR Jennifer Newton Allison O’Daniel Director of Photography Eric Williams Advertising Sales Office 502.582.6563 ______________________________________________ Publisher Eric Williams Sophisticated Living is published by Sophisticated Living, LLC, P.O. BOX 1229, Prospect, Kentucky 40059 USA. All Rights Reserved. Sophisticated Living is published six times a year. All images and editorial are the property of Sophisticated Living, LLC and cannot be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission. Annual subscription fees are $25.00; please add $5 for subscriptions outside the US. Single copies may be purchased for $5 at select fine retail outlets. Address all subscription inquiries to: Sophisticated Living, PO Box 1229, Prospect, KY 40059. To order back issues or reprints of 100 or more, call 502.582.6563.
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OF THINGS TO COME
Featuring 150 antique and horticultural dealers • 6 uniquely designed gardens Benefiting the Exchange Club Charities, Inc. & Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art
February 11–13, 2010 | Nashville Convention Center | Nashville, TN
LECTURE SERIES SPONSORED BY ANDREW W. BYRD CO., LLC Her Grace, The Duchess of Northumberland The Great Gardens of Alnwick February 11, 2010 at 10:30 am
Michael S. Smith Decorator to the White House February 11, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Ryan Gainey Award Winning Garden Designer and Author February 12, 2010 at 10:30 am
For tickets or more information, visit www.antiquesandgardenshow.com or call us at 800.891.8075 or 615.352.9064 Ticket Outlets: Harris Teeter, Davis-Kidd Booksellers and Borders Books
Gansters & Gamblers Gala
The Greater Cincinnati Mortgage Bankers Association held their 17th annual Gangsters & Gamblers Gala to benefit Tender Mercies at the Newport Syndicate. Tender Mercies provides housing and related services to more than 150 homeless persons in Over-TheRhine with histories of emotional and/or mental disabilities.
Monica & Ed Putnick
Jennifer & Kent McKenzie
Bud & Carmen Putnick
Mike Flaherty, Jane Fischer
Linda Stickley, Diana DeVore, Tina CanSant, Kelly Scovanner
April Maurer, Barbie Hahn
Dan & Sally Karl
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Photography by Tony Bailey
www.facebook.com/SophisticatedLiving
Barbie & Michael Hahn
Photography by Tony Bailey
Zoo Brew
Presented by Key Bank, Zoo Brew is part of the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden’s “Toast to the Wild” event series to benefit Crew, the Lindner Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife.
Gina, Chris & Damon Dibari
David & Cheryl Miyamasu
Fia Cifuentes, Bruce & Jan Hughes
Melissa McMahan, Jenny Kuykendoll
Meghan Mattson, Rob Earhart
Mark & Jennifer Barton
Kristal Lawrence, Joey Condit, Dustin Winebrenner, Shadia Haddad
Simone Matthews, Erin Rasmussen
Find more photos at slmag.net.
sophisticated slmag.net living 19
Football 101
The Cincinnati Bengals and the Marvin Lewis Community Fund teamed up to host football 101 at Paul Brown Stadium. Lewis and members of the Bengal’s coaching staff taught the rules and nuances of the game to the 450 women in attendance using hands-on demonstrations, video presentations and VIP tours of the locker room, weight room and playing field. Lewis presented Karen Sacksteder, CEO of Sacksteder’s Interiors and Design Group and a breast cancer survivor, with the annual Pink Football award.
Ellen Perfect, Cathy Crume, Patti Fink
Angie Fisher, Keli Corey
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Photography by Tony Bailey
Donna Wimmers, Carol Thomas, Stacy Hunter
Sally Vianello, Lisa Bucher
Monica Weakley, Donna Browning, Natacha Hodges, Tiphanie Hodges
Charlotte Jacobs, Cindy Falk, Julie Raleigh
Holly Simms, Tata Flickinger, Andrea Zieverink
Kimberly Holmes
Karen Sacksteder, Marvin Lewis, Shelly Maxwell, Tracie Metzger
www.facebook.com/SophisticatedLiving
Red Tie Gala
Photography by Tony Bailey
The 2009 Red Tie Gala to benefit Ronald McDonald House sported a new look this year. Co-chaired by Chrissie Blatt and Daphne Jurgensen and held at the Hyatt Regency Cincinnati, the minimalist-chic decor evoked feelings of “red” - love, energy, passion and excitement. Dr. Alberto Pena and Dr. Marc Levitt, the director and associate director of the Colorectal Center at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award. Ned Lanzit, who has dedicated almost ten years and countless volunteer hours to the House, received the House Advocate Award.
Chrissie Blatt & Daphne Jurgenson
Kara Lanzarotta, Vivian Bachman, Beth Silverman
Gordy & Cathy Snyder
Bev & Scott Mitchell
Becky & Tom Curti
Theresa Bess, Lynn Sutter, Susan Fay, Nancy Hoffman
Larry & Jenny Hagen
Mary Keller, Donna Roberson
Andrea & Dr. Alberto Pena
Find more photos at slmag.net.
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Blessing of the Hounds
Deacon Bryant Kibbler presided over the annual Iroquois Hunt Club blessing of the hounds on the front lawn of the old mill that serves as the Club’s headquarters. At the conclusion of the ceremony, gathered riders mounted their horses and moved off with their hounds up the hill to Miller Trust Farm to enjoy a stirrup cup prior to start the hunt. Martie Mayer chaired and organized both the Blessing Day and the hunt celebration day later that evening
Photography by Eric Williams
Jane Scott Hodges, Talley & Nalty Hodges
Lynn de Seroux, Betsy Van Nagell
Libby & Justin Sautter with their daughters
Chett & Diane Lott
Kristi & Alex Martin
Irv & Selma Harris
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Find more photos at slmag.net.
