Philadelphia Style Magazine

Crunch Time: TRX's Fast, Full-Body Workouts

Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Defying gravity: Editor-in-chief Kristin Detterline-Munro leans into her training for the TRX equivalent of a pull-up. The training system utilizes the user’s body weight in providing a full-body workout, focused particularly around one’s core.

It all looked simple enough. Take the cushioned handles of two long nylon straps attached to a pull-up bar in each hand, slowly lean back as if sitting in a recliner, and then propel upward and over into a suspended push-up position. "This is called the Superman," said Hector Bones, a personal trainer at The Sporting Club at The Bellevue, as he neatly completed two in a row with perfect form. "Give it a try. I think you can do it."

Motivational speech aside, I sincerely thought I could, too. This was my first tangle with TRX, but it was hardly the first time I had stepped in a gym: In the past 10 years, I had downward-dogged my way through yoga, muscled through four-count push-ups in Pilates, cranked up the resistance dial in spinning, and counted down the minutes on any and every piece of cardio equipment known to man. As far as I was concerned, Superman was about to meet Wonder Woman. But somewhere between the reclining and the propelling, my arms swung out too far and my feet crossed at the ankles, leaving me in a spandex-clad heap at the foot of Bones's sneakers. It seemed only fitting to beg for mercy at that point. "That didn't go so well," Bones chuckled. I laughed, too—having your backside up in the air certainly calls for a moment of levity.

TRX suspension training was invented by Randy Hetrick while he was serving as a Navy SEAL in the '90s. He had no access to a gym, so the straps—at the time, parachute material he hand-stitched together—offered dynamic, challenging full-body workouts that incorporate a variety of movements using nothing more than his own body weight. Over the past few years, the TRX trend has exploded in popularity, first as a home-training system of sorts (à la the Perfect Pushup, founded by yet another SEAL), and then in gyms and fitness clubs across the county.

"There are many benefits to body-weight resistance training," says Dr. Kevin Freedman, a sports medicine specialist who specializes in knee and shoulder injuries at Bryn Mawr's Orthopaedic Specialists. "TRX includes a variety of exercises, so there's core muscle training. People typically go to the gym and do isolated exercises but don't concentrate on larger muscle groups, like the back. This is a more total form of exercise."

Based on my post-workout pain, I can wholeheartedly agree with that statement. My arms felt like jelly, and my quads burned for two days. It wasn't just from the Superman, which ultimately did me in that first day. It was the push-ups that rolled over into pike lifts, and the reclining back rows. Despite the achy aftermath, I tried it again and found that I liked it even more.

TRX has been a popular addition to The Sporting Club's already robust group fitness schedule, with classes available several times a week inside a dedicated TRX studio, where you will find a cross-section of members—both genders, and all ages and fitness levels. On the back of its increasing popularity, The Sporting Club earlier this year introduced TRX/Pilates, a hybrid exercise that draws on key moves from each discipline.

Whether you are sticking with traditional TRX or trying the spin-off, discipline is exactly what you will need to excel. It is a routine that requires some getting used to: keeping your shoulders down, your core tight, your spine elongated while reclining. Even comfortably slipping your feet in and out of the straps takes some time. But the benefits are undeniable: This routine can give you a truly toned physique. I have yet to master the Superman, but that is not a bad thing. In fact, it is keeping me motivated. And no matter the exercise, that is the most important move to master of all. 224 S. Broad St., 215-985-9876

Q&A With: Interior Designer, Author Charlotte Moss

Wed, 16 May 2012 17:55:00 -0400

Interior designer Charlotte Moss has seven books and several retail collections including a fabric line for Calico Corners under her belt, but she still makes time for national tours to discuss her passion for design. In Strafford this week for a lecture, “Rooms I Love and the People Who Made Them,” Moss sat down with us to discuss Philadelphia design’s deep roots in history.

How would you describe your personal style?
CHARLOTTE MOSS: I love history and things that have a history, but I believe that putting them together to create a great future for them all is critical. Really [my style] is traditional, eclectic, and sometimes surprising, if you want to distill it.

What changes in design have you noticed for 2012?
CM: The movements are going more toward saturated notes and saturated color. I think there’s going to be a richness restored. Not overall, but I think it will be reinterpreted.

