Town & Country articles from April 2003

Town & Country archives from April 2003

For the love of Italy.
April 1, 2003... What is the world's most irresistible country? If you took a poll, I bet the answer would be, hands down, Italy. No other European destination is as lovable or consistently as much fun. It's not that Italy is a barrel of laughs--anyone who has...

Street of dreams. (This Month's Mailbox).
April 1, 2003... My girlfriend and I were en route to London one weekend, and the flight from L.A. allowed us to go through Town & Country cover to cover and read up on Elizabeth Street ["On the Town," December 2002], which neither of us had been to despite...

On Anguilla. (This Month's Mailbox).(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2003... After reading the article about Anguilla ["My Anguilla," by Janet Carlson Freed, December 2002], my boyfriend and I traveled there for Christmas vacation. It was everything the article described it to be. In fact, we are planning to return this...

What else endures. (This Month's Mailbox).(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2003... Pamela Fiori's essay on "Staying Power" ["Editor's Letter," January 2003] invited readers to share their thoughts, and here are mine: love of one's mother is my interpretation of staying power. I know. My mother died last year after showering...

All wet. (This Month's Mailbox).(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2003... I was disappointed that Singin' in the Rain didn't make the list of the top ten movies in "Connoisseur's World" [January 2003]. Not only is it probably the greatest musical ever made, but it was also a breakthrough in men's fashion. For the...

Cheers for Capri. (This Month's Mailbox).(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2003... Thank you for recognizing Capri in your "All the Best" issue ["Italy's Pleasure Island: Capri," January 2003]. As one who is smitten by the siren song of this incredible island year after year, I wanted to offer advice to those contemplating a...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
April 1, 2003... Correction: January 2003's "Traveler's Notebook" cited an incorrect room rate for the winter season at Badrutt's Palace in St. Mori'z, Switzerland. Double rooms (called standard twins) begin at about $563 during the winter high season. In late...

NY in B&W. (Parties).(Black White & Whitney; Whitney Museum of American Art gala)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... A NIGHT OF CONTRASTS Black White & Whitney was the title of the annual gala for New York's Whitney Museum of American Art. Master chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten presented dinner, and pop singer Lamya performed at the after party. ...

Antiquers in Paris. (Parties).(Biennale des Antiquaires)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... THE FETE A two-night opening celebration of the Biennale des Antiquaires--the must-see showcase of antiques from top international dealers--held at the Carrousel du Louvre. CONNOISSEURS Hostess Bernadette Chirac, Helene and...

Peter's prize. (On The Town).(St. Petersburg, Russia)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The youthful vigor of Russia's ST. PETERSBURG is on proud display during the city's yearlong tricentennial festivities, which kick into high gear next month and culminate in a palace ball hosted by President Vladimir Putin. Founded in May...

Bright books, big cities. (On The Town).(Brief Article)(Bibliography)
April 1, 2003... The following new books trace a distinct and enjoyable path through some of the world's most beloved cities. * Coauthored by Marcus Binney, the London Times's architectural correspondent, LONDON SKETCHBOOK: A CITY OBSERVED (St. Martin's; $30)...

Wilkes power. (On The Town).(Wilkes Home)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Wilkes Bashford's reincarnated home store, WILKES HOME, located on the lower level of his San Francisco clothing emporium, now reflects the impeccable taste and artful merchandising of the floors above. Super-supple leather-and-rosewood desk...

Compassionate beauty.(Audrey Hepburn)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Reminder: On April 21 in New York City, Sotheby's will hold a highly anticipated auction of a select number of Audrey Hepburn's personal belongings. Proceeds will go to All Children in School, an international educational initiative launched by...

New in Paris. (On The Town).
April 1, 2003... April in Paris always springs surprises. Peripatetic chef Alain Ducasse (with Thierry de la Brosse, of L'Ami Louis) has revitalized AUX LYONNAIS (right), one of the city's most authentic bistros. From its gleaming red facade to its white-tiled...

