Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / September 7, 2023 51 TRAVEL almost half his life with Crystal. Our dining-room waiter Marcin, a 20+ year Serenity veteran from Poland, seemed almost overcome when he saw us. We could go on and on. Those first couple of days on the ship, the almost constant refrain from each person we encountered – from venerable maître d’s to sommeliers, from bartenders to baristas – was, “Welcome home.” There also seemed no limit to the lengths staff go to in an effort to delight passengers. In an era when ship libraries are vanishing, the Serenity’s librarian Lieza (who for almost a quarter century has presided over a library that would do many small towns proud) remembered that my wife liked historical novels, and handed her a new one. (On an earlier voyage, when the library did not have a new novel I was asking about, Lieza found a bookstore at the next port and bought it!) And when I remarked one day to our butler that I particularly liked Epoisses, a strong-smelling cheese that was the favorite of Napoleon, Engin tracked some down and it appeared with crackers at tea time (all right, martini time) each afternoon thereafter. The renovated Serenity also benefits from the fact that it now is “home” on each voyage to a maximum of 740 passengers – a couple of hundred fewer than before. As a result, it also has by far the most space per passenger of any luxury ship. You never feel crowded. How did they achieve this reduction? While in drydock in Trieste, two entire floors of perfectly decent sized balcony cabins were torn out, and a smaller number of larger new Sapphire suites were installed in their place. We stayed in one of these on this cruise, and it compared very favorably with Queen’s Grill suites we have occupied on Transatlantic crossings on Cunard’s Queen Mary. As for food, we found dinners at Serenity’s main restaurant, Waterside Grill, which pre-pandemic we thought the best dining room at sea, better than ever. And arguably the top specialty restaurant at sea, celebrity Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s Umi Uma, is once again serving his signature miso marinated black cod and new style sashimi to a packed house nightly. The one change on Crystal Serenity which does not seem to have thrilled many of this cruise line’s loyalists was replacement of the classic Italian restaurant Prego with the more sophisticated Osteria d’Ovidio. But after sampling two wine-pairing menus at this trattoria – one northern Italian, one southern – we thought it an excellent upgrade. The other dining feature worth pointing out is no other cruise line is as accommodating at breakfast time for late sleepers. Most cruise lines cut off breakfast in the dining room at 9 or 9:30, leaving those rising after that to get breakfast in the buffet for an hour or so more. But on Crystal, a full sit-down cooked-to-order breakfast service is available from 10 to 11 each morning in a delightful area just off the pool deck. These are only a sampling of the ways Crystal’s ships and crews pamper their guests. Since a high percentage of the passengers on the early cruises were delighted loyalists who had sailed dozens – and in a few cases, hundreds – of times on Crystal before, it presumably will take a little time before those already booked on other luxury lines learn that Crystal is not only back – but better than ever. When new surveys of world’s “Best Cruise Line” are conducted in 2025 and beyond, however, we will be very surprised if Crystal is not back at No. 1. Crystal Serenity off the Isle of Man.
52 Vero Beach 32963 / September 7, 2023 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Style The Festival is usually a bonanza of haute couture – but A-list fashion moments will be few and far between this year. Amal Clooney has delivered some strong fashion moments at the Venice Film Festival so far. The barrister emerged from the airport last Tuesday looking like a 1960s siren in a thigh-grazing minidress (most likely vintage), oversized sunglasses, a 16Arlington bag and Roger Vivier slingbacks – the ultimate accessory being husband George on her arm. This was followed by an emerald-green slip dress for dinner on Wednesday night, and a blush lace dress for the DVF Awards on Thursday night. And that may well be it, in fashion terms at least. The Festival is usually a bonanza of A-listers and haute couture, made all the more glamorous by a backdrop of renaissance-era palazzi and gondolas crossing the lagoon. But this year we’re unlikely to see Florence Pugh in Valentino, Cate Blanchett in Schiaparelli or Jodie Turner-Smith in Christopher John Rogers. Although models Georgia May Jagger and Toni Garrn, and singer Rita Ora have been spotted on the red carpet, it is noticeably light on Alisters. That’s because members of the largest American actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA, have been on strike since July 14 in a battle with studios over pay and the use of AI – the most significant actors’ strike since 1980. The strike extends to actors’ duties in promoting their films, and as a result, many stars won’t be making an appearance in Venice this year, despite a wealth of exciting new films. Among them is “Poor Things” starring Emma Stone, Sofia Coppola’s “Priscilla” and Wes Anderson’s “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar.” BY TAMARA ABRAHAM The Telegraph There might be a glamor drought at the Venice Film Festival Established 32 Years in Indian River County (772) 562-2288 | www.kitchensvero.com 3920 US Hwy 1, Vero Beach FL 32960
Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / September 7, 2023 53 Style There will be some exceptions: According to Variety, Adam Driver, Caleb Landry Jones, Mads Mikkelsen and Jessica Chastain have all been given special dispensation by SAGAFTRA to attend Venice premieres because their films are not made by AMPTP members (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the trade organization with which SAGAFTRA is in dispute). Also in town is Charlotte Rampling (who looked sensational in custom Courrèges), director Jane Campion, models Mariacarla Boscono and Bianca Balti. So there will be some stardust. But the knock-on effect of strike action has created challenging conditions for those responsible for making actors look red-carpet ready. “It’s been so disrupted since the writers’ strike in May,” says celebrity stylist Emma Pritchard, who has worked with Ellie Kemper, Naomi Ackie, Gemma Chan and Lily James. “I had a client who had a movie coming out in July. But we just didn’t know [if the premiere and press would go ahead] so we were on hold – but I still had to prepare [looks for the client]. “Then when the SAG-AFTRA strike happened, it was all cancelled. So everything gets sent back [to the designer brands from which they’re borrowed].” Pritchard believes that we’ll see more non-actors take center stage at Venice instead this year. We may, for instance, see director Coppola in Chanel, and George Clooney, attending in his capacity as producer and director of “The Boys in the Boat,” will no doubt benefit from the fact that he has a glamorous non-actor wife to deliver some dazzle to the film’s presence at the Festival. “I think you’ll just see a lot more influencers,” Pritchard adds. As far as the acting community is concerned, Pritchard says many are playing it safe by steering clear of anything that could be misinterpreted as promotional activities: “That’s what happened with a client of mine earlier this year with the writers’ strike. [They] just decided to go to ground. All you need is one bad photo of someone crossing a picket line in this age of cancel culture ...” There is a silver lining. What we’ll lack in celebrity red-carpet action will be made up for by an increased focus on the films themselves. Still, we’ll welcome whatever fashion moments come our way. And with Amal in town, we know they’ll be good.
