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ONE on ONE

by Mayi de la Vega

In Honor of Hispanic Heritage Month

By Art, Culture, Dining, Events, Food for thought, Interior Design, Music, Philanthropy, Real Estate, Travel, Uncategorized

In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, we’re taking a look at celebrations up and down Florida’s east coast. Enacted into law in 1988, the monthlong observance’s dates were chosen since several Latin American countries’ independence days fall during the same time. There are many ways to explore and appreciate Latinx heritage, so read on for more details.

Arturo Sandoval Live

Multi-Grammy-winning, Cuban American trumpeter and composer Arturo Sandoval performs his biopic “For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story” live in concert with the Frost School of Music’s Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra at the Arsht Center on October 1 with a VIP after party. HBO’s freedom tale has been digitally remastered for the big screen.
arshtcenter.org

Known as the gateway to Latin America, the dynamic city of Miami is constantly evolving with the influx of new residents, visitors, businesses and brands from all over the world. There’s always something new and exciting to try, whether a starchitect-designed space, museum exhibit or hot restaurant. Fancy living here? Discover more local details and property listings with the following links.
Morningside | Wynwood – Midtown

Pompano Beach Cultural Center

Pompano Beach Cultural Center is going all out. Its Montage virtual film series screens Miami-based, Ecuadorian director Cinthya Franco’s “Los Colores de Marcia” on September 29. Cuban American opera soprano Eglise Gutiérrez and pianist Luis Urbina perform “An Evening of Spanish Romances, Zarzuelas, and Grand Opera Arias” on October 15.
pompanobeacharts.org

Located along the Atlantic Ocean in Broward County’s northeast corner, Pompano Beach is in the midst of a revival. Its newly renovated amphitheater joins treasured destinations like a namesake fishing pier. Pending additions include the Ritz-Carlton Residences, Pompano Beach and the Bite Eatery food hall. Fancy living here? Discover more local details and property listings with the following link.
Pompano Beach

Jacksonville Taco & Tequila Festival

The 2nd annual Jacksonville Taco & Tequila Festival takes over Riverside Park from September 24-25. The benefit for Make-A-Wish, Boys & Girl Club and the Wagoner Foundation features live music on three stages, Mexican fare from dozens of vendors and a curated selection of tequilas to sample. Enjoy a local makers’ market, games and art installations, too.
904happyhour.com

Jacksonville, the largest city geographically in the contiguous U.S., boasts an incredible variety of green spaces and beaches, as well as prime waterfront from the Atlantic Ocean to St. Johns River with its iconic bridges. The city’s vast network of neighborhoods and islands further invites nonstop adventure. Fancy living here? Discover more local details and property listings with the following link.
Jacksonville

Hispanic Heritage Exhibition

The Historical Society of Palm Beach County’s Johnson History Museum exhibits “Going Places,” a broad look at Hispanic local heroes who have greatly contributed to the region’s various industries such as hospitality, architecture and media, through December 30. It also hosts the Hispanic Heritage Panel Discussion & Reception on September 28.
pbchistory.org

West Palm Beach sits on the mainland directly across from the island of Palm Beach. The growing city has become a destination in its own right for convention and performing art centers, hip restaurants and shopping of all kinds from major brands to vintage wares. Fancy living here? Discover more local details and property listings with the following links.
West Palm Beach | Palm Beach

Viva Brevard Gala & Festival

The Brevard Hispanic Center’s twofold fundraiser features the Viva Brevard Gala at a fine restaurant on October 8, followed by the Viva Brevard Festival at Fred Poppe Regional Park in Palm Bay on October 15. Both offer lots of Latin flair, entertainment, cuisine, a spotlight on local Latinx-owned businesses and, most of all, pride.
aldiatoday.com

 

Though most associated with the Kennedy Space Center, hence its Space Coast nickname, Brevard County offers so much more. Its world-class Brevard Zoo supports animal conservation, while its largest city Palm Bay is known for innovation and growth. Fancy living here? Discover more local details and property listings with the following links.
Indialantic | Melbourne Beach

Salsa & Flamenco

Recently renamed and added to the National Register of Historic Places, the Miami Beach Bandshell hosts a slew of themed performances starting with the Miami Beach Hispanic Heritage Celebration from September 24-25. Take salsa lessons with Melina Almodóvar’s Salsa Orchestra and Salsa Central Dance Studios, and watch Miami-based Ballet Flamenco La Rosa’s “Cielo Y Arena.”
northbeachbandshell.com

Rocky Mountain High

By Art, Culture, Events, Family, Fashion, Music, Travel

Aspen is my forever home in my heart 

One of the experiences I look forward to all year long is my family summer vacation in Aspen. From the moment the plane takes off, I feel like a different person because I’m heading to my happy place. Aspen is unique among ski towns for its enrichment of mind, body and spirit. I have to say that this balance works. I learn so much, while also tending to some much-needed self-care. The quality of the people and place constantly amazes me, and there’s always something new and exciting to see and do. Please enjoy this summer news so you too can come back refreshed and inspired. Have a wonderful time!

