Nurturing the Next Generation
Following up the incredibly successful Women's Heritage Sourcebook, authors Ashley Moore, Lauren Malloy, and Emma Rollin Moore have once again teamed up to offer a resource for guiding kids and teens in back-to-roots activities.
The Children’s Heritage Sourcebook
Written by Caitlin White | Photography by Sara Prince
Following up the incredibly successful Women's Heritage Sourcebook, authors Ashley Moore, Lauren Malloy, and Emma Rollin Moore have once again teamed up to offer a resource for guiding kids and teens in back-to-roots activities. With disparate backgrounds—Moore is an artist and herbalist; Malloy, a conservation biologist; and Rollin Moore, an educator and healthy lifestyle coach—the group is particularly well-equipped to walk readers through all manner of self-care, education, and empowerment.
Their second release, The Children's Heritage Sourcebook, also features 250 full-color photos from frequent Santa Barbara Magazine contributor Sara Prince, who captures the spirit of freedom and empowerment in acquiring homesteading skills. “The main goal—for me as a photographer and for the girls as authors—was to make it feel like everybody’s book,” Prince says. “It’s not so specific that it doesn’t apply to you if you don’t live on two acres and have stables and goats. If you’re not like the Ingalls family, this book is still for you.”
With ideas and guides on everything from animal husbandry to mule packing, herbal skincare blends, and even making your own soap or drying your own flowers, both city dwellers and country folks can find inspiration. And flipping through the pages is like living vicariously through the subjects within—a testament both to the vividness of the activities and the power of Prince’s images.
Tea Time
Manifestation advisor and wellness expert Jessie De Lowe has partnered with Art of Tea to create an exclusive Manifest blend.
Jessie De Lowe’s soothing manifestation
Manifestation advisor and wellness expert Jessie De Lowe has partnered with Art of Tea to create an exclusive Manifest blend. With her background in therapeutic healing through creativity, spirituality, psychology, and neuroscience, De Lowe hand selected specific botanicals (all of which she uses daily) from her Montecito garden to create a transformative herbal blend designed to raise your vibration and inspire clarity and alignment with your soul’s true calling.
Manifest is the perfect way to add intention and sacredness into your daily routine. This herbaceous and grounding blend features organic sage (for wisdom and cleansing of energy), lavender (for healing, serenity, and spiritual connection), and peppermint and spearmint (for awakening, clarity, and focus). It is sure to awaken your senses and inspire you to come back to your highest self. All ingredients are sustainably and intentionally sourced with love and care.
De Lowe says, “Manifest is inspired by my realization that the ritual of tea is something I use daily to create a feeling of sacredness, spaciousness, and stillness, whether to connect with myself or with others. It’s from this space of connection, alignment, and clarity that we are most equipped to manifest. Each ingredient in the tea is intentionally selected to create a certain frequency and energy in the body and mind that are ideal for feeling present, being fully embodied, and vibrating at your highest frequency. The sage, lavender, peppermint, and spearmint are from my garden in magical Montecito, and it was really exciting to create a delicious herbal combination that is greater than the sum of its parts.”
You Can Hear the People Sing!
Award-winning stars of stage, screen, television, and the recording industry will be taking the stage of Santa Barbara’s Lobero Theatre on May 27 for “The Adderley School: Celebrating 30 Years”
The Adderley School celebrates 30 years at The Lobero
Alana Adderley, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Janet Adderley
Written by Joan Tapper
Award-winning stars of stage, screen, television, and the recording industry will be taking the stage of Santa Barbara’s Lobero Theatre on May 27 for “The Adderley School: Celebrating 30 Years”—the glittering fund-raising event supporting the school’s foundation. But the spotlight will truly be shining on the youngsters who have taken musical theater classes at the school and, thanks to its programs, brim with self-confidence and joy, to say nothing of a love of that tuneful and uplifting art form.
Joining master of ceremonies James Corden and honorary hosts Ben Platt and Debra Martin Chase are Jack Dylan Grazer and Kenny Loggins, who will unite with Adderley students and alumni in a revue that includes performances from classic musicals and a concert collaboration.
Founded in 1993 by Janet Adderley, with branches now in Pacific Palisades, Montecito, Austin, Rowayton/Darien (Connecticut), and New Orleans, the Adderley School method of musical theater education uses intimate mentorship to ensure that students discover and develop their unique talents to realize their potential not only on stage but also in life.
