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Welcome To
Luxury Experience July 2019 Features |
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Performances
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 Longtime fans of Devon Allman from his Royal Southern Brotherhood days to his solo career, we were especially looking forward to hearing him play with his new band, The Allman Betts Band formed with Duane Betts. On Sunday, July 7, 2019, we had the pleasure of hearing the new sound at the Wall Street Theater in Norwalk, Connecticut, for their Down to the River tour to promote their debut release which hit the streets on June 28, 2019. It was a "wow" of an evening of music. |
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Adventures
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 What excitement as the United States Polo Association® (USPA) and Greenwich Polo Club hosted the USPA Monty Waterbury 2019! Two beautiful summer Sundays in Greenwich, Connecticut watching action-packed, fast paced polo, drinking creative cocktails and eating lobster, what could be better than that? |
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Destinations
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 Springfield, Massachusetts, located in the western part of the state, was settled in 1636, incorporated as a city in 1852, is the third largest city in Massachusetts and the fourth largest in New England. It is an exciting "city of firsts" including the birthplace of basketball and was the home of Theodor Geisel aka "Dr. Seuss. "It is a city that has much to offer visitors with its diverse attractions and culture, and is conveniently located to Hartford, Lenox, Albany, Boston, Providence, Manchester, and New York City, making it a perfect day trip, weekend trip, or anytime getaway. |
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Hotels and Resorts
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 The MGM Springfield located in Springfield, Massachusetts is almost a destination unto itself with an upscale 252-room and suite hotel with top-of-the-line amenities, fine dining and casual restaurants, spa, fitness center, pool, salon, shops, entertainment, and even a casino, although there is also much to discover in the city of Springfield as well, making it a perfect fun getaway no matter the time of year or the weather. |
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Restaurants
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 We had an excellent dinner at The Chandler Steakhouse, an elegant fine dining restaurant at the MGM Springfield located in Springfield, Massachusetts, where the traditional décor and attentive professional service team created the perfect backdrop for the outstanding culinary experience created by Executive Chef Restaurant Kyle Beausoleil. Although the restaurant, which opened in August 2018, is a steakhouse, there are enough seafood items on the menu to appeal to both "surf" and "turf" appetites. |
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Spas
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 The Spa at the MGM Springfield located at the MGM Springfield in Springfield, Massachusetts is a dream of a spa with 7 state-of-the-art treatment rooms, including an ADA-designed treatment room and a Couples Massage treatment room, and a wide selection of services including a full-service salon, diverse massage treatments, skincare treatments, scrubs, wraps, waxing,and more. An attractive space designed to evoke a cool, coastal vibe and thoughtful amenities along with knowledgeable, professional specialists made our experience there memorable. |
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Adventures
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 We found our "inner child" at The Zoo in Forest Park & Education Center in Springfield, Massachusett. Celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2019, the Zoo and its special "residents" will charm and enrich your lives, they did ours! When the first resident we met was Mikey, a Poitou Donkey, who ran to greet us, we were instantly enchanted, and it just kept getting better and better. |
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Chefs Recipes
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 Executive Chef Kyle Beausoleil at The Chandler Steakhouse at the MGM Springfield in Springfield, Massachusetts knows steak, he also knows seafood! A true New Englander, Chef Kyle Beausoleil grew up in Eastern Connecticut and brings a love of seafood and steak to the fine dining restaurant and honed his career working at top steakhouses. Executive Chef Kyle Beausoleil graciously shares his recipe for Lobster Cake with Remoulade and Avocado Jalapeno Crème to tempt your palate into visiting The Chandler Steakhouse at the MGM Springfield . |
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Performances
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 The female-founded Greenwich International Film Festival 2019 held in Greenwich, Connecticut from May 29 - June 2, 2019 consisted of five-days of amazing non-stop activity of 58 films screenings, Q&A, panels, and parties! As the saying goes, "A good time was had by all." Luxury Experience is delighted to bring you some of the highlights of the parties. |
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Performances
