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ONE on ONE

by Mayi de la Vega

Back to School

By Education, Philanthropy

Help our fantastic local charities gather school supplies for underserved children.

From Lotus House to YoungArts, children’s charities have always been near and dear to my heart. They need our help even more due to the pandemic, especially with how it’s affecting the school year. Many local non-profits are organizing school supply drives for struggling families. Here are ways to get involved to alleviate kids’ anxiety in these tough times. Every little bit goes a long way.

The Little Lighthouse Foundation

For its 2020 Back to School fundraiser, the Little Lighthouse Foundation hopes to have enough supplies for 1,500 underserved students. The team plans to distribute them to children at Excel Kids Academy, B. Wright Leadership Academy, Fienberg Fisher K-8, the Motivational Edge and Carrfour on August 21. Check out LLF’s web site to learn more about its profound impact on South Florida and how to volunteer in other aspects.

https://www.classy.org/campaign/llf-back-to-school-2020/c289736

The Salvation Army of Broward County

The Salvation Army of Broward County is having to adapt its programs for the coronavirus. Its inaugural “Stuff the Bus” virtual school supplies drive takes place August 3-17. Drop off items or donate through Walmart’s online registry as well as the Salvation Army’s secure portal. Supplies will be distributed in time for the start of the school year.

Salvation Army’s shipping and drop-off location:

1445 West Broward Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33312

Online donations:

https://give.salvationarmyflorida.org/browardschoolsupplies

Walmart online:

https://tinyurl.com/StuffTheBus2020

Walmart drop-off locations:

4700 South Flamingo Road, Cooper City

2500 West Broward Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale

6001 Coral Ridge Drive, Coral Springs

Lotus House

Focusing on homeless women, youth and children, Lotus House is invaluable to our community. It doesn’t just provide food, clothing and shelter but everything to live a well-rounded life from education to play. In addition to everyday necessities and school supplies, they’re asking people to sponsor summer activities. Whether ice skating field trips or ice cream parties, these simple pleasures bring a sense of normalcy for the kids. Sponsor summertime fun by emailing love@lotushouse.org. For general donations, click here:

https://lotushouse.kindful.com/event/support-lotus-village-?fbclid=IwAR1yNLHQMLjCvF-9GxmNa08Ro95TWVdThrV60XuZBj-5cnJtXoxQDWK-W9k&mc_cid=290608daba&mc_eid=cc461c3135

United Way of Martin County

Because of the highly difficult year, United Way is spearheading the county’s main school supply drive. Through partnerships with Publix and other individual and corporate providers, the Tools for Success program is creating basic supply kits for elementary school students. Whether in-person classes resume or virtual classes are to be, a lot of local kids will be prepared.  www.UnitedWayMartin.org/ToolsForSuccess

Feeling Florida

By Florida Finds, Travel

I’ve always felt blessed to live in a state that has so much to offer. We have culture and nature in spades, and how fun is it to jump in one’s car for a quick road trip when the mood strikes? The quieter months are a great time to get out and explore this beautiful part of the country. Here are a few spots that top my list, and make sure to say hi to our Sotheby’s friends if you go. (I’ve included links to affiliates’ web sites here.)

Boca Grande

The legendary Gasparilla Inn & Club reopens for its 107th season in October. Multi-generational families return year after year for its old-fashioned charm from the front porch’s rocking chairs to pastel, preppy décor. Its current stewards are doing a tremendous job in ensuring its placement within the Historic Hotels of America and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

As if one of my favorite West Coast getaways couldn’t get any better, its Gulf-side accommodations debut in winter. The Beach Cottages’ spacious residences feature full kitchens, elevators and two to four bedrooms. A new fitness center opens beforehand. Doubling its size makes room for a yoga studio and exercise pool as well as a Zen garden and pickleball courts to meet demand for the fast-growing pastime.

Visitors can still dine at the inn’s multiple venues in the meantime. The Pink Elephant serves dinner nightly and lunch on weekends. Popular items are Thai-spiced, tempura-fried grouper and signature, rum-laced ice cream cocktails for an after-dinner drink and dessert in one. The Outlet restaurant and Inn Bakery are more daytime options.

https://the-gasparilla-inn.com/

Bonus Tip: If you want to know where the tarpon are biting, call captain Tommy Locke. The champion fly-fishing guide and sixth-generation Floridian also helps clients catch good eating species such as snapper, grouper, pompano, redfish and trout from his ultra-nimble Chittum skiff. I’m hooked.

http://www.tommylockeoutdoors.com/

Pop by Gulf to Bay Sotheby’s, too.

https://www.gulftobaysothebysrealty.com/eng

Marco Island

Another fantastic destination on the Gulf of Mexico with big news is the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort. Its $320 million renovation premiered last year for a much more luxurious experience in line with Florida’s elevated hospitality scene. The top-to-bottom revamp introduced an adults-only tower, Paradise by Sirene, with 94 rooms and suites, rooftop pool and beach butlers. Its exclusive Tesoro restaurant’s spacious deck overlooks the Gulf for a Greek Isles vibe.