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An historic home gets a modern makeover 24 slmag.net
A painting by Kathleen Lolly hangs above an original fireplace mantel. The custom cerused oak table matches the vanity in the guest bathroom.
t i o n
“ I l e t t h e m a j e s t i c a l l y p ro p o r t i o n e d ro o m s s p e a k f o r themselves,� said Kip Rodrigue of the highly edited interior design he created for a condominium carved out of a gracious manse constructed in the 1840s. While the developer was careful to retain historic authenticity on the outside, inside, each condominium has a distinctly modern aesthetic. Interior designer Kip Rodrigue became involved in the project from its inception as a design consultant and helped to design a new front portico, select historically accurate paint colors for the exterior and choose baseline interior finishes. When it came time to work on their own condominium, the developers/homeowners (who became husband and wife in the midst of the project) asked Rodrigue to spearhead the interior design, as his style closely matched their own. Rather than combine a mishmash of furnishings from their single lives, the couple largely chose to start fresh, which gave Rodrigue a great deal of creative freedom. Their secondfloor unit had great bones from which to start, namely 12-foot ceilings, 2,100 square feet of open rooms with tall windows, original fireplace mantels, and detailed trim work and casings.
Written by Bridget Williams | Photography by Eric Williams
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Windows were purposefully left bare to highlight the architecture.
The guest bathroom mimics a chic hotel with a cerused oak vanity and f loor-to-ceiling honey onyx tiles.
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The floor plan is very conducive to casual living and entertaining, as there are no walls that partition off the living, kitchen and sitting rooms from one another. The carefully selected furnishings and accessories in the living room seamlessly meld with the architecture, and the mix of exposed brick, supple leathers and shiny chrome provides a great deal of visual interest. “I am not a big fan of tsatskes,” joked Rodrigue. Indeed, after a quick glance around, you will notice that nothing was added unless essential to the core aesthetic. The windows are purposefully bare to highlight the casing. The room, while modern, is not without subtle touches of glamour, as evidenced in a pair of mirrored side tables and a gleaming vintage chrome and enamel cigarette machine opposite the fireplace. The kitchen is completely custom-made, from the cabinetry to the gleaming chimney-style range hood. The countertops are Absolute granite that has been honed, rather than polished, so as not to compete with the other lustrous elements in the room. Chrome pendant lights are suspended above the island and act as convex mirrors. Lucite is a common element among Rodrigue’s designs and is represented in this project via the counter stools. The original fireplace mantel was left in the kitchen, its original aged patina left intact as a unique contrast to the room’s more modern elements. A cerused oak table, centered with the fireplace, is flanked by a pair of wellworn leather club chairs. The chairs are two of the few pieces the homeowners brought from their previous residence. Above the mantel is a painting by Kathleen Lolly, whose paintings have appeared in both Elle and Vogue Japan. Because the homeowners prefer to dine casually around the kitchen island, what would otherwise be used as the dining room has been made into a comfortable sitting room. A television, tucked into one corner, is almost completely out of view unless you are seated on the persimmon-colored leather sectional. Above the sectional is a contemporary painting by Dave Metcalf. French doors lead to a large covered porch with decorative iron railings. During the building renovation, a large addition was added to the rear of the home to create two bedrooms with en-suites in all four units. The design and construction was carried out in such a way that the addition remains true to the design of the original structure. Even though the addition is quite large, from the street the building still appears to be a single-family home, albeit a very grand one. The guest bathroom looks as though it was transplanted from a chic hotel. The cerused oak vanities were designed by Rodrigue and custom-built. Small squares of honey onyx tiles stretch floor-to-ceiling in the Zen-like space.
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The kitchen was completely custom designed by interior designer Kip Rodrigue. Absolute granite countertops are honed so as not to compete with the other lustrous elements in the room. 30 slmag.net
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The master suite is a study in serenity. Above the platform bed is a metal artwork by Tom Dixson. To the casual observer, it appears to be an abstract painting on canvas, but it is actually a piece of steel that was left outside to weather naturally and bent to mimic an artist’s canvas. Rodrigue remarked that it was no easy feat to safely secure the heavy piece to the wall. A floorlength mirror leans against the wall near the door to a second covered balcony. A pair of simple bedside tables and a Peter Protzman credenza, circa 1970, are the only other pieces of furniture in the room. With nearly every surface covered in a sea of cirrus blue glass tile, it could easily be argued that the master bathroom is the most dramatic room in the home. The space delights all of the senses, with free floating consoles, a bamboo vessel sink, flushmounted shelving displaying a carefully selected collection of pottery and antique-style jars, and sleek chrome fixtures. “This project was just a perfect fit for me,” said Rodrigue. The “quirky sensibility of the clients,” as he puts it, and the ability to juxtapose different materials such as chrome, brick and steel with contemporary and antique furnishings made the project a particularly satisfying one for him. sl 32 slmag.net
With nearly every surface covered in cirrus blue tile, the master bathroom is quite stunning. The free-floating console and vanity are made of bamboo.
