Innholdsfortegnelse for Summer 2020 i Town & Country

FEEL EUPHORIC IN GREECE EUPHORIA RESORT, THE PELOPONNESE Think Canyon Ranch spread on four levels over a pine-and-cypress-covered mountainside and surrounded by important ancient sites. Tailor-made programs, enriched with age old Hellenic and Chinese practices, include beauty treatments, water therapies, specialized diets, meditation, and yoga sessions, all amid Byzantine art and Zen minimalism. MOVE TO A VILLAGE IN FRANCE LILY OF THE VALLEY, RIVIERA St.-Tropez has seen a lot, but nothing quite like this: a 20,000-square-foot “well-being village” designed by Philippe Starck in a park overlooking the beaches of Gigaro, with naturopaths, dietitians, therapists, sports coaches, a hammam, two saunas, and an ice fountain. Crave a pair of Tropeziennes post-pampering? The shop Bardot put on the map is just a 20-minute ride away. BOOST YOUR ENDORPHINS IN BHUTAN SIX SENSES…

EXHALE ON ANGUILLA BELMOND CAP JULUCA This jetset haunt on Maundays Bay—a surefire contender for most beautiful stretch of water and sand in the world—is more alluring than ever following a $120 million renovation that has updated the 108 white block Moorish-inflected guestrooms and villas and added a new spa and fitness center, a seaview infinity pool, and restaurants, including Cip’s by Cipriani. The fabulous staff hits just the right note of professional and Anguilla-friendly, but the real star, as always, is the beach. On a bright day it will take your breath away. BE ELEVATED IN THE MALDIVES JOALI MALDIVES It’s not easy to get excited about a new resort in this archipelago nation, where dozens seem to sprout every year, all proffering escapist perfection. But the 73-room Joali,…

The GRANDE DAME Agnes Gund Activism is hard. Confronting systems and institutions that create or sustain inequality can be isolating and overwhelming. Advocacy often requires disruption and doing things that are uncomfortable. Philanthropy for some people is not so hard. Some have more than they’ll ever use, so they give away the excess. Many give only if everyone will applaud their charity and their quality of life won’t be compromised. But there are also rare philanthropists like Agnes Gund who do difficult things: They use resources to confront injustice and oppression; they seek to disrupt the status quo and pursue change that not everyone values; they are “philactivists.” And the world has never needed them more than it does right now. One of the nation’s most influential art collectors and art…

Judith and I met in 1999, when I was producing the play Wit, which fortuitously brought Judith back to the theater, her first love. We found a deep connection, and I have been blessed with her friendship over these 20 years. She continues to inspire me today with her passion for what she believes in, her dedication to being of service to others, and her resplendent grace and warmth. Judith has committed herself to making the world a better place, especially as a tireless advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and as an early AIDS activist, when that battle needed recognizable faces and compassionate voices to stand shoulder to shoulder with those most affected by the disease. She marched, raised awareness, and, most important, raised her voice to speak for those who…

I made a point of getting to know Philippe and his wife Ashlan after I had watched them in interviews and on their TV shows. I was impressed by their profound passion for saving the environment and their unique way of involving not just the general public but, more important, the youth. They know that our best chance for reversing the terrible course humanity is on with regard to climate change and the ocean is to get the next generation involved through their schools and educators. Their nonprofit EarthEcho International is leading the charge to build a youth movement for the ocean, inspired by the legacy of Philippe’s father Philippe Sr. and his grandfather Jacques Cousteau. They do this by supporting young people on their own terms and empowering them…

“The Dream Is Everything” Have you heard that one? Or “The world without a leopard! I mean, who would want to be there?” Diana Vreeland’s aphorisms are the closest thing aesthetes have to a Book of Common Prayer. Once deployed with campy sangfroid and devastating precision by the late, great editrix, they remain the sort of fabulous witticisms that make high-fashion Twitter squeal, in the parlance of social media, “Inject this into my veins.” Invited to bring to life an anthology of Vreeland’s Bon Mots (Rizzoli), the young British artist Luke Edward Hall, who also illustrated this story, knew DV would be fun to draw. “She’s an icon!” he trills. He didn’t anticipate that her defiant Auntie Mame–isms would take on a poignant quality now that we need a daily…

