Chihuly at the New York Botanical Garden
If there is any subject where this fractious republic might find consensus, then perhaps it’s in the beauty of Chihuly. Even those who might feel that the work of glass artist Dale Chihuly is crowd-pleasing anodyne would most likely admit to a revelatory…
Some of the Best of the Best for 2016
During a year that commenced with an early morning Alpine snowshoe expedition to the peak of Muottas Muragl in Engadin St. Moritz, Switzerland and ended with a (pre-election) Jazz Era, Gatsby-themed weekend at Glenmere in the Lower Hudson Valley, we…
An Atheist Enters Gothenburg Cathedral—and Finds an Antidote to Darkness
On a snow-cold winter’s night in Sweden, a gay atheist and his husband entered Gothenburg Cathedral for the annual candlelit Lucia concert—and, two hours later, emerged elated and joyful. That atheist was me and in the months since, the memory of that…
To Drink or Keep: Château de la Dauphine
At the court of Versailles, the wines of Fronsac were known as the king’s favorite. Located about 20 miles from Bordeaux in the east of the Bordeaux wine region, Fronsac is notable for its bucolic woodland, which so charmed the mother of Louis XVI that…
Cire Trudon Lights the Darkness
Amidst the darkness of the current season, even a small glow can make a big difference. To alter the atmosphere, consider a candle from Cire Trudon. Founded in 1643 as wax supplier to the imperial courts of France, Cire Trudon reigns as the oldest candle…
The Sheikh of Chic in The Fragrance Kitchen
Known as the “Sheikh of Chic” and a close friend of Tom Ford, Sheikh Majed Al-Sabah credits his grandmother as his fragrance muse. As a boy, al-Sabah lingered in his grandmother’s kitchen while she blended her favorite blends of Taif rose, oud,…
Navarra Wines for the Holidays
While you may think that you don’t know Navarra, it’s likely that you’ve heard of its capital, Pamplona, home to the running of the bulls festival about which Ernest Hemingway wrote so eloquently in The Sun Also Rises (1926), a paean to his love for…
Glenmere in a Gatsby Autumn
Sometimes fate shines favorably on romantic whims. Take Glenmere, for example, the historic hilltop mansion built by the Gilded Age magnate Robert Goelet at the behest of his wife who yearned for her own Italian villa in the States.