“My hope is that the viewer will find, in my artwork, that thread that connects her to something bigger than herself. That he will be moved through a feeling with no words and perhaps a burst of delight or surprise, a comforting warmth, a vehement call to action, friendship, and truth,” says painter Jay Mercado. “An observer might see something that no one else will see, and, in turn, see the world around them a little differently in every subsequent moment.”

“It was during a trip back to my childhood home around Thanksgiving of 2008, after many sleepless nights of running every scenario of how to survive the recession ahead, when I imagined starting a luxury magazine. It came to me in a dream that I believe was God-inspired. We had great designers, writers, and marketers on staff, so I suggested the idea to my partner and husband. He asked, “What do you know about publishing a magazine?” and I confidently said, “How hard can it be?” Sometimes, a little hubris is a good thing. Only some of the time. That’s when my husband and I decided to venture into publishing and launched our flagship magazine, VIE.”

And what a journey it has been so far! Read the latest from VIE Magazine's Editor-in-Chief, Lisa Marie Burwell, at the link in bio!

Country music and cowboy boots go together like biscuits and molasses. Still, this summer, it was an extra special moment when Lucchese, a renowned Texas-based bootmaker, teamed up with eight-time Grammy winner Chris Stapleton to create a capsule collection of six handcrafted designs. The collaboration comes at a perfect time to celebrate the craftsmanship and artistry of Lucchese, which is celebrating its 140th anniversary this fall.

With the runways of Paris, Milan, and more beginning to show trends for spring 2024 and beyond, it seems the future is here with a nostalgic twist. Metallic fabrics and accents, bold accessories, solid primary colors, and space-age presentations are very in, according to some of the world’s biggest fashion houses. Let’s levitate into next season!

Meet a renaissance woman who created and defined her own destiny, reaching pinnacles of success and glamour usually only found in movies. High fashion and beauty icon Vicky Tiel knows all about how to live a “real” life, and she has the stories, victories, and photos to prove it.

Summertime Is Heating Up
•••
This issue is rich with storytelling about fashion icons, legends, and entertainers from bygone eras and contemporaries taking center stage today.

We have something for everyone inside the magazine and hope that your eyes and minds are opened to new horizons as we pay tribute to those who paved the way. Creating and achieving goals no matter what industry you’re in is a constant battle to put one foot in front of the other to achieve your dreams while staying true to yourself.

Keep smiling and keep creating!

To Life!
@lisamburwell

Bob White’s Favorite Books
•••
Have you ever popped by Sundog Books in the heart of Seaside, Florida? Chances are you unknowingly interacted with the beloved Bob White, co-owner of the bookshop with his wife, Linda.

Since the humble beginnings of this iconic independent bookstore in 1986, most days you could find Bob at the front table rearranging each book stack to precise ruler measurements—likely an excuse to greet customers with a hearty “Let me know if I can help ya!” paired with his trademark Mississippi accent that dripped with charm.

Without a doubt, one of his greatest joys was recommending reads to customers and engaging with those who sought the prize of a good story. And boy, were they in the right spot, because Bob White had a nose for sniffing out the best authors.

Down-to-earth and easy to talk to like any good Southern boy, Bob was utterly delightful with that dry sense of humor he possessed. Customers, staffers, friends, and family alike recount the times when a twinkle came to Bob’s eye and he uttered a riotous line that left them rolling on the sandy wooden floors. And Bob loved it when that happened—he absolutely lived for that reaction.

Read more about Bob and his amazing legacy at the #Linkinbio!

Words by Michelle Hayes Uhlfelder
Photos courtesy of Sundog books | Brenna Kneiss Photography

WHEN IN ROME, DO IT DIFFERENTLY THIS TIME
BY CAROLYN O’NEIL

As the saying goes, “All roads lead to Rome,” and chances are most avid travelers have been to Rome at least once. After all, it is one of the most visited cities in the world and certainly one of the most written about throughout history.

Now, surveys by Virtuoso, a luxury travel network, find that repeat visitors want to see something new and move beyond the usual itineraries of often jam-packed iconic attractions. Rome is ready to write some new stories.

“It’s bewitched people for thousands of years,” guide Jonathan Self tells me as we drink in the glorious Gothic skyline that’s earned Oxford its “City of Dreaming Spires” nickname.

Mercifully spared World War II bombing, the historic city in southern England is best known as being home to the world’s second-oldest university, where wordsmiths like Dr. Seuss and T. S. Eliot honed their craft.

“They were the best of friends and the best of critics,” Self says of J. R. R. Tolkien and fellow twentieth-century fantasy novelist C. S. Lewis, who found real-life inspiration for their mythical worlds in Oxford’s landmark buildings and medieval streets. One such cobbled thoroughfare is Bath Place Alley, which we squeeze down during a two-hour excursion by Oxford Official Walking Tours, retracing the steps of some of literature’s finest minds. A highlight is coming nose-to-nose with the maned lion (embellished on a wooden door, thankfully!) believed to have been the inspiration for Aslan in Lewis’s classic The Chronicles of Narnia series.

To follow along with Sarah's journey and to learn more about where else she visited head to the #linkinbio or pick up the latest issue of VIE!

A perfect summer day will always include a good book, a cute hat-and-sunnies duo, and plenty of sunshine! This month’s collection is here to help you find the perfect coastal lifestyle necessities because no one wants a beach day to end. Don’t let the sunset end your time in the sand and surf—take the essence of a perfect beach day home with you. From a shell-encrusted phone case to the most comfortable compact beach chair, we’ve got you covered.

A VINTAGE TIKI BAR COMES TO LIFE

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF THE DAYTRADER TIKI BAR & RESTAURANT | INTERVIEW BY ADDIE STRICKLAND

Where’s the new dinner hot spot? The Daytrader, located in Seaside, Florida, next to the iconic Coleman Pavilion, is a one-of-a-kind tiki bar-inspired restaurant that brings a relaxed atmosphere and Polynesian flair to the bustling 30-A beach community. This new restaurant’s personality was brought to life through restaurateur and chef Nikhil Abuvala of Roux 30a, Nanbu, and Nanbu Too, along with the creative genius of his wife and partner, Hannah Grace Abuvala. They created a restaurant space and menu embodying the arguably unnecessary yet always welcomed temptation to clock out of your nine-to-five and enjoy a chill conversation and great food with friends and cocktails.

@emeraldcoaststorytellers |
TAKE THE MIC 🎙️

Since the most ancient civilizations, humans have had the innate desire to tell stories. Our spoken and written languages have become vehicles not only for communication but also for documenting history, entertaining, and creating connections with others. Music, poetry, and artful prose captivate the mind and evoke feelings like nothing else can. We all have a story to tell, and Emerald Coast Storytellers, based along the sparkling Gulf of Mexico in Northwest Florida, has created a platform for anyone to share their words with the community.

Coming up on its first anniversary in July 2023, Emerald Coast Storytellers (ECS) is the brainchild of close friends Kristy Holditch and Ali Diamond, two journalism majors who both grew up far across the US from the pristine white-sand beach community they now call home. Each month, ECS hosts a public After-Hours Writing Night for locals and visitors to join in-person or virtually, where writers are given a theme prompt for the evening and work on penciling everything from short stories to memoirs, poetry, and more. The theme of each month is carried over to a ticketed Open Mic Night, hosted at intimate venues across the Emerald Coast community, during which a dozen or so brave storytellers will take the spotlight for about five minutes each to share what they’ve written or, occasionally, tell a story on the fly.

Fostering this type of community in an area so teeming with creativity is a dream come true for the ECS founders. Be sure to read more about ECS at the link in bio and head to emeraldcoaststorytellers.com to learn more about there upcoming Anniversary Event!

WELCOMES DIOR FOR ITS FIRST DIORIVIERA POP-UP AND CAFÉ

One&Only Desaru Coast, the ultra-luxury all-suite resort in Malaysia, adds a touch of Parisian sophistication to the region this summer, as Dior saunters into tropical Desaru Coast with an all-new pop-up store and café for their Dioriviera capsule collection launch.

For eight stylish weeks from June 13th, Dior showcases tasteful expressions of the French art de vivre with a pop-up store and café at Ember Beach Club, imbued with contemporary signatures of the House. The landmark event marks the first time Dior and One&Only are coming together in Malaysia, both rooted in detailed craftsmanship, modern elegance, and a celebration of life.

THE STORIES THAT LIE WITHIN
•••
What lies below the surface is often left unexplored. This statement is a metaphor for how many of us experience everyday life: we look at the facts and don’t often consider other avenues, let alone the reasoning behind perspectives different from our own. Emerging underwater artist John Oja, aka Johnny Ocean, takes this statement both literally and figuratively as he challenges the boundaries of traditional underwater photography. Oja offers a new perspective on how we perceive subjects by immersing them in an often uncharted medium: water.

SHOPPING GUIDE BY TINSLEY MERRILL PAUL

HerStory is a unique, female-led platform where the art of storytelling and fashion collide. Whether you are looking for the perfect summer hat or trying to shop for more sustainable brands, HerStory’s online format makes it easy to find exactly what you are looking for while empowering artisans and supporting small businesses worldwide. Enjoy this thoughtful summer roundup by none other than HerStory cofounder and CEO Tinsley Merrill Paul!

THE BEAUTY OF VISUAL STORYTELLING

“It is the journey that matters, not the destination. I have no idea what I will be doing in a year, but it will be a good ride,” says Scottish photographer David Yarrow.

This concept is nothing new to him. As an eighteen-year-old with a camera and a love of sports, the last thing on his mind was that his creative journey would one day lead him to become one of the most successful commercial photographers in the world. His compelling, often black-and-white images have graced thousands of walls, galleries, magazine covers, and advertising campaigns. Still, starting out, he says photography was “a way to attend as many sporting events as possible and even to be paid to be there. The crowds, the news, the passion. I loved sport as a teenager, and the camera gave me the excuse to justify the addiction.”

Although he studied business and accounting at university, photography—and the travel experiences and stories he accumulated while shooting events—was waiting in the wings for Yarrow to reach the point that would launch his fine-art career.

BY JORDAN STAGGS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID YARROW

CONVERSATION, CONNECTION & CAMARADERIE

For the past year, something has been brewing in distilleries, coffee shops, speakeasy-esque venues, and story-pairing dinners from Florida’s Scenic Highway 30-A to Nashville and beyond. It feels new and different—a scene where open-mic storytelling events and writing nights feature a confluence of writers, poets, and published and aspiring authors alike. They read stories to an attentive, supportive group of diverse, multigenerational people, including many young hipsters with a passion for creativity. Everyone seems very welcome, with a palpable spirit of open arms felt in the space. The vibe is urban and intelligent. The ethos of the evening feels akin to a coffee house in an age of enlightenment or a Parisian salon where ideas flourish and conversations mingle. These are as much part of it as what anyone is reading or listening to, as minds awaken to new thoughts and emotions. Isn’t that what storytelling is all about?

White Elephant has been an integral part of Nantucket’s history since the 1920s. Dreamed up by local socialite Elizabeth T. Ludwig, the harborfront landmark has evolved into the island’s most timeless resort, with a collection of chic accommodations showcasing the very best of the beloved destination. In time with the White Elephant’s 100th anniversary, the resort debuts yet another metamorphosis, with a multi-million-dollar restoration and renovation of its 54-room and -suite Harborside Hotel and 11 Garden Cottages. What’s more, the White Elephant partnered with Arhaus, a leader in artisan-crafted and responsibly sourced home furnishings, on an exterior refresh providing a mix of teak and all-weather wicker pieces for the outdoor spaces.

As a boy growing up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Roll Tide), Derrick Lewis says he and his family did “what we do best when we could, which is fishing, hunting, work, school, church, and cooking.” It was that last thing that inspired the young man, whose mother is a chef, to embark upon his culinary career when the time came.

"Outside of work, my mother provided meals with the church ministry, and my father, who does construction work, would sometimes cater his barbecue for grocery stores like Winn-Dixie, Bruno’s, and a few others,” Lewis says. “Being engulfed by such talent inadvertently piqued my interest and set me on a path to follow my dreams and go to culinary school at Culinard of Virginia College in Birmingham, Alabama.”

Influenced by the endless hard work of his parents, Lewis endured the grind through college, living and working in Tuscaloosa and then driving an hour for class each way, doing homeowrk, and keeping his grades up. His efforts were worthwhile, earning him spots on the Dean's List and President's List, membership in Phi Beta Gamma, and a job offer from Walt Disney World.

Read more about Derrick Lewis and his culinary adventure in the latest issue of VIE! #linkinbio

BY JORDAN STAGGS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY DASHA GORCHAKOVA, @DASHAGPHOTOGRAPHY

TIPS FOR THE BIG CATCH

The Gulf of Mexico is known for having some of the best sportfishing in the world. Even if you don’t have a boat or haven’t booked an offshore charter during your vacation, you can still get in on the action! Fishing from the sandy beach (known as surf fishing), heading to the local pier, or taking a kayak expedition into the Gulf, bay, or coastal dune lakes can be great ways to “get your feet wet” and catch anything from pompano to whiting, redfish, snapper, grouper, trout, flounder, sheepshead, sharks, and more.

Check out a few fishing tips from Panhandle local surf and kayak fishing guide Brock Meyer, aka Pompano Brock, and get your reels ready for your next trip!

Read more at the #linkinbio!

BY BROCK MEYER | PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF PCB SURF & KAYAK FISHING TOURS

BRINGING VINTAGE ROVERS BACK TO LIFE

In a world full of noise, there are few moments when we quiet the external chaos and find our center. Yet we do not always need meditation, a yoga class, or a tropical getaway to offer a reset. For Coolnvintage founder Ricardo Pessoa, driving with the windows down in a Land Rover Defender and fully embracing the road ahead is where he unlocks pure bliss. “When you drive a vintage Land Rover, you have to separate what’s important from what’s not,” he says. “Leave your phone at home. Whatever you need to take care of, do it before you hop in for a drive—because now everything is about the journey. Not a bad metaphor for how to live life, is it?”

Read more about these vintage classics and Ricardo at the #linkinbio!

BY HAILEY BETHKE | PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF @COOLNVINTAGE

In an age when many listeners get their music recommendations from soundbites on TikTok and rarely listen to an album from start to finish, it’s refreshing to hear the story behind a new music collection from an artist or band. Kickstand Jenny, an alternative rock band based in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, released its debut concept album, Between The Lies, on June 9, 2023, calling it an in-depth look at “the death and rebirth of a soul, inspired by the death of live music during the COVID-19 pandemic and the desire to march on and rise up like a phoenix.”

The new full-length album was recorded in Nashville and features ten new tracks with excellent vocals from former L.A. Guns vocalist Scott Foster Harris and killer hits, licks, and riffs from guitarist Preston Morelock, bassist Chris McComas, and drummer A.J. Sipos. It also includes vocalist Mark Slaughter of the rock band Slaughter, drummer Jim Riley of Rascal Flatts, and others. It was produced by legendary producer and songwriter Chas Sandford.

Signed to Spectra Music Group in 2022, Kickstand Jenny cites inspiration from all genres, from Van Halen to Prince, calling it “all the good stuff” that founder, songwriter, and guitarist Morelock loved since he was a child. We caught up with Morelock to talk about the band’s new album, upcoming tour, and more.

Check out their article at the #linkinbio!

INTERVIEW BY JORDAN STAGGS | PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF KICKSTAND JENNY

“You always hear stories about how great the Major Leagues are, but even those don’t do it justice,” says former MLB pitcher and current New York Mets scout Brett Campbell. “The stadiums, playing in front of tens of thousands of people, the hotels, the food—everything is first-class. Getting to play against guys you grew up idolizing, playing in stadiums you dreamed about playing in as a kid; yes, it was totally surreal. Growing up in Atlanta, I was a huge Braves fan. Luckily, during my time with the Nationals, I was able to face the Braves. I remember seeing Bobby Cox in the dugout, walking out to the bullpen. I asked my bullpen coach who I was about to face when I got into the game, and he said, ‘Andruw Jones, Brian McCann, and Jeff Francoeur.’ It got real, fast!”

Read Brett Campbell's full story at the #linkinbio!

HIGH-SEAS ADVENTURE ON A HISTORIC TALL SHIP

Sometimes we all need more adventure in our lives. Modern life has many perks, but it can cause us to feel buried under meetings, emails, bills, and traffic jams. As we seek to incorporate more excitement and beauty into our day-to-day activities, some of us yearn for the adventure that seems to belong to bygone eras: an explorer navigating the globe in search of new worlds, a naval captain vanquishing an enemy, or a young man running away from a troubled past for a life at sea.

CRAFTED STORIES WITH HOST EDDIE SAN JUAN
•••
Custom houses are built to last generations and be passed down, captivating visitors and residents with beautiful details and stories of their own. Much of the work on a home like this happens before the ground is broken or a saw meets wood. The effort it takes to plan a new custom residence can be overlooked, and some details might go unnoticed even when it is completed. E. F. San Juan is a family-led company working with the best architects and builders to create some of those details, specializing in custom wood moulding, millwork, and cabinetry. Their portfolio of craftsmanship can be seen and experienced in the affluent communities along Scenic Highway 30-A and surrounding areas in Florida and beyond. With their work on display in some of the most critically acclaimed New Urbanist towns, such as Alys Beach, Rosemary Beach, and Seaside, E. F. San Juan’s far-reaching legacy and influence were built from a dream and maintained with generations worth of hard work.

