25-year real estate veteran Mario Carey is recognized as the leader in luxury home sales in The Bahamas with more than $1 billion in property sales under his belt. Holding Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) and the exclusive Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS) designations, Carey’s sales include 36 properties at exclusive Ocean Club Estates, averaging $5 million each. Carey also holds experience in commercial and residential development as both consultant and participant, including an 80,000 sq. foot archival storage facility and 45,000 sq foot mini-warehouse. 

Earning a B.A. in Real Estate from Florida State University, Carey began his career at Bay Area Appraisal Services in Tampa, the fastest growing city in the US at the time. There, he was the top performer for seven years straight. In 1990, he returned home to The Bahamas, joined Bahamas Realty and along with serving as partner and later managing partner, he was the top sales broker for 18 consecutive years. 

In 2008, Carey left Bahamas Realty to found Mario Carey Realty, a full-service luxury real estate company based in Nassau, Bahamas. Despite his formidable sales record, Carey has retained the dual dedications that have been the hallmark of his success – constant study of the market and a personal touch.

Seven was indeed a lucky number for residential real estate agent Marilyn Hoffman, who closed sales on $7 million worth of homes during a seven day period. For her efforts, Marilyn received the Superstar Award in New York (including a pin and earrings with combined nine carats of diamonds) from the International Federation of Estate Agents.

Among those contributing to the megabuck dealings was cosmetics queen Mary Kay Ash, who dropped $4 million for a house on Douglas under construction by builder John Needham.

It is the most expensive spec home ever sold in Dallas.” Marilyn says. The 19,000-square foot house has six wet bars and eight fireplaces. Mary Kay plans to move in in April and has been to Europe to buy some of the furnishings, Marilyn says.

Marilyn also sold golfer Lee Trevino’s Strait Lane estate so he and his new wife Claudia could buy another property near the Aerobics Center.
(The Dallas Morning News)

Highland Farm, an equestrian property near Lexington, Kentucky, is one of the most expensive pieces of real estate in the country. How ever its $40 million price includes more than just a house and some land. With the property comes 30 barns and 19 other homes, all situated on some 2,000 acres of Bluegrass. George Hofmeister, who owns the property, is a local businessman involved in horse breeding and racing. Built at a cost of $15 million, the main house has approximately 35,000 square feet of interior space. There are nine bedrooms and 12 baths. Marilyn Hoffman of Hoffman International Properties, Inc has the listing.
(Forbes.com)

In the heady days of when Houston talked about itself as a world-class city on the third coast, it was the place for at least a pied-a-terre even for a Saudi prince. Prince Faisal paid about $35 million to have the structure built in 1986. As much as anything the structure suggests a public building of some sort, which is not far from its intent. Designed by George Moreland, a Dallas architect, to suggest an embassy, the 35,000 square foot complex includes a ballroom and a gym as well as 11 bedrooms. Big enough for a prince, you would expect. But Dallas broker Marilyn Hoffman, who is offering the property, suggests that the prince may find it confining, since he is used to 250 bedrooms in his Arabian home.
(Forbes Magazine)

Marilyn Hoffman is an international real estate broker, daughter of a renowned Texas developer who bred race horses. She says, “From an early age, I became avidly involved with horses and spent many years on the national show circuit as a champion rider.” This experience has given her the knowledge to specialize in selling equestrian properties as well as castles and some of the world’s most famous estates.

The corporate headquarters of Hoffman International Properties, Inc. is a 22 room, stately Elizabethan manor designed by the renowned English architect, Sir Alfred Blossom.

Trevor Simon, the London representative for Hoffman International Properties. Inc. was in Dallas recently with Marilyn, attending the Yellow Rose Gala, a benefit for MS where Marilyn donated a royally bred Arabian stallion to the charity auction.
(The European Magazine)

Hoffman International Properties, Inc. is the only company in the world to have exhibits at the some of the world’s top events, such as the Phoenix Symphony New Years Eve gala and the Barrett Jackson Classic Car Auction. Marilyn had the only real estate exhibit at the Bal de la Mer in Monte Carlo and Concours d’Elegance. You will often find the company exhibit at other major functions such as the Texas Stampede Riata Party, the Kentucky Derby Part at Mar a Lago, Donald Trump’s Palm Beach estate as well as the Cattle Baron’s Ball, the Lone Star Derby Party and the Salon du Cheval in Paris. Marilyn has hosted a party for designer, Oscar de la Renta during his visit to Texas. Marilyn has been awarded several prestigious awards and honorable mention, among them are “Best International Broker” and Best American Broker”.

Hoffman’s listings have been showcased numerous times on “HGTV’s Fantasy Open House” and Designing Texas.” Hoffman International Properties, Inc. success is based on a solid foundation of established contacts, combined with a creative marketing program.

