Indholdsfortegnelse for December 2019 i Naples Illustrated

Shawn is a 4th generation art dealer that brings decades of experience to our Worth Avenue gallery. He takes pride in helping clients whether they are building their collection or divesting of pieces they no longer desire. The gallery always has exquisite works for those with diverse and discerning tastes. Pieces include 19th & 20th century French and American Impressionism, Post Impressionism, Modernism and Contemporary works, always vetted for quality and condition. Shawn embodies Provident Fine Arts’ passion for exemplary customer service and placing beautiful art into our customers lives. Call or visit the gallery and allow Shawn to help you with all your fine art needs.…

The Langley’s sister hotel, The Wellesley, in London’s Knightsbridge, is another triumph of oldmeets-new design. The Wellesley’s origin story is a bit humbler than The Langley’s. It started life as the Hyde Park Corner tube station, designed by Leslie Green, the British architect behind the underground’s classic oxbloodred facades and demilune windows. Despite its conversion into a luxury boutique hotel, The Wellesley has retained those emblematic exterior features while integrating elevated modern notes. Interiors are expressed in classic Art Deco motifs—geometric shapes, sunbursts, concentric circles, and colonnades—and 1920s-inspired materials, including brass accents and fluted and etched glass. There is a sense of procession from the moment of entry: A series of arches topped with cascading crystal fixtures leads across inlaid-marble floors to the hotel’s various public areas. Among those are…

When you hear the words, “Honey, I’m thinking of getting a new Lexus,” you could be forgiven for presuming your better half is contemplating the purchase of a shiny Lexus LS 500 sedan or a gorgeous LC sports coupe. Certainly not a 65-foot Lexus LY 650 sports yacht. The price for such an extravagance? That would be $3.7 million, or $4.7 very nicely loaded. Wait a second—a Lexus yacht? You heard right. Lexus is on a mission to evolve from an automaker into a luxury lifestyle brand. They reckon building a range of ultra-high-end yachts is one way of achieving that and have partnered with Wisconsin-based Marquis Yachts to birth a spectacular flagship. This isn’t simply an existing Marquis boat with a couple of Lexus badges glued to its superstructure.…

1 SPA TREATMENT. Indulge in a relaxing massage ritual to melt away tension at The Om Spa, Naples. (theomspa.com) 2 WHEELS A-SPINNING. Rent a tandem bike from Naples Cyclery and pedal away from holiday overload with a friend. (naplescyclery.com) 3 ESSENTIAL OILS. Don’t have time for a spa visit? Then diffuse some Ellia aromatherapy essential oils for a quick calm down. (ellia.com) 4 MINDFUL MINUTES. Pair that aromatherapy with some guided meditation courtesy of Mindfulness Exercises. (mindfulnessexercises.com) 5 O’CLOCK COCKTAILS. Press pause in paradise and take in a sunset while sipping a cocktail on the beach at LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort’s Elements Bar. (laplayaresort.com) 6 ORGANIC TEA BLENDS. For a nonalcoholic yet equally destressing libation, opt for a cup of Davidson’s Organics tea. (davidsonstea.com) 7 YOGA POSES. Stretch your…

COSMETIC INGREDIENTS REMAIN MOSTLY UNREGULATED IN THE UNITED STATES, AND THOUSANDS OF SUBSTANCES FOUND IN LOTIONS, POWDERS, SOAPS, AND MAKEUP CAN BE HARMFUL. THE THINK DIRTY APP WAS CREATED TO EMPOWER CONSUMERS TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR COSMETICS. “UNLESS YOU HAVE A LOT OF TIME ON YOUR HANDS, IT’S A LONG, HARD ROAD TO READ ALL THE INGREDIENTS ON EACH PRODUCT IN YOUR MAKEUP ARSENAL,” SAYS DANI TAVERNA, A MAKEUP ARTIST AND OWNER OF DUALITY ARTISTRY AND DMA COSMETICS IN NAPLES. SCAN A BARCODE AND THE APP WILL LOOK IT UP FROM A DATABASE OF MORE THAN 850,000 PRODUCTS AND RATE ITS CLEANLINESS, WITH THE HIGHEST SCORE MEANING INGREDIENTS IN THE PRODUCT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO RESULT IN LONG-TERM NEGATIVE HEALTH EFFECTS. USERS CAN KEEP TRACK OF WHAT’S IN…