Read more about E. F. San Juan at the #linkinbio!

BY ADDIE STRICKLAND | PHOTOS COURTESY OF @e.f.sanjuan

From Houston to Myrtle Beach, then Hoboken to the Gulf Coast of Northwest Florida, Steven Vanden Heuvel has lived his life from coast to coast. He is one of three brothers raised, as he says, on a “healthy dose” of sports and with a “chip on his shoulder” as the youngest. He was also diagnosed at age five with severe-to-profound hearing loss, which Heuvel says—perhaps surprisingly to some—changed his life for the better.

"It helped shape the way that I learned, solved problems, interacted with others, and ultimately it shaped me into the entrepreneur that I am today,” he shares. These skills and a love of sports and the outdoors have carried him in building a successful brand of tools and accessories for the avid fisherman, SORD Fishing Products.

As a budding outdoorsman growing up in northern Virginia, Kurt Tobias never dreamed of founding a clothing brand one day. While fishing and fashion might not seem to mesh, Tobias and his team at Choona have proved that technical wear for the avid sportsman can be more than just khakis and cargos. The company’s lightweight, stylish, and functional clothing has already become a favorite among sportfishing enthusiasts, hikers, and beach bums alike along the white-sand Gulf Coast of Northwest Florida.

“Clothing was never part of the plan,” Tobias laughs. He graduated from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, with a degree in business management and information systems, then spent seven years working as an engineer in the electronics and aerospace industries before moving to Destin, Florida—a fateful decision. “I knew I wanted to pursue something that inspired people to spend more time outdoors. When my wife, Lindsay, and I moved to Destin, I quickly saw the opportunity the Florida Panhandle offered. This area didn’t have a men’s outdoor apparel brand that represented the Panhandle lifestyle.”

From that niche that needed filling, plus a great love for all things outdoors, a brand was born. Tobias’s mission became to create activewear products that he would like to wear and protect the planet as much as possible in the process.

Learn more about Choona at the #linkinbio!

Words By Jordan Staggs
📷 |Photography courtesy of @Choonaclothing

A Celebration of Life, Love & Men

With June ushering in Father’s Day, we thought it was a great time to celebrate, honor, and be grateful for all the men in our lives. We have purposefully curated stories of interest to both males and females during VIE’s fifteen-year publishing legacy but will admit there is often more than a touch of femininity in most issues. This is our third issue dedicated to men, and we’re excited to share it!

I am in love with this Gentlemen’s Issue for several reasons (yes, I have been told I say this about every issue, but this one is an outlier). It’s new and fresh, and because it celebrates men, it looks a little more rugged and cool.

We wish you all a happy start to the summer season and hope long, lazy, sunny beachside days are in your future.

To my husband, Gerald “Jerry” Burwell, I am thankful and lucky to have you in my life. You are all I ever needed and wanted in a man!

To Life and Love!

—Lisa Marie Burwell
CEO/Editor-in-Chief

Follow the link in our bio to read Lisa's full Editor-in-Chief note!

VIE Magazine presented the 2023 @dgalysbeach Festival Awards Party at @alysbeach on Friday, May 19th. Our team thoroughly enjoyed celebrating the intersection between past and future along with the announcement of this year’s DG winners. Head to the link in our bio to learn more about the amazing vendors and artists involved in this years party, and head over to VIE’s Facebook to see the full gallery of images from the evening by @hunterburgphoto!

A LUXE STAY IN DOWNTOWN NYC
•••
Art and design converge often, and a golden opportunity arose recently when New York City’s @HalldesLumieres and The @ConradNewYorkDowntown paid homage to Austrian symbolist painter Gustav Klimt with a special interior design collaboration in its iconic Conrad Suite penthouse.

Learn more about this golden collaboration at the #linkinbio!

EXPERIENCE LALIQUE LIKE NEVER BEFORE

Crystal dragons embellish my headboard and console, elegant backlit art nouveau reliefs flank my matching ebony bed, and even my marble bathtub is embedded with mythical creatures sculpted in the same frosted crystal as the precious, intricately carved faucets. It’s only what you would expect of the home built in 1920—at the point where art nouveau meets art deco—for the greatest glass artist the world has ever known.

Welcome to the Villa René Lalique, now a five-star boutique hotel in the French village from where the worldwide output of the most famous brand name in crystal is shipped to galleries and style emporiums worldwide, from Beijing to Bal Harbour.

Read more about Villa René Lalique at the #linkinbio!

RESTORE, EXPLORE, AND MORE

The modern traveler is demanding more. White-walled hotels with geometric-patterned carpets are no longer satisfactory. Instead, consumers crave next-level services and amenities; they want to experience luxury and comfort in one place. Most of all, they seek experiences to broaden their horizons, complete with a home base that inspires, grounds, and soothes.

Learn more about this luxury five-star villa at the #linkinbio!

THE HEARTH HOMES INTERIORS WAY

Katie Labourdette-Martinez and Olivia Wahler are not your average sisters-in-law. They are the creative force behind the successful Santa Barbara design firm Hearth Homes Interiors. With an innate sense of style and a passion for creating comfortable, livable spaces, they have established themselves as go-to designers for anyone looking to transform their home into a stunning, functional space.

We had the pleasure of sitting down with Katie and Olivia to learn more about their approach to design, luxurious stays, and their latest venture, The Craft House Inn. From their signature blend of refined style and organic textures to their unique perspective on the world of interior design, these talented professionals are sure to inspire you. So let’s dive into the world of Hearth Homes Interiors and discover how Katie and Olivia are revolutionizing the interior design scene, one project at a time.

Read on at the #linkinbio!

FINE JEWELRY WITH GLOBAL INSPIRATION

Capturing the beauty of nature through jewelry is a tradition as old as time; finding new ways to do so deserves applause. Marie Nguyen is a fine jewelry designer from Texas with an online storefront and a charming brick-and-mortar shop in the beach resort town of WaterColor, Florida. Her passion for creating exclusive and one-of-a-kind necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and more comes from a love of rare and unexpected materials and inspiration from cultures and stones found throughout different parts of the globe.

Learn more about Marie at the #linkinbio!

Wading waist-deep into the water, I edge closer to the mesmerizing white veil where luminous butterflies are dancing in its spray

Scarcely an hour earlier, I’d enjoyed a hornbill’s-eye view of this lost-world waterfall on an exhilarating canopy-skimming, 350-meter-long zipline, which delivered me to an aptly named Landing Zone Bar. No sooner had I stepped out of my harness than I was sipping a spice-addled “Pineapple Trap,” surrounded by curios such as a carousel horse strung from the bar’s thatched ceiling.

This surreal scene unfolds in a wildly remote but beautiful tract of jungle in southwestern Cambodia, which was nearly scratched off the map until American architect Bill Bensley and Cambodian hotelier Sokoun Chanpreda stepped in. In 2010, they won the Central Park-sized wildlife forest corridor—wedged between two national parks—at a logging auction. Seven years later, Shinta Mani Wild was born: a low-impact luxury tented camp where conservation converges with world-class design.

Learn more about Shinta Mani Wild's unparalleled accommodations by visiting the #linkinbio!

SYNERGETIC DESIGN IN JOSHUA TREE

Situated in the heart of California’s Yucca Valley, just minutes from Joshua Tree National Park, lies Le Chacuel. This desert refuge celebrates timeless luxury by honoring the past—the property was formerly home to a deteriorating ranch-style house from the 1980s—as well as its transformation into a chic vacation getaway by designer Mila Morris.

Learn more about this chic desert oasis at the #linkinbio!

📷 | Courtesy of @lechacuel

BIRMINGHAM NATIVE CHRIS REEBALS NAMED SOUTHEAST ARCHITECT OF THE YEAR
•••
Thursday, April 20, the 2023 Southeast Designers and Architect of the Year Awards (SEDY) were presented by @adacatlanta (Atlanta Decorative Arts Center) and VERANDA to firms and individuals from across the Southeast who exemplify the highest level of talent in the categories of architecture, contract design, and residential design. Reviewed by a celebrated group of judges, winners were picked from a group of 26 regional finalists spanning five states and were announced at a private gala.

After a record number of entries, Chris Reebals of Christopher Architecture and Interiors was selected as the 2023 Southeast Architect of the Year. “Our 2023 winners represent extraordinary design across the entire Southeast and for the second time in the history of the awards, they each hail from a different major city in our region,” said Katie Miner, ADAC General Manager.

Read more about @christopherai and this prestigious award at the #linkinbio!

With a theatrical living room evoking midnight twenty-four hours a day, a faux-Matterhorn framing the back porch, and a set of McD golden arches taking pride of place in the kitchen, you could suppose the home of Mat and Laura Barnes was the playful creation of an American architect. However, Mat is British, and the award-winning home he designed for his family and named Mountain View is a classic Edwardian “semi,” part of a row of identical red brick homes on an unassuming suburban London street.

From the road outside, the house looks thoroughly sober, belying no hint that the interior is a riot of color and pattern Mat describes as “taking cues from theater sets, geography, a fake Disneyland mountain, and an Edwardian bread plate.” And whimsical or not, his structural transformation of a near-derelict house has attracted top-tier recognition: shortlisted for the 2022 House of the Year award by the Royal Institute of British Architects, Mountain View won Mat and his CAN Studio the association’s London Regional Project prize.

Read more about this colorful home at the #linkinbio!

Khoury Vogt Architects Receives Top Honor
•••
Khoury Vogt Architects (KVA) has become known for its dreamscape-worthy town projects along the Northwest Florida coast. The unique Gulfside communities of Alys Beach and Kaiya Beach Resort have inspired and delighted homeowners and visitors alike. As the town architects for these communities and other stunning luxury homes across the area and beyond, including South Central Florida, Nashville, Miami, and the Caribbean, KVA is a bastion of excellence in architecture, interior design, town planning, and more.

Founding partners and principal architects Marieanne Khoury-Vogt and Erik Vogt are excited to celebrate as they recently received one of the most prestigious awards in the field of architecture. The Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA) has selected KVA as the 2023 recipient of the Arthur Ross Award for Excellence in the Classical Tradition in the Architecture division.

Learn more about KVA and what they have been up to lately by visiting the link in our bio!

We are all designed as unique, original, and gifted human beings created in God’s image—as one of a kind. When you see yourself on those terms, that you are a work of art, you begin to understand you are qualified to reach your destiny in life. No one else can fulfill and achieve your destinies better than you can. In a world filled with 7,942,645,086 people, if we really understood how special each and every one of us is, we would celebrate ourselves and others with so much more intention, purpose, and even joy.

When the real estate developers at The Corr Group created 30Avenue, its mission was to provide Northwest Florida locals and visitors with an upscale indoor-outdoor destination for shopping, dining, entertainment, and office locations. 30Avenue has always been a go-to location for South Walton’s best restaurants, and over the past year they have continued to impress with their new additions in the culinary scene. From global cuisine to Southern comfort foods, 30Avenue boasts a generous selection of casual and fine dining options to enjoy.

When dining at an award-winning restaurant, patrons might wonder how the executive chef and the supporting culinary team create the menu, execute the flawless presentation, and pull off memorable events night after night. A special outing for a family or group of friends is just another “day at the office” for those working in hospitality, and becoming known for elevated experiences takes practice, consistency, and care. Chef Eric Rivera and the team at Ravello Ristorante in Montgomery, Alabama, know this well.

Read more about how Chef Eric creates authentic experiences with coastal flair at the link in bio!

No matter how much a couple, family, or group of friends loves going out for dinner, the experience can sometimes get stale. We fall into a rut, going to the same restaurants and ordering the same menu items. Even though they’re delicious and we love the staff who have come to treat us like family, it’s occasionally good to break out of our routine and try something new. That’s where Caroline Boone comes in.

Read more about dreamy culinary experiences that Caroline Boone and her team are carefully curating at the link in bio!

Words by Jordan Staggs
📷 | @SaltwaterSupperClub | @cc.boone

Istanbul continues to lure world travelers to its magnificent metropolitan destination on the Bosporus Strait. Physically unaffected by the recent earthquake in the southern part of Turkey (also spelled Türkiye), hotels, restaurants, historic sites, shops, and museums in Istanbul are open for business and bustling. Istanbul is uniquely situated in Europe on one side of the strait and Asia on the other, so it’s literally positioned where East meets West. Simply cross a bridge and enjoy two continents in one day.

There are many worlds to discover when visiting Istanbul, with multiple layers of history revealed through spectacular ancient architecture. Founded as Byzantium by the Greeks, it became Constantinople as the eastern capital of the Roman Empire and then was renamed Istanbul by the conquering Ottomans. Today, Istanbul is the largest city in Türkiye and the country’s economic, cultural, and historic hub known for its many glittering mosques and palaces.

Read more about intriguing Istanbul at the #linkinbio!

BY CAROLYN O’NEIL

In their twenties, they made headlines in France as the hot, young twin chefs whose multi-Michelin-starred culinary acumen transformed the charming but unsung town of Montpellier into a dining destination. Now, thirty years later, they have conquered the world. After colonizing Paris, Tokyo, and many other Asian cities with outposts that showcase their fabulous take on French cuisine, they are once again wowing diners in their hometown with a gastronomic apotheosis that looks set to win them a whole new trio of stars before they hit sixty.

Read more about Jacques and Laurent Pourcel at the #linkinbio!

BY ANTHEA GERRIE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARA ESSEX BRADLEY

INTIMATE GATHERINGS IN PUBLIC SPACES
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One thing that never changes in my life is my love of entertaining. I’ve been hosting all sorts of parties, from little dinners to garden events, all my adult life, and even COVID-19 didn’t stop me. For sixty-three consecutive Wednesdays, I entertained by hosting Zoom cocktail classes/parties with live entertainment, open to anyone who wanted to join. (Thank you to musician Wycliffe Gordon, who played for us!) The group wasn’t big, but the attendance represented a broad demographic as the word spread as far as Dakar, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong, the Pentagon, and all points in between. The thirty-minute sessions provided a midweek breather and a way to connect with new faces—even though we were all just squares on screens. As a bonus, we became expert cocktail makers!

Now, post-COVID, my favorite way to entertain has returned to in-person gatherings—through brief, quirky, community-building “pop-up” dinners. I partner with my friend Autumn, and we combine our imaginations to plan these dinners, from selecting the participants to choosing beautiful public spots throughout Charleston as our dining rooms.

Read more about these intimate gatherings by following the #linkinbio!

BY SUZANNE POLLAK

CREATING MONUMENTAL MOMENTS
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Planning a party or special event takes a lot of organization, imagination, and willpower. For those unsure how to pull off an idea or who don’t feel confident creating their event on their own, hiring an event designer can make all the difference between a fête and a flop. Shelly Harker, a Northwest Florida native and graduate of Florida State University’s psychology program, has always been enchanted with art and photography. Still, it wasn’t until after she gained her doctorate in clinical psychology, ran her own practice, and became a mom that she shifted her focus to a more creative career in event styling.

Read more about Shelly Harker and her amazing event style at the #linkinbio!

INTERVIEW BY JORDAN STAGGS |
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF @alifestyledco

RECIPES TO ENJOY TOGETHER
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Spring has sprung! As we enjoy warmer temperatures, fresh blooms, and blue skies, spring invites us to immerse ourselves more fully in nature. Whether you’re picnicking on the lawn or gathering on the front porch with friends and family, this recipe roundup is guaranteed to help you set your table (or blanket!) with spring’s finest flavors. VIE asked our favorite fresh foodies what’s gracing their menus this season, and they kindly shared some go-to favorites. The following recipes include dreamy treats spotlighting lemon and rose, vibrant main dishes like BBQ mushroom sandwiches and roasted cauliflower salad, and more featuring the freshest local and seasonal produce. Remember to follow these creators on social media and tag us @viemagazine while stirring up these spring specialties in the kitchen. Bon appétit!

Find the Full Recipes at the link in our bio!

📷 | Rosepetal Dreamsicles by Tara Lanich-LaBrie
@themedicinecircle

THE BEST MEAL OF THE WEEK ON 30-A
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Since 2004, when they purchased Brookhaven Pub & Grill in Memphis, Christy Spell Terry and Rick Spell have built a business around dining destinations that offer a combination of beautiful settings, a great menu featuring locally sourced ingredients, and a superb selection of libations. Now with ten eateries under Spell Restaurant Group, spanning Florida and Tennessee, they aim to continue evolving and creating new experiences for guests to enjoy time and time again. One of those experiences is everyone’s favorite weekend meal—brunch.