54 Vero Beach 32963 / September 7, 2023 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Style The supermodel is in hot water again after launching a collaboration with the ‘unethical’ fast-fashion label. As one of the original supermodels, Naomi Campbell has strutted the catwalks from Manhattan to Milan for some of the world’s most exclusive and expensive brands. She’s been the face of Fendi, pouted for Prada and sashayed for Saint Laurent. At 53, she remains one of the most beautiful women in the world, with a face that is instantly recognizable. So her latest collaboration has raised some eyebrows in the fashion world. On Tuesday, Campbell is due to model what must be the most affordable clothes ever to be associated with her name in a New York fashion show for online fast-fashion brand Pretty LittleThing. A world away from the silks, satins and painstaking stitching of the high-end fashion houses she usually works with, it’s a collection that starts at a mere $10, in which the most expensive item is $150, available in sizes 4-30. Not exactly haute couture. “I’m looking at myself as a changemaker,” explained Campbell in a recent interview with Women’s Wear Daily (WWD). “I know that it’s fast fashion and that people have their criticisms. But as a changemaker, I felt this was a great way to effect change in the industry in getting my emerging designers [she has worked in collaboration with young designers Victor Anate and Edvin Thompson] recognized and seeing them on a global platform.” For their part, PrettyLittleThing bills it as a “monumental moment” for the brand. Chris Parnell, head of design at PrettyLittleThing, told the Telegraph: “It’s not just a new collection but a historical collaboration that we believe will resonate strongly with our customer base.” Savvy move – or brand damaging? As ever with La Campbell, nobody seems entirely sure. “She’s one of the supers who’s managed to keep herself relevant,” says one insider. “She catches on before anyone else does – she’s kind of a genius like that. It’s certainly a statement for her to do it.” “Naomi Campbell will just take cash from anybody,” claims another, unfairly. The PrettyLittleThing tie-in will certainly net her a tidy sum. While everyone remains tight-lipped about exact figures, “they pay so much money” says one person in the know. Whatever Campbell’s motivation, the mother-of-two is guaranteed to make waves when the collection drops – because when it comes to Naomi, we’ve learned to expect nothing less. It all started several years ago when Campbell was introduced by a mutual friend to Umar Kamani, the multi-millionaire co-founder and former CEO of PrettyLittleThing, who set up the brand with his brother in 2012. Umar and Naomi hit it off: They were pictured lounging glamorously together on a beach in the Maldives in November 2022, and she wowed the guests at his New Year’s Eve bash at his Dubai mansion this year. “The pair have become extremely close,” says a PrettyLittleThing spokesman. News of the pairing dropped in July – and was immediately the subject of controversy. “The most disappointing collab to come out in recent times. I have no words,” said one Twitter user. PrettyLittleThing may have posted pre-tax profits of $94.5million in the year to February 2022, but the majority of its clothes are made from nonrecyclable polyester; and in 2020, a newspaper investigation found that its parent company, Boohoo Group, was selling clothes made by Pakistani workers earning about 32 cents per hour. An independent report carried out that year by Alison Levitt KC found that the fast-fashion chain knew about “serious issues” with the treatment of its factory workers but had failed to move quickly enough to address the issues. BY LUCY DENYER The Telegraph Why Naomi Campbell is putting her reputation at risk
Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / September 7, 2023 55 Style Vernon Scott reSort WeAr Renovation Sale UP to 70% oFF Storewide 818 Beachland Blvd 772-231-3733 Mon - Sat 10 to 5 In response, the company appointed Sir Brian Leveson to oversee the firm’s overhaul of its supply chain (he published his final report in March last year), and now says that it is “committed to ensuring that all garment workers producing the clothes we sell are paid at least the minimum wage and we will not work with suppliers who do not comply with this commitment.” It has also published a new “Upfront” sustainability plan that promises all polyester and cotton will be recycled or “more sustainable” by 2025. It’s a far cry from Campbell’s other more recent work. In August 2022 it was announced that she would be the new face of Hugo Boss; last month she starred in Victoria’s Secret’s Icon campaign alongside the likes of Emily Ratajkowski, Hailey Bieber and Gisele Bündchen, and she will lead the Victoria’s Secret World Tour later this month. In March last year, aged 51, she was photographed with her first child, a daughter, for the cover of Vogue (she welcomed her second child, a son, in July). More recently, she reunited with her fellow 1990s supers – Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista – for the cover of British Vogue’s September issue, the last under the editorship of Edward Enniful, with whom she is “BFFs.” Her Instagram profile (15.5 million followers) lists her as “Dr. Naomi Campbell” alongside the kind of portmanteau