Sotheby’s Aspen Gallery

On the top of my list was visiting the new Sotheby’s Aspen gallery. It follows up its inaugural exhibit “In Focus: Warhol on Paper,” which runs through July 31, with a group show titled “Venice in Aspen” that highlights artists in this year’s Venice Biennale. Browse works for sale by Ruth Asawa, Barbara Kruger, Nan Goldin, Jacqueline Humphries, Louise Lawler, Kaari Upson and others from August 2-September 26. The gallery and Cultured Magazine co-host a cocktail reception on August 3 to kick off Aspen ArtWeek.

Aspen ArtWeek

Aspen Art Museum’s second edition of Aspen ArtWeek (August 1-6) culminates with its 17th annual ArtCrush Gala at Buttermilk Mountain on August 5. The weeklong program features art conversations and performances, private collection tours and the “ArtCrush 2022 Auction Exhibition” of more than 50 donated works by artists like Larry Bell and Patricia Leite. Bid online during Sotheby’s preview auction, which opens July 30 and closes August 6 during the gala’s dinner honoring artist Gary Simmons and live auction conducted by Oliver Barker, Sotheby’s senior director and chairman, Europe. Phone and absentee bids are welcome as well.

Special Events at The Little Nell

The Little Nell has a ton of fun food and wine events in the works. A roster of Michelin-starred Relais & Châteaux chefs is on board for the second annual Little Nell Culinary Fest from August 30-September 2. In addition to being wined and dined by the likes of San Francisco-based Quince’s Michael Tusk, Maui-based Hotel Wailea’s Krista Garcia and master somm Jay Fletcher, guests will be treated to a soirée atop Aspen Mountain. Last year’s event sold out, so reserve early. Oenophiles who are interested in exploring sensational cabs from Paso Robles should also book An Evening With Patrimony Estate at The Little Nell on July 27. Co-proprietor Daniel Daou will attend and select complementary wines for Element 47’s four-course dinner. Hop on a bike for the Ride + Dine series on August 24 and September 14. Cyclists are rewarded with an al fresco meal at Mad Dog Ranch in Old Snowmass, Glenn Frey’s and Jimmy Buffet’s former stomping ground.

Sweet Summer Music

Aspen Music Festival widened its variety more than ever for its 73rd season. Though the classic composers are still strongly represented, new genres range from mariachi to a saxophonist’s Baroque piece. But one doesn’t have to visit the festival’s big white tent to hear incredible music. Concerts are popping up all over, such as Theatre Aspen’s Summer Cabaret Series at the Hotel Jerome, and Jazz Aspen Snowmass’s Café Summer Series at the Rooftop at Aspen Art Museum. Stevie Nicks and Chris Stapleton headline the JAS Labor Day Experience at Snowmass Town Park on September 2-4. Head to Snowmass’s Fanny Hill for Thursday concerts, or ride the gondola to Aspen Mountain’s Classical Saturdays and Bluegrass Sundays.

Shopping

When I’m not hiking or taking an exercise class, I like to get a workout by walking around town. I never tire of Aspen’s charming downtown and enjoy checking out the new shops and restaurants. A few Los Angeles brands with locations in the Miami Design District recently moved in:  Alo Yoga, Re/Done for new and upcycled vintage denim and John Elliott for men’s and women’s sportswear, Japanese denim and Italian shoes. For more flashy footwear, Mia Becar popped up at Peri.A boutique through August 15. Nappa leather espadrilles, raffia flatforms and bejeweled jelly sandals are among its selection handmade in Italy and Spain.

 

Raizado: The Latinx House Festival

Another sign that Aspen is constantly evolving for a more inclusive era is a new Latinx event premiering at Aspen Meadows resort and conference center from August 30-September 1.Raizado: The Latinx House Festival, Cultivando Nuestro Futuro will be a meeting of the minds to celebrate the Latinx community through art exhibitions, live music, film screenings, panel discussions and cuisine to empower one another with power, culture and truth. It’s even more meaningful to me since three women founded Latinx House. They named the festival after the concept of “deeply rooted” to emphasize how deeply rooted the Latinx community is within the fabric of our nation. I’m excited to see how their events grow and what they accomplish.