Zagat goes to the movies. (On The Town).(Zagat Survey Movie Guide)(Book Review)
April 1, 2003... For the people, by the people appears to be the mantra behind the Zagat Survey's crowd-pleasing handbooks on dining, shopping, nightlife, golf courses, hotels and now movies. Says Tim Zagat, CEO of the eponymous company, "We think that the...

Master muralist. (In The Country).(Clifton Jaeger)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Clifton Jaeger may work in a white, sunlit studio in a quaint New England town, but his creations are strictly Old World. Using traditional methods and materials, Jaeger produces a new decorative hybrid: painted canvas murals based on medieval...

Summerland's season. (In The Country).(Summerland, California)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Once a sleepy little beach town, Summerland, just south of Santa Barbara, has become one of California's liveliest antiques meccas. Patrick Aumont (son of actors Jean-Pierre Aumont and Marisa Pavan) and his partner, Carolina Avila-Pierpont (who...

Grass roots. (in the garden).(grasses, shrubs )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Like most of my gardening friends, I am beginning to weary of the relentless demands of perennial borders. That's why this year I'm taking preemptive action: I plan to put many more grasses and shrubs into my borders. Flowering shrubs such as...

Tales from Tuscany. (In The Country).(Rosemary and Bitter Oranges: Growing up in a Tuscan Kitchen)(Book Review)
April 1, 2003... Yet another recipe-infused memoir/travelogue? Yes, and Patrizia Chen's ROSEMARY AND BITTER ORANGES: GROWING UP IN A TUSCAN KITCHEN (Scribner; $24) demonstrates why the literary form remains so popular. Chen's recounting of her 1950s Livorno...

Playing house. (In The Country).(The Manor House)(Television Program Review)
April 1, 2003... Just when you thought the possibilities for reality television had been exhausted, PBS raises the stakes with a dose of class conflict. Imagine MTV's Real World crossed with Upstairs, Downstairs, and you just might be able to envision THE MANOR...

Tavern amid the greens. (In The Country).(Finch Tavern)(Restaurant Review)
April 1, 2003... When FINCH TAVERN opened last summer in Croton Falls, New York, it got a lot of press for a restaurant more than an hour's drive north of Manhattan. But that's because one of the partners in the venture is Stanley Tucci, a local boy who was...

Stubbs & Wootton. (All We Want for April is ...).
April 1, 2003... Classic comfort meets contemporary flair in STUBBS & WOOTTON'S new kitten-heeled mules ($275), made with sumptuous silk brocade from Scalamandre. At select Stubbs & Wootton stores, 877-4-STUBBS.

Francesca Visconti Di Modrone. (All We Want for April is ...).
April 1, 2003... Jewelry designer FRANCESCA VISCONTI DI MODRONE now makes a jewel of a handbag: a travel-ready, vibrant suede tote with leather handles and a gold-hued charm shaped like her family crest. Small (above, $365) or large ($425) at Bergdorf Goodman,...

Agnona. (All We Want for April is ...).
April 1, 2003... a colorful cashmere wrap from AGNONA, to warm up--and dress up--those chilly spring evenings. Leaf-print ($756) and solid ($379) stoles at Bergdorf Goodman, NYC, 800-558-1855; Wilkes Bashford, SF, 415-986-4380.

Salvatore Ferragamo. (All We Want for April is ...).
April 1, 2003... The venerable fashion house of SALVATORE FERRAGAMO shows off a spring collection with a hip, modern touch. Its signature look: the cropped jacket. White cotton jacket ($610) and rust cotton pants ($430) at select Salvatore Ferragamo stores,...

Baby CZ. (All We Want for April is ...).
April 1, 2003... Inspired by the birth of her daughter, New York-based entrepreneur Carolina Zapf has created BABY CZ, a luxurious line of cashmere clothing for tony tots. Sweaters ($105 to $150), hats ($55) and hand-crocheted booties ($55) at Yoya, NYC,...

Prada and IWC. (All We Want for April is ...).
April 1, 2003... Teaming up for the America's Cup 2003, PRADA and IWC have launched a limited-edition steel sports watch ($4,300) that will keep on ticking--even under 400 feet of water. At Tourneau nationwide; or call 800-432-9330.

