They say it takes practice, determination, and a whole lot of courage to perform at Lincoln Center. When I recently found myself on stage at Avery Fisher Hall to receive the James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant Service, I was able to understand how rewarding that culminating moment onstage really can be.  Although I wasn’t performing, it was still an honor to be there with the general manager and the maître d’s from DANIEL, and every bit a culmination of practice, determination, and a whole lot of hard work. And like so many great performers who come from less-than-glitzy backgrounds, this farm boy from a small village outside Lyon was truly honored to be on stage. Most of all, it just felt great for my staff and me to be recognized for something that gives us pleasure: taking care of our guests at DANIEL. Those same guests may be surprised to learn I took things down a notch when I opened DBGB Kitchen and Bar. Both the address and the atmosphere are downtown, the Bowery to be precise, and decidedly down-market in vibe. I used to joke that I rarely made it south of 42nd Street-not for work anyway-but now all that has changed.

The heart and soul of DBGB’s menu are the draft beers and the house-made sausages. There’s even a homemade hot dog! (If I’m going to eat a hot dog, I want to know exactly what’s in it.) I’ve always been a sausage fanatic; I check out the local varieties wherever I travel. But the affair really started during the years I worked in Denmark, where a sausage from a street vendor was a daily guilty pleasure. Now I’ve created 14 varieties for DBGB. Our sommelier Colin Alevras has chosen 50 international beers to help wash them down. But the pleasure doesn’t stop there. With Chef Jim Leiken we’ve come up with some great seasonal bistro dishes, towering shellfish platters, and even a few burgers. The favorite so far seems to be “The Piggie,” a beef burger topped with BBQ pulled pork. Speaking of indulgences, for dessert there are wonderful hot soufflés and filled crêpes, courtesy of Pastry Chef Miriam “Mimi” Eberhardt, and even an ice cream sundae cart. You can concoct your own combination, but I suggest the coffee-caramel ice cream topped with chocolate cookie, brownies, candied pecans, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream. This is useful information to have on hand if you want to pace yourself.

I always start with the food when I’m planning a new place, but the staff training and the service are every bit as essential to me. Even though I’ve opened a few restaurants in my day, each place has its own unique character and always requires its own fine-tuning. It really takes a team, and I’m lucky to have a great one.  Did I mention the manager Theresa and the maitre d’ Olivier-both geniuses at their craft? Then there’s the design, which is so essential when it comes to how a place will make people feel.  At DBGB, Thomas Schlesser, whom I worked with on Bar Boulud, was happy to join me again. Thomas is definitely a downtowner, and he imparted the pared-down, relaxed look I was aiming for, but with a real soul that reflects the Bowery’s history as New York’s restaurant supply neighborhood. There’s a partially open kitchen that makes you feel like you’re part of the action, without imposing too much. Then the dining room is surrounded by floor-to-ceiling shelves where we store everything from our dishes and glasses to our collection of antique copper cookware, each piece of which was donated by renowned chefs such as Thomas Keller and Paul Bocuse. In fact, I‘m still receiving well-worn pieces from all over the world. In the bar, the mirrored walls are covered with some of my favorite quotes on the subject of food and drink-something to think about while you have a beer. This is definitely a place I’ll feel comfortable hanging out in.

And I hope you will come and hang out with me!  See you down on the Bowery.

Bon Appétit.

Once again, it is a pleasure to be back with all of you. For this edition’s column, I decided to take a new approach. Instead of discussing the season’s trends, I want to share with you a very exciting project I am working on with Duca Sartoria.

As the saying goes, we must start at the beginning. In this case, it was many years ago, when I first met Maestro Arturo Di Modica, who came to me to make his wedding suit.

Maestro is best known as the famous sculptor who dropped the world’s most famous bull in front of the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street one crazy night in 1989. It was just before Christmas, and Arturo and a few of his friends drove a flatbed up to the 60-foot tree in front of the NYSE, and unloaded a 7,000-pound gift: the Charging Bull.

In a flyer distributed the next day, Arturo stated that he created the sculpture after the stock market crash of 1987 as a symbol of the “strength, power, and hope of the American people for the future.” He paid for the sculpture out of pocket because the economy was in a dismal place, and he felt the market-and New York in general-needed a bull ride.

After all these years, it may be time for another bull ride!

Twenty years after the installment of the first bull (and after Arturo sold seven additional big bulls around the world) it is now time to create a new more dynamic way to inspire the spirit of strength, power, and hope. This is why I am proud to introduce all of you readers to the limited edition Charging Bull Jackets. Only 100 of these will be available. The jacket is made with a Super 150′S Super Fine Wool in dark blue, which is the perfect fabric for 10 months of the year. It is completely wrinkle-free and water resistant. The lining is in a nice bronze color-just like the bull-and the buttons are made with the original forge of the bronze used for the Charging Bull. The back of the jacket features an embroidered tone sur tone of Arturo’s original drawing of the bull, and the back of the collar features embroidered script: Charging Bull.

On the inside, we will monogram your name as well as the number of your jacket. Arturo will wear jacket No. 1, and I will keep No. 99 for myself. All of the other numbers will be available for the select few who want to feel special and “charged.”

We set the price at $2,900 because 2009 marks 20 years that the bull has been standing guard on Wall Street.

Adding to the appeal (because art and beauty are not always enough), profits will help finance an International School for Artists and Sculptors in Vittoria, Sicily-Arturo’s birthplace. The school will be the first and the only one of its proportion. I had the pleasure of visiting the site two summers ago, and the Maestro gave me a tour of this amazing work in progress and the surrounding property. I really loved it very much.

You can clearly see, and most importantly feel, in his new project the determination and the testa dura of a Sicilian artist, who, along with always creating amazing works of art, wants to teach and share his talent with students from around the world. This is a dream that will come true, because Arturo does not take no as an answer.

