Dynamite Dolomites The Italian alps have always been fashionable among a certain set, and the resort called Val Badia has always been a sort of hidden jewel in the dolomites’ crown. Elisabeth Franck-Dumas joins a new global jet set for not only its scenic slopes but also its civilized comfort.
Eating in Istanbul At this crossroads of East and West, the cuisine is as fascinating and complex as the long history. From street food to chic new restaurants, Anya Von Bremzen finds the best dining in Byzantium.
The Keys, Please... A six-bedroom villa perched high on Peter Island may be the ultimate in new Caribbean luxury. Richard David Story reports.
In-Store Dining Once upon a time department store restaurants were anonymous cafeterias with bad coffee. Even in New York! Talk about transformation. Now it’s all about high style and haute dining. Here’s to the ladies—and gents—who lunch.
L.A.’s Art House Director A charismatic, fast-rising art world star, Michael Govan traded coasts to pilot the Los Angeles County Museum of Art into a brand-new era.
Pictures from His Exhibition Dennis Ashbaugh makes paintings that riff on DNA, biotechnology, and microscopic sea life. Science fiction writer Bruce Sterling decodes the idiosyncratic artist.
The New Face of Chinese Art A painter of portraits that tap into the psychology of his homeland, Zhang Xiaogang has risen from Cynical Realist to global art celebrity.
Western Civilization For 30 years Edward Curtis photographed this country’s native peoples. His images, once nearly forgotten, are now as admired as they are coveted.
Dispatch
Holiday On Ice Some 125 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Patricia Morrisroe finally meets a reindeer and finds a cure for her sleepless nights.
Dress Code
Cool Hand Luxe The Country Gentleman Salvatore Ferragamo shearling gloves, $380; 800-628-8916
Shouldering On A self-confessed Hermès addict builds his completely customized dream bag.
The Beaded Lady Artist Janis Provisor trades oil and canvas for ametrine and tourmaline to create bold, highly collectible necklaces.
Yoshimasa Hoshiba The creative director of Oceans, a Japanese fashion and style magazine, learned (almost) everything from his father, a third-generation tailor.
Fiction
The Library’s Lions A New York institution honors artists and—shhh!—also gives them a place to work.
Food
Not Just Desserts Gail Monaghan not only cooks and writes about savory sweets; she saves them from extinction.
Golf
Playing the Low Country A 125-mile stretch of South Carolina might just be the most concentrated golf destination in the world. John Stacks tees off.
How to Buy a Paris Apartment A new wave of companies catering to Americans and a vibrant real estate market are turning the City of Light into a turnkey experience.
The Wrap Artists Using everything from crocodile prints to yesterday’s newspaper, today’s creative gift givers are thinking outside the box.
In Profile
A Higher Purpose For his latest venture, Napa Valley veteran Donald Hess went to Argentina, where he’s determined to elevate the art of winemaking—to 9,000 feet.
Sweet Barcelona The city that introduced cacao to Europe is once again at the forefront of the xocolata avant-garde.
The Fall & Rise of Roberto Polo How the investment manager with a savvy eye for art went from haut monde to rock bottom. Christopher Mason reports from Paris on his second coming.
Wine & Spirits
Rieslings Rising The versatile white wines of Germany are enjoying a new golden age, but Martin Filler wonders if global warming—and the higher sugar levels it produces—will lead to a postmillennial meltdown.
Worldly Goods
A Triumphant Return After a two-decade absence, the original outlaw machine is back in a big way.
Heavenly Figures Through one family’s passion and generosity, the art of Neapolitan crèche scenes lives on in New York.
The Philanthropist
How Jean Pigozzi Plans to Save the World On a remote island off Panama’s Pacific coast, the businessman/conservationist welcomes scientists to his Liquid Jungle Lab, a one-of-a-kind research center.
Palm Springs Refreshed When people ask me to find them a Palm Springs house that evokes old Hollywood," says realtor Lisa Casey, "I have to ask, Do you mean the Clark Gable–Joan Crawford old Hollywood Palm Springs or the one with Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack?"
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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