Luscious leather. (Fashion & Style).(Bottega Veneta)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Bottega Veneta has been meticulously handcrafting plush leather bags in Italy since 1966, With the 2001 arrival of creative director Tomas Maier, a former designer at Hermes, the luxury brand has updated and expanded its line to include...

Grab bag. (Fashion & Style).
April 1, 2003... The classic clutch makes a comeback for both day and evening. LAMBERTSON TRUEX camel crocodile clutch ($2,275). TOD'S silver satin Envelope Zip clutch with crystals ($1,300). MARNI striped linen/silk and leather clutch ($690). RICKARD SHAH...

Spring showers. (Fashion & Style).
April 1, 2003... Gear up for rainy weather with the latest--and coolest--men's outerwear. 1. Heads Up: Spiffy rain hats (from top) by BERETTA ($75), CRAMBES ($95), JAY KOS ($95) and HOLLAND & HOLLAND ($240). 2. Rain or Shine: PRADA'S blue nylon raincoat...

Classic Italian. (Jewelry).
April 1, 2003... Diamonds, pearls, gold and traditional craftsmanship--the result is a look that's never dated and always dazzling. CHANTECLER 85.96-carat aquamarine ring with diamonds and pave sapphires ($41,800). BULGARI 18k-gold and diamond necklace with...

Modern Italian. (Jewelry).
April 1, 2003... Bold and geometric, this jewelry sets a new design standard. ROBERTO COIN 18k-gold and diamond Chic & Shine lariat necklace ($1,900). LA NOUVELLE BAGUE 18k-white-gold wire necklace with turquoise enamel and diamond leaf pendant ($3,315)....

Florence's friends in deed: an extraordinary trip spotlights one group's efforts to conserve this glorious city's artistic treasures. (Connoisseur's World).
April 1, 2003... Wasn't it romantic? There I was in Florence with my wife, Joan, on our first long weekend away from the kids since who remembers when. It was a warm June night. Joan was in a diaphanous black dress, I was in my best suit, and we were at the...

Scenes from Italy. (Connoisseur's World).(Sargent and Italy)(Whistler and His Circle in Venice)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Since the days of the grand tour, artists have sought inspiration in Italy. Among Americans, the painter John Singer Sargent had an advantage: he spent part of his childhood there and received his first art lessons in Florence, his birthplace....

Italian sparkle. (Connoisseur's World).(Maurizio Zanella)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Maurizio Zanella may be the best Italian wine producer you've never heard of. Not only is his winery, Ca' del Bosco ("house in the woods"), located in the less-traveled northern region of Franciacorta (a thirty-minute drive from Milan), but...

Hail, Bartoli. (Connoissuer's World).(The Art of Cecilia Bartoli)(Sound Recording Review)
April 1, 2003... In Caesar-like fashion, Roman mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli came, sang and conquered--she has become Italy's most renowned opera star since Pavarotti and a worldwide recording wonder in her own right. Her sold-out performances at the Met, La...

Carter's Cannon. (Connoissuer's World).(Regina Carter's Paganini: After a Dream)(Sound Recording Review)
April 1, 2003... Regina Carter thrives on challenge. In the ranks of jazz violinists, she's a revolutionary, both because of her sex and because of her training in classical music. In 2001 she broke additional new ground when she was granted the privilege of...

Turin's tour de force. (Connoissuer's World).(Pinacoteca Agnelli)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Those who think Turin is merely a foggy industrial city with showy piazzas, grand cafes and soft, nutty chocolates are in for a surprise. Lately it has also become a magnet for aficionados of contemporary art, thanks to such recently opened...

A villa of your own: renting a house in Italy has never been easier, especially now that many come with the services of a five-star hotel. (Traveler's Notebook).
April 1, 2003... Once, only wildly extravagant art patrons rented villas in Italy. They would move to a castello in Tuscany for the summer, and every week a new crop of their glamorous friends would arrive, enjoy the views, long meals and serenity, and then go...