James Corden and Ben Platt
The Adderley School Foundation (TASF) extends that mission by partnering with schools and organizations serving youth in under-resourced communities and by offering scholarships to classes. Through the signature Teachers Who Look Like Me mentorship program, TASF also trains underrepresented vocalists, dancers, and actors to become Adderley method teachers for classes and workshops. “Access to the Adderley School is one of those things that makes living in Santa Barbara a joy,” says Kenny Loggins. “If you have a child who’s musically inclined, the fun, camaraderie, and training of Adderley School can nurture their artistic growth from youngsters on through high school and beyond.”
Says Grazer, teen star of Shazam! and It, “Janet and her Adderley School means everything to me and to so many others whose lives have changed for the better because of the inspiration, transferable life lessons, the value of working hard, and reaching for one’s potential on her stage and in the world. Janet changes lives.”
The 30th Anniversary celebration promises to be a “grand night for singing” and a harbinger of many joyous musical moments to come. theadderleyschoolfoundation.org
Mattei’s Returns to Life
A 19th-century tavern is reborn as a luxurious eatery
Seasonal offerings from the property’s poolside, Mediteranean-inspired kitchen, The Shed.
A 19th-century tavern is reborn as a luxurious eatery
Written by Anna Ferguson-Sparks
The INN AT MATTEI’S TAVERN, AUBERGE RESORTS COLLECTION, is now open for dining and resort stays. The “new” Los Olivos hospitality mecca—reborn from the original Mattei’s Tavern, circa 1886—was reimagined by renowned design firm AvroKO. Original buildings now coexist with newly built structures that align with the landmark property’s heritage.
“The Tavern is the main culinary attraction, featuring refined California ranch cuisine.”
The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern includes 67 luxury guest rooms and cottages, a signature spa, and five dining venues. Named for original owner Felix Mattei, Felix Feed & Coffee kick-starts days, while evenings may be spent at The Bar, sipping history-inspired craft cocktails. Poolside, The Shed serves Mediterranean cuisine, and Gin’s Tap Bar pays tribute to a chef at the original Mattei’s with Asian-inspired smokehouse fare. The Tavern is the resort’s main culinary attraction, featuring refined California ranch cuisine.
Two tiers of limited private memberships are also available. The Trailblazers Membership grants access to the fitness and spa facilities, weekday use of the outdoor pool, restaurant perks, private-event discounts, and member events and programming, while The Founders Membership adds a complimentary resort stay, additional pool availability, wellness offerings, and other rewards. 2350 Railway Ave., Los Olivos, 844-837-2999, aubergeresorts.com/matteistavern
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Sweetly Blooming
The top of Rincon Mountain between Carpinteria and Ojai has its own microclimate, explains Mary Gonzalez, who runs SWEET MOUNTAINTOP FARM with her partner, Rob Peed.
Mary Gonzalez of Sweet Mountaintop Farm sources flowers from her approximately two-acre plot atop Rincon Mountain.
Go grow it on the mountain
Written by Joan Tapper | Photography by Sara Prince
The top of Rincon Mountain between Carpinteria and Ojai has its own microclimate, explains Mary Gonzalez, who runs SWEET MOUNTAINTOP FARM with her partner, Rob Peed. Their roughly two-acre plot has ocean breezes, hot summer sun, chilly winters, and rocky clay soil, and it’s perfect for growing flowers and herbs, from which they create teas and tinctures, an herbal skin-care line, decorative garlic braids, mixed bouquets, and colorful wreaths.
Gonzalez, a Carpinteria native, started farming vegetables and melons in 2017 on her father’s avocado ranch, but after the Thomas Fire she became interested in herbal medicine and shifted her crops. Peed, who’s from Orange County, had been producing mead and cider for another Santa Barbara company. He joined Gonzalez in 2019, bringing new products into the business, and now distills their plants for hydrosols and essential oils. The couple sell their wares at farmers’ markets and have a robust online presence. “I like that we have multiple uses for the flowers,” says Gonzalez, who hosts workshops throughout the year next to their flower field. Spring planting begins soon, and their one-year-old son helps keep things lively. “We live where we work. That’s a blessing and a curse,” says Gonzalez, laughing. sweetmountaintop.com
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Culinary Goods
Much like the town of Ojai, Jennie Prebor takes a slow-growth approach to her business.