career list that positively elevates it to an art form: Mother/ Model/Actress/Cultural Innovator/ Activist. She ranks among the richest models of all time, and is reportedly worth $80million. Not bad going for a girl brought up by a single mother in south London. “I like what I do, and I’m blessed that I still have all these great opportunities offered to me,” she said in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar in March. The chicest way to signal you’re stylish? Don’t shout about it. One of the phrases that has dominated fashion over the past year or so is “stealth wealth.” Also known as “quiet luxury,” it describes understated, expensive-looking, minimalist style. The muse is Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, who was to minimalism what Jane Birkin was to French-girl style. Her oversized shirts, column gowns, that Narciso Rodriguez bridal slip dress – images of CBK remain on millions of women’s style mood boards. It’s a look that applies to men, too: think “E.R.”-era George Clooney, or ’90s Gap ads. This pared-back aesthetic is the ultimate fashion power play. Only the truly stylish have the confidence to step out in something as simple as a slip. It evokes cool, calm, elegance in a world dominated by people who overcomplicate their outfits. And it’s going nowhere. As the high priestess of minimalist style, former Céline creative director Phoebe Philo, prepares to launch something this month (keeping the fashion world on the edge of its seat), other brands offering elevated, luxe basics have mushroomed. The result is that it doesn’t require a Bessette-Kennedy budget or body shape to buy into it. Of course, I wouldn’t say no to a pair of The Row’s perfect modern ballet flats (a cool $1,000) or a $1,500 Khaite cashmere tank dress – I like to imagine that these are the kind of pieces CBK would wear if she were around today. A minimalist wardrobe is not built overnight, though. It hangs on thoughtfully chosen hero pieces. You only need one pair of chinos, but make them the best chinos you can get your hands on – and one person’s perfect pair is not another’s. Remember that these things can look a bit blah on the hanger, but sensational on the body, so take the time to try them on. The greatest advantage of the quietluxury look? Unlike something in a bold color or a busy print, nobody will notice if you wear it a couple of times a week, which means that whatever you buy, you’ll get real cost-per-wear value. “Less is more” has never looked so chic. BY TAMARA ABRAHAM The Telegraph Pared-back aesthetic: Ultimate fashion power play
56 Vero Beach 32963 / September 7, 2023 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero & Casual Dining Fine Dining, Elevated Exciting Innovative Cuisine Award Winning Wine List Unparalleled Service Expanded outdoor dining in The Café. Proud recipient of Trip Advisor’s Traveler’s Choice Award placing us in “The Top 10% of restaurants worldwide”. Catering Now Available (772) 234-3966 • tidesofvero.com Open 7 Days a Week Starting at 5 PM 3103 Cardinal Drive, Vero Beach, FL Reservations Highly Recommended • Proper Attire Appreciated Wine Spectator Award 2002 – 2021 Last summer, 67 Pall Mall, a private members’ club for wine lovers, sent out what must surely rank as one of the most first-world-problem apologies of all time. “We have used Zalto glassware exclusively in the Club since opening,” it began, before explaining that, because of production delays, the club had been “forced” to put “alternative glassware” on the tables. The horror! But that’s how people get about Zalto. In the 20 or so years in which they’ve been around, these handblown Austrian glasses have acquired a cultlike international following. They are used for service in 19 out of France’s 29 three-star Michelin restaurants. Most sommeliers and wine writers I know – including me – have at least a couple of the huge, extremely thin, straight-sided Zalto Denk’Art Universals in the cupboard. Along with the Rolex Oyster, Zaltos (approximately $78 each) were one of six ‘perfect things’ to be given an ‘unimprovable award’ by the Wall Street Journal. I recently met up with Zalto’s GM, Christoph Hinterleitner, in London. He told me a key moment in Zalto’s rise came in 2007 when the German current affairs magazine Stern tested out a bunch of wine glasses in a blind tasting and Zalto took first place in three categories. Wait – a blind tasting of stemware? How does that work? “You had to wear an eye mask, and thick glove, like a skiing glove, so you couldn’t feel or see anything.” BY VICTORIA MOORE The Telegraph The story behind the world’s most perfect wine glass
Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / September 7, 2023 57 Vero & Casual Dining