Your friend in Italy. (Traveler's Notebook).(Insider's Italy)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The next best thing to having a good friend in Italy who knows your tastes and will take the time to arrange an extraordinary trip for you is Insider's Italy, Marjorie Shaw's customized travel-planning service. An American born and reared in...

Italian bookshelf. (Traveler's Notebook).(Bibliography)
April 1, 2003... If you are traveling to Italy, planning a trip there or simply remembering it, there are many books that will enhance your experience. Nonfiction favorites include Goethe's Italian Journey, 1786-1788 ($13.95); Mark Twain's The Innocents Abroad,...

An art lover's inn. (About Tuscany).(Albergo Pietrasanta)(Hotel Review)
April 1, 2003... One of Tuscany's most charming boutique hotels recently opened in the historic resort town-cum-artists' colony of Pietrasanta. Located in the beautifully restored 17th-century Palazzo Barsanti Bonetti, the Albergo Pietrasanta contains nineteen...

Sleeping in Siena. (About Tuscany).(Grand Hotel Continental)(Hotel Review)
April 1, 2003... Until last year, visitors to Siena who wanted a luxury hotel had to stay a few miles away in the countryside. Now, thanks to the opening of the fifty-one-room Grand Hotel Continental, a 17th-century palazzo that has undergone a magnificent...

Cooks in a castle. (About Tuscany).(La Cucina del Castello)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Cooks of all abilities who love Italy and its regional specialties should consider Tuscany's La Cucina del Castello, or "the kitchen of the castle," which hosts weeklong cooking programs in the fortified hamlet of Castello di Tocchi, located on...

Che bella! (Beauty Mark).(Italian beauty products)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Italians know a little something about beauty. The country has expressed la bellezza in countless forms--from Sophia Loren and Gina Lollobrigida to the stunning masterpieces of Michelangelo, Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci to the heart-lifting...

Olive skin. (Beauty Mark).(olive oil beauty products)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Drizzled over a Caprese salad or sopped up with a thick slice of bread, olive oil can't be beat. But on your skin or in your hair? You bet. Olive oil, that staple of any heart-healthy kitchen, has been pressed into service in cosmetics....

Venetian inspiration. (Beauty Mark).(Sylvie and Olivia Chantecaille makeup, Adrienne Vittadini perfume)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The enchanting city of gondolas and canals may be slowly sinking, but that hasn't soured anyone's love affair with Venice, the city affectionately called La Serenissima. As an homage to "the queen of the Adriatic," Sylvie and Olivia...

The glycolic glow. (Beauty Mark).(skinklinic)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... "Glycolic acid changes the way your skin behaves," says Katherine Dwyer, the founder of skinklinic in Manhattan. "It's a fruit-acid solution that increases cell turnover and boosts collagen production, so your skin acts--and looks--more as it...

Skin-care genetics. (Beauty Mark).(Lab 21 DNA Face Cream)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Your skin is as unique as your DNA; shouldn't your skin cream be, too? Lab 21, a skin-care company, thinks so. Hence, its latest product, DNA Face Cream ($250). To provide a sample of your DNA, you sweep a Q-tip along the inside of your cheek,...

Scent to Tunisia. (Beauty Mark).(Hermes Un Jardin en Mediterranee)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... HERMES created its latest eau de toilette, Un Jardin en Mediterranee ($110), to transport you to a lush private garden on the coast of Tunisia. Perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena worked alongside the garden's owner to capture its fragrance in liquid...

Lip prescriptives. (Beauty Mark).(Prescriptives Custom Blend lipsticks)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Picking a shade of lipstick to complement your complexion can be tricky. Choose a red or pink that clashes, and the result can be especially unforgiving. Prescriptives, known for its customized foundations, spares you the guesswork with its...

Protection with color. (Beauty Mark).(Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick Sheer Tint)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... ELIZABETH ARDEN has just updated its legendary Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick SPF 15 ($13), launched in 1985. Not to worry: the new version, Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick Sheer Tint SPF 15 ($14), unleashes the same healing and...

The Big Five-O: an ex-forty-nine-year-old greets the milestone with reverence, a light heart and a healthy sense of self. (Health).
April 1, 2003... I just had a big, scary birthday: my fiftieth. In the days leading up to this pivotal event, I tried to prepare myself for the cold wash of terror I was sure would engulf me. I said things like "I'm going to be half a century old." And, "In dog...