Sunshine Status The Breakers, Palm Beach p34
Costa d’Este, Vero Beach p38
The Ritz Carlton, Palm Beach p40
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The Breakers, Palm Beach
Unapologetically indulgent is one way to describe the enduring allure of The Breakers. Few rivals are willing and able to spend upwards of $20 million annually to keep things appearing the same as they ever were – which is to say at the pinnacle of fivestar service and amenities. It’s such a sensory-rich experience that the subtle scent of hair or skin perfumed with their privatelabel Sun Petals products instantly transports me to a Palm Beach state of mind. For the uninitiated, The Breakers is a 540-room Italian Renaissance-style hotel situated on 140 acres of the most coveted oceanfront real estate in Palm Beach. Founded in 1896 by Henry Morrison Flagler and still family owned by his descendants, the original property, destroyed by fire in 1903, was rebuilt twice more, in 1904 and again in 1926, at a cost of $7 million. The signature entrance, a 1,040-foot boulevard flanked by stately palm trees, manicured shrubbery and flowering tropical plants culminates at a Florentine Fountain patterned after the fountain at the Boboli Gardens in Florence. The front façade, punctuated by twin Belvedere 34 slmag.net
towers with graceful arches, is reminiscent of the Villa Medici in Rome. The grandioseness continues in the lobby, which draws inspiration from the Great Hall of the Palazzo Carega (circa 1560) in Genoa. With an exhaustive list of amenities, The Breakers is much more than just a pretty face. The resort features 36 holes of championship golf, including The Ocean Course and The Breakers Rees Jones Course; 10 tennis courts; a 20,000-square-foot luxury spa; a new $15 million Mediterranean-style beach club with a half-mile of private beach and 20 fully-equipped, luxurious beach bungalows for daytime-rental (a comfortable respite for a day spent transitioning between the beach and the three oceanside pools - lap pool, main pool and children's pool, and whirlpool spa); a Family Entertainment Center with an arcade, movie and gaming areas; an extensive program of family and children’s activities; and, a variety of water sports. There are nine distinct restaurant concepts at The Breakers that cater to every dining whim, from poolside
sandwiches to Muscovy duck “L’Orange” Roulade served in a most refined setting. The latter can be found at L’Escalier, the resort’s eponymous haven for contemporary French cuisine enthusiasts and those looking for an authentic white tablecloth experience void of pretense. Now in his second season, Chef de Cuisine Greg Vassos - whose decades of experience include apprenticeships and cooking alongside esteemed Michelin-starred chefs - is quite capable at the helm. Each course, abundant with the freshest seasonal ingredients, is exquisitely presented as a work of art, featuring bold and complex flavors that amaze yet do not overwhelm. Complementing the dining experience is the available expert consultation from Virginia Santarsiero Philip, the Breakers’ wine director and Master Sommelier. Only the 10th woman to earn the esteemed Master Sommelier certification, Santarsiero Philip leads a team of five sommeliers (including Master Sommelier Juan Gomez) who have assembled an exceptional list of more than 1,600 wine selections for L’Escalier. The sommeliers also sustain a magnificent 7,800-bottle display
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wine cellar, which showcases only a fraction of The Breakers’ noteworthy 28,000-bottle collection. Rivaling L’Escalier’s flair for the dramatic is the Top of the Point restaurant, which crowns the top floor of the Phillips Point office building’s east tower in the heart of West Palm Beach. Part of the private Phillips Point Club, The Breakers completely overhauled every aspect of the Club environment following their takeover in June 2008. Capitalizing on its urban setting and stunning, panoramic views of the Intracoastal Waterway, Atlantic Ocean and Palm Beach, the new facility is chicly outfitted with ebonized and polished woods complemented by warm wall colors and supple leather upholstery. Open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday, the menu includes steakhouse favorites, fresh seafood and inventive sides served in generous proportion. If you are lucky, you might get a glimpse of Argentine polo standout Nacho Figueras at Echo, another of The
Breakers outstanding off-site restaurants. Featuring edgy contemporary décor that attracts an equally chic crowd, Echo serves outstanding dishes with flavors that pull from the cuisines of China, Thailand, Japan and Vietnam. The menu is arranged into Five Elements: Wind (small plates), Fire (creations from an open flame wok), Water (sushi, seafood and shellfish), Earth (meat, game, poultry and produce) and Flavor (desserts). From January 4 through April 27, 2010, the resort is offering a “Breakers Re wards” program, providing $100 or $200 nightly credits per room (based on type of accommodations) for significant savings on resort amenities. Rates start at $499 per room per night, based on availability. For reservations or more information, visit www.thebreakers. com, call toll-free 888.BREAKERS (273.2537) or contact your travel professional.