This time around, I hope all of you to feel and enjoy the new bull ride, and do it with style….

Ciao a tutti,
m@X
Duca Sartoria
425 Madison Ave, Suite 1903
New York NY 10017
212.582.3225
ducausa.com

This year, in our great city of firsts, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Lincoln Center. When former fearless American visionaries like John D. Rockefeller and President Eisenhower spearheaded this monumental undertaking half a century ago, it was the first-ever, all-encompassing center for the performing arts, the like of which the world had never seen before.

“Art is the signature of civilizations,” the indomitable Beverly Sills proclaimed. This from a diva whose love of the Metropolitan Opera was so committed that she didn’t think twice when offering her domestic services preparing an Italian dinner for eight Met patrons. I was the successful bidder at just one such fundraising auction. “Bubbles,” as she was affectionately known, donned her checkered apron and turned my Fifth Avenue galley kitchen into an operatic proscenium for a few magical hours-pure heaven, and the pasta wasn’t bad, either.

Is it simply my advancing years, or are we indeed seeing a rejuvenating “changing of the guard” on our stages? As a frequent and indulged guest in the Baroness von Langendorff’s opera box, I am witness to this refreshing trend. Most recently at a performance of Don Giovanni, the cast mesmerized us as much by their voice as by their glowing youth. Befitting and just, considering the new $900 million facelift underway-billionaire David Koch and his wife Julia are amongst the great philanthropists of our day at the helm.

La Grenouille heralded in the spring with arbors of blossoms, the perfect setting for Madame Dewi Sukarno on a visit from Tokyo. The brimming fashionable crowd included Jane Wrightsman, Sid and Mercedes Bass (themselves mega patrons of what remains of the Met’s legendary “Diamond Horseshoe”) and jeweler Kenny Jay Lane, the “Caliph of Costume.” A few nights later, after an amazing performance by an ageless Charles Aznavour, I was invited for a late-night supper at Graydon Carter’s revamped watering hole, the Monkey Bar. Soaking up the scene were Barbara Walters, holding court with a brace of politicians, and Marty Richards in a richly upholstered booth of glamorous thespians. For those gourmands who are shrouded in black due to the demise of Balducci’s, be advised that there is still epicurean hope. In June, my favorite London restaurant Le Caprice opens its doors at the Pierre.

Although the current lackluster art market makes us look back longingly to the boom years, private sales have stepped to the fore. Vanquished are the new rich, leaving Christie’s and Sotheby’s to slug it out, adjusting their pricing in the wake of each other’s sales. Christie’s took this round, surprising many by fetching a total of $93.7 million-just under the high estimate (and well above the low) in its Contemporary Sale. Elsewhere in the market, blue chip Picassos and their ilk are still fetching hefty sums. One Bernard L. Madoff victim raised $14.6 million for Picasso’s Musketeer With a Pipe. (Hopefully, that should meet his rent for a few more months.) Julian Schnabel faired well, parting with his Picasso, Femme au Chapeau, to the tune of $7.7 million. This before flying off to Israel to film his new movie. I recently had the privilege of sitting for one of his famous plate portraits-quite the surreal experience. Where Sotheby’s failed temporarily in the art department, it scored a knockout with a record breaking $9.5 million sale of a 7.03-carat blue diamond, the highest price ever paid per carat for any gemstone. With my South African roots and friendship with the original Cullinan family, it was a personal delight seeing the flawless bauble had been extracted from the famous Cullinan mine, which is the source of the largest diamond (3,106 carats) ever found. The stone is now lodged in the coronation crown, orb, and scepter of Queen Elizabeth II.

There is nothing lackluster about the spring season of benefits and private parties, which continue at an unfailing pace. To be sure, one is confronted with shrunken floral centerpieces and open bars replaced by indifferent wines and water, but the show goes on and the turnouts are still impressive. Among the roster of invitations: Barbara de Portago’s elegant Versailles Foundation dinner for His Imperial and Royal Highness Prince George Frederick of Prussia had all the trappings of a feudal court; Judith Price’s high energy National Jewelry Institute dinner at the Forbes Mansion on Fifth Avenue; Muna Rihani, the glamorous wife of Qatari Ambassador Nassir Al-Nasser, as hostess for the United Nations Women for Peace gala at the Metropolitan Club.

In the same Beaux-Arts venue a couple of evenings later, Ambassador John Loeb celebrated the publishing of his new book An American Experience. The west wall of the Great Marble Hall was dominated by am intricate family tree which included links to virtually every prominent Jewish family in America going back to 1740. More culturally current and fascinating was the inclusion of the Bronfman family’s newest addition, Ikhyd Edgar Arular Bronfman, daughter of Edgar Bronfman’s son Benjamin and Sri Lankan gangster rapper M.I.A., adding 21st-century diversity to this patrician ambassador’s gilded lineage.

Lest we think the titans of New York have deserted a city in crisis, the annual Robin Hood Foundation gala raised an astonishing $72 million for charities that nurture, heal, feed, and shelter our city. Billionaire George Soros upped the ante even further by making an additional $50 million matching challenge. Sherwood Forest has nothing on our modern day heroes.

