Focus of SWFL - Flairs of the season

of S W F LFOCusNOV/DEC 2011

Flairs of the

Season

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FOR AN OFFICIAL ROLEX JEWELER CALL 1-800-367-6539.ROLEX OYSTER PERPETUAL AND DATEJUST ARE TRADEMARKS

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iPod, iPhone and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Wall mount also available for BeoSound 8.

AT LAST... A DOCK THAT MATCHES THE DEVICEDock your iPod, iPhone or iPad in BeoSound 8. Or connect an MP3 player, PC or Mac and rediscover your music collection all over again - only this time it will sound like you are sitting in the front row! Start the experience at www.bang-olufsen.com or call 888 625 3414 for your closest showroom.

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iPod, iPhone and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Wall mount also available for BeoSound 8.

AT LAST... A DOCK THAT MATCHES THE DEVICEDock your iPod, iPhone or iPad in BeoSound 8. Or connect an MP3 player, PC or Mac and rediscover your music collection all over again - only this time it will sound like you are sitting in the front row! Start the experience at www.bang-olufsen.com or call 888 625 3414 for your closest showroom.

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2 Federica Rettore Jewelry Mini Trunk Show

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“Style Leader” ~Harper’s Bazaar

“One of the top warm weather destination boutiques.” ~Vogue

DESTINATIONlifestyle

“Recognized as one of ‘21 Little Shops around the Corner.” ~Departures

Publisher: Antoinette Gordon Cover by: Michael Von Holden

Designer: Hannibal Laguna (cover)Cover Model: Nadia Leonovich

Design: Nxtmediafx.comContributors:

Terry Profetto, Dan Myricks, Samantha Ramos, Moony Mann, Kevin Pillion, Keri Glassman, Kristy Musteffe,

Pilar Corona, Scott Black, Mai Yomioto, Gina Battle Nicole Weiss, Brittany E, Chef Roberta, Lina Lasalle

Burt Kellerman, Ian Howes, Julia Cushman, Norah Edward, Renee Therrien & Cortney Yod

Focus Magazine of SWFL is published Bimonthly. Articles do not necessarily reflect Focus Magazine policy. © 2010 Focus maga-zine of SWFL, All rights reserved. Reproduction in part or whole without permission is prohibited. Postmaster: Send all remit-tances and correspondences about subscriptions, undelivered copies and address changes to: Focus Magazine of SWFL at 105 Triple Diamond Blvd, Suite 101, Venice, FL 34275. Editorial, pub-lishing and advertising offices.

M a g a z i n eFOCus

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c o n t e n t S a r a s o t a | C h a r l o t t e | L e e | C o l l i e r

14 Keeping in touch

20 Inside out

24 Holiday style

28 What will happen to your pet?

30 Creating great events

33 Eat hearty and healthy

37 Dietary restrictions during the holidays

40 Behind the seams with Simon Chang

42 Dress for wedding success

60 Betting on black

64 Enchanting obsession

66 Team Caprice

70 Unmatched precision

76 Diva days

79 Your piece of art

84 Simply going green

85 Gina giving back

86 Southwest Florida Ballet

62

Artist GAllery

Artist: Leo Johnson - Wonder Cutter

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mailto:[email protected]

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M a g a z i n eFOCus

the 2012 Scholastic

ART & WRITING AWARDSpresented by the Alliance for Young

Artists & Writers

IN 28 CATEGORIES

OPEN CALL

FOR SUBMISSIONS

Alliancefor Young

&WritersArtists

artandwriting.org

Artwork: De'Narrow BrownDeep Roots, Jewelry

Grade 12, Age 17, OH

http://www.artandwriting.org


Keeping In TouchWith the holiday season upon us, we welcome an annual occasion that brings us closer to those we love. But how do we express our feelings? Communication has never been more immediate, more varied. We can contact loved ones, friends and colleagues through an ever-increasing number of options. Our world has been transformed by e-mails and texting, Blackberries and iPhones and netbooks, YouTube, Twitter, FaceBook, Skype: all are handy, instant and convenient, but somehow lacking the personal touch … the physical touch.

No combination of key-pad strokes, electronic impulses, and pixels can express a heart-felt thankyou, the warm welcome of an invitation, sincere condolences or the announcement of a birth like a hand-written letter, card or note, especially on personalised paper, written in a uniquely coloured ink. Electronic com-munications have not replaced Christmas cards, or birthday cards or any other seasonal greetings that matter among friends and family.

Electronic devices have certainly transformed the way we correspond, but a fondness remains for more traditional methods when an occasion so demands. The writer of the missive – light-hearted or serious, affectionate or formal – can savour the time it takes for the ink to dry from a fountain pen’s nib. He or she will delight in the tactile experience imparted by the texture of hand-cut notepapers, the surface of a desk blotter, the sealing of an envelope. Yet a third sense can be addressed with scented stationery or perfumed inks ... or one’s own personal cologne. Writers can revel in the expressiveness of their own handwriting, knowing that their recipients will be viewing words put to paper by the hand of the sender.

There is but one form of communication that allows the sharing all of these sensations: the act of letter-writing. No electronic means can provide an authentic physical link between sender and recipient. Writing has served for millennia as a means of communication that defines with, poignant accuracy, the act of “keeping in touch”. That three-word phrase does not mean tapping an iPad screen. It refers to opening an envelope, extracting and unfolding a piece of paper, one that was written and sent with care.

In ensuring that the creation and re-ception of hand-written communication remain unchallenged by the keyboard, Montegrappa has served the art of let-ter-writing for nearly a century. It is It-aly’s premier manufacturer of fine writ-ing implements, producing since 1912 a comprehensive selection of pens, hold-ers, carry-cases and accessories, with a choice of inks to render the message even more personal.

If pixels merely communicate, then the written word truly speaks... With your voice.


Grande Reverso Lady Ultra Thin80 years ago a legend was born: a watch with a case that could swivel to shelter the dial from im-pacts while revealing its personalised engraved back.

Initially designed in 1931 for polo playing British colonial army officers, the Reverso soon became a watch icon that exercised its seductive appeal well beyond polo fields. From 1931, onwards, a feminine model adopted this Art Deco inspired swivel watch concept and paved the way for a whole world of aesthetic creativity, a universe in which watches became full-fledged pieces of jewellery.

In celebrating the 80th birthday of the Reverso, Jaeger-LeCoultre wished to salute femininity by unveiling a new expression of this emblematic watch: the Grande Reverso Lady Ultra Thin, an original timepiece expressing the very essence of the Reverso personality: a marriage of tradition and nobility, an alliance of style and elegance.


FOCUS of SWFL 2011 19

Atenea, pieces inspired by playing with starfish as children.

Jewelry immersed in dreams and fantasy.

Starfish with unusual volumes and movement in their arms are the result of inspiration from the crystal Mediterranean and the reflection of twinkling starfish in its waters.

Atenea is also the faithful reflection of the mysterious starfish intimately united with the waves, sand, and dunes. Their shapes blur on the shore as they immerse themselves in the waves and dance to the tempo of the currents. The starfish in yellow gold and white gold are majestically sprinkled with diamonds and completed with the matte-shine finish so characteristic of Carrera y Carrera, filling these sensational and splendid jewelry pieces with reflections and iridescence that dress a beautiful woman full of individuality. Atenea is a jewelry line that creates a perfect union between the most fantastic dreams of the Carrera y Carrera woman and an enchanted Mediterranean Sea.

These pieces were created for women who wish to have their first special jewel, such as the Mini Atenea ring or earrings; or for those who feel an authentic passion for jewelry and wish to enjoy the incomparable designs of the Atenea rings, pendants, and earrings, where graceful shapes and great volumes give the illusion of starfish moving their arms to the rhythm of the waves. The Atenea ring is a piece to which the goldsmiths of Carrera y Carrera have dedicated more than 300 hours of work to obtain the perfect balance between the curves of its surface, the small incrusted starfish, volume and lightness.

Once again the unsurpassed combination of yellow gold and white gold brings luminosity and character to these pieces made for a woman who wishes to see her dreams become jewelry.


Inside outWe are surrounded by propaganda associated with outer beauty, but are we forgetting about inner beauty? Above all, your inner beauty is very important and you should focus on it, focusing on beauty on the outside is just an added benefit. As time and age can take a toll on your outer beauty, they can never take away your inner beauty. What follows are some ideas on how to develop your own inner beauty so that you can feel attractive on the inside as well as the outside.

We are surrounded by beauty, particularly if we are capable of distinguishing it. If you learn to delight in the natural world and its beauty, you can begin to appreciate your inner beauty. You may have your own way of doing this, whether it's appreciating art, nature or spending time with children. Technology is another form in which people discovery beauty. If you intentionally encapsulate your life with attractive components, you will be able to have a positive mental state which will allow your most wonderful qualities to shine. It's not hard to find gorgeous items that will make you feel happy, you can appreciate simple things, such as a blooming flower or a fabulous pair of shoes.

It's important to think on the bright side otherwise you could obstruct your inner beauty. You will block your inner beauty if you allow imminent feelings, such as misery, annoyance or even hatred

to take over your life, thus resulting in the limitation of your true potential. Above all, you have the ultimate control and you should learn to recognize the ar-

eas in your life that can be improved upon. A therapist can occasionally be the greatest assistance to you however in a lot of instances you

can just talk about your issues with a close confidant. It doesn't take much for negative feelings to take over your life, but it is important to scrutinize these and not allow them to consume your life. Your inner beauty can shine through when you are contented with your life, but not so much when you permit your bad mood to engulf your life.

We live in a world now that is "on the go" and if you get caught up in all the action you may lose track of your path to inner beauty. Within this world, regardless if you are an insider or the outsider, there is no way to elude opposition. Even with our extra time, we battle with others - whether it is for a sporting event or maybe with our pets, for example a dog or horse show. There's nothing wrong with this, and

competition can help bring out the best in us, but if we do this in a spirit of fair play and good sportsmanship, it can make

a big difference. Winning at something can feel like a drug-free high, however if you had to bamboozle people in order to make it that far, will you really feel like a winner in the end? Being gra-cious, honest and fair, even when competing, is an important part of inner beauty.