 

To all the mothers, Happy Mother’s Day!

By Art, Beauty, Culture, Family, Fashion, Holiday, Nutrition, Wellness

It’s important to honor these women who do so much for us and love us unconditionally. Here are some ideas to pamper them this holiday.

Heaven Scent

Fill her home with the heavenly scent of gardenias. California flower farm High Camp Supply ships cut-to-order gardenias overnight in luxe packaging. The Vine & Bloom box comes with gardenias two ways—as loose blooms and two dozen budding long stem vines. She’ll have fun arranging them in her favorite vessel.

Click below to purchase:

High Camp Supply

 

In the Bag

Mom is no exception when it comes to ladies who love handbags. Treat her to Bottega Veneta’s mini Jodie style made in Italy featuring the house’s iconic intrecciato leather. Colors range from neutrals to marine-inspired blues and greens. Colombian designer Michelle Daccarett also has chic handbags. Her signature style, handmade oak boxes accented with nylon strands and acrylic chains, are definitely conversation starters.

Net-a-Porter Bottega

Michelle Daccarett

Museum Day

PAMM has one of the coolest shows on view now, and we’re so lucky to have it. Organized by The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, “Marisol and Warhol Take New York” follows the interconnected careers of Paris-born María Sol Escobar, who went by Marisol, and Andy Warhol during the Pop Art movement of the Sixties. Marisol’s genius is being rediscovered, and her multimedia sculptures and installations depicting high society and pop culture are absolutely delightful.

PAMM Marisol Warhol

Spa Day

Under new ownership, the Standard Spa Miami Beach boutique hotel fully renovated its namesake spa. The makeover revamps popular amenities like the Turkish hammam and introduces amenities and upgrades from a cold room to reduce inflammation to multiple windows, including inside the sauna, for guests to enjoy bay views. Décor elements by Pierre Frey, Gio Ponti and House of Hackney were also used for new treatment rooms and a spa lounge with Danish rattan daybeds. Spa services are equally well-conceived. There are many to choose from, but the Sound Healing Massage with crystal bowls and Sea Change, a yuzu mimosa/sea algae wash and spirulina mud body mask, piqued my interest.

The Standard Spa

Books to Treasure

Women designers are finally getting their due in “Woman Made: Great Women Designers” published by Phaidon in collaboration with Kering.  Architect Jane Hall organized the thorough collection of designs by more than 200 women representing 50 countries. A few are Eileen Gray, Ray Eames and Florence Knoll, who lived in Miami.

Rich and I love wine country, so I’m hooked on “The New Architecture of Wine.” Through beautiful imagery and stories, readers travel vicariously to 25 spectacular wineries designed by architects like Howard Backen and Juan Carlos Fernandez and built during the 21st century. It’s the second best thing to being there.

The catalog to an exhibition at Paris’s Centre Pompidou, “Women in Abstraction” reevaluates the work of women’s role in this 20th-century art movement. More than 100 artists from painters to photographers to dancers are highlighted to reveal the overlooked story.

Woman Made: Great Women Designers

The New Architecture of Wine

Women in Abstraction

Dote on Mom

I’m very proud of my daughter, a mother herself to three children. She and her husband founded an organic wellness line called Dote. Their products are clean, eco and full of naturally beneficial ingredients like CBD, olive oil and chamomile. They’re vegan and gluten-free too. These sets make convenient gifts.

For the mother who enjoys at at-home spa day:

Unwind set with Relieve muscle cream and Calm tincture

https://dotewellness.com/products/calm-15ml-relieve

For the mother who deserves the sleep of her dreams:

Lights Out set with Dream supplement and Calm tincture

https://dotewellness.com/products/lights-out-calm-30ml-dream

For the mother who never misses her workout:

Peak Performance set with Power supplement and Relieve muscle cream

https://dotewellness.com/products/peak-performance-power-relieve

For the mother who deserves balance in her life:

Body in Balance set with Calm tincture, Relieve muscle cream and Dream, Focus and Power supplements

https://dotewellness.com/products/body-in-balance

 

Thaw Out

By Culture, Florida Finds, Travel, Wellness

Escape winter’s chill with a Florida holiday at one of these hot hotels.

When there’s even a nip in the air in Miami, you know it’s freezing up north. I thought you’d like to know about some wonderful new resorts around the Sunshine State to book your next holiday. You may fall in love with Florida and just have to get a place of your own here. It’s been known to happen!