I think we’ll figure out how to bring it back to life. It’s the antidote to technology. We need that softness when we’re sitting here with our hands on a machine all the time. I don’t think we’ll return to the levels of excess and over-decoration like in the ‘80s. It was suffocating. Now we want to breathe a little more.

How would you describe the overall design aesthetic of Philadelphia?
CM: Philadelphia is very much like Richmond, VA, where I was born and raised. It’s so steeped in history. It's just there, so it becomes part of your DNA almost. How it effects how you see things I think. There’s clearly strong tradition in Philadelphia.

But I think anyplace where you have universities, activity, and people who are aware of what’s going on today, they are part of making history vital today because they’re studying it and thinking about it. Clearly some of the greatest furniture in this country came out of Philadelphia—some of the greatest pieces of decorative art and furniture (cabinet-makers and furniture-makers) come from here. It’s something we must preserve.

What to Eat at Recently Opened Restaurants

Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Tapas and sangria are obligatory at Jamonera.

Jamonera
Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran's long-awaited addition to 13th Street is a vibrant Spanish tapas bar modeled after the Andalusian hideouts that the pair discovered during their visits to the region. It has an extensive offering of Spanish varietals and even a sherry menu; among the delicious tapas are small bites like marinated olives, larger sharing plates such as house-ground merguez sausage with beluga lentils, and charcuterie such as Spain's famous acorn-fed Iberico ham. 105 S. 13th St., 215-922-6061.

La Calaca Feliz
Cinco de Mayo colors, contemporary Mexican cuisine, and cheeky murals are the draw at Tim Spinner and Brian Sirhal's first restaurant in Philadelphia. Their food, which debuted to acclaim at Cantina Feliz in Fort Washington last year, includes tacos, nachos, Mexican flatbreads, and grilled skewers. And of course, freshly mixed margaritas are a staple. 2321 Fairmount Ave., 215-787-9930.

Russet
In February two seasoned alums of the local scene, Andrew and Kristin Wood, unveiled Russet, a seasonally inspired BYOB in Rittenhouse Square. Andrew, who has trained in the Michelin-starred Terra and Quince in California as well as Philly's Fork, works closely with farms like Green Meadow Farm, Erdenheim Farm, and Lancaster Farm Fresh Co-op to create the plates served in this converted 1800s townhouse. 1521 Spruce St., 215-546-1521.

Nomad Pizza
Spun out of a Hopewell, New Jersey–based food truck, Nomad recently opened its second brick-and-mortar location. The dough-throwers grow their own tomatoes, basil, and herbs in season, which are then incorporated into pizzas like marinara, margherita, arugula con prosciutto, and shiitake mushroom. 611 S. Seventh St., 215-238-0900.

Paris Wine Bar
The owners of the beloved stalwart London Grill have branched out with an intimate, 50-seat eatery that focuses on local and sustainable wines exclusively from Pennsylvania. Six select wines will always flow from the kegs filled by proprietors Terry Berch McNally and Michael McNally, and the kitchen doles out traditional Parisian specialties such as croque madame and steamed mussels. 2303 Fairmount Ave., 215-978-4545

Square Peg
The esteemed chef of the now shuttered Adsum, Matt Levin, has returned at Larry Cohen and Barry Gutin's Square Peg, a casual eatery with the spirit of an American diner. Expect comfort foods like meatloaf and pierogies, and breakfast dishes like bananas foster French toast pegs. The menu also features cocktails like an apricot julep and spiked milkshakes flavored like decadent desserts, including banana splits and loaded cupcakes. 927–929 Walnut St., 215-413-3600.

Lemon Hill
Two Philadelphia stalwarts, Supper and The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co., have teamed up to create an establishment equally focused on finely crafted cocktails and seasonal American cooking. The Fairmount-area eatery adds playful twists to bar-food favorites, like pastrami fried chicken wings and California roll crab dip. 745 N. 25th St., 215-232-2270.

Walnut Street Supper Club
Center City mainstay Portofino has been transformed into this 1940s-esque supper club, complete with live musicians singing familiar hits from Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Nat King Cole. Italian plates still round out the menu, with some steakhouse- appropriate additions like baby back pork ribs and a New York strip. 1227 Walnut St., 215-923-8208.

Alla Spina
Marc Vetri's North Broad Street addition adds upscale Italian gastropub to his roster of Philly favorites. Expect the Italian ingredients that Vetri is loyal to, but with a fun, casual approach—think mortadella hot dogs and a raspberry lambic affogato. 1410 Mt. Vernon St., 215-600-0017.