When you develop your inner beauty, you become attractive in ways that go far beyond your out-

ward appearance and people will enjoy being around you without necessarily knowing why. There are a number of ways to cultivate your inner beauty and we have only shared a few of those in this article. If you don't remem-ber anything else, do remember that natural beauty comes from within and your outward appearance is simply an expression of this.

By Cortney Yod


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This Season you should...

the life of a local family/child this Christmas. The Community Cooperative Ministries, Incor-porated (CCMI) is a community project that means to help the less fortunate family so they may enjoy the festive season. Just visit one of your local of-fices around town and get the details for providing nutritious groceries or volunteering.

Impact...Admire...

a new exhibition on display at The von Liebig Art Center, featuring 68 pieces of work by 61 artists. A va-riety of traditional and innovative styles, including acrylic painting, digital art, fiber art, mixed media, oil painting, pastel, drawing, pho-tography and sculpture. The von Li-ebig Art Center, located at 585 Park Street in downtown Naples. The goal of The Naples Art Association is to educate and promote visual arts in Southwest Florida; call 239-262-6517, visit: www.naplesart.org

Savour...a seasonally inspired menu of distinctive meals and a memorable dining experience. At Torch Bis-tro in Punta Gorda, pro-viding uncompromised culinary for savvy diners along with wonderfully seasoned comfort food. Dining is also available for your pets as well.www.torchbistro.com


to the musical tones of Moonymann in Naples; a guitarist/singer of many genres and eras and gives us his famil-iar spin on some wonderful tunes like "I Can See Clearly Now", "Brown Eyed Girl" and many more. You can see Moony live at upscale restaurants, cocktail lounges and various cultural functions or visit his site: www.moonymann.com

Listen...

Wear...something glamorous, to one of a multitude of festivities happen-ing this season. Every girl needs a failsafe dress in her wardrobe that makes a big entrance in style... Ensure you avoid that “I have nothing to wear” moment.

Eliza J v-neck sequin dress, poly-ester/acetate, black, $158. (left) - Calvin Klein one-shoulder se-quin dress, polyester, navy/black, $208 (right). In Special Occasion and Encore at Nordstrom.


Explore...the Bay and Gulf sea breezes aboard a 105 foot luxury yacht, with luxurious interior salons for fine dining and entertainment. Walk along the bow deck to see some dolphins, all aboard the Naples Princess available for all occasions of breathtaking Hors D’oeuvres Cruises. Call 239-649-2275

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h ades formerly Known as Metropolis Shoe fills the Steam Punk Niche of

Speculative Fiction Fantasy Footwear! Based in California with Designers from around the world working to create an extensive variety of one of the most attractive and Rebellious Style of shoes and Boots. Their Philosophy is that you are an individual and should dress like one! Steampunk is more than just brass and watch parts. It's finding a way to com-bine the past and the future.

It's living an old-fashioned yet futuristic life. Combining the scientific romanticism of the Victorians with our real present and beyond with gears, wheels and fantasy.


"Steampunk is an eclectic world of cogs and rivets, it is airships, goggles and steam. It is romance. It is traveling on clouds and diving beneath rugged waves. It is adventure."

Aether Emporium

By: Kevin Pillion, Attorney, Co-Executor PLC

For more information, please contact:Attorney Kevin PillionCo-Executor PLC1990 Main Street, Suite 750Sarasota, FL 34236Tel. (941) 201-1111www.co-executor.come-mail: [email protected]


The important things to remember when it comes to a Pet Trust are:

• Talk to the people you are thinking of appointing as the beneficiary and the trustee to make sure they truly want to and can take care of your pet.

• Leave detailed instructions as to the regular care of your pet such as the pet’s daily routine, food preferences, exercise, visits by family members, etc.

• Leave instructions regarding emer-gency care, medical issues and contact information for your veterinarian.

?

What Will happen to your pet

Pets tend to become a valued part of our families. Unfortunately, they are often forgotten about when pet owners do their estate planning.

What would happen to your pet if you or your loved one became ill or passed away? Sadly, many pets end up in animal shelters where they may be eu-thanized or at no-kill shelters living in cages. You can prevent this from happening to your pet by including a pet trust in your estate plan.

Pet trusts are not just for ultra-wealthy people, they are for ordinary people who want to provide for their pets. Under Florida Statute 736.0408, Pet Trusts are enforceable in Florida, so you can have peace of mind knowing that your pet will be cared for under the law.

There are two types of Pet Trusts. The first is cre-ated when you are alive and is known as a living trust. The second is created when you die and is included in your will as a “testamentary” trust pro-vision. While the living trust option takes effect immediately and protects your pet if you become disabled or are no longer able to care for your pet. The testamentary trust option only protects your pet after you die, and assures your pet will be un-der the good care of someone you trust.

Remember too that a Living Trust for your pet should be drafted by an attorney who is trained in Estate Planning. Your pet has given you years of love and companionship, so take a moment to give your pet something in return. Protect and assure the happiness of your pet by doing a living trust today.


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If you want be at the top of mind with your guests and media; create an “event” production from the moment your guests arrive. The successful ingredients include the theme and overall design look that has visual ele-ments, entertaining food and the right amount of fes-tive atmosphere. Here is how our event planners create those events, while keeping an eye on the budget.

The Theme is the message or idea at the will be car-ried throughout the event. It may be a single topic, a destination, a period of time, or newest “hot” list, It can be subtle or over the top. The most important as-pect is that all of the elements communicate the same theme. With a cohesive theme, your guests enter into a visual world from the moment that they receive the invitation to the last goodbye that creates and sustains an underlying buzz.

First “use what you got”. Start with the selection of a venue with the theme in mind, instead of the “how much” criteria. For example, does your

local country club have a “Gone with Wind” ambiance with big Southern pillars and the grandeur of 2nd story winding staircases? A Great Gatsby theme is perfect for a local Train Depot. Historical churches and muse-ums have magnificent Spanish courtyards. Botanical parks can easily be converted to tropical oasis. More importantly, if your venue enhances your theme, your budget can be reallocated for the entertainment and food.

Secondly, rethink the entertainment and music and when it is scripted into the event. A few trends that we see are the TV Reality genre which is driving themes to be more genuine. So instead of following the tradi-tional cocktail hour, dinner, dancing drill, add an enter-tainment script so your guests feel that they are part of the show from the moment they arrive. Instead of a 10 person orchestra for the cocktail hour, consider a violin quartet (the music script) with strolling violists (the en-tertainment script). Add a cappella choir to greet your guests with additional singers who stroll through the cocktail hour. Consider Tango or Salsa dance troupes that mingle and dance to the background of a Spanish band. Create a visual media documentary with plasma screens and techno rock music and create small flash mobs with character actors. Add interactive scripts with living statutes, palm readers, airbrush tattoo artists and photo cutout stations.

Creating Great Events

By Chef Roberta


Finally, select a caterer that can create themed menus that will spike your guests’ enthusiasm throughout the entire event. A menu theme is based upon com-plimentary ingredients for that period of time, the genre, the geographical area and the culture, and fits within our contemporary palettes. We recreated the first class passengers menu for the Titanic opening exhibition. On April 14, 1912, the passengers dined on a ten course dinner including Consumme Olga, poached salmon with mousseline, lamb with mint sauce and pate de fois gras. To keep within the confines of the theme and insure that all of the guests ate, we re-created these classics. The Consumme Olga (boiled veal stock) was converted to pan seared scallops with a brown butter drizzle.. The salmon mousseline became grilled salmon lol-lipops served with horseradish crème fraiche. The lamb with mint sauce was served with a mint and cranberry relish;. Pate de fois gras was served with pan seared apple Confit. This menu kept the buzz alive, the foodies were ecstatic and the cohesiveness of the theme kept the buzz alive. Another catering concept is the food preparation that is a performance itself. For the MD Anderson Can-cer benefit, the Old Florida cuisines included a Low

Country boil, carving stations for BBQ ribs and a live oyster shucking bar. The guests were able to interact with the chefs in action. Another idea is to consider adding a different method of cooking, for example, a wood burning fire pit that cooks food in a novel way that will fascinate your guests.

You can also just create a “menu nod” to the theme. For our 9.11 Tribute to Heroes luncheon for Manatee County Emergency Operations, we created an Amer-ican Parfait for dessert, white chocolate mousse with raspberries and blueberries, but served in contempo-rary parfait cups.

Finally, the catering staff can be dressed in theme appropriate costumes. At the All Children’s Hospital Annual fund raiser, our strolling waiters were cos-tumed in Moroccan shirts and fez caps to compliment the Casa Blanca theme. We utilized serving trays that were tiled mirrors and diamond shaped crystals for that Moroccan theme.

By choosing the right venue, utilizing scripted en-tertainment and adding themed menus, your event will be a success, that night and for a long time afterwards!

We are a contemporary, full service catering and event design company. We offer services for large galas (over 1,000) to intimate parties of 50, from Naples to Tampa Bay. We have been awarded the 2011 Hot List for Tampa Bay, as well as 2009, 2010 and 2011 recipients of the Brides Choice awards from Martha Stewart’s Wedding Wire that represent the top 5% nationwide in wedding professionals. We are approved caterers at the finest Tampa, St. Pete and Sarasota venues. Contact us at 941.312.0000 or www.MilanCatering.com


Eat Hearty and Healthy

Disease-Preventing Recipes (PART 1)By Keri Glassman, MS, RD

By choosing the right ingredients and having inspirational recipes on hand, you can use food to comfort Both your mind and Body

As the temperature gets colder, is when people tend to burn firewood rather than calories and turn to not-so-good comfort foods instead of their healthy favorites. But with expanding obesity rates in the U.S., heart disease a leading cause of death and type 2 diabetes affecting at least 24 million American adults and children, diet is more impor-tant than ever. Keri Glassman, M.S., R.D., C.D.N., nationally recog-nized nutrition expert and book author, is here to help with a unique two part collection of disease-preventing recipes that are hearty enough to pacify wintertime cravings yet healthy enough to fuel the body without undesirable calories.

