Search Results

Level Airlines , based in Barcelona, Spain, is expanding and is offering stellar and affordable options to travelers looking to get to Europe without blowing their budget on the flight. Resting the total cost of a flight in passengers' hands, the airline flies by the philosophy that people should be at the helm of the decision-making when it comes to paying for things that are important to them up in the air. I flew them recently from New York's JFK airport to Barcelona and was thoroughly impressed with their new aircrafts, on-board service, overall flying experience, and even their branding. Flying can be enjoyable or rough, depending on your airline of choice, destination of choice, time of year you're traveling, as well as the simple luck you have on any particular travel day. But, some experiences stand out as good - because they check all the boxes. Level is one of these experiences. I flew with the airline on a late-night flight, long-haul route, one of many they offer from the United States. Level flies from New York, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, and Boston to Barcelona - where you can enjoy one of Europe's most popular cities, or connect through their partner, Vueling, to a connecting flight in Europe. I checked-in at JFK airport's Terminal 8 seamlessly, collecting my boarding pass at the counter and moving straight to the gate. Level offers two cabins - Premium and Economy. I flew Premium, their answer to Premium Economy or Business Class, and absolutely found this cabin to be perfect for the 7-hour and 30-minute flight. Premium fliers are able to board first and can have a meal in-flight. In the seat, their was a plastic reusable water bottle waiting for me that was stuffed with an in-flight amenity kit of socks, ear plugs, a sleep mask, and other items to make my flight more comfortable. Water and juice were offered after boarding to Premium fliers, and the cabin was separated by a curtain and galley from the rest of the plane. This offered a very private and less noisy environment to fly in. What I like about Level's Premium seating is that it is tucked away, easy, and the seats recline quite a bit - making it actually very comfortable for sleeping. The entertainment screens are large and perfect for watching your shows or a movie before drifting off to sleep. Level's Economy cabin is actually very lovely. The seats are all comfortable and offer everything one may need for a well-connected flight. There's ample entertainment options, chargers, and a menu where passengers can order a-la-carte for food or drink items that may be of interest. This is phenomenal because it allows you to really decide if you want to eat or not. And, on such a late flight, some might choose not to eat - opting to simply focus on rest. There's WiFi on-board and the staff on this airline are impeccably trained. They are all kind, helpful, and interested in making your flight enjoyable. Boarding at JFK was easy and the flight was on-time. The airline operates Airbus A320, A321, and A330's - which are all large, new, and well-equipped. We took off and the flight went by very quickly. Most of the time, the lights were dimmed to allow passengers to rest. Those who ordered meals had them delivered and other passengers, with a-la-carte selections, had items delivered as well. This made everything very streamlined. At around 12:00 pm, we descended over sunny Barcelona. De-planing was quick and many passengers made their way through customs and on to connections from there. I left the airport and took a taxi into the center of the city, to my favorite property - Mandarin Oriental Barcelona. When you save on the flight, you can splurge on the hotel - and that's the point. For anyone looking for a really solid and thoroughly enjoyable way to Europe this year without spending a fortune - Level is it!

Houston is having a moment, and 2024 is the perfect year to take some time to explore The Bayou City. The city offers many hotels to choose from - with options ranging from gracious old restored mansions, to cute little inns that are tucked into cute residential neighborhoods. But, with all of these being great options, one property, which belongs to an international chain, happens to stand out in location, service, and convenience - The Hyatt Regency Houston .  With 995 rooms, my initial expectation wouldn’t be that this hotel would be service oriented, but I was wrong. I happened to be at the hotel over a very busy weekend, when Beyoncé herself had taken over Houston, and every hotel, with her massively successful Renaissance tour. The hotel was packed and the entire lobby was a glittering sea of silver as soon as I entered after my uber pulled-up from the airport. I checked-in and was welcomed with a smile, bottled water, a room upgrade, and a thorough explanation of what the hotel had on offer. Despite how busy it was, The Hyatt Regency staff made the time to make my check-in experience personal. Einstein Bagels has an outpost off the lobby, which is a perfect place for a quick breakfast sandwich or salad to go. The lobby is a massive open atrium where glass elevators shoot up and down at top speed. At the center of the lobby is a bar/restaurant, “LobbiBar”, serving casual, good food like burgers and steak, and delicious cocktails. I found the margarita to be quite a good one. After receiving my keys, I made my way over the the elevators and shot up to the 14th floor where I exited and found my room, a “High Floor Double”. The Hyatt Regency offers different categories of rooms and suites here, and some have fabulous views over downtown Houston and beyond. The VIP Grand Suite offers over 1,400 square feet of living space, and feels almost like your own urban apartment at the center of the city.  In my room, I found two cozy double beds, a desk, a large flat screen television, charging station everywhere, which is always convenient, and a large bathroom. The bathroom was bigger than expected and made it comfortable for someone like me, who takes a long time to get ready, to feel right at home. In my entryway, there was a mini bar and coffee station for the morning. The coffee is replenished daily and the fridge is a perfect spot for storing a bottle of wine to sip while getting ready for the evening.  I checked-in for two nights and was excited to explore town. The Hyatt Regency staff are great with offering recommendations of what to see or where to eat. Within the hotel, steak lovers can enjoy an outpost of Shula’s Steak House, but I wanted to check out what was further afield so I explored some of the more local spots. The staff here also recommended some sites to see and do such as ATV tours, The Museum of Fine Arts, and even a food walking tour. The front desk was always happy to replenish me with fresh bottled water when I entered the hotel or upon request in my room.  The Hyatt Regency is so well located that you can actually walk around, in a city that is mainly geared towards driving. Nearby you’ll find cute coffee houses, shopping, convenience stores, and more. Being so large, there are rooms for meetings and conventions, but The Hyatt Regency Houston has mastered the art of offering small scale, personalized service and attention - but in a big way. This is not common and this was my big takeaway here. If you are traveling to Houston in 2024, stay here and be delighted by all that this property has to offer.