Hickory Lane American Bistro
This charming BYOB in Fairmount offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner in its rustic yet elegant interior scattered with lavender-filled mason jars, burlap drapes, and vintage pendants. Executive chef Matt Zagorski, previously sous chef at both Lacroix and Rouge, dishes up seasonal variations on familiar morning fare, salads, sandwiches, and entrées. 2025 Fairmount Ave., 215-769-2420.

Kevin DeSanctis Revels in New Casino/Hotel

Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

DeSanctis looks to conjure a new boardwalk empire.

If there is anyone who should be looking out from the top of the world these days, it's Kevin DeSanctis. He is the CEO of Revel Entertainment Group, responsible for Revel, Atlantic City's newest casino-hotel, encased in the tallest structure along the Jersey Shore (it rises 47 stories above the Boardwalk). DeSanctis, however, prefers his view closer to sea level. "I look out at the ocean from 30 feet up," he says. "If there is something good 39 stories up or 47 stories up, I prefer that our customers get to use it."

Revel, says DeSanctis, will be all about the customers. It has to be that way in Atlantic City nowadays. For the first few decades of casino gaming here, entertainment and hospitality were a commodity because there was really nowhere else convenient to go to gamble. Now, after the recession and the upsurge in gaming in Pennsylvania, Atlantic City has no choice but to focus on appealing to the people, says DeSanctis.

"We've got to find out what they want and give it to them," says DeSanctis, a 1970 graduate of Steinert High School, near Trenton. "For instance, we have a surf shop. Well, it's not sufficient just to have gear to sell; we have to find out when people want to surf. How good are they? Do they want lessons? You can gamble anywhere; at Revel we are going to have to give them every amenity to have them come back." DeSanctis says the name of the casino is no accident. "The way I define Revel is that it is enjoying oneself in the company of others. The goal of Revel was always to evoke an emotion in people that lies dormant sometimes from when you were a kid," says DeSanctis. "Did you ever try to get your niece out of a Chuck E. Cheese? You can't. So I thought, Wouldn't it be nice if adults had a place they would go to, where they had that kind of emotion and never wanted to leave? That, I hope, is what Revel will be."

Unlike many casino muckity-mucks, DeSanctis never thought he would be running an entertainment business. He was all about basketball at Steinert, and he went to Pfeiffer University in North Carolina intending to play. "But that was the era when some coaches didn't like long hair," he says. He kept the hair and didn't play. When he graduated at 21, he came home and became a New Jersey state cop, working his way onto a unit investigating the first Atlantic City casino, Resorts International, and eventually wending his way to doing the same thing in Las Vegas. From there he started working for casinos in different capacities, coming back to Jersey once again, in the 1990s, as president of Trump Plaza in Atlantic City. Finally, in the following decade, DeSanctis became the COO of Penn National Gaming, headquartered in Wyomissing, where he still lives.

He formed Revel in 2006, when a slew of projects—MGM and Pinnacle chief among them—were poised to spend billions to make AC glisten. But the recession killed all but Revel, and DeSanctis understands the expectations will be that Revel creates the rising tide. "I think it is fair to ask of us that we bring more people into Atlantic City. We are the new guy, the big guy. We have that responsibility," says DeSanctis. "But in the end, there will have to be more capital investment. We don't want people to come to Revel and then get tired of it and go home. We want to be the leader, but we realize that Atlantic City will always be more than just us."

DeSanctis professes to a weak spot for restaurants, and he is filling Revel with them—14, in fact, including fine-dining concepts from acclaimed names such as Alain Allegretti, Robert Wiedmaier, and Michel Richard, and places like Village Whiskey, a creation of Philadelphia überchef Jose Garces "where you can relax and have bar food and a burger and not go bankrupt."

Revel also will host the first Atlantic City casino where the gaming floor looks out on the ocean. "I think the idea that casinos didn't want people to know what time it was is antiquated," he explains. "We want them to have a beautiful view." It may be a tough slog, admits DeSanctis, to reverse the downward trend of Atlantic City. But the old basketball player in him knows the bruises you get along the way are worth the payoff in the end.

"I have loved learning from a variety of folks in the business, from Donald Trump to Stephen Wynn. Now it is time for Revel," he says. "We are definitely ready for the challenge."