“People crave comfort in the winter, but unfortunately, they often find it in unhealthy foods,” said Glassman.

Each recipe in Glassman’s disease-preventing collection, contains nu-trient-rich ingredients that have been shown to help prevent disease when part of a healthy lifestyle. The recipes include:

• Lemon-Walnut Chicken & Spiced Kale Chips• Vegetarian Portobello Mushroom Stack Over Quinoa• Parmesan-Crusted Halibut & Spicy Sprouts

“From the B vitamin-packed sweet potatoes in the bisque to the protein-rich quinoa and chickpeas in the vegetarian mushroom dish, every ingredient was chosen for its taste and health benefits,” said Glassman. “It’s important for people to know the value of healthy food ingredients and most of all, how they can combine to make mouth-watering meals!”

As a common ingredient in all of the above recipes, canola oil delivers on heart health. It has the least saturated fat and most omega-3 fat of all cooking oils and is free of trans fat and cholesterol. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized a qualified health claim for canola oil on its potential to reduce the risk of heart disease when used in place of saturated fat.

“The oil you choose to cook with is as important as major recipe com-ponents,” said Glassman. “Everybody needs a moderate amount of healthy unsaturated fat in their diet for good health and canola oil is one of the best sources of it.”

In addition, canola oil is a good source of vitamins E and K and very versatile with a light texture, neutral flavor and high heat tolerance (smoke point of 468 °F).


Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 °F.

2. Sprinkle chicken breast with pepper. In large, non-stick sauté pan, heat 1 tsp canola oil over high heat and pan sear chicken for 2 minutes on each side until golden brown. Then roast chicken in oven for 25 minutes until cooked.

3. In same sauté pan, heat remaining 1 tsp canola oil over medium-high heat. Add shallots and sauté 3-5 minutes un-til golden. Add cornstarch and stir until incorporated. Add chicken broth, wine, lemon juice and zest, tarragon, pepper and sugar and cook about 5 minutes, stirring often.

4. Transfer chicken to serving platter, pour sauce over it and top with walnuts and lemon wheels. Serve with Spiced Kale Chips.

Yield: 4 servings. Serving Size: 1 chicken breast.

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts1/4 tsp pepper2 tsp canola oil, divided1 large shallot, chopped1 Tbsp cornstarch1 cup low-sodium, fat-free chicken broth1/2 cup white wine2 fresh lemons, juiced2 Tbsp lemon zest1 tsp tarragon1/4 tsp black pepper1/4 tsp granulated sugar4 fresh lemon wheels1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Lemon-Walnut Chicken & Spiced Kale Chips

Sp

iced

Kale

Ch

ips

Yield: 4 servings. Serving Size: 1/4 cup.

Kale is the new rock star in the produce aisle – it’s packed with vitamins and minerals and tastes great to boot. These baked “chips” will even ap-peal to kids. Canola oil aids in the absorption of kale’s fat-soluble vitamins.

1 small bunch kale, stems removed and sliced into 1/2-inch strips1 Tbsp canola oil4 cloves garlic, minced1/4 tsp salt1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400° F.

2. In large bowl, combine kale, canola oil and garlic, toss-ing to coat. Season with salt, black pepper and cayenne. Transfer to small baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes,tossing once halfway through.

Lemon combines with tarragon, white wine and black pepper to give zest to chicken breasts for a terrific everyday meal. Walnuts add crunch and, along with canola oil, is among the best sources of plant-based omega-3 fat.


Quinoa:1 tsp canola oil1/4 large sweet onion, chopped2 cloves garlic, finely chopped1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed1 tsp cumin2 cup low-sodium vegetable broth

Mushroom Stack:2 cloves garlic, finely chopped1/2 tsp dried thyme2 Tbsp sherry wine vinegar2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar1 Tbsp canola oil1 red pepper, cored and sliced lengthwise4 portobello mushrooms, stems removed and rinsed1 cup cooked chickpeas1/2 Tbsp canola oil1 large sweet onion, sliced into half moons1/4 tsp salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° F. To prepare quinoa, in 2-quart saucepan, heat canola oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté 2-3 minutes. Add quinoa and cumin, sauté another minute. Add vegetable broth and bring to boil. Cover pan, reduce heat to low and simmer 10-15 minutes until liquid is absorbed.

2. To prepare mushroom stack, in small bowl, whisk garlic, thyme, sherry and balsamic vinegars and 1 Tbsp canola oil. Dip red pepper slices in marinade and place on small baking sheet. Dip each mushroom in marinade, coating both sides, and place on half of large, parchment-lined baking sheet. Toss chickpeas in remaining marinade and place on other half of large baking sheet. Bake all 30 minutes, turning mushrooms and red pepper and tossing chickpeas once halfway through.

3. Set mushrooms and red peppers aside and add chickpeas to cooked quinoa.

4. In large sauté pan, heat 1/2 Tbsp canola oil over medium-high heat, add sliced onions and toss to coat with oil. Cook 7-8 minutes, sprinkle with pinch of salt and cook 10-12 minutes longer, stirring frequently until caramelized (onions will be a rich brown and smell sweet).

5. To serve, place 1 cup quinoa on each plate, top with one portobello mushroom (gill side down), three or four slices red pepper and caramelized onion.

Vegetarian Portobello Mushroom Stack Over Quinoa

Visit www.canolainfo.org for healthy recipes

This colorful, earthy dish offers a medley of powerhouse ingredients from protein-rich quinoa and chickpeas to vitamin-dense portobello mushrooms and red pepper. Canola oil’s light texture complements other ingredients without weighing them down.

www.canolainfo.org


Parmesan-Crusted Halibut & Spicy Sprouts

Halibut:canola oil cooking spray1/4 cup all-purpose flour2 egg whites1 Tbsp fat-free milk1 1/2 cup corn flakes, lightly crushed1/4 fresh parsley, rinsed and chopped1/4 tsp salt1/4 tsp black pepper1/4 tsp garlic powder4 Pacific/Alaskan halibut fillets (4 oz each), rinsed and pat dry1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese1 lemon, cut into wedges

Brussels Sprouts:2 packages (10 oz) Brussels sprouts, rinsed and sliced in half1 Tbsp canola oil1/8 tsp red pepper flakes1/4 tsp garlic powder1/8 tsp salt1 tsp Parmesan cheese

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 °F and place oven rack in upper third of oven.

2. Coat two baking sheets with canola oil cooking spray and set aside.

3. Place flour in shallow bowl. In another shallow bowl, combine egg whites and milk. In third shallow bowl, combine corn flakes and parsley. Sprinkle halibut with pinch of salt, pepper and garlic powder. Lightly dust each fish fillet with flour, dip in egg mixture, then coat with corn flake-parsley mixture. Place on baking sheet. Sprinkle each fillet with 1 Tbsp Parmesan cheese and bake for 15-17 minutes until fish is opaque and flakes when pulled apart with fork. Set aside and keep warm.

4. In large bowl, toss Brussels sprouts with 1 Tbsp canola oil, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, salt and Parmesan cheese. Transfer to baking sheet that has been coated with canola oil cooking spray and roast for 10 minutes until tender, turning every 2-3 minutes.

5. Serve warm alongside halibut with fresh lemon wedge.

Texture reigns in this crispy, healthy fish dish accented by tarragon and Par-mesan cheese. Brussels sprouts take on similar flavor notes with a little kick from red pepper flakes. Both halibut and canola oil are good sources of heart-smart omega-3 fat while being low in saturated fat.

Yield: 4 servings. Serving Size: 1 halibut fillet and 1/2 cup Brussels sprouts.

Visit www.canolainfo.org for healthy recipes

www.canolainfo.org

On a day-to-day basis, cooking for picky eaters in your household is challenging by itself. The demands can make you feel like a short-

order cook. The added pressure of various dietary restrictions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, food allergies, and veganism, among others, is a huge task as you try to strike the right balance to accommodate every-one’s needs during a holiday dinner.

How should you resolve the issue of whipping up a fresh, fully-balanced, flavorful menu that will satiate your guests without being a gourmet chef?

With everyone’s cooperation it is doable. All participants should consider the other guests' situation to ensure nothing is lacking at the offering.

A cohesive consideration when planning the celebration is to ask every-one to participate in a buffet-style meal requesting they prepare a favorite dish to share. A good guest will embrace the premise of participating and will do so happily. This is a wonderful way to have positive inclusion and a variety of food in which to indulge.

A great host will leave ample time for guests to meet the request of pre-paring food and beverages. If you want the menu to be seamless, make sure you plan out the meal and coordinate the menu including cocktails, appetizers, and desserts.

Low sugar, low-sodium, or meatless dishes shouldn’t mean an uneventful, cardboard tasting, flavorless meal. There are sugar and salt substitutes, as well as, natural juices from fruits and vegetables which can be used in all courses. In addition, fresh fruits incorporated in desserts or 100% dark chocolate will add plenty of WOW and decadence to yummy desserts.

Also consider this, as a guest preparing food please put love in your recipe to ensure a savory dish. Serving plain, unimaginative veggies as a side order dish instead of an entrée is an insult to ones culinary vegetarian or vegan palette.

Finally, use a recipe that you have cooked before and genuinely love if you are contributing a favorite entrée. Bringing a platter that you are experi-menting with could be a disaster. This could be a big mistake resulting in embarrassment to the host and you.

For a guest list filled with a variety of restrictive dietary requests the most important things to do are to: Lovingly accommodate their needs, cherish loved ones, and savor the food and good times.

Happy Holidays to you and yours.