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Costa d’Este, Vero Beach
The laid-back beachside hamlet of Vero Beach is the kind of tight-knit community where locals gather at the corner coffee shop each morning to greet and gossip and are just as eager to chat it up with visitors (where the six degrees of separation rule almost always rings true). Just an hour-and-a-half from the hustle of Palm Beach and part of the “Treasure Coast,” the city boasts wide, uncrowded beaches, varied art and cultural values (twice named one of the best small art towns in America), fine dining and cozy mom-and-pop-style eateries, quaint shops and a host of outdoor pursuits. Instantly recognized by its distinctive mid-century modern architecture and enviable location on Ocean Drive in the heart of Vero Beach, Costa d’Este, singer Gloria and Emilio Estefan’s $50-million hotel, opened its doors in June of 2008. The 94-room beachfront property began life as the Palm Court Hotel, which was severely damaged by hurricanes in 2004. The design scheme for the architecture and interior design draws from various organic geometric expressions, particularly the circle, which is demonstrated in dramatic fashion via the porte 38 slmag.net
cochere entrance with a dramatic waterfall-style fountain. A onestory connector, flanked by twin, five-story towers whose façades feature bas reliefs of random-patterned circles, creates a horseshoe shape that opens to the beach and envelopes a long infinity-edge pool and spa, a focal point throughout the day and night. The interiors are minimalist chic, with muted colors drawn from natural materials and textures, including limestone, teak, bronze and woven fabrics. Near the reception counter, an image of a ghostly purple orchid (Gloria’s favorite flower) is projected on a bronze chain metal curtain. Each of the guestrooms incorporates custom straightlined teak furniture-style credenzas, platform beds with backlit headboards, marble flooring, an I-pod docking station, crisp white Egyptian cotton bedding, flat panel televisions and complimentary high-speed wireless internet. Bathroom vanities share the same lines as furnishings in the bedroom and feature distinctive, oval-shaped showers lined in tumbled limestone with built-in benches and Kohler rain showerheads and a Hansgrohe hand-held shower fixture. Nine cabana rooms with private beachfront gardens are accented by fabric sunshades and furnished with a chaise for lounging and a table for dining alfresco. Three corner suites offer one bedroom, two full baths and a separate living area. The expansive presidential suite offers a master bedroom with private dressing room and bath, as well as an optional second bedroom. Large sliding rice paper panels connect the suite to its living area, complete with a state-of-theart audio/visual entertainment system. Rounding out the unit is a gourmet kitchen, dining room and four oceanfront balconies. If a trip to the spa is a vacation prerequisite, the Spa at Costa d’Este is the only resort spa in Vero Beach. An intimate space located on two-levels, the spa’s Zen-like décor features wall coverings crafted of mother-of-pearl mosaic tiles and sea grass, marble and wood-plank flooring, limestone surfaces and walnut furnishings. Facilities include relaxation areas and four treatment rooms, including a couple’s suite. “Spa at Costa d’Este is a distinctive experience from the moment a client steps in the door and exemplifies the owners’ philosophy that our guests should want for nothing,” said Awilda Rivera, the resort’s general manager. Opposite the spa’s reception area is a well-equipped fitness center with partial ocean views. Even if you are not lodging at Costa d’Este, the property’s outstanding signature restaurant, Oriente, is a worthy destination on its own. Named for Cuba’s Oriente region, the cuisine pays homage to the Estefans’ heritage. The bold interior
design includes a “peek-a-boo” window to the bustling kitchen, reinforced by teak wall panels, slate ledger-stone and patterned, woven fabrics the color of aged rum. An owners’ roundtable seating eight is located in the center, while plush banquettes line the walls. The bar is laced with backlit, hand-wrought ironwork and topped with a honed slab of concrete. Low-slung cocktail seating is positioned to optimize conversation and views of oversized plasma monitors. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, Oriente is unrivaled in the region in terms of its bold exploration of Latin American, Spanish and Creole traditions. Executive Chef David Rodriguez, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and a member of the American Culinary Federation and the prestigious Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, watches over the dining room like a mother hen, chatting with guests and ensuring that every last detail is properly attended to. “Something special happens in the evenings at Oriente,” said Rodriguez. “Naturally I’m biased, but many, many restaurant guests tell me they come first because they are curious, but they come back again and again for the great food and the energy, which is really alive here.” Lacking the corn syrupy flavor typically inherent in cocktails using a premixed base, a refreshing pre-dinner madefrom-scratch “Mosaic Mojito” was the best I have ever had. In addition to a number of specialty cocktails, the restaurant’s wine cellar is well stocked with South American, Spanish and Californian selections, along with selected French, South African and Australian vintages. Having difficulty narrowing our choices from the expansive dinner menu, we opted to dine tapas-style, by choosing several dishes from the small plates selection to share. A surprising standout and representative of the menu’s overall inventiveness was the seared tofu, an intensely flavorful dish that incorporated red miso, piquillo peppers, edamame and Latin aromatics. Music is the pulse of Costa d’Este. While a Latin beat reverberates with varying intensity throughout the public spaces, it is the heart of the vibrant beachfront pool area. During the day, the cadence of activity is relaxed. As the sun sets, the activity ramps up as an eclectic mix of locals and guests gather around the poolside bar or congregate en masses on circular loungers. Adding energy to the mix is a DJ on Friday and Saturday evenings and a live band on Sunday afternoons, bringing a little Miami heat to Vero Beach. Costa d’Este is located at 3244 Ocean Drive in Vero Beach. For more information or reservations, call 877.562.9919 or visit www.costadeste.com.
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The Ritz Carlton, Palm Beach
What a difference $130 million can make. My last visit to The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach just prior to their major renovation project was, to be frank, a bit underwhelming. While the hallmark of a Ritz-Carlton stay – unparalleled customer service – was on par with other Ritz properties, the décor was tired and dated. The spa and fitness facilities were operated out of cramped quarters in the lower level, and the children’s program was held in a repurposed guest room. This time around, I was wowed from the get-go. The 310-room property is presently only one of four Ritz-Carlton resorts in the United States to have earned both Mobil Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond accolades. The elegant, expansive lobby serves as the resort’s living room, and as such, interprets the Palm Beach experience by putting a contemporary spin on hallmarks of high design. Whereas period antiques and fine oil paintings were once displayed in a staid setting with saturated colors, today they seem equally at home as part of a soft tropical color palette and juxtaposed with youthful large-scale iridescent damask and geometric upholstery, antique mirrored finishes and chinoiserie flourishes. 40 slmag.net
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Honestly, it was the accolades lauded by snowbird friends regarding the new Eau Spa that piqued my interest to return. So blissful was my afternoon at the new 42,000-square-foot sensory playground that I texted ‘EMG’ (substituting Eau for Oh in the ubiquitous ‘OMG’) to a friend who had inquired about the experience. Inside the glass doors is a Baroque and Turkish fantasy that left me feeling a little like Alice in her whimsical wonderland (a feeling underscored by a backward-ticking clock projected on the floor just inside the entrance). After checking in, I was led past the Beautique to an expansive room where a domed copper leaf ceiling soared above a wishing well. After selecting everything from the color of the ambient light of my treatment room to the essential oils and soundtrack, I was given a floating tea light and instructed to make a wish and set the candle adrift in the water. Moving on to the scrub and polish bar, my neck careened from side to side as I tried to take everything in. An on-site mixologist helped me make a fresh-to-order scrub (I opted for the lavender and mint mixture) that could be applied in the 42 slmag.net
bath lounge following my facial. Having arrived early, I made a cup of tea, selected one of the spa’s signature mini chocolate cupcakes and settled in a comfortable chaise located underneath a magnificent chandelier crafted by UK artist John Harrington from 300 crystal stemware glasses. There are 19 total treatment rooms, 12 of which have private outdoor gardens. Single garden rooms boast a hanging chair and an outdoor shower, while the double rooms feature an outdoor soaking tub, shower, waterfall and day bed. After my treatment, I headed to the 2,000-square-foot bath lounge. A flock of oversized rubber ducks bobbed in the hot tub. Overhead, a water shower circle created the feeling of a gentle rain. After a refreshing soak, I melted into a heated chaise lounge and wondered how I could retrofit one for my desk chair. Before heading outside to the Self-Centered garden, I poked my head into the sauna and was surprised to find penguin statues looking back at me from carved-out nooks. In similar unexpected fashion, reflected light from an overhead disco ball bounced around on glistening water molecules in the steam room.