Whether you are looking for the house of your dreams that reflects your life’s accomplishments and unique style, or you require an effective and creative marketing solution for selling your current property, Hoffman International Properties has the proven track record that has been trusted by some of the most influential people around the world.

Based in Dallas-Fort.Worth, Texas, Vanessa is an internationally recognized top producer in the world of high end real estate and is a certified luxury home marketing specialist. Hoffman International Properties has been a Gold Award, record breaking company, since 1973. Known for their representation of some of the world’s finest estates, horse properties and for their world-class marketing, Vanessa has been their top producing agent since 1999.

Vanessa is also very fond of off-shore racing boating/events and you will also find her competing nationally and internationally at the Arabian Horse Shows. They combine their passionate hobbies and philanthropy with the superb marketing of their real estate listings at world-class events and fundraisers such as the Kentucky Derby, Keeneland sales, Bal de la Mer Monaco, Kruse classic Car Auction, Byron Nelson Golf Classic, Barrett-Jackson, Pebble Beach events, Fisher Island Yacht Extravaganza. Cattle Baron’s Ball and the Carousl of Hope Beverly Hills and many more. No other real estate company markets magnificent properties for sale like Hoffman International Properties. Such marketing has produced spectacular results such as the $20 million dollar American estate recently listed by Marilyn Hoffman and sold by Vanessa in 24 days for full price.

Featured regularly on ABC’s Luxury Home Shows, Vanessa is available to help you with all your real estate needs. With her very impressive client list, feel assured your confidentiality and needs will be met.

Vanessa was featured in the April/May 2009 Haute 100 Florida issue. See pages 154, or view the story here: http://www.hauteliving.com/fl/aprilmay-2009-haute-100/vanessa-andrews-2/

Available for Exclusive Representation for marketing & acquisition,
contact Vanessa Andrews directly at:
(972) 816-3014
Vanessa@MagnificentProperties.com

WINERIES
Far Niente

The beauty of Napa Valley instantly envelops guests as they arrive at the estate of Far Niente. The winding path leading to the winery is carpeted in a variety of vibrant blooming flowers and acts as a yellow-brick road leading to the glittering land of Oz. More than 8,000 azalea blossoms (the largest planting in California) blanket the 13 acres of gardens in complementary shades of fuchsia and cotton candy. Other natural delights that adorn the property include 100 autumn gold ginkgo trees, and a canopy of dogwoods, redwoods, acacias, and century-old cork oaks. With a history that dates back to 1885, the estate, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was revived in 1979 after a 60-year slumber due to Prohibition. But a tradition steeped in such rich history doesn’t mean that owner Gil Nickel is stuck in the past. Far Niente received worldwide recognition in 2008 for their new technology, Floatovoltaic, which enables them to use solar panels floating on pontoons in their irrigation pond for a net-zero energy bill. Landscaping and technology aside, the estate-bottled chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon show that contrary to its name, which means “without a care,” Far Niente deeply cares about the quality and taste of its grapes.

1350 Acacia Drive
Oakville
707.944.2861

ART
Newton Wine Tasting Bar

The worlds of fashion and art have always melded together, blurring the lines between the au currant industries. With an innovative new piece, now the worlds of wine and art are doing the same. Napa Valley-based Newton Vineyard, established in 1977, has teamed up with U.K. designer Claire Danthois to create a luxury wine tasting bar. Re-inspired Elements: A Tasting Installation is a conversation piece in fine art and high-end furniture. The shape of the wine bar screams ultra-modern, while the composition of the materials is a tribute to Old World substance. The construction of the wine tasting bar is a recycled blend of a 300-year old oak from a wine merchant in Danthois’ hometown of Bristol and wine barrels used to age Newton’s red wines. And for $20,000 you won’t find any wood glue here; the glass shelves are held in place by steel cables reclaimed from an architectural site. Only five exist in the world, with only four available for sale. The fifth one will find a permanent home at the Newton estate in St. Helena.

Newton Vineyard
St. Helena
707.963.9000

CEO David Pearson has led Opus One, the Napa Valley partnership between Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe and Baroness Philippine de Rothschild (of Mouton Rothschild fame), since 2004. Pearson is the first person ever given sole responsibility for the high-profile venture. The same year, Constellation Brands, Inc. purchased Robert Mondavi Corporation, assuming 50 percent ownership of Opus One, which is arguably Napa Valley’s most premium wine brand. Since that time, Pearson and team have worked to ensure that the traditions and vision of Opus One continues to mature in the same manner as its fine wines.

Haute Living Before Opus One, there was a common belief that a truly great wine couldn’t be created in California. How did Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild and his daughter Baroness Philippine change this belief?
David Pearson Napa Valley has a long wine making history that can be traced back to the 1880s, and Inglenook was making great wines in the 1960s and the ’70s. But when you bring together two great winemaking families, like Rothschild and Mondavi, you necessarily have great expectations. When these two families came together, it brought the focus of the world to a region that had promise, and this set us up to become one of the great winemaking regions of the world.