Closing in on its centennial, The Boca Raton reopened after a $200-million makeover that included the breezier name change and reverting to the original, cream-colored façade chosen by its legendary Florida architect Addison Mizner. The property’s sheer size—five distinct hotels set on 200 waterfront acres with a private beach spanning a half mile—and abundance of amenities will pique the interest of seasoned hotel hoppers worldwide. It will take several repeat visits to experience everything from the four-acre Pool Club to the 50,000-square-foot Spa Palmera to restaurants such as the Flamingo Grill and Sadelle’s by New York-based Major Food Group. There’s even an old-fashioned supper club for dinner and a show. Other perks are golf, pickleball, a 32-slip marina, two Michelle Farmer boutiques (love her stuff!), and fitness partnerships with Orangetheory and Hydrow. Whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple, or multigenerational family, everyone is going to have a ball here.

Rich and I often head over to his neck of the woods on Florida’s west coast. We’re huge fans of its laid-back lifestyle and breathtaking sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico. You really feel like you’re getting away from it all without giving up creature comforts such as great restaurants, services and activities from golf to yoga. One of our favorite spots is The Gasparilla Inn & Club, having stayed there during our courtship. Among its many room types, I suggest reserving a private cottage at the new Beach Club designed by Kemble Interiors. Beach Club guests also have their own pool and personal golf cart. No matter where you stay here though, you’ll relish the nostalgic appeal of playing backgammon, sipping potent punch at BZ’s bar and rocking on the front porch.

If you fall in love with Gasparilla like I did, you may want to check out a new luxury residential and resort that’s just over the bridge from Boca Grande. Set on 16 acres of secluded waterfront with a 75-slip marina, Banyan at Gasparilla Sound recently launched preconstruction sales for nearly 200 decorator-ready residences and fully furnished condo-hotel suites. I’m beyond excited about this project since there’s really nothing like it in the entire area from its modern design to its wellness-minded lifestyle. I also like how it honors the area’s heritage as a fishery that still lures world-class anglers to this day. Integra Investments development firm, whose projects includes St. Regis Residences Miami and Boca Beach House, commissioned SB Architects and Exteriors by Koby Kirwin for landscape design naturally centered on the namesake banyan tree. If you’ve ever been to the spas at Auberge du Soleil, Hotel Jerome or the Miami Beach Edition, among so many incredible properties around the world, you understand spa consultant Tracy Lee’s immense expertise. For Banyan, she’s creating the 11,000-square-foot Sea Salt Spa that extends to the outdoors with a serenity garden and yoga lawn. Dining at Blue Waters restaurant is like having a personal chef, while the Light House juice bar serves quick healthy fare. After lounging by the pool in a private cabana and partaking in water sports, owners and guests can end the day around fire pits. I’m so proud of Rich, whose Gulf to Bay Sotheby’s International Realty has been selected to represent sales and marketing for this magnificent addition to the area.

The Venice of America finally receives the Four Seasons Hotel & Residences Fort Lauderdale that it deserves. Slated to open in March, developer Fort Hospitality’s fourth Four Seasons property in South Florida features yacht-inspired architecture by Kobi Karp, interiors by London-based Tara Bernerd and New York-based Martin Brudnizki, and landscape design by Fernando Wong. Nearly 200 guestrooms, suites and private residences also mimic the city’s signature boating lifestyle from marine décor to Honey Fitz coffee and cocktail bar named after the Kennedys’ presidential yacht. The Ocean Terrace pool deck perches above A1A for ocean views and two horizon-edge pools. In addition to spa treatments with Tammy Fender and Pietro Simone products, guests can dine at Evelyn’s, which honors one of Fort Lauderdale’s first ladies who gifted the nearby Bonnet House Museum & Gardens to the people.

 

Basel Bliss

By Art, Culture, Events

Miami shines for the whole world when Art Basel comes to town.

One of the most fantastic things about living in South Florida is our annual Miami art week. What began with Art Basel Miami Beach in 2002 has grown with additional fairs and exciting exhibits and events. I look forward to it every year and am so happy that we’re returning to in-person events. Besides walking the fairs and finding new artworks, I also appreciate meeting people from around the world and learning from them. I plan to soak up the inspiration all around me.


Of course, everything centers on the main fair at the Miami Beach Convention Center. If you haven’t been to the venue recently, it’s been completely renovated for a vastly improved experience. Definitely start here during Art Basel’s invitation-only preview days and vernissage from November 30-December 1. (It opens to the public December 2-4.) Galleries is its main sector, among many, but I’m also interested to see what Museo Tamayo director and Art Basel guest curator Magalí Arriola has in store for the Meridians sector that focuses on large-scale installations. She’s getting a lot of buzz.