All guests are welcome at the new 10K Alley, a mega-entertainment zone with games for kids of all ages. The property also offers two nearby golf courses and is in the midst of replacing the turfgrass at its 36-hole Hammock Bay Golf Course designed by Peter Jacobsen and Jim Hardy. The $4.8 million project wraps up in October. The Robert Cupp, Jr.-designed Rookery at Marco course is available to play now.

https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/mrkfl-jw-marriott-marco-island-beach-resort/

Pop by Premier Sotheby’s, too.

https://www.premiersothebysrealty.com/

Florida Scenic Highway 30A

Dotted with new urbanist developments like Seaside and Rosemary Beach, this stretch of the Florida Panhandle wins accolades for its chic design mixed with laidback lifestyle. Home rentals range in all sizes, and every good and service are within walking distance to ditch the car upon arrival. Grab a beach cruiser and your beach chair and spend quality time with family and friends on one of the world’s most gorgeous swaths of sand.

In Seaside, browse the latest titles at Sundog Books, try on new swimsuits at Ophelia and share a bottle of vino and tapas at 45 Central Wine & Sushi Bar. In Rosemary Beach, sip stiff punch drinks on Pescado’s rooftop deck, shop Southern tastemaker Ashley Gilbreath’s home selection at Parish, and play tennis on the Racquet Club’s green clay courts. Both communities have outposts of Amavida Coffee & Tea for a caffeinated pick-me-up.

https://seasidefl.com/

https://rosemarybeach.com/

Pop by Scenic Sotheby’s, too.

https://www.scenicsir.com/

Chill Out with Cold Soups

By Dining, Nutrition

When it’s too hot to even think about cooking, try a chilled soup.

These five recipes depart from well-worn classics like gazpacho and vichyssoise. Their interesting ingredients and bright colors take advantage of summer’s bounty and just might inspire you to create your own masterpiece with whatever you have on hand.

It’s cherry season, so I’m intrigued by Martha Rose Shulman’s healthier version of one of Eastern Europe’s signature soups. She decreases the amount of sugar and substitutes traditional heavy cream or sour cream with yogurt. Besides being tasty, its gorgeous pink hue is delightful.

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013699-cold-cherry-soup

Summer is also synonymous with sweet corn. Though it’s amazing on the grill and plain boiled or steamed, why not whip those kernels into a frothy, fresh soup for supper? Martha Stewart adapted this sure-fire recipe from Basque blogger and cookbook author Aran Goyoaga. Top it with Maine lobster to be decadent.

https://www.marthastewart.com/1121843/chilled-corn-soup

Moosewood Restaurant in Ithaca, N.Y., pioneered the vegetarian scene, and its treasured cookbooks have inspired many home cooks for decades. This no-fuss peach soup can be jazzed up with a sprinkle of feta cheese, dollop of crème fraiche, swirl of berry coulis or dash of your favorite liqueur. It makes a great dessert or slushie, too.

https://moosewoodcooks.com/2015/08/peach-soup/

If you’re in the mood for Thai flavors, this spicy avocado cucumber soup from Food & Wine will do the trick. It stars many of the cuisine’s main ingredients like green curry paste, coconut milk, cilantro, lime and chiles, whose heat can be adjusted for your palate.

https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/spicy-avocado-cucumber-soup

Who doesn’t love an old-fashioned potato leek soup? It’s the base of this asparagus masterpiece that Charleston chef Kevin Johnson shared with Saveur magazine. Along with adding herbs from thyme to tarragon for depth, he tops servings with Old Bay-seasoned boiled shrimp. It’s like having the Lowcountry in a bowl.

https://www.saveur.com/chilled-asparagus-soup-with-herbed-shrimp-recipe/

Aspen Ascent

By Art, Culture, Events, Music

The ski town’s cultural scene moves online for summer festivals and fundraisers.

Come summertime, South Floridians look forward to cooling off in the mountains, wherever their traditions may take them. Aspen, which has become a sister city to our region in many respects, is favored for its rare balance of nature and the outdoors with cosmopolitan perks from designer shopping to chef-driven dining to world-class culture. Though the pandemic has altered many of summer’s beloved festivals and fundraisers, cultural institutions are making the best of it with virtual events.

