The Weekender – Page 3 – High End Weekly™

The Weekender: Bruce Webber and the 2012 Summer Olympic Games

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

The long-awaited 2012 Summer Olympics is finally upon us! And we’re very excited about that and with all the buzz surrounding it. Obviously, we cannot wait for the opening ceremony which will take place this evening. So I couldn’t imagine not having the Olympics as a center story for Friday’s post. The latest series of photographs that Bruce Weber took for Vanity Fair in order to mark the occasion are simply magnificent. I love great photography and he’s certainly a top tier professional – just like the athletes pictured here. Thinking back, I wanted to do a short post on Brigitte Lacombe’s Stunning Portraits of Arab Lady Athletes called the “Hey’Ya: Arab Women in Sport”.

Photo via Vanity Fair

This brilliant series of photographs will be first shown at Sotheby’s in London, then moved to the Qatar Museums Authority Gallery in Doha in early 2013. Both stories are just great, but at the end, Weber’s flawless photography won me over.

“Try to have some fun, try to breathe and take it in but also WIN! – Michelle Obama to the American Team.”

Michelle Obama

Misty May and Kerri Walsh

Beach Volleyball

Chris Kappler

Equestrian Sports

Serina Williams

Tennis

Justin and Troy Dumais

Diving

Mary Sanders

Rhythmic Gymnastics

Dain Blanton

Beach Volleyball

Images via Vanity Fair

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The Weekender: The Most Beautiful Châteaux in Provence

Le Couvent des Minimes Hôtel & Spa

There are some places where you come only once in your life and you will never forget them. For me, Provence is that special spot. It is a place where time seems to have stood still and history can be felt everywhere you look: the Roman architecture, the smell and sound of the provincial markets, the extraordinary gastronomy, the energetic and down to earth locals, and of course, the omni presence of lavender fields all across its charming countryside. Some feelings are hard to describe, and sometimes, you just have to go and experience them. When it comes to Provence, I suggest you do just that.

Le Couvent des Minimes Hôtel & Spa

Oustau de Baumanière

Oustau de Baumanière: 13520 Les Baux-de-Provence. Tel. +33.490.54.3308. Located in the countryside. St. Remy-de-Provence. Affiliation: Relaix & Châteaux, Relais Gourmand. www.oustaudebaumaniere.com.

Château de Montcaud

Château de Montcaud: Hameau de Combe. Route d’Ales. Tel. +33.466.89.6060. Affiliation: Relais et Châteaux. www.chateau-de-montcaud.com.

Auberge de Cassagne

Auberge de Cassagne: 450 Allee de Cassagene. T. +33.490.31.0418. Affiliation: Romantik Hotel, Relaix du Silence, Châteaux et Hotels Independants. www.aubergedecassagne.com.

Château d’Arpaillargues

Château d’Arpaillargues: Rue du Château. 30700 Arpaillargues. T. +33 (0)4 66 22 14 48. Affiliation: Les Hotels Particuliers/Groupe Savry

ALSO HIGH ON OUR LIST

Villa Gallici: Avenue de la Violette, 13100 Aix-en-Provence. T. +33.442.23.2923. www.villagallici.com. (Relais et Châteaux)
Domaine de Chateauneuf: Départementale 560. 83860 Nans-les-Pins (Var). T. + 33 (0)4 94 78 90 06. www.relaischateaux.com/chateauneuf. (Relais et Châteaux)
La Bastide De Moustiers: La Bastide de Moustiers Chemin de Quinson

04360 • Moustiers-Sainte-Marie • France. (Alain Ducasse)

NOTE: Please notify us directly, if you believe that certain images on this post is alleged to infringe upon the copyrights of others, according to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Thank you.

The Weekender: A Girl’s Best Friend

Vacheron Constantin and the American Friends of the Louvre Host a Gala Dinner in Los Angeles

On May 17th, Vacheron Constantin, the oldest Swiss watchmaker in continuous activity, partnered with the American Friends of the Louvre to host an exclusive gala dinner at the private LA residence of Larry Gagosian, in recognition of the Louvre Museum’s Contemporary Art Programs.

Kalla Haute Couture À Pampilles and Lady Kalla Flame

Hugues de Pins, president of Vacheron Constantin North America, spearheaded the event, along with Christopher Forbes, Chairman of the American Friends of the Louvre and board members Becca Cason Thrash and Sabrina Kay.