“Art is central to our species and our society,” affirmed the Oscar-winner Robert Redford. And art in its many forms surrounds us. Spring also means the Tribeca Film Festival in New York, founded in a brilliant move by Robert De Niro to bolster the city after September 11th. This year’s spotlight was stolen by Sasha Grey, the 21-year-old actress with 150 adult films notched on her garter. Her serious film debut as the star of Steven Soderbergh’s The Girlfriend Experience needed no rehearsing, playing a high-price call girl. Though no full-blown sex scenes, the celluloid was not devoid of skin. We are Manhattan, after all. The London season beckons…Olympia and Grosvenor Shows and Ascot…more to follow…

One of the definitions for the word passion is an intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction. As the president of The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences, it has been my driving philosophy that excellence results only from such intense conviction. Passion must be the motivating force behind whatever it is that you choose to do in life. My passion has always been centered around the hospitality industry. Whether appreciating the art of a fine dining establishment, enjoying the relaxing pleasures of a world-class resort, or taking in the delights of a private luxury cruise, I find everything about global travel and the luxury service industry to be exhilarating, and I am fortunate to have found a way to meld my passion into a rewarding career at one of the world’s most prestigious organizations.

The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences first planted roots in New York City in 1949 as a restaurant rating review board. Later, when I took over and revamped the organization, we expanded our categories and began adding a rigorous rating system for myriad of other hospitality and tourism related industries including hotels, airlines, resorts, spas, and cruise ships, as well as products such as automobiles. Through the hard work and dedication of a passionate team of trustees and support staff, we have grown The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences to such acclaim that our International Star Diamond Award is recognized as one of the highest accolades worldwide for rating five-star venues. Today, the Star Diamond Award is the most prestigious and coveted, as well as the only truly global awards program in the world.

At the heart of our daily operations, we are a service organization that supports the hospitality industry, but to take it to a deeper level, we are about the business of perfection and the pursuit of excellence. To earn the Five Star Diamond Award, an establishment must come highly recommended from a number of well-regarded sources that are discerning world travelers. After careful internal review from our international board of trustees we embark on the rewarding journey of vetting the venue in various categories of performance. As a perfectionist, I find that service is always the most important category and it is the factor that influences our award decisions the most heavily. The delivery of top-notch, white-glove service relies equal parts on the leaders at the helm of a business as much as the staff that executes the service plan. Gastronomy, attitude, quality, and cleanliness are also important considerations in determining if an establishment is strong enough to carry our emblem of success.

While the coveted Five Star Diamond Award is our elite standard, there is a Six Star Diamond that is reserved for a very rare few. The City of New York was the first recipient of the Six Star Diamond Award. Donald Trump’s private club in Palm Beach, Mar-a-Lago, is another extraordinary example of a Six Star Diamond property, along with the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo and The Peninsula Hong Kong.

Naturally receiving the International Star Diamond Award is quite the honor, but the monetary return on such a pinnacle of achievement is also unparalleled. Recently Rhode Island became the first U.S. state to receive the award; it is only the 10th destination in the history of The Academy to receive such a prestigious honor. At the presentation ceremony, Governor Donald L. Carcieri explained that this award represents more than $1 billion in revenue for their state. Previous destination winners include Baden-Baden, Germany; Japan; New York City; Lucerne, Switzerland; and Turks & Caicos amongst others. Because of my background in tourism, travel, and hospitality, and the access that I have to the world’s most elite properties, in the coming issues I will use this column to share the newest trends in the world of luxury travel. From the grand openings of new spas and resorts, to the most exquisite vacation destinations for the summer and fall, to the newest recipients to be honored with International Diamond Awards, you will be the first to know where to plan your next travel adventure. We are in the midst of a changing worldview and in light of our refreshed social and economic mindset, I am even more of a firm believer in the pursuit of excellence and the fact that true luxury is not always about the price point-it is about perfection, beauty, taste, class, quality, and most of all, a powerful driving force of nature: Passion.

Haute Living How long have you lived in Southampton?
Linda Kabot I was born in Southampton about 41 years ago. With the exception of my four years at college in upstate New York and a little stint in Washington, D.C. after college, I have lived here all my life.

HL What does your role as Town Supervisor entail?
LK My role is to preside over the Town Board meetings. The Board is comprised of five members: four council people and one supervisor. I am the chief fiscal officer for the town. I prepare the budget and, with the town controller, deal with the aspects of managing the town. I’m also the chief administrator for all of the department heads. The supervisors of townships do not have veto powers; we’re not the same as a mayor of a city or a governor of a state. Majority rules-three out of five on a town board have to agree for a law to be made or money to be spent.

HL What are some of the most exciting events that take place in Southampton each year?
LK The Hamptons are a total lifestyle experience. It’s all about the shopping and the scenery, the high-end parties under the white tents, the beach and the like. It’s about ambiance, and the Hamptons is a place like nowhere else. It’s beautiful here.

Some of the bigger events are the Hampton Classic, which is a horse show. It’s dramatic. There are VIP tents and corporate sponsors and, of course, all of the fun and excitement of watching the competitions. It typically takes place the third week in August.

Since I was born and raised here, I look forward to things like the Fire Department and Ambulance Dinner dances, community group fundraisers, and parades with our local veterans. In the summer, my family and I love to go fishing. We love the great outdoors and enjoy the beaches, which are always jumping with activity.

The fishing holes in the Shinnecock Inlet, which was created by the hurricane of 1938, are robust with fluke and other catches. In the ocean, you find larger catches, like bass. If you can’t enjoy a boat trip, you can just cast off the jetties and local fishing piers, and if you can’t catch it yourself, you can order it from one of our wonderful restaurants.

HL Who are some of the town’s most notable residents?
LK Many celebrities live here-Rudy Giuliani, Christie Brinkley, Alan Alda, Jimmy Buffet, Kelly Ripa, Susan Lucci, Billy Joel-actually, I think he might have moved to East Hampton now-and others, but it is our local residents who make the community so special.

HL What are some of the must-see places in Southampton?
LK The Southampton village area has quite a host of wonderful restaurants, shops, and boutiques, as well as a slew of cultural resources and historic treasures. Certainly no visit to Southampton Town would be complete without a stop at the beach, and Shinnecock East in Hampton Bay is majestic. When you are coming over the Shinnecock Bridge, it looks like God’s country-its just pristine and beautiful. Sag Harbor Village is also a wonderful village with a beautiful main street where history abounds, with lots of restaurants and shopping and a good time for all.