St. Barth is one of my favorite places in the world because it is, in fact, the perfect destination - and I always turn to WIMCO and their incredible array of luxury villa rentals to find the ideal accommodations for my stay. WIMCO is the top villa resource and service for securing villas on the island because, from start to finish, they make your trip as easy as humanly possible. I booked a 7-night stay at a stunning villa with them recently, Villa Voyage , in the area of the island called Colombier. Colombier is not only beautiful, with easy access to two of my favorite beaches, Plage Colombier and Plage des Flamands, but it is within a ten minute drive to charming Gustavia and the seaside village of St. Jean. From the time my stay at Villa Voyage was booked, the on-island team at WIMCO helped me organize my connection flights from nearby St. Maarten to St. Barth, assisted with my car rental booking, made restaurant reservations for myself and my guests, and even offered their services for pre-stocking the villa with food and beverages. WIMCO takes the idea of concierge to a different level when booking a villa through them. It's a full service option, and one where you don't have to think about a thing if you don't want to. Villa Voyage is a stunning, newly-renovated 5 bedroom, 5 bathroom villa owned by renowned travel journalist and filmmaker, Pierre Brouwers. A born traveler and documenter of places, cultures, and journeys - Mr. Brouwers has infused his love of the world and travel into the villa and its stunning gardens. Villa Voyage is striking and, unlike many of the other villas on the island, offers ample land and an easy driveway to navigate for those who choose to stay here.  It’s an ideal spot for a family stay, friends trip, or celebration. Driving through the red gate and into the large car park, the sight of the villa, grand in every way, with a peaceful infinity pool, is enough to take your breath away.  Villa Voyage offers an open layout with two large bedrooms on the upper level, one with a private terrace, open kitchen, dining area, living area, outdoor dining room, lower level with two bedrooms, and phenomenal infinity pool with views over the famous rock landing at St. Barth airport, and Gustavia in the distance. The villa has everything one would need for the perfect stay including a sound system that you can easily connect to with bluetooth, outdoor pingpong table, select gym equipment, and real privacy. Although there is so much to see and do on the island, it is hard to want to actually leave the villa considering how comfortable it is. Once I landed in St. Barth, I was met by my dedicated WIMCO concierge at the airport. He helped me with my car rental and I quickly followed him ten minutes up the road to Villa Voyage. He gave me a 30-minute orientation of the villa, including instructions on how to properly use everything from lighting to the sound system, WiFi to kitchen gadgets. Before he departed, he offered his WhatsApp number for easy communication and that is such a benefit, because it creates a direct line of access to someone who can help do everything from booking a private chef, to organizing massages. I quickly unpacked and settled-in for an afternoon of sunbathing by the pool before my other guests arrived later in the evening.  Villa Voyage is modern in style and decor, with large windows and doors to allow the natural daylight to bathe over its interiors. Though I spent many nights dining out at some of my favorite restaurants like Baz Bar and L’Isola , I stayed-in too, connecting my Netflix and Amazon accounts to the huge television in the living room and simply laying back to watch a few movies that had been on my list for a while. After all, that’s what vacation is all about, right? WIMCO stayed in touch with me daily to be sure my needs were met, from needing extra towels for the beach, to making sure we had all the supplies we needed for lunches made at home. We spent one morning on the sand at Plage Gouverneur and WIMCO set-up beach chairs and umbrellas on the beach for us before we arrived, to take the physical labor out of our beach experience. This made all the difference in the world that day - to allow us to just focus on the fun, instead of hauling chairs and umbrellas out on the sand.  As my 7-day trip was coming to a close I had really settled-in to Villa Voyage and, quite frankly, didn’t want to leave. The villa Mr. Brouwers owns and offers to select clientele is special in both its spot on the island, as well as the energy that it imparts on guests. There is an ease on-property and an air that this is your home while you are there - inviting you and your guests to enjoy warm nighttime swims in the pool, an impromptu game of ping pong, or simply having meaningful conversations on the terrace with a piña colada in-hand, while looking out over the horizon. This villa is one of the most unique the island has to offer.  On departure day, our WIMCO concierge arrived to help us load luggage into the cars and head towards the airport. He had printed our boarding passes for international flights, and made sure we got through immigration easily. WIMCO is all about details and these details can be the difference between a good trip, and a phenomenal trip. That is why they are always my personal choice when visiting this magical island is the Caribbean Sea.

Traveling to St. Barth isn't always easy - but it's always thrilling, both in excitement and in the infamous landing on one of the world's shortest, and most beautiful runways. I've done it dozens of times, and it still always makes my heart skip a beat. There are two ways, through commercial means, to enter the island and that is through a connecter plane from Puerto Rico, or, the more frequented and nearby, St. Maarten. Being that I live in New York, I always fly direct from New York to St. Maarten and then hop on my very favorite, St. Barth Commuter , for the ten minute flight over to paradise. St. Barth Commuter is the island's official airline and is owned by a family who have been there since nearly the beginning. The Grand Caravan planes are usually flown by two pilots and offer flights throughout the day to SXM airport, as well as the French side of St. Martin, to the Grand Case Airport. I have flown all these flights and I always choose St. Barth Commuter because of their friendly demeanor, ease of booking, and safety priority when transporting customers from point A to point B. They also offer charter flights and flights, on occasion, to nearby islands Guadeloupe and Antigua. Taking off from St. Maarten is easy. When you're connecting, the representatives from the airline typically meet the plane to help you seamlessly make your way through SXM airport to collect your boarding passes and get to the appropriate gate for departure. After only five minutes from takeoff, you can already see St. Barth appear in the distance - beckoning like a beacon of light, it's crystalline waters ready to welcome you. It's not uncommon throughout the journey to feel some bumps, jolts, or drops - but this is normal, and safe. Landing typically takes place as you feel the plane begin to slow down mid-air and drop-descend into position to glide over the hillside and smoothly onto the runway. It's absolutely a moment you'll not forget. And, St. Barth Commuter will soon be your favorite little airline to take you away.