HL What was Mondavi and Baron Rothschild’s vision when they created Opus One? How are you helping to fulfill it today?
DP The genius and the power behind the vision of Opus One was in the simplicity: to make one single red wine of the highest quality possible. This wine had to reflect the personality and character of Baron Rothschild and Mr. Mondavi. The wine also had to grow to have its own personality and character. Today I work to fulfill the vision by keeping the company focused on that simple idea, while simultaneously allowing and encouraging our winemaker to innovate and to push the limits while focusing on that one single idea.

HL What role does “tradition” play in making great wine?
DP I think there is a natural and constant tension between tradition and innovation in winemaking. I talked about winemaking going back to the 1880s in California, but on the other hand, it is true that what we are doing today is relatively new in California, which is fine winemaking. We are making the traditions today that will be respected and celebrated by generations to come.

HL What are some of the largest changes that have occurred at Opus One since Robert Mondavi sold Opus One to Constellation Brands, Inc.?
DP We see Opus One as being a child of both founding families. What occurred when Constellation Brands purchased us is the child grew up and left the house. Opus One has come into its own as a vineyard, and as a winery is still inspired and driven by the vision of the parents while operating independently.

HL Is Baroness Rothschild still involved in the winery and in what capacity?
DP Baroness Rothschild is involved everyday emotionally as is Robert Mondavi, who passed last year. The emotional aspect of the two founders is with us all the time. She comes to the winery from time to time, not very often because her schedule is very busy. When she does comes by, it is more like a family reunion. It is very personal for her. It is like coming to another home, and the people here really care for her. She is not involved on a day-to-day basis, operationally speaking, but she is involved emotionally all the time.

HL What is the aging process like at Opus One?
DP The aging process in two words: gentle and slow, which is the only way fine wine can be aged. It is in 100 percent new, French oak barrels for around 18 months, and then we do bottling and hold the wine in bottles for another 18 months or so and release three years after harvest.

HL How does the geographic location of the winery shape the final product?
DP In winemaking, you are entirely dependent upon the location. You cannot just decide to make a truly great wine wherever you want to. The good news for us is that Napa Valley, and in particular Oakville, has proven to be an exceptional and extraordinary site for growing cabernet sauvignon grapes, which is the primary grape in our wine along with a couple other varieties. Frankly, there are not many disadvantages to Napa Valley with regards to growing cabernet sauvignon.

HL Other than Opus One, what is your favorite wine from Napa Valley? And from around the world?
DP I honestly do not have another favorite wine because, for me, the joy and beauty of wine appreciation is that there are so many different wines to try. Wine appreciation is really about a lifetime of discovery. So I resist having a favorite wine. But when you said from around the world, I buckled and made a choice: Picpoul de Pinet. It is a white wine made in the Mediterranean in the South of France. It is one of the oldest grapes that has been grown for thousands of years. And it is fun, because no one has heard about it. You can find it in the U.S. as well, but it is not huge in production.

HL What do you consider Opus One’s finest vintage?
DP The 2006 Opus One, in our humble and objective opinion, may well be the best Opus One ever made, due to its power, balance, and expression. I think it will have remarkable ageability and really expresses the kind of wine we hope to make. Now if I get asked today-right now-what vintage is the best vintage, I usually would reach back to the 1987. The 1987 shows a lovely, beautifully evolved and aged Opus One

HL What can we expect in the future from Opus One?
DP The challenge is to stay focused on the one single idea. The beauty in winemaking is that wine quality improves with fine age. The older the vines are, the higher quality of the wine in terms of ageability and quality. Once you have your vineyard with the grape varietals planted in the way that is optimal for expressing that site, then you let the vines age, and the quality improves with the passing of time. So we are pretty excited, because we think we have that set up right. So one can expect more of the same. We think great things are in store for us.

They manage millions, lead companies, and even fly into space. Women may be underrepresented in Silicon Valley, but their numbers are growing. More CEOs and venture capitalists than ever before are female. And as you’ll see in the following profiles, they’re anything but underachievers.

Esther Dyson
Company: EDventure
Home: Manhattan

Dyson’s home is technically in Manhattan, but one could argue that her presence is felt the strongest in Silicon Valley. Since the early 1980s, she has been a visionary in predicting how technology innovations will impact business, society, and people.

Her investments include Airship Ventures, a Bay Area zeppelin tour company, 23andMe of Palo Alto, Flickr, now owned by Yahoo! in Sunnyvale, California, and Delicious, which was also bought by Yahoo! She’s also involved in several Internet non-profits including ICANN and the Long Now Foundation.