At one end of the garden is a mirror mosaic, over which flows a heated waterfall that provides a neck, back and shoulder massage. Nearby, metal interpretations of the iconic Egg Chair gently swing suspended above an ankle deep pond. A social zone offers a sense of community with shared lounging, while private niches are cordoned off with soft green curtains. At night, the seductive garden transforms with color-changing lights, canopy tents and twinkling, underwater fiber optics. Whimsy continues even in the fitness studio, where a message etched into the glass window that overlooks the tranquility pool and ocean reminded me how many miles were required to burn off each of the aforementioned cupcakes. In addition to a full array of cardio equipment, free weights and weight machines, there is also a Motion Studio for yoga and Pilates and a Spinning Studio featuring Lance Armstrong’s indoor cycling program.
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Part of the reason I was so eager and able to linger at the Eau Spa was the peace of mind that came with enrolling my daughter in a half-day program at AquaNuts, an imaginative underwater-themed play space for children from ages five through 12. Before I could even say goodbye, the crackerjack staff had already engaged her in one of the many activities in the center, which include an indoor climbing wall, a performance theatre complete with state make-up, costumes and props; computer workstations and gaming consoles; and an AquaNuts laboratory where glow-in-the-dark slim and colorful secret potions are concocted. While quite contented with AquaNuts, she could not help but wish she were a few years older so that she could enjoy Coast, a hip teen lounge complete with an interactive recording studio, DJ booth, gaming lounge and a salon. Emerging from the Eau Spa at dusk, I was amazed to see the lobby’s transformation as the soft glow of candlelight replaced sunlight and how it highlighted the lustrous silks, sparkling crystal and gilded elements of the décor. Well-attired guests, including a mix of couples and families, mixed and mingled on the terrace at Stir Bar and in private niches defined by embroidered linen drapery. Outside on the terrace (the only oceanfront hotel terrace in Palm Beach), guests lounged in an arc of cushy upholstered seating that surrounds a large gas fire pit and partook in torching their own s’mores and playing “Cupcake Tic Tac Toe.” A DJ and sushi bar added to the eclectic mix and all but erased my prior post-renovation recollections. Throughout the month of January, The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach has signed on to contribute five percent of room proceeds from the “Sweet Dreams for the Cure” package to the Susan G. Komen foundation. Valid January 1 to 31 and starting at $569 per room, based on double occupancy, the package includes overnight accommodations, as well as: two pink bath robes, two pairs of fluffy pink socks, a special pink cupcake welcome amenity and Sole Foot Delight treatment with pedicure from Eau Spa. For more information or to make reservations, call 561.533.6000. sl
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Chilean Wine Chile is similar to an island: in the north it is sheltered by the Atacama Desert, which is one of the world’s driest; to the south are the Patagonian Ice Fields; to the east, the Andes Mountains, which are the source of irrigation; to the west, the Pacific Ocean; and in the center is a winemaker’s paradise, a veritable garden of Eden with an almost perfect Mediterranean climate that produces exceptional grapes, as well as some of the best fruit I have ever tasted. A long thin strip of land running along South America’s west coast, Chile is no more than 110 miles wide but is 2,900 miles long. These natural barriers have worked to the viticulture advantage of Chile by protecting the vines from pest and disease. A matter of fact, the vines are predominately own-rooted, meaning the fruiting vine is not actually on root stock, hence considered to be the true expression of the fruit. Very few vineyards in the world, let alone entire countries, are own-rooted, as they are very susceptible to a root louses called phylloxera, but because of its natural boundaries, Chile has the oldest vineyards in the world and has a large percentage of “green” wine! The traditional area of Chilean vineyards’ is the vast Central Valley with its sub-regions of the Maipo, Rapel, Curico and Maule valleys. While these areas produce very good wine, there is a strong move to the cooler growing areas of Chile, with the aim to produce wines with greater finesse and elegance. It is ironic that, despite Chile’s undersized width, there is a bigger difference in soil and climate from east to west than north to south. Some of the cool growing areas to look for are Elqui Valley, Limari Valley, Casablanca Valley, San Antonio Valley and Bio Bio Valley. T h e Sp a n i s h C o n q u i s t a d o r s s t a r t e d v i t i c u l t u r e approximately 460 years ago in Chile to celebrate religious ceremonies. Their primary grape varietal was Pais, which produces low quality but a high quantity of wine, and still exists in very small amounts. The French brought the noble varieties in the 1880s, and hence most of the grapes now have French lineage. Chile makes 75 percent red wines and 25 percent white wines, with most of the wines being from Bordeaux varietals. Cabernet Sauvignon is king and is produced more than triple the amount of any other grape. Merlot comes in second place and the very interesting, if not esoteric, grape Carmenere is the third. Filling out the top five are Syrah and Pinot Noir. Carmenere, once thought to be Merlot in Chile, is an ancient Bordeaux varietal brought to Chile in the 1800s
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Written by Scott Harper, MS
from Bordeaux. It is all but extinct in France but thrives in Chile for its uniqueness. Carmenere has soft tannins, deep red color, red and black fruit flavors, a herbaceous character that is decreasing as winemakers allow the grape to ripen longer, and qualities similar to Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc and, of course, Merlot. It is commonly used as a blending grape and is more and more frequently seen as a varietal labeled wine. For white wines, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are almost evenly produced with the Moscatel of Alexandria coming in
On a recent trip to Chile, I was astounded and learned much about the dramatically improving quality of Chilean wine. Having always thought of Chilean wine being a great value, I now know that they are great value wines at every price level. In fact, Chile is undergoing a wine revolution headed by many young winemakers that have trained abroad and are pushing the quality bar perpetually up.