HL Can you tell us the role philanthropy and fundraising events have in the community.
LK The Hamptons has become synonymous with special events and big-white-tent parties. These gatherings give people a chance to be seen, have a good time, and contribute to a good cause, such as the Quogue Wildlife Refuge, the local historical society, or the Southampton Hospital.

HL What are some of the notable projects/developments that are in the works or on the drawing boards for Southampton?
LK The Francis S. Gabreski Airport, which is owned by Suffolk County, has signed Rechler Equity Partners to build a full-service hotel with all the trimmings. New beach pavilions have been built here recently as well as some new parks in the North Sea, Hampton Bays, and East Quogue areas.

HL Given the economy, are you expecting more or less visitors this summer?
LK It’s tough to predict. Due to the seasonal nature of some of our areas, we could be negatively impacted, or we may be positively impacted. Some may choose to not travel as far this summer, but will come to the Hamptons instead. Some of the robust activity we were seeing in real estate sales dissipated, and we are seeing some decrease in restaurant activity. But rental homes aren’t at a complete standstill. Hopefully this year, every weekend will bring folks to our area, and they will patronize our local stores and restaurants, giving continued prosperity to those that call this place home.

HL What is Southampton like during the fall and winter months?
LK Our year-round population is nearing 60,000, and that triples mid-summer. When I was a kid, it was very quiet in the fall and winter. Now, people are enjoying the “shoulder seasons,” which is what we call the spring and fall. They come earlier in the spring to watch the flowers start to blossom and stay in the fall to see the beautiful foliage.

HL Why should someone choose to live in Southampton over other nearby towns?
LK Everything you like about the Hamptons is here and available, such as the beaches and the bays, and even business areas to do local shopping. We have a little something for everyone. The history in each of our hamlets and our villages is so rich, and with the architectural treasures and cultural activities that are available, I believe that Southampton is the best of what the East End has to offer.
We’re not just the land of celebrities and mansions. We have many local people who add a special taste and character to the area. It’s a small-town environment where people enjoy raising their families.

Fox News Channel’s Megyn Kelly

You know her network and may recognize her face from the flashing promos for the hit FOX News Channel program she co-anchors or from her regular appearances on The O’Reilly Factor. And, if you were among the tens of millions of viewers who watched FNC’s coverage of the 2008 party conventions, you’re definitely familiar with her reporting.

Megyn Kelly has co-anchored the No. 1-rated America’s Newsroom alongside Bill Hemmer for the past two-and-a-half years. Her reporting resume teems with news stories like the Virginia Tech massacre, the trapped coal miners in Utah, the D.C. sniper shootings, and, her favorite to date, the 2008 coverage of the Republican and Democratic National Conventions.

But being in front of the camera on such a large platform is far from where she thought she would be. As a child growing up in Albany, New York, her goal was to become a cowgirl. But it wasn’t the bitter colds of the “tundra” that led her from her dream of a home on the range to millions of television screens around the world. Her destiny was decided by a 10th-grade career aptitude test that clearly spelled out her penchant for journalism.

Although she has accomplished a great deal in her short career, Kelly doesn’t sound like someone who thinks she’s reached the top of her potential. “If I could have half the career of Diane Sawyer, I’d be a happy woman,” she says.

Her mention of the legendary ABC newswoman isn’t lost on anyone who is familiar with Sawyer’s bio. Besides being ambitious and tenacious in their reporting, both women have profiles that intersect at quite an impressive point.

They both contemplated careers in law. While Sawyer completed one semester of law school before turning to broadcasting, Kelly went on to graduate from Albany Law School and became a corporate litigator. She spent her 20s arguing cases in courtrooms across the country until she came to the realization that, like Sawyer, the grunt-and-grind nature of law wasn’t the excitement she was looking for.

Also like Sawyer, Kelly turned to her chosen path in broadcasting. Her first gig was with an ABC affiliate in Washington D.C. The relationships she established while in the capitol led to a reporting post with FNC in 2004, which subsequently landed her in her co-anchor seat.

When asked about her employer’s reputation for being conservative, she attributed those perceptions to the network’s primetime host lineup, not its news coverage. “There is no question that Hannity is a conservative,” she says. “But I can tell you from personal experience after having worked with O’Reilly for years now, you never know where he is going to come out on an issue. He definitely leans right when it comes to certain social, traditional value issues, but he’s all over the board on certain other issues. And Greta-nobody knows exactly what her stripes are. I think [the conservative reputation is] really because of Hannity.”

While hair, makeup, and wardrobe don’t require much effort for someone with natural, on-air-ready beauty, gathering news for her show takes a lot of preparation. Kelly admits that most of her research is done online, though she still relies on newspapers to give her a more complete picture of a story. What some have declared to be a nearly obsolete form of media, as she sees it newspapers are a luxury for people in the industry. “Print reporters have the opportunity to go so much more in depth in certain stories than television reporters do because they’re working on stories for months at a time,” she says.

Yet, cable news, one of the struggling industry’s competitors, caters to the same on-the-go types as newspapers. Her audience, unlike the shrinking number who get the bulk of their news in black and white, is used to getting their dose of current events in less verbose spoonfuls both on screen and online.

Taking into account viewer interest and the competition for the No. 1 slot against other super networks like CNN and MSNBC, the fast-paced nature of television news, especially cable news, comes with its share of pressures. But, from the research required to ask the right questions to the confidence needed to deliver the report convincingly, Megyn Kelly doesn’t buckle. After all, this roadrunner-esque type energy is what she dropped all those law books for. “The news changes everyday,” she says. “So it’s not like being involved in any litigation that goes on for four years and the trial lasts three months.”