Salt-Based Spa Treatments for Your Best Skin

Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

The Sea Spa at The Chelsea

Qua Baths & Spa
Relax like an Egyptian queen at Caesars Atlantic City. The spa's Cleopatra Body Ritual sloughs away dead skin using a scrub made from kiwi seeds, salt, sugars, and exotic coconut, palm, and coprah oils. A heated green tea and clay mask is then applied to the body, and your renewed skin is treated to a full-body massage. 2100 Pacific Ave., Atlantic City, 609-343-2400

Spa Toccare
Hydration and detoxification are the attractive benefits of the Deep Sea Renewal treatment. Skin is buffed with a yuzu sugar scrub, then wrapped in a ginseng and sea kelp mask. While the treatment works its magic, your esthetician will massage your feet with lavender and eucalyptus. Arrive early to take a swim in the spa's heated indoor pool. 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, 609-317-7555

Calista Grand Salon & Spa
Sea salt is known for its ability to scrub away dead skin cells and stimulate new skin cell growth. Use nature's bounty to your advantage with the Sea Salt Glow, a combination of sea salt and algae-based oil that provides lost nutrients, moisturizes, and improves radiance. 1211 Wilmington Pike, West Chester, 610-399-6677

Sea Spa
Salt is the key ingredient at this ocean-inspired day spa. A salve of Dead Sea salts, algae, and marine sediments is what The Chelsea hotel's spa coins The Mermaid's Secret; the treatment stimulates circulation and energy. Afterward pull up a chaise lounge by the open-air saltwater pool, heated year-round. 111 S. Chelsea Ave., Atlantic City, 609-428-4554

Juju Spa & Organics
Owner Julie Ebner's focus on natural ingredients at this Queen Village salon and spa is evident in her signature body treatments, formulated with organic sugar scrubs and detoxifying salt polishes to refine skin texture. Choose from the selection of organic essential oils of herbs and flowers, and hydrosol for a soothing and stimulating experience. 728 S. Fourth St., 215-922-3235

Adolf Biecker Spa/Salon
Escape to the tropics with the sweet-scented Caribbean Body Scrub, which includes a full-body exfoliation using salt, sugar, and moisturizing coconut, avocado, and passionfruit oils, followed by a slathering of cocoa butter and lime lotion that's as refreshing as a round-trip ticket to St. Maarten. 508 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne, 610-687-4750

The Spa at Four Seasons
While Four Seasons massage therapist Desiree McGrath's Swedish massages are always reason enough for a visit, the Rosemary Sea Salt Scrub is an invigorating add-on that buffs skin into summer-ready perfection by stimulating circulation, creating a healthy glow, and leaving skin silky smooth. We also love the calming herbal aroma. 1 Logan Sq., 215-963-1500

Nurture Spa
Channel the sweet, relaxing scent of Provence with the Citrus Lavender Salt Glow at this Bucks County spa. The organic treatment mixes Dead Sea salts with natural ingredients like papaya and glycerin to exfoliate and hydrate—perfect for dry skin that has had its share of fun in the sun. 415 S. York Road, New Hope, 215-862-7010

Ovations Salon & Spa
Enhance your inner glow with the Sea Salt Glow Body Scrub. Made for dry skin, it scrubs away dead cells; your skin is then deeply moisturized with an application of body cream. To complete the indulgence, you are wrapped in a heated blanket while being treated to a scalp massage.539 N. Orianna St., 215-923-4747

Take it On Faith: Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit

Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Translating history: Part of the War Scroll, of the Dead Sea Scrolls, on display at The Franklin Institute.

It's not often that an era of history is quite literally laid out before you. Which is what makes the arrival of Dead Sea Scrolls: Life and Faith in Ancient Times at The Franklin Institute so significant. The opening of the exhibition on May 12 marks the debut of the most comprehensive collection of ancient artifacts from Israel ever organized in one place.

The centerpiece is one of the largest assemblages of the Dead Sea Scrolls—a library of texts that includes the oldest known surviving copies of Hebrew biblical documents—ever housed in North America, a focal point intentionally chosen by curators Dr. Risa Levitt Kohn and Deborah Ben Ami. "Instead of using the scrolls as a starting point, we decided to explore the scrolls as the culmination of the previous thousand years of history," Kohn explains. The result is a 3,000-year journey through ancient Israel that winds its way back to the present.