With Southwest Florida’s heat and humidity, it’s easy to understand the appeal of miraDry, a nonsurgical treatment that permanently reduces underarm sweat. It has become a popular request says Kiran Gill, MD, who operates Aesthetics in Plastic Surgery and is the first plastic surgeon in Southwest Florida to offer the noninvasive, FDA-approved treatment. “Clinical studies have shown an average of 82 percent sweat reduction,” says Gill, noting that it can be effective even after one session. “Patients can also experience decreased odor and hair reduction.” The procedure is done in the office under local anesthesia and takes about an hour. “It uses thermal energy to target sweat glands deep in the skin surface of the underarms,” Gill explains. “Once those glands are eliminated, they do not grow back, resulting in…

Ten years ago, Tacarra Williams took up stand-up comedy at the behest of a producer and never looked back. In September, she finished second on the NBC competition show Bring the Funny before embarking on her “Life After Divorce” tour, which will arrive at the Off the Hook Comedy Club in Naples December 19-22. Here, Williams chats with NI about her standup and influences. (offthehookcomedy.com) NI: What about stand-up comedy made it feel like home to you the first time you performed? Williams: First of all, people listened to me. I could talk as much as I wanted, and they would listen. And two, it was healing. Not just for me, but for the subjects that I talk about. I was talking about going through a breakup, and there were…

My family wasn’t huge into the holidays, perhaps because we moved almost every year until I was in high school or because my mother considered gratuitous decoration unseemly. In my Army-brat mind, in fact, Santa didn’t slide down the chimney. He rappelled off the roof with a rucksack full of practical, task-oriented gifts such as Ticonderoga pencils. But we did, however, have one tradition that defined us—an orange in the toe of our stocking. Saint Nick wouldn’t deliver this citrus surprise (which was anything but) until well after my siblings and I were asleep on Christmas Eve. The next morning was marked by the four of us, still not quite awake, trooping into the kitchen to deposit the fruit back into the bottom drawer of the fridge. In this issue,…

In the Chinese zodiac, 2020 is the year of the rat. Gucci is celebrating by adorning many ready-to-wear pieces and accessories from its Cruise 2020 collection with a much cuddlier—and instantly recognizable—rodent: Mickey Mouse. From colorful prints to embroidered patches and jacquard motifs, the iconic Walt Disney mascot appears on everything from a Mini GG Supreme guitar case ($8,900) to a small bucket bag in cuir leather ($2,390). It all adds up to the perfect uniform for your next trip to the happiest place on earth.…

“Working together is sometimes the only way we see each other, I’m front of the house; he’s back. It seemed like a perfect marriage.”—Nicole Roland Marriage represents the merging of values and morals, strengths and weaknesses, perspectives and personalities. When the holidays roll around, it also means the blending of traditions. Brian and Nicole Roland, who’ve been together for seven years and married for three, have found harmony in both their home and work lives. The holiday season is a time for them to not only celebrate the professional achievements they share, but also to foster new customs and bask in the joy of family. As the co-owners of Crave Culinaire, the Rolands make a living feeding others and helping them entertain. With Brian serving as executive chef and Nicole…

FOR NEARLY FOUR DECADES, TONY RIDGWAY HAS BEEN PROVIDING NAPLES WITH HONEST, STRAIGHTFORWARD, AND WELLCRAFTED FOOD. HE’S BEEN A PIONEER IN THE LOCAL RESTAURANT SCENE, STARTING WITH THE WURST PLACE AND THE CHEF’S GARDEN AND TRUFFLES, ALL THE WAY UP TO HIS CURRENT STABLE OF RIDGWAY BAR & GRILL, TONY’S OFF THIRD, AND BAYSIDE SEAFOOD GRILL & BAR. NOW HE’S DISTILLED HIS KNOWLEDGE INTO A COOKBOOK TITLED KITCHEN PRIVILEGES: A HANDSON ACCOUNT OF LIFE, FOOD, AND HOW TO COOK ($55), WHICH WILL BE SOLD ONLINE AND IN THE RIDGWAY FAMILY OF BUSINESSES. AS THE TITLE SUGGESTS, THE VOLUME IS PART MEMOIR, PART EXPOSITION OF CLASSIC COOKING TECHNIQUES. A SELFTAUGHT CHEF, RIDGWAY DESCRIBES THE RESTAURANT MEALS THAT OPENED HIS EYES AND REMAINS AS FASCINATED WITH THE PROCESS OF COOKING AS HE…