Owner Jennie Prebor
Written by Jessica Ritz | Photography by Stephanie Helguera
Much like the town of Ojai, Jennie Prebor takes a slow-growth approach to her business. After operating blanchesylvia women’s clothing and accessories shop in the historic downtown arcade since 2016, she’s recently opened culinary store BLANCHESYLVIA KITCHEN in nearby Meiners Oaks. “It emerged in the same way,” she says. “It’s about just finding stuff that I love.” And just as she vouches for merchandise in the dress shop, “there’s nothing in here that I wouldn’t use in my kitchen,” Prebor adds. Named for one of her grandmothers, Blanche, and her mother, Sylvia, the new outpost is a longtime fulfillment of certain obsessions and touchstones, starting with Prebor’s family kitchen in Pennsylvania. In contrast, interior details like polished concrete floors and unvarnished wood shelving stem from a visit to minimalist movement pioneer Donald Judd’s famed pantry in Marfa, Texas, two decades ago. As for the eclectic collected wares in her shop, she hopes “people will want to buy these things as much as I love them,” whether it’s a vintage Greek olive oil jug, Oaxacan pottery, or even a jar of Grey Poupon mustard. Blanchesylvia Kitchen also stocks “local friends,” such as Bonito Coffee Roaster, Beato Chocolates, and Caroline’s Marmalades and Jams.
Here, the boundaries between home, life, and community overlap, as evidenced by the olive oil bottled from fruit in the grove owned by Prebor and her husband, architect Fred Fisher. “It’s very personal,” she says of the project. 443 W. El Roblar, Meiners Oaks, @blanchesylviaojai
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Stage Presence
For a century and a half, a wealth of talent has graced the stage of the Lobero Theatre, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this month.
Written by Joan Tapper
For a century and a half, a wealth of talent has graced the stage of the Lobero Theatre, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this month. Founded as an opera house in 1873 by Jose Lobero, the venue is the oldest continually operating theater in California and the fourth oldest in the country. The earliest years included appearances by the Tennessee Jubilee Singers; boxer John L. Sullivan, who tried a new career as an actor; and Susan B. Anthony.
In 1924 architect Lutah Maria Riggs, in partnership with George Washington Smith, redesigned the theater in the Spanish Colonial style that would come to epitomize Santa Barbara’s look after an earthquake the following year flattened much of downtown. The theater was undamaged, however, and in the following decades has welcomed classical musicians like Sergei Rachmaninoff and Yehudi Menuhin, actors like Humphrey Bogart and Lucille Ball, jazz greats like Charles Lloyd and Dizzy Gillespie, and folk/rock performers like Tom Waits, Neil Young, and the late David Crosby.
The Lobero interior has retained its graceful elegance with fluted columns that ring the auditorium, a circular chandelier, and an elaborate painted ceiling. And, of course, its support of the arts, which has only gotten stronger over 150 years.
Architect Lutah Maria Riggs put her stamp on the redesign of the Lobero Theatre in 1924, with a Spanish Colonial exterior and graceful interior details. This archival photo shows a couple of the surrounding columns, the painted ceiling modules, and the chandelier, along with stage decor.
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A Taste of the World
When Santa Barbara–based Nati Smith sat down to write Mish and the Recipe for Adventure…
Author Nati Smith sets the table in her Santa Barbara abode.
Written by Joan Tapper | Photography by Sara Prince
When Santa Barbara–based Nati Smith sat down to write Mish and the Recipe for Adventure (Wise Ink Creative Publishing, $23), a heart-warming children’s book with illustrations by Guillermo Alonso, she had several goals in mind. As a Jerusalem native, Smith aimed to introduce children to international culture through fun recipes from around the world, while also bringing mindfulness to the kitchen. Her story focuses on a young rabbit, Mish, who enters a cooking competition against other talented chefs. As Mish advances to the finals, in part thanks to spiritual practices that help her keep calm, she wows the judges with a comforting childhood favorite made with a secret ingredient—love.
Smith says, “Mish is a journey of friendship, food, culture, believing in yourself, and overcoming obstacles with affirmation and love.” That message has resonated with children and adults alike. “Many parents have shared pictures of their kids reading the book along with loving comments about their experience with Mish,” she adds. “All of these incredible reactions have filled my heart with love and smiles and given me much inspiration and encouragement for the upcoming chapters in the Mish series.”
a Moroccan tagine from a family trip to Morocco.
Nati Smith’s Shakshuka
Shakshuka and charcoal sesame bread from local Oat Bakery.