Brunch culture has become synonymous with leisure and togetherness. Friends and family gather for a late-morning or early-afternoon meal that, as its name suggests, could include anything from Belgian waffles to burgers. Of course, the mimosa and the Bloody Mary have also become brunchtime staples. The menus at Spell Restaurant Group’s destinations on Scenic Highway 30-A in Northwest Florida offer two distinct but equally exciting brunch experiences.

Follow the #linkinbio to learn more about both @Edwards30a and @LaCo30A.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF SPELL RESTAURANT GROUP

It’s widely acknowledged that food and drink create a universal language. Sharing a meal has brought people together since the beginning and continues to be a catalyst for fellowship and connection.

Traveling also influences our perspective of the world in the same way food can expand cultural horizons. Regardless of where they live, people love good food, and there is a story behind each dish. Chef Jim Shirley’s restaurant Farm & Fire in South Walton, Florida, represents his connection to Asian culture and cuisine and his time spent there as a young man. Growing up in a military family, Shirley lived all over the world, and his appreciation for international fare and techniques inspired the founding of Farm & Fire. The recipes and ingredients reflect the culinary heritage and cultural DNA of Asia and other faraway destinations, with a dash of Southern comfort. Guests can enjoy the stories and experiences he has to tell through food.

Read more about @ChefJimShirley and @FarmandFireSouthWalton at the #linkinbio!

📷 | Romona Robbins Photography

Unfulfillment is one of the most compelling catalysts for change. As a law student at Harvard University, Nisha Vora had been enthusiastic about the change-making possibilities her career seemed to promise. But after graduation, she became disillusioned by the lack of impact her position could make in the corporate and nonprofit sectors. During this time, Vora watched ten documentaries that opened her eyes to the gut-wrenching truths behind the factory farming industry—and revealed to her the influence one person can have by choosing to go vegan.

Although Vora may not have made big waves in the legal system, veganism empowered her to choose a lifestyle that aligned with her values of compassion and equality. She was hooked. “After becoming vegan, I instantly felt happier and healthier,” Vora notes. “This decision was rather easy to make, as it naturally tied in with my passion for social justice activism.”

Read more about Nisha and the colorful vegan dishes that she is whipping up in her kitchen at the link in bio.

BY HAILEY BETHKE | PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF @rainbowplantlife
📷 | Niki Cram

The Rich History of Dry Vermouth
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Blame it on Bond, James Bond—the craze for vermouth, that is. The appetite-stimulating beverage predates cocktails by three millennia yet has taken over the world big-time in the twenty-first century.

Astonishingly, this heady mix of aromatic wine fortified with herbs and spices, without which the majority of the world’s favorite cocktails would not exist, dates back three thousand years, when the Chinese of the Shang dynasty started brewing it as a medicinal drink. The Hungarians took up the practice in the fifteenth century. Still, we can thank the Italians and French for introducing the pleasure principle and the world’s great mixologists for creating the martinis, negronis, and Manhattans to which vermouth is essential.

Read more these classic cocktails at the link in bio!

By Anthea Gerrie

A PLACE “FOR THE PEOPLE”
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When a beloved local watering hole or café permanently closes its doors, it can be an emotional experience for the whole community. This was certainly the case for Fonville Press, a charming coffee shop and bar in Alys Beach, Florida, whose closure in 2018 was met with sadness from those who loved it—but also with a sense of excitement for the future from those who hoped to see it return.

"It was obvious by the outpouring of support from locals and homeowners that there was a deep love for Fonville,” says former Fonville manager and Alys Beach VP of resort operations, Jeremy Walton. “It had become a special and beloved brand. Because of that, we couldn’t think of a reason to do anything else but try to reimagine it and see it return. We understood we couldn’t recreate the original Fonville. However, we wanted to honor it in a meaningful way and recapture its connection with people as a beloved gathering place.”

Catch the full story at the #linkinbio!

BY JORDAN STAGGS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATIE DESANTIS

There are a few things Americans are known for—two being that we love our country and we love our food. American Charlie Grill & Tavern, an All-American restaurant located at the Shoppes at Edgewater in Panama City Beach, Florida, celebrated its first anniversary in February. The atmosphere of the local eatery is as close to a friendly backyard cookout as you can get, with classic dishes and drinks brought to you by the team behind Firefly PCB and On The Fly.

"My business partner Mike Whitmer and I had always talked about doing something together,” says Dave Trepanier, co-owner of American Charlie, who opened the award-winning Firefly restaurant in 2007. “We talked about having a really patriotic, All-American restaurant, and that’s how American Charlie came to fruition when the Montego Bay space became available in the Shoppes at Edgewater.”

For the full story visit the link in bio!

BY ADDIE STRICKLAND | PHOTOS COURTESY OF @AMERICAN.CHARLIE

A BOTANICAL BAKER’S DOZEN

Let’s be honest: we all love flowers. Whether they’re in the form of a celebratory bouquet or a hike through lush wildflower fields, the presence of petals makes it impossible not to feel a little more cheerful. Culinary connoisseur Loria Stern has developed a fresh perspective on what to do with her blooms. Her company name, Eat Your Flowers, not-so-subtly hints at her forward-thinking take on harvesting nature’s bounty to use in the kitchen rather than put on display.

CAST YOUR BREAD UPON THE WATERS
A CELEBRATION OF CULINARY LEGENDS

It was 2008, and VIE was in its first year, beginning to make its mark on the world; and so the journey began. Meeting wonderful people along the way and hearing their stories and dreams have been one of the most meaningful parts of publishing for us. For example, we met Sister Schubert Barnes of Sister Schubert Homemade Rolls fame back then. She loved the magazine so much that she asked us if we could publish a coffee-table book for her to raise money for her Ukrainian orphanage called Sasha’s Home. VIE also sponsored a fundraiser we called Change the World at Caliza Pool in Alys Beach, Florida, shortly after the stock market crash, to benefit Sasha’s Home. We raised $130,000, which was miraculous given the mood and economic climate.

Follow link to read full note!

Sometimes those who impact others most are not direct family members, influential celebrities, politicians, or philanthropists—they are mentors. Finding a person who believes in what you are doing enough to give candid advice and support can be life-changing. For some, especially in creative fields, it can make the difference between giving up or pushing through to complete a project or goal. Jay Etkin might not be a household name, but he has made a difference in the lives of countless artists. He says relationships and connections have driven his life and career as a successful artist, gallery owner, instructor, and museum director.

To learn more about Jay Etkin by visiting the link in bio!

BY JORDAN STAGGS
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF JAY ETKIN GALLERY

A HOSPITABLE APPROACH TO REAL ESTATE
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The Emerald Coast of Florida is known as a prime destination. With its pristine beaches and a strong sense of community and family, some would call this area a perfect vacation spot—others get to call it home. Understanding the significance of owning or developing property in this area can help fulfill the desire to feel at home here. Lambert Realty and Development takes pride in making the real estate process as personal and seamless as possible for its clients. In January 2016, Nathan Lambert branched out and founded his brokerage with the support of his wife, Corina. They are committed to the relationships they build and the clients and coworkers that are a second family to them. VIE had the opportunity to get to know them better. Enjoy this peek into their lives!

Follow the link in bio to read the full article and to learn more about Lambert Realty visit: LambertRealty30A.com or follow along with them on Instagram: @lambertrealty30a.

INTERVIEW BY @addie.strickland_
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF @lambertrealty30a

VIE NAMED TOP 50 GLOBAL LUXURY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

"It's our great honor to be included among such a prestigious collection of media around the globe," shares VIE's founder and CEO/editor-in-chief, Lisa Marie Burwell. "For VIE to be voted as part of the Top 50 Luxury Global Media and be in the company of Vogue, Vanity Fair, Harper's Bazaar, GQ, Dwell, and more is a dream after fifteen years of carefully curating our luxury brand."
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Read more about this top honor and browse some of our favorite VIE luxury photo shoots at the #linkinbio!

The Conrad New York Downtown pays homage to Austrian symbolist painter Gustav Klimt with special, limited-time-only interiors in its iconic Conrad Suite penthouse. The 1,500-square-foot “Conrad Gold in Motion Suite” has been decked out with over thirty floral arrangements and an oversized statement piece by Florabrook, the Manhattan florist-meets-interior-design team known for creating “living arrangements,” terrariums, and dramatic floral installations. Caroline “Flora” Lahti of Florabrook and her team created the arrangements using over 10,000 dried gold florals and plants inspired by Klimt’s gilded paintings.

ANIMAL ADVOCATE SHINES BRIGHT
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As I sit at my desk writing, I feel a pair of eyes fixed on my every move.

"Want to play outside now?” the eyes seem to ask. “How about now?” they plead a moment later. The sweet, longing eyes belong to foster dog Coral, whom I lovingly call Miss Coral. She’s been with me a few months, as she awaits a forever family. Surely a fortunate individual or family will soon recognize how wonderful she is and what an ideal companion she would make.

"Alaqua Animal Refuge has become a place where dreams come true for animals and the people who are so dedicated to its mission. It's a place of healing, where broken hearts mend and damaged souls find solitude, a place where school children come out and memorize the name of every animal and leave wanting to be their voice. It's been called by many 'heaven on earth' for the creatures who pass through these gates," Laurie Hood beams.

Read more about the good that Alaqua is doing for our community at the #linkinbio.

BY JANET THOMAS
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ALAQUA ANIMAL REFUGE

LET’S TALK WITH THE CHANGE MAKERS
VIE SPEAKS SEASON TWO IS HERE!

Like the days of fireside chats and radio dramas, listening to entertainment is cool again. Whether you’re into educational topics, motivational speaking, science fiction, celebrities, movies and TV, or anything else, there’s probably a podcast about it—and listening is free for most of them. In 2020, the creators of VIE magazine embarked on a new adventure to make VIE Speaks: Conversations with Heart & Soul. This podcast series features our CEO and editor-in-chief, Lisa Marie Burwell, hosting guests at VIE HQ and chatting about various topics, taking the content on our print pages to a more in-depth and personal level. Each guest is an expert in his or her field, and each conversation is an entirely unscripted look into a different brilliant, beautiful mind. Check out VIE Speaks Season Two, or catch up on Season One! Episodes are now streaming on all your favorite podcast platforms, plus our in-person video interview on YouTube.

Don’t miss these influential VIE Speaks Season Two guests, who are all change-makers in their own right. Read more at the #linkinbio.

IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME
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In the European-inspired New Urbanism town of Rosemary Beach, Florida, a jewel-toned speakeasy is the home of creative collaboration, great conversation, and unique events. But a selection of craft cocktails or a wall of wine isn’t what’s hiding behind this door—it’s SOWAL House, a creative space designed to foster new friendships and ideas among artists and entrepreneurs from Northwest Florida and around the globe.

The club's cofounder and chief visionary office, Dave King, moved to South Walton, Florida, in 2018 with his wife, Bo, and immediately felt the inherently creative energy surrounding the beachside community.

Read more about Dave and SOWAL House at the #linkinbio!

FINDING FAITH AND FAMILY THROUGH FOSTER CARE
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@torihopepetersen’s life is a compelling story of faith, hope, and forgiveness. With the clarity and wisdom of a much older person, her debut memoir, Fostered: One Woman’s Powerful Story of Finding Faith and Family through Foster Care, reveals a firsthand account of life in the foster care system. From the time she was three years old until she “aged out” at eighteen, she was shuffled to multiple foster homes to escape an abusive mother. Those homes were often less than ideal, but with an incredible faith in God and the guidance and kindness of people in her path, she was able to beat the odds. With strong academics and as a five-time state champion in track, she earned a full college scholarship. She is not yet thirty and already a wife, a mom, a foster mom, a sought-after public speaker, Mrs. Universe 2022, and a best-selling author.

She continues to tell her story as she builds a community for those who have experienced abuse. Petersen was kind enough to answer a few questions for VIE. I encourage everyone to read her memoir. Her generous spirit of love and forgiveness is on display and a reminder for us all to walk in kindness.

Follow the #linkinbio to read the full interview with @torihopepetersen.

A MODERN UTOPIAN SOCIETY OF ADVENTURERS

To be part of a place before it becomes well-traversed is a gift. Witnessing a virgin paradise during the earliest stages of a new creation is a fleeting experience to be cherished and met in a state of pure presence.

An amalgam of work and play, sustainability and cunning design, this destination fulfills both community interactions and restful solitude. As I stand on my balcony, I realize that I have landed somewhere surreal yet tangible. A sweet-smelling breeze rustles palm trees as far as the eye can see, the vibrant jungle greenery and nearby lagoon bordering unobstructed miles of beachfront. This is the Modern Utopian Society of Adventurers, shortly known as MUSA.

How do you live fully? Many of us would struggle to answer that question. What does it feel like to live a vibrant life—one that allows you to tap into peace, abundance, and gratitude more frequently than anxiety, stress, and fear? Is that even possible for everyone, or is a plentiful life reserved for a select few? We often turn to those we think “have it all figured out” to guide us in such an endeavor.

Read more at the link below!

VIE is proud to announce it’s been selected as one of the Top 50 Best Luxury Magazines in the world by the Luxury Lifestyle Awards. VIE magazine sets itself apart as a high-gloss publication focusing on human-interest “Stories with Heart and Soul.” VIE is known for its unique editorial approach as an inspirational luxury lifestyle magazine for everyone, everywhere, on a mission to add beauty to the world. The award-winning monthly title was founded in 2008 and is produced by the specialty publishing and branding house The Idea Boutique (TheIdeaBoutique.com).

There is no mistaking that change is in the air for many of us. Growth and transitions are part of the natural cycle of life, but they seem more revved up than ever before. From my vantage point, I feel a supercharged energy for change, and many people in my circle seem to feel the same. Meeting so many interesting and memorable people throughout the journey of publishing VIE has been an enriching experience. With this issue dedicated to “change makers” far and wide, what I have marveled at the most is how many people do amazing things for good as they shape and change our world. I stand in awe of their respective endeavors.

5 Family Friendly Vacation Rentals Perfect for Spring Break on 30A!
Courtesy of @royaldestinations30a
•••
With spring break right around the corner, you're sure to be on the lookout for the best place to enjoy a beach getaway! Look no further than the vibrant beach communities that can be found along Scenic Highway 30A in Northwest Florida. With walkable beach towns and outdoor entertainment, 30A offers the perfect combination of Gulf front relaxation and family-friendly activities. Read on to learn more about why these 30A vacation rentals make the perfect spring break destination!

Read the full article at the link in bio!

PANAMA CITY BEACH IS WHERE IT’S AT
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Known as “The World’s Most Beautiful Beaches” for a reason, the white-sand destination of Panama City Beach offers over twenty miles of coastline on the clear, warm Gulf of Mexico and the wildlife-rich St. Andrew Bay. It’s also home to world-class annual events, from music festivals to holiday extravaganzas, sporting events, and more. This family-friendly beach town welcomes visitors from around the world each year, and 2023’s lineup of festivals, concerts, and more promises good times for all ages. Check out some of the highlights at the #linkinbio.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF @visit_pcb

“I think there is a desire to unplug and be immersed in this environment, which is incredibly healing,” says architect Wade Weissmann, whose recent California Farm Retreat project is a beauty to behold. The collection of Spanish Revival-inspired residential and farm buildings and their surrounding four-hundred-acre property in the rolling hills of Southern California celebrate the organic yet dynamic feeling evoked by time spent admiring and connecting with nature.

Read more about this dreamy California retreat at the #linkinbio!

BY JORDAN STAGGS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY HOLLY LEPERE

Experiencing different cultures through travel is a luxury of its own. From the natural beauty of remote destinations to being surrounded by the whispers of centuries-old or ancient cultures, no single trip can truly be compared to another except in one area—the travel experience. Paul Gauguin Cruises is a luxury small-ship cruise line that creates highly tailored itineraries for your coveted vacation time. Inspired by the art of impressionist Paul Gauguin, the ship and its destinations directly reflect some of his French Polynesian masterpieces. The line’s ship, MS Paul Gauguin, cruises through French Polynesia and the South Pacific to immerse guests in the islands’ rich cultural heritage.

Learn more at the #linkinbio

Words by: Addie Strickland
Photography Courtesy of @PaulGauguinCruises

Who is ready to party for a cause? Join us Friday, March 10th, and Saturday, March 11th for an amazing two-day fundraiser for the children of Okaloosa and Walton counties.

We are fortunate to live in a community with such a giving spirit and we can't wait to all come together to support these amazing kids.

Tickets for the Soirée are on sale now. Visit the link in our bio for event and ticket details.

EAT, RELAX, SKI, REPEAT
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On the mountain, things are quiet. The fresh, perfect powder cascades and swirls around the skiers who are taking lessons, gliding heavenward on the lift, then descending via the hundreds of available trails that spiderweb over the mountains. In the valley, at the heart of it all, lies an old mining town turned vibrant tourism destination—Park City, Utah.

Read about all that Park City has to offer in the full article linked in our bio!

Words by @JordanLStaggs
Photos Courtesy of @VisitParkCity

More than just a gateway to the Galapagos, Ecuador’s mainland is brimming with natural riches too. A soft adventure to its cloud forests promises hikes to ethereal waterfalls, aerial rides through the treetops, and encounters with rare species found nowhere else on earth.