third. Moscatel is used in making the grape distillate Pisco, which when mixed with lemon juice, sugar, egg whites and bitters forms the national drink of Chile, the Pisco Sour. Lastly a little Viognier, Riesling and Gewurztraminer are also seen from a limited number of wineries. Chile offers values in every price range and frequently overdelivers in each of those ranges. Here are just a few of many good wineries to pick up: Cono Sur, La Rosa, Sena, Santa Carolina, Chono, Casa Lapostolle, Concha Y Toro and Quintay. sl
Scott is General Manager of the Bristol Bar & GrilleJeffersonville and is Wine Director/Sommelier for the 5 Bristol Bar & Grille’s in Louisville and Indiana. He teaches wine through Bellarmine University. Scott is a Master Sommelier and a Certified Wine Educator.
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Supreme Sedan 2010 Porsche Panamera 48 slmag.net
With the release of its four-door Panamera, Porsche has proven that luxury performance automobiles need not be a solitary sanctuary for speed-lovers. The Panamera is the first all-new, built-from-the-ground-up vehicle from the Stuttgart, Germany-based manufacturer since its historic debut of the Cayenne in Paris in 2002. “The crucial task for our engineers was to combine Porsche’s sporting DNA with all the spaciousness and driving comfort of a luxurious sedan,” said Wolfgang Dürheimer, Porsche’s executive vice president of research and development. “The Panamera is an alternative car concept for the premium customer, and while competing with established vehicles in the premium class, it will be a clear segment leader in terms of performance, driving dynamics and efficiency.”
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The Panamera is Porsche’s fourth model line, joining the 911, Boxster/ Cayman and Cayenne model series. It is the first premium car with an automatically shifting double-clutch transmission to feature an engine start/stop system that saves fuel and reduces emissions by turning the engine off when it is not needed, such as sitting at a stop light, for example. All engines have advanced and fuel-efficient Direct Fuel Injection (DFI) as well. All U.S. Panamera models feature a seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) double-clutch gearbox delivering a dynamic driving experience, ultra-fast gearshifts without the slightest interruption of engine power, a very high level of comfort for four, and outstanding fuel efficiency when compared to a conventional automatic transmission. The Panamera is offered in three versions: 400-horsepower, two-wheel drive Panamera S (0 to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds and a top speed of 175 mph); the all-wheel drive Panamera 4S (0 to 60 in 4.8 seconds and a 175 mph top speed); and, the 500-horsepower, twin-turbocharged, all-wheel drive Panamera Turbo (0 to 60 mph in four seconds and a top track speed of 188 mph).
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To create the lightweight structure of the Panamera body, Porsche employs advanced production methods and all kinds of steel grades, light alloys like aluminum and magnesium, and plastics. In the case of the Panamera S, the result is a car that weighs just over 3,990 pounds. This structure, and a 76-inch width, allows for two full-size, perfectly contoured rear seats and a highly functional, variable luggage compartment. The rear seat backrests tilt forward individually, providing up to 44.6 cubic feet of luggage capacity. One further visible highlight of the overall aerodynamic package and another innovation is the active four-way rear spoiler on the Panamera Turbo. Through its efficient management of control angles and surface geometry geared to driving conditions, the rear spoiler optimizes both the car’s aerodynamics and performance. The elongated headlights hearken to those of the 996 generation. The Panamera chassis and suspension represents a combination of sporting performance and superior comfort. In its basic setting, it offers a very high level of driving comfort, yet at a touch of the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) button, it turns into a thoroughbred sports suspension. Another highlight is the adaptive air suspension – standard on the Panamera Turbo and optional on the other models – that can provide extra air volume on demand. The optional Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) system with its two active anti-roll bars can further enhance driving dynamics and comfort. Through the Sport Plus button, the optional Sports Chrono Packages enable the driver to choose, at the touch of a button, the high-performance configurations for the engine, drive train and suspension systems, including Porsche Traction Management (PTM ) with its fully-
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controlled all-wheel drive. PTM is standard on both the Panamera 4S and the Panamera Turbo. In the cabin, the primary cluster is composed of five circular dashboard instruments, with a large analog tachometer placed squarely in the middle. To the right is a 4.8-inch high-resolution digital display presenting a selection of on-board computer information. The centerpiece of the Porsche Communication Management System is a seven-inch high-resolution touch screen located high in the middle of the dashboard. Interior accoutrements, as expected, are top-notch and incorporate supple leather, exotic woods, carbon fiber, aluminum trim and high-quality plastics. Up to four optional multi-zone temperature controls allow each occupant to regulate his or her microclimate. “I always believed that Porsche would build a car like the Panamera – a car where the Porsche experience could be shared with more than just the co-pilot,” said Detlev von Platen, president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America. “Just like with the Cayenne, we found another chance to forge a new path and create a car that did not exist: a sports car for four. Our dealers are excited because this will bring new customers, and the list of hand raisers is growing every day. Despite the tough economy, I am confident the Panamera will be a success.” The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for the Panamera S is $89,800, while the Panamera 4S and Panamera Turbo retail for $93,800 and $132,600, respectively. sl
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Arty Party
Written by Bridget Williams
Miami turns up the heat on the contemporary arts scene A great many of the more than 250 gallerists from North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa who collectively represented some 2,000 20th and 21st century artists offered positive feedback following the eighth edition of Art Basel Miami Beach. “This was a surprisingly strong show,” said David Zwirner of David Zwirner Gallery in New York City. “This art market is stabilizing and gaining momentum.” Zwirner’s sentiments were echoed by Andrew da Conceicao, director of the Michael Stevenson Gallery in Cape Town, South Africa. “It has been a long while since we have met this many new and serious collectors and curators in such a short time span. We are leaving with a big smile on our face.” Sale prices ranged from a few hundred dollars for multiples and works by young artists to several million for museum-quality masterpieces.