Henri Loyrette, Sharon Stone, Hugues de Pins

Henri Loyrette, president and director of the Louvre Museum, was the honored special guest. Among the guests were Sharon Stone, Michael Mann and his wife Summer.

Andrew Rhoda, Deborah McCleod, Ben Bourgeois

Guests gathered around the scintillating outdoor pool for cocktails while freely moving through the home to view Mr. Gagosian’s private art collection. They then moved to the garden for a three-course, sit-down dinner. Fitting in perfectly with the surroundings, beautiful Vacheron Constantin timepieces were on display for the distinguished guests who were clearly drawn to the magnificent pieces from the brand’s Métier’s d’Art Collection, La Symbolique des Laques Maki-e Collection and the Kalla Haute Couture À Pampilles and Lady Kalla Flame.

It was a fantastic and elegant affair which raised approximately $200,000 in support of the mission of the American Friends of the Louvre, including its efforts to promote the Louvre Museum’s contemporary art programs.

Cocktail Atmosphere

Becca Cason Thrash

Christopher Kip Forbes

Eduardo Moises and Amber Arbucci

Hugues de Pins

Karen Pulaski, Eugenio Lopez, Sharon Stone

Karen Pulaski, Harry and Valerie Cooper

Sabrina Kay

L-R_Sabina Kay, Quinn Ezralow, Lina Kay, Mira Lee, Brian Ezralow, Brian Lee, Andrew Gross, Mimi Song

Photos courtesy Vacheron Constantin

The Weekender: Style and Grace

Geoffrey Bradfield Launched “A 21st Century Palace”

at The Waldorf Astoria

Interior designer, Geoffrey Bradfield celebrated the launch of his new book, A 21st Century Palace, at a hotel that is as iconic as the designer himself. It was an evening to remember. Geoffrey’s latest publication is about a Mexican palace, and it is the first in a series of books about some of the marvelous homes that he designed worldwide.

Pictured: Geoffrey Bradfield

Invited guests were welcomed to an opulent setting where he presided over a 18th century French court where models wore beautiful garbs, and some of the most intricate, and wondrous body paint by make up artists, The Parker Twins. Some of his distinguished guests included Michelle Gerber Klein, Sheikh Abdullah Rahman, Baroness Gabriella von Langendorff, to name a few.

Grace Meigher, Geoffrey Bradfield

Zev Eisenberg, Lara Bjork, Craig Dix, Harish Perkari

Chiu-Ti Jansen

Dominique

Michele Gerber Klein

Angela Chen

Kathleen Giordano, Joy Marks, Victor de Souza, Dr Penny Grant

Ratna Sari Dewi Sukarno

Atmosphere

Roric Tobin, and Geoffrey Bradfield

Miles Pimental, Brandon Collins, Eric Knoff, Steve Torrisi, Tommie Cross, Constantine Grosse, Chris Brooke, David Anderson, Daniel Allen, Alex Nagel, David Spence, Andrew Sullivan

Photos courtesy Patrick McMullan

A LIFETIME OF GRACE

…And with elegance, she carried it off! Iris Apfel and Dara Caponigro were together at Sotheby’s this week for an evening of Style and Design. The VERANDA Magazine Editor-in-Chief delved into what is style and how do you carry it off and make it work for you. No one was better suited to answer those questions than the veteran fashion icon Iris Apfel. Her work had and continues to have a major impact in fashion and interior design. Although we only had one hour with the grande dame herself, I felt as if we’ve spent the entire evening with her. There was so much to be said and much more to talk about, and I’m so pleased to have been part of the experience. One of the things that stood out was Iris explaining that it’s alright to grow old gracefully, be different, and create your individual flair without caring too much about what others think. Because at the end of the day, life must go on – with style.

Dara Caponigro and Iris Apfel

Iris Apfel and Veranda Editor in Chief, Dara Caponigro

Iris Apfel

Dara Caponigro, John Roselli, and Iris Apfel

Photo courtesy Annie Watt

The Weekender: Madison Avenue Watch Week 2012

Editor’s Top Picks

From the Malte Collection which is celebrating their 100th Anniversary Edition.

This jaw dropping, elegant timepiece is a mechanical hand-wound movement calibre 4400 developed and crafted by the veteran watch watchmaker, Vacheron Constantin.