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PETS 60 Vero Beach 32963 / September 7, 2023 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Fun-loving Grady’s not your typical German Shepherd I dunno know about you, but when I think of a German Shepherd, I pickshur a Big, Non-Nonsense, (kinda inTIM-uh-datin’) poocheroo with Eggsellent Poss-chur and Large Pointy Ears, who makes me wanna suh-LOOT. If I’m ruh-memberin’ right, the only German Shepherds I’ve met in-the-fur have been puh-LEECE officers or members of the Military: frenly an puh-lite but not what I’d call cuddly-wuddly. (If you ARE a German Shepherd, you probly get that all the time, right?) Until this week. The best way I can describe Grady Nestor is: “He’s a 6-year-old, 90-pound puppy.” Upon our arrival, a nice lady answered the door. If Grady’d been sitting still, I probably wouldda thought about saluting – he was a Very Hansome German Shepherd – but he came wigglin’ and woofin up, all frenly, for the Wag-an-Sniff, Hello-Nudgin’ my assistant and just puppyin’ around, all happy an excited. “Good morning,” I said, introducing myself an my assistant, an glimpsing, outta the corner of my eye, a cat-shaped flash of fluff. “Wha…?” Grady laughed. “That’s my shy liddle brother Peanut, he’s just 4. We’re so excited you’re HERE. This is our Mom, Melissa, she’s an animal doctor. Our Dad Zak’s at work. His compny builds stuff an sometimes I get to go with him, which is Totally Cool Kibbles. My other cat sib, Lilo’s around somewhere, she’s 7, a rescue Calico, found inna box at a Walmart in Tallahassee. “Come on in, you can sit on our comfy sofa and meet my big sister Molly, a shepherd mixture. She’s getting’ Up There (13 in human). I’ve learned So Much Important Pooch Stuff from her.” A pretty, light brown pooch reclined at the end of the couch. She had a gentle face and soft eyes. “Hey, Molly, this is Bonzo. He’s the one doing the STORY for the PAYper. Bonzo, meet Molly Sue.” “A great pleasure Miss Molly.” “Likewise,” Molly replied. “Make yourself comftubble, young man.” “Thank you, Miss Molly,” I replied. After obtaining permission, my assistant had presented Grady with a snack from The Satchel. Grady dispatched it in a flash an was nosing about for, hopefully, another. “Can’t wait to hear your story,” I reminded him, opening my notebook. Grady swallowed his second duhlishus snack, poked the notebook with his nose and began his tail. “So, Mom an Dad were in a big school called FSU: They already had Molly, and Dad wanted a German Shepherd pupper, so they went On The Line and found me in AL-uh-BAM-uh. I have PAYpers cuz I think my pooch mom an dad were important: Dad was a working German Shepherd an my Mom had this Crispy Biscuit PAYpers name: Stella by the Lake. Isn’t that Pawsome?” “Woof! Totally!” I agreed. “Anyway, I was about 4-5 months old when Mom an Dad ’dopted me: Father’s Day 2017. I’m preddy sure it was Dad’s ‘Best.Father’s.Day.Ever!’ When we got to my Furever home, Molly took me under her wing right away. She understood what it was like to be a rescue, right Mollie?” “Indeed. I, too, was a rescue, a tiny shelter pupper in Royal Palm Beach, when I was rescued as a birthday present for Mom long ago. Before we even got all the way to my new home, we stopped at PetSmart an loaded up on tons of pooch stuff. MY only Big Adventure was accompanying Mom to a beautiful island in the Cara-BEE-un called St. Kitts (I’m pretty sure that’s short for Kittens), where she went to animal doctor school. I flew what’s called First Class, which humans say is a Big Deal. Now THIS one,” Molly smiled fondly at Grady, “was ALWAYS a busy boy. Always ON THE GO. Has to have WORK! Still does. That’s the breed!” Grady pointed to a pretty wooden sorta chest under a big window. “This is my very own window seat. Mom’s gonna make a comfy cushion for it so I can sit an look out. Other than that,” he grinned, “I’m not what you’d call a lounger. I’ve gotta GO places, DO things. Work with Dad. Get Important Work Stuff at Home Depot. I patrol our home at night to keep us SAFE. I also love swimming, the beach, boats, the river. But NOT pools. Cept my kiddie pool. I sit in it to stay cool. Mom an Dad think I look huh-LARRY-us but I don’t even care. One of my MOST favrite things is RUNNIN’, ridin’ in the golf cart, or next to it with Mom or Dad, runnin’ after bunnies, squirrels, Frisbees, tennis balls. And, Bonzo (he lowered his voice), there’s this strange, sneaky magic dot thingy. It’s RED. It’s called a LAY-zer. I see it onna chair. The wall. The table. The floor. I pounce. It’s gone. Every time I get where it is, it ISN’T! I’m totally bumfluffed!” “Woof! That IS strange,” I agreed. “How ’bout fave foodstuffs? Speshul pooch or people pals?” “WELL, broccoli an Pupperoni’re my FAVE foodfstuffs, paws down!! My BFF’s Maverick, he’s a black-anwhite mixture; an Poppy, a black Lab. My Favrite Peeple in the Entire World are Mom’s liddle sis Ant Kelsey, she’s 12, and my Gramma Kathy. I love Mom an Dad of COURSE, but they make me buh-have, which I usually wanna do, but not always. Whereas, with Ant Kelsey or Gramma Kathy … Ya know what I mean?” “Totally,” I replied. “Sometimes a dog’s gotta do what a dog’s gotta do. By the way, I noticed your Cool Kibbles collar.” It was sturdy and had different colors. “Thank you. Me an Molly have collars for every holiday an speshul occasion. This one was made out of recycled sails from boats down in the islands. Hers are mostly flowers. We also have hats for various occasions. Here. Look! This is on my birthday!” It was a great phodo of Grady smiling, a pointy hat perched right between his big pointy ears, paws on either side of a lovely birthday cake. An I didn’t feel the slightest bit like suh-LOOTING. The Bonz Hi Dog Buddies! Don’t Be Shy We are always looking for pets with interesting stories. To set up an interview, email [email protected]. Grady PHOTO: JOSHUA KODIS
Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ CALENDAR Vero Beach 32963 / September 7, 2023 61 ONGOING Riverside Theatre: Friday and Saturday Comedy Zone 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. (6 p.m. and 8 p.m. effective 9/15) in Waxlax Theatre, and free Live in the Loop outdoor concerts, 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. 772-231-6990 or RiversideTheatre.com First Friday Gallery Strolls, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Downtown Vero Beach Arts District. SEPTEMBER 9 Tunnel to Towers 5K Run/Walk, 7 a.m. at Riverside Park to honor 9/11 first responders and benefit the Stephen Siller Foundation, which supports first responders and veterans. RunSignUp.com 16 International Coastal Cleanup Fay, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at 20+ waterfront locations across Indian River County, with 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. after party & awards, food trucks and entertainment at Walking Tree Brewery. Free Coastal-connections.org 17 Wedding Showcase, 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the Heritage Center, with unveiling of
Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ CALENDAR 62 Vero Beach 32963 / September 7, 2023 the redesigned venue space, a signature cocktail, and multiple wedding-themed vendors. $6. VeroHeritage.org 19 Pearl Anniversary Lifestyle & Media Auction hosted by the Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce, 5:30 p.m. at Capt. Hiram’s, with live and silent auctions, pirate costume contest, and cornhole tournament. $30 and $40 auction entry, includes dinner. $40/team cornhole. SebastianChamber.com 23 10th annual Lines in the Lagoon Junior Fishing Tournament, 7 a.m. lines in, 2 p.m. lines out, with all fishing on the Indian River Lagoon by boat, dock or seawall, with 3:30 p.m. Awards Ceremony at American Icon Brewery. LinesInTheLagoon.com 23 Clay Shoot to benefit Veterans Council of IRC, 8 a.m. at Vero Beach Clay Shooting Sports, with breakfast, scramble shotgun start, prizes and lunch. Lunch only option available. 772-410-5820 23 Hunt for Hope Florida, a family-friendly team scavenger hunt to raise funding and awareness of inflammatory breast cancer, 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Riverview Park pavilion in Sebastian. 772-589-1140 23 Boots on the Beach, United Vero for Veterans, 5:30 p.m. at Riomar Golf Club, with guest speaker Ret. U.S. Army Green Beret John Wayne Walding, and musical guest Pauline Reese, to benefit the Boot Campaign individualized programs for veterans. $250. BootCampaign.org 24 Space Coast Symphony Orchestra presents American Icons, a celebration of Gershwin, Ellington, Bernstein and more, 3 p.m. at Community Church of VB. SpaceCoastSymphony.org 29 to Oct. 15 – Vero Beach Theatre Guild presents the comedy “The Addams Family, The Musical.” VeroBeachTheatreGuild. com or 772-562-8300 30 Substance Awareness Center of IRC 5K Run/Walk, 7:30 a.m. from South Beach Park. RunSignUp.com 30 Pink in Paradise Gala to benefit Friends After Diagnosis, 7 p.m. at the IG Center, with dancing, auctions, hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. $75. FriendsAfterDiagnosis.com 30 to Jan. 28 – Vero Beach Museum of Art exhibition “Infinite Variations: The Imaginative Worlds of M.C. Escher.” VBMuseum.org or 772-231-0707 OCTOBER 2-27 Indian River Bird and Nature Show at the Environmental Learning Center sponsored by Pelican Island Conservation Society, with artist meet and greet 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sat. Oct. 7, followed by a presentation on Pelican Island Wildlife Refuge. 7 Carl Hiaasen speaks about his new book, Wrecker, 2 p.m. at the Vero Beach Book Center. Tickets issued with book purchase from VBBC. 772-569-2050 7|8 Inaugural ‘On Location’ Fine Arts Festival hosted by Vero Beach Art Club, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sun. at Pointe West Heritage Pavilion, with artists, pumpkin painting and entertainment. VeroBeachArtClub.org 7|8 Treasure Coast Flea Market, Boat Sale and Seafood Festival, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at IRC Fairgrounds. $10; children 12 and under free. 9 Inaugural Hoe Down Fundraiser to benefit Indian River Cattlewomen, 6 p.m. at Marsh Landing, with dinner, drinks, raffles and dancing to Whiskey Trip. $35; $60 for two. IRCattleWomen.com 10 Village Arts VB presents Celebrating Special Needs Village Artists Exhibition, with Meet the Artists reception 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Emerson Center. Show runs through Nov. 1. TheEmersonCenter.com. 13-14, 20-21, 27-31 Haunted House Terror on Main Street hosted by Sebastian River Junior Women’s Club, 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at 1036 Main St. $10. sebastianhauntedhouse.org 14 Focus on Women’s Health: Education and Empowerment, hosted by the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship group, Initiative for Reproductive Justice, 1 p.m. at the Emerson Center. Free; no reservation required. 19 Hidden Faces, 5:30 p.m. at the Heritage Center hosted by the Source, about the human side of homelessness, with food from Dining with Dignity Catering Training students, cash bar, and entertainment. $20. 386-290-4396 21 Day of Caring hosted by United Way of IRC, 8 a.m. breakfast at newly renovated Holman Stadium at Jackie Robinson Training Complex, with projects by volunteer individuals and groups starting at 9 a.m. Online registration at UnitedWayIRC.org. 21 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, 8 a.m. at Riverside Park, non-competitive walk to raise funds and awareness in fight against breast cancer. 