The Anderson Ranch Arts Center always hosts one of the biggest parties of the season at Hotel Jerome. This year is no exception, because the nonprofit in nearby Snowmass invites donors to attend its “Un-Gala” on July 16, from the comfort of their own homes. It will deliver a “bash-in-a-box” to your door filled with all kinds of whimsical surprises to sip and spark creativity throughout the evening that begins at 6 p.m. MST. Each open access pass includes a raffle ticket to win a drawing. Dozens of participating artists like Cindy Sherman, Walead Beshty, Enrique Martinez Celaya and Fred Tomaselli, among others, are donating works. Proceeds go toward operations and scholarship funds to promote diversity. For tickets, call 970.924.5067, or click here: https://www.andersonranch.org/event/un-gala/.

Anderson Ranch moved its 2020 Summer Series with conversations by artists, critics, collectors and curators online as well. Led by curator-in-residence Helen Molesworth, complimentary Zoom sessions kick off with Mark Grotjahn on July 2; the California native is known for his Butterfly and Face series of abstract, geometric paintings and drawings. Other speakers are Nicole Eisenman on July 9, Michael Shnayerson on July 21, Deana Lawson on July 23, Silke Otto-Knapp on July 30, Christiana Quarles on August 6, and Tavares Strachan on August 13.

The Aspen Music Festival and School also leaps from its iconic tent to the virtual realm from July 4 through August 23. Log on for complimentary live recitals, panel discussions and in-depth seminars, as well as a tribute to music director Robert Spano to celebrate his tenth anniversary with the organization on July 5. His star-studded performance features soprano Renée Fleming, pianist Yefim Bronfman, violinist Robert McDuffie, clarinetist Michael Rusinek and other musicians with long histories here. Expect plenty of guest speakers to share their memories of Spano, too. If you’re feeling charitable, please donate here:      http://www.aspenmusicfestival.com/support/contribution

 

Deana Lawson

Tavares Strachan

Robert Spano

Paradise Found

By Florida Finds, Travel No Comments

 Little Palm Island Resort & Spa reopens with the rest of the Florida Keys for the ultimate tropical escape.

Adorable Key deer, epic sunsets and some of the world’s best fishing are just a few reasons why the Florida Keys remain a top travel destination decade after decade. Closed to non-residents during the pandemic shutdown, the tropical archipelago reopened June 1. As a South Floridian, I’m grateful to have this healing haven in my backyard. There are so many exquisite resorts to stay from Key Largo to Key West, but Little Palm Island Resort & Spa stands out at this particular moment.

Not only did the four-acre luxury property owned by Noble House Hotels & Resorts debut its multimillion-dollar renovation in early March, but its very nature is tailor-made for social distancing. One must take a boat or floatplane to access the private oasis a couple miles off of Little Torch Key. The resort’s ferry can fetch you, or there’s complimentary dockage for 10 yachts. In addition to checking into one of 30 new thatched-roof bungalows, the entire resort is available for rent for extra-safe precautions—talk about the perfect setting to celebrate a wedding, graduation, family reunion and other milestones. Rates start at $250,000 for a 3-night minimum stay.

Though it’s tempting to bring the whole crew, Little Palm is known for couples’ getaways. The new dreamy décor picks up a West Indies thread, while some suite categories feature outdoor copper soaking tubs. It also gets a lot of points in the romance department for SpaTerre. Being shuttered since 2017 gave the spa team extensive time to research innovative treatments. Their new menu touches on beneficial discoveries in the wellness industry such as CBD-infused products and rose quartz stones. Several types of massages further include the Madrugada, where guests are submerged in water at sunrise. Facial fans can try the Biologiqué Rechérché Experience, which uses Cryo Sticks and microcurrent therapies.

With the redesign, the owners brought on Daniel Ganem as executive chef. Miami gourmets will recognize his name as formerly with the Betsy, an elegant boutique hotel in South Beach. He’s already become best buds with local farmers and fishermen for an eclectic, healthy menu that touches on the region’s international roots with Latin and Mediterranean influences. If you can’t visit quite yet, he shares the recipe for the resort’s signature welcome drink below. One sip of the Gumby Slumber, a refreshing summer cocktail anywhere, and you’re transported here in your mind until the real thing.

Little Palm Island’s Gumby Slumber

Ingredients: 

  • 1 part pineapple juice
  • 1 part cranberry juice
  • 1 part orange juice
  • 1 part Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
  • 1 part Parrot Bay Rum
  • Fresh coconut