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A curated list of ideas to celebrate this season’s bounty.
CINE-FILES
A discrete enclave of the rich and famous since the 1920s, this spot is most often whispered about as a favored rendezvous promising anonymity for the affluent — all tucked within lushly cloaked courtyards. This fall, The Brazilian Court Hotel in Palm Beach will play on its storied past by launching movie nights under the stars, al fresco style, for locals and visitors alike. Movie buffs will screen a selection of old Hollywood classics starring former guests of the hotel for whom the property’s largest suites are named after. Think Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, Marlon Brando, and Cary Grant. Movies or not, the hotel, wrapped in European old-world charm, remains the hub of local activities, in no small part thanks to its location and amenities. Guests are placed just steps away from both the beach and Worth Avenue, showcasing some of the world’s finest shopping and galleries. The resort also features the award-winning Café Boulud and The Brazilian Court Salon, as well as the Paul Fisher Art Gallery. Those bewitched by its enviable charms can now take some of its luster home. The hotel recently launched an online shop with exclusively branded merchandise aptly named Casa by The Brazilian Court. To check it out, visit bcpalmbeachshop.myshopify.com.
DIGITAL ASSETS
The premier Italian luxury furnishing brand Visionnaire has entered the metaverse the world’s first-ever furniture NFT project (Non-Fungible Token). Revealed and auctioned off at this year’s edition of Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan, “Apollo Belvedere” is a collaborative effort between the brand and the renowned artist Jonathan Monaghan. More importantly, it reiterates Visionnaire’s ongoing dedication and dialogue with the avant-garde. A nod to the divine Greek archer Apollo, a symbol of aesthetic perfection, the concept includes NFT videos sold through the block chain and a traditional sculpture, carved in life-size Carrara marble to mimic the attributes of capitonnè leather. The physical bust was inspired by the artistry of the Apollo del Belvedere, currently located in Rome’s Vatican Museums, and is a study in contrasts that made the work famous: softness and rigor, virtual and physical, past and future. No word yet on similar endeavors in the future, but judging by the interest generated by this collaboration, Visionnaire is leading the charge on design NFTs.
BOTTLED UP
Not all expensive perfume can justify its price tag, but in the case of AMAFFI the investment may well be worth it. Priced up to $8,000, the line of fragrances uses the most exclusive natural ingredients in its compositions including champaca, agarwood, rose centifolia from Grasse, narcissus, and iris. For context, 300 milliliters of narcissus, the flower that blooms from late winter to late spring, requires a reduction of a half-ton of florets. To match the rarity of its potions, the crystal bottles are a worthy representation and aim to match the character of each fragrance. Despite technical difficulties that ensue from working with crystal, the team at AMAFFI created a crystal atomizer that stabilizes the highly ordered material. The patented process takes from two to three years from conception to completion. Aesthetically speaking, gold-plated, silver, hand-affixed crystals, and other precious materials embellish the bottles. To check out these masterpieces you have to travel to New York, London, and, soon, Singapore. Digital perusing is available anytime.
FLIGHT MODE
Looking to elevate your game to new heights? The Zero-G Experience® is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to experience true weightlessness without going to space! The trip (using a modified Boeing 727 flown by specially trained pilots, who are experts in parabolic arcs) creates a weightless environment that offers a chance to float, flip, and soar like an astronaut. The process starts with the aircraft flying level with the horizon at an altitude of 24,000 feet. The pilots then gradually increase the angle of the aircraft to about 45° relative to the horizon until reaching an altitude of 32,000 feet. During this phase, passengers feel the pull of 1.8 Gs. Next, the plane pushes over the top of the parabolic arc and the zero-gravity phase begins. For the next 20-30 seconds, everything in the plane is weightless. Finally, the plane gently pulls out of the maneuver, allowing flyers to gradually return to the floor of the aircraft. The maneuver is flown 15 times over the course of the flight, each taking about ten miles of airspace to perform. In addition to zero gravity, flyers aboard G-FORCE ONE experience Lunar gravity (one sixth your weight), achieved by flying a wider arc over the top of the parabola. Sign up for your trip this October launching from Merritt Island and Fort Lauderdale.
MISSONI MAKEOVER
Can’t get enough of the Missoni zigzag? Neither can we. Now, thanks to brand’s Resort Club project, the sartorial signature of the fashion industry icon will be found at some of the most prestigious Italian and international destinations. The stylish endeavor was kicked off with a transformation of the famous Le Carillon restaurant and its exclusive beach in the bay of Paraggi, close to Portofino, Italy. Missoni used its famous fabrics — selected by the creative director of the label’s home decoration line, Alberto Caliri — to decorate the interiors of the veranda overlooking the beach, as well as beach umbrellas and sun lounger cushions. The endeavor sets out to promote the style and iconic nature of the brand worldwide with intentions to makeover some of the best known jet-set destinations worldwide. Could Miami make the short list? We can only hope so.
POOL PLAY
The Grand Dame of hip hospitality has announced an opening of its second Miami location. Slated to open later this year, Soho House will launch Miami Pool House to service hipsters living between the areas of Wynwood and Edgewater. Located in a former printing facility, Windward Publishing, the space will feature an outdoor dining terrace, restaurant, club space, and cottage bar designed around an outdoor pool. Miami Pool House will be a tranquil, laptop-friendly workspace boosted by its signature social savoir faire, plus similar evening events and entertainment that helped make its sister location on the beach such a hit. Also, as is the case with the original flagship, Miami Pool House will be accessible to members and their guests only, rousing all interested to apply before the coveted memberships are gone.