Hide and chic. (Design).
April 1, 2003... Leather--bright or mellow--is looking fine on everything in sight this spring. Top to bottom: Baseball available with purchase of SPINNEYBECK leather, 800-482-7777. Flasks ($28 each) and coasters with case ($28) at DANIER LEATHER, 877-9DANIER...

Design trends.
April 1, 2003... 1. Each of Erin Adams's 12- by 12-inch Zen Weave glass tiles is like a luminous minimosaic ($94-$200 per square foot; custom colors available). At Ann Sacks, 800-278-8453.2. Barbara Barry's new, lightweight Oval Egg occasional tables are smooth...

Heir-raising lessons: teach your children the value of money. (Wealth).
April 1, 2003... "How much money does it take to ruin a child?" Eileen was asked this question several times during a multiyear study of family wealth she conducted for her doctoral dissertation in psychology. The answer is the subject of our book Silver Spoon...

Goodbye, old friend: breaking up may be hard to do, but breaking off a friendship may be toughest of all. (Social Graces).
April 1, 2003... I meet Ellen at the diner because something's bothering her, and she wants help thinking it through. She sits across the table from me, staring into a half-empty cup, her lips pursed and her brow furrowed, as if she's reading the tea leaves and...

An insider's Umbria: a longtime loyal resident reveals why this region has become the place to be in Italy.
April 1, 2003... Rolling hills blanketed with oaks and evergreens. Acres of golden wheat alternating with fields of brilliant sunflowers. Rivers meandering across fertile valleys. Great food, seasonal and locally produced, with equally superb wines to wash it...

Nature, Italian style: a castle garden in Emilia-Romagna reveals the passions of the Maramotti family, the quiet force behind the Maxmara fashion empire.
April 1, 2003... "Where is the moat?" children ask in awed succession when they first see the drawbridge at Castello di Albinea, the home of Achille and Ida Maramotti in the western foothills of the Po valley. Even a few adults uneasily eye the ground beneath...

Life in Venice: in renovating her family's hotel, Francesca Possati rediscovered Venice and its many treasures.
April 1, 2003... "The Venice of today is a vast museum where the little wicket that admits you is perpetually turning and creaking.... There is nothing left to discover or describe." Those words were written in the early 20th century by Henry James. Fifty...

The best restaurant in Italy? Chances are, you've never heard of Gallura, in Sardinia. Victor Hazan cooks up a tribute to a culinary destination that's not to be missed.(Restaurant Review)
April 1, 2003... What luck--you are taking your vacation in Sardinia and flying to Olbia, the island's northeastern port city. If you're like all the other vacationers landing there, you'll head north toward one of the many holiday villages on the coast. You...

There's no place like Rome: one of Italy's most stylish actresses shares her passion for Rome and some of her favorite places. .(Cover Story)
April 1, 2003... Actress FRANCESCA NERI has been called an Italian Michelle Pfeiffer and a Mediterranean sex symbol, but on most days she is not working on a film set; rather, she is living in Rome with her husband and four-year-old child. When she must leave...

By the sea: which of Italy's six best seaside resorts is the one for you?
April 1, 2003... Italy's famous boot-shaped coastline stretches almost five thousand miles and is augmented by scores of windswept Mediterranean islands. In my twenty years as a Rome-based journalist, I have visited most of Italy's coast, from its rugged, rocky...

Weddings.(Wedding photographs.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Alexis Apperson Hearst married Gary Lee Parker on July 6, 2002, in an afternoon ceremony at the Hearst family estate, Wyntoon Village, in McCloud, California. The bride, wearing a gown of duchesse satin by Ulla Maija, is the...

Horoscopes.(April, 2003.)(Column)
April 1, 2003... APRIL Aries March 21-April 20 April is an unusually dynamic time for you because Mars, the energizer of the zodiac, is at the top of your chart. In fact, you appear virtually unstoppable, and whatever you set your heart on is bound to...