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Welcome To
Luxury Experience December 2018 Features |
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Performances
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 Mona Golabek delivers a poignant portrayal of her mother Lisa Jura's life in war-torn Europe during World War II in the heartfelt play, The Pianist of Willesden Lane at the Westport Country Playhouse in Westport, Connecticut. As a young Jewish girl growing up in Vienna, Austria, Lisa Jura dreams of becoming a concert pianist. To help keep her safe from invading troops and to possibly help her realize her dream, Lisa's parents send her on a Kindertransport rescue operation train that takes her on a life-changing journey from Vienna, Austria to London, England. Beautifully presented, Ms. Golabek's play is a heartfelt love letter to her mother who survived the war through the healing aspects of music. The Pianist of Willesden Lane is a triumph of the human spirit and Ms. Golabek delivers a truly magnificent performance! The Pianist of Willesden Lane runs until December 22, 2018 at the Westport Country Playhouse. |
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Destinations
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 The Holiday Train Show® at the New York Botanical Garden in Bronx, New York is a spectacular experience for all ages and is even bigger for the 2018-2019 season! The Enid A. Haupt Conservatory is gorgeous at any time of the year with its amazing collection of exotic plants, however when it transforms itself for The Holiday Train Show® held annually since 1992 from November until January, it takes on a magical quality. For the 2018-2019 show, Paul Busse and his team created a land of enchantment with more than 175 of iconic New York landmarks with model trains running throughout. The show runs until January 21, 2019. |
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Luxury Products
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 The Cocktail Companion: A Guide to Cocktail History, Culture, Trivia and Favorite Drinks by Cheryl Charming is the perfect gift for you or for your favorite cocktailian. Published by Mango Publishing, the book is part educational, part reference book, part fun and games, has great recipes,and is all around fabulously entertaining. |
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Luxury Products
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 Tis The Season New York by Betsy Pinnover Schiff, published by Schiffer Publishing, Ltd is an iconic book of photographic images celebrating the vibrant and colorful holiday season in New York City. This beautiful book is a love letter to New York City with its series of stunning photographs that together with short captions capture the New York festive spirit. Tis The Season New York by Betsy Pinnover Schiff makes a delightful book for your favorite New Yorker or as a gift to remember a special vacation in the "Big Apple." Happy Holidays! |
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Destinations
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 Kennebunkport, Maine founded in 1653, is a beautiful and quaint New England seashore resort town. Adding to its cache, it is the Summer home of two former United States Presidents, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, and their families. Stunning boutique hotels, wonderful restaurants, pristine beaches, galleries, boutique shopping, horse-drawn carriages, iconic trolleys and so much more, makeit a perfect Autumn (or any season) getaway. |
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Hotels and Resorts
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 We stayed at the Grand Hotel, part of the Kennebunkport Resort Collection, in Kennebunkport, Maine, a luxury boutique hotel located in the heart of this pretty New England seaside resort town where gracious hospitality and luxurious amenities and appointments await guests. Small in stature with just 17 rooms and 2 suites, their personalized service and attention to detail began at check-in with a glass of sparkling wine at this oh-so civilized and delightful hotel. |
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Adventures
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 All aboard! One of the most iconic sights in Kennebunkport, Maine is the beloved sightseeing trolley. In keeping with its time-honored tradition, we visited the Seashore Trolley Museum (New England Electric Railway Historical Society), which is the largest and oldest electric railway museum in the world. Experiencing the museum and riding a vintage electric trolley at the Seashore Trolley Museum was the perfect way to experience an electric trolley and learn about the history and how they played a substantialand very important role in changing the lives of many. The Seashore Trolley Museum opened in 1939 to preserve the past and celebrate the age of the trolleys. |
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Restaurants
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 Maine is famous for its lobster and The Boathouse, part of the Kennebunkport Resort Collection, in Kennebunkport, Maine has a menu teaming with tempting lobster and seafood dishes along with "land-based" dishes to appeal to a wide variety of palates. The Boathouse opened in May 2018 on the banks of the Kennebunkport River, and if the restaurant was any closer to the water you would need to wear a flotation device while dining in this chic restaurant where Executive Chef John Shaw is the talent in the kitchen. |
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Chefs Recipes
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 Executive Chef John Shaw of The Boathouse restaurant part of the Kennebunkport Resort Collection, in Kennebunkport, Maine takes time out from the kitchen to speak with Luxury Experience about the restaurant's culinary focus and graciously shares two of his tempting recipes for Lobster Spring Rolls with Citrus Dipping Sauce, and Tuna Poke Bowl until you can personally visit the restaurant and taste his creations. |
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Luxury Products
