In This Issue

Providence Hotel
Rhode Island’s Crown Jewel

A heart for art. That's what real estate developer, antique collector and art connoisseur Stanley Weiss has, and what he had in mind when he opened his 80-room, 19-suite, spectacularly elegant Hotel Providence, a new crown jewel in Rhode Island's capital city that opened in early 2005.

The Four Diamond hotel located in Providence's Downcity arts district, was inducted into the Small Luxury Hotels of the World association in its first year of operation. The stately structure oozes art from every corner of both of its connected brick, Classical-style buildings that date to the late 1890s. Weiss bought the place in 1994 and completely renovated the buildings which began life in the late 19th-century as a hotel and office building. For more information...

The Perfect Gift Shop
A Tour of Upscale Emporium

What do you get for that special person who has everything?... Chances are, if you're in Barrington, Rhode Island, you will find that unique treasure at Upscale Emporium. The upscale consignment shop for those of discerning tastes. I don't know about you but I have a devil of a time choosing that perfect gift for that special someone. However, Upscale Emporium has just changed all of that for us. Located in the heart of Barrington, Upscale Emporium boasts 8,000 square feet of floor space; showcasing unique treasures and gift. From rare books and antiques to costume jewelry and vintage clothing, the shop has something for everyone. For more information...

Newbury Street
Boston’s Rodeo Drive

We all know Rodeo Drive is the place to be. With its glamour and posh boutiques, fancy cars and that slim chance of running into someone famous. It's something that most of us think about when talking about that elite shopping place on the West Coast; however, most of us Bostonians can honestly say Newbury Street doesn't have much to envy. The two mile long stretch, beginning at Boston Public Garden to Brookline Avenue, displays unique and trendy boutiques, art galleries, spa and hair salons, chic and upscale eateries, and much more. Fancy automobiles crowd the streets trying to find that special parking space that will lead them to a fantastic shopping spree in our town. For more information...

Felicio Franco
Master In Hair Design

Felicio Franco is not shy. Ask the hair stylist - make that hair architect - about his trade and he'll give you an earful and then some. But then again, the owner of Felicio Franco Hair Designers in New Bedford, Mass., and Providence, R.I. has the credentials to talk the talk, including 29 years in the business, teaching his art all over the world and running two very high-end salons. "No one else in the area really does what we do," said Franco, 48, a father and grandfather. "I trained under Irving Rusk for 17 years and became a master hair cutter." And while Franco knows some hairdressers are treated like stars - he's cut hair in Beverly Hills, in fact - he doesn't want you to confuse that idolatry with what should be reserved for true heroes. "Hairdressers are sometimes treated like rock stars, everyone wants to be like you are," he says. "And we are stars in our own little world because that's how people portray us. But that's not good for kid s. Kids need their parents to be their idols, not their hairdressers. For more information...

Fine Art

When I stepped into Collyer’s Frame Design, located at the Ropewalk, 33 County Road, Route 6, in Mattapoisett, I was immediately transformed into a world of creativity and imagination, and couldn’t believe how inviting the artistry was throughout the store. What a concept – combining framing customer’s artwork and promoting local artists by showcasing their artwork. Thi sis the vision of Jackie and Lindsey Collyer, partners in this family-owned business. Both natives of Mattapoisett, they have different backgrounds but share a passion for art. Jackie majored in art in college, focusing on oil painting and enjoyed watercolors. She had the inspiration of combine framing/artists over a year ago but felt she needed a partner. Lindsey majored in sociology and was employed at a local store in their paint department where she used her creative juices producing colors from scratch and truly enjoyed working with customers. “I love the idea of working with Jackie because we work great t ogether as a team, and I am not afraid of taking on challenges.” Lindsey remarks. For more information...

Home Front
HomeFront - Wallcovering

British fashion designer, Julien MacDonald, has launched a new wallcovering design collection. The collection features six different designs. Julien's range goes on the wall using Graham & Brown's cutting-edge technology, “Paste the Wall.” This means that you apply the paste to the wall, as if you were painting, and simply hang the paper dry, straight from the roll. This allows you to save five minutes on every piece hung, less mess, and it is easier to cut and trim. Removing the wallpaper is just as easy because the paper can come off in full sheets. For more information...

Room With a View

At the heart of a home is the dining room, a place where time can stand still, as we connect with family and friends. Whether used for formal entertaining or casual dining, it is like a stage that can be changed each evening. Through the transformative power of design, one can add personality and distinction. The dining room shown is a tranquil destination that is nature inspired and infused with refined elegance. By mixing textures, tones and finishes throughout furniture and decorative accessories, the room is uniquely defined. For more information...

Roger's Got You Covered

Where can you select a color of paint from a rainbow of 1500 hues? Take home a quart for $9.00? Give it a try on your walls? Live with it for a few days and see if it's just right for you? Not to mention a $6.00 rebate when you return what's left in the can! Just pull up to Rogers Paint and Wallcovering at 111 County Street in the heart of the Portuguese neighborhood in the South End of New Bedford. This landmark paint shop has occupied the same tenement and store front site since the turn of the 20th century. Step inside and ask for the manager, Victor Rebello. He represents the third generation of continuous family ownership and service at this location. "This shop was established by an Italian painter named, Henrique Rogers. His Azorean wife passed the business to her sona fter World War II, and he, my father-in-law, sold the business to me ten years ago." For more information...

