Culture | Jun. 2023
THE BUZZ: JUNE 2023
By Megan Weisberg
VITANI
Fixing a great martini requires a certain technique and just the right balance of ingredients. Today, bartenders and mixologists are celebrated in restaurants and bars for mastering this iconic cocktail. And because of this, martinis have become an event cocktail rather than being readily enjoyed. The North Shore’s Jackie Gichner decided to fix that with Vitani®, a restaurant-quality, premium martini that’s ready to drink … at home, at parties, or anywhere the celebration takes you. With five all natural, gluten-free flavors including Espresso, Cosmo, Dirty, Elderpear, and Moscow Mule—there is something for every martini lover. For more information, visit drinkvitani.com.
TIFFANY & CO. UNVEILS ITS NEWLY REDESIGNED NEW YORK CITY LANDMARK
The newly transformed flagship on 57th Street and Fifth Avenue, now known as “The Landmark,” reintroduces the world to a new Tiffany & Co. through custom artwork, never-before-seen jewels, and immersive displays. The Landmark, one of Manhattan’s largest stores, marks the luxury retail institution’s first holistic renovation of the store since it first opened its doors in 1940 and is home to the largest collection of Tiffany High Jewelry in the world. To commemorate the reopening of the store, Tiffany & Co. is also set to debut a range of exclusive designs and one-of-a-kind creations, including a new design for the legendary 128.54-carat Tiffany Diamond. Ten floors of magnificence offer fine jewelry and design enthusiasts everything from extraordinary diamond watches and limited-edition home objects to eyewear inspired by the Tiffany® Setting engagement ring.
For more information, visit tiffany.com.
J.D. STARON RUGS
J.D. Staron has created the world’s most eco-friendly collection of rugs. The Pure Collection created by founder Jakub Staron is made without chemicals or external power sources of any kind. The yarn used for this collection is hand-clipped from free grazing sheep then hand-washed and hand-spun. The yarn is woven using traditional weaving techniques dating back to ancient civilizations and hand knotted to perfection. To finish the process and soften the pile, the rugs are rewashed in pure water and organic oil produced from neem plants. This sustainable process results in beautiful rugs that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also ethically made and environmentally responsible. To learn more, visit jdstaron.com.
INNOVATIONS IN WELLNESS
Grand Geneva Resort & Spa in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin is launching a new Innovations in Wellness retreat this October 19 – 20, 2023. In collaboration with Milwaukee’s Golden Rey Integrative Medical Center, this new retreat is designed to activate and reconnect the mind, body, and spirit while focusing on key wellness elements including nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress management. All this, while also supplying guests with a personalized wellness experience and their very own wellness concierge. With its WELL Spa + Salon, fitness center, and a plethora of outdoor and indoor activities on the 1,300-acre campus, Grand Geneva is a one-stop destination for relaxation, active lifestyle, and wellness year-round. Innovations in Wellness will incorporate several of the resort’s facilities in this new fall retreat—CBD massages, sports activities, and nutrition-focused culinary demonstrations led by the resort’s chefs. The event will also offer select therapies from Golden Rey Integrative Medical Center including hyperbaric oxygen therapy and IV nutrient therapies. To book your spot, visit grandgeneva.com/wellness/innovations-in-wellness.
NET-A-PORTER LAUNCHES EXCLUSIVE SUNGLASS SHOP
Just in time for summer, Net-A-Porter has launched their first ever sunglasses shop, which includes over 20 exclusive styles from Dior, Gucci, and Chloé. net-a-porter.com
BESPOKE GREENHOUSES
Hartley Botanic is a historic English business, specializing in luxury, bespoke, and handmade aluminum Glasshouses and Greenhouses. Operating from the same factory in Lancashire, in the North of England, since 1938, the company has earned an unrivaled reputation for crafting the finest Glasshouses and Greenhouses money can buy. It is the greenhouse manufacturer of choice for leading horticulture organizations, institutions, and designers worldwide, with Hartley Botanic structures commissioned by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, England’s the Royal Horticultural Society, Blenheim Palace, and Hampton Court Palace, just to name a few. For more
information, or to commission your own, visit hartley-botanic.com.