Integrating more than 500 artifacts into the collection, Kohn and Ben Ami still found the selection process an incredible challenge. The exhibit contains everyday items like jewelry and weapons, as well as sacred ritual objects and even 1,000-pound decorative pillar tops, known as capitals. "The most challenging part about this huge collection was seeing what we could include and then trying to build a story around it," Kohn says.

Driving the collection are the thousands of national treasures possessed by the Israel Antiquities Authority, a government body that oversees all activity regarding relics from the storied land. When a site is excavated and archaeologists have examined their findings, any artifacts become property of the nation. Today the country is in possession of never-before-seen bits of history, and this large-scale exhibit is the ideal showcase.

The result is a transformative experience that explores the origins of the modern world. "It will give the people of Philadelphia the opportunity to see objects that you won't even see if you travel to Israel today," Kohn says. "One of the ideas behind the exhibition is to transport people to a different place, as well as a different time, so you really feel like you've gone on a journey when you go through the show." Even if you never venture to Israel, this is one pilgrimage you should plan on making. Dead Sea Scrolls: Life and Faith in Ancient Times runs from May 12 to October 14 at The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St., 215-448-1200

Aoki Boutique Offers Eclectic Apparel & More

Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

A new women’s lifestyle shop in Rittenhouse Square filled with eclectic apparel, accessories, and home décor, Aoki brings a splash of new life to the block with its bright turquoise exterior. Owner Alina Alter returned to her native Philadelphia and brought inspirations from around the world with her, as is reflected in the offerings she sells at Aoki.

Feminine frocks from an array of soon-to-be-discovered designers fill the racks, and the store’s lineup of locally crafted bits and baubles will freshen up any jewelry box for the warm weather season. Unique home and paper goods round out the merchandise, and Aoki is a destination for great gifting—think presents by names like Gorjana, Leigh & Luca, and Roost. A bright energy is translated through the finely stocked boutique, making it Rittenhouse’s latest exciting adventure. 115 S. 22nd St., 215-568-2024

Free Reign Boutique Brings Array of Goods

Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

From the family that’s excelled in superb customer service since founding Kay Lighting & Design in 1947 comes Free Reign, Conshohocken’s newest gift shop. As purveyors of a wide array of goods from both recognized and undiscovered artisans and brands, mother-and-son duo Linda and Josh Denenberg offer a truly eclectic mix of artfully selected merchandise ranging from jewelry and children’s toys to home goods and one-of-a-kind gifts.

Familiar brands include Michael Aram, Crabtree & Evelyn, and Chamilia, while other shelves hold handcrafted items from local and American artisans, as well as eco-friendly wares. Expect to soon see an in-store café, furthering the family boutique’s desire to have customers spend time luxuriating in a truly memorable shopping experience. No matter what you’re looking for, Free Reign Boutique will surely have something to offer. 317 W. Ridge Pike, Conshohocken, 484-368-3005

Florence Welch Belts It Out at the Borgata

Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Florence Welch, the voice behind The Machine.

A willowy, ethereal nymph topped with a wave of fiery red locks, Florence Welch easily won over the fashion set with her sprite-like looks, so much so that Karl Lagerfeld recently asked her to perform on stage at the Chanel Spring/Summer 2012 show during Paris Fashion Week. But it's the Florence + The Machine front woman's voice—a full-throated, otherworldly vibrato that will be on display at Borgata on May 12—that has set the world aflame.

Welch's first album, Lungs, was a slow burner after its release in 2008, gaining momentum through 2010, when the single "Dog Days Are Over" went viral as part of the trailer for the blockbuster film Eat, Pray, Love. Her popularity then propelled her to the stage at the 2010 MTV Music Video Awards, where she belted the pop anthem in an energy-charged performance that sealed the group's rise to the fore of pop music.

The South London–bred songstress is often compared to Kate Bush, a fellow Brit who similarly paved her own unconventional path as a vocalist. Welch creates her haunting ballads with the backing of The Machine: Rob Ackroyd on guitar, Chris Hayden on drums, Mark Saunders on bass, Isabella "Machine" Summers and Rusty Bradshaw on keyboard, and Tom Monger on the harp. The group's most recent album, Ceremonials, debuted this past October to great acclaim, a sophomore effort with a sound that further sets the band apart from the pop-rock pack. The music industry has certainly taken notice: Among Florence + The Machine's many accolades is a Brits Critics Choice Award, an honor rarely bestowed on an artist of such a young age. Florence + The Machine will perform on May 12 at the Borgata Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, 609-317-1000 or livenation.com.