Wendell Castle, Barry Friedman and Marc Benda
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Kelly Nipper in Art Perform at Art Basel.
Attendance was strong, with an estimated 42,000 visitors attending special exhibitions, panel discussions, private collection tours and events featuring film, performance and video. To facilitate a better visitor experience, the layout was extensively redesigned to include larger spaces for many galleries. For instance, the Art Positions sector, focused on special projects by young artists and galleries, was formerly situated at Collins Park but was sited in the center of the Miami Beach Convention Center this year, bringing young energy into the halls. The Art Collectors Lounge was significantly redesigned and enlarged and included a restaurant with seated and served dining, along with lounges by title sponsor UBS and associate sponsors Cartier, NetJets and AXA Art.
Max Hetzler Galerie at Art Basel
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An installation at Art Miami. Photo: RED EYE PRODUCTIONS 56 slmag.net
Franz West, Lying Not, 2008,Gagosian, New York
The new Oceanfront environment, created by Los Angeles artist Pae White, proved to be hugely popular with the public. White’s interactive cityscape exuded a particular energy at night when the elements transformed into a shadowy group of buildings. The site played host to a number of daily programs, including Art Basel Conversations, Art Perform (an intensified program of longer performances by rising international artists, such as Kelly Nipper, Kris Martin and Claire Fontaine), Art Video and Art Film (an exclusive work-in-progress preview of the feature documentary film “Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child,” directed by Tamra Davis). While Art Basel Miami is certainly a major drawing card, it is not the only (or even the oldest) show in town, as no less than 17 complementary concurrent events were staged to capitalize on the presence of key collectors and curators. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Art Miami, the anchor of the Midtown Arts District, highlighted a wide variety of art from 80 national and international contemporary art galleries and prominent institutions.
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"Eco-Totems" outside the Red Dot Art Fair created by Luis Valenzuela
Red Dot Art Fair
Graffiti Gone Global. Photo courtesy of billikid.com.
Bernice Steinbaum of The Bernice Steinbaum Gallery the 2009 Official Host Gallery of Art Miami
Following a highly successful debut in 2008 as a booth-based event, the Red Dot Art Fair, a boutique fair for galleries specializing in emerging, mid-career and established artists that seek to present work of lasting value and beyond current trends, returned to the Wynwood Art District. An opening reception benefitted GreenMiami, which seeks to increase the city’s tree canopy to 30 percent by 2017. Complementing the green theme were Eco - Totems, an art installation created specifically for the event by Luis Valenzuela of recycled plastic bottles and solar panels. In addition to daily outdoor concerts, the fifth PULSE Contemporary Art Fair, held at Miami’s Ice Palace, included 89 exhibitors (27 of which were newcomers) in its main gallery, with an additional 15 galleries in its IMPULSE section. Making its debut, the Graffiti Gone Global event, curated by New York photographers and writers James and Karla Murray, represented the largest ever gathering of international graffiti artists. The asymmetrical 4,000 square-foot gallery was built of interlocking elements of wood and steel to resemble the multi-ethnic Brazilian shantytowns known as Favelas. Participating artists, including Brazil’s Smael, Japan’s Aiko Nakagawa, Colombia’s Billi Kid, Ewok One 5MH of New York City, home-town favorite Crome, created artwork during the show on individual panels that were subsequently detached and sold. The 2010 edition of Art Basel Miami Beach will take place December 2 to 5. 58 slmag.net
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John Baldessari, Raised Eyebrows/ Furrowed Foreheads: Woman (with Semaphore Flags), 2009 was shown at the Mai 36 Gallery (Zurich) at Art Basel.
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Bibliotaph Nestled in the blue mists of Tennessee's Smoky Mountains, the 10,000-acre bucolic refuge of Blackberry Farm houses a top-rated small inn with one of the premier farm-to-table restaurants in the country. This sumptuous cookbook offers a collection of recipes that are as inspired by the traditional rustic cooking of the mountainous south as they are by a fresh, contemporary, artistic sensibility. Some of the dishes are robust, others are astonishingly light, all are full of heart and surprise and flavor — and all are well within the reach of the home cook. Sam Beall - The Blackberry Farm Cookbook: Four Seasons of Great Food and the Good Life - hardcover, 300 pages, Clarkson Potter, randomhouse.com.