St. Barth’ glittering shores are forever alluring, and many hotels have sprung-up over the years, some independent, and some with large hotel groups behind them. It’s rare in this paradise for a hotel property, especially in a very enviable location, to be continually owned and operated privately and quietly by a family. But, this is the case with the ever-so-comfortable, and effortlessly chic, Le Village .  Atop a hill in beautiful St. Jean, in the heart of it all, the owner Ms. Catherine Charneau presides over the property that her father founded when the island first began to make way for visitors traveling here for the peace, quiet, and natural beauty. As she told me, “There wasn’t even electricity then!” Just a five minute jaunt from the airport and within walking distance to places like Nikki Beach, and luxury boutiques dotting the road, Le Village offers 25 cottages that are large, comfortable, and casual - truly spots that make you feel at home on the island. Driving up to reception you can easily and quickly check-in with the welcoming staff, and then head right over to your home away from home. I stayed at Le Village for one evening. I travel to the island often and knew of the hotel for years, but had never stayed here, so I was excited. I was welcomed warmly by a lovely woman at the front desk and explained everything from breakfast, to the gym facilities, to the pool area, and spa. Le Village serves a light breakfast in the morning and offers an ample gym, as well as a wonderful infinity edge pool. I was led to my cottage and, as the door swung open, was immediately impressed.  There are various categories of cottages here, some larger than others, and some that even offer private jacuzzis. Mine was beautiful. An open floor plan with a bed, half bathroom, large bathroom, two-sided open shower, and huge terrace/kitchen setup outdoors where I could easily prepare snacks, a meal, or even host a little wine night should I feel up to it. The entire vibe was cozy, comfortable and felt more like my own little private villa on the island than it did a hotel room. My immediate thought was that I wanted to extend my stay. After being shown my room, I quickly unpacked and got settled before heading to the pool to take my first dip on the island. Ms. Charneau is very involved with the property and you will see her around if you stay here. This is such a plus because she knows St. Barth better than anyone. She used to work with the island’s department of tourism and, as I mentioned before, is part of one of the pioneering families of modern-day St. Barth. She is kind and always willing to give her advice on local happenings, places to eat, or the hotel history. I learned that everyone from well-known French chefs to celebrities have stayed at Le Village, and the hotel even has a collection of books in the reception area that amass memories and the history of this place. It’s all very special.  I enjoyed my evening at Le Village very much. I enjoyed a glass of rosé and baguette and brie at sunset before preparing for dinner. And, a light breakfast of pastries and fruit before departing. I slept well. I felt at home. And, I realized that this is a place that attracts repeat guests over and over. Those who come here are not necessarily in St. Barth for the glitz, but for what the original travelers came here for; peace, quiet, discretion, and the ability to stay and be unbothered. I can’t wait until my next stay at Le Village.

Hertz , located on the sunny French island of St. Barth, Hetz is the top car rental service on the island this year. Located in the airport in Gustavia, just after customs, Hertz offers the area’s top vehicles, in stick and automatic, for those looking for their own transportation around the island. Anyone who has been to St. Barth knows that it’s small, but getting around without a vehicle can be difficult and costly. A simple taxi cab ride for ten minutes can run as much as 50 euros, and that’s just one way – if you have gone out and are looking for a late ride – expect to pay more. St. Barth is hilly and spread out, so walking isn’t ideal – you need a car to get yourself from Point A to Point B. We booked a vehicle through Hertz and it was seamless. In a quick three-and-a-half hours you can fly from New York to St. Maarten, and connect via small plane for a seven-minute flight to St. Barth. The airport is tiny and there are many car rental companies to choose from, but Hertz makes it all so easy. I arrived and was brought to the Hertz counter. They had my reservation ready, and all I had to do was show my drivers license and present a credit card for deposit. Within five minutes, I was taken to the back lot where my car was already running and cooled-down for myself and my guests. The entire process took me 15 minutes. Hertz offers maps, roadside assistance and support to help you along your journey. I needed none of these while I was on the island, but the vehicle got me around in no time. Returning the car was easy, a simple drop-off and signature – nothing more to do. For anyone visiting the island, Hertz is the only choice.

Bella Systems , the tri-state area's top custom closet design operation, worked with us on a special project for “The Ultimate New York Apartment” - designing four uniquely-shaped closets to not only elevate the space, but help bring hanging and storage potential to its maximum capacity. A family-run business, Bella Systems is unlike any of the nationwide custom closet designers, because they do their job with care and heart. From the moment we began working with them, until the closets' completion, Bella Systems showed up with phenomenal attention to detail, quality materials, expert design perspective, and timely delivery of the finished product. Our project began with a simple phone call to Bella Systems to initiate what would be a closet customization for a New York City loft in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. The challenge before us was to create systems for the closets that allowed for ample storage, sizable hanging space, and special details integrated into the somewhat complex shapes of two closets in the primary bedroom. Bella Systems not only rose to the challenge, but brought years of experience with them to help make the most of the closet space we had in the loft. Within a few days after the initial phone call, Lisa, one of the company’s owners, arrived ready to take measurements of each closet so she could use her tools, computer programs, and imagination to come up with solutions for each one. She and her husband, Anthony, co-own the company and work together to bring their clients’ vision to life.  In the primary bedroom of the loft space, there are three closets. One of the closets is larger and could accommodate a pseudo walk-in design, while the other two are both very long, but incredibly narrow, with the bulk of the space we had to work with located behind a wall anchored with an ethanol fireplace. Lisa began brainstorming with us and conceptualizing ideas that could be possible based on projects they’ve worked on in the past. Her ideas for the long narrow closets included positioning double hanging bars width-wise to hold clothing such as blazers, pants, and shirts. She offered the thought of including a bank of drawers that would be set just at the right angle to provide drawer storage, with 5 shoe shelves positioned above it. The position of the drawer bank made it easy to access and also, very importantly, left space open to be able to step into the closet itself and reach for the hanging pieces at the back behind the wall. Through all of this Lisa was even able to include shelving running the full length of the closet on top for more storage, and more shelving within the hanging vestibule. It was absolutely incredible how much storage she was able to make possible out of a seemingly impossibly-shaped space.  The walk-in closet located in the primary bedroom was a bit easier with its shape, however, presented other challenges with very particular requests coming from the client. Bella Systems is used to working with their clients to help make their closet storage needs a reality, and will do anything they can within reason to make dreams come true. In the walk-in closet, Lisa was able to provide double hanging racks, a bank of drawers, hidden floor storage, shoe shelving, regular storage slots at the top of the closet, and another storage shelf running along the very top of the closet. This made it incredibly easy to not only display clothing in a beautiful way, but make it all functionally available for the person who would potentially be using that closet. Bella Systems does a remarkable job of fusing function with beauty. In larger spaces, they are able to create center closet islands, add lighting, hanging racks, and pretty much whatever else one may need to truly make their closet a showstopper. This job is a bit easier in larger homes or spaces but, in New York City, the space struggle is real - and any city dweller knows that. In the second bedroom of the loft space, Lisa and team measured carefully to meet the request of a center drawer bank, a side to side hanging bar, side storage and shelving to the left of the drawer bank. Lisa was able to integrate a large storage shelf at the very top of the closet as well. It was quite unbelievable that, within a day or two, we had set designs and a game plan for the project at hand.  