689-208-4881 or ACSEvents.org 21 Fall Festival on the Farm, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ye Ole Davis Farm in Sebastian, with vendors, music, games, crafts and food specials. Free admission. YeOleDavisFarms.com 21 Frightening 4K, 6 p.m. from Indian River State College campus. RunSignUp.com 21|22 Vero Beach Oktoberfest, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sat., 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sun. at Indian River County Fairgrounds, with full bar, live entertainment, marketplace and Biergarten. VeroBeachOktoberFest.com 22 Great Duck Derby, noon to 4 p.m. (ducks launched at 3 p.m.), at Captain Hiram’s, with ‘adopted’ ducks racing to fund Treasure Coast Community Health women and children’s programs. $5 per duck; discounts for multiples. DuckRace.com/TreasureCoast. 22 Space Coast Symphony Orchestra presents Bewitching Broadway, with vocalists Michelle Knight and Cesar De LaRosa performing fiendish Broadway favorites, 3 p.m. at the Emerson Center. SpaceCoastSymphony.org 23 Tropical Night Luau to benefit the Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy, 6 p.m. at Quail Valley River Club, with buffet, dancing, auction and children’s presentations. 772-492-3933 or YouthGuidanceProgram.org 24 to Nov. 12 – Riverside Theatre presents the electrifying musical “Million Dollar Quartet: Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash,” on the Stark Stage. 772-231-6990 or RiversideTheatre.com Sudoku Page 30 Sudoku Page 31 Crossword Page 30 Solutions from Games Pages in August 31, 2023 Edition Crossword Page 31 (Sing Along with Napster) Advertising Vero Beach Services | If you would like your business to appear in our directory, please call 772-633-0753 VERO BEACH 32963 BUSINESS DIRECTORY Our directory gives small business people eager to provide services to the community an opportunity to make themselves known to our readers at an affordable cost. This is the only business directory mailed each week. If you would like your business to appear in our directory, please call 772-633-0753 or email [email protected]. Spector Home and Mold Inspections Vero Beach’s Premier inspection Co. 772-564-0191 • spectorinspection.com State Certified Electrical Contractor GENERATOR OUTLET INSTALLATION 772-569-1547 [email protected] Residential • Commercial • Industrial L. Walton Electric, Inc. EC13003596
‘GREAT PARTY HOUSE’ Enjoy an ideal island setting 1525 Club Dr. in Indian Bay: 4-bedroom, 3-bath, 2,652-square-foot, waterfront home offered for $2,900,000 by AMAC Alex MacWilliam Inc. realtor Mary Stevens: 772-696-1154
REAL ESTATE 64 Vero Beach 32963 / September 7, 2023 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Friends and family say that Pam McGuigan loves a project, so it was no surprise when she and her husband, Stuart, started thinking about a winter home in Florida. She purchased the 50-year-old home at 1525 Club Dr. in the historic Indian Bay neighborhood and, in 2017, “took it down to the studs.” Pam started coming to Vero Beach about 34 years ago to visit her mother and has loved the little seaside town ever since. Running through the list of extensive upgrades, Pam says of the renovation that she selected only the finest materials for the house she loves because she thought she would be there forever. Now, though, her children are grown and thinking of marriage and families, so the McGuigans will be spending more time up north. “All this finish work is just amazing,” says listing agent Mary Stevens with AMAC Alex MacWilliam Inc. “She was very careful and thoughtful. It’s so comfortable you can move right in. You wouldn’t have to do anything.” Among the features are wheelchair-accessible doorways, phone charger plugs, tankless water heater and whole-house water filter and generator. “You don’t see this very often,” says Stevens, noting that Pam did everything with attention to detail and the highest quality. Pam says she was drawn to the property by the canopy of trees and the abundance of wildlife that visits along the canal each day, everything from dolphins and manatees to otters, elegant wading birds and owls. “We do all our living out the back of the house. It’s like living in an Audubon preserve because of the wildlife we see,” says Pam. Situated at the end of a quiet street, there’s no traffic to disturb the sense of serenity that overtakes you as you pull onto the circle drive bordered by lush vegetation. With the metal roof and a trellis with jasmine climbing across it, the angular symmetry of the house is perfectly situated in the verdant green foliage. From the driveway, you can park on the northern side of the house on the parking pad or enter the two-car garage, leaving plenty of space for ‘Great party house’ Enjoy an ideal island setting BY STEPHANIE LABAFF Staff Writer