Grasshopper Clock from Asprey

The Asprey Grasshopper clock is an English 8 day fusee timepiece with Grasshopper escapement and swinging bar balances. The clock retails for $18,400 and can be found at their Madison Avenue Location.

Asprey: 853 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10021

Happy Diamonds from Chopard

Many years ago, the talented Chopard designer became fascinated with the sparkle of unset diamonds. The incomparable radiance and color of these inimitable gems was such that an inspired dream was born: that of creating watches and jewels where diamonds could enjoy total freedom of movement, unfettered by any metal whatsoever. What a tribute!

Chopard is located at 709 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10065

The Privilege of Style and Beauty

From the Malte Collection which is celebrating their 100th Anniversary Edition.

This jaw dropping, elegant timepiece is a mechanical hand-wound movement calibre 4400 developed and crafted by the veteran watch watchmaker, Vacheron Constantin. The timepiece is approved in accordance with the new Hallmark of Geneva criteria Sandblasted silver-toned dial hours, minutes. It is a limited Edition of 100 pieces for the 100th Anniversary of the barrel shape by Vacheron Constantin.

VC: 729 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10065

The Weekender: Social Butterflies

LEGENDS OF LA CIENEGA

On Wednesday, May 9th, acclaimed interior furnishings company Rose Tarlow Melrose House hosted the VIP cocktail party that officially commenced the La Cienega Design Quarter’s 4th Annual LEGENDS of La Cienega.

The opening event historically draws notables across categories and offers the design community an opportunity to gatherin celebration of the Los Angeles design scene, of which the LaCienega Design Quarter is the heart. Last night’s event reflected the “Windows to the World” theme with globally inspired catering by Taste that referenced the featured countries of the windows.

Partygoers from the East and West Coasts

The evening was attended by some of the world’s most celebrated names in interior design, including Amy Kehoe, Campion Platt, David Hicks, David Phoenix, Joe Lucas, Kathryn Ireland, Madeline Stuart, Malcolm James Kutner, Muriel Brandolini, Oliver Furth, Mary McDonald, Jeff Andrews, Suzanne Rheinstein, Todd Nickey, Trip Haenisch and Waldo Fernandez, as well as Susan Feldman, Co-Founder, Chief Merchandising Officer of One Kings Lane, among others. The Legends of La Cienega Kick-Off event was hosted by Meg Touborg, CEO of Rose Tarlow Melrose House.

Photos courtesy D. Blodgett

JOHNNY SWING OPENING RECEPTION AT SEBASTIAN + BARQUET

Murmuration brings together five examples of Johnny Swing’s iconic coin furniture, and will serve as the debut of his most recent and ambitious work to date. His recent publication is a fully illustrated catalogue showcasing each of the works from the series, with essays by David Collens, Judd Tully and James Zemaitis, will accompany the exhibition. The opening reception was hosted by Interior Designer, Geoffrey Bradfield.

Geoffrey Bradfield

Michael Brummel, Corice Arman

Jim O’Donnell: Sitting on his Johnny Swing Chair

Photos courtesy High End Weekly™

SAKE TASTING at BERNARDAUD

Bernardaud welcomed 150 guests to its flagship boutique on Park Avenue for a unique Sake Tasting reception on Wednesday, May 9th. Four kuramotos ot house masters from four of the most venerable sake breweries in Japan – Urakasumi, Sudohonke, Masumi, and Masuizumi. The four masters offered samples of their products, the fruits of centuries-honored brewing techniques, that were accompanied by unexpected food pairings of French cuisine (such as duck breast and pate) during the cross-cultural gastronomic event. Guests savored the various sakes in a Bernardaud Anno cup that was designed by architect Sylvain Dubuisson. The Sudohonke brewery boasts a legacy of 55 generations of family ownership. Many of Japan’s breweries have been severely impacted by the 2011 tsunami and earthquake.

Katsuhiko Miyasaka, George Kakaty and Ryuichiro Masuda

Koichi Saura, George Kakaty and Genuemon Sudo

Photos courtesy Bernardaud

PARTICLES + WAVES at ILIAD

Cornelia Thomsen at the the opening reception of Particles + Waves, which is a curated group exhibition at Iliad Gallery located at East 57th Street. The exhibition presents a group of twelve artists whose work resonates with quantum theory, the perplexities of the subatomic world, and various interpretations of the “observer-dependent universe” through visual metaphors presenting the paradox of particle/wave duality as a modern day parable. Featuring provocative works by Cair Crawford, Karen Gunderson, Alice Hope, Ron Kingswood, Kari Lindstrom, Nefeli Massia, Norman Mooney, Svetlana Rabey, Taney Roniger, Rhonda Smith, Cornelia Thomsen and Andrea Zemel, the exhibition will include a rich variety of artistic media in a broad range of 2D and sculptural works.