Dietary Restrictions During theHolidays

By Gina Battle


Photography by John Fernandez 38 FOCUS of SWFL 2011

As a musician in Southwest Florida, I perform as many as three hundred times a year in some of the area's best restaurants. One of the perks is being able to sample offerings from some very talented chefs. One day this

past summer while on a gig reconnaissance mission I enjoyed a particularly exceptional dining experience. I had heard there was a great new music venue in Naples and that the band stand was large enough to comfortably accommodate a six piece band and also had sound and lighting systems second to none as far as restaurants go in this area. I also heard about the dance floor and the crowds of dancers and re-ally hot bands that regularly perform. Naturally this all peaked my interest so I had to make a sales call and try to potentially book some gigs for my band. I decided to have dinner one evening so I could check the place out and I'm glad I did... I love authentic traditional Mexican food and Blue Agave Tequila Bar & Grill in Naples has to be the best I've had in this area. My first visit was great and I have been back many times since then for dinner with friends and family and it's always a big hit.

I was able to sit with owner Judy Barney and Chef Arturo Perez Jr. for a few minutes and chat about the history and philosophy behind the new business and this is what I learned. Although Blue Agave has only been open one year, Barney has been in the busi-ness more than sixteen years and if the name Arturo sounds familiar it's because Chef Arturo is the Son of the Chef at the award winning and popular restau-rant Arturo's on Marco Island. Which is where Chef Arturo Perez Jr. developed his skills and honed his passion for the culinary arts. "Our goal is to provide this community and tourists alike with quality, quan-tity and excellent service at a reasonable price." said Barney. "We have a customer-is-always-right atti-tude that will always be the key to keeping people coming back." she adds. The dining area is large and comfortable and easily seats 200 patrons. After dinner hours, the main dining room quickly trans-

forms into a roomy dance floor as several tables are removed. However, dancing isn't the only activity that takes place. "We are looking forward to host-ing more public events and private affairs including conventions and weddings and will also host several tequila tastings each season." said an enthusiastic Barney who lends her name to a margarita listed on the extensive menu as the "Judy Blue." Also, the full liquor bar boasts of the best selection of tequila in Naples and at the helm is bar manager and mixolo-gist Greg La Rose.

The signature dish at Blue Agave is Molcayete Az-teka, a traditional Mexican recipe of a combination of: Chicken, Beef Steak, Chorizo, Oaxaca Cheese, Grilled Onions, Grilled Cactus and Green Tomatillo Sauce served in a volcanic stone pestle. This course also includes hot and fresh corn or flour tortilla wraps and a side of beans, rice and salsa. It's plenty for two adults to enjoy. Take my word for it; there are many more delicious traditional Mexican cuisine offerings on the menu as well as a selection of Italian dishes that Chef Arturo has added to reflect his years of experience at his father’s restaurant. For more information visit the website at: www.blueagave-naples.com

For a list of all the fine restaurants and other venues in which I'll be performing this season visit: www.moonymann.com

Blue Agave Tequila Bar & Grill3785 Tamiami Trail EastNaples, Florida 34112phone: 239.262.2582

Viva la Mexico!By Moony Mann



Simon Chang is a man on the move, as he oversees his Cana-dian fashion empire from the heart of Montreal’s historic gar-ment district. Virtually no design elements are delegated by this dynamic, dedicated and personable designer. Renowned for his savvy interpretation of the trends, he insists every item in every collection – women’s ready-to-wear, plus eyewear and other accessories – receive his inimitable touch.

There is no average day in his life. “I’m a creative person,” says Simon. “I love all aspects, from sketching and draping to photography. I find the more I do the more energy I have.” Enough zest to also propel him on frequent forays into other parts of the world, scouring Europe or Asia for just the right fabrics. Closer to home, he can be found from Toronto to Vancouver making numerous personal appearances where his fashions are sold.

Which may be why he has always understood today’s multi-tasking women. “It’s not just that they’re more busy,” he says. “They also have more choices open to them.” After all, a Simon Chang customer can be of any age, and found in a formal corporate setting or an informal one, or making her own career as entrepreneur. Like the designer, she’s a free spirit, someone who lives life to the fullest.

The designer’s philosophy: women should be able to easily put together just the right wardrobe. And it should be true whether they’re after that one striking investment piece to make a statement for the season, or out to purchase a range of affordable coordinated separates. The result is a vast col-lection, which may include more than 300 items per season. But the designer also insists that each contains an element of surprise, and that every one be more memorable than the last.

Of Chinese descent, Simon was raised in Vancouver before moving to Montreal. He attended the prestigious Emily Carr Institute of Arts + Design on a full scholarship awarded by The Bay. An early career in graphic arts and photography is reflected in his eternal love of details, use of color and striking graphics. He also has a passion for the film arts and appre-ciation of costume design. “I have always taken inspiration from the great ladies of the big screen. But I never lose sight of the women I design for – women who want to look great every day, to feel like a star no matter what role they find themselves playing.”

Renowned as one of Canada’s most commercially successful designers, Simon continues to explore new creative horizons. His imagination also is sparked by Broadway musicals, art exhibits and street fashion, then re-interpreted through his work. “I want women to be continually surprised and ener-gized by my clothes and accessories,” he says.

Behind the SeaMS with Simon CHang

By Renee Therrien


“Wearable clothes for real women, yes. But there also has to be an element of ‘Wow! I love it!’”

Simon Chang

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American RagDress $49.00Jacket $69.00Available at select Macy's and at macys.com


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Material GirlTop $22.00Vest $34.00Short $28.00Available at select Macy's and at macys.com


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REMAIN / 7 FOR ALL MANKINDRemain asymmetrical draped top, polyester CDC, tawny, $88. 7 For All Mankind skinny jeans, cotton/polyester/spandex, black coated, $169. In t.b.d. at Nordstrom and online at Nordstrom.com.


ELIZA J / TAYLOREliza J faux-fur bolero, polyester/acetate, black, $78. In Special Occasion at Nordstrom and online at Nordstrom.com. Taylor fit-and-flare dress with mesh back, Animal print is polyester/acrylic/wool, black mesh is nylon/spandex, taupe/black, $198. In Dresses at Nordstrom and online at Nordstrom.com.

3Q Solid Poplin Shirt Dress $79.50Woven Tab Belt $59.50Route 63 Snap Tote $138.00Mid Wedge Sandal with Buckle $79.50


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Crisp Poplin Shirt $44.50Leather Equestrian Belt $69.50Pattern Plaid Flare Skirt $69.50


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Mercedes-BenzFashion WeekSPRING 2012

By Samantha Ramos

Photography by Michael Buckner

From what's new to what's chic, the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week presented a line-up of over 95 design-ers showing their Spring 2012 Collections. Taking place in New York City at Lincoln Center, the event brought together a diverse mix of outstanding tal-ent, creativity and individualism.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is all about special pieces inspired by creativity that goes from runway-to-reality. Among the most antici-pated designers displaying their

latest looks on the runways, Mercedes-Benz is also showcasing its 2012 SLS AMG Roadster and C63 AMG Coupe, two all new models available later this year.

"The SLS AMG Roadster is stunning and could be described as red carpet ready," said Lisa Holladay, Manager of Brand Experience Marketing for Mer-cedes-Benz USA. "The design of this vehicle and color combination truly expresses our title sponsor-ship of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week."

The fashion industry's finest designers showcasing the glamour and beauty of their latest designs dur-ing Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Designers, styl-ists and models alike have focused on radiating at-titude, color and flair from head to toe. From the perfect hairstyle, accessories and footwear are es-sential to complete a look and no one knows better

than the top models and stylists of Fashion Week.

“This season’s diverse lineup of designers is a testa-ment to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and Lincoln Center’s ability to create a world stage for the fash-ion industry to showcase everyone from the well es-tablished brands to the future stars,” said Lisa Hol-laday, Manager of Brand Experience Marketing for Mercedes-Benz USA. “The scope and support of the event continues to evolve and with it comes new opportunities and benefits for those involved.”

Having some of the biggest names in fashion, as well as young and emerging talent from: Mara Hoff-man, Tommy Hilfiger Men’s, Nicole Miller, Rose, Der-ek Lam, DKNY, Tracy Reese, Vera Wang, Diesel Black Gold, Bibhu Mohapatra, Anna Sui, Elie Tahari, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein Collection, Academy of Art Uni-versity, Falguni Peacock, Ruffian, Lacoste, Pink Tar-tan, Honor, Rafael Cennamo, Katya Leonovich and more!

With over 100,000 guests attending this year’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, several runway ven-ues where setup to offer designers optimal space to show their latest collections. Allowing designers the versatility to create sets in line with their artis-tic vision; or to create more intimate atmospheres to showcase their collections. Along with a variety of presentations and events from Maybelline New York, TRESemmé, Viviscal and others. Samurai Sake toasted the night away with Timo and Alan following


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their show on the rooftop of The Gramercy Hotel as attendees were en-tertained with a live DJ set and bespoke cocktails provided by Samurai Sake.

Spring 2012 marks the first season the designers are showing in a run-way format after transitioning from presentations, which they’ve shown since their Fashion Week debut for Spring 2010. Softly voluminous styles pair with lean, refined silhouettes, evolving proportions with a focus on modern fluidity. Their signature usage of pops of color, custom prints, and ' unique fashions available and accessible for shoppers this spring. This season brings the authenticity of cultural elements to the modern women around the world with sophistication, elegance and seductive glamour.

Designers thrilled to celebrate the blossoms of spring with soft details, vivid colors, along with hues of summer, nude natural tones and exqui-site modern elements. Exciting guest with hundreds of beautiful, must-have pieces from each of the designers collections. Mercedes-Benz Fash-ion Week had an indelible impression of beautiful pieces that evoked a stun-ning yet relaxed mood of harmony, style and daily wear ability. Fit for the style savvy women to dis-cover cutting edge collec-tions for the discerning fashionista in you.

Derek Lam, the designer and brand known for its understated luxury, re-fined cuts, and bold sil-houettes, receives the distinguished title of "Mercedes-Benz Pres-ents" designer for this season's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012 Collections.

Over the past eight years, the "Mercedes-Benz Presents" program has recognized designers that demonstrate dedication to the use of quality materials, unique style and innovative design. "I am honored to be this year's 'Mercedes Benz Presents' designer," said Derek Lam. "I have a great respect for Mercedes-Benz and their unyielding support for fash-ion."