Dyson began a career as a journalist when she started the Dyson Gazette using carbon paper at the age of eight. The daughter of physicist Freeman Dyson and mathematician Verena Huber-Dyson, she had healthy curiosity at a young age.

After graduating from Harvard in economics, she joined Forbes as a fact-checker and quickly became a reporter. After a stint at Oppenheimer covering software companies, she moved to Rosen Research and, in 1983, bought the company from her employer Ben Rosen, renaming it EDventure Holdings.

“As it happens, newsletters are great cash collectors: you get the cash and then you deliver the service,” Dyson said in an email interview from the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, where she’s training to become a cosmonaut. “So I bought him out for approximately the cash that was in the business, and we both were happy.”

She sold EDventure Holdings to CNET Networks in 2004, left CNET in late 2006, and has operated as an independent investor and entrepreneur. In recent years her focus has turned towards space exploration, hence the cosmonaut training.

“I woke up in the mid-90s and discovered [space travel] still hadn’t really happened the way I had expected-it was still a few government projects rather than a vibrant commercial market-and so I got interested in figuring out why not and what to do about it,” Dyson said. “My father helped design a rocket ship (the Orion Project) back in the ’50s, so I just assumed I would visit the moon well before 2000.”

Dyson is training to be a backup for Charles Simonyi, who’s scheduled to take his second trip in a Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station on March 26. One of Dyson’s investments, Space Adventures, sells space flight training packages to civilians for about $30 million. “As an investor, I couldn’t refuse!” she said.

Winemaking and filmmaking are two great art forms that are very important in the development of California,” explains Francis Ford Coppola. “They both start with raw ingredients-in the case of wine, the land and the grapes, in the case of film, the script and the actors’ performances. The winemaker takes these raw materials and ferments and blends. He says yes to this batch, no to that one. The director does the same thing: a series of yes’s and no’s, from casting and costuming to edits and sounds mixes. In both cases, you have to start with top-notch raw materials-whether it’s the land or the script.”

When explained as such, it is easy to see the correlation between Coppola’s seemingly different career fields. While the Italian-American, who is celebrating his 70th birthday in April, may be best known to the world as director of the Godfather trilogy, here in Napa Valley, Coppola is celebrated for his fine wines. In the past 20 years, the five-time Oscar-winning director, writer, and producer’s résumé has expanded to include accomplished vintner, hotelier, restaurateur, magazine publisher, and cigar maker-an impressive array of fields that, he says, all come down to entertainment.

While Francis Ford Coppola is responsible for such flicks as Apocalypse Now, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and The Rainmaker, in recent years, the Coppola appearing in theaters has been Francis’ Oscar-winning daughter Sofia (who directed, amongst other things, Lost in Translation, The Virgin Suicides, and Marie Antoinette). The elder Coppola was busy tending to his other ventures. But today, his career has come full circle from the time when he co-wrote the screenplays for The Godfather trilogy, which have been lauded as some of the top films of all time by the American Film Institute. In December 2007, Coppola released Youth Without Youth, and, on June 11, TETRO will open in limited release. He is quick to clarify that, although he went for a decade without putting out a commercial film, he never moved out of the film sector. “During the years between The Rainmaker and Youth Without Youth, I was working on several projects that, for one reason or another, did not come to fruition. I had a lot of unfulfilled creative energy which I put into expanding the wine and other businesses.”

He is currently putting the final touches on TETRO in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where the movie was filmed. TETRO is Coppola’s first original screen play since The Conversation (1974), and is being hailed as his most personal yet, a bittersweet story of two brothers, of family lost and found. “The film is filled with memories, impressions of my family. Even though it is a fictional story, I used what I know best: my own life,” he says. “TETRO has allowed me to explore and make the kind of personal story I’ve always wanted to tell. In a way, that has freed me, and I look forward to the future with great anticipation and the freedom to do whatever feels right.”

As he discovered during the filming of Youth Without Youth, which was entirely self-financed, he enjoys exploring his personal whims. His highly successful winemaking and resort ventures, which grossed half-billion dollars last year alone, provide the funds that allow him to call his own shots. “The benefit of self-financing is that you are not going hat-in-hand to a studio to fund your film. You can stretch your limits and the language of filmmaking without worrying about whether the film will be commercial, and you don’t have 25 producers looking over your shoulder every minute,” he says. “[In Youth Without Youth and TETRO,] I am the writer, producer, and director, so all the decisions-good or bad-are mine….I am very fortunate that the winery has been such a success that I can finance my own films, as long as I keep the budgets under $17 million.”

