shining jewel
Due to a last-minute injury, Jewel wasn’t able to cut a rug as scheduled on ABC’s hit, Dancing With the Stars. But in her current ad campaign for luxury carpet and rug brand Karastan, she endorses one. Following in the footsteps of actresses Kelly Preston, Mariska Hargitay, Evangeline Lilly, and Andie MacDowell, the Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter/actress appears in Karastan’s 2009 “Make A Statement” national campaign. In an interview posted on Karastan’s website (karastan.com), Jewel talks about creating a space that reflects the people who live there, a new area of expertise to add to her pile.
gossip girl’s shining moment
Sylvania’s lighting products recently teamed up with Gossip Girl star Kelly Rutherford to introduce the company’s bright idea: Living Spaces, the brand’s next generation of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) that feature enhanced, industry-exclusive phosphors. The Melrose Place alum also plugs Sylvania’s other new lighting products, such as PalPodzzz, a three-in-one product with a soft light for nighttime, a rechargeable flashlight, and back-up lighting during a power outage—a favorite of her son, Hermes.
kelly’s washed up
European appliance brand Electrolux has tapped LIVE! With Regis and Kelly co-host (and America’s favorite mom) Kelly Ripa as its spokesperson for the company’s U.S. brand launch this year. Ripa, known for her unlimited energy and mind-boggling ability to multi-task, touts Electrolux’s washer and dryer with its speedy wash-to-dry time (a scant 36 minutes) and eco-friendly capability (washers use 56 percent less water than their traditional counterparts). One more to-do on her laundry list.
emeril’s sharpest idea
Designed with Chef Emeril Lagasse’s expertise and Wüsthof’s engineering, Emeril Pro Cutlery—distinguished by a unique blade and handle design—is a gourmet cook’s dream (whether that be a seasoned chef or an Emeril wannabe). Similar in look to Wüsthof’s best-selling Classic Collection, the Emeril Pro blades undergo additional polishing and grinding to create exceptionally sharp edges, just right for perfecting those delicious po’ boys.
stay
The Mayflower Inn & Spa
Washington, Connecticut
Toss aside the to-do list and repair instead to this idyllic Relais & Chateaux retreat to rediscover yourself and/or your significant other. An exquisite country-manor estate featuring 30 impeccably antique-appointed accommodations, The Mayflower delivers the ultimate ultra-luxe sojourn. Prepare to be seriously pampered—and to never want to leave.
Do: Meander through the Inn’s lush gardens and hike, cycle, kayak, and birdwatch throughout the adjacent Steep Rock Nature Preserve. Then bliss out in the ethereal guests-only spa, rated top nationwide by Condé Nast Traveler. Indulge in sublime skincare, practice Pilates in the indoor pool, or de-stress in the warm moisture Thermal Sanctuary. Snuggle up on a cozy chaise facing the Garden Room’s floor-to-ceiling windows—the breathtaking view rivals that of the room’s original de Kooning. And a browse through the nearby galleries and antiques shops may even turn up a treasure to call your very own.
Dine: Enjoy exceptional contemporary cuisine or gourmet spa fare in the elegant Main Dining Room, pub-style Tap Room, or your own guest chamber or suite.
Details: Mayflower Inn & Spa, 118 Woodbury Rd., Rte 47, Washington, CT (860) 868-9466.
Cost: $520 to $1,500 per night; spa packages from $1,750 per person.
Drive: 60 miles from White Plains
—Laurie Yarnell
see
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Inkblot Landscape by Pamela Landau Connolly |
photographic memory
At the Neuberger Museum of Art, Purchase…Andy Warhol: Snapshots
Through May 17, 2009
An obsessive photographer, Andy Warhol is estimated to have taken between 60,000 and 100,000 snapshots in his lifetime, producing images of athletes such as Dorothy Hamill and Tom Seaver and celebrities like Diana Ross and Dolly Parton. Andy Warhol: Snapshots features 50 photos by the Pope of Pop given to the Neuberger by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. Dated from the 1970s and ’80s, they capture the bizarre and the banal, the celebrities and the unknown. Neuberger Museum of Art, 735 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase (914) 251-6100
At Lot 84, Mount Kisco… Pamela Landau Connolly: here+there
Through June 30th, 2009
Making good on its commitment to showcase local artisans, Mount Kisco-based boutique Lot 84 will host an exhibit by photographer Pamela Landau Connolly, whose work captures the beauty in everyday, simple objects and familiar places. Relying on traditional film and vintage cameras in her work, the photographer shows off her work in the exhibit, here+there, a series of black-and-white prints that examine the signs of growth, the traces of wear, and the impact of time on ordinary places. Lot 84, 84 Lexington Avenue, Mount Kisco (914) 244-8535
clean
Spring Tidy
A scrupulous cleaning is as much a part of spring as blooms and bike riding. This year, why not go green in the process? Robin Murphy, president of Pleasantville-based Maid Brigade, offers these great eco-friendly tips for the great green season.
• Make your own window cleaner by mixing one-quarter cup of white distilled vinegar, one cup of water, and a half-teaspoon of liquid dishwashing soap in a spray bottle.
• To reduce waste and remove chemicals left behind by most cleaning products, try reusable microfiber cloths and mop heads.
• To remove rust, carpet, or fabric stains and to clean your counters, use club soda. After you finish cleaning, give your houseplants a drink—the minerals will help them grow.
read
The New Terrarium
Westchester Home writer Tovah Martin’s animated tales of local gardens have left many a reader wanting more. Now they’ve got it. Her recently released how-to tome, The New Terrarium: Creating Beautiful Displays for Plants and Nature (Clarkson Potter, February 2009), photographed by Kindra Clineff, introduces us to the world of gardens under glass, a no-fuss way to bring a bit of Mother Nature indoors.