There are too many satellite fairs to mention all of them, but don’t miss these two if you’re staying on the beach. Located in Pride Park across from Art Basel, Design Miami introduced an app to locate booths and other news more easily. Untitled returns to its oceanside tent with guest curators who bring a different perspective like Natasha Becker, curator of African Art at San Francisco’s de Young Museum, and Peruvian writer and TEOR/éTica’s former codirector Miguel A. López. To hear more from these fresh voices, they’re featured in the fair’s new IGTV video series #UntitledUnplugged.


Untitled represents the art world’s shift to promote diversity such as artists of color. David Castillo Gallery in the Miami Design District exhibits news works by Pepe Mar, a Mexican artist who’s known for incorporating designer clothing by Versace and D&G into multimedia collages and assemblage boxes. (I also suggest visiting “Tesoro,” the group show that he guest curated for FIU’s Frost Art Museum.) Jeffrey Deitch gallery pops up with an expanded version of its hit show “Shattered Glass” that focuses on works by artists of color and premiered in Los Angeles earlier this year. To explore Latin American art, visit the Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation (CIFO) and the Pinta fair, which relocates to Midtown Miami for its 15th edition with VIP previews November 30-December 1, followed by public viewing through December 5. Divided into four sections, this year’s Pinta emphasizes solo projects including a photographic installation by Colombian artist Ruby Rumié.


The rise of NFTs is another major theme for Miami art week. Art Basel fair presents “Human + Machine: NFTs and the Ever-Evolving World of Art,” an interactive experience for viewers with leading artists in the movement. The series takes place December 2-4. The week is filled with tons of collection launches and book signings, too. Louis Vuitton premieres its latest Objets Nomades at its women’s boutique in the Miami Design District on December 1. Patricia Urquiola and Humberto Campana are among the series’ collaborators who will speak. Daniel Arsham, an artist who got his start in Miami before going on to collaborate with Dior to Tiffany & Co., signs his new “Sketchbook” at the Miami Beach Edition on December 1.
With all this running around, it’s important to recharge. Swiss beauty brand sets up its La Prairie Beach Club on December 2 for relaxing treatments and a collaboration with new media artist, choreographer and dancer Wen-Chi Su. Other great wellness retreats are Faena Hotel’s Tierra Santa Healing House and Gee Beauty for the most heavenly facials. For healthy bites, Malibu’s favorite juice bar Sunlife Organics opened a Miami Beach branch near Lincoln Road.

Forty & Fabulous

By Art, Culture, Events, Music

Congratulations to Miami’s very special YoungArts on its big birthday!

YoungArts, one of the world’s biggest champions of the next generations of artists, is celebrating its 40th anniversary. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Miami-based organization, it was founded by Lin and Ted Arison to foster U.S. artists aged 15-18 in various disciplines including classical music, jazz, voice, dance, theater, visual arts and film. Each year, hundreds of winners across the nation receive financial awards and a week in Miami to study and mingle with star experts, many of whom are YoungArts alumni themselves. Just to give you an idea of the talent, Viola Davis, Andrew Rannells and Tarell Alvin McCraney have participated in this program, first as teens, and then as instructors. YoungArts also has enough cachet to get famous non-alums like Mikhail Baryshnikov, Debbie Allen and Wynton Marsalis to share their insight and experiences with the kids in master classes. The nurturing doesn’t end there. Winners are eligible for nomination as a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts, among many professional networking and career development opportunities and services.

The Arisons passed the baton to their granddaughter, Sarah Arison, Arison Arts Foundation’s board chair who has put her own spin on things. A major rebranding initiative shortened the original name simply to YoungArts and revamped the website and overall look, while recent hires and promotions bring vital new energy to Sarah and executive director Jewel Malone’s vision for the next chapter.

© 2018 Jason Koerner Photography

Many people are already familiar with the annual National YoungArts Week in January, when teens and teachers arrive for workshops and performances that culminate in the YoungArts Backyard Ball at its Miami campus (housed in iconic, historic buildings formerly owned by Bacardi). The 2022 week is slated for January 9-15, but they’re skipping the traditional gala in lieu of a special, earlier celebration in honor of the 40th season. Co-chairs Sarah and her husband, Thomas Wilhelm, are hosting the “40 Years for Artists” birthday bash with cocktails, a seated dinner under the stars and a performance by Queen Esther [and her orchestra], the night’s master of ceremonies who won the YoungArts Theater award in 1983. ONE Sotheby’s International Realty is a proud sponsor of this milestone event on November 20.