Not that $17 million is a bad budget to have, especially seeing as the winery and resorts that provide that capital came almost as an afterthought. He explains, “I had planned to have a summer retreat for my family near San Francisco….At first we were looking for a small cottage with a couple of acres of grapes, but the real estate agent said, ‘Oh, the Inglenook Estate is for sale. It’s not for you, but it will probably be your only chance to see it.’ Well, we saw it, fell in love, put a bid on it, and lost out.” Fortunately, the people who did buy the prime property wanted to develop it into housing lots, but California passed a “Green Belt” law to protect agricultural land. When the property went on the market a second time, Coppola acted swiftly. “We were determined to get it, and we did. It was only later that I realized we had purchased one of California’s great wine estates, and it was like a family that inherits a great race horse-you have to run it.”

So, after three years of selling the highly sought-after grapes, Coppola began to make commercial vintages, although it wasn’t until purchasing the remainder of the Rubicon Estate in 1995 and restoring it that things really took off. The vineyard embarked on a program of replanting, returning the estate to its glorious roots. Coppola’s drive to revive the winemaking came down to more than just a love of history, but a deep appreciation of wine itself. He says, “Wine is myth, history, geography, agriculture, religion, and much more. It is unlike any other beverage we consume, which makes it infinitely interesting.”

His passion for the grape is evident in everything the vineyard produces, which includes a number of different varieties such as Blancaneaux, Cask Cabernet, RC Reserve Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Edizione Pennino, Cuvée Rutherford, and Rubicon, the estate’s flagship wine. Rubicon is made using 100 percent organically farmed grapes sourced solely from the estate’s vineyards. It is  primarily a blend of cabernet sauvignon, which was first planted on the vineyard between 1882 and 1885 by Inglenook founder Gustave Niebaum. The vines that are producing now are a unique clone of the same genetic material as the vines Niebaum first planted on the vineyard, making Rubicon one of the most historically important wines in all of California.

March 15, Rubicon will be releasing the new 2005 vintage, which Coppola feels may be the finest vintage overall. “We are always striving to make the greatest wine that our vineyards can produce,” he explains. “I feel we’ve brought a freshness, complexity, and sheer deliciousness [to the new vintage] worthy of the land that historically was responsible for some of the greatest American wines ever made.” The wine is presented in an entirely new bottle and package design, the second since 1978, which now presents itself as wine from the Inglenook heritage. Coppola deems the 1995 his finest vintage, due to the season’s conditions, and he also has a soft spot for the 1979. Citing a fondness for his Napa Valley neighbors, he ranks Swanson, Staglin, and Shafer among his favorites. “I could go on and on,” he says, although he says he prefers to enjoy wine with food, rather than on its own.

In nearby Geyserville, Coppola also owns and operates Rosso & Bianco Winery. The vineyard produces Director’s Cut, Francis Coppola Reserve, Rosso & Bianco, and Sofia, a sparkling wine that is described as a tribute to the spirit and life of a young woman. Coppola explains, “These wines are inspired by [my daughter] Sofia, her impeccable taste, sense of design, and personality. I had always promised her that I would one day make a sparkling wine for her, and you must always keep your promises to your children.”

He was drawn to the wine business due to enthralling tales his uncles told of the winemaking process. He elaborates: “My first impression about wine was really at age five or six, and it comes from a memory of my father’s father, Augustino Coppola. In those days, during Prohibition, they would make wine in their New York City basement, in a big, homemade, concrete fermenter. They would buy a boxcar load of California grapes. Even though it was Prohibition, you were allowed to make wine for home use. I heard many stories of how happy they were when the grapes would come because they were locked up behind a trap door that led to the cellars. They liked the grapes, and they would lower their littlest brother-my uncle Mikey-down a rope in a box to steal. Of course, they got caught. They were lowering the box, and they heard the old man coming, and they dropped the box and Uncle Mikey landed in the grapes. This always seemed to me such a wonderful experience, a family making wine.”

And just as he was inexplicably drawn to the winemaking business, his resort holdings in Belize evolved naturally. “I guess I would sum it up by saying that I get involved in things I enjoy, and they grow and become businesses.” Example? In 1981, after Apocalypse Now, Coppola wanted his own jungle paradise where he could escape to write. After traveling to Belize, he wound up looking at a mountain lodge that was for sale. “When I looked in the windows of the [Blancaneaux] lodge, I said what has gotten me into a lot of trouble over the years: ‘Oh, I could write here.’” He restored the cabin, and eventually invited his family out for a stay, and he says the resort trickled open from there. He currently owns two resorts in Belize, Blancaneaux Lodge and Turtle Inn, as well as La Lancha in Guatemala.

Despite his hectic schedule that involves jaunting all around the globe, scouting and shooting new movie projects and keeping an eye on his resorts, he is still involved in every aspect of the wine estate, particularly in anything that has to do with the design “of the labels, the bottles, and the stained glass window at the top of the stairs and the mosaic at the entrance to the cave,” he says. One could guess that the filming process has honed his eye for the details. As he finds himself with more time to spend at the vineyard, he has become much more involved in the entire winemaking process, learning what he can so that he “can exercise more appropriately the important role in decision making of the wine grower and owner.”