Not seen, but most definitely heard, a clamorous flock of bronze-winged parrots rustles in the canopy while a collared trogon flaunts its head-turning plumage like a showgirl. It’s a scene that unfolds two hundred feet above ground from an open-air gondola, which affords passengers a parakeet’s-eye view of the canopy.

For the full article follow the #linkinbio

BY SARAH FREEMAN | PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF MASHPI LODGE

IMMERSED IN NATURE
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At Bolt Farm Treehouse, located in Whitwell, Tennessee, guests can choose from a variety of treehouse suites where they can enjoy the feeling of being on top of the world and reconnecting with themselves through nature. The mountain retreat offers luxury treehouse-inspired accommodations surrounded by breathtaking views that calm the mind and invigorate the soul. In addition, guests can immerse themselves further in activities such as paragliding, hiking, horseback riding, paddleboarding, and yoga.

Read more about everything that Bolt Farm has to offer at the #linkinbio!

Photo by Chad Dyar, courtesy of @boltfarmtreehouse

A TALE OF TWO CITIES
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Often upstaged and overshadowed by their well-known European counterparts (including London, Paris, and Rome), Prague and Budapest are equal in beauty, history, culture, and, above all, charm. Located in the Czech Republic and Hungary, respectively, these unique Central European cities have their distinctions, resulting in well-deserved spots on many top-ten travel lists.

Visit the #linkinbio to read on!

Words By Cathy Whitlock

Thank you so much to founder Dave King (@king.daveking) of @sowalhouse for hosting our CEO/Editor-in-Chief Lisa Marie Burwell (@lisamburwell) on the latest episode of the Sowal House podcast. This series highlights creative individuals in the Northwest Florida area and beyond, telling their stories, sharing their insights, and having fun! Lisa shared her backstory of moving from Boston to 30-A, building brands and businesses, and learning that determination and faith must go hand in hand for success. Check it out now wherever you stream your favorite podcasts!

The @seaside_institute has been incubating and curating ideas since the 1980s.

Part of its mission has been to bring together early New Urbanism practitioners to discuss best practices for design, construction, retailing, market analysis, and governance and to teach the techniques to others. Join us February 24–26 for a full weekend of lively discussion centered around New Urbanism.

This years Prize™️ Weekend includes the following speaker line up:
Rick Cole - Keynote
William Fulton
Norman Garrick
Henry Grabar
M. Nolan Gray
Elizabeth Moule

Andrés Duany - 2023 Seaside Prize Walking Tour Leader/Speaker

Donald Shoup - Seaside Prize™️ Winner 2023

Visit the #linkinbio to get your tickets! #seasideprize #seasidefl #newurbanism

We set off for Antarctica under fire. Bullets of skin-bruising, bone-saturating rain and hail pelted us as we boarded our ship in Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city on the globe—otherwise known as the “fin del mundo,” or the end of the world. Beyond this point, land plummets into the sea, resurfacing at the White Continent—the bottom of the world.

Remote, wild, vast, mysterious, majestic, beautiful, deadly Antarctica—the windiest, coldest, driest, and most hostile land on our planet—lay more than one thousand kilometers and two days away. Between us and it was the most treacherous body of water on Earth—the Drake Passage. This volatile Jekyll-and-Hyde channel, where the Atlantic, Pacific, and Southern Oceans collide, shows occasional benevolence under the guise of Drake Lake. Still, more often than not, it rages as the Drake Shake.

Ocean Endeavour, our Chimu Adventures-chartered polar cruise ship, hit the passage just as Drake calmed down from an outburst. Though our expedition leader had delayed our departure to avoid the worst of the violence, we still had to pound through furious waves that rose like demons from the depths, throwing our vessel from one swell to the next. So many people were felled by motion sickness that the restaurant and bars were left largely deserted, occupied only by those who, like me, have the sea in their blood or—less poetically and certainly more accurately—legs as sturdy and solid as an anchor.

Read more about this Antarctic adventure at the #linkinbio

BY @xeniataliotis | PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF @chimuadventures

The Caribbean Sea is dotted with island jewels varying in geography from white sand beaches to tropical jungles, mountainous terrain to coral reefs. Each offers a diverse mix of ethnicities, languages, cultures, and cuisine. Let’s visit two sparkling examples in the far corners of the Caribbean—Bonaire in the south and the Turks and Caicos in the north. The appeal of swaying palms and lapping waves is a common theme, yet the destination details are distinctively different.

Read the full article at the #linkinbio!

Words by Caryolyn O'Neil
Photo Courtesy of Wymara Resorts and Villas

When it comes to travel, the planning of a journey is half of the fun. No matter if it’s for a quick weekend getaway or an extended trip, the excitement and anticipation lift my spirit just thinking about all that needs to be done before making the great escape from my daily life routines. And, after being grounded by the pandemic for two years or so, who doesn’t need a good getaway?

Read the full article from VIE's Editor-in-Chief by visiting the #linkinbio!

Life is busy and demanding of our time. The placement or management of our time is arguably one of the most important factors in staying healthy. To fit everything into our daily lives, sleep is often sacrificed—but what else are we sacrificing when we give up sleep?

Join @sinfoniagulfcoast this Saturday, January 21st as they celebrate the life and artistry of Judy Garland. Featuring Broadway stars @morganajames and @thenickrod, don’t miss this centennial celebration! The show starts at 7:30 PM … swipe 👉🏻 for @more details and head to the link in bio for tickets!

Experience the outstanding works of Escape To Create’s Artist-in-Residence, Matthew Whittall and Dan Thomas, for one unforgettable evening of classical and jazz music. Grab your tickets for Saturday, January 21st at 7:30 PM at the #linkinbio!!

A PLANT-BASED SPIN ON THE TREND
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I love food. My memories of places I have traveled have always been as much about the food as the scenery. Whether cooking or eating out, I find joy in what I eat. And I am not a picky eater—other than my aversion to having milk on my cereal (when I was a child, my mother gave me a bowl of cereal and a glass of milk instead of combining them), there are very few edibles I wouldn’t try. So last year, when it became clear that I needed to stop eating dairy and eggs because of allergies, it took time to adjust to having limits on what I eat. I didn’t know if I could cook without those ingredients. So, I researched recipes without eggs and dairy and found a treasure trove of vegan and plant-based cookbooks, magazines, and websites. I learned how to make delicious food and decided to take the final step by eliminating all animal products from my diet.

Visit the link in bio to check out some amazing recipes!

BY COLLEEN SACHS

BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION
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We all want to be the epitome of health. We buy fancy skin-care products, go to classes such as Pilates and HIIT religiously, and look into every new-age trend as soon as it hits the market. For what? A sliver of a chance to be timeless. An elegant adage that tells us we’re the lucky ones. Face-to-face with our mortality, we put our faith into every dazzling thing as the next great way to look and feel younger. But the problem is, we’re missing out on the real secret: health and beauty come from a more foundational approach. We can layer all the creams and try all the juice fasts, but if we don’t have a strong structure, then what’s the point?

A return to lasting, vibrant health lies in the basics of how we take care of ourselves daily. It’s about nourishing our bodies with bioavailable foods, removing toxins from our homes that leach into our skin, and, most importantly, ensuring the quality of water we drink.

Read more about this supercharged water and it’s amazing benefits at the link in bio.

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY @hunterburgtorf

MODERN FASHION ILLUSTRATION WITH @hnicholsillustration
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Art touches our lives in many ways. If you are a lover and fan of fashion and art, you may have heard of Boston-based artist and illustrator Holly Nichols. Her tutorial videos on TikTok and Instagram draw millions of viewers every month. Nichols’s art is inspirational to a wide and diverse following, as her many followers on social media would attest.

Her unique stylized presentation draws you in, mesmerizing with her use of color, effects, markers, and paper. Her videos inspire young and old to try their hands at creating art. At the core of it all is her love of fashion.

I asked Nichols her thoughts on fashion and its effect on society. She told me, “Fashion is everywhere. It is political, it is emotional, it is art. I vehemently oppose the thought that a career in fashion is frivolous, which it is often considered. The smartest businesspeople I know work in fashion.”

Read more at the #linkinbio!

BY LAURETTE RYAN | ARTWORK BY HOLLY NICHOLS

THE TOP 10 CITIES FOR GOOD MENTAL HEALTH
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@LawnStarter, the popular startup and blog known for making lawn care accessible and affordable, compared over 190 of the biggest US cities to rank 2022’s Best Cities for Mental Wellness. The study is timely, as the importance of one’s dwelling became all too clear during the recent pandemic. Access to nature’s beauty, quality of mental health resources, and living costs were paramount to making the health crisis a smoother ride for people. Reasonably, these factors still hold heavy precedence more than two years later. But, of course, other things that contribute to one’s quality of living are not contingent on zip code. So, please don’t feel the need to move immediately, but the list is undeniably insightful. Read the full list at the #linkinbio!

ickets are now on sale for the Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation’s 2023 Emerald Ball to benefit Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast, the event is Saturday, February 4, at 6:00 p.m. at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Resort Golf and Spa and is presented by Howard Group, Grand Boulevard, and Silver Sands Premium Outlets.

ORGANIZE YOUR HOME FOR PEACE
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We spend a lot of time in our homes, so it’s a good idea to cultivate a positive space rather than one that brings you down. Luckily, an entire ancient philosophy is based on just that, and you may have heard of it. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, feng shui is “a Chinese geomantic practice in which a structure or site is chosen or configured to harmonize with the spiritual forces that inhabit it.” Feng shui encompasses more than achieving an aesthetic. It is about balancing or optimizing the energy or “chi” in one’s home to align with nature.

Read more about the art of Feng Shui in the latest issue of VIE! #linkinbio

BY MARIANNE GORDON | INTRO BY EMME MARTIN

MIND-BLOWING BENEFITS OF ANTI-INFLAMMATORY NUTRITION
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Most people think their food can affect superficial things like their weight, their workout, and maybe their energy. But what if I told you that the foods on your plate are influencing your genes, your mental health, your anxiety, the quality of your skin, your digestion, the ache in your joints, the way your hair grows, the breeziness of your menstrual cycles, your rate of aging, your resilience and immunity, the levels of inflammation in your body, and your risk for chronic disease? Every nutrient packed into supplement bottles at your local health store can be found in a more affordable, digestible, and available form through real foods in the perimeter of your grocery store. Yes, it is that powerful; let me prove it to you. Read on at the #linkinbio!

MOVEMENT & CREATIVE ENERGY CONVERGE
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“Created to Move. Moved to Create.” That mantra welcomes you upon entry to Sculpt Studio, a premier fitness and creative space along Northwest Florida’s Scenic Highway 30-A. Nestled among the trees and scrub in beautiful Seagrove Beach, Sculpt Studio serves as a community hub that celebrates strength, connects like-minded individuals, and encourages every student to step into the best version of themselves.

The owners, husband-and-wife duo Mike “MJ” and Bentley Jackson, who met at a yoga studio in Dallas, have always shared a passion for fitness. “On our first date, MJ and I dreamed about opening a studio of our own,” Bentley shares. “We eventually moved to 30-A and got married. When COVID-19 hit, our passion didn’t waver, and we began filming virtual workouts and leading outdoor classes wherever we could. Whether on docks or in driveways, we quickly formed a buzzing community, bonding over sweat, gratitude, and what some call a ‘party on a yoga mat.’” Guided by their vision and community support, the couple jumped at the opportunity to open Sculpt Studio in late 2020. The business recently celebrated its second anniversary and won an award for Best Fitness Studio on the Emerald Coast.

Read more about this dynamic duo at the #linkinbio!

BY HAILEY BETHKE | PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF @sculptstudio30a

NAVIGATING LIFE TRANSITIONS & CONSCIOUS LIVING
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They’re spiritual seekers, heart-centered entrepreneurs, community leaders, and, above all else, two best friends tackling big conversations with ease and a lot of laughter.

Krista Williams (@itskrista) and Lindsey Simcik (@lindseysimcik) are the dynamic female duo and hosts of Almost 30, a top-ranking wellness, spirituality, and lifestyle podcast designed to support listeners’ personal growth and evolution. Fittingly, the two met when they were experiencing their own major life transitions. “We were navigating our Saturn Returns, the astrological transit that happens in your late twenties, which often forces you to confront major shifts in your career, relationships, and self-development. We were going through it all,” Williams recalls. “We met at a SoulCycle in Los Angeles. I was auditioning to be an instructor and had been rejected from the position—twice. That rejection was heartbreaking at the time, but it led me to Lindsey, our friendship, and our greater purpose together.”

Read more about this amazing duo at the #linkinbio!

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE
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When a type A personality like mine feels like we are moving too fast, we are. We need to slow down, as the world is moving at breakneck speed. A few years ago, I heard rumblings of the Slow Food movement that spawned the “slow living” concept and a series of offshoots like slow travel, slow fitness, slow gardening, slow fashion, and so on. I thought it was a fad, but I completely understood and embraced the ethos of Slow Food, which was founded in the late-1980s in Italy in response to a McDonald’s opening in the heart of Rome. Journalist Carlo Petrini and a group of activists formed the movement to support regional food traditions, and it has since hit home for me and many others.

Making time for balance, wellness, and mindfulness in our daily lives isn’t just for athletes or yogis. It’s become office water-cooler talk (or Zoom chat talk), a mainstream conversation topic, and a way of life for many people.

In recognition of a very aggressive year and an exciting one ahead, we decided to close the office for December so that we could reset, revisit, and be present with our friends and families during the holiday season before coming back refreshed on January 2. A belated Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a blessed New Year to all!

To Life, Love & Peace!
XOXO
@lisamburwell

WHERE TO BE IN 2023 AND BEYOND
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There’s a lot to see in 2023 as international travel restrictions relax and pent-up demand for exploring the world returns.

According to insight surveys conducted by Virtuoso, a global luxury travel network, travel sales in 2023 are already pacing 47 percent higher than in 2019. This bright news was unveiled at the Virtuoso Travel Week, which attracted five thousand Virtuoso member travel advisors, destination representatives, and travel companies from over one hundred countries. The annual mega-event held at MGM Resorts in Las Vegas is recognized as the “fashion week of travel,” where the latest trends are shared to help industry professionals plan for what clients want next.

THE OTHER SOUTH OF FRANCE
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Since Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald lured the Beautiful People to the pine-scented beach colony known as the Côte d’Azur, this storied strip of Mediterranean coast has weathered a century as a playground for affluent Americans, Brits, and Russians—as well as French and Italian high society. Yet the Fitzgeralds came late to the game, two thousand years after the emperor Augustus made the South of France a beloved outpost of Imperial Rome. He built palaces and temples in which to sup the region’s succulent wine and local produce, arenas to entertain, aqueducts to bring fresh water, and—of course—magnificent spas to make the most of the glorious Med and its rose-colored healing salts.

The last thing vacationers want to worry about is if the reality of their accommodations matches what they booked online. They need to have confidence in the booking process and throughout their stay, so their biggest concern during the trip will be whether to get up and watch the sunrise or catch up on some much-needed Zzzs. It is just as important for homeowners to know their Gulf-front condo or spacious beach house is well taken care of and producing a good return on their investment while they are away. A vacation rental property management company like Vacasa, which also specializes in Gulf Coast real estate, can ensure all of the above.

RECIPES FOR YOUR HOLIDAY TABLE
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It’s that time of year when the Christmas bells are ringing and holiday hosts are planning festive soirees and spirited spreads for gatherings with those they love most. Whether you’re planning an elegant dinner party, a merry brunch feast, or a workplace smorgasbord, this roundup is for you! VIE got in touch with some of our favorite foodies to find out what’s on their tables, and they graciously agreed to share the holiday cheer. Be sure to stop by their blogs or social media channels to say thanks! Bon appétit!

SEE THE WORLD 🌎
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Retreat to your dreamy cabana and rediscover the world of imagination. Joali is a luxury resort located on two private islands in the Maldives. Nestled among the blue lagoons of the tides, ivory sands welcome guests to an oasis blending ancient wisdom and modern technology. The transformative experience is marked by luxury hospitality and a wonderland of nature’s abundance. Enjoy a holiday surrounded by Maldivian craftsmanship while embracing the art-immersive island retreat.

To learn more about @joalimaldives, visit Joali.com or check out the story in VIE’s March 2019 Issue. | Photo courtesy of Joali Maldives

There are few more qualified than the award-winning interior designer, TV personality, and mother-of-two Kathy Kuo to advise on adorning one’s home for the holidays. It’s easy to get carried away while rummaging through the disarrayed holiday aisle at your local big-box store, but Kuo is here to tell you that you don’t need to subject yourself to that. As with all design projects, it’s always best to start with a plan, so she breaks down her most practical and luxurious holiday decorating tips from which anyone can take notes. Kuo covers everything from designing the ideal holiday tree to executing a showstopping table setting. The holiday season is about spending time with loved ones—even while decorating—so grab your favorite people and prepare to bedazzle your home with these seasonally tasteful tips.