FOREVER CLASSICS
There’s something about a vintage Range Rover that evokes quintessential British sophistication and grace. Produced as a sub-brand of the Jaguar Land Rover marque, the early Range Rover captured the world’s attention, earning it a spot in an exhibition at the Louvre Museum in the early 1970s where it was noted as an “exemplary work of industrial design.” Times, however, have changed, and so has technology. And now, thanks to the vision of UK-based Inverted, the Range Rover of the 20th century is getting a new life as a Tesla-like, “restomod” electric car. Inverted works directly with its clients to update the Range Rover’s interiors with custom materials and a bespoke design that preserves its English provenance. According to the Inverted website, the process is sensitive to the classic style of the car, but modern in approach by reducing the vehicle’s impact on the environment. “Our cars are not only beautifully restored but deliver high performance, with a desire to create an enhanced driving experience remaining core to everything we do,” it says. “Beautiful, reliable, and sustainable classic cars, ready for a long and exciting future.” For more information, visit invertedev.com.
COUCHER DE SOLE
Since its origins, Vhernier has researched and expressed an essential marriage with art and culture. Each jewel contains worlds of inspiration, ranging from architecture to art, passing through design. Coucher de Sole translates to sunset. This exquisitely designed pink, gold, and brown, bronze cuff bracelet is layered with 18-karat pink gold and brown bronze with split opening was designed after the sunsets on the French Riviera. Vhernier was born from the audacity of a unique vision—to create a totally new jewel, not seen. It’s contemporary, different from everything, with an exceptional fit. And this stems from the desire to free women from the restrictions of dated and conventional elegance, giving them the opportunity to stand out with a new and relevant style. Every Vhernier jewel contains a world of inspiration. This piece is priced at $31,400 and available at bergdorfgoodman.com.
PAYTONPALOOZA
Lake Forest’s Jill Mickey finds peace in the volunteer work that brought her daughter Payton so much joy. Every year, nearly 2,000 babies are born with a limb difference. Payton Mickey, a Lake Forest High School alum, was passionate about making the lives of these children better. Having completed her doctorate in physical therapy in 2021, Payton was a loyal volunteer at Camp No Limits, a camp specially designed for children with limb loss and limb differences. In July 2021, Payton died unexpectedly in a tragic accident. The Mickey family found that one of the best ways to process their grief was to live like Payton did—in service of others. “Payton loved Camp No Limits,” Jill says. “We created a scholarship in Payton’s name to benefit this camp. Camp No Limits began in 2004 with just four families and today has grown to more than 400 families at 11 locations across the country—its newest in Lake Forest. “Last year, we approached Lake Forest Academy about holding Camp No Limits on their campus for three days over the summer,” Jill explains. “They were so wonderful to work with—so welcoming—and it was so successful that it will be held there again this summer.” Part of Camp No Limits’ mission is to make camp accessible to all families. To this end, Jill—and a tireless team of her closest family and friends—will be hosting a fundraiser, “PaytonPalooza,” at The Toadstool Pub in Highwood on Saturday, June 17. “We have four bands lined up to play late into the night, food trucks, and a silent auction with some amazing getaways to Lake Geneva, Jackson Hole, and Scottsdale that guests can bid on,” Jill says. “This is such a beautiful way for us to honor Payton and to give back in a way that would mean so much to her.” To buy tickets to PaytonPalooza, visit app.donorview.com/YZVgp.