Since becoming a vintner and hotelier just came so naturally, it is fitting that a restaurant and cuisine line would follow. He explains, “I’ve always cooked-initially out of necessity, since I was a student without any money. If I wanted to invite a girl on a date, I didn’t have the cash to take her to a restaurant, but I could prepare my dinner at my apartment for a fraction of the price, so I’d call my mother and ask, ‘Ma, how do you make such and such?’” The result of his passion for cooking is Mammarella’s, which means “little mama,” the Coppola family’s nickname for his mother, Italia Coppola. He progressed from cooking into the pasta and sauce business while helping out a little pasta company in Brooklyn that was in financial trouble. He says it was a small jump to developing a line of sauces from his own recipes.

After explaining the connection of all of his businesses, he sums it all up: “You know, when you think about everything I do-film, wine, food, resorts, our magazine ALL-STORY-they all stem from my own personal interests and passions, and they are all entertainment of one sort or another.” And thus, Coppola will continue to entertain, both on screen and off.

Life is much more exciting if you can spice it up with some interesting international events. I know the economy is not that great and even the billionaires are cutting back spending and selling their megayachts and mega-mansions. But life still needs to be fun and exciting. Besides, attending events is a great way to promote business, which certainly is my case as a luxury realtor. Exciting events are constantly taking place around the world, but if I was pressed to choose the finest gatherings I attended from recent years, the following certainly epitomize glamorous travel.

Paris Fashion Week
Paris, France

This twice-a-year event (March and October) is the Mecca for everything fashion. From all around the world, designers flock to Paris to show off their Spring and Fall collections. The event is laden with five days of shows, parties, luncheons, and dinners set in Le Grand Palais, the Louvre, and the most fashionable hotels and restaurants.

For Spring, I was impressed with Elie Saab’s show, which was utterly magnificent for this not-quite-so-famous designer. Ungaro, owned by my friends Asim and Isha Abdullah, also presented a wonderful collection by their new, young, and chic Cuban designer. But certainly the highlight of the week, as has come to be expected, was the Chanel show at Le Grand Palais. Barbara Cirkva, President of Chanel, USA, extended invitations for me to the extremely exclusive affair. House of Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld consistently reinvents the “Chanel look,” keeping it fresh, chic, and beautiful after all these years. The event included the fashion show, a lunch, a tour of Coco Chanel’s apartment, and a cocktail reception at the Chanel Jewelry boutique on Place Vendome.

Monaco Yacht Show
Monte Carlo, Monaco

This annual megayacht event, which takes place in the world’s best yachting playground, is a must if you enjoy boating and partying with the super rich. One weekend each September, the finest mega-
yachts from around the world gather to exhibit watercraft for charter and sale. Of course, there are plenty of crafts there solely to be shown-off. The yachts are polished to perfection, and the yacht owners, crews, and brokers welcome guests on board for tours and cruises. Those deemed worthy enough receive invitations to the soiree at the Monte Carlo Yacht Club and the Boat International party, held at the Hotel Hermitage overlooking the harbor, where the people-watching is almost as entertaining as touring the yachts. Somehow, women in Monaco and the South of France look so chic and sexy regardless of age, shape, and form. Maybe it’s the jewels. The first time I attended, I was told to bring my smallest dog and wear my largest diamond.

Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup
Porto Cervo, Italy

Held in the Italian yachting heaven of Porto Cervo, Sardinia, in June, this is a serious sporting event as opposed to a social affair. The participants are here to win. I was lucky to be invited by my friend Brian Stewart, whose yacht financing and tax-structuring firm, Golden Anchor, was one of the sponsors. We joined a team of media photographers on the press boat and spent the day speeding alongside the racing yachts, often risking collision while trying to get the perfect shots.

Last year, a rare treat was a tour and a spin with Luca Bassani on his 118-foot Wally Power. Wally, with the radical design and exquisite attention to details, has achieved a faint stirring, raising the question that perhaps it is time for yacht designers to go back to the drawing board to rethink their designs in the 21st century.

China International Luxury Property Show
Shanghai, China

After escaping from Communist China with my family, I had no desire to go back for more than three decades. But, in 2006, when I was invited to speak at this three-day event, which is held every September in Shanghai, I decided it’s time to reconcile. I was pleasantly shocked; Shanghai far exceeded my expectations. The city’s new, state-of-the-art skyscrapers numbered in the thousands, and made New York look like a third-world country. In addition to speaking, I was given a booth to exhibit San Francisco properties. Thousands of Chinese visitors were amazed that our California properties are cheaper than those in Shanghai. We toured a luxury condo development overlooking the Bund, which was priced at $2,500-per-square-foot-far above the $970-per-square-foot average in San Francisco for similar quality buildings. I was featured on the cover of Shanghai Talk magazine and invited back to speak again in 2007. Shanghai is now at the top of my “favorite-city-in-the-world” list.