In this book, Valerie Aikman-Smith, an L.A.-based food stylist and writer, introduces the reader to salts from all over the world and how they can be used in everything from a gazpacho with smoked salted croutons to chocolate chip cookies with sea salt. Valerie Aikman-Smith - Salt: Cooking with the World's Favorite Seasoning - hardcover, 64 pages, Ryland Paters & Small, rylandpeters.com
From one of America's premier wineries comes The Bryant Family Vineyard Cookbook: Recipes from Great Chefs and Friends. Bryant Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, first produced in 1992, is internationally recognized, well loved by wine connoisseurs, and served with distinction by well-known chefs. The book showcases more than 80 favorite recipes from culinary masters who have a passion for Bryant Family Cabernet. A portion of the proceeds from the cookbook sales will be donated to The Bowery Mission. Barbara Bryant & Betsy Fentress - The Bryant Family Vineyard Cookbook - hardcover, 192 pages, Andrews McMeel Publishing, andrewsmcmeel.com
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bib 'li' o 'taph, [bib-lee-uhtaf, -tahf ]: a person who caches or hoards books For fans of PBS’s Everyday Baking from Everyday Food and home bakers seeking one easy-to-follow reference for all their sweet and savory baking needs, from breakfast breads to beautiful party cakes. John Barricelli, owner of The SoNo Baking Company & Café in South Norwalk, CT, presents 125 recipes for sweet and savory breads and baked goods, with a focus on techniques and finishing skills to produce beautiful, bakery-quality results at home.Available in March. John Barricelli - The SoNo Baking Company Cookbook - hardcover, 288 pages, Random House, randomhouse.com
Ottolenghi is one of the most iconic and dynamic restaurants in the UK. Ottolenghi: The Cookbook captures Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi's zeitgeist for honest, healthy, bold cooking presented with flair, style and substance. This painstakingly designed book, lavishly photographed book offers the timeless qualities of a cookery classic. Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi - Ottolenghi: The C o o k b o o k - h a r d c o v e r, 304 pages, Ebur y Press, randomhouse.com
Renowned tableware designer and Elle Décor contributing editor William Yeoward reveals his expert secrets of planning wonderful parties to ensure you become the perfect host or hostess and throw a soiree your guests will never forget. William Yeoward – The Perfect Host - hardcover, 144 pages, CICO Books, cicobooks.com
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Of note... Animal Attraction
Handmade needlepoint 'Zebra Safari' rug from Vermilion. Available to the trade (vermilionrugs.com).
The life-sized Horse lamp is one of a three piece collection of animal furniture designed by Front for Moooi. Polyester, pvc/cotton laminate on metal structure. ($6,542, moooi.com). Bodo Sperlein brings an equestrian theme to his unique Lladró Ascot collection, a versatile group of tabletop accessories that bring a touch of originality and style to any table. Horses’ legs, heads and hoofs are used in clever and inventive ways to invite us to touch and admire each piece. ($75-$500, lladro.com).
Easton chair with Cirque Linen upholster y from C.R. Laine. ($1,574, crlaine.com)
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Goofy tousled tentacles dangle from a bell shaped body that's lit from within. Handmade by Haitian artisans from papier mache and recycled materials, the light is available in white or an array of low VOC paint colors ($215.00). straydogdesigns.com
A single bulb drops dramatically from a scalloped tin collar, illuminating two lovely birds perched high in a cage. Made of oxidized tin and papier mache by artisans in Haiti and Mexico ($460.00). straydogdesigns.com
The gender neutral ‘Berkeley’ bag from Moore and Giles is inspired by vintage doctor bags. Shown in a handstained dry lagoon finish. ($1,060.00, mooreandgilesinc.com)
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VENEER
Written by Kirby Camm, Bittners
It’s all about the wood. One of the major misconceptions about antique furniture is its method of construction and the type of wood used. For some reason, a good many people think of antique furniture as being made of solid wood. This is far from the case! While there are many examples of provincial and metropolitan-constructed furniture pieces that are made of solid wood, it’s safe to say that seventy five percent of the antique furniture pieces one encounters are veneered. There is a simple reason for this: a scarcity of fine quality wood. All hardwood trees such as walnut, mahogany, or even cherry are somewhat scarce in comparison to common soft wood trees like pine. Along with this scarcity, cabinetmakers learned early on that there was a limited amount of irregular wood grain to any given tree (the irregular grain is what gives antique furniture its desirable aesthetic). We simply don’t have enough page space to expound upon the various types of wood grains, but a few famous examples 64 slmag.net
include burl, fiddleback, crotch grain, plumb pudding, birds eye, tiger stripe, and the simple and beautiful curvy grain. By veneering the furniture, the cabinetmaker could use myriad combinations of wood in different colors to create unique inlaid pieces. An interesting piece of trivia related to antique veneer furniture is the fact that the majority are English and Continental, and very rarely American. The thickness of the wood veneer is often helpful for dating a particular piece of furniture. Early veneered furniture pieces have very thick veneer, sometimes more that a quarter-inch thick. Over time, as skills of cabinetmakers increased, along with advances in technology, veneers have become thinner and thinner. The illustrated late English Sheraton chest, circa 1840, is a fine example of decorative veneer work. By using different wood veneers, the 19th century English cabinetmaker was able to incorporate a combination of satinwood, mahogany, and ebony string inlay to create a very stylish and distinctive English chest. sl
Fine Gifts • Bridal Registry • Interior Design • Corporate • Trophies
What do we bring to the table? 275 Years of Tr adition
Meissen is celebrating 275 years of the revered pattern — Blue Onion. Call L.V. Harkness for preferred anniversary pricing. Official Provider of Trophies for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games & Arnold Palmer’s 2009 Kingdom Cup Tournament
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Enjoy your bourbon responsibly. Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 45.2% Alc. by Vol., The Woodford Reserve Distillery, Versailles, KY ©2008.