Though she no longer practices law, her experience in the combative arena of litigation, no doubt, has equipped her with the sharpness that on-air personalities covet in order to remain relevant and competitive.

Just as with Diane Sawyer, it didn’t take Kelly long to figure out what she wanted to be when she grew up. There aren’t many people who can point to exactly what put them on a particular path professionally. And, although she took a nine-year detour from the declaration made by that 10th-grade oracle years ago, she doesn’t allow herself to get hung up on the glitter and star-quality glamour of being a popular television personality.

“It’s not the job on paper that I love,” Kelly says. “After coming from a job I wound up not loving, I can fully appreciate what I have now.” Her appreciation comes as a result of having a career that challenges her intellectually, that affords her the opportunity to work with people who are both interesting and still interested in what they do, and, most importantly, is fun.

Quick to point out that her profession, though successful, is not her life, Kelly’s life behind the cameras soon will become a lot fuller-and nosier-when she and her husband Douglas Brunt welcome their first child in October.

With a bio that already has shades of Diane Sawyer, Megyn Kelly is knee-deep into establishing herself in an enduring career in broadcasting.

Eva Longoria as Scarlett O’Hara? Susan Sarandon as Carmen? Christina Ricci as Juliet? To support Montblanc’s and UNICEF’s fight against illiteracy, these actresses, along with nine other revered Hollywood starlets, answered with a resounding, “Yes!”

Rarely do little girls escape childhood without indulging in any number of games of fantasy make-believe, naturally starring as the lead role of the fairest princess in all the land. The fairy tales may vary, but in the end, playing dress up as one of literature’s great leading ladies is a fantastical practice of the imagination that has been a longstanding contributor to the cultural mythology of our society. As we evolve and become more astute in our understanding of the enchanting world of literary classics, so do our concepts of inspiring, imitable literary heroines. We graduate from our admiration of Cinderella or Snow White to taking cues from Natasha in Tolstoy’s War and Peace or Esmeralda in Victor Hugo’s Notre Dame de Paris.
In an incredible flash of creative genius, Montblanc and Signature International used this concept as the foundation for their latest philanthropic endeavor, a charitable photo project that will benefit UNICEF and the fight to end illiteracy.

As part of Montblanc’s 2009 “Signature For Good” campaign, Montblanc invited 12 of Hollywood’s leading ladies to dress up in their own modern-day interpretations of their favorite heroine from a classic novel, to be captured on film by famed American photographer Roger Moenks. The result is a dozen striking portraits, autographed by each of the 12 leading ladies, which will be auctioned off by Sotheby’s on World Literacy Day on September 8, 2009, in Los Angeles.

Until generous bidders lay claim on them later this year, the portraits are spending the better half of 2009 on a world tour, with stops in Hong Kong, London, and New York City. In May, we caught up with Montblanc International CEO Lutz Bethge, during the Manhattan leg of the tour, where he shared with us the defining company culture of philanthropy at Montblanc.

“I firmly believe that when you are successful, as a company or as an individual, you have to give something back in the world. And this is a significant philosophy at Montblanc that has evolved over many years. It is part of our heritage,” he says.

Montblanc’s legacy as the signature name in the world of luxury writing instruments dates back more than a century. The brand’s identifying logo, the Montblanc star, represents the snow-covered peak of Europe’s highest mountain and symbolizes the company’s commitment to the highest quality and finest craftsmanship. However, Montblanc’s pursuit of excellence does not begin and end simply with the creation and production of its inventory, which ranges from the most elegant of fountain pens to jewelry, eyewear, leather collections, and fragrances. In what can only be described as a profound understanding of the intricate nature of true power and wealth, Montblanc maintains its longstanding dedication to supporting philanthropic initiatives related to arts, culture, and literacy, despite any financial changes on the balance sheets.

“This has not been a very easy year. There is no one in the world who has not heard the term ‘financial crisis,’” explains Bethge. “But while the world today may be in a more difficult situation, power still remains, and writing is power. At Montblanc, we believe that even in more difficult times you must still maintain your commitments to initiatives that are really important.”

At Montblanc, those important initiatives include their longstanding partnership with UNICEF. Through the years, their clever campaigns for social change have included such themes as “Power to Write” and “School in the Box”-projects conceived with the intention of arming children around the world with the power of the written word.

“An education-the empowering ability to read or write-is the biggest gift we can give the children of the world. It makes them independent-independent of mind where they don’t need to follow other people’s thoughts or ideas. They can think autonomously, conduct their own life, and decide what is right and what is wrong and where they want to change the future of the world. Only when you empower them can they take their destiny in their own hands. There is no more priceless gift than that,” says Bethge.

While this year’s “Signature For Good” campaign will include other projects throughout the year (such as dedicated product launches), Bethge believes that this charitable photo project is one of the most exciting. “Our 12 celebrity ambassadors had so much fun picking out their characters. You can see it in the photographs too-you can see how much fun they’re having. It definitely translates in the portraits,” he says, going on to cite Eva Longoria as an example. “Eva is being pictured as Scarlett O’Hara, and when you see the portrait of her you see that she completely embodies Scarlett-not just because of the dresses or the costumes, because these portraits are contemporary interpretations of the characters-but you can see it in the eyes and the attitude.”

The premiere unveiling of the portraits took place earlier this year during Oscar week in February at L.A.’s Paramount Studios. During the charity gala dinner, Academy Award winner Reese Witherspoon took the lead and marked the year of giving with a $50,000 donation. Bethge shared some details from the event, “It was very much like a family gathering. It was people who believe in the same values getting together and sharing their philosophies, which are that when you are successful, you have to give back.”