Derek's vision for his label is to create clothes that are both luxuri-ous and wearable, with a feminine but unfussy beauty about them. His touch is especially sophisticated: modern but never cold, fantastical but always rational. He skillfully manages the combination of refinement and sensuality, with exceptional fabrics and highly perfected detail.

"Derek Lam's impeccable reputation in the fashion industry is a testa-ment to his heritage, precise skill, and fresh approach, all of which are qualities that distinguish the brand much like Mercedes-Benz does," said Lisa Holladay, Manager of Brand Experience Marketing for Mercedes-Benz USA. "Derek's modern yet youthful designs mirror characteristics that embody the new C63 AMG Coupe, making Derek the perfect choice for this season's Presents designer."

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Our Guest Book says it all...

...to live, work and play in Greater Naples”Thank you! Helpful - got lots to read! Very helpful and friendly smiles! So pretty!

See you next year! Very visitor friendly and lovely scenery! Help is fantastic! Danke!Just moved into an older home so thanks for the info on services to my home! OMG!

Merci Beaucoup! Wonderfully warm and helpful individuals! Great service! I love Naples!Grazie! Our second visit here! Thanks for your valued advice! Excellent help from a local!Volunteer was a wonderful help! Awesome staff! We love it here! You’re great people!

Very good advice and ideas!Very good advice and ideas! We want to live here! We’ll be back! Beautiful Center!Excited to be here! One of the nicest and prettiest Visitor Centers we’ve seen on our trip!

I love Paradise! Fabulous place...wonderful people! Gracias! Wonderful information!Thanks for helping me find things to do for my grandchildren’s visit! Gorgeous!

239.262.6141www.napleschamber.org

Open Monday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.Stop in to see us and sign our Guest Book too!

“Thank you! Helpful - got lots to read! Very helpful and friendly smiles! So pretty!See you next year! Very visitor friendly and lovely scenery! Help is fantastic! Danke!Just moved into an older home so thanks for the info on services to my home! OMG!

Merci Beaucoup! Wonderfully warm and helpful individuals! Great service! I love Naples!Grazie! Our second visit here! Thanks for your valued advice! Excellent help from a local!Volunteer was a wonderful help! Awesome staff! We love it here! You’re great people!

Very good advice and ideas!

900 Fifth Avenue South, Suite 102

The Greater Naples Chamber of CommerceVisitor Information Center

Actress Eva Amurri and TV personality Brad Goreski

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The most powerful C-Class

of all time is the fourth Black Series model to be launched since

2006. The first one was the SLK55 AMG Black Series (not offered in

the U.S.). The AMG 5.5-liter V8 engine in the thoroughbred two-

seater boasted a maximum output of 400 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque.

Just 120 units were produced between July 2006 and April 2007.

The CLK63 AMG Black Series followed directly in its footsteps. The

two-seater coupe was powered by an AMG 6.3-liter V8 engine with

500 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. Just 700 units of this very exclusive

models were built between April 2007 and March 2008.

The highlight until now was the SL65 AMG Black Series, unveiled in

July 2008. The high-performance coupe remains an attention grab-

ber to this day with its spectacular appearance, unique performance

data, lightweight design and high-end exclusivity. The AMG 6.0-liter

V12 biturbo engine with a maximum output of 661 hp and 738 lb-ft

of torque made the SL65 AMG Black Series the most powerful AMG

vehicle ever to enter series production. A total of 350 units were built

from September 2008 through August 2009.

AMG now celebrates with an all new spectacular design and tech-

nology transferred from the world of motorsports; the new 2012

Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe Black Series represents the new

AMG brand claim, with driving performance, like no other AMG

model. The new high-performance vehicle is the most powerful

C-Class of all time, boasting a maximum output of 510 hp and a

maximum torque of 457 lb-ft. The high-revving AMG 6.3-liter V8

engine delivers stunning pulling power and exceptional performance

- the 2012 C63 AMG Coupe Black Series accelerates from zero to 60

mph in 4.2 seconds.

With its new C63 AMG Coupe Black Series, AMG is presenting an

exciting sports car for enthusiasts with a passion for performance

cars that are big on horsepower - it also marks the impressive con-

tinuation of the Black Series strategy, which began back in 2006.

AMG, the performance brand of Mercedes-Benz Cars, is once again

showcasing its expertise in the design and development of emotion-

packed, high-performance cars.

High revving, agile road manners and phenomenal pulling power -

the qualities of the large-displacement AMG high-speed naturally

aspirated engine are every driver's dream. The jewel in the crown

is the inspiring AMG eight-cylinder sound from the AMG sports

exhaust system.

Wide, low-slung, muscular and ready to pounce - the 2012 C63 AMG

Coupe Black Series cuts an impressive figure. From the very first

glance, it is abundantly clear that the C63 AMG Coupe Black Series

is made for spirited driving on a closed track. Visually reminiscent

of the SLS AMG GT3 customer race car, the new high-performance

vehicle stands clearly for technology adopted from motorsport

- something that has been a core philosophy of Mercedes-AMG

GmbH for 44 years.

The driving experience is further enhanced by the adjustable AMG

coil-over sports suspension, AMG high-performance composite

(two-piece) braking system and superb functionality of the standard

equipment. The AMG Track package with ultra high-performance

tires and active cooling for the rear axle drive unit is available as

an option for even better dynamics, while the AMG Aerodynamics

package includes exterior winglets and an adjustable carbon-fiber

rear spoiler.

betting onBlackBy Mai Yomioto

Whichever way you look at it, the new C63 AMG Coupe Black Series

proudly displays its motorsports ties. The arrow-shaped front end

with the central Mercedes star in the radiator grille is the visual

expression of its forceful forward thrust. The air intakes in the dis-

tinctive front valance direct a continuous air flow through the large

cooling modules, while two openings in the aluminum hood aid the

outflow of heat from the engine. To emphasize the vehicle's width a

new rear valance with its distinctive black diffuser insert creates visual

breadth. Similar to the SLS AMG GT3, it extends beyond the profile

of the rear valance. The AMG logo with its discreet "Black Series" let-

tering is reserved exclusively for the C63 AMG Coupe Black Series.

The inspiring high-tech components and the spectacular exterior

design both find their logical continuation in the interior of the C63

AMG Coupe Black Series. Finished in black with red accents, the

interior of the C63 AMG Coupe Black Series displays the functional

atmosphere of a true race car combined with outstanding quality

and meticulously crafted details. An exclusive "Black Series" logo

adorns the trim on the dashboard, which is finished in high-gloss

black piano lacquer. Two AMG sport seats provide the best levels of

lateral support and thus optimum vehicle control on the race track.

The black DINAMICA microfiber upholstery on the center panels of

the seats and doors is a new type of synthetic fiber characterized by

its high fade resistance. The omission of the rear bench underlines

the vehicle's sporty character and reduces its weight. The C63 AMG

Coupe Black Series is also available as a four-seater incorporating the

AMG sports seats familiar from the C63 AMG Coupe, with individual

seats for the rear.

Despite its race track heritage, the new C63 AMG Coupe Black Series

is clear proof that Mercedes-Benz offers all the characteristics of out-

standing dynamics, everyday drivability, durability, safety and quality

of the continuing Black Series...


As a highlight marking 125 years of the automobile, Mercedes-Benz is presenting a visionary outlook on future technical developments in the luxury segment. The F125! research vehicle anticipates future trends and paves the way for innovative large and luxurious auto-mobiles.

It was visionaries and dreamers who prepared the way for "automo-bility". The first tentative steps were taken at the end of the 19th Cen-tury - in a techno-logical environment where the steam engine domi-nated the world of power generation. The steam locomotive added motion to this machine, and tracks were laid everywhere.

The idea of fitting coach-like vehicles with compact, fast-running in-ternal combustion engines to make individual, easy and comfortable mobility possible beyond the railway tracks was seen as "utopian" at the time, synonymous with "science fiction" or "fantasy".

Visionary engineers and utopians such as Carl Benz, Gottlieb Daim-ler, Wilhelm Maybach and Rudolf Diesel refused to be daunted. With the F125! Mercedes-Benz is once again demonstrating this pioneering spirit.

The F125! showcases the vision of emission-free driving with hydrogen power, underlining the potential of H2 as an energy source for the future. While previous Mercedes-Benz research vehicles have "looked ahead" by roughly one vehicle generation - seven to eight years - the F125! goes a whole step further, by more than two generations to the year 2025 and beyond.

"With the F125! we want to show that large, comfortable and safe cars have an excellent future, partly because they are able to oper-ate with no emissions. The legendary S-Class will continue into the future thanks to intelligent solutions that always have the customer's needs in mind," says Prof. Dr. Thomas Weber, member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development. "The new research vehicle illus-trates and underlines this claim to leadership with innovative ideas and traditional Mercedes strengths in the areas of design, safety, comfort and performance."

F125!Mobility of the future

By Nicole Weiss


The F125! demonstrates how completely emission-free, individual mobility might be realized in the luxury seg-ment in the future. The researchers and developers at Mercedes-Benz have incorporated technologies that although may not yet be available today show great future promise, and therefore a realistic chance of implementation in future series-production cars.

The key innovations include:

• A logical further development of the fuel cell drive system in combination with plug-in technology

• Revolutionary tank technology: the structure integrat-ed hydrogen composite storage unit.

• Lighter and more powerful batteries, in this case based on lithium-sulphur technology, which Mercedes-Benz is exploring in parallel with further development of the current lithium-ion battery and research into lithium-air technology.

On this basis, the F125! was created as an innovative four-seater luxury sedan with a powerful, emission-free electric drive system based on the fuel cell technology already available in series-production Mercedes-Benz cars. This study combines pioneering and highly effi-cient storage, drive and bodyshell technologies with unique control and display concepts. The research vehi-cle also presents itself with an expressive design which transfers the classic Mercedes design language into the future.

With the new Mercedes-Benz research vehicle, the vi-sion of emission-free driving with large, luxurious auto-mobiles takes on a defined form. The F125! shows that the mobility of the future is emission-free and sustain-able, comfortable and visually appealing. It embodies technical and design innovation, and shows the way towards a society able to cope without fossil fuels.