There were days I didn’t go out and days I couldn’t remember. Sometimes I sat at my desk watching the trees outside blooming, as if we had nothing in common. They had the sun, I had the sun through a window. They were beginning, I was unsure what I was. Then one afternoon after an early drink I decided to get them—alive and understated, aware they were not the most beautiful flowers yet reassuringly strong. I don’t know how they gave the illusion of order. One that was impossible to find talking to friends, lovers, old colleagues; they did not talk back. The tulips. They merely filled the room, their purpose being to be loved for what they were, entirely by how I saw them. No struggle or epiphany. No…

Dinner and a show. To this Jewish girl, it’s a like a rosary. Leave your day behind, take your seat in a theater, and wait for that moment (the best part of the night no matter what you’re seeing) when the lights dim, you hover at the precipice of possibility, that delicious tell-me-a-story moment, and let her rip. Big, brassy musicals? Sure, why not. But dramatic plays with emotionally powerful performances are my favorite. You start in your seat, then you’re up on the stage, smack in the middle, thinking it, feeling it. At some point a muffled sob nearby jolts you back, but in a good way. You are here not alone but transported, together. Oh, for that reunion when this miserable pause has passed! But let’s not dwell.…

Go to your closet right now. Put on a dress, a skirt—hell, anything with a zip fly and numerical sizing. Tuck in your shirt. Whatever you do, resist the pull of a drawstring waist. Add a belt, your favorite pair of earrings. It doesn’t have to be a big deal. Doesn’t that feel good? Now more than ever I appreciate the daily ritual of choosing an outfit to match my appointment book, my mood, my goals. I pride myself on assembling my wardrobe like the cast of a show, every piece getting a starring role. The opportunity to wear something beautiful that I love—I take it whenever I can. Times like this make you think about all you have and what you really need. For Nina Yashar, the grande dame…

Before discovering fashion, Carolina Herrera was obsessed with horses. She spent hours as a child riding in Venezuela and remains an avid equestrian today. Herrera has always been fascinated by the art of doma, Spanish for dressage, particularly by the riding style’s rigorous discipline and elegance. In dressage, as in life, the goal is to achieve perfect harmony between powerful movement and beautiful presentation. This coveted balance inspired the Doma Insignia bag, handcrafted in the brand’s Spanish atelier using proprietary Mocan leather and a sturdy frame to smooth over whatever might be tucked inside. A handle and a shoulder strap allow the wearer to change course effortlessly—a blue ribbon achievement welcome in unpredictable times. HELPING OTHERS CH Carolina Herrera is donating 10 percent of all accessories proceeds to the American Red…

FEEL PREHISTORIC IN PANAMA ISLAS SECAS, GULF OF CHIRIQUI It doesn’t get more off-thegrid than this: a Jurassic Park–esque 14-island archipelago 33 miles from the nearest town that sleeps just 18 in secluded bohemian-chic casitas (with plunge pools, sprawling decks, and spa treatments). Just as crucially, the resort is surrounded by Pacific waters teeming with marine life—including migrating humpback whales from July to October and December to April. It’s 100 percent solar-powered, and nearby Coiba National Marine Park gets UNESCO honors for its flora and fauna. GAZE AT GORILLAS IN RWANDA SINGITA KWITONDA LODGE, VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK There’s the extraordinary location of this ultraluxe ecolodge, at the foot of three volcanoes. There’s the elegant contemporary design of its eight suites and four-bedroom private villa, Kataza House, all with floor-to-ceiling windows,…