Montblanc’s commitment to giving back is unquestionable, with a fundraising goal of $1.5 million for their 2009 commitment to UNICEF. Along with the portraits of the 12 Hollywood heroines donning Montblanc jewelry, the solid gold Montblanc pen that each actress used to sign her portrait will be auctioned. “These special pens are not for sale-these are not commercial products. They were created specifically for the charity auction and they are spectacular. Each carries the olive leaf, which is the sign of peace as well as the sign of UNICEF, along with a blue sapphire that relates to UNICEF’s signature color, and is set in diamonds,” Bethge explained.

Invoking the sage advice, “To whom much is given, much is also required,” Montblanc is proving itself to be the luxury brand embracing the aphorism.

The Hamptons have long been considered the stomping grounds for the nation’s elite. For a three-month span each year, the East End of Long Island becomes the most exclusive stretch of land in the U.S., a haven where celebrities intermingle with the extremely wealthy while those who are considered merely rich are relegated to spend their summers observing from the sidelines.

While finding a summer home to rent, or perhaps a permanent address to call home, may be easier than in years past, just because you happen to physically be in the area code doesn’t mean that you are officially in the know. In fact, in the 1950s people often said, “Southampton is for the sporting rich; Bridgehampton is for the nearly rich; East Hampton for the filthy rich.” And while the saying may hold more true than not, there’s more to the Hamptons than just shopping on the main drags, socializing, and sunning on the beach. Some of the smaller, less glitzy communities on the East End have much to offer those seeking a simpler lifestyle. That’s why Haute Living is here to help navigate all of the best locales, from the latest and greatest restaurants and shopping havens to the established outposts that we have come to adore. Whether in the Hamptons for the first time this season or the first time in your lifetime, head to any of these haute spots and experience a glorious piece of the coveted Hamptons lifestyle.

First Things First: Getting There…in Style

One if by Air

Success is a journey, not a destination. This adage clearly was said with regret by someone stuck in traffic trying to get to the Hamptons for a summer weekend. For those who know that time is money and quality time with family is priceless, a 40-minute ride to the East End via helicopter or private jet deposits savings in the enjoyment bank.

For those arriving by air, the East Hampton Airport can accommodate jets up to a G5, as well as helicopters; larger private jets must head for the Francis S. Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach. A bit under the radar is the helipad on Meadow Lane in Southampton. Residents on this desirable street were willing to pay prices upwards of $40 million per estate not only because of the stunning ocean and bay views but also thanks to the convenience of being able to travel from Manhattan to Meadow Lane practically door to door.

For those who may not have their own plane or a fractional ownership in NetJets, there are a number of charter services available in the area. Sound Aircraft Services, based at East Hampton Airport, operates a shared charter seaplane service on Cessna Caravans from the E23rd seaport in Manhattan-perfect for weekend travel.

Traveling to the Hamptons in style is an absolute must, and as such, what better way to arrive than in the Rolls-Royce of helicopters, the Sikorski S-76. Associated Aircraft Group (AAG) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, the same brand used for the presidential helicopter as well as the royal family of England, and the namesake of the inventor of the modern helicopter. As such, AAG is the largest helicopter charter company that can deliver you from your corporate business meeting in the city to your beachfront island estate. Not only are they the largest, but their experience with high profile fliers, from C-level executives to government leaders to entertainment moguls, means their client list is shrouded in secrecy, as one would expect. They have built their reputation on professionalism and an intricate understanding of their client demographic, which is someone who has everything but time.

Haute Jets, our newly launched private charter service, works with all models of luxury air travel, and has access to an amazing fleet of Citation X’s that fly to the Hamtons. The company offers on-demand charter, with access to more than 5,000 jets leaving from airports around the world with as little as 12 hours notice.  We also provide full concierge service that will arrange catering and ground transportation upon arrival. More information on all of these services can be found on our web site, www.HauteJets.com, where you can explore all of the charter options.

Two if by Sea

How civilized to sail into the Hamptons just in time for the famed sunsets at East Hampton Point Marina and Resort. To extend their playgrounds beyond the deck of yachts, boaters can dock in the full-service marina (complete with lounge and provision store), which accommodates yachts up to 60 feet in the slip and up to 120 feet on a moor on the outer dock. The resort offers a heated pool, as well as a gym and tennis courts to help sailors regain their land legs. Recently renovated private English country manor cottages and suites are also available to rent. The restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows keeps with the nautical theme, and Chef Craig Attwood incorporates the local bounty from both the sea and farms into his menu. Not to be missed: brunch on the outdoor deck, complete with an expansive raw bar.

Guest service specialists are onsite to help arrange anything from private yoga classes, spa treatments, and babysitting, to visiting award-winning local vineyards. Should one have to jump off the megayacht for a quick jaunt into Manhattan, it will prove to be no problem at this resort, as the owner is also the proprietor of East Hampton Airlines, which is available for guests to charter. The epitome of chic rides, the newest aircraft has an Hermès saddle leather interior.

A famous port for more than 250 years, Sag Harbor’s wharfs have seen everything from whaling boats and British schooners to luxury pleasure yachts. Its secure harbor and charming bayside Victorian village make it a return destination for well-keeled mariners.

The Sag Harbor Yacht Club, which dates to 1899, welcomes all visiting yachtsmen from smaller family vessels to large megayachts. The club is known for its professional staff that offers concierge service to both owners and crews alike. While SHYC’s prime location keeps the club quiet and private, it is still only a short walk into the village and short drive to the pristine Hamptons beaches.

Sag Harbor Cove Yacht Club is tucked quietly away on the side of town, availing 160 slips for power boats up to 75 feet, provided they can clear the 21 ½-foot bridge into the protected cove, which has front row seats to bursting sunsets. A helpful staff can arrange day charters for water skiing, wake boarding, or fishing, and can pick up guests arriving via sea plane, which lands just outside the breakwater in the main harbor. An added bonus is the resident Beacon Restaurant, home to the best waterside dining in the Hamptons.