The World Superyacht Awards
Venice, Italy

Every April, Boat International magazine, along with Golden Anchor, hosts this event in a magnificent palazzo to honor the world’s finest yachts, designers, and builders. I had the pleasure of rubbing shoulders with the biggest names in the yacht industry: Fabio Perini of Perini Navi; Peter Lürssen of German shipbuilder Lürssen; Alice Huisman of Royal Huisman; and yacht designer Ron Holland. The 289-foot clipper Maltese Falcon, owned by my client Tom Perkins, won the “Best Sailing Yacht 45m and Above” award. I had the pleasure of attending the debut celebration of Maltese Falcon at Perini’s shipyard in Viareggio, Italy, the year prior and witnessed not only the beauty but also the technological innovation of the yacht.  We partied for three days on this magnificent yacht around this beautiful coast of Italy.

International Women’s Forum
Aman, Jordan & Buenos Aires, Argentina

Nearly 500 women business and political leaders, from more than 75 countries, attend this annual May event. I attended in Jordan in 2007 and in Buenos Aires in 2008. The forum’s topics included promoting women’s rights in the workplace in developing countries, encouraging women’s political participation in government, and more. It was so invigorating to be with so many Type-A women for three days. After the conferences, we stayed a few extra days to discover the beauty, history, culture, sights, and sounds of the host country.

Queen Rania of Jordan attended the entire morning session at the forum with us. I had a brief chat with her and was very impressed by her beauty and wisdom and surprised by how down-to-earth she was. Following the event, I visited Wadi Rum and Petra, one of the world’s new seven wonders. Indeed, it was a magical place that should top everyone’s “must-see” list. I also fell in love with Buenos Aires. This city of elegance, beauty, and tango grabs your heart and soul. It has the world’s widest boulevard (16 traffic lanes!), a scenic river, a thriving economy, French-inspired architecture, and Italian-inspired hospitality.

Happy Travels,
Olivia

But because I make a living being creative, there are times when inspiration can’t be found, and I am forced to adapt an idea to something I have crafted before. I don’t copy other people, and I seriously dislike the concept. For that matter, I don’t like duplicating my own work either, because I believe in new ideas. But sometimes it’s a necessary business plan to create in phases and follow through until something new comes along. This doesn’t mean that each and every party isn’t different and unique, it’s just that it becomes a part of a phase, sort of like Picasso Harlequin vs. Picasso Blue.

I create and learn by osmosis, which allows me to adapt to most situations. The requests from my clients are naturally varied, although I do believe at this level of my career, many people hire me to create in the form I do it best, which is without interference. I love guidance but I don’t like to be dictated to, as I leave that up to my muse.

The experience of a party is of great importance to our cohabitation. Whereas some people view it as fluff and luxury, I view it as a necessity. People need time alone as well as time to gather together. Parties are not only celebratory but are often times a relief from burden. Because I view the final result as a vital part of life, I also view the process of creating a party as an art form. For me, the process is to take the subject (the person being celebrated or the person who is celebrating), their cause (a birthday, a wedding, a benefit), and their personality, combine these ingredients, and design.

The basic elements of a party are few in number, with the standard thought being food and drink first, with entertainment second, and decorations third. I view the order of importance in the reverse. Eating is something we do every day. Preparing food or providing food is a skill everyone learns, so the concept is less unique than, say, performing or designing. Being entertained by music, drama, or visual stimulation is oftentimes underrated yet entertainment provides food for the soul.

I am frequently asked to share my design secrets, but in truth I don’t have any. I don’t always know where the ideas come from. In fact, most of the time I don’t know. But if allowing your mind to explore without reservation is a design secret, then the cat is out of the bag, because that is how I work. I edit and censor naturally, but I allow a patron to explore any notion they have when hiring me. The simple truth is I follow gut reaction with an extreme cognizance to be fresh and new.

Take, for example, the very first event I did as a professional, which was the 75th anniversary of the San Francisco Symphony. The Symphony Opening, like other big social events of the time, had a formula that had been defined years before. The event would be under a large tent, as was the current fashion. The color palette was always pastel, and the centerpieces were roses and baby’s breath. The whole process became so formulated, sometimes guests couldn’t tell one event from the next. The 75th anniversary of the symphony broke the mold. I knew from the start that I could not do something that had been done. While I didn’t set out to go against everything I was told to do, that wound up being the end result.