About 6 medium tomatoes
1 tablespoon avocado oil
1 yellow bell pepper, seeds removed and chopped roughly
1 red bell pepper, seeds removed and chopped roughly
1 bunch green onions, chopped (green parts only)
3 to 4 artichoke hearts, thickly sliced
2 handfuls cherry tomatoes, halved
½ to 1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ to 1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon Himalayan pink salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 handfuls fresh spinach leaves
5 to 6 eggs
Za’atar
Tahini
Maldon smoked sea salt (optional)
Sumac
Olive oil
Fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish
A tablespoon of love
Bring a pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, use a sharp knife to score each medium tomato on the bottom (opposite the stem end), making an X. Keep any juice that is released. Drop the tomatoes into the boiling water and cook for 1 minute. Transfer to a bowl of ice water. With a knife or a spoon, peel off the skin and cut the tomatoes into rough cubes or slices.
Place the avocado oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the chopped bell peppers and sauté for a few minutes, until soft. Add the green onions and artichoke hearts and continue to cook. Add the cherry tomatoes and boiled tomatoes (with the juices they released while cutting). Stir and add the oregano, basil, paprika, Himalayan salt, and black pepper. Stir well. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. If you need more liquid, add hot water, but just a little at a time—you want the consistency to be thick, not watery.
Add the spinach and stir. Taste and add more seasoning as needed.
Crack the eggs and add them to the shakshuka stew. Sprinkle each egg with salt, black pepper, and za’atar.
Cover with a lid and cook just until the egg yolks are a bit runny and soft. Alternatively, you can put the pan, uncovered, in an oven that was preheated to 350°F. Bake until the eggs are a bit runny and soft.
When the eggs are done, drizzle them with tahini and sprinkle with Maldon salt (if using) and sumac. Drizzle with a bit of olive oil and garnish with fresh cilantro.
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Cactus Makes Perfect
Cementing her reign as the textile queen, California-based interior and furniture designer Natasha Baradaran recently debuted her latest innovation: Livwell cactus leather.
Livwell cactus leather stool
Written by Anush J. Benliyan
Cementing her reign as the textile queen, California-based interior and furniture designer Natasha Baradaran recently debuted her latest innovation: Livwell cactus leather. An industry first, the sustainable vegan fabric is crafted from the sun-dried mature leaves of cactus, which she sources from an environmentally conscious organic ranch in central Mexico. The collection launched with a campaign aptly photographed at Ganna Walska Lotusland, where over 300 species of the perennial plant bask under the Montecito sun. natashabaradaran.com.
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Viva Magenta
Top picks in the season’s hottest shade
Top picks in the season’s hottest shade
Edited by Charlotte Bryant
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Design Duo
The power couple behind Cove House share their 2023 must haves
Isabella and Chase Duddy, husband-and-wife creators of Cove House, covehouse.co
The power couple behind Cove House share their 2023 must haves
Edited by Charlotte Bryant | Photography by Tessa Neustadt, Ally Simons (Portrait)
SANTA BARBARA LIGHTS is our go-to for exterior lights. Karen and her husband have sourced the most incredible collection of antique lights.
Kate and Mimi at THE WELL SUMMERLAND are so lovely, and they have the most insane selection of pots, furniture, art, and more. We just bought two leather-slipcovered armchairs for Casa Plunkett.
Ceramics, baskets, and antique bells from India are perfect for decorating a shelf from DOMECIL, a little gem that has a gorgeous selection of home wares.
JENNI KAYNE in Montecito has the best pillows, and her upholstered Pacific bed is classic.
We recently scored the most beautiful antique dresser from SUMMERLAND ANTIQUE COLLECTIVE. We love melding old and new.
Follow @cove.house for more on #casavista and #casaplunkett projects
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Meadowscaping
Rustic and rattan tones for indoor/outdoor living
Interiorscape by Plant Gallery.
Rustic and rattan tones for indoor/outdoor living
Edited by Charlotte Bryant
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Pillow Talk
Global goods at a textile candy store
Global goods at a textile candy store
Written by Jennifer Blaise Kramer | Photographs by Sara Prince
Jean-Philippe Cajuste of Indian Pink dons an Indian velvet textile robe in the comfort of his Montecito home.
Jean-Philippe Cajuste, aka “The Pillow Man,” earned his nickname selling pillows made from vintage textiles his wife, Tamara, would collect from all over the world while working as a flight attendant. “I’d meet her at the airport on a layover with a black duffle bag—it looked like a full-on drug deal,” he says. Whenever they’d travel together, he’d pack hundreds of pillow covers—from Jaipur prints to Chinese batiks—in hues that were fitting for the destination, such as coastal blues for Nantucket or the Hamptons. Inevitably all the pillows would sell out, which essentially funded the couple’s trips.