Lush greenery does more than make indoor spaces lovely. Research shows that houseplants can benefit our health and well-being by purifying the air, increasing relative humidity, boosting mood, and quelling anxiety. Even NASA scientists have looked into how indoor plants can improve air quality in space stations, finding that, in addition to absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen through photosynthesis, certain varieties may naturally remove toxic agents from the air. To discover indoor plants best suited to Southwest Florida homes, NI spoke with Joel Toledo, owner of Green Door Nursery in Naples. “I recommend plants that have thick, waxy leaves,” he says. “Because we run our airconditioning system almost constantly in Florida, it pulls moisture out of the air. Thickleafed plants will tolerate these conditions.” He notes that no matter…

Holiday events call for a festive look. This season, it’s all about sparkling neutrals—nudes, taupes, pinks, and apricots amped up with shimmer and shine. Get your glam on with Éclat Magnétique de Chanel illuminating powder in Metal Peach ($70, Saks Fifth Avenue); Deborah Koepper Molten Powders for cheeks and eyes in Rosy Apricot and Golden Vanilla ($40 each, deborahkoepper.com); Lune + Aster Destination Nudes Global Edition eye palette ($58, bluemercury.com); Christian Dior Diorific Happy 2020 glitter top coat ($29, dior.com) and lipstick in Charm ($38, Saks Fifth Avenue); and Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless all-day foundation for perfect skin ($44, Sephora).…

GOINGS ON 1 Gingerbread House, The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, on view to Dec. 31, free. (ritzcarlton.com) Night Lights in the Garden, Naples Botanical Garden, to Jan. 5, $12-$30, free for children younger than 3. (naplesgarden.org) 2 Festival of Trees, benefiting the Bonita Springs Historical Society, McSwain House, Bonita Springs, to Dec. 6, $5. (bonitaspringshistoricalsociety.org) Winter Sizzle SWFL Restaurant Week, various restaurants, to Dec. 15. (swflrestaurantweek.com) 3 Christmas at Palm Collage, Historic Palm Cottage, Naples, to Dec. 28, $13. (napleshistoricalsociety.org) Festival of Trees, Marco Island Center for the Arts, to Dec. 5, free. (marcoislandart.org) 4 Art Alive, Naples Art District, free. (naplesartdistrict.com) Lunch and Lecture “All in the Family: The Legacy of J.S. Bach and His Sons in Our Musical Heritage,” Moe Auditorium, Center for Performing Arts, Bonita Springs, $38. (artcenterbonita.org) “Stories…

Zimbabwe master Shona stone sculptor Godfrey Zonde (pictured left) will visit Call of Africa’s Native Visions Gallery in Naples December 4 to discuss his latest collection. “Godfrey carries on the tradition of sculptors who believe they’re literally liberating the spirits out of their stone mediums,” says Call of Africa founder Ross Parker. “He’s adept in both realism and abstract works and is a master restorer of artwork created in stone indigenous to Africa.” Parker, a Zimbabwe expatriate and former soldier, worked in the diamond and sports car industries until opening his first gallery in Boca Raton in 1987, followed by a Fifth Avenue South location 12 years later. “I wanted to run a gallery where art became a vehicle for giving back, and I knew that there’s nothing more powerful…

STYLE NOTES FROST ME: Crystal embellishments add extra sparkle to evening accessories BALL & CHAIN: Jeweled balls make the perfect ear and hand ornaments. SHINE ON: Opt for reflective materials for the ultimate take on the trend.…

Charles Spencer, third Duke of Marlborough, must have looked out his bedroom’s bay window at the park-like grounds of Langley Park House and been overcome by the thrill of the hunt. But Langley offered more than access to 50 acres of woods rich in game and fowl. The eighteenth-century Palladian estate in Buckinghamshire, an hour’s drive from London, also had bespoke creature comforts worthy of a landed aristocrat: mosaic floors, august staircases, and marble fireplaces—20 of them. C The centuries do take their toll. When City and Country Hotels Ltd. acquired the Grade II–listed house, it displayed little of its former glory. Dennis Irvine Studio stepped in with a massive renovation, during which the original mosaic floor was uncovered, the Bath-stone exterior was restored, and Doric columns and ceilings were…

