Manchuria Under Ice Past and present coexist—sometimes uneasily—in Harbin, a former Russian outpost in remote northeastern China. Mike Meyer reports from the city once known as the Paris of the East.
Raging Bull As the modern art market snaps, crackles, and pops with new auction house highs, no one pops louder and bigger than Picasso. Connoisseur, critic, and art historian Robert Rosenblum attempts to answer the question, why Picasso, why now?
The Talented Mr. Armani Fashion’s longtime master of ready-to-wear dared to take on the competitive world of couture. Just two years later, he’s earned its most prestigious prize: Success.
Adventure
Flying Solo For pilot and author Joshua Cooper Ramo, a sky– sweeping safari along the Skeleton Coast of Namibia gives new meaning to the term "independent exploration."
Art & Design
Going Dutch in Milan On the design world’s biggest stage, Studio Job stole the show with its latest boundary-busting creations. Gisela Williams-Kramer catches up with the duo on the verge.
Agent of Change Art advisor Lucille Blair is bridging the gap between African American collectors and the blue-chip art world.
My 6 Days in Miami Sorted out your schedule for Art Basel week? Insider Craig Robins shares his daily diary for contemporary art and design’s big event.
Dispatch
Breakfast at Balthazar At first, going to the SoHo restaurant provided a convenient way to stave off the demands of the day. After 9/11, it became something much deeper. Reggie Nadelson can no longer remember life without breakfast at Balthazar.
Dress Code
Nantucket Reds, Whites, and Navy Blues For his clean modern riff on the classics, designer Michael Bastian finds inspiration in everything from Robert Rauschenberg to Jaws.
Guess What's Coming to Dinner American caviar has finally won a spot on the table. A tasting reveals how years of fine-tuning (and a ban on imports) has convinced the most discerning palates.
Golf
Driving Lessons Could a few days on the greens of Scotland’s venerable course strengthen the bond between father and son? Gary Fisketjon reports in from Gleneagles.
See Me, Feel Me, Touch Me Material ConneXion has been called the petting zoo of materials for its easy accessibility to some 3,000 fabrics, metals, polymers, and other amazing things.
The Rise of 1000-Count Sheets The first batch debuted five years ago and turned the linens industry on its head. With so many companies upping the thread counts, it’s hard to tell which ones are the real deal. Milena Damjanov separates the scratchy from the sublime.
Did You Say... Bermuda? It became famous as the site of the Bermuda Triangle but never lost its identity as Bermuda the Square—the place where the country-club set headed every spring to play a little golf and relax on pretty pink beaches. All that, thank goodness, remains. But with the arrival of JetBlue, easy-to-buy condos, and the promise of new luxury hotels, could Bermuda become…well, hip?
Wine & Spirits
Gin Makes a Splash. AGAIN! For decades gin languished while vodka enjoyed unprecedented popularity. Now a new generation of distillers, cocktailmakers, and, yes, imbibers, too, are celebrating the spirit’s flavorful botanicals.
La Vita Frescobaldi For 30 generations, the Frescobaldis of Florence have been making some of the world’s finest wines. Martin Filler reports from Tuscany on Italy’s still dynamic dynasty.
Worldly Goods
Just Shoot Me From maximum megapixels to pocket-size convenience, Frank Vizard breaks down the best digital cameras for every type of photographer.
Madame Bijoux Equal parts personal shopper and market expert, Patty Hambrecht knows jewelry like few others.
Stirring the Pot Taking cues from East and West, ceramist Per Weiss creates vessels with physical and spiritual heft.
The Wild Side Of Paris In the one-of-a-kind shop Deyrolle, the wolf dwells not only with the lamb but also with turtles and beetles, parakeets and prairie dogs, okapis and kiwis.
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Departures Editor in Chief Richard David Story introduces the wildest innovations in contemporary luxury, airing on Plum TV®. The segments will be broadcast during Connections with Jennie Saunders beginning August 23. View programming schedule