Jewelry has been an important part of human life and espe-cially very important for women. It is thought to be the most precious thing for women. Jewelry is made of a lot of dissimi-lar valuable metals that are found were rare in this world. More the metal is valuable more its jewelry is worth. It has been desire of everyone to have the most expensive jewelry but this is not possible. Most of the designers make too much expensive jewelry but others make more expensive than they had made.

Platinum jewelry is also one of the kinds of jew-elry that are thought to be very expensive. Sometimes platinum jewelry pieces are said to so valuable that they cannot be bought by giv-

ing money. These types of platinum jewelry pieces are called master pieces and are used to gift them to some very special personality. That might be some well renounced celebrity or some person that has done incredible work.

Platinum jewelry is considered to be very elegant and exclusive when compared to any other type of jewelry. Its natural colour is so attractive that it needs no extra finish or painting it. Once a pro-fessional jewelry maker work on platinum jewelry and finishes the product then it is a very fine piece of jewelry. This is the only reason

that platinum jewelry is not so common and it is seen in special classes of society. This is not the case that platinum jewelry is not at all affordable but the common people are not so interested in buying it.

People with special taste for jewelry like platinum jewelry and they also tell their jewelry designers that what type of jewelry piece they want. Platinum jewelry is not designed alone it is also designed by adding some other precious met-als like white gold or silver to add up some extra beauty. This is done to lower the cost of platinum jewelry as other precious metals are cheaper then platinum. Also these metals provide some extra glow and attraction to platinum jewelry. The combination of platinum jewelry and diamonds is thought to be the best combination in jewelry. Whenever platinum is

ornamented with the help of diamonds its grace is amazing and it is so eye catching that people cannot resist its beauty.

The cost of these types of jewelry is also very high but when it comes to getting something you like, then every-one is ready to spend money. Cheaper platinum jewelry is also designed that is also very smart and adorable. It has the same grace as any other platinum jewelry but the difference lie in the type of material that has been used in the designing of that jewelry.

As the jewelry piece has pure amount of platinum more ex-pensive it will be. Platinum jewelry has been in fashion from a very long time and will remain in fashion because of its uniqueness that attracts everyone towards it. Many jewelry designers only work on platinum jewelry and are much re-nowned for making some marvelous masterpieces.

Enchanting bsession

By Norah Edward

Watch making is just like the cinema, it hides a precise mechanism which must

then generate emotion. The world of ROGER DUBUIS, the arrival of its collec-

tions, like spaces of freedom, perfectly matches my principles. You need to

take chances in life. And always push yourself.

"

"Gerard Butler

Caprice is a German native who lives and works in beautiful Cape Coral as a Realtor for Miloff Aubu-chon Realty Group. Her specialty is helping out-of-state and out-of-country clients find or build their Florida dream home. As a result of her success, she now has many happy clients who are excited to be living the lifestyle they have always desired.

Miloff Aubuchon Realty Group is a division of Team Aubuchon, which practices a very unique concept in real estate. This organization offers a one stop shop for all real estate interests, from buying or selling a home, building a custom dream home, investing in a home to rent, commercial investing, remodeling and interior design – this company of-fers everything real estate under one roof, with no hassles and no worries.

Flexibility and diversity are the main components of their 2 building divisions. Each custom home offers its own unique design that reflects the per-sonality of the customer; from Key West Style, to Mediterranean to Contemporary, the sky’s the limit! Their in-house building team will transform your vision into a beautiful home design. For those looking for affordable luxury, there are many creative and open floor plans to inspire you. All of their homes are built with high quality materials and products, and to withstand inclement weather up to 150 mph winds.

Teamwork and communication are key to Ca-price’s success. She has many customers located throughout the US and Europe, who are building their dream home. Each client works with a team of professionals, who continuously stay in touch with weekly updates, including photos showing the progress of their home, and a building report detailing the current status.

Cape Coral is SW Florida’s” Venice” with hundreds of miles of canals and waterfront properties, offer-ing amazing views! And with quick access to Ca-ribbean-like islands, i.e. Sanibel, Captiva, Matla-cha, Pine Island, and Fort Myers Beach, it doesn’t get much better than this! When you’re ready to warm up from a cold winter and refuel with san-dy beaches, boating, tropical breezes and palm trees, contact Caprice Krumsick, 239.677.7141, or [email protected].


"Team" CapriceBy Terry Profetto

ICH SPRECHE DEUTSCH CAPRICE KRUMSICK

GENERAL & NEW HOME SALES

(239) 677 7141 [email protected] www.capricekrumsick.listingbook.com

CUSTOM VILLA 2808 SW 43RD STREET CAPE CORAL FLORIDA 33914

$ 825,000

SOUTHERN EXPOSURE WATERFRONT VILLA THIS CUSTOM 2006 SAILBOAT GULF ACCESS 2-STORY HOME COMES WITH EXCEPTIONAL FINISHES IN EVERY ROOM. OVER 3300 SQ FT UNDER AIR, 2 MASTER SUITES AND 2 SPACIOUS GUESTROOMS PLUS THREE LUXUROIUS BATHROOMS. ENJOY THE CHEF’S KITCHEN THAT OPENS TOWARDS THE LIVING ROOM AND BREAKFAST NOOK. GREAT ENTERTAINING AREAS INSIDE AND OUT. ENJOY THE VIEWS ALONG THE 240’ CANAL AND THE INTERSECTING SPREADER WITH IT’S BEAUTIFUL PRESERVES, WHILE YOU SIT IN THE SPA OR AT YOUR POOL BAR. THE 3 CAR GARAGE GIVES YOU PLENTY OF STORAGE SPACE. WELCOME HOME! PLEASE CALL ME TO SCHEDULE A SHOWING. THTH


Official Gulf Licensed product

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Limited edition 100 pieces

V 1 2 - 4 4 - G U - G - A N

for further information please contact BRM North America :

tel: 2142359127 or email: [email protected]

FOCUS.indd 1 20/04/2011 09:29:57

Official Gulf Licensed product

www.brm-manufacture.com

Limited edition 100 pieces

V 1 2 - 4 4 - G U - G - A N

for further information please contact BRM North America :

tel: 2142359127 or email: [email protected]

FOCUS.indd 1 20/04/2011 09:29:57

Designed with an emphasis on quality and crafts-manship in mind. Giacomo Battaglia For Men opened its doors at the Gulf Coast Town Center. Carrying a blend of signature clothing, “Jack” believes in prac-ticality with a natural timeless look. The use of core materials could include Italian cotton twill and water-resistant cotton; is one such way to stay practical and comfortable. With a deep rooted history in fashion it was only natural for Giacomo “Jack” Battaglia to launch his flagship store.


Photography by John Fernandez

Guest - Giacomo "Jack" Battaglia & his Wife

Grand Opening


Unmatched precisionBy Mai Yomioto

Automobili Lamborghini is bringing motor racing excitement directly to the road. This new and most extreme top model in the Gallardo lineup is based on the successful race car from

the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo, the world’s fastest single-make series.

The Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo championship brings profes-sional racers and gentlemen drivers face-to-face in fiercely fought battles on Europe’s most challenging racetracks such as Monza, Silverstone and Hockenheim. There are many similarities between the racing and road versions of this super sports car. For example, they both share the same V10 powerplant, which is used in the racing version with no modifications.

These similarities are even more evident in the new Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale. In fact, it is equipped with the same rear spoiler that offers greater aerodynamic load – reaching in the best aerodynamic condition 3 times the load of the Gallardo LP 560-4 – for increased dynamic stability during tight, high-speed driving. As in the race cars, the rear spoiler can be varied manually in order to let the driver optimize the car’s performance according to the track or road characteristics.

Another element taken directly from the racing version is the removable engine hood with quick-release system. Both the spoiler and the hood are of course made of carbon composite material, as are a host of other components on the Super Trofeo Stradale. Together with aluminum, carbon fiber is the basis behind the extremely lightweight construction of Gal-lardo’s new top model.

It sprints from 0 to 60 in a mere 3.4 seconds and reaches 124 mph in just 10.4 seconds later. Its forward thrust finally tops out at 200 mph.

The Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale sports a brand new “Rosso Mars” finish that underscores the special connection between ultimate race track performance and Lamborghini’s “Italianness”. The “Rosso Mars” color symbolizes Italy’s traditional rac-ing red, as established at the beginning of last century in motor racing, when the home nations of the competitors were indicated by the color of the paint on the vehicles. Dark green stood for Great Britain, blue was for France, white (and silver later on) represented Germany, white and blu stripes for USA, and red was the color of all race cars from Italy.

Gal lardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale

The exterior appearance of the Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale is perfectly accentuated by a matte black finish on the large rear spoiler, the engine hood and the front air intakes, which contrasts with the “Rosso Mars” paint. The forged wheels are painted in high-gloss black, a color that is also available on the roof as an option. The rocker panel covers, impressive rear diffuser and outside mirror housings are made of carbon fiber polished to a high gloss, while the brake cali-pers are accented in red for the first time on a Lamborghini. It’s a perfect match with the exterior color and racing concept of this new super sports car. And besides the historically suggestive “Rosso Mars”, the new Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale is also available upon request in “Grigio Telesto” or “Bianco Monocerus” with the roof available in gloss black as an option.

Black and red, the perfect combination of sporty minimalism, are the dominant shades inside the Super Trofeo Stradale. The most broadly used materials are Alcantara - in “Rosso Mars” on the underside of the dashboard, the central part of the seat cushion and the backrest made of extremely lightweight carbon fiber. Black Alcantara with contrasting red top-stitching is used to finish the other parts of the interior. The steering wheel is upholstered in black suede and also features red top-stitching. The door panels, the monocoque racing seats and the center console cover are made of carbon fiber, the construc-tion of which Lamborghini has achieved a world-leading expertise. Discreet sporty accents are provided by dark chrome visible metal parts.