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 I love the look and the feel of well-crafted, luxurious leather products, and the American company, Slate Collection has a wide selection of products that make a big impact as a special gift for your favorite executive or as a well-deserved reward for yourself. They have a full line of accessories that are perfectly at home at your desk or traveling around the world, that make an impressive statement. |
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Luxury Products
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 Christmas by Design: Private Homes Decorated by Leading Designers written Patricia Hart McMillan and Katherine Kaye McMillan, published by Schiffer Publishing, Ltd is a stunning book to inspire the holiday spirit. If you are like me, the Christmas season brings out my inner decorator and I love to create different festive, warm and inviting looks each year to welcome guests. What I love about the book, Christmas by Design, is that it has gorgeous photos and wonderfully inspired ideas shown in private homes across America. Whether used as a "go-to" reference book for design ideas, as a holiday coffee table book, or as a special gift, this book is sure to be a year-after-year hit. |
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Luxury Products
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 Afternoon tea has always been a time-honored and cherished ritual in my family, so I loved reading, Tea & Taste, The Visual Language of Tea, by Tania M. Buckrell Pos, published by Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. The book is beautifully written and is a treasure of information into the history and etiquette of tea along with stunning photographs, gorgeous artwork, and even recipes to stimulate your appetite. The book makes a perfect gift for your favorite tea afficionado. |
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Music Scene
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 Getting into the Christmas spirit is easy with a little holiday cheer from Erin Harpe & The Delta Swingers: The Christmas Swing. The 10-track Blues album featuring Erin Harpe, Jim Countryman, Matt "Charles" Prozialeck, and Chris Anzalone with Special Guests: John Juxo and Richard Rosenblatt released on the VizzTone Label Group /Juicy Juju Records/Squirrelygirl Music is a mix of new and old-time favorites that are sure to get your holiday party started in style. |
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Performances
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 The Westport Country Playhouse in Westport, Connecticut presented the world premiere of the dramatic play, Thousand Pines written by Matthew Greene, directed by Austin Pendleton, with a tremendously talented cast of Katie Aillon, Anne Bates, Joby Earle, Kelly McAndrew, William Ragsdale, and Andrew Veenstra. This powerfully impactful tour-de-force play is one that will resonate long after audiences have left the Westport Country Playhouse. Thousand Pines runs until November 17, 2018 at the Westport Country Playhouse. |
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Fashion Scene
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 When it comes to briefcases, there is no need to sacrifice function for fashion. Designed in a country famous for its rain, Brooks England, established in England in 1866, knows how to create durable, well-made briefcases that deftly combine comfort, good looks, and weatherproofing to ensure your briefcase and your precious contents inside arrive at your destination looking great no matter the weather. Designed for cyclists, the New Street Briefcase part of the Brooks Discovery Range bags makes a statement whether riding your bike or traveling by car, motorcycle, train, airplane, or yacht to your destination. |
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Performances
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 Grammy-nominated Jazz vocalist Jane Montheit lit up the stage at The Ridgefield Playhouse in Ridgefield, Connecticut with her gorgeous vocals and engaging storytelling. Deftly pulling Jazz standards spanning from her illustrious 20-year career, Jane Monheit connected with her audience from the opening song until the resounding standing ovation. Brava! |
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Gastronomy
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 Our palates went on a Mexican holiday at the American Bounty Restaurant at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, during the Encountering the Flavors of Tamaulipas, Mexico gala as part of the State of Tamaulipas Mexico and The Culinary Institute of America Cultural Culinary Exchange. Celebrating the cuisine from the state of Tamaulipas, was Chef Hugo Urtaza Alvarez, Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico, Chef Ángel García, Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico, Brian Kaywork Chef-Instructor, American Bounty Restaurant, Charles Garibaldi, CHE, Maître d'hôtel Instructor, Michael Zebrowski, Pastry Chef-Instructor, and the American Bounty Restaurant Class of 2018-2019. |
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Music Scene
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 Southern Blues Rock singer, songwriter, master guitarist Alastair Greene takes time from touring with the band to speak with Luxury Experience about his new release, Alastair Greene - Live From The 805 recorded in his hometown of Santa Barbara, California, about on the road touring, and life in general. Life is looking good for the multi-talented Alastair Greene. |
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Music Scene
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 Listen up Alastair Greene fans! I just listened to the new Alastair Greene Live From The 805, a 2-Disc, 20-track album that is going to rock your Southern Blues Rock world; it did mine. Released on the Rip Cat Records label, Alastair Greene proves his mettle as a guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter, along and his band mates, Jim Rankin on bass and Austin Beede on drums. Recorded live in Santa Barbara, California in front of a sold-out show, the 94:30-minute release has great energy and drive.
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