Nature Accents Abound in Cape May Abode

Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Bayside high: The pool offers tranquility alongside Delaware Bay.

Jeanne Ruddy did something unconventional once plans for her shore house renovation were complete. She called the original architect and asked him to examine them. "I didn't want to change it without consulting him," says the dancer and director of Fairmount's Jeanne Ruddy Dance. Fred Langford, a student of the renowned Louis Kahn, was delighted to see what the future held for the house he had created back in the '70s. He ultimately gave his seal of approval, and construction began.

Ruddy, who is wrapping her final season with the dance group at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre in early May, and her husband, Victor Keen, an attorney in Center City, knew they were very lucky in finding the property, situated on two wooded acres in Cape May. But time had not been kind to the house, whose maladies included 50 windows sealed shut with paint, depriving inhabitants of one of its most attractive features—enchanting seaside views. A more economical choice may have been to call in the bulldozers, but heavy equipment would have harmed the 100 trees on the lot.

Besides, the house had great bones; the interior simply needed modification to conform to modern standards of living. "When we first bought it, we didn't realize how much we would have to do," says Ruddy. They called Floss Barber, whose Philadelphia design firm is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and Ruddy met with her weekly. "She listened to all of my ideas, slowly guiding us," says Ruddy, who once danced with the influential Martha Graham. The resulting design scheme maximized space and invited comfort. Explains Barber: "We wanted to open things up, making it light, airy, and serene."

Ruddy's first request was to be able to see the bay from the kitchen. To help showcase the sunset, Barber tore down two walls and enlarged a window. The room also boasts a live-edge walnut island, glass shelving to house Keen's collection of toasters from the 1920s and '30s, and a dining area that overlooks the water. The ash and glass table is from Cassina, with leather chairs designed by Bellini. An Ingo Maurer Japanese paper "Maru" pendant is suspended over the scene by three cables.

Off the first floor, on either end of the home, are two porches, connected by the living room. The "woods porch," as Ruddy calls it, is like a Hawaiian lanai. Nestled in the trees, it features a Hudson furniture dining table made of a solid slab of tamarind wood with natural edges. "It looks like it just came right out of the woods," says Ruddy. The western porch overlooks the water. "We can open the doors and the air goes right through the house. We are constantly reminded of nature here," she says of these breezes, and of the birds that migrate here and the family of foxes she has spotted.

Nature is also evident in the house's flooring, which Barber changed to either limestone or Brazilian cherry wood. "When you have killer views of the bay and the woods, you have to let that do the talking," Barber explains. "The furnishings and interiors play a very minor part in the overall design. No one piece jumps out as the star of the show. The objective was for the home to be tranquil but alive."

The master bedroom has views of the bay, and Barber pushed it out from the house to add a martini balcony. Two guest bedrooms now have their own baths for privacy. Barber also made his and her offices. Keen's office was designed after a trip to Vienna left him pining for a piece of Biedermeier furniture; Barber created a reproduction for him. He added a vintage glass and acrylic coffee table and an acrylic desk chair to complete the room. "The goal was always to bring them back to simplicity so the house would breathe," says Barber. The couple has found time to breathe, too. With stressful jobs in the city, the home has become a refuge for creating balance. "It's like a different planet here," says Ruddy. Adds Keen: "By the time I make it down our long driveway, my heart starts beating slower."

Blo/Out Latest Salon to Join Blowout Boom

Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

No other beauty treatment has the speed-to-impact ratio of a perfect blow-dry. Clients step in frazzled and bedraggled but leave just 40 minutes later transformed. "It takes your look from an A to an A-plus," explains local TV personality Erin Elmore, who gets her naturally "wild, frizzy" hair tamed at Jason Matthew Salon (1735 Chestnut St., 215-665-8030). "I had Japanese straightening for five years but started to want more body, so I have switched to keratin treatments and weekly blowouts."

And it's not just Elmore who indulges. Salons across town are seeing an uptick in bookings. "We're now doing around 100 blow-dry-only clients a week," says Jacqueline Stemper, of Pileggi on the Square, known for long-lasting, brush-set blowouts.