The Chapin Estate, tucked away in the Catskill Mountains, is an idyllic summer retreat for families looking to reconnect with each other whilst disconnecting from the rigors of city life.

The movie Dirty Dancing is a coming of age story from a bygone era, one where families summer together in rich settings, bonding while being away from the demands of the city. This wouldn’t have been possible if said vacation had taken place, say, in the Hamptons, where a typical social calendar is as full as the Manhattan holiday season and family doesn’t have the time to talk-forget about playing charades in the main lodge. (Then again, Baby does forgo the charades in favor of less wholesome activities, but you get our point.) Today, two decades after Dirty Dancing’s closing scene declared summering with the family “dead,” a new development is resurrecting the idea upon the same hallowed grounds on which this movie was filmed. Not since Johnny and the staff took over the main floor during the end-of-season party with the choreographed dance has the Catskills been so cool.

Located just two hours from New York (even less time from North Jersey or Connecticut), The Chapin Estate is tucked in the Catskill Mountains near Bethel, New York. The development was dubbed The New Hamptons by National Geographic Explorer back in 2005; not only does it boast a wide array of notable residents, from Fortune 500 CEOs to movie producers, it offers city dwellers a chance to surround themselves in the wonder of nature without having to sacrifice an entire day to travel. The Hamptons have always been chic, but when one really wants to get away from it all-not just be immersed in it all, albeit in a different setting-The Chapin Estate offers the opportunity to do just that. Once the private hunting grounds for Chester Chapin Jr., a successful New York City entrepreneur from the late 1800s, the enclave has been transformed into a private development for those who want to get in touch with their natural side.

More than a century ago, Chester purchased these 18,000 acres and created a private retreat that he used to escape the pressures of New York City. Today, The Woodstone Companies is continuing his vision. The 2,500 acres under development is surrounded by 13,000 acres of untouched nature that will remain as such. “You won’t find a community like this certainly in the East,” explains Steve Dubrovsky, managing partner of The Woodstone Companies. “We have created compounds similar to the Adirondack Great Camps where there is a main lodge where people hang out before retiring to their guest homes-very much like in the early 1900s. The Chapin Estate is the 21st-century version.”

The gated community is divided into four neighborhoods-Swinging Bridge, along the banks and woods of the Swinging Bridge Reservoir; Top Ridge, along the banks and woods of the Toronto Reservoir; Misty Acres, along the banks, woods and pasture of Black Lake Creek; and Peninsula, along the banks and woods of the Toronto Reservoir, which is already sold out. No matter the neighborhood chosen, residents will find themselves surrounded by miles of natural trails and habitat, dotted with pristine lakes and reservoirs that allow for swimming, boating, and fishing-there is even a private fly-fishing stream. “A lot of people come up here to let their blood pressure drop a little bit,” says Dubrovsky. “It is about getting into a place that is completely the opposite of what they are used to. When you live in the city and you go home from work, you still feel the tension from the city. What you have here is entirely different.”

The homes, cabins, and family compounds in the community reflect that sentiment; more than 95 have been constructed thus far on the approximately 150 parcels that are sold. Many of those residences employ a “refined rustic” feel, which is how Dubrovsky describes the overall style and décor of the homes that feature hand-carved woodwork alongside the finest appliances and wine cellars. He has a decades-long history of planning, designing, and creating nationally acclaimed Adirondack and Northwestern-style custom homes in many states. A four-time circuit champion of the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association, he traveled the country and was inspired by various types of architecture and styles. His travels allowed him to develop a keen sense of what fits into a certain environment and what does not. “While I was a kid traveling to rodeos, I was in the design and construction business. When I would go on the road, whether it was the Northeast or the far West, I would keep a camera and a sketch pad. Between rodeo performances I would sketch all of the details of these places, and I gravitated towards the great Northwest and Adirondacks style,” he explains. “When you go into our homes at The Chapin Estate, the spirit flows with native timbers and branches reminiscent of the great lodges of the Northwest and great camps of the Adirondacks. By combining the two styles, we try to create large, comfortable homes for our clients with a special feel and look. Another goal is to have them look like they were constructed some 80 years ago. We accomplish this by preserving large trees on the property when planning the placement of the homes.”

It is a goal that he accomplished. Each home, designed and custom-created by Woodstone, is situated, built, styled, and decorated to best complement the natural surroundings. This results in a community that is both environmentally sensitive and incredibly private. But should the need to socialize arise (because, let’s be honest, what true New Yorker can go without outside contact for long?) The Chapin Estate Lake Club serves as a central lodge and gathering place. It has an outdoor pool, lounging deck, and a pavilion with a soaring stone fireplace, alongside a full catering kitchen and other amenities and luxuries, including a resident chef who can head to your home for private dinners. Additionally, the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts-on the site of the original Woodstock concert-is a 15,000-seat, state-of-the-art performing arts center and museum within a short five- to seven-minute drive from The Chapin Estate.

While it is hard to put a price tag on this lifestyle, the lots range from $150,000 to $500,000 for non-waterfront (typically six to 10 acres) and $600,000 to $1.2 million for waterfront.

The Chapin Estate
Bethel, New York
888.427.6476

Pop-Artist Peter Tunney has a lot to say, and he uses every medium possible to get his message across.

The Time is Always Now.

Not only the title of one of Peter Tunney’s works of art-a stencil on mixed canvas, his signature style-this is a motto that defines the pop artist’s actions. Few men live more in the present; he is where he is, right when it is, not yesterday, not tomorrow. His art reflects this. His life reflects this.