READ IT
Wonder why some people seem to naturally hit it off with others? It’s because they are Playing by the 21 Rules. According to business development thought leader, life coach, and award-winning attorney, Joe Brocato, it’s all about tapping into one of the most basic human needs—the need for emotional connection. In his latest book, HIT IT OFF: 21 RULES FOR MASTERING THE ART AND SCIENCE OF RELATIONSHIPS IN LIFE AND BUSINESS, Brocato shares guidelines that apply critical thinking and mindfulness to the interpersonal dynamic to help people maximize the likelihood of achieving their authentic goals in life and business. The book iterates that every relationship should be unique, with that uniqueness created by developing a deep emotional connection with someone from the moment you meet them and as you continue to build a strong, emotional connection with them for the long term. hititoffthebook.com
VISIT IT
The Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art is a treasure trove of beauty filled with beautiful objects and a touch of science to keep things interesting. Lapidary is the art of cutting and polishing stone. Lapidary has its roots in prehistory, as early humans began fashioning tools and weapons from stone. In time, these techniques were also used for items of personal adornment. Stone carving evolved as an art in many cultures throughout the world. The museum is home to collections of carved jade, organic gemstones, dioramas, rocks, minerals, fossils, and the Castle Lizzadro, created by William Tolliday of London, England. This masterpiece combines lapidary and goldsmithing. On a large slab of Brazilian agate, the 18K gold castle rises from specimens of amethyst, malachite, azurite, and vanadium with faceted diamonds sparkling in the windows. lizzadromuseum.org
FETE IT
WINDY CITY SMOKEOUT, the nation’s premier outdoor country music and BBQ festival, returns to Chicago’s iconic United Center on July 13 – 16, 2023. The 2022-winner of the Academy of Country Music Awards (ACM) “Festival of the Year,” the Windy City Smokeout will celebrate its 10th anniversary with an impressive lineup featuring some of country music’s biggest names and up-and-coming talents, along with the best BBQ and craft beer from around the country. ACM award-winning promoter and Windy City Smokeout co-founder, Ed Warm, handpicked the weekend’s lineup including GRAMMY award winner Zac Brown Band, much-decorated ACM and CMA award winner Luke Bryan, GRAMMY award winner Darius Rucker, and GRAMMY award nominee Zach Bryan, who will headline the opening night. Each headliner will take the stage at 8:30 p.m. on their respective nights. windycitysmokeout.com
OSEA
Established in 1996, OSEA has been on a mission to create clean seaweed-infused skincare that respects the natural world and makes skin look and feel its best. OSEA unites the elements—Ocean, Sun, Earth, and Atmosphere—to deliver safe, effective wellness solutions for all. Made in California, OSEA is clean, vegan, cruelty-free, Climate Neutral Certified, and Ocean Positive Certified. The Undaria Collagen Body Lotion is a lightweight, instant-absorbing lotion packed with advanced, clinically proven ingredients including vegan collagen to deliver deep, lasting hydration for radiant, revitalized skin. Summer’s new high-performance hydrator! For more information, visit oseamalibu.com.
MARKET
Now in its 20th year, Randolph Street Market (RSM) kicks off its platinum anniversary celebrations on May 27 and 28. As Chicago’s world-famous European-style antique and vintage flea market festival—named “Top Ten USA Markets” by Travel & Leisure, Architectural Digest, goop, USA Today, and more—RSM has been listening intently to the interior design community. “The pandemic left interior designers waiting in queues for everything from furniture and upholstery fabrics to art and area rugs, negatively impacting budgets and timelines industry wide. More than ever, designers had to turn to American makers and antique vendors to fill in the gaps,” says Sally Schwartz, founder and executive producer at RSM. “Art, antiques, vintage, decor, fashion, jewelry … you never know what you’re going to find on an RSM treasure hunt,” adds Schwartz. “And with live music, beer and wine gardens, local food vendors, a coffee stand, curated treasure hunts for kids with prizes, and more, it’s a lively, community-forward, eco-conscious, festival-style event series for the whole family—and that’s the magic that we hope will keep people coming back for the next 20 years.” For more information, visit randolphstreetmarket.com.
