February 21, 2013
Courtesy of Kunsthal Rotterdam
From February 23 through June 2, Kunsthal Rotterdam will host a retrospective to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Utrecht-based Dutch furniture brand Pastoe. “Like Pastoe” —curated by Anne van der Zwaag, who has worked with many of the country’s premier art institutions, including the Nederlands Fotomuseum and the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen—showcases the company’s long-standing tradition of starkly simple yet high-quality design and craftsmanship.
Visitors will be treated to some of the brand’s most iconic achievements—birch-wood furniture from the ’50s by Cees Braakman, Aldo van den Nieuwelaar’s Amsterdammer cabinets, the architectural leather lounge chair by Belgian designer Maarten Van Severen—and explore some of the brand’s numerous partnerships with creatives such as Shigeru Uchida and Scholten & Baijings. “Pastoe fits perfectly into the Dutch tradition of minimalism and reflects a sobriety that is characteristic for the Dutch’s Calvinistic mentality,” explains van der Zwaag. “This makes it a landmark in the Dutch design field.”
Photographs and advertisements (posters by illustrator Dick Bruna, photography by Cas Oorthuys) give context to Pastoe’s legacy. A jubilee publication, written by van der Zwaag and Gert Staal and designed by Dirk Laucke, provides more information with interviews and analysis. But the ultimate goal is to ensure that the project underlines the brand’s true legacy—an indelible mark on Dutch design. February 23 through June 2; Westzeedijk 341; kunsthal.nl.
February 21, 2013
Chris Friel
Holding to a philosophy that photography is the art of our time, V&M Photography, the month-old sibling of online vintage purveyor V&M (Vintage & Modern), aims to spread the good word with its equally new Emerging Artist series. Dedicated to the cause—the site will post one new photo from a burgeoning artist every day—it is also eager to give back. Through February 24, V&M Photography will donate 50 percent of net proceeds to the New York Foundation for the Arts (nyfa.org), which supports artists affected by Hurricane Sandy.
It is a generous outpour, riffing on an overall desire to foster both the famous and the fresh. “We’re as committed to the shock of the old as the shock of the new,” says Courtney Eldridge, curator of the Emerging Artist series. “We’re equally devoted to the genius of masters like Stanley Kubrick and Sam Haskins as to exhibiting breakthrough photographs of relatively unknown artists—works that deliver the promise of famous careers in the making here and now.”
The talent runs deep. A photo encapsulating a tender moment between a boy and a girl, shot by 17-year-old Connie Gegenfurtner from Germany, provides a raw (though no-less-sophisticated) perspective. Renowned photographer Chris Friel—short-listed for the Sunday Times Landscape Photographer of the Year award four years running—is represented by a mesmerizing unedited shot of the sun taken with a handheld camera from a fast-moving boat (pictured here).
Eldridge and R. Adam Smith, V&M CEO, sifted through hundreds of photographs last November to choose the first 30 images for the series. Their approach mirrored what the site strives to do—let the images speak for themselves. “We didn’t discuss age, nationality, when or where the artist had been exhibited before,” says Eldridge. “[We chose] solely on the merit and brilliance of the individual photographs.” Prints, from $75; photo.vandm.com.
February 15, 2013
Photo courtesy of L.K. Bennett By London
After a long winter of covering up in layers of black, brown and navy, nothing says spring like a pop of color. In that spirit, the decidedly British brand L.K. Bennett has recruited stylish Londoner Caroline Issa to design her own capsule collection for spring/summer 2013. The result is an array of vibrant shoes and handbags sure to help dispel any lingering winter blues.
As Tank Magazine’s executive fashion director and a regular on street style blogs, Issa is a natural choice for a guest designer. “I went to Yao Noi, Thailand, last March, where I picked up an amazing embroidered bag in the market that inspired the collection,” she says. “I worked with L.K. Bennett’s brilliant design team to dream up shoes I’d have fun wearing this coming spring. I thought their quintessentially British take on an exotic inspiration would be a fabulous combination.” We are especially smitten with the Parrot court shoe (shown here, $445), a classic pump with a playful pom-pom detail on the heel. Available February 19; L.K. Bennett New York, Time Warner Center, 10 Columbus Circle; 212-309-7559; lkbennett.com.
February 14, 2013
Galdones Photography
It seems that the pig is destined to take top billing in culinary circles for a long time to come. And Cochon 555—a ten-city-tour cooking competition set on spreading the gospel of sustainable production and heritage pigs—is out to prove it, stopping in Atlanta on February 17 before continuing to the likes of the Four Seasons Resort Vail (March 10), Washington, D.C. (April 7) and the House of Blues in Los Angeles (May 5). The journey ends at the Grand Cochon, held at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen on June 16.