It’s a rich life, one that could (and should) fill the pages of an in-depth book that would wax on about virtually every topic under the sun. It’s a style Tunney himself is familiar with. Take, for example, our interview, which took place at The Experiment, his working studio and gallery at 666 Fifth Avenue. “Do you know this is the highest priced piece of real estate you are sitting in?” he quips. “They sold 49 percent of the ground floor of this building last year for $500 million. Forty-nine percent!” His mind shifts focus as he picks up a phone. “I’m gonna make a sales call here, live, because I have to,” he says to me, then into the phone: “You are all set, talk to me quickly, because I am doing an interview.”

The call goes on for a while. Names are thrown out, dollar amounts are tossed around, stories are told to the person on the other end for my benefit (quite the tale about a direct marketing tactic involving facial hair, a big fake mole, an eye patch, and a crooked mustache), and art crosses borders. Somehow, Tunney keeps track of it all in his head. “I know every deal from the beginning of time for all of my deals,” he says.

The Experiment exists because of Jared Kushner, owner of both the New York Observer and that pricey piece of real estate in which The Experiment sits. The duo forged a friendship when Kushner commissioned Tunney to create a “Don’t Panic” stencil over issues of the Observer. For years, Tunney would only show his work to a select clientele, but Jared had a vision. “He wanted to put this here as an experiment,” Tunney explains, “to see how this kind of operation would do. I so respect his vision to have a lively place like this in the base of his building. You know, it’s like an engine giving energy.”

Admittedly, there is a sort of thumping energy throughout the space, which is filled with various works of all sizes. It’s a welcoming place, meant to be a haven in the midst of the corporate buildings, an outlet for creativity. It is an experiment that is a success. “You have got to read some of the blogs about the PT Experiment,” he says. “People say that I go to work every day at 666 Fifth Avenue, and every day I get a new message. The time is always now, and it just makes me love going to work. I love that. It means the experiment is working.”

Not only is it working for Peter Tunney, it is working for Spirituality for Kids, a nonprofit that receives proceeds from The Experiment. SFK aims to give children an awareness of themselves, of others, and of the interconnectedness of all things so that they may grow up to become caring and responsible citizens of the world. Tunney could not feel more strongly about the cause. “The whole economic debacle that we’re in, and most of the problems we are suffering right now, if you really examine them, the base of that problem is a lack of spirituality. I would say that’s the beginning of the cascade of all these horrible events that are happening….We got to a place where people can’t be happy unless they are rich. It’s nonsense. I’m speaking from experience here, being the happiest guy in the world.”

He gets worked up, words flying out of his mouth so fast that it is hard to keep up with his ideas. They all seem to be coming down to a Shakespearean quote: “Before a joy proposed, behind a dream…” I realize now why at the top of his website is a list of words that try to describe Peter Tunney: Showman. Adventurer. Dilettante. Pontificator. Raconteur. Writer. Bon Vivant. Sign Maker. Card Shark. Story Teller. Magician. Curator. It might seem like a lot of labels for one man. But that’s because Tunney is a lot of man. He is constantly moving, thinking, striving, creating.

Words are not enough to describe this man, but words he has. So his art is full of words, stenciled phrases-some well known, others obscure-on canvases of newspapers, catalogues, advertisements, photographs, and more. He is constantly spouting out more quotes and phrases, some which will eventually hang on someone’s wall, others destined to drift into nothingness. “In this city you have to be crushed into dust then come back with a smile.” And “Nobody goes straight to the top.”

The constant theme of his message is of dreaming and hope. In the same vein as The Time is Always Now are pieces such as Nothing Happens Unless First a Dream and Change the Way You See Everything.

The event that changed everything for PT is distinctly defined: when he was 13 years old, he was hit by a car, effectively dead but brought back to life. He spent the next two years of his adolescence sitting in a hospital bed, not fully recovering for the next five. Rather than making him bitter about missed chances and memories never created, this made him an idealist who wants to share his vision with the world at large.

As for spirituality itself, he says this: “Religion is for people that don’t want to go to hell. Spirituality is for those of us that have been there.” Are they his words? He claims to be a procreator before admitting, “I just read that, but it’s a good one to know.”

While the messages he shares are not his original prose, the matter in which his art is created is entirely unique and compelling. He will take a simple phrase such as “There Are No Accidents In The Universe” and paint it on the dented hood of a car-so are there no accidents? Was this particular accident destined?

The goal is to get your mind going at least at half the speed of his own. He is constantly moving to create the next great piece of art. It’s been like this his whole life; he has created hundreds of diaries over the years that represent his travels. He filled the pages with photographs, scraps of papers, leaves, a vinyl record-anything that would remind him of the moment he had experienced. While he may not have known it at the time, these objects were destined to be the canvas for his later works. Many of these diaries are now on display at The Experiment.

More recently, he has been the curator of the longest-running photography exhibits in New York City. “I’ve had at least one major art show up everyday since 1991, that’s a lot of heavy lifting.” Presently, The Wild Horses of Sable Island, which features photos by Roberto Dutesco, has been operating at 13 Crosby Street for three years and counting. The show funds numerous charities and causes, including The Humane Society, Green Horse Society, Beth Israel Hospital, SoHo Partnership, and more. Prior to that, his last show with Peter Beard, on Broome Street, lasted seven years.

Following The Experiment will be a different kind of experiment. The show will be titled Peter Tunney Making Money. “I am going to skip making art and go directly to making money,” he claims. Tunney money, not unlike funny money, will be a beautifully pained wooden box.

He keeps talking. He told me it would be like this, he talks, I listen, and the article emerges while he speaks. It is emerging. To sum up the way that the art world feels about the experiment, the way I feel about my conversation with Tunney, happens to be the only word on his new business card:
Gratitude.