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 The Greenwich International Film Festival (GIFF) has introduced us to amazing films each year, and for GIFF's 5th anniversary in 2019, the selection of films was astounding - 58 films with 38 of them having Q&A with cast, crew and subjects representing them presented from May 29 - June 2, 2019. There were only a few days, and so many great films, however we watched as many as we could. We are delighted to bring you a few of the many film highlights we saw. Watch your theaters' websites for the release of these exceptional films. |
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Performances
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 The dramatic play, Skeleton Crew by playwright Dominique Morisseau about workers in a Detroit, Michigan automobile manufacturing plant made a powerful and impactful statement at the Westport Country Playhouse in Westport, Connecticut. Directed by LA Williams and starring Leland Fowler, Perri Gaffney, Toni Martin, and Sean Nelson, brilliantly delivered a performance that will resonate soundly as more manufacturing plants in the United States close leaving employees wondering, "What do I do next?" Skeleton Crew runs until June 22, 2019 at the Westport Country Playhouse. |
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Luxury Products
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 I just read the most amazing book, How ALS Saved My Life until it didn't by Dr. Jenni Kleinman Berebitsky, Joyce Kleinman, and Elizabeth Flynn. I came to "know" Jenni when I saw the documentary short film Grateful - the Jenni Berebitsky Story, during the Greenwich International Film Festival 2019 (GIFF) held in Greenwich, Connecticut. Intrigued after speaking with her mother, Joyce Kleinman, Director Paul Nethercott, and Producer Amy Pauszek, I wanted to learn more about this incredible woman, and read Jenni's book. It was inspirational, at times humorous and sad, with lots of wonderful tips, tools, and techniques for people coping with ALS, and a great resource. |
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Liquor Cabinet
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 It was a memorable evening of international and domestic tastings, whisky tastings to be precise, during Whisky Live New York. Whisky aficionados gathered at The Altman Building in New York City on Wednesday, May 22, 2019, for Whisky Live "The world's premier tasting show" for their first USA show for 2019 for an evening of learning about and appreciating the fine nuances and differences of Bourbons, Ryes, Tennessee Whiskey, Scotch, international whiskies and so much more through tastings and Masterclasses! Cheers! |
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Performances
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 Lights, camera, action - the Greenwich International Film Festival 2019 is about to begin (May 29 - June 2, 2019)! Located in the affluent town of Greenwich, Connecticut, the Greenwich International Film Festival 2019 (GIFF) celebrates its 5th anniversary this year, and there is much to celebrate, so get your tickets soon! Founder and Chairman of the Board Wendy Stapleton , Founder and Director of Programming Colleen deVeer, along with Executive Director, COO Ginger Stickel have created an impressive line-up of 58 films that will make an impact on your life, along with a fabulous host of parties, panels, and more. Every year, the GIFF selects 2 changemaker honorees who are making an impact on the world. The 2019 changemakers are Greenwich Boys and Girls Club CEO Bobby Walker, Jr. and actor, producer, director Eva Longoria Baston. |
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Performances
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 Rodrigo y Gabriela, the internationally renowned instrumental acoustic guitar rock duo performed before a sold-out show at The Beacon Theatre in New York City, New York for a memorable evening of music. Hailing from Mexico City, Mexico, Rodrigo Sanchez's and Gabriela Quintero's music is a perfect blend of instrumental rock and flamenco nuevo. The dynamic duo had the audience on their feet for several standing ovations throughout their exceptional show. The Irish band Hudson Taylor opened for Rodrigo y Gabriela. |
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Destinations
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 We had a fantastic time discovering the Pantanal region and Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil where ecotourism and sustainability are the main focuses. Although we have spent many years traveling to, and writing about various parts of Brazil, this was our first trip to Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), and we instantly fell in love with it. Located in a region rich in history, there are prehistoric caves, waterfalls, pristine river springs, hiking trails, and an abundance of exotic animal life to discover; all of which we did! |
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Hotels and Resorts
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 We had a wonderful stay at Pousada Pequi a charming, family-owned 10-room inn located on a former fazenda (farm) in the Pantanal in Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Located 112 miles /180 km from Campo Grande, Aquiduanais known as the "southern gateway to the Pantanal tropical wetlands" and the inn offers a wide selection of adventures to experience including Horseback Riding, Photographic Animal Safaris, Alligator Tours, Bird Watching, Carriage Rides, Milking Cows, Ecological Walks, Piranha Fishing, River Tours, and much more! |
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Adventures