Samuel Vartan Boutique
Style, Class & Luxury

You may look at a beautifully crafted Mongolian lamb coat and see just that. Samuel Vartan, in creating such a garment, hears music, sees exotic locations, recalls gorgeous women from movies past, conjures buildings of magnificent design. All that helps this 46-year-old former musician create styles that he says will last forever. Vartan is owner of Samuel Vartan Boutique in Brighton, Massachusetts, a Mediterranean-style shop reflecting old-world style and the crisp contrast of Vartan's collection. All items in his store are of his own design, boasting materials such as mink, alpaca, cashmere, leather. It is a very Euro store thanks to the upbringing of its Greek-born owner. My influences come from a variety of sources, including location, says Vartan, whose manufacturing operation is in Montreal. In my spring/summer collection, you will see a lot of the Mediterranean coast, in linen and beautiful cottons. You see and feel the influence of Greece, Italy, Morocco, Northern Africa. His fall/winter lines change to something darker, he says, with less color and more fabric choices, leathers, velvet, crushed cashmere. Its very cosmopolitan with darker, slightly ominous and sleek lines. All of it is based on who he is, Vartan says. And who I am never changes, he says. There are a few changes in the style but it's basically the same. You can see the links in my lines, you can see the same designer behind it. For more information...

La Playa
Beach & Golf Resort

If you're dreaming of a warm escape to a tropical paradise, take a journey to LaPlaya Beach and Golf Resort, a luxury beachfront haven in Naples on Florida's Gulf Coast. Featuring oceanfront suites with whirlpool Jacuzzi tubs, rooms and bungalows fashioned with four-poster beds draped with butterfly netting, a spa offering Thai and Indonesian-inspired treatments, a Bob Cupp-designed golf course, sophisticated cuisine and endless water-oriented activities, this 64-acre resort is nirvana for lovers of soft white sand and the gentle waves of the Gulf of Mexico. It is nestled next to Vanderbilt Bay. Just minutes away are serious shopping spots carrying Gucci and Manolo Blahnik must-haves, fine art galleries boasting Chihuly and Chagall pieces, and the famed Philharmonic Center for the Arts." For more information...

Opus Restaurant
An Oasis of Culinary Delights

Somewhere between the edge of Dartmouth and the Westport curve, you will find a spectacular work in progress on the westbound lane of Route 6. Within the past five months, a landscaped, Mediterranean villa has appeared in the old gravel pit that was home to Sullivan’s Auction House and Furniture Gallery. “It’s not a mirage,” Luis Sarabando explained. “This October we are opening, Opus, one of the largest upscale restaurants in the area. The name symbolizes the collaboration of four friends who set out to showcase their collective works and greatest talents.” Mr. Sarabando, a native of Aveiro, Portugal, is the owner manager. He managed Cappricio’s Restaurant in downtown Providence for the past six years, and looks forward to running his own show. His partners, Fernando and Mario Sousa and Executive Chef, Raymond P. Montaquila, collaborated in the layout and design of the restaurant, kitchen and grounds. The sandstone stucco and tile structure is surrounded by a landscaped garden of flowers, hardwoods and pines bordered by stone walls rimming the parking lot. Mr. Sarabando described the site in detail." For more information...

Behind the Wheel
S550 Mercedes Benz for 2007

From the moment I sat in the newly designed, 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550, I realized that this will not be just another day driving through the winding roads of Tiverton, RI. The casual attire I am so used to seems to turn formal as I enter the Tuxedo Black sedan with grey leather interior and gorgeous burled walnut dashboard trim. Now this is a driver’s car!" For more information...

A Taste of the Palette...
Californian Wines

When you’re knee-deep in winter, it’s always refreshing to think of escaping to a magical oasis like California, where plenty of perfect sun-kissed days await. Even if you’re not one of the lucky ones planning a winter getaway to the left coast, you can at least pretend you’ve got the laidback life by indulging in some of the state’s stellar wines. Have a breezy dinner party at home and pair these four great California wines with what’s cooking in the kitchen. For more information...

Incredible Days
Unique Gifts

Floating on a column of air rushing at you at 160 mph in an enclosed vertical wind tunnel for your birthday sure beats the hell out of getting a tie. So if you are looking for something in a gift as completely different as you can get, such as the aforementioned indoor skydiving adventure, you might check out Incredible Days, a Boston-based business that caters to the decidely unusual – and occassionally adrenalin pumping – when it comes to extraordinary gifts. “Its a pretty unique business” said David Soffer, who with partner Raju Shah started the company in early 2006. For more information...

Emerge Spa
An Enjoyable Experience

If you are looking for a day of ultimate relaxation and sinful pampering, then look no further than Emerge by Giuliano on Newbury Street in Boston. This spa lover’s paradise offers some of the city’s most luxurious services and treatments, including traditional items such as body scrubs, wraps and massages but also non-traditional treatments like Kur rituals, synergy system for cellulite and relaxation therapies. For more information...

Hot & Cold Destinations
Sedona & Deer Valley

Sedona – Ah, the beautiful, alluring color-soaked scenery of…Schnebly? ... What’s in a name? Consider that gorgeous Sedona, Arizona, located on the lower end of Oak Creek Canyon in the stunningly beautiful American Southwest, could have gotten labeled with that rather ungainly moniker. A stay in Sedona should include the Amara Creekside Resort which embraces its guests with the serenity of panoramic red rocks and the tranquil sounds of Oak Cree, all in a four-star, world-class setting just a short walk from downtown Sedona…

Deer Valley – Want to know how to make the best better? Check out Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah. The posh ski resort was not only chosen as SKI magazine’s very first “Dream House” location – the magazine is creating a $15 million, 14,000 square foot dream home at Deer Valley scheduled for completion by Winter 2007—but has been rated the number one ski area in all of North America by SKI in 2001 and 2005. How to do better? How about a $7 million upgrade to get the resort ready for this winter that included replacing an older chairlift with a high-speed detachable quad, freshening up amenities at Snow Park Lodge and expanding the resort’s unsurpassed glade skiing. For more information...