REAL ESTATE Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / September 7, 2023 65 guests to park near the front entry at the end of a walkway on the southern side of the house. The glass entry door opens into the foyer and living room. Sliders off two sides of this room allow easy access to the outdoor living spaces. Beamed ceilings with nickel gap shiplap add texture and ambiance to the predominantly snow-white palette. In the adjacent kitchen, a 16-foot marble island dominates the space. Pam sited the island to make the most of the views. “I made sure the windows go all the way down to the countertops, so when you are in there, it is a panoramic outdoor setting.” Pam loves to entertain, so it was important for the kitchen to handle large gatherings. A wall of custom cabinets and storage spaces ensures room for everything. And with an induction cooktop and wine cooler among the high-end appliances, she can handle pretty much anything. “It’s a great party house because it’s in an open ‘U’ around the pool and the deck. There’s enough deck
REAL ESTATE 66 Vero Beach 32963 / September 7, 2023 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ to dance and enough privacy to blast the music,” says Pam. At the center of the house, a hallway off the kitchen contains a pantry with lots of extra storage space. Two guest bedrooms – one of which the McGuigans currently use as an office – and a shared bath are at the front of the hall with a larger, private en suite guest bedroom located at the end of the hallway. A family room with a gas fireplace next to the kitchen provides access to the garage and the primary suite at the north end of the house. The spacious primary suite overlooks the pool and backyard with glimpses of the canal. Sliding glass doors and a large window let you take in the beautiful scenery, spectacular when the sun is streaming through the trees. The owner’s bathroom is a marvel with a walk-in closet, dual sinks, a water closet and a walk-in shower that houses the soaking tub. Small, iridescent tiles flow directly into the shower, creating a wet room. Outside, travertine tile as elegant and durable as the Italian tile throughout the house surrounds the heated pool. With plenty of places to lounge and a charming swing hanging from a tree, it’s easy to be lulled into thinking that you’ve ended up in a slower-paced, more bucolic time. “When you’re outside, it feels like you’re at a resort,” says Stevens. “There’s nothing across the canal from us. None of us has fences, so we have a view all the way down the canal. It’s very, very private,” adds Pam. The property has 146 feet of water frontage and direct access to the Intracoastal Waterway. The boathouse with a 7,000-pound boat lift is a real boon since you can no longer erect boathouses. Indian Bay is located just south of the Alma Lee Loy Bridge. The neighVITAL STATISTICS Neighborhood: Indian Bay Year built: 1968 remodeled in 2017 • Construction: Frame Lot size: 146 feet by 274 feet • Home size: 2,652 square feet View: Pool and water Pool: Heated • Bedrooms: 4 • Bathrooms: 3 Additional features: Custom cabinets; Italian tile; chef’s island kitchen; whole house water filter; soaking tub; fireplace; impact windows and doors; outdoor shower; whole-house generator; propane tank; two-car garage; covered dock; and 7,000-pound boat lift. Listing agency: AMAC Alex MacWilliam Inc. Listing agent: Mary Stevens, 772-696-1154 Listing price: $2,900,000 1525 CLUB DR.
REAL ESTATE Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / September 7, 2023 67 borhood is convenient to Saint Edward’s School and Beachland Elementary School. It’s close to the beach, the Ocean Drive shopping and dining district, and mainland shopping just over the bridge. Riverside Theatre and the Vero Beach Museum of Art provide cultural offerings nearby, while Riverside Park offers a USTA-operated city tennis facility, boat launch and exercise course. The municipal marina and a waterfront, off-leash dog park are next to the park.
REAL ESTATE 68 Vero Beach 32963 / September 7, 2023 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCES AND LOTS SUBDIVISION ADDRESS LISTED ORIGINAL MOST RECENT SOLD SELLING ASKING PRICE ASKING PRICE PRICE INDIAN BAY 1450 E CAMINO DEL RIO 11/18/2022 $2,595,000 $1,950,000 8/30/2023 $1,850,000 VERO BEACH ESTATES 755 CYPRESS RD 6/30/2023 $1,698,000 $1,698,000 8/31/2023 $1,550,000 INDIAN TRAILS 741 CANOE TRL 3/9/2023 $1,580,000 $1,580,000 8/25/2023 $1,442,500 GRACEWOOD LANE 1521 GRACEWOOD LN 6/21/2023 $1,360,000 $1,360,000 8/30/2023 $1,300,000 BERMUDA BAY 104 RIVER OAK LN 5/22/2023 $1,700,000 $1,490,000 8/28/2023 $1,240,000 SEASONS 2070 INDIAN SUMMER LN 6/26/2023 $1,295,000 $1,265,000 8/25/2023 $1,219,000 OCEANAIRE HEIGHTS 9470 SEAGRAPE DR 4/6/2023 $949,000 $875,000 8/25/2023 $850,000 CASTAWAY COVE 1012 CASTAWAY BLVD 4/6/2023 $1,025,000 $798,000 8/25/2023 $795,000 SEAQUAY CONDO 4800 HIGHWAY A1A, #504 3/27/2023 $2,200,000 $1,999,000 8/29/2023 $1,900,000 PORPOISE BAY VILLAS 300 HARBOUR DR, #103-B 4/4/2023 $1,695,000 $1,695,000 8/31/2023 $1,600,000 TOWNHOMES, VILLAS, CONDOS, MULTIFAMILY AND INVESTMENT Real Estate Sales on the Barrier Island: Aug. 25 to Aug. 31 The final week of August saw the barrier island real estate market make a strong rebound with 14 transactions recorded, nine of them for more than $1 million. The top sale of the week was of a home in Riomar Bay. The waterfront property at 745 Lagoon Road was placed on the market March 1 for $4.55 million. The asking price more recently was $4.199 million. The sale closed on Aug. 28 for $3.94 million. The seller in the transaction was represented by Bob Niederpruem of Premier Estate Properties. The purchaser was represented by Rita Curry of Dale Sorensen Real Estate.