VACHERON CONSTANTIN
Madison Avenue Watch Week

Vacheron Constantin kicked-off the Madison Avenue Watch Week with an exclusive cocktail reception on the evening of Monday, April 30th at two locations. Hugues de Pins, president of Vacheron Constantin North America, welcomed guests at the Vacheron Constantin Madison Avenue boutique as well as a distinguished private bank across the street from Vacheron. Guests previewed the exclusive 2012 collection of timepieces, including the Patrimony Traditionnelle 14-Day Tourbillon, the Métiers d’Art Les Univers Infinis, and the newly redesigned Malte collection, the highlight pieces from this year’s SIHH.

Hugues de Pins, President of Vacheron Constantin, and Aldo Sohm, world renowned Chef Sommelier at Le Bernardin
and 2008 winner of the “Best Sommelier of the World.”

Vacheron Constantin, The Value of Vintage Timepieces

Photos courtesy Monica Schipper Photography

SPRING SHOW NYC 2012Earlier this month, at the Park Avenue Armory, astute organizers of art and antique fairs pursued a dual mission by appealing to museum professionals, seasoned buyers, and welcomed neophytes. No art and antiques fair anywhere in the world fulfilled those two goals with more aplomb than the Spring Show NYC, which opened on May 3rd and ran through May 6th. There, in a hospitable, non-intimidating setting, fair goers of all backgrounds were comfortably united in awe and appreciation of the wide range of the fair’s offerings.

Serena Tufo, Mike Gallagher, Vyna St Phard, Rio Hamilton

Photo Courtesy Annie Watt

Magen H Gallery owner, Hugues Magen, and Benoist Drut, Partner, Maison Gerard Ltd

Photo Courtesy High End Weekly™

Nara Simmons, David Kristie, Andersen Gumbs

Paul Baker from Whistlepig

Photos Courtesy Annie Watt

The Weekender: Spring Show NYC

The Spring Show NYC opening party is on Wednesday, May 2, 2012 from 5:00-9:00PM. The show runs from May 3rd through the 6th. Once again, this year’s show highlights the very best in English, Continental and American furniture, paintings, drawings, sculpture, ceramics, glass and decorative arts; Asian works of art; folk art; 20th-century decorative arts; aesthetic movement and Arts & Crafts furniture; prints, photographs, maps, posters and wallpaper; antiquities and ancient objects; silver and metalwork; nautical art and objects; jewelry; garden ornaments; books, manuscripts and autographs;

Abby Taylor Brown, Looks Like Rain

Chinese export porcelain and decorative arts; Native American and tribal art; carpets and rugs; tapestries; textiles and needlework; and clocks.

This is the second anniversary year for the show which takes place at the prestigious Park Avenue Armory. Collectors and designers, and art enthusiasts can shop in confidence knowing that this is a vetted show – every item in every booth is examined by panels of experts for authenticity. The panels also ensure that comprehensive, accurate labeling is attached to every piece. Vetted shows are the standard for all quality art and antiques fairs.

Last year, I attended several VIP museum tours and visited several collectors homes. A good number of my designer friends got together for several “in-house” lectures that went on at the Park Avenue Armory. Next week, why don’t you join us for the following lectures:

Friday, May 4th

3 – 4 p.m.

Designs On Film: A Century Of Hollywood Art Direction

Cathy Whitlock’s lecture covers a century of cinematic set decoration, featuring highlights from every decade of Hollywood history. A slide presentation will show photographs, behind-the-scene images and designer sketches of sets from Top Hat, The Fountainhead, Gone With the Wind, The Age of Innocence, Something’s Gotta Give-and many more! Cathy Whitlock’s book Designs on Film: A Century of Hollywood Art Direction(Harper Collins, November, 2010) represents the marriage of her two passions-design and cinema. She is also a contributing writer for Traditional Home magazine and

*The Huffington Post, and features editor for Array Magazine. Cathy writes the blog Cinema Style, which chronicles trends and inspirations in film, reaches 70 countries, was named one of the Top Ten Best Design Blogs of 2010 by Fox News. A graduate of Parsons School of Design and a member of the American Society of Interior Designers, Cathy has more than 24 years of experience in the interior design industry and has had practices in New York, Chicago, Memphis and Nashville.