Those same seaside hues caught the eye of their first client, a buyer from local design store Rooms & Gardens, resulting in frequent trips and an eventual move to Santa Barbara. The Cajustes settled their family into Montecito, where home is a “laboratory,” and their first retail outpost, INDIAN PINK, puts a face to the brand so many designers, decorators, and celebrities have come to love. The bohemian State Street boutique feels like a textile candy store, full of pastel block-printed pajamas, vintage upholstered furniture, and countless pillows. But rather than adding to the cliché of couples constantly fighting over too many throw pillows on the bed, Jean-Philippe often talks people into just one. “I hear it daily—if I buy another pillow my husband’s going to kill me,” he laughs, admitting it’s easy to overdo it. “Sometimes it’s like, where’s there to sit?” 1307 State St., Santa Barbara, 310-908-5011, indianpinkshop.com
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Replanting
A master gardener seeks a new landscape
Aeonium ‘Sunburst’ succulents bloom in the garden at Eric Nagelmann’s longtime residence in Carpinteria.
A master gardener seeks a new landscape
Written by Joan Tapper | Photography by Nell Campbell
“I love variegated plants— they really pop in a garden, especially in the shade”
A year ago, noted landscape designer Eric Nagelmann decided he needed a change. “I didn’t want to become complacent,” says the Santa Barbara native. “It was time to focus on what else was out there.” He packed up his house in Carpinteria, sold the place within two weeks, and relocated permanently to Taos, New Mexico. The move meant leaving behind his incredibly extensive—and eclectic—garden.
But Nagelmann hasn’t disappeared from Santa Barbara completely. He is still very involved with Lotusland, for which he designed the cactus garden that was added in 2003. This year is the 30th anniversary of the Ganna Walska Lotusland Foundation, and he’s working with them to raise $30 million for upkeep and some additions. He plans to remove some eucalyptus “and create a raised boardwalk with seating and incorporate a lot of tropical flowering plants”—heliconia, vireya, and hibiscus, among others.
He’s also working with Lotusland on a sustainability symposium series to be held in a renovated lemon packing warehouse in Santa Paula, on April 15 and September 9 this year, and two more dates in 2024. “I’d been in Mexico looking at a lab that was doing research in organics, and I was exhilarated and inspired,” says Nagelmann, who especially hopes to reach high school and college students.
Given all his work in the area, Nagelmann’s legacy will be visible in the Santa Barbara landscape for years. One recently completed project was the newly constructed, futuristic home of Lynda Weinman and Bruce Heavin. On the horizon are plans for a documentary about Nagelmann, his work, and his philosophy. For now, though, he’s concentrating on enjoying his new home. “In Taos I have an incredible property, 8 acres right on the gorge. I love the summer hiking. And there’s a different palette—different and wonderful.”
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In the Palm of His Hand
Steve Hermann’s Desert Hideaways
Steve Hermann’s Desert Hideaways
Hermann Bungalows
The zero-edge pool at Hermann Bungalows boasts serene mountain views.
A visit to the desert is all about escape—relief from the mundane. Tucked away in a hidden corner of L’Horizon Resort and Spa’s manicured grounds, HERMANN BUNGALOWS offer the kind of decadence that eclipses ordinary life. Proprietor and Montecito resident Steve Hermann has continued his vision for indoor/outdoor living in this new venture. A pathway leads to his hotel’s incredibly private, completely enclosed mini resort. Inside the property, an 85-foot, zero-edge wading pool lined with deep blue tiles lends a tropical aura to the whole area. Situated in the shadow of the San Jacinto Mountains, the enclave has been landscaped with romantic olive trees and equipped with crisp white lounge chairs, along with a private bar available only to guests. The 24 bungalows arranged around the glistening water feature comprise studio suites, junior suites, and a presidential suite that includes a living area, bedroom, and private hot tub on a large enclosed patio. Custom dark wood and magnificent tile round out each bungalow’s luxe desert feel, while Venetian terrazzo floors, gold fixtures, and even TOTO smart toilets add to the sense of opulence in every room. Each bungalow is slightly different from the others, but they all include private outdoor spaces and plush furniture. A select few boast soaking tubs and outdoor showers. An ideal desert oasis, Hermann Bungalows ups the ante for L’Horizon’s guests, doubling down on its already celebrated hospitality. From $1,000/night. 1050 E. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, 760-323-1858, hermannbungalows.com.
“I wanted to design a luxurious, modern hotel that felt like a fine curated home”
L’Horizon Palm Springs
Montecito-based designer Steve Hermann and his wife, Talina (known for her namesake women’s wear line), recently refurbished the midcentury bungalow resort hotel L’Horizon Palm Springs. An adults-only, architectural buff's retreat, the luxury property features 25 private guest suites, a spa, and a lobby boutique Le Shop that exclusively sells Talina’s latest resort wear line among other fashionable items.