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 If you plan on doing any snorkeling while in Bonito, we highly recommend first visiting the Aquario de Bonito in Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil to learn about and become acquainted with the various freshwater fish that you might see while snorkeling in its many rivers, which will make for a more interesting adventure. The Aquario de Bonito opened in 2007, and it is the first aquarium in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. |
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Adventures
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 As our name "The Adventure Kids"® aka Debra C. Argen and Edward F. Nesta of Luxury Experience implies, we love challenging adventures! When we heard about rappelling the Abismo Anhumas located 23 km from Bonito, in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, we knew this was an adventure we had to experience. With the Tom Petty song, "Into the Great Wide Open" playing in our heads, we were ready to experience the ultimate adventure of rappelling 72 meters (236 feet, the equivalent of a 26-story building) to experience the incredible formations in this wet cave. Our adventure involved specialized training, trekking to the site, rappelling, snorkeling, and a boat ride around the inside of the cave to fully experience its majestic wonders. At the end of our experience, we wanted to do it all over again! |
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Adventures
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 The Pantanal in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil is an enormous tropical wetland region where the abundance and diversity of the wildlife there is amazing. The Adventure Kids® aka Debra C. Argen and Edward F. Nesta went on a photographic animal safari during our stay at Pousada Pequi to "discover" its incredible beauty and fell in love with the area and its flora and fauna. |
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Restaurants
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 Memorable is the best word to describe our dining experience at Restaurante Marruá in Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Set inside the upscale Marruá Hotel, the restaurant gets high marks for the quality of their kitchen and inspired cuisine from the talented Chef Sylvio Eduardo Trujillo. Attractive surroundings and attentive, professional service complement the inspired Contemporary and Regional cuisine from this gastronomic kitchen. |
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Restaurants
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 The family-owned Restaurante Casa do João located in Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil opened in 2007, and is located steps away from the Praça da Liberdade with its large fish sculpture and the Aquário de Bonito. The charming restaurant has a lovely fruit-tree laden garden, a shop filled with artisanal gifts, and a whimsical museum where true antiquities are mixed with "recent museum items" such as cassette tapes, 8-track tapes, and even old computer monitors. The food is delicious, and the ambience is welcoming. |
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Restaurants
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 For our first night in Bonito, in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil we had a lovely dinner at the family-owned attractive Juanita Restaurante. For Chef Juanita, the restaurant is a childhood dream come true. Arriving in Bonito in 2006, she opened her eponymous restaurant in 2014. Having an ancestry of French, Italian, and Paraguayan, she brings a rich culinary background to the table. |
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Restaurants
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 Tapera Restaurante is a charming restaurant located in the center of Bonito, in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Once a part of the state of Mato Grosso, Mato Gross do Sul became a state in 1979, and the restaurant is one of the oldest in the state. A large tree grows in the center of the inviting outdoor dining space of the restaurant adding charm and character, and firmly establishes itself as a restaurant to stay. Owned by restauranteur and poet Antonio Carlos Silveira Soares the restaurant is a welcome respite in a city of great cuisine. |
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Music Scene
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 Adam Holt: Kind of Blues is a 10-track Blues and Southern Rock album released on the Zenith Records label featuring 9 original songs written by the multi-talented singer, songwriter, guitarist Adam Holt, and a great tribute to Bob Dylan on the band's cover of Lay Lady Lay. Joining Adam Holt are bandmates Owen Finley, Greg Deluca, Donnie Sundal, Lee Yankie, Mark Welborn, and Pierre Robinson, with John Keuler layering in additional guitars. The release hits the streets on May 24, 2019, making it the perfect musical backdrop for the summer (or anytime) months. |
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Music Scene
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 The Phil Madeira: Crickets album is one of the best instrumental Jazz piano releases that I have come across in quite a while. Featuring the multi-talented award-winning musician, songwriter, and producer Phil Madeira on piano, Bahsaan Barberon saxophones, Aaron Smith on drums, Roland Barber on trombone and trumpet, James Hollihan on electric guitar, and Chris Donohue on upright bass, the Phil Madeira: Crickets album is one for Jazz collectors' collections. |
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