To catch the full story visit the #linkinbio and be sure to follow @viemagazine and @kathykuohome for holiday tips and tricks!

Interview by @emmemartin
📷 | Courtesy of @kathykuohome

The years seem to be going by faster and faster, and this one was no exception. Looking back at all that was accomplished in our publishing ecosystem and the numerous milestones we achieved, it is both amazing and humbling. We celebrated our hundredth issue in February with the legendary Julian Lennon gracing the cover and leading the pack of Top Ten Change Makers. We also held a solo exhibit of his stunning fine-art photography throughout our fifth show home, with celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse and his son, E. J. Lagasse, cooking in the kitchen for a celebration with two hundred guests and proceeds benefiting Point Washington Medical Clinic.

With this issue, we also pay our heartfelt homage to change makers the Davis Family, the founders and visionaries of the holiday beach town of Seaside in Northwest Florida. This year was challenging but also a year of growth for me and my team, and I hope never to stop evolving, maturing, and seizing life with an insatiable zest for joy and love. I wish the same for you this holiday season and always.

Read the full note from our Editor-in-Chief at the #linkinbio!

THE BEAUTY OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN
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First impressions are important, and for a home, curb appeal is a key component. From the architectural appearance to the curated landscape layout, The Heritage – A VIE Legacy Show Home was built to impress. Patrick Hodges, the lead landscape architect for the project, is the founder of Patrick Hodges Land Studio and has been practicing landscape architecture in Northwest Florida since 1981. He graduated with his degree in landscape architecture from the College of Architecture at the University of Florida and has worked on premier developments such as Seaside, Alys Beach, St. Joe communities, and many more. With an expansive portfolio and expertise, Hodges’s professional fingerprint is undeniably planted in the outdoor living spaces of this show home. VIE sat down with him to gain an insider perspective on the home’s outdoor beauty.

MAKING OUTDOOR LIVING A BREEZE
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A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Chris Bailey grew up spending summers along the then-sparsely populated Scenic Highway 30-A. His parents built one of the first homes in the New Urbanism community of Seaside, and Bailey’s memories of visiting include playing tennis on the town’s clay courts, surfing, and eating fish sandwiches at Bud & Alley’s (the only option for miles around, at the time).

“Thirty-A was a beautiful and remote area during that decade of the 1980s,” Bailey says. “No one could have imagined how our area would expand and explode to become what it is today.” The popular tourist destination has boomed, and with it has come new homes, condos, and businesses galore spanning the communities by the coast and beyond. Of course, that means a lot of work for local architects, interior designers, landscapers, and home decor manufacturers.

Bailey, who lived in Atlanta and worked many years in the restaurant industry, says learning about customer service and fine dining proved helpful later, when his passion for furniture and design was revealed. He opened retail locations and began selling his creations to the public through his brands, Industrial Chic Loft and Maison 30a Home + Garden. VIE was thrilled to have Bailey as a partner on its fifth show home, The Heritage, located in Seagrove Beach, Florida. We sat down with Bailey to talk about his companies, the show home, and what’s coming up for Maison30a. Visit the #linkinbio for the full article!

Visit Maison30a.com and Industrial-Chic.com to learn more or shop collections by Chris Bailey and his team. You can also follow along on Instagram @maison30a to see more, or visit the showroom at 16810 Panama City Beach Parkway, Panama City Beach, Florida, Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

📷 | PHOTOS BY @modusphoto

To serve your community is to give from a place of unwavering love. This is precisely what Point Washington Medical Clinic embodies as its team aids thousands of patients through the goodwill of a passionate volunteer medical staff and generous donations from the local community.

Point Washington Medical Clinic, shortly known as the PWMC, was founded in 2017 with the vision of providing low-cost, high-quality healthcare to all members of the Northwest Florida community in Walton and surrounding counties. The clinic is operated entirely by volunteers passionate about delivering affordable healthcare regardless of a patient’s accessibility or background. Its cofounders, executive director and primary physician Hillary Glenn, DNP, ARN, and Dr. Patsy Vargo, MD, have created a community resource that has served thousands of patients free of cost, providing more than $2.5 million in healthcare savings.

E.F SAN JUAN BRINGS PEACE OF MIND
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No one understands legacy better than E. F. San Juan. For four generations, the family business has provided custom architectural moulding, millwork, and cabinetry to some of the most beautiful homes along the Gulf Coast. The company ethos lies in delivering specialty styles with the highest quality craftsmanship for the utmost satisfaction. Therefore, it was a no-brainer that the San Juans would be an integral part of making The Heritage – A VIE Legacy Show Home something remarkable.

On June 24, 2021, at the Soleil Soiree, the golden shovels struck the ground marking the space where The Heritage – A VIE Legacy Showhome would eventually stand tall. Over the following year and a half, the development team conducted numerous meetings discussing tile choice, fabrics, and construction to bring the vision to fruition. In addition, everyone detailed the ins and outs of the elaborate process in The Making of a Show Home documentary, filmed by @chandler_williams_ and his team from @modusphoto. Finally, in September 2022, construction was complete, and it was time to celebrate! The @heritagedunes30a Grand Reveal brought out beloved community members for a night of celebration featuring a solo fine art photography exhibition by Julian Lennon and catering by Chefs E.J. and Emeril Lagasse. It was a night to remember!

The Best of @bevolo
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As a family business operating in the Big Easy since 1945, Bevolo Gas & Electric Lights understands the meaning of “legacy.” This wealth of experience and a longtime partnership with VIE magazine made the bespoke manufacturer of hand-crafted copper and stainless steel lanterns a perfect match for The Heritage – A VIE Legacy Show Home. Bevolo’s stunning lights greet guests in the home’s front courtyard and wash the terrace in a warm glow from above. Andrew Bevolo, Sr., first learned metalworking at World War II-era manufacturers, including Ford, Sikorsky, and Higgins—specifically on ships and aircraft. He later repurposed that expertise to make high-quality copper lanterns from techniques not used before in the lighting field. Some of his original lanterns are still operating in the French Quarter today.

We were fortunate to speak with the company’s third-generation owner, Drew Bevolo, and marketing rep Patty Palmer about the brand’s partnership with The Heritage.

Read the full article at the #linkinbio!

📷 | Photos by @modusphoto

Honoring 2023 Winner Donald Shoup
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The Seaside Institute is pleased to announce that Donald Shoup, a distinguished research professor in the Department of Urban Planning at UCLA, will be honored as the 2023 Seaside Prize recipient for his radical rethinking of parking policy. In his groundbreaking 2005 book, The High Cost of Free Parking, and his work since then, Shoup changed how cities view the relationship between parking and the built environment, traffic congestion, energy consumption, and local economic development. The Institute will hold the Twenty-Ninth Annual Seaside Prize Weekend on February 24–26, 2023.
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Story and photography courtesy of the Seaside Institute

Bringing Bella Mare to Life
•••
Houston residents Tamara and Carl Tricoli, like millions throughout the past several decades, have been longtime repeat visitors to the pristine white-sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico. They fell in love with the area known as “30-A” in the southern part of Walton County, Florida, over thirty years ago when they first married. The New Urbanism towns of Seaside and WaterColor were just making names for themselves back then. As the couple visited throughout the years, they found it exciting to watch these and other unique beach communities fully develop. Their three daughters and now five grandkids have also come to know and love the beaches, leading the Tricolis to purchase a Gulf-front home in Seagrove Beach where everyone could enjoy them together.

This idea of having a legacy home and creating memories by the Gulf ultimately inspired Carl and Tamara to start their new development firm, Bella Mare Real Estate Holdings, whose first project is a collection of nine custom homes in the private neighborhood of Heritage Dunes in Seagrove Beach. The first of those homes is the remarkable showstopper known as The Heritage – A VIE Legacy Show Home, which was completed and brought to market in September 2022. We caught up with the Tricolis to discuss their vision and the legacy they hope to create along these beautiful turquoise waters.

The process of purchasing and selling properties can be overwhelming, but the right brokerage can make the transition smooth. Gay and Jeff Landreth are cofounders of La Florida, a boutique real estate firm based in Grayton Beach. A mark of genuine expertise is time, and with over forty years of experience in the real estate industry, broker Gay Landreth is more than equipped. But perhaps more significant than her team’s knowledge is its heart for the business. This passion is extended generously to clients to find the perfect fit, keeping future generations in mind. That ethos is what The Heritage – A VIE Legacy Show Home was built upon.

@laflorida30a’s core competence lies in working on development projects, from conceptualization to closing, which is part of why Heritage Dunes was such an exciting opportunity. In addition, their expertise in working with developers carries over to their work in general brokerage real estate. Nonetheless, this project was a serendipitous event as it emphasizes La Florida’s strength and knowledge in development. La Florida is the broker of record for the nine Bella Mare Real Estate Holdings lots within the Heritages Dunes community. VIE sat down with the Landreths to discuss the captivating backstory of their involvement, the real estate market along 30-A, and the importance of teamwork—check out the exciting conversation below.

A Legacy Behind the Scenes
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Before it could become the 4,800-square-foot custom masterpiece it is today, The Heritage – A VIE Legacy Show Home was just an idea. Birthed and nurtured by a host of creative minds and business leaders, this is truly a show home that will create a lasting legacy for its residents. As the winds gently whisper through the sea oats on the dunes of the nearby Gulf of Mexico, those who live in the private community of Heritage Dunes experience a refined yet relaxed way of life. This is the story of how a show home is made and how this one, in particular, will give way to eight more unique luxury residences in its wake.

People might see a beautiful home and fawn over its design, interiors, and details, but often the construction team is a background singer to the final product. Every structure begins as a plot of land with untapped potential, and The Heritage – A VIE Legacy Show Home is no exception. Owner Chris Burch of @grandbayconstruction and his team, plus numerous building partners and contractors, were the boots on the ground (and on the roof) who made this gorgeous custom home happen in just over a year and a half. From breaking ground to helping the VIE team perfect the details for the grand reveal party, the GBC crew laid the foundation for this beautiful residence to come to life. We caught up with Burch to learn more about the process.

Visit the link in bio to read more!

Bringing Sophisticated Flair to a Southern Coastal Home
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Duce May of @duce_and_company Interiors brings over twenty-two years of experience designing homes along the Gulf Coast and a lifetime of taste to The Heritage team. His style ranges depending on the project, but his ability to deliver a fresh, elevated design is always consistent. For The Heritage – A VIE Legacy Show Home, May maintained the Southern coastal traditionalism conveyed by the home’s architecture, but he added some haute couture flair. It is a show home, after all!

Read the full article at the link in bio!

📷 | @modusphoto

To envision a home before it becomes bricks and mortar is a feat of epic proportions. Studying the lot’s topography and making a building program work within the constraints of landscapes, codes, and clients’ desires are tantamount to working with a real-life puzzle. There are many variables to navigate during the conception of a vision and its execution, but this is where it all begins.

Gerald Burwell, the principal architect and founder of the firm Burwell Associates based in Grayton Beach, Florida, speaks the language of architecture fluently. A man of precision and attention to detail, he has also been the publisher of VIE magazine since its inception and vice president of The Idea Boutique marketing and branding agency, putting those skills to use to ensure beautiful products for clients across the US and beyond.

Most recently, Burwell was selected by real estate developers Carl and Tamara Tricoli as the architect of record for their nine-home project in Seagrove Beach, Florida, in the private, gated community of Heritage Dunes. The first of those homes is The Heritage – A VIE Legacy Show Home, which sets the standard for the following eight and is a stunning testament to the talented team the Tricolis have assembled, starting with Burwell’s master plans. The VIE team is especially excited and proud that Burwell designed the magazine’s fifth show home and sat down with him to discuss it in more detail.

Bouj & Co. sparkled all night at The Heritage Show Home reveal party! The brand’s Italian champagne cart was a dazzling display that greeted guests before they walked the VIE pink carpet to enter the home. Glittering gold cotton candy bombs enhanced the visual appeal of the drinks and kept guests coming back for more. The personalized hand-painted bottles added extra character to the night’s overall event decor curated by Fisher’s Flowers, representing The Heritage show home and its partners.

To learn more, visit BoujandCo.com or follow the design studio on Instagram @shopboujandco.

As an extraordinary addition to the grand reveal celebration of The Heritage - A VIE Legacy Show Home in Seagrove Beach, Florida, Bella Mare Real Estate Holdings and VIE magazine announced an exclusive solo fine art photography exhibition by internationally acclaimed artist Julian Lennon.

Swipe 👉🏻 to see just a few of the pieces that were featured in the exhibit and head to the link in bio to see the full collection!

📷 | @julespicturepalace

In her piece titled Blinded, artist Lindsay Tobias (@artbydoman) depicts a woman looking quite poised and elegant, yet she struggles to see what’s in front of her. The captivating painting allowed guests at The Heritage Show Home celebration to ponder the intriguing concept. Perhaps the takeaway is that it is easy to make something look attractive, but without a purpose, one might struggle to see what matters.

📷 | @hunterburgtorf

“Bella Mare Real Estate Holdings began with a vision for this neighborhood in Heritage Dunes. The Heritage – A VIE Legacy Show Home is the first of nine custom homes coming to market in this generational enclave on the Gulf. Each house will be unlike its neighbors, so the owners truly feel it’s theirs. This is a place they can be proud to live and invite family and friends to experience for years to come.”
— Carl & Tamara Tricoli,
Owners/Cofounders

📷 | @modusphoto

A House Becomes a Home

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.
—Psalm 127:1

Starting a monumental project in the middle of the pandemic was an interesting time for everyone. Still, as I am not one to shy away from a challenge, we decided to approach a new development firm in town to see if they would be interested in partnering with VIE on what would be our fifth show home to date. Fast-forward two years, and the project culminated in a grand reveal party on Friday, September 16, 2022, and all involved undoubtedly felt this was a journey of a thousand miles or more. This launched the first of nine custom homes by developer Bella Mare Real Estate Holdings in the quaint hamlet of Heritage Dunes, just off Scenic Highway 30-A in Seagrove Beach, Florida. Owners Carl and Tamara Tricoli intend to use The Heritage – A VIE Legacy Show Home as an example of each Bella Mare home’s outstanding quality and customization, two facets of the company’s core ethos. With plans to grow along the Northwest Florida coast, Carl and Tamara have also hired CEO Steven Hinkley to guide and manage the firm in creating remarkable, unique homes residents will enjoy for generations.

Read more from our Editor-in-Chief @lisamburwell in the new Show Home Issue!

📷 | @hunterburgtorf

Before You Go…
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All aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express! For the first time, this Belmond train will offer one-night December excursions to Florence, Paris, Venice, and Vienna. It’s an enchanting option for those looking to experience the festive European season by way of a midnight-blue carriage. If that’s not intriguing enough, guests will enjoy luxurious private cabins and meals by acclaimed Chef Jean Imbert while gazing at the passing winter wonderlands. Bon voyage!

Visit Belmond.com to book your next adventure.
Photo courtesy of Belmond

It’s fun to have fun things. Pops of color, whimsical patterns, cheeky trinkets, and silhouettes inspired by decades past can make life merrier. In this art-centric issue, we hope you feel encouraged to add more vibrancy to your world. Whether rocking some mustard velvet palazzo pants or hanging an eccentric new art print in your bedroom, it’s time to live your most colorful life!

The detail in the angle of the lighting and the casting of shadows demonstrates master artist Claude Monet’s superb technique in Still Life with Flowers and Fruit (1869). From the woven basket to the folds in the tablecloth, the descriptive brushstrokes are characteristic of an artist who shaped the development of impressionism. Still-life art depicts the influences of outdoor forces on indoor ornaments, such as the reflection and shadows cast by natural light. Creative genius is fostered through a deep appreciation of nature, even in a staged environment like this.

To learn more about Monet, visit Claude-Monet.com.

Photo courtesy of Claude-Monet.com

IRREGULAR IN FORM
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The Tectonic House in Venice, California, is a marvel of architecture. With two separate buildings connected by a boardwalk, its unorthodox vertical structures reflect the funky spirit of the surrounding neighborhood. Designed by Coop Himmelb(l)au, the Tectonic House is a masterpiece, and the interior design is on par with the artistic vibe. The house completely abandons the traditional style and colorfully sports a modern vernacular.

Photo by @ericstaudenmaier

PIECING TOGETHER THE ART OF LIFE
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Artist Lizzie Gill is a native New Yorker and a staunch believer in all things New York. Whether she is upstate immersed in nature or embedded in the heart of the city, New York is a part of her soul. Born and raised in Westchester, educated at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, and eventually spending her post-grad years in the Brooklyn area, she says, “I have been New York-centric my whole life. I started my career in a flat shared with three other artists, working on a desk in my room, then moved to the Ridgewood area, and ultimately settled in Brooklyn Heights.” That is why she never imagined moving to Connecticut.

But, when the stars aligned and circumstances of a global nature hit, the decision was obvious. “I never thought I would move over the border, but it’s the best of both worlds,” observes Gill. With the proximity to the city, Gill says she can get her much-needed infusion of museums and galleries at any time.

Read more about Lizzie at the #linkinbio!