Our next step, which we did during our first meeting with the Bella Systems team, was to choose the finish and handles. This can be very overwhelming, especially since they offer clients a wide array of choices to choose from. But, we found the perfect match to the Benjamin Moore Aura paint color that was used in the space. We chose this finish for the material that would be used for each closet system, and also chose an exact match in color and shape for the pull handles that would be used for the drawers. It quite literally looked like these closet systems could have been in the space the entire time of its existence - and not like a mismatched addition.  The Bella Systems team took all the requests and designs and ordered what they needed to create the systems. With each project, there are different lead times, but for “The Ultimate New York Apartment”, the four closets took roughly six weeks to be designed, built, and installed. We were incredibly impressed with the speed in which they were able to deliver such a high quality final product.  On the day of installation, Lisa’s husband Anthony and other members of the team arrived to install the systems. Prior to their arrival, we had the previous closet components removed, and the inside of the closets patched and painted to give them a fresh start with the custom closet systems. This is a must, because Bella Systems doesn’t use components from previous work or materials that were already in place. The guys worked diligently throughout the day, in the kindest and most professional manner, and ten hours later, the closets were completed. We were blown away with the final result. Not only were the closets beautiful, but we had added nearly double the storage space within the previously existing closets. In today’s world, it’s difficult to find companies that are not only good at what they do, but take pride and care with each client. Good materials are hard to come by. Hard work is hard to come by. Kindness is hard to come by. Bella Systems, and their team, offer all of this. There is quite simply no better operation to work with for your custom closet needs in the tri-state area of New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut. We spoke with Lisa after the project completion to ask her a few questions that were on our mind about the company and the way the Bella Systems team approaches each job in front of them. IC: What is Bella Systems and why was it founded? BS: Bella Systems was founded in 2009 and provides custom closet and storage solutions to homeowners and small businesses. At the time it was founded, and in large part still today, the industry was lacking in technology. While everyone was walking around with a supercomputer in their pocket, the custom closet industry was still drawing closets on scratch pads and manually compiling and placing orders. With a strong belief that homeowners wanted to see and feel their potential new closet designs in real time, Bella Systems was launched, placing technology at the forefront of everything we do. IC: What is the Bella Systems difference that makes your custom closet operation stand out amongst the rest?  BS: Aside from its state-of-the-art technology, Bella Systems is hyper focused on customer service. It turns out, being hyper focused on this isn’t all that hard. We respond to every inquiry as soon as possible, preferably immediately. We show up on time. We’re professional, we’re courteous, and our work is impeccable. We also update our product offerings to keep pace with trends and best practices. IC: What can clients expect from Bella Systems’ closet design process?  BS: I think the most important thing is that homeowners will have the chance to sit down and work with our designers in their home while evaluating belongings, needs, wants and style. They will have the chance to actually build their closet using our design software and will watch as it all comes to life in a 3-D rendering. IC: How long does it typically take from design to completion for the finished product to be installed?  BS: We get this question a lot and it’s one of the hardest ones to answer. We always want to set realistic expectations so we are presently quoting up to twelve weeks from contract to install date but there are so many variables in the mix, it is not uncommon for that lead time to be cut in half. It all depends on the type of project, the homeowner, and the home itself.  IC: Are there any requests or designs that are particularly exciting for your team to work on?  BS: This changes - a lot. Right now, we are a little obsessed with murphy beds. With everyone working from home, being able to create multi-use spaces that are both functional and pretty to look at is at the top of everyone’s list. We’re installing murphy beds that can be combined with desks and even couches. We’ve also been having fun with hardware and finishes. Color is in at the moment - and we just started carrying a new deep blue finish. It pairs well with everything but especially gold hardware - it’s gorgeous. IC: What has been one of the most challenging and rewarding design projects you’ve faced as a team?  BS: Well, this might sound rehearsed - but hands down, has to be working together during the COVID-19 pandemic. The business rules varied by state and county, so we were able to continue working in many locations. Most of our lead designers have young children that were unexpectedly out of school, and they found themselves without childcare. Our entire team pitched in. We had designers doing virtual appointments (which are still available to this day) and our installers going to homes to measure. It was truly an all-hands-on deck situation, and we are so proud to say that we not only kept the lights on but were able to keep our entire team. I think it’s worth noting that as nice as our closets are, they are not a necessity. We didn’t want to put our team or our customers at unnecessary risk during a pandemic, but we did want to make sure that homeowners, especially on new builds, were able to close on time. We truly embodied the spirit of a family owned and operated business and got through it all together. IC: What are your tips to offer clients to help them get the most of their space when dreaming-up designs for their closets?  BS: Well, our most obvious advice would be to partner with a professional closet company. Next, we’d advise clients to listen to their designers. They do this hundreds of times per year! And finally, we always ask our clients to have us measure every closet in their house while we are on site. Even if you are only looking to do one closet - once your belongings are organized, it is only a matter of time before you start to think of other spaces for custom closets! This can save a lot of time the second or third time around. BS: Well, this might sound rehearsed - but hands down, has to be working together during the COVID-19 pandemic. The business rules varied by state and county, so we were able to continue working in many locations. Most of our lead designers have young children that were unexpectedly out of school, and they found themselves without childcare. Our entire team pitched in. We had designers doing virtual appointments (which are still available to this day) and our installers going to homes to measure. It was truly an all-hands-on deck situation, and we are so proud to say that we not only kept the lights on but were able to keep our entire team. I think it’s worth noting that as nice as our closets are, they are not a necessity. We didn’t want to put our team or our customers at unnecessary risk during a pandemic, but we did want to make sure that homeowners, especially on new builds, were able to close on time. We truly embodied the spirit of a family owned and operated business and got through it all together. IC: What are your tips to offer clients to help them get the most of their space when dreaming-up designs for their closets?  BS: Well, our most obvious advice would be to partner with a professional closet company. Next, we’d advise clients to listen to their designers. They do this hundreds of times per year! And finally, we always ask our clients to have us measure every closet in their house while we are on site. Even if you are only looking to do one closet - once your belongings are organized, it is only a matter of time before you start to think of other spaces for custom closets! This can save a lot of time the second or third time around.