Originally designed in 1952, L'Horizon Palm Springs evokes a bygone era
When you're done lounging at the pool cabanas, it's a short walk to SO•PA restaurant, the alfresco dining grotto on the property, where global flavors influence dishes such as poached Hudson Valley foie gras or roasted Spanish octopus with crushed potatoes, parsley pesto, and roasted baby tomatoes. "I am very excited about adding our signature restaurant SO•PA to L’Horizon Resort and Spa," says Steve. "We have created a world-class hotel, and we needed a world-class restaurant to accompany it." Helmed by Michelin-starred chef Giacomo Pettinari, who honed his craft at the legendary elBulli, the dramatic and intimate space is finished with firepits, Lindsey Adelman chandeliers, and a family-style 26-foot live-edge walnut communal table. "I designed the interior courtyard to be intimate and romantic, with a little bit of an edge," says Steve. "The mix of soft lighting from the chandeliers and the firelight provide a special experience that transports you. This in conjunction with Pettinari’s unparalleled cuisine has created a dining experience that is unparalleled." Rates: From $485. 1050 E. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, 760-323-1858. lhorizonpalmsprings.com
Colony Palms Hotel and Bungalows
Views of the 65-foot saltwater pool at The Colony Club.
The desert beckons as autumn in Palm Springs promises warm days and cooler nights. Special events highlight the signature style and sports of the area, including Modernism Week’s Fall Preview (October 14-17) and the BNP Paribas Open (October 4-17). Of course, you can always simply laze at the pool.
Retro-inspired details abound throughout the 3-acre property.
Hotelier, design guru, and Montecito resident Steve Hermann has completely renovated the venerable Colony Palms Hotel and Bungalows into a stylish 57-room getaway with bold patterns and a fresh new look. Built by Purple Gang member Al Wertheimer in the 1930s, the hotel was a longtime favorite of L.A. celebs. Today it’s a luxe adults-only oasis with lush gardens, an inviting spa, and the sleek Colony Club restaurant. Says Hermann, “We looked to old Hollywood as well as the French and Italian Riviera of the 1930s and ’40s for inspiration.”
Photography by So•Pa, Dre Naylor, Jim Bartsch, Oliver Barth/La Food Photography
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Get Away with Nick Fouquet
The sought-after designer crafts hats at Las Ventanas al Paraíso
The sought-after designer crafts hats at Las Ventanas al Paraíso
Written by Elizabeth Varnell
This March, designer Nick Fouquet is adding his own style-driven twist to a revitalizing sojourn at Las Ventanas al Paraíso, a Rosewood Resort along the desert coastline of Los Cabos in the Baja Peninsula’s southernmost region. From March 23 to 26, the Topanga-based hatmaker is hosting a pop-up shop at the resort where Mediterranean-Mexican architecture blends with desert landscapes dotted with succulents and winding infinity pools, crafting bespoke toppers alongside local Wixarika artisan Don Victor Florentino.
Fouquet is creating an exclusive hat style made of toquilla straw, a sustainably harvested, renewable resource created from the Ecuadorean plant’s large palm-like fronds woven into a braided texture. The straw, shaped into lightweight sun blockers, can be customized on site by the designer himself and embellished with Florentino’s intricate Huichol beading.
“We worked on several iterations of beaded hat bands backed with leather,” says Fouquet. “I think it’s important to bring the craftsmanship of the area to the work we’re doing.” The original bead patterns are a nod to Florentino’s heritage and craft, and Fouquet says the colors “evoke the ocean and land” on the property where 83 suites—all with personalized and complimentary butler and concierge services—and serpentine swimming pools meet the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. Drawing inspiration from the resort’s architecture and plants, including the bright red and pink hues of bougainvillea, Fouquet set about formulating chic Las Ventanas–centric designs.