Words by Laurie Crowley
📷 | @lizzie.gill.art

The holidays are fast approaching, and this year, international publishing house gestalten has teamed up with a renowned food-blogging sensation, Our Food Stories, to create an inclusive menu through its new coffee-table cookbook.

A Year with Our Food Stories is a gluten-free cookbook inspired by a love of local produce and the art of table setting. Delightful and surprising, these seasonal recipes will help you cook simple and delicious vegetarian meals that are best shared with family and friends. From cakes enjoyed in the scented breeze of high summer to warming meals served by the fire in winter, return to the rhythm of nature and cook your way through the year with Our Food Stories.

Pick up the latest issue of VIE to read more or visit the #linkinbio!

Story and photography courtesy of gestalten
Photography Credit: @gestalten

PORTRAITS THAT SPEAK
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When you hear the word portrait, what do you envision? Is it the intensity of the faces produced by such supreme masters of the arts as da Vinci, Rembrandt, and Vermeer; the staid paintings of England’s queens and kings lining the walls of a gallery; the vivacity of Warhol’s celebrity screen prints; the sometimes-painful, almost-intrusive intimacy of Diane Arbus’s photographs; or the stylized realism of Amy Sherald?

Whatever image you have in your mind’s eye, however realistic it is, it will share one common characteristic with all other portraits: it is an interpretation, an impression of the subject as seen by the artist.

Read more at the #linkinbio!

Words by @xeniataliotis
Photography courtesy of @harvey_b_brown and @davidscheinmann

SEE THE WORLD
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Where a Robinson Crusoe-esque fantasy meets high-end, twenty-first-century travel, the Private Reserve at Gili Lankanfushi Maldives is the world’s largest overwater private villa, elevated above the Indian Ocean. Guests enjoy seclusion and privacy while relaxing in lounge spaces by the infinity-edge pool, working out in the air-conditioned gym, indulging in treatments at the private couples’ spa (complete with a sauna and indoor-outdoor treatment rooms), and sliding down the waterslide into sparkling turquoise waters. By night, enjoy a movie in the private cinema before retiring to one of the two spacious suites. It’s the essential luxe locale for your next holiday abroad!

Photo courtesy of @gili.lankanfushi

CULINARY ARCHITECTURE
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Artist Subodh Gupta has built a new installation called Cooking the World at Casanova Gardens at Cipriani, a Belmond Hotel in Venice, Italy. This piece of artwork was constructed using thousands of previously owned pots, pans, and other kitchen utensils. The interior has a full kitchen and dining area for guests to enjoy. This structure takes culinary art to the next level!

Photo by @MarcoValmarana, courtesy of @Belmond

DISCOVER CASTLE ELVIRA
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“I looked with timorous joy towards a stately house: I saw a blackened ruin . . . The lawn, the grounds were trodden and waste: the portal yawned void. The front was . . . perforated with paneless windows: no roof, no battlements, no chimneys—all had crashed in.

“And there was the silence of death about it: the solitude of a lonesome wild . . . What story belonged to this disaster? What loss, besides mortar and marble and woodwork, had followed upon it? The calamity was not of late occurrence. Winter snows had drifted through that void arch, winter rains beaten in at those hollow casements; for, amidst the drenched piles of rubbish, spring had cherished vegetation.”

These paragraphs from Charlotte Brontë’s nineteenth-century novel Jane Eyre capture the moment Jane returns to find Thornfield, the house where she had discovered what it was to love and be loved, in ruins. They are a fitting description of the sight that met Steve Riseley and Harvey B-Brown when they first saw Castle Elvira in Puglia, Italy, in 2018. Now an exquisite boutique hotel, the castle had been abandoned for more than a century and was as dilapidated and shrouded in the same “lonesome wild” as Thornfield upon Jane’s homecoming.

“We had to hack our way through thirty-seven acres of brambles, weeds, and wilderness to reach it,” says Riseley, “and when we got to it, we could barely see its beautiful pink-and-gold facade for graffiti. Inside, we had to tread carefully, testing the floors step by step in case we fell through them. It was a ruin, but sometimes it’s not what your eyes see that counts, but what your mind envisions. We saw what it could be.”

Read the full article at the #linkinbio!

Words by @xeniatalioti
📷 | @castle_elvira

ST. GERMAIN
THE ESSENCE OF LIFE
•••
Actress AnnaSophia Robb looked stunning in a Carolina Herrera gown at the second annual Fleuriste St~Germain paper flower shop-cum-craft cocktail bar pop-up in NYC’s SoHo neighborhood. Cultural tastemakers, celebrities, musicians, and industry innovators sipped on signature St~Germain elderflower liqueur cocktails concocted by paper floral designer Zoe Bradley and multihyphenate artist Jameel Mohammed. The whimsical paper flowers designed by Bradley, creative workshops, and live jazz performances and pottery by Mohammed were inspired by the current global flower shortage and sought to reimagine the joie de vivre of fresh florals.

Photography courtesy of @stgermaindrinks

A CONVERGENCE OF ART AND DREAMS
•••
It’s the late, late show for culture vultures who are also bon vivants—the final golden weeks of that unmissable international artfest, the Venice Biennale. No ordinary visual spectacular, it features world-class painting, sculpture, film, and installations from every corner of the planet in La Serenissima, with its sublimely romantic places to stay, eat, and get lost crossing canals when the galleries are closed.

Why go? Because it’s full of things you will otherwise never see assembled all in one city, given how seldom artists from remote corners of the world get exposure in mainstream galleries or museums. This 59th Biennale, the first in three years, features the work of 213 artists from 58 countries and is also the first in which more women than men are exhibiting.

Read more about this amazing exhibit at the link below:
https://loom.ly/DiSipW4

Words by @anthea_gerrie
Photo by @richardjamestaylor, courtesy of @Belmond

THE PINK GLAMOROUS HOUSE
WHERE THE HEART IS

The Pink Glamorous House, designed by Greg Natale, is a treat for the eyes. The interior of the four-thousand-square-foot penthouse in Melbourne, Australia, is inspired by French architecture, jewelry, and the over-the-top glam style of the 1980s. The complementing gold and pink accents make a bold statement reflecting the personality and creative mind of the homeowner. Interior design is an art, and what better canvas is there than the one you’ll see and live in daily?

📷 | Photo courtesy of @bocadolobo

FROM SANTIAGO TO MADRID
•••
“Can you imagine a world without art? Creativity pushes society forward. I think curiosity in any field is what makes us evolve and helps us find meaning in who we are and what we do.”

These are the profound words of Adolfo Correa, a graphic designer testing the definition of art as we know it, drawing inspiration from his Latin roots as a Chilean native by utilizing rich colors and patterns. As a creative, he explores visual narratives and aims to change how we connect with art, whether through his commissions for brands like Nike, Corona, and Mercedes-Benz or projects closer to home where he draws upon his personal interests in history, culture, and figure drawing.

Read more about Adolfo by visiting the #linkinbio!

Words by Hailey Bethke // @thesunshinesignal
Artwork by @adolfocorreadesigner

KALON HOME LIVES UP TO ITS NAME
•••
Kalon, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is “the ideal of physical and moral beauty, especially as conceived by the philosophers of classical Greece.” The word is used primarily when describing moral goodness or beauty from within. Kaitlyn Tiller, the owner of Kalon Home Interiors, lives up to this ideal in almost all aspects of her life and work. Her business is built on her love for travel and her heart for others. From her cozy design style to her future dreams of starting a nonprofit, few people in this world radiate warmth as beautifully as Tiller does with Kalon Home.

Born and raised in the Florida Panhandle, Tiller always knew the beach community along Scenic Highway 30-A would be her home. After graduating from Auburn University in the spring of 2020 with big plans to spread her wings, the coronavirus pandemic redirected her to that home on the Gulf Coast. “When God closes a door, he opens a window,” Tiller says of her interrupted plans. For her, this window happened to kickstart her dream of creating her own interior design business—a business that is now thriving. We sat down with Tiller to learn more about @kalonhome_ and her endeavors.

Visit the #linkinbio to catch the full interview or pick up the latest issue of VIE!

INTERVIEW BY @sallyneal__
PHOTOGRAPHY BY @kaitlyn_tiller

The Alys Beach Crafted Festival is just around the corner! Join in on the festivities to experience crafted beverages, culinary experiences, artistry, and workmanship from top craftsmen around the country.

Create your own hand-dyed silk masterpiece with Sydni, owner of Sydni Gause Silks and professor of art, at the "Be the Maker" workshop event on October 21st at 4pm.
During this dye workshop, Sydni will take you through the process of creating your own naturally dyed silk scarf. From preparing the silk fiber to wash-and-care basics, Sydni will coach you through the art of dyeing textiles. She will even share insights into the plants you will use for a variety of color and patterns, which are grown in her own local dye garden.

Ready to embrace the artistry of the natural elements? Purchase tickets via the link in our bio.

POP ART THAT POPS
•••
“It all began as an experiment, as most arts do.”

This statement will click immediately for viewers of Betsy Enzensberger’s gloriously high-fashion sculptures of ice cream, ice pops, french fries, and other delicious shapes. The Palm Springs-based artist’s roots lie in New York, where she grew up adjacent to some of the world’s best art, cultural events, museums, performances, and restaurants. From a young age, her love of the arts opened her eyes and mind to new possibilities for what her life could entail.

Read her full story at the #linkinbio!

BY JORDAN STAGGS | PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF BETSY ENZENSBERGER

CREATIVITY KNOWS NO BOUNDS
•••
Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, artist Bradley Copeland does not remember a time when she was not prone to creative exploration. She describes art as a way to make sense of the world. As a woman with a seemingly endless curiosity for subjects ranging from science to sociology, her work is a means of contemplation. Through painting in her studio in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, she feels she can settle on a fresh and more beautiful perspective. It’s a practice she claims is her native language, and she believes that sharing it with others is more beautiful than anything she creates. Although her work is stunning, the messages she translates remarkably surpass the physical appeal, and that’s the magic of art. Copeland describes her native language to us in the interview below.

INTERVIEW BY ADDIE STRICKLAND PHOTOGRAPHY BY SEAN MURPHY

FALL COLOR PALETTE
•••
Japanese artist Midori Sato’s painting Autumn Rose Garden Closet is everything we want in our dream wardrobe for this fall! From the gentle shades of green to the vibrant lilac in the dresses, paired with a rose behind the ear, her romantic vêtements are sure to be the diamonds of the season. Art is drawn, painted, photographed, sung, and worn, but the best part is that it is continuously rotating, always fresh and inspiring.

SECRET STORIES ON CANVAS
•••
It’s never a guarantee that children will follow in their parents’ footsteps, but for Gretchen Weller Howard, the daughter of two New Orleans artists, the call to create has always been strong. “The backdrop of my childhood was steeped in art and its processes,” she shares. “My father had a studio in the French Quarter, and we frequently visited him and the other artists on the Square—Jackson Square. My mother was part of an all-female painting group, and I have great memories of doing woodcuts and drawings under her guidance.”

When the devasting Category 5 Hurricane Katrina approached the Gulf Coast in August of 2005, Howard and her husband were forced to evacuate their home in Pass Christian, Mississippi. They came back to ruins. “After we lost our home and our collection of art, including my parents’ pieces, I started painting vessels that resembled boats,” Howard says. “I placed within them fragments of the paintings that we found on our property when we returned to Pass Christian in the weeks following the storm. In this way, I found a new purpose for the lost art, as it represented something tattered but unbroken—rebuilding and reborn.”

During that emotional yet evolutionary moment, Howard also began to develop her own symbolic “language” that prevails in her works today. Her alphabet comprises colors, materials, and images that tell visual stories when she arranges them on canvas. “I describe myself as a symbolic colorist,” she explains. “I use multiple mediums of acrylic, plaster, remnants of paintings lost during Katrina, pencil, and crayon to convey secret narratives. Each story is told through a vast vocabulary of symbols.”

To read Gretchen's full story visit the #linkinbio and if you are in town October 14th and 15th be sure to stop by @adaroart to meet @gretchenwellerhowardart! We can't wait!

BY @jordanlstaggs | PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF @adaroart

How do you feel when you walk into an art gallery? Do you feel welcomed? Encouraged? Inspired? I hope you’re answering “yes” to these questions, but I hear time and time again that many people feel just the opposite. They expect a gallerist dressed in all black to look down on them as they enter and walk around the space where there are no information labels. You know that adage, “If you have to ask, you can’t afford it”? That phrase seems to have been made for the art world. When it comes to buying art, most people I talk with fall somewhere between feeling optimistic but cautious and woefully ill-prepared. After a decade of owning a business in the art world, these are my tips to help you feel better about making your next art purchase.

Read all of Lindsays tips in the latest issue of VIE!

Conrad New York Midtown Is a Microcosm of New York City’s Art Scene
•••
The art scene in New York City is among the world’s finest. Thanks to abundant opportunities and diverse audiences, the city offers millions of artists the chance to make a mark—no wonder the streets bleed culture and grit. Conrad New York Midtown, situated amid the most bustling borough, Manhattan, keeps the city’s artistic poise at the core of guest experiences, but that’s not all.

Conrad New York Midtown is a Hilton Property that occupies the coveted corner at West 54th Street and Seventh Avenue. Conrad New York Midtown is an elite choice for a swanky stay in the city, close to some of the city’s most famous landmarks, with 562 luxury accommodations (starting at 500 square feet) and exclusive amenities. Here, it’s easy to sleep—even if the city doesn’t.

A Little Bit of Everything
•••
For some, finding their passion is a lifelong journey. Others are lucky enough to discover it early on and maybe even claim it as their college major—imagine that. Sally Neal belongs to the latter group, but it’s likely no surprise to those who meet her. She bleeds artistic expression in every aspect of her life, from her colorful wardrobe to her bubbly personality—but it’s on canvas where she feels the most authorized to let her true self shine.

Read more about Sally at the #linkinbio!

Words By Emme Martin
📷 |Photography by Kaitlyn Tiller

THE JOURNEY OF AN ARTIST
•••
Mother Nature, with all her strength, stands to fall at the hands of humankind. However, this gloomy statement comes with a silver lining: photography is becoming a unifying voice for nature, communicating what she can’t. Visual artist Chandler Williams, owner of Modus Photography in Grayton Beach, Florida, is on a mission to give back to the earth through his new fine art photography collection. Williams is a Walton County native who has created a distinguished photography portfolio and garnered world-renowned respect. As a genuine artist, he recognizes that nature is art in its purest form. Through a deeply personal revelation, he has taken on the mantle of interpreting nature and speaking on her behalf through photography while challenging himself and pushing his boundaries in fine art. With this new chapter of his career, Williams has curated a process that endorses and elevates photography as a form of art and activism.

Art has been a staple in every culture connecting us to the past for thousands of years. History is recorded by brushstrokes, camera lenses, and the emotions of each artist. Yet, from paintings and drawings to still photos and film, art’s influence on society is still sometimes understated. So is the effect that collectors have on the art world. What pieces are worth collecting and why? Artists are the stars, but collectors allow us to see them. To know what fine art is, one must appreciate the depth of an artist’s process and the emotion and story behind each creation. Williams says that fine art photography is created, and that’s what separates it from more basic forms of photography.

Thinking, creating, and plowing through to the other side are what it takes to realize a vision, and seeing its completion is one of the most rewarding blessings. Whether the endeavor is a painting, an architectural masterpiece, a fresh new take on interior design, or anything built with a craftsman’s heart, the struggle is an inevitable part of the birthing process to create something new— and to make it excellent. It takes much more courage and time than most can imagine. When art commands a steep fee, it’s a sweet reward for the artist because getting there requires everything they have—often including sleepless nights, doubt, and patience. I’m sure the talented creatives throughout these pages can also tell you that trailblazing and forming new visions are not for the faint of heart.

As we present this issue to you, I am beaming with excitement at how cool this wraparound cover looks and feels. It is a new work by fine art photographer @chandler_williams_ titled Aphonic, and it is spectacular. Read all about it in his feature story, “Behind and Beyond the Lens: The Journey of an Artist,” by Addie Strickland. We have partnered with Williams and his company, Modus Photography, on The Heritage – A VIE Legacy Show Home for over a year, collaborating on a documentary called The Making of a Show Home. It includes storytelling by the home’s creative team, from the groundbreaking to the grand reveal party this September, and it’s one of our best filmmaking efforts to date. We could not have been more aligned with the right person for the job. Stay tuned for Chandler’s stunning photography of the home in our November issue. Thank you to @smarttphoto and @mister.brooks from the @modusphoto team, as well—we could not have done this without you all.

Read Lisa Burwell's complete Editor-in-Chief note at the link below!

Technology is an ever-rotating glass door with advances and setbacks. However, an appreciation for ancient rituals and centuries-old wisdom keeps us connected and rooted in our past. The Ojo de Agua Spa and Wellness Center at Paradero Todos Santos takes you on a personal wellness journey through water-based therapies and invigorating massages based on ancient Mexican healing treatments. Now and then, it is good to step back from technology and take a deep breath of relief.