“Pigs are the most magical animals in the world,” says founder Brady Lowe. “They are a canvas of flavor for chefs, and consumers are learning about the benefits of heritage breeds and how to find them and cook them at home.”
The competition is fierce; judges score on flavor, utilization and presentation. Fifty chefs throughout the tour will create a snout-to-tail feast (butchering included) using heritage pigs such as the Tamworth, Red Wattle and Mulefoot. Guests taste it all (including wines from family wineries), judges weigh in and ten finalists meet in Aspen for the finale.
Lowe has seen just about everything in the competition’s five years. “Pork-eos,” sandwich cookies filled with lard by chef David Varley of the Michael Mina Group, have crossed his path, as has a whole roasted pig stuffed with $10,000 worth of truffles. And while this year’s creations are sure to impress, his main objective is simple. “To get everyone to put heritage pork in their mouth,” he explains. “Once they do, it’s a game changer—it’s like trying chocolate cake for the first time.” Tickets, $125 (general admission) and $200 (VIP); cochon555.com.
February 14, 2013
Courtesy of Miami International Boat Show
After a decade of declining levels of outdoor recreation, “People are starting to buy boats again,” says Cathy Rick-Joule, manager of the Miami International Boat Show. Running today through February 18, the 72-year-old expo expects to draw more than 100,000 boating enthusiasts and 1,960 exhibitors for its annual showcase of boats, gadgets, engines, gear and marine accessories.
Highlights this year include appearances by Michael “Bear” Grylls, star of Discovery Channel’s Man vs. Wild, who will introduce the launch of his extreme boat line, and an 82-foot, double-decker catamaran—one of the largest sailboats in the show—that is making its way to Florida from the Caribbean.
As for Rick-Joule, who spends almost every weekend boating with her husband and their cocker spaniel, Gypsy, the joys of owning a waterborne craft speak for themselves. “All you need to do is spend an hour on the water and watch all the smiling faces of your fellow boaters go by,” she says. “Everyone waves—even the dogs are smiling.” 1901 Convention Center Dr.; 786-276-2628; miamiboatshow.com.
February 14, 2013
Courtesy of Sonnenalp
Why ski at one top Colorado resort when you can hit the slopes at—and enjoy the amenities of—two? The Sonnenalp in Vail (20 Vail Rd.; 970-476-5656; sonnenalp.com) and the Hotel Madeline Telluride (568 Mountain Village Blvd.; 970-369-0880; hotelmadelinetelluride.com) have teamed up to create an unforgettable experience called the Ski Dream package (February 18 to 23). Featuring three nights in Vail and three nights in Telluride, the package offers a unique way to spend nearly a week immersed in pristine winter environs.
A private, chartered jet takes care of airport transfer from Denver. Once settled in at the hotels, let the skiing begin. Along with top-notch runs—ten inches of snow fell this past week, with more in the forecast—Sonnenalp will host a dog-sledding experience for two and Hotel Madeline will stage heli-skiing (best for intermediate to advanced skiers). The combination is a treat, proving that winter, in all its glory, can be unequivocally grand. February 18 to 23; $23,500; 800-654-8312; pmcnamara@sonnenalp.com.
February 12, 2013
Photo Courtesy of Prestat
As Valentine's Day approaches, these romantically inclined ideas make for a lovely day.
A Chocolate Pop-Up Shop
Prestat—said to be favored by the Queen of England—makes a stateside appearance during a weeklong pop-up chocolate shop at Henri Bendel. Highlights include dark chocolate caramel truffles sprinkled with sea salt and Prestat's signature heart-shape assortment box, with flavors like passion-fruit fondant. Through February 14; 712 5th Ave.; 212-247-1100; prestat.com.
Japanese Food for Two
Cherry, restaurateur Jonathan Morr's month-old Japanese restaurant in Chelsea, is hosting a five-course prix-fixe menu on February 14. Options like foie gras-and-short-rib gyoza and chef's choice omakase sushi—combined with Cherry's dark, sultry decor—could make this one for the ages. From $95 per person; 355 W. 16th St.; 212-929-5800; cherrynyc.com.
A Special Mexican Feast
Food Network iron chef Jose Garces will cook Mexican fare for a guest and 50 of his or her friends in the penthouse at the Mondrian SoHo. Pulling from his new cookbook, The Latin Road Home (Lake Isle Press), Garces and his team will turn out margaritas (spicy and mango) to go along with a taco bar highlighting dishes like beer-and-citrus-braised fired pork and alambres de camarones (flavorful shrimp skewers). After dinner the lucky host will settle in for a three-night penthouse stay. $45,000; 9 Crosby St.; 800-606-6090; mondriansoho.com.