The hats themselves are resort essentials, ideal for afternoons spent on the sun-drenched balconies of on-property villas with private pools, the terraces of penthouse or spa suites, or a stroll to the spa for a range of holistic therapies and treatments inspired by Baja’s indigenous healers’ rituals incorporating plants, water, crystals, sage smoke, and stones. Similarly, Fouquet’s creations shade guests walking to meals at Las Ventanas’ restaurants and bars stocked with tequila flights and culinary menus designed around the region’s fresh seafood, including Eastern-influenced Arbol, Oaxacan-tinged Alebrije, shellfish-rich Sea Grill, the sushi-fusion offerings at the property’s Tequila and Ceviche Bar, favored vintages at La Cava wine bar, or a host of innovative cocktails and mocktails at the Prohibition-inspired speakeasy bar, La Botica, where singer Rosalía de Cuba is the artist in residence. And the toppers are sure to be a favorite among those who book the resort’s Tequila Sign class and hone a personalized tequila profile by blind tasting the blancos, reposados, anejos, and mezcals on offer. With one’s hat tipped just so, afternoon siestas don’t even require a change of location. +52-624-144-2800, rosewoodhotels.com/en/las-ventanas-los-cabos
Chic & Proper
Impeccable details and eclectic inspiration for your travels
Potted cactus and palms flank the historic Renaissance Revival building in Los Angeles.
Impeccable details and eclectic inspiration for your travels
Kelly Wearstler’s turn as the design partner for PROPER HOTELS has been one of the most fascinating hostelry stories of the past decade. Beginning with a landmark San Francisco property in 2017, the brand grew to include outposts in Santa Monica and Austin in 2019, before rounding out its portfolio with a downtown Los Angeles location in 2021. The disparate venues showcase the range of Wearstler’s work, from the restoration of a historic 1920s building in L.A. to a sculptural new build from Handel Architects in Texas.
For Curlett & Beelman’s California Renaissance Revival landmark, Wearstler has drawn on Spanish, French, and Moroccan influences, along with Mexican modernism, deploying more than 100 types of tile throughout the building, along with vintage rugs and furniture and handmade ceramics and murals. The result is an eclectic gem of a hotel with a residential feel and an outsize spirit. Where else would you find a suite with its own private swimming pool?
In Austin, the contrast between the concrete, glass, and metal exterior of the property and the vivid, textured interior points up the paradoxes that best represent this great state. Travertine tile mined directly from local quarries and a patchwork of vintage rugs and the work of Texan craftspeople mark this hotel as a love letter to the landscape and artistic heart of the surrounding city. properhotels.com
Brian De Lowe’s Austin Food Scene
Besides Austin Proper’s stellar Mediterranean restaurant THE PEACOCK and the alfresco LA PISCINA, the cofounder and president of Proper Hotels gives us his best bets for lunch and dinner in this Texas town.
SAMMIE’S (sammiesitalian
.com) New old-school Italian spot. Chicken parm!
SUERTE (suerteatx.com) Handmade tortillas, suadero tacos, and amazing aguachiles.
LAUNDERETTE (launderetteaustin.com)
East Side American fusion. Great place for dinner.
JUSTINE’S (justines1937.com) East Side French. Make sure to sit outside in the garden for dinner.
CLARK’S (clarksaustin.com) Perfect neighborhood spot that I could eat at three times a week.
JEFFREY’S (jeffreysofaustin.com) Fine dining. Great vibe, especially in the bar. Try the burger.
LORO (loroeats.com) Asian-BBQ fusion (a concept from Aaron Franklin of Franklin BBQ and Tyson Cole of Uchi).
POOL BURGER (poolburger.com) Super-casual tiki vibe.
HOWARD’S (howardsaustin.com) + ROSIE’S (rosiesaustin.com) Newly opened. Fun dance party at Howard’s and wine bar at Rosie’s.
London Calling
Claridge’s and The Lanesborough reign supreme
The historic Roman stone facade of Claridge’s hotel in London.
More than 150 years later, Claridge’s still reigns supreme
Written by Caitlin White | Photography by Justin Desouza, Claridge's, David Cotsworth
Tucked between Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace, Mayfair has long cultivated a reputation as one of London’s poshest neighborhoods—and iconic CLARIDGE’S hotel sits right in the heart of it. Opened in 1856, Claridge’s has been serving up luxury for a century and a half and is particularly known for its traditional afternoon tea, recently named by Vogue as one of the city’s best. Heralded for its signature pastel-striped china, smoked-salmon sandwiches, and scones with clotted cream and jam, Claridge’s Foyer & Reading Room is the place to go if you’re feeling peckish in the afternoon, perhaps after a day spent wandering nearby cobblestone streets.
The property’s new bar, dubbed The Painter’s Room, was designed by Bryan O’Sullivan.
This historic hostelry is also the place to stay if you’re looking for contemporary luxury and a bit of glamour, because the property is ushering in a series of updates that grounds it firmly in the 21st century. Recently opened is the Art Deco-inspired cocktail bar called The Painter’s Room, which serves all manner of elegant libations. Other on-site experiences include L’Epicerie, a chef’s table for private parties and special bookings, and Claridge’s ArtSpace, a subterranean, museum-quality gallery.