4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Adoption, Absorption, Assimilation: Foreign Influences In Early Chinese Art

Abby Taylor, Archipenko

Dr. Robert D. Mowry’s slide lecture examines China’s native artistic traditions as they developed during the Great Bronze Age (1600 B.C.- A.D. 220). Attendees will learn about the wealth of materials introduced from foreign lands via the Silk Route trade during the Han through the Tang dynasties and see how Chinese artists absorbed and assimilated these new influences.

*Dr. Robert D. Mowry is Alan J. Dworsky Curator of Chinese Art and Head of the Department of Asian Art at the Harvard Art Museum. He is also Senior Lecturer on Chinese and Korean Art in Harvard’s Department of the History of Art and Architecture.

Saturday, May 5th

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Legendary Designing Women: Inventing A Profession

Emily Eerdmans discusses the history of interior decorating and how it evolved into a billion-dollar profession thanks to the seminal efforts of astute women like Elsie de Wolfe, Dorothy Draper and Madeleine Castaing.

*Emily Evans Eerdmans is a noted design historian and expert with Corfield Morris, a private art advisory. She is the author of several books, including The World of Madeleine Castaing and the forthcoming catalogue raisonné of Wendell Castle. She received her master’s degree in fine and decorative arts from Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London and is an instructor at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.

3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Château De Fontainebleau: 500 Years Of Royal Taste In Architecture And Design

No French palace holds the living presence-the sweep of 500 years of French royal history-the way that Fontainebleau does. David Garrard Lowetraces its centuries-in-the-making transformation from a forested hunting ground for French kings into a magnificent royal palace in the 16th century. Tour Fontainebleau’s interiors, including Empress Eugenie’s astonishing Oriental Chamber with its rare Chinese porcelain, fine lacquer and jeweled Buddhas. Presented by French Heritage Society.

*David Garrard Lowe is a well-known cultural historian whose articles have appeared in The New York Times,The Wall Street Journal and American Heritage. He is Chairman of Cultural Programs, New York Chapter of French Heritage Society and President of the Beaux Arts Alliance; and has lectured at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum and the Smithsonian Institution, among others.

The Weekender: Place Des Vosges, Paris

Each day I’m getting more and more excited about my trip to Paris, and the pleasure I get in planning it. I can’t seem to stop talking about what I often like to call, “my spiritual home.” Paris is beautiful all year around, but in the fall it’s a bit more special for me. It’s a time of rebirth, sort to speak, when Parisians are returning back to the city after spending their summers in the country or elsewhere.

photo via Pictures for Walls

Place des Vosges

We all know how hard it is to find some of the shops opened during the summer holidays, so it’s a delight to see everyone back doing business when autumn comes. In a few months, the long awaited Biennale des Antiquares will open its doors at the Grand Palais on Friday, September 14 through the 23rd, and Maison Object is a week before.

Place Des Vosges, circa 1830

Place des Vosges

Fountain view of Place Des Vosges, photo via World Is Round

Place Des Vosges

Photo credit: Flickriver

Place Des Vosges, architectural details

Photo credit: Flickriver

One of the four arches of Place Des Vosges, photo via Simonbuc

Place des Vosges

Vyna St Phard, Place des Vosges, Paris, circa 2007

Photo courtesy: High End Weekly™

This is an ideal time to be in Paris to source out various fine and decorative arts for my clients. But flying across the pond also means that I’ll get to stay at Place des Vosges. There really isn’t any other square in the world like it. And that’s not a gross exaggeration.

This specific charming square is right in the heart of the Marais. Place des vosges is a large quadrangle surrounded by 39 houses built on a uniform plan with brick, stone, and stucco facades. Arcade ground floors and simple dormers. The trees that I’ve come to love over the years, were not planted in the central gardens until 1783. And as beautiful as they are, they did in my view damaged the overall symmetry of the square. Another interesting fact about Place des Vosges is that it acquired its present name in 1799, after the department of the Vosges was first to discharge its liabilities for the Revolutionary Wars. Who would of thought?