To learn more about Paradero Todos Santos, visit ParaderoHotels.com or follow them on Instagram @paraderohotels.

Photo courtesy of Paradero Hotels

Art in many ways, is a living being with emotions and influence. Thousands of years old, the world of art has evolved with the times but maintained its distinct breath and presene in in society. The latest update within the intersection of art and technology is NFTs, or non-fungible tokens. With NFTs, art in its physical state is being transformed into a cryptographic asset in digital blockchains. As new as the concept is, the fact remains that art has already proved through history that it is malleable with the times. A prominent Brooklyn-based multimedia artist and illustrator, Charles Bentley creates masterful fusions of nature and dreams, from paintings to exclusively digital art. His determination to develop his craft throughout his career and with the changing times of technology has amassed over twenty-two thousand followers on Instagram.

To learn more about Charles follow along with him on Instagram at: @charlesbentley

On August 25, the Children’s Volunteer Health Network invited VIP friends, board members, and special guests to check out Niecy, the nonprofit’s new mobile restorative dental clinic. The bus will park at local schools in Walton and Okaloosa Counties to provide students with complete dental procedures. The organization’s second mobile clinic is named in memory of Denise Lisciotti, who served area kids through CVHN for thirteen years before she passed away in 2021. To learn more about supporting CVHN, visit CVHNkids.org.

Photos by Davista Photography

VIE x HARRY STYLES X THE CONRAD NEW YORK MIDTOWN
•••
The VIE team took a voyage to the Big Apple to celebrate the August 2022 issue by attending cover star Harry Styles’s Love On Tour at the famed Madison Square Garden. The show, of course, did not disappoint! Nor did the accommodations at The Conrad New York Midtown hotel, a luxurious new Hilton property just a couple of blocks from Central Park, shopping, the excitement of Broadway, and much more. We look forward to another stay in New York soon!

GOES ROUND AND ROUND
•••
The Line is a revolutionary linear city concept attempting to create an unprecedented urban living experience while preserving the surrounding natural beauty. The Saudi Arabian city is currently under construction in Neom, Tabuk. The infrastructure will accommodate nine million people and, with ideal weather conditions year-round, residents will be encouraged to enjoy nature. All public facilities will be within a five-minute walk of residences, rendering cars and roads unnecessary. The technology behind this smart city will prioritize people’s health over transportation and infrastructure. It is a comfort to know that the future of urban-planning technology may be stewarded by people who care about the environment and adapting technology to face modern challenges.

Health is the ultimate wealth. In an age where high performance is at the forefront of our minds, longevity, immunity, and increased functionality are more crucial than ever. With technological innovations streamlining groundbreaking discoveries in human health, we’ve interviewed industry expert Kayla Barnes to learn how to enhance our well-being.

Nantucket, ACK, and The Gray Lady are just a few names used to describe this historic island off the coast of Massachusetts. I remember my mother talking about trips there when she was a girl, but growing up in the central US always kept it off my radar. So, when asked if my husband, Alex, and I wanted to take a quick trip to explore Nantucket this summer, our answer was a resounding yes! Little did we know that it would be an adventure just to get there.

No reality is off-limits in the mind of digital artist Puks, especially with a bit of imagination and a good beat. Her work has evolved over the years from paper sketches to a mixture of 2D and 3D animations depicting alternate worlds, often quite serene. The tranquility in Puks’s work is not by mistake, as she often finds immense creative prowess while listening to music. Her art is the epitome of an escape from reality, as its subtle nuances encourage questions of what it would be like to live in the worlds she creates. VIE spoke to Puks about her inspirations, alternate worlds, friendship, NFTs, and even aliens. Check out the multidimensional interview at the link below.

Read the full story at the link below!

A Collision of the Past and Present
•••
I was recently reminded of something my mother would often say: “Keep up or get left behind.” Truer words were never spoken, especially relating to the intersection of the “old” versus the “new” in the emerging digital world we are all being thrust into. Facebook and others have even placed a stake in the future with the metaverse continuum they are building to prepare for the “new world.” Bitcoins, cryptographic assets, NFTs (non-fungible tokens), digital blockchains, and other cryptocurrencies are embedded in our everyday colloquium. It appears as if this evolution happened overnight for many of us, but it’s been brewing behind the scenes for years thanks to digital pioneers who forecasted that the new world would exist virtually almost as much as it does physically. I will even dare to say some believe the digital universe could overtake the physical one as we know it. This paradigm shift makes the most futuristic Star Trek episode seem benign in its outlandish musings of what life could look like in a place where no man has gone before.

Read my complete Editor-in-Chief note at the link below:

XOXO
@lisamburwell

Even in the middle of wartime, dancers dazzled. No star shined brighter in occupied France than St. Louis-born jazz performer-turned-spy Josephine Baker. She so entranced the pasha of Morocco he invited her to take refuge from the bombs of France at his palace guest house in Marrakesh.

Thus Riad Star earned its name even before it entered its current incarnation as a hotel that attracts all who feel a connection to one of America’s most legendary performers.

Read the full story at the link below!

Ana de Armas plays Marilyn Monroe in the new Netflix movie, Blonde. The film is based on Joyce Carol Oates’s best-selling novel and explores the blurry line between Monroe’s public and private lives. The movie was written and directed by Andrew Dominik, and supporting actors include Bobby Cannavale, Adrien Brody, Julianne Nicholson, Xavier Samuel, and Evan Williams. Blonde will be released on Netflix on September 23, 2022.

Read the full story at the link below!

Visitors might want to cheer as they enter the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, which finally opened in Los Angeles last fall, nearly a century after members first proposed it.

But in praising Hollywood alone, you’d be selling short the most exciting new attraction to open in La-La Land in a generation—one that acknowledges how audience appetites have changed and grown. It embraces world cinema and American musicals, westerns, and film noir that packed movie theaters across the planet in the era before television brought entertainment home. Visitors can expect tributes to great directors of many nationalities, from Eisenstein to Almodóvar, celebrating more than a century of moviemaking. There’s also an unashamed nod to Tinseltown in the optional added attraction that allows you to collect your very own Oscar and be filmed making your acceptance speech!

Read the full story at the link below!

In Paris on July 6, 2022, Balenciaga presented its 51st Couture Collection, Demna’s second for the House. It draws on and further develops the Balenciaga legacy using advanced technology and traditional techniques. Collaborations with artisans and industrial design visionaries lend another layer of technical craftsmanship and technological innovation. The star-studded event was followed by a VIP dinner at Hotel de la Marine.

Marilyn Stafford, one of America’s longest-lived creative exports, always thought that if she found fame, it would be treading the boards. After all, she grew up performing in the Cleveland Youth Theater, which launched her contemporaries Paul Newman and Joel Grey on their acting careers. Stafford went on to sing for her supper in Paris, where she caught the attention of Bing Crosby and Édith Piaf.

Read the full article at the link below!

Built into the seawall along the Armação de Pêra coastline, the Red Chalet is a charming four-bedroom luxury residence. The Moorish architecture incorporates the rich surrounding culture, complete with a terra-cotta terrace perfect for afternoon drinks. Its charming aesthetic marries the comforts of the present with the glamour of the past while subtly including contemporary modern design. The property offers guests a chance to journey back to simpler times and enjoy life in a seafront setting.

The soft hum of the engine is music to the soul as the legendary Riva Aquarama slices through the water. Publisher Assouline captures the wooden speedboat’s sixty-year luxury status through pictures and words from Michael Verdon, who brings to life the dolce vita charm. Since its beginning in 1962, the Riva icon has represented timeless beauty and is an extravagant trophy for owners. From basking in the warm Italian sun to speeding along the European coast, nothing is more entrancing than riding in the glistening mahogany of the Aquarama, the pride of Italy.

Social media platforms are exploding in many directions. With content ranging from hair and makeup tutorials to fashion advice, cooking tips, original music, and exercise videos, no topic is off-limits. The key to success depends on your engagement factor—is your video what the masses want to watch?

Follow the link to read the full article!

Multidisciplinary designer and illustrator Pilar Torcal takes art to the next level. Born and raised in Barcelona, the freelance artist has gained global popularity and is well known for her digital art in motion. Her work incorporates bright colors and soft lines to produce a signature look. She lives and designs in an empire of color! In addition to her illustrations, she works in art direction and brand design.

I’m a Barbie girl in a Barbie world! The iconic doll will take the big screen on July 21, 2023. Oscar-nominated actress Margot Robbie has been cast to play Barbie, and her costar Ryan Gosling will play Ken. The duo has been spotted Rollerblading through Cannes wearing iconic neon spandex athletic wear, and the behind-the-scenes photos have already taken the internet by storm. Other big names will also appear in the film, so mark your calendars!

On Friday, August 3rd, 2022, J.Leon Gallery + Studio, the area’s newest fine art gallery, hosted its monthly Sip N’ Stroll event, where three new artists debuted in the gallery’s Fall show. The gallery welcomed artists, Liubov Haskins, painter and jewelry artist, Staci Dabson, skateboard and surfboard painter, and Dorothea Berkhout, oil painter to the talented lineup of featured artists.

SAVE THE DATE
What: Sip N’ Stroll
When: Friday, September 2nd, 2022 | 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Where: J. Leon Gallery + Studio, 13370 US Highway 98, Miramar Beach
Click here for additional event details.

Read more about @jleongallery

When it comes to a good party, the essential elements are great music, better company, and a superior vibe. It’s easy to get lost in the details, but your soiree should be a hit as long as these core aspects are in place. This shopping list is the icing on top of your next event. From fancy glassware to luxury accessories, these pieces might be unnecessary, but they will undoubtedly bring the energy!

The most memorable experiences are often grounded in the connections we make, the quality of our environment, and the peace that emanates from each of us when we unplug and embrace the present. I had one such experience during my first trip to Bali in 2019. I was in Ubud, the island’s vibrant city known for its bustling arts and culture scene, when I arrived at Soulshine Bali, a barefoot luxury resort dedicated to togetherness. Much like what people say after reminiscing on their time in Bali, Soulshine carries magnetic energy that encourages visitors to turn inward while prioritizing well-being and joy.

@michaelfranti, the globally beloved musician, humanitarian, and activist, and his friend Carla Swanson are the founders of the resort. After visiting the island in 2007, Franti and his wife, @saraagahfranti, fell in love with its culture and nature, cherishing everything from the rice terraces to the ancient temples.

“The Balinese have a philosophy called Tri Hita Karana, which means ‘the three ways to happiness,’” Michael explains. “These three harmonies include the interactions between humans, humans and nature, and humans to spirit, which is the intention we built Soulshine around.”

To read the full story visit the #linkinbio. To discover more about Soulshine Bali or to book a Soulrocker Retreat, head to SoulshineBali.com.

BY HAILEY BETHKE @thesunshinesignal
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF @soulshinebali

Music lovers know that connecting with your favorite hometown artist can be even better than seeing a famous megastar for one night only. When you find the band or musician who plays all the things you love while you can sit and sip or enjoy a bite in a groovy venue close to home, it’s magic you can enjoy on a weekly or monthly basis. It’s a chance to unwind and listen to live music while fostering community. That’s precisely the type of magic that Southern Sound Music Alliance is dedicated to creating along Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Founded by South Walton, Florida, locals Naomi Alvarado and Jennifer Sundal, both of whom have musician husbands, Southern Sound Music Alliance is a booking and marketing agency for musical acts and an event production company. The concept seemed like a natural fit for the pair, who first discussed it in 2020 over cocktails at North Beach Social, Chef Jim Shirley’s local bayside hangout that features live music most nights of the week.

RAZZMATAZZ AND ALL THAT JAZZ
•••
When curating our annual Entertainment Issue, we wanted to be on point with all things contemporary and to give a well-deserved nod to the bygone eras whose great musicians and entertainers became legends. These stars can never be forgotten, and they help influence future generations, as well.

There is a lot of star power and gorgeous imagery in this issue; there is also a lot of happiness, which is what entertainment is supposed to give us. An escape. A thrill. And, most of all, joy.

—To Life and Love!
xoxo @lisamburwell

Read the full Editors Note at the link below.

The beauty of any design is in the perspective of the viewer—the ability to walk into a room and interpret the art or the vibe in a different way than everyone else can. Everything about interior design is intimate for the homeowner yet open to the scrutiny of every beholder. Just as fashion pieces are marked as trendy, classic, minimalist, or funky, each house has a style and story of its own.

Is it a house? Is it a yacht? You’d be forgiven for asking when standing at the stern—sorry, rear—of this expansive home on one of Miami Beach’s exclusive Venetian Islands. You’re firmly anchored to land yet have the feel of floating over the silvery shimmer of beautiful Biscayne Bay.

Credit the celebrity architects who spent weeks observing the bay at all hours before ordering mosaic tile for the infinity pool that seems to flow seamlessly into the ocean beyond. “I was on the property at every time of day—on my way to the office, after work—watching how the color of the water changed so we could do our best to match it,” says Paul Fischman of Choeff Levy Fischman, a practice that names Barry Gibb, Matt Damon, and other stars among its clientele.

A bespoke experience that transforms your soul and helps you find your inner voice while becoming a force for change, the Golden Door Luxury Resort & Spa is a wellness destination that takes guests on a journey of self-discovery. As they unplug from the stresses of daily life, they can focus more on the elegance of simplicity. VIE had the special opportunity to sit down with Kathy Van Ness, the general manager and COO of this inspiring retreat in scenic San Marcos, California, to see how!

Fashion photographer Morgane Maurice lives and breathes creativity. Born and raised in the City of Light and now residing in London, her keen eye for style is understandably inherent. She offers a behind-the-scenes look at the top shows from fashion weeks worldwide, highlighting the beauty in the madness of fashion chaos. Beyond the catwalk, her street-style photography captures the essence of showgoers in all different forms. Her style and artistic repertoire are prolific, and it’s only the beginning of her career. We talked to Morgane about her unexpected journey to where she is today and where she thinks fashion is going. Check out her stylish takes:

Major fashion houses are embracing a new trend on the blockchain, and you may have overheard your highbrow coworker or gamer friend talking about it. So, in honor of this issue, we are talking about NFTs—non-fungible tokens—in the metaverse, specifically on the virtual runway.

The stars aligned for the @gucci Resort 2023 collection debut. The cosmic event was held at @casteldelmonte in Andria, Italy. As guests started to arrive at sunset, the runway was illuminated by an array of constellations. The glow of a full moon accompanied medieval references, and Alessandro Michele’s galactic layers of satin and velvet enchanted the fashion world. Pulling from the past and future, Gucci’s resort runway show truly rivaled the brilliance of a starry night sky.

Ana Popescu creates art that celebrates the home from the inside out. With modern charm and clever use of color, she captures the beauty of architecture and design. The geometric shapes in her work, paired with the strong contrast between light and shadow, appeal to the eye of the beholder and play on themes of space and relation.

To view her other work, visit PopescuAna.com or follow her on Instagram @ana___popescu. | Photo courtesy of Ana Popescu

The KENZO Poppy Collection is going back to the future to bring us lush floral prints for the season! The collection designed by Nigo pays homage to the fashion house’s founder, Kenzo Takada, who was known for his fascination with flowers, especially the poppy. Nigo designs clothes for the future while tying them to the wisdom of the past. This limited-edition floral collection is for men and women, and the big, bright print delivers the perfect dose of summertime vibes.

To learn more about this limited-edition collection, visit BrownsFashion.com. | Photo courtesy of KENZO

It’s time to stock the pantry for back to school. August 22nd is right around the corner and Food For Thought needs our help! FFT’s annual back-to-school drive aims to provide over 3,300 healthy food-filled backpacks to children in Walton and Okaloosa Countiy. The VIE team is participating as a Fundraising team this year and is currently raising money through donations at our Fundraiser page linked in our bio. We hope you will consider helping us raise money for this fantastic nonprofit organization! To learn more about Food For Thought, visit FFTfl.org, follow along at Food For Thought Outreach Inc, or check out our VIE Speaks podcast Episode #14 with FFT founder Tiffanie Nelson.

Givenchy’s fall/winter 2022 collection married reality and luxury. Straightforwardness seemed to be the theme, yet the Givenchy radicalism still shines through in bold accessories and unique beauty looks. The layering textures and moody color palette seemed to pay homage to the brand’s softer origins. The collection celebrated the arrival of streetwear sensibility.

Model: Mika Schneider
Photo by Adam Katz Sinding
Instagram: @aks

As a visual artist and all-around creative located in the idyllic coastal community of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, Chandler Williams has wowed audiences with his travel photos and beach landscapes for years through his company, modus. His work has been recognized by many esteemed publications and has garnered numerous awards, including Williams being named South Walton Artist of the Year for 2021. As an ambassador for the area and an advocate for its countless creatives of all genres, Williams shares his philosophy on art in the world and news about his upcoming fine art photography exhibition, Past, Present, Future, which he plans to launch this year.