The optional equipment designed with racing in mind includes not only the carbon-fiber ceramic brake discs, but also a tubular interior roll cage, 4-point safety belts and fire extinguisher. On the other hand, those who want comfort can equip their Super Trofeo Stradale with satellite navigation, with Bluetooth connection for mobile phones, anti-theft system, and a lifting system that raises the front axle.

Upon request, an interior layout including elements made of carbon fiber, such as the handbrake frame, the middle of the center console, the lower rim of the steering wheel, the decorative frames around the main and secondary instrument pan-els, the door handles, and the handle for opening the glove box (also available upon request), can be ordered.

Like the Super Trofeo competition version, the new Super Trofeo Stradale is based on the Gallardo Superleggera technical approach. The V10 power plant generates 570 HP at 8000 RPM. The maximum torque is equally impressive, with the torque curve peaking at 6500 RPM. The V10’s unique firing order delivers the striking sound you hear in motor racing.

Like the race car, the Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale offers the robotized e-gear six-speed transmission controlled by the steering wheel paddles as standard equipment. This electronically controlled system shifts through its six gears smoothly and much faster than any human being could. And for maximum acceleration from a standing start, the transmission can be set to the “Thrust Mode” – a program that allows the best performance possible; executing a racing start with minimal tire slippage at an initial engine speed of approximately 5000 rpm. The vehicle is specially set up to take full advantage of its dynamic potential.

Every mile in the Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale is packed with sheer excitement, giving the driver a very close connection to the road. This is due to its unrelenting grip in virtually all situations thanks to all-wheel drive. At the end of the day, the Lamborghini Super Trofeo is the only single-brand racing series in the world that features all-wheel drive race cars. The Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale is a highly concentrated driving machine offering a truly stunning driving experi-ence with breathtaking cornering speeds and fast, immediate response. Its road manners are always precise, stable and completely safe. No other model in the Gallardo line is as close to being a true race car

Will be produced in a limited run of 150 numbered units.

Unmatched precision

LamborghiniFOCUS of SWFL 2011 71


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A spectacular night of dazzling fash-ion, live acting and jaw-dropping per-formances in the River District.

The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center held a wearable art and art couture during October's Art Walk. Viewing designs from Southwest Florida’s, Helen Gerro's statement making women's wear and Maria Pia of Dore Designs showing some exquisite pieces from her collection. Both of these designers provided a chance for in-the-know fans to see a spec-tacular, canvas of runway designs. The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center has always supported forward-think-ing innovators in fashion, the arts and sustainability.

Helen Gerro's statement making, bold range of designer women's wear and hand-painted dresses are a unique example of "art couture." Gerro ex-pressed three of her collections dur-ing the evening starting with her ca-sual collection of Gerro painted jeans and short party dresses, followed by her artsy evening collection of dark, goth fashions with headpieces galore ending with the lights out, haute art couture day glow collection.

Coming from a large family in rural Minnesota, Helen Gerro taught her-self the rudiments of sewing and de-sign at an early age. She has been sewing and creating clothing for her-self and friends since age 9.

After three years, fate brought Ger-ro back to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she sold her own line, "Gerro," to major fine department stores such as Dayton Hudson, Marshal Fields and Nordstrom's, as well as better boutiques throughout the U.S. The year before Charley, she and her husband moved to the sunny Gulf Coast of Florida, where she set up a small specialty shop-studio selling her dresses and art. You can find her Gallery/Studio at 207 East Marion Av-enue, in Punta Gorda.

Between designer showcases, Edison College Theatre presented "Chroni-cles Simpkins Will Cut Your Ass," by Rolin Jones; a very enjoyable play with laughter for all. This live per-formance premiered at the Humana Festival of New American Plays (Ac-tor's Theatre of Louisville) in 2008 as part of a longer work called “Game On”. The audience also enjoyed sev-eral wonderful forms of dance from the Fred Astaire Dance Studios.

Maria Pia of Dore Designs is a nation-ally recognized name in Ballroom Fashion. You can see some of their gowns on the reality T.V. show "So You Think You Can Dance." Dore De-signs, Inc. was founded in the 1970's by Dorothy Salcedo so that her son could be dressed for his career with Fred Astaire Dance Studios. Although the company has grown from Doro-thy's guest bedroom to a 6,000 square foot space with a staff of 25, their mission remains the same: cut-ting edge fashion, the finest of fabrics and unsurpassed quality of construc-tion to produce the best Ballroom, Skating, Pageant and Evening Gowns available in the United States and worldwide.

“It's relaxed, yet forward-thinking. And, of course, this an absolute blast to be a part of." commented one guest.

Both Helen Gerro and Maria Pia re-nowned styles enhance peoples ac-tive lifestyles. From the beautifully hand painted denim fashions and col-or combinations that truly expresses personal confidence. Of clothes that are both luxurious and wearable, with a feminine but unfussy beauty about them. It’s not just a look, it's an attitude!


See more at www.focusofswfl.com www.focusofswfltv.com

By Samantha Ramos

FOCUS of SWFL 2011 73FOCUS of SWFL 2011 73


The 2011 Riddim Runway Festival was at The Sidney & Berne Davis Arts Center. The annual reggae concert and fashion extravaganza showcases the best in Caribbean music and fashion. This year’s event brought out hundreds as they felt the riddim of the music and enjoyed the beautiful fashion and the taste of the diverse foods. The event was FREE, however, a dona-tion of two cans of foods was asked in support of the charities. This year Riddim Runway charities are Com-munity Cooperative Ministries Inc's (C.C.M.I.) soup kitchen, the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

The entertainments for the eve-ning were great performances from Wayne Wonder, Ky-Enie, Kehv, Glenn Blackk and other great art-ists. Fashion designer who wowed the audience with their talents was R. Milton, Patrick W. Rasta Roots and CY Evolution.

Many businesses were present as well as vendors who had tables set up to display items, products and services; Hodges University, Diamond District, Island Vibz, Indul-gence Salon, First Fridays, Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium and more.

Stacy Lee-Williams of King Leo Promotions did a fantastic job in putting the event together. Many others are to be congratulated for orchestrating an event in bringing music and fashion together.

See more at www.focusofswfl.com www.focusofswfltv.com

By Ann Gordon



Susan G. Komen

Macy's

Barbizon Hello, Kupcake! Crest Cadillac of Venice

This season the Port Charlotte Town Center held the much anticipated “Diva Days” event. A fun filled day to experience fashion, music, food and a well deserved massage. Fawcett Memorial Hospital along with Florida Weekly was the main sponsor along with Susan G. Komen bringing visual elements of early ex-aminations and education towards awareness of breast cancer and prevention. Many local businesses came out to support this very im-portant cause. A collaboration of performers, and tastemakers coming together to cele-brate and inspire the diva in you with fashion, music, free giveaways and more!

Not only did you receive information, but entertainment was provided by The Beaches and Clear Channel ra-

dio. For those that came early, Studio Zumba Fitness provided a wonderful workout which many joined in. Dillard’s fashion manager An-gela Collins put on a wonderful runway dis-play of this season’s hottest treads. Show-casing pieces that will make you feel young and sexy along with some ground breaking styles, sure to impress. Angela and her team welcome everyone with finesse covering from makeup to putting together accessories after the showcase. Charlotte Bridal Boutique also held a wonderful presentation of formal wear for day or evening.

Diva Days had a wonderful turnout and most of all everyone had a great time throughout the day long event, which ended at 8pm. Expect more next year!

By Lina Lasalle

Div

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Day

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Friendly Floors The Yoga Sanctuary Fawcett Memorial Hospital

Suncoast KIA

Higher Ground Performing Arts

A Select Salon

Dillard's - Angela Collins

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When you look at abstract paintings, it is easy to be mes-merized by the usage of color and the perception of the artist. You can in reality think of abstract paintings like those of memories in oils of the windy city of Chicago or sunrises of the gulf. You can see how artist catch the nub of a city life or coastal landscape, with recurring charac-teristics like wet roadways, people or large buildings. For those who look at other forms of abstract painting, you will be highly struck with seascape art. You will cherish the innate colorful floral of lilies and pop’s of environmen-tal tones. You and only you can really identify with a paint-ing more than anybody else.

I conceive you will really appreciate and enjoy as you ex-amine the detail of each brush stroke. Each piece is re-garded to be a very unique collection when you look at closely, you can scarcely recognize details the artist has thoroughly included. You will discover how some images have an organic and well defined appearance. When a painter draws, he or she tries to mix their own perceptual experiences with colors and expression. Some early col-lections are painted in a quite unparalleled style. Some start off with their canvas covered with a primer so that a gentle clean texture is created. A cloth is attached to the canvas and the whole painting is done on the cloth. When you view the paintings, you will feel like the cloth is part of the original oil painting. In most paintings, the cloth acts as a curtain which is hanging behind the art.

Now that you purchased your oil painting, you now will need to look after it, even if you only paid a small amount for. Regardless of wheth-

er it was a relatively costly piece of art or not, you pur-chased your abstract painting because it meant a great deal to you and you enjoy looking at it. You can always make the painting last a very long time if you take very good care of it. The way you look after your canvas ab-stract painting, matters a lot. You can't just clean the oil paintings in the same way you'd clean some pieces of artwork, or some pieces of furniture, for that matter. Oil paintings done on canvas require special care if they are to be enjoyed for a long while.

Your abstract painting was worth the time and effort when you bought it. It could be because you feel this piece of artwork really speaks to you. Continue enjoy-ing your abstract paintings, make sure that you take good care of it and protect it from harm.

How can you look after your Abstract Paintings? Here are some basic guidelines.The conditions in the room where you place your abstract canvas painting, can seriously affect the condition of your painting itself. In an ideal world Abstract Paintings done on canvas should be put where heat and humidity are not go-ing to cause it a problem. You shouldn't put your paintings anywhere where they open to heat, such as ovens, radia-tors or fireplaces. Also you should not place your canvas oil paintings in a room where the air does not move, such as a bath room where there are no vents. Too much heat will damage the abstract paintings and too much moisture will encourage mold to really grow on it. One thing that you should try to avoid when placing your abstract paint-ings in a room is direct sunlight. Exposure to ultra violet sunrays can cause the painted canvas to fade over time.