As part of the Maybourne Hotel Group, which includes luxe properties on the French Riviera and in Beverly Hills, Claridge’s rooms and suites preserve classic architecture and style without sacrificing modern amenities. Expect grand pianos, chandeliers, hand-painted walls, and antique furniture, along with personal butler service, up-to-date technology, and a sense of effortless chic. Rooms from $895/night. claridges.co.uk
Regency Style, Contemporary Comfort
White-gloved doormen await guests at The Lanesborough hotel in London.
The Lanesborough occupies a sought-after corner of London, but it’s the interiors that are notable, transforming this opulent Regency-style property into a modern palace. The firm of celebrated Parisian photographer and interior designer Alberto Pinto is responsible for the hotel’s two-year renovation, which painstakingly restored the original 1820s architecture with extravagant details like 23¼-carat gold-leaf gilding on the ceilings, custom embroidery, and other artistry, thanks to specialists who matched their crafts to the Regency period.
Throughout its 93 rooms—including several multiroom suites—The Lanesborough is a testament to London’s past brought into the 21st century with a joie de vivre that embraces the future. And let’s not forget the lavish amenities, such as 24-hour personal butler service, a fleet of chauffeured cars, and complementary clothes pressing. The 18,000-square-foot spa and club, installed in 2017, has become a destination unto itself, although a table at the newly launched Lanesborough Grill or afternoon tea in the dining room are equally alluring. Rooms from $1,006. Hyde Park Corner, London, oetkercollection.com/hotels/the-lanesborough
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And…Action!
Boasting major star power for its 38th annual iteration, the 2023 Santa Barbara International Film Festival will honor The Witcher: Blood Origin’s Michelle Yeoh with The Kirk Douglas Award at the black-tie fundraiser on December 9 at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara—the award’s first bestowal since Douglas’s passing.
Boasting major star power for its 38th annual iteration, the 2023 Santa Barbara International Film Festival will honor The Witcher: Blood Origin’s Michelle Yeoh with The Kirk Douglas Award at the black-tie fundraiser on December 9 at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara—the award’s first bestowal since Douglas’s passing. Also being honored by the SBIFF are Cate Blanchett (the Outstanding Performer of the Year Award on February 10); Jamie Lee Curtis (the Maltin Modern Master Award on February 11); and Brendan Fraser (the American Riviera Award on February 14), among other talents. The 11-day festival will take place February 8 – 18. To purchase tickets, donate, or learn more, visit sbiff.org.
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Viva la Modernism
Upon entering the lobby of the VICEROY LOS CABOS, the view is so striking that some visitors may question if they’re still in Cabo.
The serene courtyard at Viceroy Los Cabos.
An architectural marvel in Baja California Sur
Written by Caitlin White | Photographs by Christian Horan Photography
Upon entering the lobby of the VICEROY LOS CABOS, the view is so striking that some visitors may question if they’re still in Cabo. They are—that is, not in Cabo San Lucas, land of all-inclusive resorts and year-round spring breakers, but in San José del Cabo, a quieter, refined historic enclave slightly north of San Lucas.
Initially constructed as a boutique hotel in 2016 by celebrated Mexican architect Miguel Angel Aragonés, the former Mar Adentro was later acquired by Viceroy and renovated by Mexican design firm Arquitectura de Interiores. Reopened in 2018, Aragonés’ stunning balance of light and water stayed intact, with shallow pools scattered among the stark modernist towers. To offset the angular buildings, woven nestlike orbs set apart two restaurants, Nido, where ceviche and robatayaki reign supreme, and Nidito, the oceanfront bar that borders two of five pools on the property.
A suite with ocean views and an open-air soaking tub.
Those two restaurants are only the beginning of the culinary experiences available at the hotel: The Cielomar rooftop grill utilizes brick-oven and wood-fired cooking to showcase the exemplary seafood of the region. And the newest dining experience here is Dalia, an outdoor garden where colorful cocktails garnished with fresh flowers and flavorful Mediterranean cuisine are available in equal measure.
The property’s Nidito bar.
To relax after the incredible meals, guests can retreat to their expansive suites, where extravagant amenities like double showerheads and standalone tubs give way to ocean-view balconies. By and large, the Viceroy Los Cabos redefines Mexican luxury on both an architectural and a culinary level. From $550/night. viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/los-cabos