After living abroad in Europe and attending the Royal College of Art in London, Marylynda MacDonald landed in Miami and worked as an artisan, running her own art finishing business and counting Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, and professional athletes among her clients. The St. Louis native now resides in Naples, where she operates a boutique and creates her own fashion brand, Chu Chu Loo. MacDonald frequently travels to Miami for business and to visit family, including her brother, interior designer Matthew MacDonald. While there, she likes to soak in the city’s energy and take advantage of its vast array of hotels, restaurants, beaches, and artistic offerings. VIBE Sexy and electrifying ESSENTIALS for day My favorite Trinny London BFF Cream (trinnylondon.com) ESSENTIALS for night A minaudière and a gorgeous date WHERE…

If you’re looking for a place to get your bicycle adjusted, grab a healthy meal, sip a specialty coffee, and quaff a craft beer all at the same time, head for the unique combination of Naples Cyclery and the Fit & Fuel Café. While the two businesses now dovetail seamlessly, owner Mark Trudeau added the café in 2011 to respond to the demands of road warriors. “We’d always stop for coffee and a bite to eat after a ride,” says Trudeau, who took up cycling during his college years. “The café is a hub, a place for the community to gather. We offer an experience, not just a bike shop or a place to eat.” Live music and a busy calendar of events enhance that community feeling, augmented by a…

Drinking expensive Champagne can be exhilarating—so much so that it’s easy to conclude no other fizzy wine comes close. The truth is that some of the California sparklers and even a few wines from Prosecco can provide a satisfying experience. If you’re searching for a celebratory holiday bottle, consider these alternatives. Le Rêve, Domaine Carneros by Taittinger: When the Taittinger family established their California outpost in 1987, they had the wealth to purchase the best vineyards. They also had Eileen Crane. Thirty-two years later, Crane is still there as winemaker, turning out some of the best sparkling wine on either side of the Atlantic. The 2012 Le Rêve ($115) is a blanc de blancs made from Chardonnay grown on estate vineyards in the Carneros AVA. In terms of taste, it…

Just like our bodies, the brain requires exercise to reach peak performance—and there are numerous activities that can train it to work hard and stay sharp. One of those is cooking. Preparing a meal encompasses responsibilities that challenge the brain’s ability to multitask, manage processes, and create better temporal awareness. Cooking also nurtures creativity and problem-solving capabilities, and the physical skill set of meal prep—like chopping, kneading, and mixing ingredients—uses motion control and hand-eye coordination. Want to crank up the intensity of your cognitive cooking workout? Try these challenges: Attempt some prep work—not involving knives—with your nondominant hand. Using your opposite hand will strengthen neural connections and may even help to form new ones. Forgo old favorites for new recipes. A new recipe requires you to break out of a…

OPERA NAPLES WILL STAGE PUCCINI’S LA BOHÈME AT ARTIS—NAPLES DECEMBER 11 AND 12. SET IN PARIS IN THE 1830S, LA BOHÈME FOLLOWS THE TRAGIC LOVE STORY OF RODOLFO, A POET, AND MIMI, A SEAMSTRESS. OPERA NAPLES WILL PERFORM THE OPERA IN ITS ORIGINAL ITALIAN WITH ENGLISH SUPERTITLES. TICKETS START AT $25. (OPERANAPLES.ORG) YULETIDE-MUSIC LOVERS CAN GET THEIR SONG ON AT TWO CAROLING EVENTS. FIRST, VISIT THE NAPLES DEPOT MUSEUM DECEMBER 13 TO TAKE PART IN COCOA AND CAROLING WITH THE NAPLES CAROLERS. THEN, STOP BY CAMBIER PARK DECEMBER 20 FOR CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS CAROLS. BOTH EVENTS ARE FREE. (COLLIERMUSEUMS.COM; GOV.COM)…

Best gift she’s ever received: A book of personal letters from my daughter, Brie Words to live by: Nike’s “Just Do It,” which I personalized into our business motto, “Make It Happen!” Kathy Bigham realized her childhood dream of owning a jewelry store when she opened Bigham Jewelers in Naples in 1995. The company moved to its current galleria a decade later and now is on the cusp of its twentyfifth anniversary. In addition to being a go-to destination for fine jewelry and watches, Bigham Jewelers is locally respected for giving back—supporting organizations that focus on women and children, veterans, seniors, and the arts. Next to her professional success as founder, president, and CEO, Bigham is proudest of her two college-age children, Brie and Chase. At this stage, she’s looking…