The correct way to clean and Store abstract paintingsHow you clean your abstract oil paintings helps to main-tain the overall quality of the oil painting. When you clean oil paintings on canvas, it is enough that you dust it very lightly and gently with a fine very dry and lint free cloth, a softest and clean brush, or maybe with a feather-type duster. The best way to clean canvas oil paintings is to brush it with downward strokes from top to bottom, includ-ing the framing. What you should not do when cleaning your abstract paintings is to spray it with water or with chemical cleaners. These will definitely ruin the look of the painting. Do not touch any part of the surface of the painted canvas. The oils on your skin can react with the paints and damage the look of the painting. As for moving and storing your oil paintings, ensure that you cover the front of the oil painting first before you move it. You can put bobble wrap round the painting itself to provide better protection. This will definitely help to prevent your canvas from getting dented.

Your Piece ofARTBy Ian Howes


Daydreamer with Botticelli Barbie and Rat Patrol by Jean Cappadonna-Nichols

The von Liebig Art Gallery

Godgifu - by Le Vuong

Orchestrating Explosive Speech For Sensational Effect by Pat Collins

Alliance for the Arts

Artist GAllery


See Thru The End III - by Gerry Stecca

Beliefs, Desires and Memories - by Craig PetersburgDali Museum

Timber - by Lindsey WollardAlliance for the Arts

Lighthouse - by Nancy GecajBroadway Palm Dinner Theatre

Submit request for submission to [email protected]

AuTomoTIve NeWS


Two years ago, the Montblanc manufac-ture launched its Grand Tourbillon heures mystérieuses display in which the hour-hand and minute-hand seem to float weightlessly above a mirrored plane. Now the Tourbillon Bi-Cylindrique solves this mystery by revealing the hidden mecha-nism, which has long been known among watch connoisseurs. The new wristwatch eliminates the cover that formerly con-cealed the mechanism which powers the paper-thin sapphire disks with their print-ed black hands. This unveiling is dou-bly attractive because aficionados can now admire both the fascinating floating time display and the cunningly designed mechanism that propels it.

Not only is this the first wristwatch with a tourbillon escapement and a cylindri-cal double balance-spring, the newcomer also delights connoisseurs by revealing the mechanisms and the mode of func-tion of the legendary heures mystérieus-es display. This new timepiece accord-ingly epitomizes the working philosophy cultivated at the Montblanc manufacture in Villeret, which grew from the manufac-ture Minerva, originally founded in 1858.

Constant innovation, which always searches for the new and the unprece-dented, is another vital part of the Swiss watchmaking tradition.

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On the occasion of the worldwide preview of the Lambo-rghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini, Stephan Winkelmann, announced that the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento will go into production.

Presented a year ago at the Paris Motor Show, the Sesto Elemento represents the future of super sports cars in line with the Lamborghini Manifesto: according to this, devel-opment focuses on handling and acceleration, with light-weight design an increasing priority – now and even more so in years to come.

Not since the revolutionary carbon fiber prototype, the Lam-borghini Countach Evoluzione in 1986, has a super sports car brand produced a car weighing less than 2200 lbs.

With the Sesto Elemento, Lamborghini’s Research & Devel-opment engineers have fine-tuned a cutting-edge package. Beginning with its pure, radical design, Sesto Elemento is the perfect blend between an extremely light weight body; a drive train taken directly from motorsport; a power out-put of 570 hp; a highly responsive V10 engine and superior handling stability guaranteed by Lamborghini’s four wheel drive system. An exceptional power-to-weight ratio of just 3.8lbs per hp guarantees unrivalled performance levels; the Sesto Elemento goes from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.5 sec-onds. These values are possible due to the use of a carbon fiber monocoque made of Forged Composite and extensive use of carbon fiber throughout the car, illustrating Lam-borghini’s international leadership in composite materials technologies.

Stephan Winkelmann stated: “The excellent feedback and the numerous requests we’ve had from our custom-

ers have really convinced us to embark on the challenge of producing a vehicle with unique characteristics. We are proud that what a year ago was just a ‘technology demon-strator’ of future super sports cars, even though in working order, will become a small series reality. Only 20 units of the new Sesto Elemento super sports car will be produced, and will be destined only for track use. We’re planning to deliver the first cars at the beginning of 2013.”

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With a $5 million dollar bond rating, a state-of-the-art showroom facility, and a long history of highly satisfied custom-ers, you know you’re talking to a builder you can trust. Whether you’re looking for better health, more living space, a prettier backyard, or just a private place to relax, you can trust Fountain Pools to make your dreams come true.

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Looking after the environment may seem like it's something new, however it's mostly common sense. The logical thing to do when trying to make your home better is to try and think of ways to use less power so that you can save energy. Going green is worth it for everyone, especially since the price of electricity keeps going up, so we'll be looking at and sharing ways of making the most of being environ-mentally friendly.

Your furniture is certainly a good place to start look-ing at when you're trying to make green choices. In-stead of going out and purchasing brand new pieces of furniture you can simply fix your old broken bits. It's not only green but it will save you money too.

If you really do need some new furniture, however, you can also look for quality used items. Antique auctions are a good place to start at when looking for some good bits of furniture as they are held pret-ty much everywhere. You can pick up some good furniture that has plenty of character at a good price at auctions, so long as you're not buying a high end antique. Allowing light into your residence, win-dows can also be decorative and importantly used for insulating and retaining heat. And, the form of windows you have can be a big determinant when looking at the cost to heat your home. Purchasing two-paned or three-paned windows could assist you in making your home better efficient with energy. Reducing your heat loss by close to fifty percent is possible when coating your windows with Low-E (low emissivity). So while replacing your windows with more energy efficient ones will cost you money up front, this is something that will be economical in the long run. Also, you will feel cozier in the colder months and cooler in the summer.

Gardens and landscaping are a great place to practice green friendly living and improve the look of your home

and its surroundings. One thing you can do that is not difficult is to save energy by growing trees around your home to offer shade when it is hot and insulation when it is cold. Edible greens from a gar-den is an awesome way to obtain food for your diet

that is nutritious but also is a great way to save some money on the cost of groceries. To settle on what plants you want surrounding you, the ones that are the most eco-friendly are the ones that do not need as much work to keep them healthy and those are the ones that are regionally native. To fin-ish, substitute all regular pesticides for natural ones in your gardens to keep the pesky animals and crit-ters away.

As you make some green improvements to your home you'll see that it really isn't that hard. You'll be able to lower your monthly costs and you will be more independent, so in those ways you will be bet-ter off. To reap the benefits of solar panels and in-sulation you may need to pay an upfront fee. In the long run you will definitely get your money's worth from environmentally friendly investments.

By Brittany E.

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Gina L. Battle is a freelance writer and the owner of a ghostwriting service providing assistance with writing, editing, and proofreading. She is a Correspondent for the Charlotte Sun-Herald Feel-ing Fit section, and wrote a monthly column in the

Charlotte Woman. In addition, Gina is an inter-viewer and contributing writer for two websites. One of which is a sports database website. Visit www.ginalbattle.webs.com for more information.

As a proponent for higher learning, she contin-ues to advance her education in the Arts. Her passions include photography, drawing, fine and theatre arts, and she has co-written two plays, and has also had a lucrative career serving as a Certified Professional Legal Guardian for inca-pacitated persons.

Gina is an advocate for women’s issues with training certification from the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Deeply involved in the community, Gina promotes empowerment, and is available for motivational and inspirational speaking engagements. Feel free to contact her at [email protected] to inquire about writing services or empowerment events.

Gina Giving Back


After a six week, grueling audi-tion process through it’s summer program; Nicole Larson accepted a contract offer with Milwaukee Ballet II. Nicole was one of a lim-ited number of US Dancer’s to re-ceive a contract offer, many from Nationally recognized training programs throughout the coun-try, while other contracts were offered to dancers from Ukraine, Japan, Brazil, and France. Al-though Milwaukee Ballet II has its own production schedule; these dancers also serve as the corps de ballet members for the main company Milwaukee Ballet. Under the Direction of Artistic Director Michael Pink, Nicole is currently preparing for her first role in a major professional bal-let, “Dracula” to be performed at the end of this month.

“We are very excited for Nicole as she embarks on this exciting

new career fulfilling a lifelong dream. It is very rewarding to know we are able to produce dancers of this caliber right here in Naples” says Joan Larson,

Executive Director, Southwest Florida Ballet.

Naples Dance Conservatory, the official training school of South-west Florida Ballet, has been training Nicole since she was 9 years old. “Our goal was to train dancers who could compete nationally for the now limited contracts offered by professional companies to young dancers due to major re-structuring and down-sizing of professional companies as they have been affected by recent economic woes. Not only have we achieved that, but have demonstrated that our dancers are aptly prepared to compete successful in the international arena. This is quite a proud mo-ment for Naples Dance Conser-vatory and quite an accomplish-ment for Nicole Larson.” says Abdel Roque, Artistic Director, and Naples Dance Conservatory.

SouTHWeST FlorIdA BAlleT Local Dancer Lands Contract with Professional Ballet Company

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A leader in the minimal footwear industry, ZEMgear creates Performance Protection for Bare Feet. We deliver minimal footwear with maximum protection to men, women and children. ZEMs allow your feet to do what they were designed to do best in their natural, barefoot state: While wearing ZEMs you can spread, �ex and articulate all parts of your foot – getting everything you need and nothing you don’t. Our 4-way stretch Lycra uppers and soft molded rubber bottoms allow the foot to move with complete freedom. Six unique high-frequency tech bands are welded across the top of the foot to keep the ZEMs securely in place around the foot.

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http://www.zemgear.com

Twenty Eight Seconds Faster

Maserati of Central Florida - 525 South Lake Destiny Drive - Orlando - Florida 32810 - 407.667.4300

Sport

Documents

Focus of SWFL - Flairs of the season