The Weekender: Shanghai: the Art Deco pearl of Asia

Please join me in welcoming our guest blogger, Richard Rabel. Richard is a New York-based interior designer and art advisor, with a keen eye for some of the most exquisite objets d’art and design. A multi-linguist with a ten-year career as a senior officer and specialist in a London-based international auction house, twenty years of art and design study and over thirty years of international travel, Richard has lived in seven countries and has had access to some of the most exquisite and exclusive spaces. From San Francisco to Mexico City, Sao Paulo to Geneva, Istanbul to Delhi and Sydney to Shanghai, the breadth of his travels has cultivated his eye and contributed to defining his exacting taste and modern aesthetic.

Shanghai in the 1920s and 1930s was a bustling international city with government officials and businessmen from England, France and Germany rubbing shoulders with Russian aristocrats exiled from St. Petersburg, American gangsters from Chicago, not to mention the glamorous remnants of China’s Imperial Court. So it is no surprise that with money flowing freely into this capitalist hub, fashion and styles from the West followed too.

The star of the city was (and still is) the Bund, a riverside promenade graced by hotels and offices of the foreign banks and businesses that made Shanghai the most important city in Asia in the first half of the 20th Century. But where did this melting pot of aristocrats, starlets, international business moguls and government officials converge? They did so at The Cathay Hotel, built in 1929 and one of the best examples of Art Deco architecture and decoration in the city.

Can you imagine the feeling as you came in from the crowded, grimy streets into the elegant octagonal lobby? This was the most luxurious hotel in the city and was known for the jazz band that played in the 9th floor restaurant. The interior was decorated with Italian marble and Lalique glass, while the furnishings were imported from France. This was the jazz age on speed!

Photos courtesy Fairmont Hotel Group

Today, after a half century of communist ownership as the Peace Hotel, the Canadian Fairmont Hotel group has restored the hotel to its previous glory and has once again, made this THE hotel to stay in Shanghai. History repeating itself!

Written by Richard Rabel from the Modern Sybarite™

The Weekender: Maimonide of Brooklyn’s Opening Celebration

Culture Chic!

And the party went on, and on, and on at Maimonide (also known as M.O.B.) during its grand opening on Wednesday night. And why not? I cannot think of a better combination than great food and music. And there was plenty of both going around all evening. Guests were treated to delicious vegetarian and vegan friendly cuisine that is affectionately known as avant-garde vegetarian food for carnivores.

Dishes included dried fruit saucissons, vegan chicken nuggets, and open-faced sandwiches that were topped with wholesome ingredients, which are called MOBs. Try the veggie burgers the next time you visit them, and let me know what you think. If this is the way vegetarians eat, I do not think I want to be a carnivore anymore. On second thoughts, I do enjoy a good steak at Sparks from time to time.

This restaurant is a wonderful addition to the ever vibrant and culture chic side of Brooklyn, and I loved its playful design which is an homage to 90s hip-hop culture, Brooklyn, and the healthy-living beliefs of the famous Jewish philosopher Maimonides. The walls have poetry by Brooklyn poets, and displays of paraphernalia bringing Brooklyn’s legends to life (Notorious B.I.G. and Spike Lee).

The tables are communal style and each vegetable and fruit used on the menu has a sign on the wall, tombstone style. The corn soup is made with popcorn, to remember the time when corn was grown in Boerum Hill. How nostalgic. The ideas behind the MOB sandwich and the inclusion of Maimonides is explained through the story of Barack, a former fast-food delivery man, who realizes the error of his ways and heads off to save the world, one healthy meal at a time.

M.O.B. is the brainchild of Cyril Aouizerate. His partner in the project is Alain Senderens, the Executive Chef is Neal Harden and Zorina Price is the General Manager. Aouizerate is also the founder of Urbantech and co-founder of Mama Shelter, both located in France. The extraordinary flair of M.O.B. is the fact that the owner has combined his love for urban planning, architecture and philosophy. He’s done it in such way, that it all seemed flawless. Partner Alain Senderens, the legendary French chef, earned 28 consecutive years of three Michelin stars at Lucas Carton before famously rebelling against France’s strict star ranking system and democratizing the restaurant; he contributed to the menu with Executive Chef Neal Harden, formerly of Pure Food & Wine. This concept is so great, and I wondered why no one else have thought of it before. I believe that M.O.B will be a destination restaurant, and no doubt Manhattanites won’t mind the short taxi ride from Midtown, or the 20 minutes train hike from Times Square. I for one, will be making that regular trip. Maimonide is located at 525 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, New York.