REAL ESTATE Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Vero Beach 32963 / September 7, 2023 69 Here are some of the top recent barrier island sales. Listing Date: Original Price: Recent Price: Sold: Selling Price: Listing Agent: Selling Agent: Listing Date: Original Price: Recent Price: Sold: Selling Price: Listing Agent: Selling Agent: Listing Date: Original Price: Recent Price: Sold: Selling Price: Listing Agent: Selling Agent: Listing Date: Original Price: Recent Price: Sold: Selling Price: Listing Agent: Selling Agent: 3/27/2023 $2,200,000 $1,999,000 8/29/2023 $1,900,000 Jennifer & Gary Farless Farless Properties LLC Cheryl Burge Berkshire Hathaway Florida Subdivision: Seaquay Condo, Address: 4800 Highway A1A, #504 4/4/2023 $1,695,000 $1,695,000 8/31/2023 $1,600,000 Daina Bertrand The Moorings Realty Sales Co. Daina Bertrand The Moorings Realty Sales Co. Subdivision: Porpoise Bay Villas, Address: 300 Harbour Dr, #103-B 11/18/2022 $2,595,000 $1,950,000 8/30/2023 $1,850,000 Rita Curry Dale Sorensen Real Estate Inc. Michelle Clarke Berkshire Hathaway Florida Subdivision: Indian Bay, Address: 1450 E Camino Del Rio 6/30/2023 $1,698,000 $1,698,000 8/31/2023 $1,550,000 Beth Livers & Michelle Clarke Berkshire Hathaway Florida Cathy Curley Dale Sorensen Real Estate Inc. Subdivision: Vero Beach Estates, Address: 755 Cypress Rd
REAL ESTATE 70 Vero Beach 32963 / September 7, 2023 Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ Q: I purchased a home on June 30 and was made aware in loan documents and by the closing agent that my loan would be serviced/transferred/sold to another lender. Also, I received a letter in the mail from my first lender that notified me that future loan payments would need to go to the new lender effective Aug. 1. I ended up having to sell the house quickly. I was able to close on the sale on Aug. 11. The closing agent sent loan payoff to the second lender, and I received a notice from the new lender that the loan was paid off in full. However, the first lender still has our account open online. I called the first lender and was told that I still owe them the first month’s mortgage payment, which includes the escrow amount. Must I really pay the first lender? A: The good news is it shouldn’t be too hard to determine whether you owe the first lender any money. When you closed on your home on June 30, your first lender should have collected one day of interest from you. The payment of that one day of interest would have made you even with the lender through the end of June. The payment you should have sent to the second lender on Aug. 1 should have been the interest for the entire month of July. When you paid off the loan and closed in August, the payoff letter from the second lender should have picked up any interest that you had not paid on your loan. It’s interesting that you received a notice from the first lender reminding you to pay your Aug. 1 payment to the second lender. This leads us to believe that the second lender would have collected all interest due for the month of July and the number of days in August through the day you paid off the loan. Here’s what we don’t know: Did your second lender collect interest on the loan from July 1 through and including the payoff day in August? If the second lender collected that interest, we’re not sure why the first lender would be owed any money. However, if the second lender only collected interest on the loan from Aug. 1 through Aug. 11, we can see why the first lender might claim to be owed money. Get a copy of your payoff letter and see what it says about the interest collected on the loan. There should be a line item on the payoff statement noting the number of days that interest was due and needed to be paid on the loan. Once you determine what was billed and what you paid, you’ll have a better idea of whether the first lender is owed any money. One nagging thought is why the first lender would be owed anything from you in any case. If the first lender gave you notice of the transfer of the loan and instructed you to make the payment to the second lender, we’d think that the second lender and the first lender would work it out – except if the second lender made a mistake and didn’t bill you the right amount for the interest. On the issue of your escrow payments to the lender, it seems to us that you shouldn’t have to make that payment to the old lender. The old lender should have collected money from you to fund your real estate tax escrow and your homeowners insurance escrow at the time of your closing. The old lender should have transferred the funds they collected from you at closing to the new lender. The new lender would then need to return those funds to you. Having said all that, it can be a pain to work through this on the phone. Whoever you’re talking to at the end of the toll-free number on your statement may be looking at an outdated computer system. We suspect the second lender will issue a release of the mortgage loan to the settlement agent that closed your deal. It may also get mailed directly to the office that handles filings or recordings of real estate loans to show that your loan was paid off. Your credit history should then show the loan has been paid in full. Homeowner confused by lender’s request for payment after sale BY ILYCE GLINK AND SAMUEL J. TAMKIN Tribune
The Vero Beach Barrier Island Newspaper www.vb32963online.com September 7, 2023 Volume 16, Issue 36 Newsstand Price $1.00