It is the same story over at Andre Richard Salon (1218 Locust St., 215-735-1590). Here demand has been so high the owners decided to siphon off a section of the salon in February to create a mini blow-dry bar complete with a marble-topped counter and a new menu of $25 styles.

So when local entrepreneur Avi Shenkar announced he was planning to open Blo/Out, Philadelphia's very first no-cuts, no-color salon (a concept which has proven to be diabolically popular in New York and LA), he received nothing but positive feedback. Shenkar commissioned interior designer Anna Rozenberg to revamp a run-down diner on County Line Road into a glamour-infused 2,200-square-foot space. "We wanted to get away from the traditional salon feel," says Rozenberg, who filled the clean, white interiors with vintage chandeliers, flashes of pink, and antiques from nearby New Hope.

The centerpiece is a vast 20-foot bar overhung with mirrors, in front of which 10 stylists will treat clients to one of nine styles at just $35 a pop. "I think our most popular style is going to be the Blair," predicts Philly-born stylist Shannon Toner, who estimates she has done more than 1,000 blowouts during her five years in the business. "It is a very big, bouncy look which incorporates a curling wand, à la Kim Kardashian. I would say that is the key style in town at the moment—that and very sleek, pin-straight hair."

Of course, part of our devotion to the hair dryer can be traced back to recent hi-tech product developments that allow our hair to take the heat (literally) of regular blowouts. "The ability to deliver conditioning and heat protectants has fundamentally changed how we style and wear our hair," says trichologist Elizabeth Cunnane Phillips. "We have, over the past three decades, gone from ‘setting and spraying' the hair into a helmet-like shield—which lasted a week—to sleek, shiny, tactile hair that we can wash daily."

Along with a raft of low-watt, ionized dryers and prep sprays designed to work at 200-plus degrees, there's also a new generation of super conditioners at our disposal. It's no coincidence that Moroccanoil is the salon brand of both LA success story Drybar and Philly newcomer Blo/Out. "You need to balance the toll you take on your hair with these powerful hydrating products," says Drybar's founder Alli Webb, whose hero product is Moroccanoil Hydrating Cream.

What's surprising is that blowout bars have prospered at a time when our economic fortunes have floundered. In fact, Toronto-based Blo—the salon that kick-started the trend—opened its first location five years ago, at the exact time that the sub-prime mortgage crisis started to unravel. But the company blossomed (at least five openings are planned for 2012) and inspired a host of newcomers: LA-based Drybar will nearly double its number of salons (from 13 salons to 23) by the end of the year, and Philadelphia's own Blo/Out is planning two more openings this year, one in Old City and another in Rittenhouse.

Perhaps during times of job insecurity the currency of simply looking good becomes an even more valuable asset? "A recent study shows that the better looking are more likely to be employed," notes economist Daniel Hamermesh, adding that research has found that workers earn "10 to 15 percent more if they are among the best-looking one-third of workers compared to the worst-looking one-seventh." If a polished appearance is the difference between landing a key deal (or keeping your job), surely a weekly blowout is money well spent. "I think having perfectly groomed hair has a huge impact on the way people perceive you," agrees Rachel Rothbard Heller, an Old City–based realtor who gets her naturally curly locks styled into elegant waves several times a month. "But it's not just about that. It's the whole experience; getting pampered in the salon, taking time out from your day—it all makes you feel better about yourself."

And perhaps that's the real reason behind the boom. Yes, we have been seduced by the plush, glossy feel of blow-dried locks; in the wake of Brazilian blowouts and Japanese straightening treatments, smooth hair has become a benchmark of modern beauty. But we are also enchanted by the ritual of being massaged and coiffed on a weekly basis. It's an excuse to escape the hubbub of life, even for just an hour each week, to be treated like a celebrity.

Donald Moore, cofounder of 23-year-old local favorite Calista Grand, puts it best. "It's really a transition; the blowdry has become the 21st-century version of a wash and set. It's the new beauty ritual, and it's going to be around for a long time."

Top Attorney Talks Personal Style

Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Arthur Alan Wolk
Owner/Founder of The Wolk Law Firm

Wolk has been committed to preserving Rittenhouse Square since he established his firm here 44 years ago. This year Wolk serves on the board of directors for the Friends of Rittenhouse Square; the firm will be a presenting sponsor at the 2012 Ball on the Square on June 21.