More festivities follow with the opening of “The Choreographers’ Scores: 2020” in December. The exhibition features works on paper by U.S.-based choreographers, including Camille A. Brown, who were commissioned to imagine a score as a love letter to the future of dance. The Lapis Press printed editions of their scores handmade in quarantine during the pandemic’s shutdown. You can be among the first to see these rare works at the YoungArts Art Basel Miami Beach VIP breakfast and curator tour on December 1.

I’d also like to recommend attending Nu Deco Ensemble’s performance at the Arsht Center on December 10. YoungArts partnered with the local modern orchestra for this concert featuring original compositions by 2007 YoungArts Classical Music award winner Chris Rogerson.

Looking ahead, the YoungArts New York Gala returns on April 11, 2022. Its inaugural event in 2016 commemorated the 35th anniversary. Here’s to many more great years ahead!

Falling for Art in NY

By Art, Culture, Events

A look at the city’s art-filled season, which starts this week with tony fairs.

The Armory Show kicks off New York’s splendid art season. The premier fair has lots to talk about this year, beginning with new dates—September 10-12, with a private preview for VIPs on September 9—and a new venue—the Javits Convention Center, which recently underwent a $1.5 billion expansion, enabling modern and contemporary works to be displayed cohesively. There are new sections and programs, too, including Solo, which focuses on single-artist presentations from the 20th or 21st century, and Armory Off-Site, a large-scale, interactive series of public artworks exhibited at multiple sites around town. Among the latter are Swedish artist Katja Larsson’s new sculptures (titled Empire and Materially Superior) that will be on view at Hudson River Park through December 3; and American artist Josh Callaghan’s installation (titled Social Blocks) in the Flatiron Plaza through November 1. Keep in mind that some of the nearly 200 participating international galleries are only exhibiting virtually due to covid. Others will be showing in person and virtually. Armory Live, a two-day art conversations series, will also take place in person and virtually.

There are several concurrent satellite art fairs. The Future Fair will make its physical debut at the Starrett-Lehigh Building in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. (The first in-person edition was scheduled for last year but pivoted to a digital-only format.) The concept encourages diversity and transparency, as well as supports artists and galleries through year-round storytelling and authentic engagement with art audiences. Half of its participating galleries are women-owned, while a quarter are owned by people of color. Its dedication to inclusiveness marks a big step for the art fair scene.

Storytelling is also at the heart of Independent New York, a fair designed around the artist experience through inspirational settings and an intimate, rare mix of established, emerging and outsider galleries. Forty have signed on for its 11th edition from September 9-12, at the beautiful Battery Maritime Building (home of Cipriani South Street) with three halls overlooking the water and a spacious outdoor terrace for an exclusive café and restaurant serviced by Cipriani. Independent is also introducing an Online Viewing Room option from September 9-September 26. Beyond booths, the inaugural digital platform features exclusive editorial content like artist takeovers, podcasts and videos.

There are too many great exhibits to mention all of them, but one of immense scope should definitely be on your list. The Whitney in New York and the Philadelphia Museum of Art are collaborating on a monumental, unprecedented retrospective of Jasper Johns, who’s still working at 91 years old. The complementary exhibitions, which are concurrently on view from September 29, 2021 to February 13, 2022, required two institutions to cover his prolific, seven-decade career. Nearly 500 paintings, sculptures, drawings, and prints range from his iconic flags to recent works to selections from his personal collection that are being shown to the public for the first time. A double-entendre, its title “Jasper Johns: Mind/Mirror” references his longtime study of mirroring and doubles, as well as how the two self-contained shows mirror one another.

Aspen Summer

By Art, Culture, Dining, Travel

It’s that time of year when my Aspen reveries turn reality. After Florida’s busy season (that seems to get longer every year!), I like to escape to the mountains with my family and fiancé Rich for some well-deserved R & R. The majestic views alone instantly relax me, though I also look forward to getting out in nature and experiencing all the shops, restaurants, culture and events. Here’s a list of new places and fun activities to explore when you’re in town.

Stay

Ideal for personal and corporate events of all kinds, the family-owned Aspen Street Lodge is available for full buyouts only. Accommodations offer a lot of variety, from a two-bedroom penthouse with a full kitchen to nine traditional hotel rooms with a mix of bunk beds, double queens and single kings. Guestrooms feature smart-tech systems and connect to at least one other guestroom for families traveling with small children and other needs. The extensive array of amenities—rooftop, heated pool and hot tub, fire pit, terraces with Aspen Mountain views, game room and outdoor grill and pizza oven—leaves nothing to desire. Sounds like heaven.