Chef David Feldman is an anomaly in New York’s private chef dining scene. Someone who comes to the table, quite literally, with both experience and heart, he is not jaded or ruined by an industry that can be like a revolving door in a fast moving city like New York. Hailing from Israel, Chef Feldman has made a name for himself in the culinary scene in New York as a talented collaborator, offering some of the best food-related experiences one can have through private dining.  We worked with Chef Feldman recently for a private dinner party in a Manhattan loft to experience his talents firsthand. He took our germ of an idea and exploded it to a completely different level, wowing every diner in attendance with his innovation, creativity, and kindness. We utilized protein from Fossil Farms , a sustainable, farm-raised meat source located just outside New York in New Jersey. And, Chef Feldman added not only the “know how” but the elegance and finesse to take the dishes being served to a true fine dining experience. The meal began with a series of simple text exchanges regarding menu options. Chef Feldman is easy and casual, welcoming collaboration from his clients. I explained the direction we were hoping to go in with the meal, and he ran with it. He made sure to consider any allergies and food restrictions of the guests before preparing a menu to be approved. His suggestions were:  Fist Course:  Freshly-baked challah bread Greek ceviche with tzatziki, cucumber, and lime Beet in colors with goat cheese, local olive oil, and charred tomatoes  Fattoush Salas with cherry tomatoes, pickled purple onion, cucumber, radish, crotonus pita, and feta cheese Tuna tartare with Israeli salad, cucumber, tomato, creme fraiche, and black caviar Salmon tartare with Israeli hot pepper, tomatoes in garlic silage Main Course: Filet Mignon New York Strip, mashed potatoes, and foie gras Lamb polenta with grilled baby lamb chops, polenta, chestnuts, and leeks Dessert: Middle Eastern honey cake, mozzarella, and pistachio ice cream The day of the dinner he arrived promptly with his assistant and got to work. I explained that I had pots and pans he could use, but they were not professional grade. That did not seem to faze him. He is inventive and made do with what we had available. Chef Feldman arrived organized and had everything laid out so his job on-site would be easy and without much mess - I was in awe. He prepared everything while the guests sipped wine by Stag’s Leap Vineyards in Napa Valley.  As dinner guests sat down to eat, Chef Feldman came into the dining room to explain the meal, his vision and why each dish was included in his menu. One by one, as each dish arrived, people were blown away by not only the presentation but the incredible flavor profiles in each dish. It was actually unbelievable and more along the lines of what you would expect in a fine dining establishment. There are many private chefs in New York City, but this experience was on another level. His menu truly left everyone mesmerized by his talent and wanting to know more. We spoke with Chef Feldman after the event to get answers to some of our questions.  IC: What is your training and background as a chef? DF: I began my culinary journey in Israel, attending a culinary school before working in sought-after restaurants in Tel Aviv, the food capital of Israel.  IC: When did you first realize food was your passion? DF: Since childhood, I've had a passion for cooking, starting by assisting my mother in the kitchen and eventually taking charge.  IC: What is your absolute favorite meal to prepare? DF: I enjoy preparing traditional dishes like Moroccan couscous and long stews, as they remind me of home and hold a special place in my heart. IC: What cuisines are your specialties? DF: I specialize in Israeli, Middle Eastern, Greek, and French cuisine.  IC: What can perspective clients request in terms of menus? Is anything off limits? DF: When working with clients, I present my menus initially but also welcome and accommodate their specific requests and preferences. IC: What has been one of the biggest cooking or chef projects you’ve taken on?  DF: One of my proudest accomplishments was catering for a significant event on a rooftop in the heart of New York, serving 250 people. Though it was challenging, I loved every moment of the experience. IC: What is your dream meal to prepare one day? DF: My ultimate dream is to open a cozy boutique restaurant in Manhattan, featuring the dishes I grew up with and highlighting the flavors that evoke memories of home.

A small country located on the azure Mediterranean Sea, sandwiched between the French Riviera and Italy, Monaco is no stranger to fame and attention. Home to one of the world’s most illustrious royal families and known for its beaches, yachts, Grand Prix, shopping, casino and all out fun - this destination tops many lists of travelers' who want to bask in its glow and feel what it feels like, even if just for a moment, to be there. I recently visited Monaco, my fifth visit, and found it even more alluring than the times before. Of course I had experienced so much of what it has to offer on trips prior, but, what never ceases to amaze me about such a small place is its ability to consistently offer new experiences to its visitors keeping time spent here as fresh and exciting as before. I walked away feeling wowed by what I experienced over three days, and excited to pop-in again next time the opportunity arises.  I was greeted warmly after touching down at Nice, France’s Côte d’Azur Airport by a representative from Blade . Blade is my absolute favorite way to get from the airport to Monaco because of the drama and efficiency. Of course, one can land and simply take a taxi or Uber along the coast for roughly 45 minutes to reach Monaco, but, helicopter is a bit more glamorous. Checking-in to the Blade counter is easy-breezy and passengers are usually led into a private lounge at Nice Airport. As soon as boarding commences the Blade team escorts you from the lounge and out to a private transfer that carries you over the runway and to the helipads along the sea where guests can be taken by helicopter to Monaco or anywhere they’d like along France’s coastline - such as St. Tropez or Marseille. We were brought right to the door of our flying chariot, a beautiful and new Blade-branded helicopter that flew us in just 7 minutes over the sparkling waters, along the coastline, and safely into the Monaco heliport. The views are unreal and the photo opportunities, endless. Once I landed in Monaco, a Blade representative met us at the helicopter door and escorted us into the lovely lounge where passports are processed, and refreshments served. Their transfer includes taking you via private shuttle to your hotel from the heliport, so I was taken seamlessly to the stunning Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo .

The Grand Hotel , in Stockholm, Sweden, is a an icon of the city and country of Sweden, shining its light on the luxury hotel experience in Scandinavia like few others can. An institution with a strong history tied with the royal family of Sweden, the stately building sits in the city's prime location, on Södra Blasieholmshamnen, facing the Royal Palace and old town Stockholm. Since 1974 The Grand Hotel has hosted everyone from celebrities to heads of state, in utmost discretion, but has also served as a glamorous location for those who pop-in for a delicious meal or a couple of nights in one of Scandinavia's most exciting cities. I was a recent guest here and absolutely fell-in-love with its old-world-charm, modern amenities and sophistication that added an extra special sparkle to my trip. Offering 300 rooms and 31 suites, The Grand Hotel has plentiful options to make every traveler feel at home, but maintains an intimate level of service. Upon checking-in, I was invited into the Champagne Bar, directly across from the iconic Cadier Bar fronted with glass windows overlooking the waterfront. A flute of Ruinart champagne was poured so I could enjoy a few bubbles before heading-up to my room - one of the stunning suites designed by famed Swedish architect, Martin Brudnizki. The Champagne Bar at The Grand Hotel is a big deal because alcohol laws are strict in Sweden, and the hotel manages to get around a few with the help of their relationship with The Royal Family. This is a nice benefit for those who like to indulge in libations late into the night. My check-in was smooth and easy, as the front desk already had a copy of my passport provided by email. I was whisked up to my room where I found myself most impressed with the layout, design and views. Every one of the rooms and suites are comfortable and beautiful here, but a few have an extra special flair and feel that set them apart. You have the Ingrid Bergman suite, The Princess Lilian suite, The Royal suite, and others. My suite was elegant yet modern, with Mr. Brudnizki's signature use of pastel colors, rich fabrics, heavy and intricate lighting, and mixed metals. I was met upon entering with a large foyer, ample living room with sofa, chairs, television center and small dining table. In the bedroom I found a large king-sized bed dressed with sumptuous fabrics and perfect linens - most of which come from Swedish brands. There was a television in the bedroom as well and windows that faced old town, Gamla Stan. The suite had two bathrooms, one in the entry and one in the bedroom. My bedroom's bathroom was huge and marble-clad with a large tub, double-sinked vanity, gorgeous lighting and an enormous rain shower. It was the most comfortable room I've stayed in in quite a while. The Grand Hotel offers guests a three dimensional experience within its walls. There is so much to take-in in terms of history, dining options, spa, and more. It's known for its stunning Nordic Spa and Fitness on the upper floors. Swedish culture is very much tied to nature and, even in a large city like Stockholm, its residents pride themselves on their city's cleanliness and healthy habits. The spa reflects this and encourages guests to book a massage, thermal dip or sauna - where one can take part in an age-old Swedish tradition. Even in the details of the spa, such as its being built using granite from Grythyttan and Rauk stones from Gotland, the concept is to keep you grounded and as close to nature as possible. The Nordic Spa and Fitness also offers a great gym, where you can keep yourself moving and in-shape to remove a bit of the guilt from possible over-indulging during your stay. I used the gym while I was on-property, but, I also did overindulge a bit - as one might expect when dining and drinking options are so attractive. The Veranda is a fabulous place for lunch or breakfast, and it has been a "must-visit" spot in the city since the late 1800s. Even if you're not staying at The Grand Hotel, you can still stop by for a meal. The restaurant offers a great mix of local and international fare for breakfast and lunch. They even offer a buffet, or classic Swedish Smörgåsbord, with a selection of well-curated hot and cold dishes. I often opted for homemade pancakes with Swedish lingonberry compote. But, I also did try Swedish eggs with traditional Swedish fish roe. Everything I ate here was delicious and made with utmost care. What I love about all the food at The Grand Hotel Stockholm is that it's fresh, homemade, typically local and sourced locally. This is very Swedish and not following a trend. It's part of their culture and way of life - which I personally appreciate. The Veranda offers a fabulous wine list and light appetizers such as smoked fish, finger sandwiches and more. Their high tea is a delightful experience and typically happens in the glass-enclosed area by The Champagne Bar, but, can also be enjoyed in the moodier Cadier Bar. I enjoyed two evenings of creative cocktails at The Cadier Bar which is as inventive as it is stunning. Their mixologists are some of the best in town and they are always coming up with new beverages to entice guests. The cocktails are often inspired by local ingredients with an international perspective and the ambiance in the bar is not only sexy, but relaxing. It pulls you in in such a way that you never want to leave. Whether you are there during the summer of winter months, this area of the hotel is a must-visit. While at The Grand Hotel Stockholm I enjoyed a truly unique and remarkable dinner at famed chef Mathias Dahlgren's Matbaren . This stylish yet casual spot is loved by locals from Stockholm for its beautiful and informal ambiance, and high-quality food. The team here uses only the freshest seasonal ingredients to concoct a changing menu, daily. You'll find seafood on the menu as well as international dishes like pork bao buns made with slow roasted pork and crisp vegetables. The concept is small plates designed to share or take bit by bit until you're full. I was in the mood to eat as my dinner was on the day of my arrival, and my journey had been long to get there. I indulged in the phenomenal bao buns, vegetable salads, and fresh fish. There were a mix of stylish locals at the restaurant and tourists to the city who had gotten the memo. Over my three night stay at The Grand Hotel Stockholm I have to say I had a truly modern luxury Swedish experience through and through. I was thoroughly impressed with the service, especially the concierge team, and the details that had been considered here. I love the history, the elegance and the stories you'll here if you get to talking to the right member of the staff. It's a place where so many interesting and important people have stayed and is truly a hub for style and fun in the city. Aside from all these things I felt perfectly at home, comfortable, and able to just let go and relax - often spending chunks of time watching the ice float in and out of the harbor in front of the hotel from my room's window. For anyone looking for a truly special place to stay in Stockholm, look no further.