To anyone who has ever questioned whether philanthropy is necessary, I say: Look around. Today—as in countless crises before—philanthropies and charitable-minded Americans are first to step in with resources and relief. We’ve seen it time and again: In the aftermath of terrorism, tragedy, and trauma, the generous and the just respond with speed and flexibility to help those most affected. This agility and responsiveness make philanthropy unique; we serve a role that government can’t, or won’t, or has been prevented from serving. And it makes philanthropy a vital public good, in these times and all times. In the pages that follow, we explore and extol the best examples of philanthropy during these challenging times. We celebrate the inspiring generosity of countless individuals across the country: people donating meals to food…

For all the speculation around the motivation for Harry and Meghan’s incendiary decision to step back from royal duties last year—was it the hounding tabloids? A rift between brothers? A desire to conquer Hollywood?—the couple themselves peddled a central theme in what became known as Megxit: their desire to change the world. At Sussex Royal, the website the couple launched in January (shortly before it was determined that they could no longer use the word royal in their branding), the most prominent page, “Supporting Community,” featured photos of a beaming Meghan with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and of Harry high-fiving kids in Botswana. It also included a scattergun list of causes the couple aimed to support, from combating HIV to empowering women and girls. The Sussexes “do not plan to start…

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Walking in Manhattan is never just about getting from A to B. It’s also a form of self-expression and self-preservation. To escape home, no matter how tony your address, is to seek time and space for you to be you, whether you’re John Travolta strutting to the Bee Gees in Bay Ridge or Dustin Hoffman slamming the hood of a cab that dared to get in his way on Sixth Avenue. “Hey! I’m walking here!” is every frustrated New Yorker’s cri de coeur, a curse as much as it is an affirmation. Long before we all took to roaming the streets six feet apart, walking was my personal Wellbutrin. I’ve been self-medicating this way since I was in third form at St. Paul’s, a boarding school set amid the woods…

A Note from Tito’s Handmade Vodka Since 1997, Tito’s Handmade Vodka has been making a product that brings people together both in celebration and times of reflection. As the individuals who make up this company, our hearts are breaking for our friends, our partners, and the communities affected and isolated by the COVID-19 pandemic. For many years, our “Love, Tito’s” program has supported nonprofits across the country through event sponsorships, service projects, and grants and donations at local and national levels. During this time, we are continuing to support nonprofits, evolving our approach to meet unfolding needs safely and quickly. We’ve started with a $2 million donation commitment to organizations providing assistance to those in the service industry affected by the current pandemic. We’ve donated $1.25 million among five organizations…

The entertainment executive Scott “Scooter” Braun is known for discovering Justin Bieber, repping such stars as Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato, and, recently, conducting a public feud with Taylor Swift over his ownership of the masters of some of her early recordings. Braun, 38, started his career as a party promoter while attending Emory University in Atlanta. Even then he incorporated philanthropy into his business model. “It was my mother’s idea,” he says. “She said, ‘I don’t know what you’re doing, but at least make sure you find a way to help others.’” He donated the proceeds from every fourth event to charity. (It runs in the family: Braun’s brother Adam founded the education nonprofit Pencils of Promise.) Today, Braun’s SB Projects facilitates his clients’ passions. For three years Bieber…

QUEEN VICTORIA & PRINCE ALBERT The young couple understood that they had to rebrand as do-gooders to ensure the monarchy’s survival. KING GEORGE V Lest his country get any ideas from the Bolshevik Revolution, the monarch bridged the gap between Buckingham Palace and the masses. PRINCE EDWARD His father, King George V, sent him to working class and industrial districts, which the prince called “a little good propaganda.”…

All five senses swoon at the mere thought of Italy: fresh tomato with olive oil, star jasmine at night, a supple leather shoe, the sun-faded colors of the Amalfi Coast. And, you might think, Venice’s Doge’s Palace, or a Negroni at Bar Basso in Milan… The list runs on, with memories as personal as a romantic weekend or as universal as pasta. Even now, as we watch on tiny screens, there is singing and laughter, there is Verdi coming from an open window. The times are certainly different, but Italy remains as ever. WANT TO HELP? The illustration “Tribute to Italy” will be available at the Design Unites auction June 23, benefiting Habitat for Humanity NYC. CHARITYBUZZ.COM/DESIGNUNITES…