Attend

Aspen Art Museum’s annual summer gala ArtCrush takes place August 3-6. Along with AAM’s new director Nicola Lees, co-chairs Amy Phelan and Jamie Tisch, and 2021 Aspen Award for Art honoree Mary Weatherford, the benefit includes silent and live auctions by Sotheby’s. Bid on more than 45 artworks by artists such as Oscar Murillo, Rita Ackermann and Weatherford; Sotheby’s senior international contemporary art specialist Michael Macaulay conducts the live auction of eight lots during the gala at Aspen Skiing Company’s Buttermilk ski area on August 6. Panel discussions, a classical music art performance, tastings and a Pine Creek Cookhouse hike are also part of this year’s extended festivities.

Eat

New restaurants focus on several types of cuisine from the Basque Country (Joonas) to surf and turf (Catch Steak). Italian imports are also making their mark. Based in the West Village, Dante NYC returns for a second collaboration with the Surf Lodge. The partners had such a great time with their winter pop up at the Snow Lodge, that they relocated to the Chefs Club at the St. Regis Aspen Resort through next spring. While Surf Lodge books live music acts, Dante helms the menu’s seasonal fare. Items like whole grilled branzino and a peach, heirloom tomato and goat cheese salad lean to the lighter side. Complete your al fresco repast with a summery spritz within Dante’s famous cocktail collection.

I’m also delighted that a familiar name from South Florida is opening soon—hopefully by August! After running their super successful Casa D’Angelo locations in Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and Aventura, restaurateurs Angelo and Denise Elia are expanding to Aspen.  The couple brightened up the space formerly occupied by Piñons with white oak interiors and Western décor. In addition to signature Italian dishes, the menu increases specialty items (caviar, bison, crudos) that appeal to the Aspen palate. Known for sourcing the finest ingredients, they also plan to celebrate Colorado’s excellent meats, dairy and produce.

Shop

Aspen is as famous for its galleries and designer boutiques as its ski slopes. Balenciaga’s year-long pop up debuted in July, while Prada’s traveling, experiential activation “Prada Outdoor” comes through town from July 29 to September 7. The interactive shop encompasses mountain-friendly gear (tents, frisbees, stainless steel water bottles) and men’s and women’s activewear and accessories (shorts, backpacks, sporty sandals).

While Peri.A devotees wait for its new Los Angeles store to premiere later this summer, they’re hitting the Aspen outpost in droves. Owner Peri Arenas stocks her pint-sized space with coveted labels for women’s fashions and fine jewelry. Her roster features Casablanca, Ikkim’o, Marni, Peter Cohen, Colville and Marie Lichtenberg, among dozens of gems. Don’t hesitate if you fancy something, since it will be gone in a flash!

After popping up in South Florida and the Hamptons during covid, international art galleries next followed their clientele to Aspen. Paris’s Almine Rech operates here through September 12. Catch its back-to-back shows “Genesis Tramaine: Worship Works” and “Wes Lang: Endless Horizons.” Los Angeles-based Honor Fraser displays a meta solo show of Richard Pettibone’s replications of Andy Warhol’s iconic soup can series. London’s White Cube pops up in a 19th-century building through September 5. Works by Tracey Emin, Magnus Plessen, Anselm Kiefer, Antony Gormley, Theaster Gates and Isamu Noguchi, among several established artists, are exhibited throughout its summer program titled “Correspondence.”

My Art Agenda

By Art, Culture, Events

I’d like to share my list of exhibits to visit here and during your summer travels.

A clear sign that South Florida is no longer seasonal is the quality of art exhibits that continue long after Memorial Day weekend. I especially enjoy having this time to visit our many incredible museums, galleries and alternative art spaces to see a good show. Here are some of my picks in Miami and other parts of the U.S., in case your summer travels take you there.

I’m so impressed with the level of shows that the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami is curating. They’re groundbreaking and cool, including when the ICA recently exhibited Drake’s custom Rolls-Royce Cullinan x Chrome Hearts in its sculpture garden. It also organized the comprehensive survey “Chakaia Booker” The Observance,” which is on view through October 31. Though most recognized for her sculptures and large-scale installations made with deconstructed rubber tires and rubber conduit, this American artist uses many other tactile materials from bronze to plastic. The show also features two series of abstract paintings in acrylic on various surfaces like wood.