Touting a fifty-year legacy in the greater New York City area, Meurice has earned the reputation as New York's preeminent dry cleaning service, trusted beyond state lines by some of America's top names in fashion, entertainment, and museums, to clean and care for their fabrics. Founded in 1961 by Larry Edelman, and carried forth today by his son Wayne, Meurice, as it's now known, has dedicated itself to tackling some of the toughest projects - removing stains from valuable personal clothing of their clients, refreshing household fabrics in the form of drapery and rugs, to restoring or fixing items that are torn and damaged. But, Meurice is not just an everyday dry cleaning operation. They are a family offering a three-dimensional approach to garment care that requires brain power, problem solving and true custodianship of your most valuable items. I was a client recently of Meurice and was beyond impressed with their services from beginning to end. I handed them a challenging project which presented problems ranging from light collar stains on expensive shirting, blood stains on cashmere, to deep-set yellowing of organic linen on a chair cover. Over the course of two weeks, Meurice brought these items back from the brink - restoring vibrancy into what could have been written off as an old stain that would never relent. I was in touch with their client services team who sent a driver to collect the items at my office. What I love about Meurice is their professionalism and their commitment to making their clients happy. They collected my items in a purple branded reusable garment bag and carried them away to their operations center in The Bronx. A couple of days later, I received a call from their team outlining their assessment of my items and a plan of action to rectify the problems. Meurice is very communicative as they want to always remain on the same page as their clients. I appreciated this as there were no surprises or questions left unanswered. After we agreed on the plan of action, the team at Meurice went to work - keeping me posted every step of the way. I received calls before any drastic measures were taken. For example, I was notified that one of my shirts had a stain around the collar that was thought to be makeup. It was self-tanner, in fact, which was even tougher to remove. The team at Meurice told me it would be difficult to remove, but they would try to do this by hand as not to set the stain any further or cause the shirt to become resistant to cleaning. This attention to detail is what makes them amazing because they take the time to identify each issue and come up with an appropriate solution. This is not a, "Let's just throw it in the dry-cleaning machine and hope for the best", operation. I've quite literally never seen anything like it. My items were returned back to my office within two weeks in reusable garment backs that double as laundry bags. Operating in a way that is environmentally friendly is key for Meurice as they want to do their part in preserving the environment. This is a large commitment and initiative to take, considering there are extra costs for the company to adhere to certain guidelines. But, this is part of the reason their customers seek them out - for this level of attention to detail. When my items returned I was truly speechless in their newness and the fact that some stains, stains I thought might never come out, had been wiped away. I've never seen this in all my years of using New York City-based dry cleaning services. I spoke with Wayne Edelman, CEO of Meurice, to ask him a few questions about his business and its future. And, through the experience and conversation, realized that I don't believe there to be a better garment care operation in business today. IC: Why was Meurice created? WE: Meurice Garment Care was originally called Meurice French Dry Cleaners and purchased by my dad in 1961 as an operating dry cleaning plant store. My dad needed a plant to do the dry cleaning for various stores he owned after an uninsured fire decimated his plant, "Know How Cleaners", on West 3rd Street in New York City. The space was located next to the firehouse (hence no insurance) and is currently Il Mulino restaurant. I rebranded the business to Meurice Garment Care in 1985 because it better described what we did in terms of cleaning. It was more than just dry cleaning, we did a lot of wet cleaning, spot cleaning and hand cleaning. I tried to register the term with the FTC, however was unsuccessful as they thought the term was too broad. Many cleaners have since followed and began using the term which prompted us to rebrand again as just Meurice. IC: What separates Meurice from other cleaning services that exist in the Tri-State area? WE: Meurice is on the opposite spectrum of most "bang and hang" cleaners. We strive to return a garment or item to the customer in as close to new condition wherever possible. We have multiple methods of cleaning each item and choose the best process for each and every item. Sometimes hand cleaning or spot cleaning is necessary as some garments can not be cleaned using any conventional method. Our staff are essentially artisans and carefully work on each piece. We often receive items that other cleaners have tried to restore but failed. These items prove to be difficult because we do not know what methods or agents were used prior during the unsuccessful cleaning attempts and need to prevent any adverse reactions or further discoloration. IC: What has been one of your most challenging cleaning projects to date? WE: Our team cleaned a spider web mohair original dress from Matsuda that was stained with a fashion model's body makeup, many of Princess Diana's original gowns, the collection of gowns worn and donated by Oscar winners to benefit AMFAR at auction by Sotheby's. We've cleaned a Swarovski crystal tennis dress for Maria Sharapova, various items for the Frank Lloyd Wright exhibit at MOMA that their textile lab could not restore, and countless other projects. IC: What services do you offer your clients in New York? WE: Our team does regular dry cleaning through our CLEAN brand, Couture dry cleaning at Meurice, purse and shoe cleaning and restoration, interior cleaning including furnishings, drapery, carpets, rugs, and fabric covered walls. We handle water, smoke, and fire damage restoration as well as fine bedding and linen laundering. IC: We know the environment is important to you. What steps have you taken to do your part? WE: Our company has always operated with environmental stewardship. We operate our equipment beyond manufacturers maintenance standards to ensure no impact to the environment or our employees. We have been moving toward eliminating the use of poly dry cleaning bags and now offer reusable covers to our clients to have their clothes returned in.  We were recognized by Greenpeace as the first certified wet cleaning plant in the country. IC: What has been one of the most exciting projects you worked on to date? WE: Today I am involved in restoring a 1500-piece couture collection that was exposed to moisture during a flood. Each of the items is very unique and we needed to photograph, document and tag each piece offsite before they are packaged and moved to our facility.

Rooted in the spirit of the "American Dream" and utilizing a generations-old skill of leather and fine material restoration, Santana Leather Care stands out amongst the rest as America's top luxury leather repair and restoration resource. Robert and Yury Santana, brothers who emigrated to the United States from Peru over 20 years ago, have built a business based on the skills and trade their father, Arturo, taught them as young boys. Over the course of 15 years the two entrepreneurs have grown to have locations in New York City, Atlanta, Charlotte, Miami, and a flagship repair center in Raleigh, North Carolina - as well as a partnership with luxury New York City retailer Bergdorf Goodman. I was a recent customer of theirs, working closely with them on a project to restore a varied lot of high end items that range from Ann Demeulemeester boots nearly a decade old, to 30-year-old Judith Leiber lizard evening bags that belonged to my deceased grandmother, and even a rare Bottega Veneta cross-body bag that was produced in Italy in the early 1990s and was damaged from a bleach spill. The issues of each item ranged far and wide from small scratches to literally the need to completely rebuild a pair of French Marséll boots that had been worn out and resoled twice before being retired to the back of the closet for the past two years. The items restored and revamped by Santana Leather Care are worth upwards of $50,000 in retail value and hold dear sentimental value worth much more. And, at the end of the project, what the team at Santana Leather Care did was nothing short of a miracle. The process from start to finish was seamless. The images seen throughout this article are before and after photographs that depict the changes and rebirth of these items through the expert hands of the team at Santana Leather Care. Nothing has been altered or retouched. For anyone who is a consumer of luxury goods, or leather goods in general, you know that maintaining them is key to preserving their lifespan. But, sometimes, through everyday wear and tear, travel, moves, accidents, and other abuse that they inevitably