Photography by @chandler_williams_ // @modusphoto

“We like to say we grew up on the golf course,” shares Rachelle Williams and Hayden Shoffner, the Charlotte, North Carolina-based blondes behind Byrdie Golf Social Wear. “Whether riding the golf cart with our grandmothers or having evening practices on the driving range, we were always on the links with our families. Of all the memories we collected on the course, the one that has remained the clearest is how well our grandmothers dressed when playing golf.”

This understanding—that one should never compromise their personal style for any occasion—is what set the pair on a mission to bridge the gap between modern fashion and performance wear while paying homage to the sophistication and style of their matriarchs. “Through @byrdiegolfsocial, we hope to not only reintroduce personal style back to the game of golf but also to celebrate a new generation of women who bring friendships, cocktails, and legacies to the nineteenth hole.”

Be sure to read more about this stylish duo at the #linkinbio!

At some point, every little girl’s dream was to find a fairy—or perhaps to be one! The dream becomes a reality with Tyler McGillivary’s new collection, Unnatural. Every piece in the line is feminine and quirky and allows you to feel like you’re one with nature through clothing. The brand’s collections are inspired by everyday creativity and personal expression. This one lets wearers celebrate their identities and indulge in their dreams with a little bit of pixie dust.

To explore the new collection, visit TylerMcGillivary.com.

Photo courtesy of @tylermcgillivary

A New Era for Retail in Seaside
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Just in time for summer in Seaside, Florida, the retail goddesses have presented locals and visitors alike with an all-new shopping experience in the heart of this beloved New Urbanism community. The “new” Cabana by The Seaside Style opened on June 17 on Central Square, after moving from its open-air shopping plaza on Scenic Highway 30-A. Its humble beginnings as a fruit stand-turned-Saturday market blossomed over the past forty years into the well-known shopping experience curated by Seaside’s matriarch, Daryl Rose Davis, and The Seaside Style team.

Read more about the new Cabana at the link below!

Words By Jordan Staggs
Photography courtesy of The Seaside Style

Imagine a Colorful World
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Born with an innate curiosity and a happy spirit, I have found that using my imagination can literally transform my life. The proverbial adage “Think outside the box” has been my mantra for most of my days, and it helps when running a business that requires so much imagining and creating daily. Imagination is the fuel that keeps life interesting and forward-moving. Choosing to look at the positive side of things has been a gift from above for me, as well. Being happy is something of an art form because you must choose, nurture, and commit to wanting it. For me, there is no alternative. I need to be in a state of happiness, or else I can hardly think, produce, or enjoy my life—so to say one of my favorite songs is “Happy” by Pharrell Williams would be an understatement! And if Instagram’s algorithms are accurate (ever-changing though they are), I know I’m doing alright when all that comes up on my feed are adorable puppies, people dancing—and I mean doing some amazing dancing—and uplifting quotes.

In a world travailing and going through so much change and angst all the time, it is hard to stay positive and happy, but it’s something worth fighting for. Gratitude and hope are the two things that allow us to go through tough times with the knowledge that “This too shall pass,” as nothing ever stays the same. There is always hope for brighter days, no matter how hard the circumstances are. We all have to wrestle with difficulty throughout life. Founding father Thomas Jefferson knew this to be true when he penned in the Declaration of Independence that we all have the unalienable right to “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Hope, joy, inspiration, information, and beauty are central to our magazine’s ethos, and this issue kicks it up a notch with gorgeous imagery of art and fashion. Our cover girl, artist Lindsay Tobias, is gifted in so many areas of life. We are proud to present this gem to the world through our pages in Laurie Crowley’s article, “In Pursuit of Everything.” Lindsay’s story is impressive, and this beauty is more than a triple threat.

Assistant editor Emme Martin’s article, “That’s So Meta: Fashion Update from the Ether,” explores and explains how the NFT craze is permeating the fashion world. She breaks it down for us, as it looks like NFTs are a thing of the future that is here today. These are just a few highlights from this issue, and there is much more to be found within its pages. As you flip through them, we hope that the stories bless your day with an experience of living life in technicolor—a life full of beauty and art.

Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth.

—To Life!

Lisa Marie Burwell
CEO/Editor-in-Chief

Hotel Effie has partnered with the Emerald Coast Autism Center for a special one-night event hosted by celebrity chef Hugh Acheson on July 15 at 6pm-10pm. The pre-fixe dinner will take place at the hotel’s signature restaurant, Ovide, nestled in the heart of the world-famous Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.

The spectacular culinary showcase will allow attendees to meet and interact with chef Acheson during the dinner, which will include a multi-course menu, showcasing Acheson’s creativity and passion for distinctive ingredients and cooking techniques by fusing coastal cuisine with a sophisticated French influence.

Read more about this wonderful event at the #linkinbio!

Hit new heights in New York! The Langham on Fifth Avenue is a luxury hotel that offers a unique perspective of NYC. In addition, the sophisticated hotel offers special deals to make your stay even more memorable, such as a one-night stay with VIP tickets to tour the Empire State Building for two. Yes, please! Enjoy an exclusive view of Fifth Avenue and Midtown Manhattan from the comforts of a luxury suite.

The Langham on Fifth Avenue offers special deals to make your next stay unforgettable. Visit LanghamHotels.com for more details.

Photo courtesy of @langhamnyc

While living in San Francisco and building a lucrative career in real estate finance, Erica Wildman enjoyed helping friends with their design projects. She was visiting one of them when Wildman asked about a painting she admired. Learning her friend was the artist, Wildman announced, “I want to paint something!” ⠀
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The rest was history! Wildman opened her own @ewildmangallery in 2019 where visitors can come see her work in person by appointment. ⠀
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Keep up with Erica on Instagram at @ewildmangallery and pick up the latest issue of VIE to catch her full story. ⠀
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Words by Sallie W. Boyles ⠀

Is anyone in need of a picture-perfect, refreshing drink? That’s always a yes from us! Unwind, dine, and be of good cheer at @lavoristorante in LA. The new hot spot is located along the famed Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. From signature cocktails to dramatic iterations of the classics, the drink menu superbly complements the restaurant’s Italian inspiration. A fruity cocktail topped with a spicy hint of habanero is the right way to start the weekend.

Photo by @AshleyRandallPhoto

The Festival—32 Venues, 288 Shows, and Four Days with People I Know Sprawling across thirty miles of sugar-white sand and quaint Florida communities, Scenic Highway 30-A sets a utopian scene for music lovers, beachgoers, and creatives to connect with nature and with one another.

Dreamt up by @jennifer.lynn.steele, executive director of the @culturalartsalliance of Walton County (CAA), @30afest is a creative collaboration between the CAA and Atlanta-based artist manager Russell Carter. He manages many who play at the festival. “We were thinking it would be a small kind of neighborhood event, and it really—thanks to Russell’s involvement and bringing his artists in—grew more quickly than we could have expected,” Steele recalls.

The motivated duo brought the community together from Sandestin to Rosemary Beach to produce the first 30A Songwriters Festival in 2010.

Words by @sammiaccola
Photo by @shellyswangerphotography

Mirage is a part of an exclusive collection by Sabine Marcelis for Gallery COLLECTIONAL, located in Dubai. Marcelis captures the energy of nature as the shapes and colors of the mirrors merge with their surroundings. The mirage references the duality of Dubai during the day and night, with colors inspired by the warm desert sun. ⠀
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Visit TheCollectional.com or SabineMarcelis.com to learn more. ⠀
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Photo by @ramimansourr, courtesy of Gallery @the_collectional

When Nikhil Alexander Abuvala and Hannah Grace Alford met in 2018, it was not love at first sight. Hannah had moved temporarily from New Orleans to the coastal area of Scenic Highway 30-A in Northwest Florida to help open a new boutique in Alys Beach, just a few miles from where Nikhil, a chef, owns two successful restaurants in Grayton Beach. “During that time, Hannah met my sister through mutual friends, and they became close,” Nikhil Abuvala recalls. “My sister told me about her, that she was really cool and had amazing style, but then Hannah went back to New Orleans before I got to meet her.” However, fate would intervene, making sure the pair crossed paths again—enough times that they finally realized they were meant to be.

Pick up the latest issue of VIE to read their full love story!

Photography by Ollie Alexander, @loveisradco

Explore over eight thousand acres of marshland surrounding Little St. Simons during your stay on this resort island, where nature meets luxury. This secluded isle located off Georgia’s southeastern coast lies halfway between Jacksonville, Florida, and Savannah, Georgia, and is accessible only by ferry. It’s an ideal retreat for outdoor lovers, as the breathtaking surroundings offer endless opportunities for reconnecting with the environment and oneself.

Visit LittleStSimonsIsland.com to book your stay or learn more.

Photo by @cassiewrightphoto, courtesy of @littlestsimonsisland

What does it look like to set aside your talents and hopes to travel down a dusty dirt road and find a new dream you never knew lived in your heart? Ask @erica.l.stone, who put a burgeoning career in country music on hold to adopt an orphaned child from Sierra Leone, Africa—a move that would change her life forever.

Jason and Erica launched The Raining Season in 2007. Since then, they have adopted five of their six children from Sierra Leone. Their family now serves, travels, and speaks on behalf of the orphaned, raising awareness and pursuing God's heart through the gift of family.

Read more about their family and their amazing mission in the latest issue of VIE.

The Bridge car exhibition has become one of the most exclusive and celebrated events of its kind in only six years since its inception. So how did a longtime Wall Street executive, a branding and events expert, and a Manhattan attorney join together to create one of the world’s most exclusive luxury car shows? Pick up the latest issue of VIE to read more! #linkinbio

Photos by Jared Siskin/PMC
Follow along @thebridge.hamptons

A destination that was just named the top trending spot in America by @airbnb and the number one summer hot spot for 2022 by @travelandleisure, Walton County, Florida, may seem like an easy sell for vacationers. The county has seen tremendous growth over the past few years as real estate sales have boomed, and many people have sought a life at the beach rather than in more urban areas. Walton County has also been one of the fastest-growing local economies in the U.S. since 2019. Considering the draw of its stunning beaches, unique neighborhoods, and endless activity options, it’s not hard to see why these things are true.

Pick up the latest issue of VIE to read more about all the fabulous work that Walton County Destination Marketing Organization and Tourism and Development Council is doing! @southwalton

When most think of a Holiday Inn, they might picture an interstate hotel that’s the perfect stop on a road trip or during a business conference. However, the Holiday Inn Resort Panama City Beach is the furthest thing from that basic hotel experience. This upscale, 340-room destination experience offers a family-friendly all-in-one resort with Gulf-front rooms, private balconies, and incredible views. It also features multiple dining options, an expansive beachfront deck, a tiki bar, daily live entertainment, and supervised kids’ activities.

The idea for guests staying here is that they can park their car and never have to leave. The resort is centrally located on Front Beach Road, the perfect place to stay for a relaxing getaway and exploring popular points of interest in Panama City Beach. The staff’s amazing service and dedication to making each stay memorable bring guests back time and time again.

Locally owned and operated, @holidayinnresortpcb is one of four area properties in the Hilton family’s collection, which also includes the Holiday Inn Panama City, Holiday Inn Express, and @holidaygolfclub (soon to be rebranded as Legacy Golf Club).

Be sure to read all about @holidayinnresortpcb in the latest issue of VIE!

When thinking of Moroccan culture, the best word that comes to mind is rich. The vibrant colors, intricate architecture, artisan heritage, and hospitable people solidify a visit to the North African country as a bucket-list adventure. Aptly deemed a city of immense luxury, Marrakesh holds the finest Moroccan pleasures. Tucked within the sumptuous town, the Royal Mansour offers visitors a quintessential Moroccan experience. VIE spoke with general manager Jean-Claude Messant, who shared some secrets about the hotel’s magic.
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Interview by @emmemartin
Photography courtesy of @royalmansour

The tiny island of Mustique is a magical world away from Caribbean crowds. One of the Windward Islands not too far from St. Lucia, this three-mile-long island is part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Here you’ll find a bamboo airport building, protected coral reefs, scenic hiking trails, and a community spirit that encourages quiet beachside picnics and lively nights of music under the stars.
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It’s the kind of place where the phrase “if you know, you know” is aptly applied.

By @carolynoneil
Photography courtesy of @cottonhousemustique

Bustling bazaars, rich history, delicious street food, and an abundance of colors fill the streets of Jaipur. The vibrant Indian metropolis is also called the Pink City, as it’s home to the famously intricate and impressive Hawa Mahal, composed of pink and orange sandstone. Other colors also abound, such as at the Green Gate in Pitam Niwas Chowk. Assouline takes readers on a tour of the captivating destination in Jaipur Splendor.​​​​​​​​
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Visit Assouline.com to purchase or learn more. ​​​​​​​​
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Photo by Rowena Naylor/Stocksy, courtesy of @assouline

Sit back and enjoy a uniquely crafted cocktail in the Mediterranean-inspired open-air dining space of Baia Beach Club. This is the perfect spot to sit back, relax, and watch the sunset over Downtown Miami. After a day of sitting poolside watching the yachts pass by, the calming environment continues into the dining areas, complete with a bohemian touch. A gentle breeze and a cool drink await you at the Baia Beach Club!​​​​​​​​
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To book your reservation at Baia Beach Club, visit BaiaBeachClubMiami.com.​​​​​​​​
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Photo courtesy of @baiabeachclubmiami

A dream vacation could undoubtedly include taking a stroll on the beach along the Amalfi Coast. Enveloped by the Italian seaside culture, a unique aspect of luxury and adventure awaits visitors here. Charter a boat and explore the island of Capri or go on a guided tour of Pompeii. The possibilities are endless, so let the adventure begin and the dreams come true!
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Photo by @simon_andrew_nham

The Seaside pavilions mark the beginning and the end of some of life’s sweetest moments. The captivating trademark structures are conveniently nestled at the end of each main neighborhood street, a nod to Seaside founders Robert and Daryl Davis’s vision for a New Urbanism walkable community. The easy navigation and unique designs assemble these pavilions as idyllic gathering places and gateways for generations to enjoy. Each of the distinctive structures depicts its respective architect’s style and understanding of complex simplicity—encapsulating the very essence of Seaside, Florida.
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Photographer Jeremy Harwell turns his lens away from the Gulf as he elegantly captures the nine Seaside pavilions on a clear day.
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Words by @emmemartin
Photography by @harwellphoto

Santorini remains the most active volcano in the South Aegean, and it is still a place of mythical mystique, though its more recent rebirth—as a star of Instagram and top 10 lists of places to be seen—sometimes eclipses that. Its incomparable beauty, rather than its history, has become the key attraction. It is, admittedly, difficult to break the spell of those bewitching views long enough to go in search of something more, but the rewards for those who do are immeasurable.​​​​​​​​
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​​​​​​​​Words by @xeniataliotis

Petit St. Vincent, just a speck on the map, is a secluded paradise in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, right at the convergence of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It’s so secluded, in fact, it takes a little extra determination to navigate your way to this 115-acre private island resort designed for a digital detox, intentionally void of televisions and Wi-Fi in the rooms.
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Rory Doyle’s home base is the remote Mississippi Delta, a harsh contrast to the luxurious Caribbean. For him, the journey to PSV requires a two-hour drive through agricultural flatlands to the Memphis airport, a flight to Miami, a sprint through customs in Barbados, a fifty-minute charter flight to a small island in the Grenadines, another customs checkpoint, and finally, a twenty-minute boat ride. This process is well worth the effort, and it’s a journey he would repeat in a heartbeat. He has always believed that hard work pays off, and PSV is perhaps the prime example.
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Story and Photography by @RoryDoylePhoto

Expeditions of a lifetime shouldn’t take a lifetime of planning. That’s why EYOS, one of the foremost leaders in private yacht expeditions, has a mission to make passengers feel like the world is truly their oyster. Their tours are carefully crafted and catered to guests’ wishes, from diving in every ocean to exploring Antarctica. With decades of experience, the EYOS team’s expertise, resources, and elevated service make them unique in their field as a luxury adventure charter group, and that’s just the beginning.​​​​​​​​
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​​​​​​​Words by @adelle.strickland
Photography courtesy of EYOS Expeditions

I recall receiving a memorable gift from my sister when I relocated from my New England hometown to Seaside, Florida, nearly thirty years ago to take a job there—Dr. Seuss’s book Oh, The Places You’ll Go! It wasn’t until I read it for a second time that I understood why she chose to send me this book. Feeling uplifted and inspired are just two of the warm emotions one gets when being gifted this literary treasure. For people reaching milestones in their life, like graduating, taking a new job, or starting a new business—which all require courage and faith—these are simple and wonderful impartations to share with those searching for words of wisdom and hope when taking on new endeavors.

So, you might be wondering how this relates to our travel issue: I feel that this book talks about maintaining a positive attitude on our collective journey through life. One must learn to adapt, try new things, and see new places. More importantly, we need to continue to be curious and ever-learning to achieve our respective destinies. But to get there, we need endless encouragement from our friends, colleagues, and family. Sometimes all we have left to keep our drive to succeed is our own personal and individual dreams and aspirations.

Read @lisamburwell’s full Editor-in-Chief Note at the link in bio and then explore all of the fun travel destinations that we have curated for you in VIE’s June’s travel issue!