When I began working on the project, I quickly found it was easy to break the rules when the rules felt archaic. Since it was a birthday celebration, I wanted the décor to help create a festive atmosphere. Instead of pastels, I opted for vibrant red, orange, hot pink and moss green, which was a far cry from the pink and yellow that was expected.

Once the colors were set-because, for me, color always comes first-I began looking at the big picture. It felt ungraceful to leave the tent ceiling unadorned with seams exposed, but during that time, tent linings were pretty much unheard of.

I was on my way to discuss the dilemma with the ladies of the committee when I spotted some toilet paper strewn about, blowing in the breeze off a fire escape in the Tenderloin District. This time, the source of my inspiration was clear; we sculpted the ceiling from cloth cut to resemble ripples and irregular forms, which created an effect that is constantly duplicated today.

That was almost 25 years ago. Today, many thousands of parties later, my process of creating is ongoing and the signs of inspiration broaden daily. I love to travel, and because I have a fondness for fabric and paper creations, they are a constant source of stimulation. I love African and East Indian cloth patterns as well as the embroidered fabrics from Mexico and Central America. Whereas I am not a huge fan of pattern in my design, I love to study the lines and forms. Color combinations come organically to me, but I naturally enjoy seeing what inspires others and often build upon it.

I hope you enjoyed this column. Somehow I feel it is very egocentric to write about oneself, but I agreed to do it, and I am a man of my word.

Kind regards,
Stanlee Gatti

Stanlee R. Gatti Designs
1208 Howard St.
San Francisco, CA 94103
415.558.8884
info@stanleegatti.com

Spring, particularly in California, is much more dramatic than any other season because of the myriad of root vegetables that nature makes available to us. As we exit the season of braised dishes and heavier menus, we can shed that winter coat of extra pounds that we’ve been lugging around. As the days grow longer, more sunlight means more sprouting. Vibrant blooms abound throughout the region making this a spectacular time of year, both in terms of aesthetic beauty and flavorful ingredients.

Peas and asparagus will take center stage on the menu at The Ritz-Carlton in the coming months. As I write this, our asparagus season is about to begin. California is the leading producer of asparagus in the United States, contributing 58 percent of the nation’s total. As a perennial plant in the lily family, asparagus, the queen of produce, was long regarded as a rare spring delicacy by ancient Greeks and Egyptians. The edible shoots come from an underground stem, or crown, that requires harvesting by hand-a factor contributing to its somewhat costly price tag.

Guests can also look for springtime menus to be loaded with various types of peas. I like to serve a succulent rabbit, sourced from California’s own wine country, with side dishes of fava beans and sugar snap peas. English peas complement duck breast and lobster or serve as the base for an English pea risotto.

Artichokes are on my spring agenda as well. The green globe variety of the perennial thistle dominates the American market, with California claiming nearly 100 percent production for the nation’s enjoyment of its nutty flavor. Artichokes are an excellent accompaniment for an entrée like sea bass. Another idea for artichokes (and one that we use at the restaurant) is to create a mouthwatering artichoke ravioli.

Buying this kind of produce locally, or at least semi-locally, is an essential element in my own culinary code of conduct, and it is a trend that has taken over the nation with forceful staying power. As Americans, most of us have now been exposed to the ideas of “green living.” While it may be something new in many parts of the country, in our region, it is a lifestyle that we have long-cultivated. While there are many new organic farms sprouting up as fast as spring greens, there are just as many near San Francisco, particularly in wine country areas like Napa, who have been farming the land with careful consideration for decades.

I buy quite a bit of our produce from Middleton Farms, a small vendor in the wine country town of Healdsburg. It can be a bit pricey, but the return on investment in terms of taste and quality is invaluable. I am also a big proponent of sustainable agricultural practices and find the philosophies of Devil’s Gulch Ranch in Nicasio to be congruent with what Mother Nature intended. The family farm supplies us with quail, whole pigs, and other meats that you can see reflected on my menu such as the Devil’s Gulch Ranch Rabbit.

In the spirit of supporting the community, I am suggesting pairing any of these ingredients with a wine from one of California’s boutique producers. Opus One and York Creek Vineyards, just north of Napa, and Lancaster Estate, also out of Healdsburg, are ones that we have found worthy enough to feature on our Small Bottles/Small Bites menu, which launched in February and includes half bottle selections chosen by our sommelier.

In addition to the abundance of premium produce, spring also signifies the return of our favorite farmers’ markets, including Napa Chef’s Market and Napa Downtown Farmers Market, scheduled to open in May. Make sure to plan a trip soon.

With so many excellent epicurean options in this region, it’s likely that you have already acquired the taste for fine cuisine. Whether in the restaurant or in this magazine, I’m thrilled to add to your culinary world.

Cheers,

Rob Siegal
The Dining Room at The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco
600 Stockton Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
415.296.7465