see - these items can become permanently damaged and lose their luster. This is not only frustrating for the owner of these products, but sometimes sad when items have been passed down from deceased relatives and no longer have the life they once held. Many people are at a loss as what to do with their leather goods, shoes or luxury items, not realizing that there are many options in brining them back to life. This is where Santana Leather Care steps in. Not only can they bring the life of a product back, but they can literally remake or reinvent an item to fit differently or reflect a more modern and current style. They can stretch shoes, completely rebuild a shoe, change the length on a purse strap, turn an over-the-shoulder purse into a fanny-pack - your imagination is the limit. And, it doesn't matter the monetary value of the item you're looking to have repaired. If it's meaningful to you, it matters to their team. Santana Leather Care has a reputation of leaving no stone unturned when it comes to color-matching dyes to leathers that are no longer in production. They will find chains for purses that most say no longer exist. They will replace grommets, strings, ties, repaint items- they are artists waiting for a challenge to conquer. And, that is exactly what they did with my items. After my items were boxed-up and sent to the Santana Leather Care workshop in Raleigh, North Caroline, I spoke with Mr. Robert Santana about his passion for leather care, luxury goods restoration, and his innate desire to see his clients happy. IC: How did Santana Leather Care come to be? RS: My brother Yury and I founded Santana Leather Care in Raleigh, North Carolina in 2008. We come from a family of artisans, our father worked and ran a leather tannery business back in Peru. I remember as children we were at the workshop learning the trade. As adults I took a career path in business and banking while Yury studied design and architecture, but we both had our calling in the leather business. We came to America in 2002 with the idea of creating our own leather business. After seeing the antiquated and disorganized way top repair shops where run in New York City we saw an opportunity and took it. IC: What makes Santana Leather Care different in the leather restoration business? RS: I remember being in a repair shop and a client dropping off her pristine white Chanel boots, and the cobbler coming from the back area with his hands soiled from working on other shoes - and touching them. Then is where we realized that there was a need in the market for what we had in mind. We structured our company in three pillars: 1. focus on the client experience, 2. focus on the location with a beautiful functional store setup and, 3. focus on the repair center in order to completely change the way repairs must be performed. We developed our own repair protocols, we redefined processes and mixed them with technology. We also developed our own training methods for our personnel. For example, when we hire a technician, we don’t hire them because of their experience, we hire them because of their talent, we look for great coordination with their hands. Aside from well trained personnel, we also have a creative approach to repairs, we recreate parts and replace them rather than patching or mending as a traditional repair. We also work hard on searching for new equipment. We believe that the repair performance will increase when we have the same equipment that the big fashion houses have for making their items. IC: What are the main factors when dealing with customers that the team at Santana Leather Care operates under? RS: We offer clients first class customer service, knowledge, and honesty. When clients visit any of our locations, they will be greeted by a trained client services specialist that will be honest and informative about their repair. We believe in honesty and transparency in order to manage clients’ expectations. You never want a client to think they will be receiving something brand new when it is many years old and severely damaged. IC: What have been some of the most challenging cases in the history of the company in terms of restoring leather goods? RS: As we like to think LIFE happens to everyone! LIFE also happens to our fashion too; every repair has its own unique challenge and back story. From spills and falls, to puppy bites, creative toddlers and everything in-between. There is one very touching and memorable repair of a client’s son’s ski boots. The client’s son unfortunately passed in a plane crash going on a ski trip and the only recognizable item they recovered from the accident were these ski boots. Once the boots were brought to us and the story shared, we knew we had no choice but to figure out a way to restore them at least to display condition. IC: What has been one of the most exciting projects to work on for your team and why? RS: We have worked with countless celebrity clients and partnered to repair garments for photo shoots, television shows, and movies. Even helping with last minute requests for 30 pairs of boots going down the runway for New York Fashion Week. What we consider exciting projects are those that have history and bring joy to our clients. Items that remind them of great moments or special memories with loved ones. An example of this would be one of our clients bringing in his fathers World War II bomber jacket to restore and give to his son. Being able to restore articles with such historic and sentimental meaning really reminds us of the impact our repair center has on people’s lives and nostalgic emotions. IC: How do you source all your leathers, dyes, and other items you need to restore valuable pieces? RS: Many leather industry developments are in Europe - Italy, Spain, Germany, and other countries. In order to be up-to-date, we keep in contact with European suppliers, and we attend the largest trade shows in Europe. We order some of our leathers from Italian tanneries, the same tanneries the big fashion houses order their leathers from. We regularly order different textures of leather in neutral colors, then we give the finish as, for example, patent leather and our dyes. IC: Where do you see Santana Leather Care being in the next 10 years? RS: We are planning on continuing to expand in the Northeast. There is a big demand for high quality repair services as ours and many people need to become aware of the repair possibilities that they don’t know exist. So it’s our mission apart from changing the face of traditional shoe and handbag repair to educate the client and make them more aware of those options, which at the end of the day is our small contribution to a more sustainable environment. Santana Leather Care not only works around the premise of restoration and giving life back to sentimental products owned by their clients, but they see their work as environmentally responsible. This is absolutely the case as fast fashion has created a mentality of waste - which negatively effects our planet. Santana encourages people to rethink their current items, reimagine them and then partner with the right resource to give newness to something old. The entire restoration process for my pieces, almost 25 in total, took roughly 6 weeks. The team in the Raleigh workshop took extra care to bring each item back to life in a way that I never could imagine. Some items, like this Fendi leather handbag from the late 1980s, were so scratched that in broad daylight all you could focus on were the indentations and irregularities in the leather. When it arrived back to me, it quite literally looked as if it had just come out of the box - 30 years after it was originally purchased. I was stunned. These Marséll boots, from Paris, had been worn all throughout the world - in cities like New York, Oslo and Rome; and even on treks in Southeast Asia. They were the definition of "worn out", and they had been resoled twice before. Santana Leather Care rebuilt them, added supports for structure, gave them completely new all-terrain soles and replaced the zippers. The results were unreal. They looked like brand new boots and, in actuality, were. The new soles look as if they are ready for another 5 years of travel. This Gucci portfolio from the early 1990s has several water stains and scratches. It arrived back new and ready to house ID cards, money and travel documents. This valuable Judith Leiber red lizard evening bag was owned by my deceased grandmother and it had seen many parties over the 1990s and 2000s in South Florida, where she lived. It had scratches on the hardware and the lizard leather was dry, discolored and worn. It returned looking as if it had almost never been used before - bringing about feelings of happiness knowing that such a special item to my grandmother would be preserved and kept alive long after her departure from this Earth. Working with the team at Santana Leather Care was a dream. Not only were they efficient, kind, professional and caring - but I could tell they are a family working together to bring the very best to their clients. I don't know that I've seen such a prestigious operation with such a down-to-Earth demeanor. Their work is outstanding and for anyone seeking true leather restoration, repair, and the reinvention of something special in your life that you thought might never have life again - you won't find better.