Views of Central Park
The Pierre provides a one-night city escape in a Park View room complete with a horse-drawn carriage ride through Central Park (why not?), monogrammed pillowcases, a delectable breakfast in bed and Champagne. On the big day, Sirio Ristorante, located in the hotel, is available for a three-course Valentine's Day dinner. Through February 28; from $950; 2 E. 61st St.; 800-743-7734; tajhotels.com.
A Canadian Sojourn
The Wedgewood Hotel & Spa, a Relais & Châteaux property located in Vancouver, British Columbia, serves up a one-night stay in a room or suite, truffles and sparkling wine and a four-course dinner at Bacchus Restaurant & Lounge. Dinner includes roasted tomato and Nova Scotia lobster velouté, seared breast of Brome Lake duck and lemon chiffon with raspberries and vanilla crème brûlée. From $425; 845 Hornby St.; 604-689-777; wedgewoodhotel.com.
February 08, 2013
Photos courtesy of Larkspur & Hawk
There is something undeniably romantic about a piece of jewelry from Larkspur & Hawk, a collection of gemstone-based pieces designed by founder Emily Satloff, who uses an 18th-century technique called foiling to manipulate a stone’s color and maximize its reflective properties. “It starts with a sketch that comes to life with a careful selection of gemstones and colored metallic foils,” she explains. “Each piece is then handcrafted to attain a unique play of light and color, fitted to each particular design. The jewel is literally transformed by its foil.”
The earrings pictured here—the Halley Pear (white topaz, russet foil, rose gold–washed silver; $1,000) and the Olivia Button (white topaz, fuchsia foil, oxidized silver; $1,100)—exemplify the method. Satloff, a former antique jewelry dealer and curator at the New-York Historical Society, oversees the production of her wares in New York, where all the jewelry is handcrafted. “The collection is encompassing of a broad spectrum of women,” she says. “Whether worn to the office, a day of errands or at night to a party, there is functionality in each design.” 212-340-9067; larkspurandhawk.com.
February 06, 2013
© Courtesy of MAKE UP FOR EVER
Cosmetics brand Make Up For Ever is giving a whole new meaning to the idea of beauty consultations with the launch of its mobile Make Up School. The tour kicked off in Los Angeles last week, is in San Francisco this weekend (February 9 and 10) and will make stops in six more cities—including Miami (March 2 and 3) and New York (March 9 and 10)—before culminating in Toronto on April 13 and 14.
Women in each port are invited to bring in their makeup bags for a 30-minute appointment with a professional makeup artist, who will teach them how to properly use the products that they already own, regardless of brand. “If you’re unsure about how to use something, most likely it will just become one among a collection of products in a cosmetic graveyard,” says managing educator Jessie Powers. “We want to show women how to use what they have.” Now that is an education we can get behind. For appointments, visit makeupbagremix.com.
February 06, 2013
© Angela Pham/BFAnyc.com
The South Beach Wine & Food Festival, a Food Network event presented by Food & Wine magazine, has become an eagerly anticipated tradition in Miami, featuring more celebrity chefs, world-class food and memorable parties than most people can handle. (It is Miami, after all.) Celebrating its tenth year in 2011, this year’s gathering, running February 21 to 24, promises to be no less exciting.
“We’re always on the lookout for new trends and talent,” says festival founder and director Lee Schrager. “It’s a balance of keeping everyone’s favorite classic events fresh with new faces, as well as creating new events that highlight new product launches and trends.”
From seminars to meals of all stripes, there is plenty to enjoy. Fans can pay homage to chef Nobu Matsuhisa and Christophe Navarre, the CEO of Moët Hennessy, at a special tribute dinner (February 23; $500) presided over by Martha Stewart at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel. Legendary Spanish chef José Andrés hosts a celebrity chef golf tournament at Turnberry Isle Resort (February 23; $650, $2,000 per foursome), and country singer and Food Network new addition Trisha Yearwood helms a Southern-style brunch at the Loews (February 24; $150).
Drinks get a nod, too. Emeril Lagasse (pictured above) spearheads an affair at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden (February 22; $95) featuring cocktails by Bar Lab, and Nelson Mandela’s family chose the festival for the U.S. launch of its family wine label. But it’s not all about food, drink and festivities. Since its inception the celebration has raised roughly $17 million for the Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Florida International University, meaning the culinary future looks extremely bright. February 21 to 24; sobefest.com.