SHIRT AND TIE: “Stefano Ricci makes the most interesting shirt fabrications, as well as unusual tie fabrics.”

SUIT: “I like wearing Brioni suits because the fabrics are very special and the cut fits me best.”

SHOES: “Ferragamo shoes are well-made and stylish.”

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANDRE FLEWELLEN

Gucci's Take on Teddy-Boy Tailoring

Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Marseille peak lapel jacket ($2,750) and light cloud skinny shirt with contrast collar ($510), Gucci.

For more than two centuries, the London-based tailor shops lining Savile Row have created suiting in the highest quality wools and flannels. The Teddy Boy fashions of the 1950s, characterized by classic English fabrics in slimmed-down silhouettes, upped the cool quotient of the kind of old-fashioned tailoring for which Savile Row has always been famous. In ensuing years, the movement’s influence went global, and it is still referenced in today’s fashion in New York, Philadelphia, and beyond.

The look has for years inspired countless runway collections, with seemingly every new generation developing its own spin on the trend, from rockabilly to ska to punk. The stellar collection at Gucci showcases a perfectly executed update on Teddy Boys’ Savile Row roots: Glen plaids and classic British fabrics are found in slim suits, peak lapels, tuxedos, and trousers, all done in modern cuts and silhouettes—ideal for Gucci’s not-inconsiderable rock-star-minded clientele. The Pier Shops at Caesars, 1 Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic City, 609-449-1080

PHOTOGRAPHY BY NATHAN SAYERS

Moving Matisse's The Dance

Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

The first of The Barnes Foundation’s works moved from the old Merion location to the Parkway was also its largest: the site-specific Matisse mural The Dance. In 1932, at Dr. Barnes’s request, Henri Matisse designed the three-canvas piece to nestle above three windows in three arched spaces that reached to a vaulted ceiling in the doctor’s galleries. The canvasses are more than 12 feet high and stretch about 48 feet if placed side by side. “We spent over a year planning this entire move for all the works in the collection,” says Barnes Foundation chief curator Judith Dolkart. “And moving The Dance was a project within the project.”

In 1933 Matisse traveled to Merion to personally install the mural. Once finished, he wrote to his son Pierre that The Dance seemed so fitting in situ that the work “became part of the building.” (Interestingly, while it is well known that Matisse’s technique was to shift paper cutouts about as he arranged his composition, Dolkart says that during the move, it was still a thrill to see the hundreds of pinpricks he had made as he refined the masterpiece in its original location.) Fast-forward nearly 80 years, and moving the “immovable” work, as Matisse once characterized it, required not just the foundation’s curator and the architects and construction firm for the new galleries, but also 11 art handlers, two painting conservators, and an assistant; one registrar, to oversee packing and transport; extensive security support; a team of photographers and videographers to document the de- and re-installations; and the foundation’s entire buildings and facilities teams.

Matisse wrote in a 1934 letter that “[a]rchitectural painting depends absolutely on the place that has to receive it, and which it animates with a new life.” For decades many found this true of The Dance. But the reverse may very well be true in its new home, Dolkart explains. “Matisse had intended the blue of his mural to stand for the sky, against the greenery of the Merion arboretum. But for the most part, the windows’ shades and draperies had to be closed to protect the paintings inside.” Now, however, “on the parkway, because we have high-tech glass, we won’t have to close the shades. So we will have that connection to the greenery once again.”

Bentley Reveals Luxe SUV: EXP 9 F

Fri, 04 May 2012 12:47:00 -0400

Bentley made a statement the night before the Geneva International Motor Show during VW’s Group Night, where each of the parent company’s brands showcased their latest and most spectacular vehicles. The British luxury maker wowed the crowd with its first SUV concept, EXP 9 F.

Massive 23-inch alloy wheels; the signature bold Bentley grille; a powerful 6-liter W12 engine that can make up to 600 horsepower; an 8-speed transmission; a fold-down champagne cooler; and luxury tailgating fit for the Kentucky Derby, seem to overly exceed expectations of consumers looking to purchase an ultra-elite SUV. Bentley’s sports utility vehicle is in competition with other luxe cars like the Range Rover and Porsche’s Cayenne Turbo. While the design and composition keep all the usual Bentley trappings, it is unknown if this foray into SUVs will be met with negative or positive feedback.