I’m always curious to see what Nina Johnson has going on at her Miami gallery. Her current show “Bhakti Baxter: Heat Transfer” presents new paintings and drawings by the native Miamian who now lives and works in Topanga State Park near Los Angeles. He continues his exploration of innovative techniques, a process that requires drawing grids in blue chalk on raw canvas, soaking the works in water and painting them en plein air. The natural elements affect their outcome, too, thus the “heat” reference in the show’s title.

Every summer, Guild Hall in East Hampton celebrates a major artist. It’s even more special this time, being the 90th anniversary of the treasured cultural institution for art, theater, music and other events. Concurrent with its summer gala, “Robert Longo: A History of the Present” will be exhibited from August 7-October 17. Taking over the entire museum, his massive charcoal drawings offer a critical investigation of history that spans the Abstract Expressionism movement to today. Held the night before the show opens to the public, the glamorous fundraiser features an exclusive preview followed by cocktails, dinner and music at a nearby private venue.

Everyone’s talking about the Alice Neel retrospective at the Met, but I’m also looking forward to “The New Woman Behind the Camera” from July 2-October 3. It’s about the rise of personal cameras in the early 20th century, which became an important outlet for women to express their artistic talents. The show features works shot by 120 photographers during the 1920s to the 1950s. It really gives a global viewpoint, too, since the selected photographers represent more than 20 countries. Subjects range from fashion advertising to portraits to street photography, while some artists are Dorothea Lange, Gerda Taro and Berenice Abbott.

Aspen Art Museum always makes sure to line up premier shows for summer art lovers, and this summer is no exception. “Cerith Wyn Evans: Aspen Drift,” which opens June 11, is the Welsh conceptual artist and film maker’s first presentation at a U.S. museum in nearly 20 years. The witty title references both the state of feeling adrift, as well as the local context, the mountain setting’s snowdrifts. See his sculptures, paintings and works on papers through October 10.

Don’t miss another show by a poet and artist located outside on the rooftop. On view June 11, 2021-September 18, 2022, “Precious Okoyomon: Every Earthly Morning the Sky’s Light touches Ur Life is Unprecedented in its Beauty” is a mixed-media installation combining sculpture and organic matter including plants, soil and water. Since it’s a garden, which the artist will maintain during her residency here, the work will evolve and grow. She’ll also collaborate with other artists and musicians for live performances and seasonal soundtracks.

A Woman’s Work Is Never Done

By Culture, Holiday

Why I’m celebrating International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month

As far as women have come, from the right to vote to the #MeToo movement, there’s still much work to be done. Hence, there’s always good reason to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, which falls during Women’s History Month. Founded more than a century ago, the global day recognizes women’s achievements in all aspects of life; raises funds for female-focused charities, and accelerates women’s equality in human rights and economics through its mission involving a call to action, collaboration, philanthropy and uplifting women. The 2021 campaign’s theme is #ChooseToChallenge. It’s a rally for true change.

I’m elated to see how many famous faces, household brands and media outlets are getting behind International Women’s Day. No institution is too big or too small to participate. Like most of you, my inbox has been flooded with virtual events and initiatives to support women-owned companies and women-supporting nonprofits. Amazon Live hosted one of the biggest celebrations, a panel discussion with Priyanka Chopra, Mindy Kaling and Diane von Furstenberg, whose new book “Own It:  The Secret to Life” should be on everyone’s reading list.   

The U.S. government also stepped up to the plate today by signing two executive orders to promote gender equality here and abroad. The first establishes an inclusive Gender Policy Council within the White House. Its staff includes a special assistant dedicated to advancing the equity of women and girls of color. As a Latin American woman who lives in the Gateway to Latin America, I’m especially proud that a Dominican-American woman who’s the former ambassador to Uruguay serves as co-chair.

Women’s History Month has only been around since the late Eighties. To honor it, Google’s charitable arm established a new female-focused program. “Google.org Impact Challenge for Women and Girls” donates $25 million to support economic prosperity by inviting nonprofits worldwide to submit proposals through April 9 to receive grants and mentorship. Now’s your chance to apply! There are too many other initiatives to list, but a couple that caught my eye are Pinterest’s retail showcase of women-owned small businesses during March, and Netflix’s $5 million pledge to foster emerging female talent worldwide including training programs for Latinx women.

Some virtual events are the WOW Foundation’s Women of the World festival through March 21. Led by famous experts and authors, WOW’s webinars touch on a range of topics from managing finances to being a grandmother (something I can certainly relate to). I also encourage you to visit womenshistorymonth.gov for lectures, films and other insight throughout the month and year. Think how you can make a difference locally, too. Learn about women’s charities in your community, direct your dollars to women-owned companies, and call your mom, sister, daughter and bestie to tell them how much they mean to you. We women need to stick together.